Stripe has upgraded its Treasury platform at Stripe Sessions, enabling businesses to hold and manage funds in multiple currencies and stablecoins. The update also allows instant, free transfers between US businesses on Stripe and global payouts to 160 countries using email addresses. Businesses gain access to Stripe cards with cashback rewards, AI-powered integrations via Stripe …
RippleX has announced that users of Rakuten Wallet can now convert Rakuten Points directly into XRP, trade it in-app, and spend it across more than 5 million merchant locations, marking one of the largest real-world retail deployments of XRP to date. The rollout connects a massive consumer ecosystem, over 44 million Rakuten Pay users, and …
Pi Network has completed more than 526 million human validation tasks through a distributed workforce of over one million identity-verified participants, the project announced this week, positioning itself as one of the largest verified human labour networks in the world at a moment when demand for exactly that kind of infrastructure is accelerating rapidly. The …
Bitcoin (BTC) failed again to push back above the $80,000 level this week, a price point that has remained stubbornly resistant since early February. After struggling through the latest attempt to break higher, BTC retraced to around $75,400 on Wednesday. Bloomberg attributes part of this stagnation to a less visible but powerful force: positioning in the options market. According to the report, a concentrated set of call options has built up around the $80,000 strike on Deribit. Why Bitcoin Keeps Stalling Near $80,000 As Andy Baehr, managing director of asset management at GSR, explained in the report, many speculators are choosing to sell calls at $80,000 because it is viewed as a “safe” area to monetize premiums. The other side of those trades is where the pressure begins. Dealers who buy the calls often hedge by selling Bitcoin, creating what Baehr described as an “electric fence” effect—an arrangement that makes it harder for BTC to surge through the strike level without an unusual catalyst. That helps explain why Bitcoin has still struggled to clear $80,000. Related Reading: Galaxy Digital Posts $200M Quarterly Loss—Did Hyperliquid Help Avoid New Crisis? The options picture is reinforced by activity levels in broader markets. The report also points to on-chain data and platform metrics suggesting that the group (retail) that drove the earlier rally has largely stepped back. Instead, many are said to be nursing losses or waiting for clearer signals. At the same time, a persistently bearish Bitcoin futures market and slowing spot demand have encouraged some traders to underwrite more call options, aiming to capture premium income on the expectation that Bitcoin will not meaningfully trade above the $80,000 strike over the coming months. May Expiries, Rolling Calls, And Stock-Driven Volatility Deribit’s $80,000 Bitcoin calls appear especially concentrated in the late May and June expiries. According to market data provider Kaiko, out of roughly $1.5 billion in notional call open interest, contracts totaling $160 million are set to expire on May 1, with an additional $566 million expiring on May 29. Those clustering dates can matter because they concentrate both hedging activity and speculative behavior into specific time windows. Thomas Erdösi, head of product at CF Benchmarks, said the pattern suggests persistent call selling and evidence of “systematic rolling.” In other words, rather than allowing positions to roll off naturally, market participants may keep moving risk forward in a way that maintains pressure near the strike. Erdösi also cautioned that options positioning alone does not tell the whole story, noting there are signs of profit-taking into the $80,000 area for Bitcoin as well. Related Reading: XRP Price Target At $18,000: Expert Says—Only One Condition Must Be Met Finally, the report flags that volatility outside crypto may spill into Bitcoin’s price action. With equities showing sharper movement in recent sessions, BTC has tended to follow along. Bohan Jiang, senior derivatives trader at FalconX, suggested that this could contribute to a more stabilizing pattern around $80,000. In his view, with stocks “chopping around” recently, Bitcoin’s behavior has mirrored that uncertainty—helping explain why attempts to break through the level keep stalling. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
Crypto markets turned lower today as two major macro developments hit simultaneously. The Federal Reserve held interest rates unchanged in what marks Jerome Powell’s final policy decision as Fed Chair, while President Trump rejected Iran’s proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and signalled a fresh wave of military strikes is being prepared. Bitcoin fell …
The Clarity Act just received its most important push forward in weeks. Senator Thom Tillis, the North Carolina Republican who had been one of the bill’s most vocal internal critics, told reporters on Capitol Hill Tuesday morning that he is ready to move the legislation to a formal committee markup. “I’m going to ask the …
The Conservative and Labour parties argued Nigel Farage broke Commons rules by not declaring the £5 million, but Reform UK said it was an exempt, personal, unconditional gift.
Pi Network had crossed back above a $2 billion market capitalization, according to CoinGecko data, marking a recovery for a token that has been building quietly. The move comes on the back of a week of positive developments for the network, with PI climbing more than 11% over seven days and touching a monthly high …
The UNI price is hanging by a thread after getting firmly rejected at the 20-day EMA near $3.27, Uniswap is now hovering right above the $3.00 level. Not drifting. Not consolidating comfortably. Just… sitting there. Waiting. UNI price trapped between EMA resistance and support Here’s the setup. The UNI price is boxed in, squeezed between …
The QNT price keeps loosing its footing and not in a subtle way. Slipping below the $70 level, a zone that acted like a psychological safety net for weeks, the structure has quietly flipped from “maybe stable” to “probably not.” And, that changes everything. QNT $70 Support Collapse Shifts Market Structure Bearish For most of …
Bitcoin is heading into the Federal Reserve decision today with a stretched rally and weakening momentum, conditions that have historically triggered sharp post-FOMC sell-offs. After climbing more than 20% through April and reclaiming the $75,000–$79,000 range, BTC price action is now stalling just below key resistance near $80,000. This setup has played out repeatedly over …
Markets are focused on Wednesday’s FOMC meeting, which could be one of Jerome Powell’s final appearances before his term ends on May 15. The Fed is widely expected to hold rates steady at 3.50%–3.75%, marking a third straight pause. Investors are also watching potential successor Kevin Warsh, whose confirmation process is underway. The outcome matters …
U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan has denied Sam Bankman-Fried’s request for a new trial, calling the claims and newly presented evidence baseless. SBF argued the material proved FTX was solvent, but the court questioned both the credibility and relevance of the evidence. The decision matters because it strengthens the prosecution’s case and keeps SBF’s conviction …
Canada is planning to ban cryptocurrency ATMs as part of its Spring Economic Update 2026 to reduce fraud and protect consumers. Officials say these machines are increasingly used by scammers to trick victims into sending funds and by criminals to move illegal money. The country has nearly 4000 crypto ATMs, the highest per capita in …
Galaxy Digital reported a tough start to the year as crypto prices fell and market values broadly contracted. In its first-quarter (Q1) results, the company reported a net loss of $216 million while the total crypto market capitalization slid by roughly 20% during the same period. Despite that difficult environment, Galaxy CEO Mike Novogratz said in an interview with Bloomberg that Hyperliquid (HYPE) helped the company avoid even worse outcomes. Galaxy Digital Q1 Snapshot In Galaxy’s Q1 2026 reporting, the company attributed the net loss primarily to the depreciation of digital asset prices over the quarter. The firm also posted an adjusted gross loss of $88 million, along with an adjusted EBITDA loss of $188 million. On a per-share basis, Galaxy reported diluted and adjusted EPS of $0.49. Even with the losses, Galaxy Digital ended the quarter with a solid balance sheet, including total equity of $2.8 billion and cash plus stablecoin holdings totaling $2.6 billion as of March 31, 2026. The company said it ended Q1 with approximately $5 billion in assets under management and $3.2 billion in assets under stake. Related Reading: XRP $10 By 2027? Top Expert Flags Two Must-Happen Catalysts For A Bull Run At the same time, the firm reported that its asset management segment generated $69 million in net inflows across the quarter, suggesting demand still existed even as pricing pressure weighed on performance. Novogratz’s comments focused on how Galaxy Digital managed risk and exposure while markets moved against crypto. He said the balance sheet “lost money because crypto prices were down,” but argued Galaxy “way outperformed” what would have happened if it had not taken steps to adjust its positions. Hyperliquid As The ‘Future Of Crypto’? According to Novogratz, the company cut some positions and shifted a significant portion of its level two exposure into Hyperliquid. He described Hyperliquid as one of the tokens he has discussed previously and indicated that the platform’s structure stands out in the sector. In explaining the reasoning behind Galaxy’s support, Novogratz said he backed Hyperliquid “mostly because it’s got an economic model,” contrasting it with other tokens he described as being more “association tokens.” The executive added that Hyperliquid provides a way to look at what the future of crypto could look like, framing it as a more substantive approach compared with projects that function differently. Galaxy Digital’s relationship with Hyperliquid goes beyond investment interest. The company has significant exposure to Hyperliquid’s native token, HYPE, and it also acts as a validator on the network. Bitcoin Over $100,000 Again? Novogratz also addressed Bitcoin’s (BTC) current price action. He noted that if Bitcoin manages to climb back above $100,000, it may still be difficult for the asset to sustain that level depending on broader economic conditions. Related Reading: Solana Prepares For The Quantum Era: Foundation Details Step-By-Step Transition He pointed out that to reach that price “you’re going to need a few things to happen,” and emphasized that easing from central banks would be central to the equation. However, he cautioned that macroeconomic pressures are unlikely to ease quickly, citing inflation concerns tied to current events. Galaxy Digital CEO referenced the war in Iran and said “we’ve got some pretty ugly inflation prints that are going to come through the pipeline,” adding that, in his view, “I don’t think the Fed does anything but sits and watches.” Despite the quarterly loss, Galaxy Digital’s stock (trading under the ticker symbol GLXY) surged around 4% during Tuesday’s trading session, reaching $26 per share. Meanwhile, Hyperliquid’s native token saw a 5% loss and retraced to $39. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
The Clarity Act was supposed to be heading toward a May markup with momentum behind it. Instead it spent the past 48 hours collecting new problems like a bill that has started to wonder if it actually wants to become law. The latest arrived Tuesday when Senator Thom Tillis flagged concerns from law enforcement groups …
Robinhood Markets, Inc. has published its earnings report showing a 47% year-over-year decline in crypto revenue (from $252 million to $134 million) in Q1 2026. Revenue is also down 39% quarter-over-quarter, after hitting a record high of $221 million in Q4 2025. Similarly, the app’s notional volume fell 48% year-over-year to $24 billion. These negative …
Lightspark, the Bitcoin (BTC) remittance infrastructure provider led by former PayPal President David Marcus, has announced Grid Global Accounts. Its mission is to facilitate global remittances in Bitcoin, stablecoins, and dollars with AI support. In partnership with Visa, the API-based product will enable instant payments to 175 million merchants across 14,000+ banks and 65+ countries. …
Crypto prices have been under pressure recently, and XRP has been hit particularly hard. On Tuesday, the token slid below the key $1.4 level, adding to the broader cautious mood across the market. Even so, some analysts are pointing to a very different kind of narrative—one grounded in on-chain liquidity data and scenario modeling rather than short-term price forecasts. What The $18,000 XRP Scenario Depends On A researcher highlighted by crypto analyst Bull Winkle has been working with a live valuation tool that pulls real-time metrics directly from the XRP Ledger (XRPL). The idea behind the tool is straightforward: it collects liquidity-related data on-chain, then runs that information through a set of scenario-based price calculations. Instead of presenting one expected outcome, the model lays out multiple paths, each tied to a specific use case and a defined peak transaction size. According to Winkle’s post, the tool produces five separate scenarios, each with different assumptions about how XRP could be used and at what scale. Related Reading: Bitmine’s Ethereum Holdings Reach Record 5 Million Tokens–CEO’s Bullish Outlook One of the most eye-catching scenarios places XRP as the dominant global bridge asset. In that case, the model links the valuation to a “peak ticket” of $50 billion. Importantly, this level is not framed as a prediction of what will happen; it is described as a condition that would need to be met. The model’s central claim is that if XRP reaches the required volume threshold associated with that bridge-asset role, then a price around $18,000 becomes mathematically justified. Put another way, the scenario isn’t sold as a timeline estimate—it’s presented as a logical outcome that could follow only if that specific scale of usage occurs. Institutional Adoption Is The Key The tool also includes a near-term scenario that, Winkle says, is the most relevant for current conditions. This case centers on small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and remittance corridors, with a peak ticket of $100 million. For that scenario, the model calculates a required XRP price of $16. Winkle’s interpretation is that this part of the model is already being “validated” by current price reality—meaning the market dynamics implied by the scenario are not purely hypothetical. As a result, the near-term row stands out not because it guarantees a particular number, but because it appears to align more closely with what is already happening on the ground. Related Reading: Solana Prepares For The Quantum Era: Foundation Details Step-By-Step Transition Beyond the near-term outlook, the model also includes a mid-scenario focused on corporate treasury and regional bank flows. Here, the tool suggests that the required XRP price could land anywhere between $138 and $690, depending on how the underlying assumptions about institutional-style usage play out. In Winkle’s framing, this is where institutional adoption starts to carry real price implications. The range is wide, but the direction of the thesis is clear: as liquidity and usage scale up through larger financial channels, the XRP valuation outcomes become dramatically higher. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
The crypto market is consolidating after months of bearish price action, with participants navigating an environment defined by geopolitical tension, macro uncertainty, and a price structure that has yet to confirm a clear direction. In this context, top analyst Darkfost has identified a behavioral shift that cuts across the usual boundaries between crypto and traditional finance — and what it reveals about where market participants are directing their attention is worth understanding. Related Reading: XRP’s Recovery Is Real, But The Risk Appetite Behind It Is Still Broken – Analyst Since Binance launched gold futures trading in January, the platform has recorded more than $100 billion in trading volume. That figure, accumulated in under four months, is not a product success story. It is a behavioral signal. The participants who typically live in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and altcoins have collectively directed nine figures into the world’s oldest safe-haven asset — and the environment driving that demand is the same one currently suppressing crypto prices. Ongoing tensions between Iran and the United States continue to limit market visibility and sustain demand for assets that hold value through uncertainty. Gold has been the primary beneficiary of that dynamic, posting gains of approximately 210% since October 2023 before the correction that began in late January. That correction has since brought gold 16.5% below its all-time high. The safe-haven trade has not reversed — it has pulled back. And in markets, 16.5% corrections after 210% rallies tend to attract a specific kind of attention. $6.6 Billion in a Single Day — and the Demand Has Not Gone Away The volume evolution on Binance’s gold futures tells the story of a market that found its audience faster than almost anyone anticipated. Standard sessions now regularly record between $500 million and $1 billion in trading activity — a baseline that would have been considered extraordinary for a product that did not exist four months ago. During the February correction and again in late March, that baseline was left behind entirely. Multiple sessions exceeded $3 billion, and on March 23 the platform recorded $6.6 billion in a single day — a figure that reflects institutional-scale participation, not retail curiosity. Darkfost frames the current consolidation in gold’s price as structurally natural rather than structurally concerning. After a 210% rally over two years, a 16.5% correction represents the kind of profit-taking that follows any sustained advance — and the persistence of Binance gold futures volume through that correction suggests the underlying demand has not reversed alongside the price. The structural advantage Binance introduced is worth naming directly. Traditional gold markets close on weekends. Binance does not. For a market participant whose primary trading environment operates continuously — where geopolitical developments on a Saturday morning can move prices before any traditional venue opens — permanent access to gold exposure is not a convenience. It is a capability that did not previously exist for this audience. Darkfost’s assessment is that Binance made the right call. The $100 billion in volume and the $6.6 billion single-day record suggest the market agrees. Related Reading: Ethereum Buyers Stepping In Right Now Are the Most Aggressive Since Early 2023: Is the Bottom In? BTC/XAU Ratio Tests Structural Support After Sharp Breakdown The BTC/XAU ratio is attempting to stabilize after a decisive breakdown that shifted the relative strength balance back in favor of gold. After topping near the 35–37 zone, the ratio entered a sustained downtrend. Losing both its short-term and medium-term moving averages in sequence — a clear signal that Bitcoin has been underperforming gold across this phase of the market. The recent move lower into the 13–15 range marked a significant reset. That level aligns with prior consolidation zones from 2023, suggesting the market has returned to a historically relevant demand area. The reaction so far has been constructive but not yet convincing. Price has bounced modestly and is now attempting to reclaim the 17 level, but it remains below the declining 50-week and 100-week moving averages, which continue to act as dynamic resistance. Related Reading: Chainlink Is Getting Cheaper, And Whales Are Not Buying The Dip: Discount Or A Trap? Volume expanded notably during the selloff, indicating that the move was driven by strong conviction rather than thin liquidity. The subsequent rebound, by contrast, has occurred on lighter participation — a detail that raises questions about its durability. Structurally, the ratio remains in a corrective phase. A sustained reclaim of the 20–23 region would be required to suggest a shift back toward Bitcoin outperformance. Until then, the trend continues to favor gold. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
The UB price just is on fire in April that many altcoins still dream about, today after a pull back it woke up again, broke resistance, and reminded traders it still has a pulse. Sitting around $0.0537, the move comes right after the OKX perpetual contract listing news, and yes, the timing isn’t subtle. A …
Galaxy Digital reported a net loss of $216 million for the first quarter of 2026, hit primarily by a roughly 20% decline in digital asset prices across the period. Consensus expectations pointed to a loss of $1.06 per share. Galaxy delivered a loss of $0.49, a beat of more than 50% that will carry more …
Pi Network has climbed 13.70% over the past seven days, making it one of the strongest performers in the top trending list at a time when the broader crypto market is down 0.20% and Layer 1 tokens as a category are down 0.30% Open interest in PI futures has surged sharply, pointing to fresh capital …
Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has taken a swipe at Ripple, saying the company has no intention of linking its business model to XRP token buybacks and that holders should not expect to share in the wealth the firm is building. Speaking in a conversation, Hoskinson said Ripple’s approach has been consistent for over a decade. …
Tether is upgrading its Bitcoin mining infrastructure with a modular, high-density design aimed at improving efficiency, scalability, and cost control across large-scale operations. In partnership with Canaan and ACME Swisstech, it replaces traditional fixed mining rigs with independent hash board modules integrated into custom control, thermal, and software systems. The architecture separates compute, power, and …
The Humanity Protocol price this week showed remarkable rise and broke the weeks of bearish trend that was dragging through consolidation, H token price suddenly woke up, printing nearly 20% intraday gains and stacking over 65% since 21st April. That’s not random noise. That’s capital coming with intent. And yes, there’s a narrative doing the …
Block Inc. has disclosed 28,355 Bitcoin worth about $2.2 billion in its Q1 2026 proof-of-reserves report. The holdings are split between $1.5 billion for Cash App users and $689 million in the company’s treasury. Verified through audits and cryptographic proofs, Block ranks as the 14th largest public Bitcoin holder globally. Led by Jack Dorsey’s long-term …
BlackRock is expanding deeper into crypto markets by bringing its $2.5 billion tokenized money market fund, BUIDL, to crypto exchange OKX. Under the partnership, Standard Chartered will securely custody the underlying assets, while traders on OKX can use BUIDL as collateral for trading. In a recent post, OKX confirmed that users can now use BlackRock’s …
Chiliz is scaling its Fan Token ecosystem by integrating with LayerZero to make tokens available across multiple blockchains like Solana and Base, unlocking wider liquidity and global access. This move allows fans to engage more deeply through voting, rewards, and experiences on the Socios platform, while tapping into faster networks and DeFi markets. With over …
The Solana Foundation has addressed growing concerns about the potential impact of quantum computing on blockchain security. In a blog post published on Monday, the organization set out its next steps and described a clear roadmap that the network could follow should the threat become more than theoretical. The Solana Post-Quantum Signature Plan Even though the risk is still considered distant, the Solana Foundation argued that networks should study the issue and prepare early, rather than waiting until a crisis forces rushed decisions. A key part of Solana’s preparation, the Foundation said, involves Anza and Firedancer, two validator client developers that together represent a substantial share of stake in the network. Related Reading: Bitcoin Could Hit New All-Time High Fast On Quantum Fix, Capriole Founder Says Both teams have been allegedly investigating post-quantum migration paths closely, and they reached the same conclusion independently: Solana would need a post-quantum digital signature scheme that uses compact signatures and is suitable for high-throughput blockchain environments. That shared direction led both teams to a post-quantum signature approach known as Falcon. Solana said that research from both groups resulted in initial implementations. Importantly, the organization emphasized that no immediate network change is required today, and it is unlikely to be needed in the near term. However, the Foundation said the Solana ecosystem now has a plan that has been thoroughly researched, could be activated when the time is right, and is designed so that the transition would be manageable. The blog post also claimed the migration could occur quickly and that network performance is not expected to take a meaningful hit during the switch. From Winternitz Vault To New Wallets Beyond the validator client work, the Foundation said the wider Solana ecosystem has already been proactive in the post-quantum space. It pointed to Blueshift’s “Solana Winternitz Vault,” which it described as offering a direct route to quantum resilience and said has been in place for more than two years. The post then laid out a roadmap for how Solana says it will handle quantum readiness as the conversation evolves. The first step is to keep researching quantum threats and continuing to evaluate Falcon along with potential alternatives. Related Reading: Bitcoin Is Headed For $40,000: Analyst Reveals The Best Time To Buy BTC Solana’s next move, if quantum becomes a credible concern, would be to adopt a post-quantum scheme for new wallets. From there, the Foundation says the ecosystem would migrate existing wallets to the selected post-quantum approach. Finally, the Solana Foundation’s blog post said that it will continue sharing updates as the work progresses, describing post-quantum readiness as an ongoing effort rather than a one-time project. At the time of writing, the blockchain’s native token, SOL, was trading at $84.42. This represented losses of 2% and 1.5% in the 24-hour and seven-day time frames, respectively. Featured image from OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com