Crypto World
Korean police raid Bithumb amid lawmaker hiring favoritism probe
South Korean police have raided Bithumb as part of an ongoing investigation into alleged nepotism involving independent lawmaker Kim Byung-gi, according to a News1 report. The probe centers on whether Kim attempted to influence employment decisions for his son at crypto firms including Bithumb and Dunamu, the operator of Upbit.
News1 said Kim’s son joined Bithumb in January 2025 and remained there for about six months. Authorities are examining whether any external pressure or preferential treatment affected the hiring process, underscoring how political influence and corporate access remain highly sensitive issues in South Korea’s crypto sector.
Key takeaways
Nepotism probe widens beyond Bithumb hiring
The investigation has moved beyond the hiring episode at Bithumb. Police have questioned Kim multiple times as they probe possible criminal conduct tied to the alleged misuse of his official position. The scope broadened after disclosures that, while serving on the National Assembly’s Political Affairs Committee—overseeing the nation’s finance regulator—Kim repeatedly directed questions at Dunamu during committee proceedings, prompting questions about potential preferential treatment toward the company tied to his son’s employment.
Law enforcement has already summoned executives from crypto exchanges for testimony, and authorities executed searches at Bithumb’s headquarters and the Bithumb Financial Tower. In April, Kim was questioned over 13 separate allegations, including nomination bribery, employment-related favors involving his son, and alleged requests connected to a university transfer. Kim has publicly maintained confidence that he will be cleared of wrongdoing, while authorities have not publicly announced additional summonses at this stage.
The developments were reported by News1, underscoring how quickly a single hiring controversy can escalate into a wider political and regulatory saga for Korea’s crypto ecosystem.
Regulatory scrutiny tightens as Bithumb faces penalties
Bithumb has been under regulatory scrutiny for AML and compliance shortcomings. Regulators imposed a $24.5 million fine and ordered a six-month partial suspension in March 2025, citing deficiencies in Know-Your-Customer procedures and other compliance controls that restricted onboarding of new users as part of the enforcement package tied to 2025 inspections.
In late April, a South Korean court temporarily blocked the suspension order after Bithumb challenged the regulator’s decision, pausing enforcement while legal proceedings continue. Cointelegraph coverage notes that the paused suspension adds uncertainty to the exchange’s operations during the legal process. Bithumb did not respond to a request for comment by publication.
Implications for Korea’s crypto governance and markets
The case sits at the crossroads of politics, corporate influence, and market regulation at a time when South Korea has already signaled a sustained push to tighten governance within the crypto sector. If substantiated, allegations that a lawmaker could influence hiring or other business outcomes may intensify calls for clearer rules around the intersection of public office and private sector ties. For investors and users, the episode reinforces the importance of robust AML/CFT controls and transparent governance at exchanges. It also signals that political risk linked to insider networks remains a meaningful factor in Korea’s rapidly evolving crypto landscape.
The episode also highlights how regulatory actions—paired with high-profile investigations—can shape sentiment and trajectories for crypto firms operating in the country. As authorities continue their inquiries, observers will be watching for further summons, potential charges, and any ensuing changes to oversight and compliance standards that could influence market access and enforcement in Korea’s crypto industry.
What unfolds next—whether additional charges emerge or policy adjustments follow—will inform how seriously investors should weigh political risk in Korea’s crypto sector.
Crypto World
OpenAI Confidentially Files for US IPO
ChatGPT creator OpenAI has confidentially filed for an initial public offering in the US, becoming the third major AI company this year to set up plans for a Wall Street debut.
OpenAI posted to X on Monday that it filed confidential paperwork with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, but had not decided when it would launch to the public.
“We expect it to leak so we’re just announcing it,” the company wrote. “We have not decided on timing yet; it may be a while because there are things we want to do that are likely easier as a private company.”
It comes as rival Anthropic announced on June 1 that it was pursuing an IPO, while SpaceX, Elon Musk’s rocket-building company that owns Grok creator xAI, is expected to debut in the US on Friday.
The last 12 months have seen a number of blockbuster IPOs amid a tech investment boom. Multiple crypto companies, such as stablecoin issuer Circle and trading platforms eToro and Bullish, raked in billions of dollars after going public last year.
In a blog post accompanying OpenAI’s announcement, company co-founder and CEO Sam Altman and chief scientist Jakub Pachocki said one of OpenAI’s main goals is to build an AI system that can research AI technology to improve itself.

Source: Sam Altman
Anthropic said on Thursday that AI development has advanced to the point that AI could soon build, train and improve itself without human input, and said development should slow until the risks are known.
Altman and Pachocki said the economy “is beginning to reshape around AI,” and questioned how to make “advanced AI abundant, affordable, safe, useful, and easy enough for every person and organization to benefit from it.”
Related: Worldcoin is overlooked bet on AI IPO wave: Maelstrom
“A good AI future cannot be one where a small number of institutions control most of the capability and most of the upside,” they wrote. “It should be a future where many people, companies, communities, and countries can build, benefit, and hold power.”
Companies have cited that productivity gains from AI have allowed them to cut down on staffing, and nearly 117,000 tech employees have been laid off so far this year, according to layoffs.fyi.
Crypto companies have cut more than 5,000 jobs so far this year, with many also citing increased efficiencies from AI as a reason for the layoffs. Block Inc. undertook the biggest round of layoffs by a crypto company so far in 2026, cutting 4,000 staff in February in an AI-driven cutback.
AI Eye: How AI just dramatically sped up the quantum risk for Bitcoin
Crypto World
BlockDAG’s $0.01 buyback deal, Zcash, and Toncoin: Tracking the next crypto to explode with elite whale capital
Market momentum in early June 2026 highlights clear differences in token performance and strategic accumulation. The necessity for transparent, predictable returns has overshadowed the desire for extreme, high-risk speculation. Consequently, evaluating the next crypto to explode means looking for networks that integrate reliable settlement mechanisms.
Zcash is currently experiencing notable price appreciation, moving steadily upward as privacy assets regain attention. Toncoin continues to expand its utility through messaging app integrations, though it battles high volatility. While these established assets look for near-term technical triggers, BlockDAG is commanding major attention through its transparent ledger verification, attracting massive whale accumulation in real time.
Zcash: Maintaining Upward Momentum
Zcash continues to act as a highly resilient digital asset in June 2026. Trading around the $623.99 mark, the privacy-focused coin has shown remarkable strength, posting an average growth rate of 67.17 percent. Over the past 12 months, the Zcash price has changed by over 1,100 percent, reflecting its overall positive trend and historical momentum. The coin has fluctuated within a tight daily range, demonstrating solid structural support above the $600 level.
Transaction volumes remain consistent, driven by its utility as a confidential payment method. While it lacks the smart contract flexibility of newer networks, Zcash offers undeniable longevity and network security. Traders are closely watching the recent highs to see if the asset can maintain its impressive year-to-date trajectory during uncertain macro conditions.
Toncoin: Expanding Social Media Utility
Toncoin has experienced a highly active trading period, driven by its deep integration with the Telegram messaging application. The network recently saw massive surges in utility as social media users actively utilize the token for peer-to-peer transfers and in-app purchases. This structural integration drastically reduces friction for everyday users and activates new core upgrades.
Furthermore, the introduction of ad revenue sharing directly in Toncoin has empowered channel owners globally. Despite facing high volatility and heavy whale movements, the supply of stablecoins on the Toncoin network continues to grow, proving its utility as a global payment rail. Toncoin remains a highly watched asset for users seeking scalable social media integrations, though it requires consistent network volume to maintain its current price levels against broader market gravity.
BlockDAG: The Smart Money Inflow Picks Up
On-chain transparency acts as a magnet for massive capital. Because BlockDAG launched live Proof of Funds wallets for its Buyback Program, independent blockchain analysts have verified the liquidity reserves. This public verification has triggered a notable rotation of larger whale wallets out of speculative assets and directly into the secure $0.00000088 Legacy Sale structure, which guarantees a fixed $0.01 buyback floor.
Public ledger analysts are actively tracking BlockDAG’s live wallets, triggering substantial whale accumulation. This is exactly how you identify the next crypto to explode: follow the verified institutional money. When whale wallets start moving chunks of liquidity into a verified pool, the available retail distribution shrinks at an exponential rate. Smart money does not deploy capital without auditing the reserves. The fact that blockchain sleuths have confirmed the backing for the $0.01 buyback means the project has passed the most rigorous decentralized scrutiny possible.
Follow the blockchain data and claim your allocation at $0.00000088 alongside the whale wallets tracking the live funds. The transparency of the live wallets eliminates the standard trust issues associated with digital asset presales. By proving the funds exist before the payout date, BlockDAG forces the market to treat its contract as a guaranteed financial instrument. You are not betting on a roadmap; you are participating in a mathematically backed wealth transfer. Claiming your position right now ensures you capture the exact same verified yield as the largest capital allocators in the space.
The Last Take
Strategic capital placement in June 2026 demands a clear understanding of market phases and verifiable liquidity. Zcash offers a steady technical setup, boasting impressive yearly gains and strong privacy fundamentals. Toncoin leverages its massive social media base to create a unique peer-to-peer payment ecosystem. However, BlockDAG offers the most secure and transparent opportunity on the board. The on-chain verification of its Proof of Funds wallets is actively drawing major whale capital into the Legacy Sale. Choosing BlockDAG now guarantees a protected entry backed by verifiable liquidity, positioning it far ahead of the standard open market dynamics of Zcash and Toncoin.
Presale: https://purchase.blockdag.network
Website: https://blockdag.network
Telegram: https://t.me/blockDAGnetworkOfficial
Discord: https://discord.gg/Q7BxghMVyu
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.
Crypto World
Memory Stocks Sandisk (SNDK), Seagate (STX), and Western Digital (WDC) Surge on AI-Driven Demand Forecast
Key Takeaways
- Mizuho Securities increased Sandisk’s (SNDK) price objective to $2,200 from a previous $1,825, keeping an Outperform designation
- Price objectives for Seagate (STX) and Western Digital (WDC) were similarly elevated by Mizuho analysts
- Artificial intelligence applications are creating a mismatch between memory supply and demand, with DRAM requirements projected to expand 27% year-over-year in 2026
- Google’s (GOOGL) Tensor Processing Unit volumes may reach 35 million or more by 2028, compared to approximately 4.3 million in 2026, amplifying memory requirements
- Broadcom (AVGO) artificial intelligence revenue projections increased to $122 billion for 2027, with a new $170 billion forecast introduced for 2028
Mizuho Securities has elevated its price objective for Sandisk (SNDK) to $2,200 from a prior $1,825, pointing to artificial intelligence as the primary catalyst driving demand beyond available supply in the memory sector. The investment firm maintained its Outperform designation on the shares.
This optimistic perspective was applied broadly to Seagate Technology (STX), where Mizuho increased its target to $1,090 from $875, and Western Digital (WDC), elevated to $685 from $550. Each of these three companies maintained Outperform designations.
Seagate Technology Holdings plc, STX
Sandisk began trading Monday at $1,982 and climbed approximately 5.69% during the session after the upgrade announcement.
Lead analyst Vijay Rakesh and his research group anticipate DRAM wafer production starts increasing 10% in 2026 and an additional 6% in 2027, primarily fueled by high-bandwidth memory (HBM) requirements. Their models show DRAM demand expanding 27% year-over-year in 2026 and 24% in 2027.
Regarding NAND flash, enterprise solid-state drives represent the primary demand catalyst. Mizuho’s models indicate total NAND demand growing 18% year-over-year in both 2026 and 2027, while wafer production starts are anticipated to decline 5% in 2026 before rebounding 3% in 2027. Additional capacity isn’t expected to come online until 2028.
Google TPU Volumes Draw Attention
Mizuho also conducted its quarterly artificial intelligence ASIC roadmap conference call, and the projections for Google’s Tensor Processing Units were particularly striking. The research firm anticipates more than 35 million TPU units shipped from Google in 2028, climbing from approximately 4.3 million in 2026 and roughly 2.4 million in 2025.
This expansion is connected to Google’s strategy to distribute TPU technology externally through collaborations with Anthropic and other partners. Mizuho notes this figure substantially exceeds its previous projection of approximately 7 million ASIC shipments for Broadcom, suggesting upside potential for the semiconductor company.
Broadcom AI Revenue Projections Increased
Broadcom (AVGO) may achieve 50 million total TPU shipments spanning 2026 through 2028. Additionally, Meta’s (META) MTIA v3/v4/v5 accelerator platforms and OpenAI’s forthcoming ASIC — where Broadcom serves as a critical partner — provide additional growth drivers.
Mizuho elevated its Broadcom artificial intelligence revenue projection for 2027 to $122 billion, up from a previous $120 billion, and established a 2028 projection of $170 billion. TPU products remain Broadcom’s primary AI offering in the firm’s assessment.
Rakesh’s research group stated that investor worries regarding ASIC versus GPU market positioning and competitive pressure from MediaTek are “exaggerated,” and advised capitalizing on the AVGO share price decline.
The research team noted that the optimistic scenario for TPU ASICs in 2028, combined with OpenAI, MTIA, and ARM-associated ASICs, creates favorable conditions for both memory manufacturers like Micron (MU) and Sandisk, as well as storage companies like Western Digital and Seagate.
Sandisk’s price-to-earnings ratio presently stands at 58.32x, versus a historical median of 29.61x, indicating the valuation premium the market assigns to anticipated growth. Insider transaction activity over the previous three months reveals $8.9 million in share sales, with no documented purchases.
Crypto World
Investor Hires Crypto Forensics Firm to Probe Cardano’s Early Finances
Thomas Braziel, a distressed-assets investor, has hired a crypto forensics firm to probe Cardano’s early finances, even as analyst Dan Gambardello warns about a deep lack of support for the Cardano community.
Braziel detailed the full scope of his investigation in a public statement on X. He wants clarity on Cardano’s original ICO Bitcoin addresses and the ultimate destination of those funds.
What the Cardano Forensic Probe Actually Targets
The probe also covers the formation and ownership history of Input Output Global, Emurgo, and the Cardano Foundation over the years.
Compensation, treasury management, and distributions to insiders also fall within scope. Braziel said Cardano investors deserve answers about how the project was financed and how its assets were stewarded since the very beginning of the ecosystem.
He stressed he is not alleging any wrongdoing. Instead, he invited the community to share documents, wallet data, or historical records that could help piece together a complete accounting of the early flows.
The numbers behind the ICO are striking. The Cardano token sale ran primarily from 2015 to 2017 through voucher sales and raised roughly 108,000 BTC. At current valuations, that haul would exceed $6 billion across global markets.
Genesis allocations directed a significant portion of tokens to the founding entities rather than to public sale participants. Public disclosure from the for-profit arms has been limited compared to that of the nonprofit Cardano Foundation over the past several years.
“[…] what were the original obligations of the entities that received the BTC and ADA, how much was spent on development, how much was retained, invested, distributed, or otherwise monetized, and what level of transparency and accountability was promised to the people funding the ecosystem? […],” Braziel exposed in another post.
The probe ignited heated debate across crypto communities. Supporters argue that prior audits already addressed these matters and frame the move as recycled FUD during a brutal bear market across the entire crypto sector.
“This is ridiculous. Cardano has been audited, re audited and audited again. Above board”, one user noted.
Dan Gambardello Raises a Key Warning About Cardano
Cardano’s challenges extend far beyond this forensic investigation. ADA has briefly plummeted to around $0.15, levels not seen since late 2020, marking a roughly 95% drop from its 2021 all-time high near $3.09.
Infrastructure is also under strain. The recent shutdown of TapTools, a central analytics and DeFi dashboard for Cardano, followed earlier restrictions at JPG.Store, the leading NFT marketplace on the network, fueling deeper community frustration.
Founder Charles Hoskinson publicly warned of a wave of failures for projects without sustainable models. He later posted that he was taking a break, a statement that triggered additional selling pressure across ADA and key ecosystem tokens.
Analyst Dan Gambardello, a long-time Cardano supporter, addressed the situation directly. He highlighted the exhaustion from drama, the lack of capitalizing on earlier advantages, and the urgent need for stronger leadership to sustain key infrastructure.
“I think Cardano tech is epic, ADA will be ok, but quite frankly, the incredible lack of support given to the community and projects that make Cardano what it is, is exhausting. Sprinkle in the constant drama and fighting on X that occurs, it will force any bull to expand their horizons to all the increasing opportunity within the very early and expanding crypto space,” Gambardello said.
Gambardello’s broader point reflects widespread sentiment. While Cardano’s research-driven approach and staking mechanism remain real strengths, execution gaps in ecosystem nurturing have become more apparent as competitors continue advancing faster across all key metrics.
The forensic probe taps into longstanding questions about Cardano’s tripartite structure. Supporters frame early allocations as compensation for building the network without heavy venture capital, while critics seek greater visibility into Bitcoin sales and related-party transactions.
Whether the investigation uncovers new details or reaffirms existing narratives, the call for fuller accounting arrives at a pivotal moment. Combined with Gambardello’s warning, the findings could shape governance and transparency debates across the entire crypto industry for years.
The post Investor Hires Crypto Forensics Firm to Probe Cardano’s Early Finances appeared first on BeInCrypto.
Crypto World
Ethereum is at Its Cheapest Valuation in 7 Years: Here’s What Happened Last Time
Ethereum (ETH) has seen its MVRV Z-Score drop to its lowest reading since December 2018, sliding into the undervalued band that historically marks long accumulation zones.
The signal lands as ETH trades near $1,684, up about 3% on the day but far below its January high. On-chain flows and fading social attention round out what looks like a bottoming profile.
Ethereum Valuation Hits a 7-Year Low
The MVRV Z-Score measures the gap between market value and the aggregate cost basis of all holders. It then adjusts that gap for historical volatility.
A negative reading means the market value has fallen below the average cost basis. In plain terms, the typical holder is underwater, and the asset looks cheap.
The score now sits near -0.7, inside the green undervalued zone. ETH has reached this level only three times: in late 2018, mid-2022, and now.
Each prior visit preceded a major recovery, though the metric stayed negative for months before the price turned. A move back above zero would shift the MVRV signal toward neutral.
Exchange Balances Tell a More Cautious Story
Cheap valuation has not yet triggered steady buying across the board. Coins left exchanges through the spring, then partly returned during the May selloff.
Supply on exchanges fell from about 8.5 million ETH in December to a low of 6.82 million in late April. That drawdown matched the steady accumulation seen earlier in the year. It then climbed back toward 7.7 million in May before easing to 7.28 million.
The rebound points to short-term distribution, even as the longer accumulation trend stays intact. The exchange flow balance reads a mild positive 32,100 ETH, a small inflow rather than a clear exit.
Crowd Attention Fades Near the Lows
Social metrics complete the contrarian picture. Interest peaked close to the April top, not at the June bottom.
Social dominance spiked toward 4.0 in early April, then cooled to 1.227. Social volume dropped to 94 after capitulation spikes in late May.
Faded attention at low prices often reflects exhaustion rather than panic. Whales kept buying while the retail crowd looked away, a split that frequently appears late in a downtrend.
Still, low engagement is a condition, not a trigger. A sustained drop in exchange supply and a Z-Score back above zero would strengthen the bullish forecast.
For now, ETH sits at its cheapest in seven years, and the next move depends on whether accumulators or sellers blink first.
The post Ethereum is at Its Cheapest Valuation in 7 Years: Here’s What Happened Last Time appeared first on BeInCrypto.
Crypto World
Meta (META) Takes Legal Action: WhatsApp Accuses NSO Group of Injunction Breach
Key Takeaways
- WhatsApp’s parent company Meta has filed contempt charges against NSO Group, claiming the Israeli surveillance firm breached a court-ordered permanent ban.
- The messaging platform identified and blocked fresh spear-phishing operations connected to NSO designed to redirect targets to harmful websites.
- The U.S. government has placed NSO Group on its blacklist due to concerns about national security and foreign policy implications.
- Federal judges previously mandated NSO cease all WhatsApp-related operations, with the firm claiming such restrictions threaten its survival.
- The social media giant removed experimental accounts and communities established by NSO, while a dozen advocacy groups back its legal challenge.
Meta Platforms initiated contempt proceedings in federal court on Monday against NSO Group, charging the Israeli surveillance technology firm with breaching a permanent ban preventing it from accessing WhatsApp and its user base.
Shares of META were hovering around $692 when the announcement emerged on Monday.
This action intensifies an ongoing legal confrontation that previously delivered a significant victory for Meta. Federal courts ruled last year that NSO must pay $4 million in damages — substantially reduced from the original $167 million judgment — and issued a permanent injunction prohibiting the company from accessing WhatsApp.
Despite the court’s prohibition, Meta alleges NSO continued its operations.
WhatsApp’s security teams uncovered fresh “spear phishing” operations attributed to NSO within the past several weeks. These sophisticated attacks sought to manipulate users into activating malicious links that would route them to compromising websites — what Meta characterizes as a “1-click phishing” scheme, where one tap can infiltrate a device or account without requiring credential input.
According to Meta, WhatsApp discovered and eliminated testing accounts and communities that NSO allegedly established within the platform. NSO Group has not provided comment when contacted.
The Mechanics Behind the Phishing Operations
The assault tactics resembled NSO’s documented strategies from prior incidents. Targets received malicious links designed to deploy surveillance technology with a single click, bypassing traditional authentication requirements.
NSO’s primary offering, Pegasus spyware, sits at the heart of these allegations. Meta and WhatsApp have previously charged NSO with exploiting a platform security flaw to deploy Pegasus across more than 1,400 devices worldwide. Documented victims have included members of the press, political figures, and human rights workers.
U.S. authorities have officially blacklisted NSO Group, pointing to operations that conflict with American national security objectives and foreign policy goals. NSO has previously stated that the permanent injunction poses an existential threat to its business operations.
Advocacy Groups Rally Behind Meta’s Legal Strategy
Last month, a coalition of 12 civil liberties organizations joined Meta in opposing NSO’s appeal of the permanent injunction. This alliance comprises cybersecurity researchers, privacy protection groups, and digital freedom advocates who submitted amicus briefs supporting Meta’s legal stance.
Meta has characterized commercial spyware as a “national security threat” and emphasized that individual corporations cannot combat surveillance-for-hire operations in isolation.
This contempt motion represents Meta’s most recent effort to uphold the judicial order and prevent NSO from accessing its services. Federal courts will now review the new allegations.
Crypto World
Binance spotlights tokenized stocks as RWA market surges nearly 600%
The market for tokenized real-world assets has climbed 589% since early 2025, with tokenized stocks emerging as the fastest-growing segment, according to Binance Research.
Summary
- Binance Research said the tokenized RWA market has grown 589% since early 2025, with tokenized stocks leading gains.
- Tokenized stocks surged 422%, while bonds and money market funds added $6.5 billion in value.
- Institutional adoption expanded across equities, real estate, and payment infrastructure as tokenization activity increased.
Binance Research said in its latest Monthly Market Insights report that active tokenized RWAs continued to expand despite pressure across digital asset markets from interest-rate concerns, regulatory uncertainty, and weaker investor sentiment during 2026.
Data from the report showed tokenized stocks recorded a 422% increase in market value over the period, outpacing every other major RWA category. Binance Research attributed much of that growth to platforms offering blockchain-based access to traditional equities and exchange-traded funds.

Among the largest contributors, Binance Research highlighted Ondo Global Markets, which surpassed $1 billion in total value locked within eight months of launch through its tokenized stock and ETF offerings.
While equities led growth rates, fixed-income products remained the largest source of new capital entering the sector. Binance Research reported that tokenized bonds and money market funds added $6.5 billion in value, representing an 83% increase during the period.
“2026 marks RWA tokenization’s maturation from a Treasury-dominated narrative into a diversified yield ecosystem.”
Tokenized equities attract new demand
Fresh activity in tokenized equities has accelerated as crypto firms expand access to publicly traded and private-market investments through blockchain networks.
Recent attention has centered on tokenized exposure to private companies. As crypto.news reported earlier, Kraken introduced a tokenized version of SpaceX stock through the xStocks tokenized equities platform, bringing one of the world’s most closely watched private companies into the growing tokenization market.
Trading activity has followed the expansion. According to figures cited in the report, cumulative volume across xStocks exceeded $25 billion within roughly eight months of launch.
Outside equities, tokenized precious metals also attracted investor demand. Binance Research reported that the sector added $1.5 billion in value, representing growth of 39% during the measured period.
Most of those gains occurred during January and February, when geopolitical tensions increased demand for defensive assets. Binance Research said tokenized gold products briefly pushed the sector above $6 billion before momentum slowed alongside a pullback in gold prices.
Institutional participation expands across asset classes
Institutional activity has also increased beyond tokenized securities and commodity-backed products.
In real estate, Apex Group has begun providing fund services through Goldman Sachs’ Digital Asset Platform, a development that Binance Research cited as evidence of rising interest in blockchain-based settlement and fund administration.
Financial institutions are also examining tokenized deposit networks as stablecoins gain market share in global payments. Binance Research said banks are exploring blockchain-based payment infrastructure to modernize transaction systems and improve settlement efficiency.
Separate industry data suggests blockchain networks are already benefiting from that trend. As crypto.news reported earlier, Messari’s State of Solana Q1 2026 report showed Solana’s real-world asset market capitalization rose 43% quarter over quarter to $2.01 billion
Messari also reported that Solana generated $342.2 million in Chain GDP during the first quarter, highlighting growing activity around tokenized financial products on the network.
Crypto World
Hyperliquid commands nearly half of crypto buybacks, says Citrini
Hyperliquid has accounted for nearly half of all token buyback activity across the crypto market in 2025, according to a new report from Citrini Research, which has highlighted the decentralized exchange’s revenue model as one of the strongest in the sector.
Summary
- Citrini Research says Hyperliquid has accounted for nearly half of all crypto token buybacks in 2025 through its Assistance Fund mechanism.
- Coinbase’s new USDC treasury deployment framework could add up to $200 million in annual revenue, potentially increasing HYPE buybacks.
- Growing ETF demand, strong token performance, and renewed speculation around Arthur Hayes have kept investor attention focused on Hyperliquid.
According to Citrini’s Substack publication released Monday, more than 90% of the fees generated by Hyperliquid are directed to the protocol’s Assistance Fund, which uses the proceeds to purchase HYPE tokens on the open market.
The research firm said the scale of the program sets Hyperliquid apart from most crypto projects and has turned HYPE into a token backed by what it described as meaningful cash flow generation.
“Unlike the memetic majority of crypto (bitcoin included), HYPE generates legitimate cash flow.”
Citrini said the buyback mechanism is attractive on its own, but argued that the size of the Assistance Fund is what makes the model stand out. The firm estimated that Hyperliquid repurchases have represented close to half of all token buybacks recorded across the digital asset industry this year.
At the same time, Hyperliquid (HYPE) has continued to outperform much of the market. Data from crypto.news showed the token recently reached an all-time high near $75 and was trading more than 8% higher over the previous 24 hours during Thursday’s Asian trading session.
Revenue growth continues to support buybacks
Recent developments around Hyperliquid’s treasury infrastructure could further strengthen the buyback program.
As reported earlier by crypto.news, HYPE climbed more than 12% on June 8 after Coinbase activated its role as the official USDC treasury deployer on Hyperliquid.
Coinbase said it had enabled the AQAv2 framework through two designated treasury wallet addresses and assumed responsibility for deploying the decentralized exchange’s USDC reserves.
According to Coinbase, the framework routes most of the yield generated from Hyperliquid’s USDC treasury back into the protocol ecosystem. The exchange previously estimated that the arrangement could increase Hyperliquid’s annual revenue by as much as $200 million.
Because Hyperliquid directs up to 99% of protocol revenue toward HYPE repurchases through its Assistance Fund, any increase in treasury income could expand the amount available for future token buybacks.
Additional interest has also come from prominent industry figures. BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes has once again been linked to HYPE after a wallet associated with him reportedly withdrew tokens from Bybit, following his earlier exit during a market correction, according to blockchain tracking reports covered by crypto.news.
Institutional interest keeps building
Beyond protocol revenue, Citrini pointed to growing investor participation through exchange-traded products linked to Hyperliquid.
The research firm highlighted recently launched Hyperliquid ETFs from Bitwise and 21Shares as another source of market attention. Data from SoSoValue shows the two products generated nearly $600 million in trading volume and attracted more than $136 million in net inflows during their first three weeks of trading.
Despite Hyperliquid recently overtaking Solana on a per-token price basis, Citrini noted that Solana’s market capitalization remains more than twice the size of HYPE’s. Even so, the firm argued that Hyperliquid still has room to capture additional market share within the decentralized derivatives sector.
“The Hyperliquid runway is wide,” Citrini wrote. “We think there is still significant market share to be captured.”
Crypto World
OpenAI Files Confidential S-1, Signaling Path to Public Markets
OpenAI submitted a confidential S-1 registration statement to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), taking its first formal step toward an initial public offering (IPO).
The company announced the move itself on X (formerly Twitter), saying it expected the filing to leak.
OpenAI IPO Filing Lands as Listing Race Heats Up
OpenAI ranks among the world’s most valuable private companies. Its last funding round closed in March at a valuation of $852 billion.
The firm had been working with Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley on a confidential S-1 draft, BeInCrypto reported in late May.
OpenAI set no timeline and signaled it could remain private while weighing the tradeoffs of a public listing.
“We have not decided on timing yet; it may be a while because there are things we want to do that are likely easier as a private company. But it’s a complicated set of tradeoffs, and this gives us the option to go public sooner if that ends up being best,” the team said.
Follow us on X to get the latest news as it happens
OpenAI is not moving alone. Anthropic filed its own confidential S-1, roughly a week earlier. Anthropic recently closed a $65 billion round at a valuation of $965 billion. That figure pushed it past OpenAI.
SpaceX leads the group. It is targeting a June 12 Nasdaq debut. Demand has reportedly reached about $150 billion, exceeding the $75 billion target. The order book closes this week. The coming weeks may reveal when OpenAI plans to join its rivals on public exchanges.
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The post OpenAI Files Confidential S-1, Signaling Path to Public Markets appeared first on BeInCrypto.
Crypto World
Why are Altcoins Suddenly Exploding? Two Forces are Driving the Move
Altcoins ripped higher on Monday as AI-linked tokens led a sharp rebound across an oversold crypto market.
Worldcoin (WLD), NEAR Protocol (NEAR), and Bittensor (TAO) posted double-digit weekly gains while Bitcoin (BTC) steadied above $63,000.
Two forces explain the move. Traders are positioning for Elon Musk’s SpaceX IPO and its AI arm, xAI. Yet the same charts that lured buyers also warn the altcoin rally could prove a brief dead-cat bounce.
AI Tokens Lead Ahead of the SpaceX IPO
The clearest driver is the countdown to SpaceX’s market debut. The company prices its offering on June 11 and starts trading on June 12 on the Nasdaq under the ticker SPCX.
Underwriters priced the shares at $135 each, valuing SpaceX near $1.77 trillion. The company aims to raise up to $75 billion, which would rank as the largest IPO on record. Investors increasingly read the listing as an AI trade.
That framing has substance. SpaceX acquired xAI in February 2026, bringing Musk’s AI lab into the rocket maker. The deal gave AI-themed coins a fresh narrative anchor.
Capital followed quickly. Worldcoin (WLD) climbed about 12% in 24 hours and has roughly doubled over 30 days. The move tracks a broader run of AI crypto coins pumping this quarter.
NEAR Protocol rose about 7% on the day and gained nearly 40% across the month. Bittensor (TAO) added roughly 4%, extending a stretch in which AI tokens outshine the rest of the market.
Each project carries its own AI credentials, which sharpen the bet ahead of SpaceX going public.
- Worldcoin runs an identity network built around human verification.
- NEAR markets itself as a layer-1 chain for AI development and agents.
- Bittensor operates a decentralized network for training and rewarding AI models.
Those use cases let traders treat the listing as a proxy for the wider AI theme.
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Why Traders Fear a Dead-Cat Bounce
The second force is more cautious. Bitcoin traded near $63,500, up about 2% on the day after sliding to year-to-date lows close to $60,000.
That $60,000 area matters because it marks the cycle’s lowest level and a key psychological floor. A bounce there can look like a reversal without being one.
However, the wider trend remains weak. Bitcoin remains down roughly 11% on the week and about 21% over the month, the signature shape of a dead-cat bounce.
Some named investors are already selling into strength. Arthur Hayes trimmed his stack ahead of the listing, taking profits on NEAR that signal fading conviction at the top.
Analyst Michael van de Poppe has argued the opposite, suggesting that a range-bound Bitcoin gives altcoins room to outperform.
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“Bitcoin just hit $ 61K. My altcoin portfolio barely moved. That’s not normal. In a typical Bitcoin drawdown, altcoins fall twice as hard. This time the opposite is happening and it might be the most important shift in this market,” said Van de Poppe
The competition for capital adds further risk. SpaceX, alongside a queue of trillion-dollar listings, is drawing institutional money that once flowed into crypto, a shift that has reshaped crypto’s IPO year.
The next few sessions hinge on the SpaceX debut. A strong open could extend the AI-token bid, while a soft listing may expose how thin this rebound really is, especially if Bitcoin slips back toward its $60,000 floor.
The post Why are Altcoins Suddenly Exploding? Two Forces are Driving the Move appeared first on BeInCrypto.
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