Toncoin (TON) surged as markets priced in Pavel Durovs "Make TON Great Again" roadmap, briefly more than doubling in value.

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Cardone's Bitcoin-real estate model may reshape investment strategies, attracting new crypto investors and challenging traditional REITs' dominance.

The post Grant Cardone adds $100 million in Bitcoin to real estate deal, targeting 32% returns appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The closure highlights vulnerabilities in global oil supply chains, prompting strategic shifts and investments in alternative trade routes.

The post Iran closes Strait of Hormuz, disrupting global oil transit appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Increased military tensions could hinder diplomatic progress, reducing the likelihood of a lasting peace deal and escalating regional instability.

The post Trump warns Iran of more attacks amid stalled peace talks appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The unsealing of Epstein's alleged suicide note may shift public perception and influence ongoing legal and market dynamics significantly.

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Bitcoin Magazine

Why eBay Should Ignore GameStop and Use Bitcoin to Save $1.2 Billion in Transaction Costs

Ryan Cohen’s unsolicited $55.5 billion unsolicited bid to absorb eBay into GameStop has the corporate world doing a double-take. Cohen’s pitch sounds seductive on paper: he promises to slash $2 billion in bloated overhead and instantly rocket eBay’s diluted GAAP earnings per share from $4.26 to $7.79 in year one.

But behind the flashy presentation lies a massive hurdle: a highly speculative cash-and-stock structure that requires taking on $20 billion in new debt from TD Securities and drastically diluting GameStop’s own stock to buy a company four times its size. Analysts and investors are deeply skeptical, which is why eBay’s stock continues to trade well below Cohen’s $125 offer price.

eBay’s board doesn’t need a smaller, meme-backed retailer to step in and aggressively strip its budget to find efficiency. Instead, they can look at a real-world blueprint proving that true operational efficiency isn’t found by gutting marketing, it’s found by upgrading the payment layer.

By taking a page out of the broader digital asset ecosystem and looking at how legacy brand Steak ‘n Shake just revolutionized its business model, eBay can unlock a massive structural victory completely on its own terms.

The Proof of Concept: The Steak ‘n Shake Case Study

When the national burger chain Steak ‘n Shake activated Bitcoin Lightning Network payments across its locations, it wasn’t just a marketing gimmick. The real-world data completely flipped the script on corporate retail finance:

• 50% Fee Savings: Steak ‘n Shake’s leadership confirmed that processing payments over the decentralized Bitcoin Lightning protocol instantly cut their payment transaction costs right in half compared to legacy credit card networks.
• The Strategic Reserve: Instead of converting those savings back to fiat, they funneled the capital directly into a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve to fund employee bonuses, creating an organic, self-reinforcing financial flywheel.

The Opportunity Cost: What This Math Means for eBay

The Payments Blindspot

eBay is an e-commerce titan, facilitating massive scale across its global marketplace. In its fiscal year 2025 financial results, eBay reported steady momentum, yet it remains anchored to traditional payment rails. Because eBay runs its own internal payment infrastructure (eBay Managed Payments), it is stuck swallowing massive transaction fees from legacy credit card cartels, passing those costs onto sellers via a hefty ~13.25% take-rate.

While eBay guards its exact net processing fees, traditional credit card networks (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) charge large digital merchants an average global interchange and processing toll hovering between 2.5% and 3.5%.

Assuming a standard 3% merchant legacy swipe fee across eBay’s massive $80 billion volume, replicating Steak ‘n Shake’s proven 50% reduction in processing costs reveals a staggering annual opportunity cost currently paid to the banking cartel:

• $80B (Annual GMV) x 3% (Est. Legacy Swipe Fee) = $2.4B in Friction
• $2.4B x 50% (Lightning Efficiency) = $1.2B Annually

The Treasury Blindspot

While eBay has been letting its $2.92B in cash reserves sit in low-yield traditional treasury notes (generating a baseline productivity of just 12.23%), the opportunity cost of ignoring Bitcoin over the last three years has turned into a multi-billion dollar boardroom mistake.

If eBay’s board had allocated 100% of those reserves to Bitcoin instead of flat fiat cash, that treasury would have grown by a massive 1,406%. That represents a $5.02B unrealized gain that eBay completely left on the table.

Try the Bitcoin Treasury simulator.

Legacy Credit Card Rails vs. The Bitcoin Lightning Network

Instead of letting a leveraged buyout dictate its future, a native crypto payment layer permanently restructures eBay’s economics in favor of its 135 million active users [1.1].

3 Reasons Why the Payment Play Beats Cohen’s Takeover

1. It Protects Shareholders from Volatile Corporate Debt

GameStop’s proposal relies on stitching together an unconfirmed $20 billion financing letter and highly unpredictable meme-stock equity to cover the massive acquisition. Integrating a decentralized payment protocol, by comparison, costs eBay virtually nothing to implement. It expands profit margins organically without adding a single dollar of toxic corporate leverage to the balance sheet.

2. It Empowers the Lifeblood of eBay: The Sellers

Ryan Cohen intends to extract value by aggressively cutting $1.2 billion from eBay’s sales and marketing budget. Tech-forward payment integration takes the opposite approach: it extracts value from the banks. Passing a massive fee reduction back to power-sellers gives them an overwhelming incentive to list their best inventory exclusively on eBay rather than moving to independent storefronts or Amazon.

3. It Dominates the Collectibles Market Automatically

A massive pillar of GameStop’s buyout logic is using its 1,600 brick-and-mortar storefronts as physical hubs to authenticate trading cards and luxury items. However, the high-end collectibles market is already deeply intertwined with digital asset wealth. Seamlessly allowing global buyers to purchase a luxury watch or a rare comic book natively via Bitcoin unlocks a vast ecosystem of highly liquid global capital that a physical retail storefront simply cannot replicate.

The Ultimate Counter-Punch

GameStop is targeting eBay because it views the platform as a massive cash-generating engine that has grown technologically stagnant. Rather than allowing a smaller company to leverage itself to the hilt for a takeover, eBay’s board can render GameStop’s cost-cutting thesis totally obsolete.

By using the retail industry’s blueprint to fix its payment layer, cutting out banking monopolies, and returning $1.2 billion in annual savings to the marketplace, eBay can drive its own historic earnings boost, proving it doesn’t need a savior to dominate the future of digital commerce.

Disclaimer: This content was prepared on behalf of Bitcoin For Corporations for informational purposes only. It reflects the author’s own analysis and opinion and should not be relied upon as investment advice. Nothing in this article constitutes an offer, invitation, or solicitation to purchase, sell, or subscribe for any security or financial product.

References

• [1.1] GameStop Investor Relations. (2026). GameStop Proposes to Acquire eBay at $125.00 Per Share. GameStop Investor Relations
• [1.2] ANI News. (2026). GameStop proposes to acquire ebay at USD 125 per share in cash and stock. ANI News
• [1.3] Bitcoin Magazine. (2026). Steak ‘n Shake Says Bitcoin Payments Cut Processing Costs by 50%, Save $6 Million Annually. Bitcoin Magazine
• [1.4] CoinoMedia via Binance Square. (2025). Steak ‘n Shake Saves Big with Bitcoin Payments. Binance Square
• [1.5] Reddit r/Bitcoin. (2026). Steak ‘n Shake Says Bitcoin Payments Cut Processing Costs by 50%, Save $6 Million Annually. Reddit
• [2.1] Kotaku. (2026). GameStop’s Absurd Bid To Buy eBay For $56 Billion Sounds Bad. Kotaku
• [2.2] Digital Transactions. (2026). How Steak ‘n Shake Slashed Costs With Crypto. Digital Transactions
• [2.3] MyBroadband. (2026). GameStop offers R930 billion for eBay. MyBroadband
• [2.4] Reddit r/Bitcoin. (2026). Starting March 1, Steak n Shake will give all hourly employees at its company-operated restaurants a Bitcoin bonus. Reddit
• [3.1] Bitcoin Magazine. (2026). Steak ‘n Shake Teases “Bitcoin Milkshake” For Bitcoin Conference 2026. Bitcoin Magazine
• [4.1] eBay Inc. Investor Relations. (2026). eBay Inc. Reports Fourth Quarter and Full Year 2025 Results. eBay Investor Relations
• [4.2] Value Added Resource. (2026). eBay Q4 2025 Earnings: GMV Growth & Depop Acquisition Surprise. Value Added Resource

This post Why eBay Should Ignore GameStop and Use Bitcoin to Save $1.2 Billion in Transaction Costs first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Nick Ward.

Bitcoin Magazine

Boltz Launches Non-Custodial USDC Swaps, Bridging Bitcoin Directly to Circle’s Regulated Dollar

Boltz, a leading non-custodial swap provider for Bitcoin, today announced the launch of USDC Swaps, enabling instant conversion between Bitcoin and USDC, the regulated stablecoin issued by Circle. Swaps are supported across all major Bitcoin layers, including the Lightning Network, and are live now at boltz.exchange.

“USDC Swaps mark a turning point for the Bitcoin ecosystem. For the first time, anyone can move between Bitcoin and the dollar most trusted by the regulated financial world without opening an account, completing KYC, or trusting a custodian in the process,” said the team in a press release shared with Bitcoin Magazine. 

A Non-Custodial Bridge

Exchanging Bitcoin for USDC is not new. What is new is doing it without giving up custody. Today, users who want to move between Bitcoin and a regulated dollar are typically funneled through centralized exchanges and brokerages that require account creation, identity verification, and full custody of user funds. A subset of services offer the same conversion without an account upfront, but because those services still take custody of user funds during the swap, they retain the ability to pause settlement and request identity documents if a transaction is flagged for review, with funds potentially getting confiscated in the meantime. The trade-off, in either case, has been the same: trust, surveillance, and friction in exchange for access.

Boltz removes that trade-off. USDC Swaps execute trustlessly, with no account, no sign-up, and no KYC at any stage. Funds remain under user control until the moment USDC arrives in the user’s wallet. This is the core innovation, and it is what separates Boltz from every other path between Bitcoin and Circle’s regulated Stablecoin.

Bridging Two Financial Worlds

For more than a decade, Bitcoin and the stablecoin economy have evolved on parallel tracks. Bitcoin built the open, permissionless side of the internet’s financial layer. Circle and USDC built the compliant, audited dollar that institutions require for operations. The two rarely connected directly.

USDC Swaps close that gap. With a single transaction, value can move between Bitcoin and a fully reserved, monthly-attested dollar that is already integrated into the products of Stripe, Coinbase, Visa, Mastercard, BlackRock, Robinhood, Revolut, Nubank, and a long list of banks, fintechs, and payment processors worldwide.

“The momentum is unmistakable,” wrote the Boltz team. USDC is the stablecoin that Stripe and Paradigm placed at the center of Tempo, their new payments-focused blockchain. It is the dollar on which Coinbase built its institutional infrastructure. It is the dollar that regulated card networks, asset managers, and global fintechs reach for when they need a digital dollar they can defend to a regulator. Boltz USDC swaps mean plugging Bitcoin directly into the rails that the regulated world is already standardizing on.

“Bitcoin and the regulated financial system have always been adjacent worlds, separated by intermediaries that demand custody and identity,” said Kilian Rausch, CEO of Boltz. “USDC Swaps remove that separation. A merchant accepting Bitcoin, a freelancer paid in sats, a treasury team managing operating capital, all of them can now reach the regulated dollar economy on their own terms, in seconds.”

Powered by the Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol

USDC Swaps are built on Circle’s Cross-Chain Transfer Protocol (CCTP), the native infrastructure that allows USDC to move across blockchains without wrapping or third-party bridges. Every USDC delivered through a Boltz swap is genuine, Circle-issued USDC, the same USDC accepted by regulated payment partners around the world.

By building on CCTP, Boltz is able to serve users across every USDC-supported network, including Ethereum, Arbitrum, Base, Polygon, and others, from a single, focused liquidity provider.

Use Cases Across Consumer and Business

Boltz believes that USDC Swaps unlock a broad set of practical applications, including:

• Off-ramping Bitcoin into the banking system through regulated partners that already accept USDC, such as Stripe, Coinbase, and Bridge.
• Day-to-day operations for Bitcoin-native businesses, such as paying vendors, funding payroll, and settling recurring bills in regulated dollars without leaving non-custodial infrastructure.
• Merchant settlement for Bitcoin-accepting businesses that need to book revenue in compliant, accountant-friendly USDC.

All of the above are now unlocked without having to use crypto wallets outside of Bitcoin. Users send Bitcoin through Boltz and the recipient can receive USDC.

Bitcoin First, by Design

Boltz emphasized that the launch does not change the company’s Bitcoin-first orientation. All swaps remain non-custodial, all swaps settle atomically, and a “Bitcoin-Only Mode” continues to be available for users who prefer a stripped-down interface. USDC Swaps simply extend the reach of Bitcoin into a part of the financial system that, until now, has been difficult to access without trusted intermediaries.

USDC Swaps are available immediately to all users at boltz.exchange. Integration into various SDKs and the Boltz BTCPay Plugin is planned to follow in the coming weeks, according to the company.

This post Boltz Launches Non-Custodial USDC Swaps, Bridging Bitcoin Directly to Circle’s Regulated Dollar first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Juan Galt.

Bitcoin Magazine

Strategy Opens Door to Bold Bitcoin Sales Pivot Unlocking $2.2 Billion Tax Benefit

Strategy Inc. (formerly MicroStrategy, Nasdaq: MSTR), the world’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder and first Bitcoin Treasury Company, held its Q1 2026 earnings call on May 5. The results were dominated by massive non-cash GAAP losses from Bitcoin’s fair-value accounting amid a volatile quarter. Yet the real story, and the market’s focal point, was a clear strategic pivot: the company signaled it is now willing to sell portions of its Bitcoin holdings tactically. This marks a departure from the long-standing “never sell” narrative and positions BTC as an actively managed capital allocation asset rather than untouchable inventory.

The Numbers: GAAP Pain, Operational Resilience, Bitcoin Growth

Strategy reported an operating loss of $14.47 billion and a net loss of $12.54 billion ($38.25 per diluted common share), compared to smaller losses in Q1 2025. The primary driver was a $14.46 billion unrealized fair-value loss on its digital assets as Bitcoin prices declined during the quarter (roughly from ~$87,000 to ~$68,000 by late March). These are non-cash charges under current accounting rules.

The core software business showed modest growth, with total revenues of $124.3 million (up ~12% year-over-year) and gross profit of $83.4 million (67.1% margin). Cash and equivalents stood at $2.21 billion. More importantly for the Bitcoin Treasury thesis:

• Holdings: 818,334 BTC as of early May (3.9% of total supply), up 22% year-to-date in 2026.
• Acquisitions: 89,599 BTC purchased in Q1 alone (~$7.3 billion at ~$80,900 average) plus another 56,235 BTC in Q2-to-date.
• Key Metrics: 9.4% BTC Yield and ~63,410 BTC gain year-to-date (equating to ~$5 billion in dollar gains). Bitcoin per share rose 18% year-over-year to 213,371 sats.
• Capital Raised: ~$11.7 billion year-to-date (roughly half common equity, half preferred—primarily the flagship STRC “Stretch” digital credit product, which has scaled to $8.5 billion outstanding with strong liquidity and a 11.5% dividend yield). fool.com

The balance sheet remains fortress-like: modest net leverage (~9%), ample cash reserves, and a sophisticated digital credit engine via STRC that has attracted institutional and DeFi interest (including tokenized versions). Executives highlighted a proposed shareholder vote to shift STRC dividends from monthly to semi-monthly for better liquidity, with return-of-capital (ROC) tax treatment expected for the foreseeable future.

The Headline Shift: Tactical Bitcoin Sales as Financial Engineering

The call’s biggest takeaway, echoed in real-time X (Twitter) commentary, was the explicit openness to selling Bitcoin under the right conditions. Executive Chairman Michael Saylor stated the company “will probably sell some Bitcoin to fund a dividend just to inoculate the market, just to send the message that we did it.” President and CEO Phong Le added: “We will sell Bitcoin when it’s advantageous to the company… We’re not gonna sit back and just say, ‘We’ll never sell the Bitcoin.’ We wanna be net aggregators of Bitcoin, increasing our total Bitcoin, but more importantly, increasing our Bitcoin per share.” This isn’t a fire sale or abandonment of accumulation. Instead, as detailed in the earnings presentation slides and elaborated by executives, it’s optimized capital allocation:

• Tax Harvesting Opportunity: Strategy’s BTC stack has clear cost-basis tiers (from early low-basis holdings to recent higher-cost purchases). Slides illustrated that selling higher-cost-basis BTC (e.g., ~$80k–$100k+ tiers) at current levels could realize substantial capital losses—potentially turning ~$7.6 billion in unrealized losses into immediate tax benefits (estimated $2.2 billion in tax assets at a 29% rate). These losses can offset gains elsewhere, reduce CAMT (corporate alternative minimum tax) exposure, and create valuable tax shields. Because Bitcoin is treated as property by the IRS, wash-sale rules don’t apply, allowing strategic repurchases if desired. thestreet.com
• Redeployment for Accretion: Proceeds would fund high-BPS-accretive actions—buying back undervalued MSTR shares (especially below ~1.22x mNAV), retiring convertible debt, or supporting dividends—while maintaining or growing Bitcoin per share. A presentation slide modeled a $1 billion “sell BTC to buy MSTR” trade, showing strong positive delta to BTC yield and gains at sub-1.22x mNAV levels (e.g., +636 bps yield at 0.5x mNAV). This could crush shorts, reduce float/dilution risk, and boost mNAV. thestreet.com
• Dividend and Liability Management: Small, targeted sales could perpetually fund STRC preferred dividends (with STRC issuance potentially outpacing the BTC “breakeven” cost). This inoculates against FUD about forced sales or dilution while keeping the company a net BTC buyer overall.

In short, BTC transitions from a static “digital gold” reserve to a dynamic tool for optimizing taxes, liquidity, capital structure, and shareholder value, without increasing leverage. As one sharp X analysis put it: “BTC is no longer treated as untouchable inventory. It’s becoming an actively managed capital allocation asset optimized around Bitcoin per share, float control, taxes, and capital structure.”

Follow BFC on X.

Market Reaction

Disclaimer: This content was prepared on behalf of Bitcoin For Corporations for informational purposes only. It reflects the author’s own analysis and opinion and should not be relied upon as investment advice. Nothing in this article constitutes an offer, invitation, or solicitation to purchase, sell, or subscribe for any security or financial product.

This post Strategy Opens Door to Bold Bitcoin Sales Pivot Unlocking $2.2 Billion Tax Benefit first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Nick Ward.

Bitcoin Magazine

Sequans Sells Half Its Bitcoin Holdings as Revenue Falls and Losses Mount

Paris-based Sequans Communications sold 1,025 bitcoin during the first quarter of 2026, cutting its digital asset reserves nearly in half as the IoT semiconductor maker grappled with declining revenue and mounting losses tied to a treasury strategy that has turned from ambitious to burdensome.

The sale reduced Sequans’ bitcoin position from 2,139 BTC at year-end 2025 to 1,114 BTC by April 30, marking the second major disposal in six months for a company that less than a year ago proclaimed plans to accumulate 3,000 bitcoin as a “long-term store of value”.

The financial pressure is evident in the numbers. Sequans reported revenue of $6.1 million for the quarter ended March 31, down 24.8% from $8.1 million a year earlier. The year-over-year comparison reveals the company’s vulnerability: the prior-year period included significant license and services revenue from Qualcomm that did not recur, exposing the underlying weakness in product sales.

While product sales did increase 45% from the year-ago quarter, gross margin compressed to 37.7% from 64.5% as lower-margin hardware displaced the lucrative licensing income. For a company burning cash, the shift in revenue mix compounds the challenge.

Sequans’ Bitcoin strategy became a burden

The bitcoin holdings that CEO Georges Karam once framed as a balance-sheet asset have become a source of substantial losses. Operating losses reached $50.5 million in the quarter, driven by $29.3 million in unrealized impairment charges on bitcoin holdings and $11.7 million in realized losses from selling the digital assets.

The company used bitcoin sale proceeds to redeem convertible debt and fund an American Depositary Share buyback program, a pragmatic move to reduce liabilities but one that underscores how the treasury strategy has shifted from accumulation to liquidation.

The remaining bitcoin holdings are largely encumbered. Of the 1,114 BTC held as of April 30, 817 bitcoin — representing 73% of current holdings valued at $62.3 million — remained pledged as collateral for $35.9 million in outstanding convertible notes. The pledged bitcoin exceeds the debt value, reflecting the over-collateralization required by lenders wary of cryptocurrency volatility.

The remaining debt is scheduled for redemption by June 1, 2026, after which all bitcoin will be unrestricted and available for sale. Whether Sequans will retain those assets or continue liquidating to fund operations remains an open question.

Net loss totaled $54.3 million, or $3.73 per diluted ADS, compared to $7.3 million, or $0.29 per ADS, in the prior-year quarter. Even on a non-IFRS basis—which excludes impairment charges, stock-based compensation, and accounting adjustments related to convertible debt—the net loss was substantial at $20.7 million, or $1.42 per ADS.

CEO Georges Karam framed the bitcoin sales as “decisive steps to simplify and strengthen our balance sheet,” while highlighting momentum in the company’s core IoT semiconductor business. 

He cited a growing backlog, maturing design wins, and customer interest in Cat-M, Cat-1bis, and 5G eRedCap connectivity solutions, as well as new RF transceivers for drones and defense applications.

Sequans shares have fallen 51.5% over the past six months to $3.01, reflecting investor skepticism about both the bitcoin strategy and the core business trajectory. 

The company ranks 40th among publicly traded firms holding bitcoin, far behind Strategy’s 818,334 BTC and Twenty One Capital’s 43,514 BTC.

This post Sequans Sells Half Its Bitcoin Holdings as Revenue Falls and Losses Mount first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Kraken Partners With MoneyGram to Enable Crypto Cash-Outs at 500,000 Locations Worldwide

Kraken will allow customers to convert cryptocurrency into cash at MoneyGram locations across more than 100 countries, addressing a longstanding gap in the digital asset ecosystem, according to an exclusive report from Fortune.

The partnership gives Kraken users access to nearly 500,000 physical locations worldwide, where they can exchange crypto holdings for local currency. The move targets a key friction point in crypto markets: while digital transfers settle with speed, converting assets into cash often involves multiple steps, limited banking access, or delays.

The initiative reflects rising demand for reliable cash access, driven in part by Kraken’s expanding presence in regions with unstable currencies. 

Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi told Fortune that demand for reliable cash access has grown alongside the exchange’s international user base, especially in regions with unstable currencies. In those markets, users often treat crypto platforms as alternatives to banks.

“They want to store in USD or USD equivalent,” Sethi said. “They want to get yield. They want to do payments. They want to move money back and forth.”

That usage pattern creates a need for dependable off-ramps into cash. Through the MoneyGram network, Kraken users can bridge digital balances with local currency pickup, paying a variable exchange fee tied to each transaction.

The deal also marks a strategic shift for MoneyGram, a legacy payments company that has worked to modernize its operations after losing ground to fintech firms and digital banks. The company has focused on integrating digital assets into its infrastructure as part of a broader effort to reposition its business.

MoneyGram is dabbling with crypto

MoneyGram has spent recent years building crypto infrastructure, including a noncustodial wallet and deeper integration of stablecoins into its payment flows. The company has positioned stablecoins as a backbone for cross-border transfers, aiming to reduce costs and settlement delays tied to traditional rails. A private equity acquisition in 2023 gave the firm room to pursue that transformation outside public markets.

For Kraken, the deal adds to a period of expansion as it prepares for a potential public listing. The exchange has broadened its product suite beyond spot crypto trading, acquiring futures platform NinjaTrader and derivatives venue Bitnomial. Those moves reflect a strategy to compete across asset classes while strengthening its appeal to both institutional and retail users.

Despite its institutional focus, Kraken’s growth in emerging markets has shaped product priorities. Access to cash remains critical in economies where banking infrastructure lacks reach or trust.

The tie-up with MoneyGram signals a convergence between crypto platforms and traditional financial networks, where physical locations still play a key role. It also highlights how adoption depends not only on digital innovation, but on practical access to money in everyday form.

Kraken has not disclosed a full timeline for global rollout or its IPO plans, though it filed draft registration documents in late 2025.

This post Kraken Partners With MoneyGram to Enable Crypto Cash-Outs at 500,000 Locations Worldwide first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

The cumulative net inflows of US-traded spot Bitcoin ETFs has reached roughly $59.7 billion, with BlackRock's IBIT alone holding $66.7 billion in assets.

Morgan Stanley and Charles Schwab are now pushing direct crypto trading into ordinary brokerage accounts. The driver is that both firms can already see demand within their own client base, with clients executing trades elsewhere.

Charles Schwab's clients hold about 20% of US spot crypto exchange-traded products, which helps explain the timing. Demand is already concentrated inside Schwab's franchise, and every trade those clients execute on Coinbase or Robinhood is revenue and behavioral data leaving the brokerage.

Morgan Stanley faces the same math as E*Trade's 8.6 million self-directed clients, who generated 1.029 million average daily revenue trades in 2025 through a channel holding $1.67 trillion in assets.

The ETF era created a specific problem for both firms, as the products gave clients Bitcoin exposure inside familiar accounts, while spot trading, execution, and account stickiness went elsewhere.

A Schwab client who holds IBIT and then trades spot Bitcoin on Coinbase is splitting their financial life in two. Schwab gets assets under management, and Coinbase gets the trading relationship.

Why attack now

Both firms chose to move while the pure-play crypto model is threatened.

Robinhood's first-quarter results show app crypto notional volume down 48% year over year to $24 billion, with crypto revenue down 47%.

The infrastructure costs of building a crypto product are fixed regardless of market conditions, but launching into a lull gives compliance, pricing, and service teams time to work out the friction before retail enthusiasm returns at scale.

Incumbents rarely attack pure-play competitors at the peak of a cycle, moving when the window is open.

The regulatory environment gave them the runway to build. The FDIC rescinded its prior-approval requirement for permissible crypto activities in March 2025, while the OCC clarified in May 2025 that national banks may buy and sell customer-custodied crypto and outsource execution with proper risk management.

In April 2026, SEC staff followed with an interim statement on broker-dealer registration issues for certain crypto interfaces.

The directional shift cleared enough friction to build, even as Congress has work to do regarding the CLARITY Act.

What looks like an aggressive 2026 push is the visible end of a multi-quarter infrastructure project. Morgan Stanley's E*Trade crypto plan started in September 2025, targeting a first-half 2026 launch via Zerohash.

Schwab arrived with a full institutional stack, including custody at Charles Schwab Premier Bank, execution through Paxos, educational tools, and a phased rollout starting with Bitcoin and Ethereum.

The pattern extends beyond two brokerages, as Standard Chartered launched institutional spot Bitcoin and Ethereum trading in July 2025, and Goldman Sachs filed for its first Bitcoin ETF in April 2026.

JPMorgan started exploring institutional crypto trading in December 2025, and Fidelity received OCC approval in February 2026 for bank-based crypto custody and execution.

Across these separate decisions, the shared conclusion is that crypto custody, execution, and client access should be part of the same infrastructure that handles every other asset class.

What the fight decides

If ETF inflows continue to recover, as Bitcoin ETFs registered over $1.6 billion in inflows in May, and brokerage clients begin treating crypto as a routine line item alongside equities, both firms collect trading revenue while deepening the client relationship.

Schwab has said it intends to expand beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum and add transfer capability over time. Citi's 12-month Bitcoin target sits at $112,000, with a bull case of $165,000.

A brokerage with direct access already captures the demand as it broadens.

The bear case consists of Schwab's launch being constrained to Bitcoin and Ethereum only, with transfers deferred and unavailable in New York and Louisiana.

If Congress stalls on the CLARITY Act, the Fed stays restrictive, and retail engagement stays thin, then direct crypto trading becomes a table-stakes feature.

Citi's bear case puts Bitcoin at $58,000, and Standard Chartered has flagged a potential drawdown to $50,000, and Bitcoin is already down roughly 7% year to date.

In that environment, the product holds existing crypto-interested clients and adds little new account growth.

Schwab and Morgan Stanley are responding to client behavior they can already observe, building distribution infrastructure before a demand surge they cannot afford to predict or miss.

The ETF era handed brokerages a clear signal that their own clients wanted crypto, while keeping the actual trading relationship on someone else's platform.

The firms that capture the next phase of retail crypto demand will be the ones that had direct, live access before retail asked for it.

The post Morgan Stanley and Charles Schwab are rushing into crypto: what do they see coming? appeared first on CryptoSlate.

With Bitcoin trading near $82,000, a move back into price-discovery territory depends on whether ETF buyers keep absorbing supply while macro pressure remains contained.

That is the practical answer to the two questions shaping the rest of 2026: when can Bitcoin reach a new all-time high, and is the market bottom already in?

Bitcoin has reclaimed the low-$80,000 range and is again testing whether buyers can build support there. Yet it remains over 30% below its Oct. 6, 2025, all-time high of $126,198, according to live Bitcoin pricing.

The distance to the peak is the first constraint. From roughly $82,000, Bitcoin needs a gain of about 54% to set a fresh record.

Spot ETFs are again taking in hundreds of millions of dollars a day, but the old high still has to be treated as a supply zone to be cleared rather than as a price level that automatically reaches.

Related Reading

Can Bitcoin break $100,000 this week – or will geopolitics cause another weekend reset?

Bitcoin’s rebound has reopened the macro hedge debate, but the low-$80,000 range now has to prove whether buyers are building support.

May 6, 2026 · Liam 'Akiba' Wright

The clearest take is conditional. Bitcoin can plausibly reach a new all-time high in late Q3 or Q4 2026 if it first turns the $82,000-$83,000 area into support, clears $90,000, and then reclaims $100,000 while ETF inflows remain positive.

The bottom, meanwhile, should be treated as a process rather than a date. The first support zone for that process is $65,000 to $70,000. If that fails, lower downside work remains live.

The low-$80,000 range is the first gate

The immediate test is lower than the old record. Recent CryptoSlate price coverage framed the low-$80,000 range as the zone Bitcoin needs to convert from resistance into support before the $90,000 trade becomes credible.

That aligns with the current market structure: BTC has moved back above the psychological $80,000 line, but the move remains within a large overhead supply band created by buyers who entered closer to the 2025 peak.

ETF demand is why the upside case remains alive. Farside Investors' US spot Bitcoin ETF flow table showed net inflows of $629 million on May 1, $532 million on May 4, and $467 million on May 5.

Those flows are a demand proxy that can help absorb profit-taking from older holders and recent buyers who want to exit near breakeven.

The same flow channel also explains why this cycle is harder to compare with prior post-halving years. The ETF market has created a regulated access point for spot exposure.

BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust remains a deep and liquid wrapper, showing that ETF demand is not just a trading-screen abstraction.

Still, ETF demand can soften quickly when macro pressure rises or when holders sell into strength faster than new capital arrives. That is why $82,000-$83,000 is the first gate.

A clean hold there would make $90,000 the next live test. A failure would turn the current rebound back into another relief rally inside a defensive structure.

Related Reading

Here's why Bitcoin is stuck below $80,000 and what Powell's FOMC meeting did for BTC price

The Fed held rates steady as Powell warned that higher energy prices are pushing inflation back up, and Glassnode says Bitcoin is now stuck below its True Market Mean at roughly $79,000.

Apr 30, 2026 · Gino Matos

The supply side is the factor that keeps the chart from becoming a simple ETF-flow setup. Glassnode's early-April work described overhead supply from $80,000 to $126,000 and roughly 8.4 million BTC held at a loss.

Every step higher through that range can invite selling from holders who bought nearer the top, so the rally has to prove that fresh demand is stronger than exit liquidity.

The bottom call needs more humility

On-chain data does not support a confident declaration of the bottom. Glassnode's late-April Week On-chain report said Bitcoin remained capped by the True Market Mean and the short-term holder cost basis, while support clustered near $65,000-$70,000.

That support zone defines the first serious retest if the low-$80,000 recovery fails.

A support zone and a confirmed cycle low are different claims. Glassnode's earlier April work described Bitcoin as moving through redistribution rather than a clear uptrend, with overhead supply from $80,000 to $126,000 and about 8.4 million BTC held at a loss.

Rallies into the old range can therefore trigger selling from investors who bought higher and want out.

The better answer is that Bitcoin may be building a bottoming structure, but it has not yet proven one. The $65,000-$70,000 area is the first level to watch if the current low-$80,000 recovery fails.

A successful retest there, followed by renewed ETF inflows and easing spot selling, would strengthen the case that a tactical bottom formed.

If that zone breaks, the risk profile changes. Earlier Bitcoin bottom analysis kept lower zones in play, while a separate cycle model projected a more severe late-2026 low near $35,000 if the old post-halving pattern reasserts itself.

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That model remains a tail risk while ETF demand is improving, but it becomes harder to dismiss if support fails and flows reverse.

The bottom question, therefore, has two answers. The tactical bottom may already be forming if $65,000-$70,000 survives and Bitcoin continues to reclaim higher cost-basis levels.

The cycle bottom is not confirmed unless the market can absorb the overhead supply and hold higher support through another macro shock.

That distinction also shapes timing. A bottom confirmed by support and ETF demand would give Bitcoin more runway for a late-2026 push.

A failed retest would push the market back toward capital preservation, delayed price targets, and the older cycle models that see the final low arriving closer to year-end.

The record window depends on liquidity

The all-time-high question is easier to frame once price targets are separated from triggers. Bitcoin can reach a record without every macro variable turning friendly, provided liquidity conditions stop working against risk appetite, and ETF demand keeps absorbing spot supply.

The April 29 Federal Reserve statement kept the target range at 3.50%-3.75%, noting that inflation was elevated partly due to higher global energy prices and Middle East uncertainty.

That backdrop gives risk assets less room for a frictionless path higher. It also explains why Galaxy Digital's Michael Novogratz told Bloomberg in late April that Bitcoin would be difficult to retake $100,000 without an easing central bank.

A 2026 record remains possible under that backdrop, but the burden of proof sits with market structure. Bitcoin needs to hold the low-$80,000 range and keep ETF inflows steady enough to absorb profit-taking.

If short positioning remains heavy, a push through resistance could add squeeze risk, but that should be treated as a possible accelerant rather than a requirement.

The next visible steps are $90,000 and $100,000, followed by the long climb back toward $126,198.

Late Q3 to Q4 is the most defensible window because it gives the market time to do that work. A faster move is possible if ETF inflows accelerate and macro data give the Fed room to sound less restrictive.

A delay into 2027 becomes more likely if oil-led inflation keeps rates higher, the dollar and yields pressure risk assets, or spot ETFs return to persistent outflows.

The timing call should therefore be tied to a checklist, not a calendar box. A record attempt needs support at $82,000-$83,000, a clean break of $90,000, proof that $100,000 can become support, and ETF absorption that survives risk-off sessions.

Without those pieces, bullish year-end targets remain possible outcomes rather than the market's base case.

Forecasts and positioning diverge

CoinGecko's April forecast aggregation showed a wide spread: bearish cycle views around $60,000-$75,000, institutional-style targets around $143,000-$170,000, and more bullish calls above $200,000.

Bitwise's 2026 outlook goes further on structure, arguing Bitcoin can break the four-year cycle and set new all-time highs as ETF demand exceeds new supply.

Prediction-market pricing is less enthusiastic. CoinGecko's prediction-market page shows 48.5% odds of Bitcoin reaching $100,000 by year-end and 20.5% odds of $120,000.

Those numbers do not disprove the analyst's target cluster, but they show that traders are not treating $150,000-$200,000 as the base case yet.

Bitcoin has entered a measurable confirmation phase. ETF inflows have repaired the bull case, but they have not completed it.

On-chain data still shows overhead supply, macro policy is not yet a clear tailwind, and market-implied odds remain below bank and asset-manager target tables.

For now, a new all-time high before year-end 2026 is credible if Bitcoin holds the low-$80,000s and keeps absorbing supply through the ETF channel. The bottom is not confirmed, but the next serious test sits near $65,000-$70,000.

Notable analyst targets cluster around roughly $150,000 for year-end 2026, yet the market is still demanding proof before pricing that outcome as the main path.

The post If the bear market bottom is in, when will Bitcoin price reach a new all-time high above $126k? appeared first on CryptoSlate.

In 2026, choosing where to deposit in DeFi starts with a question that audits and total value locked (TVL) leave unresolved: what breaks under stress?

That is the shift behind any serious trust check this year. A Q1 2026 security report counted $482 million stolen across 44 incidents and said six audited protocols were still exploited.

An April 30 analysis of North Korea-linked crypto theft said two incidents accounted for 76% of all crypto hack value through April 2026, with the cases pointing to signer compromise, governance exposure, bridge verification, timelocks, and incident response as much as code quality.

For users, the lesson is blunt. A DeFi platform is a stack of contracts, keys, governance processes, token incentives, stablecoins, bridges, oracles, front ends, risk managers, and emergency powers.

Trusting it means deciding whether those layers are visible enough, tested enough, and conservative enough for the amount of capital at risk.

No checklist can promise that any DeFi platform is safe. The goal is to reject the weakest ones before yield, branding, or social media momentum does the thinking.

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Start with what the old signals miss

The old shortcut was simple: look for an audit, check TVL, compare the yield, and see whether large wallets are using the protocol. Each signal has limited value, but none answers the full trust question.

An audit is only useful if it covers the contracts that currently hold funds. A protocol can be audited, then upgraded. It can depend on unaudited adapters, bridge contracts, oracle settings, or admin controls.

The v3 audit materials, for example, list scope and reports, which is the kind of detail users should look for. A generic audit badge without dates, scope, findings, and deployed-contract links is weaker.

TVL has the same problem. It can show liquidity while leaving resilience unresolved.

Revenue rankings help separate protocols retaining real fees from venues leaning mainly on emissions or incentive loops. A platform with large TVL but thin revenue, temporary rewards, or fragile collateral may look strong until users all want the exit at once.

Yield is even less reliable as a trust signal. High APY often compensates users for risks that are hard to see: smart-contract risk, oracle risk, collateral risk, liquidation risk, bridge risk, or the risk that a reward token cannot hold value.

The first question is where the yield comes from and what has to keep working for depositors to withdraw.

Map the control surface before depositing

A practical DeFi trust review starts by identifying who or what can change the system.

Look for upgrade authority, timelocks, governance thresholds, multisig signers, pause powers, oracle control, liquidation rules, risk parameter processes, and emergency actions. If those are hard to find, that is information.

If they are visible but concentrated in a small group, that is also information.

Policy recommendations for DeFi focus heavily on governance, responsible persons, operational risk, conflict management, disclosures, and technology risk because these are often where users discover, too late, that a protocol is less decentralized than the interface suggests.

For a retail user, the practical question is whether a protocol specifies who can act in an emergency and what limits apply to that power.

A public governance process can show proposal phases and time-lock mechanics. Public risk-agent discussions show another kind of signal: risk changes, permissions, validations, and emergency controls debated in public.

These examples are disclosure models rather than endorsements of either protocol as a place to deposit.

The weakest version is a platform with no clear answer about who controls upgrades, how fast changes can be pushed, whether admin keys are held by a multisig, which signers are involved, or what happens if an oracle, bridge, or market breaks.

In that case, the user is trusting unknown operators alongside code.

The same review should extend below the app. If a DeFi product runs on a rollup, uses a bridge, or accepts cross-chain collateral, the underlying assumptions shape the risk.

The Stages framework is useful here because it separates progress in decentralization and trust minimization from a generic claim of safety. A high-quality app can still inherit risk from a bridge, sequencer setup, verifier, escape hatch, or emergency control underneath it.

The 2026 incident analysis makes that practical. The failures it highlights were broader than classic smart-contract bugs.

They included signer compromise, governance, multisig exposure, bridge-related mechanics, and fast response decisions. That is why a DeFi trust review has to ask what can fail around the contracts and inside them.

Check security history and response

Before depositing, search the platform, chain, bridge, and core collateral on incident trackers. Public hack dashboards and API surfaces are useful starting points rather than final verdicts.

A prior hack requires context; a clean record still leaves untested failure modes. The pattern is the useful part.

Look for repeat incidents, unresolved losses, weak disclosures, vague post-mortems, copied contract risk, and whether users were made whole. Also, look for how the team behaved when pressure arrived.

Prior coverage of long-tail hack damage showed how losses can keep affecting treasuries, reputations, and tokens after the initial theft. Recovery is part of the trust record.

A stronger platform should make its security posture easy to inspect. That includes recent audits, open bug bounty terms, public disclosure channels, incident-response contacts, and clear statements about what whitehat researchers may do in a crisis.

A bug bounty marketplace lets users compare programs by bounty size, covered assets, vault TVL, update dates, and response data. The Whitehat Safe Harbor framework adds another signal by giving participating protocols pre-authorized rescue terms.

These signals still leave residual risk. A bounty can be too small, too slow, or too limited. A safe-harbor policy can exist on paper and still be tested by real-world panic.

Funded bounties, visible disclosure paths, and pre-planned whitehat rules tell users something important: the protocol has thought about failure before failure arrives.

The Smart Contract Top 10 is a useful checklist for the questions audit badges often hide. Access control, business logic, oracles, flash-loan exposure, external calls, reentrancy, and upgradeability all belong in the review.

A non-technical user can ask whether the platform explains how these risks are mitigated without auditing the code line by line.

The quality of a post-mortem carries its own signal. A credible response identifies root cause, affected contracts, loss path, user impact, recovery plan, future controls, and the limits of what the team still does not know.

Vague language after a crisis points in the wrong direction.

Follow the money behind the yield

A platform that looks technically sound can still be a poor place to deposit if the economics are weak.

Start with the yield source. Is it lending demand, trading fees, liquidation revenue, real-world asset income, staking rewards, token emissions, points, leverage, or a loop built on borrowed liquidity?

Then ask what happens if incentives fall, collateral prices drop, utilization changes, or a bridge asset depegs.

Revenue quality shows whether users are paying for the product without a subsidy. Liquidity depth shows whether deposits can be withdrawn or swapped without extreme slippage.

Collateral quality determines whether one weak asset can transmit stress through an otherwise reputable interface.

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DeFi users pull $10 billion out of the market as $292 million exploit sparks bank-run optics

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Apr 20, 2026 · Oluwapelumi Adejumo

Our KelpDAO-linked exploit coverage showed how quickly a bridge or verifier issue can create bank-run optics and pull liquidity across DeFi.

The specific facts may change from incident to incident, but the pattern is durable: users experience risk as frozen assets, widening discounts, paused markets, delayed exits, bad debt, and uncertainty about who is in charge.

Stablecoins deserve their own line in the checklist. A 2026 note on stablecoins in 2025 put the market at hundreds of billions of dollars and focused on reserve quality, run risk, concentration, and intermediation.

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Circle’s USDC freeze powers face fresh scrutiny after blocked wallets and delayed theft response

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A DeFi platform using USDC, USDT, or another dollar token depends on more than its own contracts. It depends on issuer policies, reserve management, blacklist or freeze powers, and how much of the platform's liquidity rests on the same asset.

Stablecoin use can be useful and liquid, but users still need to know which dollar tokens a platform relies on, what those issuers can do, whether alternative collateral exists, and how the protocol handles depegs, freezes, or market pauses.

Regulatory visibility deserves the same treatment. The MiCA information page gives EU users a way to understand authorization and listing surfaces, while warning that listed white papers are not reviewed or approved by EU authorities.

Registration, a white paper, or a known service provider can reduce some uncertainty. Treat it as one data point in the platform review rather than a safety seal.

Sort the signals before sizing the deposit

One practical way to use the evidence is to sort platforms into green, yellow, and red signals. That is an editorial aid rather than an industry standard.

Green signals include dated audits with scope, visible deployed contracts, meaningful timelocks, public governance, conservative collateral, clear oracle design, real revenue, deep liquidity, funded bug bounties, disclosure channels, incident-response plans, and a history of honest post-mortems.

Yellow signals include recent launches, high dependence on incentives, admin keys with unclear signer details, complex bridge exposure, aggressive collateral listings, limited bug-bounty coverage, thin revenue, or governance that exists but is hard for ordinary users to follow.

Red signals include anonymous or hidden control, no current audits, no clear upgrade process, no disclosure channel, no bounty for assets at risk, unexplained high yield, bridged collateral that the team cannot clearly explain, unresolved incidents, misleading TVL claims, or a front end that markets safety without showing the controls behind it.

Then size the deposit as a risk discipline rather than a formula. Keep custody risk separate from protocol risk. Test withdrawals before committing serious capital.

Avoid putting emergency funds into systems with withdrawal delays, complex collateral paths, or unknown admin powers. Re-check the platform after upgrades, governance votes, new collateral listings, bridge changes, or major market stress.

The best DeFi platforms in 2026 will ask users to trust less on faith. They will make trust inspectable: what can change, who can change it, what can fail, how users are warned, how researchers are paid, how liquidity exits, and what happens when the system's optimistic version stops being true.

That is the core test. If a platform cannot explain its failure modes in plain English, users should not have to discover them with their own deposits.

The post How to choose a safe DeFi platform before you deposit in 2026 appeared first on CryptoSlate.

US banks are mounting an aggressive lobbying effort to stall the CLARITY Act, even as key US lawmakers signal a fast-tracked timeline to put the bill on the president’s desk before July 4.

The legislative clash centers on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, a sweeping regulatory framework that cleared the House with bipartisan support in July 2025.

For months, the bill has been bogged down in the Senate over a highly contentious provision regarding stablecoins and whether digital asset firms can offer yield to customers.

While a recent bipartisan compromise aimed to clear this roadblock, the banking sector is now publicly rejecting the drafted language, arguing it threatens the foundation of local lending and risks widespread capital flight.

Despite the friction, proponents of the bill on Capitol Hill are projecting confidence. Bolstered by the anticipated support from the Trump administration, Senate negotiators are holding firm against the banking lobby, setting the stage for a critical committee markup the week of May 11.

The stablecoin yield loophole and fears of deposit flight

The core of the dispute lies in how the CLARITY Act regulates yield-bearing payment stablecoins.

A coalition of major trade groups, including the American Bankers Association, the Bank Policy Institute, the Consumer Bankers Association, the Financial Services Forum, and the Independent Community Bankers of America, issued a joint front this week criticizing the language drafted by Senators Thom Tillis and Angela Alsobrooks.

While the banking groups acknowledged the senators’ overarching policy goal to prohibit the direct payment of yield and interest on stablecoins, they claim the current text of Section 404 is riddled with loopholes.

The coalition argues that the legislation still permits digital asset exchanges and intermediaries to distribute rewards tied to membership programs, provided they are not calculated or distributed in the same way as traditional bank interest.

For the legacy financial sector, this is a distinction without a difference.

The trade groups argue that allowing crypto firms to calculate permissible rewards based on customer duration, account balances, and tenure overtly incentivizes the idle holding of stablecoins. Traditional institutions rely on those idle funds remaining in deposit accounts to finance community growth.

According to the coalition's internal research, the proliferation of yield-earning stablecoin alternatives could siphon off enough liquidity to reduce available capital for consumer, small-business, and agricultural loans by as much as 20%.

Meanwhile, market intelligence indicates a growing divide within the broader financial sector regarding this pushback.

While retail-facing megabanks and community lenders remain vehemently opposed to the compromise, institutions without massive consumer deposit arms are showing signs of cautious comfort with the Tillis-Alsobrooks framework.

Senate negotiators refuse to back down

Faced with the prospect of their compromise unraveling, lawmakers are pushing back against the banking lobby’s demands.

Senator Tillis, who spearheaded the stablecoin provision, defended the drafted language as a hard-fought, balanced product that successfully neutralizes the specific threat of deposit flight without suffocating industry innovation.

Tillis noted that the banking industry was not blindsided by the text, stating that traditional financial stakeholders have had a seat at the negotiating table for months to offer direct feedback.

The current text, he argued, explicitly prohibits stablecoin rewards from functionally mimicking bank deposit interest.

While it allows digital asset companies to utilize other operational reward structures, Tillis warned against letting the pursuit of a flawless bill derail the broader regulatory certainty the industry desperately requires.

The senator’s remarks highlighted a growing frustration on Capitol Hill with the banking sector’s shifting goalposts.

He suggested that certain factions within traditional finance may simply oppose the passage of the CLARITY Act altogether, viewing the stablecoin yield debate not as a policy flaw, but as a convenient mechanism to stall the legislation indefinitely.

Crypto industry analysts echo this sentiment. Alex Thorn, head of research at Galaxy Digital, noted that Tillis absorbed significant criticism from the digital asset sector for bringing banks into the negotiation process in the first place.

With the banking coalition now rejecting the resulting concessions, Thorn argued the move exposes an underlying strategy of obstruction.

The prevailing view among crypto market analysts is that the banking lobby's primary objective is to delay and deny the regulatory framework entirely, rather than constructively amend it.

A ticking clock for Senate action

While the lobbying battle intensifies off the floor, the timeline for advancing the legislation is accelerating rapidly.

Senator Cynthia Lummis, chair of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Digital Assets, recently issued a stark call to action, demanding an end to the years of regulatory ambiguity that have forced domestic digital asset firms to operate in the shadows.

Lummis emphasized that the broader market-structure language, alongside the contentious stablecoin provisions, is finalized. She stated:

“The digital asset industry has waited long enough. Businesses are making decisions where to build RIGHT NOW, and without clear rules, too many will go overseas. We must get Clarity done now. America’s financial future depends on it.”

Notably, Senate Banking Chairman Tim Scott has publicly confirmed that the lawmakers are “working toward a bipartisan markup in May to advance digital asset market structure.”

That urgency was reinforced by Senator Bernie Moreno during a recent address at the Solana Accelerate USA conference.

Pointing to the legislative momentum generated by the successful passage of the GENIUS Act, Moreno projected that the Senate will move the CLARITY Act through committee in the coming weeks.

His ultimate target is to coordinate the necessary cross-panel jurisdictions and deliver a finalized legislative package to President Donald Trump’s desk before the end of June.

Moreno framed the upcoming committee markup as a decisive moment for the US economy, noting that combining various oversight provisions into a single, floor-ready package remains the final major procedural hurdle.

Market optimism and structural stakes

The stakes for the US digital asset ecosystem are immense.

The CLARITY Act is designed to fundamentally restructure how the government interacts with digital markets, drawing long-awaited jurisdictional boundaries between the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC).

Beyond stablecoin regulations, the bill attempts to establish clear operational standards for asset custodians, decentralized finance (DeFi) participants, and exchange platforms, offering critical safe harbors for network validators and node operators.

Proponents of the legislation argue that failing to pass the bill before the August recess could result in permanent capital flight, effectively ceding US dominance in the digital asset space to overseas jurisdictions.

Despite the friction from the banking lobby, market sentiment is trending overwhelmingly positive. Prominent industry executives, including Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, have recently noted a massive structural shift in legislative optimism.

That sentiment is reflected in digital prediction markets, which currently price the odds of the CLARITY Act becoming law in 2026 at over 60%.

As the May 11 markup approaches, the coming weeks will test whether bipartisan momentum can finally overpower legacy financial resistance.

The post Banking lobby attempts to kill Clarity Act’s stablecoin progress as markup is scheduled for next week appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Bitcoin rose above $82,000 as oil prices tumbled amid a powerful tailwind from a sudden and dramatic de-escalation in US-Iran geopolitical tensions.

Data from CryptoSlate showed that BTC extended a weeklong rebound that has lifted its value by more than 7% this week after President Donald Trump paused a US military operation in the Strait of Hormuz.

BTC's upward price movement led to the liquidation of over $200 million from short traders during the last 24 hours, according to CoinGlass data.

This came as reports of a possible US-Iran framework eased fears that the conflict would continue disrupting one of the world’s most important energy corridors.

Following the news, crude oil prices entered a freefall, with Brent crude plunging by 10% to $97 per barrel, effectively erasing a significant portion of the geopolitical risk premium that had built up since late February. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) mirrored the collapse, sliding 9.82% to $88 per barrel.

A sudden thaw in the Strait of Hormuz

The catalyst for the shifting global tides began with Trump’s decision to pause “Project Freedom,” the US operation aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz to stranded commercial ships.

Trump said the pause would be short while Washington tested whether a final agreement with Iran could be reached.

The move marked a change in tone after weeks of military pressure around one of the world’s most important energy corridors, where shipping restrictions had fed volatility across crude, refined products, and Asian energy markets.

Meanwhile, this pause was followed by reports that the US and Iran were moving toward a memorandum of understanding aimed at halting the conflict and creating room for broader negotiations.

The proposed framework, led on the US side by envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, would seek to normalize commercial transit through the Strait of Hormuz while opening a path toward a wider settlement.

Following this news, Trump wrote on Truth Social:

“Assuming Iran agrees to give what has been agreed to, which is, perhaps, a big assumption, the already legendary Epic Fury will be at an end, and the highly effective Blockade will allow the Hormuz Strait to be OPEN TO ALL, including Iran.”

Notably, Tehran also softened its public posture.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Navy said transit through the Strait of Hormuz was secure, citing the end of US threats and new procedures for vessels moving through the area. The Guards did not describe the measures in detail, but thanked ship owners and captains for complying with Iranian rules.

For markets, the immediate effect of these developments was visible in oil. Crude prices fell sharply as traders reduced the war premium tied to Hormuz disruption.

That gave Bitcoin and other risk assets a clearer macro backdrop, as lower oil prices eased fears that an energy shock would feed inflation, delay Federal Reserve rate cuts, and tighten financial conditions.

Bitcoin catches relief bid as institutional demand deepens

Bitcoin’s climb above $82,000 put it back near a supply zone traders have watched since the market broke down earlier this year, with the $80,000 to $85,000 range emerging as a key test for the rebound.

That zone combines former support, short-term profit-taking, and new leveraged positioning. A clean move through it could strengthen the market’s longer-term structure, while another rejection would suggest the rally still depends on fragile macro relief rather than durable spot demand.

Considering this, market experts believe the current wave of institutional demand could lift the top crypto out of the range.

Notably, US-listed Bitcoin exchange-traded funds have seen renewed demand since the start of May, reinforcing the rebound through regulated investment channels rather than only through offshore leverage.

Data from SoSo Value show that the funds have attracted more than $1.6 billion in net inflows since May 1, bringing cumulative inflows close to $60 billion and assets under management to about $109 billion.

Meanwhile, the ETF inflows are only one part of the absorption story. Jamie Coutts, chief crypto analyst at Real Vision, said the primary marginal bid in Bitcoin is increasingly coming from corporate treasuries rather than ETFs.

Coutts said ETFs are absorbing about 1,160 Bitcoin per day, while treasury companies, led by Strategy, are running at roughly 1,834 Bitcoin per day. Strategy bought more than 50,000 Bitcoin in April alone, he said, adding that a breakthrough to the $80,000 to $85,000 range would affect the longer-term trend structure.

Corporate treasury buying changes the market’s supply profile because companies that add Bitcoin to their balance sheets tend to remove coins from liquid circulation for longer periods.

That can strengthen rallies when spot demand rises, but it can also leave the market exposed if issuance slows or corporate financing conditions tighten.

Andre Dragosch, Bitwise Europe’s head of research, said institutional investors accounted for nearly all positive capital flows into Bitcoin over the past month. He said institutional demand totaled about 93,100 Bitcoin, more than offsetting on-chain selling pressure during the period.

Retail demand is also beginning to recover, though it remains a secondary signal. CryptoQuant data showed its 30-day retail demand metric turned positive after several months of weakness, rising to 3.7% from a negative reading earlier this year.

The shift suggests smaller investors are returning after selling into strength during the first quarter.

For now, the stronger support comes from institutional accumulation, ETF inflows, and corporate treasury demand.

Together, those sources of buying have helped Bitcoin move back above $80,000 and given traders a clearer test of whether the rebound can extend beyond a macro relief rally.

Derivatives and options traders target further upside above $90,000

While spot demand provides a robust floor, the velocity of Bitcoin’s current move is heavily augmented by the derivatives market.

On the leading options exchange Deribit, call options, which are bullish bets on future price appreciation, with strike prices above $82,000, have dominated trading volumes over the past 24 hours.

For context, call options with strikes at $85,000 and $90,000 have drawn open interest of more than $2.2 billion as of press time.

The sheer amount of leverage entering the system has some analysts raising red flags.

Joao Wedson, CEO of quantitative firm Alphractal, pointed out the staggering accumulation of speculative capital. He noted:

“Bitcoin Open Interest has broken above $50 billion USD, and we haven’t even added CME yet.”

This buildup of open interest is inextricably linked to technical upside targets, specifically the much-discussed “CME gap.”

Because the Chicago Mercantile Exchange’s Bitcoin futures only trade on weekdays, massive price movements during the weekend create unfilled gaps on the chart.

Analysts at CryptoQuant identify the $93,000 level as the next major upside magnet, driven by an unresolved gap.

According to CryptoQuant's mechanics, these gaps act as liquidity vacuums. When open interest surges to extreme levels, the market builds up kinetic energy that must eventually be released through cascading liquidations or profit-taking.

So, this $93,000 gap represents a historical zone of low liquidity, and price action often gravitates toward it as massive leveraged positions are unwound and rebalanced.

However, analysts caution that if leverage continues to outpace actual spot buying, the market could face a sharp downward reset to flush out late-arriving long positions before making a legitimate attempt at the $93,000 milestone.

The post Bitcoin rips past $82,000, shorts liquidated after President Trump halts Hormuz operation sending oil price spiralling appeared first on CryptoSlate.

As decentralized compute and machine learning models become integrated into financial and creative workflows, certain projects have emerged as clear leaders.

Investors are increasingly looking beyond simple "AI hype" toward protocols that provide tangible infrastructure for the future. In this article, we analyze three AI tokens that demonstrate high utility and strong market positioning.

Why AI and Blockchain are the Future of Investment

In 2026, the synergy between AI and blockchain is no longer theoretical; it is a "multiplicative" force for global efficiency. Blockchain provides the transparent, decentralized layer needed to verify AI data and secure compute resources, while AI offers the "intelligence" to optimize on-chain processes.

• Decentralized Intelligence: Reducing reliance on "Big Tech" silos for model training.
• Resource Efficiency: Tokenizing GPU power allows for a global, borderless marketplace for compute.
• Trustless Governance: AI can manage complex DAO structures with high-speed data analysis.

Top 3 AI Coins to Consider in 2026

1. Bittensor (TAO): The Decentralized Brain

Bittensor remains the premier protocol for decentralized machine learning. By creating a marketplace for intelligence, Bittensor allows different subnets to specialize in various AI tasks—from image generation to complex data analysis—rewarding participants in TAO.

Why TAO is a Strong Contender

As of May 2026, Bittensor has gained massive institutional validation. With recent reports of major tech entities exploring TAO's subnet architecture, the token has shown strong "alpha" performance. The Bittensor price (often compared to the blue chips of the sector) remains a favorite for those betting on a "World Computer" of intelligence.

• Subnet Scalability: Each subnet acts as its own specialized economy.
• Institutional Interest: Rumors of AI-specific ETFs have kept liquidity high.
• Deflationary Incentives: The halving mechanics and staking requirements create a supply crunch as demand for decentralized inference grows.

2. Render (RENDER): Powering the Visual AI Revolution

As AI-generated video and spatial computing become mainstream, the demand for GPU (Graphics Processing Unit) power has hit record highs. Render Network bridges the gap by connecting users who need compute power with those who have idle GPUs.

The Investment Thesis for RENDER

Render transitioned successfully to the Solana blockchain, which significantly lowered transaction costs and improved scalability. This move allowed it to integrate more deeply with AI training and inference workloads, moving beyond its original scope of 3D rendering.

• Burn-and-Mint Equilibrium: This economic model ensures that as network usage grows, the supply of RENDER is managed efficiently.
• Strategic Partnerships: Render's involvement in spatial computing projects with companies like Apple and Meta makes it a critical infrastructure play.
• GPU Shortage Hedge: As centralized cloud providers (AWS, Google) face capacity limits, Render provides a decentralized alternative.

3. DeXe (DEXE): AI-Driven Social Trading and DAOs

While Bittensor and Render focus on infrastructure, DeXe Protocol is revolutionizing how we interact with decentralized finance (DeFi) and governance through AI-enhanced tools. DeXe provides the framework for DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations) and social trading platforms.

The Role of AI in DeXe

In 2026, DeXe has integrated advanced automated tools that allow for "meritocratic" governance. AI agents within the DeXe ecosystem help analyze trader performance and manage treasury allocations based on real-time data, reducing human error and bias.

• Social Trading Evolution: Users can replicate the strategies of top traders (Executives) with AI-powered risk management.
• Incentive Alignment: The DEXE token is used for governance, ensuring that those with the most "expertise" have a proportional say in the protocol's future.
• Multi-chain Utility: DEXE's presence across multiple chains ensures high liquidity and accessibility.

3 AI Coins to Consider in 2026

Geopolitical Shockwaves Hit Bitcoin

The cryptocurrency market experienced a sudden wave of volatility today after U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stern warning regarding the ongoing tensions with Iran. 

The impact on Bitcoin ($BTC) was instantaneous. The premier digital asset, which had been trading at a local high of $82,800, tumbled to $81,600 within minutes of the post. This move wiped out gains from the previous 24 hours, leaving traders questioning if the bull run is under threat or if this is simply "noise" in a larger uptrend.

Why Did Crypto Crash?

While Bitcoin is often touted as "digital gold," its short-term price action remains highly sensitive to macro-geopolitical risks. The threat of renewed military action often leads to a "risk-off" sentiment where traders exit speculative positions to move into cash or traditional hedges.

However, the current dip of roughly 1.5% is relatively minor when compared to the parabolic growth Bitcoin has seen throughout the first half of 2026. Data from major exchanges shows that while liquidations spiked, buy orders at the $81,000 level remain robust.

Bitcoin Price Analysis: A "Normal" Adjustment?

Looking at the 30-minute BTC/USD chart, the recent drop appears less like a catastrophic crash and more like a standard technical pullback.

1. The Ascending Support Line

Bitcoin has been following a well-defined yellow trendline (ascending support) for several days. Even with the drop to $81,651, the price remains significantly above this trendline. As long as BTC holds above the $81,300 mark, the structure of the uptrend remains technically intact.

2. Moving Average Cross

The Moving Average (MA) Cross (9, 21) shows that the price is currently testing the short-term averages. A brief dip below the orange line is common during "news-driven" volatility. The "red arrow" on the chart indicates the peak at $82,800, which now serves as the immediate resistance to beat.

3. RSI Normalization

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) had reached overbought territory (near 70) during the climb to $82.8k. The "Trump Dip" has effectively cooled the RSI down to 47.15, which is neutral. This "reset" is often healthy for a market that is overheating, providing the necessary room for a move toward $85,000.

What Happens Next?

Geopolitics will likely dictate the price action for the remainder of the week. If diplomatic talks between the U.S. and Iran show signs of progress, Bitcoin could reclaim the $82,800 level quickly. Conversely, if the rhetoric escalates into actual kinetic action, we might see a test of the $80,000 psychological support.

In the fast-paced landscape of Web3 and decentralized finance, Memeland emerges as a beacon of innovation, founded on principles of community empowerment and social engagement. Let’s embark on a comprehensive journey through the depths of Memeland, exploring its inception, key partnerships, product offerings, community milestones, and the visionary leadership behind this groundbreaking venture.

Founded in June 2021 by CEO Ray Chan, Memeland is all about building and supporting social platforms that are made by and for the community. You know how everyone’s on social media these days? Well, Memeland sees that and thinks, “Hey, why not add some financial stuff into the mix?” So, they’re all about merging money stuff with chatting and sharing online. Their goal? To make Web3 really work for people and to come up with apps that actually work and people love.

In other words, Memeland is driven by a powerful thesis: leveraging NFTs to build robust communities, decentralize value, and create products with global reach. Chan’s vision seems clear – merge financial utility with social interaction to redefine the essence of Web3 and cultivate successful applications.

As mentioned earlier, Memeland is on a mission to make communities all around the world feel empowered. Started by the same folks who brought us 9GAG, they’re all about creating and supporting social stuff that brings people together. They use things like creativity, their own $MEME token, and NFTs to make it happen, which is pretty cool.

Now, the story of Memeland goes back to when 9GAG kicked things off in 2008. Fast forward over a decade, and 9GAG has become this massive global platform with millions of followers. Memeland carries on that legacy, giving power back to the people by connecting creators and communities in a whole new way. It’s like a digital campfire where everyone gets a seat and a chance to share their story.

What are the Primary features and services of Memeland?

Here’s the detail on what Memeland has to offer:

You The Real MVP

Picture this: A fancy club where you get in by owning one of just 420 shiny, golden pixel-art trophies. It’s like an exclusive hangout for collectors, builders, creators, and all sorts of cool folks. Being an MVP member means you get first dibs on all the cool stuff Memeland drops, like $MEME tokens, Potatoz, Captainz, Treasure Islandz, and more. It’s like being part of an elite crew with VIP access to the hottest trends.

The Potatoz

Ever heard of Potatoz? They’re a collection of 9,999 PFPs (that’s profile pictures, for the uninitiated) with traits inspired by internet memes and pop culture. These little spuds were launched for free in June 2022, and guess what? They became one of the top 150 collections on OpenSea in less than 69 days. Being a Potatoz owner is like having your foot in the door of Memeland’s base-level membership.

The Captainz

Now, if you’re looking to level up, the Captainz are where it’s at. Another set of 9,999 PFPs, but this time with traits inspired by pirates, memes, and all things pop culture. Think of it as the deluxe membership of Memeland. And here’s the kicker: the perks and utilities exclusive to Captainz keep rolling out over time, so there’s always something new and exciting in store.

Memecoin

Last but not least, the Memecoin ($MEME). Now, this one’s a bit different. It’s not about utility or making big promises. Nope, Memecoin is all about the memes. There’s no roadmap or financial returns to expect here—just pure, unadulterated meme goodness. It’s like a digital playground where laughter is the only currency that matters.

What are the Memeland Products?

Alright, let’s check out what Memeland has in store with their products:

GM Show:

Ever heard of the GM Show? It’s Memeland’s very own creation, airing every Thursday at 9AM HKT / 9PM EST. This show is all about spreading good vibes and focusing on Asia, hosted by the awesome duo Casey Lau and Karen Cheng. It’s like your weekly dose of positivity, with a touch of builder-friendly content to keep you inspired.

STAKELAND

Now, here’s something interesting – STAKELAND. It’s all about social staking, but with a twist. Memeland has gamified the whole experience and added rewards to the mix. So, not only can you stake your tokens and earn rewards, but you can also have some fun along the way. It’s like turning finance into a game, but with real-life perks waiting for you.

What are the Strategic Partnerships? : Forging the Path Forward

Memeland’s journey is marked by strategic alliances that amplify its impact across diverse domains. These new partnerships are to be announced on Friday, February 23, 2024

Memeland x Blvck Paris: A Fusion of Style and Innovation

The recent partnership with Blvck Paris, renowned for its sleek designs and collaborations with industry giants, marks Memeland’s foray into the fashion world. This collaboration promises an exclusive apparel line, blending style with the ethos of Memeland’s community-driven ethos.

Memeland x Esports: Pioneering NFT Gaming Communities

In a bold move into the realm of NFT gaming, Memeland partners with a top-tier Esports team, signaling its commitment to pioneering new frontiers in the gaming community. Details are forthcoming, igniting anticipation within the gaming and NFT enthusiast circles.

STAKELAND: Unveiling the Next Product Innovation

Amidst the anticipation, Memeland teases the launch of STAKELAND, hinting at a groundbreaking product set to disrupt the social staking landscape. The community eagerly awaits further updates on this exciting venture.

Memeland Events: Where Innovation Meets Interaction

Memeland’s commitment to community engagement is further exemplified through its upcoming events in Paris:

• NFT Paris: CEO Ray Chan takes center stage, discussing the underlying value of NFTs and their impact on communities and intellectual property rights.
• Paris After Dark: Co-hosted with Pudgy Penguins, this event promises an immersive experience for attendees, blending entertainment with networking opportunities.

What are the Community, Milestones, and Achievements? The Heartbeat of Memeland

Memeland’s success story is intricately woven with the vibrant tapestry of its community, marked by significant milestones and achievements:

1. Memeland Community

– Boasting an active community comprising over 15,000 NFT holders, 245,000 Discord members, and a staggering 5+ million Twitter followers.

– The overwhelming response to the $MEME presale waitlist underscores the community’s unwavering support and enthusiasm.

2. Media Milestones

– CEO Ray Chan’s recognition in prestigious lists and interviews with top media outlets validate Memeland’s position as a trailblazer in the Web3 landscape.

– The “GM Show” continues to garner widespread acclaim, serving as a testament to Memeland’s commitment to fostering dialogue and innovation.

What is the SocialFi Ecosystem?: Nurturing Growth and Innovation

Memeland’s SocialFi ecosystem serves as a catalyst for growth and innovation, driving value creation across its diverse offerings:

Memeland

• $MEME Token: Serving as the lifeblood of Memeland’s ecosystem, $MEME facilitates transactions, incentivizes participation, and fuels innovation.
• NFT Projects and Merchandise: Leveraging $MEME, Memeland launches a myriad of NFT projects and merchandise, fostering creativity and community engagement.

In other words – $MEME is basically the go-to currency for all things 9GAG. Whether you’re talking about projects, cool merch drops, or happening events, $MEME’s got you covered.

And here’s where it gets interesting: you can use $MEME to boost the reach of your content, like giving it a turbocharge for more eyeballs to see. Plus, if you’re feeling generous, you can tip your favorite creators on 9GAG with $MEME – it’s like giving them a virtual high-five for their awesome work.

But wait, there’s more! With $MEME, you can unlock some seriously exclusive content on 9GAG – it’s like getting VIP access to the coolest stuff on the internet. And hey, if you’re really into what 9GAG has to offer, you can even upgrade to premium membership using $MEME.

But it’s not just about what you can do – it’s about making moves in the digital world. By incentivizing creators to accept $MEME instead of regular cash, and encouraging advertising clients to pay up in $MEME, Memeland is basically changing the game. It’s like saying, “Hey, let’s shake things up and make the internet a little more fun and fair for everyone.”

 9GAG

• Integration of $MEME: $MEME seamlessly integrates into 9GAG’s ecosystem, unlocking new avenues for content monetization, creator incentives, and community engagement.

So, here’s what’s cooking in the Memeland kitchen:

First up, they’re minting new NFT projects using their very own $MEME token. It’s like they’re creating digital treasures that you can get your hands on with just a sprinkle of $MEME magic.

Then, over at 9GAG, they’re teaming up with big names like Smiley®, Balmain, and NYX by L’Oréal to bring some branded flair to Memeland NFTs. Imagine having traits inspired by your favorite brands and designers – it’s like adding a personal touch to your digital collection.

But wait, there’s more! They’re also making moves to integrate $MEME into popular NFT marketplaces like OpenSea and LooksRare. So, not only can you use $MEME to snag cool stuff on Memeland, but you can also flex your tokens in other virtual marketplaces.

And last but not least, Memeland isn’t just about creating cool stuff – they’re investing in projects that help grow the $MEME ecosystem. It’s like planting seeds for the future of Memeland, ensuring that it keeps on thriving and evolving.

What is the Leadership?: Charting the Course for Memeland’s Future

At the helm of Memeland’s journey are visionary leaders, spearheading innovation and driving impact:

• Ray Chan (CEO): With a track record of community-driven digital innovation, Chan’s leadership steers Memeland towards its mission of global community empowerment.
• Kevin Kwong (Chief Business Officer): Kwong’s strategic acumen and industry expertise play a pivotal role in shaping Memeland’s growth trajectory, cementing its status as a SocialFi powerhouse.

Final Thoughts

Memeland transcends traditional paradigms, ushering in a new era of community-centric innovation in the Web3 landscape. With its visionary leadership, strategic partnerships, and unwavering commitment to community engagement, Memeland stands poised to redefine the future of social interaction, one meme at a time. 

After weeks of stagnant price action and tight consolidation, ADA reclaimed the $0.25 psychological level. As of May 6, 2026, ADA is trading at $0.263. Is this a breakout or a simple price action in a consolidation zone?

Has the ADA Coin Bullrun Started?

The current jump to $0.263 serves as a confirmation of a trend reversal. For the past month, $ADA struggled to overcome selling pressure at the $0.25 mark. By clearing this resistance with a strong 5.7% daily candle, the market has signaled a shift in dominance from sellers to buyers. Analysts are now eyeing the $0.30 mark as the next logical milestone, citing improved on-chain activity and a favorable macroeconomic environment for $Bitcoin and major altcoins.

Resistance Flips and Market Sentiment

In technical analysis, a resistance level is a price point where an asset faces significant selling pressure. When ADA "breaks" $0.25, it effectively exhausts the supply of sellers at that level. Ideally, this level will now act as support, meaning if the price dips, buyers are expected to step in at $0.25 to prevent further decline. This "S/R Flip" is often the foundation of a sustained bullrun.

Cardano Price Analysis: Is the ADA Bullrun Starting?

Based on the latest data for ADA/USD on the daily (1D) timeframe, several indicators confirm the strength of this move.

1. The $0.25 Breakout Support

The chart identifies a critical orange horizontal line at $0.2509. ADA spent the latter half of April testing this boundary. The green arrow on the chart highlights the successful breakout, where the price accelerated toward $0.2635. This breakout was accompanied by a noticeable increase in buying volume.

2. Moving Average Convergence

The 9-day and 21-day Moving Averages (MA) have just completed a bullish crossover:

• MA (9): 0.2512
• MA (21): 0.2509

With the price now trading comfortably above both averages, the short-term trend is firmly upward. This alignment is a classic signal used by swing traders to enter long positions.

3. RSI Momentum

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is currently at 61.71. This indicates that while momentum is strong, the asset is not yet "overbought" (which typically occurs above 70). This suggests there is still significant "gas in the tank" for ADA to reach higher price targets before a major cooling-off period is required.

Cardano Key Price Levels to Watch

What Factors will Contribute to a Cardano Bullrun?

Beyond the charts, Cardano's fundamental landscape is evolving. Cardano's Total Value Locked (TVL) in DeFi protocols has seen a 12% increase over the last quarter. The market is also reacting to the progress of the Ouroboros Leios upgrade, which aims to drastically increase the network's transaction-per-second (TPS) capacity.

As the network becomes more scalable, the demand for ADA for gas fees and staking increases. Traders are increasingly comparing Cardano's performance to other Layer 1s in our exchange comparison to determine if it is undervalued relative to its peers.

In a move that has sent shockwaves through both the fintech and crypto sectors, Coinbase (COIN) has announced a reduction of approximately 14% of its global workforce. This decision, affecting roughly 700 employees, marks a significant departure from traditional "bear market" cost-cutting. CEO Brian Armstrong framed the layoffs not just as a response to market volatility, but as a fundamental restructuring toward an AI-native operating model.

Why Did Coinbase Lay Off Staff?

The layoffs are primarily driven by the rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into Coinbase’s internal workflows. Brian Armstrong noted that AI tools have revolutionized productivity, allowing "one-person teams" to perform tasks that previously required entire departments. According to the CEO, engineers are now shipping production-grade code in days rather than weeks, rendering many traditional roles redundant.

The "Intelligence" Pivot: How AI is Replacing Workflows

Armstrong’s vision for the future of the exchange is what he calls "intelligence, with humans around the edge." This strategy involves:

• Mandatory AI Adoption: Engineers are now required to use tools like GitHub Copilot and Cursor, with a target of 50% AI-generated code.
• Flattening the Org Chart: Coinbase is reducing management layers to a maximum of five levels below the executive suite.
• AI-Native Pods: Small, cross-functional teams are replacing larger, siloed departments to increase shipping velocity.

Market Reaction and Financial Impact

Despite the human cost, the market has responded positively to the news. Coinbase stock (COIN) saw a pre-market surge of over 4% as investors reacted to the projected efficiency gains. The company expects to incur between $50 million and $60 million in restructuring costs, primarily related to severance packages.

Will Coinbase Employees be Compensated?

Affected employees in the U.S. will receive a minimum of 16 weeks of base pay, plus additional benefits based on tenure. This move mirrors a broader trend in Silicon Valley, where companies like Google and Meta have also pivoted budgets toward AI infrastructure at the expense of headcount.

‘GothFerrari’ was sentenced for his part in a criminal enterprise that stole crypto through social engineering and physical break-ins.

Google Chrome silently downloads a 4GB Gemini Nano model to eligible devices, re-downloads it if deleted, and the AI Mode button users actually see doesn't even use it.

Researchers at EPFL built a framework that lets chemists describe what they want in plain language—and have AI sift through thousands of synthesis routes to find the right one.

By the time Bitcoin and other networks are ready to defend themselves, it may already be too late, according to a new analysis.

Elon Musk’s combined company of SpaceX and xAI will help boost Anthropic with a deal to provide compute for Claude AI models.

Strategy CEO Phong Le replaces Michael Saylor's "never sell" Bitcoin doctrine with a new BPS-focused strategy as BTC market ignores fears of corporate selling.

Ripple CTO David "JoelKatz" Schwartz has candidly revealed his reluctance to publicly share his optimism for XRP and the broader crypto market.

World's largest custodian bank to introduce solutions for Bitcoin and Ethereum holders.

Trading protocol Trusted Volumes falling victim to a catastrophic smart contract exploit.

Zcash and Toncoin are operating like memecoins with insane market momentum, while XRP is trying to catch up.

Key Takeaways

• Rocket Lab is scheduled to announce Q1 2026 financial results after the closing bell on May 7, with consensus estimates calling for approximately $190 million in revenue—a year-over-year increase exceeding 50%.
• Shares of RKLB climbed 7.5% during Wednesday’s trading session and have gained more than 25% throughout the past month leading into the earnings announcement.
• Implied volatility from options markets suggests a potential 13.59% price movement in either direction—substantially higher than the stock’s typical 4.65% post-earnings reaction.
• Market participants are particularly interested in management commentary regarding the Neutron rocket initiative, which is projected to achieve its inaugural launch during late 2026 or early 2027.
• The company maintains an impressive $1.85 billion order backlog, though its valuation sits at a premium 46x forward price-to-sales ratio compared to the sector’s 11.64x average.

Rocket Lab (RKLB) is scheduled to unveil its Q1 2026 financial performance following today’s market close on May 7. The stock currently trades at $84.65, reflecting a 7.5% gain from Wednesday’s close—marking an impressive 25% climb over the trailing month.

Rocket Lab USA, Inc., RKLB

Analyst consensus points to an anticipated loss of $0.07 per share for the quarter, demonstrating substantial improvement compared to the $0.12 per share deficit reported during Q1 2025. Revenue projections cluster around $189–$191 million, indicating year-over-year expansion surpassing 50%.

While profitability remains elusive, the company’s accelerating growth momentum continues to attract investor attention.

The options market is pricing in a significant 13.59% potential move following the earnings release. This expectation dramatically exceeds the stock’s historical average post-announcement movement of merely 4.65%, signaling that traders view this report as particularly consequential.

Rocket Lab has successfully exceeded earnings expectations in only one of its last four quarterly reports, falling short in the remaining three—producing an average earnings surprise of 4.29%.

Neutron Rocket Development Takes Center Stage

Beyond standard financial metrics, investor attention is firmly fixed on the Neutron rocket program. This 43-meter partially reusable launch vehicle is engineered for satellite deployment and cargo transport missions.

Successful deployment in late 2026 or early 2027 would position Rocket Lab as a legitimate challenger to SpaceX’s Falcon 9 platform—a market segment offering substantially enhanced profit margins.

Management’s commentary regarding Neutron’s development progress and launch schedule will be scrutinized carefully by market participants.

The Q1 financial results may also showcase the initial impact of two strategic acquisitions—Optical Support, Inc. (OSI) and Precision Components Limited (PCL). Both transactions are anticipated to have enhanced the company’s defense contracting and satellite production operations.

Order Backlog and Profitability Metrics Under Scrutiny

Rocket Lab concluded Q4 2025 with an unprecedented $1.85 billion order backlog. Management projects approximately 37% of this pipeline will translate into revenue within the coming year—though supply chain dependencies introduce uncertainty that could postpone revenue recognition.

GAAP gross margin registered at 34.4% throughout 2025. Shareholders will be monitoring whether this metric demonstrates improvement, particularly as substantial research and development expenditures alongside Neutron program investments continue exerting pressure on profitability.

The company commands a substantial valuation premium at 46x forward price-to-sales, dramatically exceeding the industry benchmark of 11.64x.

This elevated multiple leaves minimal margin for disappointment. Additionally, trailing twelve-month return on invested capital (ROIC) remains in negative territory—indicating that current capital deployments have yet to generate adequate returns.

According to TipRanks analysis, RKLB maintains a Moderate Buy consensus rating supported by 9 Buy recommendations and 4 Hold ratings issued over the previous three months. The mean analyst price target stands at $89.00, suggesting approximately 5.14% potential upside from present trading levels.

The post Rocket Lab (RKLB) Q1 2026 Earnings Preview: What Investors Need to Know Today appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways

• Arm exceeded Q4 forecasts with earnings per share of $0.60 versus the $0.58 consensus, while revenue hit $1.49B against $1.47B estimates
• Shares surged 12-13% in extended trading before reversing course to drop 5%
• Orders for the AGI CPU topped $2 billion, yet the company has only locked in supply for half that amount
• Manufacturing bottlenecks led executives to maintain conservative revenue projections
• The company is transitioning from its traditional licensing approach to producing proprietary AI processors, increasing capital requirements

Arm Holdings exceeded analyst projections for its fourth fiscal quarter of 2026, yet shares couldn’t maintain their initial momentum. Following an early spike of up to 13% in extended-hours trading, ARM tumbled more than 5% as market participants focused on manufacturing challenges.

Arm Holdings plc American Depositary Shares, ARM

The semiconductor designer posted adjusted earnings of $0.60 per share against revenue of $1.49 billion. Wall Street consensus had called for $0.58 per share on $1.47 billion in sales.

Licensing income jumped 29% compared to the prior year, reaching $819 million. Royalty income increased 11% year-over-year to $671 million.

The initial price surge reflected the solid financial results. The subsequent selloff reflected what analysts heard on the conference call.

Chief Executive Rene Haas revealed that orders for Arm’s newly unveiled AGI CPU — which debuted in March — have already eclipsed $2 billion just six weeks post-launch, representing more than twice the initial announcement figure. That’s the encouraging part.

The challenge centers on manufacturing capacity. Company leadership acknowledged securing sufficient wafers, memory components, and packaging materials to satisfy only the initial $1 billion of that order book. The additional $1 billion remains unconfirmed.

Raymond James analyst Simon Leopold observed that these production limitations prompted management to maintain its existing revenue outlook rather than raise guidance.

Manufacturing Constraints Trigger Selloff

The disconnect between $2 billion in customer commitments and $1 billion in guaranteed production capacity seems to have triggered the after-hours reversal.

Arm’s outlook for Q1 2027 projects adjusted earnings per share of $0.40, with a variance of $0.04, alongside revenue of $1.26 billion, plus or minus $50 million. Wall Street consensus stood at $1.25 billion in revenue, making the forecast essentially in line with expectations.

Notwithstanding the earnings beat and robust AGI CPU interest, market participants seemed unwilling to overlook the delivery risks associated with supply chain execution.

Shifting to a Capital-Heavy Strategy

Historically, Arm operated with minimal capital requirements — designing chip architectures for companies like Apple, Qualcomm, Nvidia, and Samsung, then earning royalties on each unit sold.

The company is now pivoting toward manufacturing its own semiconductors. The AGI CPU represents Arm’s inaugural proprietary chip targeting AI infrastructure, necessitating procurement of cutting-edge 3nm wafers from TSMC along with direct oversight of production logistics.

This represents a significantly more capital-demanding approach. Industry analysts have cautioned that elevated operational expenses could squeeze profitability if revenue expansion fails to accelerate proportionally.

Company leadership conveyed optimism in their investor communication. “The trajectory is unmistakable: customers want Arm powering AI data centers,” Haas and CFO Jason Child stated.

They further indicated that the data center division is progressing toward a $15 billion revenue milestone, and anticipate it becoming Arm’s dominant business segment.

ARM stock has climbed over 115% during 2026, establishing elevated expectations heading into the quarterly report. Analyst sentiment currently reflects a Strong Buy consensus, comprising 18 Buy recommendations, 3 Hold ratings, and 1 Sell rating over the last three months.

The consensus price target stands at $188.52 per share.

The post Arm Holdings (ARM) Stock Slides Despite Strong Q4 Earnings: Here’s Why appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights

• MSFT shares climbed 0.35% on Wednesday despite remaining down 14.64% for the year
• Asha Sharma, Xbox CEO, confirmed termination of Copilot AI assistant development for gaming consoles and mobile platforms
• Q3 financial results exceeded expectations with EPS of $4.27 versus analyst estimates of $4.06; revenue climbed 18.3% year-over-year to $82.89 billion
• Analyst consensus stands at Strong Buy with mean price target of $562.44
• KBC Group NV expanded its MSFT holdings by 2.9%, while institutional investors control 71.13% of shares

Microsoft (MSFT) shares ticked upward by 0.35% on Wednesday following Xbox CEO Asha Sharma’s announcement that the company would discontinue development of its Copilot AI assistant for gaming consoles and phase it out on mobile devices. Shares opened at $414.10 on Thursday morning.

Microsoft Corporation, MSFT

The strategic pivot comes as Xbox attempts to realign its priorities. According to Sharma, the gaming division must “move faster, deepen our connection with the community, and address friction for both players and developers.”

Market participants seemingly welcomed the announcement, viewing the elimination of an expensive project and resource reallocation as prudent moves.

Sharma simultaneously revealed organizational restructuring within Xbox, elevating current leadership while introducing fresh talent to guide the division through its transformation.

The Xbox platform has faced mounting challenges in recent years. Player engagement has declined steadily, and Microsoft has begun publishing exclusive titles on competitor Sony’s PlayStation console — a remarkable indicator of the shifting competitive landscape.

Sales figures for Xbox Series X|S consoles have persistently underperformed. Sharma’s statements represent the most transparent admission to date that fundamental changes are necessary.

Robust Financial Performance Supports Outlook

While Xbox confronts headwinds, Microsoft’s overall financial performance remained impressive. The technology giant posted Q3 earnings per share of $4.27, surpassing the consensus forecast of $4.06 by $0.21.

Total revenue reached $82.89 billion, reflecting an 18.3% year-over-year increase and exceeding analyst projections of $81.44 billion. Artificial intelligence and cloud computing services fueled the majority of this expansion.

Microsoft additionally announced a quarterly dividend distribution of $0.91 per share, scheduled for payment on June 11th to stockholders of record as of May 21st. This translates to an annual dividend yield of approximately 0.9%.

Despite the encouraging quarterly results, the stock hasn’t fully recovered. MSFT remains down 14.64% year-to-date and has declined 5.07% over the trailing twelve months. Wednesday’s trading volume registered approximately 17 million shares — roughly half the three-month average daily volume.

Institutional Investors Expand Holdings

Among institutional stakeholders, KBC Group NV increased its Microsoft stake by 2.9% during Q4, purchasing an additional 156,016 shares to reach a total position of 5,625,098 shares. This investment is valued at approximately $2.72 billion and comprises roughly 6.2% of KBC’s entire portfolio.

Additional major institutional investors have similarly bolstered their positions. Norges Bank, Nuveen, UBS Asset Management, and Northern Trust all expanded their Microsoft holdings in recent reporting periods. Collectively, institutional investors own 71.13% of outstanding MSFT shares.

Wall Street analyst sentiment remains overwhelmingly constructive. Deutsche Bank maintains a buy rating with a $550 price objective. Oppenheimer assigns an outperform rating with a $515 target. Rothschild & Co Redburn represents the exception with a neutral stance and a $400 price target.

The prevailing Wall Street consensus rating stands at Moderate Buy with an average price target of $562.44 — suggesting substantial potential appreciation from present trading levels.

The post Microsoft (MSFT) Stock Gains as Xbox Discontinues Copilot AI Assistant appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights

• AMD shares rocketed more than 18% following first quarter results that crushed estimates, reporting $10.25B revenue and $1.37 EPS
• The datacenter segment delivered $5.78B in revenue, representing 57% year-over-year expansion fueled by robust server CPU sales
• Second quarter revenue guidance of $11.2B significantly exceeded the consensus forecast of $10.5B
• Major firms including Goldman Sachs and Bernstein elevated AMD to Buy ratings, establishing price objectives of $450 and $525
• Major AI players OpenAI and Meta revealed strategic collaborations with AMD, committing to deploy 6 gigawatts of AMD GPU infrastructure

Shares of Advanced Micro Devices rocketed more than 18% higher midweek following the chip giant’s release of first quarter financial results that significantly exceeded analyst projections on all key metrics.

Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., AMD

The semiconductor company delivered quarterly revenue totaling $10.25 billion, surpassing the Street’s expectation of $9.9 billion. Per-share earnings reached $1.37, comfortably ahead of the $1.28 analyst consensus.

Shares were changing hands near $421 during Wednesday’s trading session, representing a substantial jump from approximately $355 at the previous day’s close.

The datacenter business segment stole the spotlight, generating $5.78 billion in revenue — marking a 57% increase compared to the same period last year. Robust demand for server processors represented the main catalyst behind this growth.

Looking toward the second quarter, AMD issued revenue guidance of $11.2 billion. This forecast sits well above Wall Street’s collective estimate of $10.5 billion. The company anticipates datacenter revenues will expand by double-digit percentages sequentially, while server CPU revenue is projected to surge more than 70% on a year-over-year basis.

Trading activity reflected intense investor interest. Over 54 million AMD shares exchanged hands Wednesday, substantially exceeding the three-month average daily volume of approximately 32.47 million.

Wall Street Analysts Rush to Upgrade

Goldman Sachs elevated AMD to a Buy rating while simultaneously raising its price objective to $450 from a previous $240. Covering analyst James Schneider highlighted agentic artificial intelligence as a long-term structural growth driver for AMD’s server CPU operations, characterizing the company as an “outsized beneficiary” of enterprise AI technology adoption.

Bernstein upgraded its stance on AMD to Outperform from Market-Perform, simultaneously boosting its price target from $265 to $525. Analyst Stacy Rasgon’s updated financial models project AMD generating over $14 in earnings per share by 2027, with potential to approach $20 per share in 2028.

Rasgon emphasized that AMD’s total addressable market perspective has effectively doubled, with company leadership now forecasting a 35% compound annual growth rate extending through 2030, ultimately reaching approximately $120 billion in market opportunity.

Seaport Research analyst Jay Goldberg shifted his recommendation to Buy from Neutral while establishing a $430 price target, citing accelerating CPU demand combined with an increasingly favorable GPU business outlook for the coming year.

Raymond James maintained its Buy recommendation while elevating its target to $455 from $365. Robert W. Baird took an even more aggressive stance, raising its objective to $625 from $300. DBS reaffirmed its Buy rating with a $500 target price.

Strategic GPU Collaborations Enhance Growth Narrative

Both OpenAI and Meta have publicly announced strategic collaborations with AMD focused on deploying 6 gigawatts of AMD GPU computing infrastructure. Goldman Sachs specifically highlighted the Meta partnership as exceptionally significant.

Bernstein analysts noted that AMD’s two anchor GPU customers are “set to ramp into year-end,” adding that these deployment figures haven’t been completely incorporated into current Street financial models.

Seaport additionally pointed out that AMD successfully secured better-than-anticipated chip allocation capacity from manufacturing partner TSMC, which should provide support for near-term product supply requirements.

Rosenblatt Securities analyst Kevin Cassidy, recognized as the top-rated analyst covering AMD, maintains an 80% accuracy rate over the trailing three months with an average return of 31.79% per rating issued. Extending to a two-year timeframe, his success rate reaches 100% with an average return of 191.49%.

AMD’s year-to-date performance now reflects a gain of 94.47%, with shares climbing 253.99% over the trailing twelve-month period.

The post Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) Stock Soars 18% Following Stellar First Quarter Results appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways

• BYND shares tumbled approximately 14% in extended trading following Q1 2026 earnings release, reversing a 13% gain from the regular trading session
• First quarter revenue totaled $58.2 million, representing a 15.3% year-over-year decline, while product volume plunged 19.5%
• Second quarter revenue guidance of $60M–$65M fell short of the Street’s $67M consensus forecast
• Per-share net loss improved significantly to $0.06 versus $0.80 in the prior-year period; gross margin reached positive territory at 3.4%
• Company leadership unveiled a strategic rebrand to “Beyond The Plant Protein Company,” signaling expansion into functional beverages and foods

Beyond Meat delivered first quarter 2026 revenue of $58.2 million, marking a 15.3% decline from the same period last year. Shares had rallied approximately 13% during Wednesday’s regular session but reversed sharply, falling roughly 14% in after-hours activity following the earnings announcement.

Beyond Meat, Inc., BYND

Product volume contracted 19.5% on a year-over-year basis. This metric particularly spooked market participants — the fundamental reality is that fewer products are moving off shelves.

Domestic retail and foodservice channels both demonstrated continued weakness. Overseas demand from quick-service restaurant partners also weakened, creating headwinds across multiple segments.

The company’s second quarter outlook projected revenue between $60 million and $65 million. With Wall Street looking for approximately $67 million, the guidance shortfall contributed to the after-hours decline.

Executive commentary during the conference call emphasized ongoing operational uncertainty. Such cautious messaging compounds concerns when volume trends are already deteriorating.

Balance Sheet Challenges Persist

Beyond Meat continues to maintain a debt burden of $411.6 million. This obligation has remained relatively static, and with contracting revenues, it represents an increasingly challenging overhang.

Quarterly cash outflow decreased to $11.8 million — the company’s lowest burn rate in over two years. This represents meaningful progress worth acknowledging.

Operating expenditures declined by nearly 25%, primarily through reductions in compensation and litigation expenses. Cost discipline is clearly becoming a priority, with tangible results emerging.

The company achieved a gross margin of 3.4%, marking a return to positive territory after negative margins in the comparable year-ago quarter. Loss per share came in at $0.06, beating the $0.12 consensus estimate and substantially improved from last year’s $0.80 loss.

Strategic Pivot Toward New Categories

During the earnings discussion, CEO Ethan Brown unveiled a strategic transformation, rebranding the enterprise as “Beyond The Plant Protein Company.”

The organization is pivoting toward functional food and beverage offerings. A new beverage product called Beyond Immerse is scheduled to debut this summer.

Investor reaction has been mixed. A segment of the analyst community believes Beyond Meat should focus on stabilizing its flagship plant-based meat portfolio before pursuing category diversification.

The company had already begun experimenting with adjacent product lines earlier in the year, including protein beverages targeting wellness-oriented consumers.

Beyond Meat submitted its delayed Form 10-K on April 9, following the discovery of material weaknesses in inventory accounting procedures. The delay had sparked concerns regarding potential Nasdaq listing compliance issues.

Current Wall Street consensus rates BYND as a Moderate Sit, derived from three Hold recommendations and three Sell ratings issued within the last three months. The mean analyst price objective stands at $0.66 per share, suggesting approximately 36% potential downside from present trading levels.

The post Beyond Meat (BYND) Stock Plunges 14% on Disappointing Q1 Results and Weak Q2 Forecast appeared first on Blockonomi.

Crypto-friendly gift card platforms are designed to make it very easy to convert digital assets into real purchases. Now more than ever, users are buying gift cards with crypto on CoinsBee to shop online, access global brands, and spend their cryptocurrencies without having to trely on traditional payment methods.

It’s one thing to own crypto, but it’s a completely different matter to use it without friction. For this reason, crypto-friendly gift card platforms have historically been surging in popularity. That growing interest explains why more users now choose to buy gift cards with crypto on CoinsBee as a practical way to turn digital assets into everyday spending power.

Why Crypto Gift Cards Are Becoming a Go-To Option

For a lot of consumers, the appeal of these cards comes down to one thing – they are just more usable. People want simple, straightforward ways to turn crypto into something practical without having to jump through extra hoops.

Crypto-friendly gift card platforms are one of the things that make it possible. This is because they connect digital assets with real purchases, which helps to explain why they are becoming a relatively natural part of everyday online shopping.

The Rise of Crypto-Friendly Gift Card Platforms

It goes without saying that the crypto industry has matured well beyond its early image when it was a niche field reserved for cyphurpunks and tech enthusiasts. Today, many consumers want real-world ways to use their coins – whether for entertainment, travel, shopping, or everyday services.

This is gift cards come into play – they bridge the gap between digital assets and mainstream retail customers. Current adoption trends are also pointing toward a broader momentum, with Chainalysis reporting strong global consumer crypto adoption last year, going into this year as well.

Undoubtedly, another reason for this increase is the sheer convenience. Traditional crypto checkout options tend to be unavailable everywhere, and many merchants don’t yet accept crypto payments directly. This problem is solved by crypto gift cards because instead of waiting for every store to add native crypto support, users can buy branded cards and use them almost instantly and everywhere.

This model suits the way people show now – modern buyers value speed, mobile access, and simple transactions. A crypto-friendly platform allows them to use Bitcoin, Ethereum, or other assets for purchases without having to move funds through multiple apps, exchanges, wallets, or whatnot.

Benefits of Using Cryptocurrency for Digital Purchases

As opposed to converting assets into fiat before spending them, people are able to use Bitcoin, Ethereum, as well as other cryptocurrencies directly for purchases through gift cards.

Some of their main benefits include:

• Greater Flexibility for Crypto Holders: Users can turn their holdings into digital vouchers for well-known brands without first converting crypto into traditional currency;
• Faster Access to Purchases: Crypto transactions are often processed quickly, allowing users to obtain gift cards or balances without waiting for bank transfers or lengthy payment processing;
• More Privacy and Independence from Traditional Payment Systems: Some people prefer not to rely on credit cards or bank accounts for every purchase. Crypto gift cards offer an alternative way to shop online;
• Convenient for Cross-border Spending: For people who travel frequently or live in regions where international payments can be complicated, crypto gift cards provide an easier option for purchases and online gifting.

How to Pick a Trusted Platform for Crypto Gift Cards

It’s important to understand that not every single platform offers the same experience. That’s why it’s important to choose the right one. When selecting a service which will convert your crypto into digital cards, here are a few essential factors you should undoubtedly keep in mind.

1. Clear Coverage and Availability: A reliable platform should clearly show which brands are available, which countries are supported, and which cryptocurrencies can be used;
2. Transparent Pricing and Checkout: Users should be able to see the cost of each card, understand how the checkout process works, and complete crypto payments without confusion. If the platform feels vague or complicated, it can be a warning sign;
3. Strong Security and Reputation: A trustworthy service usually has a solid track record, supports popular cryptocurrencies, and offers a secure environment for transactions;
4. A Wide Catalog of Digital Vouchers: Platforms that provide access to many brands give users more flexibility when choosing digital vouchers for personal purchases or online gifting;
5. A Simple and User-friendly Experience: The best services make the process easy, even for beginners. Users should be able to browse options, choose a value, select their preferred cryptocurrency, and complete the purchase quickly.

Tips for Getting the Most Out of Crypto Gift Cards

Now, crypto gift cards are not just used for one-off purchases – they can become a valuable part of your regular spending routine. Here are a few practical tips that will help you make the most of them.

Match the Card to Your Needs

You should use crypto gift cards for things you truly need if you are to get the best of them. Whether it’s shopping, subscriptions, or travel, if you have a clear idea of what you want to buy, this will ensure your purchases are more efficient and intentional. The approach would make crypto spending purposeful, and it would help you avoid unnecessary purchases.

Time Your Purchases

When you choose to use your crypto can make a big difference. Some users prefer to spend their crypto when the market is stable or after setting aside a portion of their holdings for purchases. Others find it easier to manage their spending with gift cards, as the fixed value makes it simple to track budgets and avoid overspending.

Take Advantage of Online Gifting

Crypto gift cards are an excellent choice for online gifting. They’re fast, easy to send, and require minimal steps, making them perfect for giving digital gifts. With global shopping becoming increasingly cross-border and multi-platform, the flexibility of gift cards provides real convenience.

By keeping these strategies in mind, you can boost the value and convenience of your crypto gift cards, turning them into a practical tool for everyday spending.

Conclusion

Cryptocurrencies have evolved from being just something people hold and watch in their wallets. More users are now seeking practical ways to convert their holdings into real purchases.

Instead of waiting for every store to accept direct crypto payments, users can easily buy gift cards with crypto on CoinsBee and immediately use them for shopping, entertainment, travel, and online services.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why are crypto-friendly gift card platforms becoming more popular?

Crypto-friendly gift card platforms are gaining popularity, largely because they make it easier to use digital assets in everyday life. Instead of having to worry about converting crypto into traditional money through exchanges, users can just buy a gift card and spend it on shopping or online services.

How do I know if a platform is trustworthy?

One thing a trustworthy crypto gift card platform should offer is unparalleled transparency. You should be looking for services that clearly list the supported cryptocurrencies, available brands, and supported countries. The more reliable platforms also provide secure payment processing, simple checkout steps, and clear pricing.

A trustworthy crypto gift card platform should offer transparency, security, and a strong reputation. Look for services that clearly list supported cryptocurrencies, available brands, and supported countries. Reliable platforms also provide secure payment processing, clear pricing, and straightforward checkout steps.

Can crypto gift cards be used for gaming, shopping, and other services?

Yes, crypto-based gift cards are made to be versatile. They can typically be used for a wide range of products and services. Many platforms offer vouchers for gaming platforms, online retailers, streaming services, digital marketplaces, and travel providers.

Are crypto gift cards a safe way to manage digital assets?

Cryptocurrency gift cards can be a safer and more practical option when they are purchased through reputable platforms. They are known to allow users to convert a portion of their digital assets into a fixed-value digital voucher, which makes spending a lot easier.

What should I watch for in the future of crypto gift cards?

The future of cryptocurrency gift cards seems to be focusing on greater accessibility, faster transactions, and wider availability of brands. As crypto adoption grows altogether, more platforms are expected to expand their catalogs and support additional digital assets.

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Toobit is one of the most popular international cryptocurrency exchanges, and it has just announced the publication of its most recent Proof of Reserves report, which was independently verified by Hacken.

Over 100% Collateral Ratio

The assessment conducted by Hacken confirms that the exchange is maintaining a collateral ratio of more than 100% across all in-scope digital assets. These include BTC, ETH, USDT, and USDC.

This audit confirms that there’s a safe 1:1+ backing for every trader deposit. The findings also verify that there is a reserve surplus that ensures all trader liabilities are fully over-collateralized.

Additionally, the verification process validated the individual balances of more than 640,000 accounts. This was achieved by cross-referencing loads of internal data against legal documentation, as well as against official statements from third-party institutional custodians to guarantee the highest level of accuracy.

Report Mechanics

To deliver full transparency, Hacken used a multi-stage methodology that was focused on three key stages. First, the auditors performed a Proof of Liabilities. To do so, they verified the total balances of more than 600,000 liability holders to make sure that there was an accurate representation of client deposits.

The second stage was Asset Verification. During this, auditors compared the total reserve balances against the client liability report to verify whether they covered them in full. Last but not least, the process included Operational Oversight, aiming to review information flow and custodial reporting, which ensures all data remains authentic and unaltered.

In conjunction with the audit results, Toobit has launched an upgraded Proof of Reserves page, which moves beyond static reporting to a dynamic transparency model. This hub is designed to ensure that traders are able to monitor live reserve ratios for major tokens and access historical audit data through a user-friendly and accessible interface.

Merkle Tree Technology

A critical component and part of this portal is the integration of Merkle Tree technology. By consolidating trader balances into a singular and secure Merkle root hash, the crypto exchange is able to offer a transparent and tamper-proof method for everyone to verify that their specific account balance was actually included in the audit.

This cryptographic proof is designed to ensure accountability while also maintaining privacy for all traders.

It’s important to note that the full audit report is readily available for public review. The detailed documentation regarding the audit scope, methodology, and technical findings can be found on the official website of Hacken.

With all of the above said, it’s crucial to understand that cryptocurrency exchanges have entered a maturation phase, which is largely driven by independent verification.

Industry leaders maintain reserve coverage ratios between 124% and 125%, far exceeding the 100% safety benchmark. Moreover, as frameworks such as MiCA intensify supervision, long-term operational stability is defined by “compliance by design,” integrating Proof of Reserves and transparent disclosures into core infrastructure.

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The social sentiment surrounding Bitcoin (BTC) has swung to its most bullish level in four months as the asset surged past the $80,000 mark earlier in the week.

This is according to data shared by Santiment on May 7, with the shift reflecting a market that has quickly moved from fear to optimism after weeks where BTC’s price was weighed down by macro uncertainty and crypto-related security concerns.

Traders Turn Optimistic as Bitcoin Rebounds

Now, retail traders are once again piling into bullish calls across social media, with Santiment’s data capturing this through its Positive/Negative Sentiment metric, which runs posts and threads from major platforms through a machine-learning model to separate bullish from bearish commentary and calculate the ratio between them.

At 1.37, the current reading is at its highest since early January, when the market was coming off a strong end to 2025. Back in mid-April, sentiment had done the opposite, collapsing deep into bearish territory in the wake of the KelpDAO exploit.

Santiment noted at the time that the widespread panic was actually a healthier environment for a rebound, as it cleared out less committed holders.

That rebound came, and with optimism now back near multi-month highs, the firm is highlighting the other side of that dynamic.

“As fear disappears and FOMO rapidly takes over social media discussions, traders often enter positions late into rallies,” Santiment wrote, “increasing the probability of local tops, profit-taking, and sudden volatility.”

The firm was direct that this does not mean the rally is finished, but that the risk profile is meaningfully higher now than it was a few weeks ago, when most of the crowd was still panicking.

What the Data Needs to Confirm a Bottom

On the price side, Bitcoin was trading at around $81,000 at the time of writing, up by about 7.5% over the past seven days and 18% in the last month.

It briefly tapped $82,000 on May 6, marking a new three-month peak before pulling back slightly, with the 24-hour range having sat between approximately $80,800 and $82,800 per CoinGecko.

However, not everyone is treating the price recovery as a clean setup. Analysts at Bitfinex described the rally to $80,000 as misleading and argued that the market is not positioned for upside movement.

On the other hand, some traders are closely watching whether BTC can reclaim higher realized price bands tied to underwater holders from late 2025 and early 2026.

According to market commentator IT Tech, Bitcoin needs to break above roughly $89,000 and hold that level before a durable bottom can be confirmed.

The analyst pointed to several realized price zones between $89,000 and $112,000 where trapped buyers may look to exit positions once prices recover.

The post The FOMO Is Back: Why Bitcoin’s Latest Rally Has Analysts Flashing Warning Signs appeared first on CryptoPotato.

As financial infrastructure continues to evolve, the lines between traditional banking, payments, forex, and digital assets are becoming increasingly blurred. Businesses operating globally now need faster and more transparent ways to move money across currencies, markets, and even platforms.

To explore the ways this shift is reshaping the future of financial services, we spoke with Lux Thiagarajah, Chief Commercial Officer at OpenPayd.

With a career spanning FX trading at JP Morgan, senior roles at institutions such as HSBC, as well as leadership positions across digital-native companies such as BCB Group and FalconX, he brings a unique perspective on the convergence of legacy finance and modern fintech infrastructure.

In the following interview, he talks about how his trading background informs his view of payments, why unified financial infrastructure is becoming essential for global businesses, and where the next phase of fintech growth will be coming from.

You began your career as an FX trader at J.P. Morgan before moving into senior leadership roles across trading and payments. How has that trading background shaped the way you think about payments infrastructure and financial services today?

More than anything else, my trading background shaped how I think about efficiency and timing.

On a trading desk, you are constantly focused on execution. Speed matters, pricing matters, and small inefficiencies compound very quickly. If settlement is delayed or costs are unclear, that directly impacts profitability. That mindset carries through into how I view payments today.

When I look at payments infrastructure, I see it through that same lens. It should be fast, transparent and predictable. Too much of the legacy system still operates with delays, opaque FX spreads and multiple intermediaries. That may have been acceptable historically, but it is increasingly out of step with how businesses operate today.

It also taught me the importance of liquidity. Whether in FX markets or payments, access to liquidity at the right time, in the right currency, is what ultimately determines how efficient a system is. That is why the convergence of fiat and stablecoin liquidity is such an important development for financial services.

You’ve worked across both traditional finance institutions like HSBC and newer digital-native companies such as FalconX and BCB Group. What are the biggest structural differences you’ve observed between legacy financial systems and modern fintech infrastructure?

I believe that the biggest difference is not just technology, it is mindset.

Legacy financial systems were built for a different era. They are robust and trusted, but they are also rigid. Processes are often batch-based, infrastructure is fragmented, and change takes time because everything is layered on top of decades of existing systems.

Modern fintech infrastructure is designed with flexibility from day one. It is API-first, modular and built to scale across markets quickly. Instead of stitching together multiple providers, you are creating a single layer that orchestrates everything behind the scenes.

The other key difference is how problems are approached. Traditional institutions tend to optimise within existing frameworks rather than remove the constraints, whereas fintechs are more willing to rethink the model entirely. That is why we are now seeing infrastructure that connects payment rails, FX and digital assets in a unified way, rather than treating them as separate systems.

What has become clear over time is that neither side can do it alone. The future is not one replacing the other. It is about combining the resilience and trust of traditional finance with the flexibility and speed of modern infrastructure.

As Chief Commercial Officer at OpenPayd, you’re responsible for driving growth across both new and existing clients. What are the key capabilities that fintechs, exchanges, and digital platforms are now looking for in payments partners?

Clients are no longer looking for a single payment rail or a point solution. They want infrastructure that grows with them without constantly re-engineering their setup. That means access to accounts, payments, FX and increasingly digital assets, all through one integration. The days of stitching together multiple providers for different functions now feels outdated.

There is also a much sharper focus on reliability. When payments sit at the core of your product, there is no margin for error. It is not just about speed; it is about consistency and control at scale.

And then there is optionality. Clients do not want to be locked into one rail or one model. They want the flexibility to route transactions in the most efficient way, whether that is through traditional rails or newer settlement methods like stablecoins, without adding complexity to their operations.

Embedded finance and programmable payments are becoming central themes across fintech. How do you see these trends reshaping the relationship between platforms, financial institutions, and end users over the next few years?

Embedded finance is changing how financial capabilities are delivered. Instead of being accessed separately, they are now built directly into platforms, becoming part of the product itself. Programmable payments take that further by automating how money moves, reducing manual processes and improving efficiency at scale.

The roles are becoming clearer. Platforms own the user experience, infrastructure providers manage the complexity behind the scenes, and banks continue to provide the regulatory foundation.

For users, it feels seamless. For businesses, it means far greater control over how money flows through their ecosystem.

OpenPayd operates at the intersection of payments, banking, and digital assets. How important is a unified financial infrastructure for companies operating globally, particularly those scaling across multiple jurisdictions?

It is becoming essential. Businesses with global ambitions deal with different banks, different rails, different regulatory frameworks, and now different asset types. Each layer adds complexity, and that complexity does not scale well.

A unified infrastructure simplifies that environment. It allows businesses to access local and international payments, FX and digital assets through a single framework, rather than building separate systems for each market or use case.

The real value of a unified infrastructure is operational – consistent and standardised processes for compliance, reporting, settlement and treasury management across all regions. It unlocks scale. Without it, expansion into new markets becomes slower, more expensive and more operationally complex than it needs to be.

Strategic partnerships are a major part of your role. What makes a partnership truly valuable in today’s fintech ecosystem, and how should companies think about building long-term collaboration rather than simple integrations?

The difference comes down to alignment. Is the goal to solve a specific or short-term need, or are both sides working towards a shared objective? The most valuable partnerships I have seen are the ones where each side brings something the other cannot easily replicate, whether that is distribution, regulatory coverage or technical capability.

There is also an element of trust. Not just in terms of compliance, but in how you operate together day to day. In a fast-moving environment, things change. The partnerships that last are the ones that can adapt without constantly renegotiating the fundamentals.

Looking ahead, what do you think will define the next phase of growth for fintech infrastructure providers, and where do you see the biggest opportunities for companies like OpenPayd in the next 3–5 years?

The next phase will be defined by convergence across financial infrastructure. A lot of the core building blocks already exist. Stablecoins have proven they can operate at scale, APIs are standard, and regulatory frameworks, such as MiCA and the GENIUS Act, are becoming clearer. The challenge now is making all of these components work together in a way that feels simple to the end user.

That is where the opportunity sits – in orchestration. The underlying rails already exist, but they are fragmented. The providers that can unify those rails and abstract the complexity will become the backbone of global financial services.

For OpenPayd, that means continuing to build the universal financial infrastructure that allows businesses to move money globally, across both fiat and digital assets, without friction.  

Disclaimer: The content shared in this interview is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice, investment recommendation, or endorsement of any project, protocol, or asset. The cryptocurrency space involves risk and volatility. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with qualified professionals before making any financial decisions. This interview was conducted in cooperation with OpenPayd, who generously shared their time and insights. The content has been reviewed and approved for publication in mutual understanding. Minor edits have been made for clarity and readability, while preserving the substance and tone of the original conversation.

The post OpenPayd’s CCO on the Future of Payments, Stablecoins and Unified Financial Infrastructure appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Bitcoin’s price ascent that began after the FOMC meeting last week drove the asset to a multi-month peak at almost $83,000 before it was stopped and pushed south by a couple of grand.

Most larger-cap alts have declined by up to 3-4% over the past day, except BNB, SOL, and ADA.

BTC Finds Support at $81K

As mentioned above, BTC’s price slipped below $75,000 last Wednesday after the completion of the third FOMC meeting for the year, in which the US Federal Reserve kept the interest rates unchanged. Although this decision was highly anticipated, it still brought some volatility to the market.

However, the following few days were a lot more positive for bitcoin, which jumped to almost $79,000 on Friday after the first peace proposal was sent from Tehran to Washington. It was rejected, and so was the second one on Sunday, but BTC still remained above $78,000.

The bulls initiated a more impressive leg up on Monday morning, driving the cryptocurrency to a three-month peak at just over $80,000. Although BTC was stopped there at first, its run resumed on Tuesday and Wednesday, driving it to another local peak at almost $83,000.

After gaining $8,000 in a week, BTC was due for a correction, which took place in the following hours. It dipped to $80,800, where it found support and now sits above $81,500.

Its market cap is up to $1.635 trillion, while its dominance over the alts remains above 58.5% on CG.

TON Keeps Rocking

While some regarded Pavel Durov’s announcement as a rise toward centralization, the reality is that Toncoin’s TON exploded after Telegram said it would replace the TON Foundation as the largest validator and reduce the fees by up to six times. TON has soared by another 30% in the past 24 hours, bringing its weekly gains to over 120% as of press time.

The other double-digit gainers over the past day include VIRTUAL, SIREN, VVV, NEAR, and ICP. BNB, SOL, and ADA have posted more modest increases, while ETH, XRP, DOGE, HYPE, BCH, and ZEC have lost some traction.

The total crypto market cap has remained inches below $2.8 trillion on CG.

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