Key Highlights

• Upbit introduces GIWA Layer 2 for enhanced infrastructure autonomy and fee management
• Exchange-operated blockchain networks become increasingly common across the industry
• Optimism’s OP Stack technology provides established scalability foundation for GIWA Layer 2
• Self-Managed operational model grants Upbit complete sequencer authority
• Network architecture designed for institutional-grade compliance and performance standards

South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Upbit has announced its collaboration with the Optimism Foundation to establish GIWA Layer 2, representing a significant evolution in how exchanges manage their technical infrastructure. This GIWA Layer 2 deployment enables the trading platform to exercise direct authority over network performance, transaction costs, and regulatory adherence. The development highlights an industry-wide movement where leading exchanges prioritize infrastructure ownership rather than depending on communal blockchain networks.

Exchanges Embrace Proprietary Blockchain Infrastructure

Upbit will implement GIWA Layer 2 through the OP Stack framework to achieve operational autonomy. The platform intends to oversee transaction ordering, revenue generation from fees, and service stability through independent management. Consequently, GIWA Layer 2 enables the exchange to satisfy compliance obligations while delivering reliable service quality.

Leading cryptocurrency platforms increasingly view blockchain infrastructure as a competitive advantage instead of merely a technical requirement. Operating at substantial scale, dependence on public blockspace constrains operational flexibility and limits potential income from transaction processing. GIWA Layer 2 therefore supports Upbit’s objective to synchronize technical capabilities with its worldwide customer base and substantial trading volumes.

The South Korean platform serves more than 13 million registered customers and maintains considerable international trading operations in recent periods. GIWA Layer 2 consequently resolves the constraints associated with utilizing external infrastructure amid expanding user demand. This strategy guarantees stable performance while minimizing reliance on external blockchain networks.

Leveraging Proven OP Stack Technology

GIWA Layer 2 will operate using the OP Stack framework, which currently supports numerous operational Layer 2 blockchain networks worldwide. This technology ecosystem has facilitated billions of on-chain transactions, demonstrating its capacity for scale and dependability. GIWA Layer 2 therefore builds upon validated infrastructure rather than experimental alternatives.

Enterprise-level organizations increasingly select OP Stack based on its demonstrated performance history and flexible architecture. This framework accommodates both centralized exchanges and decentralized platforms requiring dedicated blockchain environments. GIWA Layer 2 thus participates in a widespread industry trend toward standardized Layer 2 infrastructure solutions.

The OP Stack network ecosystem maintains ongoing growth with various chains sharing compatibility and governance structures. Individual networks function autonomously while participating in a collective infrastructure layer. GIWA Layer 2 therefore joins an established ecosystem while preserving independent operational authority.

Complete Operational Authority Through Self-Managed Framework

GIWA Layer 2 will operate under OP Enterprise’s Self-Managed configuration, providing Upbit with comprehensive control over network functions. The exchange will operate the sequencer mechanism, which establishes transaction priority and generates corresponding fee revenue. The Optimism Foundation will deliver network monitoring, backup infrastructure, and expert technical assistance.

This operational structure enables GIWA Layer 2 to combine autonomy with enterprise-level reliability. Upbit maintains decision-making power regarding network operations while accessing external support infrastructure. The arrangement minimizes operational vulnerabilities without sacrificing control.

The Self-Managed configuration addresses organizations requiring rigorous compliance standards and infrastructure governance. For licensed cryptocurrency exchanges, maintaining direct oversight of transaction processing remains critical for regulatory reporting and accountability. GIWA Layer 2 therefore exemplifies an expanding preference for controlled blockchain architectures among prominent financial service platforms.

GameStop (GME) is aiming for a major expansion with a proposed $55.5 billion acquisition of online marketplace eBay (EBAY), raising fresh questions about whether its bitcoin BTC$80,040.21 holdings could help fund the deal.

The video game retailer, which holds about $368 million worth of BTC, submitted a non-binding offer Sunday to buy eBay for $125 per share in cash and stock. The bid represents a 46% premium to eBay’s share price in early February, when GameStop began building a position. The company said it now holds a 5% economic stake through shares and derivatives.

A deal of this size would likely require significant cash. GameStop said it expects to fund the offer using its $9.4 billion of “cash and liquid investments” on its balance sheet and up to $20 billion in financing, backed by a letter from TD Securities.

Will GameStop sell BTC?

That raises fresh questions about whether GameStop will sell its BTC to help pay for the deal.

The acquisition plan follows earlier remarks from CEO Ryan Cohen, who said in February he was pursuing a “very, very, very big” acquisition of a public consumer firm. He described the plan as “way more compelling than bitcoin” and left open the option of selling the company’s crypto holdings to fund a deal.

GameStop disclosed last month that it shifted about 4,709 BTC to Coinbase Prime, crypto exchange Coinbase’s prime brokerage platform for institutions, as part of a covered-call options strategy, keeping exposure to bitcoin while generating income.

The company held little over $9 billion in cash and accounted for its $368 million bitcoin stash as “receivables” after the Coinbase Prime maneuver. Those items add up to the $9.4 billion balance sheet power that could be used to fund the acquisition.

In an interview with CNBC, Cohen also said the firm has the “ability to issue stock in order to get the deal done.”

GameStop did not respond to a request for comment on its plans for its bitcoin holdings by press time.

The proposed eBay deal would turn GameStop into a broader e-commerce player. It will also determine whether the firm’s bitcoin remains a long-term holding or becomes a funding source for the expansion.

Nasdaq-listed Bitcoin mining and energy infrastructure company Hut 8 secured a $200 million Bitcoin-backed credit facility from institutional crypto prime brokerage FalconX, replacing its prior credit facility with Coinbase Credit. 

The new facility reducwd the company’s fixed interest rate to 7% from 9% under the prior Coinbase credit structure, as part of the company’s focus on lowering the cost of debt on its Bitcoin-backed credit and broader cost of capital, said Hut 8 in a Monday announcement.

The refinancing unencumbered about 3,300 BTC, worth roughly $260 million, from the collateral package after replacing the prior Coinbase facility, Hut 8 said.

The deal shows how Bitcoin miners and energy infrastructure firms are using BTC reserves to manage liquidity without selling their holdings, as Hut 8 expands into AI data centers and prepares to report first-quarter earnings on Wednesday.

“Our capital strategy is designed to lower our cost of capital, reduce risk, and expand strategic flexibility,” said Asher Genoot, CEO of Hut 8, adding that the new facility helps improve the company’s cost of debt on Bitcoin-backed credit and “expands our position of unencumbered Bitcoin.”

On Feb. 25, Hut 8 posted a fourth-quarter net loss of a $279.7 million, from income of $152.2 million a year earlier, Cointelegraph reported. The results were affected by a $401.9 million loss on digital assets in the quarter, compared with a $308.2 million increase a year earlier.

Top Bitcoin mining companies by market capitalization. Source: Companiesmarketcap.com

Hut 8 is the third-largest Bitcoin mining firm by market capitalization, currently worth about $8.6 billion according to Companiesmarketcap data. However, it only ranks as the 17th-largest Bitcoin miner in terms of hash rate, according to Bitcoinminingstock.

Related: Capital B raises $1.3M from Adam Back for Bitcoin strategy

Hut 8 shares rise in pre-market trading

Shareholders welcomed the new Bitcoin-backed credit facility, as Hut 8 shares rose over 1.1% in pre-market trading on Monday, data from Yahoo Finance shows.

Hut 8 stock price, year-to-date chart. Source: Yahoo Finance

Hut 8’s stock price is up over 67% year-to-date and has gained significant traction since the Bitcoin miner announced its expansion to AI data center infrastructure.

On Dec. 17, 2025, Hut 8 signed a 15-year lease for 245 megawatts of AI data center capacity at its River Bend campus valued at $7 billion. The agreement includes payments financially backstopped by Google and builds on Hut 8’s broader expansion into AI. 

Other Bitcoin miners that announced strategic pivots to AI infrastructure include  CleanSpark, Core Scientific, HIVE Digital and MARA Holdings.

Magazine: Bitcoiners eye ‘sell in May,’ SBF’s bid for new trial shut down: Hodler’s Digest, April 26 – May 2

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.

The best crypto presale debate gained fresh weight after Riot Platforms expanded its AMD data center deal to 50MW with options to reach 150MW per CoinDesk. Miners are moving away from pure mining as costs rise, and Riot’s shares jumped 8% on the pivot. When companies built around Bitcoin diversify, the signal is clear: large cap mining returns are tightening.

Even if Bitcoin doubles from $78,519, a $10,000 position becomes $20,000. Pepeto stands out as the best crypto presale with $9.78 million raised, active trading tools, and an approaching Binance listing built by the Pepe founder.

Best Crypto Presale: Miners Pivot as Bitcoin Tests $80K Resistance

Riot expanded its AMD partnership to 50MW at its Texas facility, signaling pure mining cannot sustain margins. Strategy added 3,273 BTC last week for $255 million to reach 818,334 total at $75,537 average per CoinDesk.

Bitcoin trades at $78,519 with $80,000 as resistance. The pressure pushing miners to diversify opens the gap between presale and listing pricing.

Top Presale and Market Tokens: Pepeto, BTC, and DOGE

Pepeto: The Best Crypto Presale With Working Tools and an Approaching Listing

Bitcoin whales added 270,000 BTC in the past 30 days and exchange reserves dropped to a seven-year low. Large holders are building positions. Retail faces a different equation. Bitcoin at $78,519 with an ATH of $126,200 offers 62% upside at most, and that could take all year.

The best crypto presale changes that math. PepetoSwap handles every trade at zero fees so positions remain complete, and the contract scanner checks every token before capital gets near it.

The Pepe cofounder put this together with a former Binance developer. SolidProof cleared the codebase, and the cross-chain bridge moves tokens across Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Solana at zero cost. Staking at 175% APY builds rewards daily while the listing draws closer.

At $0.0000001868, analyst models project 100x because viral culture from the Pepe founder paired with a working exchange and an approaching listing is the rarest combination this cycle has produced. A $500 position at presale price becomes $50,000 at that projection, and a $2,000 entry converts to $200,000, numbers that Bitcoin at $78,519 cannot deliver in any scenario this year.

The Binance listing shuts this window, and the wallets inside need only that single event to convert presale cost into returns that large cap holders wait years to see. The best crypto presale entries that built generational portfolios in past cycles were always secured during peak fear, and Pepeto’s approaching listing will seal this price permanently along with every multiple it carries.

Bitcoin (BTC) Price at $78,519 as Whales Add 270,000 BTC and Exchange Reserves Hit 7-Year Low

Bitcoin trades at $78,519 per CoinMarketCap, up 0.03% pressing $80,000. Whales bought 270,000 BTC in 30 days while exchange reserves hit levels not seen since December 2017.

The Bitcoin ATH of $126,200 sits 62% above current price. Support holds at $75,000 and resistance at $80,000. Even $100,000 is 1.3x, a move that does not reshape retail holdings when the best crypto presale offers wider listing distance.

Dogecoin (DOGE) Price at $0.109 as Token Breaks Above $0.10 on 10% Weekly Gains

Dogecoin trades near $0.109 with a 10% gain over seven days, breaking $0.10 on strong volume. The SEC and CFTC classified Dogecoin as a digital commodity in March 2026, and whale wallets hold a record $11.6 billion.

X Money integration remains unconfirmed and recovery to the $0.7376 ATH requires 577%. From $0.109, Dogecoin return math delivers smaller percentages that cannot reshape a portfolio the way a best crypto presale entry before a listing can.

Conclusion:

Miners are pivoting to AI data centers because mining margins keep tightening. Strategy keeps buying at near breakeven after $61.8 billion spent. Large caps protect institutional capital, they do not grow it for retail, and the best crypto presale is where that growth starts.

The wallets that enter before the market prices in a listing are the ones that collect the largest returns, and $9.78 million already inside the contract at $0.0000001868 shows where the smart money is moving. The Pepeto presale is where that positioning happens right now, and the gap between presale cost and listing price is not a gap that stays open for long. Hesitate, and the early wallets set the price everyone else pays, at whatever level they decide to sell.

Click To Visit Pepeto Website To Enter The Presale

FAQs

Which is the best crypto presale while Bitcoin miners pivot to AI data centers?

Pepeto leads as the best crypto presale with $9.78 million raised, a SolidProof audit, working zero-fee exchange tools, and an approaching Binance listing built by the Pepe cofounder. The presale price of $0.0000001868 closes once trading opens.

What is the Dogecoin price prediction after breaking above $0.10?

Dogecoin trades at $0.109 after gaining 10% in seven days, with whale wallets holding a record $11.6 billion. The ATH of $0.7376 requires a 577% move, and recovery depends on X Money integration that Musk has not confirmed.

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Ether’s (ETH) surge to $2,390 on Monday pushed its value above its realized price, implying that the average holder of ETH is now back in profit. But is this enough for the ETH bulls to reach $3,000?

Key takeaways:

• Ether holders are back in profit, increasing chances for more upside.
• Ether’s bull flag chart pattern is targeting $3,000.
• A big potential sell wall exists around $2,800, with 7.1 million ETH on the line.

Ether price rises above its cost basis

Data from TradingView shows that Ether’s price rose 21% to $2,340 on Monday from its local low of $1,940 reached on March 29.

This rally has seen ETH rise above its realized price, or the average cost basis of all moved ETH, currently at $2,320, according to data from Glassnode.

Related: Ethereum Foundation sells another 10,000 ETH to BitMine in third OTC deal

The average ETH holder returning to profit after unrealized losses provides meaningful financial relief for many holders, and perhaps a bullish outlook.

Historically, breaking above this level shifts market sentiment from fear to greed, reducing sell pressure from underwater holders. This often fuels bullish momentum, attracting new buyers and short squeezes.

The chart below shows that when the price reclaimed its realized price in May 2025 after trading below it for roughly two months, it went on to rally 173% to its $4,950 all-time high from $1,800. The gains were 58% after ETH/USD reclaimed its cost basis in early 2023. 

Ethereum: Key pricing levels. Source: Glassnode

Therefore, holding above $2,300 is crucial for the bulls and for a potential retest at $3,000.

Analyst Dami-Defi said that a break above the $2,400-$2,600 would trigger the “most violent move of the year” toward $3,000.

“Once we break $2,400 we will catapult violently to $2,800 – $3,000.”

ETH/USD weekly chart. Source: X/Dami-Defi

As Cointelegraph reported, the ETH/USD pair must overcome resistance at $2,400 to confirm a trend change.

ETH price technical analysis: Bull flag targets $3,000

Ether’s price action has formed a bull flag chart pattern on the daily chart (see below). The price is retesting the $2,350 resistance, where the flag’s upper boundary and the 100-day exponential moving average (EMA) converge. 

A daily candlestick close above this level would open the way toward the measured target at $3,018, roughly 30% above the current price. 

ETH/USD 12-hour chart. Source: TradingView

The daily relative strength index has increased to 56 from near oversold conditions at 36 in late March, suggesting that ETH bulls are returning to the market.

Trader and analyst Cohelson David said a broadening wedge pattern on the 12-hour chart projects an ETH price breakout toward $3,000.

ETH/USD 12-hour chart. Source: X/Cohelson David

However, Ether’s cost basis distribution data shows that investors hold about 7.1 million ETH at an average cost of between $2,750 and $2,850, creating a potential resistance zone.

This concentration suggests that many investors may sell at breakeven, potentially stalling Ether’s upward move.

Ethereum cost basis distribution chart. Source: Glassnode

This article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice or recommendations. All investments and trades carry risk; readers are encouraged to conduct independent research.

Tether’s tokenized gold product, Tether Gold (XAUt), saw reserves expand sharply in the first quarter as investor demand for bullion increased amid macroeconomic uncertainty ahead of the Iran war.

In its latest report, Tether said XAUt surpassed $3.3 billion in market capitalization during the first quarter, representing a 36% increase over the period.

The company disclosed that 707,741 XAUT tokens were in circulation at the end of the quarter, with each token backed by one troy ounce of physical gold held in reserve.

Tether attributed the growth to a broader “flight to hard assets” as investors sought refuge from geopolitical tensions and shifting monetary conditions.

The increase comes amid a volatile quarter for gold. Prices climbed early in the year as investors moved into safe-haven assets, driven by geopolitical tensions and expectations that the Federal Reserve would begin cutting interest rates.

The precious metal later pulled back as immediate rate-cut expectations faded and the US dollar strengthened, reducing bullion demand. Some investors also locked in gains after the earlier rally, where prices briefly peaked above $5,500 a troy ounce. Gold was trading at around $4,500 per troy ounce at the time of reporting.

Year to date, XAUT’s US dollar price is up 4.37%, according to Yahoo Finance data.

Tether Gold (XAUt) market cap before the latest update. Source: CoinMarketCap

Related: Bitwise launches actively managed ETF pairing Bitcoin with gold

Demand for tokenized commodities is on the rise

XAUT accounts for more than half of the tokenized gold market, having expanded by roughly $1.1 billion since the start of the year.

Its closest competitor, PAX Gold (PAXG), issued by Paxos, has a market cap of nearly $2.2 billion and is supervised by the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS).

Together, the two tokens dominate a niche but growing segment of the digital asset market that aims to bring traditional commodities like gold onto blockchain rails.

Their growth reflects rising demand for tokenized commodities, as investors look for easier ways to gain exposure to physical assets without handling storage or logistics. These tokenized products also allow gold to be traded around the clock and transferred globally, features that are not available in traditional bullion markets.

These assets sit within a broader market for tokenized real-world assets valued at nearly $31 billion, according to industry data.

The total market for tokenized real-world assets. Source: RWA.xyz

Related: Tokenized RWA market grows 420% since 2025 on regulatory clarity, access

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.

Prediction markets are transitioning from retail speculation platforms to institutional-grade financial instruments, driven by demand for precise macro hedging and clearly defined binary outcomes. A May 4 Bernstein report highlights how bespoke contracts and block trades are helping bridge the gap between retail-driven volatility and the risk management needs of institutions.

The report notes a notable milestone: the first bespoke institutional block trade executed on Kalshi last week. The privately negotiated transaction was arranged by Greenlight Commodities, with Jump Trading as the liquidity provider, and centered on the clearing price of California’s May carbon allowance auction. The example demonstrates how prediction markets can be tailored to meet specific client needs and risk appetites, beyond standard yes-or-no event contracts.

Bernstein analysts emphasize that the move toward block trading and bespoke contracts could broaden participation among investors seeking targeted exposure to event risks—ranging from tariffs and elections to geopolitical developments—while preserving the binary resolution structure that characterizes these markets.

Separately, Bernstein notes that institutional access to prediction markets is aided by infrastructure partnerships, such as Clear Street’s collaboration with Kalshi, which gives qualified investors a regulated pathway to trade these contracts alongside traditional asset classes like stocks and futures.

Key takeaways

• Bespoke contracts and large, privately negotiated block trades are unlocking institutional participation in prediction markets.
• Regulated access channels are maturing, with Kalshi operating under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and Polymarket moving toward US-enabled, regulated trading through conditional approvals.
• Retail activity still dominates volume, but institutional demand could accelerate market growth and product innovation.
• Real-world hedging applications are emerging, including contracts tied to specific regulatory events such as carbon allowance auctions.

Block trades and bespoke contracts open institutional doors

The California carbon allowance example demonstrates how tailor-made contracts can provide targeted risk hedging for institutions managing exposure to policy-driven events. The Kalshi block trade brokered by Greenlight Commodities linked to the May auction price illustrates how buyers can structure settlements around precise, verifiable outcomes rather than generic event bets. Bernstein’s analysis envisions a broader adoption curve where bespoke structures serve as a bridge between traditional risk management tools and emerging digital markets. As one analyst note from Bernstein states, “We believe the introduction of block trading and bespoke contracts could expand participation from institutional investors seeking targeted exposure to event risks.”

In parallel, the market is seeing infrastructure-backed paths to access. Bernstein highlights the partnership between Kalshi and Clear Street as a key development that could enable institutions to trade these contracts in a regulated, broker-dealer framework, integrating them into the broader suite of tradable assets available to professional desks.

Retail leads prediction markets as institutional interest grows

Despite growing institutional interest, retail activity continues to drive the sector’s scale. A Bitget Wallet and Polymarket report found that retail users accounted for more than 80% of the $25.7 billion in prediction-market volumes recorded in March, underscoring the sector’s retail-first dynamic despite signs of deeper liquidity support from professional traders.

Market watchers see the developing institutional framework as a potential accelerant for growth. Bernstein’s broader market outlook cites a potential expansion toward a trillion-dollar sector by the end of the decade, a view that CNBC coverage has echoed in recent reporting on the forecast for prediction markets.

Regulatory momentum in the United States continues to shape the trajectory, even as the landscape remains uneven. Kalshi operates as a federally regulated exchange under the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, while Polymarket has secured conditional approval to offer event contracts in the US through regulated channels.

Despite the progress, the path forward will hinge on how regulators balance innovation with consumer protection and market integrity. The evolving ecosystem also faces questions about liquidity depth, price discovery, and risk controls as more institutions participate.

What comes next for the ecosystem

As institutions begin to test bespoke exposure and block-trade workflows, market participants will be watching for additional evidence of durable liquidity, robust hedging performance, and clearer regulatory guidelines across jurisdictions. The emergence of tailored contracts tied to concrete policy outcomes—such as carbon markets or electoral events—could concretize the usefulness of prediction markets for risk management. However, investors should remain mindful of evolving regulatory scrutiny and potential limitations on cross-border access, which could influence adoption pace and product design.

For readers tracking the sector, the next milestones to watch include more institutional block trades, broader access through regulated venues, and any shifts in US policy or international regulation that could impact how these markets price and settle event outcomes.

In the near term, the trajectory suggests a cautious but deliberate shift: retail volume remains the engine of growth, while institutional demand quietly shapes the next generation of prediction-market products and the platforms that host them.