Bitcoin surged above $111,000 to reach a new all-time high (ATH) recently, signaling the ongoing revival of the crypto bull market. Despite a slight pullback due to US trade tariff news, investors remain optimistic as reclaiming the previous ATH indicates a continued uptrend. Analyst BilalHuseynov noted a unique trend in the Market Value To Realized Value ratio (MVRV) during this cycle. While past ATHs saw MVRV ratios peaking at 3.5-4.0, the current peak is at 2.4, attributed to a rise in Realized Cap over Market Cap. This anomaly suggests a stable market with less speculation. The presence of long-term and institutional investors further strengthens market confidence. Bitcoin is currently trading at $108,397, down 2.50% in the day but up 17.65% in the month.
Matthew Sigel, the head of digital assets research at VanEck, has criticized the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for delaying a response to a proposal for options trading on the firm’s Bitcoin Spot ETF. Despite a crypto-friendly policy under the previous administration, the SEC has been slow in responding to recent digital asset-related ETF proposals. The Chicago Board of Exchange (Cboe) submitted a proposal on April 3, 2025, to list options trading on the VanEck Bitcoin ETF (HODL). Options trading allows investors to buy and sell assets at specific prices before set dates. While the SEC has approved multiple Bitcoin ETFs, including Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund and BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust, they have delayed responding to Cboe's proposal. Sigel criticized the lack of transparency and feedback from the SEC, especially since options trading has been approved for other Bitcoin ETFs. Bitcoin's current price is $108,349, showing gains over the past seven and 30 days.
Base, an Ethereum Layer 2 network supported by Coinbase, is preparing for significant upgrades to enhance speed, affordability, and decentralization. Lead developer Jesse Pollak shared the network's improvement roadmap on May 24. The upgrades aim to scale Base to meet the increasing demands of users and developers. Plans include reducing transaction confirmation times to 200 milliseconds and maintaining network fees below $0.01. The ultimate goal is to process over 200 transactions per second initially, with a long-term target of 1 million TPS. Base is also transitioning towards a more decentralized structure by moving key protocol components to Ethereum's Layer 1 through smart contracts. Infrastructure upgrades, such as the introduction of Flashblocks for near-instant preconfirmation blocks, are underway to enhance scalability and user experience. The network plans to increase gas throughput from 25 Mgas/s to 50 Mgas/s in Q2 and eventually to 250 Mgas/s by year-end, significantly improving efficiency and positioning Base as a strong competitor in the blockchain space.
HYPE is showing similarities to Solana's 2021 breakout, with a potential 240% rally by July. The native token of Hyperliquid, HYPE, is following a price structure akin to Solana's early 2021 surge. In January 2021, Solana's breakout led to a 300% jump, and now HYPE is displaying a bullish pattern after a 270% rebound from April lows. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) for HYPE indicates strong momentum, similar to Solana's 2021 performance. Analysts suggest that HYPE could target the 1.618 Fibonacci extension level at $51.68 and potentially reach $128, marking a 240% increase from its recent breakout. Traders are drawn to familiar patterns, and recognizing HYPE's resemblance to Solana's trajectory may attract more investors. This article emphasizes the importance of conducting personal research before making any investment decisions.
Pakistan has designated 2,000 megawatts of excess electricity for Bitcoin mining and AI centers. This move is part of a digital transformation plan led by the Pakistan Crypto Council and supported by the Ministry of Finance. The government aims to attract foreign investment and create high-tech jobs. ARK Invest CEO Cathie Wood believes that crypto ETFs will remain significant despite the growth of crypto wallets. The industry saw $2.75 billion inflows into US-based spot Bitcoin ETFs as Bitcoin hit a new high. Concerns have been raised about a phishing scam targeting crypto holders through fake letters resembling communication from Ledger. The incident highlights the need for vigilance against evolving phishing tactics in the crypto community.
The crypto industry has seen controversy, with Worldcoin drawing scrutiny for its biometric identity system. Critics argue that the project's reliance on proprietary hardware and centralized control contradicts decentralization principles. Despite claims of user control, World's biometric model faces challenges in implementation, such as data centralization and governance issues. The project's comparison to OpenAI's data scraping practices raises concerns about privacy and surveillance normalization. Regulators in various countries have expressed worries about the security of biometric data. While World defends its protocol as inclusive and privacy-preserving, critics remain skeptical about informed consent and potential risks, especially in developing nations. The debate extends to governance, with calls for decentralized systems that prioritize individual empowerment over corporate control. As AI advances, the need for secure identity systems becomes crucial to address growing threats in digital ecosystems.
