Crypto World
Justin Sun Slams WLFI Over Token Lockups, Gets Legal Threat in Response
Justin Sun, the founder of the Tron layer-1 blockchain network, criticized World Liberty Financial (WLFI), a decentralized finance platform co-founded by US President Donald Trump’s sons, over lengthy lock-up periods for the platform’s governance token.
Sun said that he invested “significant capital” in WLFI as an early investor and also said that a March WLFI governance proposal to determine token lock-up periods, in which more than 76% of the voting tokens came from 10 wallets, lacked transparency. In a Sunday post on X, Sun wrote (in translation):
“The governance votes cited to justify the above actions were not conducted through fair or transparent procedures. Key information was withheld from voters, meaningful participation was restricted, and outcomes were predetermined.”
“Justin’s favorite move is playing the victim while making baseless allegations to cover up his own misconduct,” World Liberty Financial said in response, threatening legal action against Sun over his claims.
The incident came amid community pushback against WLFI and confirmation that the platform was using its own governance tokens as loan collateral, causing the price of WLFI to sink to an all-time low and renewed backlash against Trump for his crypto activities.
Cointelegraph reached out to World Liberty Financial but did not obtain a response by the time of publication.
Related: World Liberty signals phased WLFI unlock vote after early holder backlash
WLFI token sinks to all-time low as community backlash mounts
The WLFI token hit a new all-time low on Saturday, falling to just $0.07 following news of the platform using WLFI tokens as collateral to borrow stablecoins.
Wallets linked to World Liberty Financial used WLFI tokens as collateral on Dolomite, a DeFi platform co-founded by the project’s chief technology officer, Corey Caplan, to take out the stablecoin loan.
WLFI confirmed that it acts as an “anchor” borrower, which generates yield for the platform and value for token holders, adding that it is “one of the largest suppliers and borrowers” in the WLFI ecosystem.
“Treating the crypto community as a personal ATM is unjust and has never been authorized through any fair, transparent, good-faith community governance process,” Sun said.
Magazine: Trump’s crypto ventures raise conflict of interest, insider trading questions
Strategy Executive Chairman Michael Saylor has signaled a pause on new Bitcoin purchases as Strategy (the world’s largest publicly traded Bitcoin holder) gears up for its Q1 earnings release. In a post on X, Saylor wrote that there would be “No buys this week,” mirroring a step back from the company’s recent cadence of capital deployment. The latest on-chain activity shows Strategy adding 3,273 BTC for $255 million between April 20 and 26, according to an 8-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27. Analysts, meanwhile, are bracing for a downside surprise in the quarter, with Tuesday’s report expected to show an $18.98 per-share loss, driven in part by mark-to-market Bitcoin accounting. That figure would widen from the prior year’s $16.49-per-share loss.
Source: Michael Saylor on X
Key takeaways
- Strategy pauses new Bitcoin purchases ahead of its Q1 earnings release, signaling a shift in timing even as the company continues to hold a large BTC stake.
- The firm’s most recent buy added 3,273 BTC for $255 million between April 20–26, per an 8-K filed with the SEC on April 27.
- Analysts expect Strategy’s Q1 results to show a loss of about $18.98 per share, pressured by BTC-related accounting, compared to a $16.49 loss in the year-ago period.
- A Politico-commissioned public poll conducted by Public First shows broad skepticism toward both crypto and AI among Americans, with significant appetite for tighter regulation of the AI sector.
- The Ethereum Foundation continued its OTC program with BitMine Immersion Technologies, selling another 10,000 ETH at an average of $2,292 (roughly $22.9 million), while unstaking 17,035 ETH last week as it scales back a 70,000-ETH staking target.
Strategy’s pause and earnings backdrop
The decision to pause purchases comes as Strategy prepares to disclose quarterly results that are anticipated to reflect ongoing BTC mark-to-market accounting. The company’s stake in Bitcoin remains its cornerstone asset and a core driver of its cash-flow narrative, but the timing of new buys appears calibrated to the broader risk environment and internal liquidity considerations. The most recent purchase—an accumulation of 3,273 BTC for $255 million during a single week—underscores that Strategy remains a significant, though potentially more conservative, participant in the Bitcoin market.
Beyond the numbers, the looming earnings show the market weighing the impact of Bitcoin accounting rules on reported results. The Street’s consensus points to an earnings-per-share loss well above breakeven, highlighting how non-operational factors tied to BTC valuations can dominate near-term financials for a company that has built its identity around a big Bitcoin balance sheet.
Voter sentiment on crypto and AI in the new political landscape
Separately, a Politico report based on a Public First poll conducted April 11–14 across 2,035 U.S. adults online paints a skeptical public sentiment about crypto and AI, even as both sectors channel substantial political spending. The survey found that 45% of respondents believe investing in cryptocurrency is not worth the risk, while 44% think AI is developing too quickly. The study also noted a preference for traditional banks over crypto platforms and a strong appetite—about two-thirds—for Congress to pursue tighter AI oversight and regulation.
These attitudes ripple into electoral dynamics, as respondents indicated they would favor candidates backed by groups advocating stricter tech regulation over those aligned with looser approaches. The poll’s authors cautioned that rising skepticism could translate into voter backlash if industry-driven political spending intensifies without clear progress on consumer protections and oversight.
In context, the findings suggest a challenging environment for political campaigns that rely on fundraising from crypto and AI industry-aligned super PACs, even as voters express concerns about risk and governance. The questions raised by the poll illuminate a broader tension between innovation and regulation that could influence policy debates as midterm cycles approach.
Ethereum Foundation’s ongoing sales and what it signals for ETH holders
The Ethereum Foundation conducted another over-the-counter sale to BitMine Immersion Technologies, moving 10,000 ETH at an average price of $2,292 per ETH (roughly $22.9 million). The Foundation stated that the proceeds would support its core operations, including protocol research and development, ecosystem initiatives, and community grants. This sale follows a nearly identical transaction of 10,000 ETH completed one week earlier at $2,387 per ETH, and comes after the Foundation’s March sale of 5,000 ETH at around $2,043 per coin. Together, the Foundation has sold about $47 million worth of ETH to BitMine in the past week alone.
In a separate development, the Foundation unstaked 17,035 ETH last week, worth approximately $40 million at current prices. The move appears to align with a broader shift away from a prior goal of staking 70,000 ETH, hinting at a re-prioritization of liquidity and governance considerations as the ecosystem matures.
Source: Ethereum Foundation posts and OTC disclosures
Implications for markets and investors
Taken together, these separate threads—Strategy’s cautious buying stance ahead of earnings, public skepticism toward crypto and AI, and the Ethereum Foundation’s ongoing monetization and staking adjustments—underscore a market that remains sensitive to both macro sentiment and on-chain fundamentals. The Strategy pause reduces near-term BTC demand from one of the largest corporate buyers, potentially softening price support in the absence of fresh inflows. Meanwhile, the ETH-related sales inject liquidity into the market and may exert downward pressure on price in the near term, even as the Foundation frames these moves as essential to funding core activities and ecosystem development.
For investors, the key takeaway is the need to watch how policy conversations evolve—and how market participants balance the hype around technological breakthroughs with the realities of risk management and regulatory scrutiny. The combination of corporate treasury behavior, public sentiment, and foundational liquidity moves creates a complex backdrop for crypto assets as they navigate an environment defined by ongoing oversight and evolving adoption.
Readers should monitor Strategy’s upcoming Q1 earnings guidance for any clarifications on capital allocation and BTC exposure, as well as policy developments that may shape investor confidence in crypto and AI sectors. The outcomes in the weeks ahead will help determine whether the current cautious stance advances into a broader retrenchment or gives way to renewed appetite as regulations and market infrastructure mature.
Morgan Stanley expects bitcoin to reach U.S. bank balance sheets, though key hurdles remain, according to Amy Oldenburg, the bank’s head of digital asset strategy.
Speaking at the Bitcoin Conference in Las Vegas, Oldenburg, who was appointed new head of digital-asset strategy this year, outlined how the firm is laying the groundwork for the expansion of its digital asset business as client demand builds.
“It’s been many years that we’ve been involved in the broader digital asset space the regulatory environment has been more supportive for us doing that”, Oldenburg said.
Oldenburg, who will be speaking at CoinDesk’s Consensus Miami conference this week, also said that U.S. banks may eventually hold bitcoin on their own balance sheets. However, she pointed to several barriers, such as the Federal Reserve, Basel rules and the need for multiple global regulators, before a bank of Morgan Stanley’s scale could start putting bitcoin on its balance sheet.
This isn’t the first time a banking giant has said that banks will eventually push further into the digital asset sector. BNY CEO Robin Vince said in March that large financial institutions will drive the next phase of crypto adoption by serving as a bridge between traditional finance and digital assets. Although the banks first need regulatory clarity before going all-in on the sector.
However, Morgan Stanley isn’t standing still and has already started its push into the digital asset space, Oldenburg said. The banking giant recently launched MSBT, a bitcoin-backed exchange-traded product and the first of its kind from a U.S.-chartered bank. The product drew more than $100 million in its first six days of trading.
What made those inflows particularly striking is that they came entirely from self-directed clients, Morgan Stanley’s own financial advisors hadn’t even begun offering the product yet, Oldenburg said.
“All of that was self-directed, it was not even available in advisory on the wealth platform,” she said. This dynamic shows that there is significant demand for such products from clients.
Oldenburg said that there is a significant gap between what the advisors are offering clients and where demand lies. While Morgan Stanley recommends 2%-4% bitcoin allocation to clients, the slow adoption among advisors is due to an education problem, Oldenburg said. She also noted that 80% of ETP exposure on the wealth platform is self-directed and that the bank has launched internal training programs to bring financial advisors up to speed.
The appetite for regulated bitcoin exposure is well established, BlackRock’s IBIT has amassed over $61 billion in assets, becoming the fastest-growing ETF in history since launching in January 2024.
Additionally, Oldenburg said that Morgan Stanley is pursuing an OCC digital trust charter, which would allow the bank to custody crypto directly and offer spot crypto trading on its wealth platform. The MSBT product itself uses Coinbase and BNY Mellon as dual custodians.
Read more: Wall Street’s crypto push has been years in the making, says Morgan Stanley
Strategy, the world’s largest public Bitcoin holder, is taking a pause on new BTC purchases ahead of its first-quarter earnings release. Executive Chairman Michael Saylor posted on X that there would be “No buys this week,” signaling the company’s cautious stance as it prepares to report results.
The latest notable activity shown in an 8-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission confirms a fresh purchase window: Strategy bought 3,273 Bitcoin for about $255 million between April 20 and 26. The firm now holds 818,334 BTC, with an average acquisition price of approximately $77,906 per coin, lifting its overall cost basis to around $75,537 per BTC. Bitcoin was last observed trading near $78,787, according to data from CoinGecko.
These moves come as the broader market has shifted in April, with Strategy’s activity contributing to a roughly 12% rise in Bitcoin’s price for the month, a stretch that some observers connected to U.S. spot BTC inflows and the company’s purchases. The earnings report for the quarter is due on Tuesday, and management’s upcoming disclosures will be closely watched for any implications tied to Strategy’s balance sheet and its exposure to Bitcoin’s price swings.
In connection with the earnings cycle, Strategy is also navigating questions about its perpetual preferred security, STRC, and the implications of its dividend. Analysts expect the company to report a quarterly loss, driven primarily by mark-to-market accounting on Bitcoin holdings, a framework that has been a continuing point of debate among investors and commentators alike.
Key takeaways
- Strategy halted new Bitcoin purchases for the current week as it heads into first-quarter earnings, according to a post from Michael Saylor on X.
- The company’s Bitcoin stash stands at 818,334 BTC, bought at an average price of about $77,906 per coin, with a reported cost basis near $75,537 per BTC.
- A recent purchase added 3,273 BTC for roughly $255 million between April 20 and 26, reinforcing Strategy’s long-term confidence in Bitcoin, at least for the moment.
- Analysts expect a Q1 loss of about $18.98 per share, largely due to mark-to-market accounting on Bitcoin holdings, compared with a $16.49 loss in the year-ago period (Yahoo Finance data).
- STRC’s 11.5% dividend yield remains a flashpoint for investors and critics, with questions about the sustainability of the dividend and the company’s ability to cover it if Bitcoin underperforms.
Quarterly outlook and near-term catalysts
The upcoming earnings release is central to understanding Strategy’s trajectory for 2024 and beyond. The market has been watching how the company accounts for its Bitcoin position under mark-to-market rules, a methodology that can amplify reported losses or gains based on short-term price swings. The consensus forecast from Yahoo Finance points to an $18.98 per-share loss for the quarter, a step up from the $16.49 per-share loss a year earlier, underscoring ongoing accounting headwinds tied to Bitcoin’s price movements.
Beyond the numbers, Strategy’s executive leadership has signaled a broader strategic focus on capital discipline and risk management as it navigates the regulatory and macro backdrop. Michael Saylor is slated to participate in the Consensus 2024 industry conference in Miami Beach, where he is expected to discuss the company’s position on Bitcoin, corporate governance, and the evolving role of digital assets in a traditional finance framework.
STRC dividend scrutiny and investor sentiment
A core point of contention for Strategy’s stock narrative centers on STRC, the company’s perpetual preferred security, which distributes a double-digit cash yield to investors. The high yield has attracted a mix of support and skepticism from market observers. Some critics question the sustainability of the dividend, arguing that the cash reserves may be insufficient to cover two years’ worth of STRC payments if Bitcoin underperforms and mark-to-market losses mount. In a notable critique, Peter Schiff, chief economist at Euro Pacific Asset Management, has labeled Strategy a “Ponzi scheme” in past commentary, a position he reiterated in a recent X post, arguing that the dividend’s structure relies on continued appreciation in Bitcoin rather than sustainable cash flow.
On the flip side, industry data platforms reflect a more favorable view from a portion of the analyst community. A Seeking Alpha analysis around Strategy’s dividend strategy cautioning about STRC noted the cash reserve concern but did not uniformly condemn the business model. TipRanks aggregates a different sentiment, showing a consensus rating of “Strong Buy” for Strategy’s Nasdaq-listed shares, highlighting a divergence between dividend sustainability concerns and other catalysts investors may be watching—such as Bitcoin price trajectories and strategic Bitcoin accumulation.
These debates matter because they shape how investors price Strategy’s equity and its willingness to add new BTC in a period of rising or falling crypto markets. If bitcoin prices extend the April rally, Strategy could leverage its growing BTC position to signal confidence in a longer-term bull case. If, however, BTC faces renewed volatility or adverse macro conditions, STRC’s dividend and the buybacks/gross leverage associated with its strategy could come under renewed scrutiny from both shareholders and credit markets.
For now, the market appears to be balancing the potential upside of Strategy’s Bitcoin hoard against the acknowledged accounting and dividend risks. The company’s next disclosures will be critical in clarifying whether the pause in new purchases is a temporary risk-control measure or a signal of a broader recalibration of exposure and capital allocation strategies.
What to watch next
Investors should monitor Strategy’s earnings release for clarity on the impact of mark-to-market accounting on reported results, the trajectory of its Bitcoin inventory costs, and any commentary around STRC’s dividend coverage. Saylor’s Consensus appearance will also be a telling signal about the company’s strategic posture in the crypto governance landscape and the management’s willingness to engage with institutional audiences on risk factors and long-term objectives.
As market conditions evolve, readers should keep an eye on Bitcoin’s price path and any regulatory developments that could affect institutional holdings and reporting practices. The dynamic between STRC’s yield, cash reserves, and Bitcoin performance will help determine whether Strategy can sustain its controversial yet historically high-yield strategy or if a shift in capital allocation will be necessary to preserve shareholder value.
Sources cited include Strategy’s 8-K filing with the SEC detailing the April Bitcoin purchase and holdings, Michael Saylor’s post on X confirming the pause in buys, and market data from CoinGecko reflecting current BTC pricing. Commentary from Peter Schiff on X and Seeking Alpha’s analysis provide context for the dividend debate, while Yahoo Finance and TipRanks supply the earnings and rating snapshots that frame the near-term expectations.
The US-Iran war has not lowered a single FICO score. Yet borrowers across America are being denied mortgages and auto loans they would have secured months ago.
Lenders are quietly raising internal cutoffs and adding underwriting overlays. The shift reflects oil-driven inflation and Federal Reserve uncertainty, not any change in consumer credit data.
Why lenders are Pulling Back
The conflict has disrupted the Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint for roughly 20% of global oil supply. Brent crude spiked above $120 a barrel at recent peaks.
Higher energy costs pushed US inflation to 3.2% in March 2026, well above the Fed’s target. The 10-year Treasury yield jumped to 4.48%. Fixed 30-year mortgage rates have climbed for five consecutive weeks since the war began.
That repricing has filtered through to underwriting desks. Banks now treat geopolitical risk as a reason to demand more documentation and raise minimum scores.
Files that previously cleared without friction are getting second looks.
Who Gets Hit Hardest
The squeeze is concentrated in the 640 to 720 FICO range, where most first-time buyers and middle-income borrowers sit. Auto loans and mortgages have absorbed the brunt of the pullback.
“Nobody’s credit score dropped because of Iran. But try getting approved for a mortgage right now with a 670 FICO and see what happens,” Alexander Katsman, founder of Credit Booster AI, told CNBC that the shift is invisible by design.
He added that lenders rarely announce these moves. They simply happen.
Markets now price in zero Federal Reserve rate cuts for 2026. Chair Jerome Powell has flagged that oil pressure will persist near term. Until the Strait stalemate eases, the bar for borrowing is likely to keep rising quietly.
The post How the Iran War Is Quietly Crushing Americans’ Credit Access appeared first on BeInCrypto.
Why is crypto up today and what does this rally mean? Bitcoin climbed past $78,000 after spot ETF products posted $1.97 billion in April inflows, the strongest monthly total of 2026 according to SoSoValue. The total crypto market cap sits at $2.68 trillion, and BTC dominance holds at 58.5% as capital returns to the sector.
The green candles are back, and Pepeto at presale pricing with a Binance listing approaching is the entry that separates a recovery from a year that changes everything.
Why is crypto up today starts with institutional money. Yahoo Finance reported that Bitcoin spot ETFs pulled in $1.97 billion through April, with BlackRock and Fidelity driving the largest single-day sessions since October 2025.
Bitcoin rose 12% during April and opened May above $78,000 for the first time since February, according to CoinMarketCap. Ethereum added 1.6% to $2,296 on the same session. The Fear and Greed Index reads 26, deep in fear, which means most traders missed this move while institutions bought through ETFs. That is why crypto is up today.
Why Is Crypto Up Today and How Pepeto Turns This Rally Into a Wealth Event
Pepeto: The Presale Running a Full Exchange While the Market Turns Green
Crypto is up today, the charts show strength, and the Pepeto presale still sits at $0.0000001868, the kind of price that early meme coin holders locked in before tokens turned small positions into seven figure returns.
The full exchange platform processes trades right now. PepetoSwap clears every trade at zero cost across Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Solana, keeping full position value on each swap. The token scanner runs a contract check on every project before it reaches the trading floor, and the cross-chain bridge connects all three networks without taking any fee from the transfer. A Pepe cofounder who built the original token into an $11 billion market cap leads the project alongside a senior Binance operations veteran.
Over $9.7 million flowed into this presale while the market sat in fear, and that number shows the commitment behind these positions. SolidProof completed a full audit before the first dollar entered. Staking pays 176% APY that compounds daily, and the Binance listing timeline continues to tighten.
Large caps that hold billions in market cap recover in percentages. Pepeto at presale cost with a working exchange and a Binance debut approaching is where the distance that changes financial outcomes gets built, and the wallets entering now through the Pepeto presale are positioning for that moment.
Cardano (ADA) Price at $0.2482 as Van Rossum Hard Fork Targets Q2 Launch
Cardano (ADA) trades at $0.2482 according to CoinMarketCap, down 0.57% over the past 24 hours. ADA has stayed flat since the start of 2026, unable to clear the $0.28 resistance that opens a path toward $0.40.
The Van Rossum hard fork scheduled for Q2 2026 brings Protocol Version 11 and improved smart contract tools, giving Cardano its strongest technical catalyst in months.
Changelly targets $0.80 to $1.50 for Cardano price prediction in 2026, but that move requires multiple catalysts landing at once. ADA needs a breakout while Pepeto needs one listing day.
Canton (CC) Price at $0.1498 as Institutional Partnerships Expand
Canton (CC) trades at $0.1498 according to CoinMarketCap, down 0.11% in 24 hours and sitting 23% below its all-time high. Canton holds a $5.7 billion market cap backed by Northern Trust and Euroclear partnerships.
Support sits at $0.139 with resistance near $0.17, but a $5.7 billion cap limits how fast gains build from here.
Conclusion:
Why is crypto up today? Record ETF money is flowing in, BTC holds above $78,000, and the charts are green across the board. Cardano (ADA) is moving higher. Canton (CC) is holding ground. The market feels strong again. But a green day and real wealth are two different things.
Every cycle, the portfolios that performed best held their large caps and added one early entry before the rest of the market caught on. The Pepeto presale is still accepting entries. The Binance listing is close. The gap between a portfolio that only recovered and one that produced life-changing gains is one presale position at $0.0000001868, priced below where SHIB sat before it made millionaires.
The listing sets the whole move in motion. And the wallets that entered first will be the ones that everyone else spends 2026 wishing they had followed.
Visit Pepeto to Enter the Presale Before the Listing Closes This Window
FAQs
What is the Cardano price prediction for 2026?
The Cardano price prediction for 2026 ranges from $0.80 to $1.50 according to Changelly. ADA trades at $0.2482 with $0.28 resistance and a Van Rossum hard fork due in Q2 2026 as the main catalyst.
What is Pepeto and why is the presale attracting attention?
Pepeto is a meme coin presale at $0.0000001868 backed by a live exchange platform that handles trades at zero cost. The project raised $9.7 million with 176% APY staking, a SolidProof audit, and a Binance listing approaching.
Disclaimer: This is a Press Release provided by a third party who is responsible for the content. Please conduct your own research before taking any action based on the content.
Strategy, the world’s biggest public Bitcoin holder, is taking a break from crypto purchases as the company readies its first quarter earnings report, slated for Tuesday.
On Sunday, Executive Chairman Michael Saylor announced “No buys this week” in a post on X, where he has regularly provided a signal of planned purchases.
In its most recent purchase, the Tysons Corner, Virginia-based company acquired 3,273 Bitcoin for $255 million between April 20 and 26, according to an 8-K filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on April 27.
Source: Michael Saylor on X
The company now holds 818,334 BTC, bought at an average price of $77,906 per coin, raising Strategy’s cost basis to $75,537. The biggest crypto by market cap was last trading on Sunday at $78.787.08, according to CoinGecko data.
Strategy’s purchases last month, along with US spot price exchange-traded fund inflows, helped stoke a 12% increase in BTC’s price during April.
Related: Bitcoin preps highest weekly close since January as BTC price nears $79K
Quarterly loss expected amid scrutiny over STRC dividend
Wall Street analysts are expecting Tuesday’s earnings report to show a loss of $18.98 per share, mainly due to management’s mark-to-market Bitcoin accounting. That compares to the year-earlier period’s loss of $16.49, according to Yahoo Finance data.
On Wednesday, Saylor is scheduled to speak at the Consensus industry conference in Miami Beach, Florida.
The company’s reliance on STRC, Strategy’s perpetual preferred security, has raised concerns among some stock watchers, primarily because of the 11.5% dividend yield that the asset offers investors.
Peter Schiff, chief economist and global strategist at Euro Pacific Asset Management, who has previously called Strategy a “Ponzi scheme,” on Sunday repeated his allegation, questioning the company’s ability to sustain the dividend.
“Gambling that Bitcoin will rise by more than 11.5% a year does not change the Ponzi like structure of STRC,” he said in a post on X.
Source: Peter Schiff on X
Concern about the STRC dividend also came from Seeking Alpha blogger Joseph Parrish, who said in his April 28 post that the current cash reserves are insufficient to cover two years of STRC dividends, which will ultimately force continued sale of Strategy’s common stock and raises investor risk if Bitcoin underperforms.
He rates the company stock, which trades under the MSTR ticker, as a “Hold,” citing increased leverage, uncertain catalysts, and challenging risk management despite a lower stock price. His opinion stands in contrast with other analysts, according to financial engine TipRanks, which shows a consensus of a “Strong Buy” rating on Strategy’s Nasdaq-listed shares.
Related: ‘Historical average’ could push Bitcoin bottom at $57K level: Analyst
Fundstrat co-founder Tom Lee says half the equity market and crypto already moved through a hidden bear phase. Short positioning and liquidity withdrawal sit at levels typically seen near market bottoms, not at cycle tops.
Lee argues too many investors have already turned bearish, with markets historically moving in the direction that inflicts the most pain. Raoul Pal frames the same setup as a mid-cycle correction rather than a cycle top.
Hidden Bear Phase Already Played Out
Speaking on the Fundstrat research channel, Lee said software stocks have already taken deep drawdowns. Crypto, tied to the same liquidity unwind, has tracked the move lower.
Short positioning, in his read, sits at levels typically seen at the height of a bear market.
That backdrop matters because positioning has shifted faster than headlines. Sentiment turned defensive while leading indicators stabilized. Lee sees that divergence as more typical of past inflections than the start of a deeper drawdown.
He drew a line between cyclical credit stress and systemic risk. Recent strain in private credit, he said, looks more like a credit cycle than a repeat of 2008. Large banks, in his view, can prosper through that rotation.
Macro Setup Turning Under the Surface
Real Vision founder Raoul Pal made a similar case. He pointed to global M2 at all-time highs and a weakening dollar. The Institute for Supply Management reading is improving, and US liquidity conditions are turning upward.
“I don’t think it’s the end of the cycle. I think it’s a mid-cycle correction,” Pal said in the interview.
He pointed to the Crypto Fear and Greed Index as the clearest sentiment marker. The gauge has spent its longest recorded stretch below 10.
Pal treats that reading as a reversal setup rather than a continuation signal.
Lee said AI and tokenization reinforce the structural case for blockchain. Stablecoin payment rails and onchain settlement, he argued, are the infrastructure AI agents will use at scale.
That overlap could pull capital toward Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) once macro pressure eases.
Whether the setup resolves higher will depend on how fast liquidity expands. It will also depend on whether sentiment keeps lagging the underlying data.
The post Tom Lee Says Crypto Already Moved Through a Hidden Bear Phase appeared first on BeInCrypto.
Bitcoin closed April with an 11.87% gain, its strongest monthly performance in a year, renewing attention on the cryptocurrency’s directional path as traders turn to May. While the April rally has sparked cautious optimism, analysts say the road back to all-time highs remains long and uncertain.
Nic Puckrin, founder of Coin Bureau, captured the sentiment on X, noting, “Long way to go back to ATHs, but good to see some green.” April’s 11.87% gain stands as the best monthly showing since April 2025, when Bitcoin rose about 14.08%, according to CoinGlass. However, CoinGlass also points out that April’s performance still sits slightly below the historical April average of roughly 12.98%.
In raw terms, Bitcoin’s price action in April came as it traded around $78,190—roughly 38% below the October all-time high near $125,100, per CoinMarketCap. Market mood remains mixed: the Crypto Fear & Greed Index hovered in the “Fear” territory around 39, signaling ongoing caution among investors.
Key takeaways
- April delivered an 11.87% gain for Bitcoin, its strongest month in a year, but still modest relative to the long-run April average of about 12.98% (CoinGlass).
- May’s historical average returns for Bitcoin sit near 7.78%, suggesting potential continued gains but with a softer pace than April’s breakout (CoinGlass).
- Bitcoin trades around $78,190, about 38% below the Oct. all-time high of $125,100 (CoinMarketCap).
- Market sentiment remains cautious, with the Crypto Fear & Greed Index at 39, signaling ongoing risk aversion among traders.
- Analysts are divided: CryptoQuant warns of a potential multi-month correction after a futures-led rally, while others argue a move above $100,000 could occur without a new narrative driving it (various sources).
April momentum vs May horizons
April’s rally appears to have resurrected a debate about whether the upside can sustain beyond a single month. CryptoQuant researchers flagged that the April strength appeared to be disproportionately driven by futures activity, a dynamic that could set the stage for a pullback if traders unwind bets or if macro conditions temper risk appetite. This view underscores a broader theme: headline momentum can outpace on-chain fundamentals, leaving the market vulnerable to reversals if liquidity conditions shift.
On the other side, prominent bulls argue that Bitcoin does not always require a fresh narrative to push into new price territory. Michael van de Poppe, founder of MN Trading Capital, recently suggested that Bitcoin may not need a new catalyst to reclaim the $100,000 level, which it has not revisited in several months. That line of thinking implies that price action could be driven by renewed demand or technical momentum rather than a single macro event.
From a probabilistic standpoint, investors should keep a close eye on how May historical performance aligns with this cycle. CoinGlass data shows May historically averaging around 7.78% in gains, a figure that could be supportive if the current risk sentiment remains subdued and if liquidity conditions remain supportive. Still, traders should be mindful that May’s track record doesn’t guarantee a repeat of April’s strength, and the market could drift in narrower ranges as participants assess risk and potential catalysts.
Market mood, catalysts, and what to watch next
Beyond price levels, traders are parsing sentiment signals that have swung between cautious optimism and risk-off posture. The Fear & Greed Index’s current reading near the 40 mark highlights a market that is still weighing downside risks against the possibility of another leg higher. In this environment, a few factors could shape the near-term trajectory: shifts in macro risk appetite, evolving dynamics in futures markets, and on-chain indicators that may confirm sustained demand or faltering momentum.
Bitcoin’s price context remains critical: trading at about $78,190 places it well below its all-time high but above levels seen during earlier pullbacks in the current cycle. The last time BTC traded at $100,000 was November 2023, a reminder that the path back to that level could be non-linear and influenced by a confluence of liquidity, macro cues, and investor psychology.
In sum, April’s gains have rekindled attention on Bitcoin’s intermediate-term trajectory. While some analysts warn of a potential multi-month pullback if futures-driven enthusiasm fades, others argue that price could resurface toward the $100,000 threshold without a fresh narrative, driven by technicals and renewed demand. Investors will be watching how May unfolds, with attention to liquidity, risk sentiment, and the evolving relationship between spot prices and futures positioning.
As the market digests these mixed signals, readers should monitor upcoming price action and sentiment shifts, staying alert to any changes in liquidity conditions, regulatory developments, or macro surprises that could tilt the balance between risk and reward.
TLDR:
- XRP’s 30-day liquidity index on Binance has dropped to 0.038, marking its lowest recorded level since 2020.
- Despite the liquidity decline, XRP price holds near $1.39, creating a divergence that points to a consolidation phase.
- The XRP futures market remains neutral, with analysts watching for a breakout signal before any directional move begins.
- Reduced institutional activity and thin market depth leave XRP exposed to sharp swings from even moderate capital inflows.
XRP liquidity on Binance has dropped to its lowest point since 2020, raising concerns across the crypto market. The 30-day liquidity index has fallen to 0.038, while XRP trades near $1.39.
Trading volume over the past month reached approximately $2.74 billion. This decline in market depth is drawing attention from traders and analysts watching for potential price volatility ahead.
Market Depth Weakens as Liquidity Index Hits Multi-Year Low
The liquidity index drop to 0.038 marks a clear shift in XRP’s market structure on Binance. At this level, the market’s ability to absorb large buy and sell orders becomes notably limited.
Even moderate capital inflows can now trigger sharp and unpredictable price swings. This creates a fragile environment for both retail and institutional participants.
When market depth thins out this way, price stability becomes harder to maintain over time. Large orders that would normally pass through smoothly can now move the market considerably.
This makes risk management more challenging for active traders on the platform. The current conditions demand greater caution from anyone with sizeable XRP positions.
Source: Cryptoquant
Despite the liquidity drop, XRP’s price has held relatively steady around the $1.39 mark. This creates a divergence between price action and the underlying liquidity data.
Such divergence often points to a consolidation phase before a larger directional move. The market appears to be pausing rather than reacting immediately.
The gap between stable prices and weakening liquidity is worth monitoring closely. Historically, such divergences tend to resolve in one direction or the other within a defined period.
Whether the price catches up to the liquidity weakness or liquidity rebounds remains to be seen. Market participants are watching both sides of this equation carefully.
Futures Market Stays Neutral While Institutional Activity Pulls Back
The decline in the liquidity index also points toward reduced activity from larger market players. A gradual exit by institutional traders can leave markets thinner and more reactive.
This kind of pullback increases overall fragility in price action. The longer it persists, the more exposed the market becomes to sudden moves.
Crypto analyst CW8900 noted on X that the XRP futures market is currently showing no movement. According to the post, the market remains neutral and is quietly preparing for an upward move.
The analyst stated that when the futures market moves again, XRP’s rise will begin. This observation adds another layer to the current market picture.
A sudden influx of capital into a low-liquidity environment could spark a rapid rally. On the other hand, continued weak demand may push prices lower without much resistance.
Both scenarios are plausible given the current setup. Traders are advised to watch volume and order book depth closely.
The XRP market on Binance is at a clear crossroads as liquidity sits at a four-year low. Price stability has held for now, but the conditions underneath remain fragile.
The next move, when it comes, could be fast and sharp in either direction. Monitoring the futures market alongside liquidity data will be key in the sessions ahead.
Ethereum’s validator exit queue swelled to 433,158 ETH on May 3 with a seven-day wait. The figure climbed roughly 72,000% in two weeks as Decentralized Finance (DeFi) exploits triggered restaking withdrawals.
The shift tracks April’s $625 million in DeFi losses. A $292 million KelpDAO bridge breach drained restaked ether and rattled lending markets.
DeFi Exploit Wave Pushes Capital Out of Restaking
The April 18 KelpDAO bridge attack drained 116,500 rsETH through a compromised cross-chain bridge. LayerZero traced the heist to North Korea’s Lazarus Group. Aave’s deposits then fell from $45.8 billion to $28.6 billion as withdrawals spiked.
April logged $625 million in stolen funds across 30 incidents. It was the worst month for crypto exploits in history.
Liquid restaking tokens, bridges, and lending markets bore the brunt. DeFi total value locked has dropped roughly 30% in 12 weeks.
On X, on-chain analyst Checkmatey put it bluntly.
Capital leaving all forms of ‘defi’ because the risk is heavily skewed towards a zero return OF capital,” commented on-chain analyst Checkmatey.
Entry Queue Still Dwarfs Exits
The bearish read isn’t the whole picture. Validatorqueue.com data shows 3.6 million ETH waiting to enter staking. The 62-day queue is roughly 7x the size of exits.
Total staked ether holds at 38.6 million, or 31.72% of supply. Annual yield sits near 2.92%, with active validators near 900,000.
The split signals rotation rather than a structural retreat from staking.
If exploits subside, queues should return to normal as they have in the past.
The post Ethereum Exit Queue Explodes 72,000% After DeFi Hack Wave appeared first on BeInCrypto.
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