Bitcoin price rose nearly 3% to $78,700 on May 1 as Iran submitted a new peace proposal through Pakistani mediators to the United States, easing oil pressure and improving risk sentiment across global markets for the second time in a week.

Bitcoin price was trading at $78,722 on May 1, extending gains as US markets opened. CNBC reported that Iran sent an updated peace proposal to mediators in Pakistan, the latest diplomatic signal in a weeks-long negotiation over ceasefire terms, sanctions relief, and control of the Strait of Hormuz. Oil prices edged lower on the development, releasing pressure from one of the primary macro headwinds that had weighed on crypto and equities all week.

As crypto.news reported, Iran’s expected submission of a revised proposal compresses the “war premium” baked into oil markets and is modestly supportive for risk assets, but keeps Bitcoin hostage to headline volatility until a concrete deal is signed. The move from $74,900 on April 29 to $78,700 on May 1 retraced nearly the entire post-FOMC selloff, driven by the same diplomatic signal dynamic that produced every Bitcoin recovery during the conflict. “I think $80,000 is quite a resistance. We need a confident push through that level,” said 21Shares chief market strategist Adrian Fritz. “Once we’re above that, it could spark some momentum. People are back in profit, especially the ones that invested more recently.” Fritz added that a move above $85,000 could signal the first signs of a broader reversal.

As crypto.news documented, Bitcoin reached $78,400 during the prior week before being rejected sharply when hostilities resumed, establishing a clear pattern: every credible diplomatic signal produces a fast BTC repricing, and every breakdown reverses it within hours. As crypto.news tracked, hopes of a broader US-Iran deal have consistently fuelled bets on a BTC retest of $80,000 if ETF inflows resume and oil drops back toward pre-war levels. The $80,000 level has now been tested and rejected twice in 2026, making a decisive break above it, confirmed by sustained ETF inflows and stable oil, the clearest signal that the Iran-driven macro overhang on Bitcoin has meaningfully lifted.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse declared at XRP Las Vegas that the CLARITY Act will pass by the end of May, his third public deadline for the bill after predicting 80% odds of April passage on Fox Business in February and revising to May at two successive industry events.

Brad Garlinghouse confirmed his end-of-May CLARITY Act timeline at XRP Las Vegas on April 30, three months after first placing an 80% probability on April passage during a Fox Business appearance. Disruption Banking reported that Garlinghouse is betting the bill clears the Senate Banking Committee, passes the Senate floor, and reaches Trump’s desk before the Memorial Day recess on May 21. “When people are at their peak of frustration, that’s when they finally compromise, and it gets done. I think we’re there,” Garlinghouse said.

As crypto.news reported, the 2030 cliff is not Garlinghouse’s framing alone — Senator Cynthia Lummis posted on X in April that this is “our last chance to pass the Clarity Act until at least 2030.” Senator Bernie Moreno has said the same more directly. Both senators framed the window as uniquely narrow because the current tri-branch alignment of House, Senate, and White House on crypto legislation is rare and may not survive a midterm election. Garlinghouse’s revisions are not contradictions. As the bill has missed successive deadlines, its support has grown. The coalition backing the bill has expanded to over 120 firms including Ripple, Coinbase, Kraken, and Andreessen Horowitz. As crypto.news documented, those firms sent a joint letter demanding an immediate markup on April 23.

The stablecoin yield dispute that blocked the bill since January — a fight over whether third-party platforms can offer rewards on stablecoin balances — is described by Garlinghouse as largely resolved following the White House CEA’s report finding a full yield ban would cost consumers $800 million annually. What remains is a calendar problem: the Senate returns May 11, the Memorial Day recess begins May 21, and Chairman Tim Scott has not yet put a markup date on the calendar. As crypto.news tracked, Polymarket prices 2026 passage at approximately 46%, Galaxy Research at 50-50, and TD Cowen at one-in-three — making Garlinghouse’s end-of-May prediction a notable outlier against market consensus.

TLDR:

• Litecoin developers fixed the MWEB issue quickly after a 13-block reorg, restoring network confidence.
• Spot ETF filings from Grayscale and CoinShares boosted Litecoin’s institutional market relevance.
• Bollinger Bands reached multi-year compression levels, signaling a likely volatility expansion soon.
• Litecoin continues processing a large share of crypto payments, supporting its real-world utility case.

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Litecoin price prediction enters a critical phase as LTC trades at $55.53, posting a 0.81% daily gain while still down 2.09% weekly.

Trading volume stands at $311.7M, reflecting steady participation amid ETF filings, MWEB recovery progress, and tightening volatility conditions signaling an approaching directional move.

ETF filings and network recovery improve Litecoin outlook

Litecoin price prediction is gaining momentum after recent institutional developments placed the asset back in focus.

Spot ETF filings from Grayscale and CoinShares have renewed discussions around Litecoin’s position in the regulated digital asset market.

These filings matter because Litecoin is increasingly viewed as a commodity-like asset. Its decentralized structure and long operating history reduce the legal uncertainty often attached to alternative cryptocurrencies. Reports suggesting a strong probability of approval have added to this renewed optimism.

If approved, a spot Litecoin ETF could open the asset to passive investment flows. Institutional demand would likely increase through custodial products, portfolio exposure, and arbitrage opportunities linked to regulated trading vehicles. 

Litecoin does not need to outperform larger assets to benefit from this shift. Inclusion alone may be enough to attract new liquidity.

At the same time, Litecoin developers recently resolved a technical issue involving MimbleWimble Extension Blocks. The bug had caused a 13-block reorganization, creating short-term concerns across the network.

The response from developers was swift. A patch was deployed quickly, restoring operational stability while preserving Litecoin’s optional privacy functionality. This reduced the risk of prolonged uncertainty and reinforced Litecoin’s reputation for dependable network maintenance.

A market update shared by SeniorDeFi described Litecoin as an asset that has consistently survived market cycles. The post noted that Litecoin performs well when speculative capital rotates away from high-volatility altcoins.

Bollinger Band squeeze hints at a major Litecoin move

Technical analysts are now closely watching Litecoin’s volatility setup. Daily Bollinger Bands have compressed to levels not seen since 2017, signaling that a major move may be approaching.

This pattern reflects a period where price volatility has declined significantly. Buyers and sellers are currently in temporary balance, often creating conditions for a strong breakout or breakdown. The squeeze itself does not predict direction, but it usually signals magnitude.

Litecoin has been trading near the mid-$50 range after recovering from prolonged downside pressure. This sideways structure suggests the market is stabilizing while traders build positions.

Analyst Minimilian noted in a recent tweet that Litecoin is showing “compressed energy” on the daily chart. Such low-volatility phases rarely last long, especially when combined with improving fundamentals.

A confirmed breakout would likely require a strong daily close above resistance with rising volume. Until then, Litecoin remains in accumulation mode.

Litecoin price prediction now reflects a market balancing technical stability, institutional access potential, and growing utility. With volatility compressed and ETF speculation rising, traders are watching closely for the next decisive move.

TLDR:

• Bitcoin’s April closing shows increased demand recovery after Q1 losses and improved monthly structure across markets
• April strength suggests renewed spot buying, with reduced volatility compared to earlier bearish months in the 2026 cycle
• May trading history remains mixed, with outcomes driven more by liquidity shifts than consistent seasonal direction patterns
• Market focus shifts to whether higher lows and volume stability sustain momentum into early May trading sessions ahead

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Bitcoin April closing +11.87% signals a shift in monthly momentum after early-year weakness, as traders assess whether recovery strength can extend into May while broader crypto markets respond to improving structure and renewed spot demand across major exchanges now conditions.

Market structure after Bitcoin April closing +11.87%

Bitcoin’s April closing +11.87% reflects a shift in monthly positioning after a weak Q1 phase, where repeated drawdowns shaped cautious sentiment across derivatives markets.

Price action into the April close showed steadier demand on higher timeframes, with reduced downside volatility compared to earlier months. 

Market participants observed improved structure on weekly charts, where successive higher lows began forming ahead of the monthly settlement across spot and futures markets.

Liquidity conditions during April showed gradual stabilization, with trading volumes recovering across major exchanges. Spot market participation increased during late-month sessions, aligning with reduced sell pressure from short-term holders. 

Derivatives positioning also adjusted, as funding rates normalized after earlier volatility spikes. This environment contributed to smoother price discovery, with fewer abrupt intraday reversals compared to prior months of 2026.

This is across both spot and derivatives segments into the month-end trading conditions. Market structure now depends on whether higher lows persist into early May trading sessions.

Traders are monitoring support retention near previous breakout zones. If price stability continues, momentum conditions may extend beyond monthly transition periods. 

However, failure to hold structure often results in consolidation phases, where range-bound trading dominates before directional expansion resumes across broader crypto market cycles.

Into the May period, analysis continuation conditions remain closely monitored at the current levels observed

May outlook following Bitcoin April closing +11.87%

Historical market behavior shows May trading often diverges from April trends, even after strong monthly closes. Bitcoin’s April closing +11.87% positions the asset within a recovery phase, yet May outcomes remain dependent on liquidity flow and trader positioning. 

Past cycles recorded both sharp rallies and sudden retracements, making directional bias less consistent compared to other months in the annual calendar across historical market data sets observed.

In addition, Ethereum price movement during the same period aligned with broader recovery conditions, adding context to cross-asset performance trends. April gains in both major assets reflected improved sentiment across spot markets. 

However, correlation between assets does not guarantee identical May performance, as each market reacts differently to liquidity changes and positioning shifts.

Within derivatives, activity patterns remain data dependent across trading environments into the month transition phase, and conditions closely tracked are now observed.

Market participants continue to assess whether April strength transitions into sustained May momentum or short-term consolidation. Price action behavior near key support zones remains central to short-term direction. 

Volume patterns and liquidity participation levels will provide additional signals on whether continuation conditions are forming across the broader market structure. For structure confirmation, conditions remain under observation.

MoonPay is launching a virtual debit card that allows users and AI agents to spend stablecoins directly from self-custodied onchain wallets at merchants that accept Mastercard, using real-time crypto-to-fiat conversion at checkout.

The card, developed with Monavate and Exodus Movement, Inc., connects onchain wallets to traditional card rails, enabling transactions without preloading funds or transferring assets offchain, with smart contracts authorizing spending at the point of purchase.

Available through MoonPay’s CLI and agent workflows to users in the UK and Latin America, the card is designed for programmatic use, allowing users to delegate spending permissions to AI agents, with identity verification required before issuance, the company said.

The system converts stablecoins to fiat at the moment of purchase while maintaining user custody, with funds accessed only when a transaction is authorized and returned immediately if a payment is declined.

MoonPay, founded in 2019 and based in Miami, is a financial technology company that provides payment infrastructure for moving funds between fiat and digital assets.

The card builds on the company’s broader push into AI-driven payments infrastructure. In March, MoonPay released an open-source wallet standard designed to let AI agents hold funds and execute transactions across blockchains from a single wallet.

Related: How AI agents can reshape arbitrage in prediction markets

Payment infrastructure evolves for AI-driven transactions

The launch comes as crypto, technology and payments companies ramp up efforts to build infrastructure for AI-driven transactions.

Coinbase introduced its x402 standard for stablecoin payments over HTTP in 2025, enabling applications and AI agents to pay for services programmatically. Recently, the company updated the protocol to support usage-based pricing, allowing payments to scale with compute demand such as data queries and AI processing.

In March, Tempo, a blochain backed by payments company Stripe, launched its mainnet alongside a Machine Payments Protocol designed to support agent-driven transactions across payment methods. In a post on X, the project said “agent payments will soon overtake human payments on the internet.”

Source: Tempo

More recently, crypto exchange OKX unveiled a protocol supporting agent-to-agent payments, recurring flows and escrow-based settlements across blockchains, allowing software agents to execute more complex financial transactions without human input.

Elsewhere, non-crypto companies are working to connect AI agents with existing payment systems. Google announced its Agent Payments Protocol in September 2025, designed to support transactions across cards, bank transfers and stablecoins.

Visa has also released a command-line tool aimed at enabling programmatic payments by AI agents, allowing developers to initiate transactions directly through code.

Magazine: AI agents will kill the web as we know it: Animoca’s Yat Siu

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.

Bitcoin’s momentum continues to build as it tests a critical price zone near the $80,000 mark, supported by a confluence of technical signals and persistent demand from spot, futures, and institutional players. Fresh data indicate a renewed willingness among buyers and traders to accumulate, even as the market remains below the psychologically important threshold. According to monitoring across market-data providers, BTC rose roughly 2.5% to about $78,800, rebounding after a test of the 100-day exponential moving average (100-day EMA) and maintaining the near-term uptrend.

BTC—the highest seen since mid-February—suggesting buyers are stepping in to absorb supply during recent dips. In parallel, futures activity showed resilience: open interest rose about 6.6% to 257,000 BTC over the last 24 hours, signaling fresh positions entering the market as Bitcoin consolidates below the $80,000 level.

Key takeaways

• Bitcoin rebounds to roughly $78,800, reclaiming the 100-day EMA as dynamic support, hinting at a constructive longer‑term setup.
• Spot demand strengthens with a multi-month high in CVD (11,500 BTC), indicating buyers are absorbing supply during pullbacks.
• Futures markets show renewed activity: open interest up 6.6% to 257,000 BTC, pointing to new positions building amid the consolidation phase.
• Overall liquidity dynamics suggest sustained demand, with ETF inflows in April reaching near $2 billion and a nine-day inflow streak highlighted by analysts.
• Institutions continue to tighten available supply, as OTC desk balances trend lower and liquidity remains clustered around the $78k–$80k zone, creating potential short‑squeeze risk near key levels.

Technical backdrop: a test of the moving-average floor

BTC/USDT on the one-day chart shows the latest resistance and support dynamics in near real-time.

On the demand side, the spot-CVD surge aligns with a broader theme of accumulating interest. The latest reading marks a new high for the current cycle, underscoring robust buying pressure that could help sustain the rally if price approaches the $80,000–$82,000 region. However, traders remain mindful of the potential for price action to stall if liquidity thins at higher levels or if macro catalysts shift sentiment.

Futures, leverage, and the evolving risk-reward

Futures liquidity has shown a clear revival alongside price gains. The rebound in open interest to 257,000 BTC indicates new positioning, which could provide ballast on further upside or amplify downside risks if momentum wanes. Notably, the market also appears to be digesting a prior period of leverage; data show a leverage flush of approximately 9,000 BTC, suggesting excess positions have been removed and the market is rebuilding from a cleaner base. Futures volume has rebounded to about 98,300 BTC, signaling fresh net buying pressure even as the asset trades under the $80,000 mark.

Analysts note that liquidity remains concentrated in the $78,000–$80,000 range, with about $2.1 billion in short positions potentially at risk if the market pushes higher. This clustering can create a vulnerability to a short squeeze if buyers gain decisive traction, though the magnitude and timing of such a move remain uncertain. Related coverage highlights how ETF flows have affected liquidity dynamics in the wider market during the period.

Overall, the combination of rising open interest and resilient spot demand paints a picture of a market rebuilding its momentum with participants re-entering on dips, rather than a complete pivot in sentiment. For traders, the key question remains whether buying pressure can sustain a move beyond the $80,000 threshold in the near term, or if liquidity constraints at higher price points will cap upside temporarily.

Institutional demand and the supply squeeze narrative

Beyond the price action, institutional activity continues to shape the supply landscape. The 30-day change in over‑the‑counter (OTC) balances has fallen to roughly −20,700 BTC, according to CryptoQuant data, echoing levels last seen in March 2025. The decline in OTC balances points to fewer BTC being parked on brokers’ desks, effectively tightening the readily available supply for market buyers. Such a shift has historically supported tighter spreads and more pronounced price reactions when spot demand strengthens.

ETF flows also underscore the backdrop of institutional involvement. April ETF inflows reached about $1.97 billion, reflecting a nine-day streak of inflows—the longest run observed in 2026 to date. Ecoinometrics highlighted the persistence of this trend, noting that while the pace is moderate, the consistency resembles the pattern seen ahead of the October 2025 peak. “The last time flows showed this kind of persistence was right before the October 2025 peak. Not saying we’re there yet, but it tells you the direction is improving,” the researchers observed.

The consistent stream of inflows from ETFs, combined with shrinking OTC supply and rising open interest, suggests a broadening participation framework that could support continued price discovery as market participants weigh macro catalysts and on-chain signals. For investors, this points to a more resilient demand structure than a purely price-driven rally, with institutions contributing to a deeper liquidity pool even as price remains within a defined corridor.

Related coverage from Cointelegraph also notes that April’s ETF activity contributed to the year’s largest monthly inflows so far, reinforcing the narrative of growing institutional interest in Bitcoin as an asset class and a hedge against macro risk.

The evolving dynamic raises several watch points for readers: Will the $80,000 barrier act as a genuine magnet or will liquidity constraints intensify near that level? How long can ETF inflows sustain their current pace, and will OTC supply continue to tighten further? And what role will macro developments—ranging from regulatory signals to dollar strength—play in shaping the near-term trajectory?

In sum, the market appears to be building a more durable base, underpinned by a blend of technical strength, rising spot and futures demand, and significant institutional engagement. While the path to a fresh leg higher is not guaranteed, the combination of a constructive daily setup, robust CVD, increasing open interest, and persistent ETF inflows signals a market that is recalibrating with potential upside leverage once macro and liquidity conditions align.

Stablecoin issuer Tether (USDT) reported $1.04 billion in net profit for the first quarter of 2026, as its excess reserves rose to a record $8.23 billion, according to its latest attestation on Friday.

The company said its reserves remain heavily concentrated in US Treasuries, with around $141 billion in direct and indirect exposure, while total assets of about $191.8 billion exceeded liabilities of approximately $183.5 billion as of March 31.

Tether said this level of exposure makes it the 17th largest holder of US Treasuries globally. Beyond Treasuries, reserves included about $20 billion in physical gold and $7 billion in Bitcoin (BTC).

USDT circulating supply remained broadly stable at about $183 billion at the end of the first quarter. After the period, CEO Paolo Ardoino said supply has increased by more than $5 billion into April.

Tether said its proprietary investments are held separately from reserves backing USDT (USDT) and are funded through excess capital and profits.

The report was prepared by accounting firm BDO. The company also said it has begun the formal audit process.

Tether is the issuer of USDT (USDT), the largest stablecoin by market capitalization. According to DefiLlama data, the total stablecoin market is valued at about $320 billion, with USDT accounting for roughly 59% of the sector.

Total stablecoins market cap. Source: DefiLlama

Related: Tether-backed Oobit rolls out virtual Visa cards for AI agent USDT spending

Demand for digital dollars rises in emerging markets

Ardoino said in a post on X on Friday that USDT’s user base reached an all-time high of about 570 million in the first quarter, citing demand for dollars across emerging markets.

In Latin America, stablecoins accounted for 40% of crypto purchases in 2025, surpassing Bitcoin’s 18% share, according to a report released by Bitso this week based on data from its nearly 10 million retail users. The report described the trend as “digital dollarization,” as users turn to stablecoins for savings and everyday transactions.

Source: Paolo Ardoino

Stablecoins are also gaining traction in Africa for remittance payments. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in January, former UN official Vera Songwe said traditional transfers can cost about $6 per $100 sent, while stablecoins allow funds to move more quickly at lower cost.

Songwe also said stablecoins can help users preserve value in high-inflation environments, noting that inflation has exceeded 20% in several African countries since the pandemic.

However, stablecoin adoption has drawn scrutiny from global regulators. The Financial Stability Board warned in its 2025 annual report that widespread use of US dollar-denominated stablecoins could pose risks to emerging economies, including currency substitution and reduced effectiveness of domestic monetary policy.

FSB annual report for 2025. Source: Financial Stability Board

Magazine: Adam Back says current demand is ‘almost’ enough to send Bitcoin to $1M

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.

TLDR:

• Ethereum Exchange Supply Ratio has dropped to low levels, but price has not formed a matching bottom yet.
  
• Historical patterns show that divergences between the ratio and price typically resolve through a downward price move.
  
• ETH has broken below its 1-Day Bull Market Support Band, a level that has acted as a strong reversal zone recently.
  
• Analysts are watching the $2,150 support zone closely as a potential area to add spot positions before any recovery.

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A new dip could be coming for Ethereum as on-chain data and technical signals begin to align bearishly. The Exchange Supply Ratio has dropped sharply to historically low levels, yet ETH price has not followed with a corresponding bottom.

This divergence has raised concern among analysts tracking the asset. Historically, such gaps between the metric and price tend to close through a downward correction rather than a rally in the ratio.

A New Dip Could Be Coming as On-Chain Data Diverges From Price

A new dip could be coming for Ethereum based on what the Exchange Supply Ratio is currently showing. This metric tracks how much ETH is held on trading platforms at any given time.

When the ratio drops sharply, it has historically signaled reduced selling pressure and the formation of a price bottom.

The problem now is that the ratio has fallen, but the price has not formed a matching bottom. Cryptoquant analyst PelinayPA flagged this divergence, noting that the market may not have fully priced in the signal yet. That gap between metric and price is what makes the current setup particularly worth watching.

Such divergences do not tend to last long before one side gives way. Based on historical patterns, it is typically the price that moves down to close the gap rather than the ratio recovering upward. That pattern alone puts downside risk firmly on the table.

One reason the price may still be holding is activity in the derivatives market. Leveraged positions can artificially sustain prices for a period, but that kind of support tends to be temporary. Once it unwinds, the price often moves quickly to reflect underlying conditions.

Technical Breakdown Adds Further Weight to Downside Case

Beyond the on-chain divergence, Ethereum’s chart structure is also showing signs of strain. ETH has broken below the 1-Day Bull Market Support Band, a level that has repeatedly acted as a strong reversal zone over the past several months. That break alone is worth monitoring closely.

Analyst CrypticTrades_ weighed in on the price action, acknowledging that while this could still be a short-term deviation, a confirmed breakdown would shift attention toward lower levels. The next key area sits around $2,150, a prior resistance range on higher timeframes that could now act as support.

That zone is where some analysts are already planning to add to their spot positions. A clean hold there could lay the groundwork for a more durable move to the upside further ahead. However, that recovery thesis only holds as long as price does not lose that level entirely.

For now, both signals are pointing in the same direction. Until ETH reclaims its Bull Market Support Band and the on-chain divergence resolves, the possibility of a new dip remains the most technically grounded scenario on the table.