Author: NBTC

With Q1 2026 coming to a close this week, $XRP is set to record its worst first-quarter performance since 2018 after posting a double-digit loss. Although $XRP achieved a major regulatory milestone earlier this year, the asset has still struggled to maintain upward momentum. After briefly climbing above $2 in January, $XRP steadily declined throughout the quarter as institutional demand cooled and macroeconomic pressures weighed on the crypto market. Key Points $XRP is about to record its worst Q1 performance since 2018, with the asset already down 26.5% with just a few hours to close the quarter. Despite starting the…

South Korea-based cryptocurrency exchanges Upbit and Bithumb have announced they will provide trading support for the new digital asset Fluent (BLEND). According to the announcements, BLEND will be listed in Korean won (KRW), Bitcoin (BTC), and Tether (USDT) pairs. Trading is planned to begin on April 29, 2026, while deposit and withdrawal operations will be activated shortly after the announcement. It was emphasized that the BLEND token will only be supported on the Ethereum network, and transfers from other networks will not be accepted. Exchanges also warned users to carefully check network information before making transactions. In order to ensure…

The founder of Pantera Capital, Dan Morehead, maintains a strong long-term outlook on Bitcoin despite ongoing volatility. He argues the asset has already reached a structural turning point, even as markets search for a final bottom. Consequently, he frames the current phase as a transition rather than a breakdown. Moreover, he believes crypto continues to present one of the most compelling asymmetric opportunities in modern finance, driven by low institutional exposure and expanding global adoption. Cycles, Volatility, and Market Structure Morehead links the recent 50% Bitcoin decline to historical four-year cycles. He notes these patterns have repeated consistently over the…

Bitcoin captured liquidity above the February monthly range high in April. $ETH ran toward $2,500, failed to close above the same level, and returned to range. That divergence is the most important thing happening on the $ETH chart right now, and it sits underneath a daily setup that has not managed a close above the Bollinger midline since late April. $ETH Daily Chart: Below The Midline, SAR Still Pointing Down $ETH Daily Price Action (Source: TradingView) The Bollinger midline at $2,324 has been in resistance since the late April rejection from $2,408. Price at $2,302 is below it, and the…

Ayear and a half ago, Changpeng Zhao was just getting out of jail. After a sweeping investigation into Binance, the cryptocurrency exchange he founded in 2017, Zhao (better known by his initials, CZ) pleaded guilty to failing to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program and agreed to pay a $50 million fine (on top of $4.3 billion paid by Binance), resign as CEO and serve four months in a California prison. What a difference 17 months makes. Forbes estimates that CZ is now richer than ever. His net worth has skyrocketed to $110 billion, up $47 billion from last year,…

The research division of RippleX has published a new whitepaper describing the implementation of confidential transfers for multipurpose tokens (MPT) on the $XRP Ledger. The new technology is designed to solve the main problem of public blockchains that prevents mass adoption by large businesses — the lack of financial privacy — while maintaining regulatory control. Inside new Ripple whitepaper: How ZK-proofs bring privacy to XRPL The key innovation of the protocol is the ability to hide account balances and transfer amounts. In the current version of $XRP, anyone can see the balance of any address. The proposed Confidential MPT standard…

In brief The Labor Department launched an AI apprenticeship portal on Wednesday. The site offers AI literacy tools and industry-specific training resources. The move signals a broader federal push to prepare workers for AI adoption. The U.S. Department of Labor on Wednesday announced the launch of a new website aimed at helping workers and employers build artificial intelligence skills and expand AI-focused apprenticeship programs. The website, called the AI in Registered Apprenticeship Innovation Portal, debuted during a National Apprenticeship Week event as a one-stop resource to help organizations build AI literacy and create or update Registered Apprenticeship programs with AI-related…

Gemini has expanded its market tools with bitcoin predictions, giving users new ways to trade price moves without selling their BTC. The exchange says the product is built for speed, clarity, and defined risk. New contracts arrive ahead of Bitcoin 2026 To mark Bitcoin 2026 in Las Vegas, Gemini Predictions launched monthly high/low touch contracts. Traders can choose YES or NO on whether Bitcoin will rise or fall within a set period. Moreover, the platform added 5-minute up/down Bitcoin price contracts. These short duration contracts let users take a directional view with fast settlement windows and a simple structure. According…

On-chain data suggested Bitcoin may be approaching a bottom, with the potential for a rebound building, particularly when viewed through exchange activity and transaction behavior. At the time of writing, Bitcoin [$BTC] traded near $66,000 after declining over the past week, pressured by tightening macroeconomic conditions and persistent geopolitical uncertainty weighing on risk assets. Are speculative traders exiting the market? The Bitcoin Fund Flow Ratio, which tracks network activity relative to exchange flows, indicates that the market is at a decisive point. The metric stood at 0.065 at press time, a level that historically acts as a pivot for price…

Institutional investors are increasing exposure to Ethereum again. Recently, ETF flow data confirmed strong inflows. U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs recorded $101.2 million inflows. This happened on May 1, according to reports. Notably, this marks a strong single-day session. Therefore, it signals renewed institutional confidence in Ethereum. This comes despite ongoing crypto market volatility. Meanwhile, $ETH trades near the $2,300 price level. Many institutions now see this as an accumulation zone. Consequently, buyers are entering at perceived value levels. BlackRock Clients Lead Ethereum Buying The biggest inflow activity came from BlackRock clients. Specifically, its ETHA product saw strong demand. Clients purchased…