This article outlines the most significant cryptocurrency developments, macroeconomic events, and policy discussions scheduled for the upcoming week. From major mainnet launches and token listings to crucial regulatory meetings, here’s what to watch.
April 21: TGEs, Listings, and Fed Commentary
The week kicks off with several key token generation events and exchange listings, alongside commentary from a Federal Reserve official.
Macroeconomic Events
At 8:30 PM UTC+8, 2025 FOMC voting member and Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee will be interviewed on CNBC. His remarks on interest rates and the economic outlook will be closely monitored by traditional and crypto markets for signals on future monetary policy.
Exchange Listings
- Balance (EPT) on Binance: Binance Alpha and Binance Futures will list the Balance token (EPT). Trading on the Alpha platform begins at 20:00 UTC+8, with EPTUSDT perpetual contracts (offering up to 20x leverage) launching at 21:00 UTC+8. A 3,500 EPT airdrop will be distributed to eligible users who traded on Binance Alpha between April 11 and April 17.
- Balance (EPT) on Gate.io: The Gate.io exchange will also list EPT for spot trading on the same day.
- Coinbase XRP Futures: Coinbase Derivatives has applied to the CFTC to list XRP futures contracts, with an expected launch date of April 21.
Project Updates
- Balance TGE: The Balance project will initiate its Token Generation Event (TGE). The EPT token has a total supply of 10 billion, distributed across community incentives, node rewards, and ecosystem growth. It will launch on both BNB Chain and Ethereum.
- Ethereum Pectra Client: The latest Ethereum core developer call confirmed that the Pectra client is expected to be released on April 21, introducing new EIPs like 7702.
April 22: Hyperlane Airdrop and Fed Speeches
Mid-week features a major token airdrop and continued insights from U.S. Federal Reserve officials.
Macroeconomic Events
Two Fed officials are scheduled to speak at an Economic Mobility Summit:
- 9:00 PM UTC+8: Fed Vice Chair Philip Jefferson.
- 9:30 PM UTC+8: 2026 FOMC voting member and Philadelphia Fed President Patrick Harker.
Policy and Regulation
The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) will close its public consultation on setting competency standards for crypto asset advisers under the MiCA framework. The deadline for feedback is April 22.
Project Updates
- Hyperlane Airdrop: The cross-chain interoperability protocol Hyperlane will conduct its $HYPER token airdrop. A significant 57% of the total token supply is allocated to the community.
- Token Unlocks: SPACE ID (ID) will have an unlock of approximately 12.65 million tokens ($2.4 million), representing 2.94% of its circulating supply.
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April 23: IMF Report and DTCC's Tokenized Platform
This day is marked by a major macroeconomic report and a significant step toward traditional finance adoption of blockchain.
Macroeconomic Events
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) will release its latest World Economic Outlook report. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has previously stated that while trade tensions may slow global growth, a recession is not anticipated.
Project and Institutional Updates
- DTCC's AppChain: The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC), a key piece of US financial market infrastructure, will演示 its new tokenized collateral management platform, "AppChain." This initiative aims to improve the efficiency and liquidity of global collateral movement.
- Google's MiCA Compliance: Google will begin enforcing new cryptocurrency advertising rules in the European Union that are compliant with the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation.
- Argentina's Libra Investigation: A special committee in the Argentine Congress will begin an investigation into government officials' involvement with the failed Libra token project.
Token Unlocks
Several projects have unlocks scheduled:
- Murasaki (MURA): 10 million tokens ($400K)
- Karrat (KARRAT): 21.25 million tokens ($1.3M)
- Eigenlayer (EIGEN): 1.29 million tokens ($1.1M)
April 24: Initia Mainnet Launch and Binance Listing
A highlight of the week is the launch of a new Layer 1 blockchain and its subsequent listing on a major exchange.
Macroeconomic Events
The U.S. Federal Reserve will release its Beige Book, a summary of anecdotal information on current economic conditions across its 12 districts.
Policy and Regulation
The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) will close applications for its tokenization regulatory sandbox. This program allows companies to test tokenized stocks, bonds, and funds in a controlled environment.
Major Listings and Launches
- Initia Mainnet Goes Live: The Layer 1 blockchain Initia is scheduled to launch its mainnet.
- INIT on Binance: Following its Launchpool farming event, Binance will list Initia's INIT token at 19:00 UTC+8. Multiple trading pairs including INIT/USDT and INIT/BNB will be available.
- Coinbase International Listings: Coinbase International Exchange will add perpetual contracts for WCT, KERNEL, BABY, and PROMPT.
Project Updates
- Dolomite TGE: The Dolomite lending protocol will hold its Token Generation Event, with 20% of the total DOLO supply allocated to user airdrops.
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April 25: SEC Roundtable on Crypto Custody
The focus shifts to regulatory policy with a high-profile meeting hosted by the U.S. securities regulator.
Policy and Regulation
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will hold its third crypto policy roundtable, with a sharp focus on custody issues. The event will feature two panels:
- Broker-Dealers and Wallet Custody: Panelists include representatives from Fireblocks, Anchorage Digital, Fidelity, Kraken, and Exodus.
- Investment Advisers and Investment Company Custody.
This discussion is critical for defining the future regulatory landscape for holding digital assets for clients.
Other Updates
- Binance Margin Rates Adjustment: Binance will adjust the collateral rates for certain assets in its Unified Account.
- Hong Kong ETH Staking: The Bosera HashKey Ethereum ETF (03009) in Hong Kong has received approval to begin participating in Ethereum staking from this date.
- Token Unlocks: Significant unlocks for Venom (VENOM, $7.9M) and AltLayer (ALT, $6.9M) are scheduled.
April 26 - 27: Token Unlocks and Domain Launch
The week concludes with a handful of token unlock events and a project update.
Token Unlocks (April 27)
- Undeads Games (UDS): 21.94 million tokens ($14.9M), a large 30.54% of its circulating supply.
- Velo (VELO): 182.8 million tokens ($230K).
Project Updates
Sonic Labs has announced that the public sale for .sonic domains is planned for this week. Waitlisted users can already claim their domains on Unstoppable Domains.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Token Generation Event (TGE)?
A TGE is the moment when a new cryptocurrency token is officially created and distributed for the first time. It often involves initial distributions to investors, team members, and community members through airdrops or sales, marking the token's entry into the market.
Why are token unlocks important?
Token unlocks refer to the release of previously locked or vested tokens into the circulating supply. Large unlocks can create selling pressure if recipients decide to sell their tokens on the open market, potentially impacting the token's price. It's a key metric for assessing potential market liquidity changes.
What is the significance of the SEC's custody roundtable?
Custody is a foundational element for broader institutional adoption of cryptocurrencies. The SEC's roundtable brings together industry leaders to discuss technical and regulatory challenges. The outcomes could shape future rules that determine how banks, brokers, and investment firms can legally hold digital assets for their clients, potentially opening the door for more institutional products.
How does a mainnet launch differ from a testnet?
A testnet is a prototype blockchain where developers can test and debug their protocols without using real value. A mainnet launch is the official public release of the fully functional blockchain, where transactions use the native cryptocurrency with real economic value, marking the project's transition from development to live operation.
What are perpetual contracts?
Perpetual contracts are a type of derivative product that allow traders to speculate on the future price of an asset without an expiration date. Unlike traditional futures, they trade close to the underlying spot market price through a funding rate mechanism and often offer high leverage.
Why do Federal Reserve speeches impact crypto markets?
Crypto markets, particularly Bitcoin, are increasingly sensitive to macroeconomic conditions. Fed officials' comments on interest rates and monetary policy influence the value of the U.S. dollar and overall investor risk appetite. Tighter monetary policy can strengthen the dollar and reduce liquidity, often putting downward pressure on risk-on assets like cryptocurrencies.