The post Exclusive: Crypto CEO Breaks Down Why Bitcoin and Ethereum Prices Fell After Fed’s Shock Decision appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged, but the decision itself was almost beside the point. What rattled crypto markets was a single phrase buried in the policy statement that traders and analysts pulled apart within minutes of its release.

Gone was the familiar characterisation of inflation as “somewhat elevated.” In its place, the Fed said inflation “is elevated.”

The odds of any rate cut in 2026 fell immediately to a new low of 44%. Bitcoin slipped toward $75,000. Ethereum dropped below $2,250. 

What It Means for Crypto

Avinash Shekhar, Co-Founder and CEO of crypto derivatives platform Pi42, told Coinpedia the impact on digital assets is real but should not be overstated.

“The Fed’s decision to hold rates steady has reinforced a higher-for-longer interest rate environment, which typically limits excess liquidity flowing into risk assets like crypto,” Shekhar said. “In the immediate term, Bitcoin and Ethereum may see some downward pressure or continued consolidation as markets adjust to delayed rate cut expectations.”

He pointed to price ranges that suggest the market has already done significant work absorbing the macro uncertainty. Bitcoin has been trading between $74,000 and $78,000. Ethereum has held the $2,250 to $2,350 band. Neither picture suggests a market in distress.

“The magnitude of any dip is likely to be measured rather than sharp,” Shekhar said. “A significant part of the macro uncertainty is already priced in.”

The Playbook for Investors

“For investors, this is a phase to stay disciplined with staggered entries rather than reacting to short-term volatility,” he said. “Structurally, institutional participation and sustained adoption trends continue to provide support, suggesting that any softness in prices is more about timing of liquidity than a breakdown in the broader digital asset narrative.”

The variables that matter most from here are not the rate hold itself but what follows: incoming inflation data, the tone of Fed commentary under new leadership after May 15, and whether the Iran situation moves toward resolution or deeper escalation. Until those questions have clearer answers, crypto is more likely to consolidate within established ranges than break decisively in either direction.

The post Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP Prices Drop As Fed Holds Rates and Trump Rejects Iran Deal appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Crypto markets turned lower today as two major macro developments hit simultaneously. The Federal Reserve held interest rates unchanged in what marks Jerome Powell’s final policy decision as Fed Chair, while President Trump rejected Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and signalled a fresh wave of military strikes is being prepared.

Bitcoin fell to $75,164, down 1.29% on the day and 4.83% over the past week. Ethereum dropped to $2,241, off 2.09% in 24 hours. XRP slipped to $1.35, down 2.03% on the day. The broader crypto market cap sits at $2.53 trillion with the Fear and Greed Index reading 39, in fear territory.

The Fed’s Alarming Language Shift

The interest rate decision itself was widely expected. What was not expected was a change in how the Fed described inflation. For months, policymakers had characterised inflation as “somewhat elevated” in official statements. Wednesday’s decision removed that qualifier entirely.

BREAKING: In the final policy decision with Jerome Powell as Fed Chair, the Fed has decided to leave interest rates unchanged.

— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) April 29, 2026

The Fed now says inflation “is elevated.” That single word change carries substantial weight for risk assets. It signals that rate cuts, which markets had been pricing in for later this year, may be further away than previously assumed. Higher rates for longer is not the environment crypto or equities want heading into the second half of 2026.

Iran Escalation Adds Pressure

Compounding the macro uncertainty, President Trump rejected Iran’s offer to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and confirmed plans for what Axios described as a “short and powerful” wave of strikes on Iranian infrastructure. Trump said he would maintain a naval blockade until Iran agrees to a nuclear deal and noted that Iranian oil storage and pipelines are under severe pressure from the ongoing export restrictions.

US oil prices surged above $107 per barrel on the news. Energy price spikes feed directly into inflation readings, which helps explain why the Fed’s language hardened precisely at this moment. Rising oil, elevated inflation, and no rate cuts is a combination that historically pushes investors away from speculative assets.

The post Clarity Act Breakthrough: Senator Tillis Backs Markup and Says Stablecoin Disputes Are Resolved appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The Clarity Act just received its most important push forward in weeks. Senator Thom Tillis, the North Carolina Republican who had been one of the bill’s most vocal internal critics, told reporters on Capitol Hill Tuesday morning that he is ready to move the legislation to a formal committee markup.

“I’m going to ask the chair to move forward with scheduling a markup when we get back,” Tillis said. “I think we’ve made a lot of progress and it’s time to get it before the committee to move it forward.”

The statement marks a turn from a senator who earlier this week had raised fresh concerns about the bill’s impact on software developers under a 1960-era criminal statute, adding to what had appeared to be a growing list of obstacles.

Stablecoin Yield Dispute Largely Settled

Tillis hinted that the stablecoin yield question, which has been the bill’s main point for months, has largely been worked through. Most bank concerns on the issue have been heard and addressed, he said, adding that remaining stakeholders are welcome to engage but must “come and work in good faith.”

On the law enforcement concern he flagged earlier this week regarding software developers and the 1960 criminal statute, Tillis pointed to Senator Lummis’s approach and said he is “generally in support” of where the bill currently stands on that issue.

What Remains Unresolved

With the yield issue largely put to rest, attention inside the Senate is now shifting to two remaining pressure points: ethics language targeting executive branch crypto holdings and DeFi provisions, specifically the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act and Section 1960 protections for software developers.

Senator Lummis, who has been leading on the developer protection issue, offered a cautiously optimistic update. “We’ve made significant progress on safeguards for non-controlling developers with respect to money transmitting laws, and I hope to have more soon,” she said.

On ethics, the picture is more complex. Sources familiar with the process say ethics provisions are being actively negotiated but are more likely to be added after the bill reaches the Senate floor rather than incorporated at the committee markup stage. That sequencing removes one potential blockage from the markup itself while pushing a politically sensitive fight to a later stage.

The Timeline

Tillis outlined a specific sequencing for the final steps. Legislative text on stablecoin yield will be released to stakeholders four to five days before a markup takes place, giving the industry a window to review the language before the committee vote proceeds.

The Senate is currently in recess. A markup scheduled for the second week of May remains consistent with Tillis’s stated intentions and aligns with what multiple sources had been pointing toward before Tuesday’s comments added fresh momentum.

The post Pi Network News: Token Reclaims $2 Billion Market Cap as Consensus Week Approaches Fast appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Pi Network had crossed back above a $2 billion market capitalization, according to CoinGecko data, marking a recovery for a token that has been building quietly.

The move comes on the back of a week of positive developments for the network, with PI climbing more than 11% over seven days and touching a monthly high near $0.20 before a natural consolidation pulled it back slightly as traders booked profits at that round-number resistance level.

What Is Behind the Move

The recovery is not being driven by a single catalyst but by several developments arriving at once.

The completion of the Protocol 22.1 upgrade has been a technical milestone for the network, improving infrastructure ahead of what the team has described as a critical phase in Pi’s mainnet development. 

JUST IN: $PI reclaims a $2B market cap, fueled by technical breakouts and recent network upgrades.. pic.twitter.com/hFSQWeuhgT

— CoinGecko (@coingecko) April 29, 2026

Alongside that, Pi Network has reportedly surpassed 526 million human KYC validation tasks completed by over one million verified participants, a figure that positions the network as one of the largest identity-verified human workforces in the world and directly relevant to demand for verified human credentials in the AI era.

Network activity has strengthened alongside the technical improvements, suggesting the upgrades are translating into genuine on-chain momentum rather than purely speculative buying.

Consensus 2026 Adds Fuel

Analyst Dr Altcoin has pointed to Consensus 2026 in Miami, taking place next week, as an additional catalyst for near-term price movement. Based on current momentum and technical indicators, he expects PI to push toward $0.30 in the days leading up to the event, a move that would represent a further 50% gain from current levels.

The Technical Picture

The chart pattern analysts are pointing to is one of steady accumulation followed by a clean technical breakout rather than a speculative spike. PI is building above important moving averages with the $0.20 level serving as the immediate resistance to watch. A sustained hold and break above that zone opens the path toward $0.25 and the $0.30 target Dr Altcoin has outlined.

The 24-hour pullback from the monthly high is being read as normal profit-taking at a key level rather than a reversal of the broader trend. 

The post CLARITY Act Latest Update: Tillis Adds Fresh Problem, Coinbase Fires Back And Expert Calls Bill Dead appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The Clarity Act was supposed to be heading toward a May markup with momentum behind it. Instead it spent the past 48 hours collecting new problems like a bill that has started to wonder if it actually wants to become law.

The latest arrived Tuesday when Senator Thom Tillis flagged concerns from law enforcement groups about a specific provision in the legislation. 

However, senator Cynthia Lummis reacted to the news and said, “This isn’t a big new hurdle, and is something I’m working on now. I am committed to keeping protections for non-money transmitting developers safe without tying law enforcement’s hands to hold bad actors accountable.”

Coinbase’s CLO Came Out Swinging

Coinbase chief legal officer Paul Grewal did not wait for the dust to settle. He published a detailed thread pushing back on the entire premise that the Clarity Act weakens law enforcement, calling the suggestion flat wrong and backing it up with specifics.

Here is what Grewal says the bill actually does for law enforcement:

• Expands Bank Secrecy Act coverage to digital asset brokers and exchanges, including full AML and sanctions compliance
• Enhances seizure and forfeiture authorities specifically for digital assets
• Creates designated law enforcement contacts at crypto kiosks nationwide
• Establishes new information-sharing channels between the DOJ, Treasury, and the private sector
• Forces crypto activity into US jurisdiction instead of letting it operate offshore beyond regulatory reach

“The alternative, an offshore crypto industry, gives law enforcement far fewer tools than what this framework delivers,” Grewal said.

What Happens if the Bill Dies

Legal commentator MetaLawMan laid out the scenario nobody wants to say out loud, and he said it clearly.

If the Clarity Act fails, here is what does and does not change:

• The GENIUS Act stays as the governing stablecoin law
• Crypto exchanges keep paying rewards on stablecoin holdings
• Jamie Dimon’s predicted bank deposit flight either happens or it does not, with no legislative answer either way
• The Trump family continues operating its crypto ventures without new restrictions

When asked directly whether he thinks the bill will pass, MetaLawMan did not reach for diplomatic language.

“My guess is no, it won’t pass. It should pass. It’s an embarrassment how dysfunctional our government has become. Kazakhstan has passed a legal framework for crypto, for goodness sakes.”

The post Galaxy Digital Q1 Results: Digital Asset Decline Drives Company to $216 Million Loss appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Galaxy Digital reported a net loss of $216 million for the first quarter of 2026, hit primarily by a roughly 20% decline in digital asset prices across the period. Consensus expectations pointed to a loss of $1.06 per share. Galaxy delivered a loss of $0.49, a beat of more than 50% that will carry more weight in markets than the headline number alone.

Total assets stood at approximately $10 billion at the end of the quarter. Equity came in at $2.8 billion, down 8% from the previous quarter. The company held $2.6 billion in cash and stablecoins, providing a substantial liquidity buffer despite the difficult trading environment. Digital asset holdings fell 19% quarter on quarter to $1.36 billion, tracking the broader market decline.

The Data Center Story

The company’s Helios data center facility in Texas delivered its first data hall to CoreWeave in April 2026, marking the transition from construction to revenue-generating operations. Data center revenue is expected to begin ramping meaningfully through the second quarter.

The scale of Galaxy’s infrastructure ambitions is significant. The company has 133 megawatts on track for Q2 delivery, an additional 830 megawatts secured through ERCOT, and a total pipeline exceeding 1.6 gigawatts. For a company known primarily as a crypto financial services firm, the data center buildout represents a structural diversification into AI infrastructure at a moment when demand for computing capacity is accelerating globally.

Assets under management held at approximately $5 billion across the quarter.

Capital Management

Galaxy repurchased 3.2 million shares for $65 million during the quarter, a signal that management views the current valuation as an opportunity rather than a reflection of the company’s underlying value. The company also completed its delisting from the Toronto Stock Exchange, consolidating its public market presence.

The bull case heading into Q2 rests on two pillars: a recovery in digital asset prices from their Q1 lows, and the beginning of recurring data center revenue from the CoreWeave partnership. If both materialise together, Galaxy’s financial profile looks considerably different by mid-year.

A sustained recovery in digital assets is not guaranteed, and the data center ramp takes time to show up in reported numbers.

The post Why is Pi Network One of The Top Five Trending Coins Today? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Pi Network has climbed 13.70% over the past seven days, making it one of the strongest performers in the top trending list at a time when the broader crypto market is down 0.20% and Layer 1 tokens as a category are down 0.30%

Open interest in PI futures has surged sharply, pointing to fresh capital entering the market and increased directional positioning from traders who are starting to lean bullish. Volume is rising alongside price, a combination that analysts typically treat as a more credible signal than price movement alone.

What Is Driving It

Three things are converging to push Pi into the spotlight right now.

The first is Consensus 2026 in Miami, coming up next week. Analyst Dr Altcoin says Pi’s price appears to be gaining momentum specifically in anticipation of the event and expects the token to move toward $0.30 in the days leading up to it. Major industry conferences have historically been catalysts for token attention regardless of what is officially announced.

The second is Protocol 23, scheduled to roll out in May. The upgrade is expected to bring smart contracts and expanded DeFi functionality to the Pi ecosystem, a significant step for a network that has been building toward broader utility for years. With over 10 billion tokens on mainnet and billions locked, the supply picture remains relatively managed heading into what could be a busy development period.

The third is Pi’s dominance within its own category. The total mobile mining category has a market cap of around $1.94 billion. Pi Network alone accounts for 99.7% of it. Pi is not leading the mobile mining category. It essentially is the mobile mining category.

The Technical Picture

PI is currently testing a key resistance level near $0.190. A clean break above that opens the path toward $0.2045 and then $0.220. Price is holding above key moving averages and momentum indicators have turned positive, suggesting buyers are in control of the short-term trend.

Whether the Consensus catalyst, Protocol 23 anticipation, and broader community momentum are enough to sustain the move beyond those levels is the question the market is working through right now.

The post Charles Hoskinson Says Ripple Will Keep Selling XRP And Walk Away With The Money appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has taken a swipe at Ripple, saying the company has no intention of linking its business model to XRP token buybacks and that holders should not expect to share in the wealth the firm is building.

Speaking in a conversation, Hoskinson said Ripple’s approach has been consistent for over a decade. The company sells XRP, generates billions of dollars and uses those funds to acquire hard assets through a corporate structure that XRP holders have no ownership of. Token holders, he said, do not get access to the prime brokerage business or any of the other valuable pieces Ripple is building with the proceeds.

What He Thinks Ripple Should Do

Hoskinson acknowledged there is a path Ripple could take that would make XRP genuinely attractive. If the company committed 20 to 30% of its revenue to XRP buybacks, he said, it would fundamentally change the token’s value proposition. He pointed to Hyperliquid as an example of how buyback programmes work in practice, noting that the project climbed from outside the top 30 into the top 10 by market capitalisation largely on the back of its buyback mechanism.

The model is not complicated. Use the platform, generate revenue, buy back the token. But Hoskinson said Ripple has neither a financial incentive nor, currently, a statutory incentive to do that. Without regulatory pressure forcing the issue, he does not expect the company to voluntarily redirect profits toward token holders.

The EOS Warning

To illustrate his concern, Hoskinson reached back to one of crypto’s most infamous examples. Block One raised $4 billion for the EOS token in 2018 and almost immediately declared it had no fiduciary obligation to EOS holders. The company walked away with the money and the token community was left with nothing.

Hoskinson said the same dynamic could play out with XRP, and warned it would be a serious mistake given how vocal and passionate the XRP community is. A situation where Ripple accumulates billions in real assets while token holders get nothing, he suggested, is the kind of thing that tears communities apart.

The Bigger Picture

Hoskinson’s comments land at a moment when the Digital Asset Market Structure Clarity Act is working its way through the US Senate. If the bill passes, it could establish clearer frameworks around token utility, revenue sharing and issuer obligations. Whether that creates any legal pressure on Ripple to connect its business model to XRP remains to be seen.