Crypto World
Established Leaders and the Growth of ZunaBet
The online gambling industry has long been shaped by a handful of major operators. Bet365 and 888casino sit near the top of that list. Both have spent years building their reputations, expanding their game libraries, and attracting millions of players worldwide. But the market is shifting. A new wave of crypto-focused platforms is emerging, and among them, ZunaBet is drawing attention as a platform built from the ground up for a different kind of player. This article breaks down how these three platforms compare across games, payments, bonuses, loyalty programs, and overall direction.
Bet365: The Scale Operator
Bet365 is one of the biggest names in online gambling globally. Founded in 2000, the UK-based operator holds licenses in multiple regulated markets and is known primarily for its sportsbook, which is widely considered one of the most comprehensive in the world. Its casino arm offers a solid selection of slots, table games, and live dealer options from well-known providers.
Bet365 operates on a traditional fiat model. Deposits and withdrawals are handled through credit cards, bank transfers, PayPal, and other standard payment methods. The platform does not currently support cryptocurrency payments. Its welcome offers tend to be modest compared to some competitors, with a focus on sports betting promotions rather than large casino bonuses.
The loyalty system at Bet365 is relatively straightforward. There is no elaborate tiered program with public rakeback percentages. Instead, the platform relies on periodic promotions, free bets, and retention offers tailored to individual players. For many users, Bet365’s strength lies in its reliability, breadth of sports markets, and global reach rather than flashy bonus structures.
888casino: The Long-Running Brand
888casino has been around since 1997, making it one of the oldest online casino brands still in operation. It holds licenses from the UK Gambling Commission and the Malta Gaming Authority, among others. The platform offers a wide library of slots, jackpot games, table games, and a live casino section powered by providers like Evolution and NetEnt.
Like Bet365, 888casino operates entirely on fiat payment rails. Players can deposit using Visa, Mastercard, Skrill, Neteller, and similar options. There is no cryptocurrency support. The welcome bonus at 888casino typically sits in the low-to-mid hundreds of dollars range, depending on the market and current promotion. It is competitive but not among the largest in the industry.
888casino uses a tiered VIP program with levels that unlock based on activity. Benefits include bonus offers, faster withdrawals, and dedicated account managers at higher tiers. The system is functional but follows the same general template used by most traditional operators. There is nothing particularly unique about it compared to other legacy casino loyalty programs.
ZunaBet: The Crypto-First Challenger
ZunaBet launched in 2026 and takes a fundamentally different approach. Built by a team with over 20 years of combined industry experience, it was designed from the start as a crypto-first platform. It is owned by Strathvale Group Ltd and operates under an Anjouan gaming license.
The numbers are hard to ignore. ZunaBet offers over 11,000 games from 63 providers, including Pragmatic Play, Hacksaw Gaming, Evolution, Yggdrasil, and BGaming. That makes it one of the larger game libraries among crypto-focused casinos. The selection covers slots, RNG table games, and live dealer titles. Alongside the casino, ZunaBet runs a full sportsbook covering football, basketball, tennis, NHL, and esports titles like CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends, and Valorant. Virtual sports and combat sports round out the offering.
Where ZunaBet stands apart most clearly is payments. The platform supports over 20 cryptocurrencies, including BTC, ETH, USDT across multiple chains, SOL, DOGE, ADA, and XRP. There are no platform processing fees, and withdrawals are fast. For players who already hold crypto, this removes the friction of converting to fiat, waiting for bank processing times, or dealing with card declines that sometimes affect gambling transactions.
The welcome bonus is significantly larger than what Bet365 or 888casino typically offer. ZunaBet provides up to $5,000 plus 75 free spins spread across three deposits. The first deposit gets a 100% match up to $2,000 plus 25 spins. The second gives 50% up to $1,500 plus 25 spins. The third adds another 100% up to $1,500 plus 25 spins. That total package puts it well above the industry average for welcome offers.
Loyalty Programs: Traditional Tiers vs. Gamified Progression
This is where the philosophical difference between old and new platforms becomes most visible. Bet365 keeps things simple with ad hoc promotions. 888casino uses a tiered VIP system that rewards volume but follows a familiar pattern. Neither platform offers transparent, publicly stated rakeback percentages at each tier.
ZunaBet takes a different route with its dragon evolution loyalty system. The program has six tiers — Squire, Warden, Champion, Divine, Knight, and Ultimate — each with a clearly stated rakeback rate. Players start at 1% rakeback and can progress to 20% at the highest level. The program also includes tier-based free spins up to 1,000, VIP club access, double wheel spins, and a gamified mascot called Zuno. It is designed to feel more like progression in a game than a standard rewards program, which appeals to a generation of players who grew up with video games and expect that kind of engagement.
Crypto vs. Traditional Platforms
The broader trend behind ZunaBet’s approach is worth noting. Traditional operators like Bet365 and 888casino built their businesses around fiat currencies, regulated banking systems, and payment processors that come with their own fees and processing times. That model works and has worked for decades.
But crypto-native platforms are growing because they solve specific problems. Transactions are faster. Fees are lower. Players in regions with limited banking access can participate more easily. Privacy preferences are better served. And for the growing number of people who hold cryptocurrency as a primary asset, being able to gamble without converting to fiat is a practical advantage, not just a novelty.
ZunaBet sits squarely in this space. It was not built as a traditional casino that added crypto later. It was designed around crypto from day one, and that shapes everything from its payment infrastructure to its bonus structure to its target audience.
Where Things Stand
Bet365 and 888casino are not going anywhere. They have the licenses, the brand recognition, and the user bases to remain major players for years to come. They serve a broad market and do it well.
But ZunaBet represents something different. It is a platform built for players who want more games, bigger bonuses, transparent loyalty rewards, and the ability to use crypto without friction. With over 11,000 games, a full sportsbook, 20+ supported cryptocurrencies, and a loyalty program that clearly states what you earn at every level, it is positioning itself as the next step in what online casinos can look like.
For a new generation of players who think in crypto, expect gamified experiences, and want transparency in their rewards, ZunaBet is the platform to watch.
Alleged human trafficker Andrew Tate has been liquidated 108 times on decentralized perpetual futures exchange Hyperliquid and he’s now also facing fresh trafficking charges from Romania.
Tate’s combined losses are now almost $890,000, and have been on this downward trajectory since December last year.
Crypto analyst Lookonchain noted that he opened another 40x LONG bitcoin (BTC) position today worth $3.75 million, and that he had so far been liquidated 107 times.
This position was set to liquidate at $65,215.
However, BTC’s price fell to $64,500 today, and his LONG was liquidated.
Tate has since opened a 40x SHORT BTC position. At the time of writing, this is down $9,400 and is set to liquidate when BTC hits $66,052.
Read more: Why was crypto so quick to embrace Andrew Tate?
The controversial influencer and self-proclaimed misogynist has previously bragged online about highly leveraged bets on ether before being subsequently liquidated and deleting his posts in embarrassment.
Romania expands Tate investigation
On Wednesday, Romanian prosecutors announced further investigations into the 39-year-old, who is already charged with human trafficking, rape, sexual intercourse with a minor, and forming a criminal gang focused on sexually exploiting women.
The latest allegations involve a Romanian woman who claims Tate trafficked her into his pornographic webcam operations in 2017.
Prosecutors say he used “emotional blackmail” and misleading relationship promises to coerce the vulnerable woman, who lacked any family support or material resources, and had suffered psychological trauma, into his porn business.
Read more: Andrew Tate struggles to pump memecoin amid Florida criminal inquiry
The UK has charged the brothers with 21 similar offences, including human trafficking, rape, and bodily harm.
They can only be extradited to the country once their proceedings in Romania conclude.
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Fed Chair Kevin Warsh held rates steady in his debut FOMC meeting but delivered a sharply hawkish surprise, with nine of 18 participants projecting a 2026 rate hike and the statement stripping out its easing bias.
The Federal Reserve left the federal funds rate unchanged at 3.50%-3.75% on June 17, 2026 — the fourth consecutive hold, fully priced by markets.
Statement Shifts to Neutral
The FOMC removed previous references to “additional rate adjustments,” adopting a purely data-dependent neutral stance.
This marks a clear policy pivot amid persistent inflation hovering around 4.2% YoY.
Nine of 18 FOMC participants now pencil in at least one rate hike for 2026, a dramatic shift from prior projections that leaned toward cuts or extended holds.
This validates warnings from Citadel Securities about rising September hike risks fueled by strong wages, resilient demand, supply strains, and AI-driven investment.
Warsh’s Debut Under Scrutiny
In his first press conference, Warsh leaned into his preference for a “quieter” Fed with reduced forward guidance.
Fidelity managers had warned of potential bond market volatility from tone uncertainty, early reactions showed higher Treasury yields and USD gains.
The outcome challenges dovish expectations tied to Warsh’s appointment and highlights a vigilant committee focused on inflation control.
Market Impact: Stocks and Bonds Sell Off
Wall Street turned lower after the decision as investors digested the more hawkish tone.
The S&P 500 fell 0.6%, the Nasdaq Composite dropped 0.7%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average lost 160 points (0.3%) by mid-afternoon.
Treasury yields climbed on the news. The 2-year yield rose nearly 11 basis points to 4.153%, while the 10-year yield increased 4 basis points to 4.469%.
The outcome highlights ongoing division risks at the Fed amid the Iran-related energy shock, which is driving both higher inflation and growth uncertainty.
The post Warsh Hawkish Shock: 9 Fed Officials Signal 2026 Rate Hike appeared first on BeInCrypto.
Citadel Securities has warned that the Federal Reserve may need to resume monetary tightening later this year as inflation pressures remain elevated across the U.S. economy. The firm’s latest outlook suggests that Fed rate hikes could begin as early as September 2026 if inflation continues to exceed policymakers’ targets.
The forecast comes ahead of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting on June 17. Market participants widely expect officials to leave interest rates unchanged. However, Citadel believes investors should focus on future policy signals rather than the immediate decision.
Source: FedWatch
Persistent Inflation Raises Policy Concerns
Citadel’s Head of Macro Strategy, Frank Flight, stated that inflation risks continue to build despite lower energy prices. According to the firm’s analysis, inflation has spread into broader sectors of the economy rather than remaining concentrated in commodities.
Flight wrote that the economy faces the risk of entering a “hysteretic equilibrium,” where temporary shocks create lasting inflationary effects. Citadel identified strong labor markets, accommodative financial conditions, and supply-chain disruptions as major factors supporting price growth.
Recent economic indicators support those concerns. Headline Consumer Price Index inflation reached 4.2% in May, while Producer Price Index inflation climbed to 6.5%. Citadel also noted that a larger share of core CPI components now records annual increases above 3%, suggesting inflation remains widespread.
AI Investment Boom Adds New Demand Pressure
Citadel also highlighted the growing impact of artificial intelligence spending on the economy. The firm estimates AI-related capital expenditures could reach approximately $750 billion in 2026 before rising to $1.25 trillion in 2027.
Large investments by companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and SpaceX continue to increase demand for infrastructure, computing resources, and skilled labor. As a result, AI development may contribute additional inflationary pressure during the coming years.
Against this backdrop, Citadel expects Federal Reserve officials to maintain a hawkish stance. Flight stated, “We think the risks skew to a rate hike at the September meeting.” The firm also expects policymakers to remove any remaining easing bias from future projections.
Markets Increase Bets On Fed Rate Hikes
Citadel’s forecast aligns with shifting market expectations. Kalshi prediction market data currently assigns a 60% probability that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates before July 2027. Expectations for tightening have increased steadily in recent months.
Source: Kalshi
Meanwhile, a recent Bank of America fund manager survey found that nearly 40% of respondents expect at least one rate increase within the next year. That figure stood at just 16% one month earlier.
BNP Paribas has also revised its outlook. The bank now expects three Fed rate hikes beginning in December, citing persistent inflation and continued labor market strength.
Citadel projects potential rate increases in September and December 2026, followed by another move in March 2027. The firm warned that higher borrowing costs and tighter liquidity conditions could create challenges for risk assets, including Bitcoin and the broader cryptocurrency market, if investors increasingly price in future Fed rate hikes.
Congressional negotiators have folded a statutory ban on a Federal Reserve central bank digital currency into a bipartisan housing package, blocking any Fed-issued retail digital dollar until December 31, 2030. The text is the most durable legislative CBDC prohibition yet assembled in Washington…. Read the full story at The Defiant
HYPE – the native token of the decentralized crypto exchange Hyperliquid – has been on a tear lately, hitting a new all-time high even as most digital assets continue to struggle in the prolonged bear market.
It recently surpassed Dogecoin (DOGE) to become the 10th-biggest cryptocurrency, so we decided to ask three of the most popular AI-powered chatbots whether flipping Ripple’s XRP is also plausible sometime this year. Here are their answers.
Low Probability
Earlier this week, HYPE’s price soared to a historic peak of around $77, while its market cap pumped to approximately $16 billion. Despite the substantial increase, it remains far below XRP, whose capitalization currently stands at around $74 billion.
Given the huge gap, ChatGPT described the scenario in which HYPE surpasses its rival as a low probability. At the same time, OpenAI’s platform outlined several catalysts that could help the asset explode to such levels. Some of those include the rising popularity of Hyperliquid and its future expansion to the point where it becomes a Binance competitor, and backing from prominent industry figures.
Recall that Arthur Hayes (co-founder of BitMEX) was heavily invested in the token, yet he recently sold all his positions. Shortly after, the blockchain-tracking platform Lookonchain suggested he might have spent over $2 million to buy back nearly 34,000 HYPE. However, Hayes rejected the claim.
According to ChatGPT, another factor that may have a positive influence is the institutional interest in the coin. Data show that inflows into spot HYPE ETFs have exceeded outflows recently, with cumulative net inflows of approximately $180 million. Still, this figure is far below the $1.44 billion that exchange-traded funds with XRP as the underlying token have attracted since their launch in late 2025.
Perplexity shared a similar theory, saying that such a rise by HYPE is only possible in “a narrow sense.” It noted that, in addition to its market-cap lead, XRP has a vast and devoted community, which could make a potential flip even harder.
“In 2026, HYPE can plausibly flip XRP on price momentum, narrative strength, or even short-term market cap at times, but XRP has a much larger base to overtake, so a full sustained flip is less likely without a major rotation in capital,” it added.
‘A Massive Uphill Battle’
Google’s Gemini was even less optimistic, claiming that the biggest hurdle for HYPE isn’t its utility but pure math. It praised XRP for being “a highly liquid, large-cap legacy asset,” whose market cap hovers in the tens of billions of dollars even during market corrections, “sustained by deep institutional plumbing and international remittance use cases.”
“For HYPE to flip XRP, it would need to see an astronomical influx of capital, multi-billion-dollar daily trading volumes, and massive speculative retail FOMO – all while XRP would have to severely stagnate or decline,” it concluded.
The post Can Hyperliquid (HYPE) Flip Ripple (XRP) in 2026? 3 AIs Weigh in appeared first on CryptoPotato.
The Bitcoin price moved past the $66,000 threshold on Wednesday as US President Trump explained the Iran deal in his press address at G7 Summit.
Meanwhile, the oil price slid lower as Trump’s remarks shed more light on the US-Iran deal ahead of the formal signing in Switzerland.
Trump Addresses Iran Deal In G7 Summit Press
President Trump delivered a high-stakes update on the U.S.-Iran Memorandum of Understanding during the G7 summit press conference on June 17, 2026, driving immediate market moves across risk assets.
Trump confirmed the framework includes a ceasefire, full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, limited sanctions relief, and Iran’s pledge against nuclear weapons.
A formal signing is expected soon in Switzerland.
“If Iran doesn’t honor the agreement, back to bombing them,” Trump stated bluntly. He added that some understandings remain unwritten and praised the impact of recent U.S. strikes: “Amazing what bombs can do.”
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President Trump also highlighted market surges tied to Iran peace signals during the G7 summit press conference.
“Every time we talked about possibility of peace, market shot up like a rocket ship,” Trump declared. “Never really went down. The stock market is more brilliant than anybody.”
He linked these rallies to the U.S.-Iran MOU, which includes a ceasefire, Strait of Hormuz reopening, and limited sanctions relief, while warning of renewed strikes if Iran fails to comply.
The “peace through strength” narrative, backed by explicit military leverage, has reduced short-term volatility premiums.
The post Trump G7 Summit Press Pumps Bitcoin as Oil Crashes appeared first on BeInCrypto.
Two US lawmakers on opposite sides of the political aisle are backing a resolution that “under no circumstances should Samuel [SBF] Bankman-Fried receive executive clemency, including a pardon or commutation.”
In a resolution to be introduced Wednesday, Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis and Democratic Senator Rubén Gallego warned that should US President Donald Trump grant SBF’s request for a pardon, it would “erase [his] conviction […] weaken deterrence, and send a deeply damaging message that perpetrators of large-scale financial fraud can escape permanent accountability.” The resolution would be non-binding, as a US president’s pardon power is enshrined in the Constitution.
“[The US Senate] affirms that the 25-year sentence imposed upon Bankman-Fried reflects the extraordinary scale and deliberateness of his crimes, his lack of remorse, and the catastrophic harm inflicted upon millions of victims, and that such a sentence serves the interests of justice,” read the resolution.
Source: Senator Rubén Gallego
The resolution came after Bankman-Fried formally applied for a pardon from Trump of his conviction on seven felony counts related to the misuse of FTX user funds. Last week, a federal appeals court upheld that conviction and sentence, leaving his only legal path forward a presidential pardon or an appeal to the US Supreme Court.
Bankman-Fried was convicted in November 2023 following the collapse of cryptocurrency exchange FTX a year earlier, which resulted in investor losses totaling billions of dollars. He was later sentenced to 25 years in prison.
Related: Onchain, in court: What happened in crypto legal news this week
Following his sentencing in March 2024, the former CEO posted several messages to social media aligning with Trump’s political agenda, including US military actions in Venezuela and Iran. However, in a January interview with the New York Times, the president said he had no plans to pardon Bankman-Fried.
Source: Sam Bankman-Fried
Cointelegraph sought comment from Gallego’s office but did not receive an immediate response. A spokesperson for Lummis said that the senator “wants him to know that her and her colleagues think Mr. Fried is right where he belongs” by introducing the resolution.
Other FTX figures still serving time
Although some of the former executives of the defunct cryptocurrency exchange were sentenced to time served in exchange for their cooperation and testimony at SBF’s trial, one is still in federal prison, and another was released earlier this year.
Caroline Ellison, the former CEO of Alameda Research, received a two-year sentence in 2024 and was given an early release in January after 14 months. FTX former engineering director Nishad Singh and co-founder Gary Wang were both sentenced to time served. All testified against SBF at trial.
Ryan Salame, the co-CEO of FTX Digital Markets, was sentenced to 90 months in prison related to unlawful political contributions and conspiracy to operate an unlicensed money-transmitting business. His wife, Michelle Bond — though not an FTX employee — was recently indicted on charges related to her 2022 run for Congress allegedly financed with illegal campaign contributions from the crypto exchange.
Magazine: The end of anon? AI could unmask crypto’s hidden identities
Crypto World
Coinbase Stakes Out Brokerage Territory With SEC-Registered AI Advisor and Stock Options Push
Coinbase used its latest "System Update" on Tuesday to push deep into territory long held by retail brokerages, rolling out an SEC-registered AI investment advisor, stock and ETF trading on its professional platform, and options markets for both equities and crypto. The bundle moves the exchange's… Read the full story at The Defiant
After generating $5.5 billion in trading volume in two weeks, Kalshi is pushing to extend its CFTC-regulated perpetual futures beyond crypto into a wider range of asset classes. Kalshi's perpetual futures business crossed $5.5 billion in trading volume in its first two weeks, according to… Read the full story at The Defiant
Grayscale Research has named five decentralized finance tokens it believes offer real value as crypto markets reward revenue and cash flow over speculation.
The asset manager flagged Hyperliquid (HYPE), Aave (AAVE), Uniswap (UNI), Sky (SKY), and Maple (MAPLE) in a research report published June 16. Each shows strong relative value based on fundamentals.
Why Grayscale Sees Value in DeFi
Crypto markets have fallen since January. Grayscale argues in its report that investors can now value many tokens like financial assets rather than commodities.
The firm sorts tokens on a spectrum. Bitcoin trades like a commodity, while protocols with recurring revenue resemble cash flow businesses.
Since 2023, DeFi protocols have generated nearly $25 billion in cumulative fees from real users. That activity has driven rising on-chain fee revenue across exchanges, lending, staking, and derivatives.
Price multiples across DeFi lending have also compressed. Grayscale reads that as maturing business models now trading at attractive valuations.
Revenue Now Drives Token Value
Protocol revenue alone does not set token value. Grayscale says burns, buybacks, rebates, and staking decide how much reaches holders.
By that test, Uniswap and Hyperliquid stand out. The report says both return almost all earnings to holders through transparent DeFi payout models.
Hyperliquid routes trading fees straight into buying and burning HYPE. That model helped lift it into the top 10 by market cap this year.
Aave sits alongside them as the largest DeFi lender, after Grayscale called the AAVE token undervalued near $75.
How the Tokens Stack Up
HYPE trades near $72, ranking as the 10th-largest crypto and well ahead of its peers over the past year.
UNI sits around $3.30 after a 9% daily gain, with its value tied to fee distributions back to holders.
SKY trades near $0.06, where Grayscale says its onchain collateral-backed stablecoin keeps finding product-market fit.
Maple rounds out the list through institutional lending, which the firm says has delivered strong risk-adjusted returns.
“…crypto is repricing from narrative → fundamentals Protocols with real revenue, disciplined capital allocation, and transparent token economics are outperforming Grayscale flags HYPE, AAVE, UNI, SKY, and MAPLE as showing strong relative value on this basis,” Grayscale stated.
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The throughline is a market repricing from narrative to fundamentals.
Grayscale says protocols that turn real revenue into token value are pulling ahead.
The post Grayscale Names 5 DeFi Altcoins With Real Utility appeared first on BeInCrypto.
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