Cryptopolitan

Wall Street was jolted this morning as President Donald Trump announced a 50% tariff on all goods imported from the European Union, effective June 1. Stocks across Europe and U.S. futures plunged instantly, with the Dow projected to open 600 points down — and traders scrambling for cover.

But as the fear index rises, crypto is catching a bid. Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and a wave of altcoins are climbing in what many are now calling a “risk-off rotation” from traditional markets to decentralized assets.

 Wall Street Rattled by Trade War Revival

Trump’s declaration, posted on Truth Social, blasted the EU for “unjust trade practices” and blamed the bloc for America’s $250 billion trade deficit. This policy whiplash — coming just minutes after threatening a 25% tariff on Apple products — stunned global markets and sent equities into a tailspin.

This sudden spike in geopolitical and trade risk is prompting many investors to ask: where is capital going to hide next?

Crypto: The Surprise Winner?

Crypto markets appear to be offering the answer.

Bitcoin (BTC) is holding above $108K with minor gains, showing strength amidst the equities selloff.

Ethereum (ETH) rose over 4%, possibly benefiting from its positioning as programmable money in uncertain economic times.

MAGACOIN FINANCE (MAGAFINANCE) exploded 16% in 24 hours, with sentiment surging on political meme alignment.

Pepe and Sui also posted outsized gains, signaling a renewed appetite for altcoins.

This rotation comes as stablecoin volumes rise and on-chain accumulation patterns re-emerge, hinting that institutional and high-net-worth investors may be quietly repositioning for volatility.

Analysts: The Shift Is Real

Market strategists are calling this an early signal that “Block Street” may be absorbing capital from Wall Street:

“When you see defensive altcoins and meme tokens moving on macro news, it’s not just retail — it’s rotation,” said one crypto fund manager.

Others note that MAGACOIN FINANCE may be uniquely positioned to benefit from the Trump narrative, election season buzz, and the exact kind of anti-establishment energy that fuels risk asset surges in turbulent environments.

Will Bitcoin sustain support above $108K amid worsening U.S.–EU tensions?

Can XRP continue its climb as a cross-border alternative with institutional backing?

Is MAGACOIN FINANCE the surprise political play of 2025?

Will more U.S. tech firms face tariff threats — and push capital into decentralized sectors?

Bottom Line:

Trump’s tariff threats may be bruising Wall Street, but they’re igniting Block Street. In this environment, crypto is not just surviving — it’s thriving. As traditional markets falter, the smart money may already be rotating. The only question is: are you on the right side of the shift?

To learn more about MAGACOIN FINANCE, please visit:

Website: https://magacoinfinance.com

Twitter/X: https://x.com/magacoinfinance

The quest to find the best crypto to invest in today for under $1 has crypto investors buzzing, and PEPE is fast rising up that list. Sold for pennies under the dollar mark, PEPE has made waves with its buzzed community and meme status trend, indicating the potential of a 10x price surge as meme coins have a penchant to trend upward. As investors hedge the top cryptos for explosive profit, PEPE’s low entry point and growing hype make it a potential buy for short-term traders. 

Yet with their eyes on the new DeFi horizon, investors are watching closely for Mutuum Finance (MUTM), a new crypto token that could leave meme coins in its wake through its innovative utility and promising project roadmap. The project has hit phase 5 of its presale after selling out phase 4 at a higher pace than expected. MUTM will be launched officially at $0.06.

The next phase prices will spike by 16.67% to $0.035. The tokens are available at $0.03, with listing at $0.06, offering early investors up to 100% potential returns. MUTM is rapidly taking center stage, with over $9.1 million raised and attracted more than 11,000 investors. 

Phase 4 Sold Out, MUTM’s Ascent Is Only Beginning

The presale is in phase 5 with Phase 4 totally sold out. The tokens are available at $0.03, and listing for $0.06, early investors are looking at up to 100% potential returns. MUTM is rapidly taking center stage, with over $9.1 million raised and attracted more that 11,000 investors. As Phase 5 is in , the token price will rise to $0.035 in the next phase, providing current participants with a 16.67% profit. 

A Smarter DeFi Model: Hybrid Lending for a New Era

Mutuum Finance stands out through its dual approach to crypto lending, which integrates Peer-to-Contract (P2C) and Peer-to-Peer (P2P). The Peer-to-Contract (P2C) allows users to put stablecoins like USDT into smart contract liquidity pools and automatically earn passive income. 

In contrast, Peer-to-Peer (P2P) allows lenders and borrowers to communicate directly without intermediaries, with the ability to adjust loan terms and privacy advantages. This is a hybrid solution that provides more decentralization and flexibility but at the same time has strong yield opportunities, while liquidity providers receive over 10% today in passive return.

Trust and Transparency: Stable, Audited, and Made to Last

Mutuum Finance isn’t just innovating, it’s building trust. The platform’s smart contracts are open-source and undergoing rigorous audit by Certik. In addition to the native token, a fully collateralized, USD-pegged stablecoin is being developed, which circumvents the vulnerabilities of algorithmic stablecoins that have toppled other DeFi initiatives. The project is set to build a USD-pegged stablecoin on the Ethereum network as one of the main features in the Mutuum Finance roadmap. Security and transparency are fundamentals of the ecosystem.

Fostering Growth with $100K Giveaway and Gamified Community Tools

To turbocharge adoption, Mutuum Finance is actively incentivizing its early adopters. Already underway is a $100,000 giveaway, where ten participants will receive $10,000 in MUTM tokens. Running in tandem is a gamified leaderboard, displaying and rewarding the top 50 token holders, to encourage greater investment and continued participation. This is supported through a referral program, a new level of grassroots expansion in this rapidly growing community.

While PEPE rides meme momentum with 10x potential, Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is quietly building the foundation for real, long-term value through innovative DeFi utility. With over $9.1 million raised, 11,000+ investors onboard, and a Phase 5 presale price of just $0.03, before jumping to $0.035 and launching at $0.06, early entrants could lock in 100% returns before listing. 

As PEPE bets on hype, MUTM delivers on function, yield, and transparency, making it not just a top crypto under $1, but a smarter bet for 2025 and beyond. If you’re looking for the next breakout coin with actual staying power, now is the time to move on MUTM.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://www.mutuum.finance/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. and production company A24 today announced their collaboration with writer and director Alex Garland for a live-action film adaptation of FromSoftware Inc.’s video game ELDEN RING™. Author George R.R. Martin started the rumor in February this year when he commented on the possibility of the video game’s live-action film.

According to the Bandai Namco team, Garland first paired up with A24 for 2015’s Ex Machina, followed by 2022’s gender parable Men and the bleakly topical Civil War last year, and finally, the Iraq War drama Warfare released last month.

George R. R. Martin, who helped create Elden Ring’s world, will be producing alongside Vince Gerardis and DNA’s Peter Rice, Andrew Macdonald, and Allon Reich. 

While there is no word yet on how involved FromSoftware or director Hidetaka Miyazaki will be, Martin has been teasing this project since 2024, telling IGN Fan Fest earlier this year he had heard “some talk” about a potential film adaptation for Elden Ring. The game that redefined difficulty in 2022 continues expanding with Shadow of the Erdtree DLC and the upcoming Nightreign multiplayer spinoff.

Garland’s creativity promises a cinematic odyssey and artistic integrity 

We’re thrilled to announce that Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. and A24 are teaming up with writer and director Alex Garland to bring FromSoftware Inc.’s world-renowned video game ELDEN RING to life as a live-action film.

We’re truly excited to bring the world of ELDEN RING to… pic.twitter.com/E3SJaRX1Jc

— Bandai Namco US (@BandaiNamcoUS) May 22, 2025

Elden Ring’s movie adaptation will be the amalgamated creation resulting from the efforts of several big names, including the only confirmed Hollywood director, Garland. Hollywood rumor mill Jeff Sneider also confirmed that Garland was in negotiations to direct the video game’s movie adaptation.

IBC Group founder Mario Nawfal believes that with Garland directing, Elden Ring fans might get something more cerebral than “sword-swinging nonsense.” 

Garland is best known for his work on the 28 Days Later film franchise, along with the smash-hit sci-fi movie Ex Machina. He has also previously dabbled in the realm of video games. He co-wrote Bandai Namco’s Enslaved: Odyssey to the West and served as story supervisor on Capcom’s DmC: Devil May Cry.

Garland has also earned praise from audiences and critics alike for his diverse portfolio of stories and high-quality cinematography, with some speculating that his previous involvement with a Bandai Namco game may have played into his selection as director for the film, although this remains speculative.

The director’s prior adaptations of Dredd and Annihilation could suit him to take on Elden Ring’s dark fantasy world. The project is expected to be Garland’s next film and is expected to begin shooting in 2026. However, there is no release date or other details for Garland’s movie.

Elden Ring: Nightreign is set for simultaneous worldwide release 

Elden Ring co-op spin-off Elden Ring: Nightreign is scheduled for a simultaneous global release on May 30. According to Bandai Namco, the title is an action game where players will cooperate to overcome a variety of challenging situations. 

The spin-off has been redesigned to provide players with a completely new gameplay experience, although it will carry over elements from the original, such as weapons and enemies. However, players will choose from a cast of unique characters to face off against a new threat.

FromSoftware Inc. previously made the title available for pre-order on each supported platform’s digital product page starting February 12, 2025. Physical edition pre-orders were made available at retail outlets from February 13, 2025. Additionally, an in-depth gameplay guide was released in preparation for the Network Test that started on February 14. 

Elden Ring Tarnished Edition, an all-in-one version of Elden Ring for the Nintendo Switch™ 2, is also set to release in 2025. It will include content from the DLC Elden Ring™ Shadow of the Erdtree™ released in June 2024. Four new armor sets and a new appearance customization feature for Torrent the Spectral Steed (3 variants) have also been added to this edition.

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US First Lady Melania Trump is using artificial intelligence to narrate her memoir, Melania. The audiobook produced using ElevenLabs’ multilingual voice synthesis technology debuts on Friday in English and will soon be available in other languages, including Spanish, Portuguese, and Hindi.

Melania Trump announced the audiobook’s release in a post on X late Thursday, stating, “I am honored to bring you Melania: The AI Audiobook, narrated entirely using artificial intelligence in my own voice. Let the future of publishing begin.”

The seven-hour English version is available for $25 on the first lady’s official website. The ElevenLabs technology has also recreated her voice for audiences to hear the story in her signature tone across multiple languages, with more translations slated for release in the coming weeks.

Melania Trump tells her story through AI

Originally published in October 2024, just weeks before the presidential election, Melania chronicles the life of the first lady, from her upbringing in Cold War-era Yugoslavia to her position alongside President Donald Trump in the White House. 

The memoir tells the stories of Melania’s internal reactions to some of the most controversial policies of her husband’s first administration.

One chapter recounts her response to the Trump administration’s 2017 family separation policy at the US-Mexico border. A legal immigrant herself and mother to their son Barron, Melania Trump described the situation as deeply distressing. 

“It was critical to address this situation with speed, transparency, and compassion,” she wrote, adding that immigration policies must reflect America’s “values as a nation.”

Melania also described some political disagreements with her husband in their private relationship, explaining that she approached the family separation issue by first educating herself before confronting him behind closed doors. 

Last Tuesday, Melania welcomed the children of Executive Office staff to the White House to celebrate the annual “Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day.”

According to the White House Fact Sheet, the event took place in the Kennedy Garden, where children participated in a patriotic-themed arts and crafts activity. They decorated wooden American flags using red and blue markers, star-shaped stickers, and red, white, and blue pom-poms.

“It is always special to see children’s creativity and spirit on display, especially here at the White House where so many hardworking men and women support the success of our Nation every day,” the First Lady said in a statement.

AI regulation under the microscope in Congress

Melania Trump’s AI-powered publishing news coincides with a debate in Congress over the technology’s regulation. On Thursday, the US House of Representatives passed a tax and domestic policy bill by a narrow 215-214 vote. 

A provision in the bill restricts states from enforcing or enacting any regulations on AI technologies involved in interstate commerce. Specifically, it blocks state laws “limiting, restricting, or otherwise regulating AI models, systems, or automated decision systems.”

“The private sector should prepare today for a more deregulated tomorrow,” said Lydia Clougherty Jones, an analyst at Gartner, interpreting the bill as a sign of the administration’s hands-off approach to AI governance.

Tech industry leaders have been asking for federal action to supersede state-by-state AI laws, which they view as fragmented and inconsistent. In filings to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, companies such as OpenAI and Google coined the state-level patchwork as “overly burdensome and chaotic.”

During a recent hearing, Trahan bashed tech companies for lobbying against federal privacy legislation that includes consumer protections. 

KEY Difference Wire: the secret tool crypto projects use to get guaranteed media coverage

What seemed to be a calm weekend on financial markets has turned into a bloodbath, where the top ten cryptos by market cap, except stablecoins, are now trading in the red over the past hour. Bitcoin dropped below $109,000 minutes after US President Donald Trump threatened to slap the European Union with new tariff rates. 

Just weeks after “successful talks” with China, the President turned his focus to the EU with an abrupt statement that caused panic across the crypto market.

Wow.

Trump says EU talks are going nowhere and they will have a 50% tariff starting June 1. pic.twitter.com/94ntHDpEa4

— Geiger Capital (@Geiger_Capital) May 23, 2025

In a Truth Social post published Friday at around 7:00 AM Eastern Time, the US President claimed the bloc has been taking advantage of the United States. 

“The European Union… has been very difficult to deal with,” he wrote. “Our discussions with them are going nowhere! Therefore, I am recommending a straight 50% tariff on the EU, starting on June 1.”

The proposed tariff is more than double the size of the previous 20% levy that was briefly imposed in April but paused for negotiation. The tariff pause is set to expire on July 9, and aside from a new agreement with the United Kingdom, no major progress has been reported in transatlantic trade talks.

Crypto assets bleed to tariff threat

Bitcoin, which had recently pulled back slightly after setting a new all-time high of $113,000, slumped more than 2.5% in the aftermath of the tariff announcement. The world’s largest crypto fell below the $109,000 mark and is now changing hands at $108,526 at the time of press.

XRP investors also saw losses, down over 3.5% on the day. The coin had been consolidating under the $2.6 resistance zone but failed to maintain momentum after the broader market fell apart. 

🚨 $XRP: Price Spike Down – 5MIN Chart!#XRP #okx More signals on our Telegram (link in bio)! pic.twitter.com/aWwLPF3spS

— Crypto Signals (@crypto_signals) May 23, 2025

Earlier in the day, the coin’s low volatility seemed to be masking an accumulation phase, with analysts mentioning that a successful breach of the $2.6 resistance could drive the price toward $3, but it’s less than likely to happen now.

Bullish technical indicators and a flat trend had hinted at an impending rally, but the sudden shock has dragged prices lower.

In total, over $500 million in leveraged positions were liquidated in less than 24 hours, according to data from CoinGlass. More than 150,000 traders were impacted, with many positions wiped out in the abrupt correction. 

Markets correction caused by EU tariff threat

According to Michael van de Poppe, founder of MNCapital, the crypto market correction was caused by renewed EU tariff fears. 

“Markets correct due to the potential tariffs on the EU,” he said. “That provides a dip opportunity on Bitcoin and altcoins. We’ve already seen those panic moments… can provide tremendous returns in the short term.”

Among other altcoins in the top ten market cap rank, Ethereum fared almost worst within the hour of the development. 

Solana had also experienced a rally that saw its price nearly double from a bottom of $95 to reach $186 but is now showing signs of fatigue, falling to $117 at the time of this publication. 

Meanwhile, in the same social media post recommending a hike in EU tariffs, President Trump demanded Apple and its CEO Tim Cook to bring its iPhone manufacturing operations back to US soil.

“I have long ago informed Tim Cook of Apple that I expect their iPhones that will be sold in the US will be manufactured and built in the US, not India or anyplace else,” the President said. “If that’s not the case, a tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple.”

KEY Difference Wire: the secret tool crypto projects use to get guaranteed media coverage

As global markets reel from President Donald Trump’s surprise call for a 50% tariff on European Union goods starting June 1, investors are scrambling for safe havens — and once again, cryptocurrency is back in the spotlight.

The announcement triggered a sharp selloff across European stock markets and a steep drop in U.S. equity futures, with the Dow projected to open 600 points lower. Trump’s statement, posted on Truth Social, called the EU “very difficult to deal with” and claimed trade negotiations have gone “nowhere.” The news follows his earlier threat to slap a 25% tariff on Apple products not manufactured in the United States — adding to investor uncertainty over global trade.

In the face of this geopolitical volatility, crypto investors are now asking: Is XRP or MAGACOIN FINANCE the smarter hedge in 2025?

XRP: Banking on Institutional Confidence

Source: TradingView

XRP, the digital asset native to the Ripple network, has gained 3.38% in the last 24 hours — part of a broader 7-day rally that now puts it at $2.34, with a market cap nearing $138 billion. The token has benefited from its growing use in cross-border transactions and a tailwind from last year’s partial legal victory against the SEC.

What makes XRP particularly appealing in this environment is its institutional credibility and potential alignment with central bank digital currency infrastructure. With trade-related uncertainty rising, XRP’s positioning as a cross-border liquidity solution may attract capital flows seeking to de-risk from fiat-exposed equities and diversify globally.

Moreover, the idea of tariffs stifling traditional financial corridors could push more institutional players to reconsider on-chain alternatives like RippleNet.

MAGACOIN FINANCE: Rising Star Amid Macro Unrest

MAGACOIN FINANCE, a political meme coin with a fast-growing base and Trump-centric branding, has also seen a sharp uptick — gaining 16.08% in 24 hours, outpacing most of the market. While it’s not traditionally considered a “safe haven,” it has become a high-beta play tied to political sentiment and retail momentum.

What makes MAGACOIN FINANCE unique in this environment is how it aligns with Trump’s policy stance. In the past, politically themed tokens have experienced massive surges around election narratives and executive actions. With the tariff discourse now dominating headlines, MAGACOIN FINANCE is benefiting from the perception that it reflects Trump-aligned economic nationalism.

Additionally, the project is currently in presale mode with projected ROI targets as high as 35x — drawing comparisons to early-stage meme coin rallies like DOGE and PEPE. While riskier than XRP, its upside potential amid politically charged cycles makes it a wildcard worth watching.

Safe Haven or Speculative Play?

For conservative traders, XRP remains a cornerstone pick, benefiting from growing regulatory clarity, central bank interest, and international settlement utility.

For speculative investors, MAGACOIN FINANCE offers asymmetric upside tied to election year dynamics, Trump media momentum, and meme culture-driven volatility.

Both assets are riding macro uncertainty — but for different reasons.

Bottom Line:

With Trump’s tariff threat shaking traditional markets, crypto is again emerging as a hedge. XRP provides a battle-tested infrastructure play, while MAGACOIN FINANCE offers meme-fueled exposure with explosive potential. Depending on your risk appetite, either could be the safer bet in a world where politics and finance are increasingly intertwined.

To learn more about MAGACOIN FINANCE, please visit:

Website: https://magacoinfinance.com

Twitter/X: https://x.com/magacoinfinance

Changpeng Zhao (CZ), founder and ex-CEO of Binance has denied allegations made by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) that he acted as a “fixer” for former President Donald Trump’s crypto venture, World Liberty Financial (WLF).

The claims were made in a report published on March 13, which Zhao claims is riddled with “inaccuracies” and is politically motivated.

The WSJ article, citing unnamed sources, alleged that representatives of Trump’s family have been in discussions to acquire a financial stake in Binance.US, the American affiliate of the global cryptocurrency exchange Binance. 

The report suggested that Zhao was lobbying the Trump administration for a presidential pardon following his conviction for violating US anti-money-laundering laws, and that he facilitated international connections on behalf of Trump-linked crypto interests.

CZ denies being part of World Liberty Financial negotiations

Zhao, who is known as “CZ” on social media platform X, rebuffed the report in a post on Friday. 

“Another hit piece from Wall Street Journal,” he wrote, accusing the outlet of abandoning journalism in favor of what he called “Cunningham’s Law with negative intentions.” Referring to the principle that posting incorrect information often attracts correction, CZ beckoned, “This is NOT how journalism should work.”

WSJ reported that Zhao had introduced WLF representatives to government officials in Pakistan, Malaysia, and Kyrgyzstan, and helped connect WLF with local contacts during their international travels. 

The article also read that following Zhao’s alleged involvement, WLF named Pakistani official Mr. Saqib as an adviser after a trip organized with the Binance founder’s help.

CZ denies these assertions, insisting that he was “not a fixer for anyone.” 

“I did NOT connect Mr. Saqib with the WLF team. They had known each other way back, whereas I only met with Mr. Saqib for the first time in Pakistan.” He also clarified that he did not make introductions for WLF’s foreign travels and that the publication’s conclusions were based on unfounded inferences.

Zhao reiterated that WSJ had contacted Binance’s PR team with a list of questions based on “wrong and negative assumptions.” Binance supposedly attempted to correct inaccuracies in the inquiry, but the founder argued that the entire premise of the published story ignored the clarification statements the company gave, and was “intentionally misleading.”

WSJ draws links between the Trump family and Binance

According to WSJ, talks between Binance and allies of Trump began last year after the crypto firm sought to reestablish its footprint in the US market. 

The report mentioned that the Trump family could acquire a stake in Binance.US either directly or through WLF, a crypto venture launched in September, backed by the Trump family.

One name cited in the report was Steve Witkoff, a close associate of Trump and the administration’s reported negotiator on Middle East affairs and Ukraine. WSJ sources claimed Witkoff was involved in brokering the partnership between Binance and the Trump camp. 

Yet, an administration official disputed this claim, stating Witkoff was divesting from his business interests.

“WSJ is just the mouthpiece. There are forces in the US that want to hinder efforts in making the US the capital of crypto. They want to attack crypto, global crypto leaders, and the pro-crypto administration,” Zhao surmised.

The report added that Melania Trump signed a $40 million deal for a documentary, and Donald Trump was pursuing financial settlements from lawsuits that helped fund his presidential library.

WSJ insinuated that Zhao was quietly lobbying for a presidential pardon from Trump and had even offered cooperation in the DOJ’s case against Justin Sun, the founder of Tron. The Binance founder reportedly received a reduced sentence as part of the deal, according to people familiar with the case.

KEY Difference Wire helps crypto brands break through and dominate headlines fast

President Donald Trump announced Friday that the United States will impose a 50% tariff on all goods imported from the European Union, starting June 1, citing a complete breakdown in negotiations with the 27-member bloc.

Trump made the announcement on Truth Social, writing, “I am recommending a straight 50% Tariff on the European Union,” and claiming that talks have “gone nowhere.”

This latest escalation landed less than thirty minutes after Trump also threatened Apple, warning the company it must begin manufacturing iPhones in the United States or face a 25% import tax. “If they are not made in the US, a tariff of at least 25% must be paid by Apple,” Trump posted.

The comment triggered an immediate response from markets — Apple shares dropped 3% in premarket trading, and US stock futures fell across the board, with Dow Jones down 493 points, Nasdaq 100 down 1.7%, and S&P 500 sliding 1.3%.

Trump lists grievances as trade officials prepare for face-off

In his posts, Trump accused the European Union of building its foundation on exploiting US trade. He claimed the bloc uses tactics such as “Trade Barriers, VAT Taxes, ridiculous Corporate Penalties, Non-Monetary Trade Barriers, Monetary Manipulations,” and lawsuits against American firms, which he said contribute to a $250 billion trade deficit that he called “totally unacceptable.”

Trump reiterated, “There is no Tariff if the product is built or manufactured in the United States.” The announcement also created pressure on US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who is scheduled to meet European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic later Friday.

According to the Financial Times, Greer plans to tell Sefcovic that Brussels’ recent proposals still fail to meet American standards. The EU’s main executive body, the European Commission, declined to comment on the latest developments.

Trump’s new tariff recommendation follows an earlier 20% tariff announcement on April 2nd, which he called part of his “reciprocal” policy approach. But Friday’s 50% figure marked a new level, one that some analysts say could destabilize trade if it becomes law.

Speaking to CNBC’s Squawk Box, Chicago Fed President Austan Goolsbee said, “To go to 10% was going to be the highest tariff rate that we had on the world in 90 years. To go to 50% is a completely different order of magnitude.”

Goolsbee warned that such a decision would likely trigger a stagflationary effect — lowering economic output while raising prices. “That’s the Central Bank’s worst situation,” he said.

Bond yields drop and Bitcoin slips after tariff threat

As traders rushed to dump risk and move into government debt, bond markets across Europe reacted sharply. The German 10-year bund, widely considered the eurozone’s benchmark for stability, fell 8 basis points to 2.56%.

French and Italian bonds also dropped, losing 5 basis points each. Swiss 10-year bonds declined by 12 basis points, reflecting investors seeking safe ground.

Commodities and crypto markets didn’t escape either. Bitcoin, which had recently broken above $111,000, pulled back to $108,500. At the same time, gold prices exploded by over 50%, hitting a high of $3,351.15. The US dollar, already under pressure from domestic inflation concerns, slipped 1%, landing at 99.37 by mid-afternoon.

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Binance saw an uptick in activity in the past month, with the biggest boost coming from the futures market. The clear bullish trend expanded demand for active trading with leverage, to make the best of the market’s direction. 

Binance is once again predominantly a futures market, increasing the ratio of futures to spot trading. The dominance of futures trading is near a 1.5-year high, reflecting the increased open interest for BTC and other active assets. The ratio increased vertically in the past month, reflecting the shift in sentiment and risk-taking.

Binance carries $12.8B of the total BTC open interest, remaining the most active market with a slight price premium on the futures markets. 

The spot to futures ratio increased rapidly, returning to the highest levels in 1.5 years. | Source: Cryptoquant

Futures volumes concentrated on Binance in 2025 as the undisputed leader. However, OKX futures markets showed a growth trend in the year to date. In May, Binance futures markets carried a total of $1.25T in trading volumes, on track to surpass the levels from April. Most of the crypto futures volumes are also concentrated on Bybit and Bitget.

Futures trading points to speculative trend

Growing futures trading suggests the crypto market is back in risk-on mode. Leveraged futures trading offers the biggest short-term return, especially during times of generally positive sentiment. 

On Binance, futures traders are 4.9 times more active compared to spot traders. While accumulation continues for BTC and ETH, especially by institutions and whale wallets, short-term gains are still considered for altcoins or hot assets. 

The growth in futures trading translated into a higher Fear and Greed Index. In the past week, the index moved up from 70 points to 78 points, crossing over into extreme greed territory. Even the fear of liquidations does not stop traders from betting on the BTC reversal of direction. 

Currently, most of the bets on BTC are in the range of $110,000 to $112,000, the two price levels with the biggest liquidity in futures positions. 

In the past day, short positions on BTC also expanded to over 53% on most major exchanges, against 46% for long positions. The risky trader behavior may translate into another short squeeze. Long traders are showing bullish sentiment, but remain cautious against liquidations. 

Stablecoins flow out of spot exchanges

The main source of increased futures and derivative activity is the availability of stablecoins. Binance is the main target for USDT inflows, still carrying over $24B in available tokens. Binance increased its influence, currently holding over 22% of all exchange reserves.

Spot exchanges barely carry a reserve of $90M in ERC-20 USDT stablecoins. Despite the all-time low of BTC and ETH reserves, spot buying from open markets remains much slower. Demand from whales, ETFs and corporate buyers also relies on OTC desks and private deals.

The other source of futures and derivative activity comes from the global market activity on Binance. The exchange has blocked most of Europe from trading derivatives since 2022. Kraken has attempted to fill that niche, offering fully regulated crypto derivatives for the European market.  

KEY Difference Wire helps crypto brands break through and dominate headlines fast

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) hit the snooze button again on the two major spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) filings from Bitwise and CoinShares. These applications had second deadlines coming up later this month. However, the watchdog continues its now familiar pattern of dragging its heels on crypto-related ETFs.

The postponements come as approved Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) linked ETFs are hitting positive inflows, depicting a surge in retail traders’ investment. The global digital asset market is buzzing and hitting fresh all-time highs (ATH) on the indexes. BTC went on to record its fresh ATH of around $111,900 on May 22, 2025.

SEC delays XRP ETFs again

According to Bloomberg’s James Seyffart, the decision on Bitwise’s ETF could come around August 23 and CoinShares’ on August 24. Adding to the regulatory traffic jam, the SEC also officially acknowledged a filing for a staked Tron (TRX) ETF from Canary Capital. It can be true that a staked TRX product could soon be under formal review, but an acknowledgment doesn’t mean approval. However, it does mark the start of the comment period and procedural countdown.

For XRP, the commission has now “instituted proceedings” for both Bitwise and CoinShares’ applications. It has opened the floor for public comment and rebuttals. Once the decision is published in the Federal Register, the public will have 21 days to respond. Then it will face another 35 days for counterarguments. It can be seen as a signal that the agency wants more input before making a final call, or even stop it for some more time.

As expected, more delays on crypto ETFs dropped today. Delays include @BitwiseInvest & @CoinSharesCo XRP ETFs. Delay on Litecoin ETF Filing. Delay on @Fidelity's In-kind Bitcoin filing.

On the more positive side: SEC acknowledged @CanaryFunds's staked TRX filing https://t.co/bqXHT5MAnS pic.twitter.com/LzrxfFZK2J

— James Seyffart (@JSeyff) May 22, 2025

Ripple’s XRP is already surrounded by hype after the blockchain firm managed to bag a partial win against the commission. XRP price has surged by a huge 360% in the last year, going from trading at $0.51 in November 2024 to around $2.43 on May 23, 2025. In the meantime, it also knocked out the $3 mark, back in January 2025.

Crypto ETFs just had their biggest day

As the delays continue to pile up, the regulator has also hit pause on CoinShares’ Litecoin ETF, Fidelity’s in-kind Bitcoin ETF. It has recently pushed back on XRP ETF filings from Grayscale and 21Shares too.

With Canary and WisdomTree’s XRP applications due later this month, the expectation is clear that more delays might be coming in.

Crypto ETFs may have started slow, but they’re now stampeding their way forward. US spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs posted $1.05 billion in daily net inflows on Thursday. This has been the highest since January.

On May 22 alone, spot BTC ETFs pulled in $934.8 million as BlackRock’s IBIT led the way with $877 million of inflows. IBIT is now a top 5 ETF in the US by year-to-date inflows. It crossed $68.7 billion AUM and is raking in over $7.7 billion since April 22.

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Government data on Friday showed Japan’s core inflation jumped to 3.5% in April, its highest in more than 2 years. The rise is attributed to the country’s inclined prices as the central bank considers pausing its rate hike posture to assess the impact of U.S. tariffs.

The country’s core inflation figures, which exclude food and energy prices, were higher than expectations of 3.4%. Japan’s inflation also rose from 3.2% in the previous month to 3.5%, marking the highest level since January 2023.

Japan’s inflation rises faster than expected

What is ironic, is that Japan does not actually have high core inflation; it does however have soaring rice prices which have skewed inflation expectations across the population as rice is a huge component of the overall CPI basket. Meanwhile the BOJ is scrambling to contain… pic.twitter.com/2zo9nw1wJO

— zerohedge (@zerohedge) May 23, 2025

Japan’s annual Consumer Price Index stood at 3.6% year-over-year in April, remaining unchanged compared to its previous reading of 3.6% in April 2024. It remains above the Bank of Japan’s 2% target. BOJ’s Governor Kazuo Ueda has signaled his position on intending to raise rates due to the price trends. He also cited the need to closely monitor the effects of U.S. tariffs.

Japan has witnessed a rise in rice prices, which have doubled over the year. The country’s agriculture ministry said Monday the average price of rice sold at some 1,000 supermarkets across Japan hit another record high in the week through May 11. The ministry also noted that the average price per 5 kilograms increased by 54 yen from the previous week to 4,268 yen, the highest level on record dating back to March 2022. 

Japan had sold about 310,000 tons of stockpiled rice through auctions by April, but the distribution has remained static. According to the National Federation of Agricultural Cooperative Associations (Zen-Noh), which purchased most of the auctioned rice, it had completed shipments of roughly 80,000 tons to wholesalers as of Thursday, only 41% of the rice it bought in the auctions in March.

Japan’s prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, pledged Wednesday to lower rice prices below 4,000 yen ($28) per 5 kg bag, vowing to stake his job on achieving the target.

Masato Koike, economist at Sompo Institute Plus, said the core inflation is expected to ease in the coming months due to lower crude oil prices and the yen’s appreciation. According to him, it was evident during Trump’s first administration that an oversupply of food stemming from the U.S. tariffs could lead to lower food prices. He believes that the resumption of government subsidies for electricity and gas bills in the summer will also create downward pressure on inflation.

The Japanese yen on Friday inched up by 0.15% to 143.80 against the U.S. dollar following the release of inflation data. Topix equities rose 0.7%, while the benchmark Nikkei 225 index gained by 0.5%. Japan’s yields on 10-year government bonds shed 0.041 percentage points to 1.52%, while those on the 40-year bonds plummeted by 7 basis points to 3.624% after hitting record highs earlier in the week.

Bank of Japan expects to raise interest rates due to price trends and tariffs

Marcel Thieliant, head of Asia-Pacific at Capital Economics, argued that the persistent strength in inflation will convince the BOJ to increase interest rates again in October. He had predicted that a rise at the central bank’s October policy meeting appeared more realistic than at its July gathering.

“While the BOJ is rightly taking a patient approach, the upshot is a lesser than expected tax cut, which maintains high inflation that could lower consumption and slow the economy.”

-Krishna Bhimavarapu, Asia-Pacific Economist at State Street Global Advisors.

Japan saw a rise in inflation in the wake of its 10% baseline tariff that the U.S. Donald Trump imposed on most trade partners. The country also faces a 24% reciprocal tariff, which is set to come into effect in July unless it manages to strike a deal with the U.S. The nation is also one of the hardest hit by Trump’s 25% levy on auto, steel, and aluminum products.

Negotiations between the two trade partners seem to be in a standoff as Japanese senior officials have requested that Washington remove all tariffs on Japan. The Japanese officials emphasized that the country would not rush into any deal that would put Tokyo’s interests at risk.

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Cetus Protocol, the main liquidity provider for SUI, is seeking solutions to the loss of $223M from its DEX liquidity pools. The team offered a white hat deal to the hacker to return the funds currently held on Ethereum. 

Cetus Protocol narrowed down the losses from its liquidity vaults to $223M, taken from 46 exploited liquidity pairs. The leading DEX on SUI immediately investigated the incident, locating all funds either on SUI or bridged to Ethereum. 

The hacker has been extended a time-sensitive offer to return the funds on Ethereum in exchange for stopping all prosecution. 

📜 Dear Sui community, thank you for your patience while our team works on the incident investigation and resolution.

Since taking the actions indicated in our previous announcement, we have also done the following:

1. We engaged the broader ecosystem, Sui team, and related… https://t.co/Gs1EWXZ6AD

— Cetus🐳 (@CetusProtocol) May 22, 2025

The hacker has the chance to retain 2,324 ETH, or around $6M as a bounty if the funds are received immediately. The hacker wallets did not show any movements in the past day. 

Cetus is currently carrying only $37M in total liquidity locked, down from over $240M before the hack.

Cetus lost most of its liquidity after a month of rapid growth and the expansion of meme token launches on SUI. | Source: DeFi Llama

The wallets are mostly blocked and blacklisted from interacting with other ecosystem protocols. The Cetus hack can still mix or use decentralized anonymous protocols to obscure the origin of funds. 

Cetus hack exposes controversial SUI decision to block addresses

In an unprecedented move, the SUI network sent out a patch code to all validators, who are actively ignoring transactions originating from the hacker addresses.

The move was efficient in securing $160M of the funds, which were not yet bridged to Ethereum. 

This also exposed the reality of SUI validators, which were capable of coordinating based on an ad hoc decision. The SUI network is thus not considered censorship-free, in comparison to larger networks like Ethereum and Bitcoin. On the other hand, the fast consensus to block addresses was a solution against the loss of funds. 

SUI validators invoked a governance mechanism in which the decision to block the funds was not actually centralized, but was quickly accepted by all validators. Running a SUI validator node is deliberately expensive, requiring 30M staked SUI. The creation of a validator node either requires an early entry or the gathering of staking deposits from a wide circle of owners. 

SUI validators, however, are incapable of moving the funds from the addresses, requiring the hacker to build a new transaction to the predetermined wallet. 

SUI sinks further after the hack

Since the hack, SUI has endured significant losses. The token is down over 7.5% to $3.87, although no SUI tokens were directly sold to exchanges. 

SUI open interest increased to $963M, with more traders longing the coin in expectation of a recovery. 

The relatively large DeFi hack did not affect the main chain’s operation. However, the SUI meme token market saw significant price anomalies and may take a while to recover. 

Daily active users on SUI fell from over 1.6M to around 360K in the past 24 hours, showing that the DeFi ecosystem was the main driver of adoption. Cetus Protocol had expanded its liquidity by 70% in the past month, as SUI offered a new wave of meme tokens.

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Ripple’s XRP has long been a staple in the crypto market, currently trading around $2.32 and showing strong momentum toward the ambitious $10 mark, fueled by growing adoption in cross-border payments and renewed optimism over regulatory clarity. As one of the top cryptocurrencies investors consider for long-term gains, XRP benefits from solid infrastructure and widespread use cases. 

However, while XRP charts a steady climb, emerging DeFi-focused token, Mutuum Finance (MUTM) are capturing attention with their potential for explosive growth. Investors swiftly completed the fourth phase of Mutuum Finance’s (MUTM) presale before progressing into the fifth stage. The project has drawn increasing interest from rational, long-term investors after raising $9.1 million and securing over 11,000 token holders. In Phase 5, MUTM tokens are available at $0.03. With the official launch price set at $0.06, current participants are positioned for a 2x return on investment. 

Surging Interest in the MUTM Presale

In phase 5 of the MUTM presale investors have been rapidly increasing their contributions through 11,000 accounts which have deposited $9.1 million so far. Investors can access MUTM tokens during presale time before launch which grants them two benefits of increased value at $0.06 purchase price. Experts expect Mutuum Finance tokens to exceed $1 after its listing date and upcoming exchange launch will strengthen their investment value.

Expanding the Mutuum Finance Ecosystem

The design approach of Mutuum Finance brings together features for innovative expansion and sustainable growth through its secure and scalable architectural components and expansion possibilities. Smart contracts enable efficient lending operations on the platform. 

Mutuum Finance is set to launch a stablecoin on the Ethereum chain. The stablecoin will be USD-pegged to mitigate the risks of its algorithmic rivals which are known to be risky. Mutuum Finance has strengthened its position as a premier DeFi investment platform through expanded liquidity operations before its market listing.

Mutuum Finance is building a fully collateralized, USD-backed stablecoin to be issued on the Ethereum network. Its overcollateralized design ensures long-term price stability, eschewing the collapse risks which have plagued algorithmic stablecoins. On the security front, the platform is run by open-source, third-party audited smart contracts, laying a good foundation for user trust and institutional adoption.

Exclusive Perks for Early Investors

Mutuum Finance is set to distribute $100,000 MUTM tokens through a giveaway during its presale and provide $10,000 tokens to 10 participants. Users benefit from the referral network on the platform because new members gain extra advantages on their rewards through it.

Mutuum Finance provides leading decentralized lending services by combining adjustable functionality with optimum operational performance through their dual-lending model design. The Peer-to-Contract (P2C) technology empowers both lenders and borrowers through improving capital access and automatic interest rate management to gain enhanced benefits. Within the Peer-to-Peer (P2P) model users establish their own individual loan agreements through its direct operating system. Mutuum Finance stands out as the leading DeFi lending service in the market through its dual-lending system.

Mutuum Finance (MUTM) to $3 

While XRP eyes the long road to $10, Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is racing toward a breakout from $0.03 to a projected $3 and beyond, offering investors a staggering upside potential of 9,900%. Backed by over $9.1 million raised and 11,000+ holders, MUTM’s momentum is undeniable. 

The upcoming jump to $0.035 in Phase 6 and a guaranteed $0.06 launch price mean early adopters are locked in for a 2x ROI before public trading even begins. This is your window to move ahead of the curve, while XRP steadily climbs, MUTM is surging. Get in now or watch this opportunity multiply without you.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://www.mutuum.finance/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

Treasury yields held near uncomfortable highs on Friday as financial markets reacted to President Donald Trump’s new tax legislation and what it might do to America’s growing deficit.

Investors pulled back, unsure whether US government bonds were still worth trusting. That skepticism spread fast after the House approved Trump’s tax bill on Thursday, a proposal that could add almost $4 trillion to the national debt. The Senate hasn’t voted yet, but traders didn’t wait to panic.

At 4:56 a.m. ET, the 30-year Treasury yield dropped a little over 3 basis points, settling at 5.025%. The 10-year also moved down 3 basis points to 4.518%, while the 2-year nudged lower by 2 basis points to 3.986%. Traders understand those changes are minor.

The deeper concern is why the yields are still stuck at these levels—and whether the US can be trusted to manage its debt.

Downgrades, debt warnings, and market hesitation rock Treasury yields

The whole thing got worse after Moody’s downgraded the US credit rating by one level last Friday. They blamed it on the exploding budget deficit and rising costs of borrowing. That rating now sits one step below the top tier. Moody’s didn’t say a default is coming—but they didn’t rule out financial pain, either.

Thierry Wizman, who leads global rates and currencies at Macquarie, explained the math. “Even if the inability to reduce the deficit in the US doesn’t lead to default, a large deficit still implies greater bond supply, and perhaps eventual inflation as the debt is monetized to avoid default,” Wizman said. “Either way, it makes nominal fixed-income instruments less attractive as long-term investments.” So yeah, not many folks want to sit on Treasury bonds for the next 10 years right now.

Meanwhile, a legal decision on Thursday gave the Federal Reserve some breathing room. The Supreme Court suggested that the central bank’s board members—including Chair Jerome Powell—can’t be casually removed by Trump. That helped cool off fears that Trump would fire Powell for not cutting rates fast enough.

Investors were also waiting for more economic data—specifically, reports on new home sales and building permits were expected later Friday. Rising Treasury yields could make those numbers worse if mortgage rates continue to climb. But until those reports landed, markets stayed frozen.

Over on Wall Street, the mood wasn’t any better. Early Friday, Dow Jones futures slipped 15 points, or 0.04%, with the Nasdaq 100 down 0.09%. The S&P 500 barely moved. The slow action came after a rough few days. By Thursday’s close, the S&P 500 had already dropped 2% for the week. The Dow was down 1.9%, and the Nasdaq was tracking a 1.5% weekly loss.

Every one of those moves can be traced back to the Treasury market. If Trump’s tax plan becomes law, and it adds trillions to federal debt, bond investors will demand higher yields to cover the risk. That means more expensive debt for everyone else—from homeowners to corporations. And that’s exactly what traders are worried about.

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Bitcoin (BTC) has been changing hands above $110,000 since the early hours of Thursday. Yet, analysts are predicting that the expiration of over 25,000 BTC options contracts on the derivatives market today, a notional value of approximately $2.81 billion, could drag the top coin by market cap down to the recently breached all-time high level. 

According to data from Greeks.Live, the put/call ratio for this expiration stood at 1.22, a slightly bearish short-term sentiment among traders. The max pain point, or the price at which option holders would incur the most losses, sits well below current levels at $104,000. 

【5月23日期权交割数据】
2.5万张BTC期权到期，Put Call Ratio为1.22，最大痛点104000美元，名义价值28.1亿美元。
20.2万张ETH期权到期，Put Call Ratio为1.26，最大痛点2450美元，名义价值5.7亿美元。… pic.twitter.com/X0qix0UeMP

— [email protected] (@BTC__options) May 23, 2025

Bitcoin is now trading near $110,900, above both max pain and technical resistance zones. The market is showing signs of bull tailwinds, beyond short-term hedging strategies. Moreover, the expiration event has not triggered notable market volatility, thanks to low relative exposure and long-term conviction across investors of all sizes.

Institutional holdings mull BTC price growth in the coming months

May 23’s expiry involved a notable volume of contracts, but it only accounted for 7.63% of total BTC open interest, meaning the broader derivatives market is largely unaffected. 

Most of the open interest is concentrated in later expiries, with June 27 accounting for 30.38% and May 30 holding 26.03%. Institutional traders could be looking at taking more positions and increasing their market participation in June.

“The low exposure to today’s expiry likely capped potential volatility. Instead, traders are building exposure toward more pivotal dates, with open interest and implied volatility rising around June’s contracts,” explained derivatives analyst Peter Yan of AlphaOptions.

The overall put/call ratio for all BTC options, standing at 0.61, places Bitcoin at a longer-term bullish tilt. High-strike call options such as the $200,000 and $300,000 levels for June are among the most crowded, with $420 million and $620 million in notional value, respectively. 

More accumulation across wallet sizes

Data from Glassnode shows Bitcoin’s Accumulation Trend Score hit 1.0, which means the market is under sustained buying pressure from both ends, whales and small crypto holders.

Glassnode analysts observed that wallets holding over 10,000 BTC started the accumulation wave earlier in May when BTC started exhibiting signs of a positive price correction north of $95,000. 

“It’s similar to the behavior we saw back in January, right before Bitcoin’s last parabolic leg,” Glassnode noted in a research post. “What’s different this time is that accumulation is occurring at all-time highs, not during a dip. That’s historically very rare.”

If Bitcoin sustains its footing above $110,000 and breaks through the $112,000 resistance, the path toward new highs remains wide open. That said, strong spot buying, coupled with aggressive accumulation, favors the bulls.

Ethereum lags behind as options skew bearish

Meanwhile, Ethereum (ETH) has struggled to keep up with Bitcoin’s momentum. 202,000 ETH options are also expiring today, representing over $543 million in notional value. 

Per data from analytics platform Deribit, the market is moving cautiously towards buying ETH, with a higher put/call ratio of 1.26 and a max pain point at $2,450, well below its current spot price of $2,669.

Expiring Ethereum options. Source: Deribit

Up 2.6% in the last week, Ether is testing the upper boundary of a rising wedge pattern near $2,680. The pattern is deemed as a bearish reversal signal when it appears after an extended uptrend, but long-term holders are hoping for a trend reversal that could push the price back up to $3,000.

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Uniswap Foundation released its Q1 2025 financial report of $140.3 million of revenue in the form of donations, dividends, and interest income.

The decentralized exchange protocol foundation issued new grants of $12.4 million during the quarter and also has substantial reserves to sustain operations and development through January 2027.

Uniswap hands out $12.4m in fresh protocol development grants

Uniswap Foundation has $12.4 million in Q1 2025 new grant commitments. The majority of it goes toward long-term protocol development. $9.9 million of the amount went towards grants that would be for the 2026-2029 period.

Over a quarter, the foundation disbursed $2.1 million of committed grants and also initiated new channels of funding for future development. The grants strategy has four main priorities.

This encompasses constructing superior DeFi platforms through the empowerment of developers and infrastructure, maximizing capital effectiveness on live EVM chains through the use of liquidity incentive programs, and constructing sustainable income streams for governance and onboarding.

Source: Uniswap blog

The Multi-year grant commitments include the provision under which Unichain Partners can reimburse the foundation up to 100% of the amounts committed upon reaching some growth metrics. This allows for responsibility and also for flexibility in terms of adjusting funding according to performance.

The total grant spending plan of the foundation reaches until January 2027, and $115.1 million is allocated for grants in total. This consists of $99.8 million to be spent in 2025 and 2026 and $15.3 million that is held for already committed grants that are to be paid out. Q1 operating expenses were $1.9 million.

Foundation reports strong financial position with $140m revenue

The Uniswap Foundation posted substantial financial results in Q1 2025. It also generated $140.3 million in revenue. This was mainly through donations, dividends, and interest income. The largest component came from $140 million in donations raised via a governance proposal.

As of March 31, 2025, the foundation maintained $53.4 million in USD and stablecoins alongside token holdings valued at $95 million at quarter-end rates. The token portfolio includes 15.8 million UNI tokens and 257 ETH.

An additional 5 million UNI tokens were held externally as collateral against a $29 million loan to the foundation. This structured financial instrument allowed immediate access to USD liquidity.

The foundation’s current financial position supports operations through January 2027, with $33.3 million allocated for operating expenses and employee token awards during this period. This runway calculation accounts for both committed grant disbursements and operational needs. It allows the foundation to maintain consistent funding for protocol development without immediate fundraising pressure.

Strategic focus on Unichain and multi-chain expansion

The Protocol and Unichain were to be the cornerstones of the worldwide digital value transfer infrastructure, according to the Uniswap Foundation’s Q1 2025 strategy. Throughout the quarter, the foundation worked toward four major strategic goals. Through targeted liquidity incentive schemes intended to promote organic liquidity growth, it first concentrated on enhancing capital efficiency throughout active EVM chains.

Second, the foundation invested in developing premier DeFi platforms by supporting developer education, infrastructure, and expanding the builder ecosystem to reinforce demand.

Third, the foundation worked on activating sustainable revenue streams and providing governance with essential tools. These initiatives aim to allow adaptive, high-impact funding decisions that can respond to changing market conditions.

Fourth, the foundation prioritized onboarding and incentivizing long-term, protocol-aligned Core Contributors to ensure consistent development and maintenance of the ecosystem. These efforts were designed to maintain Uniswap’s position at the forefront of decentralized finance.

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The Philippines is now openly weighing whether to slash its holdings of US Treasuries, following the credit downgrade of the United States by Moody’s Ratings, according to statements made by Eli Remolona, Governor of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), during a Friday press briefing.

“We’re looking at it,” Eli said when asked if cutting exposure to US debt was on the table. He added, “It’s one thing when other countries’ debt is downgraded, but the US Treasuries, now that’s a big thing.”

His comments come after Moody’s removed the US from the exclusive club of Aaa-rated issuers. That downgrade refocused attention on America’s rising fiscal deficit, which has exceeded 6% of GDP for two straight years, something the ratings agency described as unprecedented in peacetime.

Dollar-denominated assets make up roughly 80% of the Philippines’ total foreign reserves, which stood at $104.6 billion as of April. For decades, US Treasuries have been treated as the global gold standard for security and liquidity.

But Eli’s statement shows that even that reputation isn’t bulletproof anymore. He clarified, though, that “US Treasuries are still the most liquid market,” and that the US dollar “is still the number one currency in terms of international lending environment, in terms of investments.”

Diversification talks grow louder inside BSP

The downgrade has strengthened arguments inside the BSP for stepping up diversification efforts. Over the past ten years, the bank has been gradually adding more non-dollar assets to its reserves. This has included other currencies and asset types, in an effort to guard against instability in any one market.

The goal is to have enough liquid reserves on hand to respond quickly if the peso falls or if the balance of payments takes a hit.

Last month, Eli had said the BSP wasn’t planning to reduce its US Treasuries holdings, even after shocks in the global market caused by President Donald Trump’s latest round of trade moves. But that was before the US downgrade changed the tone entirely.

Eli warned that the dollar’s dominance is not forever. “That advantage may be reduced over time but it’s a slow process,” he said. “This dominance of the dollar is not permanent. It can be eroded.” The statement underscores the fact that the central bank is no longer treating dollar assets as untouchable.

Interest rate cuts may still be coming this year

Meanwhile, Eli also said there’s room to cut interest rates further this year. After already delivering a 25-basis-point cut last month, the BSP is now open to slicing the benchmark rate by another 75 basis points before the end of the year. That’s if inflation continues to ease and the peso stays strong.

“On the table, yes,” Eli replied via mobile message on Wednesday when asked about the potential rate cuts. He said inflation has slowed and that gives the BSP more room to maneuver. “We still have to be careful because we don’t want to cut too much,” he added, signaling that while the door is open, the central bank is not rushing.

The peso’s strength against the US dollar has helped reduce the cost of imports, easing overall price pressure. This currency position, along with the latest inflation data, gives the Philippines space to consider more rate cuts without stoking fear of overheating. Eli also said the BSP is not planning to step in to stop the peso from gaining more strength.

The direction is now clear. The Philippines is watching the numbers, watching the markets, and seriously evaluating how exposed it wants to be to a country with growing debt and shrinking credit credibility. The Treasuries might still be liquid. The dollar might still be strong. But trust, once questioned, doesn’t always come back easy.

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Solana (SOL) has been one of the top cryptocurrencies in recent years, known for its blazing-fast transactions and robust ecosystem. As Solana continues to recover from past volatility and positions itself as a formidable Ethereum rival, it remains a top crypto to buy for long-term believers. However, while SOL charts its ambitious path, a new under-the-radar cryptocurrency Mutuum Finance (MUTM) is generating buzz among investors hunting for even greater upside potential in the next bull cycle.

Already in the fifth phase of presale, this fast-rising altcoin is priced at $0.03 and has already seen $9.1 million worth of funding. As the price is set to increase to $0.035 in the next stage, more than 11000 investors already have their positions ahead of a 16.67% price increase. 

Solana Price Prediction: Path to $1,000 in 2025?

Solana (SOL), currently trading at approximately $170, is showing strong momentum heading into the next market cycle, with bullish forecasts suggesting a potential surge to $1,000 by 2025. Known for its high-speed blockchain and scalability, Solana continues to attract developers and institutional investors alike, positioning it as one of the best cryptos to invest in for long-term growth. 

As activity across DeFi, meme coins, and layer-1 innovations on the Solana network increases, so does investor confidence. While SOL eyes a significant rally, new altcoins like Mutuum Finance (MUTM) are also emerging as serious contenders for those seeking high upside potential.

A DeFi Powerhouse Gaining Traction

Mutuum Finance is withdrawing from mainstream lenders by using a dual-lending structure, leading to its fast adoption rate. There are more than 11,000 investors supporting MUTM by investing $9.1 million during the presale. Phase 5 of the offering has brought Mutuum Finance to $0.03 and with Phase 6 about to happen, investors in this stage can expect big gains. Because of its unique loan systems and popularity among traders, experts predict that the token will reach a value over $5 after launch at a price of $0.06.

Reshaping DeFi Lending with a Dual-Model Approach

Mutuum Finance is revolutionizing DeFi lending by integrating Peer-to-Contract (P2C) as well as Peer-to-Peer (P2P) models. Through the P2C model, customers can gain passive income by being part of USDT liquidity pools while having smart contract-based automatic lending. 

P2P method provides direct lending where customers are able to do business without the involvement of intermediaries and remain in full possession of their capital. By this combination of two systems, Mutuum Finance provides greater security, efficiency, and decentralization as a potential investment vehicle for high-yielding DeFi investors.

A Secure and Trustworthy Financial Ecosystem

In addition to supporting its ecosystem, Mutuum Finance will also introduce a fully collateralized USD-pegged stablecoin on the Ethereum blockchain. Unlike algorithmic stablecoins, this token is over-collateralized, minimizing risks and offering long-term stability. Coupled with open and fully audited smart contracts by Certik, this approach guarantees investor confidence while negating the vulnerabilities that have derailed other DeFi projects.

Sustainable Tokenomics for Long-Term Growth

The project’s tokenomics model is designed to ensure controlled supply and long-term price appreciation. Limiting the distribution of the tokens during presale and adding deflationary pressures, Mutuum Finance ensures scarcity, thus the potential for long-term price appreciation. In addition, its staking mechanism guarantees high reward incentives and active participation with the token building long-term functionality and a healthy ecosystem.

Solana may well hit $1,000 in the 2025 bull run, but early investors are already betting that Mutuum Finance (MUTM) could deliver even better returns—starting from just $0.03. Over $9.1 million raised and more than 11,000 holders onboarded signal massive early conviction. As the presale approaches Phase 6 with a 16.67% price jump to $0.035 and a confirmed launch price of $0.06, current participants are staring at a potential 2x ROI before listing, and over 150x upside if expert predictions of $5+ prove true. This is your chance to get in before the next price hike, wait too long, and this breakout altcoin could leave you behind.

For more information about Mutuum Finance (MUTM) visit the links below:

Website: https://www.mutuum.finance/

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/mutuumfinance

Major U.S. banks are working on a plan to create a joint stablecoin as they respond to the rising power of the cryptocurrency industry.

The plan is still in its early stages, but it shows that traditional financial institutions now see digital assets as an important part of their future.

If they launch the stablecoin, it will be backed by assets like U.S. Treasurys and aim to make payments faster and more efficient, especially international ones.

The talks include major banks like JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo, along with payment firms they co-own, such as Early Warning Services (which runs Zelle) and the Clearing House.

Big U.S. banks plan a shared stablecoin to speed up digital payments

JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo have started early discussions about creating a joint stablecoin or digital dollar to help them keep up with fast-growing cryptocurrency firms and large tech companies moving into financial services.

These talks are in collaboration with Early Warning Services, the company behind the popular person-to-person payment app Zelle, and the Clearing House, which manages a real-time payments system.

The talks remain unofficial and exploratory because the banks are only sharing ideas and may change or even cancel the plan depending on how much customer demand they see or how federal laws around digital currencies evolve in the coming months.

The banks are moving cautiously because the U.S. government is still debating how to regulate stablecoins and other digital assets.

This new stablecoin would be a digital version of the U.S. dollar, where each token or coin would always be worth one dollar and backed by reserves like cash or U.S. Treasurys. It would allow customers and businesses to send money faster on cross-border payments, which take several days to clear in the traditional banking system and come with high fees.

Banks want to protect their roles in everyday financial transactions because many customers today use crypto apps and platforms instead of banks to store value and transfer money.

At the same time, smaller regional and community banks monitoring these developments have shown interest in starting their own version of a joint stablecoin. 

However, experts warn that this could be much harder to achieve since building and maintaining a secure and reliable digital currency system is costly. It would require advanced technology, regulatory expertise, and significant financial investment, which smaller institutions may be unable to afford independently.

Rules, customer demand, and politics shape the banks’ next steps

Big banks closely monitor the GENIUS Act as the U.S. Senate cleared a key procedural step this week, bringing it closer to becoming law. The bill would allow both banks and nonbank companies to issue stablecoins under a uniform set of rules.

The bill also includes restrictions on public companies outside of the financial sector but doesn’t completely block them from launching their own stablecoins. This detail is essential to banks because they lobbied for tighter limits to prevent big tech firms and retailers from grabbing a large share of customers in the stablecoin market.

Political momentum is also pushing banks to take digital assets more seriously, with President Donald Trump making several pro-crypto statements and even calling himself the “crypto president.”  

Trump launched his own meme coin and announced in March that his family-linked company, World Liberty Financial, also plans to release a stablecoin. These actions pressure banks to step up their digital strategies before they lose ground to more aggressive and flexible players.

Several crypto-native firms are working to get formal banking charters, and they believe the GENIUS Act could make that easier. 

These firms could start offering full-service banking products, including loans, savings, and payment tools if they become legally recognized financial institutions.

Banks now face the possibility of being left behind if they do not adapt to these changes and build their digital alternatives.

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