Ethereum Price Forecast and the Rise of Layer-2 Networks

Russia will prohibit cash-for-crypto transactions and require trades to go through cashless, bank-mediated channels, a senior central bank official said. The measure is meant to increase oversight of crypto-related flows and clamp down on informal peer-to-peer markets.

Aethir says it halted a bridge exploit on its Ethereum-linked contracts, keeping losses below $90,000. Security firm PeckShield had earlier estimated the damage at about $400,000; Aethir pledged to compensate affected users.

The SEC is evaluating a proposal to list options on a Grayscale multi-asset crypto ETF and has asked for additional public comment as it assesses risks tied to crypto-related derivatives. Regulators want input on market structure, surveillance, and investor protections.

BlackRock has tapped Galaxy Digital to serve as a validator for ETHB, its staked-Ethereum ETF, after the fund’s assets topped $435 million on April 8. The appointment broadens the ETF’s validator roster and reflects rising institutional interest in ETH staking.

Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao alleges U.S. crypto exchanges funded multi-million dollar lobbying to block a pardon from former President Donald Trump and keep Binance out of the U.S. market. The claim has not been independently verified.