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Crypto World

ICE and CME urge US regulators to curb Hyperliquid energy trading

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Crypto Breaking News

Regulators are being drawn into a dispute between traditional energy markets and Hyperliquid, the DeFi exchange behind the HIP-3 platform. Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) have urged U.S. authorities to rein in Hyperliquid’s expansion into commodity markets. Bloomberg, citing unnamed sources familiar with regulatory discussions, reported that executives from ICE and CME view Hyperliquid’s energy-linked on-chain derivatives as exposing energy markets to insider trading, price manipulation, and other risks.

The concerns highlighted by ICE and CME center on the platform’s anonymous and unregulated structure, which Bloomberg describes as a potential vector for sanctions evasion in critical markets such as oil and gas. The report underscores a broader tension: as traditional markets increasingly flirt with on-chain infrastructure, regulators are weighing how to preserve market integrity while not stifling innovation.

Key takeaways

  • ICE and CME are pressing regulators to curb Hyperliquid’s foray into energy-linked on-chain derivatives, citing insider trading and price manipulation risks.
  • Hyperliquid’s HIP-3, launched in January 2025, enables builder-deployed perpetual futures for any electronically traded asset class by staking 500,000 HYPE tokens.
  • Open interest in HIP-3 markets surpassed $2.5 billion by May, signaling growing participation in on-chain commodity instruments.
  • The HYPE token has seen notable momentum, rising from roughly $20 to around $44 at the time of publication, with notable short-term upside touted by market observers.

HIP-3 and the floodgates of on-chain commodities

Hyperliquid introduced HIP-3—referred to as “Builder-Deployed Perpetuals”—in January 2025. The model lets any user who stakes 500,000 HYPE, the platform’s native token, construct perpetual futures markets for virtually any electronically traded asset class. In practice, this framework accelerates the migration of traditional market mechanics onto the blockchain, extending the reach of on-chain derivatives into energy-linked products that previously existed only in centralized venues.

The move aligns with a broader industry trend: significant portions of traditional finance are exploring or migrating to on-chain infrastructure, challenging the clear boundary between centralized exchanges and decentralized platforms. HIP-3 markets have drawn substantial attention from traders and liquidity providers, as evidenced by rising open interest and sustained activity, with DeFi data aggregators noting growth through May. The upshot for the market is twofold: expanded access to on-chain derivatives for energy-related assets, and heightened scrutiny from regulators wary of opacity and cross-border implications.

Market response and investor sentiment

Investor reaction to HIP-3 has been pronounced. After HIP-3’s launch, the HYPE token posted significant appreciation. The token surged by more than 58% within three days of the market’s expansion, moving from a roughly $20 threshold to around $38, and was trading near $44 when this report was prepared. Market observers have pointed to the token’s structure, including a 97% allocation of trading fee revenue back into HYPE buybacks, as a driver of demand and price strength over time.

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In March, well-known market commentator and investor Arthur Hayes forecast that HYPE could reach as high as $150 per token by August, driven by sustained demand for commodities-linked, on-chain derivatives and the potential to siphon volumes from centralized exchanges. While such forecasts reflect a particular bears-and-bulls perspective, they underscore the degree to which HIP-3 and the broader Hyperliquid ecosystem have captured attention from traders seeking exposure to energy-market dynamics via decentralized channels.

Open interest for HIP-3 markets has continued to climb since inception, with figures showing more than $2.5 billion at the height of May activity, according to DeFiLlama data. This level of liquidity suggests growing confidence among participants in the viability of builder-deployed perpetuals as a mechanism to access energy and other commodity exposures on-chain, even as regulators deliberate how such platforms should be overseen within the broader financial system.

What this means for the crypto and energy markets

The clash between Hyperliquid’s expansion and the concerns voiced by ICE and CME highlights a decisive moment for the intersection of crypto, DeFi, and traditional energy markets. On one hand, HIP-3 represents a deliberate attempt to democratize the creation of perpetual futures, enabling market participants—from retail traders to sophisticated institutions—to design and access new liquidity pools for asset classes previously confined to fiat-native markets. On the other hand, the reliance on a decentralized, semi-anonymous framework raises legitimate questions about market integrity, price discovery, and sanction risk in essential sectors such as oil and gas.

Regulators, for their part, appear poised to weigh potential safeguards or restrictions as Hyperliquid continues to grow. The Bloomberg report suggests that conversations are ongoing, with no immediate regulatory consensus in sight. For investors and builders, the key questions are how HIP-3 markets will be regulated going forward, what risk controls, disclosure standards, or licensing requirements might emerge, and how these dynamics could affect liquidity, funding rates, and on-chain hedging capabilities in energy markets.

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Meanwhile, the broader market will be watching how Hyperliquid balances growth with compliance, and whether other traditional financial players will follow the same path toward on-chain commodity exposure. The next developments—regulatory guidance, potential policy shifts, and updates from Hyperliquid about risk controls—will likely shape the pace and shape of continued innovation in on-chain derivatives.

As Hyperliquid’s HIP-3 experiment unfolds, readers should monitor regulatory updates and platform-rules disclosures, as well as metrics on open interest, trading volumes, and the health of the buyback program. The outcome will influence not only the viability of builder-deployed perpetuals but also the broader narrative around the integration of real-world assets with decentralized finance.

Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

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Revolut wins FCA approval for private wealth push

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UK committee pushes for crypto donation ban over foreign influence risks

Revolut secured FCA approval on May 14 to offer private wealth services and leveraged products in the UK.

Summary

  • The FCA granted Revolut Trading a Variation of Permissions enabling managed investments and principal dealing for the first time.
  • Revolut plans to launch a UK private banking unit this summer with a £500,000 deposit threshold.
  • The move follows Revolut’s UK banking licence grant in March 2026 and its MiCA crypto licence secured through Cyprus.

Victoria Laffey, head of operations at Revolut Trading, said the new permissions are “the missing piece allowing us to unite investment, advisory and portfolio management under one roof, making them even more accessible.”

The Variation of Permissions gives Revolut Trading the regulatory tools to manage client investment portfolios and deal as principal, enabling leveraged investment products, discretionary portfolio management and advisory services for retail, professional and high-net-worth clients within a single platform.

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FCA approval opens wealth management push

Revolut won a full UK banking licence from the Prudential Regulation Authority in March 2026 after a three year application process. The licence transformed the fintech from an electronic money institution into a fully regulated bank, providing the legal foundation required to expand into wealth management and lending.

The company is reportedly planning a private banking unit for later this summer, targeting clients with at least £500,000 in deposits. The minimum would position Revolut between Coutts, which recently raised its threshold to £3 million, and the mass affluent segment traditional private banks have largely left underserved.

Revolut’s wealth division has become a major revenue contributor. The company secured a MiCA crypto licence through Cyprus in October 2025, giving it passportable access to 30 European Economic Area markets for regulated crypto services. More than 10 million customers already hold or trade crypto on the platform.

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The FCA permissions pair with Revolut’s broader regulatory expansion. The company applied for a US national banking charter in March 2026, targeting access to American payment rails and credit products ahead of a planned 2028 IPO. Wealth revenues at the firm climbed 31% to $876 million in 2025, with crypto activity cited as a meaningful driver.

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Starbucks (SBUX) Stock Climbs as Company Unveils Major Restructuring with 300 Job Cuts

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SBUX Stock Card

Key Highlights

  • The coffee chain is eliminating 300 corporate positions in the U.S. spanning technology, finance, marketing, and research divisions
  • Four regional corporate hubs in Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Burbank are being shut down
  • Restructuring expenses will total $400 million
  • Additional workforce reductions in international markets are anticipated as the company evaluates its global support structure
  • SBUX shares climbed approximately 1% on Friday after the news broke

Starbucks (SBUX) stock experienced a modest uptick of roughly 1% on Friday following the coffee giant’s announcement of 300 corporate job eliminations and multiple regional office closures, continuing CEO Brian Niccol’s transformation strategy.


SBUX Stock Card
Starbucks Corporation, SBUX

The workforce reductions target employees stationed in Seattle and those working remotely throughout the nation. Departments affected encompass technology, marketing, finance, and research and development operations. Front-line retail workers will remain untouched by these cuts.

Starbucks is simultaneously closing down regional corporate facilities in Chicago, Atlanta, Dallas, and Burbank, California. The company plans to maintain operations in New York, Toronto, Coral Gables, and its primary Seattle headquarters, alongside a forthcoming Nashville facility.

The coffee retailer anticipates incurring $400 million in restructuring expenses associated with these strategic changes. Within that total, $280 million represents non-cash charges stemming from asset impairments, particularly right-of-use lease assets and related long-lived assets.

The remaining $120 million in cash-based charges primarily cover employee severance and separation packages. Importantly, none of these financial charges impact Starbucks’ retail coffee shop network.

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These reductions form part of an ambitious initiative to eliminate $2 billion in operational expenses by fiscal year 2028. The projected savings will help fund substantial investments planned for cafe-level improvements and operations.

International Workforce Reductions Expected

Starbucks acknowledged it is conducting a comprehensive evaluation of its international support infrastructure. The organization stated it “expects additional role impacts outside the U.S.” as it transitions toward becoming a “world-class licensor.”

A company representative informed Investing.com that the corporation is simultaneously “streamlining its real estate footprint” and reassessing lease obligations on a global scale.

This marks another chapter in Niccol’s restructuring campaign. During the previous year, Starbucks eliminated approximately 2,000 corporate positions through two separate reduction rounds and shuttered hundreds of retail locations across the United States.

Despite the cutbacks, the company continues making strategic investments. Starbucks is developing a new $100 million corporate campus in Nashville designed to accommodate 2,000 employees. Technology and supply-chain functions are being relocated from Seattle to this emerging operational center.

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Certain senior executives have been granted stock-based incentives worth $6 million contingent upon achieving the cost-reduction objectives.

Nashville Expansion Progresses

The Nashville facility signifies a strategic geographic realignment in Starbucks’ corporate infrastructure approach.

Although Seattle continues as the primary headquarters, the organization is clearly redistributing functions rather than engaging in across-the-board elimination.

The $280 million in non-cash expenses primarily relate to a comprehensive reevaluation of its Starbucks Reserve and Roastery concepts, combined with initiatives to enhance efficiency at non-retail support locations.

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Starbucks emphasized that none of the office consolidations or restructuring costs are linked to its coffeehouse retail operations.

The company’s international organizational review remains in progress, with additional announcements regarding overseas positions anticipated in coming months.

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OKX Reportedly Eyes Coinone Stake Amid South Korea Crypto Race

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OKX Reportedly Eyes Coinone Stake Amid South Korea Crypto Race

Global crypto exchange OKX is reportedly in talks with Korea Investment & Securities to take a major stake in Coinone, marking the latest shakeup in South Korea’s tightly regulated crypto exchange market.

According to a Friday report by Korean media outlet Yonhap, the two firms are discussing plans to each acquire around 20% of Coinone, mainly through the issuance of new shares rather than the sale of existing stock, a structure that would inject fresh capital while initially leaving management control largely unchanged.

In early April, Korean media reported that Korea Investment & Securities was reviewing a possible acquisition of a stake in Coinone as part of a broader push into digital assets, and that no final decision had been made.

The reported deal would give OKX a foothold in one of Asia’s largest won-denominated crypto markets, as South Korean regulators intensify scrutiny of local exchanges over anti-money-laundering (AML) controls and ownership rules.

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Coinone faces tighter AML scrutiny from regulators

On April 13, South Korean authorities fined Coinone about $3.5 million and ordered a three-month partial business suspension over serious AML failures, including deficient customer verification and dealings with unregistered overseas exchanges.

South Korea’s Financial Services Commission details strengthened 2026 AML oversight. Source: FSC

Even so, Coinone remains one of the country’s five main won-trading venues, alongside Upbit, Bithumb, Korbit and Gopax, making any sizable reported stake a potential entry point in one of Asia’s most important crypto markets.

Related: South Korea crypto holdings halve in a year as investors turn to stock market

The reported approach follows earlier interest from other global players this year. In January, several local outlets reported that Coinbase was weighing an equity investment in Coinone, as its controlling shareholder explored a partial sale; however, no Coinbase deal was announced.

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Cointelegraph reached out to Korea Investment & Securities for comment, but did not receive a response by publication. OKX declined to comment on the matter.

Korean financial giants deepen bets on crypto exchanges

Domestic financial groups, meanwhile, are moving aggressively to lock down platforms of their own. In February, Mirae Asset Consulting agreed to buy a 92.06% stake in Korbit for 133.48 billion won (about $93 million), effectively taking control of the smaller exchange as part of Mirae Asset Group’s digital asset push.

On Friday, Hana Financial Group said it will invest roughly 1.003 trillion won (about $668 million) to acquire a 6.55% stake in Dunamu Inc., operator of one of Korea’s biggest crypto exchanges, Upbit, with the deal slated to close in mid-June as a long-term strategic bet on crypto infrastructure and related services.

The transactions highlight growing competition among both foreign exchanges and domestic financial firms to secure positions in South Korea’s tightly regulated crypto market.

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Asia Express: North Korea denies crypto hacks, Upbit’s bank tests Ripple

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THORChain Halts Trading After ZachXBT Flags $10M Exploit

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THORChain Halts Trading After ZachXBT Flags $10M Exploit

Decentralized liquidity protocol THORChain halted trading after blockchain investigator ZachXBT flagged a suspected exploit of more than $10 million.

A THORChain alerts Telegram channel showed all trading and signing halted, with a global node pause extended until block 26191149, or roughly 12 hours and 42 minutes. The halt came shortly after ZachXBT said the protocol had likely been exploited across Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB Chain and Base.

A wallet labeled by Arkham as the THORChain exploiter showed $10.8 million in holdings, transferred across several smaller transactions in the 30 minutes before 10:11 am UTC.

The suspected exploit adds to the mounting security concerns around decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols, after hackers stole over $634 million during April, marking the highest monthly sum since the $1.46 billion in February 2025, when hackers staged the record $1.4 billion hack on Bybit exchange, DefiLlama data shows.

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Cointelegraph reached out to THORChain for comment. The protocol had not publicly confirmed the exploit at the time of publication, though ZachXBT and PeckShield flagged suspicious activity, and THORChain alerts showed trading and signing had been halted.

Thorchain exploiter-tagged wallet. Source: Arkham

RUNE price falls 13% after suspected exploit 

THORChain’s RUNE token fell by around 13% following the suspected exploit and traded near $0.51 at the time of writing, according to CoinGecko data.

RUNE/USD, one-day chart. Source: CoinGecko

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The latest correction adds additional pressure to the token’s price action, which is down 72% during the past year.

Related: Kelp DAO exploit prompts DeFi protocols to rethink oracle providers

As a non-custodial cross-chain protocol, THORChain has repeatedly been used by malicious actors to swap stolen funds, though it is not a cryptocurrency mixer like Tornado Cash.

Earlier in April, the attacker behind the $293 million Kelp DAO exploit swapped 75,700 Ether (ETH) through THORChain, generating about $910,000 in revenue for the protocol.

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The majority of the $1.4 billion stolen during the Bybit hack, or about $1.2 billion, was also moved through THORChain by hackers, who swapped it from Ether to Bitcoin, according to Bybit co-founder and CEO Ben Zhou.

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Bitcoin Will ‘Likely’ Break Support Next as $82,000 Stays Unflipped

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Bitcoin Will 'Likely' Break Support Next as $82,000 Stays Unflipped

Bitcoin (BTC) risks starting its “next downtrend” as bulls fail to break beyond $82,000, the latest analysis warns.

Key points:

  • Bitcoin traders are beginning to sway toward a support retest or even a new “downtrend” for BTC/USD.
  • Current price behavior has retained overhead resistance, with bulls unable to push through $82,000.
  • Rangebound crypto markets spark $330 million in liquidations over 24 hours.

Trader: BTC price will “likely break below” support

Bitcoin traders are increasingly split on where BTC/USD will go next, but calls for lower levels are growing.

“For now, price remains in range, within value, rotating just above the very key ‘range high,’” trading account JDK Analysis wrote in its latest updates on X.

BTC/USD one-hour chart. Source: JDK Analysis/X

As Cointelegraph reported, that rangebound construction, in place through most of May, is bordered by a CME futures gap and a key 200-day trend line to the upside.

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With both staying in place for now, market participants are starting to assume that the bottom of the range will be retested instead.

“Now it’s important to watch how price reacts at the support zone we already bounced from once before. In my opinion, we will likely break below it this time,” CGT Trader said

BTC/USD one-hour chart. Source: CGT Trader/X

Trader BitBull went further, seeing the risk of a protracted period of downside BTC price pressure about to enter.

“$BTC failed to reclaim the $82,000 level again,” they told X followers on Friday. 

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“It seems like the next downtrend could start soon.”

BTC/USDC one-day chart. Source: BitBull/X

Hopes for Bitcoin’s “massive catch-up” to stocks persist

Trading circles are not without their more optimistic takes. 

Related: Bitcoin price history suggests 77% odds of new all-time high within a year

Cryptic Trades predicts that BTC/USD will follow in the footsteps of US stock markets, which continue to post new all-time highs.

“$BTC is going to play a massive catch-up in the upcoming weeks,” it summarized.

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Examining the Bollinger Bands volatility indicator, meanwhile, trader Cai Soren said that bulls “stepped in instantly” to defend support.

Earlier, Cointelegraph noted bullish signals from the bands, which even caused their creator, John Bollinger, to act.

“As long as support keeps holding, momentum still looks strong for continuation higher,” Soren forecast.

BTC/USDT four-hour chart with Bollings Bands data. Source: Cai Soren/X

Data from CoinGlass shows the impact of rangebound moves across crypto markets, with 24-hour liquidations roughly equal across both long and short positions.

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These totaled around $330 million at the time of writing.

Crypto liquidation history (screenshot). Source: CoinGlass

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BloFin War of Whales 2026 Grand Prix opens registration for $5M trading championship

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BloFin War of Whales 2026 Grand Prix opens registration for $5M trading championship

May 15, 2026, Press release – BloFin, a prominent global cryptocurrency exchange, has officially opened registration for its highly anticipated trading competition, the WOW (War of Whales) 2026 Grand Prix. Returning bigger and bolder than ever, this year’s edition boasts an extraordinary total prize pool of up to $5,000,000 USDT, exclusive luxury giveaways, and a groundbreaking new twist — for the first time, human traders will go head-to-head against AI in a battle to claim the title of the ultimate whale.

Under the rallying cry “Squad Up. Beat AI.”, WOW 2026 is set to become one of the most dynamic and forward-looking trading events of the year, bringing together crypto traders, elite squads, and algorithmic challengers worldwide.

Four thrilling competition formats, one epic trading season

This year’s WOW Grand Prix offers participants multiple distinct ways to compete and win big. The formats include the Trading Competition (Futures), Treasure Box Prize Hunt, Lucky Spin Draw, and Grand Lotto Giveaway — alongside the brand-new Human vs AI Showdown, where traders are challenged to outperform BloFin’s AI-driven benchmarks for a share of bonus prize tiers.

Throughout the competition window, traders can engage in team battles, climb individual leaderboards, unlock random rewards, spin their way toward exclusive prizes, and prove that human intuition still has an edge over the machines — creating a truly immersive next-generation trading experience.

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Scaling prize pool — up to $5,000,000 USDT

The prize pool for the WOW 2026 Grand Prix is designed to scale with total trading volume milestones, starting at a base reward tier and expanding to a massive $5,000,000 USDT as community trading volume grows. The more participants trade, the larger the total prize pool becomes for everyone.

The prize distribution is structured as follows:

  • 40% — Team Competition (by Trading Volume)
  • 20% — Team Competition (by PNL %)
  • 25% — Individual Competition (by Trading Volume)
  • 15% — Individual Competition (by PNL %)

Additional top-tier rewards include a marquee luxury grand prize for the top-performing team and premium giveaways for individual champions across the leaderboards.

Introducing the WOW 2026 PNL Card — Now AI-Enhanced

Building on last year’s success, BloFin is unveiling the next evolution of the WOW (War of Whales) 2026 PNL Card — a distinctive digital emblem crafted for elite competitors. Inspired by the cyber-themed aesthetic of the WOW Grand Prix and infused with this year’s AI-versus-human narrative, this limited-edition PNL Card serves as a personalized record of each trader’s performance throughout the competition.

Participants can proudly display their achievements, track their battle stats, showcase their Human vs AI scorecards, and share their milestones within the crypto trading community.

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Registration now open

Registration for the WOW 2026 Grand Prix is now open. Team leaders can create squads, and users are encouraged to join early to maximize their competitive edge before the trading window begins.

About BloFin

BloFin is a top-tier cryptocurrency exchange that specializes in futures trading. The platform offers a wide range of trading options, including 550+ USDT-M perpetual pairs, Coin-Margined Perpetual Contracts, spot trading, copy trading, API access, unified account management, and advanced sub-account solutions. Committed to security and compliance, BloFin integrates Fireblocks and Chainalysis to ensure robust asset protection. By partnering with top affiliates, BloFin delivers scalable trading solutions, efficient fund management, and enhanced flexibility for professional traders. As a constant sponsor of TOKEN2049, BloFin continues to expand its global presence, reinforcing its position as the place “WHERE WHALES ARE MADE.”

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House Panel Urges Trump to Nominate CFTC Members Under CLARITY Act

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Crypto Breaking News

A bipartisan push to fully staff the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) gained momentum this week as lawmakers warned that a major crypto market-structure bill could hinge on timely leadership at the regulator.

In a Friday letter to President Donald Trump, House Agriculture Committee Chair Glenn Thompson and ranking member Angie Craig urged the administration to nominate a complete panel of CFTC commissioners. They pointed to urgent regulatory issues facing the agency and a substantial rulemaking process anticipated if the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act (CLARITY) becomes law. “Ensuring the Commission is well-equipped as the leading derivatives markets regulator in the world is a bipartisan priority for the members of our Committee,” the lawmakers wrote, arguing a full commission would help the agency promote integrity, resilience, and vibrancy in US derivatives markets and reinforce US leadership.

Source for the letter: US House Agriculture Committee.

Meanwhile, Michael Selig remains the lone CFTC commissioner, having taken the helm after acting chair Caroline Pham resigned in December 2025. Under Selig, the commission has aligned with the administration on several fronts, including assertions of exclusive jurisdiction over prediction markets.

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Earlier coverage noted the agency’s stance on rulemaking. In an April hearing with the House Agriculture Committee, Selig said he did not intend to slow down rulemaking despite the absence of four other commissioners. The CFTC also issued a memorandum of understanding with the US Securities and Exchange Commission in March to coordinate oversight of markets, including digital assets.

The CFTC under the CLARITY Act

On Thursday, the Senate Banking Committee voted to advance the CLARITY Act, setting the bill up for a potential floor vote. The measure would give the CFTC greater authority to oversee and regulate digital asset markets, a shift with wide implications for crypto users and market participants alike. As of Friday, no floor schedule had been announced.

The leadership gap at the CFTC has drawn attention from lawmakers considering crypto market structure. Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar, who sits on the Senate Agriculture Committee, proposed an amendment in January requiring that CLARITY not take effect until at least four CFTC commissioners have been nominated and confirmed.

Trump has not publicly announced any CFTC commissioner picks as of Friday. Any nominations would need to clear Senate confirmation, a process that could take weeks or months depending on political dynamics and committee timelines.

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Related coverage from Cointelegraph noted related developments in CFTC actions and interagency coordination efforts, including discussions around rulemaking and market oversight.

As policymakers weigh the competitive and regulatory implications of a more expansive CFTC mandate, investors, traders, and developers in the crypto space will be watching closely for the speed and clarity with which leadership can be restored at the agency. The CLARITY Act’s fate—and the CFTC’s ability to implement new rules—could shape how digital assets are treated within traditional derivatives markets and how promptly market participants must adapt to evolving oversight standards.

What remains uncertain is how quickly a full CFTC commission can be formed and how any new governance will interact with ongoing interagency coordination, especially given the already-noted memorandum with the SEC. If leadership timelines stretch longer, the industry might face continued regulatory ambiguity even as Congress signals a strong intent to expand the CFTC’s remit over digital assets.

Readers should monitor next steps in the confirmation process for nominees, the Senate’s agenda for CLARITY Act floor scheduling, and any new statements from the CFTC as rulemaking advances or adjusts to the post-clarity regulatory framework.

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Risk & affiliate notice: Crypto assets are volatile and capital is at risk. This article may contain affiliate links. Read full disclosure

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BlackRock Warns AI Capex Is Turning Micro Into Macro for Markets

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BlackRock Warns AI Capex Is Turning Micro Into Macro for Markets

BlackRock Investment Institute warned investors that company-level AI capex now drives the entire macro market backdrop. The asset manager said its first 2026 theme, micro is macro, captures the shift.

The note from strategists Jean Boivin and Wei Li lands as Big Tech capital spending tracks roughly $725 billion this year. That figure is up about 10% from estimates made before first-quarter earnings. Capex on this scale rivals traditional macro drivers.

AI Capex Now Rivals Traditional Macro Forces

The micro-is-macro thesis argues that capex from a few firms shapes growth, earnings, and yields. That spending now rivals central bank policy as a market driver.

BlackRock estimates AI infrastructure investment could reach $5 trillion to $8 trillion this decade. The Magnificent Seven recently tracked roughly 57% quarterly earnings growth. AI is now the dominant force behind US equity gains.

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The firm believes AI could be the first innovation in 150 years strong enough to lift US growth above 2%. It stresses that the outcome remains uncertain.

Inflation and the Strait of Hormuz raise the stakes

Sticky price pressures were already elevated before the Strait of Hormuz closure added fresh energy risks. BlackRock now sees about three rate hikes priced into Europe, with the U.S. on hold.

The firm stays overweight US and emerging-market equities. It cautions that long-term Treasuries no longer offer the portfolio ballast they once did. Higher yields, paired with sticky inflation, could begin to pressure valuations if disruptions persist.

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Bitcoin gets caught in the macro crosswind

The crypto market reflects the same forces. Bitcoin (BTC) trades near $80,646, roughly 36% below its October 2025 record of $126,080. Ethereum (ETH) sits around $2,260, more than 50% off its August 2025 peak.

Capital that once flowed to risk assets is being diverted to AI capex and energy security, raising competition for funding. BlackRock argues that genuine diversification now requires private markets and hedge funds rather than traditional cross-asset spreads.

Rising leverage, weaker traditional hedges, and a few mega forces driving everything leave little room for passive positioning. Whether AI capex sustains its growth premium or starts to crowd out other assets is now the key question. The answer may set the tone for risk markets through the second half of 2026.

The post BlackRock Warns AI Capex Is Turning Micro Into Macro for Markets appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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Bitcoin Battles US Bond Nerves With BTC Price Dip Toward New May Lows

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Bitcoin Battles US Bond Nerves With BTC Price Dip Toward New May Lows

Bitcoin (BTC) fell below $80,000 at Friday’s Wall Street open as analysis tied risk-asset weakness to US bond markets.

Key points:

  • Bitcoin eyes its lowest levels of May as concerns over US bond yields spark a risk-asset rout.
  • US 10-year treasury yields rise above levels that sparked a US tariff pause on China last year.
  • Traders wait for new local lows for BTC/USD as support stability is eroded.

Bitcoin suffers as risk-asset “euphoria” turns sour

Data from TradingView tracked 3% daily BTC price losses, with downside intensifying as the US session began. BTC/USD approached its lowest levels in May so far.

BTC/USD one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Stocks also gave back gains after hitting new all-time highs earlier in the week.

S&P 500 one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Reacting, trading resource The Kobeissi Letter saw risk-asset “euphoria” giving way to concerns about “unsustainable” US bond yields.

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“The bond market crisis is intensifying. The US 10Y Note Yield is now officially above 4.55% for the first time since May 2025,” it wrote in a post on X.

“After weeks of euphoria, the market is beginning to react today. As we have been stating for the last few weeks, the current situation in the bond market is unsustainable.”

US 10-year treasury note yield one-day chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Kobeissi noted that yields were now above levels seen in April 2025, when US President Donald Trump halted the implementation of trade tariffs on China. That move, it said, came due to “a collapsing bond market.”

“Furthermore, the market now sees a 60%+ chance that the Fed’s next move is an interest rate HIKE, with rate cuts entirely priced-out,” the post added. 

“We expect to see 7%+ mortgages next, all as auto loan delinquencies have reached 32-year highs. Inflation is back and higher rates are coming.”

Fed target rate probabilities (screenshot). Source: CME Group

The latest data from CME Group’s FedWatch Tool showed a 0.25% interest-rate hike as the most likely outcome by March 2027.

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BTC price lows back on the radar

As Cointelegraph reported, traders were already unsure about Bitcoin’s ability to climb beyond $82,000 local highs.

Related: Bitcoin price history suggests 77% odds of new all-time high within a year

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A support retest was already on the cards, and targets on the day extended toward the mid-$70,000 zone.

“Honestly, not a good sign that $BTC fully retraced the move from yesterday,” trader Pat told X followers.

BTC/USD comparison. Source: Pat/X

Rangebound continuation was an increasingly popular option, with analyst Eric Coleman suggesting that low-time frame price action was predictable.

“BTC pumped from the marked horizontal support just as expected and again it got rejected below the trendline and the horizontal resistance,” he wrote alongside an explanatory chart. 

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“Further movement in between the horizontal support and resistance is expected until a solid breakout or breakdown occurs.”

BTC/USDT four-hour chart. Source: Eric Coleman/X

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CLARITY Act Faces Partisan Fight Over Ethics on Senate floor

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CLARITY Act Faces Partisan Fight Over Ethics on Senate floor

The US Senate Banking Committee passed the crypto framework CLARITY Act yesterday.

Now, the bill, for which the crypto industry has heavily lobbied since it was introduced in 2025, will head to the Senate floor for a broader debate. 

As Cointelegraph reported, over 100 amendments were proposed while lawmakers hashed out the exact language of the bill. These covered a wide range of issues, including ethics, AI sandboxes and stablecoin yields.

But many of these fell apart. While two Democrats joined with their Republican colleagues, the vote was mainly along party lines. 

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The chances for the bill to pass look good, with nearly all Republicans and some Democrats supporting, but increasing partisan gridlock ahead of the elections could still delay passage. 

CLARITY gets out of committee on party lines

After yesterday’s session, Senator and committee chairman Tim Scott announced “a successful bipartisan markup” in advance of the bill proceeding to the Senate floor.

Scott speaks at the markup session. Source: US Senate

“After nearly a year of good-faith bipartisan negotiations, Senate Banking Committee Republicans and Democrats came together today,” he said.

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While the tone of Scott’s announcement leaned on supposed bipartisanship, the actual vote was mostly split along party lines. All 13 Republican members of the committee voted to advance the bill. All but two Democrats voted against, save for Senators Ruben Gallego and Angela Alsobrooks.

Contrary to Scott’s message of bipartisanship, Senator Jack Reed stated that Republicans arbitrarily dismissed Democrats’ concerns about the bill, which ranged from how crypto could enable crime to the president’s use of crypto projects for personal enrichment. 

Indeed, the minority released a brief after the vote, outlining its concerns. They stated that the current version, as passed by the majority, fails to adopt global anti-money laundering standards, exempts DeFi protocols from financial standards and doesn’t close loopholes for crypto mixer services. 

Related: Who supports CLARITY on the US Senate Banking Committee?

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While there are clearly some pro-crypto Democrats in Congress, whether the bill can progress depends on them crossing the aisle to vote against their own party. 

Currently, the Republicans hold a 53-seat majority in the 100-seat Senate. To pass CLARITY, they’ll need 60 votes, so at least seven Democrats willing to vote with them. 

Republicans (red) hold a 53-seat majority in the Senate.

At the Wyoming Blockchain Summit last year, Scott said that there were 12 Democrats open to the market structure bill, giving Republicans and the crypto lobby what they need to cross the line.

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But that may not ring as true now as it did then. The Congressional Progressive Caucus announced opposition to any bill which could “allow the President and his family to enrich themselves, engage in corruption, and sell access to the White House through cryptocurrency.” Notably, CLARITY’s current draft does not contain any such provisions. 

Progressive groups have called on lawmakers to address these concerns. A group of organizations including Americans for Financial Reform, Demand Progress Action, Indivisible and Public Citizen wrote a letter on May 8.

“A bill without strong ethics provisions elevates the dangers of cheating consumers and investors, distorting and destabilizing financial markets, hindering competition, eroding longstanding investor protection laws, and making a mockery of regulatory enforcement,” they said.

Ryan Cooper, a senior editor at progressive politics publication The American Prospect, even suggested that Democrats who voted with the crypto industry ought to be primaried. “Allowing yourself to be bought by the crypto lobby is unforgivable,” he wrote

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Ethics could represent a politically volatile and important sticking point as the bill is debated on the Senate floor. 

Industry still optimistic 

Despite the largely partisan vote and the lingering ethics concerns, the crypto industry was largely optimsitc about the May 14 markup session. 

Javier Martinez, CEO and former chief legal officer at crypto trading platform sFOX, said the vote represented a “major step toward resolving crypto’s regulatory identity crisis in the United States.”

Congress is “moving toward replacing regulatory ambiguity with a more defined legal framework. And markets respond to clarity,” he told Cointelegraph.

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Ji Hun Kim of the Crypto Council for Innovation said the vote will make the US more competitive in the digital asset space. CLARITY will “ensure that our country leads when it comes to digital assets policy and innovation,” he said. 

Blockchain investors and Blockstreet chief operating officer Kyle Chasse said, “This is the biggest regulatory moment in crypto since spot ETFs.”

Notably, the bill was held up for months as the banking and crypto lobbies argued over whether stablecoins could bear yields. Banks claimed this could lead to a critical flight of deposits, endangering financial stability, while crypto accused banks of stifling competition.

The version that passed markup last night sided with the banks, but would still allow crypto platforms to offer other activity-based rewards.

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Even then, pseudonymous crypto trader 10 Delta said, “The yield ‘ban’ is cosmetic & simply something for banks to tout as a victory.” 

“It bans stablecoins from paying you interest for just holding them: the way a savings account does. But it explicitly allows stablecoins to pay you rewards for using them: buying things, lending, providing liquidity, participating in any program.”

Ultimately, the focus is still on the market. Alexander Lorenzo, founder and chief investment officer of CoinPicks Capital, said, “The last crypto bill to clear this exact process was the GENIUS Act in July 2025. Bitcoin hit an all-time high of $123,000 within weeks.”

“CLARITY is bigger. It covers the entire crypto market, not just stablecoins.”

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