Japan’s 10-year government bond yields surged to 1.98% in December 2025, the highest level since the 1990s. It comes as markets braced for the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) policy meeting on December 19.
The move has triggered a global rally in precious metals, with gold and silver surging 135% and 175%, respectively, since early 2023. Meanwhile, Bitcoin is under pressure as forced selling intensifies across Asian exchanges, highlighting a divergence in market reactions to Japan’s rate shift.
Japan’s Bond Yields Hit 1.98%For decades, Japan maintained near-zero interest rates, anchoring global liquidity through the yen carry trade.
Investors borrowed yen at a low rate to fund higher-yielding assets worldwide, effectively exporting ultra-low interest rates.
An expected 25-basis-point hike, raising the rate to 0.75%, may appear modest in absolute terms, but the pace of change matters more than the level.
BOJ Interest Rate Probabilities. Source: Polymarket “Carry trade at risk: Nobody knows when the real consequences will materialize, but this continued shift will likely drain liquidity from markets, potentially causing a ripple effect through margin calls and other forced deleveraging,” warned Guilherme Tavares, CEO at i3 Invest.
Analysts see the BOJ move as more than a domestic adjustment.
“When Japan’s yields move, global capital pays attention. Gold and silver aren’t reacting to inflation headlines. They’re pricing sovereign balance sheet risk. Japan isn’t a sideshow anymore. It’s the fulcrum,” noted Simon Hou-Vangsaae Reseke.
Gold and Silver Prices Surge Amid Rising Sovereign RiskPrecious metals have been closely tracking Japanese yields. According to Global Market Investor, gold and silver are moving almost perfectly in line with Japanese government bond yields. This suggests that precious metals are being used as a primary hedge against the rising cost of government debt.
Gold and Silver Prices Tracking Japan’s 10Y Bond. Source: Global Markets Investor on X “It’s not the yield itself, it’s what the move represents — rising sovereign risk, tighter global liquidity, and uncertainty about currency credibility. Gold responds as protection, and silver follows with more volatility,” commented analyst EndGame Macro.
The silver market is showing signs of speculative mania. The China Silver Futures Fund recently traded 12% above the physical metal it tracks, indicating that demand for leveraged exposure is outpacing the underlying asset.
⚠️ Silver market mania is an UNDERSTATEMENT:
The China Silver Futures Fund was trading +12% above the actual value of the silver it is supposed to track
Investors are buying the fund much faster than the silver behind is rising, a sign of SPECULATION. 👇https://t.co/8kAngXV9CH
— Global Markets Investor (@GlobalMktObserv) December 17, 2025 Investors are increasingly treating gold and silver as hedges against broader macro risks, rather than just inflation.
Bitcoin Faces Pressure as Carry Trades UnwindMeanwhile, the Bitcoin price is feeling the strain of tightening yen liquidity.
“Asia-based exchanges have seen persistent spot selling. Miner reserves are falling — forced selling, not choice…Long-term Asian holders appear to be distributing…Price stays heavy until forced supply is cleared,” wrote CryptoRus, citing XWIN Research Japan.
US institutions continue buying, with the Coinbase Premium positive, but forced liquidations in Asia and an 8% drop in Bitcoin hashrate have added downward pressure.
Bitcoin Price and Coinbase Premium. Source: CryptoQuantPast BOJ rate shifts have coincided with significant BTC declines, and traders are watching closely for further downside toward $70,000.
THE BANK OF JAPAN MIGHT BE BITCOIN’S BIGGEST ENEMY
Japan holds the most US debt.
Every time they hike, Bitcoin bleeds:
March 2024: -23%
July 2024: -30%
Jan 2025: -31%
Next hike: Dec 19
Next move: loading…
If the pattern repeats, $70K is in play. pic.twitter.com/R5916R702I
— Merlijn The Trader (@MerlijnTrader) December 14, 2025 The contrasting reactions of precious metals and Bitcoin highlight differences in risk positioning. Gold and silver are attracting safe-haven flows amid growing sovereign risk, while Bitcoin faces liquidation-driven price pressure.
Analysts note that future Fed rate cuts may offset the BOJ’s impacts, but the speed of the policy change is crucial.
TLDR: Bitcoin avoided historical 23-30% crash despite BOJ hiking rates to highest level since 1995 era. Governor Ueda’s cautious commentary and gradual approach prevented panic selling seen in previous hikes. Yen weakness above 156 against USD signals carry trade remains intact, supporting risk asset prices. Bitcoin successfully decoupled from Japanese monetary policy, trading on fundamentals rather than liquidity.
Bitcoin maintained its position around $87,000 following the Bank of Japan’s December rate hike, defying historical patterns that previously triggered sharp declines.
The cryptocurrency’s stability marked a departure from past reactions to Japanese monetary policy shifts.
Market participants observed minimal volatility despite pre-hike concerns about potential carry trade unwinding. The BOJ’s dovish messaging alongside the 25 basis point increase provided reassurance rather than panic.
BOJ’s Dovish Approach Prevents Market Panic The Bank of Japan raised rates to 0.75%, reaching the highest level since 1995. Governor Ueda’s commentary emphasized caution regarding global uncertainties and avoided committing to future hike timelines.
This approach contrasted sharply with previous rate adjustments that sent shockwaves through crypto markets.
Historical data showed concerning precedents for Bitcoin holders. The March 2024 end to negative rates resulted in a 23% drop. July 2024’s surprise hike triggered a 25% decline.
January 2025’s follow-up adjustment caused a 30% crash. These patterns created widespread fear around December’s anticipated move.
The market had priced in the hike with 98% certainty through prediction markets. Crypto analyst David noted that the BOJ successfully conveyed a message of gradual policy adjustment.
Bitcoin Resilience at $87K as the Carry Trade Threat Fizzles
History
Going into December, the historical precedent was terrifying. The Bank of Japan (BOJ) was poised to hike rates to 0.75% the highest level since 1995. For Bitcoiners, "BOJ Hike" had become synonymous with… pic.twitter.com/dvwItZvIKg
— David 🇺🇸 (@david_eng_mba) December 19, 2025
The central bank’s “wait and see” stance prevented the panic correlation that previously linked Bitcoin to yen movements during shock events.
Currency Dynamics Support Risk Assets The yen weakened following the rate announcement, with USD/JPY pushing above 156. This currency movement signaled the absence of a liquidity squeeze that traders had feared.
The carry trade structure remained intact as borrowing costs stayed manageable for investors holding leveraged positions.
Bitcoin’s correlation to the yen proved negligible during normal market conditions. Only shock events historically triggered strong correlations between the assets.
The dovish messaging prevented such shock conditions from materializing. Market participants interpreted this as a “sell the rumor, buy the news” scenario in reverse.
The current US macroeconomic backdrop differs substantially from 2024’s recession fears. Stable economic conditions provided additional support for risk assets like Bitcoin.
The cryptocurrency traded on its own fundamentals rather than serving as a liquidity proxy for Japanese monetary policy. This decoupling represented a material shift in market dynamics.
The carry trade risk remains dormant rather than eliminated entirely. Bitcoin’s resilience depends on continued yen weakness and gradual BOJ policy adjustments.
Three factors contributed to the positive outcome: telegraphed policy moves, weak yen supporting risk appetite, and stable broader market conditions supporting asset valuations.
Bitcoin currently trades near $87,000 with the bull market trajectory intact. The cryptocurrency successfully navigated one of 2025’s major macro headwinds.
Market observers will monitor whether this decoupling persists through future policy adjustments. The outcome demonstrated Bitcoin’s growing maturity in handling traditional financial market pressures without succumbing to historical correlations.
Shalini is a crypto reporter who provides in-depth reports on daily developments and regulatory shifts in the cryptocurrency sector.
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January 6, 2026
Bitcoin nudged higher toward $93,000 on Tuesday as Asian equities pushed deeper into record territory, picking up Wall Street’s momentum after energy and financial shares helped lift the Dow Jones Industrial Average to a fresh all-time high.
Traders kept one eye on Venezuela after a US weekend operation captured President Nicolás Maduro, a jolt that initially boosted oil and energy stocks, then faded into the background as markets refocused on the week’s macro calendar.
Market snapshot
Bitcoin: $93,787, up 0.9% Ether: $3,220, up 1% XRP: $2.40, up 12.1% Total crypto market cap: $3.29 trillion, up 1.4% Oil Pulls Back As Traders Weigh Venezuela Risks And Next US StepsOil cooled after Monday’s jump. Brent slipped $0.19 to $61.57 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate eased $0.22 to $58.10 as traders weighed what Washington’s next steps could mean for Venezuelan crude flows over time.
President Donald Trump said he would put Venezuela under temporary American control and warned he could order another strike if the country does not cooperate with US efforts to open up its oil industry and curb drug trafficking.
In equities, the rally broadened across Asia. MSCI’s index of Asia Pacific shares outside Japan rose again, Japan’s Topix hit a record, and Hong Kong and mainland Chinese stocks added to gains as investors leaned into the same risk bid that carried US benchmarks higher overnight.
Wall Street set the tone overnight, closing higher as financial stocks powered the Dow Jones Industrial Average to an all-time high and energy firms rallied after a US military strike captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
Investors bet Washington’s move could unlock access for US companies to Venezuela’s vast oil reserves, and Trump’s administration plans to meet oil executives this week to discuss boosting production.
The gains capped a third straight year of double-digit advances for major US indexes, a streak last seen in 2021.
Markets Juggle Calm FX With Busy Commodities And CryptoCurrencies told a calmer story. The US dollar held steady ahead of Friday’s jobs report after a sharp intraday swing a session earlier, when weaker factory data pulled the rug from under a short-lived dollar pop.
Commodities stayed busy even without a new shock. Copper set a record amid disruptions in Chile, and gold hovered near all-time highs at about $4,449 an ounce, keeping the hedge trade in the conversation as geopolitics stays unpredictable.
Crypto traders largely treated the Venezuela headlines as another catalyst for positioning rather than a thesis on its own.
Some analysts also linked the Venezuela story to mining economics through energy.
“Cheaper and more abundant energy would improve miner margins globally and could unlock a new phase of mining expansion, particularly in regions able to secure long-term power contracts,” Bitfinex analysts said.
It was a sea of green in the cryptocurrency industry after the jumbo interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve.
Bitcoin (BTC) led the gains, cruising above the important resistance point at $63,000 for the first time since Aug. 27.
Most of the large gains occurred among smaller altcoins. Reef (REEF) went parabolic, soaring to a high of $0.0048, its highest point since March 12. It has been one of the best-performing altcoins this month, jumping by over 670% from its lowest point and bringing its market cap to over $102 million.
Reef, which stands for reliable, extensible, efficient, and fast, surged a month after Binance delisted it from its exchange. This indicates that it is likely going through a short squeeze, with most of its trading happening on Gate.io and WhiteBIT.
First Neiro on ETH (NEIRO) has also been one of the best-performing coins this month. It rose to a record high of $0.00098, up by over 3,865% from its lowest level in September.
Other top performers in this crypto comeback were coins like Solar (SXP) and Billy (BILLY), which rose by over 50%.
This price action coincided with the performance of other assets. In the stock market, popular indices like the Dow Jones and Nasdaq 100 rose by over 1%, continuing the bull market that has been ongoing over the past few months.
Fed’s jumbo rate cut The surge happened after the Federal Reserve decided to slash interest rates by 0.50%, in line with most analysts’ expectations. The Fed also hinted that it would deliver more cuts if the labor market continued to weaken.
Most crypto analysts believe that the ongoing rally has legs. In a note, Ki Young Ju, wrote that the crypto bull run was still underway. In another X post, Ju, who is the founder of CryptoQuant noted that institutional investors were no longer shorting Bitcoin.
Additionally, spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen inflows for five consecutive days, indicating that institutions likely bought the dip. According to Santiment, crypto sentiment has continued rising, which is a positive catalyst for the industry.
And as crypto.news reported earlier, the crypto fear and greed index has moved from the fear zone and risen to its highest point in weeks. In most periods, altcoins do well when the index is in an uptrend.
Crypto markets inch up slowly; Litecoin and Tezos on a charge, BSV falling further back. Market Wrap As we end another week in crypto land markets are starting to pick up a little. There has been no major breakout for Bitcoin yet but some of the altcoins are doing well and green is back in the tables. As a result total market capitalization is back over $250 billion again.
Yet again Bitcoin pushed just above $7,900 for an intraday high before pulling back. It subsequently dropped below $7,500 again hitting support for a double bottom. At the time of writing BTC is back to $7,900 trading flat on the day.
Ethereum has done virtually nothing over the past 24 hours and is still lulling just below $250. ETH is very unlikely to move until its big brother does, and it will definitely be in the same direction.
There is a little more activity in the top ten during today’s Asian trading action. Green dominates over red and Litecoin is the clear leader with a push of 10 percent to $113. Less than 60 days to the halving is driving momentum for LTC which is likely to climb higher in the coming weeks. Market cap has now surpassed $7 billion and it is very close to flipping BCH for fourth. XRP is the other mover today as it gains 5 percent as rumors of a MoneyGram buyout circulate. BSV continues to get dumped.
The top twenty cryptos have seen a lot of movement from Tezos which has surged 14 percent to $1.36. There does not appear to be a lot fundamentally feeding the fomo aside from rumors that Coinbase Custody is loading up on XTZ. The rest in this section are a percent or two in either direction today.
FOMO: Metaverse ETP Pumps ETP is getting another spike today as it rises 16 percent following a recent Finwise event in Hong Kong. Aside from Tezos, HyperCash is also doing well gaining 13 percent on the day and Decentraland is up 11 percent.
Getting dumped at the messy end of the crypto top one hundred is Maximine Coin sliding 18 percent. Yesterday’s pump, SOLVE, is today’s dump as it drops 14 percent and the crypto stalwart MaidSafeCoin is losing out on the day sliding 11 percent.
Total market cap 24 hours. Coinmarketcap.com Total crypto market capitalization has picked up marginally, adding $3 billion to reach $253 billion. Volume is at $70 billion and the minor move not been enough to signal a wider break out yet. All eyes are still on Bitcoin which has dropped back in dominance slightly at the expense of Litecoin.
Market Wrap is a section that takes a daily look at the top cryptocurrencies during the current trading session and analyses the best-performing ones, looking for trends and possible fundamentals.
Crypto markets falling back on Monday; BSV, XRP, and Tron dropping back, Litecoin and NEO stay afloat. Market Wrap Crypto markets are seeing red as we begin another trading week. Most of the majors are in decline following Bitcoin’s failure to hold gains and break $8,000. Total market capitalization has dropped below $250 billion and is poised to fall further as the selloff accelerates.
Bitcoin has dumped 2.5 percent on the day falling from just under $8k down to support at $7,500. BTC recovered a little during early Asian trading but is still down on the day trading at around $7,700. A big bearish signal was given by the weekly candle which was biggest drop since December at almost 11 percent.
As expected Ethereum is faring no better with a slide of over 3 percent down to $235. There is strong support around the $210 area and it could soon be there if analysts are correct.
The rest of the top ten is in the red as crypto declines increase. Bitcoin SV has dropped the most at over 6 percent falling back to $183. XRP is not far behind with over 4 percent lost as the Ripple token falls below $0.40 again. Bitcoin Cash, Binance Coin and Stellar are not doing much better. Litecoin has remained steady as halving fomo continues to drive LTC higher.
Top twenty losses are marginally greater with Tron dumping the most at over 5 percent. IOTA, Cosmos and Ethereum Classic are all losing around 3 percent and NEO is the only altcoin in the green adding 2 percent to remain over $12.
FOMO: Nebulas Skyrockets A massive dose of fomo has hit NAS today as it shoots up 45 percent. The autonomous smart asset platform does not appear to have anything fundamentally driving it aside from yesterday’s Nebulas Council Election Assistance Campaign launch;
Also getting a pump today is GXChain which has surged 36 percent and NULS up almost 20 percent. At the messy end of the crypto top one hundred is HyperCash dumping 13 percent while Ravencoin gets hit 9 percent on the day.
Total market cap 24 hours. Coinmarketcap.com Total crypto market capitalization has declined $5 billion since this time yesterday. It is now at $247 billion with a daily volume of $62 billion. Over the week markets are down 8.5 percent as over $20 billion has left the space. With Bitcoin poised to fall further the pain is likely to continue this week.
Market Wrap is a section that takes a daily look at the top cryptocurrencies during the current trading session and analyses the best-performing ones, looking for trends and possible fundamentals.
Want to steal some Bitcoin? All you need to do is find your victim’s 16-character public key and calculate their private key by solving something called an “elliptic curve discrete logarithm problem.” No sweat! With a regular computer, that’ll take you around 50 million times the amount of time the universe itself has left—around 0.65 billion billion years.
Ah, but with the right quantum computer, able to process information at speeds exponentially faster than today’s supercomputers? Suddenly, what seems uncrackable becomes child’s play, able to be broken in under 10 minutes.
The quantum-computing problem is nothing new to crypto, and many experts believe we have at least a decade or more to come up with quantum-resistant cryptography. However, some observers say that recent and unexpectedly fast advances are causing the time horizon to dramatically shrink. The most aggressive estimate says that bitcoin will be hackable by 2027, according to Fact Based Insights.
“We moved the state of the art more in the last two years than it has progressed in the last 15 or 20,” says Stewart Allen, Chief Operating Officer at IonQ, a company that claims to make some of the most powerful quantum computers in the world, in an interview with Decrypt.
On Thursday, top cryptographers will meet in Santa Barbara at the University of California for the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Post Quantum Cryptography semi finals. The finalists of the NIST competition will be announced in the months after the conference, though it might take years before the winner is annointed. Cryptographers say the standards that result represent blockchain’s best hope for resisting the rapidly encroaching power of quantum computers.
”If someone cracked your key, they could do anything they wanted,” Rob Campbell, President at Baltimore,Maryland-based Med Cybersecurity, told Decrypt. Anyone with sensitive information on the blockchain—cash, personal data, medical records—is at risk. With that sort of information, quantum hackers could “forge your name, take your assets,” and, if there’s medical data to be found, maliciously “triple your dose,” said Campbell. “It’s an open door.”
Take the Bitcoin blockchain: an unencrypted public key is sent along with every bitcoin transaction, and left unencrypted during the time it takes for the network to confirm the block, around ten minutes. That’s theoretically more than enough time for a quantum-equipped hacker to calculate a private key from the public key and replace the recipient’s address with his own.
Que Quantum?
Transistors in conventional computers capture data in terms of 1s and 0s. Is the sky blue today? If it is, 1. If not, 0. Computing is essentially combinations of these calculations: have enough transistors, you can compute almost anything.
With quantum computers, it’s possible for the same input, called a qubit, to represent both 0 and 1 at the same time, a non-binary state known as “quantum superposition”—think Schrödinger's dead-and-alive cat. This makes quantum computers exponentially more powerful; one lone, superpositioned qubit can handle the processing load of at least two full-sized transistors on a regular computer.
Using modified versions of “Shor’s algorithm,” a quantum algorithm that rapidly turns large numbers into prime factors, hackers could reverse the process that makes private keys so difficult to crack.
But at the moment, the best quantum computer is probably Google's Bristlecone quantum computer, which has 72 qubits. Miruna Rosca, a PhD student in post-quantum cryptography, tells Decrypt you’d probably need around 4000 qubits to break current cryptographic algorithms.
So how long do we have?
IonQ’s Allan, who creates quantum computers for a living, speculates it’ll take about a decade for post-quantum cryptography to become an issue. By then, he reckons, someone will probably have developed a quantum-resistant blockchain. Danny Ryan, a core researcher at Ethereum, thinks the same: “This isn't really a meaningful problem in the next 10 years and likely not for 20 to 30. That said, we tend to be bad at estimating things like this so we should be ready to transition sooner rather than later.”
But others say the problem requires immediate attention, and that—beyond the threat to Bitcoin—quantum computing could pose a major cybersecurity threat. Med Cybersecurity’s Rob Campbell says that a government armed with quantum decryption software could read all the world’s secrets.
A U.S. Navy signal officer by training, Campbell’s time in the classified research and development world has taught him that secret government technologies often outpace commercially available technology. “We were decades ahead of the commercial world,” he said. “We didn’t want any potential adversaries to know what our capabilities are.”
Even if Campbell’s claims seem ambitious, he points out that if an enemy security agency scrape all of your encrypted data today—which they certainly could—they’ll be able to decrypt all that data once they’ve built a powerful enough quantum computer. That’s enough to make developing quantum-resistant cryptographic techniques an issue of national security.
In any case, the arms race for quantum supremacy is well underway: China just spent $10 billion on a research center for quantum computers, and the U.S. has pumped hundreds of millions of dollars into the field.
Quantum-resistant techniques
Quantum computing can be just as effective for cryptographers as it is for hackers. Unobserved, superpositioned particles exist in multiple states, but when detected, they “collapse” to one point in space-time. Quantum cryptography has the same properties; because the protons that make up an encoded transaction shift upon observation, a successful attacker would have to break the laws of physics to intercept it.
This makes information encoded at the quantum level resistant to, among other things, so-called “man in the middle attacks,” where attackers intercept the transmission itself without having to decrypt the key.
A few blockchains claim to apply quantum-resistant techniques to ensure signatures and hashes remain encrypted, including QRL, IOTA, HyperCash, and Starkware. But with quantum computing still in its formative years, it’s difficult to determine the strength of these claims.
Until a quantum-resistant algorithm is tested and accepted by the wider academic community, there’s no assurance that any of these blockchains will be resilient enough against quantum computers. Scientists like Campbell are waiting on the results of next week’s NIST competition at UCAL-Santa Barbara; the final winners might not be announced for a few years, however. NIST tentatively expects drafts for standardisation will be completed around 2022.
“These winners are considered to be the best candidates on Earth and will likely go on to be standard cryptography and will be used by most of the planet,” says Campbell.
But developing the algorithm might not be the difficult part for large blockchains like Ethereum or Bitcoin. Whereas owners of centralized protocols can update the system as they please, blockchains, democratic by nature, require broad consensus among many thousands of miners to pass an upgrade.
In the case of an upgrade, all wallets that aren’t quantum-resistant become vulnerable to attack. That includes the 1 million bitcoins mined by Bitcoin’s pseudonymous inventor, Satoshi Nakamoto—if those aren’t migrated to a new, quantum-resistant wallet, they’re treasure for the first person with a powerful enough quantum computer.
“If high powered quantum computers appeared tomorrow,” said Ethereum’s Ryan, “we'd have many more problems than just the security of our blockchains.”
A 2019 National Academy of Sciences report concludes that, even if quantum computing is about a decade off, prioritising research is necessary to minimize “the chance of a potential security and privacy disaster.” Best get cracking, then.
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Back in 2009, Satoshi Nakamoto probably wasn’t overly concerned about advancements in quantum computing when he developed Bitcoin’s key encryption. Even now, quantum computing is still quite far off adoption levels that could be classed as mainstream, with only a handful of companies possessing the technology. But developments do mean that the threat that quantum computing poses to blockchains is starting to become real.
Currently, the key encryption used by blockchains such as Bitcoin and Ethereum is what keeps funds safe. Key encryption relies on a mathematical principle known as prime number factorization, which links the public and private key. The private key is based on prime numbers that are multiplied together to form the public key. Beyond numbers of a certain size, it becomes near-impossible to work out which prime numbers were multiplied together to generate the public key.
Current encryption standards use a length of 309 digits. This number is based on research that took place in 2009, where a single computer was used to try and factor a prime number 232 digits long. It took the equivalent of 2,000 years, which, believe it or not, was deemed too risky. So, the 309 standard prevailed.
Quantum computers can conduct many more thousands of calculations per second than current machines can handle, even considering the network effect of blockchains. The scary thing is that the pace of development now means that it’s likely that quantum computers could soon break the 309 digit encryption that’s used across many modern systems today - including many blockchains.
So Why Is This a Blockchain Problem? In terms of the quantum risk, blockchains are in a uniquely dangerous position due to the fact they’re decentralized. Any centralized entity can upgrade its encryption standards to a quantum-resistant level. But upgrading all of the active wallet addresses in a blockchain network is a more challenging effort.
Because it is an evolving technology, in the future we will need more and more powerful CPUs in order to speed up some of the core functions like the Bitcoin Hash and to make transaction faster and safer, in particular because every day more new people want to buy and invest in cryptocurrency.
Consider that currently, on any given day, the Bitcoin blockchain alone averages around 300-400k transactions. Each time a transaction is sent, the public key is exposed for the duration between the sending and the block confirmation. In this time, which averages 10 minutes, a quantum computer could have the opportunity to brute-force the private keys for all the transactions in each block. If they succeed, they could swipe the funds the second they reach the recipient address.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. Several projects are currently developing quantum-resistant blockchains that are more likely to be future-proof, should the quantum threat come to fruition. All of them have done away with prime number factorization in favor of post-quantum cryptographic methods.
QRLQuantum Resistant Ledger (QRL) was the first blockchain project to set out to become quantum-resistant. It has a singular vision - to ensure quantum resistance. QRL uses Extended Merkle Signature Schemes (XMSS) in place of prime number factorization for the generation of key signatures. This involves generating key pairs using cryptographic hashing. It’s a similar idea to block hashing in a blockchain.
QRL key pairs are single-use and are tied together in a Merkle tree - again, a similar method to what Bitcoin uses to group transactions. By using hash-based cryptography, QRL signatures are more resistant to quantum attacks.
Currently, QRL only operates as a cryptocurrency; however, future upgrades are planned that will introduce smart contract functionality.
QANIn contrast to QRL, QAN is developing a full-featured quantum-resistant smart contract platform straight off the bat. It’s also using a different variant of post-quantum cryptography called lattice-based cryptography, which is believed to provide some of the strongest quantum-resistance.
The underlying theory and calculations demonstrate this robustness and have been in development by mathematicians for over a decade now. So far, QAN is the only platform that has developed this work into a practical solution. QAN has also baked this quantum-resistance into its smart contract transactions, by requiring the lattice-based signatures for every single transaction on the network.
Other features include fixed transaction prices in fiat currency, designed to make the platform more attractive to enterprises. The fact that QAN is a permissioned ledger will also help its enterprise appeal. Furthermore, it offers multi-language programming support, meaning developers can write applications in languages already familiar to them.
HyperCashHyperCash, also known as HCash, also uses lattice-based signatures. They’re of a different variant to QAN, but with the same goal of achieving quantum resistance.
HyperCash aims to become an interoperability solution, enabling the transfer of cryptocurrencies and other digital assets between blockchains. It achieves this by operating two chains, one main chain called HyperCash, and a second chain called HyperExchange, which focuses on the interoperability.
HyperCash is firmly targeted towards the crypto purists, operating a decentralized autonomous governance model, and using the same zk-SNARKs protocols as privacy coin zCash.
Despite that the quantum threat could still be years off, it’s critical that today’s blockchain solutions are starting to future-proof themselves. As it gets closer, there’s every chance that crypto users will start clamoring for quantum-proof solutions. Therefore, it’s reassuring to know that at least some projects are taking this seriously. If Bitcoin really is under threat, then it may only be a matter of time before individuals and institutions start a mass exodus towards its quantum-resistant cousins.
It is a common narrative in the digital asset industry that most of the time, Bitcoin is responsible for driving the market on a bullish surge. This is largely due to the fact that presently, Bitcoin dominates the crypto-market cap, with a dominance index of 66.3%, at press time.
However, over the past week, the tables may have turned a little in favor of the altcoins, with these crypto-assets outperforming the world’s largest cryptocurrency in some aspects.
According to Arcane Research, Bitcoin’s market-cap-weighted index has lagged behind mid-caps and small-caps, since the start of the year.
Source: Arcane Research
It can be observed that the Mid-cap crypto-index has led the way since 1 January, recording a collective growth of 47.19 percent. According to Weiss Mid-Cap Crypto Index, the registered growth is above 50 percent, at press time.
Weiss Crypto ratings for the Small-Cap Crypto-Index have been incurring a positive rise as well with a return of over 35% in 2020. The likes of Komodo, Sia, HyperCash, and Bitshares have earned a major bullish advantage over the bullish period.
For Mid-Cap altcoins, Dash has been a significant performer with a registered hike of over 100 percent. In fact, the growth briefly allowed Dash to break into the top 10 of the world’s top crypto-assets, before the altcoin failed to consolidate higher. Dash has registered a significant drop since, and it is down to 16th on the cryptocurrency rankings charts.
Bitcoin, however, has lagged behind all the indexes in 2020 as it registered a spike of only 21 percent in 2020. Moreover, it was also reported that BTC lost over 3 percent of its total market share over the past week, dropping down to 66% from 69% in terms of market dominance.
PANews reported on June 9th that BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes published an article titled "Reality Test," in which he systematically elaborated on his bearish views regarding the bursting of the AI bubble and the subsequent trend of the crypto market. Hayes believes that the conflict between the US and Iran has led to rising oil prices, which in turn has pushed up energy costs, ultimately harming the profit margins of AI companies and suppressing their growth expectations. He points out that the upcoming IPOs of the three major AI giants—SpaceX, Anthropic, and OpenAI—are overvalued, and the market cannot absorb such a massive supply, which will be one of the key factors in bursting the AI bubble. In addition, in order to address voters' dissatisfaction with inflation, Trump may adopt anti-AI rhetoric and policy stances in an election year, which will trigger market turmoil.
Based on this assessment, Hayes revealed that his fund, Maelstrom, has liquidated its positions in HYPE, NEAR, WLD, and ZEC. He stated that he will continue to hold Bitcoin and Ethereum, believing that Ethereum lacks dynamism but remains usable, while also establishing tactical short positions through derivatives to meet trading needs. Hayes believes that Bitcoin will decline in the short term due to the AI bubble, but will ultimately benefit from the post-crisis liquidity easing and rise.
Arthur Hayes has turned sharply defensive on risk assets, warning that an AI stock-market unwind could spill into crypto before Bitcoin eventually benefits from the liquidity response that follows. In his June 9 essay “Reality Test,” the BitMEX co-founder said Maelstrom has cut several crypto positions while keeping Bitcoin and Ether as core holdings.
Hayes’ argument starts outside crypto, with oil. He frames the US-Iran conflict and reduced Strait of Hormuz traffic as the central macro variable for markets, arguing that higher hydrocarbon prices could feed inflation, constrain US political options and pressure the AI trade that has dominated capital allocation since late 2022.
“We start with oil and end with an election in Pax Americana,” Hayes wrote. “This story arc could produce a situation whereby the AI stock bubble pops and takes the entire crypto complex down with it. When the dust settles, then and only then, can Bitcoin rise from the ashes.”
Hayes Turns Bearish On Crypto And Risk Assets The core of Hayes’ thesis is that AI has absorbed the dollar liquidity that, in previous cycles, might have flowed more directly into Bitcoin and crypto. He notes that Bitcoin rose from around $15,000 after the FTX collapse to roughly $125,000 by October 2025, but says AI equities still outperformed, led by Nvidia’s 11x move over the same period. Since Bitcoin’s all-time high, he says BTC is down 50%, while Nvidia has still risen about 10%.
Hayes argues this divergence reflects where new fiat liquidity actually went. By his estimate, AI-related companies issued roughly $1.5 trillion of debt since November 2022, matching the $1.5 trillion increase in M2 over the same period. He adds that $1.3 trillion of that AI debt issuance occurred from 2025 onward, just as Bitcoin’s rally stalled.
“AI sucked up all created dollars,” Hayes wrote. “Bitcoin never had a chance.”
That is why, in his view, an AI correction would not immediately be bullish for crypto. Hayes expects a sharp drawdown in AI stocks to damage bank lending, tighten credit and destroy speculative capital before policymakers respond with fresh liquidity.
“Bitcoin cannot rally in the short term if the entire world takes serious losses from the deflation of the AI bubble globally. Eventually, it will bottom, then rise as Bitcoin forecasts an increase in liquidity to put Humpty Dumpty back together again. But right now, it’s about protecting one’s crypto capital.”
Hayes identifies three potential catalysts for the AI bubble to break: higher energy costs, supply pressure from major AI-linked IPOs, and anti-AI rhetoric from Donald Trump as election politics intensify. He argues that rising oil and natural gas prices directly raise the cost of producing AI tokens, compressing margins for model companies such as Google, Anthropic and OpenAI. If usage growth slows and earnings assumptions weaken, he says the market could begin questioning future data-center capex.
The IPO calendar is another pressure point. Hayes says SpaceX, Anthropic and OpenAI could test the market’s ability to absorb enormous supply at elevated valuations. He focuses in particular on SpaceX, writing that its S-1 implies investors would pay roughly 100x sales, with only 4% to 5% of shares floated initially. He says SpaceX would immediately become a $1.8 trillion company, ranking seventh globally by market cap, while its float could increase fivefold by early September.
Hayes also sees the Federal Reserve as unlikely to rescue risk assets immediately. He says the two-year Treasury yield trading more than 0.5 percentage points above the effective fed funds rate implies the market is pricing pressure for tighter policy, not cuts, ahead of the June 16-17 meeting. A “hawkish hold,” in his view, would add another headwind to AI equities and crypto.
The portfolio response has already started. Hayes said Maelstrom has moved long US-listed energy producers and exited several non-core crypto positions. “I dumped HYPE, NEAR, and WLD last week,” he wrote. “I also dumped ZEC because of the Orchard Pool bug. I wish I didn’t have to do that, but capital preservation is more important than capital appreciation.”
Bitcoin and Ether remain. Hayes described Ether as “dead but functional,” saying he has no immediate reason to liquidate it. For Bitcoin, his base case is more volatile: a near-term drawdown if the AI bubble bursts, followed by a stronger rebound once the financial system requires another major liquidity injection.
At press time, BTC traded at $62,638.
Bitcoin bulls must reclaim the 200-week EMA, 1-week chart | Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView.com Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
Bitcoin has soared above the $66,000 mark thanks to the easing of U.S. and Iran conflict. However, the BTC rally could be in danger due to Warren Buffett’s massive $397 billion fiat reserve.
How Warren Buffett’s Cash Pile Could Affect Bitcoin As per a report by BitMEX, the $397 billion position of Warren Buffett in cash and Treasury bills might have a downside effect on Bitcoin’s rally. The huge fiat stack is often viewed as an indicator of the lack of risk appetite across the global markets.
$397 billion. That’s the size of @WarrenBuffett cash pile. 14 consecutive quarters of selling.
At the 2026 Berkshire AGM, Buffett didn’t hold back: “We've never had people in a more gambling mood than now.”
The casino is winning. Here is what that means for crypto 🧵 pic.twitter.com/xqQN4LgIB5
— BitMEX (@BitMEX) June 15, 2026
After 14 straight quarters of net equity sales, Berkshire Hathaway has built up its cash to a record level. The report attributed the change to a tendency to be more cautious on risk assets as valuations are still elevated across markets.
BitMEX pointed out Warren Buffett’s views on the current market sentiment. During the Berkshire Hathaway’s annual meeting, he said “We’ve never had people in a more gambling mood than now.”
He went on to add that “the casino has gotten very attractive to people.” His comments had already weighed on the equity and crypto market sentiment earlier.
The report noted that, based on the market structure, Bitcoin is more sensitive to changes in the market mood than equities. The major scale difference it pointed to was the S&P 500 is valued at nearly $64 trillion and trades a volume of $200 billion every day. Meanwhile, Bitcoin is valued at around $1.2 trillion and has an average daily trade volume of $30 billion.
The correlation between Bitcoin and S&P 500. Source: BitMEX This difference, BitMEX explained, means that macro shocks impact Bitcoin in a more pronounced way. It added that a 10% decline in S&P 500 could signal a bigger downturn for Bitcoin. It’s because BTC is now becoming increasingly correlated with other assets and leveraged liquidations.
The BTC-S&P 500 Correlation Factor The report also cited Bitcoin’s “equity correlation.” BitMEX concluded that the BTC–S&P 500 correlation did not consistently trend upward over 2026, but rather experienced many peaks and valleys. Correlations, however, tend to increase during market stress, which can lead to an increase in the spillover risk.
Data on Buffett indicator. Source: BitMEX The Buffett Indicator, which measures total capitalization of the U.S. stock market against GDP, was another key indicator mentioned. In the past, Warren Buffett has called it “probably the best single measure of where valuations stand at any given moment.”
In recent times, the ratio is currently at over 210%, which is cited as a sign of overvalued equities in past cycles, BitMEX noted. Per historical data, the market has mostly witnessed a downtrend if the indicator hit such levels.
The report pointed out that the same circumstances have come before the previous market stresses. For context, Berkshire’s cash balance before the 2008 financial crisis of about $70 billion and about $128 billion prior to the pandemic shock of 2020.
Overview of Warren Buffett’s cash reserves at market peaks. Source: BitMEX Today’s $397 billion reserve is much more than the previous figures. Hence, it could put the equity markets under pressure. This sentiment could trickle down to Bitcoin and the overall crypto market owing to the strong correlation.
However, Buffett, who has long been critical of Bitcoin and previously derisively labeled it as “rat poison squared,” hasn’t issued a direct statement about crypto and his current holdings.
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Arthur Hayes has shared one of his most bullish crypto outlooks yet across two recent interviews, one with Michaël van de Poppe, New Era Finance podcast and another with Bankless.
The former BitMEX CEO tackled a question many crypto investors have been asking. Why hasn’t Bitcoin made a major move despite growing institutional adoption and favorable long-term fundamentals?
“Bitcoin hasn’t performed because AI took all the money. There’s no cash left to chase crypto.”Hayes says one of the main reasons Bitcoin and the broader crypto market have struggled is that investors have been pouring capital into AI-related opportunities.
In his view, AI has become the dominant investment theme over the past few years, attracting money that might otherwise have flowed into crypto. As a result, Bitcoin has been left competing for attention while AI stocks, infrastructure projects, and data-center investments soaked up liquidity.
“The implosion of the AI bubble is going to dwarf subprime.”One of Hayes’ strongest statements was his warning that the AI boom could eventually turn into a massive bubble.
He argues that huge amounts of capital have been allocated to AI over the last six to seven years, and at some point investors may realize many of these projects are not generating returns that justify the money being spent. If that happens, the fallout could be larger than the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis.
“The first response is going to be: we just need to shovel fiat money in.”Hayes believes that if an AI-driven financial shock hits the system, governments and central banks will respond the same way they have during previous crises, by injecting fresh liquidity into the economy.
According to him, financial authorities will likely print more money to stabilize banks and markets. That wave of liquidity is what he has been waiting for, calling it the “big print” trade.
“That capital goes straight to crypto.”Once investors lose confidence in AI investments, Hayes expects fresh capital to look for a new home.
His thesis is that crypto could become one of the biggest beneficiaries of that shift, especially if investors view digital assets as a better opportunity than struggling AI projects.
“Bitcoin a million.”The end result of this chain reaction, according to Hayes, is a dramatically higher Bitcoin price.
While the timeline remains uncertain, he says an AI bubble collapse followed by aggressive money printing could ultimately push Bitcoin toward the $1 million mark, making it one of the most bullish long-term predictions currently on Wall Street and in crypto.
Story Ends Here
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TLDR BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes has liquidated his entire altcoin portfolio, including positions in NEAR, Hyperliquid, and Worldcoin Hayes contends the artificial intelligence investment surge represents an unsustainable bubble likely to collapse between 2027-2028 He cautions that Bitcoin will not serve as a refuge during the AI trade unwinding and may experience significant declines Hayes anticipates central bank monetary expansion following the AI crash will ultimately propel Bitcoin toward $1 million His current strategy involves holding only Bitcoin for the long term while parking cash in US Treasury Bills Arthur Hayes, the co-founder of cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX, has liquidated his entire altcoin portfolio and is sounding the alarm that the ongoing artificial intelligence investment boom could severely impact cryptocurrency markets when it inevitably collapses.
Arthur Hayes: Selling Altcoins Because the AI Trade is About to Peak
On June 13, 2026, Arthur Hayes @CryptoHayes stated in an interview with Cointelegraph that he had liquidated his altcoin positions, including HYPE, NEAR, and Worldcoin. Reflecting on his previous macro… pic.twitter.com/LCM4PgRuCp
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) June 21, 2026
Hayes shared these perspectives during a recent Bankless podcast episode and in subsequent interviews, outlining his thesis that AI has diverted substantial capital from cryptocurrency markets and that the reversal of this capital flow will have painful consequences for digital assets.
Complete Altcoin Exit Hayes disclosed that he has completely exited his holdings in Near Protocol, Hyperliquid, and Worldcoin, among other altcoins. According to Hayes, the risk profile of these positions had begun to exceed their potential reward.
He characterized his present investment stance as “permanently Bitcoin long,” while maintaining his fiat reserves in US Treasury Bills to generate yield.
His departure from AI-related cryptocurrency tokens is being interpreted by market participants as a significant bearish indicator. Since Near Protocol and Worldcoin both operate at the intersection of artificial intelligence and blockchain technology, abandoning these positions signals Hayes expects the broader AI-crypto narrative to collapse rather than simply shift.
Hayes also indicated he would allocate any fresh capital toward Ethereum instead of Bitcoin, describing it as offering better value and more compelling risk-reward dynamics at present valuations.
The Coming AI Collapse Hayes drew parallels between the current AI investment mania and the 19th-century railroad speculation bubble. He argued that corporations are operating under faulty assumptions regarding chip longevity, projecting five to six-year useful lives for hardware that becomes obsolete within two years.
He forecasts this miscalculation will severely impact financial markets by 2027 or 2028, potentially triggering a credit crisis exceeding the 2008 subprime mortgage meltdown in magnitude.
Hayes identified three critical vulnerabilities. First, escalating energy expenses undermine the profitability frameworks of AI enterprises. Second, United States regulatory policy toward AI companies could shift abruptly and adversely. Third, the anticipated public offerings of Anthropic and OpenAI will consume massive amounts of institutional capital, siphoning funds away from cryptocurrency and other speculative asset classes.
According to Hayes, AI has essentially suffocated capital flows into crypto. Investors pursuing AI equities capable of delivering 20x returns within six months have minimal incentive to allocate toward Bitcoin.
Bitcoin Won’t Provide Shelter Despite maintaining a bullish long-term outlook on Bitcoin, Hayes cautioned it will not remain insulated should the AI investment thesis unravel. He predicted Bitcoin would be “thrown out with the bathwater” during a widespread risk-off market event.
His projection holds that central banks will respond to an AI sector collapse by implementing aggressive monetary expansion. This newly created liquidity, Hayes contends, will ultimately find its way into Bitcoin since it cannot be redeployed into an AI sector that has already imploded.
This scenario represents Hayes’s roadmap to Bitcoin achieving a $1 million valuation. However, his outlook includes navigating through a severe downturn first.
AI-themed assets have been capturing capital even within cryptocurrency markets. AI-associated BRC-20 NFTs generated $17.8 million in weekly sales volume recently, demonstrating how the AI investment narrative has redirected attention and capital away from layer-1 tokens and decentralized finance protocols.
Hayes has exited this trade entirely. Whether other market participants will follow his lead before the cycle peaks remains an open question.
PANews reported on May 9th that, according to CriptoNoticias, Spanish coffee chain Vanadi is caught in a "death spiral" a year after venturing into Bitcoin. The company transitioned to a Bitcoin treasury model in 2025 and currently holds 213 BTC, but suffered a loss of $7.8 million in 2025. To maintain operations, Vanadi has issued a large number of convertible bonds, converting them into shares at a 5% discount to the market price, causing its share price to plummet 74% this year and resulting in the issuance of 98.1 million new shares, severely diluting investors.
The company faces an emergency payment shortfall of €1.4 million and will need €65 million in financing in the coming months. Although it claims to hold 213 BTC, 61% (130.18 BTC) are locked up as collateral on the Spanish exchange Bit2Me, meaning the company has no control over them. Analysts believe that the viability of the institutional treasury model is questionable when there is no cash flow to support the debt.
President Donald Trump said the United States will strike Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT” and later seize Kharg Island, the terminal behind roughly 90% of the country’s crude oil exports.
Oil prices climbed back above $91 within minutes of the Truth Social post, while Bitcoin quickly fell below the $63,000 threshold. Meanwhile, energy traders priced a higher geopolitical risk premium across the board.
Bitcoin and Oil Prices. Source: TradingViewTrump Targets Kharg Island, Iran’s Oil LifelineTrump published the threat on Thursday, days after US forces resumed strikes on Iran. Tehran says those attacks rendered its ceasefire with Washington meaningless and has launched retaliatory strikes on US bases in the region.
“The United States will be hitting Iran… VERY HARD TONIGHT. At some point in the not too distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets, much like we have with Venezuela…” Trump wrote in the post.
The Venezuela comparison points to a live template. Washington has controlled Venezuelan crude sales since US forces seized Nicolas Maduro in January.
The Council on Foreign Relations reports almost 100 million barrels, worth about $8 billion, moved through US-run accounts in four months.
Kharg is a far bigger prize. The terminal loads the supertankers that carry roughly 90% of Iranian crude exports, per CFR, making it the economy’s single most exposed asset.
Iran has answered with pressure of its own. Its Persian Gulf Strait Authority declared the Strait of Hormuz closed until further notice, while US Central Command says commercial vessels continue to transit.
JPMorgan estimates visible tanker traffic has already fallen to about 15% of pre-war levels.
History also cautions against expecting a clean shutoff. Iraq bombed Kharg repeatedly during the 1980s Tanker War, yet Iran rerouted exports through Lavan and Sirri islands and kept shipping over 1.5 million barrels per day.
Bitcoin Holds Near $63,000 as Oil Snaps BackUS crude spot prices spent most of Thursday sliding toward $90 before jumping to $91.75 after the post. In contrast, BTC dipped to about $62,680 before recovering to $62,841, up 0.25% on the day, according to BeInCrypto Markets data.
The surge in volatility mirrors Trump’s earlier ceasefire announcement, when risk assets like Bitcoin and stocks as well as commodities such as oil repriced sharply.
However, analysts have cautioned that a sustained oil shock could still feed liquidity pressure on crypto through higher inflation and tighter risk appetite.
Tehran, for its part, keeps pushing conflict finance onto crypto rails, including a proposed Bitcoin toll on tankers transiting Hormuz.
Tonight’s threatened strikes materializing may determine if oil’s new risk premium hardens or fades by the weekend.
The world of cryptocurrencies has exploded only recently. Investors are looking to cash in on its volatility, and reap quick profits. While this is easier said than done, a larger audience of people are buying into investing in cryptocurrencies, and are understanding the potential benefits of implementing blockchain technology in several different sectors of business.
According to the bitcoin hero, if you are looking at investing in cryptocurrencies, there is no better time than now. There are several cryptocurrencies that fared well in 2019, and heading into 2020, several cryptocurrencies are displaying great potential. That being said, which cryptocurrencies performed the best in 2019? Read on to find out, and learn much more.
Cryptocurrencies with the Biggest Growth in 2019 Seele (SEELE) Seele is an Ethereum-based token, hit $0.17 on the 24th of November, from $0.0866 on the 12th of November. Seele has been in the $0.1-0.15 range on a consistent basis ever since, and is a token to look out for, come 2020, being an active token, with a good and consistent market. You must perform your due diligence on its underlying project, to better understand its future prospects.
Ethereum Meta (ETHM) Ethereum Meta, was a relative unknown till the fag end of 2019, trading at $0.000005 on the 30th of November, 2019. Ethereum Meta started experiencing great growth in December, and hit a year high of $0.000101 on the 25th of December – An enormous surge in price.
Ethereum Meta is another cryptocurrency to look out for in 2020, and is performing even better since the turn of the calendar year. Like Seele, you must perform your due diligence, and research on its underlying project, before investing in the cryptocurrency.
Luna Coin (LUNA) Luna Coin witnessed a surge in growth in 2019, rocketing to $0.0511 on the 14th of May, 2019, from $0.0139 on the 13th of May. This was short lived though, as Luna Coin slumped back into the vicinity of the $0.010-0.015 range towards the end of May. Luna Coin ended the year at $0.01, capping a decent year, and the potential for growth, come 2020.
Matic Network (MATIC) Much like Ethereum Meta, Matic Network was a relative unknown till the latter stages of 2019, trading at $0.0129 on the 22nd of November. Matic Network traded at a high of $0.0427 on the 8th of December, after which it dipped, and ended the year at $0.014. Matic Network has been trading at about the same rate, since the turn of the calendar year, and may have a good 2020, although historical data does not suggest the same.
Bitcoiin (B2G) Bitcoiin, as the name suggests is a fork of Bitcoin, and hit the headlines with a surge to $0.77, on the 5th of February, 2019, from $0.0167 on the 28th of January. This too, was short lived, as Bitcoiin ended the year at $0.000291, way off its high of $0.77. Bitcoiin’s future seems to be bleak, heading into 2020.
Conclusion on the top 5 cryptocurrencies with the biggest growth in 2019All the above mentioned cryptocurrencies have had their fair share of highs and lows. While most of them are relative unknowns, a few have great potential in 2020, and must be kept an eye on. That being said, you should keep an eye out for Bitcoin, as it is to undergo Bitcoin Halving this year.
This may lead to a dip/rise in its price, both options of which should prove to be enticing for potential investors. There are several other cryptocurrencies which you must look out for, and you must keep an eye out for the latest news and updates regarding the same.
The world of cryptocurrencies is gathering pace at a rapid fervour. People are buying into blockchain technology, and understand its potential applications in several sectors of business. It is quite amusing to think that experts once touted blockchain technology to not last the tryst of times.
That being said, the volatility of cryptocurrencies has attracted many investors. Savvy investors are always on the lookout for projects with good potential, and ways and means to reap quick profits off cryptocurrency selections. Are the top 5 cryptocurrencies worth investing in, in 2020? Should you focus on other cryptocurrencies? Read on to find out, and learn much more!
Cryptocurrencies You Must Focus On In 2020 Bitcoin A rather uninspiring choice, but among the best, Bitcoin may just have a wonderful 2020. Bitcoin was priced at $3798.62 on the 4th of January 2019, and ended the year at $7,177.36, on the 31st of December. Bitcoin has had a strong start to 2020, and with Bitcoin Halving looming around the corner, Bitcoin may experience an exponential rise in its valuation.
The first two (last two) incidents of Bitcoin Halving saw the price of Bitcoin rise exponentially, over a period 12 months, and 18 months respectively. This time around, Bitcoin may rise in its price over a longer period of time, or not at all. Some experts have touted Bitcoin’s price to rise up to $100,000 by the end of 2020, while others have predicted Bitcoin to fall to $4,000.
Bitcoin Trader review 2020 in accordance with Bitcoin’s strong start to the year, and the Bitcoin Halving procedure in due course of 2020 expects that Bitcoin might be the perfect cryptocurrency to invest in, in 2020, and for the long term.
Binance Coin Binance Coin started 2019 at $6.06, on the 3rd of January, 2019, and ended the year at $13.71, on the 31st of December. Much like Bitcoin, Binance Coin too, experienced great growth over the course of 2019, and has started 2020 well. Binance Coin is growing from strength to strength, and according to some experts, may hit the $25 mark, by the end of the year.
Going into 2020, you must keep an eye out for Binance’s projects and plans for the year, as it may affect the price of Binance Coin. That being said, Binance Coin is a wonderful option for you, in 2020.
Seele Seele had a rollercoaster end to the year, rising in its evaluation from $0.0866 on the 12th of November, 2019, to $0.17, on the 24th of November. Seele has been in the $0.1-0.15 range ever since, and is a good bet, going into 2020.
Since Seele is not among the top performing cryptocurrencies in the world, you must conduct due research, and determine whether its underlying project is likely to experience a surge in growth and interest, in the long term. In the short term, Seele could be a good investment medium.
Ethereum Meta Barely known to investors until the end of 2019, Ethereum Meta experienced an enormous surge in price, from $0.000005 on the 30th of November, to $0.000101 on the 25th of December. Going into 2020, its craze may still be on the high, and the token is worth looking into.
That being said, as is the case with Seele, you must perform your due diligence, and look into Ethereum Meta’s underlying project to determine whether it is a good fit for your investment portfolio, or not. In the short term, Ethereum Meta could be an excellent investment option.
Conclusion on what cryptocurrencies to focus in 2020 The above mentioned cryptocurrencies are worth looking into, come 2020. While Bitcoin and Binance Coin are known to a larger audience, Ethereum Meta and Seele are still relative unknowns, and you must ensure that you conduct due research, before investing in them, or any cryptocurrency for that matter - Never jump into a sea whose depth is unknown to you.
Bitcoin may have a wonderful 2020, and you must keep up to date with the latest news surrounding the cryptocurrency. While the exact date of Bitcoin Halving is unknown as of now, Bitcoin may experience a surge, or dip in its price in 2020, and it is an asset worth investing in, keeping the long term in mind.
Crypto investor Chris Burniske says that Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL) and the crypto market in general look ready to make a run.
The former head of crypto at ARK Invest tells his 292,200 followers on the social media platform X that several catalysts are now lining up, hinting that digital asset markets are on the verge of a rally.
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According to Burniske, a partner at venture capital firm Placeholder, the highly anticipated launch of Ethereum-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs), Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump speaking at an upcoming Bitcoin event and the current state of BTC, ETH, and SOL charts all suggest major bullishness for crypto markets.
“With ETH ETFs slated to go live, Trump speaking at The Bitcoin Conference, and BTC, ETH, SOL charts that look like [they do] (while equities are weak), it’s hard to see a world where we don’t send next week.”
Reuters recently reported that preliminary approval for ETH ETFs was granted while The Bitcoin Conference is set to take place from July 25th-July 27th.
BTC, ETH, and SOL are trading for $67,333, $3,528 and $174 at time of writing, respectively.
The venture capitalist also provides an update on his prediction that the total market cap of crypto assets will eventually reach $10 trillion. According to his chart, the road to $10 trillion is currently “23%” complete as it sits around $2.2 trillion.
Source: Chris BurniskeX Earlier this month, Burniske said in an interview with Real Vision CEO Raoul Paul that he’s keeping a close eye on the Move ecosystem, which was originally built by social media giant Meta and then used to develop layer-1 blockchains Sui (SUI) and Aptos (APT).
Visual Capitalist report identifies the top Bitcoin mining countries shifting towards greener energy. The U.S., China, and Kazakhstan reported renewable energy shares of 22.5%, 30.2%, and 11.3%, respectively. Iceland, Paraguay, and Norway lead the way in renewable energy, though they host over one percent of the global Bitcoin mining network. Recently, X user known as Seth, a pro-Bitcoin portfolio manager, called attention to the growing eco-friendly mining landscape of Bitcoin, with more miners shifting towards renewable energy sources for Bitcoin.
Seth cited a report by Visual Capitalist that studies the countries with the most environmentally sustainable ecosystems for Bitcoin mining, including China and the United States.
Visual Capitalist noted that Bitcoin miners’ decisions on where to establish their presence are influenced by factors such as the regulatory environment, electricity costs, and the average outdoor temperature.
In the context of mean annual temperature, the top 10 Bitcoin mining countries include the U.S., China, Kazakhstan, Canada, Russia, Germany, Malaysia, Ireland, Singapore, and Thailand.
Furthermore, the report highlighted that these top 10 countries in Bitcoin mining collectively contribute to 93.8% of the entire network’s hash rate. The U.S., China, and Kazakhstan have the most significant mining shares.
According to the report, Bitcoin miners consume around 348 terawatt-hours of electricity annually. Notably, the U.S., China, and Kazakhstan reported renewable energy shares of 22.5%, 30.2%, and 11.3%, respectively. Kazakhstan’s relatively low renewable share was attributed to its heavy reliance on coal, which accounts for 60% of its energy mix.
In contrast, China also relies on coal for a substantial portion of its electricity. Still, its overall renewable share is higher due to its rapid wind and solar power expansion.
Meanwhile, the report indicated that countries like Iceland, Paraguay, and Norway lead the way in renewable energy. However, collectively, they hosted just over one percent of the global Bitcoin mining network.
Disclaimer: The information presented in this article is for informational and educational purposes only. The article does not constitute financial advice or advice of any kind. Coin Edition is not responsible for any losses incurred as a result of the utilization of content, products, or services mentioned. Readers are advised to exercise caution before taking any action related to the company.
Amid the ongoing downturn, recent analysis shows that every major Bitcoin bear market has ultimately found a bottom following a black swan event.
For context, black swan events cause sudden, largely unexpected crises that trigger sharp panic selling across the market, including Bitcoin. However, once the initial turmoil subsides, markets have historically transitioned into recovery phases.
Major Crises Have Historically Marked Bitcoin’s Cycle Bottoms Over the years, the crypto market has endured several black swans. Notably, the collapse of the Mt. Gox exchange in 2014, the COVID-19 market crash in 2020, and the implosion of FTX in 2022 all coincided with major Bitcoin cycle lows. Although Bitcoin initially reacted negatively to each event, it later staged powerful recoveries.
Bitcoin Black Swan Events Mt. Gox Collapse Marked Bitcoin’s First Major Capitulation The hack and subsequent collapse of Mt. Gox, then the world’s largest Bitcoin exchange, represented one of the industry’s earliest black swan events. Hackers stole approximately 850,000 BTC from the platform, forcing it into bankruptcy in 2014.
The incident appeared to mark the final capitulation phase of Bitcoin’s early bear market. Following the collapse, Bitcoin eventually surged more than 12,804%, climbing to roughly $24,500 during the subsequent bull cycle.
COVID-19 Crash Triggered a Historic Recovery Similarly, the COVID-19 pandemic sparked a sharp selloff across global financial markets in March 2020, and Bitcoin was no exception. The leading cryptocurrency plunged to around $3,800 as investors rushed to de-risk their portfolios.
However, the panic was short-lived. As liquidity returned to markets, Bitcoin began a historic rally, soaring more than 1,692% to reach nearly $69,000 by late 2021.
FTX Implosion Marked the 2022 Cycle Bottom Another defining black swan event emerged in late 2022 when cryptocurrency exchange FTX collapsed. The failure sent shockwaves throughout the digital asset industry, driving Bitcoin down to approximately $15,500 amid widespread fear and uncertainty.
Yet that low marked the bottom of the cycle. From there, Bitcoin recovered more than 715%, eventually surpassing $126,000 in 2025.
Investors Search for the Next Market Catalyst With Bitcoin once again trading in bearish territory, investors are asking whether another black swan event could be required to mark the next major bottom and ignite a new expansion phase.
The asset has already retreated significantly from its recent highs, and market observers view the current period as a potential inflection point. As a result, the next major macroeconomic or industry-specific catalyst could determine whether Bitcoin enters another sustained rally or remains locked in an extended consolidation phase.
Recent Selloffs Have Yet to Produce a Definitive Bottom Since reaching its all-time high in October 2025, Bitcoin has faced several sharp corrections that some investors initially viewed as potential black swan events. These include the October 10 market crash, the geopolitically driven sell-off in February, and the dip this month caused by the Strategy 32 BTC sale.
However, unlike previous cycle-defining crises, none of these events has been followed by the explosive recovery pattern seen after Mt. Gox, COVID-19, or FTX.
At press time, Bitcoin was trading at $64,097, up 0.3% over the past 24 hours. Despite the daily gain, the cryptocurrency remained down 2.3% over the previous week and 14% over the past month, highlighting the continued uncertainty surrounding the market’s next major move.
DisClamier: This content is informational and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author's personal opinions and do not reflect The Crypto Basic opinion. Readers are encouraged to do thorough research before making any investment decisions. The Crypto Basic is not responsible for any financial losses.
According to veteran investor Jordi Visser, Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) cannot rally at the moment because every speculative dollar is chasing AI stocks instead.
Visser Says Bitcoin Has No Fundamental Pull Right NowVisser argued on the latest episode of Anthony Pompliano’s podcast that Bitcoin and SpaceX function the same way for investors: both are belief-driven bets on the future with no current earnings to anchor a valuation.
Bitcoin draws energy from two sources, wealthy individuals hiding money from governments and retail momentum chasing returns, and right now neither source is showing up.
“It is very difficult for Bitcoin to be traveling higher if all the money is going into stuff that is based on earnings,” Visser said.
He added that Bitcoin remains in a bear market until it breaks and holds above its 200-day moving average, something it has failed to do on every recent attempt at the 20-day moving average.
Q2 Earnings Could Be The Catalyst That Redirects Capital Back To CryptoVisser said the thing to watch is how much money AI companies are spending on chips and data centers. That spending is growing close to 100% this year, but is only expected to grow 30% in 2027.
He said that slowdown becomes a real problem if any major tech company announces it’s cutting back on that spending.
Microsoft stands out as the most likely candidate, given CEO Satya Nadella’s public comments about model commoditization and a possible shift toward hosting DeepSeek internally.
Visser expects Q2 earnings to disappoint more than Q1 simply because expectations have climbed too high, projecting around 22% earnings growth that the market may not fully deliver.
If AI stock momentum stalls even briefly while the broader market holds flat, Visser said that environment favors Bitcoin far more than one where AI continues compounding 50% per quarter.
Retail Capital Goes Where The Momentum Is, And Right Now That Is Not BitcoinVisser noted that retail traders in markets like South Korea, historically heavy Bitcoin participants, have rotated their attention elsewhere as AI captured the speculative spotlight.
He framed this as a simple capital rotation dynamic rather than a verdict on Bitcoin’s long-term thesis.
On his own portfolio, Visser said 18 of his 20 holdings were down on a recent trading day, including Bitcoin, with only two AI-related positions finishing higher and covering the losses elsewhere.
He said he still likes Bitcoin at current levels but is waiting for a pause in AI’s rally before expecting crypto to participate meaningfully again.
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Gold ETFs are back in focus as bullion holds firm near key levels. Gold price hovered above $4,190 per ounce on Monday, with buyers pushing the metal close to the $4,200 zone. The shift was indicative of a new demand with traders responding to heightened intraday movement.
The crypto market rose 1.63% to $2.23 trillion in 24 hours. Bitcoin price was trading over 65,000, and Ethereum hovered at $1753.
US-Iran war risks keep Gold ETFs in focus as investors seek safety from geopolitical tensions and possible oil price shocks.
The focus on the U.S. CLARITY Act, which is aimed at signing by July 4, 2026, also kept the markets watchful.
🇺🇸 ONLY 9 DAYS LEFT FOR CLARITY ACT JULY 4TH DEADLINE
Bipartisan negotiators are set to meet for a final round of talks on the CLARITY Act before Congress goes into its August recess.
They are working on:
• SEC vs CFTC jurisdiction
• Token classification rules
• Stablecoin… pic.twitter.com/btvUSUgiPp
— CryptoGoos (@cryptogoos) June 21, 2026
The bill would help define crypto stocks and the market more strictly and diminish regulatory uncertainty. That has the potential to open additional institutional capital in the world of digital assets and associated markets.
Gold ETFs and Gold Price Outlook Before the Next Rally Gold ETFs have seen a sharp correction recently. Within the last month, some funds dropped by over 7% on the basis of evolving rate expectations by the investors.
Nevertheless, the price of Gold ETFs is still up by an average of 47% in the last year, indicating good long-term demand.
GOLD price The technical structure of gold is still favorable as long as the prices are above $4,185. The short-term resistance is around $4,200 and $4,250.
An explicit separation above $4,250 might lead to the exit towards $4,300. Should the momentum continue to increase, GOLD could eventually hit $4,500.
On the negative side, support is close at $4,190. A break below that level could expose $4,180, followed by $4,170 and $4,150.
SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) The SPDR Gold Shares is one of the most monitored Gold ETFs within the market. GLD providing investors exposure to physical gold but without storage. It is also highly liquid, so it is popular among institutions and active traders.
SPDR Gold Shares (GLD) is the largest gold-backed ETF, offering exposure to bullion without physical storage. GLD is currently trading close to $385.74 and the intraday volume of the stock is approximately 1.4 million shares. The fund has about $141.67 billion in assets and charges a 0.40% expense ratio.
iShares Gold Trust (IAU) iShares Gold Trust is another major gold-backed fund. Similar to GLD, IAU tracks the gold itself, but it tends to attract cost-conscious investors. Its cost of less can render it interesting as a long-term exposure to gold.
IAU iShares Gold Trust (IAU) ETF is a cheap investment in physical gold. Recently, IAU had a net asset of about $66.5 billion, and its closing price was around $81.38 and traded more than $6.5 million shares a day. Its long-term exposure to gold is cheaper with an expense ratio of 0.25% than GLD.
SpaceX Bull 2X ETF The SpaceX Bull 2X ETF is different from traditional Gold ETFs. It is not a tracker of bullion or gold. Instead, it focuses on leveraged exposure to SpaceX shares and seeks to move twice the daily of SpaceX shares before fees.
SpaceX Bull 2X ETF (LOFF) is a leveraged ETF constructed to appeal to short-term traders interested in the increased exposure to SpaceX.
The fund targets 200% of SpaceX’s daily move, not long-term returns. Recently, LOFF has been trading around 26.63 and its volume is approximately 720,437. It has a net expense ratio of approximately 0.95%.
A trader has opened a 20x long on 1,653 BTC. Bitcoin is currently trading at $63.5K. A known high-frequency trader, identified as 0x50b3, has captured the market’s attention after opening a massive 20x-leveraged long position in 1,653.8 BTC, valued at around $105.77 million. The move comes amid heightened interest in BTC’s short-term price direction, with traders closely monitoring large leveraged bets for clues about market sentiment.
What makes this position particularly noteworthy is the trader’s recent performance. Since June 2, 0x50b3 has executed 100 trades, reportedly closing 93 of them in profit. The impressive 93% win rate has helped generate more than $6 million in realised gains, making the latest Bitcoin position difficult for market participants to ignore.
Its Potential Impact on Market Sentiment Large leveraged positions often influence traders’ psychology when opened by accounts with a proven record of success. A single trade can boost bullish emotion and promote greater market involvement, even though it cannot predict Bitcoin’s future course.
However, because even small price fluctuations can result in large gains or losses, the use of 20x leverage draws attention to the increased risks involved.
Price Action of Bitcoin: Where is it Heading? Bitcoin has failed to escape the bearish zone. Currently, it is trading within the $63,587 range, with the daily trading volume having surged by over 27.86%, reaching the $24.1 billion mark. The Coinglass data has reported that the BTC market has seen a 24-hour liquidation of $92.53 million.
If the bearish grip strengthens, the BTC price may fall to a support range at $63,428. Additional pressure on the downside could trigger the death cross to take place and send the price even lower. Upon the BTC market taking a bullish turn, the price could climb and find the resistance at the $63,649K level. With the uptrend gaining more traction, the golden cross would emerge, pushing the price higher.
Will Bitcoin Momentum Weakens Further? The MACD line is below the zero line while the signal line remains above it; the short-term momentum of BTC has weakened. This setup can be viewed as a warning sign of weakening market strength. In addition, the CMF indicator at -0.05 exhibits slight selling pressure. Bitcoin’s capital outflows are marginally exceeding the inflows. It does not show strong distribution or heavy selling activity.
Besides, BTC’s daily RSI at 41.92 infers a weak bearish tone. It remains above the oversold zone, with the downtrend not extreme. The momentum is subdued, and a strong trend has yet to develop. Also, the BBP value at -824.21 points to a very strong bearish pressure. This level suggests that the bears are dominating, with buyers showing little strength to reverse the prevailing downward move.
Crypto Market Highlights
Humanity Protocol Under Pressure: Will the 24% Drop Open the Door to More Losses?
Content Writer | Crypto Enthusiast | Bridging Literature and Blockchain
Bitcoin and altcoins may have become healthier following the correction experienced in recent weeks.
At this point, cryptocurrency market maker Wintermute noted that the recent correction has largely cleared excessive leverage from the crypto market.
According to Wintermute’s analysis, the recent market correction liquidated most leveraged positions and left the market structure healthier than before.
At this point, the problem of excessive leverage in the crypto market has been largely resolved.
Strategy, led by Michael Saylor, stated that its continued Bitcoin purchases helped alleviate concerns about potential selling pressure.
However, analysts note that capital inflows from spot Bitcoin ETFs and key buyers like Strategy are not as strong as in past rallies, making a sideways period more likely for now.
At this point, the firm believes that unless capital inflows improve, Bitcoin and the market are likely to remain in a certain range rather than rise in the foreseeable future.
Wintermute also added that the market could experience a short-term rebound if there is new, stronger, softer US PCE data or if geopolitical tensions in the Middle East ease.
However, this type of rise seems more likely to be a technical rebound rather than a sign that the market has hit its bottom.
*This is not investment advice.
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Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) may be positioned for a catch-up rally if the Federal Reserve refrains from raising interest rates, according to Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan.
Since the start of the Iran conflict in late February, U.S. equities have gained roughly 9%, while Bitcoin has slipped 1% and gold has fallen 20%.
In a "The Stack" post on June 22, Grayscale Head of Research Zach Pandl noted that the divergence comes as investors increasingly price in the possibility of tighter monetary policy amid inflation concerns.
One-year Fed rate expectations have risen about 60 basis points, while roughly half of Federal Reserve officials believe rate hikes could be appropriate in 2026, Hougan noted.
The European Central Bank has already moved to raise rates.
Because Bitcoin and gold do not generate yield, higher interest rates increase the opportunity cost of holding those assets relative to cash and bonds, weighing on demand.
Over the past month, Bitcoin’s price has fallen roughly 19%, extending its three-month decline to about 13%.
Why Bitcoin Could BenefitHougan argued that markets may be overestimating the likelihood of future rate hikes.
"Our base case is for the Fed to hold off on rate hikes,” he said. “If we’re right, Bitcoin’s price may catch up with stocks."
While AI-related spending has fueled gains in equities, Bitcoin and gold have lagged partly due to fears that central banks will need to tighten policy further to combat inflation.
If those concerns ease, capital could rotate back into alternative assets such as Bitcoin.
Bitcoin’s Dual RoleUnlike gold, Hougan views Bitcoin as serving two functions within portfolios.
He described Bitcoin as both a scarce digital commodity that acts as a long-term store of value and a public blockchain network that provides exposure to growth in the broader crypto economy.
That combination gives Bitcoin characteristics of both gold and growth equities, potentially making it an attractive portfolio diversifier.
“Bitcoin can act as a portfolio diversifier that, at current levels, appears attractively priced,” Hougan said.
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Key Takeaways BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes forecasts Bitcoin could drop to approximately $40,000 over the next half-year Speculative capital flowing into AI investments is constraining cryptocurrency growth in the near term Hayes maintains protective put spreads while keeping substantial long-term Bitcoin positions MicroStrategy’s recent acquisition of 520 BTC pushed prices temporarily above $65,000 Federal Reserve’s hawkish stance and increasing rate hike probabilities weigh on Bitcoin momentum Bitcoin currently hovers near $62,000, confronting headwinds from various market forces. Arthur Hayes, the co-founder of BitMEX, has articulated a near-term pessimistic outlook while simultaneously maintaining conviction in long-term appreciation.
Arthur Hayes: Bitcoin's Bottom Is Probably Around $40,000
On June 12, 2026, during an interview with @elliotrades, BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes @CryptoHayes shared his prediction for Bitcoin's bottom. When asked about the ultimate bottoming price and timeframe, Hayes… pic.twitter.com/ggfdyXHzEO
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) June 23, 2026
In a June 12 conversation, Hayes projected that Bitcoin will find its floor around $40,000 sometime within the coming six months. This represents approximately a 35% decline from present levels. To protect against this downside scenario, he has established put spread positions.
Yet Hayes clarifies that his overall portfolio remains significantly overweight Bitcoin for the long haul. His year-end projection places Bitcoin between $200,000 and $250,000. “If I’m wrong it doesn’t matter… I’m long, I’m still happy either way,” he remarked.
The AI Trade Is Capturing Speculative Capital According to Hayes, artificial intelligence investments have captured the incremental speculative funds during this market cycle. Capital seekers looking for inflation protection have pivoted toward AI equities instead of cryptocurrency assets.
He recently trimmed positions across multiple digital assets, including Hyperliquid, Near, and Zcash. Part of this capital has been reallocated to U.S. Treasury bills as he awaits more favorable entry points.
“AI is the fastest horse and has proven itself to be the fastest horse,” Hayes commented during a June 22 Bankless podcast appearance.
Hayes’ Thesis: Bitcoin Thrives When AI Collapses Hayes contends that the AI infrastructure expansion could evolve into a credit bubble surpassing the 2008 subprime mortgage crisis. He highlighted excessive data center expenditures, reciprocal revenue arrangements, and financing secured by rapidly obsolescing semiconductor hardware.
GPUs are being leveraged through multi-year debt instruments despite accelerating technological advancement cycles. This temporal mismatch between asset depreciation and debt obligation creates systemic vulnerability.
Should this structure collapse, Hayes anticipates governments will deploy massive monetary stimulus programs. “The Fed can’t print Moore’s law,” he stated. He projects the resulting monetary response could propel Bitcoin toward $1 million.
Hayes also identified Ethereum as among the most attractive large-capitalization opportunities currently available. He indicated he would favor Ether over Bitcoin purely from a technical analysis perspective, given its failure to reclaim previous peak valuations.
MicroStrategy Accumulation Meets Fed Tightening MicroStrategy acquired an additional 520 Bitcoin this week while simultaneously increasing cash holdings by $300 million to reach $1.4 billion total. This purchasing activity briefly lifted Bitcoin above the $65,000 threshold.
QCP analysts noted the acquisition likely occurred through a dilutive equity offering mechanism. Wintermute observers highlighted that MicroStrategy’s accumulation pace has decelerated as capital costs escalate.
The Federal Reserve maintained its benchmark rate within the 3.50% to 3.75% corridor while eliminating forward guidance suggesting future cuts. The median 2026 rate forecast increased to 3.8%. Market pricing now assigns 37% probability to a December rate increase, elevated from 24% one month prior.
Market participants are focused on Thursday’s Personal Consumption Expenditures inflation data release. JPMorgan projects institutional investors may reallocate $165 billion from equities into fixed income by month-end, potentially marking the largest such rotation in four years.
Wintermute characterized the present environment: “This is a market stabilizing beneath the surface on lighter positioning and cleaner leverage, not one finding new buyers.”
Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.
TL;DR
Ripple USD Gets Featured in Japan's Two-Tier Stablecoin System: Licensed exchange SBI VC Trade launched Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin for retail users with strict limits, operating alongside JPYSC, an unlimited yen stablecoin engineered for B2B corporate clearing.Bitcoin Split Over Freezing Satoshi's Coins: Investor Fred Krueger backed the BIP-110 proposal to block inactive crypto wallets to prevent quantum computing risks, drawing fierce pushback from Blockstream CEO Adam Back, who denounced it as a technically defective path to a failed network fork.Shiba Inu (SHIB) Set for July Rally: Following a 17.5% decline in June, SHIB is tightly compressed at a rock-solid five-year support floor of $0.00000450, positioning the asset for a historically backed July seasonal reversal (median +8.92%).Crypto Market Outlook: Bitcoin faces severe base-layer congestion from the Runes protocol and massive institutional ETF outflows ($4.4 billion in 30 days), dragging the BTC price to local support ahead of a major macro liquidity test this Friday.Ripple's dollar and SBI's unlimited yen: Japan launches a two-tier stablecoin systemJapan's financial sector has recorded a double precedent in digital assets after licensed exchange SBI VC Trade, a subsidiary of giant SBI Holdings, officially launched trading in Ripple's RLUSD dollar stablecoin. The asset has gone down in history as the first registered "Electronic Payment Instrument No. 4" in Japan.
The entry of the U.S. stablecoin into the Japanese market comes with strict regulatory frameworks from the Financial Services Agency (FSA). At launch, trading is taking place with zero fees, but strict limits apply to retail investors: the maximum size of a single transaction is capped at the equivalent of 1 million yen, and transfers are available exclusively on the Ethereum network.
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To protect local traders, the exchange has introduced automatic refund mechanisms for excess amounts when daily limits are exceeded and has committed to fully freezing token deposits in the event of a strong deviation from the U.S. dollar.
SBI VC Trade regarding historic Ripple USD (RLUSD) listing, Source: X.comAt the same time as Ripple's retail debut, SBI Holdings Group has rolled out infrastructure for large capital by issuing JPYSC, the first yen stablecoin classified as an "Electronic Payment Instrument No. 3." The product, developed jointly with Singapore's Startale Group, uses a trust bank structure to manage reserves.
Unlike RLUSD, JPYSC was created for the B2B sector and has no transaction limits, opening the possibility of multibillion-yen interbank settlements and commercial clearing inside the country.
As of today, a two-tier system of digital settlements has de facto started operating in Japan. While retail users are getting familiar with the dollar-based RLUSD under strict limits, the corporate sector has received unlimited yen in the form of JPYSC to optimize large commercial flows.
Fred Krueger calls for freezing Nakamoto's coins to save BitcoinAs of June 2026, a fierce ideological dispute has continued in the Bitcoin community. The latest escalation came after well-known investor Fred Krueger publicly supported the technical proposal BIP-110 and the accompanying initiative to forcibly block old, inactive crypto wallets. The main target of this measure would be around 1 million BTC that have remained untouched at the addresses of the network's creator, Satoshi Nakamoto.
Supporters of BIP-110, now joined by Krueger, propose giving owners of "dormant" addresses a fixed period to move their coins, after which inactive wallets would be blocked. The stated motive is security: early Bitcoin addresses use older algorithms that could become vulnerable to quantum computers in the future.
The initiative has met strong resistance from key developers, while Blockstream CEO and cypherpunk legend Adam Back continues to call the idea technically defective, stressing that the project has no support either among miners or in the broader ecosystem.
i guess you've been living under a rock. but FYI it's stupid, so technically defective as to be an IQ test. there's neither technical nor ecosystem consensus. they have flag day so it'll just fork off and fail. https://t.co/uEzRLYVCGD
— Adam Back (@adam3us) June 24, 2026 According to Back, any attempt by activists to implement these rules would only lead to a blockchain split and the creation of a stillborn fork — a copy of the network that would immediately lose value.
The main intrigue of the conflict is the blow to Bitcoin's fundamental value: its resistance to censorship. If the community creates a precedent and blocks Satoshi's coins in the name of security, it would destroy the main economic argument about the inviolability of property in a decentralized network.
If the code allows assets to be taken away from the creator, then in the future they could be frozen for any user at the request of regulators.
Price chart and seasonality point to a July rally for SHIBShiba Inu (SHIB) is approaching the end of the first month of summer 2026 on the verge of a historic turning point. After an exhausting six-month decline, the coin is trapped in an extremely narrow price range near five-year lows, around $0.0000045.
This month, the Shiba Inu token has lost another 17.5% of its value, but technical calm on the chart and historical statistics by CryptoRank hint at preparation for a July reversal.
On one hand, large sales are pressing the price down. On-chain data recorded how one early investor moved 3.8 trillion tokens worth around $20.7 million to exchanges, while the community's coin burn rate dropped by 74%.
On the other hand, the current level is a rock-solid support zone below which no real market for SHIB has existed over the past five years. The volume profile shows that this is exactly where the strongest interest from long-term buyers is now concentrated.
Depending on which force prevails, the market is considering two potential outcomes for the token's price action in the near term:
Bull Case: Buyers successfully hold the defense at $0.00000450, driving a 50% rebound toward the nearest resistance at $0.00000680.Bear Case: The critical $0.00000450 support fails, causing the asset to capitulate into the uncharted territory of early 2021.Shiba Inu (SHIB) monthly returns in USD, Source: CryptoRankThe main trigger for a possible jump is the seasonal factor. Historically, June has always been a disastrous month for SHIB, with an average decline of 14.8%, while July has traditionally acted as a lifeline, with median returns of +8.92%. The market is pricing this scenario as a chance for a "relief rally" after a difficult spring.
From a technical point of view, the ultimate resolution of these scenarios will come in the next few days. The market remains highly compressed, meaning the breakout from the current wedge will likely set the definitive trend for the rest of the summer.
Crypto market outlook: ETF outflows push Bitcoin to critical supportThe crypto market, led by Bitcoin, continues to go through deep capitulation due to sustained institutional capital flight, extreme network congestion, and rising regulatory roadblocks across the U.S. and the European Union.
Key checkpoints:
Record institutional ETF drainage: Regulated crypto vehicles recorded their fourth consecutive day of net outflows. Yesterday alone, spot Bitcoin ETFs shed $113.78 million, and Ethereum ETFs lost $82.35 million, with 30-day rolling Bitcoin ETF outflows hitting a record $4.4 billion — the worst capitulation period since inception.Bitcoin network hits a two-year traffic high: On-chain activity has surged to more than 820,000 transactions per day, driven entirely by a massive revival of the Runes protocol. This surge in token standard activity now consumes 25% of all network transaction fees, severely congesting the base layer as BTC tests the local $62,200–$62,700 zone.Political and regulatory gridlock in the U.S.: House hearings on the CLARITY Act are set for July 17, but the bill has completely stalled in the Senate over ethical clauses and Section 604 guidelines. Due to these legislative disputes, Polymarket has aggressively downgraded the probability of the bill passing in 2026 to just 42%.The next macro trigger: On Friday, June 26, the market faces a dual liquidity test with the release of the U.S. PCE inflation index and the quarterly expiration of $10.6 billion in BTC and ETH options. Any further macro pressure will heavily test the $60,000–$62,000 support cluster, risking a cascade toward the $54,000–$58,000 zone. You Might Also Like
XRP price hovered at $1.08 on Wednesday, June 24th, after slipping 1.96% in 24 hours. The token stayed under pressure as the wider crypto market consolidated, with Bitcoin near $62,000. The XRP price has declined by 10% in the last week and has spread the weakness of major altcoins.
Grok AI still predicts a possible rally before 2026 ends. The CLARITY Act includes new policy attention following its House passage on July 17 this year, which retains regulation in the center of discussion among digital asset investors.
XRP Price Rally Ahead? Grok AI Points to 2026 Upside Elon Musk’s Grok AI has projected a strong XRP price rally before 2026 ends. The model opined that XRP would recover when Bitcoin can gain support and liquidity goes back to major altcoins. It also cited the progressive CLARITY Act, ETF interest and expansion of Ripple as institutions as favorable.
Source: Grok Ai Bullish version of case by Grok has XRP to reach 1.60 to 1.80 in 30 days should sentiment turn. A more optimistic base case has XRP between $1.55 and $1.75 at the beginning of July. Nevertheless, the prospect is risky. Additional Bitcoin vulnerability or regulatory delays might drag XRP back into the $1.00 to $1.05 support range initially. Volume, policy progress and BTC are monitored by traders.
XRP Spot ETF Inflows Hit Two-Week High as Bitwise Leads The largest daily inflow into XRP spot ETFs was 5.31 million on June 22, the highest inflow in two weeks. Bitwise XRP ETF registered the entire inflow on SoSOValue Crypto data. The last larger reading was on June 9 when dollars came in at 7.44 million.
Source: Sosovalue data The new demand came when RLUSD got a formal listing in Japan. In the meantime, the XRPL Lending Protocol passed a security audit. Voting on the amendment of v3.2.0 also proceeded throughout the network, introducing another beneficial update to XRP traders.
XRP Price Prediction: Can Bulls Reclaim $2.0 Soon? The XRP price traded at $1.09 on the 4-hour chart, slipping 0.34% at press time.
The token has weakened short-term and is currently testing the $1.10 area. The level has turned into a significant buyer line. A decisive break above $1.10 may help in recovering to $1.15.
The first significant recovery point is at the level of $1.15. With improved momentum, the XRP price might stretch to $1.20.
The RSI is at 31 with a low momentum. The MACD is also in favor of the prudent opinion. The MACD line remains below the signal line. This demonstrates that bearishness has not yet lost its grip.
Source: XRP/USDT 4-hour chart: Tradingview Nevertheless, the risk of downside is still present. If the XRP price loses $1.09, selling pressure may increase. The support target at the next level is around $1.05. A further dissection would reveal the psychological level of $1.00.
