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Starting 5: LeBron’s dimes lead Lakers, Joker & Murray take control, Knicks & Cavs take Playoff Game 1 wins
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers took Game 1 over the Rockets, as The King handed out 13 assists.

Not in our house.

Saturday was for the home teams, as higher seeds opened the 2026 Playoffs 4-0.

With four more Game 1s on the way — two on ABC, two on NBC & Peacock — what does today have in store?

5 STORIES IN TODAY’S EDITION 🏀

April 19, 2026

LeBron & Luke: James, Kennard lead Lakers over Rockets with Durant out

Denver’s D: Joker & Murray boost scoring while Nuggets shut down Wolves to win Game 1

East Winners: Spida’s 32 lead Saturday’s scorers, Brunson opens & KAT closes as Knicks, Cavs take Game 1’s

ABC Doubleheader: Sixers, Celtics meet for record 116th Playoff game, Thunder’s road to repeat begins

NBC Sunday Night Basketball: No. 1 Pistons clash with No. 8 Magic, Wemby makes Playoff debut

BUT FIRST … ⏰

Reloaded with four more Game 1’s…

Sunday brings four more Game 1’s to get all first-round series underway.
- ABC Doubleheader: No. 2 Celtics meet No. 7 Sixers (1 ET) and No. 1 Thunder start title defense vs. No. 8 Suns (3:30 ET)
- SNB On NBC & Peacock: No. 1 Pistons clash with No. 8 Magic (6:30 ET) before Wemby makes his Playoff debut vs. No. 2 Blazers (9 ET)
1. HOLLYWOOD NIGHT: LEBRON & LUKE SHOW TAKES GAME 1 FOR L.A.

Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images

Houston and L.A. began their First Round series Saturday without the matchup’s top-3 scorers.

In response, the game’s all-time leading scorer came out with seemingly one thing on his mind:

Make something happen.

Lakers 107, Rockets 98: James (19 pts, 8 reb) dished out eight 1st-quarter dimes, on his way to 13 total, and Luke Kennard netted Playoff career-highs of 27 points and 5 3s (100 3P%) to help the Lakers take a 1-0 lead.

L.A. was without top scorers Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves, while Houston missed Kevin Durant (knee contusion) after a practice collision. | Recap
- “For me, I gotta do a little bit of everything,” LeBron said postgame. “That’s what the job requires. So that’s being a triple-threat: being able to rebound, being able to pass, being able to shoot. Also defend.”
- James’ 5th assist – to Kennard – put him at the 2,100 mark for his Playoff career, joining only Magic Johnson as the only players to log that many
- Getting to 8 in that 1st frame, LeBron set a career Playoff high for any quarter, and a Lakers record for most in any Playoff quarter in the play-by-play era
- Finishing with 13, James became the first player age 41 or older with both double-digit assists and a points/assists double-double in a Playoff game
Sean M. Haffey/NBAE via Getty Images

The passing game wasn’t the only area where LeBron made history, as he and Bronny became the NBA’s first father-son duo to win a Playoff game together.
- “That’s probably the craziest thing that’s ever happened to me in my career,” LeBron said of playing in the Playoffs with Bronny. “That’s just insane.”
- Kennard’s Turn: The sharpshooter’s 27 points equal the 2nd-highest total ever for a player in his Lakers postseason debut, trailing Nick Van Exel by a bucket
- Houston filled in for Durant with five 15+ point scorers, including Alperen Sengun (19), Amen Thompson (17), Reed Sheppard (17), Tari Eason (16) and Jabari Smith Jr. (16)
Durant gets an extra day to heal his bruised knee, as the series picks up on Tuesday with Game 2 from L.A. (10:30 ET, NBC/Peacock).

2. NUGGETS WIN GAME 1: 2ND-HALF SHUTDOWN COOLS RIVAL WOLVES

Matthew Stockman/NBAE via Getty Images

Nikola Jokić had 6 points at halftime. He finished with a 25-point triple-double.

Jamal Murray went 0-for-8 from 3. He logged a game-high 30 points.

Denver started 6-for-22 (27.3 FG%) from the field. They won by double-digits.

Showing no panic, the 3-seed Nuggets let their game find its own way in time, and that paid off for a 1-0 First Round lead.

Nuggets 116, Wolves 105: Denver shook off a quiet start to catch the Wolves by halftime and lead the rest of the way, with Joker (25 pts, 13 reb, 11 ast) and Murray guiding the group past Anthony Edwards (22 pts, 9 reb, 7 ast) and their rival Wolves.

Not to be lost in Saturday’s Playoffs excitement, Denver has now won 13 straight games, dating back a full month to its last loss on March 18. | Recap
- Cold Open: The Nuggets’ 6-for-22 start had them facing their largest deficit of the game (12 pts), and still trailing by double-digits going into the 2nd quarter
- Tale Of Two Lines: With 3s not falling, Murray started driving, getting to the foul line eight times in his 14-point, 2nd-quarter rally. He finished 16-for-16 from the stripe
- “We just had to keep shooting,” Murray said. “Myself included. I didn’t make a 3 today. But I didn’t stop shooting. And I was able to find guys and keep the defense on their toes.”
- A Breakthrough: Then early in the 3rd, a 17-2 Denver run built a double-digit lead, with Jokić going on the attack for 12 of his 25 points in that quarter
- Joker credited homecourt advantage: “Whenever we needed a little spark, [the fans] were behind our back, and I love to play in front of our crowds. I think they’re great.”
From there, the Nuggets held the Wolves to just four made 3s and 43 points in the 2nd half. Minnesota had only seven halves all season of 43 points or fewer.
- AE & KG: Edwards passed Kevin Garnett twice with his 237th career Playoff assist, in his 32nd career 20+ point playoff game, taking the franchise lead in both categories
- Murray Joins Jokić: Murray reached his 20th career 30+ point Playoff game, joining Joker (35) as the only Nuggets ever with 20 or more such games
- Jokić Tops MPJ: Joker passed former Nugget Michael Porter Jr. (166) for 2nd-most Playoff triples made in franchise history
Game 2 from Mile High comes our way Monday night (10:30 ET, NBC/Peacock).

3. EAST WINS: BRUNSON OPENS, KAT CLOSES, SPIDA LEADS ALL SCORERS

Elsa/NBAE via Getty Images

Floater in the lane: ✅

Contested wing 3-ball: ✅

Fadeaway bank shot: ✅

Transition triple: ✅

Face-up fadeaway J: ✅

Pull-up from long-range: ✅

Jalen Brunson started Saturday 6-for-6 for 15 points in under 6 minutes.

All that, and the Knicks were up just six, as both New York and Atlanta shot over 85% in the opening 4 minutes of their First Round series opener.

Knicks 113, Hawks 102: Brunson scored 19 of his game-high 28 points in that 1st quarter, and Karl-Anthony Towns (25 pts, 8 reb) took control down the stretch, as New York outlasted CJ McCollum (26 pts, 4 3s) and Atlanta for a 1-0 series lead. | Recap
- 2nd-Half KAT: After a 1-for-6 1st half, Towns took the baton from Brunson, scoring 19 of his 25 points in the 2nd half
- “I was just rusty,” Towns said of his 1st half. “12 days, 13 days without playing… It takes a toll. So just trying to knock the rust off early in the game.”
- It was Towns who sealed the win in the 4th, sinking a triple followed by an and-1 take for back-to-back 3-point plays, capping a 10-0 Knicks run and stretching their lead to 19
- “I knew I was gonna get a chance to show what I could do in a pivotal moment,” said Towns. “I felt good about the 4th quarter and I’m glad I was able to make those shots for my teammates.”
- JB Ties Clyde: Brunson recorded his 29th Playoff game of 25+ points as a Knick, tying Walt Frazier for the 2nd-most in franchise history. Only Patrick Ewing (43) has more
New York and Atlanta tip off Game 2 at The Garden Monday night (8 ET, NBC/Peacock)

Jason Miller/NBAE via Getty Images

With 2:01 remaining, the Cleveland crowd rose to its feet.

The Cavs’ first unit subbed out to a standing ovation, up 16.

Playoff basketball was back in The Land, celebrating a First-Round, Game 1 win for the third consecutive year.

Cavaliers 126, Raptors 113: Donovan Mitchell poured in a game-high 32 points, setting an NBA record with his ninth straight 30+ point performance in a series opener, as the Cavs rolled to a 1-0 lead over RJ Barrett (24 pts), Scottie Barnes (21 pts, 7 ast) and the Raptors. | Recap
- Applause-Worthy: Backing up Mitchell, Max Strus went for a Playoff career-high 24 pts, James Harden (22 pts) dished out 10 assists, and Evan Mobley (17 pts, 7 reb) controlled the paint
- Go Time: In a 4-point game with 1:11 to play before halftime, Cleveland exploded into the 2nd half with a 27-9 carryover run, leading the rest of the way. Strus had 11 points (3 3s) in that decisive stretch
- “Coming out in the 3rd quarter, we upped our intensity defensively,” Mitchell said of the getaway run. “And then obviously, offensively, we did what we do.”
Mitchell’s record-setting nine-game, 30+ point streak in Game 1s has helped him to a 33.1 ppg average across 12 career Game 1s.

This was his 32nd-career 30+ point Playoff game, and 13th for Cleveland, passing Kyrie Irving for 2nd-most in Cavs history.
- “32 is 32, but I’m happy I got a steal…” Mitchell said. “I’m finding ways to get rebounds… Those are the little details that carry over to wins.”
- Harden’s History: The Beard passed Larry Bird (3,897 pts) for 13th place on the NBA’s all-time postseason scoring list
- “It’s tough for defenses to try to figure out which ways to guard both of us,” Mitchell said of his first Playoff pairing with Harden. “We gotta keep it up for the series.”
4. TODAY ON ABC: 76ERS-CELTICS RIVALRY, CHAMPS START TITLE DEFENSE

Isaiah Vazquez/NBAE via Getty Images

The reunited 2024 champs and the Divisional rival who played them closer than anyone this season.

The well-rested defending champions and the red-hot shooting squad who won the West Play-In Finale.

ABC’s Playoff matineé doubleheader delivers on drama and deep storylines. Here’s what to watch for:

(7) Sixers at (2) Celtics (1 ET): NBA Playoff Sunday tips off with the 116th postseason meeting of Philly and Boston, the most in NBA history. The Celtics lead this series all-time, 66-50.

The last time these two franchises met in the Playoffs, the 2023 East Semis went a full seven games, with Jayson Tatum delivering an iconic 50-ball to end it.
- Jay & Jay: Scoring 20+ points in each of his last seven games, Tatum (21.8 ppg in 16 gm) is reunited with Jaylen Brown, who set career-highs (28.7 ppg) while leading the C’s all year
- Before Tatum’s return, these two teams lived up to their thrilling history with three early season matchups, each decided by the final possession (2-1 PHI)
- Philly’s Answer: The Sixers will look to attack with the duo of top-5 scorer Tyrese Maxey (28.3) and two-way talent VJ Edgecombe, the first rookie in 7+ years with 1100 points and 100 steals — not to mention Paul George, who’s averaged 21.2 ppg in his Playoff career
Christian Petersen/NBAE via Getty Images

Following Philly and Boston, OKC takes off on its road to two in a row.

(8) Suns at (1) Thunder (3:30 ET): The reigning champs begin their quest to repeat, taking on Devin Booker, Jalen Green and the hot-shooting Suns.

No NBA team has repeated since the Warriors in 2017-18, with seven straight unique champions since.
- The Thunder are the NBA’s youngest champion in 50 years, and boast the league’s best defensive rating (106.5) since the 2019-20 Bucks, holding opponents 3.5 FG percentage points below the league average
- Phoenix joins OKC with a top-10 defensive rating (112.9, 9th), while both teams rank top-5 in steals per game (9.5+)
- The Reigning MVP: SGA is the first guard in NBA history to average 30+ ppg on 55% shooting. He also ranks 2nd in ppg (31.1), 2nd in iso ppg (8.3), 2nd in 30-pt games (43), and 1st in total clutch points (175)
- Suns all-time leading scorer Devin Booker has the help of a hot hand in Jalen Green, who enters off the 2nd-ever back-to-back 35+ point performances in Play-In history
5. SNB: NO. 1 PISTONS, NO. 8 MAGIC COLLIDE BEFORE WEMBY’S PLAYOFF DEBUT

NBC & Peacock’s Sunday doubleheader features two of this Playoff field’s strongest contenders, in East 1-seed Detroit and West 2-seed San Antonio.

But their respective First Round opponents are uniquely qualified to make this matchup tougher than seedings might suggest.

(8) Magic at (1) Pistons (6:30 ET): Detroit begins its Playoff after its first 60-win season since 2006-07.

The league leader in both steals (10.4) and blocks (6.4) per game, the Pistons operate with the identity of defensive physicality – something Orlando just utilized to overpower the Hornets in its Play-In win to get here.

The Pistons are led by the rising All-Star duo of Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren.
- Cade is back from his collapsed lung, and Detroit’s offensive engine was missed: The Pistons have a 120.4 OffRtg with Cade on-floor, and a 111.1 with him off; a 9.3-point swing
- First-time All-Star Duren dominates the paint with the league’s 3rd-most PITP, while Ausar Thompson logged the most steals in a season (146) by a Piston since Ben Wallace in 06-07
The Magic enter the series coming off a Play-In game statement, making their third straight Playoffs. The team split its four-game series with Detroit this season.
- Paolo Banchero has 336 points through his first 12 career Playoff games (28.0 ppg), and led the way for Orlando in its Play-In win, with 12 first quarter points and a game-high 25 overall
- Acquired last offseason, Desmond Bane has delivered offensively, leading the team in total points (1647) and total 3s (167), and ranking 2nd in assists (338)
Soobum Im/NBAE via Getty Images

After a year of bending physics on the court — and transforming the Spurs into one of the league’s toughest teams — third-year superstar Victor Wembanyama’s about to make his debut on the league’s biggest stage: The Playoffs.

(7) Blazers at (2) Spurs (9 ET): Wemby is set to make his first Playoff appearance against a Portland team that beat San Antonio once in three tries this season.
- The Spurs return to the Playoffs for the first time since 2018–19, with their first 60-win season since 2016–17. They flipped from 60 losses to 60 wins in just two years
- February March: Half those wins came in the final 2.5 months of this season, losing just four games after the start of February (30–4 record)
- With Wemby on the floor, opposing teams shot 5.7% worse – the largest on/off difference of the decade – and the Spurs posted a 103.6 defensive rating, which would rank as the best in the league over a full season
But it’s not just Wemby. He’s backed by a dynamic trio of guards.
- Stephon Castle, the reigning Rookie of the Year, took a leap this season, increasing his points, rebounds, assists, and steals.
- De’Aaron Fox, a two-time All-Star, finished second on the team in scoring and led the team in total clutch points.
- Dylan Harper, the No. 2 overall pick in this year’s draft, provides a spark off the bench for this Spurs squad.
Portland features the league’s third-best defense since the All-Star break, and an international All-Star on the rise, who’s coming off a huge performance.
- Deni Avdija became the first player to record 40 points and 10 assists in a Play-In game, capping off a breakout year in which he joined Joker and Luka as the only players to average 24/6/6
April 20, 2026
American Financial Advisory Firm Shares Two Reasons XRP Could be a Good Buy Before 2027
The Motley Fool, an American financial advisory firm, says the $XRP downturn could present an opportunity for investors ahead of 2027.

$XRP has gone through a tough period, falling 22% since the start of the year and dropping 52% from October 2025, when the current downtrend began. With this decline, The Motley Fool has explained why $XRP could still be worth considering before 2027.

Key Points
- $XRP has collapsed 22% year-to-date, currently sitting at $1.43 as the months-long downtrend persists.
- The Motley Fool shares two reasons this downturn may present an opportunity for investors to procure $XRP before 2027.
- The first reason focuses on how Ripple is changing its strategy toward a broader ecosystem development.
- For the second reason, The Motley Fool mentions $XRP’s growing institutional adoption.
$XRP Downturn Presents Opportunity

In a report, The Motley Fool pointed out that $XRP has struggled throughout 2026. Notably, from the $3.6 high attained last summer, the token has lost more than 60% of its value.

The report suggests that this drop may create an opportunity. For investors who have been waiting for prices to come down, this could be the moment to take a closer look, The Motley Fool said. It then highlighted two main reasons behind its outlook.

Ripple’s Push Toward a Broader Ecosystem

The first focuses on how Ripple is changing its strategy. In the past, Ripple mainly tried to set up $XRP as an alternative to traditional cross-border payment systems like SWIFT. Since its creation in 1973, SWIFT has handled trillions of dollars in daily transactions, along with other major payment networks.

However, getting banks to move away from a trusted and widely used system has not been easy. While Ripple has gained some institutional partners, it has not achieved large-scale adoption as a direct replacement for SWIFT.

As a result, Ripple has started focusing on building a more diverse ecosystem. Instead of relying on a single use case, it is expanding how its technology can be used by connecting with other decentralized projects.

One major step in this direction was the launch of XAO DAO in June 2025, a community-led initiative that funds projects built within the ecosystem.

$XRP Institutional Adoption Gains Momentum Amid Regulatory Clarity

The second reason rests on institutional adoption. The report explains that Ripple’s ecosystem may finally solve one of its biggest challenges: getting large financial institutions on board. These institutions usually prefer systems that are already proven and widely used, rather than new ideas that have not been tested at scale.

Ripple’s ecosystem could meet these needs by presenting multiple layers, such as systems that help prevent fraud and financial crime. It could also support traditional financial products like ETFs moving onto blockchain networks.

Moreover, regulation has also started to improve. For instance, Ripple has settled its long-running case with the U.S. SEC, which began in December 2020. The case reached an agreement in May 2025, with the court dismissing the appeals in August 2025.

At the same time, new laws have emerged in the U.S. Specifically, the report called attention to the GENIUS Act, passed last year, and ongoing work on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act. The Clarity Act passed the House in July 2025 and has continued through Senate discussions at press time, with further progress expected later that month.

These developments show that regulators are starting to put clear rules in place. While it is still uncertain how well Ripple will carry out its plans, the report notes that if it gains momentum in 2026, $XRP’s current price could be one of the last chances to buy the token at a reasonable level before 2027.
April 20, 2026
Anthony Scaramucci Says Bitcoin ‘Checks Every Single Box’ Of What Defines ‘Money’ And That’s Why He’s ‘Bullish’

‘Bitcoin Has Built Its Own Trust System’

In an X post, Scaramucci emphasized the trustworthiness of Bitcoin, comparing it to the trust people have in fiat currencies.

“A dollar bill is made of linen and cotton. But we accept it because we trust it,” Scaramucci stated. “Over 16 years, Bitcoin has built its own trust system — decentralized, no central authority, no single point of failure.”

“It’s becoming part of the model portfolio for individuals and institutions worldwide,” the financier said.Scaramucci then stressed the oft-repeated scarcity narrative of Bitcoin, i.e, its 21 million supply cap, and the fact that it is “faster to move and easier to store” than gold.

“Every characteristic that has defined money throughout human history — Bitcoin checks every single box,” he noted. “That’s why I’m bullish.”

Not Everyone Agrees

Economist Tony Annett countered Scaramucci’s claim, asserting that Bitcoin fails as a medium of exchange, unit of account, or reliable store of value.

What Data Tells Us

Notably, Bitcoin consistently ranked as the most used cryptocurrency for payments, according to payment processor Coingate, accounting for 44% of all transactions between 2014 and 2025.

Additionally, roughly 39% of U.S. merchants accept cryptocurrency payments, with around 2,300 businesses directly accepting Bitcoin, according to a February report by CoinLaw.

Price Action: At the time of writing, BTC was exchanging hands at $74,499.77, down 1.62% in the last 24 hours, according to data from Benzinga Pro.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

Photo Courtesy: Al Teich On Shutterstock

April 20, 2026
Philo Pitches New Subscribers With $33 Live TV Package That Includes HBO Max, Discovery+ and AMC+

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, Variety may receive an affiliate commission.

With its popular $25/month “Essential” package, Philo has long been one of the best values in streaming, when it comes to OTT television. Subscribers get access to more than 70 live TV channels and 130+ on-demand streaming channels for the under-$30 price point, with the ability to livestream shows and movies on up to three devices.

Now, the San Francisco-based streamer is pitching a new “Bundle+” package that adds HBO Max and Discovery+ to the lineup for a new price of $33 monthly.

The expanded offerings launched last fall, and was formerly known as “Philo Core.” Current Philo subscribers automatically had HBO Max and Discovery+ added to their accounts. New users, meantime, can snag the deal at Philo.com.

The $33 price point includes access to 70+ live TV channels including A&E, AMC, Comedy Central, Food Network, HGTV, Lifetime and MTV, plus access to the ad-supported tiers of HBO Max and Discovery+ for on-demand content. Philo already offers AMC+ at no additional charge.

On their own, an HBO Max subscription starts at $10.99 and Discovery+ starts at $5.99, so you’re saving yourself a few bucks by getting them as part of the Philo bundle.

You can use Philo to stream shows like “Euphoria” and “Hacks” on HBO Max, along with “RuPaul’s Drag Race” on MTV, the new season of “Dr. Pimple Popper” on TLC, “Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta” on VH1 and more.

Subscribers also get access to more than 130 free streaming channels, and more than 75,000 on-demand TV shows and movies to watch online on your computer, tablet, phone or smart TV (via the Philo app).

Philo’s plans include unlimited DVR so you can record content to watch back later, and you can stream on three devices at a time (note: Philo lets you create up to ten profiles per account though you can only have three simultaneous streams).

Philo is one of the few streamers that offers both live TV and on-demand content in one package, with the company hailing it as “an integrated, unified experience” (while Hulu + Live TV also offers live TV streaming and Hulu’s on-demand library, their monthly price is increasing to $90/month). Philo adds that the “HBO Max library brings appointment viewing and cultural moments, while Discovery+ delivers the deep catalog engagement that complements our audience preferences perfectly.”

Sign up for Philo’s new package here for just $33. You can also test out the $25 “Essential” service with a seven-day free trial here.

April 20, 2026
Aave Drops 11% as Risk-off Mood and rsETH Hack Concerns Weigh

Aave had an especially steep drop in the past 24 hours, down 11% to trade at $90.25. That decline was more pronounced than the crypto market, which slipped by around 2.25% over the same time. The financial move shows a definitive change in investor trends, where capital retreats from higher-risk holdings. This loss has come at a time when overall market sentiment has been slightly off.

Market pulse has turned cautious especially amid the growing geopolitical tensions. Disruptions to major global trade corridors have compounded the uncertainty. The consequence is that funds have increasingly begun flowing back into relatively safer assets in the crypto space. Bitcoin has been a primary beneficiary of this shift, and altcoins have faced increased selling pressure.

Aave Dips Amid rsETH Hack

The recent security incident linked to rsETH has added another layer of pressure. Aave confirmed that rsETH on the Ethereum mainnet remains fully backed by collateral. Still, the protocol has taken precautionary steps. The asset has been frozen across multiple versions of the platform. This includes Aave V3 and V4 deployments.

Update on rsETH incident:

According to our analysis, rsETH on Ethereum mainnet is fully backed.

Out of an abundance of caution, rsETH remains frozen across Aave V3 and V4 and exposure to the incident is capped.

WETH reserves also remain frozen across affected markets including…

— Aave (@aave) April 19, 2026

In addition, the Wrapped Ethereum reserve has been paused in affected markets. These include Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, Mantle, and Linea.

The decision was taken to prevent further risk as the situation is being evaluated. The team has stated that it is actively considering the issue and working on possible solutions. The attacker forged LayerZero cross-chain messages to withdraw 116,500 rsETH directly from the bridge contract, then deposited the tokens into Aave and other lending platforms to borrow WETH, thus creating significant uncollateralized bad debt risk.

The impact of the incident has been visible in user behavior. A large number of whales have withdrawn funds from the protocol. This price trend appears to be precautionary rather than panic-driven. Yet, it has reduced liquidity within the system. Lower liquidity can increase volatility and make prices more sensitive to selling pressure.

Data from DeFi tracking platforms shows a significant drop in total value locked. Aave’s TVL has declined by over 30% following the incident. It has fallen from around $26.4 billion to nearly $18 billion. This drop is indicative of lower participation and a conservative attitude among users.

The overall market environment has also led to a slump. Ongoing inflows into Bitcoin exchange-traded funds have siphoned liquidity off altcoins. It is common for institutional capital to concentrate on larger and more established assets in times of uncertainty. This trend has limited attempts at recovery for tokens such as Aave.

In the near term, the next decision will be down to very specific price levels. The $90 mark is serving as a major support zone. A holding above this level could help stabilize the price. If selling pressure goes down, a consolidation phase between $90 and $95 may follow. The downside is that any break below $90 could yield further losses. The next support range is between $85 and $87. This zone may interest investors who look for lower entry points. But the overall market slump could delay any significant recovery.

April 20, 2026
Ripple CTO Says RLUSD Evaluation Exposed the Same Risk That Drained $292M From Kelp DAO

David Schwartz, CTO Emeritus at Ripple, had a pointed observation this week after the Kelp DAO rsETH bridge was exploited for approximately $292 million.

He had seen this coming. Not this specific attack, but the conditions that made it possible.

“I evaluated a lot of DeFi bridging systems for use by RLUSD,” Schwartz wrote on X. “I was almost exclusively focused on the security and risk aspect. One thing I noticed is that most schemes were very well designed and had really strong mechanisms available to protect against exactly the type of attack the KelpDAO situation seems to have been caused by.”

The Sales Pitch That Buried the Security Features

What Schwartz described is a pattern he encountered repeatedly during his evaluation process. Bridge providers would pitch their most advanced security features prominently, then almost immediately suggest that those features were optional and that most customers chose not to use them.

“They generally in effect recommended not bothering to use the most important security mechanisms because they have convenience and operational complexity costs,” he wrote. “We were frequently pitched the simplicity and ease of adding more chains with the implicit assumption we wouldn’t bother using the best security features they had.”

“Their sales pitch was that they have the best security features but they’re easy to use and scale, assuming you don’t use the security features,” he said.

What Actually Happened to Kelp DAO

On April 19, Kelp DAO identified suspicious cross-chain activity involving rsETH and paused contracts across mainnet and multiple Layer 2 networks. Approximately 116,500 rsETH was drained through LayerZero-related contract calls, worth around $292 million at current prices.

On-chain analysis from D2 Finance traced the root cause to a private key leak on the source chain, creating a trust issue with OApp nodes that the attacker exploited to manipulate the bridge.

Schwartz offered his own hypothesis about what likely went wrong at the protocol level. “I have a funny feeling part of the problem is going to be something like KelpDAO choosing not to use key LayerZero security features out of convenience,” he wrote.

LayerZero itself offers robust security mechanisms including decentralised verification networks. The question investigators are now examining is whether Kelp DAO configured its implementation using a minimal security setup, specifically a single point of failure with LayerZero Labs as the sole verifier, rather than the more complex but significantly more secure options available.

April 20, 2026
China Box Office: ‘It’s OK’ Retains Top Spot During Quiet Weekend

The local drama “It’s OK” maintained its position at the summit of the China box office during the April 17–19 weekend, earning RMB19.7 million ($2.9 million), according to data from Artisan Gateway.

Produced by China Film and directed by Yang Lina, the film features Wen Qi and Qin Hailu in a story centering on a young woman whose life is disrupted by the sudden arrival of her mother as she prepares for an urgent medical procedure. The production has now reached a cumulative total of $23.7 million.

Columbia Pictures’ “Project Hail Mary” moved up to second place in its fifth weekend, taking in $2.2 million for a total of $37.1 million.

The romantic drama “Nobody But You 2” debuted in third place, earning $2.1 million over its two-day opening weekend. Produced by Zhonglian Jinyi and directed by Chen Chen, the film serves as a sequel to the 2023 romance. The plot follows a protagonist who meets a kindred spirit and travels to the Daliang Mountains to heal old wounds and bring hope back to her hometown.

Universal’s “The Super Mario Galaxy Movie” moved to fourth place, adding $2 million for a cumulative total of $17.2 million.

Rounding out the top five, horror-thriller “The Caged Butterfly” earned $1.9 million, bringing its total to $10.6 million. Produced by Ultra Comedy and directed by Hao Han, the film stars Li Meng, Liu Siwei, and Jiang Zhuojun. The story is set within the notorious Butterfly Mansion villa. The plot follows a physiotherapy therapist and a greedy schemer who move into the haunted estate, only to be plagued by bizarre events and a life-or-death game involving a woman in a red dress and a distorted, eyeless boy.

The frame continues an exceptionally slow period for the market, with the overall weekend gross of $17.8 million marking one of the lowest collective takes of the year.

The 2026 year-to-date revenue stands at $1.86 billion, down 49.8% from the same period in 2025.

April 20, 2026
Bitcoin Price Gives Back Gains, But Structure Remains Bullish
Bitcoin price started a fresh decline from the $78,400 zone. $BTC is consolidating and might struggle to stay above the $73,500 support.
- Bitcoin failed to stay above $76,500 and corrected gains.
- The price is trading below $75,500 and the 100 hourly simple moving average.
- There is a connecting bearish trend line forming with resistance at $75,600 on the hourly chart of the $BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken).
- The pair might extend losses if it stays below the $75,500 and $76,000 levels.
Bitcoin Price Dips Again

Bitcoin price failed to stay above the $77,500 resistance zone. $BTC formed a top near $78,350 and started a fresh decline. There was a move below the $76,500 level.

The price dipped below the $75,500 and $75,000 levels. A low was formed at $73,637 and the price is now consolidating losses below the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $78,343 swing high to the $73,637 low.

Bitcoin is now trading below $76,000 and the 100 hourly simple moving average. If the price remains stable above $73,500, it could attempt a fresh increase. Immediate resistance is near the $74,750 level.

The first key resistance is near the $75,500 level. There is also a connecting bearish trend line forming with resistance at $75,600 on the hourly chart of the $BTC/USD pair. A close above the $75,500 resistance might send the price further higher.

Source: BTCUSD on TradingView.com

In the stated case, the price could rise and test the $76,000 resistance and the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $78,343 swing high to the $73,637 low. Any more gains might send the price toward the $77,200 level. The next barrier for the bulls could be $78,000.

Downside Continuation In $BTC?

If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $75,500 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Immediate support is near the $74,000 level.

The first major support is near the $73,500 level. The next support is now near the $72,500 zone. Any more losses might send the price toward the $71,200 support in the near term. The main support now sits at $70,000, below which $BTC might struggle to recover in the near term.

Technical indicators:

Hourly MACD – The MACD is now gaining pace in the bearish zone.

Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for $BTC/USD is now below the 50 level.

Major Support Levels – $74,000, followed by $73,500.

Major Resistance Levels – $75,500 and $76,000.
April 20, 2026
Upcoming ‘Bitcoin’ Movie With Casey Affleck, Gal Gadot Probes Satoshi’s Identity
A film exploring Bitcoin’s origins is moving toward global release while spotlighting the mystery of Satoshi Nakamoto. Starring Gal Gadot and Casey Affleck, it revisits Craig Wright’s contested claims and their impact on Bitcoin’s identity.

Key Takeaways:
- New Bitcoin film stars Casey Affleck and Gal Gadot, probing Satoshi Nakamoto’s identity.
- Craig Wright’s disputed role deepens divisions across Bitcoin developers and market participants.
- Industry reaction may polarize further as the film revives debate over Bitcoin’s origins.
Bitcoin Creator Dispute Moves Into Mainstream Film

The mystery surrounding Bitcoin’s creator is moving into the mainstream as “ Bitcoin,” previously referred to in online reports as “ Bitcoin: Killing Satoshi,” adapts one of crypto’s most contested debates to the screen. Ahead of the Cannes market, Patrick Wachsberger’s 193, a film sales and production company, launched international sales on the project, signaling a push to global buyers. Around the same time, Acme AI & FX, the production company behind the film, confirmed it had wrapped production on the Doug Liman-directed feature. The movie, described as the “first fully-generated, studio-quality AI feature film,” centers on the unresolved question of who created Bitcoin and why that issue continues to influence industry discussions and market perception.

The story follows Charlotte “Lotte” Miller, a war correspondent played by Gal Gadot, who is recruited by blockchain investor Calvin Ayre, portrayed by Pete Davidson, to write an investigative report on Australian computer scientist Craig Wright. Casey Affleck plays Wright, with Isla Fisher also appearing in the cast. The film was written by Nick Schenk and produced by Ryan Kavanaugh and Lawrence Grey, with production beginning at the end of February. The synopsis described the film:

“A high-stakes conspiracy thriller that asks the question no one in power wants answered.”

A longer description presents the movie as the story of one man’s effort to prove he created Bitcoin, a claim that allegedly puts his life in danger and sparks a global controversy involving tech billionaires, world leaders, and the future of the financial system.

Craig Wright Claims Renew Industry Polarization

From a Bitcoin industry standpoint, the film enters a highly disputed issue. Wright’s claim that he is Satoshi Nakamoto has been challenged for years by developers, researchers, and other participants in the sector, many of whom point to the lack of accepted cryptographic proof. A 2024 U.K. court ruling also rejected his claim, adding legal weight to that skepticism. Within parts of the BTC community, Wright is widely referred to as “Faketoshi,” and critics have accused him of fraud tied to those assertions.

The production approach has also drawn attention, as the “fully-generated” label refers largely to AI-built environments and visuals, while actors perform traditionally with digital settings added in post-production. At the same time, the subject matter is likely to drive industry reaction, as many bitcoiners view the claims as legally and technically discredited rather than unresolved.

That divide helps explain why the film is likely to provoke a polarized response across crypto. Many will see it as reopening a debate already settled by legal findings and technical evidence, while others may view it as an attempt to revisit unanswered questions around motive and power. The synopsis stated:

“All this leads Lotte, and the audience, to the central question — If Craig Wright didn’t invent Bitcoin, why is a coalition controlling trillions in global wealth spending hundreds of millions and risking everything to destroy him?”

“This is an exciting and gripping story, set in the mysterious and high-stakes real world of crypto,” Wachsberger told Deadline. The positioning underscores how the film is being framed, not just as a thriller, but as a mainstream take on one of bitcoin’s most contested narratives, where claims have long been weighed against verifiable proof.
April 20, 2026
What’s behind the US army’s decision to raise enlistment age to 42?

The United States army announced last month that it would raise the maximum age at which Americans can enlist from 35 to 42 years to expand its pool of eligible candidates amid recruiting challenges in recent years.

An updated version of US Army Regulation 601–210, dated March 20, outlined the changes, including the elimination of rules requiring anyone with a single conviction for marijuana possession or drug paraphernalia to obtain a waiver to enlist.

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Government data shows that while the US army has met its recruitment goals over the last two years, it fell short in 2022 and 2023 and has consistently failed to meet targets for the Army Reserve, shortcomings that analysts have attributed to several possible factors.

The new age limit was announced during the US-Israel war on Iran, towards which young people have expressed widespread opposition.

Here’s what you need to know about the changes.

New recruits participate in the Army’s future soldier prep course that gives lower-performing recruits up to 90 days of academic or fitness instruction to help them meet military standards, at Fort Jackson, a US Army Training Center, in Columbia, South Carolina, on September 25, 2024 [File: Chris Carlson/AP Photo]

When does the regulation go into effect?

The updated version of Army Regulation 601–210 officially takes effect on Monday, April 20.

What has the military said about the changes?

The US army announced updated enlistment regulations on March 20, with the changes scheduled to take effect one month later on April 20 and applying to the Regular Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard.

The maximum enlistment age is raised from 35 to 42, and previous restrictions requiring anyone with a single conviction for possession of marijuana or drug paraphernalia to obtain a waiver to enlist are done away with.

Do these changes apply to the whole US military?

The changes announced in March are specific to the US army.

The military news outlet Stars and Stripes reported that those changes bring the army into greater alignment with the maximum enlistment age of other branches of the military, such as the Air Force, Navy, Coast Guard, and Space Force, which accept enlistees in their early 40s.

The maximum enlistment age for the US Marines is 28.

What factors explain the change?

While the US army did not comment on the reasons for the increase, data from the US Army Recruiting Command show that the army has struggled with recruitment challenges.

While the army met 100 percent of its recruitment goals in 2025 and 2024, it missed its target by about 23 percent in 2023 and 25 percent in 2022.

That data also shows that the army has fallen short of recruitment targets for the Army Reserve for the last six years in a row.

The average age of army recruits has risen in recent years to 22.7, up from 21.7 in the 2000s and 21.1 in the 2010s, according to the military news outlet Army Times, citing data from a US army spokesperson.

The US Army Recruiting Command has attributed such challenges to issues such as changes in the labour market, limited awareness about military service, and a lack of qualified young people due to issues such as obesity, drug use, and mental health issues.

A 2018 poll listed concerns over possible injury and death, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), separation from family and friends, and other career interests as top reasons offered by young people for not joining the military.

Does the change have to do with the war in Iran?

Analysts have been discussing the possibility of raising the enlistment age for years as a means of addressing recruiting challenges, with a 2023 research report from the RAND Corporation, a US think tank, calling “older youth” a “crucial, largely untapped, yet high-quality pool of potential recruits”.

While the military has not suggested that the change is linked to the US-Israel war on Iran, where US President Donald Trump has previously said he could deploy ground troops, some social media users were quick to note the timing of the announcement.

Some in the online community joked that older supporters of the war would now be available to enlist.

“They raised the enlistment age to 42,” one X user said in response to a video of the conservative commentator Ben Shapiro praising Trump’s decision to attack Iran. “Why are you still here?”

Surveys have found that younger people are more likely to oppose the US war on Iran than those aged 65 and up, and polls in recent years have found that young people are more generally sceptical of US intervention abroad than older generations.

A 2024 Pew Research Center poll found that people between the ages of 18 and 29 were the only age bracket in the US who viewed the military more negatively than positively, with 53 percent saying the military had a negative effect versus 43 percent who said it had a positive effect.

How many people are currently in the US military?

According to the Pew Research Center, the US military has about 1.32 million active members. The US army accounts for the largest share, with nearly 450,000, while the US Navy is second with more than 334,000.

The Air Force has more than 317,000, the Marines more than 168,000, the Coast Guard nearly 42,000, and the Space Force nearly 9,700.

Data from the US Army Recruiting Command shows that about 80 percent of recruits in the Regular Army were men in 2025.

Black and Latino recruits also make up a larger share of army recruits than their percentage of the population, each making up about 27 percent of recruits while comprising 14 percent and 20 percent of the general population, according to data from the 2024 census.

White people made up about 40 percent of US army recruits, while about 57 percent of the general population.

April 20, 2026