Today's Crypto Pulse
Bitcoin crashes below $65,000 amid $1.86B liquidations and Saylor sell‑off
Bitcoin slipped under the $65,000 psychological barrier on June 3, sparking a 12% weekly decline. The drop triggered roughly $1.86 billion in leveraged futures liquidations and a $2.97 billion outflow from spot Bitcoin ETFs over ten sessions. Michael Saylor added pressure by selling 32 BTC, valued at about $2.5 million.
Also developing:
By the numbers: Strive acquires 2,500 Bitcoin for $185.2M
Animoca Brands Expands Web3 Portfolio with Acquisition of SOMO
Animoca Brands has completed its acquisition of SOMO, a crypto‑collectibles and interactive entertainment startup. The deal adds gacha‑style on‑chain games to Animoca’s portfolio, which already includes The Sandbox, Open Campus and the Moca Network. By integrating SOMO’s technology, Animoca aims to enable cross‑game asset sharing and strengthen its position as a backbone for digital‑collectible economies. Executives say the move creates a cultural operating system that will expand user reach through Animoca’s global network.
DOJ Didn't Sell Bitcoin Forfeited From Samourai Case: White House Advisor
The U.S. Department of Justice confirmed that the Bitcoin seized from the Samourai Wallet case has not been liquidated and will stay in the Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR). The confirmation, relayed by White House crypto advisor Patrick Witt, quashes rumors...
Bull, Base or Bear? Three Possible Paths for Crypto in 2026
Bitcoin’s 2026 outlook centers on a tightening supply curve that could push the price past $95,494, with the next rally potentially driven by institutional capital rather than retail demand. Ether is targeted at $3,295, reflecting growing institutional adoption and a...
Crypto Exchange BTCC Claims to Have Booked $5 Billion in Tokenized Gold Trading Volume
Vilnius‑based crypto exchange BTCC announced it traded $5.72 billion in tokenized gold during 2025, surpassing the $5 billion milestone. The fourth quarter alone generated $2.74 billion, an 809 % increase from Q1. BTCC also reported $53.1 billion in total tokenized gold futures volume, driven by...
NASA Develops Blockchain Technology to Enhance Air Travel Safety and Security
NASA researchers conducted a drone‑based flight test at Ames Research Center using an open‑source blockchain framework to secure real‑time transmission of flight data. The system proved capable of protecting telemetry, flight plans and operator registrations from interception or tampering. By...
US Lender Newrez to Accept Crypto Holdings in Mortgage Approval
Newrez will treat eligible cryptocurrency holdings—including Bitcoin, Ether, spot ETFs and US‑dollar‑backed stablecoins—as qualifying assets in its mortgage underwriting, beginning in February for non‑agency home purchase, refinance and investment loans. The assets must be held on US‑regulated exchanges, fintech platforms,...
Bags Launchpad Activity Surges After GAS Token Soars 700%
Bags.fm, a Solana‑based token launchpad, saw explosive activity after the Gas Town token (GAS) surged 682% in 24 hours. Other new tokens such as RALPH, CMEM, VVM, TERRA and RedwoodJS posted gains ranging from 400% to over 80,000%. The platform...
Hacker Steals $282 Million Crypto in Hardware Wallet Social-Engineering Attack
A hacker executed a sophisticated social‑engineering attack on a hardware wallet, stealing roughly $282 million worth of Bitcoin and Litecoin. The stolen assets—1,459 BTC and 2.05 million LTC—were quickly swapped for the privacy coin Monero and partially bridged to Ethereum, Ripple, and Litecoin via...
Tom Lee's BitMine Pushes Ethereum Into $8 Billion Staking Backlog
Ethereum’s validator entry queue has swelled to over 2.55 million ETH, worth roughly $8.3 billion, creating a 44‑day wait—the longest since July 2023. The surge is driven by BitMine Immersion, which has already staked more than 1.25 million ETH from its $13 billion treasury. With...
Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union Partners with InvestiFi on Digital Investing
Mid Minnesota Federal Credit Union has teamed with InvestiFi to embed a full‑stack InvestTech platform into its online banking suite. The integration will let roughly 60,000 members trade more than 6,500 stocks and ETFs, plus over 25 digital assets, directly...
Tokenised Rewards Reshape Digital Loyalty Economics
Tokenised loyalty programs are converting static points into portable, programmable digital assets that give customers true ownership via secure wallets. This shift enables rewards to move across apps, creating network effects and simplifying partner integrations. For growth teams, tokenised incentives...
Crypto Bridge Swap Alternative: Why IronWallet Changes Everything
IronWallet launches a non‑custodial wallet that eliminates gas fees for swaps on five major blockchains, including Ethereum, BSC, Polygon, Solana, and Tron. The platform supports over ten thousand tokens across more than ten networks, allowing users to manage diversified portfolios...
HR Services Provider Gusto Taps Zerohash to Speed up Global Payouts with Stablecoins
Gusto, the payroll and HR platform serving over 400,000 small businesses, has launched a beta program with crypto infrastructure provider Zerohash to enable stablecoin payouts for international contractors. The new option lets eligible workers receive U.S. dollar‑denominated stablecoins with settlement...
PNC Bank CEO Says Stablecoins Must Choose: Be a Payment Tool or a Money Market Fund
PNC Bank CEO Bill Demchak told investors that stablecoins must be classified either as payment tools or as money‑market‑fund‑like investment products. He warned that offering interest blurs that line and would subject tokens to the same strict oversight applied to...
Crypto Card Spending Hits $18 Billion Annualized as Stablecoin Use Shifts to Everyday Payments
Crypto credit and debit cards have surged from roughly $100 million in early 2023 to over $1.5 billion monthly by late 2025, creating an $18 billion annualized spend that nearly matches peer‑to‑peer stablecoin transfers. The market grew at a 106 % compound annual growth...
Riot Platforms Surges 11% as Lease Deal with AMD Marks Major AI Infrastructure Pivot
Riot Platforms surged 11% after buying a 200‑acre Texas parcel for $96 million, funded by selling about 1,080 bitcoin, and signing a 10‑year, 25 MW data‑center lease with AMD. The AMD agreement is expected to generate $311 million in revenue, with options that...
Early 2026 Tailwinds for Bitcoin Miners as Hashrate Falls, Profitability Improves: JPMorgan
JPMorgan reports that U.S.-listed bitcoin miners added $13 billion in market value during the first two weeks of 2026, bringing the sector’s total capitalization to roughly $62 billion. A modest rise in Bitcoin price combined with a 2 % drop in network hashrate...
CoinDesk 20 Performance Update: Bitcoin Cash (BCH) Gains 3.1%, Leading Index Higher
The CoinDesk 20 Index rose 0.3% to 2,985.7 points on Thursday, driven by strong gains in Bitcoin Cash (BCH) and Aave (AAVE). BCH led the pack with a 3.1% increase, while AAVE added 1.4%, pushing ten of the twenty assets higher....
FOGO: Performance First, Proof Later
FOGO is building a high‑performance execution layer that is fully compatible with Solana’s smart‑contract ecosystem. The project emphasizes ultra‑low latency, high throughput, and real‑time user experiences, positioning itself for traders, gaming platforms, and other latency‑sensitive applications. While the design promises...
From Memecoins to Machines: Why Web3’s ‘Real Economy’ Narrative Is Relevant in 2026
In 2025 the crypto sector pivoted from meme‑driven speculation to measurable fundamentals, driven largely by decentralized physical infrastructure networks (DePIN). Projects began reporting on‑chain revenue, making protocol earnings the new benchmark for valuation. This shift underpins the emerging "machine economy,"...
Fintech Recap: Kontig-Uh-Oh. Are Stablecoins Speed Running BaaS?
In this bonus Fintech Recap episode, Jason and Alex Johnson dissect the controversial rise of Kontigo, a Y Combinator- and Coinbase-backed startup accused of facilitating sanctions evasion. They clarify AML versus sanctions, detail Kontigo's retail service and the hidden role...
Web3 Revenue Shifts From Blockchains to Wallets and DeFi Apps
Revenue in crypto is increasingly captured by user‑facing DeFi applications rather than base‑layer blockchains. Data from Real Vision and DeFiLlama shows DeFi fees are five times higher than blockchain fees, with stablecoin issuer Tether alone generating $563 million in the last...
Huione-Linked Tudou Guarantee Winds Down Amid $130M USDT Refunds: Bitrace
Tudou Guarantee, a Telegram‑based escrow tied to Cambodia’s Huione Group, has refunded more than $130 million in USDT since early 2026 and announced it is winding down operations. The refunds, which peaked at $18.1 million in a single day, signal a retreat...
Why 2026 May Defy Bitcoin’s Expected Surge
𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝗳 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀𝗻'𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗵 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝘀? That was my main question to Raoul Pal in our latest conversation. Raoul is one of the most respected macro voices in finance. When he speaks, institutions listen. But I wanted...
Beeple's Gigachad NFTs Poised to Become Warhol-Level Icons
I still think the GIGACHAD 1/100's by @beeple will end up as iconic and as valuable as Warhol Marylyn's...and a stupendous investment too. https://t.co/uGOanD3xhm
Finunion Makes Crypto Payments Actually Work for Businesses
Finunion has launched a live B2B crypto payments platform that lets companies invoice, collect and manage crypto transactions without extra integrations. The system supports one‑time and recurring invoices, generates payment links, and consolidates all activity in a single dashboard. Payments...
BTC Rebound Likely Bear Rally, Not Reversal, Says CryptoQuant
UPDATE: CryptoQuant says BTC’s ~21% rebound since Nov. 21 looks like a bear market rally, not a trend reversal. They warn demand is weak, spot buying is contracting, and ETF inflows are muted. Source: The Block https://t.co/YgkEwjYAoa
Community Banks Face Bigger Threat Than Stablecoins
The biggest threat to community banks isn’t stablecoins 🏦 @CampbellJAustin explains what actually is 👇 https://t.co/oAs3VHUr6c
TZERO, North Capital to Unveil ATS Connector Agora
tZERO Group and North Capital Investment Technology have launched Agora, a technology network that links alternative trading systems (ATS) to broaden market access for tokenized and private securities. The platform lets securities listed on one ATS be traded by qualified...
Banks Lobby to Block Crypto Yields, Keep Profits
The banks are actively stopping Crypto Market Structure because they are using YOUR money to lobby against yield, rewards and interest on YOUR money. They want all the profit for themselves. KEEP FIGHTING MR.ARMSTRONG https://t.co/E7O1QEjRgI
NEAR Intents Hits $10B Volume, Network Expands Rapidly
$10B volume. Such volume. Much swaps. More partners are joining every day, growing the network effects of @near_intents
Trump Says ‘Venezuela Leaker’ Jailed as Polymarket Accounts Go Quiet
President Donald Trump announced that the "leaker on Venezuela" has been arrested, reigniting scrutiny of prediction‑market platforms. Blockchain analysts linked the leaker to a cluster of Polymarket wallets that posted outsized bets on Venezuelan political outcomes just before the news...
Stablecoins Could Drain $6 T From Banks
How do Stablecoins pull $6 trillion out of banks If the *entire* market cap of stablecoins is estimated to be $2 trillion by 2030? 🤔
Stablecoin Failures Mirror Banking‑as‑a‑service Risks
Is the stablecoin space "speed running" the problems we saw in banking-as-a-service? @AlexH_Johnson and I did a bonus ep of Fintech Recap, discussing what lessons banks & "infrastructure" companies should learn from the Kontigo mess. https://t.co/kh6Hi6EYHb
DDC Enterprise Buys 200 Bitcoin in First 2026 Treasury Move
DDC Enterprise announced the purchase of 200 Bitcoin, bringing its total holdings to 1,383 BTC and pushing the company to the 44th‑largest public Bitcoin holder. The acquisition was made at an average cost of $88,998 per coin, resulting in a...
Coinbase Abandons Market‑structure Bill, Fracturing Crypto Lobbying Unity
Coinbase pulls support from crypto market structure bill Policy pivot: Coinbase deciding regulatory status quo better than codified framework. Implications for crypto industry - unified lobbying front collapsing. Does this strengthen or weaken path to comprehensive legislation? https://t.co/moOU63OeQc
Gold Surges While Bitcoin Stalls—Key Buying Considerations
Gold’s on a tear. 🚀 Bitcoin mostly is not. Which should you buy? Here are the factors to consider. https://t.co/a249uTrsQf
Banks Push Back as Stablecoin Yields Threaten Deposit Flows
Bank of America chief Brian Moynihan warned that stablecoins offering interest could trigger up to $6 trillion—about a third of U.S. commercial bank deposits—to flee traditional banks. The prospect of 4% on‑chain yields versus sub‑1% savings rates would force banks to...
BlackRock Warns $38T US Debt, Bitcoin as Hedge
BlackRock finally acknowledges the growing $38T the US is facing We are so focused on NEW laws and regulations it keeps growing and won’t stop BITCOIN and not IBIT https://t.co/GbDS0JEOM4
Fed Faces Political Push for Rate Caps, Populism Soars
Capped rates. Political pressure on the Fed. “Economic populism on steroids,” 💥 says @ramahluwalia on Bits + Bips: https://t.co/M6kptqdSmk
Belarus Creates Legal Framework for ‘Cryptobanks’ in New Presidential Decree
Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko signed Decree No. 19 establishing a legal framework for “cryptobanks,” which are joint‑stock companies that can combine token‑based operations with traditional banking services. The decree requires cryptobanks to obtain resident status in the state‑backed Hi‑Tech Park and to register with...
XRP Tops South Korea Crypto Trading in 2025
💥XRP NEWS: XRP was South Korea’s most traded crypto in 2025, surpassing BTC & ETH. XRP/KRW led trading all year, with $1T+ in volume processed on Upbit. Source: coinpaper https://t.co/9qDekrCy8n
All‑in on Crypto: Love Every Major Blockchain
Love Starknet Love Solana Love NEAR Love Bitcoin Love Ethereum Love Zcash Love ZK Bullish.
Nexo Becomes Audi Revolut F1 Team Sponsor in 4-Year Deal
Crypto lender Nexo has inked a four‑year, tens‑million‑dollar sponsorship with the Audi Revolut Formula 1 team, securing category exclusivity for digital assets. The deal embeds Nexo’s branding on the car livery, driver helmets and pit‑crew apparel, and follows a three‑year partnership...
Weekly Roundup 01/16/26 (CLARITY Problems, InfoFi Dead, CA Wealth Tax, Kontigo) (EP.696)
Matt Walsh and Nic Carter recap the week’s blockchain headlines, noting the delayed markup of the Clarity market‑structure bill and Coinbase’s withdrawal of support amid bank lobby pressure. They flag Kontigo’s alleged sanctions‑evasion issues and X’s API change that blocks...
Crypto Evolves From Isolated Islands to Interconnected Hubs
Crypto used to be an ecosystem made of isolated islands. That's the old crypto. New crypto is an ecosystem of hubs with bridges that connect layers, chains, apps, and what not. And that's good.
Southern Utah Man Sentenced to 3 Years in Prison for Crypto-Linked Wire Fraud Scheme
Brian Garry Sewell, a 54‑year‑old from Washington County, Utah, was sentenced to three years in federal prison after pleading guilty to wire fraud. Prosecutors said he defrauded at least 17 investors of roughly $2.9 million between 2017 and 2024 and ran...
Crypto Exchanges Face Ban in South Korea as Google Play Updates Rules
Google announced that, starting Jan. 28, crypto exchange and custodial wallet apps on Google Play in South Korea must upload proof of acceptance of their Virtual Asset Service Provider registration with the country’s Financial Intelligence Unit. The rule targets offshore platforms,...
Moldova Moves to Regulate Crypto Under EU-Style MiCA Rules
Moldova announced plans to adopt its first comprehensive cryptocurrency law by the end of 2026, mirroring the European Union’s Markets in Crypto‑Assets Regulation (MiCA). The draft, being prepared by the finance ministry, the National Bank, the market regulator and the...
Two Prime Selected to Manage $250 Million in Bitcoin for Digital Wealth Partners
Digital Wealth Partners has appointed Two Prime to manage roughly $250 million in bitcoin for its institutional clients, expanding an existing relationship. Two Prime offers a suite of bitcoin‑focused services, including one of the world’s largest bitcoin‑secured lending operations. The mandate...