Latest Crypto News & Market Updates

CME and NYSE lobby CFTC against Hyperliquid amid USDC liquidity risks

Two of the largest traditional exchanges in the world are asking US regulators to put a leash on a decentralized platform that didnt exist a few years ago.　　CME Group and Intercontinental Exchange, which operates the New York Stock Exchange, are lobbying the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to impose tighter regulations on Hyperliquid, the on-chain perpetual futures exchange that currently dominates decentralized derivatives trading. Their stated concerns include potential market manipulation, sanctions evasion, and the risk of undermining traditional commodity price discovery, particularly in oil markets.　　The platform they want to rein in　　Hyperliquid commands roughly 53% of fees in the on-chain derivatives sector, with over $2.45 billion in open interest. It‘s processing more perpetual futures volume than every other decentralized competitor combined, and it’s doing so without a traditional exchange license.　　The HYPE token dropped between 9% and 14% following reports of the lobbying effort.　　The USDC dependency problem　　Hyperliquid‘s market infrastructure is built around Circle’s stablecoin. Through integrations with both Coinbase and Circle, USDC serves as the foundational collateral asset for trading on the platform. If the CFTC or other regulators lean on Circle to restrict USDC flows to Hyperliquid, the platforms liquidity could evaporate without regulators ever having to touch the protocol itself.　　Circle

05-18Industry

Ethereum Price Prediction: ETH Hits New Lows Against BTC

Ethereum has fallen to a new yearly low against Bitcoin, showing continued weakness on the ETH/BTC chart. However, negative exchange flows and positive spot ETH ETF inflows suggest that accumulation is still building under the surface.　　ETH/BTC Hits New Yearly Low as Ethereum Weakness Extends Against Bitcoin　　ETH/BTC fell to a new yearly low on the daily Binance chart shared by TedPillows, showing Ethereum still losing strength against Bitcoin.　　The chart shows ETH/BTC trading below the 0.02995 support area after failing to reclaim the 200 day moving averages. The 200 day SMA sits near 0.03168, while the 200 day EMA sits near 0.03109. Both now act as resistance above price.　　ETH/BTC Daily Price Chart. Source:　　ETH/BTC also broke below the recent consolidation range that formed between March and April. That breakdown pushed the pair toward the next visible support near 0.02619.　　If ETH/BTC fails to hold the 0.02619 level, the chart leaves room for a deeper move toward the lower support zone near 0.02194. That area marked the earlier low before the strong July rally.　　TedPillows noted that the new yearly low came despite Tom Lee buying more than $200 million in ETH every week, according to the post. That makes the chart weaker because institutional buying

05-18Ethereum

Logistics Managers Index transportation prices surge 5.6 points in April, hitting second-highest level ever

US freight is getting expensive fast. The April 2026 Logistics Managers‘ Index registered Transportation Prices at 95.0, a 5.6-point jump from March and the second-highest reading in the index’s entire history. The only time prices ran hotter was during March and April of 2018.　　The capacity crunch behind the price spike　　Transportation Capacity cratered 10.9 points in April to 28.4, the second-lowest recording the LMI has ever produced. Any reading below 50 signals contraction, so 28.4 isn‘t just contraction. It’s a market gasping for air.　　The spread between Transportation Prices at 95.0 and Transportation Capacity at 28.4 is 66.6 points. That‘s a record gap, the largest delta in the index’s history.　　The headline LMI itself climbed to 69.9, up 4.2 points from Marchs reading of 65.7. That represents the fastest pace of expansion since March 2022, when supply chain chaos from the pandemic era was still rattling through the system.　　Aggregate logistics costs reached approximately 242, the highest since April 2022.　　The Strait of Hormuz factor　　The proximate cause of this tightening appears to be fuel costs. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil transit, has driven energy prices higher.　　Transportation prices have been climbing steadily since September 2025, but Aprils jump

05-18Industry

Forsage co-founder Olena Oblamska extradited, pleads not guilty in $340M Ponzi case

Olena Oblamska, a Ukrainian national also known as Lola Ferrari, has been extradited from Thailand to face federal charges in Oregon for her alleged role in Forsage, a DeFi platform that prosecutors say operated as a $340 million Ponzi and pyramid scheme. She has pleaded not guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud.　　What was Forsage, and how did it work　　Forsage launched in 2019 and marketed itself as a decentralized, smart-contract-based investment platform. The pitch was familiar: low risk, high yields, all powered by the magic of DeFi. In reality, according to prosecutors, the platform had no genuine underlying economic activity.　　The platform allegedly collected approximately $340 million from investors around the world. New participants funds were diverted to pay earlier users, the textbook structure of both Ponzi and pyramid schemes.　　Forsage gained particular traction in emerging markets, where multi-level marketing communities served as a natural distribution network.　　The defendants and the Kevin Spacey connection　　Oblamska is not the only person charged. Her co-defendants include Vladimir Okhotnikov, described as the alleged mastermind behind Forsage, along with Mikhail Sergeev and Sergey Maslakov. All face wire fraud conspiracy charges.　　Okhotnikov reportedly resurfaced last year in a film featuring disgraced actor Kevin Spacey.　　Regulatory backdrop and what it means for

05-18Industry

Ethena earnings hit 8-month high - Why ENA still faces downside risk

Ethena [ENA] has posted a struggling price performance in the past day despite the protocol recording its highest monthly earnings in eight months.　　Demand continues to build at the fundamental level, but the probability of a rally remains slim. However, a key demand zone on the chart could lift price significantly if it holds.　　Decoding Ethenas monthly earnings　　Ethenas earnings have now reached the highest level since September 2025. According to its earnings report, which tracks profitability, Ethena generated about $605,000 in just the first seventeen days of this month.　　Earnings data of this nature often signals that a protocol is performing positively and adds further incentive for investors to accumulate or maintain a long-term position in ENA.　　Source: DeFiLlama　　That long-term view is already in motion, as reflected by the Total Value Locked (TVL).　　TVL measures the total value of crypto assets deposited into a protocols smart contracts, spanning liquidity provision, lending, and yield generation. A rising TVL typically signals growing user confidence in the protocol and increasing demand for its products.　　Notably, Ethenas TVL has risen by about $998 million since the 23rd of April, reflecting growing investor confidence as more capital is deployed into the protocol and signaling belief in its near‑ to long‑term utility.　　Spot

05-18Industry

Napoleon Solo Conquers Preakness And Wins Second Leg Of Triple Crown

The 2026 Preakness run at Laurel Park is now in the books and Winner Napoleon Solo has placed himself in the conversation as one of the top three-year-old colts in the country. A pace stalking trip that saw him take control of the 151st running of this second leg of the Triple Crown at the top of the stretch etched his name in history. Booted home a length and a quarter to the good by jockey Paco Lopez, this Chad Summers trained gray colt was no doubt the best on Marylands biggest day of racing.　　Why Napoleon Solo Was A Logical Choice Especially At Odds Of 7 to 1　　Napoleon Solo came into the 2026 Preakness slightly overlooked. An outstanding two- year-old campaign that saw this son of Liams Map win both starts by a combined 12 lengths had him at the top of the list for Triple Crown contenders entering 2026. Included in those starts was a 6 ½ length score in the grade 1 Champagne Stakes, which by the way made him the only starter in Preakness 151 with a grade 1 win. After the turn of the new year, however, the growing pains of becoming a three-year-old set in

05-18Industry

Robert Kiyosaki Reinforces Bullish Bitcoin Outlook Amid Inflation Warning – Bitcoin News

Robert Kiyosaki combined entrepreneurship and investing in two messages on X last week, tying advisory networks, concerns, and hard assets into a broader wealth-preservation strategy. In a May 16 post, the Rich Dad Poor Dad author described lifelong learning and trusted advisers as key assets for entrepreneurs. Days earlier, on May 13, he reinforced his stance on while warning about , rising debt, and weakening fiat currencies. The renowned author explained:　　“2 reasons why will steal your money.”　　He tied the warning to two economic pressures he believes could accelerate and weaken purchasing power. The acclaimed author pointed to conflict involving Iran as a factor that could keep oil prices elevated and push costs higher across the economy. He also warned that rising national debt may drive governments toward additional money printing, further eroding fiat currencies and cash savings.　　The message reflected themes that have shaped Kiyosakis market outlook for years. He has consistently argued that debt expansion and loose monetary policy weaken traditional currencies over time. That thesis has supported his preference for , , and silver, which he frequently describes as protection against , currency devaluation, and broader financial instability.　　Entrepreneurial Advice Focuses on Long-Term Execution　　His May 16 message on X focused

05-18Industry

Standard Chartered appoints Manus Costello as chief financial officer

Standard Chartered has named Manus Costello as its new chief financial officer, filling a role the bank has been working to permanently staff following the departure of former CFO Andy Halford.　　The opening paragraph contains a central factual error per the research: Costello has not been named CFO. The research explicitly states he was appointed Global Head of Investor Relations effective April 2024, and the CFO search remains ongoing. Because the entire article is built on this false premise, nearly every paragraph is either directly wrong or speculative analysis derived from the false premise.　　Below is the pruned article retaining only what is factually supported by the research:　　Manus Costello has joined Standard Chartered as Global Head of Investor Relations, effective April 2024. The bank continues to search for a permanent CFO following the departure of former CFO Andy Halford.　　Costello brings approximately 25 years of equity research experience to the position. He previously served as a founding partner and Global Head of Research at Autonomous Research, a specialist financial services research firm.　　In his role as Global Head of Investor Relations, Costello serves as the primary liaison between the company and its investor base, participating in earnings calls, investor days, and industry conferences.　　Standard Chartered

05-18Industry

LTC Price Prediction: $62 Target Within 15 Days as Smart Money Accumulates

LTCs Technical Reality Check　　Litecoin sits in a deceptive calm before the storm. With RSI hovering at 48.63 in neutral territory and MACD histogram flatlining at zero, the surface appears quiet. But dig deeper and the Bollinger Band positioning at 0.43 reveals LTC is coiling in the middle range, neither oversold nor overbought—classic accumulation phase behavior.　　The moving average structure tells the real story here. Trading above both the 50-day SMA ($55.54) and 20-day SMA ($56.77) while still well below the 200-day SMA ($67.92) creates a perfect setup for momentum traders. Blockchain.news analysis shows this configuration historically precedes significant moves when combined with institutional positioning.　　Volume & Price Alignment　　The derivatives market is screaming bullish despite muted spot action. Top traders maintain a crushing 3.14:1 long ratio with 76% positioning bullish—these arent retail degenerates, these are the whales who move markets. Open interest jumped 3.71% in 24 hours to $72.7 million, confirming serious money is taking positions.　　The taker buy/sell ratio at 0.60 shows temporary selling pressure, but this creates the exact conditions smart money exploits. When retail sells and institutions accumulate, explosive moves follow. Daily ATR of $2.05 indicates contained volatility ready to expand.　　Market Sentiment Context　　The absence of fresh social media chatter actually strengthens

05-18Industry

Ethena earnings hit 8-month high - Why ENA still faces downside risk

Ethena [ENA] has posted a struggling price performance in the past day despite the protocol recording its highest monthly earnings in eight months.　　Demand continues to build at the fundamental level, but the probability of a rally remains slim. However, a key demand zone on the chart could lift price significantly if it holds.　　Decoding Ethenas monthly earnings　　Ethenas earnings have now reached the highest level since September 2025. According to its earnings report, which tracks profitability, Ethena generated about $605,000 in just the first seventeen days of this month.　　Earnings data of this nature often signals that a protocol is performing positively and adds further incentive for investors to accumulate or maintain a long-term position in ENA.　　Source: DeFiLlama　　That long-term view is already in motion, as reflected by the Total Value Locked (TVL).　　TVL measures the total value of crypto assets deposited into a protocols smart contracts, spanning liquidity provision, lending, and yield generation. A rising TVL typically signals growing user confidence in the protocol and increasing demand for its products.　　Notably, Ethenas TVL has risen by about $998 million since the 23rd of April, reflecting growing investor confidence as more capital is deployed into the protocol and signaling belief in its near‑ to long‑term utility.　　Spot

05-18Industry