From a token airdrop set to hit 37 million wallets to iris-scanning devices defending their reputation, Day 1 of Consensus 2025 didn’t disappoint. Crypto heavyweights took the stage in Toronto with big visions, bold claims, and even a few f-bombs. Whether it was Charles Hoskinson rejecting VCs, Worldcoin pushing back on privacy critics, or Anthony Scaramucci pitching Bitcoin’s path to $500K, there was no shortage of heat. Here are the biggest takeaways from the first day of the industry’s flagship event. Charles Hoskinson’s Speaks of ‘Glacier Drop’ at Consensus 2025 The agenda for Consensus 2025 is filled with sessions across DeFi, tokenomics, DAOs, and real-world blockchain use cases. And the start was no less than a blockbuster. Charles Hoskinson opened Day 1 of Consensus 2025 by calling out tribalism in crypto and dropped fresh details on Midnight’s upcoming Glacier Drop. The Cardano founder said 37 million wallets across eight blockchains will receive the Glacier airdrop, excluding all venture capitalists. “You already have it. It’s yours. It’s your property,” he said on stage, emphasizing that retail users, not insiders, deserve access. The airdrop will distribute both NIGHT (governance) and DUST (privacy) tokens. Midnight’s “cooperative economics” model allows developers to pay fees in native tokens like ETH, SOL, or BTC while validators earn rewards across chains. Midnight is still in testnet, with mainnet launch set for late 2025. Hoskinson said the project is his “most fun yet,” built to unite crypto’s fragmented communities. Worldcoin Fires Back: “Orb Data Never Leaves” Worldcoin’s iris-scanning tech has drawn global privacy backlash, but advisor Liam Horne defended the project at the event. Speaking on Wednesday, Horne said critics misunderstand how the orb works. “The data literally never leaves the orb,” he stressed. The device scans a user’s iris, converting it into a privacy-preserving World ID. That data stays local. Still, Worldcoin faces scrutiny in Europe, Africa, and Asia. The team is now expanding Orb access to six U.S. cities, including Miami, Los Angeles, and Austin. Scaramucci: Bitcoin at $500K Would “Seal It” as Asset Class SkyBridge Capital founder Anthony Scaramucci said Bitcoin hitting $500,000 would force institutions to fully accept crypto. “Three trillion is a mag 7 stock. Twenty trillion is an asset class,” he told the panel at Consensus 2025. Other speakers highlighted spot Bitcoin ETFs, infrastructure growth, and regulatory clarity as major enablers of institutional adoption. Still, they warned: education and diversification beyond Bitcoin are key. ETFs may lead the way, but broader blockchain investment is needed for the full asset-class transition. Ripple and Kraken: Stablecoins Are the Future of Payments Ripple and Kraken execs said stablecoins are entering a new phase—beyond crypto, into mainstream finance. Jack McDonald of Ripple said at Consensus 2025 that the firm’s RLUSD is part of a broader push to fix outdated cross-border systems. Mark Greenberg of Kraken called stablecoins a “tipping point” for global money movement.

Europol has announced the arrest of 17 individuals involved in a criminal parallel banking organization that provided money laundering services across Europe, including the exchange of cryptocurrencies for cash. The operation, conducted on January 14, 2025, in Austria, Belgium, and Spain, followed previous successful actions against migrant smugglers. The arrested individuals, primarily of Chinese and Syrian nationality, are suspected of facilitating illegal banking services, including hawala banking and cash courier services, to various criminal networks. Law enforcement seized assets worth over €4.5 million, including €183,000 in cryptocurrency, cash, bank accounts, real estate, vehicles, and firearms. This dismantling of the criminal network is considered significant, as it was linked to the laundering of over €21 million in illicit proceeds, serving a diverse clientele through social media advertising. Europol’s involvement included deploying experts to assist national investigators in tracking down the network’s operations.

What is HTTP 402, and why does it matter? The web was not really built with payments in mind, especially not for autonomous agents or machines. But with the rise of AI and decentralized finance (DeFi), the need for seamless, native digital payments has never been more urgent. Coinbase x402 announced a new open protocol designed to let APIs, apps and AI agents pay instantly using stablecoins like USDC USDC $0.9998 , all via the familiar HTTP protocol. This isn’t just a product update. X402 revives a long-forgotten piece of internet infrastructure and reimagines it for a future powered by agentic systems and crypto. HTTP status codes: A quick refresher Understanding HTTP status codes helps clarify how the web communicates behind the scenes. Here are some key ones to know: HTTP 200 — OK: Standard response for successful HTTP requests. HTTP 401 — Unauthorized: Indicates the request requires user authentication; typically used when credentials are missing or invalid. HTTP 403 — Forbidden: The server understood the request, but it refuses to authorize it (often due to lack of permissions or access control). HTTP 404 — Not found: Indicates that the requested resource could not be found. HTTP 402 — Payment required: Originally intended to support digital payments directly within the protocol but left as a “reserved for future use” status code due to the lack of global payment infrastructure at the time. HTTP 402- payment required error HTTP 500 — Internal server error: A generic error message when the server encounters an unexpected condition. Although the creators of the web imagined a future where online services might request payments directly through the protocol, for decades, no one found a practical use for it. It sat dormant for over 25 years, with no widespread adoption or defined behavior. Today, HTTP 402 is finally coming to life, thanks to Coinbase’s x402 protocol. X402 turns HTTP 402 from a placeholder into a real mechanism. It allows websites, APIs and services to signal that a payment is required before granting access to digital goods or services. Unlike traditional payment systems, which rely on external redirects or complex integrations, x402 enables native, in-protocol payments using stablecoins directly over HTTP. But why do x402 and the activation of HTTP 402 matter? With machine-to-machine interactions, autonomous agents and AI-driven services on the rise, the internet needs a payment layer that is: Instant Programmable Interoperable Trust-minimized. Activating HTTP 402 positions it as a key enabler for decentralized commerce, autonomous agents and crypto-native applications. It could become as foundational as HTTP 200 or 404 in a future where services charge micro-fees, stream value or sell access dynamically. Coinbase x402: A native payment layer for the web Coinbase’s x402 is an open protocol that allows websites and APIs to request and receive payments in stablecoins directly over HTTP. It works by using the existing HTTP infrastructure and augmenting it with a lightweight payment layer. Here is the step-by-step process for machine-to-machine transactions using the x402 protocol: Client requests a paid resource: A client, such as an AI agent, app, or browser initiates a request to an x402-enabled server (e.g., an API, data set or digital service) that requires payment to access. The server responds with a 402 Payment Required: In response, the server returns an HTTP 402 status code, along with the payment details. This includes the amount to be paid, the supported token (such as USDC) and a payment payload or address to use. Client submits the payment: The client uses its crypto wallet to sign and submit the payment. This happens programmatically — no user interaction is needed, which enables fully automated or agentic payments. It resends the original request, this time including the encoded payment information in an X-PAYMENT HTTP header. The payment is verified and settled onchain: A payment facilitator service, such as Coinbase’s x402 Facilitator, checks the blockchain to verify that the payment has been made and confirmed. The server delivers the resource: Once the payment is validated, the server fulfills the request and returns the data or content. It also includes an X-PAYMENT-RESPONSE header confirming the success of the transaction. In x402, payments happen over standard HTTP using two custom headers: X-PAYMENT and X-PAYMENT-RESPONSE. These headers allow seamless, automated payments between apps, agents and servers — without changing how HTTP works. It’s a simple yet powerful way to enable web-native, machine-to-machine commerce using stablecoins. What makes x402 revolutionary is that it doesn’t require platforms, plugins or third-party integrations. It creates a native payment layer for the web itself, just like HTTPS added security or cookies enabled session management. X402 payment flow Did you know? HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) is the secure version of HTTP, the foundational protocol used to transfer data on the web. What are agentic payments, and why are they important? As AI systems become more advanced, the agentic era has begun. In this new paradigm, software agents, ranging from AI bots to autonomous scripts, are expected to act on behalf of users or even independently. AI agents will need to perform actions like accessing data, subscribing to services or renting compute power. And all of these tasks often require payments. This is where the concept of agentic payments comes in. These are payments made by agents, not humans — fast, automatic and often low-value. Think of a data-scraping AI paying a cent to read a scientific article or a supply chain bot paying fractions of a dollar for live port data. Traditional payment infrastructure wasn’t built for this kind of use case. It falls short because of the below reasons: Built for humans, not machines. Requires logins, manual steps and batch processing. High fees and slow settlement times make them unsuitable for high-frequency, low-value, autonomous transactions. Because of the limitations of traditional payment systems, agentic payments matter for several key reasons: They enable a machine-first economy, where software can transact just like humans. Make real-time AI decision-making possible by removing friction from access to paid services. Pave the way for composable services, where agents can chain together paid APIs and tools autonomously. As discussed, such payments require machine-readable protocols, instant settlement and predictable pricing, all of which x402 enables. It’s a vital step in building a transactional layer for a machine-first internet. x402 vs. traditional payment systems Today’s online payment systems are deeply human-centric. Whether it’s signing up for a subscription, entering credit card information or passing Know Your Customer (KYC) checks, the current infrastructure assumes a person is at the center of every transaction. This design becomes a bottleneck when payments need to be made automatically, in real time and at scale. APIs that want to monetize often face hurdles like creating user accounts, handling fraud, managing disputes and integrating with centralized processors like Stripe or PayPal. These systems are slow, costly and often region-specific. X402 removes these barriers by allowing servers to ask for and receive payment directly through the protocol itself. There’s no need for logins, billing dashboards or delayed bank transfers. The value transfer is embedded into the fabric of the internet, optimized for agents and apps. The contrast between x402 and traditional payment infrastructure is stark. While x402 is protocol-first, built on crypto rails, systems like Visa, Stripe and PayPal are platform-first. X402 enables payments to settle in seconds using onchain transactions, while traditional rails typically settle over one to three business days. Risks and rewards of USDC staking vs. investing in US treasuries Moreover, x402 supports micropayments as small as fractions of a cent, making it viable for high-frequency, low-cost interactions — something that’s infeasible on credit card networks due to fees. It’s also global by design, requiring no currency conversions or regional banking relationships. Chargebacks, fraud risk and intermediary fees are virtually eliminated, thanks to the immutability of onchain transfers. Where traditional systems focus on human users with front-end interfaces, x402 enables machine-native, backend-to-backend monetization. Did you know? You can detect HTTP 402 responses using tools like Sitechecker Pro, which scans your site like a search bot and flags unusual status codes — including payment-related ones. Incumbents’ act: How Visa, Stripe and PayPal are exploring AI-powered payments To be fair, incumbents aren’t ignoring this trend. Visa, Stripe and PayPal have all acted to be in line with the trend and incorporate appropriate changes in their approach. Visa Visa has announced initiatives to allow AI agents to make purchases on behalf of users by linking them to its global payments network. This move aims to facilitate autonomous AI assistants capable of performing shopping tasks, such as managing routine purchases, based on user-defined budgets and preferences. In partnership with Bridge, a stablecoin infrastructure provider, Visa is launching stablecoin-linked Visa cards across multiple countries in Latin America. This collaboration enables users to make everyday purchases using cryptocurrency tokens, with plans to expand to Europe, Africa and Asia in the coming months. Stripe Stripe has unveiled a new AI foundation model aimed at improving fraud detection and authorization rates. This model, trained on billions of transactions, has significantly increased the detection rate for fraudulent activities, such as card-testing attacks, enhancing the security of its payment systems. Stripe has introduced Stablecoin Financial Accounts, allowing businesses in over 100 countries to hold balances in dollar-backed stablecoins like USDC and USDB. These accounts support global payments and enable firms to manage stablecoins alongside traditional payment methods. PayPal PayPal is set to launch a rewards program offering users a 3.7% annual yield on holdings of its stablecoin, PayPal USD PYUSD $0.9996 , in PayPal or Venmo wallets. This initiative aims to encourage the adoption and utilization of PYUSD for various transactions, including merchant payments and peer-to-peer transfers. PayPal has expanded its partnership with Coinbase to increase the adoption and utilization of PYUSD. This collaboration focuses on developing stablecoin-based payments and banking solutions, as well as exploring other use cases for PYUSD in DeFi and onchain platforms. Protocols vs. platforms: The distinct approaches While Visa, Stripe and PayPal are making significant strides in integrating AI and stablecoins into their services, these companies still operate within walled gardens. They offer services, not protocols. Their infrastructures are: Centralized: Governed by corporate policies and APIs. Permissioned: Access requires onboarding, KYC and platform approval. Closed ecosystems: Where user experience and interoperability are tightly controlled. In contrast, x402 is permissionless and open, allowing any developer to plug into it without needing a merchant account. And the distinction between centralized services and open protocols like x402 will play a crucial role in shaping the future landscape of digital payments, potentially leading to a more decentralized and agent-driven economy. What is x402’s monetization model? One of the most practical use cases for x402 is API monetization. In today’s model, developers must create keys, handle access tiers, and enforce rate limits manually. With x402, APIs can simply respond to unauthenticated requests with a 402, indicating a cost, for example, $0.001 to access a data endpoint. A client can then send the required stablecoin payment and receive the response instantly. This turns APIs into microservices with embedded pricing, enabling fine-grained monetization at the level of individual function calls. It’s a model that fits naturally with both AI workloads and human developers who want to pay only for what they use. Stablecoins like USDC are central to the success of x402 and agentic payments more broadly. Their key benefit is price stability, allowing developers and agents to transact in predictable units without worrying about crypto volatility. That’s critical for applications that operate with tight budgets or usage-based pricing. USDC also offers fast finality, especially on chains like Base, Solana and Ethereum layer 2s, where transfers can confirm in seconds with minimal fees. Its broad support across wallets, APIs and ecosystems makes it a practical choice for integration. Other stablecoins like PYUSD or EURC may become relevant, but USDC’s dominance in DeFi and institutional finance gives it a clear head start. Challenges and opportunities for agentic payments Agentic payments raise important questions around security, like how can bots manage private keys safely? There’s also the issue of abuse — will bad actors flood servers with fake payments or exploit pricing models? Regulatory concerns also loom. But the upside is enormous. The emergence of a machine-to-machine economy has led to a situation where agents transact for data, compute, bandwidth and services without human input. Protocols like x402 are the rails that will power this fast, open and crypto-native economy. Coinbase’s x402 is more than a technical upgrade; it’s a new payment primitive for the programmable web. By bringing crypto payments over HTTP to AI agents and APIs, x402 transforms how the internet handles value. It opens the door to a future where transactions are embedded, automatic and driven by machines, not just people. As the digital economy evolves, protocols like x402 could become the foundation of the new internet, powered by a new-age financial infrastructure.

Bitcoin ETFs came roaring back with a $320 million net inflow, led by Blackrock’s IBIT. Ether ETFs also continued their rebound, logging a second straight day of inflows totaling $63 million. Crypto ETFs Catch Fire: Bitcoin Funds Soar, Ether ETFs Log Second Strong Day After a brief pause on Tuesday, May 13, bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) returned with fresh fire on Wednesday, May 14. A robust $319.56 million in net inflows flooded into the market, signaling a renewed wave of investor confidence. Blackrock’s IBIT once again dominated, pulling in $232.89 million, continuing its reign as the favored institutional vehicle. Fidelity’s FBTC followed with $36.13 million, and Grayscale’s Bitcoin Mini Trust added $35.23 million to the day’s haul. Smaller but notable inflows came from Vaneck’s HODL ($7.32 million), ARKB ($5.16 million), and Bitwise’s BITB ($2.82 million). No outflows were recorded across any of the 12 funds, a rare occurrence in recent weeks. Total value traded hit $2.74 billion, with net assets climbing to $121.84 billion. Ether ETFs mirrored bitcoin’s resurgence with a $63.47 million net inflow, making it two green days in a row for the asset class. The charge was led by Blackrock’s ETHA, which attracted $57.61 million, while Fidelity’s FETH contributed $5.86 million. With $447.95 million in total value traded, ether ETF net assets rose to $9.04 billion, keeping momentum alive in the broader crypto ETF landscape. For now, both bitcoin and ether ETFs seem to have found solid footing, bolstered by institutional appetite and a resilient market tone.

Nebraska passes LB 526 to regulate crypto mining operations using over 1MW. Final call now rests with the Governor.

In a heart-wrenching act of love and sacrifice, an elderly grandmother arrived at Adiedo Mixed Secondary School clutching her granddaughter’s hand—and carrying six live chickens in a tattered basket. Her mission: to plead for her granddaughter’s return to school after she had been sent home for unpaid fees. With trembling hands and a quiet dignity that moved all who witnessed it, the grandmother explained that she had no money—but these chickens, her most treasured possessions, were all she had left. Among them were her prized laying hens, her only source of daily sustenance. She offered them up without hesitation, believing that her granddaughter’s future was worth far more than eggs. In a moment that left many in tears, one of the hens laid an egg right there in the school compound—a poignant symbol of hope, divine providence, and the depth of the grandmother’s sacrifice. It was as if heaven itself was bearing witness to her act of faith. Her gesture not only settled a debt—it silenced the noise of hardship with the louder voice of love, reminding everyone present that true wealth lies not in one’s bank account, but in the heart willing to give everything for the sake of another’s tomorrow. This powerful scene captured the raw essence of resilience, dignity, and the unwavering bond between generations—an emotional testament to the lengths families will go to ensure education, no matter the cost.

Money is changing fast. Bitcoin, stablecoins, and CBDCs each offer a different take on what money can be — and each comes with its own set of rules. Bitcoin keeps it simple: the rules never change. No central authority, no sudden shifts — just consistent, transparent money. Stablecoins, acting like digital dollars, step in where traditional money falls short. They’re practical but centralized, meaning someone can always freeze your funds. Meanwhile, some central banks are pushing digital currencies (CBDCs), promising efficiency and control. But that control cuts both ways: more oversight, less privacy. The real question isn’t which digital currency will dominate. It’s whether people will see the value in money with fixed rules, even as other forms of digital currency remain open to manipulation. Bitcoin’s Rising Dominance: Trust in Fixed Rules Bitcoin dominance — its share of the total cryptocurrency market cap — hit 65% in May 2025, the highest in over four years. This rise signals a shift toward assets with fixed, predictable rules in a landscape of volatility and uncertainty. Bitcoin’s appeal isn’t just scarcity; it’s consistency. Unlike many crypto assets that adjust supply schedules or change monetary rules, Bitcoin’s issuance remains fixed. This predictability is what differentiates Bitcoin in a market where other assets can alter their underlying structures. Ethereum’s shift to proof-of-stake in 2022 illustrates this contrast. The move fundamentally changed Ethereum’s monetary policy, and the asset has since dropped 74% against Bitcoin. Investors may be reconsidering the stability of assets that can adjust supply schedules or consensus rules But the rise in Bitcoin dominance isn’t just about crypto. It also reflects broader economic uncertainty, where investors seek assets with rules that don’t change, even as monetary systems become more programmable and open to manipulation. Adjustability and Uncertainty As Bitcoin’s dominance grows, the broader crypto market takes a different approach — assets that can be adjusted or altered based on market conditions. Projects tweak supply schedules, modify consensus mechanisms, or issue new tokens to attract capital. The ability to pivot is often framed as a feature — more flexibility, faster scalability. But when the rules can change, so can the value. A token’s supply might increase unexpectedly, diluting existing holdings. Governance structures might shift, introducing new risks. The ability to alter the rules introduces uncertainty, especially in a market defined by speculation and hype. Bitcoin doesn’t adjust to fit new narratives. Its rules are fixed — a contrast to assets that can be altered, restructured, or inflated. As investors retreat to predictability, Bitcoin’s rising dominance reflects a preference for assets that don’t change with the market’s whims. Stablecoins: Practical Solutions, Centralized Risks Stablecoins have become a financial lifeline in economies where local currencies are volatile or banking infrastructure is unreliable. In 2024, Tether ( USDT) alone facilitated over $20 trillion in transaction volume, underscoring the demand for stable, fiat-pegged assets in unpredictable markets. For people facing hyperinflation or currency devaluation, holding digital dollars can feel like a safe haven. However, that sense of stability is relative. Stablecoins may hold their peg to the dollar, but the dollar itself continues to lose purchasing power over time. The trade-off is clear: stablecoins may protect against local currency collapses, but they’re still controlled by centralized issuers who can freeze assets, blacklist addresses, or comply with regulatory orders. In 2024, multiple incidents of frozen USDT accounts revealed the vulnerabilities of relying on assets that can be halted or confiscated at will. Stablecoins may be less volatile than Bitcoin in the short term, but their stability comes with conditions: issuer control, regulatory risk, and exposure to fiat’s inflationary drift. While they can provide a temporary hedge against local currency collapse, they remain tied to a monetary system that is prone to losing value over time. CBDCs: Central Bank Innovation or Financial Control As digital payments evolve, central banks are exploring digital currencies to reassert control over monetary systems. The European Central Bank is expected to decide on the digital euro by late 2025, positioning it as a state-backed alternative to private stablecoins. In Nigeria, the eNaira was introduced in 2021 to manage cash shortages and streamline payments, granting the state unprecedented visibility into financial flows. Meanwhile, China’s digital yuan has been aggressively rolled out, combining cashless convenience with comprehensive transaction monitoring. But CBDCs aren’t just about making payments digital. They’re about redefining how state-controlled money functions in a digital economy. We see these concerns every day in conversations with users around the world. In our day-to-day work at Trezor, we keep hearing the same thing — people want to stay in control of their money in a world that’s changing fast. Unlike cash, which offers a degree of anonymity, CBDCs enable governments to monitor transactions in real time, potentially setting conditions on how money is spent, saved, or transferred. China’s digital yuan pilot has already tested features that limit where funds can be spent and how long they remain valid — measures framed as economic tools but viewed by critics as control mechanisms. The potential for overreach hasn’t gone unnoticed. In the UK, a Trezor survey found that 73% of respondents worry about CBDCs giving governments too much power over personal finances, particularly the ability to freeze funds or restrict spending. Whether positioned as financial inclusion tools or mechanisms to combat fraud, the reality remains: CBDCs could fundamentally alter the relationship between citizens and their money. Bitcoin’s Institutional Moment and the Path Forward Bitcoin is becoming a strategic asset as institutions and states look for stability in a financial landscape where digital assets can be adjusted, frozen, or reprogrammed. Public companies continue to add Bitcoin to their reserves, positioning it as a hedge against monetary instability. In the U.S., states like Arizona and New Hampshire are exploring Bitcoin reserves, positioning it as a safeguard against economic uncertainty. Meanwhile, institutional inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs indicate growing recognition of Bitcoin as a reserve asset with predictable rules. As more assets become programmable and open to control, Bitcoin’s rules stay the same. Its supply is capped, its issuance predictable, and its network neutral. While other assets can be adjusted or restricted by issuers, Bitcoin’s framework is fixed — a contrast to a financial landscape increasingly defined by flexibility and control. Conclusion: Navigating a New Monetary Landscape As digital currencies become more entrenched in the global economy, the question isn’t just which type will prevail — it’s whether people will value money with rules that don’t change. Bitcoin’s rise underscores a shift toward assets with predictable frameworks, driven by growing skepticism of programmable assets and centralized control. While stablecoins provide a lifeline in unstable economies and CBDCs promise state-backed efficiency, both come with conditions — issuer control, regulatory risk, and potential for monetary manipulation. Bitcoin, in contrast, stands apart as a monetary system where the rules are set in stone, immune to policy shifts and inflationary drift.

The High Court of Singapore has granted Sonic Labs' request to liquidate Multichain Foundation, allowing the blockchain tech firm to recover lost funds from a 2023 exploit. According to a May 9 ruling, Justice Kwek Mean Luck gave Sonic Labs approval to wind up Multichain with KPMG Singapore as joint liquidators. Sonic Labs, formerly known as Fantom Foundation, announced its plans to request the court to dissolve Multichain in March last year, after a $210 million exploit on Multichain's in July 2023 and the subsequent shutdown of the platform. Sonic's losses in the exploit amounted to around one-third of total losses. This came after a Singapore high court ruled in favor of Sonic's legal claims against Multichain for breach of contract and fraudulent misrepresentations for losses sustained in the exploit. At the time, Sonic Labs said the decision to pursue the liquidation came after "persistent absence" of Multichain despite multiple attempts to reach the foundation's key personnel. Multichain CEO Zhaojun He was arrested by Chinese authorities months prior to the exploit, and has not made a public appearance since. Sonic Labs CEO Michael Kong again said in a Wednesday statement on X that the team was "compelled" to forcibly liquidate Multichain. "If Multichain had not hid from victims, this entire process would've been unnecessary and we would've saved more than a year," Kong said. Kong added that lost funds in Multichain's exploit should eventually be returned to users if liquidators successfully work with other parties to acquire the funds. Sonic Labs previously said that its legal case aims to provide a pathway for other Multichain users to claim lost assets.

First, it was Bitcoin. Then defi. Then NFTs. Now, AI is taking the crypto world by storm, unlocking new possibilities (and new riches). If you’re not paying attention, you’re about to miss one of the most explosive narratives of the cycle. This piece is a guest post by Blocmates. Blocmates is an invaluable crypto news and educational resource that offers clarity in the often complicated and jargon-filled crypto space. In this article, Blocmate’s Gaz goes into the short but fast-pace history of AI agents, and how these agents will change the crypto landscape. The “AI Agents” Gold Rush Has Begun—Are You Prepared? It was clear from the start that AI would be a major narrative this cycle but the explosion of AI agents has caught even the biggest degens off guard. In a matter of mere months, we have seen projects speed up to hundreds of millions and, in some cases, multi-billion dollar valuations, and it seems we are just getting started. The fusion of the two biggest technological themes of our generation was always going to be a killer combo that would be sure to drag some of the biggest brains on earth into our degenerate crypto casino. If you don’t want to get left behind, then you’d better read on… What are AI agents? The concept of an AI agent is simple to understand at a fundamental level, but it quickly becomes far too complicated for my pea-sized brain to explain in a detailed, high-end technical way. Thank god this is just an idiot’s guide! When we think of AI in its current form, we probably think of large language models (LLMs) like Chatgpt. We fire all of our questions at them and in return, get half-decent responses that we can then use to cheat in all our tests and get through our work days with minimal effort. Agents go a step further than this. An AI agent is an autonomous software system that can be used to complete more complex tasks than what a simple LLM can handle and can learn to complete these tasks with more efficiency over time. Having the ability to learn from their environments and inputs means these AI agents can literally be trained, and train themselves, to complete pretty much any task imaginable. Even creative tasks like making music and producing artwork have already been done by agents, making us humans look like the relatively unsophisticated apes that we are. In the real world, agents are already used for many tasks within sectors like healthcare, manufacturing, retail, and traditional finance, but their crossover with crypto is where things get really interesting. The blockchain world is the perfect breeding ground for agents and gives them the ability to perform tasks that they would never be able to do (for now) in the real world due to limiting factors like KYC and legal barriers. Decentralization, transparency, and permissionless infrastructure are the game-changing ingredients that agents need to excel, and it just so happens that crypto ticks all these boxes.

Bitcoin has once again captured headlines, clawing its way back above key resistance levels and reigniting the dreams of a full-fledged bull run. Social media is buzzing, search interest is spiking, and the “Bitcoin to the moon” crowd is getting louder by the day. But beneath the surface of green candles and renewed hype lies a sobering question: Is this rally the real deal, or just another technical bounce before the next leg down? A Familiar Pattern or a New Cycle? Veteran traders recognize this pattern. Bitcoin has a long history of sharp recoveries that mimic bull runs — only to trap latecomers before a steep correction. The current price movement, while promising, shows signs of fragility: low volume on up days, strong resistance at historical levels, and a market still heavily influenced by macroeconomic forces. The Halving Hype – Already Priced In? Many bulls point to the recent Bitcoin halving as a bullish catalyst. But here’s the uncomfortable truth: the market is forward-looking. Smart money started positioning months ago. If you’re only reacting now, you’re probably late. The halving may already be “priced in,” and without new capital inflows, we could see stagnation or worse — a retracement. Institutional Money – Support or Smokescreen? Yes, BlackRock and other giants are now in the game. But institutions don’t chase pumps — they accumulate in silence and dump in euphoria. Their presence brings legitimacy but also layers of market manipulation retail investors often underestimate. Don’t let the “institutional adoption” narrative blind you from the possibility of profit-taking at scale. Conclusion: Be Bullish, But Be Smart Bitcoin may very well reclaim its previous all-time high, or even set new records. But not every green candle is a signal to ape in. This could be the beginning of a new cycle — or just a trap wrapped in hopium. Trade what you see, not what you hope.

Attorneys for World Liberty Financial pushed back against what they described as a “fundamentally flawed” probe by Senate Democrat Richard Blumenthal, investigating its USD1 stablecoin and potential conflicts of interest related to President Trump’s crypto activities. Blumenthal, the ranking member of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, recently sent letters to World Liberty Financial and Fight Fight Fight LLC — the company behind the Official Trump memecoin — alleging the firms may have violated federal law by enabling ethics breaches or facilitating transactions with foreign nationals under prosecution. He requested detailed records on ownership structures, financial relationships, and conflict-of-interest safeguards, claiming Trump financially benefited from WLFI and TRUMP. World Liberty Financial is backed by several members of the Trump family, including the president and his three sons, each of which have taken on ambassadorial or advocate roles for the DeFi project, according to its website. Stablecoin concerns The senator's letter to World Liberty Financial, addressed to co-founder Zach Witkoff, claimed that the Trump family "reaped substantial financial benefits" from WLFI and raised concerns about its stablecoin, USD1 — used to close Binance's record $2 billion investment from MGX. The letter further stated that Trump's ties to WLFI created threats to national security, as the project invites foreign governments and "unscrupulous" individuals to join as investors. Writing on behalf of World Liberty Financial on Thursday, law firm BakerHostetler said that although the company is under no legal obligation to respond, it welcomed the opportunity to address several of Blumenthal's "inaccuracies," without addressing them in full. The DeFi project's mission is to strengthen, not undermine, the role of the U.S. dollar, the letter stated. "The company's flagship product, USD1, is a fully reserved stablecoin backed exclusively by U.S. Treasuries and cash equivalents," the lawyers wrote. "It is designed to increase global demand for U.S. government debt and expand access to dollar-denominated financial tools at a time when adversarial regimes and emerging monetary blocs are challenging America’s monetary leadership." The firm added that USD1 is intended to broaden access to the U.S. dollar, particularly in underserved regions, bypassing outdated banking systems and offering financial inclusion to unbanked and underbanked communities around the world. RELATED INDICES DETAILS GMUSA Top U.S. tokens 188.60 0.57% DETAILS GMETHEX Top Ethereum tokens ex Me 101.16 1.93% See Crypto Indices WLFI launched its USD1 stablecoin in March and announced on Thursday that a recent governance proposal to airdrop the stablecoin to eligible holders had officially passed. However, Sen. Blumenthal is not the only one with concerns. "I'm deeply concerned that the President launched his own stablecoin," top House Democrat Maxine Waters said amid a boycott of a planned hearing on the crypto industry following tensions over Trump's potential conflicts of interest and the Genius Act stablecoin bill earlier this month. "I negotiated with my colleagues across the aisle for the past three years to create a safe regulatory framework for stablecoins. Now, we are pushing legislation through as quickly as possible without considering some of the key issues that will impact American investors and consumers." Not 'operating in the shadows' The attorneys' letter continued that World Liberty Financial is not "operating in the shadows. " They argue that it is building a transparent, compliant financial system rooted in U.S. trust, law, and leadership, with values like accountability and dollar dominance guiding every step. "The company rejects the false choice between innovation and oversight. What it opposes is the misuse of regulatory authority and uncertainty to suppress lawful innovation. The future of finance must be shaped in Washington, D.C. — not in Beijing, Moscow, or behind the closed doors of legacy institutions resistant to evolve to serve the needs of customers around the world. It aims to ensure that the U.S. dollar — not a foreign alternative — remains the foundation of global commerce in the digital era. WLFI is a movement to safeguard American monetary leadership in a rapidly transforming financial landscape," the BakerHostetler partners concluded. In his separate letter to Fight Fight Fight LLC CEO Bill Zanker, the company behind the Official Trump memecoin, Blumenthal speculated that a small group of insiders profited significantly from its launch. He also took issue with the "Dinner with Trump" promotion. Fight Fight Fight LLC has yet to publicly respond to the allegations. World Liberty Financial's attorneys said the project has no affiliation with Fight Fight Fight, LLC, or Zanker, and the "unfounded assertion" of a "non-existent relationship" was also among the errors in Blumenthal's letter. "America — and the rest of the world — needs solutions like USD1," Witkoff posted to X late Thursday. "We will not be intimidated by politicians with an axe to grind: we're too busy building." The Block reached out to Sen. Blumenthal's office for comment.

🧾TYO-listed firm just dropped another $3.4M on Bitcoin 🚗It's that same auto & energy player who sold BITPoint to SBI in 2023 💰Snagged 32.83 $BTC at ~¥15.23M ($104.5K) per coin 📈Now holds a fat 648.82 $BTC—worth ~$68M market value 🧠Book value sits at ¥8.19B, but price action already pushed it up ¥1.7B 👀Old school corp with laser eyes? We like that.

JPMorgan sees bitcoin dominating gold in 2025 as surging ETF inflows, corporate adoption, and state-level crypto reserves ignite a powerful wave of institutional momentum. JPMorgan Spots a Massive Rotation—Bitcoin Gaining, Gold Draining Global investment bank JPMorgan expects bitcoin to significantly outperform gold through the remainder of 2025, driven by a wave of crypto-specific catalysts that are reshaping investment flows. Analysts led by managing director Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou outlined this bullish view in a note published Wednesday and shared with The Block. “Between mid-February and mid-April, gold was rising at the expense of bitcoin, while of the past three weeks we have been observing the opposite, i.e. bitcoin rising at the expense of gold,” they wrote. Anticipating that this shift will continue, JPMorgan stated: This view is underpinned by recent market dynamics and structural changes that favor BTC. Since April 22, gold has dropped nearly 8%, pressured by waning expectations for aggressive Fed rate cuts and rising equity markets, leading to substantial outflows from gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs) like SPDR Gold Trust. Meanwhile, bitcoin has surged substantially, topping $100,000 for the first time in months, fueled by significant inflows into spot bitcoin ETFs over three weeks. Futures markets reflect the same trend, with shrinking gold positions and rising bitcoin exposure, signaling a broader investor pivot toward digital assets. JPMorgan attributes bitcoin’s rising momentum to more than just gold’s decline, citing increased adoption by corporations and governments. An expanding group of companies is acquiring bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset. Microstrategy (Nasdaq: MSTR), now rebranded as Strategy, continues to grow its bitcoin holdings aggressively. Japan’s Metaplanet has also added bitcoin to its corporate treasury. On the public sector front, U.S. states are taking steps that could institutionalize bitcoin within government financial systems. New Hampshire passed a law allowing up to 5% of state reserves to be held in bitcoin and gold, marking a historic move toward crypto in public finance. Arizona is creating a digital asset reserve using staking rewards and airdrops, avoiding taxpayer funding. These initiatives reflect a growing trend among U.S. states to institutionalize digital assets responsibly. The JPMorgan team highlighted this potential, stating: Institutionalization of crypto markets is accelerating through major acquisitions and regulatory wins aimed at strengthening infrastructure and credibility. In recent developments, Coinbase is buying Deribit for $2.9B to lead in crypto derivatives, while Kraken’s $1.5B acquisition of Ninjatrader deepens its futures exposure. Gemini secured EU-wide derivatives licensing, Robinhood acquired Wonderfi for $179M to expand in Canada, and Ripple is integrating traditional finance with crypto via its $1.25B purchase of credit network Hidden Road. These moves are primed to attract a fresh wave of institutional capital into bitcoin and broader crypto markets.

A1 Abraaj Restaurants Group has become the first publicly traded company in the Middle East to adopt bitcoin as a treasury reserve asset, signaling a major shift in regional finance. Bahrain’s A1 Abraaj Embraces Bitcoin for Crypto Treasury In a regional first, Bahrain-based A1 Abraaj Restaurants Group (Bahrain Bourse: ABRAAJ) has officially adopted bitcoin as its primary treasury reserve asset. The move positions A1 Abraaj as the Middle East’s first publicly traded company to integrate BTC into its corporate treasury, joining global pioneers like Strategy and Metaplanet. According to the company’s announcement on X, A1 Abraaj disclosed an initial acquisition of 5 BTC and announced plans to scale its BTC holdings significantly. A1 Abraaj, which reported $12.5 million in EBITDA for 2024, aims to offer countries in the Middle East and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) access to bitcoin, reflecting growing institutional demand and digital asset adoption. “Our initiative towards becoming a bitcoin treasury company reflects our forward-thinking approach and dedication to maximizing shareholder value,” said Abdulla Isa, Chairman of the bitcoin treasury committee of A1 Abraaj Restaurants Group. Partnering with IOX Capital, a U.S.-based firm known for advising bitcoin treasury companies, A1 Abraaj intends to raise additional capital to expand its BTC portfolio. The company has a dedicated bitcoin committee to manage governance, risk, and custody protocols for its digital holdings. “I’d like to congratulate A1 Abraaj for adopting bitcoin at the corporate treasury level, finally enabling anyone in the GCC with a brokerage account to gain bitcoin exposure,” said Hans Thomas, CEO of IOX Capital. This strategic pivot highlights A1 Abraaj’s commitment to innovation and financial diversification, aligning itself with emerging global trends while contributing to Bahrain’s growing digital economy.

10 years ago, a meme-based cryptocurrency known as dogecoin was introduced to the world. at the time, many people viewed it as a joke or a fad that wouldn’t last long in the ever-evolving world of digital currencies. fast forward to today, and not only has dogecoin stood the test of time, but it’s also thriving and gaining more traction than ever before. one of the reasons for this enduring popularity is its strong community backing. the dogecoin community has been instrumental in pushing for its adoption across various platforms. from tiktok campaigns to reddit posts urging users to buy into doge shoots its value up 857% from january 2021 until april! recently elon musk made headlines when he specifically requested his employees at tesla pay them their quarterly bonuses with doge instead of fiat cash?! while some say this move was planned all along to increase demand &market cap others are excited transactions on dogechain will be accepted soon bringing prices higher. a major factor driving growth? its lightning-fast processing times compared other cryptos like ethereum which takes forever confirm each block transaction! that means customers can conduct fast premium service payments without getting ripped off by miners’ fees! plus low inflation rate keeps supply decrease rate lower than bitcoin leading more investors flocking towards us remaining steady partners throughout these past nights days…and maybe months between rotting riches altogether!) but hey.. are we done here? makes sense because my fingers too tired typing “just keep buying” over&over 😏💪🏽😂👀 🔥🚀🔋 💎🙌🏽 ⛸️🚢🔥😱

I'm in for the long run, bought and sold a few times when it was around ,22-.23 but holding until at least 2026 now. hodl the line, doge fam! <3 selling only if i have no choice no matter what happens here.

Lawmakers in the US will conduct a cloture vote on the GENIUS Act this coming Monday, setting the stablecoin bill on a crucial path