🟥 AUSTRAC Raises Concerns Over Crypto ATM Providers' Compliance

⚠️ AUSTRAC, Australia's financial services watchdog, has expressed concerns regarding the anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorism financing (CTF) measures of some crypto ATM providers. The agency's CEO, Brendan Thomas, stated that a task force has identified "worrying trends and indicators of suspicious activity," including fraudulent transactions.

📈 In a statement on March 31, AUSTRAC highlighted the need for increased scrutiny due to the rapid growth of crypto ATMs in Australia, which are projected to rise from 23 in 2019 to 1,600 by 2025. Most of these new ATMs are being installed by digital asset exchanges and primarily facilitate cash deposits for purchasing bitcoin.

We want to ensure crypto ATM providers have robust practices to minimize the risk that their machines can be used to launder dirty money or to scam and defraud innocent people,

Thomas said. He emphasized AUSTRAC's commitment to working with the industry to raise standards while also taking action against non-compliant operators.

🛠 AUSTRAC has also announced that crypto entities, including ATM providers, will be required to provide financial transaction information. The agency has developed resources to assist cryptocurrency exchanges in identifying financial crime risks and encourages users to report any suspected fraudulent activity related to crypto ATMs.

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🚀 Ethereum's Performance: A Focus on Foundational Development

📉 Ethereum (ETH) has struggled in comparison to Bitcoin (BTC) and the wider cryptocurrency market since the beginning of 2025. Starting the year above $3,300, ETH fell to a low of $1,805.40 by April 4, 2025, while BTC surged from under $69,000 in November 2024 to over $109,000 in January 2025. This performance gap has frustrated ETH holders who anticipated better results.

➡️ Despite this, some experts remain optimistic about ETH's long-term potential. Predictions suggest it could reach $5,000 by the end of 2025 and possibly exceed $10,000 soon after. Ongoing upgrades to the ecosystem, such as the upcoming Pectra upgrade, are seen as catalysts for a potential rebound.

🗣 Alex Loktev, CRO at P2P, acknowledges the frustration but attributes it to Ethereum's commitment to foundational development over hype. He emphasizes that Ethereum's transition to Proof-of-Stake (PoS), the implementation of EIP-1559, and the expansion of its Layer-2 ecosystem are vital for long-term stability.

📌 Regarding the Pectra upgrade, Loktev believes it will enhance staking safety and operational efficiency. He states,

Slashing penalties dropping by up to 128x makes staking dramatically safer.

This upgrade, set for April 30, will introduce auto-compounding for staking rewards, potentially increasing the staking ratio from 31% to 40-45% within the next couple of years.

📊 Loktev also highlights the upgrade's impact on validators, increasing their Maximum Effective Balances (MEB) from 32 to up to 2048 ETH. He explains that managing fewer, larger validators reduces operational complexity and risk.

Running 64 validators instead of one means 64 times the infrastructure complexity,

he notes.

📈 Looking ahead to 2030, Loktev sees significant potential for Ethereum if it successfully follows its roadmap and maintains an effective PoS system. He stresses that Ethereum's role as infrastructure for the digital economy is more important than short-term price movements. Ultimately, Ethereum's success will depend on its ability to scale through Layer-2 solutions and support decentralized applications.

🌍 Binance Partners with Worldpay to Integrate Apple Pay and Google Pay

🚀 Binance has announced a partnership with Worldpay to integrate Apple Pay and Google Pay into its fiat-to-crypto ecosystem. This move aims to simplify the process for users to purchase cryptocurrencies using familiar payment methods.

💳 With this integration, users can now buy digital assets directly using cards linked to these popular wallets. This update enhances the onboarding experience for both desktop and mobile app users. It is part of Binance's larger strategy to improve fiat accessibility. In 2024, the exchange has already expanded support to over 125 currencies, added more than 1,000 payment methods, and launched services in over 20 new countries, including mobile money integrations in 9 African nations.

🌐 By enabling payments through widely used digital wallets, Binance aims to reduce barriers for new users, particularly in regions with limited banking infrastructure but high mobile adoption. Thomas Gregory, Binance's VP of Fiat, emphasized the importance of Worldpay's global payment leadership in this partnership. Together, they are working to make cryptocurrency more accessible and intuitive, helping to onboard the next wave of Web3 users through tools they already trust.

👉 Senator Schiff Investigates Insider Trading Allegations

🔍 Senator Adam Schiff from California has announced an investigation into insider trading allegations following President Donald Trump's announcement of a pause in the reciprocal tariff policy. Schiff expressed concerns that individuals connected to the White House may have exploited this information for personal gain, potentially earning millions as the stock market surged.

📩 In a statement, Schiff emphasized the need for transparency in light of the administration's corruption:

In any administration this corrupt, it is more than necessary to ask: Were people profiting from insider information while people’s savings, their retirement accounts, were being torched?

He plans to send a letter to the White House regarding this issue but is primarily relying on whistleblowers to provide information about corrupt practices.

🤔 Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut also voiced his concerns, pointing out the "chaotic nature" of Trump's tariff policy. He stated,

With Trump’s position changing every single hour, gives ample opportunity for any individual who has early access to information about the White House’s change in position to make boatloads of money.

📢 Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez from New York called for a ban on insider trading in Congress and urged for the disclosure of any congress members who traded stocks during the recent tariff pause. She asserted,

It’s time to ban insider trading in Congress.

💰 Recently, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene from Georgia revealed that she purchased hundreds of thousands of dollars in stocks significantly impacted by the tariff policies just days before the tariff pause. This has raised further questions about potential insider trading within Congress.

🌍 Imminent Bitcoin Adoption by Nation-States, Says JAN3 CEO

🚀 Samson Mow, CEO of JAN3, believes that the adoption of bitcoin by nation-states is on the verge of happening, possibly even within this year. In a recent podcast, he challenged the idea that bitcoin adoption could take two to three decades, stating,

the timeline is rapidly accelerating.

➡️ Mow emphasized the urgency for the U.S. to begin its bitcoin adoption this year. He remarked,

It is just a matter of time before legislation turns into active buy pressure.

He further asserted that the U.S. needs to buy bitcoin this year out of necessity rather than desire.

📉 Coinbase Research Report: A New Crypto Winter Ahead?

📉 A recent Coinbase Research report suggests that the 41% drop in cryptocurrency market capitalization (excluding bitcoin) from its December 2024 peak to mid-April 2025 may indicate the onset of a new crypto winter. The report highlights that this decline brings the market capitalization down to $950 billion, which is 17% lower than the same period last year and even lower than the August 2021 to April 2022 period.

👉 Additionally, venture capital funding in crypto has decreased by 50% to 60% from the peak levels of the 2021-22 cycle. This reduction in funding affects the capital available for the cryptocurrency ecosystem. The report attributes this decline to decision-makers' struggles in assessing the direction of the global economy.

➡️ The report states,

All of these structural pressures stem from the uncertainty of the broader macro environment, where traditional risk assets have faced sustained headwinds from fiscal tightening and tariff policies, contributing to the paralysis in investment decision making.

It further argues that these interconnected factors suggest a difficult cyclical outlook for the digital asset space, justifying a cautious approach in the short term.

➡️ The COIN50 index, which tracks the top 50 tokens by market capitalization, indicates that the asset class has been in bear market territory since February. This aligns with the reported 41% drop in capitalization (excluding bitcoin) and highlights the higher volatility and risk premium associated with altcoins.

↪️ For cryptocurrency investors seeking insights into the upcoming months, the Coinbase team advises increased caution. They conclude,

Thus, we think this warrants taking a defensive stance on risk for the time being, though we still believe that crypto prices may be able to find their floor in mid-to-late 2Q25 – setting up a better 3Q25. For now, the challenges of the current macro environment require greater caution.

👉 The Evolving Landscape of Crypto: Has Its 'Magic' Faded?

🔍 Founders in the cryptocurrency space are questioning whether the 'magic of crypto' has diminished amidst the push for mainstream adoption. While some narratives, like bitcoin's portrayal as 'digital gold', have proven resilient, others are faltering as the industry matures.

💬 Rune Christensen, founder of Sky, expressed his views on social media, stating that

the wonky and deeply idiosyncratic crypto community has become more mainstream

He noted that as crypto intersects with other futurist communities, it naturally becomes less about crypto itself and more about general techno-optimism or pessimism.

⚠️ The crypto movement is also facing significant challenges, including a rise in fraud and scams that have damaged its credibility. David Bailey, co-founder and CEO of BTC Inc., highlighted that

cynicism and pessimism are at all-time highs

and warned that for some projects to survive, they may need to adhere to traditional finance rules. He stated,

for crypto to survive it has to embrace being a security. Generate profits. Pay dividends. There’s no other way

📉 Yu Hu, founder of Kaito, pointed out that the crypto space is becoming less appealing for builders due to various obstacles such as reduced funding and increased listing agreements. He cautioned that if these issues persist, the industry risks

being left with no users, no builders – only a bunch of intermediaries

💰 DeFi Development Corporation Expands Solana Holdings

📈 DeFi Development Corporation, formerly known as Janover, has made a significant move by acquiring 88,164 Solana (SOL) tokens for approximately $11.5 million. This purchase increases the company's total SOL holdings to 251,842 tokens, valued at around $34.4 million, including staking rewards.

📊 As of April 22, 2025, the company reports a Solana per share (SPS) of 0.17, worth $23.47 per share, which shows a 62% growth since the last acquisition. The newly acquired SOL will be staked immediately to generate yield and enhance the security of the Solana network.

📝 This transaction is part of DeFi Development Corporation's strategy following a recent $42 million financing round. It aligns with the company's treasury policy approved on April 4, 2025, which emphasizes the long-term accumulation of crypto assets, starting with Solana.

🔗 Additionally, the corporation plans to operate one or more Solana validators to further engage with the network and reinvest staking rewards.

🚀 Jack Mallers: Leading Strike and Twenty One Capital

📈 Jack Mallers, CEO and founder of Strike, recently revealed impressive growth numbers for his company. In a letter to investors, he announced that Strike achieved over $6 billion in payments volume and a staggering 600% year-over-year growth in 2024.

💼 At just 31 years old, Mallers has made a significant impact in the bitcoin industry. He started Strike’s parent company, Zap Solutions, in 2017 after being introduced to bitcoin by his father. After several iterations, the company rebranded to Strike in 2020. Strike became well-known for its role in making bitcoin legal tender in El Salvador, which elevated Mallers' status within the bitcoin community.

📊 Despite recent speculation about his commitment to Strike following his appointment as CEO of the new bitcoin treasury firm, Twenty One Capital, Mallers reassured investors of his dedication to Strike's success. He shared key financial metrics: 600% YoY growth, over $6 billion in payments volume, an 85% gross profit margin, and a 21% adjusted EBITDA margin.

Over the last five years, we’ve built Strike into one of the most profitable and fastest-growing companies in the world,

Mallers stated. He also outlined a major goal for 2025: to achieve "8-9 figures in net profit" with only 75 employees.

👉 Addressing concerns about his dual roles, Mallers clarified:

I will serve as co-founder and CEO of Twenty One while continuing to lead Strike. Let me be clear, this is not a shift in my commitment, it’s an extension of it.

💰 Standard Chartered Predicts Bitcoin Will Reach $200K by 2025

📈 Standard Chartered, a London-based bank, has made bold predictions about the future of Bitcoin in a recent research report. They forecast that Bitcoin will hit an all-time high of $120,000 by summer 2025, followed by a staggering $200,000 by the end of December 2025.

🔍 Geoffrey Kendrick, head of digital assets research at Standard Chartered, is particularly confident about this prediction. He stated,

We expect these supportive factors to push BTC to a fresh all-time high around USD 120,000 in Q2. We see gains continuing through the summer, taking BTC-USD towards our year-end forecast of 200,000.

Kendrick attributes this potential surge to several factors. He notes that investors are increasingly turning to non-U.S. assets like Bitcoin due to President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. This shift is evidenced by the U.S. treasury term premium being at a 12-year high, indicating that investors view treasuries as riskier and are seeking better returns elsewhere.

➡️ The report also highlights the behavior of wealthy investors, often referred to as “whales,” who are continuing to accumulate Bitcoin. Additionally, it points out that gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are losing popularity compared to Bitcoin ETFs. These trends suggest a growing confidence in Bitcoin as a viable investment option.

📊 In summary, Standard Chartered's report outlines a bullish outlook for Bitcoin, driven by shifting investor behavior and market dynamics. If their predictions hold true, Bitcoin could see unprecedented growth in the coming years.

⚖️ Bitcoin Community Divided Over Proposal to Remove Blockchain Guardrails

💔 The bitcoin development community is currently facing a significant divide regarding a proposal by developer Peter Todd. This proposal suggests removing certain guardrails that prevent the blockchain from being used for storing arbitrary data, often referred to as 'spam'. The central issue revolves around the Op_Return function and its usage.

🛡 Todd argues that these guardrails are easily circumvented by various methods, such as direct submissions to miner mempools and forks of Bitcoin Core that do not enforce these limits. He points out that other protocols are already finding alternative ways to store data on the bitcoin chain.

⚠️ However, there is a strong opposition to this proposal. Jason Hughes, VP of Development and Engineering at Ocean Mining, warns that if this change is implemented, it could transform bitcoin into a worthless altcoin. He urges mining pools to reject these changes and consider abandoning Bitcoin Core if necessary.

📢 The situation has escalated to accusations of harassment, with Udi Wertheimer from Taproot Wizards criticizing Ocean Mining for targeting developers on Github. He stated that their marketing strategy involves pressuring young developers who are working hard for the community.

💪 Despite the turmoil, Antoine Poinsot from Chaincode Labs remains optimistic about bitcoin's resilience. He asserts that if changing the unconfirmed transaction relay policy could break bitcoin, it would not have been interesting in the first place.

🇺🇸 Donald Trump Again Urges The Fed To Lower Rates Ahead FOMC Meeting 🏛

👉 Read more

💰 Tim Draper Predicts Bitcoin's Infinite Value Amid Currency Collapse Concerns

📉 Tim Draper, a well-known venture capitalist and early bitcoin investor, recently expressed his views on the future value of bitcoin. He suggested that if current monetary trends and geopolitical tensions persist, bitcoin could potentially be valued infinitely in U.S. dollars. Draper stated,

Bitcoin might be worth an infinite amount of USD.

💔 He drew parallels to historical events, notably the hyperinflation of the Confederate dollar during the Civil War. As trust in the currency eroded, its value plummeted, leading people to exchange it for U.S. dollars. Draper pointed out that the U.S. Dollar Index is currently facing its worst start to a year in four decades. He warned that if geopolitical tensions escalate, confidence in the dollar could further decline. In contrast, he argued that

Bitcoin will continue to have open and transparent record-keeping and be easy to store.

🥇 Draper also challenged the traditional view of gold as a safe-haven asset. He asserted,

And forget gold. Gold doesn’t play in the same league as bitcoin. It has real challenges around storage and transportation.

He noted that some governments are already incorporating bitcoin into their strategic reserves as a hedge against potential currency collapse.

⚠️ The investor cautioned against relying solely on cash or gold in times of crisis. He advised,

You want to have enough bitcoin to hold you and your family over for six months to a year. Or, if hyperinflation happens, that bitcoin might last a lot longer.

While there are differing opinions on bitcoin's volatility and its effectiveness as a hedge, Draper's comments contribute to the ongoing discussion about currency resilience and the evolving landscape of monetary policy in a digital age.

📈 Bitcoin Surges Following Fed's Rate Decision

📊 Bitcoin's price increased by 2% after the U.S. Federal Reserve opted to maintain its policy rate between 4.25% and 4.5% due to concerns over high inflation levels. This decision also positively impacted the crypto market, which rose by 0.95%, reaching a total market capitalization of $2.98 trillion. Traditional market indices such as the S&P 500, Nasdaq, and Dow Jones Industrial Average also saw gains of 0.43%, 0.27%, and 0.70% respectively.

🗣 Economists anticipated the Fed's decision, especially after U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized Fed Chairman Jerome Powell for not cutting rates. Despite Trump's threats to fire Powell, which many consider unconstitutional, Powell chose to keep rates unchanged. Pauline Shangett, chief marketing officer at crypto exchange Changenow, remarked,

With the Fed hitting pause, it’s clear there’s no quick fix for the economy, and that uncertainty is likely to stick around.

📈 At the time of reporting, Bitcoin's price had climbed to $96,664.77, with a 7-day gain of 2.04%. The price fluctuated between $94,494.88 and $97,625.81. This price movement was accompanied by a significant increase in trading activity, with 24-hour volume surging by 208.93% to $71.54 billion. Bitcoin's market capitalization rose by 2.07% to $1.91 trillion, and its dominance in the crypto space increased by 0.44 percentage points to 65.45%, indicating a growing preference for Bitcoin over altcoins.

📊 In the derivatives market, Bitcoin futures open interest rose by 1.93% to $64.37 billion, reflecting increased participation from leveraged traders. Coinglass data showed that total liquidations over the last 24 hours reached $273,240, with short traders accounting for the majority at $225,840 compared to just $47,400 in long liquidations. This suggests that bearish traders may have misinterpreted the market dynamics following the Fed's announcement.

📈 Cryptocurrency Market Sees Significant Gains

📊 The global cryptocurrency market experienced a significant rise on Sunday, reaching a total market capitalization of $3.34 trillion, marking a 1.42% increase within 24 hours.

💰 Bitcoin (BTC) remains the market leader, trading at $104,780 after a 1% increase in the past day and a 9.77% rise over the week. Ethereum (ETH) followed with a 4.71% daily increase and a 37.83% weekly gain, reaching $2,522.86. Together, BTC and ETH account for 71.3% of the market.

📉 In the last day, approximately $451.3 million in crypto derivatives positions were liquidated. Solana (SOL) showed one of the best performances among the top ten coins, gaining 19.42% to reach $173.96. XRP and BNB also reported solid weekly gains of 8.74% and 10.88%, respectively.

📈 The 24-hour trading volume across the market increased by 4.90% to $137.7 billion, indicating increased investor activity. Among the top daily movers, Pi Network (PI) surged by 49.86%, followed by Casper Network (CSPR) at 47.96% and Peanut the Squirrel (PNUT) at 39.10%. However, Ultima experienced the steepest decline of the day, dropping 14.42%.

📊 Overall, the broader market shows strength amid heightened volatility, driven by gains in both blue-chip tokens and smaller-cap assets. Market participants may find the current conditions favorable for strategic positioning, although discipline and caution are crucial in such fast-moving, sentiment-driven environments.

📈 Bitcoin's Surge: A Macro Perspective

📊 On Tuesday afternoon, bitcoin rose by 2.6% against the U.S. dollar, nearing the $105,000 mark. In contrast, several altcoins outperformed bitcoin: ETH increased by 8.5%, SOL by 5.9%, and DOGE by 4.8%. The overall crypto market also saw gains, rising 3.12% to reach $3.39 trillion.

🚀 Bitcoin's price climbed from $102.5K to a peak of $104,997 before facing resistance near $105,000. This increase was supported by Twenty One Capital's announcement of acquiring 4,812 BTC. Although ETH surged past $2,700 earlier in the day, it retraced slightly but maintained an 8.5% gain.

📉 Total trading volume in the digital asset sector was $144.79 billion, down 18.56% from Monday. While ETH, SOL, and DOGE showed solid gains, some altcoins stood out: Ethena’s ENA rose by 14.4%, KAS by 12.44%, and SPX by 11.79%. As of May 13, the altcoin market is valued at $1.311 trillion.

💬 This week, Bitfinex analysts noted that optimism about the Federal Reserve and reduced concerns over U.S. tariffs have boosted investor sentiment towards bitcoin. They stated,

Recent developments such as the Federal Reserveʼs positive comments on the rate trajectory and evolving clarity around the U.S. tariff situation has allowed confidence to return to the markets and in particular, reignite bullish momentum in bitcoin.

📈 The analysts added,

Bitcoinʼs decisive move underscores its growing role as a macro-sensitive asset with asymmetric upside potential. The move past $100,000 not only confirms the strength of the recovery but may also set the stage for a renewed push toward fresh all-time highs.

📈 Bitcoin and Ether ETFs Experience Significant Inflows

🚀 Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) made a strong comeback on May 14, with a remarkable $320 million in net inflows, signaling renewed investor confidence. Blackrock’s IBIT led the charge, attracting $232.89 million, followed by Fidelity’s FBTC with $36.13 million and Grayscale’s Bitcoin Mini Trust adding $35.23 million.

📊 Smaller contributions came from Vaneck’s HODL ($7.32 million), ARKB ($5.16 million), and Bitwise’s BITB ($2.82 million). Notably, there were no outflows recorded across any of the 12 funds, a rare occurrence in recent weeks. The total value traded reached $2.74 billion, with net assets climbing to $121.84 billion.

📈 Ether ETFs also mirrored this resurgence, logging a $63.47 million net inflow for the second consecutive day. Blackrock’s ETHA led the way with $57.61 million, while Fidelity’s FETH contributed $5.86 million. With a total value traded of $447.95 million, ether ETF net assets rose to $9.04 billion.

💪 Both bitcoin and ether ETFs appear to have found solid footing, supported by institutional appetite and a resilient market tone.

🪙 Sean Neville Secures $18 Million for AI-Native Banking Initiative

💰 Sean Neville, co-founder of Circle and CEO of Catena Labs, has successfully raised $18 million for Catena's ambitious project: the establishment of the first AI-native financial institution. The funding round was spearheaded by a16z crypto and saw participation from prominent investors including Breyer Capital, Circle Ventures, Coinbase Ventures, CoinFund, Pillar VC, and Stanford Engineering VF. Notable angel investors included Balaji Srinivasan, Bradley Horowitz, Hamel Husain, Kevin Lin, Peter Mattoon, Sam Palmisano, and Tom Brady.

🏦 Catena plans to utilize these funds to advance the development of a fully regulated AI-native financial institution. This institution aims to cater to the unique needs of the evolving AI economy and will be designed specifically for AI agents, with increasing operations managed by AI digital workers. Human oversight will be provided to ensure compliance and risk management tailored for AI.

➡️ Neville envisions a future where AI agents will handle the majority of economic transactions. However, he notes that current financial systems are ill-equipped and resistant to AI interactions. He stated,

That’s why we’re building an AI-native financial institution that will give AI agents, and the businesses and consumers they serve, the ability to transact safely and efficiently.

⚙️ Matt Venables, CTO of Catena Labs, highlighted the challenges AI agents face with traditional financial infrastructure. He pointed out that legacy payment systems are slow, fragile, and expensive, which limits the potential for AI-driven commerce. Venables emphasized the importance of regulated stablecoins for this new financial institution, stating,

While we are integrating existing payment networks as we bridge into the future, we’re focused on transforming how money moves in the AI economy by using regulated stablecoins that offer near-instant settlement, minimal transaction costs, and easy integration with AI workflows.

📉 Bitcoin's Current Market Position: A Mixed Outlook

➡️ Bitcoin's price is currently ranging between $107,793 and $108,316, reflecting a 1% decrease from the previous session. With a market cap of $2.19 trillion and a 24-hour trading volume of $38.79 billion, the cryptocurrency experienced significant intraday price fluctuations, hitting a low of $107,367 and a high of $112,000.

📊 Despite today's decline, Bitcoin's daily chart suggests a cautiously optimistic macro perspective. The price recently peaked at $112,000, indicating a strong bullish trend. However, the appearance of a bearish engulfing candlestick pattern raises concerns about potential short-term exhaustion. Volume surged during the rise to $112,000 but has since decreased, signaling a divergence between price and volume that often precedes pullbacks.

📉 The 4-hour chart indicates a shift in sentiment, showing a mid-term downtrend after reaching a peak. This timeframe reveals a clear pattern of lower highs and lower lows, supported by strong red volume bars that confirm active selling pressure. An ideal short-term re-entry level is identified around $106,500, provided that price action consolidates and signals a reversal through patterns like a hammer candle or bullish engulfing.

🔴 From a short-term perspective, the 1-hour chart highlights a sharper bearish momentum. A significant red candlestick dropped Bitcoin from about $111,000 to below $108,000, indicating a high-volume capitulation event often seen as the end of a panic sell-off. Traders should watch for a potential double bottom or RSI divergence near the $105,500 to $106,000 zone as early signs of a reversal.

⚖️ Technical indicators present a mixed forecast. Oscillators like the RSI at 67 and ADX at 35 remain neutral, while others such as the Stochastic at 87 and momentum at 4,628 suggest a selling bias. Conversely, the MACD level at 4,167 indicates some underlying bullish momentum. All moving averages, including the EMA and SMA across 10 to 200 periods, are showing bullish signals, indicating strong upward momentum in the medium to long term.

🔄 In summary, Bitcoin's broader trend remains bullish, supported by strong moving average support. However, bearish patterns on shorter timeframes and cautionary signals from several oscillators suggest that traders should wait for confirmation of a reversal before making new entries. The current consolidation phase may offer strategic entry points near and above the $108,000 level, contingent on technical confirmation of buyer re-emergence.

⚡️ Solana's Alpenglow: A New Consensus Protocol to Compete with Web2

🚀 Solana, a leading cryptocurrency project, has announced a significant upgrade to its consensus protocol aimed at enhancing network performance. The new implementation, Alpenglow, promises to reduce latency to near Web2 levels, positioning Solana to compete more effectively with traditional Web2 providers.

🟥 The developer group Anza introduced Alpenglow as a means to boost the network's bandwidth while minimizing latency. In a recent blog post, they outlined that legacy components like TowerBFT and Proof-of-History will be replaced with Votor and Rotor. These new components are designed to ensure faster voting and finalization times.

Votor optimizes the finalization of blocks based on the percentage of stake participating,

Anza explained.

Rotor enhances data dissemination compared to the previous implementation.

🛡 Additionally, Alpenglow introduces measures for increased resilience, allowing the network to function under challenging conditions where up to 20% of the stake may act as adversaries.

⏱️ Anza anticipates that these improvements will enable Solana to achieve transaction finalization in just 100-150 milliseconds, a remarkable reduction of 100 times. This opens up new possibilities for the network's use cases.

A median latency of 150 ms means Solana can compete with Web2 infrastructure in terms of responsiveness,

the group stated.

This potentially makes blockchain technology viable for new categories of applications that require real-time performance.

🎮 Potential applications include on-chain gaming systems, faster Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN), and other operations that demand quick finalization, which are currently only available through traditional providers.