The crypto market started the week in a volatile mood, with bitcoin BTC$81,002.49 rising from $80,670 at 23:00 UTC on Sunday before topping out at $82,400 an hour later. The price subsequently dropped to trade in a fairly narrow range just beneath $81,000.

The move coincided with the weekly open of bitcoin futures on the CME and U.S. equity futures — a period that often sparks a frenzy of repositioning and a phenomenon called the “CME gap,” which occurs when the price opens at a different point to where it closed on Friday.

Due to the timing of the move, all crypto benchmarks are down on Monday with the broad CoinDesk 100 (CD100) leading the way at a 1.5% loss while the bitcoin-dominant CoinDesk 5 (CD5) dropping 0.6%.

Price action is also being dictated by geopolitical developments in Iran. U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran’s response to a peace proposal was “totally unacceptable,” leading to a rise in the price of oil and the dollar and a decline in risk assets.

Derivatives positioning

• The market-wide crypto futures open interest (OI) remains pinned just above $130 billion for the fourth straight day, pointing to a lack of fresh leverage inflows and broadly stalled momentum across the derivatives market.
• Centralized exchanges have liquidated over $400 million in leveraged futures bets, with shorts accounting for most of that amount.
• SUI’s OI has surged by 29%, validating the double-digit rise in the token’s price. This, coupled with positive funding rates and 24-hour OI-adjusted cumulative volume delta, points to growing demand for bullish exposure.
• DOGE and HBAR are other notable OI gainers, while BTC and ETH futures OI remains largely steady.
• OI in futures tied to the privacy-focused ZEC token has declined by 6%, a sign of capital outflows.
• Despite the U.S. CPI and PPI releases due later this week, the market remains calm, as evidenced by bitcoin’s 30-day implied volatility index, which is pinned near three-month lows.
• On Deribit, bitcoin calls at strikes, ranging from $81,000 to $86,000 dominate the volume rankings. Call options are inherently bullish plays on the underlying asset.
• Block flows featured bitcoin long call condors, a strategy initiated to profit from low volatility and minimal price movement in the underlying asset.

Token talk

• Venice’s VVV token more than doubled in the past month as traders reacted to a string of emissions cuts, token burns, new products and the growing demand for AI.
• The move started with supply. Venice doubled its subscription-linked burn rate in late April, with Pro, Pro+ and Max subscriptions on the platform now triggering $2, $5 and $10 VVV burns, respectively, according to VeniceStats data.
• Venice then cut annual emissions of the token, which can be used for privacy-focused artificial intelligence, from 6 million tokens to 5 million on May 1, the first step in a planned reduction to 3 million by July, according to the project.
• The rally accelerated after StrikeRobot, which develops AI software for robots, said Venice would become a primary inference API backend for its robotics products, starting with SR Agentic and SR Platform.
• Meanwhile, subscription revenue is rising. Co-founder Jesse Proudman said Monday that subscription and credit purchases hit a record, topping the prior high by 10%.
• VVV remains below its $22.5 January 2025 record. The token had fallen as much as 50% shortly after its debut amid insider-trading concerns tied to early purchases by Aerodrome Finance contributors.

Circle, issuer of the world’s second-largest stablecoin, USDC, posted estimate-beating first-quarter earnings as revenue rose 20% and it raised $222 million for its Arc blockchain network in a presale of the ARC token.

Earnings per share (EPS) of 21 cents beat analyst estimates of 17 cents, while revenue rose 20% to a less-than-forecast $694 million. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (Ebitda) grew 24% from a year earlier to $151 million, the New York-based company reported.

USDC onchain transaction volume jumped over 260% from the year-earlier quarter to $21.5 trillion, and USDC in circulation increased 28% to $77 billion.

The ARC token presale values the project at $3 billion. The fundraising round included investment from a mix of Wall Street heavyweights and crypto-native firms, including BlackRock, Apollo Funds, a16z crypto, ARK Invest, CoinDesk’s parent company Bullish, Haun Ventures, Intercontinental Exchange and Standard Chartered Ventures.

The fundraising marks Circle’s most ambitious expansion beyond USDC and payments infrastructure, pushing the stablecoin issuer deeper into the race to build blockchain infrastructure for institutional finance.

Circle also published the Arc whitepaper on Monday, outlining ARC as a “native coordination asset” designed to support governance, validator security and network operations across the chain.

Arc, which began testing in October, is being positioned as a blockchain optimized for stablecoin-based capital markets and regulated financial activity, which includes tokenized assets, cross-border settlement and onchain finance.

Unlike USDC, which functions as a dollar-pegged payment token, ARC appears intended to play a role closer to ether (ETH) on Ethereum or SOL on Solana — helping coordinate the network’s economic and security model.

CRCL shares were nearly 1.2% higher at $115 in pre-market trading at around 7:30 a.m. ET.

UPDATE (May 11, 11:20 UTC): Adds Circle’s first-quarter earnings report information and restructures article to lead with earnings.

Immediately after Morgan Stanley announced it was rolling out E*Trade, charging a mere 50 basis points undercutting established rivals Coinbase, Robinhood and Schwab, Bloomberg analyst Eric Balchunas said “crypto exchanges should be scared.”

Others were less blunt, saying the Wall Street giant’s “isn’t entering crypto to complement Coinbase—it’s entering to replace it…”

The battle for cheap crypto trading resembles the trading fee race when spot ETFs launched in 2024, which saw providers begin high, offering 50 basis points before Morgan Stanley undercut them all with a 14 basis point offering.

In the long run, this means that trading crypto will be cheaper, where the clear winners will be retail traders, while crypto exchanges see their margins significantly trimmed, potentially affecting the likes of Coinbase, who recently cited financial issues as a reason for to reduce its workforce by 14%.

When announcing E*Trade, Jed Finn, Morgan Stanley’s head of wealth management, suggested the move was more about dominance than control. “This is much bigger than trading crypto at a cheaper rate.

“In a way, the strategy is disintermediating the disintermediators.” He added: “It’s going to be very competitive in the next couple of years,” explaining the move is aimed at ensuring its 8.6 million clients remain within its banking system instead of resorting to other platforms as the demand for crypto increases.

In his X post last week, Balchunas echoed Finn’s sentiment, framing the Wall Street giant’s move as a “SHOTS FIRED” moment. “Morgan Stanley is rolling out crypto trading on its E*Trade platform for 50bps per trade, undercutting Schwab’s 75bps (who undercut Coinbase).”

He said that based on his knowledge of how Schwab works, it will “likely won’t let this stand. Others will probably undercut too.” He also said that “by the time the dust settles it’ll be pretty dirt cheap to trade crypto everywhere.” Before concluding by saying “this is why (traditional financial) TradFi is no joke and crypto exchanges should be scared.”

However, crypto-native leaders rebuffed the “doom and gloom” narrative as U.S.-centric.

“While we respect Eric Balchunas’s insights on TradFi’s push into crypto, the perspective feels somewhat localized to the U.S. market and oversimplified for quick engagements on X,” said Kevin Lee, chief business officer at Gate, which ranks seventh on Coingecko with a 24 hour volume of nearly $2 billion.

Lee also told CoinDesk that Balchunas’ comments do not “fully capture the mature, global evolution of the crypto industry.”

The Gate CBO explained that the recent moves by the Wall Street giants to cut spot trading fees reflects the ongoing reduction of commissions that is normal to see when competition intensifies.

“This mirrors long-established patterns in equities markets, where fierce competition naturally compresses fees,” Lee said. “Smart platforms moved on long ago from fee-only models to diversified revenue streams including staking, structured products, institutional services, and ecosystem growth.”

Georgii Verbitskii, derivatives trader and founder of TYMIO, a non-custodial decentralized finance (DeFI) protocol, told CoinDesk he believes Morgan Stanley’s move into crypto trading is a good sign.

“This is clearly positive for crypto adoption overall,” Verbitskii said. “Morgan Stanley bringing crypto trading to millions of brokerage users is another sign that digital assets are becoming part of mainstream investment infrastructure, although the 50 bps fee itself is not especially competitive.”

Keneabasi Umoren, a crypto market analyst and Web3 researcher, recently told CoinDesk, he does not believe Wall Street will “kill exchanges, but it will squeeze U.S. spot-trading and custody revenue and push exchanges further into derivatives, DeFi and global markets.”

Anchorage Digital, the first federally chartered crypto bank in the U.S., says it will take a back seat to the Global Dollar stablecoin (USDG) consortium, which includes Robinhood and Kraken.

USDG, which has a circulating supply of around $3 billion, is issued by Paxos Digital Singapore and supervised by the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Other members include Galaxy Digital, OKX, Visa, Worldpay and Bullish (the owner of CoinDesk).

“We’re still supportive of it, and want to see it succeed, and are still part of the thing,” said Anchorage Digital co-founder and CEO Nathan McCauley in an interview. “But maybe not as up-front of a role as before.”

McCauley said that previously, Anchorage might have been boosting USDG specifically, but now the firm will take a more neutral approach. “I think one of the things you’re gonna see from us is increased neutrality on the stablecoins. It just makes sense to be neutral and not specifically be pushing any one stablecoin.”

Anchorage recently mentioned as many as 20 banks and tech giants are currently looking to issue stablecoins with the San Francisco-based custody firm. In April, Anchorage said it would partner with stablecoin issuance platform M0, which works with MetaMask and Bridge.

“With us becoming a white-label stablecoin issuer for so many different groups, you start to think about what’s the incentive structure, and is everything still aligned,” McCauley said.

Paxos did not respond to requests for comment by press time.

MoneySkills unveils AI trading platform with automated execution and no-code crypto strategy tools.

One-click deployment, round-the-clock automated execution, and zero software costs redefine how ordinary investors access complex cryptocurrency strategies.

MoneySkills, a platform built specifically for AI-driven quantitative trading and automated strategy execution, announced today that its intelligent trading platform will go fully live in 2026.

MoneySkills aims to make complex algorithmic trading easy for mainstream users. It combines advanced AI-driven optimization models with a streamlined no-code interface, eliminating barriers such as traditional technical expertise, continuous market monitoring, and high software costs.

To celebrate the launch of its new platform and lower the barrier to entry for new users, MoneySkills is offering all newly registered users a sign-up bonus worth $15, along with $50 in free trial credits — enabling users to explore the platform’s full range of features without any upfront financial investment.

Breaking down the barriers to algorithmic trading

Historically, quantitative trading has been the exclusive domain of institutional investors and highly skilled individuals, requiring sophisticated programming skills, complex strategy design, and substantial infrastructure investment.

MoneySkills challenges this status quo with its unique “One-Click Activation” feature, allowing users to immediately deploy pre-configured AI trading strategies upon completing registration.

No programming knowledge, parameter configuration, or quantitative trading experience is required. Once activated, the platform automatically handles market monitoring, trade execution, and strategy optimization — freeing users from the tediousness of manual trading while ensuring uninterrupted, round-the-clock market participation.

The main advantages of one-click activation include:

• Zero Manual Setup: No programming, no parameter adjustment, and no prior experience required.
• Executes without manual intervention: The system automatically places orders and manages trades based on built-in strategic logic.
• Deploy immediately: A strategy can go live within minutes of registration.
• Save Time: Users no longer need to monitor screens or react to market fluctuations in real time.

AI optimization is the core

At the core of MoneySkills lies an advanced AI optimization engine that continuously analyzes market data and executes trades based on a clearly defined set of rules. Unlike manual trading, which is susceptible to emotional decision-making, fatigue, and time constraints, MoneySkills‘ automated approach ensures that its strategies operate stably within the 24/7 global cryptocurrency market.

This model is particularly well-suited for users seeking to enhance their trading discipline, alleviate operational stress, and save time, while still actively participating in the digital asset market. The platform’s AI layer continuously optimizes trade execution based on ever-changing market conditions, providing a smarter and more flexible trading experience — without user intervention.

How to get started

Getting started with MoneySkills takes just a few minutes:

1. Visit the official MoneySkills website and complete the registration process.

2. After registering, users can receive a registration bonus of $15 and $50 in free trial credits. The bonus will be automatically deposited into their account (click here to complete the registration).

3. Activate an AI trading strategy with a single click — no configuration or technical setup required.

4. Monitor strategy performance anytime via the web or mobile app. Users can get started without any fees, there are no complicated registration requirements, and no trading experience is needed.

Completely free: No hidden fees

MoneySkills is completely free of charge. There are no subscription fees, software licensing costs, or requirements to purchase any auxiliary trading tools. For new users, this zero-cost entry point minimizes the financial risk associated with exploration; for long-term participants, it ensures that the value generated by intelligent strategies remains undiminished by administrative overheads.

This reflects MoneySkills‘ broader mission: to make AI-driven quantitative trading truly accessible to a wider audience, regardless of their technical background or capital size.

Safety, transparency, and stability emphasized from the very beginning of the design

Security and operational transparency are MoneySkills’ top priorities. The platform employs robust security safeguards at every level, ranging from account protection and data integrity to the predictable, compliance-driven execution of automated strategies. Far from operating as a “black box,” 

MoneySkills maintains clear and transparent processes, enabling users to stay fully informed at all times regarding the performance of their strategies and the allocation of their funds.

This commitment to stability is also reflected in operational performance. The platform is designed to ensure reliable and uninterrupted trade execution across diverse market environments, thereby guaranteeing that user-activated strategies continue to perform as expected — whether the market is trending, experiencing high volatility, or undergoing a consolidation phase. For users who entrust their trading activities to automated systems, the combination of security, transparency, and consistency serves as the cornerstone of their confidence.

Looking ahead: AI-powered trading will become the new standard

The cryptocurrency market is maturing rapidly, and users’ expectations for trading tools are changing accordingly. As manual trading is gradually supplanted by automated, AI-driven approaches, platforms like MoneySkills are spearheading a significant structural shift in how retail investors engage with the digital asset market.

MoneySkills boasts a rapidly growing user base, featuring a product architecture centered on ease of use and automation, alongside a clear commitment to eliminating the traditional cost and complexity barriers associated with quantitative trading. Entering 2026, MoneySkills will not only be a platform designed for experienced traders, but also for anyone ready to use their money more intelligently.

About MoneySkills

MoneySkills is an AI-driven quantitative trading platform dedicated to making automated cryptocurrency trading strategies easily accessible to everyone. Upholding core principles of security, efficiency, simplicity, and cost-free access, the platform enables users of all experience levels to deploy smart trading strategies and generate returns without any technical barriers or upfront investment.MoneySkills supports both web and mobile access, ensuring that users can manage their trading strategies anytime, anywhere.

For more information, visit the official MoneySkills website.