Cardone Capital has purchased another 282 Bitcoin worth about $18 million as the cryptocurrency market has retreated toward recent lows amid rising geopolitical tensions.

In a June 19 X post, Grant Cardone announced that his real estate investment firm added 282 BTC to its treasury. Based on current market prices, the purchase is valued at roughly $18 million and comes as Bitcoin (BTC) trades near the $63,000 level following a broader crypto market decline linked to tensions surrounding the Israel-Lebanon conflict.

The latest purchase follows another acquisition made during a recent market downturn, when Cardone Capital bought 130 BTC valued at approximately $9.7 million. The transaction adds to a growing Bitcoin position that Cardone has continued to expand through a strategy tied directly to income-producing real estate assets.

Cardone continues building Bitcoin position through rental income

Earlier this year, Cardone Capital disclosed that it had accumulated about 1,000 BTC after purchasing $10 million worth of Bitcoin in January. According to the company, those purchases are funded through a dollar-cost-averaging strategy that directs rental income from selected multifamily properties into Bitcoin acquisitions.

Among those assets is a 366-unit apartment complex in Boca Raton. Rather than distributing excess cash flow to investors or using it to acquire additional real estate, the firm channels part of that income toward Bitcoin purchases.

According to comments previously made by Cardone, the company intends to hold 3,000 BTC by the end of 2026 and ultimately accumulate 10,000 BTC across multiple investment vehicles.

Speaking at the Consensus 2026 conference in Miami, Cardone revealed that the company had recently increased its Bitcoin allocation by another $100 million. He said the purchase formed part of a broader transaction that also included roughly $235 million worth of real estate acquisitions.

During the event, Cardone described the firm’s structure as a combination of Bitcoin and real estate held within the same limited liability company. He argued that the model differs from traditional real estate investment trusts, which generally do not hold Bitcoin directly on their balance sheets.

Real estate and Bitcoin strategy expands beyond treasury purchases

Cardone has repeatedly linked the company’s Bitcoin strategy to its real estate portfolio. In earlier remarks, he estimated that combining the two asset classes could generate annual returns ranging between 22% and 32%, while noting that many investors in the firm’s products had no previous Bitcoin exposure.

According to Cardone, roughly 80% of investors in one of the firm’s Bitcoin-linked real estate funds did not own Bitcoin before participating.

The company has also introduced investment products built around the same concept. As reported earlier by crypto.news, Cardone Capital launched the 10X Miami River Bitcoin Fund in May 2025, pairing a 346-unit apartment complex on the Miami River with $15 million in Bitcoin. The fund also directs a portion of rental income toward additional Bitcoin purchases.

Cardone’s involvement with blockchain-based assets extends beyond treasury accumulation. In early 2024, he listed his $42 million Golden Beach property on Propy, a blockchain-powered real estate marketplace that supports transactions in both Bitcoin and U.S. dollars through a decentralized title registry and escrow system.

WhiteBIT has secured authorization under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) from Austria’s Financial Market Authority, enabling the exchange to provide regulated crypto services across the European Economic Area using a single passported regime. The authorization positions WhiteBIT to operate within the harmonized EU framework as transitional national arrangements near their end.

MiCA’s cross-border “passporting” mechanism is designed to reduce the need for repeated licensing across member states. For institutions and market participants, the development is consequential: it affects how exchanges structure compliance programs, customer communications, and operational continuity in jurisdictions where legacy registrations may no longer be sufficient.

Key takeaways

• WhiteBIT received MiCA authorization from Austria’s Financial Market Authority, supporting regulated service delivery across the EEA.
• MiCA allows authorized firms in one member state to passport services across the EEA, reducing duplicative licensing.
• Austria has not extended grandfathering for virtual asset service providers beyond Dec. 31, 2025, accelerating migration to MiCA.
• EU deadlines are tightening: after July 1, legacy operators may need to hold MiCA authorization or cease EEA client services.
• Regulators and oversight bodies are emphasizing wind-down and client migration planning for firms that remain unauthorized.

Austria authorization and the MiCA passporting framework

WhiteBIT’s authorization under MiCA was granted by Austria’s Financial Market Authority. Under MiCA, a crypto-asset service provider licensed in one EU member state can provide services throughout the EEA without securing separate authorizations in each jurisdiction.

The exchange indicated that the authorization will support the rollout of a dedicated European platform at whitebit.eu. In practice, passporting can streamline geographic expansion while also increasing the importance of centralized compliance controls—such as transaction monitoring, risk management, and supervisory reporting—aligned to MiCA requirements.

WhiteBIT is part of W Group, which the company says serves more than 35 million customers globally. The exchange was founded in 2018.

Why Austria’s MiCA transition matters: grandfathering and regulatory timing

Austria’s approach underscores the timetable confronting many European crypto businesses. Austria did not extend “grandfathering” provisions for virtual asset service providers beyond Dec. 31, 2025, according to information referenced in comments provided to Cointelegraph by the Financial Market Authority. As a result, Austria has become one of the earlier EU jurisdictions to fully shift operating models to MiCA.

MiCA’s transition rules are pivotal for compliance departments because they determine which firms can lawfully continue serving customers and under what conditions. For exchanges and other regulated service providers, the end of grandfathering increases the operational consequences of delayed approvals—especially where customer onboarding, marketing claims, and service delivery are tied to licensing status.

According to the Financial Market Authority’s previously provided comments cited in the coverage, the regulator has licensed nine crypto-asset service providers under MiCA and characterized application volume as “significant.” This suggests a relatively active supervisory pipeline, but it also signals that authorization throughput may vary across regulators and categories of services.

Approaching July 1 deadline and enforcement posture

WhiteBIT’s approval arrives less than two weeks before the EU’s MiCA transition period expires on July 1. After that date, firms operating on legacy national registrations must either obtain MiCA authorization or stop serving clients within the EU/EEA.

The proximity of the deadline has intensified scrutiny on exchanges that have not yet secured authorization. Reuters has reported that Greece’s market regulator was preparing to reject Binance’s MiCA application. Separately, reporting referenced that France may represent a remaining route for certain exchanges seeking authorization before the deadline.

The compliance significance of these developments is not limited to licensing outcomes. Where authorizations are rejected or delayed, firms may face operational constraints affecting custody arrangements, marketing and advertising practices, and customer support processes. For institutional stakeholders, this increases the need to validate counterparties’ regulatory status and to assess the continuity of access to services during wind-down scenarios.

In its reporting shared with Cointelegraph, OKX Europe suggested the transition could affect a meaningful portion of European activity. The company pointed to data indicating that approximately 7.6 million of 18.5 million crypto app downloads in Europe between May 2025 and May 2026 were linked to exchanges not listed on public MiCA authorization registers. While download data is not a direct proxy for user balances or revenue, it can provide a directional sense of where operational risk may concentrate as firms transition away from legacy permissions.

ESMA guidance: wind-down and client migration plans

Beyond national regulators, EU-level oversight has been explicit about what unauthorized firms should do once transitional periods end. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) has stated that companies remaining unauthorized after July 1 should implement wind-down and client migration plans rather than continue operating while applications are under review.

This guidance is particularly relevant for compliance monitoring because it frames expected conduct after the regulatory line is crossed. Wind-down planning typically requires firms to consider customer asset handling, disclosure obligations, operational timelines, and coordination with service providers responsible for order handling, custody, and payment-related workflows.

For institutions assessing risk exposure to crypto service providers, ESMA’s posture supports a practical checklist: confirm whether the counterparty is on public MiCA authorization registers, understand the scope of authorized activities, and evaluate whether the firm has contingency plans that align with EU expectations for client migration rather than ongoing service delivery.

Closing perspective

WhiteBIT’s MiCA authorization illustrates how passporting under the EU framework is beginning to reshape the competitive and compliance landscape for European exchanges. As July 1 approaches, the key question for market participants is whether remaining applicants can obtain authorization or will shift toward ESMA-aligned wind-down and client migration. The next phase will likely hinge on supervisory capacity across member states and the clarity of operational requirements for firms transitioning under the end-of-transitional timeline.

TLDR

• BlackBerry shares declined after reaching a 52-week peak of $10.93, with the retreat viewed as profit-taking following overbought conditions
• First quarter fiscal 2027 results scheduled for pre-market release on June 25, with Wall Street forecasting $0.03 earnings per share on $137.7M revenue
• Previous quarter exceeded projections with $0.06 EPS compared to $0.04 estimate and $157.96M revenue, marking 10.1% annual growth
• Street consensus stands at Hold with $5.73 average target; CIBC upgraded to Outperform with $10.00 price objective
• Chief executive and senior vice president liquidated shares in early April at $3.56; insider transactions totaled 73,171 shares valued at approximately $260K over three months

Shares of BlackBerry (BB) began Thursday’s session at $8.84, declining approximately 3.6% as investors took profits following an aggressive advance that carried the stock to its 52-week peak of $10.93. The security has surged 133% since the beginning of the year.

BlackBerry Limited, BB

The decline doesn’t seem connected to unfavorable corporate developments. Market observers attribute the move to a classic technical pullback after an extended rally drove BB into overbought conditions.

Attention is shifting toward the upcoming quarterly report. BlackBerry plans to release first quarter fiscal 2027 financial results before Thursday’s opening bell on June 25. The earnings conference call is slated for 8:00 AM Eastern Time.

Analysts project earnings of $0.03 per share on sales of $137.65 million for the period. This represents a decline from the previous quarter’s impressive performance.

The company’s latest quarterly results, disclosed on April 9, significantly exceeded forecasts. BlackBerry delivered $0.06 per share versus the Street’s $0.04 projection and revenue totaling $157.96 million compared to anticipated $144.27 million — representing a 10.1% increase from the prior year period.

For the complete fiscal year 2027, executives have provided earnings guidance ranging from $0.15 to $0.19 per share. The first quarter outlook calls for $0.02 to $0.03 EPS.

Analyst Targets Show Wide Dispersion

The research community remains fragmented on BB. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce has emerged as the most bullish, elevating its price objective from $8.50 to $10.00 recently while assigning an Outperform rating.

This stance contrasts sharply with other coverage. Canaccord Genuity reduced its target from $4.60 to $4.40 in April while maintaining a Hold recommendation. Royal Bank of Canada kept a Sector Perform rating with a $4.50 objective. Weiss Ratings lowered BB marginally to Hold (C-) on June 4.

The Street consensus reflects a Hold rating with a mean price target of $5.73 — significantly beneath current trading levels.

Insider Transactions Show April Sales Activity

Chief Executive John Giamatteo divested 27,066 shares on April 2 at a price of $3.56 each, trimming his holdings by 2.92%. Senior Vice President Jennifer Armstrong-Owen sold 29,908 shares on April 4 at the identical price point, decreasing her stake by 23.96%.

Total insider dispositions during the trailing 90-day period reached 73,171 shares with an aggregate value near $260,000. Company insiders currently maintain just 0.51% ownership.

Among institutional investors, Creative Planning boosted its holdings by 87.5% during Q2, while multiple funds including Scientech Research and Man Group established fresh positions.

The equity’s 50-day moving average stands at $6.76 with its 200-day average at $4.77 — both substantially beneath the present price, highlighting the velocity of BB’s year-to-date appreciation.

BB trades at a price-to-earnings multiple of 110.50, exhibits a beta of 2.29, and maintains a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. The trailing 12-month low registered at $3.12.

The upcoming June 25 earnings announcement represents the next significant event, where management’s Q1 projection of $0.02–$0.03 EPS will face comparison against reported outcomes.

A security incident led to the loss of about $4.7 million worth of assets on the Axelar cross-chain interoperability protocol, which has since shut down its bridge functionality with the Secret Network.

Exploit Traced to Secret Network’s ICS-20 Smart Contract

The hacker exploited assets being moved from the Axelar network to the Secret network via the Cosmos IBC (Inter-Blockchain Communication) protocol, according to Axelar. Initial findings indicate that the vulnerability was not in Axelar’s core infrastructure, but instead in the Secret-side ICS-20 smart contract that is managing IBC transfers between the two networks.

For the incident, Axelar’s emergency committee closed down the connections of the Secret and Secret-SNIP bridge to prevent further losses and contain the attack. The protocol also confirmed that it has engaged relevant cryptocurrency exchanges and relevant authorities in its investigation.

The Secret Network is a blockchain that supports privacy and allows data associated with transactions to be encrypted, but not lose the ability to verify on-chain execution of smart contracts. The network has been used to create private cross-chain applications, such as confidential decentralized finance (DeFi) services, privacy-preserving NFT transactions, and anonymous governance mechanisms, among other applications.

Axelar Says Exploit Was Limited to Bridged Assets

According to Axelar, the attack seems to be confined to funds that were transferred to the Secret Network from the Axelar network. There is no evidence so far that any Secret-native assets have been compromised, nor any other IBC connections, nor any additional Axelar integrations, the company said.

The protocol stressed that its wide network was not compromised during the event. The issue is thought to be limited to the Secret-side contract that handles inbound transfers to the Secret ecosystem from Axelar.

Bridge routes in the affected area will continue to be closed until the attack vector has been investigated in detail and the extent of the damage assessed. Once it has finished its investigation, Axelar will be publishing a detailed post-mortem report, the company said.

The attack is part of a number of recent security incidents targeting cryptocurrency infrastructure projects in the past few weeks.

Earlier this month, Humanity Protocol announced its recovery efforts after it suffered an exploit on June 8, which prompted the project to withdraw its original H token from Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Humanity Mainnet. Those affected will be able to receive a replacement token in the form of an “airdrop” based on a new and audited ERC-20 contract deployed on the Ethereum network, the company stated.

Humanity Protocol said the attack occurred due to stolen credentials and noted that there was no breach to the token contracts, bridge infrastructure, or Safe wallet setup.

Binance Research Highlights Growing Security Pressures

Other operational implications have resulted from security incidents. This week, crypto payments platform Pyra announced that it would end its operations after it decided that it could not recover from the losses it suffered due to the Drift exploit.

In this context, Axelar’s attention is now on finding out how the attack was carried out and how to limit the spread of the Secret Network exploit. As of now, the company said, there is no evidence that other parts of the Axelar ecosystem were affected.

The latest hack follows a series of other attacks on DeFi that have been driven by increasing security concerns. Binance Research recently estimated that the amount of funds stolen through DeFi exploits across the sector during April resulted in nearly $13 billion of total value locked (TVL) outflows in the sector.

The on-chain leverage ratio also increased to approximately 38%, which is around the same time since the 2021 downturn, when TVL started to contract more than borrowing.

Market participants will be keenly observing Axelar as investigations proceed to see if the company will provide a final verdict and take any action to enhance the security of cross-chain infrastructure.

Key Takeaways

• FedEx will announce Q4 fiscal 2026 results after trading ends on June 23
• Analyst consensus calls for earnings per share of $5.96 alongside $24.04 billion in sales
• Shares of FDX have surged approximately 40% since January, hovering near record territory
• The recently finalized FedEx Freight separation on June 1 remains a central discussion topic
• Morgan Stanley reduced its valuation target to $160 amid concerns over profit margins

FedEx (FDX) is preparing to unveil its fourth-quarter fiscal 2026 financial results after the closing bell on June 23, drawing significant investor attention.

FedEx Corporation, FDX

Shares of FDX have climbed roughly 40% throughout the current year, approaching all-time peak levels. According to the TipRanks Options Tool, market participants are anticipating a potential swing of approximately 7.73% in either direction once earnings are released.

Analyst projections point to earnings per share of $5.96, representing growth from the $4.89 reported during the comparable quarter last year. Revenue forecasts stand at $24.04 billion, up from $22.2 billion recorded in the prior-year period.

Zacks Investment Research presents slightly varying figures — projecting $5.91 per share and $24.18 billion in revenue — though the overall trajectory aligns. The Zacks earnings projection has been adjusted upward by 1.9% during the previous 60-day window.

The Earnings ESP registers at +3.76%, while the Most Accurate Estimate reaches $6.13 — exceeding consensus by 22 cents. This pairing of a Zacks Rank #3 alongside a positive Earnings ESP suggests strong probability of an earnings surprise.

Freight Division Separation Takes Spotlight

The headline development preceding this earnings announcement is the finalized separation of FedEx Freight, which commenced independent public trading on June 1. Company leadership is anticipated to discuss the division during the conference call, though Morgan Stanley analyst Ravi Shanker highlighted that comprehensive standalone transparency for both the Parcel and Freight operations won’t materialize until late October as regulatory filings unfold progressively.

This ambiguity contributes to Shanker’s decision to trim his price objective to $160 from a previous $230. His outlook anticipates Q4 operating income and earnings per share falling somewhat short of Street expectations as margin challenges continue overshadowing what he characterizes as consistent revenue performance.

However, not all analysts share this conservative stance. On TipRanks, FDX maintains a Strong Buy consensus rating derived from 17 Buy recommendations, 3 Hold positions, and 1 Sell rating. The average price objective stands at $412.45, suggesting approximately 26% appreciation potential. The most bullish forecast reaches $479.

Efficiency Initiatives and Technology Innovation Power Momentum

Much of FDX’s impressive year-to-date performance stems from strategic internal transformations rather than favorable macroeconomic conditions. The DRIVE efficiency program — encompassing reduced flight schedules, grounded fleet capacity, and headcount optimization — has served as the primary catalyst.

Artificial intelligence has emerged as another contributing factor, with FedEx deploying machine learning to enhance route optimization, strengthen capacity forecasting, and reduce operational expenses.

The logistics giant has simultaneously prioritized high-margin business-to-business and direct-to-consumer shipments, particularly within the healthcare sector, to bolster profitability.

One development likely to surface during the earnings discussion is FedEx’s extended partnership with Amazon, established last year, through which FedEx manages delivery services for specific bulky items. This agreement materialized shortly after competitor UPS announced plans to scale back its Amazon-related volume.

Looking at the complete fiscal 2026 outlook, Zacks consensus projections indicate $19.78 in earnings per share, reflecting 8.7% year-over-year expansion, while revenue is anticipated to advance 6.6%.

FDX currently trades at an attractive valuation compared to both industry peers and UPS on a forward Price/Sales metric, earning a Value Score of B.

WhiteBIT has received authorization under the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) from Austria’s Financial Market Authority, enabling the exchange to provide regulated crypto services across the European Economic Area using a single authorization passport. The approval comes as firms across Europe race to align with MiCA ahead of the bloc’s key transition deadline.

Under MiCA, a crypto-asset service provider authorized in one EU member state can offer services across the EEA without having to obtain separate licenses in each jurisdiction. WhiteBIT said the authorization will support the launch of a dedicated European platform, whitebit.eu.

Key takeaways

• WhiteBIT’s MiCA authorization from Austria allows cross-EEA service “passporting” without separate local licensing.
• MiCA’s transitional period ends on July 1, after which legacy registrations must either obtain MiCA authorization or stop serving clients in the bloc.
• ESMA says firms still unauthorized after July 1 should move to wind-down and client migration plans, rather than continue operations while applications are pending.
• OKX Europe data cited by Cointelegraph suggests millions of app downloads in Europe may be tied to exchanges not listed on public MiCA authorization registers.

Why WhiteBIT’s authorization matters for Europe’s exchanges

For crypto businesses operating in multiple European jurisdictions, MiCA is designed to standardize licensing and reduce regulatory fragmentation. WhiteBIT’s approval from Austria’s regulator is therefore not only a compliance milestone, but also a commercial lever: the company can expand service availability across the EEA through passporting, provided it adheres to the MiCA framework.

WhiteBIT is part of W Group, which the exchange says serves more than 35 million customers globally. Founded in 2018, WhiteBIT has also highlighted partnerships with major brands and sports organizations, including Visa and football clubs such as FC Barcelona and Juventus, as well as Ukraine’s national football team.

Austria’s stance and the looming end of transitional coverage

The timing of WhiteBIT’s approval is notable because Austria is described as having moved quickly to fully transition to MiCA. The country did not extend “grandfathering” provisions for virtual asset service providers beyond Dec. 31, 2025, making it one of the first EU jurisdictions to complete the shift into the MiCA regime.

According to comments previously provided to Cointelegraph by Austria’s Financial Market Authority, the regulator has licensed nine crypto-asset service providers under MiCA. The same source characterized the application pipeline as “significant.” For market participants, that suggests both regulatory capacity and a steady pace of licensing—factors that become increasingly important as the July 1 deadline approaches.

July 1 deadline increases pressure on exchanges without MiCA status

The authorization arrives with less than two weeks remaining before the EU’s MiCA transition period ends on July 1. After that date, crypto-asset service providers operating solely under legacy national registrations must either secure MiCA authorization or cease serving clients in the EU.

This deadline has intensified regulatory and operational scrutiny across Europe. Earlier this week, Reuters reported that Greece’s market regulator was preparing to reject Binance’s MiCA application. Separately, The Big Whale said France may be Binance’s last remaining potential route to a MiCA license before the deadline.

In this environment, WhiteBIT’s move provides a concrete example of what “getting licensed in time” can unlock: cross-border operations backed by a MiCA authorization rather than temporary or legacy arrangements.

What regulators want after the deadline: wind-down and migration

Beyond individual licensing decisions, EU regulators are also addressing what happens when companies miss the transition window. In an ESMA statement on the end of transitional periods under MiCA, ESMA indicated that firms remaining unauthorized after July 1 should implement wind-down and client migration plans rather than continue operating while applications are under review.

This guidance is significant for investors and users because it frames the compliance approach for late applicants: the expected path is orderly exit and client transition, not indefinite continuation under regulatory limbo. For exchanges, it also increases the urgency of operational planning—contract renewals, onboarding processes, custody arrangements, and user communications may all need rapid adjustment if authorization timelines slip.

Cointelegraph reported data shared by OKX Europe suggesting that the MiCA transition could affect a meaningful share of European crypto activity. According to that data, roughly 7.6 million of the 18.5 million crypto app downloads recorded in Europe between May 2025 and May 2026 were associated with exchanges not listed on public MiCA authorization registers.

While the metric reflects downloads rather than trading volume, it nevertheless points to a potential gap between user access and regulatory status. In practice, a large installed base tied to exchanges that have not been authorized could face restrictions, changes in service availability, or forced migration depending on each firm’s licensing outcome.

What to watch next across the EU

As July 1 approaches, the most important signal for the market will be whether additional exchanges secure MiCA authorization quickly enough to avoid triggering ESMA’s wind-down expectations. For users, the practical question is whether services remain available uninterrupted through the transition, and for investors, whether authorization progress (or delays) leads to sharper regulatory consolidation and operational churn across European platforms.