More
    Home Blog Page 2

    Estonia Suspends Zondacrypto Operator License

    0

    A European regulator has partially suspended the operating license of the company behind troubled crypto exchange Zondacrypto.

    The Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of Estonia partially suspended the license of BB Trade Estonia OÜ, operating under the Zondacrypto brand, according to a statement on Monday.

    According to the FIU, the company is now barred from accepting deposits and onboarding new clients, while existing users are still allowed to withdraw their funds.

    The suspension puts BB Trade Estonia OÜ at risk of losing its operating license if it does not meet compliance requirements set by Estonian authorities.

    Source: FIU

    Zondacrypto faces broader regulatory scrutiny in Europe following withdrawal issues and its CEO saying that an exchange cold wallet holding about 4,500 Bitcoin ($345.9 million) was inaccessible.

    A 30-day compliance window and potential license revocation

    The FIU said that BB Trade Estonia OÜ has 30 days to bring its operations into compliance with legal requirements following the partial suspension of its license.

    “If it fails to do so, the law obliges the FIU to revoke the operating license,” the regulator said.

    The FIU did not specify what compliance breaches led to the suspension. Cointelegraph contacted the authority for comment but did not receive a response at the time of publication.

    Estonia’s Financial Supervision and Resolution Authority (FSA) previously issued a warning against BB Trade on May 8, saying its “TeamPL” crypto token violated the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) because it was listed without a white paper.

    Zondacrypto at center of regulatory debate in Poland

    The suspension comes amid broader concerns around Zondacrypto, including reported withdrawal issues and past comments by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk referencing around 30,000 potential victims linked to crypto-related losses.

    Market data from CoinGecko shows little to no recent trading activity on the exchange at publishing time.

    Cointelegraph was unable to reach Zondacrypto for comment, as email attempts bounced at the time of publication. Key BB Trade staff also left the company following earlier developments involving the exchange.

    Founded in Poland in 2014 as BitBay, Zondacrypto has grown into a major European crypto exchange, particularly among Polish-speaking users.

    Despite its Polish origins, the company has been registered in Estonia since September 2019, according to InfoRegister data, well before the EU’s MiCA regulation fully took effect in late 2024.

    Source: InfoRegister

    Zondacrypto has since become part of a broader regulatory debate in Poland, where officials have raised concerns about its potential links to Russian capital and political influence.

    Related: Polish lawmakers back revised crypto bill after repeated vetoes

    Some Polish policymakers have also criticized delays and inconsistencies in the country’s implementation of MiCA rules, even as the exchange operated under its Estonian registration.

    On Tuesday, the FSA issued a MiCA license to LHV Pank, one of the country’s largest banks, making it the second financial institution in Estonia to receive approval under the EU’s crypto regulatory framework.

    Magazine: eToro founder timed Bitcoin top perfectly due to belief in 4 year cycles

    Source link

    Pump.fun Drives Over a Third of Solana’s Q1 Revenue Despite Memecoin Slowdown

    0

    Pump.fun remained Solana’s largest revenue generator in the first quarter of 2026, pulling in $124.7 million, more than a third of the network’s $342.2 million in total app revenue, despite cooling memecoin activity.

    The memecoin launchpad’s revenue rose 17% quarter over quarter, a sign that its core business remains resilient, Messari said in its Solana Q1 report.

    Launchpads generated $144 million in Q1, roughly 42% of Solana’s total app revenue. A standout within the sector was Bags, whose quarterly revenue surged 1,347% to $11.5 million, fueled by a wave of AI-themed memecoins in January. The surge proved short-lived, with monthly revenue dropping 85% by February.

    Solana revenue. Source: Messari

    Solana’s memecoin revenue is holding up even as the network increasingly attracts a broader range of users, with major institutions like BlackRock, Visa and JPMorgan expanding their presence across its payments and tokenization ecosystem.

    “Memecoins don’t define Solana,” Lily Liu, president of the Solana Foundation, said in a recent interview.

    Related: MoonPay Acquires DFlow, Adding Solana Trading Infrastructure

    Trading apps, RWAs grow on Solana

    Trading apps on Solana were the quarter’s strongest-growing sector overall, with revenue rising 40% to $79 million. Axiom led the pack at $42.4 million, making it the second-highest revenue-generating app on the network.

    Elsewhere, Solana’s real-world asset market cap crossed $2 billion, up 43% in the quarter, led by BlackRock’s BUIDL doubling to $525 million after Anchorage Digital added custody support.

    DeFi total value locked fell 22% to $6.16 billion, though Messari researchers attributed the decline largely to SOL’s 33% price drop rather than user exits. The network’s share of total DeFi TVL remained roughly flat at 6.7%.

    RWAs grow on Solana, fueled by institutional inflows. Source: Messari

    On the infrastructure side, the focus is on Alpenglow, a sweeping consensus upgrade targeting the Agave 4.1 release. If it ships as planned, the upgrade would cut Solana’s transaction finality from around 12.8 seconds to 150 milliseconds.

    Related: Solana Clients Introduce Post-Quantum Solution Falcon

    Goldman Sachs exits Solana positions

    As Cointelegraph reported, Goldman Sachs exited its Solana ETF positions in Q1 2026, dropping stakes in funds from Grayscale, Bitwise and Fidelity.

    Italy’s largest bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, also nearly wiped out its Solana position in Q1 2026, slashing its stake in Bitwise’s Solana ETF from 266,320 shares to just 2,817, even as it more than doubled its total crypto holdings to $235 million by piling into Bitcoin ETFs from ARK 21Shares and BlackRock.

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

    Source link

    AAVE Price Prediction: $95 Target Within 7 Days as DeFi Token Tests Critical Support

    0


    Darius Baruo
    May 19, 2026 10:35

    AAVE sits precariously at $88.54, hugging Bollinger Band support with bearish momentum stalling. Technical bounce toward $95 has 65% probability if $87 support holds, but break below triggers deepe…





    AAVE’s Technical Reality Check

    AAVE is painting a classic oversold bounce setup at $88.54, sitting dangerously close to the lower Bollinger Band at $86.76. With RSI at 39.19, we’re in that sweet spot where momentum hasn’t cratered completely but sellers are clearly exhausted. The MACD histogram flatlining at zero tells the real story – bearish pressure is losing steam without any real bullish conviction emerging yet.

    Trading 6% below the 20-day SMA at $93.99, AAVE has created a technical gap that screams mean reversion. The Bollinger Band position at 0.12 shows we’re essentially kissing the lower boundary, historically a strong bounce zone for this token. However, the price action remains trapped well below all major moving averages, creating resistance layers that will challenge any upward move in Blockchain.news technical analysis patterns.

    Volume & Price Alignment

    The $14.4 million in 24-hour Binance volume tells a story of selective selling rather than panic capitulation. At just 0.50% daily gains despite testing support, AAVE is showing resilience that suggests smart money isn’t dumping aggressively. The narrow trading range between $87.08-$90.11 indicates consolidation rather than distribution.

    Stochastic indicators at %K 11.37 and %D 9.09 are deeply oversold, creating conditions ripe for a technical bounce. The key resistance cluster between $90.07 (immediate) and $91.61 (strong) represents the battleground where any recovery will be tested. Volume patterns suggest buyers are waiting for clearer signals before committing significant capital.

    Market Context and Sentiment

    Current price action reflects broader DeFi sector consolidation, with institutional interest remaining measured rather than aggressive. The absence of major protocol announcements or significant whale movements suggests AAVE is trading purely on technical factors rather than fundamental catalysts.

    Market structure remains fragmented, with no clear directional bias from major trading desks. The token’s behavior mirrors broader altcoin patterns, where technical levels dictate short-term movements more than Blockchain.news fundamental developments in the decentralized finance ecosystem.

    Forward Price Path

    The probability matrix favors a technical bounce to $95 within 7 days at 65% odds, assuming the $87.04 immediate support level holds firm. This target aligns with the gap fill toward the 7-day SMA at $92.13, with momentum carrying through to test the psychological $95 level.

    Downside scenario carries 35% probability, triggered by a break below $87 support that would target the strong support at $85.55 before potentially extending to $82. The 14-day ATR of $5.02 suggests any move will be volatile, creating opportunities for nimble traders.

    For the 30-day outlook, technical models point to a range-bound environment between $82-$98 until broader DeFi sector catalysts emerge. The 200-day SMA at $137.64 remains the ultimate bullish target, but that requires a fundamental shift in market structure that isn’t visible in current data.

    Blockchain.news Crypto Market

    Image source: Shutterstock


    Source link

    Strategy Boosts Bitcoin Holdings With $2B Purchase

    0

    Michael Saylor’s Strategy, the world’s largest public Bitcoin holder, made another massive BTC acquisition last week as the crypto asset hovered around $80,000.

    Strategy acquired 24,869 Bitcoin (BTC) for $2.01 billion between May 11 and 17, according Monday’s 8-K filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission.

    Source: SEC

    The purchases were made at an average price of $80,985 per BTC, raising Strategy’s cost basis to $75,700.

    The company now holds 843,738 BTC, acquired for about $63.87 billion. At the time of publication, the holdings were valued at roughly $65.3 billion, according to CoinGecko.

    STRC sales account for 97% of the entire purchase

    Strategy funded nearly all of its latest Bitcoin purchase through sales of its STRC perpetual preferred stock, which accounted for about 97% of total proceeds.

    According to the SEC filing, Strategy raised roughly $1.95 billion from the sale of about 19.5 million STRC shares.

    In comparison, Strategy’s Class A common stock (MSTR) contributed a smaller share of funding, generating about $83.7 million in net proceeds from the sale of 430,344 shares.

    Source: SEC

    The outcome was broadly in line with expectations from STRC Live, which reported heavy STRC activity during the week, including a record trading day of 15.1 million shares, with estimated purchases of around 15,466 BTC.

    The structure mirrors previous large bitcoin buys this year, including a 34,164 BTC purchase, Strategy’s third-largest on record, which was also largely financed through preferred securities rather than common equity.

    Related: Strategy resumes Bitcoin acquisitions with $43M BTC buy

    Strategy co-founder Saylor previously signaled that the company would add to its Bitcoin holdings by posting a chart showing Strategy’s purchase history with 109 Bitcoin acquisition events since 2020.

    Its 843,738 BTC now far outpaces BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager, which holds around 817,000 BTC on behalf of its clients.

    The purchases came a week after Saylor raised the possibility of selling Bitcoin during Strategy’s recent earnings call, framing it as a way to better protect the asset’s long-term value.

    He said that sticking too rigidly to a “never sell” Bitcoin approach could, over time, work against the very asset the company is built to accumulate and hold.

    Magazine: Bitcoin ETFs bleed $1B, Aave’s $71M ETH unfreeze bid delayed: Hodler’s Digest, May 10 – 16

    Source link

    AAVE Price Prediction: $75 Support Test Imminent as Technical Indicators Signal Breakdown

    0


    Joerg Hiller
    May 18, 2026 08:45

    AAVE trades at $88.43 near critical support, with bearish technical alignment pointing to a 65% probability of testing $75-80 levels within 14 days as DeFi sector headwinds intensify.





    Technical Breakdown Accelerates

    AAVE sits in a precarious position at $88.43, trading dangerously close to its lower Bollinger Band at $87.22. The RSI reading of 38.95 shows the token hasn’t reached oversold territory but lacks any bullish momentum, while the MACD histogram sits flat at zero – indicating both buyers and sellers remain in equilibrium before the next directional move.

    The moving average structure paints a bearish picture across all timeframes. AAVE trades 36% below its 200-day moving average at $138.34 and sits 6% under even its short-term 7-day SMA at $93.14. This comprehensive breakdown below key technical levels suggests more than a temporary pullback – it signals structural weakness that Blockchain.news has observed in other DeFi protocols during similar market stress periods.

    Derivatives Market Dynamics

    Spot trading volume remains subdued at $13.6 million, but futures positioning reveals institutional sentiment. Top traders maintain a 61.4% long bias with a 1.59 long-to-short ratio, yet open interest growth of just 2.26% over 24 hours suggests these positions represent existing holdings rather than fresh conviction trades.

    The funding rate near neutral at 0.0003% indicates no immediate liquidation pressure building in either direction. However, with AAVE’s daily Average True Range at $4.95, the token faces potential 5-6% daily swings that could quickly transform those whale long positions into forced selling if critical support levels fail.

    Market Structure Analysis

    The current technical setup creates multiple pressure points for AAVE’s price action. The token’s position near the lower Bollinger Band combined with weakening momentum indicators suggests limited buying interest at current levels. This technical weakness coincides with broader DeFi sector concerns that have pressured lending protocols across the ecosystem.

    Volume patterns show retail participation declining while institutional positions remain static, creating a scenario where any significant selling pressure could find limited absorption. The derivatives positioning, while showing long bias, lacks the conviction typically needed to defend major support levels during sustained selling pressure.

    Price Target Framework

    The probability matrix for AAVE’s next move heavily weights downside scenarios over the coming weeks. Technical analysis points to a 65% probability of testing the $75-80 support zone within two weeks if the current $86.16 support level breaks. This projection stems from the token’s position below all major moving averages combined with weak momentum readings.

    A successful defense of current support could trigger a relief rally toward $95-98 resistance, though this scenario carries only 35% probability given current market structure. The key variable remains whether institutional long positioning at 61.4% can generate sufficient buying pressure to absorb anticipated retail selling pressure.

    For traders evaluating entry points, the risk-reward profile favors waiting for clearer directional signals. A decisive break below $86 would target the $75 level, while a reclaim above $93 could initiate a bounce toward $100 resistance. Blockchain.news analysis suggests the next 72 hours will prove critical in determining whether AAVE stabilizes or continues its descent toward deeper support levels.

    Blockchain.news Crypto Market

    Image source: Shutterstock


    Source link

    Circle’s API Monetization Tool Uses USDC for AI Agent Payments

    0


    Lawrence Jengar
    May 18, 2026 02:59

    Circle introduces Gateway for API monetization, enabling USDC micropayments by AI agents and seamless revenue withdrawal via Arc Testnet.





    Circle has unveiled a new monetization framework that allows developers to transform APIs into storefronts for autonomous AI agents. The announcement highlights the use of Circle’s Gateway infrastructure to enable USDC micropayments for API calls, with revenue managed and withdrawn via the Arc Testnet. This move positions USDC as a critical piece of programmable payments infrastructure in the emerging agentic economy.

    With Gateway, an API can prompt AI agents with a 402 Payment Required response, accept USDC payments as small as $0.000001, and seamlessly return the requested data or service. Seller revenue is deposited directly into a “Gateway Balance” and can later be withdrawn in on-chain USDC to a designated Payout Wallet. Circle’s Agent Stack complements this system by offering tools like Agent Wallets and the Agent Marketplace, which streamline interactions between autonomous agents and seller services.

    Why This Matters

    USDC, backed by Circle and pegged to the U.S. dollar, has become a key player in blockchain-based payments. As of May 16, 2026, USDC’s market capitalization reached $76.97 billion, with $77 billion in circulation according to Circle’s Q1 earnings report. On-chain transaction volume surged 263% year-over-year in the first quarter, hitting $21.5 trillion. The stablecoin also accounted for 63% of stablecoin transaction volume in Q1 2026, illustrating its dominance in the programmable money space.

    By embedding USDC payments into API interactions, Circle aligns with the growing trend of machine-to-machine (M2M) payments. Recent developments, such as Circle’s April 28 launch of the Arc Testnet and NEAR AI’s May 14 integration of private USDC payments for autonomous agents, underscore the increasing demand for blockchain-based, low-friction settlement systems tailored for AI-driven applications.

    Developer and Market Implications

    For developers, Circle’s approach removes many of the traditional barriers to monetizing APIs, such as building custom billing systems or creating account-registration workflows. Instead, developers can set prices directly within the API, collect USDC payments, and withdraw revenue on a schedule that fits their needs. The integration of nanopayments also opens up possibilities for new business models, particularly in data services, AI model APIs, and other machine-accessible resources.

    From a market perspective, this reinforces USDC’s utility beyond traditional remittances or DeFi, embedding it as a transactional layer for emerging AI economies. As AI agents increasingly interact with APIs to complete tasks autonomously, the ability to price and settle in USDC offers developers a compliant, scalable, and dollar-backed solution.

    The Bigger Picture

    Circle’s Gateway and related tools are part of a broader push to position USDC as the backbone of programmable payments in both enterprise and decentralized applications. With the Arc Testnet serving as a sandbox for innovation, developers can prototype and deploy solutions for M2M payments without the overhead of building out complex payment infrastructure. As Circle continues to expand its offerings, the stablecoin’s role in AI and blockchain ecosystems is likely to grow, setting the stage for deeper integration into both consumer and enterprise use cases.

    Image source: Shutterstock


    Source link

    SBI, Rakuten, Nomura Preparing to Launch Crypto Investment Trusts in Japan

    0

    Japan’s major brokerages are preparing to bring crypto investment trusts to retail investors, with SBI Securities and Rakuten Securities already developing products in-house, while others like Nomura plan to enter the space once regulations are finalized.

    SBI Securities plans to sell funds developed by group company SBI Global Asset Management, with products spanning both ETFs and investment trusts focused on liquid assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum, according to a Sunday report by Nikkei. The group intends to handle everything from product development to distribution in-house.

    Rakuten Securities is taking a similar approach, working with Rakuten Investment Management to build products tradeable directly through smartphone apps, the report revealed.

    The move would mark a significant shift in how ordinary Japanese investors access crypto. Currently, buying digital assets requires opening a dedicated exchange account or setting up a wallet. Investment trusts would allow crypto exposure through existing securities accounts, removing a key barrier for retail participation.

    Related: Japan tells real estate and crypto sectors to tighten AML checks on property deals

    Nomura, Daiwa, SMBC moving toward crypto funds

    Among the larger names, Nomura and Daiwa have both announced plans to develop crypto investment trusts within their respective groups, Nikkei reported. SMBC Group, including SMBC Nikko, has set up a cross-group task force to evaluate its options, while Asset Management One, under Mizuho Financial Group, has begun preliminary exploration.

    The move comes as Japan’s Financial Services Agency is moving to revise the enforcement order of the Investment Trust Act by 2028, which would formally add cryptocurrencies to the list of specified assets investment trusts can hold.

    Last month, Japan formally reclassified crypto assets as financial instruments under an amended Financial Instruments and Exchange Act, bringing them under the same regulatory umbrella as stocks and bonds. The bill, if passed in the current parliamentary session, is expected to take effect in fiscal 2027.

    Related: SBI eyes Bitbank deal as Japan’s crypto exchange market consolidates

    Japan to allow spot crypto ETFs

    Japan is also reportedly considering rule changes that could allow crypto ETFs as early as 2028, with major financial groups including Nomura Holdings and SBI Holdings among the first expected to develop such products.

    SBI Holdings has already outlined plans for a Bitcoin-XRP dual ETF and a gold-crypto ETF, pending regulatory approval.

    Magazine: Guide to the top and emerging global crypto hubs — Mid-2026

    Source link

    AAVE Price Prediction: $85 Support Test Likely as Technical Breakdown Accelerates

    0


    Jessie A Ellis
    May 17, 2026 09:21

    AAVE trades at $91.21 with bears targeting the $85-86 support zone as multiple moving averages create resistance overhead. Protocol fundamentals remain weak following recent security concerns and c…





    Technical Structure Breaks Down

    AAVE’s current position at $91.21 represents a precarious technical setup after the recent 3.37% bounce failed to reclaim meaningful resistance levels. The token trades below all significant moving averages, with the SMA 7 at $95.26, SMA 20 at $94.68, and SMA 50 at $95.86 forming a resistance cluster that continues to reject upward attempts. The RSI reading of 43 suggests neither oversold relief nor bullish momentum, while the MACD histogram sits at zero, indicating a lack of directional conviction from institutional flows.

    Critical Support Zones Emerge

    The immediate support battleground centers around $88.97, which aligns closely with the Bollinger Band lower boundary at $88.46. A decisive break below this confluence zone opens the path toward $86.74, representing the next major support level that could absorb selling pressure. The Bollinger Band position at 0.22 indicates oversold conditions, though crypto markets frequently remain oversold for extended periods during structural downtrends. Blockchain.news analysis shows similar DeFi protocol corrections often extend deeper than traditional technical oversold readings suggest.

    Market Positioning and Flow Dynamics

    Current market positioning reveals a complex sentiment picture with retail maintaining a 54.8% long bias while sophisticated traders hold an even higher 61.6% long position. However, the taker buy/sell ratio of 0.73 indicates persistent selling pressure on every bounce attempt, creating a pattern of failed rallies. Recent protocol challenges including security incidents and significant deposit outflows totaling approximately $6 billion have created fundamental headwinds that technical analysis alone cannot overcome. The funding rate remains neutral at 0.0022%, suggesting no immediate liquidation pressure from perpetual futures markets.

    Trading Outlook and Risk Management

    The technical and fundamental confluence suggests a 70% probability of testing the $85-86 support zone before any sustained recovery materializes. Short-term resistance clusters between $92.36 and $93.52 create natural profit-taking zones for any countertrend bounces. The Average True Range of $4.94 indicates continued volatility around key levels, requiring careful position sizing for both directional trades and range-bound strategies. Blockchain.news tracking of DeFi token recoveries shows these assets typically require 2-4 weeks to establish sustainable uptrends following major protocol disruptions, making patience essential for any bullish positioning.

    Blockchain.news Crypto Market

    Image source: Shutterstock


    Source link

    Bitcoin Slides Under $79K on Macro Fears: Is a Rebound Around the Corner?

    0

    While macro pain and Iran war uncertainty drag Bitcoin below $79K, fixed-income market outflows could trigger a medium-term Bitcoin rebound.

    Source link

    US CLARITY Act Will Be a ‘Boon For Domestic Innovation’: A16z

    0

    The US CLARITY Act, which aims to provide the US crypto industry with more regulatory clarity, could have a positive ripple effect beyond the crypto sector itself, according to venture capital firm a16z crypto.

    “If the US provides builders with regulatory clarity, it will be a boon for domestic innovation,” a16z crypto said in an X post on Friday.

    A16z pointed to the passage of the GENIUS Act in July 2025, which created a regulatory framework for stablecoins, as a possible indication of what may happen following the CLARITY Act.

    “Its passage led to unprecedented growth and adoption, which is not only good for the U.S. economy, but is also good for long-term dominance of the US dollar,” a16z crypto said. The US dollar index, which tracks the dollar’s strength against a basket of major currencies, is 99.27 at the time of publication, up 1.28% over the past 30 days, according to TradingView. A16z said:

    “When our legal frameworks are designed to both foster innovation and protect consumers, America leads and the world benefits.”

    Source: Cynthia Lummis

    Since the US CLARITY Act was introduced in July 2025, the crypto industry has been widely speculating about its potential impact on global markets.

    Sharplink Gaming CEO Joseph Chalom recently said that while many view the legislation as “a US phenomenon,” it is also being seen as a major signal for other jurisdictions around the world.

    Source: Kalshi Crypto

    US asset management firm Grayscale said in a report published on Friday that the odds of the legislation passing are high in the firm’s view, but “the bill will require bipartisan support to clear the full Senate and become law.”

    “There are still a few hurdles to clear before CLARITY can become law,” Grayscale said.

    Related: US CLARITY Act brings ‘major spike of euphoria’ to Bitcoin: Santiment

    The comments came after a Thursday session of the US Senate Banking Committee, in which all 13 Republican members and two Democrats voted to advance the bill, with nine Democrats also voting no on the bill.

    Grayscale pointed out that Republicans currently hold 53 seats, meaning at least seven Democrats would need to support the bill. “We believe that’s possible: the GENIUS Act cleared the Senate with 66 votes including 18 Democrats,” Grayscale said.

    Magazine: ETH stalls at $2.4K five times, SOL to rally to $120: Market Moves

    Source link