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Showing posts from May, 2026

Kraken to Offer Regulated Perpetual Futures as Rivals Move Fast

Kraken signaled a rapid move to bring Bitcoin perpetual futures trading onshore in the United States, saying on Friday it expects to launch CFTC-regulated perpetual contracts within about 30 days after the regulator approved the instruments. The exchange tied the plan to Bitnomial Exchange, a CFTC-regulated venue that Kraken’s parent company, Payward, recently acquired, with the goal of offering Kraken Pro clients access to Bitnomial’s perpetual futures product. Payward announced in mid-April that it was acquiring crypto derivatives platform Bitnomial for as much as $550 million, a deal aimed at expanding Kraken Pro’s access to regulated futures and derivatives trading. While Kraken’s Friday update framed the move as imminent, a Sunday review of Bitnomial’s public filings with the CFTC did not show a Bitcoin perpetual contract filing, as noted in the company’s statement that the filing had been submitted and that efforts would push onshore activity through a regulated venue. Kraken lat...

The VanEck ETF Launch Puts Pressure on the Market as BNB Falls Despite Positive Signals

Key Insights The ETF was developed by VanEck and is the first U.S. spot BNB ETF traded as VBNB. Despite the bullish news of the BNB ETF launch, the token has fallen by over 2%. The cryptocurrency faces downward pressure due to poor technical signals, futures' lower interest rate, and macro issues. Debut of the VanEck ETF Leaves BNB Price Rallying Behind Investor sentiment hit an all-time high after the VanEck ETF that tracks BNB made its debut in the United States. Expectations for the price to rally following such a major move were high, but the market decided otherwise as the token declined throughout the session during which the ETF debuted. Such an outcome may leave a number of cryptocurrency traders puzzled as ETF approvals have previously proven to be a bullish trigger for the asset class in general. The lack of positive impact left by the ETF approval on the token may point toward a situation in which other factors carry more weight than the underlying event itself....

Best Cryptos to Purchase Right Now Prior to the Next Bull Run

Key Insights Solana stays dominant thanks to rapid transactions, low cost, and a thriving DeFi and gaming ecosystem. Cardano remains focused on security, governance enhancement, and robust blockchain infrastructure. Dogecoin gains an advantage through robust community backing, expanding payment usage, and high liquidity. Each cryptocurrency presents its own advantages that can put it ahead of the curve during the next bull run. Top Crypto Coins to Buy Ahead of the Next Bull Run The cryptocurrency sector is poised for another big break and investors are seeking coins with solid fundamentals, continuous development, and growing adoption. Despite the large number of digital tokens, only a few manage to survive each market cycle. Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), and Dogecoin (DOGE) are notable cryptocurrencies worth watching in 2026. They play significant roles in blockchain technology and address diverse needs, from decentralized finance and smart contracts to payment systems. Sol...

Vietnam Weighs Digital Assets as Collateral for SME Loans

Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance is pushing a policy shift that could reshape credit access for small and medium-sized enterprises. A draft revision of the Law on Support for SMEs proposes allowing SMEs to use digital assets, virtual assets and intellectual property as collateral for bank loans. The proposal is open for public consultation, according to a Friday report from Vietnam News. Under the framework, businesses could borrow against future-formed assets, rights in property, intangible assets and digital or virtual assets. Smaller businesses, including household enterprises, make up more than 98% of Vietnam’s business landscape, yet they receive only about 20% of total bank credit. The Ministry attributes the gap to a lack of eligible collateral, limited financial transparency and the relatively small capital bases of many SMEs. The new approach would acknowledge that valuable software, patents and other intellectual property can have real borrowing power, even when there are few ph...

Bitcoin Targets $78K as Holders Defend Strongest Near-Term Support

Bitcoin (BTC) is staging a technical rebound after testing a critical on-chain support zone tied to the realized price of coins held by short- to mid-term investors. The pop back toward the mid-$70,000s comes as the market eyes whether the 3–6 month realized price around $71,400 can act as a durable floor, potentially paving the way for a move back toward higher levels, including a suggested target near $78,200 and, in a more bullish scenario, a possible climb toward $100,000 by year-end. Key takeaways: Bitcoin is eyeing a rebound toward $78,200, the realized price for BTC held 3–6 months, which could mark a pivotal turning point if breached. A sustained move above this cost basis could set the stage for a potential rally toward $100,000 by year-end, according to on-chain and technical readings. On-chain data place the 3–6 month realized price near $71,400, a level described by analysts as a strong near-term support that has historically underpinned medium-term conviction. Past breakou...

Cosmos-Based Gravity Bridge Goes Offline After Reported $5.4M Exploit

Gravity Bridge, a decentralized cross-chain conduit linking Ethereum and Cosmos ecosystems, appears to have faced a substantial drain of roughly $5.4 million over the weekend. Validators paused the bridge during the incident as investigators assess the breach and potential recovery paths. Early analyses from on-chain researchers pointed to a compromised contract key, a conclusion that Stack Exchange-style security firms corroborated with asset-tracking observations. Analyst observations identified a precise asset mix among the stolen holdings: about $4.3 million in USDC, 274 Wrapped Ether (WETH) worth roughly $553,000, around $434,000 in USDT, and 14.164 PAX Gold (PAXG) tokens valued near $64,000. A portion of the loot had already moved through on-ramp services such as ChangeNow and Binance, while the attacker wallet still appeared to hold a sizable stake—approximately 2,102 ETH valued at around $4.23 million at the time of reporting. Key takeaways Approximate theft total: $5.4 million...

Vietnam Advances Plan to Back SME Loans with Digital Assets

Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance is proposing a landmark shift in SME financing by allowing smaller firms to pledge digital assets, virtual assets and intellectual property as collateral for bank loans. The draft revision to the Law on Support for SMEs is now open for public consultation, aiming to broaden the collateral base beyond physical assets and to include intangible value such as software, patents and other IP. Under the proposed framework, businesses could secure credit using future-formed assets, property rights, intangible assets and digital or virtual assets. The move represents a significant policy shift designed to help a sector that has long struggled to obtain bank credit despite making up the vast majority of Vietnamese enterprises. Vietnam’s Ministry notes that SMEs and household businesses account for more than 98% of all enterprises in the country, yet outstanding loans to this segment represent roughly 20% of total bank credit. The report points to a lack of eligible ...

Bitcoin dip buyers curb selling; spot volumes wavering, futures weak

Bitcoin’s latest price action highlighted ongoing selling pressure tied to exchange-traded product (ETF) flows, even as supportive buying appeared at key levels. A string of large outflows continued to weigh on the market, following last week’s $1.42 billion withdrawal and the prior week’s $1.26 billion redemption. Despite the persistent pressures, traders reported spot-buying activity near a crucial support level, helping to defend around $70,000 as the market tried to avoid a deeper pullback. In the backdrop, the dynamics of ETF outflows, futures exposure, and on-chain signals painted a mixed picture. While the immediate price action reflected continued liquidity drain from ETF redemptions, fresh spot demand and strategic positioning in futures markets created pockets of resilience. Cointelegraph’s observation of spot-market activity indicated that demand resurfaced at or just above the $70,000 mark, offering a floor even as the broader downtrend persisted in other timeframes. Spot-v...

Bitcoin's 2026 sentiment at its most lopsided positive, Santiment says

Bitcoin traders are buzzing with unusually bullish chatter on social media, even as the broader crypto market slides. A Santiment analysis shows Bitcoin’s social sentiment reaching the year’s most lopsided ratio of bullish to bearish comments, signaling a surge in optimism that contrasts with a more cautious overall market mood. At the same time, the traditional market mechanisms that often anchor price action — exchange-traded products and related flows — tell a different story. Spot Bitcoin ETFs logged their tenth consecutive day of outflows on Friday, with total net redemptions exceeding $2.97 billion since May 15. That persistent drain on ETF positions adds a layer of complexity to the narrative around Bitcoin’s near-term path. Key takeaways Santiment records Bitcoin sentiment at 2.23 bullish-to-bearish ratio, the strongest reading of 2026 so far, signaling a surge of optimistic chatter on the asset. Spot Bitcoin ETFs have posted ten straight days of net outflows, with more tha...

Bitcoin Near Pivotal Level as $65K Downside Risk Looms, Analyst Says

Bitcoin is trading at a crossroads, trading near the $70,000 level as buyers and sellers spar over the near-term path. A sustained hold above this threshold is seen by some bulls as essential to avert a drop toward February’s yearly low, while a breakdown could invite additional downside pressure. On X, MN Trading Capital founder Michael van de Poppe framed the moment clearly: “Bitcoin is at a pivotal level, and if it doesn't hold, we're buying at CoinMarketCap . The broader market remains divided on whether the February 2024 dip to roughly $60,000 marked the cycle bottom or if there is more downside to come. Key takeaways The $71,000 area is cited as a crucial support zone; failing to defend it could open the door to deeper corrections, while a hold above this level would reduce near-term downside risk. If Bitcoin this week maintains support, a breakout toward $76,600 could emerge, potentially signaling the start of a broader uptrend and a fresh round of momentum for select al...

Bitcoin at Pivotal Level as Analyst Flags Looming $65K Downside

Bitcoin sits at a pivotal juncture as it hovers around the $70,000 level. A failed hold near this threshold could open a downside path toward the February yearly low, potentially pulling prices toward the mid-$60,000s. Traders are weighing whether the recent $60,000 bottom was the cycle’s low or if further weakness lies ahead. As of publication, Bitcoin has traded in the mid to upper $70,000s after rebounding from a February trough near $60,000. Data from CoinMarketCap places the price in that vicinity, with the market watching whether the $70,000 support holds. The critical question for the near term remains whether the current level can sustain a bid or if a breach invites additional downside pressure. Analysts are split on the outlook. Some argue the February dip marked the low for this cycle, while others warn that risk remains tilted to the downside until a firmer base is formed. Among those offering a nuanced view, veteran traders highlight the importance of concrete support at s...

Circle Freezes $12.6M in Zama-Linked Stablecoins Without Prior Notice

Circle has temporarily froze $12.6 million in USDC tied to a confidential, privacy-focused smart contract associated with the Zama protocol. The disclosure came from on-chain sleuth ZachXBT, who noted that the contract is publicly labeled on block explorers and in Zama’s technical documentation. The exact rationale behind the freeze remains unclear at this stage. According to ZachXBT, the funds were connected to a May 11, 2026 inflow from the Overnight Finance DeFi protocol. He cited a governance-related event around that treasury activity and argued that the move raises questions about the power to intervene in user funds when assets are commingled with a protocol’s users. In his words: “Overnight Finance held a governance vote recently to distribute treasury funds after holders alleged the team was rug-pulling. Regardless, it's precedent-setting to unilaterally freeze the contracts or addresses of a protocol where funds have been commingled with Zama users.” “Overnight Finance he...

Lummis: Crypto clarity lacking, China would set next financial order

The United States risks ceding its crypto leadership to other nations if lawmakers don’t push through a comprehensive market framework known as the CLARITY Act. Senior lawmakers and industry observers say passing the crypto market structure bill is pivotal to preventing a future in which Beijing or other cities write the rules of the next financial era. Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming has been a leading advocate, arguing that a clear regulatory path would solidify America’s role in shaping the evolution of digital assets rather than letting the global tide turn elsewhere. The core argument is simple: a robust, predictable regulatory framework could attract legitimate crypto activity, while leaving room for innovation across sectors from custody to decentralized finance. Lummis has repeatedly framed CLARITY as a gateway to “build the next one” after the dollar-dominated system anchored U.S. financial stability for a century. She emphasized that a clear act would prevent other countrie...