Exchange
Crypto Roundup: Macroeconomic Shock Triggers Liquidations as Geopolitical Tensions Rattle Markets — May 18, 2026
Market Turmoil Driven by Geopolitical and Macro Headwinds Crypto markets faced significant pressure this week as macroeconomic concerns and geopolitical tensions collided to trigger over half a billion dollars in liquidations. Bitcoin slipped below the $77,000 threshold while ether suffered proportional losses, with President Trump’s escalating rhetoric toward Iran sending oil prices surging and rattling...
Crypto Roundup: Institutional Adoption Accelerates Amid Security Concerns and Global Regulation — May 18, 2026
Traditional Finance Embraces Bitcoin and Crypto Assets Institutional momentum continues building across the sector as major players deepen their crypto exposure. Abu Dhabi’s Mubadala Investment Company increased its stake in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust by 16% to reach $566 million in the first quarter, signaling sustained appetite from sovereign wealth funds. The Trump family trust...
Major US Exchanges Urge Regulators to Restrict Hyperliquid’s Energy Markets
Traditional trading giants ICE and CME are reportedly calling on United States authorities to impose limitations on Hyperliquid’s energy trading operations. The push comes as the decentralized exchange continues to expand its offerings beyond traditional cryptocurrency products. Hyperliquid operates with a unique permissionless model that enables any participant holding a stake of 500,000 HYPE tokens—currently...
Major Japanese Financial Giants Prepare Cryptocurrency Trust Products Amid Regulatory Shift
Three of Japan’s largest financial institutions are positioning themselves to offer cryptocurrency investment vehicles to everyday investors as the country moves toward formalizing digital asset fund regulations. SBI Holdings, Rakuten, and Nomura Securities are developing crypto trust products ahead of expected regulatory framework changes set for 2028. This development marks a significant shift in Japan’s...
Major Japanese Brokerages SBI and Rakuten Set to Launch Cryptocurrency Trust Products
Two of Japan’s largest securities firms are preparing to introduce cryptocurrency investment trusts to their clients, marking a significant expansion of digital asset access for retail investors in the country. SBI Securities and Rakuten Securities have confirmed plans to roll out these crypto-focused investment vehicles, according to recent industry survey results. The move represents a...
Senate Committee Advances Crypto Regulation Bill Amid Heated Debate
A significant legislative markup session occurred Thursday as lawmakers debated provisions of cryptocurrency regulation that could reshape the industry’s legal framework. The hearing revealed deep divisions among committee members regarding how digital assets should be overseen and classified under existing securities laws. Supporters of the proposed legislation argue it would finally establish clear regulatory boundaries...
Congressional Leaders Push Trump Administration to Fill CFTC Leadership Vacancies
Leaders from a House committee are pressing the Trump administration to complete appointments to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, emphasizing the need for full regulatory capacity under recent legislative frameworks. Currently, the commission operates with Chair Michael Selig at the helm, but the remaining positions on the five-member board remain unfilled. The Trump administration has...
Bitcoin ETF Outflows Hit $1 Billion as Investors Pivot to AI Sector
Investment outflows from spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds reached the $1 billion mark over a seven-day period, marking a dramatic reversal after six consecutive weeks of positive capital movement. The shift comes as market participants redirected funds toward artificial intelligence-related equities amid broader economic concerns affecting risk appetite. The previous month-and-a-half period had seen these Bitcoin...
Decentralized Exchange THORChain Launches Refund Portal After $10M Security Breach
Cross-chain liquidity protocol THORChain has activated a dedicated claims portal following confirmation of a ten million dollar security incident affecting users on multiple blockchain networks. The decentralized exchange announced the recovery mechanism enables victims to withdraw malicious smart contract permissions and retrieve their stolen funds. The breach impacted participants operating across four separate blockchain ecosystems,...
MicroStrategy Plans $1.5 Billion Buyback of 2029 Convertible Debt Instruments
MicroStrategy has announced its intention to buy back $1.5 billion worth of convertible notes scheduled to mature in 2029, according to recent reports. These financial instruments represent a unique form of corporate debt that doesn’t pay traditional interest to bondholders. Instead, the notes feature a zero-percent coupon rate, meaning investors receive no periodic interest payments...
Bhutan Denies Bitcoin Sales Despite Blockchain Data Showing $1B in Transfers
The Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan has publicly contradicted blockchain analytics suggesting massive cryptocurrency liquidations from government-controlled wallets. While on-chain tracking firm Arkham Intelligence documented more than one billion dollars worth of bitcoin moving from addresses linked to the nation over the past twelve months, Bhutanese officials maintain no actual sales occurred. The transfers reportedly went...
DeFi Insurance Sector Crumbles as Traders Prioritize High Returns Over Security
The decentralized finance insurance industry, which launched with grand promises during the 2020 cryptocurrency surge, has largely failed to gain traction among users who consistently favor higher returns over safeguarding their assets. This preference has left billions of dollars in digital assets vulnerable to security breaches and exploits. When DeFi insurance platforms first emerged, they...