PANews reported on August 28th that the stablecoin Visa card platform Rain has completed a $58 million Series B funding round, led by Sapphire Ventures, with participation from Dragonfly, Galaxy Ventures, Endeavor Catalyst, Samsung Next, and Lightspeed. This funding represents a nearly sixfold increase in Rain's valuation of $24.5 million. Sources familiar with the matter revealed that the annualized spending on Rain-supported bank cards has exceeded $1 billion.
Founded in 2021 by CEO Farooq Malik and CTO Charles Yoo-Naut, Rain launched a Visa-enabled bank card, enabling stablecoins to be spent anywhere Visa is accepted. Rain allows emerging banks and fintech companies to offer stablecoin payment services. Earlier in March , Rain secured $24.5 million in funding, led by Norwest Venture Partners.
Rain, a four-year-old fintech that issues Visa payment cards backed by stablecoins, has raised $58 million in Series B financing led by enterprise-technology specialist Sapphire Ventures
Rain, a four-year-old fintech that issues Visa payment cards backed by stablecoins, has raised $58 million in Series B financing led by enterprise-technology specialist Sapphire Ventures. Additional backers include Samsung Next, Dragonfly, Galaxy, Lightspeed Venture Partners, Norwest Venture Partners and Endeavor Global.
The latest round comes just five months after the San Francisco-based company closed a $24.5 million Series A led by Norwest, lifting Rain’s total funding to about $88.5 million. Rain said it will use the capital to scale its platform, which enables businesses to issue cards that spend USDC and other stablecoins directly on existing payment networks.
Company executives said adoption of stablecoin-linked payments has accelerated in 2025 as firms seek faster and cheaper cross-border transactions. Sapphire Ventures noted the deal is its first investment tied to stablecoins, underscoring growing institutional interest in blockchain-based payment infrastructure.
This is an AI-generated article powered by DeepNewz, curated by The Defiant. For more information, including article sources, visit DeepNewz.
TLDR:Rain’s Enterprise Stablecoin Platform Expands Global ReachSeries B Funding Boosts Rain’s Crypto Payments InfrastructureGet 3 Free Stock Ebooks Rain raises $58M Series B led by Sapphire Ventures, total funding now $88.5M. The platform now enables stablecoin payments for over 1.5 billion users worldwide. Transaction volume has grown 10x in 2025, covering 150+ countries. Enterprise partners use Rain for merchant payouts, cross-border payroll, and card programs. Rain announced it has raised $58 million in a Series B funding round to scale its enterprise stablecoin infrastructure.
Sapphire Ventures led the round, joined by Dragonfly, Galaxy Ventures, Endeavor Catalyst, Samsung Next, Lightspeed, and Norwest. The new funding increases Rain’s total capital to $88.5 million, just five months after its Series A.
The company powers payments, wallets, and cards for over 1.5 billion users worldwide. The announcement was confirmed via a PRNewswire release on August 28, 2025.
CEO Farooq Malik said the platform simplifies enterprise payments using stablecoins. Rain provides a single integration for cards, wallets, and payment programs. Its API covers money-in, storage, spending, and money-out. Compliance standards include PCI DSS, SOC 2, and audited smart contracts.
Rain’s Enterprise Stablecoin Platform Expands Global Reach Enterprise adoption of stablecoins is rising following regulatory clarity from the GENIUS Act in the U.S. and Europe’s MiCA framework.
Rain enables companies to integrate stablecoins into their operations efficiently. Partners like Nuvei, Avalanche, Dakota, and Nomad use Rain for merchant payouts, cross-border payroll, and consumer payments. Stablecoins can be used wherever Visa is accepted via Rain’s card programs.
Transaction volume has grown tenfold since January 2025. The platform now serves users in more than 150 countries, with expansion plans in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.
Jai Das, President at Sapphire Ventures, joined Rain’s board and highlighted the company’s ability to connect stablecoins to Visa’s network.
Rain’s infrastructure is built natively for stablecoins rather than retrofitted from fiat rails. Direct settlement in stablecoins reduces conversion steps for enterprises. The platform is modular, allowing partners to scale programs quickly.
Enterprises can launch new payment programs without complex setups.
Series B Funding Boosts Rain’s Crypto Payments Infrastructure The Series B funding will support global expansion of Rain’s platform and services. The company plans to hire across engineering, compliance, and commercial teams.
Existing partners will receive resources to scale payment programs efficiently. Rain is entering new markets where stablecoin-based workflows are growing.
Rain supports instant spending, merchant payouts, and cross-border payroll. The Series B aims to strengthen the platform’s enterprise adoption.
Rain is positioned to scale globally while maintaining compliance and reliability. The funding underlines growing demand for enterprise-ready stablecoin payment solutions.
Stifel: U.S. economy in "overheated expansion" as AI investment cycle outweighs consumer pressure
U.S. large diversified financial services holding company Stifel has raised its year-end S&P 500 target and rolled out a stock allocation framework for a "high-growth, high-inflation" environment. The firm lifted its year-end S&P 500 target to 7,800 points, noting the U.S. economy is entering a "running hot" state—where economic growth is strengthening alongside mounting inflationary pressure. Stifel’s models show U.S. growth momentum is picking up while inflation momentum is clearly overheating, a trend that will reshape the market’s leading sector structure in the second half of the year. Instead of traditional consumer sectors, Stifel’s top picks are investment-led cyclical industries, including banks, transportation, materials, energy, semiconductors, software and equipment. The firm adds that fixed-asset investment in AI remains on the rise: large tech firms including Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and Google are projected to combine for roughly $725 billion in total capital expenditures in 2026, some $100 billion higher than prior estimates. This means the AI investment chain is likely to continue outperforming the consumption chain squeezed by inflation. Stifel advises investors to reduce exposure to discretionary consumer, consumer staples, communication services and some financial services sectors, as these areas see weaker earnings revisions. Conversely, the firm favors cyclical value stocks and hedges with defensive value sectors such as insurance, autos, energy and banks.
1 seconds ago
Analyst: Micron's earnings boost overall market sentiment for the tech sector
Chris Strazzeri, Financial Trading Manager of Moomoo’s Australia and New Zealand branch, stated: “The targeted sell-off indicates that following a sustained, strong rally in AI-related and speculative growth stocks, investors are enforcing strict valuation discipline. This serves as a warning to the market that actual earnings levels must now rise to support the currently overvalued price-to-earnings ratio. Micron Technology’s post-market earnings results largely confirm this, and its robust performance has lifted overall market sentiment in the tech sector.”
1 seconds ago
2x Leveraged Long DRAM ETF (RAM) Records $383 Million in Trading Volume on Its First Day of Listing
According to Bitget market data, the Roundhill T-REX 2X Long DRAM Daily Target ETF (Nasdaq ticker: RAM) officially launched trading yesterday. On its first trading day, the fund recorded a total turnover of $383 million, and rose 29.47% in after-hours U.S. stock trading to hit $30.8. Note: RAM’s underlying exposure covers companies engaged in memory-related technologies, including DRAM, NAND and storage solutions, targeting active traders seeking leveraged exposure to the memory chip theme and artificial intelligence infrastructure development.
1 seconds ago
BCA Research raises its S&P 500 target to 8,100 points, with AI remaining a core variable.
BCA Research has become the latest strategy firm to raise its US stock market target, reflecting Wall Street’s growing optimism about earnings support for US equities in the second half of the year. The institution lifted its year-end S&P 500 target from 7,700 points to 8,100 points. BCA’s core view is that first-quarter corporate earnings exceeded expectations in both strength and breadth, and the US economy has re-entered an expansion phase. Similar to JPMorgan Chase, BCA believes this stock rally is not only driven by valuation expansion—earnings themselves are delivering the index’s gains. AI remains the core variable in this assessment. Large tech firms including Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and Oracle continue to increase capital spending on data centers and AI infrastructure, driving growth in orders for chips, servers, construction, power and related industrial chains. This provides a clearer fundamental basis for upward revisions to 2026 and 2027 earnings. The institution points out that risks exist: the earnings expansion brought by AI investments has already been quickly priced into the market. If subsequent returns on capital spending are questioned, or interest rates remain elevated, further upside for the index will require more earnings confirmation rather than relying solely on investor risk appetite.
1 seconds ago
Tom Lee: Markets have nearly priced in two interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve this year, and the rise in US Treasury yields is weighing on market sentiment.
Tom Lee said the market is still digesting Kevin Warsh’s remarks from his first press conference last week and repricing the macro environment. Over the past week, oil prices have pulled back, with war premiums contracting. Current oil prices are not far from the roughly $65 level seen before the conflict, indicating the market views related war risks as declining. On the other hand, 10-year U.S. Treasury yields continue to rise, now around 4.5%, higher than the pre-conflict level of roughly 4.2%. The main headwind the market has faced recently has shifted from oil prices to yields. Tom Lee noted that the market is not only focused on 10-year U.S. Treasury yields but also starting to price in potential additional interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve. According to federal funds futures, the market is currently pricing in nearly two rate hikes this year. Bank of America further projected today that the Fed will raise rates three times this year, in September, October, and December respectively. Jeffrey Gundlach often emphasizes the importance of monitoring 2-year U.S. Treasury yields, as they typically lead the Fed and signal the central bank’s policy direction. Between 2023 and 2025, the relationship between 2-year U.S. Treasury yields and the federal funds rate indicated that the Fed’s policy was overly tight, requiring interest rate cuts. However, this relationship has recently reversed, meaning the Fed would need two rate hikes to catch up with 2-year U.S. Treasury yields. He believes that, at least for now, yields have become a headwind for the market.
1 seconds ago
Japan and South Korea's stock markets closed higher across the board, with Japan's stock market hitting a new closing high.
According to Bitget market data, the Nikkei 225 index closed up 3,191.37 points, or 4.61%, at 72,366.34 points on Thursday, June 25, hitting a new all-time closing high. South Korea’s KOSPI index rose 459.76 points (5.43%) to end at 8,930.78 points; SK Hynix surged 13% while Samsung Electronics gained more than 5%.
Stifel: U.S. economy in "overheated expansion" as AI investment cycle outweighs consumer pressure
U.S. large diversified financial services holding company Stifel has raised its year-end S&P 500 target and rolled out a stock allocation framework for a "high-growth, high-inflation" environment. The firm lifted its year-end S&P 500 target to 7,800 points, noting the U.S. economy is entering a "running hot" state—where economic growth is strengthening alongside mounting inflationary pressure. Stifel’s models show U.S. growth momentum is picking up while inflation momentum is clearly overheating, a trend that will reshape the market’s leading sector structure in the second half of the year. Instead of traditional consumer sectors, Stifel’s top picks are investment-led cyclical industries, including banks, transportation, materials, energy, semiconductors, software and equipment. The firm adds that fixed-asset investment in AI remains on the rise: large tech firms including Amazon, Microsoft, Meta and Google are projected to combine for roughly $725 billion in total capital expenditures in 2026, some $100 billion higher than prior estimates. This means the AI investment chain is likely to continue outperforming the consumption chain squeezed by inflation. Stifel advises investors to reduce exposure to discretionary consumer, consumer staples, communication services and some financial services sectors, as these areas see weaker earnings revisions. Conversely, the firm favors cyclical value stocks and hedges with defensive value sectors such as insurance, autos, energy and banks.
1 seconds ago
Analyst: Micron's earnings boost overall market sentiment for the tech sector
Chris Strazzeri, Financial Trading Manager of Moomoo’s Australia and New Zealand branch, stated: “The targeted sell-off indicates that following a sustained, strong rally in AI-related and speculative growth stocks, investors are enforcing strict valuation discipline. This serves as a warning to the market that actual earnings levels must now rise to support the currently overvalued price-to-earnings ratio. Micron Technology’s post-market earnings results largely confirm this, and its robust performance has lifted overall market sentiment in the tech sector.”
1 seconds ago
2x Leveraged Long DRAM ETF (RAM) Records $383 Million in Trading Volume on Its First Day of Listing
According to Bitget market data, the Roundhill T-REX 2X Long DRAM Daily Target ETF (Nasdaq ticker: RAM) officially launched trading yesterday. On its first trading day, the fund recorded a total turnover of $383 million, and rose 29.47% in after-hours U.S. stock trading to hit $30.8. Note: RAM’s underlying exposure covers companies engaged in memory-related technologies, including DRAM, NAND and storage solutions, targeting active traders seeking leveraged exposure to the memory chip theme and artificial intelligence infrastructure development.
1 seconds ago
BCA Research raises its S&P 500 target to 8,100 points, with AI remaining a core variable.
BCA Research has become the latest strategy firm to raise its US stock market target, reflecting Wall Street’s growing optimism about earnings support for US equities in the second half of the year. The institution lifted its year-end S&P 500 target from 7,700 points to 8,100 points. BCA’s core view is that first-quarter corporate earnings exceeded expectations in both strength and breadth, and the US economy has re-entered an expansion phase. Similar to JPMorgan Chase, BCA believes this stock rally is not only driven by valuation expansion—earnings themselves are delivering the index’s gains. AI remains the core variable in this assessment. Large tech firms including Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, Meta and Oracle continue to increase capital spending on data centers and AI infrastructure, driving growth in orders for chips, servers, construction, power and related industrial chains. This provides a clearer fundamental basis for upward revisions to 2026 and 2027 earnings. The institution points out that risks exist: the earnings expansion brought by AI investments has already been quickly priced into the market. If subsequent returns on capital spending are questioned, or interest rates remain elevated, further upside for the index will require more earnings confirmation rather than relying solely on investor risk appetite.
1 seconds ago
Tom Lee: Markets have nearly priced in two interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve this year, and the rise in US Treasury yields is weighing on market sentiment.
Tom Lee said the market is still digesting Kevin Warsh’s remarks from his first press conference last week and repricing the macro environment. Over the past week, oil prices have pulled back, with war premiums contracting. Current oil prices are not far from the roughly $65 level seen before the conflict, indicating the market views related war risks as declining. On the other hand, 10-year U.S. Treasury yields continue to rise, now around 4.5%, higher than the pre-conflict level of roughly 4.2%. The main headwind the market has faced recently has shifted from oil prices to yields. Tom Lee noted that the market is not only focused on 10-year U.S. Treasury yields but also starting to price in potential additional interest rate hikes from the Federal Reserve. According to federal funds futures, the market is currently pricing in nearly two rate hikes this year. Bank of America further projected today that the Fed will raise rates three times this year, in September, October, and December respectively. Jeffrey Gundlach often emphasizes the importance of monitoring 2-year U.S. Treasury yields, as they typically lead the Fed and signal the central bank’s policy direction. Between 2023 and 2025, the relationship between 2-year U.S. Treasury yields and the federal funds rate indicated that the Fed’s policy was overly tight, requiring interest rate cuts. However, this relationship has recently reversed, meaning the Fed would need two rate hikes to catch up with 2-year U.S. Treasury yields. He believes that, at least for now, yields have become a headwind for the market.
1 seconds ago
Japan and South Korea's stock markets closed higher across the board, with Japan's stock market hitting a new closing high.
According to Bitget market data, the Nikkei 225 index closed up 3,191.37 points, or 4.61%, at 72,366.34 points on Thursday, June 25, hitting a new all-time closing high. South Korea’s KOSPI index rose 459.76 points (5.43%) to end at 8,930.78 points; SK Hynix surged 13% while Samsung Electronics gained more than 5%.
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The cryptocurrency market has been filled with surprises in recent weeks, and two tokens have been standing out from the pack: Nervos Network (CKB) and Mpeppe (MPEPE). While the market sentiment for most altcoins has been bearish, Nervos Network (CKB) has experienced an impressive 83% increase in just seven days, putting it on the radar of investors looking for high-growth opportunities. Simultaneously, Mpeppe (MPEPE), a memecoin with a focus on decentralized gambling, has been steadily increasing its user base and value, positioning itself for a sharp rise to $0.00235.
Let’s take a deeper look at how Nervos Network (CKB) and Mpeppe (MPEPE) are defying the bearish trend and why both tokens should be on your watchlist.
Nervos Network (CKB) on the Rise Nervos Network (CKB) has been gaining substantial traction over the past week, with its price surging by over 83%. This growth can be attributed to a mix of technical upgrades and renewed market confidence in its underlying technology. The Nervos Network (CKB), with its focus on providing interoperability between different blockchains, has captured the attention of developers and investors alike.
Despite Bitcoin’s recent price correction, Nervos Network (CKB) has shown resilience. The token price found a solid bottom in early August 2024, and since then, it has steadily increased, with a notable 210% rise in value since August 5th. Nervos Network (CKB) native token, CKB, now sits around 16 cents, with analysts predicting that it could break through its next resistance level, potentially reaching as high as 25 to 36 cents in the coming weeks.
Why Nervos Network’s Surge Is Just the Beginning Several factors suggest that Nervos Network’s (CKB) recent rally is more than just a short-term spike. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the daily chart shows that CKB is currently in an overbought state, signaling potential for a short-term pullback. However, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator remains bullish, suggesting that the momentum could continue to push the price higher. Moreover, the network’s growing utility and developer ecosystem make it an attractive investment option for those looking for long-term growth.
Mpeppe (MPEPE): Ready for a Surge While Nervos Network (CKB) is dominating the charts with its recent gains, Mpeppe (MPEPE) is quietly positioning itself as a rising star in the memecoin space. Mpeppe (MPEPE), a decentralized gambling token, has been steadily building its user base and preparing for a significant price increase to $0.00235.
The unique combination of entertainment and decentralized finance has given Mpeppe (MPEPE) a competitive edge in a crowded market. The token allows users to participate in decentralized gambling activities while benefiting from the transparency and security of blockchain technology. Mpeppe (MPEPE)’s price has remained stable during the recent market downturn, and analysts believe that this stability could be a sign of an impending surge.
Why Mpeppe Is Gaining Attention As Mpeppe (MPEPE) continues to gain traction, investors are starting to take notice of its potential. The decentralized gambling market is projected to grow exponentially in the coming years, and Mpeppe (MPEPE)’s early entry into this space gives it a first-mover advantage. The token’s presale has already garnered significant attention, and with predictions of up to 150x returns, early investors are set to benefit the most.
One of the key factors driving interest in Mpeppe (MPEPE) is its unique approach to decentralized gambling. Unlike traditional gambling platforms, which often come with high fees and lack transparency, Mpeppe (MPEPE) offers a fully decentralized experience, allowing users to gamble in a secure and fair environment. This, combined with the memecoin’s strong community support, makes Mpeppe (MPEPE) a standout in a market that is often dominated by hype-driven projects.
How Nervos Network and Mpeppe Complement Each Other Nervos Network (CKB) and Mpeppe (MPEPE) operate in different sectors of the cryptocurrency market, they complement each other in an investor’s portfolio. Nervos Network, with its focus on interoperability and blockchain scalability, offers a more stable, technology-driven investment. Its recent price surge is a testament to its growing importance in the blockchain ecosystem.
On the other hand, Mpeppe (MPEPE) represents a high-reward opportunity for those looking to capitalize on the booming decentralized gambling market. With its unique use case and growing community, Mpeppe (MPEPE) offers the potential for massive returns, making it an ideal addition to a portfolio that already includes investments like Nervos Network.
Final Thoughts As we head into the final quarter of 2024, both Nervos Network (CKB) and Mpeppe (MPEPE) are well-positioned to deliver impressive returns for investors. Nervos Network’s strong technical foundation and recent price surge make it an attractive option for those looking for a more stable investment with significant upside potential. Meanwhile, Mpeppe (MPEPE)’s focus on decentralized gambling and its potential for 150x returns make it a compelling choice for investors looking for high-reward opportunities.
For more information on the Mpeppe (MPEPPE) Presale:
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As of September 18, the broader crypto market has risen a percent as major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum featured their return to pre-September levels. This bullishness bled to the altcoin market, prompting many tokens to follow the trend. Nervos (CKB) is one of those tokens that experienced astonishing growth with a 120% uptick, outperforming the broader market.
Although CKB’s gains in the short term have been great, the long-term implications of such price movements are still important for investors and traders. The market’s current bullishness might continue for the broader community, but CKB’s performance long-term might be in question.
Nervos: Breakthrough Halted By Resistance The token has gained control of the $0.015 support level for an attempted breakthrough on the $0.0198 resistance. However, the latter has held its ground against the bulls in the short term, potentially putting the gains made in the past few days in jeopardy.
CKB’s position in the short term is threatened by this rejection as the token’s trajectory might push CKB well below its $0.015 support level. If this occurs, it will represent a sudden flip in the short-term outlook of investors and traders.
The relative strength index (RSI) gives a clue as to where the token is heading. As of writing, the RSI points to a majority bull market for CKB, pushing the narrative that the token will continue upward. It also shows that the momentum of CKB’s market is on the side of the bulls.
CKBUSDC trading at $0.017 on the daily chart: TradingView.com If the token continues to get rejected by this crucial resistance level, the token’s momentum will eventually side with the bears flipping gains to losses. Once this occurs, CKB’s trajectory will touchdown on $0.0114 in the short term.
— Upbit Korea (@Official_Upbit) September 13, 2024
Upbit Lists CKB Trading Pairs And Other Developments This Week Upbit’s official X accounts have announced this week that CKB is now supported on the trading platform. The South Korean crypto exchange lists three CKB trading pairs, namely CKB/KRW, CKB/BTC, and CKB/USDT, upping the liquidity of the token in the long run. This will lead to bigger exposure to the Korean market.
Digital assets on Nervos, through the imagiNation.market, are given new life as the latter is now listed on JoyID, a crypto wallet provider on Bitcoin. Although digital collectibles activity on Nervos is quite low, we can expect this development to contribute positively in the coming days or weeks.
With the market’s general bullishness, we can expect the token to perform well in the short term even if it might face retracements in the coming days.
Featured image from Facts.net, chart from TradingView
Disclaimer: The information found on NewsBTC is for educational purposes only. It does not represent the opinions of NewsBTC on whether to buy, sell or hold any investments and naturally investing carries risks. You are advised to conduct your own research before making any investment decisions. Use information provided on this website entirely at your own risk.
Nervos Network, a layer 1 blockchain powering CKB cryptocurrency, today announced its financial result for the three-month period ended September.
According to the company, its third quarterly performance of the 2024 financial year played a crucial role in the firm’s growth. The firm’s trading volume significantly rose, which aligned with new waves of enthusiasm within the digital asset market.
Third quarter 2024 financial highlights The company said the launch of its RGB++ Layer in Q3 2024 enabled the growth of DeFi platforms on its Nervos Network blockchain ecosystem. This also helped position its blockchain as an emerging platform for decentralized finance markets.
The report further stated that since the establishment of the RGB++ Layer, CKB crypto has experienced a significant increase in trading activity. The amount of RGB++ assets transacted on the platform rose by 487% QoQ.
Also, during that period, over 35 crypto projects, mainly from gaming, DeFi, and real-world asset tokenization sectors, integrated with its blockchain network for asset issuance and trading. This reflects increasing adoption and versatility within its blockchain ecosystem, the report said.
The report also disclosed that the company’s network activity grew as transactions and new addresses increased by 34% and 32% QoQ respectively. The growth was mainly driven by September’s Upbit exchange listing and other business partnerships.
Despite the wider market corrections during that period (from July to September), CKB defied the declining trend. The token’s price and market capitalization experienced a surge of 35% and 36% QoQ respectively, bolstered by the highest hashrate and mining difficulty levels witnessed during that time.
CKB’s price rise due to increased demand The incredible increase in Bitcoin price now trading at $95,624.38 renewed users’ interest in the digital asset industry. This helped altcoins like Nervos Network to surge with the tide.
The broader crypto market has witnessed a joyful mood since early this year. Spot Bitcoin ETF’s approval in January and the fourth Bitcoin halving event in April set optimism in the market.
However, not all of CKB’s impressive price movements can be credited to external factors. The blockchain’s commitment to interoperability and scalability is a key advantage that appeals to many investors.
CKB’s price is currently standing at $0.01543, 14.70% up in the last seven days, outperforming the global crypto market which is up 1.10%. This impressive price uptrend has mainly been fueled by increasing demand for innovative scaling solutions and cross-chain interoperability.
AUTHOR
Nicholas Otieno is a fintech writer specializing in cryptocurrency markets. Since 2019, he has written articles to educate readers about cryptocurrency and its substantial positive impact on global prosperity. Nicholas is a Bitcoin holder, believing firmly in its fundamentals. His work has been featured in publications such as Finance Magnates, Blockchain.News, Bitcoin Magazine, Coincub, and among others. When he's not writing, Nicholas enjoys performing domestic tasks, spending time with friends, listening to music, and watching football.
Nervos Network became a victim of a crypto hack worth $3 million Hackers hijacked the Force cross-chain bridge, stole funds, and deposited them into a crypto mixer The crypto industry is growing in popularity, adoption, and regulation across the globe. But so do the crypto hacks across various platforms. Nervos Network is the recent victim of hackers and has lost over $3 million in funds from its cross-chain bridge.
The news came to light when Web3 security firm Cyvers posted about it on its official X account. Multiple malicious transactions, which took place on the Force bridge, included the following assets:
257,800 USDT 539.09 ETH 898,300 USDC 60,400 DAI 0.79 WBTC Overall, hackers stole around $3 million worth of funds. Cyvers also tracked these funds and found that hackers swapped them to Ethereum and deposited them into the popular crypto mixer, Tornado Cash. Once funds are transferred to a crypto mixer, it is almost impossible to find out the wallet addresses linked to those particular asset transfers.
Nervos Network Contributor Magickbase Paused Force Bridge Hours before Cyvers’ post on the hack, Magickbase stated that it paused the activity on the Force cross-chain bridge due to abnormal activity. Magickbase is a major contributor to and an infrastructure provider of the Nervos Network. It is also one of the key partners of Nervos Network’s flagship cross-chain bridges.
The fact that Magickbase announced its plans to shut down the Force bridge from June 1, 2025, is noteworthy. This announcement was released recently on May 31, and the hackers took this opportunity to steal funds. Because of low activity and high maintenance costs, Magickbase decided to sunset two platforms, the Force Bridge and Godwoken.
This is not the first time cross-chain bridges have fallen victim to crypto hackers. The Ronin cross-chain bridge has lost millions of funds multiple times previously. In another incident, Wormhole lost $323 million in the same year.
Cross-chain functionality and interoperability between blockchains are still in the nascent stages. They have vulnerabilities, which is the reason why hackers are keen on exploiting these platforms.
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Manisha is a proficient content writer with a keen eye for blockchain, NFTs, and fintech trends. With a passion for breaking down complex topics, she delivers insightful and engaging content for the Web3 community. Her expertise spans emerging market trends, latest news, and industry developments.
Nervos Network’s Force Bridge was hacked for $3.9 million in crypto, prompting an immediate shutdown as the team investigates the exploit.
Blockchain security firm Cyvers Alerts first reported the incident in a June 2 post on X, noting that a suspicious address appeared to have taken control of the bridge. Several tokens were drained by the attacker, including 60,400 Dai (DAI), 539 Ethereum (ETH), 898,300 USD Coin (USDC), 257,800 Tether (USDT), and 0.79 Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC).
The attack siphoned off approximately $3 million from the Ethereum side and an additional $800,000 from BNB Chain. In another update, blockchain security firm Hacken revealed that the exploit occurred after the attacker made multiple failed attempts over a six-hour period before finally breaching the system.
“This exploit reinforces what we’ve been warning about for months: access control failures are now one of the most critical threats in Web3,” Hacken said in a statement shared with Crypto.news. “The attacker made multiple failed attempts over a 6-hour window before successfully draining 874 BNB. That kind of activity should have raised immediate alarms.”
According to Hacken, the attacker initially targeted Force Bridge on BNB Chain shortly after 01:30 UTC on June 2, making repeated failed attempts. A small test breach occurred around 02:23 UTC, netting just $25. The full-scale exploit happened at 07:36 UTC, when 874 BNB, worth roughly $572,000 at the time, was successfully drained. Additional funds were later stolen on both BNB Chain and Ethereum, bringing the total to $3.9 million.
The stolen assets were quickly funneled through crypto mixers and anonymous platforms, including Tornado Cash and FixedFloat, in an attempt to obscure the trail. Hacken noted that funds were split among newly created wallets and routed through multiple hops before being deposited to these services.
Hacken stressed that the attack could have been mitigated with real-time monitoring tools like its Extractor platform, which is designed to detect abnormal activity across chains and stop exploits before they escalate.
In response to the hack, Magickbase, a Nervos Network (CKB) community developer, halted all Force Bridge activity, stating, “We’ve detected abnormal activity on #ForceBridge and have paused the service as a precaution. Our team is investigating.”
Force Bridge plays a key role in Nervos Network’s multi-chain vision, enabling transfers of assets like ETH, ERC-20 tokens, and potentially non-fungible tokens between Nervos and networks such as Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain.
The bridge functions by locking assets on the source chain and issuing matching tokens on Nervos, under the protection of a multi-signature wallet operated by Nervos and its partners.
This exploit adds to a growing list of cryptocurrency hacks that continue to trouble the industry. According to blockchain security firm PeckShield, the cryptocurrency industry lost $244.1 million in May as a result of hacks. Although that number is still high, it represents a 39% decrease from the total losses in April, indicating a slight improvement in response or defense capabilities.
DAXA issues a caution notice for Nervos (CKB) after a bridge hack in its ecosystem. South Korea records its first corporate crypto trade by World Vision via Upbit. New FSC guidelines enable nonprofit crypto transactions starting June 1, 2025. Nervos Network (CKB) has come under increased regulatory scrutiny in South Korea following a recent security incident. On June 2, 2025, the Digital Asset eXchange Alliance (DAXA), an association of licensed digital asset exchanges in the country, issued a cautionary alert concerning CKB.
너보스(CKB) 유의 촉구 안내
너보스(CKB)는 디지털 자산 거래소 공동협의체(DAXA)에 의하여 유의 촉구되었습니다.
Nervos Network(CKB) Precaution Notice
CKB have been flagged with a precautionary alert by the Digital Asset eXchange Alliance (DAXA).
🔗 Discover more:…
— Upbit Korea (@Official_Upbit) June 2, 2025 The move follows confirmation that assets within the Nervos ecosystem were compromised through a bridge hack. The alert, disclosed by DAXA member exchange Upbit, is part of broader investor protection measures in the event of security risks or market anomalies tied to listed digital assets.
The caution notice allows DAXA member exchanges to take further action if necessary. These include marking the asset as a trading caution item or, in more severe cases, terminating trading support entirely. DAXA stated that such steps are designed to minimize risks to investors and maintain market integrity. As part of its mandate, the alliance continues to review digital assets supported by its members and monitors for any developments that may require swift intervention.
Nervos Bridge Compromise Sparks Regulatory Review According to the official statement, the breach occurred within a bridge linking Nervos to other blockchain networks. The exact scale of the compromise has not been disclosed, but the incident prompted immediate review procedures by DAXA exchanges. The organization did not confirm whether trading restrictions would follow, but emphasized that user protection is a priority.
This is not the first time that a bridge hack has led to heightened regulatory concern. Blockchain bridges, which allow the transfer of assets between different blockchain platforms, have become critical infrastructure but remain high-risk points of vulnerability. DAXA reiterated its commitment to providing timely information and implementing appropriate countermeasures when digital asset security is compromised.
Institutional Crypto Activity Begins in South Korea The Nervos alert was discussed just one day after South Korea experienced significant progress in institutional crypto. On June 1, 2025, a domestic firm successfully executed the country’s first deal involving virtual assets under the new rules. World Vision International made an Ethereum transaction totaling 0.55 Ethereum and worth 1.98 million won (around $1,431). The purchase was processed using a corporate account connected to K Bank.
This follows a policy update by the Financial Services Commission (FSC) and related agencies earlier this year. In February 2025, authorities outlined a roadmap that permits qualified non-profit entities to conduct cryptocurrency transactions for cash starting June 1. The regulatory adjustment is intended to create a formal entry point for institutional participation in the digital asset market.
Dunamu, which runs Upbit, said the deal was completed and noted this is a key first step for welcoming legitimate groups into the regulated crypto world. The company declared that it will continue working to be ready for listed corporations and professional investors, as stated by Korean law.
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Peter Mwangi is an accomplished crypto news writer with over three years of experience. He is recognized for producing insightful, well-researched content across major crypto publications. As an expert in blockchain technology, digital assets, and decentralized finance, he can uniquely simplify complex topics into engaging, accessible narratives. His strong storytelling and analytical skills, combined with a passion for continuous learning and collaboration, make him a valuable asset to the BlockchainReporter team.
Nervos Network's Force Bridge, a cross-chain bridge facilitating transfers between Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain (BNB), has been exploited in a cyberattack resulting in the theft of approximately $3
Nervos Network's Force Bridge, a cross-chain bridge facilitating transfers between Ethereum and Binance Smart Chain (BNB), has been exploited in a cyberattack resulting in the theft of approximately $3.9 million in cryptocurrency.
Security analysts and blockchain security firm HashEx identified the hack as stemming from an access control failure in the bridge's system. Reports indicate that a failed exploit attempt occurred about six hours prior to the successful breach. The incident highlights ongoing vulnerabilities in cross-chain bridge technologies used in decentralized finance.
This is an AI-generated article powered by DeepNewz, curated by The Defiant. For more information, including article sources, visit DeepNewz.
11/20 update below. This post was originally published on November 19
Bitcoin, ethereum and smaller cryptocurrencies have plunged over the last month as crash fears suddenly sweep through the market.
Sign up now for CryptoCodex—A free crypto newsletter that will get you ahead of the market
The bitcoin price has dropped under $100,000 per bitcoin, giving up the psychological level and dragging ethereum and other major cryptocurrencies lower even as analysts claim the liquidity “flood gates” have been opened.
Now, as traders brace for a potential $1 trillion bitcoin and crypto market crash, the threat to crypto from quantum computers has led to ethereum cofounder and the project’s spiritual leader Vitalik Buterin warning elliptic curve cryptography could break before the next U.S. presidential election in 2028.
Sign up now for the free CryptoCodex—A daily five-minute newsletter for traders, investors and the crypto-curious that will get you up to date and keep you ahead of the bitcoin and crypto market bull run
Forbes‘Flood Gates Are Now Being Opened’—Bitcoin Braced For Trump ‘Tsunami’ As He Promises 2026 Price Game-ChangerBy Billy Bambrough
MORE FOR YOU
Vitalik Buterin, a cofounder of ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency after bitcoin, has issued a stark warning over ethereum's future.
AFP via Getty Images
“Elliptic curves are going to die,” Buterin warned, referring to one of the foundational pillars of bitcoin, ethereum and crypto encryption, during the Buenos Aires Devconnect conference in comments reported by DL News.
11/20 update: Ethereum cofounder Vitalik Buterin has also warned that the growing influence of Wall Street giant BlackRock over cryptocurrencies including bitcoin and ethereum could cause problems for the networks.
“How do you avoid capture by big behemoths like BlackRock?” Buterin was asked on stage, according to a DL News report, referring to a surge of institutional interest after the launch of BlackRock’s bitcoin and ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in early 2024.
Buterin warned that if BlackRock and other large institutions keep expanding their ethereum holdings, the network faces the possibility that those focused on decentralization get crowded out and base-layer choices are optimized for institutions, making it harder for regular users to run nodes, and in turn driving centralization.
“It easily drives other people away,” Buterin said. “We need to focus on the things that would otherwise be in short supply: global, permissionless, and censorship-resistant protocol."
This week, BlackRock registered a staked ethereum fund in Delaware, signaling its intent to enter the staked ether ETF market, while its flagship ethereum ETF now holds $10 billion worth of ethereum.
Last month, Google claimed a breakthrough in quantum computing, following in Microsoft’s footsteps after it unveiled a new quantum-enabling chip in February.
These and similar developments have catapulted quantum computing’s risk to bitcoin, ethereum and crypto up the agenda.
“Given the current staggering rate of hardware progress, I now think it’s a live possibility that we’ll have a fault-tolerant quantum computer running Shor’s algorithm before the next U.S. presidential election,” quantum computer researcher Scott Aaronson wrote in blog post this month, referring to how a quantum computer could break the encryption that underpins cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ethereum.
The “magnitude of the threat that quantum poses to all blockchains,” has given crypto investor Nic Carter “an urgent sensation like I have to act on it now with as much intensity as I can muster,” he posted to X.
Sign up now for CryptoCodex—A free crypto newsletter that will get you ahead of the market
ForbesJPMorgan Just Called The Bitcoin Price Bottom—Predicts Massive $28.3 Trillion Gold Challenge In 2026By Billy Bambrough
The bitcoin price has dropped sharply over the last month, dragging down ethereum and other major cryptocurrenices.
Forbes Digital Assets
"We don’t need to panic, but we need to get serious," Alex Pruden, the chief executive of quantum computing risk company Project 11 posted to X, adding that “quantum computers at sufficient scale will break crypto at the most fundamental level imaginable.”
Meanwhile, bitcoin developers have also been warned they need to prepare for the post-quantum world that could become a reality by 2030.
“You should have a few good years ahead of you but I wouldn’t hold my bitcoin,” Théau Peronnin, the chief executive of Alice & Bob, told Fortune during the Web Summit conference in Lisbon, Portugal.
“They need to fork [move to a stronger blockchain] by 2030, basically," Peronnin said. "Quantum computers will be ready to be a threat a bit later than that."
11/20 update below. This post was originally published on November 19
Bitcoin, ethereum and smaller cryptocurrencies have plunged over the last month as crash fears suddenly sweep through the market.
Sign up now for CryptoCodex—A free crypto newsletter that will get you ahead of the market
The bitcoin price has dropped under $100,000 per bitcoin, giving up the psychological level and dragging ethereum and other major cryptocurrencies lower even as analysts claim the liquidity “flood gates” have been opened.
Now, as traders brace for a potential $1 trillion bitcoin and crypto market crash, the threat to crypto from quantum computers has led to ethereum cofounder and the project’s spiritual leader Vitalik Buterin warning elliptic curve cryptography could break before the next U.S. presidential election in 2028.
Sign up now for the free CryptoCodex—A daily five-minute newsletter for traders, investors and the crypto-curious that will get you up to date and keep you ahead of the bitcoin and crypto market bull run
Forbes‘Flood Gates Are Now Being Opened’—Bitcoin Braced For Trump ‘Tsunami’ As He Promises 2026 Price Game-ChangerBy Billy Bambrough
MORE FOR YOU
Vitalik Buterin, a cofounder of ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency after bitcoin, has issued a stark warning over ethereum's future.
AFP via Getty Images
“Elliptic curves are going to die,” Buterin warned, referring to one of the foundational pillars of bitcoin, ethereum and crypto encryption, during the Buenos Aires Devconnect conference in comments reported by DL News.
11/20 update: Ethereum cofounder Vitalik Buterin has also warned that the growing influence of Wall Street giant BlackRock over cryptocurrencies including bitcoin and ethereum could cause problems for the networks.
“How do you avoid capture by big behemoths like BlackRock?” Buterin was asked on stage, according to a DL News report, referring to a surge of institutional interest after the launch of BlackRock’s bitcoin and ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in early 2024.
Buterin warned that if BlackRock and other large institutions keep expanding their ethereum holdings, the network faces the possibility that those focused on decentralization get crowded out and base-layer choices are optimized for institutions, making it harder for regular users to run nodes, and in turn driving centralization.
“It easily drives other people away,” Buterin said. “We need to focus on the things that would otherwise be in short supply: global, permissionless, and censorship-resistant protocol."
This week, BlackRock registered a staked ethereum fund in Delaware, signaling its intent to enter the staked ether ETF market, while its flagship ethereum ETF now holds $10 billion worth of ethereum.
Last month, Google claimed a breakthrough in quantum computing, following in Microsoft’s footsteps after it unveiled a new quantum-enabling chip in February.
These and similar developments have catapulted quantum computing’s risk to bitcoin, ethereum and crypto up the agenda.
“Given the current staggering rate of hardware progress, I now think it’s a live possibility that we’ll have a fault-tolerant quantum computer running Shor’s algorithm before the next U.S. presidential election,” quantum computer researcher Scott Aaronson wrote in blog post this month, referring to how a quantum computer could break the encryption that underpins cryptocurrencies like bitcoin and ethereum.
The “magnitude of the threat that quantum poses to all blockchains,” has given crypto investor Nic Carter “an urgent sensation like I have to act on it now with as much intensity as I can muster,” he posted to X.
Sign up now for CryptoCodex—A free crypto newsletter that will get you ahead of the market
ForbesJPMorgan Just Called The Bitcoin Price Bottom—Predicts Massive $28.3 Trillion Gold Challenge In 2026By Billy Bambrough
The bitcoin price has dropped sharply over the last month, dragging down ethereum and other major cryptocurrenices.
Forbes Digital Assets
"We don’t need to panic, but we need to get serious," Alex Pruden, the chief executive of quantum computing risk company Project 11 posted to X, adding that “quantum computers at sufficient scale will break crypto at the most fundamental level imaginable.”
Meanwhile, bitcoin developers have also been warned they need to prepare for the post-quantum world that could become a reality by 2030.
“You should have a few good years ahead of you but I wouldn’t hold my bitcoin,” Théau Peronnin, the chief executive of Alice & Bob, told Fortune during the Web Summit conference in Lisbon, Portugal.
“They need to fork [move to a stronger blockchain] by 2030, basically," Peronnin said. "Quantum computers will be ready to be a threat a bit later than that."
Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy, the largest public holder of Bitcoin (BTC), finds itself at the center of a stormy controversy involving JPMorgan as Bitcoin prices continue to struggle.
With signs of a potential bear market emerging, fresh rumors suggest that one of the world’s largest banks allegedly holds a significant short position on Strategy’s stock (MSTR), which has plunged 69% from its record high of $543 per share last year.
Strategy Faces Potential MSCI Exclusion The turmoil escalated last week when JPMorgan issued a warning that Strategy might soon be removed from major equity indices, specifically the MSCI USA Index.
JPMorgan’s analysts noted that the issues facing Strategy extend beyond the recent downturn in cryptocurrency prices, which have seen Bitcoin fall more than 30% from its all-time highs.
As of this writing, Bitcoin is trading around $86,000, while the broader crypto market has experienced a staggering $1 trillion decline in total market capitalization over the past month.
JPMorgan’s analysts indicated that MSCI is considering whether companies with over 50% of their total assets in digital currencies should qualify for inclusion in traditional equity indices. Given that Strategy’s balance sheet is heavily weighted with Bitcoin, it is at significant risk of exclusion.
The analysts stated that “MicroStrategy [is] at risk of exclusion from major equity indices as the January 15th MSCI decision approaches.” They speculated that removal from the MSCI could trigger approximately $2.8 billion in outflows, and if other index providers follow MSCI’s lead, the total could reach as high as $8.8 billion.
The situation is complicated by market dynamics, particularly the timing of JPMorgan’s bearish note, which coincided with Bitcoin’s weakness and MSTR’s decline, all while liquidity was thin and overall sentiment fragile.
JPMorgan Faces Account Closures Surge According to analysts at the Bull Theory, JPMorgan has been noted for timing its market reports—bearing down when prices are already weak and striking a more bullish tone near market peaks.
The analysts have highlighted that share lending for MSTR has reportedly increased, allowing brokers to lend shares to short sellers, which can exacerbate downward pressure on the stock price.
Additionally, there are escalating reports of widespread account closures at JPMorgan, with thousands claiming to have exited due to perceived manipulation of both MSTR and Bitcoin.
Amid these developments, the fear of a potential short squeeze is growing. The analysts believe that if Strategy’s stock were to rally around 40% to 50%, it could trigger a short squeeze in the bank’s position and spell major financial troubles.
In response, Michael Saylor, the CEO of Strategy, has sought to clarify the company’s identity, emphasizing that it is not just a passive Bitcoin holder. He pointed out that Strategy operates as a software business with an active financial strategy, countering the narrative circulating around MSCI’s concerns.
As the situation unfolds, several key points emerge. The October 10th crash appeared to align with the MSCI announcement, coinciding with an already fragile market state. JP Morgan’s strategic timing of its bearish insights has amplified existing fears, creating further uncertainty as MSCI’s final decision looms.
The daily chart shows MSTR’s valuation trending downwards, trading below $170. Source: MSTR on TradingView.com Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
Trader Notes: On-chain analytics platform Santiment reports that Shiba Inu may be heading into a period of significant volatility, driven by a spike in large whale transactions.
SHIB recorded 406 transactions over $100,000 today, a massive jump from fewer than 50 on June 6, 2025.
This rise coincides with a surge in SHIB moving onto centralized exchanges.
Over the past 24 hours, exchange reserves increased by 1.06 trillion SHIB, bringing total holdings on exchanges to 136.95 trillion SHIB.
The inflows suggest large holders are positioning for major trades, typically a precursor to volatile price swings.
Statistics: According to Shibburn, SHIB's burn rate spiked 248% in the last 24 hours, permanently removing 14.3 million SHIB from circulation. Rising burn activity reduces supply over time, a factor that can support bullish momentum.
Read Next:
Can DOGE & SHIB Still Hit $10? One Can — Here’s The Simple Answer Why Image: Shutterstock
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The Bitcoin price has climbed by a fraction of a percentage to $87,500 as of 11 p.m. EST, showing limited upward momentum as markets digest Peter Schiff’s latest warning following silver’s explosive rally.
Veteran economist Schiff cautioned that Bitcoin could face the opposite outcome of silver’s surge, arguing that market downturns often unfold faster than rallies once selling pressure sets in. His comments followed a dramatic intraday jump of more than 10%, which briefly pushed prices above $79 per ounce for the first time.
What is happening with silver may soon be happening with Bitcoin, only in reverse. But since markets tend to melt down faster than they melt up, the time frame for the move should be condensed.
— Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) December 27, 2025
Market data showed silver rising from $78 to $79 in roughly ninety minutes, a move that caught global attention. TradingView charts revealed a near-vertical breakout, confirming that the metal remains in a strong multi-month uptrend and has entered uncharted territory.
Silver’s momentum has strengthened the broader market narrative favoring commodities and alternative assets. This shift is also reflected in the growth of crypto-based tokenized commodities, whose combined market valuation has risen toward $4 billion, signaling increasing investor demand for diversified exposure.
BREAKING: Silver prices extend gains to over +10% on the day, now above $79/oz for the first time in history.
It took just 90 minutes to go from $78 to $79. pic.twitter.com/jISKFkQHCC
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) December 26, 2025
Further data from CompaniesMarketCap showed silver narrowing the gap with NVIDIA in total market capitalization, pointing to rising institutional interest in metals. Despite silver’s strength, questions remain about sustainability.
A new chart shows silver’s monthly RSI at its highest level in 45 years, indicating extreme momentum. Another long-term comparison chart highlights Bitcoin losing relative strength against silver, giving back gains accumulated since 2017, underscoring how quickly silver has outperformed BTC in the latest rally.
Bitcoin Price Signals Deeper Downside Risk Bitcoin is trading near $87,500, showing weak price action after failing to hold key support levels. The broader chart structure suggests that bullish momentum has faded, with price now leaning toward a bearish continuation scenario.
A major technical feature is the rounded top formation that developed over several months. This pattern often signals the exhaustion of distribution and trend following a strong rally. Bitcoin has already broken below the neckline support, which was previously holding the price above the $80,000 zone. This breakdown confirms a shift from a bullish to a bearish market structure.
After losing neckline support, Bitcoin attempted a recovery but failed to reclaim that level. The rejected retest turned former support into resistance, reinforcing bearish pressure. Currently, the price is consolidating below this resistance, which limits upside potential in the near term.
BTCUSDT Chart Analysis by Tradingview
On the right side of the chart, price action shows an inverted cup and handle pattern. The small consolidation near current levels represents the “handle,” where buying momentum continues to weaken. A decisive breakdown from this structure would likely accelerate selling pressure.
Based on the measured move from the rounded top and inverted cup pattern, the next major downside target is projected between $50,000 and $55,000. This area also aligns with previous consolidation zones and liquidity levels, making it a realistic technical objective if the bearish setup plays out.
The RSI (14) is currently around 43, remaining below the neutral 50 level, indicating that the bearish momentum is still in control. Importantly, the RSI is not oversold, meaning there is room for further downside before buyers are forced to step in aggressively.
Bitcoin remains technically weak below the $90,000–$92,000 resistance zone. As long as the price stays below this area, downside risk remains elevated. A strong daily close back above the neckline would be required to invalidate the bearish structure. Until then, the technical bias favors continued consolidation or further decline.
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Bitcoin has entered a consolidation phase after a sharp sell-off in November last year. While the broader trend remains under pressure, short-term price action is compressing within a tightening structure. With flashing signs of weakened demand from U.S. spot buyers and prices stuck below major moving averages, BTC traders need to keep a close eye on support levels and whether buyers can regain momentum from here.
Bitcoin Price Analysis: The Daily Chart On the daily timeframe, BTC is forming a clear rising wedge pattern after its recent rebound stalled just below the $95K resistance zone. The pattern is getting tighter, with both the higher and lower boundaries being tested multiple times, hinting that a breakout is nearing. Both the 100-day and 200-day moving averages also remain above the current price, acting as dynamic resistance near $98K and $105K marks, respectively.
Bitcoin’s price was recently rejected from $95K supply zone, which coincides with the wedge pattern’s upper boundary. The RSI has also cooled off from overbought levels and is now hovering around 50, indicating a lack of bullish momentum but also room for a potential push if buyers return.
In this situation, if the wedge breaks to the downside, the next key support lies around the $80K area. A bullish breakout, on the other hand, would need to reclaim $95K and push above the mentioned moving averages before it can be taken as a serious sign of a new rally.
BTC/USDT 4-Hour Chart Zooming into the 4-hour chart, the same rising wedge structure is more visible. The price continues to respect the rising trendline from November’s low, but multiple attempts to break above $95K have failed.
Momentum on lower timeframes is choppy, with no clear follow-through from either side. Buyers defended the mid-range and the rising trendline several times, but the lack of strength near resistance is concerning.
A breakdown below the lower boundary near $88K would likely trigger a retest of the high-volume node near $86K and possibly push BTC toward the major green demand zone around $80K. On the flip side, if buyers manage to reclaim the $92K high and break above the key $95K resistance zone, an aggressive move toward the critical $100K level could be expected.
Sentiment Analysis The Coinbase Premium Index, which tracks the price difference between Coinbase and global exchanges, has been printing significant negative values and still remains in the red. Historically, strong positive premiums have accompanied major uptrends, especially when driven by U.S.-based spot buyers.
The current negative premium suggests reduced demand from U.S. institutional and retail players, a potential warning sign that the recent bounce might not be sustainable. This metric has often preceded deeper pullbacks during correction phases. Until the premium shifts back to positive territory, any bullish move should be treated with caution.
Claims that a Satoshi-era Bitcoin whale suddenly returned to the market with a multi-billion-dollar purchase have injected tension into an already fragile Bitcoin price action. The claims gained traction after social media posts on X revealed that an address dormant since 2011 had accumulated roughly 26,900 BTC, a move framed by some as a powerful bullish signal.
However, a few others saw something very different. One warning revealed that the timing and context of the transfer pointed toward a setup that could lead to a large-scale distribution.
Why Some Traders See A Major Red Flag Claims that a Satoshi-Era Bitcoin address might be actually buying billions of dollars’ worth of BTC took many investors by surprise. According to a crypto participant known as 0xNobler on the social media platform X, the whale address became active for the first time since 2011 and went all in on Bitcoin again. Such a purchase goes against the trend of Satoshi-era whales becoming active after many years to sell their holdings.
The claim of purchase is very bullish on the outside, but there are also bearish interpretations of the move. The bearish interpretation is based on market psychology and the historical behavior of early Bitcoin holders.
A wallet allegedly active since the Satoshi era would have acquired BTC at negligible prices, often well below $1. From that perspective, the idea that such an entity waited more than a decade only to buy aggressively near all-time highs appears illogical.
A critic argued that sudden movements involving billions of dollars at the current price action indicate preparation. According to the critic, the entity behind the whale address is preparing to distribute. Large transfers into newly active wallets can be part of liquidity staging, designed to allow gradual distribution without causing immediate panic.
Satoshi-Era Whale Story Appears To Be A Misunderstanding Closer inspection of the on-chain data indicates that the dramatic narrative surrounding this event rests on questionable assumptions. A few other crypto market participants pointed out that the circulated image claiming a Satoshi-era whale went all in on Bitcoin is edited and misleading, and that the receiving address labeled ‘3FsDiW’ may not belong to an early individual holder at all.
Interestingly, blockchain trackers link the address to Twenty One Capital, with records showing that it was created only a few days ago and the first transaction was first received on January 10, 2026. Transaction history shows a small test transfer of 1 BTC to Bitfinex, after which the remaining funds were consolidated into the new address ‘3FsDiW’ from another wallet already associated with Twenty One Capital.
Twenty One Capital is a publicly traded Bitcoin-focused company that reportedly holds more than 43,000 BTC on its balance sheet. This distinction matters, as it removes the existential fear implied by the original claims of a Bitcoin whale buying billions worth of Bitcoin.
BTC trading at $90,800 on the 1D chart | Source: BTCUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from Pngtree, chart from Tradingview.com
As the January 15 markup of the crypto market structure bill—known as the CLARITY Act—draws closer, reports indicate that Coinbase (COIN) is reconsidering its support for the legislation.
A Monday report from Bloomberg suggests this shift in position is contingent on whether the anticipated bill includes provisions beyond enhanced disclosure requirements tied to stablecoin rewards.
High Stakes For Coinbase The CLARITY Act is expected to be marked up in at least one Senate committee this Thursday, and Coinbase’s potential withdrawal could have significant implications for the bill.
A source familiar with Coinbase’s stance told Bloomberg that the exchange would re-evaluate its support if the legislation veers too far from its interests, particularly regarding stablecoin incentives.
Some insiders suggest the bill might restrict the ability to provide rewards to regulated financial institutions, a move that aligns with the banking sector’s concerns about losing deposits to crypto platforms.
Coinbase currently holds applications for a national trust charter that could permit it to offer those kinds of rewards under regulatory rules. However, many crypto-native firms are pushing back against potential restrictions, arguing that such measures could disrupt competition in the market.
The stakes for Coinbase are high, as rewards programs play a crucial role in its business model. The exchange allows users to earn 3.5% rewards on Circle’s USDC holdings.
Should the market-structure bill include bans on these incentives, fewer users might choose to hold stablecoins on the platform. This could jeopardize an anticipated revenue stream projected at $1.3 billion in 2025, according to Bloomberg.
Banking Vs. Crypto The GENIUS Act, passed into law in July of last year, prohibits stablecoin issuers from offering interest on token holdings, and does not prevent third-party partners like Coinbase from providing rewards tied to customer balances.
The banking industry, however, argues that allowing exchanges to pay such rewards could negatively impact bank deposits and, consequently, community lending.
As reported by Bitcoinist over the past month, the American Bankers Association (ABA) has voiced concerns that this situation could displace “billions” from local lending, allegedly harming small businesses and households.
In contrast, Faryar Shirzad, Coinbase’s chief policy officer, has argued that maintaining rewards tied to stablecoins is crucial for preserving the dollar’s dominance, especially in light of China’s announcement to start offering interest on its digital yuan.
Banking Lobby Fights Back A potential compromise being discussed would permit only licensed banking entities or financial institutions to provide rewards on stablecoin balances.
Recently, five crypto firms, including Ripple, Circle, and Paxos, received conditional approvals from the US Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to become national trust banks, a move met with opposition from the banking lobby.
If restrictions are indeed imposed, the report suggests that this could lead to creative workarounds as crypto firms seek alternative ways to reward customers.
The 1-D chart shows the exchange’s stock, COIN, surging 4% on Monday towards $245. Source: COIN on TradingView.com Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
The Ethereum (ETH) price is trading with a bullish bias, holding well above the support provided by a longstanding ascending trendline.
While a critical resistance holds on the 4-hour timeframe, positive ETH ETF flows on Monday inspire hope.
Over $5 Million Ethereum ETF Inflows on Monday Fuels ETH Price SurgeThe Ethereum price continues to show strength, at least on the 4-hour timeframe, drawing tailwinds from over $5 million in ETF inflows on Monday.
Data on SoSoValue shows that on January 12, spot Ethereum ETFs reported a total net inflow of $5.042 million. With this, they effectively ended a 3-day net outflow streak.
Ethereum ETF Flows. Source: SoSoValueAmidst the positive flows, however, BlackRock’s ETHA ETF bled $79.9 million, marking the only outflows on Monday as Fidelity, Bitwise, VanEck, Invesco, and Franklin Templeton posted zero flows.
Conversely, 21Shares recorded $5 million in positive flows, alongside Grayscale’s $50.7 million and $29.3 million inflows from its ETHE and ETH investment products, respectively.
As of January 12, the cumulative total net inflows into Ethereum ETFs was $12.44 billion, with up to $940.66 million in total value traded and $18.88 billion in total net assets. Notably, the total net assets account for over 5% of Ethereum’s market capitalization.
Elsewhere, Bitcoin spot ETFs saw a total net inflow of $117 million, marking a shift from four consecutive days of net outflows. Meanwhile, Solana spot ETFs recorded a total net inflow of $10.67 million, while XRP spot ETFs saw a total net inflow of $15.04 million.
Ethereum Price Outlook After $5.04 Million Monday InflowsWith the Ethereum price holding well above the multi-week support offered by the ascending trendline, the dominant trend remains bullish.
With the RSI (Relative Strength Index) rising, momentum is increasing, and if sustained, the ETH price could potentially realize further gains. However, the RSI position around the 50 level leaves a lot on the balance, with price action susceptible to bearish takeover.
However, its overall trajectory and position above 50 means the bulls have the upper hand, a sentiment that could be enhanced if Tuesday’s flows also come in positive for ETH ETFs.
Traders looking to take long positions for the Ethereum price, therefore, should wait for a decisive candlestick close above the $3,150 resistance level. This can be confirmed by a successful retest of that level, where price breaks above it, retests it, and manages to still hold above it on the 4-hour timeframe.
Such a move could see the Ethereum price target the $3,223 to $3,296 supply zone next, a bearish order block that stands in Ethereum’s path toward reclaiming its peak prices.
Ethereum (ETH) Price Performance. Source: TradingViewConversely, with the Ethereum price confronting immediate resistance at $3,150, the volume profiles show significant opposing forces at current price levels around $3,134. This is evident in the large nodes of bullish (green horizontal bars) and bearish (red) volume profiles on the chart.
However, with more bearish nodes and bullish nodes, the Ethereum price could pull back, which would be accentuated by negative ETH ETF flows on Tuesday.
In the event of a correction, the bullish thesis for the Ethereum price would be invalidated if the support due to the ascending trendline breaks, which could see ETH retest the $3,058 levels last seen on January 9.
Bitcoin’s price has shown strength over the past 48 hours and is now trading in the mid-$90,000s after days of consolidating around $90,000. Technical analyst Jackis presented a fair assessment of potential paths for Bitcoin’s next significant rise in the context of near-term consolidation and attempted breakouts above $95,000, outlining distinct scenarios for both bulls and bears.
Both Outlooks Have A Case, But Price Has To Confirm Bitcoin is now back to trading above $95,000 after a 3.1% increase in the past 24 hours. Price action in the past 24 hours alone shows that the outlook might be bullish. However, as it stands, Bitcoin’s price action has reached a point where traders should let the chart tell them what’s next.
According to a technical analysis from a crypto analyst known as Jackis on the social media platform X, arguments alone are not enough here because there are both good bullish & bearish arguments out there for Bitcoin. In his words, he has watched similar-looking price action resolve in opposite directions across different cycles.
Source: Chart from Jackis on X The chart below shows how Bitcoin price action is currently forming an ascending triangle pattern on the 8-hour candlestick timeframe chart. However, examples show how this same formation led to an upward reversal for Bitcoin in the past and then also a bearish continuation for Ethereum in the past.
Based on his read, he currently sees more reasons for downward continuation, and until the market proves otherwise, the active trend is bearish. Both bullish and bearish outlooks have a case, but price action has to confirm.
Bullish And Bearish Scenarios For Bitcoin Once price breaks out in either direction, the follow-through can be fast, which means being stubborn on the wrong side can be costly.
On the bullish side, Jackis highlighted that a breakout toward $96,000 is the kind of move that would confirm a bullish continuation. He added that a push through $96,000 at this point could open the path to $107,000 or higher.
On the other hand, Jackis’ bearish trigger is tied to the rising support line. Price action can look constructive right up until the trendline snaps, and that’s the point where downside continuation becomes the higher-probability route in this framework.
If Bitcoin were to lose the lower trendline of the ascending trend, then it would likely drift back to the April 24 lows. The April lows refer to how Bitcoin rejected above $106,100 in January 2025 and entered into a multi-month correction that eventually bottomed at a low around $76,000.
This means that a clean breakdown could change the conversation away from range chop in the mid-$90,000s to a reset.
BTC trading at $95,023 on the 1D chart | Source: BTCUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com
Crypto looks like it is shrinking. Prices are down from the highs, headlines have cooled and the social hype machine that once amplified every move is much quieter. To a casual observer, it can feel as if the industry is fading out instead of breaking through.
Zoom out, and the picture changes. What looks like stagnation is better described as consolidation. Crypto is working through the same kind of reset that other asset classes have faced after long speculative climbs. These periods are uncomfortable, but they often set the stage for the next wave of utility-driven growth.
Four-Year Run Was Always Going To End In ResetThe last major crypto cycle effectively ran from 2021 through 2025. For roughly four years, and especially over the last three, prices consistently moved higher, new tokens launched constantly and capital poured into anything that offered exposure to upside. That surge was not abnormal. It was the crypto version of previous speculative waves.
After the late 1990s, the Nasdaq crashed and investors spent years separating real internet businesses from companies that only had a website and a ticker. After the housing bubble burst in 2008, credit markets went through a painful period of deleveraging and stricter underwriting. In both cases, a long period of rapid expansion was followed by a quieter period in which fundamentals finally caught up.
Crypto is now in its own quieter period. Volumes are lower, funding is more selective, and the most extreme forms of speculation have lost their grip on the narrative. That does not mean the industry is dying. It means the terms of competition have changed. Projects are no longer judged only on potential. They are being judged on whether they solve real problems.
...
From Memecoins To Markets With Clear JobsYou can see this shift most clearly by looking at what continues to gain traction. The projects that are still growing in the current environment are those that have a clear job inside an existing workflow.
Tokenized securities and other real-world assets are one example. These products do not cater to speculative investors; they are pragmatic tools that reduce operational friction for banks and asset managers by enabling faster settlement, easier collateral movements and better reporting. Interest in tokenized securities hasn’t faltered amid crypto’s recent market downturn, and investment is likely to remain steady across market cycles.
Stablecoins sit in a similar category. They address a basic but stubborn problem: slow and expensive digital payments. Dollar-pegged assets are now used for cross-border payouts, B2B settlement and increasingly for payroll. They move value quickly and predictably, and they interface well with exchanges and on-chain applications. Like tokenized securities, they are unlikely to be perturbed by a broader market downturn.
These products stand in sharp contrast to the last cycle’s darlings, such as memecoins and NFTs, which offered huge speculative upside but near-zero utility.
DATs Are Being Forced To Grow UpDigital Asset Treasuries, many of which were rushed to market in a speculative frenzy, are going through the same kind of adjustment.
During the market highs of mid-2025, a common assumption was that rising token prices would cover strategic mistakes. Treasury strategies leaned heavily on appreciation and light balance sheet discipline. That approach worked in a bull market environment, but it does not work in a flat or choppy one.
The DATs that look viable today are changing course. They are diversifying into complementary business lines that produce actual revenue. They are establishing cash reserves so they can keep operating if token prices stagnate. In cases where their stock or token trades far below market net asset value, they are buying back shares. These are pragmatic choices that extend the runway and protect holders.
DATs are starting to behave more like operating companies and less like perpetual trades. Over time, that will produce higher-quality offerings and fewer balance sheets that are one market shock away from distress.
Some Crypto Projects Are Still Quietly BoomingWhile attention and funding have largely shifted away from speculative-use cases, there are still some crypto projects that have identified a clear market head and are forging ahead at full speed.
Prediction markets are one of them. Platforms that allow users to trade on elections, macro events or sports have seen significant growth in volume. In an era of extreme political instability and division, prediction markets have emerged as a popular way to force vague opinions into concrete, tradable odds.
Decentralized exchanges are another. DEX volumes have continued to grow and, in many pairs, now compete directly with centralized exchanges. Users who care about transparency and self-custody are choosing to trade on systems where they can see the rules in code and hold their own assets. Consolidation is giving DEX teams time to harden their infrastructure and improve the basic user experience.
On the institutional side, demand for slower-moving products continues to build. ETPs and ETFs tied to digital assets are being launched and refined. Regulated products for IRAs and other retirement accounts are moving through approval processes. Licensing regimes and fiat on ramps are expanding so that banks, payment companies and fintechs can plug into crypto without improvising compliance.
Shakeout Is Painful And NecessaryConsolidation also means that some parts of the ecosystem are shrinking, and that is healthy.
Speculative products that relied solely on leverage and momentum are seeing lower interest. Many NFT projects have faded. Memecoin volumes have cooled. The novelty premium has worn off.
System as a Service (SaaS) tools with no clear product market fit beyond bull market activity are finding that their customer base evaporates when trading slows. Token launches that exist only because “everything has a token” are not getting sustained demand.
The net effect is a reallocation of capital and talent toward projects that show signs of durability. This phase gives the industry a chance to focus on work that will matter when the next wave of attention arrives. That includes opening more institutional doors through ETPs, ETFs, regulated products, IRAs and asset management channels. It also includes rethinking user experience so that everyday people can use crypto-powered products without needing to understand private keys or gas fees.
The quiet spell will not last forever. What comes next will depend on what gets built now.
Spencer Yang is a Managing Partner of BlockSpaceForce (BSF), a crypto-native advisory firm building and backing the inevitable convergence of crypto and public markets.
The recent heated debate in the cryptocurrency world about whether quantum computers will end Bitcoin has divided experts.
While some analysts see this as an imminent risk, engineers argue that the threat is exaggerated and that solutions are already in place.
Quantum computing, one of the biggest theoretical threats to Bitcoin’s technological infrastructure, has once again become a hot topic in financial markets. The steps taken by tech giants like Google, IBM, and Microsoft in quantum hardware have raised the question: “Can the mathematical protection of Bitcoin wallets be broken?”
On one side of the debate are figures like Nick Carter, who claims that quantum computers could solve Bitcoin’s Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECDSA) as early as 2028. According to Carter, the developers’ slow pace in this area worries institutional investors (BlackRock, Fidelity, etc.), and this could lead to institutional intervention in the network in the future.
On the other hand, experts like Blockstream CEO Adam Back and software engineer Brandon Black argue that the threat is at least 20 to 40 years away. Black claims that today’s most advanced quantum machines have about 1,000 “noisy physical qubits,” but it would take approximately 13 million error-free logical qubits to crack a Bitcoin key in a single day.
One of the most critical details highlighted in the report is that not every Bitcoin wallet carries the same level of risk. According to Brandon Black, if a user adheres to “address purification” rules and hasn’t publicly shared their public key on the network, quantum computers cannot directly attack that wallet.
Those at greatest risk are legacy addresses, like Satoshi Nakamoto’s old wallets, whose public keys are publicly visible on the blockchain.
Experts, reminding us that Bitcoin is not a static structure, point out that the network has successfully undergone major updates before (SegWit, Taproot). Quantum-resistant address formats (such as BIP 360) are already being discussed within the community.
Furthermore, the fact that institutions with massive Bitcoin reserves, such as Michael Saylor’s company MicroStrategy, are launching quantum security programs demonstrates just how strong the financial incentives are for protecting the network.
*This is not investment advice.
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Stock Market Warning SignsThe stock market has seen some concerning signs over the past few weeks that are worth paying attention to.
So far, over the past two months:
Consumer Staples have outperformed the S&P 500 by 14% Utilities have outperformed the S&P 500 by 11% These two sectors are what is called "defensive", meaning it is what the equity market rotates into ahead of recessions. Now, in the larger context, both of these are still in a larger downtrend against the broader market, but these recent signals in the equity market aren't the only warning shot.
We've seen AI-driven fears permeate all varieties of US equities. Everything from cybersecurity stocks to wealth management, to SaaS- every day, we're seeing new concerns being expressed.
There has been violent rotation underneath the surface of the equity market for months now- rotation that is not visible if you look at the major indices. That rotation, out of the high-growth tech (that had been driving the stock market higher for 3 years now), and into defensive sectors like consumer staples, utilities, and healthcare.
Here's the striking, strong negative correlation that defensives/tech has to Bitcoin:
Bond Market Warning SignsNot only are we seeing signs of defensive positioning in the equity market, but we are also seeing concerning signals in the bond market.
February saw a significant decline in US Treasury yields:
-2yr US Treasury yield (largely a bet on Fed policy) has declined by 14bps
-10yr US Treasury yield has declined by 29bps
-30yr US Treasury yield has declined by 25bps
If you see economic growth deteriorating, bonds are the first thing capital will flock to. Imagine a world where AI has caused 5% deflation rate – everything is getting 5% cheaper each year.
In this hypothetical, a 10yr US treasury bond yielding 4% would give you a +9% real return. This is why bonds will get purchased (therefore driving yields down), ahead of an economic slowdown.
Not only that, but Friday saw a red hot PPI print, and bonds still got bid, with the 10yr treasury yield a whopping 6bps. Inflation came in hot, and bonds got bought.
As if that wasn't significant enough, we know that US Treasuries had ceased to benefit from the ‘safe haven bid' during risk-off moments. The past 12+ months have shown this surprising reversal of decades of typical capital flows. Instead of the dollar and bonds getting bought, they'd get sold.
Well, on Friday we saw silver, oil, and gold soaring on geopolitical concerns. So, over the past 12 months, we'd expect that Treasuries would probably be getting sold, but the opposite was true.
Hot inflation print AND geopolitical risk, and bonds were bid.
Bitcoin = UntestedGoing off the data that we do have, it appears bitcoin's "high-beta tech stock" correlation might cause it to sell off significantly.
BUT:
To put it simply, they'd have to print an enormous amount of dollars.
So, while the initial move in bitcoin could be lower (even significantly so), the next move would likely take bitcoin to mid-six digits, at least.
Thanks for reading! Catch you in the next one! For more updates throughout the week, follow @WOLF_Bitcoin
Benzinga Disclaimer: This article is from an unpaid external contributor. It does not represent Benzinga’s reporting and has not been edited for content or accuracy.
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TLDRRedemption Gates Hit Major FundsSoftware Loans Draw ScrutinyGet 3 Free Stock Ebooks Major investment firms including BlackRock, Morgan Stanley, and Cliffwater have restricted investor redemptions in early 2026 PIK (Paid in Kind) interest arrangements — where companies pile on debt rather than making cash payments — have surged from 5% to 11% of the private credit market between 2022 and 2025 Loans converted mid-term from cash payments to PIK terms (“bad PIK”) jumped from 2% to 6.4% of total private credit by late 2025 Major business development corporations (BDCs) including Ares Capital and Blue Owl are trading significantly below their net asset values JPMorgan has marked down certain software-sector private credit positions, citing potential AI-driven disruption risks The private credit industry, which ballooned to $2 trillion as traditional banks retreated from mid-sized business lending, is facing its first major stress test. Several prominent asset management firms have implemented withdrawal restrictions, while a critical distress indicator — Paid in Kind interest — has reached concerning levels.
40% of private credit borrowers have negative free cash flow.
True default rate near 5%.
Morgan Stanley honored only 5% of redemption requests.
This isn't a footnote. It's the next crisis hiding in plain sight. pic.twitter.com/XQcQrTw6Fq
— Michael A. Gayed, CFA (@leadlagreport) March 13, 2026
PIK interest represents a payment arrangement where struggling borrowers defer cash interest payments by adding them to their principal balance. Lenders record this deferred interest as revenue despite receiving no actual cash flow.
⚠️US banks have nearly ~$300 billion in exposure to private credit:
Wells Fargo leads with $59.7 billion in loans to private credit funds, BDCs, and CLOs.
BDCs are publicly traded funds that give retail investors exposure to private lending, while CLOs are bundles of leveraged… pic.twitter.com/kbnR8EKQOI
— Global Markets Investor (@GlobalMktObserv) March 13, 2026
Lincoln International, responsible for valuing approximately one-third of U.S. private credit portfolios, reports that PIK-structured loans have more than doubled from 5% in early 2022 to 11% by the end of 2025. Even more troubling is the explosion of “bad PIK” arrangements — existing cash-pay loans converted to payment-in-kind terms — which skyrocketed from 2% to 6.4% during the same timeframe.
“This is certainly a sign of stress,” said Ron Kahn, who runs Lincoln International’s valuation unit.
Redemption Gates Hit Major Funds BlackRock’s HLEND fund imposed withdrawal limitations for the first time after redemption requests exceeded its 5% quarterly threshold. The fund attracted $840 million in fresh capital during Q1 2026, falling significantly short of the $1.2 billion investors attempted to withdraw. Morgan Stanley capped redemptions at one of its private credit vehicles to roughly half of investor requests, following withdrawal demands reaching 10.9%. Cliffwater similarly restricted redemptions in its $33 billion fund to 7%, despite investor requests totaling 14%.
These investment vehicles were promoted to individual investors as offering “semi-liquid” terms — allowing quarterly redemptions subject to established caps. When redemption demand outpaces available liquidity, these protective mechanisms activate, potentially trapping investor capital for extended periods exceeding twelve months.
At Ares Capital, approximately 15% of net investment income last year originated from PIK arrangements. Blue Owl Capital disclosed that PIK represented 16% of net investment income throughout 2025. Blue Owl’s shares have declined to below 80% of stated net asset value. Blue Owl Technology Finance, with concentrated exposure to software companies, has plummeted below 60% of book value.
Software Loans Draw Scrutiny JPMorgan has written down valuations on select private credit exposures to software enterprises, expressing concerns regarding artificial intelligence’s potential to undermine existing business models. The institution has not disclosed specific affected portfolio companies.
PIMCO president Christian Stracke attributed the emerging crisis to inadequate underwriting standards and insufficient transparency throughout the industry. PIMCO projects default rates in the mid-single digits persisting for multiple years, potentially compressing average private credit returns from approximately 10% down to the 6–8% range.
Blackstone president Jonathan Gray called current concerns “a ton of noise.” KKR’s CFO Robert Lewin acknowledged pressure at the firm’s publicly traded fund but said most of KKR’s capital sits outside that structure.
Companies utilizing bad PIK arrangements have experienced leverage ratios climbing to 76% of total assets by year-end 2025, a substantial increase from 40% in 2022, per Lincoln International data.
While Ethereum (ETH) and XRP Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) ended March in negative territory, Bitcoin (BTC) funds recorded their best monthly performance of the year despite weak market sentiment and geopolitical tensions.
Bitcoin ETFs End Negative Spell Bitcoin ended the first quarter of 2026 by breaking out of a five-month negative streak, closing with a positive performance for the first time since September 2025. The flagship crypto has been in a downtrend over the past six months, retracing over 50% from its October all-time high of $126,000.
As its price closes the month in green, US spot BTC-based ETFs have also ended a multi-month negative spell on Tuesday. According to SoSoValue data, the funds pulled in $1.32 billion in March, registering their first monthly gain in 2026.
Bitcoin ETFs end five-month outflows streak. Source: SoSoValue The category has been registering outflows since November, with cumulative outflows of around $6.3 billion until February. Nate Geraci, co-founder of the ETF Institute, previously highlighted that spot Bitcoin ETF investors have “largely displayed diamond hands” despite the ongoing market correction and negative sentiment.
As reported by NewsBTC, Geraci argued that the funds’ cumulative outflows since the October 10 crash were insignificant compared to the $56 billion in cumulative total net inflows the category has experienced since its January 2024 debut.
Despite the positive monthly close, BTC ETFs ended a four-week inflow streak after investors pulled out $296.18 million from the investment products. Additionally, the funds ended Q1 on a negative note, as March inflows couldn’t offset the $1.81 billion redemptions from January and February.
Therefore, spot Bitcoin ETFs closed the first quarter of 2026 with $496 million in outflows, their second-worst quarterly performance after Q4 2025’s $1.15 billion cumulative outflows.
Solana Leads Altcoin ETFs Performance Similar to Bitcoin, Solana (SOL) ETFs closed March on a positive note and led altcoin-based funds, with inflows worth $45.44 million. This performance brought SOL investment products’ quarterly inflows to $213.1 million.
Notably, the category has not seen monthly outflows since its launch in October 2025, printing six consecutive months of inflows. Following this performance, Solana ETFs are near the $1 billion milestone, currently having cumulative net inflows of $979.3 million.
Nonetheless, Ethereum funds tell a different story, closing the month with $46 million in outflows. Unlike Bitcoin, the second-largest cryptocurrency extended its negative streak to five months, recording total outflows worth $3.21 billion since November.
In addition, ETH investment products saw $769 million outflows in Q1. CoinShares recent report noted that Ethereum led all assets in outflows last week, shedding over $200 million for the second straight week, which may signal that institutional demand for the second-largest cryptocurrency has been slowing.
Meanwhile, XRP funds recorded their first monthly outflows after investors pulled $31.3 million from the ETFs. The category has recorded a remarkable performance since launching in November, with over $1.24 billion in inflows in the first four months.
It’s worth noting that despite the March setback, XRP ETFs saw positive net flows worth $42.52 million during the first quarter of 2026, only behind Solana funds.
Bitcoin trades at $68,523 on the one-week chart. Source: BTCCUSDT on TradingView Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com
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.
An important ideological and operational shift is beginning to take shape in the Strategy ecosystem as Michael Saylor, whose name for years was synonymous with the "HODL forever" slogan, has now pivoted to a more pragmatic formula he made public via a new X post - "Buy more Bitcoin than you sell".
This U-turn marks a transition toward a more flexible capital management model amid Saylor's market-shaking statement that Strategy may begin selling BTC to pay dividends on its preferred shares made during the Q1 2026 earnings call earlier this week.
Buy more bitcoin than you sell.
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— Michael Saylor (@saylor) May 7, 2026 Strategy's "money printer" hits the reality of $100 parityNot only did the company report a net loss of $12.54 billion, or $38.25 per share, due to the decline in the value of its Bitcoin holdings, but the situation is also being complicated by a temporary breakdown in the company's "money printer" - STRC. Since April 15, the preferred share issuance mechanism has stopped funding Bitcoin purchases after the securities fell below their $100 parity value.
To avoid halting expansion in April, Saylor had to pivot toward selling common MSTR shares through the company's ATM program. However, there were no Bitcoin purchases at all over the past week.
Adding fuel to the fire, Strategy CEO Phong Le published 6 new capital management principles, with the final point officially permitting the company to "sell BTC when it is beneficial for the business".
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Despite the rhetorical shift, Saylor continues his media offensive, calling the Strategy model "the most important chart in finance". He positions the company as a machine that converts digital capital (BTC) into digital credit (STRC) and equity capital (MSTR), and it seems like the strategy is no longer about buying forever, but about using Bitcoin efficiently to support the company's credit and equity structure.
Annualized asset performance since Strategy adopted a Bitcoin standard on Aug. 10, 2020, Source: StrategyIn this context, the "Buy more than you sell" formula appears to be an attempt to preserve Saylor's status as Bitcoin's leading optimist while simultaneously reassuring regulators and shareholders expecting dividends during a period of financial turbulence.
Switzerland-based dYdX Foundation, the supporting entity behind the decentralized crypto exchange dYdX, has requested $30 million from the project’s decentralized autonomous organization (DAO). The requested funds are intended to be allocated for the next three years. This proposal aims to bolster the development and expansion of dYdX into what the Foundation envisions as “the exchange layer of the internet.”
Foundation’s vision and budget breakdown The dYdX Foundation, which provides crucial support in legal, research and development, marketing, and technical assistance for the dYdX crypto trading project, has put forth an ambitious vision for the future.
Their ultimate goal is to transform dYdX into a pivotal component of the digital exchange landscape. If approved by the DAO’s tokenholders, the funding request would allocate 4% of the current treasury to the Foundation over three years.
Payroll: Approximately 50% of the requested budget would be dedicated to payroll expenses. This funding would ensure the continued growth of the dYdX team, enabling them to drive innovation and maintain the platform’s operational excellence.
Marketing and Growth: A significant portion, 18%, of the funds would be channeled towards marketing and growth initiatives. This allocation underscores the Foundation’s commitment to expanding the user base and enhancing the platform’s reach.
Legal Disbursements: Legal matters account for 14% of the proposed budget. This includes expenses related to compliance, regulatory issues, and any necessary legal support.
Contractors: Around 5.5% of the requested funds would be allocated to contractors, who play a crucial role in the project’s development and operation.
Commitment to responsible money management In a forum post addressing the proposal, the dYdX Foundation emphasized its commitment to responsible financial management, highlighting its focus on “capital preservation” strategies to mitigate risk. To this end, the Foundation diversified its holdings from USDC to treasury bonds in response to the stablecoin de-pegging during a banking crisis in March. While transitioning away from cryptocurrency assets, this move contributed to reduced risk exposure and yielded substantial returns.
Additionally, the Foundation plans to diversify some of the requested funds into fiat currency and stablecoins. Furthermore, they intend to invest in expanding their staking operations, which currently generate staking yield on 2.5 million dYdX tokens.
The injection of $30 million into their operational budget would comprise 10.5 million DYDX tokens and extend their financial runway beyond 18 months.
Future financial planning and reporting The dYdX Foundation is keen on maintaining transparency and accountability. The Foundation plans to provide regular financial updates to its stakeholders in lieu of annual budget votes.
This includes issuing an annual report and a semi-annual report detailing the utilization of the funds. Their next budget request is anticipated to come into consideration when they approach the 18-month runway mark, likely in mid to late 2026 based on current projections.
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The stablecoin issued by decentralized platform Abracadabra.money (MIM), suffered a flash crash to $0.76 after reports of a $6.5 million exploit.
Blockchain security firm PeckShield published initial details of the exploit at 11:35 UTC Tuesday, adding that the attacker was funded from Tornado Cash, a sanctioned privacy protocol.
Cetrik said that "early indications point to a rounding error being the root cause."
MIM developers said that the Abracadabra DAO will be buying back the stablecoin, which is designed to trade at $1, from the market to preserve the peg. It was trading around $0.94 at press time, per CoinMarketCap.
"We are aware of an exploit involving certain cauldrons on Ethereum," MIM wrote on X. "Our engineering team is triaging and investigating the situation. To the best of its Ability, the DAO treasury will be buying back MIM from the market to then burn. More updates are coming."
The stablecoin also fluctuated in 2022 during the collapse of FTX, as a third of MIM's collateral was in FTT, FTX's native token. As FTT crumbled, MIM fell to $0.95 before trading back to parity.
The dYdX Foundation, which supports decentralized crypto exchange dYdX, has requested a budget of $30 million from the decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) managing the project.
dYdX Foundation Requests a Budget of 30 Million Dollars The funds, planned to be used over the next three years, aim to provide an operational work area at least until mid-2026.
Headquartered in Switzerland, the dYdX Foundation offers legal, R&D, marketing and technical support to the crypto trading project.
The project involves a perpetual futures contract exchange and a private blockchain in the Cosmos and Ethereum ecosystems. The aim of the foundation is to make dYdX the exchange layer of the internet.
While the budget request is significant, if approved by dYdX token holders, the DAO's voters, it would give the Foundation 4% of the DAO's current treasury.
The three-year duration of the budget will also exempt the dYdX Foundation from submitting annual budgets for review and approval, a common practice among other DAOs and foundations.
Approximately half of the requested budget was allocated to payroll, while 18% was allocated to marketing and growth, 14% to various legal payments, and 5.5% to contractors, among other expenses.
The foundation plans to diversify some of the funds raised into fiat and stablecoins and invest in expanding its staking operation, which currently generates staking returns on 2.5 million dYdX tokens.
The $30 million budget, consisting of 10.5 million DYDX tokens, will extend the Foundation's operating period beyond 18 months.
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After almost two years, the DAO Maker has shown a little spike, surging around 150% within a month. As the market situation is improving from this bearish trend a few days ago, many cryptocurrencies have succeeded in making a comeback, including DAO Maker.
Bitcoin price has recovered from the fall to the $61K mark, whereas Ethereum bailed on falling below $3200. The crypto market is still trying to make a complete recovery.
Before that, Let’s discuss what’s happening with DAO Maker. Is it making a comeback?
DAO Maker Price Analysis DAO Maker price has surged more than 50% earlier, bringing the top hike of the day to $2.8484. It is currently trading at $2.41 with a market cap of $357,706,249 after a 34% hike. The trading volume of DAO Maker has surged to $70,399,28, with an insane surge of 505% in just a day.
Despite the price jump, the token is still 71% away from its all-time high of $8.75, achieved three years ago. There is a long way for DAO Maker to reach anywhere near the ATH, but if the market situation continues to push the token ahead, there is a chance of that happening. The current DAO Maker price is at the best it has been in the two years. The last time it surged to this high was in May 2022, when the trading volume was around $7.15 Million.
Top Reason Why DAO Maker Price Surged DAO Maker is known to provide technology and solutions to crypto projects to gain funding and support from venture capitalists and the community. DAO Maker price has recently surged and continuing the spike because of the upcoming fair launch of the meme token PUNDU.
Also Read: Altcoins to Buy Today Under $1 with 100% Potentials
DAO Maker is launching PUNDU, with the sales going live on the 23rd of March. The hard cap of the token on Solana is 33,333 SOL, whereas, for DAO Maker, it is set at $3.1 Million. Out of the total supply, 40% of tokens are for distribution among liquidity providers, 40% will be utilized in presale, 5% for airdrops, and the last 5% for centralized exchange holding.
Conclusion DAO Maker price is continuously surging, and the possibility of a better hike is upon us. With the current 150% spike, many have looked to buy the crypto token, leading to a price surge. If the market’s bullish nature recovers to what it was a week or two ago, there are chances for DAO Maker to go above and beyond the all-time high value.
The market is trying to recover from the recent bearish attack, which caused all the major cryptocurrencies and meme coins to lose their price surge over the months. Let’s see how the market will continue and how all these cryptocurrencies will perform.
