Bitcoin BTC$77,640.65 options worth roughly $6.25 billion are set to expire on Deribit on May 29, with positioning data pointing to $75,000 and $80,000 as the key levels to watch. The $75,000 strike carries the heaviest put concentration at $394 million in notional value, while $80,000 dominates on the call side with $532 million

The max-pain price, the level at which the largest number of contracts expire worthless sits at $75,000, just under 3% below where bitcoin currently trades at $77,250. With 43,184 call contracts versus 37,351 puts, the put/call ratio of 0.86 reflects a modestly bullish market, though bitcoin’s position above max pain means downward gravitational pull remains a real consideration.

However, the $82,000 strike is where the most attention is currently focused as of writing. Volume data shows the BTC 29MAY26 $82,000 call was the single most actively traded instrument on Thursday, with approximately 1,600 contracts ($126 million) changing hands, suggesting traders are positioning for a breakout higher rather than a retreat.

The total open interest across the expiry stands at 80,535 contracts, split between 43,184 calls and 37,351 puts.

Meanwhile, Deribit’s overall open interest has now reached $31.3 billion, overtaking BlackRock’s IBIT at $27 billion, according to checkonchain.

Key takeaways

• ZEC is up 12% in the last 24 hours, making it the second-best performer in the top 10.
• The coin could rally past the $700 mark in the near term. 

ZEC rallies as broader crypto market underperforms

ZEC, the native coin of the Zcash ecosystem, is up 12% in the last 24 hours, making it the second-best performer among the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market cap.

The rally allowed ZEC to hit the $692 mark earlier today, adding 26% to its market cap so far this week.

ZEC’s rally over the past few days comes as regulatory clarity for ZCash has improved following the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s announcement closing its investigation into the Zcash Foundation. 

The Zcash Foundation also reported holding approximately $36.7 million in liquid assets, mostly in ZEC, according to its Q1 update. Core technical development continues on the Zcash protocol despite organizational changes at the Electric Coin Company.

Zcash technical outlook: ZEC targets higher resistance levels above $700

The ZEC/USD 4-hour chart is extremely bullish as Zcash has only been outperformed by Hyperliquid over the last seven days. 

At press time, ZEC is trading at $655 after hitting the $692 level. The momentum indicators are extremely bullish, suggesting that the buyers are in full control. 

The RSI of 70 means that ZEC is now in the overbought region. The coin could undergo a correction, but the current momentum remains bullish. The MACD lines are also within the overbought territory.

If the rally continues, ZEC could extend its gains past $700 and hit the $745 resistance level for the first time since November. An extended rally would allow ZEC to target the $800 psychological level.

However, if the market undergoes a correction, ZEC could retest the $580 low created on Wednesday. 

Failure to defend this support level could expose ZEC to lower demand zones around $485.

Key Highlights

• Applied Digital (APLD) advanced 7.9% during Wednesday’s session, ending at $39.52 with trading volume matching typical daily levels near 26 million shares.
• Needham analyst John Todaro elevated his price target from $51 to $66 while maintaining a Buy recommendation, highlighting hyperscale partnerships and HPC expansion.
• Citizens JMP reaffirmed its Buy stance with a $60 target on the same trading day.
• Quarterly revenue surged to $108.55 million, representing a 139.3% year-over-year jump and significantly exceeding Wall Street’s $78.47 million forecast.
• The company’s total capacity portfolio expanded to 1.7GW, supported by a 1.3GW development pipeline and ongoing collaborations with leading hyperscalers and Nvidia.

Shares of Applied Digital (APLD) posted a robust 7.9% gain on Wednesday, settling at $39.52 after reaching an intraday peak of $39.59. This marked a substantial increase from Tuesday’s closing price of $36.62.

Applied Digital Corporation, APLD

Trading activity registered approximately 25.7 million shares, slightly below the stock’s typical daily volume of 26.2 million.

The rally followed a series of bullish analyst revisions. John Todaro from Needham — a top 100-ranked analyst on TipRanks with a 64.88% accuracy rate and 65.4% average return — increased his price objective on APLD to $66 from his previous $51 target, maintaining his Buy recommendation.

Todaro’s optimistic stance stemmed primarily from APLD’s recent 300MW Polaris Forge 3 lease agreement. The contract features similar financial terms and a matching 15-year timeframe as the company’s current Delta Forge 1 arrangement, signaling sustained demand from an important hyperscale client.

He further highlighted the firm’s broadened capacity footprint, which now totals 1.7GW, complemented by a 1.3GW pipeline under development. Ongoing partnerships with prominent hyperscalers and Nvidia reinforced his positive long-term perspective.

Citizens JMP also upheld its Buy rating on APLD with a $60 price objective during the same session.

Revenue Acceleration Despite Deeper Losses

APLD unveiled its quarterly financial results on April 8th. Revenue reached $108.55 million, substantially outperforming analyst projections of $78.47 million and marking a 139.3% increase compared to the prior-year period.

However, profitability remained elusive. The company recorded a per-share loss of $0.36, wider than the consensus estimate of a $0.13 loss. Full-year analyst forecasts anticipate a $0.61 per-share deficit.

The stock currently commands a market capitalization of $11.29 billion, alongside a PE ratio of -53.40 and a beta coefficient of 5.69 — indicators that reflect both its growth-oriented financial profile and elevated price volatility.

The 50-day moving average stands at $31.38, while the 200-day average registers $30.64, positioning Wednesday’s closing price comfortably above both technical benchmarks.

Wall Street Sentiment and Institutional Activity

The overall analyst community maintains a favorable outlook on APLD. Among 15 analysts tracking the stock, two assign it a Strong Buy rating, eleven recommend Buy, one holds a neutral position, and one rates it Sell. The average price target across all analysts is $44.67.

Citigroup confirmed its Outperform designation in January, while Texas Capital elevated APLD to Strong Buy during the same period. Wall Street Zen shifted to a Sell rating in April.

Regarding institutional ownership, Vanguard expanded its holdings by 36.4% during Q4, acquiring more than 6.4 million additional shares. Situational Awareness LP grew its position by 18.9% in Q1. Institutional investors collectively control 65.67% of outstanding shares.

Two company directors divested a combined 22,500 shares between early and late April, with insiders selling a total of 35,000 units worth $1.18 million over the past 90 days. Insider ownership currently represents 9.5% of the company.

Todaro also identified the Base Electron project as a prospective revenue contributor within the high-performance computing segment, further diversifying the company’s growth trajectory.

BM Blockchain gains attention in 2026 as users search for beginner-friendly Bitcoin cloud mining and BTC rewards.

As Bitcoin stays the top digital asset in the global crypto market, searches like free Bitcoin cloud mining apps, earn Bitcoin daily, BTC rewards, passive crypto income, and beginner-friendly Bitcoin mining apps keep climbing in 2026. A lot of new users want an easy way to try Bitcoin mining without buying ASIC machines, dealing with electricity bills, or figuring out a complicated setup.

Recent industry coverage points to rising interest in Bitcoin cloud mining apps in 2026, free mining credits, trial-type access, limited no-cost hash power offers, and mining platforms that work well on mobile. Reports also suggest people are spending more time comparing features, fees, payout terms, and risk disclosures before they pick a cloud-based crypto mining service.

Top 5 free Bitcoin cloud mining apps around the world in 2026

This ranking is meant for beginners who want to compare free Bitcoin cloud mining apps in 2026. It mainly looks at how easy they are to get started with, what kind of daily rewards people typically mention, whether a user can use them without owning any mining hardware, how well they work on a phone, how beginner-friendly the experience feels, and how easy they are to find and verify as a platform.

1. BM Blockchain — Best overall for beginners

BM Blockchain comes across as a strong pick for beginners because it mixes AI-based resource allocation with an easy signup process, lets users join without buying mining hardware, and supports more than one asset in its ecosystem. It’s mainly aimed at people who want to try out Bitcoin-related computing access without having to buy their own mining machines, worry about power costs, or deal with complicated setup work.

Some industry coverage has mentioned BM Blockchain as a beginner-friendly way to access Bitcoin cloud mining, along with a $108 signup bonus. That’s why it often shows up for people looking for free Bitcoin cloud mining, daily BTC rewards, and simple Bitcoin mining apps in 2026.

Why BM Blockchain feels different:

• New users can get a $108 sign-up welcome reward
• Supports Bitcoin along with a broader set of digital assets
• Uses AI to help assign computing resources
• Built with beginners in mind, so it is easy to get started
• Users don’t need to buy or run their own mining hardware
• Offers daily reward options through the platform’s access plans
• Made for people looking to earn Bitcoin daily, try free BTC mining, and build passive crypto income in 2026

Participation overview and earnings examples

BM Blockchain, a blockchain infrastructure and digital asset access platform focused on AI-powered cloud mining, ease of use, and support for a multi-asset ecosystem, is gaining widespread attention. The platform offers a $108 welcome bonus for new users and provides access to ecosystems including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, Ripple, Solana, and USDT.

Take a look at the full contract to claim up to $108 worth of free computing power!

2. NiceHash — A flexible hashrate marketplace for more experienced users

NiceHash is best known as a hashrate marketplace where people can buy and sell computing power. On its website, it describes itself as offering mining and hashrate services, and it often comes up when users compare different mining-related options.

NiceHash may be a good fit if someone wants on-demand access to computing power, and they’re comfortable looking at things like hashrate prices, mining terms, pool settings, and other market factors. It tends to work better for people who already understand the basics of mining, rather than total beginners.

Key points:

• Well-known hashrate marketplace
• Flexible access to computing power
• Better for intermediate or experienced users
• Understand mining factors and fees

3. ECOS — A more structured way to access mining for longer-term users

ECOS often comes up in cloud mining comparisons because it offers more structured plans that people can size up by things like how long they run, what they cost, and what the participation terms look like. For those who are new to this, having set plans can make it simpler to compare a few options before they pick a platform.

That said, it’s still important to read the contract details closely, including any platform fees, payout conditions, and risk notes. Bitcoin mining results can shift depending on Bitcoin’s price, mining difficulty, electricity costs, network conditions, and whether the underlying infrastructure stays available.

Key points:

• Structured plan model
• May fit longer-term users
• Plan-based ways to participate
• Costs and terms need a careful read

4. GoMining — Bitcoin mining access through an app

GoMining is often talked about by people who want Bitcoin mining access through an app, without having to run mining hardware themselves. It may suit users who prefer a mobile-first setup and like the idea of daily BTC reward figures connected to digital mining capacity.

For beginners, an app-based approach can feel more straightforward than owning hardware, but it’s still worth taking time to go through the pricing, fees, payout rules, token details, withdrawal requirements, and the general market risks before joining in.

Key points:

• App-based access to Bitcoin mining
• Designed around a mobile-friendly experience
• References daily BTC rewards
• Fees, output rules, and withdrawal terms should be reviewed

5. Bitdeer — A platform built around mining infrastructure

Bitdeer is frequently included in Bitcoin mining platform comparisons and may appeal to people who prefer mining services that focus on infrastructure. It generally makes more sense for users who are comfortable reading through mining contracts, understanding computing capacity, and checking the operational terms.

BingX Learn’s 2026 cloud mining comparison content also stresses that, before choosing any service, users should compare features, costs, payout details, and risks.

Key points:

• Infrastructure-based mining access
• May suit users looking at larger-scale services
• Often mentioned in platform comparisons
• Contract terms and risk disclosures need careful review

Why free Bitcoin cloud mining apps are trending in 2026

In 2026, free Bitcoin cloud mining apps are getting more popular around the world for a few reasons: more people are hearing about Bitcoin, mining hardware is expensive, many people are getting into crypto mainly through their phones, and there’s a growing interest in earning small daily BTC rewards. Traditional Bitcoin mining usually means buying ASIC machines, dealing with power use, setting up cooling, keeping things running, and having some technical know-how. For a lot of beginners, that’s just too much to take on.

Cloud-based crypto mining apps try to make it easier to get started by letting people rent computing power remotely. They often pull users in with trial-like plans, free credits, welcome bonuses, or simple mobile dashboards that are easier to understand.

FAQ: Free Bitcoin cloud mining apps in 2026

Q1: What’s the best free Bitcoin cloud mining app for beginners in 2026?

BM Blockchain is often seen as a beginner-friendly option because it aims to simplify operations, leverage artificial intelligence to allocate computing power, and support a variety of assets.

Q2: Can users earn Bitcoin daily through cloud mining apps?

Some platforms offer daily rewards or daily payouts, but what users actually earn depends on things like market conditions, network activity, fees, and the platform’s own rules. BM Blockchain’s daily rewards are sometimes described as a solid option for passive income.

Q4: Is there a need to buy Bitcoin mining hardware to use BM Blockchain?

BM Blockchain says anyone can access blockchain computing resources without having to buy, set up, or run their own mining hardware.

Q5: Why are more beginners looking into Bitcoin cloud mining apps in 2026?

A lot of beginners are checking out Bitcoin cloud mining apps because they want an easy way to earn BTC rewards, get daily payouts, and take part without hardware. And since Bitcoin news and Bitcoin price prediction talk keep pulling attention, searches like free Bitcoin cloud mining, earn Bitcoin daily, passive crypto income, and beginner-friendly crypto apps are also showing up more in 2026.

Conclusion

With the continued growth in demand for the top five free Bitcoin cloud mining applications globally in 2026, new users are looking for cloud mining platforms that are easy to use, offer daily rewards, require no hardware, and have clear participation methods. BM Blockchain, with its AI-based computing power allocation mechanism and support for mainstream digital assets, frequently ranks high on such lists.

NiceHash, ECOS, GoMining, and Bitdeer are also options people compare when looking at Bitcoin cloud mining apps, but some recommendations suggest starting with BM Blockchain’s $108 sign-up bonus as a way to try to reach financial freedom sooner.

This is an excerpt from CoinDesk newsletter ‘Daybook.’ Sign up here, if you haven’t already.

Bitcoin BTC$77,231.70, ether (ETH), XRP (XRP), solana (SOL) and other top 10 coins have had a tough time lately, with each falling at least 2% in the past seven days. Still, there is always a bull market somewhere, and several crypto sub-sectors have chalked up impressive gains.

Coins associated with derivatives protocols, particularly those focused on perpetual futures such as HYPE and LIT, have surged by 40% or more.

HYPE has been rallying since Trade.xyz, a trading interface based on the Hyperliquid blockchain, listed the Space pre-IPO perpetual contract on Monday, valuing the company at $1.78 trillion. Trading volume on the contract topped $30 million on its first day. The protocol consistently earns millions in fee revenue per week, accounting for over 40% of total marketwide fee revenue, according to data source DefiLlama.

And it’s not just Hyperliquid; investors are trading on other venues, too. According to CoinGecko, the monthly average volume on the top 12 decentralized exchanges for perpetual futures contracts has risen to $612 billion in 2026 from $532 billion in 2025.

Privacy and quantum-resistant coins such as Zcash (ZEC), Quantum Resistant Ledger’s QRL, Qubitcoin’s QTC and Starknet’s STRK are also climbing, with gains between 6% and 25%.

Data shows that investors are willing to overlook macro and geopolitical concerns and deploy capital, but only in coins with strong use cases and narratives.

Privacy is the flavor of the season, with fund managers like Arthur Hayes saying it is a fundamental necessity as advanced AI, large tech firms and government surveillance rapidly erode privacy. Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin on Wednesday outlined steps taken to bring privacy features to Ethereum, the world’s largest smart-contract blockchain.

As for quantum risks, Google researchers have already warned that a sufficiently powerful quantum machine, could in theory, attack a massive blockchain like Bitcoin with significantly fewer resources that previously estimated.

Bitcoin itself is struggling to recover the ground lost in the past seven days, currently trading around $77,300.

“Softer on final stages” talks between the U.S. and Iran “takes some inflation pressure off the tape and gives risk assets room to bounce,” analysts at Marex said.

This doesn’t, however, feel like a clean restart of the bull trend, they said, but more like a relief bid in a market that is still constrained by rates.

In traditional markets, NVDA closed Wednesday flat despite a blowout quarterly earnings report, while oil dipped to $98 per barrel. Stay alert!

Read more: For analysis of today’s activity in altcoins and derivatives, see Crypto Markets Today . For a comprehensive list of events this week, see CoinDesk’s “Crypto Week Ahead.”

What’s trending

Today’s signal

Ether’s price has dropped below the trendline connecting March and April lows. This trendline represented the recovery rally.

The breakdown, therefore, suggests an end to the price bounce and may invite more selling pressure from momentum traders, potentially yielding a deeper price slide.

The low of $1,937, from which prices turned higher in late March, is the key support now. A violation there would expose levels below $1,800.

HONG KONG, May 21 — OSL Group (863.HK) (OSL), a global stablecoin payment and trading platform, today announced that its Hong Kong-licensed digital asset exchange OSL HK has officially listed USDKG, the gold-backed stablecoin issued by the Kyrgyz Republic. The listing marks a significant step in bringing a state-supervised, asset-backed digital currency to one of the world’s most established licensed virtual asset markets.

Pegged 1:1 to the U.S. Dollar and fully backed by physical gold reserves, USDKG is now accessible to professional investors through OSL’s institutional-grade infrastructure. The initial trading pair USDKG/USDT is now available to professional investors across OSL HK’s over-the-counter (OTC) platform.

The listing of USDKG aligns with OSL’s commitment to contribute to the development of a secure and compliant digital asset ecosystem in Asia and beyond. It also expands USDKG’s reach into new markets through a regulated platform aligned with institutional standards, supporting its use in cross-border settlement and broader financial applications.

Jason Liu, Global Exchange COO of OSL, said:

“OSL is dedicated to providing investors with access to regulated, innovative assets. The listing of USDKG not only enriches OSL’s product offerings for the market, but also strengthens its compliant stablecoin ecosystem, as the introduction of a state-backed, compliant digital asset further underscores OSL’s credibility and leadership within the industry.”

Biibolot Mamytov, CEO of Gold Dollar (USDKG), said:

“This listing represents an important milestone for USDKG as we enter one of the most established and highly regulated digital asset markets globally. Hong Kong is widely regarded as the gold standard for digital asset regulation, and working with OSL reflects our focus on transparency, gold-backed reserves, and institutional-grade infrastructure.”

About USDKG

USDKG is issued by OJSC Virtual Asset Issuer, a state-owned entity under Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Finance, with an initial issuance of $50 million backed by physical gold reserves audited by Kreston Global. The stablecoin is deployed on Ethereum and TRON, with smart contract audits conducted by ConsenSys Diligence.

The token is already accessible through decentralized exchanges, including Curve and Uniswap, and supported by major wallets such as Ledger Live, MetaMask, Trust Wallet, and TronLink. The stablecoin is fully compliant with FATF KYC/AML standards and is designed to facilitate financial inclusion and efficient cross-border value transfer.

With this listing, Kyrgyzstan continues to position itself as a regional first-mover in regulated, asset-backed digital currencies, bridging traditional finance and blockchain infrastructure while maintaining full sovereign oversight and public accountability.

Website: https://www.usdkg.com/

Media Contact

William Campbell, 

Advisory Lead

Email: business@usdkg.com

About OSL Group

OSL Group (HKEX: 863) is a global stablecoin payment and trading platform that strives to provide compliant and efficient digital financial infrastructure services globally, empowering enterprises, financial institutions and individuals to seamlessly exchange, pay, trade, and settle between fiat and digital currencies. Grounded in the core values of Open, Secure, and Licensed, it is committed to building a more efficient ecosystem that connects global markets and enables instant, seamless and compliant value movement worldwide. For media inquiries, please contact: media@osl.com.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute, and shall not be construed as, an offer, solicitation, invitation, recommendation, or inducement to buy, sell, subscribe for, or otherwise deal in any digital assets, securities, or financial products. It does not constitute financial, investment, legal, tax, accounting, or other professional advice and should not be relied upon as such. The views, statements, and information contained herein do not necessarily reflect the official positions or commitments of OSL Group or any of its affiliates. Any descriptions of products, services, promotions, or programmes are for general reference only. Participation in any products, services, or promotions mentioned is subject to applicable terms, conditions, and regulatory requirements. This article may contain forward-looking statements or indicative information. Actual outcomes may differ materially, and OSL Group assumes no obligation to update such information.

OpenAI is opening its first applied AI lab outside the US in Singapore through a multiyear partnership with the Ministry of Digital Development and Information, backed by more than $234 million.

The AI company said Tuesday that the new lab will add more than 200 technical roles over the next few years, making Singapore one of OpenAI’s global hubs for Forward Deployed Engineers (FDE), or technical specialists who work directly with organizations to implement AI systems.

“Through OpenAI for Singapore, we want to help more organisations benefit from frontier AI, support the next generation of local AI talent, and widen access to these tools across the country,” Denise Dresser, the company’s chief revenue officer, said.

OpenAI for Singapore. Source: OpenAI

The move comes amid Singapore’s push into AI. The country has also struck a collaboration with Google DeepMind in healthcare, while Nvidia is setting up its own AI research lab in the city-state.

OpenAI first set up a Singapore office in 2024.

Related: Singapore Gulf Bank Adds Fiat-to-Stablecoin Conversion Feature

OpenAI to launch training programs in Singapore

The initiative, dubbed “OpenAI for Singapore,” will focus on deploying frontier AI across public service, finance, healthcare and digital infrastructure. It will also target talent development and broader access for small businesses and startups.

OpenAI will work with the Ministry of Education and GovTech on AI learning tools, including support for mother tongue language learning. It will also launch an FDE training program and join Singapore’s National AI Impact Programme to build skills across the wider technology workforce.

For smaller players, the company plans accelerator programs for AI-native startups and workshops for micro-entrepreneurs and SMEs.

Related: Bitcoiner Claims Claude Helped Him Recover 5 Bitcoin

OpenAI expands partnerships with countries

OpenAI is striking similar government partnerships across the globe. Over the weekend, Malta struck a first-of-its-kind deal with OpenAI to offer free ChatGPT Plus access to all citizens who complete a government-backed AI literacy course developed by the University of Malta.

OpenAI has struck similar deals with Estonia, providing ChatGPT Edu to secondary school students and teachers, and launched “OpenAI for Greece” in partnership with the government.

Magazine: AI-driven hacks could kill DeFi — unless projects act now