Key takeaways

• BTC dips lower for a fourth straight day on Monday after losing nearly 6% the previous week.
• US-listed BTC spot ETFs record a weekly outflow of $1 billion, the highest in three months.

Bitcoin (BTC) remained under pressure on Monday, trading below $77,000 after declining nearly 6% last week, as persistent spot ETF outflows and stronger-than-expected US inflation data dampened investor appetite for risk assets.

The latest decline marks Bitcoin’s fourth consecutive day of losses, with the cryptocurrency continuing to retreat after failing to sustain momentum above the key $82,000 resistance zone.

Hot US inflation data boosts hawkish Fed expectations

Bitcoin’s recent weakness accelerated following hotter-than-expected US inflation data released last week, alongside stronger US retail sales figures that reinforced expectations for a more hawkish Federal Reserve.

The renewed inflation concerns strengthened the US dollar and pushed Treasury yields higher, creating additional pressure on risk-sensitive assets such as cryptocurrencies.

Higher interest rate expectations typically reduce market liquidity and shift investor capital toward safer, yield-generating assets, limiting demand for speculative markets like Bitcoin.

The rejection near the $82,000 level also triggered additional profit-taking from short-term holders, intensifying the correction.

Institutional demand for Bitcoin also weakened notably last week. According to data from CoinGlass, US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded net outflows of approximately $1 billion last week, marking the largest weekly withdrawal since late January.

The sharp reversal in ETF flows signals a cooling of institutional sentiment after several weeks of strong inflows that had previously supported Bitcoin’s rally.

If ETF outflows continue in the coming sessions, analysts warn that Bitcoin could face additional downside pressure.

Bitcoin price outlook: Bulls failed to take out a key resistance level

The BTC/USD 4-hour chart is bearish after Bitcoin’s price was rejected near the 100-week Exponential Moving Average (EMA) around $82,289.

BTC also closed last week below the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level near $78,490, measured from the October all-time high of $126,199 to the February low around $60,000.

The breakdown below those key technical levels has shifted momentum firmly lower. If selling pressure persists, Bitcoin could extend losses toward the major psychological support level at $75,000.

On the weekly chart, momentum indicators remain mixed but increasingly cautious. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) slipped below the neutral 50 level and currently sits near 35, signaling a strong bearish momentum.

Meanwhile, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) histogram is also in the negative region, suggesting that the bears are in control. 

If the bearish trend persists, immediate support sits near the clustered 50-day and 100-day EMAs below current price action.

Further downside targets include the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement near $74,487, followed by the previous trendline breakout zone around $70,576.

Below that, the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement near $68,950 remains a critical level protecting Bitcoin’s broader bullish structure above the $60,000 swing low.

However, if the bulls regain control, initial resistance emerges near the 50% Fibonacci retracement around $78,962, followed by the 200-day EMA near $81,853.

A stronger bullish continuation would likely require a daily close above the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement near $83,437 and the horizontal resistance barrier around $84,410.

Key takeaways

• Dogecoin extends its correction on Monday as memecoins record huge losses.
• DOGE could drop below $0.10 if the bearish trend persists. 

Memecoins record huge losses

The cryptocurrency market opened the new weekly candle bearish, with Bitcoin (BTC) slipping below the $77,000 level on Monday and risk appetite deteriorating across digital assets.

Meme coins started the week on a weak footing as the broader cryptocurrency market continued to struggle. Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and Pepe all remain vulnerable to further downside after heavy selling pressure emerged following last week’s market correction.

DOGE is down by 5%, making it the worst performer among the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market cap. 

Dogecoin briefly rallied last week and retested the important weekly resistance zone near $0.119 on Thursday before sellers regained control.

The rejection triggered a fresh wave of downside pressure, with DOGE falling nearly 6% through Sunday and extending losses further on Monday as the token traded below the $0.106 level.

Technical outlook: DOGE risks a deeper correction below key EMAs

The DOGE/USD 4-hour chart is bearish as the leading memecoin has dropped below major support levels. 

If DOGE closes the daily candle below the 100-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) near $0.106, selling pressure could intensify toward the 50-day EMA around $0.103.

A decisive breakdown below that support area may expose the previous trendline breakout region near $0.090, which now acts as the next major downside target.

Momentum indicators continue to reinforce the bearish outlook for Dogecoin. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the 4-hour chart currently sits near 41, slipping below the neutral 50 threshold and signaling that bearish momentum is beginning to strengthen.

Meanwhile, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator confirmed a bearish crossover on Saturday, a signal that remains active and continues to support downside risk in the near term.

Despite the bearish setup, Dogecoin could still attempt a short-term rebound if buyers successfully defend the 100-day EMA support near $0.106.

A sustained hold above that level may allow DOGE to recover toward the key weekly resistance zone around $0.119.

However, broader market sentiment, particularly Bitcoin’s direction, is likely to remain the dominant driver for meme coin price action in the near term.

South Korea’s financial regulator is reportedly reviewing Hana Bank’s planned $668 million purchase of a 6.55% stake in Dunamu, the operator of the largest domestic cryptocurrency exchange, Upbit.

Local outlet iNews24 cited an unnamed Financial Services Commission official to report that regulators are examining whether Hana Bank’s share purchase from Kakao Investment, rather than directly from Dunamu, falls under broader “banking-commerce separation” rules.

The official said Hana’s investment would be assessed under the same standards as a direct stake in the exchange operator.

Hana Financial Group’s banking unit agreed to buy about 2.2 million Dunamu shares from Kakao Investment for 1 trillion won (roughly $668 million) on Friday.

The transaction would make Hana Bank the fourth-largest shareholder of Upbit. Source: DART

South Korea scrutinizes bank ties to crypto firms

South Korea’s crypto market has long operated under a supervisory principle known locally as “banking-commerce separation,” which limits ownership ties between traditional financial institutions and non-financial businesses.

Related: South Korea plans July rules for tokenized securities

Crypto firms such as Dunamu occupy a gray area under the framework because virtual asset operators are not classified as traditional financial institutions.

In the local outlet Maeil Business Newspaper on Monday, a high-ranking FSC official was cited as saying that “banking-commerce separation” constraints on crypto are not explicitly written into current law and instead operate through policy and supervision.

Some restrictions involving bank participation in crypto operate through supervisory policy and regulatory interpretation rather than explicit legislation.

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

In April, South Korea’s ruling Democratic Party proposed its own version of a wide-ranging crypto bill that could establish a legal framework for cryptocurrencies, stablecoins and virtual asset service providers.

Broader finance push into South Korea’s crypto market

Hana’s move comes amid a broader push by financial groups into South Korea’s tightly regulated crypto market.

In February, Mirae Asset agreed to buy a 92.06% stake in exchange Korbit via Mirae Asset Consulting for about 133.5 billion won (roughly $93 million), rather than through its securities arm.

On Friday, local media reported that OKX and Korea Investment & Securities are in talks to take roughly 20% stakes each in local exchange Coinone via a new share issuance.

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

Paris, May 18, 2026 — Proof of Talk, widely known as the Davos of Web3, today confirmed its 2026 programme and opened remaining passes for its fourth edition at the Louvre Palace in Paris on June 2–3.

The gathering will bring together more than 120 speakers, 95% at CEO or Founder level, representing a combined $18 trillion in assets under management. Attendance is capped at 2,500. The event sold out in both 2024 and 2025.

When the most senior leaders in digital assets, finance, and infrastructure need a room that matches the weight of the decisions ahead, this is where they come.

Confirmed speakers include Jenny Johnson (CEO, Franklin Templeton), Tom Zschach (CIO, Swift), Ken Moore (CIO, Mastercard), Emma Landriault (JPM Coin Global Executive Director, JP Morgan), Kathleen Wrynn (Head of Digital Assets, Invesco), Caroline D. Pham (CLO, MoonPay; fmr. CFTC Commissioner), Stani Kulechov (Founder, Aave Labs), Michael Arrington (GP, Arrington Capital), Adam Back (CEO, Blockstream), , Evan Cheng (CEO, Mysten Labs), , Johann Kerbrat (SVP Crypto, Robinhood), , Steven Goldfeder (CEO, Offchain Labs), Tom Lee (CIO, Fundstrat), Rob Hadick (GP, Dragonfly), Diogo Mónica (GP, Haun Ventures), Stéphanie Cabossioras (Chief Strategy & Global Policy Officer, SG Forge), Tero Reuna (CEO of EU, Paxos), Chris Cox (Head of Investor Services, Citi), Moritz Platt (Capital Markets Technology Manager, Google), Matthew Sigel (Head of Digital Assets Research, VanEck), Jacob Steeves & Ala Shaabana (Co-Founders, Bittensor), among others. Additional names will be announced in the coming weeks.

Proof of Pitch brings venture capital to the Louvre stage

Proof of Talk and Spectrum will again host Proof of Pitch, a startup competition for early-stage founders. Live pitches will be made to leading venture investors, including partners from Arrington Capital, Dragonfly, Haun Ventures, Draper Associates, and CoinFund.

With more than 200 institutional investors attending the conference, the competition is designed to give founders concentrated access to both capital and strategic relationships.

Golf prelude, StableDay and the Bittensor and Canton Tracks

Proof of Talk 2026 begins June 1 with the Golf Prelude, an invitation-only retreat at Racing Club de France La Boulie for VIP Black ticket holders. The day brings together institutional decision-makers for golf, fine dining, and the off-stage conversations that define the event.

On June 3, the Louvre Palace will host StableDay, a dedicated programme focused on stablecoins, payments, tokenization, and digital dollar infrastructure.

Rather than introductory conversations, StableDay is designed for banks, fintechs, protocols, corporates, and regulators actively building and deploying these systems. Sessions will focus on market structure, integration timelines, interoperability, and the evolving role of programmable money in global finance.

Running across both days of the conference, the Bittensor Track will explore the intersection of decentralized AI and blockchain infrastructure. A Canton Track will feature the leading institutions building the future of financial market infrastructures.

Two private dinners that define the event

Proof of Talk has become known not only for its public agenda, but for the private conversations surrounding it.

The investor dinner brings together fund managers, family offices, and institutional allocators for an off-the-record evening focused entirely on capital allocation, market structure, and strategy.

The speaker & VIP dinner remains one of the defining features of the event. With nearly all speakers attending, the dinner creates a rare setting where senior executives, founders, policymakers, and investors engage directly outside the constraints of stage programming.

At most conferences, dinners are a side event. At Proof of Talk, they are often where the most important conversations happen.

Event details

Media contact:

Proof of Talk is held annually at the Louvre Palace in Paris and convenes senior leaders across digital assets, finance, policy, and media. The event operates without pay-to-speak arrangements and emphasizes a journalist-led agenda focused on substantive institutional discussions, market structure, and emerging financial infrastructure.

Key Takeaways

• Shares of UnitedHealth declined more than 5% during Monday’s premarket session following Berkshire Hathaway’s disclosure of a complete exit from its approximately 5 million-share holding
• The divestment comes as part of CEO Greg Abel’s strategic portfolio restructuring following his January 1 takeover from Warren Buffett
• Additional headwinds include a federal moratorium restricting new Medicare enrollments for home health service providers
• Management announced plans to reduce its Medicare Advantage enrollment by 1.3 million members to safeguard profitability amid escalating healthcare costs
• The health insurance giant exceeded first-quarter profit expectations and upgraded its annual earnings guidance in recent financial results

Shares of UnitedHealth (UNH) tumbled over 5% during Monday’s premarket session, falling to approximately $380.35, following Berkshire Hathaway’s disclosure that it had liquidated its complete ownership stake in the healthcare giant.

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, UNH

The conglomerate’s most recent 13F regulatory filing, which reflects investment positions through March 31, revealed that Berkshire divested its entire holding of roughly 5 million shares in UNH. The exit is particularly striking given that Berkshire had only initiated the position during the second quarter of 2025 — representing a holding period of less than twelve months.

This strategic shift represents part of a comprehensive portfolio realignment orchestrated by Greg Abel, who assumed the chief executive role at Berkshire on January 1, taking the helm from legendary investor Warren Buffett.

When an investor of Berkshire’s caliber exits a position so rapidly, market participants pay attention. The disclosure triggered a wave of selling as investors interpreted the move as a bearish signal.

Berkshire’s divestment activity extended beyond UNH. The investment powerhouse also completely liquidated holdings in Amazon, Domino’s, Pool Corp, Mastercard, and Visa throughout the first quarter. These stocks experienced modest declines in early Monday trading.

Meanwhile, Berkshire initiated new positions in Delta Air Lines and Macy’s, while expanding existing stakes in Alphabet and the New York Times.

Government Restrictions and Strategic Member Cuts Compound Challenges

The selling pressure extends beyond the Berkshire announcement. UNH faces mounting pressure from a federal government moratorium that blocks new Medicare enrollments for home healthcare service providers, introducing significant regulatory uncertainty.

Compounding these challenges, company leadership has announced intentions to slash 1.3 million members from its Medicare Advantage programs. This aggressive reduction represents a calculated approach to preserve profitability in an environment of accelerating medical expense inflation.

The convergence of these factors — a prominent institutional investor exit, mounting regulatory obstacles, and intentional membership contraction — has prompted market participants to recalibrate their expectations for the stock’s near-term trajectory.

Justice Department Investigation Remains an Overhang

UNH continues to operate under Department of Justice scrutiny related to its billing methodologies, an investigation that has lingered for an extended period. This regulatory cloud continues to cast a shadow over the company’s prospects.

Heading into this week, the stock had already declined approximately 20% year-to-date, making Monday’s selloff another difficult development in what has been a challenging period for the managed-care leader.

However, the picture isn’t entirely bleak. UnitedHealth’s first-quarter financial performance demonstrated operational resilience.

The company surpassed Wall Street’s Q1 profit projections and elevated its full-year earnings forecast, developments that had offered some support to the stock before Monday’s Berkshire disclosure.

Technical indicators currently signal a Buy rating for UNH, with average daily trading volume hovering around 8.49 million shares. The company maintains a market capitalization of roughly $357.7 billion.

For the immediate future, the stock faces the challenge of digesting Berkshire’s high-profile exit alongside ongoing concerns surrounding Medicare reimbursement pressures and enrollment dynamics.