It has been a busy day in terms of news, so let us catch you up on the latest and greatest.

Today’s Agenda:

• Market Watch
• Highlights of the Day
  • Yuga Labs Announces Major Company Restructuring
  • Hong Kong to Launch First Spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs in 2 Business Days
  • Eminem Stars in New Crypto.com Ad 
• Project of the Day
• Crypto Corner
• NFT News
• Business & Political Insights 

Market Watch

Top Gainers

• Litecoin ($LTC): +4.2%
• BitTorrent ($BTT): +3.5%
• NEO ($NEO): +2.8%

Top Losers

• Arweave ($AR): -15.9%
• Safe ($SAFE): -11.5%
• Wormhole ($W): -10.7%

Trending Crypto Sectors/Categories

• Stablecoin Protocol
• Binance Launchpool
• Cross-chain Communication

Total Crypto Market Cap – 2.479 Trillion

Fear and Greed Index – 70

Top NFT Sale

• CryptoPunks #4577 Sold for 52.25 ETH 

Highlights of the Day

Yuga Labs Announces Major Company Restructuring

Yuga Labs, the creator of popular NFT collections such as Bored Ape Yacht Club and Otherside, is undergoing significant restructuring. The company’s CEO, Greg Solano, stated that the changes aim to refocus Yuga Labs on its core identity as a crypto-native company, which involved a reduction in workforce. This strategic shift is designed to strengthen the company’s position in the evolving Web3 space.

New Head of Brand Partnerships

Coinciding with this restructuring, Yuga Labs has announced the appointment of Won Kim as its new head of brand partnerships. Kim brings a wealth of experience from previous roles at ESPN, Digg, and other notable media companies. His expertise is expected to drive collaborations between Yuga Labs’ NFT collections and prominent brands, potentially leading to exciting new partnerships.

Hong Kong to Launch First Spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs in 2 Business Days

Hong Kong is on the verge of introducing its first spot Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs), set to launch on April 30. This move marks a significant milestone in the region’s financial markets, indicating a growing interest in cryptocurrency investment products. The ETFs are managed by subsidiaries of major Chinese asset managers like China Asset Management, Harvest Global Investments, and Bosera in Hong Kong.

How is the Market Expected to Respond?

Despite the buzz surrounding this launch, the broader impact is expected to be limited due to Hong Kong’s relatively small ETF market compared to global counterparts. Furthermore, the ETFs will not be accessible to investors in mainland China, a result of strict regulations that prohibit Chinese citizens from participating in cryptocurrency-related transactions.

Eminem Stars in New Crypto.com Ad 

Rap icon Eminem has joined forces with Crypto.com in a high-profile partnership, appearing in a new television advertisement for the cryptocurrency exchange. The ad is set to premiere during an NBA Playoff game at the Crypto.com Arena, marking a significant collaboration between one of music’s biggest stars and the rapidly growing crypto platform. 

Media Placement

The strategic timing of the ad’s debut highlights Crypto.com’s focus on reaching a broad audience. In addition to the NBA Playoff game, the commercial will be shown at other major sporting events, including the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix and an upcoming UFC fight. This wide-ranging exposure is part of Crypto.com’s ongoing effort to solidify its brand presence by aligning with popular sports and entertainment venues.

Project of the Day

ApeCoin

ApeCoin ($APE), an ERC-20 governance and utility token, has been pivotal to the APE Ecosystem since its launch by Yuga Labs in 2022. This digital token serves to empower and incentivize the decentralized community that drives the APE Ecosystem’s growth, where holders and users are engaged in shaping the future of Web3. Notably, Yuga Labs has integrated $APE as the main token for all of its projects, reinforcing its significance.

Despite its promising start, ApeCoin has faced significant challenges. Over the last two years, the cryptocurrency has seen a considerable drop in value, with a current price of approximately $1.4 and a market cap of about $850 million. This downturn is largely attributed to delays in Yuga Labs’ anticipated Otherside platform, which aims to facilitate all transactions using $APE. The prolonged wait for this platform’s launch has tested the patience of the community and led to a downturn in market sentiment.

Yet, recent developments suggest a glimmer of hope. Over the past 24 hours, ApeCoin’s price has risen by 15%, indicating a potential shift in momentum. This uptick is linked to Yuga Labs’ restructuring efforts, as the company commits to delivering products that align with its community-focused ethos.

Crazy Day in Crypto

• Bitcoin reached a new record for daily transactions on April 23, with 926,842 transactions processed in a single day, surpassing the previous high of over 731,000 transactions set in December 2023.
• The strong demand for Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) is easing as the crypto market slows down, with the previously high inflows into BlackRock and Fidelity’s Bitcoin ETFs tapering off this week.

What’s Poppin with NFTs?

• Runes accounted for 81% of total transaction volumes earlier this week, and MagicEden disclosed that it handled $30 million in Runes transactions in just three days.
• Donald Trump announces the launch of his Trump Trading Cards on Bitcoin Ordinals, with a limited release of only 200 units from the Mugshot collection.

Business Talks & Political Insights

• The UK’s National Crime Agency now has the authority to take, freeze, and destroy cryptocurrency linked to criminal acts without an arrest warrant.

BNY Mellon, the oldest U.S. bank and the world’s biggest custodian bank, now includes Bitcoin ETFs in its investment strategy, reflecting a notable trend of traditional financial institutions embracing cryptocurrencies.