Crypto World
Strategy’s Capital Restructure Signals Shift Away From “Death Spiral” Risk
Strategy, the publicly traded firm behind the Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) Bitcoin treasury model, has moved to reassure investors after a steep drop in both Bitcoin and its own shares intensified fears about the company’s complex capital structure. With Bitcoin trading below $60,000 and Strategy’s stock down more than 70% from its highs, attention has turned to STRC—Strategy’s preferred-like security—and the possibility that its funding mechanics could amplify downturns.
On Monday, Strategy unveiled a new capital framework designed to address concerns around liquidity, financing reflexivity, and the company’s ability to meet obligations during stress. The plan includes up to $1 billion of buybacks for MSTR, up to $1 billion of buybacks for STRC and related securities, an increase in STRC’s dividend to roughly 12%, and expansion of the company’s cash buffer to $2.55 billion. Strategy also disclosed that it may sell up to $1.25 billion in BTC holdings if needed to satisfy dividend or debt requirements.
Key takeaways
- Strategy’s new framework combines buybacks (MSTR and STRC) with a larger cash reserve, aiming to reduce uncertainty during market stress.
- STRC’s dividend is expected to rise to roughly 12%, supported by expanded cash resources under the plan.
- Strategy added a contingency option: selling up to $1.25 billion in Bitcoin if required for dividend or debt obligations.
- Short-term trading activity improved after the announcement, with STRC and MSTR both rallying more than 12% in after-hours trading, according to Yahoo Finance.
- Debate continues over whether the company’s structure can withstand prolonged tightening in funding markets—even if it is not expected to face near-term insolvency.
What Strategy outlined in its capital framework
Strategy’s announcement centers on a restructuring of how it intends to manage risk across its Bitcoin-linked balance sheet and its layered security offerings. The company says the package includes up to $1 billion in buybacks for MSTR and up to $1 billion in buybacks for STRC and related securities.
In addition to buybacks, Strategy is increasing the STRC dividend rate to roughly 12% and expanding its cash buffer to $2.55 billion. Strategy’s filing—an 8-K submitted June 29—spells out the mechanics and priorities management would follow in its capital allocation framework, including an emergency pathway that allows BTC sales if needed to meet obligations.
Crucially for investors who worry about “reflexive” downside dynamics, Strategy also said it may sell up to $1.25 billion in BTC holdings to meet dividend or debt requirements. That disclosure is notable given Strategy’s long-standing “Bitcoin maximalist” positioning and the recurring argument that selling BTC during stress could worsen market conditions.
Following the release, markets reacted positively. As reported with reference to Yahoo Finance, STRC and MSTR shares rose more than 12% in after-hours trading. The piece notes STRC was trading at $84.86 after the announcement, up from $72.06 on June 26.
Why STRC is a flashpoint for investors
STRC sits in the middle of Strategy’s capital structure—positioned as a perpetual preferred-like instrument linked to the broader Bitcoin treasury strategy. Strategy describes STRC as paying an annual dividend of about 12% on a $100 par value, supported by cash and its Bitcoin-linked capital framework.
This design has drawn skepticism from critics who argue that the instrument’s stability depends less on Strategy’s underlying solvency and more on the health of secondary-market demand and liquidity conditions. In other words, even if STRC is not a classic stablecoin, its market behavior can still be sensitive to tightening access to capital.
Earlier concerns have focused on how Strategy’s treasury approach could interact with market stress. Bitcoin critic Peter Schiff has repeatedly challenged Strategy’s model, warning that Strategy can’t sell Bitcoin without negatively affecting Bitcoin’s price and pointing to potential spillover effects if purchasing activity slows or selling accelerates.
At the same time, some analysts and market participants argue the risk framing is overstated. Taran Dhillon, head of digital assets at Kula, told Cointelegraph that Bitcoin volatility alone is unlikely to break the structure; he suggested the more important test is whether Bitcoin remains under pressure while funding becomes progressively more expensive or difficult.
The bear case: liquidity dependency and potential feedback loops
Much of the controversy around Strategy’s structure relates to how its financing cycle can behave in both directions. The core bear argument is that the same momentum that fuels expansion in calmer conditions can intensify stress when investors pull back, funding costs rise, or liquidity in secondary markets deteriorates.
Cointelegraph reported that Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, made a similar point on CNBC, criticizing financial engineering as a driver of long-term value. Kyle Rodda, senior analyst at Capital.com, characterized Strategy as a momentum-driven accumulation vehicle: capital raises funds for Bitcoin purchases, and those purchases support the company’s valuation. But he warned the dynamic can reverse when market conditions weaken, funding costs rise, and investor appetite declines.
Rodda also emphasized that secondary market liquidity is a structural dependency. If refinancing pressures or forced selling forces larger adjustments elsewhere, the spillover effects could extend beyond Strategy itself.
Some prominent Bitcoin commentators have compared the scenario to prior stress-tested leveraged structures in crypto. Charles Edwards, founder of Capriole Investments, has been among the critics drawing parallels to Terra/LUNA-era dynamics during drawdowns, framing the situation as potential “feedback loop” risk rather than a purely price-driven story.
The neutral and bull positions: stress may target funding markets first
Not all observers agree that the primary threat is Bitcoin price movement. Dhillon suggested that any early instability would likely show up first in funding conditions—such as widening discounts, higher yields, and reduced issuance capacity—rather than immediate solvency failure tied directly to Bitcoin valuation.
He also highlighted a key distinction: STRC is not a stablecoin pegged mechanically to $100. Instead, its yield profile is designed to adjust with market pricing. The logic, in theory, is that when STRC trades below par value, the effective yield becomes more attractive to buyers, eventually pulling pricing back toward $100.
Cointelegraph also referenced a Bitfire Research report shared with the outlet, which argued that recent STRC price dislocations should not automatically be treated as structural failure. The report stated that Strategy faces no near-term insolvency risk, attributing de-pegging events largely to sentiment and liquidity conditions rather than a sudden change in fundamentals or solvency profile.
On the bull side, the article describes a “three-year MSTR stress test” conducted by Bitcoin supporter Adam Livingston. His model assumes extreme conditions—including a 55% Bitcoin drawdown, closed capital markets, and continued cash burn requiring large Bitcoin sales. The simulation also tracks a dramatic compression in “common equity Bitcoin exposure” (CEBE) and estimates that Strategy would sell approximately 115,727 BTC over three years to meet obligations before stabilization returns.
In Livingston’s scenario, the company survives the cycle and ends with over 700,000 BTC on its balance sheet, with a recovering net asset structure once conditions normalize. The takeaway from this model, regardless of how an investor views its assumptions, is that proponents believe the balance-sheet framework could be robust enough to survive even severe drawdowns—particularly if contingency mechanisms are executed as planned.
What changed—and what remains uncertain
Strategy’s new framework can be viewed as an attempt to make its stress-response playbook more concrete. According to the article’s references to Strategy’s June 29 8-K filing, management is focusing on transparency around how it would act during liquidity or capital-market disruptions—especially through cash buffer expansion, buybacks for both MSTR and STRC, and the ability to monetize Bitcoin up to $1.25 billion if required.
Dhillon described the changes as a meaningful improvement to transparency and confidence, pointing to the enlarged $2.55 billion reserve and a clearer plan for how Bitcoin monetization would work under pressure.
However, critics argue the fundamental dependency remains. Schiff, as cited in the piece, pointed to market-cap vs. Bitcoin value asymmetries—arguing that as long as MSTR’s market cap remains below the value of its Bitcoin holdings, newly issued capital could imply a “negative Bitcoin yield.” In other words, for some skeptics, the debate is not whether contingency tools exist, but whether the market structure will persistently price exposure in a way that helps—or harms—long-term holders.
Ultimately, Strategy’s framework strengthens the company’s toolkit for short-term stress, but it does not remove its reliance on access to capital markets over time. The key unresolved question is whether expanded liquidity buffers, buybacks, and contingency BTC sales can stand up to a prolonged period of tightening across both equity and credit-style markets—precisely the environment where feedback-loop concerns tend to matter most.
For investors, the next watch items are straightforward: whether STRC’s pricing relationship to par value stabilizes, how funding conditions evolve if Bitcoin stays under pressure, and whether Strategy’s disclosed order of operations holds up in practice during the next stress test.
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
A new guide explains how crypto trading bots automate strategies, manage risk, and execute trades across spot and futures markets around the clock.
Summary
- This guide explains how crypto trading bots automate strategies, manage risk, and operate across volatile markets 24/7.
- Learn how grid, DCA, and other crypto trading bots work, plus setup tips, backtesting, and strategy basics.
- Explore crypto trading bots, popular strategies, and practical guidance for automating trades across crypto markets.
A crypto trading bot can help users automate their trading strategies across volatile markets without staring at charts around the clock. This guide covers everything from grid trading and signal bot management to setup and optimization, so anyone can decide if automated crypto trading fits their plan.
Key takeaways
Modern trading bots automate buy and sell orders on a crypto exchange 24/7, executing trades based on predefined parameters while sleeping, working, or simply stepping away. Automated trading reduces stress and emotional mistakes, letting a strategy run without hesitation. Here are the essentials:
- Grid bots and DCA bots dominate retail bot trading in 2026, profiting from market volatility by buying low and selling high across multiple levels.
- Bots support long and short positions on both spot and futures markets, depending on the exchange and configuration.
- Backtesting and paper trading are non-negotiable before committing real money. Setting up a profitable trading bot requires an understanding of trading strategies and market mechanics.
- Profitability is never guaranteed. In comparative tests, only 3 of 8 bots produced consistent profit over six months. Success depends entirely on strategy and discipline.
What is a crypto trading bot?
A crypto trading bot is software that automatically executes buy and sell orders on a crypto exchange based on predefined rules or algorithms. Bots connect to exchanges via APIs to manage, buy, and sell cryptocurrencies, acting on real-time price data without manual intervention. Automated trading can operate 24/7 without human intervention across dozens of trading pairs simultaneously.
Common bot types include: grid trading bot, DCA bot, arbitrage bot, market-making bot, and trend-following bot. Each uses different indicators and logic to automate decisions. Since 2017–2018, crypto trading bots have evolved from simple scripts into full platforms with dashboards, mobile apps, cloud hosting, and a growing community of traders sharing custom strategies.
How crypto trading bots work in practice
A typical workflow looks like this: connect an exchange via api keys, select a strategy, define risk parameters, enable the bot, then track performance over time. Crypto trading bots continuously monitor market data, including price and volume, evaluate conditions against a setup, and submit orders via exchange APIs.
Market analysis involves monitoring price, volume, order books, and technical indicators. Bots use limit orders, market orders, stop-loss, take-profit, and trailing stops to manage positions. They handle position sizing, scaling in, and scaling out for both long and short positions. Advanced bots can use machine learning or statistical models, but most retail bots in 2026 rely on rule-based strategies and backtested parameters. Automated bots can execute trades based on predefined parameters consistently, whether users configure a simple grid or a complex signal-based system.
Popular types of crypto trading bots
Bots differ mainly by strategy logic and how they respond to market volatility. No single bot type is best for making money; performance depends on configuration, risk limits, and market regime.
Grid trading bots
A grid trading bot places a series of buy and sell limit orders at predefined price levels, creating a grid that profits from price oscillations. Grid trading bots buy low and sell high automatically, and a grid bot operates within a predefined price range. Automated trading can profit in sideways markets with grid strategies, where price bounces between support and resistance.
Visually, the grid looks like horizontal lines between a lower price bound and a higher price bound, with buy orders on lower levels and sell orders on higher levels across multiple levels. Variations include:
- Neutral Grid bots profit in sideways markets by buying low and selling high
- Long Grid bots accumulate profits during upward trends by buying dips
- Short Grid bots automate short-selling in bearish market conditions
- Infinity Grid bots expand upward without an upper price limit
- Futures Grid bots operate on derivatives markets using leverage
Grid bots can be configured for bullish or bearish markets. Key parameters include grid range, number of grid levels, order size, base vs quote currency, and safety stops. A short grid bot works best during bearish conditions, while a long grid bot captures upside in trending markets. Users can also run hedge mode to maintain positions in both directions simultaneously.
DCA bots
Dollar-Cost Averaging (DCA) purchases a set amount of cryptocurrency regularly, and DCA bots automate this process by buying more as the price drops. For example, a DCA bot might buy $50 every time the price drops 5%, averaging entry at a lower price across multiple steps.
DCA bots combine with take-profit targets and trailing exits to lock gains once the average entry returns to profit. Be cautious: aggressive DCA without caps can lock all capital into a losing position. Always set a maximum number of safety orders and a fixed allocation.
Signal-based and copy trading bots
A signal bot executes trades automatically when it receives external signals from TradingView signals, custom APIs, or third-party providers. Traders connect indicators from platforms like TradingView to trigger automated orders on their crypto exchange account.
Copy trading bots mirror trades from a strategy provider onto the user’s balance, making automation accessible to beginners. Always evaluate any new signal source with paper trading first, apply strict risk limits per trade, and verify the provider’s data and track record before committing real money.
Key features to look for in a crypto trading bot platform
Not every platform delivers equal results. Feature set, security, and reliability determine long-term success.
Essential features include support for major exchanges (spot and futures), backtesting, paper trading, robust risk management tools, and a responsive support team. Look for a visual strategy builder, pre-made templates for grid trading and DCA, clear performance analytics, and detailed documentation. Security risks include vulnerabilities in API keys used by bots for trading, which always require encrypted key storage, no withdrawal permissions, 2FA for account access, IP whitelisting, and activity logs. No credit card is required to start on most platforms.
Exchange connectivity and market coverage
A serious platform in 2026 should support multiple top-tier exchanges like Binance, OKX, Bybit, Coinbase, and Kraken for spot and derivatives. Users might notice the OKX logo alongside Binance and Bybit on most bot platforms. Check exchange-specific limits-minimum order size, tick size, and leverage caps-that affect bot configuration. Running the same grid strategy on two exchanges can produce different outcomes due to liquidity and fee differences.
Backtesting, paper trading, and optimization
Backtesting means running a strategy on historical market data to estimate performance before risking capital. Backtesting strategies on historical data increases trading confidence. Grid trading strategies can be backtested over 15 days or longer to see how they handle both sideways phases and sharp breakouts.
Paper trading simulates live conditions with virtual balances. Optimize by adjusting grid width, number of levels, and take-profit distances. But beware of overfitting-strategies that perform perfectly on past data may fail in future volatile markets.
Risk management for bot trading
Successful bot trading requires strict risk management strategies. Automated trading amplifies both good and bad strategies, so risk controls are non-negotiable.
- Never invest money that someone cannot afford to lose
- Diversify across strategies and pairs
- Cap maximum exposure per bot to 1–3% of total account equity
- Use stop loss, equity limits, and max daily loss rules
Always start with a small size in live mode, even after successful paper trading, to account for slippage and execution differences.
Specific risks of grid trading bots
Range break risk occurs when price trends strongly beyond the grid range, leaving unclosed positions and large unrealized losses. Grid bots can also tie capital in numerous open orders, reducing flexibility. If grid steps are too narrow, trading fees (0.1–0.2% per cycle) consume most of the profit. Set an emergency stop loss beyond grid boundaries and monitor an account daily.
Leverage and futures Bots: Long and short positions
Futures grid bots and DCA bots can use leverage to open long and short positions, amplifying both profits and losses. Isolated margin limits risk to a single position; cross margin exposes the entire account. Moderate leverage (2x–5x) suits most automated strategies. A short grid bot on BTC during a rapid short-covering rally can face liquidation. Understand the exchange’s funding fees, liquidation mechanics, and margin requirements before enabling any futures bot.
How to get started with a crypto trading bot in 2026
Start by learning basic crypto trading concepts, then choose a reliable exchange, enable 2FA, and create api keys with trading-only permissions. Select a platform that supports grid trading, DCA bots, paper trading, and clear tools to track performance. Begin with a simple predefined template instead of complex custom strategies on day one.
Step-by-Step Setup Checklist
- Create an exchange account, complete KYC, and enable 2FA
- Generate API keys-trading permissions only, no withdrawals, restrict by IP
- Connect a bot platform and enable paper trading
- Select a bot type (e.g., BTC/USDT neutral grid: wide range, 5–10 levels, small order size)
- Run simulation for 2–4 weeks, then go live with minimal capital
- Monitor logs, open orders, and realized PnL daily in the first week
After several weeks of stable results, gradually scale positions or deploy additional bots. Document every setup, result, and adjustment in a trading journal format to optimize an approach over time. Send a message or alert for any configuration change.
Advanced topics: Strategy design and optimization
Serious traders eventually design or configure their own trading strategies, combining indicators like RSI, moving averages, and Bollinger Bands with grid or DCA logic. Regime detection-distinguishing sideways vs trending markets-helps decide when to switch bots on or off. Multi-timeframe analysis (1-minute entries, 1-hour trend direction) improves robustness, and simple statistical filters like volatility thresholds can boost consistency.
Monitoring, analytics, and troubleshooting
Track metrics beyond profit: win rate, average trade size, maximum drawdown, and profit factor. Set up alerts (email, mobile, Telegram) for key events-bot stopped, API errors, equity drawdown thresholds. Common problems include a bot not trading due to a too-narrow grid, an incorrect position mode (hedge vs one-way), or an invalid symbol mapping. Manage a regular review schedule: daily quick check, weekly deeper analysis, monthly parameter review to keep performance aligned with current market conditions.
Legal, tax, and ethical considerations
Regulations and tax rules vary by country and change frequently-consult local professionals. Some jurisdictions classify certain automated strategies as investment services requiring licensing. Profits from bot trading are typically taxed like manual crypto gains, but the higher trade volume means heavier record-keeping. Use exportable trade histories from your platform to simplify reporting. Avoid market manipulation tactics and respect exchange terms of service.
FAQ
Is a crypto trading bot profitable for beginners?
Bots do not guarantee profits-they execute a strategy consistently, so a bad strategy will still lose money. Beginners should use simple grid bots or dca bots with low risk settings and focus on learning risk management. Start with paper trading for at least 2–4 weeks, then go live with very small amounts.
How much money do I need to start bot trading?
Some exchanges allow orders as small as $10–$20, but the recommended capital for grid trading is $200 to properly cover multiple grid levels and minimum order sizes. Don’t deploy all capital into a single bot-keep a cash buffer and diversify.
Can I run multiple crypto trading bots at the same time?
Most modern platforms support running many bots simultaneously on different pairs or even the same pair with different strategies. Track total exposure to avoid over-allocating across overlapping bots on correlated assets, and cap active bot allocation at 30–50% of an account.
What hardware and internet connection do I need?
Cloud-hosted platforms remove most hardware requirements. Self-hosted bots need a stable VPS (1–2 vCPUs, 2–4 GB RAM) with low-latency internet and a system clock synchronized via NTP. Avoid hosting critical bots on unreliable home connections without power backup or remote access.
How do I know if my API keys are safe on a bot platform?
Always disable withdrawal permissions and enable 2FA on both the exchange and bot platform. Choose platforms with encrypted key storage, IP whitelisting, and transparent security documentation. Rotate keys every 3–6 months and revoke immediately if suspicious activity is detected.
Disclosure: This content is provided by a third party. Neither crypto.news nor the author of this article endorses any product mentioned on this page. Users should conduct their own research before taking any action related to the company.
Almost 1,700 UK investors are reportedly suing Binance and its founder Changpeng Zhao for 150 million British pounds ($200 million), alleging the crypto exchange offered and sold crypto derivatives without regulatory approval.
The law firm representing the investors, KP Law, said Binance’s leverage tokens, futures contracts and options offerings breached the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 and that these products continued to be offered after the Financial Conduct Authority banned such products from being offered to retail customers in January 2021.
“There appeared to be no effective barrier preventing UK customers from accessing them,” the law firm said.
Binance told Cointelegraph it would “defend against these claims through the appropriate legal process” and it “remains committed to its obligations to users and to operating in accordance with applicable law.”
Source: Cointelegraph
The lawsuit adds to a growing list of legal and regulatory challenges for the crypto exchange, including recently failing to secure a Markets in Crypto-Assets-compliant license from a European Union member state before the July 1 deadline.
Binance has also been facing allegations that it facilitated $850 million in transactions tied to a sanctioned Iranian financier that flowed to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The crypto exchange strongly denied the allegations.
Binance UK customers lost “tens of thousands of pounds”
One of the affected customers, Tomas Sutas, was a financial controller who allegedly invested more than 100,000 British pounds ($132,400) into Binance’s derivatives products before the value of his investments was wiped out, the Financial Times reported.
Reuters also reported that multiple UK users lost “tens of thousands of pounds” through the products.
Related: Australia’s crypto travel rule is coming into effect: Here’s what’s changing
KP Law said it is still identifying the full scope of affected customers.
“While the precise number of UK customers affected is not publicly known, Binance is one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, meaning that a substantial number of users could potentially have been exposed to these issues.”
Binance’s operations in the UK became heavily restricted in June 2021 when the FCA informed Binance Markets Limited that it couldn’t operate in the region without written consent.
Reuters noted that the lawsuit was filed in the London High Court.
The Binance-affiliated Nest Exchange and “persons unknown” were also named as defendants.
Magazine: Bitcoin slides to $58K, XRP hits $1 but onchain data promising: Market Moves
Circle Internet Group shares have dropped more than 17% after a consortium backed by BlackRock, Google, Visa, Coinbase, and more than 140 other companies unveiled a competing revenue-sharing stablecoin.
Summary
- Circle shares fell 17.5% after Open USD launched with backing from BlackRock, Google, Visa, Coinbase, and 140+ partners.
- Open USD introduces a revenue-sharing model that distributes most reserve income to ecosystem participants.
- Circle CEO Jeremy Allaire said USDC will continue expanding despite growing competition in the stablecoin market.
According to Yahoo Finance market data, Circle closed at $62.65 on Tuesday, down 17.52% from the previous session after falling as low as $62.52 during intraday trading. The stock opened at $72.25 and extended losses throughout the day before stabilizing near its session low.
Trading volume climbed to more than 34.5 million shares, well above its average daily volume of about 14 million, as investors reacted to the latest development in the stablecoin market.
Open USD introduces a different revenue model
The selloff followed the launch of Open USD (OUSD), a new stablecoin developed by Open Standard, an industry initiative led by Bridge co-founder Zach Abrams. The network is backed by more than 140 companies, including BlackRock, Google, Visa, Coinbase and other financial and technology firms seeking to build shared stablecoin infrastructure.
Unlike traditional issuer-led models, Open USD offers fee-free minting and redemption while distributing most reserve income to participating ecosystem members. Governance will also be handled by an independent partner-led organization instead of a single issuing company.
The structure directly challenges one of Circle’s core business models by allowing ecosystem participants to share reserve income that has traditionally accrued to stablecoin issuers. The design is similar to the incentive framework used by Paxos’ Global Dollar Network, which also shares reserve revenue with partners.
Open USD enters the market as stablecoins continue to expand beyond crypto trading into cross-border payments, merchant settlement and corporate treasury management. Growing institutional interest has encouraged multiple companies to launch new dollar-backed tokens with different economic models to attract banks, payment firms and fintech platforms.
Circle says competition will not slow USDC expansion
Responding to the announcement, Circle Chief Executive Officer Jeremy Allaire dismissed suggestions that the new entrant poses a significant threat to USDC, arguing that the stablecoin sector is large enough to support multiple successful issuers.
According to Allaire, Circle will continue expanding USDC’s institutional network by adding banking, payment, and capital markets partners while investing in infrastructure that improves interoperability across blockchain networks.
“USDC remains the most trusted, widely adopted, institutional-ready stablecoin in the world, and we count thousands of institutions as partners in our ecosystem across nearly every major sector.”
Allaire added that Circle plans to keep building on additional blockchain networks while integrating USDC more deeply with banks, payments companies, capital markets firms and enterprises. He also said the company intends to expand opportunities for partners to participate economically in the continued growth of the USDC ecosystem.
Although Circle maintains that its long-term strategy remains unchanged, Tuesday’s market reaction showed investors closely watching how new revenue-sharing models could influence competition in the fast-growing stablecoin industry.
With Open USD backed by some of the largest names in finance and technology, the launch introduces another well-funded rival as issuers compete for institutional adoption and payment market share.
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has requested public comment on exchange-traded funds (ETFs) investing in novel asset classes or using new investment strategies, as the agency reviews how such products should be regulated.
The consultation seeks feedback on whether existing rules adequately address novel ETFs, how such funds should be regulated and whether changes to the registration process are needed as new products enter the market.
According to the regulatory agency, the request focuses on funds investing in innovative asset classes or employing new investment strategies, where it is evaluating whether existing regulations remain appropriate.
The public comment period will remain open for 60 days following publication in the Federal Register, giving market participants an opportunity to weigh in before the SEC considers potential regulatory changes.
Exchange-traded funds have grown rapidly in recent years, with assets under management increasing from about $4 trillion in 2019 to more than $12 trillion at the end of 2025, according to the SEC.
Related: Spot Bitcoin ETFs bleed $1.7B as outflow streak hits four weeks
The request follows another recent consultation by US market regulators. Last week, the SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) sought public feedback on harmonizing portfolio margin rules across securities and derivatives markets.
Crypto ETF strategies grow more sophisticated
In recent months, crypto ETF issuers have increasingly expanded beyond simple price-tracking products, introducing funds tied to staking, stablecoin reserves and more specialized investment strategies.
In June, ProShares introduced the GENIUS Money Market ETF, a Treasury-focused fund designed around reserve assets permitted under the GENIUS Act for payment stablecoins, while Grayscale launched the Hyperliquid Staking ETP, offering exposure to HYPE (HYPE) while seeking to generate staking rewards.
Bitcoin investment products are becoming more specialized as well. BlackRock proposed an options-based Bitcoin income ETF in January, followed by Goldman Sachs in April with a fund combining spot Bitcoin products and covered-call strategies.
BlackRock’s Bitcoin Premium Income ETF filing. Source: SEC.gov
Earlier this month, Franklin Templeton proposed two ETFs that would systematically reinvest stock dividends into Bitcoin-linked investments, combining US equities with a rules-based Bitcoin allocation. The proposed funds would gain Bitcoin (BTC) exposure through instruments including exchange-traded products, futures, options and Bitcoin-backed depositary receipts.
ETF issuers are also experimenting with portfolios that combine digital assets with traditional asset classes. In January, Bitwise launched an actively managed ETF pairing Bitcoin with gold, precious metals and mining equities.
Magazine: Bitcoin decouples from tech stocks, Ether eyes ‘selling wave’: Market Moves
Bitcoin slid toward the $58,000 area during the early Tuesday Wall Street session, extending a broader risk-off feel that has left crypto lagging behind equities into the quarter’s final stretch. With traders heading into a “quarterly close” backdrop, BTC’s weakness stood out as US stocks logged strong gains for Q2.
At the same time, macro pressures tied to a firmer US dollar and renewed attention on Japan’s currency policy risk added another layer of uncertainty for crypto traders. On-chain signals from CryptoQuant also pointed to growing sell-pressure from investors associated with prior cycle highs, reinforcing the idea that hands are being shaken as price compresses.
Key takeaways
- Bitcoin fell toward about $58,000 during the US open, with volatility picking up into the session.
- US equities reported strong Q2 momentum while BTC continued to underperform, with Q2 losses approaching the high teens.
- A multi-decade USD/JPY move toward the mid-160s raised the odds of Japanese intervention and added pressure to risk assets.
- CryptoQuant analysis highlighted exchange inflows dominated by coins last moved around cycle-high periods, consistent with capitulation among late-cycle buyers.
Volatility rises as Bitcoin struggles to hold key levels
TradingView price action captured a shift toward bearish control as the US session began. Commentators noted that with $60,000 looking increasingly fragile as support, the market’s short-term “bulls vs. bears” battle remained active—particularly on lower time frames.
Exitpump, referencing open interest and positioning changes, suggested that the market could accelerate: “Open Interest pumping… it’s about to get spicy,” according to a fresh X post. Other traders described the price action as compressed, with BTC consolidating in a relatively narrow range and marginally higher lows alongside equal highs.
That type of structure can matter because it often sets up sharp directional moves when liquidity thins. As Daan Crypto Trades argued, the next breakout could arrive quickly after the consolidation tightens further. For short-term participants, the practical takeaway is that the range itself may be less important than what happens when it finally breaks—especially with volatility increasing into the session.
Crypto diverges from stocks as Q2 performance gaps widen
Bitcoin’s slide gained context when compared with US market performance. According to The Kobeissi Letter, the S&P 500 was up about 14% for the quarter—its best showing since 2020—while the Nasdaq 100 was up roughly 25%, also described as on track for its strongest quarterly performance in about five years.
That kind of divergence matters because it challenges a simple “crypto follows stocks” narrative. Even as equities absorbed risk positively into Q2, BTC remained under pressure. For investors, this gap suggests that crypto may currently be reacting more to its own internal liquidity/positioning dynamics and macro cross-asset stress—rather than simply mirroring equity beta.
Dollar strength and yen policy risk re-enter the trade
Macro conditions added a notable headwind. The US dollar pushed to new multi-decade highs versus the Japanese yen, raising the probability of government action—an issue traders often watch closely because intervention expectations can influence carry trades and global liquidity conditions.
In the reporting cited by Cointelegraph, USD/JPY reached 162.50 on the day, the highest level since the mid-1980s. The level is important not just as a data point, but as a proxy for how quickly currency volatility can transmit into broader risk sentiment—including markets where leverage is common.
Analyst George Gammon framed it in terms of “dollar liabilities” and the need to source dollars, warning that selling assets for dollar liquidity can place downward pressure on a range of holdings—from local currency exposures to speculative assets like Bitcoin. While that’s a general macro argument rather than a direct forecast, it aligns with why currency stress can quickly change the tone for crypto traders.
On-chain data points to capitulation pressure from late-cycle buyers
Beyond price charts, CryptoQuant’s latest work warned of a renewed capitulation dynamic among Bitcoin investors associated with cycle-top entries. In a new research Quicktake published by CryptoQuant, the platform argued that exchange inflows have been rising notably at sub-$70,000 price levels.
Crypto Sunmoon, a contributor to the Quicktake, noted that the coins moving into exchanges appear to be held for roughly six to twelve months—an age band often linked with accumulation during earlier bull phases, including portions of late-cycle buying near prior highs. The core claim was that “cycle-top buyers” are now selling at a loss, with the observed exchange flow pattern matching capitulation behavior.
CryptoQuant’s framing emphasizes not only the existence of selling, but the composition of it. When exchange inflows are skewed toward coin lots that last moved around all-time-high periods, it can indicate investors who bought during the mania phase are exiting during the drawdown. The report added that these capitulation events among cycle-top investors have historically coincided with long-term bottom formation, citing patterns seen in both the 2018 and 2022 cycles.
Importantly, CryptoQuant did not claim an immediate bottom is guaranteed—capitulation can occur over multiple stages. Still, the on-chain angle provides traders and longer-term holders with a clearer map of who may be selling (and why). If the inflows represent forced or loss-driven exit rather than fresh liquidation from new entrants, the market may be closer to a “supply digestion” phase than it would be if only new buyers were being squeezed.
As of this report, the data suggests investors are beginning to reduce exposure rather than fully capitulating through a one-off event. That nuance matters: steady distribution can keep price capped, while concentrated capitulation sometimes clears the way for a more durable reversal later.
Going forward, traders will likely watch two things closely: whether BTC breaks out of its compressed range on accelerating volatility, and whether exchange inflows tied to those late-cycle coin cohorts continue to rise or begin to fade. Until either the chart structure resolves or on-chain selling pressure stabilizes, the risk of further downside volatility remains high.
SharpLink (SBET) expanded its Ethereum (ETH) treasury this week, buying 10,000 ETH to reach 886,725 ETH in total holdings. The purchase came while Fundstrat strategist Tom Lee said sentiment looked worse than after the FTX collapse.
The company paired the purchase with a stock buyback, repurchasing 2.13 million shares after raising $75 million last week. SharpLink frames both moves as a single strategy, increasing the amount of ETH backing each share.
SharpLink Buys ETH and Repurchases Stock
The Ethereum treasury company paid an average of $1,611 per 10,000 ETH, according to a company statement. That price already sits above ETH’s $1,570 level at press time, leaving the fresh tranche underwater within days.
The buy lifted holdings to 886,725 ETH as of June 28, the second-largest corporate stash after BitMine. The position is worth about $1.4 billion at Ethereum’s current price.
ETH set a record near $4,946 in August 2025, then shed roughly 69% of its value. It has dropped about 23% over the past month, well below the level at which SharpLink built most of its treasury.
The company also repurchased 2,132,773 shares at $4.69, spending close to $10 million. That $75 million came from a stock offering priced at about a 41% premium.
“We had the opportunity to buy ETH and repurchase our stock at attractive valuations, so we did both. This past week we added 10,000 ETH and repurchased 2,132,773 shares,” SharpLink CEO Joseph Chalom said in a post, tying the two decisions togethe.
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The firm had only recently resumed Ethereum purchases after an eight-month pause.
Tom Lee Says Sentiment Has Hit Post-FTX Lows
The buying contrasts with the wider mood. Lee chairs BitMine, the largest Ethereum treasury firm. It disclosed about 5.7 million ETH and $9.8 billion in crypto and cash this week, more than six times SharpLink’s holdings.
In a recent interview, Lee pointed to falling Google searches and a record-low RSI as signs of deep fear.
“The fear greed index is worse today than it was after the FTX debacle. So, usually that’s a good time to be buying something.”
Lee said Ethereum’s price is lagging its fundamentals, citing AI and tokenization as long-term tailwinds. He has also rejected Ethereum funding fears raised after staff exits at the Ethereum Foundation.
Staking income has helped Ethereum treasury firms offset paper losses through the slump. Whether SharpLink’s accumulation marks a bottom or just deeper conviction is not yet clear, but the firm keeps buying while much of the market sits on losses.
The post Ethereum Whale Tom Lee Flags Peak Market Fear as SharpLink Buys 10,000 ETH appeared first on BeInCrypto.
OKX has launched the beta version of an AI marketplace that allows autonomous agents to find work, complete tasks, receive onchain payments, and build portable reputations across transactions.
Summary
- OKX has launched the beta of OKX AI, an onchain marketplace where AI agents can find work and receive payments.
- The platform combines agent discovery, identity, escrow payments, reputation tracking, and decentralized dispute resolution.
- The launch expands OKX’s product lineup as it also advances tokenized finance initiatives and MiCA-regulated operations in Europe.
According to an announcement from OKX, the new platform, called OKX AI, combines agent discovery, identity, payments, reputation tracking, and dispute resolution into a single ecosystem designed for AI-powered services.
Rather than functioning as a simple directory, the marketplace lets software agents independently accept assignments, complete them, and settle payments onchain without relying on centralized intermediaries.
AI agents can now discover work and earn onchain
The platform consists of two connected marketplaces. In the Agent Marketplace, developers can list AI agents and define the services they provide. The Task Marketplace allows those agents to search for available work, complete assignments, and automatically receive payment once tasks are finished, according to OKX.
Payments are handled through either escrow-backed smart contracts or instant pay-per-call transactions. OKX said developers can receive compensation in either USDT or USDG, depending on the payment arrangement used.
At the same time, every completed transaction contributes to a shared onchain identity, allowing an agent’s reputation to grow across different applications instead of remaining tied to a single platform.
Disputes are handled differently from conventional freelance marketplaces. According to OKX, disagreements are reviewed by a decentralized network of evaluators rather than a centralized operator, with the outcome becoming part of the platform’s trust system.
The company also said the marketplace supports widely used AI development tools, including Claude Code and Codex. Launch partners include AWS, CertiK, the Ethereum Foundation, the Solana Foundation, StraitsX, and several other ecosystem participants.
OKX expands beyond crypto trading
The AI marketplace arrives as OKX continues adding products beyond its core exchange business.
As previously reported by crypto.news, OKX and Intercontinental Exchange have appointed former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to co-chair a venture focused on tokenized and digitally native financial assets. The project, which remains subject to regulatory approval, is expected to connect OKX users with ICE futures products and tokenized equity markets linked to the New York Stock Exchange.
According to the companies, the initiative is intended to build blockchain infrastructure that can work alongside established financial markets rather than replace them.
The AI launch also comes shortly after OKX Europe highlighted the changing regulatory landscape in the European Union. As previously reported by crypto.news, the exchange estimated that more than 80% of crypto exchanges operating in Europe could disappear after the July 1 transition deadline under the Markets in Crypto-Assets regulation if they fail to obtain authorization.
Based on those estimates, OKX said only about 200 crypto asset service providers currently hold MiCA licenses despite between 1,100 and 1,300 firms previously operating under national regulatory frameworks. The company has also introduced a customer incentive program offering deposit bonuses of 5% to 8% for users transferring assets from exchanges that do not secure MiCA authorization.
With the addition of OKX AI, the exchange is extending its product lineup beyond digital asset trading and tokenized finance into infrastructure designed for autonomous software agents, combining identity, payments, reputation, and task execution within an onchain marketplace.
China just built a major AI model without Nvidia chips. Now OpenAI has found ways to run on far fewer of them, cutting inference costs by more than half. Even so, Nvidia stock rose.
That is the puzzle. OpenAI is one of Nvidia’s (NVDA) biggest customers. Yet the shares climbed even as it moved to need fewer chips.
OpenAI Cuts Inference Costs on Two Fronts
The first front is software. The Information reported that OpenAI engineers cut inference costs by more than half with new optimization methods. OpenAI has not published the technical details.
The savings reduce the number of Nvidia chips needed to handle some ChatGPT traffic. They could also let OpenAI lower prices or raise usage limits.
The second front is hardware. On June 24, OpenAI and Broadcom (AVGO) unveiled Jalapeño, its first custom chip. OpenAI said early tests point to far better performance per watt than today’s leading chips, with a nine-month design.
The first chips will deploy at a gigawatt scale by the end of 2026, with Microsoft as the lead partner. Nvidia still runs most of OpenAI’s inference, even as OpenAI funds its Broadcom chip partnership.
Big Tech Races to Build Its Own Chips
OpenAI is not alone. Google has built tensor processing units since 2016, and Amazon followed with its own. Research firm TrendForce projects ASIC-based systems will reach 27.8% of AI server shipments in 2026, the highest since 2023.
By TrendForce’s count, custom chips are set to grow faster than Nvidia’s GPUs for the first time. Suppliers like Broadcom and Marvell have become key custom chip makers in the build-out.
Sanctions are pushing the same trend in China. Meituan recently trained its 1.6 trillion parameter LongCat-2.0 model on China’s domestic chips, without any Nvidia hardware.
Why Nvidia Stock Keeps Rising
The threat is real, but the numbers explain the calm. Nvidia stock rose nearly 2% on June 30, near a $4.8 trillion value. Nvidia’s latest results showed data-center revenue up 75% to a record $62.3 billion in a single quarter.
Most of the pressure sits at inference, not training. Nvidia still dominates model training, where its CUDA software has locked in developers since 2006. Custom chips rarely match that flexibility.
Nvidia is also defending the inference layer it is accused of losing. At GTC, Nvidia said its upcoming Rubin platform cuts inference costs per token by up to 10 times compared to Blackwell. Cheaper inference also tends to lift usage and total compute with it.
Not everyone is convinced. Some investors have rotated into rival chip stocks, betting the inference shift compounds. Yet Nvidia guided to this quarter without counting any China sales, and still sees record demand.
Nvidia still sells every chip it can make. The real test is whether its biggest customers can cut it out faster than the market grows.
The post After China, OpenAI Chips Away at Nvidia: So Why is NVDA Stock Up? appeared first on BeInCrypto.
Crypto influencer Nick O’Neill said he deliberately sold off a community-created token after its developers sent him 60% of its supply.
The incident has sparked criticism from some traders, while others argue the entrepreneur had no obligation to support an unofficial token created without his approval.
O’Neill Defends Selling Unsolicited Token
It all started when the Fibonacci account on X shared a clip from O’Neill’s Choose Rich Live YouTube show, in which he had noted that The Black Bull (ANSEM) had surged 40% to a peak market cap above $120 million after the influencer it was named after, Ansem, teased weekly airdrops.
In the clip, he also pointed out that Ansem controls 60% to 65% of the token supply and fees through a public wallet that was valued at about $50 million at the time.
“Will it surge to similar highs? I don’t know. It’s hard for these to sustain…If you take a look at the charts of Ansem, it’s setting up for a pretty bad head and shoulders pattern. And I think the reality is, it’s like there’s not enough buyers in the market,” remarked O’Neill on ANSEM’s performance.
But even after expressing those doubts, a now-deleted post suggested that O’Neill could also have benefited if he had controlled 65% of a token’s supply, and, responding to the idea before the post disappeared, the podcaster replied, “I mean that would have been incredible.”
However, he said the opposite shortly after, telling his nearly 286,000 followers on X that he had no intention of supporting tokens launched in his name apart from the original RICH meme coin.
“I will literally rug any token anybody creates for me other than the original $RICH. I just rugged another token,” the influencer wrote.
When criticism started, O’Neill clarified that someone had independently created and distributed the token in question, named I Choose Rich Everytime (NICK), before sending him a large allocation.
Reserve, the account behind the coin, accused the influencer of selling the NICK tokens shortly after receiving them, something he did not deny, instead arguing that there was no reason for him to back another community-created asset when an existing cryptocurrency already carried his branding.
“If I wanted to do this I wouldn’t have some random person do it,” he responded.
ANSEM Comparison Hangs Over the Discussion
Some of O’Neill’s followers urged him to embrace the token anyway, suggesting it could rival ANSEM’s success. But others defended his decision, with one of them, ExcaliberArt, comparing the situation to receiving free shares in a company, which O’Neill was free to sell since he had never promised to promote or endorse the token.
As CryptoPotato reported yesterday, the deployer behind The Black Bull sent 650 million tokens, worth about $71 million at the time, directly to Ansem’s wallet for free while walking away with just $5,500 for themselves. According to on-chain analysts, the distribution suggested a pre-arranged promotional scheme, although some watchdogs, such as Rugcheck, warned that the token’s concentrated ownership had increased the risk of market manipulation.
The post Crypto Influencer Nick O’Neill Says He ‘Rugged’ Unsolicited Token Sent to Him appeared first on CryptoPotato.
Bitcoin miner Riot Platforms (RIOT) has moved another 500 Bitcoin (BTC) to custody firm NYDIG, worth roughly $39 million, the latest move in a treasury strategy now funding its push beyond mining.
On-chain monitors spotted the deposit, which fits a familiar pattern. Riot has sold far more Bitcoin than it mines, converting its reserves into cash for a costly pivot into AI data centers.
A Familiar Pattern for Riot
Blockchain monitor Onchain Lens flagged the 500 BTC deposit on June 30. It mirrored a similar transfer that analytics firm Arkham tracked in early April. Such moves to custodians often precede sales.
The scale of the selling is striking. Riot disclosed selling 3,778 Bitcoin for $289.5 million last quarter, while mining just 1,473 coins. The first-quarter Bitcoin sell-off far outpaced production, draining the treasury.
Those sales cut holdings to about 15,680 BTC as of this writing, down 18% from a year earlier.
Other miners offloading Bitcoin have leaned on the same playbook. Rival MARA Holdings sold about $1.1 billion in Bitcoin this year, while Core Scientific began monetizing most of its coins.
Thinner margins since the 2024 halving have squeezed pure mining.
The Riot Bitcoin Sale Funds an AI Bet
The clearest link between the selling and the pivot came in January. Riot funded a $96 million land purchase at its Rockdale site in Texas entirely by selling about 1,080 Bitcoin.
That land now anchors a data center business. Anchor tenant AMD signed a 10-year lease worth about $311 million, then doubled its commitment to 50 megawatts last quarter. The segment brought in $33.2 million of revenue, its first contribution.
The economists explain the urgency. Once equipment depreciation is accounted for, Riot spent $96,283 to mine each Bitcoin last quarter, more than a Bitcoin was worth. It reported a net loss of about $500 million.
What the Sale Streak Signals
CEO Jason Les has cast the shift as a turning point rather than a retreat.
“The first quarter of 2026 marks a definitive inflection point for Riot, as we officially transitioned into an active, revenue-generating data center operator,” the miner’s CEO, Jason Les, said.
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Riot abandoned its long-standing hold-only policy in 2025 and now sells routinely. Still, the company has staked its future on tenants like AMD rather than on Bitcoin alone.
With Bitcoin trading near $58,700, Riot can still raise large sums from a shrinking treasury. The race for AI infrastructure has rewarded that bet, with miner stocks climbing even as mining margins fade.
The coming quarters will test whether data center income can replace what mining once delivered.
The post Nasdaq-Listed Riot Keeps Selling Bitcoin While Reinventing Its Business appeared first on BeInCrypto.
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