SEC raises concerns over Coinbase in objection to Celsius restructuring plan

The evolving relationship between Bitcoin and traditional financial markets is under renewed pressure as global investors flee risk assets amid intensifying US trade tensions.US-listed spot Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded their fourth consecutive day of outflows on April 8, with more than $326 million in net redemptions across products, according to data from Farside Investors.BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) saw the largest sell-off of over $252 million, its biggest daily outflow since Feb. 26.Bitcoin ETF flows, US dollars, millions. Source: Farside InvestorsThe selling pressure follows US President Donald Trump’s April 2 announcement of sweeping reciprocal import tariffs, which triggered a historic $5 trillion wipeout in the S&P 500 over two days.Related: Bitcoin may rival gold as inflation hedge over next decade — Adam BackThe delayed crypto market turbulence after the tariff-related sell-off in traditional markets highlights Bitcoin’s “evolving relationship with traditional markets,” according to Lennix Lai, global chief commercial officer at OKX exchange.Lai told Cointelegraph:“While falling 26% since January’s inauguration, Bitcoin’s relative resilience in the first two days following the tariff announcement — dropping 6% compared to Nasdaq’s 11% decline — suggests a nuanced dynamic emerging between crypto and conventional assets.”Bitcoin initially remained firmly above the $82,000 support level but plummeted below $75,000 on Sunday, April 6.BTC/USD, 1-year chart. Source: Cointelegraph Markets ProSome industry leaders attributed Sunday’s sell-off to Bitcoin’s 24/7 liquidity mechanics, which made BTC the only large liquid asset available for de-risking over the weekend.Related: Bitcoin price can hit $250K in 2025 if Fed shifts to QE: Arthur HayesBitcoin remains tied to global liquidity conditionsWhile there is an “encouraging sign” of a weakening correlation between Bitcoin and equities, Bitcoin’s price trajectory remains tied to global liquidity conditions, Lai said, adding:“Though I see early signs of divergence, I believe Bitcoin remains fundamentally tied to global liquidity conditions, warranting caution amid potential market stresses — whilst gold remains as a hedge against geopolitical instability.”“What’s most significant here isn’t just price action but Bitcoin’s growing conceptual influence — people increasingly view it as a valid strategic reserve asset for diversification in chaotic traditional markets,” Lai added.Other analysts also see the growing money supply as Bitcoin’s main catalyst.“Bitcoin trades solely based on the market expectation for the future supply of fiat,” according to Arthur Hayes, co-founder of BitMEX and chief investment officer of Maelstrom.Magazine: Bitcoin ATH sooner than expected? XRP may drop 40%, and more: Hodler’s Digest, March 23 – 29

Lawmakers in Argentina’s Chamber of Deputies backed an investigation into President Javier Milei’s alleged involvement in the Libra (LIBRA) cryptocurrency scandal.According to an April 8 report by local news outlet Buenos Aires Times, deputies in the lower house voted 128 to 93 in favor, with seven abstentions. The same proposal previously failed to move forward in the Senate.The news follows Milei promoting the LIBRA memecoin on social media. With the Argentine president leveraging his credibility as a government official and his 3.8 million followers, the token quickly reached $5, briefly touching a market cap of $4 billion.Milei has since faced accusations of wrongdoing, with critics claiming that LIBRA was a rug-pull scam and that he lured investors in. Lawyer Jonatan Baldiviezo, alongside Marcos Zelaya, engineer María Eva Koutsovitis and economist Claudio Lozano, a former head of Argentina’s central bank, filed a lawsuit against Milei, accusing him of fraud.Related: KIP Protocol reveals involvement in Javier Milei-endorsed Libra rug pullA presidential-scale disasterAccording to Baldiviezo, Milei’s promotion was instrumental in an “illicit association” with the promoters of the cryptocurrency. The non-governmental organization Observatorio del Derecho a la Ciudad shared the concerns and filed a case that accused the president of promoting a scheme that reportedly resulted in over 40,000 investors losing more than $4 billion. February onchain data showed that the hardest hit investors of the LIBRA memecoin pump and dump scheme lost a combined $251 million. Blockchain data shows that of the 15,430 wallets that sold at a profit or loss of more than $1,000, over 86% of those sold at a loss, resulting in a total of $251 million lost.Despite numerous sources showing his social media posts, in mid-February, Milei denied claims that he promoted LIBRA. He said at the time:“I did not promote that. What I did, I spread the word.”Related: Javier Milei risks impeachment after endorsing $107M Libra rug pullA reported family businessOne of the creators behind the controversial Libra crypto token reportedly sent a text message bragging about being able to pay Argentine President Javier Milei’s sister in exchange for the president sharing the memecoin’s details on social media. According to February reports, Hayden Davis — a person connected to the project — sent a message to a crypto investment firm executive saying that he could pay Karina Milei for “control” over the Argentine president:“We can also have Milei tweet and meet in person and do promo. I send $$ to his sister and he does whatever I say and does what I want.”Magazine: Memecoins are ded — But Solana ‘100x better’ despite revenue plunge

The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has warned that crypto will increasingly threaten traditional financial markets’ stability as the industry grows and becomes more entwined with traditional finance players.“We cannot rule out that future sharp drops in crypto prices could have knock-on effects on our financial system,” ESMA’s executive director Natasha Cazenave said in an April 8 statement to the Economic and Monetary Affairs Committee.Cazenave noted, however, that crypto currently only accounts for 1% of global financial assets and is not yet significant enough to cause major “spillover effects” into traditional financial markets.She warned that interconnections between crypto and traditional markets are rapidly growing — particularly in the more crypto-friendly US — and called for closer monitoring.“Crypto-assets markets evolve quickly, in an often unpredictable manner, and we need to keep a close eye on these developments,” Cazenave said, adding:“Turmoil, even in small markets, can originate or catalyze broader stability issues in our financial system.”Cazenave’s concerns ranged from spot crypto exchange-traded funds and stablecoin use to hacks, scams and scandals — highlighting the recent $1.4 billion Bybit exploit and FTX’s collapse in November 2022.Today in the ECON Committee, the role of crypto assets in relation to financial market stability was discussed. The European Central Bank (ECB) and the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) were present.I raised a critical question about the digital euro.… pic.twitter.com/KST7FRBhFF— Engin Eroglu (@EnginEroglu_FW) April 8, 2025The European Union has already implemented several measures to safeguard against crypto risks, most notably the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation that was rolled out last year.While Cazenave said MiCA marked a “breakthrough” for crypto regulation, she added that there is “no such thing as a safe crypto-asset” and that more rules may need to be implemented to mitigate future risks.Related: EU could fine Elon Musk’s X $1B over illicit content, disinformationHer comments come as both crypto and the stock markets have experienced double-digit falls over the last few weeks as the Trump administration continues to follow through on its tariff plans.Europe lags US in crypto adoptionWhile crypto adoption has accelerated in the US, Cazenave noted that over 95% of European banks remain on the sidelines, with no involvement in crypto-related activities.However, retail participation is on the rise, with an estimated 10% to 20% of European investors having crypto exposure, which is in line with growing global interest, Cazenave said.Most reports measuring US crypto adoption suggest that the range of adoption is between 15% and 28% of the population.Magazine: Financial nihilism in crypto is over — It’s time to dream big again