The missile exchange heightens regional instability, impacting global markets and highlighting vulnerabilities in crypto tied to geopolitical tensions.

The post Iran launches missiles at Israeli territory as IDF warns of ‘new rules’ being imposed appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Market volatility underscores the fragility of investor sentiment, highlighting the broader economic impact of unexpected employment data shifts.

The post Wall Street braces for market turmoil after selloff hits stocks and bonds appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The SpaceX IPO's massive demand may trigger market volatility, impacting tech stocks and crypto markets due to capital reallocation.

The post Stock futures fall as investors brace for SpaceX’s $1.75 trillion IPO appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

AI's rapid advancements in vulnerability assessment promise to revolutionize cybersecurity within months, challenging traditional methods.

The post Nikesh Arora: AI is democratizing intelligence in business, transforming cybersecurity with rapid vulnerability assessments, and reshaping the future of data storage | All-In Podcast appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

OpenAI files confidentially for IPO as Anthropics rise and massive AI infrastructure costs intensify the capital race.

The post OpenAI files confidentially for IPO as Anthropic raises pressure in AI funding race appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Bitcoin Magazine

Coinbase Executive: Massive Institutions Are Buying Bitcoin’s Crash

Bitcoin fell below $60,000 for the first time since October 2024 on Monday, sinking as low as $59,099 — a move that marks a decline of more than 50% from its all-time high near $126,000. 

But according to John D’Agostino, Coinbase’s head of institutional strategy, the drop is being welcomed — not feared — by the most sophisticated players in the market.

Appearing on CNBC’s Squawk Box Monday morning, D’Agostino said the institutional investors he speaks with regularly are viewing the pullback as an opportunity to accumulate at a discount, not a reason to panic.

“I just got off a plane from the Middle East, and I can tell you that the family offices in the UAE and the government and sovereign funds that are putting the effort into buying this asset class are not unhappy at being able to buy it at a discount,” D’Agostino said.

His comments align with recent data showing sustained institutional buying through the downturn. 

Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company — a $330 billion sovereign wealth fund — reported holding 14.7 million shares of BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) as of March 31, 2026, a 16% increase quarter-over-quarter, marking four consecutive quarters of accumulation even as BTC declined roughly 40% from its all-time high.

“100 Billion Dollars of Bitcoin ETF Exposure”

Despite Bitcoin’s steep correction, D’Agostino pointed to a striking statistic as evidence of durable retail conviction: Bitcoin ETFs still hold approximately $100 billion in exposure even after the price has dropped nearly 50% from its peak.

“The price has dropped almost 50% from the peak, and we’ve only seen about a 15% drawdown in retail interest,” D’Agostino noted. “So I think both retail and institutional are signaling this is a long-term asset you want to hold.”

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust alone held roughly $51.9 billion in assets under management as of earlier this year, representing approximately 45% of all spot Bitcoin ETF assets.

Some reasons for the pullback

When pressed to identify the drivers behind Bitcoin’s “winter,” D’Agostino largely agreed with a list offered by the Squawk Box host, which included: risk-off sentiment pushing investors toward more liquid positions; interest rates remaining elevated, weakening the debasement trade thesis; regulatory clarity remaining in legislative limbo; and Strategy’s Michael Saylor breaking his long-standing “never sell” pledge by offloading a portion of the company’s Bitcoin holdings.

Saylor’s firm executed the sale of 32 bitcoins between May 26 and May 31 for approximately $2.5 million — a move that rattled market sentiment even though it represented just 0.004% of Strategy’s total 843,000+ BTC holdings. The sale triggered a sharp negative market reaction that sent BTC tumbling below $72,000 before the broader slide continued.

D’Agostino also cited a 100-day war with Iran and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as macro overhangs applying pressure to risk assets globally, while noting that crude oil has remained surprisingly subdued below $100 a barrel — a reminder that volatility in complex macro environments doesn’t always follow intuition.

On the legislative front, D’Agostino highlighted bills currently circulating in Congress that he said would strengthen the institutional infrastructure supporting Bitcoin and digital assets more broadly. The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act — known as the CLARITY Act — cleared the Senate Banking Committee on May 14, 2026 with a 15-9 vote, marking the first comprehensive crypto regulatory framework to advance to the Senate floor.

A separate bill, the PARITY Act, addressing crypto taxation, is also moving on an independent legislative track with bipartisan support.

No panic at the institutional level

When asked about the risk of leveraged holders facing margin calls and forced liquidations at lower prices, D’Agostino said he was not aware of any major institutional players that were “horrifically overleveraged” at levels anywhere close to current prices. He said the bigger risk remains with retail traders on offshore exchanges offering extreme leverage.

“On the institutional side, I’m not seeing folks panicking at this point,” D’Agostino said. “I’m seeing them thinking about what the cheapest way is for them to acquire new capital to buy into an asset that they loved at $125K, they liked at $100K, and they love even more at $65K.”

Strategy appeared to underscore that point Monday, disclosing it purchased an additional 1,550 BTC for $101 million — buying the dip at approximately $65,000 per coin just days after selling 32 coins at $77,135 each.

This post Coinbase Executive: Massive Institutions Are Buying Bitcoin’s Crash first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin Price Holds Near $63,000 as Analysts Say Its Store-of-Value Thesis Remains Intact

Bitcoin traded around $63,000 on Monday, clawing back from a two-month low hit on June 5 as a confluence of headwinds — spot ETF outflows, macro uncertainty, and capital rotation into artificial intelligence stocks — pushed the world’s largest cryptocurrency roughly 50% below its all-time high of $126,279 reached in October 2025.

The decline has triggered familiar scenes of capitulation. Retail investors have largely stepped back, and mainstream headlines have leaned into the fear. But a growing chorus of institutional voices is pushing back hard.

In a report published Monday, analysts at Wall Street brokerage Bernstein said Bitcoin’s long-term “store of value” thesis is unchanged, even as net inflows into spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds and corporate treasury companies have slowed to $12 billion so far in 2026, down sharply from $60 billion in 2025. 

The firm attributed the bulk of selling pressure not to ETF holders, but to corporate treasury companies liquidating positions — with spot ETFs recording only about $2.6 billion in net outflows year-to-date.

“Bitcoin being boring this cycle should not be held against it,” Bernstein wrote, adding that the slowdown in retail momentum does not undermine the structural ownership case for Bitcoin. 

The brokerage’s report highlighted that 61% of Bitcoin’s circulating supply has not moved in more than a year — a figure that points to a base of holders unwilling to sell at current prices.

Bernstein has maintained a price target of $150,000 for Bitcoin in 2026, citing a structural shift in the investor base toward institutions including wealth management platforms, pension funds, and sovereign wealth funds. 

The firm has previously described early 2026 as featuring the “weakest bear case” in Bitcoin’s history, arguing that growing adoption among banks and major investment firms separates the current downturn from previous crypto winters.

Institutions accumulate Bitcoin while retail rotates away

The near-term pressure on prices has several identifiable sources. Capital has rotated at a historic pace toward the AI trade, with hundreds of billions flowing into hyperscalers and large-cap technology names in recent months. 

The SpaceX IPO, set for June 12 on Nasdaq and targeting a valuation between $1.75 trillion and $2 trillion, has drawn significant retail attention away from digital assets, according to analysts tracking the reallocation. Strategy’s Bitcoin sales have added further selling pressure to the market.

On the legislative front, the CLARITY Act — a comprehensive digital asset market structure bill that would divide regulatory authority between the SEC and the CFTC — cleared the Senate Banking Committee in May by a 15-9 vote.

The bill passed the House last July with a 294-134 vote. Its final passage into law could resolve years of regulatory uncertainty that has held institutional capital at the edge of the market.

Brownstone Research senior crypto analyst Ben Lilly drew a direct parallel to the bear market of 2022, when BlackRock launched a private Bitcoin trust in August of that year at the depth of the downturn — a move that preceded the most successful ETF launch in history, BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF (IBIT), which reached $80 billion in assets under management five times faster than the previous record holder, Vanguard’s S&P 500 ETF. 

The same playbook, Lilly argued, is running again: institutions are building while retail checks out.

This post Bitcoin Price Holds Near $63,000 as Analysts Say Its Store-of-Value Thesis Remains Intact first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Full Text of Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Bill Officially Published, Revealing 20-Year Lock-Up, Proof-of-Reserve Mandates

The complete legislative text for bitcoin-favorite bill H.R. 8957, the American Reserve Modernization Act of 2026, has been made public on the U.S. Congress website, offering lawmakers, industry stakeholders, and the public their first detailed look at the mechanics behind a bill that would permanently codify a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve into federal law.

The bill, introduced May 21 by Rep. Nick Begich (R-AK) alongside co-lead Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME) and more than 20 co-sponsors, was referred to the House Committee on Financial Services upon introduction. 

While the legislation’s broad contours — consolidating federally held Bitcoin under Treasury oversight and building on President Trump’s March 2025 executive order — were known at introduction, the full text reveals a sweeping architecture of custody rules, transparency requirements, and acquisition guardrails that go well beyond the executive action it seeks to codify.

Central to the bill is a mandatory 20-year holding period on all BTC deposited into the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, during which no holdings may be “sold, swapped, auctioned, encumbered, or otherwise disposed of for any purpose”. 

That lock-up clock resets with each new deposit, meaning BTC seized through criminal or civil forfeiture proceedings — designated in the bill as “qualifying Bitcoin” — would be essentially untouchable for two decades upon transfer to the reserve. 

After that period, the Treasury Secretary may recommend offloading no more than 10% of reserve assets during any two-year window, subject to Congressional review.

Proof of Reserves for U.S. Bitcoin 

The full text also mandates a “Proof of Reserve” system requiring quarterly public cryptographic attestations of all holdings, independent third-party audits, and Comptroller General oversight — a level of on-chain transparency unprecedented for a federal financial program. 

Non-Bitcoin digital assets acquired by the government, such as Ethereum or other forfeited cryptocurrencies, would be held in a separate Digital Asset Stockpile, with proceeds from any dispositions directed toward expanding the Bitcoin reserve or reducing the national debt.

Perhaps notably, the bill explicitly prohibits the government from using any new borrowing, new taxes, or deficit spending to acquire BTC. 

Instead, it directs the Treasury and Commerce Departments to jointly study budget-neutral acquisition pathways within 180 days of enactment — including conversion of non-Bitcoin stockpile assets, Federal Reserve surplus remittances, and gold certificate revaluations.

The bill also opens a voluntary state participation program, allowing states to store their own BTC holdings in segregated Treasury accounts, while affirming that no provision may be construed to authorize seizure of privately held Bitcoin.

The bill now awaits action in the House Financial Services Committee.

This post Full Text of Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Bill Officially Published, Revealing 20-Year Lock-Up, Proof-of-Reserve Mandates first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Sam Bankman-Fried Formally Seeks Presidential Pardon From Trump, Files Clemency Petition

Sam Bankman-Fried, the imprisoned founder of the collapsed cryptocurrency exchange FTX, has filed a formal clemency petition with the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of the Pardon Attorney, requesting a presidential pardon from President Donald Trump while serving a 25-year prison sentence for fraud and conspiracy.

The application, now listed as pending in DOJ records, comes as Bankman-Fried pursues a simultaneous appeal of his conviction and sentence.

In a phone interview with FOX Business correspondent Susan Li — his first on-record media appearance from behind bars — Bankman-Fried made clear he wants Trump’s intervention. “I assume that you would want a pardon from the White House?” Li asked. “Absolutely,” Bankman-Fried replied. “It would be, obviously, ultimately up to the president, not up to me.” 

When pressed on whether his parents or family members were lobbying the administration on his behalf, Bankman-Fried offered only a deflection: “I can’t speak for them.”

The pardon application is listed on the DOJ’s clemency case status portal as a request for a “pardon after completion of sentence.” The office confirmed that details of ongoing reviews are not disclosed to the public.

President Donald Trump has said that he will not pardon former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried, rejecting clemency for the convicted executive.

Bankman-Fried’s failure at FTX

Bankman-Fried was sentenced on March 28, 2024, to 25 years in federal prison after a New York jury found him guilty on all seven criminal counts in November 2023, including two counts of wire fraud and five counts of conspiracy. 

Prosecutors demonstrated that he misused billions of dollars in customer deposits to fund risky bets at his affiliated hedge fund, Alameda Research, while also financing political donations and real estate purchases. 

The court found that FTX customers lost $8 billion, equity investors in FTX lost $1.7 billion, and lenders to Alameda Research lost $1.3 billion. Judge Lewis Kaplan ordered an $11 billion forfeiture.

Despite the verdict, Bankman-Fried refuses to characterize his conduct as theft.

“I didn’t steal user funds either,” he told Li. “Customers have been repaid now 170% or so on their deposits. It’s one of the very few cases where the platform was over-collateralized, where customers were more than made whole. And yet there was not just a criminal investigation, but a prosecution and dozens of years of sentence.” 

He pointed to the recovery of cryptocurrency markets during the FTX bankruptcy process as the reason customer payouts exceeded original deposit amounts. 

“It’s a great disservice to them that it has taken three years,” he added.

The push for clemency follows a months-long pattern of public statements from Bankman-Fried that mirror Trump’s positions. 

Writing through prison-approved communications, he has praised Trump’s decision to strike Iran, credited the president with rescuing the Securities and Exchange Commission through the appointment of Paul Atkins to replace Gary Gensler, and highlighted falling gasoline prices under the current administration. 

The approach mirrors a political repositioning strategy Bankman-Fried had deployed before — after being seen as a Democratic mega-donor in 2020, he appeared on Tucker Carlson’s program in 2025 to signal alignment with conservative audiences.

The bid places Bankman-Fried alongside a wave of high-profile defendants who have received clemency from Trump since his return to office. 

Trump pardoned Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, former Binance CEO Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, and the co-founders of BitMEX.

The FTX collapse began in November 2022 after CoinDesk reported on balance sheet concerns linking FTX to Alameda Research, triggering a customer run that exposed an $8 billion gap in the exchange’s accounts. 

Key FTX insiders, including former Alameda CEO Caroline Ellison and FTX co-founder Gary Wang, testified against Bankman-Fried after pleading guilty and cooperating with federal prosecutors.

This post Sam Bankman-Fried Formally Seeks Presidential Pardon From Trump, Files Clemency Petition first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Crypto Coalition of Over 200 Companies Presses Senate Leaders to Bring Clarity Act to Floor

Stand With Crypto and more than 200 companies and organizations sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader John Thune and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on June 7, urging them to schedule the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act for a full Senate vote.

The letter — signed by executives and representatives from some of the most recognized names in digital finance — frames the moment as a test of American leadership in the global race to govern digital asset markets. 

Signatories include Coinbase, Circle, Ripple, Kraken, Andreessen Horowitz, Binance.US, Multicoin Capital, Riot Platforms, and Uniswap Labs, among dozens of state-level blockchain coalitions and university blockchain clubs spanning all 50 states.

“Digital asset markets are global, growing, and central to the future of financial infrastructure,” the letter states. “The question before Congress is whether that future will be built in the United States — under U.S. law, U.S. oversight, and American values — or continue moving to offshore jurisdictions with less transparency, weaker consumer protections, and limited accountability.”

The letter was led by four organizations: Stand With Crypto Executive Director Mason Lynaugh, Blockchain Association CEO Summer Mersinger, Crypto Council for Innovation CEO Ji Hun Kim, and Digital Chamber CEO Cody Carbone. 

The coalition argues that the Clarity Act would establish a federal framework for digital asset markets, clarify regulatory responsibilities between the SEC and CFTC, create registration pathways for market participants, and extend protections to software developers.

The letter positions the bill as one built on years of bipartisan education and stakeholder engagement. 

“Durable policy must be built across party lines, especially when it will shape the future of American financial markets,” the signatories wrote, pointing to the Senate Banking Committee’s recent passage of the bill as validation that consensus is within reach.

Where the Clarity Act stands right now

The Clarity Act — short for the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act — passed the House of Representatives in July 2025 by a bipartisan vote of 294-134. The bill stalled twice in the Senate, including a January 2026 episode when Coinbase withdrew support over a proposed ban on stablecoin rewards.

The Senate Banking Committee cleared the bill on May 14, 2026, by a 15-9 vote. Democrats Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland joined Republicans in supporting the measure. 

The bill aims to resolve a long-standing regulatory turf dispute between the SEC and CFTC by establishing clear definitions for when digital asset tokens qualify as securities, commodities, or other categories.

Remaining obstacles include contested DeFi provisions, ethics language that would bar senior government officials from profiting on crypto holdings during their tenure, and the question of whether community bank deregulatory provisions will be attached to the bill. 

Some Democrats, led by Sen. Elizabeth Warren, have argued the bill’s anti-money-laundering measures are not strong enough.

The clock is a factor. Analysts at Galaxy Digital put the bill’s chances of becoming law at 60% following the committee vote, but noted the window before August recess leaves only weeks for Senate consideration, reconciliation with the Agriculture Committee version, and a final House vote before it reaches President Trump’s desk.

The coalition’s letter frames the stakes plainly: “With the Clarity Act, the Senate has a chance to ensure the next generation of financial infrastructure is built, governed, and regulated in America.”

This post Crypto Coalition of Over 200 Companies Presses Senate Leaders to Bring Clarity Act to Floor first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), the disgraced founder of the bankrupt FTX exchange, is serving a quarter-century in federal prison for orchestrating one of the largest financial frauds in US history.

Yet, crypto speculators are wagering that a newly filed presidential pardon application could somehow reverse his fortunes.

This week, the disgraced FTX founder officially requested executive clemency via the Department of Justice’s Office of the Pardon Attorney portal.

The move marks a formal escalation of a months-long shadow campaign by his family and legal surrogates to secure his freedom, defying conventional legal wisdom and the standard five-year post-sentencing waiting period for clemency applications.

However, the chances of any approval are slim as President Donald Trump has repeatedly rejected the idea of granting SBF any clemency.

Notably, traders on the blockchain-based prediction market Polymarket are currently pricing in only a 8% probability that Bankman-Fried will receive a presidential pardon by the end of the year.

A ghost token’s speculative rally

While political analysts and blockchain-based prediction markets give the pardon virtually no chance of success, the mere filing was enough to ignite a speculative frenzy across digital asset exchanges.

Data from CryptoSlate shows that the immediate beneficiary of Bankman-Fried’s legal maneuvering has been FTT, the native exchange token that once underpinned the FTX ecosystem.

FTT is effectively a ghost asset. The token has no inherent utility, no development team, and no underlying business following FTX’s catastrophic bankruptcy in November 2022.

Despite this, digital asset markets frequently trade on sentiment, distressed narratives, and algorithmic reactions to breaking news.

Following reports of the pardon application, FTT spiked more than 50% over 24 hours, peaking at $0.35. The surge represents a stark reversal from its all-time low of $0.2141 recorded just days prior.

Moreover, CoinMarketCap data shows that the trading volume for the bankrupt token skyrocketed by over 600%, surpassing $16 million.

Market data indicates that around 30% of this speculative activity took place on Binance, the rival exchange that originally triggered the bank run on FTX by liquidating its own FTT holdings in late 2022.

The latest rally suggests that some market participants are treating FTT as a political option on Bankman-Fried’s fate. If traders believe a pardon would revive public interest in FTX-linked assets, even briefly, the token becomes a direct way to express that view.

Meanwhile, that trade remains detached from any clear legal or bankruptcy recovery mechanism. A pardon would not automatically restore FTX, revive FTT’s old platform utility, or change the basic structure of creditor claims. It would mainly affect Bankman-Fried’s personal liberty and political narrative.

Bankman-Fried turns to a political argument

Bankman-Fried was sentenced in March 2024 after a jury found him guilty of two counts of wire fraud, two counts of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and conspiracy counts tied to securities fraud, commodities fraud, and money laundering.

Federal prosecutors said he misappropriated billions of dollars in customer funds deposited at FTX, defrauded investors in the exchange, and misled lenders to Alameda.

As a result, US District Judge Lewis Kaplan imposed a 25-year prison term, three years of supervised release, and more than $11 billion in forfeiture.

However, Bankman-Fried has continued to dispute the core public understanding of FTX’s collapse. In interviews and online statements, he has argued that the exchange faced a liquidity crisis rather than true insolvency and that the estate’s later recoveries show customers could have been made whole much earlier.

His argument centers on the value of FTX’s remaining assets and venture investments. He has claimed that FTX held assets exceeding liabilities when it entered bankruptcy and that control of the company should not have been surrendered to outside restructuring advisers.

However, that version of the event conflicts with the case prosecutors presented at trial.

The government argued that FTX customer deposits were secretly routed to Alameda and used for trading losses, investments, real estate purchases, political donations, and debt repayments. Notably, former executives, including Caroline Ellison, Gary Wang, and Nishad Singh, who cooperated with US prosecutors, testified against Bankman-Fried,

Ryne Miller, FTX’s former general counsel, has also rejected Bankman-Fried’s post-conviction solvency claims.

Miller wrote on X that assets on hand in November 2022 were nowhere near adequate and that company insiders were still trying to assemble asset lists and raise emergency capital as the exchange unraveled.

Trump’s crypto pardons create an opening, but not an easy one

Despite the aggressive lobbying effort, the political reality facing Bankman-Fried is bleak.

President Trump explicitly ruled out clemency for the FTX founder during a January 2026 interview with The New York Times, a stance the White House has since maintained.

While Trump has been willing to use his executive power to pardon other prominent crypto figures, including a high-profile October 2025 pardon of Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, and earlier commutations for Silk Road creator Ross Ulbricht and BitMEX executives like Arthur Hayes, the political calculus surrounding Bankman-Fried is fundamentally different.

Those previous pardons were largely framed around correcting regulatory overreach, anti-money laundering technicalities, or broader criminal justice reform.

Bankman-Fried’s case, by contrast, is viewed universally as a straightforward, multi-billion-dollar embezzlement scheme that financially devastated millions of everyday retail investors.

Even among pro-crypto Republicans on Capitol Hill, the pardon push has been met with hostility, with Senator Bernie Moreno saying:

“The guy shouldn’t be pardoned. The guy should go to jail for a long, long time.”

This view is also shared by several crypto enthusiasts, with one industry analyst saying, “Pardoning SBF doesn’t release one fraudster, it just green-lights the next thousand. The message becomes: steal billions, do a MAGA rebrand from prison, walk free.”

The post FTX token (FTT) spikes 50% as Sam Bankman-Fried seeks presidential pardon appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The FIFA World Cup has become a multibillion-dollar trading event before its June 11 kickoff, with prediction-market traders nearly split on whether Spain or France should be treated as the team to beat in the tournament.

Polymarket data show Spain and France each trading near a 16% implied chance of winning the tournament, ahead of England at about 11%, Portugal at 10%, and defending champion Argentina at 9%.

Prices on Kalshi, a regulated US-trading venue, show a similar race at the top, with Spain near 16.5%, France at 16.2%, Portugal at 10.5%, England at 10.1%, and Argentina at 8.9%.

These numbers are not forecasts in the traditional sense, as they reflect where traders are willing to buy and sell event contracts that pay out if a team wins the tournament.

Still, the size of the market has turned the 2026 FIFA World Cup into an early test of whether prediction platforms can compete with sportsbooks during one of the most-watched sporting events in the world.

Already, Polymarket’s World Cup winner market has generated roughly $2 billion in trading volume before the tournament begins, while Kalshi’s comparable market has crossed $100 million.

The figures place the event among the largest sports markets yet for prediction platforms, whose rapid growth has pushed them into territory long dominated by licensed gambling operators.

World Cup gives platforms their largest sports test

For Polymarket and Kalshi, the World Cup arrives at a pivotal moment.

The 2026 tournament is the first men’s World Cup since prediction markets moved beyond their earlier base in crypto, politics, and macroeconomic events into mainstream sports speculation.

The event gives the sector its largest sports test yet, with a global audience, 48 teams, 104 matches, and weeks of shifting narratives that can be turned into tradable contracts.

Historically, sportsbooks have always given fans a way to wager on teams and players. Prediction markets are newer and add a structure closer to financial trading, where users can enter, exit, trim, or increase positions before an event is resolved.

In simple terms, prediction markets allow users to buy and sell contracts tied to future events. A contract trading at 40 cents implies a 40% market-implied probability and pays $1 if the outcome occurs.

This means the prices can move as traders react to injuries, team news, match results, tactical changes, and other developments.

That flexibility is central to the surge in World Cup activity.

A trader who buys Spain before the opening match does not have to hold the position until the final in July. If Spain wins its group comfortably or receives a favorable knockout draw, the contract price could rise and allow the trader to sell before the tournament ends. If a key player is injured or the team faces a more difficult path, the position can be reduced before it settles at zero.

The same logic applies to France, Portugal, England, and Argentina, whose prices remain close enough to keep the market competitive. France’s squad depth, Spain’s recent form, England’s attack, Portugal’s Nations League momentum, and Argentina’s status as defending champion have all given traders competing cases to price.

That has helped turn the winner market into a live trading venue rather than a static pre-tournament betting board. Prices can adjust after each match, press conference, injury update, or disciplinary decision. The result is a tournament-long market that tracks changing sentiment as the field narrows.

However, that scale does not make the market immune to bias. Prediction markets can still reflect momentum, public attention, fan loyalty, and uneven access to information.

For context, a national team with a large global following may draw more trading interest than a less popular side with a similar chance of winning. Traders can also overreact to short-term developments in a tournament where one injury, suspension, or red card can reshape the path to the final.

Still, the activity shows how sports have become a major growth channel for event-contract platforms.

Pew Research Center found that combined monthly global trading volume on Kalshi and Polymarket rose from less than $5 billion in September 2025 to about $24 billion in April 2026. That compares with about $14 billion in average monthly legal sportsbook wagers in the US last year.

Sports have been especially important for Kalshi, where they have accounted for the bulk of trading volume since the platform expanded beyond politics and macroeconomic events. Polymarket’s activity is spread more broadly across sports, politics, and crypto, but the World Cup shows how a single global event can concentrate liquidity across one set of contracts.

In view of this, several crypto companies, including President Donald Trump-related firms, are now trying to tap into that demand.

Exchanges and wallet providers, including Bitget, OKX, and Gate, have introduced World Cup-related products or campaigns aimed at turning global attention into trading activity.

The push reflects a broader shift in crypto marketing, with firms increasingly attaching products to major cultural events rather than relying only on token prices or blockchain-specific narratives.

Alvin Kan, chief operating officer at Bitget Wallet, said prediction markets are becoming a new way for users to participate in global events. He stated:

“The World Cup shows why this matters: billions of people are not only watching the same moments, but forming views, debating outcomes and acting on conviction in real time.”

Regulators watch the line between trading and gambling

Meanwhile, the World Cup surge is landing as regulators, lawmakers, and state officials examine how far prediction markets should be allowed to expand.

Kalshi is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), while Polymarket’s main international exchange is not CFTC-regulated and has generally barred US users. Polymarket has also launched a US operation, though its international venue remains the larger marketplace.

The distinction has become central to the policy debate. Supporters say federally regulated event contracts can bring transparency, surveillance, and standardized market rules to a space that already exists through offshore sportsbooks and informal betting.

Critics say sports markets are gambling products by another name and could bypass state consumer-protection regimes if they are treated only as derivatives. In fact, several US states have argued that these prediction markets’ sports contracts amount to sports gambling and should be regulated by their local frameworks. 

However, the CFTC has countered that these platform contracts fall within its regulatory jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, these concerns go beyond jurisdiction. As prediction markets grow, regulators are looking more closely at know-your-customer checks, market manipulation, insider information, fraud prevention, and data security.

Those risks become more visible when millions of users trade contracts tied to sports, politics, and other events with nonpublic information.

While sports contracts may avoid some of the insider-trading concerns that surround elections, they still carry information risks.

Team staff, medical personnel, agents, broadcasters, and others may know details about injuries, tactical changes, or player availability before the public does. Those details can move prices, especially in highly liquid markets tied to major teams.

In response, the platforms say they have surveillance tools and market-integrity systems to detect suspicious activity. Kalshi uses identity checks and monitoring programs. Polymarket has said it maintains a market-integrity framework and has referred suspicious wallets to law enforcement in prior cases.

The World Cup will test those systems at scale. A 39-day tournament with 104 matches gives traders a constant stream of new information and gives platforms repeated chances to show whether their markets can function through volatility, news shocks, and heavy retail participation.

The post World Cup prediction markets hit $2B before kickoff as Spain and France go head to head appeared first on CryptoSlate.

A court in New York has paused a lawsuit that asks it to transfer title over 39,069 Bitcoin wallets.

The June 5 order to show cause stayed further proceedings on the plaintiffs' declaratory-judgment claim, including any request for an inquest or default judgment, until a July 14 hearing on a proposed amicus brief from attorney Ian R. Cohen.

That procedural pause landed only days after the blockchain supplied the case with a harder problem. On June 2, the Bitcoin address 1LwWtSs7tMCwcRczQd5kVMv3xpWw6w4Sxe, an old address associated with the dispute, spent about 35.55 BTC after years without movement, according to mempool.space transaction data.

The movement does not identify the owner, explain the motive, or resolve whether that address sits in any particular place on the plaintiffs' defendant list. The simpler reason it is significant is that the address shows a June 2 outbound transaction while the court record describes a theory built around dormancy, notice, and lost property.

That is the collision now in front of the court. The plaintiffs want a legal declaration. Bitcoin requires a private key.

The lawsuit asks for title, not keys

The case, brought by Noah Doe, ABC Company, and XYZ Company against John Does 1-39,069, asks the New York County Supreme Court to declare that the plaintiffs own thousands of wallets they describe as abandoned. The amended complaint frames the request under New York Personal Property Law Article 7-B, the state's lost-and-found law.

Related Reading

New lawsuit claims Satoshi Nakamoto's Bitcoin is “Lost Property” worth under $10 per wallet

The New York lawsuit creates a potential legal trap if the untouched coins ever move to regulated exchanges.

May 29, 2026 · Oluwapelumi Adejumo

CryptoSlate's prior coverage explained the original theory: the plaintiffs said the wallets were abandoned property, valued each at less than $10 for purposes of the statutory process, and tried to notify pseudonymous address holders through on-chain OP_RETURN messages.

Earlier CryptoSlate reporting on fake legal notices targeting dormant wallets showed why that kind of on-chain notice path already sat in a suspicious corner of Bitcoin culture.

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The complaint also states the point that makes the lawsuit difficult to translate from court language into protocol reality. It says a private key is required to authorize withdrawals from a Bitcoin-style wallet and that, without the private key, withdrawing cryptocurrency is impossible.

CryptoSlate's private-key explainer describes the same mechanism in plain terms: the key is what lets a holder sign a transaction.

So the case also turns on whether a court can hand someone title to property that the recipient still cannot move. A judgment may change legal relationships among people and institutions, but it does not become a signature on the Bitcoin network.

The June 2 spend changed the factual pressure

The June 2 spend sharpened that tension because it made dormancy look like a weak shortcut for abandonment. mempool.space shows a confirmed transaction beginning with b90755… that spent 35.546714 BTC from the 1LwWt… address on June 2, 2026.

The exact identity behind the spend is not established in the present record. The useful fact is that someone was able to move coins from an address that had appeared inactive for years.

Legally, the plaintiffs' theory depends on the court treating inactivity as evidence that wallets were lost or abandoned. Technically, the blockchain's only test was whether the transaction satisfied the network's rules. Culturally, long periods of silence are normal in Bitcoin.

Holders can store coins for years, estates can leave keys untouched, old miners can sit through cycles, and wallets can remain quiet for reasons that have nothing to do with abandonment.

The court's stay did not decide any of those issues. It did, however, interrupt the path toward default relief.

Pseudonymous address defendants are unlikely to appear in the ordinary way, which means a friend-of-the-court filing may be the first serious adversarial test of the ownership theory before the court considers any default application.

Cohen's brief attacks the lost-property mechanism

Cohen's proposed amicus brief argues that Article 7-B was written for tangible property that a finder physically takes into custody and can hand to police. A person who scans a public blockchain, the brief argues, has not found a thing in the sense contemplated by the statute and has not possessed the coins or their keys.

That argument is different from saying Bitcoin sits outside law. Courts can decide ownership disputes over digital assets, compel parties before them, and issue orders that carry force in the financial system.

Cohen's point is more specific: seeing a public address is not the same as taking possession of the property behind it, and an address going quiet is not the same as a holder abandoning the asset.

New York also has a specific virtual-currency abandoned-property statute. Abandoned Property Law Section 1319 addresses virtual currency held or owed by covered entities and routes qualifying abandoned property to the state comptroller after a five-year dormancy period.

The state comptroller's guidance describes the reporting and delivery obligations for that regime.

That still leaves open how the court should treat self-custodied Bitcoin addresses. It does show why the Noah Doe theory is not a routine lost-property claim.

The plaintiffs are not asking a custodian to turn over an account. They are asking a court to declare ownership over addresses whose coins remain spendable only by whoever controls the keys.

Galaxy Research put the scale of the request in BTC terms, calculating that the 39,069-address set held 3,799,629 BTC. Using CryptoSlate's June 8 Bitcoin price of $63,060.28, that balance would be worth about $239.6 billion.

That scale explains why a procedural default over dormant addresses would carry consequences far beyond one unusual court file.

Paper title would matter off-chain

The case now turns on a practical divide. A court can decide legal title as a matter of law. It cannot make self-custodied Bitcoin move without signatures.

The more limited implication is that a declaration could still create off-chain leverage. If coins later moved to an exchange, a custodian, or another institution, a party holding a New York judgment could try to assert a competing claim and force a dispute in a venue that responds to court orders rather than private keys.

That is a practical consequence of legal title, not protocol-level control.

The June 2 movement is significant even though it does not answer every factual question. It shows the gap between legal description and protocol control.

The court can call a wallet abandoned only within a legal framework. Bitcoin, by design, treats a valid signature as the event that changes the ledger.

The July 14 hearing is therefore more than a procedural date. It is the next point at which the court can decide whether the case moves forward as a largely uncontested default request or receives a fuller challenge to its core premise.

Until then, the strongest fact in the record is also the simplest one. At least one old address moved because someone had the ability to sign.

Any legal theory built on dormancy has to explain why that is not enough to defeat the idea that silence equals abandonment.

The post A $239B claim on dormant Bitcoin wallets faces a new obstacle after old address moves appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Congress is moving crypto’s next adoption fight into the tax code, where legal rails and everyday usability can split apart.

The House Ways and Means Committee is scheduled to hold a June 9 legislative hearing on digital asset taxation at 2:00 PM ET in 1100 Longworth. The witness list includes Sarah Reilly of Fidelity Investments, Lawrence Zlatkin of Coinbase, Jason Somensatto of Coin Center, and Mike Kaercher of the Tax Law Center at NYU Law.

The committee also set a June 23 deadline for written comments, giving tax writers two weeks after the hearing to build the record.

The hearing puts tax rules on the same policy track as market structure and payment stablecoins. The GENIUS Act created a federal payment-stablecoin framework, while the CLARITY Act passed the House and remains part of the market-structure debate.

Market rules can define legal rails. Tax law decides whether a user who buys something with Bitcoin, moves funds on-chain, pays a network fee, earns staking rewards, mines a block, or donates digital assets can avoid a separate calculation.

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The question before tax writers is practical: if crypto is meant to function as payments and settlement infrastructure, should every small on-chain action remain a taxable event or recordkeeping task?

The payment problem is a tax problem

The current baseline starts with the IRS view that convertible virtual currency is property for federal tax purposes, meaning general property-transaction rules apply.

That frame turns a payment into more than a payment. A user may need to know basis, fair market value, and gain or loss at the time of spending instead of recording that dollars changed hands.

Taxpayers see that friction in the IRS digital assets overview, which says people should answer yes to the digital asset question if they disposed of digital assets for goods or services in any amount, exchanged one digital asset for another, or paid a transfer fee with digital assets.

The same overview says digital asset transactions must be reported whether or not they result in taxable gain or loss.

For a long-term investor, those rules may look like ordinary capital-asset accounting. For a payment user, they are a design constraint.

A small Bitcoin transaction can require the same conceptual machinery as a sale of an investment. A network fee paid in crypto can matter even when the user is moving assets between wallets the user owns or controls.

Lawmakers already have a neutral map of that problem. The Joint Committee on Taxation’s 2025 digital asset report said no digital asset is treated as currency for federal income tax purposes and that no general de minimis rule excludes gains on small personal transactions.

It also noted the asymmetry for personal use: gains can be recognized, while losses generally are not allowed outside business or income-production settings.

That is the core adoption bottleneck. A market can have clear trading venues, regulated issuers, and better broker reporting while still leaving routine payment behavior too burdensome for normal use.

Stablecoins may receive special treatment because Congress already acted on their regulatory status. The GENIUS Act, enacted as Public Law 119-27 in July 2025, created a federal regime for payment stablecoins.

Issuer rules and reserve standards, however, leave user-side tax treatment as a separate question.

Stablecoins may get the first tax break

One live proposal shows how tax writers may try to bridge that gap. The Digital Asset PARITY Act package addresses stablecoin payment treatment, source-of-income rules, lending transactions, wash-sale and constructive-sale rules, mark-to-market elections, mining and staking reward timing, charitable contributions, and a Treasury study on small digital asset transaction relief.

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The most direct payment provision concerns regulated dollar stablecoins. Under the PARITY one-pager, qualifying stablecoin spending would be treated like cash for tax purposes when qualification conditions are met.

If enacted, that could make payment stablecoins easier to use in everyday commerce because the user would not have to treat each qualifying stablecoin payment like a mini disposition of property.

Stablecoin-specific relief would answer part of the usability question. It would help digital dollars, but Bitcoin-style payments and other non-stablecoin transfers would still face basis tracking.

That distinction makes the hearing more than a stablecoin follow-up. It is a test of whether Congress wants tax relief to support regulated dollar tokens alone or to address small digital asset activity more broadly.

Sen. Cynthia Lummis has already pushed the broader version of that debate, proposing a $300 de minimis rule with a $5,000 annual cap.

PARITY, by contrast, asks Treasury to study de minimis relief for small digital asset transactions and provide interim guidance. Those approaches imply different policy priorities.

One favors stablecoin payments. The other would make it easier for assets such as Bitcoin to be used in small transactions without constant accounting drag.

Fees, mining and staking expose the same design choice

Network fees bring the same tax friction to blockchain infrastructure. On-chain fees are the cost of using the network, yet paying them with a digital asset can create reportable records even when the user is only settling or moving assets outside a commercial purchase.

Mining and staking create a different version of the mismatch. IRS guidance and JCT materials describe rewards as taxable when received under current rules, while the PARITY materials frame that treatment as a cash-flow problem for network participants who may owe tax before selling the asset.

The proposed answer is an election to defer income recognition for up to five taxable years until disposition.

For proof-of-work miners and proof-of-stake validators, that timing is operationally important. They secure networks and receive digital assets as rewards.

Taxing those rewards at receipt can force a valuation and liability before there is cash to pay it. Deferral would preserve taxation while moving the timing closer to a sale or other disposition.

Broker reporting is another part of the same shift. For 2026 and beyond, the IRS Form 1099-DA instructions require digital asset brokers to report gross proceeds for sales after 2025 and include basis reporting for covered securities.

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They also provide optional reporting methods for stablecoins and NFTs and add wash-sale fields for tokenized securities. The instructions address rewards and staking payments through an exception rather than by making those payments reportable on Form 1099-DA.

Those rules leave user-side tax questions in place, but they show the tax system becoming more explicit about digital asset activity. Reporting infrastructure, anti-abuse rules, and adoption relief are now being built at the same time.

The hearing will show how lawmakers try to distinguish ordinary network use from transactions that should be treated like investment sales or tax-avoidance trades.

The hearing turns market structure into a usability test

The witness list reflects that broader terrain. Fidelity and Coinbase bring market and platform perspectives. Coin Center brings a policy-advocacy view. The Tax Law Center at NYU Law brings a tax-law lens.

Together, they put the committee in position to ask what rules would help the industry, which rules are administrable for the IRS, and what treatment is fair to taxpayers.

The June 23 comment deadline is the next meaningful signal after the hearing. Written submissions may show whether commenters converge around stablecoin-specific treatment, a de minimis rule for small digital asset transactions, mining and staking timing relief, or stricter reporting and anti-abuse provisions.

CLARITY belongs in the background. Its House passage showed bipartisan appetite for defining market oversight, and its Senate status still matters for exchanges, brokers, issuers, and regulators.

The tax hearing asks a different question. Even if market structure becomes clearer, crypto’s everyday usefulness depends on whether tax rules let people transact without treating every payment, fee, and reward like a tax-lot exercise.

The outcome could shape which form of crypto adoption Congress is willing to encourage. Stablecoin-only relief could steer payments toward regulated digital dollars and leave Bitcoin primarily in an investment or treasury role for many users.

Broader relief for small digital asset transactions would signal a larger ambition: crypto as usable payment technology alongside its role as a regulated asset class.

The June 9 hearing is a policy bottleneck in its own right. The law can tell companies where to register and tell stablecoin issuers how to operate, but tax rules decide whether a person can actually use a digital asset without opening a spreadsheet.

Until Congress answers that question, spending crypto remains less like tapping a card and more like selling a tiny piece of property each time.

The post Congress is weighing whether crypto tax relief should stop at stablecoins appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The Clearing House, the bank-owned operator of core U.S. payment infrastructure, is preparing a system that lets banks settle deposits on-chain.

Its June 5 announcement puts the largest U.S. banks behind a shared response to the stablecoin challenge: dollar payments can now move around the clock, across blockchain rails, with programmable settlement.

Banks want those features while retaining the customer balances, compliance controls, and deposit economics that sit inside the regulated banking system.

The initiative would enable clearing and settlement of tokenized commercial bank money at scale. TCH said it would support 24/7 on-chain clearing and settlement of tokenized deposits between banks while linking blockchain-based activity with established fiat rails such as RTP and CHIPS, according to The Clearing House announcement.

That structure gives banks a different instrument from a bank stablecoin. Stablecoins move dollar claims outside the deposit system. Tokenized deposits try to move bank deposits with some of the same digital features while keeping the money as commercial bank liabilities.

The strategy is defensive and opportunistic at the same time. Banks are embracing crypto rails because stablecoins proved demand for tokenized dollars, and because stablecoins threaten the deposit base that makes banking economics work.

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Bank money moves onto crypto rails

The Clearing House enters this fight as bank-owned payments infrastructure. Its owner-bank page says it is owned by the world's largest commercial banks, and the new announcement says it is owned by 25 of the nation's largest financial institutions.

That ownership is central because the proposed network keeps bank money inside bank rails while giving deposits a digital-asset-style settlement layer.

The announcement describes tokenized deposits that can settle between banks, carry richer transaction data, and support automated workflows. The connectivity layer to RTP and CHIPS is equally important. It points to a controlled bridge between on-chain activity and bank payment systems.

The Clearing House already has a tokenization precedent inside bank-controlled payment flows. Its DDA Token Service replaces customer account numbers with tokens and manages translation back to account numbers in a secure environment, including for compliance purposes.

That service is a separate Open Banking payment-token product. It shows the operating principle banks are trying to carry forward: expose less sensitive bank information, preserve compliance visibility, and keep the bank as the trusted control point.

Citi's research shows why banks care. In its Stablecoins 2030 report, Citi raised its 2030 stablecoin issuance forecast to $1.9 trillion in its base case and $4.0 trillion in its bull case.

The same report argues that stablecoins will coexist with bank tokens such as tokenized deposits and deposit tokens, and that bank-token transaction volumes may exceed stablecoin volumes by 2030.

Citi's separate Tokenization 2030 research points to the institutional reason. Current stablecoins can create pre-funding and fragmentation issues for institutional settlement.

Tokenized deposits issued by regulated banks are one of the alternatives market participants are exploring for on-chain liquidity.

The legal split banks are trying to preserve

The policy backdrop helps explain why banks have chosen tokenized deposits instead of issuing stablecoins and moving on.

The GENIUS Act creates a framework for payment stablecoins, requires permitted issuers to maintain at least one-to-one reserves, and prohibits issuer-paid interest or yield solely for holding, using, or retaining a payment stablecoin.

The text also excludes deposits recorded using distributed ledger technology from the payment stablecoin definition.

That exclusion is central to the banks' opening. A deposit can be recorded in a new way without becoming a payment stablecoin. The legal wrapper is decisive because it decides whether the money is treated as a bank deposit or as a tokenized claim on a stablecoin issuer's reserves.

The FDIC has drawn a related distinction. Its April 2026 proposed-rule summary says deposits held as reserves backing a payment stablecoin would not be pass-through insured to stablecoin holders.

It also says deposit insurance treatment for deposits does not depend on whether an insured depository institution records those deposit liabilities using distributed ledger technology.

The rule is still proposed rather than final. Still, the direction is clear enough for the current fight. Tokenized deposits let banks argue that customers can get blockchain-style settlement without stepping outside deposit law.

Stablecoins give users a dollar token, but the holder's claim and insurance profile are different from an ordinary bank deposit.

The OCC is also implementing GENIUS Act rules for permitted payment stablecoin issuers, foreign issuers, and related custody activities under its supervision, according to its February notice of proposed rulemaking.

That means the banks' tokenized-deposit push is arriving as the regulatory perimeter around stablecoins is being built.

That distinction puts the TCH network in the tokenized-deposit category rather than the stablecoin launch category. The product copies the settlement experience that made stablecoins useful, but the legal claim, balance-sheet treatment, and compliance perimeter are meant to remain inside banking.

The question is whether that controlled version can match the speed and reach users now expect from dollar tokens.

The fight is really about deposit economics

The cleanest way to understand the TCH initiative is as banks responding to a market signal from stablecoins.

Stablecoin scale already makes the issue bank-relevant. On June 8, CryptoSlate market data showed roughly $296 billion in stablecoin sector market cap, with USDT at about $187 billion and USDC at about $76 billion.

The broader crypto market stood near $2.2 trillion. Those numbers move, but the direction is obvious: stablecoins are too large to treat as a side product of trading venues.

That growth has already become a policy fight. The same tension runs through bank-run warnings and tokenized-deposit defenses, bank pressure over stablecoin rewards, and the question of who captures digital-dollar economics.

The CLARITY Act adds another layer because it moved digital-asset market-structure rules through the House while the fight over payment rails, wallets, reserves, and yield continued in parallel.

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Banking groups have been explicit about their fear. The American Bankers Association and 52 state bankers associations warned Congress that yield-like stablecoin incentives risk disintermediating deposit taking and lending, according to the ABA's December statement.

The concern is direct: if customers can hold dollar tokens that move faster and offer rewards, some balances may leave bank accounts.

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But the size of that risk is contested. The Council of Economic Advisers modeled the baseline lending impact of eliminating stablecoin yield at $2.1 billion, while a stacked worst-case scenario reached $531 billion in additional aggregate lending, according to its April analysis.

Those are model outputs, not measured deposit flight.

The Federal Reserve's December note is also more conditional than the bank-lobby framing. It says stablecoin effects on bank deposits depend on where demand comes from, how issuers invest reserves, and whether issuers gain access to central-bank accounts.

Stablecoins can reduce deposits, recycle deposits into different forms, or change the structure of bank funding even when the total volume of deposits does not fall, according to the Fed analysis.

That is why the TCH move is defensive and offensive at the same time: it protects the deposit relationship while trying to absorb the part of the stablecoin product that customers and institutions have validated.

Faster settlement, programmable money movement, and better connectivity to digital asset markets have become part of the bank product race.

The unresolved question is whether a bank-led network can match the open-network advantages that made stablecoins useful in the first place. The TCH announcement leaves launch timing, ledger design, operating rules, and public-chain interoperability unresolved.

For now, the record supports a sharper conclusion than either side's talking points. Stablecoins forced banks to move. Tokenized deposits are the bank answer: move the money like a token, but keep the money inside the bank.

The post Big banks may have found their answer to the CLARITY Act’s stablecoin challenge appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The price of XRPUSD is a concern for investors worldwide—especially the question of whether the price could ever drop to zero. In this analysis, we examine the realistic scenarios that would be necessary for this to happen and why a total loss remains extremely unlikely under current conditions.

Key Insights

• XRP has never permanently reached a value of zero since its launch in 2012, despite enormous volatility, bear markets, and the SEC lawsuit against Ripple Labs. Every crash has been followed by a recovery.
• A price of $0 would only be conceivable in extreme scenarios—such as a global regulatory ban, a catastrophic technical failure of the XRP Ledger, or the simultaneous collapse of all network effects.
• The market capitalization of XRP is currently over $70 billion, and more than 300 institutions worldwide utilize Ripple's technologies—creating a structural baseline demand that practically prevents a fall to zero.
• All scenarios and time estimates in this article are speculative. This text does not constitute investment advice. Readers should conduct their own research and only invest money they can afford to lose.

Introduction: XRPUSD Today and the Fear of $0

The XRP/USD price is showing volatility in June 2026. On June 8, 2026, the XRP/USD price is around $1.14, while the price of Ripple (XRP) fluctuates between $1.1313 and $1.1672. The current price of Ripple (XRP) is approximately €0.9984.

• XRPUSD describes the trading pair of XRP against the US dollar and is one of the most closely watched cryptocurrency pairs on platforms like CoinMarketCap.
• Many investors wonder if the XRP price could fall to $0 in the long term—driven by past price crashes, the SEC lawsuit, and general skepticism towards cryptocurrencies.
• In addition to XRPUSD, there is also the pair Ripple Euro (XRP/EUR), which is relevant for European investors. However, the focus of this article is on the US dollar valuation.

Background: What is Behind XRP, Ripple Labs, and XRPUSD?

$XRP was originally conceived as the idea of a decentralized peer-to-peer payment network by Ryan Fugger in 2004. The cryptocurrency XRP in its current form appeared in 2012 when Chris Larsen and Jed McCaleb co-founded Ripple Labs and developed the XRP Ledger as a decentralized database for transactions.

• There is a maximum of 100 billion XRP coins—the total supply is fixed and immutable. There is no mining of XRP; all tokens have existed since the creation of the ledger.
• About 55 percent of all XRP coins are owned by Ripple, with a large portion locked in escrow accounts, from which up to 1 billion are released monthly. Unused amounts flow back into new escrows.
• Ripple Labs is the company behind the development of the payment network RippleNet. XRP serves as the native currency of the Ripple network and is primarily used for on-demand liquidity in international bank transfers.
• David Schwartz, as Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Ripple Labs, is centrally responsible for the technical development of the XRP Ledger. The underlying cryptography secures transactions on the network.
• XRPUSD is the global reference pair for investors analyzing the market. XRP primarily focuses on international bank transfers, with banks and payment providers integrated into the token through products like On-Demand Liquidity (ODL).

Price History of XRPUSD: From Cents to All-Time Highs and Back

The performance of XRPUSD since 2013 has been characterized by extreme fluctuations. XRP can benefit from positive market cycles and sentiments but also reacts violently to negative news.

• 2013–2016: In its early years, XRP traded significantly below $0.10. The all-time low was around $0.0028 in July 2014. Liquidity was low, and exchange listings were limited.
• 2017/2018 – The Hype: From below $0.01, XRP rose to its all-time high of around $3.84. The XRP price reached €2.94 on January 4, 2018. The market capitalization temporarily exceeded $100 billion, and XRP briefly became the second-largest cryptocurrency after $Bitcoin.
• 2018–2020 – Consolidation: After the hype, the price fell below $0.40 by the end of 2018. This was followed by years of a highly fluctuating price and increasing criticism of the token distribution.
• SEC Lawsuit at the End of 2020: The lawsuit by the US SEC triggered severe declines and led to delistings on US cryptocurrency exchanges. Nevertheless, the price never permanently fell to $0.
• 2023–2025: In 2023, the Ripple price rose by 100 percent to over €0.70. By early 2024, the XRP price remained stable at €0.50. Since then, XRPUSD has fluctuated between $0.50 and $2. XRP can currently be purchased at a price of €2.35, depending on the provider and spreads.

Scenario Analysis: Under What Conditions Could XRP Fall to $0?

A fall to $0 would only be conceivable under extreme conditions. These scenarios are unlikely on their own; their combination would be unprecedented.

• Global Regulatory Ban: Coordinated global bans on the trading and ownership of XRP in all key regions (USA, EU, Asia) would dry up liquidity and make purchasing practically impossible.
• Catastrophic Technical Failure: An irreparable security flaw in the XRP Ledger or permanent network outages could irreversibly destroy trust in the technology.
• Collapse of Ripple Labs: Bankruptcy, massive fines, or the loss of key developers like David Schwartz could, combined with the exit of most institutions, devalue the token.
• Loss of All Network Effects: If banks and payment providers migrate en masse to competing solutions like stablecoins or other blockchains, the demand for XRP as a bridge currency would disappear.

Realistically, multiple scenarios would need to occur simultaneously to force a permanent price of $0.

Why a Price of $0 for XRP is Currently Very Unlikely

Despite all the risks, several factors argue against XRPUSD falling to zero. The Ripple (XRP) price is fundamentally determined by supply and demand—and both sides of the equation currently support a value significantly above zero.

• Liquidity and Volume: XRP is traded on numerous international exchanges against the US dollar, euro, and other currencies. Even on platforms like Bison, purchasing is possible. This structurally complicates an immediate loss of value to $0.
• Network Effects: Over 300 financial institutions in more than 55 countries are partners of Ripple. Even if not all actively use ODL, existing integrations ensure a baseline demand.
• Token Economy: A fixed cap of 100 billion XRP, with approximately 53–60 billion currently in circulation. No inflation, and small amounts are burned with each transaction—this reduces supply in the long term.
• Active Development: Ripple Labs and developers like David Schwartz are continuously working on scaling, security, and new products for the XRP Ledger. This valuation of the technology by institutional users supports the market.
• Historical Recovery: XRP has already survived several bear markets and the SEC lawsuit. In May 2026, the SEC case was finally concluded, Ripple paid a $125 million fine, and the process ended with a prejudicial conclusion.

Time Horizon: When Would a Crash of XRP to $0 Be Realistic?

Exact time predictions for a total loss would be unprofessional. Predictions for the XRP price are speculative. However, rough scenarios can be outlined:

• Short-Term (Days to Months): A sudden drop to $0 would only be conceivable in the event of an extreme shock—such as a massive hack. Historically, this has never occurred, and even with individual outages, other exchanges remain active.
• Medium-Term (1–3 Years): A gradual loss of significance could significantly depress the price, but a total loss of value remains unlikely as long as XRPUSD is actively traded on global cryptocurrency exchanges.
• Long-Term (5–10 Years): A lack of technological advancement and displacement by better solutions could lead to a "practically worthless" price. However, $0 is more symbolic than exact—a marginal residual value in the range of a fraction of a cent would be more likely.

All time estimates are solely for the illustration of risks.

Risks for XRPUSD: Legal, Technological, and Market-Related Factors

Investors should incorporate the following sources of risk into their personal risk management and regularly check metrics such as volume, market capitalization, and chart patterns.

• Regulatory Risks: The XRP price is sensitive to regulatory decisions made by the SEC. Although the case has been concluded, other governments may classify XRP as a security or impose trading restrictions. Information on regulatory developments—such as through ISIN registers or official data—should always be reviewed.
• Technological Risks: Bugs in the XRP Ledger, unexpected performance issues, or successful attacks on the infrastructure of exchanges with high XRPUSD volume remain a risk. The security of every online wallet and provider plays a role in this.
• Market Risks: The XRP price fluctuates significantly, partly due to low trading volume during certain phases. General crypto bear markets, capital outflows from risk assets, and competition from other coins and stablecoins could incur costs. Unlike stocks, cryptocurrencies do not have a base prospectus or basic information sheets in the traditional sense, which limits transparency.
• Reputational Risks: Negative news or reports about Ripple Labs, internal conflicts, or the loss of important partnerships with banks and payment providers could damage trust. Every advertisement or promotion should be critically examined.

Comparison: XRPUSD vs. XRP-EUR (Ripple Euro) and Other Currency Pairs

Looking at other trading pairs helps to better assess the overall risk. Those who compare the chart in different currencies quickly realize: The fundamental risks remain the same; only the exchange rate between Euro and USD causes slight deviations.

• XRPUSD is the leading pair globally and sets the direction for other markets. On every side of international market analyses, the USD price is primarily referenced.
• XRP/EUR (Ripple Euro) is subject to the same fundamental risks and opportunities but may behave slightly differently due to exchange rate effects between the Euro and the US dollar.
• A total loss of XRP would not only impact XRPUSD but would also significantly affect all pairs like XRP/EUR, XRP/BTC, and others. Investors looking to minimize currency effects should keep an eye on both pairs.
• European investors often look at the price in Euros first, but for international market analyses, XRPUSD remains essential. Ripple (XRP) reached a peak of €2.94 on January 4, 2018—a value that is also recorded as an all-time high in the Euro chart.

Will the XRP Price Fall to 0 US Dollars?

After analyzing all scenarios, historical data, and current metrics, it can be concluded: A sudden drop to 0 US dollars is extremely unlikely under the conditions of June 2026. As long as Ripple Labs delivers functioning products, institutions utilize the payment network, and liquidity remains on global crypto exchanges, XRP will retain measurable value. Nevertheless, XRPUSD is a speculative market where significant price losses are possible at any time.

• A document symbol or an ISIN alone does not protect against losses—the valuation of XRP depends on real usage, trust, and market dynamics.
• Long-term risks such as technological disruption or regulatory bans exist, but multiple extreme factors would need to occur simultaneously to render XRP completely worthless.
• XRPUSD remains a speculative market. Significant price losses down to a very low price are possible, even if 0 US dollars represents more of a theoretical extreme scenario.
• Readers should conduct their own research, diversify their portfolios, and utilize clear risk management instead of relying solely on optimism or doomsday scenarios. With a click, numerous pieces of information about crypto investments can be found on any website.

FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions about XRPUSD and a Possible Price of $0

Has XRP ever fallen to $0 in the past?

No. While XRP has experienced extreme fluctuations since its launch – such as the drop from its all-time high of $3.84 to below $0.40 – it has never been traded permanently at $0. Even around the SEC lawsuit at the end of 2020, when several U.S. exchanges halted trading, trading continued on international platforms, and the price remained measurably above zero.

Can a single cryptocurrency exchange set XRP to $0 by halting trading?

Delisting on a single exchange can technically set the price to $0 there, but global markets continue to exist. A global price of $0 would only be possible if nearly all trading venues exited simultaneously and there were no buyers left – a scenario without historical precedent in the crypto market.

Does it matter whether I buy XRP in US dollars (XRPUSD) or in euros (Ripple Euro / XRP-EUR)?

The fundamental risks when buying are identical, regardless of the trading currency. Due to exchange rate fluctuations between the euro and the US dollar, there may be short-term differences in the chart. International analyses typically use XRPUSD as a reference, while European investors should also keep an eye on the price in euros.

How important are the roles of Ripple Labs and David Schwartz for the future of the XRP price?

Ripple Labs and key figures like David Schwartz play a central role in the ongoing development of the technology and in expanding partnerships with banks and payment service providers. A significant withdrawal or serious issues at Ripple Labs could severely damage trust in XRP and exert pressure on the XRPUSD price – though it would not necessarily lead to an immediate drop to $0.

Is the analysis in this article a buy or sell recommendation for XRP?

No. It is a neutral, informative risk analysis and not investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell XRP. Readers should seek information from additional sources, consider independent financial advice if necessary, and take their individual investment goals and risk tolerance into account before investing money in the crypto market.

The potential IPO of SpaceX is one of the most exciting events in the international financial markets. For years, investors have been following the development of Elon Musk's space company and are waiting for the opportunity to invest directly in the company. If SpaceX does go public, the demand is expected to be enormous. But how can retail investors actually buy SpaceX shares, and what options are available?

Why SpaceX is So Interesting for Investors

In recent years, SpaceX has evolved from an ambitious space startup into one of the most valuable private companies in the world. The company is a market leader in commercial rocket launches and has opened up an additional billion-dollar industry with its satellite internet service, Starlink.

Many investors no longer see SpaceX merely as a space company. Instead, the corporation is viewed as a combination of technology, infrastructure, and communications company with long-term growth prospects. The visions surrounding lunar missions, Mars colonization, and global internet coverage further contribute to investor interest.

Buying SpaceX Shares Directly at the IPO

The easiest way to acquire SpaceX shares would be to participate in the actual IPO. During an IPO, shares of a company are offered to the public for the first time. Investors can place buy orders even before the official trading begins.

However, not all interested parties automatically receive shares. Especially in highly sought-after IPOs, the available shares are often allocated only partially or not at all. Those who inform themselves early and register with a broker increase their chances of participation.

Kraken as an Interesting Option for Investors

For many European investors, Kraken could represent a particularly interesting opportunity. The platform originally gained recognition as a cryptocurrency exchange but has significantly expanded its offerings in recent years.

With its so-called stock products, Kraken now provides access to various financial assets and is increasingly positioning itself as a comprehensive investment platform. Should SpaceX go public, Kraken could become one of the most attractive destinations for investors looking to manage both stocks and digital assets on a single platform.

What makes it especially appealing is the modern user interface, the international focus, and the ability to manage investments flexibly via desktop and smartphone. For many younger investors, Kraken thus represents a contemporary alternative to traditional banks and brokers.

Revolut Makes Stock Buying Especially Easy

In recent years, Revolut has evolved from a pure banking app into a comprehensive financial platform. Users can open an account in just a few minutes and then access various investment opportunities.

Revolut offers several advantages, especially for beginners. The entire operation is conducted through the app, making stock purchases simple and straightforward. Investors who already use Revolut for their daily finances benefit from having their bank account and investments consolidated in a single application.

If SpaceX goes public, Revolut is likely to be one of the first points of contact for many European retail investors. The platform is specifically aimed at users who want to easily invest in international stocks.

Buying SpaceX Shares After the IPO

If you don't receive shares directly during the IPO, you don't necessarily have to miss out on an investment. After the stock market launch, shares can be traded regularly on the exchange. In this case, a brokerage account with a broker or investment platform is sufficient. Investors can then decide at what price they want to enter the market. 

However, they should be aware that the first trading days after an IPO are often characterized by significant price fluctuations. Many well-known technology companies initially experienced strong price increases after their market debut before prices stabilized. Patience can therefore play an important role for long-term investors.

What Risks Should Investors Consider?

The excitement surrounding SpaceX should not overshadow the fact that every investment carries risks. Space projects require enormous investments and long-term planning. At the same time, part of the public perception of the company is closely tied to Elon Musk.

Additionally, highly valued growth companies often react particularly sensitively to market changes. Even small disappointments in revenue, profits, or projects can trigger significant price movements.

Therefore, investors should never invest solely based on media reports or hype. A thorough analysis of the company's numbers and long-term prospects remains essential.

Is an Investment in SpaceX Worth It?

Whether an investment is worthwhile ultimately depends on personal investment goals. Those who believe in the long-term development of the space industry and are convinced of the growth potential of Starlink, rocket launches, and future technologies might consider SpaceX an interesting addition to their portfolio.

At the same time, investors should consider that expectations for the company are already very high. The success of an investment therefore depends not only on the company's growth but also on whether SpaceX can meet the high expectations of the markets in the long term.

Conclusion

Buying SpaceX shares could be easier for retail investors than with many previous mega-IPOs. Notably, platforms like Kraken with their stock products and Revolut offer modern and user-friendly ways to participate in a potential IPO or acquire the stock after trading begins.

Those who prepare early, open a suitable brokerage account, and closely follow developments can significantly increase their chances of participating in one of the most exciting companies of our time. At the same time, investors should always keep the risks in mind despite all the excitement and only invest capital that they can afford to lose in the long term.

The crypto market is facing its most severe stress test since 2022. Bitcoin ($BTC) has suffered a dramatic 50% retracement, falling from its all-time high near $120,000 down to the psychological support level of $60,000. This massive selloff has wiped out trillions in market value, driven by a brutal cocktail of forced derivatives liquidations, macroeconomic tightening, and severe geopolitical conflict in the Middle East.

With the ongoing 2026 Iran-Israel war threatening regional stability and disrupting global trade routes like the Strait of Hormuz, institutional and retail investors are trapped in a classic market dilemma: Is this the ultimate generational buying opportunity, or is it a falling knife that will drop lower?

Why is the Crypto Market Crashing?

To determine whether Bitcoin at $60,000 is a value buy, we must first understand the structural forces that triggered this unwinding. The crash was not caused by a single isolated failure, but rather by the convergence of three major macro events.

1. Geopolitical Escalation: The Iran-Israel Conflict

The primary driver of the immediate risk-off sentiment is the outbreak of direct military hostilities between Israel and Iran. Following intense military engagements and counter-strikes, recent escalations have shattered temporary regional stability.

When global geopolitical risks spike, capital inherently flees speculative, non-yielding assets in favor of traditional safe havens. According to report frameworks provided by institutions like the House of Commons Library, geopolitical conflicts of this scale disrupt energy facilities and global supply chains, triggering deep market anxieties. In this climate, large hedge funds and institutional desk managers systematically reduce their exposure to volatile assets, treating crypto as a liquidity source rather than a safe haven.

2. The Historic SpaceX IPO Liquidity Drain

An unprecedented catalyst is compounding the drain on global market liquidity: the upcoming initial public offering (IPO) of Elon Musk's SpaceX, trading under the ticker $SPCX. Scheduled for June 12, 2026, the monster offering aims to raise up to $80 billion at a staggering $1.75 trillion valuation, making it the largest public listing in financial history.

Data from brokerage firms shows massive retail and institutional interest, with order books already heavily oversubscribed. To free up capital to participate in this generational equity event, investors are aggressively liquidating profitable positions across traditional stocks and liquid digital assets. This structural capital outflow has stripped the crypto market of vital buy-side liquidity exactly when it needed it most to absorb selling pressure.

3. Cascading Leverage and ETF Outflows

The top of the recent market cycle was highly financialized and heavily leveraged. When the initial shockwaves of the Middle East conflict and the SpaceX capital reallocations hit, they triggered massive liquidation events. Billion-dollar cascades of long positions were forcefully liquidated on derivatives exchanges, creating an artificial, automated downward spiral.

Simultaneously, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw a violent reversal in sentiment. According to data tracked by institutional analysts at Zacks Investment Research, record-breaking aggregate outflows have drained billions from spot ETFs within a short window. When major institutional capital vehicles shift from accumulation to distribution, spot market demand dries up almost instantly, leaving the order books highly vulnerable to steep drops.

The Case for Buying the Dip: Why $60,000 Could Be the Bottom

Despite the overwhelmingly bearish news cycle, several critical on-chain metrics and historical frameworks suggest that the current price level represents an accumulation zone for long-term investors.

The "Supply at Loss" Capitulation Signal

A key indicator followed by top blockchain analysts is the total volume of Bitcoin supply held at a loss. Historically, major macro bottoms form when more than 10 million coins are underwater. Data from early June 2026 shows that this threshold has officially been crossed, with approximately 10.46 million BTC currently held at unrealized losses.

• Expert Insight: When a vast majority of short-term speculators are thoroughly washed out, selling pressure fundamentally fades. Traders who hold assets deeply underwater become highly reluctant to convert unrealized losses into realized capital losses. This exhaustion of sellers establishes a structural price floor.

Structural vs. Systemic Stress

It is vital to differentiate between an asset crashing due to systemic internal failures (such as the collapse of major crypto protocols or fraudulent exchanges) and an asset falling due to external, macro-driven market stress. The 2026 crash is firmly an external, mid-level market stress event. Bitcoin’s underlying network security, hash rate, and global protocol adoption remain completely intact. For long-term investors, buying an intact technology during an external macro crisis has historically yielded the highest risk-adjusted returns.

The Case for Waiting: Risks of Further Downside

While a 50% discount looks attractive on paper, rushing blindly into the market carries severe tactical risks if the broader macroeconomic environment worsens.

• The Threat of Energy Shocks: If the conflict in the Middle East escalates to the point of long-term global energy rationing, stagflation could become a reality. Severe inflationary pressures caused by supply-chain failures could force central banks to hike interest rates even higher, which would heavily penalize the tech and crypto sectors.
• Altcoin Vulnerability: While Bitcoin has found tentative buyers at the $60k mark, the altcoin market remains in a perilous position. Bitcoin dominance has surged back above 57% during this selloff. Speculative altcoins, including major ecosystems like Ethereum and Solana, have suffered deeper retracements (60% to 70%). If Bitcoin breaks its $60,000 support, altcoins could face another leg down of 30% or more.
• Corporate Liquidations: Market participants must closely monitor large corporate treasuries and institutional holders. If prominent corporate stackers or institutional funds face broader liquidity crises elsewhere in their portfolios, they may be forced to liquidate portions of their Bitcoin holdings to cover liabilities, introducing unexpected blocks of supply to the market.

Tactical Playbook: How to Navigate the Current Market

For market participants deciding between buying the dip and waiting on the sidelines, a binary "all-in" or "all-out" approach is rarely the optimal strategy. A professional capital allocation strategy relies on mitigating volatility through structure.

1. Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) in Visual Tiers

Rather than attempting to time the exact dollar bottom, institutional desks scale into positions using tiered limit orders. For retail and professional traders alike, building a position in tranches across key psychological support levels removes the emotional friction of volatile price action.

2. Focus Safely on Bitcoin Dominance

During high-regime geopolitical uncertainty, capital rotation dictates that survival takes precedence over outsized gains. Investors looking to deploy capital right now should heavily favor Bitcoin over altcoins. Due to its liquidity, institutional backing via ETFs, and established role as a digital synthetic asset, Bitcoin inherently acts as a defensive anchor for crypto portfolios during macro storms.

Buy the Dip or Wait?

The current market setup is a definitive battle between short-term macro headwinds and long-term structural value.

If your investment horizon is under six months, waiting on the sidelines or maintaining a heavy cash position is entirely justified. The situation in Western Asia remains highly fluid, and sudden headlines can trigger brief, violent liquidations that sweep below the $60,000 level.

However, if your investment thesis extends beyond 12 to 24 months, buying the dip at current prices is supported by historical data. The combination of a 50% structural flushout, the capitulation of over 10 million underwater coins, and the cleansing of excessive derivatives leverage has historically marked the accumulation phases of future bull markets. The most disciplined approach is to scale into the market slowly, keeping ample cash reserves on hand to exploit any further volatility.

The financial landscape in 2026 has completely upended traditional narratives surrounding digital assets. For years, crypto proponents championed $Bitcoin as the ultimate "digital gold"—a safe-haven asset designed to thrive during macroeconomic instability and geopolitical turmoil. However, price action since the onset of the US-Iran war has told a starkly different story.

Data highlights a massive performance gap between the traditional technology sector and the cryptocurrency market, triggering a fundamental re-evaluation of how digital assets respond to global conflict.

The Great Decoupling: Crypto Sinks as Equities Soar

Since the outbreak of the US-Iran conflict, the performance divergence between major indexes and top digital assets has widened significantly:

• Nasdaq 100 (US 100 Index): Up +20%
• Bitcoin (BTC): Down -3%
• Ethereum (ETH): Down -13%

While Wall Street’s tech-heavy Nasdaq 100 benchmark surged to capture major gains—hovering near the 29,000 mark despite a minor 4.77% daily correction—the cryptocurrency market has faced a protracted liquidity squeeze. $Ethereum has borne the brunt of the risk-off sentiment among alternative layer-1 protocols, shedding more than a tenth of its value.

This decoupling challenges the long-held thesis that crypto markets move in lockstep with high-growth tech stocks during broader market expansions.

Why Big Tech Thrives While Crypto Capital Flees

The primary driver behind this divergence comes down to capital preservation and structural market differences. Tech giants inside the Nasdaq are heavily insulated by robust cash flows, corporate buybacks, and tangible infrastructure. During periods of war, institutional capital frequently rotates into high-liquidity, mega-cap defensive tech positions that can weather inflationary pressures.

Conversely, the crypto market remains a playground for high-leverage trading. When geopolitical risks escalate, derivatives markets experience immediate cascading liquidations. Rather than acting as a safe haven, digital assets are often used as "liquidity ATMs"—the first assets investors sell to cover margin calls and secure cash reserves in traditional brokerages.

Iran-Israel Escalation Triggers Short-Term Relief Rally

Despite the long-term downward trend since the war began, Bitcoin demonstrated its characteristic volatility over the past 24 hours. Following renewed weekend missile exchanges between Iran and Israel, digital assets initially plunged, wiping out billions in open interest.

However, as the week opened, Bitcoin managed a minor relief rally, reclaiming the $63,000 level—a modest 1.60% to 4.94% recovery from its localized weekend lows.

This short-term bounce occurred independently of traditional markets, which were closed when the initial strikes happened. This underscores another critical factor: crypto operates 24/7. Because digital assets absorb geopolitical shocks in real-time over weekends, they often experience dramatic "fear flushes" followed by sharp technical rebounds before traditional stock exchanges even open for Monday trading.

Crypto Markets Abandoning World Macro Trends

The disconnect between the Nasdaq’s historic gains and Bitcoin’s sluggish performance indicates that crypto markets are increasingly marching to their own beat, untethered from standard macroeconomic playbooks.

According to institutional tracking data from platforms like Investing.com, the crypto ecosystem is currently battling its own internal headwinds. Persistent outflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs—totaling over $1.7 billion in a single week—have stripped the market of the structural buying pressure it enjoyed in early 2026.

Fears of prolonged high interest rates, combined with institutional rotation away from speculative assets, mean that crypto is no longer a reliable proxy for macro liquidity. Until ETF inflows stabilize and geopolitical uncertainty subsides, Bitcoin’s path of least resistance remains a sideways-to-bearish consolidation within its established $60,000 to $65,500 trading range.

The financial world has witnessed many spectacular IPOs. From Alibaba to Facebook and the Saudi oil giant Saudi Aramco, numerous companies have set records and made headlines. Now, however, a new contender could surpass all previous benchmarks: SpaceX.

The aerospace company founded by Elon Musk is planning an IPO that, according to current reports, could reach a volume of around $75 billion. If this goal is indeed realized, it would be by far the largest Initial Public Offering (IPO) in history.

An IPO of Superlatives

The current record holder is the Saudi Arabian energy company Saudi Aramco, which raised about $29 billion during its IPO in 2019. SpaceX could more than double that figure.

Reports indicate that SpaceX is aiming for a valuation of approximately $1.75 trillion. At the same time, the company is expected to raise around $75 billion in fresh capital. This would not only break all previous IPO records but also catapult SpaceX into the league of the world's most valuable publicly traded companies.

For comparison: Many DAX companies together do not reach the market valuation that SpaceX is already targeting at the IPO.

Why SpaceX is Valued So Highly

Unlike many traditional aerospace companies, SpaceX no longer relies solely on rocket launches for revenue. A significant part of its valuation is based on the satellite internet service Starlink, which is now considered the company's most important growth driver. Analysts view Starlink as a global infrastructure project with long-term billion-dollar potential.

Moreover, SpaceX holds a unique market position:

• Market leader in commercial rocket launches
• Long-term contracts with the U.S. government
• Growing importance for military and security-related applications
• Development of the Starship program for lunar and Mars missions
• Integration of new AI and data infrastructure projects
• For many investors, SpaceX is therefore not just an aerospace company but a combination of technology, infrastructure, telecommunications, and AI conglomerate.

The Demand is Enormous

Even before the actual IPO, there is an exceptionally high demand. There are already significantly more buy orders than shares available. The order book is reportedly oversubscribed multiple times. Additionally, SpaceX plans to reserve up to 30 percent of the offered shares for retail investors—a remarkably high share for a mega IPO of this magnitude.

The high demand does not surprise experts. SpaceX has been considered one of the most sought-after private companies in the world for years. Many investors have previously had no way to invest directly in the company. The IPO could change that.

Not All Experts Share the Optimism

Despite the enthusiasm, there are also critical voices. Some analysts consider the $1.75 trillion valuation to be very ambitious. Morningstar, for example, estimates the company's value to be significantly lower. Critics point out that SpaceX continues to invest enormous sums in research, development, and infrastructure and has yet to demonstrate sustainable profitability.

Additionally, some market observers see parallels to previous technology hype cycles. The combination of artificial intelligence, space travel, and Elon Musk generates an enormous media effect that could further drive the valuation.

Impacts on the Markets

An IPO of this magnitude would have far-reaching consequences for the capital markets. Analysts at the Financial Times believe that large index funds and ETFs may be forced to invest significant amounts in the stock once SpaceX is included in major indices. This could create additional demand and further support the valuation.

At the same time, experts warn of potential disruptions. The enormous size of the IPO could temporarily draw capital away from other stocks and affect market structure.

How to Buy SpaceX Stocks with Crypto

 While SpaceX is a private company and its shares are not directly available to most retail investors, some investment platforms offer exposure to private companies or related investment products. If you want to invest using cryptocurrency, you can first convert your crypto into fiat currency on a platform that supports both crypto and stock trading. 

For example, Bitpanda allows users to manage cryptocurrencies and invest in stocks and ETFs from a single account, making it a convenient option for investors looking to diversify beyond $Bitcoin and crypto. Always check whether the platform offers access to the specific investment product you are interested in and review any applicable fees and restrictions.

SpaceX IPO Details

As it stands, there is much to suggest that SpaceX will indeed have the largest IPO in stock market history. With a planned issuance volume of around $75 billion, the company would significantly surpass the previous record set by Saudi Aramco. The targeted valuation of $1.75 trillion would also be historic. Whether the valuation is justified in the long term will only become clear after the IPO. However, it is already certain: The SpaceX IPO could be one of the most significant events in modern financial history and shape the capital market similarly to the IPOs of Google, Facebook, or Alibaba.

The ChatGPT maker says it has filed paperwork for a potential public offering but may remain private while it pursues other priorities.

Xiaomi's MiMo-V2.5-Pro-UltraSpeed blows past the speed threshold custom silicon companies spent years building toward—on regular GPUs.

The Bored Ape Yacht Club creator now holds more than 60 rescued NFTs in its custody as it works to return them to their rightful owners.

The revamped Siri adds conversational AI, visual understanding, and personal context awareness as Apple rolls out new features across apps.

Bitcoin is down about 50% from its peak, but Wall Street researchers argue the selloff reflects a maturing asset, not a dying one.

Cryptocurrency adoption in the United States holds steady at 19%, but a new Pew Research Center survey reveals a widening partisan gap.

A senior official has indicated that critical behind-the-scenes progress is being made on the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act.

Canadian mining billionaire and vocal gold advocate Frank Giustra has mocked the cryptocurrency community's lofty price targets.

Inside Vito Tumas's blueprint for XRPL and what the next-gen security upgrade means for XRP.

Dave Portnoy urges Michael Saylor and MicroStrategy to keep buying Bitcoin as he suffers million-dollar losses on his crypto portfolio, including XRP and MSTR stock.

Key Takeaways

• OKLO shares gained approximately 4% during Monday’s premarket session following the completed acquisition of ARMEC, a nuclear precision manufacturing company located in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
• The transaction finalized on June 4, 2026, bringing aboard approximately 40 specialized professionals including engineers, fabricators, machinists, and technical experts with nuclear sector expertise.
• ARMEC contributes advanced machining capabilities, rapid prototyping, fabrication services, and strategic procurement functions to bolster Oklo’s reactor development and fuel initiatives.
• Tigress Financial’s five-star analyst Ivan Feinseth maintains the highest Wall Street price target of $130 on OKLO shares, suggesting potential upside of approximately 117%.
• Analyst consensus stands at Moderate Buy with a mean price target of $90.79, indicating roughly 51% upside from current trading levels.

Shares of Oklo experienced an approximate 4% increase during Monday’s premarket session after the advanced nuclear company revealed its completed acquisition of ARMEC, a specialized mechanical engineering and precision manufacturing operation headquartered in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. During regular trading hours, shares advanced 3.41%, despite posting a 16.43% decline year-to-date.

Oklo Inc., OKLO

The transaction reached completion on June 4, 2026. Neither party disclosed specific financial details of the arrangement.

Established in 2002, ARMEC focuses on delivering high-precision machining services, prototype development, advanced fabrication, quality inspection, and procurement assistance primarily for nuclear sector clients. The firm has additionally provided services across defense, research and development, and broader energy industry segments.

Through this acquisition, Oklo gains access to roughly 40 skilled professionals—including engineers, welders, machinists, fabricators, and technical specialists—all possessing substantial nuclear industry backgrounds.

ARMEC has previously collaborated with Oklo’s engineering divisions, contributing to the progression of nozzle production from preliminary test-fit components through controlled production processes.

Jacob DeWitte, Oklo’s CEO and co-founder, emphasized that the acquisition provides enhanced oversight of critical manufacturing phases within the company’s deployment roadmap.

“Successful advanced nuclear deployment demands robust manufacturing capabilities,” DeWitte stated. “ARMEC enhances Oklo’s operational strength by broadening our hands-on engineering, fabrication, inspection, and procurement resources.”

Travis Reagan, President of ARMEC, noted the transaction enables his organization to leverage its accumulated expertise toward establishing the manufacturing infrastructure necessary for advanced nuclear energy expansion. ARMEC’s existing leadership team will continue in their roles following the deal to preserve established customer and supplier connections.

Strong Analyst Sentiment on OKLO

At least one Wall Street analyst demonstrates considerable optimism regarding the stock. Ivan Feinseth from Tigress Financial maintains the highest Street price target at $130 per share on OKLO, accompanied by a Buy recommendation. This projection suggests approximately 117% appreciation potential from present valuation levels.

Feinseth launched coverage on April 27, 2026, identifying multiple favorable growth drivers. He emphasized Oklo’s ARC-100 Aurora Powerhouse reactor—a liquid metal-cooled, metal-fueled fast reactor design capable of generating up to 75 MWe—as a compelling competitive advantage within the advanced nuclear and small modular reactor landscape.

AI Infrastructure Expansion Fuels Nuclear Sector Interest

The nuclear power industry has garnered increasing investor focus as artificial intelligence infrastructure development intensifies. Data center operations demand substantial, consistent electrical capacity, and traditional grid limitations have prompted technology companies to explore alternative power sources, with nuclear energy emerging as a viable solution.

Feinseth characterized Oklo as presenting a “unique investment opportunity within the developing U.S. advanced-nuclear and SMR expansion.”

Among Wall Street analysts, the overall consensus rating on OKLO stands at Moderate Buy, derived from 10 Buy recommendations and 7 Hold ratings issued during the previous three-month period.

The mean analyst price target rests at $90.79, signaling approximately 51% upside opportunity.

Monday’s trading activity remained subdued—approximately 4.29 million shares changed hands, substantially below the three-month average daily volume of 15.46 million shares.

The post Oklo (OKLO) Stock Climbs 4% Following Strategic ARMEC Acquisition Completion appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways

• Intel stock soared following reports that Alphabet could tap its foundry for producing millions of artificial intelligence processors
• Micron experienced a strong recovery as market participants renewed interest in memory chip stocks connected to AI infrastructure
• Apple’s annual developer event commenced with market focus on artificial intelligence enhancements, particularly regarding Siri capabilities
• SpaceX IPO rumors intensified, potentially impacting publicly traded space industry competitors
• Corning stock climbed following announcement of a massive Amazon partnership for data-center equipment

Artificial intelligence themes dominated today’s trading session. Semiconductor manufacturers, data-center infrastructure providers, and major technology platforms all responded to AI-focused developments.

Intel Receives Potential Boost from Alphabet Manufacturing Reports

Intel emerged as one of today’s standout performers. Market reports indicated Alphabet may contract Intel’s foundry services to produce substantial quantities of proprietary AI processors.

Intel Corporation, INTC

This development propelled Intel shares significantly upward. The chipmaker has faced persistent challenges competing against Nvidia, AMD, and Taiwan Semiconductor in cutting-edge chip production capabilities.

Securing a manufacturing agreement with Alphabet would represent substantial validation of Intel’s restructuring efforts. Market observers are now evaluating whether this signals an isolated partnership or marks the beginning of a broader resurgence for Intel’s fabrication operations.

Micron Stages Comeback Amid Memory Sector Strength

Micron posted solid gains following weakness in previous sessions. Market participants rotated back into memory chip equities as optimism surrounding AI data-center expenditures remained intact.

Micron occupies a critical position within the artificial intelligence ecosystem. Sophisticated AI platforms demand substantial quantities of high-bandwidth memory, and expanding data-center capital investment continues supporting robust demand patterns.

The stock’s recovery indicated market participants maintain conviction in Micron’s positioning as a sustained beneficiary of AI infrastructure expansion, despite recent price fluctuations.

Apple Developer Conference Highlights Artificial Intelligence Strategy

Apple’s yearly developer gathering launched today. Market attention centered on anticipated AI announcements, including enhanced Siri functionality and expanded artificial intelligence features throughout iPhone, Mac, and iPad product lines.

Apple has encountered scrutiny for perceived delays in artificial intelligence innovation compared to competitors. This year’s conference carries heightened significance as the technology giant attempts demonstrating AI can become a meaningful revenue catalyst.

Significant announcements throughout the week could influence share price performance. Apple maintains one of technology’s most devoted customer ecosystems, yet market participants seek tangible execution.

Corning Surges Following Amazon Infrastructure Partnership

Corning jumped substantially after announcing a multi-billion dollar agreement with Amazon. The partnership addresses escalating requirements for optical fiber, specialized glass, and connectivity hardware within data-center facilities.

Corning doesn’t typically trade as an artificial intelligence play. However, today’s price action demonstrated how AI infrastructure development extends beyond processors and servers into supporting infrastructure layers.

As Amazon scales cloud computing and AI capabilities, equipment suppliers like Corning are capturing meaningful economic benefits.

SpaceX Speculation and Wall Street Optimism

SpaceX remains privately held, yet IPO speculation maintained market attention. Participants are monitoring what could potentially rank among history’s largest public offerings.

A SpaceX public listing could create ripple effects for related publicly traded entities including Rocket Lab and AST SpaceMobile.

Citigroup additionally supported positive sentiment by increasing its S&P 500 price target. The financial institution referenced corporate earnings resilience and the continuing AI capital expenditure cycle as justification for its elevated forecast.

Today’s trading session delivered a clear narrative: artificial intelligence infrastructure investment continues functioning as the primary catalyst propelling equity markets forward.

The post Market Movers Today: Intel (INTC) Foundry News, Micron (MU) Rally, and Apple (AAPL) WWDC Highlights appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights

• Raytheon commits $100M to Portsmouth, Rhode Island site expansion, creating 150 specialized defense technology positions
• Investment focuses on Patriot GEM-T missile component manufacturing and LTAMDS radar system testing capabilities
• RTX stock started trading Monday at $181.26; Jefferies elevated rating to Buy with $220 target price
• Q1 results showed EPS of $1.78, surpassing analyst projections of $1.52, alongside $22.08 billion in revenue
• Company increased quarterly dividend from $0.68 to $0.73 per share

RTX (RTX) subsidiary Raytheon revealed plans Monday to channel $100 million into its Portsmouth, Rhode Island operations. The initiative aims to accelerate missile-defense component manufacturing and enhance testing infrastructure for an advanced radar platform.

RTX Corporation, RTX

RTX stock launched Monday’s session at $181.26, establishing a market valuation of $244.10 billion. The shares trade beneath their 52-week peak of $214.50 while maintaining substantial distance above the yearly floor of $135.43.

The substantial capital injection targets two strategic priorities. The facility will scale up manufacturing of Patriot GEM-T interceptor missile components while simultaneously enhancing test infrastructure for the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS).

LTAMDS represents cutting-edge radar technology engineered to identify and monitor sophisticated threats, including hypersonic weaponry. Raytheon has secured agreements to deliver these systems to the U.S. Army and Polish military forces.

The program recently achieved its ninth successful flight demonstration. That evaluation utilized multiple radar configurations to monitor and facilitate the engagement of a simulated aerial target.

The GEM-T interceptor serves as a fundamental element of the Patriot air and missile defense architecture. Its mission profile encompasses neutralizing aircraft, cruise missiles, and tactical ballistic threats.

The Portsmouth upgrade will generate 150 advanced technology positions. RTX maintains a workforce exceeding 850 employees throughout Rhode Island, where the company has established operations spanning over sixty years.

Wall Street Upgrades and Naval Contracts

The facility expansion represents just one positive development for RTX. Jefferies recently elevated its position on the stock from Hold to Buy, simultaneously raising its valuation target from $210 to $220. The investment firm highlighted enhanced profit margins, robust defense sector performance, and expanding commercial aerospace aftermarket revenues.

Morgan Stanley preserved its Overweight stance while adjusting its target downward from $235 to $220. Deutsche Bank sustained its Buy recommendation with a $240 objective. Analyst consensus averages “Moderate Buy” with a collective price target of $211.38.

RTX additionally secured a $515 million U.S. Navy agreement for SPY-6 radar technology, strengthening its defense electronics portfolio.

Impressive Q1 Performance and Shareholder Returns

RTX delivered first-quarter earnings of $1.78 per share, exceeding Wall Street’s $1.52 projection by $0.26. Quarterly revenue reached $22.08 billion, topping anticipated $21.38 billion and representing 8.7% year-over-year expansion.

Management projected fiscal 2026 EPS between $6.60 and $6.80. The analyst community collectively forecasts $6.91 for the full fiscal year.

RTX enhanced its quarterly distribution to $0.73 from the previous $0.68 per share. Shareholders of record on May 22 received the elevated dividend on June 11.

This Rhode Island development follows a $53 million expansion Raytheon initiated last year at its Andover, Massachusetts radar manufacturing complex.

The post Raytheon’s $100M Defense Facility Upgrade Powers RTX (RTX) Stock Momentum appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways

• Intel shares rallied approximately 11% on Monday, topping S&P 500 performers following a 13.5% decline the previous week
• Reports suggest Google could place an order for 3 million AI chips with Intel for delivery in 2028
• Nvidia and Tesla are reportedly considering Intel as a potential chip manufacturing partner
• Morgan Stanley notes robust server CPU demand and expects Intel to beat near-term estimates
• Intel shares have climbed 422% over the trailing twelve months; analyst consensus remains Hold with $98.15 average target

Intel shares staged a dramatic recovery Monday, surging approximately 11% to near $110 after shedding 13.5% the prior week during a session that wiped out $1 trillion from semiconductor valuations.

Intel Corporation, INTC

The rally positioned Intel atop the S&P 500 gainers list for the trading day. The benchmark index advanced 0.8%, with the Nasdaq climbing 1.4%. Intel’s performance significantly outpaced both.

What sparked the move? The Information published a report suggesting Alphabet’s Google might have contracted Intel to produce 3 million tensor processing units — specialized TPU AI chips — by 2028. The alleged order remains unverified, with Google and Nvidia offering no comment. Intel similarly declined to address the speculation.

Investors bought in anyway.

The speculation extended beyond Google. Street Insider indicated that Nvidia could potentially engage Intel as a contract manufacturer for a new processor design that integrates four Nvidia GPUs into one package. Tesla also surfaced in reports as possibly partnering with Intel or licensing its upcoming 14A manufacturing technology for proprietary chips at a planned facility called Terafab.

Three heavyweight prospects. None confirmed. All driving momentum.

Strong Server CPU Trends Provide Foundation

Setting aside unverified reports, fundamental factors also support a bullish case. Morgan Stanley’s Joseph Moore noted on June 1 that Intel maintains healthy server CPU momentum.

Moore emphasized that the server roadmap — rather than foundry contracts — represents the core Intel investment thesis. He highlighted Intel’s “clear ability to beat-and-raise near term given server CPU shortages.”

Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan reinforced this narrative during Computex in Taiwan last week, revealing that multiple CEOs have reached out over recent weeks requesting additional CPUs to satisfy demand.

Intel additionally announced a collaboration with Apple’s manufacturing partner Foxconn last week focused on AI infrastructure development, further expanding its manufacturing strategy.

Rally Details and Market Context

The semiconductor sector experienced broad gains Monday. Broadcom advanced 2.7%, AMD climbed 4%, and Nvidia increased 1.6% following Friday’s worst single-session decline for the PHLX Semiconductor Index since 2020.

Yet Intel’s advance was exceptional. The stock has jumped 190% in 2026 year-to-date and has skyrocketed 422% over the past year.

Despite this impressive performance, Wall Street remains cautious. Among 51 firms monitored by FactSet, the consensus rating stands at Hold, with an average price objective of $98.15 — substantially below current trading levels.

Valuation concerns persist. Intel operates at a loss currently and trades at over 120 times forward earnings estimates for next year.

Intel’s market capitalization now stands at roughly $498 billion. Monday’s session saw the stock fluctuate between $106.66 and $112.36, with average daily turnover around 122.9 million shares — volume that underscores intense investor attention.

The post Intel (INTC) Stock Surges 11% on Reports of Major AI Chip Deals with Google and Nvidia appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights

• Citigroup increased its S&P 500 year-end projection to 8,100 from 7,700
• The benchmark index tumbled 2.5% on Friday, marking its steepest decline since October
• The firm upgraded its 2026 earnings-per-share projection to $350 from $320
• A tentative 2027 EPS estimate of $400 has been established
• Analysts caution that AI capital expenditures may decelerate post-2027, potentially triggering market headwinds

Following the S&P 500’s steepest single-session decline since October—a 2.5% plunge that ended a nine-week rally—Citigroup strategist Scott Chronert responded by elevating his year-end price target from 7,700 to 8,100 that same Friday evening.

This revised forecast suggests approximately 10% potential gains from the index’s most recent closing level.

The tech-heavy Nasdaq suffered its most severe single-day setback in over twelve months on Friday. Anxiety surrounding artificial intelligence infrastructure investments and Broadcom’s quarterly results were identified as primary catalysts behind the market retreat.

Chronert maintained that the downturn hasn’t altered his fundamental outlook. He contends that profit expansion, rather than valuation multiples expanding further, will propel the index upward going forward.

Profit Projections Receive Boost

Citigroup elevated its 2026 S&P 500 earnings-per-share forecast to $350, revising upward from the $320 figure established in December 2025. The institution also unveiled an initial 2027 EPS projection of $400.

Chronert expressed “high confidence in continued earnings beats” extending through year-end 2026. The robust first-quarter reporting season reinforces this perspective.

He emphasized that artificial intelligence-driven expansion is no longer confined to technology corporations alone. Additional sectors are beginning to capture benefits, which diversifies the earnings narrative throughout the broader market.

Citigroup becomes another major Wall Street institution joining peers who have pushed their S&P 500 projections beyond the 8,000 threshold in recent months.

AI Investment: Primary Catalyst With Uncertainty Ahead

Citigroup characterizes the present AI investment landscape as a “one-time capex supercycle” rather than a conventional business cycle. This distinction carries significance because it intensifies focus on earnings justifying current equity valuations moving forward.

The bank indicated that market attention will ultimately pivot toward whether corporations can demonstrate tangible productivity improvements from AI technologies. That validation, Chronert noted, isn’t yet being demanded by market participants.

Citigroup did sound a cautionary note regarding the post-2027 period. The firm recognized that some moderation in AI capital spending appears probable eventually, potentially creating a “hangover effect” across equity markets.

However, Chronert emphasized that this downside scenario is “not currently in the line of sight.”

Presently, macroeconomic concerns including Middle East tensions involving Iran, crude oil volatility, inflationary pressures, and monetary policy dynamics represent secondary considerations. Citigroup’s assessment is that underlying AI sector fundamentals remain the primary investor focus.

Even if AI-related spending moderates at some juncture, widespread adoption of these technologies could establish an additional foundation supporting corporate profitability.

The S&P 500 maintains approximately 8% gains year-to-date, notwithstanding Friday’s significant retreat.

The post Citigroup Ups S&P 500 Target to 8,100 Despite Market Turbulence — What’s Behind the Confidence? appeared first on Blockonomi.

Dogecoin (DOGE) has gained a modest 2% on Monday, hovering near $0.086, right above a major support zone. But new fresh analysis shows that the OG meme coin is at a critical structural inflection point.

Long-term technical patterns and on-chain data point to a strong demand area that has historically supported major macro moves.

Demand Zone

According to crypto analyst Ali Martinez, DOGE’s price action has followed multi-year consolidation channels since its launch, where the asset has repeatedly moved through extended ranges that compress volatility and redistribute supply before larger bull cycles begin. At present, Dogecoin is above the $0.081 level, which is the lower mid-range boundary of a five-year parallel channel that has been active since 2021.

Martinez cited on-chain data to explain why this zone is acting as strong support. The UTXO Realized Price Distribution (URPD) is a metric that tracks the price levels at which all circulating tokens were last moved. According to this data, there is a heavy concentration of supply at $0.081, where more than 30 billion DOGE tokens were last transacted. He describes this as a major historical cluster of spot exposure, forming both psychological and structural support at the current price level.

To top that, over the past week, whales have accumulated more than 200 million DOGE tokens, which indicates continued buying interest near this same price zone.

Targets for DOGE

Martinez further outlined a dollar-cost averaging approach instead of trying to time short-term price moves or pick exact bottoms. His framework focuses on building positions gradually across two key levels. The first is $0.081, which aligns with the URPD concentration and the mid-range of the long-term channel. The second is $0.058, which represents the lower boundary of the multi-year channel structure.

He describes two possible scenarios from here. In the first, if the $0.081 level continues to absorb selling pressure, Dogecoin could stabilize and move back toward higher levels within its broader channel, supported by ongoing whale demand. In the second scenario, if broader macro conditions push the price below $0.081 on a weekly close, the structure would move into a deeper valuation phase, following which the next major support sits at $0.058.

In a separate analysis, Alphractal’s Joao Wedson stated that DOGE is now in a price bottoming phase based on the CVDD Signal that has previously marked major market bottoms.

According to him, every time Dogecoin has approached or briefly traded below this level, strong reversals have followed. He added that the next signal would be triggered if DOGE drops below $0.08.

The post Could Dogecoin (DOGE) Be Setting Up for Its Next Big Move? Analysts Think So appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Bitcoin (BTC) staged a late Sunday rebound following several days of downward price action, though signs suggest the market has not reached a true recovery.

Doctor Profit believes the crypto asset has moved into Stage 5 of his six-stage bear market framework, a period marked by intense emotional pressure.

Biggest Bear Market Trap

According to his latest market analysis, the brief plunge below $60,000 was not the ultimate bottom but rather a “trapdoor” into this next phase of the bear market. Doctor Profit explained that many traders have mistakenly concluded that the worst is over, similar to previous market cycles where investors regained confidence too early before another major decline.

The analyst continues to view the area between $40,000 and $48,000 as Bitcoin’s final bottom, which he refers to as the “Confirmed BlackRock Bottom” because it coincides with the price region where BlackRock launched its spot Bitcoin ETF back in early 2024.

The $60,000 level remains an important technical support zone in the short term for the crypto asset. As long as that support holds, Bitcoin could potentially stage a rebound toward the $65,000-$66,000 range before resuming its broader downward trend. However, the analyst stressed that Bitcoin rarely moves in a straight line and that countertrend rallies are common during bear markets.

Looking further ahead, Doctor Profit expects Stage 5 to be defined by sharp price swings, as Bitcoin would repeatedly see violent drops below $60,000 followed by equally strong recoveries above that level, creating difficult conditions for both bullish and bearish traders. He said this phase is designed to inflict maximum emotional pressure on market participants before a final bottom is established.

Despite the expected volatility, he does not anticipate the bear market ending quickly and continues to project that Bitcoin’s ultimate low will likely form between September and October 2026. He also expects a major market event, similar to the role played by the FTX collapse in the previous cycle, to act as the final catalyst that accelerates the capitulation phase and catches many investors off guard.

Bitcoin Isn’t the Only Bet

A mix of spot Bitcoin ETF outflows, Strategy’s recent BTC sale, and geopolitical tensions have weighed tremendously on the crypto asset. After prices recovered near $63,000, Michael Saylor hinted at another Strategy BTC purchase by posting the firm’s acquisition tracker with his “add more dots” message.

Beyond the recent price action, Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan believes that this crypto winter is unfolding differently from previous bear markets. Investors are not simply rotating into the largest cryptocurrency for safety. Instead, capital is increasingly flowing toward smaller digital assets with stronger fundamentals and clear revenue models.

The post Bitcoin’s ‘Most Emotional’ Bear Market Phase Has Officially Begun: Analyst appeared first on CryptoPotato.

On June 8, technical analyst ChartNerd shared an XRP cycle breakdown, making the case that the current bear market has been shallower and potentially shorter than previous ones.

Additionally, he said there’s a chance for a cycle bottom before the end of 2026 that could allow the Ripple token to eventually reach $27.

What the Historical Comparison Shows

Per ChartNerd’s analysis, past XRP bear markets have typically lasted between 400 and 790 days, with drawdowns of 85% to 90% from peak levels. The current correction, as of the post, has run for about 350 days and sits at a nearly 70% drop from the July 2025 all-time high of $3.65.

Both figures, the analyst said, are milder than any comparable historical cycle, and he argued that this pattern of lessening severity is itself meaningful.

“The territory for marking a historical bottom between now and EOY is fast approaching,” wrote ChartNerd. “These prices are where we need to start paying attention to the fact that although the chances of an immediate expansion might be low, a cycle bottom could genuinely be on the horizon.”

However, he didn’t rule out XRP being hit by more downside. The macro read is that additional pain in the coming months could still be needed to form the actual cycle low, which would then be followed by an accumulation phase, and then a move toward Fibonacci extension targets of $8, $13, and $27.

The on-chain technician did flag the 2014 bear market as an exception to the pattern. That cycle saw a 96% drop over roughly 210 days to mark its low, but it then took XRP more than 1,200 days to break out beyond its previous high, with a major wick low appearing in late 2017 before a January 2018 peak.

Where XRP Stands in the Broader Picture

At the time of writing, XRP was priced at roughly $1.15, a fall of about 12% from where it stood a week ago and 19% lower than where it was one month ago. During the last week, the Ripple token experienced a fall to its lowest position in 19 months at $1.05. However, after reaching that price, it rallied to $1.20 before pulling back slightly from there.

Nevertheless, there was a bright spark in that period, namely spot XRP ETFs. These funds closed last week with a net inflow of $2.62 million. That may seem like a pretty small number, but it’s notable considering that their Bitcoin counterparts bled more than $1.7 billion in that period and spot Ethereum ETFs saw outflows of $173 million.

Only HYPE ETFs saw a better run, bringing in nearly $17 million, while funds tracking Litecoin (LTC), Avalanche (AVAX), and Hedera (HBAR) saw zero action.

The post Analyst Eyes $8 to $27 XRP Targets After Potential 2026 Bottom appeared first on CryptoPotato.

The latest market crisis, which pushed Bitcoin (BTC) below $60,000, has had an even more severe effect on Cardano’s native token. ADA briefly plummeted below $0.15 and currently trades at roughly $0.16, representing a 40% crash on a monthly basis.

Its poor performance was further impacted by Cardano’s founder, Charles Hoskinson, who said he’s “taking a break” and warned of an upcoming “wave of failures in the ecosystem.” His words sparked more panic across the community, and perhaps some expect an additional price decline in the near future. The worst-case scenario is for ADA to nosedive to $0, and we asked three of the most widely used AI-powered chatbots whether such a development is plausible.

Extremely Unlikely

Perplexity estimated that the chances of such a drop are very slim, adding that the more realistic risk is a sharp drawdown, not tumbling to literal $0. The chatbot highlighted that a collapse of that magnitude would require a “near-total failure of liquidity, listings, and market confidence approaching zero.”

“Cardano remains a large, widely tracked asset with ongoing ecosystem development and active market coverage, which makes a complete wipeout very improbable,” it stated.

ChatGPT issued a similar stance. OpenAI’s platform claimed that a meltdown to $0 would entail a combination of a catastrophic protocol failure or exploit, major exchanges delisting ADA, complete collapse of the ecosystem, and total abandonment by holders, developers, and validators.

The chatbot estimated that the chance of that happening is less than 1%, implying a 45% probability that the asset’s price will trade between $0.10 and $0.20 in the remaining months of 2025.

Virtually Impossible

Google’s Gemini maintained that the possibility of ADA slipping to $0 this year is effectively nonexistent. It noted that the token has experienced a massive downfall lately, but said there is a difference between a coin losing value in a bear market and one dropping to absolute zero.

“For an established, top-20 cryptocurrency to hit $0, the project would essentially have to cease to exist overnight. Cardano has a network of millions of active users and strong trading volume across exchanges worldwide. Short of that impossible scenario, its massive decentralized community and active staking create an indestructible floor,” it stated.

The post Cardano Collapses 40% Monthly: 3 AIs Speculate Whether ADA Can Plummet to Zero This Year appeared first on CryptoPotato.

BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes appears to have bought back 33,978 HYPE tokens worth about $2.09 million, according to blockchain tracking platform Lookonchain. The platform linked the purchase to a wallet associated with Hayes, which withdrew the tokens from Bybit during Asian hours on Monday.

The alleged purchase comes four days after Hayes said he had sold his entire HYPE position to lock in profits while the token was trading above $72.

Arthur Hayes Faces New Questions

Following the update, HYPE surged by 2%. Hayes, on the other hand, has denied buying the token in response to Lookonchain’s update. His tweet read,

“I didn’t buy s**t.”

After Hayes disclosed his exit, HYPE briefly plunged to $54. The token has since recovered and is trading above $61 at the time of writing.

Hyperliquid has become one of the crypto market’s leading derivatives platforms since its launch in 2023, and Hayes has emerged as one of the token’s most prominent supporters. The sale drew sharp criticism from the crypto community. Some X users called Hayes’ actions a “douchebag” move for promoting HYPE before selling. Others said that traders who copied his trades had been “scammed” by a “big scammer.”

The backlash has continued even after the latest update. Some X users accused him of repeatedly profiting at the expense of retail traders and urged others not to become his “exit liquidity.” Others claimed he was using a “buy in secret, pump in public, dump in public” strategy and manipulating smaller investors.

Mystery Wallet Doubles Down on HYPE

Meanwhile, separate data shared by Lookonchain suggested that interest in HYPE remains strong despite the controversy surrounding Hayes. The blockchain tracker said a newly created wallet withdrew another 82,089 HYPE tokens, which were worth around $5.16 million, from exchanges on Monday.

Over the last week, the same wallet has moved a total of 1.14 million HYPE, valued at roughly $79.22 million, off exchanges and deposited the tokens into Hyperliquid for staking.

Additionally, Hyperliquid broke into the top 10 crypto assets by market capitalization this month after surpassing Dogecoin and becoming the first DeFi protocol since Uniswap in 2021 to achieve the milestone.

The post Lookonchain Flags $2M HYPE Buy Linked to Arthur Hayes – He Fires Back With Four Words appeared first on CryptoPotato.