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The crypto market is hovering just above a critical threshold on Wednesday. Bitcoin (BTC) failed to break the $78,000 resistance on Tuesday and is now stuck above the $75,000 support, but below $76,000. That distinction is not trivial. Bitmine Chairman Tom Lee had said the end of the bear market could only be confirmed if BTC closed May above $76,000. For now, we are below that line. Ethereum is not showing a very different picture. After being rejected from the $2,150 resistance on Tuesday, ETH slipped toward the $2,000 support. On Wednesday morning, it bounced from $2,050 and was trading around $2,080. The technical outlook, however, raises doubts. ETH has broken the uptrend line it had held since February, opening the door to deeper losses.AI Tokens Give Back Their GainsAfter Tuesday’s rally, closely watched AI tokens RENDER, FET and NEAR lost between 1% and 3% since midnight. The move has not created broad panic, but the overall altcoin picture remains cautious.Two exceptions stand out. Hyperliquid’s HYPE token rose 5.5% after hitting a record high this week. Monero also gained 5%, retesting the $400 level. Both have become bright spots in an otherwise thin altcoin market in recent days.The broader picture contrasts with equities. S&P 500 and Nasdaq 100 futures tested record levels on Wednesday, rising around 0.3%. As U.S. stocks continue to diverge from crypto, questions about the correlation between these two asset classes are moving back to the top of the agenda.There Is a Quiet Warning in FuturesAfter the holiday weekend, futures trading volumes rose 54% to $201 billion on a 24-hour basis, while liquidations jumped 87%. These large percentage increases can primarily be explained by the end of the holiday lull; they do not necessarily reflect a structural shift.Still, there is a more striking picture in the background. Bitcoin fell 1% over the past 24 hours, while open interest climbed from 704,000 BTC to 740,000 BTC. When price falls while open interest rises, the combination is usually interpreted as confirmation of a downtrend. Negative cumulative volume delta (CVD) also shows that market participants are selling aggressively, while funding rates remain neutral for now.There is also a concerning signal on the Ethereum side. ETH open interest has reached an all-time high of 15.57 million ETH. When this appears alongside negative CVD, it may suggest that traders are positioning for deeper price declines.Zcash (ZEC) is showing the opposite setup. Open interest in ZEC futures has fallen for a third consecutive day, while the price has dropped to $564. When price and open interest decline at the same time, it is often driven by the closing of existing long positions rather than the opening of new short positions.Deribit Data Points to Downside BetsBitcoin’s 30-day implied volatility index, BVIV, rose by around 3% to 37.35, breaking a 10-day losing streak. This recovery from yearly lows may indicate that the market is starting to seek protection against a potential price shock.The options market sends a clearer signal. According to Deribit data, the most traded contract over the past 24 hours was a put option pointing to Bitcoin falling to $55,000 by the end of September. Overall activity is concentrated around downside hedges at various strike prices between $70,000 and $76,000.In short, the market still does not know where it wants to go. Bitcoin is holding just above the $75,000 support, but Tom Lee’s $76,000 line remains out of reach. Futures, implied volatility and options positioning all point in the same direction: investors are preparing for downside.
Strategy’s latest move was unusual: instead of buying Bitcoin, it paid down debt. The company repurchased a $1.5 billion tranche of its zero-coupon convertible notes due in 2029. The amount payable was $1.38 billion, meaning the notes were bought back below their nominal value, at a discount of roughly $120 million. The transaction was funded from cash reserves, reducing the company’s cash holdings to around $871 million. The agreement was completed last week and disclosed to the public in a filing on Tuesday.Executive Chairman Michael Saylor announced the move briefly on X: “This week we bought bonds, not Bitcoin. BitVac is charging.” What Changed and What Stayed the Same?Following the transaction, the company’s total debt load fell from $8.2 billion to $6.7 billion. Although it may look like a one-off move, the broader context matters. Strategy has long used various debt instruments to buy Bitcoin, but this time it focused on the liability side of its balance sheet.Its Bitcoin treasury remained untouched. The company still holds 843,738 BTC, with an average purchase price of $75,700 per coin and a total cost of approximately $63.9 billion. This remains the largest Bitcoin stockpile held by any company worldwide.Market Reaction Remained LimitedMSTR shares traded 1.9% higher in pre-market activity after the news. On the Bitcoin side, the picture was slightly more mixed. At the time of writing, BTC was trading at $77,172, within a 24-hour range of $76,452 to $77,703. The daily change stood at minus 0.31%, while the weekly performance remained positive at 0.64%. Over the past month, BTC was down 1.17%.In short, Bitcoin is neither showing a strong recovery nor facing heavy selling pressure; it appears stuck around the $77,000 range. The debt repurchase did not trigger a major price move in this environment, but it can be read as a signal of balance sheet confidence.How to Read the MoveConsidering that Strategy frames its Bitcoin accumulation as a long-term game, this step looks consistent. As borrowing costs rise slightly from zero or refinancing conditions shift, it makes sense for the company to optimize its existing liabilities, especially if it can repurchase notes below their nominal value.The company reported a BTC yield of 13.3% for the year, meaning management argues that BTC value per share has increased despite Bitcoin’s ongoing price volatility. Debt reduction contributes directly to that equation; less debt means less interest pressure and more room to maneuver.For now, the broader strategy does not appear to have changed. Strategy continues to hold Bitcoin, and the market already knows this. But its willingness to clean up the balance sheet is also partly shaping how the bond market views the company. A debt load of $6.7 billion is still far from small.
Crypto investment products saw $1.47 billion in outflows this week. This marks the third-largest weekly outflow of 2026 and the second consecutive negative week. It is the sharpest selling wave since the twin $1.7 billion outflow weeks recorded at the end of January.According to CoinShares’ weekly report, cumulative outflows over the past two weeks reached $2.54 billion. Despite progress around the CLARITY Act, risk appetite continues to weaken due to Iran-related geopolitical concerns, and this pressure is now spreading geographically.Bitcoin Records Its Largest Weekly Outflow of 2026Bitcoin funds ended the week with $1.315 billion in outflows. This figure surpassed the late-January peak, making it the largest weekly BTC outflow of 2026. Year-to-date cumulative inflows into Bitcoin fell from $3.9 billion to $2.6 billion. In other words, $1.3 billion was erased in a single week.U.S.-based spot Bitcoin ETFs also posted $1.26 billion in outflows, marking their worst week since late January.Ethereum was also affected by the broader pressure. ETH products recorded $222.8 million in outflows, almost unchanged from the previous week. Ethereum’s year-to-date cumulative flow has now turned negative at minus $89 million.Selective Interest in Altcoins Continued, But WeakenedAlthough the broader picture remained negative, some altcoin funds managed to stay in positive territory. XRP funds saw $31.8 million in inflows, while Solana received $7.7 million, Sui attracted $2.9 million, and multi-asset products recorded $4.7 million in net inflows.Short Bitcoin products also saw $10.2 million in inflows. Chainlink attracted $0.6 million, while Litecoin recorded $0.4 million in weekly inflows. Weekly data for Zcash was not disclosed. The number of assets with meaningful inflows above $1 million fell from 11 in the previous week to 9. Selling Is No Longer Just a U.S. StoryLast week, Europe’s resilience had drawn attention. This week, the picture reversed. The U.S. accounted for most of the outflows with $1.425 billion, but the selling wave has now taken on a more global character.Switzerland saw $16.2 million in outflows, Canada recorded $12.5 million, and Hong Kong posted $12.2 million in outflows. Germany remained practically flat. Europe, which had been the exception last week, is now part of the broader pressure.Provider BreakdowniShares was the most affected provider, with $1.191 billion in weekly outflows. Fidelity saw $129 million leave its products, while ARK 21Shares recorded $107 million in outflows. Grayscale’s outflows were relatively limited at $12 million.Bitwise and 21Shares AG remained slightly positive, each recording $1 million in inflows. Total assets under management were reported at $148.7 billion. The weekly outflow represented roughly 1% of that total.CoinShares Head of Research James Butterfill noted in the report that Iran-linked geopolitical pressure continues to weigh on the market. Positive developments around the CLARITY Act have not been enough to halt the outflow trend for now.The two-week cumulative outflow figure of $2.54 billion points to a serious shift in sentiment for 2026. For the market to recover, geopolitical risks may need to ease or a new institutional catalyst may need to emerge. For now, both conditions remain uncertain.
For crypto markets, this week will be shaped less by internal industry developments and more by economic data coming out of the United States. Inflation, unemployment, housing and growth figures will be released before markets open. All of them point to the same question: Can the Fed cut interest rates?For now, there is no cut on the table. The CME FedWatch tool and prediction markets agree that rates will likely remain unchanged at the June meeting. That view does not seem likely to shift unless an unexpected data print arrives.The most critical release of the week comes on Wednesday. The PCE Price Index, the Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, has a direct impact on markets. The previous reading stood at 3.5%. Core PCE will also be released on the same day. Where these two figures land could have a serious short-term impact on risk appetite. But this week’s macro calendar is not limited to PCE. Five major data releases are coming back to back.On Monday, the U.S. CB Consumer Confidence Index will be released with a May forecast of 92, compared with 92.8 in the previous month. A slight decline could signal weaker consumer spending appetite.Wednesday brings the most important part of the calendar. The PCE Price Index and Core PCE will be released; weekly jobless claims will also arrive on the same day. The jobless claims figure, expected at 212,000, directly affects how the Fed assesses the employment side of the economy. April New Home Sales will also be published on Wednesday, with expectations at 670,000. As a highly rate-sensitive sector, the housing market both reacts to Fed decisions and offers guidance for future policy.The week will close on Friday with the Chicago PMI. The May figure is expected at 49.5 and will measure manufacturing activity. If it stays below 50, the signal of economic slowdown will become stronger.The most interesting development for crypto, however, is not a monetary policy move, but a change of name. Kevin Warsh officially begins his term as Fed Chair this Monday. It remains unclear how Warsh will steer interest rate policy; any early signals he gives this week will be closely watched.What is happening on the crypto side?In terms of token unlocks, the week is especially concentrated around May 26. Huma Finance (HUMA) will unlock around 20% of its circulating supply that day, worth $11.76 million. Plasma (XPL) will also add a $7.39 million unlock on the same day. Grass (GRASS) will go through a similar process on May 29, followed by EigenCloud (EIGEN) on June 1. These unlocks can create short-term selling pressure, although market reactions do not always match expectations.The DAO side is also busy this week. Uniswap is voting on expanding its protocol fee infrastructure to BNB Chain, Polygon and Celo. At the same time, a proposal to withdraw 12.5 million UNI delegated to the Franchiser system back into the governance treasury is also up for a vote. On Arbitrum, the transfer of 30,765 ETH frozen in connection with the rsETH incident to a wallet controlled by Aave LLC is on the agenda. Compound and Aave are also voting on supply limits and operational multisig structures.The conference calendar is packed as well. The Nordic Blockchain Conference in Stockholm, Unchained Summit in Da Nang, Vietnam, and the Crypto Valley Conference in Switzerland are all taking place this week.
A major shift took place in crypto fund flows last week. Bitcoin ETFs recorded more than $1 billion in outflows, while investors did not move their capital completely out of the market. Instead, they turned toward a more selective rotation. Hyperliquid’s HYPE token, XRP and SOL emerged as the standout assets in this process.According to SoSoValue data, Bitcoin ETFs ended last week with more than $1 billion in net outflows, while Ethereum funds also posted losses of around $215 million. The simultaneous outflows from both assets suggest that institutional appetite for broad crypto exposure has cooled.However, the HYPE spot ETFs launched by Bitwise and 21Shares managed to attract a total of $72.38 million in just one week of trading. XRP ETFs closed the week with $22 million in inflows, while SOL ETFs drew $15.6 million. In other words, capital is not leaving the crypto market; it is simply moving elsewhere.BRN research director Timothy Misir said in his assessment of the situation, “Capital is not uniformly leaving crypto. It is rotating away from crowded large-cap coin exposure and into new narratives.”HYPE’s riseHYPE’s ability to attract this level of interest is no coincidence. The price of HYPE jumped from $38 to $63 in the last 10 days. On a monthly basis, HYPE gained 59 percent, creating a sharp contrast with Bitcoin’s modest 1 percent increase over the same period. The Hyperliquid platform generated $13.2 million in fee revenue over the past seven days. In DeFiLlama’s rankings, it climbed to fifth place, behind Tether, Circle and Pump.fun. Canton Network ranks fourth, although this is largely driven by incentives.The new partnership with Coinbase and Circle, which integrates USDC as a core asset within the platform, is also increasing revenue expectations.The real-world assets narrativeHyperliquid’s rise is not driven by price action alone. The platform is positioning itself as an alternative to traditional trading venues, especially through HIP-3 markets, which offer perpetual futures contracts tied to oil, gold and U.S. stock indices. Since the Iran war began in late February, trading volumes in these markets have repeatedly reached new records.Market tracking platform Artemis said in its weekly newsletter that open interest in HIP-3 markets reached $2.6 billion in RWA perpetual futures markets, marking a new weekly high. Stock perpetual futures, pre-IPO markets and prediction markets are still at a very early stage; however, Artemis emphasized that Hyperliquid holds a significant positioning advantage in these areas.The picture is not fully clear yet. It remains uncertain how much of the institutional capital leaving Bitcoin and ETH represents a lasting rotation, and how much is merely short-term positioning. Still, the fact that a new product like HYPE attracted $72 million in its first week shows that the narrative shift has become concrete for at least some investors.
A notable wallet movement drew attention in the crypto market on Sunday. Onchain Lens, citing Arkham data, reported that a Satoshi-era miner transferred a total of 2,650 BTC to FalconX and Cumberland in three separate transactions. The transfers were worth approximately $203 million in total. The whale still holds 6,000 BTC, worth about $462 million at current prices. It is not clear whether the transfer was made for selling purposes. However, transfers of this scale to institutional trading desks have often preceded sales in the past; the market usually does not ignore such moves.FalconX and Cumberland are OTC trading desks that serve large portfolio holders. Large sales executed through spot exchanges can directly affect order books and push prices lower. OTC channels, on the other hand, match buyers and sellers away from public exchanges, helping distribute that pressure. This is why large BTC holders who want to convert significant amounts into cash often prefer these intermediaries. Still, it is also possible that the funds were moved for wallet management or portfolio reorganization.The term “Satoshi-era miner” refers to addresses that produced blocks during Bitcoin’s earliest years, especially between 2009 and 2010. These wallets sometimes remain inactive for more than a decade. Since 2020, as Bitcoin’s price gained momentum, some of them have occasionally reawakened. Early miners obtained BTC at almost no cost; there was no highly competitive mining network and no serious electricity expense. This means these wallets are sitting on astronomical profits today, regardless of Bitcoin’s current price. They do not necessarily need to wait for the “right moment” to sell.This transfer did not happen in isolation. Earlier this month, a wallet that had been dormant for 12 years became active and transferred 500 BTC, worth $40.6 million at the time. Last month, another large address sent $20 million worth of BTC to Binance. Three different dormant wallets moving within a few weeks is not a common pattern. On-chain analysts are closely watching these movements because simultaneous large supply inflows, even when routed through OTC channels, can still build pressure on the price over time.Did Bitcoin’s price move?The impact of large transfers on price is not always immediate or clear. Not every movement results in a sale; technical reasons such as wallet changes, custody arrangements or portfolio restructuring can also be involved. OTC channels help reduce sudden price swings on exchanges, but as the size of a transfer grows, it becomes harder for the market to ignore it completely.Bitcoin rose 0.6% over the past 24 hours to reach $77,220. The currency had fallen as low as $74,600 on Saturday and ended the week around the $77,000 range. It is currently trading about 38% below its all-time high of $124,900, recorded in October 2025. On-chain data in the coming days will show whether old miners see this range as sufficient.
Trump Media & Technology Group (TMTG) transferred 2,650 Bitcoin to Crypto.com late on May 21. According to Arkham’s on-chain data, the transfer was worth around $205 million at the time. It also marked the company’s second major Bitcoin outflow this year. The numbers paint a harsh picture. TMTG had purchased 11,542 BTC at an average price of $118,522 per coin, spending roughly $1.37 billion in total. Bitcoin is currently trading around $77,000, about 35% below the company’s entry price. At this level, the unrealized loss on its remaining position is approaching $480 million.Second Major OutflowThe latest move looks like a repeat of the company’s first major Bitcoin transfer in 2026. Four months ago, TMTG moved 2,000 BTC from its wallets while Bitcoin was trading near $87,380. That transfer was worth around $175 million.The company’s first-quarter earnings report later confirmed that its reserves had dropped to 9,542 BTC after that transaction. With the latest 2,650 BTC transfer included, its remaining holdings have fallen to around 6,889 BTC. In other words, Truth Social’s parent company has moved more than 4,600 BTC out of its wallets in 2026 alone.A transfer to an exchange does not always mean a sale. The company could be moving assets for other operational reasons. Still, given the documented loss figures and repeated outflows, questions around what TMTG plans to do with this Bitcoin position remain open.Quarterly Report Added More PressureThe company’s first-quarter 2026 results, released earlier in May, had already drawn attention. TMTG reported a net loss of $405.9 million and an adjusted EBITDA loss of $387.8 million.A large part of that loss came from a $368.7 million item tied to unrealized losses on digital assets and equity securities. According to the company’s own statement, most of these losses were non-cash in nature.There were a few stronger points in the report. TMTG still held $2.1 billion in financial assets and generated $17.9 million in positive operating cash flow. Even so, the roughly $480 million unrealized Bitcoin loss remains a major issue on the balance sheet.The Portfolio Includes More Than BitcoinTMTG’s crypto treasury is not limited to Bitcoin. The company also holds 756 million Cronos (CRO), the native token of Crypto.com. That position is currently worth around $2.64 million. Compared with the Bitcoin position, however, it remains largely symbolic.Trump Media’s crypto strategy has been controversial from the beginning. When the company invested around $1.37 billion in Bitcoin, it was framed as a strong institutional confidence signal. Now, with two major transfers and a deep paper loss, the sustainability of that strategy is coming under closer scrutiny.A transfer to an exchange may not directly indicate a sale. But the shrinking Bitcoin balance and heavy first-quarter financial results are enough to raise questions about where TMTG’s treasury strategy goes from here. At Bitcoin’s current price levels, the company’s next move will be closely watched.
Options expiries in the crypto market can create short-term pressure on prices, especially when large volumes are involved. The reason is simple: options writers may have an incentive to push the price toward the “max pain” level, where the largest number of contracts expire worthless. The $6.25 billion worth of Bitcoin options set to expire on Deribit on May 29 brings exactly this dynamic back into focus.Bitcoin Market Turns Its Attention to May 29The Bitcoin options market is focused on May 29. On Deribit, contracts worth a total of $6.25 billion will expire on that date, with open interest standing at 80,535 contracts. The numbers are large, but the key question is where the price will be pulled. The level currently drawing the most attention is $75,000. This price corresponds to the “max pain” point, meaning the level at which the largest number of options contracts expire worthless and options writers face the least loss. According to Deribit data, there is a $394 million concentration of puts at the $75,000 strike. The picture is slightly different on the upside: $80,000 leads with $532 million in call positions.Bitcoin is trading at around $77,250 at the time of writing. The max pain level sits about 3% below the current price. This gap matters from a technical perspective because large options writers have an incentive to minimize their losses by pushing the price toward $75,000. That is why the “max pain gravity” theory often comes back into discussion ahead of major Deribit expiries.The put/call ratio stands at 0.86. In other words, there are 43,184 call contracts against 37,351 puts, showing that the market is net positioned for upside. Still, with Bitcoin trading in the $77,000-$78,000 range, max pain remains within reach.Part of the market is much more optimistic. On Thursday, the most actively traded instrument on Deribit was the BTC 29MAY26 $82,000 call, with 1,600 contracts changing hands at a volume of around $126 million. This figure looks more like a directional bet than a hedging position. Traders appear to be positioning for a breakout before expiry. However, $82,000 is roughly 6% above the current price. To reach that level, Bitcoin first needs to break through the $80,000 wall, where there is also a heavy call concentration.Deribit’s total open interest has reached $31.3 billion, surpassing BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, IBIT, which stands at $27 billion. This is not a coincidence. Crypto options volume has grown systematically since 2025 as institutional participation has increased. Hedge funds and market makers are now actively using derivatives strategies alongside spot ETFs. If more open interest has accumulated on a crypto options exchange than in the world’s largest spot Bitcoin ETF, it is now clear that the derivatives market has reached a scale comparable to institutional products.There are eight days left until May 29. If Bitcoin breaks above $82,000, the call side wins. If the price is pulled back toward $75,000, the max pain thesis will be validated. For now, the market is stuck between these two scenarios, and both remain on the table.
SpaceX has officially disclosed its Bitcoin holdings for the first time in an S-1 filing submitted to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as part of its public offering process. According to the filing, the company holds 18,712 BTC. As of March 31, 2026, this position had a market value of $1.29 billion. By the filing date, Bitcoin’s price increase lifted that value to $1.45 billion. The total acquisition cost of the company’s Bitcoin position stands at $661 million. This puts the average purchase price at roughly $35,324 per Bitcoin. At current price levels, the unrealized profit is around $789 million.Arkham and Bitcoin Treasuries estimates were far below the actual figureThe disclosure closed a major information gap in the market. In April 2026, on-chain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence had identified only 8,285 BTC in wallets attributed to SpaceX. Bitcoin Treasuries had provided a similar estimate. In other words, the actual figure is more than double the amount previously known to the public.For comparison, Tesla holds 11,509 BTC. With this figure, SpaceX moves clearly ahead of Tesla among corporate Bitcoin holders and ranks as the seventh-largest Bitcoin holder among public companies.Position unchanged since 2021SpaceX made its first Bitcoin purchase in early 2021. This coincided with the period when Elon Musk’s other company, Tesla, announced its $1.5 billion Bitcoin investment. According to Bitcoin Treasuries data, the company held 25,724 BTC at the time. Its current position of 18,712 BTC suggests that around 7,012 Bitcoin were sold at some point. Tesla, by contrast, sold roughly 75% of its total position in 2022. SpaceX retained most of its holdings during that period.The position has remained unchanged since December 31, 2024. The company says it uses third-party custody providers, while maintaining direct ownership rights and control over the assets.Accounting rules brought volatility to financial resultsNew accounting standards that came into effect in 2024 require digital assets to be measured at fair value. This change had a direct impact on SpaceX’s income statement. The company recorded $955 million in unrealized gains from its Bitcoin position in 2024, followed by an unrealized loss of $112 million in 2025.The broader financial picture is more complex. SpaceX posted a net loss of $4.94 billion in 2025, while annual revenue grew 33% to $18.67 billion. The picture worsened in the first quarter of 2026, with the company reporting a $4.3 billion loss against $4.7 billion in revenue. Its accumulated deficit reached $41.3 billion by the end of March.A historically large public offeringSpaceX plans to begin trading on Nasdaq under the ticker SPCX on June 12, 2026. With a target offering size of around $75 billion, the IPO is set to become the largest transaction ever seen in capital markets. The company’s valuation is estimated to be between $1.75 trillion and $2 trillion.In its S-1 filing, SpaceX described its target market as “the largest accessible total addressable market in human history.” The company sees a $28.5 trillion opportunity across artificial intelligence, space and connectivity services. Funding needs for Starlink, orbital data centers and Mars colonization projects are also listed among the main reasons behind the public offering.AI giants such as OpenAI and Anthropic are also among the companies evaluating IPO processes in 2026. SpaceX, however, has become the name taking the most concrete step so far.
Digital asset investment products closed the week with net outflows of $1.07 billion. According to CoinShares’ latest weekly fund flows report, this marked the end of a six-week positive streak. The outflow was also the third-largest weekly outflow recorded so far in 2026.The report linked the selling pressure mainly to a more cautious investor mood triggered by renewed Iran-related geopolitical risks. The risk-off trend was especially concentrated in Bitcoin products. However, selective interest in altcoins continued, with 11 different assets recording weekly inflows of more than $1 million.Total assets under management fell from $159 billion in the previous week to around $157 billion. The table showed total AUM at $156.9 billion. Despite the weekly outflow, month-to-date flows remain in positive territory at $521 million. Year-to-date inflows stand at $4.88 billion.Bitcoin Funds See Sharp OutflowsBitcoin investment products were the weakest segment of the week. According to CoinShares data, Bitcoin funds saw $981.5 million in outflows. Even so, Bitcoin products still hold $3.94 billion in net inflows since the start of the year.The picture also weakened on the Ethereum side. ETH investment products recorded $249.3 million in outflows. This was the largest weekly outflow for Ethereum funds since January 30. Ethereum’s total year-to-date net flow remained at $137 million.Blockchain equity ETFs were also hit by the broader risk-off mood. According to the report, these products saw a total of $133 million in outflows. This shows that the pressure was not limited to spot crypto products, as selling was also felt in crypto-linked equity themes. By contrast, XRP and Solana stood out positively during the week. XRP products attracted $67.6 million in inflows, while Solana products drew $55.1 million. Inflows into both assets accelerated compared with recent weeks.Smaller assets also saw notable demand. Ton recorded $7.7 million in inflows, Sui $4.7 million, Ondo $4.1 million, Chainlink $3.9 million and Dogecoin $3.2 million. This suggests that investors continue to show interest in selected altcoin themes despite short-term pressure on Bitcoin and Ethereum.Regionally, nearly all of the outflows came from the United States. U.S.-based products recorded weekly outflows of $1.14 billion. By contrast, Europe showed a more balanced picture. Switzerland saw $22.8 million in inflows, Germany $22 million, the Netherlands $7.5 million and Canada $12.6 million.Large outflows were also visible on the provider side. iShares products saw $487 million in outflows, while Fidelity recorded $305 million and ARK 21Shares saw $323 million leave its products. Grayscale posted weekly outflows of $84 million. Bitwise, meanwhile, stood out positively with $25 million in inflows.The report also noted that news flow around the CLARITY Act in the U.S. partially supported market sentiment. Although the full week ended in negative territory, Thursday saw $174 million in positive flows.
A new era is dawning in Japan where the cryptocurrency market will become more closely intertwined with traditional finance. Two of the country's largest online brokerage firms, SBI Securities and Rakuten Securities, are preparing to offer cryptocurrency mutual funds once the regulatory framework is finalized. According to Nikkei Asia, these products will allow investors to access crypto assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum through their existing brokerage accounts. Currently in Japan, individual investors typically need to open a separate exchange account or use a wallet to buy cryptocurrencies. The new mutual fund model could make this process more familiar. Instead of directly buying cryptocurrencies, investors will be able to take positions through fund units based on these assets. This will make crypto investing more similar to buying stocks or mutual funds. SBI Securities' plan is based on distributing products developed by its group company, SBI Global Asset Management. The company's product portfolio is expected to include mutual funds and ETFs linked to liquid assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. The SBI group aims to manage the entire process internally, from product development to distribution. Rakuten Securities is similarly moving forward within its own group structure. Products to be developed by Rakuten Investment Management are planned to be directly buyable and sellable through Rakuten's smartphone application. This approach could make access to crypto more practical, especially for individual users who invest through mobile applications. It's not just SBI and Rakuten; other major financial institutions in Japan are also not shying away from this area. According to a Nikkei survey of 18 major brokerage firms, 11 companies stated they would consider offering crypto investment funds once regulations become clearer. These companies include prominent names such as Nomura Securities, Daiwa Securities, and Mizuho-affiliated Asset Management One. SMBC Group is also reportedly forming an in-house working group on the subject. Behind this interest are regulatory steps taken by the Financial Services Agency of Japan (FSA). The FSA aims to amend the implementing regulations of the Investment Partnerships Act to add crypto assets to the list of "certain assets" that investment funds can hold. This process is expected to be completed by 2028. Activity on the regulatory sideIn parallel, the Japanese government approved a bill in April that would classify cryptocurrencies as financial products rather than means of payment. If the bill passes parliament, the new regulation could come into effect in the 2027 fiscal year. Thus, crypto assets will be brought under a regulatory framework closer to financial instruments such as stocks and bonds.These preparations in Japan coincide with the increasing global interest in crypto ETFs. In the US, spot Bitcoin ETFs were approved in January 2024, after which these products became an important entry point for institutional and individual investors. According to SoSoValue data, the net assets of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US have exceeded $100 billion. While Japan is proceeding more cautiously in this area, it is seen that large financial institutions are starting to take positions as regulatory uncertainty decreases. Crypto mutual funds can provide a significant convenience for Japanese individual investors. Users with an SBI or Rakuten account can access assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum without opening a new crypto exchange account. Having regulated financial groups handle custody, reporting, and transaction processes can also strengthen the perception of trust. However, this structure is not the same as directly owning cryptocurrency. Instead of holding Bitcoin or Ethereum in their own wallets, investors will own funds based on these assets. Therefore, factors such as management fees, custody structure, and counterparty risk will determine the attractiveness of the products.
Iran may be working on a remarkable model for the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most critical transit points for global energy trade. According to Fars News, a state-affiliated news outlet, the Iranian Ministry of Economy plans to manage ships passing through the strait not through direct transit fees, but through marine insurance and financial liability certificates. The use of Bitcoin in payments for this model has led the cryptocurrency market to closely monitor the issue.Bitcoin could be at the center of the insurance model in the Strait of HormuzAccording to the news, the platform called "Hormuz Safe" aims to offer insurance services for maritime cargo passing through the Persian Gulf, the Strait of Hormuz, and surrounding waterways. The system allows cargo owners to purchase digitally verifiable policies, which become active after payment is confirmed. The plan also includes providing the cargo owner with a signed digital receipt. However, it is not yet clear how far the project has progressed. The website mentioned in the report only shows a landing page, and basic details such as policy terms, insurer information, deductibles, and claims processes are not clearly shared. Therefore, it has not been possible to confirm whether Hormuz Safe is actually operational or whether any cargo owner is using the platform. According to Fars News, this model could generate over $10 billion in revenue for Iran. However, it has not been explained on what basis this estimate is derived. Nevertheless, the logic of the proposal seems quite clear. Iran may be trying to monetize its strategic position on the Strait of Hormuz not directly through "transit fees," but through an insurance and certificate structure.The Strait of Hormuz is considered one of the most sensitive energy corridors, through which approximately one-fifth of the world's oil trade passes. Therefore, any new payment or certificate system that could be implemented in the region concerns not only maritime transport companies but also energy markets, insurers, and international trade networks.The Bitcoin option, however, constitutes the most controversial part of the plan. Iran has long been trying to reduce its dependence on dollar-based financial systems due to sanctions. A marine insurance platform that accepts Bitcoin payments seems, in this respect, consistent with Iran's broader strategy to overcome the pressure of sanctions. However, such a system carries serious compatibility risks. Payments to Iranian-linked state institutions or entities close to the state do not eliminate the risk of sanctions, even if they don't pass through the banking system. Whether the payment is made in Bitcoin, stablecoins, or other digital assets, it creates an area requiring legal scrutiny for shipowners, trading companies, and insurance organizations. Some news reports have suggested that Iran may previously demand Bitcoin payment per barrel of oil from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Furthermore, it is known that some shipping companies operating in the region in the past have been targeted by scammers demanding cryptocurrency under the guise of secure passage. Therefore, the possibility that the site circulating under the name Hormuz Safe is fake cannot be entirely ruled out. Iran's shift towards Bitcoin instead of centralized stablecoins like USDT is also noteworthy. This is because stablecoin issuers can freeze wallets associated with sanctions. Bitcoin, however, does not have a central issuer that can freeze funds. This feature makes Bitcoin a more convenient payment method for countries under sanctions.
Strategy, which has become one of the most closely watched publicly traded companies in the crypto market with its Bitcoin treasury, has taken a significant step toward simplifying its debt structure. The company has signed private agreements to repurchase approximately $1.5 billion of its 2029-maturity, 0%-rate convertible senior bonds. Strategy expects to pay approximately $1.38 billion in cash for this transaction. However, the final payment amount will be determined after the share price-dependent settlement period is completed. According to Strategy's Form 8-K filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the agreements were made with selected bondholders on May 14th. The transaction is expected to be completed on May 19th, provided the usual closing conditions are met. Following the closing, the company will cancel the repurchased bonds. Thus, approximately $1.5 billion of debt from the same 2029-maturity bond group will remain in the market. This step is considered one of the first major moves in Strategy's plan to reduce its growing debt burden in recent years. The company has previously used convertible bonds, stock sale programs, and various types of preferred share issuances to finance its Bitcoin purchases. Therefore, the buyback decision doesn't just mean reducing a single debt item; it also signals a rebalancing of Strategy's broader capital structure.How will Strategy finance the debt buyback?One of the most striking points in the document is that the company explicitly listed Bitcoin sales among the resources it could use for the buyback. Strategy stated that it could make payments with its existing cash reserves, proceeds from the sale of shares in the market, cash from the sale of securities, and/or proceeds from the sale of Bitcoin. This statement attracted particular attention in the market due to Michael Saylor's long-standing "no selling Bitcoin" approach. Strategy is the largest player in the sector in terms of institutional Bitcoin accumulation, and the value of the Bitcoin assets held by the company is estimated at approximately $65 billion. Therefore, the company's potential Bitcoin sale is closely watched not only from a balance sheet management perspective but also from a market psychology perspective. Saylor had previously stated that the company aimed to transform its convertible bonds into an equity-heavy structure over a period of three to six years. This strategy involves reducing debt and securing financing through a larger equity or preferred stock structure. The repurchase of bonds maturing in 2029 is a concrete part of this plan. STRC Volume Hits RecordOne of the prominent instruments in Strategy's capital structure is its STRC preferred stock, known as Stretch. The company's STRC product stands out with its perpetual preferred stock structure that makes monthly payments and offers an annual cash dividend yield of 11.5 percent. On Thursday, STRC trading volume reached a record high of $1.53 billion. This volume was more than four times the 30-day average of $331 million.The intense trading activity in the market is said to have strengthened Strategy's capacity to raise capital through the market. According to BitcoinQuant, this trading volume helped the company finance the purchase of approximately 11,707 Bitcoins. The majority of STRC transactions occurred at or above the $100 nominal value level during the day. Friday being the dividend payout date for STRC was also among the factors that increased trading volume.However, STRC's high dividend structure keeps the pressure on Strategy's long-term cash flow and debt management on the agenda. The company's continued accumulation of Bitcoin and its maintenance of preferential share dividends make its access to capital markets even more important. A new era for Bitcoin treasuryStrategy shares traded at around $178 after the opening on Friday. Although the stock has risen by approximately 18 percent since the beginning of the year, it remains well below the $457 peak seen last year. This shows that investors continue to be interested in the company's Bitcoin strategy, but are also closely monitoring its debt and dividend obligations. The company's decision to repurchase its 2029-maturity bonds reveals that Strategy is not only pursuing an aggressive institutional treasury model focused solely on Bitcoin accumulation, but is also attempting to readjust the financing side of that model. Once the repurchase is complete, $1.5 billion in debt will remain from the same bond portfolio. Additionally, the company holds approximately $1 billion in other bonds that investors may be forced to repurchase as early as September 2027.
April inflation data in the United States renewed caution across global markets. According to the Consumer Price Index released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, annual inflation rose to 3.8% in April. This marked the highest level in three years. Annual inflation had stood at 3.3% in March and 2.4% in February.Markets had expected inflation to rise to 3.7%. However, the reported figure came slightly above expectations. The main driver behind the increase was the sharp rise in energy prices. The conflict in the Middle East has started to weigh on the U.S. economy, especially through higher fuel prices.According to the data, gasoline prices rose 28.4% year over year. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, also increased from 2.6% in March to 2.8%. This raised concerns that price pressures may not remain limited to energy.Oil Prices Put Pressure on MarketsEnergy prices stood out as one of the most important parts of the report. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz caused a sharp increase in global crude oil prices. This development directly affected pump prices in the United States. According to AAA data, gasoline prices reached $4.50 per gallon on Tuesday. Diesel prices also climbed to $5.64, approaching an all-time high.In recent days, optimism over a possible ceasefire deal had helped limit energy prices to some extent. However, that optimism weakened after U.S. President Donald Trump described Iran’s response to the latest proposal as “unacceptable.” Trump also said the possibility of a month-long ceasefire was under serious pressure.Higher fuel prices are creating a new source of pressure for household budgets and business costs in the United States. For this reason, some lawmakers proposed suspending federal fuel taxes to provide temporary relief for drivers. Still, such a move may have only a limited effect on inflation. The main source of the price increase appears to be the tightening in global energy supply rather than domestic tax rules.Bitcoin Tries to Stay Above $80,000Following the inflation data, the crypto market also showed a cautious outlook. According to market data, Bitcoin was trading around $80,803 at the time of writing. The leading cryptocurrency was down 0.37% over the past 24 hours, while its daily trading range stood between $80,487 and $82,041. The short-term chart shows that Bitcoin moved in a volatile range during the day. The price traded near $81,800 in the early hours before facing downward pressure and falling toward the $80,500 area. It later saw a limited recovery and moved back above $80,800. This move shows that investors are closely watching inflation data and energy-driven macro risks.Bitcoin’s gain of more than 13% over the past 30 days suggests that the broader trend has not fully weakened. However, the 24-hour decline and limited weekly loss show that the market has become more sensitive to new data. In particular, the renewed acceleration in U.S. inflation may strengthen expectations that the Fed will take a more cautious approach to rate cuts.For the crypto market, this picture can be read in two ways. On one hand, high inflation may support Bitcoin’s long-term “store of value” narrative. On the other hand, expectations that interest rates may stay higher for longer could pressure risk assets. For this reason, Bitcoin’s attempt to hold above $80,000 will remain important for short-term market sentiment.Markets are now watching both energy prices and signals from the Fed. If inflation remains persistently above 3%, volatility may increase across a wide range of risk assets, from stocks to cryptocurrencies. For Bitcoin, the $80,000 level stands out as short-term support, while the $82,000 area appears to be the first resistance zone.
The Himalayan country of Bhutan has once again drawn attention in the crypto market with its Bitcoin holdings. According to onchain analytics platform Arkham, the Royal Government of Bhutan transferred around 100.44 BTC to another address on Tuesday. The transfer was valued at approximately $8.2 million at current market prices. The transaction is being seen as the latest step in Bhutan’s accelerating Bitcoin outflows in recent months. According to Arkham, the transfers took place in three separate transactions at 08:27 Turkey time. The BTC was sent to an unlabeled address beginning with “bc1qn,” which has not been linked to any institution or exchange.Bhutan’s Bitcoin Sales Draw AttentionArkham said more than $230 million worth of BTC has flowed out of Bhutan-linked addresses since the start of the year. This suggests that the country may have sold around $50 million worth of Bitcoin per month throughout 2026. Analysts noted that if Bhutan were to sell all of its BTC at current prices, it would exit the market with $767 million in onchain profit.Still, the exact purpose of the latest transfer remains unknown. Some previous transfers were linked to platforms such as Binance and investment firm Galaxy Digital. For this reason, the market is also interpreting the latest movement as a possible preparation for a sale.However, there is another possibility. The latest transaction may have been intended to move funds from an older Bitcoin address format to a newer one. According to Arkham, the BTC was moved from an old-style address beginning with “3” to a more modern SegWit address beginning with “bc1q.” This indicates that the transaction may have been a wallet update or fund consolidation rather than a direct sale.Bhutan Still Holds $252 Million Worth of BTCDespite the recent outflows, Bhutan still holds a significant amount of Bitcoin. According to Arkham data, the country holds around 3,119 BTC. These assets are currently valued at approximately $252.3 million.However, Bhutan’s Bitcoin balance has fallen sharply compared to last year. The country’s BTC holdings peaked at around 13,000 BTC in October 2024. Since the beginning of this year, the balance has dropped by nearly 3,000 BTC. This trend strengthens the view that Bhutan has been gradually reducing its Bitcoin reserves.Bhutan’s Bitcoin story differs from that of many other countries. While many governments usually obtain Bitcoin through seizures linked to illegal activity, Bhutan built most of its reserves through mining. The country’s state investment arm, Druk Holding & Investments, used Bhutan’s abundant hydroelectric resources to mine Bitcoin.This model has made Bhutan a notable example in the crypto world. Despite its small population and limited economic scale, the country long stood out as one of the largest state-linked Bitcoin holders in the world.According to Bitcoin Treasuries data, Bhutan ranks eighth among known nation-state Bitcoin holders. The countries ahead of it include the United States, China, the United Kingdom, Ukraine, El Salvador, the United Arab Emirates and Kazakhstan.Has Mining Activity Stopped?Recently, there has also been debate over whether Bhutan is still continuing its Bitcoin mining activity. According to Arkham, the last major BTC inflow of more than $100,000 to Bhutan-linked addresses took place more than a year ago. This has increased speculation that the country may have slowed down or completely halted its mining operations.
