The Altcoin Vector #49

insights.glassnodePublished on 2026-04-08Last updated on 2026-04-08

Abstract

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Executive Summary

Bank of Korea Reveals Results of Tokenized Deposit Testing

The Bank of Korea has announced the results of its pilot test for tokenized deposits. Involving 28 central banks and international financial organizations, the project saw participation from major South Korean banks including KB Kookmin Bank, NH NongHyup Bank, Shinhan Bank, Woori Bank, and Hana Bank. Transactions, from payment orders to final settlement, were completed in real time, averaging just 80 seconds. The test involved 30 transactions across 17 different scenarios—such as corporate and interbank transfers—and was conducted in six currencies, including the Korean won, US dollar, and euro, with a total transaction value reaching approximately $995,000. The central bank reported that the platform operated stably throughout, despite being only partially connected to the existing banking infrastructure. Settlements using tokenized deposits were executed seamlessly, quickly, and transparently. An internal transfer of 20 million won (about $13,890) between NH NongHyup Bank and Shinhan Bank was also successfully processed via the Project Agora platform, which involved connecting to the Bank of Korea's CBDC test platform, Project Hangang. Additionally, KB Kookmin Bank and Japan's MUFG Bank tested cross-border payments using these deposit tokens—digital certificates issued by commercial banks within the pilot, not directly by the central bank. The Bank of Korea plans to continue testing payments with tokenized deposits. This follows last year's pledge by South Korean authorities to tighten regulations for won-based stablecoins, which will require approval from both the central bank and the Financial Services Commission.

cryptonews.ru1m ago

Bank of Korea Reveals Results of Tokenized Deposit Testing

cryptonews.ru1m ago

Head of Major Miner Estimates AI Profitability Ten Times Higher Than Mining

The CEO of Canadian mining company HIVE Digital Technologies, Frank Holmes, stated that the company is accelerating its development in artificial intelligence (AI) computing. HIVE, one of the world's largest public bitcoin miners controlling about 2% of the global hashrate, expects its revenue share from AI to grow from approximately 10% to over 50% this year. Holmes highlighted the significant difference in profitability, noting that ASIC miners generate around $0.12–0.14 per hour, while a single Nvidia H100 GPU can earn nearly $2 per hour. Even older GPUs yield about $1.4 per hour, roughly ten times the revenue from mining hardware. Major miners like Riot Platforms, Cipher Digital, MARA, and TeraWulf are mitigating losses by shifting from cryptocurrency mining to supporting AI computations in their data centers or combining both activities. For instance, MARA Holdings recently purchased a $600 million site for AI and mining data centers. The company's CEO had previously warned that without at least a 50% annual increase in Bitcoin's price, the current mining model would become unprofitable. With the estimated cost to mine one Bitcoin around $78,000 for summer 2026 and Bitcoin's price remaining below that level for months, some miners have begun shutting down equipment as rising costs and network difficulty squeeze margins.

cryptonews.ru3m ago

Head of Major Miner Estimates AI Profitability Ten Times Higher Than Mining

cryptonews.ru3m ago

NKTsBFR Disclosed Details of the Cryptocurrency Bill Preparation

The head of Ukraine's National Securities and Stock Market Commission (NКЦБФР), Alexey Semenyuk, disclosed that the draft law on virtual assets is approximately 90% complete, with the final text expected in August. However, the bill's parliamentary passage will follow later. Key agreed-upon provisions include establishing the NКЦБФР as the primary regulator, with a clearly defined role for the National Bank, and classifying virtual assets in line with the EU's MiCA regulation. Licensing rules for service providers, prudential requirements, and a special regime for wartime operations are also settled. Major unresolved issues remain, notably the taxation framework for cryptocurrency transactions and the legal status of virtual assets in criminal and enforcement proceedings. Semenyuk noted these areas, outside the commission's direct competence, are progressing the slowest. Consultations on the post-enactment transition period are ongoing. Work on the legislation has spanned several years. The bill passed its first reading in September 2025 but faced significant delays due to thousands of proposed amendments. Officials anticipate the finalized law could take effect from January 1, 2027.

cryptonews.ru4m ago

NKTsBFR Disclosed Details of the Cryptocurrency Bill Preparation

cryptonews.ru4m ago

How Could the Strengthening of the Japanese Yen Affect Bitcoin?

The Japanese yen recorded its largest daily gain against the US dollar after the USD/JPY pair reversed from a recent high near 164.00. This suggests movements in the yen can impact global financial conditions, including Bitcoin. On the daily chart, the USD/JPY reversal followed a multi-month rally. Intense selling erased several days of gains, pushing the pair below 160.00 before a recovery to around 160.59. Despite signs of demand at lower levels, the failed attempt to hold above recent highs indicates weakening bullish momentum. The yen strengthened by as much as 3%, pulling the dollar down to an intraday low of 158.34. Analysts note the move's scale and unusually high trading volumes resemble past intervention episodes. Market focus is now on the Bank of Japan's signals and interest rate outlook, with hawkish cues potentially supporting further yen strength. A stronger yen could create short-term selling pressure on Bitcoin, particularly if investors unwind carry trades funded by cheap yen borrowings. However, if sustained yen strength lowers Japanese government bond yields and improves global liquidity, it could eventually foster more favorable conditions for risk assets like Bitcoin. Bitcoin's price fell 2.5% to $62,500, which may reflect initial investor selling.

cryptonews.ru5m ago

How Could the Strengthening of the Japanese Yen Affect Bitcoin?

cryptonews.ru5m ago

After a 30% Surge to $2000, Ethereum Signals a Price Decline

Cryptanalyst Ali Martinez noted that the TD Sequential indicator flashed a sell signal for Ethereum (ETH) after it reached the $1980 zone. The same indicator had previously foreshadowed ETH's rally from around $1500 to $2000. Following the signal, ETH's price fell below a key support level at $1897.27 to $1881.41, with further potential support seen near $1857.75. Despite a brief surge to $3400 in January 2026, Ethereum has been one of the worst performers among major digital assets this year, down 36.59%. Its long-term charts show further weakness, with the token losing nearly half its value over the past 12 months and being down 23.32% over five years. In contrast, Bitcoin (BTC) has declined 27% year-to-date and 46.20% over the past year but has gained 53% since mid-2021. An upcoming vote on the CLARITY Act on August 3rd is expected to significantly impact the crypto market. The prospect of regulatory clarity has already boosted many major cryptocurrencies over the past month. Some analysts predict that if passed, the bill could propel BTC above $600,000 within the next two years.

cryptonews.ru6m ago

After a 30% Surge to $2000, Ethereum Signals a Price Decline