AI-driven filmmaking could revolutionize the industry by drastically reducing production costs, potentially reshaping economic models and accessibility.

The post Higgsfield AI debuts fully AI-generated film ‘Hell Grind’ at Cannes appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Bitwise's strategy could enhance HYPE's market value and investor confidence, but exposes them to token volatility and cyclical revenue risks.

The post Bitwise allocates 10% of Hyperliquid ETF fees to HYPE purchases appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The administration's use of Section 301 could reshape global trade dynamics, impacting supply chains and increasing compliance burdens for tech sectors.

The post Trump administration seeks permanent trade war powers through Section 301 appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Cuban's Bitcoin exit highlights the fragility of its hedge narrative, potentially weakening institutional confidence and shifting focus to Ethereum.

The post Mark Cuban calls Bitcoin a disappointment after dumping most of his holdings appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

The shift in rate cut expectations signals prolonged economic tightening, impacting asset valuations and investor strategies across markets.

The post Fed rate cut before 2027 slips to 32.9% chance, lowest in months appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Bitcoin Magazine

U.S. Lawmaker Unveils Bill to Codify Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, Draws Bipartisan Support 

Rep. Nick Begich, R-Alaska, introduced legislation Thursday to permanently establish a U.S. strategic bitcoin reserve, unveiling the American Reserve Modernization Act (ARMA) — a bill designed to codify President Donald Trump’s March 2025 executive order and give the reserve a durable legal foundation in statute.

The measure, which has garnered bipartisan support and more than a dozen co-sponsors in Congress, would task the Treasury Department with overseeing the reserve while creating a separate digital asset stockpile for federally held cryptocurrencies other than bitcoin. Begich drew a direct comparison between bitcoin and gold, arguing the market has already determined both assets as the dominant stores of value in their respective classes.

“When you look at gold, it is the dominant precious metal reserve,” Begich told Fox Business. “When you look at bitcoin, it represents about 60% of all market cap for the entire crypto space. So the market has decided, in the case of gold and in the case of bitcoin, that this will be the predominant store of value within that asset class.”

ARMA builds on the earlier BITCOIN Act, which Begich originally introduced in March 2025 alongside Sen. Cynthia Lummis. The updated legislation would authorize the Treasury to acquire up to 200,000 BTC per year for five years — targeting a total of 1 million bitcoin, or roughly 5% of global supply — with all holdings locked for a minimum of 20 years. 

The U.S. government currently holds an estimated 328,372 BTC accumulated through law enforcement seizures, including proceeds from the Silk Road takedown and the 2022 Bitfinex hack recovery.

The U.S. bitcoin handling needs to change

Co-sponsor Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., underscored the urgency of giving that existing stockpile a strategic home. “The United States government already holds billions in seized bitcoin with no coherent strategy for managing it, and that needs to change,” Harrigan said.

The bill’s introduction comes amid a broader wave of crypto-friendly legislative momentum in Washington. The Senate Banking Committee passed the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act in a 15-9 bipartisan vote on May 13, advancing a sweeping regulatory framework for the crypto industry to the full Senate floor. 

Two Democrats — Senators Ruben Gallego of Arizona and Angela Alsobrooks of Maryland — crossed the aisle to support the measure. Sen. Lummis signaled the bill could reach a Senate floor vote by mid-June, though she cautioned that timeline may be optimistic.

The legislative push also arrives as the Treasury Department intensifies pressure on crypto-linked illicit finance. 

Under Operation Economic Fury, the U.S. seized nearly $500 million in Iranian cryptocurrency assets as of late April, reinforcing calls for a comprehensive government strategy to manage seized digital assets. 

The White House has separately signaled a formal announcement on the operational status of the strategic bitcoin reserve is imminent, with a senior administration official saying a key legal hurdle has been cleared.

This post U.S. Lawmaker Unveils Bill to Codify Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, Draws Bipartisan Support  first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Blockchain.com Confidentially Files for U.S. IPO, Joining Wave of Crypto Listings

Blockchain.com Group Holdings Inc., one of the oldest companies in the crypto industry, has confidentially submitted a draft registration statement on Form S-1 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for an initial public offering, the Dallas-based firm announced Thursday.

The number of shares to be offered and the price range for the proposed offering have not yet been determined. The IPO remains subject to market conditions and the completion of the SEC’s review process. They expect to go public before the end of 2026.

Founded in 2011 by three members of the original Bitcoin online forum BitcoinTalk.org, Blockchain.com is among the earliest institutions built around digital assets. The company initially tracked activity on the Bitcoin blockchain before expanding into a consumer wallet and exchange, and later into institutional products and services. 

Today, it supports more than 95 million wallets and counts more than 43 million confirmed accounts. The firm employs approximately 500 people and has been profitable on an adjusted basis for three consecutive years, according to the source familiar with its plans.

Crypto firms entering public markets

The filing marks the latest milestone in a sustained push by crypto companies into the public markets. In 2025 alone, Circle, eToro, Bullish, and Gemini — the Winklevoss brothers’ exchange — all went public, collectively raising an estimated $14.6 billion across at least 11 offerings. 

BitGo listed on the New York Stock Exchange in January 2026, becoming the first major crypto firm to go public this year. 

Kraken parent Payward Inc. filed confidentially for a U.S. IPO in November 2025 targeting a first-quarter debut, but shelved those plans in March as market conditions deteriorated. Grayscale remains among the firms still in the pipeline.

Blockchain.com’s path to a public listing has been a long one. The company initially considered going public as early as 2022, when it carried a valuation of $14 billion. But in 2023, it raised $110 million in a Series E round led by UK-based Kingsway Capital at a valuation that had fallen to less than half its 2022 peak — a sharp reset that reflected the broad crypto market downturn that followed that year’s industry collapses.

The confidential filing process, permitted under U.S. securities law, allows companies to prepare for public offerings away from market scrutiny while the SEC conducts its review. Should Blockchain.com complete its listing, it would add another veteran name to a rapidly growing roster of publicly traded crypto businesses.

This post Blockchain.com Confidentially Files for U.S. IPO, Joining Wave of Crypto Listings first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Bitcoin Magazine

Unchained and Bitcoin Park Hit the Road For Bitcoin Pizza Day With “The New Rules of Bitcoin”

AUSTIN, Texas – May 20th, 2026 – In celebration of Bitcoin Pizza Day on May 22, Unchained, a Bitcoin financial services company founded in 2016 by Joe Kelly and Dhruv Bansal, and Bitcoin Park are hosting special screenings of “The New Rules of Bitcoin,” a short film produced in partnership with The Atlantic’s brand studio Atlantic Re:Think, in ten major US cities. The film highlights three core ideas: Bitcoin is not what you think, Bitcoin is long term thinking, and Bitcoin is true ownership. These ideas lay the groundwork for Bitcoin’s distinction from other cryptocurrencies, with its unique blend of long-term wealth preservation and direct, collaborative custody.

On May 22, 2010, a programmer paid 10,000 bitcoin for two large pizzas to be delivered to his home in the first documented real-world bitcoin transaction. An amount worth around $760 million today, highlighting Bitcoin’s incredible rise to become a mainstream global asset. 

Screenings will run this week in Fort Worth, Kansas City on Friday 5/22, 7 PM, at Buffalo State Pizza Company, Chicago, Washington D.C., Portland, Nashville, Austin, Tampa Bay, and Lexington, Kentucky on Friday, 5/22, 6pm at Goodfellas Pizza. Through The New Rules of Bitcoin Roadshow, Unchained and Bitcoin Park are equipping local meetups with a free screening kit, a discussion primer, and pizza sponsorship for the first 100 meetups— bringing Bitcoin’s story to communities face-to-face, just like on the original Pizza Day. 

“Bitcoin Pizza Day is a reminder that adoption happens peer-to-peer,” said Jonathan Sexton, the Chief Commercial Officer at Unchained. “Every new bitcoiner was, at some point, brought in by another bitcoiner. We made this film with The Atlantic to give the community a tool to share Bitcoin with a new audience, and to help people who are still unsure about bitcoin to give it another look. And the roadshow is the platform to help bring about the next wave of adopters.”

“Since 2022, we’ve experienced in-person meetups work to bring new people into the bitcoin ecosystem, meetup after meetup,” said Rod Roudi, co-founder of Bitcoin Park. “Bitcoin education is at the core of most meetups and this time, supported by a really cool new film. Grassroots, word of mouth is how Bitcoin spread in the first place, and it’s how it will continue to spread.”

This Pizza Day, Unchained is waiving the first trading fee on all new retirement accounts created before June 1st that move from any crypto competitor. To learn more, book a consultation with one of Unchained’s U.S.-based bitcoin experts here. 

About Unchained

Unchained is a Bitcoin financial services company founded in 2016 by Joe Kelly and Dhruv Bansal and headquartered in Austin, Texas. The company built its services around collaborative custody, a multisignature structure in which clients hold their own keys while Unchained provides the financial infrastructure around them. Since its first bitcoin-backed loan in 2017, Unchained has originated more than $1 billion in loans, secured more than 100,000 BTC on its platform, and reported zero capital losses.

The company offers vaults, IRAs, a trading desk, commercial loans, inheritance planning, and its Signature advisory service for individuals and businesses. Its Bitcoin IRA is the only retirement account in the market that gives clients direct key control. In 2025, Unchained received a Wyoming trust charter through its subsidiary Gannett Trust, expanding its fiduciary and wealth advisory capabilities.

Unchained’s open-source wallet Caravan remains available to the public as a standalone tool, independent of any commercial relationship with the company. To learn more, visit unchained.com. 

About Bitcoin Park

Bitcoin Park is a community-supported campus founded in 2022 with locations in Nashville, Tennessee and Austin, Texas. Its mission is to support and accelerate the grassroots freedom tech movement by creating a home for mission-obsessed Bitcoiners, builders, and freedom fighters to work, learn, collaborate, and build.

Programming runs on three rails of freedom tech — AI, energy, and bitcoin — across meetups, workshops, and summits spanning custody & treasury, energy & mining, grassroots adoption, healthcare, payments, policy, and more.

AI Freedom Lab anchors the AI rail — Bitcoin Park’s initiative advancing sovereign, collaborative, and decentralized infrastructure so anyone can build on their own terms.

The capstone is Imagine IF, a summit of summits, held in Nashville the first week of October each year — a call to action for dreamers, builders, and believers to shape the world we want to live in, where AI, energy and converge in service of human flourishing and creative optimism. Each “Imagine IF…” talk plants a seed for what’s possible when bold imagination meets human action. To learn more, visit imagineifnashville.com 

Media Contact 

Melrose PR | unchained@melrosepr.com

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored press release. Readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence before acting on any information presented in this article.

This post Unchained and Bitcoin Park Hit the Road For Bitcoin Pizza Day With “The New Rules of Bitcoin” first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Bitcoin Magazine.

Bitcoin Magazine

5 Reasons Corporations Should Sell Bitcoin

Recently Strategy made headlines by saying that it might sell some bitcoin to meet business objectives. This came as a surprise to many people because of what was previously regarded as a hard-lined stance to never sell. Saylor even (jokingly) tweeted stuff like “Sell a kidney if you must, but keep the bitcoin.”

The reality is that bitcoin sales were always on the table for any bitcoin treasury company. The quip of “never sell” is an articulation of a long-term investment philosophy founded upon the extreme low time preference that is common in bitcoin discourse. But even within this discourse, there are frequently cases where almost everyone agrees it makes sense to sell, despite the ubiquity of the HODL meme. 

The simplest reasons involve improving one’s quality of life: buying a house to raise a family, paying for a trip to a place you’ve wanted to go, sending your kids to college, unexpected and severe medical bills. The list is very long. HODLing often isn’t as long. 

For a company, the reason to do anything (and indeed the reason for a company’s existence) is to improve shareholder value. 

Consider another group of bitcoin companies that have been selling. Our Q1 Report highlights that Bitcoin miners have sold 25,376 BTC in Q1 2026 to fund AI pivots. The value creation math is simple. Management believes that their AI capex will yield better risk-adjusted gains than the bitcoin they sold. Under these assumptions, it makes sense that they sold bitcoin to fund AI. In fact, this is reason 0: if there is a better investment than bitcoin, then selling bitcoin for that makes complete sense.

For Strategy—and all treasury companies that are focused on raising capital to accumulate bitcoin—there are clear cases where selling can create value. Let’s go through some of them. 

Reason 1: Bitcoin per share

Growing Bitcoin per share (BPS) is the goal of most treasury strategies. A period over period growth in BPS is called BTC Yield. BTC Yield is normally achieved when bitcoin is purchased, which increases the numerator in the BPS ratio. However, it can also be achieved when shares are purchased, which decreases the denominator in the BPS ratio. 

If shares trade at a discount to the bitcoin they represent, then selling bitcoin to buy back stock always leads to an increase in BPS. This is because the percent change in bitcoin holdings is still greater than the percent change in shares outstanding. 

The discount rule also applies in the case of ongoing obligations (such as preferred stock dividends or debt coupons) that cannot be funded with operating cash flow. If shares trade at a discount, then it is better to sell bitcoin to pay these obligations. This would lead to a smaller decrease in BPS. 

Reason 2: Cost of capital and raising capital 

Because ratings agencies have much sway over how capital markets allocate funds, their rules and guidelines need to be respected for greater ease in the capital formation process. In December we published a report on Strategy’s historic S&P credit ratings. In it we discussed the different options for companies to receive better credit ratings, which would ultimately help their credit instruments obtain a lower cost of capital. 

The cash reserve option, which was found in S&P’s comments and discussed in our report, was promptly adopted by Strategy. By January 2026, Strategy had about a $2.2 billion cash reserve, and this has meaningfully reduced investors’ fears of an inability to cover preferred dividends. 

In this scenario, it is perfectly okay for a company to sell some bitcoin to create the cash reserve to appease the market so that it can sell its credit instruments at lower costs of capital. This seems convoluted, but ultimately you have to meet your creditors where they are at to get them to give you their money. There is no way around it. 

Another corollary to that is bitcoin sales to retire debt. Debts are senior liabilities which reduce the attractiveness of preferred stock as credit instruments. If these can be retired, then preferred stocks could see a better cost of capital. 

In the long term, a better cost of capital could be worth a lot due to compounding and being able to service liabilities on more capital. For instance, it’s easier to compound if you pay 9% vs 11.5% — an extra 250 bps makes a very big difference over time. And you pay less for $1 billion borrowed at 7% than you do for $700 billion borrowed at 11%. 

Reason 3: Tax 

Bitcoin does not have a wash sale rule in the USA (at the time of writing). You can sell it to realize a loss and then immediately buy it and reset the cost basis lower. This lets you book a loss, which serves as a tax asset. In fact, Strategy actually did this exact thing back in December 2022 at the prior cycle’s bottom. 

Today this tax benefit still exists, so it is another very good reason to sell bitcoin. However, many might not see it as selling if the company immediately repurchases. But a company can easily combine the tax advantage of a realized loss with an action like a share buyback or debt repayment.

Reason 4: Proving it is possible 

Bitcoin is still quite new and this comes with a lot of FUD. Sometimes the FUD is just ridiculous but it still catches on. Strategy selling bitcoin is one such instance of ridiculous FUD: the idea is that they are propping up the whole bitcoin market, or that if they sell the entire bitcoin balance sheet model is instantly debunked. Therefore, if they can sell 50,000 BTC and prove that nothing serious happens to the bitcoin market nor the stock, then this can dispel such notions and make the market more receptive toward the corporate bitcoin balance sheet model.

At any rate, this would be the silliest reason to do it, but sometimes people come up with silly ideas that just need to be proven wrong. And one last point on this — the market is generally quite efficient; it is the media outlets and influencers that are incentivized to push sensationalist and poorly reasoned narrative out of whatever they can find. Real allocators with money rarely make decisions based on these “sources” over actual research.

Reason 5: Preferred buyback 

This is something people don’t really talk about at all. But in the event of a real de-peg of variable rate instruments, the company has the option to buy back the instrument at a heavy discount to par, thus retiring obligations with very high costs of capital.

This is basically closing a winning tax-free and borrow-free short position on the company’s own preferred stock. STRC for example is issued at $100. If the stock drops to $82 and Strategy sells a billion dollars of BTC to buy back STRC at $82 per share, then it basically pocketed a gain of 100 – 82 = $18 per STRC share shorted (issued) and then repurchased. And this gain isn’t taxable, nor did Strategy have to borrow the shares to do this short. 

STRC price action since IPO

The other important thing to note is that such a de-peg does not have to accompany a crash in the bitcoin price. If traders are heavily levered up on STRC (which is certainly possible given what this stock offers), a wick down can lead to stop losses and momentum algos that cause a cascade of selling. In this case, Strategy can sell BTC to retire some STRC shares before enduring a higher dividend (here I assume they would increase the dividend to get the shares back to par). 

Conclusion 

Don’t be surprised or scared about bitcoin sales. There are plenty of cases where it is in the interest of the company and shareholders to do so.

Bitcoin is money. Money creates optionality. Options are great when used well. 

This post 5 Reasons Corporations Should Sell Bitcoin first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Allard Peng.

Bitcoin Magazine

SpaceX Heads Into Historic IPO With a $1.45 Billion Bitcoin Treasury on Its Books

SpaceX filed its long-awaited S-1 with the Securities and Exchange Commission Wednesday — and it is bringing a substantial Bitcoin position into the public markets.

The Elon Musk-led aerospace company holds 18,712 BTC, valued at approximately $1.45 billion, according to the S-1. The coins were purchased at a cost basis of $661 million, or roughly $35,000 per coin — a price Bitcoin last touched in late 2023. 

That stake makes SpaceX the seventh-largest known corporate Bitcoin holder in the world, ahead of Coinbase.

SpaceX is targeting a Nasdaq listing under the ticker SPCX . The company has been valued in private markets at $1.75 trillion, a figure that would place it above Tesla by market capitalization and make it the largest public company to carry Bitcoin on its balance sheet.

SpaceX’s Bitcoin journey dates to 2021, when Musk added the cryptocurrency to the company’s financial assets around the same time Tesla made its own $1.5 billion purchase. 

The company has since trimmed its holdings — Arkham Intelligence tracked the stash as low as 6,095 BTC last year — before the S-1 confirmed a far larger position of 18,712 coins held as of December 31. 

SpaceX’s bitcoin gains

With a cost basis of $35,000 per coin and Bitcoin now trading above $77,000, SpaceX is sitting on paper gains of roughly $789 million. The position represents a small slice of a company that posted $18.7 billion in revenue in 2025, led by Starlink’s $11.39 billion contribution.

The IPO introduces new disclosure obligations. Under FASB fair-value accounting rules that took effect in late 2025, SpaceX will report its Bitcoin exposure in quarterly filings, making the position visible to every public market investor. Future financial reports will reflect unrealized gains or losses tied to Bitcoin price swings — the same volatility that led Tesla to sell the bulk of its own holdings in 2022.

Tesla, which Musk also leads, disclosed holding more than 11,000 bitcoins in its first-quarter filing, worth close to $900 million at current prices. 

When SpaceX lists, it will join Tesla on the short roster of public companies that treat Bitcoin as a balance-sheet asset — a cohort still dominated by Strategy Inc., which holds more than 843,000 BTC worth north of $64 billion.

The SpaceX S-1 is one of the most anticipated filings in years. For Bitcoin watchers, it is the most significant corporate disclosure of 2026.

This post SpaceX Heads Into Historic IPO With a $1.45 Billion Bitcoin Treasury on Its Books first appeared on Bitcoin Magazine and is written by Micah Zimmerman.

Washington just gave crypto one of its clearest policy wins of 2026. Bitcoin ETF demand cracked anyway.

The Senate Banking Committee advanced H.R. 3633, the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, by a 15-9 vote on May 14, sending the market-structure bill toward the Senate floor.

CryptoSlate reported that Bitcoin moved back above $81,000 after the vote, a clean headline for bulls who have argued that legal clarity would pull more capital toward digital assets.

By May 21, CryptoSlate's Bitcoin market data shows BTC around $77,200 after it recovered from the $76,000 area tested on May 18 and May 19.

That rebound keeps support alive while leaving the listed product exit intact. The contrast is telling: regulation can improve crypto's long-term runway, while ETF allocators still need a reason to add exposure during a risk-off week.

That makes the post-CLARITY move look less like a simple rejection of the bill and more like a stress test for Bitcoin's ETF-era market structure. The policy signal was real. The buying behind it proved too thin to absorb a sudden exit from listed products.

Related Reading

How CLARITY Act survived a chaotic Senate markup after Warren, Banks and Democrats tried to slow it down

Clarity Act faced a gauntlet of last-minute objections over national security, stablecoin yields, and Trump's personal wealth.

May 15, 2026 · Oluwapelumi Adejumo

Policy clarity met a flow problem

The CLARITY Act vote was a substantive procedural milestone. The committee said the bill would establish a market-structure framework for digital assets and move to the Senate floor after the bipartisan vote.

Senator Mike Crapo's office separately confirmed the same 15-9 approval, reinforcing that the industry had a real legislative event to trade around.

Still, Washington's market-structure push had been visible for months. The House passed H.R. 3633 in July 2025, according to Congress.gov, and the Senate Agriculture Committee advanced related digital commodity legislation in January 2026.

May 14 was an important acceleration, and it arrived after a longer policy build-up rather than out of a blank calendar.

That setup raises the old market question: did investors buy the rumor and sell the news? For this event, the answer has to stay conditional. Bitcoin got a brief policy lift, then the follow-through faded once ETF flows, inflation pressure, and positioning moved back to the center of the trade.

A policy headline can change the industry narrative. The marginal buyer still has to arrive before it can defend spot price. That makes institutional Bitcoin demand the next confirmation signal, rather than the policy vote itself.

The clearest evidence came from the same channel that has carried much of Bitcoin's institutional story: US spot Bitcoin ETF products. Farside data shows the products posted $648.6 million in net outflows on May 18 alone, with smaller outflows continuing on May 19 and 20.

BlackRock's IBIT accounted for $448.4 million of that exit, followed by $109.6 million from ARKB and $63.4 million from FBTC.

CoinShares widened the pressure beyond one ETF table. Its May 18 fund-flow report showed $1.07 billion of digital asset investment product outflows, the first negative week in seven and the third-largest weekly outflow of 2026.

Bitcoin accounted for $982 million of those withdrawals.

That undercuts the clean policy-rally narrative. If CLARITY had created fresh, immediate institutional demand for Bitcoin, the ETF channel should have been where that demand appeared.

Instead, the biggest listed product market became the source of pressure. The result was a test of spot Bitcoin ETF outflows that mattered more to price than the policy headline itself.

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Bitcoin ETF flows reverse as US funds shed $1B amid inflation fears

US spot Bitcoin ETFs lost roughly 14,000 BTC this week, ending a six-week inflow streak as hotter inflation data forced markets to reassess risk exposure.

May 16, 2026 · Oluwapelumi Adejumo

The US also drove the regional pressure. CoinShares reported $1.14 billion of US outflows, while Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Canada still saw inflows.

That split is important because Bitcoin's current institutional thesis is heavily tied to US-listed ETF access. When the US channel sells, Bitcoin feels it first.

Selective inflows complicated the selloff

The outflow week was selective. CoinShares reported XRP inflows of $67.6 million and Solana inflows of $55.1 million, a useful counterweight to any claim that listed-product investors abandoned the entire asset class.

The better takeaway is selective exposure rather than a durable altcoin rotation. Bitcoin was the main funding source in listed products at the same moment the industry received a policy headline that bulls might have expected to help BTC first.

The policy angle may land differently across assets. Market-structure clarity can be more directly relevant to tokens whose US regulatory treatment, exchange access, or product pipeline remains a live question.

Bitcoin already sits at the center of the ETF channel that just became the pressure point. For BTC, the CLARITY vote was supportive more than transformational.

That leaves Bitcoin trading on the variables that still dominate large allocators: inflation, yields, liquidity, leverage, and ETF demand.

The April CPI release from the Bureau of Labor Statistics showed consumer prices rising 0.6% in April and 3.8% from a year earlier, with energy up 17.9% year over year and gasoline up 28.4%.

Those numbers kept macro pressure alive before the ETF reversal hit.

Recent CryptoSlate coverage already tied the Bitcoin decline to that mix. US spot Bitcoin ETFs had lost about $1 billion, or roughly 14,000 BTC, as a six-week inflow streak ended on inflation fears.

Separate market coverage pointed to leverage, options hedging, and the break below $78,000 as reasons the post-vote move failed to hold.

Related Reading

Bitcoin price risks slide toward $70,000 as $76,000 support weakens

Bitcoin price remains caught between long-term holder accumulation and weakening short-term demand as ETF outflows, rising yields, and leverage pressure the $76,000 zone.

May 19, 2026 · Oluwapelumi Adejumo

The result is a cleaner version of the sell-the-news frame. The May 14 vote improved the policy backdrop, while the May 18 flow data showed allocator demand remained conditional.

Bitcoin did receive a policy lift, and the listed-product channel turned into the pressure point before that lift could become durable demand.

Flows set the next test

Bitcoin ETF flows now set a more direct test than the first post-vote price reaction. If ETF flows stabilize while CLARITY moves toward a floor vote, the May 18 outflow would look like a reset after six weeks of inflows.

With BTC around $77,400 after bouncing from the $76,000 area twice, Bitcoin still needs to turn support into follow-through and work back toward $78,000-$80,000.

If outflows continue, the market signal shifts. Sustained Bitcoin ETF selling would show that legal clarity has yet to translate into fresh spot demand, and suggest that Bitcoin's marginal buyer is pulling back even as Washington improves the legal backdrop for crypto.

That would make the CLARITY milestone a long-term industry positive and a poor short-term shield for BTC price.

That contradiction is the useful signal. Crypto policy is moving in the direction the industry wanted, while Bitcoin's price is still being set by whether large holders and ETF allocators are willing to pay up now.

The Senate vote improved the legal runway. The May 18 flows showed the runway has limited value when the marginal buyer steps away before price can recover.

The post Bitcoin ETF demand weakens despite CLARITY Act policy win appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Bitcoin miners are already doing more than securing Bitcoin's base chain. According to Rootstock's Q1 2026 merged-mining report, 84.01% of Bitcoin's total hashrate contributed to securing Rootstock during the quarter, giving Bitcoin DeFi a hashrate-backed security claim.

The network averaged 833.92 EH/s of Rootstock hashrate.

The number is striking because Rootstock sits beside Bitcoin rather than competing for a separate set of machines. It is a Bitcoin sidechain that uses merged mining, allowing Bitcoin mining pools to submit work to Rootstock while continuing to mine Bitcoin.

In Rootstock's framing, miners can earn additional BTC-denominated rewards from Rootstock network fees without adding hardware or interrupting their Bitcoin operations.

Precision matters. The metric tracks hashrate contributed through mining pools rather than individual miners' intent, leaving DeFi demand unanswered.

It shows that a large share of Bitcoin's hashpower, as measured by Rootstock's Q1 methodology, was also being used to secure a Bitcoin smart-contract layer.

That turns the report into a signal for mining and Bitcoin DeFi infrastructure. Bitcoin DeFi, often called BTCFi, is the broader category that Rootstock is trying to secure through merged mining.

The next signal is whether that security becomes meaningful fee revenue, liquidity, and user activity.

What the hashrate number means for Bitcoin DeFi

Merged mining allows a miner to mine more than one compatible proof-of-work chain at the same time. CryptoSlate's own glossary defines merged mining as mining more than one cryptocurrency without sacrificing hash rate.

In Rootstock's case, the practical claim is that Bitcoin miners can reuse their existing infrastructure to secure Rootstock while remaining focused on Bitcoin.

Rootstock said 93.10% of observed mining-pool hashrate participated in merged mining during Q1. Its full report lists Foundry USA, AntPool, F2Pool, ViaBTC, and SecPool among the largest contributors to Rootstock's securing hashrate.

Foundry USA accounted for 36.62% of Rootstock's reported distribution, followed by AntPool at 19.92%, F2Pool at 12.79%, ViaBTC at 11.79%, and SecPool at 4.98%.

Mining-pool participation determines whether merged mining remains a niche technical option or becomes a security layer backed by major Bitcoin infrastructure.

A chain secured by a small pool of marginal hashpower carries a different risk profile from one receiving work from pools that already sit near the center of Bitcoin mining.

Rootstock's Bitcoin hashrate data uses blockchain.com seven-day averages, and that Rootstock hashrate is extrapolated from the share of Bitcoin blocks also used to mine Rootstock blocks.

That methodology makes the number a security-participation metric. Wallet usage, lending activity, trading volume, and protocol revenue require separate measures.

Hashrate explains the security floor, while fees and usage explain whether that floor becomes valuable for the broader Bitcoin economy.

Pool distribution also belongs near the top of the discussion. A high headline ratio can conceal concentration, and Rootstock's own table shows the security base depends heavily on a small group of large pools.

Why miners may care now

Bitcoin mining margins have come under pressure. CoinShares' Q1 2026 Bitcoin mining report described Q4 2025 as the toughest quarter for miners since the April 2024 halving.

The firm said hashprice was compressed by Bitcoin's late-2025 price decline and high network competition. It fell further to about $29 per PH/day in Q1, and CoinShares estimated that 15% to 20% of the global mining fleet was unprofitable at around $30 per PH/day.

Related Reading

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Apr 6, 2026 · Liam 'Akiba' Wright

Hashrate Index has hashprice at $35.78 per PH/day, and Bitcoin network hashrate at 984.34 EH/s.

CryptoSlate market data shows BTC trading around $77,300 with a market cap near $1.55 trillion, while its market rankings placed Bitcoin dominance at 60.1%.

At that price, the 3.125 BTC block subsidy remains the core mining reward. Additional fee streams become easier to understand in business terms when miners are managing hardware refreshes, power costs, treasury sales, and AI or high-performance computing opportunities.

Rootstock's pitch to miners is that a pool can add another fee source while using the same proof-of-work. That is a modest claim, but it is also why the Q1 hashrate figure is more broadly relevant.

Merged mining gives Bitcoin miners an option on BTCFi fee growth while keeping their main operation anchored to Bitcoin.

For BTC holders, the implication is different. If miners can secure Bitcoin-native smart-contract infrastructure without redirecting hashpower away from Bitcoin, then part of the BTCFi stack is already attached to Bitcoin's economic engine.

The security base exists before the market has settled on how valuable that infrastructure will become.

The Q1 number lands first as optionality for miners, then as a challenge for builders: convert a strong security base into regular economic activity.

Related Reading

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Even amid a rally Bitcoin miners are bleeding cash as this critical profit metric hits a level that forces massive shutdowns.

Jan 16, 2026 · Liam 'Akiba' Wright

The income effect remains unquantified. Merged mining can make sense even when fees are small because the incremental operational burden is limited, according to Rootstock's mechanics, but materiality still depends on actual fee flow.

Where security has to turn into usage

Hashrate can rise faster than usage. Messari's State of Rootstock Q1 2025 report showed that Rootstock's merged-mining participation averaged 81% in that quarter after the integration of Foundry and SpiderPool.

In the same report, Messari recorded weaker user metrics, including lower active addresses, lower new addresses, and a decline in DeFi TVL.

That earlier split is the key caveat for the new Q1 2026 figure. High participation in merged mining can make a network harder to attack, while borrowers, traders, stablecoin liquidity, and developers determine whether the secured network becomes economically active.

Security is a prerequisite for financial activity, while fee revenue and usage show whether people are using the rails.

The available Q1 2026 mining report leaves the most important miner-economics number outside the table: actual Rootstock fee revenue to miners.

Rootstock says rewards are paid in Bitcoin from network fees, but the Q1 mining report focuses on hashrate participation and pool distribution rather than a miner revenue breakdown.

The small scale of Rootstock’s token economy reinforces that caveat. CryptoSlate market data shows rBTC, the Bitcoin-pegged asset used on Rootstock, with a market capitalization of about $19.9 million. RIF, the Rootstock Infrastructure Framework token, is larger at about $74.4 million, but still modest by crypto-sector standards.

Together, those figures show that Rootstock’s security footprint is much larger than the market value currently attached to its core ecosystem assets.

Rootstock has shown that most Bitcoin hashrate can secure BTCFi infrastructure through merged mining. But it still needs activity and fee data to show that the infrastructure is becoming economically important for miners and BTC holders.

The next test is economic. If Rootstock fee revenue, active addresses, transaction volume, liquidity, and application usage remain modest, merged mining will look like valuable optionality for miners and a security feature for users.

If those metrics grow alongside sustained mining-pool participation, the argument changes: Bitcoin's hashrate would be helping miners earn from a real Rootstock smart-contract economy secured through merged mining.

For now, Rootstock's 84.01% figure gives Bitcoin DeFi a stronger infrastructure claim. It shows that a Bitcoin smart-contract layer can sit on top of a large share of Bitcoin's mining work while miners continue their main business.

The harder part is converting that security headline into enough activity and fees for miners and BTC holders to care beyond the hashrate number.

The post 84% of BTC hashrate secured Bitcoin DeFi in Q1, but miners saw little fee upside appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Cryptocurrency exchanges are emerging as the clearest pressure point in Bitcoin’s long-running debate over quantum computing risk, sitting on millions of coins with publicly visible cryptographic keys.

Bitcoin quantum risk begins with a fundamental feature of its transaction verification: public keys are hidden until funds are spent.

Once a wallet signs a transaction, the public key required to verify that signature is permanently published to the blockchain. The risk compounds when a custodian reuses that address, leaves remaining balances in it, or continues directing deposits to wallets that should have been retired.

That exposure has reached a massive scale, with Glassnode noting that about 6.04 million Bitcoin, representing 30.2% of the asset’s circulating supply, are currently held in wallets with exposed public keys.

In Glassnode’s framework, public key exposure becomes the core metric for identifying wallets that would matter most in a future quantum-attack scenario.

The data does not imply an immediate threat because quantum computers remain years away from the scale required to break Bitcoin’s encryption.

However, the metric reveals exactly where the network’s vulnerabilities are concentrated if advances in quantum hardware eventually make public-key exposure a practical security concern.

According to Glassnode, roughly half of all Bitcoin held by labeled exchanges is susceptible under the firm's public-key visibility framework, compared with less than 30% of the non-exchange supply.

Notably, the exposure breaks down into two distinct categories, with the largest being operational risk.

This bucket covers 4.12 million Bitcoin and is tied directly to poor wallet management decisions, such as address reuse and partial spending without proper rotation of change outputs. Exchanges account for a significant portion of this risk, holding about 1.66 million exposed Bitcoin, equal to more than 8% of the total issued supply.

Moreover, data suggests custody standards are slipping as trading platforms expand their wallet infrastructure, deposit systems, and liquidity operations. The share of exchange-held Bitcoin considered operationally safe has steadily fallen from about 55% in 2018 to roughly 45% today.
That makes Bitcoin wallet security a measurable custody issue rather than a theoretical protocol debate.

Crypto exchanges vs Wall Street vs Sovereign wallets

A broader look at the data reveals that public-key exposure is wildly uneven across the global financial landscape, fracturing sharply along the lines of crypto-native platforms, traditional Wall Street institutions, and nation-states.

The clearest gap appears in crypto exchange wallets, where address reuse and legacy infrastructure leave large balances more visible on-chain.

Within the crypto sector alone, security standards vary drastically.

Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange by volume, holds 85% of its labeled Bitcoin balances in addresses where public keys have already been revealed, Glassnode found.

With users holding more than $40 billion in Bitcoin on the platform, per DeFiLlama data, that methodology places over $34 billion of those assets squarely in the exposed category.

Meanwhile, other major trading venues show even higher concentrations. Bitfinex, Crypto.com, and Gemini each have 100% of their labeled Bitcoin balances classified as exposed.

Coinbase, the largest US-based exchange, sits at the opposite end of the spectrum. The Brian Amrstong-led firm carries public-key exposure on just 5% of its Bitcoin reserves, placing it among the strongest large-scale custodians in the report.

Meanwhile, that same custody divide is glaringly apparent when comparing crypto exchanges to traditional finance heavyweights and retail-focused platforms.

Bitcoin ETF issuers like Fidelity maintain exposure levels near 2%, while rivals like Grayscale and WisdomTree have exposure levels of around 50% and 100%, respectively.

Other platforms, like Block’s Cash App, align with industry best practices, while Robinhood and Revolut flag nearly 100% exposure in their labeled wallets.

Government actors, meanwhile, display the strictest cryptographic hygiene of all. Wallets tied to the United States, the United Kingdom, and El Salvador have maintained zero quantum exposure, boasting safety rates above 99% for several years.

The split across these platforms confirms that the vulnerability stems from internal wallet architecture and address rotation policies, rather than from the inherent burden of managing massive liquidity.

A slow Bitcoin upgrade leaves exchanges with the first move

While the timeline for a quantum-capable attack remains fiercely debated, Glassnode’s data makes one thing clear: the crypto industry’s most immediate defense lies in basic operational hygiene, not protocol-level overhauls.

By separating the exposed supply into structural and operational categories, the data highlights that operational exposure, the largest vulnerability, can be drastically reduced without waiting for a complex change to Bitcoin’s consensus rules.

This means that trading platforms can immediately lower their risk profile simply by moving balances to fresh addresses, retiring used wallets, and tightening internal controls around change outputs.

This gives custodians a direct path to secure customer funds while the broader Bitcoin community debates longer-term cryptographic solutions.

Notably, Bitcoin itself cannot be refitted overnight. So any systemic migration to post-quantum signatures would require massive coordination across developers, miners, node operators, wallet providers, and custodians.

Given that consensus changes are intentionally slow, a broad cryptographic transition would likely unfold over several years.

Exchanges, however, have a much shorter path available to them right now.

As Bitcoin becomes increasingly embedded in spot ETFs, traditional brokerage accounts, and institutional custody products, the first line of defense against future quantum threats will not come from code upgrades, but from the entities holding the largest pools of customer coins.

Wallet hygiene is no longer a back-office detail; it is a highly visible test of whether Bitcoin’s custodial layer is prepared for a threat that, while uncertain in its timing, is already measurable on-chain.

Bitcoin quantum computing risk is therefore becoming a test of custody before it becomes a protocol-level emergency.

The post Bitcoin quantum computing risk centers on major exchange wallets, Glassnode data shows appeared first on CryptoSlate.

Hyperliquid price crossed $50 as the first spot HYPE exchange-traded funds drew stronger early demand than Bitcoin products on a market-cap-adjusted basis, giving investors a regulated way to express exposure to one of crypto’s fastest-growing trading venues.

Data from SoSoValue show the two HYPE funds attracted nearly $50 million of inflows and held about $60 million in assets during their first week of trading.

#10

Hyperliquid HYPE

$58.45

+13.43%

1D 7D 1M 1Y ALL

Market Cap $14.86B

24h Volume $1.59B

All-Time High $59.39

Sectors

Derivatives DEX Layer 1 Token

The absolute figures remain small compared with the largest Bitcoin funds, but the launch has stood out because the products are scaling from a much smaller token economy.

The move has also strengthened Hyperliquid price momentum by linking ETF demand with a token economy that remains far smaller than Bitcoin’s.

Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said trading volume in the Hyperliquid ETF rose each day after launch and was running at roughly eight times its first-day level. He said the pattern suggested organic interest rather than a short-lived opening burst.

That demand has arrived as investors reassess Hyperliquid’s position in the broader digital-asset market.

The platform began as a crypto perpetual futures exchange, but has expanded into non-crypto markets, including commodities, equity-linked products, S&P 500 futures, pre-IPO contracts, and prediction markets.

For ETF buyers, HYPE has become a proxy for that expansion. The token is being treated less as a simple exchange asset and more as exposure to a trading platform trying to move crypto rails into markets that have historically sat inside traditional finance.

Hyperliquid price outperforms broader crypto market

The early flows have already placed HYPE in rare territory among new crypto fund launches.

That makes the Hyperliquid ETF launch an early test of whether institutional demand can extend beyond Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana products.

Crypto analyst Aletheia said the first two spot HYPE ETFs outperformed Bitcoin spot ETFs on three of their first six trading days, after adjusting for inflow market capitalization.

The comparison came during a weak stretch for Bitcoin-focused products, which registered more than $1 billion of net outflows over the same reporting period.

Meanwhile, the HYPE products also beat Ethereum funds on five of those six days. Solana funds remained stronger across four of the six sessions, indicating that HYPE’s early demand has been notable, though not consistently ahead of every competing crypto ETF category.

The adjusted-flow comparison narrows the focus from headline dollars to demand relative to asset size. Bitcoin ETFs still dominate the market in absolute terms, with deeper liquidity, broader access for advisers, and a longer trading record.

However, relative to Hyperliquid’s token economy, the first week of HYPE ETF activity showed unusually strong demand for a new crypto fund category.

The fund activity also changes HYPE’s market structure. During the first six trading days, the ETFs bought 2.5 times as much HYPE as Hyperliquid’s Assistance Fund bought and burned, Aletheia said.

That means ETF issuers are already creating more open-market buying pressure than one of the token’s existing internal support mechanisms.

The Assistance Fund buys and burns HYPE, reducing supply over time. ETF issuers create a separate demand channel because they must acquire HYPE to support fund exposure.

The result is a blend of native protocol demand and traditional-market demand, a structure that only a small group of crypto assets have achieved through regulated products.

The flows remain early and could fluctuate as the funds move beyond launch week. Still, the first six sessions have moved HYPE into a different part of the market conversation.

Its performance is now being judged not only by crypto-native trading activity on Hyperliquid, but also by ETF inflows, secondary-market volume, and institutional allocation behavior.

Why institutional interest followed Hyperliquid

The demand for HYPE ETFs reflects a broader shift in how investors are valuing Hyperliquid.

The platform is increasingly being viewed as a financial infrastructure trade rather than a narrow crypto derivatives venue.

Data from Dune Analytics show roughly half of Hyperliquid’s volume now comes from non-crypto assets, including stocks, oil, S&P 500 futures, pre-IPO markets, and artificial intelligence-linked companies.

Hyperliquid data also show real-world asset trading on the platform reached a record $2.6 billion in open interest, roughly double the level from two months earlier.

That growth suggests users are moving beyond crypto perpetuals and using the platform for broader macro and equity-linked exposure.

Hyperliquid also gained attention during the US-Iran conflict because its 24/7 markets allowed traders to navigate Middle East geopolitical risks during weekends, when standard financial exchanges were closed.

Market participants could trade synthetic versions of traditional assets, including US equities and commodities, while conventional venues were offline.

That use case has strengthened the institutional argument for the platform.

Considering this, Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan has described Hyperliquid as crypto’s new “super app,” arguing that the platform is targeting the $600 trillion global asset market rather than only the roughly $3 trillion crypto economy.

He has pointed to its exposure across crypto, equities, commodities, foreign exchange, prediction markets, and structured products as evidence of a broader market design.

According to him:

“Hyperliquid has become the ‘super-app' Atkins envisioned—a ‘non-SEC regulated platform' offering investors exposure to ‘a variety of asset classes.'”

That framing helps explain why ETF demand appeared quickly.

Traditional investors already understand the exchange business model as they can compare trading volume, fee generation, market share, and user growth with public companies such as CME Group, Robinhood, and other financial platforms.

Hyperliquid gives them a crypto-native version of that model, with an added feature: token demand is directly tied to platform activity.

Fee growth gives HYPE a clearer valuation story

Meanwhile, market observers have also pointed out that Hyperliquid’s fee profile also supports institutional interest.

Market observers have pointed out that the platform accounts for roughly one-third of revenue across the top 10 protocols and captures about 43% of all chain fees, or about $11 million per week.

Most of that revenue comes from perpetual trading fees. Notably, nearly all of it is used to buy back HYPE in the open market, giving the token a direct link to platform activity.

That fee stream gives the Hyperliquid token a more direct economic link to platform activity than many earlier governance assets.

Hougan stated that this structure separates HYPE from many earlier DeFi tokens. First-generation governance tokens often struggled because protocol growth did not always translate into token value. Holders could vote on governance matters, but they often lacked a clear economic connection to fees, cash flow, or buybacks.

According to him, HYPE was launched with a different design. As trading activity rises, buybacks increase. As buybacks increase, investors have a clearer basis for connecting platform growth with token demand.

That gives ETF investors a more direct story to underwrite. They are buying exposure to a trading platform with rising volume, increasing penetration of the non-crypto market, and a buyback mechanism that links revenue to the token.

Hougan has estimated that Hyperliquid’s annual revenue is running around $800 million to $1 billion. At a market capitalization of around $10 billion to $11 billion, that places HYPE at roughly 10 to 14 times the buyback stream.

The comparison is imperfect because token holders do not have the same legal rights as equity holders. Still, it gives investors a framework for valuing HYPE against trading-platform businesses rather than older DeFi governance assets.

That valuation framework helps explain why the ETFs attracted demand so quickly. HYPE offers a high-growth exchange thesis, a token-linked buyback model, and exposure to a platform moving into markets far larger than crypto perpetuals alone.

HYPE outperforms broader crypto market

Against this backdrop, HYPE's market performance has significantly diverged from the broader crypto market.

Data from Tradingview shows that HYPE is now up more than 120% this year and has pushed above $50, its highest level in roughly eight months.

The move has left it ahead of major crypto assets and crypto-linked equities, including Bitcoin, ETH, XRP, Solana, BNB, Dogecoin, and Coinbase, all of which are down by double digits year-to-date.

In fact, HYPE's fully diluted valuation of $54.6 billion has flipped Solana's $54.3 billion.

Blockchain analytics firm Santiment said:

“HYPE’s open interest (which measures the total value of active futures contracts that are still open) has remained extremely high, currently above $1.92B.”

The firm further explained that improved price performance reflects several overlapping catalysts. This includes the recently advanced CLARITY Act, which improves sentiment around the US regulatory outlook for digital assets.

At the same time, Coinbase and Circle named Hyperliquid an official USDC deployer, strengthening the platform’s stablecoin rails. Additionally, the launch of synthetic pre-IPO products added another growth narrative, while ETF inflows gave traditional investors a new access point.

The result is that HYPE is trading more like a growth-linked market infrastructure token than a broad crypto beta asset.

Still, the platform's risks remain substantial.

Hyperliquid is unavailable to US users; its newer non-crypto products are still in their early stages, and synthetic exposure to private companies or real-world markets could invite closer regulatory scrutiny.

The platform also needs to show that demand can persist beyond launch-week ETF activity and high-volatility trading windows.

The post Hyperliquid price crosses $50 as HYPE ETFs outpace Bitcoin on adjusted inflows appeared first on CryptoSlate.

The tariff refund trade has moved from court hypothesis to Treasury accounting, and the macro picture looks more consequential than traders initially framed it, with traders increasingly watching whether the process can improve Bitcoin price's macro outlook.

The US Customs and Border Protection had processed $35.46 billion in tariff refunds as of May 11, including interest, validating 86,874 applications covering 15.1 million entries and finalizing 8.3 million shipments.

Up to $166 billion in IEEPA tariff collections qualify for repayment, money owed to more than 330,000 importers across roughly 53 million entries, with a Supreme Court ruling having stripped the President Donald Trump administration's authority to impose them.

The processed pool already represents about 21% of the potential maximum, and the rest of the eligible volume is large enough to move both reserves and pricing behavior if payments proceed quickly.

Most Bitcoin framing around the refund pool follows a channel in which money leaves the Treasury General Account, bank reserves rise, and risk assets catch a bid.

Fed Governor Christopher Waller's balance sheet explanation confirms the accounting, noting that when the Treasury makes a payment, the Fed debits the TGA and credits the recipient bank's reserve account, so refund disbursements paid from existing cash balances push reserves higher without any new issuance.

The TGA held $758.8 billion on May 15, against reserve balances of approximately $3.10 trillion for the week ended May 13. A full $166 billion payout would equal roughly 5.3% of current reserves.

That liquidity shift matters because Bitcoin liquidity conditions remain tightly linked to reserve balances and Treasury cash movements.

BofA's public tariff commentary says the effective US tariff rate peaked at 11.3% in October 2025, fell to 8.7% in March 2026, and the bank expects it to settle between 6% and 8% by year-end.

The bank reads the lower tariff path as a supply-chain event, in which firms may delay future price increases, and the pricing benefit flows to corporate margins rather than to consumer rebates.

Government refunds flow directly to importers, and the disinflationary channel runs through importers, supply chains, and future CPI prints.

Why both channels need to work for Bitcoin price

Persistent inflation pressure and elevated Fed rates continue to shape the broader outlook for Bitcoin's price rally.

April CPI rose 3.8% year over year, and core CPI rose 2.8%, while energy prices climbed 17.9% and gasoline 28.4%. March PCE rose 3.5% year over year against a core reading of 3.2%.

The Dallas Fed estimated that tariff collections added approximately 0.8 percentage points to 12-month core PCE inflation through March 2026, and that core inflation excluding tariff-related effects would have been 2.3 percentage points.

The EIA expects Brent crude to hold around $106 per barrel in May and June on Strait of Hormuz disruption risk, with global oil inventories set to fall by an average of 8.5 million barrels per day in the second quarter.

Drewry's World Container Index surged 12% to $2,553 per 40-foot container in the week of May 14, driven by higher transpacific and Asia-Europe rates. In that environment, refund cash flows toward energy and freight absorption first.

Bitcoin price was trading near $77,507, below its 200-day moving average of around $82,000, with CoinShares recording $982 million in Bitcoin product outflows during the week of May 18.

The Federal Reserve held rates at 3.50%-3.75% in April, with inflation still elevated, and markets were pricing in extended holds or possible hikes.

A modest disinflation signal could ease the yield constraint at the margin, and the reserve boost from TGA outflows would need that yield backdrop to cooperate, allowing liquidity to flow into risk assets rather than into bond supply.

When both channels fire

If $125 billion to $166 billion in refunds processes quickly and primarily from existing TGA balances, the reserve injection reaches 3% to 5% of current balances, enough to shift reserve optics without requiring new issuance.

At the same time, if importers deploy refunds to absorb higher freight and energy costs and keep price-hike schedules off the calendar, the Dallas Fed's 0.8% tariff contribution to core PCE begins to unwind at the margin.

Even a partial reversal of that contribution, such as the realistic base case of core PCE relief sitting around 5-15 basis points, given that BofA still sees services and energy driving the bulk of inflation, would be enough to ease the yield path that has capped Bitcoin's recovery.

In that scenario, Bitcoin price reclaiming the 200-day moving average near $82,000 becomes a macro-driven trade, one where reserve dynamics and inflation data drive the setup.

The refund pool delivers the Bitcoin argument through two simultaneous conditions: TGA balances falling faster than Treasury rebuilds them through bill issuance, and importers gaining enough margin breathing room to defer scheduled price hikes.

Both outcomes feed into the same Bitcoin price argument of lower yields, stronger Treasury liquidity, and improving risk appetite across risk assets.

In the bear case, refund processing could be slow, legally contested, or unevenly distributed across importers. Firms with the largest refund claims may direct cash toward balance-sheet repair rather than pricing decisions.

If Treasury simultaneously replenishes the TGA through bill issuance, reserve balances stay flat, and the liquidity channel closes. Energy and services inflation can dominate any relief in goods prices and keep core PCE well above the Fed's 2% target through year-end.

In that scenario, Bitcoin stays a yield-sensitive risk asset, the yield constraint from elevated rates holding firm. BofA's 3.1% year-end core PCE forecast already prices in some tariff reversal, so even a fully processed $166 billion refund pool may land as expected.

Markets pricing extended holds or hikes keep financial conditions tighter than the reserve number alone would imply. Bitcoin outflows continue while BTC price holds or loses the $75,000-$78,000 support zone.

The refund pool is large enough to matter, but it gives Bitcoin price a macro tailwind only when reserves rise faster than Treasury replaces them. Importer margin relief slows future price hikes enough to give the Fed room to signal an extended pause.

Tracking CBP's weekly processing totals alongside the TGA balance and core goods inflation prints offers the cleanest real-time read on whether the two-channel thesis is playing out or stalling at the margin.

The post Bitcoin price to get a macro boost as BofA says tariff refunds could cool inflation appeared first on CryptoSlate.

While legacy digital assets have moved through standard cyclical trends, HYPE has decoupled from the broader market, establishing itself as a top-tier large-cap performer.

If you had invested $100,000 into HYPE at the beginning of January 2026, your portfolio value would sit at approximately $247,440 today (based on a move from $25 to the current trading price of $61.86). This explosive 147.4% year-to-date gain has completely rewritten the narrative around on-chain derivatives, leaving holders of major digital assets wondering how a decentralized exchange token stole the spotlight.

HYPE Destroys BTC and ETH Return Profiles

To put the strength of the HYPE price rally into perspective, a $100,000 allocation into Hyperliquid at the start of 2026 would have significantly outperformed investors who bought and held Bitcoin ($BTC) or Ethereum ($ETH) over a much longer four-year macro horizon.

Performance Comparison Matrix

The mathematical divergence is stark. A $100,000 investment in Bitcoin would have dropped to roughly $88,090, while the same capital placed in Ethereum would have depreciated to $70,930 due to localized market corrections. Meanwhile, HYPE more than doubled your capital.

What is Hyperliquid Crypto?

Hyperliquid is a high-performance Layer-1 blockchain explicitly optimized to operate a decentralized perpetual futures exchange. Unlike traditional decentralized applications that build on top of external networks like Ethereum or Arbitrum, Hyperliquid utilizes its own standalone infrastructure to offer centralized-exchange-like speed with full on-chain transparency.

The native HYPE token serves multiple vital utilities within this financial ecosystem:

• Staking and Security: Securing the underlying high-speed L1 consensus mechanism.
• Protocol Governance: Directing protocol upgrades and feature releases.
• Ecosystem Utility: Acting as a core collateral asset and driving the platform's highly anticipated programmatic fee-buyback architecture, where up to 97% of protocol revenue directly accrues value to the ecosystem.

Technical Analysis: Breaking Down the HYPE/USD Chart

A detailed analysis of the daily HYPE/USD chart shows a structurally flawless bullish trend characterized by climbing support floors and explosive breakout waves.

1. The January Baseline and February Accumulation

HYPE opened the year trading flat near the $25.00 psychological support line. Volatility initially remained compressed before a surge in platform trading volume triggered a sharp vertical impulse toward $35.00 in early February. This move established a definitive macro-bottom that was never retested.

2. The Mid-Spring Consolidation Channel

Throughout March and April, the token entered a broad, ascending re-accumulation channel. Every localized sell-off was met with intense spot buying pressure near the 50-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs), which converged effectively around the $40.00 – $45.00 horizontal support zone.

3. The May Parabolic Expansion

The final leg of the structure showcases an almost vertical price expansion starting in mid-May. HYPE broke out of its multi-week consolidation at $45.00, accelerating through its previous historic resistance barriers to touch an all-time high of $61.86. The sheer steepness of the final candle indicates intense institutional accumulation and massive short-side market liquidations.

Why HYPE Outperformed the Market

While technical setups explain the path of price action, fundamental triggers explain the velocity of the move. Several major real-world developments converged in May 2026 to fuel the HYPE engine:

The Mother of All Short Squeezes

According to derivatives data from on-chain analytics firms like Santiment and CoinGlass, market participants aggressively attempted to short HYPE's rally between May 18 and May 20, pushing funding rates deeply into negative territory. This pessimistic bet backfired dramatically. As the price pressed upward, over $33.5 million in short positions were forcefully liquidated within a single 24-hour window, creating an aggressive, involuntary buying loop that catapulted HYPE past $59 and into the $61+ zone.

Wall Street Arrives: Spot HYPE ETFs Launch

Institutional validation reached a fever pitch on May 14, 2026, when top-tier asset manager Bitwise officially launched the Bitwise Hyperliquid ETF (ticker: BHYP) on the NYSE, offering native staking rewards natively within the fund structure. Concurrently, firms like Grayscale and 21Shares saw massive early capital inflows into their respective investment vehicles. Heavyweight venture capital firms like Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) were spotted by on-chain analysts accumulating tens of millions in spot HYPE tokens directly from major trading venues.

Synthetic Pre-IPO Markets (The SpaceX Effect)

Hyperliquid expanded its fundamental product suite beyond standard crypto assets via its HIP-3 protocol upgrade. The recent launch of synthetic pre-IPO perpetual contracts tracking SpaceX (SPCX-USDC) generated over $33 million in volume on its first day alone. By providing decentralized, 24/7 access to traditional mega-cap private equity valuations, Hyperliquid proved to mainstream finance that its layer-1 infrastructure is uniquely suited to handle global market demands.

Future Outlook: Can HYPE Maintain Its Momentum?

With HYPE currently sitting in price-discovery mode above its historic resistance levels, the technical path of least resistance remains upward. Financial analysts point out that with Hyperliquid maintaining an annualized revenue run rate nearing $900 million, the fundamental valuation models heavily favor continued token accumulation.

In a move that could fundamentally alter the plumbing of the United States financial ecosystem, President Donald J. Trump has officially signed an executive order titled "Integrating Financial Technology Innovation into Regulatory Frameworks." The directive aims to systematically dismantle the regulatory walls that separate financial technology (fintech) firms and digital asset companies from traditional banking infrastructure.

President Trump Orders Crypto Integration Into US Payment Systems

The executive order explicitly instructs federal financial regulators to update and streamline rules to merge digital assets and innovative technologies into traditional finance. For the digital asset markets, the immediate focus is on eliminating the "gatekeeper" status held by legacy tier-1 commercial banks, which have historically dictated which tech firms could access dollar liquidity and payment rails.

Streamlining Fintech Partnerships and Licensing

Under the first core mandate of the executive order, the heads of all federal financial regulatory agencies—including the SEC, CFTC, and OCC—have exactly 90 days to review existing guidelines, supervisory practices, orders, and no-action letters. The objective is to identify and modify rules that unduly impede fintech firms from entering into operational partnerships with insured depository institutions, broker-dealers, and investment advisers. Furthermore, the order demands a streamlined application process for alternative entities seeking national bank trust charters and federal insurance.

The Federal Reserve Master Account Mandate

The most critical aspect of the order is directed toward the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. The central bank has been requested to deliver a comprehensive evaluation within 120 days regarding the legal, regulatory, and policy frameworks that govern access to Reserve Bank payment accounts and payment services.

Crucially, this evaluation must explore how non-bank financial companies and uninsured depository institutions—specifically those managing digital assets—can directly access the Fedwire system and other central bank payment rails.

Why Fed Payment Access Matters for Crypto

For over a decade, the digital asset industry has suffered from localized "debanking" measures, often referred to by industry executives as Operation Chokepoint 2.0. Because digital asset firms could not gain direct access to Federal Reserve Master Accounts, they were forced to rely on intermediary partner banks under a Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) model.

This infrastructure configuration introduced notable structural vulnerabilities:

• Counterparty Risk: Crypto companies remained exposed to the solvency and risk tolerances of third-party regional banks.
• Layered Transaction Fees: Multiple intermediaries increased the net cost of settlement for end-users transferring capital between fiat and digital assets.
• Single Points of Failure: Regulatory crackdowns on a handful of fintech-friendly partner banks routinely disrupted liquidity pipelines for the entire digital asset economy.

By evaluating direct access to Reserve Bank payment accounts, the administration is laying the groundwork for digital asset custodians and stablecoin issuers to settle transactions directly at the central bank level. This could effectively harmonize the legal standing of compliant digital asset institutions with that of traditional commercial banks.

The Broader Impact on Digital Assets and Markets

The regulatory restructuring comes at a time when institutional adoption of digital assets is already accelerating. Following the conditional approval of several crypto-related national trust bank charters by the OCC, this executive order provides a clear policy runway for top-tier digital asset service providers.

Institutions utilizing deep liquidity pools across major assets will benefit from more robust fiat on-ramps and off-ramps. Traders checking the Bitcoin price or assessing overall market shifts can expect reduced tracking errors and tighter spreads as institutional settlement bottlenecks disappear. For those seeking safe custody options amid these sweeping systemic upgrades, evaluating secure storage via the hardware wallets comparison remains a recommended baseline.

Furthermore, direct integration into payment channels gives clear utility advantages to compliant stablecoin issuers and settlement networks. This operational framework complements legislative progress in Washington, positioning the domestic digital dollar ecosystem to effectively scale commercial settlement speeds.

A major wave of geopolitical relief is sweeping through global financial markets. According to an official White House Pool Report, US President Donald Trump stated that the United States is currently in the "FINAL STAGES" of negotiations to end the ongoing conflict with Iran. This sudden pivot toward de-escalation comes just days after tense rhetoric left markets bracing for renewed military strikes.

For macro investors and digital asset traders, this news represents a significant reduction in the global risk premium. Historically, severe geopolitical tension in the Middle East drives institutional capital toward defensive postures. A verified breakthrough in these peace talks removes a massive layer of uncertainty, clearing the path for an immediate risk-on rally across both equities and digital assets.

Crypto Markets React as Geopolitical Risk Fades

The cryptocurrency market has historically acted as a highly sensitive gauge for global liquidity and macroeconomic sentiment. Following the distribution of the pool report, digital asset markets showed immediate signs of positive momentum.

With the threat of a widening conflict officially being neutralized at the diplomatic table, capital is expected to rapidly rotate back into high-beta risk assets. Analysts suggest that the timing of this diplomatic breakthrough could not be more ideal for crypto bulls, as market liquidity had been tightly coiled waiting for a clear directional catalyst.

Technical Outlook: Bitcoin Targets $82,000 After $80,000 Reclaim

From a technical perspective, $Bitcoin has been consolidating just under key overhead resistance. The macroeconomic relief provided by the Trump-Iran development is the exact fundamental driver needed to push the asset over the edge.

Key Levels to Watch

• The $80,000 Psychological Barrier: Reclaiming this level convincingly will confirm that the correction is over and that buyers are firmly back in control.
• The $82,000 Target: Once $80,000 flips from resistance into support, the path toward $82,000 is open, backed by short-liquidations and fresh retail momentum.

Traders looking to capitalize on this volatility should keep a close eye on live updates via the CryptoTicker BTC Tracker. Furthermore, evaluating market execution costs across the CryptoTicker Exchange Comparison Matrix will be vital as trading volumes spike in response to the news.

The cryptocurrency market is closely examining its structural footing following a sharp correction from recent all-time highs. After a powerful multi-week expansion that propelled the digital currency past key milestones, the asset encountered aggressive overhead resistance.

For market participants assessing bitcoin news today, the primary focus centers on the daily candlestick chart structure. After breaching the psychological $80,000 mark and posting local highs near $83,000, the daily Bitcoin price underwent a clear multi-day retracement. The premier digital asset is hovering at $77,371, registering a modest intraday green candle (+0.80%) as buyers attempt to stabilize the market at a historically significant technical crossroads.

Bitcoin Daily Chart Analysis: Understanding the Moving Average Breakdown

• The Price Action: BTC/USD hit an apex near $83,000 before breaking down beneath its short-term moving average, bottoming locally at a low of $76,440.
• The Technical Catalyst: A bearish crossover of the short-term Moving Average (MA 9) below the longer-term Moving Average (MA 21), signaling a momentum shift on the daily timeframe.
• The Macro Context: Over $800 million in bullish derivatives positions were liquidated as a strengthening US Dollar Index (DXY), rising 30-year Treasury yields, and unresolved geopolitical tensions in the Middle East chilled risk appetite.

The daily chart reveals that Bitcoin has slipped beneath its 9-day Moving Average (orange line at $78,502) and its 21-day Moving Average (green line at $79,301). This layout defines the current retraction as a structural shift: the moving averages have transitioned from dynamic support levels into immediate overhead resistance hurdles.

BTC Technical Analysis: Historical Consolidation Zones from April to May

Analyzing the asset's trajectory over the past two months showcases a clear technical rhythm marked by three critical consolidation zones highlighted by green circles on the daily chart:

1. The Early April Foundation

In early April, Bitcoin established a definitive macro floor inside the $65,581 demand zone. This area saw massive accumulation, forming a "higher low" structure that laid the groundwork for the subsequent impulse wave.

2. The Early May Launchpad

As April turned into May, Bitcoin aggressively broke upward, using the daily moving averages as a launchpad. A brief consolidation near the mid-$70,000 zone flipped prior resistance into support, sparking the parabolic run that ultimately targeted the major liquidity pocket above $80,000.

3. The Current Mid-May Rejection

After peaking at the $82,800 horizontal resistance line, buyers exhausted their momentum. The daily candles printed a series of lower highs, forcing a breakdown beneath the moving averages. The current consolidation loop near $77,371 mimics past consolidation structures, determining whether bulls can engineer another structural rebound.

Why Is Bitcoin Dropping?

Supporting this structural view is the Relative Strength Index (RSI 14), which sits at a cool 46.96. This reading confirms that the extreme overbought conditions present during the run to $83,000 have been completely erased. The indicator has dipped below the 50-median line, confirming that short-term sellers hold the operational edge, though the asset is far from technically oversold.

This technical cooldown coordinates perfectly with shifted institutional sentiment. Spot Bitcoin ETFs saw over $1 billion in net weekly outflows for the first time since January, as macro traders cut risk profiles due to soaring bond yields and shifting timelines regarding Federal Reserve interest rate paths. Simultaneously, high liquidations on derivative platforms forced over-leveraged longs to unwind, compounding the spot price decline.

Bitcoin Support Levels to Watch: Technical Targets for Bulls and Bears

As Bitcoin fights to reclaim its bullish posture, two distinct scenarios present themselves on the daily timeframe:

• The Bullish Recovery Case: To nullify the immediate bearish momentum, buyers must drive daily candle closes back above the moving average cluster between $78,500 and $79,300. Reclaiming this zone would re-energize a run toward the $82,800 ceiling.
• The Bearish Continuation Case: The absolute line in the sand for the current bullish macro structure rests at the $76,086 horizontal support. A decisive break below this level could accelerate selling pressure, opening the door for a deeper correction toward the low $70,000s.

During periods of heightened daily volatility, executing trades on liquid and fundamentally sound platforms is imperative. Traders can verify fees and pairs using our updated crypto exchange comparison. For long-term market participants looking to insulate their assets from counterparty risk during market shakeouts, utilizing premium cold storage setups remains a gold standard; discover optimal models in our hardware wallets comparison.

As of May 19, 2026, the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization is hovering at $2,116.7, leaving many retail and institutional investors asking a blunt question: Is Ethereum a bad investment?

To understand why sentiment has flipped so aggressively to the bearish side, one only needs to look at the historical comparisons circulating through the trading community. A popular visual contrast highlights Ethereum’s valuation exactly five years ago versus today.

At first glance, a 50% decline over a five-year horizon paints a grim picture for an asset often touted as "ultrasound money." However, evaluating whether an asset is a poor investment requires digging beneath the surface of raw price data into technical indicators, macroeconomic pressures, and on-chain health.

Is ETH Coin a Bad Investment?

Whether $Ethereum is a bad investment depends entirely on your trading time horizon and risk tolerance.

For short-term swing traders, ETH is currently exhibiting a highly volatile, bearish structure that carries significant downside risk toward the $2,000 support level. For long-term investors, however, historical data and on-chain fundamentals suggest this deep correction represents a classic cyclical re-accumulation phase rather than a permanent structural failure.

Ethereum Price Analysis over the Years

Looking at the multi-year ETHUSD chart, the asset has established a wide, macro-scale trading range. Following its peak near $4,946 earlier in the cycle, Ethereum has retraced roughly 57%, landing it back into the critical liquidity pocket between $2,000 and $2,300.

Key Support and Resistance Levels

• Immediate Support ($2,088): This represents the critical 0.5 Fibonacci retracement level. Daily and weekly candle closes must defend this area to prevent a deeper capitulation event.
• Psychological Floor ($2,000): If $2,088 fails to hold, the active impulse wave is highly likely to flush out leveraged long positions down to the flat $2,000 support mark.
• Primary Upside Target ($2,462 - $2,561): A successful defense of the current floor exposes a path to the 0.618 Fibonacci level, which acts as the initial validation gate for a structural trend reversal.

A significant silver lining on daily timeframes is the Gaussian Channel, which has recently flipped from purple (bearish) to green (bullish). Statistically, when ETH sits at the lower boundary of a green Gaussian Channel—similar to the market structure observed in mid-2025—it has historically served as a Launchpad for multi-month rallies.

Macroeconomic Headwinds: Why is Crypto Crashing?

The current downward trajectory of the broader crypto market is not happening in a vacuum. Ethereum’s price drop is heavily correlated with shifting global macroeconomic factors and sudden geopolitical escalations.

1. The Crude Oil Price Shock

The single biggest short-term headwind for Ethereum right now is the price of oil. Since late February, crude oil has surged over 66%, climbing from $65 to over $110 per barrel (Brent crude).

This massive energy spike triggers immediate inflation anxieties across traditional financial systems. When inflation threats loom, central banks—including the Federal Reserve—are forced to keep interest rates elevated for longer. This directly drains liquidity out of high-beta risk assets like technology stocks and cryptocurrencies. The inverse correlation between ETH and crude oil recently hit an all-time high of -0.40, showcasing exactly how macro factors are suppressing token valuations.

2. Geopolitical Tensions & Liquidations

Recent political friction in the Middle East has triggered widespread risk-off behavior. Warnings regarding stalled ceasefire talks led to over $580 million in overnight liquidations across the crypto market, forcing leveraged traders to sell off assets rapidly and driving the spot price of Ethereum straight through its $2,200 support floor.

Divergent On-Chain Data: Price vs. Ecosystem Health

While the spot price looks weak, Ethereum's underlying network fundamentals tell a completely different story. There is a glaring divergence between negative price action and positive ecosystem growth:

• Record Staking Participation: Despite ETH declining significantly year-to-date, the total supply of Ethereum locked in staking contracts has actually increased from 29% to 31%. Long-term holders are opting to earn yield rather than dump their tokens into the market.
• Supply Scarcity: This steady influx of staked capital actively removes millions of ETH from liquid circulation on cryptocurrency exchanges, lowering the structural sell pressure.
• Institutional Tokenization: Major financial institutions continue to deploy tokenized funds on the Ethereum mainnet. Financial analysts like Fundstrat's Tom Lee maintain that tokenization and the rise of decentralized, agentic AI applications will serve as the core structural drivers for Ethereum throughout the remainder of 2026.

Before executing a long-term strategy, investors should review their execution venue via an exchange comparison and ensure assets are secured using offline infrastructure, which you can verify in our comprehensive hardware wallets review.

Ethereum Price Prediction: What Lies Ahead?

The Bearish Case

If crude oil remains above $110 and institutional capital continues to flow out of spot ETH ETFs, the asset will likely lose the $2,088 Fibonacci support line. This will drag the price down to the psychological floor of $2,000, where a broader market panic could temporarily wick the price down to $1,850 to sweep liquidity.

The Bullish Case

If Ethereum successfully prints a daily close above the current $2,116 node and the broader markets stabilize from geopolitical shocks, a relief rally to $2,462 is expected via Elliott Wave analysis. In the longer term, assuming the green Gaussian Channel structure mirrors past cycles, the current $2,100 level could be remembered as a generational macro bottom before an eventual push toward five-digit valuations.

Verdict: Is Ethereum a Bad Investment?

Ethereum is not a bad investment, but it is currently a painful one.

The asset is caught in a macro-driven liquidity squeeze. However, given its structural deflationary mechanics, expanding institutional tokenization use cases, and a rising staking ratio that locks up supply, the token retains some of the strongest risk-adjusted upside potential in the digital asset sector. Investors looking to enter the market should avoid over-leveraged positions and focus on dollar-cost averaging (DCA) around key structural support zones.

Track real-time valuations and historic performance curves directly on our ETH-USD Ticker Page.

The American Reserve Modernization Act would direct the Treasury to create and maintain a Bitcoin reserve for a minimum of 20 years.

Trump said he delayed the order because parts of the proposal risked slowing the U.S. AI industry as competition with China intensifies.

Fantasy Top, a game that reimagines fantasy sports through the lens of Crypto Twitter, will close down two years after its hot launch.

Record $81.6 billion in revenue for Nvidia—and yet the stock fell. Bank of America called the dip noise and raised its price target.

The U.S. Department of Commerce will invest $2 billion into quantum chip foundries and startups as the "Q-Day" Bitcoin threat nears.

Dragonfly's Haseeb Qureshi breaks down the corporate perks - and sluggish baggage - of Ethereum's emergence as the "Microsoft of crypto".

Strategy Executive Chairman Michael Saylor has reaffirmed his unwavering conviction in Bitcoin's mathematically unstoppable trajectory, stating that a $1 million price target is "absolutely" just a matter of time.

Leading crypto exchange, Kraken secures new regulatory license from the Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority (VARA) in Dubai, UAE.

Hoskinson projects Cardano pivot to Bitcoin DeFi to bridge a $9 billion valuation gap amid stagnant TVL and backlash in Japan.

Dogecoin co-creator makes $20 Trillion DOGE Comment, sparking market attention.

TLDR

• Flare CEO Hugo Philion said the FAssets v1.3 upgrade makes FXRP minting simpler for XRP users.
• The new mint-to-tag model lets users mint FXRP through a single XRP Ledger transaction.
• Philion said the process uses native XRP Ledger features and does not require direct exchange integrations.
• He said Flare designed the system with minting caps, escrow protections, and emergency custody measures.
• Philion said the XRP Ledger can serve as the issuance and settlement layer while Flare provides the compute layer.

Flare CEO Hugo Philion said the network is upgrading its FAssets system to make XRP more usable in DeFi. He said FAssets v1.3 lets users mint FXRP through a simpler “mint-to-tag” process on the XRP Ledger. Philion also said Flare is building confidential compute tools for privacy-focused, institutional blockchain applications.

Flare, XRP and the FAssets v1.3 Upgrade

Philion discussed the update in an interview with XRP-focused YouTuber Crypto Sensei. He said the goal is to simplify how users convert XRP into FXRP.

Under FAssets v1.2, users had to reserve collateral and work with agents. Philion said v1.3 reduces that flow to a single XRP transaction.

He said users can send XRP to a designated address with structured memo data. That process uses native XRP Ledger features, including destination tags.

Philion said the design removes the need for direct exchange approvals or integrations. He said any exchange supporting XRP destination tags could support the process in theory.

He also said Flare built the system to limit bridge-related risks. According to Philion, the protocol uses minting caps, overcollateralized redemptions, escrow protections, and emergency custody arrangements.

Philion said Flare’s Core Vault can route funds to a regulated custodian tied to Ripple. He said that option would apply during severe protocol failures or attacks.

The interview framed the XRP Ledger as the issuance and settlement layer. Philion said Flare serves as the programmable compute layer for DeFi applications.

Flare Expands XRP DeFi and Confidential Compute Plans

Philion said Flare is also working with exchanges including Uphold on one-click XRP products. He listed staking, lending, borrowing, and loan origination among those services.

He said lending markets remain one of the largest missing pieces in XRP’s ecosystem. He pointed to Firelight and Morpho as examples of protocols built around XRP liquidity.

Philion described confidential compute as the most ambitious part of Flare’s roadmap. He said Flare 2.0 combines blockchain settlement with trusted execution environments.

Under that model, applications could process transactions privately and still prove execution on-chain. Philion said that setup could support institutional-grade DeFi use cases.

He said tokenized real-world assets issued on the XRP Ledger could move into Flare’s private environments. There, institutions could trade, borrow, or access compliant decentralized exchanges.

Philion said the structure creates a partnership model between the two networks. In his description, XRP Ledger handles issuance and final settlement, while Flare provides compute and utility.

After the interview, XRP community figure Eri reacted on social media. She said the model could help “Ripple win business” in sectors requiring confidential computing.

The post Flare Maps XRP Utility Push With FAssets and Private Compute appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights

• Qualcomm stock soars to $212.41, gaining nearly 5% following major partnership news.

• Stellantis broadens Snapdragon integration for advanced cockpit systems and driver assistance.

• Snapdragon Ride platform expands ADAS capabilities to Level 2+ automated driving systems.

• Partnership delivers enhanced processing power, energy efficiency, and over-the-air updates.

• Shares approach daily peak as automotive semiconductor business gains momentum.

Shares of Qualcomm (QCOM) experienced a significant rally, climbing $9.90 to reach $212.41—a gain of 4.89%. The stock peaked above $214 during trading hours, driven by investor enthusiasm. This upward movement came after Stellantis announced a significant expansion of its technological partnership with Qualcomm Technologies.

QUALCOMM Incorporated, QCOM

Strategic Partnership Expansion Drives Automotive Innovation

The automotive giant Stellantis has broadened its multi-year agreement with Qualcomm Technologies to deploy Snapdragon Digital Chassis system-on-chips throughout its vehicle lineup. This enhanced partnership strengthens digital cockpit systems, vehicle connectivity infrastructure, and advanced driver-assistance technologies across Stellantis brands. As a result, the automaker can bring innovations to market more rapidly while enabling ongoing software enhancements.

This broadened alliance spans multiple vehicle brands and market segments, delivering operational efficiencies through technology standardization. The Snapdragon Digital Chassis aligns with Stellantis’ overarching vision for economically viable advanced technology rollouts. The platform creates a unified computing architecture that works seamlessly across different vehicle lines and platforms.

Furthermore, the extended agreement incorporates the Snapdragon Ride Pilot advanced driver-assistance platform. This technology scales from fundamental safety systems through Level 2+ hands-free driving capabilities and potentially beyond. The implementation strategy will bring sophisticated ADAS features to millions of Stellantis automobiles across international markets.

Advanced AI Integration and Enhanced Computing Power

This expanded collaboration leverages existing work in digital cockpit and connectivity technologies. It introduces substantially greater computational capacity and cutting-edge AI-powered vehicle functions. Combined, these technologies are designed to create more intelligent, secure, and user-friendly automotive experiences.

Stellantis’ proprietary STLA Brain architecture gains significant advantages from Qualcomm’s flexible semiconductor technology. The enhanced integration improves information processing for safety systems and driver support features. This enables Stellantis to sustain technological competitiveness in vehicle offerings throughout worldwide markets.

The agreement also encompasses a non-binding letter of intent for Qualcomm Technologies to potentially acquire Stellantis-owned aiMotive. This acquisition would strengthen automated driving technology and simulation expertise. This forward-looking move reinforces ongoing advancement in AI-enabled automotive platforms.

Industry Impact and Investment Response

This announcement demonstrates the rising need for sophisticated computing solutions in modern vehicles. Automotive manufacturers increasingly depend on adaptable semiconductor architectures to accelerate innovation cycles and operational efficiency. Qualcomm’s broadened partnership establishes it as a critical technology collaborator in the transforming automotive industry.

The alliance showcases Stellantis’ dedication to implementing cutting-edge digital technologies throughout its brand portfolio. As automobiles evolve toward centralized, software-centric architectures, strategic technology collaborations create competitive advantages. Market participants reacted favorably, driving Qualcomm shares toward intraday peaks.

Qualcomm’s stock momentum reflects investor trust in its automotive sector expansion plans. The Snapdragon Digital Chassis deployment represents a sustained catalyst for vehicle technology proliferation. Stellantis’ broadened partnership solidifies Qualcomm’s foothold in the emerging automotive technology landscape.

The post Qualcomm (QCOM) Stock Surges on Major Stellantis Snapdragon Partnership Expansion appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR

• Kraken moved closer to launching in the United Arab Emirates after Payward received preliminary approval from Dubai’s VARA.
• The preliminary approval covers a broker-dealer, investment, and management licence for Kraken’s Dubai plans.
• Kraken said it plans to offer AED funding, margin trading, over-the-counter services, and Kraken Prime at launch.
• The company’s latest step in Dubai builds on its earlier 2022 approval in Abu Dhabi.
• Dubai’s public VARA register currently lists 49 active virtual asset companies across several service categories.

Kraken moved closer to launching in the United Arab Emirates after Payward received preliminary approval from Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.

The company said the approval covers a broker-dealer, investment, and management licence for its Dubai plans.

Kraken said it plans to offer AED funding, margin trading, over-the-counter services, and Kraken Prime for institutions at launch.

Kraken Advances UAE Plans with Dubai Approval

Payward announced the Dubai step on Thursday as it outlined its latest expansion in the UAE. The company linked the move directly to preliminary approval from VARA.

The approval does not yet place Kraken on Dubai’s public VARA register. That register currently lists 49 active firms across exchange, custody, lending, and broker-dealer services.

Kraken and parent company Payward were absent from the register at the time of the announcement. The latest listed entrant was CoinCorner, approved on May 5 for virtual asset broker-dealer services.

Kraken said its planned local offering will include funding in UAE dirhams. The company also said clients will get access to margin and over-the-counter trading.

The exchange added that institutional customers will be able to use Kraken Prime. That product targets larger clients seeking execution and other market services.

The Dubai step follows Kraken’s earlier foothold in the country. In 2022, the exchange received approval to operate in the UAE through Abu Dhabi’s financial free zone.

Dubai’s Crypto Regulation Attracts Global Exchanges

Dubai’s VARA register shows several global crypto firms already active in the market. Those companies include Binance, Crypto.com, OKX, Deribit, and HashKey.

The list covers firms working across different parts of the digital asset business. These include exchange services, custody, lending, and broker-dealer operations.

The latest expansion comes as the UAE continues to draw crypto companies seeking clearer rules. Industry executives have pointed to rule clarity as a key factor behind that trend.

Payward and Kraken co-CEO Arjun Sethi praised Dubai’s regulatory approach in the company statement. He said Dubai created a crypto rulebook before many jurisdictions recognized the asset class.

“That clarity is why real liquidity and institutional capital now sit in the UAE,” Sethi said. His comments framed regulation as a driver of local market growth.

The UAE’s crypto push has continued even as Iran-linked regional tensions affected sentiment and events across the Gulf. Still, Kraken’s latest update centered on its Dubai approval and planned services.

For now, Kraken remains outside VARA’s public register despite the company’s announcement. The most recent public update on the register remains CoinCorner’s May 5 approval.

The post Kraken Nears UAE Launch After Preliminary Dubai VARA Approval appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR

• JPMorgan said tokenized money market funds are unlikely to grow beyond 10% to 15% of the stablecoin market.
• The bank’s analysts said tokenized money market funds currently make up about 5% of the stablecoin universe by market cap.
• JPMorgan said stablecoins still dominate the crypto market because they support trading, settlement, collateral management, and cross-border payments.
• The analysts said tokenized money market funds face a structural regulatory disadvantage because they are generally classified as securities.
• JPMorgan said securities law requirements make it harder for tokenized money market funds to circulate freely across the crypto ecosystem.

JPMorgan said tokenized money market funds are unlikely to exceed 10% to 15% of the stablecoin market without regulatory change. The bank’s analysts said these funds now represent about 5% of the stablecoin universe by market cap. They added that stablecoins still lead the crypto market because they support trading, payments, settlement, and liquidity management.

Tokenized Money Market Funds Face Regulatory Limits

JPMorgan analysts led by managing director Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou outlined the view in a new report. They said tokenized money market funds will likely keep growing because they offer yield.

However, the analysts said that growth will probably not shift the balance with stablecoins. They wrote that the funds are unlikely to move beyond 10% to 15%.

“We doubt that tokenized money market funds would grow beyond 10%-15%,” the analysts said. They tied that limit to the current regulatory treatment of the products.

The report said stablecoins remain the crypto ecosystem’s preferred cash instrument. They are used for collateral, trading, settlement, cross-border payments, and daily liquidity needs.

By contrast, tokenized money market funds do not move as freely across blockchain networks. JPMorgan said that gap reflects a structural regulatory disadvantage.

The analysts said these funds are usually classified as securities. That classification brings registration, disclosure, reporting, and transfer requirements.

Those rules make it harder to circulate onchain funds across exchanges and decentralized finance protocols. As a result, their use remains more limited than stablecoins.

Stablecoins Still Dominate While Onchain Fund Access Expands

JPMorgan said current demand comes mainly from crypto-native investors and institutions. Crypto investors seek yield, while institutions want faster settlement and programmability.

The bank said institutions also value tokenization within existing investor protection frameworks. That keeps the products closer to traditional finance than to open crypto markets.

The analysts pointed to a Securities and Exchange Commission step earlier this year. The SEC introduced a streamlined process for issuing onchain money market funds.

According to JPMorgan, the process aims to simplify redemptions and reduce friction. It also supports funds that use blockchain-based recordkeeping systems.

The report also cited efforts by traditional finance firms and crypto companies. Those efforts let institutions use onchain fund shares as off-exchange trading collateral.

Under those structures, investors post tokenized fund shares through regulated platforms. The underlying assets remain in regulated off-exchange custody while traders retain collateral utility.

JPMorgan called those changes “marginal” improvements rather than a broader shift. The bank said the SEC’s streamlined process remains the latest factual regulatory update.

The post JPMorgan: Tokenized Money Funds Unlikely to Top 15% of Market appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights

• Federal regulators and NHL establish formal partnership to safeguard hockey betting markets.

• Joint oversight framework targets fraud prevention in player and game-based prediction contracts.

• Agreement enhances monitoring capabilities across professional hockey trading ecosystems.

• Federal authorities extend surveillance to combat insider manipulation and market abuses.

• Collaborative approach unifies sports league and regulatory efforts for market transparency.

A formal partnership between the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and the National Hockey League (NHL) has been established to regulate prediction markets tied to professional hockey. Through a newly signed memorandum of understanding (MOU), both organizations commit to sharing intelligence and coordinating oversight to safeguard the integrity of hockey-related trading activities. This framework introduces strengthened surveillance mechanisms for prediction market platforms.

Joint Surveillance Framework

The partnership enables direct collaboration between NHL officials and CFTC regulators in monitoring contracts linked to players, games, and hockey events. Designated liaisons from each organization will maintain regular communication channels focused on market integrity concerns. This systematic approach facilitates rapid identification of irregular trading patterns and suspicious activities.

Prediction markets offering NHL-related contracts will now operate under enhanced scrutiny through confidential information exchanges between league authorities and federal oversight bodies. The NHL has also implemented comprehensive internal monitoring systems and strategic partnerships designed to detect manipulative behaviors. These combined protections target fraud prevention, insider trading deterrence, and abuse mitigation across prediction trading environments.

The agreement acknowledges the surging interest in prediction markets alongside emerging regulatory challenges. Following substantial growth in platforms such as Kalshi and Polymarket throughout the 2024 election period, coordinated federal and league supervision establishes clearer accountability standards. Market participants now gain access to more transparent and regulated trading conditions.

Regulatory Framework and Historical Context

The MOU establishes the CFTC’s primary jurisdiction over prediction markets, superseding state-level gambling regulations. Previously, the agency pursued legal action against several states, including Wisconsin, Minnesota, and New York, to consolidate oversight authority. This initiative aligns with comprehensive strategies to unify regulation across professional sports betting infrastructures.

The NHL had previously secured agreements with prediction market operators, establishing itself as a pioneer among professional sports organizations. These arrangements enabled the league to track market behaviors while providing structured opportunities for fans and traders. Hockey-related prediction contracts now operate under formalized compliance frameworks and integrity safeguards.

CFTC officials have indicated more rigorous oversight for contracts associated with sensitive circumstances. While certain proposals to restrict specific event contracts were abandoned, the agency continues developing sophisticated rulemaking procedures for contract approval processes. This demonstrates federal determination to preserve fair, transparent prediction markets while fostering responsible market development.

Implications for Trading Integrity

Hockey prediction markets will now face coordinated regulatory examination, significantly diminishing insider trading vulnerabilities. The NHL and CFTC maintain continuous dialogue to swiftly address evolving security challenges. Furthermore, the NHL’s multi-layered protective systems complement federal monitoring efforts.

Traders, enthusiasts, and stakeholders gain advantages from enhanced clarity in contracts based on player statistics and game results. Prediction markets will function under heightened responsibility standards, ensuring trading activity represents genuine market sentiment. This partnership ultimately signals a transition toward preventative regulation of sports trading infrastructures.

The MOU marks a milestone in professional sports governance, merging league integrity protocols with federal market regulation. It clarifies responsibilities for identifying, preventing, and addressing misconduct in hockey prediction trading. The framework consequently bolsters trust in both the sport’s authenticity and its associated trading platforms.

The post NHL and CFTC Join Forces to Safeguard Hockey Betting Markets appeared first on Blockonomi.

The recent price performance of the leading cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), Ripple (XRP), and many others, reflects the broader weakness in the market, reinforcing the outlook that we are currently in a bear cycle with no clear timeline for the next bull run.

However, some altcoins have managed to defy the overall decline. Zcash (ZEC) is a standout example, with its price exploding by 100% over the past month to over $650. Its market capitalization has surged past $11 billion, placing it as the 13th-biggest cryptocurrency. We asked three of the most widely used AI-powered chatbots whether the rally can continue and whether the asset has a chance to enter the prestigious top 10 club.

Yes, But…

According to ChatGPT, ZEC has a real shot, but such an ascent would require a very specific combination of market conditions, regulation, and narrative momentum.

The chatbot noted that privacy coins have surged in popularity lately and may become even more trending if some governments move with their CBDC plans or other centralized efforts. ChatGPT stated that the 10th position is currently held by Dogecoin (DOGE), whose performance relies heavily on speculation and social media hype.

“This is where Zcash enters the conversation. Unlike many speculative meme coins, Zcash operates within a niche that may become increasingly important over the coming years: financial privacy. Rising concerns around surveillance, wallet tracking, artificial intelligence, CBDCs, and stricter KYC requirements are pushing some investors to reconsider the importance of private transactions and censorship resistance,” it added.

Perplexity agreed that the asset can enter the elite club. According to its analysis, it will need two important things to happen at once: a strong ZEC-specific rally and either stagnant or weak performance from the coins currently above it.

The chatbot claimed that if privacy coins remain trending, the token would continue to attract capital from traders and investors. In conclusion, Perplexity said the outcome has “low-to-moderate probability” rather than the most likely one. The key signal to watch is whether ZEC can keep outperforming while the assets ranked 8-12, such as Tron (TRX), Dogecoin (DOGE), Hyperliquid (HYPE), and WhiteBIT Coin (WBT), stay flat or weaken.

It is important to note that HYPE has also defied the correction, with its price pumping by nearly 50% over the past week. With a market cap approaching $14 billion, the asset now sits noticeably closer to breaking into the top 10 club than ZEC.

The Rebels Rarely Win

While Google’s Gemini also highlighted ZEC’s price ascent, it claimed that becoming one of the 10 biggest cryptocurrencies this year is rather unlikely. It added that such success would depend heavily on the support of prominent industry figures, noting that BitMEX’s Arthur Hayes is among the few publicly backing the asset.

Gemini gave another rather unorthodox reason for ZEC not to enter the elite club. It said the top 10 is almost exclusively populated by massively viral assets with solid fundamentals that have become “institutionally friendly.” In comparison, “Zcash is built to be a rebel – and rebels rarely win popularity contests,” it argued.

The post Zcash (ZEC) Soars 27% Weekly: 3 AIs Debate Whether It Can Break Into the Top 10 in 2026 appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Ethereum (ETH) has lost more than half its peak value in nine months, and the buyers who normally step in to cushion the fall are nowhere to be found.

According to on-chain analyst Easy On Chain, the current situation is particularly uncomfortable not just because of the price drop itself, but also due to a growing disconnect between the derivatives market and actual spot demand.

A Market Divided Against Itself

In a market report published on May 21, Easy On Chain painted a bleak picture for Ethereum’s broader structure, saying the token has already entered a medium- to long-term bear phase after its market cap dropped from about $585 billion in August 2025 to around $255 billion this month.

Their report pointed to falling institutional participation as one of the clearest warning signs. Fund holdings, which stood above 7 million ETH in October 2025, have fallen toward the 5.5 million to 5.7 million range.

At the same time, the Coinbase Premium Index stayed negative throughout May, suggesting US-based institutional buyers have largely stepped away from the market.

Meanwhile, trading activity has also dried up, as, according to Easy On Chain, daily fund trading volume has fallen well below the yearly average, dropping into a range between $17 million and $42 million in recent months.

The analyst described the current market as a phase where “futures-driven optimism accumulates without solid spot support.”

That disconnect is becoming more visible in price action, considering the world’s second-largest crypto is down nearly 7% in the past week, more than 9% across the last month, and about 17% over one year, according to CoinGecko data.

It is also sitting more than 57% below its all-time high of nearly $4,950, which was reached in August 2025.

Technicals Lean Bearish

Several commentators on X argued the chart still looks weak despite Bitcoin reclaiming levels above $78,000. One of them, Ted Pillows, wrote that ETH “still can’t reclaim the $2,150 level” even while stocks and Bitcoin moved higher, adding that “big buyers aren’t interested at all.”

On his part, Benjamin Cowen said Ethereum may revisit its April 2025 lows near its lower logarithmic regression trend line, while analyst Cryptorphic warned that the asset breaking below a rising support trend line would open the door for a move toward the $2,050 area.

The macro backdrop has not helped. In a post on May 18, Bitmine Chairman Tom Lee attributed part of Ethereum’s weakness to rising oil prices, citing what he described as the highest ever inverse correlation between ETH and crude oil.

That same day, geopolitical pressure after US President Donald Trump issued warnings toward Iran sent Bitcoin to around $76,700 and triggered over $660 million in liquidations across crypto markets, with ETH accounting for $256 million of that figure.

The post Analyst: Ethereum Facing Silent Crisis, Hit by 55% Drawdown With No Dip Buyers appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Cardano’s native token remains well in the red on a weekly scale, reflecting the predominantly bearish mood dominating the crypto market.

Nonetheless, one important metric (which has previously been quite accurate) suggests that the price might be gearing up for a resurgence.

Formation of a Local Bottom?

As of press time, ADA trades just south of $0.25, down 10% from nearly $0.28 seven days ago. According to popular analyst Ali Martinez, the asset could be primed for a rebound, as the TD Sequential indicator has flashed a buy signal today.

He noted that this metric has been remarkably precise at predicting shifts in ADA’s short-term momentum. On May 10, for example, it flashed a sell signal, followed by a 15% correction over the last ten days.

“Now that this cooling-off phase has fully run its course, the same indicator is flashing a buy signal today. This implies that a local bottom is forming,” he argued.

Martinez set the first rebound target at $0.255 if buying pressure builds at ongoing levels. Clearing that level could open the door to test $0.262. At the same time, he warned that this bullish setup would be invalidated if ADA fails to hold the support zone at approximately $0.246.

Earlier this month, the analyst paid special attention to $0.25, reminding that it has served as a major turning point in previous years. In January 2023, ADA bounced off this level and climbed 88% in the weeks that followed. In September that year, the same zone once again acted as a solid support, igniting a massive 243% surge.

For their part, Sssebi claimed that the asset priced at $0.25 is “extremely undervalued,” highlighting the ongoing advancement of Cardano’s ecosystem.

Further Losses on the Way?

It is important to note that Sessebi has been quite inconsistent in their ADA predictions. Earlier this week, the analyst envisioned an additional price drop for the coin if Bitcoin (BTC) does the same.

“Considering that ADA got rejected exactly at the upper trendline of the descending channel, we can assume that it will also retest the bottom of the channel around $0.22,” they stated.

Erick Crypto was also somewhat pessimistic, opining that the asset remains within a bearish structure, with sellers in charge. At the same time, he claimed that this zone around $0.25 could become a strong support area if buyers step in with volume confirmation.

The post Cardano (ADA) Slips 10% Weekly, But Key Indicator Flashes Buy Signal: Details appeared first on CryptoPotato.

Real Technologies (parent company of REAL Finance) has executed its first securities-tokenization agreement, marking the initial operational use of its infrastructure.

The deal activates a committed institutional pipeline exceeding $100 million in client assets.

The Details of the Initiative

The deal was signed with Factori AD, an EU- regulated investment broker that will route assets through REAL Finance’s tokenization infrastructure. Additionally, it will oversee OTC execution, custody arrangements, and all regulatory processes, including KYC and AML compliance.

Tokenization itself will take place on an EVM-compatible blockchain ahead of the planned launch of REAL Finance’s dedicated Layer 1 mainnet. Facilitating the initial transaction on existing EVM rails will enable the team to validate the operational workforce before migrating activity to its own network.

According to the plan, the pilot will test each stage of the process, including sourcing a regulated instrument, executing it via licensed channels, and later issuing the tokenized representation on-chain.

What’s important is that REAL Finance focuses on tokenizing real securities rather than synthetic exposure. Eligible instruments include public and private shares, derivatives, and bonds. In this setup, licensed brokers remain responsible for all regulatory obligations, whereas the company provides the on-chain settlement and transparency layer.

The first transaction involves equity derivatives of Alpha Bulgaria AD, specifically 5 million warrants currently valued at roughly €2.75 each. The entity is a publicly traded investment company listed on the Bulgarian Stock Exchange under the ticker ALFB and is headquartered in the capital, Sofia. International securities will be held at the Bank of New York, while Bulgarian assets will remain with the Central Depository in Bulgaria. 

REAL Finance said the process represents the first tranche of a broader pipeline. Factori AD has committed to directing more than $100 million in additional client assets for tokenization once the initial workflow is validated. Running the pilot before the mainnet launch is meant to demonstrate that the system works under real-world conditions and can handle higher volumes later on.

The Boss’s Take on the Matter

Speaking on the collaboration was Ivo Grigorov (Chief Executive Officer, REAL Technologies), who believes that signing this deal shows that REAL’s tokenization capabilities are operational and under contract with real securities and a regulated broker.

“The pilot allows us to validate the full model before we scale to service out multi0nine-figure committment asseets pipeline,” he added.

Valenting Dimitrov (Chief Operating Officer, REAL Technologie) also chipped in, saying:

“We designed the architecture around licensed custody, full compliance, and genuine instruments. This first executed deal, together with the committed flow, confirms institutional demand for the infrastructure we are building.”

The post REAL Finance Finalizes First Securities Tokenization Deal, Unlocking Over $100 Million in Institutional Demand appeared first on CryptoPotato.

XRP is trading at $1.37 as May draws toward its final week, having erased every gain from what briefly looked like the most promising technical setup of the corrective cycle. The breakout above the 100-day MA on the USDT chart has failed to hold, and a lower high has formed on the BTC pair. The levels that looked like support last week are now the targets that bulls need to reclaim just to get back to where they started.

Ripple Price Analysis: The USDT Pair

The USDT pair’s daily timeframe setup looked compelling last week. The asset was pressing the upper boundary of the long-term descending channel and holding above the 100-day moving average at around $1.45, with an RSI climbing toward 65.

Yet, this move has played out as a textbook rejection. XRP failed to post a single candle close above the channel, and the subsequent sell-off has brought the price back to $1.37. The 100-day MA, which was seen as dynamic support just days ago, is now the nearby overhead resistance at $1.40, sitting just below the descending channel ceiling.

The RSI has faded from 65 back to the 40s, wiping out the momentum that made the setup optimistic. The $1.20 demand zone below should now be watched as the potential floor, while a recovery back above $1.45 and the 100-day MA remains the minimum requirement to rebuild any constructive case. Yet, with the broader altcoin market breaking down, the path of least resistance points toward another test of support rather than another attempt at resistance.

The BTC Pair

The brief breakout above 1,800 sats that appeared on the BTC pair last week has proven to be a fakeout. XRP/BTC has slipped back to around 1,770 sats, creating a lower high at around 1,800-1,900 sats. The RSI, which had recovered from the extreme low of ~25 all the way to above 50 while demonstrating a bullish divergence, has also faded back toward 40. The relief bounce is losing energy before it accomplishes anything structurally meaningful.

The failed reclaim of 1,800 sats is the defining development on this pair. It confirms that the oversold bounce was corrective rather than structural, and that the broader downtrend in the ratio remains intact. The 100-day moving average at ~1,900 sats and the 200-day moving average at ~2,100 sats continue to decline well above, offering no nearby reference for a recovery.

Below, the lower channel boundary near 1,550 sats and the 1,500 sat horizontal support band remain the next downside targets if the current level gives way. With altcoin sentiment deteriorating across the board, there is little in the near-term macro picture to suggest that pressure is about to ease.

The post Ripple Price Analysis: Where’s XRP Going Next After Latest Rejection at the 100-Day MA? appeared first on CryptoPotato.