Cryptocurrencies are broadly extending declines on Wednesday, after last week’s recovery. The sell-off has seen Bitcoin (BTC) slide below $62,000, increasing downside risks toward the next key support at $60,000.
Ethereum (ETH) is edging lower, targeting the demand range at $1,700, while Ripple (XRP) remains under pressure, trading around $1.08.
Crypto sell-off intensifies as sellers assess Middle East conflictHeadwinds continue to weigh on the crypto market, as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East escalate. According to AP News, Iran launched attacks on American military bases in the Middle East on Wednesday in retaliation for attacks by the United States (US) on several places in Iran. The US has also reinstated sanctions on Iran’s Oil sales, saying that the developments were in response to Iranian attacks on ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
The fresh attacks have ignited fears that the war between the US and Iran could resume. US President Donald Trump fueled the fears, stating that the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that paused fighting is “over.” However, Trump added that negotiations will be allowed to continue.
Oil prices jumped amid the attacks and geopolitical uncertainty. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) Crude traded at $74 on Wednesday, up from $67 the previous day.
WTI Oil price chartAs tensions in the Middle East remain high, sentiment in the crypto market has deteriorated. At 20, embedded in the Extreme Fear territory, the crypto Fear & Greed Index shows that appetite for risk assets is significantly suppressed.
Crypto Fear & Greed Index | Source: AlternativeBitcoin and Ethereum post mild ETF inflowsBitcoin spot Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) saw inflows resume, attracting $21 million on Tuesday, down from $266 million on Monday. This drawdown mirrors investors' concerns about tensions in the Middle East. Activity over the remaining days of the week would either reinforce the deteriorating sentiment or uphold a positive outlook. Besides, cumulative outflows stand at $51.37 billion, with net assets under management at $77.26 billion.
BTC ETF flows | Source: SoSoValueEthereum ETFs similarly extended the mild inflow streak with nearly $27 million recorded on Tuesday, up only slightly from $21 million on Monday. Cumulative inflows average $10.94 billion, with net assets under management at $9.53 billion.
ETH ETF flows | Source: SoSoValueAs for XRP, activity remained muted on Monday and Tuesday, according to SoSoValue data. This shows that while institutions appear to withdraw demand, long-term conviction in XRP remains intact, with cumulative inflows steady at $1.49 billion and net assets holding above $1 billion.
XRP ETF flows | Source: SoSoValuePrice analysis: Bitcoin losses deepen, eyes short-term supportBitcoin maintains a bearish near-term bias as the price remains well below the 50-day, the 100-day and the 200-day Moving Average Exponentials (EMAs). Moreover, the Crypto King is tracking a broader downward resistance trendline on the daily chart.
Momentum appears mixed, as the Relative Strength Index (14) around 45 leans slightly to the downside on the same chart, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) histogram stays positive, hinting that selling pressure is moderating rather than reversing decisively.
BTC/USDT daily chartOn the topside, initial resistance lies at the 50-day EMA near $65,540, with further supply layered at the 100-day EMA around $69,207 and the 200-day EMA close to $75,246, where the broader downtrend would be challenged. On the downside, first support emerges at the Parabolic SAR level around $59,434, followed by the prior trendline break price at $59,104, where buyers would need to step in to avoid a deeper slide toward the late-June lows.
Altcoins technical outlook: Ethereum and XRP remain under tight bearish gripEthereum trades at $1,738, maintaining a capped tone as it holds below the 50-day, 100-day and 200-day EMAs. Although momentum had improved with the MACD histogram in positive territory on the daily chart, the RSI has declined near the midline, suggesting that sellers are gaining traction.
ETH/USDT daily chartImmediate resistance lies at the 50-day EMA around $1,803, followed by the 100-day EMA near $1,964 and then the 200-day EMA around $2,251, where a reclaim would be needed to ease the broader downside pressure. On the downside, initial support lies at the current price area, with stronger underlying demand suggested by the Parabolic SAR level near $1,616. A daily close below this latter zone would likely reopen a deeper corrective phase.
XRP, on the other hand, maintains a bearish near-term bias. The token remains below the 50-day, 100-day and 200-day EMAs. The MACD indicator upholds a positive outlook on the daily chart. However, the RSI near 42 signals bears are tightening their grip.
XRP/USDT daily chartInitial resistance is seen at the descending trendline barrier around $1.16, followed by the 50-day EMA at $1.18, with the 100-day EMA at $1.28 and the 200-day EMA near $1.49 reinforcing a broader cap on recovery attempts. On the flip side, the first support sits at the Parabolic SAR level of $1.02. A daily close below this floor would open the way to a deeper retracement, while holding above it would keep XRP confined to a bearish but stabilizing range beneath the clustered EMAs.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Bitcoin, altcoins, stablecoins FAQs Bitcoin is the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, a virtual currency designed to serve as money. This form of payment cannot be controlled by any one person, group, or entity, which eliminates the need for third-party participation during financial transactions.
Altcoins are any cryptocurrency apart from Bitcoin, but some also regard Ethereum as a non-altcoin because it is from these two cryptocurrencies that forking happens. If this is true, then Litecoin is the first altcoin, forked from the Bitcoin protocol and, therefore, an “improved” version of it.
Stablecoins are cryptocurrencies designed to have a stable price, with their value backed by a reserve of the asset it represents. To achieve this, the value of any one stablecoin is pegged to a commodity or financial instrument, such as the US Dollar (USD), with its supply regulated by an algorithm or demand. The main goal of stablecoins is to provide an on/off-ramp for investors willing to trade and invest in cryptocurrencies. Stablecoins also allow investors to store value since cryptocurrencies, in general, are subject to volatility.
Bitcoin dominance is the ratio of Bitcoin's market capitalization to the total market capitalization of all cryptocurrencies combined. It provides a clear picture of Bitcoin’s interest among investors. A high BTC dominance typically happens before and during a bull run, in which investors resort to investing in relatively stable and high market capitalization cryptocurrency like Bitcoin. A drop in BTC dominance usually means that investors are moving their capital and/or profits to altcoins in a quest for higher returns, which usually triggers an explosion of altcoin rallies.
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.
Ethereum Foundation developers are looking for a way to save the network from the critical growth of its database and have turned to the architecture of its main competitor. Researcher Toni Wahrstätter proposed introducing elements of the UTXO model into Ethereum, a model that has been successfully used by Cardano for years.
Amid this, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson — a former Ethereum co-founder who left the project in 2014 after a public split over deep disagreements with Vitalik Buterin about the network's commercial direction — accused his former colleagues of hypocrisy.
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Ethereum's problem lies in its account-based model, as the network is forced to permanently store active data on the balance of every wallet, even if the transfer was a one-time transaction. As part of the EIP-8141 standard, Frame Transactions, Wahrstätter proposed making simple payments "one-time use."
Information about them would be verified from the blockchain's history, while only a single spent bit would remain in active memory. According to the author's calculations, this would reduce unnecessary data growth by 99.8% for basic L1 transfers.
The idea has already entered the Strawman discussion track, which Vitalik Buterin himself is following.
Why Cardano's founder is furiousFor Hoskinson, whose Cardano blockchain was originally built on a modified Extended UTXO model, or eUTXO, specifically to solve the scaling problem, this news became a trigger. He reacted emotionally to the initiative on X, stating that there is an unspoken taboo inside the Ethereum ecosystem against recognizing his contributions.
The main irony of this dispute is technical. The UTXO model itself belongs to Bitcoin, but its network has no smart contracts — it is simply a wallet system. Cardano, however, took this mechanism as its foundation from the beginning and expanded it into eUTXO in order to run complex applications.
It's not like I've been literally working on this topic for over 10 years of my life and launched a cryptocurrency that was number three on coinmarketcap with millions of users to deploy it. It's literally a crime in the Ethereum inner circles to mention Cardano. EUTXO is the… https://t.co/3F3l6cg0JE
— Charles Hoskinson (@IOHK_Charles) July 7, 2026 Ethereum has always operated on the opposite, account-oriented system. Now that its researchers are proposing to introduce UTXO elements to save memory, this looks like an acknowledgment of someone else's technological solutions.
In practice, however, combining two different models is difficult, as it creates compatibility risks for already functioning DeFi applications.
As a result, Ethereum now faces a choice: continue tolerating the growth of its database or implement a hybrid workaround, effectively confirming the correctness of Hoskinson's approach.
Tether has executed a significant burn of $2.5 billion USDT on the Ethereum network, marking its largest such operation since February 2026. The burn, which occurred on July 7, 2026, reduced the total circulating supply of USDT by approximately 1.3%, reflecting substantial customer redemptions. Despite the large reduction in supply, the USDT peg remained stable around $1.00, indicating a response to market demand rather than a strategic deflationary move. This development comes amid ongoing scrutiny of stablecoin supply dynamics and their potential impacts on the broader cryptocurrency market.
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Key Takeaways The $2.5 billion USDT burn appears to have been driven by large customer redemptions, suggesting a stable demand environment. The stability of the USDT peg during the burn indicates that the transaction was consistent with maintaining market equilibrium. Market participants may view the burn as supportive of upward pressure on Bitcoin prices, with some suggesting a potential impact on Bitcoin’s July pricing scenarios. What to Watch Market observers should monitor Bitcoin price predictions for July, particularly the likelihood of reaching price targets such as $67,500 and $70,000, which currently hold 38% and 19% YES probabilities, respectively. Developments in stablecoin supply, further redemption activities, and macroeconomic indicators could influence these probabilities. Key actors like Michael Saylor and Cathie Wood may also provide insights or actions that shift market expectations.
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Term Structure
Contract Odds Δ since publish Volume 24h August 1 2026 0.9% — — View market → August 1 2026 37.5% — — View market → August 1 2026 19% — — View market → August 1 2026 40.5% — — View market → August 1 2026 6.5% — — View market → August 1 2026 67.5% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.1% — — View market → August 1 2026 4.2% — — View market → August 1 2026 3.2% — — View market → August 1 2026 9.5% — — View market → August 1 2026 1.8% — — View market → August 1 2026 13% — — View market → August 1 2026 23.5% — — View market → August 1 2026 1.8% — — View market → August 1 2026 1.4% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.4% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.8% — — View market → August 1 2026 0.2% — — View market →
Tether will invest $20 million in a strategic growth financing round for Mercado Bitcoin, Latin America's largest onchain financial services platform, the stablecoin issuer said in a statement published July 7.
The deal deepens Tether's exposure to Brazil at the same time its flagship stablecoin, USDT, is being pushed out of the European Union under new licensing rules.
Mercado Bitcoin, founded in 2013, has grown from a digital asset exchange into a full-stack financial platform spanning trading, tokenized investment products, credit and lending, stablecoin-powered payments and cross-border services. The company said it serves 4.5 million users, has issued more than R$2 billion ($370 million) in tokenized assets, and holds more than ten licenses across Brazil and Europe, including a Payment Institution license from Brazil's central bank, the Banco Central do Brasil.
"Mercado Bitcoin has built exactly that, a regulated, full-stack on-\chain financial platform serving millions of users across one of the world's most dynamic financial markets," said Tether chief executive Paolo Ardoino in the statement.
Mercado Bitcoin chairman and CEO Roberto Dagnoni said the capital would support expansion of payments infrastructure, tokenized investment offerings, lending and on-chain capital markets, along with continued international growth.
The investment lands three days after the European Union's Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation (MiCA) reached its final transition deadline on July 1, requiring any stablecoin operating on a licensed EU exchange to hold an e-money token authorization backed by reserves largely held in European bank deposits. Tether never sought that authorization, and MiCA-licensed exchanges including Coinbase, Kraken and Crypto.com have removed USDT from their EU order books over the past eighteen months, with Revolut following suit ahead of the deadline.
Ardoino has publicly argued that MiCA's requirement to hold 60% of e-money token reserves in European bank deposits introduces its own risk to reserve safety, a position Tether has used to justify not pursuing the license.
The Mercado Bitcoin deal is the latest example of Tether directing capital toward markets outside the EU's regulatory perimeter. The company has also led a financing round of up to $1.4 billion for humanoid robotics firm NEURA Robotics and signed a memorandum of understanding with Dubai's Multi Commodities Centre on tokenization, moves that sit alongside a broader pattern of expansion in Latin America, the Gulf and parts of Asia even as its stablecoin loses shelf space in Europe. Whether that regional pivot offsets the loss of the EU market for USDT trading volume remains an open question, though Brazil's rapidly developing tokenization market and Mercado Bitcoin's existing licensing footprint give Tether a regulated entry point into one of the region's largest crypto economies.
Tether has announced a $20 million investment in a growth financing round for Mercado Bitcoin, Latin America’s provider of on-chain financial services. The move is intended to accelerate the development of blockchain-based financial infrastructure across the LatAm region, with Brazil positioned as a key hub for digital asset adoption, tokenization, and regulated blockchain services.
The funding will support Mercado Bitcoin’s expansion into several core areas.
‘These include scaling payment systems, growing tokenized investment products for both retail and institutional clients, expanding lending and credit offerings, advancing on-chain capital markets, and pursuing further international growth opportunities.
The capital is expected to help the company build practical, regulated tools that integrate blockchain technology more deeply into everyday financial activities.
Mercado Bitcoin began operations in 2013 as a cryptocurrency exchange.
Over the past decade, it has evolved into a full-stack on-chain financial platform offering trading infrastructure, tokenized assets, credit services, stablecoin-enabled payments, banking tools, and cross-border solutions.
The company currently serves approximately 4.5 million users and has issued more than R$2 billion in tokenized assets.
It operates under more than ten regulatory licenses in Brazil and Europe, including a Payment Institution license from Brazil’s central bank, as well as broker-dealer, securitization, and asset management authorizations.
Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether, said:
“Tether’s mission is to build open, accessible, and efficient financial infrastructure for the world. Mercado Bitcoin has built exactly that, a regulated, full-stack on-chain financial platform serving millions of users across one of the world’s most dynamic financial markets.”
Roberto Dagnoni, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mercado Bitcoin, noted:
“The discussion is no longer whether finance will move on-chain. That transition is already underway. The focus now is on building the infrastructure that will support tokenization, stablecoins, payments, and capital markets at scale, reshaping how money moves, investments are accessed, and capital is deployed.”
The investment reflects Tether’s ongoing strategy of backing companies that develop real-world applications for stablecoins, tokenization, and blockchain technology in high-growth markets.
In Brazil and across Latin America, strong digital adoption, large financial markets, and an evolving regulatory landscape have created favorable conditions for these innovations.
On-chain infrastructure is increasingly becoming part of the mainstream financial system, enabling faster transactions, more programmable money movement, and greater accessibility for users and institutions.
By partnering with Mercado Bitcoin, Tether aims to contribute to more efficient and globally connected financial services in the region.
The collaboration is expected to help bridge traditional finance with blockchain capabilities, supporting wider adoption of tokenized assets and stablecoin-powered solutions. As digital assets continue to integrate with regulated financial systems, this type of investment highlights growing momentum for practical blockchain infrastructure in emerging markets.
The Bitcoin price keeps stalling, and one overlooked force helps explain it. The stablecoins that fund crypto buying are both shrinking and moving less, the same setup that preceded Bitcoin’s 2022 crash.
Data from DeFiLlama and Dune shows the market’s cash pile draining just when buyers are needed most. On its own, that is a headwind. Pushed far enough, it has been a trigger.
How a Thinner Cash Pile Slows BitcoinStablecoins are the cash of crypto. Traders park dollars in USDT and USDC, then use them to buy Bitcoin and other coins. When that pool grows, more money stands ready to buy. When it shrinks, buying power drains away.
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The record shows the drag. Since 2020, when the stablecoin supply was expanding, the Bitcoin price averaged a +5.2% gain over the next 30 days and +18.9% over 90 days. When supply was contracting, those gains shrank to +1.1% and +8.4%.
Bitcoin Returns by Stablecoin Regime: BeInCryptoBoth figures are still positive, so a shrinking pool does not spark an instant crash. It acts as a slow drag that takes weeks to bite, muting Bitcoin’s gains rather than erasing them. In short, Bitcoin still climbs when stablecoins shrink, just far weaker.
Those are averages, though, and averages hide the worst cases. When the drain runs deep and long, the drag turns into something far more dangerous.
When the Drain Ran Deep, BTC CrashedThat is what happened in one of the previous bear markets. Stablecoin supply fell 34% between April 2022 and August 2023, a slow, grinding drain, and the Bitcoin price collapsed 43% over the same stretch.
STABLECOIN MARKET POSTS BIGGEST DROP SINCE TERRA COLLAPSE
The stablecoin market shrank 2.4% ($7.7 billion) to $312 billion in June, marking its biggest monthly decline since the 2022 TerraUSD collapse.
The drop came alongside an 18% fall in Bitcoin and several stablecoin…
— *Walter Bloomberg (@DeItaone) July 7, 2026 A mild squeeze had become a full liquidity drought.
Stablecoin Supply vs Bitcoin Price: BeInCryptoToday the same pattern is forming, so far in milder form. Total stablecoin supply has slipped about 4.4% from its $321 billion peak in May, and Bitcoin has fallen roughly 19% alongside it. The scale is smaller than 2022, but the direction is identical.
Stablecoin Market Cap: DeFiLlamaThe real question is whether this drain deepens. To judge that, it helps to look past how many stablecoins exist and watch how fast they are actually moving.
Stablecoins Are Also Moving LessUsage is cooling too. On-chain data shows monthly USDT and USDC transfer volume on Ethereum peaked near $2.84 trillion in March, then fell about 47% to $1.5 trillion by May before a partial rebound in June.
The two do not track tick for tick. Bitcoin actually firmed in April and May before its June slide, so this is a backdrop, not a trigger. Still, fewer dollars changing hands means thinner demand, and the Bitcoin price now sits near $63,000, well below its January highs above $90,000.
On-Chain Stablecoin Volume vs Bitcoin Price: BeInCryptoFor now, the squeeze looks more like 2022’s opening act than its full drought. The supply dip is shallow, and volume is trying to recover.
The pattern cuts both ways, though. If stablecoin supply and volume keep sliding, Bitcoin’s headwind could harden into the kind of drain that turned 2022 ugly. A clear turn back up would be the first sign the cash, and the buyers, are coming back.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
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StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson has revived debate over Bitcoin’s fixed supply after suggesting annual issuance.
Summary
Ben-Sasson argued lost private keys reduce usable Bitcoin supply, making fixed issuance worth reconsidering. Bitcoin supporters rejected the idea, saying the 21M cap remains central to BTC’s value. Zcash’s proposed burn-and-reissue model emerged as an alternative that keeps a fixed supply cap intact. In a Tuesday post on X, Ben-Sasson said Bitcoin’s 21 million supply cap “doesn’t make sense” because users lose private keys over time. He argued that lost keys reduce the amount of usable Bitcoin and that, over a long enough period, more coins will become unreachable.
Ben-Sasson proposed replacing the fixed cap with a hard issuance rule of up to 4% per year. He said the figure roughly matches global population growth, while still keeping Bitcoin scarce under a known monetary rule.
Capping the supply of Bitcoin at 21M doesn't make sense. Beacuse over time, keys will be lost. In fact, as time goes to infinity, all keys will be lost.
I strongly support a clear monetary policy with an absolute upper bound on the # of Bitcoins in the future. Say, fix a max…
— Eli Ben-Sasson | Starknet.io (@EliBenSasson) July 7, 2026 Lost keys drive the argument Bitcoin does not have a password reset system. When a holder loses a private key, the coins remain on-chain but cannot be spent. That is why lost Bitcoin can reduce the supply available to buyers and sellers.
Ledger estimated that 2.3 million to 3.7 million BTC are permanently lost, while some reports place the figure near 4 million BTC. Ben-Sasson used this trend to argue that a fixed cap could make Bitcoin less useful over very long periods.
His view runs against a core Bitcoin belief. Many Bitcoin supporters see lost coins as part of the asset’s scarcity, not a problem to fix. The old Bitcoin view is that lost coins act like a “donation” to other holders because the remaining supply becomes harder to buy.
Bitcoiners reject 4% inflation The proposal drew fast pushback from Bitcoin users on X. Critics said Bitcoin’s 21 million limit is one of its main features and that changing it would make BTC look more like other crypto assets.
Some users also pointed to Bitcoin’s divisibility. Bitcoin can be split into 2.1 quadrillion satoshis, giving users small enough units for payments even if whole BTC becomes harder to access.
Ben-Sasson pushed back, saying those satoshis would also trend toward zero over time if private keys keep getting lost. He said Bitcoin could still remain scarce if the inflation rate stayed fixed and predictable.
The debate links back to comments from Strategy executive chairman Michael Saylor. Saylor spoke about burning Bitcoin private keys as a “pro rata contribution” to other holders, though the report said he did not directly promise to do so himself.
Zcash model enters the debate Zcash founder Bryce “Zooko” Wilcox suggested another path. He pointed to Zcash’s proposed Network Sustainability Mechanism, which would let users burn ZEC and gradually reissue those coins as future rewards without raising the 21 million cap.
You may be interested in Shielded Labs “Network Sustainability Mechanism”, which attempts solve these problems while reinforcing the sustainability of the 21M cap. https://t.co/WrYITGq5jy
— zooko🛡🦓🦓🦓 ⓩ (@zooko) July 7, 2026 That model tries to help miner incentives while keeping the fixed supply rule. It differs from Ben-Sasson’s proposal because it does not create a higher lifetime limit.
Any change to Bitcoin’s cap would face a high bar. Developers can propose code changes, but node operators, miners, exchanges, wallets, and users would need broad agreement before the network accepts them.
As previously reported by crypto.news, StarkWare has already worked on ways to bring scaling tools to Bitcoin without forking Starknet or launching a new Bitcoin token. This new debate moves from scaling into monetary policy, where Bitcoin users have shown little interest in changing the current supply rule.
Bitcoin’s fixed 21 million supply has always been one of the biggest reasons investors call it digital gold. But now, Zcash co-founder and StarkWare CEO Eli Ben-Sasson suggests Bitcoin should remove its supply cap and allow the supply to grow by up to 4% every year.
Here’s why he is proposing such a major change.
Why Eli Wants to Change Bitcoin’s Supply?In a post on X, Eli Ben-Sasson questioned whether Bitcoin’s fixed supply still makes sense in the long run.
“Capping the supply of Bitcoin at 21M doesn’t make sense. Because over time, keys will be lost. In fact, as time goes to infinity, all keys will be lost.”
As of now, an estimated 2.3 million to 4 million Bitcoin are believed to be permanently lost (including Satoshi Nakamoto’s estimated 1.1 million Bitcoin stash).
With around 20 million BTC already mined, this means nearly 11% to 19% of Bitcoin’s total supply has disappeared from circulation forever.
According to him, if this continues for decades, a large part of Bitcoin’s supply could disappear forever.
Therefore, instead of keeping a fixed supply cap, he suggested allowing Bitcoin to issue new coins every year at a maximum rate of around 4%, helping replace lost coins and keeping enough Bitcoin available in circulation.
He say, “fix a max issuance rate and you get that (a good choice is 4% a year, this is a reasonable upper bound on human population expansion).”
What’s Behind 4% Annual Supply Growth?When one X user questioned why Bitcoin should only grow by 4% every year, Ben-Sasson replied that 4% represents a reasonable upper limit for long-term human population growth.
He also added that 1% to 2% annual issuance could also work, saying the goal is simply to make sure there is “enough to go around.”
Ben-Sasson noted that he was not only talking about replacing lost coins but also about Bitcoin’s future security budget, which many believe could become a challenge as block rewards continue to decline.
The proposal quickly faced criticism from Bitcoin supporters. One X user called the idea “terrible,” arguing that Bitcoin’s scarcity is the foundation of its value. The user warned that changing one core rule could eventually lead to more changes, weakening Bitcoin’s original purpose.
Another user pointed out that even if developers attempted to remove Bitcoin’s supply cap, the result would likely be another Bitcoin fork, similar to what happened with Bitcoin Cash and Bitcoin SV.
Many people in the Bitcoin community believe removing the 21 million BTC limit would destroy Bitcoin’s biggest strength, its fixed supply. And this will destroy investor trust and weaken Bitcoin’s value as digital gold.
Story Ends Here
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Cryptocurrency exchange Binance has announced it will support the planned network upgrade and hard fork process on the Metal DAO (MTL) network.
According to a statement from the exchange, token deposits and withdrawals on the MTL network will be temporarily suspended to protect user experience and smoothly manage the technical transition process.
According to Binance’s official announcement, deposits and withdrawals for Metal DAO (MTL) network tokens will be suspended on July 8, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The exchange stated that this step was taken to prevent technical disruptions that might occur during the network upgrade and hard fork, and to ensure the security of user assets.
The announcement stated that the Metal DAO network upgrade and hard fork is expected to take place around 7:00 PM on July 8, 2026. Binance emphasized that all necessary technical requirements will be handled by the company on behalf of users throughout the process, and that users do not need to take any additional action for this transition.
On the other hand, the exchange specifically stated that the technical update would not affect trading of tokens on the Metal DAO network. Accordingly, users will be able to continue trading on existing MTL trading pairs on the Binance platform. The temporary restriction will only cover deposit and withdrawal services.
Binance announced that deposit and withdrawal operations will resume once the upgrade is complete and the updated network is verified to be stable. The company also stated that no further announcements will be issued after this process; services will be reactivated directly.
*This is not investment advice.
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Key Takeaways Bitcoin commands 40% allocation due to institutional adoption and proven market stability Ethereum captures 25% for its leadership in decentralized finance and smart contract platforms Solana secures 15% thanks to superior transaction speed and expanding ecosystem Chainlink holds 10% as critical oracle infrastructure supporting real-world data integration Near Protocol takes 5% for its emerging AI integration and Layer 1 innovation Distributing $1,000 strategically across five digital assets plus a stable reserve creates a framework that manages volatility while capturing growth potential.
Building the Foundation With Market Leaders Bitcoin anchors this allocation strategy with a 40% position worth $400. As the pioneering cryptocurrency with the largest market capitalization, it benefits from unmatched liquidity and growing institutional acceptance through exchange-traded funds and corporate balance sheet adoption. Its established position makes it the most dependable choice among digital currencies.
Bitcoin (BTC) Price Ethereum claims the second-largest portion at 25%, representing $250. This network underpins the majority of decentralized financial applications and stablecoin infrastructure while serving as the primary platform for asset tokenization. Traditional financial players exploring blockchain solutions consistently choose Ethereum’s established ecosystem.
Combined, these two assets account for 65% of the total allocation. This concentration acknowledges their relatively lower volatility compared to emerging alternatives.
Adding High-Growth Exposure Solana receives a 15% allocation worth $150. This blockchain challenges Ethereum with superior transaction throughput and minimal fees, establishing significant presence in decentralized finance, payment systems, and mainstream crypto applications. While introducing additional risk, it offers substantial upside potential through continued network adoption.
Chainlink captures 10%, translating to $100. Its decentralized oracle infrastructure bridges blockchains with external data sources, creating essential functionality for DeFi protocols and enterprise applications. Growing tokenization of traditional assets should drive increased demand for reliable data feeds.
Near Protocol completes the portfolio with 5%, or $50. This platform emphasizes artificial intelligence infrastructure alongside its Layer 1 capabilities. Though representing the smallest and most speculative position, it provides meaningful exposure to the convergence of AI and blockchain technology.
Maintaining Liquid Reserves The remaining 5%, worth $50, remains in stablecoin holdings. This represents a strategic buffer rather than idle capital. Maintaining liquid reserves enables opportunistic purchases during market corrections without liquidating existing positions.
Cryptocurrency markets experience dramatic price movements. A modest reserve provides tactical flexibility when attractive entry points emerge.
The Case for Strategic Allocation No individual asset guarantees superior returns. Distributing capital across five cryptocurrencies with distinct applications and risk characteristics helps minimize portfolio damage when individual assets decline sharply.
Bitcoin and Ethereum establish the baseline stability. Solana, Chainlink, and Near deliver growth potential. The stablecoin reserve maintains optionality for market dislocations.
This framework avoids speculation in favor of methodical market exposure. It represents a rational entry point for allocating $1,000 toward digital assets without concentrating risk excessively.
The allocation mirrors current market dynamics: institutional participation continues expanding, artificial intelligence intersects with blockchain infrastructure, and fundamental protocol layers gain importance in how decentralized networks operate.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
Bitcoin miners have spent the last year trying to answer a tough question: what else can all this infrastructure do? Core Scientific’s long-term hosting agreement with CoreWeave is one of the clearest answers yet.
The headline is about AI compute, but the deeper story is about business model evolution in a post-halving environment.
For more details, visit the official Core Scientific platform.
TL;DR Core Scientific signed a 12-year AI compute hosting contract with CoreWeave.The deal highlights how mining infrastructure is being repurposed for high-performance compute demand.For listed miners, AI exposure is becoming a meaningful strategic narrative. Why The Market Cares Mining companies are capital-intensive businesses, which means investors want to see every possible path to monetizing power, facilities, and cooling capacity. AI hosting offers exactly that kind of alternative lane.
A 12-year deal also gives the market something it tends to reward: visibility. It suggests revenue streams that are not tied solely to the next move in Bitcoin or the next difficulty adjustment.
Not A Pivot Away From Bitcoin, But A Hedge That does not mean the mining story disappears. It means some miners are trying to become more than miners. The infrastructure overlap between data-heavy AI workloads and certain mining facilities creates a genuine strategic bridge.
For the sector, this is one of the more important themes to watch. The strongest public miners may end up being the ones that can monetize compute demand in more than one way.
This article is based on information from Core Scientific.
This article was written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
Strike has launched a Bitcoin-backed loan product built to remove margin calls and price-based liquidations.
Summary
Strike says its new Bitcoin-backed loans remove price liquidations while keeping payment duties in place. Borrowers avoid margin calls, but missed payments can still lead Strike to sell collateral. The product targets Bitcoin holders who need cash but do not want forced selling. Jack Mallers, Strike’s founder and chief executive, said the new product protects borrowers from forced selling when Bitcoin falls. He described the offer as a “volatility-proof” loan that lets users borrow dollars while keeping their BTC posted as collateral.
Introducing volatility-proof loans by @Strike: bitcoin-backed loans the price can never liquidate.
No margin calls. No price liquidations. No matter how far bitcoin falls, your bitcoin doesn't move.
Volatility is inevitable. Liquidation isn't. Borrow dollars. Keep the bitcoin. pic.twitter.com/U1DtEtt6Jm
— Jack Mallers (@jackmallers) July 7, 2026 The launch follows Strike’s first Bitcoin-backed loan product, which arrived in May 2025. As previously reported, Strike issued more than $10 million in BTC-backed loans within two days of that launch.
No margin calls, but not risk-free The new product removes price-triggered actions tied to loan-to-value levels. Mallers said, “No margin calls. No price liquidations. No matter how far bitcoin falls, your bitcoin doesn’t move.”
That structure differs from many crypto lending products, where a sharp price drop can force borrowers to add collateral or face liquidation. Strike says borrowers can keep their collateral untouched if they make payments on time.
The protection has limits. If a borrower misses an interest or maturity payment, Strike gives a 10-day window to pay or contact the company. If the borrower does not respond or settle the overdue amount, Strike may sell part of the Bitcoin collateral.
Mallers also warned users about the difference between price risk and payment risk. “That’s why we call it ‘volatility-proof,’ not ‘liquidation-proof,’” he said.
Higher cost funds the protection The new loan carries a higher cost than Strike’s standard Bitcoin-backed loans. The annual percentage rate can reach 14.2%, based on a 2.95 percentage-point premium above Strike’s standard loan range.
Strike’s standard loan product has charged rates between 7.75% and 11.25%, depending on terms and payment choice. The “volatility-proof” version also uses a shorter six-month term and a maximum initial loan-to-value ratio of 45%.
In simple terms, a borrower who posts $100,000 in Bitcoin can borrow up to $45,000. The lower borrowing limit and higher rate give Strike more room to manage the risk of sharp BTC price moves.
Mallers said the added cost supports hedging. “The secret sauce is that we’re taking the extra charge that we’re giving you guys and we’re putting it on extra hedges in the market to protect all of us,” he said.
Bitcoin lending market searches for trust The launch comes while crypto lenders keep testing ways to make Bitcoin-backed credit easier to use. A Ledn research report found that 88% of surveyed crypto holders would consider a crypto-backed loan, while only 14% currently use one.
Ledn and Protocol Theory called that gap a trust problem, not only a demand problem. Market volatility, fear of liquidation, and low confidence in lenders have limited wider use.
Other firms also continue to build crypto-backed lending products. As crypto.news previously reported, Coinbase launched crypto-backed loans in the U.K. through Morpho on Base, allowing users to borrow up to $5 million in USDC against Bitcoin, Ethereum, and cbETH.
Strike’s new product tries to address one of the main fears in Bitcoin lending: forced selling during market crashes. It does not remove repayment risk. Borrowers still need to pay on time, and the higher rate makes the product costly for users who need longer-term credit.
Robert Kiyosaki issued a fresh recommendation amid ongoing market turbulence, steering attention away from traditional safe havens like Bitcoin and commodities. Instead, he wants followers to study big systemic change.
Here is what the author of Rich Dad Poor Dad now recommends, why he shifted his focus, and how critics are reacting.
What Robert Kiyosaki Recommends Instead of Bitcoin and GoldThe recommendation is not an asset but a book about financial collapse and wealth transfer. In a recent post on X, Kiyosaki highlighted “The Entropy Trap” by Mickey M. Maini as the essential read for this moment in history.
The book carries a foreword by Jim Rickards, a name Kiyosaki often cites. Furthermore, he explained that it reveals how trust-dependent assets could collapse as faith in traditional financial systems steadily erodes worldwide.
Follow us on X to get the latest news as it happens.
VIB: Very Important BOOK.
Best most important new book for this time in history became available on Amazon last week.
WHY: is book so important.?
A: Because book explains why today’s Rich will become tomorrows poor.
WHY: Because the informed will be tommorrow’s ULTRA…
— Robert Kiyosaki (@theRealKiyosaki) July 7, 2026 Those assets include specific instruments. Kiyosaki pointed to US bonds, ETFs, and mutual funds as examples that rely entirely on trust. Moreover, he argues their value could unravel once confidence in the system finally breaks down.
“You can see that today as large bond holders, such as Japan have already started dumping US Bonds. People who know what’s going to happen and what assets to hold ….will become the world’s new rich,” Kiyosaki said on X.
His core thesis flips the usual playbook. Those who identify non-trust-dependent assets will become the next “ultra rich”. Meanwhile, those following outdated rules risk financial ruin during the coming reset he describes.
Why Did Kiyosaki Change His Message NowThe shift marks a notable evolution in Kiyosaki’s messaging. Rather than doubling down solely on gold, silver, or crypto, he now emphasizes deeper knowledge and preparation for an entropy-driven financial reset.
He frames the change in terms of historical patterns. Wealth transfers, he argues, repeat throughout history during major systemic breakdowns. Furthermore, he pointed to large holders, such as Japan dumping US bonds as an early warning sign.
The timing follows a public admission. In late June 2026, gold crashed from highs near $5,600 toward the $4,000 range. Kiyosaki then posted bluntly, “I was wrong. Gold still crashing. That’s real life.”
I was wrong. Gold still crashing!
Thats real life.
RD Lesson: Profuts are made when you buy…. Not when you sell.
I still believe gold will be $35 k in about 5-years.
But that is real life: All markets go up and down.
Another RD lesson: The richest investors invest for…
— Robert Kiyosaki (@theRealKiyosaki) June 29, 2026 Despite the setback, he held firm in the long term. He maintained his $35,000 gold target within five years. Moreover, he stressed that profits are made when buying, not selling, and that markets naturally fluctuate.
Critics remain deeply skeptical, however. Detractors highlight his history of bold, sometimes unfulfilled forecasts and question extreme targets like $35,000. Nevertheless, Kiyosaki continues to position himself as an educator, urging proactive learning over any single asset class.
“Don’t worry Robert. You’ll be hilariously wrong again about gold being 35k/oz in 5 years,” one user replied.
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Bitcoin has shed over half its value since its October 2025 peak, drifting to roughly $63,000 at press time. Presently, it has largely held a tight range between $58,000 and $63,000.
The decline stems mostly from mounting geopolitical tension that built after the peak—the U.S.-China tariff war and the unresolved West Asia conflict—which pulled capital out of Bitcoin.
Sentiment has since settled on the geopolitical front, but moves by major holders cast doubt on whether a sustainable rally is coming. Michael Saylor’s Strategy recently sold $216 million worth of Bitcoin to fund a dividend payment, sharpening that uncertainty. On-chain data offers a cleaner answer.
Bitcoin’s apparent demand signals quiet accumulation Despite the outflows, Bitcoin’s apparent demand on a 30-day basis points to a silent, growing accumulation of the asset.
Since June 3, buyers have scooped up roughly 200,000 Bitcoin, lifting apparent demand from -275,000 to -75,000 Bitcoin. The metric measures the gap between newly issued Bitcoin and the supply that has stayed inactive.
Source: CryptoQuant The rise reflects a degree of accumulation, though it stops short of confirming a bullish market.
Apparent demand still sits in negative territory on the chart. A material run looks unlikely until the metric flips positive, particularly while the upward push toward the positive end stays weak. For now, the trend warrants caution rather than a bullish read, and the market has yet to confirm otherwise.
Structure hints at limited downside Structurally, the king cryptocurrency shows signs that further downside from this level carries a lower probability.
Bitcoin has found a base at the lower band (green line) of the Bollinger Bands, a level that has often played a critical support role once price trades there for a stretch.
The Bollinger Bands have repeatedly flagged rebound points on the chart. Each of the last five instances, circled in red, typically carried price to the blue or upper red line—levels that currently sit at $69,928 and $82,544.
The moving average convergence divergence (MACD) indicator, on the other hand, suggests a rally may not materialize soon, with Bitcoin more likely to tick slightly lower or consolidate further within its present range.
The MACD blue line crossing the orange line—while holding a narrow gap—implies Bitcoin keeps trading in the direction it currently sits, between $58,000 and $63,000, before any surge materializes. It also suggests the odds of an extreme plunge remain slim.
Bitcoin season index and exchange reserves stay calm The market has not entered a Bitcoin season, the euphoric stretch where the asset prints fresh local highs and potentially tests an all-time high.
The index tracking this currently reads 52, lending modest support to the view that select altcoins are drawing renewed capital flow.
Source: CryptoQuant Bitcoin is likely to meet lighter selling pressure as it stands, given the overall decline in supply held on exchange reserves. That availability has dropped from 2.715 million Bitcoin to roughly 2.707 million on the chart.
For now, capital movement points to settled sentiment, and Bitcoin looks set to stay calm as the gradual decline tendency holds steady.
Final Summary Bitcoin remains range-bound, with on-chain data pointing to accumulation but not a confirmed bullish reversal. Apparent demand is improving as buyers accumulate BTC, though the metric remains negative, warranting caution.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
Michael Saylor spotlighted Strategy’s BTC Breakeven ARR on Tuesday, July 7. He argued Bitcoin (BTC) only needs 3.3% yearly growth to fund the firm’s preferred dividends from capital gains indefinitely.
The metric divides annual preferred dividend obligations, now roughly $1.76 billion by company figures, by the value of the corporate Bitcoin reserve. Saylor called it one of the most misunderstood numbers attached to Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy).
What BTC Breakeven ARR Means for MicroStrategyStrategy reports holding 843,775 BTC, worth roughly $53.8 billion with Bitcoin trading near $63,603, and the stack keeps growing. The company disclosed 818,334 BTC in its May earnings release, meaning it added over 25,000 coins through a drawdown.
Saylor, the company’s founder and executive chairman, made the case in a Tuesday post on X (Twitter).
“One of the most misunderstood $MSTR metrics is BTC Breakeven ARR. If BTC appreciates faster than 3.3% over time, BTC capital gains can fund $STRC dividends indefinitely.”
A companion chart from Strategy illustrates the trade-off. At zero Bitcoin growth, the reserve plus a $2.55 billion cash buffer covers about 31 years of payments, per the company’s dashboard. The buffer alone funds roughly 17 months.
BTC capital gains fund STRC credit dividends. Source: MicroStrategyThe pitch leans on a real track record. MicroStrategy has paid 23 consecutive preferred distributions totaling over $693 million since early 2025, per its Q1 release.
Critics Question the Bitcoin Dividend MathThe model assumes obligations stop compounding, and so far, they have not. Preferred dividends hit $229.5 million in the first quarter of 2026, up from $10.6 million a year earlier. Preferred equity outstanding has swelled past $13.5 billion.
Skeptics also doubt the funding side. JPMorgan recently warned that Strategy’s Bitcoin sales policy could add up to $1.25 billion in sell pressure. On-chain data already pointed to a new Bitcoin sale of 491 BTC on July 1, which was later confirmed to be 7x bigger.
Meanwhile, STRC paid an 11.5% annualized rate in May yet trades below its $100 par target. Preferred holders still price in risk despite the low breakeven hurdle.
STRC Price. Source: StrategyWhether 3.3% proves a low bar depends on Bitcoin reclaiming its long-term trend, with the price down nearly 49% from its October peak.
However, coming payments may reveal how much of the burden falls on BTC sales rather than capital gains.
Bitcoin financial services platform Strike has launched a “volatility-proof” Bitcoin-backed loan that eliminates margin calls and forced liquidations amid the depths of a bear market, but only for those who can pay on time and handle a 14% interest rate.
In an announcement on Tuesday, Strike CEO Jack Mallers said the offering came in response to broad customer feedback on Strike’s first Bitcoin loan product, which launched in May 2025 and triggered many liquidations during a timeframe in which Bitcoin (BTC) dropped 54% from peak to trough.
“No margin calls. No price liquidations. No matter how far bitcoin falls, your bitcoin doesn't move,” Strike CEO Jack Mallers said of the new Bitcoin loan product. The trade-off is an expensive interest rate, a shorter six-month loan term, and an obligation to pay on time to avoid liquidation, Mallers said.
Strike’s Jack Mallers is presenting the new Bitcoin-backed loan product. Source: Jack Mallers
The Bitcoin industry has spent the better part of a decade racing to build financial products that expand Bitcoin's use case beyond a savings technology. A report in June from crypto lending platform Ledn, however, found that while 88% of surveyed crypto investors said they would consider a crypto-backed loan, only 14% use them.
Ledn said confidence in crypto-lending products and market volatility are among the main reasons for this 6-to-1 “crypto collateral gap” that has slowed adoption.
Volatility has been one of the biggest obstacles behind that push, with Bitcoin dropping 30% or more in 10 of the past 12 years, while also experiencing a 50% or more drawdown four times since 2014, Mallers noted.
Other crypto market participants offering Bitcoin-backed loans are Binance, Coinbase, Nexo and Xapo Bank.
Strike charges double-digit interestThe maximum initial loan-to-value ratio for the volatility-proof loans is 45%, meaning that a customer who puts up $100,000 in Bitcoin as collateral can borrow up to $45,000, while the annual percentage rate (APR) is also 2.95 percentage points higher than Strike’s standard loan product.
“The secret sauce is that we’re taking the extra charge that we’re giving you guys and we’re putting it on extra hedges in the market to protect all of us.”Strike’s standard Bitcoin loans charge an annual percentage rate between 7.75% and 11.25%, meaning the volatility-proof products could carry interest between 10.7% and 14.2%.
"If you're OK with a slightly shorter term and a little bit higher of a fee, there is no price move that can liquidate you," Mallers said.
Over the past year, Bitcoin has fallen 54% from its all-time high of $126,080 in October to $58,190 on June 25.
Bitcoin investor Fred Krueger said the loan product "could eliminate one of Bitcoin's biggest structural problems: forced selling during market crashes."
“Instead of volatility causing automatic liquidations, defaults would be driven by borrowers' inability to service debt rather than by temporary price swings," he said.
“Great product for those who need near-term liquidity and don’t want to risk liquidation,” added Vibes Capital Management executive chairman Rob Topping, though he also acknowledged the 14% APR was expensive.
Customers must pay up or face consequencesIf a client misses a payment, they have 10 days to make the payment or contact Strike to explain their financial situation, Mallers said.
Failing to pay after that 10-day period may mean Strike starts liquidating their Bitcoin to cover the overdue amount, Mallers warned.
“If we don’t hear from you for a few weeks, then I may have no choice but to sell off some of the Bitcoin because it seems like you’re doing a hit-and-run.”“That’s why we call it ‘volatility-proof,’ not ‘liquidation-proof,’” Mallers added.
The Bitcoin loans are offered in most US states and can be taken out in both personal and business names. They can be used for new loans, refinancing or consolidating.
While the minimum loan amount varies from state to state, the minimum loan offered through personal loans is $10,000, while businesses in certain states can access loans as low as $5,000.
Features: Bitcoin miners are pivoting to AI, so why is the hashrate near ATHs?
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.
Bitcoin financial services platform Strike has launched a “volatility-proof” Bitcoin-backed loan that eliminates margin calls and forced liquidations amid the depths of a bear market, but only for those who can pay on time and handle a 14% interest rate.
In an announcement on Tuesday, Strike CEO Jack Mallers said the offering came in response to broad customer feedback on Strike’s first Bitcoin loan product, which launched in May 2025 and triggered many liquidations during a timeframe in which Bitcoin (BTC) dropped 54% from peak to trough.
“No margin calls. No price liquidations. No matter how far bitcoin falls, your bitcoin doesn't move,” Strike CEO Jack Mallers said of the new Bitcoin loan product. The trade-off is an expensive interest rate, a shorter six-month loan term, and an obligation to pay on time to avoid liquidation, Mallers said.
Strike’s Jack Mallers is presenting the new Bitcoin-backed loan product. Source: Jack Mallers
The Bitcoin industry has spent the better part of a decade racing to build financial products that expand Bitcoin's use case beyond a savings technology. A report in June from crypto lending platform Ledn, however, found that while 88% of surveyed crypto investors said they would consider a crypto-backed loan, only 14% use them.
Ledn said confidence in crypto-lending products and market volatility are among the main reasons for this 6-to-1 “crypto collateral gap” that has slowed adoption.
Volatility has been one of the biggest obstacles behind that push, with Bitcoin dropping 30% or more in 10 of the past 12 years, while also experiencing a 50% or more drawdown four times since 2014, Mallers noted.
Other crypto market participants offering Bitcoin-backed loans are Binance, Coinbase, Nexo and Xapo Bank.
Strike charges double-digit interestThe maximum initial loan-to-value ratio for the volatility-proof loans is 45%, meaning that a customer who puts up $100,000 in Bitcoin as collateral can borrow up to $45,000, while the annual percentage rate (APR) is also 2.95 percentage points higher than Strike’s standard loan product.
“The secret sauce is that we’re taking the extra charge that we’re giving you guys and we’re putting it on extra hedges in the market to protect all of us.”Strike’s standard Bitcoin loans charge an annual percentage rate between 7.75% and 11.25%, meaning the volatility-proof products could carry interest between 10.7% and 14.2%.
"If you're OK with a slightly shorter term and a little bit higher of a fee, there is no price move that can liquidate you," Mallers said.
Over the past year, Bitcoin has fallen 54% from its all-time high of $126,080 in October to $58,190 on June 25.
Bitcoin investor Fred Krueger said the loan product "could eliminate one of Bitcoin's biggest structural problems: forced selling during market crashes."
“Instead of volatility causing automatic liquidations, defaults would be driven by borrowers' inability to service debt rather than by temporary price swings," he said.
“Great product for those who need near-term liquidity and don’t want to risk liquidation,” added Vibes Capital Management executive chairman Rob Topping, though he also acknowledged the 14% APR was expensive.
Customers must pay up or face consequencesIf a client misses a payment, they have 10 days to make the payment or contact Strike to explain their financial situation, Mallers said.
Failing to pay after that 10-day period may mean Strike starts liquidating their Bitcoin to cover the overdue amount, Mallers warned.
“If we don’t hear from you for a few weeks, then I may have no choice but to sell off some of the Bitcoin because it seems like you’re doing a hit-and-run.”“That’s why we call it ‘volatility-proof,’ not ‘liquidation-proof,’” Mallers added.
The Bitcoin loans are offered in most US states and can be taken out in both personal and business names. They can be used for new loans, refinancing or consolidating.
While the minimum loan amount varies from state to state, the minimum loan offered through personal loans is $10,000, while businesses in certain states can access loans as low as $5,000.
Features: Bitcoin miners are pivoting to AI, so why is the hashrate near ATHs?
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.
Strategy’s $216M Bitcoin sell-off disclosure has not sparked the death spiral projected by some analysts last week.
In fact, Grayscale now thinks the firm’s $1.25B BTC sale plan could help “support BTC price stability.”
In its latest report, Grayscale’s Head of Research Zach Pandl noted,
The rebound in the price of STRC suggests investors are now more confident about the instrument. Strategy is selling more Bitcoin. But this will restore confidence in its financing structure and help Bitcoin find a more durable bottom, in our view.
Source: Grayscale After Strategy’s disclosure on Monday, the firm’s interest-paying preferred stock Stretch (STRC) briefly climbed above $90 for the first time since the 22nd of June.
STRC de-pegged from its $100-parity level in mid-June amid broader market concerns on how the firm would fund dividend obligations as the crypto winter extended itself. The initial USD reserve was also partially emptied to retire convertible debt that further compounded the worries.
To address these concerns, Strategy announced a new plan that included a formal $1.25B BTC sale. The $216M BTC sell-off is just the first step aimed at having a buffer to cover the dividend obligations.
Surprisingly, the markets have not reacted negatively as they did when Strategy sold 32 BTC. In the first week of June, BTC dumped by over 20% to $59K after Strategy disclosed that it sold 32 BTC.
On Monday, BTC moved lower but quickly pared the losses and closed the day with gains of just 0.6%.
Source: BTC/USDT, TradingView Most analysts expected a similar negative reaction if the firm went ahead with the $1.25 billion BTC sale plan. In fact, JPMorgan warned against it and instead recommended increasing the USD reserve to 3 years’ coverage by selling MSTR shares.
For JPMorgan, such a BTC sell-off would directly drive the market lower.
Galaxy Research echoed a similar warning, adding that selling BTC won’t resolve the firm’s “structural issues.” In fact, Galaxy added that such a move would trigger a BTC sell-off, which would weigh down on STRC and MSTR.
So far, the market has faded the fears. In fact, analyst James Van Straten said it could signal a market bottom for BTC.
When bad news no longer pushes prices lower, the bottom may be in.
However, for Peter Schiff, a long-time Strategy critic, the firm might still be incurring losses since it has been selling BTC below its average buying price.
Given MSTR’s average cost, that’s a realized loss of about $15K per Bitcoin, or about $54 million. With over 840K Bitcoin left to sell, the total losses will be much greater.
Worth noting, however, that BTC’s near-term recovery will depend on the FOMC meeting minutes scheduled for 8th of July.
Final Summary Market faded Strategy’s $216M BTC sale as the price stayed above $63K Grayscale billed the move as supportive for BTC to find a more “durable bottom.”
Prediction market platform Polymarket has announced support for instant, self-custodial deposits via the Bitcoin Lightning Network, with the new feature backed by the Spark Protocol. Compared to prior on-chain deposit methods that required waiting for 3 to 6 block confirmations and took 10 to 60 minutes, the new solution delivers near-instant settlement while lowering deposit barriers and transaction costs. According to details, Spark can conduct checks for double-spend risks, transaction fees, and Replace-by-Fee (RBF) at the time of transaction broadcast, enabling "zero-confirmation" posting. It also supports on-chain, Lightning Network, and stablecoin payment rails, removing the need for the platform to operate its own Lightning Network nodes. Polymarket noted that this step will further boost Bitcoin users' capital efficiency and strengthen its competitiveness against rival Kalshi.
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Strike has launched a new "Volatility-Proof" Bitcoin mortgage product that eliminates margin calls and forced liquidations triggered by Bitcoin price declines. Jack Mallers noted that regardless of how much Bitcoin’s price drops, as long as borrowers make timely repayments, their pledged Bitcoin will not be liquidated due to price fluctuations. The new product features a maximum loan-to-value (LTV) ratio of 45%, a 6-month term, and an annual percentage rate (APR) ranging from roughly 10.7% to 14.2% — higher than Strike’s standard loan offerings. Should a borrower default, they must repay within 10 days or coordinate with the platform; otherwise, Strike retains the right to sell a portion of the Bitcoin collateral to cover the outstanding balance. The company added that the product is now available in most U.S. states, applicable for new loans, refinancing, and debt consolidation.
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Billionaire Grantham is bearish on SpaceX: 90% probability of eventual collapse, casts doubt on the AI and Mars narratives.
Billionaire investor Jeremy Grantham, long renowned for warning of asset bubbles, has publicly cast doubt on SpaceX’s current roughly $2 trillion valuation, claiming the company’s AI business, Mars program, and long-term growth thesis all carry major flaws. He stated his "90% bet" is that SpaceX will eventually face a historic collapse. Grantham called it "incredible" that SpaceX attributed around 90% of its addressable market to AI in its IPO prospectus, adding that its AI products lack competitiveness compared to those of OpenAI and Anthropic. Still, mainstream Wall Street institutions remain broadly optimistic about SpaceX. With the company officially added to the NASDAQ-100 Index, it is expected to draw more passive capital inflows. Several investment banks including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Morgan Stanley have issued positive ratings, noting that Starship, Starlink, and its AI business will serve as core drivers of future growth.
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Tether burned 2.5 billion USDT on Ethereum in a single day, marking the largest single-day burn since February.
CryptoQuant cited on-chain data, reporting that on July 7, Tether Treasury burned $2.5 billion worth of USDT on the Ethereum network. This marks the largest single burn on the network since February this year, exceeding the $2 billion burn on May 8, and second only to the all-time high of $3.5 billion recorded on February 10. Meanwhile, the USDT balance flowing into and out of Binance via the Tron network dropped to roughly $806 million, its lowest level since December 29, 2025 (when it hit $391 million), falling below the $1 billion threshold and signaling a significant contraction in USDT liquidity on Binance’s Tron channel. The large-scale burn by Tether Treasury primarily reflects redemption, fund management, or cross-chain rebalancing operations rather than a direct market signal. However, the synchronized contraction of Ethereum’s USDT supply and Binance’s Tron liquidity is worth ongoing monitoring, as market participants will watch whether the liquidity of dual-chain stablecoins continues this concurrent tightening trend.
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CASHCAT's market cap briefly topped $98 million, surging over 11-fold in 24 hours.
According to GMGN market data, the market capitalization of CASHCAT, a meme coin on Robinhood’s chain, has continued its rally, briefly crossing $98 million before pulling back to $92.47 million, surging over 11 times in 24 hours. CASHCAT was originally the mascot of Robinhood’s U.S. stock app before being rebranded as Robinhood. On July 1 this year, Robinhood launched its own Layer 2 (L2) public chain, Robinhood Chain, focusing on on-chain finance and real-world assets (RWA). Vlad Tenev, co-founder and CEO of Robinhood, posted on X today that while the company is building Robinhood Chain into the best public chain for real-world assets (RWA), it is also “very suitable for trading meme coins.” BlockBeats reminds users that most meme coins have no intrinsic value and are highly volatile, so trading them requires caution.
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Iran announces its initial response to the US: Strikes 85 key US military facilities
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran issued a statement accusing the U.S. of repeating its treacherous habitual practices, claiming U.S. forces launched airstrikes on multiple coastal bases and civilian facilities in Hormozgan Province and the Mahshahr coastal region in the early hours of today, blatantly violating the ceasefire agreement and trampling on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. In an initial response to the aggression, the IRGC Navy and Aerospace Force conducted a joint missile and drone operation, destroying 85 key U.S. military facilities located at Salman Port, the U.S. 5th Fleet base in Bahrain, and Kuwait’s Ali Al Salem Air Base. An enemy MQ-9 drone that attempted to interfere in the operation was also shot down. Separately, U.S. President Donald Trump posted a video titled "U.S. Strikes Iran" on social media, which showed ground targets being hit, with flames and smoke rising against the night sky. Trump provided no text commentary for the video, but later reposted it with a netizen’s post attached. The post read: "Breaking News: Massive Strikes on Iran." Earlier U.S. sources reported that Trump, who was attending the NATO summit in Turkey, had approved the plan to strike Iran and issued the strike order.
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US CFTC sues crypto commodity pool operator Trevor Vernon, alleging $14.8 million in investment fraud.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) sued Trevor Vernon and his company Argent Capital Management, accusing them of operating a commodity pool involving stock index futures, options, and crypto assets from March 2022 to February 2026. They raised approximately $14.8 million from at least 60 investors while falsely advertising investment performance, allegedly committing investment fraud. The CFTC stated that the related trades caused investors to lose over $8.6 million. Vernon not only concealed the losses but is also suspected of misappropriating around $3 million to pay returns to investors, with the operation being "similar to a Ponzi scheme", and embezzled $136,000 for private air travel. The regulator also noted that the trades involved commodities such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, and requested the court to order them to cease relevant trading and registration activities, as well as recover illegal proceeds, impose civil penalties, and compensate investors.
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Despite the plunge in chip stocks, global institutions are snapping up SK Hynix ahead of its blockbuster Nasdaq listing.
SK Hynix’s roughly $28 billion American Depositary Receipt (ADR) offering was oversubscribed several times ahead of pricing, with around 1,000 institutional investors taking part in roadshows, drawing strong subscriptions from global long-term funds and tech investors. If completed smoothly, the offering will rank among the largest U.S. listings by a foreign company, with the chipmaker set to debut on the Nasdaq Global Select Market this Friday. Despite recent sharp volatility in the global semiconductor sector, SK Hynix’s stock has declined around 17% this month, yet institutional subscription enthusiasm has not been materially impacted. Market observers note that U.S. investors have relatively limited investment access to the South Korean memory chip leader, and the scarcity premium plus long-term growth prospects tied to AI remain key supports for the offering. Jung In-yoon, CEO of Fibonacci Asset Management Global, said market volatility “may affect short-term investor sentiment or execution timelines, but I would be surprised if it materially disrupts the transaction itself. Unless market conditions deteriorate significantly from here, the pricing impact should be manageable.”
Kuwait’s military is officially in active defense mode. On June 2, 2026, the Kuwaiti Army reported intercepting seven ballistic missiles in a single engagement, part of a broader wave of drone and missile attacks attributed to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targeting Kuwaiti and US assets in the region.
The Kuwaiti Army’s General Staff pushed public advisories through state news agency KUNA, urging civilians to follow safety protocols and stay alert for debris falling from intercepted projectiles. Debris from interceptions has fallen in residential zones, which is why the Kuwaiti government is not treating this as a background military matter.
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What’s actually happening in the Gulf Kuwait’s air defense network has been running hot since February 2026, when Iranian threats against Gulf states and US military assets began escalating into live fire. The IRGC has been the attributed source of the attacks, which have targeted both Kuwaiti infrastructure and American interests operating in the region. Some incidents reportedly involved dozens of projectiles detected in a single wave, making June 2 part of a sustained campaign rather than an isolated provocation.
Why crypto traders are watching the Gulf During a May 2026 escalation in the same regional conflict, Bitcoin dropped below $73,000. Liquidations tied to that move totaled $1 billion as traders caught on the wrong side of leveraged positions got wiped out in a compressed timeframe.
The June 2 interception event did not produce an immediate, documented move in crypto markets. But the pattern established over the prior months is clear: major escalation events in the Iran conflict have corresponded with Bitcoin price drops and significant liquidation cascades.
What investors should be watching Kuwait sits at the northern tip of the Persian Gulf, sharing a border with Iraq and positioned within range of Iranian ballistic missile systems. Its air defense network being actively engaged is a materially different signal than proxy skirmishes further from core Gulf infrastructure.
For crypto specifically, traders running leveraged long positions on Bitcoin or other major assets should be pricing in the possibility of additional sharp drawdowns if the conflict escalates further. The May liquidation event, totaling $1 billion, demonstrated how quickly an adverse geopolitical headline can cascade through a market where leverage is common and stop-loss clusters are tight.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
The creator of the Cashu ecash protocol just made Bitcoin payments look as simple as tapping your phone against someone else’s. Calle, the pseudonymous developer behind Cashu, demonstrated an NFC tap-to-pay feature on July 7 that transfers Bitcoin-backed ecash tokens between two phones, no internet connection required.
How tapping phones moves Bitcoin Cashu is an open-source protocol that creates ecash tokens, essentially digital IOUs backed by Bitcoin or Lightning Network deposits held at entities called “mints.” You deposit Bitcoin, you get tokens on your device. Those tokens live locally on your phone, just like cash lives in your wallet.
Near-field communication, the same tech that powers Apple Pay and contactless credit cards, allows one phone to beam those ecash tokens to another phone with a simple tap. No cell signal. No Wi-Fi. No blockchain confirmation delay. Just two devices, touching briefly, and value changes hands.
Cashu uses a cryptographic technique called blind signatures, originally conceived by David Chaum in the 1980s. The mint that issues your tokens can verify they’re legitimate without knowing who spent them or where. That’s a meaningful distinction from on-chain Bitcoin transactions, which leave a permanent, traceable record on a public ledger.
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Numo and the growing Cashu ecosystem Back on February 24, the Cashu ecosystem saw the launch of Numo, a free, open-source Android application built specifically for contactless payments using Cashu ecash and NFC technology.
Numo works by turning a merchant’s Android phone into an NFC payment terminal, no specialized hardware needed. The app emulates an NFC tag for payment requests, and compatible customer wallets can send ecash tokens directly to the merchant’s device. It’s available as an APK download.
Numo can automatically transfer received ecash to a Lightning address, so a merchant taps to receive ecash and the value flows into their Lightning wallet.
Cashu itself has been building toward this moment since Calle first introduced the protocol in October 2022. The protocol supports offline transfers through multiple channels beyond NFC, including Bluetooth and QR codes.
Why offline matters more than you think Lightning Network brought transaction times down to near-instant and fees to fractions of a cent, but Lightning still requires both parties to be online. Cashu’s offline capability addresses this gap directly. Ecash tokens stored on-device can move between phones in environments where no other crypto payment method would function.
The tradeoff is trust. Unlike on-chain Bitcoin, where the network itself guarantees settlement, Cashu ecash requires trust in the mint that issued the tokens. If a mint goes offline permanently or acts maliciously, your tokens could become worthless.
What this means for investors and the broader market There’s no token to buy here. Cashu operates as a pure open-source framework with no associated market-traded asset.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over Jam County in Bushehr Province, and crypto markets responded the way they always do when geopolitical risk spikes: violently and without mercy.
Bitcoin fell below $73,000 in the immediate aftermath, while roughly $1 billion in liquidations swept across cryptocurrency exchanges. The vast majority of those liquidations hit leveraged long positions, meaning traders betting on continued upside got caught flat-footed by a military escalation thousands of miles from any blockchain node.
What happened in Iranian airspace The IRGC confirmed the shootdown on June 9-10, citing what it called “precise intelligence monitoring” as the basis for engaging the American drone. The MQ-9 Reaper carries a price tag of approximately $32 million per unit.
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The incident fits into a broader pattern of aerial confrontations between the US and Iran throughout 2026, with multiple reported drone encounters this year alone. Iran has a history of intercepting American unmanned aircraft, most notably the downing of a US RQ-4 Global Hawk back in June 2019, an incident that nearly triggered a military response from the Trump administration at the time.
The IRGC went further in its public statements, referencing additional claimed actions against US air assets, including references to an RQ-4 drone and an F-35. The group also claimed to have attacked the US Fifth Fleet stationed in Bahrain, though the full scope and verification of these claims remain part of a rapidly evolving situation.
Why crypto markets care about a drone over Bushehr When Bitcoin moves against leveraged bets sharply enough, exchanges automatically close positions to prevent further losses. That forced selling creates a cascade effect, pushing prices down further, which triggers more liquidations, which pushes prices down further. The nearly $1 billion in liquidations tells you exactly how many market participants were positioned for calm seas when a storm rolled in.
Bitcoin’s slide below $73,000 represented a meaningful pullback. The asset had been trading well above that level prior to the incident, and the speed of the decline underscored just how thin the liquidity can become when fear enters the picture.
The bigger picture for investors The pattern is well-established. Iran shot down that RQ-4 Global Hawk in 2019, and markets wobbled then too. The difference now is that crypto markets are significantly larger and more interconnected with traditional finance, meaning the transmission mechanism from geopolitical shock to digital asset price action is faster and more severe than it was seven years ago.
The liquidation data itself is worth monitoring, because the $1 billion figure suggests significant leverage had built up in the system, and clearing that out could actually create a healthier market structure going forward if no further escalation occurs.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
According to Onchain Lens monitoring, whale address 0x77ee recently opened a 40x leveraged short position on Hyperliquid for 493 BTC (valued at approximately $31.08 million), with an entry price of $63,240.9 and a liquidation price of $73,962.2. The position currently has an unrealized profit of around $112,400, delivering a return on equity (ROE) of 14.47%. Data shows the address holds a total of 15 positions, with a total position size of roughly $79.79 million, 92% of which are short positions. That said, the address’s cumulative historical trading losses still amount to $5.66 million.
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Billionaire Grantham is bearish on SpaceX: 90% probability of eventual collapse, casts doubt on the AI and Mars narratives.
Billionaire investor Jeremy Grantham, long renowned for warning of asset bubbles, has publicly cast doubt on SpaceX’s current roughly $2 trillion valuation, claiming the company’s AI business, Mars program, and long-term growth thesis all carry major flaws. He stated his "90% bet" is that SpaceX will eventually face a historic collapse. Grantham called it "incredible" that SpaceX attributed around 90% of its addressable market to AI in its IPO prospectus, adding that its AI products lack competitiveness compared to those of OpenAI and Anthropic. Still, mainstream Wall Street institutions remain broadly optimistic about SpaceX. With the company officially added to the NASDAQ-100 Index, it is expected to draw more passive capital inflows. Several investment banks including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Morgan Stanley have issued positive ratings, noting that Starship, Starlink, and its AI business will serve as core drivers of future growth.
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Tether burned 2.5 billion USDT on Ethereum in a single day, marking the largest single-day burn since February.
CryptoQuant cited on-chain data, reporting that on July 7, Tether Treasury burned $2.5 billion worth of USDT on the Ethereum network. This marks the largest single burn on the network since February this year, exceeding the $2 billion burn on May 8, and second only to the all-time high of $3.5 billion recorded on February 10. Meanwhile, the USDT balance flowing into and out of Binance via the Tron network dropped to roughly $806 million, its lowest level since December 29, 2025 (when it hit $391 million), falling below the $1 billion threshold and signaling a significant contraction in USDT liquidity on Binance’s Tron channel. The large-scale burn by Tether Treasury primarily reflects redemption, fund management, or cross-chain rebalancing operations rather than a direct market signal. However, the synchronized contraction of Ethereum’s USDT supply and Binance’s Tron liquidity is worth ongoing monitoring, as market participants will watch whether the liquidity of dual-chain stablecoins continues this concurrent tightening trend.
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CASHCAT's market cap briefly topped $98 million, surging over 11-fold in 24 hours.
According to GMGN market data, the market capitalization of CASHCAT, a meme coin on Robinhood’s chain, has continued its rally, briefly crossing $98 million before pulling back to $92.47 million, surging over 11 times in 24 hours. CASHCAT was originally the mascot of Robinhood’s U.S. stock app before being rebranded as Robinhood. On July 1 this year, Robinhood launched its own Layer 2 (L2) public chain, Robinhood Chain, focusing on on-chain finance and real-world assets (RWA). Vlad Tenev, co-founder and CEO of Robinhood, posted on X today that while the company is building Robinhood Chain into the best public chain for real-world assets (RWA), it is also “very suitable for trading meme coins.” BlockBeats reminds users that most meme coins have no intrinsic value and are highly volatile, so trading them requires caution.
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Iran announces its initial response to the US: Strikes 85 key US military facilities
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran issued a statement accusing the U.S. of repeating its treacherous habitual practices, claiming U.S. forces launched airstrikes on multiple coastal bases and civilian facilities in Hormozgan Province and the Mahshahr coastal region in the early hours of today, blatantly violating the ceasefire agreement and trampling on the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding. In an initial response to the aggression, the IRGC Navy and Aerospace Force conducted a joint missile and drone operation, destroying 85 key U.S. military facilities located at Salman Port, the U.S. 5th Fleet base in Bahrain, and Kuwait’s Ali Al Salem Air Base. An enemy MQ-9 drone that attempted to interfere in the operation was also shot down. Separately, U.S. President Donald Trump posted a video titled "U.S. Strikes Iran" on social media, which showed ground targets being hit, with flames and smoke rising against the night sky. Trump provided no text commentary for the video, but later reposted it with a netizen’s post attached. The post read: "Breaking News: Massive Strikes on Iran." Earlier U.S. sources reported that Trump, who was attending the NATO summit in Turkey, had approved the plan to strike Iran and issued the strike order.
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US CFTC sues crypto commodity pool operator Trevor Vernon, alleging $14.8 million in investment fraud.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) sued Trevor Vernon and his company Argent Capital Management, accusing them of operating a commodity pool involving stock index futures, options, and crypto assets from March 2022 to February 2026. They raised approximately $14.8 million from at least 60 investors while falsely advertising investment performance, allegedly committing investment fraud. The CFTC stated that the related trades caused investors to lose over $8.6 million. Vernon not only concealed the losses but is also suspected of misappropriating around $3 million to pay returns to investors, with the operation being "similar to a Ponzi scheme", and embezzled $136,000 for private air travel. The regulator also noted that the trades involved commodities such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, and requested the court to order them to cease relevant trading and registration activities, as well as recover illegal proceeds, impose civil penalties, and compensate investors.
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Despite the plunge in chip stocks, global institutions are snapping up SK Hynix ahead of its blockbuster Nasdaq listing.
SK Hynix’s roughly $28 billion American Depositary Receipt (ADR) offering was oversubscribed several times ahead of pricing, with around 1,000 institutional investors taking part in roadshows, drawing strong subscriptions from global long-term funds and tech investors. If completed smoothly, the offering will rank among the largest U.S. listings by a foreign company, with the chipmaker set to debut on the Nasdaq Global Select Market this Friday. Despite recent sharp volatility in the global semiconductor sector, SK Hynix’s stock has declined around 17% this month, yet institutional subscription enthusiasm has not been materially impacted. Market observers note that U.S. investors have relatively limited investment access to the South Korean memory chip leader, and the scarcity premium plus long-term growth prospects tied to AI remain key supports for the offering. Jung In-yoon, CEO of Fibonacci Asset Management Global, said market volatility “may affect short-term investor sentiment or execution timelines, but I would be surprised if it materially disrupts the transaction itself. Unless market conditions deteriorate significantly from here, the pricing impact should be manageable.”
New Hampshire is taking another big step toward using Bitcoin in public finance. On Wednesday, the state’s Governor and Executive Council will hold a public hearing . They will decide whether to approve a plan for up to $100 million in Bitcoin-backed bonds.
If approved, the plan would move forward as one of the first municipal bond projects in the US linked to Bitcoin.
What Is the Plan?The bonds would help finance private Bitcoin purchases through a company connected to Bitcoin miner CleanSpark. The state would not borrow the money itself. Instead, it would act as a middleman by issuing the bonds. Meanwhile, the private borrower is responsible for paying investors back.
State officials say this means taxpayer money is not at risk.
Governor Kelly Ayotte has called the idea a way to attract investment. Additionally, it would make New Hampshire a leader in digital finance without using public funds.
Granite Staters pay way too much for electricity, and it’s unacceptable that utilities would attempt to block relief after overcharging for more than a decade.
New Hampshire joined fellow New England states in calling for the return of $1.5 billion to ratepayers, including $150… pic.twitter.com/3DyjjlmiiN
— Governor Kelly Ayotte (@KellyAyotte) July 6, 2026 Why It MattersNew Hampshire has been one of the most crypto-friendly states in the US. In 2025, it became the first state to create a strategic Bitcoin reserve. This allows the government to invest a small portion of public funds in large digital assets like Bitcoin.
The new bond proposal is another move that could strengthen the state’s position in the crypto industry.
But There Are RisksNot everyone is convinced the idea is a good one.
Financial experts warn that Bitcoin’s price can change very quickly. If the value of the Bitcoin used as collateral drops too much, around 12.5% from the required level, the bonds could be forced into early liquidation.
Moody’s has also given the proposed bonds a Ba2 rating. This rating is considered speculative and carries higher credit risk than investment-grade bonds.
Finance professor David Krause said the project could be a useful experiment. However, it may not be practical as a long-term public financing tool because of Bitcoin’s volatility.
Looking AheadThe hearing is expected to be the final major government step before the bonds can be issued. While approval seems likely, the real challenge will come after launch. The project’s success will depend heavily on Bitcoin’s price and market conditions.
If the plan moves forward, New Hampshire could set an example for other US states. Other states are exploring new ways to use digital assets in public finance.
Story Ends Here
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New Hampshire is about to do something no state has ever done: put Bitcoin behind a municipal bond. The state’s lawmakers and Executive Council are set to review a $100 million Bitcoin-backed bond issuance at a public hearing on July 8, 2026, a move that could fundamentally reshape how governments interact with digital assets.
The hearing will take place before Governor Kelly Ayotte and the five-member Executive Council, representing the final approval hurdle after the New Hampshire Business Finance Authority board gave its endorsement back in November 2025. If this gets the green light, it becomes the world’s first Bitcoin-backed municipal bond.
How the bond actually works The bonds will be secured by $160 million worth of Bitcoin collateral, creating a 160% over-collateralization ratio. The bond includes a mandatory liquidation clause: if the Bitcoin coverage ratio drops below 140%, the collateral gets liquidated automatically.
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The proceeds from the bond will finance Bitcoin acquisitions by CleanSpark, a publicly traded Bitcoin mining company. BitGo, one of the largest digital asset custodians in the industry, will handle custody of the collateral. The bond carries a 2029 maturity date.
Moody’s has assigned a provisional Ba2 rating to the bond. That’s below investment grade, sitting in the upper range of what’s commonly called “junk” territory. The rating agency’s caution reflects Bitcoin’s price swings, which could trigger that liquidation mechanism during a downturn.
The players and the politics The deal involves a handful of key partners beyond CleanSpark and BitGo. Wave Digital Assets and Rosemawr Management are facilitating the transaction, with law firm Orrick providing legal counsel. The New Hampshire BFA itself earns fees from the arrangement, which will flow into a newly created Bitcoin Economic Development Fund.
Governor Ayotte has positioned the initiative as a way to put New Hampshire at the forefront of digital finance innovation, emphasizing that the structure eliminates taxpayer exposure. The July 8 hearing is a public proceeding, meaning residents and stakeholders can weigh in before the Executive Council makes its decision. The BFA board’s November 2025 approval was a necessary prerequisite, but the Executive Council holds final authority over whether the bonds actually get issued.
What this means for investors and the broader market Moody’s Ba2 rating signals that the credit markets aren’t ready to treat these bonds like traditional munis. Institutional investors who are restricted to investment-grade holdings won’t be able to touch them, limiting the buyer pool to funds and individuals comfortable with speculative-grade debt.
The over-collateralization structure and automatic liquidation trigger at 140% address the most direct objection to crypto-backed debt: what happens when the collateral crashes. The mandatory nature of the liquidation removes human judgment from the equation during periods of market stress. Municipal bonds represent a $4 trillion market in the US, making even a $100 million issuance a symbolic entry point.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Japanese companies are quietly reshaping how they manage corporate cash. With the yen continuing to slide, more firms are turning to $BTC and $XRP as an alternative store of value, according to SBI VC Trade, the crypto arm of Tokyo-based financial group SBI Holdings.
The company said use of its corporate service, SBIVC for Prime, has grown as the weak yen drives firms to spread reserves beyond cash, with added demand from companies that hand out Bitcoin or $XRP through shareholder-perk programs. In other words, some Japanese businesses are not just holding crypto on the balance sheet, they are distributing it directly to investors as a form of shareholder reward.
Account milestone masks the full pictureSBI VC Trade said registered accounts across its VCTRADE and BITPOINT services have surpassed 2 million, roughly doubling since 2025 and aided by its April 2026 merger with BitPoint Japan. That headline figure deserves some context. The 2 million figure combines its VCTRADE and BITPOINT services and follows SBI VC Trade's April 2026 merger with sister firm BitPoint Japan. The company plans to fully integrate the two brands around the end of December, which it said should cut costs and unify service levels. So a meaningful portion of the account growth reflects consolidation rather than purely organic demand.
The milestone tracks a broader pickup in regulated crypto access in Japan, where a strict licensing regime has kept the market smaller than in the US or South Korea, but is steadily drawing retail and corporate users as stablecoins and treasury strategies take hold.
Stablecoins add another layerCorporate treasury adoption is not the only growth driver. SBI VC Trade listed USDC in March 2025 in what it called Japan's first dollar-stablecoin listing, and in June 2026 added Ripple's dollar-backed RLUSD alongside JPYSC, a yen-pegged token it described as the country's first trust-based yen stablecoin, and began offering lending against stablecoins.
SBI's ambitions extend well beyond the current account count. SBI's planned acquisition of Bitbank, announced in June 2026, is projected to add approximately 960,000 accounts, which would bring the combined total to around 2.92 million. That would place it ahead of domestic rivals bitFlyer and Coincheck and cement its position as Japan's largest regulated crypto operator.
The broader trend points to a structural shift in how Japanese corporates view digital assets: less as a speculative trade and more as a practical tool for treasury management and shareholder engagement in an environment of persistent yen weakness.
Sources:
CoinDesk: Bitcoin, XRP draw Japanese firms as weak yen drives treasury diversification
Genfinity: SBI acquires Bitbank, cementing Japan's largest regulated crypto operator
Stablecoins are, undoubtedly, the main operating assets in digital finance. Visa’s stablecoin analytics dashboard showed more than $51 trillion in total transaction volume over the past 12 months.
Meanwhile, TRM Labs estimated stablecoins at 30% of all on-chain crypto transaction volume in 2025. This one asset category carried almost one-third of tracked crypto value movement, while Bitcoin and all other altcoins together accounted for the remaining share.
Almost every blockchain activity today runs through these dollar-pegged assets, whether it’s trading, treasury movement, or cross-border settlement.
So, stablecoins are arguably the most explosive asset class in terms of growth. What’s the next phase? As with any financial product, its adoption. And that can only happen through local-currency settlement, regulated access, and payment use cases tied to national economies.
In the UAE, this is already happening.
Not enough people are paying attention to what just happened in the UAE.$DDSC – a regulated, dirham-backed stablecoin – is now live on ADI Chain, approved by the Central Bank of the UAE.
Every transaction on ADI Chain needs $ADI for gas.
Now think about the UAE processing… https://t.co/OOtC1sS7vJ
— Sjuul | AltCryptoGems (@AltCryptoGems) February 12, 2026 UAE’s Financial Future is Running on Stablecoins Chainalysis estimated more than $56 billion in crypto value received by the country during its 2024 to 2025 reporting window, up 33% year over year, with institutional transfers driving a large share of activity and merchant services expanding across smaller retail transaction sizes.
On July 3, 2026, DDSC, the UAE dirham-backed stablecoin developed by International Holding Company, First Abu Dhabi Bank, and Sirius International Holding, received approval from the Central Bank of the UAE to partner with selected exchange platforms regulated by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority.
The approval gives DDSC a regulated route from institutional settlement into wider market access, allowing users to access, buy, and redeem a dirham-backed stablecoin through compliant exchange channels.
UAE Stablecoin Adoption Stats A Dirham Stablecoin for a Dollar-Dominated Market Most stablecoin liquidity today remains tied to the US dollar. This gives global crypto markets deep liquidity and a familiar settlement currency, while domestic payment use cases still depend on conversion, exchange access, and banking relationships.
DDSC brings a local-currency option into the UAE’s own monetary environment. Pegged 1:1 to the UAE dirham and settled on ADI Chain, the token gives users a digital asset denominated in AED instead of forcing local commerce into dollar units.
This distinction is important for payment adoption because UAE shoppers, merchants, suppliers, and treasury teams all price everyday obligations in dirhams.
A stable asset in AED can keep pricing and settlement aligned while adding blockchain settlement speed, programmable payments, and 24/7 availability.
The UAE has already built much of the regulatory base around this category:
The Central Bank’s Payment Token Services Regulation created a framework for stablecoin-related services, including issuance, conversion, custody and transfer. VARA maintains a public register of licensed Virtual Asset Service Providers in Dubai, including platforms authorized for exchange services. DDSC connects these two regulatory channels. Central Bank approval covers the payment-token side, while access through selected VARA-regulated platforms gives users a familiar exchange route into the asset.
From Treasury Flows to Everyday Payments DDSC entered the market with an institutional focus. Since launch, IHC says it has processed more than AED 150 million in transactions. In May 2026, IHC executed an AED 110 million DDSC transaction on ADI Chain, presented as one of the region’s largest disclosed stablecoin transactions.
DDSC is more than able to support high-value settlement. The new approval, therefore, adds distribution, giving individuals, merchants, and businesses a route to acquire and redeem the asset through regulated exchange platforms.
DDSC is left with a more complete adoption path. Large transactions can prove settlement capacity, while exchange availability can bring the asset into daily commercial use. The first phase demonstrated settlement readiness, and the next phase focuses on availability through licensed venues.
VARA-Regulated Platforms and Compliance Control The approval applies to selected exchange platforms regulated by VARA, giving DDSC a controlled rollout through licensed channels and keeping access aligned with the UAE’s compliance framework.
For context, VARA oversees virtual asset activity in and from Dubai, excluding the Dubai International Financial Centre. Its public register lists licensed Virtual Asset Service Providers and the activities each provider is authorized to offer, including exchange services, broker-dealer services, custody, lending and investment management.
Indeed, stablecoin payments touch redemption confidence, merchant settlement, AML controls, custody, user access, and financial institution requirements. Exchange access through regulated platforms helps combine these requirements within a market structure users already understand.
DDSC’s rollout also shows how the UAE is separating regulated payment tokens from general crypto assets. Bitcoin, Ethereum, and volatile tokens continue to serve trading and investment use cases, while stablecoins such as DDSC are designed around payment value, redemption, and settlement.
This gives businesses a more suitable instrument for pricing, invoices, supplier transfers and customer payments.
A View Toward Merchant and Business Payments IHC said the stablecoin can support everyday payments once available through selected regulated platforms, including shoppers paying merchants, businesses settling with suppliers and transfers between people.
Retail customers want fast payments, merchants want predictable settlement, and businesses want lower operational friction across invoices, treasury, and cross-border counterparties. There is no doubt that stablecoins can support these flows when they combine price stability, reliable redemption, and regulatory acceptance.
DDSC’s AED designation gives it a local advantage. A UAE merchant accepting a dollar stablecoin still faces accounting and FX conversion work. A dirham-backed token fits local pricing more naturally, while on-chain settlement can reduce delays linked to banking hours and intermediary processing.
A Local Currency Asset for the UAE Digital Economy The UAE has spent years building a regulated digital asset environment across Abu Dhabi, Dubai and federal authorities. DDSC adds a local-currency payment asset to this environment, backed by major UAE institutions and aligned with the Central Bank’s payment-token framework.
DDSC’s growth ultimately depends on platform availability, merchant acceptance, redemption experience and business integration.
Even so, its Central Bank approval to partner with selected VARA-regulated exchange platforms brings the UAE dirham further into on-chain finance and gives the country’s digital asset market a regulated payment token built for domestic use and future regional settlement.
According to OnchainLens monitoring, Cumberland transferred $4 million in USDC to Hyperliquid early this morning. The account currently holds total long and short positions worth $70.38 million: 86.37% of the position is allocated to shorting major cryptocurrencies including Ethereum, Bitcoin, and SOL, as well as key US equities, while 13.63% is used for long positions in indices such as the S&P 500. The account has accumulated a profit of $33.27 million.
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Billionaire Grantham is bearish on SpaceX: 90% probability of eventual collapse, casts doubt on the AI and Mars narratives.
Billionaire investor Jeremy Grantham, long renowned for warning of asset bubbles, has publicly cast doubt on SpaceX’s current roughly $2 trillion valuation, claiming the company’s AI business, Mars program, and long-term growth thesis all carry major flaws. He stated his "90% bet" is that SpaceX will eventually face a historic collapse. Grantham called it "incredible" that SpaceX attributed around 90% of its addressable market to AI in its IPO prospectus, adding that its AI products lack competitiveness compared to those of OpenAI and Anthropic. Still, mainstream Wall Street institutions remain broadly optimistic about SpaceX. With the company officially added to the NASDAQ-100 Index, it is expected to draw more passive capital inflows. Several investment banks including Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, and Morgan Stanley have issued positive ratings, noting that Starship, Starlink, and its AI business will serve as core drivers of future growth.
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Tether burned 2.5 billion USDT on Ethereum in a single day, marking the largest single-day burn since February.
CryptoQuant cited on-chain data, reporting that on July 7, Tether Treasury burned $2.5 billion worth of USDT on the Ethereum network. This marks the largest single burn on the network since February this year, exceeding the $2 billion burn on May 8, and second only to the all-time high of $3.5 billion recorded on February 10. Meanwhile, the USDT balance flowing into and out of Binance via the Tron network dropped to roughly $806 million, its lowest level since December 29, 2025 (when it hit $391 million), falling below the $1 billion threshold and signaling a significant contraction in USDT liquidity on Binance’s Tron channel. The large-scale burn by Tether Treasury primarily reflects redemption, fund management, or cross-chain rebalancing operations rather than a direct market signal. However, the synchronized contraction of Ethereum’s USDT supply and Binance’s Tron liquidity is worth ongoing monitoring, as market participants will watch whether the liquidity of dual-chain stablecoins continues this concurrent tightening trend.
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CASHCAT's market cap briefly topped $98 million, surging over 11-fold in 24 hours.
According to GMGN market data, the market capitalization of CASHCAT, a meme coin on Robinhood’s chain, has continued its rally, briefly crossing $98 million before pulling back to $92.47 million, surging over 11 times in 24 hours. CASHCAT was originally the mascot of Robinhood’s U.S. stock app before being rebranded as Robinhood. On July 1 this year, Robinhood launched its own Layer 2 (L2) public chain, Robinhood Chain, focusing on on-chain finance and real-world assets (RWA). Vlad Tenev, co-founder and CEO of Robinhood, posted on X today that while the company is building Robinhood Chain into the best public chain for real-world assets (RWA), it is also “very suitable for trading meme coins.” BlockBeats reminds users that most meme coins have no intrinsic value and are highly volatile, so trading them requires caution.
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US CFTC sues crypto commodity pool operator Trevor Vernon, alleging $14.8 million in investment fraud.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) sued Trevor Vernon and his company Argent Capital Management, accusing them of operating a commodity pool involving stock index futures, options, and crypto assets from March 2022 to February 2026. They raised approximately $14.8 million from at least 60 investors while falsely advertising investment performance, allegedly committing investment fraud. The CFTC stated that the related trades caused investors to lose over $8.6 million. Vernon not only concealed the losses but is also suspected of misappropriating around $3 million to pay returns to investors, with the operation being "similar to a Ponzi scheme", and embezzled $136,000 for private air travel. The regulator also noted that the trades involved commodities such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, and requested the court to order them to cease relevant trading and registration activities, as well as recover illegal proceeds, impose civil penalties, and compensate investors.
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Despite the plunge in chip stocks, global institutions are snapping up SK Hynix ahead of its blockbuster Nasdaq listing.
SK Hynix’s roughly $28 billion American Depositary Receipt (ADR) offering was oversubscribed several times ahead of pricing, with around 1,000 institutional investors taking part in roadshows, drawing strong subscriptions from global long-term funds and tech investors. If completed smoothly, the offering will rank among the largest U.S. listings by a foreign company, with the chipmaker set to debut on the Nasdaq Global Select Market this Friday. Despite recent sharp volatility in the global semiconductor sector, SK Hynix’s stock has declined around 17% this month, yet institutional subscription enthusiasm has not been materially impacted. Market observers note that U.S. investors have relatively limited investment access to the South Korean memory chip leader, and the scarcity premium plus long-term growth prospects tied to AI remain key supports for the offering. Jung In-yoon, CEO of Fibonacci Asset Management Global, said market volatility “may affect short-term investor sentiment or execution timelines, but I would be surprised if it materially disrupts the transaction itself. Unless market conditions deteriorate significantly from here, the pricing impact should be manageable.”
Tom Lee’s Ethereum conviction heading into Q3 is starting to look like a well-timed move.
For context, BitMine Immersion recently added another 42,197 ETH, taking its holdings to more than 5.74 million ETH.
On the other hand, Michael Saylor’s Strategy sold 3,588 BTC, setting up an interesting ETH vs. BTC treasury debate as Q3 gets underway.
Notably, this debate isn’t just playing out on social media.
As the chart below shows, the ETH/BTC ratio has opened Q3 with a nearly 5% rally after three straight losing quarters. That suggests ETH is beginning to regain relative strength against BTC, supporting Tom Lee’s decision to keep accumulating Ethereum.
Source: TradingView (ETH/BTC) However, Tom Lee’s conviction isn’t based on hope alone.
In a recent post on X, BitMine said the improving odds of the CLARITY Act are the main reason behind its growing ETH position.
According to the company, prediction markets now put the odds of the CLARITY Act passing at around 50%, the highest level in two weeks. BitMine argues that regulatory clarity would be a major catalyst for Ethereum, as smart contract platforms become more integrated into everyday finance.
So, from BitMine’s perspective, the recent rise in the ETH/BTC ratio simply reflects the market assigning a higher probability to the CLARITY Act becoming law.
Naturally, the bigger question now is whether that repricing has further to run. Can ETH continue outperforming BTC through the rest of Q3, or is BMNR’s bullish Ethereum [ETH] thesis getting ahead of the fundamentals?
Can Ethereum stay ahead as Bitcoin regains momentum? BitMine’s ETH accumulation is built around Ethereum’s long-term DeFi story.
But the on-chain data suggests that the narrative hasn’t fully played out yet.
According to DeFiLlama, Ethereum’s DeFi activity remains well below previous highs. Total value locked (TVL) is still under $40 billion, compared with around $89-90 billion before the October correction.
At the same time, Ethereum has started Q3 with its stablecoin supply down by more than $5 billion from roughly $160 billion at the end of June.
In other words, the market is pricing in the CLARITY Act before Ethereum’s on-chain fundamentals have caught up.
Adding to the challenge, BlackRock has resumed buying Bitcoin, recording more than $209 million in net inflows after 11 straight days of selling. The move signals renewed confidence in BTC at a time when ETH’s on-chain fundamentals are still lagging.
Source: SoSoValue Against this backdrop, Tom Lee’s ETH thesis looks increasingly ambitious.
Despite Strategy selling BTC, Bitcoin has continued to hold around $64k, suggesting BlackRock’s buying was enough to absorb the supply. That leaves the ETH vs. BTC treasury debate finely balanced, with Ethereum backed by policy optimism while Bitcoin continues to benefit from strong institutional demand.
As a result, the edge still leans toward Bitcoin.
ETH/BTC has rallied on CLARITY “expectation”, but Ethereum’s on-chain activity hasn’t followed through. Bitcoin, meanwhile, is seeing fresh institutional inflows. Unless Ethereum’s DeFi metrics begin to recover, sustaining ETH/BTC’s early Q3 momentum could prove difficult.
Final Summary ETH/BTC is rallying on CLARITY Act optimism, but Ethereum’s DeFi activity hasn’t caught up yet. BlackRock is buying BTC again, giving Bitcoin stronger support and making it harder for ETH/BTC to keep outperforming in Q3.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
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Leading cryptocurrencies and stocks fell on Tuesday after U.S. strikes on Iran and the revocation of the oil sanctions waiver rattled investors.
Crypto Rally StallsBitcoin briefly topped $64,000 in the afternoon before surrendering its gains, as trading volume dropped sharply over the past 24 hours
Ethereum followed a similar trajectory, spiking to $1,800 before facing a sharp rejection back to the mid-$1,770 region. XRP and Dogecoin also traded in the red.
Nearly $300 million was liquidated from the cryptocurrency market in the last 24 hours, predominantly in bullish long positions, according to Coinglass data
Bitcoin’s open interest fell 2.90% over the last 24 hours. Binance derivatives traders, including both retail and whale investors, bought the dip, increasing their long exposure to the apex cryptocurrency.
The market slipped back into “Extreme Fear,” according to the Crypto Fear & Greed Index.
Top Gainers (24 Hours)
The global cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at $2.2 trillion, with a slight 0.24% increase over the last 24 hours.
Stocks Retrace On Geopolitical TensionsStocks pulled back on Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 130.76 points, or 0.25%, to close at 52,925.15. The S&P 500 slid 0.45% to end at 7,503.85, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq Composite declined 1.16% to settle at 25,818.69.
The slide followed the U.S. military launching a wave of strikes against Iran following attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The Treasury Department also revoked the sanctions waiver on Iranian oil exports, deeming Iran’s action “wholly unacceptable.”
On-Chain ‘Pain’ Pointing To Accumulation OpportunityOn-chain analytics firm CryptoQuant highlighted Bitcoin’s on-chain indicators at mid-year, noting that supply in loss exceeded 10 million, long-term holders were selling BTC at a loss and realized capitalization stood at $1.06 trillion.
“This level of on-chain pain is rarely observed and could suggest a potential medium- to long-term DCA [dollar-cost averaging] accumulation opportunity,” the research firm added.
Leading cryptocurrency analyst Ali Martinez said that Ethereum reclaiming $1,800 as an important support could clear the path for a move toward the next resistances at $1,980 and $2,079.
“Be aware that if sellers can protect this wall and force a rejection, the volume profile will thin significantly, leaving the next support baseline for ETH at $1,237,” the analyst cautioned.
Photo: KateStock / Shutterstock
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Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple (XRP) face renewed selling on Wednesday, extending their corrective move so far this week. BTC faced rejection at $64,000, and ETH failed to break above the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA). Meanwhile, XRP is extending its pullback for a fourth consecutive day. The top three cryptocurrencies signal risk of extending their ongoing corrections if critical support levels fail to hold.
Bitcoin extends correction after rejection at $64,000Bitcoin price trades at $62,898 on Wednesday, maintaining a bearish near-term bias as it holds below the 50-day, 100-day and 200-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) at $65,578, $69,226 and $75,229, respectively.
The dense overhead EMA stack suggests rallies remain capped for now, even as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovers near a neutral 48 and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) stays positive with the line above zero, and recent gains hint at improving but constrained upside momentum.
On the topside, initial resistance appears at the horizontal barrier around $64,004, followed by the 50-day EMA at $65,578, which reinforces a nearby supply zone. Higher up, the 100-day EMA at $69,226 and the 200-day EMA at $75,229 mark successive caps ahead of the more distant structural ceiling at $84,410, leaving the pair vulnerable to renewed selling while price trades beneath this layered resistance structure.
Ethereum faces rejection from the 50-day EMA at $1,803Ethereum price trades at $1,753 on Wednesday, maintaining a bearish near-term bias as it remains below the 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day EMAs at $1,803, $1,964, and $2,234, respectively.
Despite price being capped by this stacked EMA cluster, momentum has improved, with the RSI hovering near a neutral 52 and the MACD remaining in positive territory, with a firm reading around 27.75, hinting at ongoing recovery attempts within a broader downtrend.
On the topside, immediate resistance is located at the 50-day EMA near $1,803, followed by the 100-day EMA at $1,964 and the psychological barrier at $2,000, while the longer-term 200-day EMA at $2,234 marks a stronger cap on any extended rally.
On the downside, the next notable support sits much lower at the horizontal level around $1,385, where buyers are likely to defend the prior structural floor if the current rebound fails.
XRP shows signs of weaknessXRP price trades at $1.097 on Wednesday, holding below the 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day EMAs at $1.177, $1.279, and $1.493, respectively, which keeps the broader bias bearish. Price is also tracking within a downward parallel channel, with the upper boundary around $1.098 just above the market, while momentum looks mixed: the RSI at 44 remains below the midline, and the MACD prints modest positive readings, hinting at only a mild recovery attempt within a capped structure.
On the topside, initial resistance is located at the channel boundary near $1.098, followed by the 50-day EMA at $1.177 and the 100-day EMA at $1.279. Higher up, the horizontal level at $1.300 acts as a more significant barrier ahead of the long-term 200-day EMA at $1.493 and the major resistance zone around $1.900.
With no clear underlying support levels immediately below the current price in this dataset, any decisive rejection at the nearby $1.098 area would likely expose XRP to further downside within the prevailing bearish channel until new demand emerges.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Cryptocurrency prices FAQs Token launches influence demand and adoption among market participants. Listings on crypto exchanges deepen the liquidity for an asset and add new participants to an asset’s network. This is typically bullish for a digital asset.
A hack is an event in which an attacker captures a large volume of the asset from a DeFi bridge or hot wallet of an exchange or any other crypto platform via exploits, bugs or other methods. The exploiter then transfers these tokens out of the exchange platforms to ultimately sell or swap the assets for other cryptocurrencies or stablecoins. Such events often involve an en masse panic triggering a sell-off in the affected assets.
Macroeconomic events like the US Federal Reserve’s decision on interest rates influence crypto assets mainly through the direct impact they have on the US Dollar. An increase in interest rate typically negatively influences Bitcoin and altcoin prices, and vice versa. If the US Dollar index declines, risk assets and associated leverage for trading gets cheaper, in turn driving crypto prices higher.
Halvings are typically considered bullish events as they slash the block reward in half for miners, constricting the supply of the asset. At consistent demand if the supply reduces, the asset’s price climbs.
On Tuesday, the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) sued Trevor Vernon and his company Argent Capital Management, accusing them of operating a commodity pool involving stock index futures, options, and crypto assets from March 2022 to February 2026. They raised approximately $14.8 million from at least 60 investors while falsely advertising investment performance, allegedly committing investment fraud. The CFTC stated that the related trades caused investors to lose over $8.6 million. Vernon not only concealed the losses but is also suspected of misappropriating around $3 million to pay returns to investors, with the operation being "similar to a Ponzi scheme", and embezzled $136,000 for private air travel. The regulator also noted that the trades involved commodities such as Bitcoin and Ethereum, and requested the court to order them to cease relevant trading and registration activities, as well as recover illegal proceeds, impose civil penalties, and compensate investors.
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Billionaire Grantham is bearish on SpaceX: 90% probability of eventual collapse, casts doubt on the AI and Mars narratives.
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Tether burned 2.5 billion USDT on Ethereum in a single day, marking the largest single-day burn since February.
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Why Is Tether Investing in Mercado Bitcoin? Tether is investing $20 million in Brazilian crypto platform Mercado Bitcoin as part of a strategic financing round aimed at expanding onchain financial infrastructure across Latin America.
The investment will support Mercado Bitcoin’s growth in tokenization, payments, lending, credit, and capital markets. The company, founded in 2013 as a crypto exchange, has expanded into a broader digital financial services platform that offers tokenized investment products, stablecoin payments, cross-border banking infrastructure, and regulated financial services.
The deal gives Tether a deeper position in Brazil, one of Latin America’s largest and most active digital asset markets. It also fits the stablecoin issuer’s wider strategy of using profits to back companies building blockchain-based financial infrastructure across payments, remittances, tokenization, and settlement.
Mercado Bitcoin said it serves more than 4.5 million users, has issued more than 2 billion Brazilian reais, or about $370 million, in tokenized assets, and holds nearly a dozen regulatory licenses across Brazil and Europe. Those licenses include a payment institution license from Brazil’s central bank.
What Does Mercado Bitcoin Bring to Tether? Mercado Bitcoin gives Tether exposure to a regulated platform with an existing user base, tokenized asset issuance, payment infrastructure, and financial services operations. That matters because stablecoin adoption in Brazil is increasingly tied to practical use cases rather than only crypto trading.
The company’s expansion beyond exchange activity reflects a wider shift in Latin America’s crypto market. Platforms that began with spot trading are now moving into credit, tokenized private assets, payment rails, and cross-border settlement. That creates more room for stablecoins to function as infrastructure for financial activity rather than only as trading pairs on exchanges.
Mercado Bitcoin said it will use the new capital to expand payments infrastructure, add more tokenized offerings, develop lending and credit products, and support its onchain capital markets strategy. In February, the company said it had deployed more than $20 million in tokenized private credit on Rootstock, a Bitcoin sidechain.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino said Mercado Bitcoin has built one of Latin America’s most comprehensive regulated onchain financial platforms, citing its licenses, tokenization infrastructure, and integrated financial services.
Investor Takeaway Tether’s investment is not only a bet on a Brazilian crypto exchange. It is a bet on regulated onchain finance in Latin America, where tokenized assets, stablecoin payments, and cross-border settlement are becoming part of the same market structure.
Why Brazil Matters for Stablecoin Infrastructure Brazil has become a key market for stablecoin adoption because of its large retail user base, active digital payments system, and growing regulatory framework for crypto and tokenized finance. Stablecoins already play an important role in the country’s digital asset flows, especially for users seeking dollar exposure, payments access, and faster settlement.
Tether has been increasing its activity in Brazil. Last month, Tether-backed payments app Oobit integrated Brazil’s PIX instant payment network, allowing users to deposit reais, hold funds in USDT, and spend through PIX. The payment system serves roughly 170 million users, making it one of the most important financial rails in the country.
That integration shows why Brazil is strategically important. A stablecoin issuer does not need to replace domestic payment systems to grow. It can connect stablecoin balances to existing payment rails and make crypto-based settlement easier for users who already rely on instant payments in everyday transactions.
For Mercado Bitcoin, the investment may help strengthen its role as a bridge between regulated finance and onchain products. For Tether, it expands the company’s footprint in a market where stablecoins are already being used for payments, trading, savings, and cross-border transfers.
How Does This Fit Tether’s Wider Investment Strategy? Tether issues USDT, the world’s largest stablecoin, with about $184 billion in circulation. The company reported approximately $1.04 billion in net profit in the first quarter of 2026 and has been using part of those profits for strategic investments.
In April, Tether participated in a $134 million funding round for Stablecoin Development Corporation, a NYSE American-traded company focused on expanding stablecoin access and digital asset infrastructure. A month later, it invested in remittance platform LemFi to support USDT integration as a settlement layer for cross-border payments across Africa and Asia.
Tether has also announced plans with the Government of Georgia to launch a stablecoin pegged to the Georgian lari under the country’s digital asset framework. Beyond stablecoin-related initiatives, the company has invested in artificial intelligence, energy, biotechnology, and digital media through its investment arm.
The Mercado Bitcoin deal extends that pattern. Tether is using its balance sheet to back companies that can increase stablecoin usage in payments, capital markets, and tokenized finance. The approach gives the company exposure to growth markets without relying only on USDT issuance.
Investor Takeaway The deal strengthens Tether’s position in Latin America at a time when stablecoins are moving from exchange liquidity into payments, credit, and tokenized assets. For investors, the key question is whether regulated platforms such as Mercado Bitcoin can turn that infrastructure into durable transaction volume.
What Are the Market Implications? The investment points to a more competitive phase for crypto infrastructure in Latin America. Exchanges, payment apps, tokenization platforms, and stablecoin issuers are increasingly competing to control the rails that connect users, fiat systems, and blockchain-based products.
For Mercado Bitcoin, the capital may accelerate product expansion and strengthen its position against regional and global competitors. For Tether, the deal offers another route into a market where stablecoin adoption is already high and where regulated financial platforms may become more important as oversight increases.
The broader implication is that stablecoin growth is becoming more institutional and infrastructure-driven. Rather than depending only on trading volumes, companies are building products around payments, credit, private markets, and cross-border settlement. Brazil’s combination of scale, digital payment adoption, and regulatory development makes it a natural testing ground for that shift.
Tether’s $20 million investment does not change the stablecoin market by itself. It does, however, show how the largest stablecoin issuer is using strategic capital to shape the financial platforms that could drive the next stage of stablecoin usage across emerging markets.
In brief Tether will invest $20 million in a strategic financing round for Mercado Bitcoin, a Brazilian crypto platform, to expand blockchain-based financial services in Latin America. Mercado Brazil said it now serves 4.5 million users, has issued more than R$2 billion in tokenized assets, and holds over 10 licenses across Brazil and Europe. Funds will go toward expanding payments infrastructure, scaling tokenized investment products, growing lending capabilities, advancing on-chain capital markets, and pursuing international expansion. Prominent stablecoin issuer Tether said Tuesday it will invest $20 million in a strategic financing round for Mercado Bitcoin, a Brazilian cryptocurrency exchange, as the two companies push to expand blockchain-based financial services across Latin America.
Mercado Bitcoin, founded in 2013, has grown from a digital asset exchange into a broader financial platform offering trading, tokenized investment products, credit and lending, stablecoin-powered payments, banking infrastructure, and cross-border services.
The company said it serves 4.5 million users, has issued more than 2 billion reais (about $387 million) in tokenized assets, and holds more than 10 licenses across Brazil and Europe, including a payment institution license from Brazil's central bank.
“Tether’s mission is to build open, accessible, and efficient financial infrastructure for the world,” said Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino, in a statement. “Mercado Bitcoin has built exactly that, a regulated, full-stack on-chain financial platform serving millions of users across one of the world’s most dynamic financial markets.”
“Its depth of regulatory licensing, tokenization infrastructure, and integrated financial services is unmatched in Latin America,” he added. “We look forward to supporting Mercado Bitcoin’s next phase of growth as a strategic partner and investor.”
According to the announcement, the new capital will go toward expanding payments infrastructure, scaling tokenized investment products for retail and institutional investors, growing lending capabilities, advancing on-chain capital markets, and pursuing international expansion.
“The discussion is no longer whether finance will move on-chain. That transition is already underway,” said Mercado Bitcoin Chairman and CEO Roberto Dagnoni, in a statement. “The focus now is on building the infrastructure that will support tokenization, stablecoins, payments, and capital markets at scale, reshaping how money moves, investments are accessed, and capital is deployed.”
“Mercado Bitcoin has spent more than a decade building the regulated foundation for this future, and this investment strengthens our ability to accelerate the next generation of on-chain financial services in Brazil and across global markets,” he continued.
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Tether just wrote a $20 million check to Mercado Bitcoin, Brazil’s largest regulated crypto exchange. The investment signals a deliberate push by the world’s dominant stablecoin issuer into Latin America’s fastest-growing digital asset market.
The funding will go toward expanding Mercado Bitcoin’s capabilities in tokenization, stablecoin-powered payments, credit and lending products, and on-chain capital markets. It also earmarks capital for international growth across the broader Latin American region.
Why Brazil, why now Mercado Bitcoin, founded in 2013, has grown into a full-stack financial platform with over 4.5 million users. The exchange has issued more than R$2 billion (roughly $360 million at current rates) in tokenized assets, making it a meaningful player not just in crypto trading but in bridging real-world assets onto blockchain rails.
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The platform holds more than 10 regulatory licenses spanning Brazil and Europe. Among them is a Payment Institution license from Brazil’s central bank.
Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino described Mercado Bitcoin as a “robust full-stack on-chain financial platform,” signaling that Tether views this less as a traditional venture bet and more as infrastructure backing.
Tether’s Latin American strategy takes shape Mercado Bitcoin’s leadership has indicated the capital will “significantly expedite” the platform’s transition toward fully on-chain services.
For context, Mercado Bitcoin raised $200 million in a Series B round back in 2021, led by SoftBank. That round valued the company at over $2 billion at the time.
What this means for investors The focus on tokenized assets and on-chain capital markets is notable. Mercado Bitcoin has already tokenized over R$2 billion in assets, and additional capital could accelerate the tokenization of credit instruments, real estate, and other traditional financial products.
There’s also the question of whether stablecoin-powered payments can genuinely compete with existing fintech solutions in Brazil, where companies like Nubank and PIX (Brazil’s instant payment system) have already captured enormous market share.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Tether is no longer content just issuing the world’s largest stablecoin. The company is now buying into the platforms where that liquidity moves. On Tuesday, the issuer announced a $20 million strategic investment in Mercado Bitcoin, a regulated Brazilian on-chain financial services platform, as first noted in the original report. The deal puts Tether directly inside one of Latin America’s most licensed crypto operations, with 4.5 million users, over R$2 billion in tokenized assets issued, and more than 10 regulatory licenses spanning Brazil and Europe.
The capital will fuel Mercado Bitcoin’s push into payments, tokenized investment products, lending, on-chain capital markets, and international expansion. For a platform already operating under a layered regulatory framework, the funding isn’t about survival—it’s about scaling a model that merges traditional financial rails with blockchain-native infrastructure. Mercado Bitcoin’s existing tokenization efforts already give it a head start on competitors still stuck in spot trading.
Tether moves into infrastructure ownership The investment signals a strategic shift. Tether’s massive USDT reserves have historically sat in short-term U.S. Treasuries and similar instruments, generating yields that now flow back into building the plumbing of crypto itself. Placing a direct bet on a regulated exchange and tokenization hub in Brazil is a tighter integration than a passive treasury holding. It suggests Tether wants USDT to be more than a trading pair; it wants to own a piece of the venues where real-world assets get minted on-chain.
This fits neatly into the broader real-world asset trend that is reshaping how institutions view blockchain. Tokenized Treasuries, private credit, and commodities have crossed the $20 billion threshold on-chain, with major deals like Bullish’s $4.2 billion Equiniti acquisition reshaping the landscape, as covered in our recent weekly tokenization roundup. Tether’s move into Mercado Bitcoin lands squarely in that current.
Brazilian regulation meets stablecoin muscle Brazil has been quietly building one of the most coherent crypto regulatory frameworks among major economies. Mercado Bitcoin’s license roster reflects that. The country’s central bank and securities regulator have taken a posture that is less adversarial than the U.S. approach, where banks are still pushing back hard against legislative compromises just days before key Senate votes, a dynamic we analyzed in the story on the biggest U.S. crypto bill. While American lenders demand last-minute changes, Tether is embedding itself into a jurisdiction where the rulebook is clearer.
That regulatory gap matters. Stablecoin issuers face immense pressure from U.S. lawmakers and agencies. Diversifying operational depth into Latin America not only opens new revenue lines but also creates a hedge against an uncertain domestic regulatory outcome. Mercado Bitcoin’s licensed status across multiple jurisdictions gives Tether exposure to a compliant onshore platform without needing to build one from scratch.
What the market will watch next Several uncertainties surround the deal’s long-term impact. First, the exact mechanics of how Tether’s USDT will integrate with Mercado Bitcoin’s tokenized products remain unclear. It could mean USDT becomes the settlement layer for newly issued tokenized Brazilian real assets, or it could simply remain a capital injection with no direct stablecoin mandate. The former would be more consequential for market structure.
Second, competition among Latin American platforms is intensifying. Other exchanges are expanding their tokenization units, and global players like Circle have made their own pushes into the region. Whether Tether’s investment creates a moat for Mercado Bitcoin or simply raises the stakes will depend on execution speed and the platform’s ability to attract institutional issuers. Finally, the move raises the question of whether Tether will replicate this model in other emerging markets, building a network of vertically integrated regional hubs.
The funding round is modest by Tether’s balance sheet standards, but the strategic logic carries weight. When an issuer of a $110-billion-plus stablecoin starts buying equity in the venues that will tokenize real-world assets, the boundaries between infrastructure layers start to blur. For market participants watching the evolution of on-chain capital markets, Brazil just became a more interesting test case.
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Strike’s new volatility-proof Bitcoin loans shift price risk from borrowers onto the lender’s capital providers. Tether supplies the $2.1 billion credit facility behind the program and co-designed the loan structure itself. A proposed merger would fold Strike, Twenty One Capital, and miner Elektron Energy into one Tether-linked platform. The combined stack covers every core banking function except the safety net regulated banks carry. The headline this week belongs to Strike. On July 7 the company launched Bitcoin-backed loans with no margin calls and no price liquidations, promising that collateral stays untouched no matter how far Bitcoin falls, as long as borrowers keep paying. Most coverage stopped there. The more consequential story sits one layer down, with the entity actually carrying the risk. A loan that never liquidates on price means somebody holds undercollateralized debt through every drawdown, and that somebody, directly and indirectly, is Tether. The merger proposal from April read as corporate maneuvering at the time. Yesterday’s launch is what it looks like in production: a stablecoin issuer assembling deposits, credit, energy, mining, and capital markets into a working bank for the Bitcoin economy. No banking license. No central bank behind it. No deposit insurance in front of it.
The loan Strike sells, the risk Tether keeps Strike’s volatility-proof structure only works with deep pockets behind it. A borrower posts $100,000 in BTC at the product’s 45% loan-to-value cap and takes $45,000 in cash. If Bitcoin then falls 60% and stays there, the collateral covers about $40,000 against a $45,000 debt. A conventional crypto lender would have sold at 85% LTV. This one waits, holding the shortfall until repayment or maturity.
That patience is a balance-sheet luxury, and the balance sheet providing it is not Strike’s. Jack Mallers announced a $2.1 billion credit facility that he said gives the company capacity to meet demand at any order size, and Tether co-developed the volatility-proof loan structure itself. Even Strike’s proof-of-reserves system, which lets borrowers verify their collateral at a segregated on-chain address, was built with Tether’s help. Strike originates and services. Tether underwrites the tail risk. Traditional finance has a name for this division of labor: the originator model, the same architecture mortgage banks run with their warehouse lenders.
Six of seven banking functions, already in place Take the classic functions of a commercial bank and check them against what Tether now touches. The gaps are few.
Banking function Tether’s version Scale Deposits USDT in circulation Largest stablecoin by supply Lending Own CeFi loan book + Strike credit facility $2.1B facility; top-3 CeFi lender Payments & custody Strike (proposed merger) 95+ countries Reserves / treasury Twenty One Capital BTC treasury Top-tier corporate BTC holder Physical infrastructure Elektron Energy mining (proposed merger) ~50 EH/s, ~5% of network hashrate Capital markets Planned securitization arm Loan-book and mining revenue debt Lender of last resort None – Tether Investments published a proposal to merge Twenty One Capital with Strike and Elektron Energy, a mining operator managing roughly 50 EH/s, about 5% of Bitcoin’s network hashrate, into a single listed platform integrating treasury holdings, mining, financial services, lending, and capital markets. Mallers endorsed it from the stage at Bitcoin 2026. “Simply put, I think it’s a great idea,” he said, adding that his founding goal was always a Bitcoin company rather than a payments app.
Terms and timelines remain undisclosed, but the machinery is moving: in June, Tether designated an additional independent director to XXI’s board to restore the audit committee to SEC and NYSE independence standards, the kind of housekeeping that precedes a transaction, not one that follows a dead deal.
Mallers described an operation built around loan-book securitization, mining revenue securitization, Bitcoin-backed debt, and structured products. Packaging loans into securities and selling them onward is how banks recycle capital and lend beyond their own balance sheets. Nobody in crypto has run that machine at size. A merged Tether-Strike entity would be the first with both the origination volume and the distribution to try.
Three lenders now hold 89% of a market that used to have ten The crypto credit market recovered from 2022 with far fewer players. According to Galaxy Research data, the three largest centralized lenders, Tether among them alongside Galaxy and Ledn, hold combined loan books of $9.9 billion, close to 89% of the CeFi lending market. Tether sits at the top of that group with its own book, and now also funds the most aggressive product structure in the industry through Strike.
The pre-collapse era looked different. Celsius, BlockFi, Voyager, and Genesis competed for the same borrowers, and when they fell, the survivors absorbed the clients and the market kept functioning. The 2026 market has no such redundancy. One dominant creditor now stands behind deposits (USDT), wholesale credit (the Strike facility), and soon, if the merger completes, a meaningful slice of the mining hardware securing the network itself. Bank supervisors have a term for an institution whose failure would cascade through every layer of its system. Crypto has quietly grown one without anyone signing off on the designation.
To be fair to the other side of the ledger: Tether reports billions in annual profit from reserve yields, which gives it more loss-absorbing capacity than any pre-2022 crypto lender ever had. The company can genuinely afford to sit on underwater loans through a bear market. That is exactly what makes the no-liquidation promise credible today. It is also what makes the arrangement fragile in the one scenario that counts. A shock hitting Tether itself, whether from reserves, regulation, or redemption pressure, would now propagate simultaneously into stablecoin markets, the CeFi loan book, Strike’s borrowers, and a mining fleet. Banks carry deposit insurance and central bank liquidity lines for precisely this correlation problem. This structure carries neither.
Ledn and Unchained now need a $2 billion backstop of their own For borrowers, none of this is visible. Loans get approved, Bitcoin stays put, and the plumbing behind the $2.1 billion never surfaces in the app. The market feels it differently. Competing lenders like Ledn and Unchained still run LTV-triggered liquidation models, and matching Strike’s no-liquidation terms would require a capital partner willing to eat drawdowns measured in years, not hours. Few candidates exist. The likely outcome is consolidation around whoever has the largest balance sheet, which is the opposite of what a market still scarred by 2022 says it wants.
Bitcoin’s spot price mechanics change too. Forced liquidations have amplified every major sell-off since 2018 by dumping collateral onto exchanges at the worst possible moment. Loans that never sell on price remove one of those feedback loops. The selling pressure does not vanish; it converts into credit exposure sitting on Tether-linked balance sheets, waiting.
The open question lands on regulators’ desks, not traders’ screens. U.S. stablecoin legislation focused on reserve quality and redemption rights, not on what an issuer’s investment arm does with its profits. Lending billions against volatile collateral through affiliated platforms sits outside that perimeter entirely, and European supervisors under MiCA face the same gap. The proposed merger, which would put Elektron founder Raphael Zagury in the president’s seat of a listed entity combining all these pieces, will eventually force a decision: at what point does the Bitcoin economy’s largest private creditor become subject to something resembling bank supervision, and who moves first, Washington or Brussels?
Bitcoin (BTC) trades below $63,000 at press time on Wednesday, risking a steeper correction amid resurfacing tensions between the US and Iran. Zcash (ZEC) and Polygon (POL) have maintained a steady recovery over the last 24 hours, hinting at an extended breakout rally.
Bitcoin under pressure with US retaliatory strikes against IranUS military executed strikes against Iran on Wednesday in retaliation for three ships shot down by Tehran in the Strait of Hormuz. This renewed tension threatens to violate the Islamabad Accord and weighs on global markets. Brent crude oil price reached $75 on Wednesday, following a 5% jump the previous day, while Bitcoin was losing ground.
Bitcoin trades below $63,000 at press time on Wednesday, reflecting capped recovery below its 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $65,581. The 200-day EMA at $75,459 sits well above the 50-day EMA, retaining a broader bearish bias.
From a technical perspective, a reversal in BTC threatens to retest the $60,000 psychological threshold, which could nullify the previous double-bottom reversal thesis.
That said, the momentum signals remain mixed on the daily chart, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 48 moves flat near the midline while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) holds above the signal line as the histograms contract, hinting at only residual buying interest.
BTC/USDT daily price chart.Bitcoin should clear the 50-day EMA at $65,581 to reinstate a steady bullish recovery that could target the $70,000 threshold, followed by the 200-day EMA at $75,459, which reinforces a broader cap on recovery attempts.
Zcash and Polygon flash early signs of recoveryZcash holds above its 50-day EMA at $455 after gaining roughly 7% the previous day. The privacy coin shows a constructive bullish bias in the near term as Tuesday's rebound marks the breakout of a local resistance trendline.
From a technical perspective, the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement, measured over the upswing from $184 to $690, at $520 serves as immediate resistance, capping the upside to the Fibonacci anchor at $690.
Momentum on the daily chart suggests the medium-term uptrend remains supported, with the MACD rising above the zero line and the RSI at 55 showing a steady recovery above the midline, indicating bullish-but-not-overbought momentum.
ZEC/USDT daily price chart.On the flip side, the 200-day EMA at $379, near a local support trendline, guards the downside toward the 50% retracement at $356.
POL edges lower on Wednesday after a steady recovery trend over the last week as it approaches a key resistance zone. The overhead barriers include the 50-day EMA at $0.07949, close to a descending trendline, maintaining a capped near-term tone. A decisive close above the moving average could confirm a bullish trend reversal in POL, with potential targets including the June 3 high at $0.09587.
The RSI near 52 shows a significant ease in selling pressure, while the MACD and signal line rise toward zero, hinting at improving but still-constrained upside momentum beneath these overhead levels.
POL/USDT daily price chart.On the downside, the previous swing low from July 1 at $0.06746 serves as the last line of defense.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
