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Key Highlights Shares of Siemens Energy advanced approximately 5% in Frankfurt on Tuesday following optimistic commentary about gas turbine market conditions. Company executives conducted a pre-close investor call Monday evening, confirming fiscal year targets and emphasizing robust order pipeline. Long-term annual gas turbine demand outlook increased to 110-120 gigawatts, representing an upgrade from the previous 100 gigawatt projection. Bank of America analysts project third-quarter total orders reaching €17.6 billion, exceeding Street estimates by roughly 4%. Complete third-quarter financial disclosure scheduled for August 5; updated 2030 strategic targets set for November 11 announcement. Shares of Siemens Energy (ENR) jumped approximately 5% during early Frankfurt session trading Tuesday, reaching 165.46 euros. The advance followed an investor conference call Monday evening where the German energy technology firm expressed strong confidence regarding gas turbine order momentum.
Siemens Energy AG, SMEGF
The Tuesday surge extends the stock’s year-to-date performance to almost 40%. This represents significant appreciation for a company that many market participants believed had already reached its cyclical peak.
During Monday’s discussion, executives directly addressed investor anxiety: the concern that 2026 could mark the apex of gas turbine demand. Leadership countered this narrative, emphasizing that market indicators show continued strength with substantial order visibility extending forward.
Wall Street Reactions Citigroup equity research suggested third-quarter gas turbine bookings might approximate the €9 billion levels recorded in earlier quarters this fiscal year. The firm highlighted that encouraging statements regarding near-term commitments and the 2027 order book should provide reassurance to concerned equity holders.
Morgan Stanley characterized the investor call as “modestly constructive versus market positioning.” The investment bank observed that Siemens Energy’s head of investor relations conveyed an optimistic message consistent with what long-positioned investors have maintained throughout recent months.
A particularly notable update: leadership elevated their structural gas turbine demand assessment to 110-120 gigawatts per year. This marks an increase from the 100 gigawatt framework presented during the November 2025 investor day presentation.
Some caution persists among analysts. Morgan Stanley noted that while near-term visibility appears solid, Siemens Energy’s own order intake will likely moderate during 2027 following this year’s exceptional performance.
Order Projections and Divisional Performance Bank of America forecasts aggregate third-quarter orders of €17.6 billion, approximately 4% above consensus expectations. The gas services segment appears especially robust, with projected orders of €9.0 billion—roughly 23% higher than Visible Alpha consensus figures.
The grid technology division presents a more measured outlook this quarter. Bank of America anticipates no mega-deals in that segment, with management guidance indicating a normalized €5 billion to €5.5 billion range following an outsized contract that boosted the previous quarter.
Grid technologies continue capturing substantial long-cycle opportunities. Approximately 2 billion euros in data-center-linked orders were secured during the first half alone, nearly equaling the total amount recorded throughout all of fiscal 2025.
Infrastructure electrification and artificial intelligence data center expansion remain central themes in management’s strategic narrative. Leadership emphasized that equipment demand for both power generation and transmission infrastructure continues rising as nations enhance and upgrade electrical grid capacity.
The Gamesa wind turbine division is progressing through its recovery phase. Siemens Energy maintains expectations that this business segment will achieve breakeven performance for the current fiscal year.
During May, the company reported a record order backlog and upgraded full-year financial guidance after delivering robust second-quarter performance. Current guidance targets comparable revenue expansion of 14% to 16% for the fiscal period ending September 30.
The profit margin before special items is projected in the 10% to 12% range, while net income for the year is forecast at approximately 4 billion euros. Siemens Energy will release comprehensive third-quarter financials on August 5.
Wall Street views that earnings release as an interim milestone rather than the primary catalyst. Analysts indicate the more significant market-moving event will be the company’s refreshed 2030 financial objectives, scheduled for presentation on November 11.
Key Takeaways Natural gas prices in Europe increased on Tuesday but remain set for their first quarterly decline since late 2023. The TTF benchmark in the Netherlands climbed 2% to reach 43.44 euros per megawatt-hour while maintaining a downward quarterly trend. Recent diplomatic agreements between the US and Iran have restored regular shipping operations through the Strait of Hormuz, alleviating supply concerns. Gas storage facilities across Europe are operating at approximately 48% capacity, significantly lower than previous years and historical benchmarks. EU officials maintain that current reserve levels are adequate to ensure energy security throughout the upcoming winter season. Wholesale natural gas markets in Europe experienced upward movement on Tuesday. However, the market continues to trend toward its first quarterly decrease in more than twelve months.
The Dutch TTF front-month contract, which serves as Europe’s primary natural gas benchmark, increased by 2% to settle at 43.44 euros per megawatt-hour. This positions the market for its first quarterly retreat in six consecutive quarters.
Dutch TTF Natural Gas Calendar (TTF=F) The United Kingdom’s wholesale gas futures also experienced a 2% uptick, closing at 104.57 pence per therm. British gas markets are poised for their first quarterly reduction in five quarters.
Factors Behind Recent Market Movements Earlier this year, prices surged dramatically amid military tensions involving Iran. The escalating situation generated significant anxiety regarding critical energy transportation corridors throughout the Middle East region.
Recent attacks on commercial vessels temporarily disrupted shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz last week. American and Iranian representatives are expected to convene in Doha today to continue diplomatic discussions.
Approximately twenty percent of global liquefied natural gas supplies transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Any interruption to this vital waterway typically creates upward pressure on international gas valuations.
A diplomatic ceasefire agreement reached earlier this month has enabled shipping operations to return to normal patterns. LNG shipments from Qatar and the United Arab Emirates that had been delayed are now reaching their intended destinations in global markets.
International oil prices have also stabilized to pre-conflict ranges. This normalization has eliminated some of the factors that had been propping up European natural gas and power prices.
Storage Capacity Issues Persist Despite the overall downward price trajectory, market analysts warn that insufficient storage volumes could prevent further price declines. Storage facilities throughout Europe currently hold just under 48% of their total capacity.
This represents a substantial decrease from the 56.2% storage level recorded during the corresponding period last year. The figure also trails the five-year historical injection average of 61%.
According to a Financial Times analysis referencing Wood Mackenzie data, European Union storage installations may conclude the refill period at approximately 76% capacity. This would represent the lowest peak storage capacity since at least 2011.
The storage deficit can be attributed to the Iranian military conflict, which prevented LNG deliveries through the Strait of Hormuz. Diminished output from production facilities in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates contributed additional pressure.
European storage infrastructure entered the injection season with only 28% capacity utilized. Current average levels throughout the continent hover near 48%.
The European Commission stated on Sunday that existing storage volumes do not represent an immediate threat to energy security. Officials emphasized that achieving 80% storage capacity is adequate to satisfy winter consumption requirements.
A commission representative indicated that storage levels are approximately 10% beneath pre-crisis historical averages. He further noted that natural gas consumption throughout the EU has declined by roughly 17%.
The commission has advised member nations to target storage levels of at least 75% to 80%. In previous years, the non-mandatory benchmark had been established at 90%.
Bitcoin and ether tested critical multiyear support levels, with ether at a price it has bounced from twice before and bitcoin near its lowest since late 2024.Open interest in dogecoin jumped to the highest since the October crash, but on negative funding and aggressive selling. BTC puts continued trading at a double-digit premium to calls, signaling demand for downside protection even though volatility indexes are subdued.A handful of tokens are bucking the trend, with stellar (XLM) holding gains from DTCC's Stellar integration news and lighter (LIT) up 23% over the past week on similarities to the outperforming HYPE token.Bitcoin BTC$58,923.36 fell 1.5% on Tuesday after failing to hold above $60,000 on Monday. It now trades at $59,250, looking set to challenge the weekend lows of $58,800. Ether (ETH) is down by 1.73% since midnight UTC, trading at $1,580 after failing to break through $1,640.
Both assets are now testing critical multiyear support levels. Ether has bounced from this level twice before, in April 2025 and October 2023, while bitcoin is trading around its lowest point since late 2024. A failure to hold would leave both tokens without an obvious floor.
The altcoin market saw exaggerated downside on Tuesday, with DeFi tokens ethena (ENA), jupiter (JUP) and ether.fi (ETHFI) all falling between 3.3% and 7.5% as risk appetite continues to wane.
The weakness stands in contrast to traditional markets, where U.S. equities have been steady since midnight. The S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures posted gains of 0.03%, while the Dollar Index (DXY) added 0.25%.
Derivatives positioningHYPE, the native token of decentralized exchange Hyperliquid, has gained over 4.3% in the past 24 hours and is the only major token trading noticeably in the green. The rally looks spot-driven, and hasn't excited traders into taking on more derivatives risk for now. Open interest (OI) in HYPE futures remains around 40 million tokens, a level it's held since at least June 22.While overall positioning stays light, it leans bullish. Annualized funding rates are sitting close to 10%, a sign that perpetual futures are trading above the spot price.The biggest OI gainer of the past 24 hours among major cryptocurrencies is DOGE$0.07086, the largest memecoin by market value. Open interest has jumped to 16 billion tokens, the highest since the Oct. 10 crash and up from 13 billion a day earlier. The inflows look bearish rather than bullish, however, given the negative funding rates and negative 24-hour OI-adjusted cumulative volume delta. The CVD signals that sellers are the more aggressive side, hitting sell orders to cross the spread and fill their bearish bets at the best available bid.Bitcoin, ether and XRP futures markets offer little excitement, with open interest locked in recent ranges. Positioning in SOL remains elevated, with OI near record highs, a signal of potential volatility ahead.Volatility indexes continue to point to market calm. BTC's 30-day implied volatility gauge, BVIV, dropped by 11% to 44% on Monday and has held around that level since. Ether's equivalent index, EVIV, is telling the same story.On Deribit, BTC puts continue to trade at a 10%-plus premium to calls across all time frames, a sign of persistent downside concerns. ETH shows a similar pattern at the short end — weekly puts carry a comparable premium — while further out puts are noticeably cheaper than calls.Block flows featured a BTC short straddle, an options strategy that profits from low volatility and price consolidation.Token talkNative DeFi tokens struggled on Tuesday, and the negative sentiment didn't stop there. AI tokens FET, TAO and RENDER all fell, as did privacy coins zcash (ZEC) and monero (XMR).Even hyperliquid (HYPE), which has outperformed its peers in recent weeks, is trading at $65.3 after dropping by 2.2% on Tuesday. HYPE's chart appears to be in more of a consolidation phase after last month's rally as opposed to a corrective phase, this is characterized by two higher highs alongside two higher lows.One token in the black on Tuesday is stellar lumens (XLM). The token forked from Ripple in 2014 is maintaining bullish sentiment after DTCC, the largest U.S. financial markets clearinghouse, said it will connect its tokenized securities platform to the Stellar network in the first half of 2027. The announcement spurred a 100% rally in late May.Another token bucking the trend is lighter (LIT), which is benefiting from its similarities to HYPE in that it is the native token of a decentralized perpetual exchange. LIT is up by 23% over the past week, notching a double-digit gain in the past 24 hours alone.Related Assets
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Building the Zcash Machine: Tachyon and Quantum Readiness
Building the Zcash Machine: Tachyon and Quantum Readiness
Zcash’s Tachyon upgrade aims to scale shielded payments, improve quantum readiness, and test whether its funding, security, and governance can hold.
3 hours ago
Zcash’s Tachyon upgrade aims to scale shielded payments, improve quantum readiness, and test whether its funding, security, and governance can hold.
Why it matters:
Zcash’s Tachyon upgrade aims to scale shielded payments, improve quantum readiness, and test whether its funding, security, and governance can hold.
Ouster (NASDAQ: OUST) shares jumped by more thab 28% on June 29, extending a multi-week rally that has taken the stock to near $55.
The move follows a stack of newly announced manufacturing and partnership deals tied to the company’s Rev8 lidar platform.
What Is Driving Ouster Stock HigherOuster is a San Francisco-based lidar company, founded in 2015 by Angus Pacala and Mark Frichtl, that makes high-resolution digital lidar sensors giving 3D vision to vehicles, robots, drones, and fixed infrastructure like traffic systems.
Year-to-date, the company is up 142%, but on Monday, it rose 28.68% in a single day. Trading volume on the rally days has run several times above Ouster’s average. The stock’s 52-week high was set in the same stretch at around $54.
Manufacturing and partnership deals tied to the company’s Rev8 lidar platform have seen OUST prices trending upwards. Image Source: Trading ViewThe centerpiece of the run is an expanded manufacturing partnership with Benchmark Electronics. Ouster is committed to building more than 100,000 Rev8 OS digital lidar sensors per year over a 10-year horizon, targeting industrial, robotics, automotive, and smart infrastructure customers.
Ouster also signed a multi-year agreement with AIM Intelligent Machines to supply Rev8 native-color lidar for autonomous heavy equipment. The deal targets retrofitting mining, construction, and defense machinery into self-driving fleets.
AIM designed its autonomy kit to install in under 24 hours without voiding equipment warranties, and it can run without cellular networks, cloud access, or GPS. That offline capability matters for remote mining sites and defense applications where no one can guarantee connectivity.
The Risks Behind the RallyOuster still isn’t making money. The company brought in about $169 million in revenue over the past year and keeps a healthy chunk of that as gross profit, but after covering operating costs, it’s losing money, and it’s burning cash too. On the plus side, Ouster has little debt and plenty of cash on hand, so it isn’t under pressure to raise money anytime soon.
That said, the stock price has run well ahead of the business itself. Investors are now paying a steep premium relative to Ouster’s sales. This is the kind of pricing that assumes a lot of future growth actually shows up. Company insiders have also sold tens of millions of dollars’ worth of shares over the past three months.
The real test comes at Ouster’s next earnings report on August 6. That’s when investors will find out whether the Benchmark, AIM Intelligent Machines, and FieldAI deals are actually turning into revenue. Or, whether the stock has gotten ahead of what the company can currently deliver.
Robotics and Government Deals Add MomentumA separate collaboration with FieldAI puts Rev8 lidar into general-purpose robots built for unstructured environments. The deal broadens Ouster’s addressable market beyond passenger vehicles into the wider robotics buildout.
Ouster’s BlueCity traffic management platform has also gone live at more than 40 highway sites near MetLife Stadium. The deployment creates a digital model of traffic flow ahead of matches for the FIFA World Cup. It added roughly 4% to the stock on the announcement.
Jay Hatfield, CEO of Infrastructure Capital Advisors, says a “power rally” is coming for stocks in July, driven by falling oil prices and softening inflation data.
Hatfield tells Fox Business he expects crude oil, which he says is headed toward $60 after dropping below $70, to help produce negative month-over-month CPI prints in July and August.
He thinks those readings should get Federal Reserve rate cuts priced into markets.
“We think we’re about to get into the real Goldilocks of the year because we’ve been bullish about oil going below 70, which most people thought was wrong. We think we’re gonna get to 60.
We think we’re going to have a negative print on CPI both in July and August for the prior months, and that’s going to start to get Fed rate cuts priced in.”
Hatfield says that broad-based summer earnings reports and not just results from chip companies typically make July strong for stocks.
He also believes the market’s resilience during June’s sector rotation supports his 9,000 target for the S&P 500.
Key Takeaways Micron’s stock has skyrocketed 232% during the current quarter, more than quadrupling year-to-date in 2026. Premarket trading on Tuesday saw shares hovering between $1,141 and $1,145, just shy of recent peak levels. The company has secured long-term supply agreements with minimum pricing that may account for approximately 40% of total revenue, with plans to expand this percentage. UBS projects gross profit margins will stabilize between 70%-75%, significantly exceeding the previous 2018 record of around 62%. Industry analyst Gil Luria suggests Micron’s valuation could potentially quadruple if artificial intelligence demand continues through the end of the decade. Shares of Micron Technology showed minimal movement in early Tuesday trading, dipping approximately 0.1% to $1,144.00 during premarket hours. This marginal shift comes after an extraordinary rally that has captivated semiconductor investors throughout the year.
Micron Technology, Inc., MU
Data from Dow Jones Market Data reveals the stock has posted a remarkable 232% gain during the current quarter. Since the beginning of 2026, shares have increased more than fourfold.
Such dramatic appreciation has attracted significant attention from retail investors while simultaneously introducing increased volatility. Market participants are now closely monitoring indicators that might signal a potential correction.
The memory semiconductor industry operates in cyclical patterns of expansion and contraction. This week brought announcements from South Korean chip manufacturers regarding additional production capacity, raising concerns among some traders about potential future oversupply conditions.
However, Micron has implemented strategies designed to buffer against these traditional market fluctuations. The corporation has been establishing multi-year supply agreements that guarantee baseline pricing structures.
Profit Margins and Artificial Intelligence Dynamics These supply contracts currently account for approximately 40% of Micron’s total revenue stream, with corporate leadership targeting further expansion of this coverage. UBS analyst Timothy Arcuri interprets this strategy as an indication that Micron anticipates maintaining gross profit margins within the 70%-75% range.
While this represents a decline from the exceptional 85% margin achieved in the most recent quarter, it substantially surpasses the approximately 62% peak the company reached during 2018. Arcuri maintains a Buy rating on the stock with a price target of $1,625.
The consensus Wall Street price target currently stands at $1,543, according to FactSet data. Within the past week, both Cantor Fitzgerald and Barclays have established price objectives as high as $2,000.
The bullish investment thesis centers heavily on artificial intelligence applications. Micron’s high-bandwidth memory products are integral components in Nvidia’s AI infrastructure, where demand has remained robust.
Competition from Chinese manufacturers has yet to materially impact this narrative. CXMT, a Chinese memory chip producer, disclosed in its initial public offering documentation that its production volume falls short of domestic requirements, constraining its capacity to serve clients such as Apple.
D.A. Davidson analyst Gil Luria believes the market is fundamentally undervaluing the AI memory sector. In a CNBC interview, he argued that Micron and Nvidia are trading as though AI capital expenditure is approaching its zenith, while equipment and networking stocks reflect pricing consistent with sustained growth extending to 2030.
Luria suggested this valuation discrepancy could indicate Micron deserves a market value approximately four times its current level if AI infrastructure investment maintains its trajectory. He emphasized that Micron trades at merely eight to nine times earnings, contrasting sharply with the 40 to 50 times multiples typical of many CPU-focused semiconductor companies.
Technical Analysis Micron’s current price positioning places it significantly above all major moving averages, indicating the long-term trend remains positive. The stock trades approximately 9.8% above its 20-day moving average of $1,044.12 and an impressive 166% above its 200-day moving average of $430.86.
This substantial gap has prompted traders to anticipate a potential near-term consolidation. The MACD technical indicator has crossed below its signal line, suggesting momentum may be weakening despite the continuation of the overall upward trajectory.
The 52-week peak reached $1,255. Technical support levels are identified near the 20-day moving average, with April’s previous low serving as the subsequent reference point should selling pressure intensify.
Micron also demonstrates strong performance across Benzinga Edge’s momentum, quality, and growth metrics. Its value rating is comparatively low, reflecting the premium valuation investors currently assign to the shares.
The semiconductor manufacturer holds significant positions in multiple exchange-traded funds, including the Invesco S&P 500 Momentum ETF, the Invesco PHLX Semiconductor ETF, and the Global X DAX Germany ETF. Micron Technology shares were last quoted down 0.11% at $1,144.00 during Tuesday’s premarket trading session.
Key Takeaways Uber has terminated its autonomous vehicle collaboration with Alphabet’s Waymo in Phoenix, Arizona. The rideshare company is currently arranging a replacement autonomous vehicle partnership in Phoenix with an undisclosed provider. Waymo robotaxis continue operating through Uber’s platform in Austin and Atlanta markets. The partnership dissolution comes after Waymo issued a recall affecting approximately 3,900 self-driving vehicles due to software defects. Analysts maintain a Strong Buy rating on UBER stock with projected upside of 43.2%, though shares are down 8% in 2026. Uber Technologies (UBER) shares declined 0.92% following confirmation that the rideshare giant has discontinued its autonomous vehicle collaboration with Alphabet’s (GOOGL) Waymo subsidiary in the Phoenix, Arizona market. Meanwhile, GOOGL shares rose 4.82%, though this movement doesn’t appear connected to the partnership termination.
Uber Technologies, Inc., UBER
The dissolution of the Phoenix arrangement concludes a collaboration initially established in 2023. That original agreement integrated Waymo’s self-driving vehicles into Uber’s ride-hailing ecosystem and food delivery operations.
According to a Waymo representative, the autonomous vehicles previously deployed in the Phoenix pilot program have been reintegrated into Waymo’s proprietary fleet. Phoenix residents can continue accessing these robotaxis exclusively through Waymo’s dedicated application rather than Uber’s platform.
Phoenix’s Role as First Test Market The Phoenix market served as the inaugural testing ground for the Uber-Waymo collaboration. An Uber representative characterized the deployment as “an intentionally limited deployment,” involving approximately a dozen vehicles specifically allocated to this pilot program.
This relatively modest fleet size reflects the experimental nature of the Phoenix operation compared to Uber’s broader self-driving vehicle strategy. Despite terminating the Waymo arrangement, Uber maintains its commitment to autonomous vehicle services in Phoenix. The company is currently finalizing arrangements with an alternative AV provider, though the partner’s identity remains undisclosed.
Waymo’s robotaxis haven’t been completely removed from Uber’s service offerings. Customers in Austin and Atlanta can still access Waymo’s autonomous vehicles through the Uber application.
The partnership termination timing carries significance. This development follows Waymo’s recent recall of nearly 3,900 self-driving vehicles nationwide.
The recall targeted a software malfunction that potentially allowed vehicles to enter closed freeway construction areas and continue operating. Reuters identified the recall as contextual background for the Phoenix partnership dissolution, though neither organization has explicitly connected these events.
Uber’s Comprehensive Autonomous Vehicle Approach Uber has been aggressively expanding its autonomous vehicle partnership portfolio beyond Waymo. Current collaborators include Rivian, Amazon’s Zoox division, China-based Pony.AI, and Croatian startup Verne.
Notably absent from Uber’s AV partner roster is Tesla. The rideshare platform has not established any robotaxi arrangements with Elon Musk’s electric vehicle manufacturer.
During the first quarter 2026 earnings conference call, CEO Dara Khosrowshahi provided growth metrics to investors. He reported that autonomous vehicle mobility trips facilitated through Uber’s platform surged more than 1,000% compared to the previous year.
Uber currently operates autonomous ride services across eight metropolitan areas. Management has outlined expansion objectives to reach up to 15 cities before year-end.
Wall Street analysts remain optimistic about Uber’s prospects despite the stock’s challenging 2026 performance. The Strong Buy consensus recommendation reflects 28 Buy ratings alongside only two Hold ratings.
The average analyst price target stands at $108.12, suggesting potential upside of 43.2% from present trading levels.
UBER shares have declined 8% year-to-date, contrasting with the favorable analyst outlook. The company has not provided a timeline for revealing its new Phoenix autonomous vehicle partnership.
Bitcoin Slips Below $59,000 as Volatility Spikes$BTC fell below the $59,000 mark on June 30, posting a 2.1% intraday loss as market volatility picked up sharply in the final hours before a major regulatory deadline. The move triggered over $145 million in leveraged long liquidations, pushing Bitcoin into a high-velocity liquidity pocket as bulls failed to defend a level that had held for much of the year.
Bitcoin traded at $59,270 on June 30, 2026, after a weekly close below $60,000 flipped this year's key support into fresh resistance. The structural significance of the $60,000 level extends beyond technicals. The $60,000 level carries technical importance due to over $1.2 billion in put options open interest at that strike.
The broader selloff has been building for weeks. Multiple pressures converged: a sharp selloff in AI and semiconductor stocks, record Bitcoin ETF outflows, a potential delay to the US CLARITY Act, and early selling signals from long-term holders. June set a record with $4.06 billion in net ETF redemptions, topping February 2025's $3.56 billion, with BlackRock's IBIT driving roughly three-quarters of the outflows.
MiCA Deadline Adds Pressure Across European MarketsThe price dislocation comes as the crypto industry confronts one of its most significant regulatory inflection points in Europe. Crypto companies operating in the European Economic Area face a July 1, 2026 enforcement deadline under the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA). From that date, platforms offering crypto services without MiCA authorization must stop serving clients across the bloc.
July 1, 2026 is the hard enforcement deadline across the European Economic Area. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has confirmed there will be no extension. After that date, any entity providing crypto-asset services to EU clients without a MiCA license is in breach of EU law and must stop. Critically, there is no intermediate or pending status: a firm is either authorized or it is not.
Only around 210 of the 1,200-plus VASP entities that held pre-MiCA national registrations have converted to full CASP authorization, a conversion rate of roughly 17%. Major exchanges including Kraken, Coinbase, Bitstamp, Bitpanda, OKX, and Crypto.com have secured licenses, but ten EU jurisdictions have yet to issue a single CASP authorization. Crypto firms operating in the EU must secure licenses before July 1, 2026 or risk losing access to European customers, and regulators in France have warned that non-compliant companies could face enforcement action or blacklisting.
The combination of forced exchange restructuring across Europe and mounting macro pressure has left $BTC exposed heading into the second half of 2026. Bitcoin has fallen 31.7% year-to-date and is 52.6% below its October 2025 all-time high of $126,272.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.
Sources:
IG UK: Why has Bitcoin crashed below $60,000?
Bitcoin.com: MiCA Deadline Hits July 1 as Unlicensed Crypto Platforms Face EU Shutdown Risk
Yahoo Finance: July 1 MiCA Deadline Looms: More Than 80% of EU Crypto Firms Still Unlicensed
Key HighlightsStrategic Acquisition Delivers Critical Sodium Technology CapabilitiesTransaction Accelerates Development Timeline and Mitigates Technical UncertaintiesTransaction Expands Oklo’s Comprehensive Nuclear Technology EcosystemGet 3 Free Stock Ebooks OKLO climbs in pre-market sessions following 1.19% gain to reach $53.39
Company acquires Creative Engineers to enhance Aurora reactor sodium capabilities
Transaction delivers liquid-metal expertise, manufacturing capacity, and validation capabilities
Approximately 20 specialized professionals join Oklo’s technical workforce
Strategic move accelerates timeline and minimizes development uncertainties
Shares of Oklo Inc. (OKLO) advanced in early trading following the company’s announcement of its Creative Engineers, Inc. acquisition, which enhances its sodium engineering capabilities for the Aurora powerhouse initiative. The stock increased 1.19% to $53.39 in pre-market activity after finishing the previous session 5.52% higher at $52.76. This strategic transaction provides Oklo with enhanced oversight of critical liquid-metal technologies as commercialization approaches.
Strategic Acquisition Delivers Critical Sodium Technology Capabilities Oklo announced that the transaction incorporates CEI’s chemical process engineering capabilities into its advanced nuclear technology platform. The acquisition delivers enhanced competencies in sodium-based systems, manufacturing operations, component engineering, and applied scientific research. Consequently, this strategic move directly reinforces the technical infrastructure supporting Oklo’s sodium-cooled Aurora reactor platform.
Creative Engineers brings nearly three decades of specialized experience with sodium, sodium-potassium compounds, and lithium-based systems since establishing operations in 1996. The firm’s portfolio encompasses remediation and deactivation activities associated with prominent nuclear sodium initiatives. These landmark projects include the Fast Flux Test Facility, Fermi 1, and Experimental Breeder Reactor II programs.
The relationship between Oklo and CEI extends back multiple years prior to this formal acquisition. Previous collaborative efforts encompassed sodium circulation systems, measurement instrumentation, pumping equipment, and specialized safety protocols. Therefore, Oklo is now integrating a proven technical collaborator directly into its core development operations.
Transaction Accelerates Development Timeline and Mitigates Technical Uncertainties Oklo anticipates that CEI will enable accelerated engineering processes and improved availability of sodium-handling competencies. The company further projects that this acquisition will minimize uncertainties surrounding specialized infrastructure, validation procedures, manufacturing operations, and workforce development. This strategic importance stems from sodium systems serving as foundational components in Aurora’s planned commercialization strategy.
The Aurora platform utilizes a sodium-cooled fast reactor architecture featuring liquid-metal thermal management and inherent safety mechanisms. The engineering approach incorporates natural convection principles to facilitate residual heat dissipation following reactor shutdown. CEI’s specialized sodium experience aligns precisely with Oklo’s reactor development and operational deployment requirements.
The acquisition delivers approximately 20 specialized professionals—including engineers, manufacturing technicians, and welding specialists—to Oklo’s technical and production operations. The business unit also contributes positive free cash flow generation, according to company statements. CEI will maintain service relationships with its established commercial clients throughout the nuclear industry.
Transaction Expands Oklo’s Comprehensive Nuclear Technology Ecosystem Oklo focuses on developing fast fission energy systems designed to deliver clean, dependable, and economically viable power generation on a worldwide scale. The organization also pursues critical isotope production capabilities and advanced nuclear fuel reprocessing technologies. Its fuel recycling strategy targets the conversion of spent nuclear materials into viable energy resources.
The company maintains a site authorization permit issued by the U.S. Department of Energy for advanced fission facility deployment. It has also obtained fuel materials from Idaho National Laboratory to support its development initiatives. Oklo has filed a customized combined license application with the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Creative Engineers functions as a process engineering and modular fabrication enterprise with specialized reactive metals proficiency. Its operational scope encompasses pilot-scale research apparatus, liquid-metal infrastructure, and chemical manufacturing systems. Through this transaction, Oklo reinforces its Aurora development trajectory while simultaneously acquiring specialized nuclear production capabilities.
Oliver Dale
Editor-in-Chief of Blockonomi and founder of Kooc Media, A UK-Based Online Media Company. Believer in Open-Source Software, Blockchain Technology & a Free and Fair Internet for all. His writing has been quoted by Nasdaq, Dow Jones, Investopedia, The New Yorker, Forbes, Techcrunch & More. Contact [email protected]
Jupiter’s liquidity pool just got a new tenant. JupUSD, the platform’s native stablecoin, has been added to the Jupiter Liquidity Pool as a custody asset, expanding JLP’s asset roster to six tokens and triggering a call for all integrators to update their systems accordingly.
The move, announced on June 30, means JLP now holds SOL, ETH, BTC, USDC, USDT, and JupUSD. For anyone building on top of Jupiter’s infrastructure, that’s not just a nice headline. It’s a to-do list item with a deadline of yesterday.
What JupUSD actually is, and why it matters for JLP JupUSD launched in January 2026 through a partnership between Jupiter and Ethena Labs. Approximately 90% of JupUSD’s reserves sit in USDtb, a stablecoin collateralized by BlackRock’s tokenized funds. The remaining 10% lives in a USDC liquidity buffer held through institutional custody managed by Anchorage Digital.
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The stablecoin maintains 1:1 redeemability, backed by what Jupiter has described as clear and transparent reserves. Adding JupUSD as a custody asset within JLP supports transitions between collateral assets and deepens integrations across Jupiter’s product suite, including lending and perpetual contracts. For the Jupiter Perps platform specifically, JupUSD is designed to enhance both liquidity depth and yield capture.
The integration mechanics and what developers need to know Any protocol, tool, or application that reads JLP’s asset composition, calculates pool weights, or routes trades through Jupiter’s infrastructure needs to recognize JupUSD as a valid custody asset. Failing to update could mean broken integrations, incorrect balance calculations, or trades that don’t execute as expected.
In late June 2026, a RedStone oracle feed was added for JupUSD to improve its usability across Solana DeFi. Without reliable price feeds, a stablecoin can’t be used as collateral, can’t be swapped efficiently, and can’t participate in liquidation mechanisms. For JLP holders, Jupiter’s liquidity pool fees typically return 75% to asset holders, creating a yield opportunity that now benefits from JupUSD’s additional liquidity and trading volume.
What this means for investors and traders For JLP holders, adding a stablecoin with institutional-grade backing potentially reduces the pool’s overall volatility profile while maintaining yield generation through trading fees. For traders on Jupiter Perps, JupUSD as a custody asset means another option for collateral management.
The risk side of the equation centers on concentration. JupUSD’s backing is heavily weighted toward USDtb at roughly 90%, which means its stability is effectively a derivative of BlackRock’s tokenized fund performance and USDtb’s own redemption mechanisms. If USDtb were to experience any disruption, JupUSD’s peg would face immediate pressure, and by extension, so would JLP’s composition. The 10% USDC buffer provides some cushion, but it’s a thin one relative to the USDtb exposure.
Developers and protocol teams building on Jupiter should prioritize the integration update. The addition of a new custody asset changes pool math, and any delay in updating could expose users to unexpected behavior in swaps, liquidations, or yield calculations. Given that Jupiter has already laid the oracle groundwork with RedStone, the technical barriers to integration should be manageable.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Listed company Solana Company will support the construction of Kazakhstan’s $6 billion crypto supercity.
Nasdaq-listed crypto asset management firm Solana Company has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Kazakhstan’s Alatau City to assist in developing the city’s blockchain and cryptocurrency infrastructure. The partnership stems from a June roadshow held in Shenzhen and Hong Kong, during which 30 cooperation agreements were already secured, with total potential investment exceeding $6 billion. The collaboration will span four key areas: digital asset custody, blockchain infrastructure, acceleration of institutional adoption, and platform development. Solana Company will also participate in constructing the Alatau Crypto Industrial Cluster, a special economic zone pilot that allows daily cryptocurrency transactions. Notably, Kazakhstan previously partnered with the Solana Foundation to establish Central Asia’s first Solana Economic Zone in the capital, Astana. Last week, a Kazakh exchange launched the country’s first Solana ETF. Alatau City is part of Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev’s smart city vision, proposed in May 2024, which encompasses low-altitude aircraft, robot taxis, and a hydrogen-driven economy. However, the project faces real challenges: Kazakhstan’s central bank and financial regulators have raised concerns over the constitutional amendments required to underpin the crypto economy, while independent media reports indicate local residents still grapple with shortages of gas, water, electricity, and internet access.
2 minutes ago
7-day countdown to SpaceX’s Nasdaq debut: a whale has opened a $3.26 million long position in SPCX early.
According to Hyperinsight’s monitoring, as SpaceX is added to the Russell 1000 Index today, it is just 7 days away from its official inclusion in the Nasdaq 100 Index on July 7. The market expects this index adjustment to bring around $4.3 billion in passive allocation funds. On Hyperliquid, SPCX (SpaceX) has risen 3.6% over the past 24 hours, currently trading at $163, with a 24-hour trading volume of approximately $230 million and open interest of $199 million. Overall, million-dollar-level large positions in SPCX on Hyperliquid are net bearish: nominal short positions stand at roughly $70.9 million, while long positions total $49.15 million, making short positions 1.44 times larger than longs. The average entry price for these large short positions is around $167.7, with the latest liquidation price at approximately $193.1. Notably, the current largest short whale opened a short position with 2x leverage about 5 days ago, holding positions worth roughly $11 million at an average entry price of $155.5. As SPCX continues to rebound, its unrealized loss has expanded to around $452,000. Meanwhile, funds have begun positioning in advance for the index inclusion rally. Today, an address starting with 0xe4c opened a new $3.26 million long position in SPCX with 8x isolated leverage, at an average entry price of $160.5 and liquidation price of $144. As of press time, this position has gained about 13% in unrealized profit, representing the largest new long position added recently.
2 minutes ago
SK Hynix files for listing on NASDAQ.
According to market reports, SK Hynix has submitted an application for listing on the Nasdaq. On June 24, SK Hynix announced plans to raise up to 45 trillion won (approximately 290 billion US dollars) via an American Depositary Receipt (ADR) offering. The ADRs will be listed in July, and the proceeds will be used to build a factory in South Korea and purchase EUV equipment.
2 minutes ago
Samsung Electronics submits latest HBM patent to solve reliability challenges of high-stacked memory.
Citrini researcher Jukan has revealed that Samsung Electronics has filed a new HBM patent, which addresses reliability challenges of high-stacked (12+ layers) memory by improving the structure of the topmost dummy die. The patent’s core design features a three-step stepped plus convex curved surface on the dummy die’s side, adopting a deep trench sawing process to reduce warpage, cracks and delamination, while optimizing thermal management and bonding interface cleanliness. Targeting 16+ layer products like HBM5, this innovation can notably boost yield and long-term stability, helping Samsung strengthen its competitiveness in the AI high-bandwidth memory market.
Citigroup noted that put positions on the Nasdaq and S&P 500 are accumulating, with elevated long positions leaving the Nasdaq vulnerable to further sell-offs. Meanwhile, investors continue to rotate into small-cap stocks. In Europe, waning capital inflows signal fragile market sentiment, while Asia exhibits mixed positioning: bullish bets in South Korea and heavy bearish positions in Hong Kong have heightened the risk of short squeezes.
MEXC, a pioneer in 0-fee digital asset trading, today announced the listing of Ondo’s tokenized Strategy’s preferred stock on its spot market, further expanding its tokenized U.S. stock offerings.
STRCON tracks Strategy Pref (STRC), Strategy’s preferred stock. The company formerly known as MicroStrategy, Inc., is the world’s largest corporate holder of bitcoin, with holdings of 847,363 BTC as of June 21, 2026, according to company filings. The STRCON/USDT spot trading pair will be listed at 14:00 (UTC) on June 30, 2026. Deposits opened earlier the same day at 08:00 (UTC). Full listing details are available in MEXC’s official announcement.
Ondo Global Markets is a tokenization platform focused on bringing real-world assets on-chain. It provides non-U.S. investors with instant access to tokenized U.S. stocks, ETFs, and other securities. Ondo Global Markets surpassed $1 billion in total value locked in May 2026 and accounts for more than 70% of the tokenized equity issuer market, according to RWA.xyz data. MEXC’s ongoing collaboration with Ondo continues to expand access to the U.S. stock market for users through tokenized assets.
As a one-stop trading platform, MEXC is committed to providing users with diverse access to global markets. Beyond Ondo’s tokenized U.S. equities, MEXC also offers “RealStocks,” a product that allows users to hold real share ownership and dividends within the crypto trading environment they already use.
About MEXC
MEXC is the world’s fastest-growing cryptocurrency exchange, trusted by more than 40 million users across 170+ markets. Built on a user-first philosophy, MEXC offers industry-leading 0-fee trading and access to over 3,000 digital assets. As the Gateway to Infinite Opportunities, MEXC provides a single platform where users can easily trade cryptocurrencies alongside tokenized assets, including stocks, ETFs, commodities, and precious metals.
MEXC Official Website｜ X ｜ Telegram ｜How to Sign Up on MEXC
This content does not constitute investment advice. Given the highly volatile nature of the cryptocurrency market, investors are encouraged to carefully assess market fluctuations, project fundamentals, and potential financial risks before making any trading decisions.
Hyperliquid added to Singapore's Investor Alert ListThe Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the city-state's central bank and financial regulator, has added decentralized perpetuals exchange Hyperliquid to its Investor Alert List.
The entry, added on Friday, includes the Hyper Foundation website and the Hyperliquid trading app.
The Investor Alert List is a consumer protection measure that identifies entities that may be wrongly perceived as licensed or regulated by MAS. Inclusion on the list does not constitute a ban or enforcement action.
MAS added crypto exchange Bybit to the list on June 17 and KuCoin and Bitget also appear.
Hyperliquid said that it has never claimed to be licensed or authorized by MAS and that nothing about its permissionless infrastructure has changed.
Don't look at this if you are in Singapore. (Hyperliquid)Don't look at this if you are in Singapore. (Hyperliquid)
Indonesia sets certification rules for influencers recommending cryptoIndonesia’s financial regulator has introduced certification requirements for influencers who recommend crypto and other digital financial assets, as the country expands oversight of financial promotions on social media.
Under Financial Services Authority Regulation No. 6 of 2026, announced Wednesday, individuals recommending digital assets must obtain competency certifications unless they are already subject to a separate licensing requirement.
Influencers may recommend only digital assets listed on authorized exchanges, while any service provider they recommend must also be licensed. Marketing campaigns must be conducted through regulated financial services businesses, which are responsible for the promotional content, and distributed through their official communication channels.
Indonesia joins a growing number of jurisdictions tightening oversight of financial influencers, also called finfluencers, with Australia and the United Kingdom introducing broader rules for investment promotions and the Philippines adopting crypto-specific marketing restrictions.
South Korean authorities fine Bithumb $136K over sharing user information overseasSouth Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb was order to pay a $136,000 fine after it was found to have breached personal information protections rules when it sent user data overseas.
In a Thursday notice, the country's Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) said that its investigation into Bithumb found that the exchange had “transferred personal information overseas without the separate consent of the data subjects during the process of order book sharing and virtual asset transfer with overseas virtual asset exchanges.”
The incident was connected to Bithumb sharing its Tether (USDT) order books between September and November 2025 with BingX, despite obtaining consent to share the data with Stellar, as well as sharing user information with 13 overseas exchanges.
BithumbSource: PIPC
SBI to acquire Bitbank in $289M deal creating Japan's biggest crypto exchangeJapan’s SBI Holdings has signed agreements to acquire full control of crypto exchange Bitbank through a 46.7 billion Japanese yen ($289 million) transaction, advancing a deal first disclosed in May that would create the country's biggest crypto exchange.
SBI expects the transaction to close around October, subject to regulatory clearance.
The acquisition would expand SBI’s regulated crypto exchange footprint and customer base, giving it another potential distribution channel for the stablecoins, tokenized assets and onchain financial products.
Bitbank's daily trading volume has hovered below $50 million for most of the last four months, CoinGecko data showed. Volume is dominated by the BTC/JPY pair (39.5%), followed by XRP/JPY and ETH/JPY (both at 19.7%).
SBI said combining Bitbank with SBI VC Trade would give the group about 1.1 trillion yen in assets under custody and roughly 2.92 million crypto accounts, meaning the combined business would rank first among Japanese crypto exchanges.
Chainlink joins European and Korean bank consortia to develop FX settlement networkChainlink has joined a working group with European and South Korean banking organizations to explore the use of stablecoins for foreign exchange (FX) settlement.
The protocol has announced Project Pangea alongside South Korean digital asset infrastructure company FairSquareLab, the Unified Korea Alliance (UniKA) — a consortium that includes more than a dozen Korean commercial banks — and Qivalis, a euro stablecoin consortium backed by 37 European banks.
Project Pangea aims to bring together financial institutions across Europe and South Korea to evaluate direct, atomic swaps of euro- and South Korean won-denominated stablecoins using Chainlink’s data infrastructure alongside FairSquareLab’s onchain foreign exchange settlement technology.
The initiative is another example of financial institutions evaluating stablecoins for wholesale financial infrastructure rather than consumer payments. According to the Bank for International Settlements, the global foreign exchange market processes roughly $9.6 trillion in daily trading volume.
South Korea adds token securities to capital market overhaulSouth Korea’s financial regulator folded token securities infrastructure into a broader overhaul of the country’s capital markets, alongside plans for faster settlement, longer trading hours and greater use of artificial intelligence.
On Tuesday, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) said it had launched a capital market infrastructure review meeting to coordinate reforms across government agencies and market operators. According to the FSC, plans for token securities will be further discussed separately through a public-private council before being linked to the wider initiative.
The initiative includes a roadmap for shortening the securities settlement cycle, expected by October, and a Korea Securities Depository (KSD) system for settling over-the-counter trades in unlisted shares and fractional investment products by the end of 2026.
Circle, Nomura eye Japan corporate FX with stablecoin settlement: ReportStablecoin issuer Circle and Japan's largest investment bank Nomura have reportedly partnered to enable instant foreign exchange settlement for Japanese companies as early as 2027.
The service would enable companies to convert yen into dollar-denominated stablecoins for cross-border transactions and instant settlement, reducing delays caused by banking hours and time zone differences, Nikkei reported on Thursday.
The partnership would bring one of the world's largest dollar stablecoins into Japan's corporate foreign exchange market, expanding the use of stablecoins for business-to-business cross-border settlement.
Australian regulator extends no-action period for crypto licensingThe Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has given digital asset businesses another three months (to September 30) apply for licenses required under its updated regulatory guidance.
The extension applies to businesses seeking an Australian Financial Services (AFS) license, as well as companies that may require market or clearing and settlement authorizations.
The regulator said it has received about 30 license applications since updating its digital asset guidance in October 2025 to clarify that many crypto products are financial products under the law and require an AFSL.
It noted its recent court victory against BlockEarner emphasized that point.
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.
Hyperliquid’s prediction markets just crossed $80 million in daily trading volume for the first time. For a feature that launched barely two months ago, that’s the kind of number that makes competitors recalibrate their roadmaps.
The milestone comes from HIP-4, Hyperliquid’s binary outcome market framework that went live around May 2, 2026. It lets users trade on the outcomes of various events, from cryptocurrency price movements to macroeconomic indicators, all on-chain, all permissionless.
From perpetuals to predictions When HIP-3 launched its mainnet on October 13, 2025, the first deployed market was XYZ100, a perpetual contract tracking roughly 100 non-financial US-listed companies. Within two weeks, by October 28, 2025, XYZ100 was already pulling in over $80 million in daily trading volume with approximately $70 million in open interest.
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Deployers earned more than $100,000 in fees during that initial stretch. Launching a HIP-3 market requires staking a minimum of 500,000 HYPE, which was valued at around $25 million at the time. The fee structure splits revenue 50/50 between the protocol and the deployer.
By mid-2026, cumulative volume across the platform reached into the trillions.
Taking a bite out of Polymarket Bitcoin outcome markets on Hyperliquid captured roughly 20% of the 24-hour volume compared to Polymarket within just 25 days of HIP-4’s launch. Individual prediction markets on HIP-4 have been posting millions in daily volumes. Protocol open interest in prediction markets peaked at around $25 million near the end of June 2026.
What this means for HYPE holders and the broader market For HYPE token holders, the staking yield was hovering around 2.2% in late 2025. Every new market that goes live on HIP-3 or HIP-4 requires deployers to stake 500,000 HYPE minimum, locking up a meaningful chunk of HYPE supply.
The risk here is concentration. Hyperliquid commands a dominant share of on-chain perp volume, which means a single protocol handling that much activity is also a single point of failure. Smart contract risk, oracle manipulation, and liquidity cascades are all amplified when one platform is the center of gravity for an entire trading vertical.
There’s also the question of regulatory scrutiny. Prediction markets that track US-listed equities and macroeconomic outcomes aren’t exactly flying under the radar. The CFTC has historically taken a dim view of unregistered derivatives platforms offering event contracts to US persons, and Hyperliquid’s permissionless architecture means there’s no KYC gatekeeper deciding who gets to trade.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Binance Alpha will delist TTD, OIK, LUNAI, TOWN, VINU, PUP, CYPR, and DGRAM.
Per an official announcement, following a recent review, the below tokens fail to meet Binance Alpha’s criteria and will be removed from its recommended list on June 30, 2026, at 18:30 (UTC+8): TTD (TradeTide), OIK (Space Nation), LUNAI (Luna by Virtuals), TOWN (Alt.town), VINU (Vita Inu), PUP (PUP), CYPR (Cypher), DGRAM (Datagram Network).
3 minutes ago
Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson: There are currently no plans to hold a high-level meeting between the United States and Iran.
A spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump, will travel to Qatar to meet with mediators to discuss negotiation matters. No high-level meeting between the United States and Iran is currently planned.
3 minutes ago
Binance Alpha opens the second round of COLLECT airdrop claims.
Binance Alpha has opened claims for the second round of the Collect on Fanable token COLLECT airdrop rewards. Users holding at least 224 Alpha points can claim 800 COLLECT tokens on a first-come, first-served basis. If the reward pool is not fully distributed, the point threshold will be lowered.
3 minutes ago
Michael Saylor’s First Public Statement Following MicroStrategy’s New Policy: Stronger Credit, Stronger Equity, More Bitcoin
MicroStrategy founder Michael Saylor delivered his first public remarks after the release of the "Digital Credit Capital Framework": "Stronger credit, stronger equity, more Bitcoin." Saylor’s declaration appears to explain the motivation behind the launch of the framework—specifically, the strategic logic of achieving more Bitcoin holdings by strengthening credit and equity structures.
3 minutes ago
SK Hynix plans to order semiconductor testing equipment, with a total price of up to $259 million.
SK Hynix is negotiating with semiconductor equipment manufacturers over the supply of semiconductor testing equipment needed for its Cheongju P&T7 plant. Equipment suppliers are verbally coordinating the number of units that can be delivered next year. The equipment industry forecasts the plant will order around 200 units, including HBM4 testers. At a price of 1.5 billion to 2 billion won per unit, the total cost could reach up to 400 billion won (approximately $259 million). (TheElec)
3 minutes ago
Jefferies reaffirms buy rating for AVGO, sets target price at $550.
Jefferies analyst Blayne Curtis reiterated a Buy rating on AVGO and set a $550 price target, noting that the recent pullback in the stock creates a buying opportunity, with fiscal 2028 EPS projected to reach $30–$40. The analyst emphasized that Broadcom’s TPU roadmap is advancing as planned, the long-term agreement signed with Google through 2031 guarantees minimum revenue, and concerns over competition from MTK are overstated.
Binance Alpha will delist TTD, OIK, LUNAI, TOWN, VINU, PUP, CYPR, and DGRAM.
Per an official announcement, following a recent review, the below tokens fail to meet Binance Alpha’s criteria and will be removed from its recommended list on June 30, 2026, at 18:30 (UTC+8): TTD (TradeTide), OIK (Space Nation), LUNAI (Luna by Virtuals), TOWN (Alt.town), VINU (Vita Inu), PUP (PUP), CYPR (Cypher), DGRAM (Datagram Network).
3 minutes ago
Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson: There are currently no plans to hold a high-level meeting between the United States and Iran.
A spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump, will travel to Qatar to meet with mediators to discuss negotiation matters. No high-level meeting between the United States and Iran is currently planned.
3 minutes ago
Binance Alpha opens the second round of COLLECT airdrop claims.
Binance Alpha has opened claims for the second round of the Collect on Fanable token COLLECT airdrop rewards. Users holding at least 224 Alpha points can claim 800 COLLECT tokens on a first-come, first-served basis. If the reward pool is not fully distributed, the point threshold will be lowered.
3 minutes ago
Michael Saylor’s First Public Statement Following MicroStrategy’s New Policy: Stronger Credit, Stronger Equity, More Bitcoin
MicroStrategy founder Michael Saylor delivered his first public remarks after the release of the "Digital Credit Capital Framework": "Stronger credit, stronger equity, more Bitcoin." Saylor’s declaration appears to explain the motivation behind the launch of the framework—specifically, the strategic logic of achieving more Bitcoin holdings by strengthening credit and equity structures.
3 minutes ago
SK Hynix plans to order semiconductor testing equipment, with a total price of up to $259 million.
SK Hynix is negotiating with semiconductor equipment manufacturers over the supply of semiconductor testing equipment needed for its Cheongju P&T7 plant. Equipment suppliers are verbally coordinating the number of units that can be delivered next year. The equipment industry forecasts the plant will order around 200 units, including HBM4 testers. At a price of 1.5 billion to 2 billion won per unit, the total cost could reach up to 400 billion won (approximately $259 million). (TheElec)
3 minutes ago
Jefferies reaffirms buy rating for AVGO, sets target price at $550.
Jefferies analyst Blayne Curtis reiterated a Buy rating on AVGO and set a $550 price target, noting that the recent pullback in the stock creates a buying opportunity, with fiscal 2028 EPS projected to reach $30–$40. The analyst emphasized that Broadcom’s TPU roadmap is advancing as planned, the long-term agreement signed with Google through 2031 guarantees minimum revenue, and concerns over competition from MTK are overstated.
Binance Alpha will delist TTD, OIK, LUNAI, TOWN, VINU, PUP, CYPR, and DGRAM.
Per an official announcement, following a recent review, the below tokens fail to meet Binance Alpha’s criteria and will be removed from its recommended list on June 30, 2026, at 18:30 (UTC+8): TTD (TradeTide), OIK (Space Nation), LUNAI (Luna by Virtuals), TOWN (Alt.town), VINU (Vita Inu), PUP (PUP), CYPR (Cypher), DGRAM (Datagram Network).
3 minutes ago
Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson: There are currently no plans to hold a high-level meeting between the United States and Iran.
A spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump, will travel to Qatar to meet with mediators to discuss negotiation matters. No high-level meeting between the United States and Iran is currently planned.
3 minutes ago
Binance Alpha opens the second round of COLLECT airdrop claims.
Binance Alpha has opened claims for the second round of the Collect on Fanable token COLLECT airdrop rewards. Users holding at least 224 Alpha points can claim 800 COLLECT tokens on a first-come, first-served basis. If the reward pool is not fully distributed, the point threshold will be lowered.
3 minutes ago
Michael Saylor’s First Public Statement Following MicroStrategy’s New Policy: Stronger Credit, Stronger Equity, More Bitcoin
MicroStrategy founder Michael Saylor delivered his first public remarks after the release of the "Digital Credit Capital Framework": "Stronger credit, stronger equity, more Bitcoin." Saylor’s declaration appears to explain the motivation behind the launch of the framework—specifically, the strategic logic of achieving more Bitcoin holdings by strengthening credit and equity structures.
3 minutes ago
SK Hynix plans to order semiconductor testing equipment, with a total price of up to $259 million.
SK Hynix is negotiating with semiconductor equipment manufacturers over the supply of semiconductor testing equipment needed for its Cheongju P&T7 plant. Equipment suppliers are verbally coordinating the number of units that can be delivered next year. The equipment industry forecasts the plant will order around 200 units, including HBM4 testers. At a price of 1.5 billion to 2 billion won per unit, the total cost could reach up to 400 billion won (approximately $259 million). (TheElec)
3 minutes ago
Jefferies reaffirms buy rating for AVGO, sets target price at $550.
Jefferies analyst Blayne Curtis reiterated a Buy rating on AVGO and set a $550 price target, noting that the recent pullback in the stock creates a buying opportunity, with fiscal 2028 EPS projected to reach $30–$40. The analyst emphasized that Broadcom’s TPU roadmap is advancing as planned, the long-term agreement signed with Google through 2031 guarantees minimum revenue, and concerns over competition from MTK are overstated.
Hyperliquid added to Singapore's Investor Alert ListThe Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the city-state's central bank and financial regulator, has added decentralized perpetuals exchange Hyperliquid to its Investor Alert List.
The entry, added on Friday, includes the Hyper Foundation website and the Hyperliquid trading app.
The Investor Alert List is a consumer protection measure that identifies entities that may be wrongly perceived as licensed or regulated by MAS. Inclusion on the list does not constitute a ban or enforcement action.
MAS added crypto exchange Bybit to the list on June 17 and KuCoin and Bitget also appear.
Hyperliquid said that it has never claimed to be licensed or authorized by MAS and that nothing about its permissionless infrastructure has changed.
Don't look at this if you are in Singapore. (Hyperliquid)Don't look at this if you are in Singapore. (Hyperliquid)
Indonesia sets certification rules for influencers recommending cryptoIndonesia’s financial regulator has introduced certification requirements for influencers who recommend crypto and other digital financial assets, as the country expands oversight of financial promotions on social media.
Under Financial Services Authority Regulation No. 6 of 2026, announced Wednesday, individuals recommending digital assets must obtain competency certifications unless they are already subject to a separate licensing requirement.
Influencers may recommend only digital assets listed on authorized exchanges, while any service provider they recommend must also be licensed. Marketing campaigns must be conducted through regulated financial services businesses, which are responsible for the promotional content, and distributed through their official communication channels.
Indonesia joins a growing number of jurisdictions tightening oversight of financial influencers, also called finfluencers, with Australia and the United Kingdom introducing broader rules for investment promotions and the Philippines adopting crypto-specific marketing restrictions.
South Korean authorities fine Bithumb $136K over sharing user information overseasSouth Korean cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb was order to pay a $136,000 fine after it was found to have breached personal information protections rules when it sent user data overseas.
In a Thursday notice, the country's Personal Information Protection Commission (PIPC) said that its investigation into Bithumb found that the exchange had “transferred personal information overseas without the separate consent of the data subjects during the process of order book sharing and virtual asset transfer with overseas virtual asset exchanges.”
The incident was connected to Bithumb sharing its Tether (USDT) order books between September and November 2025 with BingX, despite obtaining consent to share the data with Stellar, as well as sharing user information with 13 overseas exchanges.
BithumbSource: PIPC
SBI to acquire Bitbank in $289M deal creating Japan's biggest crypto exchangeJapan’s SBI Holdings has signed agreements to acquire full control of crypto exchange Bitbank through a 46.7 billion Japanese yen ($289 million) transaction, advancing a deal first disclosed in May that would create the country's biggest crypto exchange.
SBI expects the transaction to close around October, subject to regulatory clearance.
The acquisition would expand SBI’s regulated crypto exchange footprint and customer base, giving it another potential distribution channel for the stablecoins, tokenized assets and onchain financial products.
Bitbank's daily trading volume has hovered below $50 million for most of the last four months, CoinGecko data showed. Volume is dominated by the BTC/JPY pair (39.5%), followed by XRP/JPY and ETH/JPY (both at 19.7%).
SBI said combining Bitbank with SBI VC Trade would give the group about 1.1 trillion yen in assets under custody and roughly 2.92 million crypto accounts, meaning the combined business would rank first among Japanese crypto exchanges.
Chainlink joins European and Korean bank consortia to develop FX settlement networkChainlink has joined a working group with European and South Korean banking organizations to explore the use of stablecoins for foreign exchange (FX) settlement.
The protocol has announced Project Pangea alongside South Korean digital asset infrastructure company FairSquareLab, the Unified Korea Alliance (UniKA) — a consortium that includes more than a dozen Korean commercial banks — and Qivalis, a euro stablecoin consortium backed by 37 European banks.
Project Pangea aims to bring together financial institutions across Europe and South Korea to evaluate direct, atomic swaps of euro- and South Korean won-denominated stablecoins using Chainlink’s data infrastructure alongside FairSquareLab’s onchain foreign exchange settlement technology.
The initiative is another example of financial institutions evaluating stablecoins for wholesale financial infrastructure rather than consumer payments. According to the Bank for International Settlements, the global foreign exchange market processes roughly $9.6 trillion in daily trading volume.
South Korea adds token securities to capital market overhaulSouth Korea’s financial regulator folded token securities infrastructure into a broader overhaul of the country’s capital markets, alongside plans for faster settlement, longer trading hours and greater use of artificial intelligence.
On Tuesday, the Financial Services Commission (FSC) said it had launched a capital market infrastructure review meeting to coordinate reforms across government agencies and market operators. According to the FSC, plans for token securities will be further discussed separately through a public-private council before being linked to the wider initiative.
The initiative includes a roadmap for shortening the securities settlement cycle, expected by October, and a Korea Securities Depository (KSD) system for settling over-the-counter trades in unlisted shares and fractional investment products by the end of 2026.
Circle, Nomura eye Japan corporate FX with stablecoin settlement: ReportStablecoin issuer Circle and Japan's largest investment bank Nomura have reportedly partnered to enable instant foreign exchange settlement for Japanese companies as early as 2027.
The service would enable companies to convert yen into dollar-denominated stablecoins for cross-border transactions and instant settlement, reducing delays caused by banking hours and time zone differences, Nikkei reported on Thursday.
The partnership would bring one of the world's largest dollar stablecoins into Japan's corporate foreign exchange market, expanding the use of stablecoins for business-to-business cross-border settlement.
Australian regulator extends no-action period for crypto licensingThe Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has given digital asset businesses another three months (to September 30) apply for licenses required under its updated regulatory guidance.
The extension applies to businesses seeking an Australian Financial Services (AFS) license, as well as companies that may require market or clearing and settlement authorizations.
The regulator said it has received about 30 license applications since updating its digital asset guidance in October 2025 to clarify that many crypto products are financial products under the law and require an AFSL.
It noted its recent court victory against BlockEarner emphasized that point.
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.
Hyperliquid is currently trading at $66. HYPE’s trading volume has risen by 80%. The two clear rejections near the same resistance zone indicate that sellers have repeatedly stepped in to prevent a breakout. At the same time, price has continued to hold above a higher support area, suggesting buyers are still defending the trend.
This creates a classic decision point, a move above resistance could trigger another bullish leg higher, while a break below support would invite increased selling pressure and a deeper correction. The current structure reflects a wait for confirmation before a major move.
Current price action of Hyperliquid (HYPE) is trading at $66.19, up by over 6% in the past 24 hours. It indicates that the buyers have regained some short-term momentum while the token remains below its key resistance level.
Hyperliquid’s opening price was noted at $61.58, and after the bulls took control, the price was pushed to a high of $67.63. Besides, the daily trading volume has increased by over 80.59%, reaching $645.19 million.
With the active uptrend in the HYPE market, the price could move up to the resistance at $67.84. A potential bullish correction initiates the golden cross to take place, and gradually pushes the asset’s price even higher. If the Hyperliquid momentum takes a bearish turn, the price action could see a slip to the support at $65.31. Assuming the downside pressure gains more traction, the death cross might emerge, triggering the price to fall.
Will the Hyperliquid Gain More Momentum? The 4-hour technical analysis reports that the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) line is above the signal line and both are above the zero line. This indicates that bullish momentum is strengthening. The bullish crossover of HYPE suggests buyers are gaining control. This setup often supports further upside, provided buying momentum continues to hold.
In addition, the daily Relative Strength Index (RSI) of Hyperliquid, positioned at 58, indicates moderately bullish sentiment. Technically, the value is above the neutral level, 50, showing that buyers have the upper hand. At the same time, it remains below the overbought zone, and there is still room for the uptrend to continue. This reading reflects healthy buying interest.
These indicators can positively influence the price action. The upward price movement is more likely than the downward movement. However, price still depends on key support and resistance levels, trading volume, and overall market sentiment.
Crypto Market Highlights
Bitcoin (BTC) Caught in a Tight Range: Will $58K Support or $61K Resistance Give Way First?
Content Writer | Crypto Enthusiast | Bridging Literature and Blockchain
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
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Binance Alpha will delist TTD, OIK, LUNAI, TOWN, VINU, PUP, CYPR, and DGRAM.
Per an official announcement, following a recent review, the below tokens fail to meet Binance Alpha’s criteria and will be removed from its recommended list on June 30, 2026, at 18:30 (UTC+8): TTD (TradeTide), OIK (Space Nation), LUNAI (Luna by Virtuals), TOWN (Alt.town), VINU (Vita Inu), PUP (PUP), CYPR (Cypher), DGRAM (Datagram Network).
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Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson: There are currently no plans to hold a high-level meeting between the United States and Iran.
A spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump, will travel to Qatar to meet with mediators to discuss negotiation matters. No high-level meeting between the United States and Iran is currently planned.
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Binance Alpha opens the second round of COLLECT airdrop claims.
Binance Alpha has opened claims for the second round of the Collect on Fanable token COLLECT airdrop rewards. Users holding at least 224 Alpha points can claim 800 COLLECT tokens on a first-come, first-served basis. If the reward pool is not fully distributed, the point threshold will be lowered.
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Michael Saylor’s First Public Statement Following MicroStrategy’s New Policy: Stronger Credit, Stronger Equity, More Bitcoin
MicroStrategy founder Michael Saylor delivered his first public remarks after the release of the "Digital Credit Capital Framework": "Stronger credit, stronger equity, more Bitcoin." Saylor’s declaration appears to explain the motivation behind the launch of the framework—specifically, the strategic logic of achieving more Bitcoin holdings by strengthening credit and equity structures.
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SK Hynix plans to order semiconductor testing equipment, with a total price of up to $259 million.
SK Hynix is negotiating with semiconductor equipment manufacturers over the supply of semiconductor testing equipment needed for its Cheongju P&T7 plant. Equipment suppliers are verbally coordinating the number of units that can be delivered next year. The equipment industry forecasts the plant will order around 200 units, including HBM4 testers. At a price of 1.5 billion to 2 billion won per unit, the total cost could reach up to 400 billion won (approximately $259 million). (TheElec)
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Jefferies reaffirms buy rating for AVGO, sets target price at $550.
Jefferies analyst Blayne Curtis reiterated a Buy rating on AVGO and set a $550 price target, noting that the recent pullback in the stock creates a buying opportunity, with fiscal 2028 EPS projected to reach $30–$40. The analyst emphasized that Broadcom’s TPU roadmap is advancing as planned, the long-term agreement signed with Google through 2031 guarantees minimum revenue, and concerns over competition from MTK are overstated.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
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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.
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.
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.
Iran has laid out a set of preconditions for any future talks with the United States. Among the demands: full control over the Strait of Hormuz, including authority over transit management, toll collection, and maritime services for every vessel passing through one of the most strategically vital waterways on the planet.
Roughly 20% of the world’s oil supply passes through the Strait of Hormuz on any given day.
The full list of demands Tehran’s negotiation stance goes well beyond waterway control. Iran is also demanding access to frozen assets, estimated between $6 billion and $12 billion, that have been locked up under various sanctions regimes. On top of that, Iran wants a verified end to Israeli military operations in Lebanon before it will even sit down at the table.
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Iran has rejected or sidelined nuclear negotiations entirely, choosing instead to center discussions on strait control and sanctions relief.
Mediators from Pakistan, Qatar, and Oman have reportedly been involved in attempting to bridge the gap between Washington and Tehran.
The conflict in the region has persisted since February 2026, with both sides implementing blockades of various kinds. Shipping routes have already seen meaningful disruptions, with vessels increasingly forced to reroute closer to Omani waters to avoid Iranian-controlled zones.
Hormuz Safe: the Bitcoin-settled insurance play Iran has proposed an initiative called “Hormuz Safe,” a maritime insurance platform for shipping traffic through the strait that would be settled entirely in Bitcoin. Iran anticipates the platform could generate over $10 billion in revenue. Bitcoin settlement offers a way to collect that revenue outside the reach of US dollar-denominated sanctions.
Bitcoin is the only cryptocurrency mentioned in association with the platform. No stablecoins, no Ethereum, no tokenized anything.
What this means for crypto investors Bitcoin has been hovering near $64,000, and its price has shown sensitivity to geopolitical developments in the region.
The proposed $10 billion revenue target for Hormuz Safe is eye-catching, but Iran’s ability to actually implement a Bitcoin-settled insurance platform depends on several things going right simultaneously: maintaining physical control of the strait, onboarding international shipping companies onto a sanctioned platform, and processing billions in Bitcoin transactions without the kind of infrastructure that typically takes years to build.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Bitcoin remains relatively volatile over the past 24 hours as bulls are trying to reclaim $60K. Broader markets reacted positively to renewed diplomacy efforts between the US and Iran.
Bitcoin’s price action remained choppy over the past 24 hours as bulls attempted to reclaim the psychologically important $60,000 level. Meanwhile, broader risk markets reacted positively to fresh signs of easing tensions between the United States and Iran.
The primary cryptocurrency briefly climbed above $60,600 but failed to hold the line and slipped back toward $59,4000 at the time of this writing. Its intraday low came just below $59,000, suggesting that sellers remain active around every push toward $60,000.
BTC Price Battles for $60K Bitcoin started the new week under pressure. It dropped below $60,000 – a level that has become a key battleground for traders in the short term. Although it managed to stage a modest recovery, momentum has remained limited as traders continue to weigh macroeconomic risks, geopolitical developments, and weakening crypto sentiment. This has perhaps been accurately reflected in the fresh wave of ETF outflows, with another $300 million leaving BlackRock’s IBIT.
One of the main external drivers of yesterday’s price action was US President Donald Trump, who said that peace talks with Iran would be renewed. The comments helped ease some concerns around the conflict, although there has been mixed reporting on Tehran’s reaction over the scope and the timing of these supposed negotiations.
In any case, traditional markets reacted very positively. The Nasdaq Composite and the S&P 500 both finished yesterday’s session in the green. The Dow Jones Industrial Average posted a record high, as investors rotated back into major tech-related shares and responded to the signs of de-escalation.
Bitcoin has, unfortunately, been unable to capitalize on the move. The cryptocurrency remains stuck slightly below $60K, with a decisive break above that needed to improve the current short-term sentiment. A failure to do so could expose it to yet another test of the support zone around $59,000.
Source: TradingView Alts Mixed as Market Remains Relatively Flat Most of the larger-cap altcoins posted little moves over the past 24 hours. Ethereum trades near $1600 following a small increase. Ripple’s XRP is flat at $1.04, while Solana is inching closer to $74 following a slight increase of 1%. Perhaps more notable is the move of Hyperliquid’s native token, HYPE, which increased by about 4.5% and is trading at around $65.
You may also like: Crypto Analyst Challenges Ripple’s CEO Take on Strategy: ‘Two Giants, Same Model’ Bitcoin and Gold Are Bleeding – So Where Is the Money Going? Ripple CEO Praises XRP, Questions Strategy’s Impact on Bitcoin and Crypto The broader cryptocurrency market remains mostly flat, with the total capitalization hovering around $2.14 trillion, according to CoinGecko. Daily trading volumes remain somewhat elevated, while Bitcoin’s dominance stands at 58%.
Overall, crypto traders continue to be cautious. US equities definitely benefited from renewed optimism around the diplomacy between the US and Iran, but Bitcoin needs to turn $60K back into support before the market can stage a stronger recovery.
Bolivia changes its monetary strategy after fifteen years of artificial stability. The country abandons its fixed peg to the dollar due to the decline of its reserves and economic pressure. This decision also revives the debate around financial alternatives like Bitcoin, as cryptocurrencies advance in economies facing currency tensions. The new exchange rate regime marks a new stage for the boliviano and transforms the country’s monetary environment.
In Brief Bolivia abandons its fixed peg to the Dollar after fifteen years to adopt a flexible exchange rate regime due to the exhaustion of its reserves. The end of monetary control occurs as the gap between the official rate and the parallel market Dollar rate has widened significantly. The lifting of restrictions on cryptocurrencies in 2024 caused a strong rise in trading volumes and accelerated the adoption of stablecoins in the country. Bolivian banks are beginning to integrate services related to digital assets, notably USDT, amid financial transformation. Facing currency tensions, Bitcoin appears as a strategic reserve considered by several states and could be a diversification path for Bolivia. Bolivia Abandons Its Dollar Peg After Fifteen Years of Control The US dollar just took another hard hit in Bolivia, where it played a central role in the fixed exchange system established since 2011. The country has just ended this system. The Minister of Economy José Gabriel Espinoza announced in a press release the abandonment of the official rate of about 6.96 bolivianos per US dollar. The country now adopts a flexible floating exchange rate regime, with a rate determined by market forces. This decision comes as the old mechanism no longer reflected the economic reality.
Before this announcement, the Central Bank’s reference rate had already exceeded 10 bolivianos per dollar. The gap between the official exchange rate and the parallel market had significantly increased, reaching about 12.9 to 13.1 bolivianos per dollar by late 2025. The old monetary system could no longer maintain sustainable stability. The government chose a new approach to address accumulated imbalances.
The fixed exchange rate regime worked when Bolivia had enough reserves to support its currency. In 2014, foreign exchange reserves exceeded 15 billion dollars, giving the central bank the means to defend the official rate. Since then, reserves have sharply decreased, reducing their intervention capacity. Rising budget deficits also made maintaining this model increasingly difficult.
The shift to a flexible system is part of a broader economic stabilization strategy. This evolution could also accompany new dealings with international financial institutions. For Bolivian authorities, the goal is to restore a balance between the official market and economic reality. This transformation also opens a new chapter for alternative monetary solutions.
The Rise of Cryptocurrencies Accelerates in the Country For ten years, Bolivia had banned virtual assets on its territory. The situation changed in June 2024, when the central bank lifted restrictions with resolution no. 082/2024 from its board. This opening quickly changed the local financial landscape. Users began exploring cryptocurrencies more as a tool for protection against monetary tensions.
Transaction volumes via official channels rose from 46.5 million dollars in the first half of 2024 to 294 million dollars in the first half of 2025. This increase represents a rise of over 530% in one year. The Bolivian crypto market thus developed a new dynamic after the end of restrictions. Local players gradually adopted new digital uses.
In April 2026, three Bolivian banks already offered services related to USDT. This evolution shows that stablecoins now hold an important place in the national financial ecosystem. Bolivia’s central bank also signed a memorandum of understanding with El Salvador’s National Digital Assets Commission in 2025. The country thus seeks to better understand opportunities related to digital assets.
The disappearance of the fixed rate could, however, change the demand for cryptocurrencies. If citizens can access foreign currencies at market price via official channels, the use of certain stablecoins as protection against dollar shortages could evolve. However, the infrastructure built in recent years remains in place. Users now have digital wallets and master virtual asset transactions.
This situation shows that monetary crises can accelerate stablecoin adoption. Bolivia thus becomes a case observed by crypto market players. Investors now monitor volume evolution after the exchange regime reform. Continued institutional demand around USDT could confirm the lasting establishment of cryptocurrencies in the local financial system.
And Why Not Bitcoin as a New Strategic Reserve? Beyond stablecoins, Bitcoin appears as a monetary alternative used by several states seeking to diversify their reserves. Unlike traditional currencies, its supply is limited to 21 million units. This characteristic makes it a digital asset considered by some governments as a long-term store of value. Its decentralized operation represents a major difference from currencies controlled by central banks.
The United States has integrated Bitcoin into its strategic thinking around national digital asset reserves. This approach is based on the idea that an asset independent from the classic monetary system can strengthen a country’s financial diversification. El Salvador has also placed Bitcoin at the core of its monetary policy since its official adoption. The country continues accumulating Bitcoin reserves totaling 7,696.37 BTC in a logic of financial sovereignty despite IMF pressures.
Bhutan is also among the countries that have developed significant exposure to Bitcoin. Thanks to its energy resources, the country has participated in the development of Bitcoin mining and holds this digital asset in its reserves. This strategy shows that some states now consider Bitcoin a new financial instrument on the same level as certain traditional reserves. The objective is to have an alternative asset in the face of global economic uncertainty.
In this context, Bolivia could also consider Bitcoin as a complementary tool to strengthen the diversification of its reserves. After abandoning its dollar peg and facing difficulties in maintaining sufficient foreign currency levels, the country has an opportunity to explore new financial mechanisms. A Bitcoin reserve would not replace traditional currencies but could offer additional protection against tensions on international markets.
For Bolivia, progressively integrating Bitcoin into a national strategy could represent a new step in modernizing its financial system. The experience of other countries shows that a digital asset can become a diversification instrument when framed by a clear policy. As the country seeks to restore economic stability, BTC could become an additional component of its strategic reserves alongside traditional assets.
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Ghiles A.
Journaliste et rédacteur web passionné par l’univers des cryptomonnaies et des technologies Web3. J’y traite les dernières tendances et actualités afin de proposer un contenu de haute qualité à un large public du secteur.
DISCLAIMER
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.
Strategy (NASDAQ: MSTR) stock gained by 12% on June 29, to close trading at $92. The gain followed Strategy’s announcement that the company plans to start selling Bitcoin to boost its USD reserves, a move that led to Cantor Fitzgerald reiterating that the stock could reach $212.
This restructuring plan also boosted sentiment around the STRC preferred stock and it gained by 12% on June 29 to close trading at $82.
Wall Street Firm Remains Bullish on MSTR After $1.25B Bitcoin Restructuring Plan Cantor Fitzgerald has maintained a buy rating on MSTR stock after Strategy announced it is changing its Bitcoin treasury model from being a net buyer to selling BTC whenever is necessary.
Fitzgerald says that these changes have alleviated concerns around the company being illiquid because Strategy could raise $1.25 billion for its USD reserve by selling BTC.
Strategy is also increasing the dividend paid on its STRC preferred stock from 11.5% to 12%. This higher dividend rate increased the demand for STRC and MSTR on June 29, and the preferred stock gained by 12%.
STRC had dropped to an all-time low on June 26 after concerns emerged about whether Strategy could pay investors their dividends following a loss of more than $13 billion in the 847,363 BTC that the company holds.
STRC Stock Price (Source: TradingView) Now, buyers are rushing back to the preferred stock to chase the 0.5% dividend increase, with the buy volumes reaching 7.47 million shares on June 29. These buy volumes were the highest seen by STRC since May 14.
MSTR Stock Price Bounces From Crucial Support Level The MSTR stock price dropped to the support level of $82 on June 29, and a previous MSTR price analysis by CoinGape had predicted that dropping below this support level could push it to $65.
MSTR might avoid this drop to $65 because bulls have defended this support at $82 after the recent news about restructuring brought buyers back.
If Strategy shares close above $82 for three straight days, they could move to the psychological barrier at $100.
The journey upwards could also reach the 23.6% Fib level of $109 if buying pressure remains high after the psychological barrier at $100 breaks.
MSTR Price Chart (Source: TradingView) The RSI reading of 32 shows that the momentum is still favoring bears. However, the RSI reading has bounced from an oversold level of 23, suggesting that those selling MSTR stock are losing steam.
Peter Schiff Says Strategy’s Restructuring Plan Could Trigger Bitcoin Crash Bitcoin critic Peter Schiff has commented on Strategy’s plan to sell 1.25 billion Bitcoin, saying that while it might be good for MSTR price, it is bad for Bitcoin.
Schiff was speaking in an interview with Wolf of All Streets, where he said Strategy needs to sell Bitcoin to raise money for four things: pay dividends on STRC, raise USD reserves, pay back debt, and buy back MSTR stock.
“I don’t see how the market is gonna absorb this shift where the biggest buyer becomes the biggest seller,” Schiff said.
Schiff also drew comparisons with when Strategy sold 32 BTC in May, saying that if such a minuscule sale made the price of Bitcoin to drop to $59,000, selling 54,000 BTC would have a more profound effect.
Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.
Bitcoin is still trading below half of its all-time high price record, while the S&P 500, QQQ and gold continue to regularly set new records. The key reason for this prolonged underperformance was formulated by Tether adviser Gabor Gurbacs. In his view, the value of the flagship cryptocurrency is literally being "drained" by the degradation of the discussion itself inside the industry.
Instead of building strong infrastructure and developing distribution, a significant part of the crypto space has been captured by "tourists" and creators of overtly weak, derivative products focused exclusively on clickbait and fast hype, says Gurbacs.
Deeply unserious people took over large parts of the Bitcoin conversation, selling weak products and recycled narratives instead of building conviction, infrastructure and distribution. That's a big reason Bitcoin isn't at ATHs now.
While it was nearly 10 years ago when things…
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— Gabor Gurbacs (@gaborgurbacs) June 29, 2026 He draws a hard line between today's market and the crypto community of the pre-2017 era. The early Bitcoin era was based on cypherpunk principles, the concept of "hard money" and professional capital markets operators.
"These were deeper, more principled and mission-oriented people. If I had one wish, I would want the real-world asset tokenization boom to have happened in 2017 instead of the ICO boom," the Tether adviser noted.
Why is Bitcoin stalling?The main paradox of the current cycle lies in Bitcoin's desynchronization from traditional defensive and technology assets. Institutional capital that entered the crypto market has faced an abundance of speculative "noise," which prevents long-term value from being retained inside the ecosystem.
Pressure on the BTC price is also being intensified by a local excess of supply. Last week, net capital inflow under the "institutional absorption versus early holder distribution" model showed the worst result of the cycle. The cumulative balance for this metric has fallen to -154,169 BTC since the peak in October 2025.
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Nevertheless, Gurbacs emphasizes that Bitcoin will still win in the long term. The current problems are not related to the technology, but to the quality of those trying to speculate on it.
Bitcoin remained below the $60,000 mark on Tuesday as traders now watch the US monetary policy outlook and institutional demand. The cryptocurrency was trading at the $59,437 mark.
In the past 24 hours, Bitcoin was down 0.91%, and Ethereum was up 0.76% to trade at the $1,591 mark. Among the major altcoins, BNB, XRP, Tron, Dogecoin and Cardano slipped up to 1.53%, whereas Solana and Hyperliquid were up 1.83% and 4.59%, respectively.
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Vikram Subburaj, CEO of Giottus, said Bitcoin tried to recover after last week's sharp correction. However, it remained stuck in a range, and investors continued to watch the US monetary policy outlook. They were also monitoring institutional demand. While selling pressure has moderated, the market is yet to find a strong catalyst for a sustained breakout.
Institutional flows remain mixed. US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded a modest net inflow of around $69 million on June 29, breaking a series of heavy outflows seen in the preceding sessions, Subburaj further said.
The global crypto market capitalisation edged down 0.53% to $2.06 trillion, according to CoinMarketCap. Bitcoin ETFs are experiencing their most aggressive outflows ever, which has created significant short-term pressure on the crypto. Besides, US President Trump is expected to sign the Clarity Act, which could have a steering impact on the crypto markets, said CoinDCX Research Team.
CoinSwitch Markets Desk said that while some headwinds remain, including ongoing outflows from US spot Bitcoin ETFs and expectations that the Federal Reserve will keep interest rates elevated for longer, buyers are showing resilience.
In the past week, Bitcoin and Ethereum were down over 5% each. Among the major altcoins, BNB, XRP, Tron, Dogecoin and Cardano corrected up to 9.39%, whereas Solana and Hyperliquid were up 5.89% and 2.96%, respectively.
Avinash Shekhar, Co-Founder & CEO, Pi42, said Bitcoin is trying to stabilise around the $60,000 mark as improving geopolitical sentiment, following the announcement of fresh US-Iran talks, helped lift broader crypto markets. The rebound suggests that investors are responding positively to easing macro uncertainty, even as overall market participation remains measured.
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Market perspective
Piyush Walke, Derivatives Research Analyst, Delta Exchange: Bitcoin (BTC) is hovering at a key inflection point, with retail investors continuing to offload their holdings while institutional buyers remain on hold despite attractive valuations. As a result, the market remains range-bound, awaiting its next decisive move
Akshat Siddhant, Lead quant analyst, Mudrex: While easing geopolitical tensions have encouraged investors back into risk assets, weak spot demand has kept Bitcoin trading in a narrow range. Markets are now focused on Fed Chair Warsh’s speech at the ECB Forum and the upcoming US jobs report for clues on liquidity conditions in the second half of the year.
(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)
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BlackRock’s iShares Micro-Cap ETF, ticker IWC, added 79,805 shares of Strive Inc. to its portfolio, bringing total holdings to 213,713 shares valued at roughly $3M.
Strive, which trades on Nasdaq under the ticker ASST, has built its corporate strategy around accumulating Bitcoin as a primary reserve asset. The company held over 19,864 BTC as of late June 2026, a treasury that makes it one of the more aggressive corporate Bitcoin accumulators in the micro-cap space.
What IWC actually is, and why this matters The IWC is a passive fund. It tracks the Russell Microcap Index, holding somewhere between 1,278 and 1,385 stocks at any given time, with total assets exceeding $1.5B. BlackRock didn’t wake up one morning and decide Strive looked like a great buy. The fund’s methodology automatically includes companies that meet the index’s criteria.
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Strive’s growth in market cap and trading activity has pushed it into the kind of index inclusion that funnels passive capital its way. The 80,000-share increase represents a substantial bump in exposure. At $3M in total value, it’s not going to move the needle for a $1.5B fund.
Strive’s Bitcoin accumulation strategy Strive’s holdings grew to 13,628 BTC by the end of 2025, and the accumulation has only accelerated since then. In June alone, Strive purchased 759 BTC for approximately $50M and an additional 73 BTC for $4.7M. The company has signaled intentions to continue buying Bitcoin through mid-2026, treating the cryptocurrency as its core treasury asset.
With over 19,864 BTC now on its balance sheet, Strive sits in a growing category of public companies that have essentially turned themselves into leveraged Bitcoin vehicles. MicroStrategy, now rebranded as Strategy, pioneered this approach starting in 2020, and a cohort of smaller firms have followed suit.
What this means for investors A $3M position inside a $1.5B fund is roughly 0.2% of assets. Passive index inclusion creates a flywheel effect: as more ETFs and index funds are forced to hold companies like Strive, the stock gets more liquidity, which means tighter spreads and potentially higher valuations. Higher valuations push the company further up the index rankings, which triggers more buying.
The risk cuts both ways. If Bitcoin enters a prolonged downturn, companies like Strive will see their balance sheets deteriorate rapidly. Index funds would then mechanically sell as the stock drops out of qualification thresholds. Investors who own IWC for broad micro-cap exposure might find themselves unexpectedly correlated to crypto volatility in ways they didn’t anticipate.
A micro-cap index is supposed to offer diversification across hundreds of small companies. When several of those companies are all variations on the same Bitcoin treasury theme, the diversification benefit erodes.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
What a quarter it has been, and not in a good way, for most of crypto. But as the second quarter of 2026 closes out, there is one major coin standing in the green while everything else finishes deep in the red, and it is Solana. SOL is trading at $74.02, up on the day, up 4.3% on the week, and genuinely outperforming the entire top of the market (live SOL price on CoinGecko). After months of pain, let me tell you why Solana is the bright spot worth celebrating, with eyes open.
Green in a sea of red Let’s appreciate how unusual this is. As the quarter ends, Bitcoin is below $60,000 and down 6% on the week. Ethereum is down 7%. XRP down 6%. BNB down 5.5%. And then there is Solana, up 4.3% on the week and climbing. Look at any market table right now and SOL’s green candle stands out against a wall of red.
Being the strongest major coin in a quarter this brutal is not a fluke. It reflects real momentum building in the Solana ecosystem while the rest of the market struggles. When one network pulls ahead this clearly during a downturn, it usually means something genuine is happening underneath, and in Solana’s case, it is.
What’s powering Solana’s strength So what is actually driving this? Several real, specific things are converging, and they are exciting.
Start with MoneyGram. The global payments giant recently became an active Solana validator and infrastructure partner, committing to run network infrastructure. That is not a passive bet, it is a major payments company building on Solana, exactly the kind of grown-up adoption that builds lasting value. Then there is the tokenized stock momentum: trading of real-world stocks represented on-chain has been fueling fresh activity across the Solana ecosystem, one of crypto’s most promising actual use cases. And Solana’s ecosystem tokens have been leading market rebounds, a sign capital is rotating toward networks people believe in.
Add the steady drumbeat of ETF flows. Solana’s spot ETFs launched with staking enabled, passing yield to investors, something Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs cannot offer. In a market where money is fleeing non-yielding products, an ETF that actually pays a yield stands out, and Solana has drawn some of the only positive ETF flows among the majors.
The tech that keeps me bullish long-term Beyond the headlines, Solana’s fundamental upgrades keep marching forward, and this is the part that makes me a believer. Alpenglow, the biggest consensus overhaul in Solana’s history, is live on a test cluster, pushing toward dramatically faster transaction finality. And Firedancer, the new engine from Jump Crypto, keeps progressing with a careful, test-first rollout aimed at making the network faster and far more reliable.
These upgrades target the exact criticisms Solana used to face, speed and outages, and watching them come together while SOL leads the market is genuinely encouraging. The network has been handling over 1,100 transactions per second with millions of daily active wallets. The usage is real and growing.
Now the honest part I am fired up about Solana, but I owe you the balance. Being green this week does not make SOL bulletproof. It is still part of a crypto market that just had an ugly quarter, and if Bitcoin breaks hard toward $54,000 to $56,000, as some analysts warn is possible, Solana would very likely get dragged down with it. Relative strength is not immunity.
And Solana still leans partly on speculative activity like memecoin trading, which can dry up fast and pull network fees down with it. So enjoy this moment of strength, but keep your eyes open. The fundamentals are genuinely improving, but the macro storm has not fully cleared.
The levels worth watching On the downside, $70 is the first support, with the $66 to $67 zone beneath it as the floor that has held through recent dips. Staying above $70 keeps this leadership story alive. On the upside, a clear move above $78 would brighten things further, and reclaiming the $85 zone would be a real signal that a stronger recovery is taking hold.
Bringing it together Solana at $74 is the lone bright spot as a brutal quarter ends, the only major coin in the green, up 4.3% on the week while everything else bleeds. Between the MoneyGram validator news, surging tokenized stock activity, staking-enabled ETFs drawing flows, and the Alpenglow and Firedancer upgrades marching forward, SOL has real, specific reasons for its strength.
Just stay grounded. Solana is leading, not escaping, and a deeper Bitcoin drop would test it. But if you have been searching for a reason for optimism after a rough quarter, a coin that is genuinely outperforming with real adoption behind it is about as good as it gets. Watch $70 below and $78 above, and enjoy this rare patch of green.
FAQ What is the Solana price today?
Solana is trading at $74.02 on June 30, 2026, up on the day and 4.3% on the week, making it the only major coin in the green as a brutal quarter ends with Bitcoin below $60,000.
Why is Solana outperforming other coins?
Solana’s strength reflects real ecosystem momentum: the MoneyGram validator partnership, surging tokenized stock trading, staking-enabled spot ETFs drawing flows when non-yielding ETFs bleed, and steady progress on the Alpenglow and Firedancer upgrades.
What makes Solana’s ETF different?
Solana’s spot ETFs launched with staking enabled, passing validator rewards to shareholders. This yield component makes them more attractive than Bitcoin or Ethereum ETFs, which offer no staking return, especially as institutions pull money from non-yielding products.
What are the key Solana levels to watch?
Support is $70, with the $66 to $67 zone below it. Holding $70 keeps the leadership story alive. On the upside, a move above $78 and then the $85 zone would signal a stronger recovery.
Is Solana safe from the broader crash?
No. Solana is outperforming but still part of a weak market, and a deeper Bitcoin drop toward $54,000 to $56,000 would likely pull it lower. Its reliance on speculative activity is also a risk. Relative strength is not immunity. This is not investment advice.
This is not investment advice. Cryptocurrency is highly volatile. Always do your own research.
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Former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has admitted that even after several attempts, he still does not fully understand Strategy’s new STRC financial product. Moreover, speaking about Michael Saylor’s increasingly sophisticated Bitcoin-backed financial strategy, CZ described the product as highly engineered and potentially too complex for many investors.
“I took multiple attempts trying to understand STRC. I don’t think I understand it fully,” CZ said. He acknowledged that he is not qualified to provide a detailed explanation of how the product works.
According to CZ, many modern financial products have become “too complex” and “over-engineered.” They often rely on several layers of leverage and structured financing. He added, “When this type of product becomes too complex, it becomes very hard to understand. Parts of it become black boxes.” As a result, in his view, excessive complexity makes it difficult for even experienced investors to properly evaluate the underlying risks.
“Michael Saylor Understands It Better Than I Do”Despite his concerns, CZ emphasized that his comments were not directed at Michael Saylor personally. “Michael Saylor is obviously extremely smart,” he said. In addition, he added that Saylor has far greater expertise in public companies, capital markets, senior notes, and structured finance.
CZ explained that his own background is rooted in technology and entrepreneurship rather than traditional financial engineering. For this reason, products like STRC are more difficult for him to analyze. He also revealed that Saylor spent about 15 minutes explaining STRC before they spoke together at an event.
“If I Can’t Understand It, That Does Worry Me”While acknowledging his limited expertise, CZ questioned whether the product may be too complicated for many investors. “If I can’t understand it… it does worry me that there may be a few other guys who don’t understand that either,” he said. For CZ, complexity itself represents an investment risk. This is because it reduces transparency and makes informed decision-making harder.
“The Market Overreacted When Strategy Sold 32 Bitcoin”Although he could not comment on STRC’s structure, CZ defended Strategy after criticism over its sale of 32 BTC. He noted that the company holds nearly one million Bitcoin. This makes the transaction relatively insignificant. “At some point, he’s got to sell some Bitcoin,” CZ said. He added that companies must meet financial obligations such as paying dividends and managing their balance sheets. Also, he argued that the market often overreacts, portraying Saylor as either a hero or a villain instead of taking a balanced view.
“Bitcoin Might Not Be the Best Underlying Asset for Leverage”CZ also questioned whether Bitcoin’s volatility makes it the ideal collateral for leveraged financial products. While he remains bullish on Bitcoin’s long-term prospects, he noted that the asset has historically experienced corrections of 50% to 80%. This increases the risks associated with highly leveraged structures.
He stressed that his views are based on his limited understanding of STRC. However, he said he remains cautious about financial products that are difficult to fully explain or understand.
Story Ends Here
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36 minutes ago
Bitcoin is holding a narrow consolidation price range as its prediction hangs in the balance on Michael Saylor’s next move and macroeconomic catalyst. Strategy’s MSTR shares snapped a nine-day losing streak on Monday after the firm unveiled a formalized capital framework that could allow it to sell up to $1.25 billion in Bitcoin to strengthen its balance sheet.
Strategy announces a Digital Credit Capital Framework designed to strengthen Digital Credit, enhance liquidity, preserve long-term Bitcoin exposure, and support long-term value creation. $MSTR $STRC https://t.co/AUoUCtem53
— Michael Saylor (@saylor) June 29, 2026 The announcement centered on Strategy’s expanded USD Reserve alongside a “BTC Monetization Program” that formalizes potential Bitcoin sales as a cash management tool. Meanwhile, Michael Saylor raised its dividend for the eighth time, targeting a 12% annual yield through twice-monthly distributions.
As one analyst noted, Saylor’s recent $1 billion Bitcoin purchase was financed entirely through STRC preferred stock sales, with no dilution of MSTR common shares. However, the preferred share product STRC rebounded after the news and sent the company’s mNAV above 1.0.
Strategy’s MSTR Dashboard, StrategyMacro context adds a layer of uncertainty. The Bank of Japan’s upcoming rate decision, a potential hike to the highest levels in 30 years, remains a live risk-off trigger for BTC and risk assets. So, until the BoJ verdict lands, directional conviction is thin.
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Bitcoin Price Prediction: Break $70,000 This Week?Bitcoin is trading around $60,000, 52% below its all-time high. Price remains locked inside a defined range after several failed breakout attempts. Meanwhile, MACD still favors buyers, although bullish momentum has weakened over the past two days. RSI is also trying to move above its signal line.
If buyers defend support near $58,800 and momentum strengthens, Bitcoin could challenge resistance around $64,100. A successful breakout would expose the next upside target near $71,700. However, the market still needs stronger buying pressure to confirm a sustained recovery.
Don’t Miss Out on Our $1,000 USDT Airdrop on ByBit
The most likely outcome remains continued consolidation while traders wait for the Bank of Japan’s policy decision and any fresh announcement from Strategy regarding additional Bitcoin purchases. On the downside, a surprise rate hike or disappointing corporate demand could drag Bitcoin toward support near $55,000.
We might still see some short-term volatility as traders adjust their exposure. Although Michael Saylor continues projecting Bitcoin could eventually reach $150,000 and later $1 million, price direction will ultimately depend on liquidity and sustained capital inflows rather than long-term forecasts.
Discover: The Best Token Presales
Bitcoin Hyper Targets Early-Mover Upside as Bitcoin Tests Key LevelsBitcoin consolidating 50% below its high is the textbook setup where established-asset upside gets slowly priced in. It’s also where early-stage infrastructure plays attract rotational interest from traders who’ve done the math on BTC’s remaining percentage moves.
At the current rate, a 10x from here would make BTC a $10 trillion asset; that’s a very different probability calculus than it was at $1,000. That’s the context to keep in mind when evaluating what gets built on top of Bitcoin’s base layer.
Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is positioning itself as the first Bitcoin Layer 2 with SVM (Solana Virtual Machine) integration, targeting the performance gap between Bitcoin’s security and Solana-grade execution speed.
The presale has raised close to $33 million at a current price of $0.01368, with staking available and a decentralized canonical bridge for native BTC transfers. The core pitch: fast, low-cost smart contracts on Bitcoin without sacrificing the trust layer.
Research Bitcoin Hyper before the presale window closes.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
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Bitcoin price has slipped back below $60,000 after another failed breakout attempt, as weak stablecoin inflows have reinforced concerns over a lack of fresh buying demand.
Summary
Bitcoin price has failed to hold above $60,000 since June 25 as weak stablecoin inflows limit buying demand. Record spot Bitcoin ETF outflows and Strategy’s potential BTC sales continue to weigh on market liquidity. Analysts see $58,000-$59,000 as key support, with a break lower increasing the risk of another selloff. According to data from crypto.news, Bitcoin (BTC) traded near $59,300 on June 30 after briefly reclaiming the psychological $60,000 level before slipping back below it, extending a series of failed breakout attempts since falling under the mark on June 25.
Market sentiment remained fragile as traders weighed shrinking liquidity, record spot ETF outflows, and a challenging macro backdrop. According to CryptoQuant analyst Sunny Mom, the latest on-chain data suggests the market lacks the fresh capital typically needed to support a sustained breakout.
No Dry Powder, No Real Rally
“In this kind of environment, any bounce that does appear is more likely a short-term technical reaction than the beginning of a trend reversal.” – By Sunny Mom pic.twitter.com/PQgdlAqKHz
— CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) June 30, 2026 “New money has stopped coming in,” Sunny Mom wrote, adding that “any bounce that does appear is more likely a short-term technical reaction than the beginning of a trend reversal.”
The analyst based that view on the 30-day stablecoin market capitalization growth rate. USDC issuance has turned negative, while Ethereum-based USDT growth has also weakened.
Stablecoins often serve as the primary source of buying power for crypto markets, making slower issuance a sign that fewer investors are converting cash into digital assets.
Institutional selling and macro headwinds continue to cap Bitcoin Fresh institutional data has reinforced the liquidity concerns. U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded nearly $1.79 billion in net outflows during the final full week of June, the largest weekly withdrawal this year. Because fund managers must sell Bitcoin to meet investor redemptions, those outflows have removed one of the market’s strongest sources of spot demand.
As reported earlier by crypto.news, Strategy recently unveiled its Digital Credit Capital Framework, authorizing up to $1.25 billion in potential Bitcoin sales to meet interest and dividend obligations. The announcement arrived alongside quarter-end portfolio rebalancing by institutional investors, adding another source of supply after months in which the company had consistently accumulated Bitcoin.
Economic conditions have further reduced appetite for risk assets. A stronger-than-expected U.S. Core PCE inflation reading weakened expectations for Federal Reserve rate cuts, while higher Treasury yields encouraged investors to rotate toward fixed-income assets.
At the same time, Brent crude slipped toward $73 per barrel as attention shifted to renewed U.S.-Iran negotiations in Doha after an interim agreement reduced the immediate risk of disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz. Still, geopolitical uncertainty has remained part of the market backdrop.
Technical structure keeps downside risks in focus Bitcoin’s 1-day USDT chart continues to favor sellers after price failed to reclaim the descending trendline drawn from the May highs. The cryptocurrency is trading just above the key support zone around $58,169, which coincides with the 100% Fibonacci retracement of the recent decline. A decisive move below that level could expose the mid-$50,000 region.
Bitcoin daily price chart — June 30 | Source: crypto.news Momentum indicators have yet to confirm a durable reversal. The daily RSI has slipped to around 32, placing Bitcoin close to oversold territory, while the MACD remains below the zero line despite flattening after the recent selloff. Those readings suggest selling pressure has slowed but buyers have not yet regained control.
Derivatives positioning also points to heightened volatility around current prices. CoinGlass liquidation data shows one of the largest downside liquidity clusters between $58,800 and $59,000, while another concentration of leveraged positions sits near $61,000 to $61,500. Either zone could attract price if momentum accelerates.
Bitcoin liquidation heatmap | Source: CoinGlass According to analyst Ted Pillows, Bitcoin’s immediate outlook depends on whether support between $58,000 and $59,000 can hold.
“The key level for Bitcoin here is $58,000-$59,000 which should hold for any bounceback.”
A successful defense of that area could trigger a relief rally toward the low-$60,000 range and potentially $61,500, where liquidation pressure increases.
However, if Bitcoin fails to hold support, it would strengthen the bearish case, particularly if stablecoin issuance remains weak, ETF redemptions continue, and macro conditions keep institutional capital away from risk assets.
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
TLDR U.S. stock index futures advanced Tuesday following the Dow’s historic breakthrough past 52,000 points in the previous session. The inclusion of Alphabet in the Dow Jones Industrial Average contributed to Monday’s surge, with shares climbing 4.8%. A Supreme Court decision blocked Trump’s bid to dismiss Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, strengthening central bank autonomy. Both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq indexes are headed toward their strongest first-half showing since 2024. Cryptocurrency markets weakened as traders priced in higher probability of Federal Reserve rate increases. American equity futures moved higher in early Tuesday trading as market participants prepared to conclude the year’s first six months on a positive trajectory. Futures contracts for the Dow Jones Industrial Average advanced approximately 60 points, representing a 0.1% increase. The S&P 500 futures index added 0.1%, while Nasdaq 100 futures showed a 0.2% gain.
E-Mini S&P 500 Sep 26 (ES=F) These positive moves extend Monday’s trading session, which witnessed the Dow crossing the 52,000 threshold for the first time in its history. Technology-focused equities dominated that day’s upward movement.
Technology Sector Powers Market Momentum Alphabet emerged as a significant contributor to Monday’s market strength. Following its recent inclusion in the Dow Jones index, the company’s shares advanced 4.8% during the session.
Alphabet now stands alongside several major technology corporations already represented in the benchmark index. This group encompasses Amazon, Apple, Microsoft, and Nvidia—collectively referred to as the Magnificent Seven.
Caterpillar, a leading industrial equipment manufacturer, has also contributed meaningfully to the Dow’s recent ascent. The firm has experienced increased demand for construction machinery utilized in data center development projects.
According to data compiled by Dow Jones Market Data, both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq are positioned to deliver their most impressive first-half results since 2024. Year-to-date figures show the S&P 500 gaining 8.7%, while the Nasdaq has advanced 11.1% during the identical timeframe.
Research analysts at LPL Financial observed in a recent publication that although investor optimism has expanded, it hasn’t reached excessive territory. Their analysis indicates certain sentiment metrics appear extended, though others maintain positions nearer to historical norms.
High Court Decision Reinforces Central Bank Autonomy The nation’s highest court on Monday turned down President Trump’s effort to dismiss Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook without adequate legal examination. The ruling reinforces the principle that the Federal Reserve should function free from political interference.
This judicial decision follows closely after Kevin Warsh assumed his role as the Fed’s new Chairman. Warsh is set to deliver remarks at the European Central Bank’s conference in Sintra, Portugal this Wednesday. Market observers will scrutinize his statements for indications regarding the future direction of monetary policy.
The benchmark 10-year Treasury note yield registered at 4.369% in early Tuesday trading, showing a modest decline from the prior session. Market participants are also monitoring upcoming employment data releases scheduled for this week, culminating with the June employment report.
Robust employment figures could prompt the Federal Reserve to maintain elevated interest rates for an extended duration. Some market analysts suggest such strength might even trigger a rate increase before year-end.
Nike is preparing to announce quarterly results on Tuesday. The athletic apparel giant continues addressing operational headwinds affecting its business operations.
Bitcoin experienced downward pressure Tuesday as market participants increased expectations for U.S. interest rate elevation. Additional selling pressure stemmed from anticipation of possible Bitcoin liquidations related to corporate balance sheet decisions.
Precious metal markets showed gold on track for a substantial 12% monthly decline. This downturn reflects increasingly hawkish interpretations of the Federal Reserve’s policy trajectory.
Crude oil quotations retreated as market focus shifted toward potential diplomatic discussions between Washington and Tehran in Doha. The prospect of reduced tensions between these nations had previously contributed to improved overall market sentiment.
Bitcoin [BTC] whale accumulation has remained resilient even as prices continue consolidating near the $58,000–$60,000 range. Whale on-chain data indicates that large position holders have been buying rather than selling as a result of the recent decline in price.
The total amount of BTC held by whales remains near an all-time high. Their 30-day accumulation rate remains positive, with some moderation from past accumulation.
Source: CryptoQuant Glassnode data confirms that whale net positions have remained stable within the accumulation zone since renewed buying resumed in late 2024.
Source: Glassnode That trend implies that whales find the current price level attractive enough to buy regardless of other market conditions. With an increasing percentage of the total supply being held by long-term investors, the potential exists for reduced downward pressure due to selling.
However, whales are accumulating at a lower rate than they did when prior surges occurred. If whales continue to accumulate steadily, it will provide additional structural support to the price of bitcoin. If this trend reverses and whales start to sell, there will be less protection against future declines.
Are new buyers replacing ETF sellers? Bitcoin’s latest correction is painting two very different pictures of market strength.
On one side, last week saw the second‑largest weekly outflow from Bitcoin ETFs since spot products launched in January 2024, underscoring continued institutional selling as prices stayed under pressure. Typically, such large withdrawals should suggest a more broad-based bearish sentiment towards the markets.
Source: Galaxy Research Conversely, there is another story developing underneath the surface. Inflationary trends in exchange flow have begun to emerge, with exchange flow currently being higher than the flow of assets being withdrawn from exchanges.
With Bitcoin trading at approximately $59,500 at press time, indicating that new capital is entering the market. At the same time, these whales are buying up the assets around areas they perceive as long-term support rather than selling into weakness. This move signifies conviction that current pricing is attractive.
Source: CryptoQuant This divergence implies that ownership is beginning to transition from weaker hands to longer-term holders, rather than distributing into weakness. This shift suggests larger investors still view current prices as attractive. If new exchange inflows increasingly represent genuine accumulation, Bitcoin could establish a stronger foundation for recovery.
However, persistent ETF redemptions may continue delaying renewed bullish momentum despite improving on-chain participation.
Final Summary Bitcoin whale accumulation continues strengthening long-term market support despite slower buying. BTC recovery depends on new demand offsetting continued ETF outflows.
Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson: There are currently no plans to hold a high-level meeting between the United States and Iran.
A spokesperson for Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that U.S. Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, son-in-law of former U.S. President Donald Trump, will travel to Qatar to meet with mediators to discuss negotiation matters. No high-level meeting between the United States and Iran is currently planned.
18 minutes ago
Binance Alpha opens the second round of COLLECT airdrop claims.
Binance Alpha has opened claims for the second round of the Collect on Fanable token COLLECT airdrop rewards. Users holding at least 224 Alpha points can claim 800 COLLECT tokens on a first-come, first-served basis. If the reward pool is not fully distributed, the point threshold will be lowered.
18 minutes ago
SK Hynix plans to order semiconductor testing equipment, with a total price of up to $259 million.
SK Hynix is negotiating with semiconductor equipment manufacturers over the supply of semiconductor testing equipment needed for its Cheongju P&T7 plant. Equipment suppliers are verbally coordinating the number of units that can be delivered next year. The equipment industry forecasts the plant will order around 200 units, including HBM4 testers. At a price of 1.5 billion to 2 billion won per unit, the total cost could reach up to 400 billion won (approximately $259 million). (TheElec)
18 minutes ago
Jefferies reaffirms buy rating for AVGO, sets target price at $550.
Jefferies analyst Blayne Curtis reiterated a Buy rating on AVGO and set a $550 price target, noting that the recent pullback in the stock creates a buying opportunity, with fiscal 2028 EPS projected to reach $30–$40. The analyst emphasized that Broadcom’s TPU roadmap is advancing as planned, the long-term agreement signed with Google through 2031 guarantees minimum revenue, and concerns over competition from MTK are overstated.
18 minutes ago
A whale invested $1.11 million to open a 3x long position of 8,253.89 ETH.
According to on-chain analyst Ai Yi (@ai_9684xtpa), a certain whale added 1.11 million USDC in margin to Hyperliquid one hour ago, then opened an ETH long position worth $13.05 million, with an entry price of $1,581.9 and a liquidation price of $1,078.5.
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OKX Star: One Person, One World-Class Company
According to official announcements, OKX has officially launched OKX.AI, a decentralized platform for the agent economy that enables AI Agents to post tasks, accept assignments, process payments, submit reviews, and conduct arbitration. OKX Founder and CEO Star stated in a post on X: "Over the past two decades, the world has been rebuilt around apps; over the next ten years, it will be rebuilt around agents. Agents will serve humans, be hired by humans, receive payments from humans, and collaborate with humans to complete complex tasks, while humans will channel more energy into imagination, judgment, purpose, and truly unique value." Star emphasized that this is not an era of more efficient software, but a new economic era. He added: "The future will no longer belong only to companies with the most employees, but also to individuals with the best agents. One person can be a world-class company. Welcome to the Agentic Economy, welcome to OKX.AI."
The new Digital Credit Capital Framework raises the STRC dividend to 12%, authorizes $2 billion in buybacks, and for the first time formally permits selling bitcoin at scale to fund the company's obligations.
Posted June 30, 2026 at 6:18 am EST.
Strategy announced Monday that its board has adopted a Digital Credit Capital Framework, a five-part overhaul of how the company manages its preferred stock obligations that, for the first time since the company began accumulating bitcoin, formally authorizes the sale of bitcoin at meaningful scale. The framework arrives days after Strategy’s enterprise valuation fell below the net asset value of its bitcoin holdings for the first time, and amid mounting pressure on its STRC preferred stock, which has traded as low as $71, well below its $100 par value.
Under the new framework, Strategy announced a BTC Monetization Program, which authorizes the selling of up to $1.25 billion in bitcoin to fund the company’s USD Reserve, preferred dividends and interest payments when management judges it more advantageous than issuing common stock, and new stock and preferred buyback programs. The company stressed the program does not obligate it to sell any bitcoin and has no fixed expiration date.
This story is an excerpt from the Unchained Daily newsletter.
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Strategy also announced a USD Reserve Policy, setting a minimum reserve floor of 12 months of coverage, with any reduction below that threshold requiring separate board authorization.
Strategy said its USD reserve stood at approximately $2.55 billion as of June 28, providing roughly 17.4 months of coverage against the company’s current annual expected preferred dividend payments and interest expense of about $1.76 billion. Combining the cash reserve with the new $1.25 billion bitcoin monetization capacity, Strategy says it has approximately 25.9 months of total liquidity coverage, before accounting for repurchases or future dividend changes.
Two new repurchase programs round out the framework. Strategy authorized up to $1.0 billion to repurchase its Digital Credit Securities, the umbrella term for its preferred stock classes (STRC, STRF, STRD, and STRK), with STRC expected to be the initial priority if management determines repurchases would be accretive. A separate $1.0 billion authorization covers buybacks of Class A common stock. Neither program will be funded from the USD Reserve; if funded through bitcoin sales, those sales would come under the new BTC Monetization Program.
Strategy also raised the STRC dividend rate to 12.00%, effective for dividend periods with record dates on or after July 1, up from the prior 11.5% rate. The company said its objective remains for STRC to trade in a range of $99 to $100, and that it will now evaluate the dividend rate monthly based on trading levels, market yields, credit spreads, bitcoin price and volatility, and the company’s broader capital structure. Strategy added that it “will not necessarily increase the STRC dividend rate solely because STRC trades below its stated amount,” a signal that future dividend hikes are not automatic.
Strategy CEO Phong Le described the company’s new framework as moving “from one-way capital issuance to active capital management,” while CFO Andrew Kang said the company now has the flexibility to use bitcoin holdings “to strengthen Digital Credit, fund or replenish the USD Reserve, fund dividend payments and interest expense, and fund accretive repurchases when BTC monetization is more advantageous than issuing common equity.”
Founder Michael Saylor maintained the company’s underlying commitment to bitcoin in the announcement: “Strategy remains committed to Bitcoin as its primary treasury reserve asset. At the same time, Digital Credit requires liquidity, discipline, and active capital management.”
The announcement follows a stress test on Strategy’s funding model that intensified through June, as STRC’s slide below par and MSTR’s discount to its bitcoin closed off both of the company’s traditional capital-raising channels at once.
Related Listen: How Digital Credit Assets like STRC and SATA Differ from Bitcoin or DAT Stocks
Merlijn says Garlinghouse should not be attacking Saylor since Ripple funds itself by selling XRP from escrow every month.
As more opinions on Strategy’s latest bitcoin (BTC) moves surface within the crypto community, trader Merlijn has countered Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse’s stance on the matter.
In a tweet addressing Garlinghouse’s remarks on Strategy’s recent BTC sale, Merlijn insisted that both Ripple and the business intelligence firm use the same funding models. In other words, the Ripple CEO is in no position to reprimand Strategy and Michael Saylor when they have similar approaches to the market.
Trader Challenges Garlinghouse’s Comments on Strategy Over the weekend, CryptoPotato reported that Garlinghouse said during an interview with CNBC that Strategy’s Bitcoin model is hurting the crypto market. The leading Bitcoin treasury firm broke its BTC purchase streak weeks ago and sold some part of its holdings. The move sparked an uproar in the market, as the company has been one of the major drivers of BTC demand.
Although Strategy subsequently resumed BTC purchases, that sale triggered a lot of criticism from big names and market experts. Garlinghouse was of the opinion that Saylor has not been focused on how to build a strategy around the right features of BTC. He said the company’s purchase model added some excitement as BTC rallied; however, the same approach is now compounding negatively as the asset declines.
To the Ripple CEO, Strategy has been using a leveraged purchase model through the company’s Stretch stock, STRC. With the stock trading 25% below its par price of $100, the market is beginning to witness how Strategy’s model compounds negatively when BTC corrects. Garlinghouse believes Strategy should focus on creating long-term value and utility, not financial engineering through its BTC funding model.
Two Giants, Same Model Although Merlijn believes Ripple CEO is right about STRC being in distress, the trader says Garlinghouse should not be attacking Saylor. Since Ripple funds itself by selling XRP from escrow every month, the company shares a similar model with Strategy.
In Merlijn’s eyes, Strategy and Ripple are just two giants with similar funding models that lean on the market they are defending. Since the funding models of both entities contribute to selling pressure for their individual assets, Merlijn sees no point in Garlinghouse’s criticism. It truly is quite ironic that Garlinghouse, who does not champion the “never sell your XRP” mantra, would reprimand Strategy for one bitcoin sale.
You may also like: Is XRP Ready for a Reversal? Wallets Surge as FOMO Hits 3-Month Peak XRP Whales Are Moving On, and Binance Is No Longer Their Top Choice Everyone Expects XRP to Crash Further: Is Ripple About to Surprise the Market? Tags:
XRP is holding above the key $1 support with modest gains, but it remains stuck in a range below resistance around $1.10.Network and fund data are improving, with daily active addresses up 72 percent in two weeks and XRP spot ETFs logging eight straight weeks of inflows.Leverage in XRP has reset sharply lower, cleaning up crowded long positions, yet the price is still trading below major moving averages and has not confirmed a recovery.XRP is no longer getting hit by the same crowded leverage that drove the selloff from its highs, but buyers still have not done enough to change the chart.
The token held above $1 and edged higher during the session, while network activity rose sharply and ETF inflows continued. That leaves traders watching whether improving usage and cleaner positioning can finally turn into a move back above $1.10.
News Background• XRP daily active addresses rose from 23,000 on June 14 to nearly 39,500 by June 27, a 72% increase in two weeks.
• Open interest across major exchanges fell below 150 million from a 1.3 billion peak, removing a large share of the leveraged positioning that had built up during XRP’s earlier rally.
• XRP spot ETFs recorded an eighth consecutive week of inflows, bringing cumulative inflows to $144.7 million despite broader weakness across crypto funds.
• XRP ETFs added $15.6 million in net inflows on June 26, while bitcoin ETFs saw $444.5 million in outflows and ether funds lost $12.9 million.
Price Action Summary• XRP rose from $1.0451 to $1.0544 during the 24-hour session, gaining 1.59%.
• The token traded in a $0.0435 range and continued to hold above the $1.00 psychological support level.
• The main burst of activity came on June 29 at 17:00, when volume reached 86.5 million XRP, about 67% above the 24-hour average.
• Price later consolidated between $1.03 and $1.06, leaving the market range-bound rather than in a confirmed recovery.
Technical Analysis• The key development is that XRP continues to defend $1.00 even after a 19% monthly decline.
• The leverage reset improves the setup. Open interest has fallen sharply, funding has turned negative and forced long liquidations have cleared out crowded positioning.
• The on-chain picture is stronger than the chart. Active addresses are rising, ETF inflows are continuing and exchange reserves remain stable, but price is still below major moving averages.
• XRP remains capped by resistance near $1.10, with larger barriers near the 50-day EMA around $1.20 and the 100-day EMA around $1.31.
• The 4-hour RSI has recovered from oversold territory to 46, but momentum remains below the neutral 50 level.
What traders should watch• $1.00 remains the key support level. A break below it would put $0.90-$0.87 back in focus.
• $1.06 is the first short-term resistance level, followed by $1.09-$1.10, where recent rallies have stalled.
• A reclaim of $1.20 would be the first real sign that XRP is shifting from support defense to recovery.
• Until XRP breaks above $1.10 or loses $1.00, the market remains a range trade with improving fundamentals but no confirmed technical turn.
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The Evolution of the Crypto CEX Landscape: A Case Study on Binance
The Evolution of the Crypto CEX Landscape: A Case Study on Binance
Binance remains crypto’s leading exchange, expanding from spot and derivatives into RWAs, payments, savings, yield, and broader financial services.
23 hours ago
Binance remains crypto’s leading exchange, expanding from spot and derivatives into RWAs, payments, savings, yield, and broader financial services.
Why it matters:
Binance remains crypto’s leading exchange, expanding from spot and derivatives into RWAs, payments, savings, yield, and broader financial services.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has publicly criticized Michael Saylor’s Bitcoin acquisition strategy at Strategy Inc. He argued that Strategy’s financial engineering has increased volatility and hurt the broader crypto market.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Slams Michael Saylor’s Bitcoin Funding Strategy Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse took to X and blamed Michael Saylor’s Strategy for the crypto market slump again. He also quoted that “Financial engineering doesn’t drive long-term value. utility does”
The post came shortly after a CNBC Squawk on the Street highlighted his interview comments. In the interview, Garlinghouse directly addressed Strategy’s Bitcoin funding approach under Executive Chairman Michael Saylor:
I think team Michael Saylor wasn’t focused on the right stuff, and that has hurt the overall market.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse claimed he is still bullish on Bitcoin. However, he slammed Strategy’s use of preferred stock issuance and other financing tools to aggressively accumulate Bitcoin as a form of leverage. He explained that it “added some excitement on the way up and now that’s compounding on the way down.”
Garlinghouse pointed to the sharp decline in STRC, Strategy’s perpetual preferred stock, below its $100 par value. However, STRC closed 12.20% higher at $83.67 after Michael Saylor’s Strategy announced digital credit repurchase, 12% dividend, and a $3.80 billion cash reserve plan.
Crypto Market Slump and Bitcoin Selling Pressure Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse’s comments came as Bitcoin fell below $60K while XRP faces a drop below $1 amid broader crypto market volatility. The next XRP support levels based on volume are $0.80, $0.62, and $0.51, as per on-chain data.
Meanwhile, Michael Saylor’s Strategy has announced Bitcoin Monetization Program to sell BTC to fund the USD Reserve, STRC dividend, and MSTR stock repurchase. This triggered a sharp 12.60% rebound in MSTR stock on Monday.
However, Bitcoin sales by Strategy may lead to a further drop in Bitcoin and a crypto market crash. Bitcoin analysts remain cautious as BTC is trading below the key 200-week moving average.
The crypto prices remain in a correction phase, with participants watching for signs of stabilization. Ripple CEO remarks spotlight headwinds for the cryptocurrency market, with the company focusing on building real-world utility to boost adoption for the next wave of bull market.
The XRP Ledger (XRPL) is moving toward a new phase focused on financing value, with a new native Lending Protocol entering the validator voting phase.
The protocol will provide crypto holders with yield and businesses with efficient access to capital.
Jasmine Cooper, head of product at RippleX, has noted that the infrastructure around tokenization has remained largely absent or fragmented.
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Separating underwriting from executionThe XRPL approach relies on institutions to handle credit assessments off-chain. This sets it apart from decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms that integrate underwriting directly into protocols.
The blockchain natively enforces the mechanics of repayment schedules, interest calculations, and default conditions based on the agreed-upon terms.
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Notably, Cooper agrees that execution does not necessarily have to be executed off-chain. "Over time, I’d love to see more of the lifecycle move on chain," she said.
Core components The proposed credit infrastructure consists of two complementary components: single asset vaults (XLS-65) for pooling and managing a single asset on the ledger and the lending protocol (XLS-66), which allows pooled liquidity from the vaults to be originated into fixed-term loans.
The protocol structures risk by supporting first-loss capital at the facility level. This means pool administrators or underwriters put junior capital at risk.
The system targets practical working capital use cases for institutions. For instance, a payment provider waiting for cross-border settlement to close could access a short-term working capital facility against expected inflows instead of drawing on more expensive traditional bank credit lines.
XRPL aims to offer institutions the liquidity and distribution benefits of a public blockchain combined with strict regulatory compliance.
The XLS-65 and XLS-66 proposals are currently subject to approval by XRPL validators. If approved, the native credit layer will become available on the mainnet.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has renewed his criticism of leverage-driven crypto strategies, saying long-term value in digital assets comes from real-world utility rather than financial engineering.
In a post on X, Garlinghouse wrote, “Financial engineering doesn’t drive long-term value. Utility does,” while reacting to a clip from his recent CNBC interview in which he criticised Strategy’s approach to Bitcoin accumulation.
The comment comes as crypto markets remain under pressure following Bitcoin’s recent correction and concerns around leveraged exposure across the industry.
Garlinghouse Targets Strategy’s Bitcoin ApproachDuring the CNBC interview, Garlinghouse argued that Strategy’s aggressive use of leverage has contributed to recent market volatility.
“I think team Michael Saylor wasn’t focused on the right stuff, and that has hurt the overall market,” he said.
According to Garlinghouse, borrowing heavily to acquire Bitcoin boosted prices during the bull market but has amplified downside risks as market conditions weakened. He also pointed to Strategy’s preferred stock, STRC, which has fallen well below its issue price, as evidence that leverage can quickly become a liability.
Despite the criticism, Garlinghouse stressed that his comments were directed at Strategy’s capital allocation strategy rather than Bitcoin itself.
Utility, Not LeverageGarlinghouse reiterated that cryptocurrencies derive lasting value only when they solve real-world problems.
He said assets with genuine use cases create sustainable demand, liquidity and long-term adoption, whereas financial engineering simply increases risk without improving the underlying value proposition.
The Ripple chief added that he has maintained the same view for years, arguing that speculation alone cannot support long-term growth in the digital asset market.
Bitcoin And Ripple Have Different RolesWhile remaining bullish on Bitcoin, Garlinghouse described it as evolving into “digital gold,” highlighting how blockchain enables large-value transfers far more efficiently than moving physical gold.
He also pointed to Ripple’s payments business as an example of blockchain utility. The company processed around $16 trillion in payments last year, though Garlinghouse acknowledged that only a small portion currently settles using digital assets.
He said the long-term opportunity lies in bringing traditional financial infrastructure onto blockchain networks rather than relying on leveraged investment strategies to lift crypto prices.
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Key Takeaways XRP currently hovers around $1.05, maintaining stability above the critical $1 threshold following a June 25 dip to $1.01—the lowest level in 19 months. Tokens flowing out of exchanges increased dramatically, jumping from 40.7 million to approximately 123 million XRP within days, suggesting potential accumulation by holders. Spot XRP ETFs recorded their eighth consecutive week of positive inflows, bringing total cumulative inflows to approximately $1.47 billion. Network engagement surged with daily active addresses climbing 72% over a two-week period, moving from 23,000 to nearly 39,500. Derivatives open interest contracted sharply from 1.3 billion to under 150 million, indicating a significant deleveraging event. XRP maintains its position around the $1.05 level following a challenging June performance. The digital asset touched approximately $1.01 on June 25, marking its lowest valuation in 19 months, yet purchasing pressure has successfully defended the psychologically important $1.00 threshold in subsequent trading sessions.
XRP Price While price action has remained subdued, the underlying XRP Ledger has demonstrated notable vitality. The blockchain recorded 4,941 newly created wallets within a 24-hour window, representing the most significant single-day expansion in wallet creation observed over the past three months.
Concurrently, daily active addresses have experienced substantial growth. The metric expanded from approximately 23,000 on June 14 to nearly 39,500 by June 27, reflecting a 72% increase within a fortnight.
Token Movement and Institutional Capital Flow Blockchain analytics reveal an accelerating trend of tokens being withdrawn from centralized exchanges. The exchange net position change metric shifted from roughly 40.7 million XRP on June 22 to approximately 123 million XRP several days afterward, representing an increase of nearly 200%.
Source: Glassnode Such withdrawal patterns typically indicate that holders are moving assets into self-custody rather than positioning for immediate sales. Meanwhile, institutional appetite for XRP exposure continues unabated.
Spot XRP exchange-traded funds have maintained positive net inflows for eight consecutive weeks. Total cumulative inflows now approach $1.47 billion, with an additional $22.99 million recorded during the week ending June 26.
Notably, on June 26, XRP-focused ETFs attracted $15.6 million in capital while bitcoin-based products experienced $444.5 million in withdrawals and ethereum funds recorded $12.9 million in outflows.
The derivatives market has undergone significant consolidation. Open interest across primary trading venues declined from a peak exceeding 1.3 billion to beneath 150 million, eliminating substantial speculative positioning that accumulated during XRP’s previous upward movement.
Market intelligence firm Santiment Intelligence highlighted this divergence between price weakness and growing network participation in a recent analysis. The firm observed that new wallet creation and optimistic market sentiment are materializing even as price threatens the $1 level, with sentiment analysis revealing 3.7 positive comments for each negative one—the highest ratio in three months.
✍️ TL;DR: XRP’s massive new wallet creations & FOMO emerge in midst of price threatening to drop below $1
📊 Metrics used: Network Growth, Pos/Neg Social Ratio
🔗 Link to chart: https://t.co/0WJTZI6VSS
📉 $XRP is still hanging on to the $1.00 support zone, trading around ~$1.04… pic.twitter.com/41bd8NqCQJ
— Santiment Intelligence (@SantimentData) June 30, 2026
Critical Technical Zones Under Observation XRP has remained confined within a descending price channel throughout the past year. The 20-period exponential moving average, which tracks near-term momentum, currently aligns with the upper boundary of this channel in the $1.18 to $1.22 range.
Source: TradingView This region also coincides with a Fibonacci retracement level at $1.178 and a concentration of approximately 22.8 million XRP in cost basis distribution between $1.18 and $1.19. An additional 27.4 million XRP are positioned between $1.21 and $1.22.
These price zones represent areas where previous purchasers may attempt to exit positions at breakeven, establishing resistance. A decisive move above $1.18 followed by $1.22 would push XRP beyond its established downtrend into more neutral technical territory.
For downside protection, immediate support is established near $1.02. A violation of this level could potentially trigger a decline toward $0.87, according to Fibonacci extension analysis.
In the near term, market participants are monitoring $1.06 as initial resistance, followed by the $1.09 to $1.10 zone where previous recovery attempts have encountered selling pressure. A sustained move above $1.20 would represent the first meaningful indication of a potential trend reversal.
The 4-hour relative strength index has recovered to 46 after entering oversold territory, though it remains below the neutral 50 threshold. Price action recently consolidated within a $1.03 to $1.06 range, with peak trading volume occurring on June 29 at 17:00 UTC when 86.5 million XRP were exchanged.
30 June 2026 | 09:59 XRP is consolidating after a hard fall, and its derivatives market has quietly gone calm. Price sits at $1.0479 at the time of writing, down 5.6% for the week, having dropped from the $1.25 area through $1 in June.
Key Takeaways XRP trades at $1.0479 after a June collapse from $1.25 to a $1.007 low. All three moving averages sit above price and are declining. Open interest broke structurally lower in October 2025 and stays compressed. The turnover ratio at 0.71 points to subdued speculative churn. Underneath that, leverage and turnover have both thinned out. The combination describes a market that has de-risked, which is not the same as one turning bullish.
The June Collapse and Where Price Sits XRP has been in a downtrend since the 2026 hight of $2.4 reached in january, and June was the sharpest leg. The decline came in steps: sharp red candles from $1.30 to $1.16, a mid-month bounce back to $1.30, then a second leg that broke below $1.10 and bottomed at $1.007 on June 26. The last several candles have compressed tightly between $1.04 and $1.07, the first real consolidation after weeks of one-way selling. Volume on the down-legs ran heavier than on the bounce attempts, which says the selling carried more conviction than the recovery bids.
XRP daily price chart showing ongoing bearish consolidation. The Structure Is Still Bearish The moving averages leave no ambiguity on the TradingView chart. The 50-day sits at $1.2287, the 100-day at $1.3075, and the 200-day at $1.4986, all above price, all declining, with the 200-day sloping down most steeply into July. Price is roughly $0.18 below the 50-day and nearly $0.45 below the 200-day, a wide bearish gap with no convergence.
RSI tells the one less-bearish part. It bottomed near an extreme oversold reading around 20 in early June, then recovered to the current 33.30, with the signal line at 36.39. That’s momentum lifting off the low, but still well below the neutral 50 zone, recovered, not reversed.
Open Interest Broke Lower and Stayed There The derivatives side is where the structural story sits. Open interest shows two clear regimes. From roughly May to September 2025 it ran consistently above 800M and peaked over 1.2B. Then, around October 2025, it broke sharply lower and has stayed compressed in the 300M to 500M range ever since, including the current June 2026 reading.\
Binance XRP open interest and turnover ratio showing reduced speculative activity. This looks like a permanent regime shift rather than a temporary dip. Current OI sits comfortably inside that lower post-October range, not testing the bottom of it. Less open interest means fewer leveraged bets are on the table than during the mid-2025 peak.
What the 0.71 Turnover Ratio Means The Open Interest Turnover Ratio is influenced by short-term spikes rather than sustained trends. This indicator measures the ratio of daily futures trading volume to the total open interest (OI) in the market. In practice, it shows how quickly traders’ positions are replaced (“turned over”) within a 24-hour period. A ratio below 1 indicates that capital is more stable and positions are held for longer, while a high ratio signals that market participants are opening and closing their positions extremely aggressively and quickly.
Historically, the XRP market has seen one-day spikes to 4 or higher (as in February 2026), meaning that on those days, the entire available volume of positions was rolled over four times under the pressure of high volatility. Apart from these isolated instances, however, the baseline typically remains below 1.5, which corresponds to the current value of 0.71.
Two things follow. A low, stable turnover ratio alongside compressed OI means reduced speculative churn, fewer fresh leveraged bets, and existing positions turning over less aggressively. And the historical 4+ spikes aren’t predictive on their own, they’re coincident with volatility events that already happened, the same sharp directional candles visible on the price chart. They mark moves, they don’t forecast them.
Put the two sides together. The price chart shows a market that fell hard through June and is now consolidating with RSI recovering off oversold. The derivatives chart shows subdued leverage and low turnover. Together, that’s a market that has been de-risked through the decline: the aggressive positioning of mid-2025 isn’t here anymore, which removes one source of amplified volatility but says nothing about direction on its own. The moving-average structure remains firmly bearish regardless of the calmer derivatives backdrop.
The levels frame the range. Immediate support sits at $1.04, the bottom of the current consolidation, with the $1 psychological level and the $1.007 June low as the floor beneath it, the zone price clawed back above after the selloff. On the upside, $1.07 caps the current range as immediate resistance, and the real test is far higher: the declining 50-day SMA at $1.2287, with $1.30 marking where June’s bounce attempts failed. Reclaiming the 50-day is what it would take to challenge the downtrend; until then, rallies sit below a falling average.
So the accurate read isn’t bullish or bearish from the derivatives, it’s that the amplification mechanism for the next move is currently muted. The signal worth watching is the turnover ratio and open interest rising together. That combination could mark fresh speculative capital entering, the condition that has historically preceded larger directional moves. It isn’t present now. Until it is, the calm in derivatives is just calm, not a setup.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Consult a professional before making investment decisions.
Author
Kosta has reported on cryptocurrency markets and blockchain infrastructure since 2020, bringing over six years of hands-on experience in the crypto industry built through daily tracking of markets, trends, and emerging blockchain developments. Specializing in Bitcoin on-chain analysis, institutional ETF flows, and digital asset price action, his work at Coindoo has been cited by other news agencies and consistently covers market developments with a focus on data-driven reporting across Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP. Over the years, Kosta has contributed to multiple crypto media outlets in different regions, authoring over 6,000 articles across the sector. His reporting spans cryptocurrency markets and the broader fintech industry, tracking not only price action but also the technological and regulatory forces shaping the ecosystem. To support his analysis, Kosta actively leverages on-chain data and metrics from leading platforms such as Santiment, Glassnode, and CryptoQuant, enabling deeper, evidence-based market insights. He believes in the power of transparency and the data that underpins the blockchain ecosystem. His academic background in Marketing Management from Denmark further complements his analytical approach, adding a strong understanding of communication strategy and content positioning to his work.
