Base Launches Azul Multiproofs as $7.5B Options Expiry Pressures Ethereum Near $2K

Ethereum  Base Launches Azul Multiproofs as $7.5B Options Expiry Pressures Ethereum Near $2K  Bitcoin Ethereum News  Ethereum News  Coinbase-incubated layer 2 Base activated its Azul upgrade on mainnet this week, pushing the network closer to full decentralization. The release introduces a multiproof system that pairs trusted execution environment proofs with zero-knowledge proofs, allowing either type to finalize state independently. When both agree, withdrawal finality can compress to a single day. Critically, permissionless ZK proofs can override permissioned TEE proofs if the two diverge — a design intended to harden censorship resistance and move Base toward Stage 2 status. The change marks one of the more meaningful architectural shifts for a major Ethereum scaling network this quarter.  Azul also consolidates Base onto a single execution client called base-reth-node and introduces base-consensus, a fresh consensus mechanism client built on OP Kona. It is the first independent upgrade Base has executed without piggybacking on broader Optimism stack releases. The new client architecture has already cut empty block production by roughly 99%, dropping from around 200 per day to about two, and sustained multiple bursts of 5,000 transactions per second under live conditions. The release additionally enables the CLZ opcode and aligns the chain with Ethereums Osaka execution-layer repricing

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Standard Chartered: Ethereum Metrics Strong, Price Lags

Ethereum  Standard Chartered: Ethereum Metrics Strong, Price Lags  Bitcoin Ethereum News  Standard Chartered says Ethereum‘s network activity remains close to record levels even as Ether (ETH) trades far below last year’s highs, arguing that the gap between usage and price could eventually narrow.  Ethereum‘s internal metrics, including transaction counts and total value locked in ETH terms, remain close to record levels, according to a Thursday report from Standard Chartered’s digital assets research team. ETH has fallen about 57% from its August 2025 peak of above $4,800 to under $2,000 at the time of writing, according to Coingecko data.  StanCharts global head of digital assets research, Geoff Kendrick, reaffirmed its price targets of $4,000 by the end of 2026 and $40,000 by 2030, implying a return of the ETH/BTC ratio to its 2021 highs around 0.08.  The call comes as investors debate whether Ethereums growing dominance in stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets will eventually translate into stronger returns for ETH itself, despite persistent ETF outflows and weak price performance.  Kendrick likened the current disconnect to Amazon during the dot-com bust, arguing that “everything inside the company was going the right way” even as the stock price slumped.  Max Shannon, senior research associate Europe at Bitwise, agreed with Standard Chartered‘s

05-30

Ethereum price today remains at 2,009, bearish outlook

ETH/USDT — daily chart with candles, EMA20/EMA50 and volumes.Market thesis  Main bearish direction on the daily timeframe: price below all key moving averages and momentum still negative.  In addition, the Ethereum price today almost perfectly coincides with the daily pivot (around 2,009), an equilibrium point that often decides the direction of the session.  In parallel, the Fear hourly MACD slightly recovering and neutral RSI indicate attempts to build a short-term base. Nearby resistances 2,012–2,021; above 2,029 the room increases towards 2,040–2,050 and 2,076 (EMA200 1H).15m (operational context): tight micro-range 2,008–2,012, choppy momentum. Risk of false breakouts around the pivot, with 3–5$ spikes in line with the short-term ATR.  Evidence from the main tools (D1 focus)EMA20/50/200: 2,131.69 / 2,193.51 / 2,549.50, with price at 2,009 below all of them. Signal of a well-structured bearish trend; rebounds meet selling on the descending moving averages.RSI 14:31.0. Area of marked weakness, close to oversold conditions; can favor technical relief but is not enough on its own to reverse the trend.MACD: line -65.5 below signal -51.9, histogram -13.6. Active bearish momentum; as long as the negative width of the histogram does not shrink, the pressure remains on the sellers side.Bollinger Bands (20): middle 2,154.19, upper 2,360.18, lower 1,948.20. Price

05-30

Bit Digital Buys $20M Ethereum as Market Fear Deepens

Ethereum  Bit Digital Buys $20M Ethereum as Market Fear Deepens  Bitcoin Ethereum News  Key Insights:Bit Digital bought 8,568 ETH for $20M, raising its holdings to over 158,461 ETH.The firm exited Bitcoin mining and increased focus on Ethereum and WhiteFiber.Ethereum held above $2,000 as trading volume surged by 48% in 24 hours.  Bit Digital expanded its Ethereum holdings despite ongoing weakness across the digital asset market. The Nasdaq-listed firm bought about 8,568 ETH for $20 million on May 11, 2026. The transaction took place as the Ethereum price remained under pressure, with crypto markets still facing high volatility.  The acquisition increased Bit Digital‘s total Ethereum holdings to around 158,461.75 ETH. Based on current market prices, the company’s Ethereum treasury is valued at around $313 million. The move came during a period of market uncertainty. However, Bit Digital continued working on its Ethereum-based treasury strategy.  Bit Digital Expands Ethereum Treasury Holdings  Bit Digital completed the purchase at an average price of $2,334.25 per ETH. The company stated that part of its Ethereum holdings remain directly staked. Another portion is deployed through liquid staking products.  Bit Digital purchases 8,568 ETH for $20M | Source: X  According to the company disclosure, this structure helps uphold operational flexibility. Thus, the latest transaction further increased

05-30

Ethereums Largest Wallets Now Control Over 22% of Supply Amid Fresh Accumulation Wave

Ethereums biggest holders appear increasingly active again.  Ethereum (ETH) briefly plunged below the $2,000 threshold this week for the first time since March 29. While the price has since stabilized and is currently trading near $2,002, it still remains almost 60% below Augusts high of nearly $5,000.  But data suggest that ETHs largest whales are accumulating again  ETH Whales Tighten Grip on Supply  Wallets holding at least 100,000 Ethereum now collectively own 17.41 million ETH, the highest level in nine weeks. These holdings account for 22.03% of Ethereums total supply and mark a 10-week high.  The latest findings come after Santiment reported that the assets fall below $2,000 triggered a wave of “buy the dip” calls from retail traders. According to the analytics firm, crypto markets typically react to sharp declines in two ways: either fear takes over, and traders begin abandoning the asset, or optimism grows as traders view lower prices as a buying opportunity.  The second reaction appeared to be dominating sentiment around ETH despite the recent weakness, which essentially meant that retail traders were increasingly confident that the decline represented a discounted entry point rather than a warning sign of deeper downside.  However, Santiment warned that excessive optimism from the crowd has historically been

05-30

Bank of Italy Engaging With Global AI Firms for Safe AI Integration

Bank of Italy Governor Fabio Panetta announced ongoing talks with global AI firms for safe AI integration.Banks are preparing for safer AI rollout as concerns grow over risks recently tied to Anthropics Mythos model.This collaboration aims to enhance fintech resilience and achieve regulatory alignment across borders.  Bank of Italy Governor Fabio Panetta announced ongoing talks with international artificial intelligence (AI) technology providers, domestic financial and tech stakeholders to prepare for the rollout of new AI models in the financial sector. The initiative focuses on ensuring secure implementation, protection continuity, and governance frameworks for AI systems, including responsibilities for banks and third-party information technology (IT) providers.  Bank of Italy Talking to Global AI Firms for Safer AI Rollout  On May 29, 2026, according to sources, in his annual keynote speech in Rome, Bank of Italy Governor Fabio Panetta stated that the central bank has already begun direct engagements with global AI providers ahead of the release of new AI models to the financial sector. The discussions began in recent days aimed at preparing Italys financial sector for the safe deployment of next-generation AI models.  Furthermore, the engagements include national authorities, financial institutions, and Italys IT service providers to ensure a coordinated approach to AI integration

05-30

Coinbase unlocks global crypto derivatives for U.S. institutions

Coinbase has opened a regulated route for U.S. institutions to trade global crypto derivatives through its futures commission merchant.Coinbase Financial Markets now offers U.S. institutions regulated access to global crypto derivatives, starting with Deribit options.CFTC staff action supports the structure, with certain crypto perpetual contracts treated as foreign futures under specific conditions.Coinbases partnership with Standard Chartered adds fiat funding rails for major currencies, supporting institutional spot, derivatives, and financing strategies.  Coinbase said on May 29 that Coinbase Financial Markets now gives eligible U.S. clients access to crypto derivatives markets, starting with Deribit options. The company described the unit as the first U.S.-regulated futures commission merchant to offer access to global crypto derivatives, including perpetual futures and options.  The launch follows action from Commodity Futures Trading Commission staff involving products listed on Deribit FZE, Coinbases affiliated foreign board of trade. Coinbase said institutional clients can begin onboarding immediately through Coinbase Financial Markets, while retail access is planned for a later stage.  Institutions get regulated access to Deribit options  Coinbase said the first phase will focus on Deribit options, with crypto perpetual futures, more collateral options, and other derivatives products expected later. The company framed the rollout as a way for U.S. institutions to reach markets

05-30

Bitcoin Has Hit A Ceiling, Analyst Says No Buying Until Price Hits This Level

Bitcoin has hit what one analyst describes as a major ceiling after losing the support level that held the market together for months. Following a failed push toward $83,000, the analyst now believes buying Bitcoin at current prices carries more risk than opportunity. Instead, he points to a much lower target, a level where buyers may finally step back into the market with conviction.  Bitcoins Former Support Has Turned Into Resistance  The analysts outlook centers on the collapse of the $80,500 area, a level that previously acted as the backbone of Bitcoins trading range for months. During earlier pullbacks, buyers repeatedly defended that zone and helped stabilize price action, allowing Bitcoin to recover and attempt new highs. That dynamic now appears to have reversed.  After briefly climbing toward $83,000 in May, Bitcoin failed to maintain momentum and quickly lost strength. The rejection created what the analyst described as a bull trap, where buyers entered expecting a breakout only for the market to reverse sharply lower. Since then, the same price region that once attracted demand has started functioning as resistance.  This suggests that buyers who previously defended the area are either exhausted or stepping aside, while sellers are becoming increasingly aggressive on rebounds. According

05-30

Lithium Price Analysis: China Futures Rise Amid Weak Spot Demand

Futures for lithium carbonate closed up for Mysteel, following news of a postponed resumption at its Jianxiawo mine. The update was good for sentiment as market participants considered whether supply recovery could be slower than anticipated.  The market discussion was also opened by Zimbabwes government, which announced that 14 minerals, including lithium, nickel, cobalt, and graphite, are critical. The declaration establishes a compulsory minimum state interest via a special purpose vehicle.  The action comes in the wake of broader resource control activity in the critical minerals sector. The addition of another policy layer over global supply expectations for lithium comes on top of other factors, such as the increasing importance of governments to have tighter control of battery raw materials.  Buyers Stay Selective Before June  Downstream buyers were not in a hurry to build inventories, Mysteel said. Trading volumes were low over the day, but prices were improving during the session. That suggests that its not a matter of aggressive restocking but selection.  Nevertheless, the demand side is not nonexistent. Several LFP cathode plants are still increasing new capacity, suggesting increased production volumes could be seen in June. This may help drive lithium carbonate demand if battery material production is as anticipated.  Chinas push to invest

05-30

Prediction markets draw Wintermute as crypto firms chase liquidity 

Wintermute has entered prediction markets as a liquidity provider, bringing professional market-making capacity to a sector that has grown into a major venue for trading real-world event risk.Wintermute will provide two-sided liquidity across prediction market platforms, helping improve execution depth and bid-ask spreads.Prediction markets surpassed $60 billion in trading volume in 2026, with monthly activity reaching $20-$25 billion.Kalshis rapid growth and recent $22 billion valuation show rising institutional interest, while regulators increase scrutiny of event contracts.  Wintermute said the firm will quote both buy and sell prices across active event contracts on leading prediction market platforms. The company said its role will focus on improving liquidity in markets that have drawn heavy user demand but still face limits around execution depth.  Wintermute targets event-contract liquidity  According to Wintermute, prediction markets now require the same trading infrastructure used across digital asset markets. The firm cited execution, custody, collateral management, and risk controls as areas where its existing crypto systems overlap with event-contract trading.  The company has handled more than $5 trillion in cumulative trading volume across more than 50 digital asset venues. Wintermute said that experience enables it to support two-sided markets where users need tighter pricing and deeper books.  Jake Ostrovskis, Wintermutes head of OTC

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