Among his main expectations are a reduction in volatility, an increase in portfolio participation and a target price of more than $250,000.
Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise, has shared his predictions for Bitcoin ahead of the next halving, scheduled for April 2028. Hougan believes that the decrease in volatility will be driven by the entry of exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Since they tend to attract institutional investors who make more stable investments.
Hougan expects Bitcoin allocation in investment portfolios to increase by up to 5% or more due to the growing adoption of ETFs. Since the launch of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds in January, they have accumulated more than $12.5 billion in net inflows, and Hougan thinks they are just getting started. He believes the growth of these ETFs could be similar to what gold ETFs experienced after 2004.
The chief investment officer also suggested that central banks could start allocating some of their reserves to Bitcoin in the next halving cycle. This is because BTC cannot be seized like other assets and is more practical than gold for payments and settlements. Which could make it attractive to central banks in a multipolar world. If this happens, according to Hougan, it could be a significant change for Bitcoin and lead to a considerable increase in its price.
Jail Sentence for Binance Founder for Violation of Money Laundering Laws
Binance founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao faces a possible 36-month prison sentence. This, for violating anti-money laundering laws in the United States. Prosecutors presented their sentencing recommendation in a court filing on April 23. Arguing that Zhao’s actions were serious enough to warrant jail time.
The final sentence for Zhao will be announced on April 30. The case has been closely followed by the cryptocurrency community and regulatory authorities, as it could set an important precedent for the industry.
United States Considers Sanctions on Chinese Banks for Supporting Russia in War against Ukraine
Given the increase in geopolitical tensions, the United States government is studying the possibility of imposing sanctions on certain Chinese banks, in order to disconnect them from the global financial system. According to a Wall Street Journal report, these sanctions seek to address concerns about the financial support these banks could be providing to Russia. Thus facilitating trade that strengthens its military capabilities against Ukraine.
The main cause of concern for the United States is that China, despite claiming that it has not provided weapons to Russia since the beginning of the invasion of Ukraine, continues to export dual-use products, such as chips and machinery, that could strengthen the Russian army. These potential sanctions are seen as an “escalation option” that would be implemented if diplomatic efforts are not effective.
Renzo Protocol EZETH Token Experiences Sharp Drop in Uniswap After Season 1 Conclusion
The Renzo protocol’s EZETH token saw a steep price drop on the decentralized exchange Uniswap, hitting a low of $688 before regaining its peg with Ether. This event, which occurred after the closure of Season 1 of the Renzo Protocol, generated concern in the crypto community due to the risk of decoupling in liquid restaking tokens (LRT).
Pseudonymous cryptocurrency analyst Tommy explained in a post on X that the liquidation was likely caused by the conclusion of the first season. Which led many users to sell their EZETH tokens to recover ETH and participate in other LRT farming protocols.
By Audy Castaneda
