Last Tuesday’s House Ways and Means Committee hearing on digital asset tax bills was pretty straightforward. The members of the committee asked largely substantive questions, seemingly aimed at better understanding both how crypto taxes might work as well as what holes exist in current tax policy. There was no sniping at each other, no real pot shots at President Donald Trump and his family and no major arguments. At most, we had a few lawmakers question whether crypto is really an urgent issue amid current economic conditions.

In agency news, the CFTC published a proposal for better regulating prediction markets, giving the general public some time to weigh in, even as the various legal cases continue.

Why it matters

Crypto taxes are the next big issue after the market structure bill happens (if it happens, anyway). And while the hearing wasn’t exactly spicy, it did suggest that there is a lot of work to be done before crypto tax legislation can proceed through a markup and to the House floor.

The CFTC’s proposal to more closely regulate prediction markets is a first step in this process, and the public comments will be revealing.

Breaking it down

Tuesday’s hearing from the Ways and Means Committee saw lawmakers ask questions about the various discussion draft bills presented for the hearing, addressing the different aspects of the crypto tax debate. It was a remarkably conciliatory hearing, when contrasted with some of the other hearings the crypto industry has watched.

Why These Coins Have Become Popular Amid An Upcoming Bull Market

As cryptocurrency market activity picks up again, demand is on altcoins with solid fundamentals and growth prospects. The increase in volume, improvement in sentiment, and return of institutional interest have created a favorable environment for established digital coins. Despite the fact that speculative currencies tend to garner most attention, there remain many traders who prefer coins with real use cases. Dash (DASH), Ethereum (ETH), and ZCash (ZEC) stand out in particular, as each of them plays its own role in the crypto world.

Dash Speed And Utility In Digital Transactions

When developing Dash, the primary objective was to use it as a platform for digital payments. In contrast to some other cryptocurrencies that can be considered an investment tool, Dash is intended to provide users with quick and inexpensive digital cash transactions.

One of the main characteristics of this network is its Instant Send transaction functionality, which enables immediate payment processing. Due to this feature, Dash appears to be especially attractive for making payments in the real world. The network also uses a system of decentralized governance to support further development. As new merchants continue to use Dash and there is an increasing need for reliable payment platforms, it appears that this cryptocurrency deserves attention.

Ethereum The Foundation Of Decentralized Finance

The leading player among blockchains remains Ethereum. As the largest decentralized platform where smart contracts can be deployed, Ethereum supports millions of applications and dApps, DeFi projects, NFTs, and other blockchain solutions for businesses.

ETH performs several roles in the network. It is used to cover transaction fees, helps maintain security by participating in staking, and is required as collateral on a number of DeFi platforms. The underlying infrastructure of the platform is the basis for thousands of digital assets, making Ethereum an influential project in the crypto industry.

There has also been a lot of institutional interest in Ethereum lately. Major corporations explore Ethereum-based solutions, and developers prefer to use the platform for creating innovative blockchain products. With increasing activity in the market, Ethereum attracts huge investments regularly.

ZCash Innovations On The Blockchain That Emphasize Privacy

The unique selling point of ZCash is its privacy aspect. Using cryptography referred to as zero-knowledge proof technology, transactions on this network do not require any information sharing.

Using this technology makes confidential transactions possible, whereby the identities of parties involved in the transactions and the amounts transacted cannot be revealed. Since privacy is increasingly becoming an issue in digital finance, more users are drawn to ZCash due to this feature.

The increased volatility in ZEC is mainly caused by regulatory concerns regarding privacy-based cryptocurrencies. However, the volatility in the price of ZEC could also represent a trading opportunity for those who anticipate that privacy remains vital to blockchain technology.

Dash Ethereum And Zec Are Worth Watching By Investors

Each of these three cryptocurrencies represents a particular category of the market. Dash offers instant transactions, Ethereum drives the decentralized economy, and ZCash gives users enhanced privacy features. Under improved market circumstances, with increasing interest from investors, all three cryptos might continue being on investors’ radar screens for some time to come.

TLDR:

• Dogecoin trades near $0.088 after rebounding from a recent sharp drop toward $0.078 level.
• Analysts cite a repeating triangle apex retest pattern seen in 2017 and 2020 cycles.
• Whale activity shows over 200 million DOGE accumulated near key support around $0.081.
• ETF inclusion and Musk-linked market events helped renew attention toward Dogecoin.

Dogecoin remains in focus after stabilizing near key support levels, while traders monitor technical patterns that have previously preceded major price advances.

The meme-based cryptocurrency is trading around $0.088, recovering modestly after a recent decline that pushed its value from $0.113 to $0.078.

Dogecoin Technical Setup Draws Market Attention

Recent market discussion has centered on a long-term chart shared by crypto analyst Trader Tardigrade. The analyst posted a monthly Heikin Ashi chart showing Dogecoin retesting the apex of a multi-year triangle formation.

In the post, Trader Tardigrade compared the current Dogecoin structure with similar setups seen in 2017 and 2020.

According to the chart, both previous cycles featured triangle compression, an apex retest, and a sharp upward move afterward. The analyst stated that Dogecoin has now completed a similar retest, describing the setup as a textbook pattern.

The chart has attracted attention because the same sequence appeared before earlier Dogecoin rallies. As a result, traders are closely watching whether Dogecoin follows the same path during the current cycle.

Meanwhile, Dogecoin has shown signs of stability after a period of heavy selling pressure. The asset rebounded from its recent low near $0.078 and continues to hold above the $0.081 support area.

Market activity has also pointed to increased accumulation. Data cited by market participants showed that large investors purchased more than 200 million Dogecoin during the first week of June.

The buying activity strengthened support near recent lows and contributed to renewed market interest in Dogecoin.

In addition, technical indicators have turned more constructive. Market charts recently flashed a Tom DeMark Sequential buy signal, a pattern that traders often associate with short-term recovery phases.

ETF Inclusion and Musk-Linked Developments Support Interest

Beyond chart activity, Dogecoin has received attention from several developments across the crypto sector. One notable event involved asset manager T. Rowe Price receiving approval from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission for its Active Crypto ETF, trading under the ticker TKNZ.

The fund can hold up to 15 digital assets and has included Dogecoin among its selected cryptocurrencies. The addition places Dogecoin within a broader investment vehicle designed to provide exposure to multiple crypto assets.

At the same time, Dogecoin benefited from renewed market speculation following the historic SpaceX Nasdaq IPO. The public listing of SpaceX stock under the ticker SPCX reportedly contributed to a wave of buying activity across assets associated with Elon Musk.

Following the event, Dogecoin recorded a roughly 6% price increase. Traders linked the move to Musk’s growing influence in financial markets after reports identified him as the world’s first trillionaire.

Interest in Dogecoin has also extended to the mining sector. Crypto reviewers recently discussed the launch of the Nexus L1, a compact home mining device priced at about $400.

The unit uses Bitmain Antminer L9 chips and targets low-power Scrypt mining, which supports Dogecoin mining operations.

While market participants continue monitoring price action, Dogecoin remains one of the most closely watched digital assets.

Technical patterns, institutional exposure, whale accumulation, and mining developments have all kept Dogecoin at the center of market discussions.

As trading continues, investors are watching whether Dogecoin can maintain support and build further momentum from current levels.

TLDR:

• The stablecoin market cap holds near $273B even as Bitcoin and broader crypto markets face correction.
• Monthly USDT and USDC exchange inflows dropped from $5.7B at peak to just $2.9B today, a sharp fall.
• Stablecoin yield strategies now offer returns exceeding 15–20% through looping and lending mechanisms.
• Tokenized assets, prediction markets, and RWA sectors are absorbing stablecoin liquidity internally

Stablecoin liquidity is holding firm near $273 billion even as Bitcoin and the broader crypto market face a prolonged correction.

Under normal conditions, a sustained downturn tends to push capital out of the ecosystem entirely. That is not happening this time.

Instead, the data shows liquidity is staying within crypto, raising a key question about where exactly that capital is being deployed.

Stablecoin Liquidity Is Not Flowing Onto Exchanges

Stablecoin liquidity remaining elevated does not mean investors are buying crypto assets aggressively. CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost noted that exchange stablecoin inflows have been trending consistently lower.

The annual average of USDT and USDC inflows to exchanges dropped from $4.47 billion to $3.87 billion. Monthly inflows fell even harder, from $5.7 billion at the October peak to just $2.9 billion today.

That gap between the annual and monthly averages tells a clear story. Inflows were exceptionally high during the market’s strongest phases, widening the statistical deviation between the two averages.

That deviation pushed the ratio between them down to 0.77, a historically low reading. It confirms that the elevated buying pressure seen earlier in the cycle has largely faded.

There were also distinct outflow periods during this stretch. Early February saw the combined USDT and USDC market cap decline by roughly $8 billion on a monthly basis.

That figure has since moderated to around $4 billion today. These alternating inflow and outflow phases suggest the total stablecoin market cap is broadly stabilizing rather than trending sharply in either direction.

Taken together, the picture is straightforward. Stablecoin liquidity is not exiting the crypto ecosystem, but it is also not rushing onto exchanges to buy digital assets. Capital appears to be finding other destinations within the broader ecosystem itself.

Where Stablecoin Liquidity Is Actually Going

The crypto ecosystem now offers far more ways to deploy stablecoin liquidity than it did in previous cycles. Darkfost pointed out that stablecoins can generate returns exceeding 15% to 20% through looping and lending strategies.

Those yields compete directly with traditional finance products, keeping capital engaged without requiring any asset purchases. That alone accounts for a meaningful share of where liquidity is sitting today.

Beyond yield strategies, tokenized real-world assets have gained considerable traction. Investors can now access exposure to publicly traded equities and credit products without leaving the crypto ecosystem at all.

Prediction markets have also grown sharply, drawing speculative capital across a wide range of event-based bets. Decentralized futures markets and the Real World Asset sector have expanded alongside these developments.

Each of these verticals provides an additional destination for stablecoin liquidity to circulate internally. Capital that might have previously left crypto during a downturn now has enough ecosystem infrastructure to stay active.

The range of options available today reflects how much the industry has matured structurally. Liquidity is no longer binary between buying crypto or exiting entirely.

This internal circulation is now shaping market behavior in a measurable way. The $273 billion in stablecoin liquidity is not idle, nor is it positioned to aggressively push asset prices higher in the near term.

It is spread across yield products, tokenized assets, and derivatives markets, reflecting a more distributed and sophisticated capital base than in earlier cycles.

Key Takeaways

• Andy Jassy, Amazon’s CEO, alerted Trump administration officials after internal research revealed Anthropic’s Fable 5 model possessed capabilities that could facilitate cyber intrusions
• White House officials demanded Anthropic either remediate the security flaws or withdraw the model from service; President Trump ultimately authorized comprehensive export restrictions
• To ensure full compliance with the new controls, Anthropic terminated access to both Fable 5 and Mythos across its entire user base
• The AI company characterized the security issues as “relatively basic” and noted comparable features are available in competing public AI systems
• The export ban threatens to undermine Anthropic’s planned public offering while strengthening the competitive position of companies like OpenAI

Andy Jassy, the chief executive of Amazon, engaged in direct communications with government officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, regarding vulnerabilities discovered in Anthropic’s Fable 5 AI system. Internal Amazon security teams had successfully used targeted prompts to extract information from the model that could potentially assist in executing digital attacks.

The model’s protective mechanisms were designed to prevent exactly this type of information disclosure. After Amazon shared these discoveries with both White House personnel and national security officials, a series of high-level meetings were convened to determine the appropriate response.

Government representatives presented Anthropic with an ultimatum: address the security deficiencies or discontinue the model’s availability. During conversations with administration officials on Friday, Anthropic’s chief executive Dario Amodei reportedly conveyed reluctance to collaborate with federal security specialists on developing solutions.

Amazon.com, Inc., AMZN

Administration officials determined that implementing foreign access restrictions represented the most effective approach to mitigating potential risks. President Trump greenlit the directive, though he privately expressed concern that such measures might hinder artificial intelligence development.

Company Disables Flagship AI Systems

In response to the federal directive, Anthropic deactivated both Fable 5 and its Mythos system entirely — extending the shutdown beyond foreign users to include all accounts — guaranteeing adherence to the newly imposed export regulations.

The organization maintained that the security weaknesses were relatively elementary in nature. Company representatives emphasized that comparable information retrieval capabilities exist in numerous other commercially available AI platforms.

Andrew Morris, a cybersecurity expert and founder of GreyNoise Intelligence, examined Amazon’s research findings. His assessment confirmed that while Fable 5 demonstrated the ability to detect security flaws in at least four different software applications, researchers found no indication the system could actually weaponize those vulnerabilities by generating functional exploit code.

Anthropic has consistently positioned safety protocols as central to its corporate mission. The organization had previously restricted broader distribution of Mythos following White House guidance and maintains partnerships with federal AI evaluation teams prior to launching new systems.

Implications for Anthropic’s Future

The development arrives at an especially challenging moment for Anthropic. The company has been laying groundwork for a possible initial public offering potentially scheduled for this autumn.

With its flagship models unavailable, existing clients may migrate to alternative providers. OpenAI has developed its own cybersecurity-focused AI system and has maintained ongoing dialogue with Trump administration officials.

Friction between Anthropic and federal authorities predates this incident. The Department of Defense had previously classified Anthropic as presenting security concerns, a determination the company is currently challenging through two distinct legal proceedings.

Both National Cyber Director Sean Cairncross and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick participated in deliberations that culminated in the access prohibition. The Commerce Department maintains regulatory authority over export restrictions affecting sensitive technologies.

The Commerce Department’s current restrictions bar foreign governments, corporations, and private individuals from utilizing Fable and Mythos. A significant portion of Anthropic’s research personnel are international nationals, which according to the company essentially prevents them from contributing to these model development efforts.

David Sacks, the White House artificial intelligence policy adviser, characterized the restriction as having been implemented “reluctantly” and voiced optimism that Anthropic would resolve the underlying issues, allowing the models to be restored for public use.

Blockchain security firm Quantstamp says a phishing email and a compromised laptop were key steps in the recent Humanity Protocol incident that resulted in the theft of $36 million worth of Humanity (H) tokens. The company’s investigation points to North Korea-linked threat activity, citing technical indicators such as a South Korean digital certificate and malware behavior consistent with DPRK intrusion patterns.

Quantstamp reports that the attackers used a malicious attachment disguised as a token lockup schedule update supposedly connected to Bithumb, one of South Korea’s major cryptocurrency exchanges. After the file was delivered to a staff member, malware installed itself and provided attackers with full remote access—allowing them to reach sensitive wallet material used in the protocol’s operations.

Key takeaways

• Quantstamp attributes the Humanity Protocol compromise to a phishing attachment that enabled full remote access to a compromised employee laptop.
• The malware is reported to have been signed with a Hancom digital certificate associated with DPRK-like intrusion patterns.
• Attackers were able to extract wallet credentials, including MetaMask wallet data and private keys, from a Humanity Protocol director.
• Security firms continue to link North Korea-linked actors to a substantial share of crypto theft losses across recent years and 2025.
• Quantstamp’s findings add to a growing pattern where targeted social engineering is used to reach individuals inside crypto projects.

Phishing attachment becomes the access point

In its incident response, Quantstamp said the Humanity Protocol attackers gained leverage through a compromised employee’s laptop. The method, according to the firm, was a phishing email with a malicious attachment that impersonated a token-related update.

The attachment was disguised as what appeared to be a token lockup schedule update from Bithumb. Once opened, the payload installed malware that Quantstamp says granted attackers full remote access to the device.

This matters because it shifts the incident from a purely on-chain exploit narrative to a more human-infrastructure risk narrative: the immediate breach mechanism relied on end-user compromise rather than a direct vulnerability in smart contract code.

Wallet credential theft and the role of remote access

Quantstamp added that the malware’s capabilities extended beyond general control of the laptop. The firm said the attackers used the access to copy Humanity Protocol director Chong Yee Wai’s MetaMask wallet credentials and private keys.

That workflow—stealing wallet material following remote compromise—can enable fast movement of funds. It also highlights why crypto incidents often hinge on endpoint security controls, such as phishing-resistant authentication and strong key-handling procedures, rather than only contract-level defenses.

Technical signals Quantstamp links to DPRK intrusions

Beyond the phishing and remote access, Quantstamp pointed to a technical detail it described as “characteristic of DPRK intrusions.” The firm said the malware was signed with a South Korean Hancom digital certificate.

Quantstamp’s attribution is consistent with how many threat reports are built in cyber investigations: while exact attribution is rarely confirmed publicly, analysts often use combinations of tooling, signing behavior, and operational patterns. In this case, the presence of a specific signing certificate and the observed malware behavior are presented as correlating indicators.

How this fits a broader pattern of North Korea-linked crypto theft

The suspected North Korean link does not appear in isolation. Quantstamp’s report is framed against a backdrop of major crypto thefts that multiple security assessments have attributed to North Korea-linked groups.

Cointelegraph previously reported that North Korea-linked threat actors were tied to at least $578 million of the $634 million stolen in crypto-related incidents in April, referencing an earlier analysis.

Separately, a May report by blockchain security company CertiK said the same actors have been linked to about $2 billion of the $3.4 billion lost to crypto exploits in 2025, while accounting for 12% of total incidents. CertiK characterized the operations as reflecting “precision and scale,” emphasizing that the focus is not only volume but effective execution.

Looking at longer time horizons, a report cited in the article states that over the past decade North Korea-linked actors stole an estimated $6.75 billion in cryptocurrency across 263 documented incidents. CertiK also said North Korea has “industrialized” crypto theft as a core state revenue mechanism, positioning the activity as a meaningful component of external income.

Denial from North Korea, and why attribution stays contentious

North Korea typically does not respond directly to cybercrime allegations. However, the article notes that on May 3, a Foreign Ministry spokesperson rejected claims of involvement in crypto hacks in a statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency.

In that response, the spokesperson argued that the US is spreading “incorrect” narratives about a “non-existent ‘cyber threat’” from North Korea, according to the report referenced in the piece.

For investors and operators, the key takeaway is not to treat attribution claims as courtroom-grade certainty, but to recognize that the patterns behind these incidents—especially endpoint compromise and credential theft—are actionable regardless of attribution debates. Even when state involvement is disputed, the practical defenses remain similar: harden access to personnel systems, reduce exposure to credential-harvesting malware, and ensure recovery and incident response plans assume that social engineering can succeed.

Going forward, the main things readers should watch are follow-up updates from Humanity Protocol and security monitors on whether additional wallets or related infrastructure were targeted, alongside broader tooling guidance from Quantstamp and other analysts on preventing phishing-led endpoint takeovers.

Quick Overview

• Next week marks Kevin Warsh’s inaugural Federal Reserve meeting as chair; while rates likely remain steady, his commentary on inflation and future policy direction will be critical
• AI infrastructure leaders Nvidia and Broadcom deserve attention as data center investment continues at elevated levels
• Commercial space companies Rocket Lab and AST SpaceMobile gain spotlight after SpaceX’s IPO sparks renewed sector interest
• Kroger’s upcoming earnings release provides crucial insight into consumer spending patterns amid persistent inflation and high borrowing costs
• Fresh retail sales figures will supplement the economic picture for investors

Next week brings Kevin Warsh’s debut as Federal Reserve chair. While no rate changes are anticipated, market participants will scrutinize his remarks regarding inflation trends, economic momentum, and the trajectory of monetary policy.

Beyond the Fed proceedings, fresh retail spending data and multiple corporate earnings announcements will provide additional market catalysts.

Below are five equities commanding investor attention.

Nvidia: AI Infrastructure Momentum Continues

Nvidia occupies a dominant position in the artificial intelligence revolution. Appetite for AI accelerators and datacenter components shows no signs of weakening, making any indications about ongoing enterprise AI investment particularly significant for the stock.

NVIDIA Corporation, NVDA

Major cloud computing platforms maintain substantial AI infrastructure budgets, with Nvidia capturing the lion’s share. Should the technology sector maintain stability next week, Nvidia will likely influence broader market direction.

Broadcom: Alternative AI Hardware Powerhouse

Broadcom specializes in customized AI semiconductors and networking hardware deployed across massive data facilities. Investors seeking diversification beyond Nvidia have gravitated toward Broadcom as a compelling long-term AI infrastructure investment.

As organizations scale their AI capabilities, Broadcom’s solutions have become integral to infrastructure expansion. The company ranks among Wall Street’s top AI-adjacent investment choices.

Rocket Lab: Commercial Space Sector Resurges

Rocket Lab has captured renewed investor focus following SpaceX’s widely publicized public offering. As a leading publicly accessible space company, it represents the closest available proxy to SpaceX for public market investors.

The enterprise operates an expanding launch services division while diversifying into satellite manufacturing and defense sector agreements. Heightened enthusiasm for commercial spaceflight has surged recently, positioning Rocket Lab to capitalize on continued momentum.

AST SpaceMobile: Direct Satellite Connectivity Innovation

AST SpaceMobile pursues an ambitious goal: enabling standard mobile devices to communicate directly with satellites without specialized equipment. Market sentiment toward this technology’s viability has strengthened throughout 2026.

The equity has demonstrated significant price swings this year, attracting growth-oriented traders. News regarding satellite launches or strategic partnerships could trigger substantial price movements.

Kroger: Consumer Health Indicator

Kroger delivers quarterly results next week during a period when household budgets face strain from elevated prices and borrowing costs. These figures will illuminate how typical American consumers navigate current financial conditions.

Robust performance might alleviate economic concerns. Disappointing results could amplify anxieties about weakening consumer activity.

Given inflation’s persistent presence in market discussions, Kroger’s announcement may carry outsized significance compared to typical grocery retailer reports.

Federal Reserve Takes Center Stage

Kevin Warsh’s maiden Federal Reserve meeting as chair represents the week’s paramount event. Investors care less about the immediate rate verdict and more about his guidance regarding inflation outlook and monetary policy evolution.

Retail spending statistics will complement this narrative. Combined, the Fed meeting and economic releases will establish the framework for how traders approach these five stocks and broader markets heading into subsequent sessions.