Crypto faces backlash for freezing stolen funds and for doing nothing, with expectations pulling in opposite directions. Decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols are stepping in to freeze stolen funds while centralized issuers face criticism for holding back. A recent intervention on Arbitrum saw attacker-linked assets frozen after a major exploit, while some stablecoin issuers, including Circle, have faced public backlash for slower or more limited responses in similar situations. Connor Howe, CEO and co-founder of cross-chain infrastructure project Enso, said that crypto protocols are not that different from centralized platforms or banks if a small group of people can freeze funds. Read more
Crypto VC funding fell to $659 million in April, its lowest monthly total since July 2024, as dealmaking slowed across the sector. Crypto venture capitalist (VC) funding plunged to a near two-year low in April as investors pulled back from crypto start-ups and early-stage companies. Crypto VC funding fell to $659 million across 63 funding rounds in April, down 74% from the $2.6 billion seen across 84 rounds in March, according to Cryptorank data. This brings the total year-to-date investments to $5.64 billion so far in 2026. The April total was the lowest monthly fundraising sum since July 2024, when crypto projects raised $622 million across 132 rounds. Read more
Dogecoin whale wallets hit record DOGE holdings as the price rallies 23.5%, strengthening the memecoin’s rally chances in May. Dogecoin (DOGE) has outpaced the broader crypto market over the past month, rising roughly 18% versus the market’s 10% gain, as whale accumulation and a bullish chart setup hint at a potential bottom. DOGE/USDT vs. TOTAL crypto market cap 30-day returns. Source: TradingView Read more
US spot Bitcoin ETFs posted strong April inflows as Bitcoin rallied, with IBIT leading gains despite late-month outflows across funds. US-listed spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds (ETFs) finished April in the green as Bitcoin rallied throughout the month. Bitcoin ETFs drew $1.97 billion in inflows in April, well above March’s $1.37 billion, marking their highest monthly inflows of the year, according to SoSoValue data. With inflows in March and April offsetting outflows in January and February, Bitcoin ETFs now show about $1.47 billion in net inflows for 2026. The cumulative net inflows to the products since they launched have topped $58 billion. Read more