Crypto assets tumbled towards the end of the week with the total market capitalization hovering around $1.71 trillion down 2.95%. The S&P 500 fell more than 8% for the month of April and is down more than 13% in 2022. The price of Bitcoin (BTC) is down 4.3% over the past 7 days. Price action during the week points to strong resistance near the $40,000 level.

Macroeconomic factors continue to pressure the markets. Severe Covid lockdowns in China are weighing on the country’s growth. The invasion of Ukraine is worsening disruptions in the flow of goods across borders, contributing to rising food and energy prices, and threatening corporate profits. In addition, the U.S. Federal Reserve is likely to raise rates by 50 basis points on May 4th. The Japanese yen has tumbled to a 20-year low against the dollar. The yen was once viewed as a "safe haven" — a currency to take shelter in when markets are rough.

Crypto Sector Performance

All sectors were in the red on Friday with losses ranging from -2.24% to -11.06%. Dogecoin (DOGE) surged more than 30% after Twitter accepted Elon Musk’s bid to acquire Twitter, most of the gains have been return. The gaming sector was the worst performer however, Green Satoshi Token (GST), the in-game token for STEPN had a 22% price rally. 

Top News Recap

• Fidelity is rolling out Bitcoin investing for 401(k) plans allowing eligible individuals to allocate a portion of their retirement savings to BTC - The Verge 

• The New York state assembly passes a ban on fossil-fuel powered proof-of-work - Barrons

• BlackRock Launches Its first crypto-exposed ETF with sizable Coinbase allocation - Decrypt 

• Elon Musk to buy Twitter in $44B deal: Here's what you need to know - CNET

• Optimism launches OP token with airdrop for early users - TheDefiant

• A class-action lawsuit against Uniswap spotlights gaps in DeFi regulation - TheBlock

• Fort Worth becomes the first city in U.S. to mine Bitcoin - CNBC

• Goldman Sachs offers its first bitcoin-backed loan - BitcoinMagazine

Crypto Adoption News

• The Central African Republic adopts bitcoin as legal tender, becoming the 2nd sovereign nation to fully legitimize the digital currency - CNBC

• Panama Assembly passes bill regulating Bitcoin - Bitcoin Magazine

• Buenos Aires city to allow residents to make tax payments with crypto - Coindesk

Top Venture Funding Activity

Last week 51 projects announced fundraising rounds, here are some of the largest: 

• Peter Thiel's Founders Fund Co-leads $20 Million Series A for Ondo Finance to Develop 'Decentralize Investment Bank’ - PYMTS

• CleanSpartk, a sustainable Bitcoin mining and energy technology company raises $35M - TheBlock

• 0x Labs raises $70M Series B led by Greylock to continue expanding Web3’s core exchange infrastructure - 0x

• Crusoe Energy Closes $350 Million Series C Funding Round - Crusoe Energy provides oil and gas companies with a fast, low cost and simple solution to natural gas flaring Crusoe Energy

Other News and Top Reads

• Ox Labs’ Bandeali Says ‘Everything of Value Will be Tokenized’ - The Defiant

• Yuga Labs’ Otherside metaverse land auction imposes KYC checks - TheBlock

• Edward Snowden Played Key Role in Zcash Privacy Coin’s Creation - Coindesk

• Congressman Emmer preps bill to put some stablecoins under the SEC's authority - TheBlock

• CFPB invokes old rule to expand authority over fintech and crypto firms - TheBlockCrypto

• Europe's lawmakers set to advance discussion of controversial crypto AML rules - Coindesk