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Harvard cuts stake in BlackRock’s BTC ETF as crypto deleverage extends into Q1
Harvard University’s endowment fund decided to reduce its investment in crypto ETFs. The first quarter of 2026 saw some massive slashing. The fund fully exited from its Ether ETF position. However, it also cut its stake in BlackRock’s linked BTC ETF by around 43%. Fresh SEC 13F filings show Harvard Management Company lowered its holdings in iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT). It axed 3,044,612 shares (approx. worth $117 million) of its holding. This comes in when Harvard has already slashed its position by 21% in Q4 of 2025. Harvard exits BlackRock ETH ETF The global crypto market has seen a dip over the last week. Its cumulative cap hovers around $2.6 trillion. Bitcoin price has dropped by more than 3% in the past 7 days. Ether price slumped by almost 6% in the same period. Data shows that Harvard completely exited its position in BlackRock’s Ether ETF. It eliminated exposure of about $86.8 million. This signals how some institutional investors are continuing to reassess their allocations in the market. A 13F filing only shows that positions held on the final day of the quarter, but it does not reveal when trades actually occurred. This suggests that Harvard could have sold its position over several weeks or in a single transaction closer to quarter-end. Spot Ether ETFs reportedly recorded more than $255 million in weekly net outflows. Ethereum has also continued to underperform Bitcoin on a relative basis. BTC price surged by more than 3% over the last 30 days. On the other hand, ETH price dipped by 7% in the same period. Bitcoin is trading at $78,378 at the press time. Ether slipped below the $2,200 mark. Harvard sells, Mubadala buys Bitcoin ETF saw a constant demand despite some outflow periods. IBIT still remains the largest spot BTC ETF by assets under management. Last week saw $1 billion flowing out of the Bitcoin ETFs. While Harvard was reducing positions, other major institutions moved in the opposite direction. Abu Dhabi sovereign wealth fund Mubadala Investment Company increased its IBIT holdings. The fund boosted its position to hit over 14,721,917 shares (approx worth around $566 million). It went up from about 12.7 million shares reported at the end of 2025. Harvard’s endowment manages nearly $57 billion in assets. However, it has come under leadership transition discussions. N.P. Narvekar, the CEO of Harvard Management Company, has reportedly discussed plans to retire later in 2027. The next round of SEC filings is due in August. That will likely provide a clearer picture of whether the Q1 sell-off represented a temporary rebalance or there is something else going on. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .

2026-05-17 15:41
Strategy accelerates Bitcoin accumulation as STRC inflows hit $2B weekly high
Strategy generated over $2 billion this past week alone through its ongoing STRC preferred stock offering. Data from Bitcoin Treasuries shows significant capital flowing into Strategy’s STRC from May 11 to May 14. Their tracking shows the company pulled in the equivalent of 2,543 BTC on May 11, 2,982 BTC on May 12, and 5,164 BTC on May 13. Capital accumulation also maximized on May 14, with daily STRC ATM inflows spiking to an estimated 14,439 BTC. This activity alone generated $1.17 billion in net proceeds and pushed daily trading volume past $1.54 billion. Recent reports indicate weekly STRC-related inflows crossed the $2 billion mark as the company revived one of its largest financing mechanisms for Bitcoin purchases. Analysts say the capital raise could pave the way for another major BTC acquisition , following Strategy’s completion of several multibillion-dollar Bitcoin buys earlier this year. Will Strategy use STRC proceeds to buy more Bitcoin? Overall, in just four trading days, Strategy secured about $2.03 billion in fresh capital from the STRC ATM program, which could translate into purchases exceeding 25,000 BTC. The strong market response has further lifted STRC’s market capitalization to $8.5 billion, putting it in the top spot among tradeable preferred stocks worldwide. Executive Chairman Michael Saylor once defined preferred shares as a “digital credit instrument,” structured to capture yield-seeking capital to finance the company’s continuous Bitcoin acquisition strategy. At the moment, the preferred shares are steadily marching toward a $100 price tag. Last week, STRC maintained a steady trading range, ending at $100 on May 11 and May 13. It had climbed to about $100.01 on May 12, but on May 14 it dropped to $99.99 and then to $99.24 on May 15. The asset’s annual yield still sits at 11.5%, even as yields across the market soften. The company’s management is considering moving from a monthly to a semi-monthly dividend payout. Right now, the annual dividend bill is around $1.5 billion and keeps rising with each stock issuance. Some analysts warn that the model introduces rising financial obligations. Strategy’s growing stack of preferred securities could pressure the company to eventually monetize portions of its Bitcoin holdings if dividend costs rise faster than incoming capital. During recent earnings discussions, company executives acknowledged Bitcoin sales could occur if needed to support dividend payments, signaling a shift from the company’s long-standing “never sell” narrative. Overall, STRC’s performance over the last week suggests possible BTC accumulation. However, more recently, Polymarket traders have sharply pushed the likelihood of a Strategy Inc. Bitcoin liquidation to 86% before 2026 concludes. Odds spiked from the 30% range after Saylor opened the door to selective sales during the Q1 earnings call. The market flipped after the executive stated on May 5 that selling one Bitcoin would fund the purchase of 10 to 20 more, a massive retreat from the company’s old “never sell” rule. Nonetheless, Strategy just purchased roughly $43 million worth of BTC on May 11. Strategy will repurchase about $1.5 billion of its convertible senior notes due 2029 Meanwhile, as previously reported by Cryptopolitan, Strategy has agreed to privately repurchase approximately $1.5 billion of its 0% convertible senior notes due 2029. The company is expected to spend approximately $1.38 billion in cash. Once the transaction is finalized, Strategy will retire the bought-back debt and simultaneously cut the associated debt line by 50%. However, the payout structure partially relies on the daily volume-weighted average price of MSTR Class A equity over a specified measurement window. As a result, the nominal $1.38 billion amount is variable and could be adjusted to reflect the stock’s market performance during the window. To finance the payments, the company said it could rely on cash reserves, funds raised through the at-the-market program, proceeds from securities sales, or Bitcoin liquidation. Subject to standard closing conditions, the deal is expected to close on May 19. Strategy will retire the bought-back notes afterward, while approximately $1.5 billion of the 2029 convertible notes will remain in circulation. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .

2026-05-17 07:08
Trump deepens crypto exposure with Coinbase and Strategy investments
U.S. President Donald Trump and his family have further expanded their indirect exposure to the cryptocurrency sector. New financial disclosures reveal increased investments tied to major crypto-linked equities, including Coinbase Global and Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy). These shares were acquired in the first quarter of 2026, according to a financial disclosure submitted to the US Office of Government Ethics (OGE). The OGE Form 278-T was released to the public this week. It revealed thousands of stock trades made in the names of Trump and his family so far this year. This filing covers the collective assets and investments of the President, First Lady Melania Trump, and their dependent children. The relevant authorities conducting the investigation found that the president’s children control the family’s assets. Trump family’s major investments in key crypto firms hit the headlines The OGE document outlined nine purchases of Coinbase Global Inc. Class A Common Stock. On February 10, 2026, the biggest single transaction on Coinbase occurred. This purchase was valued between $100,001 and $250,000. Trump’s family also made smaller Coinbase share purchases throughout the quarter. Apart from Coinbase, they also allocated significant funds to MARA Holdings . MARA is one of the largest publicly traded Bitcoin miners. It is also a major corporate holder of Bitcoin. The MARA purchases were minor, similar to Coinbase’s. They consistently ranged from $15,001 to $50,000. The March 20, 2026, 113-page filing lists one transaction on page 35. In the first quarter, MARA reported $1.26 billion in net loss. Analysts claimed that the company intends to redirect its strategic focus to AI and data center infrastructure. In the meantime, the OGE Form 278-T illustrated eight transactions involving the buying and selling activities in Strategy. The most significant purchase was executed on February 12. Its value fell within the $50,001 to $100,000 range. The largest sale occurred on January 12, ranging from $15,001 and $50,000. Strategy is the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin worldwide. The company has more than 818,000 BTC on its balance sheet. All eight transactions were related to Strategy’s Class A Common Stock. With significant investments in crypto firms, Trump’s family generated more than $1 billion in profits by October 2025. Even so, a representative for the Trump Organization insisted that the trades mentioned in these ethics filings do not involve the president or his family. “President Trump’s investments are managed solely through fully discretionary accounts by independent financial institutions that have complete control over all investment decisions,” the spokesperson contended. “Neither President Trump nor his family nor the Trump Organization is involved in choosing or approving specific investments.” A major issue during the Clarity Act debates has been how to restrict the president’s personal crypto ventures. The Clarity Act is a legislation advanced in May 2026 to create a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets. Nonetheless, although ethical guidelines for the bill have not yet been agreed upon, the Senate Banking Committee passed it on Thursday, May 14, 2026, by a 15-9 vote. Crypto companies adopt a new strategy in their operations While investigations into Trump’s involvement in the crypto industry intensify, Cantor Fitzgerald identifies prediction markets as a high-growth ‘secret weapon’ for Coinbase and Robinhood. Cantor Fitzgerald is a leading global financial services firm and investment bank. This finding indicates that investors are ignoring weak Q1 crypto trading and focusing instead on future product launches. One analyst from Cantor Fitzgerald stated that, “investors are increasingly viewing the quarterly results as outdated, with more attention now on future demand trends and the product roadmap.” This includes new offerings such as prediction markets. Both firms are expected to report poor results for Q1 of this year amid declines in cryptocurrency prices and a drop in trading activity. Bitcoin and Ether (ETH) prices dropped by approximately 23% and 29% this quarter, driving down exchange volumes . A third-party data also noted a deceleration in trading activity over the quarter. Coinbase’s volumes fell to $54 billion in March from around $66 billion in January. Cantor forecasted that Coinbase trading volumes will be $35 billion for retail and $167 billion for consumers and institutions. This prediction fails to meet consensus expectations on Wall Street. However, Cantor Fitzgerald analyst Ramsey El-Assal maintained his “overweight” rating and bumped his price target to $250. He cited positive market sentiment and strong, long-term growth drivers. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .

2026-05-17 03:46
Italy’s largest bank loads up on Bitcoin ETFs as crypto exposure tops $200M
Italy’s biggest bank, Intesa Sanpaolo, has sharply increased exposure to Bitcoin-linked investment products, with its total crypto-related holdings exceeding $200 million as of the first quarter of 2026. New filings show the bank also made major bets on a few U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs and on its options position tied to BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust. The move signals increasing trust from traditional banks in a regulated set of crypto investment products, even while digital asset markets have been volatile. The most recent 13F filings prepared in the U.S. indicate that Intesa Sanpaolo increased its stake in the ARK Invest and 21Shares Bitcoin ETF to roughly $81.17 million, up from $72.6 million in the previous quarter. So did its shares in BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF now hit $24.85 million from $23.44 million. The bank also held smaller positions in products linked to Grayscale Investments and Bitwise Asset Management. Its direct investments in spot Bitcoin ETFs and trust products totaled approximately $106.1 million by the end of March, compared to about $96.1 million in the previous quarter. The largest gain was on a large call-option position linked to BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF, commonly known as IBIT. This position had an estimated value of around $95.9 million, the filing showed. At the close of the quarter, Intesa Sanpaolo’s total Bitcoin-linked exposure amounted to approximately $202 million, including its call-option and ETF positions. The filing is notable because it underscores that big banks are using regulated financial products to gain crypto exposure rather than holding significant amounts of crypto. Bank expands into XRP and Ethereum products During the quarter, Bitcoin was not the only crypto investment added. Intesa Sanpaolo also announced a $3.15 million allocation to BlackRock’s iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF , which tracks the price of Ether while reflecting staking rewards generated by some of the fund’s assets. The bank disclosed more news, posting another $18.53 million position in the Grayscale XRP Trust ETF , giving it exposure to XRP via a strictly regulated investment vehicle (as opposed to directly holding cryptocurrencies). In the off-blockchain money market, Intesa Sanpaolo also invested in multiple companies in the digital asset space. These were some $2.33 million in Circle Internet Group, $1.83 million in Coinbase , and $1.36 million in BitGo. Meanwhile, the bank’s exposure to Solana-related products was already sharply discounted. Its position in the Bitwise Solana Staking ETF fell from $4.36 million at the end of 2025 to just over $31,000 by March 31. That pivot reflects the bank’s tightening of its crypto strategy and its more selective approach, including a greater appetite for Bitcoin and some large-cap assets like XRP, as well as a focus on lower-risk asset classes, such as the more volatile altcoins. What does this mean for traditional banks and crypto markets? Big investors continue to flock into the market via regulated investment products. Mubadala Investment Company had more than $565 million in BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF, according to another recent filing. The latest filing by Intesa Sanpaolo adds new context to existing crypto exposure. According to the bank’s official website, it finalized and held a proprietary purchase of over €1 million of Bitcoin in January 2025 and held approximately 11 BTC for an interim period. However, at the time, this investment was regarded as a test run of direct crypto exposure by Italy’s top banking group. Now the approach has matured beyond the plan. Instead of owning Bitcoin primarily outright, the bank is generating exposure via ETFs, trust products, and options tied to regulated markets. While it exceeds $200 million in aggregate crypto-linked activity, it is small — at least compared to the bank’s overall size. Intesa Sanpaolo had €2.8bn in first-quarter net profit and managed more than €1.4 trillion in customer financial assets by the end of March. Nevertheless, the latest filing reveals that crypto investments are no longer treated as small experiments at many of the biggest financial institutions, the papers said. The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them .

2026-05-17 02:59
WhiteBIT price prediction 2026-2032: Can WBT coin sustain growth?
Crypto exchange tokens historically act as leveraged proxies for platform growth. When exchanges expand their user base, trading volume, product offerings, and geographical reach, native tokens often capture part of that upside. WBT is the native coin of the WhiteBIT exchange and is used across the WhiteBIT broader ecosystem. Hold the coin for discounted trading fees, free withdrawals on the Ethereum network, and access to the exchange’s new token launchpad, among other perks. The coin also serves as Whitechain’s native currency, used to pay blockchain fees. In this article, we’ll analyze WhiteBIT price prediction for 2026-2032. Our analysis also helps determine whether WBT coin follows the trajectory of leading exchange tokens, or whether its valuation depends heavily on exchange-specific performance. What is the WhiteBIT coin (WBT)? WhiteBIT coin, abbreviated WBT, was launched in August 2022 in an Initial Exchange Offering (IEO). The IEO was conducted as part of the launch of WhiteBIT’s native coin. The operation raised $88.48 million across multiple rounds. The coin’s initial listing price was $1.90. As of May 2026, WBT had a circulating supply of ~213 million coins and a market capitalization of over $12 billion, ranking among the top 15 crypto assets. WhiteBIT is a cryptocurrency exchange with over 900 trading pairs and 350 assets. The exchange entails more than crypto spot and margin trading. Other services are WhiteBIT Earn and Crypto Borrow. Their product ecosystem is constantly expanding, increasing the utility of the WBT coin. Core use cases of the WBT coin within the WhiteBIT ecosystem include: Trading fee discounts Perks such as free ERC20 withdrawals Launchpad access Ecosystem participation Increased referral rate WBT tokenomics and supply structure WBT has a total supply of 400,000,000 coins on the Whitechain, Ethereum, and Tron networks. At launch, 54 million coins were sold in a private sale at $1.62 per coin. The coins were vested over eight months with scheduled releases in the last five months. Another 1 million coins were distributed to users via the WhiteBit launchpad during an IEO. Another 25 million coins were burned, permanently removing them from circulation. 200 million coins were vested over 3 years with gradual unlocks to support ecosystem activity. The remaining 120 million coins were available at launch for operational activities, including development, insurance, security fund, liquidity provision, and crypto lending. WBT token burn Following the launch of the Whitechain network, WBT was burned in its respective networks (Ethereum and Tron), and an equivalent number of coins were issued on Whitechain’s genesis block. WhiteBIT then introduced a burn mechanism , committed to removing half of the total supply, i.e., 200 million WBT coins from circulation through weekly buy-backs. 33% of trading fees and 5% of other income-generating activity would be used for the buy-backs. So far, the program has removed over 20 million WBT coins from circulation. The whitepaper and WBT’s tokenomics do not allow the issuance of new coins. Looking back, 81.5 million coins were unlocked on March 13, 2026. The coins account for about 28% of the total supply, approximately $4 billion in value. The unlock had little impact on price. WBT is listed on multiple exchanges, including WhiteBIT, Bitfinex, HTX, and MEXC. Historical price performance 2022-2023: Bear market and reset WhiteBIT launched its native coin, WBT, in 2022 amid a broader market downturn following the reversal of the 2021 bull run. Early market momentum saw WBT rise from its listing price at $5.52 to a peak of $14.41 in October. Terra LUNA, Celsius, and FTX exchange failures shook investor confidence in the last quarter of 2022. Negative market sentiment triggered a reversal, and on February 13, 2023, WBT hit its all-time low at $3.06. WBT spent most of 2023 grinding between $3 and $6. 2024-2025: Recovery and institutional interest 2024 was an optimistic year for the crypto industry, driven by the historic Bitcoin halving and ETF approvals that drew institutional interest. In 2024, WBT climbed steadily, closing the year at around $25, roughly 4x its start-of-year price. By June 2025, WBT had risen to $48. In June, the WhiteBIT exchange became an official sleeve partner of the Juventus Football Club for three seasons. On December 10, 2025, it reached an all-time high of $64.11. At about the same time, WBT was officially included in five S&P Dow Jones crypto indices, a signal of the industry’s maturity. WhiteBIT officially launched its U.S. platforms as an independent, fully regulated entity. WhiteBIT, Juventus official crypto exchange partner 2026: Market correction In 2026, we see a market with less speculative hype, focusing more on utility, compliance, and integration with traditional finance. Exchange tokens are generally bearish. WBT corrected from the 2025 peak and trades at about $60. Key factors that could influence the WBT price Exchange growth and trending volume WBT’s value is influenced by its tokenomics, and the exchange has also made strategic bets that directly affect its visibility and credibility. WhiteBIT is the largest European crypto exchange by traffic. It is part of the WhiteBIT group, which serves over 35 million users worldwide and directly affects demand for WBT. The exchange’s growth is a major catalyst for its performance to a new price record. Notable recent events on WhiteBIT include: Juventus partnership Saudi Arabia partnership US launch (Coming soon) Entry into Latam with Argentina and Brazil registrations S&P crypto indices inclusion Under the Saudi partnership, WhiteBIT signed a strategic agreement with Durrah AlFodah Holding, represented by His Highness Prince Naif Bin Abdullah Bin Saud Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to advance the kingdom’s data infrastructure and blockchain operations, and CBDC framework development. Durrah AlFodah Holding would facilitate WhiteBIT’s entry into Saudi Arabia, while WhiteBIT would provide technological expertise and infrastructure design. WhiteBIT is actively expanding its product offerings. Recently, they launched WB Checks , a tool for instant, secure, fee-free crypto transfers between users without an account. The tool simplifies crypto transactions by bypassing standard transfer limitations. Coin utility expansion WBT coin is extensively used in WhiteBIT’s growing product offerings. New utilities create additional demand. Here is an example. Soul Drop is a reward distribution marketing activity for users with WB Soul, a Web3 identity on the Whitechain network. Users hold WBT for rewards in WBT. Growing utility for the WBT coin increases demand, and with a new US market anticipated, we can expect positive price action. Market cycles An analysis of crypto market cycles shows price trends tend to mimic Bitcoin to a certain degree. In the last quarter of 2025 (Q4), Bitcoin (BTC) and several other digital assets, including WBT and BNB, registered significant all-time highs. The same can be said of previous Bitcoin halvings, which are typically associated with positive market sentiment. The chart shows how top exchange-based tokens have changed value over time, highlighting their performance across different market cycles. Note how their performance is correlated. Top exchange-based tokens coins performance chart by CoinGecko Regulatory environment Cryptocurrency exchanges operate in a legal grey area across many jurisdictions. The problem arises from the lack of proper laws or licenses for crypto activities, including payments and trading. Restrictions for crypto products also vary across regions where they are regulated, making compliance difficult. Exchange tokens are directly exposed to regulatory tariffs. As WhiteBIT operations expand into new markets, new restrictions or licensing requirements can affect market sentiment, potentially affecting WBT. Competitive landscape The cryptocurrency exchange landscape is highly competitive, forcing exchanges to pivot to remain unique. Exchanges are now adopting automation and artificial intelligence technology to offer users a more fulfilling experience. The performance of exchange-based tokens can be correlated with that of the exchanges. Binance coin, for instance, tops the list of exchange tokens by market capitalization, with WBT coming in second place. Similar comparisons can be drawn for trading volumes or registered users, showing stiff competition across exchanges. WBT’s market share has steadily grown since January, from 2.50% to 9.25% in May, reflecting strong adoption momentum. Top exchange-based tokens coins dominance chart by CoinGecko WBT price analysis: Overview Cryptocurrency WhiteBIT Ticker Symbol WBT Current WhiteBIT coin price $57.60 Price change 24H -1.56% Market cap $12.26B Circulating supply 212M Trading volume 24h $39M All-time high $64.11 on Dec 10, 2025 All-time low $3.06 on Feb 13, 2023 WBT price prediction: Technical analysis Metric Value Fear & Greed Index 31 (Fear) Market Sentiment Bearish Volatility 3.81% (Medium) Green Days 18/30 (60%) 50-Day SMA $55.10 200-Day SMA $54.75 14-Day RSI 60.06 WBT/USD 1-day chart analysis WBTUSD chart by TradingView WBT on the daily chart shows a recovery this month after bouncing off support at $50.40. Since then, the price has gradually risen, forming a sequence of higher highs and higher lows. The rise, however, is yet to recover to previous highs. WBT is currently trading around $57.60, after facing short-term resistance at $60. The market structure and MACD suggest rising selling pressure as the price continues to drop from the top of the range. If support fails, the price could decline toward $53.51. However, a sustained rebound above $55.00 could trigger a short-term bull run above the $60.00 resistance zone. WBT price analysis 4-hour chart analysis WBTUSD chart by TradingView WBT on the 4-hour chart shows a continued decline following its rejection at $60.00, after a prolonged bullish trend. Price action has been falling as shown by the William Alligator moving averages. WBT is currently trading around $57.60 and moving along key moving averages. If the buying momentum rises, a recovery toward the $58.50–$62.20 region could occur. However, failure to hold support may trigger a bear run. WBT technical indicators: Levels and action Daily Simple Moving Average (SMA) Period Value ($) Action SMA 3 58.91 SELL SMA 5 59.47 SELL SMA 10 59.42 SELL SMA 21 57.81 SELL SMA 50 55.10 BUY SMA 100 53.85 BUY SMA 200 54.75 BUY Daily Exponential Moving Average (EMA) Period Value ($) Action EMA 3 59.17 SELL EMA 5 59.22 SELL EMA 10 59.04 SELL EMA 21 58.05 SELL EMA 50 56.24 BUY EMA 100 54.94 BUY EMA 200 52.63 BUY What to expect from the WhiteBIT price analysis next? WhiteBIT Coin is down over the last 24 hours, in line with the broader market correction during that period. WBT slightly underperformed the broader market while showing strong correlation with Bitcoin, which fell 1.38%. Zoomed out, WBT is pushing higher after bouncing off support levels at $50.40. “With waning buying volume and cautious sentiment, traders are leaning risk‑averse, pulling WBT back from the $60.00 resistance zone. Recent news on WhiteBIT WhiteBIT is among 11 Virtual Asset Service Providers (VASPs) admitted by the Securities and Exchange Commission of Ghana into its regulatory sandbox. WhiteBIT has extended its partnership agreement with FC Barcelona for a further five years, until 2030. WBT price prediction 2026–2032 WhiteBIT coin price predictions depend on multiple macro and exchange-specific variables. In this section, we are going to explore bearish, base, and bullish case scenarios of WBT coin for the period 2026-2032. WhiteBIT price prediction 2026 The year 2026 is expected to see bullish momentum if Bitcoin holds $100K as strong support. According to the WBT price movements, the maximum price is expected to be between $70 and $90. The key driver of this bullish scenario is WhiteBIT’s rapid expansion of its exchange, which is boosting adoption. On the other hand, the minimum price of WBT might range from $30 to $40 if geopolitical tensions between Iran and the US rise. The March token unlock had little impact on prices. However, we expect a base price range of $40-$60 as geopolitical tensions subside in the coming months. WBT price prediction 2027 The WhiteBIT key price levels may climb even higher in 2027. According to our prediction, bullish developments such as WhiteBIT’s entry into the US and EU markets will push the WBT price toward $150-$180. However, new market regulations might trigger a bearish scenario for WBT, with a price range of around $70-$100. WBT may consolidate as new events roll out in 2027, with a predicted base price range of around $110-$140. WBT price prediction 2028 According to our WhiteBIT coin forecast, the maximum price of WBT will range from $300 to $380.The increased coin burn should induce deflationary pressure and directly affect the WBT price in a bullish way. On the other hand, the minimum price of WBT is expected to range from $160 to $220. We predict the WBT price will consolidate between $240 and $280 in 2028. WhiteBIT (WBT) price prediction 2029 According to WhiteBIT’s 2029 price forecast, the price will range from $460 to $550. The minimum price is expected to range from $290 to $320, while the average price might hover between $320 and $400. WBT prediction 2030 In a bullish case, the WhiteBIT coin price forecast for 2030 indicates a maximum price range of $600-$750. On the other hand, the minimum price is expected to range from $400 to $460. The average price is expected to range from $490 to $550. WhiteBIT price prediction 2031 If buying demand continues to rise, WBT will trade higher in 2031. The maximum price is expected to range from $800 to $1,100. The average price range for the year will be around $650-$750. If sellers take control, the minimum price of WBT coin will hover around $510-$590. WhiteBIT price prediction 2032 The year 2032 will be marked by significant volatility. According to Cryptopolitan’s WhiteBIT coin WBT price prediction, the maximum price will range from $1,230 to $1,480. However, a rejection on the price chart could push WBT toward the $860- $950 zone. The average price of WhiteBIT coin is expected to range from $1,080 to $1,150. Is WBT a good investment? Evaluating WBT as an investment requires weighing both its strengths and risks. On the positive side, WBT has deflationary tokenomics that should halve the total supply. WBT is not a standalone coin; its affiliation with the WhiteBIT exchange means it stands to gain as the exchange’s product offerings and regional expansion continue to grow. However, risks remain. Centralization risk means WBT’s fortunes are closely tied to a single exchange, creating dependency. The regulatory landscape is also uncertain in many jurisdictions, and the geopolitical landscape continues to shift unpredictably, adding further volatility. Ultimately, WBT may appeal to investors seeking exchange-linked exposure, but it requires careful consideration of risk tolerance. Crypto investments are high risk; therefore, careful consideration of your risk tolerance is important. Risks to consider Exchange tokens are correlated to business health. Here are some key factors to consider when investing in an exchange-linked coin like WBT. Exchange security risks In 2025, cryptocurrency exchanges accounted for the largest loss following a crypto hack. Bybit, the crypto exchange, alone lost $1.5 billion. WhiteBIT maintains a zero hack history. Other risks include centralized risks like mismanagement and money laundering. Token unlock pressure Token unlock pressure increases the token supply in the market, which, on paper, would sustain selling pressure. In the case of WBT, previous unlocks have had little impact on its price. Market-wide downturns Historically, crypto markets have correlated with Bitcoin, resulting in crypto-wide market cycles. Bullish and bearish market cycles often define the trend of most cryptocurrencies, including exchange-linked ones. Liquidity concentration Liquidity concentration within a few parties risks systemic vulnerability, amplifying market manipulation and destabilizing price discovery. Concentration risks high volatility if large holders, or whales, choose to liquidate their holdings. Conclusion WBT’s future price depends primarily on WhiteBIT’s long-term growth trajectory and its ability to sustain token utility within a competitive exchange landscape. Exchange tokens can outperform in bull markets – but they carry exchange-specific risk that broader crypto assets may not. The WhiteBIT (WBT) price prediction will rely heavily on market trends, the geopolitical landscape, and regulatory developments. Investor sentiment and institutional participation will further shape its trajectory. All factors constant, WBT will maintain a bullish outlook.

2026-05-17 01:18
Dunamu Q1 profit drops 78% but $669M Hana Financial deal proceeds anyway
Dunamu recently disclosed a 78% year-on-year decline in operating profit for the first quarter of 2026. The company recorded 88 billion won ($60 million) due to reduced trading volumes affecting fee revenue. Even with the drop in revenue, Hana Financial Group confirmed a 1 trillion won ($669 million) acquisition of a 6.55% stake in Dunamu, the operator of South Korea’s largest crypto exchange, Upbit. Why is Dunamu’s profit down in Q1 2026? Dunamu recently revealed that it had a consolidated revenue of 234.6 billion won ($156 million) for Q1, down 55% from 516.2 billion won ($345 million) a year earlier. The company’s net profit fell by the same 78% margin to 69.5 billion won ($46 million), down from 320.5 billion won ($214 million) in Q1 2025. So far, the decline has been attributed to a “decrease in virtual asset market trading volume.” About 97% of Dunamu’s revenue is derived from transaction fees, making any reduction in trading activity an issue for the company. Customers are also depositing less money. Dunamu held approximately 5.199 trillion won ($3.4 billion) in client funds at the end of Q1, an 11% decline from December 2025. The South Korean market is migrating from digital assets to local stocks, especially those linked with the AI boom. This trend can be observed in the KOSPI 200 index, which has surged over 200% in the last year. At the close of 2025, Dunamu reported 13.17 trillion won ($8.81 billion) in total assets and generated 709 billion won in net profit alongside 1.56 trillion won in full-year revenue. Dunamu has been required to file quarterly and annual reports with regulators since 2022, when it crossed the threshold of 500 shareholders per security class. Hana Financial invests in Dunamu despite revenue decline Despite the drop in the exchange’s profits , Hana Bank has confirmed that it will purchase a 6.55% stake from Kakao Investment, making it Dunamu’s fourth-largest shareholder. The partnership involves co-developing digital financial products, including stablecoin initiatives, and extending their existing cooperation beyond providing fiat banking rails for Upbit users. The declining revenue is not the only pressure facing Upbit and other South Korean crypto exchanges. Cryptopolitan has previously reported on regulatory pressure facing Korean exchange operators. South Korean authorities have been pushing platforms to dilute major shareholder concentrations and improve corporate accountability. The Financial Services Commission mandated earlier this year that major exchanges reconcile internal ledgers with actual crypto holdings every five minutes and submit to inspections every six months rather than annually, following operational failures at multiple institutions. The Hana Financial stake acquisition still requires standard regulatory approvals. Separately, Naver Financial disclosed plans in November 2025 to acquire Dunamu as a wholly owned subsidiary through a share swap, though the status of that arrangement alongside the Hana deal remains unclear. Korean regulators are also preparing a 22% crypto gains tax effective January 2027, which could further reduce retail trading volumes that exchanges like Upbit depend on. The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them .

2026-05-16 21:30
Hyperliquid ramps up Washington lobby as Wall Street applies regulatory pressure
Jeff Yan, the cofounder and CEO of Hyperliquid, revealed on May 15 that he and the Hyperliquid Policy Center, the protocol’s independent research and advocacy organization, met with policymakers in Washington as the ClARITY Act advances through Congress. The revelations come the same week CME Group and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) reportedly urged U.S. regulators to increase scrutiny of the decentralized perpetual futures platform. Yan stated that they discussed “Hyperliquid, the benefits that it offers to American consumers, and the regulatory path to bring on-chain derivatives markets into the United States.” In a post on X, Hyperliquid’s Policy Center addressed the Bloomberg report that CME and ICE had raised concerns about market manipulation and sanctions risk on Hyperliquid. “These concerns are unfounded,” Hyperliquid Policy Center wrote, adding that the protocol “offers enhanced market transparency, publishing a complete onchain” record of activity. Wall Street wants CFTC oversight CME Group and ICE , which owns the New York Stock Exchange, want Hyperliquid to register with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). This registration would require the platform to implement customer identity verification and trade surveillance systems. Hyperliquid runs on 31 validators and secures user deposits behind a 3-of-4 multisig bridge, and this gives regulators a clear jurisdictional hook if they choose to act, according to Cryptopolitan. American users still trade on the platform despite its IP restrictions, and this gives the CFTC an opening to argue that the venue touches U.S. markets regardless of geographic blocks. Hyperliquid has processed over $178 billion in perpetual futures volume in the past 30 days, as seen on DefiLlama. It processed over $181 billion and $209 billion in April and March, respectively, and these figures make it difficult for traditional exchanges to ignore. Hyperliquid’s $30 million policy operation The Hyper Foundation launched the Hyperliquid Policy Center in February 2026, committing 1 million HYPE tokens (worth approximately $29 million at the time) to fund the nonprofit. Jake Chervinsky, former Chief Legal Officer at Variant and a senior figure at the Blockchain Association, leads the organization as CEO. Yan wrote on X that the discussions from his meeting with policymakers “included how onchain trading is a financial innovation that has clear global user demand.” He added that “other conversations focused more on a first principles introduction to DeFi and the promise of onchain markets.” Crypto vs. TradFi 2.0 While the confrontation between Hyperliquid and Wall Street incumbents is ongoing, there is another that has been brewing over stablecoin yields in the CLARITY Act, and it is far-reaching. Six banking trade groups sent a joint letter demanding lawmakers strip all stablecoin reward mechanisms from the legislation days before a May 14 markup, per Bloomberg. The American Bankers Association, Bank Policy Institute, and four other groups signed on, targeting Section 404 of the bill. In April, the White House Council of Economic Advisers published an analysis finding that showed that a total ban on stablecoin yield would boost bank lending by just 0.02%, or $2.1 billion, undermining the banking lobby’s deposit flight warnings, according to Cryptopolitan’s reporting. With the recent opposition of Hyperliquid, incumbent financial institutions are back to pushing for regulatory intervention against crypto-native competitors that offer transparency or yield advantages outside traditional rails. The DEX’s response has been to engage directly with the legislative process rather than retreat offshore. The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them .

2026-05-16 21:10
Binance Research: Law enforcement recovered roughly 11% of illicit crypto volume in 2025
Law enforcement and private-sector partners seized roughly 11% of illicit cryptocurrency volume in 2025, a rate 55 times higher than the recovery rate for traditional assets, according to data shared by Binance Research. The research arm of the world’s largest crypto exchange reported that actions by Tether, Interpol, and the T3 Financial Crime Unit directly challenge the argument that crypto is a haven for criminals. Binance Research claims illicit funds are seized 55x more often in crypto than in fiat currency. Source: Binance Research. Binance contributes to the T3 financial crime unit The T3 Financial Crime Unit (T3 FCU), a partnership between Tether, TRON, and blockchain analytics firm TRM Labs, recently announced that it has frozen over $450 million in USDT tied to criminal activity since its September 2024 launch. The frozen funds are from illicit operations like money laundering, North Korea-linked cyber operations, drug trafficking, and violent crimes, including kidnappings. T3 FCU reported that its interceptions in 2025 were 43.9% higher than in 2024. The group has already assisted in several high-profile cases across the globe, like in Spain, where T3 FCU helped the Guardia Civil freeze approximately $26.4 million connected to a European money-laundering network. In Brazil, the unit assisted with “Operation Lusocoin,” a federal investigation that froze 4.3 million USDT as part of a larger seizure of more than 3 billion Brazilian reais (approximately $525 million). In the aftermath of the Bybit hack, the unit identified nearly $9 million in funds traced to the exchange breach. Most recently, Tether froze $344 million USDT on TRON. The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) cited T3 FCU earlier this year as “an invaluable resource for law enforcement agencies worldwide.” Why are Binance’s crypto crime statistics being disputed? The cryptocurrency industry frequently relies on data published by Binance Research , an arm of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by volume. That data is now under direct scrutiny from the firms whose research Binance cited. In November 2025, on the same day the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) published The Coin Laundry, an investigation by more than 100 journalists across 35 countries that found hundreds of millions of dollars in suspect cryptocurrency flowing through Binance accounts, Binance released its own transparency report. Binance claimed its direct exposure to illicit funds had dropped by 96% since early 2023, citing data from Chainalysis and TRM Labs . It also stated that only 0.007% to 0.023% of its transaction volume was directly linked to illicit wallets, and positioned itself as having the lowest crime exposure among its top competitors. Chainalysis publicly distanced itself from Binance’s framing, stating it did not conduct the analysis. The firm also said that Binance did not include all the categories of illicit activity that it tracks. Specifically, Chainalysis said Binance’s numbers omitted funds stolen through hacks and ransomware proceeds. TRM Labs’ head of policy, Ari Redbord, told ICIJ that the statistics Binance attributed to its firm only covered certain categories. The firm also clarified that the comparisons Binance drew to competing exchanges were not part of its analysis. Binance acknowledged the analysis did not include every category of tracked illicit activity, stating that the excluded categories required “different methodologies” and are handled differently across data providers. Binance remains under a three-year compliance monitoring program after its November 2023 guilty plea to U.S. anti-money-laundering and sanctions violations, which carried $4.3 billion in penalties. Cryptopolitan recently reported that the U.S. Treasury pressed Binance to provide records related to that monitorship after reports that over $1 billion in crypto had flowed through the exchange to Iran-linked entities. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .

2026-05-16 17:44
Russia lawmakers push to legalize P2P trade, expand digital asset net to TRX and SOL
Russian authorities may permit the quite popular peer-to-peer trading of cryptocurrencies under the country’s upcoming rules for digital-asset transactions. This is one of several proposals aimed at liberalizing the restrictive draft law currently under review, which also includes expanding the list of greenlighted coins. Russian lawmakers push for liberal crypto regulation Legalizing peer-to-peer (P2P) crypto deals Expanding the list of cryptocurrencies approved for trading Raising the investment limit for ordinary Russians These are the key amendments recently suggested in the State Duma, which is still considering the country’s new law “On Digital Currency and Digital Rights.” The full set of proposed changes has been sent to the Ministry of Finance by the Financial Markets Committee at the lower house of the parliament in Moscow. They were presented by Dmitry Novikov, member of the right-wing nationalist Liberal Democratic Party of Russia (LDPR), the Interfax news agency reported Friday, citing a knowledgeable source. The move comes ahead of the second reading of the bill designed to comprehensively regulate operations with crypto assets in the Russian Federation. The legislation, which overcame its first parliamentary hurdle last month, must be adopted and enforced by July 1, 2026, at the latest. Based on a regulatory concept announced by Russia’s conservative central bank in December, it has attracted criticism for being overly restrictive. Russians may be allowed to swap crypto for cash According to the provisions passed in April, Russian residents will be able to legally purchase cryptocurrencies exclusively through licensed intermediaries. These include exchanges, brokers, and trustees registered with and authorized by the Central Bank of Russia ( CBR ) as providers of crypto-related services. One of the amendments now submitted to the Finance Ministry envisages allowing the trading of digital currency for fiat cash between private citizens. The main motive of its sponsor is: “The current version prohibits payment for goods and services with cryptocurrency, but does not regulate the direct P2P exchange of cryptocurrency for cash between individuals. The amendment legalizes such trades as an exception to the general prohibition.” What’s more, the bulk of cryptocurrency purchases currently made by Russian citizens occur through P2P transactions, highlighted Novikov, also quoted by the crypto news outlet Bits.media. According to an estimate announced by Deputy Minister of Finance Ivan Chebeskov in February, the daily volume of Russian crypto transactions is around 50 billion rubles (over $685 million). The lawmaker also proposes to allow the withdrawal of digital assets to self-custody wallets, which is not permitted by the current version of the legislation. He argued: “Without the ability to withdraw to non-custodial wallets, the owner’s right to dispose of their property is effectively limited.” More cryptocurrencies to be approved for trading The Russian deputy further suggests providing separate definitions for cryptocurrencies and stablecoins, as the collective “digital currency” does not reflect the specifics of each category. Then, he also calls for expanding the list of cryptocurrencies admitted to the regulated Russian market for purely practical reasons. The current strict criteria limit the assets that can be circulated to only a few major coins of the caliber of Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). These are the ones with a market cap exceeding 5 trillion rubles (over $60 billion) for the past two years, daily trading volume averaging over 1 trillion rubles (approx. $12 billion) and trading history of at least five years. Russia’s whitelist should include TRON (TRX) and Solana (SOL), for example, to allow those who buy or transfer stablecoins to be able to pay the fees on the respective network in its native token. While the regulatory framework expands access to crypto assets by including non-qualified investors, it limits their purchases to no more than 300,000 rubles a year (around $4,000). Dmitry Novikov and his colleagues want the threshold raised to 600,000 rubles per month, a significant increase to an annual 7.2 million rubles, or almost $99,000 at the current exchange rate. Their proposals come after Russian bankers pitched their own ideas on how to liberalize the digital currency law, as reported by Cryptopolitan last month, urging similar changes. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .

2026-05-16 15:32

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