Key Takeaways

• On May 22, 2026, Trump Media deposited 2,650 bitcoin valued at approximately $205 million to Crypto.com.
• Company representatives claim no sale occurred, describing the move as part of an expanded “trading strategy.”
• Trump Media acquired 11,542 BTC at a $118,522 average cost basis, significantly above current market prices.
• Unrealized losses on the company’s complete bitcoin position are estimated at approximately $455 million.
• First-quarter 2026 results showed a $405.9 million net loss against revenue of only $871,200.

Trump Media & Technology Group executed a transfer of 2,650 bitcoin to Crypto.com on May 22, 2026. Valued at roughly $205 million based on prevailing market rates, this marks the second instance of the company relocating substantial bitcoin assets to a centralized trading platform.

A company representative informed CoinDesk that Trump Media “transferred, but did not sell” the bitcoin, characterizing the transaction as an element of a more comprehensive trading approach. Nevertheless, the action has sparked scrutiny from market observers and shareholders monitoring the firm’s cryptocurrency portfolio.

On-chain analytics from Lookonchain and Arkham Intelligence verified the deposit. Following this transaction, Trump Media’s blockchain wallet retains approximately 6,889 BTC, currently valued at around $533 million.

Significant Unrealized Losses Accumulate

Trump Media initially purchased 11,542 bitcoin for roughly $1.37 billion, establishing a cost basis averaging $118,522 per token. Bitcoin has subsequently declined considerably below that acquisition price, hovering near $77,341 during the transfer timeframe.

This substantial price differential indicates the company carries approximately $455 million in unrealized losses across its cryptocurrency portfolio.

This wasn’t Trump Media’s inaugural exchange transfer. Four months prior, the company relocated 2,000 BTC to an exchange platform when bitcoin traded around $87,378. Officials attributed that earlier movement to internal custody restructuring. The recent transfer, executed at comparatively elevated prices, has generated additional scrutiny.

Trump Media has not disclosed its rationale for selecting Crypto.com specifically or detailed the terms of this arrangement. Whether the transfer relates to custodial requirements, liquidity management, or alternative objectives remains undisclosed.

Deteriorating Financial Performance

Trump Media disclosed a first-quarter net loss totaling $405.9 million in May 2026. During this identical timeframe, the organization generated merely $871,200 in revenue. The previous year’s corresponding quarter showed a $31.7 million net loss, highlighting the dramatic deterioration.

The majority of Q1’s losses stemmed from mark-to-market valuation adjustments on cryptocurrency holdings, which depreciated as bitcoin and Cronos valuations declined from their late-2024 highs. These represent paper losses rather than realized cash deficits.

The company’s primary business operations, encompassing Truth Social and related media ventures, produced $17.9 million in positive operating cash flow during the quarter.

Despite this, the overall financial picture has dampened investor confidence. Trump Media shares declined in morning trading sessions following disclosure of the transfer.

Trump Media also recently retracted its application for a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund. ETF market specialists suggested the withdrawal reflected unfavorable market conditions in the bitcoin ETF sector rather than regulatory obstacles.

Unlike Strategy, which maintains over 818,000 bitcoin and has publicly declared a long-term accumulation philosophy, Trump Media CEO Devin Nunes has not articulated a comparable commitment. He has characterized the cryptocurrency holdings as a balance-sheet diversification initiative.

The company has not announced plans for a conference call or released formal statements addressing the transfer.

Key Highlights

• Chun Wang, co-founder of F2Pool, has been appointed Mission Commander for SpaceX’s inaugural commercial crewed spaceflight to Mars.
• The expedition spans two years and features a lunar flyby followed by a Mars flyby before Earth re-entry.
• Wang oversees approximately 11.3–11.5% of the world’s Bitcoin mining hashrate and possesses roughly $300 million in personal Bitcoin assets.
• For the first time, SpaceX disclosed ownership of 8,285 Bitcoin and has filed confidentially for an IPO with a target valuation of $1.75 trillion.
• Wang previously commanded Fram2, SpaceX’s inaugural crewed polar orbit expedition, in 2025.

Chun Wang, the co-founder of F2Pool and a prominent figure in Bitcoin mining, has been selected to command SpaceX’s inaugural human spaceflight mission to Mars—a groundbreaking two-year expedition into deep space scheduled for 2026.

SpaceX made the announcement Thursday, confirming that Wang will pilot the Starship spacecraft on an extraordinary voyage that extends beyond the Earth-Moon system, executes a flyby of Mars, and completes the return journey to Earth.

Wang, a Chinese-born entrepreneur who holds citizenship in Malta and St. Kitts and Nevis, established F2Pool in 2013 alongside co-founder Shixing Mao. The mining operation currently manages between 11.3% and 11.5% of the worldwide Bitcoin hashrate. Wang’s individual Bitcoin portfolio is valued at more than $300 million.

Prior to the Mars expedition, Wang is scheduled to participate in SpaceX’s inaugural commercial crewed lunar flyby aboard Starship. This week-long mission will take him approximately 125 miles from the Moon’s surface, accompanied by Dennis and Akiko Tito.

This won’t mark Wang’s debut in space travel. He commanded the Fram2 mission in 2025, which represented SpaceX’s first crewed polar orbit flight.

An Ambitious Two-Year Expedition Through Deep Space

The Mars expedition will extend across a full two-year period. The astronauts will venture beyond the Earth-Moon system, execute a high-altitude flyby of Mars, and navigate a sophisticated trajectory back to Earth.

The mission will utilize SpaceX’s advanced Starship V3 platform. This enhanced spacecraft features vacuum-jacketed header feed lines, sophisticated high-voltage cryogenic recirculation technology, and 60 specially designed avionics units with the capacity to manage up to 9 megawatts of maximum power output.

The astronauts will confront significant challenges throughout the mission. These encompass equipment wear and tear, cryogenic fuel management in the depths of space, and prolonged radiation exposure spanning 24 months.

Wang and his fellow crew members are also responsible for gathering biomedical information. This encompasses behavioral health monitoring and recording the first-ever human X-ray imagery captured in microgravity conditions.

This information will enable SpaceX to refine Starship for quick turnaround operations and strategize upcoming missions. Elon Musk’s ultimate vision involves transporting up to one million individuals to Mars.

“After we come back from Mars, we will have the opportunity to take some real photos, especially of Mars,” Wang said in a SpaceX video. “Mars will no longer be a distant place. It will become reality.”

SpaceX Reveals Bitcoin Portfolio and IPO Strategy

The Mars mission revelation arrives during a pivotal period for SpaceX. The aerospace company has submitted a confidential IPO filing with ambitions for a valuation exceeding $1.75 trillion, which would establish a new record.

SpaceX has also made its first public revelation of its Bitcoin portfolio. The company currently possesses 8,285 Bitcoin.

Since 2020, SpaceX has successfully transported 78 crew members to and from space throughout 20 missions. Seven of these were dedicated commercial or private astronaut expeditions.

Neither the lunar nor Mars missions have confirmed launch dates at this time.

Key Highlights

• NEAR Protocol rallied 50% over a seven-day period, reaching a six-month peak of $2.34.
• BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes labeled NEAR as one of three essential altcoins, sparking retail momentum.
• Bitwise’s NEAR exchange-traded product saw significant institutional capital inflows.
• The protocol unveiled upgrades focused on AI capabilities, privacy features, and dynamic resharding technology.
• Chart analysis reveals a breakout from a long-term falling wedge pattern, targeting $5.75.

NEAR Protocol delivered an explosive performance this week. The cryptocurrency surged 50% across seven trading days, peaking at $2.34 on Friday—the highest level recorded in half a year. Over the past 24 hours alone, NEAR jumped 34%, while trading volumes spiked 190% to reach $1.15 billion, indicating powerful buying pressure.

This sharp upward movement resulted in more than $9.85 million in liquidated short positions, wiping out bearish bets placed against the cryptocurrency.

Much of the momentum traces back to Arthur Hayes, the high-profile crypto investor and co-founder of BitMEX. Hayes publicly identified NEAR alongside HYPE and ZEC as the “holy trinity” of alternative cryptocurrencies. According to Coin Bureau’s post on X, this single endorsement catalyzed a roughly 30% price spike.

As one of crypto’s most influential figures, Hayes commands substantial retail attention, and his public support rapidly amplified interest in NEAR.

Institutional Capital and Network Activity

The rally extends beyond social media hype. Bitwise announced substantial inflows into its NEAR-based exchange-traded product, signaling genuine institutional appetite. On-chain researcher and former NEAR ecosystem contributor Vadim Zacodil pointed to the protocol’s token buyback program as an additional price support mechanism.

NEAR co-founder Illia Polosukhin’s expertise in artificial intelligence has positioned the project favorably during the current AI token surge. Simultaneously, other AI-linked cryptocurrencies including Grass, OpenServe, and Artificial Superintelligence Alliance (FET) recorded double-digit percentage gains within the same 24-hour timeframe.

The combined market capitalization of AI and big data cryptocurrency tokens climbed 8% to $21.44 billion in a single day, demonstrating sector-wide momentum.

Technical Developments and Price Projections

Nvidia’s impressive Q1 2026 financial results—approximately $81.6 billion in revenue with projections approaching $1 trillion for 2027—provided additional tailwinds for AI-related blockchain projects. Historical patterns show NEAR’s price sensitivity to Nvidia earnings, including a 58% surge in February following the chip maker’s Q4 2025 report.

NEAR has scheduled meaningful protocol enhancements for June, including dynamic resharding technology designed to dramatically expand network throughput. The development team has also prioritized privacy-focused features and confidential transaction capabilities—a technical challenge Vitalik Buterin has identified as critical for blockchain’s future.

MN Capital’s founder Michael van de Poppe shared on X that NEAR displays “one of the most bullish charts” currently available. He identified immediate resistance levels at $2 and the $2.25–$2.50 range, with a subsequent target near $2.75. Successfully clearing the $2.60–$3.00 supply zone could establish a path toward the technical target of $5.75 based on wedge pattern measurements.

BitMEX Research Analyst Shang Wu observed earlier this month that NEAR trades at approximately 56x annualized fees, representing a discount compared to most competing Layer 1 blockchain platforms.

By Friday’s close, NEAR Protocol’s market capitalization approached $3 billion, marking a monthly increase exceeding 50%.

Key Takeaways

• Kevin Warsh officially became Federal Reserve chairman on Friday following a 54-45 Senate confirmation, taking over from Jerome Powell.
• Market expectations have eliminated any possibility of rate cuts throughout 2026, with hike probabilities climbing.
• CME FedWatch tools indicate a 70% probability of an interest rate increase at December 2026’s FOMC gathering.
• Economic analysts suggest the Fed might implement up to 100 basis points in rate increases if inflation remains persistently above 2%.
• The new Fed chairman’s inaugural policy meeting is set for June 16-17.

Financial markets have dramatically recalibrated expectations toward interest rate increases in 2026 following Kevin Warsh’s official appointment as Federal Reserve chairman.

JUST IN: 🇺🇸 Kevin Warsh has officially been sworn in as the new chair of the Federal Reserve, replacing Jerome Powell. pic.twitter.com/H8l0qIRX9t

— CoinMarketCap (@CoinMarketCap) May 22, 2026

The swearing-in ceremony took place Friday at the White House, with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas administering the oath. Warsh assumes leadership after a closely divided 54-45 Senate confirmation that followed partisan voting patterns.

During the ceremonial proceedings, President Donald Trump emphasized his expectation for independent action from Warsh. “I want Kevin to be totally independent and do a great job. Don’t look at me and don’t look at anybody. Just do your own job,” Trump stated directly to the newly appointed chairman.

The president had endured sustained criticism from Democratic lawmakers who raised doubts about Warsh’s commitment to maintaining the Fed’s institutional independence. Senator Elizabeth Warren notably described him as a “sock puppet” serving presidential interests. Warsh firmly disputed this characterization and committed to autonomous monetary policy decisions.

Trump further addressed attendees by highlighting that employment figures have reached unprecedented heights and asserting the nation could expand economically to resolve its debt challenges. “We want to stop inflation, but we don’t want to stop greatness,” he declared.

Investor Sentiment Shifts Toward Tightening

Contrary to Trump’s stated preference for reduced interest rates, financial markets are forecasting a starkly different trajectory. Current CME FedWatch data reveals a complete absence of rate cut expectations throughout the entire 2026 calendar year.

A mere 3.5% of market participants anticipate even a modest rate increase at the upcoming June 17 FOMC session. However, by July, hike probability climbs to 17%.

The December meeting commands the greatest attention. Approximately 67% to 70% of investors currently forecast an interest rate elevation at 2026’s concluding FOMC gathering. The predominant scenario involves a hike to the 375-400 basis point band, representing a 25 basis point advancement from today’s 350-375 basis point target range.

Certain economic forecasters project more aggressive scenarios. Should inflation maintain levels exceeding 2%, they anticipate the Fed could implement cumulative rate increases totaling 100 basis points. Such action would effectively neutralize the three rate reductions executed during 2025.

Policy Direction Changed Before Leadership Transition

Documentation from April’s FOMC meeting revealed the directional shift commenced prior to Warsh’s arrival. Committee members indicated that “some policy firming would likely become appropriate if inflation were to continue to run persistently above 2%.”

The meeting record also documented that numerous participants advocated eliminating wording that implied preference toward rate reductions.

Inflation anxieties stem partially from escalating oil prices, artificial intelligence-fueled demand expansion, and continuing geopolitical strains connected to US-Iran relations.

Extended-horizon markets reflect similar trends. For June 2027, traders assign just 15.8% likelihood that rates remain at 350-375 basis points. Instead, 33.4% project rates at 375-400 while another 30.2% anticipate 400-425. Some market positions even contemplate levels reaching 500-525 basis points.

Rising interest rates typically present challenges for risk-oriented assets. Bitcoin, cryptocurrency markets, and equity instruments could all encounter resistance if borrowing costs escalate throughout the coming year.

Chairman Warsh’s inaugural policy decision meeting commences June 16.

MicroStrategy chairman Michael Saylor hinted at a potential shift in the company’s Bitcoin strategy, signaling that selling a portion of its bitcoin holdings this year cannot be ruled out as the firm pursues a more dynamic approach to its balance sheet. The comments come as the company leans into a programmatic framework for managing assets, cash, and debt with a long-term horizon.

Speaking on the Coin Stories podcast with Natalie Brunell and published on YouTube on Friday, Saylor described a plan to operate with a “very thoughtful” programmatic approach. He said it could involve selling some Bitcoin between now and year-end, along with a mix of equity and credit, while continuing to manage USD and cash. The goal, he emphasized, is to optimize the company’s outcomes for the long term, extending toward 2033. “Ultimately, the way to think of it is seven years out, we would like to have maximized our Bitcoin per share,” he said, underscoring a shift from Strategy’s historically staunch stance on never selling its digital assets.

Key takeaways

• Michael Saylor indicates it is “not unlikely” that MicroStrategy will sell some BTC between now and the end of the year, marking a notable departure from the firm’s long-standing “never sell” posture.
• The company intends to manage its balance sheet through a programmatic framework that could include sales of Bitcoin, as well as strategic moves in equity and debt, guided by multivariate models with a 2033 horizon.
• MicroStrategy holds 843,768 BTC, purchased at an average price of roughly $75,700 per coin, with Bitcoin trading near $75,958 at the time of publication.
• MicroStrategy’s stock traded at $159.89 at the close of Friday, having fallen about 10.9% over the prior 30 days, illustrating the disconnect that can exist between corporate treasury decisions and equity-market sentiment.
• The remarks follow prior signals from Saylor that a sale could be contemplated to safeguard the asset’s long-term value, a departure from earlier rhetoric and a reminder of the evolving nature of large corporates’ treasury strategies.

Context: a treasury rethink and long-term goals

MicroStrategy’s approach to Bitcoin has always been closely tied to its treasury management narrative, with the company accumulating a substantial stake as a corporate bet on the digital asset. The new comments place emphasis on a disciplined, data-driven process rather than a fixed, unchanging policy. Saylor described the broader plan as “a programmatic fashion where we’re running our multivariate models,” a framework intended to balance growth, liquidity, and risk across both crypto and traditional assets.

In the interview, Saylor reiterated a strategic objective articulated for years: maximize Bitcoin per share over a multi-year horizon. He stressed that the focus is on long-term outcomes rather than short-term price movements, and that any sales would be calibrated to support those outcomes. The timing of possible sales will depend on how the models signal opportunities to optimize the company’s overall performance while preserving the Bitcoin position for future value creation.

Bitcoin position and market context

According to MicroStrategy’s published data, the firm has accumulated 843,768 BTC, purchased at an average price of about $75,700 per BTC. At the time of publication, Bitcoin traded around $75,958, placing the market price near the unit cost basis but subject to the volatility intrinsic to crypto markets. The juxtaposition highlights the complexity of corporate crypto strategy: even when the price posture is near cost basis, the decision to sell or hold can be driven by broader balance-sheet considerations and long-run optimization goals.

MicroStrategy’s stock price, meanwhile, provides a different lens on the story. It closed at $159.89 on Friday, with roughly a 10.9% decline over the last 30 days, according to Google Finance data. The divergence between the equity move and the crypto position underscores a common reality for large treasury holders: corporate governance and investor sentiment can react differently to the same underlying asset, especially when the asset serves as a strategic balance-sheet instrument rather than a pure speculative investment.

Observers have long watched how MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin strategy interacts with broader market dynamics. Saylor’s recent comments add a layer of potential volatility to the company’s treasury decisions, while also signaling a willingness to adapt to changing conditions. The firm’s track record — including public disclosures of its BTC holdings and purchase history on its website — will continue to inform how investors digest any future sale announcements. For now, the plan remains a forward-looking framework rather than a concrete sale timetable, with the caveat that real-time market conditions and model outputs could alter timing and scale.

As coverage of corporate Bitcoin adoption evolves, MicroStrategy’s approach may offer a useful reference for other treasury teams weighing strategic asset management in a volatile macro environment. The combination of a disciplined model-driven process and a horizon extending to 2033 provides a blueprint for balancing exposure, liquidity, and upside potential in a high-beta asset class.

Looking ahead, market participants will be watching for any formal updates to MicroStrategy’s treasury policy, earnings commentary that clarifies sale triggers, or new disclosures that outline how the multivariate framework operates in practice. The evolution of this strategy could shape how other corporations view the feasibility and risk of maintaining large Bitcoin positions as part of their balance sheets.

Readers should watch upcoming investor communications for any concrete sale signals, as well as updates to cost-basis tracking and model-driven asset-management benchmarks. The path from talk to action remains to be seen, and the next steps will help determine whether MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin strategy becomes a recurring source of liquidity or a steady, long-horizon holding.

Strategy chairman Michael Saylor has not ruled out the company offloading some Bitcoin as early as this year, after recently softening his long-held “never sell” stance.

“I think it’s not unlikely that we’ll sell some Bitcoin between now and the end of the year,” Saylor said during an interview with Natalie Brunell published to YouTube on Friday.

Saylor said it is “also likely” that the company will sell a mix of equity and credit and manage its USD and cash holdings. “We do it in a very thoughtful programmatic fashion where we’re running our multivariate models, and we’re literally running them,” Saylor said, noting the company is focused on long-term outcomes out to 2033:

“Ultimately, the way to think of it is seven years out, we would like to have maximized our Bitcoin per share,” Saylor said.

Michael Saylor spoke to Natalie Brunell on the Coin Stories podcast. Source: Natalie Brunell

He added that an objective of the company is: “What is it that we should be doing now that’s going to maximize and optimize the company’s performance so that we’ve maxed out Bitcoin per share seven years from now.”

Strategy’s (MSTR) stock price closed the trading day on Friday at $159.89, down 10.86% over the past 30 days, according to Google Finance. It comes as the price of Bitcoin (BTC) is lower than the average price that Strategy has paid for its Bitcoin, since it began acquiring in 2020. 

Bitcoin is trading lower than Strategy’s average purchase price

At the time of publication, Bitcoin is changing hands at $75,958, while Strategy has acquired its 843,768 Bitcoin at an average price of roughly $75,700 each, according to Strategy’s website and CoinMarketCap data.

Strategy’s buy announcements over the years have often been viewed by the Bitcoin community as bullish signals, but because the company has never announced a sale before, it’s unclear how the community would react.

Related: Saylor signals BTC buy as retail holders get push on STRC dividend vote

It comes just days after Saylor said he raised the possibility of selling Bitcoin during Strategy’s recent earnings call to protect the asset’s long-term interests. 

“We own about $65 billion worth of Bitcoin. If the market thought we would never sell it, the credit rating agencies would say, Well then, I guess it’s not an asset,” Saylor told Scott Melker on The Wolf Of All Streets podcast published to YouTube on May 10.

Magazine: ETH bears growling, Tom Lee’s buying, XRP to ‘explode’: Market Moves

Galaxy Digital founder Mike Novogratz has appeared in court as the company fights BitGo’s $100 million claim tied to a failed $1.2 billion merger.

Novogratz appeared in Delaware Chancery Court this week in the long-running dispute between Galaxy Digital and BitGo. BitGo is asking the court to make Galaxy pay at least $100 million after the crypto investment firm walked away from the acquisition.

The companies agreed to the deal in 2021, when crypto valuations were still high. Galaxy later ended the merger in August 2022, after the Terra collapse and a wider market downturn. Galaxy said BitGo failed to deliver required audited financial statements on time. BitGo said Galaxy wrongly abandoned the deal.

SEC accounting rules sit at center of case

According to Bloomberg’s report, Novogratz testified that he was “pushing to get this deal done,” but said the SEC made approval difficult under then-Chair Gary Gensler. He also said Galaxy itself was not the subject of a government probe.

The accounting issue traces back to SEC Staff Accounting Bulletin 121. The Delaware Supreme Court said SAB 121 became effective shortly before BitGo’s financial statement deadline and gave guidance for public companies that safeguard digital assets. 

The court also noted that if BitGo failed to submit compliant statements by July 31, 2022, Galaxy could terminate the agreement without paying the reverse fee.

BitGo says Galaxy damaged its reputation

BitGo CEO Mike Belshe testified that the failed deal hurt the company. He said “This was incredibly damaging,” according to the report, while arguing that BitGo had provided the needed information.

BitGo’s side says Galaxy’s public reason for ending the merger suggested that BitGo could not pass an audit. Galaxy disputes that view and says the contract allowed termination without the $100 million fee because the financial statements did not meet the required terms.

Court fight comes as both firms expand

The case returns at a busy time for both companies. BitGo became a public company in January and later reported $3.77 billion in first-quarter revenue, up 112.6% from a year earlier. However, its net loss widened to $60.7 million as Bitcoin treasury marks and IPO costs weighed on results.

Galaxy has also been expanding its regulated U.S. footprint. A recent market update said GalaxyOne Prime NY received both a BitLicense and Money Transmission License from New York regulators on May 18, allowing it to offer trading and custody services to institutions in the state.

The trial is expected to end this week. The judge will decide whether Galaxy must pay the $100 million fee or whether the company had the right to terminate the deal without payment.

Tokenized stocks could move trading activity away from traditional exchanges as regulators weigh new rules for onchain equities.

Tiger Research said tokenized stocks could create two main risks for traditional markets: liquidity fragmentation and revenue fragmentation. The report linked those risks to the SEC’s reported innovation exemption, which may allow third parties to tokenize listed stocks such as Apple and Tesla without issuer approval.

The research said traditional finance treats the break-up of centralized liquidity as a “serious structural threat.” In simple terms, trading that usually sits on exchanges such as the NYSE or Nasdaq could move across several blockchain networks and decentralized venues.

That shift could create different prices for the same stock-linked asset across venues. It could also make large trades harder if buyers and sellers spread across many platforms instead of one deep market.

Revenue could move away from domestic exchanges

Tiger Research also warned that exchange revenue could split if tokenized stocks trade on competing venues. Fees that normally flow to domestic exchanges, brokers, and clearing systems could instead move to offshore platforms or new blockchain-based markets.