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Product Director Jerry from Mentis confirmed attendance at the "Crypto 2026: From Cryptocurrency to Smart Economy" themed forum to be held in Hong Kong on April 19, and will participate in a roundtable discussion. This event is co-hosted by ChainCatcher and RootData, and is one of the important peripheral activities of the Hong Kong Web3 Carnival.Mentis is an on-chain AI assistant designed to combine artificial intelligence and blockchain data, helping users better understand the market, discover signals, and take action more quickly. This forum will focus on the paradigm shift under the deep integration of AI technology and cryptocurrency networks, engaging in in-depth discussions on cutting-edge tracks such as AI Agent economy, smart payments, RWA, and cryptocurrency infrastructure. At the intersection of technological leaps and economic restructuring, this themed forum not only provides insights into the current state of the industry but also offers a forward-looking reflection on the future smart economic system.Event registration: https://luma.com/18v6vwpf

The Hong Kong Stock Exchange today published a consultation document regarding the shortening of the settlement cycle for the Hong Kong stock cash market (the "Consultation Document"), proposing to shorten the settlement cycle from the current T+2 to T+1, and seeking market opinions on the proposal.

According to Coinglass data, if Bitcoin breaks through $77,000, the cumulative short liquidation intensity on major CEXs will reach $1.17 billion. Conversely, if Bitcoin falls below $73,000, the cumulative long liquidation intensity on major CEXs will reach $1.277 billion.Note: The liquidation chart does not show the exact number of contracts to be liquidated or the exact value of the contracts being liquidated. The bars on the liquidation chart actually represent the significance of each liquidation cluster relative to nearby liquidation clusters, that is, the intensity. Therefore, the liquidation chart shows to what extent the underlying price reaching a certain position will be affected. A higher "liquidation bar" indicates that once the price reaches that point, there will be a stronger reaction due to liquidity waves.

According to Edaily, Kim Sang-hoon, the chairman of the Digital Assets Special Committee of the People Power Party of Korea, expressed concerns about the restrictions on equity in cryptocurrency exchanges at an academic conference. He called for the prioritization of advancing the basic law on digital assets related to stablecoins (Phase Two legislation) to avoid getting caught in equity regulatory disputes and missing the golden legislative opportunity.He pointed out that the reality of the issuance and circulation of the Korean won stablecoin KRWQ has emerged overseas, posing a severe challenge to monetary sovereignty. Kim Sang-hoon emphasized that the law should provide market predictability, offer clear guidance for operators, and establish effective safety mechanisms for users.

According to Coinglass data, the Coinbase Bitcoin premium index has been positive for 9 consecutive days, currently reported at 0.0117%. The buying sentiment in the U.S. market continues to warm up, after being in negative premium for 15 consecutive days.ChainCatcher Note: The Coinbase Bitcoin premium index is used to measure the difference between the Bitcoin price on Coinbase (a mainstream trading platform in the U.S.) and the global market average price. This index is an important indicator for observing capital flows in the U.S. market, institutional investment enthusiasm, and changes in market sentiment.A positive premium indicates that the Coinbase price is higher than the global average price, which usually means: strong buying in the U.S. market, active entry of institutional or compliant funds, ample dollar liquidity, and optimistic investment sentiment. A negative premium indicates that the Coinbase price is lower than the global average price, which typically reflects: significant selling pressure in the U.S. market, decreased risk appetite among investors, rising market risk aversion, or capital outflows.

According to Hong Kong Radio, the Hong Kong government has decided to stop promoting basketball gambling projects. The Secretary for Home Affairs and Youth Affairs, Mak Mei-juan, stated in an interview with this station that the information collected by the authorities shows that the "prediction market" has developed rapidly in recent years, with monthly trading volume increasing from less than $100 million two years ago to over $13 billion last year, of which nearly 40% of the transactions are related to sports. The authorities are concerned that if new gambling projects are promoted at this time, it will lead to greater public concern and even participation in illegal gambling in the "prediction market." Therefore, it is believed that research should be conducted first before deciding on the next steps, and the promotion of new gambling projects should be halted for now.Mak Mei-juan stated that the existing regulated gambling projects have established a more mature monitoring and management system, which can help control risks. However, due to the uncertainty of the "prediction market," as a responsible government, there is a need to conduct research to understand the impact of the "prediction market" and its prevalence in Hong Kong. She also mentioned that the government has always maintained close contact with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, as the club has a rigorous monitoring system to oversee illegal gambling situations, and there are experts specifically targeting the fight against illegal gambling. The government will cooperate with the Jockey Club to obtain professional advice, allowing the authorities to implement measures specifically aimed at illegal gambling.Mak Mei-juan reiterated that the government's consistent policy is not to encourage gambling, and betting on sports projects in the "prediction market" is considered illegal gambling. The authorities will strengthen public education to help citizens understand the harms of gambling and refrain from participating in illegal gambling.

According to GMGN monitoring, the market capitalization of the Ethereum chain meme coin ASTEROID has surpassed 20 million USD, currently reported at 21.84 million USD, setting a new historical high, with a 24-hour trading volume of 14.7 million USD.ChainCatcher reminds users that meme coin trading is highly volatile, largely relying on market sentiment and speculative concepts, with no actual value or use cases; investors should be aware of the risks.

According to CoinDesk, Bitcoin is currently priced at $74,700, down 0.4% in the last 24 hours. News of ceasefire negotiations between the U.S. and Iran has boosted risk sentiment, with the S&P 500 index reaching a record high on Thursday. Trump stated that the prospects for a permanent ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran "look very optimistic," claiming that Iran has agreed to abandon its nuclear ambitions, hand over nuclear materials, and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, although Iran has not yet confirmed these concessions.Meanwhile, the market is closely monitoring the structural signals behind Bitcoin's price movements. ZeroStack CEO Daniel Reis-Faria stated, "The funding rate is so negative that it indicates the market is heavily short. If Bitcoin continues to rise in this context, a large number of short positions may be forced to close, further accelerating the price upward." He predicts that if the short base is forced to cover, Bitcoin could reach $125,000 within the next 30 to 60 days.On-chain analyst CryptoVizArt provided another perspective: Bitcoin's "True Market Mean" (TMM) shows that the average cost basis of active holders is currently above the market price, indicating that holders are overall in a state of unrealized losses. Since 2016, consistently falling below this mean has often coincided with Bitcoin's most severe downturns, including the bear market from 2018 to 2019 (with a maximum drop of 57%, lasting 282 days) and the decline following the Luna and FTX collapses from 2022 to 2023 (with a maximum drop of 56%, lasting 339 days).Analysts point out that these two judgments are not mutually exclusive—the short squeeze triggered by the extremely negative funding rate and the structural pressure of overall unrealized losses among active holders can coexist. The former may trigger a significant rise, but ultimately could be absorbed by selling from the latter. The future market direction may depend on whether the U.S.-Iran ceasefire can be sustained after its expiration next week.

As the first centralized exchange (CEX) to connect with Polymarket, Gate's data shows that in the prediction event "How will the Federal Reserve's April interest rate decision change?", the market estimates the probability of interest rates remaining unchanged at a high of 99%. Currently, the overall sentiment in the macro market is cautious, with most participants expecting to maintain a wait-and-see stance in this month's meeting, awaiting more economic data guidance. Keeping interest rates unchanged helps stabilize market liquidity and risk appetite, and various assets, including stock indices and commodities, are expected to attract investor interest. Gate has a comprehensive layout of traditional asset categories, covering the widest range in the network.In addition, users can directly access the prediction market through the Gate App, entering the Polymarket page from the platform's homepage Alpha and using USDT in their exchange account to participate in event predictions. This integration marks a key step for Gate in the fusion of the crypto trading ecosystem and prediction markets, also bringing users a more open and diverse market participation experience.

Bitget launches AIA Simple Earn, with a maximum of 25% APR. Users can go to the corresponding section to subscribe, and the event ends on May 16 at 18:00 (UTC+8). For more product details, please check the official Bitget platform.

According to Cointelegraph, the Ethereum Foundation stated that its funded Ketman project identified 100 North Korean IT personnel lurking in Web3 organizations within six months and issued alerts to about 53 projects, indicating that they may have employed related personnel.The project focuses on the issue of "fake developers" in the cryptocurrency industry and is part of the ETH Rangers public safety funding program. Ketman also developed an open-source detection tool for identifying suspicious GitHub activity and collaborated with the Security Alliance to create an industry identification framework for recognizing North Korean IT personnel.

According to GMGN data, the market value of the ETH chain meme coin ASTEROID has risen to over 8 million USD, currently reported at 8.16 million USD.Meme coin prices are highly volatile, and investors should be aware of the risks. Meme coins generally lack practical application scenarios and rely more on emotional speculation, so caution is advised when entering the market.

According to monitoring by an on-chain analysis platform, a mysterious whale has withdrawn 31.55 million SIREN from Binance Alpha in the past two weeks, worth approximately 64.67 million USD.Meanwhile, the price of SIREN has risen by over 150% today.

Global mobile charging solution provider and RWA entity asset network explorer Electric Soul announced that it will attend the "Crypto 2026: From Cryptocurrency to Smart Economy" forum as a co-supporter, co-hosted by ChainCatcher and RootData.It is reported that the forum will be held on the afternoon of April 19 in Hong Kong, focusing on the paradigm shift driven by the integration of AI technology and cryptocurrency networks. At that time, Electric Soul will share on-site how to leverage shared charging devices and real-world revenue scenarios to map onto the revenue rights chain, bringing physical energy assets into a more transparent and efficient global value network.

According to Coinglass data, if ETH falls below $2,209, the cumulative long liquidation intensity on mainstream CEX will reach $896 million. Conversely, if ETH breaks above $2,439, the cumulative short liquidation intensity on mainstream CEX will reach $872 million.

According to Coinglass data, if BTC falls below $70,926, the cumulative long liquidation intensity on major CEX will reach $1.366 billion. Conversely, if BTC breaks above $78,318, the cumulative short liquidation intensity on major CEX will reach $1.24 billion.

According to Cointelegraph, former U.S. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson warned that U.S. authorities should prepare short-term, targeted emergency plans in advance for the potential collapse of future U.S. Treasury demand. He stated that once a crisis occurs, the impact will be severe. The U.S. Treasury market is seen as the cornerstone of the global financial system, and if it becomes unstable, it could affect the pricing of corporate bonds, mortgages, and stocks.The report pointed out that if a crisis weakens confidence in the dollar, it could drive funds toward alternative value storage assets like Bitcoin and gold; however, Tether, which uses U.S. Treasuries as its main reserve asset, may also face redemption and de-pegging risks.