Lido’s Core Upgrade is officially heading to mainnet. The Lido DAO approved the sweeping protocol overhaul on or around July 23, 2026, after clearing every required governance hurdle, including a clean pass through Dual Governance with no vetoes from any stakeholder.
For context, Dual Governance is Lido’s highest-level approval mechanism, designed so that even a well-organized dissenting faction can pump the brakes on a proposal.
What actually changed The Core Upgrade bundles two major components: the Community Staking Module updated to version 3, and the brand-new Curated Module v2.
The Community Staking Module, or CSM, is Lido’s permissionless entry point for node operators. Version 3 pushes that flexibility further, making it easier for new operators to participate at scale.
Advertisement
Curated Module v2 introduces bond-based security mechanisms, which means node operators post collateral as a performance guarantee rather than relying solely on governance-managed reputation. The practical effect is less governance overhead per operator.
Together, the two modules are designed to improve scalability, tighten security, and reduce governance friction.
Existing stakers do not need to do anything. The upgrade operates entirely at the protocol layer, meaning stETH holders wake up on mainnet deployment day with the same holdings and no migration steps required.
The road to mainnet The upgrade did not arrive overnight. Lido ran the components through thorough testnet phases before the DAO vote opened, and multiple independent security audits assessed the smart contracts and governance logic specifically.
Lido has been a dominant player in Ethereum’s liquid staking landscape since liquid staking became a category worth talking about. Its stETH token, which represents a staker’s ETH position plus accruing rewards, became one of the most widely integrated assets in DeFi. That deep integration means upgrades to Lido’s core infrastructure have downstream effects across a substantial portion of the Ethereum ecosystem, not just for direct Lido users.
The bond-based security model in Curated Module v2 changes the economic incentives for node operators. When operators have skin in the game through posted collateral, the protocol’s alignment with good validator behavior becomes structural rather than reputational.
What it means for the market For stETH holders, the most immediate takeaway is that Lido’s infrastructure is getting more robust without requiring any action on their part.
Lido controls a significant share of the total staked ETH on Ethereum. Upgrades that make the protocol more secure and scalable directly affect confidence in stETH as a collateral asset across lending protocols, liquidity pools, and structured products that have integrated it.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Bitcoin (BTC) edges below $66,000 on Thursday, extending the previous day's losses. Hedera (HBAR) and Lido DAO (LDO) sustain bullish momentum, testing the breakout of a crucial resistance zone to extend their rally.
CoinMarketCap’s Fear and Greed Index at 39 stalls below the neutral territory, indicating that sellers remain dominant.
Fear and Greed Index. Source: CoinMarketCapBitcoin could retest its 50-day EMABitcoin is edging lower toward the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $65,167, but maintains a constructive near-term tone. From a technical perspective, BTC remains capped below the key resistance level at $67,516. A decisive close above this could reinstate a recovery toward the 200-day EMA at $74,214.
Momentum indicators support this bias, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 58 holding a broadly upward trend and the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) and its signal line staying above zero, suggesting ongoing bullish pressure rather than exhaustion.
BTC/USDT daily price chart.On the downside, initial support is located at the 50-day EMA at $65,167, and holding above this moving average would keep the broader bullish bias intact. However, a sustained break below it would expose a deeper corrective phase toward $60,000.
Hedera and Lido DAO face headwindsHedera shows early signs of bullish bias in the near term as price tests the 50-day EMA at $0.0745, which sits well below the 200-day EMA at $0.0958. A breakout of the 50-day EMA at $0.0745 could extend the rally toward the R1 Pivot level at $0.0888.
Despite this capped structure, momentum has improved: the RSI has firmed to around 56, while the MACD and signal line rise with the histogram expanding, suggesting that downside pressure is easing.
HBAR/USDT daily price chart.Looking down, the S1 Pivot level at $0.0593 emerges as the next crucial support level if price reverts from the 50-day EMA.
Lido DAO hovers below $0.4000 at press time on Thursday, extending a bullish recovery above the 50-day EMA at $0.3188. Price is now pressing into the lower edge of a broader resistance area, with the 200-day EMA at $0.4095 capping the advance ahead of the 78.6% retracement from $0.4700 to $0.2341 at $0.4195.
A sustained breakout above the 200-day EMA at $0.4095 could extend the rally toward the previous swing high at $0.4700, followed by the $0.5000 psychological threshold.
The RSI is near 75, in overbought territory, and a positive MACD and signal line suggest strong upside momentum that is increasingly stretched.
LDO/USDT daily price chart.On the downside, immediate support is located at the prior breakout zone around the 50% Fibonacci retracement at $0.3317, followed by the 50-day EMA at $0.3188.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Lido DAO [LDO] maintained an ascending channel over the past month. After three days of weakness, the altcoin recovered and resumed its upward move.
LDO held the $0.35 support level and reached a two-month high of $0.40. At press time, LDO traded near $0.39 after gaining 13% over 24 hours.
Meanwhile, Trading Volume surged 108% to $61.1 million. Market Capitalization also increased 13%, returning LDO to the top 100.
Rising Trading Volume and Market Capitalization indicated stronger participation and fresh capital entering the market.
Did the governance vote help LDO? A recently concluded governance vote coincided with stronger market demand. The proposal received unanimous support from participating voters, with 24.4 million LDO backing it.
The upgrades proposed new versions of the Community Staking Module and Lido’s Curated Module. They aimed to improve the protocol’s staking infrastructure and validator management.
The voting period attracted greater market attention, which may have supported renewed demand for LDO.
Are traders expecting more gains? Speculators remained active during the voting period and after its conclusion. Over the past day, Open Interest rose 8% to $86.3 million. Derivatives Volume also climbed 74% to $105 million.
Source: CoinGlass Rising Open Interest and Derivatives Volume showed greater participation as traders opened additional leveraged positions. The Long/Short Ratios on Binance and OKX remained above one. Binance’s Top Trader Long/Short Ratio led at 2.0.
However, the broader Long/Short Ratio remained below one, showing that bearish positioning still dominated overall.
Are whales selling the rally? Interestingly, whales returned after remaining less active for over a week. CryptoQuant’s Spot Average Order Size showed large whale-sized transactions.
Source: CryptoQuant The orders reappeared after LDO crossed $0.38. However, the metric alone could not determine whether whales bought or sold.
By contrast, Spot Netflow turned positive on the 21st of July after two consecutive negative readings.
Source: CoinGlass At press time, Spot Netflow stood near $27,000, indicating that exchange inflows exceeded outflows. This could increase selling pressure, although it did not prove that whales made those deposits.
If larger holders sell during an uptrend, they could weaken LDO’s market structure and trigger a retracement.
Can LDO hold $0.40? LDO maintained strong upward momentum as demand recovered. The Positive Directional Indicator [+DI] rose to 41, while the ADX reached 59.
A rising +DI indicated bullish direction, while the elevated ADX confirmed the trend’s strength.
Source: TradingView If demand holds, LDO could reclaim $0.40 and target the $0.46 resistance level. However, stronger whale selling could push the altcoin back toward the $0.35 support level.
Final Summary LDO surged 13% and reached a two-month high of $0.40 before easing to $0.39. Rising activity supported LDO, although positive Spot Netflow introduced renewed selling risk.
Lido DAO (LDO) edges higher by over 4% on Tuesday, extending its recovery for the fourth consecutive week with around 65% so far in July. LDO futures trading volume is up over 100% in 24 hours, suggesting a rise in retail interest, but the negative funding rate implies a waning of bullish conviction. Technically, Lido DAO must clear the 200-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) around $0.4002.
Retail interest remains elevated Lido DAO maintains firm retail interest following the launch of Nansen’s first staking product built on Lido V3 stVaults. CoinGlass data show LDO futures trading volume is up over 100% in the last 24 hours, reaching $109.15 million, reflecting increased speculative activity. At the same time, the Open Interest (OI) has increased roughly 26% to $92.20 million, reflecting an elevated notional value of active perpetual contracts.
However, the funding rate has dipped below zero to -0.0036%, from 0.0062% the previous day, indicating that sellers are paying a premium to buyers to hold short positions.
LDO derivatives data. Source: CoinGlassTechnical outlook: Will Lido DAO extend gains?Lido DAO hovers around $0.4000 at press time on Tuesday, extending 8% gains from the previous day. LDO has decisively pushed above the reclaimed resistance trendline, with the break price at $0.3543 now acting as a structural floor.
From a technical perspective, LDO tests the 200-day EMA around $0.4005, keeping the broader bias bullish. A decisive close above this moving average could target the $0.4913 horizontal resistance level, close to the $0.5000 psychological threshold.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) continues to rise with its signal line, hinting at persistent upside pressure. However, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) around 75 signals overbought conditions, warning of potential pullbacks ahead.
LDO/USDT daily price chart.On the downside, initial support is seen at the former downward resistance trendline, now turned support, near $0.3543. A deeper pullback would expose the 50-day EMA at $0.3127 as a more significant medium-term floor.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
PANews July 21 news, according to SoSoValue data, crypto market sectors broadly rebounded, with the DeFi sector standing out, up 2.28% in 24 hours. Within it, Hyperliquid (HYPE) rose 3.55%, DeXe (DEXE), Uniswap (UNI), and Lido DAO (LDO) rose 4.96%, 5.325%, and 11.80% respectively. Meanwhile, Bitcoin (BTC) rose 0.80%, breaking through $65,000; Ethereum (ETH) rose 1.88%, breaking through $1,900.
As for other sectors, the RWA sector rose 2.02% in 24 hours, with Maple Finance (SYRUP) up 6.13% within the sector; the PayFi sector rose 1.00%, Telcoin (TEL) up 2.62%; the Layer1 sector rose 0.62%, NEAR Protocol (NEAR) up 4.40%; the CeFi sector rose 0.22%, NEXO (NEXO) up 1.85%; the Meme sector rose 0.17%, Bonk (BONK) up 15.22%; the Layer2 sector rose 0.04%, Arbitrum (ARB) up 2.14%.
Only the SocialFi sector dipped slightly by 0.96%, where Gram (GRAM) fell 0.76%, but Chiliz (CHZ) rose 3.06%.
Lido DAO (LDO) extends a four-day rally with nearly 4% gains on Thursday, emerging as a top performer so far this week. Speculative demand for the LDO token is on the rise, increasing its Open Interest by 30% over the last 24 hours amid ongoing on-chain voting for the LIP-33 and LIP-35 mainnet upgrades.
Technically, LDO must exceed its 200-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) near $0.4076 around $0.4076 to reinstate a bullish trend reversal.
Retail demand builds amid voting over Lido DAO’s mainnet upgradesLido DAO is gaining retail strength ahead of its new mainnet upgrades, LIP-33 and LIP-35, which include new versions of the curated module and community staking module v3. The on-chain voting for these upgrades will end on Friday, 14:00 UTC. In addition, off-chain voting for user proposals, called Snapshots on Lido, for a permissionless module for validators and a penalty framework for node operators is also live.
CoinGlass data show that LDO futures Open Interest (OI) is up 30% over the last 24 hours to $75.14 million, indicating a significant surge in leverage-driven positional buildup. The funding rate of 0.0044% remains positive but down from 0.0093% the previous day, indicating a drop in bullish demand. At the same time, the volume is up 45% to $110.03 million, reaffirming increased trading activity, likely driven by speculation around its recent recovery.
LDO derivatives data. Source: CoinGlassTechnical outlook: Will LDO rise to $0.40?Lido DAO extends a steady recovery above its 50-day EMA at $0.2992 over the last four days. At the time of writing, LDO is up roughly 4% on Thursday, potentially targeting its 200-day EMA at $0.4076.
From a technical perspective, the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement, measured from $0.4700 to $0.2341, at $0.4048, reinforces the overhead 200-day EMA barrier. A decisive close above this zone would target the previous swing high near $0.4700.
Momentum is stretched, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 76 hovering in overbought territory. At the same time, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) holds an upward trend with its signal line in positive territory, together hinting that buyers remain in control amid risks of corrective pauses.
LDO/USDT daily price chart.Looking down, the 50% retracement at $0.3317, followed by the 50-day EMA at $0.2992, serves as support levels.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
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.
Lido DAO (LDO) maintains a bullish short-term bias, trading around $0.28 at the time of writing on Tuesday. The liquid staking token (LST) has logged consistent gains since last Wednesday, indicating growing risk appetite.
Sentiment in the broader crypto market has also improved but only marginally, as reflected in the Fear & Greed Index at 27 in the Fear Territory on Tuesday, from 24 the day before. Should bullish momentum persist and broader risk appetite in the crypto market grow, the probability of a robust LDO recovery will rise significantly.
Crypto Fear & Greed Index | Source: AlternativeSuppressed retail interest could limit LDO's recoveryRetail participation in Lido DAO remains relatively subdued, as reflected in the perpetual futures Open Interest (OI), with an average of 145 million LDO over a three-day period.
Looking back, OI registered 169 million LDO on Saturday, a notable decline from the 247 million LDO observed in late April. For LDO to maintain upward momentum over the short- to medium-term, a sustained uptick in retail risk appetite remains essential.
LDO Futures OI | Source: CoinGlassMeanwhile, leverage remains positive, as shown by the OI-Weighted Funding Rate of 0.0065% on Tuesday. In hindsight, bulls have since early June increasingly paid a premium to retail their long positions.
LDO OI-Weighted Funding Rate | Source: CoinGlassPrice analysis: LDO extends gains as buyers tighten gripLDO trades at $0.29, with its upside capped by the key moving averages. The LST token sits just under the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $0.29 and remains well below the 100-day and 200-day EMAs at $0.32 and $0.42, respectively, keeping the near-term bias bearish despite the recent rebound.
The Parabolic SAR at $0.24 now trails below price as underlying support, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) histogram has turned increasingly positive on the daily chart, suggesting improving upside momentum.
At the same time, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) around 59 on the same chart points to recovering bullish pressure but stops short of overbought territory.
LDO/USDT daily chartImmediate resistance lies at the 50-day EMA near $0.29, followed by the 100-day EMA at $0.32, while the 200-day EMA at $0.42 marks a broader bearish cap on any extended rally. On the flip side, initial support is seen at the Parabolic SAR around $0.24, with a deeper cushion at the descending trendline break zone near $0.22, where buyers would be expected to reassert if the current pullback extends.
(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)
Open Interest, funding rate FAQs Higher Open Interest is associated with higher liquidity and new capital inflow to the market. This is considered the equivalent of increase in efficiency and the ongoing trend continues. When Open Interest decreases, it is considered a sign of liquidation in the market, investors are leaving and the overall demand for an asset is on a decline, fueling a bearish sentiment among investors.
Funding fees bridge the difference between spot prices and prices of futures contracts of an asset by increasing liquidation risks faced by traders. A consistently high and positive funding rate implies there is a bullish sentiment among market participants and there is an expectation of a price hike. A consistently negative funding rate for an asset implies a bearish sentiment, indicating that traders expect the cryptocurrency’s price to fall and a bearish trend reversal is likely to occur.
Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) moved higher, with the cryptocurrency prices trading past the key $43,000 level on Tuesday.
Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) also recorded gains, trading above the key $2,300 mark this morning.
Pendle (CRYPTO: PENDLE) was the top gainer over the prior 24 hours, while Manta Network (CRYPTO: MANTA) turned out to be the biggest loser.
At the time of writing, the global crypto market cap rose to $1.67 trillion, recording a 24-hour gain of 2.5%. BTC was trading higher by 2.9% at $43,475 while ETH rose by around 1.9% to $2,315 on Tuesday.
Here are the top ten crypto gainers and losers over the past 24 hours:
PANews reported on April 14th that, according to SoSoValue data, rising expectations of a US-Iran agreement have restored market confidence, leading to widespread gains in the crypto market. The DeFi sector performed particularly well, rising 5.00% in the last 24 hours. Hyperliquid (HYPE) rose 7.06%, while Lido DAO (LDO) and Aave (AAVE) rose 9.94% and 10.75% respectively. Meanwhile, Bitcoin (BTC) rose 4.51%, surpassing $74,000, and Ethereum (ETH) rose 7.56%, surpassing $2,300.
In other sectors, the RWA sector rose 4.05% in the last 24 hours, with Plume (PLUME) surging 13.92% within the sector; the CeFi sector rose 2.78%, with NEXO (NEXO) rising 3.79%; the Layer 1 sector rose 2.76%, with Algorand (ALGO) rising 8.11%; the Layer 2 sector rose 2.75%, with Optimism (OP) rising 6.90%; the PayFi sector rose 2.59%, with Telcoin (TEL) rising 12.07%; and the Meme sector rose 1.85%, with Binance Life rising 13.20%.
Kepler Cheuvreux raises ASML’s European share price target from €1,460 to €1,830.
Kepler Cheuvreux has raised the target price for ASML’s European shares from €1,460 to €1,830.
4 minutes ago
Stifel: U.S. economy in "overheated expansion" as AI investment cycle outweighs consumer pressure
U.S. large diversified financial services holding company Stifel has raised its year-end S&P 500 target and rolled out a stock allocation framework for a "high-growth, high-inflation" environment. The firm lifted its year-end S&P 500 target to 7,800 points, noting the U.S. economy is entering a "running hot" state—where economic growth is strengthening alongside mounting inflationary pressure. Stifel’s models show U.S. growth momentum is picking up while inflation momentum is clearly overheating, a trend that will reshape the market’s leading sector structure in the second half of the year. Instead of traditional consumer sectors, Stifel’s top picks are investment-led cyclical industries, including banks, transportation, materials, energy, semiconductors, software and equipment. The firm adds that fixed-asset investment in AI remains on the rise: large tech firms including Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and Google are projected to combine for roughly $725 billion in total capital expenditures in 2026, some $100 billion higher than prior estimates. This means the AI investment chain is likely to continue outperforming the consumption chain squeezed by inflation. Stifel advises investors to reduce exposure to discretionary consumer, consumer staples, communication services and some financial services sectors, as these areas see weaker earnings revisions. Conversely, the firm favors cyclical value stocks and hedges with defensive value sectors such as insurance, autos, energy and banks.
4 minutes ago
Analyst: Micron's earnings boost overall market sentiment for the tech sector
Chris Strazzeri, Financial Trading Manager of Moomoo’s Australia and New Zealand branch, stated: “The targeted sell-off indicates that following a sustained, strong rally in AI-related and speculative growth stocks, investors are enforcing strict valuation discipline. This serves as a warning to the market that actual earnings levels must now rise to support the currently overvalued price-to-earnings ratio. Micron Technology’s post-market earnings results largely confirm this, and its robust performance has lifted overall market sentiment in the tech sector.”
4 minutes ago
2x Leveraged Long DRAM ETF (RAM) Records $383 Million in Trading Volume on Its First Day of Listing
According to Bitget market data, the Roundhill T-REX 2X Long DRAM Daily Target ETF (Nasdaq ticker: RAM) officially launched trading yesterday. On its first trading day, the fund recorded a total turnover of $383 million, and rose 29.47% in after-hours U.S. stock trading to hit $30.8. Note: RAM’s underlying exposure covers companies engaged in memory-related technologies, including DRAM, NAND and storage solutions, targeting active traders seeking leveraged exposure to the memory chip theme and artificial intelligence infrastructure development.
4 minutes ago
BCA Research raises its S&P 500 target to 8,100 points, with AI remaining a core variable.
BCA Research has become the latest strategy firm to raise its US stock market target, reflecting Wall Street’s growing optimism about earnings support for US equities in the second half of the year. The institution lifted its year-end S&P 500 target from 7,700 points to 8,100 points. BCA’s core view is that first-quarter corporate earnings exceeded expectations in both strength and breadth, and the US economy has re-entered an expansion phase. Similar to JPMorgan Chase, BCA believes this stock rally is not only driven by valuation expansion—earnings themselves are delivering the index’s gains. AI remains the core variable in this assessment. Large tech firms including Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and Oracle continue to increase capital spending on data centers and AI infrastructure, driving growth in orders for chips, servers, construction, power and related industrial chains. This provides a clearer fundamental basis for upward revisions to 2026 and 2027 earnings. The institution points out that risks exist: the earnings expansion brought by AI investments has already been quickly priced into the market. If subsequent returns on capital spending are questioned, or interest rates remain elevated, further upside for the index will require more earnings confirmation rather than relying solely on investor risk appetite.
4 minutes ago
Tom Lee: Markets have nearly priced in two interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve this year, and the rise in US Treasury yields is weighing on market sentiment.
Tom Lee said the market is still digesting Kevin Warsh’s remarks from his first press conference last week and repricing the macro environment. Over the past week, oil prices have pulled back, with war premiums contracting. Current oil prices are not far from the roughly $65 level seen before the conflict, indicating the market views related war risks as declining. On the other hand, 10-year U.S. Treasury yields continue to rise, now around 4.5%, higher than the pre-conflict level of roughly 4.2%. The main headwind the market has faced recently has shifted from oil prices to yields. Tom Lee noted that the market is not only focused on 10-year U.S. Treasury yields but also starting to price in potential additional interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve. According to federal funds futures, the market is currently pricing in nearly two rate hikes this year. Bank of America further projected today that the Fed will raise rates three times this year, in September, October, and December respectively. Jeffrey Gundlach often emphasizes the importance of monitoring 2-year U.S. Treasury yields, as they typically lead the Fed and signal the central bank’s policy direction. Between 2023 and 2025, the relationship between 2-year U.S. Treasury yields and the federal funds rate indicated that the Fed’s policy was overly tight, requiring interest rate cuts. However, this relationship has recently reversed, meaning the Fed would need two rate hikes to catch up with 2-year U.S. Treasury yields. He believes that, at least for now, yields have become a headwind for the market.
PANews reported on April 21 that Lido stated on its X platform that the Kelp DAO cross-chain bridge attack resulted in the theft of approximately 116,500 rsETH (approximately $292 million), and the rsETH market on lending platforms such as Aave was subsequently frozen. Lido's EarnETH vault directly held approximately 9% of the rsETH exposure (approximately $21.6 million) through an rsETH/ETH leveraged position on Aave. The EarnETH team is actively deleveraging and reducing the risk of various strategies; the final outcome of this rsETH position depends on the decisions of Kelp, LayerZero, and Aave. A $3 million "first-loss protection mechanism" provided by the Lido DAO vault will be used to cover vault losses if necessary. Currently, deposits and withdrawals on EarnETH are suspended to ensure fair processing. Lido's core staking protocols stETH and wstETH are unaffected.
Lido Labs has asked the Lido DAO to approve the use of up to 2,500 stETH, worth about $5.8 million, to help reduce the rsETH shortfall caused by the recent Kelp exploit.
Summary
Lido Labs asked its DAO to allocate up to 2,500 stETH for Kelp exploit recovery. The Kelp exploit created an rsETH shortfall and raised bad-debt concerns across DeFi platforms. EtherFi and Aave-linked relief efforts followed as DeFi projects moved to limit user losses. The proposal says the funds would not act as a full bailout. Lido Labs said the stETH allocation would only be used as part of a wider recovery package designed to close the rsETH deficit in full.
According to the proposal, “Kelp’s rsETH LayerZero exploit created a material rsETH backing shortfall with broader second-order effects across integrated DeFi venues.” Lido said the situation placed pressure on market rates, lending positions, and vault users.
Kelp exploit adds pressure across DeFi The proposal follows a roughly $292 million exploit that hit Kelp DAO’s rsETH bridge last week. The attack created stress across connected DeFi platforms and raised concerns over bad debt.
Onchain analysis platform Lookonchain said Aave’s total value locked fell by nearly $8 billion after the attacker used stolen Kelp-linked assets as collateral. The incident left about $195 million in bad debt, according to the analysis.
Lido Labs said the response should remain narrow and coordinated. The proposal stated, “Lido DAO has a credible interest in supporting a coordinated, narrowly scoped response where inaction would likely increase losses for EarnETH vault depositors and deepen negative spillovers across stETH-linked products and liquidity venues.”
Recovery plan expects multiple contributors Lido Labs said the full deficit is above 100,000 ETH. Because of that size, it expects several crypto projects and stakeholders to help fund the recovery effort.
The proposal said, “Given that the total deficit exceeds 100,000 ETH, this vehicle is expected to include multiple contributors, with Lido DAO participating as one of several stakeholders rather than as the sole backstop provider.”
Other DeFi groups have also moved toward relief efforts. The EtherFi Foundation proposed adding 5,000 ETH for extra support shortly after the Lido DAO proposal appeared.
Aave founder and CEO Stani Kulechov also said he would personally donate 5,000 ETH to Aave’s DeFi United relief fund. These separate moves show that the Kelp exploit has drawn a wider response from major DeFi participants.
DeFi security concerns return after exploit The Kelp exploit has renewed debate about how DeFi platforms handle security failures, liquidity stress, and user losses after major attacks.
Curve founder Michael Egorov said failures linked to centralized points of control hurt an industry that aims to build open financial systems. His comments reflected growing concern over weak spots in complex DeFi structures.
JPMorgan analysts also said repeated DeFi hacks and slow growth have weakened institutional interest. They noted that each exploit can push investors toward holding funds in stablecoins instead of using higher-risk DeFi products.
Mantle has proposed lending up to 30,000 ETH to Aave DAO to help address bad debt linked to the Kelp DAO exploit.
Summary
Mantle proposed a 30,000 ETH loan to help Aave cover bad debt from Kelp’s exploit. The loan would use Mantle Treasury funds and carry yield based on Lido staking APR. Aave would secure the facility with revenue and at least $11M worth of AAVE tokens. The proposal, named MIP-34, was published by the Mantle Core Contributor Team on Thursday. The loan would come from the Mantle Treasury and would only be used to resolve rsETH bad debt on Aave V3. If approved, the facility would give Aave extra liquidity as it works through losses caused by the exploit.
Mantle said the loan would also turn idle treasury funds into a yield-generating asset. The team said the plan could support closer work between Mantle and Aave and help speed up Aave’s deployment on Mantle Network.
Loan terms include yield and collateral The proposal listed an indicative interest rate based on Lido staking APR plus a 1% premium. The final rate would be subject to negotiation between the parties.
The loan would have a maturity of up to 36 months. Aave would be allowed to repay early without a penalty, according to the proposal.
Mantle said the loan would be secured through a multisig wallet chosen by Mantle. The network would hold a first-priority lien and security interest over the wallet.
Aave would also need to place 5% of its revenue and at least $11 million worth of AAVE tokens into the wallet as collateral. If a default occurs, Mantle said the loan would become due and payable immediately.
Bybit backs Mantle proposal Bybit CEO Ben Zhou said the exchange would support the proposal. Bybit is a major supporter and strategic partner of Mantle Network.
Zhou wrote, “When we got hacked, the industry got together and helped us.” He added, “It is the only right thing that we do the same to [unite] together and walk out from difficult times.”
The Mantle proposal said the loan “demonstrates active treasury management and a proactive stance on industry resilience, reinforcing token holder confidence in Mantle’s long-term stewardship.”
The plan also said interest proceeds could go to the Mantle treasury for MNT token burns or ecosystem funding. That would allow Mantle to link the loan to its own treasury strategy.
Kelp exploit drives wider DeFi response The proposal follows the April 18 exploit of Kelp DAO’s LayerZero-powered bridge. The breach led to the unauthorized minting of 116,500 rsETH tokens worth about $292 million.
The attack spread to Aave after the exploiter supplied stolen rsETH as collateral on Aave V3. The exploiter then borrowed 82,650 WETH and 821 wstETH, leaving Aave exposed to bad debt.
Aave’s incident review estimated two possible bad debt outcomes of about $124 million or $230 million. Onchain analysts later said the attacker swapped all $175 million in stolen ETH into BTC through THORChain and other venues.
Several DeFi groups have joined relief efforts. Lido proposed up to 2,500 stETH, while EtherFi Foundation and Aave founder Stani Kulechov each pledged 5,000 ETH. Golem Foundation pledged 1,000 ETH, and Frax Finance said it is preparing its own contribution.
Aave founder has also backed the effort with a personal ETH pledge.
In the aftermath of the April 18 exploit that left KelpDAO’s rsETH with a significant backing shortfall, Aave’s service providers have taken the lead in organizing a coordinated industry response under the “DeFi United” initiative.
The main objective is to contain systemic risks and restore confidence across interconnected protocols.
Lido, Aave Unite Rather than focusing primarily on recovering the stolen assets, many of which were already bridged and swapped into Bitcoin via Thorchain, the effort has shifted toward stabilizing the ecosystem through recapitalization. Early damage control measures, such as Arbitrum’s security council freezing 30,766 ETH linked to the exploit, provided limited relief, but the broader challenge remains the deficit exceeding 100,000 ETH and its cascading impact on DeFi markets.
The “dislocation” has placed pressure on lending and borrowing rates, strained liquidity conditions, and increased the likelihood of forced liquidations, especially for users exposed through leveraged strategies and vault products like EarnETH. Against this backdrop, Aave contributors stated that collaboration is important to achieving the best possible outcome for users.
Multiple ecosystem participants are stepping forward with indicative commitments. Among the most notable is Lido DAO, whose contributors have proposed a capped, one-time allocation of up to 2,500 stETH to a dedicated relief vehicle. If approved, this contribution would form part of a fully funded recovery package designed specifically to close the rsETH deficit, rather than support partial measures that could leave users exposed to residual losses.
“If a full-coverage solution is not reached, EarnETH vault may remain exposed to losses of up to approximately 9,000 ETH, which is why a vehicle that is sufficiently capitalised to cover the full deficit is materially preferable to a partial coverage.”
The relief vehicle itself is structured with strict use-of-proceeds limitations, which focus solely on addressing the deficit rather than secondary effects such as position health or broader recapitalization needs.
Kulechov Steps In Aave founder Stani Kulechov also pledged a personal contribution of 5,000 ETH. His announcement read,
You may also like: Why Grayscale Thinks AAVE Has a Path to $175 Despite Trading Near 60% Away Worldcoin Rival Humanity Protocol’s Token Crashes 88% as $30M Wallet Drain Sparks Security Panic Aave Secures FCA Approval for UK Crypto Operations “Aave is my life’s work and we’re working nonstop to find the best possible outcome for users. I’m personally contributing 5000 ETH to DeFi United as we continue working together with partners on formalizing more commitments. I’m working to see this resolved and market conditions normalized as soon as possible.”
PANews reported on April 29th that Lido Finance disclosed on its X platform that the Lido DAO is considering a proposal to temporarily lower the first-loss protection threshold for the EarnETH vault from 1% in the event of the Kelp incident. Currently, Lido EarnETH's protection mechanism only triggers when vault losses exceed 1%, but Lido contributors predict that if the DeFi United rescue operation successfully fills the rsETH shortfall, the actual loss could be between 400 and 600 ETH, below the 1% threshold. For the sake of protecting users, maintaining the brand, and mitigating legal risks, the proposal suggests a one-time exception for the Kelp incident, rather than modifying the general 1% rule. This proposal is time-sensitive, as the rsETH incident is expected to be resolved within 5 to 10 days.
Kepler Cheuvreux raises ASML’s European share price target from €1,460 to €1,830.
Kepler Cheuvreux has raised the target price for ASML’s European shares from €1,460 to €1,830.
4 minutes ago
Stifel: U.S. economy in "overheated expansion" as AI investment cycle outweighs consumer pressure
U.S. large diversified financial services holding company Stifel has raised its year-end S&P 500 target and rolled out a stock allocation framework for a "high-growth, high-inflation" environment. The firm lifted its year-end S&P 500 target to 7,800 points, noting the U.S. economy is entering a "running hot" state—where economic growth is strengthening alongside mounting inflationary pressure. Stifel’s models show U.S. growth momentum is picking up while inflation momentum is clearly overheating, a trend that will reshape the market’s leading sector structure in the second half of the year. Instead of traditional consumer sectors, Stifel’s top picks are investment-led cyclical industries, including banks, transportation, materials, energy, semiconductors, software and equipment. The firm adds that fixed-asset investment in AI remains on the rise: large tech firms including Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and Google are projected to combine for roughly $725 billion in total capital expenditures in 2026, some $100 billion higher than prior estimates. This means the AI investment chain is likely to continue outperforming the consumption chain squeezed by inflation. Stifel advises investors to reduce exposure to discretionary consumer, consumer staples, communication services and some financial services sectors, as these areas see weaker earnings revisions. Conversely, the firm favors cyclical value stocks and hedges with defensive value sectors such as insurance, autos, energy and banks.
4 minutes ago
Analyst: Micron's earnings boost overall market sentiment for the tech sector
Chris Strazzeri, Financial Trading Manager of Moomoo’s Australia and New Zealand branch, stated: “The targeted sell-off indicates that following a sustained, strong rally in AI-related and speculative growth stocks, investors are enforcing strict valuation discipline. This serves as a warning to the market that actual earnings levels must now rise to support the currently overvalued price-to-earnings ratio. Micron Technology’s post-market earnings results largely confirm this, and its robust performance has lifted overall market sentiment in the tech sector.”
4 minutes ago
2x Leveraged Long DRAM ETF (RAM) Records $383 Million in Trading Volume on Its First Day of Listing
According to Bitget market data, the Roundhill T-REX 2X Long DRAM Daily Target ETF (Nasdaq ticker: RAM) officially launched trading yesterday. On its first trading day, the fund recorded a total turnover of $383 million, and rose 29.47% in after-hours U.S. stock trading to hit $30.8. Note: RAM’s underlying exposure covers companies engaged in memory-related technologies, including DRAM, NAND and storage solutions, targeting active traders seeking leveraged exposure to the memory chip theme and artificial intelligence infrastructure development.
4 minutes ago
BCA Research raises its S&P 500 target to 8,100 points, with AI remaining a core variable.
BCA Research has become the latest strategy firm to raise its US stock market target, reflecting Wall Street’s growing optimism about earnings support for US equities in the second half of the year. The institution lifted its year-end S&P 500 target from 7,700 points to 8,100 points. BCA’s core view is that first-quarter corporate earnings exceeded expectations in both strength and breadth, and the US economy has re-entered an expansion phase. Similar to JPMorgan Chase, BCA believes this stock rally is not only driven by valuation expansion—earnings themselves are delivering the index’s gains. AI remains the core variable in this assessment. Large tech firms including Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and Oracle continue to increase capital spending on data centers and AI infrastructure, driving growth in orders for chips, servers, construction, power and related industrial chains. This provides a clearer fundamental basis for upward revisions to 2026 and 2027 earnings. The institution points out that risks exist: the earnings expansion brought by AI investments has already been quickly priced into the market. If subsequent returns on capital spending are questioned, or interest rates remain elevated, further upside for the index will require more earnings confirmation rather than relying solely on investor risk appetite.
4 minutes ago
Tom Lee: Markets have nearly priced in two interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve this year, and the rise in US Treasury yields is weighing on market sentiment.
Tom Lee said the market is still digesting Kevin Warsh’s remarks from his first press conference last week and repricing the macro environment. Over the past week, oil prices have pulled back, with war premiums contracting. Current oil prices are not far from the roughly $65 level seen before the conflict, indicating the market views related war risks as declining. On the other hand, 10-year U.S. Treasury yields continue to rise, now around 4.5%, higher than the pre-conflict level of roughly 4.2%. The main headwind the market has faced recently has shifted from oil prices to yields. Tom Lee noted that the market is not only focused on 10-year U.S. Treasury yields but also starting to price in potential additional interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve. According to federal funds futures, the market is currently pricing in nearly two rate hikes this year. Bank of America further projected today that the Fed will raise rates three times this year, in September, October, and December respectively. Jeffrey Gundlach often emphasizes the importance of monitoring 2-year U.S. Treasury yields, as they typically lead the Fed and signal the central bank’s policy direction. Between 2023 and 2025, the relationship between 2-year U.S. Treasury yields and the federal funds rate indicated that the Fed’s policy was overly tight, requiring interest rate cuts. However, this relationship has recently reversed, meaning the Fed would need two rate hikes to catch up with 2-year U.S. Treasury yields. He believes that, at least for now, yields have become a headwind for the market.
Kepler Cheuvreux raises ASML’s European share price target from €1,460 to €1,830.
Kepler Cheuvreux has raised the target price for ASML’s European shares from €1,460 to €1,830.
4 minutes ago
Stifel: U.S. economy in "overheated expansion" as AI investment cycle outweighs consumer pressure
U.S. large diversified financial services holding company Stifel has raised its year-end S&P 500 target and rolled out a stock allocation framework for a "high-growth, high-inflation" environment. The firm lifted its year-end S&P 500 target to 7,800 points, noting the U.S. economy is entering a "running hot" state—where economic growth is strengthening alongside mounting inflationary pressure. Stifel’s models show U.S. growth momentum is picking up while inflation momentum is clearly overheating, a trend that will reshape the market’s leading sector structure in the second half of the year. Instead of traditional consumer sectors, Stifel’s top picks are investment-led cyclical industries, including banks, transportation, materials, energy, semiconductors, software and equipment. The firm adds that fixed-asset investment in AI remains on the rise: large tech firms including Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and Google are projected to combine for roughly $725 billion in total capital expenditures in 2026, some $100 billion higher than prior estimates. This means the AI investment chain is likely to continue outperforming the consumption chain squeezed by inflation. Stifel advises investors to reduce exposure to discretionary consumer, consumer staples, communication services and some financial services sectors, as these areas see weaker earnings revisions. Conversely, the firm favors cyclical value stocks and hedges with defensive value sectors such as insurance, autos, energy and banks.
4 minutes ago
Analyst: Micron's earnings boost overall market sentiment for the tech sector
Chris Strazzeri, Financial Trading Manager of Moomoo’s Australia and New Zealand branch, stated: “The targeted sell-off indicates that following a sustained, strong rally in AI-related and speculative growth stocks, investors are enforcing strict valuation discipline. This serves as a warning to the market that actual earnings levels must now rise to support the currently overvalued price-to-earnings ratio. Micron Technology’s post-market earnings results largely confirm this, and its robust performance has lifted overall market sentiment in the tech sector.”
4 minutes ago
2x Leveraged Long DRAM ETF (RAM) Records $383 Million in Trading Volume on Its First Day of Listing
According to Bitget market data, the Roundhill T-REX 2X Long DRAM Daily Target ETF (Nasdaq ticker: RAM) officially launched trading yesterday. On its first trading day, the fund recorded a total turnover of $383 million, and rose 29.47% in after-hours U.S. stock trading to hit $30.8. Note: RAM’s underlying exposure covers companies engaged in memory-related technologies, including DRAM, NAND and storage solutions, targeting active traders seeking leveraged exposure to the memory chip theme and artificial intelligence infrastructure development.
4 minutes ago
BCA Research raises its S&P 500 target to 8,100 points, with AI remaining a core variable.
BCA Research has become the latest strategy firm to raise its US stock market target, reflecting Wall Street’s growing optimism about earnings support for US equities in the second half of the year. The institution lifted its year-end S&P 500 target from 7,700 points to 8,100 points. BCA’s core view is that first-quarter corporate earnings exceeded expectations in both strength and breadth, and the US economy has re-entered an expansion phase. Similar to JPMorgan Chase, BCA believes this stock rally is not only driven by valuation expansion—earnings themselves are delivering the index’s gains. AI remains the core variable in this assessment. Large tech firms including Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and Oracle continue to increase capital spending on data centers and AI infrastructure, driving growth in orders for chips, servers, construction, power and related industrial chains. This provides a clearer fundamental basis for upward revisions to 2026 and 2027 earnings. The institution points out that risks exist: the earnings expansion brought by AI investments has already been quickly priced into the market. If subsequent returns on capital spending are questioned, or interest rates remain elevated, further upside for the index will require more earnings confirmation rather than relying solely on investor risk appetite.
4 minutes ago
Tom Lee: Markets have nearly priced in two interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve this year, and the rise in US Treasury yields is weighing on market sentiment.
Tom Lee said the market is still digesting Kevin Warsh’s remarks from his first press conference last week and repricing the macro environment. Over the past week, oil prices have pulled back, with war premiums contracting. Current oil prices are not far from the roughly $65 level seen before the conflict, indicating the market views related war risks as declining. On the other hand, 10-year U.S. Treasury yields continue to rise, now around 4.5%, higher than the pre-conflict level of roughly 4.2%. The main headwind the market has faced recently has shifted from oil prices to yields. Tom Lee noted that the market is not only focused on 10-year U.S. Treasury yields but also starting to price in potential additional interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve. According to federal funds futures, the market is currently pricing in nearly two rate hikes this year. Bank of America further projected today that the Fed will raise rates three times this year, in September, October, and December respectively. Jeffrey Gundlach often emphasizes the importance of monitoring 2-year U.S. Treasury yields, as they typically lead the Fed and signal the central bank’s policy direction. Between 2023 and 2025, the relationship between 2-year U.S. Treasury yields and the federal funds rate indicated that the Fed’s policy was overly tight, requiring interest rate cuts. However, this relationship has recently reversed, meaning the Fed would need two rate hikes to catch up with 2-year U.S. Treasury yields. He believes that, at least for now, yields have become a headwind for the market.
Kepler Cheuvreux raises ASML’s European share price target from €1,460 to €1,830.
Kepler Cheuvreux has raised the target price for ASML’s European shares from €1,460 to €1,830.
4 minutes ago
Stifel: U.S. economy in "overheated expansion" as AI investment cycle outweighs consumer pressure
U.S. large diversified financial services holding company Stifel has raised its year-end S&P 500 target and rolled out a stock allocation framework for a "high-growth, high-inflation" environment. The firm lifted its year-end S&P 500 target to 7,800 points, noting the U.S. economy is entering a "running hot" state—where economic growth is strengthening alongside mounting inflationary pressure. Stifel’s models show U.S. growth momentum is picking up while inflation momentum is clearly overheating, a trend that will reshape the market’s leading sector structure in the second half of the year. Instead of traditional consumer sectors, Stifel’s top picks are investment-led cyclical industries, including banks, transportation, materials, energy, semiconductors, software and equipment. The firm adds that fixed-asset investment in AI remains on the rise: large tech firms including Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and Google are projected to combine for roughly $725 billion in total capital expenditures in 2026, some $100 billion higher than prior estimates. This means the AI investment chain is likely to continue outperforming the consumption chain squeezed by inflation. Stifel advises investors to reduce exposure to discretionary consumer, consumer staples, communication services and some financial services sectors, as these areas see weaker earnings revisions. Conversely, the firm favors cyclical value stocks and hedges with defensive value sectors such as insurance, autos, energy and banks.
4 minutes ago
Analyst: Micron's earnings boost overall market sentiment for the tech sector
Chris Strazzeri, Financial Trading Manager of Moomoo’s Australia and New Zealand branch, stated: “The targeted sell-off indicates that following a sustained, strong rally in AI-related and speculative growth stocks, investors are enforcing strict valuation discipline. This serves as a warning to the market that actual earnings levels must now rise to support the currently overvalued price-to-earnings ratio. Micron Technology’s post-market earnings results largely confirm this, and its robust performance has lifted overall market sentiment in the tech sector.”
4 minutes ago
2x Leveraged Long DRAM ETF (RAM) Records $383 Million in Trading Volume on Its First Day of Listing
According to Bitget market data, the Roundhill T-REX 2X Long DRAM Daily Target ETF (Nasdaq ticker: RAM) officially launched trading yesterday. On its first trading day, the fund recorded a total turnover of $383 million, and rose 29.47% in after-hours U.S. stock trading to hit $30.8. Note: RAM’s underlying exposure covers companies engaged in memory-related technologies, including DRAM, NAND and storage solutions, targeting active traders seeking leveraged exposure to the memory chip theme and artificial intelligence infrastructure development.
4 minutes ago
BCA Research raises its S&P 500 target to 8,100 points, with AI remaining a core variable.
BCA Research has become the latest strategy firm to raise its US stock market target, reflecting Wall Street’s growing optimism about earnings support for US equities in the second half of the year. The institution lifted its year-end S&P 500 target from 7,700 points to 8,100 points. BCA’s core view is that first-quarter corporate earnings exceeded expectations in both strength and breadth, and the US economy has re-entered an expansion phase. Similar to JPMorgan Chase, BCA believes this stock rally is not only driven by valuation expansion—earnings themselves are delivering the index’s gains. AI remains the core variable in this assessment. Large tech firms including Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and Oracle continue to increase capital spending on data centers and AI infrastructure, driving growth in orders for chips, servers, construction, power and related industrial chains. This provides a clearer fundamental basis for upward revisions to 2026 and 2027 earnings. The institution points out that risks exist: the earnings expansion brought by AI investments has already been quickly priced into the market. If subsequent returns on capital spending are questioned, or interest rates remain elevated, further upside for the index will require more earnings confirmation rather than relying solely on investor risk appetite.
4 minutes ago
Tom Lee: Markets have nearly priced in two interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve this year, and the rise in US Treasury yields is weighing on market sentiment.
Tom Lee said the market is still digesting Kevin Warsh’s remarks from his first press conference last week and repricing the macro environment. Over the past week, oil prices have pulled back, with war premiums contracting. Current oil prices are not far from the roughly $65 level seen before the conflict, indicating the market views related war risks as declining. On the other hand, 10-year U.S. Treasury yields continue to rise, now around 4.5%, higher than the pre-conflict level of roughly 4.2%. The main headwind the market has faced recently has shifted from oil prices to yields. Tom Lee noted that the market is not only focused on 10-year U.S. Treasury yields but also starting to price in potential additional interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve. According to federal funds futures, the market is currently pricing in nearly two rate hikes this year. Bank of America further projected today that the Fed will raise rates three times this year, in September, October, and December respectively. Jeffrey Gundlach often emphasizes the importance of monitoring 2-year U.S. Treasury yields, as they typically lead the Fed and signal the central bank’s policy direction. Between 2023 and 2025, the relationship between 2-year U.S. Treasury yields and the federal funds rate indicated that the Fed’s policy was overly tight, requiring interest rate cuts. However, this relationship has recently reversed, meaning the Fed would need two rate hikes to catch up with 2-year U.S. Treasury yields. He believes that, at least for now, yields have become a headwind for the market.
The Ethereum Foundation rattled the crypto market by unstaking about $50 million worth of ETH on Monday, May 11. It sparked concerns of a potential selloff owing to the organization’s previous transfer trend.
Ethereum Foundation Unstakes Over $49M In ETH On-chain data from Arkham Intelligence shows that the Ethereum Foundation has cashed out 21,271 ETH worth of nearly $49.66 million from its Ethereum staking positions via Lido. The transfers took place in several transactions that each had an estimated value of around $2.3 million.
Ethereum Foundation’s unstaking activity. Source: Arkham Intelligence As per blockchain records, each batch had approximately 811 wrapped staked ETH (wstETH) from the crypto staking platform. During unstaking, these assets have been deposited into Lido’s unstETH contract.
This transfer shifted the Ethereum Foundation’s ETH balance from nearly the top of its reported internal cap of 70,000 ETH, to roughly 52,965 ETH. Almost $50 million worth of ETH was also re-liquidated in the organisation’s treasury wallet.
According to data from Arkham Intelligence, the transfers were not necessarily due to an immediate market sale, but rather related to treasury rebalancing. The activity was seen as being part of normal management to ensure a liquid environment for ecosystem development and grant and operational costs.
When the queue of withdrawals on Lido is full, the assets will be converted from wstETH to liquid ETH. The amount of funds will only become available once the normal staking platform unlock period has passed.
Earlier, in April, the Ethereum Foundation had unstaked nearly $49 million worth of ETH at the time. It led to similar concerns as of today.
How Did The ETH Price React? However, the ETH price remained unresponsive to the withdrawal and hovered near $2,300. Experts believe that traders seemed to read the adjustment as a routine treasury adjustment, rather than an indication of notable selling pressure.
Being among the largest long-term holders on the Ethereum network, the Ethereum Foundation has been the subject of interest whenever it moves significant portions of ETH. To yield the ecosystem initiatives, the organization has started staking ETH since mid-2015.
The staking balance of the firm jumped massively this year. It rose from just above 2,000 ETH in February to nearly 70,000 ETH before the recent withdrawal.
Lido DAO [LDO] attracted strong market attention on the 11th of May as broader crypto markets remained subdued.
According to CoinMarketCap, LDO surged over 8.85% in 24 hours and traded near $0.438 at press time.
The rally outperformed major assets like Bitcoin [BTC], Ethereum [ETH], and Solana [SOL], which posted modest gains.
The gain outpaced major crypto assets like Bitcoin [BTC], Ethereum [ETH], and Solana [SOL], which rose 0.30%, 0.35%, and 1.50%, respectively.
Why are traders turning bullish on LDO? Not only did the price show strong upward momentum, but traders and investors also appeared highly interested in the trend.
This was reflected in Trading Volume, which surged more than 190% to $120 million during the same period.
In fact, a crypto whale who recently made over $2.27 million from ApeCoin [APE] in a single day opened a 5x long position on 8.69 million LDO tokens.
According to Lookonchain, the position was worth more than $3.72 million. This reflected growing whale conviction in the altcoin.
Source: CoinGlass However, some investors appeared to take profits as the price approached a key level.
Data from CoinGlass revealed that exchanges recorded $899.72K worth of LDO Inflows during the same period. This suggested that some holders may have prepared for a potential selloff as tokens moved to exchanges.
Are large holders still accumulating LDO? Source: Nansen On the other hand, the top 100 LDO addresses continued adding tokens to their holdings, according to Nansen.
Data showed that over the past seven days, the top 100 LDO addresses increased holdings by 1.26%.
Meanwhile, exchange reserves declined by 0.98% during the same period. This suggested that large holders continued accumulating LDO while exchange supply declined.
In addition, intraday traders appeared to follow the same trend.
CoinGlass showed that $0.42 on the downside and $0.446 on the upside were major Liquidation Levels. These were the levels where traders appeared heavily over-leveraged.
At those levels, traders built $1.66 million worth of long positions and $445K worth of short positions. This indicated that traders expected LDO’s price to maintain its upward momentum.
Can LDO break above $0.45? Source: TradingView Despite these bullish signals, LDO’s daily chart on TradingView told a different story.
According to the chart, the asset approached a key resistance level at $0.45, which remained intact since the 2nd of February, 2026.
In the past two instances, whenever LDO approached this level, it faced strong selling pressure. That resulted in declines on the 17th and 27th of April, 2026.
Based on the current price action, if LDO breaks above this prolonged resistance, it could witness a 32% rally toward $0.6160.
However, LDO needs to close a daily candle above the $0.4550 level for confirmation.
On the other hand, the formation of a red candle near this level could attract sellers and trigger another decline.
Meanwhile, the Average Directional Index [ADX] reached 33.88, remaining well above the key threshold of 25. This indicated that LDO remained in a strong directional trend.
Final Summary Lido DAO [LDO] outperformed major cryptocurrencies after gaining more than 8.85% in 24 hours. A whale opened a $3.72 million leveraged long position on LDO, signaling growing confidence in the asset.
TLDR: Chainlink CCIP secures every wstETH bridge lane with 16 independent node operators by default. CCIP stayed fully operational during the October 2025 AWS outage, proving its infrastructure resilience. Per-chain-lane rate limits act as circuit breakers for wstETH during market stress or disruptions. Chainlink’s CCT standard preserves Lido DAO’s full sovereignty with no vendor lock-in over wstETH. Chainlink CCIP has been named the official cross-chain infrastructure for Wrapped Staked Ether by Lido’s Network Expansion Committee.
The November 2025 decision came as bridge security concerns intensified across decentralized finance. Cross-chain exploits have cost the industry nearly $3 billion in total losses.
The Kelp/LayerZero exploit recently added urgency to reviewing bridge risks across DeFi. Lido contributors published a security analysis explaining the reasoning behind adopting Chainlink CCIP for wstETH.
Decentralized Node Architecture Anchors the CCIP Infrastructure Following the Kelp/LayerZero incident, Lido addressed the community on X. The protocol stated that contributors were publishing “the security principles behind wstETH’s multi-chain strategy, and why Chainlink CCIP was selected as the official cross-chain solution.”
The post cited 16 independent node operators, native rate limiting, and no vendor lock-in as key factors. Most wstETH deployments had previously relied on canonical bridges, which required separate monitoring per chain and imposed seven-day withdrawal delays back to mainnet.
Following recent bridge exploits, Lido contributors are publishing the security principles behind wstETH’s multi-chain strategy, and why @chainlink CCIP was selected as the official cross-chain solution.
The analysis covers how Chainlink CCIP delivers strong decentralization,… pic.twitter.com/q2Y9c6Jf2n
— Lido (@LidoFinance) May 14, 2026
A core principle behind the selection was that CCIP “does not rely on a single verifier, machine, or infrastructure provider.”
Every bridge lane is secured by a minimum of 16 independent node operators achieving decentralized consensus. Infrastructure spans on-premise and multi-region cloud deployments for added resilience. Node operators include P2P, Stakefish, StakingFacilities, and Everstake.
During the October 20, 2025 AWS outage, CCIP remained fully operational. Other cross-chain providers experienced disruptions during that incident.
CCIP’s infrastructure diversity kept the protocol running without downtime. This resilience directly reinforced the NEC’s decision to select CCIP.
Chainlink CCIP is already active for wstETH transactions across Ethereum, MegaETH, and Monad. Additional chains will be onboarded in stages over the coming months.
CCIP also powers Lido’s Direct Staking rails for L2 networks. Users on Arbitrum, Base, and Optimism can stake ETH and receive wstETH directly.
Rate Limiting and Token Sovereignty Reduce Structural Risk CCIP provides native rate-limiting support on a per-chain-lane basis for wstETH. Each lane carries a defined transaction capacity and a set replenishment rate.
These limits act as circuit breakers during extreme volatility or operational stress. Lane-specific configurations are publicly accessible on the CCIP Directory.
Siloed bridge deployments ensure each lane only connects Ethereum Mainnet to one destination chain. Any issue affecting one chain stays contained to that specific lane.
This differs from meshed bridge setups, where problems can spread across multiple connected chains. Siloed architecture reduces the contagion risk seen in past bridge exploits.
Lido contributors identified issuer sovereignty as non-negotiable, asking whether infrastructure “preserves issuer control, or does it introduce hidden, proprietary dependencies.”
Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Token standard directly addresses this concern by preserving full DAO sovereignty over all wstETH token contracts.
No CCIP-specific logic is required within those deployments. LayerZero’s OFT standard, by contrast, tightly couples token contracts to its own infrastructure.
Lido contributors are also working with Chainlink to add secondary confirmations for large wstETH transactions. An additional attestation will be required before such transactions are finalized.
Offchain monitoring systems detect abnormal blockchain activity in real time. These controls build a layered security framework for wstETH’s cross-chain expansion.
A pointed critique from inside Ethereum’s developer ranks argues that ether’s 65% slide against Bitcoin (BTC) since the Merge stems from specific execution failures at the Ethereum Foundation, not from broad market cycles or coordination problems.
Reid, an ICO-era participant who still builds on Ethereum (ETH), published the indictment, framing the underperformance as accumulated execution debt with names, dates, and missed product calls.
A 65% Drop With Names AttachedReid’s central data point lines up with public market data. The ETH/BTC ratio peaked near 0.085 around the Merge in September 2022.
It has fallen to roughly 0.028 by late May, capturing ether’s underperformance against Bitcoin. Ether currently trades below $2,000, down 21% over the past year.
Ethereum to Bitcoin Ratio. Source: Longterm TrendsReid rejects Bankless co-founder David Hoffman’s framing of ether’s “deserved cap” as a noble ceiling. He argues the cap sits lower than bulls expected, for reasons with names and dates rather than coordination theory.
Reid covers credit and real-world assets at firms including Figure and Securitize, and discloses he is still long ether.
ESG Marketing and a Missing Staking InterfaceReid argues the Merge’s 99.95% energy-reduction message answered questions capital allocators never asked.
Institutions wanted yield, developers wanted finality, and users wanted cheaper transactions. Solana sold raw speed during the same window.
Proof-of-stake sat on the roadmap from 2015 and took seven years to ship. Solana launched mainnet beta in March 2020 and shipped wallets, decentralized exchanges, and money markets while Ethereum debated specs.
Vitalik Buterin’s writing through 2024 and 2025 shifted from Casper specs toward pluralism and network states.
Reid reads that tone as an established Ethereum cultural posture rather than an active competitive one.
The smoking gun, in Reid’s read, is the absence of a first-party staking app three years after the Merge.
The official path still requires running a validator with at least 32 ETH. Most users route through Lido, which holds about 24% of staked ETH despite repeated centralization warnings from developers.
“‘We don’t pick winners’ is what an organization says when it does not want to compete,” Reid remarked.
Follow us on X to get the latest news as it happens
Rollups as Managed DeclineThe rollup-centric roadmap drained the base layer. EIP-4844 went live in March 2024 and pushed blob fees near 1 wei through most of 2024 and 2025.
Ethereum’s quarterly transaction fee revenue has fallen roughly 95% from a Q4 2021 peak of $4.3 billion.
Ethereum Transaction Fee Since 2021. Source: Token Terminal Arbitrum has marketed 90% to 98% operating margins on its L2s. Base captured close to 70% of rollup profits by mid-2025.
Every major L2 issued its own token, fragmenting capital flows inside the ecosystem.
Reid contrasts this with Solana’s integrated L1, which has shown fee capture accruing directly to its native token.
The remaining question is whether Foundation product cadence shifts. The ETH/BTC ratio’s path through the rest of the cycle will reflect the answer.
Kepler Cheuvreux raises ASML’s European share price target from €1,460 to €1,830.
Kepler Cheuvreux has raised the target price for ASML’s European shares from €1,460 to €1,830.
4 minutes ago
Stifel: U.S. economy in "overheated expansion" as AI investment cycle outweighs consumer pressure
U.S. large diversified financial services holding company Stifel has raised its year-end S&P 500 target and rolled out a stock allocation framework for a "high-growth, high-inflation" environment. The firm lifted its year-end S&P 500 target to 7,800 points, noting the U.S. economy is entering a "running hot" state—where economic growth is strengthening alongside mounting inflationary pressure. Stifel’s models show U.S. growth momentum is picking up while inflation momentum is clearly overheating, a trend that will reshape the market’s leading sector structure in the second half of the year. Instead of traditional consumer sectors, Stifel’s top picks are investment-led cyclical industries, including banks, transportation, materials, energy, semiconductors, software and equipment. The firm adds that fixed-asset investment in AI remains on the rise: large tech firms including Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and Google are projected to combine for roughly $725 billion in total capital expenditures in 2026, some $100 billion higher than prior estimates. This means the AI investment chain is likely to continue outperforming the consumption chain squeezed by inflation. Stifel advises investors to reduce exposure to discretionary consumer, consumer staples, communication services and some financial services sectors, as these areas see weaker earnings revisions. Conversely, the firm favors cyclical value stocks and hedges with defensive value sectors such as insurance, autos, energy and banks.
4 minutes ago
Analyst: Micron's earnings boost overall market sentiment for the tech sector
Chris Strazzeri, Financial Trading Manager of Moomoo’s Australia and New Zealand branch, stated: “The targeted sell-off indicates that following a sustained, strong rally in AI-related and speculative growth stocks, investors are enforcing strict valuation discipline. This serves as a warning to the market that actual earnings levels must now rise to support the currently overvalued price-to-earnings ratio. Micron Technology’s post-market earnings results largely confirm this, and its robust performance has lifted overall market sentiment in the tech sector.”
4 minutes ago
2x Leveraged Long DRAM ETF (RAM) Records $383 Million in Trading Volume on Its First Day of Listing
According to Bitget market data, the Roundhill T-REX 2X Long DRAM Daily Target ETF (Nasdaq ticker: RAM) officially launched trading yesterday. On its first trading day, the fund recorded a total turnover of $383 million, and rose 29.47% in after-hours U.S. stock trading to hit $30.8. Note: RAM’s underlying exposure covers companies engaged in memory-related technologies, including DRAM, NAND and storage solutions, targeting active traders seeking leveraged exposure to the memory chip theme and artificial intelligence infrastructure development.
4 minutes ago
BCA Research raises its S&P 500 target to 8,100 points, with AI remaining a core variable.
BCA Research has become the latest strategy firm to raise its US stock market target, reflecting Wall Street’s growing optimism about earnings support for US equities in the second half of the year. The institution lifted its year-end S&P 500 target from 7,700 points to 8,100 points. BCA’s core view is that first-quarter corporate earnings exceeded expectations in both strength and breadth, and the US economy has re-entered an expansion phase. Similar to JPMorgan Chase, BCA believes this stock rally is not only driven by valuation expansion—earnings themselves are delivering the index’s gains. AI remains the core variable in this assessment. Large tech firms including Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and Oracle continue to increase capital spending on data centers and AI infrastructure, driving growth in orders for chips, servers, construction, power and related industrial chains. This provides a clearer fundamental basis for upward revisions to 2026 and 2027 earnings. The institution points out that risks exist: the earnings expansion brought by AI investments has already been quickly priced into the market. If subsequent returns on capital spending are questioned, or interest rates remain elevated, further upside for the index will require more earnings confirmation rather than relying solely on investor risk appetite.
4 minutes ago
Tom Lee: Markets have nearly priced in two interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve this year, and the rise in US Treasury yields is weighing on market sentiment.
Tom Lee said the market is still digesting Kevin Warsh’s remarks from his first press conference last week and repricing the macro environment. Over the past week, oil prices have pulled back, with war premiums contracting. Current oil prices are not far from the roughly $65 level seen before the conflict, indicating the market views related war risks as declining. On the other hand, 10-year U.S. Treasury yields continue to rise, now around 4.5%, higher than the pre-conflict level of roughly 4.2%. The main headwind the market has faced recently has shifted from oil prices to yields. Tom Lee noted that the market is not only focused on 10-year U.S. Treasury yields but also starting to price in potential additional interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve. According to federal funds futures, the market is currently pricing in nearly two rate hikes this year. Bank of America further projected today that the Fed will raise rates three times this year, in September, October, and December respectively. Jeffrey Gundlach often emphasizes the importance of monitoring 2-year U.S. Treasury yields, as they typically lead the Fed and signal the central bank’s policy direction. Between 2023 and 2025, the relationship between 2-year U.S. Treasury yields and the federal funds rate indicated that the Fed’s policy was overly tight, requiring interest rate cuts. However, this relationship has recently reversed, meaning the Fed would need two rate hikes to catch up with 2-year U.S. Treasury yields. He believes that, at least for now, yields have become a headwind for the market.
Over the last week, liquid staking cryptocurrencies have been seeing a significant upside. All of these tokens have successfully moved into the green territory, recording double-digit gains for their holders. Although these digital assets seem to be following the general crypto market uptrend, there is another factor pushing up their prices.
Why Are Liquid Staking Crypto On The Rise? Liquid staking cryptocurrencies have been receiving more attention ever since the announcement that the Ethereum “Shanghai” upgrade is likely to take place in March 2023. This upgrade is important for the network because it will mean that staked ETH will finally be withdrawable.
Anticipation around this upgrade is already on the rise and liquid staking tokens are enjoying a good portion of this attention. Their popularity comes from the fact that they allow stakers to earn a yield on staked ETH even though they can’t withdraw their ETH. It also makes it possible for stakers to have tokens on hand which they can deploy on other protocols to further participate in the ecosystem.
Liquid staking protocols reward stakers with ETH-pegged tokens such as stETH and ankrETH and make it possible for ETH users to stake without having to become validators themselves. But instead of having to rely on centralized exchanges to do this, as was previously the case, these DeFi protocols are decentralized.
ETH price crosses $1,300 ahead of Shanghai upgrade | Source: ETHUSD on TradingView.com The higher earning potential of staking with liquid staking protocols has led to more demand for them. With the Shanghai upgrade coming, it is expected that more ETH will be moved to these protocols, leading to more demand for their native cryptocurrencies.
The Largest Liquid Staking Protocols The largest liquid staking protocol in the space now is currently Lido Finance. It accounts for around 30% of the total 15 million staked ETH, making it an important contender in the space. Its native LDO token has a market cap of $1.6 billion and its price is up 57% in the last 7 days.
Lido is the largest liquid staking protocol | Source: CryptoSlate Next in line is Frax Share whose price is up 21% in the last week. The digital asset’s market cap is almost $403 million, rewarding users with frxETH for their staked ETH at an 8% APR. This is the highest APR of any liquid staking protocol.
Rocket Pool takes third place with a market cap above $260 million and is up 18% in the 7-day period. But in terms of ETH deposited, it is one of the highest, accounting for around 6.5% of the total market share.
Others include Ankr Protocol which is up 26% in 7 days, as well as Stafi, pStake Finance, and StakeWise, all of which are up 32%, 20%, and 10%, respectively, in the same time period.
Follow Best Owie on Twitter for market insights, updates, and the occasional funny tweet… Featured image from Medium, chart from TradingView.com
Lido DAO is currently facing pressure from multiple directions: declining market share, organizational restructuring, technical concerns, and a surge in withdrawal demand.
Lido continues to play a significant role in the Ethereum ecosystem. However, to sustain its influence, it must show greater adaptability, innovation, and transparent governance than ever.
Lido, Ethereum’s largest decentralized staking platform, has recently shown several concerning signals. According to data from Dune, Lido’s share of ETH staking has dropped to just 24.6%, the lowest point in the past three years. This represents a significant shift, particularly for a protocol that once was dominant in Ethereum’s liquid staking landscape.
Lido market share. Source: DuneThis decline could stem from multiple factors, including growing competition from rivals like Rocket Pool or staking solutions integrated directly by major exchanges like Coinbase. The Ethereum community actively prioritizes decentralization. This raises questions about whether a protocol controlling numerous validators aligns with Ethereum’s long-term vision.
Beyond its shrinking market share, Lido recently disclosed a vulnerability in the RageQuit mechanism of its “Dual Governance” (DG) system. While the project team confirmed that no user funds were affected and mitigation steps have already been taken, this serves as a reminder that even major protocols are not immune to technical issues that may arise during operations.
In addition, the ETH withdrawal queue on Lido has reached its highest level since withdrawals were first enabled. Data from Dune shows that ETH pending withdrawal is nearly 143,000. Although this number has decreased from its all-time high at the end of July, it still reflects a shift in confidence among some users, especially as more flexible or secure staking alternatives emerge.
Lido ETH withdrawal queue. Source: DuneIn this context, Lido has officially confirmed that it will reduce its contributor team by approximately 15%. According to a public statement by co-founder Vasiliy Shapovalov on platform X (formerly Twitter), this decision was made to ensure the organization can operate more efficiently and adapt to the changing market trends.
“This decision was about costs — not performance. It affects incredibly talented people who helped shape the protocol and community.” Vasiliy Shapovalov shared on X.
Downsizing the team does not necessarily signal a crisis. However, it indicates that leadership is reassessing its human capital strategy, particularly as key performance metrics struggle to sustain prior growth trends. The protocol is entering a pivotal proving ground amid fast-moving technological and cultural shifts.
Lido DAO [LDO] has been showing price strength since the proposed buyback program in March came to an end.
At press time, the LDO price has surged over 17% in the past 24 hours, with trading volume jumping 129% to reach $100 million. Notably, activity and tightening of supply are also increasing.
Decoding LDO’s price rally Aggressive buys, as indicated by the daily trading volume spike, drove the rally. Moreover, activity and fundamentals contributed to the sentiment around LDO, leading to increased speculative trading.
Notably, the DAO has grown significantly, with Lido Finance surpassing Rocket Pool to become Ethereum’s top permissionless staking solution. The number of active validators has now surpassed 100, slightly ahead of Rocket Pool’s count.
Source: X Additionally, through a vote, the DAO passed their second buyback program proposal for LDO tokens. The plan involves acquiring LDO worth 10,000 ETH in 1,000 ETH increments.
Moreover, the Transfer Amount rose from 11.77 million LDO to 48.59 million LDO. This was more than a 4x increase in 24 hours, while Transfer Count nearly tripled from 641 to 1841. Such growth indicated growing network activity on the staking solution.
Source: Etherscan Currently, LDO is the largest permissionless staking solution for ETH in terms of the number of active validators and the ETH market cap. Its staked ETH market cap was $22.44 billion, followed by Kelp DAO and Rocket Pool at $1.62 billion and $932 million, respectively.
While most of the metrics were bullish on LDO presently, the price action did not have a defined directional bias.
Can LDO sustain the breakout? The charts showed that LDO had printed a double bottom pattern, and price action had broken above the neckline at $0.3366. The altcoin has been trading between the neckline and the bottom at around $0.2725.
Staying above the neckline would suggest a potential market structure shift, putting the $0.68 to $0.70 zone as a target for bulls. The Cumulative Volume Delta (CVD) peaked at 4.04 million LDO as of writing, which was the maximum buying pressure of the day.
However, a true shift would happen if LDO flipped the $0.33-$0.36 zone into support.
Source: LDO/USDT on TradingView The correlation with Ethereum [ETH] has increased to 0.85, indicating that as ETH approaches $2,400, LDO’s price is closely following suit.
Final Summary Lido surged 17% in the past 24 hours due to an increase in volume and the number of active validators and a buyback program. LDO price eyes $0.70, but only if bulls can keep the price above the neckline at around $0.33.
The Ethereum network stands as a revolutionary innovation in the realm of blockchain technology. It serves as a robust platform for building and deploying decentralized applications (dApps), fueling the growth of decentralized finance (DeFi) and transforming the way we interact with financial services. However, with its widespread adoption and increasing popularity, Ethereum has faced challenges of scalability and high transaction fees, leading to the development of Layer 2 scaling solutions to enhance its capabilities.
The Ethereum blockchain hums with innovation, birthing a new breed of digital assets known as ERC-20 tokens. These versatile gems unlock a treasure trove of possibilities, from voting rights in decentralized communities to fueling innovative applications and even representing virtual currencies.
ERC-20 tokens are standardized building blocks on the Ethereum network. They adhere to a specific set of rules, ensuring seamless interaction and divisibility, making them perfect for trading and diverse applications. Think of them as digital coins, each with its unique identity and purpose, ready to be exchanged, used, and explored.
Whether you’re a seasoned crypto trader or a curious newcomer, navigating the thrilling world of ERC-20 trading can be challenging. This comprehensive guide will equip you with the knowledge and tools to confidently buy, sell, and trade these digital assets on the Ethereum network.
Some of the major and popular ERC-20 Tokens are Tether (USDT), Polygon (MATIC), Chainlink (LINK), Uniswap (UNI), Lido DAO (LIDO), Maker DAO (MKR), amongst many others.
Features of Ethereum Network Ethereum’s innovative design sets it apart from other networks, paving the way for a decentralized future of finance, applications, and beyond. Distinguished by its unique features and capabilities, it stands as one of the pioneers of Blockchain Technologies with standout features like:
The Power of Smart Contracts
The Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) serves as the core engine that drives the execution of smart contracts on the Ethereum network. These smart contracts are self-executing code that automates various actions and agreements, forming the foundation of dApps and DeFi protocols. EVM compatibility is crucial for deploying and interacting with ERC-20 tokens, the most common token standard on Ethereum.
Unlike static databases, Ethereum boasts the groundbreaking ability to execute self-enforcing agreements through smart contracts. These programmable pieces of code automate a wide range of tasks, enabling trustless interactions and the creation of innovative applications in diverse sectors.
Layer 1 and Layer 2: Addressing Scalability
The Ethereum mainnet functions as a Layer 1 blockchain, the base layer where all transactions are ultimately settled. To address the scalability bottlenecks on this primary layer, Layer 2 solutions have emerged as a promising approach. These solutions aim to offload a significant portion of transaction processing off-chain, resulting in increased throughput, faster confirmation times, and significantly reduced transaction costs.
A Platform For Innovation
Ethereum isn’t just a cryptocurrency platform; it’s a fertile ground for developers to build revolutionary decentralized applications (dApps). From DeFi protocols automating financial transactions to NFTs unlocking new ownership models, the possibilities are endless.
Gas and Gas Fees: Fueling Transactions
Within the Ethereum network, gas refers to the computational power required to execute transactions and smart contracts. Users pay gas fees to compensate miners for processing their transactions. Gas fees are denominated in ETH, Ethereum’s native cryptocurrency.
Fueling Decentralized Finance (DeFi)
As a breeding ground for DeFi protocols, Ethereum empowers users to take control of their finances. Borrow, lend, invest, and trade without dependence on intermediaries, fostering a more open and inclusive financial system.
Ecosystem And Adoption
Unlike centralized projects, Ethereum thrives on a vibrant and passionate community. Developers, miners, and users participate in its governance and evolution, ensuring its development remains transparent and aligned with the community’s needs. This growing ecosystem includes decentralized exchanges (DEXs), gaming applications, and more.
Exploring Layer 2 Scaling Solutions
Layer 2 scaling solutions offer a promising pathway to address the scalability challenges faced by the Ethereum mainnet. They operate as secondary layers built on top of the main blockchain, providing alternative mechanisms for transaction processing and data storage.
Here are some common types of Layer 2 solutions:
Sidechains: Independent blockchains that run in parallel with Ethereum, enabling faster and cheaper transactions. Plasma Chains: Blockchains that leverage Ethereum for security and finality, offering scalability benefits through data offloading. Optimistic Rollups: The technology employed by the Ethereum network for token transactions, which bundles multiple transactions off-chain and submits a summary to the mainnet for verification. Beyond Features: What Truly Sets Ethereum Apart? Ethereum’s uniqueness extends beyond its specific features, encompassing its fundamental characteristics and impact on the blockchain landscape.
Network Effect and Ecosystem: Through its early adoption and widespread implementation, Ethereum has established a robust network effect. Developers, projects, and users gravitate towards it, creating a flourishing ecosystem that strengthens its overall value and resilience.
Security and Trust: Built on a Proof-of-Work (PoW) consensus mechanism, Ethereum offers a high level of security and protection against malicious attacks. Its distributed nature further bolsters trust and transparency, minimizing the risk of centralized control.
Flexibility and Adaptability: Ethereum’s design prioritizes flexibility and adaptability. Upgradeability mechanisms allow it to evolve and adopt new features to remain relevant and address emerging challenges in the blockchain space.
Global Impact and Pioneering Spirit: Ethereum has gone beyond being a mere technological advancement; it has ignited a global conversation about decentralization, ownership, and financial autonomy. Its pioneering spirit continues to inspire innovation and shape the future of our digital world.
How To Get Started on the Ethereum Network for ERC-20 Tokens.
To buy/sell ERC-20 Tokens, you’ll need a crypto wallet. There are several crypto wallets to choose from within the Ethereum network and, popular options include software wallets like MetaMask, Trust Wallet, Coinbase Wallet, Binance WAllet, etc.
If you are using a desktop computer, you can download Google Chrome and install the MetaMask Wallet Chrome extension. If you prefer using your mobile phone, you can download MetaMask wallet via Google Play or the iOS App Store.
Just make sure that you are downloading the official Chrome extension and mobile app by visiting MetaMask Wallet’s website.
Once you’ve registered and set up your wallet via the Google Chrome Extension or via the mobile app you downloaded, MetaMask wallet allows users to manage their cryptocurrency wallets and interact with decentralized applications (DApps) to execute transactions on supported blockchain networks directly from their browsers. (Write down your seed phrase on a piece of paper and keep it in a safe place!).
Now, you’ll need to connect and add Ethereum to your MetaMask wallet. You may refer to MetaMask support page for reference on their website.
Trading ERC-20 Tokens on the Ethereum Network. In order to ERC-20 token trades on the Ethereum network, you will need to buy ETH as your base currency. You can buy ETH on centralized exchanges such as Binance, copy your wallet address from Metamask, and then send the ETH from Binance to your Metamask wallet.
You can also purchase ETH directly within the Metamask wallet using traditional payment methods such as credit or debit cards, etc.
Just click on the “Buy/Sell” button within Metamask to open the interface. Here, you can put how much ETH (or any other token) you want to buy in terms of dollar terms, pick your payment method, and then click “Buy”.
Note that to buy crypto directly within Metamask, you will need to provide info such as your country and state. However, it is a straightforward process that only takes a minute.
It’ll only take a couple of minutes at most for your ETH to arrive in your wallet. Once the ETH arrives, you are all set to begin trading ERC-20 tokens on the Ethereum network. So, head over to UniSwap to get started on your trading journey.
How To Trade ERC-20 Tokens On The Ethereum Network Using UniSwap Uniswap is a decentralized exchange (DEX) protocol built on the Ethereum blockchain. It allows users to trade Ethereum-based tokens directly from their wallets without the need for intermediaries or traditional order books.
Uniswap offers users a simple and straightforward way to buy and sell a wide variety of tokens. Be sure you’re on the Uniswap website to protect your wallet.
The first step is clicking on the “Launch App” button at the top right corner, as shown in the image below:
The next step is clicking on the connect wallet option on Uniswap at the top right corner, as shown in the image below:
Connect to your preferred wallet as shown below. (In this case, it’s Metamask):
Once connected, switch Metamask to the Ethereum network. (If you’re already on the Ethereum network, you do not need to switch):
After connecting MetaMask to the Ethereum network, go to Uniswap, and then you can start your ERC-20 Tokens on the Ethereum network using UniSwap.
Trading Ethereum Tokens On Uniswap The next step is to select your preferred tokens on the UnsSwap interface and since Uniswap operates on a token to token trading model, click on the “select token” button to select the trading pair you want to trade against.
For example, if you want to buy USDT using ETH, select ETH – USDT, enter the amount, then click on “swap” or “trade now” and confirm the transaction in your Metamask wallet. You can view the tokens in your wallet’s asset list.
Buying and Selling ERC-20 Tokens with the Metamask Wallet Ethereum Network users can also buy and sell tokens using the Metamask extension wallet already connected to the Ethereum network. To do this, make sure you’re connected to the Ethereum network and have ETH to swap and pay for gas fees. Then, navigate to the “Swap” button as shown below. This will take you to the Swap interface inside Metamask.
Using the image above as a guide, you can also search for tokens using the name or the contract address, just like on UniSwap. Input the amount of ETH you want to swap, confirm that you have the correct token, and then click “Swap.” Once the transaction is confirmed, the tokens you just bought will be sent to your wallet.
Tracking ERC-20 Token Prices on The Ethereum Network ERC-20 token holders and traders can take advantage of on-chain tools like DeFiLama to gain access to comprehensive market insights for specific tokens. These insights include price data and contract information, empowering users to make well-informed trading decisions based on reliable and up-to-date information.
Dextools is a comprehensive analytic resource for managing digital assets traded on ERC-20 Decentralized Exchanges. It’s a vibrant analytical cryptocurrency resource that provides statistical information on all leading blockchains and crypto projects.
Among these features, an exceptional one is the charting functionality, which delivers both real-time and historical price data for a wide range of tokens.
By utilizing these charts, users gain valuable insights into price trends, trading volumes, and other pertinent metrics. This enables them to pinpoint potential entry or exit points for their trades with precision and confidence. For example, let’s assume you’re $ETH for $LIDO, your trading pair is ETH/LIDO.
Note, Trading pairs serve as bridges between currencies. For example, the ETH/LIDOpair allows you to acquire $LIDO tokens using Ethereum (ETH).
Choose the pair that fits your funding situation and trading strategy. Consider using ETH if you already hold it, or fiat currencies if you’re venturing in fresh.
Let’s track the $LIDO token on Dextools, here’s what we have:
Conclusion Buying, selling, and trading ERC-20 tokens on the Ethereum network can be a thrilling adventure, opening doors to exciting investment opportunities and unlocking the potential of decentralized finance. However, it demands knowledge, caution, and a well-defined strategy.
This guide serves as your map and compass, but the ultimate treasure lies in your own learning and exploration. Navigate with confidence, trade responsibly, and remember that the most valuable asset in this journey is your knowledge.
Featured image from CoinMarketCap, chart from Tradingview.com
Lido DAO price is up 2% on the day, trading around $2.13. Rocket Pool ETH and Rocket Pool (RPL) were down 4% and 5% respectively at the time of writing. Bitbot price in stage 12 of presale is $0.0171, and will reach $0.020 in the final stage. Lido DAO (LDO) and Rocket Pool ETH (RETH) were notable gainers over the weekend. LDO continues to hold onto some of the gains as RETH and Rocket Pool’s RPL slip.
But what’s the price prediction for LDO and RPL as investors take a bullish outlook on new crypto project Bitbot (BITBOT)?
Lido DAO and Rocket Pool ETH led weekend gainers As analysts at market intelligence platform Santiment noted early Monday, Lido Dao and Rocket Pool ETH topped the list of gainers in the staking sector.
Of 17 assets Santiment tracks, RETH market cap increased 5.9%, while LDO jumped 5.2%. The broader sector’s market cap gained by 5%.
💧 #LiquidStaking assets have benefited from a nice mini run this weekend. Of the 17 key assets that we track for this sector, the market caps have increased by a combined +5.0% despite choppy market conditions. $LDO (5.2%) and $RETH (+5.9%) lead the way. https://t.co/L6siGQre5o pic.twitter.com/VJDs7Yzl1t
— Santiment (@santimentfeed) April 28, 2024
The gains for the staking tokens highlight resilience within the decentralised finance (DeFi) ecosystem, particularly Ethereum staking tokens.
Despite this positive outlook, profit taking and negative sentiment across the market could threaten RPL, LDO and RETH among other staking related tokens.
Lido DAO price prediction Lido DAO (LDO) trades within the $1.90 and $2.25 price range after recovering from lows of $1.66 reached in mid-April. LDO is also surging against ETH and BTC, with price above the key $2 level.
Currently, LDO is changing hands around $2.13, up by nearly 2.5% as bulls try to hold onto gains made as the token rose to $2.21. Its likely upside continuation will see LDO/USD aim for a retest of the short term hurdle at $2.50.
The upside has the main resistance around $5 and the all-time high area of $7.30. On the downside, primary support could be around October 2023 lows near $1.40.
Rocket Pool price prediction The weakness around Ethereum price is observable across most other altcoins as ETH hovers around $3,100. Rocket Pool ETH (RETH) price mirrors this action, while Rocket Pool (RPL) price has dipped more than 5% in the past 24 hours.
RPL is currently trading at $21.05 as the decentralised liquid staking protocol’s native token continues to pare recent gains. The 24-hour trading volume of $5.56 million is 11% higher than a day ago.
However, with price down 28% this month, it’s likely a retest of areas below $20 looms for RPL. The bearish flip could include declines to one-year lows of $16.85. The weekly RSI and MACD support this outlook.
On the other hand, bulls will need to break and strengthen above $23 to target the crucial supply zone around $30.
Bitbot price prediction Bitbot is a new crypto project that could dominate the crypto trading space on Telegram. As such, there’s a lot of interest in the native token BITBOT, which has raised more than $2.9 million so far.
What’s likely to set Bitbot apart and drive its adoption is the non-custodial trading solution that it offers. This pioneering approach to a Telegram trading bot puts Bitbot above other apps in the sector, largely as it ensures traders have full control of their assets as they hunt for lucrative opportunities.
Other aspects the whitepaper highlights and which could be key in the integration of artificial intelligence, providing for AI-powered trading.
BITBOT price in stage 12 of 15 is $0.0171. In the final stage, the token’s price will be at $0.020. Given the anticipation around its launch, Bitbot could be among projects to record major gains after its launch.
For more about this project, or how to buy BITBOT, visit the official website.
Top 1 On-Chain Liquidation: ETH Bull Whale Hit With 4 Consecutive Forced Liquidations, $14.11 Million in Positions Liquidated
According to Hyperinsight monitoring, today’s largest liquidation on the Hyperliquid platform involved a high-leverage Ethereum (ETH) long whale. The address opened a long position yesterday when ETH was trading at roughly $1,661, and immediately incurred losses after entry. Triggered by ETH’s short-term dip below $1,600 in the early hours of today, the whale faced four consecutive liquidations, resulting in the forced closure of a total of 8,734 ETH positions valued at approximately $14.11 million. The address now holds less than $150,000 in remaining funds, with all positions fully cleared. Address: 0x1cb0b187c14a8c0fb36ca0dcbb775dcc7f02b408
4 minutes ago
A certain on-chain address opened long positions in BTC, ETH, and silver, and purchased $10.699 million worth of BTC and ETH spot.
According to on-chain analyst Ai Yi (@ai_9684xtpa)’s monitoring, address 0x960…3f0fc simultaneously went long on both futures and spot positions this early morning, opening long positions of 102.55 BTC, 954.38 ETH, and 8,790 silver units, with total position value around $8.29 million. It also purchased spot BTC and ETH worth approximately $10.699 million. Its current take-profit levels are set at $63,000 for BTC and $1,650 for ETH.
4 minutes ago
A whale that reaped over $23.77 million in profits from the Basic Attention Token (BAT) ICO has reawakened after six years of dormancy, offloading 12,600 ETH in the past two days.
According to monitoring by EmberCN, a whale address that participated in the BAT ICO in 2017 and generated approximately $23.77 million in total profits has started selling ETH recently after six years of inactivity. Over the past two days, the address has sold 12,586 ETH, receiving 20.59 million USDS in exchange, at an average selling price of roughly $1,636. The whale invested 17,789 ETH in the BAT ICO in May 2017, acquiring around 113.8 million BAT. It then sold BAT gradually over approximately two and a half years at an average price of $0.245, netting about $23.77 million in profits, with some of the BAT converted into 27,586 ETH. Since then, the ETH has remained inactive for a long time until it resumed reducing its holdings recently. Currently, the address still holds around 15,000 ETH, valued at approximately $24.29 million.
4 minutes ago
Japanese storage firm Kioxia plans to list American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) in the U.S. in April or May next year.
Market news: Japanese storage chip maker Kioxia plans to list its American Depositary Receipts (ADRs) in the U.S. in April or May next year. (Jinshi)
4 minutes ago
Micron's earnings report lifts SK Hynix's stock price 11%, trader 'yixie' expands their unrealized profit to $1.3 million.
According to Hyperinsight monitoring, Micron’s Q3 financial results exceeded all expectations, driving peer SK Hynix’s stock to rally nearly 11% from its recent low. On the Hyperliquid platform, SKHYNIX is currently trading at $1,821, up 6.2% in the past 24 hours. Prominent trader yixie (X: @yixie10) nearly doubled his principal during this rally; he is now holding a 2x long position of 2,289 SKHYNIX contracts at an average entry price of ~$1,239.9. Fueled by the rally, the position’s unrealized profit has expanded to $1.37 million, a 96% gain. As of press time, the trader boasts an 85% win rate in semiconductor storage stock trades since opening positions this year, with total historical profits of $6.68 million, including $4.25 million from Micron Technology trades. Address: 0xa65ce1d604fa901c13aa29f2126a57d9032e412b – HyperInsight Bot is now live. Add @HyperInsightBot to your Telegram group and set it as an admin (enable message sending permission) to automatically sync on-chain news.
4 minutes ago
STRC drops to near $80, marking another new all-time low.
According to Bitget market data, Strategy’s preferred stock STRC has dropped to a low of $80.26, hitting a new all-time low since its listing. Calculated based on a $100 par value, the current discount has reached 20%.
In a recent proposal, Lido introduced an automated buyback mechanism. It would use LDO and wstETH liquidity to form a Uniswap v2-style liquidity pool. It will be managed by the Aragon Agent. If approved, the plan could launch as early as Q1 2026. The goal is simple but powerful: remove LDO tokens from circulation through automated buybacks while improving on-chain liquidity. This would make LDO more useful across decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, giving token holders more confidence and long-term value.
How the Buyback Mechanism Works In traditional finance, companies buy back their own stock to reduce supply and increase value. Lido’s proposal brings a similar idea on-chain. Instead of purchasing shares, the DAO would buy its own LDO tokens using revenue generated from staking rewards. The tokens would then be paired with wrapped staked ETH (wstETH) in a liquidity pool, improving trading depth while gradually removing LDO from the open market.
The system activates only under certain conditions. For instance, buybacks would occur when ETH trades above $3,000 and Lido’s annual revenue exceeds $40 million. The program would use up to 50% of staking inflows above that threshold, with a limit of $10 million per year to prevent excessive spending.
A proposal to implement an automated LDO buyback mechanism is now live on the Lido DAO Forum.
Opinions regarding mechanism, proposed parameters and more are welcome.https://t.co/Hve7cS405J
— Lido (@LidoFinance) November 11, 2025
This setup is anti-cyclical, meaning it responds to market performance. When ETH prices and revenues rise, buybacks increase, supporting token value. In bear markets, the system slows down or pauses, preserving DAO funds. This approach mirrors treasury strategies seen in protocols like MakerDAO’s Smart Burn Engine, which also automates buybacks based on market conditions.
More About Lido Lido DAO has unveiled stRATEGY, a new product that makes earning DeFi rewards easier and more automated. Built on Mellow Protocol’s Core Vaults, stRATEGY lets users deposit ETH, WETH, or wstETH just once and automatically distributes those funds across trusted platforms like Aave, Ethena, and Uniswap. The system continually rebalances to maximize rewards, simplifying what used to be a complex process.
Introducing stRATEGY
Curated DeFi rewards centered around stETH
Aave, Ethena, Uniswap & more
↓ pic.twitter.com/iXonyJCLhF
— Lido (@LidoFinance) November 6, 2025
In exchange, users receive strETH, a token that accrues both DeFi yields and Mellow points for added incentives. At any time, strETH can be swapped back into wstETH, giving users full flexibility. With stRATEGY, Lido DAO aims to make DeFi participation more accessible while focusing on reliable, battle-tested integrations that optimize returns.
Disclaimer The information provided by Altcoin Buzz is not financial advice. It is intended solely for educational, entertainment, and informational purposes. Any opinions or strategies shared are those of the writer/reviewers, and their risk tolerance may differ from yours. We are not liable for any losses you may incur from investments related to the information given. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies are high-risk assets; therefore, conduct thorough due diligence. Copyright Altcoin Buzz Pte Ltd.
Strict editorial policy that focuses on accuracy, relevance, and impartiality
Created by industry experts and meticulously reviewed
The highest standards in reporting and publishing
Strict editorial policy that focuses on accuracy, relevance, and impartiality
Morbi pretium leo et nisl aliquam mollis. Quisque arcu lorem, ultricies quis pellentesque nec, ullamcorper eu odio.
On-chain data suggests that whales are accumulating large amounts of Maker (MKR) and Aave (AAVE), two leading decentralized finance (DeFi) tokens. This accumulation trend coincides with a broader cooling-off period in the crypto scene days after the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved 11 spot Bitcoin ETFs.
Whales Accumulate MKR And AAVE According to ScopeScan data, Anchorage Digital, a digital asset custody firm, purchased a significant amount of MKR on January 15. The firm acquired 12,103 MKR tokens, valued at approximately $24.7 million, from Coinbase, a leading crypto exchange in the United States.
Two whales, “0xbb5f” and “0x4a7,” also accumulated large quantities of MKR and AAVE. Specifically, “0xbb5f” bought 50,000 AAVE and 2,452 MKR worth around $5.03 million and $4.95 million from Binance, a leading cryptocurrency exchange. Meanwhile, 0x4a7 purchased 39,000 AAVE and 2,350 MKR, valued at approximately $3.95 million and $4.75 million, also from Binance.
Whales Accumulating Maker and Aave | Source: Scopescan These whale purchases signal a strong belief in the long-term potential of MKR and AAVE. Maker and Aave are two of the world’s leading decentralized lending and borrowing protocols across DeFi. MKR serves as the governance token for MakerDAO, which also manages the DAI decentralized stablecoin. On the other hand, AAVE is the governance token of Aave, a top decentralized lending platform.
According to the latest DeFiLlama data, Maker and Aave have total value locked (TVL) of over $8.4 billion and $7.3 billion, respectively.
Top DeFi protocols | Source: DeFiLlama Notably, whales are accumulating MKR and AAVE when the DeFi scene is recovering following the sharp contraction from 2022. The industry manages over $56 billion, with Ethereum hosting more liquid DeFi protocols, including Lido DAO when writing in mid-January 2024.
Will Maker and Aave Rally To New 2024 Highs On Recovering DeFi? Last year, MKR and AAVE were among the top-performing DeFi tokens, with MKR rising by over 200% and AAVE appreciating by more than 150%. Protocol-specific fundamentals, including the launch of Spark in Maker, partly drove this strong performance.
Aave launched the GHO stablecoin and the Lens protocol on the Ethereum sidechain, Polygon. Moreover, expectations of the spot Bitcoin ETF forced aggressive traders to consider top DeFi protocols, lifting altcoins.
Maker price trending upward on the daily chart | Source: MKRUSDT on Binance, TradingView As whales accumulate, there is more headroom for these tokens to grow. Presently, AAVE and MKR are lower, based on their respective performance in the daily chart. However, overly, the uptrend remains. To illustrate, MKR is within a bullish breakout formation with a critical support level of around $1,560. Any surge past $2,300 might ignite demand, lifting the token to new 2024 highs.
PANews, June 23 – According to the official Lido blog, Lido DAO has voted via Snapshot to revoke the “canonical” bridging endpoint designation for wstETH on nine networks: zkSync Era, Mode, Scroll, Mantle, Swell, Zircuit, Soneium, Polygon PoS, and Lisk. This move represents a resource reallocation at the governance level and does not affect the technical operation of the relevant bridges and contracts. Users can still hold, transfer, or bridge wstETH back to Ethereum on the above networks as normal. Lido will discontinue security monitoring and ecosystem and market support for these networks but will not set a migration deadline.
