SnapShot 253

Hello SnapShotters,

Bitcoin decisively overcame the $70,000 resistance mid-week, negating the 'wartime premium' when US President Donald Trump announced a two-week, Pakistani-brokered ceasefire agreement.

However, the truce began to fray when the Strait of Hormuz reopened under a new regime: crypto-denominated tanker tolls. The acceptance of BTC for maritime passage may complicate the de-escalation efforts, as BTC pulled back toward the $70,000 mark.

According to a metals and energy forecast report, BTC exhibited a unique 'asymmetric recovery' compared to traditional safe havens. Gold peaked at $5,626 in early March before pulling back over heavy central bank liquidations, but BTC successfully converted its $60,000 floor into a launchpad. Yet, the prospect of similar crypto-tolls in the Red Sea suggests a second shipping chokepoint may be on the horizon.

BTC is also being shadowed by discussions over the 'quantum resistance', following a Google research paper flagging vulnerabilities in its cryptography. Despite Strategy doubling down with a fresh $330 million BTC purchase, long-term market participants are watching for the CLARITY Act’s progress in the Senate to sustain the strength of the rally.

Let’s dive into the week’s top stories.

*Don’t invest unless you’re prepared to lose all the money you invest. This is a high-risk investment and you should not expect to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 minutes to learn more.

News Snaps

🖥️ BTC Prototype Debuts to Combat Quantum Threat

Following Nobel laureate John Martinis’s warning that quantum hardware could derive BTC keys in minutes, Lightning Labs has showcased a prototype "rescue tool” that lets users prove ownership via secret seeds without revealing them.

🪙 BTC ETFs See Strongest Inflows Since February

US spot BTC ETFs recorded $471 million in net inflows on 6 April. New research suggests this institutional push is turning BTC into a 'leading pricer' of global monetary policy, with ETF flows front-running central bank moves rather than reacting to them with a lag.

🏦 Morgan Stanley’s MSBT Debuts with Record-Low Fee

The Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust (MSBT) officially launched on NYSE Arca with a 0.14% management fee, recording $34 million worth of first-day trading volume.

🏛️ Schwab to Launch Spot BTC and ETH Trading

Charles Schwab confirmed it’s 'on track' to debut spot BTC and ETH trading for US clients by the end of Q2 2026. Previously, the brokerage giant limited crypto exposure to ETFs and equities.

🛡️ Solana Launches STRIDE to Plug Gaps in DeFi Security

STRIDE is a new programme led by Asymmetric Research to independently audit and monitor the network's largest projects, as it pivots towards an institutional-grade risk profile in light of recent security exploits.

What’s Ahead

🏛️ 13 April: US Senate Returns to Session

Congress reconvenes on Monday, with the session expecting to fast-track discussions on the CLARITY Act and arrive at conclusions on the boundary between SEC and CFTC.

Number of the Week

Source: Decrypt

Chart of the Week

Active Addresses on Bitcoin Network See 8-Year Participation Low

Bitcoin active address momentum has fallen into a deep red zone, indicating its lowest level of network participation since 2018.

This points towards a state of reduced activity among retail speculators. Historically, these periods of extreme inactivity have coincided with the structural floor for noteworthy price reversals.*

As of April 2026

Source: CryptoQuant

*Past performance and historical patterns are not reliable indicators of future price movements.

NFT Spotlight

On 15 April, dive back into the Cryptonauts universe in 'Legendary Cryptonauts™ Vol. 2' as Fran Rodríguez returns with a new wave of space-inspired avatars.

The Spanish digital artist is known for his surrealist, space-inspired work, and his ninth drop with Crypto.com NFT features over 300 never-before-seen avatars that push his style to its limits.

Collectors who hold NFTs can earn unique collectibles after the drop ends.

Take your place in the Cryptonauts community. Get all the details before the drop.

Byte Sized

Solana’s Alpenglow upgrade is a major glow-up for the network. Tap in and find all that you need to know.

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Security Tips

Woman Arrested in Thailand Over Crypto Fraud

A Philippine national was arrested in Bangkok as police investigated a crypto scam that allegedly defrauded investors of at least ฿5 million (approximately US$153,000). Detectives are also seeking arrest warrants for 15 additional suspects.

 Victims were reportedly approached on Facebook and directed to a fraudulent investment website designed to look legitimate.

How to Stay Safe:

• Be cautious of investment links sent through Facebook or other social platforms
• Avoid new platforms that lack verified licensing or public credibility
• Independently verify any website before sending funds

That's it for this week's SnapShot. Want more? Find out what’s trending in the crypto world.