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Bitcoin is treading water around US$70,000 (AU$100,992), but under the surface, the market is quietly shifting. What once looked like explosive, hype-driven cycles is now being replaced by something slower and more structured, with diminishing returns, stronger institutional influence, and key levels acting more like traditional financial markets than crypto’s early “anything goes” days. Even as Bitcoin snaps a five-month losing streak and hints at a potential rebound, price action remains caught between support and resistance, suggesting the next move may be less about momentum and more about timing.
At the same time, the timeline for crypto itself is being pulled forward. From quantum computing risks to tightening global regulation and real-world adoption through stablecoins, the conversation is no longer just about price; it’s about infrastructure, security, and where this industry fits in the broader financial system. In a market that still reacts to memes and April Fools jokes, but is increasingly shaped by policy, capital, and technology, Bitcoin isn’t just trading sideways; it’s waiting for what comes next.
What’s Happening On The Wayex Platform
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BTC Treading Water While We Tread The Timeline
Bitcoin is showing a clear shift in market behaviour, with prices retracing to around US$70,000 (AU$100,992) and revisiting a previous cycle high, a pattern rarely seen in earlier bear markets. This change suggests the market is maturing, with parabolic rallies becoming less common as each cycle delivers smaller returns, falling from 38× in 2013 to less than 2× by 2025.
At the same time, Bitcoin has ended a five-month losing streak, closing March 2% higher and signalling a potential shift in momentum after months of downside.
According to CoinTelegraph, historically, similar multi-month drawdowns have led to strong rebounds, including a 300%+ rally in 2018–2019, but current market structure suggests any recovery may be more measured than explosive. Bitcoin is now trading near key levels, with US$70,000–US$72,000 (AU$100,992-AU$103,878) acting as major resistance, where large amounts of BTC were previously accumulated, while support sits around US$68,300 (AU$98,539), US$59,400 (AU$85,699), and the realised price near US$54,000 (AU$77,908). April has historically delivered average returns of around 12.2%, but with mixed seasonality and growing institutional influence. Institutional interest and influence continue to grow, with the New Hampshire Financial Authority set to introduce a Bitcoin-backed bond and Franklin Templeton set to acquire a Coinfund spinoff to expand its cryptocurrency offering.
And just in case you need a “Doom Chaser”, in the midst of what “Ash Crypto” calls a “massive dose of hopium”, we have Google publishing the report about the risk quantum computing poses to security in cryptocurrency. Quantum computing is moving from a distant risk to a real timeline for crypto, with Google researchers now estimating that breaking Bitcoin’s encryption could require far fewer qubits than previously thought. While no machine can do this yet, experts like Justin Drake suggest there is already a meaningful chance of a breakthrough within the next decade, bringing forward the need for post-quantum security. The risk targets wallet signatures, not mining, meaning exposed public keys could become vulnerable first. For crypto markets, this shifts the conversation from speculation to infrastructure, where quantum readiness could become the next major narrative driving capital and protocol upgrades.
Why FinTechs Should NOT Make April Fools Jokes: The Worst of April 1 2026
If you thought the funniest news on crypto Twitter was people complaining about “gossiping too loud outside the ETHCC conference in Cannes”, well, bring on April Fools Day.
Liquity’s LQTY token briefly jumped around 11% after an April Fool’s post claiming Circle had acquired the project, triggering a short-lived market reaction before users realised it was a joke. The price moved from US$0.2713 (AU$0.39) to around US$0.2935 (AU$0.42) before settling back near US$0.2774 (AU$0.40), while trading volume surged 165% to roughly US$10.5 million (AU$15.1 million), highlighting how even humour-driven headlines can move markets in the short term.
The incident also reinforces a broader trend in crypto, where social media, memes, and narrative-driven momentum continue to influence price action, often fuelled by FOMO rather than fundamentals. While this aligns with Liquity’s ongoing positioning against Circle and centralised stablecoins, it also raises questions about market manipulation risk, especially as regulators increase scrutiny of how public statements, even jokes, can affect trading behaviour.
It should be noted that Circle was not the only crypto company or token that participated in April Fools Day shenanigans. Solana made a political satire joke around geoblocking, and DogeCoin made a corporate restructuring announcement that had absolutely no impact on the price movement.
But that's after April Fools' Day. We want to remind you to DYOR and that Crypto Twitter isn't always what it seems. A great due diligence checklist for all days, including April Fools ' Day, can be found here.
Altcoin Season: Is It Finally Happening?
The CoinMarketCap Altcoin Season index is starting to pick up, with Altcoin season traders starting to feel the buzz. Will we Altseason traders be joining Artemis 2 to the moon?
We may have to wait and see now.
According to CoinPaper, XRP is showing signs of a potential breakout amid altcoin season, trading around US$1.36 (AU$1.96) and holding support near US$1.35 (AU$1.95). According to Ali Martinez, an ascending triangle pattern could push XRP toward US$3.32 (AU$4.82) in the short term, while longer-term projections extend as high as US$27.17 (AU$39.20) and US$48.12 (AU$69.42). At the same time, broader market signals highlighted by ChartNerd suggest altcoin season may be approaching, with historical patterns pointing to strong upside once key market thresholds are reached.
Beyond technicals, XRP is also gaining traction through real-world adoption, with the XRP Ledger integrating with Bitget Wallet and the launch of RLUSD, which supports payments and expands utility. This positions XRP at a key turning point where technical momentum, market cycles, and practical use cases are aligning, appealing to both short-term traders and long-term investors. If these trends continue, XRP could not only reclaim previous highs but also play a leading role in the next phase of the altcoin market.
The positive market sentiment extends beyond XRP’s technical analysis, with Volatility Shares expanding its ETF to include smaller digital assets such as Cardano, Stellar, and Chainlink, according to Decrypt.
Crypto Political Donations In The Spotlight Around The World
Governments in both Canada and the UK are moving to restrict or ban cryptocurrency donations to political campaigns, signalling a growing focus on transparency and election security. In Canada, Bill C-25 proposes a full ban on crypto donations to political parties, candidates, and third-party advertisers, along with strict penalties and a 30-day requirement to return or forfeit any funds received in violation. In the UK, a similar crackdown has been introduced following the Rycroft review, with lawmakers citing concerns that crypto's perceived anonymity could allow illicit or foreign funds to influence elections.
These moves come as crypto has already begun shaping political funding elsewhere, particularly in the United States, where industry-backed PACs deployed around US$130 million (AU$187 million) during the 2024 elections to support pro-crypto candidates and influence regulation. In Australia, AEC data show that crypto firms, including Coinbase, Swyftx, Immutable and WeMoney, contributed nearly AU$500,000 across major parties, with more flowing to the Liberals than to Labour. Coinbase alone donated AU$230,000, while Swyftx contributed over AU$201,700 across multiple donations, including AU$120,000 to the Liberals and contributions to Labour and MP Andrew Charlton. These donations across the globe highlight how crypto is increasingly intersecting with political influence globally, even as regulators move to tighten control.
Solana Is Having A Rough Go Of It
Solana (SOL) as of 8 am AEDT was trading around US$83.36 (AU$124.59) and is approaching a key level that could determine its next move. Activity on the network is improving, with more users and larger investors showing interest, which is usually a positive sign. However, trader activity is slowing, with less money flowing into the market and slightly more bets on a price decline. Adding to this uncertainty, reports that the Solana-based exchange Drift Protocol may have been hacked pushed its DRIFT token down by more than 17% to around US$0.058 (AU$0.084), showing that risks in the ecosystem remain.
For now, Solana is trading between about US$92.75 (AU$1-33.81) at the top and US$77.12 (AU$112.76) at the bottom, and it is currently closer to the lower end. Price trends are still weak overall, and momentum is slowing, meaning there is not strong buying pressure right now. If Solana can move above around US$86.67 (AU$124.04) and push past US$90.60 (AU$130.71), it could signal a stronger recovery; if it fails to do so, the price may fall back toward US$77.12 (AU$124.04) or even US$67.50 (AU$97.38).
Stablecoin News From Meta, Ripple and US Treasury
The stablecoin landscape is rapidly evolving as both regulation and real-world adoption accelerate. In the US, the Treasury has introduced a proposed framework under the GENIUS Act that creates a two-tier system for issuers, allowing companies with less than US$10 billion (AU$14.5 billion) in circulation to operate under state-level oversight. While larger players transition to federal supervision, companies like Meta are leaning into stablecoin integration by partnering with existing issuers rather than launching their own currency, while Ripple is building the underlying payment rails through partnerships like Convera, enabling 24/7 cross-border settlements using stablecoin-based infrastructure.
Together, these developments highlight a broader shift where stablecoins are moving beyond speculation into core financial infrastructure, with value splitting between distribution platforms and backend settlement networks. As regulatory clarity improves and enterprise adoption scales, stablecoins are increasingly positioned as the bridge between traditional finance and digital systems, underpinning everything from global payments to future use cases like AI-driven commerce.
Things That Made Us Laugh This Week
Founder's Corner
A lot is happening under the surface right now, and that's the most interesting part. Bitcoin treading water near US$70,000 (AU$101,682) isn't a failure; it's the market quietly maturing, and if you've been around long enough, you know that patience tends to be rewarded more than panic. The Liquity April Fools situation is a good reminder that crypto Twitter can still move markets with a joke, which is both fascinating and concerning. My honest take? The projects and platforms that are building real infrastructure, stablecoins with actual payment rails, institutional-grade products, and genuine regulatory engagement are the ones worth watching right now. The noise is loud, but the signal is getting clearer.
At Wayex, this is exactly the environment we built for. Not the hype cycles, but the in-between moments where serious people start asking serious questions about where they actually want to hold and move their money. Whether it's the quantum computing conversation shifting from sci-fi to boardroom agenda, or governments cracking down on crypto political donations globally, the industry is being held to a higher standard, and that's a good thing. The bar is rising, and we're here for it.
Richard Voice, Co-Founder, Wayex
**All information in this article is for informational purposes only. You should not construe any such information or other material as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. Nothing contained herein shall constitute a solicitation, recommendation, endorsement, or offer by Wayex to invest, buy, or sell any coins, tokens, or other crypto assets. Any descriptions of Wayex products or features are merely for illustrative purposes. Past performance is not a guarantee or predictor of future performance. The value of crypto assets can increase or decrease, and you could lose all or a substantial amount of your purchase price. It is essential for you to do your research and due diligence to make the best possible judgement, as any purchases shall be your sole responsibility.
