TLDR:

• Tom Lee warned of a possible bear market while BitMine continued buying Ethereum during the decline
• BitMine recently acquired another 60,000 ETH through wallets linked to Kraken and BitGo
• Ethereum traded near $2,093 while remaining roughly 57% below its reported 2025 peak
• BitMine’s Ethereum treasury now exceeds 5.2 million ETH, equal to 4.37% of supply

Tom Lee’s latest bear market warning has reignited debate across the crypto market. The comments surfaced as BitMine continued expanding its Ethereum treasury despite prolonged ETH weakness.

Blockchain tracking data showed the firm recently acquired another 60,000 ETH through wallets linked to Kraken and BitGo. The move arrived while Ethereum traded more than 50% below its reported 2025 peak.

Tom Lee Bear Market Warning Puts Ethereum Strategy in Focus

Crypto Tony shared Lee’s warning on X, drawing immediate attention from traders monitoring broader market conditions. The discussion intensified because BitMine has remained aggressive with Ethereum accumulation.

BitMine launched its Ethereum treasury strategy in July 2025 following a $250 million private placement. The company later disclosed holdings of 163,142 ETH valued near $500 million at the time.

Since then, the firm has steadily expanded its position during periods of market weakness. Recent blockchain activity tracked by Lookonchain pointed to another 60,000 ETH purchase worth roughly $126 million.

The transactions reportedly moved through newly created wallets connected to Kraken and BitGo infrastructure. Blockchain investigator EmberCN also linked the transfers to BitMine’s treasury activity.

The latest acquisition pushed BitMine’s reported Ethereum holdings above 5.2 million ETH. That figure represents about 4.37% of Ethereum’s circulating supply.

Lee has continued defending the treasury strategy during the decline. According to the report, he viewed Ethereum prices below $2,200 as an attractive accumulation zone.

BitMine ETH Treasury Expands Despite Ethereum Market Weakness

Ethereum traded near $2,093 during the latest market session according to TradingView data. The asset remained roughly 57% below its reported 2025 high.

BitMine previously indicated it would slow future Ethereum purchases during May. However, the company did not signal an end to the treasury plan.

The firm still aims to control 5% of Ethereum’s total supply before December. That target has kept attention fixed on BitMine’s accumulation pace.

Meanwhile, traders continue monitoring Ethereum’s technical structure. Market watchers highlighted a rising wedge formation during the recent recovery attempt.

Some technical setups referenced in the report pointed toward possible downside near $1,600 if support levels fail. A move lower could increase unrealized losses tied to BitMine’s holdings.

Based on reported treasury data, estimated paper losses could approach $10.1 billion depending on Ethereum market prices. The calculation used an average acquisition cost near $3,513 across 5.28 million ETH.

At the same time, rebound scenarios remain active across trading discussions. Analysts tracking the wedge formation identified $2,530 near the 200-day moving average as a resistance level if buyers regain momentum.

Cryptocurrency markets staged a notable recovery, adding roughly $75 billion to total market capitalization after a Saturday update from U.S. President Donald Trump suggested progress toward a peace agreement with Iran and regional partners. The president’s remarks, published on Truth Social, described an agreement that was “largely negotiated” and subject to finalization among the United States, Iran, and a coalition of Middle Eastern states.

The post named Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan and Bahrain as participants in the talks. It also carried a bold assertion about finalization and the future opening of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint whose status has historically influenced global energy costs and risk appetite across asset classes, including crypto.

“An agreement has been largely negotiated, subject to finalization between the United States of America, the Islamic Republic of Iran, and the various other countries, as listed,” he said. His post said: “Final aspects and details of the deal are currently being discussed and will be announced shortly. In addition to many other elements of the agreement, the Strait of Hormuz will be opened.”

The prospect of reopening Hormuz is tied closely to energy price dynamics, which have long weighed on high-risk assets such as cryptocurrencies. In recent weeks, investors have fretted that energy-market volatility would spill over into risk assets, helping explain a dampened crypto mood even as a ceasefire agreement in the region held tentative ground.

Key takeaways

• Crypto markets gained roughly $75 billion in total market capitalization following Trump’s peace-talk update, signaling renewed risk-on sentiment on negotiations’ potential?
• The proposed deal would involve the United States, Iran and a bloc of Middle Eastern countries, with an emphasis on reopening the Strait of Hormuz to improve energy flow and prices.
• Bitcoin experienced intra-day volatility, slipping to a five-week low near $74,250 on Saturday before bouncing toward the $77,000 area, then easing to around $76,800, with ongoing debates about macro and energy-linked risk appetite influencing moves.
• Bitcoin remains substantially below its October peak, down about 39%, highlighting the still-fragile risk-off backdrop even as headlines shift sentiment.
• Concurrent remarks from regional and U.S. officials underscored ongoing political complexity, with seen calls for denuclearization and open straits echoing through markets’ mood.

Geopolitics, energy sensitivity and crypto appetite

The Saturday update arrives at a moment when the broader ceasefire between Washington and Tehran has proved fragile since early April, despite several attempts to formalize a durable agreement. The geopolitical tension there has consistently fed energy-price volatility, a well-known driver of crypto risk appetite. By signaling a pathway to open strategic waterways like the Strait of Hormuz, Trump’s message touches on a key fulcrum for both traditional markets and digital assets.

During a visit to India, U.S. officials reiterated that security guarantees and non-proliferation considerations remain central to any eventual accord. The communications underscored the long arc of negotiations and the precarious path to finalization, a backdrop that has historically tempered appetite for high-volatility assets such as Bitcoin and altcoins.

From a market structure perspective, a less volatile energy backdrop could help soothe risk-off pressures that have weighed on crypto equities and tokens in recent months. If Hormuz operations are stabilized and energy shipments normalize, investors may reallocate capital toward higher-risk assets, including broadly diversified crypto bets, though the exact timing and scale of any shift remain uncertain.

Bitcoin price action and the broader market context

Bitcoin’s price action reflected a risk-off-to-risk-on tug-of-war around the weekend. The weekly low near $74,250 marked a five-week bottom as traders weighed geopolitical headlines and macro indicators. In early Sunday trading, BTC touched the 50-day exponential moving average around $77,000, a level traders often see as a short-term gauge of trend resilience. The price subsequently eased to roughly $76,800 as liquidity dynamics and risk sentiment evolved through the session.

From a longer-term perspective, Bitcoin remains significantly below its late-October peak, with a drawdown exceeding 39%. The current bounce has not yet signaled a durable reversal, and analysts continue to watch major support and resistance thresholds around $70,000 and the $80,000 zone for any decisive directional shift.

Brokerage and exchange commentary during the period has underscored that the macro environment—comprising energy price trajectories, global inflation readings, and the pace of traditional market equities—continues to color crypto flows. While the weekend rebound suggests a temporary relief rally tied to geopolitical headlines, investors remain cautious about the durability of any move higher without clearer signs of policy alignment or more concrete progress toward regional de-escalation.

What to watch next

Markets will be keenly attuned to further developments around the Iran talks and any government disclosures about the status of negotiations. The exact terms, sequencing of steps, and verification mechanisms will shape how energy markets respond, which in turn feeds back into crypto demand and liquidity. Traders should monitor:

• Official confirmations on the terms of any peace agreement and the timeline for implementing open maritime routes.
• Energy price trajectories and any stabilization in shipping costs that could alter risk appetite across asset classes.
• Comments from policymakers and central banks that could recalibrate inflation expectations and liquidity conditions.
• Technical levels for Bitcoin and major altcoins, especially near the $70,000 support zone and the $82,000–$85,000 resistance band that has historically constrained upside momentum.

In the near term, investors will weigh the potential for a de-escalation in Middle East tensions against the durability of a broader macro recovery. The outcome could determine whether crypto markets resume a more pronounced upcycle or revert to a cautious stance as traders reassess risk premiums across asset classes.

As always, readers should seek balanced signals: geopolitical easing can reduce volatility, but structural shifts in energy markets and global liquidity will ultimately shape how quickly crypto markets regain momentum. The coming weeks will be telling as more details emerge from the negotiating table and as markets parse any credible milestones toward a finalized accord.

For now, the week’s chatter underscores a persistent truth for crypto traders: geopolitical risk remains a meaningful driver of sentiment, even as technologists, investors, and miners continue to pursue longer-term narratives around adoption, infrastructure, and regulation. Watch how policymakers translate words into actions, and how energy-market signals align with risk appetite to determine the path forward for digital assets.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin responded to growing criticisms of the Ethereum Foundation’s role in the Ethereum ecosystem, pushing back against critics who want the organization to take a more active role in supporting token prices and marketing.

Buterin said the Foundation will continue to focus on promoting censorship-resistance, open source software code, long-range research, cybersecurity, and decentralization of the Ethereum Protocol, as outlined in its mandate. He said:

“EF is not a ‘center of Ethereum’, rather EF is ‘one node, with a defined purpose, alongside other nodes’. We have always said that the EF should be the latter, but many in the Ethereum ecosystem, and even within the EF, wanted us to be the former. 

The Ethereum Foundation’s mandate was published in March 2026. Source: Ethereum Foundation

“Now, we are taking action to ensure that we will be the latter,” he continued, adding that the Ethereum Foundation seeks to strengthen Ethereum’s cybersecurity and code base but not necessarily compete with high-throughput chains or scale to 1 million transactions per second.

The comments follow several large ETH holders selling their entire ETH position and high-profile departures from the Ethereum Foundation, as the current price of the cryptocurrency, about $2,094, sits more than 50% below its all-time high of nearly $5,000 reached in August 2025.

“The EF has only about 0.16% of all ETH,” he said, noting that it is common for other foundations to hold 10-50% of their native tokens.

Related: Blockchain researcher defends Ethereum Foundation, says it’s doing ‘exactly’ its job

Under pressure amid falling token price

“I think Ethereum’s original sin was not considering tokenomics with every move it made from Dencun on,” cryptocurrency journalist Laura Shin said.

The Dencun upgrade was a major protocol update released in March 2024, which significantly reduced network fees for layer-2 transactions and led to a subsequent collapse in Ethereum’s base layer revenue.

Fees on the Ethereum layer-1 blockchain network fell significantly after the Dencun upgrade in March 2024. Source: Token Terminal

Most investors “don’t want to believe in something that is not also putting up points on the scoreboard,” Shin said about ETH.

Buterin said on Sunday that the Foundation would focus on “longevity” and stretch its funds to finance research, meaning it would sell less ETH in the future. 

In May, the Foundation unstaked 21,270 ETH from the Lido liquid staking platform, as part of its treasury strategy.

Unstaking ETH means those holdings will no longer generate yield for the Ethereum Foundation, but it is not a confirmation that the organization will sell those tokens.

Magazine: Why is Ethereum Foundation selling? BTC futures warning signs: Market Moves

TLDR:

• Alphractal linked Bitcoin rallies to improving Fed liquidity trends across multiple market cycles
• Fed RRP declines and Treasury spending continue shaping crypto market liquidity conditions
• VirtualBacon challenged expectations of a delayed Bitcoin bear market capitulation phase
• Bitcoin’s 200-week SMA near $61K remains a closely watched technical market level

Bitcoin liquidity conditions tied to Federal Reserve cash flows are gaining attention across crypto markets. New analysis from Alphractal linked Bitcoin price cycles to changes in Fed liquidity plumbing over the past several years.

The data focused on the Federal Reserve’s Reverse Repo Facility and Treasury General Account activity. The discussion emerged as Bitcoin traded near $76,500 while investors debated whether deeper downside remained ahead.

Bitcoin Liquidity Data Tracks Fed RRP and TGA Trends

Alphractal shared a breakdown showing how Fed liquidity conditions aligned with Bitcoin market cycles since 2020. The firm focused on the interaction between the Reverse Repo Facility, known as RRP, and the Treasury General Account.

According to the thread, rising liquidity often supported Bitcoin rallies across previous cycles. Tightening liquidity conditions frequently appeared before major crypto market corrections.

The report pointed to the 2020 and 2021 market expansion period. During that phase, combined RRP and TGA balances reportedly climbed from roughly $2 trillion to $7 trillion while Bitcoin rose from $10,000 to $69,000.

The same framework showed a reversal during 2022. Alphractal stated that aggressive liquidity tightening preceded Bitcoin’s decline from $69,000 to nearly $15,500 by several weeks.

The report also tracked conditions through 2023 and 2024. During that period, money market funds rotated into Treasury bills while the RRP facility steadily declined.

Alphractal said improving liquidity conditions appeared before Bitcoin rebounded toward $73,000. The post also referenced Bitcoin’s reported October 2025 peak near $126,200, noting liquidity indicators weakened months earlier.

Bitcoin Market Debate Shifts Toward Bear Market Timing

The liquidity discussion gained traction alongside a separate market thread from VirtualBacon focused on Bitcoin bear market bottoms. The post challenged the widely repeated expectation of a final capitulation event later in the cycle.

VirtualBacon compared prior Bitcoin downturns from 2015, 2018, and 2022. According to the thread, only the 2022 cycle ended with a sharp collapse near the final stage of the bear market.

The post argued that earlier cycles bottomed much sooner. In both 2015 and 2019, Bitcoin reportedly reached lows near its first major correction before stabilizing later.

VirtualBacon also highlighted Bitcoin’s 200-week simple moving average as a recurring market support zone. The thread placed the indicator near $61,000 while projecting it could rise toward $63,000 or $64,000 within two months.

Meanwhile, Alphractal noted current liquidity conditions remain mixed. The report cited a Federal Reserve rate range between 3.5% and 3.75%, a 3.8% CPI reading, and a stronger U.S. dollar index.

Despite those conditions, the thread stated Treasury spending and declining RRP balances continue adding liquidity beneath headline tightening measures. The report linked those trends to prior Bitcoin recoveries during fear-driven market periods.

The online gambling industry has long been shaped by a small group of established names. Bet365 and 888casino are two of the biggest. Both have spent decades building loyal user bases, wide game libraries, and strong sportsbook products. They are often the first names that come up when players look for a trusted place to bet online.

But the industry is changing. A new wave of crypto-first casinos is starting to gain ground. One name getting attention is ZunaBet, a platform that launched in 2026 and is already being talked about as a serious challenger. With over 11,000 games, support for more than 20 cryptocurrencies, a $5,000 welcome bonus, and a gamified loyalty program built around a dragon evolution theme, ZunaBet is taking a different approach to what an online casino can be.

This article looks at how Bet365 and 888casino compare, and where ZunaBet fits into the picture as a newer, crypto-focused option built for a different kind of player.

Bet365 and 888casino: The Traditional Giants

Bet365 is one of the most recognised names in online betting. It started as a sportsbook and has grown into a full gambling platform with casino games, poker, bingo, and live dealer options. It is known for its in-play betting, deep sports markets, and a strong mobile app. Bet365 operates under licenses in multiple regulated markets and mostly works with fiat currency. Players deposit using debit cards, bank transfers, and a small number of e-wallets.

888casino has been around even longer. It launched in 1997 and is one of the original online casinos. It has a strong reputation for safe play, a polished casino product, and a steady stream of promotions. Like Bet365, it focuses on fiat payment methods and operates under strict regulatory frameworks in markets like the UK, Spain, and parts of the United States.

Both platforms are solid, well-known, and dependable. But they were built for an earlier era of online gambling, one where credit cards and bank transfers were the main way to play. They have been slow to adopt crypto, slow to build gamified loyalty systems, and slow to expand into newer areas like esports betting at scale.

ZunaBet: The New Challenger

ZunaBet launched in 2026 and is owned by Strathvale Group Ltd. It operates under an Anjouan gaming license and is run by a team with more than 20 years of combined experience in the industry. From day one, it was built as a crypto-first platform, which sets it apart from most of the older brands.

The casino offers 11,294 games from 63 providers, including Pragmatic Play, Hacksaw Gaming, Yggdrasil, BGaming, and Evolution. That puts its library among the largest in the crypto casino space. Players get access to slots, RNG table games, and live dealer games, with the slot library making up the bulk of the offering.

On the sportsbook side, ZunaBet covers all the major global sports, including football, basketball, tennis, and NHL. It also runs a full esports book covering CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends, and Valorant. Virtual sports and combat sports round out the offering. This makes it a true hybrid platform that combines casino and sportsbook in one place.

Crypto-First vs Traditional Payments

The biggest difference between ZunaBet and platforms like Bet365 or 888casino is how players move money in and out.

Bet365 and 888casino mainly work with fiat. That means debit cards, bank transfers, and e-wallets. These methods are familiar, but they come with delays, fees, and limits set by banks and payment processors. Withdrawals can take days. Some markets have restrictions on what cards can be used for gambling.

ZunaBet takes a different path. It supports more than 20 cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT across multiple chains, Solana, Dogecoin, Cardano, and XRP. The platform does not charge processing fees, and withdrawals are fast. For players who already hold crypto, this means they can deposit and play in minutes, and withdraw winnings without waiting for bank approval.

This crypto-first setup also makes ZunaBet more accessible to a global audience. Players in regions where card-based gambling is restricted can still use crypto to play. For a new generation of players who are already comfortable with digital wallets, this is a more natural fit than the traditional banking route.

Loyalty Programs: Standard VIP vs Dragon Evolution

Loyalty programs are another area where the gap shows.

Bet365 and 888casino offer standard VIP and rewards systems. Players earn points or status based on how much they wager, and benefits include cashback, free spins, and access to exclusive promotions. These programs work, but they tend to look the same across most traditional platforms.

ZunaBet has built something different. Its loyalty program is themed around a dragon evolution system with six tiers: Squire, Warden, Champion, Divine, Knight, and Ultimate. Each tier offers more rakeback, starting at 1% and going up to 20% at the top level. Along the way, players unlock tier-based free spins, with up to 1,000 spins available at higher tiers. There is also VIP club access, double wheel spins, and a gamified mascot called Zuno that ties the whole experience together.

The 20% rakeback at the top tier is high for the industry and gives serious players a real reason to climb. The gamified design also makes the journey feel more engaging than ticking off boxes on a standard VIP ladder.

Welcome Bonus and First Impressions

First-time players also see a clear difference. 888casino and Bet365 offer welcome bonuses, but these are usually tied to a single deposit and come with strict wagering rules.

ZunaBet offers a welcome package worth up to $5,000 plus 75 free spins, spread across three deposits. The first deposit gets a 100% match up to $2,000 plus 25 spins. The second gets a 50% match up to $1,500 plus 25 spins. The third gets another 100% match up to $1,500 plus 25 spins. The total works out to a 250% bonus across three deposits, which is more generous than what most traditional casinos offer.

Why ZunaBet Stands Out

ZunaBet is not trying to be the next Bet365 or 888casino. It is going after a different kind of player. Someone who already uses crypto, wants fast payouts, enjoys gamified rewards, and is looking for a platform that offers both casino and sportsbook in one place.

The combination of 11,000+ games, 20+ cryptocurrencies, a sportsbook with deep esports coverage, and a loyalty program that actually feels like a game makes ZunaBet feel built for where the industry is going, not where it has been.

The Future of Online Casinos

Bet365 and 888casino will keep their place in the market. They have strong brands, loyal users, and proven products. But they were built for an older model of online gambling.

ZunaBet represents what the next generation of players are looking for. Crypto payments, huge game libraries, integrated sportsbooks, and loyalty programs that feel like part of the game itself. It is still new, but it is already drawing attention as one of the most exciting platforms to launch in years. For players who want something that fits the way they already use the internet and manage their money, ZunaBet looks like the future of online casinos.

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.

TLDR:

• Larry Fink renewed calls for SEC approval of tokenized stocks and blockchain-based bond markets.
• BlackRock comments increased focus on tokenized securities and regulated blockchain settlement systems.
• SEC oversight remains the main barrier to broader public trading of tokenized financial assets.
• Crypto discussions intensified after BlackRock linked blockchain systems with traditional financial markets.

BlackRock CEO Larry Fink once again urges U.S. regulators to expedite tokenized stocks and bonds. 

His remarks resonated right away in the cryptocurrency and traditional finance spheres, given the fact that BlackRock has over $11 trillion under management. 

The comments also highlighted blockchain settlement systems and the regulation of digital securities. Regulatory approval is a key element to wider adoption of tokenized assets, which are still subject to oversight by the SEC. 

BlackRock CEO Pushes SEC on Tokenized Stocks and Bonds

Larry Fink said the SEC should move rapidly on tokenized bonds and stocks during recent public remarks. The statement circulated widely after social media post from Crypto Rover amplified the comments.

The BlackRock CEO linked tokenization to the future structure of financial markets. His comments placed blockchain settlement and digital ownership records back into the policy spotlight.

Tokenization converts ownership records into blockchain-based digital assets. Under that structure, stocks and bonds can move through distributed ledger systems instead of traditional databases.

Several large financial firms have already explored tokenized products. BlackRock has also expanded its digital asset presence through crypto exchange-traded funds and tokenized treasury products.

According to the post shared by BankXRP, Fink’s comments drew immediate reactions from crypto traders. Discussions focused on how traditional finance firms may increasingly adopt blockchain infrastructure.

The SEC remains responsible for regulating securities products in the United States. Any approval involving tokenized securities would still require compliance with custody, reporting, and investor protection rules.

SEC Approval Remains Central to Tokenized Asset Expansion

The SEC has not approved large-scale public trading of tokenized stocks and bonds. Current discussions still center on how blockchain systems can operate within existing securities laws.

Traditional financial firms continue testing blockchain settlement tools behind closed networks. However, public market access for tokenized securities still depends on regulatory clarity.

BlackRock’s growing involvement in digital assets has kept the company near the center of crypto market discussions. Its spot crypto ETF products already connected institutional investors with blockchain-related exposure.

The tokenization debate also affects crypto exchanges and custodians. Regulated platforms may eventually support tokenized securities if the SEC establishes clear operating frameworks.

Settlement speed remains one of the main points behind tokenization efforts. Blockchain systems can reduce delays tied to traditional clearing and reconciliation processes.

At the same time, regulators continue reviewing market risks linked to digital securities infrastructure. Oversight standards for reporting, compliance, and asset custody remain under discussion.

Fink’s remarks added pressure to an already active regulatory debate. The discussion now extends beyond crypto-native firms into mainstream financial institutions and asset managers.