Mike Cagney has been here before, just not with blockchain.

In the early 2010s, he helped reshape consumer lending with SoFi by connecting borrowers directly with capital. Now, at Figure Technology Solutions (FIGR), he said he’s trying to do something similar on a much larger scale: rebuild the infrastructure of credit markets themselves.

The plan may be working. Figure crossed $1 billion in monthly loan originations for the first time in March, part of a $2.9 billion first quarter that puts the firm on roughly $12 billion in annualized volume.

Cagney, who is speaking at Consensus Miami conference next week, told CoinDesk that the goal is to build new plumbing for these markets.

“We’re building a marketplace where credit can move efficiently, without all the traditional layers,” he said.

Three levers of value

Cagney broke Figure’s model into three core advantages.

The first is cost. Tokenizing loans reduces the friction and expense of securitization, cutting out intermediaries that have historically taken significant fees.

The second is liquidity. Figure has built what it describes as one of the only continuously updating marketplaces for consumer credit outside of government-backed mortgage systems like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

“The loans update in real time, which creates a different kind of market,” Cagney said.

The third is access. By bringing these assets onchain, Figure can plug them into decentralized finance (DeFi), allowing a broader range of investors to gain exposure, or borrow against them.

That’s where the model starts to blur the line between traditional finance and crypto, Cagney said.

Figure’s latest push is into what Cagney calls “democratized prime,” essentially opening up prime brokerage-style lending to a wider audience.

Through products like its Forge platform, loans are pooled into standardized vaults and converted into tokens that can be used as collateral in DeFi protocols. That standardization is key.

“DeFi only works if the collateral is liquid and transparent,” he said.

Figure has launched related initiatives on networks like Solana, with plans to expand to Ethereum, allowing users to invest in tokenized credit pools or borrow against them.

The company is also experimenting beyond loans.

It has introduced a yield-bearing stablecoin, YLDS, backed by traditional assets like Treasurys, with roughly $600 million in balances, and is exploring tokenized equities, issuing its own stock onchain in a way that allows investors to lend against it directly.

Cagney pointed to a stark inefficiency in traditional markets. Stock lending can carry borrow rates of 30% or more, while investors often receive only a fraction of that yield.

“We can put that value back in the hands of the asset owner,” he said.

Pragmatic blockchain

For all the ambition, Cagney is quick to draw boundaries.

Not everything belongs onchain, he said. Tokenizing property itself, for instance, may not be an efficient use of capital. But financial abstraction, meaning loans, securities and equity are a different story.

That pragmatism reflects a broader critique of the crypto industry, which he said has often chased ideas without clear economic grounding.

“A lot of things were done just for the sake of it,” he said. “What matters is, does this actually improve the system?”

Figure’s growth suggests, at least in one corner of the market, the answer may be yes. The company is profitable, scaling, and approaching $30 billion in cumulative originations. That’s still small relative to traditional finance, but it’s large enough to be noticed.

Cagney said he sees much more room to run.

“Blockchain is the most transformative technology, and it will reallocate more public market cap than any technology ever has,” he said. “There are whole industries that are going to disappear when it becomes ubiquitous. Someone has to do the work to get there, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”

Read more: Private credit may be the breakout use case for tokenization: Maple’s Sidney Powell

TLDR:

• Algorand uses Falcon signatures, a lattice-based system designed to resist future quantum computing attacks on blockchain networks.
  
• Google, Coinbase, and IEEE have each recognized Algorand’s post-quantum security framework as a leading solution in the DLT space.
  
• Quantum algorithms like Shor’s could expose private keys on ECC-based blockchains, putting wallets and transactions at serious risk.
  
• Most blockchains will require hard forks and wallet migrations to become quantum-safe, while Algorand’s infrastructure is already prepared.

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As quantum technology advances, concerns over its potential to break existing cryptographic systems are growing across the blockchain industry.

Algorand has emerged as a leading distributed ledger technology (DLT) recognized for its post-quantum security approach.

Major names, including Google, Coinbase, and the IEEE, have acknowledged the network’s capabilities in this space.

Developers have been actively addressing quantum risks for some time, and attention around their efforts has grown considerably.

Algorand’s Falcon Signatures Set It Apart From Other Blockchains

Most blockchains today rely on elliptic curve cryptography, commonly known as ECC. This system secures wallets, transactions, and digital signatures across the crypto space.

The core assumption behind ECC is that deriving a private key from a public key is computationally impossible. However, quantum computing challenges that assumption directly.

Quantum algorithms, particularly Shor’s algorithm, could theoretically extract private keys from public keys. This creates serious risks for blockchain networks that have not updated their cryptographic foundations.

Wallets could become vulnerable, transactions could be forged, and signature systems could be compromised entirely.

Algorand has already integrated post-quantum cryptography into its design to address these threats. The network uses Falcon signatures, which are lattice-based cryptographic systems built to resist quantum attacks.

This makes Algorand’s security framework relevant not just today but in a future where quantum computing is widely available.

As @theweb3alert noted on X, Algorand “isn’t just secure for today… It’s being built to remain secure in a post-quantum world.” That forward-looking design separates it from many competing networks currently operating on older cryptographic standards.

Industry Recognition Grows as Quantum Computing Advances

The involvement of Chris Peikert, a world-leading quantum security researcher, in the Algorand ecosystem signals the project’s seriousness in this field.

His contributions helped lay an early technical foundation for the network’s quantum-resistant architecture. That foundation is now drawing broader attention from major industry players.

Google, Coinbase, and IEEE are not minor voices in the technology world. Their recognition of Algorand’s quantum security work carries real weight across both the crypto and broader tech industries. These acknowledgments come as quantum computing moves closer to practical, real-world use.

Most competing blockchains will eventually need to upgrade their cryptography, migrate wallets, and potentially execute hard forks to remain secure.

These processes carry technical risk and can disrupt network activity significantly. Algorand, however, has already built quantum resistance into its existing infrastructure.

The broader blockchain industry is still catching up to the reality that quantum computing poses a genuine threat to current security models. Algorand’s proactive approach puts the network in a strong technical position ahead of that shift.

 

TLDR:

• TAO broke above the $288.1 Fibonacci level on the daily chart for the first time since March 2026.
  
• Volume hit 23.57K TAO on the breakout day, exceeding recent consolidation averages by a notable margin.
  
• The 200-day MA at $272.4 has shifted from overhead resistance to a rising support floor below price.
  
• The measured upside target sits at $348.7, representing approximately a 21% move from current price levels.

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Bittensor (TAO) is drawing attention after breaking a critical price level not seen since March. The asset closed above $288.1 on the daily chart, a level tied to the 0.382 Fibonacci retracement.

Volume on the daily timeframe came in at 23.57K TAO, above recent consolidation averages. The 200-day moving average sits at $272.4, now acting as rising support below price.

TAO Forms Textbook Base After Three-Month Decline

TAO peaked at $377 in November 2024 before entering a controlled downtrend. The asset found its floor at $143 in early February 2026.

That bottom aligned closely with the 0.618 Fibonacci extension from the prior bull cycle. The depth and structure of that base drew attention from technically focused traders.

From $143, price bounced sharply back toward the $377 region within weeks. It then pulled back into a consolidation range between $232 and $288.

That range held for roughly six weeks, forming a pattern of higher lows throughout. The structure is consistent with a base-building phase before a directional move.

Crypto analyst @2xnmore noted the setup on social media, stating: “$TAO just broke a level on the daily chart that has not been touched since March. Most people have not noticed yet.”

The post outlined a full technical breakdown across both the 4-hour and daily timeframes. The analyst pointed to the Fibonacci base, 200-day MA reclaim, and volume confirmation.

The 200-day moving average shifted from overhead resistance to a rising floor over the past two weeks. Price held above it consistently during that period. That transition is often a key structural signal for trend continuation.

Daily Close and Volume Drive Technical Case for TAO

The 4-hour chart confirmed the $288.1 break earlier in the session. However, the daily candle carries more weight for institutional participants.

Fund managers and systematic strategies typically track daily closes over intraday timeframes. A confirmed close above $288.1 brings a broader buyer profile into the asset.

Volume confirmation separates a genuine breakout from a false one. The 23.57K TAO recorded on the daily exceeded recent consolidation averages by a meaningful margin.

That activity aligned directly with the price break, adding credibility to the move. Traders watch for exactly this combination before positioning.

From current levels near $288.5, the next key test sits at $300. That level carries psychological weight and may produce resistance or shakeout attempts.

Beyond that, $348.7 represents the 0.618 retracement of the full $143 to $377 swing. That target reflects a roughly 21% move from current price.

The level to watch on the downside is $288.1, which must hold on any daily retest. A daily close below it resets the setup. The $272.4 200-day MA remains the last critical level bulls must defend on a weekly close.

Coinbase says Senate negotiators have reached a deal on a disputed crypto bill provision tied to stablecoin rewards. 

The agreement could help the CLARITY Act move toward a Senate markup after months of delay.

According to a Reuters report, the debate centered on whether crypto firms and stablecoin issuers should offer rewards to customers. Banks opposed the provision because they said yield-style rewards could pull deposits away from traditional lenders.

Crypto companies argued that they need room to reward users for real platform activity. Coinbase said the new language protects that ability while adding more limits around rewards that look like bank interest.

Coinbase Chief Policy Officer Faryar Shirzad said, “In the end, the banks were able to get more restrictions on rewards, but we protected what matters.” He added that crypto platforms kept the ability for Americans to earn rewards based on real usage of crypto platforms and networks.

Banks win limits on deposit-like yield

The compromise was negotiated by Senators Thom Tillis and Angela Alsobrooks, according to reports. The language would ban rewards offered in a way that is economically or functionally equal to interest or yield on a bank deposit.

That wording gives banks part of what they sought. It prevents crypto firms from offering rewards that closely mirror savings account interest, while leaving room for activity-based rewards.

The deal also asks regulators to create rules on stablecoin disclosures and define which reward activities remain allowed. That step may decide how exchanges, stablecoin issuers, and payment firms design reward programs.

CLARITY Act may return to markup

The agreement could clear a path for the CLARITY Act to move forward in the Senate. The bill aims to create clearer U.S. rules for digital assets and define how federal agencies oversee crypto markets.

Crypto.news reported that the Senate Banking Committee is targeting a markup during the week of May 11. The SEC has also scheduled a May roundtable tied to the CLARITY Act and digital asset market structure.

The roundtable follows earlier SEC and CFTC work on digital asset taxonomy. Crypto.news reported that the agencies had named 16 digital assets as commodities in a framework that the CLARITY Act could turn into federal law.

The rewards deal removes one barrier, but the bill still faces political tests. Some Democrats have raised concerns about crypto conflicts tied to the Trump family, while other lawmakers remain focused on law enforcement and consumer protection issues.

Nobitex, Iran’s biggest crypto exchange, was founded by two brothers from one of the Islamic Republic’s most influential families with ties to the supreme leaders, according to a Reuters investigation.

The exchange, which now accounts for the majority share of Iran’s crypto activity, was launched by Ali and Mohammad Kharrazi. The duo operated under the alternative surname “Aghamir,” which they used across corporate records and professional life, masking links to the Kharrazi dynasty, according to the report.

The Kharrazi family has long occupied positions close to the country’s leadership, with ties spanning generations of power, including links to Ali Khamenei and his successor Mojtaba Khamenei.

Ali and Mohammad’s grandfather reportedly served on the Assembly of Experts, the body responsible for appointing Iran’s supreme leader, and once tutored Mojtaba Khamenei. Their father, Ayatollah Bagher Kharrazi, founded an Iranian political group named Hezbollah and was involved in early staffing of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps following the 1979 revolution, per the report.

Related: Iran is Weighing Crypto Tolls for Ships using Strait of Hormuz: Report

Nobitex remains operational even during war times

Nobitex, which reportedly serves over 11 million customers, has remained operational throughout the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel, even during a nationwide internet blackout. Analysts told Reuters that more than $100 million in transactions were processed during the war, with significant outflows moving abroad.

At the same time, investigators cited by Reuters say the platform has processed transactions linked to sanctioned entities. However, estimates vary. Analytics firm Elliptic identified roughly $366 million in suspect flows, while Chainalysis placed the figure closer to $68 million and Crystal Intelligence identified about $22 million in direct transfers from sanctioned wallets.

Separate findings indicate wallets associated with Iran’s central bank sent hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of cryptocurrency to Nobitex in 2025, part of a broader strategy to bypass financial restrictions. A dispute involving businessman Babak Zanjani also exposed wallet addresses that analysts say revealed at least $20 million in routed state funds.

The post by Babak Zanjani, an Iranian billionaire convicted of fraud, criticises the Central Bank of Iran. Source: Reuters

Nobitex has reportedly denied any government affiliation, claiming that illicit transactions represent a small share of overall activity.

Related: Iran views BTC as strategic asset, but USDt still dominates oil tolls: BPI

US seizes $500 million in Iranian crypto

As Cointelegraph reported, the US has seized nearly $500 million in cryptocurrency linked to Iran, significantly expanding its financial crackdown under a campaign known as Operation Economic Fury.

The latest figure marks a sharp increase from previously disclosed totals, including $344 million in frozen digital assets, with stablecoin issuer Tether assisting in freezing funds.

Magazine: Will the CLARITY Act be good — or bad — for DeFi?

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.

Bitcoin failed to hold its weekend move near $79,000 as traders weighed the latest FOMC decision, U.S.-Iran tension, and mixed altcoin action. 

The wider crypto market stayed calm, while XRP held near $1.39 and Algorand led daily gains.

Bitcoin traded near $78,402 after touching an intraday high of $78,963, according to live market data. The asset held above its intraday low of $78,081, showing limited selling after the rejected breakout.

The move kept BTC close to a key resistance area. Market data from crypto.news showed the global crypto market cap at $2.69 trillion, with Bitcoin dominance near 58.5%.

FOMC decision keeps traders cautious

The latest price action followed the Federal Reserve’s April 29 FOMC meeting. The Fed kept interest rates unchanged at 3.5% to 3.75%, while officials remained split on future policy language.

Bitcoin moved sharply around the decision before returning near $78,000. The unchanged rate decision reduced one source of market stress, but uncertainty over future cuts kept traders cautious.

Geopolitical tension also remained a key market driver. Reports said Iran sent a revised peace proposal to the U.S., while Washington continued to review the terms.

Bitcoin had recovered from earlier weakness as peace hopes improved risk appetite. However, Trump’s skeptical tone toward Iran’s proposal limited follow-through and kept traders alert to fresh headlines.

XRP holds range as Ethereum stays firm

XRP traded near $1.39 with about $1.15 billion in 24-hour volume, according to crypto.news data. The token stayed almost flat on the day, leaving traders focused on the $1.35 support and $1.45 resistance area.

A break above $1.45 could open a move toward $1.82, while a fall below $1.35 could expose the $1.00 area, “depending on the bigger trend direction.”

Ethereum traded near $2,312 after holding above the $2,300 level. Its intraday range stayed narrow, with a high near $2,334 and a low near $2,298.

Algorand leads altcoin gainers

Algorand stood out among major altcoins. ALGO traded near $0.117 after rising about 9% on the day, based on live market data.

Most other large-cap tokens moved within tight ranges. That kept Bitcoin in control of the wider market direction as traders waited for a clear break above $79,000 or renewed weakness below nearby support.

New York’s top prosecutor has secured a settlement with Uphold over the platform’s promotion of a crypto-backed savings product, CredEarn. The agreement centers on allegations that Uphold marketed CredEarn as a safe, reliable vehicle for interest-bearing returns while omitting material details about how those returns were generated and whether appropriate regulatory protections applied. The settlement requires Uphold to compensate affected users and imposes ongoing obligations as part of the state’s broader push to police crypto-related promotions.

The inquiry focused on CredEarn, a product offered by Cred, LLC and its chief executive, Daniel Schatt. Between January 2019 and October 2020, Uphold marketed CredEarn to users on its platform and mobile app as a dependable savings option with attractive annual yields. However, the attorney general’s office contends Uphold did not disclose that CredEarn’s returns were funded by microloans extended to low-income video game players in China—borrowers with little to no credit history and limited access to traditional financial services. In essence, the advertised safety and reliability were portrayed without the full picture of the underlying risk and credit structure.

The investigation concluded that Uphold’s promotion included a claim of “comprehensive insurance” backing CredEarn, a representation the AG’s office found to be false. There was no such insurance coverage protecting retail investors from digital asset losses at the time. In addition, Uphold operated without the required broker-dealer or commodity broker-dealer registrations, raising compliance concerns beyond misrepresentation.

Key takeaways

• Uphold must pay $5 million directly to affected CredEarn customers, a sum that exceeds five times the fees Uphold earned from promoting the product.
• Any funds recovered by Uphold from Cred’s ongoing bankruptcy proceedings (Cred, LLC was owed roughly $545,189 in those proceedings) will be redistributed to harmed investors.
• The case highlights the risk of yield-generating crypto promotions and the importance of clear disclosures and proper regulatory registration for platforms offering investment-like products.
• New York’s actions reflect a broader regulatory mood toward crypto marketing, aligning state-level oversight with federal scrutiny in related areas.
• Investors and platform users should watch how restitution is distributed and what reforms Uphold must implement to prevent similar misrepresentations in the future.

CredEarn, the lending model, and Uphold’s obligation

CredEarn was positioned as a straightforward savings option within Uphold’s ecosystem, but the arrangement depended on a lending model that connected CredEarn to microloans manufactured for Chinese borrowers described as low-income and lacking robust credit histories. The model, according to the attorney general’s findings, generated the advertised yields by channeling funds into these microloans rather than through stable, clearly insured products. This structure raised questions about risk transparency for retail customers who relied on Uphold’s assurances of safety and legitimate insurance coverage.

Cred’s financial trajectory worsened as the lending practices produced losses starting in March 2020. Within eight months, Cred filed for bankruptcy, leaving thousands of Uphold users exposed to losses tied to the CredEarn arrangement. The settlement’s framework directs Uphold to compensate affected customers directly, while any recovery from Cred’s bankruptcy estate will be funneled to harmed investors. Customers affected by the scheme will receive email notice when restitution funds arrive, underscoring the administration’s emphasis on direct remediation for those who trusted the platform’s marketing.

Regulatory context and market implications

The New York action arrives amid a broader pattern of regulatory activity aimed at crypto platforms that offer investment-like incentives or promising yields. In a related development, New York pursued separate litigation against Coinbase and Gemini over the legality of prediction-market-like offerings under state gambling laws. In parallel, the U.S. Commodities Futures Trading Commission has challenged New York’s stance on certain crypto-market activities, arguing that federal law reserves authority over prediction markets. The convergence of these actions signals heightened scrutiny of how crypto products are marketed, registered, and regulated at both state and federal levels.

For investors and crypto users, the Uphold settlement reinforces several practical takeaways. First, even products marketed with the veneer of safety may carry complex credit and liquidity risks that are not always transparently disclosed. Second, the absence of proper broker-dealer registration can complicate accountability and recourse. Third, when a platform assists in marketing a product tied to external lending arrangements, it bears responsibility for ensuring that claims about insurance or other protections are accurate. Lastly, the evolving regulatory landscape means future settlements and enforcement actions could redefine how crypto platforms structure and disclose investment-like offerings.

As Cred’s bankruptcy proceedings continue to unwind and restitution channels take shape, readers should monitor how the distribution of funds unfolds and what new compliance standards Uphold and similar platforms adopt going forward. The case also underscores the ongoing tension between rapid product innovation in crypto and the safeguards that traditional financial markets rely on to protect retail investors.

What remains uncertain is how broadly regulators will apply these precedents to other marketing campaigns across crypto platforms and whether additional settlements or enforcement actions will compel deeper changes in product design, disclosure practices, and registration requirements. Traders, users, and builders should stay attentive to regulatory updates and the evolving frameworks that will shape the availability and credibility of crypto-based yield products in the months ahead.

Source: New York Attorney General’s office. For context, the AG’s announcement and related materials are available via the agency’s press release and social channels, including coverage of the case. Source: NY AG James Twitter post.

Bitcoin gained 12.7% in April and is now pushing toward the $80,000 resistance level for the second time in a week, marking its strongest monthly performance since April 2025. The cryptocurrency news cycle is turning bullish because the market cap climbed 2.2% to $2.68 trillion while tech stocks set all time highs.

Institutional capital keeps flowing in through spot Bitcoin ETFs. Pepeto is drawing conviction of its own after crossing $9.7 million in presale capital ahead of its Binance listing.

CNBC reported that Bitcoin gained 12.7% in April, registering back to back monthly gains for the first time since early 2025. On the same day, CoinDesk confirmed BTC broke above $78,700 as oil prices dropped on renewed Iran talks.

The cryptocurrency news flow shows the $80,000 level as the key barrier that could unlock the next leg higher, and a clean break above it would put many recent buyers back in profit.

Cryptocurrency News: Pepeto, SOL, and ADA Compared

Pepeto

The cryptocurrency news keeps pointing to a market that is about to turn, and the question is which entry still carries the kind of math that a recovery trade in large caps cannot match. Pepeto answers that with a live marketplace that clears trades and flags risky contracts before the listing brings the crowd.

Pepeto channels token flow from different chains into one zero commission trading network where fees never touch any position. PepetoSwap removes all fees from every trade, so every dollar entering a trade is the same dollar leaving it. The risk scorer scans every token contract before a position opens, flagging scam projects before they drain capital. A developer who built systems at Binance keeps the technical layer running at exchange grade.

SolidProof verified every contract behind these products, and the creator behind the first Pepe token locked the supply at the same 420 trillion that reached billions with the structure that hit billions with zero products behind it. This time a working exchange backs every token, and presale holders already use the full set of tools daily.

The presale crossed $9.7 million while the market showed the market stuck in fear, and capital flowing against that kind of sentiment is the clearest confirmation the market can give. The presale price of $0.0000001864 disappears the moment the Binance listing goes live.

Staking at 176% APY locks tokens and reduces what remains available ahead of listing day. Large caps target 2x over months while presale targets 100x from one listing event. That gap between a recovery trade and a presale return is what analysts project Pepeto can deliver.

Solana (SOL)

Solana sits at $84.09 on May 2, trading inside the $83 to $86 range according to CoinMarketCap. Visa is processing $7 billion in stablecoin settlements through the chain, and Changelly targets $109 for May.

But SOL at $84.09 caps upside at 2x to 3x in a best case, and the market data makes clear that the biggest multiplier sits at presale stage.

Cardano (ADA)

ADA trades near $0.25 as of May 2, down 92% from its all time high of $3.10 according to CoinMarketCap. Whales added 10 million ADA in 72 hours this week, but the price stayed flat.

Coinpedia projects ADA between $0.22 and $0.38 for May. ADA needs a 12x just to return to its peak, and from a $9 billion market cap the returns stay limited compared to presale entries.

Closing Thoughts

The BTC rally and April ETF inflows prove that institutional capital is back with force, and the cryptocurrency news is turning more bullish by the week. But the presale filling faster each stage proves the conviction inside Pepeto is real, and entering now means joining what the capital already confirmed.

Large caps target 2x over months, while the presale targets 100x from one listing event, and the pace of money flowing in during fear is the clearest signal available on the Pepeto official website.

The listing will deliver the returns for the wallets that entered, and watching from outside is the cost of waiting for a recovery that already started.

Click To Visit Pepeto Website To Enter The Presale

FAQ

What is the biggest cryptocurrency news this week?

The biggest cryptocurrency news is BTC gaining 12.7% in April and aiming at $80,000 while the market cap climbed to $2.68 trillion.

Is Pepeto the best presale to enter right now?

The Pepeto official website shows more than $9.7 million raised with live products and a Binance listing, which is why analysts see 100x potential.

Will the cryptocurrency news turn more bullish in 2026?

April ETF inflows hit $2.44 billion and BTC is testing key resistance, which signals institutional demand is growing and recovery is forming.

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Disclaimer: This is a Press Release provided by a third party who is responsible for the content. Please conduct your own research before taking any action based on the content.

Warren Buffett used the 2026 Berkshire Hathaway shareholder meeting to warn investors about rising speculation across markets. 

His remarks targeted short-term trading, risky bets, and the wider appetite for volatile assets, including crypto.

Buffett said market behavior has moved closer to gambling as more retail traders chase fast returns. He described the current mood as unusually aggressive compared with earlier cycles.

He said, “We’ve never had people in a more gambling mood than now.” His comment came as investors continue to trade crypto, meme stocks, and short-term options with high risk.

Buffett also compared markets to a place split between long-term investing and betting. He said, “The market always feels like a church with a casino attached.”

That line reflected his view that investors can choose between disciplined ownership and short-term wagers. He added that the casino side has become more attractive to many people.

One-day options draw sharp criticism

Buffett focused much of his warning on short-term options trading. He said one-day options carry little link to business value or long-term investing.

He stated, “If you’re buying one-day options or selling them, that is not speculating. That is gambling.” He added that buyers cannot clearly explain why they expect a one-day trade to work.

His comments follow years of growth in fast retail trading. Many traders now use mobile apps, online forums, and social media to react quickly to market moves.

Buffett did not say the entire market was broken. However, he warned that heavy speculation can push prices to levels that later appear unreasonable.

Crypto criticism fits Buffett’s old view

Buffett’s comments also matched his long-held criticism of Bitcoin and other digital assets. He has often argued that crypto does not produce cash flow like a business, farm, or rental property.

His latest remarks did not focus only on Bitcoin. Still, the warning applies to markets where traders buy mainly because they expect someone else to pay more later.

Crypto markets have often attracted both long-term holders and short-term speculators. Buffett’s view places digital assets closer to the speculative side of that divide.

For Bitcoin supporters, the argument remains different. They often describe Bitcoin as a scarce asset and a store of value. Buffett has not accepted that case.

Greg Abel leads Berkshire meeting

The 2026 meeting also marked a leadership change at Berkshire Hathaway. Greg Abel led the event as CEO after taking over from Buffett at the start of the year.

Abel discussed Berkshire’s major businesses, including rail and insurance. He also addressed artificial intelligence and said the company would not use AI just to follow a trend.

He said, “We’re not going to do AI for the sake of AI.” The comment showed Berkshire’s careful approach to new technology.

The meeting also included a tribute to Buffett. Abel honored him with a jersey display at the CHI Health Center, while a deepfake version of Buffett appeared during one question segment.