As BTC wavers around $66K amid rising risk aversion, the IMF warns of tokenization risks, stablecoin monthly volume surpasses the ACH network, and Riot Platforms sells BTC to cover operational costs. The crypto market is currently gripped by extreme fear, with the Crypto Fear & Greed Index falling to 10, a sign that sentiment remains exceptionally fragile. Bitcoin (BTC) is now trading around the $66,600 range and the technical structure still points to a continuation of the bearish setup. Unless bulls can reclaim and firmly hold the key $76,000 resistance level to reverse the broader trend, the market is likely to remain under heavy downside pressure. If BTC loses the major psychological and technical support at $60,000, the price could slide further toward the $52,500 area. At the same time, macro data has become the main focus. Ongoing instability in the macro environment has amplified expectations for volatility, and the market is now closely watching tonight’s release of the US March nonfarm payrolls report. A projected increase of 60,000 jobs is expected to serve as an important input for the Federal Reserve’s next rate decision path. With gold, silver, and oil markets closed for the holiday, this release could trigger a sharp repricing move once markets reopen on Monday. In terms of fund flows, spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a net inflow of USD 8.99 million yesterday, supported by Fidelity’s FBTC. Spot Ether ETFs, however, posted a large net outflow of USD 71.17 million, with BlackRock’s ETHA alone seeing net outflows of USD 46.66 million. This suggests institutional capital remains cautious on Ethereum’s near-term outlook. ETH is still holding above the $2,000 level, but liquidation data show that if ETH falls below $1,951, cumulative long liquidations across major CEXs could reach as high as USD 877 million, highlighting the elevated risk still embedded in the leveraged market.

Key News Highlights:

IMF Warns of Tokenization Risks and Challenges to Monetary Sovereignty

In its latest report, the International Monetary Fund said tokenization has the potential to improve financial efficiency, increase transparency, and reduce friction in cross-border payments. It could also support financial inclusion in emerging economies. At the same time, the IMF warned that wider adoption of this technology could introduce new threats to global financial stability. The institution noted that while atomic settlement may reduce some traditional risks, the combination of automation and near-instant settlement could leave less time for human intervention during periods of stress. It may also intensify capital flow volatility and weaken monetary sovereignty. The onchain real-world asset (RWA) market has already grown beyond USD 27.6 billion, and Wall Street firms such as BlackRock are actively pushing deeper into the sector. Even so, the IMF believes tokenization still faces major barriers before it can move fully into the mainstream, including legal uncertainty and a lack of clarity around ownership records and settlement finality. If those issues remain unresolved, the tokenized asset market could become increasingly fragmented.

Stablecoin Monthly Transfer Volume Surpasses US ACH for the First Time

According to the latest data from blockchain analytics platform Artemis, the stablecoin market reached a historic milestone in February this year. Its adjusted monthly transfer volume climbed to USD 7.2 trillion, officially surpassing the USD 6.8 trillion processed by the US Automated Clearing House system. ACH has long been viewed as a core pillar of the US financial system, especially for payroll and electronic bank transfers, and it handles roughly 93% of wage payments in the country. For stablecoins to exceed that system in less than 12 years of development underscores their growing potential as global payment infrastructure. Analysts say stablecoins benefit from being borderless, always on, and independent of traditional banking intermediaries. That advantage is allowing them to gradually take share from legacy payment players such as Visa and PayPal. By the first quarter of 2026, total stablecoin supply had surged to USD 315 billion and accounted for 75% of total crypto transaction volume. Market expectations suggest that as US regulation becomes clearer, stablecoin market capitalization could reach USD 2 trillion by 2028 and become a major pillar of future financial infrastructure.

Bitcoin Miner Riot Sold More Than 3,000 BTC in Q1 to Manage Cost Pressure

Bitcoin mining giant Riot disclosed in its first-quarter operational update that it sold 3,778 BTC during the quarter at an average price of about $76,626, generating total proceeds of USD 289 million. The move reflects the growing pressure miners are facing as operating costs rise amid current market stress and geopolitical instability. Higher oil prices driven by tensions in the Middle East have sharply increased energy costs, pushing several listed firms, including Riot, MARA Holdings, and Genius Group, to collectively sell more than 15,000 BTC over the past week to secure liquidity. Analysts noted that with energy prices remaining elevated, less efficient miners are being forced to shut down machines and exit the market, leading to a temporary pullback in Bitcoin’s network hash rate and mining difficulty. Riot still holds 15,680 BTC on its balance sheet, but market observers believe that if Bitcoin fails to recover or energy costs remain high, the mining sector could face further selling. That would continue to weigh on supply-side sentiment across the broader market.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this section is for informational purposes only and doesn't represent any investment advice or FameEX's official view.