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Bitcoin (BTC) witnessed significant price volatility on Sunday, May 19, during the opening of CME Bitcoin futures at 23:00 UTC, briefly spiking to $107,000 before sharply retreating to $102,000. The movement, which cleared liquidity on both sides of the order book, suggests increasing pressure around key resistance levels and raises the potential for a breakout toward a new all-time high.CME Futures Lead Sunday Volatility Amid Thin LiquiditySunday evening volatility in the crypto market is a recurring trend, typically coinciding with the weekly opening of Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Bitcoin futures. This week's episode, however, differed in one key respect—price action was led by CME, signaling the influence of institutional traders rather than retail crypto participants.Unlike recent weeks, the usual CME gap—a discrepancy between Friday’s closing and Sunday’s opening—was absent. Instead, BTC whipsawed within a $5,000 range, resulting in a swift liquidation of long and short positions. Analysts interpret this as an inflection point, with market depth now skewed toward the upside.Market Depth Analysis: Resistance Thin Above $107KAccording to aggregated order book data, liquidity between $107,000 and $110,000 remains thin, while substantial buy-side interest persists around $100,000. This imbalance suggests that an upward breakout may face minimal resistance, allowing for a potential rally toward new record highs if triggered by a strong catalyst.At the same time, some analysts caution that the sudden price movement may have been the result of a stop-loss sweep. This tactic is commonly used to trigger liquidations and create favorable entry points for new short positions by driving up price temporarily.Strategic Positioning: New Shorts at $107K May BackfireThe recent price spike to $107,000 may have lured short traders into opening positions, placing stop-loss levels above $110,000. Should bullish momentum return, these stop losses could be triggered en masse, further fueling an upward thrust through price acceleration via forced buybacks.While short-term movements remain speculative, the underlying market structure and diminished resistance above $107,000 increase the likelihood of a decisive move—either driven by market fundamentals or an external catalyst.

According to PANews, Whale Alert reported that at 19:39 UTC+8 today, the USDC Treasury minted an additional 250 million USDC on the Solana blockchain. This development highlights ongoing activities within the cryptocurrency sector, particularly concerning stablecoin issuance and blockchain utilization.

According to Odaily, Federal Reserve official Raphael Bostic has indicated that the number of interest rate cuts this year will depend on unfolding events, with the specifics of tariffs playing a crucial role. Bostic expressed a preference for only one rate cut this year, citing the time required to fully understand the implications of tariffs.

According to Foresight News, European law enforcement agencies have dismantled a clandestine banking network that laundered over $23 million (approximately 21 million euros) using cryptocurrencies. The operation led to the arrest of 17 individuals in Spain, Austria, and Belgium. Among those arrested, individuals of Chinese nationality were responsible for cash collection in Spain, while those of Arab nationality managed international transfers.Authorities seized approximately $229,600 in cash, $204,960 in cryptocurrencies, luxury vehicles, real estate, cigars, and handbags, with a total value exceeding $3.5 million. This operation highlights the ongoing efforts by European law enforcement to combat financial crimes involving digital currencies.

According to BlockBeats, recent data from Coinglass indicates a divergence in market sentiment among major centralized and decentralized exchanges, with bearish and neutral outlooks coexisting. The funding rates for mainstream cryptocurrencies reflect this trend.Funding rates are fees set by cryptocurrency trading platforms to maintain balance between contract prices and the prices of underlying assets, typically applied to perpetual contracts. This mechanism facilitates the exchange of funds between long and short traders, without the platform charging a fee, to adjust the cost or profit of holding contracts, ensuring contract prices remain close to asset prices.A funding rate of 0.01% signifies a baseline rate. When the rate exceeds 0.01%, it suggests a generally bullish market sentiment. Conversely, a rate below 0.005% indicates a predominantly bearish market outlook.

According to Odaily, a backdoor in the official drivers provided by printer company Procolored has been discovered, leading to the theft of at least 9.3 bitcoins. Investigations reveal that the backdoor originated from a USB drive used internally by Procolored, which was subsequently uploaded to a cloud storage platform for global user access, resulting in widespread distribution.

According to PANews, British financial services company Revolut has announced plans to invest €1 billion (approximately $1.1 billion) in France over the next three years and apply for a French banking license. This announcement was made at the 'Choose France' summit held at the Palace of Versailles. As part of this expansion, Revolut will establish an office in Paris to manage its Western European operations, creating an estimated 200 new jobs in France, where the company already employs 300 people. Additionally, Revolut emphasized that Lithuania will continue to be a significant hub for its European operations.In April, it was reported that Revolut's profits for 2024 doubled to $1.3 billion, driven by user growth and a resurgence in cryptocurrency trading.

According to BlockBeats, the U.S. Senate is set to vote tonight on advancing a bill concerning stablecoins. This legislative move comes amid growing interest in regulating digital currencies and ensuring financial stability. The outcome of the vote could have significant implications for the cryptocurrency market and its regulatory framework.

According to CoinMarketCap data, the global cryptocurrency market cap now stands at $3.29T, down by 1.62% over the last day.Bitcoin (BTC) traded between $102,000 and $107,109 over the past 24 hours. As of 09:30 AM (UTC) today, BTC is trading at $103,240, down by 0.70%.Most major cryptocurrencies by market cap are trading lower. Market outperformers include KAITO, EPIC, and ALPHA, up by 8%, 8%, and 7%, respectively.Top stories of the day:Binance CEO Richard Teng: “Regulatory Pressure Is a Pathway to Stability and Institutional Adoption” Federal Reserve's Balance Sheet Reduction to Continue, Says Williams U.S. 30-Year Treasury Yield Surges Above 5% Following Moody’s Downgrade and Fiscal Concerns Bitcoin Price Volatility Returns as CME Futures Open Sparks Liquidity Sweep US Crypto Investment Products Surpass $7.5B in 2025 Inflows as Institutional Demand Recovers Solana Leads in Active Addresses Among Top Blockchains Market Sentiment Shows Divergence in Funding RatesU.S. Credit Rating Downgrade Impacts Economic Outlook, Says Bank of Singapore Mind Network’s Mission to Mainstream Fully Homomorphic Encryption (FHE) in Web3 and Agentic AI Panama City Mayor Considers Bitcoin Reserve Following Meeting with El Salvador OfficialsMarket movers:ETH: $2408.19 (-4.34%)XRP: $2.3144 (-3.27%)BNB: $640.19 (-1.08%)SOL: $162.21 (-5.22%)DOGE: $0.21735 (-2.77%)ADA: $0.724 (-4.72%)TRX: $0.2627 (-3.70%)WBTC: $103121.12 (-0.75%)TRUMP: $12.56 (-3.75%)SUI: $3.6842 (-4.33%)

According to Odaily, as of May 18, 2025, the BlackRock BUIDL Fund has reached approximately $2.88 billion in assets. The fund's holdings are predominantly in Ethereum ecosystem assets, which account for $2.68 billion, representing over 95% of the total. The remaining assets are distributed in smaller amounts across other chains such as Aptos and Avalanche. Ethereum continues to maintain a dominant position in the RWA sector.

According to PANews, Germany's financial regulator, BaFin, has issued a comprehensive Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) license to Trade Republic, a major European fintech company. This license enables Trade Republic to offer crypto asset custody services to its 4 million customers across 17 markets. Additionally, the company can execute or transmit customer orders and provide transfer services, allowing it to conduct nearly all crypto-related activities in almost 30 European Economic Area (EEA) countries.Germany is a leader in the European crypto sector, having granted MiCA licenses to nine crypto asset service providers, which accounts for 36% of the EU's initial 25 licenses. With the deadline approaching in mid-2025, when European-registered crypto companies without a license may lose their qualifications, many firms in the industry are accelerating their application processes.

According to Foresight News, SlowMist founder Yu Jian expressed concerns on social media regarding the potential implications of BIP177. He warned that if BIP177 is approved, some platforms might mistakenly account for 1 bitcoin as 1 BTC. Yu emphasized the likelihood of basic security issues arising and cautioned about the possibility of related scams.

According to BlockBeats, the yield on the U.S. 30-year Treasury bond has climbed to 5.02%, marking its highest point since November 2023. This increase reflects ongoing shifts in the financial markets as investors respond to economic conditions and policy changes.

According to PANews, recent monitoring by Lookonchain has revealed substantial movements of BLUR and LDO tokens by a major whale or institution. Over the past week, 34.2 million BLUR tokens, valued at approximately $4 million, were transferred to exchanges. The entity still holds 9.22 million LDO tokens, worth around $8.15 million, and 43.69 million BLUR tokens, valued at approximately $4.5 million.In earlier reports, the same institution transferred $3.1 million worth of LDO tokens to a centralized exchange (CEX) just 25 minutes prior to the latest observation. Over the span of six days, a total of $21.24 million in LDO tokens has been moved to CEX.

According to BlockBeats, Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino announced on social media that the company's holdings of U.S. Treasury securities have surpassed those of Germany. Ardoino further stated that Tether is now aiming to exceed South Korea's holdings next. Tether, known for issuing stablecoins, continues to expand its financial footprint in the global market.

According to BlockBeats, Mansoor Mohi-uddin, the Chief Economist at the Bank of Singapore, highlighted in a research report that the recent downgrade of the U.S. credit rating has significant implications for the country's economic outlook.Firstly, the deteriorating fiscal situation in the United States supports the view that long-term U.S. Treasury yields will rise over time. The bank continues to forecast that the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield will reach 5.00% within the next 12 months.Secondly, the threat to the safe-haven status of U.S. Treasuries underscores the bank's perspective that the U.S. dollar has peaked.Lastly, the substantial U.S. deficits and inflation may compel the Federal Reserve to maintain higher interest rates for an extended period.

According to ShibDaily, the UK government has announced new guidelines mandating crypto firms to collect and report comprehensive data on customer trades and transfers. This initiative aims to enhance transparency and improve tax compliance within the cryptocurrency sector. The guidelines, issued by HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC), will require the mandatory collection of user and transaction data starting January 1, 2026. However, the government is urging companies to begin gathering this information ahead of time to ensure a seamless transition to the new reporting standards.Crypto firms will be obligated to collect and report detailed information for each transaction, including the user's full name, home address, and tax identification number. Additionally, the type of cryptocurrency used, the amount transferred, and identifying details of entities such as companies, trusts, and charities involved in crypto transactions must also be disclosed. This move is part of the UK's adoption of the Organisation for Economic Development (OECD) Cryptoasset Reporting Framework (CARF), which is being extended to include domestic reporting. Firms that fail to comply with these new requirements or submit inaccurate information may face penalties of up to £300 (approximately $398) per user. Depending on the type of data collected, crypto companies may also be required to submit annual reports to HMRC.In late April, UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves introduced a proposed framework for regulating crypto assets, marking a significant step towards strengthening consumer safeguards and boosting trust in the digital asset market. The draft legislation aims to bring more oversight to the rapidly evolving crypto space. Reeves stated in an April 29 official press release that firms offering services for cryptoassets like Bitcoin and Ethereum will be subject to new, clear rules, which are expected to boost investor confidence and drive growth through the Plan for Change. The proposed legislation builds on the UK Treasury's 2023 consultation, which outlined a strategy to bring a broad range of crypto-related activities—such as trading platforms, wallet providers, and crypto lending—under formal financial regulation.This initiative reflects the government's push to align the crypto sector with existing financial standards, aiming to reduce risks for consumers and establish clearer compliance expectations for industry participants. As the UK moves to integrate digital assets into its financial oversight framework, industry participants will be closely monitoring how these evolving regulations will shape the future of crypto in the region.

According to Binance's official announcement, Binance Square has launched a new initiative called the Trade With EOS Terminal, in collaboration with Vaulta. This Trade Sharing Challenge offers users the opportunity to earn rewards by sharing their EOS trades through the EOS Terminal. Participants stand a chance to win a share of $5,000 in EOS token vouchers. The activity is scheduled to run from 2025-05-19 06:00 (UTC) to 2025-05-26 23:59 (UTC).Participation Guidelines- All verified Binance users are eligible to participate by completing specific steps.- Step 1: Trade EOS on Binance Spot with each trade being a minimum of $20 equivalent to qualify for rewards. Multiple trades are allowed to increase reward potential.- Step 2: Share your EOS trade via EOS Terminal on Binance Square, ensuring the post includes a caption explaining your trade setup (minimum 100 characters) and the campaign hashtag #MyEOSTrade.- Step 3: To qualify for the Bonus Prize Pool, share your EOS trade performance on X, including a screenshot of your trade performance and a link to your Binance Square post. Submit the link to your X post via the provided survey. Up to three posts can be submitted.Rewards Allocation- The total prize pool is $5,000 in EOS token vouchers, distributed across various categories:- Best Entry: $500, capped at $25 per user, for users with the lowest EOS buy price.- Highest Exit: $500, capped at $25 per user, for users with the highest EOS sell price.- Main Prize Pool: $3,000, capped at $5 per user, based on the proportion of eligible posts.- Bonus Prize Pool: $1,000, capped at $10 per user, based on eligible X posts.- Rewards will be distributed as USDC token vouchers within 21 working days after the activity ends and will expire 14 days after distribution.Terms and Conditions- The activity may not be available in all regions.- Content must be original and created specifically for this promotion. AI assistance is allowed, but the content must not be AI-generated.- Only new content posted during the activity period is eligible.- Binance reserves the right to disqualify posts that misuse hashtags or do not adhere to campaign guidelines.- Illegally bulk registered accounts or sub-accounts are not eligible.- Binance reserves the right to amend or cancel the activity at any time without prior notice.Participants are encouraged to maximize their rewards by trading and sharing more. The more eligible trades and posts made, the higher the potential rewards. However, participants should be aware of the risks involved in digital asset trading, as prices can be volatile.

According to BlockBeats, data from DefiLlama reveals that Arbitrum has topped the list of public blockchains with a net inflow of $496 million over the past week. Ethereum and OP followed, with net inflows of $56.79 million and $50.80 million, respectively.In contrast, Bera, Sei, and Unichain experienced net outflows of $201 million, $31.29 million, and $28.35 million, respectively. This data highlights the varying performance of different blockchain networks in terms of capital movement.