The pause in US-Iran tensions highlights the Gulf states' influence and underscores the global economic risks tied to regional conflicts.

The post Trump says planned US attack on Iran was called off at Gulf states’ request appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

AI Financial's potential collapse highlights the volatility and risks associated with heavy reliance on cryptocurrency assets.

The post WLFI-linked AI Financial warns it may not survive next 12 months after losses balloon to $271 million appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Rising UK unemployment amid geopolitical tensions signals potential economic instability, challenging growth forecasts and policy responses.

The post UK unemployment unexpectedly rises to 5% amid Iran war pressures appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The scrutiny of Polymarket's dispute process highlights potential conflicts of interest, raising concerns about fairness and transparency in prediction markets.

The post Polymarket faces scrutiny as nearly 20% of dispute judges have financial ties to the bets they decide appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Rising yields prompt a strategic shift in investor behavior, impacting tech valuations and delaying anticipated rate cuts, affecting broader markets.

The post NASDAQ leads losses as investors book profits amid rising yields appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Bitcoin Magazine

White House Says Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Announcement Is Imminent: ‘A Breakthrough’

The White House is on the verge of a formal announcement on the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve — and the official leading the charge says the hard part is done.

Patrick Witt, Executive Director of the President’s Council of Advisors for Digital Assets, told an interviewer this week that the administration has cleared a major legal hurdle in standing up the reserve. 

“We’ll have an announcement,” Witt said. “I wish I could say more… It’s a breakthrough as far as getting everything in place, legally sound, properly safeguarding the assets.” 

The signal follows a similar declaration Witt made at the Bitcoin 2026 conference in Las Vegas, where he told the crowd an update was coming within weeks.

President Trump signed the executive order establishing the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve on March 6, 2025. Since then, Witt says his deputy Harry John has driven the interagency process: identifying what legal authorities exist, commissioning the necessary legal memos, and building a custody and reporting infrastructure across federal agencies that were designed for gold, not private keys. 

The reserve holds an estimated 328,372 BTC — roughly 1.6% of total global supply — accumulated through law enforcement seizures, including the Silk Road takedown, the 2022 Bitfinex hack recovery, and years of criminal forfeitures. 

The executive order bars the Treasury from selling a single coin.

A government bitcoin hack lit a fire for the U.S. government

Witt pointed to a breach at the U.S. Marshals Service as proof that the reserve’s security mandate is urgent. A government contractor named John Daghita allegedly stole more than $46 million in cryptocurrency from USMS custody accounts in late 2025, and the FBI arrested him in March 2026. A separate $24 million theft was traced to October 2024. 

“It’s a case in point for why it was so necessary that the president established the SBR,” Witt said.

An executive order dies the moment a new president takes office. That vulnerability is the core argument for two bills now moving through Congress. Rep. Nick Begich recently rebranded the BITCOIN Act as the American Reserves Modernization Act (ARMA), which would authorize the U.S. Treasury to purchase up to 200,000 BTC per year for five years — with holdings locked for a minimum of 20 years. Senator Cynthia Lummis has put Congress on a deadline, pushing for a vote before the summer recess as midterm campaigning begins to consume floor time. 

If the BITCOIN Act passes, the Treasury’s first open-market Bitcoin purchase is projected for Q4 2026 — making the U.S. the first sovereign nation to actively accumulate Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset. 

This post White House Says Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Announcement Is Imminent: ‘A Breakthrough’ first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Standard Chartered to Absorb Zodia Custody’s Core Business in Digital Asset Consolidation

Standard Chartered announced Monday that its non-binding offer to acquire Zodia Custody — the digital asset custodian it co-founded in 2020 through its innovation arm SC Ventures — has been accepted by Zodia’s shareholders and noteholders.

The deal, subject to regulatory approvals, will fold Zodia’s regulated custody operations into Standard Chartered’s existing Financing and Securities Services business. The transaction is less a traditional acquisition than a strategic reorganization: a parent bank reclaiming the client-facing business it incubated at arm’s length, now that the market has matured enough to justify direct ownership.

Zodia was established alongside Northern Trust in late 2020, when regulatory uncertainty and reputational risk made it sensible for Standard Chartered to experiment with crypto custody through a separate entity. Over time, the custodian attracted minority investors including SBI Holdings, National Australia Bank, and Emirates NBD, building out operations across seven offices in Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. The structure served its purpose — but it also created duplication. 

Standard Chartered consolidates custody, spins infrastructure

Standard Chartered had developed its own digital asset custody capabilities within its Corporate and Investment Bank, running two custody offerings that served overlapping institutional clients.

The acquisition resolves that redundancy. By merging Zodia’s custody book into its Financing and Securities Services division, Standard Chartered gains a consolidated client base, eliminates operational overlap, and positions itself as one of the few global banks with a fully integrated, regulated crypto custody offering. 

Peers have moved in the same direction: BNY Mellon launched its Digital Asset Custody platform in 2022, and Morgan Stanley applied for a national trust bank charter in early 2026 to bring crypto custody inside a regulated banking framework.

What survives of Zodia is perhaps the more consequential piece of this transaction. The company’s institutional infrastructure platform — the technology that allows other financial institutions to build and operate digital asset services — will be separated into a new entity called Zodia Solutions, sitting under SC Ventures. 

Julian Sawyer, Zodia’s current CEO, will lead the new business. Zodia Solutions will operate as a bank-grade infrastructure provider, essentially becoming a SaaS platform for institutions that want to enter digital assets without building the underlying plumbing themselves. Standard Chartered will be a client, as will other banks. Existing minority investors remain in discussions about future stakes in the new entity.

The split reflects a real tension in the market. Institutional clients increasingly want custody held within a regulated bank, not a fintech-adjacent subsidiary. But those same institutions also need specialist technology infrastructure to power their own digital asset offerings — and that infrastructure is more valuable as a shared service than locked inside one bank’s balance sheet.

The digital asset custody market currently exceeds $1 trillion in assets under custody and is projected to reach $7 trillion by 2035, growing at a compound annual rate of roughly 24%. Standard Chartered is positioning itself to compete for both the direct custody mandates and the infrastructure contracts that will define that expansion — a two-track strategy that this transaction makes explicit for the first time.

Completion remains subject to regulatory sign-off, with no disruption expected for existing Zodia custody clients in the interim.

This post Standard Chartered to Absorb Zodia Custody’s Core Business in Digital Asset Consolidation first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Capital B Acquires 192 Bitcoin for €13 Million, Pushes Total Holdings to 3,135 BTC

Capital B, the Paris-listed Bitcoin Treasury Company formerly known as The Blockchain Group, has completed the purchase of 192 bitcoin for €13.0 million, bringing its total holdings to 3,135 BTC — one of the largest bitcoin reserves held by a European public company.

The acquisition, announced May 18, 2026, was funded through three capital raises that together generated €17.15 million. The raises included a €0.85 million placement under an “at-the-market” (ATM) agreement with TOBAM, a €1.1 million warrant issuance subscribed by cypherpunk and Blockstream CEO Adam Back, and a €15.2 million private placement of shares with attached subscription warrants (ABSA) at €0.66 per unit, placed with a group of global institutional investors.

The 192 BTC were purchased at an average cost of €67,866 per bitcoin, according to a note shared with Bitcoin Magazine. The company’s total bitcoin stack now carries an aggregate acquisition value of €283.6 million, reflecting an average cost basis of €90,451 per coin. The acquisition was executed through Swissquote Bank Europe SA, a Luxembourg-registered virtual asset service provider, with custody handled via the Swiss firm Taurus.

Capital B’s bitcoin yield 

Capital B tracks a proprietary performance metric called “BTC Yield” — a measure of bitcoin accumulation per fully diluted share — to assess the efficiency of its treasury strategy. Year-to-date, the company has recorded a BTC Yield of 1.82%, a BTC Gain of 51.3 BTC, and a BTC Euro Gain of €3.5 million. Since the start of the second quarter, those figures stand at 1.09%, 31.4 BTC, and €2.1 million.

The private placement carried a warrant structure with three tranches, each with a five-year maturity. Warrant 2026-03 carries an exercise price of €0.86, Warrant 2026-04 at €1.12, and Warrant 2026-05 at €1.46 — each set at 130% of the prior tranche’s exercise price. If all warrants were exercised, the transaction would generate an additional €99.1 million in capital for the company. Maxim Group LLC served as lead placement agent, with Marex S.A. as co-manager.

The capital table following the transaction shows Adam Back holding 13.37% of ordinary shares and 10.00% on a diluted basis, while Blockstream Capital Partners holds 14.36% on an ordinary basis but 35.90% on a diluted basis — reflecting its large warrant position. TOBAM holds 4.52% of ordinary shares. On a total basis, the company has 300,265,812 shares outstanding, with a potential diluted count of 420,859,061.

Capital B trades on Euronext Growth Paris under the ticker ALCPB, with U.S. OTC trading under CPTLF. The company’s bitcoin treasury strategy centers on a single stated objective: growing the number of bitcoin held per fully diluted share over time.

Earlier today, Strategy said they purchased 24,869 BTC for about $2.01 billion last week, bringing its total holdings to 843,738 BTC at an average cost of roughly $75,700 per coin and reinforcing its position as the largest corporate bitcoin holder. 

The buy marks a sharp acceleration in accumulation, funded in part through preferred equity and ATM offerings, as the company continues to prioritize bitcoin per-share growth while signaling it remains a net accumulator despite limited flexibility to sell if needed.

This post Capital B Acquires 192 Bitcoin for €13 Million, Pushes Total Holdings to 3,135 BTC first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Bitcoin Depot (BTM) Stock Falls 80% As Company Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

Bitcoin Depot (NASDAQ: BTM), once the largest Bitcoin ATM operator in North America, filed for voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection on Monday in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. The Atlanta-based fintech company said it intends to wind down all operations and pursue a sale of its assets — marking one of the most visible collapses in the retail cryptocurrency sector to date.

The company’s stock cratered on the news, falling from $3 to around $0.75 on the news.

As part of the filing, Bitcoin Depot took its entire network of Bitcoin ATM kiosks offline. The company operated over 9,000 kiosk locations worldwide as of August 2025, with machines in 47 states and a cash-to-bitcoin checkout product available at retail locations in 31 states.

CEO Alex Holmes cited a hostile shift in the regulatory environment as the force behind the company’s collapse. “The regulatory environment for BTM operators has shifted significantly: states have imposed increasingly stringent compliance obligations, including new transaction limits, and in some jurisdictions, outright restrictions or bans on BTM operations,” Holmes said. “Under these circumstances, the Company’s current business model is unsustainable.”

Indiana became the first state to ban Bitcoin ATM kiosks in March 2026, with Tennessee and Minnesota following. Connecticut suspended Bitcoin Depot’s operating license the same month. 

The regulatory wave reflected a broader crackdown on crypto ATMs tied to escalating fraud concerns — the FBI logged 13,460 crypto-kiosk fraud complaints in 2025 alone, with reported losses of $389 million, a 58% jump from the prior year.

Financial deterioration preceded the filing

The bankruptcy did not arrive without warning. On May 12, Bitcoin Depot filed a notification of late filing with the SEC, disclosing it could not submit its Q1 2026 Form 10-Q on time due to a material weakness in its cash-in-transit reconciliation process. That disclosure also carried a “going concern” warning — a formal signal that management had doubts about the company’s ability to survive the next 12 months.

Preliminary Q1 2026 results told a stark story. Revenue fell $80.7 million year-over-year — a 49.2% decline — to approximately $83.5 million for the quarter ending March 31, 2026. Gross profit collapsed 85.5%, dropping from $31.2 million to $4.5 million, and the company swung to a net loss of $9.5 million from net income of $12.2 million in the same period a year earlier. Total operating expenses rose 32.3%, driven by litigation costs, and the company had accrued over $20 million in legal judgments during Q4 2025. Cash reserves fell from $65.6 million at the end of 2025 to $44.0 million by March 31.

Bitcoin Depot’s legal battles

Beyond state-level restrictions, Bitcoin Depot faced active litigation from law enforcement authorities in multiple states. 

In February 2026, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell filed suit against the company, alleging it facilitated cryptocurrency scams targeting consumers. Iowa’s attorney general brought similar claims, asserting that Bitcoin Depot’s pricing was deceptive, that the company allowed known fraud transactions to proceed, and that its refund policies exploited victims.

“I also want to thank our employees across the globe for their continued hard work and dedication,” Holmes said. Bitcoin Depot’s collapse stands as a cautionary benchmark for the crypto ATM industry — a sector that saw rapid expansion during the bitcoin adoption wave of the early 2020s, only to face a wall of regulatory and legal opposition it could not overcome.

This post Bitcoin Depot (BTM) Stock Falls 80% As Company Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Iran Launches Bitcoin-Backed Insurance Service for Strait of Hormuz Shipping, Eyes $10B In Revenue

Iran is reportedly launching a bitcoin-settled maritime insurance platform called Hormuz Safe, targeting cargo owners and shipping companies that transit the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf — and projecting more than $10 billion in revenue for the Islamic Republic.

The platform, backed by Iran’s Ministry of Economy and Financial Affairs, was first reported by the IRGC-affiliated Fars News Agency, which cited internal government documents, according to Bloomberg reporting. 

The Hormuz Safe website describes the service as offering “fast, verifiable digital insurance — paid via bitcoin and settled at the speed of blockchain.” Coverage under the proposed scheme includes risks from vessel inspection, detention, and confiscation, with war-damage claims excluded. The Ministry had been developing the framework since April, according to documents obtained by Fars. 

As of the time of reporting, it was not possible to confirm whether the platform was operational or had processed any real policies.

The launch marks a formalization of financial mechanisms Iran has been constructing around the strait for months. In March 2026, Iran’s parliament passed the Strait of Hormuz Management Plan, a law that codified a transit toll system the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had been operating since mid-March. 

Under that framework, the IRGC extracts fees from vessels seeking passage, with operators required to submit vessel ownership details, cargo type, destination, and crew information to an IRGC-linked intermediary before receiving a permit code. Fees have started at around $1 per barrel of oil, with a vessel carrying a full load facing charges of up to $2 million.

Bitcoin as legal payment in Iran

Bitcoin became a formal payment option in April, when Hamid Hosseini, spokesperson for Iran’s Oil, Gas and Petrochemical Products Exporters’ Union, told the Financial Times that shipping companies could settle Hormuz transit fees in bitcoin or other non-dollar currencies including yuan. Iran’s preference for bitcoin stems from the asset’s resistance to seizure or freezing — a critical feature for a government operating under comprehensive U.S. Treasury sanctions.

“No one can freeze it,” Sam Lyman, research director at the Bitcoin Policy Institute, said of Tehran’s calculus.

This move builds on years of state-level bitcoin adoption. Iran legalized industrial bitcoin mining in 2019 and ran as much as 4.2% of global hashrate before U.S. and Israeli military strikes damaged much of that infrastructure. 

Iran’s crypto ecosystem reached an estimated $7.8 billion in 2025, with IRGC-linked transactions accounting for roughly 50% of the country’s total crypto volume by the fourth quarter of that year. The government has used mined bitcoin to fund imports and hedge against oil revenue shortfalls, with state mining costs estimated near $1,300 per coin.

Hormuz Safe represents Iran’s most visible attempt yet to convert its control over a waterway that handles around 20% of global oil supply into a revenue-generating financial product — denominated in a currency no foreign government can touch.

This post Iran Launches Bitcoin-Backed Insurance Service for Strait of Hormuz Shipping, Eyes $10B In Revenue first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin ATM company, Bitcoin Depot, filed for Chapter 11 protection on May 18 in the Southern District of Texas, announcing it would wind down operations and sell assets, and that its kiosk network, with over 9,000 locations globally as of August 2025, would go offline the same day.

A May 12 SEC disclosure showed that first-quarter revenue fell 49.2% year over year, gross profit collapsed by 85.5%, and management flagged “substantial doubt” about the company's ability to continue as a going concern. The net loss for the quarter was $9.5 million, compared with net income of $12.2 million a year earlier.

Bitcoin Depot tied the deterioration to state and municipal restrictions, lower transaction limits, enhanced identity verification requirements, litigation, and more than $20 million in accrued legal judgments.

That accounting turns the bankruptcy into a regulated business, explaining how compliance requirements dismantled its economics.

What the machines were supposed to do

A Bitcoin ATM lets users exchange cash for cryptocurrency without linking a bank account, making Bitcoin accessible to cash-preferred customers, the underbanked, and anyone who wants in-person access without connecting to an exchange.

The model carried a structural problem from the start, as FinCEN puts kiosk fees at 7% to 20%, far above what centralized exchanges charge.

That pricing could sustain urgent or one-off cash conversions, but building a mass-adoption argument on 20% fees was always going to break down. The machines functioned as expensive on-ramps, and the economics of low-cost, repeat-use by consumers were always out of reach.

FTC data showed that reported Bitcoin ATM fraud totaled more than $65 million in the first half of 2024, with a median reported loss of $10,000. FBI data for 2025 recorded 13,460 complaints tied to crypto kiosks, with total reported losses of $389 million, representing a 58% jump.

Adults aged 60 and older accounted for roughly $257.5 million of that figure, and that concentration among older victims gave the regulatory backlash a political durability that standard anti-money-laundering enforcement rarely achieves.

Indiana enacted a statewide prohibition on virtual currency kiosks, Tennessee made installing or operating such kiosks a Class A misdemeanor, and Minnesota approved a ban set to take effect in 2026.

Bitcoin Depot's bankruptcy connects those two threads directly, since stricter KYC controls cut transaction throughput, fraud warnings and lower limits reduced per-machine revenue, and litigation costs compounded the $20 million in accrued legal judgments already on its books.

The compliance measures that made kiosks safer stripped out the economic advantages that had made high fees defensible.

Finbold's compilation of Coin ATM Radar data shows the worldwide Bitcoin ATM count rose from 37,722 to 39,158 in 2025, adding roughly four machines per day.

The US ended 2025 with 30,617 machines, about 78% of the global installed base, but grew only 1.65% from 30,119 at the start of the year.

Australia added 601 machines, a 43% increase, while Canada grew 8.4% and Europe grew 6.5%. The markets where kiosks are still expanding are those where regulators still treat the machines primarily as tools for financial access.

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The two cases for crypto ATMs

In the bullish case, buyers could acquire viable Bitcoin Depot assets, selectively relaunch machines in states without outright bans, and global counts continue to climb.

Operators who absorb compliance costs run machines that function as regulated cash-conversion terminals with lower throughput and tighter margins.

Margins compress, but the product survives as a narrow, legal cash-to-crypto channel for users who cannot or will not use centralized exchanges.

Bitcoin Depot has said it intends to sell assets as part of an orderly process, which means the physical infrastructure could be transferred to new ownership and reopened.

In this scenario, kiosks resemble check-cashing stores with high fees, limited volume, real but narrow demand, and are sustainable only if operators accept thinner economics.

For the bearish case, if Indiana, Tennessee, and Minnesota represent a leading edge rather than outliers, the US installed base contracts sharply.

Each ban removes a portion of the 30,617 machines that represent nearly four in five global kiosks. Bitcoin Depot's roughly 9,000 locations account for about 23% of the global total at year-end 2025. If those assets are not reactivated, the installed base takes a direct hit before any further state action compounds the loss.

If KYC requirements, transaction limits, refund obligations, and litigation exposure make high-fee kiosk operation unprofitable even without bans, the machines come down without regulatory intervention.

The cash bridge with no path to scale

Bitcoin adoption has moved well beyond kiosks, with Chainalysis estimating over $1.2 trillion in Bitcoin-to-fiat inflows to centralized exchanges from July 2024 to June 2025.

ETFs, mobile wallets, stablecoins, and institutional rails now carry the case for adoption. Chainalysis's 2025 adoption index ranked India, the US, Pakistan, Vietnam, and Brazil as the top markets powered by exchange, mobile, and institutional rails.

Bitcoin ATMs gave cash-preferred users a physical on-ramp, made Bitcoin tangible in retail environments, and operated during a period when crypto still needed a real-world interface.

The distance between their fees and exchange-based alternatives was always too wide for mass adoption, and the use case that generated the highest-margin transactions also generated $389 million in reported fraud losses in a single year.

Machines in permissive states may survive as compliance-compliant cash conversion terminals, serving a narrow user base that still needs in-person cash access.

The rest leave behind a clearer record of how the crypto ATM dream was an expensive on-ramp that made Bitcoin visible without ever making it cheap, trusted, or repeatable enough to serve as mass-market infrastructure.

The post The US Bitcoin ATM industry is breaking under fraud, bans, and fees appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Bitcoin price breaking below $78,000 turned one of crypto’s strongest regulatory weeks into a severe test of market structure, exposing how quickly macroeconomic pressure and crowded positioning can overpower a favorable policy catalyst.

The price decline came shortly after the CLARITY Act advanced toward a Senate floor vote, a milestone that would typically strengthen the case for higher digital asset prices by reducing regulatory uncertainty.

Instead, CryptoQuant data reveals that the top cryptocurrency fell roughly $4,100 over the weekend. This sudden drop wiped out about $80 billion in market value and triggered nearly $980 million in liquidations across crypto derivatives markets.

According to market experts, the selloff highlighted that Bitcoin entered this catalyst with too much leverage.

Compounding the issue were weakening ETF demand and a macroeconomic backdrop that had grown increasingly unforgiving toward risk assets. By the time the positive policy news arrived, the market was already primed for a reset.

Thus, Bitcoin below $78,000 leaves the market in a highly complex position, with momentum stalled and short-term traders forced to cut their exposure.

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Why Bitcoin price could not trade on the CLARITY Act alone

While the CLARITY Act significantly improved Bitcoin’s long-term regulatory outlook, its near-term pricing remains tethered to yields, the strength of the dollar, and global liquidity conditions.

As CryptoSlate previously reported, US Treasury yields pushed higher as investors reassessed the trajectory of Federal Reserve policy. Last week, the 10-year yield climbed toward 4.62%, while the 30-year approached 5.14%, effectively raising the discount rate across all risk assets.

Naturally, higher yields pressure Bitcoin by tightening financial conditions and making speculative assets less attractive compared to cash and bonds.

Adding another layer of pressure is the US dollar. Crypto trading firm QCP noted that the USD/JPY pair traded near 158-159, which is dangerously close to the 160 level that has historically drawn intervention from Japanese authorities.

A sharper move through this zone could trigger a partial unwind of crowded yen-funded carry trades, a mechanism that rapidly drains liquidity from global markets.

At the same time, asset management firm Bitwise noted that stress in Japanese government bonds (JGBs) fed into the broader rates narrative.

The 30-year JGB yield reached a record high, and the 10-year yield climbed to levels unseen since the late 1990s. As global investors rebalance across sovereign bond markets, rising Japanese yields often spill over into US Treasurys.

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May 18, 2026 · Gino Matos

Meanwhile, US trade policy did little to ease these headwinds.

Markets had hoped for more concrete progress after the Trump-Xi summit, but the absence of clear rare-earth concessions for the US and limited detail on tariff reductions for China left investors cautious. Rising oil prices and a hotter inflation print then reinforced the view that the Fed may have less room to ease.

Consequently, rate expectations have adjusted rapidly. Markets are now pricing in a 50% to 60% probability that the Fed’s benchmark rate could be 25 basis points higher by January 2027, representing a sharp reversal from earlier base-case cut projections.

This shifting landscape makes it incredibly difficult for Bitcoin to sustain a purely regulatory-driven rally without fresh liquidity support.

Bitcoin options expiry left crowded longs exposed as ETF demand weakened

As the market grappled with these macroeconomic headwinds, Bitcoin also exhibited structural fragilities in its own trading setup, which quickly spilled over into the spot market.

According to QCP, Bitcoin had spent much of the past month comfortably hovering near $80,000. However, this stability relied heavily on options positioning that was preparing to expire.

Specifically, BTC’s spot price action was restrained by dealer positioning, largely through at-the-money gamma tied to IBIT options.

This setup naturally absorbed volatility, locking Bitcoin into a narrow range even as other assets swung aggressively. When dealers are positioned this way, their buying and selling flows mechanically dampen price movements, creating an illusion of stability.

That mechanical support evaporated after Friday’s expiry, when more than $4 billion in IBIT options rolled off. Without the stabilizing gamma effect, Bitcoin lost its firm footing near $80,000, leaving highly leveraged traders exposed in an increasingly thin market.

QCP noted that this setup made Bitcoin highly vulnerable to a liquidation cascade once the spot price broke through key support.

This is because the market had crowded into bullish positions before the regulatory catalyst could spark sustained spot demand. Once volatility spiked, long traders, who had treated the $78,000 to $80,000 range as an ironclad floor, were abruptly forced to unwind.

This liquidation wave immediately collided with a weakening spot-demand environment. Over the weekend, CryptoSlate reported that Bitcoin ETF outflows exceeded $1 billion the prior week. This was the largest weekly outflow since January.

These withdrawals arrived at a critical juncture in the market, as ETF demand had previously been one of the most reliable pillars of support during Bitcoin’s recovery.

Meanwhile, Bitwise also observed that this reversal followed a period of highly elevated crypto sentiment, setting the stage for aggressive profit-taking once macro conditions deteriorated.

Ultimately, these ETF outflows changed the very character of the selloff. While the initial leg down was driven by leverage, options expiries, and the loss of mechanical support, the ETF withdrawals indicated that longer-duration buyers were also reducing their exposure.

This makes the decline much harder to dismiss as a simple derivatives-driven reset, as BTC lacked the spot demand necessary to absorb the massive leverage flush near $78,000.

Beneath the selloff, Bitcoin’s supply picture still points to accumulation

Despite the bleak short-term price action, Bitcoin's underlying network fundamentals paint a surprisingly different picture: one of quiet accumulation and a deepening supply contraction.

Binance Research highlighted several on-chain signals pointing toward tightening supply and fading sell pressure.

According to the firm, nearly 60% of Bitcoin’s supply has not moved in over a year, up from 27% in 2012. This dormancy peaked at 69.5% in January 2024 and remains at historically elevated levels, indicating that long-term holders still control a massive share of the supply.

This metric suggests fewer coins are rushing to market during stressful periods.

BTC's dwindling exchange balances reinforce this view. Since peaking at 17.6% during the COVID-era market shock, the share of Bitcoin held on exchanges has plummeted to roughly 15.0%. About 500,000 BTC have left exchanges over this period, driving immediately available sell-side supply to a six-year low.

Furthermore, the SLRV ratio remains in a historical bottom zone, a state where long-term holders dominate and short-term speculation is subdued. Historically, this zone aligns more closely with market accumulation phases than with distribution.

Adding to this positive structural outlook, the short-term holder MVRV measure, which stayed below 1.0 since November 2024, has finally reclaimed the 1.0 mark. This signals that short-term holders are beginning to rebuild unrealized gains, effectively exhausting immediate sell pressure.

Bitwise data corroborates this dynamic, showing that long-term holder supply has swelled to roughly 14.8 million BTC, representing 74.3% of the circulating supply. Statistically, these coins are controlled by investors who are highly unlikely to panic-sell.

While these indicators do not erase the risk of near-term downside, they strongly suggest that the weekend decline flushed out excess leverage without fundamentally altering the market's deeper ownership structure.

Options traders are bracing for another leg lower while keeping the rebound trade alive

Given this complex backdrop, BTC price action and derivatives positioning indicate that crypto traders are preparing for prolonged volatility rather than a decisive directional breakout.

Deribit data shows a distinct bifurcation in market sentiment. On the defensive side, the $60,000 and $75,000 put strikes have emerged as massive positions, holding over $2.4 billion.

This reflects a strong demand to hedge against a deeper drawdown should macroeconomic pressures intensify following the break below $78,000.

At the same time, the options market still leaves room for a Bitcoin rebound if spot price reclaims the broken $78,000 to $80,000 range.

Conversely, upside potential remains robust. The $80,000 and $90,000 call strikes carry more than $2.8 billion in open interest, proving that traders haven't abandoned the rebound thesis. They are deliberately leaving room for a sharp recovery through the recently broken range.

This split positioning is a recipe for choppy price action. Large put interest can reinforce caution and accelerate selling during dips, while heavy call exposure can aggressively draw traders back in if the spot price stabilizes.

Without a definitive catalyst, call overwriters may also step back into the market to sell upside volatility, mechanically pinning Bitcoin near its current levels.

This dynamic makes the $78,000 to $80,000 zone the absolute center of gravity. A clean, decisive move back above this range would challenge the bearish positions established during the selloff, likely forcing traders to rebuild upside exposure.

On the other hand, failing to reclaim it keeps downside hedges attractive, leaving Bitcoin vulnerable to testing lower support levels.

The post Bitcoin’s price drop below $78K cleared the path for a rebound as options traders hedge downside risk appeared first on CryptoSlate.

President Donald Trump-themed TRUMP coin is dangling luxury suite tickets to the 2026 World Cup final in a bid to arrest its severe market collapse.

The initiative, organized through the “TRUMP Coin Club,” represents the latest attempt to inject liquidity and consumer interest into a digital asset that has lost roughly 97% of its value since January 2025.

However, the promotional push comes alongside quiet adjustments to the project’s legal disclosures, which explicitly warn investors that affiliated insider entities may dump their own token holdings while the marketing campaign is underway.

TRUMP's luxury incentive amid a market collapse

According to updated promotional materials on the token's official website, the project has launched a leaderboard contest running from May 12 through July 1.

The top 19 holders of the $TRUMP token at the end of this period are promised a three-day VIP experience in July, culminating in access to a private luxury suite for the World Cup final game on July 19.

Winners of the contest would also receive secondary incentives, such as 20% discounts on Trump-branded commercial merchandise, including watches, fragrances, and sneakers, as well as commemorative merchandise gift bags.

The fine print on the website explicitly states that neither FIFA nor the World Cup tournament organizers are affiliated with or endorse the cryptocurrency promotion.

Meanwhile, the aggressive marketing push comes as the digital asset faces a severe, protracted downturn.

Data from CryptoSlate indicates that the TRUMP token has shed more than 54% of its value since the start of the year, currently trading at approximately $2.21.

The current valuation represents a stark retreat from its historical peak near $74 per coin, achieved just prior to Presidential Inauguration Day in January 2025.

This poor price performance has persisted despite several highly publicized events, including an exclusive gala held at the Mar-a-Lago resort last month for top-tier investors.

Updated terms allow insider sales as tokens move to exchanges

Meanwhile, the World Cup campaign is unfolding under a disclaimer that gives the project’s affiliated entities room to sell tokens during the same promotional push designed to keep holders engaged.

The terms say Fight Fight Fight LLC, CIC Digital LLC, and their affiliates may sell, transfer, or otherwise dispose of TRUMP tokens through preannounced disposition plans or other arrangements.

They also state that those entities may dispose of tokens in conjunction with marketing, promotional, community-building, or other activities tied to the project, including the Coin Club and related events.

That language is more than a standard risk warning in the context of recent wallet activity.

Earlier this month, blockchain analyst Ember CN reported that the project operators transferred about 7 million TRUMP tokens, valued at nearly $20 million, into centralized cryptocurrency exchanges.

The transfers followed earlier movements from wallets associated with the project team, adding to concerns that promotional campaigns could coincide with increased token liquidity from insider-linked holdings.

Transfers to exchange-linked wallets do not automatically confirm open-market sales. Still, they show why the project’s legal language is drawing attention.

A campaign that rewards holders for maintaining large balances can encourage accumulation, while the terms make clear that affiliated entities may be reducing exposure during the same period.

Meanwhile, the terms also warned users not to acquire or accumulate TRUMP based on any expectation that promotional activity will increase or maintain the token’s price.

It further stated that TRUMP is not intended to be an investment opportunity, investment contract, or security.

Additionally, it clarified that the product is not distributed or sold by Donald J. Trump, the Trump Organization, or their respective affiliates or principals, and that Trump’s name, image, and likeness are used under a limited license.

Those disclaimers are likely to remain central to the market debate.

The promotion leans heavily on Trump branding and high-profile access, while the legal terms separate the token from formal investment claims and preserve affiliated entities' ability to dispose of holdings during periods of heightened market attention.

Ethics concerns rise around Trump's crypto endeavors

The operational framework of the TRUMP memecoin highlights the highly profitable, parallel economy that has emerged around politically branded digital assets.

While retail buyers who purchased tokens during the early 2025 market peaks have seen their capital largely eroded, the broader financial network surrounding the Trump family has maintained steady profitability.

An investigation by Reuters revealed that entities tied to the Trump family have raised more than $1 billion from cryptocurrency ventures and digital asset sales.

This figure includes at least $336 million generated solely from meme-coin licensing and sales during the first half of 2025, with billions more remaining in unrealized, non-liquid token allocations.

As a result, government ethics experts and Democratic lawmakers have repeatedly raised objections to the intersection of political influence and speculative digital assets.

In fact, Senator Elizabeth Warren led an effort to amend the recently advanced CLARITY Act bill to include provisions that would “rein in the corruption.”

As the July 1 leaderboard deadline approaches, blockchain transaction data show that sell-side pressure continues to dominate trading volumes.

For retail traders vying for a seat at the World Cup final, the challenge remains twofold: navigating a cratering token price while competing against the potential sell orders from the project’s own creators.

The post TRUMP coin World Cup VIP offer lets insiders sell while holders compete for tickets appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The tokenized real-world asset market is nearing $30 billion on-chain, but most of that growth is still sitting outside DeFi. DefiLlama data shows only $2.47 billion is active in DeFi protocols, exposing the gap between tokenized ownership and assets that can actually move through open crypto markets.

The rest of the tokenized real-world assets market sits outside the lending markets and collateral vaults that make crypto assets composable. Bond and money market funds are the largest single RWA category at over $16.6 billion on-chain, yet they carry only $920 million in DeFi active total value locked (TVL).

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Feb 12, 2026 · Gino Matos

Gold and commodities sit at $5.7 billion on-chain against $183.6 million in DeFi, while stocks and equities contribute $2.7 billion on-chain against $78.27 million in DeFi.

Private credit stands apart with $3.226 billion on-chain and $1.257 billion in DeFi active TVL, a 39% ratio, driven by protocols like Maple Finance and Centrifuge that built their products as lending instruments from inception.

Issuers built categories such as Treasury funds, gold, and equities for institutional holding and regulated fund architecture.

Permissioned architecture limits DeFi composability

DefiLlama classifies BlackRock's money market fund, BUIDL, as permissioned and records only $18.9 million in DeFi active TVL for the fund.

IOSCO's November 2025 final report on financial asset tokenization noted that BUIDL created a permissioned system on public blockchains for issuance, custody, secondary trading between allowlisted qualified investors, dividend distribution, and redemption.

Prospective holders must clear a Securitize-managed allowlist, and on-chain transactions carry no legal effect until a transfer agent reconciles them with the off-chain record.

That makes BUIDL a compliance infrastructure that runs on blockchain rails for institutional holding and transfer-agent reconciliation. The fact that the fund's contracts interact only with allowlisted addresses prevents direct deposit into open protocols like Aave or Uniswap without a compliant wrapper in between.

BlackRock's February 2026 Uniswap integration moved a portion of BUIDL onto the platform. Still, Securitize controls the list of eligible institutions and market makers, and access stays restricted to qualified purchasers with at least $5 million in assets.

IOSCO found that secondary trading of tokenized money market funds (MMFs) generally operates this way and concluded that the sector has yet to deliver the promised secondary-market liquidity benefits.

RedStone's March 2026 tokenization report identified that the hardest part of tokenization is handling compliance, identity, transfer restrictions, sanctions, and corporate actions across jurisdictions and chains. That makes Morpho and Aave Horizon the clearest RWA DeFi examples in the current data set.

Every additional compliance constraint a platform builds in makes the asset harder to integrate into DeFi, and issuers of tokenized Treasuries, Treasury funds, and MMFs built those constraints in by design to satisfy their regulated investor base.

The gold and commodities category adds a third dimension to the stack, as CoinGecko data showed that tokenized gold spot volume hit $90.7 billion in the first quarter of 2026, surpassing the full year 2025. Yet centralized exchanges account for the vast majority of spot trading for tokenized assets.

The $183.6 million DeFi active TVL figure for the category reflects activity concentrated on centralized venues, which falls entirely outside DefiLlama's DeFi protocol tracking.

Where the bull case lives

Ondo's USDY crossed $1 billion in TVL in early 2026 and operates across nine blockchains. Ondo Global Markets, which launched in September 2025 to offer tokenized US stocks and ETFs to non-US investors, built its tokens for free transferability and DeFi collateral acceptance, reaching $650 million in TVL and over $12 billion in cumulative trading volume.

RedStone's report counts over $620 million in RWA deposits on Morpho and $423.5 million in total market size on Aave Horizon, two lending protocols that have made RWA collateral a functional product.

These products demonstrate that composability is achievable at the issuance level when designers build for permissionless circulation from the start.

DWF Labs' April 2026 roundtable with participants from Centrifuge, Falcon Finance, and xStocks concluded that the RWA market is bifurcating into two lanes: one for ownership-first, permissioned rails, and another for composability-first designs that combine compliant issuance with secondary-market utility.

Centrifuge's Graham Nelson said that strict allowlisting prevents an asset from entering open pools when every pool participant must be individually onboarded.

Centrifuge's DeRWA approach addresses this by wrapping compliant primary issuance with freer secondary transferability. Falcon Finance's Artem Tolkachev called composability and exit mechanics the bridges between real-world assets and crypto liquidity.

The bull case is that enough of the market moves in this direction to pull the DeFi-active ratio meaningfully above 9% as the total on-chain RWA market approaches $50 billion.

The bear case, in the data

Standard Chartered projects $2 trillion in tokenized assets by 2028 but warns that the boom could consolidate inside bank infrastructure, with open markets capturing little of the growth.

IOSCO's November 2025 report found that tokenized assets still largely rely on conventional financial infrastructure for distribution and secondary trading because of accessibility and liquidity constraints on DLT platforms.

The ECB noted in its April 2026 tokenization research that the lack of common standards can entrench tokenized markets as isolated pools, each with its own compliance framework, settlement layer, and access model, thereby concentrating liquidity within closed networks.

Bond and MMF funds at 5.5%, gold and commodities at 3.2%, and stocks and equities at 2.9% put numbers to that structural separation.

Most tokenized Treasury and MMF products carry minimum investment thresholds, KYC requirements, transfer-agent reconciliation cycles, and NAV-aligned redemption windows that are structurally incompatible with real-time AMM pricing or permissionless collateral vaults.

Regulators required these features, and issuers accepted them.

Two markets, one scoreboard

The $30 billion figure and the $2.47 billion DeFi active TVL figure measure two distinct markets the industry groups under the same RWA label.

One is regulated on-chain finance, consisting of MMFs, Treasury funds, custody rails, and issuer-managed records reconciled by transfer agents. The other is DeFi composability, comprised of assets deposited in lending protocols, used as permissionless collateral, and integrated into automated yield strategies.

Morpho's $620 million in RWA deposits and USDY's nine-chain footprint show the second market has real traction.

For the DeFi-active ratio to surpass 9%, issuers would have to choose a structure that allows permissionless circulation by design instead of the BUIDL architecture, where the compliance structure is the product.

With most of the current $28.56 billion in on-chain market cap in the permissioned camp, tokenized assets still look more like regulated on-chain finance than open DeFi collateral.

The next test is whether the DeFi-active share can move beyond the current 9% zone as the on-chain RWA market grows toward $50 billion. If the new issuance still follows the BUIDL-style model, the scoreboard will keep expanding while open DeFi captures only the edge of the market.

The post RWA tokenization nears $30 billion, but DeFi is capturing only a fraction appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Crypto traders are already assigning Elon Musk’s SpaceX stock a public-market valuation before the rocket and satellite company has filed for an IPO.

On May 17, Hyperliquid-powered Trade.xyz launched a SpaceX pre-IPO perpetual futures contract, creating a live, cash-settled market for traders to bet on where the private company could trade when it eventually lists.

According to the firm, the contract will trade under the ticker SPCX-USDC, opened with a $150 reference price based on SpaceX’s reported 11.87 billion fully diluted shares.

That starting point implied a SpaceX valuation of about $1.78 trillion, placing the contract inside the $1.75 trillion to $2 trillion range that SpaceX has reportedly targeted for a public offering.

However, SPCX's trading quickly moved above that level as its value rose to as high as $216, pushing the implied valuation beyond $2.5 trillion before settling near $203.

At the same time, the first 12 hours of trading generated more than $40 million in volume, showing how quickly crypto-native traders moved into a market that has no equivalent on traditional public exchanges.

The early move gives SpaceX a shadow market before Wall Street has an official listing price, underwriting range, or public filing to analyze.

It also extends one of crypto’s fastest-growing market-structure experiments into the private-company arena, where access has historically been limited to venture funds, employees, secondary-market investors, and large institutions.

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SPCX gives traders a market before SpaceX IPO

The SpaceX contract is the second pre-IPO perpetual market launched by Trade.xyz after Cerebras Systems, which began trading on May 1 under the CBRS ticker.

The Cerebras product gave traders an early test case for synthetic price discovery around private companies. Market observers noted that its trading price closely tracked the eventual listing price, offering Trade.xyz an early validation point as it expands into larger, more closely watched companies.

SpaceX gives that model a much bigger stage. The company sits at the center of several public-market themes, including reusable rockets, satellite internet, defense contracts, private space infrastructure, and Elon Musk’s broader corporate network.

Data from Arkham Intelligence shows that the firm is also holding about 8,285 Bitcoin in Coinbase Prime custody, valued at about $637 million.

For these reasons, its potential listing has long been viewed as one of the most consequential IPO candidates in the world, even though the company has yet to file an S-1 registration statement.

SPCX effectively creates a market-implied view of that future valuation. Traders can go long or short the contract using USDC as the quoted asset, with the price reflecting positioning, funding dynamics, and the market’s expectation of how SpaceX could be valued in a public-market debut.

The structure also gives crypto traders exposure to a company that has remained unavailable through normal public-market channels.

SpaceX shares trade through private secondary markets and tender offers, but those venues are fragmented, restricted, and often inaccessible to retail investors. A Hyperliquid-listed perp changes the access point, even though it gives no ownership claim on the underlying company.

SPCX presents opportunities and risks to the market

While early trading in SPCX shows clear demand for SpaceX exposure, the contract’s credibility will depend on whether its price series remains coherent as liquidity builds and the company moves closer to a public listing.

Alvin Kan, COO of Bitget Wallet, told CryptoSlate that Hyperliquid’s launch of pre-IPO perpetuals tied to companies such as SpaceX opens private-company narratives to a broader trading audience through liquid, always-on crypto markets.

Kan said the appeal is straightforward because users can gain synthetic exposure to high-profile companies that have historically been difficult to access.

However, he warned that these products differ sharply from traditional pre-IPO investing or tokenized equities because traders are speculating on valuation and market sentiment rather than acquiring ownership, shareholder rights, or claims on underlying shares.

According to him:

“The opportunity is that crypto infrastructure can dramatically expand access and price discovery around private-market demand… The challenge is that pricing these assets is inherently difficult because there is no continuous public-market benchmark behind them.”

He also added that early liquidity could be driven more by short-term speculation than deep institutional participation, making oracle design and reference pricing critical.

Kan said the closer these products appear to equity exposure in practice, the more important transparency becomes around what users are actually buying, particularly from a regulatory and investor-protection standpoint.

Nicolai Sondergaard, a research analyst at Nansen, also told CryptoSlate that SPCX is structurally significant because it extends crypto-native liquidity into late-stage private-company exposure, an asset class historically limited to venture investors, employee tender markets, and secondary-share buyers.

At the same time, Sondergaard said the launch will test whether perpetual futures can serve as a credible price-discovery venue for a company with no public float and limited financial disclosure.

According to him:

“[SPCX] tests whether onchain perp mechanics, continuous funding rates, permissionless access, 24/7 trading, and synthetic settlement can function as a credible price-discovery venue for a company with no public float and limited public financial disclosure.”

That test, Sondergaard explained, carries obvious risks because a perpetual contract without a liquid underlying spot market can end up pricing a narrative as much as an asset.

Its funding rates may reflect positioning and sentiment, while the lack of delivery or redemption mechanisms means the contract can drift away from any reasonable estimate of intrinsic value.

That risk is especially relevant for SpaceX. The company’s cap table is complex, secondary-market data is limited, and Starlink’s financial profile remains difficult to assess from the outside.

Those gaps leave traders relying on reported tender valuations, investor expectations and market appetite for Musk-linked assets.

Still, SPCX could become a useful signal if liquidity deepens and the contract maintains a stable relationship with known private-market pricing.

It could also become a speculative venue where sentiment around SpaceX, Starlink, Musk, and broader risk appetite moves faster than fundamentals.

Hyperliquid’s expansion brings Washington into the frame

Meanwhile, the new SpaceX contract also lands at a sensitive moment for Hyperliquid, the leading decentralized exchange.

Over the past months, the decentralized derivatives platform has grown into one of the most active crypto trading venues, helped by demand for around-the-clock markets tied to crypto assets, commodities, equities, and other synthetic instruments.

This has become particularly evident during the ongoing US-Israel-Iran war, where traders used Hyperliquid to hedge exposure to oil, gold, silver, and US equities while traditional markets were closed.

That growth has brought more attention from policymakers and traditional market operators like CME Group and ICE's New York Stock Exchange.

Their concerns center on market surveillance, jurisdiction, manipulation risk, sanctions compliance, and whether public-blockchain derivatives should operate under a regulatory framework designed for centralized exchanges.

In response to this scrutiny, Hyperliquid has increased its policy presence in Washington.

Last week, the platform's founder, Jeff Yan, said that he met with US lawmakers to discuss on-chain derivatives and a regulatory path for bringing blockchain-based trading markets into the US.

Yan said some conversations were technical, while others focused on decentralized finance and the demand for onchain markets. He added that he saw bipartisan interest in crypto regulation and expected the discussions to continue.

The Hyperliquid Policy Center has also pushed back against criticism from incumbent exchanges, arguing that the platform’s public ledger creates a full real-time record of transactions. The group has said that transparency can help surveillance, detection, and investigation by regulators and law enforcement.

That argument is now being tested against more complex products, like a SpaceX pre-IPO perp, which raises different questions than a Bitcoin or Ethereum contract.

The post SpaceX IPO betting on Hyperliquid values Elon Musk’s company above $2 trillion even before SEC filing appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Crypto Market Reversal Begins After Heavy Market Pressure

The crypto market is showing early signs of recovery after a sharp risk-off move triggered by geopolitical tension, stock market volatility, and renewed uncertainty around global liquidity. Bitcoin is currently trading near $77,000, with only a slight daily gain, while several altcoins are already turning green.

This creates an important question for traders: is this a real crypto market reversal, or just a temporary relief bounce after the latest sell-off?

The shift comes after President Donald Trump signalled that a potential Iran deal may still be possible, easing some immediate market fears. Reuters reported that Gulf and European markets moved higher after Trump’s comments calmed investor nerves, while oil prices also eased from recent highs.

Why Bitcoin Is Staying Flat Around $77K

Bitcoin remains the key market indicator, but its movement is still limited. According to the latest market data, BTC is trading around $77,000, up only slightly over the past 24 hours. This shows that traders are not fully convinced that the correction is over.

There are a few reasons why Bitcoin is not moving aggressively yet.

First, BTC was hit by macro fear after the market reacted to the geopolitical situation. Second, institutional flows remain a concern after reports of major Bitcoin ETF outflows. Third, Bitcoin is still facing technical pressure, with traders watching whether it can reclaim stronger resistance zones above the current range.

In simple terms, Bitcoin is stabilising, but it has not yet confirmed a strong bullish breakout.

Why Altcoins Are Turning Green Faster Than Bitcoin

While Bitcoin is moving sideways, some altcoins are showing stronger momentum. In the latest market performance, coins like Hyperliquid ($HYPE), Zcash ($ZEC), Bitcoin Cash ($BCH), and Chainlink ($LINK) are outperforming the broader market.

This usually happens when traders start looking for higher-risk, higher-reward opportunities after a market correction. Once Bitcoin stops falling, liquidity can rotate into altcoins that already have strong narratives or technical momentum.

For example, $HYPE is gaining attention due to its role in decentralized derivatives trading. $ZEC is benefiting from renewed interest in privacy-related crypto assets. $BCH is showing strength as one of the older Bitcoin-related coins, while $LINK remains tied to the broader real-world asset and oracle narrative.

This does not mean the full altcoin season has started, but it does show that selective altcoins are reacting faster than Bitcoin.

Crypto Market Reversal or Relief Bounce?

The current crypto market reversal still needs confirmation. Bitcoin holding above the $77K zone is positive, but the market remains fragile. A stronger recovery would likely require BTC to move back above key resistance levels, ETF flows to stabilise, and macro fears to ease further.

For now, the market appears to be in a cautious recovery phase. Altcoins are bouncing, but Bitcoin is not yet leading the move with strong conviction.

This is important because a real crypto market reversal usually needs Bitcoin strength first. If BTC stays flat while altcoins pump too quickly, the move could become unstable. However, if Bitcoin holds its range and gradually moves higher, altcoins could continue to outperform in the short term.

What Traders Should Watch Next

The next major signals are Bitcoin’s ability to hold the $77K area, whether ETH can recover above stronger support levels, and whether high-momentum altcoins can keep their gains.

Traders should also watch macro headlines closely. The latest market reaction shows that crypto is still highly sensitive to geopolitical developments, oil prices, stock market moves, and institutional flows.

If tensions continue to ease, Bitcoin may stabilise further and give altcoins more room to recover. But if new risk-off headlines appear, the crypto market could quickly return to selling pressure.

Conclusion: Altcoins Are Recovering, But Bitcoin Must Confirm the Move

The crypto market is showing signs of recovery, but the move is not fully confirmed yet. Bitcoin remains flat near $77K, while selected altcoins are already turning green and attracting fresh attention.

This makes the current setup interesting but risky. The altcoin rebound suggests that traders are slowly returning to risk assets, but Bitcoin still needs to prove that the market has moved beyond a simple relief bounce.

For now, the crypto market reversal is developing, but confirmation depends on whether Bitcoin can break out of its current range and bring stronger momentum back to the market.

$BTC, $ETH, $HYPE, $ZEC, $BCH, $LINK, $SOL, $XRP

The global financial ecosystem has been hit by sudden and intense volatility, triggering a sharp crypto crash and a massive sell-off in traditional equities. High-stakes geopolitical friction has once again proven to be the primary catalyst for market panic, forcing investors to rapidly liquidate risk assets.

Why Are Cryptos Crashing Today?

The sudden market downturn was directly triggered by news that the United States administration has officially rejected Iran's latest 14-point peace proposal. This rejection comes right before a highly anticipated, high-level White House Situation Room meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

As a result, a massive wave of capitulation hit both digital assets and legacy markets simultaneously:

• All cryptos crash: The broader digital asset market experienced a sharp flash crash, erasing billions in market capitalization within minutes.
• $403,000,000,000 wiped out: Wall Street felt an immediate impact, with over $403 billion bleeding out of US stocks in a single hour following the geopolitical escalation.

USA Iran war: When will it end?

The fragile truce brokered over the past weeks is facing its toughest test. Tensions flared over the weekend when President Trump warned via social media that "the clock is ticking" for Tehran to agree to terms, hinting at potential strikes on infrastructure if negotiations completely stall.

While Iran conveyed an amended set of terms via Pakistani mediators to avoid further conflict, the US administration's swift rejection and subsequent hardening stance have signaled to investors that a diplomatic resolution is slipping out of reach. The upcoming Situation Room meeting on Tuesday is now viewed by macro analysts as a critical turning point that could either spark a renewed military confrontation or push inflation expectations higher via energy shocks in the Strait of Hormuz.

Crypto Crash & Equity Crash

When geopolitical threats spike, the correlation between cryptocurrencies and high-beta US equities typically tightens. The sudden deletion of $403 billion from US stock indices created a liquidity vacuum that spilled directly into crypto order books.

[US Rejects Peace Proposal] ➔ [Situation Room Meeting Fears] ➔ [Institutional Derisking] ➔ [$403B Stock Sell-off & Crypto Flash Crash]

Bitcoin, which recently eyed local highs on early peace deal rumors, fell sharply alongside major altcoins. Traders looking to track real-time spot price movements during this high-volatility window can monitor the live Bitcoin price tracker.

Recognized for its ultra-fast throughput and high-efficiency architecture, Solana (SOL) has weathered a volatile macroeconomic climate to secure its place as a cornerstone institutional asset.

As market participants realign their portfolios for the remainder of the year, a central question emerges: is Solana a good buy in 2026, or do competing layer-1 networks and legacy blue-chip cryptos offer a more compelling risk-to-reward ratio?

Is SOL a Strategic Buy above $80?

For investors seeking a direct answer: Yes, Solana presents a highly favorable structural setup at its current valuation of $84. Moving within a well-defined consolidation channel between $75 and $98 throughout the first half of the year, the asset is building significant technical momentum.

With a short-term target firmly set at $100, entering a position at the current $84 mark offers an immediate prospective upside of 19.05%. When weighed against the macro development of the Solana ecosystem—including massive institutional adoption and upcoming network overhauls—the current range serves as a historical accumulation zone before a potential macro trend reversal.

Why is Solana a Good Project

To evaluate if Solana is a sustainable long-term asset, one must look at what it fundamentally brings to the blockchain ecosystem. Solana is a high-performance, open-source Layer-1 blockchain utilizing a unique hybrid consensus mechanism.

Unlike older Proof-of-Work systems or standard Proof-of-Stake protocols, Solana optimizes transaction ordering to achieve unparalleled performance parameters.

• Throughput & Speed: Capable of processing tens of thousands of transactions per second (TPS).
• Cost Efficiency: Transaction fees remain fractions of a cent, making it the premier network for high-frequency trading, consumer decentralized applications (dApps), and global micropayments.
• Institutional Inflows: Spot Solana ETFs in the United States have officially surpassed $1 billion in Assets Under Management (AUM), signaling that major financial entities are actively treating SOL as a digital commodity.

Comparative ROI Analysis: Solana vs. BTC, ETH, and XRP

To truly contextualize whether Solana is the best allocation of capital right now, we must analyze its percentage returns against other major market caps based on their respective medium-term targets.

The table below illustrates the projected growth profiles across the industry's leading assets:

Solana ($84 -> $100)

A move from $84 to the key psychological resistance of $100 yields a neat 19.05% return. While this short-term percentage is technically lower than the macro projections of its peers, the target represents a foundational structural breakout. Securing a daily close above $100 opens the technical floodgates toward Fibonacci extensions at $117 and $262, meaning the $100 target is merely the starting line for exponential expansion. Take a look at the live asset pricing through the CryptoTicker Token Ticker to see how these macro pairs shift daily.

Bitcoin ($76k -> $100k)

With Bitcoin trading firmly at $76,000, a march to the elusive six-figure mark of $100,000 offers a 31.58% return. Bitcoin remains the safest asset in the Web3 ecosystem, but it demands significantly heavier capital inflows to move its multi-trillion-dollar market cap compared to Solana's leaner architecture.

Ethereum ($2.1k -> $3.0k)

Ethereum is currently priced at $2,100 with a medium-term target of $3,000, presenting a 42.86% potential upside. While ETH captures massive institutional liquidity, its scaling reliance on Layer-2 solutions fragments liquidity—an issue Solana bypasses entirely via its monolithic, single-state machine design.

Ripple ($1.38 -> $2.00)

XRP sits at $1.38 with eyes on a move to $2.00, yielding a 44.93% return. Though highly lucrative on paper, XRP is highly dependent on localized regulatory resolutions and cross-border bank integrations, carrying a different risk profile compared to Solana's vibrant on-chain ecosystem. If you are comparing platforms to build your positions, look through our updated Crypto Exchange Comparison guide.

Solana Price Analysis The Alpenglow Upgrade & ETF Inflows

Solana's performance in the latter half of 2026 is structurally underpinned by two massive fundamental catalysts that distinguish it from the rest of the altcoin market.

1. The Alpenglow Consensus Upgrade

Spearheaded by co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko, the Alpenglow upgrade stands as the most critical architectural overhaul in Solana’s history. Slated for full mainnet deployment, Alpenglow transitions the network's core structure to introduce components known as Votor and Rotor.

The primary goal? Slashing block finality from roughly 12.8 seconds down to a blistering 150 milliseconds. This sub-second finality fundamentally changes the landscape for high-frequency trading desks and institutional settlement engines. Furthermore, Alpenglow implements structural penalties for validators attempting to delay blocks for Maximal Extractable Value (MEV) extraction, guaranteeing a fairer and more predictable execution layer for everyday retail users.

2. Deep Institutional Liquidity

According to reports tracking capital flows, spot Solana ETFs have captured robust market share, boasting structural resilience even through the liquidations of early Q1. Major remittance firms, including Western Union via its USDPT stablecoin integration, have turned to Solana for real-world settlement layers. This structural transition from a purely speculative retail platform to a corporate utility ledger creates a sustainable floor for the token's valuation.

Is Solana Coin Risky?

No analytical framework is complete without inspecting the downward pressures. While the bull case for SOL is heavily supported, technical analysts warn of a split outlook if macroeconomic factors deteriorate.

If Solana fails to break through the persistent $98 to $100 wall, it risks a short-term breakdown back to its lower support channels. A definitive breach below the $81.30 support pivot could see SOL retest its primary accumulation floor between $50 and $70. Investors managing large-scale spot positions must balance this short-term downside risk against the overarching long-term fundamental upgrades. To secure your assets safely through these multi-month cycles, explore our comprehensive review on the safest storage devices in the Hardware Wallets Comparison.

Is Solana a Good Buy in 2026?

Is Solana a good buy in 2026? When looking past immediate price action, the combination of an $84 entry point, an impending structural breakout above $100, and the game-changing Alpenglow consensus upgrade positions SOL as one of the most asymmetric risk-to-reward opportunities in the current market.

While legacy assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum offer alternative growth paths, Solana delivers an optimal blend of institutional backing, real-world cross-border utility, and disruptive technical scaling that makes it a premier addition to any forward-thinking digital asset portfolio.

Key Takeaways

• Bitget is a legitimate cryptocurrency exchange founded in 2018, serving over 20 million users across 100 countries, and is recognized as one of the top exchanges for derivatives trading volume.
• Bitget is known for futures trading, bitget copy trading, low fees, a US$300 million protection fund, and monthly proof of reserves reports showing a 163% reserve ratio.
• Bitget offers spot trading, futures, margin trading, copy trading, trading bots, staking, savings, fiat deposits, P2P, and more than 800 cryptocurrencies.
• Bitget is strictly unavailable to residents of the United States, Canada, and Singapore due to regulatory restrictions, and some products are limited in certain regions.

Is Bitget Good For Crypto Trading In 2026?

Bitget is a strong trading platform for users who want more than a simple “buy Bitcoin” app. It is best for active traders, experienced traders, futures users, and anyone interested in social trading or the copy trading feature.

Pros

• Competitive trading fees: 0.1% spot, 0.02% maker and 0.06% taker futures base rates.
• Strong derivatives tools, including leverage up to 125x on major pairs.
• Monthly proof of reserves and a large protection fund.
• User friendly interface on both the web platform and bitget app.
• Large copy trading ecosystem with elite traders and public trade details.

Cons

• Not available in the US, Canada, Singapore, and some sanctioned regions.
• Futures and margin products are risky for first timers.
• Customer support is 24/7 and multilingual, though reports indicate some slower response times.

What Is Bitget? Background And Global Presence

Bitget exchange is a prominent centralized cryptocurrency exchange known as a “Universal Exchange” or UEX. It launched in 2018, is registered in Seychelles, and has built its track record around crypto trading, derivatives, and copy trading.

Key milestones include early derivatives growth, the launch of bitget copy trading around 2020–2021, the Protection Fund in August 2022, and ongoing Proof of Reserve updates from late 2022 onward. Bitget also became visible through sports and esports partnerships, including Lionel Messi, Juventus, and PGL.

Bitget operates across Europe, Latin America, parts of Asia, and Africa, but access is not universal. It has regional entities and registrations in markets such as Lithuania, Poland, and Italy, while adapting to MiCA, FCA, and other 2025–2026 rules. Still, users should check Bitget’s official terms before registering, because futures trading, margin trading, and promotions may be restricted by country.

In 2026, Bitget stands as a trading-first platform rather than a purely retail payments app.

Key Features Of Bitget Exchange

Bitget offers a wide range of trading options for different trading strategies and preferences. The platform supports trading in over 800 cryptocurrencies, providing ample opportunities for traders to diversify portfolios with digital assets.

Spot Trading

Spot trading means buying or selling coins on the spot market with immediate settlement. Bitget offers major pairs like BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT, SOL/USDT, and many altcoins, with TradingView charts, order books, recent trades, and an order panel in one view.

For spot trading, Bitget charges a standard trading fee of 0.1% for both makers and takers. A $1,000 BTC/USDT market buy costs about $1 before discounts. Using Bitget’s native token BGB can yield trading fee discounts of up to 80%, depending on VIP level and promotion rules.

Fiat-to-crypto buying may use instant purchase, P2P, card payments, bank transfers, or third-party partners rather than one fully integrated method everywhere.

Futures Trading

Futures trading is one of Bitget’s main features. Users can trade USDT‑margined, coin‑margined, USDC‑margined, perpetual, and selected dated contracts. Bitget’s futures trading allows for leverage options up to 125x, enabling traders to amplify their positions and potential returns, but also increasing risk.

Futures trading fees are 0.02% for makers and 0.06% for takers. Funding fees on perpetuals are paid between longs and shorts, usually every 8 hours. This matters: even if taker fees look small, funding can reduce profit on longer positions.

Beginners should use isolated margin, low leverage, and stop-loss orders. High leverage can liquidate an account quickly.

Copy Trading And Social Trading

Copy trading allows users to follow and replicate the trades of successful traders, providing a way for less experienced individuals to engage in trading without needing extensive knowledge.

Bitget’s copy trading feature is designed to be user-friendly, allowing followers to set parameters for their investments and manage their risk exposure effectively. Users can review ROI, PnL, max drawdown, win rate, number of followers, and trading style before copying.

The platform has become a leader in copy trading, boasting over 110,000 elite traders and more than 520,000 followers, indicating its popularity and effectiveness in the market. Newer 2026 estimates are even higher, but the core point is clear: bitget copy trading is one of the exchange’s strongest products.

There are several routes: spot copy trading, futures copy trading, and bot copy trading. Trading bots can help automate grid or trend strategies, but they do not remove market risk.

Bitget Wallet

Bitget Wallet, formerly BitKeep, is a separate affiliated non-custodial wallet for DeFi, NFTs, bridges, and swaps. The exchange account is custodial; Bitget Wallet gives users control of private keys.

Use the exchange for active trading on bitget. Use the wallet if you want self-custody, DeFi access, or to move funds away from a centralized platform.

BGB Token And VIP Program

BGB is Bitget’s utility token. It can help users pay fees, access Launchpad or Launchpool campaigns, qualify for VIP tiers, and reduce trading fees. Bitget began with a 2 billion token supply, later adjusted through large burns and updated tokenomics.

BGB is useful for active users, but it is not a guaranteed investment. Its price can move sharply, and holding it adds market risk.

Passive Income: Staking, Savings, Launchpad, And More

Bitget offers flexible savings, fixed savings, staking, Launchpad, Launchpool, and promotional Earn products. APYs vary by asset, region, and campaign.

Treat these as financial products, not risk-free money. Lockups, issuer risk, smart contract risk, token volatility, and regional restrictions can all affect outcomes.

Is Bitget Safe? Security, Proof Of Reserves, And Protection Fund

“Is bitget safe?” is one of the main questions in any bitget review. The answer depends on several layers: solvency, custody, account security, regulation, and user behavior.

Exchange-Level Security And Cold Storage

The platform utilizes cold storage for user funds, which involves storing digital assets offline in multi-signature wallets to enhance security. More than 95% of customer deposits are kept in multi-signature offline cold storage vaults.

Bitget also uses encryption, internal access controls, monitoring, and separation of duties. Bitget has implemented a Bug Bounty Program that incentivizes researchers to find vulnerabilities in its network, enhancing overall security measures.

No exchange can promise zero risk. Do not keep more money on any exchange than you need for planned trading.

Proof Of Reserves

Bitget reports a reserve ratio of 163%, verified monthly through Proof of Reserve reports, which serves as a transparency signal regarding its financial integrity. The platform maintains a reserve ratio of 163%, verified monthly through Proof of Reserve reports, demonstrating a commitment to transparency and financial integrity.

The system uses on-chain snapshots and Merkle tree data so users can verify their own account is included. You can review Bitget’s official Proof of Reserves reports and use the self-check tool from the account area.

A reserve ratio above 100% is positive, but proof of reserves is not the same as a full financial audit.

Bitget Protection Fund

Bitget maintains a Protection Fund valued at $300 million, which is designed to safeguard user investments in the event of security breaches or platform failures. Bitget has a US$300 million Protection Fund to safeguard user investments, which is one of the largest self-insured funds in the cryptocurrency industry.

Bitget maintains and publishes fund information, and the company has reported values above that baseline in several updates. The fund is not government deposit insurance and does not cover normal trading losses.

Account-Level Security Tools

Bitget employs a withdrawal whitelisting method, requiring users to add specific wallets to a whitelist, which significantly reduces the risk of fraud. In plain English, only pre approved addresses can receive withdrawals once the setting is active.

Users should enable two factor authentication, anti-phishing codes, device management, and withdrawal whitelist before they deposit funds. Complete Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks are mandatory on Bitget, so keep documents current to avoid delays.

Bitget Fees: Trading, Funding, And Hidden Costs

Bitget fees are generally competitive compared with most exchanges, but users should understand the full cost: trading fees, funding, spreads, and withdrawal fees.

Bitget does not charge any account fees, inactivity fees, or deposit fees, making it a cost-effective platform for traders. Crypto deposits are usually free from Bitget’s side, though blockchain network costs still apply.

Spot Trading Fees

Base spot trading fees are 0.1% maker and 0.1% taker fees. A $1,000 spot purchase costs about $1. Paying with BGB can reduce the fee, and VIP levels can lower it further.

Occasional zero fees campaigns may apply to selected pairs, but do not assume they are permanent.

Futures Trading Fees And Funding

Base futures fees are 0.02% maker and 0.06% taker. A $1,000 futures market entry and exit at taker rates could cost about $1.20 before funding.

Funding fees change with market conditions. Scalpers and leveraged traders should monitor both fees and funding before entering trades.

Deposits, Withdrawals, And Fiat Costs

Withdrawal fees on Bitget vary by asset and blockchain; for example, the fee for withdrawing Bitcoin (BTC) is 0.00008, while for USDT (TRC-20) it is 1.

Fiat deposits may include card purchases, bank account transfers, SEPA, local rails, P2P, or processors like Banxa. Bank transfers can be cheaper but slower. Always compare total cost, including spreads.

Where Bitget Operates, Regulation, And Who Can Use It

Bitget is global, but not universal. It serves many users in Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa, but some products are blocked in certain regions.

Bitget is strictly unavailable to residents of the United States, Canada, and Singapore due to regulatory restrictions. It is also unavailable in some sanctioned jurisdictions. UK and some EU users may see limits on derivatives, copy trading, or financial promotions.

If a dispute arises, local rules determine whether complaints, arbitration, or legal action are available. Never use a VPN to bypass eligibility rules.

Getting Started With Bitget Using Our Referral Link Web Step‑By‑Step

This walkthrough shows how to start on the web platform using this link.

Step 1: Create Your Account With Our Bitget Referral Link

Open your browser and visit Bitget. 

Sign up with email or phone, create a strong password, enter the verification code, and complete captcha checks. Using the link may qualify users for rewards or discounts depending on the active campaign.

Before depositing, go to Account & Security and enable two factor authentication.

Step 2: Complete KYC Identity Verification

To complete identity verification, go to Profile → Identity Verification. Choose personal verification and submit your legal name, date of birth, country, address, government ID, and selfie or liveness check.

Enhanced identity verification may request proof of address or source of funds. Processing can take minutes or longer during busy periods.

Step 3: Fund Your Bitget Account Crypto And Fiat Deposits

To deposit funds with crypto, go to Assets → Deposit, choose USDT, BTC, or ETH, pick the exact network, copy the address, and send from another wallet or exchange. Network choice matters; ERC‑20 and TRC‑20 are not interchangeable.

For fiat deposits, use Buy Crypto or Deposit Fiat, choose currency and method, then follow card, bank, or partner instructions. P2P trading lets users buy from verified merchants using local payment methods.

Step 4: Place Your First Trade Spot Or Futures

For a first spot trade, go to Trade → Spot, choose BTC/USDT, select Market, enter how much USDT to spend, and click Buy BTC. Check Orders to confirm execution.

For futures, transfer funds from Spot to Futures, choose a USDT‑M pair, set low leverage such as 2–3x, enter size, and review liquidation price before placing the order. Add stop-loss and take-profit levels immediately.

Bitget Customer Support And User Experience

Bitget provides 24/7 multilingual customer support, though reports indicate some slower response times. Support is available through live chat, tickets, and a large Help Center.

The platform offers dense charts, order books, margin controls, and powerful tools. That is great for active traders, but first timers may need time to learn. Bitget Academy can help users understand order types, risk, and cryptocurrency trading basics.

Customer satisfaction is mixed: many users praise low fees and fast execution, while others mention locked account reviews or slow responses. Keep transaction IDs, screenshots, and chat records.

Overall Verdict: Should You Trade On Bitget In 2026?

Bitget makes sense if you want a full crypto exchange with spot, futures, social trading, bots, Earn products, and competitive trading fees. The platform offers more depth than beginner-only apps, and Bitget provides tokenized stock futures to trade synthetic versions of major U.S. equities.

Bitget offers strong tools, but it is not perfect. The main risks are regulation, leverage, copy trader losses, customer support delays, and custodial exchange risk.

If you want to trade crypto actively, start small, protect your account, and use this link to get started.

FAQ

Can I Use Bitget In My Country?

Bitget is available in many countries across Europe, Asia, Latin America, and Africa, but not in the United States, Canada, Singapore, and certain sanctioned jurisdictions. Even where access exists, futures trading, copy trading, or fiat deposits may be limited.

How Are Taxes Handled When Trading On Bitget?

Bitget does not pay taxes for users. Export trade history, funding records, staking rewards, and transaction data, then share them with tax software or a local accountant.

What Happens If A Trader I Copy Starts Losing Money?

Your account can lose money if the trader you copy loses money. Set maximum allocation, stop-loss limits, and review drawdown rather than chasing the highest short-term ROI.

Can I Move Coins Between Bitget And My Own Wallet Safely?

Yes. You can withdraw to Bitget Wallet or another self-custody wallet, subject to withdrawal fees and checks. Always test with a small transaction and confirm the network and address.

How Does Profit Sharing Work For Bitget Copy Trading?

Followers usually keep most profits but pay a performance share to the lead trader. The exact percentage is shown in copy settings, and normal trading fees, taker fees, and funding still apply.

Bitcoin is trading near the $78,000 level after a volatile week in the crypto market. The latest market data shows BTC holding a market cap of around $1.56 trillion, while daily momentum remains weak and technical ratings still lean cautious. However, a new macro signal is now getting attention: Fed liquidity may be turning supportive again.

For Bitcoin traders, this matters because liquidity has often played a major role in previous crypto cycles. When financial conditions tighten, risk assets usually struggle. When liquidity improves, Bitcoin and other crypto assets often become more attractive again, especially if investors start looking for higher-upside opportunities.

Now, with the Federal Reserve balance sheet showing signs of expansion after the end of quantitative tightening, the question is simple: could this be the liquidity shift Bitcoin needs for its next major move?

Bitcoin Price Holds Near $78K as Market Momentum Stays Mixed

Bitcoin is currently trading around $78,000, slightly lower over the past 24 hours. The move comes after BTC failed to hold stronger upside momentum above the $80,000 zone, keeping traders focused on whether the market is entering another correction phase or simply consolidating before the next attempt higher.

Despite the short-term weakness, Bitcoin remains the largest crypto asset by market cap, with a valuation of around $1.56 trillion. Trading volume also remains significant, showing that market activity has not disappeared even as price action becomes more uncertain.

The main issue now is direction. Bitcoin has not broken down aggressively, but it also has not confirmed a strong bullish continuation. This is why macro liquidity is becoming increasingly important. If liquidity conditions improve while BTC holds key support, the setup could shift from defensive to constructive.

Fed Liquidity Turns Bullish: Why This Matters for Bitcoin

The latest discussion across crypto markets is focused on the US central bank balance sheet. Some analysts are pointing to a bullish crossover in Fed liquidity indicators, comparing the current setup to 2019, before a major market expansion.

According to recent market commentary, the Fed has added around $193 billion in liquidity since quantitative tightening ended in December 2025, with another liquidity injection expected soon. While traders should be careful with viral chart signals, the broader idea is important: if liquidity is returning to the system, Bitcoin could benefit.

Historically, Bitcoin performs better when global liquidity improves. This does not mean BTC rises in a straight line, and it does not remove downside risk. However, it can create a stronger environment for risk assets, especially if investors believe the worst of the tightening cycle is over.

The Federal Reserve’s balance sheet remains a key macro indicator because it reflects how much liquidity is available in the financial system. When the balance sheet expands or reserve conditions improve, markets often become more comfortable taking risk. For Bitcoin, that can support demand from traders, institutions, and long-term holders looking for exposure before a larger market recovery.

Bitcoin Price Prediction: Can BTC Reclaim $80K?

The first major level to watch is still $80,000. Bitcoin needs to reclaim this zone with strong volume to confirm that buyers are regaining control. A clean move above $80,000 could open the door for another attempt toward the $82,000 to $85,000 range.

If BTC fails to recover $80,000, the market could remain under pressure. In that case, traders may watch the $76,000 to $75,000 range as the next important support zone. A breakdown below that area would weaken the current setup and could trigger another wave of selling.

For now, the most realistic Bitcoin price prediction is neutral to cautiously bullish. BTC is not showing a confirmed breakout yet, but the liquidity backdrop is becoming more supportive. If Fed liquidity continues to improve and Bitcoin holds above its key support levels, the probability of a move back above $80,000 increases.

Michael Saylor’s Bitcoin Signal Adds to Bullish Sentiment

Another factor supporting Bitcoin sentiment is Michael Saylor’s latest hint at more BTC buying. Saylor recently posted “Big Dot Energy,” which many traders interpreted as a sign that Strategy may be preparing for another Bitcoin purchase.

This matters because Strategy remains one of the most visible institutional Bitcoin buyers. Whenever Saylor hints at accumulation, it tends to attract attention from crypto traders and long-term BTC investors. Even if one company cannot control the entire Bitcoin market, the signal still reinforces the idea that institutional conviction remains strong.

In the current environment, this is important. Bitcoin is struggling below $80,000, but large buyers may still see the current range as an accumulation opportunity. If Strategy confirms another purchase, it could support short-term sentiment and add pressure on sellers.

Why This Bitcoin Setup Is Different from a Regular Bounce

This is not just a typical short-term bounce story. The important difference is the combination of price, liquidity, and institutional behavior.

Bitcoin is holding near a key psychological level. Fed liquidity signals appear to be improving. At the same time, Saylor’s latest post suggests that institutional Bitcoin accumulation may continue. Together, these factors create a stronger narrative than price action alone.

However, traders should not ignore risk. Bitcoin still needs confirmation on the chart. A bullish liquidity signal is not the same as a confirmed breakout. If macro conditions worsen again, or if BTC loses support, the market could quickly return to a defensive mood.

What Bitcoin Traders Should Watch Next

The first thing to watch is whether Bitcoin can reclaim $80,000. This remains the cleanest short-term signal for a possible recovery. A strong daily close above that level would make the bullish case stronger.

The second factor is Fed liquidity. If the balance sheet continues to expand and reserve conditions remain supportive, the macro environment could become more favorable for Bitcoin and the broader crypto market.

The third factor is institutional buying. Any confirmed Bitcoin purchase from Strategy could support sentiment, especially if it happens while BTC is holding key support.

Finally, traders should watch whether altcoins start reacting. If liquidity improves and Bitcoin stabilizes, capital may eventually rotate into Ethereum, Solana, and selected altcoins. But if BTC remains weak, the broader market may stay cautious.

Is Bitcoin Preparing for Its Next Move?

Bitcoin is still in a critical zone. The price has not confirmed a major breakout, but the market is also not showing full capitulation. With BTC holding near $78,000 and Fed liquidity signals turning more supportive, the setup is becoming more interesting for bulls.

The next move depends on confirmation. If Bitcoin reclaims $80,000 and liquidity continues to improve, BTC could attempt a stronger recovery toward the mid-$80,000 range. If it fails, the market may revisit lower support levels before any meaningful rebound.

For now, the Bitcoin price prediction remains cautiously bullish. Liquidity is improving, institutional interest remains visible, and BTC is still holding above major support. But until Bitcoin breaks back above $80,000 with strength, the market remains in a waiting phase.

Token Mentioned: $BTC, Bitcoin

Attorneys representing a former Homeland Security official admitted using Anthropic’s Claude Console to help draft a court filing that included fabricated quotes.

The best AI models can't yet beat the engineers they’re supposed to replace at fixing real-world problems, a new benchmark suggests.

Both Bitcoin and Ethereum face a quantum computing threat, but Citi says the gap between them comes down to governance, not just technology.

The lawsuit alleges that the Bitcoin-centric financial services firm took advantage of insider information to escape major losses.

Oppo's X-OmniClaw runs directly on your Android device, using the camera, screen, and microphone to execute real tasks inside real apps.

Brian Armstrong outlines why AI agents will create the largest economy, and the numbers are already rising.

New testing shows blockchains can survive quantum-resistant encryption, but the massive growth in transaction data could slow networks and strain infrastructure.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is reportedly preparing to roll out an "innovation exemption" as soon as this week, greenlighting the trading of tokenized versions of public company stocks on decentralized platforms.

Ripple Chief Technology Officer David Schwartz has addressed concerns over the XRP Ledger's (XRPL) frequent "technical hard forks."

The surge of volatility on the market was expected, but the rising intensity of the selling pressure is the last thing this market needed.

Firedancer just started producing blocks on the Solana mainnet and spot SOL ETFs have crossed $1 billion in combined assets, yet the Solana price prediction still puts the token near $84.84 with a long road to reclaim its $295 high.

While SOL holders wait for Firedancer to push prices higher, thousands of wallets are entering the Pepeto presale because meme energy, working tools, and an expected Binance listing in one project is the rarest setup this cycle has produced.

Firedancer Hits Solana Mainnet as ETF Inflows Keep Building

Jump Crypto confirmed that Firedancer is now producing blocks on the Solana mainnet, according to CoinDesk. The client cleared a 1 million TPS stress test and targets full integration in the second half of 2026.

Spot SOL ETFs from Bitwise and Fidelity hold more than $1 billion with $56.6 million in net inflows last month, according to FinanceFeeds. Standard Chartered set a $250 year end Solana price prediction target.

How the Solana Price Prediction Stacks Up Against Presale Opportunities

Pepeto

Institutions can keep adding Solana through ETFs and waiting for Firedancer, but the kind of gain that changes everything comes from a project that has not listed yet. That is why a growing wave of buyers has been moving into Pepeto, pushing the presale past $10.1 million at $0.0000001871 per token during a slow market, which means the people buying see something real and not just a name on a chart.

The project was built by a former Binance expert who designed a listing tracker, token bridge, and 172% APY staking system that all run from one trading hub, so the tools handle volume from day one.

SolidProof audited every contract across the 420 trillion supply that matches the original PEPE structure, and the money keeps coming in because every day brings the Binance listing closer while the buy-in price stays fixed at a level the open market will never offer again.

The buyers who got in now are the ones who collect when that day arrives, and $10.1 million already in says they know exactly what is coming.

Solana Price Prediction

Solana trades near $84.84 as of May 19 according to CoinMarketCap, holding relatively flat despite the Firedancer news and positive ETF flows. The Solana price prediction from Standard Chartered targets $250 by year end, while Doo Prime models $336 if Firedancer ships on schedule.

The Alpenglow consensus upgrade is live on a public test cluster and aims to cut block finality from around 400 milliseconds down to roughly 150 milliseconds. SOL holds above $80 support, and a move past $93 resistance would open the path toward $100. The Solana price prediction for the rest of 2026 depends on whether the CLARITY Act reaches a full Senate vote and whether ETF inflows hold through summer.

Conclusion

The best Solana price prediction gains will come from the projects that combine the right elements at the right time, and that combination is exactly what separates Pepeto from everything else this cycle.

Meme energy plus a working trading hub plus a Binance listing expected, all packed into one token at $0.0000001871, is the kind of setup crypto produces maybe once. More than $10.1 million already flowing in shows this is not speculation, it is real buyers moving before the listing opens.

Every holder who secured a position now is standing in the same spot where PEPE buyers stood before the world noticed. The Solana price prediction targets $250 on a good year, but Pepeto at presale pricing has the kind of gap between entry and listing that turns small positions into the returns people talk about for years.

Walking past this entry and watching the listing price take over could be the one decision that defines whether this cycle was a win or a miss.

Click To Visit Pepeto Website To Enter The Presale

FAQs

What is the Solana price prediction for 2026?

The Solana price prediction targets $250 from Standard Chartered and $336 from Doo Prime, based on Firedancer going live and ETF inflows staying above $1 billion.

Why are wallets entering the Pepeto presale instead of buying Solana?

Pepeto offers a fixed presale price of $0.0000001871 before an expected Binance listing with 172% staking APY, giving buyers a chance at gains that SOL at $84.84 cannot match.

The post Solana Price Prediction Targets $250 With Firedancer Live but Pepeto Presale Holders Stand to Gain Even More Before Listing appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR:

• BNB Smart Chain’s post-quantum test reduced native transfer TPS from 4,973 to 2,997, a 40% drop.
• Transaction signatures grew from 65 bytes to 2,420 bytes after shifting to the ML-DSA-44 standard.
• pqSTARK consensus aggregation achieved a 43:1 compression ratio, keeping validator overhead manageable.
• Cross-region P99 finality degraded from 2 to 11 slots due to larger block propagation across regions

BNB Smart Chain has completed a post-quantum cryptography migration test, replacing its current signature schemes with quantum-resistant alternatives.

The results show that while the transition is technically feasible, it comes with measurable throughput reductions. Transaction sizes grow significantly under the new scheme, putting pressure on network bandwidth and block propagation across regions.

Migration Shifts Core Signing to ML-DSA-44 Standard

BNB Chain’s testing replaced ECDSA transaction signatures with ML-DSA-44, standardized under NIST FIPS 204. This change increased the public key size from 64 bytes to 1,312 bytes. The signature itself grew from 65 bytes to 2,420 bytes under the new scheme.

As BNB Chain Developers noted, “A single transaction signature increased from 65 bytes to ~2.4 KB. That pushed transaction size from 110 B → ~2.5 KB, block size from ~110 KB → ~2 MB, and native transfer TPS from 4,973 → 2,997.”

The consensus layer also received an upgrade, moving from BLS12-381 vote aggregation to pqSTARK. Six validators’ raw signatures compress from 14.5 KB down to roughly 340 bytes, a ratio of about 43:1. This keeps validator overhead within manageable limits despite larger per-transaction data.

The team chose ML-DSA-44 over higher-tier variants due to its balance of security and performance. A cryptographically relevant quantum computer remains an estimated 10–20 years away, making the Level 2 security margin sufficient for now.

Cross-Region Testing Reveals Network Propagation Pressure

Cross-region test results showed native transfer TPS dropping 40%, from 4,973 to 2,997. Gas throughput fell 50%, from 392 to 196 mgasps. The block byte budget became the binding constraint before the gas limit was reached.

Finality at the median remained stable at two slots across all test scenarios. However, P99 finality in cross-region conditions degraded from 2 slots to 11 slots. Larger block sizes across regional links caused this gap, not the consensus protocol itself.

Mixed workloads showed a smaller throughput reduction. TPS fell 35% and gas throughput dropped 22% in that scenario. Contract transactions carry higher gas per byte, which softens the relative effect of the larger signature overhead.

The migration did not require any changes to wallet addresses, RPCs, or SDKs. Addresses remain 20 bytes and are derived from the ML-DSA-44 public key using keccak-256. Two areas remain out of scope: P2P handshake encryption and KZG commitments tied to EIP-4844, both requiring separate coordination efforts.

The post BNB Smart Chain’s Post-Quantum Cryptography Test Cuts Throughput by 40% appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights

• Blackstone teams with Google on $5B AI infrastructure project, lifting BX stock in pre-market hours.

• New TPU-powered computing platform addresses surging artificial intelligence infrastructure needs.

• Investment giant commits $5 billion to joint venture focused on AI data center development.

• Initial 500 MW TPU capacity deployment scheduled for 2027 launch timeline.

• Partnership combines Google’s hardware expertise with Blackstone’s infrastructure investment prowess.

Shares of Blackstone (BX) demonstrated renewed strength following the announcement of a significant artificial intelligence infrastructure collaboration with Google. While BX finished the previous session at $117.04, declining 0.72%, the stock showed positive movement ahead of market opening. Pre-market activity saw BX reach $118.27, representing a 1.05% increase.

Blackstone Inc., BX

Major AI Infrastructure Alliance Takes Shape

The investment powerhouse and technology giant will establish a dedicated U.S.-based entity specializing in artificial intelligence data center infrastructure. This newly formed company will deliver operational services, networking solutions, and access to Google Cloud’s Tensor Processing Units via a compute-as-a-service model. Thus, enterprises will have an alternative pathway to leverage TPU technology outside of traditional Google Cloud channels.

Google developed its TPU architecture specifically for artificial intelligence training and inference operations, utilizing these processors internally for more than ten years. The specialized chips handle demanding computational tasks for AI research facilities, financial institutions, and major technology platforms. Furthermore, the tech giant relies on TPUs to run Gemini and numerous AI-driven applications serving global users.

The private equity firm will back this initiative with a $5 billion equity investment drawn from its portfolio of managed funds. Initial projections indicate the first 500 megawatts of computing capacity will become operational by 2027. Beyond this milestone, the platform is designed to expand progressively as market requirements for accelerated computing continue rising.

Market Response to Strategic AI Move

Blackstone equity showed upward movement in early trading following the infrastructure partnership announcement. The pre-market gains counterbalanced previous session losses. Still, investor enthusiasm reflects widespread market attention toward AI-focused data center investments.

This strategic alliance reinforces the firm’s foothold in the digital infrastructure sector. Blackstone currently oversees assets exceeding $1.3 trillion spanning multiple investment categories. The company also holds a prominent position among the world’s leading data center platform operators.

The search giant will contribute hardware components, software systems, and engineering expertise to support the venture. This comprehensive backing enables accelerated development of TPU-based infrastructure while meeting escalating enterprise requirements. Therefore, the platform could establish a specialized gateway for advanced AI computing solutions.

Leadership and Growth Strategy for AI Computing

Benjamin Treynor Sloss has been appointed chief executive officer of the newly established company. His credentials include over twenty years managing Google’s infrastructure and operational frameworks. This appointment provides the venture with seasoned leadership rooted in technical infrastructure management.

The collaboration emerges amid heightened corporate demand for enhanced AI processing capabilities. Requirements have intensified as sophisticated models necessitate more powerful processors, expanded facility footprints, and dependable energy supplies. Consequently, major infrastructure investors increasingly prioritize compute capacity as a strategic growth segment.

Blackstone’s financial resources combined with Google’s processor technology establish a solid operational framework for the venture. Operations will commence with 500 MW capacity before scaling up progressively. This arrangement positions BX stock at the center of a prominent artificial intelligence infrastructure investment trend.

The post Blackstone (BX) Stock Climbs as $5 Billion Google AI Partnership Unveiled appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways

• Home Depot delivers Q1 fiscal year 2026 earnings before Tuesday’s opening bell on May 19
• Analyst consensus projects earnings per share of $3.41, reflecting a 4.2–4.3% yearly decline, while revenue forecasts reach approximately $41.6 billion, marking a ~4.4% increase
• HD shares have declined over 12% year-to-date in 2026 and approximately 21% across the trailing twelve months, lagging the S&P 500’s performance
• Market makers are anticipating a post-earnings price swing of roughly 4.88% in either direction
• Analyst community maintains Strong Buy rating with a mean price objective of $403.58, suggesting approximately 35% potential appreciation

The nation’s largest home improvement retailer, Home Depot, will unveil its first-quarter fiscal 2026 financial performance before Tuesday’s market open on May 19.

Currently, HD shares hover near $299, representing a year-to-date decline exceeding 12% in 2026. Throughout the previous twelve-month period, the stock has surrendered approximately 21% of its value. This performance stands in stark contrast to the S&P 500, which has gained close to 8% during the current calendar year.

The Home Depot, Inc., HD

Analyst projections entering the earnings announcement remain subdued. The Street anticipates earnings per share of $3.41, representing an annual contraction of roughly 4.2%. Top-line figures are projected at $41.6 billion, reflecting 4.4% growth.

The conservative forecast comes as little shock. A stagnant residential real estate environment has weighed continuously on the home improvement industry, and fundamental conditions remain largely unchanged.

Elevated financing costs have sidelined potential homebuyers, while the anticipated shift toward renovation activity in lieu of property transactions has failed to develop at the magnitude market participants anticipated.

Inflation persisting at three-year peaks coupled with stagnant wage growth has compounded the challenges. Household spending remains cautious, manifesting in reduced home improvement expenditures.

Oppenheimer’s Brian Nagel voiced apprehension prior to the release, highlighting that macroeconomic obstacles may be intensifying as borrowing costs climb and consumer sentiment deteriorates.

Wall Street Analyst Perspectives

Bernstein analyst Zhihan Ma maintained a Buy recommendation while reducing the price objective to $281 from $303. Ma anticipates comparable store sales to register toward the upper end of expectations, partially supported by the SRS acquisition and repair-related demand following winter weather events.

Piper Sandler’s Peter Keith similarly preserved his Buy stance while making a modest adjustment to his target, lowering it to $421 from $422. Keith observed that household expenditures have demonstrated resilience despite elevated fuel costs, though he indicates no definitive evidence that tax refund distributions stimulated retail activity — implying consumers opted to preserve rather than deploy those funds.

Keith’s interpretation suggests that disappointing sales momentum from the fourth quarter of 2025 probably persisted through the first quarter for home improvement merchants.

Derivatives Market Points to Elevated Volatility

The options marketplace is pricing in an approximate 4.88% directional move following the earnings announcement. This projection substantially exceeds HD’s mean post-earnings fluctuation of 2.95% across the preceding four quarterly reports, indicating market participants anticipate an outsized response.

Market observers will also scrutinize any modifications to full-year projections. Company leadership previously established guidance for comparable sales expansion ranging from flat to positive 2% for the complete fiscal year, and analysts generally don’t anticipate revisions to that framework at this juncture.

Notwithstanding these challenges, the analyst community remains constructive on HD. The equity maintains a Strong Buy consensus rating from 16 Wall Street professionals, with five Hold recommendations and zero Sell ratings. The consensus price target of $403.58 represents approximately 35% appreciation potential from present trading levels. HD additionally provides a dividend yield in the vicinity of 3%.

The post Home Depot (HD) Q1 Earnings Preview: Analyst Expectations and Stock Outlook for May 19 appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR:

• Binance x402 uses standard HTTP 402 flows for off-chain authorization and on-chain settlement on BNB Chain.
• Trust Wallet AgentKit supports x402 natively, keeping private keys on-device during autonomous agent payments.
• Gartner forecasts global AI spending will hit $2.52 trillion in 2026, driving demand for agent payment rails.
• Merchants integrate via standard HTTP APIs, removing the need to build custom verification or settlement systems.

Binance x402 is a new payment facilitator built on BNB Chain, designed to close a long-standing gap in how digital services handle transactions. As AI agents grow more autonomous, the internet still lacks a native way for APIs and tools to pay and get paid.

Binance x402 addresses this by using standard HTTP 402 payment flows, enabling off-chain authorization and on-chain settlement for automated, usage-based billing without traditional checkout processes.

How Binance x402 Works for Developers and Merchants

Binance x402 removes much of the complexity that developers typically face when building payment systems. Instead of building custom verification flows or gas-handling layers, merchants integrate through standard HTTP APIs.

The facilitator model handles verification, settlement, and infrastructure on their behalf. This lets developers focus on their product rather than payment plumbing.

On the user side, Binance x402 works alongside Trust Wallet to deliver a self-custody agent payment loop on BNB Chain. Trust Wallet AgentKit natively supports the protocol, meaning private keys never leave the user’s device.

Agents can pay for premium data or services on a user’s behalf while the keys remain on their phone. Binance Wallet’s Agentic Wallet integration is also in development to expand access further.

Binance announced the launch via its official channel:

The protocol currently supports several payment methods, including eip3009, permit2-exact, and permit2-upto. Supported assets on BNB Chain include U, USD1, USDT, and USDC, giving merchants flexibility in how they accept stablecoin payments.

The Growing Demand for Agent-Native Payment Infrastructure

The timing of Binance x402 aligns with rapid growth in AI-driven commerce. According to Binance Research, Gartner forecasts global AI spending will reach $2.52 trillion in 2026, a 44% year-over-year rise.

Crunchbase data also shows AI accounted for roughly 80% of total global venture funding in Q1 2026. These numbers reflect how quickly autonomous workflows are moving from concept to commercial reality.

Agent-native services are already taking shape across directories and marketplaces listing AI tools and workflows. On Binance Ai Pro, 45.7% of conversations during a single beta day ran without any user prompt.

That level of automation creates a direct need for payment infrastructure that works the same way — automatically and without friction.

Binance x402 meets this demand by giving agents a programmable way to pay per call, handle usage-based billing, and support flexible payment limits.

It extends stablecoin utility on BNB Chain into practical, everyday machine-driven transactions. For the broader crypto ecosystem, this represents a concrete step toward a more functional, agent-driven payment layer on the internet.

The post Binance x402 Launches HTTP-Native Programmable Payments for AI Agents on BNB Chain appeared first on Blockonomi.

HYPE climbed to around $48 on May 19, after synthetic SpaceX perpetual contracts launched on the Hyperliquid-linked platform Trade.xyz, bringing the token just $11 away from its September 2025 record high near $59.

The rally has also tracked rising interest in tokenized real-world assets and a string of institutional moves tied to the Hyperliquid ecosystem.

Synthetic SpaceX Markets Push Hyperliquid Back Into Focus

According to data shared by Santiment, the token has gained roughly 24% from its May 13 low near $38. The on-chain analytics firm said social dominance around HYPE spiked as traders reacted to several developments landing within the same week, including the passage of the CLARITY Act on May 14 and Coinbase becoming an official USDC deployer on Hyperliquid.

But the latest trigger behind HYPE’s move higher was the May 18 debut of SPCX, a synthetic SpaceX pre-IPO perpetual market on Trade.xyz, which helped add another 7% to the token’s price per Santiment’s data.

The product launched with an implied SpaceX valuation of about $1.8 trillion, giving crypto traders exposure to a private company that is still inaccessible through public equity markets.

“The rails-phase thesis usually runs one way: TradFi brings its products onto chains,” Santiment wrote. “This time it’s running backwards — crypto rails are creating TradFi-adjacent products the regulated system can’t.”

At the time of writing, data from CoinGecko showed HYPE had risen 6.7% in the last 24 hours and nearly 17% during the past week. Meanwhile, monthly gains stood above 11%, while the token is still about 19% below its all-time high, reached eight months ago.

The move has also come as Hyperliquid continues to dominate on-chain perpetual futures trading. According to DefiLlama, the network has maintained at least double the perpetual trading volume of the next-largest chain every month this year, even as overall perp activity cooled from earlier 2026 peaks.

Revenue Growth and ETF Launches Are Adding to Bullish Sentiment

The crypto community is also paying attention to Hyperliquid’s revenue generation, with Bitwise researcher Cam Khosravi pointing out that it has generated more than $255 million in protocol revenue so far this year, which is more than the next two crypto applications combined.

According to Khosravi, nearly all of that revenue has come from perpetual trading fees, with around 97% directed toward automated HYPE buybacks.

More data shared by Hyperliquid Daily showed that real-world asset open interest on the chain has reached a record $2.6 billion, doubling within two months as trading activity in tokenized stocks and commodities picked up.

Meanwhile, institutional interest has also started spilling into traditional markets, as asset manager Bitwise launched its HYPE exchange-traded fund, BHYP, on May 15, only days after 21Shares introduced its THYP fund.

The 21Shares ETF posted roughly $1.8 million in debut trading volume and has since attracted more than $12 million in cumulative inflows.

The post HYPE Within $11 of ATH as SpaceX Perps Drive Rally appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Although every major breakout attempt from the cross-border token has been halted in the past several months, analysts continue to be highly positive that such a big move is in the making.

Ali Martinez is the latest to outline such an opinion, basing his view on the tightening Bollinger Bands.

Will This One Last?

In his latest post on X on Ripple’s token, the analyst with over 165,000 followers said he is tracking what he called “the tightest Bollinger Band squeeze on the XRP 3-day chart in over a year.” This became possible as the asset has been sitting in a tight range between $1.30 and $1.50 for months, with just a few brief deviations.

“When volatility compresses this tightly, it’s a signal that a violent price expansion is approaching,” Martinez added.

He believes that the current trading range is a “no-trade zone,” and traders should let the market make its move to solidify the breakout confirmation. Recall that XRP has attempted a few of those bullish breakouts in the past several weeks, as it even reached $1.55 last week, but it was halted every time.

“I’m waiting for a clean 3-day candlestick close outside of this range ($1.50-$1.29) to confirm the next major trend direction,” said Martinez.

If the asset finally manages to close above $1.50, then it would signal an “expansion toward my primary target at $1.80.” In contrast, a decisive drop below $1.29 “invalidates the immediate bullish structure and opens the door for a deeper correction back toward the $1.00 psychological support,” Martinez concluded.

Previously, Martinez explained that the SuperTrend indicator had also flashed a buy signal for the first time since January.

Upward Pressure Increases

Fellow analyst CW noted that “upward pressure on XRP is increasing again,” after the downward pressure appeared weak during the most recent rejection. They have noted multiple times in the past few weeks that XRP is on the verge of a bullish breakout as there’s little to no selling pressure left.

Upward pressure on $XRP is increasing again.

Downward pressure was weak during the decline. And upward momentum is gradually increasing again. pic.twitter.com/aqTEpV2S8z

— CW (@CW8900) May 18, 2026

MikybullCrypto and CRYPTOWZRD have joined the growing number of analysts who expect a serious breakout attempt soon, with the former anticipating a “boom” and the latter seeing risks of a leg down.

Meanwhile, a recent report indicated that Ripple whales have increased their holdings, currently controlling almost 70% of the asset’s total supply.

The post Major XRP Breakout Brewing as Bollinger Bands Reach Extreme Compression appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Bitcoin-focused DeFi protocol Echo Protocol was exploited on Monday in the latest security breach to hit the DeFi sector this month. The attack was first flagged by pseudonymous crypto influencer DCF GOD on X at around 5:55 p.m. ET.

The exact cause of the incident has not yet been identified.

Echo Protocol Exploit

Findings by Onchain Labs reveal that the attacker allegedly minted 1,000 eBTC worth about $76.7 million and then used what was described as a previously tested exploit route involving Curvance. The exploiter reportedly deposited 45 eBTC, roughly worth $3.45 million, into Curvance as collateral before borrowing around 11.29 WBTC worth about $867,700.

The borrowed WBTC was then bridged to Ethereum, swapped into ETH, and 385 ETH, which is valued at around $818,000, was later sent to Tornado Cash.

Keone Hon, co-founder of Monad, later clarified that the Monad network itself was not impacted and continues to operate normally. Additionally, Curvance also stated that its smart contracts showed no signs of compromise and explained,

“Due to Curvance’s fully isolated market architecture, no other markets are impacted. Out of an abundance of caution, the affected market has been paused while our team actively investigates the situation alongside ecosystem partners.”

The hacker still holds approximately 955 eBTC worth more than $73 million, according to data shared by blockchain tracker Lookonchain. Meanwhile, Echo Protocol confirmed that they are currently investigating the security incident and have suspended all cross-chain transactions.

ECHO Token Drops 12%

Following news of the exploit, ECHO came under heavy selling pressure and fell more than 12%. At the time of writing, the token was trading near $0.0049.

The Echo exploit followed two other major crypto hacks within four days, including attacks on THORChain with stolen funds of more than $10 million and the Verus-Ethereum Bridge, which saw $11.5 million being stolen. Overall, the Echo exploit has pushed the total number of security breaches recorded in May to 14.

The post ECHO Token Crashes Double Digits After Massive Echo Protocol Exploit appeared first on CryptoPotato.

The SEC is set to release a so-called “innovation exemption” for tokenized stocks, which will pave the way for trading digital versions of securities, reported Bloomberg on Tuesday.

The agency’s framework for tokenized stock trading under the Trump administration’s direction is expected to be finalized this week, the anonymous sources told the outlet. These tokenized assets would also be tradeable on decentralized crypto platforms in a move that could “reshape the landscape of the American stock market,” it reported.

Huge Shift in US Crypto Infrastructure

Under Chair Paul Atkins, the SEC has signaled support for tokenization since mid-2025, including exemptions to accelerate on-chain securities trading, aligning with broader US policy to lead in digital assets.

The SEC is leaning toward allowing trading of tokens that do not have the backing or ​consent of ​the ⁠public companies whose shares they track, reported Reuters. These tokens may ​not ⁠provide traditional shareholder rights, such as voting power or dividends, the report added.

The move could be one of the biggest shifts into crypto infrastructure yet, paving the way for 24/7 trading of digital securities, potential DeFi integration for equities, and growth in platforms handling tokenized assets.

DeFi analyst Ignas said it was bullish for multiple assets, including ONDO, CFG, PENDLE, and HYPE, as well as lending markets that accept tokenized collateral, such as AAVE, MORPHO, and FLUID. Tokenization is shifting from plans to policy in a structural shift that will enable round-the-clock trading and decentralized rails.

“We’ve entered a global race to tokenize money and capital markets,” commented Token Terminal.

“The economic advantages of asset tokenization are too good to ignore, which is why we believe that all other major nations and economic zones will try to follow the US playbook when it comes to stablecoins and asset tokenization.”

Tokenized Stocks Remain Small

Tokenized stocks comprise a small piece of the larger tokenized real-world asset pie with just $1.45 billion, or 4.3% share of distributed TVL, according to RWA.xyz.

Tokenized US Treasuries make up the lion’s share with 46% of $15.5 billion, and Ethereum is the blockchain of choice with a market share exceeding 60% (including layer-2s) of all tokenized RWA.

The post SEC Prepares to Allow Trading Tokenized Stocks on Crypto Platforms appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Goldman Sachs seems to have quietly unwound its entire XRP and Solana ETF positions in the first quarter of 2026.

This is according to its latest 13F filing, with the move coming after the firm had built up roughly $154 million in XRP ETF exposure just months earlier.

What the Filing Shows

Per Goldman’s Q1 2026 Form 13F, there are zero XRP ETF positions and zero Solana ETF positions, suggesting a clean exit from both. However, the filing shows multiple iShares Ethereum Trust entries, at approximately $114 million, $60 million, and $3.4 million, plus a separate iShares Staked Ethereum Trust position worth around $66.9 million.

The firm also retains a dominant position in Bitcoin (BTC), with hundreds of millions held primarily through the iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF across multiple account entries. It also added to its position in Circle, Galaxy Digital, and Coinbase while trimming holdings in Strategy, IREN, Bit Digital, and Riot.

One note worth flagging: several XRP-centric accounts have been circulating claims on X that Goldman still held the asset, citing what appeared to be an SEC filing screenshot.

But a check of Goldman’s actual submitted 13F found no such XRP positions, with the screenshot shared in those posts appearing to reflect Q4 2025 data, not the current quarter, which would explain the discrepancy.

Goldman’s XRP and Solana exposure was relatively new, considering that both ETFs launched in Q4 2025, and the Wall Street giant moved in quickly.

By the end of that quarter, as CryptoPotato reported, the firm had accumulated around $154 million across four XRP products, namely Bitwise, Franklin, Grayscale, and 21Shares, making it the largest disclosed institutional investor in spot XRP ETFs at the time. The Solana position came alongside it.

XRP ETF Demand Still Strong Despite Goldman Exit

The Q1 exit happened against a difficult background for the exchange-traded funds tracking the Ripple token. They had a pretty successful couple of months soon after their launch, but falling crypto prices in early 2026, caused by growing global uncertainty, put them on the back burner, which led to a first month in the red for them in March.

Nonetheless, things changed in April, with the products hitting a green patch and seeing more than $81 million in inflows. This month, with two weeks still to go, capital that has come into spot XRP ETFs stands at nearly $95 million, with cumulative net inflows hitting a new all-time high of $1.39 billion.

On their part, Solana ETFs have never seen a red month since their debut, even though inflows have reduced considerably from the $419 million recorded in November 2025. Like their XRP counterparts, the funds also recorded a new ATH in cumulative net inflows in May, after getting to $1.12 billion.

The post Goldman Sachs Exits XRP and SOL ETF Positions in Q1 2026 appeared first on CryptoPotato.