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Polymarket renames Artemis II explosion bet after backlash

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Polymarket renames Artemis II explosion bet after backlash

Polymarket has renamed its “Artemis II explodes?” market after outraged critics branded the company as “evil” and suggested that it could lead to the mission being intentionally sabotaged.

The prediction market first featured the controversial bet on January 20 as part of its series related to NASA’s Artemis II launch and it has so far pulled in over $81,000 in trading volume. 

Users on X, however, voiced their distaste after Citations Needed podcast host Adam Johnson claimed that markets “wagering on people dying should not be legal!”

Aerospace engineering professor Dr Chris Combs said, “The fact that there could now be a financial incentive to sabotage a crewed space mission is pretty dystopian.” 

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Others noted the incentive and claimed that it could see “prediction markets turn into assassination markets.”

Read more: Polymarket faces backlash over ‘sick’ California wildfire markets

In response to Johnson’s first post, Polymarket said, “To clarify: this was a market about a potential booster-stage rupture — a defined hardware failure scenario — not about the Orion crew capsule or astronaut safety.”

It added, “This was not a market on crew injury or loss of life.”

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However, this response wasn’t well received and some called Polymarket a “truly evil company.” Others, meanwhile, told the person behind the post to quit their job and stop working for an indefensible firm.

Some users took Polymarket’s logic to highlight how ridiculous it sounds. One user said, “I would like to bet on whether your social media team’s vehicles suffer brake failures — a defined hardware failure scenario. This would not be a market on team injury or loss of life.”  

Eventually, Polymarket changed the name of the market to the more tasteful “Artemis II booster rupture?”

It noted, “This market’s language has been updated for clarity.”

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Houston, we have a problem gambler

Others weren’t so upset by the market. Economics professor Chris Freiman argued that this market holds “important information that should motivate decision makers to cancel the launch.”

He said, “We shouldn’t lose life-saving information because some outside observers find it gross.” Another economics professor, Alex Tabarok, tried to equate banning the exploding market to banning life insurance. 

Both professors were shot down by users on X. Some noted that authoritative figures in charge of the launch won’t be checking Polymarket to assess vessel safety, nor would anyone with that information working on the launch keep that information away from their superiors to gamble on Polymarket instead. 

Others noted that, even if it could be compared to banning life insurance, this market would be closer to the Stranger-Originated Life Insurance and be “extremely” illegal.

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Read more: Logan Paul fakes $1M Super Bowl bet on Polymarket

Polymarket is no stranger to controversial markets and has hosted many that involved people potentially dying.

Back in 2023, when it was still unknown what fate had befallen the crew of the failed Titan Submersible, Polymarket held a wager on when the vessel would be found. 

It frequently holds markets on military conflicts across the world, and has even hosted bets on how far fires would spread during the 2025 La Wildfires. 

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More recently, arrests have been made and charges issued against Israelis over various bets made on Polymarket that allegedly utilised confidential military secrets.

Got a tip? Send us an email securely via Protos Leaks. For more informed news and investigations, follow us on XBluesky, and Google News, or subscribe to our YouTube channel.

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‘Crash Accelerates,’ Says Robert Kiyosaki as He Continues Buying BTC, ETH, and More

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Robert Kiyosaki Faces Backlash Over Contradictory Bitcoin Buying Claims


The author’s rather controversial recent history with crypto continues, this time, he said he keeps buying.

Robert Kiyosaki, the renowned investor, financial guru, and author, has called for yet another financial crash in his latest post on X, indicating that private credit funds are panicked, with investors pulling out funds.

He outlined his strategy during such a time of distress, and doubled down on the assets he wants to continue buying.

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Crash Intensifies

After rightfully predicting the major 2008 banking crisis, the author of a few New York best-selling books has been frequently forecasting even more painful crashes. In his latest warning on the matter, he noted that the “crash accelerates,” which is evident from several factors:

“Private credit funds are panicked as investors withdraw their money. Major big-name banks and brand-name financial institutions are in trouble. Jim Rickards formally declares the US in the New Depression.”

These developments could only worsen if the situation in the Middle East continues for weeks or even months. As such, he asked his over a million followers on X, “What are you going to do?”

His strategy is quite promising, as he plans on “getting richer” and refuses to be the “victim who gets poorer.” Additionally, he laid out the financial assets he plans to continue accumulating to help him achieve his goal – oil, silver, gold, Bitcoin, and Ethereum.

He added that smart money is getting richer and stupid money is running like the “proverbial chicken with its head chopped off.” Kiyosaki concluded that this is not the time to be a “headless chicken.”

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Recent Bitcoin History

After bashing the crypto industry for a few years, Kiyosaki changed his tune during the COVID-19 crash and has become a vocal proponent, especially for BTC and ETH as of more recently. However, his latest remarks on the matter have stirred some controversy, especially the lack of consistency in his claims about whether he stopped buying bitcoin.

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In one post, he noted that he hasn’t bought any BTC at prices over $6,000. In many others, though, he indicated on social media that he was purchasing more bitcoins when the asset traded well within five or even six-digit territory.

Nevertheless, he has asserted on a couple of occasions that he believes bitcoin is a better investment tool than gold.

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Bitcoin Eyes Key Support Reclaim as Weekly Close Tops $70K

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Crypto Breaking News

Bitcoin edged toward a pivotal weekly finish, with traders watching a potential close above the $70,000 mark that would also reclaim a critical long-term indicator. The setup sits at a crossroads as macro risk remains in play and buyers test a sequence of technical levels that have defined the market for months. A close above $70,000 would not only validate a momentum shift on the weekly chart but would also put the price back above a notable trendline that has guided price action for much of this cycle. The broader backdrop remains mixed, with oil hovering near the century mark and geopolitical tensions contributing to risk-off sentiment during parts of the session.

Bitcoin (BTC) inched higher on Sunday as bulls sought to seal a weekly close above $70,000. The Sunday move followed a week of choppy action and strategic positioning by market participants who are evaluating whether this level can establish a renewed leg higher. The weekly picture matters because it encompasses a longer time horizon, and a break above the level could signal renewed confidence among buyers who have watched multiple attempts to push past the zone fail to sustain momentum. On the charts, Bitcoin was flirting with a reset of momentum after testing highs near the $72,000 area intraday before retreating, a pattern that traders described as a necessary consolidation before another move higher.

Data viewed by traders show that BTC remained on track for a seventh consecutive green daily candle, setting up the potential for the best daily finish in over a week if bidding holds into the close. The price managed to stay above two critical guardrails on the weekly timeframe: the 200-week exponential moving average (EMA) and a level associated with the 2021 all-time high around $68,300, followed by the $69,400 mark. These zones have historically served as magnets for price, attracting buyers when the market swings back toward them after excursions toward local highs. A sustained hold above these levels would be interpreted by many analysts as a sign that the long-term support structure remains intact even in the face of short-term volatility.

BTC/USD one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Analysts highlighted that recent price corrections have reflected routine risk-off behavior rather than a shift in the longer-term narrative. In a recent analysis, Michaël van de Poppe noted that the market could see a minor pullback as CME gap closure activity picks up around the weekend, but he projected a continued grind toward the next major resistances in the $75,000–$80,000 area if the momentum persists. The reflection aligns with a price action pattern in which buyers defend key levels and push the market higher on renewed demand, even as profit-taking emerges at local highs.

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“Markets are turning back upwards again, probably we’ll see a slight pullback later today for CME gap closing appetite, but other than that, I would assume we’ll continue to grind upwards to the resistances at $75-80K.”

In a separate acknowledgment of the intraday dynamics, van de Poppe had previously forecast that the price would revisit Friday’s CME close around $71,325, underscoring the notion that short-term moves may oscillate within a defined corridor before the next directional breakout. As of the current update, BTC had logged a weekly gain of more than 8%, with March performance hovering near a 6.7% increase, underscoring the persistence of buyers seeking to reassert control after a period of volatility. A chart overview from CoinGlass capturing weekly returns corroborates the broader narrative of a risk-on tilt within a cautious macro environment. CoinGlass data show the week-to-date strength in the asset, even as macro risk factors remain in flux.

BTC/USD one-week chart with 200 EMA. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Macro turmoil spoils Bitcoin “relief rally”

Beyond the price action, macro and geopolitical factors continued to shape trader sentiment. While some participants hoped for a relief rally in calmer macro conditions, the backdrop remained precarious. Oil markets provided a parallel narrative, with WTI crude oil flirting with the $100-per-barrel mark as traders weighed supply shocks and demand dynamics. The persistent tension between risk-on and risk-off impulses has left Bitcoin oscillating between cautious optimism and a more defensive posture as investors digest global developments and central bank trajectories.

Market watchers such as Kyle Doops emphasized that, on a mid-term horizon, Bitcoin appears to be trading within a defined band. He highlighted a mid-term trading range defined by a longer-term market mean near $78,400 and a realized price baseline around $54,400, suggesting that price action tends to revert toward these anchors after excursions toward the upper and lower boundaries. In his assessment, whenever Bitcoin edges above $70,000, sellers re-emerge to take profits rather than trigger panic selling, reinforcing the view that the market has become comfortable with orderly, measured gains rather than sharp, outsized moves. These observations align with the broader theme of a market that has found a measure of discipline even as headlines around energy markets and global tensions continue to dominate the narrative.

BTC/USD chart with long-term trend lines. Source: Kyle Doops/X

Why it matters

The ongoing test of the $70,000 threshold matters for several reasons. First, a weekly close above that level would bolster the case for a renewed longer-term uptrend by reclaiming a major psychological and technical barrier that has capped upside in recent months. It would also validate the relevance of the 200-week EMA as a benchmark for long-term support, potentially reducing the probability of a rapid retrace as market participants reassess risk posture. For traders, a sustained close above the level could translate into a more constructive setup for those eyeing a move toward the upper end of the historically significant resistance corridor in the low-to-mid $80,000s, while still considering the structural dynamics shaped by macro headwinds.

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Second, the price action underscores the interplay between technical patterns and macro realities. Even as Bitcoin demonstrates resilience, macro catalysts—most notably commodity markets and geopolitical risk—continue to influence risk appetite. In this context, a constructive weekly close could act as a spark for renewed liquidity and ETF considerations, though investors must remain mindful of potential overhangs from policy signals and energy prices. The evolving macro environment suggests that the market could enter a phase where patience and disciplined risk management become as important as any immediate price target.

Finally, the narrative around price discovery remains tethered to disciplined risk-control behavior among market participants. The repeated observation of profit-taking at local highs indicates a maturation in market behavior, where investors are more deliberate about entries and exits rather than chasing sensational moves. In a landscape where macro risk remains persistent, the ability to navigate the timing of entries and exits will likely be as important as predicting the next directional move.

What to watch next

  • Watch for a weekly close above $70,000 and whether the price can sustain a hold above the 200-week EMA on a weekly basis.
  • Monitor CME-related dynamics near the closing price around $71,325 and any subsequent gap-closing activity.
  • Observe price action toward the $75,000–$80,000 resistance zone if momentum persists beyond the weekly close.
  • Keep an eye on macro catalysts, particularly oil prices hovering near $100 and any geopolitical developments that could affect risk sentiment.

Sources & verification

  • TradingView price data for BTCUSD, including the weekly candle count and interactions with the 200-week EMA.
  • Analyses and social posts from Michaël van de Poppe discussing CME gaps and potential resistance targets around $75,000–$80,000.
  • Kyle Doops’s commentary on the mid-term trading range anchored by a long-term mean near $78,400 and a realized price around $54,400.
  • CoinGlass weekly return data illustrating the ~8% weekly gain and March gains of ~6.7% for Bitcoin.
  • The referenced chart perspectives and historical levels, including the 200-week EMA around $68,300 and the $69,400 level tied to the 2021 all-time high.

Bitcoin price action and near-term outlook

As the week unfolds, the market’s trajectory hinges on whether Bitcoin can cement a weekly close above the $70,000 threshold and maintain a foothold above the 200-week EMA. The combination of technical support at long-standing levels and the persistence of bullish momentum on the daily chart creates a scenario in which a breakout could invite further upside toward the next major resistance bands. Yet the price action has repeatedly shown that the move higher can be met with measured profit-taking, particularly around round-number levels and at pivotal intraday highs near the $72,000 territory. The balance between demand and supply will likely define the near-term trajectory as traders weigh macro risk against the potential for a sustained look at higher targets.

In sum, Bitcoin is navigating a window of opportunity that could shape the narrative for the coming weeks. A successful close above the critical levels would reinforce the case for a renewed bullish phase, while a failure to sustain gains could bring the market back into a rangebound mode that tests patience and risk management alike. The next few sessions will be telling as the market absorbs macro cues, on-chain signals, and traders’ evolving appetite for risk.

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

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Bitcoin Turns Up the Heat on Lost Support for Its Latest Weekly Close

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Bitcoin Turns Up the Heat on Lost Support for Its Latest Weekly Close

Bitcoin edged toward an important weekly close above $70,000 that would include a reclaim of an important 200-week trend line.

Bitcoin (BTC) inched higher on Sunday as bulls sought to seal a weekly close above $70,000.

Key points:

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  • Bitcoin eyes its highest daily close in over a week with a fresh weekend push above $70,000.

  • Price offers a reclaim of a key support trend line on weekly time frames.

  • Sell-side pressure at local highs is “steady profit-taking,” analysis says.

BTC price attempts long-term support rescue

Data from TradingView showed out-of-hours price action topping out just below the $72,000 mark before cooling.

BTC/USD one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Now in line for its seventh consecutive green daily candle, BTC/USD eyed its highest daily close since March 4.

Along with $70,000, price also stayed above key long-term levels: the 200-week exponential moving average (EMA) and the old 2021 all-time high at $68,300 and $69,400, respectively.

BTC/USD one-week chart with 200 EMA. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

“The recent correction on Friday on Bitcoin was essentially just risk-off appetite to not be having positions going into the weekend. Nothing else,” crypto trader Michaël van de Poppe wrote in his latest X analysis.

“Markets are turning back upwards again, probably we’ll see a slight pullback later today for CME gap closing appetite, but other than that, I would assume we’ll continue to grind upwards to the resistances at $75-80K.”

BTC/USDT six-hour chart. Source: Michaël van de Poppe/X

Van de Poppe correctly forecasted that the price would revisit Friday’s closing price of CME Group’s Bitcoin futures market at $71,325.

At the time of writing, BTC/USD was still up by more than 8% on the week, with March gains at 6.7%.

BTC weekly returns (screenshot). Source: CoinGlass

Macro turmoil spoils Bitcoin “relief rally”

Geopolitical risk, meanwhile, remained at the forefront of trader discussions.

Related: Bitcoin ‘passing geopolitical stress test’ as BTC price spikes above $72K

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WTI crude oil ended the week attempting to repass $100 per barrel, with the global oil supply shock still playing out. 

CFDs on WTI crude oil one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

“If macro was calm, this sort of structure could easily turn into a relief rally. But with the current backdrop… downside risk still hasn’t really gone away,” crypto analysis host Kyle Doops commented on X last week.

Doops identified a mid-term trading range for Bitcoin that was bordered by two key boundaries: the true market mean at $78,400, and the aggregate realized price of the current supply at $54,400.

“Every time price pokes above $70K, sellers show up. Not panic selling… just steady profit-taking,” he summarized about lower time frames.

BTC/USD chart with long-term trend lines. Source: Kyle Doops/X