Independent Crypto Payments Analysis

Crypto markets processed $20T in Q1 2026 volume per Coinglass, with roughly 90% in derivatives. Binance dominated. Spot markets shrank to a two-year low.

Schwab confirms H1 2026 launch for spot BTC and ETH trading through its bank unit, putting $11.9 trillion in client assets one click from crypto.

Centralized exchange spot volume dropped to $986B in March 2026, the weakest month since early 2024. Fear & Greed sits at 29 as retail pulls back.

Cambodia's National Assembly unanimously passed its first law targeting crypto-linked scam compounds, with penalties up to life imprisonment and an April 2026 eradication deadline.

The Trump administration filed federal lawsuits against Illinois, Arizona, and Connecticut, arguing prediction markets are derivatives, not gambling.

Telegram's built-in wallet now offers perpetual futures trading across 50+ markets with up to 50x leverage, powered by Lighter DEX, reaching 150M users.

The $285M Drift Protocol exploit is spreading across Solana DeFi. At least 20 protocols report exposure, with Prime Numbers Fi citing losses above $10M.

The IMF's new 23-page note argues tokenization reconfigures financial architecture, not just speeds it up. With $27.5B in tokenized RWAs, the risks are real.

Todd Blanche, who dismantled the DOJ crypto enforcement team while holding crypto assets, is now interim Attorney General after Trump fired Pam Bondi.

Tether is pushing to finalize its fundraising at a $500B valuation after scaling back from $20B, with a KPMG audit and USAT launch backing its case.