Bitcoin is causing an increasing rift among market participants when it comes to whether the bull market will continue and all-time highs will come next. Key points: BTC price action retargets $105,000 after the Wall Street open, rising 2.5% from the day’s lows. Volatility continues, leading market participants to varying conclusions over what will happen to BTC/USD next. Read more
Bitcoin may drop toward $100,000 this week after running into resistance above the $106,000 level, among other catalysts. Key takeaways: Bitcoin price fell 1.4% to $102,460 amid US economic concerns, with daily trading volume up 94%, indicating the return of sellers. Moody’s US credit downgrade to Aa1 and a class-action lawsuit against Strategy add to BTC’s headwinds. Read more
Several countries have announced multibillion-dollar plans to build out the world’s crypto hub, but five of the world’s financial centers stand out. Kazakhstan, the Maldives and Pakistan have recently outlined ambitions to position themselves as crypto hubs and build out their digital economies. Historically, these countries haven’t been top of mind for global crypto firms — though Kazakhstan did have a brief moment in the spotlight as a go-to destination for Bitcoin (BTC) miners after China’s mining ban. Meanwhile, established financial centers are now in a race to become the world’s leading crypto hub by finding the right balance of regulation, talent, capital and infrastructure. Read more
Community sales redefine crypto fundraising by enabling retail investors to participate in early-stage Web3 projects under transparent, equitable terms. This model aligns with crypto's core values. Opinion by: Darius Moukhtarzadeh, Research Strategist at 21Shares A new wave of crypto fundraising is emerging, changing how Web3 projects launch and who can invest at an early stage: Community Sales. At first glance, community sales may seem reminiscent of the ICO (Initial Coin Offering) era from 2016–2017. Yet, they represent a significant evolution that better aligns with crypto's core values of democratization, transparency, and inclusivity. Projects should include community sales as a core element of their fundraising strategy, besides raising from angel investors and VCs. Professional investors should embrace community sales as they highly increase the chances of sustainable success of Web3 projects. Read more
Father-son team Kain and Laban Roomes are using XRP Ledger to track and dispense medicines in Uganda and are listing the startup in Canada. Its been a long road for entrepreneur Laban Roomes and his footballer-turned-crypto founder son Kain, but their XRP Healthcare startup is in the process of going public on the Canadian stock exchange. They co-founded the Dubai-incorporated company with the goal of modernizing healthcare in Africa by combining crypto infrastructure, artificial intelligence, and real-world services. It operates a digital healthcare platform as well as a chain of pharmacies in Uganda using the XRP Ledger to track pharmaceutical supplies and patient outcomes. In the West, we take reliable pharmacies and access to medication for granted, says Laban. In parts of Uganda, that just isnt the case. This is about changing that and starting on the ground, not in the metaverse. Read more
Chinese printer maker Procolored reportedly spread clipboard-hijacking Bitcoin malware via its official drivers in a supply chain attack that led to over $950,000 in stolen funds. Chinese printer manufacturer Procolored distributed Bitcoin-stealing malware alongside its official drivers, according to local media reports. Chinese news outlet Landian News reported on May 19 that Shenzhen-based printer company Procolored has been distributing Bitcoin-stealing (BTC) malware alongside official drivers. The company reportedly used USB drivers to distribute malware-ridden drivers and uploaded the compromised software to cloud storage for global download. A total of 9.3 BTC worth over $953,000 have been stolen, according to the report. Crypto tracking and compliance firm Slow Mist described how the malware operates in a May 19 X post: Read more