South Korea-based cryptocurrency exchange Bithumb has again postponed its planned initial public offering, with insiders signaling a listing would come only after 2028. The company previously eyed a 2025- or 2027-targeted listing, but renewed restructuring and ongoing regulatory hurdles have pushed the timeline further, according to Maeil Business News Korea.

A Bithumb official told Maeil Business News Korea that the firm would focus on preparing for the listing until 2027, while strengthening accounting policies and internal controls following an IPO advisory contract with Samjong KPMG. The company’s chief financial officer, Jeong Sang-gyun, framed the moves as part of a broader readiness program ahead of public listing.

Shareholders also reaffirmed CEO Lee Jae-won for a two-year term at the annual meeting, extending leadership continuity. Under Lee’s tenure, Bithumb has faced regulatory scrutiny, including a six-month suspension and a $24 million fine from South Korean authorities for alleged anti-money-laundering violations.

A broader context for Bithumb’s IPO plans is the evolving Korean listing landscape. Upbit operator Dunamu is reportedly planning an IPO after a share swap with Naver Financial, with September cited as the timetable by local outlets. The prospect of a major local exchange going public could influence investor appetite and domestic crypto adoption.

In February, Bithumb drew headlines for a technical blunder that credited users with about 2,000 BTC instead of 2,000 won. The incident briefly generated illusory balances in the exchange ledger totaling more than $40 billion, though most of the funds existed only on paper and were subsequently reversed.

Key takeaways

• Bithumb’s IPO timeline is pushed beyond 2028, with a continued focus on readiness through 2027.
• CEO Lee Jae-won is kept in place, providing leadership continuity amid restructuring and regulatory scrutiny.
• Governance enhancements are underway, including a strengthened role for accounting policies and internal controls via Samjong KPMG.
• South Korea’s regulatory and policy environment remains in flux, with crypto-tax discussions and stablecoin legislation shaping IPO prospects.
• Past operational missteps underscore the ongoing need for strong risk management in a country with a rapidly evolving crypto market.

Bithumb’s delayed IPO: what it signals about Korea’s crypto IPO landscape

According to Maeil Business News Korea, Bithumb’s updated timeline centers on preparations through 2027, with an IPO no sooner than after 2028. The company’s leadership has emphasized governance upgrades as a prerequisite for listing, aligning with expectations from investors for stronger disclosures and controls. The report also notes the presence of an IPO advisory contract with Samjong KPMG, underscoring a formal governance posture as the firm eyes a future public market debut. Maeil Business News Korea

Beyond internal reforms, Bithumb’s path must contend with a broader domestic IPO scene. Dunamu, the operator of Upbit, is said to be pursuing an IPO after a share swap with Naver Financial, with local press pointing to a September window. If a large exchange-minted listing materializes in Korea, the market could reassess liquidity and the competitive dynamics among domestic platforms. Seoul Economic Daily coverage has circulated the timeline, though other outlets have noted the regulatory and market hurdles that may complicate the schedule.

Regulatory climate in Korea: implications for listings and adoption

The policy environment in South Korea continues to evolve alongside the crypto sector. President Lee Jae-myung, who took office in mid-2025, has backed early proposals on payment stablecoins, signaling a readiness to integrate digital assets into the financial system. At the same time, lawmakers have wrestled with crypto-tax plans that were first floated years ago but have faced repeated delays and, in some accounts, may be scrapped entirely as of March this year. As the government calibrates its stance, the fate of a large public filing by a domestic exchange remains tethered to regulatory clarity and the cost of compliance for incumbents. As of March 2025, estimates put the number of South Koreans with crypto exchange accounts at around 16 million, illustrating the market’s scale even as policy debate continues. Cointelegraph also highlighted the broader policy conversation tied to the sector.

Operational risk and the path to a compliant IPO

Bithumb’s governance upgrades take on heightened significance in light of prior enforcement actions. The exchange faced a six-month suspension and a $24 million fine from South Korean authorities over alleged anti-money-laundering issues, a reminder that any future public listing would demand rigorous compliance and transparent controls. The ongoing emphasis on strengthening internal policies, as described by CFO Jeong Sang-gyun and corroborated by reporting on the IPO advisory arrangement, points to a broader industry-wide shift toward governance-readiness before capital market access. Cointelegraph coverage

Looking ahead, investors and builders will be watching whether Korea’s exchanges can harmonize rapid user growth with robust risk management and regulatory alignment. The coming quarters will reveal if Bithumb’s patient approach to listing—paired with stronger governance—can unlock a credible path to a public market presence in a country where crypto adoption remains high but policy remains unsettled. Cointelegraph: February BTC-credit incident

Readers should watch how Bithumb reframes its governance blueprint, how Korea’s policy stance crystallizes around crypto taxation and stablecoins, and whether the broader IPO wave among domestically run exchanges gains or loses momentum as regulators weigh the costs and benefits of public listings in the crypto era.

The U.S. Treasury on Wednesday issued a notice of proposed rulemaking seeking public comment on state-level stablecoin governance under the GENIUS Act. The proposal clarifies how states may regulate stablecoins with a market cap under $10 billion, provided their regulations remain aligned with federal policy and standards.

The GENIUS framework—short for the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins Act—enables states to oversee smaller stablecoins, while ensuring that core protections stay in sync with federal rules. The Treasury NPRM outlines non-negotiable guardrails that issuers must meet, including a stringent reserve model, ongoing reporting, and strict compliance with federal anti-money laundering and sanctions policies.

Key takeaways

• The Treasury’s NPRM invites public comment on implementing GENIUS Act state-level governance for stablecoins under $10 billion in market cap, with alignment to federal standards.
• Core protections are codified: 1:1 reserve backing with cash or high-quality cash equivalents, plus monthly reporting requirements; full AML and sanctions compliance; and a ban on rehypothecation of reserves.
• States may impose their own liquidity, reserve, risk management, and enforcement rules, but only if they are equal to or more restrictive than federal standards and raise financial thresholds when appropriate.
• Comment period is open for 60 days; once a stablecoin issuer exceeds $10 billion in market cap, federal jurisdiction applies automatically to the largest issuers.
• The broader regulatory conversation continues to grapple with yield-bearing stablecoins and the viability of sharing interest with holders, a debate rich with tensions between innovation and incumbent financial interests.

Regulatory architecture clarified by the NPRM

The Treasury’s notice articulates a clear floor of protections that stablecoin issuers under state purview must observe. The proposed framework requires reserves to back each token on a 1:1 basis with cash or high-quality cash equivalents, paired with monthly reporting to maintain transparency and accountability. In addition, issuers must operate in full compliance with federal anti-money laundering and sanctions regimes, and the proposal explicitly prohibits rehypothecation, the practice of using the same reserve asset to back multiple claims.

Crucially, the NPRM emphasizes that state-level regimes should produce regulatory outcomes that are at least as stringent as the federal framework. This principle is designed to prevent a patchwork of weaker state rules that could undermine consumer protections or introduce systemic risk across the sector. The Treasury text also signals that states are free to implement stricter liquidity or risk-management procedures if they exceed federal requirements, provided those measures maintain a conservative, shielded stance toward stability and resilience.

For market participants, the NPRM sets the stage for a more modular regulatory landscape. Smaller issuers—those below the $10 billion threshold—could be governed by state-level regimes that mirror federal guardrails, while larger players would inevitably fall under federal oversight. The proposal reiterates that public comments are welcome for 60 days, signaling a proactive, consultative phase before any formal rule adoption.

State versus federal oversight and implications for issuers

Under the GENIUS Act, state authorities may regulate stablecoins that carry a market cap of less than $10 billion, so long as the rules do not deviate meaningfully from federal policy. This design aims to strike a balance between encouraging innovation at the state level and preserving a coherent national standard for token stability, disclosure, and consumer protection.

The NPRM also outlines a practical brake on the largest issuers. When an issuer surpasses the $10 billion threshold, federal jurisdiction takes precedence, meaning the biggest players would be regulated exclusively at the federal level. This arrangement acknowledges the systemic importance of the top stablecoins and aligns with broader efforts to harmonize oversight across federal and state lines.

The GENIUS Act itself has already seen significant political attention. The act became law after President Donald Trump signed it in July, marking a notable moment in U.S. crypto regulation. This backdrop helps explain why the Treasury’s NPRM emphasizes alignment with federal policies while granting states a time-limited runway to craft tailored approaches for smaller issuers. For readers following regulatory history, the law’s signing signaled an intent to formalize stablecoin governance rather than rely on scattered, disparate state actions.

Industry debate: yields, savings and regulatory tensions

Beyond the mechanics of reserve-backed tokens, the GENIUS framework intersects with a broader policy debate about yield-bearing stablecoins. Some industry participants, including Coinbase among others, contend that stablecoins capable of earning interest could offer savers a competitive alternative to traditional savings accounts, which have historically yielded well under 1 percent in many markets. This view has positioned yield-bearing stablecoins as a potential bridge between crypto markets and mainstream savings utilities.

Still, yield-bearing structures have drawn pushback from the traditional banking lobby, which argues that enabling token holders to share in yields could siphon deposits away from traditional banking, potentially threatening financial stability for incumbents. The regulatory conversation reflects this tension: on one side, proponents view yield-bearing stablecoins as a step toward more consumer-centric financial innovation; on the other, opponents warn about destabilizing effects on conventional funding models.

Adding to the regulatory backdrop, the Financial Stability Board has previously warned about the risks posed by dollar-pegged stablecoins, particularly in emerging markets where policy transmission is more fragile. Those concerns frame a policy environment that seeks to deter a repeat of systemic stress while still supporting innovation in payments and settlement. The broader debate remains unsettled in Congress, where the CLARITY market-structure bill has stalled, complicating efforts to codify how stablecoins interact with traditional banking rails and market infrastructure.

As the rulemaking unfolds, industry participants will be watching how aggressively states implement the NPRM’s guardrails and whether federal regulators move more quickly to scale the top stablecoins into a federally comprehensive regime. The balance between openness to innovation and rigorous risk controls will shape not only token issuers but also users seeking safer, more transparent access to digital assets.

What to watch next

Public comments on the Treasury’s NPRM must be submitted within 60 days, marking the start of a multi-stage rulemaking process. Investors and builders should monitor how state regulators translate the general principles into concrete requirements, and whether any state-level regimes carve out distinct treatment for particular subcategories of stablecoins. The dynamic between state flexibility and federal uniformity will likely influence the pace at which stablecoins with smaller market caps gain practical legitimacy, while the largest issuers navigate a centralized federal framework.

For broader context, keep an eye on ongoing regulatory discussions around yield-bearing stablecoins and the fate of related U.S. legislation, such as the CLARITY bill, which currently remains stalled in Congress. The evolving regulatory narrative—spanning state innovation, federal cohesion, and the risk-versus-reward calculus for yield-bearing structures—will shape how users, traders, and issuers approach stablecoins in the months ahead.

TLDR

• BlackRock assigned the ticker $BITA to its proposed iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF.
• The company filed an amended S-1 registration statement for the new Bitcoin fund.
• The ETF will combine spot Bitcoin exposure with a covered call options strategy.
• Eric Balchunas said BlackRock has not set a management fee and estimated 38 basis points.
• The fund plans to hold Bitcoin-linked assets, including shares of IBIT.

BlackRock has advanced its Bitcoin product range by assigning the ticker $BITA to a new income-focused ETF. Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas confirmed the update on X and referenced an amended S-1 filing. The product will combine spot Bitcoin exposure with an options overlay strategy.

BlackRock Advances Bitcoin Premium Income Structure

BlackRock plans to list the fund as the iShares Bitcoin Premium Income ETF under the ticker $BITA. Eric Balchunas stated on X that the firm filed an amended S-1 registration statement. He described the fund as a sequel to the company’s existing Bitcoin ETF lineup.

He added that BlackRock has not set a management fee for the product. However, he placed his “over/under” estimate at 38 basis points. The company has not announced an official launch date.

The proposed ETF will hold Bitcoin-linked assets, including shares of the iShares Bitcoin Trust. The trust trades under the ticker IBIT and provides spot Bitcoin exposure. The new strategy will also write covered call options on those holdings to generate premium income.

According to prior SEC filings, the structure aims to deliver income while tracking Bitcoin’s price performance. The fund will reflect Bitcoin returns net of expenses. BlackRock designed the ETF to expand beyond passive exposure into yield-based strategies.

The filing shows that the fund will combine direct exposure with an income-generating overlay. The approach mirrors covered call equity ETFs that seek steady option premiums. BlackRock continues to broaden its institutional crypto offerings through structured products.

Morgan Stanley Moves Forward With MSBT Listing

Morgan Stanley has progressed with its own spot Bitcoin ETF under the proposed ticker MSBT. The New York Stock Exchange issued a listing notice earlier this year. If approved, MSBT would mark the first spot Bitcoin ETF issued by a major U.S. bank.

The trust will hold Bitcoin in custody and allow brokerage clients to access spot exposure. Coinbase Custody will safeguard the Bitcoin in cold storage. BNY Mellon will manage administration, transfer agency services, and cash operations.

Filings revealed that MSBT will carry a 0.14% annual expense ratio. That fee undercuts BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust, which charges about 0.25%. The competitive pricing may support distribution within Morgan Stanley’s wealth platform.

Morgan Stanley oversees trillions in client assets across its advisory network. The firm plans to seed the ETF with about 50,000 shares valued at about $1million. The structure aligns with existing U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs.

Recent data shows that U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs have attracted tens of billions in inflows since launch. Asset managers continue to compete on fees and product design. Regulators have not yet announced final approval dates for either $BITA or MSBT.

TLDR

• Bitcoin price rose 3% in 24 hours and moved back above $68,000.
• The 365-day average profitability remains high at 87.5%, showing no full market reset.
• Analysts said past bear markets saw the long-term average drop near 63.8% before recovery.
• Current data shows 66.4% of the Bitcoin supply remains in profit despite recent declines.
• Bitcoin continues to trade above the $54,000 Realized Price level.

Bitcoin (BTC) price opened in April above $68,000 after a 3% daily gain, yet the broader trend remains downward. On-chain data shows long-term profitability remains elevated despite recent declines. Analysts state the market has not completed the deep reset seen in prior bear cycles.

Bitcoin Price Holds Above $68,000 as Long-Term Profitability Stays Elevated

Bitcoin price climbed 3% in 24 hours and traded above $68,000 at press time. However, price action still reflects a prevailing downtrend across higher time frames. Short-term rebounds continue, yet broader market pressure persists.

CryptoQuant analyst Axel Adler Jr. said profitability metrics have not reached prior bear market lows. He stated that 66.4% of the Bitcoin supply remains in profit as of April 1, 2026. Meanwhile, the 30-day moving average stands at 69.1%, which reflects reduced short-term gains.

Adler highlighted the 365-day moving average, which remains elevated at 87.5%. He said previous cycles saw this metric fall sharply before full recovery phases began. In late 2017, the indicator reached 96% before dropping to 63.8% by May 2019.

He explained that this earlier decline confirmed a complete market reset. In contrast, the current 365-day average has not approached those historical lows. Therefore, long-term holders still retain strong profitability levels despite ongoing drawdowns.

Historical Reset Levels and Realized Price at $54,000 Remain Key Reference Points

Adler compared the current downturn with corrections in September 2023 and September 2024. He said those pullbacks weakened short-term profitability but left long-term averages intact. The 2026 decline pushed the metric down to 55.7%, while the 30-day average fell to 66.7%.

Despite deeper losses this year, the 365-day average remains near 87.5%. Adler stated, “As long as the 365DMA stays elevated, the market resembles an extended correction.” He added that a full capitulation phase would require a sharper long-term profitability drop.

Separately, analyst Ardi reviewed Bitcoin’s seasonal performance trends since 2014. He reported that April ranks as the third-strongest month historically, with a 9.1% average return. However, he said market context matters because 2026 reflects bear market conditions.

Ardi cited April 2014, when Bitcoin declined 2%, and April 2022, when it fell 18.7%. He also referenced April 2018, which delivered a 35.7% rebound within a broader downturn. According to him, strong monthly averages do not override prevailing trends.

CryptoQuant analyst Tugce focused on Bitcoin’s Realized Price, currently near $54,000. She said Bitcoin historically falls below this level before forming major cycle bottoms. Tugce stated, “The $54,000 area represents a key historical threshold during bear phases.”

She added that price could trade below the Realized Price for an extended period. Historical data shows previous bear markets reached that stage before recovery began. Bitcoin continues to trade well above $54,000 as of the latest market update.

Nakamoto Inc, the bitcoin treasury firm chaired by entrepreneur David Bailey, quietly sold 284 BTC for $20 million during March at an average price of $70,422 per coin, a price Bitcoin has not touched since, while Strategy continues targeting one million BTC by year end with holdings now at 762,099 coins according to 99Bitcoins. The contrast between one treasury selling and another aggressively buying tells you everything about where conviction sits in this market.

Pepeto has pulled in more than $8.69 million during this exact fear window, locking early holders into a fixed entry before the approaching Binance listing shifts the price permanently, and this bitcoin price prediction breakdown shows where committed capital is flowing while the crowd waits.

Bitcoin Price Prediction Shifts as Strategy Targets 1 Million BTC While Nakamoto Inc Takes Profits

Strategy now controls 762,099 BTC and is targeting one million coins by the end of 2026, funded through $1.2 billion in perpetual preferred shares called STRC that hit $300 million in single-day trading volume according to FinanceFeeds.

Exchange reserves dropped to a six year low of 2.31 million BTC per BeInCrypto, and the Fear and Greed Index sits at 8, the lowest reading since October 2023, a level that has historically produced positive 14-day forward returns 78% of the time according to Blockchain Magazine.

The Fear and Greed Index in single digits is a reading that only appeared a handful of times before, and each time preceded recoveries that turned the bitcoin price prediction from bearish to explosive for holders who bought while everyone else was selling.

BTC Forecast Meets Presale Positioning in the Fear Zone

Pepeto Builds What Pepe Never Had and the Presale Proves It

Traders tracking the bitcoin price prediction are looking past surface level forecasts, they want an entry that places them before returns are already priced in. Pepeto is where that entry forms right now, created by the cofounder who built the original Pepe coin to an $11 billion peak with zero exchange tools.

The smart capital wants positioning before exchange listing removes the presale price permanently. Pepeto sits at $0.000000186 with a Binance listing approaching, and analysts project 100x to 300x from current levels, a gap that disappears the moment trading opens. More than $8.69 million raised during extreme fear confirms conviction money entering while the broader market hesitates, and every week that number climbs higher while the entry you are reading about right now gets one round closer to disappearing.

Pepeto stands apart because its exchange platform already runs and earns from every direction the market moves. PepetoSwap processes trades at zero cost so the position you build stays larger than it would on any platform taking a cut from both sides. The risk scorer checks every contract before you buy, so the money you move in stays protected while others learn the hard way which tokens were built to drain them.

Staking at 190% APY stacks a passive return while the listing approaches. Every day the presale stays open is one more day you could be inside earning, and the wallets entering now through Pepeto are building positions that listing day converts into returns everyone outside will wish they had secured when this price still existed.

Bitcoin Price Prediction Holds Near $68,839 as Exchange Supply Reaches Cycle Lows

Bitcoin trades near $68,839 according to CoinMarketCap after weeks of range-bound consolidation as geopolitical tensions keep capital in defensive positions.

The 46% decline from October’s $126,210 all time high leaves BTC between $66,000 and $70,000, with Bernstein maintaining a $150,000 year end target citing Q1 ETF inflows of $18.7 billion per CoinDesk.

Strategy now controls 762,099 BTC according to filings, the highest corporate holding on record, while Nakamoto Inc’s $20M sale at $70,422 shows not all treasuries share the same conviction. The math from $68,839 to $150,000 delivers roughly 119% over months, real money but a fraction of what presale entries return when a confirmed listing sits weeks away.

Bitcoin Price Prediction and the Presale Window That Fear Built

The bitcoin price prediction reveals a market pinned between fear and institutional buying, with BTC showing real corporate backing despite short term weakness. These are tested assets with active capital behind them, but timing in crypto cycles decides everything. Early BTC holders turned a few hundred dollars into generational wealth, and all of them say they wish they had bought more when no one was paying attention.

That pattern is forming around Pepeto now, with more than $8.69 million locked by wallets that see the signal before the Binance listing removes the presale price permanently. The capital flowing through the Pepeto official website is choosing which side of the listing it lands on before the window shuts.

Click To Visit Pepeto Website To Enter The Presale

FAQs:

What Is the Latest Bitcoin Price Prediction for 2026?

Analysts target $150,000 by year end as Strategy accumulates 762,099 BTC during extreme fear, with BTC holding near $68,839 and Q1 ETF inflows reaching $18.7 billion.

Why Do Investors Compare BTC Forecasts With Presale Entries?

BTC’s projected move to $150,000 represents 119% gain over months, while presale entries before a confirmed listing deliver wider returns in a shorter window through the Pepeto official website.

Is Pepeto a Strong Entry During This Fear Cycle?

The bitcoin price prediction cycle rewards early positioning, and Pepeto with more than $8.69 million raised and a Binance listing approaching gives early holders a confirmed entry before the presale price disappears permanently.

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.

US Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr said Tuesday that clearer US stablecoin rules could speed the market’s growth, but warned that regulators still need to address money laundering risks, bank run risks and consumer safeguards as they implement the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act.

Speaking at a Federalist Society event on stablecoin regulation, Barr said the law provides “needed clarity” for issuers, but that “a great deal will depend on how federal and state regulators implement the statute.”

Barr said stablecoins are still used mainly for crypto trading and as a US dollar store of value in some foreign markets, though they could also lower remittance costs, speed up trade finance processing and help firms manage treasury operations. He also highlighted the risk of bad actors buying stablecoins in secondary markets without identity checks, and said issuers may be tempted to stretch for yield in reserve assets in ways that undermine confidence during stress.

Barr’s speech also cast the stablecoin debate in historical terms. He said private money has a “long and painful history” when safeguards are weak, pointing to the Free Banking Era in the US, the Panic of 1907, money market fund stress during the global financial crisis and COVID-19 shock, and more recent stablecoin valuation pressure as reasons to be cautious about any asset marketed as redeemable at par on demand.

Barr’s remarks come as US agencies move from legislation to rule-writing. The US Treasury Department opened a second round of public comment on implementing the GENIUS Act in September 2025, saying the law must be translated into rules that both encourage innovation and address illicit finance, consumer protections and financial stability risks.

Fed Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman told lawmakers in February that banking regulators were already working on capital and liquidity rules for stablecoin issuers, and Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation chair Travis Hill said in March that the agency does not expect stablecoins to receive deposit insurance under the law.

Related: Who gets the yield? CLARITY Act becomes fight over onchain dollars

Barr warns GENIUS Act rollout will test stablecoin safeguards

Barr’s speech signals where the implementation fights may land. He flagged reserve asset rules, regulatory arbitrage, the scope of issuer activities beyond issuance, capital and liquidity requirements, Anti-Money Laundering (AML) checks and consumer protection standards as the key issues still to be settled.

The GENIUS Act, signed into law on July 18, 2025, created a federal framework for payment stablecoins in the United States. The law requires issuers to maintain one-to-one backing with reserve assets such as US dollars and Treasury bills, and is expected to take effect 18 months after signing or 120 days after final agency rules are completed.

Magazine: How crypto laws changed in 2025 — and how they’ll change in 2026