A certain cryptocurrency exchange was extorted by a criminal organization, which claimed it would release internal system access videos. The exchange confirmed it had not suffered a systemic breach, that customer funds are safe, and that due to improper conduct by customer service personnel, data from approximately 2,000 accounts was accessed. The exchange has revoked the relevant permissions and strengthened security controls. The company is working with law enforcement agencies to investigate.

The Federal Reserve faces a complex situation with low-interest-rate policy. Even though a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran provides an opportunity for the global economy, energy price volatility could still keep inflation elevated. War is not the main obstacle to rate cuts; instead, it may intensify policy caution, hindering progress toward easing.

Affected by the U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement, the cryptocurrency market rebounded noticeably. Bitcoin briefly broke above $72,700, then fell back to around $71,695, with a gain of 4.3%. Analysts said this rally may be driven by short-term liquidity, while the long-term outlook remains uncertain; investors should watch changes in the macroeconomic environment and the situation in the Middle East.

A Federal Reserve watcher said that the U.S. added 178k jobs in March, the unemployment rate fell to 4.3%, but wage growth slowed to the lowest level in five years. The average monthly number of new jobs was only 22.5k, the economic outlook is fragile, and inflation concerns may further limit the room for rate cuts.

In the first quarter of 2026, crypto hackers stole about $169 million in assets from 34 DeFi protocols. Losses fell significantly, but there were still major attack incidents. Security risks have not declined; hacker activity is tied to market cycles, and attack methods are diversified. The industry needs to strengthen audits and risk controls to meet these challenges.

Gate News, April 2, AT Global Markets chief market analyst Nick Twidale said that there is high expectation for clear information on when the conflict will end, but recent remarks have instead added even more uncertainty. Twidale noted that global markets today could see further downside. He said that the market originally expected an announcement of a ceasefire today, but while the parties involved claim the war will end soon, they also said that they will target Iran over the coming weeks. This message is bearish for the market, implying that the war may continue.

Gate News update. On April 1, according to people familiar with the matter, Usman Ahmad, CEO of Zodia Markets, the cryptocurrency trading company under Standard Chartered, has left the company. The Zodia Markets website shows that Nick Philpott, who previously served as the company’s head of partnerships, has been appointed interim CEO. As of now, both Zodia Markets and Standard Chartered’s spokespeople have declined to comment on the matter.

Bitcoin fell 23.8% in the first quarter of 2026, marking its worst performance since 2018. The decline was mainly driven by outflows from spot ETF fund flows and high inflation. Despite the near-term drop, analysts say long-term conviction in Bitcoin has not changed, and it’s important to watch shifts in the macro environment and incoming capital flows.

In the first quarter of 2026, the price of Bitcoin fell 23.8%, marking its worst performance since 2018. Starting the year, the price dropped from $87,508 to $66,619, for a cumulative loss of 41.6%. Analysts believe that the main reasons include macroeconomic uncertainty and heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. In addition, ETF outflows have further increased pressure. Despite near-term difficulties, long-term confidence remains solid, and institutional participation trends look positive. The market is watching how developments in the Middle East could affect Bitcoin and overall cryptocurrency market sentiment.

Fidelity Digital Assets says that this round of the Bitcoin market pullback is about 50%, lower than the previous 80% to 90%, indicating that volatility is declining and institutional confidence is increasing. Analysts believe Bitcoin is gradually shifting into a stable store-of-value tool, with promising future application prospects. From a technical perspective, the price is hovering around a key support level; if it holds that level, it could provide an opportunity for medium- to long-term investors.