Bernstein Circle analysts said the CLARITY Act yield compromise blocks rival stablecoin issuers from competing on rates

Bernstein analysts said the CLARITY Act’s yield compromise structurally favors Circle Internet Group, ending what they described as a looming stablecoin “interest rate arms race.” The note landed days after the bill cleared the Senate Banking Committee 15-9.

The compromise prohibits stablecoin issuers from paying yield economically equivalent to bank deposits, while preserving rewards tied to trading and payments. Bernstein argued the language protects USDC’s growth model.

Stablecoin supply tops $300 billion

Total dollar-backed stablecoin supply surpassed $300 billion this week, with Tether and USDC controlling roughly 97% of the market. Adjusted monthly transaction volume reached around $15 trillion, putting annualized flows near $100 trillion.

USDC’s market share in adjusted transaction volumes climbed from 41% to 60% year-over-year. Bernstein analysts led by Gautam Chhugani wrote that the compromise “cements stablecoins as payment instruments rather than deposit substitutes.”

Circle ARC blockchain reinforces thesis

Bernstein also highlighted Circle’s growing agentic payments infrastructure, including gas-free USDC transfers, the x402 protocol, and the ARC blockchain. ARC uses USDC as native gas under what the firm called “quantum-ready” architecture.

The bank maintained an Outperform rating and $190 price target on Circle, implying roughly 67% upside from its $114 close on Friday. Bernstein also kept an Outperform call on Coinbase with a $330 target.

Circle does not pay passive yield on USDC directly. Partners such as Coinbase instead use distribution arrangements and activity-linked rewards programs tied to USDC usage, structures the CLARITY Act compromise leaves intact.

The CLARITY Act now heads to a full Senate floor vote that requires 60 votes. The House must reconcile any differences before the bill reaches President Trump’s desk for signature.

Bitcoin retail investor activity on Binance has slid to its weakest point on record, according to CryptoQuant metrics. Retail BTC inflows to the exchange are averaging roughly 314 BTC per month in 2026, a sharp drop from the around 1,200 BTC seen during Bitcoin’s March 2024 local top. The May recovery also cooled as spot inflows waned, with the 30-day net demand growth slipping 73% over the past three weeks.

Key takeaways

• Binance’s retail BTC inflows have collapsed to about 314 BTC per month in 2026, versus roughly 1,200 BTC at the March 2024 peak.
• The 30-day change in retail demand cooled from earlier levels, with growth at 3.12% this week versus 7.39% the prior week, indicating a thinning pace of retail buying activity.
• Market dynamics show a mismatch between futures and spot demand: futures demand remained positive while spot demand stayed negative, contributing to a more tepid recovery.
• Binance’s dominance in USDT-margined futures has waned, dropping to 21.1% in May 2026 as OKX rose to 26.3%, marking a notable leadership shift in the exchange landscape.
• Sharp taker-sell spikes during the May decline, underscoring ebbing retail participation even as price volatility persisted.

Retail activity cools on Binance as ETF drift considerations intensify

In recent months, observers have noted a shift in the behavior of retail-focused Bitcoin inflows. Darkfost, a CryptoQuant analyst, pointed out that retail inflows to Binance have remained near their historical lows, a condition that has persisted even as prices recovered from recent dips. The data tracks deposits from wallets holding less than 1 BTC, a conventional proxy for everyday retail participation. The current trajectory suggests a sustained reduction in the number of smaller investors actively adding BTC to spot positions on the exchange.

Historically, retail participation was far stronger during prior cycles, with inflows peaking well above current levels (notably around 5,400 BTC in 2018 and 2,600 BTC in 2021). The recent pattern—an extended period of subdued inflows and a halting price recovery—aligns with reports that some market participants may be shifting focus away from direct exchange holdings toward other exposure channels, including spot Bitcoin ETFs, where available. CryptoQuant’s data has also highlighted a cooldown in the pace of retail demand expansion, tempering the sense of a broad-based return to demand that characterized earlier rebound phases.

Evidence of a market mismatch: spot vs. futures demand

Analysts tracking Binance’s order book and flow dynamics have highlighted a notable split between futures and spot activity during the latest rebound. Amr Taha of CryptoQuant noted two sizable spikes in taker sell volume during the May decline, with one around $1.5 billion on May 15 and another exceeding $1.1 billion as Bitcoin traded under $77,000. The takeaway: large-scale price moves coincided with significant sell pressure from active traders, even as overall demand signals remained mixed.

Meanwhile, a broader narrative from market analysts centers on the absence of a balanced demand signal that typically accompanies healthy recoveries. Crazzyblockk, another CryptoQuant commentator, pointed out that the current rally diverges from prior episodes—October 2024, November 2024, and May 2025—when spot and futures demand moved higher in tandem. In the latest cycle, futures demand stayed positive, tallying around +193,000 BTC over 30 days, while spot demand stayed negative at roughly -28,000 BTC and remained subzero for 65 consecutive days. The overall 30-day demand growth declined sharply from about 232,000 BTC in early May to approximately 62,000 BTC by May 16, signaling a 73% drop in momentum.

The pattern matters because it hints at how sustainable the rebound might be. When spot and futures participation rise together, Bitcoin often enjoys stronger and more durable rallies. The current configuration—futures exposure still in positive territory while spot demand remains weak—suggests a fragility in the dip-recovery dynamic that could keep volatility elevated and limit upside unless spot participation improves.

Derivatives leadership shifts shape the market backdrop

The reshuffling of who dominates Bitcoin’s futures landscape adds another layer of complexity. Data cited by analysts show a clear shift in exchange leadership for USDT-margined futures over the past year and a half. Binance, which had commanded roughly 40% to 44% of global USDT-margined futures volume from October 2024 through March 2026, saw its share compress to 21.1% in May 2026.OKX stepped up to 26.3% in the same period, marking the first sustained reversal in exchange leadership for the cycle.

These dynamics matter for traders and liquidity providers because futures market structure often amplifies price moves and influences hedging activity. A decline in Binance’s dominance could reallocate risk and liquidity across venues, potentially affecting funding rates, order book depth, and the speed at which wholesale flows can move BTC across markets. For market participants, the shift underscores the evolving balance of power in the crypto derivatives space and the importance of monitoring cross-exchange flow interactions as price action unfolds.

Related coverage from the industry has underscored the broader context: as retail participation cools, institutional and ETF-linked channels may play an increasingly influential role in determining BTC’s price trajectories, especially if spot demand remains constrained. The market is watching for fresh data on ETF filings, regulatory developments, and any renewed retail appetite that could re-align the spot and futures curves.

In the near term, observers will be watching whether spot demand can recover in tandem with futures activity or whether the current pattern persists, with futures driving price moves while spot participation remains muted. The coming weeks could reveal whether the ETF channel and broader macro liquidity conditions will re-energize retail buying or whether the market settles into a more measured, less enthusiastic phase of recovery.

Across the board, the data points to a market that is transitioning in its participation mix. The interplay between ETF-driven exposure, exchange-specific inflows, and the evolving derivatives landscape will continue to shape Bitcoin’s liquidity profile and price dynamics as traders weigh the evolving risk environment.

The Bank of England on Monday proposed extending operating hours for its core settlement infrastructure toward near-24/7 availability, part of a broader push with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) to prepare UK wholesale markets for tokenized finance.

The proposal seeks to add weekend and extended daily operating hours to the central bank’s settlement mechanism, Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS), and the Clearing House Automated Payment System (CHAPS).

The Bank of England said the expanded operating hours would support cross-border payments and new payment and settlement models as tokenization develops.

The consultation will support cross-border payments and new payment and settlement models based on tokenization developments, according to the joint letter published on Monday.

The BoE is seeking public feedback on the consultation paper until July 3 and plans to publish a feedback statement in the summer.

It comes weeks after the FCA said that tokenization and distributed ledger technologies could make fund management more efficient and support the innovation of the UK asset management sector. 

Call for input on the future of tokenization in UK wholesale markets. Source: FCA

“Fantastic to see the UK setting out a clear vision for tokenization in wholesale markets,” Katie Harries, head of policy for Europe at Coinbase, told Cointelegraph.

“The opportunity is huge — not only for companies seeking new pools of capital, but for the ‘unbrokered’: the many individuals globally who are not able to participate in capital markets today,” she added.

PRA plans consultation on tokenization framework in 2028

The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) also issued updated guidance for bank CEOs proposing that tokenized financial instruments receive the same regulatory treatment as their traditional equivalents when legal rights and risks are comparable, replacing prior guidance issued in 2022.

The PRA said the letter would serve as interim guidance until it publishes a broader prudential framework following the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision’s (BCBS) targeted review of banks’ crypto asset exposure standards.

Related: Farage faces UK standards probe over $7M gift from crypto billionaire

The BCBS launched the review in November 2025 to examine the prudential treatment of tokenization, stablecoins and permissionless blockchains, with updates expected later this year.

The PRA said it expects to consult on a proposed long-term framework in 2028 at the earliest.

Under the UK’s approach, crypto regulation would largely fall under the FCA, the country’s primary financial markets regulator.

The FCA separately opened a public consultation on its crypto regulatory regime on April 30, focusing on stablecoin issuance, trading, custody and staking. The regulator is expected to fully implement the framework by October 2027.

Magazine: How crypto laws changed in 2025 — and how they’ll change in 2026

TLDR:

• Zerohash is now the first firm holding both a MiCAR license and full EMI status across the European Economic Area.
• The EBA’s June 2025 No Action Letter required stablecoin firms to obtain EMI licenses beyond standard MiCAR registration. 
• Zerohash is reportedly in talks to raise $250 million at a $1.5 billion valuation after Mastercard acquisition talks ended. 
• The dual-license structure allows Zerohash to serve banks, fintechs, brokerages, and payment providers across Europe legally.

Zerohash Europe has obtained an Electronic Money Institution license from De Nederlandsche Bank, the Dutch central bank. This makes the company the first crypto-asset service provider licensed under MiCAR to also hold full EMI status.

The dual authorization allows Zerohash to legally process both crypto-asset services and traditional electronic money flows across the European Economic Area. This opens a broader path for stablecoin-powered financial services on the continent.

Zerohash Achieves Regulatory Milestone Under MiCAR Framework

Zerohash originally obtained its MiCAR license in October 2025 from the Dutch Authority for the Financial Markets. The Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation covers most crypto activities across the EU trading bloc.

These include token custody, issuance, and trading services. The regulation is set to go into full effect in July and functions as a passport for crypto-asset service providers.

However, MiCAR registration alone was not enough for stablecoin operations. The European Banking Authority clarified in a June 2025 No Action Letter that certain e-money token flows qualify as electronic money.

Firms supporting stablecoin-powered financial flows therefore need an additional EMI license. Further regulatory guidance arrived in February, reinforcing that position.

The EMI license from De Nederlandsche Bank now bridges that regulatory gap for Zerohash. With the dual licenses in place, the company can work directly with “banks, brokerages, fintechs, payment providers, and enterprise platforms operating across the European market.”

This compliance structure gives Zerohash an advantage most competitors do not yet hold. It positions the firm to move faster in markets where stablecoin adoption is accelerating.

Zerohash Europe Managing Director Roeland Goldberg spoke directly to the opportunity. “Europe has a massive market for stablecoin applications,” Goldberg said.

The company has expanded its EU presence in Amsterdam and is currently powering partners including Interactive Brokers Europe in the region. That partnership reflects the firm’s growing institutional reach across the continent.

Zerohash Expands Footprint Through Funding and Charter Applications

Zerohash has also applied to the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency for a national trust bank charter. That application runs parallel to its European regulatory efforts.

Together, these moves show a clear strategy toward full-stack financial compliance across major markets. The company appears focused on building infrastructure that meets both crypto and traditional finance standards.

Founded in 2017, Zerohash employs approximately 200 people globally. Its offices span New York, Chicago, North Carolina, and Amsterdam.

Last September, the company raised a $104 million Series D-2 round led by Interactive Brokers. That round valued the company at $1 billion.

After acquisition talks with Mastercard fell through, Zerohash is now reportedly in discussions to raise $250 million. The new round is said to target a $1.5 billion valuation.

That would represent a notable jump in investor confidence from just months prior. The fundraising talks align closely with the company’s regulatory wins in Europe.

The EMI license adds material value to Zerohash’s European business model. Stablecoin flows now represent a growing share of crypto payment infrastructure globally. With both MiCAR and EMI status, Zerohash is structurally positioned to capture that demand.

The regulatory foundation it has built in the Netherlands may serve as a model for others entering European markets.

AI crypto trading bots surge in demand as traders struggle with volatility and unreliable automation tools.

The global AI trading platform market surpassed $11 billion in 2024 and is on track toward $33 billion by 2030. Demand is surging — and so is disappointment.

Thousands of traders in 2026 are searching for a Claude AI trading bot, a quick ChatGPT-powered script, or a generic AI day trading bot they can deploy overnight. Most fail to profit. Many lose money. The reasons are consistent: untested strategies, zero built-in risk controls, and no live market optimization.

In 2026, crypto markets move faster than ever. Bitcoin volatility remains elevated, memecoin rotations happen within hours, and macro events shift liquidity across the entire digital asset market in minutes. Reacting manually — or relying on an improvised LLM-based script — is no longer viable.

This guide ranks the best platforms for automated AI crypto day trading, with an honest look at what separates winners from the rest.

The 2026 ranking: Best ai day trading bots

1. SaintQuant (editor’s pick)

Best for: Beginners, passive investors, and anyone who wants a no-code AI crypto trading bot with real risk management

SaintQuant is the clearest answer for traders who want automated AI day trading without technical setup or coding knowledge. While other platforms require strategy configuration, API wiring, and ongoing maintenance, SaintQuant provides pre-optimized quantitative strategies that are live and running from day one.

What makes SaintQuant stand out in 2026:

• No configuration needed — strategies are already optimized and ready to run
• No coding required — suitable for beginners and passive investors with no technical background
• AI-driven 24/7 execution — algorithms analyze market conditions and execute trades continuously
• Built-in risk management — every strategy includes volatility controls to limit drawdown
• Consistent quantitative approach — disciplined models, not emotional or reactive trading

New user offer (no deposit required):

• $99 free trial credit — experience live strategies without making an initial deposit
• $7 instant cash bonus — credited on registration, no conditions, no hidden requirements

Best for: Anyone searching for a reliable no-code AI crypto trading platform that handles execution, risk, and strategy automatically.

Limitation: Crypto-only (not stocks or forex); pre-built strategies are not manually customizable.

Verdict: SaintQuant is the most complete answer to what most traders actually want from an AI day trading bot in 2026 — hands-free execution with real risk controls, zero setup, and a risk-free way to start.

#2. 3Commas

Best for: Active traders who want multi-exchange control and custom strategy workflows

3Commas remains one of the most recognized names in crypto automation in 2026. It supports DCA bots, grid bots, and SmartTrade workflows across multiple exchanges. Its AI assistant surfaces model-driven suggestions for entries, risk settings, and targets — but users must review and act on these themselves.

• Supports multiple exchanges via API
• SmartTrade terminal with signal routing
• Requires meaningful setup and ongoing strategy management
• Expert plan: approximately $91/month (annual subscription, data as of January 2026)

Best for: Experienced traders who want hands-on control. Not ideal for beginners — results depend heavily on the user’s own strategy quality, and misconfigured bots are a common cause of losses.

Verdict: Powerful for active traders. Too complex and high-maintenance for those seeking a passive AI trading bot experience.

#3. Pionex

Best for: Cost-conscious beginners wanting built-in bots on a single exchange

Pionex integrates trading bots directly into its exchange, eliminating the need for external API connections. Its PionexGPT feature allows plain-English strategy creation for basic automation. No subscription fees — only standard trading fees apply.

• Free built-in grid, DCA, and Infinity Grid bots
• PionexGPT for simplified strategy creation
• Limited strategy depth; underperforms in trending or highly volatile markets
• Single-exchange only

Best for: Casual crypto traders who want low-cost automated crypto trading with minimal overhead. Falls short as a true AI-driven risk management solution in volatile 2026 market conditions.

Verdict: A solid starting point for experimentation, but not a substitute for a platform with genuine quantitative strategy depth.

4. Cryptohopper

Best for: Traders who want a strategy marketplace and copy trading

Cryptohopper combines a visual Strategy Designer, a curated Marketplace of community strategies, and Social/copy trading in a cloud environment. Its Algorithm Intelligence feature can switch strategies automatically based on conditions.

• Strategy marketplace with hundreds of community-built strategies
• Copy trading with risk controls
• Cloud-based, no local setup required
• Quality of marketplace strategies varies widely — due diligence required

Best for: Traders who want AI-assisted crypto automation with community strategy access. The open marketplace means strategy quality is uneven — beginners may struggle to identify what works.

Verdict: More flexible than most, but the burden of selecting good strategies still falls on the user.

5. DIY Claude AI / ChatGPT Trading Bots

Best for: Developers exploring experimental prototypes (not live trading)

In 2026, many traders still attempted to build a Claude AI trading bot or GPT-powered script from scratch using language model APIs. The appeal is obvious — but the execution is consistently problematic.

LLMs are not designed for real-time financial execution. They lack:

• Live market data feeds and WebSocket integrations
• Exchange API connections with latency-optimized order routing
• Quantitative risk frameworks and position sizing logic
• Backtesting infrastructure and walk-forward validation

The result is typically an unreliable bot that generates inconsistent signals, requires constant debugging, and operates with no circuit breakers during drawdowns. Several 2026 trading communities have documented significant capital losses from poorly implemented DIY bots.

Best for: Technical experimentation only. Never recommended for live capital deployment without a full quantitative infrastructure built around the LLM layer.

Verdict: An interesting engineering exercise — not a viable AI day trading bot for consistent returns. Use purpose-built platforms like SaintQuant instead.

How to choose the right AI day trading bot in 2026

The strongest AI crypto trading platforms in 2026 share three qualities: they simplify strategy setup, include adaptive risk management, and operate continuously without requiring user intervention. Here is a quick decision framework:

Start trading smarter — risk-free with SaintQuant

SaintQuant’s AI quantitative strategies are live and ready. No setup, no coding, no deposit needed to begin.

New user bonuses — automatically credited on registration:

• ✅ $99 free trial credit to run live strategies
• ✅ $7 instant cash bonus with no conditions
• ✅ No deposit required to get started

Start Trading Free at SaintQuant — No Deposit Required 

FAQ

Can I use Claude AI as a crypto trading bot? Claude is a conversational AI assistant — it is not built for live automated crypto execution. It lacks real-time exchange integrations and quantitative risk controls. For actual AI-powered day trading, purpose-built platforms like SaintQuant are far more reliable and safer to use with real capital.

What makes an AI day trading bot actually profitable in 2026? Profitability in 2026 depends on two things most bots still lack: battle-tested quantitative strategies and adaptive risk management. SaintQuant embeds both into every strategy, so users are not exposed to unchecked drawdowns during volatile markets.

Is SaintQuant free to try? Yes. New users receive a $99 free trial credit to run live strategies, plus a $7 cash bonus on registration — with no deposit required and no hidden terms.

Do I need coding skills or trading experience to use SaintQuant? None at all. SaintQuant is designed specifically for users who want automated crypto trading without any technical background. Strategies are pre-configured and start with a few clicks.

How is SaintQuant different from other AI trading bots in 2026? Most platforms require users to configure strategies, monitor performance, and manage risk manually. SaintQuant handles all of this automatically — including built-in risk controls — making it the closest thing to a fully managed AI crypto trading solution available to retail investors.

TLDR

• Bitwise will allocate 10% of BHYP management fees to acquire HYPE for its balance sheet.
• The company confirmed that it will stake the HYPE tokens it holds to generate rewards.
• BHYP began trading on the New York Stock Exchange on Friday.
• HYPE has doubled in price in 2026 and now trades above $44.
• The token holds a market capitalization of more than $10.6 billion excluding stablecoins.
• 21Shares launched a competing Hyperliquid ETF on May 12 and recorded about $10.5 million in net inflows.

Bitwise Asset Management will allocate part of its new ETF fees to acquire HYPE tokens for its balance sheet. The firm said it will direct 10% of management fees from its BHYP fund to accumulate the token. The announcement came days after the ETF began trading on the New York Stock Exchange.

Bitwise and HYPE Strategy Linked to BHYP Fees

Bitwise confirmed the allocation plan in a statement posted on X on Monday. The company said, “Bitwise will be devoting 10% of the Bitwise Hyperliquid ETF (BHYP) management fee to holding HYPE on the Bitwise balance sheet.” It also stated that it will stake the acquired tokens to generate rewards.

The firm linked the move to Hyperliquid’s revenue model and token mechanics. Bitwise said the blockchain directs about 99% of its revenue to buy back and burn HYPE tokens. “In that spirit, we’re pleased to announce … we’re holding HYPE,” the company added.

Bitwise launched the Hyperliquid ETF under the ticker BHYP on Friday. The fund offers indirect exposure to HYPE and staking rewards. The company has not yet released trading volume data for the ETF.

Bitwise filed for a U.S. Hyperliquid ETF last year before other issuers. However, 21Shares launched its competing ETF, 2THYP, on May 12. SoSoValue data shows that 2THYP has recorded about $10.5 million in cumulative net inflows.

Grayscale also filed for a similar product after Bitwise submitted its application. The filings marked growing issuer interest in Hyperliquid-linked investment vehicles. However, Bitwise became one of the early applicants in the segment.

Hyperliquid Network Performance and HYPE Market Data

Hyperliquid has grown into a major onchain trading venue, especially for perpetual futures. Recent data from The Block shows the network generated nearly 40% of all blockchain fees last week. In comparison, Ethereum produced about 14%, while Solana generated close to 10%.

The platform’s native token HYPE has increased sharply this year. The token traded near $22 at the start of 2026. It now trades above $44, reflecting a gain of about 100%.

Market data indicates that HYPE ranks among the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, excluding stablecoins. The price increase has coincided with rising activity on the Hyperliquid network.

Bitwise said it will stake the HYPE tokens held on its balance sheet. The firm confirmed that staking will form part of its holding strategy. The ETF continues to trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker BHYP.

The Protect Progress, a political action committee (PAC) affiliated with the cryptocurrency company-backed Fairshake PAC, has spent more than $4 million attempting to help secure a win for a Georgia state representative running for the US House of Representatives.

On Tuesday, Georgia voters will decide on their candidate in the primary for the state’s 13th Congressional district, where state representative Jasmine Clark faces competition among Democrats. According to data from the Federal Election Commission, Clark has been the beneficiary of more than $4.2 million in spending on media by the Protect Progress PAC ahead of the primary, as crypto-aligned interest groups attempt to influence voters in key elections.

Source: FEC

Notably, Clark appeared to have deleted a social media post from March saying that “digital assets are the future and provide long-overdue financial tools for unbanked communities,” referencing the US Congress considering a crypto market structure bill. She also completed a questionnaire from the Coinbase-aligned organization Stand With Crypto, which said she was a candidate who “expressed strong support for establishing clear legislative and regulatory frameworks for digital assets in the United States.”

Protect Progress and its affiliates Fairshake and Defend American Jobs are expected to spend millions of dollars in 2026 to support candidates they consider will advance pro-crypto policies and opposing those who don’t. In 2024, Fairshake spent more than $130 million on media and ads, resulting in what Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong called the “most pro-crypto Congress ever.” Coinbase is a backer of Fairshake.

Related: Crypto PACs spend $7.2M to support candidates in 5 US states ahead of elections

Not every election or party primary has been a winner for Fairshake or crypto interest groups seeking to influence voters. The PAC spent a reported $8 million opposing Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton in her US Senate primary, but in March more than 40% of voters chose her over candidates supported by Fairshake and Protect Progress-backed ads.

Screenshot of Stand With Crypto’s rating of Jasmine Clark. Source: Stand With Crypto

“From a Stand With Crypto perspective, we are going to do everything we can to give our advocates the tools they need to make sure that they make an informed vote and they’re able to cast their ballot on election day for the candidate that is pro-crypto they care about,” Mason Lynaugh, executive director of Stand With Crypto, told Cointelegraph on the organization’s work in 2026. “If everyone makes their voices heard […] we will have a more pro-crypto Congress than we did this past year.”

Cointelegraph sought a comment from Fairshake ahead of Tuesday’s voting but did not receive an immediate response.

Texas run-off election also getting big spending

Next week, voters in Texas’ 18th Congressional District will head to the ballot boxes to decide between Representative Al Green and Democratic candidate Christian Menefee. Protect Progress reportedly spent more than $1.5 million opposing Green in a March primary, but Menefee only secured 46% of voters compared to Green’s 44%, triggering a runoff on May 26.

FEC filings showed Protect Progress spent more than $2.8 million on media opposing Green, who while in Congress voted against legislation the industry largely supported, including the GENIUS Act and CLARITY Act. The PAC spent about the same amount supporting Menefee, who has publicly supported blockchain technology.

Magazine: The legal battle over who can claim DeFi’s stolen millions

TLDR:

• Tenbin Labs deprecated LayerZero following an internal audit triggered by recent cross-chain security incidents.
• Chainlink CCIP secures every bridge lane with 16 independent, security-reviewed node operators for redundant validation.
• CCIP’s SOC 2 Type 2 attestation meets institutional-grade security standards without adding overhead to the Tenbin team.
• Tenbin’s tokenized assets tGLD, tMXN, and tBRL now scale across chains under a unified Chainlink data standard.

Tenbin Labs has officially deprecated LayerZero and migrated to Chainlink Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) as its sole bridging infrastructure.

The decision follows an internal security audit triggered by recent cross-chain incidents across the broader industry.

The migration covers all of Tenbin’s tokenized real-world assets, including tGLD, tMXN, and tBRL. The move positions Tenbin to expand its asset distribution securely across multiple blockchain networks.

Chainlink CCIP Replaces LayerZero Across All Tenbin Asset Lanes

Tenbin Labs conducted a security review of its cross-chain infrastructure after noting vulnerabilities exposed by recent industry incidents.

The audit concluded that its previous solution, LayerZero, no longer met the security threshold required for tokenized real-world assets. As a result, Tenbin officially deprecated LayerZero in favor of Chainlink CCIP.

Chainlink CCIP operates with 16 independent, security-reviewed node operators per bridge lane. Each operator runs blockchain full nodes or connects to multiple professional RPC providers.

This setup ensures redundant validation for every cross-chain transaction processed through Tenbin’s infrastructure.

The protocol also carries a SOC 2 Type 2 attestation, meeting the security standards set by major financial institutions.

For an asset issuer handling tokenized commodities and currencies, this certification carries practical weight. It removes the burden of custom security engineering from the Tenbin team.

Tenbin Labs shared its reasoning directly on X. On May 18, 2026, the team posted: “Cross-chain infrastructure needs to have enshrined and uniform security standards that do not impose overhead to the project team.” The post linked to a detailed breakdown of the CCIP migration rationale.

Built-In Risk Controls Drive Tenbin’s Infrastructure Decision

One of the key factors in selecting Chainlink CCIP was its native risk management architecture. The protocol includes built-in rate limits that function as circuit breakers during worst-case scenarios.

These controls help contain potential contagion without requiring manual intervention from Tenbin’s team.

Chainlink has also assigned dedicated risk management and monitoring teams to support the Tenbin integration. This added layer of operational support reduces the security overhead that would otherwise fall on the asset issuer. For a platform managing tokenized real-world assets, that distinction is operationally relevant.

Tenbin Co-founder and CEO Yuki Yuminaga addressed the migration directly: “Recent incidents in our space have made it abundantly clear that bridging protocols carry a serious responsibility.”

Yuminaga noted that any compromise in cross-chain infrastructure can directly put user funds and asset integrity at risk, particularly for tokenized real-world assets.

Tenbin Labs also confirmed that the Chainlink CCIP migration aligns with the Chainlink data standard. This adoption sets a consistent framework for how Tenbin’s assets communicate and transfer value across chains.

With tGLD, tMXN, and tBRL now operating under CCIP, the platform is positioned to scale its multi-chain distribution under a unified and auditable security model.

Standard Chartered projects $4 trillion in tokenized assets onchain by 2028, with mature DeFi protocols as the main beneficiaries.

Standard Chartered projects that $4 trillion in tokenized assets will sit onchain by the end of 2028, evenly split between stablecoins and real-world assets. The forecast positions established DeFi protocols as the main winners.

Geoffrey Kendrick, the bank’s global head of digital assets research, said DeFi’s composability allows the same asset to generate yield, serve as collateral, and trade for liquidity without traditional intermediaries.

BlackRock BUIDL anchors the thesis

Kendrick cited BlackRock’s BUIDL fund as proof of concept. The $2.85 billion tokenized Treasury fund earns Treasury yield, converts to sBUIDL for DeFi compatibility, and serves as core reserve collateral for Ethena’s USDtb and Ondo’s OUSG.

Aave, the largest DeFi lending protocol, processed daily stablecoin lending volumes between $1.5 billion and $2 billion at its peak. Coinbase’s lending product with Morpho has reached $1.75 billion in loans.

CLARITY Act seen as key catalyst

Kendrick views passage of the CLARITY Act as the most significant near-term catalyst for accelerating the shift from traditional rails to DeFi. The bill cleared Senate Banking 15-9 on May 14 and now heads to a full floor vote.

The projection consolidates two forecasts Kendrick has maintained separately: a $2 trillion stablecoin target and a $2 trillion RWA market, both by end-2028. The bank reaffirmed the RWA call in April despite recent DeFi exploits.

DeFi seen as primary beneficiary

There are currently roughly 1,000 times more assets offchain than onchain, according to the note. Kendrick believes tokenizing institutional-grade assets is the most likely source of growth, with protocols that scale safely positioned to benefit most.

“TradFi operators moving assets onchain will favor established players with strong risk metrics,” Kendrick wrote. Aave, Compound, and Morpho are positioned to lead, with Ethereum remaining the dominant settlement layer.

Bitcoin (BTC) retail investor activity on Binance has fallen to its lowest level in history. Retail BTC inflows on Binance now average near 314 BTC per month in 2026, down sharply from the 1,200 BTC range recorded in March 2024.

Bitcoin’s recovery in May also slowed as spot inflows on Binance weakened, with the 30-day net demand growth falling 73% over the past three weeks.

Bitcoin retail traders step back

CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost said retail Bitcoin inflows to Binance remained near its historic lows. The metric tracks BTC deposits from wallets holding less than 1 BTC, a common signal for retail investor activity.

Bitcoin retail inflows (less than 1 BTC) on Binance. Source: CryptoQuant

Monthly retail BTC inflows on Binance now average just 314 BTC. The figure stood near 1,800 BTC during the 2022 bear market and around 1,200 BTC during Bitcoin’s March 2024 local top near $75,000. Earlier cycles showed far heavier retail participation, with inflows peaking near 5,400 BTC in 2018 and 2,600 BTC in 2021.

Darkfost said part of the shift likely stemmed from investors moving toward spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) rather than directly holding BTC on exchanges.

CryptoQuant data also showed a cooldown in retail demand growth. The 30-day change in retail investor demand dropped to 3.12% from 7.39% last week. That earlier reading marked the strongest retail demand expansion since August 2025, when Bitcoin traded near $115,000. The decline points to weaker spot participation after a brief pickup in buying activity. 

Bitcoin retail investor demand. Source: CryptoQuant

Related: Bitcoin price hits $76K, lowest since April after $1B ETF net outflow

BTC spot demand lags behind futures positioning 

Crypto analyst Amr Taha said Binance recorded two large spikes in Bitcoin taker sell volume during the recent decline. The first reached roughly $1.5 billion on May 15. Another climbed above $1.1 billion as Bitcoin fell below $77,000.

Market analyst Crazzyblockk said one important signal still missing from Bitcoin’s recovery is a balanced spot demand. The previous rallies in October 2024, November 2024, and May 2025 showed that spot and futures demand rose together. Spot demand ranged between +97,000 BTC and +190,000 BTC during those price rallies, while the futures demand expanded alongside it.

The latest recovery showed a different pattern. BTC futures demand remained positive at +193,000 BTC over 30 days, while spot demand remained negative at -28,000 BTC and stayed below zero for 65 consecutive days. The total 30-day demand growth also fell from 232,000 BTC in early May to 62,000 BTC by May 16, recording a 73% decline.

Bitcoin spot and futures demand growth (30-day sum). Source: CryptoQuant

Crazzyblockk also pointed to a sharp shift in Binance’s futures dominance last month. Binance previously controlled 40%-44% of global USDT-margined futures volume from October 2024 to March 2026.

In May 2026, Binance’s share dropped to 21.1% while OKX climbed to 26.3%, marking the first reversal in exchange leadership during the cycle. 

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