Finland has announced plans to declare its intention not to station nuclear weapons on its territory during peacetime, despite ongoing legislative changes that would permit such a deployment. Bloomberg posted on X, highlighting Finland's strategic decision amid evolving security dynamics in the Nordic region. The move comes as Finland reassesses its defense policies in response to regional security concerns. The country's government is working on legal amendments that would enable the deployment of nuclear weapons if deemed necessary in the future. However, Finland remains committed to maintaining a nuclear-free stance during times of peace, reflecting its cautious approach to national security. This decision aligns with Finland's broader defense strategy, which prioritizes stability and peace in the region. The legislative changes are part of Finland's efforts to enhance its defense capabilities while ensuring transparency and adherence to international norms. Finland's stance on nuclear weapons deployment underscores its commitment to regional security and diplomatic engagement.

Gold is expected to experience a long-term rebound despite the current market disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict, according to financial institutions such as ANZ Banking Group and Goldman Sachs. Bloomberg posted on X, highlighting that these banks foresee a recovery in gold prices as geopolitical tensions continue to influence market dynamics. The ongoing conflict has introduced volatility, but experts believe that gold's status as a safe-haven asset will support its value in the long run. Investors are advised to consider the potential for gold's resurgence as part of their strategic planning.

PANews posted on X (formerly Twitter). Aave, a prominent player in the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector, is currently facing significant internal challenges that are proving more daunting than the ongoing bear market. The departure of three key service providers—BGD Labs, ACI, and Chaos Labs—marks a critical juncture for the platform. These exits highlight a clash between the founder's vision and decentralized governance. Aave Labs, which holds 23% of the token voting power, is pushing for a transition to V4. However, the service providers have found themselves without a voice in the decision-making process, while also facing increasing legal risks. This situation has led them to withdraw their support, effectively voting with their feet. The troubles facing Aave underscore the fact that risks in the DeFi space are not solely market-driven. Sometimes, the most significant threats come from within the organization itself.

Iran is contemplating a new toll system for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, potentially requiring a $1-per-barrel fee payable in Bitcoin. According to NS3.AI, Hamid Hosseini, spokesperson for Iran’s Oil, Gas, and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union, indicated that this move could significantly impact maritime traffic. Arkham, a maritime analytics firm, estimates that a typical cargo ship carrying around 3 million barrels would face a payment of approximately $3 million in Bitcoin. Martin Kelly, head of advisory at maritime intelligence group EOS Risk, noted that this regulation could reduce the number of ships allowed to pass through the strait to 10–15 per day, a sharp decrease from the current average of about 135 ships.

Bitget has launched its first US IPO subscription service, IPO Prime, further extending the boundaries of UEX into the primary market. This initiative aims to break down traditional private equity investment barriers and provide global users with a new channel to participate in the potential economic benefits of unicorn companies before their IPOs. The initial asset listed is preSPAX, a digital token issued by the regulated issuer Republic, designed to mirror the post-IPO economic performance of SpaceX on a 1:1 basis. SpaceX was founded by Elon Musk in 2002. Bitget IPO Prime uses a subscription model, with users receiving subscription quotas based on their VIP level. After token allocation, users can trade on the soon-to-be-opened over-the-counter market; alternatively, after the lock-up period for the underlying debt assets of preSPAX ends, the issuer, through Bitget, will reference the target company's stock market price to exchange preSPAX for stock tokens or USDT. IPO Prime Details: - SpaceX Implied Valuation: $1.5 trillion - Total IPO Prime Subscriptions: 94,000 - Total Subscription Value: $61,100,000 - Subscription Price: 1 preSPAX = $650 - Investment Currency: USDT or USDGO - Total Investment Pool Cap: $1,000,000,000 - Individual Investment Range: $1,000-$300,000 - Investment Period: April 18, 14:00:00 to April 21, 14:00:00 (UTC+8) - Allocation Period: April 21, 14:00:00 to April 21, 18:00:00 (UTC+8) - OTC Trading Opening Time: April 21, 20:00:00 (UTC+8)

A joint venture in the stablecoin sector is primarily led by the banking industry. According to PANews, Standard Chartered Bank (Hong Kong) holds a 50.5% stake, making it the majority shareholder. Animoca Brands owns 37.5%, while Hong Kong Telecom indirectly holds 12% through Quality Champion Limited. This structure reflects a model where the banking sector leads, with support from technology and telecommunications.

Elon Musk’s AI firm xAI has filed a lawsuit against the state of Colorado, arguing that new regulations targeting algorithmic discrimination could restrict free speech and force its chatbot Grok to conform to state-defined standards on fairness and equity.

According to the Wall Street Journal, mediators and a source familiar with the matter said that negotiations between Israel and Lebanon (scheduled to be held in Washington next week) will be limited to the ambassadorial level, rather than higher-level talks.

On April 10, the Kremlin announced that the visit of envoy Dmitriev to the United States was not intended to restart peace negotiations concerning Ukraine. According to BlockBeats, Dmitriev did not engage in discussions about the Ukraine issue. Russia's objective is peace, not merely a ceasefire. The Kremlin stated that peace could be achieved today if Ukrainian President Zelensky makes the necessary decision. The Orthodox Easter ceasefire holds humanitarian significance.

NATO allies have demonstrated a firm stance against U.S. President Donald Trump's calls for increased involvement in the Iran conflict. Bloomberg posted on X, highlighting the alliance's reluctance to escalate tensions further. Despite pressure from the U.S. administration, NATO members are prioritizing diplomatic solutions and cautioning against military intervention. This resistance underscores the alliance's commitment to maintaining stability and avoiding unnecessary conflict in the region. The situation remains delicate as diplomatic efforts continue to address the ongoing issues with Iran.

On April 10, 2026, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority announced that the Monetary Commissioner had granted stablecoin issuer licenses to Idle Fintech Limited and The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited under the Stablecoin Ordinance to issue stablecoins in Hong Kong.

According to OKX's official announcement, the 7th "BTC Special" of the Play & Earn Strategy Trading program has officially begun, with a total prize pool of 1.13 million USDT. From now until 23:59 (GMT+8) on April 17, 2026, new users who deposit 10 USDT will receive a 100 USDT airdrop position, and those who trade 100 USDT will receive an additional 20 USDT reward. New and existing users who trade 10,000 USDT can receive up to 5,000 USDT worth of BTC.

Japan has approved a bill moving cryptocurrency under financial securities law, introducing insider trading rules, stricter penalties, and annual disclosure requirements for issuers.

After a 70% drop in node count, Solana is now in a panic. According to Jinse Finance, the number of Solana nodes has decreased by 70% from its historical high.

DeepSeek's final letter urging DeepSeek to update its content. Golden Finance: The people miss DeepSeek.

Star Xu rejected claims in CZ’s memoir and called them false, sparking a public dispute between the two founders. The feud revived old disagreements involving OKX, Binance and Huobi over early crypto industry events and personal accusations.

In his all new memoir, former Changpeng Zhao has accused competing crypto exchanges of spending “millions in lobbying fees” and funded negative media coverage in an effort to block his presidential pardon.

Why did Covenant AI withdraw from Bittensor? How did Bittensor respond? Why did Covenant AI's withdrawal cause Bittensor's stock price to plummet by 17%?

MarketVector and Coinbase Asset Management launched a new index that combines Bitcoin and tokenised gold to track modern store-of-value investments. The index uses a volatility-based model and quarterly rebalancing to balance risk and returns between the two assets.

A high-profile memecoin gala hosted by Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago is raising fresh doubts over both scheduling feasibility and ethics, as the event clashes with the White House Correspondents’ Dinner and draws scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers over potential conflicts of interest.