A U.S. Senate that’s struggled to move crypto market structure legislation moved like lightning on Thursday to ban themselves from participating in prediction markets.

Acting on a simple, 14-line resolution pushed by Ohio Republican Senator Bernie Moreno, the Senate agreed unanimously to put a restriction between members and the increasingly popular, controversial betting platforms that have drawn scrutiny over insider-trading activity and fights over who has regulatory jurisdiction.

“United States Senators have no business engaging in speculative activities like prediction markets while collecting a taxpayer-funded paycheck, period,” said Senator Moreno in a Thursday statement. “Serving in Congress should never be about finding new ways to profit; it should be about delivering results for the American people.”

Effective immediately, the change to Senate rules now holds that senators can’t enter “an agreement, contract, or transaction that provides for any purchase, sale, payment, or delivery that is dependent on the occurrence, nonoccurrence, or the extent of the occurrence of a specific event.”

Political betting has surged in popularity, and some candidates for office have already been penalized for wagering on their own races.

One of the leading platforms, Polymarket, posted on social media site X that the company is in “full support” of the Senate’s action. Polymarket, which isn’t supposed to operate in the U.S. after a 2022 agreement with the CFTC, noted that its user rules “already prohibit such conduct, but codifying this into law is a step forward for the industry.”

Betting on Polymarket currently gives Democrats even odds that they’ll reclaim the Senate majority in the November elections. Democrats have generally been more critical and suspicious of the fast-growing industry.

Key Highlights

• AAPL demonstrates 17% revenue increase, though shares decline in extended trading
• Quarterly performance surpasses Wall Street projections on both earnings and sales
• Company unveils $100B share repurchase initiative alongside robust services performance
• iPhone sales maintain momentum while market response remains cautious post-announcement
• Solid Q2 performance meets mixed investor sentiment in after-hours session

Apple Inc. (AAPL) shares climbed following the tech giant’s impressive quarterly performance, though momentum cooled during extended trading hours after initial gains. The Cupertino-based company delivered robust financial results powered by sustained iPhone sales and expanding services offerings. Nonetheless, certain segment shortfalls and ongoing supply challenges tempered enthusiasm in after-market activity.AAPL shares concluded regular trading at $271.35, registering a 0.44% increase following the earnings announcement.

Apple Inc., AAPL

Quarterly Financial Performance Shows Robust Top-Line Expansion

Apple disclosed quarterly sales totaling $111.2 billion, representing a 17% year-over-year improvement. The technology leader posted earnings per share of $2.01, surpassing consensus estimates from analysts. Sustained consumer appetite for iPhone products underpinned overall results, even as certain product categories delivered mixed outcomes.

iPhone division generated $56.99 billion in revenue, falling marginally short of projections while still demonstrating healthy annual expansion. Both Mac and iPad product lines outperformed expectations, providing diversified revenue contributions. The services division continued reinforcing the company’s subscription-based income foundation.

Services segment revenue climbed to $30.97 billion, showcasing consistent growth from subscription offerings and digital content. Gross profit margin expanded to 49.3%, signaling enhanced operational efficiency. The company sustained earnings momentum despite persistent global supply chain complexities.

Expanding Services Division and Capital Allocation Strategy Bolster Position

Apple’s services business unit posted consistent advancement, fueled by increasing subscriber adoption across multiple digital platforms. The corporation strengthened its ecosystem spanning payment solutions, cloud infrastructure, and media entertainment services. Consequently, the services segment generated higher-margin revenue contributions.

Management authorized a fresh $100 billion stock buyback initiative designed to maximize shareholder value. The company simultaneously raised its quarterly dividend to 27 cents per share, reinforcing its commitment to returning capital. These measures bolstered investor sentiment in the wake of earnings disclosure.

Research and development expenditures surged substantially, demonstrating ongoing commitment to emerging technologies and innovation. R&D costs jumped 33% compared to the prior year, totaling $11.42 billion. The company remains focused on advancing artificial intelligence capabilities and next-generation product development.

Regional Performance, Supply Dynamics, and Executive Succession Frame Future Direction

Apple achieved notable expansion in Greater China, generating $20.49 billion in regional revenue. This outcome surpassed market forecasts and illustrated strengthening demand in key territories. The organization benefited from sustained premium device positioning across international markets.

Worldwide memory component shortages stemming from AI data center infrastructure buildout created manufacturing constraints for hardware divisions. Elevated memory pricing pressured margins throughout the broader technology industry. Apple successfully preserved profitability despite these headwinds.

Executive leadership succession planning introduced additional strategic considerations for investors. Tim Cook announced his planned September departure, with John Ternus designated as his replacement. The company continues advancing its artificial intelligence roadmap through strategic collaborations and product innovation initiatives.

Key Insights

• Dogecoin has solid support at $0.095 amid increased whale accumulation.
• Open interest in futures contracts surges to $1.37 billion.
• A breakout above $0.1018 may lead to gains up to $0.1172.

Dogecoin Firm Above Crucial Support Zone

Dogecoin keeps pushing above the important resistance level at $0.095 after experiencing significant corrective moves to the downside over the past weeks. The meme coin, which has corrected about 60% off its October price high, is demonstrating some signs of stabilization.

In terms of price movement, the digital asset has been quite flat over the last few days, implying that traders might be waiting for a breakout on either side. In particular, the coin is above its crucial 50-day exponential moving average near $0.0958.

$0.10 Resistance Becomes Dominant Obstacle

The immediate obstacle for Dogecoin is found at the psychologically important $0.10 area. The area is buttressed by a downtrend line traced from earlier highs in January and April, rendering it as an essential resistance level.

The momentum oscillators are starting to favor the bulls. The RSI oscillator is now at 56, pointing to increased buying interest without being overbought. On the other hand, the MACD oscillator is slightly in positive territory, showing that the buyers continue to dominate.

A breakout above the resistance level, accompanied by high trading volume, would signal the start of the breakout process.

Increase in Whale Holdings Indicates Increasing Confidence

Data on-chain shows an increasing trend in whale activity. The number of whales with holdings ranging from 1 million to 100 million DOGE has grown to 4,920 from 4,872 recorded earlier this year.

The fact that there is an increasing number of whale holders while the price range of the token remains unchanged indicates that there is a lot of accumulation going on.

It is important to note that accumulation always precedes price movements in any asset, and this further strengthens the bull case for Dogecoin.

Bull Case Supported by Futures Trading Volume

More evidence from derivatives is found which strengthens the bullish case for Dogecoin. As reported by CoinGlass, the total open interest volume in Dogecoin futures now stands at $1.37 billion, having increased by 3% in just one day.

The funding rate is also currently 0.0051%, implying that traders who hold long positions are paying a premium to hold their positions.

Breakout Levels and Price Objectives

Market expert Ali Martinez sees the significant level at which a breakout should occur at $0.1018. A bullish confirmation can be achieved by closing above this level for 4 hours with more volume participation.

In case of a breakout above the level mentioned, $0.1172 will be a target price, coinciding with the channel resistance. After that, attention should shift to psychologically important levels of $0.15, $0.20, and possibly even $0.25.

But the Risks Are There to Consider

While the upside appears promising, downside risks still have to be considered. A breach of the $0.095 mark that acts as the 50-day moving average will dampen bullish sentiment.

In this case, traders will aim to test lower support marks at $0.087 and even the February low of $0.080. This will serve as a fallback position, but it will indicate a reversion to bearish trends.

Dogecoin: At an Important Turning Point

At present, Dogecoin finds itself at a crucial point where technical support, whale hoarding, and futures activity come together. With the $0.10 level still acting as the key resistance.

Any breakout to the upside will open doors to substantial gains.

Until then, all eyes will be on DOGE as it consolidates within a narrowing trading range.

Jerome Powell announced at his final FOMC press conference on April 29 that he will remain on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors past May 15, saying Trump’s legal attacks on the institution had “left me no choice” but to stay until the investigation is resolved.

Jerome Powell will stay on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors after his chairmanship ends on May 15, in a decision that would make him the first outgoing Fed chair to remain on the board since Marriner Eccles in 1948. CoinGape reported that Powell made the announcement at his final FOMC press conference, saying: “The things that have happened really in the last three months have, I think, left me no choice but to stay until I see them through at least that long.” Powell said he planned to “keep a low profile” and would not act as a shadow chair once Kevin Warsh is confirmed and sworn in.

Jerome Powell says legal attacks on the Fed are “unprecedented in our 113-year history”

Powell’s stated reason for staying is the DOJ investigation into the Federal Reserve’s headquarters renovation, which produced a criminal probe into Powell’s congressional testimony. DC Attorney Jeanine Pirro closed her office’s probe last week but posted publicly that she would “not hesitate to restart a criminal investigation should the facts warrant doing so.” Powell said he would leave “when the investigation is well and truly over with finality and transparency.” Trump responded by posting that Powell “wants to stay at the Fed because he can’t find a job elsewhere.” Treasury Secretary Bessent said it would be “extraordinary” for an outgoing chair to remain as governor, calling it a breach of tradition. As crypto.news reported, the FOMC voted to hold rates at 3.50 to 3.75% for a third straight meeting, but the four dissents were the real story: three members wanted the easing bias removed from the statement, signaling a hike is as likely as a cut, while Stephen Miran voted for an immediate cut.

Bitcoin falls to $74,900 as the Warsh “Pivot Party” gets cold water

As crypto.news documented, the market entered April 29 pricing in a Warsh-driven pivot narrative, with the assumption that Powell’s departure would clear the path for faster rate cuts. Powell staying on the board, retaining a vote on the 12-person FOMC, and three hawkish dissenters demanding removal of the easing bias collectively broke that thesis in one press conference. Bitcoin fell from $77,000 to $74,914, with $137.77 million in ETF outflows snapping a nine-day inflow streak. Matt Mena of 21Shares said the dissenters “threw a bucket of ice on the market’s pivot party.” As crypto.news tracked, Bitcoin has now fallen after eight of the last nine FOMC meetings, a pattern that continued precisely as analysts predicted entering the day.

Powell’s governor term runs through January 2028, meaning he retains a full vote on rate decisions through Warsh’s first two years as chair. The full Senate confirmation vote for Warsh is expected the week of May 11.

CS2 skin trading trends rise as gamers convert in-game items into crypto assets for liquidity and control.

Counter-Strike​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ 2 is the reality for many players, beyond an ordinary shooting game, a skillful merging of tactics and personality. Skins contribute significantly to this character’s total, as they give a chance not only to stand out but also to make a statement in every round. However, skins represent more than just a pretty sight; they carry tangible value that can be converted into a far more versatile form: crypto.

Converting CS2 skins into crypto by selling is rapidly becoming a favorite among gamers seeking full control over their assets. Be it replenishing a collection, withdrawing money, or delving into the world of digital finance, this manual aims to simplify the entire process.

Reasons for selling CS2 Skins to obtain crypto

It’s quite normal for a person to react to the idea of converting in game items to cryptocurrency with bewilderment, as it is a rather intricate matter on the surface. However, it already aligns quite well with the perspective many gamers have on value.

Currently, many gamers resort to methods that let them sell CS2 skins instantly, without lengthy wait times or complicated steps. For that reason, skin trading venues like Tradeit have already begun implementing faster marketplace transactions and smoother player interactions, aligning their operations perfectly with player expectations.

Below are some reasons why crypto is still a fashionable alternative:

• Speed and flexibility: First, don’t wait for a withdrawal to be approved. Most crypto transactions take just a few minutes, so money will be at hand almost at all times.
• Global accessibility: Because crypto is built on a decentralized system, it can be used across borders without many issues. There is just a need for a device capable of operating on the Internet.
• Control over funds: Holding funds at a single exchange platform is a real risk, and users are also vulnerable to the platform’s policies. Whereas, if assets are kept in the user’s own wallet, they have complete control over their financial matters.
• Future potential: From a macroeconomic perspective, players recognize that cryptocurrency is on its way to becoming an integral component of the digital economy; hence, they consider it more than merely a method of receiving payments.

This is an additional means by which players who want to get the most out of all their CS2 facets can stay one step ahead of the competition.

Understanding​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ the value of the skins

It goes without saying that the first step in selling skins is to know their value. Because of the different features, skin prices vary a lot.

Some of the main factors determining price are:

• Rarity: Usually, skins from special collections or rare drops are the ones that carry a higher price tag
• Condition: Typically, factory-new skins fetch a higher price than the worn ones
• Demand: Skins for popular weapons often see more sales
• Visual appeal: Unique patterns or clean finishes greatly add to the attractiveness

Use this as a starting point and compare skins with those on sale across various marketplaces. This way, the seller will gain a good grasp of pricing and steer clear of underselling their products.

A wise gamer always treats their inventory as an investment and is constantly mindful of its value.

Choosing the right marketplace

A platform can significantly impact the selling process. Not all marketplaces have the same crypto payout features, for example.

To decide on where to sell, first check out:

• Nice and simple UI: It should be easy and even fun to make a trade
• Quick login: Also, waiting times for the heartbeat of the market closing should be minimized
• Fanatical multiple crypto support: This is a sweet feature to have
• Almost rock-solid reputation: Nobody would want to risk a lot in a shady hypothetical location

In principle, a quality marketplace should be quite similar to an amusement park in that it is fun, fun, and more ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌fun!

Step​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ by step guide to selling skins

After deciding on the platform, implementation will be pretty simple. Here’s how anyone can start:

1. Connect an Account

In general, marketplaces ask to link a Steam account. Through this account, they can see a user’s inventory.

2. Select the Skins to Sell

Look through the stash and pick out skins to sell. In line with the selling goals, choose, for example, skins for liquidation or highly valuable skins.

3. Set or Accept a Price

Listing a price or accepting an instant offer will vary by platform.

• Instant offers are faster
• Custom listings may yield higher returns

4. Confirm the Trade

A trade offer will be obtained via Steam. Make sure everything matches up before hitting the confirm button.

5. Receive Crypto

After the trade is finalized, the crypto will be sent to the wallet right away. Then it’s up to the user wants to do: hold, trade, or convert ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌it.

How​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ to get as much as possible out of one’s sale

Flipping skins could be a lot more profitable than just hitting a “sell” button. Users can significantly improve their outcomes with the right strategy.

Think of these pieces of advice:

• See what’s happening on the market: Prices may go up or down depending on changes, tournaments, and the players interested.
• Make a sale at the right moment: People’s desire for a product tends to increase during major events or when new items are released.
• Don’t do it in a hurry: While quick selling is a comfortable approach, waiting and being patient can eventually yield better results.
• Be orderly: Keep a record of what to purchase and sell to measure progress.
• Go for well known things: Most of the time, commonly used skins are seen as “hot items” and therefore change hands more quickly.

This can be seen as a training aim in CS2. The more someone focuses on small details, the more their output will improve.

Upgrading the experience of CS2

The main purpose of selling skins for crypto should not be solely for earnings. It may also be the way to get to know the game part that is most even a part of a personality.

By having a clever management of items, users will be able to:

• Stay topical with the weapons by rotating skins
• Buy things that are in line with a style of playing
• Remain updated on the ever changing CS2 business

That way, they get more than a game; they’re making a connection to what they are doing. Users don’t only get the satisfaction of winning a match, but also feel like they are going in a direction and achieving the goals set for themselves.

In​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Conclusion

Counter-Strike 2 is an ever changing world where opportunities keep shifting. One way to update gaming is by mixing it with crypto, and in particular, by selling skins for crypto.

By having the correct attitude and hardly ever putting in the amount of effort, the exchange of the virtual items, in this case, skins, can be converted into more than a casual hobby. Whether the seller intends to get better equipment, step into the crypto world, or just get their hands on a new experience, it is really quite easy and worthwhile.

Keep eyes peeled, get the most recent information, but above all, have fun the rest of the ​‍​‌‍​‍‌​‍​‌‍​‍‌way.