[News Brief] Apr 22, morning | U.S. Senators to Discuss Bitcoin Clarity Bill Before August Recess

U.S. Senators to Discuss Bitcoin Clarity Bill Before August Recess

According to a report citing Punchbowl, U.S. senators are expected to meet next week to finalize a Bitcoin clarity bill before the August recess.

The bill is said to focus on clarifying regulatory standards for cryptocurrencies. The market is closely watching whether it will help reduce regulatory uncertainty.

Source: @pete_rizzo_

JPMorgan: “Bitcoin Has Traded Below Estimated Production Cost for Five Consecutive Months”

JPMorgan said Bitcoin mining profitability has deteriorated in 2026, with Bitcoin trading below its estimated production cost for five straight months.

According to Wu Blockchain, JPMorgan estimated Bitcoin’s production cost at around $78,000 and said roughly 20% of mining companies are currently operating unprofitably.

Publicly listed mining firms sold more than 32,000 BTC in the first quarter of 2026 to secure operating funds. This exceeded their total sales volume for all of 2025.

JPMorgan projected that if Bitcoin continues trading below production cost, volatility in hashrate and mining difficulty could increase, along with the frequency of those fluctuations.

$180 Million in Long Positions Liquidated Across Crypto Market in the Past 60 Minutes

According to Watcher.Guru, approximately $180 million in long positions were liquidated across the cryptocurrency market over the past 60 minutes.

Long liquidations occur when leveraged bullish positions are forcibly closed during a price decline and are often interpreted as a sign of heightened short-term volatility.

Cynthia Lummis: “The U.S. Could Reduce National Debt by Holding 1 Million BTC”

Source: Pete Rizzo X

U.S. Senator Cynthia Lummis said Bitcoin could be used to help reduce U.S. national debt.

Lummis said that if the U.S. were to hold 5% of the global BTC supply for 20 years, it could reduce the national debt, adding that other governments, including China, already hold Bitcoin.

She referenced a plan for the U.S. to hold 1 million BTC. Lummis has previously advocated for establishing a U.S. strategic Bitcoin reserve.

75,000 Unclaimed ETH From The DAO Redirected to Ethereum Long-Term Security Fund

According to The Block, more than 75,000 ETH left unclaimed following the historic The DAO incident has been redirected to Ethereum’s long-term security fund.

The assets, currently worth about $130 million, are expected to generate roughly $8 million annually through staking, which will be used for security research, tool development, and emergency response efforts.

The fund will be overseen by seven curators, including Vitalik Buterin, and will work alongside security initiatives at the Ethereum Foundation. As its first grant, more than $1 million has been allocated to 134 security projects.

The DAO is known for the hack 10 years ago in which an attacker exploited a reentrancy vulnerability to steal about 3.6 million ETH, an event that later led to the Ethereum hard fork debate.

U.S. Military: “Closure of the Strait of Hormuz Officially Lifted”

According to Watcher.Guru, the U.S. military said the closure of the Strait of Hormuz has officially been lifted.

The Strait of Hormuz is a key route for Middle Eastern oil shipments. News of the reopening could help ease energy market concerns and improve investor sentiment toward global risk assets.

White House Submits Memorandum on Halting Iranian Hostile Actions to Congress

According to Politico, the White House submitted a memorandum to Congress aimed at halting hostile actions by Iran.

The document is being interpreted as part of the administration’s congressional reporting process related to efforts to ease tensions in the Middle East.

Trump Administration to Allow Use of $6 Billion in Frozen Iranian Funds

The Trump administration is expected to allow the use of $6 billion in frozen Iranian funds, according to Odaily citing the Financial Times.

Under a temporary agreement between the U.S. and Iran, Iran would be permitted to use oil revenues held in Qatar to purchase U.S. humanitarian goods and other non-sanctioned items.

The measure is part of a limited agreement between the U.S. and Iran, with the use of the frozen funds restricted to goods outside the scope of sanctions.

1,000 BTC Transferred From Anonymous Wallet to Coinbase

Whale Alert reported on the 18th that 1,000 BTC, worth about $62.38 million, was transferred from an anonymous wallet to Coinbase.

Large deposits to exchanges can be interpreted as a sign of potential selling pressure. However, it has not been confirmed whether the funds were actually sold.

Ethereum Falls Below $1,700

ETH fell below the $1,700 level, showing weakness.

PANews reported on the 18th, citing OKX market data, that ETH was trading at $1,698.51, down 4.21% on the day.