US voters ranked crypto last among election priorities in an April poll of 1,000 registered Americans.

Public Opinion Strategies conducted the poll in late April on behalf of CoinDesk, surveying 1,000 randomly selected registered US voters with a credibility interval of plus or minus 3.53%.

Respondents were evenly split between Republican and Democratic identifiers at 41% each. As crypto.news reported, TD Cowen had already warned that the 2026 midterm cycle could push the CLARITY Act “off the congressional calendar until 2027,” framing voter indifference as a direct threat to industry legislative goals.

The sentiment numbers were broadly negative outside the GOP base. Independents viewed crypto unfavorably at 48% versus 27% favorably. Democratic-leaning voters were 54% unfavorable to 26% favorable.

Only Republican leaners produced a slight net positive at 41% to 39%. TraderSunion noted that 62% of respondents said they did not trust the Trump administration to oversee the crypto sector.

What the numbers mean for the industry

AI fared better in the same survey, with 46% favorable versus 45% unfavorable, a net positive that crypto has not achieved. Just 27% of respondents said they had ever invested, traded, or used cryptocurrency, while another 27% said they had not but might one day.

Digital Chamber CEO Cody Carbone has said “there are outstanding sticking points, but that shouldn’t slow down the process” on the CLARITY Act. As crypto.news documented, that sentiment sits against a political backdrop where voter indifference to crypto limits the electoral cost of blocking legislation entirely.

As crypto.news tracked, crypto groups spent roughly $120 to $130 million in the 2024 elections, with 2026 spending expected to exceed that. As crypto.news noted, Binance Research found midterm years historically produce average Bitcoin declines of roughly 56%, with a recovery typically following once election results reduce policy uncertainty.

TLDR

• World Liberty filed a defamation lawsuit against Justin Sun in a Florida state court.
• The lawsuit follows Sun’s federal case in California over frozen WLFI tokens.
• World Liberty alleged that Sun engaged in misconduct tied to WLFI token purchases.
• The company claimed Sun launched a short-selling campaign during the token’s public debut.
• The complaint linked $300 million in wallet transfers to Binance to Sun-affiliated entities.

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World Liberty filed a defamation lawsuit against Tron founder Justin Sun in Florida on Monday. The company alleges Sun made false statements after it froze his WLFI tokens. The case follows Sun’s own federal lawsuit in California over the same tokens.

World Liberty Alleges Misconduct Over WLFI Token Activity

World Liberty accused Sun and related entities of “gross misconduct” tied to WLFI token purchases. The company claimed Sun used straw buyers to acquire tokens for other investors. It also alleged that Sun may have engaged in short selling during the public launch.

The complaint described “a large, deliberate, short-selling campaign designed to suppress $WLFI’s price.” It linked that campaign to Sun-affiliated wallets that moved $300 million to Binance. World Liberty stated that it froze the tokens under its contractual rights.

The lawsuit said the freeze aimed to “protect” the company and the broader $WLFI community. It argued that Sun knew about the transfer restrictions before the freeze occurred. The filing stated that Sun understood the company’s authority over token transferability.

World Liberty claimed Sun later posted tweets that contained false or defamatory information. The company said Sun knew those statements were untrue because of prior agreements. It alleged that those posts harmed its reputation and business prospects.

The complaint also alleged that Sun hired influencers and used bots to amplify his claims. World Liberty said those actions led to lost business opportunities. Several sections of the filing remain redacted, including details about token purchases.

Justin Sun Challenges Freeze as Legal Battle Escalates

Sun filed his own lawsuit against World Liberty in federal court in California. He alleged that the company unfairly froze his WLFI tokens. His complaint claimed that the freeze restricted his ability to transfer assets.

World Liberty responded in its Florida filing by emphasizing contract terms. The company stated that Sun “knew through his personal experience” about the transfer limits. It argued that Sun’s public statements ignored those agreed terms.

The Florida lawsuit seeks damages, expenses, and a retraction of Sun’s statements. World Liberty requested compensation for reputational harm and related losses. It framed the dispute as a breach of agreement and defamation issue.

The filing repeated that Sun knew about the company’s right to restrict token transfers. It stated that both Sun and the public understood that authority. The court has not yet set a hearing date in the Florida case.

World Liberty filed the complaint in a Florida state court on Monday. Sun’s separate case remains pending in a California federal court. Both cases now proceed in parallel as the dispute over WLFI tokens continues.

Bitcoin (BTC) may rally toward $96,000 by June as institutions absorb more than five times the daily mined BTC supply, according to Capriole Investments founder Charles Edwards.

BTC price averages 24% gains after institutional supply squeeze

In a Monday post, Edwards said institutions have been “slurping up 500%+ of Bitcoin’s daily mined supply.”

BTC/USD daily chart vs. institutional buying market cap. Source: Capriole Investments

Since the April 2024 halving, Bitcoin miners have produced roughly 450 BTC per day, keeping supply growth relatively stable, with its rate of change (ROC, the red line) hovering near 0.0022% as of Monday.

In contrast, institutional buying’s ROC (blue) stood near 0.0139%, showing demand momentum rising more than five times faster than new supply growth.

Renewed ETF inflows and steady BTC purchases by Michael Saylor’s Strategy have helped drive that demand. They added roughly 70,000 BTC in April, more than approximately 13,500 BTC mined during the same period.

US Spot Bitcoin ETF monthly net flows and Strategy’s BTC holding. Source: Glassnode, BitBo.IO

“Every time it’s been this high before, price has shot up over the next week,” said Edwards, adding:

“The average return in prior cases is +24% over the next 1 month from here, that would take us to around $96K.”

Edwards noted that when institutional absorption exceeds 500% of Bitcoin’s daily mined supply, BTC has historically delivered ~24% average gains over the following month, which would put the price around $96,000 by June.

Similar targets have also been shared by analyst Michaël van de Poppe, who said Bitcoin may “easily” reach $95,000, citing renewed demand for spot BTC ETFs and other technical factors.

Bitcoin sharks accumulate over 61,000 BTC in 30 days

Onchain data shows the supply squeeze extends beyond ETFs and corporate buyers.

Bitcoin “sharks,” entities that hold 100–1,000 BTC, have accumulated over 61,000 BTC in the past 30 days, according to data resource Glassnode.

BTC shark net position change vs. price. Source: Glassnode

Smaller cohorts, including “fishes” holding 10–100 BTC and “crabs” holding 1–10 BTC, are also net accumulators during the same period.

BTC fish and crab net position change vs. price. Source: Glassnode

The data shows that both mid-sized investors and retail participants are steadily absorbing supply, raising BTC’s odds of hitting $96,000 over the next few weeks if the demand persists.

Related: Strategy takes Bitcoin buying breather ahead of Q1 earnings report

Still, some analysts warrant caution, citing a prevailing bear flag setup.

In a Monday post, trader Bitbull highlighted $60,000–$62,000 as a potential downside target if BTC corrects from the flag’s upper trendline toward the lower trendline.

BTC/USD daily chart. Source: TradingView/BitBull

A breakdown below the lower trendline may send the BTC price under $50,000.

This article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice or recommendations. All investments and trades carry risk; readers are encouraged to conduct independent research.

Market analysts said Bitcoin (BTC) is “primed for upward momentum” after rallying past $80,000 during the early Asian trading hours on Monday. 

Key takeaways:

• Bitcoin price rises to a 13-week high of $80,610 on Monday amid $462 million in crypto liquidations.
• The CME gap at $84,000 could act as a “magnet” for BTC price.

Bitcoin leads market in fresh May rally

Data from TradingView showed 1.6% daily BTC price gains, with BTC/USD rising as high as $80,610 for the first time since Jan. 31.

BTC/USD one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Ether (ETH), the largest altcoin by market capitalization, was trading at $2,367 at the time of writing, up 2% over the last 24 hours. Fourth-place XRP (XRP) has gained nearly 2% over the last day to trade just above $1.41.

Dogecoin (DOGE) climbed the most among the top 10 cryptocurrencies, up 3.5% over the same period.

Related: BTC price can ‘easily’ hit $95K: Five things to know in Bitcoin this week

As a result, the global crypto market capitalization is up 1.6% over the last day toward $2.65 trillion on Monday.

Performance of top-cap cryptocurrencies: Source: CoinMarketCap

“Bitcoin looks primed for upwards momentum,” MN Capital founder Michael van de Poppe said in an X post on Monday. 

The analyst added that a “breakout above $79K opens the opportunities” toward the $86,000-88,000 resistance zone and later to $90,000.

BTC/USD daily chart. Source: X/Michael van de Poppe

“It’s a disbelief rally” for Bitcoin, crypto analyst Matthew Hyland said in response to Bitcoin’s latest push above $80,000, adding:

“The many calling for $60K and below will be the ones flipping bullish late above $90K.”

Bitcoin’s rally is accompanied by significant short liquidations across the crypto market totaling $452 million over the last 24 hours, signaling intense buying by traders.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin taker buy volume saw “two consecutive large hourly buy-volume spikes on Binance of approximately $1.19 billion and $792 million,” CryptoQuant analyst Amr Taha said in a Quicktake note on Monday, adding:

“When this type of volume appears near a major breakout level, it often shows that traders are not waiting for a pullback; instead, they are chasing confirmation as the price moves higher.”

Bitcoin taker buy volume on Binance. Source: CryptoQuant

BTC bulls target $84,000 next

As Cointelegraph reported, Bitcoin bulls were required to push above $80,000 to sustain the upward momentum.

Bitcoin’s 5.5% rally over the last five days saw the BTC/USD pair reclaim key support levels, including the true market mean at $77,500 and the short-term holder cost basis around $78,000. 

Traders now shifted their focus to the CME gap at $84,000, formed in early February.

BTC/USD four-hour chart. Source: X/AlphaBTC

Bitcoin is on “its way to close the previous large gap from $84K,” trader Daan Crypto Trades said in a Monday post on X, adding

“Good to mark these levels on your chart as they could act as ‘magnets’ and local reversal zones if price trades close/into them.”

Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s 30-day liquidation map reveals that a break above $84,000 would trigger over $2.85 billion worth of leveraged short liquidations across all exchanges.

Bitcoin exchange liquidation map. Source: CoinGlass

This article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice or recommendations. All investments and trades carry risk; readers are encouraged to conduct independent research.

TLDR:

• Binance PAXG reserves surged 344%, climbing from 25,301 tokens in early 2025 to a peak of 133,334 by April 2026.
  
• Physical gold prices rose from $2,700 in early 2025 to $4,650, running parallel to the spike in tokenized gold holdings.
  
• JPMorgan targets $6,300 and Goldman Sachs projects $5,400 for gold by year-end 2026 despite the recent price correction.
  
• Crypto investors are treating PAXG as a long-term hedge, mirroring institutional safe-haven strategies in traditional markets.
  

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PAXG reserves on Binance have recorded a dramatic 344% growth between early 2025 and May 2026. This surge in tokenized gold accumulation mirrors a historic rally in physical gold prices.

Crypto investors appear to be actively positioning themselves against macroeconomic risks. Meanwhile, top Wall Street institutions maintain bullish targets for gold through the end of 2026.

The parallel movements across both markets reflect a clear shift in how digital asset holders manage long-term value.

Binance PAXG Reserves Climb to Record Levels

Binance’s tokenized gold holdings stood at just 25,301.5 PAXG tokens in early 2025. By early April 2026, that figure climbed sharply to a peak of 133,334.1 tokens.

As of early May 2026, reserves have settled at 112,385.4 tokens. The overall growth from start to peak represents a 344% increase over roughly 15 months.

This accumulation trend developed alongside a steep rise in physical gold prices. Spot gold moved from $2,700 per ounce in early 2025 to $4,650 currently.

The two trends together point to a broader risk-hedging strategy taking shape within the crypto market. Investors appear to be using PAXG as a long-term store of value rather than a short-term trading position.

Cryptoquant analyst CryptoOnchain noted on X that the growth in Binance’s PAXG reserves aligns closely with bullish institutional forecasts for gold.

According to the analyst, crypto investors are actively hedging risks by treating tokenized gold as a long-term hold.

This behavior mirrors strategies more commonly seen in traditional commodity markets. The data from CryptoQuant supports this reading.

PAXG, issued by Paxos Trust Company, is an ERC-20 token backed one-to-one by physical gold bars. Each token represents one fine troy ounce held in LBMA-accredited vaults.

The token allows fractional ownership without the logistics of physical storage. Its presence on Binance makes it one of the most accessible forms of tokenized gold for retail and institutional traders.

Wall Street Targets Remain Bullish Despite Recent Gold Correction

Gold reached an all-time high of $5,589 per ounce in January 2026 before pulling back. Prices have since corrected into the $4,800 to $4,900 range.

However, major institutions have not revised their bullish outlook in response to the dip. JPMorgan has set a year-end 2026 target of $6,300, while Goldman Sachs projects $5,400.

Both banks cite central bank accumulation and geopolitical hedging as the main drivers. These factors have remained consistent throughout the current bull cycle.

The correction, in their view, represents a buying opportunity rather than a trend reversal. Institutional demand continues to absorb available supply at lower price levels.

The structural forces supporting gold remain unchanged in the current macro environment. Persistent geopolitical tensions and ongoing currency risks continue to push investors toward safe-haven assets.

Tokenized gold has become a practical bridge between traditional hedging and digital asset portfolios. The growth in Binance’s PAXG reserves is one measurable outcome of this shift.

As gold markets head further into 2026, both on-chain data and Wall Street forecasts point in the same direction. The alignment between PAXG reserve growth and institutional price targets suggests a coordinated rotation into hard assets.

Whether through physical bullion, ETFs, or tokenized alternatives, the appetite for gold exposure remains strong across investor segments.

Morgan Stanley head of digital asset strategy Amy Oldenburg said at the Bitcoin 2026 Conference in Las Vegas that Bitcoin on US bank balance sheets is “not totally out of the question,” citing 16 months of regulatory progress while warning that Basel capital rules and Fed guidance still stand in the way.

Morgan Stanley’s Amy Oldenburg said at the Bitcoin 2026 Conference on May 3 that direct Bitcoin holdings are not imminent but regulatory progress has made the scenario more plausible. “I think if we continue to see the progress that we’ve made over the last 16 months or so in regulatory, that that’s something that you may see going forward. It’s not totally out of the question,” she said.

CoinCentral reported that Oldenburg identified two conditions: the Basel Committee must revise its 1,250% risk-weight for Bitcoin, and the Federal Reserve must provide examiners a clear framework for Bitcoin exposure.

The Basel Committee said in February 2026 it had expedited a targeted review of its crypto standards.

As crypto.news reported, Morgan Stanley launched MSBT on April 8 as the first spot Bitcoin ETF issued directly by a major US commercial bank, with Coinbase Custody and BNY Mellon serving as dual custodians.

As crypto.news documented, MSBT attracted $103 million in net inflows within eight days of launch, with 80% of exposure coming through self-directed channels and zero advisor involvement. Oldenburg said the slow advisor adoption reflects an education gap the bank is now addressing through internal training programs.

As crypto.news tracked, Morgan Stanley is pursuing an OCC digital trust charter for direct crypto custody and spot trading, and has filed separately for Ethereum and Solana trusts, with retail crypto trading on E*Trade targeted for the first half of 2026.

Bitcoin (BTC) reached a new three-month high of $80,500 on Monday, testing the level for the first time since Jan. 31. The rally above $80,000 puts the price just below short-term holders’ cost basis of $81,486, the next dynamic resistance level. For the rally to continue, a daily close above this level is key to securing $80,000 as support. 

A rally to $81,500 may lock in the trend

Bitcoin’s rally to $80,000 places the price directly under the short-term holder’s realized price of $81,486. This metric reflects the average cost of coins moved over the last 155 days and indicates where recent buyers have flipped from loss to profit.

A daily close above $81,500 would return these holders to profit and reduce sell-side pressure. According to crypto analyst Crazyyblockk, the short-term holder losses have narrowed to about -2.17%, showing that the overhead supply band is thinning. The long-term holders (LTHs) hold near +27% profit and are not distributing aggressively.

Bitcoin LTH/STH SOPR ratio. Source: CryptoQuant

The spent-output profit ratio (SOPR), which tracks whether coins are spent at a profit or a loss, has climbed to 1.097 from 0.99. This indicates the coins are being spent in profit again, led by long-term holders. 

The exchange inflow data aligns with that shift. Around 97.2% of recent deposits came from short-term holders, with wallets holding 1 to 1,000 BTC contributing roughly 58%.

BTC inflows peaked at 35,649 BTC on April 24 and dropped to 3,895 BTC by May 3. That compression reduces immediate sell pressure and supports the case for holding at $80,000 once the cost basis flips.

Related: Bitcoin in ‘disbelief rally’ as traders spot $84K BTC price target

BTC exchange supply builds below $80,000

BTC exchange flow data tracked by Bitcoin researcher Axel Adler Jr shows 8,512 BTC in net inflows over recent days, with spikes on April 27 and April 30. The price absorbed that supply without a sharp downside, signaling an active BTC demand.

Bitcoin exchange netflows for all exchanges. Source: CryptoQuant

The BTC flows have since cooled to near-neutral at 269 BTC between May 1 and May 3. The short-term averages stay positive, while the longer-term averages sit near zero, keeping the move contained to a short impulse.

BTC exchange reserves increased by 5,773 BTC week over week to 2,685,541 BTC, before easing slightly after April 30. Adler Jr explained that the coins are currently sitting on exchanges without aggressive selling, forming a supply overhang that could turn into pressure if demand slows.

Meanwhile, crypto trader Ardi highlighted that BTC is retesting breakout liquidity near $79,600. The trader said that holding this level keeps the move intact toward the next supply zone near $84,000. 

BTC/USDT analysis by Ardi. Source: X

A breakdown below $80,000 shifts focus to the new-money cost basis near $76,500 and increases the likelihood of a failed breakout setup.

Related: BTC price can ‘easily’ hit $95K: Five things to know in Bitcoin this week

This article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and is intended for informational purposes only. It does not constitute investment advice or recommendations. All investments and trades carry risk; readers are encouraged to conduct independent research.

Pi Network co-founder Dr. Chengdiao Fan is set to speak at Consensus 2026 in Miami on May 6, delivering a session titled “Aligning Web3, AI, and Blockchain for Utility” at the Convergence Stage, six days before Protocol 23 brings full smart contracts to the Pi blockchain on May 11.

Pi Network’s official X account confirmed that Dr. Fan will speak May 6 from 11:15 to 11:35 AM EDT at the Convergence Stage. Her presentation argues that as AI lowers the barriers to building products, competition increasingly centres on authentic human data, verified user acquisition, and trusted participation.

This is the infrastructure Pi has been building since 2019. As crypto.news reported, Pi Network is an official sponsor of Consensus 2026, with co-founder Nicolas Kokkalis joining a May 7 panel titled “How to Prove You’re Human in an AI World (Without Doxing Yourself).”

As crypto.news documented, Protocol 23 is scheduled for May 11, six days after Consensus 2026 closes, introducing full smart contract functionality and unlocking decentralised applications, exchanges, and real-world asset tokenisation on Pi for the first time. The Consensus timing creates maximum public visibility immediately before launch.

As crypto.news tracked, PI rose more than 5% on April 29 as both founders were confirmed for Consensus 2026, with the token near $0.187 entering conference week. The official minepi.com blog confirmed full schedule details and session descriptions for both founders.

The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) plans to pilot trading of tokenized securities in July with a goal of a full service launch in October.

The post-trade market infrastructure giant said Monday that more than 50 TradFi and DeFi firms will play a role in the design and deployment of the service. That DTCC Industry Working Group includes Alpaca, Anchorage Digital, BitGo Bank & Trust, BlackRock, Circle and Fireblocks, along with some of the biggest banks in the country.

Source: DTCC

DTCC, which currently custodies $114 trillion in liquid assets from stocks to exchange-traded funds, said it expects the service will enable tokenization of real-world assets that provide the same entitlements, investor protections and ownership rights as the assets held in traditional form.

In December, DTCC received permission from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to offer tokenization services on pre-approved blockchains for three years.

“Although this program is a pilot subject to various operational limitations, it marks a significant incremental step in moving markets onchain,” SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce said at the time.

Related: Tokenized assets climb to $23.6B as investors seek always-on markets

While the pilot phase will test limited production trades, the full service is expected to tokenize a specific set of some of the most-widely traded liquid assets, including exchange-traded funds tracking major indexes, Russell 1000 constituents, US Treasury bills, bonds and notes, according to DTCC’s announcement.

Tokenized RWA market grows, but remains concentrated

The value of tokenized real-world assets have surged 66% in 2026, with funds, gold and equities driving growth across public blockchains.

Data from the analytics platform RWA.xyz show that tokenized stocks alone expanded from $375.4 million on May 3, 2025, to about $1.21 billion on May 3, 2026. Kraken’s xStocks platform has emerged as one of the more visible entrants, reporting more than $25 billion in cumulative trading volume since launching last year.

In January, the New York Stock Exchange and its parent company, the Intercontinental Exchange, announced the development of a new platform to trade tokenized stocks and ETFs. The platform, subject to regulatory approvals, is intended to underpin a new NYSE trading venue for tokenized securities.

Tokenized stocks have recently topped $1.2 billion in value. Source: RWA.xyz

Rather than creating a parallel crypto-native marketplace, the venue is designed to operate within existing US market rules while leveraging blockchain-based settlement infrastructure.

Both NYSE Group and Kraken’s parent, Payward, are part of the DTCC Industry Working Group announced Monday.

In March, TD Securities’ Reid Noch, vice president for electronic trading, said tokenization is beginning to carry real implications for market structure, pointing to the NYSE’s proposed tokenized equities alternative trading system as a key development.

Noch described the structure as closer to a “2.0” market shift, where custody and settlement would remain anchored to the DTCC, while trading would comply with National Best Bid and Offer requirements.

Magazine: How to fix suspected insider trading on Polymarket and Kalshi

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