Crypto World
Saylor Says Bitcoin Doesn’t Require Ethereum-Like Yield to Win
Strategy executive chairman Michael Saylor has renewed his argument that Bitcoin investing does not require staking, inflation, or on-chain yield schemes. In a Tuesday post on X, Saylor framed Bitcoin as “pure digital capital” and said returns should come from financial products built around BTC rather than protocol-based rewards.
At the center of his pitch was a five-layer “Digital Asset Stack,” with Bitcoin positioned as the foundation for credit, money, yield, and equity structures. The approach aligns with Strategy’s long-running thesis of treating its Bitcoin holdings as a treasury reserve and generating returns through capital-markets engineering.
Key takeaways
- Saylor argues Bitcoin should remain “pure digital capital,” rejecting the idea that it must imitate Ethereum-style yield mechanisms to attract investors.
- His “Digital Asset Stack” positions BTC as collateral for “digital credit” instruments intended to deliver more stable returns than holding BTC outright.
- Saylor describes Bitcoin’s volatility as a feature of scarce, global, 24/7-traded capital—credit structures sit “above” BTC in the risk hierarchy.
- Strategy’s perpetual preferred stock STRC is repeatedly cited as an example of how capital-market products can be built on top of Bitcoin holdings.
The “Digital Asset Stack” and why Saylor rejects staking
In his X post, Saylor laid out a five-layer framework he uses to explain how digital assets can be organized into different economic roles: credit, money, yield, and equity, all anchored by Bitcoin. The key takeaway from his remarks is philosophical as much as financial—Saylor believes Bitcoin does not need additional mechanisms like staking or inflation to become investable.
Saylor’s position is that investors should be able to access exposure to the Bitcoin ecosystem without relying on protocol-issued yield. Instead, he points toward traditional finance-style structures—securities and credit products—that use BTC holdings as underlying capital support.
The argument reinforces Strategy’s established narrative that returns can be engineered through instruments issued by the company, rather than by earning on-chain rewards. That distinction matters for investors comparing “BTC as collateral for finance” versus “BTC as a yield-bearing asset through protocol design.”
Digital credit: collateral with risk separated
Saylor’s framework emphasizes “digital credit”—financial instruments created using Strategy’s Bitcoin holdings. In this structure, Bitcoin functions as collateral, while the equity layer absorbs most of the price risk. The intent, according to Saylor’s explanation, is that credit instruments can therefore deliver returns that behave differently from spot BTC, particularly during turbulent market periods.
While the X post did not break down every product in the stack, Saylor repeatedly referred to Strategy-style securities, including STRC, as tangible examples of how “digital credit” can be packaged. In his framing, instruments like STRC are not merely corporate offerings; they are presented as illustrations of a broader asset class concept built on top of Bitcoin through capital-market structures.
For readers, the practical question is what this separation of risk means in real market stress. In Saylor’s model, credit and equity are not identical exposures: they sit at different points in the capital structure, with different drivers of returns and different sensitivity to BTC price movements.
Volatility isn’t a flaw—structures are designed to sit above BTC
Saylor also addressed Bitcoin’s volatility directly. He argued that volatility is not an inherent defect, but a natural outcome of Bitcoin being “high-energy capital”—scarce, traded globally, and moving rapidly because it is always on and always accessible.
In his view, the purpose of “digital credit” instruments is to dampen swings by placing credit claims above Bitcoin in the structure. Although Saylor did not specifically discuss STRC’s volatility dynamics in the X post itself, he said the risk profile of credit products can vary based on market stress, liquidity conditions, and investor demand.
That qualification is important: it suggests that credit instruments are not guaranteed to behave the same way in all cycles. Instead, they may introduce a different mix of risks—often less immediate sensitivity to BTC price changes, but with exposure to broader credit conditions.
Strategy’s preferred stock STRC provides a concrete reference point in Saylor’s remarks. STRC closed at $95.20 on Monday, down 1.45%, according to Nasdaq data. The shares have a $100 stated par value and are structured to trade near that level, based on Strategy’s own description of how STRC is priced.
For investors weighing these products against direct BTC exposure, the central tradeoff implied by Saylor’s framework is that price volatility is not removed—it is redistributed across layers. Credit may smooth the experience relative to holding BTC spot, but the exact behavior depends on how markets price the credit and equity components.
Product value depends on whether BTC is sold
Saylor’s argument about “digital credit” also ties back to Strategy’s policy on Bitcoin. In earlier commentary at the BTC Prague conference, he said that if a company policy prevents Bitcoin sales, then the credit structure could lose its value, because the mechanism intended to support the products would be constrained.
As he put it to Cointelegraph: “If the company’s policy is that we won’t sell the Bitcoin, then the credit won’t have value and the equity won’t have value.” That linkage—between BTC sales capacity and the functioning of the capital structure—highlights a key uncertainty readers should monitor. Even if products are designed to damp BTC swings, their resilience may depend on whether and how liquidity events can be executed.
Cointelegraph previously reported on Strategy’s Bitcoin sales in the context of product support, including coverage of a sale that offloaded 32 BTC. That broader record is relevant to Saylor’s thesis, because it suggests the company’s framework is not purely theoretical—it has required real-world actions to sustain the engineering of returns.
With Saylor again emphasizing that Bitcoin should stay “pure digital capital,” the immediate open question is how far this “digital credit” model can go without evolving assumptions about capital markets access, liquidity, and BTC management policies. Readers should watch how Strategy and similar issuers structure risk across credit and equity, and how those instruments perform through stress—especially when BTC price moves collide with liquidity and demand shifts.
Crypto World
Binance Says EU Compliance Is Being Assessed Despite Possible License Rejection
Binance says a key step in its EU Markets in Crypto Assets (MiCA) licensing process has moved forward, even as Reuters reported that regulators are preparing to reject the exchange’s bid—an outcome that could limit Binance’s ability to serve customers in the bloc.
In a Tuesday blog update, Binance stated that Greece’s Hellenic Capital Market Commission (HCMC)—a MiCA regulator involved in reviewing the company’s application—has completed its assessment and “considered it compliant with MiCA requirements,” while noting that the matter still requires review by the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA).
Key takeaways
- Binance claims HCMC has completed its MiCA application review and found its submission compliant, subject to ESMA oversight.
- Reuters reported EU regulators may reject Binance’s licensing request, potentially preventing the exchange from offering services to EU residents.
- MiCA authorization timing remains critical: EU firms must obtain approval by the end of June to continue serving residents lawfully.
- Binance says delays could affect liquidity, competition, and user choice, and may shift activity outside the EU.
Binance points to progress with HCMC review
Binance’s response comes shortly after Reuters reported that EU regulators were preparing to reject the exchange’s licensing bid. Binance’s blog post did not directly address the Reuters claim in detail, but it framed the latest stage of the process as constructive.
According to the company, HCMC has finished reviewing its application and concluded that it meets MiCA requirements, with remaining steps moving to ESMA. Binance characterized any disruption in the timeline as having consequences beyond its own operations, arguing that it could reduce liquidity and competition while narrowing user choice.
Binance also said it plans to update users by June 30, aligning with the MiCA application deadline referenced in its communication.
What MiCA timing means for Binance in the EU
Under the MiCA framework, crypto businesses that want to operate legally for EU residents need to secure authorization by the end of June. The reporting in the source indicates that if Binance’s application—submitted to and reviewed through HCMC—were ultimately rejected, it would likely be unable to legally continue offering services in the European Union starting July 1.
The practical significance for users and market participants is straightforward: authorization or lack of it can determine whether an exchange can provide services to EU-based customers without regulatory risk. That makes the ESMA review stage pivotal, particularly given the approaching end-of-June cut-off.
Binance previously applied for MiCA licensing in Greece under HCMC in January, and the source notes that other regulators—such as those in Germany and the Netherlands—have already approved some MiCA-compliant licenses, underscoring how time-sensitive the current stage is for remaining applicants.
Why the HCMC-to-ESMA handoff is a flashpoint
MiCA oversight is split across national authorities and EU-level review. In this case, Binance highlights that the Greek regulator has completed its portion and assessed compliance, while Reuters suggests EU-level decisions could still go the other way.
That gap—between a national regulator’s compliance assessment and the eventual outcome after ESMA review—matters to investors, traders, and counterparties because it affects expectations around service continuity, custody arrangements, and liquidity flows. Market participants often plan around regulatory certainty, and a process that appears to be “moving” on one layer but is rumored to be heading toward rejection at another can raise uncertainty about near-term access to a major venue.
Binance’s blog message reflects that concern, arguing that any delays or distortion in its MiCA path could have broader consequences for the EU crypto market, including liquidity and competitive dynamics.
Binance faces additional compliance scrutiny in the US
While the immediate focus is MiCA authorization in Europe, the exchange’s regulatory posture is also shaped by its ongoing history with US authorities. In 2023, Binance reached an agreement with US regulators in which then-CEO Changpeng Zhao stepped down and pleaded guilty to a felony charge. The company also agreed to a $4.3 billion settlement with the US Treasury Department and Department of Justice and to operate under a monitoring program.
More recently, US lawmakers have pressed for answers regarding Binance’s compliance amid war-related geopolitical developments and reporting that the exchange facilitated $1 billion to sanctioned entities. The source indicates that this issue has continued to draw attention from US lawmakers.
For market participants, this parallel regulatory track is relevant because it can influence reputational risk assessments and compliance expectations globally, even when the immediate decision is specific to EU authorization.
With ESMA review and the end-of-June MiCA deadline approaching, the key question for users and the broader market is whether Binance’s authorization path ultimately aligns with Binance’s claim of HCMC compliance—or whether Reuters’ report of a possible rejection proves accurate; the June 30 update and the timing of ESMA’s next steps will be the most important signals to watch.
Crypto World
ARK Invest Offloads Over $167M in Roku (ROKU) and AMD (AMD) Stock in Major Monday Selloff
Key Highlights
- ARKK ETF divested 665,136 Roku shares valued at $95.5 million on June 15
- AMD position reduced by 141,408 shares across three ARK funds totaling $72.3 million
- Rocket Lab holdings decreased by 171,176 shares representing $17.5 million
- Additional reductions made in Tesla, Amazon, Palantir, and other portfolio holdings
- These transactions reflect an ongoing trend of position downsizing in these companies
Cathie Wood’s investment management firm ARK Invest executed substantial portfolio reductions on Monday, June 15, 2026. The transactions were revealed through ARK’s routine daily disclosure filings and impacted several exchange-traded funds under management.
The most significant divestment involved Roku. ARK disposed of 665,136 shares via its flagship ARKK ETF, representing a transaction value of $95,553,437. This wasn’t an isolated decision. The firm had previously shed 98,835 Roku shares on the preceding Friday, indicating a strategic downsizing of this holding.
AMD Holdings Reduced Across Multiple ARK Funds
Advanced Micro Devices represented the second-largest divestment of the day. The firm liquidated 141,408 shares distributed among ARKK, ARKQ, and ARKX funds, amounting to $72,340,090. This transaction followed another sale of 80,536 AMD shares during the prior week.
Combined, the Roku and AMD liquidations accounted for over $167 million in transactions within a single session.
Rocket Lab experienced the next major reduction. ARK decreased its position by 171,176 shares across ARKQ and ARKX portfolios, with a combined value of $17,526,710. The firm had similarly sold 50,746 Rocket Lab shares the previous Friday.
Tesla wasn’t spared from the selling pressure. ARK liquidated 44,488 shares with a market value of $18,081,257. This continues a pattern of Tesla position reductions the investment firm has executed over recent months.
Amazon experienced a reduction of 46,783 shares from the ARKK ETF, valued at $11,160,084. Meanwhile, 10X Genomics saw 53,496 shares sold, totaling $15,428,448.
Additional Portfolio Adjustments
Moving down the transaction list, ARK divested 66,259 Palantir shares for $8,480,489 and unloaded 166,427 Veracyte shares worth $7,876,989.
CoreWeave experienced a sale of 51,498 shares valued at $5,178,123. Iridium Communications had a more modest reduction of 3,168 shares, representing $149,909.
The divestments spanned ARK’s ARKK, ARKQ, and ARKX portfolios. This diversified approach indicates the portfolio adjustment was comprehensive rather than sector-specific.
ARK Invest hasn’t issued a public statement explaining the rationale behind these specific transactions. While the firm maintains transparency by publishing daily trade activity, detailed explanations for individual moves aren’t always provided.
The magnitude of Monday’s trading activity is noteworthy. Liquidating more than $95 million of a single equity in one session represents an unusually large move, even for an actively managed ETF of ARK’s size.
Roku shares have faced headwinds recently as the company’s advertising revenue stream encounters challenging market dynamics. AMD has experienced volatility as market participants evaluate artificial intelligence chip opportunities against broader economic uncertainties.
Investors who monitor ARK’s portfolio moves as a barometer for sentiment toward growth-oriented and technology stocks will scrutinize these transactions carefully.
Complete details of all June 15 transactions remain accessible to the public through ARK’s daily transparency reports published on the firm’s official website.
Crypto World
Ethereum tops $1,800 as BitMine boosts holdings to 5.62 million ETH
Key takeaways
- BitMine bought 76,881 ETH, raising its holdings to 5.62 million ETH.
- The company now controls about 4.66% of Ethereum’s circulating supply.
- ETH is attempting to hold above $1,800 while facing resistance near $1,900.
BitMine adds nearly 77,000 ETH to its reserve
Ethereum treasury company BitMine Immersion Technologies significantly expanded its Ether holdings last week, purchasing 76,881 ETH during a period of weakness in the broader crypto market.
The acquisition increased the company’s total Ethereum holdings to 5.62 million ETH, valued at approximately $10.35 billion at current prices.
According to BitMine, the position now represents about 4.66% of Ethereum’s circulating supply, moving the firm closer to its stated goal of controlling 5% of the available ETH supply.
Despite lowering its average acquisition cost through continued accumulation during the recent market downturn, BitMine still reports unrealized losses exceeding $9 billion on its Ethereum position.
In addition to its substantial Ethereum holdings, BitMine disclosed ownership of 204 Bitcoin as well as significant equity investments.
The company currently holds 204 BTC, a $180 million stake in Beast Industries, $88 million worth of Eightco Holdings shares, and $502 million in cash and marketable securities.
The sizable cash position was largely funded through a recently completed preferred stock offering.
BitMine recently closed an offering of 3.5 million shares of its 9.5% Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock at $80 per share.
After underwriting fees, commissions, and related expenses, the company generated approximately $273.8 million in net proceeds.
Chairman Thomas Lee described the offering as a strategic move to diversify the company’s balance sheet while maintaining its aggressive Ethereum accumulation strategy.
“The Series A Preferred Stock offering is good balance sheet diversification for BitMine,” Lee said in a statement. He added that projected annual staking rewards of roughly $219 million are expected to provide recurring cash flow to support dividend obligations associated with the preferred shares.
Ethereum technical outlook: Bulls target a break above $1,800
The ETH/USD 4-hour chart is bullish as Ethereum is currently attempting to stabilize after rebounding sharply from levels below $1,600.
While short-term momentum indicators have improved, the asset remains constrained by several layers of overhead resistance.
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) has recovered toward the 67 level, while the Stochastic oscillator continues to move higher, signaling improving momentum but not yet confirming a sustained bullish trend reversal.
If the rally persists, immediate resistance is located near $1,909. Additional supply zones are positioned around $2,018 and $2,107, followed by further resistance at $2,211.
Should bullish momentum strengthen, Ethereum could eventually target higher resistance levels near $2,388 and $2,746.
However, if the bears regain control, traders are closely monitoring whether ETH can maintain daily closes above $1,806. The next major support lies near $1,741.
A breakdown below that level could expose Ethereum to deeper support zones around $1,524 and $1,404, while $1,155 remains a key long-term support level if broader market conditions deteriorate.
Crypto World
Coinbase CEO Armstrong Calls Accredited-Investor Rules a 'Regressive Tax'

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong called on the U.S. government to overhaul its accredited-investor framework on Monday, arguing that wealth-based restrictions on private investment lock ordinary Americans out of opportunities available only to the already wealthy. Armstrong's call came shortly after… Read the full story at The Defiant
Crypto World
Ripple invests in Flutterwave, bringing RLUSD and XRP Ledger to payments in Africa
Ripple, the blockchain firm closely associated with the XRP Ledger (XRP) network, invested in African payments company Flutterwave as part of its Series E funding round, a deal centered on expanding the use of stablecoins for cross-border payments.
Flutterwave said Tuesday that the funding round values the company at $3.2 billion. Financial terms of Ripple’s stake were not disclosed.
The deal will integrate Ripple’s U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, RLUSD, into Flutterwave’s payments infrastructure, allowing businesses to settle some international transactions using digital dollars rather than relying solely on traditional banking networks.
Flutterwave will also connect to Ripple Payments, Ripple’s global payments network, and use the XRP Ledger blockchain to process transactions.
The companies said the goal is to make it easier and cheaper for businesses across Africa to send and receive money internationally.
The deal points to the growing role of stablecoins in international payments, one of the digital asset industry’s fastest-growing use cases. While cryptocurrencies are often associated with trading, stablecoins are increasingly being used by businesses and everyday people to move money across borders and manage U.S. dollar liquidity in regions where access to foreign currencies can be limited.
Crypto World
CoreWeave (CRWV) Stock Surges 7% as Nasdaq-100 Addition and Bullish Analyst Reports Drive Gains
Key Highlights
- CoreWeave will become a Nasdaq-100 component effective June 22 during the index’s quarterly adjustment.
- Cantor Fitzgerald maintained its Overweight stance with a $167 target, expecting a significant Q2 backlog surprise.
- Analyst estimates point to a potential $131 billion Q2 backlog by quarter-end, significantly surpassing the $104.4 billion Street forecast.
- Macquarie raised its rating to Outperform in the prior week, lifting its price objective from $90 to $125.
- Shares gained 7.38% to reach $104.59 during Tuesday’s session.
CoreWeave (CRWV) shares advanced more than 7% during Tuesday trading, hitting $104.59, as market participants responded positively to a pair of favorable developments.
CoreWeave, Inc. Class A Common Stock, CRWV
The primary driver is CoreWeave’s forthcoming entry into the Nasdaq-100 Index. The company will join the prestigious benchmark prior to market open on June 22, following the June 2026 quarterly reconstitution. Such index additions generally prompt purchasing activity from passive funds required to replicate the index composition.
CoreWeave will enter the index alongside Astera Labs, Nebius Group, Rocket Lab, and Teradyne during this rebalancing period.
The secondary positive development emerged from Cantor Fitzgerald. Analyst Brett Knoblauch maintained his Overweight recommendation and $167 price objective on Tuesday, highlighting information contained within a recent bond prospectus that he believes investors have largely dismissed.
Bond Filing Reveals Strong Backlog Trajectory
CoreWeave submitted a bond offering memorandum late last week. Within this document, Knoblauch uncovered operational data suggesting the firm is positioned to significantly exceed Q2 backlog expectations.
The prospectus disclosed run-rate EBITDA of $18.758 billion, representing an increase from the $16.098 billion figure reported in April’s offering document. Based on this progression, Knoblauch calculates that CoreWeave’s backlog may have already reached approximately $125 billion in early June.
He observes that the filing encompasses roughly 80% of the quarter’s duration. Assuming backlog accumulation continues at the current trajectory, his model projects the metric could achieve $131 billion by the June 30 quarter close.
This would comfortably surpass the previous quarter’s $99.4 billion backlog figure and substantially exceed the Street’s $104.4 billion consensus forecast.
Knoblauch offered a direct assessment: the market is significantly “undervaluing” both CoreWeave and the broader neocloud infrastructure segment.
Capital Structure Updates and Wall Street Upgrades
The disclosure also revealed anticipated gross debt of $68.5 billion, with net debt projected at $58.3 billion — amounts connected to the capital requirements necessary to fulfill existing backlog commitments.
Regarding financing activities, CoreWeave completed a private placement of $1.25 billion in 9.625% senior notes alongside 2 billion euros of 8.500% senior notes, both maturing in 2032. This transaction follows a previous plan to secure $3.5 billion through senior note issuance, with funds designated for general corporate use and existing debt refinancing.
In the previous week, Macquarie elevated CoreWeave to Outperform from Neutral, increasing its price target from $90 to $125. The research firm cited partnerships with Meta and OpenAI as confirmation that CoreWeave is establishing itself as a critical infrastructure provider in the AI ecosystem.
From a technical perspective, CRWV is positioned above all primary moving averages — trading 9.8% above its 20-day average, 5.7% above the 50-day, and 18% above the 100-day. The Relative Strength Index registers at a neutral 51.28. Critical resistance appears at the $125 level, with support identified near $103.
CRWV shares were trading up 7.38% at $104.59 at the time of publication on Tuesday.
Crypto World
Russia offered crypto to firebomb Sir Keir Starmer’s home, report
A Russian sabotage network reportedly offered a 22-year-old Ukrainian man thousands of dollars worth of tether (USDT) to firebomb properties belonging to UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
That’s according to numerous reports published by the BBC, Financial Times (FT), and The Guardian, which revealed the origins of the arson plot.
Roman Lavrynovych was convicted on Monday alongside Stanislav Carpiuc, 27, for conspiracy to commit arson after setting fire to the PM’s old car, previously owned Islington flat, and a property that he rents to his sister.
The attacks were carried out at the behest of a Russian-based Telegram user known as “El Money” who previously paid Lavrynovych to put up posters advertising Direct Action, a Russian-manufactured far-right group.
According to the FT and The Guardian, between 2024 and 2025, El Money offered to pay Lavrynovych £3,000 in USDT to carry out the arson attacks on the condition that they made it into the national news.
Read more: Crypto has become Kim Jong-Un’s lifeline — and Russia’s secret weapon
The BBC suspects that El Money is actually 23-year-old Russian diplomat and son of a senior Russian official Evgeny Lyukshin. Lyukshin was reportedly trained by spies and propagandists in “information warfare.”
The FT was also able to link El Money to Russian hacktivist group NoName057(16) which the US has labeled a “state-sanctioned project.”
Lavrynovych’s crypto address, which was sent to his Russian handler, also received funds from crypto wallets that were traced back to US-sanctioned crypto exchange Garantex.
Criminals often opt to use USDT when laundering ill-gotten gains into cash, working around sanctions, or dealing with payments for criminal activity.
Read more: Crypto sleuth links $500M in Iranian USDT to stolen Bybit funds
Garantex has long been suspected of aiding Russia’s government to avoid sanctions and has processed up to $20 billion worth of USDT transactions despite US and UK sanctions.
Lavrynovych claimed in court that he didn’t know the targets were connected to Starmer. Interestingly, the Russian aspect of this case wasn’t explored, and the arsonists’ handler is not mentioned in the Crown Prosecution Service’s press release.
The two men will be sentenced this Friday.
Got a tip? Send us an email securely via Protos Leaks. For more informed news and investigations, follow us on X, Bluesky, and Google News, or subscribe to our YouTube channel.
Crypto World
SpaceX Launch Signals Better Crypto Price Discovery, Limited Tokenized Access
SpaceX’s long-awaited public debut on June 12 came with eye-watering headlines: the offering raised $75 billion at $135 per share, valuing the company at more than $2 trillion. For Elon Musk, it also delivered an extraordinary wealth milestone, making him the world’s first trillionaire.
But the event also exposed a fault line in “tokenized IPO access.” While derivatives traders appeared able to price the listing in real time, retail users who purchased tokenized SpaceX share exposure on platforms including Binance, Bybit, and Bitget reportedly received no allocation—prompting cancellations and refunds as the distribution pipeline failed at the last mile.
Key takeaways
- Pre-IPO perpetual futures provided a strong real-time signal of where traders expected SpaceX-linked shares to trade, according to Talos Research data shared with Cointelegraph.
- That price discovery did not translate into guaranteed share allocations for tokenized “IPO access” buyers, because the limiting factor was availability in the underlying IPO allocation process.
- Multiple crypto exchanges canceled tokenized SpaceX campaigns after xStocks “failed to deliver” the promised underlying allocation, leaving many retail subscribers with zero shares.
- Crypto venues can create synthetic or tokenized exposure, but they cannot control primary-market allocations that depend on underwriters and broker-dealer networks.
- Legal and regulatory constraints remain central: the SEC has reiterated that tokenized stocks are still securities subject to registration and disclosure rules.
Perpetuals nailed the signal—before the opening bell
One of the clearest windows into market expectations came from derivatives rather than spot-style tokenized offerings. According to Talos Research data shared with Cointelegraph on June 15, in the 30 minutes before the Nasdaq open, SPCX perpetuals traded at a volume-weighted average price (VWAP) of $159.89 across Hyperliquid, Binance, and OKX—about 6.6% above the opening print. For comparison, Cerebras (CBRS) perpetuals on Hyperliquid were within 1.3% of the Nasdaq open during the same window.
Talos Research also noted that SPCX perps peaked above $220 in mid-May, then gradually converged lower toward the IPO date as traders increasingly priced in more realistic valuation expectations. In other words, the derivatives market appeared to be doing what it does best: continuously absorbing information and reflecting it in pricing.
Samar Sen, head of international markets at Talos, told Cointelegraph that these signals can become difficult for “underwriters and retail-facing platforms” to ignore—particularly for high-profile listings with strong pre-IPO demand—and could supplement institutional orders, private-market marks, and comparable-company analysis.
Where tokenized access broke: the allocation bottleneck
The problem was not that derivatives markets failed. In Talos Research’s reporting, SPCX perpetual markets recorded roughly $4.6 billion in trading volume on the day of the IPO, with total open interest peaking near $500 million across eight venues, including Hyperliquid, Binance, OKX, and Kraken. Cerebras (CBRS) perpetuals on Hyperliquid saw $281 million in IPO-day volume. Traders were able to monetize volatility and the convergence around the listing.
However, tokenized “IPO access” products did not deliver comparable outcomes for subscribers. The SpaceX IPO was described in earlier coverage as four times oversubscribed, leaving many retail participants with too few shares—or none at all. In practice, tokenized SpaceX-linked share campaigns on major exchanges were canceled after xStocks, the mechanism routed through by platforms, did not secure the underlying IPO allocations.
Alvin Kan, chief operating officer of Bitget Wallet, told Cointelegraph that users subscribed through a tokenized IPO offering facilitated via Kraken’s xStocks. In that structure, the tokens were intended—“if issued”—to represent economic exposure to SpaceX shares. But the tokens were not issued, because the supply-side constraint was the underlying IPO share availability, not the onchain mechanics of issuance and trading.
Exchanges scrambled: cancellations, refunds, and shifting products
After the allocation pipeline broke, platforms sent users notices indicating they canceled campaigns due to “circumstances outside” their control. Binance, for example, published an announcement canceling its tokenized SpaceX campaign and returning subscribed funds. Binance founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao posted the notice on X with the statement, “Protect users when things don’t go as planned,” which drew heavy retail backlash.
In response to customer frustration, a Binance Wallet representative told Cointelegraph that its role was limited to technical and support services. According to that account, Binance Wallet was not responsible for “pricing, issuance, backing or redemption,” and user-facing materials reportedly indicated allocation was not guaranteed.
Bitget followed a different path after canceling its pre-market subscriptions and refunding users. Rather than sticking with the third-party xStocks route, Bitget reportedly switched to Reality, a real-world asset platform backed by the exchange. Bitget’s chief executive, Gracy Chen, told Cointelegraph that Reality provides 1:1 tokenized SpaceX shares (rSPCX) on the spot market, held with a broker—framing the shift as moving from a short-term structure tied to a single IPO event toward tokens that are “properly backed” by real share equivalents.
The structural gap between onchain exposure and real allocations
At the center of the controversy is a basic structural mismatch. Crypto markets can mint and trade synthetic or tokenized exposure to an equity, and derivatives can generate credible, high-frequency price discovery. But neither tokenization nor perpetual trading can replace the primary-market allocation process, which depends on underwriters with established broker-dealer distribution channels.
Sen’s view, as presented to Cointelegraph, was that pre-IPO derivatives should be treated as “signals,” not substitutes for the actual machinery of IPO access. The SpaceX episode, he argued, underscores the need for more caution about how pre-IPO exposure is structured, marketed, and understood—especially when products are presented as pathways to underlying shares.
Kan similarly described the broader challenge facing tokenized RWA products: while crypto infrastructure for distribution and settlement may be ready, the mechanisms for crypto-native channels to reliably obtain primary allocations are still under development. He pointed to an asymmetry where retail demand can grow faster than the supply-side allocation infrastructure can scale, suggesting that closing the gap will require closer collaboration between crypto platforms, traditional intermediaries, and regulators.
Why regulators—and the law—make “onchain IPO access” harder
Regulatory constraints also help explain why a full “IPO onchain” replacement is difficult to execute. As noted by attorney Aaron Brogan of Brogan Law in earlier analysis cited by Cointelegraph, offering tokens sold to raise capital for SpaceX and marketed on the company’s future performance would likely fall squarely into securities law territory, in line with the SEC’s recent token guidance line. He argued that securities law, tax uncertainty, and the scrutiny involved in a mega-deal make a fully token-based substitute unrealistic for a company of SpaceX’s scale.
A spokesperson from the SEC did not comment on whether the regulator had concerns specifically about crypto platforms promoting IPO access or whether existing securities regulations adequately cover tokenized equity offerings. Still, an SEC staff statement released in January 2026 reiterated that tokenized stocks remain securities subject to registration and disclosure rules, explicitly distinguishing between different forms of tokenization—such as custodial, issuer-sponsored tokenization versus synthetic or third-party wrappers.
What comes next for tokenized equities
None of the major stakeholders cited in the reporting appeared to conclude that tokenized equity access is dead. Instead, the SpaceX episode is being treated as a stress test for the conditions required for these products to work reliably.
Dinari’s CEO Gabriel Otte, whose tokenized $SPCX product reportedly maintained continuous uptime while the allocation pipe ran dry, told Cointelegraph the opportunity lies in “extend[ing] the reach of public markets, not reinvent[ing] them.” He argued that tokenization should start from real underlying securities, regulated custody, and clear legal rights—then use the technology to improve access and settlement rather than bypass the rules.
Chen’s position at Bitget likewise emphasized learning from the failed third-party approach. She described a shift away from short-term, intermediary structures toward 1:1 broker-backed tokens the exchange can stand behind.
For investors, the underlying lesson is straightforward: the derivatives market can price a listing quickly, but share allocation is still governed by traditional market participants and primary-market processes. As activity around SpaceX demonstrated the depth of global demand, the next question is whether tokenized equity access can be redesigned so that “access” means something enforceable—not just tradable exposure.
Going forward, readers should watch for whether platforms tighten their allocation language, whether more products move toward broker-backed 1:1 models, and how regulators interpret the boundary between true securities exposure and tokenized wrappers that depend on fragile upstream allocation pipelines.
Crypto World
Binance pushes SpaceX perpetuals behind only Bitcoin futures
SpaceX perpetual futures have become Binance’s second-largest futures product by trading volume, generating more than $5.6 billion in rolling 24-hour activity as interest in the aerospace company continues to surge following its Nasdaq debut.
Summary
- SpaceX perpetuals have become Binance’s second-largest futures product after Bitcoin.
- SPCXUSDT has generated more than $9 billion in combined trading volume.
- Binance’s equity products surpassed $1 billion in turnover within nine days.
According to Binance, the SPCXUSDT perpetual contract now ranks behind only Bitcoin perpetual futures on the exchange. The company said the product has recorded more than $9 billion in combined trading volume across its pre-IPO and post-IPO phases.
The milestone comes as SpaceX shares continued attracting investor attention after the company’s public listing.
Binance noted that it currently leads both centralized and decentralized trading activity for the contract and also holds the largest open interest position among competing venues. Exchange data showed open interest reached $190.59 million per side as of June 15.
Soon after SpaceX filed its S-1 registration statement, Binance introduced SPCXUSDT to allow traders to speculate on the company before its stock began trading publicly. During that period, the product operated as a pre-IPO perpetual contract on Binance’s decentralized futures platform, with pricing determined through activity on the exchange’s global order book.
Once SpaceX completed its listing, Binance converted the product into a standard perpetual futures contract that tracks real-time Nasdaq pricing. The exchange also said it became the only trading venue to adjust the contract after SpaceX amended its filing to increase share issuance, rebasing positions according to the updated dilution data.
Retail traders continue chasing SpaceX exposure
Binance said the strong activity in SPCXUSDT highlights growing demand from retail investors seeking exposure to prominent public companies through crypto-based trading products.
According to the exchange, more than 80% of demand for direct stock offerings comes from users who do not have easy access to U.S. equity markets. Binance said early trading patterns suggest investors remain interested in products tied to well-known companies before and after public listings.
The exchange’s push into equity-linked products has continued even after its earlier SpaceX IPO campaign was canceled. Binance had planned to offer direct access to SpaceX shares through a partnership with xStocks, but the effort was abandoned after the required allocation of shares could not be secured.
At the time, former Binance CEO Changpeng Zhao said the company refunded participants in full and distributed a tokenized stock airdrop to affected users.
Binance subsequently expanded alternative routes for equity exposure through its stock-trading platform and tokenized securities products.
Equity products gain traction on Binance
Recent figures reported by crypto.news indicate that Binance’s U.S. equities platform averaged about $143 million in daily trading volume during its first nine days after launching on June 1. The report said turnover exceeded $1 billion over that period, while daily active traders peaked at approximately 30,700 and total value locked approached $400 million.
The service provides eligible users outside the U.S. with access to more than 7,000 stocks and exchange-traded funds through fractional trading and crypto-funded accounts.
Alongside traditional equity access, Binance has also expanded its bStocks offering. As previously reported by crypto.news, the first batch of tokenized equities included Nvidia, Tesla, Circle, Micron and Sandisk.
Binance said those assets are backed one-to-one by underlying securities and can be transferred to supported self-custody wallets or used in approved decentralized finance applications.
Looking ahead, Binance said investor sentiment and market conditions will remain important factors influencing demand for SpaceX-related products and tokenized equity exposure after the company’s public listing.
Crypto World
Key Shiba Inu Metric Plunges to a 5-Year Low: SHIB Price Rally on the Way?
The meme coin sector, which was among crypto’s sensations during the last bull run, no longer shows the same strength or investor enthusiasm.
Shiba Inu (SHIB) – one of the most recognizable tokens of that type – has crashed by roughly 65% over the past year, but one important factor signals that a recovery could be incoming.
Finally, a Bullish Sign
The self-proclaimed Dogecoin killer currently trades at roughly $0.000005031, while its market capitalization remains below $3 billion. This means that SHIB is the 35th-largest cryptocurrency and third-biggest in the meme coin niche, trailing behind Dogecoin (DOGE) and MemeCore (M).
Its condition seems unsatisfactory (to say the least); Shiba Inu’s team has been rather inactive in expanding the ecosystem, yet the ongoing sell-off may be nearing exhaustion.
CryptoQuant’s data shows that the amount ot tokens stored on crypto exchanges has fallen to a five-year low of around 79.8 trillion. This trend points to investors moving away from centralized platforms in favor of self-custody methods, which, in turn, reduces immediate selling pressure.

Some analysts believe a price revival might indeed be in the cards. X user Nehal thinks that SHIB looks “dangerously ignored” at ongoing levels, adding that a 40-50% jump would not come as a surprise.
So Many Bearish Elements
The shrinking SHIB supply on exchanges is among the few positive signals for the meme coin, while many others suggest the price could collapse further in the near future.
The burn rate, for instance, has fallen by 62% over the past 24 hours, resulting in a negligible amount of tokens removed from circulation. The program’s ultimate goal is to increase SHIB’s value through scarcity, and over the past few years, the team and community have burned trillions of coins. Nonetheless, there are still around 590 trillion SHIB in circulation, which remains quite substantial.

Another issue is Shibarium’s slowdown. The layer-2 scaling solution, launched in the summer of 2023 to boost speed, enhance scalability, and lower fees, initially handled millions of transactions. However, an exploit last year disrupted operations, and since then the figure has dropped significantly to mere hundreds and thousands.

The post Key Shiba Inu Metric Plunges to a 5-Year Low: SHIB Price Rally on the Way? appeared first on CryptoPotato.
-
Business2 days agoNo Jackpot Winner as $257 Million Prize Rolls Over to $269 Million Monday Draw
-
Crypto World5 days agoOppenheimer backs SpaceX as $70 billion retail frenzy builds
-
Fashion4 days agoWeekend Open Thread: Tuckernuck – Corporette.com
-
Crypto World5 days agoMarkets Rally as SpaceX IPO Looms Amid Iran Tensions and Inflation Surge
-
Crypto World2 days agoZimbabwe Requires Crypto Businesses to Register Annually Under New FIU Regulations
-
Tech4 days agoNanoClaw integrates JFrog registries to secure AI agent downloads
-
Tech4 days agoThis Week In Security: Microsoft On Microsoft, Register Your Domains, Linux On ARM, And FreeBSD Joins The File Cache Club
-
Crypto World3 days agoBitget enters Argentina’s regulated crypto market through PSAV registration
-
Business7 days agoThailand Ranks Second Worldwide for AI Adoption Growth, Microsoft Reports
-
Tech5 days ago
Dutton Ranch star claims they ‘didn’t see any disruption’ on set following Chad Feehan’s exit from Yellowstone spinoff fueled by Taylor Sheridan clash rumors
-
NewsBeat5 days agoEl Nino has formed in the Pacific and could set records, forecasters say
-
Politics5 days agoPolitics Home | Healey Resignation Is “Colossal Failure Of Government”, Says Former Labour Defence Secretary
-
Tech6 days ago‘This is Seattle’s position on AI’: City Council votes unanimously to pause big new data centers
-
Entertainment5 days agoDonnie Wahlberg & More Heat Up Las Vegas at Circa’s Barry’s Downtown Prime
-
Tech5 days agoOpendoor Ends India Operations, Fueling a Bigger Conversation About AI and Outsourcing
-
Sports5 days agoFirst Time Since 1971: Australia Register Historic Low In ODI Cricket
-
Politics5 days agoBelfast burns, while Met chief points finger at Iran and Russia
-
NewsBeat4 days agoFBI searches office of Ohio voter registration group
-
Business5 days agoAT&T: Verizon's 27% Outperformance Sets Up A Solid Entry Point
-
Tech5 days agoAnthropic is spending $150M to embed 1,000 AI fellows inside nonprofits. No degree required.


You must be logged in to post a comment Login