Crypto Weekly Market Wrap April 13: Crypto Policy Moves, Institutional Growth, and Market Inflows

Last week, the crypto sector was shaped by several events, spanning from new regulations, policy shifts, and institutions’ deeper growth across digital assets. Security pressures continued to persist while crypto ETFs gained momentum with strong inflows. Meanwhile, the ongoing geopolitical tensions continued to shape the sector despite the ceasefire announcement. In the sections below, we will discuss the major news across the market over the last week.

SEC Safe Harbor Framework Moves Closer to Release

SEC Chair Paul Atkins said the SEC’s crypto safe harbor plan entered White House review at OIRA and could arrive soon. The package includes a startup exemption that would let projects raise funds for about four years.

It also adds an investment contract safe harbor and fresh guidance on token classification. Meanwhile, the SEC continues work on an innovation exemption that could create a sandbox-style path for on-chain products.

Iran Seeks Crypto Tolls in Hormuz

Iran considered charging loaded oil tankers about one dollar per barrel during the two-week ceasefire period. Officials said vessels must email cargo details first, then follow digital payment instructions after review.

"Once the email arrives and Iran completes its assessment, vessels are given afew seconds to pay in bitcoin, ensuring they can't be traced or confiscated dueto sanctions," Hosseini added. pic.twitter.com/m5m2xxI9CH

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) April 8, 2026

Hamid Hosseini said ships would have only seconds to complete payment in Bitcoin or other digital assets. Meanwhile, empty tankers may avoid the fee as Iran monitors traffic and screens for weapons transfers.

BitMine Shifts Listing and Expands Buyback

Ethereum treasury firm BitMine moved its listing from Nasdaq to the New York Stock Exchange and lifted its repurchase program to $4 billion. The company highlighted rapid Ethereum accumulation through its treasury strategy.

Over nine months, BitMine said it gathered about 4.803 million ETH, or 3.98% of supply, and reached more than 79% of its target. It now reports $11.4 billion across crypto assets, cash, and investments.

Strategy Posts Losses but Adds Bitcoin

Strategy reported a first-quarter unrealized loss of $14.5 billion after Bitcoin fell 23% during the period. The company’s use of fair value accounting amplified the reported volatility in quarterly results. Moreover, Strategy bought 4,871 BTC between April 1 and April 5 for about $329.9 million. As of April 5, it held 766,970 BTC with a total cost of $58.02 billion.

Ethereum Stablecoin Supply Reaches Record High

Ethereum’s stablecoin supply climbed above $180 billion and set a new all-time high. The network now holds about 60% of the sector, reflecting strong demand for settlement and on-chain liquidity.

📊 Stablecoins on the Rise, Ethereum Leading

Stablecoin supply on Ethereum just hit a new ATH up 150% in 3 years, now at $180B.

• Ethereum holds ~60% market share
• $1.7T expected to move on-chain in the next 4 years

Even with a gradual drop to 50% share, Ethereum could see… pic.twitter.com/eVQhxZxwl6

— Junaid Dar (@JunaidDar85) April 8, 2026

Token Terminal projected that blockchain capital inflows could reach $1.7 trillion during the next four years. Even if Ethereum’s share falls to 50%, the network could still attract about $850 billion by 2030.

Japan Moves Crypto Under Market Rules

Japan’s government approved an amendment to the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act on April 10. For the first time, the proposal would regulate crypto assets as financial products rather than mainly as payment tools. The change would add an insider trading ban and require annual issuer disclosures to strengthen investor protection. If lawmakers pass the bill in the current Diet session, the new regime could start in 2027.

Hong Kong Names First Stablecoin Licensees

The Hong Kong Monetary Authority released the first group of stablecoin issuer license recipients this week. The two approved names included HSBC and Anchor Fintech, backed by Standard Chartered, Animoca Brands, and Hong Kong Telecom.

Authorities said the selection process examined business plans, issuer knowledge, risk practices, experience, and application scenarios. The framework also required compliance with Hong Kong law and rules in jurisdictions where firms operate.

FDIC Drafts Rules for Bank Stablecoins

FDIC Chair Travis Hill said the agency is proposing draft guidance for stablecoins issued by banks and fintech subsidiaries. The framework covers reserve assets, redemption design, allowed business lines, and capital requirements for issuers.

BREAKING: The US government just created the first official banking rules for stablecoins.

The FDIC today approved a full regulatory framework for stablecoin issuers under the GENIUS Act. Here is what it means:

Every stablecoin must be backed 1:1 with real assets. If there are… pic.twitter.com/X6kEq2Vbmk

— Bull Theory (@BullTheoryio) April 8, 2026

The proposal forms part of interagency work with the OCC and Federal Reserve after passage of the GENIUS Bill. Regulators will seek comment on tokenized deposits, profit distribution, capital limits, and insurance treatment.

Canary Files for a Spot PEPE ETF

Canary Capital filed an S-1 to launch a spot PEPE exchange-traded fund in the United States. The proposed trust would hold PEPE directly and follow the structure used by other spot crypto ETFs. The filing also allows up to 5% exposure to Ethereum for network fees related to PEPE transfers. Canary described PEPE as highly speculative, while the prospectus highlighted volatility, custody risk, and possible market manipulation.

DOJ Pushes Back in Tornado Cash Case

Federal prosecutors rejected Roman Storm’s attempt to use the Supreme Court’s Cox ruling in his Tornado Cash defense. They argued that his conduct differed sharply from neutral platform management described in that case.

The DOJ said Storm misled victims and oversaw more than 250 platform changes without stopping illegal activity. An April 9 hearing now carries consequences, including possible limits on the prosecution or a retrial later.

Morgan Stanley Launches Low-Fee Bitcoin Trust

Morgan Stanley Investment Management launched the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust on NYSE Arca under the ticker MSBT. The product offers regulated Bitcoin exposure through an exchange-traded format without direct asset ownership.

🚨 BIG: Morgan Stanley (managing $6T in assets) is set to launch the first bank-sponsored spot #Bitcoin ETF tomorrow.

With 16,000 financial advisors ready to push it, this could be a massive catalyst for $BTC adoption.

Their Chief Strategy Officer is already calling it the… pic.twitter.com/lgsi3ugmhL

— SWFT Blockchain (@SwftCoin) April 8, 2026

MSBT carries a 0.14% management fee, the lowest among U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded products. Coinbase Custody serves as the primary bitcoin custodian, while BNY Mellon handles administration and cash custody for the trust.

Aethir Contains Bridge Exploit With Quick Response

Aethir said it contained a bridge exploit and kept reported user losses below $90,000 after disconnecting affected contracts. The company also said its main ATH supply on Ethereum remained fully intact. The breach touched bridge links involving Ethereum, Solana, zkSync, Sophon, and Beam. The ETH-ARB bridge on Squid stayed unaffected, and Aethir plans a compensation outline, attacker wallet list, and post-mortem next week.

Bitwise Adds Details to Hyperliquid ETF Filing

Bitwise filed a second amended prospectus for its proposed spot Hyperliquid ETF with the SEC. The update added several operating details that often appear as an application moves closer to launch. The fund plans to list on NYSE Arca under the ticker BHYP and charge a 0.67% annual fee. It would hold Hyperliquid, include staking, and calculate share value through the CF Hype Dollar benchmark.

CFTC Forms Team for Crypto Innovation Work

The CFTC named the first staff members of its Innovation Task Force to guide policy on crypto and AI. Chairman Michael Selig said the group would help build clearer rules for new products. Michael J. Passalacqua leads the task force, which includes staff with private-sector experience in digital assets. The agency said the team will coordinate with bodies, including the SEC and its Crypto Task Force.

.@CFTC Announces Innovation Task Force Staff: https://t.co/NvJq04fGlZ

— CFTC (@CFTC) April 10, 2026

Circle Launches Fiat-Facing USDC Payments Service

Circle introduced CPN Managed Payments to help banks, fintechs, and payment firms use stablecoin rails. The service lets partners settle through blockchain infrastructure without holding USDC or other digital assets. Circle said it will handle minting, burning, compliance, and settlement while clients remain in fiat workflows. The company added that USDC has supported more than 70 trillion dollars in cumulative on-chain settlement.

Digital Asset Investment Products Market Overview

Digital asset investment products attracted $1.1 billion last week, their strongest intake since January. Improving risk appetite lifted flows after softer US CPI and spending data. Tentative ceasefire signals around Iran also supported sentiment across crypto markets. Trading volume climbed 13% week on week to $21 billion. Despite this, activity stayed below the $31 billion yearly average, with assets under management recovered to levels last seen in early February. 

Digital asset investment products saw US$1.1bn of inflows, the strongest since January, driven by improved lower than expected CPI and easing geopolitics.

Bitcoin led with US$871m inflows, Ethereum saw a notable recovery, while short-bitcoin products recorded their largest… pic.twitter.com/A7nRdNhw2f

— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) April 13, 2026

The United States drove demand with $1.06 billion, or 95% of inflows. Germany added $34.6 million, while Canada and Switzerland posted smaller gains. Bitcoin led products with $871 million, pushing yearly inflows near $2 billion. Short-Bitcoin products still drew $20.2 million, showing hedging demand remained active. 

Ethereum rebounded with $196.5 million in inflows during the week. However, it still sits among the few assets with yearly outflows. XRP recorded $19.3 million in inflows, while Solana lost $2.5 million. Other assets stayed muted.

Bitcoin Price Performance

The largest asset posted positive performance last week, surging more than 2% despite market volatility. BTC traded in a range between $67,000 and $74,000. The price rally was attributed to the announcement of the ceasefire in the ongoing US-Iran war. The rally, however, didn’t last long as the strikes continued amid the ceasefire news.

At the time of this writing, BTC was trading around $71,500, up by 0.50% on the daily chart. Its market capitalization and trading volume stand at $1.42 trillion and $28 billion, respectively.

Looking at the technical indicators on the weekly timeframe, BTC is forming an ascending pattern as green candlesticks rule the chart. This pattern suggests a trend reversal from the prolonged downtrend that started in mid-January.  

Meanwhile, indicators such as the Relative Strength Index and Moving Average Convergence Divergence support this trend reversal. The 14-day RSI is currently at 39 levels, rising from the oversold region while the MACD line makes a crossover above the signal line, indicating eased selling pressure.