Gate Crypto Flash News and Market Updates

FTSE Russell has launched the FTSE Asia Pacific Liquid Government Bond Index Series, covering sovereign debt in India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines, with tenors of 3, 5, and 10 years. SGX will start trading futures on this index on April 20.

Alibaba plans to launch a quadruped robot through its Amap unit, entering the consumer robotics market. Amap is also exploring humanoid robots. The quadruped market is predicted to grow from $3.45 billion in 2025 to $11.26 billion by 2032.

Startups in the MENA region raised $799 million in Q1 2026, a 31% increase from Q4 2025 but flat year-on-year. Deal count fell by 41% to 115 transactions, influenced by pre-existing agreements before recent regional conflicts. International investment decreased significantly, with the UAE receiving the majority of funding.

A HubSpot survey reveals that 64% of Singaporean business leaders use AI, but only 18% employ fully autonomous agents. Major barriers include trust, data quality, and skills gaps. Many anticipate increased AI importance in 12-24 months.

Over 70 civil rights organizations, including ACLU and EPIC, urge Meta to halt facial recognition in smart glasses due to misuse risks. They demand transparency on criminal uses and discussions with law enforcement about the technology's implications.

SoftBank has initiated a soft launch for a $40 billion bridge loan to finance its OpenAI investment, inviting other lenders to participate. This follows SoftBank's previous $30 billion investment in OpenAI and anticipated revenues of $11.6 billion by 2025.

On April 15, Hong Kong dollar interbank offered rates (HIBOR) fell for most tenors, with the one-month and three-month rates declining, while longer-term rates saw slight increases.

Gate News message, April 15 — Stablecoin issuer Circle minted 750 million USDC on the Solana blockchain in the past 24 hours.

SunWukong has introduced BLESS/USDT perpetual contracts on its decentralized derivatives platform, offering leverage of up to 20x, as announced on April 15.

On April 15, Hong Kong AI concept stocks saw significant declines, with Zhipu AI falling over 10% and MINIMAX-W and Xunce each dropping more than 5%.

X (formerly Twitter) launched its Smart Cashtags feature for iPhone users in the U.S. and Canada, allowing precise tagging of stocks and crypto assets to enhance accuracy and provide real-time data, marking a step toward becoming a leading finance platform.

Kevin Warsh, nominated for Federal Reserve Chair, has disclosed investments in various crypto projects including Solana and Compound. Experts believe he likely invested indirectly through digital asset-focused funds ahead of his confirmation hearing.

Uber's data reveals that bike taxis did not diminish auto-rickshaw demand in Bengaluru and Mumbai during a 2025 suspension. Most users favored auto-rickshaws, with a significant portion also trying bike taxis post-2024. This insight follows recent regulatory shifts in Karnataka and Maharashtra.

A sudden malfunction of U.S.-made communications devices in Iran during a strike highlights the vulnerability of relying on foreign technology for cybersecurity. The incident underscores the need for developing domestic technology for effective cyber defense.

ASML CEO Christophe Fouquet reported increased chip demand surpassing supply, leading customers to expedite capacity expansion plans for 2026 and beyond, with strong order intake and heightened expectations for ASML products.

Former Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen believes the Federal Reserve may cut interest rates this year, despite uncertainty from the Iran war and oil price volatility. She sees a broad supply shock impacting various sectors but suggests stable inflation expectations make rate hikes unlikely.

Gate News: According to the latest Gate TradFi data, ZHIPU (ZhiPu 02513.HK) has dropped by 8% in a short period. Current volatility is significantly higher than recent averages, indicating increased market

HYBE has confirmed the final lineup for the 2026 Weverse Con Festival, featuring 30 artists, headlined by Rain. The event is set for June 6-7 in Seoul, with ticket pre-sales starting April 23.

TikTok has disabled around 780,000 accounts of users under 16 in Indonesia to comply with child protection regulations. Other platforms, like Roblox and YouTube, did not meet the required standards, prompting the ministry to call for transparency from all platforms regarding child account management.

The VIP requirement for Donald Trump's TRUMP memecoin event has dropped significantly, reflecting weaker demand. The token's price and market cap are also down, with large holders accumulating while retail interest is low, amid scrutiny from U.S. senators.