Key Highlights

• Trader anxiety surrounding XRP reached a three-week peak, with the bulls-to-bears ratio dropping to approximately 1.10:1.0 by May 25.
• Holders operating on 30-day timeframes are experiencing average unrealized losses approaching 47%.
• The MVRV ratio for the 30-day period has declined beneath December 2020 benchmarks, entering what analytics firm Santiment identifies as an “extreme opportunity zone.”
• United States-based spot XRP exchange-traded funds accumulated $11.88 million on May 29, contributing to $35 million in total inflows between May 20-29.
• During this identical timeframe, Bitcoin ETFs experienced $1.70 billion in outflows while Ethereum ETFs recorded $309 million in withdrawals.

The digital asset has maintained stability around the $1.35 price level despite trader anxiety climbing to its most elevated point in nearly three weeks. Blockchain metrics and institutional fund flow data present contrasting narratives regarding the token’s current market position.

According to Santiment analytics, the sentiment ratio for the cryptocurrency declined to roughly 1.10:1.0 on May 25. This movement positioned the asset within what market observers categorize as the “FUD Zone”—a territory characterized by widespread fear, uncertainty, and doubt across social platforms.

Previous instances of entering this zone have frequently preceded upward price movements. The underlying rationale is straightforward: when the majority of market participants express fear, selling momentum typically diminishes while accumulation opportunities increase.

Despite prevailing negativity, the token has avoided significant downside breaks. The price has successfully defended critical support zones hovering around $1.34.

Market analyst Ali Charts highlighted this specific $1.34 threshold. “I’m monitoring the lower boundary of the ascending channel at $1.34 as a potential accumulation area for XRP,” Ali Charts stated on the social platform X. “Should this level maintain, price objectives rest at $1.37 and $1.40.” The observation emerged as market participants assessed whether the ongoing consolidation phase would resolve upward.

30-Day Holders Face Substantial Unrealized Losses

Santiment metrics reveal that market participants trading on 30-day timeframes are underwater by an average of 47%. A significant portion appears to have liquidated positions near local bottoms following the surrender of profits accumulated during late 2024 and early 2025.

The 30-day Market Value to Realized Value (MVRV) ratio—a metric tracking unrealized gains or losses across the network—has descended below its December 2020 reading. Santiment has designated this territory as an “extreme opportunity zone,” terminology applied when the ratio touches historically depressed levels that have historically preceded price recoveries.

Santiment also identified a notable event on X. The year’s largest exchange deposit occurred Thursday—exceeding 22.80 million XRP tokens transferred to trading platforms. However, in subsequent days, 25.24 million XRP departed from exchanges. Santiment observed this substantial exchange movement coincided with a local price bottom, and that trading values have appreciated roughly 5% following this apparent capitulation event.

Institutional XRP Products Show Persistent Accumulation

While fear metrics paint a pessimistic picture, institutional investment vehicle flows demonstrate the opposite trend.

U.S.-registered spot XRP ETFs registered $11.88 million in net accumulation on May 29. Bitwise commanded the largest share at $7.36 million, with Canary’s XRPC contributing $2.38 million and Franklin’s XRPZ adding $2.14 million.

Between May 20 and May 29, these XRP investment products attracted cumulative inflows totaling $35 million. During this identical window, Bitcoin ETFs hemorrhaged $1.70 billion while Ethereum ETFs experienced $309 million in redemptions.

Aggregate assets under management across U.S. XRP ETFs currently approach $1.12 billion, with total net inflows since inception reaching $1.42 billion.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs documented $125.31 million in withdrawals on May 29, extending a redemption streak to ten consecutive trading sessions.

An outstanding development from October 2025 also lingers in the background. Bloomberg previously disclosed that Ripple Labs was spearheading an initiative to secure at minimum $1 billion through a special purpose acquisition company to amass XRP within a treasury structure. CoinDesk has contacted Ripple requesting confirmation, though no response has been furnished.

Gravity Bridge, a decentralized blockchain facilitating cross-chain transfers between Ethereum and Cosmos, was reportedly drained of roughly $5.4 million, prompting validators to halt the bridge.

Onchain analyst Specter first flagged the unusual outflows in a Saturday post on X, revealing that the bridge contract key may have been compromised. “It appears the Gravity Bridge contract key may have been compromised, resulting in the theft of $5.4M,” Specter wrote.

Security firm PeckShield also confirmed the exploit in a post, breaking down the stolen assets as approximately $4.3 million in USDC (USDC), 274 Wrapped Ether (WETH) worth roughly $553,000, $434,000 in USDt (USDT) and 14.164 PAX Gold (PAXG) tokens worth about $64,000.

Source: PeckShield

PeckShield reported that a portion of the haul had already been laundered through instant-swap service ChangeNow and through Binance, while the theft wallet was still holding around 2,102 ETH worth approximately $4.23 million at the time of its report.

Related: StakeDAO exploit creates 5.4 trillion vsdCRV but nets only $91K

Gravity Bridge acknowledges attack

Gravity Bridge acknowledged the incident on X without detailing what went wrong. “There was an unfortunate incident on Gravity,” the team wrote, adding that validators “should halt their validators and orchestrators while this incident is being investigated.” In a follow-up post, the team confirmed the bridge had been halted.

Gravity Bridge allows tokens to move freely in both directions, from Ethereum to Cosmos wallets and DEXs like Osmosis, and from Cosmos-based blockchains back to Ethereum platforms like Uniswap. Unlike bridges that rely on centralized multi-signatures or private node groups, it uses its full validator set to authorize transfers, making it one of the more decentralized bridge designs in the space, according to its website.

Gravity Bridge’s native token is Graviton (GRAV), used by validators to secure the bridge. The token is currently trading at $0.0007053, down 4% over the past day, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

Related: ‘All DeFi unsafe’ claim sparks AI security debate after April hack surge

Bridge exploits are spooking institutions

As Cointelegraph reported, JPMorgan analysts have flagged bridge security as a major challenge in an April research note, questioning whether DeFi can scale to meet institutional demand. The concern comes amid the recent Versus-Ethereum bridge attack, which was the eighth major bridge exploit of 2026, with cumulative losses across those incidents reaching $328.6 million.

Following the KelpDAO breach in April, which drained roughly $290 million and was attributed to North Korea’s Lazarus Group, total value locked across DeFi fell from nearly $100 billion to around $86 billion in just two days, with outflows hitting pools that had no direct exposure to the compromised assets.

Asia Express: North Korea denies crypto hacks, Upbit’s bank tests Ripple

Dash has renewed its focus on digital cash, arguing that peer-to-peer payments remain one of crypto’s most useful goals even as stablecoins, DeFi and decentralized applications take more attention.

Dash said its strategy still follows the early idea behind Bitcoin: a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. The project said that use case has lost attention in parts of the crypto market, but it remains central to its roadmap.

In a post on X, Dash described digital cash as the “killer app” for blockchain because it can support direct payments, savings, finance and digital services. The project said digital cash should be fungible, private, fast, low-cost and permissionless.

Canadian billionaire Frank Giustra has challenged Bitcoin’s “digital gold” label again, arguing that crypto can still be traced and seized by governments.

Giustra made the comments after U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent discussed the seizure of nearly $1 billion in cryptocurrency linked to Iran. The remarks renewed debate over whether Bitcoin can serve as a safe-haven asset like gold.

The mining financier and gold advocate argued that crypto’s public ledger leaves holders exposed to state action. In his view, blockchain records make digital assets easier to trace than physical gold.

His comment came in response to claims that crypto holders can avoid seizure by memorizing seed phrases or holding assets outside exchanges. Giustra rejected that argument and said blockchain tracing can still lead authorities to users.

He wrote that the U.S. government’s Bitcoin reserve is made up of seized coins. He added, “There is no escape,” while arguing that a holder may have to live as a fugitive if authorities pursue them.

US seizure claims fuel the debate

Bessent said U.S. authorities had seized close to $1 billion in crypto tied to Iran-linked networks. The Treasury Secretary said officials were tracking digital funds used outside the traditional banking system.

He also made a direct warning about wallet holders, saying, “Some of them are typing in their wallets right now and have no idea it’s already gone.” The comment drew attention because it framed crypto seizure as an active enforcement tool.

As previously reported by crypto.news, U.S. authorities said they had seized nearly $1 billion in Iran-linked cryptocurrency as part of a wider campaign against Tehran’s financial networks. The same reporting thread showed that Tether froze $344 million in USDT across two Tron wallets linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps after sanctions and law enforcement action.

The cases show the difference between crypto assets. Stablecoin issuers can freeze tokens directly when they receive legal or compliance requests. Bitcoin cannot be frozen by an issuer, but public records can still support tracing, court orders, exchange seizures and recovery actions.

Bitcoin reserve adds another layer

Giustra has often used government-held Bitcoin to question the digital gold narrative. He has argued that if state reserves mostly come from confiscations, Bitcoin’s resistance to seizure is weaker than supporters claim.

A previous crypto.news report noted that the U.S. government was estimated to hold about 328,372 BTC as of February 2026. That made it the largest known state holder of Bitcoin at the time.

For Giustra, that point matters because seized Bitcoin now forms part of official reserve discussions. He argues that this weakens the claim that Bitcoin is beyond government reach.

Bitcoin supporters often respond that self-custody gives users more control than bank deposits or exchange balances. They also argue that memorized seed phrases and peer-to-peer transfers can reduce reliance on custodians.

Giustra’s counterpoint focuses on practical risk. He says users still face tracing, legal pressure, border controls, exchange surveillance and personal security risk if authorities link them to specific wallets.

Gold comparison remains unsettled

The Bitcoin versus gold debate has grown as investors search for assets outside fiat currencies. Bitcoin supporters point to its fixed supply, global transferability and independence from central banks.

Gold advocates argue that physical gold has a longer track record, no public digital trail and no need for internet-based settlement. Giustra has repeatedly said Bitcoin behaves more like a speculative asset than a true safe haven.

His latest comments do not claim that Bitcoin has no market value. They focus on whether crypto deserves the same protection status investors often attach to gold.

The debate now sits between two facts. Bitcoin gives holders direct control when they use self-custody, but governments can still trace transactions and seize assets through custodians, legal orders or recovery cases.

For now, Giustra’s argument keeps pressure on one of Bitcoin’s strongest narratives. If crypto can be traced and seized, he says, it should not be treated as digital gold in the same way as physical bullion.

Bitcoin’s latest price action highlighted ongoing selling pressure tied to exchange-traded product (ETF) flows, even as supportive buying appeared at key levels. A string of large outflows continued to weigh on the market, following last week’s $1.42 billion withdrawal and the prior week’s $1.26 billion redemption. Despite the persistent pressures, traders reported spot-buying activity near a crucial support level, helping to defend around $70,000 as the market tried to avoid a deeper pullback.

In the backdrop, the dynamics of ETF outflows, futures exposure, and on-chain signals painted a mixed picture. While the immediate price action reflected continued liquidity drain from ETF redemptions, fresh spot demand and strategic positioning in futures markets created pockets of resilience. Cointelegraph’s observation of spot-market activity indicated that demand resurfaced at or just above the $70,000 mark, offering a floor even as the broader downtrend persisted in other timeframes. Spot-volume patterns noted earlier by Cointelegraph.

Key takeaways

• ETF selling continued to dominate near-term price action, with back-to-back weekly redemptions contributing to volatility and subdued upside momentum.
• Spot-buying activity helped defend the $70,000 support zone, indicating persistent demand beneath a psychological and technical floor.
• Open interest remains skewed toward higher strike levels, with roughly $300 million concentrated in the $73,000–$74,000 range, where traders opened new leveraged longs.
• The order-book landscape showed modest bid-side strength, implying traders view dips below $75,000 as buying opportunities rather than reasons to abandon risk they’ve accumulated.

ETF outflows versus spot demand: reading the market mood

Market technicians and observers have been parsing the tug-of-war between ETF-related liquidity drains and real-money demand nudging Bitcoin higher on intraday timeframes. The outflows exert immediate downward pressure on price when liquidity exits, yet on-chain and spot-market signals suggest a more nuanced balance. In recent days, the surge in ETF redemptions has coincided with inflows on Coinbase and notable futures liquidations, illustrating how the selling pressure can be absorbed by a combination of long-positioned longs and recovered spot demand.

Beyond simply tracking price, analysts are paying close attention to the persistence of spot-volume support and how it aligns with futures exposure. The latest data point from spot markets indicates that buyers have been stepping in at or near key levels, helping to create a temporary floor. This dynamic matters because sustained spot demand at critical price points can reduce downside risk and reduce the velocity of further declines, even if ETF-driven liquidity remains a constant headwind.

Market microstructure: what the order books and open interest reveal

Several microstructure signals suggest that the market is attempting to price in continued volatility while not ceding all ground to the bears. An open-interest heatmap showed approximately $300 million of open interest concentrated in the yellow band around $73,000 to $74,000, consistent with a cohort of traders adding leveraged long exposure at higher prices. This pattern points to a belief among some market participants that Bitcoin could stage a relief rally from elevated levels, even if overall momentum remains uncertain.

On the order-book side, Hyblock’s analysis of the bid-ask ratio—calibrated at a 10% aggregate depth—turned modestly positive. In practical terms, the indicator moving above zero signals a tilt toward buyers in the immediate order book, with a tendency for demand to step in when prices dip toward the mid-to-high $70,000s. The ratio’s movement suggests, at least in the short term, that traders see prices below roughly $75,000 as discounted—creating a mechanism for price support through selective buying and risk-taking by traders with longer time horizons.

Although the combination of ETF outflows, Coinbase inflows, and occasional futures liquidations has created intermittent selling pressure, the reported data also show that spot-buying and long-position accumulation have been sufficient to prevent a rapid downside acceleration. In practical terms, the market is absorbing selling with a floor being formed around the $70,000–$75,000 band, but there is not yet a clear pivot point signaling a sustained reversal in the broader trend.

What could shift momentum next

Looking ahead, analysts say a few narrative catalysts would be needed to unlock a larger repricing of spot and futures positions. Among them are renewed optimism around macro-political developments that could lower risk premia, tangible spot ETF inflows that strengthen demand in the physical market, or a softening in macro indicators such as crude oil prices that could reframe risk appetite across asset classes. A potential White House statement on strategic considerations for a Bitcoin reserve, while speculative, would also feed into the broader discussion about the role of digital assets in national-level policy frameworks.

These factors matter because they would either validate the current repricing dynamics that support spot demand or catalyze a broader shift in momentum that could push liquidity seeking across exchanges and products. For traders, the key takeaway is to watch how quickly new narratives translate into tangible order-flow shifts—whether as stronger spot buying at lower levels or larger-scale futures positioning that could propel a more decisive move in either direction.

In the longer view, the market remains sensitive to developments in ETF product approvals, regulatory guidance, and the evolving relationship between on-chain activity and centralized venues. While the near-term thread points to a cautious, mixed landscape, the underlying question for investors is whether the current floor can outlast the selling pressure long enough to establish a more durable base for a new rally.

Readers should keep an eye on fresh market catalysts, especially any progress on the narrative themes discussed above, as well as continued spot-volume patterns and open-interest movements that could signal a shift in momentum in the days ahead.

Vietnam’s Ministry of Finance has proposed allowing small and medium-sized enterprises to use digital assets, virtual assets and intellectual property as collateral for bank loans.

The proposal is part of the draft revised Law on Support for SMEs, which is open for public consultation, according to Viet Nam News. The plan would widen the type of assets that businesses can use when applying for bank loans.

Under the draft, SMEs could use assets formed in the future, property rights, intellectual property rights, intangible assets, digital assets, virtual assets and other lawful assets. The change would move lending beyond the current focus on real estate and other fixed assets.

The policy targets a long-running credit gap

The Ministry of Finance said the proposal aims to improve capital access for private companies and technology startups. Many such firms own software, brands, data, patents or digital products, but lack land or property that banks usually accept as collateral.

State Bank of Vietnam data showed that outstanding SME loans reached nearly VNĐ3.8 quadrillion, or about $144.2 billion, by the end of April. That was equal to about 20% of total credit in the banking system, even though SMEs and household businesses account for more than 98% of enterprises in Vietnam.

Banks may weigh cash flow and business plans

The draft also encourages credit institutions to assess borrowers through credit ratings, business plans, market expansion potential and enterprise cash flows. This would give banks more ways to review SME credit risk without relying only on fixed collateral.

The Ministry of Finance linked the proposal to Resolution 68-NQ/TW of the Politburo, which treats the private sector as an important driver of the economy. The draft also seeks to support innovation, digital transformation, green projects and sustainable business models.

Digital asset rules continue to develop

The proposal comes as Vietnam builds a wider legal framework for digital assets. Related crypto.news coverage has reported that Vietnam has been working on a domestic digital asset exchange pilot and tighter rules around overseas crypto trading.

The new collateral plan does not mean banks must accept every digital or virtual asset. The draft says assets must be lawful under Vietnamese law. That leaves valuation, custody, risk control and legal recognition as key issues for lenders before any new rules take full effect.

Bitcoin traders are buzzing with unusually bullish chatter on social media, even as the broader crypto market slides. A Santiment analysis shows Bitcoin’s social sentiment reaching the year’s most lopsided ratio of bullish to bearish comments, signaling a surge in optimism that contrasts with a more cautious overall market mood.

At the same time, the traditional market mechanisms that often anchor price action — exchange-traded products and related flows — tell a different story. Spot Bitcoin ETFs logged their tenth consecutive day of outflows on Friday, with total net redemptions exceeding $2.97 billion since May 15. That persistent drain on ETF positions adds a layer of complexity to the narrative around Bitcoin’s near-term path.

Key takeaways

• Santiment records Bitcoin sentiment at 2.23 bullish-to-bearish ratio, the strongest reading of 2026 so far, signaling a surge of optimistic chatter on the asset.
• Spot Bitcoin ETFs have posted ten straight days of net outflows, with more than $2.97 billion redeemed since May 15, underscoring a disconnect between social sentiment and institutional exposure.
• The Crypto Fear & Greed Index sits in “Extreme Fear” territory at a score of 23, highlighting a cautious backdrop even as social bullishness climbs.
• Market voices offer a nuanced view: some see retail-led optimism as a contrary signal, while others warn that extremes in sentiment have historically preceded short-term pullbacks.
• Prominent figures weigh in on the dynamics: Tyler Winklevoss notes a paradoxical optimism amid sour sentiment, while Cory Klippsten and Michael van de Poppe stress the continuing relevance of retail behavior and sentiment fragility.

Contrasting signals: social optimism and ETF realism

The latest Santiment briefing emphasizes a sharp divergence between Bitcoin’s social buzz and the sector’s inward-facing funding mechanics. In Santiment’s framing, “Sentiment on Bitcoin has spiked to 2.23 bullish comments for every bearish one — the most lopsided positive ratio of 2026.” The analysis notes that past episodes with the strongest positive readings tended to be followed by short-term price pullbacks, while heavily negative readings often marked local bottoms. The current euphoria, the firm adds, sits against a backdrop of ETF flow conditions that warrant caution.

Meanwhile, data on spot Bitcoin ETFs paints a different mood. Friday marked the tenth consecutive trading day of outflows from spot vehicles, with cumulative net redemptions surpassing $2.97 billion since May 15. The trend points to a steady withdrawal of institutional exposure in the ETF space, even as social sentiment remains buoyant in some corners of the market.

What sentiment means for traders and investors

Crypto markets have long traded on a mix of social mood and on-chain reality, with investors weighing each signal against the other. Santiment’s analysis underscores a contrarian thread: when optimism surges to extreme levels, the probability of a near-term pullback can rise as participants take profits or reallocate gains. Conversely, severe pessimism has historically coincided with bottoms in price, leading some traders to adopt a patient, if watchful, stance.

Beyond the data, the reflexive dimension of sentiment matters. Tyler Winklevoss, co-founder of Gemini, has previously highlighted the paradox of crypto mood: “the sentiment in crypto right now is so bad that I’m actually pretty optimistic.” The sentiment-versus-price dynamic remains a central question for market participants who must reconcile social signals with the price action implied by ETF flows and on-chain activity.

Voices shaping the narrative

Industry observers are split on how much weight to give to social sentiment in a market increasingly shaped by institutions and regulation. Cory Klippsten, founder and CEO of Swan Bitcoin, argues that retail demand remains a critical driver of Bitcoin ownership. “It’s not like BlackRock owns the Bitcoin and Fidelity owns the Bitcoin. It’s a bunch of retail accounts, mostly that actually buy that,” he said, underscoring the ongoing influence of non-institutional buyers in a sector where retail participation remains sizable.

Another longstanding voice, Michael van de Poppe of MN Trading Capital, has described current sentiment as among the weakest he’s seen, even suggesting it surpasses what was observed during prior macro lows. “Worse than 2022, 2018. Nobody even believes in a future of crypto assets that are going to do well,” he remarked, signaling a clear risk of further near-term volatility if sentiment doesn’t align with any improving fundamental backdrop.

Amid the mix of optimism and caution, market watchers also note the broader sentiment barometer: the Crypto Fear & Greed Index showing an “Extreme Fear” reading around 23. Such readings frequently accompany periods of heightened uncertainty and can precede sharp reversals as participants reassess risk and rebalance portfolios.

Looking ahead: what to watch next

The tension between bullish social sentiment and the tug of ETF outflows creates a nuanced backdrop for Bitcoin’s near-term trajectory. Investors should watch two levers closely: whether ETF redemptions begin to ease, potentially signaling a reallocation that could support price, and whether social sentiment swings back toward moderation or remains stubbornly elevated despite weak inflows. If the current dynamic persists, volatility could remain elevated as market participants attempt to reconcile diverging signals about demand and participation.

The next phase will likely hinge on how regulatory clarity and macro conditions shape investor risk appetite, and whether retail demand can sustain itself in the face of ongoing ETF outflows. As always, readers should tether expectations to data as it unfolds, recognizing that sentiment indicators offer context but not a deterministic forecast.