Solana releases quantum roadmap Trump and team discuss new Iran proposal

Headlines

▌Solana Releases Quantum Roadmap: Selects Falcon Solution, Existing Migration Work Ready

On April 27, the official Solana team published an article on the potential impact of quantum computing on blockchain, reaffirming that the quantum threat is still years away, but the Solana ecosystem has already conducted thorough research and technological preparations. Independent verification client development teams Anza and Firedancer (together representing most of the network’s staked share) have concluded through independent research that a signature scheme that is compact and suitable for high-throughput blockchains is needed, and jointly selected the Falcon scheme. Both teams have released initial implementation code on GitHub. Additionally, Blueshift’s Solana WinterWitz Vault has been operating in the ecosystem for over two years, providing a direct post-quantum path. Earlier this year, Google Quantum AI listed this Vault as a leading example of industry-forward post-quantum work in their white paper. Solana’s current quantum roadmap includes ongoing quantum research and evaluation of Falcon and alternatives; adopting post-quantum schemes for new wallets when quantum becomes a credible threat; and migrating existing wallets to the selected scheme. The official states that the migration work is manageable, can be completed quickly when needed, and network performance is not expected to be significantly affected.

▌White House: Trump and His National Security Team Hold Meeting to Discuss Iran’s New Proposal

On April 28, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre confirmed at a press briefing that President Trump and his national security team held a meeting that day to discuss Iran’s new negotiation proposal. Jean-Pierre said it’s uncertain whether the meeting has concluded, but the proposal is indeed under discussion. However, she “does not want to preempt the President or his team’s statements.” According to Axios on April 26, a U.S. official and two informed sources stated that the U.S. has received Iran’s new negotiation proposal through Pakistan. The proposal first focuses on resolving the Strait of Hormuz crisis and U.S. maritime blockade of Iran. As part of the plan, a ceasefire would be extended long-term, or the parties would agree to a permanent end to hostilities. Nuclear negotiations would only begin once the Strait of Hormuz reopens and the U.S. lifts sanctions. (Xinhua News Agency)

Market Conditions

As of press time, according to CoinGecko data:

BTC price is $77,222.12, with a 24-hour change of -1.7%;

ETH price is $2,295.85, with a 24-hour change of -3.2%;

BNB price is $625.93, with a 24-hour change of -1.5%;

SOL price is $84.69, with a 24-hour change of -2.6%;

DOGE price is $0.09895, with a 24-hour change of -0.3%;

XRP price is $1.40, with a 24-hour change of -2.2%;

TRX price is $0.3252, with a 24-hour change of +0.5%;

WLFI price is $0.07244, with a 24-hour change of -3.5%;

HYPE price is $41.58, with a 24-hour change of -1.9%.

Policy

▌CFTC Sues New York State Over Prediction Market Regulation Dominance

On April 27, The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) filed a lawsuit in the Southern District of New York federal court seeking a ruling that the CFTC has exclusive regulatory authority over prediction markets, to prevent suppression actions by New York State. Previously, New York State had sued cryptocurrency exchanges Coinbase and Gemini over their prediction market operations. Earlier this month, the CFTC also filed suits against Arizona, Illinois, and Connecticut on similar issues, intensifying jurisdiction disputes between federal and state regulators.

▌White House: Trump’s Bottom Line on Iran Has Not Changed

On April 28, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre revealed that President Trump and his senior national security advisors discussed a new proposal from Iran aimed at resolving the war. The proposal would keep the Strait of Hormuz open, while the nuclear issue would be deferred for later discussion. During the briefing, Jean-Pierre did not comment specifically on the proposal. However, she stated that Trump’s bottom line remains unchanged. He insists that the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route, must stay open, and demands Iran surrender its enriched uranium. Jean-Pierre said, “I won’t say they are ‘considering’ this proposal. I can only say there was a discussion this morning, and I don’t want to preempt the President’s official statement; I am confident you will hear directly from him on this topic later.”

▌US Media: Trump Skeptical of Iran’s Proposal but Not Rejected It Outright

On April 28, The Wall Street Journal reported that U.S. officials say President Trump and his national security team are skeptical of Iran’s latest proposal. The plan would ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open and delay discussions on Iran’s nuclear program. Trump discussed this proposal with aides on Monday morning. Officials say that while Trump did not outright reject it, he expressed doubts about Iran’s sincerity and willingness to meet his key demands. His main requirements are: Iran halts nuclear enrichment and commits never to develop nuclear weapons. These officials said the U.S. will continue negotiations and that the White House may respond and counter in the coming days.

▌Iranian Officials Say Nuclear Issue Not Negotiable

On April 27, Iran’s Parliament National Security and Foreign Policy Committee Chairman Ebrahim Azizi stated in an interview aired on April 26 that Iran has no intention of negotiating with the U.S., especially on nuclear issues—because Iran believes it has the right to uranium enrichment, and its enrichment activities must be recognized as a fait accompli. He explained that even if Iran hands over over 400 kilograms of enriched uranium as U.S. demands, the problem will not be solved, and the U.S. will escalate further. He emphasized that Iran’s victory stems from “our resistance, our firm stance, and our prevention of U.S. overreach.” (Xinhua News Agency)

▌U.S. Secretary of State Blinken: Iran Is ‘Very Serious’ About Reaching an Agreement

On April 28, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Iran is “very serious” about reaching an agreement with the U.S., but any deal must prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons. “I think they genuinely want to get out of their current predicament,” Blinken said. He pointed out Iran’s worsening economic situation, including inflation, difficulty paying wages, and ongoing sanctions, and added, “All the issues Iran faced before this conflict started still exist, and most have worsened.” “We must ensure that any agreement… thoroughly prevents them from accelerating nuclear weapons development at any time,” he added. (Al Jazeera)

Blockchain Applications

▌Tether Launches Open Infrastructure Layer MDK for Bitcoin Mining

On April 27, Tether announced the launch of the Mining Development Kit (MDK). MDK is an open-source, full-stack development framework designed to give Bitcoin miners and developers unified control over their entire infrastructure stack. It adopts an open modular architecture and agnostic interfaces, combining a JavaScript backend SDK and React UI component library to replace proprietary, fragmented mining operations. The framework supports users from home miners to gigawatt-scale farms, compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux, avoiding vendor lock-in. MDK includes a standalone core layer (MDK Core) and UI development suite, enabling rapid development of dashboards, automation workflows, mining pool management tools, and analytics pipelines. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino stated that MDK will underpin the next generation of automated and optimized Bitcoin mining infrastructure. Previously, Tether open-sourced its mining OS, MOS.

▌Gemini Launches ‘Agentic Trading’ Feature Allowing AI Robots to Manage Crypto Accounts Directly

On April 27, Gemini, a cryptocurrency trading platform, launched the Agentic Trading feature, allowing users to connect AI models like Claude and ChatGPT to their trading accounts. Gemini claims this is “the first agentic trading tool directly offered through a regulated U.S. trading platform.” The feature operates via the MCP open standard developed by Anthropic, with Gemini integrating its full trading API with MCP. AI can autonomously monitor markets, place orders, and execute trades based on predefined strategies and risk management. Gemini states, “Agentic trading is not just a feature but a new paradigm: AI handles execution, pattern recognition, and discipline, while users focus on strategy and goals.” The feature also includes modular “trading skills” such as querying bid-ask spreads, retrieving historical data for backtesting, and more, with additional features planned.

Cryptocurrency

▌a16z crypto Releases Global Financial Stack Report, Stablecoins Reshaping Financial Systems

a16z crypto published an analysis titled “The New Global Financial Stack: Stablecoin Edition.” The report notes that stablecoins have evolved from niche trading tools into foundational financial pipelines, giving rise to a new “banking-as-a-service” model that is driving financial system reconstruction. The report states that the shift to on-chain finance has “crossed the point of no return.” It categorizes blockchains into three types: general-purpose chains (e.g., Solana, Ethereum, Layer 2s), payment-specific chains (e.g., Stripe’s Tempo), and institutional networks (e.g., Canton). It also highlights that banking bottlenecks are easing, with a growing number of crypto-friendly banks actively connecting on-chain infrastructure with traditional fiat systems. Competition among stablecoin issuers has shifted toward regulatory positioning, with issuers vying for OCC national trust charters. The report states that payments are “Act One,” and credit could be the “Act Two” of greater importance. Large-scale stablecoin issuance will foster new on-chain credit markets, enabling capital formation outside traditional banking. It emphasizes that stablecoins not only strengthen the dollar’s dominance but also provide access to USD for users in emerging markets.

▌Report: Bitcoin Leads Crypto Market Stabilization, On-Chain Data Shows Positive Signals

On April 27, Fidelity Digital Assets released the “Q2 2026 Signal Report,” indicating that despite the overall crypto market being in consolidation at the start of Q2, several underlying data points show signs of stabilization. Bitcoin’s dominance continues to rise, capital concentrates in the most liquid assets, and metrics of unrealized gains and momentum align with correction phases, laying a foundation for a more stable market structure. Meanwhile, Ethereum and Solana network activity and price trends diverge, suggesting protocol-layer demand remains robust. The report also notes that Bitcoin futures are currently experiencing negative funding rates, which 10x Research interprets as institutional hedging behavior rather than a bearish signal overall.

▌Data: BlackRock’s IBIT Weekly Net Inflows Reach $983 Million, Highest in Six Months

On April 27, BlackRock’s IBIT spot Bitcoin ETF recorded weekly net inflows of $983 million, the highest in six months.

▌Strategy Adds 3,273 BTC Last Week

On April 27, official data shows Strategy increased holdings by 3,273 BTC at an average price of about $77,906, totaling approximately $255 million, with a YTD return of 9.6%. As of April 26, 2026, Strategy holds 818,334 BTC, with a total purchase cost of about $61.81 billion, averaging roughly $75,537 per BTC.

▌Strive Adds 789 BTC, Total Holdings Reach 14,557 BTC

On April 27, CEO Matt Cole of Strive announced on social media that Strive spent about $61.43 million to buy 789 BTC at an average price of about $77,890. As of April 24, Strive’s total holdings are 14,557 BTC.

▌BitMine Adds 101,901 ETH Last Week, Total Holdings About 755.37M ETH

According to PR Newswire on April 27, BitMine increased its ETH holdings by 101,901 coins last week, the highest weekly purchase since the week of December 15, 2025. As of April 26, 2026, its total ETH holdings reached 5,078,386, about 4.21% of total ETH supply. Currently, BitMine’s total crypto, cash, and other investments are valued at about $13.3 billion, including $940 million in cash, 200 BTC, $200 million in Beast Industries equity, and a $91 million investment in Eightco Holdings (ORBS). It has pledged 3,701,589 ETH (about 73% of its holdings), worth roughly $8.8 billion, with an annualized staking yield of about $264 million.

▌Circle Ventures Announces Purchase of AAVE Tokens to Support DeFi Community

On April 27, Circle announced on social media that Circle Ventures is buying AAVE tokens, as strong DeFi infrastructure does not build itself. Aave is helping shape the future of on-chain finance, and Circle supports this ecosystem and the entire community around it.

▌Aave Labs Proposes Unfreezing $5.08M ETH Related to KelpDAO Attack

On April 27, Aave Labs proposed that Arbitrum unfreeze $37.5 million worth of ETH related to the KelpDAO attack, and reallocate it to the “DeFi United” rescue fund to compensate affected rsETH holders.

▌Lido: 2,500 ETH Aid Proposal for Aave Vote Reaches Quorum, Expected Next Week

On April 27, Lido posted an update on X regarding the Kelp security incident, revealing that the 2,500 ETH contribution proposal from Lido has passed the main voting phase and reached quorum. Voting will end at 20:09 UTC on April 28, with final execution expected next week. Meanwhile, Lido Earn, Mellow Protocol, and Ethereum Foundation have reached bilateral swap agreements involving about 21,269 aWETH and wstETH, helping EarnETH vault directly repay WETH debt on Aave, reducing borrowing costs and improving vault health. Lido emphasizes that stETH and wstETH were unaffected by last week’s incident, and the staking protocol is operating normally.

▌Spark Releases Q1 2026 Financial Report: Net Protocol Surplus $3.46 Million

On April 27, Spark published its Q1 2026 financial report. The quarter saw gross protocol returns of $31.5 million (down 31% QoQ), net protocol returns of $6.91 million (down 30%), and net protocol surplus of $3.46 million (down 47%). The protocol treasury size at quarter-end was $46.1 million, up 5.7%. Spark also launched a $SPK token buyback program, spending $986k on open market repurchases. Revenue structure shifted this quarter, with distribution rewards becoming the largest contributor to net returns ($3.31 million), surpassing Spark’s liquidity layer (SLL) net income for the first time. SLL deployed an average of $1.93 billion in capital with an annualized yield of 5.8%. SparkLend continues to support institutional lending, with USDT savings vaults growing steadily. Institutional lending deployed $150 million by quarter-end, with a governance-approved cap of $1 billion. The report notes that unfavorable DeFi lending market conditions have narrowed SLL spreads, but the protocol’s distribution business has grown significantly. USDS, as a scalable, savings-based yield mechanism in a poor market environment, continues to expand its distribution channels across multiple chains and stablecoins.

▌Consensys Joins DeFi United, Commits Up to 30k ETH to Support rsETH Revival

On April 27, Consensys and ethereumJoseph officially joined DeFi United, pledging up to 30,000 ETH to support rsETH revival efforts, with Sharplink providing ongoing strategic advisory. AAVE states that their contribution is a key part of the entire DeFi United effort to restore rsETH collateral and stabilize the market; without their support, the revival progress would not be possible.

Economic Highlights

▌Morgan Stanley Warns Wosh Could Bring Long-Term Systemic Risks, Adds to US Treasury Volatility

On April 28, Morgan Stanley analysts said that Kevin Wosh’s confirmation as Fed Chair could bring long-term systemic risks, potentially increasing U.S. Treasury market volatility. Led by Matthew Hornbach, the team noted that under Wosh’s leadership, the Fed might adopt new inflation metrics, reduce forward guidance, and shrink its balance sheet, which “could increase volatility between policy meetings.” Wosh’s testimony last week signaled that the central bank’s “policy operation methods will undergo systemic change.”

▌Barclays: Fed Likely to Hold Steady This Week, Possible Rate Cuts Later This Year

On April 27, Barclays analysts reported that amid high inflation, the Fed is expected to keep the federal funds rate target range unchanged at this week’s meeting, but rate cuts are still possible later this year. “In an environment of high uncertainty, the Fed tends to stay put, supported by strong demand and still-high inflation, and signals from policymakers suggest less confidence in further rate cuts in the near term,” they said. If inflation eases as expected, they expect the Fed to gain enough confidence to start easing policy around September. “We still expect rate cuts this year.” According to LSEG data, markets are currently pricing in a 10 basis point rate cut by the Fed in 2026. (Jinshi)

▌Institutions: S&P 500 Could Rise Another 30%, But Risks of Sharp Drop Increase

On April 27, independent investment research firm BCA Research released a report warning that the AI investment boom is approaching the end of its cycle, with a rapid surge similar to the internet bubble era possibly imminent. BCA had already warned in its 2026 outlook that this AI rally risked a bubble, and believed the rally could push the S&P 500 above 9,200 points, adding up to a 30% increase. The term “bubble” here refers to a rapid rise driven by sentiment and momentum without solid fundamentals, often the last crazy wave before a crash. (Xinhua News Agency)

▌Economist: Wosh’s Stance Slightly More Easing Than Powell’s

As Kevin Wosh’s confirmation as the next Fed Chair seems less obstructed, markets are reassessing what this change might mean. AMP Chief Economist Shane Oliver said Wosh is committed to maintaining Fed independence and may focus more on AI transformation than employment. Oliver also suggested Wosh might prioritize tail-end inflation measures over core PCE, though this could be seen as a preference. He added that Wosh’s stance might be slightly more dovish than Powell’s but not fundamentally different.

▌Nvidia Shares Hit New 6-Month High

On April 28, Nvidia rose over 2%, reaching a new high of $212.60 intraday, its highest in six months, with a market cap of $5.17 trillion.

▌Fed’s Probability of Holding Rates Steady This Week Is 100%

According to CME’s “FedWatch,” the probability of the Fed holding rates steady in April is 100%. The chance of a 25 basis point cut by June is 4.5%, with a 95.5% chance of no change.

Gold Encyclopedia

▌Can Bitcoin Still Be Called “Digital Gold” Under Geopolitical Crises?

During every geopolitical crisis, gold prices rise while Bitcoin prices plummet. After six tests, the label “digital gold” has never been substantiated by data. Countries hoard gold but exclude Bitcoin from reserves. For investors, Bitcoin has asymmetries: it tends to fall with stocks but not rise with them. Three structural asymmetries prevent Bitcoin from gaining safe-haven status: excess derivatives (market structure), dominance of leveraged traders (participant composition), and lack of repeated behavioral records (behavioral accumulation).

Bitcoin is not a safe-haven asset, but it is a “crisis-useful asset,” capable of playing a role during border closures and bank failures. If these three asymmetries diminish, Bitcoin might no longer be a copy of gold but a new “next-generation gold.” Intergenerational shifts and widespread algorithmic adoption could accelerate this process.