Author: rb809rb

Binance, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, has taken a new step to expand its spot market trading options. According to the official announcement, the exchange will make the $AVNT/U, $BIO/U, $CHIP/U, $CHIP/$USD1, KAT/U, $USD1/TRY, and XAUT/$USD1 trading pairs available to users starting April 28, 2026, at 11:00 AM.

Binance aims to improve the user experience by adding new trading pairs and will also launch Trading Bots services for these pairs. These automated trading tools, called Spot Algo Orders, will allow investors to automatically execute buy and sell transactions according to their chosen strategies.

The exchange also announced it will launch a zero-commission campaign for certain trading pairs. Accordingly, no “maker” commission will be charged to eligible users on $AVNT/U, $BIO/U, $CHIP/U, and KAT/U pairs. The campaign will begin on April 28, 2026, and will continue indefinitely. However, it was stated that “taker” commissions will be applied at standard rates during this period.

Binance officials also emphasized that transactions made during the campaign period will be included in users’ VIP level calculations. They stated that standard transaction fees will return to the platform once the campaign ends.

On the other hand, it was noted that TRY in the $USD1/TRY trading pair is a fiat currency and does not represent any digital asset. This development is seen as part of Binance’s strategy to increase product diversity across different markets.

*This is not investment advice.

KBank, the South Korean digital-only bank that serves as the exclusive banking partner for crypto exchange Upbit, is set to test onchain cross-border remittances with Ripple, the bank said Monday.

The two companies have completed the first phase of a proof-of-concept using a wallet-based remittance system and are now in phase two, testing the stability of onchain transfers to countries including the United Arab Emirates and Thailand.

KBank is using Palisade, Ripple’s software-as-a-service wallet that was acquired earlier this year as part of Ripple’s $4 billion in crypto-related investments.

Most international bank transfers today route through correspondent banking networks like SWIFT, which can take days to settle and charge fees that compound at each intermediary.

Onchain remittances move funds directly across a blockchain network, settling in minutes with the fee paid only to the network rather than the chain of correspondent banks.

The Ripple partnership tests whether KBank can use that approach to improve speed, cost, and transparency for its remittance customers.

KBank also indicated it is preparing for stablecoin-related regulations in Korea, with plans to continue technical verification of remittance use cases for stablecoins as the legal framework develops.

Korean regulations require all crypto exchange users to link a verified bank account before trading, with each major exchange paired exclusively with one bank. KBank holds that monopoly position with Upbit, the country’s largest crypto exchange. The arrangement helped KBank’s user base grow from roughly 2 million in 2020 to 15 million by the end of 2025.

South Korea lawmakers are currently mulling the Digital Asset Basic Act, a comprehensive crypto regulatory framework that is being finalized. Major Korean financial institutions have been signing infrastructure deals with global blockchain companies in the run-up to the law taking effect.

Korea is one of the most active retail crypto markets in the world, with daily trading volumes on local exchanges regularly outpacing those of mainstream stocks during peak periods. Banks operating in this market are positioning to handle the corporate and cross-border activity expected to follow once the Digital Asset Basic Act formalizes how stablecoins, custody, and tokenized assets are treated under Korean law.

Western Union, one of the biggest firms facilitating money transfers for consumers internationally, is set to release its flagship Solana-based stablecoin next month, CEO Devin McGranahan said during the company’s first-quarter earnings call.

Dubbed the U.S. Dollar Payment Token, or USDPT, the token serves as a settlement alternative to SWIFT across select markets and agent partners. With USDPT, Western Union aims to deliver faster, lower-cost international transfers to 100 million users.

The remittance giant also plans to introduce a Digital Asset Network (DAN) to bridge crypto and fiat, allowing users to convert digital assets into cash through its global footprint, and a USD Stable Card targeting inflation-sensitive markets where customers seek dollar-denominated spending power.

According to McGranahan, the strategy reflects Western Union’s focus on innovation. USDPT and the new network are expected to strengthen its position by linking digital assets with traditional finance.

Western Union has partnered with Crossmint to support the rollout of its USDPT stablecoin, integrating Crossmint’s wallet and payment APIs with Western Union’s Digital Asset Network.

The collaboration will enable fintech platforms to access USDPT, settle transactions on the Solana blockchain, and convert digital assets into local currency through Western Union’s global payout infrastructure across more than 200 countries and 360,000 locations.

Western Union posted adjusted revenue of $983 million in Q1 2026, down about 1% from the prior year. Its Consumer Services segment grew 24% on a GAAP basis. Shares on the NYSE closed at $8.9 after falling nearly 5% last Friday.

An onchain trader previously flagged by analysts at Lookonchain as the wallet behind a profitable Apecoin insider trade has expanded a Lido DAO long position to 10.26 million $LDO, valued at approximately $4.58 million.

Key Takeaways:

• The wallet linked to the APE insider trade now holds 10.26 million $LDO worth $4.58 million, per Lookonchain.
• The accumulation follows $LDO’s April 20 sell-off, when the token dropped roughly 19% amid KelpDAO-linked decentralized finance contagion.
• $LDO has recovered approximately 5% in the past 24 hours as broader sentiment across DeFi stabilizes.

Same Wallet, New Position

The wallet first drew attention when Lookonchain analysts identified it as the source behind an early Apecoin move that converted $174,000 into $2.45 million in a single trading session. The same address has since rotated into Lido DAO, the decentralized finance ( DeFi) liquid staking protocol that controls the largest share of staked ether on the Ethereum network.

The $LDO accumulation intensified in the aftermath of the KelpDAO breach earlier in April, which triggered a broad sell-off across DeFi tokens. $LDO fell approximately 19% on April 20 as contagion from the incident rippled through liquidity pools and drove large-scale capital exits from Aave and related protocols.

The wallet’s willingness to accumulate through that dip suggests a deliberate counter-trend position, and at 10.26 million $LDO, the stake is valued at roughly $4.58 million at current prices.

$LDO Steadies as DeFi Sentiment Recovers

Lido DAO has traded up approximately 5% in the past 24 hours, extending a tentative recovery following the worst of the DeFi liquidity crunch. Trading volume for $LDO reached approximately $58.4 million in the 24-hour period ending April 26, reflecting renewed speculative interest in the protocol.

Lido controls roughly 28% of all staked ether, giving $LDO token holders governance authority over one of the largest DeFi protocols by total value locked. A separate investor acquired $1.86 million in $LDO over-the-counter in April following the protocol’s $20 million token repurchase program, approved by the DAO in the same month, pointing to a wider pattern of accumulation from larger onchain participants during the recent weakness.

If this contrarian bet pays off will likely depend on ethereum’s broader market performance, but for now, all metrics indicate that smart money is using the recent volatility as a strategic opportunity to secure governance power at a discount.

Current Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s term expires in May. US President Donald Trump has nominated Kevin Warsh to replace Powell as FED chairman.

As Kevin Warsh awaits Senate confirmation to become Fed Chairman, Republican Senator Thom Tillis, one of the most critical figures in Warsh’s Senate confirmation process, has withdrawn his opposition.

At this point, Tom Tillis announced that he would support the confirmation of Kevin Warsh as the FED Chairman nominee.

Senator Thom Tillis cited the investigation into the Fed and Powell as the reason for his opposition. However, that investigation is now over.

Senator Tillis, in a statement made via account X, said the following:

“The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has concluded its investigation against Chairman Jerome Powell. Therefore, I will support the confirmation of nominee Wash.”

The senator stated that the US Justice Department’s investigation into the renovation of the Fed buildings was an attack on the Fed’s independence.

Tillis stated, “This investigation was one that could threaten the independence of the Federal Reserve. We couldn’t consider supporting it before the investigation was concluded.”

As you may recall, the US Department of Justice recently concluded its investigation into the FED and Powell.

Furthermore, Senator Tillis alone could prevent the vote on Warsh’s nomination from moving forward and halt the process. Therefore, Tillis’s opposition was seen as the biggest obstacle to Kevin Warsh’s nomination.

*This is not investment advice.