All of a sudden, Bitcoin’s peer-to-peer communication layer for full nodes, known as its gossip channel, found four times more addresses than it did a month ago. Jameson Lopp has questioned whether somebody might be spinning up nodes for a sybil attack.

Lopp posted a concerning chart from a live network monitor on Sunday, flagging a sharp spike to 250,000 unique IP and IP-like addresses per day, after spending the prior eight years below 65,000.

The chart, maintained by a research group of the Karlsruher Institut für Technologie in Germany, tracks daily unique addresses via unsolicited ADDR messages. 

ADDR and its variants, short for “address,” is a type of peer-to-peer message that Bitcoin nodes broadcast randomly to gossip about IP or IP-like addresses of full nodes with which they have established contact.

Messages sent via ADDR assist nodes with peer discovery. After connecting to a few initial nodes, new nodes during their early moments of entering the Bitcoin network randomly receive ADDR messages on an unsolicited basis, quickly learning about additional nodes.

Establishing a robust mesh empowers nodes to more efficiently broadcast and receive Bitcoin transactions and blocks.

For over eight years, the German researcher’s monitoring system found daily unique IP addresses in unsolicited ADDR messages ranging between roughly 30,000-60,000. Starting in mid-April 2026, however, it diverged sharply to the upside, reaching roughly 250,000 by early May.

A flood of new Bitcoin IP addresses 

Innocuous interpretations of the data involve simple housekeeping or a sudden increase in legitimate network participation.

On the other hand, a hostile interpretation flagged preparation for a communication-based attack on Bitcoin nodes.

Lopp’s framing questioned the latter, naming the famous sybil attack as a possibility, i.e. tricking a reputation system by creating multiple, sockpuppet identities.

An eclipse attack is also a possible threat. Boston University researchers demonstrated in 2015, for example, that a Bitcoin node attacker who fills a victim’s IP address table with their own IP addresses could hijack that victim’s connections after a network restart.

Temporarily, an attacker could then feed the eclipsed node a doctored view of the blockchain. 

To discourage this type of attack, Bitcoin Core software has tightened address-table bucketing and added ADDR rate limits. Still, no decentralized network is entirely impervious to all types of sybil attacks.

Sudden growth in Bitcoin ADDRs

Another possible explanation for the sudden spike in unique addresses could be surveillance. 

As Protos previously documented, an entity dubbed LinkingLion spent years opening short connections to Bitcoin nodes from 812 IP addresses, possibly to record which IP first relayed each transaction for the purposes of downstream blockchain analytics. 

A flood of bogus peer entries could provide useful cover for that kind of mapping work. 

Moreover, anyone may start any number of Bitcoin nodes for any reason, at any time, permissionlessly. As a voluntary and open source network, there is no requirement to explain the starting or stopping of nodes, nor ADDR messages.

Nodes may also, without explanation, rotate their IP addresses at any time.

The American Bankers Association (ABA) is mounting an aggressive lobbying push against portions of the Senate’s Digital Asset Market Clarity Act ahead of a scheduled Banking Committee markup on Thursday, warning lawmakers that stablecoin provisions in the updated bill could still undermine bank deposits and weaken financial stability.

In a call-to-arms circulated to bank executives nationwide, the ABA petitioned banks and their employees over the weekend to contact senators immediately to push for tighter restrictions on payment stablecoins in the crypto market structure bill. The group said the latest version of the legislation — after months of bank lobbying, meetings and input — still leaves room for crypto firms to offer interest-like rewards that may encourage consumers to move money out of traditional bank accounts.

The Senate Banking Committee is expected to release updated legislative text as soon as Monday, with comments and amendments from lawmakers likely to emerge Tuesday before Thursday’s committee vote on the Clarity Act.

“We need your help to drive this message home before senators consider this legislation,” ABA president Rob Nichols said in the request.

The ABA’s campaign follows a joint letter sent last week with other banking trade associations that outlined proposed edits to the bill. The groups argued lawmakers need to close what they describe as a loophole around stablecoin yield before advancing the legislation.

The dispute has become one of the defining battles in Washington’s crypto policy debate. Bank executives and trade groups have argued that yield-bearing stablecoins could function as substitutes for insured deposits, draining funding that banks rely on to make mortgages, business loans and other forms of credit.

Supporters of stablecoins, including many crypto firms and fintech companies, argue the products offer consumers faster payments and new ways to move money online. Critics in the crypto industry say banks are trying to preserve their dominance by limiting how digital dollar products compete for users.

“The banking cartel is in full panic mode,” U.S. Senator Bernie Moreno, an Ohio Republican who has been staunchly pro-crypto, posted on social media site X.

The fight previously delayed legislative progress, and lawmakers eventually negotiated a compromise that would prohibit stablecoin yield resembling deposit interest while allowing activity-based rewards programs similar to credit-card points. Even after those changes, major banking groups have continued pressing Congress for stricter guardrails.

While the White House Council of Economic Advisers had released an analysis on stablecoins that suggested their deployment wouldn’t damage the banking system, ABA economists answered with their own study in April. The banking group argued the administration focused on the wrong policy question by analyzing the effects of banning stablecoin yield rather than the consequences of allowing it. According to the ABA, permitting yield-bearing stablecoins could rapidly scale the market from roughly $300 billion today to as much as $2 trillion, increasing pressure on bank funding.

The longer negotiations drag on, lawmakers and industry participants warn, the harder it may become to move comprehensive crypto legislation through the Senate and onto the floor for a final vote. About 10 weeks of Senate floor time remain before the midterm elections, according to the current Senate calendar, and there are a lot of competing interests for that legislative bandwidth.

UPDATE (May 11, 2026, 14:55 UTC): Adds response from Senator Bernie Moreno.

Key takeaways

• XRP slipped below $1.50 as renewed Middle East tensions weakened broader crypto sentiment.
• XRP investment products saw nearly $40 million in inflows last week, while futures open interest climbed to $2.87 billion.

XRP tests key $1.45 support despite strong ETF and futures inflows

Ripple’s XRP retreated from highs near $1.50 and hovered around $1.46 on Monday as renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East pressured broader crypto markets and cooled recent bullish momentum.

The pullback followed comments from US President Donald Trump, who reportedly rejected Iran’s latest proposal aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in the region, calling the offer “totally unacceptable.” 

The proposal included conditions tied to Iran’s sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz alongside demands for compensation related to war damages.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei defended the proposal, describing it as “reasonable” and “generous” for both Iran’s national interests and regional stability.

The renewed uncertainty rattled risk assets, including cryptocurrencies, which had recently rallied on hopes of a lasting ceasefire agreement between the US and Iran. XRP is up by less than 1% today as traders reassessed the broader macro outlook.

Despite the market weakness, capital inflows into XRP investment products remained resilient last week.

According to CoinShares, XRP-related digital investment products attracted nearly $40 million in inflows, with total assets under management averaging $2.5 billion, ranking fourth among crypto investment products.

Spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) accounted for approximately $34 million of those inflows, while cumulative ETF inflows climbed to $1.32 billion. Net ETF assets under management currently stand at around $1.12 billion, according to CoinGlass data.

Meanwhile, derivatives activity suggests retail traders continue positioning for further upside. XRP futures Open Interest (OI) surged to $2.95 billion from $2.65 billion a day earlier, indicating growing participation and investor conviction despite the recent pullback.

XRP technical outlook: bulls defend key EMA support zone

The XRP/USD 4-hour chart remains bullish as Ripple continues to trade above key levels. XRP is currently trading above the 50, 100, and 200 Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) on the 4-hour chart clustered between $1.40 and $1.42, reinforcing a constructive short-term bias.

However, the $1.50 area remains a major resistance barrier after acting as a double-top ceiling during the recent rally.

Momentum indicators suggest bullish momentum is cooling rather than reversing entirely. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) remains in the high-50s, while the Money Flow Index (MFI) has eased from overbought territory, signaling a pause in buying pressure.

If the selloff persists, XRP could encounter a support level near the 50 EMA around $1.42, followed by stronger support around the 100 EMA at $1.41 and the 200 EMA near $1.40.

However, if the bulls regain control and XRP’s daily candle closes above the $1.50 resistance zone, it could pave the way for a more extended bullish move in the sessions ahead.

Key takeaways

• Solana surged nearly 15% last week as spot SOL ETFs attracted $39.23 million in inflows — the strongest since January. 
• Solana surged nearly 15% last week as spot SOL ETFs attracted $39.23 million in inflows — the strongest since January. 

Solana (SOL) is trading just above $95 on Monday after rallying nearly 15% over the past week, with bullish momentum supported by strong institutional demand, improving on-chain activity, and rising derivatives participation.

Institutional demand pushes SOL above $90

Institutional appetite for Solana strengthened sharply last week, with spot Solana Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) recording net inflows of $39.23 million, according to CoinGlass data. 

The figure marked the strongest weekly inflow since mid-January, signaling renewed investor confidence in the asset. Continued inflows could provide additional upside support for SOL in the near term.

On-chain and derivatives metrics also point to a constructive outlook. CryptoQuant data indicates cooling conditions across both spot and futures markets while showing buy-side dominance in futures activity — a combination that often precedes further upside. 

Although several metrics remain neutral, overall sentiment has improved considerably compared to previous weeks.

In the derivatives market, Solana’s funding rates turned positive on Sunday before climbing to 0.0067% on Monday, showing that long traders are now paying shorts to maintain positions. 

Historically, similar flips from negative to positive funding rates have coincided with strong upward price moves for SOL.

Open Interest (OI) in Solana futures has also surged. CoinGlass data shows total OI rising to $6.46 billion on Monday from $4.83 billion on May 5. 

The steady increase since early May suggests fresh capital continues to enter the market, reinforcing bullish momentum and signaling growing trader participation.

Solana technical forecast: Bulls target the $100 psychological level

The SOL/USD 4-hour chart is bullish thanks to Solana’s recent rally. SOL is now trading above both the 100-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $93.87 and the 50-day EMA at $87.51, strengthening the bullish case.

Momentum indicators also remain supportive. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) sits at 69, reflecting strong but not yet overextended momentum.

Meanwhile, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator remains firmly positive and continues to rise.

If the rally persists, immediate resistance is seen near the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level at $98.53. 

A daily candle close above this resistance could open the door toward the $108.12–$110.62 range, where the 50% retracement level and the 200-day EMA converge. 

Additional resistance levels stand near $117.71 and $120.00, while an extended rally could target the 78.6% retracement level around $131.35.

However, if the market undergoes a correction, immediate support sits near the former channel resistance around $92.11, followed by the 100-day EMA at $93.87 and the 50-day EMA at $87.52. 

Losing these levels could expose the support near $86.67, while deeper pullbacks could revisit the channel floor around $77.12 and the broader cycle low area near $67.50.

Strategy bought 535 Bitcoin for $43 million last week, resuming its accumulation strategy days after its chairman, Michael Saylor, said the company may sell some of its holdings to fund dividend payments.

The world’s largest corporate Bitcoin holder acquired the Bitcoin (BTC) between May 4 and May 10 at an average price of $80,340 per BTC, according to a Monday filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

The purchase lifted Strategy’s total holdings to 818,869 BTC, acquired for about $61.86 billion at an average price of $75,540 per coin, including fees and expenses.

The acquisition was Strategy’s first since April 27, when the company bought 3,273 BTC for $255 million. It also followed the company’s first-quarter earnings call, where Saylor said Strategy would “probably sell some Bitcoin” to fund a dividend and show that a sale would not undermine the company or the broader Bitcoin market.

On Sunday, Saylor hinted that the company would resume BTC purchases after the prior week’s pause.

Strategy Bitcoin acquisition, 8-K filing. Source: SEC

The Bitcoin purchase was made using proceeds from share sales. The majority of the acquisition, or $42.9 million, was funded through the sales of Class A common stock (MSTR), while another $100,000 was funded through the issuance of Stretch (STRC) stock, the filing shows.

Related: Capital B raises $17.8M to expand its Bitcoin treasury

Strategy shares gain in pre-market, despite Bitcoin sales concerns

Strategy shares rose in premarket trading on Monday after the company disclosed the Bitcoin purchase.

Its shares rose 4.3% to change hands above $187.50 at the time of writing, according to Yahoo Finance.

Strategy’s shares are up 23% year-to-date despite Bitcoin’s 7.2% decline during the same period, data from TradingView shows.

MSTR/USD, 1-day chart. Source: Yahoo Finance

Still, investor concerns persist following Strategy’s first quarter earnings call, when Saylor said Strategy may periodically sell portions of the company’s Bitcoin holdings to fund dividends and to “inoculate the market.”

While some investors feared that a Strategy sale could create more cascading liquidations, others, such as Bitcoin advocate Samson Mow, said that Strategy’s potential sales can give it greater room to maneuver in the market.

Strategy investor Adam Livingston argued that periodic sales may allow the company to finance more Bitcoin purchases in the future.

Magazine: Strategy reveals why they would sell BTC, Trump Media posts loss: Hodler’s Digest, May 3 – 9

Solana developer Anza said Monday that Alpenglow, the network’s biggest proposed consensus overhaul to date, is live on a community test cluster, marking a major step toward a potential mainnet rollout.

The update means validator operators can now test software designed to move Solana from its current consensus system, which combines Proof-of-Stake with TowerBFT and Proof-of-History, toward a new architecture intended to dramatically reduce finality times and improve network responsiveness.

“Alpenglow is live on the community test cluster,” Anza wrote on X. “The biggest consensus change in Solana’s history, now running on validator infrastructure ahead of mainnet.”

Today, Solana relies on Proof-of-History, a cryptographic clock that timestamps transactions, alongside TowerBFT, a voting mechanism validators use to agree on the state of the blockchain. While the design has helped Solana achieve high throughput and low fees, some have pointed to outages and network instability during periods of heavy demand.

Alpenglow proposes replacing major portions of that system with a redesigned framework centered around new components. In simple terms, the new model aims to let validators communicate and confirm blocks faster and more efficiently, potentially cutting transaction finality from several seconds to near real-time speeds.

The start of the community test cluster also suggests that validator software can successfully perform what developers are informally calling “Alpenswitch,” transitioning validator nodes from Solana’s existing process to Alpenglow in a live network environment.

The test milestone comes just days after Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko said at Consensus Miami 2026 that Alpenglow could reach mainnet as soon as next quarter if testing continues smoothly.

Read more: Solana’s ‘Alpenglow’ upgrade could arrive next quarter, co-founder Yakovenko says