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Exponent, a Solana-based yield exchange, has raised $5 million in a seed round led by Multicoin Capital.The platform plans to launch an updated version next month to expand beyond rate trading into broader yield management, including strategy vaults.

On Wednesday, the committee voted 13 to 11 to advance Kevin Warsh, splitting along party lines.Warsh had spoken a few times about crypto, calling bitcoin an “important asset that can help inform policymakers.”Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., who had previously said he would withhold support for Warsh until the investigation concluded, ultimately voted in favor of the nomination following the DOJ’s decision.

Squads, known for its Solana-based multisig protocol, has raised $18 million in new funding to scale its stablecoin platform Altitude.Solana Ventures led the strategic funding round as Squads bets that “businesses are better off running on stablecoins than on banks.”

Anza and Firedancer added early Falcon versions to prepare Solana for possible future quantum attacks.Jump Crypto said Falcon-512 has the smallest signature among selected NIST post-quantum standards.The teams said Falcon can protect Solana without causing major network performance issues.

a16z crypto’s report, “The New Stack of Global Finance: The Stablecoin Edition,” argues that stablecoins have evolved from niche trading tools into a global settlement layer and “banking‑as‑a‑service” stack for programmable dollars.The paper slices today’s chains into general‑purpose, payment‑specific, and institutional networks, all increasingly tethered by stablecoins as the common settlement asset, from consumer wallets to permissioned bank rails.a16z says payments are only “the first act,” predicting large‑scale stablecoin issuance will support a parallel on‑chain credit system and extend US dollar reach into emerging markets via any internet‑connected wallet.

Coachella has tested AI tools with Google DeepMind to turn live performances into interactive digital environments.Three prototypes were built, including a system that recreates concerts as 3D spaces fans can explore from different perspectives.The projects remain in early testing, with organisers reviewing results before deciding on any public rollout.

Tillis has ended his hold on Kevin Warsh’s nomination after the DOJ closed its investigation into Jerome Powell.The Senate Banking Committee is set to vote on April 29, with a full Senate decision expected in mid-May before Powell’s term ends.

Coachella is experimenting with AI-built artist tools, immersive digital worlds, and 3D performance archives that could shape future fan experiences.

Crypto groups pressed the SEC to conduct rulemaking after releasing a statement earlier this month that clarified certain user interfaces, like DeFi wallets, do not need to register as broker-dealers.The DeFi Education Fund and other groups called the SEC’s statement “an important step,” but warned the guidance may not have staying power.

The Justice Department closed the Jerome Powell probe, removing a barrier to Senate action on Kevin Warsh's Federal Reserve nomination.

Zaheer explains why stablecoins, better UX, and focused execution are key to crypto’s next phase of adoption.

DeFi risk appetite is returning, with TVL, DEX volumes, and lending utilization rising across Solana, Arbitrum, Optimism, Polygon, and other L2s.NFT gaming is projected to reach a $60.82 billion market in 2026, with gaming NFTs accounting for 38% of total NFT transaction volume and blockchain gaming around $17.82 billion.BNB Smart Chain controls roughly 22% of NFT gaming market share, signalling that mass-market on-chain gaming largely happens away from Ethereum mainnet.

During a Senate Banking Committee hearing, Fed chair pick Kevin Warsh was mostly asked questions about interest rates, but also set the tone for how the central bank would view crypto if Warsh becomes chair.“Digital assets are already part of the fabric of our financial services industry in the United States,” Warsh said.

The crypto positions are concentrated in two venture fund structures, DCM Investments 10 LLC and a series of AVF funds.Fed ethics rules require confirmed officials to complete all required divestitures within six months of taking office, and Office of Government Ethics official Heather Jones certified Warsh will be in compliance once the divestitures are completed.Warsh has previously described Bitcoin as “a good policeman” for economic policy and called AI “the most disruptive moment in modern economic history,” views that informed both his venture investments and his rate policy outlook.

The value of tokenized real-world assets on public blockchains is estimated at more than $29 billion, up more than 10% in the last 30 days.

OCBC launched the GOLDX token on Ethereum and Solana, offering institutional investors access to a tokenized physical gold fund.The token provides exposure to the LionGlobal Singapore Physical Gold Fund, which held about $525 million in assets as of mid-April.The move comes as tokenized real-world assets on public blockchains cross $29 billion, with major banks expanding into blockchain-based financial products.