Alternative News for You

by Debra Killalea on May 20, 2025 at 5:04 am

A proposal to strengthen ties between Europe and Australia in the face of increasing global instability could prove to be a major boost for both allies. But questions have been raised over a potential defence pact with Brussels.  

by Lani Oataway on May 20, 2025 at 5:03 am

Former orphans and underprivileged children from the UK who were sent to an educational facility in regional New South Wales launch a second class action to seek further compensation for the trauma inflicted on them.

by Lucy MacDonald on May 20, 2025 at 4:59 am

Tasmanian harness racing trainer Wayne Yole has been banned from housing or training horses at his Sidmouth property in northern Tasmania, following a multi-agency inspection of the stables.

by Johanna Marie on May 20, 2025 at 4:58 am

Police are appealing for information about a teenage girl who disappeared from a regional Queensland airport five days ago.

by Michael Janda on May 20, 2025 at 4:54 am

The Reserve Bank has cut interest rates amid greater confidence that the inflation battle is won, and will remain won, even if borrowing rates fall further from here.

by Cointelegraph by Stephen Katte on May 20, 2025 at 4:53 am

Shares in the Indonesian fintech firm DigiAsia Corp nearly doubled after the company said it plans to raise $100 million to seed its first of many Bitcoin buys. The Jakarta-based Nasdaq-listed company said on May 19 that its board of directors approved creating a Bitcoin (BTC) “treasury reserve” and it was “committing up to 50% of any net profits generated to fund the acquisition of BTC.”DigiAsia said it was also “actively exploring a capital raise of up to US$100 million” to kickstart its Bitcoin holdings and would look to earn yield on its holdings through means like lending and staking.DigiAsia said it had “initiated discussions with regulated partners” on yield strategies and managing its planned Bitcoin holdings. The company added that it was also assessing whether to offer convertible notes or crypto finance instruments linked to its planned Bitcoin haul. DigiAsia stocks explode on Bitcoin plansShares in DigiAsia Corp (FAAS) closed May 19 trading at a gain of just over 91% at 36 cents after the company’s Bitcoin announcement, according to Google Finance.DigiAsia’s Bitcoin plan has seen its stock price rise over 90% in the regular trading session. Source: Google FinanceHowever, after the bell, DigiAsia stock dropped 22% to 28 cents. The company’s shares are down nearly 53% so far this year, having peaked at just under $12 in March 2024. In a financial update on April 1, DigiAsia reported its revenues grew 36% year-on-year to $101 million in 2024. It projected growth of 24% to $125 million in 2025, along with earnings before interest and taxes of $12 million.A growing number of companies are adding Bitcoin to their corporate holdings, following its popularization by Michael Saylor’s Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy, which has the largest Bitcoin holdings of any public company at 576,230 BTC, worth nearly $60.9 billion.Strive Asset Management announced on May 7 that it’s going to transition into a Bitcoin treasury company, and video game retailer GameStop Corporation (GME) finished a convertible debt offering on April 1 that raised $1.5 billion, with some proceeds earmarked for buying Bitcoin. Related: Metaplanet scoops 1,004 Bitcoin in 2nd-biggest buy everCorporate Bitcoin treasuries collectively hold over three million in Bitcoin, worth over $340 billion, according to Bitbo data.Blockstream co-founder and CEO Adam Back predicted that firms with Bitcoin-focused treasuries are driving global adoption and could push Bitcoin’s market cap hit $200 trillion in the coming decade. Bitcoin’s market cap is currently sitting at around $2 trillion, with BTC changing hands at $105,642, up 2% in the past day, according to CoinGecko. Magazine: Rise of MicroStrategy clones, Asia dominates crypto adoption: Asia Express 2024 review

by Bryn Wakefield on May 20, 2025 at 4:46 am

A rescue helicopter is sent to the mining town of Dysart to assist a two-year-old girl bitten on the face by a pet dog.

on May 20, 2025 at 4:34 am

Tell us your loan size, term and interest rate and our mortgage rate cut calculator will work out how much you could save as rates fall.

by Isla Evans on May 20, 2025 at 4:32 am

Tunnel workers on the country's largest renewable energy project plan to walk off the job on Wednesday with the union seeking improved pay and working conditions.

by Stephanie Chalmers on May 20, 2025 at 4:31 am

The RBA's monetary policy board decides to decrease the cash rate by 0.25 of a percentage point, to 3.85 per cent. It is the second cut to rates this year, providing some further relief to home loan borrowers.

by Ellen Phiddian on May 20, 2025 at 4:17 am

Humpback whales are now migrating north to their warmer breeding waters — but some of them will give birth as far south as Tasmania, according to new research based on observations from citizen scientists.

by Georgie Hewson on May 20, 2025 at 4:11 am

The production company YouTuber James "MrBeast" Donaldson used while filing at Mexican ruins has been accused of violating its permit.

by Patrick Bell on May 20, 2025 at 4:09 am

The head of the inquiry into Bruce Lehrmann's prosecution is fighting findings that he engaged in "serious corrupt conduct". But the Federal Court has heard that the watchdog's damning report may be protected by parliamentary privilege.

by Brooke Chandler and Nick McLaren on May 20, 2025 at 4:00 am

More than a dozen homeless and nomadic people living in a public car park in southern Wollongong have been given eviction notices. The government says it is to provide "suitable housing" in winter.

by Marnie Vinall on May 20, 2025 at 3:46 am

Medical support staff across women's sporting clubs say a lack of investment in their area is hindering the development of elite players and contributing to a higher prevalence and longer rehab of injuries.

by Ned Hammond on May 20, 2025 at 3:45 am

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred brought winds of up to 100 kilometres per hour and torrential rain when it crossed the coast at Moreton Bay on March 8.

by Mikaela Ortolan on May 20, 2025 at 3:18 am

Victorian Treasurer Jaclyn Symes has handed down her first state budget. Here are the winners and losers.

by Leanne Wong on May 20, 2025 at 3:12 am

Victoria's debt is set to balloon to record levels as the state government battles to rein in spending, even as the axe looms over thousands of public sector jobs.

by Cointelegraph by Martin Young on May 20, 2025 at 3:08 am

The US Securities and Exchange Commission’s sole Democratic Commissioner has said the agency is “playing a game of regulatory Jenga” with its approach to the crypto industry and market regulation under the Trump administration. In May 19 remarks at the SEC Speaks event, Commissioner Caroline Crenshaw cautioned against what she described as a dangerous dismantling of “discrete but interrelated rules” on crypto and the wider market.She likened market stability to a “Jenga tower” that the agency’s rules had “carefully developed over the years,” which could topple if some rules were removed.In addition to a lamentable loss of staff, Crenshaw said the SEC has used staff guidance to effectively reverse rules without proper analysis or public comment, particularly around crypto“Our statements on these crypto-related issues are the equivalent of a wink and nod intended to convey that we do not plan to rigorously apply our laws in certain, specific situations.”She added that the regulator has abandoned enforcement actions, especially in crypto markets, creating what she calls “regulation by non-enforcement.”“I am deeply troubled by the Commission’s abandonment of swaths of our enforcement program,” she said. SEC Commissioner Crenshaw. Source: SECCrenshaw, the SEC’s last remaining Democrat commissioner, said the agency’s “about-face” is problematic for a host of reasons, such as corroding its reputation in court, undermining its credibility, and casting doubt on the state of “longstanding and fundamental case law.”Related: SEC is scaling back its crypto enforcement unit: ReportCrenshaw, who had also opposed the SEC’s settlement with Ripple, said in her latest remarks that the 2022 FTX collapse was an example of what a “large-scale crypto crisis” can look like. “Those risks have not gone away, but the calls for serious regulatory scrutiny are a lot quieter these days,” she said.“Failing to appreciate and address these risks and complexities destines us to repeat hard lessons with high stakes as crypto becomes increasingly entangled with traditional finance.”In comparison, remarks from the SEC’s Republican commissioners welcomed the agency’s embrace of the crypto sector. Crypto was “languishing in SEC limbo”SEC chair Paul Atkins said at the SEC Speaks event that “crypto markets have been languishing in SEC limbo for years,” adding that the agency should not be in the business of stifling innovation of crypto companies.Commissioner Hester Peirce, who heads the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, said in remarks that the agency’s approach under the Biden administration has “evaded sound regulatory practice and must be corrected.”She also claimed that crypto did not come under the purview of securities laws because “most currently existing crypto assets in the market” are not securities. “Even if a broad swath of the crypto assets trading in secondary markets today were initially offered and sold subject to an investment contract, they clearly are no longer bought and sold in securities transactions. Many of these crypto assets are functional.”Commissioner Mark Uyeda echoed the sentiment of his peers, stating that the SEC “should undertake efforts to provide assurances that regulation by enforcement will not be a tool used for future policymaking.”Magazine: Arthur Hayes $1M Bitcoin tip, altcoins ‘powerful rally’ looms: Hodler’s Digest

by Zena Chamas on May 20, 2025 at 3:02 am

Abusers are exploiting weaknesses in Australia's utility systems, according to a major report that has found inconsistent safeguards across energy and water providers are leaving victim-survivors vulnerable to safety risks.

by Belinda Smith on May 20, 2025 at 3:01 am

The next time you pick up a bag of spuds from the supermarket or fill up the car with petrol, you can thank a treaty signed in 1875 for the metric system that underpins daily life.

by Chris De Silva on May 20, 2025 at 3:00 am

The NBA's final four is set in stone and it is no coincidence that they are the only teams to not be hit by the injury bug during this year's play-offs. It leaves the league facing a potential problem with its season.

by Jamie Tram on May 20, 2025 at 2:53 am

Lost co-creator JJ Abrams has come back to the small screen with a 70s cop procedural full of retro car chases, dirty cops and the first female Black FBI agent.

by Jessica Moran on May 20, 2025 at 2:50 am

As a major employer in Tasmania's north announces it will enter a period of "limited operation", some of its 250-odd workers have raised concerns about being without pay due.

by Cointelegraph by Stephen Katte on May 20, 2025 at 2:26 am

Crypto exchange Binance has asked a US federal judge to send all members of a class-action lawsuit alleging it sold securities to arbitration, arguing that the group waived their ability to form a class action under the company’s terms.The exchange said in a May 16 filing to a New York federal court that its terms of service, which it claimed the class group agreed to, has a clause that users agree to arbitrate all claims, along with a clause preventing users from launching class actions against the crypto exchange.“The Court should hold that Plaintiffs are required to arbitrate claims that accrued after Feb. 20, 2019, even if the Court adheres to its initial decision as to claims that accrued before then and that the class-action waiver in the 2019 Terms of Use is enforceable for all of Plaintiffs’ claims,” Binance said.Binance argues that its terms of service have a clause about users agreeing to arbitrate all claims. Source: PACERIn March, Judge Andrew Carter denied Binance’s request to have all of the class action’s claims sent to arbitration for users who bought tokens on the exchange between April 1, 2017, and Feb. 20, 2019, and partially denied the motion for users who bought tokens after 2019 until a decision could be made to what extend the arbitration clause would apply.  Binance said in its latest filings that it updated its terms in February 2019 to include the arbitration clause and argued that an earlier version of the terms of service included a clause that informed users that Binance could amend the terms as needed without any individual notice.Binance case was previously dismissed Judge Carter had sided with Binance and dismissed the suit in March 2022. Binance had argued that it isn’t beholden to US securities laws because it doesn’t have a physical headquarters in the country.The US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit overturned that decision in March 2024, and the Supreme Court later declined to hear Binance’s appeal in January.Related: US judge transfers Binance lawsuit to Florida, citing first-to-file ruleBinance’s legal entanglements in the US have escalated since mid-2023, when the Securities and Exchange Commission sued the company for selling unregistered securities, which was settled for $4.3 billion in November 2023.Binance was also slapped with a class action in Canada in April 2024 for allegedly violating securities laws after it announced its departure from the country in May 2023.Magazine: Arthur Hayes $1M Bitcoin tip, altcoins’ powerful rally’ looms: Hodler’s Digest, May 11 – 17

by Sam Bradbrook on May 20, 2025 at 2:26 am

Tyler Redway got a licence after completing driving tests in his own vehicle modified to his needs. But there's fears new rules mean he wouldn't be able to do that anymore.

by Maani Truu on May 20, 2025 at 2:00 am

Nationals leader David Littleproud has announced the minor party will not re-enter a coalition agreement with the Liberal Party, ending a decades long arrangement.

by Angus Verley on May 20, 2025 at 1:59 am

Producers in the path of proposed renewables projects vow to keep developers out, as the state government pushes forward with its green energy transition. 

by Cointelegraph by Martin Young on May 20, 2025 at 1:55 am

Jamie Dimon, the CEO of JPMorgan, said his bank will soon allow its clients to buy Bitcoin, but it won’t custody the cryptocurrency.“We are going to allow you to buy it,” Dimon said at JPMorgan’s annual investor day on May 19. “We’re not going to custody it. We’re going to put it in statements for clients.”CNBC reported that Dimon also remarked on his long-held skepticism about crypto assets, pointing to their use in money laundering, sex trafficking and terrorism.“I don’t think you should smoke, but I defend your right to smoke. I defend your right to buy Bitcoin,” he said.Michael Saylor comments on Dimon’s announcement. Source: Michael SaylorJPMorgan will offer clients access to Bitcoin (BTC) exchange-traded funds (ETFs), CNBC reported, citing sources familiar with the situation. Until now, the firm has limited its crypto exposure primarily to futures-based products, not direct ownership of digital assets.Related: Morgan Stanley advisers can officially pitch Bitcoin ETFsJPMorgan rival Morgan Stanley has also moved to offer spot Bitcoin ETFs to qualifying clients. Spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US have seen significant adoption, with almost $42 billion in total aggregate inflows since they launched in January 2024. Dimon’s Bitcoin bashing historyDimon has long been skeptical of Bitcoin, labeling it a scam that he had no interest in buying in 2018 and calling it “worthless” during the 2021 crypto bull market.“I’ve always been deeply opposed to crypto, Bitcoin, etc.,” he said during a Senate Banking Committee hearing in 2023. “The only true use case for it is criminals, drug traffickers, money laundering, tax avoidance.”“If I were the government, I’d close it down,” he said.At the 2024 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, Dimon said Bitcoin “does nothing. I call it the pet rock,” which came after the asset topped $100,000 for the first time.  Magazine: Arthur Hayes $1M Bitcoin tip, altcoins ‘powerful rally’ looms: Hodler’s Digest

by Cointelegraph by Brayden Lindrea on May 20, 2025 at 1:38 am

Update (May 20, 3:17 am UTC): This article has been updated to add statements from senators and information on the GENIUS Act.The US Senate has voted to advance a key stablecoin-regulating bill after Democratic senators blocked an earlier attempt to move the bill forward over concerns about President Donald Trump’s sprawling crypto empire.A key procedural vote on the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act, or GENIUS Act, passed in a 66-32 vote on May 19 local time.Several Democrats, including Mark Warner, Adam Schiff and Ruben Gallego, changed their votes to pass the motion to invoke cloture, which will now set the bill up for debate on the Senate floor.Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis, one of the bill’s key backers, said on May 15 that she thinks it’s a “fair target” to have the GENIUS Act passed by May 26 — Memorial Day in the US.The US Senate voted 66-32 to advance debate on the GENIUS stablecoin bill. Source: US SenateSeveral Democratic senators withdrew support for the bill on May 8, blocking a motion to move it forward, citing concerns over potential conflicts of interest involving Trump’s crypto ventures and the bill’s Anti-Money Laundering provisions.Warner expressed concerns about Trump’s crypto ventures in a statement before the vote, but said the US couldn’t “afford to keep standing on the sidelines” while the crypto industry evolves.“We cannot allow that corruption to blind us to the broader reality: blockchain technology is here to stay. If American lawmakers don’t shape it, others will — and not in ways that serve our interests or democratic values.”Warren says bill won’t stop Trump’s “crypto corruption”Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren, a longtime crypto skeptic, was one of the strongest opponents of the stablecoin bill, arguing before the vote that it failed to address Trump’s “blatant crypto corruption.”Trump and his family have recently launched various crypto projects, which include memecoins, a crypto platform, a crypto mining company that plans to go public and a stablecoin that has quickly grown to be the seventh-largest by value, CoinGecko data shows.”Trump and his family have already pocketed hundreds of millions of dollars from his crypto ventures, and they stand to make hundreds of millions more from his stablecoin, USD1, if this bill passes,” she said.Senator Bill Hagerty introduced the GENIUS Act on Feb. 4, which seeks to regulate the nearly $250 billion stablecoin market, currently dominated by Tether (USDT) and Circle’s USDC (USDC).Related: Circle plans IPO but talks with Ripple, Coinbase could lead to sale: ReportThe bill requires stablecoins to be fully backed, have regular security audits and approval from federal or state regulators. Only licensed entities can issue stablecoins, while algorithmic stablecoins are restricted.Hagerty’s stablecoin bill builds on the discussion draft he submitted for former Representative Patrick McHenry’s Clarity for Payment Stablecoins Act in October.Magazine: Crypto wanted to overthrow banks, now it’s becoming them in stablecoin fight

by Cointelegraph by Brayden Lindrea on May 20, 2025 at 12:42 am

Anza, a Solana blockchain infrastructure firm spun out of Solana Labs, has proposed a new proof-of-stake consensus called Alpenglow that it claims would be “the biggest change to Solana’s core protocol” and compete with current internet infrastructure.“We believe that the release of Alpenglow will be a turning point for Solana. Alpenglow is not only a new consensus protocol, but the biggest change to Solana’s core protocol since, well, ever,” Anza’s Quentin Kniep, Kobi Sliwinski and Roger Wattenhofer said on May 19.Alpenglow consists of Votor, which processes voting transactions and block finalization logic, and Rotor, a data dissemination protocol that would replace Solana’s proof-of-history timestamping system and aim to reduce the time it takes for all nodes to agree on the network state.Source: AnzaAnza researchers claimed that “Alpenglow will shatter both these latency bounds” and the project expects it to reach actual finality in about 150 milliseconds, rivaling internet infrastructure.“A median latency of 150 [milliseconds] does not just mean that Solana is fast — it means Solana can compete with Web2 infrastructure in terms of responsiveness, potentially making blockchain technology viable for entirely new categories of applications that demand real-time performance.”Votor — which would replace TowerBFT — would aim to finalize blocks in a single round if 80% of the stake is participating, and in two rounds if only 60% of the stake is responsive.Related: DeFi lender Aave reaches $40B in value locked onchainThese two voting modes are integrated and run concurrently, with finalization taking place as soon as the faster of the two paths terminates.Anza’s researchers claimed this model would result in “unprecedented finalization latency” while enabling it to operate more effectively under “harsh network conditions.”Alpenglow won’t fix Solana’s network outagesThe project’s white paper noted that switching to Alpenglow wouldn’t completely shield Solana from the network outages that it has experienced in the past.Solana currently only has one production-ready client, Agave, meaning any security vulnerability in Agave can disrupt the entire Solana network.However, a new independent validator client called Firedancer is set to launch on Solana’s mainnet sometime this year, which will provide client diversification for the network.Magazine: Father-son team lists Africa’s XRP Healthcare on Canadian stock exchange

by Cointelegraph by Biraajmaan Tamuly on May 19, 2025 at 10:57 pm

Key takeaways:Bitcoin’s Sharpe ratio converges with gold’s, indicating similar risk-adjusted returns, supporting its store-of-value role.Gold outperformed Bitcoin in Q1 2025 with a 30.33% price gain versus Bitcoin’s 3.84%, driven by economic uncertainty.Bitcoin ETF inflows are recovering, and analysts predict BTC could reach $110,000–$444,000 in 2025.Bitcoin’s (BTC) price is holding above $100,000, leading Fidelity Director of Global Macro, Jurrien Timmer to say the crypto asset could reclaim its position as a leading store-of-value contender. Timmer’s recent analysis highlights a convergence in the Sharpe ratios of Bitcoin and gold, suggesting that the two assets are increasingly comparable in risk-adjusted returns. The Sharpe ratio measures the rate of return an investment provides for the risk taken, by comparing its performance to a risk-free benchmark relative to its volatility.The chart below, tracking weekly data between 2018 and May 2025, shows Bitcoin’s returns (1x) catching up to gold’s (4x), with gold at $22.48 and Bitcoin at $15.95 in relative performance terms. Gold vs Bitcoin Sharpe ratio. Source: X.comFrom an allocation standpoint, Timmer recommended a 4:1 gold-to-Bitcoin ratio for a store-of-value hedge, highlighting an intriguing observation. Timmer said, “I continue to be fascinated by the fact that the most negatively correlated asset to Bitcoin is gold. For two players on the same store-of-value team, it’s not what I would expect to see. Bitcoin’s risk-reward ratio has continued to impress. There is no other asset quite like it!”While Bitcoin’s SoV credential improves above $100,000, Ecoinometrics, a Bitcoin-focused macroeconomic newsletter, pointed out that it was not smooth sailing in Q1 2025. In 2024, Bitcoin spot exchange-traded traded-funds (ETFs) saw a staggering $35 billion net inflows, purchasing 500,000 BTC and driving a 120% return. However, 2025 started on a different note. The first four months saw Bitcoin ETF flows drop to less than a third compared to 2024, while gold ETFs attracted more capital. The newsletter noted that this shift could be attributed to Q1 uncertainty surrounding Federal Reserve policy, trade policy, and the US economy. Ecoinometrics stated,“Between two hard assets, gold and Bitcoin, it’s easy to see why capital went to the one seen as a haven.” Bitcoin vs gold ETF netflows comparison. Source: X.comGold, with a 30.33% price gain in 2025 compared to Bitcoin’s 3.84%, benefited from its stability during economic unease. Additionally, the analysis added that Bitcoin performed better as a “high-beta growth asset,” thriving in rising liquidity and fiat debasement environments. Recent developments signal a shift: US trade policy clarity, a softer Federal Reserve stance, and easing financial conditions have spurred steady inflows into Bitcoin ETFs.Related: Bitcoin bull flag and standard profit taking hint at eventual rally to new BTC price highsBitcoin is on track for new highs in 2025A higher Sharpe ratio is a positive metric for Bitcoin, significantly increasing the probability of reaching new all-time highs above $110,000 in May. According to Bitcoin Suisse, a crypto custody firm, BTC’s high Sharpe ratio has allowed the asset to thrive in risk-on and risk-off environments since the US presidential election. Bitcoin price performance in risk-on, risk-off. Source: Bitcoin SuisseWith more than 88% of its supply in profit, BTC currently behaves as a high-conviction bet, where the likelihood of an “acceleration phase” moving forward. Bitcoin Suisse head of research Dominic Weibei said, “In this environment, Bitcoin has emerged as the Swiss army knife asset. Whether equities rally or bonds crumble, BTC trades on its supply-demand fundamentals, delivering a win-win profile that traditional assets simply can't offer.”Similarly, Cointelegraph reported that Bitcoin has a "decent chance" of reaching $250,000 or more in 2025, driven by its interplay with gold, according to a gold-based forecast. The report uses a scenario-based framework rooted in its gold model to project Bitcoin’s potential revaluation as a non-sovereign hard asset. If Bitcoin’s network value, measured in gold, follows a power curve, and gold maintains its current value, analysts suggest it could hit $444,000 in 2025. However, a more conservative estimate by Bitcoin analyst Apsk32 points to a "reasonable" target of $220,000 for the year. Related: Altcoins are on the verge of ‘most powerful rally’ since 2017 — AnalystThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

by Sundance on May 19, 2025 at 10:03 pm

Earlier today President Trump held a 2-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The objective of President Trump is clear; however, he is battling against recent history and the domestic political environment within Washington DC. President Trump provides a summary via Truth Social: “Just completed my two-hour call with President Vladimir Putin of Russia. The post President Trump Outlines Details of Phone Call with Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared first on The Last Refuge.

by Cointelegraph by Biraajmaan Tamuly on May 19, 2025 at 9:45 pm

Key takeaways: Bitcoin onchain and technical data suggest new all-time highs are imminent.Glassnode data shows most Bitcoin wallet cohorts accumulating BTC. A daily timeframe bearish divergence signals fading momentum, raising doubt on BTC’s ability to rally into the $120,000 to $130,000 range.Bitcoin (BTC) price rallied back above $105,000 during the US market trading session, after forming a double bottom pattern in the 1-hour chart. Bitcoin 1-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewAvailable liquidity around the $102,500 zone was swept, possibly laying the foundation for new Bitcoin price highs this week.Bitcoin fractals hint at new all-time highsBitcoin’s current range between $106,300 and $100,600 represents a similar setup to its previous range between $97,900 and $92,700. The price action pattern can be summarized into three different conditions: Range lows and range highs led to immediate trend reversal. A double bottom occurred after range highs ($97,900 and $107,144) were formed. The double bottom formation occurred above range lows, sweeping internal liquidity levels, but the bottom.Bitcoin price fractal analysis. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewBitcoin could consolidate between $103,500 and $105,200 (orange boxes) over the next 24 hours, mirroring its earlier sideways movement between $95,800 and $97,300. If this pattern holds, it could increase the chances of Bitcoin breaking above $107,000, potentially reaching new highs above $110,000 this week.Conversely, a failure to hold $103,500 could lead to a retest of the $102,000 support. This would be treated as an invalidation of the price fractal, which could open the possibility of new lows under $102,000 in the coming days. Related: Bitcoin ignores Moody’s US debt downgrade, rallies back to $105K after profit-taking sell-offWill Bitcoin overcome a daily bearish divergence?Glassnode revealed a significant shift in Bitcoin investor behavior, with the latest Accumulation Trend Score chart showing small holders with less than 1 BTC joining the bullish trend at a score of 0.55. Larger cohorts holding 100–1,000 BTC and 1,000–10,000 BTC exhibited strong accumulation scores of 0.9 and 0.85, respectively. Bitcoin accumulation trend score. Source: GlassnodeOnly the 1–10 BTC cohort remains in distribution. The heatmap, transitioning from blue (distribution) to red (accumulation), suggests growing market confidence. Historically, such trends have preceded BTC price rallies. However, crypto analyst Bluntz noted a bearish divergence on the daily chart, which could damp BTC’s hopes for a new all-time high this week. A bearish divergence takes place when the price is forming a higher high, but the relative strength index (RSI) indicator is forming a higher low, meaning that buying pressure is beginning to fade as prices soar. Bitcoin bearish divergence by Bluntz Capital. Source: X.comSimilarly, Bitcoin analyst Matthew Hyland pointed out that if the bulls want to remain in control, they need to push prices higher in the coming weeks. Hyland said,“BTC is now on the clock and probably needs to make a move to $120k-$130k in the coming weeks to make a higher high on the RSI and avoid any weekly bearish divergence from being confirmed.”Related: Bitcoin bull market 'almost over?' Traders split over BTC price at $105KThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

by Cointelegraph by Turner Wright on May 19, 2025 at 9:32 pm

The US Department of Justice is reportedly conducting a probe over Coinbase’s contracted customer service agents in India, who accepted bribes in exchange for allowing criminals access to user data.According to a May 19 Bloomberg report, DOJ investigators are looking into the data breach, which Coinbase disclosed to the public on May 15. The exchange reported that a group of customer support contractors — subsequently fired — “abused their access to [...] systems to steal the account data for a small subset of customers.”“We have notified and are working with the DOJ and other US and international law enforcement agencies and welcome law enforcement’s pursuit of criminal charges against these bad actors,” said Coinbase’s chief legal officer, Paul Grewal, according to Bloomberg.Related: New Zealand man arrested in $265M crypto scam tied to FBI probeThough “no passwords, private keys, or funds were exposed” according to Coinbase, the data breach resulted in social engineering attacks targeting users, including a Sequoia Capital partner, with losses estimated at up to $400 million. The attackers also attempted to extort $20 million from Coinbase in exchange for not disclosing the breach, which the company refused.Backlash in the courtsThe attempted social engineering attacks have resulted in Coinbase users filing several lawsuits against the exchange, alleging that the company mishandled their personal data. One user, a retired artist named Ed Suman, reported losing $2 million to the scammers.Coinbase’s stock price fluctuated following the news of the breach and an unrelated probe from the US Securities and Exchange Commission over its reported “verified user” numbers. Cointelegraph reached out to Coinbase for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.Magazine: Father-son team lists Africa’s XRP Healthcare on Canadian stock exchange

by Cointelegraph by Turner Wright on May 19, 2025 at 9:32 pm

On May 22, US President Donald Trump is expected to host up to 220 people who had purchased the most significant quantities of his memecoin at a private event in Washington, DC.Though the exact number of attendees was unknown as of May 19, reports and blockchain data have revealed some of the tokenholders who qualified to apply for the May 22 dinner and “VIP tour” and reception, presumed to be in the White House. Bloomberg reported on May 7 that more than half of the 220 wallets were likely controlled by foreign nationals.Among the memecoin dinner applicants, who likely still face background checks ahead of getting a confirmed appearance before the president, included Synthetix founder Kain Warwick, a consultant named Vincent Deriu, and crypto user Morten Christensen, who reportedly only paid $1,200 for the opportunity. Others included a World Liberty Financial adviser going by the pseudonym “Ogle,” and a representative from the Singapore-based startup MemeCore. Cointelegraph has also learned that Vincent Liu, chief investment officer of the Taiwan-based company Kronos Research, plans to attend.Trump’s memecoin, even before the announced dinner and reception, was criticized by many members of Congress. Some lawmakers said the president was opening the White House up to potential bribes and conflicts of interest by allowing people, perhaps tied to foreign governments, to put money directly into his pockets without transparency.Interfering with stablecoin, market structure billsThe controversy has spilled over into proposed legislation connected to digital assets, including a bill in the Senate aimed at establishing a regulatory framework for stablecoins and a draft market structure bill in the House of Representatives. Some Democrats said they would not support any legislation until “Trump’s crypto corruption” was addressed.May 14 BlueSky post on Trump memecoin. Source: Elizabeth Warren“Democrats are thinking that this is just an official means by which to conduct corruption,” said Rebecca Liao, co-founder and CEO of layer-1 blockchain Saga, in a statement shared with Cointelegraph. “What began as a bipartisan bill with potential widespread support has now transformed into a proxy war between the Democrats and the Trump administration.”Related: Trump’s crypto ties ‘add a certain level of challenge’ to passing bills — Coinbase execSome organizations have planned protests during the memecoin dinner on May 22. The Democratic Party’s arm in Arlington, Virginia, announced its members would gather to oppose those in the White House “cashing in on their public office.” Cointelegraph reached out to the organization for comment but had not received a response at the time of publication.Buying influence, or just speculating on an emerging market?The top 220 tokenholders reportedly spent a combined $148 million to have the opportunity to attend the event, which finalized its leaderboard on May 12. However, anyone with a wallet can still buy TRUMP tokens and potentially influence the president’s policies after the dinner is completed. “The decision to acquire the [TRUMP] token was not political,” Vincent Liu of Kronos Research, who plans on attending the memecoin dinner, told Cointelegraph. “It was based on identifying early momentum, cultural relevance, and potential market catalysts.”In April, Freight Technologies said it would invest $20 million in the TRUMP token, suggesting that it could affect the president’s trade policies between the US and Mexico, where the firm conducts some of its business. GD Culture Group announced in May that the memecoin would be included in its plans for a $300-million crypto reserve.“The issue is the conflict of interest between the Trump family’s crypto investments and the administration’s pivot toward crypto-friendly policies,” said Liao. “The Trump family has very openly invested in crypto and has started their own crypto ventures. This has created a perception problem where policy shifts favoring cryptocurrency could be viewed as self-enrichment rather than in the national interest.”If the stablecoin bill, the GENIUS Act, is the first test for how Republicans and Democrats will respond to Trump’s potential conflicts of interest in the crypto industry, there is already a stark contrast between the two parties. ​​House Speaker Mike Johnson largely brushed off concerns about the president and his family’s connections to the industry, saying he was “not an expert in that.” White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly reportedly said there were “no conflicts of interest” because Trump’s children managed his assets through a trust.Lawmakers are expected to take up a vote on the GENIUS Act in a matter of days, possibly before the memecoin dinner and reception are held. At the time of publication, it was unclear whether Republicans intended to address some of the Democrats’ concerns around Trump and crypto, or move forward with a vote with no significant changes to the bill.Magazine: Trump’s crypto ventures raise conflict of interest, insider trading questions

by Cointelegraph by Christopher Tepedino on May 19, 2025 at 9:31 pm

Circle, the issuer of stablecoin USDC (USDC), is still planning an initial public offering (IPO), but the company is also in informal talks with Ripple and Coinbase about a sale, according to a report from Fortune.Circle is seeking at least $5 billion, which is its target for the IPO, according to the four banking and private equity sources Fortune cited. Ripple tried to purchase Circle on April 30, but the $4 billion to $5 billion bid was rejected as being too low.If Ripple or Coinbase were to buy Circle, the details of a purchase would differ. Ripple would pay using cash and XRP (XRP), a cryptocurrency that Ripple created. Coinbase, on the other hand, would use cash and stock.Coinbase and Circle have a relationship dating to 2018, when they launched the Centre Consortium. That venture was meant to establish standards for fiat-backed stablecoins, including USDC. Coinbase also has an agreement with Circle to put USDC onto its exchange.Circle filed for an IPO on April 1 with a goal to complete the process by the end of that month. The company backpedaled slightly on April 4, indicating it might delay its IPO due to economic uncertainty.Related: New bull cycle? Bitcoin's return to $100K hints at ‘significant price move’Market conditions for IPOs improve as tariffs waneIn December 2024, Bitwise predicted that 2025 would be the year of the crypto IPO, and that prediction is starting to bear fruit. Aside from Circle, crypto exchanges Gemini and Kraken are mulling IPOs in 2025 or early 2026 as US President Donald Trump has pushed for a more favorable regulatory environment for crypto in the United States.Those plans were put on hold after the Trump administration enacted wide-ranging tariffs that caused market turmoil. With the tariffs now suspended or reduced, markets have rebounded.On May 12, Cointelegraph reported that Bitcoin (BTC) was 4.8% away from reaching its all-time high of $109,800. Ether (ETH), XRP, and Solana (SOL) have also seen big gains in the past month. The stock market has rebounded as well, with the S&P 500 jumping 15.6% in the past month according to Google Finance.At least one company has benefited from completing its IPO during this period of renewed enthusiasm: eToro, an Israel-based trading company. After an IPO on May 14, its stock price jumped 29%.Magazine: .X Hall of Flame: Bitcoin will ‘start ripping’ as Trump’s polls improve — Felix Hartmann 

by Cointelegraph by Cointelegraph on May 19, 2025 at 8:51 pm

Today in crypto, the US Senate advanced a key stablecoin bill, Ripple launched cross-border payments in the United Arab Emirates, Strategy bagged another 7,390 Bitcoin last week as prices rallied above $100,000 and also got hit with a class-action lawsuit.US Senate moves forward with GENIUS stablecoin billThe US Senate voted 66-32 on May 19 local time to advance a key stablecoin-regulating bill after Democratic senators blocked an earlier attempt to move the bill forward over concerns about President Donald Trump’s crypto interests.Several Democrats changed their votes to pass a motion to invoke cloture on the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act, or GENIUS Act, which will now set the bill up for debate on the Senate floor.Previously, on May 8, some Democratic senators withdrew support for the bill and blocked a motion to move it forward, citing concerns over potential conflicts of interest involving Trump’s various crypto ventures and the bill’s Anti-Money Laundering provisions.The US Senate voted 66-32 to advance debate on the GENIUS stablecoin bill. Source: US SenateDemocratic Senator Mark Warner said before the vote that the US couldn’t “afford to keep standing on the sidelines,” while crypto-skeptic Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren argued before the vote that it failed to address Trump’s “blatant crypto corruption.”Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis, one of the bill’s key backers, has said she thinks it’s a “fair target” to have the bill passed by May 26.Ripple could boost crypto adoption in UAE with cross-border paymentsRipple has rolled out blockchain-based cross-border payments in the UAE through partnerships with Zand Bank and Mamo, a fintech company that offers digital payment services.According to a May 19 announcement, Zand Bank and Mamo will utilize “Ripple Payments” to facilitate the transfers. The launch came roughly two months after Ripple secured a crypto payments license by the Dubai Financial Services Authority. The UAE ranks highly for certain types of crypto adoption, including decentralized finance and stablecoin usage, according to a 2024 report by Chainalysis. As reported by Cointelegraph, the country has plans to establish a digital dirham, its version of a central bank digital currency.Strategy adds 7,390 BTC for $765 million, gets hit with class-action lawsuitStrategy, formerly MicroStrategy, the top corporate Bitcoin holder, acquired nearly $765 million of Bitcoin last week. The purchase came as the company faced a class-action lawsuit.According to a May 19 announcement, Strategy acquired 7,390 BTC for about $764.9 million at an average price just under $103,500. Strategy reported a Bitcoin yield of 16.3% year-to-date. Strategy executive chairman Michael Saylor made his usual hint at the purchase in a May 18 X post.Source: Michael SaylorAccording to a May 19 filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company was also the recipient of a class-action lawsuit. The suit accuses Strategy officials of having failed to represent the nature of Bitcoin investments accurately.As of May 18, Strategy holds 576,230 BTC acquired for around $40.2 billion at an average price of $69,726 per coin. At current prices, the company’s total holdings are valued at more than $59.2 billion, representing an unrealized gain of $19.2 billion, or 47%.According to CoinMarketCap data, Bitcoin traded at around $102,615 at the time of writing, up 20.3% over the last month.

by Cointelegraph by Marcel Pechman on May 19, 2025 at 8:44 pm

Key takeaways:Bitcoin buying in the spot and futures markets helped BTC price keep its upward momentum despite $170 million in margin liquidations.Weak stablecoin demand in China and the limited use of futures leverage suggest Bitcoin’s current rally is sustainable.Bitcoin (BTC) price has displayed strength at the $102,000 support level on May 19, following the $170 million in liquidations of leveraged positions. The abrupt $5,000 correction after hitting $107,090 may have been unexpected, but it does not mean the odds of reaching an all-time high in the near term are lower, especially since Bitcoin derivatives metrics have shown resilience.Bitcoin 1-month futures annualized premium. Source: laevitas.chThe annualized one-month futures premium for Bitcoin remained close to 6% despite the retest of $102,000 support. This current level is within the 5% to 10% neutral range, which has been the norm over the past week. While at first glance such data might suggest a lack of optimism, at the same time, it proves that the buying pressure is coming from the spot market rather than from leveraged bets.Japan bond spike and credit fears weigh on Bitcoin sentimentSome analysts attribute Bitcoin’s correction to comments by Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on the country’s fiscal situation being “undoubtedly extremely poor,” as reported by Bloomberg. Japan 15-year government bond yield. Source: TradingView / CointelegraphYields on Japan’s long-term government bonds soared to their highest level ever on May 19 as traders demanded higher returns, signaling a lack of trust. Japan is the largest holder of US Treasury bonds, so investors are concerned about contagion risks at a delicate moment for the global economy, especially as the ongoing trade war has severely limited growth prospects.The fact that Moody’s rating agency cut the US government’s long-term credit rating to AA1 from AAA has also played a significant role in limiting Bitcoin’s upside, particularly as its correlation with the S&P 500 index has stayed above 80% since early May. Investor sentiment could quickly deteriorate as the impact of tariffs becomes partially visible in second-quarter corporate earnings.To understand if Bitcoin has what it takes to reach an all-time high in the near term, one should analyze the demand for stablecoins in China. Periods of excessive optimism usually lead to stablecoins trading above fair value, which is not a healthy indicator, as Bitcoin jumps above $105,000.USDT Tether (USDT/CNY) vs. US dollar/CNY. Source: OKXUSD Tether (USDT) has been trading at a slight 0.4% discount in China, meaning Bitcoin’s price increase has likely not been driven by FOMO. The absence of excessive leverage on Bitcoin futures and the lack of desperate inflows into Chinese markets are key ingredients for sustainable price gains, paving the way for a more solid bullish momentum above $105,000.Bitcoin shrugs off bad news, holds support amid strong spot demandBitcoin’s price displayed significant resilience after the announcement of a class-action lawsuit against Strategy’s top executives, claiming “false and/or misleading statements” regarding risks associated with Bitcoin’s investment. The complaint specifically mentions unrealized losses, although those events do not affect the company’s cash flow.Regardless of whether the case has foundation, negative headlines tend to have a much stronger and longer price impact in neutral to bearish markets, which clearly was not the case as Strategy (MSTR) shares traded up 2.4% on May 19. Additionally, the fact that the $102,000 support held amid increased global economic uncertainty, combined with strong spot buying and resilient derivatives metrics, provides every indication that Bitcoin is well-positioned for further price gains.This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

by Cointelegraph by Alex O’Donnell on May 19, 2025 at 7:58 pm

Quantum Biopharma has purchased an additional $1 million worth of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, the Canadian biotechnology company said. The buys take Quantum’s total cryptocurrency holdings to approximately $4.5 million, according to a May 19 press release. The biotech company plans to stake a portion of its crypto to generate revenue. Quantum expects that holding a treasury of Bitcoin (BTC) and other crypto assets will “provide a return on investment for shareholders and provide some hedge against the Canadian dollar,” it said. Shares of Quantum’s stock, QNTM, rose by approximately 25% following the announcement, according to data from Google Finance. Quantum Biopharma’s stock rose on the announcement. Source: Google FinanceRelated: Basel Medical shares down 15% on $1B Bitcoin buying plansPopular treasury strategyQuantum is one of several healthcare companies accumulating Bitcoin as corporate crypto treasuries become increasingly popular. In March, NASDAQ-listed biopharmaceutical company Atai Life Sciences tipped plans to buy $5 million worth of Bitcoin. In a March 20 X post, Atai’s founder, Christian Angermayer, said “Bitcoin should be a part of ANY corporate treasury – especially, in fact, in the biotech sector.”Angermayer added in a blog post that Bitcoin can help the biotech hedge against inflation and stay solvent during the long periods before drug approvals. Corporate treasuries are now major Bitcoin holders. Source: Bitcointreasuries.netOn May 16, Singapore-based healthcare company Basel Medical Group announced plans to buy $1 billion worth of Bitcoin. It said a Bitcoin treasury will support its plans to expand in Asia through acquisitions by giving Basel “one of the strongest balance sheets among Asia-focused healthcare providers.”Unlike Quantum, however, Basel’s shares dropped significantly on the day of the announcement.Collectively, corporate treasuries hold more than $83 billion in Bitcoin as of May 19, according to data from BitcoinTreasuries.NET. Publicly traded companies are now the largest institutional Bitcoin holders after exchange-traded funds (ETFs), the data shows. Bitcoin can “potentially be a valuable hedge against growing fiscal deficits, currency debasement, and geopolitical risks” for companies, asset manager Fidelity Digital Assets said in a 2024 report.Magazine: Danger signs for Bitcoin as retail abandons it to institutions: Sky Wee

by Cointelegraph by Turner Wright on May 19, 2025 at 7:06 pm

In one of his first speeches since becoming chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in April, Paul Atkins addressed some of the regulatory concerns around the cryptocurrency industry.In prepared remarks for a May 19 speech, Atkins said it was a “new day” for the crypto industry under the current leadership of the SEC. He suggested that the financial regulator would be more open to “adapt to and accommodate new developments” while still abiding by its statutes.“The crypto markets have been languishing in SEC limbo for years,” said Atkins, adding:“While I have directed Commission staff across our policy Divisions to begin drafting rule proposals related to crypto, the staff continue to ‘clear the brush’ through staff-level statements.”Even before Atkins stepped into the role of SEC chair, the commission’s actions under Donald Trump suggested that it would radically depart from the direction of former chair Gary Gensler. In 2025, the SEC has dropped several investigations and enforcement actions against crypto companies and issued guidance on memecoins and security tokens.Related: CFTC commissioner to leave agency on May 31“As I begin my tenure as Chairman, I can tell you that we are getting back to our roots of promoting, rather than stifling, innovation,” said Atkins. “The markets innovate, and the SEC should not be in the business of telling them to stand still.”Looking to Congress for market structureAtkins’ remarks came as US lawmakers considered draft legislation to establish a regulatory structure for crypto markets. The proposed bill, moving through the House of Representatives, could clarify the roles the SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) have in overseeing and regulating digital assets.Until the legislation passes Congress and is signed into law, the SEC’s rules and guidelines over crypto could face pushback from affected parties.The SEC chair has given opening remarks and overseen the commission’s roundtable events, discussing regulatory issues surrounding digital assets and blockchain. The next event, scheduled for June 9, will cover decentralized finance.Magazine: SEC’s U-turn on crypto leaves key questions unanswered 

by Cointelegraph by Alex O’Donnell on May 19, 2025 at 6:30 pm

Crypto.com and asset manager Canary Capital are launching a US investment fund designed to provide exposure to the Cronos blockchain’s native token, CRO, the cryptocurrency exchange said in a statement.The Canary CRO Trust will hold the Cronos (CRO) token in a regulated fund wrapper, Crypto.com said, adding that the trust is not an exchange-traded fund (ETF) and is only available to accredited investors. Creating regulated funds such as CRO Trust is part of Crypto.com’s plan for “further mainstreaming crypto,” Eric Anziani, president and chief operating officer of Crypto.com, said in a statement.In March, the crypto exchange partnered with Trump Media & Technology Group, a company affiliated with US President Donald Trump, to launch a series of Trump-branded ETFs, including one holding CRO.The Trump Media ETFs are still awaiting approval from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which has not yet authorized any CRO ETFs for US trading, Crypto.com said. Cronos has a total value locked of nearly $440 million. Source: DefiLlamaRelated: 21Shares launches ETP for Crypto.com's Cronos tokenCronos ecosystemCronos is a layer-1 blockchain network affiliated with Crypto.com. The chain is designed to integrate with the Ethereum and Cosmos ecosystems and support decentralized finance (DeFi) applications, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and other Web3 applications. The chain has a total value locked (TVL) of nearly $440 million, according to data from DefiLlama. Its most popular application is VVS Finance, a DeFi platform for token swaps and yield farming.The CRO token has a market capitalization of roughly $880 million as of May 19, according to Cointelegraph’s market data. Altcoin ETF filingsSince Trump took office in January, he has signaled a more crypto-friendly approach to regulation, prompting asset managers to seek to list roughly 70 new crypto ETFs.In May, asset manager VanEck filed to list an ETF tied to another exchange-affiliated token, BNB Chain’s native BNB. The chain is affiliated with Binance, the world’s largest centralized exchange.The same month, 21Shares launched an exchange-traded product (ETP) in Europe offering exposure to Crypto.com’s CRO token. Magazine: Rise of MicroStrategy clones, Asia dominates crypto adoption: Asia Express 2024 review

by Cointelegraph by Rakesh Upadhyay on May 19, 2025 at 6:02 pm

Key points:Bitcoin’s rejection at $107,000 shows sellers are active at higher levels, but the recovery from the intraday low shows solid buying.Strategy and Metaplanet continue to accumulate Bitcoin, adding steady buy-side pressure to BTC price. Select altcoins have pulled back, but they have not yet turned negative.Bitcoin’s (BTC) attempt to challenge the all-time high faced a strong rejection near $107,100 on May 19, signaling that the bears are unlikely to give up without a fight. However, the long tail on the candlestick shows solid buying at lower levels.The short-term uncertainty has not deterred the long-term buyers from accumulating more Bitcoin. Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy, announced the purchase of 7,390 Bitcoin for an average price of about $103,500, taking its total holding to 576,230 Bitcoin.  Similarly, Japanese investment firm Metaplanet said on May 19 it acquired 1,004 Bitcoin, boosting its total to 7,800 Bitcoin. Crypto market data daily view. Source: Coin360Although Bitcoin’s trend remains bullish, repeated failure to break above the overhead resistance may tempt short-term traders to book profits. That increases the risk of a break below the psychological level of $100,000.What are the crucial support and resistance levels to watch out for in Bitcoin and altcoins? Let’s analyze the charts of the top 10 cryptocurrencies to find out.S&P 500 Index price predictionThe S&P 500 Index (SPX) extended its up move last week, indicating continued buying by the bulls.SPX daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe upsloping 20-day exponential moving average (5,712) and the relative strength index (RSI) near the overbought zone signal an advantage to buyers, but the up move is expected to face significant resistance in the 6,000 to 6,147 zone. If the price turns down from the overhead zone, the index could find support at 5,800 and then at the 20-day EMA. If the price rebounds off the 20-day EMA, the bulls will again try to drive the index to the all-time high. Sellers will have to tug the price below the 20-day EMA to break the bullish momentum. US Dollar Index price predictionThe relief rally in the US Dollar Index (DXY) hit a wall at the 50-day simple moving average (101.67) on May 12, indicating that the bears are selling on rallies.DXY daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe index is likely to find support at the 100.27 level. If the price rebounds off 100.27, the bulls will again try to kick the index above the 50-day SMA. If they manage to do that, the index could pick up momentum and surge toward 103.54. Such a move signals that the corrective phase may be over.Sellers will retain the advantage if the price closes below the 100.27 support. That opens the doors for a retest of the 99 level.Bitcoin price predictionBitcoin broke above the overhead resistance at $105,820 on May 18, but the bulls could not sustain the momentum.BTC/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewSellers are expected to fiercely defend the zone between $107,000 and $109,588. The 20-day EMA ($100,787) is the crucial support to watch out for on the downside. A rebound off the 20-day EMA suggests the positive sentiment remains intact. The bulls will again try to clear the overhead zone. If they succeed, the BTC/USDT pair could skyrocket toward $130,000.This positive view will be invalidated in the near term if the price continues to fall and breaks below the psychologically crucial $100,000 support. The pair could then plummet to the 50-day SMA ($91,916).Ether price predictionEther’s (ETH) bounce off the 20-day EMA ($2,288) on May 18 fizzled out near $2,600, signaling that the bears have kept up the pressure.ETH/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewSellers tried to pull the price below the 20-day EMA, but the long tail on the candlestick shows solid buying at lower levels. The bulls will try to kick the price above the $2,738 resistance, opening the gates for a rally to $3,000. There is minor resistance at $2,850, but it is likely to be crossed.Contrarily, a break and close below the 20-day EMA tilts the advantage in favor of the bears. The ETH/USDT pair could then slump to $2,111.XRP price predictionXRP (XRP) remains stuck inside the $2.65 to $2 range, indicating buying near the support and selling close to the resistance.XRP/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe XRP/USDT pair bounced off the 20-day EMA ($2.34) on May 17, but the bulls are facing selling at higher levels. If the price sustains below the 20-day EMA, the pair could stay inside the range for some more time. The price action inside the range is expected to be random and volatile.The next trending move is likely to begin on a break above $2.65 or below $2. If buyers pierce the $2.65 resistance, the pair could travel to $3.BNB price predictionBNB (BNB) bounced off the 20-day EMA ($635) on May 18, but the higher levels attracted selling by the bears.BNB/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe gradually upsloping 20-day EMA and the RSI in the positive territory indicate a slight edge to the bulls. If the price rises and maintains above $644, the bulls will again try to drive the BNB/USDT pair above $680. If they succeed, the pair may start its northward march toward the overhead resistance of $745.Contrary to this assumption, a break and close below the 20-day EMA clears the path for a decline to the 50-day SMA ($606) and later to $580.Solana price predictionSolana (SOL) turned up from the 20-day EMA ($163) on May 17, but the bulls could not push the price above the $180 resistance.SOL/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewSellers are trying to pull and retain the price below the 20-day EMA. If they manage to do that, the SOL/USDT pair could tumble to $153 and, after that, to the 50-day SMA ($143). That points to a possible range-bound action between $180 and $120 in the near term.The bulls will have to propel the price above the $185 level to regain control. The pair could then pick up momentum and rally to $210 and subsequently to $220. Related: XRP price risks falling to $2 after classic bearish chart pattern confirmsDogecoin price predictionBuyers successfully defended the breakout level of $0.21 on May 17 but are struggling to sustain the bounce in Dogecoin (DOGE).DOGE/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewSellers will try to make a comeback by pulling the price below $0.21. If they do that, the DOGE/USDT pair could slide to the 50-day SMA ($0.18). That signals a possible range formation between $0.26 and $0.14.Buyers will have to thrust the price above the $0.26 resistance to signal the resumption of the recovery. There is minor resistance at $0.30, but it is likely to be crossed. The pair may then ascend to $0.35.Cardano price predictionCardano (ADA) has broken below the neckline of the inverted head-and-shoulders pattern, indicating that the bulls are losing their grip.ADA/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe next support is at the 50-day SMA ($0.68). If the price turns up from the 50-day SMA, the bulls will try to push the ADA/USDT pair above the neckline. If they can pull it off, the pair could retest the $0.86 level. A break and close above the $0.86 resistance clears the path for a rally to $1.01.Conversely, a break and close below the 50-day SMA suggests the markets have rejected the breakout above the neckline. That increases the risk of a drop to $0.58.Sui price predictionSui’s (SUI) bounce off the 20-day EMA ($3.67) turned down from the $3.90 to $4.25 zone, indicating that the bears are active at higher levels.SUI/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe pullback could deepen if the price breaks and sustains below the 20-day EMA. If that happens, the SUI/USDT pair could skid to $3.12 and then to the 50-day SMA ($2.97).On the contrary, if the price snaps back from the 20-day EMA and rises above $3.90, it suggests a positive sentiment. That enhances the prospects of a break above the $4.25 level. The pair could then surge to $5. Sellers are expected to fiercely defend the zone between $5 and the all-time high of $5.37.This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

by Cointelegraph by Sam Bourgi on May 19, 2025 at 6:00 pm

Before discovering Bitcoin (BTC), Ledn co-founder Mauricio di Bartolomeo found success shorting the Venezuelan Bolivar as it rapidly lost value against the stronger US dollar. Now, with the US dollar depreciating against Bitcoin, borrowing against Bitcoin instead of selling it has become a more viable strategy.“Prior to Bitcoin, my most successful investment was shorting the Bolivar with dollars,” di Bartolomeo told Cointelegraph in an exclusive interview at the Consensus conference in Toronto, Canada. “I was borrowing Bolivars and buying dollars with them, holding the hard dollars and having a borrow [position] on the weaker currency,” he said.The arrival of Bitcoin-backed loans means investors can now effectively implement the same strategy by using a harder currency as collateral. Ledn co-founder Mauricio di Bartolomeo, right, and Cointelegraph’s Sam Bourgi at Consensus. Source: CointelegraphThis was part of the motivation behind launching Ledn, a Cayman Islands-based company that gives Bitcoin holders the ability to access dollar liquidity without having to sell their BTC. By borrowing against Bitcoin, “you’re basically doing the same thing, but you are in effect holding the hard money, which is Bitcoin, and taking a borrow [position] on dollars, which is a weaker currency,” said di Bartolomeo, adding:“This creates a bit of a virtuous cycle that we see happen time and again with real estate, with borrowing against your stock, borrowing against your gold, and so Bitcoin is no different.”Related: Bitcoin miners should pay costs in depreciating currency — Ledn execCrypto lending market on the riseLedn operates in a much broader crypto lending industry that has grown over the past five years due to the rapid appreciation of Bitcoin, the arrival of institutional investors and the growing utility of stablecoins.By the fourth quarter of 2024, the crypto lending market was valued at $30.2 billion, a more than threefold increase compared to two years earlier, according to Galaxy Research. However, the size of the overall industry remains below the 2021 peak. The researchers attributed the recent rise to decentralized finance applications, which allow users to borrow against assets onchain. This trend was further corroborated by a recent Cointelegraph report, which documented the growing monetary value secured by DeFi lending protocols. The crypto lending market has rebounded sharply from its 2022 lows but remains well below the peak from 2021. Source: Galaxy ResearchLedn was ranked among the top three centralized finance (CeFi) lenders, with a loan book valued at $9.9 billion at the end of 2024. Together, the top three CeFi lenders — Ledn, Tether and Galaxy — account for 89% of the total market, the Galaxy report showed. Magazine: Danger signs for Bitcoin as retail abandons it to institutions: Sky Wee

by Cointelegraph by Christopher Tepedino on May 19, 2025 at 5:55 pm

Ripple, the creator of cryptocurrency XRP (XRP), launched cross-border blockchain payments in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a development that could spur the adoption of cryptocurrency in a country receptive to digital assets.Zand Bank, the UAE’s first all-digital bank, and Mamo, a fintech company that offers a digital payment platform for businesses, will be the principal users of the blockchain payments system, according to a May 19 Ripple announcement.Zand Bank and Mamo will use “Ripple Payments” to facilitate cross-border blockchain payments. Ripple Payments is a platform that combines stablecoins, cryptocurrency, and fiat to enable payments and quick settlement times, a feature of Web3 that cross-border traditional finance payment systems often lack. Ripple was licensed to offer crypto payments by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) in March.Reece Merrick, Ripple’s managing director for the Middle East and Africa, said acquiring this license “enables Ripple to better serve the demand for solutions to the inefficiencies of traditional cross-border payments, such as high fees, long settlement times, and lack of transparency, in one of the world’s largest cross-border payments hubs.”Related: Ripple, Chipper Cash partner for faster and cheaper African remittancesUAE ranked 56 out of 151 countries for crypto adoptionChainalysis, a blockchain data platform, ranked the United Arab Emirates 56th out of 151 countries for crypto adoption, according to a 2024 report. The country scored high in decentralized finance, stablecoin use, and altcoins.The UAE has made some changes that may further increase its ranking. Various emirates, including Abu Dhabi and Dubai, have attempted to establish themselves as crypto hubs.In December 2024, Tether’s USDt (USDT) became an accepted virtual asset in Abu Dhabi. In 2025, Circle’s USDC (USDC) and EURC became the first stablecoins recognized under the emirate’s crypto token regime. The country is also continuing plans to establish a digital dirham, which would be a central bank digital currency.On May 19, Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) announced more oversight for crypto asset activities, specifically margin trading and token distribution. There will be a 30-day transition period, and affected companies will be expected to comply with the new rules by June 19. Magazine: Fake Rabby Wallet scam linked to Dubai crypto CEO and many more victims

by Cointelegraph by Biraajmaan Tamuly on May 19, 2025 at 5:17 pm

Key takeaways:Bitcoin recovered from its sharp sell-off from $107,000, suggesting it functions as a hedge against uncertainty for investors reacting to Moody’s recent downgrade of US debt.Moody’s downgraded the US credit rating to Aa1, citing a $36 trillion debt and rising deficits, causing market turbulence and a spike in US Treasury yields.Despite short-term pressure from macroeconomic shifts, Bitcoin’s long-term outlook remains bullish due to cautious shorting and a weakening US dollar.Bitcoin (BTC) price faced a sharp 4% correction during the Asian trading session on May 19, tumbling from an “important level” as noted by Glassnode. The data analytics platform indicated that Bitcoin’s surge stalled just below $106,600, a critical level where 31,000 BTC are held. This supply cluster, formed on Dec. 16, 2024, reflects firm holder conviction, as investors have neither sold nor averaged down despite price fluctuations.Bitcoin price cost basis chart. Source: GlassnodeThe BTC price drop occurred after macroeconomic headwinds intensified, with a historic downgrade of the US credit rating by Moody’s and a rise in US Treasury yields, raising speculation around risk assets such as Bitcoin’s near-term trajectory.Moody’s US credit downgrade spooks marketsAfter the US markets closed on May 16, Moody’s Investors Service downgraded the US credit rating to Aa1 from Aaa, marking the third time since 2011 that a ratings service has done so. Moody's cited concerns over the US's ballooning $36 trillion debt pile, with federal deficits projected to reach 9% of GDP by 2035, up from 6.4% in 2024. Interest payments on US debt are expected to consume 30% of federal revenue by 2035, a significant rise from 18%. Following similar actions by S&P in 2011 and Fitch in 2023, this downgrade underscores the unsustainable fiscal path of the US, rattling investor confidence and contributing to market turbulence.US 30Y treasury yields reached its highest level since Oct 2023. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe downgrade also coincided with a surge in US Treasury yields, further impacting markets. The 10-year Treasury yield opened at 5.53% post-downgrade on May 19, while the 30-year yield followed a similar upward trend, currently at 4.98%, reflecting investor concerns over higher borrowing costs for the US government. The Kobeissi newsletter highlighted that historically, past downgrades led to mixed yield reactions — yields fell 35% after the 2011 S&P downgrade but rose 23% after Fitch's 2023 downgrade. This time, the yield spike mirrors the 2023 pattern, signaling fears of inflation and fiscal strain, which likely contributed to Bitcoin's price correction as investors sought safer assets.Related: Bitcoin bulls should 'be careful with longs' as BTC price risks $100K breakdownWill short-term pain shift to long-term gain for Bitcoin?Bitcoin's price dump on May 19 reflects its sensitivity to macroeconomic shifts. Bitcoin could face continued pressure in the short term as investors pivot to safer assets amid rising uncertainty and borrowing costs.However, Bitcoin researcher Axel Adler Jr. on X highlighted a shift in market sentiment, noting that traders betting on price declines have been “significantly more cautious” in building short positions during this bull cycle compared to 2021. This suggests a generally bullish long-term outlook, as bears grow risk-averse. Bitcoin Advanced Short/Long signals. Source: X.comHistorically, Bitcoin has served as a safe haven during economic turmoil, such as the COVID-19 crisis, and could benefit long-term from eroding trust in fiat systems, especially with the US fiscal outlook deteriorating.The US Dollar Index (DXY) is signaling a potential decline below $100, reflecting a weakening dollar that has triggered a classic "risk-off" response. This shift has reignited interest in gold, which saw a modest 0.4% increase, though broader market reactions remain subdued. Typically, a weaker dollar bolsters risk assets like Bitcoin, as investors seek alternative stores of value. Adler Jr said,“Overall, despite the prevailing “risk-off” sentiment (typically a headwind for high-volatility assets), Bitcoin may find itself in a relatively stronger position in the current environment due to its “digital gold” narrative and the supportive effect of a weaker dollar.”Related: $107K fakeout or new all-time highs? 5 things to know in Bitcoin this weekThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

by Cointelegraph by William Suberg on May 19, 2025 at 4:05 pm

Key points:BTC price action retargets $105,000 after the Wall Street open, rising 2.5% from the day’s lows.Volatility continues, leading market participants to varying conclusions over what will happen to BTC/USD next.Perspectives include the Bitcoin bull market being in its final stages.Bitcoin (BTC) sought a rebound from a 4% dive at the May 19 Wall Street open as traders diverged on bull market strength.BTC/USD 1-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView$106,000 becomes BTC price zone to watchData from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed BTC/USD passing $104,500, up 2.5% from the day’s low.The pair had seen flash volatility around the weekly close, which although the highest ever recorded, swiftly saw bulls lose control.Now, opinions differed about when, or if, new all-time highs would come.“This is exactly what Bitcoin needs to be doing,” an optimistic Rekt Capital wrote in part of his latest X analysis.“Needs to hold ~$104400 as support to position itself for a successful post-breakout retest.”BTC/USD 1-week chart. Source: Rekt Capital/XPopular trader Daan Crypto Trades flagged $102,000 and $106,000 as the levels to watch below and above spot price.“These mark the local range low and high and price has been trading within these for most of the last 1-2 weeks,” he wrote in part of his own X post. “Keep an eye out for a clean break below either of these. So far, price has not sustained above or below for more than a day.”BTC/USDT perpetual contract 4-hour chart. Source: Daan Crypto Trades/XThe area around $106,000 was also on the radar for onchain analytics firm Glassnode.“BTC's price surge stalled just below $106.6K - a level with 31K $BTC held at that cost basis,” it observed on the day. “This supply cluster originated on Dec 16 and remains unshaken. Holders haven’t redistributed, nor averaged down - making $106.6K an important level to watch in the short term.”BTC supply cost basis heatmap. Source: Glassnode/XTrader: “Too many bearish signs to ignore” on BitcoinA renewed warning meanwhile came from fellow trader Roman, who considered weekly timeframes to be no longer in bulls’ favor.Related: $107K fakeout or new all-time highs? 5 things to know in Bitcoin this week“Not a good close as we rejected resistance, created more bearish divergences, and have pumped with low volume. Stoch RSI has also topped,” he summarized. “Too many bearish signs to ignore, and it’s why I’ve been continuously saying the bull run is likely almost over.”BTC/USD 1-day chart with 1-week stoch RSI data. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewRoman referred to the stochastic relative strength index (RSI) indicator, a trend strength tool now firmly in “overbought” territory.As Cointelegraph reported, various short-term BTC price predictions have surfaced in recent days, including an “early week” target of $116,000 along with a potential retracement toward $90,000.This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

by Cointelegraph by Nancy Lubale on May 19, 2025 at 3:37 pm

Key takeaways:Bitcoin price fell 1.4% to $102,460 amid US economic concerns, with daily trading volume up 94%, indicating the return of sellers.Moody’s US credit downgrade to Aa1 and a class-action lawsuit against Strategy add to BTC’s headwinds.Bitcoin’s (BTC) price has dropped by over 1.4% over the last 24 hours to $102,460 as concerns over the health of the US economy sour investor sentiment. Its daily trading volume has jumped by 94% to $66.6 billion, suggesting that the sell-side activity is intensifying. BTC/USD daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewMacroeconomic uncertainty drives Bitcoin price downMoody’s downgrade of the US credit rating from Aaa to Aa1 on May 16, citing rising debt and deficits has heightened macroeconomic uncertainty, contributing to a decline in Bitcoin’s price on May 19. This downgrade and fears of inflation spurred by potential tariff policies under US President Donald Trump have rattled financial markets, increasing Treasury yields and triggering risk-off sentiment. “The 30Y Note Yield is above 5.00% and the 10Y Note Yield is up another +11 bps,” said capital markets commentator The Kobeissi Letter in a May 19 post on X, adding:“If the Trump Administration does not intervene here, 8% mortgages are coming.”Increasing US Treasury Bills. Source: The Kobeissi LetterHigher yields increase borrowing costs, hurting businesses and consumers, especially amid recession fears and fiscal concerns. Adding to the sell-side pressure is the news that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Strategy, the largest corporate Bitcoin holder.According to a May 19 filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the company faces a class-action lawsuit that accuses Strategy officials of failure to accurately represent the nature of Bitcoin investments. JUST IN: MicroStrategy hit with class action lawsuit over alleged misleading statements tied to its Bitcoin strategy and $5.9B unrealized Q1 loss. pic.twitter.com/TdJJfUZTRe— Cointelegraph (@Cointelegraph) May 19, 2025Strategy, holding 576,230 BTC worth approximately $59.9 billion at current rates, is a major player in the crypto space. The lawsuit introduces uncertainty about the company’s financial stability and casts doubts over its aggressive Bitcoin accumulation strategy.Over $87 million in long BTC positions liquidatedBTC’s drop on May 19 is accompanied by massive liquidations in the derivatives market, signaling strong bearish pressure.Over $87 million worth of long Bitcoin positions have been liquidated over the last 24 hours alone, compared to $15 million in short liquidations. More than $43 million long BTC positions were liquidated over the last 12 hours alone, against just $2.55 million in short positions. Bullish traders are forced to close their positions when long positions are liquidated. More than $674 million in leveraged positions were liquidated across crypto assets in the past 24 hours.Total crypto liquidations. Source: CoinGlassThe scale of these liquidations mirrors the period between April 10, when a total of $65 million in long BTC positions were wiped out, accompanied by a 6.5% drop in price on the same day.Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s open interest (OI) has also increased sharply over the last 14 days, up 12% to $70.01 billion on May 19 from $62.56 billion on May 5. The OI is now just 2.3% away from the $71.8 billion all-time high recorded on Dec. 19, 2024. BTC futures open interest. Source: CoinGlassBitcoin’s bearish divergenceBitcoin’s drop today precedes a period of growing bearish divergence between its price and the relative strength index (RSI).The daily chart below shows that the BTC/USD pair rose between May 9 and May 19, forming higher highs. But, in the same period, its daily RSI descended from 76 to 63, forming lower highs, as shown in the daily chart below.BTC/USD daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewA divergence between rising prices and a falling RSI usually indicates weakness in the prevailing uptrend, often prompting traders to take profit.The chart above also shows an area of stiff resistance on the upside, stifling BTC’s efforts to rise higher. These are areas defined by the $104,600 to $109,000 supplier congestion zone. Bulls are required to push the price above the all-time high of $109,000 to continue the uptrend.“Bigger Bitcoin correction has started?” said popular crypto analyst AlphaBTC in his latest Bitcoin analysis, adding that the price is likely to drop to $100,000 this week in response to the US credit rating being downgraded. “Most likely it will be a quick correction in markets, so we watch how $BTC reacts and if it can get back above $103K, or roll over and head to the low $90Ks first?”BTC/USD 12-hour chart. Source: AlphaBTCThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

by Cointelegraph by Yohan Yun on May 19, 2025 at 3:01 pm

Kazakhstan, the Maldives and Pakistan have recently outlined ambitions to position themselves as crypto hubs and build out their digital economies.Historically, these countries haven’t been top of mind for global crypto firms — though Kazakhstan did have a brief moment in the spotlight as a go-to destination for Bitcoin (BTC) miners after China’s mining ban.Meanwhile, established financial centers are now in a race to become the world’s leading crypto hub by finding the right balance of regulation, talent, capital and infrastructure.Here’s how five of them are backing their crypto dreams.Singapore is the crypto hub with parental guidanceSingapore has long stood out as a financial hub, bolstered by its AAA credit rating, low corporate tax rates and pro-business regulations. With the emergence of digital assets, the Lion City is among the front-runners in the crypto hub race.Singapore was among the early movers in crypto regulation. Its Payment Services Act (PSA) of 2019 — enacted in 2020 — was one of Asia’s first comprehensive legal frameworks that covered crypto activities. The PSA uses the term “digital payment token” (DPT) to define digital representation of value that can be transferred, stored or traded electronically — like crypto.At the time of writing, there are 33 DPT service providers licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the city-state’s central bank. Casper Johansen, co-founder of Singapore- and Hong Kong-based Spartan Group, said license approvals have moved at a measured pace, giving faster-moving hubs like Dubai room to catch up.“Singapore is more of an institutional financial hub than a retail financial hub,” Johansen said, alluding to the city-state’s limitations on crypto marketing to retail investors.Singapore’s retail crypto promotion ban includes social media influencer marketing and third-party websites. Source: Monetary Authority of Singapore“The ban on marketing to retail has not affected Singapore’s position as a global crypto hub. Crypto firms set up in Singapore for the low and transparent taxes, strong regulatory framework and rule of law, world-class professional services, ease of living and global connectivity,” Johansen added.But cracks have emerged recently, particularly around immigration and hiring policy. In late 2024, concerns flared when the CEO of blockchain analytics firm Nansen, Alex Svanevik, shared that he was denied permanent residency. The government has ramped up efforts to prioritize local hiring amid growing political sensitivity over foreign labor.Nansen CEO’s permanent residency rejection highlighted Singapore’s tight visa and immigration environment. Source: Alex SvanevikUAE rolls out the welcome mat for crypto hub statusUnlike other crypto hub contenders, Dubai has a dedicated digital asset regulator, the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA). Its wide-ranging licensing regime provides clear guidelines — even for NFT platforms — which major economies like the European Union have yet to address. The EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework currently excludes NFTs.VARA’s clarity is appealing to companies frustrated by regulatory uncertainty elsewhere. Binance, a borderless exchange with no official head office, has had to rethink that model under global regulatory pressure — and the exchange’s ties to the UAE have been growing.Richard Teng, former CEO of free zone Abu Dhabi Global Market, took over as the CEO of Binance after Zhao, and has recently hinted that UAE is a strong candidate for the exchange’s headquarters, though a decision hasn’t been made yet.Binance’s first institutional investment is a $2-billion bet from Abu Dhabi-based MGX. Source: BinanceThe UAE also provides its own incentives, such as no personal income tax and free zones like the Dubai Multi Commodities Centre (DMCC) and Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) offer 0% corporate tax advantages and 100% foreign ownership.Related: The lessons learned at Operation Chokepoint 2.0 Congressional hearingsCrypto firms have reported easier access to banking services in Dubai, which is an improvement over the challenges companies say they’ve faced in the US under “Operation Chokepoint 2.0.”Hong Kong makes crypto hub push with retail access and staking ETFsHong Kong has long acted as a financial gateway to mainland China, where crypto activities like mining and trading remain banned.Previously, the city had a voluntary licensing regime, when only OSL and HashKey were licensed to serve institutions and professional investors. In Hong Kong, professional investors are legally defined as those with portfolios worth at least 8 million Hong Kong dollars (about $1 million). It was later updated to the mandatory regime, launched in 2023, which opened the doors to retail. The shift to mandatory licensing marked a turning point. OSL and HashKey became the first exchanges authorized to serve retail investors, while firms like Bybit and OKX withdrew their applications and exited the market. As of now, 10 platforms are licensed, while 15 have either withdrawn or been rejected.Eight applicants in Hong Kong still wait the SFC’s decision. Source: Securities and Futures CommissionHong Kong has made further strides with the listing of Bitcoin and Ether (ETH) ETFs, and recently approved staking within Ether ETFs, which is not yet permitted in the US. It has also introduced stablecoin sandboxes under the supervision of the Hong Kong Monetary Authority to trial approved digital assets in a controlled environment.“Sandboxes are an experiment, so too are staking ETFs,” said Kelvin Koh, a Spartan Group co-founder. “The key point is that these experiments are happening in Hong Kong.”Hong Kong recently released its ASPIRe roadmap in February 2025, which aims to foster blockchain innovation and fill regulatory gaps to set the city up as a global crypto hub.Hong Kong’s five-pillar strategy to become a crypto hub. Source: Securities and Futures CommissionTrump 2.0 dreams of crypto hubUS crypto firms were stuck in regulatory gridlock under the Securities and Exchange Commission formerly led by Gary Gensler, whose aggressive “regulation by enforcement” strategy triggered years-long legal battles.That changed with the inauguration of President Donald Trump, who has embraced a crypto-friendly stance. The SEC has since dropped multiple high-profile cases and investigations, including those against Coinbase, Uniswap and Consensys, signaling a shifting regulatory climate that is prepared to welcome back crypto to US soil.President Trump declares the US the future capital of AI and crypto. Source: The White HouseBinance.US resumed US dollar services in February after 18 months of restriction that followed enforcement action from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, a $2.7-billion settlement and a four-month prison sentence for ex-Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao.Related: 8 major crypto firms announce US expansion this yearRival exchange OKX reentered the US market in April 2025 after a $500-million settlement with the Department of Justice. Also in April, Nexo announced — during an event with Trump’s son in attendance — that it rekindled its American dream after scrapping it in 2022.Traditional finance is warming up, with institutional investments flooding into Bitcoin and Ether spot ETFs, provided by some of the world’s largest asset managers, including the $11.5-trillion giant BlackRock.The financial love affair goes both ways as crypto firms are also increasingly open to integrating into the existing US infrastructure. Galaxy Digital listed on Nasdaq on May 16, Circle is considering another IPO attempt, and Hong Kong’s blockchain unicorn Animoca Brands is now eyeing a New York listing, citing Trump’s stance on crypto.NYC Mayor Eric Adams opens Wall Street to crypto. Source: Yedda Araujo/CointelegraphThe world’s largest financial center, New York City, is making its own move. Mayor Eric Adams said on May 12 that the Big Apple is “open for business” with crypto companies. UK’s crypto hub push goes quiet, but London’s still callingIn 2023, then-Prime Minister Rishi Sunak launched a bold vision to make the UK a global crypto hub, pushing for stablecoins to be recognized as regulated payment instruments and outlining a broader framework to integrate crypto into the country’s financial system. That momentum translated into real movement: In April 2025, the UK Treasury released near-final legislation aimed at bringing crypto assets — like trading platforms, stablecoins and staking services — within the country’s regulatory perimeter.The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is now consulting on how to regulate intermediaries, lending and other core parts of the ecosystem, signaling continued regulatory development.But while the machinery of regulation keeps turning, the political will has cooled. As Arvin Abraham, partner at law firm Goodwin’s private equity group, told Cointelegraph, crypto was once central to Sunak’s competitiveness agenda, but under the current Labour government, that focus has faded.The new Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy, spearheaded by Chancellor Rachel Reeves, highlights fintech as a priority without a focus solely on crypto.“The UK does not feel like it’s prioritizing it as much as it was a few years ago,” Abraham said.In January, Andreessen Horowitz announced the closure of its UK office to move back to the US. Source: Anthony AlbaneseAbraham added the UK remains “one of the best places to set up a new startup,” especially for early-stage capital raising. He points to generous tax incentives for angel investors and the unique convergence of finance and startups in London, calling it “probably one of the best cities in the world for fintech-type businesses.” In that sense, even without headline-grabbing crypto policy, the UK’s structural appeal still draws Web3 firms — just now with a quieter backdrop.Magazine: South Africa’s digital-nomad crypto hub: Cape Town, Crypto City Guide

by Cointelegraph by Darius Moukhtarzadeh on May 19, 2025 at 3:00 pm

Opinion by: Darius Moukhtarzadeh, Research Strategist at 21SharesA new wave of crypto fundraising is emerging, changing how Web3 projects launch and who can invest at an early stage: Community Sales. At first glance, community sales may seem reminiscent of the ICO (Initial Coin Offering) era from 2016–2017. Yet, they represent a significant evolution that better aligns with crypto's core values of democratization, transparency, and inclusivity.Projects should include community sales as a core element of their fundraising strategy, besides raising from angel investors and VCs. Professional investors should embrace community sales as they highly increase the chances of sustainable success of Web3 projects. The ICO eraThe original ICO boom promised broad retail participation and democratized investment opportunities previously reserved for well-connected insiders. The lack of clear regulatory frameworks led to widespread fraud, rug pulls, and market manipulation. This chaotic environment, rampant exploitation, and regulatory uncertainty eventually forced projects to abandon ICOs, shifting instead to private rounds accessible to well-connected angel investors and venture capitalists. Private funding problemsWhile private funding initially brought much-needed stability and credibility, it also introduced new problems. Over the past two years, many tokens have launched at excessively high FDVs (Fully Diluted Valuation) with a low circulating token supply. These tokens entered exchanges with the majority of supply locked and sky-high valuation, which did not meet the demand. Retail investors, attracted by initial hype, often became collateral damage. The result? Devalued tokens and damaged trust. Most of these tokens will most likely never recover. This market dynamic discouraged investments in new projects and undermined community-building efforts, weakening the overall sustainability of Web3 projects.Airdrops as an unsustainable alternativeAirdrops appeared as another alternative, designed to distribute tokens widely and spark interest in the community for a project. Airdrops frequently fail to produce meaningful, sustainable engagement. Instead, they often became targets for Sybil attackers employing multiple accounts to maximize token gains or airdrop mercenaries hopping from one project to the next, quickly dumping tokens, depressing prices and undermining project credibility. Without genuine financial commitment and interest in the project beyond the airdrop, recipients had little incentive to hold tokens or participate actively in the community.Community sales as the new cool kid on the block(chain)Community sales represent a practical, strategic alternative to private funding and token airdrops, offering a structured way to engage retail investors meaningfully and transparently. Modern community sales on platforms like Legion and Echo feature robust regulatory frameworks, with thorough KYC and AML processes ensuring regulatory compliance and security. These inclusive fundraising opportunities require participants to make real capital commitments, even if modest, cultivating genuine stakeholder interest and reducing short-term speculation.Recent: Blockchain needs efficient use cases for AI agents: X Spaces recap with VCsOne of the most significant advantages of community sales is their ability to democratize access. Investors gain entry under equitable terms, similar or sometimes superior to those previously reserved for venture capitalists. With minimum investments often as low as $100, community sales encourage broad participation, helping to build a genuinely decentralized and committed investor base. Investors who financially commit are far more likely to become long-term holders and active community members.Win-win for projects, other investors, and the communityFor Web3 projects, community sales offer profound benefits beyond immediate capital raising. Early community involvement leads to a more distributed investor base, reducing concentration risk and diverse future users. Projects with broadly distributed tokens consistently exhibit more stable prices, higher community activity, and healthier onchain engagement. Community sales significantly enhance a project's market reputation. Embracing transparent, inclusive fundraising sends a clear signal to the market and prospective users — the project prioritizes collaboration and community involvement over the extraction of value. This transparency builds grassroots evangelism, drives organic growth, and creates a loyal community base committed to the project's ongoing success. Professional investors should embrace community sales and actively encourage their portfolio companies to allocate to the community. The broader crypto market benefits substantially from a shift toward community sales. Projects that raise funds transparently and inclusively from their communities tend to attract more stable, supportive investor bases. This stability positively affects token markets, reducing volatility, restoring investor confidence, and accelerating broader adoption and integration of blockchain technologies into everyday financial services and applications.Community sales represent far more than a revival of ICOs. They mark a mature approach, combining early crypto ideals with today's regulatory clarity and technological possibilities. Projects committed to community sales position themselves for initial fundraising success, enduring market resilience, and community loyalty. The crypto ecosystem, founded on principles of decentralization and inclusivity, should embrace this model to fulfill its potential. Founders should, where possible, include the community when raising capital, as in the end, everyone wins: WAGMI.The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely my own and do not reflect the views of my employer, 21Shares, or any affiliated organizations.Opinion by: Darius Moukhtarzadeh, Research Strategist at 21Shares.This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.