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SoftBank cuts OpenAI-backed loan target to $6B as lenders balk at valuation

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SoftBank cuts OpenAI-backed loan target to $6B as lenders balk at valuation

SoftBank has cut a planned OpenAI‑backed margin loan from around $10 billion to roughly $6 billion after banks and private credit funds pushed back on the deal’s structure and the difficulty of valuing OpenAI, an unlisted AI unicorn.

Summary

  • SoftBank Group is shrinking a planned margin loan backed by its OpenAI stake from about $10 billion to roughly $6 billion after lenders pushed back.
  • Banks and private credit funds have raised concerns over how to value OpenAI, an unlisted company, and about the structure of the deal.
  • The two‑year loan, extendable by one year, was meant to fuel SoftBank’s next wave of AI investments without selling down its OpenAI equity.

SoftBank Group is scaling back an ambitious financing plan that would have raised around $10 billion using its OpenAI shares as collateral, after lenders balked at both the structure of the margin loan and the private valuation underpinning the deal.

According to Bloomberg, cited by Reuters and other outlets, SoftBank and its arranging banks have floated a reduced target “as low as $6 billion” in recent discussions with prospective lenders, implying a 40% cut from the original size. U.S. News reported that the initial pitch “had investors concerned about the difficulty of reaching a valuation for an unlisted company like ChatGPT maker OpenAI.”

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Lenders question private OpenAI valuation and structure

Bloomberg’s April scoop on the deal said SoftBank was seeking “a $10 billion loan secured by its shares in US artificial intelligence giant OpenAI,” structured as a two‑year margin loan with an option to extend by another year. Bloomberg said the facility would let the Japanese conglomerate “take on more debt for its push into AI” without selling down its OpenAI stake.

In practice, the mechanics are straightforward but risky: SoftBank borrows against its OpenAI equity, and if the value of that collateral falls, lenders can demand more margin or seize shares. The sticking point, lenders now say, is how to price that collateral. As the Economic Times summarized from Bloomberg’s reporting, “some creditors expressed concerns over how to value OpenAI, a privately held company,” which has missed some internal sales and user milestones in recent quarters. A separate breakdown on Chinese platform Futu noted that “the crux of the issue lies in lenders’ inability to determine a reasonable valuation” for OpenAI, calling the loan talks “a major setback” for SoftBank’s AI leverage strategy.

Those worries are layered on top of SoftBank’s already sizable AI financing stack. In March, Bloomberg reported that SoftBank had secured a $40 billion bridge loan to fund its OpenAI investment and general corporate needs, a deal backed by a syndicate of global banks and now being syndicated out to more lenders. Bloomberg said institutions such as HSBC, BNP Paribas and Intesa Sanpaolo were joining as sub‑underwriters, each asked to commit around $5 billion. Reuters, summarizing the same reporting, added that SoftBank “is pursuing a loan of as much as $40 billion” to support its OpenAI bet. Yahoo Finance echoed that figure, underscoring just how much leverage is already tied to the AI trade.

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What the scaled‑back loan means for SoftBank’s AI push

The margin loan was meant to be another pillar in that structure: by borrowing against OpenAI shares rather than selling them, SoftBank can raise cash to expand its AI investments — potentially into infrastructure projects like the “Stargate” data‑center initiative — while preserving upside if OpenAI’s valuation continues to rise. TechFundingNews noted that the $10 billion margin loan was “just one part of SoftBank’s larger AI financing plan,” which reportedly includes commitments of more than $60 billion to OpenAI and related ventures through Vision Fund 2, the $40 billion bridge loan and other facilities.

Cutting the margin‑loan target to around $6 billion does not end that strategy, but it signals that creditor appetite for concentrated, private‑equity‑collateral risk is not unlimited, even in a market obsessed with AI. As Bloomberg put it in an earlier piece on the $40 billion bridge, the OpenAI exposure is already “one of the biggest tests yet of creditor sentiment toward the Japanese conglomerate’s debt-fueled push further into artificial intelligence.”

The latest downsizing suggests that, for now, banks and funds are willing to back SoftBank’s AI ambitions — but only up to the point where they can still convince their own risk committees that the collateral they are lending against can be valued with something more than vibes and secondary‑market whispers.

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Bitcoin Overbought Signal Points to a Potential Top Near $78K

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Crypto Breaking News

Bitcoin is hovering at a crucial crossroads after a rapid ascent that brought the price into the low $80,000s. A spike in the daily RSI to overbought levels suggests momentum may be cooling in the short term, even as some market participants remain optimistic about a further upside run.

The rally, which climbed from a macro low near $60,000 to about $82,800 this week, has pushed key momentum indicators into territory that historically precedes pullbacks. Traders are parsing whether the current strength can be sustained or if a near-term correction is due as price tests nearby resistance around the 200-day moving average.

Key takeaways

  • Bitcoin’s daily RSI advancing to the 70s amid an ~36% rebound from the macro low signals an overbought condition that has historically preceded meaningful corrections.
  • A break below the $78,000 support could open downside toward the mid $70,000s, while a hold above this level keeps the potential for another push higher intact.
  • Market dynamics point to an overheated MVRV and short-term holder Bollinger Band signal, with similar configurations last seen in November 2024 before a notable drop.

RSI heat and the near-term risk

On the daily chart, Bitcoin’s RSI rose to 70 as BTC tagged roughly $82,800, up from a March low near $39. The move brought BTC to the vicinity of the 200-day exponential moving average, a level analysts watch closely for how it may act as resistance.

As trader Jelle observed on X, the moment BTC touches the 200-day EMA in conjunction with overbought RSI “makes sense to find resistance here.”

“It makes sense to find resistance here.”

Commentary from observers underscores the potential for a short-term pullback if buyers don’t sustain momentum. Crypto Tice called the current signal “rare,” noting it has appeared only a handful of times over the past year and has historically led to pullbacks in the near term. He added:

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“Overbought conditions on the daily don’t resolve sideways. They resolve with a flush.”

The discussion isn’t just about a single indicator. The market’s readers also weigh the Bitcoin price against longer-term context, including the current risk environment and macro drivers. Rekt Fencer highlighted the pattern’s history by pointing to prior occurrences where the same setup foreshadowed sharp declines, noting that “the last 2 times this happened, it dumped” by substantial margins.

Beyond RSI, the market is watching the balance between risk and reward in real-time indicators. The short-term holder (STH) MVRV metric recently entered an “overheated” zone, a signal that traders and analysts are using to gauge whether BTC is overvalued relative to on-chain profitability. FrankAFetter summarized the sentiment by noting that BTC last broke above the overheated threshold on STH Bollinger Bands in November 2024, a moment that preceded a retracement.

“Bitcoin breaks above the overheated level on the short-term holder Bollinger Bands for the first time since November 2024.”

Support, resistance, and what could unfold

For now, the chart is defining an important battleground around $78,000. Traders broadly agree that this level has become a meaningful anchor for BTC/USD. At the same time, the 200-day EMA sits higher up near $83,000, acting as a ceiling that could cap further upside in the near term.

Analyst Jelle weighed in again, noting that the $78,000 area represents the “first main area of interest” and urging that turning this into support could pave the way for another attempt at higher levels.

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“Turn that into support and we can have another go at the MAs.”

Meanwhile, others see the potential for a decisive test around the same area. Tradermayne argued that holding the $78,000–$80,000 zone on lower timeframes would give bulls a clear bias for higher prices, whereas a break could tilt the risk balance toward downside bearest moves.

“Holding the support at $78,000–$80,000 on low time frames would give bulls a very easy bias level.”

Market liquidity, often a hidden driver of crypto price action, is also a focal point. Master of Crypto highlighted liquidity clusters around the current range. If buyers defend the $78k zone, the next leg could target the $82k–$83k area where substantial resting liquidity sits. But a breakdown could accelerate a move toward the mid-$70k zone.

“If buyers defend this area, the next move could be toward $82K–$83K where a lot of liquidity is sitting. But if this support breaks, Bitcoin could quickly drop to $75K–$76K.”

Market depth maps reinforce the risk-reward calculus. A Bitcoin liquidity heatmap shows that a drop below $78,000 could unleash more than $3.1 billion worth of leveraged long liquidations across major exchanges, potentially amplifying a short-term downturn.

What this means for traders and investors

The current configuration — rising price with an overbought RSI, a technically important support around $78,000, and overheated on-chain metrics — paints a nuanced picture. The near-term path likely hinges on whether BTC can defend the key support and how it reacts around $83,000 resistance. If the market sustains above $78,000 and bulls regain momentum, a move toward the $82,000–$83,000 band becomes plausible. Conversely, a break below $78,000 could open the door to a sharper correction, potentially testing the mid-$70,000s and inviting larger-liquidation scenarios on leveraged positions.

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Investors should also monitor on-chain indicators that have historically provided warning signals in similar setups. The combination of MVRV readings and the Bollinger Band context for short-term holders has shown a tendency to precede corrective moves, especially when paired with a sustained price push into the 200-day EMA’s vicinity.

As always, external catalysts—ranging from macro data releases to shifts in risk sentiment—can alter the trajectory quickly. The current setup, however, emphasizes cautious positioning near key levels rather than a confident, one-way bet.

Readers should watch how BTC behaves around the $78,000 support and whether the price can sustain above or break below that level, which will largely shape the next leg of its journey toward the $82,000–$83,000 zone or a potential retreat into the mid-$70,000s.

Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

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ECB's Lagarde: Euro Stablecoins Aren't the Answer, Build Public Infrastructure Instead

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ECB's Lagarde: Euro Stablecoins Aren't the Answer, Build Public Infrastructure Instead


The President of the European Central Bank spoke against EUR-pegged stablecoins at the inaugural Banco de España LatAm Economic Forum today.

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XRP Structure Strengthens as Traders Eye $1.45 and $1.80 Breakout Zones

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Brian Armstrong's Bold Prediction: AI Agents Will Soon Dominate Global Financial

TLDR:

  • XRP flashed a fresh TD Sequential buy signal after a recent correction from the $1.46 high.
  • Traders are monitoring $1.45 resistance as the first key level for bullish continuation.
  • XRP’s long-term chart structure mirrors previous breakout cycles after extended consolidation.
  • Analysts remain focused on the $1.80 zone as the next major breakout target for XRP.

XRP price prediction remains a major focus among traders after technical indicators signaled a possible rebound. Market participants are now assessing whether recent consolidation marks a temporary cooldown before XRP attempts another move toward higher resistance zones.

XRP Signals Fresh Momentum Shift

XRP has returned to the spotlight after printing a TD Sequential buy signal on the 4-hour chart. The indicator recently gained attention after accurately identifying a local top near $1.46.

That earlier sell signal came just before XRP corrected by 5.5% in 48 hours. As a result, traders are now treating the latest bullish signal with greater importance.

The recent pullback appears to have functioned as a short-term reset rather than a full trend reversal. Price action has gradually shifted into a tighter consolidation range following aggressive upside expansion.

Bearish momentum also appears to be weakening. Recent candles have printed smaller bodies, suggesting selling pressure may be losing strength. This behavior often signals exhaustion among short-term market participants.

In technical analysis, TD Sequential is designed to detect trend exhaustion after extended directional movement. The fresh “9” buy setup now suggests XRP could be preparing for a rebound phase.

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The first key resistance now sits at $1.45. This level remains important because it previously marked the recent local high before the correction started.

If XRP reclaims this area decisively, short-term sentiment could shift quickly. Buyers would likely regain confidence as bullish continuation becomes the dominant narrative again.

Long-Term Structure Supports Breakout Thesis

Beyond short-term momentum, XRP’s broader chart structure is drawing increased attention. Analysts continue identifying similarities between the current setup and prior expansion cycles.

Historically, XRP has followed a repeating structure involving impulse rallies, prolonged consolidation, false breakdowns, and aggressive breakout phases. This pattern has appeared multiple times across previous cycles.

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Between 2014 and 2017, XRP spent years inside a tightening structure while volatility declined sharply. Market participation weakened as price action remained stagnant near the apex.

After a false breakdown below support, XRP entered its historic 2017 rally. The asset then delivered one of crypto’s strongest expansions during that cycle.

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A similar formation appeared again after the 2018 peak. XRP entered another multi-year consolidation defined by lower highs and gradually rising support levels.

Price later reclaimed structure following another breakdown beneath support. This sequence renewed bullish interest among long-term chart watchers.

Current technical projections suggest XRP may now be entering another continuation phase. Analysts are monitoring the $1.80 region as the next major breakout zone above nearby resistance.

If XRP clears that level with rising volume, momentum traders may return aggressively. This could strengthen the broader XRP price prediction narrative in the coming sessions.

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Kraken parent goes for the OCC charter in bid to become a federal crypto bank

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Kraken to buy stablecoin payments firm Reap in $600 million deal: Bloomberg

Payward, the parent company of crypto exchange Kraken, has applied for a national trust company charter with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), according to a Friday announcement shared with CoinDesk, as the company looks to expand its regulated digital-asset custody business.

If approved, the charter would establish Payward National Trust Company (PNTC), a federally regulated entity focused on fiduciary custody and related services for digital assets. Kraken said the trust would primarily serve institutions and customers seeking bank-level custody protections under OCC oversight.

The filing marks Payward’s latest effort to expand its U.S. regulatory footprint as crypto firms increasingly pursue traditional financial charters to attract institutional clients and navigate a shifting regulatory environment.

“A national trust company provides the certainty institutions require and establishes the infrastructure to build the next generation of custody,” Payward and Kraken Co-CEO Arjun Sethi said in the statement.

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The move comes as crypto firms increasingly seek federal charters, licenses and banking approvals under the Trump administration’s more industry-friendly approach to digital-asset regulation.

Kraken’s broader expansion strategy has included a string of acquisitions aimed at building regulated trading and payments infrastructure ahead of a potential IPO.

In addition to its $1.5 billion acquisition of retail futures platform NinjaTrader in 2025, Payward agreed in April to acquire crypto derivatives exchange Bitnomial for up to $550 million, adding a full suite of Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) licenses covering brokerage, clearing and exchange operations.

This week, the company also struck a $600 million deal to buy Hong Kong-based payments firm Reap Technologies, expanding Kraken’s push into stablecoin-powered cross-border payments and card infrastructure in Asia

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The proposed trust company would complement Kraken Financial, the Wyoming special purpose depository institution (SPDI) chartered in 2020. Kraken Financial became the first digital-asset bank to secure a Federal Reserve master account, giving it direct access to the U.S. payments system.

Payward framed the OCC application as part of a broader “multi-charter” strategy aimed at offering different types of regulated financial services under both state and federal oversight.

Under the proposal, PNTC would rely on Payward’s existing compliance, risk management and custody infrastructure while expanding access to clients that require a federally regulated qualified custodian.

Crypto firms have increasingly explored bank and trust charters as regulators clarify rules around custody and institutional participation in digital assets. National trust charters, overseen by the OCC, have previously been pursued by crypto-native firms seeking broader legitimacy and nationwide operations without relying solely on state-by-state licensing.

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Sethi said the company’s Wyoming SPDI and prospective OCC trust charter would serve “complementary pillars” of Payward’s banking strategy as the U.S. regulatory framework for digital assets continues to evolve.

Read more: Kraken parent Payward closes $550 million Bitnomial deal, securing full CFTC derivatives stack

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British Athlete Involved in Olympic Doping Scandal, Now Jailed for Crypto Scam

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British Athlete Involved in Olympic Doping Scandal, Now Jailed for Crypto Scam

British sprinter CJ Ujah is one of 10 suspects charged in a UK crypto fraud probe. Authorities say victims lost wallet funds to phone-based deception.

Ujah, 32, was charged with conspiracy to defraud after raids by the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit. The operation spanned Kent, Essex, and London. He was granted bail until 28 May at Chelmsford Crown Court.

From Doping Ban to Fraud Charges

The charges landed four years after Ujah’s career was disrupted by a 22-month doping ban tied to Tokyo 2020.

The Athletics Integrity Unit blamed a contaminated £10 ($13.63) beta-alanine supplement bought during the Covid-19 lockdown. He was later cleared of intentional doping.

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That redemption narrative carried him through to the 100 m semi-finals at the 2024 European Championships in Rome. Ujah had not raced since April 2025 before this case emerged.

He ran the first leg when Great Britain won the 4x100m relay at the 2017 World Championships. That proved to be Usain Bolt’s final race.

How the Alleged Scam Worked

Investigators say members of the organised group posed as police officers and representatives of a crypto company. They pressured victims to share wallet seed phrases. One person reportedly lost more than £300,000 ($408,895).

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Such impersonation tactics have surged across the industry. The Regional Organised Crime Unit warned that genuine police and crypto firms never request seed phrases by phone. They also never demand device access or urgent transfers.

Fellow British sprinter Brandon Mingeli, 25, was also charged. He represented Great Britain at the U23 level in 2021 and remains remanded in custody.

British Athletics has not commented publicly on the case. Both Ujah and his nine co-defendants are presumed innocent. The 28 May hearing will likely shape whether Ujah’s comeback continues.

The post British Athlete Involved in Olympic Doping Scandal, Now Jailed for Crypto Scam appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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Pentagon Drops First-Ever Alien Files, Polymarket Bets Hit $33 Million

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Pentagon Drops First-Ever Alien Files, Polymarket Bets Hit $33 Million

Crypto-native prediction markets reacted within minutes after the Pentagon released its first declassified UAP files on Friday, more famously being labeled as the ‘Alien Files’. Polymarket’s flagship alien disclosure market has now reached a cumulative volume of over $33 million.

The Department of War launched the Presidential Unsealing and Reporting System for UAP Encounters (PURSUE) on Friday. Officials posted Release 01 to a public WAR.GOV/UFO portal, with rolling tranches promised every few weeks.

Polymarket Disclosure Bets Tops $33 Million

Traders on Polymarket have wagered roughly $33 million on whether a senior U.S. official will confirm extraterrestrial life by year-end. The crypto-native prediction platform sat at 19% on May 8 after Release 01 dropped.

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Bettors Wager on the US Confirming Aliens Exist. Source: Polymarket

A separate market on whether Trump declassifies new UFO files this year prices December 31 at 83%. Bettors appear positioned for more rolling tranches rather than a single dramatic event.

“This release follows the direction of President Donald J. Trump to begin the process of identifying and declassifying government files related to UAP in the interest of total transparency,” read an excerpt in the Friday announcement.

A separate $16 million market asking whether the administration would declassify UFO files in 2025 resolved “Yes” earlier this year.

No formal presidential declassification took place at the time. Late-session bids near 99 cents and a contested UMA oracle vote pushed the outcome through.

Comment threads on the platform labeled the call a scam. Critics dubbed the dispute mechanism “proof-of-whales,” reigniting questions about token-weighted oracles overriding trader consensus.

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What Rolling Releases Mean for the Markets

The Department of War welcomes private-sector analysis of the unresolved cases. Each new tranche could move disclosure odds and revive the dispute around how oracles call ambiguous outcomes.

If headline catalysts keep arriving, the prediction-market lens may become the cleanest gauge of how seriously markets price disclosure narratives.

The post Pentagon Drops First-Ever Alien Files, Polymarket Bets Hit $33 Million appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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BNB & Avalanche Hold Steady While BlockDAG Casino Goes Live, and It Is Already the Biggest Crypto Story of 2026

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BNB & Avalanche Hold Steady While BlockDAG Casino Goes Live, and It Is Already the Biggest Crypto Story of 2026

Crypto markets are grinding through a cautious stretch, with Avalanche near $9.27, up 0.54% in 24 hours, and buyers defending the $9.00 support zone. BNB holds around $627, backed by the BNB Foundation’s 35th quarterly burn, removing 1.56 million tokens worth $1.02 billion.

Both are showing resilience, but neither is making a defining move. BlockDAG is a completely different story. BlockDAG Casino just went fully live, not a beta, not a soft launch, but a fully operational platform where BDAG holders spend tokens, collect rewards, and come back daily.

With 13 exchange listings, confirmed Tier-1 integrations, and over 3.3 billion BlockDAG (BDAG) staked by long-term holders, this launch hands the token real, lasting utility that the market had been waiting on for months.

AVAX Rebounds While Buyers Defend Crucial Market Support

The Avalanche crypto price is showing early signs of a controlled recovery after several weeks of weak momentum. According to Brave New Coin, Avalanche is currently trading near $9.27, reflecting a 0.54% gain in the last 24 hours and a market capitalization close to $4 billion.

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The recent rebound from an intraday low near $9.05 suggests buyers are still active around the important $9.00–$9.10 support zone. Analysts believe the current trend could strengthen if bulls maintain pressure above nearby resistance levels. The phrase avalanche crypto price continues to attract attention as traders monitor short-term movements closely.

However, the Avalanche crypto price still needs a decisive break above $9.50 to confirm stronger upside momentum. Until then, the Avalanche crypto price may continue consolidating within its current trading range.

BNB Holds Support Amid Growing Bullish Market Expectations

BNB price prediction remains a major focus for traders as Binance Coin attempts to defend the important $620 support level following Bitcoin’s retreat from highs above $81,000. BNB recently traded near $627 after briefly touching $638 earlier in the week, while broader altcoin momentum stayed weak.

The token continues to find support from the BNB Foundation’s 35th quarterly burn, which removed over 1.56 million tokens worth around $1.02 billion, reducing overall supply and boosting scarcity. Analysts say BNB price prediction could improve if Bitcoin maintains strength above $80,000 and fresh capital flows return to the market.

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However, reduced trading volume and cautious leverage activity still reflect uncertain sentiment. Long-term holders continue accumulating during consolidation as BNB price prediction remains tied to macroeconomic conditions and ecosystem growth prospects.

BlockDAG Casino Is Now Live and Ready for Action

BlockDAG Casino is officially live, and the crypto world is taking notice. This is not a test run or a phased rollout. The casino is fully operational, giving BDAG holders a real destination to use their tokens, collect rewards, and return daily. The launch transforms BDAG from a holding asset into an active currency with a purpose, and that shift alone is generating serious attention across the market. For a token already appearing among the top crypto gainers today, this kind of utility arrival is a defining moment.

With BDAG listed on 13 exchanges and additional Tier-1 integrations already confirmed, the asset has built a presence that goes well beyond speculation. What sets this moment apart is not just the exchange count or price activity, but the arrival of something the market had been anticipating for months.

For a token to appear consistently among the top crypto gainers today, it needs more than market sentiment. It needs a utility that drives real transactions, real usage, and real returning users. BlockDAG Casino delivers exactly that. Every game played, every reward collected, and every deposit made keeps BDAG in circulation within a closed, self-sustaining system.

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With more than 3.3 billion BDAG currently staked by long-term holders, the foundation underneath this casino launch is already solid. The staking numbers alone indicate that a large portion of the community is not selling. The casino launch only adds further reason to stay, giving both existing holders and new entrants a clear and active use case that did not exist before this week.

Conclusion

Avalanche holding near $9.27 with buyers active around the $9.00 support zone and BNB defending $627 after removing 1.56 million tokens worth $1.02 billion from supply through its 35th quarterly burn, both tell a story of quiet resilience. Neither is breaking out, but neither is collapsing either.

BlockDAG, though, just changed its own story in a much bigger way. BlockDAG Casino going fully live means BDAG now has a real, working destination where tokens move, rewards accumulate, and users return.

With 13 exchange listings, Tier-1 integrations locked in, and 3.3 billion BDAG already staked, the community clearly sees what this launch represents. Among the top crypto gainers today, that combination of utility and holder conviction is genuinely hard to match.

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Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network

Website: https://blockdag.network

Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial

Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu

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Disclaimer: This is a Press Release provided by a third party who is responsible for the content. Please conduct your own research before taking any action based on the content.

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Tether froze over $500M USDT in 30 days as blacklist total hit $1.26B in 2025

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Tether and Opera Partner to scale USDT and Tether Gold support through MiniPay wallet

Tether froze over $514 million USDT across 370 addresses in the past 30 days as its 2025 blacklist swelled to $1.26 billion, underscoring how centralized stablecoins now function as embedded enforcement rails for global regulators and law enforcement.

Summary

  • Tether has frozen more than $514 million USDT across 370 addresses in the past 30 days, mostly on Tron.
  • BlockSec says Tether blacklisted 4,163 addresses in 2025, freezing a total of $1.26 billion USDT on Ethereum and Tron.
  • The growing use of blacklists underscores how centralized stablecoins now operate as de facto enforcement tools embedded in crypto rails.

Tether has frozen over $514 million worth of USDT in the last 30 days, locking funds across 370 addresses on Ethereum and Tron, according to data cited by Cointelegraph.

BlockSec’s USDT Freeze Tracker shows that about $506 million of the frozen tokens sit on Tron and roughly $8.73 million on Ethereum, once again highlighting Tron’s central role in USDT flows.

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Separately, BlockSec’s on-chain report, titled “$1.26 Billion Frozen: USDT Blacklisting on Ethereum and Tron in 2025,” found that Tether blacklisted 4,163 unique addresses last year, freezing a cumulative $1.26 billion in USDT and permanently destroying more than half of it via its destroyBlackFunds function.

How Tether’s blacklists work at scale

BlockSec’s researchers write that “USDT can be frozen. Yes, yours,” noting that in 2025 alone Tether froze $1.26 billion “across 4,163 addresses,” with only 3.6% of those wallets later being unfrozen.

Their analysis finds that $698 million of the frozen USDT was burned, reducing outstanding supply, while the rest remained locked indefinitely or was later moved under law‑enforcement direction.

A follow‑up blog, “Following the Frozen,” and a companion LinkedIn post identify three main triggers for blacklisting: direct requests from agencies such as the FBI, Europol and local police; automated blocking of wallets tied to U.S. sanctions lists; and proactive investigations by Tether’s T3 Financial Crime Unit, established with Tron and TRM Labs.

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The report links multiple frozen addresses to large‑scale fraud schemes, pig‑butchering operations, darknet markets and wallets associated with terrorist finance, including entities designated by the U.S. Treasury.

Tether itself has publicly emphasized this enforcement role. In April, the company announced that it had “supported the freeze of more than $344 million in USDT” across two Tron wallets “in coordination with OFAC and U.S. law enforcement,” calling it “one of the largest such actions in the company’s history” in an official statement.

That followed a January move in which Tether froze roughly $182 million USDT on Tron in what Yahoo Finance described as a “massive coordinated action” against five wallets flagged by U.S. agencies, according to a report that drew on company statements and on-chain forensics.

Centralized stablecoins as enforcement rails for crypto

Looking beyond any single freeze, the numbers are now system‑level. From 2023 through 2025, Tether froze more than $3.29 billion worth of USDT across 7,268 addresses, with Reuters recently reporting that the firm has now frozen about $4.2 billion over its lifetime “linked to crime, sanctions and other illicit activity,” citing company disclosures in a story.

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Crypto.news has tracked how this enforcement capability shapes the broader market. A recent story on Tether’s $344 million Tron freeze noted that USDT’s compliance layer has become “a de facto extension of Western financial sanctions,” while another story on stablecoin enforcement detailed how both Tether and Circle have accelerated blacklisting as regulators scrutinize how dollar tokens move through DeFi and centralized exchanges.

For traders and builders, the lesson is blunt. Centralized stablecoins like USDT are not neutral settlement assets; they carry embedded kill switches that can and do get flipped at scale, often in coordination with law‑enforcement and sanctions authorities.

That reality is already reshaping design choices across the market, from protocols experimenting with overcollateralized, on‑chain alternatives to exchanges bolstering wallet screening and travel‑rule compliance to avoid waking up one day and discovering that millions of dollars in user deposits have been blacklisted — and, in many cases, will never come back.

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Kelp DAO Fallout Pushes Solv, DeFi Protocols Toward Chainlink

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Kelp DAO Fallout Pushes Solv, DeFi Protocols Toward Chainlink

Decentralized finance protocols are reevaluating their blockchain oracle providers’ security after the fallout from the $293 million Kelp DAO exploit last month. Several protocols have announced migrations to Chainlink infrastructure in recent days, citing security concerns around third-party oracle and bridge providers.

On Thursday, Bitcoin DeFi platform Solv Protocol announced it would migrate to Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) and replace LayerZero bridges, citing an “extensive security review” concluding that CCIP provided the “strongest security assurances.” 

A day earlier, liquidity protocol Tydro also said it was moving to Chainlink after its previous oracle provider, Chaos Labs, suffered an incident that prompted Tydro to pause markets over concerns about inaccurate price feeds.

The migrations come after an April 18 exploit in which attackers drained 116,500 Kelp DAO restaked ETH (rsETH) tokens worth between $290 million and $293 million. Following the exploit, Kelp DAO also migrated its rsETH token to Chainlink, moving away from its previous LayerZero-powered bridge after attributing the incident to weaknesses in its cross-chain setup.

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Source: Solv Protocol

LayerZero, however, said on April 20 that the exploit resulted from a single point of failure in Kelp DAO’s implementation, which relied on a single LayerZero DVN as the only verified path despite prior warnings against that configuration.

DeFi protocols review oracle security after Kelp exploit

The Kelp DAO exploit triggered a “wake-up call” for DeFi providers, according to Zach Rynes, strategic initiatives lead at Chainlink Labs.

Related: Aave liquidates Kelp DAO hacker’s rsETH positions on Ethereum, Arbitrum

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Rynes told Cointelegraph that DeFi teams conducting security reviews are increasingly deciding to replace older oracle and bridge systems with Chainlink infrastructure to strengthen baseline security protections, and multiple other DeFi protocols are discussing potential migrations to Chainlink following the exploit.

Oracle providers with long operating histories and strong reliability are becoming increasingly important as hacks continue across the sector, Marcin Kazmierczak, co-founder of RedStone, the fourth-largest blockchain oracle provider, told Cointelegraph, adding that RedStone has also kept a “fully reliable track record.”

Redstone was also contacted by Tydro as an emergency measure after the Chaos Labs oracle attack and provided support to help restore oracle feeds for the protocol.

Source: Redstone

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Oracle consolidation raises new questions for DeFi

Following the Kelp DAO exploit, only a smaller group of specialized providers may be able to meet the “demand and reliability requirements” created by growing institutional participation in DeFi, Kazmierczak said.

“A smaller set of trusted oracles is forming in the market,” he said, adding that as capital concentrates around providers with proven track records, the risk of oracle-related exploits could decline.

When asked about the risks of multiple DeFi protocols depending on fewer providers, Rynes said Chainlink’s infrastructure was designed to withstand extreme market conditions.

He pointed to periods including the 2020 Covid market crash, the 2022 FTX collapse and major volatility events in 2025, saying Chainlink continued operating throughout those disruptions.

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Related: Arbitrum vote to release $71M in frozen Kelp exploit ETH set to pass

Nik Kunkel, founder of Chronicle, the second-largest oracle provider, said that an overreliance on a single infrastructure provider will always present additional risks.

“There are risks anytime a large portion of an ecosystem depends on a single piece of infrastructure,” Kunkel told Cointelegraph, adding that reducing those risks also requires data infrastructure to remain independently transparent and verifiable.

Top Oracle providers by market share. Source: DefiLlama.com

Chainlink remains the largest oracle provider with a 58% market share and more than $32 billion in value secured, according to DefiLlama. Chronicle ranks second with $7.6 billion in total value secured, while RedStone holds fourth place with $3.7 billion, representing a 6.7% market share.

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Magazine: 53 DeFi projects infiltrated, 50M NEO tokens could be ‘given back’: Asia Express

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Bitcoin’s ‘Overbought’ RSI Hints at BTC Price Dropping to Test $78K

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Bitcoin’s ‘Overbought’ RSI Hints at BTC Price Dropping to Test $78K

Bitcoin (BTC) traders expect a short-term correction as a key BTC price strength metric rises to its highest levels in almost fifteen weeks.

Key takeaways:

  • Bitcoin’s “overbought” RSI historically precedes significant corrections.
  • Bitcoin could see a short-term price drop if the price breaks below the $78,000 support.

Bitcoin metrics suggest BTC price is “overheated”

Bitcoin’s 36% rally to $82,800 on Wednesday from its macro low of $60,000 has significantly impacted its daily RSI.

On the daily chart, the RSI rose to 70 on Wednesday from local lows of 39 in March. 

“$BTC’s daily RSI went overbought right as we tagged the 200-day EMA,” trader Jelle said in a Friday post on X, adding:

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“It makes sense to find resistance here.”

BTC/USD weekly chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

RSI measures trend strength and contains three key levels for observers: the 30 oversold boundary, the 50 midpoint and the 70 overbought threshold.

When the price crosses these levels, depending on the direction, traders can infer about the future of the current trend. After rallies, BTC usually corrects once the RSI enters the overbought territory.

Related: Bitcoin bulls target $115K by December: Does data back the expectation?

Analyst Crypto Tice said this is a “rare” signal that has occurred only four times over the last year, with every occurrence leading to a “short-term pullback,” adding:

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“Overbought conditions on the daily don’t resolve sideways. They resolve with a flush.”

Fellow analyst Rekt Fencer pointed out that the “last 2 times this happened, it dumped” 35%-38%, as shown in the chart above.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s market value to realized value (MVRV) ratio, which measures whether the asset is overvalued, recently entered the “overheated” zone.

“Bitcoin breaks above the overheated level on the short-term holder Bollinger Bands for the first time since November 2024,” analyst FrankAFetter said in a recent post on X.

The last time it was at similar levels was in November 2024 before a 15% BTC price drop.

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Bitcoin  STH MVRV Bollinger Bands. Source: CheckOnChain

Bitcoin support at $78,000 becomes key for BTC price

Bitcoin traders agree that $78,000 has now become an important area of support for BTC/USD.

The 200-day exponential moving average at $83,000 is acting as resistance, while the “first main area of interest sits at $78,000,” analyst Jelle said in an X post on Friday, adding: 

“Turn that into support and we can have another go at the MAs.”

BTC/USD daily chart. Source: X/Jelle

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Fellow analyst Tradermayne said holding the support at $78,000-$80,000 on low time frames would give “bulls a very easy bias level.”

BTC/USD weekly chart. Source: Trader Mayne

Orders are sitting on both sides of the spot price, with analyst Master of Crypto seeing the likelihood of these liquidity clusters being taken out.

“$BTC is holding around the $78.5K–$79.1K support zone,” the analyst said in a Friday post on X, adding:

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“If buyers defend this area, the next move could be toward $82K–$83K where a lot of liquidity is sitting. But if this support breaks, Bitcoin could quickly drop to $75K–$76K.”

Bitcoin liquidation heatmap. Source: CoinGlass

The Bitcoin liquidity map shows that a correction below $78,000 would trigger over $3.1 billion worth of leveraged long liquidations across all exchanges.

Bitcoin exchange liquidation map. Source: CoinGlass

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