The Trump administration has sued Illinois to block the state's regulation of prediction markets, arguing the rules interfere with federal authority, according to Reuters.

President Donald Trump is expected to unveil a $1.5 trillion defense budget, which would mark the largest year-on-year increase in U.S. military spending since World War II, Reuters reported.

Cryptocurrencies came under pressure after former President Donald Trump's "Stone Age" rhetoric rattled risk sentiment, triggering roughly $440 million in liquidations across the market. Bitcoin slid below $66,000 as selling accelerated, adding to a broader pullback in major digital assets.

Central banks continued to add to gold reserves in February despite escalating geopolitical tensions and heightened economic uncertainty. While the outlook for official-sector gold demand remains clouded by inflation pressures and the widening conflict involving Iran, new data indicate buying persisted up to the onset of hostilities. The World Gold Council (GOLDCOUNCIL) reported that central banks purchased a combined 19 tonnes of gold in February, led by the National Bank of Poland. Full article: Kitco

Drift Protocol suffered an exploit totaling $285 million on Solana, rekindling concerns about security risks across decentralized finance.

Ripple Labs has returned 700 million XRP to escrow, relocking 70% of the 1 billion tokens it unlocked in April 2026. The blockchain payments firm sent the tokens back in two transactions—500 million and 200 million—on April 1, effectively making about $945 million worth of XRP temporarily unavailable. A social media post by MarketSleek highlighted the 500 million XRP tranche, estimating its value at $675,337,377. Even with the relock, Ripple still added 300 million XRP to the market, lifting circulating supply by tokens valued at roughly $384 million as of April 2. On-chain data from XRPSCAN shows escrow balances at about 33.344 billion XRP, with net circulating supply near 66.626 billion. The latest moves suggest Ripple may follow a similar pace to Q1 in the second quarter, after releasing 900 million XRP during the first three months of 2026. Market impact: XRP slid more than 4% over the past 24 hours, changing hands around $1.30 at the time of publication. Ripple has long argued that its monthly sales support company growth and broader adoption of the XRP Ledger, though recurring selloffs have often been cited as a drag on price. David Schwartz, a founding member of the XRP Ledger, defended the approach, saying Ripple's model relies heavily on monthly escrow sales to stay profitable. In a post dated April 2, 2026, Schwartz added that Ripple's close relationship with XRPL can be mutually beneficial, but may not necessarily translate into profits for other companies adopting Ripple's payment products.

UPDATE: Blockchain analytics firm @Elliptic said the $285M exploit targeting @DriftProtocol shows multiple signs consistent with North Korean state-sponsored involvement. The firm pointed to money-laundering behavior that matches patterns seen in prior DPRK-linked crypto thefts.

ALERT: Technology companies announced 18,720 job cuts in March, more than 24% higher than a year earlier. Major layoffs announced so far this year include Amazon (16,000), Oracle (20,000–30,000) and Block (up to 5,100).

A large Solana unstaking event is drawing renewed scrutiny from traders as crypto markets remain volatile and SOL prices stay under pressure. Blockchain tracking data shows that more than 2.6 million SOL were unlocked within minutes on April 2, worth over $211 million at the time. While staking unlocks are a normal feature of proof-of-stake ecosystems, the size and timing of this release have fueled debate over whether large holders are changing their stance. Market watchers often view staking as a signal of longer-term conviction and network support. Unwinding a position during a downturn can be read as a strategic shift, especially with SOL already trading weak amid broader market softness. The unlocked SOL was released via two separate transactions when Solana was trading near $79, suggesting the holder acted during the selloff. Large-scale unstaking can precede liquidity repositioning rather than immediate selling, but the return of such a sizable supply to circulation increases the potential for near-term market pressure. One of the transactions highlighted by Whale Alert involved 1,258,800 SOL, valued at $100,147,265, moving to an unknown wallet. Sentiment remains fragile as whale-driven moves tend to amplify reactions during uncertain conditions. Solana has continued to slide, recently changing hands around $77, down more than 6% on the day. Overall, the release of more than $200 million in previously staked SOL adds another layer of uncertainty to an already weak tape. The move is not inherently bearish, but its scale and timing are prompting speculation that major holders may be reassessing exposure as downside pressure persists.