Latest Crypto News & Market Updates

Bhutan Official Speaks Up On Claims of Selling $1 Billion In Bitcoin

Bhutans Bitcoin movements have come into the spotlight again. The scrutiny comes due to the recent indications of a potential sale of nearly $1 billion worth of Bitcoin. For context, these transactions were flagged by the blockchain analytics firm, Arkham Intelligence, since July 2025.　　Bhutan Officials Open Up On Selling Bitcoin　　Over the last year, wallets associated with Druk Holding and Investments (DHI), the government-owned wealth fund of Bhutan, have been moving massive amounts of Bitcoin. DHI then dumped this reserve to exchanges and trading companies, according to on-chain reports.　　In October 2024, Arkham reported that the wallets had almost 13,000 BTC in their holdings. However, this has fallen to approximately 3,100 BTC, which is worth about $252 million as of Fridays BTC price.　　Another finding from the data indicated that, between 2026 alone, approximately $207 million worth of Bitcoin was removed from wallets. If the current rate of transfers continues, Bhutan could exhaust its remaining BTC reserves by October, according to Arkham Intelligence.　　Bhutanese government officials, however, stated that they did not sell Bitcoin. “I don‘t recall the last time we sold any BTC,” said DHI’s Chief Executive Ujjwal Deep Dahal, per a CoinDesk report.　　When contacted about the activity being monitored on the wallet,

05-17Industry

UAE asserts OPEC exit was sovereign strategic decision, not political move

The UAE is walking away from OPEC and the broader OPEC+ alliance, and it wants the world to know this isn‘t about geopolitics. It’s about business.　　Energy Minister Suhail Mohamed Al Mazrouei has framed the withdrawal, effective May 1, as a sovereign strategic decision designed to give the country more flexibility over its own oil production. In practical terms, the UAE is tired of having its output capped by group quotas when it has the capacity, and the ambition, to produce significantly more.　　What the UAE actually wants　　UAE officials have linked the exit to internal strategic reviews that concluded OPEC quotas were actively constraining domestic industrial growth. The countrys “Make it in the Emirates” manufacturing strategy, which aims to build out a robust domestic industrial base, apparently requires more energy autonomy than OPEC membership allows.　　Al Mazrouei has been careful to position this as a forward-looking economic play rather than a reaction to any specific diplomatic friction.　　What OPEC loses　　The UAE was OPECs third-largest producer. Its departure is not a rounding error.　　Analysts estimate OPEC will lose around 15% of its total production capacity with the UAE out of the picture. That‘s a significant hit to the group’s ability to function as a credible market

05-17Industry

Barclays Says Prediction Markets are Retail’s New Trading Toy

Prediction markets have surged since the 2024 election, becoming retails latest high-risk trade.Kalshi and Polymarket topped $24 billion in notional volume by April, up from under $5 billion.Barclays says prediction markets are rising fast but remain far below the $57 trillion 0DTE market.　　Prediction markets are moving from niche internet corners into retail trading‘s main arena, with Barclays calling them “retail’s shiny new toy.” The phrase reflects a rapid volume surge since the 2024 U.S. presidential election.　　The appeal is simple. Traders buy contracts linked to real-world outcomes, from elections and sports to economic data and climate events. Instead of tracking a companys earnings, they trade a yes-or-no result.　　Retail Traders Move Beyond Stocks and Crypto　　Barclays analysts said monthly notional volume on prediction platforms has climbed sharply since last fall. The rise has placed prediction markets near leveraged exchange-traded products in retail activity.　　That comparison matters, as leveraged ETPs are already high-risk tools. They use debt and derivatives to amplify daily moves in stocks, indexes, or other assets. The same retail appetite has appeared in other markets.　　Five years ago, small traders helped drive the GameStop meme stock surge. They later pushed crypto deeper into mainstream investing.　　More recently, retail traders became major users of zero-day-to-expiration

05-17Industry

Bitcoin ETF flows reverse as US funds shed $1B amid inflation fears

US-listed Bitcoin ETF flows have suffered their most severe weekly capital flight since the end of January, with investors pulling exactly $1 billion from the products.　　The primary catalyst for the sudden institutional risk aversion appears to be the shifting US economic backdrop.　　CryptoSlates data show that rising inflation concerns, alongside steep ETF outflows, led Bitcoins price to fall around 3% over the past week to $78,074 as of press time.　　US Bitcoin ETF flows register largest weekly outflow in 5 months　　Data compiled by SoSoValue indicates that the $1 billion ETF outflow snapped a six-week streak of consecutive positive inflows. During this reporting period, the US-listed funds had absorbed approximately $3.4 billion in net flows.　　However, the net withdrawal over the past seven days totaled roughly 14,000 Bitcoin, marking a distinct pause in the recovery of institutional demand that had been building steadily since early April.　　US Bitcoin ETFs Flows (Source: Ecoinometrics)　　Despite the severity of the weekly outflows, Ecoinometrics, a Bitcoin-focused analytical platform, characterized the number as a period of tactical hesitation near a critical macroeconomic decision point, rather than a wholesale unwind of institutional positioning.　　According to the firm, the broader structural recovery pattern for digital assets remains largely intact, as net flows into US

05-17Exchange

This Upgrade Could Send Solana Parabolic

Solana continues to push the boundaries of blockchain performance. The network is preparing for Alpenglow, a major upgrade designed to overhaul block production and significantly reduce MEV (Maximal Extractable Value).　　This development arrives as $SOL trades under pressure but shows signs of potential accumulation.　　The Alpenglow Code That Could Slash MEV　　Alpenglow introduces a new consensus and block-building architecture aimed at minimizing MEV extraction while dramatically improving transaction finality and network efficiency.　　By streamlining how blocks are proposed and validated, the upgrade is expected to reduce harmful MEV practices that currently affect users through frontrunning and sandwich attacks.　　Lower MEV should translate into better execution prices for traders and stronger overall user experience across DeFi and high-frequency applications.　　Chart Analysis: Testing Support with Bearish Bias　　As of May 16, 2026 timestamped 10:55 UTC, the weekly charts reflect ongoing correction. On the $SOL/USDpair (Coinbase), $SOL trades at $85.92, down 3.67% on the week.　　SOLUSD Weekly Chart. Source: TradingView.　　MACD shows persistent red histogram bars though green recently, while the RSI Divergence Indicator continues displaying “Bear” signals.　　Price remains below key moving averages, suggesting the downtrend is still intact, though it is approaching potential support zones.　　On the $SOL/BTCpair (Binance), the ratio sits at 0.0011029(down 2.25%). Bollinger Bands show price hugging the lower

05-17Exchange

MARA Secures Consent for Amendments on 8.750% Notes Due 2032

MARA Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: MARA) has secured the necessary consents from bondholders to amend the terms of Long Ridge Energy LLCs 8.750% Senior Secured Notes due 2032, a critical step in its planned acquisition of Long Ridge Energy.　　The consent solicitation expired on May 15, 2026, and MARAs subsidiary successfully obtained approvals from holders representing more than 50% of the $600 million in outstanding notes. These amendments will prevent the $600 million notes from triggering a “Change of Control” provision upon completion of the acquisition. Without these amendments, the issuer would have been required to offer to buy back the bonds at 101% of their face value—a costly scenario that MARA sought to avoid.　　The changes also designate MARA and its affiliates as “Permitted Holders,” ensuring the acquisition aligns with the indentures terms. The amendments will only take effect upon closing the transaction, which is expected in the second half of 2026, subject to regulatory approvals, including clearance under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Act and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.　　Why the Consent Matters　　The 8.750% senior secured notes, initially issued in February 2025, are high-yield debt instruments backed by collateral, making them less risky than unsecured bonds but still reflecting the elevated borrowing costs of a

05-16Industry

Microsoft Hit by $3.2 Billion Sell-Off From Bill Gates Foundation

Microsoft (MSFT) Stock Performance.　　However, the sale is liquidity-driven, not a bearish call on Microsoft. The foundation has publicly committed to lifting annual grantmaking to $9 billion by 2026.　　Bill Gates announced a plan to wind down the entire endowment by 2045. Selling concentrated MSFT stock is the most direct route to that cash schedule.　　Microsoft has anchored the Trusts portfolio for decades because Gates donated billions in personal shares. The position grew so large that any drawdown plan starts with trimming MSFT first.　　“The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation did not purchase its Microsoft shares on the open market. The entire position was built through direct donations of Microsoft stock from Bill Gates‘ personal wealth over many years. As a foundation, they do pay a small tax, but it’s not the standard capital gains tax. The sale of their Microsoft shares is subject to a federal excise tax of 1.39% on the net capital gains,” one user noted.　　Ackman Steps In, Sellers Still Win the Tape　　Investor Bill Ackman used the same days filings to disclose a new 5.65 million share Microsoft stake. Pershing Square Capital Management values the position at nearly $2.3 billion.　　“In our 13F which we will file later today, we will disclose

05-16Industry

Billionaire Druckenmiller Exits Alphabet (GOOGL), Slashes Amazon (AMZN) in Q1 2026

Alphabet Inc., GOOGL　　Stanley Druckenmillers Duquesne Family Office led the exits. The investment firm completely liquidated its 385,000-share Alphabet Class A holding throughout the first quarter. This position had been substantially expanded during Q4 2025, when Duquesne boosted it from 102,000 shares. The firm has not issued public statements explaining the rationale behind this complete withdrawal.　　Alphabet finished Friday‘s trading session at $396.78, gaining 1% for the day. Year-to-date, the stock has climbed 27% in 2026. Notably, during the January through March period, shares declined 8%, indicating Druckenmiller’s exit occurred while the stock was underperforming.　　Duquesne Establishes Broadcom Position, Nearly Eliminates Amazon　　While divesting from Alphabet, Duquesne remained aggressive in other sectors. The fund launched a new Broadcom position comprising 195,955 shares. Additionally, it established a significant stake in Caris Life Sciences totaling 1.89 million shares and acquired 315,860 shares of Revolution Medicines.　　The fund executed substantial reductions elsewhere in its portfolio. Its Amazon holdings were slashed dramatically, declining from 737,940 shares to merely 9,539 shares. Teva Pharmaceuticals was reduced from 5.87 million shares to 2.37 million, while Coupang saw its stake drop from 6.77 million shares to 2.67 million.　　Duquesne completely exited several positions during the quarter, including State Street Financial Select Sector SPDR, Cogent

05-16Industry

Powell Fed Bitcoin outlook after Powell’s term ends

Jerome Powells second term as Fed chair ended on May 15, 2026, and that immediately sharpened the Powell Fed Bitcoin outlook as traders weighed what a leadership handoff could mean for rates, liquidity, and risk assets. Powell is not leaving the Federal Reserve entirely, however. He will stay on in a temporary capacity until Kevin Warsh is sworn in, and he will continue serving on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors until January 2028.　　That unusual in-between period matters because markets dislike uncertainty almost as much as they dislike inflation surprises. Powells final stretch as chair came under political pressure from President Donald Trump, who criticized him for being too slow to cut interest rates. Powell, meanwhile, kept to a data-driven approach that repeatedly moved equities, the U.S. dollar index, and crypto.　　Now the focus shifts to what changes, if anything, under Warsh. For Bitcoin and broader crypto markets, the key question is whether the next phase of U.S. monetary policy brings relief or more turbulence.　　Powells Fed chair term ends, but the transition is not over　　The formal date is clear: Powells second four-year term as Fed chair ended on May 15, 2026. Still, the transition itself is not finished.　　For now, Powell remains

05-16Industry

Atlassian (TEAM) Surges 8% on Renewed Enterprise AI Momentum

Atlassian Corporation, TEAM　　The summit delivered fewer tangible agreements than investors anticipated. However, the overall atmosphere evolved from adversarial to moderately positive — and for an industry as internationally integrated as enterprise software, that shift proved sufficient.　　The S&P 500 achieved a milestone, surpassing 7,500 during the same trading session. Technology stocks experienced broad-based buying interest.　　This upward movement wasnt isolated. Two distinct developments from the broader enterprise software landscape reinforced the positive sentiment.　　Figma disclosed 46% revenue expansion, demonstrating genuine progress in early AI monetisation efforts. ServiceNow unveiled a multiyear artificial intelligence collaboration with Experian. Both announcements conveyed a consistent message: enterprise software providers are successfully integrating AI capabilities into their offerings and generating revenue from these features.　　This storyline holds significance for Atlassian. Earlier this year, apprehension that artificial intelligence would destabilize rather than strengthen enterprise software platforms had pressured the sector. These recent developments helped diminish those worries.　　Analyst Perspectives　　Truist Securities maintained its Buy stance and $100 price objective on TEAM, referencing the companys artificial intelligence roadmap unveiled at its Team 26 conference.　　The firm emphasized how Atlassian intends to generate revenue from AI through its Rovo credit framework, which encompasses both internal platform usage and external consumption. Truist views Atlassian as strategically positioned

05-16Industry

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