It’s been a turbulent week in crypto. Bitcoin climbed to near $74,000 as the US-Iran war and recession fears pushed investors toward scarce assets, but analysts warn the five-month bear market isn’t over yet.
Meanwhile, the TRUMP meme coin exploded 38% after top holders were invited to dine with the president at Mar-a-Lago, the DOJ opened a fresh Binance investigation tied to Iranian sanctions, and a major crypto executive declared altseason officially dead.
These are just the highlights. The full recap breaks down everything that moved markets this week; dive in below.
Bitcoin Quietly Becomes a Safe Haven as US-Iran War Drags On
As stocks slide and gold ETFs bleed billions, Bitcoin has climbed 20% from its 2026 lows to $71,445. Spot Bitcoin ETFs raised over $1.3 billion this month, suggesting institutional investors are treating BTC as a refuge, a role it’s historically struggled to play during crises.
X Money Launches Without Dogecoin, Crushing a Key Price Catalyst
Dogecoin fell 1.65% after Elon Musk confirmed X Money launches in April with no announced DOGE integration, deflating one of the coin’s most anticipated catalysts. Despite a 176% spike in active addresses, macro headwinds kept buyers away. DOGE is trading at $0.094, down nearly 66% over the past six months.
Pi Network Dumps 30% After Kraken Listing
Pi Network fell 30% to $0.2085 days after listing on Kraken, a classic “buy the rumor, sell the news” reversal. Profit-taking added pressure after a 126% rally, while Kraken trading volume disappointed at just $451K. Analysts see potential recovery toward $0.30 and $0.50 if bullish momentum returns.
Trump Coin Jumps 38% After Holders Get Invited to Mar-a-Lago Dinner
The TRUMP meme coin surged 38% to $4.20 after an announcement that the top 297 token holders would receive invitations to a gala lunch with Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago on April 25. Trading volume exploded 714%, and on-chain data showed whales quietly accumulating millions of tokens hours before the news broke.
U.S. Sanctions North Korean Agents Behind $800M Crypto Scheme
The U.S. Treasury has sanctioned six people and two entities linked to a North Korean operation that netted nearly $800 million in 2024. The scheme involved DPRK IT workers posing as remote developers at Western companies, getting paid in crypto, funds officials say went straight toward nuclear and missile programs.
DOJ Investigates Binance Over Alleged Iran Sanctions Evasion
The U.S. Justice Department is investigating whether Iran used Binance to bypass American sanctions, focusing on over $1 billion in alleged transfers to Iran-linked wallets. Scrutiny intensified after Binance reportedly shut down an internal compliance review mid-investigation. The exchange denies wrongdoing, but faces mounting pressure from lawmakers and federal prosecutors.
Ripple Expands into Australia While XRP Flashes Bottoming Signs
Ripple Labs is acquiring BC Payments to fast-track an Australian Financial Services License and bypass a lengthy application process. The move strengthens Ripple’s Asia-Pacific presence as it pushes into payments, custody, and treasury services. Meanwhile, XRP is holding above $1.34 support with technical indicators hinting at a potential bounce toward $2.
Arthur Hayes Predicts 330% HYPE Surge as Hyperliquid Volume Hits $42B
Hyperliquid’s HYPE token climbed to $34 after BitMEX founder Arthur Hayes predicted a run to $150. The platform is gaining ground, logging $42 billion in weekly trading volume, fueled partly by weekend oil and gold trading during the Iran war, while generating $69 million in monthly fees.
WLFI Staking Proposal Passes as Token Tests Key Price Level
World Liberty Financial’s governance staking proposal passed with 99.29% approval, introducing tiered staking with lock-up periods, voting incentives, and exclusive node perks for large holders. WLFI is trading around $0.10, a critical demand zone, with volume spiking 20% as traders watch whether the vote can spark a sustained recovery.
