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Tron, Cardano and Solana led weekly gains among the Top 10, while Bitcoin and Ether lagged as US spot ETF demand cooled on Thursday.

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Telegram has formally replaced the TON Foundation as the main force behind The Open Network (TON), with founder Pavel Durov confirming the messenger will become the chain’s largest validator. Toncoin (TON) responded by rallying more than 100%.

The takeover, the third stage of Durov’s “Make TON Great Again” program, places Telegram at the center of TON’s infrastructure. Investors read it as the strongest signal that the messenger plans to anchor a billion-user crypto economy on the chain.

Why TON Is Rising

TON’s gains track Telegram’s renewed control over the network’s roadmap and validation. Alexander Tobol, chief technology officer at Wallet in Telegram, spoke with BeInCrypto. He said the chain was originally built by Telegram’s team before spinning out as an open-source project.

Tobol said the validator move signals deeper commitment from Telegram. It lifts interest in TON as a core part of the messenger’s stack.

The messenger’s reach makes any default crypto layer immediately consequential. Telegram counts more than one billion users, giving the chain a distribution edge few rivals can match.

Beyond architecture, Durov’s team staked about 2.2 million TON to claim the largest validator slot. The move deepens Telegram’s stake in network security.

Transfers, payments and mini-app services could all settle on TON. In that scenario, Tobol expects the network to lead all chains by active retail wallets.

“In such a scenario, TON could potentially become the leading blockchain by number of active wallets thanks to retail usage inside Telegram,” Tobol told BeInCrypto.

Network Speed and Cost Reset

Meanwhile, recent infrastructure work strengthens the case. Storm Trade founder Denis Vasin pointed to the Catchain 2.0 upgrade.

It cut block times from about 2.5 seconds to 400 milliseconds. Finality fell from roughly ten seconds to one.

The same upgrade lowered fees about sixfold, to around $0.0005. The network can also process more than 100,000 transactions per second.

Vasin said the exclusivity of the Telegram-TON pairing now matches the architecture investors expected in 2018.

He described TON as one of the highest-throughput Layer-1 chains. Fast finality and low cost position it for frequent small-value transactions.

If this integration is implemented consistently, TON gains what most Layer-1 blockchains lack — native distribution and real user use cases,” Vasin said in remarks shared with BeInCrypto.

Pricing the Telegram TON Takeover

Tobol expects the next leg of growth to depend on bots and mini-apps. Users would transact directly inside Telegram. Staking yields, currently around 15% annually, support liquidity retention.

However, Vasin urged caution. Markets have already repriced TON sharply. Any pullback would test whether Telegram can convert distribution into recurring on-chain revenue. The rally leaves limited margin for execution missteps.

Last year’s large Telegram-led sales of Toncoin reminded holders the messenger has acted as both buyer and seller.

Investors will watch for evidence the validator role binds Telegram more tightly to TON’s long-term value.

Whether TON returns to the top 10 of CoinMarketCap depends on transaction activity rather than announcements.

The next several weeks should reveal if the chain is gaining real economic gravity.

The post Telegram’s TON Could Become the World’s Biggest Retail Blockchain After Explosive 100% Surge appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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Future repurchases will follow a preset schedule and be routed through on-chain markets.

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ChatGPT AI draws on large-scale datasets and market patterns to generate forward-looking crypto analysis, and when prompted with a well-defined framework, the AI predicts head-turning 2026 price outlooks for XRP.

The core thesis is simple but powerful. XRP could benefit from something most crypto assets still lack.

Actual integration into real payment and settlement systems. Ripple keeps expanding cross-border partnerships. ETF speculation around XRP is growing. And regulatory clarity in the US is no longer the same brick wall it was a few years ago, AKA the Clarity Act.

If those pieces keep aligning, ChatGPT argues XRP pushes into the $5 to $8 range during peak cycle momentum. Extreme upside above $10 if institutional adoption accelerates aggressively.

That sounds ambitious until you consider the logic is tied less to retail hype and more to whether XRP gets treated as a legitimate financial layer rather than just another speculative token.

The model is honest about the biggest weakness, though. Adoption does not automatically translate into price appreciation.

XRP has spent years building partnerships while the market consistently questions how much of that activity actually drives token demand.

Xrp (XRP)

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XRP Price Prediction: Is a Move Toward $5–$8 Actually Possible as ChatGPT AI Predicts?

XRP is sitting at $1.379 on the daily chart, still trading well below ChatGPT’s target range. The institutional narrative exists. The price has not been priced in yet.

The big picture is ugly, but potentially at a turning point. Price has been in a downtrend since the August peak near $3.80, grinding lower for nearly 10 months through a series of lower highs and lower lows.

The February bottom around $1.10 is the last real floor on this chart.

The base building since February is the most constructive thing happening right now. Three months of higher lows off that $1.10 bottom without making new lows is the first sign the downtrend may be exhausting itself.

The projected recovery path targets a move all the way back toward $3.60 if momentum gains traction.

But the path is not clean. $1.50 is the first ceiling that needs to flip. Then $2.00 and $2.40 are both significant resistance levels from prior consolidation zones that need to be worked through before anything near the upper targets comes into view.

For the $5 to $8 scenario to become realistic, XRP needs to prove it can sustain momentum through all of those levels rather than just producing short-term spikes that fade. When momentum compounds on this asset it moves aggressively. But the forecast only works if adoption, liquidity, and sentiment all reinforce each other simultaneously.

The immediate risk is simple. Base fails, XRP breaks below $1.10, fresh lows reset the entire recovery narrative.

Discover: The best crypto to diversify your portfolio with

ChatGPT Projects That Bitcoin Hyper Could Outperform XRP Next

Early-stage infrastructure plays sit at a different part of the risk curve, which is exactly why some traders rotate into them once large-cap upside starts looking capped.

Bitcoin Hyper is targeting that window directly. The project is building a Bitcoin Layer 2 with Solana Virtual Machine integration, bringing faster smart contracts and lower-cost execution into the Bitcoin ecosystem. The pitch is simple: Bitcoin’s security combined with Solana-style speed and programmability.

The presale is sitting at $0.013679 with over $32 million raised, alongside staking incentives for early participants. The market gap it is targeting is real. Bitcoin still lacks a native high-speed smart contract environment compared to Ethereum or Solana.

But this is still early-stage infrastructure. Execution, liquidity, and adoption are all unknowns. The appeal is earlier positioning and higher upside potential, paired with significantly higher risk than established majors.

Research Bitcoin Hyper here.

The post Sam Altman ChatGPT AI Predicts the Price of XRP By the End of 2026 appeared first on Cryptonews.

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BMNR stock price trades at $22.00 after a 4% drop on May 7, sliding alongside the broader crypto-treasury complex as chairman Tom Lee signaled BitMine may slow its Ethereum accumulation pace.

The stock sits within an ascending channel that appears bullish on the surface, but multiple flow and positioning signals suggest a deeper test is ahead.

BMNR Stock Price Holds an Ascending Channel After a 59% Drop

BitMine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) traded at $22.00 on May 7, down 3.97%. Chairman Tom Lee said at Consensus Miami that the company may slow its Ethereum (ETH) purchases as it nears its 5% supply target. BitMine currently holds 5.18 million ETH, roughly 4.29% of the circulating supply.

The slowdown signal hit a stock that was already structurally weak. BMNR is down 46% over the past six months. The share price sits 86% below its 52-week high of $161 set in mid-2025.

Want more insights like this? Sign up for Editor Harsh Notariya’s Daily Newsletter here.

The daily chart shows an ascending channel forming since early February. The pattern emerged after a 59.14% drop from the December 10 high of $42.03. Channels that form after sharp declines often act as continuation patterns rather than reversal structures. They tend to resolve in the direction of the prior trend, which in this case is down.

Tom Lee also pointed to BitMine’s $4 billion share repurchase program as an alternative use of capital. Capital may rotate away from ETH and toward buybacks, weakening the ETH treasury narrative that has supported BMNR’s premium.

That structural backdrop sets the stage for the technical signals.

EMAs Are the Last Line of Defense

Inside the ascending channel, BMNR is grappling with two exponential moving averages (EMAs). EMAs are trend indicators that give weight to recent price action, with shorter EMAs tracking near-term momentum.

The 20-day EMA sits at $21.92 and the 50-day at $22.17. With BMNR at $22.00, the stock is wedged directly between them, a tight zone where the next move is binary.

History suggests the 20-day matters most. Each prior break of the 20-day EMA in 2026 has produced a sharp correction. On April 27, BMNR dropped 6.48% in one session after losing the 20-day. On March 25, the same break delivered a 15.62% slide.

If the 20-day EMA at $21.92 breaks again, the same cascade pattern is likely. The 100-day EMA at $24.80 and the 200-day EMA at $27.06 sit well above the current price. Both cap any rally attempt and reinforce the longer-term bearish lean.

CMF Divergence and Put-Call Ratio Flag Smart Money Caution

While retail traders may read the ascending channel as bullish, the flow data tells a different story. The Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) is showing weakness despite the higher prices. CMF measures money flow volume to gauge buying or selling pressure over a set period.

CMF currently reads 0.03, technically still above zero. The indicator has, however, broken its own ascending trendline that connected the lows since late March.

Also, between April 29 and May 6, BMNR’s price trended higher while CMF trended lower. That bearish divergence suggests institutional buying pressure is fading even as price holds.

Options positioning adds another layer. The put-call ratio, a sentiment gauge that compares put contracts to call contracts, has shifted in a contradictory way. The volume put-call ratio dropped from 0.38 on April 29 to 0.29 on May 7. The shift indicates more long positions are being placed.

Open interest tells a quieter story. The OI put-call ratio drifted lower from 0.44 to 0.42 in the same window. Retail is adding fresh long bets while existing positions are being closed. That mix often precedes a long squeeze if the stock breaks lower, adding another layer of risk.

BMNR Stock Price Levels Set Up a 9% Move Either Way

With structure, EMAs, CMF, and options positioning all pointing in one direction, the price ladder reveals what each scenario unlocks.

The bullish path requires BMNR to first reclaim $22.47. That level sits just above the 50-day EMA. A clean reclaim signals the stock is comfortably above its moving averages. The next test is $24.09, the 0 Fibonacci anchor at the upper trendline.

A break above the $24 zone represents 9.57% upside from the current price and would weaken the continuation thesis.

The bearish path is more layered. Below the EMA support at $21.92, BMNR opens at $21.47 and $20.65 as immediate floors. The most critical downside level is $19.84, the 0.618 Fibonacci level. A daily close below $19.84 marks a 9.75% drop from the current price and confirms the bearish structure.

Below $19.84, the path opens to $18.69 and $17.22. The longer-range extension at $12.96 (1.618 Fibonacci) becomes a deep continuation target if the entire ascending channel breaks down.

The post BitMine Stock Faces Risk as Tom Lee Cools on Ethereum Buying appeared first on BeInCrypto.

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TLDR:

• Polkadot’s new economic model cut annual DOT issuance by 53.6% and capped total supply at 2.1 billion.
  
• Validators now need a minimum of 10,000 DOT self-stake or face removal from the active set.
  
• Acurast surpassed 750 million on-chain transactions on Polkadot, powered by 250,000+ global devices.
  
• The Polkadot Docs MCP launched as an interactive expert tool for developers building on the network.

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Polkadot closed April 2026 as its first full month operating under a revised economic model. The new framework, approved through OpenGov, went live on March 14, 2026. It introduced lower issuance rates, a hard supply cap, and planned step reductions over time.

Across the ecosystem, staking rules were updated, network activity expanded, and community-facing tools continued to improve. The month reflected steady, consistent progress rather than a single standout development.

Polkadot’s New Economic Model Reshapes Staking Structure

The revised model reduced annual DOT issuance by 53.6% at launch. A maximum supply cap of 2.1 billion DOT was introduced alongside this change.

Planned step reductions of approximately 13–14% every two years are now also scheduled. Together, these parameters establish a more structured and predictable issuance path.

On the validator side, the 10,000 DOT minimum self-stake requirement is now actively enforced. Any validator falling below that level is automatically removed from the active set.

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This change raises the accountability standard for those securing the Polkadot network. It also makes the entry bar for validators more clearly defined.

Nomination pools remain accessible from just 1 DOT, keeping participation open for smaller holders. Under the updated rules, only a validator’s own bonded stake is at risk during a slashing event.

Nominators are no longer exposed to penalties from validator misconduct. This separation meaningfully reduces risk for everyday participants.

By mid-June, another update is expected. Validators will receive dedicated rewards from the Dynamic Allocation Pool, separate from what nominators earn.

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These rewards will come directly from protocol issuance. The change further distinguishes the incentive structure between validators and nominators.

Ecosystem Tools and Activity Continue to Expand on Polkadot

Acurast crossed 750 million on-chain transactions on Polkadot in April. As posted on April 23, more than 250,000 devices across 175 countries powered this activity.

The project noted it remains 250 million transactions away from reaching one billion. This level of usage reflects real-world adoption of decentralized physical infrastructure at scale.

The Polkadot Docs MCP also went live during the month as a developer-facing resource. It turns official documentation into an interactive reference for builders.

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Users can query it on XCM fees, OpenGov tracks, validators, Asset Hub, and PolkaVM versus EVM. It also serves structured data to agents and RAG systems working within Polkadot’s context.

Nova Wallet continued refining its mobile experience throughout April. A thread from Parity Technologies on April 9 described it as one of the most polished apps in the ecosystem.

The wallet focuses on simplifying staking, governance, and multi-chain management for mobile users. Its approach keeps Polkadot accessible without requiring technical depth.

Web3 Summit is also set to return to Berlin on June 18–19, 2026. Announced on April 21, the event is expanding its format toward a festival model this year.

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Developers, designers, researchers, and artists are all expected to attend. The summit centers on building systems shaped by privacy, participation, and digital agency.

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TLDR:

• • Payward filed for an OCC national trust charter to establish a federally regulated crypto custody entity called PNTC.
    
  • The proposed PNTC would serve institutional clients requiring bank-level custody protections under direct OCC oversight.
    
  • Kraken Financial remains the first digital-asset bank to secure a Federal Reserve master account since 2020.
  • Payward’s multi-charter strategy pairs its Wyoming SPDI with the proposed OCC trust charter for broader regulatory coverage.

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Payward, the parent company of Kraken, has applied for a national trust company charter with the OCC. The move aims to build a federally regulated digital asset custody entity for institutional clients.

Kraken Pursues Federal Oversight Through OCC Application

If approved, the charter would establish Payward National Trust Company (PNTC). This new entity would focus on fiduciary custody and related digital asset services.

The trust would primarily serve institutions seeking bank-level custody protections. It would operate under direct OCC oversight, adding federal legitimacy to Kraken’s regulated framework.

The application marks a deliberate step in Payward’s U.S. regulatory expansion strategy. Crypto firms have increasingly pursued traditional financial charters to attract institutional clients.

PNTC would rely on Payward’s existing compliance, risk management, and custody infrastructure. This structure is designed to extend access to clients requiring a federally regulated qualified custodian.

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Co-CEO Arjun Sethi addressed the rationale behind the application directly. “A national trust company provides the certainty institutions require,” Sethi stated.

He further noted that it “establishes the infrastructure to build the next generation of custody.” His comments point to a deliberate push to serve institutional clients at the federal level.

National trust charters overseen by the OCC have been pursued by crypto-native firms before. These charters offer broader legitimacy and nationwide operations.

They also reduce reliance on state-by-state licensing, which can be fragmented and inconsistent. Payward’s application reflects this broader industry trend toward federal regulatory frameworks.

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Kraken Builds Multi-Charter Strategy Alongside Major Acquisitions

The OCC application builds on the foundation of Kraken Financial’s Wyoming SPDI charter, granted in 2020. Kraken Financial was the first digital-asset bank to secure a Federal Reserve master account.

That access gave it a direct link to the U.S. payments system. Sethi described the Wyoming SPDI and prospective OCC trust charter as “complementary pillars” of Payward’s banking strategy.

Payward has also pursued growth through a series of major acquisitions. In 2025, it acquired retail futures platform NinjaTrader for $1.5 billion.

In April, Payward agreed to acquire crypto derivatives exchange Bitnomial for up to $550 million. That deal adds a full suite of CFTC licenses covering brokerage, clearing, and exchange operations.

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This week, Payward also announced a $600 million deal to acquire Hong Kong-based payments firm Reap Technologies.

The deal expands Kraken’s presence in stablecoin-powered cross-border payments. It also strengthens Kraken’s card infrastructure across Asia. Together, these moves reflect Kraken’s preparation for a potential IPO.

The U.S. regulatory climate under the current administration has become more industry-friendly toward digital assets. This shift has encouraged crypto firms to seek federal charters, licenses, and banking approvals.

Payward’s approach aligns with this environment, positioning Kraken as a fully regulated financial institution. The OCC application is the latest step in that direction.

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A campaign pushing the Swiss National Bank to add Bitcoin to its reserves is set to end after supporters failed to collect enough signatures for a referendum under Switzerland’s constitutional rules despite months of outreach and public campaigning efforts.

Campaigners were given 18 months to collect 100,000 valid signatures to propose a constitutional amendment that would have obligated the central bank to hold Bitcoin alongside gold and foreign currency reserves. However, with the deadline approaching, the Bitcoin Initiative said it had secured only around half the required number.

Major Setback in Reserve Campaign

In a statement to Reuters, campaign founder Yves Bennaim acknowledged the effort faced difficult odds from the beginning and said the initiative would now be allowed to expire.

Despite the setback, he noted that the campaign had helped advance discussion around the cryptocurrency’s role in the financial system. The SNB has consistently opposed the idea of holding cryptocurrencies in its reserves, with its main point of contention being that digital assets remain too volatile and lack the market liquidity needed for reserve management.

The central bank has also maintained that reserve assets must allow it to quickly expand or reduce its balance sheet when necessary while preserving long-term value. Although some central banks have explored exposure to digital assets, approaches vary widely.

The Czech National Bank, for instance, purchased about $1 million worth of cryptocurrency and blockchain-related assets last year as part of efforts to better understand digital markets. The European Central Bank (ECB), on the other hand, has remained cautious and stressed that reserve assets must remain secure, safe, and liquid.

Last month, Taiwanese lawmaker Dr. Ko Ju-Chun proposed adding Bitcoin to the country’s national reserves during a Legislative Yuan session attended by senior officials. The proposal cited concerns over Taiwan’s heavy reliance on US dollar reserves and suggested Bitcoin could serve as a strategic hedge despite the central bank’s earlier concerns about volatility and custody risks.

Zooming Out

The debate around Bitcoin reserves comes as the market continues to face volatility. BTC recently dropped below $80,000 after briefly reaching fresh multi-month highs earlier this week. The asset is now down more than 36% from its all-time high recorded last year.

Meanwhile, geopolitical tensions added to market caution following conflicting reports claiming Iran had attacked a US Navy vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.

The post Swiss Bitcoin Reserve Dream Collapses After Signature Campaign Falls Short: Report appeared first on CryptoPotato.

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