LINE NEXT and stablecoin issuer Tether will bring USDT payments and rewards to new users in Asia through LINE Messenger and Kaia blockchain. Stablecoin giant Tether (USDT) has rolled out its USDT stablecoin on the Kaia blockchain, expanding its reach to users of LINE Messenger, a popular Korean social media platform. According to a Wednesday press release, the partnership enables over 196 million monthly users of LINE to access and use USDT for payments, rewards, and decentralized finance directly within the app. Tether’s CEO Paolo Ardoino says that through LINE NEXT’s blockchain infrastructure, “over 200 million LINE users will now have a straightforward way to engage with digital assets in everyday life.” “With the lowest transaction latency among EVM chains and immediate finality, Kaia’s USDT will provide the fastest, easiest, and most reliable user experience available across platforms such as LINE, DeFi, and CEXs.” Sam Seo, chairman of Kaia DLT Foundation You might also like:Tether holds more than 7.7 tons of gold backing its XAUT token Per the announcement, USDT will be integrated with LINE’s Mini Dapps and self-custodial wallet. With the partnership, users will be able to complete in-app tasks and earn rewards in the USDT stablecoin, send and receive the token with friends. The move coincides with Tether’s increased lobbying efforts in Washington, D.C., aimed at influencing crypto regulation as pro-crypto sentiment grows under President Donald Trump. As crypto.news reported earlier, Tether is planning to launch a U.S.-based dollar-pegged stablecoin by the end of 2025. Ardoino earlier implied that the launch could happen by year-end or early 2026, depending on the outcome of pending legislation. Read more:Tether’s upcoming AI platform set to integrate Bitcoin and USDT payments

French authorities are looking to provide extra security for cryptocurrency executives and their families following a series of high-profile kidnappings and attempted abductions. France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau made the announcement in a statement on Friday, May 16. His remarks came as France grapples with a wave of violent attacks targeting leading figures in the crypto industry. The most recent incident involved an attempted abduction in central Paris. Authorities now say they are enhancing protection measures for prominent individuals in the sector and their families. “These repeated kidnappings of professionals in the crypto sector will be fought with specific tools, both immediate and short-term, to prevent, dissuade and hinder in order to protect the industry,” Politico quoted Retailleau. The Interior Minister’s meeting with leading crypto executives followed the latest kidnapping attempt. On Tuesday, masked men tried to abduct the daughter of Pierre Noizat, founder and chief executive officer of the crypto exchange platform Paymium. The attempted kidnapping took place in the heart of Paris and follows two other recent attacks against French crypto entrepreneurs and their families. You might also like:Florida teens accused of kidnapping man at gunpoint and stealing $4m in crypto Earlier this year, ransom-seeking criminals kidnapped David Balland, co-founder of the cryptocurrency hardware wallet maker Ledger. Balland and his wife were rescued in a coordinated police operation, though the executive was hospitalized after suffering finger mutilation during the ordeal. Authorities arrested 10 people in connection with the kidnapping and violence. The individuals had demanded ransom in crypto.In some cases, those targeted have paid demanded ransom. Éric Larchevêque, another Ledger co-founder, commented on Friday’s meeting with Retailleau and law enforcement officials, saying it demonstrated that authorities now understand the scale of the threat. According to Larchevêque, the global crypto industry has recorded approximately 50 attacks on executives and industry participants over the past year. Of these, more than 25%, or 14 incidents, occurred in France, which he referred to as the “ground zero” of crypto kidnappings. Read more:Why France is suddenly the world’s epicenter for “crypto kidnappings”

在大幅下跌之后，比特币和股票能否从这里建立基础，还是关税暂停只是暂时的，而与中国的紧张局势仍有可能重新燃起？ 目录特朗普暂停华尔街收复失地Inflation, liquidity, and a dollar dilemma一场如履薄冰的集会？ 特朗普暂停 4 月 9 日，唐纳德·特朗普总统在 Truth Social 上发布了一条意外更新，暂时撤销了近年来最激进的贸易政策之一。 他发表了简短而有力的讲话，宣布对超过 75 个国家暂停 90 天的互惠关税，代之以简化的 10% 统一税率——中国是唯一的例外。 这一声明是在市场经历了动荡的一周之后发布的，最初，美国对众多贸易伙伴的关税上调幅度从 11% 到 50% 不等，引发了市场剧烈波动。 日益加剧的政治压力、金融市场不稳定以及外交上的不安似乎影响了白宫的决定。一些贸易伙伴曾警告称，关税的突然升级可能导致美国经济陷入衰退。 财政部长斯科特·贝森特表示，最初的关税始终被设计为一种战略“杠杆”。他指出，从这个意义上讲，关税已经达到了目的。 目前已有 70 多个国家与华盛顿展开贸易谈判，而日本和欧盟等主要盟友也表示愿意进行谈判。 然而，尽管大多数国家都获得了暂时的缓刑，但中国仍然是个例外。特朗普政府非但没有放松立场，反而将对中国商品的关税从原本就很高的104%提高到了惊人的125%。 此次升级是对中国自身报复性措施的回应，其中包括对美国进口产品征收84%的关税。由于双方均未做出让步，美中贸易对抗目前似乎正进入一个更加根深蒂固的阶段。 对此，花旗银行修改了对中国2025年GDP增长的预测，将其从4.7%下调至4.2%，理由是贸易不确定性上升是一个关键因素。 让我们来分析一下市场对这一突然的政策转变有何反应，它揭示了当前的经济情绪，以及比特币（BTC）等数字资产在不久的将来可能走向何方。 华尔街收复失地 RabbitX 首席执行官吴明在接受 crypto.news 的独家采访时表示，暂停征收关税标志着贸易政策的转变，并已帮助平息投资者对更广泛的经济影响的担忧。 “持续的下跌趋势导致许多交易员建仓。意外的关税暂停可能引发了轧空，迫使空头回购股票以弥补仓位，从而放大了上涨势头。特朗普宣布这一消息后，市场普遍表现出乐观情绪，为投资者带来了一丝喘息，让他们暂时摆脱了上周笼罩市场情绪的不确定性。” 美国股市全线飙升。标准普尔500指数上涨9.52%，创下16年来最大单日涨幅。纳斯达克综合指数上涨12.16%，创下2001年初以来的最大涨幅；道琼斯工业平均指数上涨7.87%，上涨近3000点。 这些涨幅帮助股市收复了前四个交易日中蒸发的数万亿美元市值的很大一部分，其中很大一部分是由于对关税升级对经济影响的担忧。 在经济上涨行情中，此前曾警告经济衰退风险上升的高盛，鉴于政策逆转，撤回了其预测。 4月10日开盘，亚洲股市延续了积极的势头。日本日经指数跃升逾9%，较前一日下跌4%的水平大幅反弹。韩国综合股价指数在本周早些时候短暂进入熊市区域后，上涨6.6%。 香港恒生指数也出现回升，在经历了 1997 年以来最严重的下跌（暴跌 13%）之后上涨 2%，但由于该地区对贸易流动的依赖程度较高，市场情绪依然谨慎。 欧洲股市与全球股市反弹同步波动。欧元区斯托克50指数当日上涨近6%，受欧盟早些时候批准报复性关税的提振，而特朗普的政策几乎紧随其后。 欧盟委员会主席乌尔苏拉·冯德莱恩对美国的决定表示欢迎，称其为“稳定的一步”，并表明欧盟更愿意重返谈判桌，而不是加深贸易争端。 加密货币市场也反映了类似的上涨。消息发布后的 24 小时内，BTC 上涨超过 6%，截至 4 月 10 日撰写本文时达到 81,650 美元左右。在最初的关税推出期间，比特币曾大幅下跌，下跌 10%，至 74,500 美元左右，之后出现反弹。 尽管复苏有助于收复部分失地，但比特币今年迄今仍下跌 13%，比历史高点低约 25%——这表明此次走势更多的是短期的缓解性反弹，而非更广泛的趋势逆转。 全球加密货币市值同步上涨，从 4 月 9 日的 2.38 万亿美元增至撰写本文时的约 2.6 万亿美元——过去 24 小时内增加了约 2200 亿美元。 与数字资产相关的股票也加入了上涨行情。MicroStrategy (MSTR) 飙升近 25%，Coinbase (COIN) 上涨约 17%，Robinhood 上涨约 24%。 Grayscale 的 Zach Pandl 指出，持续的贸易紧张局势，尤其是美国和中国之间的贸易紧张局势，可能会对美元造成压力并加剧通胀压力。 通货膨胀、流动性和美元困境 中美贸易争端持续加深，对全球经济以及日益反映宏观敏感性的加密货币市场产生了严重影响。 据世界贸易组织称，两大经济体之间长期的贸易摩擦可能导致双边货物贸易额减少高达 80%。 虽然美国和中国合计占全球贸易量的约 3%，但它们的影响力远不止于此，影响着发达市场和新兴市场的供应链、定价权和货币动态。 如果紧张局势演变成更持久的分裂，即一些分析师所说的“两极世界”，那么根据世贸组织的数据，全球经济的长期实际GDP可能会下降7%。从这个意义上讲，4月9日的市场反弹反映的是一种解脱感，而不是解决问题的决心。 与此同时，比特币 7% 的涨幅与股市同步上涨，表明加密货币与更广泛的风险情绪之间持续存在联系。由于其与股市的相关性目前徘徊在 0.7 左右，比特币不再完全依赖其自身的基本面波动。 通胀前景又增添了一层阴影。预计未来几个月美国通胀率将保持在 2.8% 至 3% 之间，而 G20 通胀率将接近 4%。 在此背景下，美元走强可能给新兴市场货币带来压力，导致多个地区出现输入性通胀。 对于加密货币而言，这创造了一种不同寻常的组合。一方面，通胀风险往往会吸引人们关注比特币作为替代资产。另一方面，美元走强和全球流动性收紧往往会降低投机意愿，尤其是在新兴市场，加密货币的采用往往发挥着更实际、更保值的作用。 政策反应也在不断变化。美联储以通胀担忧为由暂停了降息计划，此举限制了短期内廉价资本的可用性。 与此同时，全球货币供应量增长（M2）仍具有适度支撑作用，但如果通胀持续下去，这种缓冲可能会在年中消失。 如果降息持续到第三季度或以后，且美国国债收益率保持在当前水平（约 4.3%）附近，包括加密货币在内的各类增长资产可能会面临新的压力。 一场如履薄冰的集会？ Despite Bitcoin’s sharp rebound following the tariff pause, analysts remain divided on what comes next. 从技术角度来看，交易员正密切关注83,000美元至85,000美元区间，将其视为对比特币的短期考验。市场分析师Daan Crypto Trades表示，该区域与4小时200移动平均线重合，该水平在过去几周内多次压制了价格上涨。 宣布暂停关税后，$BTC 出现强劲走势。在 BTC 下行时表现更强劲的情况下，我们看到股市在这次暂停之后上涨更多（这是有道理的，因为它们直接受到关税的影响）。BTC 交易立即回到 4H 200MA（紫色）……pic.twitter.com/qSoeJnE2DEâ Dan Crypto Trades (@DanCrypto) 4 月 10 日， “That $83,000 to $85,000 is a key level to overtake for the bulls,” he wrote, noting that if Bitcoin slips back below $81,100, where there has been strong trading activity, it could signal a false breakout or a liquidity grab. Looking at the bigger picture, some market observers remain skeptical that the current rally marks the beginning of a sustained uptrend. Jeff Park, head of Alpha Strategies at Bitwise, believes macroeconomic conditions are still too fragile to support a meaningful shift. will be an unpopular opinion that i don't think we are out the woods yetwith what irreversibly happened with weakened yuan now exporting deflation + 10% tariff creating growth drag, the net outcome is still negative for risk assets especially if 10y stays above 4% (which is…— Jeff Park (@dgt10011) 2025年4月9日 他指出，10% 的关税带来的结构性压力挥之不去，10 年期国债收益率持续高企在 4% 以上，信贷利差仍然保持在 400 个基点以上。 他认为，这些反映出市场流动性仍然不足。“实际上，更令人担忧的是，市场流动性如此之低，以至于会出现这种赌场式波动，”他说。 从这个角度来看，短期反弹或许并非真正的强势表现。相反，它们可能仅仅反映了短暂的新闻标题和浅薄的订单簿所放大的波动性，而非更深层次的结构性支撑。 与此同时，广受关注的交易员爱德华·莫拉认为市场仍处于看跌区域。“我们正处于熊市。这很不幸，但不可否认，”他说道。在他看来，除非比特币能够果断突破94,000美元并守住这一水平，否则近期的反弹不值得信赖。 我现在的工作假设是，我们正处于熊市（不幸但不可否认），因此请尝试尽可能高地确定这次反弹的顶部并降低风险（对冲）。在我们能够说牛市真正回归之前，还有很多事情需要发生（例如 BTC 自信地……— Edward Morra (@edwardmorra_btc) 2025 年 4 月 10 日 他还指出，人们对山寨币缺乏兴趣令人担忧。他说，许多山寨币未能吸引到足够的资本。“大多数实力雄厚的山寨币即将出现自满情绪，”他警告说，并暗示一些代币可能仍处于积累区，甚至更糟，正缓慢地走向退市或被忽视。 短期内，需要关注的关键水平既包括技术面，也与政策相关。比特币维持在 81,000 美元上方，为后续上涨提供了基础。持续突破 85,000 美元可能会吸引动量买家，而任何回调都可能考验近期支撑位。 On the macro front, any progress in trade negotiations, signs of easing inflation, or clearer guidance from the Federal Reserve could help crypto find more stable footing.  For now, this remains a market that demands both curiosity and caution. Trade wisely, and never invest more than you are prepared to lose. Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.

在拉撒路 (Lazarus) 从 Bybit 窃取超过 14 亿美元后，朝鲜民主主义人民共和国成为世界第五大主权比特币持有者。 朝鲜资助的恐怖组织 Lazarus 已将该国的比特币 (BTC) 持有量推高至加密货币友好国家不丹和萨尔瓦多控制的储藏量。根据 Arkham 的数据，截至发稿时，Lazarus 控制着 13,518 BTC，价值约 11 亿美元。 This massive wealth was amassed through numerous cyber attacks and crypto exploits over the years, like the Japanese exchange DMM Bitcoin exploit in 2024 and Ronin Network in 2022, where Lazarus stole $308 million and over $600 million in crypto, respectively. You might also like:OKX suspends DEX aggregator service due to detection of North Korean Lazarus attack At present, the DPRK-tied organization boasts more Bitcoin than Bhutan’s 10,635 BTC trove, which it has accumulated through large-scale mining, and 6,118 BTC attributed to El Salvador, the first country to adopt BTC as legal tender. Currently, 198,109 BTC held by U.S. authorities, China’s 194,000 BTC trove, the United Kingdom’s 61,000 BTC hoard, and Ukraine’s 46,351 BTC stash are the only known sovereign Bitcoin portfolios bigger than North Korea’s. 朝鲜的 BTC 财富突然暴增，是在 2 月份 Lazarus 对 Bybit 发起攻击之后发生的。总部位于迪拜的加密货币交易所 Bybit 报告称，其 Safe 多重签名冷钱包中已有超过 400,000 个以太币 (ETH) 被盗。 Lazarus 利用了 THORChain 等去中心化金融协议，内部开发人员和加密社区批评为防止反犯罪措施松懈，将大量 ETH 兑换成 BTC。据 CNN 援引白宫官员的话称，Lazarus 的收益以及其他朝鲜资助集团的非法财富为朝鲜核导弹计划提供了近 50% 的资金。 阅读更多：Bybit 黑客

The Financial Times analyst noticed that millions of dollars’ worth of MELANIA memetoken were bought minutes before the launch. Investigation reveals the details of the purchases and estimates combined profits at $99.6 million.  The MELANIA token was launched on Jan. 19, 2025, two days after the launch of the Official Trump token and only one day before Donald Trump’s inauguration. Lack of transparency, conflict of interests, and emphasis on the gambling aspect of cryptocurrencies are only a few reasons why the Trump pair’s tokens launch caused displeasure in the crypto community. Both $TRUMP and $MELANIA are Solana-based memecoins with little to no use case. Table of ContentsWhat is known about pre-launch sales?The team behind $MELANIA$MELANIA vs $TRUMPConclusion What is known about pre-launch sales? The token launch was announced by Melania Trump on Truth Social on Jan. 19. Digesting the blockchain data, an FT analyst noticed that two and a half minutes before the post went live, 24 wallets received $2.6 million worth of $MELANIA. They bought 16,700,000 out of 200,000,000 $MELANIA, or 33.4% of the total supply. The holders of these wallets remain unknown. As the token launch announcement was published, the $MELANIA price skyrocketed. Within the following 12 hours, investors who bought the token cheap before the launch sold 81% of their holdings. One specific account invested $681,000 in $MELANIA in a single transaction just a minute before the first announcement of the memecoin launch. Selling most of the $MELANIA tokens the same day, the investor enjoyed $39 million in profits. Within the following three days, they gained $4.4 million more. According to FT, the wallets participating in pre-launch purchases don’t belong to the MELANIA team, which allegedly fixed profits at $64,700,000. Although this purchase can’t be called 100% fair, it doesn’t break the law protecting the securities investors as memecoins do not qualify as securities in the U.S. Clarifying the legal status of memecoins which saw a boom at the end of 2024 and beginning of 2025, the SEC’s guidance issued in February 2025 noted that these tokens are “more akin to collectibles” and the laws regulating securities do not apply to them. Read more:SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance says memecoins are not securities The team behind $MELANIA Officially, the First Lady’s memecoin is managed by her Florida-registered company, MKT World LLC. Melania Trump has used this firm since 2021 for various enterprises. The exact role of MKT World in MELANIA memecoin is not clear, though. According to the Melania Meme website, the team owns 30% of the supply, while 30% is held in the treasury, 20% is intended for the community, and the remaining 20% is available for public use. The team behind the MELANIA memecoin was suspected of sniping various memecoins after capitalizing on the MELANIA token. Sniping refers to using automated tools to make instant purchases of fresh memecoins before their prices go up. According to the report released in February, the MELANIA team made $2.4 million through sniping the First Lady-themed memecoin.  According to Bubblemaps analysts, the address used for it is allegedly associated with other successful sniping operations. The 0xcEAe address was used to withdraw $2.4 million after MELANIA sniping and distribute it between the Avalanche and Arbitrum addresses. The same address is associated with $LIBRA token sniping. On top of that, Bubblemaps analysts associate involved addresses with multiple pump-and-dump operations. $MELANIA vs $TRUMP The FT report emphasizes that the story of the MELANIA token is different from the story of Official Trump. The latter token was launched by a different team and grossed $350 million through fees and token sales.   The latest data from Chainalysis indicates that after the launch of the Official Trump memecoin, 58 wallets gained $10 million in $TRUMP each. The total profit amounted to $1.1 billion. The same report reveals that around 764,000 wallets, holding mostly small amounts of $TRUMP, lost money as a result of investment. The total number of wallets involved in the $TRUMP investment is estimated at two million. Reportedly, 80% of the token’s supply is controlled by the team behind the token. Different price trajectories of these tokens differently affected the holdings belonging to the teams–holdings of the $TRUMP team get bigger as the price enjoys occasional spikes. In contrast, the $MELANIA price has been pretty low all the time since it dropped shortly after the launch. As of press time, $MELANIA is traded at around 32 cents, 97% below its ATH, which was $13.73 on the very first day on the market. Conclusion Solana tokens, launched by the Trumps not long before the inauguration, leave a bitter taste. Some see these memecoins as a convenient way to bribe top officials by foreign entities, while others believe these tokens were made for insider trading.  It's going to take years for the next administration to unravel all the laws this administration broke…This will be a bigger investigation than 1/6!— Impeach Trump a 3rd Time! (@Christo12919382) May 7, 2025 Both projects lack transparency, but it’s clear that the identification of holders of these 24 wallets may be lucrative for Donald Trump’s political enemies.  You might also like:Melania meme coin team dumps 9.99m tokens in 8 days, nets 170k SOL so far

The S&P 500 rose 0.7% Friday, closing out a strong week as investors looked past weak consumer sentiment data and persistent inflation concerns. The index posted a 5% gain for the week, its best since November 2023, as tech stocks and easing trade tensions fueled optimism. The Nasdaq Composite added 0..5% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average climbed 331 points, or 0.7%. For the week, the Nasdaq jumped more than 6%, while the Dow gained 3%. You might also like:Bitcoin price remains range-bound hinting towards a slow weekend Why did the markes go up?  Markets rallied earlier this week after U.S. and Chinese officials agreed to a 90-day pause on new tariffs, easing fears of escalating trade friction. Tech stocks led the charge, with Nvidia up more than 15%, Meta up 7%, and Apple and Microsoft each logging notable gains. But Friday’s rally lost momentum after the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment index dropped to 50.8—its second-lowest reading ever. Inflation expectations for the next year surged to 7.8%, the highest since 1981. Still, some analysts downplayed stagflation fears. “Markets are repricing the stagflation risk right now,” said Jamie Cox of Harris Financial Group, noting that consumer spending remains strong despite inflation concerns. President Donald Trump added uncertainty by signaling his administration would soon send letters to countries detailing new tariff rates, replacing some negotiations due to limited bandwidth. Despite the mixed signals, Wall Street ended the week on a high note, with the S&P 500 logging a five-day winning streak and recouping its year-to-date losses. Investors now turn to upcoming trade moves and inflation data for the next catalyst. You might also like:Moo Deng price approaches support: 50% bounce possible on bullish rounded bottom

Chainlink plans to help accelerate web3 innovation on Solana with the launch of a new startup program dubbed Build on Solana. The Chainlink (LINK) program aims at boosting Solana (SOL) network adoption by supporting web3 projects focused on building on the layer 1 blockchain.  Build on Solana targets teams leveraging the Chainlink standard to develop on Solana. Selected projects will benefit from expert guidance, technical mentorship, growth resources, and increased market visibility. “With Build on Solana, we’re deepening our collaboration with the Solana ecosystem to support teams that are building the next generation of onchain applications,” said Sheth Sanket, vice president of revenue & partnerships at Chainlink Labs. “We’re providing the infrastructure, resources, and community connections needed for projects to scale securely and reliably with Chainlink’s platform and Solana’s fast, composable network,” Sanket added. You might also like:Solana price rally stalls as new SOL ETF inflows rise Chainlink’s traction as a top industry platform has seen it integrate and collaborate with a huge number of projects. The oracle network’s partners are across the decentralized finance market as well as traditional finance.  Major institutions that have tapped Chainlink’s technology include Fidelity International, ANZ Bank, and Swift. DeFi platforms such as Aave, GMX, and Lido also rely on Chainlink infrastructure. On May 14, 2025, banking and financial services giant J.P. Morgan tapped Chainlink and Ondo Finance to power its first cross-chain delivery versus payment transaction. Earlier, on-chain infrastructure platform Libre Capital announced collaboration with Chainlink aimed at expanding its tokenized funds. This new initiative means projects will have the opportunity to tap into Chainlink’s robust ecosystem for key growth milestones. Notable solutions include the Chainlink cross-chain interoperability protocol, Chainlink runtime environment, data feeds and data streams.  The initiative is being launched in partnership with the Solana Foundation and is expected to drive innovation by offering infrastructure support and potential incentives. Chainlink says the program is open to both early-stage and established projects across decentralized finance, consumer applications, and infrastructure. You might also like:Chainlink launches new rewards program with Space and Time

A little-known crypto token saw sharp volatility today. FIFA surged over 67% in recent days before crashing more than 58% in the past 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap data.  The token, trading under the symbol FIFA and priced at just $0.000000259, briefly drew attention amid speculative rumors that it was linked to the global football organization FIFA’s web3 initiatives. The token is currently ranked #3534 on CoinMarketCap. There is no evidence that the FIFA token is connected to the official governing body. You might also like:Galaxy CEO: Biden was ‘un-American’ to crypto, BTC to hit $150k  FIFA’s new NFT platform  The real FIFA made headlines in April after announcing plans to migrate its NFT platform, FIFA Collect, from the Algorand network to a new Ethereum Virtual Machine-compatible blockchain.  The update outlines a move aimed at improving interoperability and fan engagement via digital collectibles and real-world experiences. FIFA stated that the migration is scheduled for no earlier than May 20 and will require users to connect through Ethereum Virtual Machine-compatible wallets such as MetaMask. Meanwhile, the FIFA token remains highly speculative and lacks publicly available information about its developers, use case, or circulating supply. Its rapid rise and fall highlight the ongoing risks of misinterpreted news in the crypto market. You might also like:Moo Deng price approaches support: 50% bounce possible on bullish rounded bottom

Bitcoin continues to trade sideways with volatility at multi-day lows. Price remains stuck in a tight range, suggesting a breakout could be imminent as compression reaches its apex over the weekend. Bitcoin (BTC) price action has stalled, maintaining a narrow range for more than a week as volatility steadily declines. With strong technical boundaries at both ends of the range, traders are now looking for a breakout that could dictate the next major move. Key technical points Range High Resistance:$105,000 Range Low Support:$100,700 Market Structure:Pennant-like equilibrium formation showing compression of price BTCUSDT (1H) Chart, Source: TradingView Over the past eight days, Bitcoin has consolidated between resistance at $105,000 and support at $100,700. These levels have defined a structured trading channel, keeping price tightly bound. Intraday action shows a developing equilibrium or pennant formation, marked by decreasing volatility and narrowing price movement. This market compression signals indecision and balance between buyers and sellers. Historically, such setups often precede sharp breakouts. As price coils toward the apex of the pennant, momentum is likely to build for a decisive move. Any breakout will need confirmation from increased volume and a strong close outside the established range. Another factor to monitor is the declining volume across major exchanges. This reduction reinforces the idea that market participants are waiting for a clear directional move. \Historically, low-volume consolidations near key levels often precede volatility spikes. An upside breakout would likely require a sudden influx of buy-side volume to overcome resistance. Conversely, a downside move without strong volume may result in a fakeout, quickly snapping back into the range. You might also like:Moo Deng price approaches support: 50% bounce possible on bullish rounded bottom Until then, Bitcoin is likely to continue oscillating between support and resistance, offering opportunities for short-term range traders while larger moves remain on hold. What to expect in the coming price action If current compression persists, a breakout is likely within the next three to five days. Weekend trading may stay muted, but early next week could bring the volatility needed to break the range. Unless price closes above $105,000 or below $100,700 with volume confirmation, the range is expected to remain intact. Traders should remain patient and alert for signals of directional intent as price nears the apex. Read more:Centrifuge price surges ahead of the CFM token migration

Moo Deng has pulled back nearly 40% from its recent highs, but the current correction may be setting the stage for the next bullish leg. A critical support zone is emerging. After an explosive move higher, Moo-Deng (MOODENG) has entered a corrective phase, but this appears to be healthy within the broader bullish structure. Price action has retraced back toward the $0.20 zone, which aligns with multiple high-confidence technical indicators, suggesting this level could act as a springboard for a renewed rally.Despite the sharp decline from the $0.35 swing high, the trend remains intact. Market structure shows signs of forming a potential higher low, while bullish confluences continue to build at current levels. Traders should be watching closely for signs of strength returning at support. Key technical points, Major Support at $0.20:200 MA, 0.618 Fibonacci, Value Area Low, and Daily SR Round Bottom Formation:A potential rounding base is forming on the daily chart Upside Target at $0.31:A 50% move could follow if support holds and structure confirms MOO-DENGUSDT (1H) Chart, Source: TradingView Moo Deng’s correction began after a strong swing high near $0.35, triggering an aggressive pullback. However, this retracement is not unusual, it follows a steep and volatile rally. The current move has returned to the $0.20 level, which carries significant technical weight. This area coincides with the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement of the most recent leg higher, the 200-day moving average, a daily support-resistance zone, and the value area low on the volume profile. You might also like:Sui price up 5.16% intra-day: bullish structure remains strong Notably, price action is beginning to form a round bottom pattern. While still in development, this type of structure typically indicates accumulation and often precedes breakout moves. The longer Moo Deng consolidates and holds above $0.20, the more credible the bottoming formation becomes.From a market structure perspective, maintaining this support would confirm a higher low in the broader uptrend, a bullish signal. The confluence of technical levels makes this a high-probability area for a reversal if buyers regain control. What to expect in the coming price action If the $0.20 support region continues to hold and the round bottom structure matures, Moo Deng could stage a rally toward $0.31, representing a nearly 50% move from current levels. The bullish trend remains intact, and this pullback may prove to be a necessary reset before the next impulsive leg higher. Traders should monitor volume and price behavior closely around support for early signs of a reversal. Read more:BNB holds, XLM climbs; BlockDAG’s $250M presale, unbeatable entry price draws investors

Michael Novogratz, founder and CEO of Galaxy Digital, said the crypto industry is at a turning point as his firm went public on the Nasdaq Thursday under the ticker GLXY. “We started off wanting to be the Goldman Sachs of crypto,” Novogratz said during a CNBC “Squawk Box” interview, recalling early days building out a broker-dealer and asset management firm. “The herd is finally here.” Galaxy’s public debut comes with a shift in strategy. While the company remains focused on crypto, it has also moved into the AI data center business. Novogratz described Galaxy as a “data center company plus a crypto company,” pointing to a major lease with CoreWeave at the Helios site in Texas. “That’s close to $14 billion of rent over the next 15 years,” he said. Novogratz framed the AI expansion as more than a hedge. “These are the two most exciting growth areas—AI and crypto,” he said. “By mid-next year, we should have the first section [of the data center] really pulling a whole bunch of cash.” You might also like:Galaxy Digital eyes tokenizing its own shares in SEC talks Crypto and politics On the policy front, Novogratz was candid about politics. “The four years under Biden were really un-American when it came to crypto. It was just misery,” he said, calling the current environment “amazing for the space.” While some Democrats criticize Trump’s ties to crypto, Novogratz praised efforts by Senators Warner and Gallego for pushing bipartisan legislation. “We got to get this bill done, which I think happens Monday. Then there’s a market structure bill, and then crypto will go quiet in D.C.,” he said. Looking ahead, Novogratz predicted further gains for Bitcoin (BTC). “It looks like we’ll take out 106, 107, 108 and make the next leg to 131, 150,” he said. He added, “Crypto is a $2 trillion asset. Gold is a $22 trillion asset. One day, crypto will equal gold.” You might also like:Basel Medical Group launches $1b Bitcoin acquisition strategy

French authorities are looking to provide extra security for cryptocurrency executives and their families following a series of high-profile kidnappings and attempted abductions. France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau made the announcement in a statement on Friday, May 16. His remarks came as France grapples with a wave of violent attacks targeting leading figures in the crypto industry. The most recent incident involved an attempted abduction in central Paris. Authorities now say they are enhancing protection measures for prominent individuals in the sector and their families. “These repeated kidnappings of professionals in the crypto sector will be fought with specific tools, both immediate and short-term, to prevent, dissuade and hinder in order to protect the industry,” Politico quoted Retailleau. The Interior Minister’s meeting with leading crypto executives followed the latest kidnapping attempt. On Tuesday, masked men tried to abduct the daughter of Pierre Noizat, founder and chief executive officer of the crypto exchange platform Paymium. The attempted kidnapping took place in the heart of Paris and follows two other recent attacks against French crypto entrepreneurs and their families. You might also like:Florida teens accused of kidnapping man at gunpoint and stealing $4m in crypto Earlier this year, ransom-seeking criminals kidnapped David Balland, co-founder of the cryptocurrency hardware wallet maker Ledger. Balland and his wife were rescued in a coordinated police operation, though the executive was hospitalized after suffering finger mutilation during the ordeal. Authorities arrested 10 people in connection with the kidnapping and violence. The individuals had demanded ransom in crypto.In some cases, those targeted have paid demanded ransom. Éric Larchevêque, another Ledger co-founder, commented on Friday’s meeting with Retailleau and law enforcement officials, saying it demonstrated that authorities now understand the scale of the threat. According to Larchevêque, the global crypto industry has recorded approximately 50 attacks on executives and industry participants over the past year. Of these, more than 25%, or 14 incidents, occurred in France, which he referred to as the “ground zero” of crypto kidnappings. Read more:Why France is suddenly the world’s epicenter for “crypto kidnappings”

The Centrifuge token surged to its highest level since January ahead of an upcoming token migration and a sharp rise in assets within its ecosystem. Centrifuge (CFG) jumped to a high of $0.2850 on Friday, up 180% from its lowest point this year. The surge pushed its market capitalization to over $106 million. The rally comes ahead of the scheduled migration of the Centrifuge governance token to Ethereum (ETH) on May 20. This marks a major milestone as the network moves toward full Ethereum Virtual Machine compatibility. The migration is expected to pave the way for the launch of an Ethereum-native Centrifuge Protocol. You might also like:Basel Medical Group launches $1b Bitcoin acquisition strategy The developers hope that the transition from Polkadot (DOT) to Ethereum and Base will improve its governance, broaden exchange and decentralized finance integration, and streamline liquidity.  As part of the migration, the supply of CFG will increase from the current 560.246 million to 675 million. The additional 115 million tokens will be allocated to the Centrifuge Foundation to fund incentives targeted at decentralized finance users, strategic initiatives, and exchange liquidity. The protocol will maintain its 3% annual inflation rate. The next chapter for $CFG is here.Starting May 20, 2025, holders of CFG and wCFG will be able to migrate to the new CFG token, designed to support governance and expansion of the Centrifuge protocol.The migration window will remain open until November 30, 2025.More details…— Centrifuge (@centrifuge) May 12, 2025 The token also rallied as the total value locked in Centrifuge’s ecosystem rose to a record $441 million, up from less than $100,000 in March. Most of this capital is in the Janus Henderson Anemoy Treasury Fund, which invests in short-term U.S. Treasury bills. Centrifuge price analysis CFG price chart | Source: TradingView On the daily chart, CFG climbed to $0.2735 on Friday as anticipation over the token migration intensified. The level is significant, as it coincides with the lowest swing point from October last year. The MACD indicator has recently crossed above the zero line, and the Relative Strength Index has entered overbought territory. Given this setup, the token is likely to continue its climb, potentially reaching resistance around $0.50 ahead of the migration. A pullback may follow the event as investors take profits in a classic “sell the news” scenario. You might also like:Best crypto to buy right now ahead of the bull run

Basel Medical Group Ltd has entered exclusive negotiations to acquire US$1 billion worth of Bitcoin in a strategic move to strengthen its balance sheet and diversify its treasury reserves. The announcement, made on May 16, marks a significant shift for the Singapore-based healthcare company, as it looks to blend digital asset investment with aggressive growth in Asia’s medical services sector. The company is in advanced talks with a consortium of institutional investors and high-net-worth individuals to complete the acquisition via a share-swap deal. If finalized, this would be among the largest crypto acquisitions by a publicly listed healthcare firm in the Asia-Pacific region. You might also like:PlanB doubles down on $400k target for Bitcoin, analysts urge caution Financial diversity and flexibility  According to BMGL CEO Dr. Darren Chhoa, the transaction is expected to enhance the company’s financial flexibility, enabling rapid deployment of capital for mergers, acquisitions, and infrastructure investments across emerging markets in Asia. “This US$1 billion financial transformation will give us unprecedented capacity to execute our Asia growth strategy while maintaining conservative financial management,” Chhoa said. The capital infusion is expected to establish BMGL as one of the best-capitalized healthcare providers in the region, while creating a diversified asset base designed to weather economic volatility.  Earlier this week, Heritage Distilling finalized a policy to accept and hold Bitcoin (BTC) and Dogecoin as part of its treasury strategy. Similarly, the company wants to began accepting cryptocurrencies as payment and treating them as long-term assets to diversify sales and reach a broader customer base. You might also like:Galaxy Digital eyes tokenizing its own shares in SEC talks

Solv Protocol has announced the launch of SolvBTC.AVAX, a modular Bitcoin yield product backed by real-world assets. The Bitcoin (BTC) yield vault is backed by Solv, Avalanche (AVAX), Euler, Elixir, LFJ and Balancer, Solv Protocol said in an announcement. According to the team, the launch of SolvBTC.AVAX aims to further tap into the $1.3 trillion Bitcoin market, where an estimated 94% of the supply remains largely idle. The new product seeks to unlock yield opportunities for Bitcoin holders by integrating with real-world asset infrastructure. With SolvBTC.AVAX, users can earn core yield sourced from major real-world asset players such as BlackRock and Hamilton Lane. The protocol will use the token to explore deeper integration between Bitcoin and real-world assets. “Bitcoin holds a market cap of over $1.3 trillion, yet more than 94% of BTC remains idle, generating no yield. Meanwhile, RWAs have exploded 10x since early 2022, now exceeding $22.1 billion in on-chain collateral,” Solv Protocol noted. The RWA sector has seen rapid institutional adoption, with firms such as BlackRock, Brevan Howard, Franklin Templeton, and Hamilton Lane increasing exposure. You might also like:Avalanche price spikes as active addresses hit 950k Currently, more than $6.9 billion of real-world assets is  in tokenized U.S. Treasuries. Most of these funds are on-chain, with over $5.3 billion tokenized on Ethereum. Per rwa.xyz, Stellar, Solana, Arbitrum and Avalanche have market shares of $463 million, $303 million, $187 million and $124 million respectively. Solv Protocol’s SolvBTC.AVAX is designed to accelerate interest in RWA by offering Bitcoin holders access to real yield. The token is a yield-bearing Bitcoin asset built to leverage decentralized finance infrastructure and deliver RWA-backed returns. Solv describes it as the first institutional-grade RWA yield product designed specifically for Bitcoin finance.  SolvBTC.AVAX will launch on Avalanche, with the layer-1 blockchain providing for scalable, low-cost execution layer. Avalanche will also offer ecosystem incentives targeted at growing Bitcoin finance. You might also like:Solv Protocol announces solvBTC. BERA to power BTC yield on Berachain

Sui has rallied 5.16% over the past 24 hours, bouncing strongly from recent levels. Although the move has now encountered technical resistance, the broader market structure remains decisively bullish. Sui (SUI) price action has posted a notable 5.16% gain in the last 24 hours, reflecting renewed buyer interest and momentum. While the short-term rally has approached a local resistance level, the overall market structure remains firmly bullish. The current price action is part of a broader consolidation within a high-timeframe uptrend, with bulls maintaining control despite potential intraday pullbacks. Key technical points Local Resistance at $3.88:Sui has approached the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement level, which aligns with the channel midpoint and is currently acting as resistance. Bullish Market Structure:The overall trend remains bullish with higher highs and higher lows still intact on the macro timeframes. Key Support at $3.33:A potential pullback could retest the $3.33 level, where multiple confluences including the VWAP and 0.618 Fibonacci suggest a strong buy zone. SUIUSDT (4H) Chart, Source: TradingView Sui’s recent move into the $3.88 resistance zone, which aligns with the 0.618 Fibonacci level and the midpoint of the ascending price channel, has led to short-term consolidation and a possible mild pullback. However, this resistance is considered temporary in the context of the prevailing uptrend.The next key level to watch is support at $3.33. This zone marks the channel low and aligns with several technical confluences, including the VWAP and a second 0.618 Fibonacci level. A move down to this area would likely form a higher low, signaling bullish continuation and preserving the macro structure. You might also like:PlanB doubles down on $400k target for Bitcoin, analysts urge caution Importantly, this scenario is not viewed as a breakdown or trend reversal. Instead, a potential pullback would serve to reset momentum before another push toward higher levels, particularly the major resistance near $4.65. What to expect in the coming price action If Sui fails to break through the current resistance at $3.88, a short-term retracement toward the $3.33 support level is likely. However, this would be considered a healthy correction within a broader bullish trend. As long as $3.33 holds, the overall structure remains intact, and bulls may target a continuation toward $4.65 in the near term. Read more:Pi Network slide continues as major announcement underwhelms traders

Solana price has stalled below $200 as the recent bull run encountered resistance, but ongoing ETF inflows and strong network statistics may support a renewed rally. Solana (SOL) was trading at $171.45 on Friday, down by 7.40% from its highest point this week. This retreat mirrors that of other cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR). A potential catalyst for Solana is the anticipated approval of spot SOL ETFs by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Applicants include Grayscale, VanEck, 21Shares, Canary, and Franklin Templeton. According to Polymarket, the odds of approval have risen to 81%. There are signs that these ETFs will attract strong investor interest. A recently approved leveraged Solana fund, the 2X Solana ETF, has continued to gain assets. Since its launch in February, the fund has added nearly $30 million in inflows. It has posted net inflows every month since inception. So far this month, the fund has attracted $9.6 million in inflows, up from $8.3 million in April and $5.5 million in February. SOLT ETF | Source: ETF The SOLT ETF aims to generate daily returns that correspond to 2x the daily performance of SOL. It is similar to other leveraged funds like the ProShares UltraPro QQQ and Direxion Daily S&P 500 Bull ETFs, which have $25 billion and $5 billion in assets under management, respectively. You might also like:Best crypto to buy right now ahead of the bull run However, the SOLT ETF is relatively expensive, with an expense ratio of 1.85%. By contrast, most stock-based leveraged ETFs charge under 0.90% annually. These ongoing inflows suggest that spot Solana ETFs, which are expected to have lower fees, could see even higher demand from institutional investors. There are also signs that spot XRP ETFs will have a higher demand than those tracking SOL as the recently-launched XXRP ETF has gained over $106 million in assets.  Beyond ETFs, Solana is benefiting from strong network fundamentals. The number of transactions and active accounts has surged in 2025. Over the past 30 days, transactions rose by 66%, while active accounts climbed to 101 million. Solana price technical analysis SOL price chart | Source: crypto.news On the daily chart, Solana price has pulled back to $172 after peaking at $185 earlier in the week. It is currently hovering near the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level. Meanwhile, the 50-day and 100-day moving averages are on the verge of forming a mini golden cross, often a bullish signal. Solana has also formed an inverse head and shoulders pattern and is trading between the strong pivot reverse level and the upper boundary of the Murrey Math Lines trading range. Given these technical indicators, SOL is likely to resume its uptrend, with bulls eyeing a retest of the $200 resistance level. A breakout above that level could open the path to the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement at $252. However, a drop below key support at $150 would invalidate the bullish outlook. You might also like:PlanB doubles down on $400k target for Bitcoin, analysts urge caution

Galaxy Digital is in discussions with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission about tokenizing its own shares and potentially other equities using its in-house digital asset platform.  The move could allow Galaxy’s stock to be used in decentralized finance applications like trading and lending. The company met with the SEC’s crypto task force in March to explore registering Galaxy’s stock on a blockchain.  “They believe in the power of tokenized networks,” Novogratz said, noting that tokenization feels “really close” to becoming a reality, according to a Bloomberg report. You might also like:Nasdaq-listed Heritage Distilling accepts Bitcoin and Dogecoin in new treasury strategy Galaxy’s Nasdaq debut Galaxy, which managed $7 billion in assets at the end of March, will begin trading on the Nasdaq on Friday after previously being listed only in Canada. The listing comes amid renewed bullish sentiment in crypto markets and increased competition among crypto-native companies going public. Tokenization allows traditional assets to be represented as digital tokens on blockchains. These tokens can enable faster settlement, broader access, and continuous trading. Last year, Galaxy tokenized a 316-year-old Stradivarius violin to secure a loan, showing early use cases of the technology, according to Bloomberg. The SEC has shown growing interest in the space, recently hosting a tokenization roundtable where officials compared the shift to digitized assets to past transitions in media formats.  However, tokenizing equities still requires regulatory frameworks that reconcile blockchain technology with current securities laws. Other firms, including Coinbase and Kraken, have floated similar ideas around tokenized securities.  Novogratz said Friday’s listing marks a new chapter: “We are going to ring the bell… it’s the beginning and not the finish,” according to Bloomberg. You might also like:Interview | UK crypto rules signal major shift: but will they deliver?

With Bitcoin hovering around $104,000, PlanB is already mapping a path to $400,000, though some see more fiction than forecast. Bitcoin’s (BTC) recent rally to $104,000 has put bulls back in the driver’s seat. At least that’s the takeaway from PlanB, the pseudonymous analyst behind the Stock-to-Flow model. In a new video, he outlines why the party might just be getting started — and how the next stop could be $400,000. PlanB pointed out that the market ended up staging a V-shaped recovery after all. Back in late March, Bitcoin was around $82,000. By the end of April, it had jumped to $94,000, and as of press time, it’s sitting at $104,000. To him, that wasn’t just a rebound, and it looked like a clear sign the bull market was back. He’s sticking with his long-term model. The S2F average for the 2024-2028 halving cycle is $500,000. That number may sound far-fetched, especially today, but PlanB isn’t fazed, as he’s saying the market is only “one year into the cycle, with three years to go.” Why so bullish A big piece of the puzzle is Bitcoin’s relative scarcity.As PlanB reminds, Bitcoin is “twice as scarce as gold,” noting, though, that gold is “worth ten times more.”That, to him, screams undervaluation. The chart that gives him confidence? His market cycle model. Created in 2022, it showed no “yellow” distribution signal when Bitcoin was at $82,000, a phase that usually precedes a bear market. Instead, the red signals he saw suggested bull continuation, calling it a “very weird, long, flat bull market.” Bitcoin’s RSI | Source: PlanB The analyst also referred to RSI, or Relative Strength Index, saying that right now, the metric is at 66, which is above average and rising. “I think we’ll see 80+ RSI months again — at least four of them — just like in the bull markets of 2021, 2020, 2017, and 2013. […] If we’re at an average price of $100,000 now… that would already bring us into the $400,000 area.” PlanB Some agree, with caveats Vugar Usi Zade, COO at Bitget, noted in an interview with crypto.news that PlanB’s $400,000 Bitcoin forecast leans on two pillars: a multi-year “four-phase” cycle and the S2F framework. He admitted that the timeline matches prior post-halving cycles, saying the market now sits “near month 12-15 of the current cycle — early but not alarmingly so.” “PlanB’s $400k Bitcoin forecast leans on two pillars: a multi-year ‘four-phase’ cycle and the S2F framework. The timeline aligns with past patterns, but macro and market-structure changes inject far more uncertainty than in 2013 or 2017.” Usi Zade But this time, it’s not just retail and hype. There’s institutional capital, structured derivatives, and macro risks to consider. “Unlike prior cycles, institutional adoption, regulated derivatives, and on-chain analytics now smoothen volatility and may extend cycles rather than compress them. But it’s important to consider that we face potential Fed rate pivots and geopolitical flare-ups. Such tail risks can abruptly truncate cycles. Also, a greater correlation to equities means Bitcoin may no longer behave as a stand-alone ‘digital gold’ store of value. Cycle timing can blur when broader risk assets sell off.” Usi Zade He also points out the move to $104,000 may not be entirely organic as April’s cooler inflation and dovish Fed tones triggered a broad “risk-on” rebound. According to Usi Zade, much of the move to $104,000 “could simply reflect short-covering and equity correlation.” That makes the $110,000-$115,000 level critical as a failure there could see “rapid retracement toward $88,000-$92,000,” Usi Zade suggests. As for the $400,000 target, the Bitget COO is even more cautious. He explains that while halving events do cut new supply and S2F did line up with prices in the past, the 2021 bull market broke the model’s predictive streak. “So, S2F retains some heuristic value but no longer commands unqualified trust. Treat its $400k figure as a broad ‘upper-bound scenario’ rather than a hard forecast.” Usi Zade Usi Zade told crypto news that the $400,000 S2F target now sits more as an “aspirational upper bound” than a high-confidence price projection. ‘Everybody’s in profit’ Another bullish signal for PlanB: rising realized prices. The 5-month realized price for short-term buyers is $92,000 now, and Bitcoin sits above this level. “That’s how we want to see it. That’s also a sign of a bull market. Everybody’s in profit. There’s not much pain in the market. We’ll see what that brings.” PlanB You might also like:Bitcoin Stock-to-Flow model creator PlanB slams Ethereum, calls it ‘premined shitcoin’ Even the 200-week moving average — a key long-term support — is ticking up. As of press time, it’s at around $47,000. For context: in previous cycles, this average marked the bottom. But now, PlanB sees the growing gap between that and price as more fuel for a bullish thesis. Bitcoin’s 200WMA | Source: Coinglass Tracy Jin, COO of MEXC, agrees with PlanB on the mechanics, though isn’t convinced by the pace. Yes, Bitcoin can post huge monthly gains, but “not without significant retail participation fueling the rallies.” Right now, she points out, that retail frenzy hasn’t shown up. “PlanB’s $400,000 projection aligns with historical patterns of exponential price moves during past bull markets. Still, this should not give investors the reason to treat such models as directional tools instead of precise forecasts. A better strategy is to have a diversified view, balancing on-chain data with macro trends, sentiment analysis, and risk management.” Tracy Jin The MEXC COO pointed out that although 40% monthly returns are possible, maintaining that level of momentum without widespread retail enthusiasm is unlikely. Jin calls today’s market “in transition,” explaining further that it’s “not fully bearish, but not yet in a full-fledged retail-driven rally.” Institutional players are definitely here, she says, adding that regulations have become tighter. “While 40% monthly returns are not impossible, sustaining that level of momentum without broad retail euphoria is unlikely. Such aggressive moves would now require favorable macro conditions, institutional flows, and a strong narrative to drive market-wide conviction.” Tracy Jin ‘Positive sign for altcoins’ Analysts at crypto payment gateway B2BinPay echoed some of the optimism but stressed caution. In a commentary for crypto.news, they noted that if Bitcoin starts moving below the $93,000 level and consolidates there, the market is “unlikely to see a quick move toward a new ATH.” “Instead, the price may pull back into the $88,000-$86,000 range. However, if Bitcoin shows strength from here, breaks above its ATH, and manages to stay above it, we could start looking at the next target zones — anywhere between $124,000 and $134,000.” B2BinPay Addressing Bitcoin dominance, the analysts say they consider it as a “very positive sign for altcoins,” adding that on the daily chart, “we can clearly see a break of the uptrend line that had held since Dec. 3, 2024, through May 9, 2025.” “That said, dominance is still at a relatively high level, and there’s a lot of liquidity built up below, most of it is compressed. And compressed liquidity tends to be released quickly. So, there’s a good chance we’ll see a fast move down to around 54% dominance, possibly sooner than expected. If that happens, altcoins might surprise us in a big way.” B2BinPay PlanB himself admits that some models “are wrong, some are useful,” but today’s market is clearly driven by more than just charts and halvings. Central banks, global politics, and crypto’s correlation with broader markets all play a role. Keeping that in view, B2BinPay analysts aren’t expecting a sudden surge in volatility in the short-term as summer approaches, noting that “summer tends to be a quiet season in the crypto market.” Read more:PlanB transfers Bitcoin to ETFs, prefers ‘peace of mind’

Heritage Distilling Holding Company has finalized its Cryptocurrency Treasury Reserve Policy.  This makes it one of the first craft spirits companies to accept and hold Bitcoin (BTC) and Dogecoin (DOGE) formally, according to the company. The policy allows the company to accept both cryptocurrencies as payment via its direct-to-consumer e-commerce platform and to treat them as long-term strategic assets. The company’s board approved the move as part of a broader sales and treasury diversification plan. The initiative was led by the board’s Technology and Cryptocurrency Committee, chaired by digital payments expert Matt Swann.  You might also like:Webull taps Coinbase for crypto custody, trading, and staking Long-term store of value Heritage believes Bitcoin serves as a viable long-term store of value, while Dogecoin is gaining traction as a transactional currency. “Heritage has always been an innovator,” said CEO Justin Stiefel. “Unlike traditional investors who buy crypto with cash, we produce goods with built-in margins that help offset volatility.” Stiefel added that accepting cryptocurrencies offers new financial flexibility and helps the company reach a broader customer base. The company cited data suggesting up to 86 million Americans hold Bitcoin and 83 million wallets hold Dogecoin. Heritage plans to leverage this growing user base, especially as updated accounting standards simplify crypto asset reporting for businesses. The policy includes detailed governance, reporting, and auditing protocols to manage cryptocurrency operations. Heritage joins other firms like Genius Group in exploring crypto-based treasury strategies. You might also like:The Coinbase hack that shadowed its S&P rise — and the investigators who saw it coming

The crypto market is bracing for a bull run as analysts from firms like Fundstrat, BlackRock, Ark Invest, and Standard Chartered raise their Bitcoin forecasts. Arthur Hayes, the founder of BitMEX, predicted that Bitcoin (BTC) could reach $1 million, while Ark Invest sees it surging to $2.4 million by 2030. BlackRock forecasts a rise to $700,000, and Standard Chartered expects BTC to hit $200,000 this year. Additionally, crypto.news has published several bullish Bitcoin forecasts, highlighting technical formations such as the cup and handle, bullish flag, and megaphone patterns. Concerns over supply and demand imbalances are also mounting as ETF inflows increase and exchange-held balances decline. Best crypto to buy right now A surge in Bitcoin price is likely to lift other altcoins due to their strong correlation. Some of the best cryptocurrencies to consider buying now are those backed by solid fundamentals, such as pending ETF approvals and expanding ecosystems. These include Solana (SOL), Quant (QNT), Ripple (XRP), and Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR). You might also like:Bitcoin staking protocol Solv unveils RWA-backed token on Avalanche Solana  Solana is a compelling buy right now due to its rapidly growing ecosystem, rising network fees, and increasing odds of spot ETF approval. Meme coins in the Solana ecosystem are now valued at over $15 billion, while decentralized exchanges like Meteora, Orca, and Raydium continue to gain market share. Solana has also become the most active blockchain in the industry, processing over 1.75 billion transactions in the last 30 days. It now boasts 101.7 million active addresses, more than the other top chains combined. Further, odds of the Securities and Exchange Commission approving spot SOL ETFs have jumped to over 80% on Polymarket. As we wrote recently, it has also formed a cup and handle pattern, pointing to a jump to $500. Quant  Quant is another small underdog crypto to buy today ahead of the bull run. It is a major player in the real-world asset tokenization industry because of its Overledger product.  Overledger is an operating system for distributed ledger technologies that enables communication and data transfer between different blockchains. It is almost similar to Chainlink’s (LINK) cross-chain interoperability protocol.  Quant is a good buy because of its strong partnerships with the European Central Bank, Oracle, and Hitachi. QNT balances in exchanges has continued falling, a sign of accumulation. XRP XRP, the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, remains a strong buy-and-hold asset. Legal disputes with the SEC have been resolved, and the company is aiming to disrupt the Swift payment network. XRP is also benefiting from the growing market share of Ripple USD, its stablecoin. The XRP Ledger is also expected to grow, especially when the $10 billion a day Hidden Road transactions come online. Like Solana, there is a high chance that the SEC will approve an XRP ETF.JPMorgan anticipates $8 billion in inflows in the first year. You might also like:New XRP ETF reaches $67m AUM as price outperforms Ripple Hedera Hashgraph HBAR is another promising altcoin due to its impressive roster of partnerships, including Google, Ubisoft, Tata, and IBM. It is also expanding in the real-world asset space, thanks to its Stablecoin Studio, an offering that allows users to launch stablecoins with ease. Hedera’s growing stablecoin market cap positions it as a significant player in blockchain-based payments. It also has a strong chance of securing ETF approval in 2025.

Pi Network token continued to decline on Friday despite positive ecosystem developments. This week’s Pi Network’s (Pi) much-anticipated announcement failed to meet expectations. As of Friday, May 16, the token was down 0.63% to $0.9062, marking a 44% decline from its recent multi-month high of $1.62. The volatility appears to be the result of hype that didn’t deliver. On May 8, the Pi Foundation teased a “major announcement” to be revealed on May 14. The teaser triggered a sharp rally, with Pi surging over 200% in a matter of days to reach its highest level since March 2025. However, once the announcement was made, markets responded with disappointment. 🚀 Huge Day Tomorrow for Pi Network!🔹 Major Ecosystem Announcement: The Pi Core Team is set to unveil big news on May 14, 2025—expect game-changing updates!🔸 Consensus 2025 Begins: Pi Network takes the global stage in Toronto alongside blockchain giants like Ethereum and… pic.twitter.com/6cvEyegUod— Pi Pioneers X (@PiPioneersX) May 13, 2025 The reveal turned out to be a Pi Network venture fund, that will invest $100 million in ecosystem startups. According to the Foundation, the goal is to accelerate real-world use cases on the chain and boost long-term value. You might also like:Pi Network drops 30% despite long-awaited ecosystem announcement Pi Network traders sell the news While the announcement may appear positive from a development standpoint, traders were clearly expecting more. Almost immediately after the news broke, the token dropped over 50%. Several factors explain the sharp pullback. First, the venture fund is a long-term initiative and does not provide any immediate utility or price support for the token. Second, the build-up to the announcement likely created unrealistic expectations. You might also like:Here’s why Pi Network price dropped after the ecosystem fund news This type of market reaction is often referred to as “buy the rumor, sell the news”, a common pattern where investors bid up a token in anticipation of bullish news, only to sell off once the announcement underwhelms. For this reason, the Pi Network price correction is to be expected. Still, the good news for Pi is that the token is stabilizing around the levels it previously was, suggesting that volatility may be normalizing. Read more:Pi Network breaches support even as rebound catalysts emerge

Maple Finance’s token continued its strong rally, reaching its highest level since November last year as its assets and fee revenue surged. Maple (SYRUP) jumped to a high of $0.3490, up 287% from its lowest level this year, bringing its market cap to $374 million. The rally came in a high-volume environment, with 24-hour trading volume rising to $150 million. SYRUP token jumped as the total value locked in its network jumped to a record high of $1.17 billion, up from this year’s low of $250 million. This performance makes it one of the best-performing players in decentralized finance.  You might also like:Maple Finance up 25% as lending platform surpassed $1b in TVL The growth has translated into higher network revenue. According to TokenTerminal, the protocol generated over $600,000 in revenue in April, nearly double the previous month’s figure. ICYMI: @maplefinance's monthly revenue nearly doubled between March and April.Revenue in April '25: $617.14k. pic.twitter.com/429SSmBG9e— Token Terminal 📊 (@tokenterminal) May 15, 2025 Additionally, the amount of active loans on Maple has climbed to a record $692 million, a sharp increase from $250 million at the start of the year. SYRUP active loans | Source: TokenTerminal SYRUP’s price also benefited from new exchange listings over the past few months. It became available on dYdX, one of the leading decentralized exchanges, on Thursday. Earlier this month, it was also listed on Binance and Bitget earlier this month. Maple Finance is building a decentralized platform where verified lenders provide capital to institutions. Its Blue-Chip Secured Lending Pool lends USDC, overcollateralized by Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). The High Yield Secured offers the same service, but is overcollateralized by BTC, ETH, and liquid altcoins. Maple also launched the BTC Yield product that enables Bitcoin holders to earn a return on their assets.  SYRUP price analysis Maple price chart | Source: crypto.news The eight-hour chart shows that SYRUP has been in a strong uptrend, positioning Maple as a growing force in DeFi. The token recently broke above a key resistance level at $0.1930—its March high—flipping it into support. Maple Finance token remains above the 50-period exponential moving average, a sign that bulls are in control. However, there are signs that it has become overbought as the Relative Strength Index has moved to 75.  As such, the most likely near-term scenario is a pullback toward the $0.20 support level, followed by a potential continuation of the broader bullish trend. You might also like:Maple Finance price prediction: SYRUP is sweet again — but for how long?

U.S. stocks opened mixed on Friday, with the S&P 500 looking to clock a fifth consecutive day of gains. As markets opened for the final trading session of the week, Wall Street saw the S&P 500 rise 0.1% to hover near 5,920. The benchmark index, which has posted four straight days of gains, could notch a fifth consecutive win to bolster investor confidence. The S&P 500 is up 4.5% over the past week. Notably, it continues to rally after erasing all of its 2025 losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq Composite showed mixed performance. In early trading, the Dow fell 70 points, while the Nasdaq gained more than 0.2%. Week-to-date, the Dow is up 2.6%, and the Nasdaq has climbed 6%. A thawing in the U.S.-China trade tensions, on the back of this week’s announcement of de-escalation measures, also has investors upbeat.  “We’re in the midst of a bear market cycle and this is a very violent but welcome relief rally,” said Katie Stockton, the founder and managing partner of Fairlead Strategies.  Stockton shared her outlook as markets rebounded through the week. Sentiment goes back to President Donald Trump’s announcement of a trade agreement with the United Kingdom and then China. You might also like:Dow jumps 271 points, S&P 500 extends win streak, Nasdaq sheds 0.18% This positive outlook has also shown across the crypto market. After revisiting prices below $80 earlier amid tariff tensions since “Liberation Day”, Bitcoin (BTC) has risen in tandem with stocks. The benchmark digital asset is currently looking to cement gains above $103k.  With risky assets bouncing, analysts are sharing notable forecasts as a fresh regulatory approach to the sector. Mike Novogratz, the chief executive officer of Galaxy, told CNBC in an interview that President Donald Trump’s administration has so far been great for crypto. Wall Street will be keen on a set of potential market factors on Friday.  Among major areas of focus will be Trump’s tax bill that’s coming up for debate in the House Budget Committee.  Investors will also be keen on the University of Michigan’s highly anticipated consumer sentiment survey.  The May data is in focus after April’s reading indicated a dip in sentiment amid inflation concerns. But with the consumer price index falling, the market’s attention is on how the consumer has taken the tariffs issue in the aftermath of the reciprocal tariffs. You might also like:Bitcoin price eyes ATH as traders brace for a “supply shock”

Bitcoin is back above $103,000 and the largest crypto is eyeing a re-test of all-time highs above $109,588. At a time when nearly all tokens in the top 100 cryptocurrencies ranked by market cap are in the green, the market is abuzz with the debate of whether to stay or sell and go away in May? Millionaire exits are not uncommon in crypto and the meme coin bull run in 2024 was marked by Solana-based (SOL) meme token exits by traders. As Bitcoin (BTC) eyes a return to its all-time high, riding on the bullish sentiment from recent catalysts, macroeconomic certainty, U.S. trade deals with the UK and China and rising institutional demand and acceptance of stablecoin and BTC, a crypto exit plan is more relevant than ever before this cycle.  Table of ContentsMeme coin millionaire’s missed exitStay in May or sell and go away?Bitcoin and altcoin summer outlook Expert commentary Meme coin millionaire’s missed exit Glauber Contessoto, popular as the Dogecoin (DOGE) millionaire, who maxed out credit cards and spent his savings to buy $250,000 worth of DOGE in February 2021. Contessoto has also gained notoriety as the man who once held nearly $3 million in DOGE and lost his gains when the crypto market tanked in 2022.  Contessoto inspired fast-acting traders to take profits when the token nears a potential peak. On-chain data from Santiment shows that for the top three meme coins, DOGE, Shiba Inu (SHIB) and Pepe (PEPE), over the past year, a large volume of traders have realized gains close to, or soon after a local top.  The large spikes in profit-taking nearly coincide with local tops as seen in the chart below:  Dogecoin, Shiba Inu and Pepe network realized profit/loss and price | Source: Santiment It is therefore becoming increasingly necessary to take profits near local tops, typically alongside Bitcoin’s local tops, as seen in the price chart below.  Bitcoin, Dogecoin, Shiba Inu and Pepe price chart | Source: TradingView You might also like:Bitcoin slows down near $104,700 as price consolidates inside a range Stay in May or sell and go away? There is a popular stock market theory that says the market tends to underperform in the six months between May and October, leading to the old adage of “Sell and go away in May.” The same does not stand entirely true for cryptocurrencies as the category of tokens is more prone to volatility and price swings, relative to the stock market.  With Bitcoin back above the $100,000 milestone, a successful implementation of Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade and the rising stablecoin volume, it doesn’t look like the crypto sector will slow down.  Bitcoin could revisit its all-time high and Ethereum could rally nearly 20% to re-test its psychologically important $3,000 level in May 2025. Meme coins, AI tokens, utility tokens and altcoins could begin their recovery soon, following in Bitcoin’s footsteps as institutional investors show interest in relevant sectors in the crypto market.  Selling and going away may not be the best bet, when staying put, or taking profits adds more value to traders’ portfolios.  Bitcoin and altcoin summer outlook  Bitcoin monthly returns chart from Coinglass shows BTC has yielded gains for holders between 3-5 months from June to December of 2023 and 2024. If history repeats itself in the ongoing cycle, Bitcoin holders could identify opportunities to realize gains on their BTC holdings or rotate into altcoins during H2 2025, or following a re-test of the previous all-time high.  Bitcoin monthly returns | Source: Coinglass If Bitcoin revisits its all-time high, over 97,000 wallet addresses holding nearly 108,000 Bitcoin tokens would turn profitable, likely to result in profit-taking and higher selling pressure for BTC.  Global In/out of the money | Source: IntoTheBlock On May 13, Tuesday, earlier this week, the altcoin season tracker climbed to 67, the highest level in 2025. The last time the index hit this level was in December 2024. The index implies that we are closer to an “altcoin month,” meaning a period of 30 days where 75% of the top 50 cryptocurrencies outperform Bitcoin.  At the time of writing, the index is down to 55 and the outlook remains positive, with a return to December 2024 levels likely in H1 2025. Altcoin month index | Source: Blockchaincenter You might also like:Warren Buffett retires: let’s remember rare occasions when he made mistakes. Is his crypto skepticism one of them? Expert commentary James Toledano, Chief Operating Officer at Unity Wallet shared his thoughts on Bitcoin’s current price action and whether it is in line with market expectations. Toledano said,  “Bitcoin’s current price behavior appears to be moving in line with market expectations. Anything over $100,000 is a win as we look for stabilization and price support at this level. After peaking at $109,000 in January, Bitcoin has maintained a tight trading range near $104,000 over the past week, suggesting a phase of healthy consolidation.  The dip over the past 24 hours reflects normal market volatility rather than a structural concern —there have been no market shocks, and any fluctuations appear to be demand and supply economics in action.” The executive believes that the leveling off noted in the top crypto is a sign of increasing macroeconomic caution and this may have prompted some investors to rotate into top-tier altcoins like Ethereum (ETH) and Solana.  Capital rotation may be a real phenomenon in the ongoing Bitcoin bull market and the token’s current stabilization points to a maturing asset class that is absorbing prior gains while awaiting fresh catalysts and inputs.  Ruslan Lienkha, chief of markets, YouHodler said: “The upward momentum in equity markets has moderated following the conclusion of tariff negotiations, as short-term traders began locking in profits, triggering corrective movements. This shift in sentiment has spilled over into riskier assets, including Bitcoin.  As a result, the current pullback appears to be a correction within a broader medium-term uptrend. However, ongoing global economic uncertainty and persistently high interest rates in the U.S. may act as headwinds, potentially capping the upside potential of this trend.” Lienkha noted his concerns of capped gains in Bitcoin and cryptos as the market faces the likelihood of high interest rates for longer in the U.S. Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.