Ukraine has placed more than $8.3 million in seized crypto under state management, the first time the country has moved confiscated digital assets into a government-controlled wallet.
The National Agency for Finding, Tracing, and Management of Assets, known as ARMA, received the funds from wallets tied to an alleged member of an international hacking group.
Seized Crypto from an International Hacking CaseThe holding is Tether (USDT), the largest stablecoin, valued at over 372 million Ukrainian hryvnias at the time of the transfer, according to prosecutors.
Investigators say the group attacked people and companies across Europe and the United States. The case reflects a rise in stablecoin-driven crypto crime.
The attackers stole confidential data, demanded ransom payments, and laundered the money in Ukraine through real estate and cars.
Authorities estimate the network caused more than $100 million in damage. The pattern mirrors other crypto laundering networks that ended in multiple arrests.
Four suspects, including the alleged organizer, remain in custody. Total seizures in the case topped $11.1 million, covering homes, apartments, vehicles, and cash.
What State Custody Means for the FundsUntil now, crypto seized in Ukrainian cases sat frozen, with no agency actively holding or moving it. The transfer gives ARMA direct control of the wallet.
A 2025 reform law overhauled how ARMA manages seized property, adding independent audits and tighter oversight. The change was a condition of hundreds of millions of euros in European Union support.
The step stops short of confiscation, which requires a court conviction. For now, the agency holds the assets rather than owning them.
USDT sits near its dollar peg, trading close to $1. That gives ARMA a relatively stable asset to manage, hold, or eventually sell.
USDT Near Its Dollar Peg. Source: BeInCryptoA stablecoin avoids the price swings tied to bitcoin, making the holding easier to value. But USDT is centrally controlled, and Tether can freeze tokens at law enforcement requests.
Under Economic Fury, @USTreasury will continue to systematically degrade Tehran’s ability to generate, move, and repatriate funds.
Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is sanctioning multiple wallets tied to Iran — resulting in the freeze of $344 million in…
— Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent (@SecScottBessent) April 24, 2026 Follow us on X to get the latest news as it happens
What to do with seized crypto has split governments. The United States ordered forfeited Bitcoin into a strategic reserve it pledged not to sell. It treats confiscated coins as a long-term asset.
Germany took the opposite path, and critics still debate its seizure of Bitcoin sales after prices later climbed.
Ukraine has not said whether it will sell the USDT or hold it. That choice may shape how it treats future seizures, and whether seized tokens become state revenue.
Bitcoin infrastructure firm Breez has unveiled a major update to its developer toolkit, enabling users to send USDC and USDT stablecoins directly from their Bitcoin balances. The new feature supports over 30 blockchain networks, eliminating the previous need for users to hold stablecoins or convert Bitcoin in advance before making a payment.
Payments flow through the Lightning NetworkAccording to information shared by Breez, the system combines the Lightning Network with an automatic conversion mechanism. When a user initiates a payment, their Bitcoin is instantly converted into USDC or USDT and sent to the recipient’s chosen blockchain network.
Once the sender enters the recipient’s wallet address, the Breez SDK identifies the target network, calculates the optimal conversion route, and transparently displays the amount, network, and transaction fees before approval. The transaction is then processed by liquidity providers such as Flashnet and Boltz, who handle the conversion from Bitcoin to stablecoin and transfer the coins to the selected network.
Roy Sheinfeld clarified that there is no need to issue USDT or USDC directly on the Lightning Network. Thanks to interoperability, users can make payments from their Bitcoin balance, while recipients get stablecoins on any supported network.
Breez also emphasized that users continue to hold Bitcoin right up until the payment is executed. On the recipient side, there’s no need to manage a separate stablecoin balance—the funds are delivered in the chosen network seamlessly. The company stated that the new feature is non-custodial and, in the initial phase, only supports outgoing stablecoin payments. Incoming stablecoin transfers from outside blockchain networks are planned for a future update.
Mini glossary: The Lightning Network is a second-layer payment network operating on Bitcoin, designed for faster and lower-cost transactions. It routes transfers off-chain and later settles them on the main Bitcoin network.
Aims to reduce integration complexity for developersBreez developed this feature with a focus on developers, aiming to streamline stablecoin payment integration into applications without the hassle of connecting individually to each blockchain. This approach could allow users to manage both Bitcoin and stablecoin transactions from a single balance, minimizing complexity.
Renowned for its Bitcoin and Lightning-based payment infrastructure, Breez offers an SDK that lets developers embed Lightning functionalities directly into their products and services.
Lightning Network’s expanding use casesThe rollout comes at a time when startups are seeking broader financial and commercial applications for Bitcoin and the Lightning Network. In recent months, the network has been tested in scenarios well beyond small retail payments, demonstrating its scalability and utility.
In February, Secure Digital Markets, a provider of institutional trading and lending services, completed a $1 million Bitcoin payment to Kraken via the Lightning Network in under half a second—highlighting the protocol’s potential for large-scale corporate transfers.
That same month, Voltage introduced a revolving credit line integrated with Lightning payment flows, supporting settlement in US dollars. Meanwhile, event platform Satlantis launched a Bitcoin-focused ticketing system with built-in Lightning wallets. In March, Ark Labs, a Tether-backed Bitcoin infrastructure startup, secured $5.2 million in funding to develop technologies for stablecoin issuance, transfer, and settlement on the Bitcoin network.
Growth in Lightning Network adoption continues apace. As estimated by River in February, the network’s monthly transaction volume surpassed $1 billion by the end of 2025—a steep rise from approximately $12 million in 2021.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
The cryptocurrency market is closing out June under significant pressure, as Bitcoin is headed for its weakest monthly performance in 4 years and U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs posted their largest monthly net outflows on record. The combination of sustained institutional selling, declining prices, and cautious investor sentiment has marked one of the most challenging periods for the digital asset market.
Although several crypto assets also struggled, Solana stood out as one of the few major cryptocurrencies to post gains during the past 24 hours, supported by continued growth in tokenized equities and dApp activity.
Bitcoin Heads For Its Worst Month Since June 2022 Bitcoin has fallen about 18% in June, constantly flirting with the $60,000 level and putting the cryptocurrency on pace for its worst monthly performance since June 2022, when it declined 37%.
The weakness also extends beyond the monthly timeframe. Bitcoin is on track to finish the second quarter down about 10%, marking its third consecutive quarterly decline. The market has not experienced three straight losing quarters since 2022. Bitcoin has underperformed nearly every major asset class despite entering the year with strong expectations for continued institutional adoption.
Bitcoin ETFs record their largest monthly outflows Institutional demand weakened considerably throughout June. According to SoSoValue data, U.S spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded approximately $4.06 billion in net outflows during the month. That figure represents the largest monthly redemption since the funds began trading in January 2024, surpassing the previous monthly record of $3.56 billion set in February 2025.
The selling accelerated during the latest week, when investors withdrew about $1.79 billion from the funds. That marked the second-largest weekly outflow on record. The only larger weekly redemption occurred during the final week of February 2025, when investors pulled approximately $2.61 billion.
The trend extends beyond a single month. Bitcoin ETFs also recorded $2.43 billion in net outflows during May, bringing combined withdrawals over the past 2 months to nearly $6.5 billion.
For the first half of 2026, cumulative net ETF outflows have reached roughly $5 billion. The sustained reduction in institutional demand has coincided with Bitcoin's sharp price decline and has become a defining theme of the current market correction.
Strategy Introduces A New Capital Framework Amid falling crypto prices, Strategy unveiled a Digital Credit Capital Framework to boost financial flexibility while maintaining its long-term Bitcoin strategy.
The plan allows limited Bitcoin sales to fund dividends, build cash reserves, repurchase securities, and meet debt obligations. The company may sell up to $1.25 billion in Bitcoin and, with existing reserves, has about $3.8 billion available, which is enough to cover roughly 26 months of obligations.
Strategy raised its $STRC preferred dividend to 12% and approved buybacks for preferred shares and $MSTR stock. Its dedicated cash reserve stands at $2.55 billion, earmarked for dividends and interest, with at least 12 months of coverage expected.
Strategy chairman Michael Saylor ended the announcement post by saying, “Strategy expects to remain disciplined in its use of MSTR issuance, particularly when the stock trades at or near 1x mNAV.”
Strategy reported no new Bitcoin purchases, holding 847,363 $BTC acquired for $64.1 billion at an average of $75,651. In June, it added a net 3,625 $BTC and raised $1.15 billion through $MSTR share sales.
Solana Outperforms As Network Activity Remains Strong While the broader cryptocurrency market remained under pressure, Solana showed relative strength. The token rose more than 6% over the previous 24 hours and is currently trading above $75.
Network activity also continued to expand despite broader market weakness. Solana recorded its largest week ever for tokenized equities, generating a record $1.36 billion in trading volume while accounting for approximately 96% of all tokenized equity trading across blockchain networks.
At the same time, dApps built on Solana generated more than $20 million in revenue during the past week. That represented a 16-week high and reinforced the network's position as one of the most active blockchain ecosystems by onchain activity.
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Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) is in an interesting spot from a technical perspective, according to a popular trader that outlined his trading approach for the short term.
In a podcast on June 28, heavily followed trader Crypto Banter said he is fully positioned for what he calls "Scenario A," a strong relief rally from current levels toward $72,000.
Bitcoin’s support around the high-$58,000 to low-$60,000 range, combined with weekly bullish divergence and Fibonacci confluence, makes this an attractive accumulation zone, the trader said.
He placed his invalidation below $57,400, adding that a break beneath that level would increase the probability of a much deeper move.
"I’ve gone long in the markets. I’m long on Bitcoin. I’m long on multiple altcoins and I’m going to continue building altcoin positions,” he added.
The trader’s first Bitcoin profit target sits at $67,000, followed by a second target near $71,000, expecting the move to play out over the next one to two weeks.
Altcoins On The RadarBeyond Bitcoin, the trader has opened or is building positions in several major altcoins:
Image: Shutterstock
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TL;DR CryptoQuant flagged that Gate.io’s Bitcoin whale share reportedly tripled to 16%. The firm said the last 30 days showed $79.3 million in whale inflows, up 11.6% from the prior window. The signal matters because whale inflows held even as BTC traded below $60,000. Bitcoin Whale Flows Stay Resilient On Gate CryptoQuant has flagged a notable exchange-flow signal, saying Gate.io’s Bitcoin whale share tripled to 16% and held through the latest drawdown.
According to the update, BTC traded below $60,000 during the Q2 weakness, but whale flows on the exchange remained resilient. The last 30 days reportedly recorded $79.3 million in whale inflows, up 11.6% compared with the prior window.
For traders, this is interesting because whale behavior can tell a different story from price alone. Price shows the market result. Flow data can help explain who may be active underneath that result. If larger wallets keep moving coins into a venue during a drawdown, the market has to ask whether they are preparing to sell, reposition, arbitrage, or absorb liquidity.
Why This Signal Needs Careful Reading Whale inflows are not automatically bullish.
In some contexts, exchange inflows can be a warning sign because coins moving to exchanges may be sold. In other contexts, especially when tied to specific venues and broader positioning data, inflows can point to larger players becoming more active while retail sentiment is weak.
That is why the Gate.io detail matters but should not be over-simplified. A rising whale share means larger wallets are accounting for a bigger portion of activity. It does not prove accumulation by itself. It does show that the exchange’s flow mix has changed during a difficult period for Bitcoin.
The timing is also important. BTC being below $60,000 keeps the market on edge. When price is weak and whale flows rise, traders often split into two camps. One sees smart money stepping in. The other sees potential supply preparing to hit the market. The truth often depends on what happens next: whether price stabilizes, whether exchange balances rise or fall, and whether spot demand improves.
What Bitcoin Needs Next The clean confirmation would be a stabilization in BTC price alongside healthier demand signals.
If Bitcoin reclaims key levels while whale activity remains elevated, traders may read the Gate.io data as part of a broader absorption story. If price keeps falling and inflows continue, the same signal may look more like distribution or risk transfer.
This is why flow data works best as context, not as a standalone trading system. It can sharpen the read, but it does not replace price structure.
For now, CryptoQuant’s update adds one important clue: larger Bitcoin wallets did not disappear during the drawdown. They remained active, and on Gate.io their share of activity rose sharply. In a fearful market, that is worth watching.
—
This article was written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.
Key Takeaways Strategy is preparing to liquidate up to $1.25 billion in Bitcoin holdings to strengthen its cash position, currently sitting at $2.55 billion. Two separate $1 billion buyback initiatives have been authorized — targeting both common and preferred shares. The firm’s mNAV metric fell beneath the critical 1.0 threshold on June 27, eliminating its capital-raising edge. STRC preferred stock dividend increased to 12%, with new policies requiring cash reserves to cover a full year of obligations. Shares of MSTR were trading at $82.31, reflecting a 3.5% decline, as Bitcoin hovered around $60,275. Strategy (MSTR) is executing a dramatic strategic reversal. The enterprise that staked its reputation on accumulating and never selling Bitcoin is now preparing to offload a significant portion — a development that has captured Wall Street’s full attention.
Strategy Inc, MSTR
In a June 29 filing, Strategy outlined intentions to divest up to $1.25 billion in Bitcoin assets. The capital raised will strengthen the company’s treasury, finance preferred shareholder dividends, service debt obligations, and support general corporate requirements.
MSTR shares climbed approximately 5% during pre-market hours following the disclosure, though by regular trading the stock had retreated to $82.31, representing a 3.5% decline. Bitcoin was trading near $60,275, posting a modest 0.6% gain over the previous day.
According to the filing, Bitcoin disposals will occur opportunistically based on prevailing market dynamics and capital requirements — not according to any predetermined timeline.
The Economics Have Shifted For an extended period, Strategy’s approach was remarkably straightforward: raise capital through securities offerings, acquire Bitcoin, then repeat the cycle. This framework delivered exceptional results during Bitcoin’s bull runs, particularly when the company’s mNAV — measuring enterprise valuation against Bitcoin holdings — remained substantially above 1.
That crucial metric slipped below parity on June 27. This development signals that the valuation premium enabling Strategy to access inexpensive capital for Bitcoin acquisitions has essentially vanished.
Both common and preferred securities have experienced severe declines tracking Bitcoin’s downturn. MSTR has plummeted nearly 80% during the past twelve months. The perpetual preferred instruments Strategy introduced in 2025 — initially conceived as a mechanism to expand Bitcoin holdings without diluting existing shareholders — have tumbled below $75, significantly beneath the $100 par value necessary for economically sensible purchases.
Management also indicated greater restraint regarding future common stock issuances, especially when share prices approach net asset value.
Dual share repurchase authorizations totaling $1 billion each were unveiled — one addressing Class A common stock, the other targeting preferred Digital Credit Securities.
A newly adopted board mandate now obligates Strategy to maintain treasury reserves sufficient to cover no less than twelve months of anticipated preferred dividends and interest charges. Current reserves total $2.55 billion.
Warning Signs Emerged Weeks Ago The shift became evident as early as June 1, when Strategy revealed it had liquidated 32 Bitcoin — marking its first sale since 2022. While negligible compared to its approximately $51 billion total position, the symbolic significance was undeniable.
Bitcoin skeptic Peter Schiff quickly seized on the development. In a June 29 commentary, he characterized Strategy as “now a Bitcoin seller,” highlighting the company’s rebranded Bitcoin Monetization Program.
FalconX senior derivatives trader Bohan Jiang provided a more balanced perspective: “While there is more selling pressure on Bitcoin, it is definitely positive for the stock, and both the common and preferred shareholders.”
The STRC preferred dividend rate was elevated to 12% as part of the restructuring announcement.
Bitcoin has faced headwinds lately, dipping below $59,000 the previous week before staging a partial recovery.
Just before the start of July, the Bitcoin price is approaching a pivotal trendline that may determine its ultimate fate.
After a very difficult month, the existing chart structure suggests a good chance prices will continue to fall.
We are entering the month of Bitcoin's top trading at about $59,500, which is a considerable decrease from its high in the spring.
Factors Shaping Crypto
In the next weeks, three factors will determine market behavior: a bearish chart pattern, falling on-chain demand, and enormous capital outflows.
A cautionary tale based on historical events is the first. With an average gain of 5.90% and a median gain of 2.49%, June has traditionally been a beneficial month for Bitcoin.
But the price of Bitcoin fell almost 19% this month.
In a similar fashion, May started off with a decline of 3.57%, contrasting sharply with the typical rise of 18%. April was the only month in 2026 that exceeded its own median.
This represents a significant shift compared to 2025, when the initial two months of that year concluded on an optimistic note.
According to TradingView, the Bitcoin price is moving within a bearish head-and-shoulders pattern over the three-day period.
This formation is defined by a high - the head - placed between two lower peaks - the shoulders, and the price is presently slowly approaching the lower trendline.
There was a notable spike in sales volume from June 15th to June 24th, suggesting a possible 26% drop.
Source: TradingViewNonetheless, volume alone cannot be considered a dependable signal regarding the potential selling actions of significant stakeholders.
On-chain data points to the impending pressure point.
There has been a local high of about 0.69 for the Bitcoin exchange whale ratio, which is a measure of the proportion of total inflows that come from the top 10 addresses relative to the total.
Following the last rise on June 19, which reached 0.67, Bitcoin fell from $63,481 to $59,501, representing a 6.30% fall. In most cases, a surge in selling pressure is imminent when the ratio rises since it suggests that greater deposits are moving toward exchanges.
There is a parallel pattern in the retail sector.
ETF Sell-Off Hits Crypto
According to The Kobeissi Letter, US gold and Bitcoin ETFs have seen over $12 billion leave the market since April, while semiconductor ETFs have drawn almost $20 billion.
During this period, the largest Bitcoin ETF has lost almost 12% of its value due to investors fleeing to chip stocks.
Everything about the ambience is terrible.
Renowned investor Jeremy Grantham recently described Bitcoin as a “useless, speculative mechanism” that is destined to “dwindle away with a whimper,” reflecting the growing indifference now affecting spot demand.
That alignment of significant capital movements, fund withdrawals, and subdued market sentiment prompts a critical inquiry: Are we facing a sharp downturn or a gradual decline?
Consistent growth is the prevailing trend in the derivatives industry.
Around May 30th, the entire value of active futures contracts for Bitcoin, known as open interest, hit a peak of over $31.3 billion. About $21.6 billion is the current value.
At 0.003%, the financing rate for Bitcoin is marginally positive; it stands for the periodic cost of holding leveraged holdings.
A little leaning towards long positions is indicated by this. Significantly, there is far less leverage available to cause a dramatic liquidation cascade compared to a month ago, as indicated by the decreasing open interest.
Bitcoin is trading at over $59,500, and chart signs point to the possibility of more drops after an almost 19% decrease in June.
The cryptocurrency is also approaching a crucial trendline. If the neckline is broken, a three-day head-and-shoulders pattern, as reported by BeInCrypto, indicates a possible downside of almost 26%.
Furthermore, the exchange whale ratio has hit a new low of about 0.69, and June saw record-high outflows of $4.06 billion from US spot Bitcoin ETFs, the highest monthly total since the fund's launch.
The breakdown would be confirmed by a closing below $55,298 according to BeInCrypto.
Support levels are around $52,458 and $48,413, while the anticipated objective is approximately $42,000. But if you were to regain the $61,654 and $67,335 levels, this situation would be null and void.
Institutional spot flows, not leverage, are feeling the heat.
Massive Exodus from Bitcoin ETFs Extends the Drag
This departure has never happened before.
With about $4.06 billion flowing out of US spot Bitcoin ETFs in June, it was the most liquid month since the funds were first introduced.
This amount is more than the previous record, which was achieved in February 2025 and was $3.56 billion.
The persistent flight of capital sheds light on the seemingly constant rather than erratic downward pressure on the Bitcoin price forecast, which is explained by the data from whales and the change in retail investment.
Price Bets For July
Here is when the levels become important. The head and shoulders design suggests a possible 26% movement in the event that the neckline is broken. Whether or not Bitcoin reaches that mark will determine the July value projection.
A collapse would be verified if the price closed below $55,298—the 0.5 Fibonacci barrier. Following it are $52,458 and $48,413, which will lead to the expected goal of around $42,000.
Buyers must recoup $61,654 and then $67,335 to defy the existing arrangement.
Here, a nuanced difference is at work.
Since head-and-shoulders breakdowns don't always work, and open interest is now low, a big short squeeze might happen.
At $55,298, we can see a slight lateral shift away from a possible 26% drop to the $42,000 region.
Bitcoin Bottom, Anyone?
Bitcoin's price continued its fight towards the $60,000 level, with certain chart signs suggesting a possible comeback.
According to TradingView, hourly charts show a series of high swing lows, with positive signals from the relative strength index (RSI) indicator.
A bullish divergence was noted on the four-hour chart, as the RSI formed lower lows while the price formed higher lows. Because of this, market players became interested in the possibility of a Bitcoin price reversal. unknown component
Crypto trader known only as "Rod" uploaded a chart that he said showed a striking resemblance between the present market downturn and the one in 2022.
— Rod (@Crypto_R0D) June 26, 2026 The market eventually found support when BTCUSD hit its bear-market low of $15,600, coinciding with the appearance of a weekly RSI positive divergence.
In early June, the four-hour RSI hit a record low of 11.4—a level never before seen.
Source: TradingViewFriday saw the addition of daily time periods to the mix of RSI bull indications by crypto expert Lukasz Wydra.
On the Bitcoin chart, the bullish RSI divergence is now formally established. While it may yet go further, he assured X fans that Binance's defence of the price was unwavering.
According to Wydra, the RSI indications are a positive indicator.
Some traders remained committed to their current forecasts, anticipating that additional downward pressure would emerge sooner or later.
Niels Klaver, cofounder of the crypto platform STABL Agency, reiterated the need for a rise to $55,000 “before any significant shift” can occur to alter the current landscape.
What Other Technical Readings Show
TradingView's Bitcoin technical analysis overview for the week ahead, based on key data from moving averages, oscillators, and pivots, showed a sell signal.
Source: TradingViewBoth short- and long-term gauges pointed to a sell stance.
Source: TradingViewSeparately, InvestTech's Algorithmic Overall Analysis and one to six weeks' recommendation gave a negative score.
"Bitcoin shows weak development in a falling trend channel in the short term. Falling trends indicate that the currency experiences negative development and falling buying interest among investors. The currency has broken through support at $61,000. This predicts a further decline."
Source: InvestTechInvestTech added, "In case of positive reactions, there will now be resistance at $61,000. The RSI curve shows a falling trend, which supports the negative trend. The currency is overall assessed as technically negative for the short term."
Strive, Inc. (NASDAQ: ASST) filed an 8-K with the SEC on June 29, 2026, disclosing its latest balance sheet snapshot: 19,864 in Bitcoin, $141.7 million in cash, and a $37.7 million fair-value position in Strategy’s Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock (STRC). The company made no Bitcoin purchases in the most recent reporting week.
The filing, signed by CEO Matthew Cole, covers the period ending June 26, 2026. Cash declined $2.8 million from $144.5 million on June 18, while the STRC position shed $7.1 million in fair value despite the share count holding at 505,000.
Bitcoin held remained flat at 19,864 BTC — the seventh-largest corporate Bitcoin holding in the world, a position Strive built from zero in under a year.
On X, Cole described the balance sheet as “built to move aggressively or wait patiently with deep reserves, no debt, no margin & no encumbered Bitcoin.” That structure, patient accumulation without leverage, has defined the company’s approach since it completed its merger with Semler Scientific in January 2026.
The most recent purchase came the week prior: 759 BTC acquired between June 15 and June 21 at an average cost of $65,850 per coin. That transaction, disclosed in a separate 8-K, cost $50 million.
Strive sits on a paper bitcoin loss With Bitcoin trading near $59,000 today, the position sits below that acquisition price by about $6,000 per coin — a paper loss that Strive’s cash-heavy, debt-free structure is designed to absorb.
Cole has built the company around a single thesis: Bitcoin should serve as the hurdle rate for all capital allocation. Every investment Strive makes is benchmarked against Bitcoin’s performance. The company reported a Q1 2026 Bitcoin yield — a metric tracking per-share growth in BTC holdings — of over 15%, a figure that reflects the pace of its acquisition campaign.
Strive’s preferred stock instrument, SATA, began paying cash dividends on each business day starting June 16, 2026. The company bills it as the first listed security in U.S. capital markets history to distribute cash on every trading day.
To backstop that obligation through a potential downturn, Strive has extended its cash reserve runway to 18 months — calibrated against the depth of the 2022–2023 Bitcoin bear market.
The pause in accumulation this week leaves the treasury at 19,864 BTC. At current prices, that stack carries a market value near $1.19 billion. With $141.7 million in unencumbered cash and no margin exposure, the company sits in a position to scale or hold — both outcomes built into the structure from the start.
Micah Zimmerman
Micah first discovered Bitcoin in 2018 but remained a skeptic on the sidelines for too long. Since 2021, he has covered crypto and business and now works as a news reporter for Bitcoin Magazine, based in North Carolina.
Japanese Bitcoin treasury firm Metaplanet has announced its plan to expand its Bitcoin ambitions, with Director of Bitcoin Strategy Dylan LeClair revealing that the company intends to acquire an additional 170,000 BTC as part of its long-term goal of controlling 1% of Bitcoin’s total supply.
The strategy would increase Metaplanet’s holdings to 210,000 BTC by the end of 2027, making it one of the world’s largest Bitcoin treasuries. At Bitcoin’s fixed maximum supply of 21 million coins, the target represents approximately 1% of all Bitcoins that will ever exist. Such a milestone would place the Tokyo-listed company alongside Strategy among the most influential institutional owners of the digital asset.
5/5 Proposals Approved at the @Metaplanet Extraordinary Shareholder Meeting
1) Approve shift of capital stock and capital reserve to capital surplus to increase capacity for preferred share dividends & potential share buybacks. ✅
2) Increase the total number of authorized…
— Dylan LeClair (@DylanLeClair) December 22, 2025
Metaplanet Is Doubling Down on Its Bitcoin Treasury Strategy The latest target follows board approval of Metaplanet’s revised Bitcoin accumulation plan, which significantly expands the company’s original objective.
Rather than stopping at 40,000 BTC, the company now plans to acquire a total of 210,000 BTC by the end of 2027. Since the company already holds roughly 40,000 BTC, the updated strategy implies purchases of approximately 170,000 additional Bitcoin over the next 18 months.
LeClair described the goal in straightforward terms.
“Our target is 1% of the Bitcoin supply.” The executive has consistently argued that Metaplanet measures success not through fiat-denominated returns but by increasing Bitcoin per share, a philosophy that mirrors Strategy Executive Chairman Michael Saylor’s long-standing approach to corporate treasury management.
To finance the expansion, the company plans to continue using equity issuance, preferred shares, warrants, and other capital market instruments rather than relying solely on cash generated from operations.
Earlier this year, Metaplanet announced a major equity financing initiative designed specifically to accelerate Bitcoin accumulation. The company has repeatedly emphasized that the objective is to raise capital efficiently while minimizing shareholder dilution.
Corporate Competition for Bitcoin Is Intensifying Metaplanet’s announcement highlights how competition among corporate Bitcoin treasury companies is escalating.
Over the years, Strategy has dominated the corporate Bitcoin accumulation narrative. However, more recently, treasury companies like Metaplanet, Twenty One Capital and MARA Holdings have created an institutional race to accumulate scarce Bitcoin supply.
Top Bitcoin treasury companies. Source: Bitcointreasuries.net
If Metaplanet succeeds, its holdings would account for one out of every hundred Bitcoin that will ever exist. That concentration could have broader implications for market liquidity.
Unlike exchange-traded funds, which purchase Bitcoin on behalf of investors, treasury companies typically accumulate BTC as long-term balance sheet assets. Those coins are rarely sold, effectively reducing the liquid supply available to the market.
The strategy also reflects growing confidence among Bitcoin-focused corporates that long-term appreciation will outweigh short-term volatility.
LeClair has repeatedly argued that Bitcoin should be viewed as a superior treasury reserve asset capable of protecting corporate purchasing power over time, particularly in an environment of persistent fiat currency debasement.
Whether investors continue supporting those financings will depend largely on Bitcoin’s long-term performance and Metaplanet’s ability to generate value on a per-share basis.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
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Strategy, the company formerly known as MicroStrategy, has officially broken its own cardinal rule. The company can now sell Bitcoin to buy back stock, repurchase debt, and pay preferred dividends.
Strategy already sold 32 BTC for approximately $2.5 million at the end of May 2026, marking the first Bitcoin sale in the company’s treasury history. The company still holds roughly 843,738 BTC.
The new framework, explained On June 29, 2026, Strategy formally introduced what it calls the Digital Credit Capital Framework, a set of rules that lets the company treat Bitcoin as a flexible treasury asset.
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The framework authorizes up to $2 billion in stock repurchases. It also includes a Bitcoin monetization program allowing for up to $1.25 billion in sales to shore up the company’s USD reserves and overall liquidity.
Back on May 15, 2026, Strategy announced plans to repurchase $1.5 billion of its 0% convertible senior notes due 2029 at a discount. The proposed funding sources for that buyback included cash reserves and Bitcoin sales.
CEO Phong Le stated the firm would sell Bitcoin “when advantageous,” marking a shift from passive accumulation to active balance-sheet management. The same framework update also raised the dividend on STRC preferred shares to 12%.
What this means for investors For Strategy shareholders, stock buybacks funded by Bitcoin sales could boost per-share value in the near term. The $2 billion buyback authorization suggests management sees its own equity as undervalued. The 12% dividend on STRC preferred shares also gives income-oriented investors a concrete reason to stick around.
The risk is that this new framework erodes the very premium that made Strategy stock attractive in the first place. Many investors bought shares precisely because they believed the company would hold Bitcoin indefinitely, acting as leveraged long exposure to the asset. If that conviction trade unwinds, the stock could lose its appeal as a Bitcoin proxy, forcing it to be valued more on its software fundamentals.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
In BlackRock Bitcoin news today, iShares Bitcoin Trust, better known as IBIT, shed $1.3Bn in net redemptions during the week of June 22–26, according to Farside Investors flow data.
That single fund accounted for 72.9% of the $1.79Bn that left the entire US spot Bitcoin ETF complex that week, the clearest sign yet that the vehicle Wall Street built to bring institutional money into Bitcoin can run just as efficiently in reverse.
Bitcoin ETF investors are underwater.
The average investor in BlackRock’s IBIT is now down roughly 40%, after sitting on a 30% gain as recently as mid-2025.
U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs just saw $1.79B in weekly net outflows, their second-largest on record. Friday marked a seventh… pic.twitter.com/JLvhVde0Gj
— Frank Chaparro (@fintechfrank) June 27, 2026
The tension at the center of this story is that the BlackRock Bitcoin ETF was the product that turned ‘institutional demand’ into a simple, repeatable narrative. Now, at the very moment Bitcoin needs external buyers, IBIT has become the market’s most prominent source of ETF sell pressure.
As ETF numbers dominate the headlines, BTC USD is trading at around $60,000, down roughly -1% on the day, with 24-hour trading volume at $20.7Bn.
One Fund, One Week, One Dominant Signal
(SOURCE: CoinGlass)
On June 26 alone, IBIT posted $444.5M in single-day outflows, every dollar of net redemption recorded across the entire ETF complex that day, per CoinGlass data. The week ended with IBIT’s seventh consecutive week of net outflows, the longest such streak since the fund launched in January 2024.
The macro backdrop driving those redemptions was not a single event but a convergence. A stronger-than-expected US non-farm payrolls print reduced near-term Federal Reserve rate-cut expectations, pushing Treasury yields higher and making fixed-income alternatives more attractive relative to non-yielding BTC.
Geopolitical risk-off sentiment, including heightened Iran-related tensions that rattled broader markets, compounded the move, pulling capital out of risk assets across digital assets, AI equities, and commodities.
As of June 29, IBIT’s net assets stood at around $45Bn with a benchmark price near $59,813, according to BlackRock’s iShares product page. The $1.3Bn weekly redemption is dominant within the ETF complex but still a relatively small proportion of its total AUM.
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Why BlackRock Bitcoin IBIT’s Size Makes This Different Liam ‘Akiba’ Wright, writing for KuCoin’s TechFlow DeepChain, framed the structural problem precisely: “When IBIT attracts funds, its scale reinforces the narrative of Bitcoin institutional demand. When IBIT experiences outflows, its size makes those outflows impossible for other parts of the market to ignore.” Small funds can bleed quietly. IBIT cannot.
The mechanics matter here. In July 2025, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved in-kind creation and redemption mechanics for crypto exchange-traded products (ETPs), meaning authorized participants, the large financial institutions that create and redeem ETF shares in bulk, can now exchange ETF shares directly for underlying Bitcoin rather than going through a cash-only process.
That structural change means ETF flow pressure can transmit more directly into the spot market during risk-off periods, though Wright noted that “ETF outflows should be viewed as a transmission of risk, not as direct evidence that every dollar redeemed is automatically dumped into the spot market.”
Still, the concentration is hard to dismiss. Bitcoin ETF outflows and BlackRock’s $60K support test have become the same story, and only two small funds in the complex avoided net redemptions during the June 22–26 week.
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Bull Case, Bear Case, and What Comes Next $BTC is creating interesting setups.
We're still in the same range, and liquidity is being built on both sides here.
Therefore my POI's for potential trades lay at the boundaries, not within the compression.
As of now, it still looks bearish: CVD showing weak buy pressure,… pic.twitter.com/whjLcq4moZ
— Lennaert Snyder (@LennaertSnyder) June 29, 2026
In other BlackRock Bitcoin news, the BTC/USD price is trading near $60,000 on June 29, with negative returns over both the 7-day and 30-day periods. The $58,000–$60,500 range has acted as a contested support zone, while the $61,000 band represents the first meaningful resistance ceiling above current levels. How Bitcoin holds critical $60K support in the sessions ahead will be the clearest signal of whether this was a flush or the start of something deeper.
Bull case: The heaviest redemptions have already cleared the system. Outflows slow, Bitcoin reclaims the $59,000–$62,000 range, and June’s data is later read as a crowded-trade cleanup rather than a structural break in institutional conviction. At $44.87 billion in net assets, IBIT remains the most liquid compliant Bitcoin wrapper in the world.
Bear case: IBIT continues posting large daily redemption numbers, Bitcoin fails to hold above $60,000, and spot buyers outside the ETF complex are left absorbing the supply on their own. Wright put it plainly: “Non-ETF spot buyers must hold the market on their own, without the support of the shell that once provided the simplest bullish narrative.”
The macro headwinds driving broader crypto market weakness, rate expectations, geopolitical uncertainty, and dollar strength have not materially shifted. Until they do, the crypto ETF flows data from CoinGlass carries more weight than usual.
Slowing Bitcoin ETF outflows would be the first sign that the selling pressure is easing. Another heavy week would make the sell-wall narrative structurally difficult to dismiss.
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The valuation of Strategy, known for its Bitcoin-focused financial strategy, has fallen below the value of its own Bitcoin reserves. This unexpected shift is being interpreted as a sign that investor confidence in the company’s aggressive accumulation model is weakening.
mNAV ratio dips below 1The company’s market net asset value (mNAV) ratio—an indicator comparing enterprise value to the total worth of its Bitcoin holdings—dropped to 0.99. This means that for the first time, the market has rated Strategy’s entire business at a value less than the sum of its Bitcoin treasury.
Currently, Strategy holds 847,363 Bitcoins in reserve, with a total value of approximately $50.4 billion based on the latest closing price. However, the company’s market capitalization recently stood at just $29.5 billion, according to the last session’s data.
The mNAV ratio’s slide to 0.99 clearly signals that investors are no longer giving Strategy the premium previously awarded purely for amassing huge Bitcoin reserves.
Pressure intensifies after recent saleThis downturn gained momentum after Strategy reported its first sale of Bitcoin since 2022—a shift that coincided with a sharp quarterly loss. The decline in Bitcoin’s price has slashed the company’s digital asset valuations and placed its financial results under mounting strain.
Formerly known as MicroStrategy, Strategy has made headlines in recent years as a software firm building a reputation for major corporate Bitcoin acquisitions. Yet, its shares have lost more than 45% of their value this year, causing market capitalization to plummet to less than half of the all-time high above $71 billion recorded earlier in 2024.
Bitcoin weakness weighs on crypto-treasury firmsBitcoin itself remains under pressure, recently trading around the $59,900 mark—a far cry from the record above $126,000 seen last October. This ongoing weakness is having a disproportionate effect on companies whose balance sheets are largely tied to Bitcoin’s fortunes.
In strong markets, investors often ascribed extra value to these companies beyond just their cryptocurrency reserves, but the latest figures suggest that confidence in this approach is eroding. The shift in sentiment marks a turning point in how the market values such Bitcoin-heavy business models.
A new era for companies with Bitcoin reservesRecent developments—including Strategy’s Bitcoin sale, outflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs, and signs of slowing institutional interest—are prompting a much more cautious stance toward companies built on massive crypto treasuries. The changing environment could have ripple effects across other publicly traded firms that have adopted similar treasury strategies over the last two years.
If Bitcoin prices continue to languish, market watchers expect investors to focus more on the underlying business fundamentals rather than simply placing faith in companies’ crypto holdings. Such a scenario could make it increasingly difficult for firms stockpiling Bitcoin to command the high valuations they enjoyed during booming markets.
Analyses highlighted by Fortune have also renewed scrutiny on the financial obligations associated with Strategy’s aggressive growth plans. As a result, the company’s relentless policy of accumulating Bitcoin is now under greater market surveillance than ever before.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
On January 1, 2000, the world was supposed to end. As the date changed and the next millennium rolled in, computer systems programmed in the 1960s and 1970s were expected to crash. Storage space was very expensive back then. As a result, programmers often saved space by recording years with only two digits instead of four, omitting the century. Once the century changed, the logic would be lost, and systems would malfunction.
Massive IT projects were launched to fix the problem and prevent looming disasters, like nuclear power plants exploding. Alongside a booming tech industry, an even more booming survival industry emerged. Guidebooks were published on how to survive the impending catastrophe — hide under the table — while there was a healthy trade in bunkers and overpriced survival packs.
In a preemptive move, the U.S. Federal Reserve loosened monetary policy. The burgeoning internet and its early successes had brought technology to the masses. Together with loose financing conditions and growing public enthusiasm at the turn of the millennium, this ignited a unique boom on the stock markets, especially for tech and internet stocks.
The world did not come to an end. Instead, people started to wonder what would become of companies that had no chance of turning a profit and depended on continuous injections of investor funding. Doubts began to spread, share prices started to fall, and over the course of the year 2000, the dot-com bubble burst.
The final nail in the coffin of the 2000s bubble came on September 11, 2001. The terrorist attack on the World Trade Center in New York made it seem as though the world really was ending. Air traffic shut down, war broke out, and a recession followed. Stock markets plunged, and they just kept falling.
Once again, the U.S. Federal Reserve stepped in to save the economy and the financial markets. Interest rates were slashed, credit became cheap, and with this, the economic downturn was slowed. Starting in early 2003, the stock markets began to recover. Slowly at first, then faster. The exceptionally low interest rates stimulated economic activity, albeit not as intended. The burst tech bubble was soon replaced by a gigantic housing bubble, especially in the United States.
The film The Big Short begins with a quote from Mark Twain:
“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”
History provides us with many examples that show how stubbornly and for how long people, indeed entire societies, have clung to false beliefs. A good example is the geocentric worldview that many held in the Middle Ages: they believed that the universe revolved around the Earth. Galileo Galilei held an opposing belief and was threatened with death and excommunicated from the Church for it. The Church’s self-image and vested interests forbade such an inconvenient truth. But as it is with the truth, a point comes when it can no longer be denied.
The same was true of the financial crisis of 2007–2009. Behind many financial products on offer were mortgage-backed securities of little or no value. This truth, too, eventually could not be denied. The markets for these securities and the financial products built on them collapsed, along with a lot of the banks and financial institutions that held them. In the end, the entire financial system imploded. Major, well-known banks went bankrupt, financial markets dried up, and even healthy companies were put at risk of failure.
The terrifying yet fascinating part was the reaction of governments and central banks — through bailouts. With the exception of Lehman Brothers and a few others, virtually all the major institutions were saved. At the time, Chancellor Angela Merkel guaranteed the German public that their bank deposits were safe — a promise she likely could not have kept if it had been called out.
The central element of the bailouts was and still is the printing of money. Governments generously rescued important, systemically relevant banks and companies with the input of fresh money. Central banks financed and continue to finance this by purchasing government bonds, cutting interest rates, and providing very favorable financing conditions to banks.
This point is very important. When a central bank buys an outstanding government bond, that means it is increasing the money supply or printing money. In the film Oeconomia, Peter Praet, at that time the chief economist of the ECB, says this quite explicitly: “It is not physical money, but electronic.”
Printing money means increasing the amount of money in circulation. And that results in all of our money getting watered down. Ultimately, this makes it worth less since there’s more money but the same amount of goods.
When new money is created — that is, when money is inflated and then spent, no matter what it’s spent on — prices will eventually rise, and the money everyone else holds becomes less valuable. Put another way, when new money is created, everyone who already holds money is slightly dispossessed.
Only those who receive the new money first benefit, which is usually the banks, shareholders, and companies as well as borrowers and thus the government. Also benefiting are those who hold the goods or assets that are first purchased with the newly created money. This primarily includes real estate, stocks, and tangible assets in general.
Such inflation must be distinguished from individual price increases. If the demand for city-center locations suddenly rises because people are moving from the country to the city, property prices in city centers will rise, while they fall in the countryside. With inflation, prices rise almost everywhere. Price increases caused by rising demand or falling supply, such as after a poor harvest, are limited and are offset by a drop in prices elsewhere.
Inflation acts like a tax, but it isn’t perceived as such. The government could just as well take a small amount of money from every business and citizen to cover its spending instead of creating new money by issuing a government bond. In practice, it would be the same thing, only it wouldn’t be so easy, and many people would complain and might vote those politicians out in the next election.
Inflation is vague, and in public perception it’s not the government’s fault but rather that of others who are creating shortages of goods and profiting from rising prices. Political and public scapegoats for rising prices can always be found.
The former ECB chief economist, Peter Praet, states quite clearly that the functioning of today’s financial and economic system depends on the creation of more and more money — in other words, on continuous inflation. If the last financial crises have shown us anything, it’s the automatic reaction of governments: printing money. And crises will always keep coming for a variety of reasons: the ongoing climate crisis, pandemics, wars, migration, demographics, etc. Justification and excuses for printing money can always be found.
What does this have to do with Bitcoin? A major and very valid criticism of a sound monetary system, in which money cannot be multiplied uncontrollably, is that it provides no way to intervene quickly by increasing the money supply in severe crises. That’s true. You would have to save beforehand, to set aside reserves.
And if there is one thing politicians cannot do, it’s save. There is always a good reason to spend money, whether it’s simply doing good, solving problems, winning over voters before an election, or even supporting a friendly entrepreneur in one’s own constituency.
The alternative would be to raise taxes in order to finance these unforeseen expenses. That would be politically and economically counterproductive. It would scare off voters and take away their purchasing power.
The crucial point is this: without the ability to print money at will, the boom that precedes a crisis wouldn’t arise in the first place, or at the very least would be much smaller. And the subsequent crises would also be a lot smaller. This is evident in the economic cycles of the 19th century, when a strict gold standard was in place.
Yes, there were numerous crises at the time. But they were short and less severe. And periods of falling prices certainly did not end in the dreaded deflationary spiral.
The ability to print unlimited amounts of money leads to correspondingly large misallocations, which then lead to correspondingly large corrections, and therefore, crises. These crises in turn trigger even more money-printing, and on it goes.
The greater the misallocations beforehand, the greater the corrections afterward. A healthy monetary system leads to sounder economic decisions, sustainable upturns, and brief downturns in which misallocations are corrected.
Money that cannot be arbitrarily multiplied limits misallocations during a boom, and accordingly, limits corrections during a downturn.
At the height of the financial crisis, on October 31, 2008, an anonymous person or group published the Bitcoin white paper — six weeks after Lehman Brothers, one of the largest banks in the U.S., filed for bankruptcy.
On January 3, 2009, Satoshi Nakamoto launched the Bitcoin blockchain. The very first block was mined. This first block contains the following message:
“The Times 03/Jan/2009 Chancellor on brink of second bailout for banks”
This was an explicit reference to a headline in The Times on January 3, 2009 — the repeated bailout of a financial system still teetering on the brink of collapse.
Bitcoin was, and still is, the answer to a fragile financial system: to uncontrolled money printing, to willful denial of reality, but also to the unfair and socially unjust expropriation that accompanies money creation.
The cap of 21 million bitcoin and the lack of central control make a policy of inflation impossible. Someone who holds bitcoin cannot be dispossessed by the uncontrolled printing of even more bitcoin.
Nor can they be dispossessed by banks that go bankrupt or deny access to bitcoin, provided they hold their bitcoin in a self-hosted wallet and thereby manage their own access. No central authority can revoke that access.
The timing of Bitcoin’s launch was no coincidence. It was the reaction to a financial system that would have collapsed had money not been printed in a pretty much uncontrolled manner.
Bitcoin is sound money — a response to a broken financial system. It is a system that is not imposed from above. Participation is voluntary and open to anyone. No one with a computer or smartphone and an internet connection can be excluded from it. For many, it’s a lifeline out of the fiat money system that is not sustainably viable.
In contrast to an inflationary and opaque system, Bitcoin is decentralized, transparent, and fundamentally honest.
Discover more in Bitcoin: The Honest Money!
This excerpt is just the beginning. Dive deeper into how inflation devalues your money, your savings, and your time in Bitcoin: The Honest Money by Alex von Frankenberg, Ph.D. The paperback is available now.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
Bitcoin is not having a great month. The leading crypto slipped from $60K to $59K on Monday morning, down 7.9% over the past seven days, as sellers continue to apply steady downward pressure with no obvious relief in sight.
The move lower is not just a price story. It is an ETF story, and that is what makes this moment worth paying attention to.
The ETF outflow problem is getting worse June’s spot Bitcoin ETF outflows have already eclipsed February 2025’s record of $3.6B, and the month still has time left on the clock.
Think of it like a bathtub with the drain open. New buyers would need to pour in water faster than it is draining to stabilize the price. Right now, the drain is winning.
When the spot Bitcoin ETFs launched, the dominant narrative was that institutional access would create a structural floor under Bitcoin’s price. Persistent, record-breaking outflows challenge that assumption in a meaningful way.
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It does not mean the ETFs were a failed experiment. It means institutions are also capable of selling, which should surprise no one but apparently needed a reminder.
Bitcoin’s 24-hour change sits at just -0.2%, so Monday’s session has been relatively contained. The weekly picture tells a different story: -7.9% is a meaningful drawdown for an asset that was trading above $60K not long ago.
Extreme fear, with Ethereum holding steady and Solana pushing higher The Crypto Fear and Greed Index currently reads 12, which falls squarely in “Extreme Fear” territory. Last week it sat at 20, also Extreme Fear, meaning sentiment has deteriorated further rather than stabilized.
A reading of 12 is the kind of number that historically makes contrarian investors lean forward in their chairs. Extreme fear tends to mark capitulation zones, where sellers who are going to sell have largely already sold. Whether that logic applies here depends entirely on whether ETF outflows have more room to run.
Ethereum, trading near $1,575, is essentially flat on both a daily and weekly basis. It is not recovering, but it is not accelerating lower either, which in this environment qualifies as a mild form of resilience.
Solana is the outlier. Up 3.0% over the past 24 hours and climbing toward $74, it is the one major asset bucking the broader trend today. DeFi is also the top-performing category over the seven-day period, though its net change sits at 0.0%, which technically makes it the best house on a street where every other house is on fire.
What this means for the market The confluence of record ETF outflows, a Fear and Greed reading of 12, and Bitcoin trading below $60K creates a setup that cuts both ways for investors trying to make sense of positioning right now.
On the bearish side: outflows at this scale suggest institutional holders are reducing exposure, not adding to it. That is a headwind that retail buying alone is unlikely to overcome in the short term. The $59K level is not a trivial one to lose, either. It represents a psychological threshold that, if it fails to hold, could invite the next wave of liquidations.
On the bullish side: extreme fear readings at these levels have historically preceded recoveries, even if the timing is never clean. Solana’s ability to post gains while Bitcoin bleeds is a signal worth monitoring. When risk appetite returns to crypto markets, assets that held up during the selloff tend to outperform on the way back up.
The honest answer for investors watching this is that the ETF outflow data is the most important variable to track right now. If June closes with outflows that materially exceed the February record, it suggests the institutional bid that drove Bitcoin’s earlier rally has softened in a structural way, not just a seasonal one. If outflows begin to slow or reverse before month-end, the $59K test may look like a buying opportunity in hindsight.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Estefano Gomez. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Strategy Inc., the company formerly known as MicroStrategy, just gave Peter Schiff exactly what he’s been waiting for: ammunition.
The company unveiled a Digital Credit Capital Framework on June 29 that includes something previously unthinkable for the firm that built its entire identity around accumulating Bitcoin. A Bitcoin Monetization Program authorizing the sale of up to $1.25 billion in Bitcoin for specific corporate purposes.
Schiff, the gold evangelist who has spent years warning that Strategy’s leveraged Bitcoin strategy would eventually crack, wasted no time declaring the company a “Bitcoin seller.” And technically, he’s not wrong. But the full picture is, as usual, more complicated than a tweet suggests.
What Strategy actually announced The new framework doesn’t signal a fire sale. It authorizes discretionary Bitcoin sales for three narrowly defined purposes: funding a USD Reserve, covering preferred stock dividends, and supporting securities repurchases.
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Alongside the monetization program, Strategy’s board approved up to $2 billion in securities repurchases. It also bumped the dividend on its Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock, known by the ticker STRC, to 12%.
Executive Chairman Michael Saylor framed the move as consistent with the company’s broader mission. While Strategy is now permitted to sell Bitcoin, Saylor emphasized that the company remains committed to its Bitcoin-first mentality.
Why Schiff is having a field day Peter Schiff has been calling Strategy’s Bitcoin strategy a house of cards for years. His argument has always been straightforward: a company that uses leverage to buy a volatile asset will eventually be forced to sell that asset to meet its obligations.
The Bitcoin Monetization Program doesn’t prove Schiff right in the catastrophic sense he’s long predicted. Strategy isn’t liquidating under duress. But it does validate his core thesis that perpetual accumulation without any sell mechanism is unsustainable when you’re also issuing preferred stock, convertible notes, and equity offerings to fund those purchases.
The leverage question that won’t go away The $1.25 billion authorization provides a pressure valve. Rather than being forced into emergency sales during a downturn, Strategy now has a pre-approved framework to sell Bitcoin in an orderly fashion when needed.
The $2 billion repurchase authorization adds another layer. Strategy could theoretically sell Bitcoin to fund buybacks of its own stock or preferred shares, essentially converting Bitcoin into equity management. That’s a far cry from the “never sell” ethos that made Saylor a folk hero in crypto circles.
Initial market reaction was muted. Pre-market trading showed some movement in MSTR stock, but nothing resembling panic.
What this means for investors For MSTR shareholders, the framework changes the risk profile in subtle but important ways. The stock has historically traded as a leveraged Bitcoin bet, often at significant premiums to its net asset value. A monetization program that could reduce the Bitcoin stack, even modestly, may compress that premium over time.
The 12% preferred dividend rate on STRC is worth monitoring closely. If Bitcoin enters an extended flat or bearish period, those dividend obligations could accelerate the pace of Bitcoin sales under the monetization program. The $1.25 billion ceiling sounds large, but relative to Strategy’s total Bitcoin holdings, it represents a defined and manageable portion.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Strategy is shifting strategies as the Bitcoin behemoth seeks to quell fears over its financial health. On Monday, the company announced that it may sell up to $1.25 billion in Bitcoin to build its cash reserves, cover investor payouts, and fund stock buybacks to avoid issuing more equity.
The new policy is an about-face for Strategy, which has established itself as one of the biggest buyers of the world’s largest cryptocurrency. Michael Saylor, the firm’s executive chairman and a prominent Bitcoin bull, has repeatedly proclaimed that investors should never sell their holdings. “You do not sell your Bitcoin,” he said last October.
But Strategy’s stock has recently come under heavy pressure, shedding 44% over the past year. Meanwhile, STRC, a preferred share issued by Strategy that Saylor has said has “money-market-level stability,” has also tanked. Supposedly pegged to $100, STRC closed Friday at around $74.
Now, Saylor has begun to change his tune. In June, the company sold $2.5 million of Bitcoin. In addition to its plan to sell up to $1.25 billion in Bitcoin, the company calls for changes to cash reserves, adjustments to the dividend policy, and up to $1 billion in authorized buybacks of its preferred share products.
“Strategy remains committed to Bitcoin as its primary treasury reserve asset,” Saylor said in a statement.
On Monday morning, the company’s shares rose almost 3% to trade near $86, while STRC gained about 4% to approach $79. Bitcoin also briefly climbed to around $60,600 before pulling back.
Saylor cofounded Strategy, then known as MicroStrategy, in 1989. It operated as an enterprise software firm but, concerned about U.S. dollar devaluation, the company adopted Bitcoin as its primary treasury reserve asset in 2020, starting with a $250 million purchase. Strategy now owns about 4% of the total supply of Bitcoin.
Over the past year, a swarm of Strategy imitators loaded public companies with cryptocurrencies to try to spark stock rallies, but that trade has since fallen out of favor. Solana‑hoarder Solmate has lost almost all its value, leaving backers nursing heavy paper losses, while Cantor Fitzgerald’s BSTR Bitcoin vehicle has scrambled to keep a SPAC deal alive amid waning investor appetite.
For more details, visit the official Decrypt platform.
TL;DR Strategy has approved a new Digital Credit Capital Framework for active capital management. Under the framework, the company could sell up to $1.25 billion worth of Bitcoin. The move does not mean Strategy is abandoning Bitcoin, but it does show a more flexible treasury model. Strategy Adds A New Layer To Its Bitcoin Playbook Strategy has approved a new Digital Credit Capital Framework that could allow the company to sell up to $1.25 billion worth of Bitcoin as part of a broader active capital management approach.
That sounds dramatic because Strategy has spent years being viewed as the public-market symbol of relentless Bitcoin accumulation. Investors are used to hearing about purchases, convertible notes, preferred stock, and balance-sheet expansion. A framework that allows Bitcoin sales naturally gets attention because it cuts against the simplest version of the story.
But the more useful read is a little more nuanced. This is not necessarily “Strategy turns bearish on Bitcoin.” It is closer to Strategy formalizing how it may manage liquidity, dividends, buybacks, and reserves while still operating around a Bitcoin-heavy balance sheet.
Why A Bitcoin Sale Authorization Matters The authorization matters because it changes how investors think about Strategy’s treasury model.
A company can be bullish on Bitcoin and still need a mechanism for capital management. That is especially true when the company has layered financing instruments around its balance sheet. Dividends, credit products, buybacks, cash reserves, and market volatility all create situations where flexibility may become valuable.
The risk is perception. Strategy’s brand is closely tied to Bitcoin conviction. Any suggestion that it could sell BTC, even for corporate finance reasons, may invite questions from investors who bought into the idea of continuous accumulation.
That does not mean the framework is negative by default. A rigid treasury strategy can become fragile if market conditions change. A flexible one can be stronger, provided investors trust the rules and understand when sales may happen.
The Bigger Question For Bitcoin Treasury Companies This development also speaks to the next phase of Bitcoin treasury adoption. The first phase was simple: buy BTC and hold it. The next phase may be more complicated: manage Bitcoin-backed capital structures in public markets.
That is where the story gets more interesting. If Strategy can use its Bitcoin position to support credit products, dividends, reserves, or buybacks, then it is no longer just a holder. It becomes a capital manager built around Bitcoin as the core reserve asset.
For Bitcoin, the immediate market impact depends on whether any sales actually occur and how they are executed. A maximum authorization is not the same thing as a completed sale. Still, traders will watch closely because Strategy remains one of the most closely followed corporate BTC holders.
The takeaway is simple: Strategy’s Bitcoin story is maturing. The company is not just stacking BTC; it is building rules around how that stack can support a wider financial structure. That may make the model more durable, but it also makes it more complex.
—
This article was written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.
Due to a stock split, Binance will adjust the contract size of CRWD U-margined perpetual contracts.
According to an official announcement, the underlying asset of the CRWDUSDT perpetual contract will implement a 1-for-4 stock split of its issued Class A shares via a dividend distribution. Consequently, Binance will adjust the contract size of its CRWDUSDT U.S. dollar-margined perpetual contract at 08:00 (UTC+8) on July 2, 2026. The adjustment is projected to be completed by 21:30 (UTC+8) the same day. Post-adjustment, the contract will enter a 5-minute cancel-only phase.
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In an interview, CZ stated that Binance’s MiCA license application submitted in Greece was fully compliant with regulatory requirements and near approval before being withdrawn, but the process was interrupted by "external political intervention". He added that multiple EU countries had expressed interest in the license, leading to a degree of "competitive lobbying", yet non-regulatory factors ultimately derailed the application, forcing its withdrawal. Binance officially pulled the Greek application last week and said it will shift to other EU member states to pursue MiCA authorization. Responding to market rumors linking Binance to senior EU political figures, CZ noted he has not seen any verifiable documents, only similar claims online, and has not confirmed them. He also pointed out that the EU MiCA transition period will end on July 1, after which unlicensed platforms must cease related services, with national regulators making clear they will not extend the deadline. CZ called the outcome a "lose-lose situation" and cited Japan and Singapore’s regulatory paths as examples, emphasizing compliance processes often require longer timelines.
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US President Trump stated that in the lawsuit over the eligibility of Federal Reserve Governor Cook, the Supreme Court remanded the case to a lower court solely on procedural grounds. We will immediately take appropriate action to ensure that individuals who have engaged in misconduct do not continue to make decisions on major matters related to the well-being of the United States.
3 minutes ago
Castle Securities warns that the Federal Reserve’s policies will become more stringent.
Castle Securities stated that investors have underestimated Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s resolve to curb inflation, warning that higher interest rates could put pressure on risk assets. The firm also cautioned that the rally in the artificial intelligence market faces growing risks, including weak demand, declining returns, and intensified political and regulatory scrutiny.
Bitcoin (BTC) is showing renewed signs of recovery, approaching the $60,000 mark at the time of writing on Monday. Among altcoins, Ethereum (ETH) is positioned for a potential breakout above $1,600, while Ripple (XRP) continues to face bearish pressure, holding just above the key $1.00 psychological support.
US and Iran halt attacks, agree to renew peace negotiationsThe United States (US) and Iran exchanged fire near the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported strikes against US military installations in neighboring countries, such as Kuwait and Bahrain, in response to recent US attacks on Iranian targets.
Iran has doubled down on its demand for a full withdrawal of Israeli Forces from Lebanon as part of the final Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the US.
A US official confirmed on Sunday that both the US and Iran have agreed to de-escalate military actions and permit unrestricted movement of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
Ongoing technical discussions related to the MoU are expected to continue, with both parties scheduled to meet in Doha on Tuesday for further negotiations, according to Axios.
Sentiment in the broader crypto market has deteriorated further despite easing tensions between the US and Iran.
The crypto Fear & Greed Index is stuck in Extreme Fear territory at 12 on Monday, down from 18 the day before. This decline indicates that appetite for risk assets continues to diminish, weighed down by macro and geopolitical uncertainty.
Crypto Fear & Greed Index | Source: AlternativePrice analysis: Bitcoin builds momentumBitcoin trades at $59,888, rising slightly after last week's persistent sell-off. The Crypto King eyes a short-term breakout above the next hurdle at $60,000.
Meanwhile, the upside remains limited as BTC holds below the Bollinger middle band at $62,838, the 50-day, 100-day and 200-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs), which collectively reinforce the downside bias.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) histogram is marginally negative on the daily chart, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 32 hovers just above oversold territory, hinting that bearish momentum is dominant but may be nearing exhaustion rather than showing fresh selling pressure.
BTC/USDT daily chartOn the downside, immediate support aligns with the Bollinger lower band near $58,633, where sellers could pause before attempting deeper extension. Conversely, Bitcoin faces immediate resistance at the Bollinger middle band near $62,838, with additional hurdles at the 50-day EMA ($66,963) and the Bollinger upper band at $67,043. Should these levels be surpassed, further resistance is seen at the 100-day EMA ($70,587), the descending trendline at $75,625, and the 200-day EMA at $76,539, which marks a critical threshold for reversing the broader bearish trend.
Altcoins technical outlook: Ethereum rebounds as XRP seeks supportEthereum trades at $1,574, edging slightly higher from previous week's dominant sell-off. Despite the mild gains, ETH holds below all major moving averages, which define a broader bearish trend.
Meanwhile, ETH sits below the Bollinger middle band at $1,673, highlighting ongoing downside pressure inside the volatility envelope, while the lower band at $1,528 offers the nearest cushion.
The MACD histogram holds in negative territory on the daily chart, hinting at weak bearish momentum rather than an impulsive selloff, as the RSI hovers around 30, flirting with oversold conditions that could slow the slide but not yet reverse the trend.
ETH/USDT daily chartInitial resistance emerges at the Bollinger middle band near $1,673, followed by the upper band at $1,818 and the 50-day EMA at $1,833, which collectively cap any recovery attempts. Above these hurdles, a downward-sloping resistance trendline comes into play around the break price at $1,963, before the 100-day EMA at $2,010 and the 200-day EMA at $2,291 reinforce a heavier supply zone.
Looking down, immediate support lies at the Bollinger lower band around $1,528. A daily close below this floor would open the door to fresh lows, while holding above it would keep Ethereum in a weak, but stabilizing, consolidation within the lower half of its recent range.
XRP, on the other hand, trades at $1.04, extending its slide well below major moving averages, which are keeping the near-term bias firmly bearish. The remittance token is also trading beneath the Bollinger Bands’ middle boundary at $1.12 and the upper band near $1.24.
At the same time, the MACD indicator remains slightly negative on the daily chart, hinting that downside momentum persists even as the RSI near 32 approaches oversold territory.
XRP/USDT daily chartOn the downside, immediate support lies around the Bollinger Bands’ lower boundary at $1.01, with the current level at $1.04 acting as a fragile pivot above that zone. On the topside, initial resistance is seen at the Bollinger middle band at $1.12, ahead of the upper band and the descending trendline break region clustered around $1.24. Further up, the 50-day EMA at $1.21, the 100-day EMA at $1.31 and the 200-day EMA at $1.53 define successive overhead barriers that would need to be reclaimed to ease the prevailing bearish pressure.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.)
Bitcoin, altcoins, stablecoins FAQs Bitcoin is the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, a virtual currency designed to serve as money. This form of payment cannot be controlled by any one person, group, or entity, which eliminates the need for third-party participation during financial transactions.
Altcoins are any cryptocurrency apart from Bitcoin, but some also regard Ethereum as a non-altcoin because it is from these two cryptocurrencies that forking happens. If this is true, then Litecoin is the first altcoin, forked from the Bitcoin protocol and, therefore, an “improved” version of it.
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to have a stable price, with their value backed by a reserve of the asset it represents. To achieve this, the value of any one stablecoin is pegged to a commodity or financial instrument, such as the US Dollar (USD), with its supply regulated by an algorithm or demand. The main goal of stablecoins is to provide an on/off-ramp for investors willing to trade and invest in cryptocurrencies. Stablecoins also allow investors to store value since cryptocurrencies, in general, are subject to volatility.
Bitcoin dominance is the ratio of Bitcoin's market capitalization to the total market capitalization of all cryptocurrencies combined. It provides a clear picture of Bitcoin’s interest among investors. A high BTC dominance typically happens before and during a bull run, in which investors resort to investing in relatively stable and high market capitalization cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. A drop in BTC dominance usually means that investors are moving their capital and/or profits to altcoins in a quest for higher returns, which usually triggers an explosion of altcoin rallies.
In a CNBC interview on June 27, Garlinghouse said Strategy’s first Bitcoin sale in a while "definitely started something."
Its leveraged structure amplified excitement on the way up and is now compounding weakness on the way down, Garlinghouse concluded.
He pointed to Strategy’s preferred stock STRC (NASDAQ:STRC) trading roughly 25% below par as a "damning indictment," saying the situation has not helped market sentiment.
"Financial engineering does not drive long-term value," Garlinghouse noted, adding that digital assets must solve real problems at scale for customers to build liquidity, demand and trust.
Garlinghouse added that he remains bullish on Bitcoin but argued that Strategy’s approach was "not focused on the right stuff."
Critics have argued that Strategy’s ability to continuously fund Bitcoin purchases through equity issuance is effectively paused until the stock regains a premium valuation.
BTC – Store-Of-Value AssetWhile Bitcoin remains the dominant store-of-value asset, Ripple is positioning XRP (CRYPTO: XRP), stablecoins and institutional payments infrastructure as part of a broader shift toward tokenized finance.
Despite that, he said he is bullish on Bitcoin, calling the current pullback a time to "be greedy when others are fearful," while reiterating that Bitcoin’s long-term value lies in its role as digital gold and XRP’s utility remains focused in bringing traditional finance onto blockchain.
The interview also highlighted on the convergence of artificial intelligence, stablecoins and tokenization, explaining how blockchain rails could become financial infrastructure for machines, autonomous agents and tokenized assets.
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TL;DR
XRP ETF inflows jumped 115% to $23M in the week of June 22–26, pushing total U.S. XRP ETF AUM to $934M — just as Q3 begins, the historically strongest quarter for XRP with a median return of +27.1% over 13 yearsA dormant SHIB wallet from 2024's bull run moved 598 billion tokens (~$2.7M) through a ForwarderV4 smart contract — the same method used by other reactivated whale wallets last week, pointing to a single centralized institution liquidating old reservesMichael Saylor officially approved a Bitcoin sell program at Strategy, raising STRC preferred share yield to 12% and setting a $1.25B BTC sales cap — the company says it has 25.9 months of runway secured between fiat reserves and the new sell limitBitcoin is trading at ~$59,860, below its 200-day EMA of $68,960, with no significant ETF inflows for 55 days — but July historically averages +8.2% for BTC, and seasonal patterns could trigger a Q3 reversalBinance exited the EU on July 1 under MiCA rules, sending a wave of European users to Coinbase and OKX — the latter reported an all-time registration record from EuropeXRP ETFs soar 115% ahead of a historically strong quarter for the coinWhile Bitcoin and Ethereum are recording billion-dollar outflows, during the week from June 22 to June 26, net inflows into XRP funds jumped by 115.7% to $22.99 million, compared with $10.66 million a week earlier, according to SoSoValue.
Large players are clearly buying at the local bottom, right before the start of Q3 2026, which has historically been the most stable period of the year for XRP. Taking the latest inflows into account, U.S. XRP ETFs now have $934.26 million under management, which equals 1.44% of the coin's total market capitalization.
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The token's price, meanwhile, is trapped around $1.05. In this context, June turned out to be brutal, with a 21% decline, but for XRP this is a classic scenario: a strong early-summer sell-off has often become a springboard for a powerful Q3.
Total XRP Spot ETF Net Inflow in Q2 2026, Source: SoSoValueStatistics from the past 13 years show that Q3 is a unique period for XRP:
Median Q3 returns stand at +27.1%, while the average return is +18.2%. Since 2020, XRP has closed this quarter exclusively in the green — a streak that has already lasted six years.In addition, Q3 has a history of breaking bear markets. In 2018, after a prolonged decline, it delivered a +24.4% gain, and in 2022, after a disastrous second quarter, XRP rebounded by +44.5%. Growth inside the quarter usually starts in July, with a median gain of +10.8%, takes a pause for consolidation in August, and ends with a final push in September, where the average result stands at +13.7%.
If the seasonal pattern repeats this time, the historical median of +27.1% would put XRP on course for a confident exit from its prolonged decline and a test of new local highs by the end of September.
A sleeping Shiba Inu coin pool activates 598 billion tokensLarge players in the Shiba Inu ecosystem are returning to the game, and blockchain data from Arkham has recorded the sudden awakening of a wallet that had been inactive since 2024 — the period of the token's last major price surge. In just one day, two giant transactions passed through the address: 178.16 billion SHIB worth $795,000 and 419.97 billion SHIB worth $1.87 million.
The main intrigue, however, lies in the technical trail. These 598 billion tokens were withdrawn through the ForwarderV4 smart contract — the same method previously used to move funds by other awakened giants from that period last week.
2024 Shiba Inu (SHIB) whale '0x624C09' transfers, Source: ArkhamThis repeating pattern leads to a clear conclusion: these are not individual retail investors, but a single centralized pool. The use of a single ForwarderV4 gateway proves that behind the chain of different addresses stands a large organization — a custodian, market maker, or OTC desk that has been managing institutional liquidity since the year before last.
For the market, such maneuvers are always a cause for concern. The activation of old billion-token reserves often signals preparation for profit-taking, which could locally pressure the SHIB price.
Strategy raises STRC rate to 12% and prepares Bitcoin for saleStrategy Inc. chairman Michael Saylor has presented a plan to shore up the company's securities, called the Digital Credit Capital Framework. In recent weeks, investors and Wall Street analysts have harshly criticized Saylor and demanded that he sell at least $3 billion worth of BTC to cover debts and secure liquid cash.
The situation was also extremely tense because at the end of May, the company had already quietly carried out a test sale of 32 BTC, which seriously rattled the market.
To calm the panic and restore trust, Saylor is raising the annual yield on Strife preferred shares, or STRC, to 12% starting in July. The company will now revise this rate every month, while Saylor's main goal is to lift the fallen market price of these securities back to their $100 par value.
Strategy announces a Digital Credit Capital Framework designed to strengthen Digital Credit, enhance liquidity, preserve long-term Bitcoin exposure, and support long-term value creation. $MSTR $STRC https://t.co/AUoUCtem53
— Michael Saylor (@saylor) June 29, 2026 But the biggest shock for the crypto market was that Saylor officially approved a full-scale BTC Monetization Program. The company has officially set the rules under which it will systematically sell Bitcoin, and Saylor plans to do this in three specific cases:
To replenish the fiat reserve, with a strict sales limit of up to $1.25 billion.To pay dividends and interest if doing so is more beneficial than issuing new shares.To buy back the company's own securities during significant market drawdowns.Right now, the company has $2.55 billion in net fiat on its accounts, which will be used strictly to pay interest and dividends — enough cash for 17.4 months. If the $1.25 billion Bitcoin sales limit is added to this, the company's total safety cushion reaches $3.80 billion. This guarantees Strategy 25.9 months of stable operations without raising any new debt at all, says Saylor.
Additionally, Saylor allocated $1 billion each for buyback programs of MSTR shares and STRC securities in order to contain panic during market drawdowns.
Crypto market outlook: Regulatory storm in the EU and on-chain capitulation pressure BitcoinThe cryptocurrency market is going through a harsh phase of local cleansing due to a complete standstill in U.S. ETF inflows, a large-scale migration of European capital ahead of the strict MiCA deadline, and the sudden awakening of institutional whales from previous cycles, although Bitcoin's historically bullish July still leaves hope for an imminent seasonal reversal.
Key checkpoints:
BTC Price Review: Bitcoin is hovering at $59,859.95 (+0.63%), trading under heavy resistance at the 200-day EMA ($68,960) and risking a slide toward the strong $56,850 support zone if the current local bottom is lost.July's historical trigger: June is closing for BTC with a deep -18.7% decline, but historical statistics point to strong July seasonality, with an average gain of +8.24% and a median gain of +8.09%, which often turns the start of Q3 into a launch point for a powerful rebound.55-day drought in spot ETFs: U.S. regulated funds have completely deprived Bitcoin of fresh capital, recording no significant direct inflows since May 4, leaving the market without its main liquidity driver for almost two months.Regulatory exodus from the EU on July 1: Binance's official exit from the European market due to the entry into force of MiCA rules triggered a fierce battle for users between Coinbase and OKX, with the latter already reporting an all-time record in new registrations from Europe.RWA expansion and Ondo's dominance: The real-world asset tokenization sector is surging to new highs, with Ondo capturing 74.5% of the on-chain ETF market, while the Base network has overtaken Ethereum in USDC Morpho liquidity. You Might Also Like
New Capital Plan Raises STRC’s Payout to 12%Strategy unveiled a Digital Credit Capital Framework Monday, raising the annual dividend rate on its STRC preferred stock to 12%, effective for dividend periods starting July 1.
The company’s USD reserve now stands at roughly $2.55 billion, enough to cover about 17.4 months of preferred dividend and interest obligations.
The board authorized, but didn’t commit to, up to $1 billion in buybacks of Digital Credit Securities and another $1 billion in Class A common stock repurchases.
Both programs carry no fixed expiration date and depend entirely on market conditions and management’s read on whether buying back shares actually adds value.
Strategy also approved a Bitcoin Monetization Program, giving the company the option to sell BTC whenever management decides it makes sense.
Proceeds could rebuild the USD reserve, fund preferred dividends, or pay for share buybacks, though Strategy stressed the program creates no obligation to actually sell any Bitcoin.
Michael Saylor said the framework strengthens Strategy’s credit profile while keeping Bitcoin as the company’s primary treasury asset.
CEO Phong Le framed it as a shift from simply issuing capital to actively managing the balance sheet through both issuance and buybacks depending on conditions.
Saylor’s 113 Buys Since Inception, Mapped on One ChartSaylor shared a chart Sunday showing Strategy’s full purchase history: 847,363 Bitcoin worth $50.88 billion as of June 28, spread across 113 separate buy events at an average cost basis of $75,653 per coin.
The chart’s orange bubbles highlight aggressive accumulation through 2024 and 2025, with the average purchase price trending steadily upward.
“We’re gonna need more charts,” Saylor wrote, signaling he expects to keep adding Bitcoin going forward despite skipping purchases entirely last week.
MSTR Breaks a Support Level That Held Since Early 2025MSTR trades 53.5% below its 200-day moving average, with the October 2025 death cross still firmly in place.
The stock crashed through the $100 to $105 demand zone that had held since early 2025, a major structural breakdown, and is now testing a deeper zone between $65 and $80.
RSI sits at 27.85, putting MSTR firmly in oversold territory. Reclaiming the broken $100 zone targets $114.50 then $133.93. Losing $80 opens a path toward $65 to $70.
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Despite the declines that began in October, LD Capital founder Jack Yi, who had consistently expressed optimism about Ethereum until the beginning of February, had now lost hope in ETH.
Yi stated that he was one of those who felt the most pressure during the decline in early February, and admitted that it was a mistake to be overly optimistic about Ethereum.
Following these erroneous actions, Jack Yi, who is now approaching Ethereum and the market more cautiously, shared his new analysis from his X account.
According to JackYi, Bitcoin is currently in its final downtrend phase.
The expert noted that BTC is experiencing its third downturn since October of last year, and according to Elliott Wave and cycle theories, this decline could be the last major drop of the bear market. According to Elliott Wave theory, the third wave is usually the strongest and longest-lasting.
The Chinese founder added that the key variables in determining the bottom are the performance of the US stock market and the price of Strategy (MSTR). Yi believes that a sustained decline in stocks could drag Bitcoin further down, while a rebound in MSTR could signal a broader market bottom.
“We are currently experiencing the third wave of decline since 11:10, and according to ripple theory and cycle rules, this is the last major downward wave for Bitcoin.”
Furthermore, black swan events or sudden spikes often occur at the end of past bear markets, but this one hasn’t happened yet, so we need to watch it closely.”
What Levels Could Bitcoin Reach? Yi, who sets Bitcoin’s potential price targets based on its October all-time high of $126,000, suggested that a 60% drop from BTC’s recent ATH of $126,000 could bring it down to $51,000, and a 66% drop could bring it down to $43,000. According to Yi, these percentages represent significant declines from current prices and signal a deep bear market bottom.
Finally, JackYi predicted that July and August would constitute the final downturn of this cycle, offering the most valuable buying opportunity for the next three years.
“Finally, if we calculate based on BTC’s highest point of $126,000, a 60% drop would be $51,000, and a 66% drop would be $43,000. In any case, July-August should be the final period, the best time for a dip, and even the most valuable trading opportunity for the next three years.”
*This is not investment advice.
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CZ: I previously sent a message to Elon Musk to discuss cooperation based on X Money, and received a reply stating that X Money is currently not involved in cryptocurrency.
In an interview, CZ stated that when X Corp launched X Money, he sent a message to Elon Musk on X, inquiring whether Binance could become a partner. Musk responded that X Money is not currently venturing into the cryptocurrency space. CZ added that he hopes X will eventually evolve into a global payments platform, drawing a parallel between this opportunity and Starlink’s achievements in the internet access sector.
4 minutes ago
CZ comments on MicroStrategy: The company’s asset structure is overly complex, but he views Michael Saylor as a "steadfast Bitcoin supporter".
In an interview, CZ stated that Strategy’s preferred stock STRC structure is "too complicated", noting that "it took many attempts to understand STRC". The product relies on Bitcoin as underlying collateral, creating a structural contradiction: while Bitcoin’s long-term appreciation thesis may be valid, its volatility makes it a challenging base for leverage instruments. CZ also emphasized he is not commenting on founder Michael Saylor’s credibility, describing him as a "firm Bitcoin supporter".
4 minutes ago
CZ: Binance’s Greek MiCA license application was nearly approved, but was forced to withdraw due to external factors.
In an interview, CZ stated that Binance’s MiCA license application submitted in Greece was fully compliant with regulatory requirements and near approval before being withdrawn, but the process was interrupted by "external political intervention". He added that multiple EU countries had expressed interest in the license, leading to a degree of "competitive lobbying", yet non-regulatory factors ultimately derailed the application, forcing its withdrawal. Binance officially pulled the Greek application last week and said it will shift to other EU member states to pursue MiCA authorization. Responding to market rumors linking Binance to senior EU political figures, CZ noted he has not seen any verifiable documents, only similar claims online, and has not confirmed them. He also pointed out that the EU MiCA transition period will end on July 1, after which unlicensed platforms must cease related services, with national regulators making clear they will not extend the deadline. CZ called the outcome a "lose-lose situation" and cited Japan and Singapore’s regulatory paths as examples, emphasizing compliance processes often require longer timelines.
4 minutes ago
Kraken is set to list the Bittensor subnet Alpha token.
Barry Silbert, founder and CEO of Digital Currency Group (DCG), parent company of Grayscale, reposted on X to disclose that crypto exchange Kraken is set to list Alpha tokens from Bittensor subnets. According to leaked details, the first batch of tokens to be listed includes Chutes, Targon, Score, Ridges AI, Hippius, and others.
4 minutes ago
Trump: Will Take Immediate Action on Fed Governor Lisa Cook’s Eligibility for Her Position
US President Trump stated that in the lawsuit over the eligibility of Federal Reserve Governor Cook, the Supreme Court remanded the case to a lower court solely on procedural grounds. We will immediately take appropriate action to ensure that individuals who have engaged in misconduct do not continue to make decisions on major matters related to the well-being of the United States.
4 minutes ago
Castle Securities warns that the Federal Reserve’s policies will become more stringent.
Castle Securities stated that investors have underestimated Fed Chair Kevin Warsh’s resolve to curb inflation, warning that higher interest rates could put pressure on risk assets. The firm also cautioned that the rally in the artificial intelligence market faces growing risks, including weak demand, declining returns, and intensified political and regulatory scrutiny.
In brief BitMine added another $43 million in Ethereum to its balance sheet last week, despite falling prices. The firm now holds more than 5.7 million ETH valued around $9 billion. As BitMine continued its consistent purchases, top Bitcoin treasury firm Strategy did not add to its holdings last week. Leading Ethereum treasury firm BitMine Immersion Technologies stayed consistent in the face of declining crypto prices last week, adding nearly $43 million in ETH to its stash even while top Bitcoin treasury company Strategy opted against accumulating BTC.
The firm now holds more than 5.7 million ETH, valued around $9 billion. It also holds around 206 Bitcoin, worth $12.3 million.
“This past week was a challenging one for crypto investors as ETH fell by 8%, even as Ethereum witnessed notable positive developments such as the creation of Ethlabs, and even the Bank of England softened its stance around stablecoins,” said BitMine Chairman Tom Lee in a statement. (Disclaimer: Lee is an investor in Decrypt parent company, Dastan).
Ethlabs, a new nonprofit research and development lab dedicated to championing the future of the Ethereum network and its native asset, is financially backed by BitMine and competing treasury firm Sharplink.
Lee maintained that crypto's future looks bright, and said the firm “remains focused on the longer-term horizon,” highlighting tailwinds like agentic payments and institutional adoption of crypto rails.
“We are nearing quarter-end for June, and it is not surprising to see 'window dressing' leading to investors reducing their holdings in assets which have fallen in the past three months,” he said.
The firm’s primary treasury asset, ETH, has now fallen 22% in the last month of trading, recently trading hands at $1,567. At that mark, ETH is now 68% off its all-time high of $4,946.
Bitcoin has performed marginally better, dipping 19% in the last month of trading and more than 52% from its all-time high of $126,080, changing hands on Monday at $59,324.
As its primary treasury vehicle slides, so too have shares in BitMine (BMNR). The firm’s stock has fallen nearly 17% in the last five trading days and more than 31% in the last month of trading, recently trading at $13.21—down about 2.6% so far Monday.
Shares are now down more than 91% from a 52-week high of $161 established shortly after the firm adopted its Ethereum treasury strategy last June.
That crypto-amassing model was pioneered by Bitcoin giant Strategy and its co-founder and Executive Chairman Michael Saylor, who started aggressively accumulating BTC in 2020. While the firm had aggressively and consistently added BTC on a nearly weekly basis in recent years, it did not add to its holdings last week amid scrutiny of its preferred equity offering, STRC, which fell to new lows on Friday.
Instead, the firm approved plans to sell up to $1.25 billion worth of Bitcoin to build up its cash reserves to fuel dividend payments.
Daily Debrief NewsletterStart every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.
In brief BitMine added another $43 million in Ethereum to its balance sheet last week, despite falling prices. The firm now holds more than 5.7 million ETH valued around $9 billion. As BitMine continued its consistent purchases, top Bitcoin treasury firm Strategy did not add to its holdings last week. Leading Ethereum treasury firm BitMine Immersion Technologies stayed consistent in the face of declining crypto prices last week, adding nearly $43 million in ETH to its stash even while top Bitcoin treasury company Strategy opted against accumulating BTC.
The firm now holds more than 5.7 million ETH, valued around $9 billion. It also holds around 206 Bitcoin, worth $12.3 million.
“This past week was a challenging one for crypto investors as ETH fell by 8%, even as Ethereum witnessed notable positive developments such as the creation of Ethlabs, and even the Bank of England softened its stance around stablecoins,” said BitMine Chairman Tom Lee in a statement. (Disclaimer: Lee is an investor in Decrypt parent company, Dastan).
Ethlabs, a new nonprofit research and development lab dedicated to championing the future of the Ethereum network and its native asset, is financially backed by BitMine and competing treasury firm Sharplink.
Lee maintained that crypto's future looks bright, and said the firm “remains focused on the longer-term horizon,” highlighting tailwinds like agentic payments and institutional adoption of crypto rails.
“We are nearing quarter-end for June, and it is not surprising to see 'window dressing' leading to investors reducing their holdings in assets which have fallen in the past three months,” he said.
The firm’s primary treasury asset, ETH, has now fallen 22% in the last month of trading, recently trading hands at $1,567. At that mark, ETH is now 68% off its all-time high of $4,946.
Bitcoin has performed marginally better, dipping 19% in the last month of trading and more than 52% from its all-time high of $126,080, changing hands on Monday at $59,324.
As its primary treasury vehicle slides, so too have shares in BitMine (BMNR). The firm’s stock has fallen nearly 17% in the last five trading days and more than 31% in the last month of trading, recently trading at $13.21—down about 2.6% so far Monday.
Shares are now down more than 91% from a 52-week high of $161 established shortly after the firm adopted its Ethereum treasury strategy last June.
That crypto-amassing model was pioneered by Bitcoin giant Strategy and its co-founder and Executive Chairman Michael Saylor, who started aggressively accumulating BTC in 2020. While the firm had aggressively and consistently added BTC on a nearly weekly basis in recent years, it did not add to its holdings last week amid scrutiny of its preferred equity offering, STRC, which fell to new lows on Friday.
Instead, the firm approved plans to sell up to $1.25 billion worth of Bitcoin to build up its cash reserves to fuel dividend payments.
Daily Debrief NewsletterStart every day with the top news stories right now, plus original features, a podcast, videos and more.
As the leading cryptocurrency Bitcoin (BTC) attempts to hold onto support around the $60,000 level, it continues to face a number of adverse factors, including large capital outflows from US spot ETFs, concerns about a potential Fed interest rate hike, a strong dollar, rising Treasury bond yields, and military conflicts in the Middle East.
Amid these negative developments, further declines for Bitcoin continue to be predicted, with $50,000 being the most frequently mentioned option.
At this point, the analytics firm QCP Capital predicts that Bitcoin could reach $55,000.
QCP Capital analysts noted increased demand in the options market for BTC put options with a price range of $55,000 to $58,000 for the end of July.
Analysts also added that risk reversal indicators largely favored put options.
Finally, QCP Capital identified $58,000 and $1,500 as key support levels for Bitcoin and Ethereum, respectively.
The First Bottom Signal for Bitcoin Has Arrived! Furthermore, CryptoQuant analyst MorenoDV argues that the first bottoming signals are emerging in Bitcoin’s on-chain indicators.
According to the analyst, the first on-chain signal of a potential Bitcoin bottom has been observed. At this point, the analyst noted that the Bitcoin UTXO block profit/loss ratio has fallen to a level that historically coincides with market lows.
However, this doesn’t necessarily mean a bottom has been reached. According to the analyst, a stronger signal for a bottom in Bitcoin needs to emerge, and the 365-day moving average needs to show a much steeper decline. In other words, the current bear market may face further declines and market shocks before it completely ends.
“…The rate has fallen into a region that historically appears during bottom-forming phases. However, this doesn’t mean the bottom has been reached. Bitcoin may need to endure more pain before completely ending its bear market phase…”
*This is not investment advice.
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Bitcoin crossed back above $60,000 on June 29 as the final hours of the worst monthly candle of the 2026 correction cycle play out with an unexpected positive: the Fear & Greed Index dropped to 12 — a new absolute cycle low in sentiment — while price simultaneously pushed above the key $60,000 level. That divergence between deepening fear and recovering price is the most significant macro signal of the day. Total crypto market cap sits near $2.12 trillion. Volume is elevated across the board, with BTC up 52% and ETH up 29% on the prior session.
Key Takeaways BTC $60,190 (+0.16%), reclaiming $60,000 ahead of June 30 UTC midnight monthly close Fear & Greed Index at 12 (Extreme Fear) — new absolute cycle low; yesterday 18, last week 20, last month 23 Sentiment making new lows while BTC makes higher lows — textbook divergence signal SOL +1.26% leads large-cap recovery; XRP +0.32% first green day in four sessions ETH –0.01% flat, BNB –0.81%, TRX –0.38% — mixed picture DOGE –13.39% weekly — worst 7-day performer in top 10 by significant margin BTC 4H MA(7) $59,881 — price $309 above it; first time BTC has held above MA(7) since June breakdown June monthly close in hours: BTC needs to hold $60,000+ to shift the narrative into July Crypto Market Snapshot — June 29, 2026 AssetPrice1h24h7dMarket CapVolume (24h)Bitcoin (BTC)$60,350+0.68%+0.16%–6.71%$1.21T$22.24BEthereum (ETH)$1,579+0.34%–0.01%–10.55%$190.65B$8.02BTether (USDT)$0.9984+0.01%0.00%–0.05%$186.04B$50.15BBNB$551.67–0.25%–0.81%–7.67%$74.35B$1.01BUSDC$0.99950.00%0.00%–0.02%$73.72B$9.07BXRP$1.05+0.38%+0.32%–8.07%$65.61B$1.46BSolana (SOL)$72.67–0.47%+1.26%–1.87%$42.2B$2.52BTRON (TRX)$0.3219–0.35%–0.38%–2.80%$30.53B$560.11MHyperliquid (HYPE)$63.53+0.10%+0.65%–6.57%$16.07B$384.03MDogecoin (DOGE)$0.07291+0.15%–1.04%–13.39%$11.29B$514.23M Fear & Greed at 12: The Most Important Number of the Day The Fear & Greed Index printing 12 on June 29 is the single most important data point in today’s market — not because of what it tells you about current conditions, but because of what it has historically signalled about what comes next.
The trajectory over the past 30 days: last month 23, last week 20, yesterday 18, today 12. Every reading has been in Extreme Fear. The index has now been below 20 for multiple consecutive days — a condition that in prior cycles (2018 bottom, March 2020 COVID crash, November 2022 FTX bottom) preceded major recoveries within days to weeks. The 2022 bear market absolute bottom saw a reading of 6; today’s 12 is not that extreme, but the directional trend — rapidly falling sentiment while price is simultaneously recovering above $60,000 — is the divergence pattern that characterises exhaustion bottoms.
The divergence on June 29 is clean: Fear & Greed at a new cycle low of 12 while BTC trades at $60,190, above both the $59,130 May cycle low and the $58,115 June 26 intraday low. Price is making higher lows; sentiment is making lower lows. One of them is wrong. Historically, price leads sentiment out of cycle bottoms.
Bitcoin: Above $60,000 Into the Monthly Close Bitcoin reclaimed $60,000 in the afternoon session on June 29 and is currently trading at $60,190 — up 0.16% on the day and holding above the 4H MA(7) at $59,881 for the first time since the June breakdown. The 4H candle shows BTC opened at $59,956, hit a high of $60,202, dipped to $59,595, and recovered to close the 4H candle at $60,190 — a constructive structure with a higher low than the prior candle.
The June monthly close now looks like a Scenario 2 outcome: a close between $59,130 and $60,078 (MA(25)) that preserves the structural floor without confirming a recovery. If BTC can close the June 30 UTC midnight candle above $60,078, the monthly close would be the most bullish technical outcome possible given the June 26 capitulation — reclaiming the 4H MA(25) on a monthly closing basis. For daily BTC analysis, see our Bitcoin news today page.
Ethereum: Flat at $1,580, MA(7) and MA(25) Tight Again Ethereum is essentially flat at $1,580 on June 29 — down 0.01% — with the 4H MA(7) at $1,576 and MA(25) at $1,575 sitting within $1 of each other directly below price. Unlike the compression setups on June 27–28 that resolved lower, ETH is currently trading above both MAs — a marginal improvement. MA(99) at $1,680 remains $100 above current price, reflecting the full extent of the June selloff.
ETH’s 7-day loss of 10.55% is the worst among top-8 assets, making it the biggest relative underperformer of the correction week. The Glamsterdam upgrade targeting Q3 2026 mainnet, BitMine’s 5.67 million ETH embedded in Russell 1000 passive funds, and the Ethereum Foundation’s 40% spending cut remain the three structural support pillars heading into July.
Solana: Best Large-Cap Performer, Above All Three MAs Solana is the standout on June 29 — up 1.26% to $72.95 with the 4H chart showing price above MA(7) at $72.15, MA(25) at $70.98, and MA(99) at $70.99. SOL is the only large-cap asset with a bullish 4H MA alignment entering the June monthly close. The 7-day loss of just 1.87% confirms SOL’s relative resilience since the $64.04 cycle low on June 26 — it has recovered faster and held better than Bitcoin, Ethereum, or XRP.
SOL’s 100-billion lifetime transaction milestone crossed on June 26 and the Alpenglow upgrade targeting Q3 2026 mainnet — 150ms finality — remain the primary fundamental catalysts. The combination of bullish MA structure, above-average recovery speed from cycle lows, and strong fundamental pipeline makes SOL the highest-quality technical setup in the large-cap space entering July.
XRP: First Green 24H in Four Sessions XRP printed +0.32% on June 29 — the first positive 24-hour session since the June 25 pre-capitulation high. The 4H chart shows price at $1.057 above MA(7) at $1.0509 and MA(25) at $1.0491 — the same bullish MA reclaim pattern that appeared briefly on June 27 before fading. MA(99) at $1.1261 remains significant overhead resistance.
The June 29 green candle matters more symbolically than technically: XRP’s 7-day loss of 8.07% and monthly loss of roughly 18% reflect the scale of the correction, and a 0.32% recovery does not reverse that. What it does confirm is that the $1.0092 cycle low from June 26 has now held across four consecutive sessions — and that each session above $1.00 strengthens the psychological floor. The CLARITY Act remains at 48% on Polymarket; a Senate floor vote scheduling announcement remains the primary XRP catalyst for July.
BNB: Slipping Below $555 BNB is down 0.81% to $554.40 on June 29 — the weakest large-cap performer of the day alongside TRX. The 4H chart shows price below MA(7) at $552.73 but above MA(25) at $559.12 — wait, the current price of $554.40 is actually between MA(7) at $552.73 below and MA(25) at $559.12 above, confirming a compressed bearish structure. BNB’s 7-day loss of 7.67% places it in the middle of the correction pack. The $540.60 June 26 cycle low held, and the $552–$555 range is the near-term base.
TRON: Defensive Position Maintained TRX is down 0.38% to $0.3224 — a small loss on a day when several assets are recovering. The 4H chart shows all three MAs compressed within $0.001 of each other: MA(7) $0.3227, MA(25) $0.3221, MA(99) $0.3230 — an even tighter triple convergence than the double-MA setup seen on June 28. TRX’s 7-day loss of just 2.80% remains one of the best performances in the top 10, reflecting its utility-driven demand base from USDT settlement volume. MiCA enforcement began July 1 — the structural volume catalyst for TRON-based stablecoin flows from non-compliant European platforms.
Dogecoin: Worst Weekly Performer at –13.39% DOGE is down 13.39% over 7 days and 1.04% on the day to $0.07291 — the worst weekly performance in the top 10 by a significant margin, nearly double Ethereum’s –10.55% weekly loss. With no utility catalyst or fundamental development, DOGE is a pure sentiment indicator: at Fear & Greed 12, meme assets absorb the maximum sentiment discount. DOGE’s recovery, when it comes, will likely be the fastest in the top 10 — precisely because sentiment-driven assets move furthest in both directions.
Hyperliquid: Holding $63 Despite Market Pressure Hyperliquid (HYPE) at $63.53 — up 0.65% on the day — continues to demonstrate relative strength at #9 by market cap with $16.07 billion. The on-chain perpetuals exchange has maintained record volumes through the June correction, and the 7-day loss of 6.57% is better than most top-10 assets. HYPE above $60 on a day when Fear & Greed prints 12 is a meaningful signal about the depth of fundamental demand for the asset.
The June 30 Monthly Close: What July Inherits The monthly close arriving at UTC midnight tonight will set the technical framework for July positioning across every asset. Three scenarios remain in play:
For Bitcoin: a close above $60,000 into July is the most constructive possible outcome given the June 26 capitulation. Current price at $60,190 makes this the base case.
For Ethereum: a close above $1,575 (MA(7)) would confirm the double-MA compression resolved to the upside. Currently trading at $1,580 — marginally constructive.
For XRP: a close above $1.05 would be the first month-end close above that level since May. Currently at $1.057 — possible.
For Solana: a close above $72 with bullish MA alignment would make SOL the strongest technical setup entering July among all large-cap assets. Currently at $72.95.
The catalysts for July are clear: CLARITY Act Senate floor vote timing, Fed speaker commentary, and any development on the American Reserve Modernization Act. A Fear & Greed Index at 12 entering July means the positioning bar for a sentiment reversal is extremely low.
Today’s Market in One Paragraph June 29 closes with a contradiction that defines the current cycle: Fear & Greed at 12 — its lowest reading since the correction began — while Bitcoin trades at $60,190, Solana holds a bullish 4H MA alignment, and XRP prints its first green session in four days. Sentiment is maximally compressed; price is holding or recovering. The June 30 monthly close in hours will either confirm this divergence as a bottom signal or resolve it lower if selling resumes into the close. The week ahead brings the CLARITY Act’s most important legislative window of 2026 — the August recess deadline creates urgency that has not existed in any prior week of the correction.
Bitcoin infrastructure company Breez has added a feature to its developer toolkit that lets users send USDC (USDC) and USDt (USDT) across more than 30 blockchain networks directly from a Bitcoin balance, without first converting or holding stablecoins.
According to an announcement shared with Cointelegraph, the feature uses the Lightning Network alongside automated conversion to route payments from Bitcoin (BTC) to USDC or USDT before delivering funds to the recipient's preferred blockchain.
When a user enters a recipient's wallet address, the Breez SDK identifies the destination blockchain, calculates a conversion route and displays the amount, network and fees before the payment is confirmed. The transaction is then routed through liquidity providers, including Flashnet and Boltz, which convert the sender's Bitcoin into stablecoins and deliver it on the recipient's chosen blockchain.
Roy Sheinfeld, CEO of Breez, told Cointelegraph the feature does not require USDT or USDC to be issued on the Lightning Network. Instead, it relies on "interoperability" to let users spend from a Bitcoin balance while recipients receive stablecoins on supported blockchain networks.
Breez said users continue holding Bitcoin until they initiate a payment, while recipients receive stablecoins on their preferred blockchain without requiring the sender to manage separate stablecoin balances. The feature is non-custodial and initially supports only outbound stablecoin payments, with support for receiving stablecoins from external blockchain networks planned for a future release.
The feature is designed to allow developers to add stablecoin payments without integrating multiple blockchain networks or requiring users to manage separate Bitcoin and stablecoin balances.
Bitcoin payment infrastructure expandsThe launch comes as companies expand Bitcoin and the Lightning Network, a layer-2 payment network designed to make Bitcoin transactions faster and less expensive, into new financial and commercial applications.
In February, Secure Digital Markets, an institutional trading and lending desk, completed a $1 million Bitcoin payment to Kraken over the Lightning Network in less than half a second, demonstrating the protocol's potential for high-value institutional transfers. The transaction illustrated how Lightning is increasingly being tested for use cases beyond small retail payments.
That same month, Bitcoin infrastructure company Voltage introduced a US dollar-settled revolving credit line that embeds business credit into Lightning payment flows, allowing companies to settle repayments in either US dollars or Bitcoin. The product is intended to enable businesses to access working capital using Lightning for payments, without holding crypto on their balance sheets.
Event platform Satlantis also launched a Bitcoin-native ticketing platform with embedded Lightning wallets, allowing organizers to sell tickets and accept BTC alongside traditional payment methods.
In March, Tether-backed Bitcoin infrastructure startup Ark Labs in a $5.2 million funding round to develop technology supporting stablecoin issuance, transfers and settlement on Bitcoin.
Lightning adoption has continued to grow. A February report from River estimated the network surpassed $1 billion in monthly transaction volume in late 2025, up from around $12 million in 2021.
Lightning Network transaction volumes continue to grow. Source: River
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.
Key HighlightsBitcoin-to-USDC Payment Capability Now Available Through Breez SDKUSDT Payment Functionality Extended Across Multiple Blockchain NetworksEnhanced Functionality for Bitcoin Payment Ecosystem Breez enables direct stablecoin transmission from Bitcoin holdings without requiring users to maintain USDC or USDT balances.
The payment solution operates across more than 30 different blockchain networks.
Bitcoin remains in user wallets until the moment of payment execution and conversion.
Application developers gain stablecoin payout capabilities without complex multi-chain infrastructure.
Future updates will enable users to receive stablecoins from external blockchain networks.
Breez has introduced a novel payment mechanism that allows Bitcoin holders to transmit USDC or USDT without maintaining stablecoin balances. The technology operates through the company’s software development kit and facilitates transactions across more than 30 blockchain ecosystems. This innovation provides applications with a streamlined method to integrate stablecoin payment options without requiring users to pre-fund stablecoin wallets.
Bitcoin-to-USDC Payment Capability Now Available Through Breez SDK The payment functionality has been integrated directly into Breez’s software development kit, which application developers utilize to incorporate Lightning Network payment capabilities. The architecture allows users to initiate transactions from Bitcoin holdings while delivering value to USDC-enabled recipients. Users benefit from eliminating the requirement to maintain separate USDC reserves prior to transaction execution.
The system performs recipient address verification and blockchain identification before transaction approval. It provides senders with complete visibility into routing paths, associated fees, payment amounts, and destination networks. Upon user confirmation, designated liquidity providers execute Bitcoin-to-USDC conversion and complete delivery to the intended recipient.
The solution leverages Lightning Network infrastructure alongside Breez’s proprietary Spark Layer 2 protocol for rapid settlement processing. Breez collaborates with industry partners such as Flashnet and Boltz to facilitate conversion operations and payment delivery. This approach allows developers to offer USDC payment functionality without constructing independent blockchain integration systems.
USDT Payment Functionality Extended Across Multiple Blockchain Networks The platform additionally facilitates USDT transmission from Bitcoin balances using identical payment workflows. Users maintain Bitcoin exposure until payment initiation, while recipients receive USDT in their designated wallets. This architecture eliminates the burden of stablecoin wallet management prior to fund transmission.
Current functionality focuses exclusively on outbound stablecoin payments, based on the company’s deployment roadmap. Breez has announced intentions to incorporate stablecoin receiving capabilities from external blockchain networks in subsequent releases. This enhancement could transform the SDK into a comprehensive multi-asset payment infrastructure layer.
USDT maintains significant relevance in global remittance channels due to widespread preference for dollar-denominated transactions. Regional variations in blockchain adoption stem from differences in transaction costs and exchange accessibility. Breez’s support for 30 distinct chains provides developers with enhanced flexibility to serve diverse geographic markets.
Enhanced Functionality for Bitcoin Payment Ecosystem This release expands stablecoin capabilities within Bitcoin payment infrastructure and Lightning Network-enabled applications. Breez currently provides services to over 75 applications via its SDK, including notable platforms like Deblock and Cake Wallet. This established distribution network provides the new payment feature with immediate accessibility across wallet and payment product ecosystems.
Breez secured $4.5 million in funding during December 2022 from investment firms including Fulgur Ventures and Ego Death Capital. Following this capital raise, the company has concentrated development efforts on Lightning Network tools for wallet applications, social platforms, and payment infrastructure. The latest product release advances this strategic direction into stablecoin delivery and remittance applications.
The broader Bitcoin payment sector has evolved beyond small-scale retail transaction processing. During February, Secure Digital Markets successfully executed a $1 million Lightning Network payment to Kraken exchange in less than half a second. Voltage launched a dollar-denominated credit facility integrated with Lightning payment infrastructure.
Oliver Dale
Editor-in-Chief of Blockonomi and founder of Kooc Media, A UK-Based Online Media Company. Believer in Open-Source Software, Blockchain Technology & a Free and Fair Internet for all. His writing has been quoted by Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Investopedia, The New Yorker, Forbes, Techcrunch & More. Contact [email protected]
Zoomex hosted the second episode of its World Cup Edition X Space as part of the Zoomex World Cup Impact Pledge, bringing together Champions League winner Didi Hamann and three traders: Mario from Forex Trading & Investing, Crank, and Joseph. Fernando Aranda hosted the session, which ran across World Cup analysis, the German squad debate, career philosophy, and the kind of crypto-to-football comparisons that only hold together when neither side takes them too seriously.
The session continued the five-part charity initiative launched in the first episode. Across five World Cup episodes, Zoomex is committing 1,000 USDT per episode to a charity of each football guest’s choosing, rising by an additional 5,000 USDT if the guest’s World Cup prediction proves correct. Hamann backed Japan to beat Sweden and nominated a homeless support charity in Munich, a cause he backs regularly.
Nothing to Lose. Nothing to Fear. Fernando opened by asking which is harder, a match you must win, or a match you cannot afford to lose. Hamann said the question had never been put to him that way before, and his answer repositioned the difficulty entirely.
“I always say in football, the hardest thing in football is when you play against a team that has nothing to lose. If that makes sense, because we’ve seen a lot of upsets. When a team has nothing to lose, they’re the most dangerous because they just go for it. And if they lose, they lose. It doesn’t matter. But if they win, they can win everything or gain everything.”
That is a different pressure to manage than needing to win. A team chasing a must-win result still operates inside a calculation. A team that only stands to gain has discarded the calculation entirely. From that point of view, he said, having to win is probably the easier of the two situations to be in.
Morocco against Italy was the recent example the panel kept returning to. South Africa against South Korea was another. “Nobody gave them a chance, and here they are in the last 32.”
Crank had watched the same dynamic unfold in markets many times. Traders who enter without a prebuilt plan are playing from the same emotional state as a team with nothing to lose: exposed, reactive, and without the protection that structure provides. The difference is that in trading, the cost of that freedom comes directly out of your account.
The Game Does Not Change at 3-0 Down. As a holding midfielder, Hamann gave himself one instruction regardless of what the scoreboard said, and he never deviated from it.
“I always felt in my position I couldn’t afford to give the ball away because we have players who need to take risks. They give the ball away more often naturally because they have to take chances. And I always felt in my position I had to play the same way whether we are 3-0 up or 3-0 down because I wasn’t the one changing games, scoring goals or setting up goals. It wasn’t my job and I couldn’t do it. But we had players to do that.”
The players around him were Steven Gerrard, Luis Garcia, Cissé, Baros. His job was to win the ball, protect the structure, and put it in their feet as quickly as possible. Getting carried away when the scoreline was comfortable, or trying to do things that were not in his nature when 3-0 down, both produced the same result: a team that had lost its shape.
Istanbul in 2005 is the case study. Hamann came on at half-time, three goals down against an AC Milan side regarded at the time as the best club team in the world. He was warming up on the touchline when the second half was about to begin, and his read was simple.
“I was sure, warming up at half-time, because obviously I came on at half-time, I was sure if we scored one, I’m sure we scored a second one. And then if it’s 3-2, even the most experienced teams do make mistakes. And then after that first goal, the stadium came, there were 40,000 or 50,000 Liverpool fans. And I think AC Milan all of a sudden thought, maybe it’s not over.”
Three goals in six minutes. Penalties after that. He acknowledged luck was part of it, but the more durable point was that the process did not change. Win the ball. Do not concede the wrong goal. Give the ball to the people with the license to take risks.
Cissé had been a guest the previous week and described the same locker room from the other side. Joseph in this session brought the parallel into trading directly: “I always start with a plan, like a coach picks his starting eleven before the match. But if the market moves against me, don’t wait too long. Just like a coach, make a quick substitution when the team is losing control. I exit my position early instead of hoping for a comeback. Sticking to a plan is good, but being too stubborn can really hurt you. At the end of the day, the best traders are not the ones who are always right. They are the ones who know how to manage risks when they are wrong.”
Attack Is Not Enough. Fernando raised the old argument: attack wins games, defence wins championships. Hamann agreed, then sharpened it.
“It’s almost impossible to outscore teams on a regular basis. I do think just attack won’t win. You need a good defence, you need a balance in your team, and a good-holding midfielder. You might get to the quarters, you might get to the semis, you might even get to the final. But I don’t think you win the whole thing.”
The Barcelona side that most people reach for as the purest attacking team of the modern era, Messi, Suárez, Neymar, still had Puyol and Piqué in central defence and Busquets holding midfield. That Busquets point is the sharper one: the best attacking team of the generation was built around arguably the best defensive midfielder of the same generation. France in this tournament ticks the same boxes from the other direction. Mbappé at the front, two of the best centre-backs in the world behind him, a holding structure that does not give teams the space to breathe.
Real Madrid is the present-day example of what happens when the balance is off. The attacking quality is not in question. The defensive midfield structure lags, and at the tournament stage, one bad half against the right opponent ends everything.
On the type of error he finds hardest to watch, Hamann drew a precise distinction. “I don’t mind the technical fault or mistake. You know, if a ball bounces, if you misplace a pass, it shouldn’t happen, but it happens. But what I don’t like is when teams, especially in the Champions League or now in the World Cup, when they make mental mistakes. You see it all the time when they give the ball away in areas where they shouldn’t play, where they get a bit too smart and think they get away with it. You shouldn’t make a mistake because you don’t think. This is what drives me crazy.”
A technical error can be explained by the surface, by fatigue, by a fraction of a second lost to distraction. A mental error has no comparable excuse. At the highest level, with everything on the line, the only reason to stop thinking is overconfidence.
The trading panel had the same split. Mario put it cleanly: “The market is the man and we follow the market. It doesn’t make sense not to change your view if the market is against you. You only lose money when you do it like that.” The stop loss is the instrument that enforces honesty when the mind is arguing for one more minute, one more candle, one more reason to stay in. Mario gave it the most useful name of the session: “The stop loss is like being a good defender. Maybe like the libero. The last man. If you kick him, then you get a red card. That’s the stop loss. Last line of defence.”
Joseph extended the metaphor into position sizing: “It’s just like a football defence. If your back line is not organised, even a great goalkeeper cannot save you every time. In trading, protecting your capital is like protecting your goal. If you defend well, you will always have another chance to win.”
Brazil to Win. Angelotti to Manage. Hamann had made his tournament pick before the first game was played, and he was not changing it now.
“I said at the start of the tournament, I said Brazil, because I think it’s a long tournament. It’s 48 teams now, so it’s a week, 10 days longer than it was before. And there will be at times, there will be a few problems within the team, and you need somebody to handle it and manage it. And I think in Angelotti, they’ve got the perfect man.”
The best defence. A very good attack. An open question in midfield. And the right coach for a campaign that will test squads not just tactically but in terms of internal management. His second breath went to France. “I stick with Brazil, but I think it will take a very, very good team to beat France.”
Germany occupies a different kind of space in Hamann’s thinking, somewhere between professional assessment and obvious personal investment. The read on the squad was honest. Undaf, used so far as the impact substitute, should stay there.
“He’s probably the best sub, the super sub of this tournament. He’s probably the best player coming on in this tournament. So why change it? Because everybody knows when he comes on, there’s a boost going around the ground. There’s a boost going through the team and everybody goes, oh, he’s coming on. We’ve got a chance.”
That psychological effect disappears the moment he becomes expected from the first whistle. The weapon works because it has been withheld. Sané has not delivered on the first two games. Wirth is settling in. Musiala, five months back from a serious injury, has been anonymous by his own standards. Schlotterbeck’s absence has cost the defensive structure its balance with the left foot. Mecha has been the best German player in the tournament and may emerge from it as one of the most watched midfielders in Europe.
On the group stage as a concept, Hamann was pragmatic. “You just have to get out of the group. Nobody talks. Once you get to the last 32, last 16, nobody cares how you got out of the group, how you played in the group. That’s when it matters.”
Crank’s read on the Bitcoin market was built with the same long-cycle logic. He described taking short positions near the top, closing them on the way down, and watching the four-year cycle move toward what he sees as a floor. “Bitcoin is exactly where it should be. My levels right now are golden pocket between 54 and 57. I’m waiting for one more big capitulation, scare you pretty bad, and then we can, based off of four-year cycle theory, start our accumulation phase and bottoming out, which for me is between 41 to 46,000.” Mario put his own range at 43,000 to 45,000 and believed the bottom would arrive within 100 days of the session. Joseph agreed with the range. The disagreement was mostly about timing.
Dark Horses and an 18-Year-Old Who Plays Like a Veteran Among the nations that had caught his attention, Hamann pointed first to the home contingent. Canada had been exceptional. Mexico against England at the Azteca, with altitude and a full home crowd, would be nobody’s idea of a comfortable draw. “That won’t be an easy game. If they play Mexico City, the Azteca with altitude, it’s not an easy thing to beat them there.”
South Africa had made the sharpest impression. “The way they played yesterday. It was absolutely brilliant. Nobody gave them a chance, and here they are in the last 32.”
Japan was his most dangerous selection from outside the traditional powers. “I think Japan is really a dangerous team. Beat Germany four years ago in Qatar. I think they beat Spain as well. They’ve got that vision. They want to, I think before 2050, they want to be world champions. They want to win the World Cup. Not sure it’s going to happen this year. But this is a nation that improves year after year after year.”
Ivory Coast came up without prompting. “The first 60 minutes against Germany, I think they played exceptionally well. Germany was second best in every aspect.” A team that outplays Germany for an hour in a major tournament is not an accident. They are a dangerous team going forward.
On Morocco, Hamann pointed to an 18-year-old central midfielder without being asked. He had heard about the player before the tournament. He saw him play. Then he looked up the age again.
“Brilliant. 18 years of age, the maturity he plays with, I couldn’t believe. I heard of him before, then I saw him, then I had to look again. How old is he? 18 years. Because usually, central midfielders, they get into the best age, 22, 24, because experience counts for a lot. But the way he plays, how composed. At 18 years of age, unbelievable.”
The Hardest Opponents. The Best Teammates. On the midfielder who made his career most uncomfortable, Hamann did not hesitate. There were players across the years who tried to get inside his head, who wanted him in a conversation on the pitch, who looked for ways to make him react. “I never spoke to the opposition and very rarely spoke to the referee. So that didn’t really bother me.”
The frustration with Patrick Vieira was entirely different: it was purely about quality.
“The most frustrating was probably the best one I played against because he was like a Rolls-Royce. He was quick, he was strong, he could pass, he played in an exceptional team with Arsenal. It was no joy playing against him because he was so good. For me, he was the best and I had never fun playing against him.”
That Arsenal side was the backdrop that made it worse. Vieira in an average team is one problem. Vieira in one of the best club sides he faced across his entire career is a different afternoon entirely.
On the other side of the ledger, the question of superstars and teams produced one of the clearest statements of the session. Messi, Mbappé, Ronaldo, Haaland: are they the reason teams win, or is it the other way around?
“It’s got to be the team. But I think all these guys, they all know that they couldn’t succeed without the team. On your own, you’re nothing. As good as they are, but you need 10 other players. And I think the best example was the last World Cup, where really 10 players worked for Messi and then he made the difference. And that’s how it should be, because you need to cover all the bases as a team.”
On the next German superstar, Hamann was direct. “I said he’s too good to fail because it’s the best player I’ve seen in the last 20 years in a German shirt.” Wirth had a difficult debut season at Liverpool. A new manager changes the conditions. Mecha he views as deeply undervalued. “He’s not a flash player, but he does the things nobody wants to do. He makes it really very efficient. He’s got pace, he’s got physicality, he can score a goal. I think Mecha was very underrated in the last few years. We might even see him at a huge club after the World Cup because now everybody took note of him.”
No Emotions. No Exceptions. Fernando drew the bridge between the two halves of the session: coaches change systems mid-game when the plan stops working, and traders change positions when the market moves against them. The panel each described how they handle that moment.
Crank’s answer was the most absolute. “No emotions in day trading. You are up against robots. Within these algorithms, emotions do not exist. And anybody that trades for a living or is just getting started needs to understand that you’re going to be so numb that you do the same thing every single day. But it’s a system. And once you have it to where it works in your favour and you have it dialled in, you don’t make those adjustments.”
His summary of the choice at the centre of trading was the most direct line of the session: “Do you want to be right, or do you want to be rich?”
Mario agreed without qualification. “No emotions in trading. That’s the worst thing you can do. You have to just shut down your emotions. Just stick to your plan. Every day doing the same thing that works. And emotions don’t work.”
Joseph described what happens after a stop loss gets hit, a moment most traders find more disorienting than the loss itself. “Getting stopped out and watching the price go back up, that’s one of the most annoying things in trading. But I have a personal rule: after a stop loss, I take a short break, maybe 15 to 30 minutes before opening any new trade. This stops me from revenge trading. It’s like a player who misses a penalty. The best one would take a breath before playing on, not react emotionally. Every loss is a lesson, but revenge trading usually turns one mistake into two.”
Crank closed on the cycle and what it means for the audience watching right now. “Now’s the time more than ever to exit out all the noise and really focus because this is where you separate the boys and girls from the men and women. Be violent with your education right now because this is where lives are changed.”
Which Team Is Bitcoin? Fernando asked the panel to map the major assets to national teams in the tournament.
Brazil collected the Bitcoin allocation from most of the panel. The longest track record, the deepest global fanbase, the benchmark that everything else gets measured against regardless of current charts. Joseph assigned it to Argentina, with a specific reason: the 2022 World Cup, where ten players organised themselves entirely in service of one, and the one delivered. That, in his view, is the most accurate representation of how Bitcoin’s entire ecosystem functions around a single thesis.
France drew Ethereum from most voices, technically foundational, expected to perform at the highest level, measured against a standard that was set years ago and has not yet been surpassed. Portugal went to Solana: fast, direct, talent-driven, with a single player whose presence changes every calculation. Mario broke from the group and pointed to Spain or the Netherlands as the surprise allocations, teams that could outperform expectation the way an asset can when its narrative catches up with its fundamentals.
On which of the major tournament favourites exits earliest, France drew the most votes, followed by Germany. Mario, thirty years a German football supporter, crossed his fingers rather than naming names.
The Lesson From the Zoomex Space The thread connecting both halves of the session was what holds together when the situation changes and the original plan no longer applies.
Hamann’s philosophy as a midfielder, do not vary the process at 3-0 up or 3-0 down, is the same discipline the traders described as the line between consistent performance and emotional reaction. It is not about suppressing the awareness that the situation has changed. It is about having decided in advance what you do when it does.
The 2005 Champions League final is not a story about hope or momentum or the magic of a particular night. It is a story about a team that kept doing the right things in the right order while three goals down, until the conditions changed. “If there were no mistakes, there wouldn’t be any goals,” Hamann said. That applies to both sides of the ball. The team that keeps its structure in a crisis does not create the opening. It creates the conditions for the opening to appear.
Crank’s question applies equally. In football and in markets, the answer to the question of whether you want to be right or rich determines how you behave when the scoreline, or the chart, tells you something you do not want to hear.
The Zoomex World Cup Impact Pledge continues across three more episodes, each with a new football guest, a new charity selection, and a prediction on record. Brazil is going to win the World Cup. Didi Hamann said so, and the charity pool for Munich’s homeless depends on Japan clearing the first hurdle.
About Zoomex Founded in 2021, Zoomex is a global cryptocurrency trading platform with over 3 million users across more than 35 countries and regions, offering 600+ trading pairs. Guided by its core values of “Simple × User-Friendly × Fast,” Zoomex is committed to fairness, integrity, and transparency in delivering a high-performance, low-barrier, trustworthy trading experience.
As an official partner of the Haas F1 Team and global brand ambassador partner of goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez, Zoomex brings the same focus on speed, precision, and discipline from the racetrack and the pitch to trading. The platform holds regulatory licenses including Canada MSB, U.S. MSB, U.S. NFA, and Australia AUSTRAC, and has passed security audits conducted by Hacken.
Bitcoin is trading at 59,800 dollars this Monday, up 0.6% over 24 hours, but still below the psychological threshold of 60,000 dollars. The market structure remains bearish, despite a slight rebound in Solana and a lull in volatility indices. How long will sellers keep control?
In Brief Bitcoin has dropped more than 50% since its October peak, and analysts anticipate a continued correction. The implied volatility index BVIV fell 5% to 47%, ending two consecutive weeks of gains. CoinMarketCap’s Altcoin Season indicator remains stuck at 49/100, signaling widespread market hesitation. Derivatives Confirm Investors’ Caution Positioning data on futures contracts paint an unpromising picture. Over the last 24 hours, more than 200 million dollars in positions were forcibly liquidated, the majority being longs. Open interest on bitcoin has returned to early-month levels, erasing the advance to 775,000 BTC recorded on Friday.
On Deribit, BTC options continue to favor puts. The 60,000 dollar put option now shows nearly a billion dollars in open notional interest, compared to 1.11 billion for the 80,000 dollar call option. If the price falls below this level, the next significant cluster of options is at 50,000 dollars, with 712 million dollars in open interest.
The adjusted cumulative 24-hour volume delta remains negative for 22 of the top 25 tokens. Sellers dominate flows, placing market orders rather than limit orders.
Solana Rebounds, But Durability Questions Remain Unanswered Solana has risen more than 13% since Thursday, after touching its lowest level since the end of 2023 earlier this month. However, this rebound has not convinced investors to take leveraged positions. Open interest on SOL remains high at 72.70 million SOL, just below the record 76 million reached on June 24, suggesting potential for increased volatility.
AVAX shows a similar situation. Despite rising more than 5% last week, open interest continued to decline, falling to 38.07 million tokens, its lowest since April 1. A rebound without conviction, which positioning data struggles to validate.
Meanwhile, some analysts highlight that bitcoin operates in a zone of historical undervaluation according to long-term indicators, with the current price below its 200-day moving average less than 10% of the time across its entire history.
The overall picture remains unfavorable in the short term. Massive liquidations, the decline in open BTC positions, and persistent apathy towards altcoins all point to the same diagnosis: investors are waiting, without conviction to buy.
The Altcoin Season index stuck at 49/100 confirms that the market will only regain altitude if bitcoin clearly breaks above 60,000 dollars. A single trigger could change the dynamics: a weekly close above this threshold. For now, sellers set the pace.
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Fenelon L.
Passionné par le Bitcoin, j'aime explorer les méandres de la blockchain et des cryptos et je partage mes découvertes avec la communauté. Mon rêve est de vivre dans un monde où la vie privée et la liberté financière sont garanties pour tous, et je crois fermement que Bitcoin est l'outil qui peut rendre cela possible.
DISCLAIMER
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.
More than 550,000 BTC moved to deposit addresses linked to Binance and OKX as Bitcoin retested the $60,000 area, according to CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost. The transfers came during a weak period for Bitcoin, when traders have focused on whether the $59,000–$60,000 range can hold as support.
Summary
More than 550k BTC moved to Binance and OKX deposit addresses during Bitcoin’s $60k retest. CryptoQuant says the spike may show potential selling pressure, but not completed market sales yet. Recent exchange data shows BTC holdings rising while stablecoin balances decline across major trading platforms. “550 000 BTC flood Binance and OKX a level last seen during the 2023 Bear Market,” Darkfost wrote. The analyst said more than 220,000 BTC moved to Binance-linked deposit addresses, while more than 330,000 BTC moved to OKX-linked deposit addresses.
🗞️ 550 000 BTC flood Binance and OKX a level last seen during the 2023 Bear Market
BTC has been moving sideways since February, after testing the $60,000 level for the first time.
→ This sideways action makes investors even more sensitive to the smallest price moves,… pic.twitter.com/xUH9PKmrvF
— Darkfost (@Darkfost_Coc) June 29, 2026 The data does not mean that all coins were sold. Deposit addresses are often the first stop before funds move into an exchange’s main wallets. Users may send BTC there for selling, collateral, trading, custody changes or internal transfers. Still, large exchange-bound flows often draw attention because they can raise near-term sell-side pressure.
Bitcoin’s $60k level remains under pressure The move came as Bitcoin tested a key price area after several weeks of weaker trading. A recentBitcoin price analysis said BTC briefly fell below $59,000 as ETF outflows and long liquidations hit the market. The same report said short-term holders were sending coins to exchanges at a loss, raising questions about capitulation and seller exhaustion.
“BTC has been moving sideways since February, after testing the $60,000 level for the first time,” Darkfost wrote. He said that rangebound trading made investors more sensitive to small price moves near the edges of the range.
That context matters because Bitcoin traders often treat $60,000 as both a technical and psychological level. A clean recovery can ease pressure on leveraged positions. A break lower can invite more selling, especially when large deposit flows appear at the same time.
Binance and OKX flows raise caution Darkfost said the latest transfer activity was well above normal. He compared it with yearly averages of about 60,000 BTC for Binance-linked deposit addresses and about 95,000 BTC for OKX-linked deposit addresses. The latest totals were far higher than those figures.
“These inflows suggest that this new test of $60 000 sparked panic among many investors on Binance and OKX,” Darkfost wrote. The comment points to fear-driven transfers rather than proof of actual liquidation.
Recent exchange data also shows changing user balances across large platforms. A Binance proof-of-reserves report showed users added 25,838 BTC in May, lifting reported BTC holdings to about 630,000 BTC. The same snapshot showed USDT balances fell by about 460 million tokens.
Reserve data offers only a snapshot Proof-of-reserves and exchange-flow data can help traders track where coins move, but they do not show full intent. A transfer to a deposit address can lead to a sale, but it can also support derivatives trading, collateral moves or wallet management. That makes the size of the flow important, but not final evidence of market selling.
A recent proof-of-reserves explainer noted that exchange transparency tools show on-chain assets and, in stronger versions, customer liabilities. The guide also said such reports cannot fully confirm off-chain obligations, asset claims or long-term exchange health.
The latest CryptoQuant data adds another caution signal as Bitcoin trades near a watched support zone. If the coins later move into exchange wallets and sell orders rise, pressure could increase. If the transfers fade without heavy spot selling, the move may remain a stress signal rather than a confirmed selloff.
Bitcoin’s retest of the $60,000 level didn’t just bounce on charts. It pulled a huge volume of coins toward centralized exchanges, the kind of movement that last appeared when sentiment was still bleeding out in the 2023 bear cycle. According to the original report from CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost, more than 220,000 BTC hit deposit addresses linked to Binance and another 330,000 BTC went to OKX as prices hovered around the $60,000 handle. That combined 550,000 BTC surge dwarfs anything recorded in recent quarters and immediately changes the conversation about near-term supply pressure.
The raw numbers are large enough to make market participants pause. Transfers to exchange deposit addresses don’t confirm completed sales, and CryptoQuant itself cautions against treating them as direct sell orders. Still, the reason traders react to such flows is simple: when coins move onto venues where they can be dumped with a click, the probability of at least partial liquidation rises. During the worst stretches of the 2023 bear market, similar deposit spikes often preceded heavy drawdowns, even if the timing wasn’t always instant.
The Size of the Move and What History Suggests Bitcoin’s last acute phase of exchange-bound accumulation came during the prolonged selloffs that pushed prices far below $30,000. By contrast, the current moment shows the asset still trading at multiples of that floor, which makes the deposit activity harder to read. Some holders may be taking profits after a strong run. Others might be rotating into altcoins or using BTC as collateral on derivatives platforms. Binance and OKX together account for a huge share of global BTC derivatives volume, so it’s plausible that a meaningful portion of these transfers is destined for futures margin rather than spot selling.
Even so, analysts who track exchange wallet clusters note that inflows of this magnitude rarely resolve without some impact on market structure. The fact that activity jumped precisely as Bitcoin poked at a psychologically important level suggests at least some longs are de-risking. This is a common pattern when an asset retests a round number that previously acted as resistance or, in this case, a level tied to recent distribution.
Liquidity, Order Book Depth, and Exchange Dynamics Binance and OKX are two of the deepest spot and derivatives venues, so 550,000 BTC on their deposit addresses does not mean 550,000 BTC is waiting inside thin books. However, this sort of concentration also flags how much the market’s liquidity backbone still rests on a few centralized entities—especially when regulator-driven uncertainty hangs over the sector. As Washington debates landmark crypto legislation, and banks push to reshape rules that could upend exchange operations, the importance of orderly venue mechanics can’t be overstated. A period of elevated deposits arriving just as regulatory outcomes remain unclear adds another variable for market makers managing inventory risk.
Not all the activity points to near-term bearishness. On the institutional side, the real-world asset market recently crossed $20 billion on-chain, and traditional finance integration is accelerating—visible in moves like the latest tokenization roundup where Bullish’s $4.2 billion acquisition and Ondo’s JPMorgan settlement signal deep capital commitments. In that context, some of the BTC flowing to exchanges may simply be pre-positioning for OTC deals, treasury moves, or prime brokerage arrangements rather than a rush to sell into spot liquidity.
Where the Market Goes From Here The next few sessions matter more than the deposit snapshots themselves. If order books absorb the potential supply that these transfers represent without a sharp price break, it would suggest a relatively healthy underlying bid. If, instead, spot and derivatives markets start showing sustained selling that tracks these inflows, then the alarm bells become harder to ignore. Bitcoin has repeatedly shown that large exchange deposit spikes are signals worth respecting, even when other indicators look constructive.
A broader point about ecosystem strength lurks beneath the noise. Developer activity remains widely distributed across major blockchains like Ethereum and Solana, as highlighted in this week’s top blockchains by developer activity, and that kind of sustained building often provides a floor for market confidence over cycles. It doesn’t immunize price from short-term selling pressure, but it reminds traders that exchange deposit dumps aren’t the whole story. The real question for now isn’t whether 550,000 BTC moved to Binance and OKX—it’s how much of it stays there as actual orders, and whether buyers step in before the books tilt too far in one direction.
AUTHOR
Max delves deep into the cryptocurrency realm, with a passion for altcoins and NFTs. Convinced of crypto's transformative potential, he envisions a decentralized financial future. Max's background in the financial sector grants him unique insights into global monetary systems. In his leisure, Max embraces the thrill of adventures and is an avid sports enthusiast, finding balance and rejuvenation away from work.
Foreign investors pulled massive capital out of South Korea's stock market, with net sales of KOSPI stocks hitting a new single-day record on Monday.
Foreign investors net sold KOSPI stocks worth 7.7 trillion won (approximately $4.98 billion) on Monday, marking the largest single-day sell-off on record.
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The A-share semiconductor sector turned higher following South Korean stocks, with Huahai Qingke surging 19.01%.
On Monday morning, the A-share semiconductor sector briefly tracked a pullback in related South Korean stocks. The KOSDAQ index triggered a program trading circuit breaker during intraday trading, with a maximum drop of 3.8%. Chip giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix saw sharp opening dips, but the decline was soon halted by news of a new round of expansion in South Korea's storage chip chain. Earlier in the afternoon, the South Korean government released its latest industrial plan. President Lee Jae-myung stated that South Korea must push forward with the construction of chip production facilities as soon as possible, as existing industrial parks are approaching their carrying limits in terms of water resources and infrastructure. Going forward, the country will focus on expanding semiconductor supply capacity through investments in its southwestern region. Under the plan, South Korea plans to build four chip manufacturing plants in the southwestern region, with a total investment of about 800 trillion won, and will allocate at least 30 trillion won over the next 15 years to semiconductor sectors including next-generation memory, edge AI, and defense. In response to the news, South Korea's KOSPI index turned from decline to gain in the afternoon, while related A-share stocks rebounded in tandem. Among them, Huahong Qingke surged 19.01%, Microtech Corporation rose 8.58%, Anji Technology gained 9.46%, Shanghai Silicon Industry climbed 11.30%, Coremax increased 9.06%, and Huace Testing & Control advanced 10.21%.
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Japan and South Korea's stock markets closed higher.
According to Bitget market data, the Nikkei 225 index closed up 107.23 points on Monday, June 29, with a 0.15% gain, ending at 69,468.11 points, after earlier dropping more than 1%. South Korea’s KOSPI index rose 5.62 points on the same day, a 0.07% increase, closing at 8,416.83 points; the country’s KOSDAQ (its main tech-focused index) gained over 8% in the session. After Samsung and SK unveiled their investment plans, the KOSPI index erased a decline of up to 3.4% to turn positive intraday, while small-cap benchmark KOSDAQ also rebounded.
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Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister: Convening the First Meeting of the Iran-Oman Joint Commission on the Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister announced that the first meeting of the Iran-Oman Joint Commission on the Strait of Hormuz was held.
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Online reports indicate that South Korea’s previously expected aggressive investment of 2000 trillion won has materialized at 800 trillion won, easing market sentiment and triggering a minor rebound in the stock prices of Samsung and SK Hynix.
Hyperinsight’s monitoring shows that South Korea’s semiconductor sector rebounded in the afternoon. The previously-feared 2,000 trillion won investment plan was ultimately realized as a semiconductor project worth around 800 trillion won (approx. $518 billion). This is likely because capital expenditure pressure fell short of some market participants’ expectations, leading to eased risk aversion and narrowed losses. On Hyperliquid, SK Hynix (1H) rebounded by 4.5% at one point, currently quoted at $1,730; Samsung Electronics rose 2%, currently at $214. Currently, the average entry price of long positions for large holders of the two on-chain assets is $1,608 and $217.3 respectively, with Samsung Electronics trading below the moving average of long-position whales.
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Recently, over 550,000 Bitcoin have flowed into deposit addresses of Binance and OKX, marking a new high since the 2023 bear market.
Crypto Quant analyst Darkfost noted in a post that as Bitcoin recently dipped below $60,000 again, a large number of investors have transferred their Bitcoin to exchanges. Data shows more than 220,000 BTC flowed into deposit addresses linked to Binance’s hot wallet, and over 330,000 BTC entered OKX-related deposit addresses, totaling over 550,000 BTC—marking the largest such inflow this year and the highest level since the 2023 bear market. Typically, when users plan to sell Bitcoin, they first transfer funds to deposit addresses before aggregating them into the exchange’s operational wallet. As such, this massive inflow reflects panic among some investors after Bitcoin tested the $60,000 threshold, with increased potential selling pressure. However, the data does not mean all these BTC have been sold; it only signals a rise in exchanges’ selling willingness.
As the weekend began, Bitcoin found itself battling to regain the psychologically important $60,000 level. The cryptocurrency managed to reclaim this threshold, and as volatility eased compared to previous days, some technical indicators on short-term charts began to support expectations of a potential recovery.
RSI indicator draws renewed attentionAmong the most closely watched technical data in the crypto market is the Relative Strength Index, or RSI, which generated notable signals during Bitcoin’s recent wave of declines. On hourly charts, the formation of higher lows indicated that buyers were stepping in at key levels. Meanwhile, on four-hour charts, while price made lower lows, the RSI showed higher lows—a classic bullish divergence that could hint at a possible market reversal.
A trader known by the pseudonym Rod compared the current market structure to the final phase of the 2022 bear market. In his post on X, Rod argued that the current pattern is reminiscent of historical market bottoms.
Rod observed that once the similarity in the chart structure is recognized, it becomes increasingly difficult to ignore its implications.
Back in 2022, a bullish divergence on the weekly RSI coincided with Bitcoin forming a bear market low around $15,600. Because of this precedent, some analysts are closely monitoring the emergence of a similar technical pattern now, seeing it as a potential signal for the formation of a durable price floor.
Mini glossary: The RSI is a technical indicator that measures the speed and strength of an asset’s recent price movements. Bullish divergence occurs when prices hit new lows, but the indicator itself shows a stronger performance, often foreshadowing a potential trend reversal.
Analysts focus on $60,000 supportEarlier in June, the four-hour RSI for Bitcoin dropped to 11.4, marking one of the lowest levels on record. The subsequent recovery attempt has been interpreted by technicians as a market trying to rebound from oversold conditions.
Crypto analyst Lukasz Wydra noted that bullish RSI signals have also been confirmed on the daily timeframe. In the same post, Wydra emphasized that price defense around $60,000 remains evident on Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange by trading volume.
Lukasz Wydra commented that the bullish RSI divergence is now officially confirmed in Bitcoin’s chart, adding that while the divergence may deepen further, the defense of price levels on Binance is clearly visible.
Wydra described this technical pattern as an encouraging signal. However, not all traders share this optimism. Despite the short-term rally, some believe that downward pressure has not been fully eliminated and warn that the market may not be out of the woods yet.
Calls for lower levels persistNiels Klaver, co-founder of STABL Agency, reiterated his view that Bitcoin could drop to $55,000 before making a significant move, underscoring continued caution even after the recovery above $60,000.
Trader and analyst Rekt Capital pointed out that July often sees an opposite performance to June, raising the prospect of a relief rally next month. However, he cautioned that with the 50-month exponential moving average now confirmed as resistance, any July rebound could be short-lived, and a weakening of the $60,000 support in August might trigger further declines.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
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Bitcoin has closed a weekly candle below its 200-week exponential moving average for the first time in the current cycle, a development that has rattled markets but one that analyst Benjamin Cowen says follows a historically familiar pattern.
This Has Happened Before
The last time Bitcoin closed a weekly candle below the 200-week EMA was June 2022, during the depths of that cycle’s bear market. Cowen argued that the current hand-wringing about the four-year cycle being broken or this time being different misses the point. The same pattern has played out repeatedly across prior cycles, and overcomplicating it does not serve investors well.
“Often times Bitcoin drops into June,” Cowen said, pointing to identical June lows in both 2022 and 2018 as reference points. The current June low fits that same seasonal template.
The 2026 and 2018 Parallel Is Striking
Cowen drew a specific structural comparison between 2018 and 2026 that is difficult to ignore. In 2018, Bitcoin put in a low in February, a higher low in late March to early April, and then a lower low in June. In 2026, the exact same sequence played out: a low in February, a higher low in late March to early April, and now a lower low in June.
In 2018 following the June low, Bitcoin saw a brief push higher into early July before selling off again in mid-July back to $6,000. Cowen raised the question of whether the $60,000 level in 2026 is the structural equivalent of that $6,000 level in 2018 and 2019, a line whose sustained breach would signal the market cycle bottom is approaching.
Time-Based vs Price-Based Capitulation
Cowen drew a distinction between two ways this bear market could end, and said investors need to understand both.
The first is time-based capitulation, which he considers the base case. Under this scenario, Bitcoin forms a low early in the summer, stages a counter-trend rally in mid to late summer, and then drops into a final market cycle bottom in the third quarter or early fourth quarter of 2026. This is consistent with how midterm year bear markets have historically resolved.
The second is price-based capitulation, where a sudden catalyst triggers a massive spike in volume, wipes out leveraged positions, fully resets on-chain metrics, and forces the cycle to end earlier than the calendar would suggest. The pandemic crash of March 2020 is the clearest example of this, where an external shock caused exactly that kind of reset and allowed the subsequent bull market to begin.
Cowen added that all three prior bear market bottoms, in 2014, 2018, and 2022, were accompanied by a massive volume spike that has simply not appeared yet in this cycle.
Story Ends Here
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U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs have logged about $4.06 billion in net outflows so far this month, the largest monthly redemption since the products launched.The funds saw roughly $1.79 billion in redemptions last week alone, undercutting earlier expectations of renewed demand following SpaceX’s June IPO.U.S. spot bitcoin ETFs have recorded $4.06 billion in net outflows this month, according to data from SoSoValue. It marks the largest monthly redemption on record, exceeding the previous high of $3.56 billion in February 2025.
Last week, the funds saw redemptions of about $1.79 billion, the second-highest weekly outflow since trading began in January 2024. (These figures could shift slightly based on flows over the final two trading days of the month.)
This trend runs counter to expectations early in the month of renewed demand following SpaceX's IPO on June 12.
Spot ETFs serve as a widely followed barometer for institutional investors seeking regulated exposure to bitcoin without directly holding the cryptocurrency.
June’s outflows followed $2.43 billion in net redemptions in May, bringing the two-month total close to $6.5 billion. That figure is comparable to the current market capitalization of zcash (ZEC), currently ranked among the world’s 15 largest cryptocurrencies by market cap.
On a year-to-date basis, net outflows tally roughly $5 billion in the first half of 2026.
The impact of this collapse in institutional demand is evident in bitcoin’s price performance, which has declined around 30% in the first half, underperforming nearly every major asset class except Strategy (MSTR). Shares in the bitcoin-holding publicly listed firm have tanked by 45%.
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Equities on Crypto Rails: A Platform Comparison
Equities on Crypto Rails: A Platform Comparison
US equities on crypto rails: access is easy, on-chain composability is the real test. Only Binance and Backpack deliver both - and only Binance at scale.
Jun 26, 2026
US equities on crypto rails: access is easy, on-chain composability is the real test. Only Binance and Backpack deliver both - and only Binance at scale.
Why it matters:
US equities on crypto rails: access is easy, on-chain composability is the real test. Only Binance and Backpack deliver both - and only Binance at scale.
Scaramucci Still Rides With SaylorScaramucci reiterated his support for Saylor’s Bitcoin accumulation approach, hinting at the prospect of a turnaround once the current turbulence clears.
“Not a billionaire but you should think about not being left behind,” the Bitcoin bull said. “I ride with Saylor.”
Scaramucci noted that the “Michael Saylor is going to get liquidated” narrative is gaining steam, but there is scope to gain “advantage” by buying at the lows.
Scaramucci’s Advice To NovicesScaramucci also posted a clip from an interview dated April 15, where he urged young investors to do their “homework” and avoid buying Bitcoin “indiscriminately” without conviction in its core attributes.
He also advised a long-term approach to Bitcoin investment, recommending a minimum commitment of four to five years and discouraging trading.
Scaramucci has been a long-standing advocate of Bitcoin and stated last week that it’s been “very consistent” with the typical four-year cycles. He predicted a rally late in the 4th quarter of 2026 into early 2027.
MSTR’s Woes Spook Crypto MarketScaramucci’s advice comes amid a period of heightened skepticism toward Bitcoin and Strategy, a company widely viewed as a Bitcoin proxy.
The apex cryptocurrency has plunged more than 18% in a month, while MSTR stock has plunged 48% in the same time.
After peaking at $543 in November 2024, the stock has dropped to $82 today, with its market capitalization falling from $128 billion to $28 billion. According to Forbes, Saylor’s net worth has dropped from over $7 billion to $3 billion.
Price Action: At the time of writing, BTC was exchanging hands at $60,064.87, down 0.16% in the last 24 hours, according to data from Benzinga Pro.
Strategy shares closed 3.54% at $82.31 during Friday’s regular trading session. Benzinga’s Edge Stock Rankings indicate that MSTR has underperformed with a weaker price trend across short-, medium-, and long-term timeframes.
Image via Shutterstock/ Al Teich
Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs
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Few figures in crypto provoke as much debate as Changpeng Zhao, universally known as CZ. His story reads like a modern parable: a Chinese-born Canadian who worked shifts at McDonald's to support his family, studied computer science at McGill University, and then made a bet so audacious it would reshape global finance.
From Zero to the World's Biggest Exchange Zhao first heard of Bitcoin in 2013 at a poker game. When a fellow player advised him to put 10 percent of his money into it, he went all in instead, selling his Shanghai apartment and investing everything he had. That conviction eventually led him to found Binance in July 2017. After raising $15 million through an initial coin offering, Binance grew into the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume in less than eight months. He also launched Binance Coin ($BNB) that same year, a utility token that gives holders benefits such as discounts on trading fees.
The exchange reportedly processes more than $30 trillion in annual trading volume across spot and derivatives markets, and analysts estimate Binance generated between $16 billion and $17 billion in revenue, roughly two and a half times that of rival Coinbase. Forbes values the private exchange at around $100 billion, with Zhao believed to hold approximately a 90% ownership stake.
Legal Reckoning and What Came After Six years after founding Binance, Zhao pleaded guilty to failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program following a sweeping US investigation into the company's compliance practices. He agreed to pay a $50 million personal fine, stepped down as CEO, and served four months in a California prison. Binance also agreed to pay $4.3 billion in fines, and Richard Teng was appointed as the new chief executive.
In October 2025, Zhao received a presidential pardon from President Donald Trump. A separate SEC lawsuit against Binance and Zhao, filed in June 2023, was officially dismissed in May 2025. Through it all, his wealth remained largely intact. Less than a year and a half after his release, Zhao re-emerged as the wealthiest figure in crypto, with his net worth surging to roughly $110 billion, a $47 billion increase from the prior year, according to Forbes. The same Forbes estimate places him just ahead of Bill Gates in the global wealth rankings.
In 2026, Zhao continues to rebuild. He channels investments through YZi Labs and maintains an active dialogue with governments on crypto regulation, while also backing projects such as Giggle Academy, a free education initiative. He also published a memoir, Freedom of Money, in April 2026, written largely during his four-month incarceration, offering a personal account of his childhood, his family's move to Canada, and the founding of Binance.
Whether viewed as a pioneer or a cautionary tale, Changpeng Zhao has left a mark on the crypto industry that is difficult to overstate.
Sources:
Changpeng Zhao – Wikipedia
Binance Founder Changpeng Zhao Net Worth Surpasses Bill Gates – Yahoo Finance
What to Know About Trump's Pardon of Binance's Founder – TIME
Bitcoin price jumped 2% after the US and Iran agreed to halt strikes over control of the Strait of Hormuz. However, top analysts such as Rekt Capital, 10x Research’s Markus Thielen, Benjamin Cowen, and Cheds Trading remain cautious about an immediate recovery in Bitcoin and the broader crypto market.
US-Iran Suspend Strikes Sparks Modest Bitcoin and US Stock Futures Gain Bitcoin and US stock futures are rising following reports that the US and Iran have agreed to halt attacks. This comes as peace talks resume in Qatar this week, Axios reported on June 29.
The conflict escalated after Iran targeted a container ship carrying Qatari oil. The US government revealed retaliatory strikes on Iran after the market closed on Friday. This caused Iran to strike US military bases in Kuwait and Bahrain, escalating Middle East tensions.
Market participants and experts noted that the announcement comes just one hour before US stock market futures are set to reopen. “Carbon copy headline every Sunday evening,” said zerohedge.
Bitcoin price jumped from a 24-hour low of $58,856 to $60,089. The price is currently trading at $59,856, with a 24% rise in trading volume.
Analysts Stay Cautious amid Technical Weakness Despite Bitcoin rebounding after the US and Iran agreed to suspend strikes, analysts have remained cautious over immediate recovery. Several factors such as geopolitical, macro, and technical are keeping analysts on edge.
Popular analysts Cheds Trading and Benjamin Cowen noted that Bitcoin saw its lowest daily close since 2024 and its first close below the 200-week moving average (200-WMA) since 2023. The US strikes came despite the U.S. Senate passed the War Powers Act.
Rekt Capital predicts $61K as the key resistance and Bitcoin price failed to surpass it for the fourth consecutive day. “With the new Weekly, Monthly and Quarterly candle closes all just around the corner, it would be wise to wait to observe those first confirmations for additional insight,” he said.
He recommends investors to wait for June’s monthly close as that would reveal levels where a potential July relief rally would start. Cheds Trading agreed with Rekt Capital on risks of further drop amid technical chart weakness.
Top analyst Markus Thielen revealed their Bitcoin trend model turned bearish on May 22, when Bitcoin traded at $75,600. It has remained bearish despite buy-the-dip sentiment.
Bitcoin Daily Price Chart. Source: Rekt Capital Navigate the fluctuations of the crypto market by following the trades of experienced traders with our recommendations for Best Crypto Copy Trading Platforms.
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Foreign investors pulled massive capital out of South Korea's stock market, with net sales of KOSPI stocks hitting a new single-day record on Monday.
Foreign investors net sold KOSPI stocks worth 7.7 trillion won (approximately $4.98 billion) on Monday, marking the largest single-day sell-off on record.
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The A-share semiconductor sector turned higher following South Korean stocks, with Huahai Qingke surging 19.01%.
On Monday morning, the A-share semiconductor sector briefly tracked a pullback in related South Korean stocks. The KOSDAQ index triggered a program trading circuit breaker during intraday trading, with a maximum drop of 3.8%. Chip giants Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix saw sharp opening dips, but the decline was soon halted by news of a new round of expansion in South Korea's storage chip chain. Earlier in the afternoon, the South Korean government released its latest industrial plan. President Lee Jae-myung stated that South Korea must push forward with the construction of chip production facilities as soon as possible, as existing industrial parks are approaching their carrying limits in terms of water resources and infrastructure. Going forward, the country will focus on expanding semiconductor supply capacity through investments in its southwestern region. Under the plan, South Korea plans to build four chip manufacturing plants in the southwestern region, with a total investment of about 800 trillion won, and will allocate at least 30 trillion won over the next 15 years to semiconductor sectors including next-generation memory, edge AI, and defense. In response to the news, South Korea's KOSPI index turned from decline to gain in the afternoon, while related A-share stocks rebounded in tandem. Among them, Huahong Qingke surged 19.01%, Microtech Corporation rose 8.58%, Anji Technology gained 9.46%, Shanghai Silicon Industry climbed 11.30%, Coremax increased 9.06%, and Huace Testing & Control advanced 10.21%.
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Japan and South Korea's stock markets closed higher.
According to Bitget market data, the Nikkei 225 index closed up 107.23 points on Monday, June 29, with a 0.15% gain, ending at 69,468.11 points, after earlier dropping more than 1%. South Korea’s KOSPI index rose 5.62 points on the same day, a 0.07% increase, closing at 8,416.83 points; the country’s KOSDAQ (its main tech-focused index) gained over 8% in the session. After Samsung and SK unveiled their investment plans, the KOSPI index erased a decline of up to 3.4% to turn positive intraday, while small-cap benchmark KOSDAQ also rebounded.
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Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister: Convening the First Meeting of the Iran-Oman Joint Commission on the Strait of Hormuz
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister announced that the first meeting of the Iran-Oman Joint Commission on the Strait of Hormuz was held.
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Online reports indicate that South Korea’s previously expected aggressive investment of 2000 trillion won has materialized at 800 trillion won, easing market sentiment and triggering a minor rebound in the stock prices of Samsung and SK Hynix.
Hyperinsight’s monitoring shows that South Korea’s semiconductor sector rebounded in the afternoon. The previously-feared 2,000 trillion won investment plan was ultimately realized as a semiconductor project worth around 800 trillion won (approx. $518 billion). This is likely because capital expenditure pressure fell short of some market participants’ expectations, leading to eased risk aversion and narrowed losses. On Hyperliquid, SK Hynix (1H) rebounded by 4.5% at one point, currently quoted at $1,730; Samsung Electronics rose 2%, currently at $214. Currently, the average entry price of long positions for large holders of the two on-chain assets is $1,608 and $217.3 respectively, with Samsung Electronics trading below the moving average of long-position whales.
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Recently, over 550,000 Bitcoin have flowed into deposit addresses of Binance and OKX, marking a new high since the 2023 bear market.
Crypto Quant analyst Darkfost noted in a post that as Bitcoin recently dipped below $60,000 again, a large number of investors have transferred their Bitcoin to exchanges. Data shows more than 220,000 BTC flowed into deposit addresses linked to Binance’s hot wallet, and over 330,000 BTC entered OKX-related deposit addresses, totaling over 550,000 BTC—marking the largest such inflow this year and the highest level since the 2023 bear market. Typically, when users plan to sell Bitcoin, they first transfer funds to deposit addresses before aggregating them into the exchange’s operational wallet. As such, this massive inflow reflects panic among some investors after Bitcoin tested the $60,000 threshold, with increased potential selling pressure. However, the data does not mean all these BTC have been sold; it only signals a rise in exchanges’ selling willingness.
