Crypto World
Trump documents meltdown over Iran war on Truth Social
Truth Social owner, Trump Media and Technology Group, has diversified into cryptocurrency and is planning to launch both exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and prediction markets. Truth Social also one of the most important places to keep up to date with Donald Trump’s personal thoughts about the ongoing actions of his administration, including in Iran.
On February 28, US forces in coalition with Israel, began a war with Iran.
The Trump administration has been inconsistent in describing its motivations for this war, at points claiming it was because of Iran attempting to create a nuclear weapon.
However, undercutting that explanation is the fact that in June of last year, Trump stated unequivocally that the strikes that month were intended to result in the “destruction of Iran’s nuclear enrichment capacity and a stop to the nuclear threat,” and were “a spectacular military success.”
He also posted following that strike to say, “NOW IS THE TIME FOR PEACE!”
There’s currently a war. Not only that, it’s an arguably unconstitutional war that lacks any formal declaration, a power reserved for Congress.
Adding to the strangeness surrounding the conflict are a variety of troubling claims posted by Trump on Truth Social.
All transcriptions of Trump’s messages seen below are reproduced exactly as he wrote them and all emphasis is his.
February 28
The day the conflict started, Trump posted repeatedly on Truth Social.
In one message, he reposted an article from the website Just The News, which makes the extraordinary claim that “Iran tried to interfere in 2020, 2024 elections to stop Trump, and now faces renewed war with United States.”
To support this claim, Just The News references Trump’s campaign announcement claim that Iran had planned to assassinate him, as well as a Semafor report that Trump FBI appointee Kash Patel had been targeted by an Iranian cyberattack.
It’s not clear if Trump believes the war is in retaliation for this, or if it’s supposed to be about nuclear weapons, or because Iran was a state sponsor of terrorism, or because of some vague failure of the Democrats.
Another post from the same day, which announced the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, claimed that his death was some form of justice, despite the fact that Khamenei wasn’t tried in any court.
That same post made the claim that Iran “has been, in only one day, very much destroyed and, even, obliterated.”
Hours later, Trump posted the claim that should Iran respond, the United States “WILL HIT THEM WITH A FORCE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!”
It’s important to note that the US is the only nation on Earth to use nuclear weapons in combat, and Trump is promising to go even further.
March 1
The second day of the war brought just one post from the president, in which he made the claim that “we have destroyed and sunk 9 Iranian Naval Ships, some of them relatively large and important.
“We are going after the rest — They will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also! In a different attack, we largely destroyed their Naval Headquarters.”
He signed off with a sarcastic “Other than that, their Navy is doing very well!”
March 2
March 2, the third day of this undeclared war, saw Trump repeatedly take to his personal social media site.
In his first post, he complained about the Democrats, apparently convincing himself that “they are only complaining BECAUSE I DID IT and, if I didn’t do it, they would be screaming — Why didn’t “TRUMP” attack Iran, he should do it, IMMEDIATELY?”
The rest of his post is a complaint about members of the Democratic Party performing a milquetoast protest during his State of the Union, wherein they didn’t stand during the proceedings.
This post was followed by one that echoed Shakespearean concerns about a lady who “doth protest too much.”
Trump declared, “The United States Munitions Stockpiles have, at the medium and upper medium grade, never been higher or better — As was stated to me today, we have a virtually unlimited supply of these weapons.
“Wars can be fought ‘forever,’ and very successfully, using just these supplies (which are better than other countries finest arms!)”
The rest of the post sees Trump complaining about previous arms and munitions that had been provided to Ukraine as part of congressionally approved aid for Ukraine to withstand Russia’s illegal and unethical war of conquest.
March 3
On March 3, Trump declared that Iran’s “air defense, Air Force, Navy, and Leadership is gone. They want to talk. I said “Too Late!””
This was several days after he declared that Iran had been obliterated.
This post was followed by another in which Trump noted that “more than 9,000 Americans have safely returned home from the Middle East” and encouraged other people who might be endangered by the ongoing war to register with the State Department.
After this near acknowledgement that his war had endangered Americans, there were several days where Trump’s posts weren’t about the war he started.
March 6
On March 6, Trump announced to the “obliterated” Iran that “There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”
This was followed by another acknowledgement that the US needed to evacuate Americans, noting, “We are moving thousands of people out of various Countries throughout the Middle East.”
Confusingly, considering this is a public post, he also claimed that it was “being done quietly.”
March 7
March 7 brought with it more confusing claims from Trump, including that “Iran, which is being beat to HELL, has apologized and surrendered to its Middle East neighbors, and promised that it will not shoot at them anymore.”
According to Trump, “This promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack.”
This was followed by a threat that “Today Iran will be hit very hard!”
More troublingly, Trump indicated a willingness to target “areas and groups of people that were not considered for targeting up until this moment in time.”
Later, he noted, “The United Kingdom, our once Great Ally, maybe the Greatest of them all, is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East.”
However, Trump then informed Prime Minister Keir Starmer that “we don’t need them any longer — But we will remember. We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”
March 8
On March 8, Trump wanted to comfort Americans worried about the surge in oil prices and so claimed that these short term increases would “drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is over.”
This comes more than a week after Iran was supposedly “obliterated” and months after the “very successful” June strikes.
Trump added that “ONLY FOOLS” would believe that these oil prices wouldn’t drop rapidly.
March 9
The very next day, Trump threatened Iran, claiming “they will be hit by the United States of America TWENTY TIMES HARDER than they have been hit thus far” if they did “anything that stops the flow of Oil within the Strait of Hormuz.”
March 10
The next day, he threatened Iran again, saying that “If for any reason mines were placed, and they are not removed forthwith, the Military consequences to Iran will be at a level never seen before.
“If, on the other hand, they remove what may have been placed, it will be a giant step in the right direction! Additionally, we are using the same Technology and Missile capabilities deployed against Drug Traffickers to permanently eliminate any boat or ship attempting to mine the Hormuz Strait.”
He concluded, “They will be dealt with quickly and violently. BEWARE!”
This was followed by a claim that the US had “hit, and completely destroyed, 10 inactive mine laying boats and/or ships.”
It’s not clear what impact this might have had on active mine laying and/or ships.
March 12
March 12 was a busy day for the “leader of the free world.” Nevertheless, he continued to post updates on an undeclared war on a social media platform he continued to own while serving as president.
This included making the claim that the US benefits when oil prices go up, but he clarified that this wasn’t his motivation.
His motivation was, apparently, “stoping [sic] an evil Empire, Iran, from having Nuclear Weapons, and destroying the Middle East and, indeed, the World.”
This was followed by a thinly-veiled threat to the Iranian National Soccer Team.
Trump warned that they’re welcome at the World Cup but noted that he doesn’t “believe it is appropriate that they be there, for their own life and safety.”
Shortly after, Trump announced that “All Players, Officials, and Fans will be treated like the ‘STARS’ that they are!”
Following that, Trump gave in to nostalgia and posted an old picture of him in his military school uniform.
It’s important to include the context that when Trump was drafted in Vietnam, he was exempted because of a case of bone spurs.
Additionally, he reportedly described Americans who died in conflict as “losers” and “suckers.”
Following this post from his schoolboy days, Trump returned to the topic of the nation he had apparently obliterated nearly two weeks ago.
He was now claiming that “We are totally destroying the terrorist regime of Iran, militarily, economically, and otherwise, yet, if you read the Failing New York Times, you would incorrectly think that we are not winning.
“Iran’s Navy is gone, their Air Force is no longer, missiles, drones and everything else are being decimated, and their leaders have been wiped from the face of the earth. We have unparalleled firepower, unlimited ammunition, and plenty of time — Watch what happens to these deranged scumbags today.
“They’ve been killing innocent people all over the world for 47 years, and now I, as the 47th President of the United States of America, am killing them. What a great honor it is to do so!”
March 13
The two week anniversary of the obliteration of Iran, March 13, saw Trump announce that “the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island.”
In this same post, Trump expressed his belief that “Iran’s Military, and all others involved with this Terrorist Regime, would be wise to lay down their arms, and save what’s left of their country, which isn’t much!”
This was followed by a subsequent post in which Trump claimed, “Iran had plans of taking over the entire Middle East, and completely obliterating Israel. JUST LIKE IRAN ITSELF, THOSE PLANS ARE NOW DEAD!”
He then posted a video that had the text “UNCLASSIFIED” superimposed on top and appeared to depict the US military killing people.
Subsequently, Trump posted his claim that Iran “is totally defeated and wants a deal — But not a deal that I would accept!”
March 14
The next day, Trump continued to whinge about the media, claiming that there was “an intentionally misleading headline” about “the five tanker planes that were supposedly struck down at an Airport in Saudi Arabia, and of no further use.”
He claimed, “In actuality, the Base was hit a few days ago, but the planes were not ‘struck’ or ‘destroyed.’ Four of the five had virtually no damage, and are already back in service. One had slightly more damage, but will be in the air shortly.”
This was followed by a post in which Trump claimed that “Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe.”
This came several days after he informed Prime Minister Starmer that the UK would not need to send war ships because we had already won the war.
This was followed by another post in which he explained that “The United States of America has beaten and completely decimated Iran, both Militarily, Economically, and in every other way, but the Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT!
“The U.S. will also coordinate with those Countries so that everything goes quickly, smoothly, and well.”
March 15
The next day, the whinge-fest about the media continued with Trump claiming that “Iran has long been known as a Master of Media Manipulation and Public Relations. They are Militarily ineffective and weak, but are really good at ‘feeding’ the very appreciative Fake News Media false information.”
This was followed by the claim that Iran is using artificial intelligence to fool the media and that this might mean “that those Media Outlets that generated it should be brought up on Charges for TREASON for the dissemination of false information!”
Trump followed this by claiming that he’d sic Brendan Carr, the chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, on these organizations, threatening their broadcast licenses.
This would be an unconstitutional violation of the first amendment, but seemingly so is his war.
March 17
On March 17, Trump returned to the contentious issue of the allies of the US.
Trump claimed that “The United States has been informed by most of our NATO ‘Allies’ that they don’t want to get involved with our Military Operation against the Terrorist Regime of Iran, in the Middle East.”
This is a strange thing for him to post after claiming that the US didn’t need allies to get involved because the war was won.
Anyways, Trump used this to begin an assault on NATO in which he claimed that the other members “will do nothing for us, in particular, in a time of need.”
The post ended by once again channeling the Shakespearean lady who doth protest, “speaking as President of the United States of America, by far the Most Powerful Country Anywhere in the World, WE DO NOT NEED THE HELP OF ANYONE!”
March 18
The next day, Trump decided to remind his 12 million followers that “for all of those absolute ‘fools’ out there, Iran is considered, by everyone, to be the NUMBER ONE STATE SPONSOR OF TERROR. We are rapidly putting them out of business!”
This came nearly three weeks after he claimed the nation was obliterated.
Subsequently, Trump returned to his unproductive relationship with his allies, speculating about “what would happen if we ‘finished off’ what’s left of the Iranian Terror State, and let the Countries that use it, we don’t, be responsible for the so called ‘Strait?’ That would get some of our non-responsive ‘Allies’ in gear, and fast!!!”
This again comes after he stated that we didn’t need the assistance of any allies.
Trump returned to this topic again to share a New York Post opinion piece that claimed that “US allies need to get a grip — step up and help open the Strait of Hormuz.”
Trump then described how US ally and coalition partner, “Israel, out of anger for what has taken place in the Middle East, has violently lashed out at a major facility known as South Pars Gas Field in Iran.
“A relatively small section of the whole has been hit. The United States knew nothing about this particular attack, and the country of Qatar was in no way, shape, or form, involved with it, nor did it have any idea that it was going to happen.”
Apparently, even when our allies do agree to help with the military operations, the US is still left in the dark.
Trump added that “NO MORE ATTACKS WILL BE MADE BY ISRAEL pertaining to this extremely important and valuable South Pars Field unless Iran unwisely decides to attack a very innocent, in this case, Qatar – In which instance the United States of America, with or without the help or consent of Israel, will massively blow up the entirety of the South Pars Gas Field at an amount of strength and power that Iran has never seen or witnessed before.”
He then threatened, “I do not want to authorize this level of violence and destruction because of the long term implications that it will have on the future of Iran, but if Qatar’s LNG is again attacked, I will not hesitate to do so.”
March 20
On March 20, Trump once again returned to his problematic relationship with allies, claiming that “Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!”
He added that these allies “complain about the high oil prices they are forced to pay, but don’t want to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a simple military maneuver that is the single reason for the high oil prices.
“So easy for them to do, with so little risk. COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!”
After this, he claimed that “We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East with respect to the Terrorist Regime of Iran.”
This post also included another claim about the cooperation of US allies, this time that “The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it — The United States does not!
“If asked, we will help these Countries in their Hormuz efforts, but it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated. Importantly, it will be an easy Military Operation for them.”
This was a drastic change of direction from when Trump told Prime Minister Starmer that the US did not need and did not want UK warships to help secure the Strait.
March 21
On March 21, Trump once again reiterated his belief that victory was effectively achieved.
He claimed that the United States was “weeks ahead of schedule” and that Iran’s “leadership is gone, their navy and air force are dead, they have absolutely no defense, and they want to make a deal.”
Despite the fact that Iran’s navy and air force were purportedly dead, Trump had to return to his social media platform a short while later to state that “If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!”
March 22
The next day, Trump added his thoughts about the progress of the war, claiming it was evidence of “PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH, TO PUT IT MILDLY!!!”
March 23
On March 23, Trump again suggested that the war is need an end, posting that “I AM PLEASED TO REPORT THAT THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AND THE COUNTRY OF IRAN, HAVE HAD, OVER THE LAST TWO DAYS, VERY GOOD AND PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS REGARDING A COMPLETE AND TOTAL RESOLUTION OF OUR HOSTILITIES IN THE MIDDLE EAST.
“BASED ON THE TENOR AND TONE OF THESE IN DEPTH, DETAILED, AND CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS, WHICH WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE WEEK, I HAVE INSTRUCTED THE DEPARTMENT OF WAR TO POSTPONE ANY AND ALL MILITARY STRIKES AGAINST IRANIAN POWER PLANTS AND ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE FOR A FIVE DAY PERIOD, SUBJECT TO THE SUCCESS OF THE ONGOING MEETINGS AND DISCUSSIONS.”
It’s important to remember that on March 6, Trump claimed that “There will be no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”
Also, despite the claim that there would be no further military strikes, strikes have continued.
The next day, March 24, Trump announced that Iran was “gonna make a deal” and claimed that the country “gave us a present…a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money.”
On March 6, Trump had posted that the only deal possible was “UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER!”
Iran has denied that it intends to make a deal.
Oil and bitcoin prices
This war has led the price of both bitcoin (BTC) and oil to increase, with oil appreciating much more substantially than BTC.
West Texas Intermediate, one of the benchmark oil markets, was trading for approximately $72 per barrel on March 2, and now trades for approximately $88 a barrel, an increase of approximately 21.5%.
BTC, meanwhile, was trading for slightly less than $66,000 on February 28 and now trades for approximately $71,000, an increase of approximately 9%.
Despite the fact that it’s been more than three weeks since Trump claimed that Iran was “obliterated,” the price of oil has stayed substantially higher, despite Trump’s insistence that oil prices “will drop rapidly” once the nuclear threat is dealt with.
Broadly, the president has been wildly inconsistent in his pronouncements about his war, vacillating between proclamations that the war is done, that the enemy will be struck incredibly hard (despite the war being done), that a deal will never be accepted, that a deal is almost ready, that no allies are necessary, and that allies will be responsible for ensuring the Strait of Hormuz remains open.
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Consumer fintechs and payment platforms are becoming one of the main distribution layers for crypto access. Best Digital Assets Fintech is an award category within The BeInCrypto Institutional 100, an annual research-driven program recognising institutional digital asset excellence across 26 categories and six pillars.
This category sits in Pillar 1: Retail to Crypto Bridge. The 15 firms below are its longlist. A shortlist will be named in May 2026, with the winner announced at Proof of Talk in Paris on June 2–3, 2026.
- Long list: 15 fintechs across crypto-native payment infrastructure, stablecoin wallets, Lightning-based consumer rails, retail brokers, enterprise acquirers, and cross-border fintech platforms.
- Initial pool: More than 30 consumer and B2B fintechs screened; 15 advanced to the long list.
- Scoring: 30% quantitative data · 50% Expert Council · 20% disclosed company data.
- Criteria assessed: Crypto product depth, distribution scale, regulatory standing, innovation, capital maturity, geographic reach, and reputation.
- Data sources: NYDFS, FinCEN, FCA, MiCA-CASP, OCC, MAS, CySEC, AUSTRAC, FINTRAC, audited filings, company disclosures, PitchBook, Tracxn, and Crunchbase.
| # | Firm | Fintech Sub-Segment | HQ | Reach | Top Crypto Licensure / Product | Representative Work |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stripe | Crypto-native payment infrastructure | South San Francisco / Dublin | 100+ country stablecoin accounts 100M+ businesses on Stripe |
Bridge OCC charter conditionally approved | Acquired Bridge and Privy Open Issuance powers Phantom CASH and MetaMask mUSD |
| 2 | PayPal / Venmo | Consumer wallet + stablecoin issuer | San Jose, USA | 436M active accounts PYUSD across 4 chains |
PYUSD issued by Paxos Trust | Expanded PYUSD into 70 markets Launched PYUSDx framework with MoonPay and M0 |
| 3 | Block (Cash App) | BTC-native consumer fintech | San Francisco, USA | 57M Cash App monthly actives $2.4B+ Bitcoin revenue Q4 2024 |
FinCEN MSB + state MTLs | Expanded Lightning integration globally Spiral continued Bitcoin core funding |
| 4 | Robinhood | Retail broker with crypto stack | Menlo Park, USA | 26M funded customers Bitstamp adds 5M+ users |
MiCAR access in EU Bitstamp FCA + NYDFS licences |
Closed Bitstamp acquisition in 2025 Expanded into Canada through WonderFi |
| 5 | Circle | Stablecoin issuer + banking distribution | Boston / NYC | USDC $73B market cap Embedded into core banking platforms |
OCC conditional charter approval | NYSE IPO completed in 2025 Circle Payments Network expanded to 200+ banks |
| 6 | Revolut | Multi-product fintech with crypto | London, UK | 65M customers globally Revolut X across the UK and the EEA |
FCA crypto registration + MiCAR-CASP | Expanded Revolut X across Europe Launched self-custody Revolut Wallet |
| 7 | SoFi Technologies | US fintech with crypto relaunch | San Francisco, USA | 10.9M members Galileo powers 100M+ accounts |
FinCEN MSB + state MTLs | Relaunched crypto trading in 2025 Stablecoin payments roadmap disclosed |
| 8 | KAST | Stablecoin-native cross-border fintech | Singapore | 1M+ users 190+ countries |
Operates through licensed partners | Closed $80M Series A in 2026 Stablecoin spending integrated with Visa |
| 9 | Nubank | LatAm fintech crypto distribution | São Paulo, Brazil | 65M customers globally Revolut X across UK and the EEA |
Paxos institutional trust framework | Expanded token support during 2025 Cross-border crypto custody rollout planned |
| 10 | eToro | Social trading + crypto platform | Tel Aviv / Bnei Brak | 30M users globally 100+ countries |
FCA crypto registration + AUSTRAC + FinCEN | Nasdaq IPO completed in May 2025 Unified crypto, stocks, and ETF trading |
| 11 | Strike | Bitcoin and Lightning fintech | Chicago, USA | 100+ countries 50-state US coverage achieved |
NY BitLicense + FinCEN MSB | Approved for NY operations in 2026 Launched Bitcoin-backed lending products |
| 12 | ChangeNOW | Non-custodial fintech ecosystem | Saint Vincent and the Grenadines | 8M+ users $1B+ monthly volume |
SOC 2 Type II + ISO 27001 | Expanded NOW ecosystem across wallets, custody, APIs, and payments Integrated across major wallet providers |
| 13 | Adyen | Enterprise payment processor | Amsterdam, Netherlands | MiCAR access in the EU Bitstamp FCA + NYDFS licences |
DNB + ECB supervised | Crypto acceptance expanded for Web3 merchants Stablecoin payout rails under development |
| 14 | Checkout.com | Enterprise merchant acquirer | London, UK | 2,000+ employees globally | FCA-authorized + DIFC regulated | Stablecoin settlement pilot announced in 2025 Expanded infrastructure for exchanges and onramps |
| 15 | BitPay | Crypto payments processor | Atlanta, USA | Active since 2011 Supports BTC + 12 other assets |
FinCEN MSB + multi-state MTLs | Expanded BitPay Card nationally Maintained merchant partnerships across retail and payments |
About This List
The BeInCrypto Institutional 100 — Digital Assets Fintech (2026 Long List) identifies fintech firms connecting fiat payment systems with digital assets through consumer apps, enterprise infrastructure, stablecoins, Lightning rails, wallets, and embedded crypto services.
The category includes crypto-native payment processors, retail fintech platforms, enterprise acquirers, stablecoin-driven fintechs, and non-custodial ecosystems. Firms whose primary role is fiat onramp infrastructure are evaluated separately under the Onramp/Offramp category.
Methodology
This category is evaluated under Track B of the BeInCrypto Institutional 100 methodology: 30% quantitative metrics, 50% Expert Council scoring, and 20% disclosed data.
Assessment spans seven weighted criteria: crypto product depth, distribution scale, regulatory standing, innovation, capital maturity, geographic reach, reputation, and contribution across fintech sub-segments.
Data was verified against NYDFS, FinCEN, FCA, MiCA-CASP, OCC, MAS, CySEC, AUSTRAC, and FINTRAC registers, as well as audited filings, company disclosures, partnership announcements, and private-market sources such as PitchBook, Tracxn, and Crunchbase.
The post BeInCrypto Institutional Research: 15 Fintechs Bridging Fiat and Digital Assets appeared first on BeInCrypto.
TLDR:
- CME Group listed SUI futures, making Sui only the fourth L1 alongside BTC, ETH, and SOL in regulated derivatives.
- Sui processed 65.8 million transactions in a single day within two months of its May 2023 mainnet launch.
- Three US staking ETFs from Grayscale, Canary Capital, and 21Shares listed in early 2026 on major exchanges.
- Hashi enables native Bitcoin collateral on Sui without wrapping or custody, with 20-plus institutions committing on day one.
Sui Network has completed three years since its May 2023 mainnet launch, marking the milestone with a string of institutional developments.
CME Group listed SUI futures contracts, making Sui only the fourth Layer-1 blockchain to enter CME’s regulated derivatives market.
The others before it were Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. Three staking ETFs have listed in the US, cumulative active addresses passed 228 million, and DeFi total value locked peaked at $2.6 billion.
From Parallel Execution to Protocol Maturity
Sui launched with a clear architectural thesis: parallel execution should be built into a blockchain’s foundation, not added as an afterthought.
Within two months of launch, the network processed 65.8 million transactions in a single day. That figure was the highest recorded across all blockchains at the time, and gas fees remained nearly flat throughout.
Two infrastructure additions in 2023 shaped the chain’s long-term trajectory. In July, the Sui Foundation launched DeepBook, a native central limit order book embedded directly into the protocol.
Every DeFi application on Sui draws liquidity from the same shared pool, which is an uncommon design choice among Layer-1 networks.
In September 2023, zkLogin went live, allowing users to authenticate Web3 apps using Google or Facebook credentials.
Zero-knowledge proofs handle identity on-chain, removing the need for seed phrases or separate wallet setup. This lowered the entry barrier for mainstream users considerably.
By 2024, the focus shifted to consensus performance. In August, Mysticeti launched as a DAG-based consensus engine, cutting latency by 80% and bringing finality to 640 milliseconds.
Traditional financial players responded: Franklin Templeton announced a strategic partnership, and Grayscale launched the Grayscale Sui Trust.
Stablecoins, Bitcoin Collateral, and Regulated Products
Heading into 2025 and 2026, the infrastructure stack filled in steadily. Walrus Protocol added decentralized storage in March 2025, completing the native stack from execution to data storage. Mysticeti V2 followed in November, delivering sub-second finality and horizontal validator scaling.
In December 2025, 21Shares listed the first-ever SUI ETF on Nasdaq, a 2x leveraged product. By February 2026, three staking ETFs from Grayscale, Canary Capital, and 21Shares had listed in the US.
That same period saw USDsui launch through Stripe’s subsidiary Bridge, and cumulative stablecoin transfers on Sui crossed $1 trillion in March 2026.
Perhaps the most consequential development came with Hashi, developed by Mysten Labs. Hashi is a native Bitcoin collateralization primitive that allows BTC to be used directly as on-chain collateral, without wrapping or centralized custody.
The system is secured through MPC and Move’s ownership model. Over 20 institutions committed on day one, as noted in a post from the official Sui Network account.
Zero-fee stablecoin transfers were also announced at Sui Live Miami as coming soon, extending the chain’s payments utility further.
Crypto World
Caesars Brought Las Vegas Online. DraftKings Brought Fantasy Sports Online. ZunaBet Brought The Future Online.
Every platform’s identity is shaped by where it came from. Caesars brought the weight of Las Vegas online — decades of land-based casino heritage, a loyalty program connecting digital play to physical properties, and a brand that carried implied quality into the online space before the product had to prove it independently. DraftKings brought daily fantasy sports online — an existing engaged audience, American sports cultural fluency, and the operational readiness to capture the US sports betting market when regulation opened it.
Both identities produced genuine platforms for genuine players. The Caesars player who trusts the name from their Las Vegas visits. The DraftKings player who was already using the platform for fantasy leagues before real-money betting was legal. Both platforms continued to serve those players after the transition to licensed gambling.
ZunaBet brought something different online in 2026. Not a land-based heritage. Not a fantasy sports audience. The future — a platform built from scratch in the current year for the player who exists in the current year. The crypto-native player. The esports bettor. The player who wants sixty-three providers worth of game variety and a loyalty program that states its return before the first deposit. This article examines all three and explains what each identity produced.
Caesars: The Las Vegas Identity Online
The Caesars identity online is built on the transfer of trust from physical to digital. A player who has stayed at a Caesars hotel, played at a Caesars casino floor, or earned tier status through land-based activity finds the online product a continuation of a relationship that already existed. The brand’s implied quality arrived before the product had to earn it independently.
The casino product reflects genuine casino heritage. A substantial library from established providers, live dealer content informed by physical table game expertise, and a product that benefits from decades of understanding how casino players engage with their favourite games. The Caesars online casino is built by people who have been operating casinos long enough to understand the category deeply.
The sportsbook covers major US and global sports with in-play betting. The product serves the player who wants sports alongside casino from a trusted name.
Caesars Rewards is the identity’s most distinctive product feature. The cross-platform connection between online activity and land-based tier status — hotel rooms, dining, entertainment, physical casino status — has genuine value for the player who uses Caesars properties. Online gambling becomes part of a broader relationship with the brand rather than a standalone product.
The identity has clear limits for the player outside its profile. The cross-platform loyalty feature that makes Caesars distinctive is irrelevant to the exclusively online player who never visits a physical property — the program reduces to a standard points system for that player. Payment infrastructure is fiat-based with business-day withdrawal timelines. Crypto support is minimal. Geographic operation is bounded by US state licensing.
DraftKings: The Fantasy Sports Identity Online
The DraftKings identity online is built on audience conversion. The daily fantasy sports player who spent years managing lineups and tracking statistical outcomes found the transition to real-money sports betting natural when the legal framework allowed it. The brand they trusted for fantasy became the brand they trusted for betting without requiring them to learn a new platform or extend trust to a new name.
The sportsbook is the product that audience conversion produced. American sports coverage built for the fantasy-origin bettor — NFL with the market depth and statistical orientation that reflects genuine understanding of how this player engages with football, NBA, MLB, NHL, and college sports with comparable investment. The app is refined through years of this specific player’s feedback. In-play coverage is reliable. The product serves its converted audience consistently.
The casino has grown in proportion. A reasonable library, live dealer content, standard table game variants. The product serves the sports-first player’s secondary casino interest.
Dynasty Rewards is the identity’s loyalty expression. Points accumulate through play, tiers reflect volume, and benefits are redeemed through a structure that most experienced players find delivers less actual cash value than the tier descriptions initially implied when the conversion mathematics are properly applied. The gap between promise and delivery is consistent enough that it forms a regular part of how players describe their loyalty experience on review platforms.
The payment identity is fiat banking for the daily fantasy convert. Business-day withdrawal timelines. Bitcoin in select states as a response to demand rather than a native infrastructure commitment. Geographic operation is bounded by licensed US states.
ZunaBet: The Future Identity Online
ZunaBet launched in 2026 under Strathvale Group Ltd, operating under an Anjouan gaming license and registered in Belize. The team carries over 20 years of combined industry experience. It is not a US licensed operator and it does not hold state-level certification. Its identity is not built on transferring trust from a physical brand or converting a pre-existing digital audience. Its identity is built on being built in 2026 for the player who exists in 2026.
The game library is what a future-built casino identity looks like. ZunaBet carries 11,294 titles from 63 providers. The Caesars casino identity reflects land-based heritage. The DraftKings casino identity reflects sports-first priorities. ZunaBet’s casino identity reflects a player who needs genuine variety from multiple creative sources to stay engaged over the long term — sixty-three different approaches producing content with different mechanics, different volatility profiles, and different visual identities. Evolution for the full live dealer catalogue. Pragmatic Play across multiple categories. Hacksaw Gaming for the high-volatility mechanics experienced players seek. Yggdrasil for its distinctive design philosophy. BGaming for the crypto-native aesthetic. The identity sustains long-term engagement because it was built for the player who cycles through limited libraries quickly.
The sportsbook is what a future-built sportsbook identity covers. Football, basketball, tennis, NHL, and other major global sports alongside CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends, and Valorant as genuine primary markets. The future identity includes esports as a foundational sportsbook category because the player it was built for follows competitive gaming as seriously as traditional sports. Virtual sports and combat sports complete the coverage.
The payment identity is what a future-built crypto infrastructure looks like. More than 20 cryptocurrencies supported natively — BTC, ETH, USDT across multiple chains, SOL, DOGE, ADA, XRP, and others. No platform processing fees. Withdrawals settling in minutes. Apps across iOS, Android, Windows, and MacOS with 24-hour live chat support. The future identity was built for the player who holds cryptocurrency and expects platforms to handle it natively rather than approximately.
Payments: Three Identities, Three Outcomes
The payment comparison is a direct illustration of what three different identity origins produce.
Caesars’ land-based identity produces fiat banking payments — the infrastructure that casino hotels and physical gaming operations have always used. Business-day withdrawal timelines. Minimal crypto. The outcome reflects the identity’s origin.
DraftKings’ daily fantasy identity produces fiat banking payments — the infrastructure the fantasy sports platform was built on and the online sportsbook inherited. Similar timelines. Bitcoin in select states as a concession rather than a commitment. The outcome equally reflects the identity’s origin.
ZunaBet’s 2026 identity produces native crypto payments — the infrastructure built for the player who arrived in 2026 with cryptocurrency as their primary financial instrument. Twenty-plus coins natively supported. Minutes rather than days. No fees beyond network costs. The outcome reflects an identity built for the current moment rather than transferred from a previous one.
Loyalty Programs: Three Identities, Three Outcomes
The loyalty comparison is equally a comparison between identity outcomes.
Caesars’ identity produces Caesars Rewards — a cross-platform program with genuine value for the player who uses physical Caesars properties and a standard points system for the player who does not. The outcome serves one player type distinctively and another adequately.
DraftKings’ identity produces Dynasty Rewards — a points system that accumulates toward redemption options delivering less actual value than the tier descriptions implied for most players who calculate it. The outcome reflects an identity that inherited the points-loyalty standard of its era.
ZunaBet’s identity produces the dragon evolution loyalty system — six tiers, Squire through Ultimate, with a gamified mascot called Zuno and direct rakeback rates of 1%, 2%, 4%, 5%, 10%, and 20%. All tiers open. All rates applying to all activity. No conversion. No invitation. The outcome reflects an identity built for the player whose loyalty expectation is transparency rather than implied value.
Twenty percent at the Ultimate tier. The identity produces a loyalty outcome that the player can calculate before joining and verify throughout membership. Additional tier benefits — up to 1,000 free spins, VIP club access, double wheel spins — extend the identity’s loyalty outcome beyond the core rakeback.
The Welcome Bonus
ZunaBet new players receive a bonus across three deposits totalling up to $5,000 plus 75 free spins. First deposit matched 100% up to $2,000 with 25 free spins. Second deposit matched 50% up to $1,500 with 25 spins. Third deposit matched 100% up to $1,500 with 25 spins.
Caesars and DraftKings offer welcome promotions within their respective regulated US markets. Current terms vary by state and should be confirmed directly on each platform.
Three Identities, One Direction
Caesars brought Las Vegas online and its identity continues to serve the player who values that heritage and the cross-platform loyalty connection it enables. The identity is genuine and the outcome it produces continues to attract its intended player.
DraftKings brought daily fantasy sports online and its identity continues to serve the player who made that conversion. The identity is equally genuine and the outcome it produces continues to attract its intended player.
ZunaBet brought the future online in 2026 and its identity serves the player neither established identity was built for — the crypto-native, esports-betting, rakeback-expecting, large-library-needing player whose profile was not part of either established identity’s origin.
ZunaBet launched in 2026 and its identity is still being proven over time. Both established identities were tested and confirmed across years of consistent operation. ZunaBet’s identity is early in that testing and players should weigh that honestly.
But the identity built for the player who exists now — rather than the player who existed when Caesars built its land-based brand or when DraftKings built its fantasy sports audience — launched in 2026. That identity is ZunaBet’s and in 2026 the player it was built for is finding it.
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.
Bitcoin is entering the week with a cautious outlook as U.S. inflation data loom, and fresh signals from the Cleveland Fed’s inflation nowcast suggest April CPI could reaccelerate. The numbers imply a firmer backdrop for headline inflation, which could limit near-term relief for risk assets, including Bitcoin. The official April CPI release is due on May 12, and market participants will be parsing whether the monthly pace cools while the annual pace re-accelerates.
According to the Cleveland Fed’s inflation nowcast, April CPI is projected at 3.56% year over year, up from 3.3% in March. The model also expects a monthly CPI rise of about 0.45%, with core CPI at 2.56% YoY and 0.21% MoM, compared with 2.6% and 0.2% previously. This mixed picture—headline acceleration alongside a slower monthly pace—keeps the inflation narrative in a tug of war and could influence the Federal Reserve’s next steps on policy. Cleveland Fed inflation nowcasting notes the official data release is approaching on May 12.
Bitcoin has historically shown resilience around CPI prints, but the latest setup underscores a balancing act. After the March CPI report showed headline inflation at 3.3% year over year, BTC advanced more than 15%, a move some observers attributed to fresh institutional demand entering the market. Cointelegraph noted the thrust from institutional buyers following the March print, helping to soak up new supply and support prices despite the inflation backdrop.
That support, however, may be changing. The same reporting highlighted shifts in the buy-side dynamics as institutions recalibrated their approaches to BTC exposure. In particular, Strategy—a notable BTC buyer via its STRC vehicle—has paused its Bitcoin purchases, reducing the immediacy of new capital flowing into the market. The STRC preferred stock remains trading below its $100 par value, a condition that can limit a company’s ability to raise fresh capital for further crypto buys. STRC.LIVE shows weekly Bitcoin buying activity has slowed as a result, tempering what had been a supportive bid from large investors.
Against this backdrop, market watchers are watching a developing technical formation that could shape the next move. A rising wedge pattern has emerged on Bitcoin’s daily chart, a classic bearish reversal setup that often resolves with a break below the lower trend line and a subsequent decline equal to the pattern’s height. Bitcoin was tracing toward the wedge’s apex near the mid-$80,000s, around $84,000, as markets awaited confirmation of the breakout direction. A breakdown from that level could pave the way toward the wedge’s downside target near $70,000, while a breakout above the apex could nullify the setup and open the door to higher prices, potentially toward the $90,000–$95,000 zone if momentum resumes. TradingView-based analysis puts the apex and pattern in focus as risk assets digest the CPI outlook.
Key takeaways
- The Cleveland Fed nowcast projects April CPI at 3.56% year over year, with a monthly rise of about 0.45% and core CPI at 2.56% YoY and 0.21% MoM.
- Bitcoin is forming a rising wedge on the daily chart, with a potential breakdown toward $70,000 if the lower trend line is breached.
- Institutional demand that aided BTC in prior CPI cycles appears to be cooling, as Strategy pauses new BTC purchases and its STRC stock trades below par, limiting fresh capital flow.
- If Bitcoin breaks above the wedge apex near $84,000 and clears the 200-day moving average, the next upside could target the $90,000–$95,000 region.
Inflation dynamics and the risk-asset calculus
In macro terms, the April CPI picture remains mixed. A firmer annual headline can reinforce the view that the Fed has limited room to trim rates quickly, which tends to weigh on speculative trades such as Bitcoin. Yet the slower monthly pace keeps the probability of a more gradual policy adjustment on the table. For crypto investors, the key takeaway is that the macro backdrop continues to hinge on inflation’s trajectory and the Fed’s response, rather than a single data point alone.
Historically, CPI surprises have amplified volatility around inflation data releases. The market’s reaction often depends on how the prints align with expectations and how they alter rate-cut expectations. The CME Group’s FedWatch tool tracks these probabilities, illustrating how traders reprice expectations around key CPI milestones and Federal Reserve communications. CME FedWatch remains a barometer for the path of policy around CPI days.
Technical setup and what it could mean for traders
The rising wedge formation on BTC’s daily chart is a cautionary sign for bulls. Historically, such patterns precede a bearish reversal, particularly when price tests the apex near major moving averages or trend lines. In this case, the apex sits close to the $84,000 mark, with a break lower threatening a move toward $70,000—the midpoint of the wedge’s downside projection. On the upside, a sustained break above the apex could invalidate the pattern and reframe risk into an upside run toward the next resistance belt around $90,000 to $95,000, contingent on broader market momentum and on-chain demand.
In the longer view, traders will be watching for interactions with the 200-day exponential moving average, a common inflection point that can determine whether the market sustains a new uptrend or reverts to a range-bound pattern. A clean breakout above the 200-day EMA in the current regime could refresh upside targets, but that hinges on a continuing positive impulse from macro data and on-chain liquidity.
Market structure and the buy-side dynamics to watch
The domino effect of a cooling on institutional demand is a material shift for Bitcoin’s near-term trajectory. The March CPI-driven rally benefited from a surge in institutional absorption of freshly mined supply, a trend that tempered sell-side pressure and helped sustain price gains. With Strategy pausing its BTC purchases and the STRC stock trading below par, the market faces a potential reset in the capital allocation that had supported higher price floors in previous cycles. The likelihood of liquidity-driven moves around CPI print days adds another layer of complexity, as large players may reprice risk and reduce exposure in advance of the data release.
Analyst commentary this week underscored a risk-off stance around inflation-print days. In a Sunday note, an analyst highlighted that larger players could begin de-risking around CPI events, a pattern observed in prior cycles. The emphasis remains on monitoring key liquidity pivots—such as the 78,600 to 84,000 area—where a breach or a sweep of liquidity could signal the next directional impulse. For context, traders have pointed to the significance of a weekly open around 78.6k as a critical reference level to hold or lose, with downside targets clustering near the mid-70s to mid-70s thousand-dollar range if breached.
“Key level to hold is the 78.6K weekly open; if lost, 74–75K is the next downside target. I would watch for liquidity sweeps around this pivot to signal the next move.”
As with any CPI cycle, the interaction of macro data, on-chain activity, and traditional market liquidity will determine whether Bitcoin can sustain a constructive breakout or revert to a risk-off posture. The flow of fresh capital from major buyers, while potentially volatile in the near term, will be a crucial barometer for the next leg of the trend.
Meanwhile, the upside scenario remains intact in the sense that a decisive move beyond the apex could clear the path to higher targets if demand returns. The market’s attention remains fixed on how inflation data evolves, how the Fed responds, and whether on-chain buyers re-emerge with renewed vigor to re-anchor price to higher levels.
Looking ahead, traders should monitor the CPI release window, the trajectory of core inflation, and the evolving buy-sell dynamics around major levels. The coming days will reveal whether Bitcoin can sustain momentum amid a cautious macro backdrop or whether the price revisits key support toward the region around $70,000.
What happens next may hinge on more than one data point. If inflation continues to surprise on the upside and rate expectations stay elevated, BTC could face renewed selling pressure near critical inflection zones. Conversely, a softer inflation surprise, or a fresh wave of institutional interest, could rekindle the upside move into the mid-to-high tens of thousands. Investors should stay patient and prepared for rapid, data-driven shifts as CPI day approaches.
Crypto prices marked gains over the past week, including a multi-month high for the market leader, and some of the reasons are the return of demand for spot ETFs tracking their performance.
Here are the precise numbers from last week: the big gainers and those who didn’t see any action.
BTC ETFs: The Winner
The first and largest crypto ETFs were the undisputed leaders in terms of attracting funds last week, despite the rough ending. The financial vehicles saw net inflows of $532 million on Monday, $467 million on Tuesday, and $46 million on Wednesday when the asset peaked at almost $83,000.
Its price momentum began to fade at the end of the business week, coinciding with substantial net outflows of $277 million on Thursday and $146 million on Friday. Nevertheless, the total weekly inflow stood at an impressive $622.75 million, up from the previous week’s $154 million.
The cumulative total net inflows have risen to well over $59 billion as of Friday’s market close.
ETH ETFs Follow Suit
The spot Ethereum ETFs, on the other hand, had only one day in the red, but it was painful. After pulling $61 million on Monday, $97.6 million on Tuesday, $11.6 million on Wednesday, and a more modest $3.6 million on Friday, the funds saw a significant withdrawal of over $103.5 million on Thursday, according to SoSoValue data.
Nevertheless, the week ended well in the green, with net inflows of over $70 million. However, it still couldn’t offset the losses seen from the previous week, which ended on May 1, when investors pulled out over $82 million from the funds.
The cumulative net inflows into the spot ETH ETFs remain above $12 billion since their inception in mid-2024.
XRP ETFs and Some Honorable Mentions
The funds tracking Ripple’s cross-border token didn’t have a single day in the red last week, but Thursday was a no-action day with $0.00 reportable flows. Investors inserted nearly $4 million on Monday, over $11 million on Tuesday, $13 million on Wednesday, and $6 million on Friday.
The week ended with more than $34 million in net inflows, which is significantly more impressive than the minor $35K in net outflows during the previous week. The total net flows are up to another all-time high of $1.32 billion.
The honorable mentions are the SOL ETFs, which saw almost $40 million in net inflows last week, while the LINK and DOGE ETFs gained somewhere around $1 million each.
The post BTC vs. ETH vs. XRP ETFs: Which Pulled the Most Money Last Week? appeared first on CryptoPotato.
Strategy CEO Phong Le said the company’s success rests on more than the Bitcoin held on its balance sheet.
Summary
- Strategy said Q1 revenue rose 11.9% year over year to $124.3 million.
- Phong Le said cloud revenue grew 59% during the company’s strongest software quarter in years.
- Strategy’s Bitcoin model faces scrutiny as debt and losses mount.
In a post on X, he argued that Strategy’s enterprise software business remains a core part of the company’s long-term model.
Le said the software unit gives Strategy engineers, cloud teams, enterprise customers, compliance systems, and global operations that most digital asset firms do not have. “Strategy’s success is rooted in more than Bitcoin” is the key claim, but it depends on whether the software business can keep growing while Bitcoin drives most investor attention.
Q1 software growth supports Bitcoin costs
Strategy reported $124.3 million in total Q1 2026 revenue, up 11.9% from $111.1 million a year earlier. The company also posted gross profit of $83.4 million, with a 67.1% gross margin.
Le said Q1 was the strongest software quarter in a decade, helped by 12% revenue growth and 59% cloud revenue growth. He added that controllable margin rose 27%, helping fund Bitcoin operating expenses.
The update comes as Strategy’s Bitcoin strategy remains under scrutiny. The company reported a $12.54 billion Q1 net loss, compared with a $4.22 billion loss in the same period last year.
As Crypto.news reported, Strategy had raised $25.3 billion in 2025 to expand its Bitcoin treasury strategy. That report also noted Phong Le’s focus on expanding STRC to support growth in Bitcoin per share.
Strategy turns to AI and enterprise data
Le said Strategy has built an AI data foundation called Mosaic. The platform links large language models, hyperscalers, and data warehouses into a secure enterprise data layer.
He also said the company is rebuilding internal systems with AI and expects more workflows to become automated.
For Strategy, the message is clear: the software arm is no longer just a legacy business. It is part of the company’s case for why its Bitcoin treasury model can operate at institutional scale.
Global markets are entering a major week filled with inflation reports, geopolitical developments, and central macroeconomic data.
Summary
- Iran responded to a US proposal while rejecting claims of surrender during ongoing diplomatic discussions.
- Markets now focus on CPI, PPI, retail sales, and industrial production data this week.
- Bitcoin traders are watching macro volatility as BTC remains near major psychological levels recently.
Traders are closely watching new comments from Iran alongside upcoming U.S. economic releases.
The Kobeissi Letter reported that Iran sent a response to a U.S. proposal through Pakistani mediators. Shortly afterward, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that negotiations would not represent surrender.
Iran comments add to market uncertainty
According to statements shared by The Kobeissi Letter, Pezeshkian said Iran would “never bow” to external pressure while defending national interests during talks.
“Dialogue does not mean surrender or retreat” remains the central quote drawing market attention as traders monitor whether diplomatic discussions reduce or increase geopolitical pressure in coming days.
Geopolitical developments have remained an important factor for risk assets this year. Bitcoin and equities have repeatedly reacted to Middle East headlines, especially during periods of uncertainty tied to energy markets and global trade.
CPI and inflation reports now in focus
Markets are also preparing for several major U.S. data releases this week. April CPI inflation data is scheduled for Tuesday, followed by PPI inflation figures on Wednesday.
Retail sales data and industrial production numbers will follow later in the week. Traders are expected to monitor whether inflation continues slowing or shows renewed pressure after recent volatility in commodities and energy prices.
The Kobeissi Letter also pointed to the OPEC monthly report as another event that could influence oil markets and inflation expectations.
Bitcoin traders watch volatility signals
Bitcoin (BTC) traded near the $80,000 region ahead of the macro-heavy week. Crypto.news price data showed BTC holding above major short-term support despite recent market swings.
Crypto traders continue watching whether inflation data and geopolitical developments push investors toward risk assets or trigger another defensive move across financial markets.
Some analysts believe lower inflation could support Bitcoin and equities if expectations for easier monetary policy return. Others remain cautious as global tensions and economic uncertainty continue affecting investor sentiment across crypto and traditional markets.
Bitcoin continues to trade within a broader recovery structure following the strong rebound from the $60K region. However, despite the recent bullish momentum, the market has been struggling to reclaim a decisive resistance zone at the $80K region, where the next major directional move is likely to emerge.
Bitcoin Price Analysis: The Daily Chart
On the daily timeframe, BTC has been recently experiencing choppy price action near the crucial $80K resistance region, while lacking sufficient bullish momentum for a confirmed breakout. This area carries substantial technical importance as it aligns with the 100-day moving average, strengthening seller presence around current levels.
Recent candles reflect increasing hesitation and fading momentum as the market struggles to establish acceptance above this threshold. Based on the current structure and the repeated rejection attempts around the $80K-$82K range, the probability of a bearish reversal appears slightly higher in the short term.
Nevertheless, if buyers unexpectedly manage to push the price above both the 100-day MA and the upper boundary of the price channel, a fresh short-squeeze scenario could unfold, potentially driving BTC toward the major $90K resistance region.
BTC/USDT 4-Hour Chart
On the 4-hour chart, Bitcoin remains trapped within a tight consolidation range bounded by the ascending dynamic trendline from below and the static $80K-$83K resistance zone overhead. This structure reflects a temporary equilibrium between buyers and sellers following the recent impulsive rally.
As long as the price remains confined within this range, further sideways consolidation is likely. However, the ascending trendline near the $78K level currently acts as the key short-term support for buyers. A bearish rejection and breakdown below this trendline could trigger a corrective decline toward the lower order block regions around the $75K-$76K and potentially the $70K-$71K support area.
Onchain Analysis
From an on-chain perspective, the realized price of long-term holder cohorts continues to act as one of the market’s most important macro support and resistance indicators. These realized price levels are crucial because they determine whether specific holder cohorts remain in overall profit or loss, significantly influencing their market behavior.
Currently, Bitcoin is trading between the realized price bands of the 12-month to 2-year cohorts, positioned approximately between $62K and $92K. Historically, remaining above these realized price levels reflects stronger holder confidence and reduced sell-side pressure, while losing them often leads to broader market weakness. As a result, this range remains highly significant for determining Bitcoin’s next macro trend direction.
The post Bitcoin Price Prediction: Where Is BTC Headed Next Week? Key Levels to Watch appeared first on CryptoPotato.
Cardano’s Web3 wallet Lace has received fresh updates as the network prepares for the Van Rossem hard fork.
Summary
- Lace 2.0.3 fixed migration, DApp connection, loading, and legacy wallet issues.
- Lace 2.0.4 added view mode options, auto-lock settings, and language fixes.
- Cardano’s Van Rossem hard fork targets Protocol Version 11 in late June.
The wallet’s recent 2.0 releases focus on smoother migration, better DApp access, and easier wallet use.
Lace 2.0 brings Cardano, Midnight, and Bitcoin into one wallet interface. The update aims to reduce the need for users to move between separate wallets when managing assets across ecosystems.
Lace 2.0.3 and 2.0.4 improve user access
Lace 2.0.3 fixed a white screen issue that stopped some users from completing migration or connecting to DApps. It also fixed a problem affecting some older wallets imported from Nami.
Lace 2.0.4 added a default view mode, letting users switch between Side Panel and Tab. It also introduced an auto-lock timer and fixed missing Spanish and Japanese translations.
Moreover, Cardano is preparing the Van Rossem hard fork, an intra-era upgrade to Protocol Version 11. The upgrade is expected to improve Plutus performance, ledger consistency, and node-level security.
Cardano Node 11.0.1 Pre-Release is required to safely cross the hard fork. Stake pool operators and developers on preview have been asked to upgrade before the mainnet step.
Network upgrade avoids major disruption
The Van Rossem upgrade does not move Cardano into a new era. That matters because transaction formats remain unchanged, reducing work for wallets, DApps, and exchanges.
“Late June 2026” remains the date to watch, but the rollout still depends on readiness and governance steps.
MIAMI BEACH, Fla. — Senior figures from Google Cloud and PayPal told CoinDesk’s Consensus Miami conference on Thursday that the next wave of internet commerce will run on crypto rails because AI agents structurally cannot use traditional financial accounts.
Richard Widmann, global head of Web3 strategy at Google Cloud, said the existing internet user experience does not extend to autonomous agents.
“An agent cannot get a bank account. It’s not hard, it just is impossible,” he said, citing technological and regulatory barriers. Crypto, by contrast, is “a fantastic machine readable interface for payments,” Widmann said.
To address the gap, Google has launched the Agentic Payments Protocol (AP2), an open protocol that has been donated to the FIDO Foundation and has more than 120 partners including PayPal, Widmann said. He compared the move to the x402 internet-native payment standard given to the Linux Foundation.
“Open dialogues and open standards are really the foundation you need to build on,” Widmann said.
May Zabaneh, senior vice president and general manager of crypto at PayPal, said the company is treating agents as the next channel after PayPal’s evolution from offline to online to mobile commerce. PYUSD, the company’s stablecoin, is “a very natural programmable layer for payments,” she said, particularly as commerce trends toward globalization, AI-native experiences and tokenized assets.
Zabaneh cited a recent PayPal survey which found that 95% of merchants now see AI agent traffic on their sites, but only 20% have machine-readable catalogs. “Merchants need to be ready for this next era,” she said. The shift, she added, mirrors the move from offline to online stores; merchants need to expose their products in agent-readable formats.
On liability, Zabaneh said the question of who’s responsible if an agent makes a bad purchase is “definitely something that we have to think through as an industry.” Widmann said multi-party custody is becoming central to agent design. Google has extended its Cloud KMS platform to cryptocurrency custody, and Widmann argued that an agent should hold only one of two or three key shards rather than the full private key. “It cannot simply unilaterally move funds or take action,” he said.
Asked what keeps them up at night, Widmann said the open question is “how do you onboard agents into all of the existing capital markets and infrastructure plumbing that powers payments and trading today.” Zabaneh said trust keeps her up professionally, though personally she “can’t wait for agentic to help make my life easier.”
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