Crypto Industry News & Market Trends

5 Reasons Why OFAC’s $344 Million USDT Freeze May Not Be Iran-Linked, Expert Reveals

Five anomalies in the OFAC-sanctioned wallets suggest the $344 million USDT freeze may not be Iran-linked. The findings come from blockchain intelligence firm Nominis.　　Nominis CEO Snir Levi published the analysis Sunday, breaking down behavioral patterns of the seized addresses. The data points toward overlap with Chinese state-linked infrastructure rather than the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).　　1. The Wallets Accumulated, Then Went Dormant　　The designated addresses began moving Tether (USDT) in mid-2021 and ramped up high-value transfers through early 2023. After February 2023, Nominis said, the wallets fell largely inactive.　　That accumulate-then-freeze shape clashes with prior IRGC flows, which usually keep funds in motion to dodge seizure.　　2. Concentrated Balances Break From Past IRGC Patterns　　Past IRGC clusters spread funds across many wallets and capped individual balances at a few million dollars. They also cycled holdings quickly to limit exposure to freezes.　　The wallets caught last week instead carry large, sustained balances over multi-year holding windows.　　3. Direct Exposure to Huobi and Huione Infrastructure　　A root wallet in the cluster shows transfers to Huobi, now HTX, and onward links into Huione Group infrastructure.　　Levi said the activity matches Chinese-dominated exchange behavior from around 2021, including patterns Nominis tracks across HTX and related platforms.　　4. Asia-Aligned Operational Timing　　A separate HTX deposit

05-04Industry

Ethereum Set for 3x Capacity Boost, What It Means for Fees

Ethereum　　Ethereum Set for 3x Capacity Boost, What It Means for Fees　　According to Hasu, a Lido advisor, following the Glamsterdam upgrade, Ethereums gas limit will increase significantly from the current 60 million to nearly 200 million. This implies that L1 execution capacity will increase by more than 3x and is expected to double again shortly thereafter.　　Ethereums next major upgrade, Glamsterdam, includes a number of Execution Layer (EL) gas repricings, calibrating costs to better match resource usage at higher throughput. EIP-8037, the state-creation gas cost increase, is at the center, raising the price of writing new state so that a higher gas limit does not result in unbounded state growth.　　You Might Also Like　　Adam Back Defines Best Defense to Quantum Risk, Ripple CTO Emeritus Shows Rare Support to XRP Meme Coin, Barry Silbert Co-Signs $1,000 Zcash (ZEC) Prediction – Morning Crypto Report　　Bitcoiners Agree Satoshis Coins Must Remain Untouched　　In his tweet, Hasu pointed out that, assuming no equivalent surge in network demand, Ethereum mainnet gas fees are likely to remain near zero for the next few years.　　A fact I feel like almost nobody knows: Ethereums gas limit will be increased to ~200M after Glamsterdam, a huge increase from the 60M we have today.　　Thats a

05-03Ethereum

BUILDon up 21% as funding spikes - But ONE risk could stall Bs rally

Tech　　BUILDon up 21% as funding spikes – But ONE risk could stall Bs rally　　BUILDon [B] has remained firmly on the bullish side of the market, with the asset climbing 21% over the past day as of writing. Several factors have driven this rally, particularly strengthening fundamentals. Notably, the number of holders has risen to 70,800, its highest level since the start of the year.　　In the perpetual market, activity has leaned bullish. However, capital movement raises questions about whether the rally still has enough strength to continue.　　Capital tilts toward bulls　　The latest rally has been supported by a sharp increase in the Funding Rate for BUILDon in the perpetual market, which climbed to 0.1553% over the past day at the time of writing.　　A high positive Funding Rate typically indicates that traders are heavily skewing their leveraged positions toward longs, reflecting expectations of continued upside.　　Source: CoinGlass　　This trend has played out over the past 24 hours, during which the rally gained traction. Data from CoinGlass shows that short traders faced significantly higher liquidations than long traders.　　Notably, $3.89 million in short positions had been liquidated, compared to $1.24 million in long positions. This imbalance reinforces the view that the market remains long-dominated, at least for

05-03Industry

U.S. voters dont trust Trump administration to oversee crypto sector, CoinDesk poll finds

Crypto　　U.S. voters dont trust Trump administration to oversee crypto sector, CoinDesk poll finds　　Most voters in the U.S. aren‘t comfortable with President Donald Trump’s hand on the wheel of crypto industry oversight, with 62% saying they dont trust his administration on that point, according to a survey commissioned by CoinDesk.　　After the previous administration‘s heavy hand on crypto, Trump’s promise to make the U.S. the “crypto capital of the world” reignited hopes in the sector. The president has deployed his White House to pave a wide road toward friendly crypto regulation. His administration named a high-profile crypto czar, issued executive orders to map out an industry agenda, named regulators who vowed to support friendly new rules and shepherded legislation to create the first major U.S. crypto law.　　However, the polling trend seems to show that Trumps broader political popularity beyond crypto has steadily waned, and his approval rating among U.S. voters is sinking, with this latest polling putting it at 40%.　　This article is part of a CoinDesk series on voters views for the 2026 midterm election.　　Almost half of the respondents (45%) are also aware that the president and his family have built a profitable personal stake in the crypto industry, which includes partial

05-03Industry

Ethereum Price Prediction: ETH Bulls Face $2,365 Weekend Test

Ethereum　　Ethereum Price Prediction: ETH Bulls Face $2,365 Weekend Test　　ETH is trading at a key decision point, with charts showing resistance between $2,290 and $2,365 and a median range level that bulls need to hold as support. A clean move above resistance could open the way toward the upper range, while a failed support flip may send ETH back toward lower levels.　　ETH Price Tests First Resistance Zone as Weekend Range Takes Shape　　ETH is testing its first short-term resistance zone between $2,290 and $2,365, according to the 1-hour ETH/USD chart shared by MCO Global DE.　　The chart shows ETH recovering from this weeks low, but MCO Global DE said the move still appears to be a three-part structure. That means the bounce has not yet confirmed a stronger impulsive breakout.　　ETH Weekend Resistance Zone. Source:　　The red resistance box sits around the key Fibonacci levels marked on the chart. These include the 38.2% level near $2,290, the 50% level near $2,312, the 61.8% level near $2,334, and the 78.6% level near $2,365.　　For the weekend, this zone remains the main area to watch. MCO Global DE said ETH will likely stay inside or below this resistance area during the weekend.　　If ETH breaks above $2,365, the chart

05-03Ethereum

Pizza Orders Near Pentagon Spark Fresh Iran War Jitters

Tech　　Pizza Orders Near Pentagon Spark Fresh Iran War Jitters　　Late-night activity at pizzerias near the Pentagon and SOUTHCOM jumped sharply into the early hours of May 3. The spike has reignited trader speculation that the fragile 2026 Iran ceasefire may be wobbling behind closed doors.　　Open-source trackers flagged above-average crowds at Wiseguy Pizza, Papa Johns, and Nighthawk Brewery around 11.30 p.m. ET. Similar activity appeared near the US Southern Command in Florida, where President Donald Trump was reportedly staying.　　Iran Ceasefire Tensions Drive the Pizza Speculation　　Geopolitical pressure has stayed elevated since the US and Israeli strikes on Iran earlier in 2026. The ceasefire that emerged afterward remains brittle.　　Earlier rounds of negotiations in Islamabad collapsed before being revived. Traders now read every signal for clues on whether enforcement is holding.　　Bitcoin (BTC) has tracked each twist closely. Prior ceasefire shifts moved the asset by thousands of dollars within hours.　　Bitcoin Price Performance Since the Iran War. Source: TradingView　　d　　How the Pizza Index Plays In　　The Pentagon Pizza Index uses Google Maps Popular Times data to identify unusual spikes at restaurants near defense sites. Prior surges have lined up with major operations dating back to the Cold War.　　Based on reports, Wiseguy Pizza, directly across from the Pentagon, was busier

05-03Industry

Ethereum Price Falls Below $3,000 as Validators Cash Out While Pepeto Presale Crosses $9.7 million

Ethereum　　Ethereum Price Falls Below $3,000 as Validators Cash Out While Pepeto Presale Crosses $9.7 million　　The ethereum price fell 4% this week as validators pulled staking rewards amid market pressure, and the same rotation pushing capital out of ETH is flowing into presales with confirmed listings. Large wallets are repositioning in a pattern that matches every cycle before a breakout.　　That pressure is creating a window for projects with real products underneath, and Pepeto stands at the front. With a Binance listing approaching, Pepeto crossed $9.7 million in presale funding, a former Binance expert leading the build, and analysts calling for 100x after launch.　　Ethereum validators pulled more than 200,000 ETH in withdrawals over the past five days, according to CoinDesk. The move followed the Pectra upgrade going live, which opened new withdrawal options and triggered selling on the ethereum price.　　CoinGlass data shows ETH liquidations hit $180 million in 48 hours as long positions got wiped below $2,900. The weakness is pushing capital into early stage projects where upside is not capped by a $300 billion market cap, and presale tokens with confirmed listings carry the most momentum.　　Ethereum, Pepeto, and Where Capital Flows After the DipPepeto: The Presale Gaining From Large Cap Pressure　　That

05-03Industry

Tehran on heightened alert amid US-Iran tensions, evacuation prep underway

Bitcoin Ethereum News　　## Market Snapshot　　Iran Airspace Closure market is currently priced at 14.5% YES for May 8 and 38.5% YES for May 31. The Iranian Regime Fall market is priced at 6.5% YES for June 30. Recent developments indicate shifts in these probabilities, with heightened alert in Tehran providing a potential catalyst.　　## Key Takeaways　　– The heightened alert in Tehran appears to suggest increased risk of Iran closing its airspace, consistent with military tensions. – Market pricing indicates a moderate increase in perceived instability, which may be supportive of Iranian regime fall scenarios. – Current odds suggest skepticism about immediate airspace closure, but ongoing military developments could alter this view.　　## Article Body　　Government offices and institutions in Tehran were placed on heightened alert, according to a report by the Iranian news website Rouydad24. Employees were instructed to prepare for possible evacuation amid security concerns, reflecting heightened tensions following a recent US-Iran conflict. The alert comes after a fragile ceasefire was established, ending a 40-day conflict involving US and Israeli airstrikes. Iran had previously retaliated against US bases and approved emergency measures for extended conflict, highlighting ongoing regional instability.　　## Market Interpretation　　The heightened alert in Tehran appears supportive of YES outcomes in markets related

05-03Industry

Amkor Technology (AMKR) Stock Surges as Analyst Hikes Target to $90 Following Strong Q1 Results

Amkor Technology, Inc., AMKR　　The securities are slated to reach maturity on July 15, 2031, featuring semi-annual interest distributions. Underwriters possess the right to purchase an extra $150 million in notes during a 13-day window post-issuance.　　Beginning May 15, 2029, Amkor retains the authority to buy back the notes with cash, provided its share price surpasses 130% of the conversion threshold for a designated timeframe. The buyback amount encompasses the original principal alongside accumulated interest.　　The semiconductor packaging specialist intends to allocate proceeds toward capped call strategies, mechanisms engineered to minimize shareholder dilution resulting from potential note conversions. Remaining funds will support broader corporate objectives and capital investments.　　Bondholders gain conversion rights under specific circumstances, with Amkor having the option to settle using cash and, when appropriate, equity shares. Final interest rates and conversion parameters will be determined at the pricing stage.　　This capital initiative follows immediately after impressive first-quarter 2026 financial results. Amkor delivered earnings per share of $0.33 compared to Wall Streets $0.23 forecast, representing approximately a 43% outperformance. Quarterly sales reached $1.68 billion, climbing 27.5% from the previous year and exceeding the $1.63 billion analyst consensus.　　Wall Street Response　　The substantial earnings outperformance prompted multiple analyst firms to adjust their outlooks upward. Needham increased

05-03Industry

Why XRP Ledger is becoming a $3.6B hot spot for tokenized energy commodities

XRPL currently holds about $3.6 billion in real-world assets, excluding stablecoins, split roughly between $1 billion in distributed assets and $2.6 billion in represented assets.　　That 71% tilt toward represented assets means XRPLs RWA growth is concentrated in a model in which blockchain serves as a record-keeping and reconciliation layer, with tokens anchored to real-world contracts and commitments held within controlled platform structures.　　RWA.xyz defines distributed assets as tokenized assets that can be moved off the issuing platform and transferred peer-to-peer. Represented assets stay inside the issuing platform, with blockchain recording and reconciling claims tied to real-world assets.　　Most RWA coverage focuses on the distributed category. XRPLs $2.6 billion in represented assets sits in the infrastructure-and-recordkeeping segment of the market.　　RWA.xyzs asset page shows JMWH with a total value of $1.76 billion, up 104.79% over 30 days, and an inception date of Jan. 13.　　Each JMWH token represents one real megawatt-hour of energy backed by energy companies. That single asset accounts for roughly half of XRPLs total RWA value and about 70% of its represented RWA segment.　　Represented assets account for 71% of XRPLs $3.6 billion RWA value, with JMWH driving roughly half the total.Why energy fits this model　　Commodities, and energy in particular, present operational problems

05-03Industry

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