The $292 million KelpDAO exploit is among the biggest crypto losses of 2026. The impact of this attack on users’ confidence was broad, triggering a $13.5 billion drop in DeFi total value locked (TVL). However, recent developments suggest a return in market confidence.

Investors Move To Accumulate rsETH As KelpDAO Resumes Operations 

On April 18, attackers exploited a vulnerability in KelpDAO’s LayerZero-cross chain bridge, carting away 152,577 rsETH, valued at $292 million. According to a report from analytics firm Santiment, this day also experienced a net inflow of 563 rsETH, worth $1.1 million, into exchanges. Santiment analysts explain that the market reaction is expected, as the exploit has generated concern about KelpDAO’s safety and rESTH. Therefore, investors moved their holdings to exchanges to sell or swap them for other assets, e.g., stablecoins, thereby reducing their exposure to the negative effects of the hack.

On April 18th, the infamous day of the Kelp DAO exploit, Santiment data showed a large spike of $rsETH moving onto exchanges, with a net inflow of roughly +563 rsETH. This reaction made sense because traders were understandably feeling uncertain around the safety of the… pic.twitter.com/2ADQe6iskn

— Santiment Intelligence (@SantimentData) May 16, 2026

Following the hack, there have been multiple recovery efforts, including coordinated seizures by the KelpDAO, Abritrum, and Aave of the hackers’ positions on their respective platforms. In particular, the Aave DAO also issued donations alongside the DeFi platforms such as EtherFi, Lido, and Ethena. On May 15, KelpDAO announced a resumption of reETH activities, including withdrawals, bridging, and protocol operations. Santiment observed that this announcement was shortly followed by a net outflow of approximately 435 rsETH ($936,000) from exchanges.

In line with typical market dynamics, this outflow signals growing investor confidence in rsETH following the recovery process and the lifting of restrictions. There is now a clear shift of rsETH away from exchanges and into self-custody wallets, staking platforms, and DeFi protocols.

THORChain Suffers $11 Million Hack

In other news, the decentralized liquidity protocol THORChain has suffered an attack resulting in losses of $10.8 million, according to an independent on-chain investigator, ZachXBT. The exploits occurred across four blockchains, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain (BSC), and Base. 

As a cross-chain exchange, THORChain enables direct swaps between various blockchains and has previously been used as a laundering rail by bad actors and hackers. Following the recent exploit, WuBlockchain reports that the protocol’s management has halted trading and issued a global emergency alert.

Exploits and hacks remain a major security concern for crypto users. According to DefiLama today, total losses from these malicious activities in 2026 are now $823.9 million. At press time, the total crypto market cap is $2.57 trillion, down 2.74% over the past day.

Featured image from IQ.Wiki, chart from Tradingview

OpenAI and the Maltese government have announced a world-first partnership to roll out ChatGPT Plus to all Maltese citizens, marking the first time a government has struck such a deal with the AI company.

Under the programme, citizens who complete a government-backed AI literacy course will receive free access to ChatGPT Plus for one year, OpenAI announced on Saturday. The course, developed by the University of Malta, covers what AI is, what it can and cannot do and how to use it responsibly at home and in the workplace.

“Malta is the first country to launch a partnership of this scale because we refuse to let our citizens stay behind in the digital age,” Maltese minister for economy, enterprise and strategic projects Silvio Schembri said, adding that the goal is to turn AI “from an unfamiliar concept into practical assistance for our families, students, and workers.”

The Malta Digital Innovation Authority will manage distribution to eligible participants when the first phase launches this month, with the programme set to expand as more residents and citizens abroad complete the course.

Related: Robinhood Invests $75M in OpenAI to Provide Equity Tokens for Users

OpenAI partners with governments worldwide

The deal is the latest under OpenAI’s broader OpenAI for Countries initiative, through which the company works with governments to move from early AI interest to national-level adoption. Unlike a standardised model, the programme is tailored to each country’s priorities, including areas like education, workforce training and public services.

Last year, OpenAI partnered with Estonia’s government to provide all secondary school students and teachers with access to ChatGPT Edu, a customized version of ChatGPT built for education systems. The firm has also launched “OpenAI for Greece” in partnership with the Greek government.

As Cointelegraph reported, OpenAI has also struck a deal with the US Department of Defense to deploy its AI models on classified military networks.

Magazine: AI-driven hacks could kill DeFi — unless projects act now

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

Christopher Harborne entered the Sunday Times Rich List in sixth place, as Parliament opened a probe into Farage.

The Sunday Times Rich List 2026, published on May 15, placed Christopher Harborne sixth among Britain’s wealthiest individuals. His estimated £18.2bn fortune derives primarily from a 12% stake in stablecoin issuer Tether, which carries an estimated valuation of approximately $200bn.

Harborne, who has lived in Thailand for more than 20 years and holds Thai citizenship under the name Chakrit Sakunkrit, is described as the wealthiest British-born person on the 2026 list. The ranking makes him wealthier than the rest of Yorkshire’s top 10 combined.

The publication of his wealth coincided with the opening of a parliamentary standards investigation. On May 15, the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner formally launched a Rule 5 inquiry into whether Farage breached the Commons Code of Conduct by failing to register a £5m gift received from Harborne in early 2024.

Farage has described the payment as an unconditional personal gift to fund his security and said there is “no case to answer.” He also claimed the money was “a reward for campaigning for Brexit for 27 years.” The property purchase of approximately £1.4m he made shortly after receiving the gift had previously drawn separate scrutiny.

Harborne’s donations and Reform UK’s crypto ties

As crypto.news reported when the inquiry was announced, Harborne has given more than £22m to Reform UK since its founding. His £9m donation in August 2025 was described at the time as the largest single political donation from a living individual in British history. Reform UK was the first Westminster party to publicly accept crypto donations.

The scrutiny around Harborne’s financial ties to Farage extends beyond the parliamentary probe. In April, the Liberal Democrats asked the Financial Conduct Authority to examine Farage’s links to Bitcoin treasury firm Stack BTC, after he appeared in promotional material while holding a 6.31% stake.

Crypto.news tracked the property story as it developed, and earlier crypto.news reported on the FCA referral in full. If the standards commissioner finds a breach, sanctions could range from a formal apology to a Commons suspension and a potential by-election in Clacton.

Iran’s stock market is set to resume trading on Tuesday after being shuttered for roughly 80 days. The reopening puts millions of retail investors back in the game, and the big question is whether they’ll calmly return to their positions or stampede for the exits.

What officials are doing to cushion the landing

Iranian authorities are reportedly preparing a suite of support measures designed to keep the reopening from turning into a freefall.

Among the tools on the table: tighter price limits on individual stocks, which would cap how far any single name can drop in a given session.

There’s also talk of possible market-maker interventions, essentially having designated participants step in to provide liquidity and absorb sell orders when natural buyers are scarce.

One unresolved question is whether the reopening will be phased, with certain sectors or stock categories resuming before others, or whether the entire market opens simultaneously.

The pent-up pressure problem

Analysts are warning that heavy sell pressure could materialize quickly once the opening bell rings. Investors who wanted to sell weeks or months ago finally get their chance. If enough of them act on that impulse simultaneously, the result could overwhelm whatever support mechanisms are in place.

Iran’s stock market has a particularly high proportion of retail participants compared to many global exchanges. That retail-heavy composition matters because individual investors tend to be more reactive and sentiment-driven than institutional players.

The bigger picture: sanctions, war, and uncertainty

Even setting aside the mechanics of the reopening, Iran’s stock market faces a genuinely difficult operating environment. The country remains under extensive US sanctions that restrict foreign investment and limit access to international capital markets.

War damage adds another layer of complexity. Companies listed on the exchange may have suffered physical destruction of assets, supply chain disruptions, or revenue losses that haven’t been fully disclosed. Prolonged conflict tends to make information gaps wider, not narrower.

Diplomatic relations with the US remain uncertain, which matters because any movement toward sanctions relief, or further escalation, would dramatically reshape the investment thesis for Iranian equities.

Most traders who hold Bitcoin or Ethereum are sitting on capital they cannot easily deploy.

To trade global markets with it, the traditional route goes like this: convert to fiat, pay a conversion spread, wait for the transfer, fund a separate brokerage account, and then execute. Conversion fees and delays vary by provider, but they all eat into your timing and your margin. By the time you are in position, the opportunity you spotted may have already played out. For active traders, that friction does not just cost money. It costs access.

This is where crypto-funded trading changes the equation. PrimeXBT, a multi-asset broker and crypto service provider, was among the first to let traders use crypto as margin for FX, gold, indices and other markets, without converting, without transferring, and without leaving the crypto ecosystem.

Your crypto is already capital. Start using it that way.

The mental model most crypto holders carry is that Bitcoin and Ethereum are assets to be managed separately from everything else. Trading stocks means a brokerage account. Trading FX means another account. Crypto sits in its own silo.

PrimeXBT was built on a different premise from the start. Since 2018, the platform has treated crypto as the base layer of trading activity. It is the collateral that funds your entire trading operation across asset classes. You do not move it out to access global markets. You use it where it already is.

With its new native platform, PXTrader 2.0, you can open your account in BTC, ETH, USDT, USDC or USD and trade across 350+ instruments, including forex pairs, commodities like gold and oil, global indices including the Nasdaq and S&P 500, individual shares, and crypto futures, all from that single account. When the Nasdaq moves on a Fed decision, you can be in position within seconds. When oil spikes on a geopolitical headline, your crypto margin is already there.

What PXTrader 2.0 gives you in practice

The platform is built around the reality that active traders rarely stay in one market for long. That thinking is reflected across the entire trading experience.

Leverage goes up to 1:1000 depending on the market, with cross or isolated margin giving you precise control over exposure. You decide how much of your balance backs each trade, not the platform. Hedge mode and netting mode give you further flexibility over how positions interact, depending on your strategy.

Spreads are tighter on PXTrader 2.0 than on the previous PXTrader platform. On CFDs, spreads start from 0.2 pips, with VIP tiers offering discounts of up to 25% as trading activity increases. On crypto futures, fees start from 0.01% maker and 0.045% taker, while with VIP tiers you can reduce taker fees to as low as 0.015%. For traders who are active across multiple markets daily, tighter pricing compounds into a real cost advantage over time.

The charting tools are powered by TradingView, with 100+ indicators, no indicator limit, and multi-chart layouts that let you track several markets simultaneously. Execution happens in the same interface. One-click trading, a clean order form with limit, stop and market orders, and a customised buy/sell on-chart tile for fast entries in volatile conditions. You are not switching between analysis and execution. You are doing both in one place.

MetaTrader 5 is also integrated for traders who prefer that environment, all within the same PrimeXBT ecosystem.

The practical side

There is no minimum deposit for trading accounts and no withdrawal fees. If you need to convert between crypto and fiat, you can do it inside the platform without touching any external exchange.

PrimeXBT was crypto-native before that phrase existed. The idea that digital assets and global markets belong in the same environment was not a product pivot or a response to a trend. It was the original premise, built in 2018 and still running the same logic today. That same foundation now powers PXTrader 2.0.

Being positioned to act fast

This year repeatedly showed why cross-market access and capital flexibility matter. When tensions around the Strait of Hormuz escalated, oil, currencies, gold and crypto all reacted within the same session. The traders who captured those moves were not the ones scrambling to transfer funds between platforms. They were already in position, because their capital was already there. 

This is where PrimeXBT continues to make a difference, offering a trading environment where crypto and global markets operate within a single ecosystem.

Start trading with PrimeXBT.

About PrimeXBT

PrimeXBT is a global multi-asset broker and crypto asset service provider trusted by traders in more than 150 countries. The platform bridges traditional and digital markets within one integrated environment, redefining versatility and innovation in online trading. Clients can access Forex, CFDs on indices, commodities, shares, crypto, and Crypto Futures, as well as buy, store and exchange cryptocurrencies. This unified experience extends across both the native PXTrader 2.0 platform and MetaTrader 5, supported by advanced risk-management tools and a wide range of funding options in crypto, fiat and local payment methods. Since 2018, PrimeXBT has focused on empowering traders through broad multi-asset access, fair and transparent conditions, professional-grade technology and dedicated human support. By combining expertise, trust and a client-first approach, PrimeXBT sets a benchmark of excellence in the financial industry and provides traders with the tools they need to trade, grow and succeed with confidence.

Disclaimer: The content provided here is for informational purposes only and is not intended as personal investment advice and does not constitute a solicitation or invitation to engage in any financial transactions, investments, or related activities. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future results. The financial products offered by the Company are complex and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. These products may not be suitable for all investors. Before engaging, you should consider whether you understand how these leveraged products work and whether you can afford the high risk of losing your money. The Company does not accept clients from the Restricted Jurisdictions as indicated on its website / T&Cs. Some products and services, including MT5, may not be available in your jurisdiction. The applicable legal entity and its respective products and services depend on the client’s country of residence and the entity with which the client has established a contractual relationship during registration.

 

Bitcoin treasury company Strategy announced on Friday that it will repurchase $1.5 billion in 0% convertible notes, due in 2029, retiring about half of the 2029 convertible note tranche’s total outstanding debt.

Strategy entered into “privately negotiated transactions” with a portion of its 0% senior convertible note holders on Thursday, agreeing to repurchase the debt for an estimated $1.38 billion, according to the company’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filing.

The transaction is set to settle on Tuesday of the week following the publication of this article, the company said, adding that the final repurchase amount could “vary” from the estimated amount based on market conditions. The company added:

“Strategy expects to fund the repurchases with available cash reserves, proceeds from sales of securities under its at-the-market offering program, and/or proceeds from the sale of bitcoin.” 

Strategy’s SEC filing documenting the 2029 convertible note repurchase. Source: Strategy

The move follows comments made by Strategy co-founder Michael Saylor in May 2026, signaling that the company could sell a portion of its Bitcoin holdings to fund dividend payments, and earlier comments in February that the company plans to equitize its debt in the coming years.

Related: Strategy’s Bitcoin engine faces $28B STRC ceiling: Delphi Digital

Strategy plans to swap its convertible debt for equity over the next 3-6 years

Strategy plans on equitizing its convertible debt over the next 3-6 years, gradually turning holders of its credit instruments into equity holders.

This would reduce the debt burden on the company, but would also dilute existing stockholder value by adding new equity shares.

Source: Michael Saylor

Strategy has about $8.2 billion in total outstanding debt at the time of publication, according to data from the company, and has funded its BTC buys in 2026 primarily through its Stretch Perpetual Preferred Stock (STRC).

On Thursday, STRC hit $1.5 billion in daily trading volume, setting a new record for the equity instrument, and signaling strong investor interest.

The company’s most recent Bitcoin purchase occurred on Monday, when it bought 535 Bitcoin for $43 million, bringing its total Bitcoin holdings to 818,869 coins, valued at about $64 billion, using BTC’s spot market price at the time of publication.

Magazine: Big Questions: Can Bitcoin save you from the dreaded Cantillon Effect?

DOGEBALL presale extension draws attention as investors compare top utility-focused crypto projects in 2026.

Missing an extended window to get into an explosive utility project before its price skyrockets can cost thousands in missed profits. Right now, heavy trading volume is shifting toward networks with actual utility as the industry prepares for a major breakout. 

In this structural breakdown, the article examines the concrete data behind Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Chainlink, and Sui to see how they stack up against a disruptive newcomer. Due to an overwhelming wave of community requests, the highly anticipated DOGEBALL presale has officially been extended after experiencing explosive initial growth. 

This extension gives investors a sudden second chance to lock in massive value before the token shifts to its next pricing tier. For those who want to make an informed, data-backed choice for their portfolio, evaluating these projects will show exactly which asset stands out as the best crypto to buy right now.

Secure a stake in the best crypto to buy right now by grabbing DOGEBALL tokens at the current $0.0005 rate before the next timed stage triggers an automatic price increase.

Best crypto to buy right now: DOGEBALL details

DOGEBALL is a high-performance transactional ecosystem built on a custom Ethereum Layer 2 blockchain called DOGECHAIN, seamlessly blending GameFi and PayFi utility. The project introduces the revolutionary DOGEPAY application, a real-world payment solution that allows users to send crypto globally while the receiver collects fiat directly into their bank account. Supporting over 30 currencies with zero hidden FX fees and near-instant global transactions, this platform eliminates expensive traditional remittance delays and traditional banking intermediaries entirely.

Choosing this crypto presale over established layer-1 chains gives buyers an asset backed by direct, unshakeable utility and constant ecosystem demand. Unlike tokens that rely purely on social media speculation, $DOGEBALL functions as the primary fuel for all network transaction fees, staking rewards, and play-to-earn game microtransactions. This deep integration within gaming and global payments ensures continuous, programmatic buying pressure that drives long-term value, making it a stellar addition for anyone looking for the best crypto to buy right now.

Claim 3000% ROI second chance before this extended presale closes permanently

Missing out on the early stages of a high-utility project is a mistake people do not want to make twice, and this surprise extension is an absolute final warning. With over $287K+ already raised from 1000+ fast-moving participants in Stage 3, the team took drastic steps on Monday 11th May 2026 by burning 4 billion tokens, wiping out 20% of the entire presale allocation to skyrocket scarcity. 

The project has officially transitioned into a strict, 20-stage timed presale where each stage lasts a maximum of 7 days before the price ticks upward, and all unsold tokens are permanently burned. With a guaranteed exchange launch price of $0.015 backed by a premier web3 launch partner, entering at today’s $0.0005 price point secures a staggering 3000% ROI potential. 

For example, a simple $500 investment today buys exactly 1,000,000 tokens, which converts into $15,000 the moment the token hits exchanges. Enter the active bonus code on the updated timed widget today to claim extra tokens right now, because once these 20 short stages wrap up, this low-price window is gone forever, proving why this is the best crypto to buy right now.

Bitcoin holds firm at $79,000 as institutional spot ETF inflows absorb market supply

Bitcoin continues to showcase institutional strength as its price stabilizes firmly around the $79,000 level. Steady inflows into spot ETFs from Wall Street asset managers are consistently soaking up available exchange supply, offsetting minor retail selling pressure.

With its total market dominance holding strong at 58%, the asset provides a secure foundation for any digital portfolio. While it does not offer the massive multipliers found in early presales, its deep liquidity makes it the ultimate option for long-term capital preservation.

Ethereum tests crucial $2,200 support while restaking and layer 2 rollups scale transaction volume

Ethereum is currently navigating a vital consolidation phase, actively testing key structural support levels right around $2,200. Despite temporary market fluctuations, its developer ecosystem remains highly active, driven by surging liquid restaking volume.

As the foundational layer for major decentralized applications, its long-term network security is unrivaled. The massive adoption of layer-2 rollups ensures that Ethereum remains the primary hub for institutional decentralized finance protocols globally.

Solana dominates retail trading volume via high-throughput monolithic architecture and zero fees

Solana is capturing massive retail transaction metrics by delivering blazing-fast execution speeds and virtually zero fees. Its unique monolithic design processes thousands of transactions per second without relying on complex, fragmented layer-2 scaling solutions.

The network experiences immense daily engagement across real-time consumer apps and decentralized physical infrastructure networks. This ability to handle high-frequency microtransactions effortlessly ensures Solana remains a prime choice for real-time Web3 scalability.

XRP expands cross-border remittance integration with global banks via clear regulatory frameworks

XRP remains highly focused on transforming international corporate liquidity pipelines and global settlement tracking. Operating under clear regulatory guidelines, the underlying ledger allows international financial entities to settle multi-currency transactions instantly.

By completely bypassing traditional correspondent clearing banks, the network dramatically cuts transaction costs for multinational organizations. This deep integration into legacy cross-border financial systems guarantees consistent, utility-driven transactional demand over time.

Chainlink cross-chain interoperability protocol standardizes secure real-world asset tokenization

Chainlink continues to solidify its role as the definitive decentralized oracle network, securing tens of billions in smart contract value. Its Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol has officially become the universal standard for secure inter-blockchain data and value transfers.

The protocol connects traditional banking systems with public ledgers, allowing legacy institutions to interact seamlessly with tokenized real-world assets. This critical infrastructure positioning provides a permanent, non-speculative baseline of demand for the platform.

Sui attracts enterprise adoption with Sui spheres launch and CME Group futures listing

Sui has captured substantial enterprise momentum following the official launch of Sui Spheres in May 2026. This technical feature allows large corporations to deploy highly secure, private workflows that connect directly to the public mainnet.

Furthermore, the recent listing of regulated Sui futures on the CME Group derivatives exchange highlights a massive surge in institutional demand. Its advanced Move architecture guarantees sub-second finality, offering a highly scalable playground for enterprise apps.

Why the DOGEBALL presale outshines major assets for immediate gains

Building a highly profitable portfolio requires a deliberate balance between established legacy networks and high-upside utility tokens. While Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, XRP, Chainlink, and Sui deliver foundational network security and steady institutional growth, their immense market caps make short-term exponential gains highly unlikely. For those who are are looking to maximize their immediate returns, rotating capital into early-stage utility ecosystems offers the most powerful strategic advantage.

The extended DOGEBALL presale represents a unique market mismatch where investors can secure massive layer-2 and payment utility at a steep discount. By solving real-world remittance and global gaming payout issues with zero FX fees, this project establishes a rock-solid foundation for explosive, long-term post-launch demand. Capitalizing on this extended window gives someone an exceptional entry point before the timed stages expire, cementing this project as the undisputed best crypto to buy right now.

For more information, visit the official website, Telegram, and X.

FAQs for best crypto to buy right now

Which crypto is best to invest now as the best crypto to buy right now?

The best crypto to buy right now is DOGEBALL. Its current $0.0005 timed presale price offers an exceptional 3000% ROI potential at launch while providing high-utility, zero FX fee global payment solutions that disrupt traditional remittance banking.

Which crypto is going to boom?

DOGEBALL is positioned to boom due to its custom Ethereum Layer 2 technology and the DOGEPAY application. This ecosystem allows users to send crypto worldwide while receivers instantly collect local fiat directly into their bank accounts with zero FX fees.

Which crypto will give 1000x in 2026?

DOGEBALL stands out for explosive growth during the DOGEBALL crypto presale 2026. After a massive 4 billion token burn that slashed 20% of the presale supply, its 20-stage timed rollout ensures rapid token scarcity before exchange listing.

The world’s two largest economies just agreed to stop punching each other in the wallet. China announced it has reached a tentative agreement with the United States on tariff reductions and trade cooperation, a development that could reshape global risk sentiment and, by extension, the appetite for digital assets.

The arrangement, formalized as the “Kuala Lumpur Joint Arrangement,” includes reciprocal tariff reductions, suspended retaliatory measures, and a commitment from Beijing to lift export controls on critical minerals. For crypto investors, the signal isn’t subtle: when the US and China de-escalate, money tends to flow toward riskier assets. Bitcoin and Ethereum have historically benefited from exactly this kind of macro thaw.

What’s actually in the deal

The agreement covers several fronts, but the headline number is a 10 percentage point reduction in US tariffs on Chinese imports. That cut is specifically targeted at goods linked to fentanyl flows, tying trade policy to the ongoing opioid crisis in a way that gives both sides political cover.

On China’s side, Beijing has agreed to suspend retaliatory tariffs and non-tariff measures against US goods that date back to March 2025. The result adjusts China’s tariff rate on US exports to approximately 21.9%, a meaningful step down from the escalatory levels that had been rattling supply chains for months.

Here’s where it gets interesting for the tech and crypto world. China has also pledged to eliminate export controls on rare earth elements and critical minerals. These materials are the unglamorous backbone of everything from semiconductor fabrication to the hardware that powers blockchain infrastructure. Restricted access to them had been quietly choking supply chains across the technology sector.

Beijing also committed to stopping retaliation against US semiconductor firms and easing trade restrictions that had been hammering the chip sector. In English: the two countries are agreeing to stop weaponizing the components that modern technology literally cannot function without.

Why crypto markets are paying attention

Look, a tariff agreement between the US and China isn’t a crypto event in any direct sense. Nobody is trading rare earth futures on Uniswap. But the indirect effects are substantial, and dismissing them would be a mistake.

Trade wars create uncertainty. Uncertainty makes institutional investors retreat to cash and treasuries. When that uncertainty lifts, capital rotates back into risk assets. Crypto sits firmly in the “risk asset” category, whether Bitcoin maximalists like it or not.

The pattern has played out repeatedly. Every major de-escalation in US-China trade tensions over the past several years has coincided with improved performance in both equities and digital assets. The mechanism isn’t mysterious: when global supply chains look stable, companies invest more, economic forecasts improve, and investors feel comfortable reaching for higher returns.

The critical minerals component adds another layer. Semiconductor supply chains directly affect the hardware used in Bitcoin mining, AI computation, and the broader infrastructure supporting blockchain networks. Lifting export controls on these materials could ease cost pressures for mining operations that depend on specialized chips manufactured with rare earth inputs.

There’s also the currency angle. Trade tensions between the US and China have historically driven volatility in the yuan, which in turn has sometimes pushed Chinese capital toward Bitcoin as a hedge. A more stable trade relationship could reduce that particular flow, but the net effect of improved global risk sentiment likely more than compensates.

The bigger picture

This agreement didn’t materialize overnight. US-China trade relations have been deteriorating in waves since 2018, with tariffs, counter-tariffs, and export controls escalating through multiple administrations. The measures suspended under this deal trace back to a particularly aggressive round of retaliatory actions from March 2025, when both sides appeared to be settling in for a prolonged economic standoff.

The fact that the arrangement was formalized in Kuala Lumpur rather than Washington or Beijing is itself notable. Neutral ground suggests both sides wanted to signal cooperation rather than capitulation. Neither government can afford to look like it blinked, which is why the deal is structured as reciprocal rather than one-sided.

For the semiconductor industry specifically, China’s pledge to stop retaliating against US chip firms addresses one of the most contentious flashpoints in the relationship. US restrictions on advanced chip exports to China had triggered a cycle of counter-measures that was starting to fragment the global semiconductor supply chain into competing blocs.

What investors should actually watch

The word “tentative” is doing a lot of heavy lifting here. Trade agreements between the US and China have a history of being announced with fanfare and then quietly eroding as implementation details prove difficult. The Phase One trade deal from 2020 is the cautionary tale: ambitious targets, underwhelming follow-through.

Investors should watch whether China actually lifts those critical mineral export controls in practice, not just on paper. Rare earth processing is concentrated in China to a degree that gives Beijing enormous leverage, and relinquishing that leverage permanently seems unlikely regardless of what any agreement says.

The 21.9% tariff rate on US exports to China, while lower than recent peaks, is still meaningfully elevated by historical standards. This is a de-escalation, not a return to free trade. The structural competition between the two economies hasn’t gone away.

For crypto specifically, the key metric to monitor is whether this agreement translates into sustained improvement in global risk appetite. Bitcoin has been increasingly correlated with macro sentiment, and a genuine trade detente could provide tailwinds through the rest of the year. But if implementation stalls or new friction points emerge, those tailwinds reverse quickly.

The semiconductor supply chain developments deserve particular scrutiny from anyone invested in proof-of-work mining operations or the broader blockchain infrastructure sector. Cheaper, more accessible chip manufacturing inputs would be structurally positive for mining economics. Whether that actually materializes depends entirely on whether Beijing follows through on the critical minerals commitments, something the market should price cautiously until there’s evidence of real action.

A Jerusalem family that lost relatives in a 1997 Hamas suicide bombing is among the plaintiffs pushing a US federal court to order Tether to hand over hundreds of millions in frozen digital currency.

The case, filed in Manhattan, could set a significant legal precedent for how courts treat centralized stablecoin issuers.

A Decades-Old Debt

The plaintiffs are survivors and family members of victims from Iran-linked terrorist attacks. They hold court judgments against Iran that were awarded years ago — judgments that have never been paid.

Now they are targeting a pile of frozen cryptocurrency as a way to collect what they are owed.

Attorney Charles Gerstein filed the lawsuit Thursday in the US District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Filing against Tether submitted by Attorney Charles Gerstein.

His clients say they have a legal claim to two Tron blockchain wallet addresses holding roughly 344 million USDT. Those wallets were frozen earlier this year by the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, which identified them as linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The plaintiffs are not asking Tether to simply release those specific wallets. According to reports, they want a court order directing Tether to transfer an equivalent amount of USDT to their legal team’s wallet address.

Why Tether Can Be Compelled

Unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum, USDT is controlled by a central company. Tether can freeze wallets, block transactions, and move funds when ordered to do so. That centralized structure is at the heart of Gerstein’s legal argument.

Because a prior order already froze the wallets — something only possible because Tether has direct operational control — he contends the company can also be ordered to move the funds.

BTCUSD trading at $78,115 on the 24-hour chart: TradingView

The ownership question, he argues, is already largely settled: OFAC has already declared the wallets to be IRGC-controlled assets, which clears a path for seizure under US terrorism statutes.

Broader Legal Campaign

This is not Gerstein’s only case of this kind. Based on reports, he has filed similar actions involving North Korea-linked cyber operations against the Arbitrum platform. He is also handling a separate case involving Railgun DAO, a privacy-focused crypto protocol.

The Manhattan filing is part of what appears to be a coordinated legal push to test whether courts can compel crypto platforms with centralized control to act on frozen assets held in sanctioned wallets.

Featured image from CEPA, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin (BTC) circled $78,000 on Saturday after geopolitical headwinds erased most of its May gains.

Key points:

• Bitcoin falls below $78,000 for the first time since the start of May.
• Oil-supply woes combine with existing nerves over US bond markets, adding to headwinds for risk assets.
• Support weakness has traders looking at $75,000 and under next, while optimists see a “bear trap” forming.

Multiple hurdles “coming together” for crypto, risk assets

Data from TradingView confirmed new lows of $77,614 on the day — the lowest levels since May 1.

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

Downside pressure stemming from concerns over US government bonds continued, with the US-Iran war also at the forefront of traders’ minds.

Iran appeared to be pressing ahead with a toll system for transit through the Strait of Hormuz — the epicenter of a global oil-supply squeeze — while keeping US traffic out.

As reported by trading resource The Kobeissi Letter among others, Hormuz would reportedly “remain closed to the operators of Project Freedom.”

On Friday, analysis from Mosaic Asset Company spelled out the problems of the current geopolitical and macroeconomic climate for risk assets.

“The prospect for another inflation wave is lining up with similarities to the surge in price levels into mid-2022,” it wrote in its latest Mosaic Chart Alerts blog post. 

“Disrupted supply chains from last year’s trade war, impact of war on energy markets, and stimulus via large federal budget deficits are coming together at the same time.”

CFDs on US WTI crude oil one-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

WTI crude oil finished the week trading above $100 per barrel.

Bitcoin price action teases “bear trap”

Among Bitcoin traders, there were ongoing mixed feelings about the bears’ strength below $80,000.

Related: Bitcoin price history suggests 77% odds of new all-time high within a year

“Over the last couple of days, the price has been going down slightly, while the open interest has climbed up. But things become interesting if we correlate this with Funding Rates, which have flipped negative,” X trading account Cryptic Trades wrote on X. 

“This shows us that bears are DOUBLING DOWN right now and betting on a breakdown. It also shows that even though the market structure remains intact, bears are shorting as if a breakdown already happened. That’s generally how bear-traps are formed.”

BTC/USDT chart with open interest, funding rate data. Source: Cryptic Trades/X

For analyst Eric Coleman, a target for new local lows lay at around $75,000.

“BTC went down after the breakdown retest of the ascending triangle,” he summarized alongside a chart showing relevant support/resistance flip levels.

BTC/USDT four-hour chart. Source: Eric Coleman/X

Examining exchange order-book liquidity, Daan Crypto Trades highlighted $71,000 as the nearest zone of interest below price.

“The longer price compresses around this $80K region, the more liquidity will be building up on both sides which should result in a larger more aggressive move at some point,” he told X followers.

BTC/USDT liquidation heatmap. Source: Daan Crypto Trades/X