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Japanese steel giant Nippon Steel has finalized its $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel (NYSE: X), ending an 18-month political and regulatory battle. The deal is a win for President Donald Trump’s administration, which negotiated a “golden share” giving the US government sweeping veto rights. Nippon Steel’s $55-a-share acquisition creates the world’s second-largest steelmaker. The deal, which faced opposition from US labor unions and political leaders including Joe Biden, was revived under Trump, who oversaw a new national security review. That review resulted in the creation of a golden share, allowing the US government to block key decisions such as plant closures, production cuts, or job relocations. The arrangement was first revealed in a weekend social media post by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. US Steel will retain its iconic name and headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A majority of the members of US Steel’s board of directors will be US citizens and key management personnel, including its CEO, will also be US citizens. Nippon Steel’s chairman, Eiji Hashimoto, credited Trump for helping bring the deal to completion and said the merger marks a new era for the historic American steelmaker. Nippon Steel will make approximately $11 billion in new investments in US Steel by 2028, which includes an initial investment in a greenfield project that will be completed after 2028. The acquisition expands Nippon Steel’s crude steel output capacity to 86 million tonnes annually, nearing its strategic 100 million-ton target. Timeline First proposed in December 2023, the deal was derailed when the Biden administration blocked it on national security grounds. Legal action followed, but under the Trump administration, a new 45-day review was initiated by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US. Nippon also hired former US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and engaged labor leaders to help steer the deal to completion amid strong political headwinds. The resulting agreement included unprecedented terms: a US-appointed board member, capital spending guarantees, and citizenship rules for executives. While the golden share was key to regulatory approval, it raises concerns about future foreign interest in strategic US assets.

The Forex currency board is showing some undoing of yesterday’s action that had given a decent rebound in the US Dollar versus other currencies. However, that correction was insufficient for GBP bulls to push the Sterling back to its weekly highs. The Pound has dropped as UK Inflation data comes in line, shy of a slight miss on the Core Inflation. Markets were moved by some major geopolitical shifts and that hasn't led to much appreciation for the GBP. As a reminder, Markets will see the release of the Bank of England rate decision at 7:00 A.M. with close to 10% chance of a cut priced in – BoE Speakers haven't hinted towards more cuts until the latter part of Summer 2025. Also, don't forget the upcoming FED Rate decision at 14:00 P.M. E.T today! Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © {CURRENT_YEAR} OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

Since late 2024, BBVA’s private‑banking arm in Switzerland has been quietly advising clients to add Bitcoin and Ether to their holdings. According to Philippe Meyer, who leads digital and blockchain solutions at BBVA Switzerland, wealthy customers should allocate between 3% and 7% of their portfolios to crypto. Based on reports, this advice aims to boost returns without exposing investors to outsized risk. Early Adoption Timeline BBVA began executing crypto trades in 2021 for a handful of clients. By September 2024, Meyer says the bank had started formally recommending a 3% Bitcoin stake in balanced portfolios. Now, risk‑tolerant clients can move up to 7% into digital assets, reflecting BBVA’s growing confidence in crypto as a mainstream option. Client Reaction And Risk Views Many clients have responded well so far. Meyer notes that even a small 3% allocation “already boosts the performance” of a diversified portfolio and “you are not taking a huge risk” at that level. Short‑term swings still occur—crypto markets can drop 20% in a week—but private clients seem ready to ride those waves in pursuit of higher gains. Regulatory And Market Context Europe’s Markets in Crypto‑Assets regulation (MiCA) took full effect at the end of December 2024. This rulebook governs token issuers and service providers across the EU. Yet the European Securities and Markets Authority reports that 95% of EU banks avoid crypto activities entirely. BBVA stands out: in March 2025, Spain’s securities regulator gave it formal approval to offer Bitcoin and Ether trading in the country. Next Steps For App And Investors BBVA plans to roll out buy, sell, and portfolio management features inside its existing mobile app over the coming months. The launch will begin with select clients before expanding more broadly. As rival banks like Santander explore their own stablecoins—pegged to dollars and euros—BBVA’s move could spur a wave of mainstream crypto services. For now, only high‑net‑worth clients hear this crypto advice. But if allocations deliver solid returns and BBVA weathers any market crashes, other banks may follow. That would give more investors the chance to include crypto alongside stocks, bonds, and real estate. The real test will come if Bitcoin or Ether plunge sharply. If BBVA’s cautious plan holds up under stress, it may reshape how mainstream finance treats digital assets. Featured image from ESG News, chart from TradingView

After days of rumors around the identity of the mysterious ‘JPMD’ token filed by JPMorgan, widely supposed to be a stablecoin, the truth has finally emerged. JPMD isn’t a stablecoin after all – it’s a deposit token on the Base blockchain (Coinbase’s own blockchain). With JPMD, institutions have a round-the-clock method of making deposits, incorporating established banking systems with blockchain technology. It’s one more step along the path towards crypto as a normal part of everyday life, alongside core crypto projects like Best Wallet token. Time to learn more about why JPMorgan thinks deposit tokens are part of the future of crypto. Not a Surprise After All: JPMorgan Champions Deposit Tokens Perhaps everyone should have guessed what JPMD was. After all, one of the largest banks in the US is hardly likely to do anything without a lot of research and preparation. And in this case, JPMorgan has been championing blockchain-powered deposit tokens since at least 2022. That was when the company published an extensive report on the utility and function of proposed deposit tokens. Calling them ‘a foundation for stable digital money,’ JPMorgan outlined a number of core advantages a deposit token could offer to traditional banks: Digital form of commercial bank money – deposit token fills the role of existing deposit claims Blockchain-native programmability – with deposit tokens, banks can access smart contracts, an atomic settlement option, and automated processing Payment efficiency and cost reduction – on-chain deposit tokens provide real-time transfers; no more waiting for deposits to settle after-hours Seamless integration with banking – established use cases, existing support networks, and even clear legal status; there’s little to prevent immediate use of deposit tokens within the current banking infrastructure That last point is critical. Even while stablecoins draw increased attention, deposit tokens like JPMD hold one clear advantage: they fit neatly into existing rules and regulations. Trademark Filed, JPMorgan Builds Base for Crypto-Finance Integration JPMorgan filed the trademark application on June 15, 2025. As it turns out, the deposit token will be built on the Base blockchain and will leverage that chain to provide round-the-clock crypto access for its clients (Coinbase is one). If JPMD takes off – and it should, since JPMorgan has a market cap of roughly $738B – it could be the next step in the growing conjunction between crypto and finance. Institutions have led crypto adoption in recent months, but there are growing signs that retail adoption won’t be far behind. Success in a fully integrated crypto-financial world will rest partly on the power of your crypto wallet. Best Wallet app is a leading non-custodial crypto wallet, and now the Best Wallet Token launch takes the wallet to the next level. Best Wallet Token ($BEST) – Upgrade Your Crypto Wallet to be Future-Proof Best Wallet token ($BEST) takes the power of the Best Wallet app up a notch. $BEST token holders gain: Exclusive crypto presale access Reduced trading fees Increased staking rewards Governance rights and participation Best Wallet is the only crypto presale wallet, offering an Upcoming Tokens feature where you can research and invest in the best crypto presales. It’s all part of a growing crypto ecosystem where Best Wallet, Best Wallet Token, and the upcoming Best Card work together to equip you to navigate a brave new crypto world. That gives $BEST unique utility, even among other crypto presales. Currently, tokens cost $0.025195, and early investors can stake them for a 104% variable APY. Our price prediction sees the token price potentially reaching $0.035215 by the end of the year, delivering 40% returns to anyone who buys in now. Learn how to buy Best Wallet token, and don’t forget to visit the Best Wallet Token presale page today. JPMorgan, Best Wallet Show Path Forward for Crypto Together, the launch of both $BEST and $JPMD highlights the way forward for crypto. Traditional finance and crypto are no longer separate things – they’re two sides of the same coin, and crypto wallets connect them. Before purchasing $BEST, do your own research. This isn’t financial advice.

In a striking forecast, two academic researchers, Murray Rudd and Dennis Porter, have predicted that Bitcoin (BTC) could soar to an astonishing $4.3 million by 2036 if institutional buying trends continue. This prediction was highlighted by market expert Giovanni Incasa, who emphasized the significance of applying rigorous supply-demand theories to Bitcoin’s unique economic structure. Supply Shock Warning Rudd and Porter have employed pure mathematical modeling to analyze Bitcoin’s market dynamics, warning that the impending supply shock could lead to price fluctuations ten times more severe than anything seen to date. Their findings suggest that the effects of this supply shock will result in permanent wealth redistribution, fundamentally altering the landscape of digital assets. According to their conservative estimates, the Bitcoin price could reach $2.2 million per coin by 2036, a projection rooted in what they describe as “economic physics.” The researchers note that the current liquid supply of Bitcoin stands at only 11.2 million coins, with an estimated 4 million Bitcoin lost forever due to lost keys and Satoshi Nakamoto’s unspent stash. Their analysis reveals that only half of BTC’s total supply is actively liquid, meaning that even modest institutional purchases could lead to significant supply shortages. Evidence of this trend can be seen in the daily buying habits of US exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which have averaged 285 Bitcoin per day since their launch, and the actions of Bitcoin treasury companies that are removing thousands of coins from circulation through debt financing. Senator Cynthia Lummis has also proposed a strategic reserve of one million Bitcoin, which would involve an acquisition of approximately 550 coins per day over five years. The researchers calculate that if 2,000 Bitcoin are removed from circulation daily, the price could reach $106,000—a figure that is already close to today’s trading price of $104,800, suggesting that their mathematical framework is holding true. The crux of the researchers’ findings is that traditional supply curves are not applicable to BTC. Its perfectly inelastic supply creates significant bottlenecks as demand rises, leading to dramatic price increases. They emphasize that institutions that delay their investments risk becoming permanently priced out of the market. Three Scenarios For Bitcoin Rudd and Porter outline three potential scenarios for Bitcoin’s future. In a conservative scenario, with a 20-fold increase in demand and continued institutional adoption leading to 2,000 daily Bitcoin withdrawals, prices could reach $2.2 million by 2036. Their bullish scenario posits a 30-fold demand growth, where Bitcoin could hit $5 million by early 2031. The most extreme, hyperbolic scenario anticipates a 40-fold demand increase, with daily withdrawals escalating to 4,000 Bitcoin, potentially driving prices to $4.3 million by 2036 and valuing Bitcoin at six times the current market cap of gold. The implications of Rudd and Porter’s research extend beyond mere speculation. It highlights a transformative period for BTC and the broader financial landscape, where strategic positioning and early adoption could mean the difference between thriving and merely surviving in the digital economy. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com

After more than five weeks of unrelenting downside pressure, Cardano (ADA) finds itself approaching a potentially decisive juncture. In a new analysis published June 18, crypto analyst Quantum Ascend (@quantum_ascend) offered a fresh take on ADA’s price structure, warning that the final leg of a downward five-wave Elliott pattern may now be unfolding—with a critical resolution point drawing near. How Low Can Cardano Crash? “We dropped down into that second wave… and had it highlighted, it bounced from there. So we did call that correctly,” the analyst began, referencing earlier predictions. But despite the brief bounce, he now sees a more extended impulse playing out. “It does look like we’re turning this into more of a five-wave move down. So one, two, three, four, and working on a fifth wave now,” he explained while analyzing the one-day chart of ADA. At the core of the bearish outlook is Fibonacci confluence. Quantum Ascend pointed out that ADA currently hovers around the 0.702 retracement level, with the 0.786 level lying just beneath it—both key zones often associated with deeper corrections in Elliott Wave theory. “Makes complete sense for us to go ahead and drop in right to this area at the very minimum,” he noted. Yet despite the grim technicals, the analyst maintains that no structural damage has occurred—at least not yet. “As long as we hold the 51 cent level, nothing’s broken, it’s not a problem, right?” he reassured. The broader context, however, is less encouraging: “We need Bitcoin to catch a little bit of a bid or Ethereum or something. We need some kind of good news to come in to alleviate a little bit of this because the market’s just pretty much been bleeding… for over a month now.” ADA has underperformed relative to its peers since early May, with sentiment sliding alongside price. But Quantum Ascend encouraged viewers not to overreact to the current downtrend. “All it is is an opportunity to dollar cost average,” he said, before addressing the exhaustion many long-term holders are feeling. “I know what you’re saying, QA. I’ve been dollar cost averaging for seven months. I get it. I’ve been there.” Rather than panic-sell or obsess over day-to-day moves, the analyst recommended mental distance and patience. “Go do something fun, it’s beautiful, it’s summer. Go do something else, anything else. But this thing is gonna resolve itself and alt season is around the corner,” he said. Despite short-term bearishness in the chart, his long-term conviction remains intact. “World War III is not starting. I could not have more conviction in all those things.” With ADA potentially entering the final leg of a corrective structure and broader markets searching for a catalyst, all eyes are now on whether support zones hold—or if Cardano is headed even lower before the long-awaited resolution finally arrives. At press time, ADA traded at $0.6158.

Bitcoin’s grip on the market has remained firm. Its dominance, measured as a percentage of total crypto market capitalization, currently hovers near 63.9% after hitting a high of 65.3% in May. Historically, such strength from Bitcoin precedes a broad shift where traders rotate profits into smaller assets. Yet this time, that shift hasn’t materialized on a meaningful scale. People are wondering: When will altcoin season begin? Many expected 2025 to be the year altcoins made their comeback, but that optimism is starting to wear thin halfway through the year. EXPLORE: OnlyFans Rich List 2025: Sophie Rain Steals Crown as Cracks Emerge in Creator Inequality Still, Experts Agree: Altcoin Season Is Not Dead, Just Delayed Several factors explain this unusual dynamic. One of the most significant is the rise of institutional investors, who now view Bitcoin as a regulatory-safe entry point into crypto. With the launch and rapid adoption of spot Bitcoin ETFs, large-scale capital flows directly into BTC. In earlier cycles, altcoins sometimes served as speculative stand-ins for Bitcoin. Today, institutions can access BTC directly. This is exactly what they’re doing. This shift has had a dampening effect on the rest of the market. Bitcoin remains the consensus trade among institutions. The perception of BTC as a safer bet, backed by regulatory clarity and operational reliability, makes it difficult for capital to rotate toward altcoins. In contrast, many altcoins are still grappling with smart contract risks, unclear regulations, and high centralization. This makes institutional investors reluctant to venture beyond Bitcoin, at least for now. Bitcoin Dominance Chart Signals: Still in a BTC-Led Phase (BTC.D) A look at the Bitcoin dominance chart reinforces this narrative. Around 64.8% of Bitcoin’s market share has been climbing steadily since late 2022. In contrast to the 2020–2021 bull run, when BTC dominance peaked at ~73% before rapidly falling and sparking a full-fledged altcoin season, there is no sign of reversal yet. The weekly chart shows consistently higher highs and higher lows, with capital continuing to flow into Bitcoin while most altcoins lag. This dominance becomes even clearer in the ETH/BTC chart. (BTCETH) Ethereum has struggled to outperform BTC. While it has remained relatively stable against the U.S. dollar, it has lost ground against Bitcoin for nearly two years. Simply put, holding BTC over ETH during this period delivered a better ROI. Why this matters: ETH/BTC is often seen as a proxy for altcoin confidence. When ETH performs well against BTC, it typically signals growing risk appetite and a healthier altcoin market. A falling ETH/BTC ratio, on the other hand, suggests defensive positioning and capital consolidation into Bitcoin. Jess Houlgrave, CEO of Reown, notes that altcoins lag because hype rather than fundamentals still drives many. Meanwhile, Bitcoin has solidified its reputation with institutional trust, consistent utility, and macro relevance. Some crypto influencers believe the biggest altcoin season in history could still begin in June—echoing previous cycles. But macroeconomic factors can’t be ignored. Geopolitical tensions, interest rate uncertainty, and a cautious risk environment have made investors hesitant to embrace volatility. Liquidity is also spread thin across an ever-growing pool of new altcoin projects, diluting market attention. The result is a fragmented environment where few altcoins manage to sustain significant momentum. Ethereum Accumulates Quiet Strength as Bitcoin Dominance Holds On the bright side, Ethereum is seeing strong accumulation from whales and steady inflows into spot ETFs: over 870,000 ETH was bought in one day recently, the highest since 2017. ETFs have now seen 19 consecutive days of net inflows, totaling over $500 million. (Source) Despite this, ETH’s price has dipped slightly due to a sharp rise in short positions on CME futures, with net shorts now at $1.55 billion. This reflects a popular delta-neutral strategy: investors go long via ETFs or spot while shorting futures to hedge and earn yield without direct price exposure. If staking is approved for U.S.-based ETH ETFs, this strategy could expand significantly, offering yields close to 8%. For now, Ethereum’s strong fundamentals are being weighed down by sophisticated hedging activity. For crypto enthusiasts wondering when Bitcoin dominance will finally fall, the answer may be: not yet, but soon. Altcoin season may be taking its time, but it’s far from canceled. As Bitcoin’s surge plateaus and fresh capital looks for higher returns, the altcoin market could stage a comeback, potentially as we near the end of 2025 or enter 2026. DISCOVER: Top Solana Meme Coins to Buy in 2025 Key Takeaways Is an altcoin season near? Bitcoin dominance remains near 64%, showing no signs of reversal and delaying the start of a broad altcoin rally. Institutional capital flows into BTC via ETFs, reducing speculative interest in altcoins compared to past cycles.today’s Institutional investors are prioritizing Bitcoin, leaving less liquidity for the broader altcoin market. Ethereum underperforms against Bitcoin, but whale accumulation and ETF inflows suggest quiet strength building. Whales are accumulating ETH, and ETFs have seen over 19 consecutive days of inflows. Altcoin season may emerge by late 2025, as Bitcoin plateaus and investors rotate into higher-risk assets seeking stronger returns. The post Expert Predictions For Altcoin Season Trigger: When Will Bitcoin Dominance Finally Fall? appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Crypto analyst Cyclop has made a potentially significant statement, claiming that the ongoing crisis between Israel and Iran may inadvertently boost the performance of digital assets. Despite recent volatility, which saw a sell-off of approximately $140 billion in the crypto market, Cyclop’s long-term analysis reveals a more optimistic outlook for the broader digital asset industry. Analyst Predicts Bullish Trends For Crypto Amid Conflicts In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), Cyclop pointed to historical patterns that suggest geopolitical tensions often lead to bullish trends in cryptocurrency. Citing specific instances from April and October 2024, he noted that Bitcoin (BTC) experienced an initial decline of 18% and 10% respectively during these conflicts, only to rebound with impressive gains of 28% and 62% shortly thereafter. This trend, he argues, indicates a recurring cycle where war-related dips in crypto prices eventually transform into significant growth, as can be depicted in the chart below shared by Cyclop. The analyst explains that while such conflicts can trigger short-term bearish movements, the overarching impact tends to be favorable for cryptocurrencies. As wars ignite fears of inflation and instability, Cyclop has noted that many investors for the traditional finance arena turn to crypto as a hedge against weakening fiat currencies. Unlike traditional bank accounts, cryptocurrencies are not subject to freezing, he said, making them appealing during times of geopolitical unrest. Increasingly, digital currencies are being viewed as a form of “digital gold,” a safe haven in tumultuous times. Favorable Macroeconomic Factors The current market dynamics echo previous events, such as the Russia-Ukraine conflict and US-Iran tensions in 2020, which similarly resulted in temporary dips followed by recoveries. Cyclop remains confident that the present situation will yield similar outcomes, despite the typical summer slowdown that often affects market activity. Supporting this bullish sentiment are favorable macroeconomic factors. Recent developments indicate that the US and China have reached a compromise, easing tariffs and aiming to stabilize global supply chains. This move is expected to help cool inflation and restore investor confidence. Moreover, President Donald Trump’s decision to delay new tariffs has contributed to a more risk-friendly environment, allowing liquidity to flow back into crypto markets. Further aiding this positive outlook is the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) report, which showed a modest increase of just 0.1% month-over-month, slightly below forecasts. With year-over-year inflation at 2.4%—down from an expected 2.5%—the Federal Reserve (Fed) is now anticipated to cut interest rates twice by the end of the year. Historically, such rate cuts have been bullish for cryptocurrencies, as they often lead to increased liquidity in the markets. While the immediate aftermath of the Israel-Iran conflict may present challenges, historical data suggests that cryptocurrencies have the potential to thrive in such environments. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com

EnterBeat aims to empower creators and change the entertainment game. EBT, the native token, is trending, spiking 300% in 24 hours, and may extend gains after BingX listing. Not all cryptos surge on launch. Only a small percentage of moonshot tokens with a solid value proposition and fan base tend to spike after launching. Not all tokens sustain the uptrend even after listing, especially if they conducted an ICO or engaged venture capitalists. A wave of profit-taking often crashes prices, pushing them below listing prices, especially on top exchanges. DISCOVER: 9 Best Crypto Presales to Invest in June 2025 – Top Token Presales EBT Spikes 300% After listing on BingX on June 12, EBT8 (No data), the token behind EnterBeat, stabilized before dropping sharply. This crash was expected. As with all new tokens, a dump is common regardless of their value proposition. However, EBT defied expectations. The latest data from Coingecko shows EBT as one of the top performers, gaining an impressive 300% in the past 24 hours. EBT8PriceEBT824h7d30d1yAll time At spot rates, EBT is one of the top gainers, outperforming some of the best Solana meme coins. Now that momentum is building, EBTUSDT could extend gains. A close above $0.3 would push EBT to new all-time highs, reversing losses from June 13 to 16 and potentially marking a new trend for this ambitious project. With EBT trending, investors are curious: What is EnterBeat? Why is it surging? Could EBT be one of the best cryptos to buy in June 2025? What Is EnterBeat? EnterBeat is a dApp on Ethereum’s layer-2 chain, Base, that aims to disrupt entertainment. It leverages NFTs to reward and empower creators while engaging their loyal user base. https://twitter.com/enterbeat2025/status/1928055873919648124 Underlying files are stored on the decentralized storage system, IPFS. As a creator-first entertainment app, artists can mint, monetize, and manage content using royalty-enforced smart contracts. Additionally, users can create fraud-proof tickets through NFTs, offering exclusive content access and collectibles. Since it’s built on Base, minting NFTs, issuing tickets, and activating monetization strategies are cheap and secure. Why Is EBT Rallying? Several catalysts are behind the recent EBT revival. While technical factors may sustain upside momentum, fundamental events are turbocharging demand. The listing on BingX, a major crypto exchange, allowed traders easy exposure. Paired with USDT, the world’s most liquid stablecoin, BingX users, in their millions, can easily buy and trade EBT. This listing funneled liquidity and exposure, driving prices up. Additionally, launching on the Base chain contributed to this surge. Though relatively new in the Ethereum layer-2 scene, Base manages roughly $13 billion in assets, with many projects deploying there. (Source) EnterBeat chose a fertile, low-fee, scalable environment with a thriving ecosystem. With a clear roadmap, supporters know what to expect in the coming months. https://twitter.com/enterbeat2025/status/1929134061039001931 By Q4 2025, EnterBeat plans to launch a beta version of its platform for select users. EnterBeat is also benefiting from the shift toward creator economies. With the success of projects like Zora and Kaito, this pro-creator entertainment platform is rising with the tide. DISCOVER: Next 1000x Crypto – 10 Coins That Could 1000x in 2025 EnterBeat EBT Spikes 300% After BingX Listing EnterBeat is trending as they seek to change entertainment using NFTs EBT soars 300% after BingX listing EnterBeat launched on Base Entertainment platform is building and expanding partnerships The post What Is EnterBeat Crypto? EBT Price Prediction After 300% Skyrocket appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Asante Gold (CSE: ASE) has secured $470 million to refinance debt, fund expansion at its Bibiani and Chirano gold mines in Ghana, and prepare for a mid-August TSX Venture Exchange debut. The financing package includes $150 million in senior debt underwritten by South Africa’s Rand Merchant Bank, as well as up to $125 million in subordinated debt anchored by $75 million from London-based private equity firm Appian Capital. Asante has also arranged a $50 million gold-stream facility tied to production from its Bibiani and Chirano mines. In addition, the company has secured $110 million in bridge financing from lenders in the UAE and Ghana to help fund pit expansion and commission the sulphide circuit at Bibiani. The equity portion totals about $85 million so far, with Appian as the lead investor, as Asante targets raising up to $130 million. This influx is intended to eliminate Asante’s debt obligations tied to Kinross Gold (TSX: K; NYSE: KGC) from its 2022 acquisition of Chirano, a $225 million share-and-cash deal that initially granted Kinross a 9.9% stake. Under the revised terms, Kinross will convert part of its position into equity—raising its stake to just under 18%—while Asante gains extended and clarified repayment terms. The new funding “will clear the path to achieve our goal of gold production of more than 500,000 oz. per year by 2028 at significantly lower all-in sustaining costs,” president and CEO Dave Anthony said in a release. Proceeds will accelerate Bibiani pit expansion and advance underground work at Chirano across an 80-sq.-km land package, he said. Double output Asante produced about 76,000 oz. of gold last year and expects to more than double production in 2025 to 172,000 oz. The sulphide plant at Bibiani is scheduled to commission in the third quarter, and its underground production to ramp up by 2026. With Chirano projected to exceed 200,000 oz. annually within two years, Asante is set to become a mid-tier gold producer. Tel Aviv-based platform TipRanks notes that while Asante is seen as overvalued based on current fundamentals, it displays “strong technical momentum and positive corporate developments, tempered by financial challenges and valuation considerations.” Shares in Asante closed at C$1.47 on the Canadian Securities Exchange in Toronto on Tuesday for a market capitalization of C$732 million. Asante has shown a pattern of serial funding and restructuring—through private placements, forward gold contracts, debt refinancing, bridge loans and gold streaming arrangements—to steady the company’s capital-intensive growth. In October, the company secured $525 million from UAE’s Fujairah Holdings through a forward sale of gold produced at Bibiani. That followed $100 million raised in September from a share sale to a strategic investor. By clearing debt, funding mine expansion and gaining TSXV visibility, Asante is positioning itself to join the ranks of Canada’s next generation of mid-tier producers. It compares to mid-caps such as Maritime Resources (TSXV: MAE) and GoGold Resources (TSX: GGD). Its operational scale and capital structure may now edge it closer to companies like G2 Goldfields (TSX: GTWO) and Mineros (TSX: MSA), which hover around equivalent production profiles and valuations.

Authorities have ordered the removal of crypto ATMs in Spokane, Washington, within the next 60 days, invoking a citywide ban. On 17 June 2025, members of the Spokane City Council’s legislative session unanimously voted in favour of removing all crypto ATMs from the city. An astronomical rise in scams targeting residents of the city triggered their decision to remove these kiosks. Additionally, the act provides for a full refund to defrauded victims if the report was filed within 90 days of the incident. Explore: Best New Cryptocurrencies to Invest in 2025 Key Takeaways Authorities in Spokane City, Washington, have implemented a blanket ban on crypto kiosks Operators have 60 days to remove all crypto kiosks from the city Several states in the US are developing their own regulations to combat crypto kiosk scams The post Spokane City, Washington, Bans Crypto ATMs Following a Surge in Crypto Crimes appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Ahead of the Federal Reserve FOMC meeting today, economists expect interest rates to remain unchanged between the 4.25% and 4.5% range. What will be the FOMC Bitcoin impact? Will BTCUSDT break $110,000? Bitcoin, Solana, and some of the best cryptos to buy in the top 20 are trading inside tight ranges. BTC ▼-1.85% is down, capped below $105,500, while ETH ▼-1.51% is yet to break above $3,000. Meanwhile, SOL ▼-1.37% is struggling to close above $170, down 11% in 24 hours, making it one of the top losers in the top 10, trailing DOGE ▼-0.83%. Clearly, the crypto market and its participants are proceeding cautiously. Ahead of the highly anticipated Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting in the United States, Bitcoin traders are focused on one key question: Will today’s Federal Reserve decision shift the tide for crypto assets, triggering a wave of demand that lifts prices above critical liquidation levels? This question is relevant: Inflation, tariffs, and an unusually shaky macroeconomic backdrop, worsened by conflict in the Middle East, dominate headlines, requiring the central bank to move with tact. DISCOVER: 9 Best Crypto Presales to Invest in June 2025 – Top Token Presales The FOMC Dilemma: Will It Hold or Cut Rates? Most economists and analysts expect rates to remain unchanged between 4.25% and 4.5%. According to the CME FedWatch tool, the probability of the central bank holding rates steady is a staggering 99.9%. (Source) Although the consensus is for rates to remain unchanged, Bitcoin traders will closely monitor what the Federal Reserve Chair, Jerome Powell, says during the press conference. This is because, while interest rates are the focus, the central bank’s thoughts and forward guidance are equally critical. As in the May 7 press conference, little change is expected. Powell will likely adopt a data-dependent stance, especially given President Trump’s aggressive tariff agenda and mixed economic data, particularly on inflation. Moreover, the Federal Reserve is navigating a delicate balancing act between keeping rates low, around the benchmark 2%, while ensuring economic growth despite rising debt levels. DISCOVER: Best Meme Coin ICOs to Invest in 2025 Impact of FOMC on Bitcoin As seen during the 2021 crypto boom, crypto and Bitcoin prices thrive during periods of low interest rates. When the central bank eases monetary policy, more money circulates, some of which is invested in Bitcoin and other “risky” crypto assets, including some of the best Solana meme coins. During such times, inflation also tends to rise. However, unlike 2021, the macroeconomic environment in 2025 is different. The global economy is grappling with tariff wars, labor market uncertainty, and stagflation due to persistent inflation and slow economic growth. Although core inflation slowed in May 2025, it remains elevated, and tariffs could reignite price pressures, especially if no deal is reached with the European Union and China. For this reason, if the Federal Reserve unexpectedly slashes rates against economists’ forecasts, the Bitcoin price could spike. There is a chance that it may break above $110,000 by the end of the week. BitcoinPriceMarket CapBTC$2.08T24h7d30d1yAll time Still, even if rates are cut, the timing could be problematic. This view is considering the inflationary risks posed by tariffs and a slowing economy. Consequently, a surprise rate cut could trigger capital flight to the USD and treasuries. Subsequently, there could be an unexpected sell-offs in cryptos as the greenback strengthens. DISCOVER: 7 High-Risk High-Reward Cryptos for 2025 Will Federal Reserve Rates Hold? FOMC Bitcoin Impact Crypto traders closely monitoring the FOMC rate decision Will the Federal Reserve keep rates unchanged? Macro environment mixed as inflation and labor markets in focus Will Bitcoin rip higher or dump? The post Crypto Traders Watching Federal Reserve: What Will Be The FOMC Bitcoin Impact? appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

Amid the chaos that was sparked by Israel’s attack on Iran, Bitcoin has climbed again, shaking off the losses triggered by the conflict. Not only has the price seen an increase from its last week’s lows, but there has also been a notable change in the cryptocurrency’s daily trading volume. This points to continued interest despite global factors and could mean that the expectations of war are already getting priced in for the crypto market. Bitcoin Sees Almost 100% Jump In Volume According to data from Coinglass, there has been a turn in the tide for the Bitcoin trading volume after starting out the new week in a slow trend. Sunday and Monday had seen the Bitcoin daily trading volume come out under $50 billion. However, as the Bitcoin price rose leading up to Tuesday, so did the trading volume. At the time of writing, the Bitcoin daily trading volume had already crossed $88 billion for Tuesday, leading to an almost 100% increase in the trading volume during this time. This follows the trend of high volatility coming with increased volumes as the Bitcoin price swung wildly between $105,000 and $108,000. The sharp jump in volume comes as the Bitcoin open interest remains high at near all-time highs while the rest of the market struggles. Coinglass data shows the current open interest at $71 billion, less than $10 billion away from the $80 billion all-time high recorded in May 2025. In light of altcoins continuing to trend low while Bitcoin remains close to all-time highs, it suggests that most of the attention in the crypto market is now being focused on Bitcoin. As a result, the leading asset continues to dictate the direction of the market, with dominance remaining high above 64%. How War Could Affect This Trend The positive developments surrounding Bitcoin are coming as there seems to be a cooldown in the conflict in the Middle East. But with so little time having passed, expectations are that the war may only be starting, with some calling it the start of ‘World War 3.’ The Kobeissi Letter has taken to X (formerly Twitter) to address these World War 3 predictions, revealing how the markets would react if there really was a possibility of this happening. The first thing was that a 50% chance of World War 3 would’ve seen the S&P crash not 2%, but more of a 30% crash. Gold would be $5,000/oz, and oil would go for $100/barrel. Furthermore, a 90% chance of World War 3, as explained in the post, would likely cause the S&P to crash 50%, with the prices of gold and oil surging to $10,000/oz and $200/barrel, respectively. Given Bitcoin’s correlation with the stock market so far, there is no doubt that such a crash would have carried over, triggering disastrous losses for the crypto market. Given these, The Kobeissi Letter explains that the markets are saying the chances of World War 3 are slim. At this time, they expect a resolution to the conflict. “Futures all around the board this morning saw de-escalation coming,” the post read.

Oil prices hit a near five-month high as worries grow that rising tensions in the Middle East could lead to more direct US involvement. In Asia, West Texas Intermediate crude rose by up to 1.1% after reaching its highest level in nearly five months on Tuesday. This followed President Donald Trump's demand for Iran's unconditional surrender and a warning of a possible strike on its leader. Meanwhile, Asian stocks showed mixed performance ahead of the Federal Reserve's monetary policy decision. close Source: TradingView.com (click to enlarge) Source: TradingView.com (click to enlarge) Follow Zain on Twitter/X for Additional Market News and Insights @zvawda Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © {CURRENT_YEAR} OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

Teck Resources (TSX: TECK.A, TECK.B)(NYSE: TECK) has secured an environmental assessment certificate to extend the life of its Highland Valley Copper (HVC) mine in British Columbia, keeping Canada’s largest copper operation running into the mid-2040s. The Vancouver-based miner expects the expansion to support an average annual production of 137,000 tonnes of copper over the mine’s remaining lifespan. Construction preparation will begin shortly, with a final investment decision expected from Teck’s board in the third quarter of 2025, president and chief executive officer Jonathan Price said in a statement. Price noted the project will help strengthen North America’s critical minerals supply chain while contributing to job creation and economic activity. He said the expansion will create about 2,900 construction jobs and support 1,500 positions once operational. To speed up approval for what BC authorities have called a “priority critical minerals project”, the province’s Environmental Assessment Office (EAO) worked with key ministries to enable a single, consolidated application covering both the environmental assessment and major permits. This marks the first fully integrated review under BC’s 2018 Environmental Assessment Act. The process included input from Indigenous governments, local communities, and stakeholders. Price thanked participants for their “thoughtful assessment” and continued engagement. The HVC expansion is part of Teck’s broader plan to invest up to $3.9 billion over the next four years, aiming to boost its total copper production to about 800,000 tonnes annually by 2030.

(Commentary resumes with the weekly outlook on June 21) Overview: Yesterday's dollar buying seen in the North American afternoon appears to have exhausted the position-squaring adjustment amid speculation the US might enter more directly the hostilities with Iran and ahead of the outcome of the FOMC meeting. Follow-through buying to has been limited to a couple of G10 currencies, including the Swedish krona following the Riksbank's quarter-point cut and kept the door open to another reduction. The dollar's gains were also extended against the Swiss franc, whose central bank will likely bring its deposit rate to zero tomorrow. Emerging market currencies are more mixed. Asia Pacific currencies, but the Chinese yuan, were mostly lower while central European currencies are mostly firmer. The large bourse in the Asia Pacific regions were mixed. Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan advanced, as did mainland Chinese markets. However, the Hang Seng, and mainland companies that trade there, alongside Australia and India were softer. Europe's Stoxx 600 is straddling unchanged, while US index futures are modestly higher. Benchmark 10-year yields are mostly slightly lower in Europe; the UK Gilts and Sweden's yield are almost three basis points lower. The 10-year US Treasury yield is slightly softer, near 4.38%. Gold remains uninspired and is trading softer but inside yesterday's range, unable to re-establish a foothold above $3400. August WTI remains elevated. It is at the lower end of today's roughly $72-$74 range. USD: The Dollar Index rose to a four-day high in the NY afternoon yesterday, despite softer than expected May retail sales (-0.9%) and industrial production (-0.2%) and the softer US interest rate backdrop. It filled a small gap on the daily charts created on the lower opening last Thursday. It edged slightly higher today to about 98.85 but held below the 20-day moving average slightly below 99.00. DXY has not settled above this moving average for a month. A trendline from the early and late February highs, and the two bounces in May, comes in near there, as well. The session low was set a little before the European session near 98.50. The bounce in early European turnover took it to 98.70 before selling pressure re-emerged. Housing starts and weekly jobless claims are small appetizers before the FOMC meeting, which is the main focus. The Federal Reserve will not change policy, but it will update its Summary of Economic Projections and may update its quantitative tightening guidance. Last December and this past March, the median dot was for two cuts this year. There is some speculation that this may be reduced to only one cut. Given rise in weekly jobless claims (four-week moving average at its highest level since August 2023), and continued signs of a gradual slowing of job growth, and the willingness by several FOMC members to look through the potential price increases associated with the tariffs (though several months now CPI has been reported below expectations), we expect the median Fed view will be for two cuts. The Fed's balance sheet is still about 50% larger than at the end of 2019 in dollar terms ($6.67 trillion vs. $4.17 trillion), and as a percentage of GDP (~22.5% of GDP vs. 19.2%). However, we suspect reserves are getting too closer to where the Fed is comfortable, recognizing that they would likely prefer to err on more rather than less. Shortly after Chair Powell's press conference ends, the April TIC data will be published. Recall in April there was concern about large-scale foreign sales of US assets. EURO: After stalling last Friday and Monday a little above $1.16 and unable to settle above there since it did so once two months ago, the euro was sold through last Thursday's low to near $1.1475 late in yesterday's session. It is as if the upside momentum faded and some late longs were moving to the sidelines, perhaps cautionary ahead of today's FOMC conclusion. Yesterday's low is holding today, but the upside was capped near $1.1525. A break of $1.1470 could spur another half-cent decline. CNY: The dollar edged higher against the offshore yuan yesterday but remains within the range that has dominated recently. It held below CNH7.1940 and has not been above CNH7.20 for two weeks. It is in a narrow range today, roughly CNH7.1850-CNH7.1925. A move above CNH7.20 could see a return toward CNH7.2250 area. The PBOC has been guiding the yuan higher against the dollar in setting daily reference rate. The yuan has been fixed stronger in eight of this month's 12 sessions --coming into today--. Today, the reference rate was CNY7.1761 after setting it at a three-month low yesterday (CNY7.1746). JPY: Position adjusting saw the greenback rise to almost JPY145.40 in waning hours of yesterday's session. It settled above JPY145 for the first time since May 16. It made a marginal new high for the month earlier today to near JPY145.45. It is straddling the JPY145 area in late European morning turnover. True to form, Japan's May trade balance deteriorated. In the past 20 years, it has not deteriorated in May only twice and they were exceptional years (2009 and 2020). The trade deficit rose to almost JPY638 bln from JPY115.6 bln. Merchandise exports fell 1.7% year-over-year, the first decline since last September, though less than economists polled by Bloomberg expected. Japan's import of good tumbled by more than expected, falling 7.7%, the third year-over-year decline this year and most since January 2024. Japan's trade surplus with the US fell to JPY451.7 bln from JPY780.40 bln, which accounted for almost half of the unadjusted widening of the overall trade deficit. Separately, Japan reported that core machine orders dropped 9.1% in April, the biggest decline in five years, underscoring the weak start to Q2. Foreign orders rose 6.8% in April, while domestic orders fell by 3.7%. GBP: Sterling tumbled more than 1% yesterday, its largest loss since early April. It was the worst performer among the G10 currencies. Sterling fell to almost $1.3425 and settled below the 20-day moving average for the first time since mid-May. It held yesterday's low and recovered to around $1.3475. The five-day moving average may cross below the 20-day moving average for the first time since in a month in the coming days. It needs to re-take the $1.3520 area to repair the technical damage. The 0.2% increase in the UK's May CPI saw the year-over-year moderate to 3.4% from 3.5%. Service inflation slowed to 4.7% from 5.4% and core CPI slowed to 3.5% from 3.8%. Air fares and fuel costs eased but was offset by rising food prices, furniture, and household appliances. Goods inflation crept up and some retailers have indicated the intention to pass through the recent increase in payroll taxes. Even with last week's news that the output contracted by a more-than-expected 0.3% in April, the market understands that there is practically no chance that the Bank of England cuts rate at tomorrow's meeting. Still, in the swaps market, the odds of a cut at the next meeting (August 7) are near 80%, up from a little more than 50% at the end of May. CAD: After setting an eight-month low on Monday (~CAD1.3540), the greenback snapped higher yesterday and reached a marginally new five-day high (~CAD1.3695). There has been no follow-through buying today, and the US dollar is consolidating, holding above CAD1.3650. A band of resistance is seen between CAD1.3685 and CAD1.3730. There has been a notable shift in expectations for the Bank of Canada. The current target rate of 2.75% was seen at near 2.35% at the end of May. Now it is almost 2.50%. AUD: The Australian dollar unwound Monday's gains and fell to almost $0.6465 yesterday. After settling at its best level since last November on Monday, yesterday's close was the lowest since June 3. Yesterday's low held and the Aussie recovered to almost $0.6515. Australia reports May jobs data tomorrow. April was a strong month, and it is unlikely to have been repeated last month. Of the 89k jobs created in May, 59.5k were full-time positions. In the first four months of the year, Australia, on average grew almost 26k jobs (in the first four months of 2024, the average job growth was almost 32k). It averaged nearly 17k full-time positions a month this year compared with about 24k in the first four months of 2024. The unemployment rate has fluctuated over the past year, but it was at 4.1% in April 2024 and April 2025. The unemployment rate is flat, but the participation rate has risen to 67.1% in April 2025 from 66.7% in April 2024. The futures market is discounting almost an 85% chance of a cut in the overnight cash target (to 3.60%) at the next central bank meeting on July 8. Three quarter-point cuts are fully discounted before the end of the year. MXN: The greenback recovered from MXN18.8250 on Monday, its lowest level since last August and reached a little above MXN19.05 yesterday. Last Friday's high was around MXN19.1030. It is consolidating in a tight range (~MXN18.9770-MXN19.0365). A near-term bottom appears to have been forged. A move above last week's high would be an early warning of the risk back toward MXN19.20, at least initially. Mexico's central bank meets next Thursday. The market and economists are inclined to see a 50 bp cut, even though inflation is above 4%, the upper end of the target range. Brazil's central bank meets today and is now widely seen standing pat with the Selic rate at 14.75%. Disclaimer

Ethereum (ETH) has experienced a notable pullback after a brief period of upward momentum earlier this month. The asset, which surged past the $2,800 level in mid-June, has since declined by 8.7% over the past week, now trading at around $2,498. This retreat follows broader market consolidation, as Ethereum struggles to maintain upward pressure despite strong on-chain activity. Ethereum Staking and Accumulation Trends While ETH’s price action has turned negative, on-chain indicators suggest a contrasting narrative of growing investor conviction. According to insights shared by on-chain analyst OnChainSchool via CryptoQuant’s QuickTake platform, Ethereum has set a new record in staking activity. In the first half of June alone, more than 500,000 ETH were staked, pushing the total locked amount to over 35 million ETH. This growth in staked ETH not only reflects rising validator participation but also contributes to reducing the circulating supply, a dynamic that may influence future price movements. The report also highlights a rise in accumulation addresses, wallets that have received ETH but have never transferred any out. These addresses now collectively hold 22.8 million ETH, another all-time high. This trend is often interpreted as a sign of long-term holding behavior and suggests that certain investor cohorts are positioning themselves for future price appreciation rather than short-term gains. Taken together, the record levels of staking and accumulation point toward an increasingly illiquid supply, which, if demand increases, could amplify upward price pressure. A Technical Look: Price Explosion on the Horizon? In addition to the on-chain data, market participants are also analyzing Ethereum from a technical perspective. A crypto analyst on X operating under the pseudonym “Bitcoinsensus” has drawn attention to a multi-year “bullish flag” pattern forming on ETH charts since 2021. A bullish flag is a technical chart formation that typically follows a strong price move upward, marked by a period of consolidation in a downward-sloping channel. If the asset breaks out of the flag to the upside, it can signal a continuation of the prior bullish trend. Bitcoinsensus suggests that if the pattern completes, Ethereum could target a move toward the $8,000 range. This potential breakout would depend on several factors, including macroeconomic sentiment, ETF flows, and on-chain fundamentals. Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView

Aave and CoinDesk Indices are launching CDOR, an onchain benchmark for stablecoin interest rates, starting with USDT and USDC. Built on Aave V3 data, CDOR could redefine DeFi, mirroring SOFR in TradFi. The United States is keen on ensuring stablecoins backed by Treasuries thrive. With the passage of the GENIUS Act in the Senate, Congress now has to debate and is highly likely to approve the bill. Despite some lawmakers, including Elizabeth Warren, arguing that certain amendments to the GENIUS Act were not considered, the bill has garnered bipartisan support. If passed in Congress, it will create a framework enabling companies to launch stablecoins with clarity on their legal standing. Presently, the stablecoin market is growing, even allowing investors to buy some of the next 1000X cryptos. As of June 18, the total market cap of all stablecoins was more than $261 billion. (Source) USDT, the first stablecoin, remains the largest, with over $155 billion in market cap. It is way more valuable than all of the best cryptos to buy, excluding BTC ▼-1.85% and ETH ▼-1.51%. USDC by Circle, which recently went public and listed on the NYSE, is the second largest, with over $61 billion. Algorithmic stablecoins, such as USDS and Ethena Labs’ delta-neutral USDE, are also popular among yield-seeking investors. DISCOVER: 9 Best Crypto Presales to Invest in June 2025 – Top Token Presales Aave Partners With CoinDesk To Launch CDOR: What Does It Mean? Recognizing that stablecoins are integral to crypto and power DeFi, primarily on Ethereum, CoinDesk Indices partnered with Sentora (formerly IntoTheBlock) and Aave, the largest DeFi protocol by total value locked (TVL), to launch the CoinDesk Overnight Rates (CDOR). CDOR is the first institutional-grade on-chain benchmark interest rate for stablecoins, initially supporting USDT and USDC. The tracker draws real-time borrowing activity from Aave V3’s variable-rate lending pools, making overnight interest rate pricing in DeFi more transparent and creating a standardized framework. Updates to overnight interest rates will be published daily. In a press release, Stani Kulechov, founder of Aave Labs, said CDOR provides “a transparent, risk-free lending rate” to unlock new stablecoins use cases. He expects innovators to develop complex derivatives and fixed-income products, enhancing DeFi market efficiency. Anthony DeMartino, CEO of Sentora, noted that CDOR enables users to “switch from floating to fixed funding or speculate on the curve in a single, capital-efficient trade; a crucial building block missing for years.” DISCOVER: Best Meme Coin ICOs to Invest in 2025 A New Era for DeFi? CDOR effectively creates a DeFi equivalent of SOFR and CORRA, which is used in traditional finance (TradFi). Due to transparency concerns and the “subjectivity” of LIBOR, it was replaced by SOFR and CORRA in 2023. Like SOFR and CORRA, CDOR is risk-free and transparent, relying on actual transaction data rather than subjective estimates. Uniquely, CDOR draws all data from on-chain sources, specifically Aave V3 pools, eliminating counterparty risk, unlike SOFR and CORRA, which are collateralized and exposed to TradFi. CDOR addresses a major DeFi challenge: the lack of a standardized, reliable funding benchmark. Without such a benchmark, institutions struggled to hedge borrowing costs or structure interest rate products, limiting DeFi’s ability to attract billions in institutional capital. It remains to be seen whether CDOR will succeed. Rapid adoption could lead to an explosion in DeFi liquidity as new products emerge. Galaxy, FalconX, and Tyr Capital are early backers, signaling strong institutional interest in leveraging the potentially multi-trillion-dollar stablecoin market. DISCOVER: Next 1000x Crypto – 10 Coins That Could 1000x in 2025 Aave CoinDesk Releases CDOR For DeFi and Stablecoins Aave and CoinDesk releases CDOR The Stablecoin market now exceeds $262 billion CDOR mirrors SOFR and CORRA in tradFi Will CDOR change the DeFi game with new use cases? The post Did Aave and CoinDesk Change the DeFi And Stablecoin Game with CDOR? appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

In a move that has already created a buzz in the precious metals community, the Governor of Mississippi ratified a new law on April 19th, 2023. The law explicitly provides tax exemptions on selling and using precious metal bullion, coins, and currency. Under this law exemptions are provided for the sales of coins, currency, and bullion. As the law defines, bullion is any bar, ingot, or coin made partially or entirely of gold, silver, platinum, or palladium. This term applies to those used as a medium of exchange, security, or commodity by any state, the U.S Government, or a foreign country. The sales are based on the precious metal or collectible item’s intrinsic value rather than its representative value as an exchange medium. In contrast, ‘coin or currency’ refers to any coin or currency made partially or entirely of gold, silver, other metals, or paper used solely as a medium of exchange, security, or commodity by any state, the U.S Government, or a foreign nation. The coin or currency’s sales are based on its intrinsic value as a precious metal or collectible item rather than its representative value as an exchange medium. It’s important to note that the term ‘coin or currency’ does not extend to coins or currency transformed into jewelry. This law became effective on July 1, 2023. As a result, Mississippi will become the 42nd state to either have no sales tax or to have introduced full or partial tax exemptions on retail sales of precious metals, bullion, coins, and currency. Nevada also provides a partial sales tax exemption through regulations instead of legislation. In the year 2023, similar exemptions have been introduced in various states. In Kentucky, a similar exemption was part of the revenue bill approved by the House. Unfortunately, the Senate did not retain this provision in its approved bill. The exemption was not reinstated during subsequent negotiations to reconcile the differences between the two approved versions. The legislative session in Kentucky for the year has ended. In Alaska, House Bill 3 was introduced in January to exempt gold and silver coins or bullion from local borough sales and use taxes. Alaska does not impose state sales or use taxes, but some boroughs do. This bill’s future remains uncertain as it was referred to the House Finance Committee in February, which has yet to act. In Maine, Legislative Document 1051 was introduced in March to exempt gold and silver coins and bullion from sales and use tax. After being assigned to the Joint Taxation Committee, the committee voted for a divided report on April 6. The prospects remain uncertain. New Jersey introduced Senate Bill 1825 in 2022 to provide for a sales and use tax exemption on gold, silver, platinum, and palladium bullion products and investment coins (any coin with a selling price of $1,000 or more). In March 2023, Assembly Bill 5294, with identical language, was introduced. However, the future of these bills remains uncertain. In Vermont, House Bill 295 was introduced in February. This bill proposes a partial sales and use tax exemption on sales of gold and silver bullion and coins exceeding $1,000. The first $1,000 of any transaction would still be subject to Vermont’s 6% statewide sales tax and an additional local tax of up to 1%. The bill’s prospects still need to be determined as it was sent to the House Ways and Means Committee. In Wisconsin, identical bills, Assembly Bill 29 and Senate Bill 33 were introduced in February to establish a sales and use tax exemption on precious metals bullion and coins with a gold, silver, platinum, or palladium content of at least 35%. However, an overestimation in the fiscal estimate report regarding the impact of these exemptions has created a hurdle, making the prospects uncertain. Government officials have often overestimated the sales and use taxes collected while considering these exemptions. They need more accurate information regarding the amount of sales tax collections from dealers in precious metals bullion, coins, and currency versus those from other businesses that sell antiques, jewelry, other collectibles, second-hand merchandise, and hobby supplies. Whether you are new to gold investing or have been a collector for years, it is essential to research and work with a reputable dealer. American Bullion is a trusted resource for those looking to invest in gold IRAs, offering a wide selection of gold coins from around the world and expert guidance on which coins are right for you. So why wait? Invest in gold coins today and start building a brighter financial future. The post Which States Charge Tax on Gold in 2025 first appeared on American Bullion.

On-chain data shows the Bitcoin Network Value to Transactions (NVT) Golden Cross has surged into a zone that has historically signaled overpriced conditions for the asset. Bitcoin NVT Golden Cross Has Crossed Above 2.2 In a new post on X, CryptoQuant author Darkfrost has talked about the latest trend in the NVT Golden Cross of Bitcoin. The NVT Golden Cross is an indicator based on another metric known as the NVT Ratio. The NVT Ratio keeps track of the ratio between the BTC market cap and transaction volume. The idea behind the indicator is that the ability to transact coins (as gauged by the transaction volume) could be considered as a reflection of the asset’s ‘fair value.’ Thus, through the comparison of the cryptocurrency’s current value (that is, the market cap) with this fair value, the metric can tell us about whether the asset is overvalued or undervalued. When the value of the metric is high, it means the market cap is high compared to the transaction volume. Such a trend could imply BTC may be becoming overheated. On the other hand, the indicator being low could suggest room for the coin to grow relative to its volume. Now, the NVT Golden Cross, the actual metric of relevance here, is a signaling indicator like the Bollinger bands for the NVT Ratio that aims to locate tops and bottoms in its value. The NVT Golden Cross does so by comparing the short-term trend (represented by the 10-day MA) with the long-term one (30-day MA). Below is the chart shared by the analyst that shows the trend in the metric over the last couple of years. As displayed in the above graph, the Bitcoin NVT Golden Cross has recently registered a sharp uptick and entered into the region above the 2.2 mark (highlighted in red). This zone is where the cryptocurrency’s market cap has historically outpaced the transaction volume to a degree that a reversion to the mean has tended to occur. In other words, it’s where price corrections to the downside have taken place for the asset. Though, it’s visible from the chart that not every top in the NVT Golden Cross inside this territory coincides with a price top. And in many instances that it does, the decline in the asset isn’t to some major degree. So far since the signal has appeared, however, the asset has indeed been going down, a potential sign that the same reversion effect may be in play once more. It now remains to be seen whether downside will be limited, or if this will be one of those instances where the signal was followed by an extended drawdown. BTC Price At the time of writing, Bitcoin is floating around $103,700, down almost 5% in the last seven days.

The British pound has stabilized on Wednesday. In the European session, GBP/USD is trading at 1.3551, up 0.28% on the day. The US dollar showed broad strength on Tuesday and GBP/USD declined 1.05% and fell to a three-week low. UK inflation ticks lower to 3.4%UK inflation for May edged lower to 3.4% y/y, down from 3.5% in April and matching the market estimate. The driver behind the deceleration was lower airline prices and petrol prices. Services inflation, which has been persistently high, eased to 4.7% from 5.4%. Monthly, CPI gained 0.2%, much lower than the 1.2% gain in April and matching the market estimate. Core CPI, which excludes food and energy, fell to 3.5% in May, down from 3.8% a month earlier and below the market estimate of 3.6%. Monthly, the core rate rose 0.2%, sharply lower than the 1.4% spike in April and in line with the market estimate. This marked the lowest monthly increase in four months. The Bank of England will be pleased that core CPI moved lower but the inflation numbers are still too high for its liking. Headline CPI had been below 3% for a year but has jumped well above 3% in the past two months. BoE policymakers won't have much time to digest today's inflation report as the central bank makes its rate announcement on Thursday. The markets are widely expecting the BoE to maintain the cash rate at 4.25%, Investors will be keeping a close eye on the meeting, looking for hints of a rate cut later in the year. The UK economy contracted in April and with wages falling and unemployment rising, there is pressure for the BoE to lower rates, but that is risky with inflation well above the BoE's 2% inflation target. US retail sales sink US retail sales slumped in May, falling 0.9% m/m. This was well below the revised -0.1% reading in April and worse than the market estimate of -0.7%. Annually, retail sales fell to 3.3%, down sharply from a revised 5.0%. Consumers are wary about the economy and anxiety over Trump's tariffs has weighed on consumer spending. If additional key US data heads lower, this will increase pressure on the Federal Reserve to lower interest rates. GBP/USD Technical GBP/US is putting pressure on resistance at 1.3480. Above, there is resistance at 1.35451.3364 and 1.3299 are providing support close GBPUSD 4-hour Chart, June 18, 2025 GBPUSD 4-hour Chart, June 18, 2025 Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © {CURRENT_YEAR} OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

Amid the tension in the Iran-Israel conflict, the cryptocurrency market experienced another daily pullback. Bitcoin (BTC), which had just recovered from Friday’s drop, erased its recent gains and recorded a 4.5% dip to the $103,000 mark in the past 24 hours. However, some analysts believe that the flagship crypto is preparing for a big move in the coming weeks. Bitcoin Could See Massive Move Soon On Monday, Bitcoin attempted to break its post-November range high but failed to hold the $108,000-$109,000 area as support for the fourth time in a month, falling back into its larger range. Market watcher Daan Crypto Trades noted that this resistance level remains a key area to watch, adding that “without a clean break above, it’s not the time to get excited just yet.” Nonetheless, the trader considers that the BTC is “setting up for a large move” as the cryptocurrency continues to hold its monthly range between $100,000 and $110,000. He asserted that this range will break “at some point in June,” as well as the current weekly high and low, which have “a very low probability of being held” in the coming days. Daan added that a break from these levels is highly possible in the next 1-2 weeks, likely leading to a big move in the direction of the break. Analyst Sjuul from AltCryptoGems highlighted the crypto market’s performance and investors’ concerns amid the war-related headlines, noting that Bitcoin reacted in a similar pattern during past geopolitical and crypto-related events. According to the analyst, global events’ uncertainty has led to mass liquidation and on-chain panic multiple times since 2020, leading to 30%-50% crashes. However, the market has recovered from these events after significant accumulation. Here’s the pattern: Big event (Black Swan). Panic headlines. Sharp BTC dump. Retail Panic sells. Smart money buys. Time passes. Bitcoin hits new highs. Based on this, Sjuul forecasted a strong Bitcoin pump and a new all-time high (ATH) once the current war tensions are over. BTC Holds Key Support Amid Pullback Meanwhile, analyst Rekt Capital emphasized that Bitcoin has been retesting its old range high as support for the past six weeks and showing stability around the $104,400 level during this period. According to the analyst, as long as BTC’s price Weekly Closes above this level, the candle wicks below it are “just noise” and it is positioned to transition into its Second Price Discovery Uptrend. He also pointed out that the cryptocurrency has only seen a less than 10% dip during the recent pullbacks. Moreover, these drop depths have also been diminishing, with the first rejection producing a 7.72% drop and the second dip being 5.79% deep, while the current rejection has seen a 4.5% retrace so far. Rekt Capital considers the strongest support to be between the $102,000-$104,000 area, and the final level to break is the range high resistance of $108,890. “As long as this resistance isn’t rejecting price too much, then maybe it’s getting weaker over time,” he affirmed, concluding that a weekly close above this level would be “a very strong sign for a reclaim of this resistance into new support to springboard price higher.” As of this writing, Bitcoin is trading at $105,085, a 1.1% jump in the past hour.

Risk-off sentiment returned to US equities overnight, with all major indices closing lower: the S&P 500 declined 0.8%, the Nasdaq 100 fell 1%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average shed 0.7%, and the Russell 2000 dropped 1%. close Fig 2: Silver (XAG/USD) minor to medium-term trends as of 18 June 2025 (Source: TradingView) Fig 2: Silver (XAG/USD) minor to medium-term trends as of 18 June 2025 (Source: TradingView) Since its bullish breakout from a medium-term multi-month “Symmetrical Triangle” range configuration on 5 June 2025, the price movements of Silver (XAG/USD) have accelerated and hit a 13-year high of US$37.12 on Tuesday, 18 June. In addition, the 4-hour MACD trend indicator has continued to trend upwards steadily above its centreline since 17 June, which suggests that the short-term uptrend phase of Silver (XAG/USD) remains intact (see Fig 2). Also, the ratio chart of Silver against Gold suggests a further outperformance of Silver over Gold at least in the short term. These observations suggest that the current minor to medium-term uptrend phases of Silver (XAG/USD) have been in place since the 7 April 2025 low of US$28.31 may still have further room to run. Watch the US$35.90 short-term pivotal support with the next intermediate resistances coming in at US$37.77/38.30 and US$39.08. On the other hand, failure to hold at US$35.90 support negates the bullish tone to see a minor corrective decline to expose the next intermediate support at US$34.76 (also the 20-day moving average). Opinions are the authors'; not necessarily that of OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc. or any of its affiliates, subsidiaries, officers or directors. The provided publication is for informational and educational purposes only. If you would like to reproduce or redistribute any of the content found on MarketPulse, an award winning forex, commodities and global indices analysis and news site service produced by OANDA Business Information & Services, Inc., please refer to the MarketPulse Terms of Use. Visit https://www.marketpulse.com/ to find out more about the beat of the global markets. © {CURRENT_YEAR} OANDA Business Information & Services Inc.

No topic is more contentious in crypto than Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). In just 12 months, the number of countries exploring a central bank digital currency has ballooned from around 35 to at least 81, and likely higher as new data confirms 134 nations are now looking into digital currencies covering 98% of global GDP. Here’s where they’re going next: What Exactly Are CBDCs? Why Central Banks Are Rushing In CBDCs are essentially digital versions of your local cash, issued directly by a country’s central bank. Unlike cryptocurrencies, they carry none of the decentralization magic and are fully under government control. You won’t pay extra service fees, transactions are fast, and utterly traceable. So when the government gets curious about where your money went, there’s no mystery . XRPPriceMarket CapXRP$127.41B24h7d30d1yAll time China is leading the charge with its digital yuan, pushing beyond domestic use and setting up an international base in Shanghai. And countries like the Bahamas, Nigeria, and Jamaica are already live with CBDCs. A larger wave—Brazil, India, Turkey, Russia, and Australia—is in the test lab. Japan, propelled by a sharp rise in cashless payments, is accelerating a digital yen pilot. Over in Europe, the ECB isn’t sitting still either, with formal preparations underway for a digital euro and a tentative launch window between 2025 and 2026. The US Is Still on the Sidelines The Federal Reserve has released discussion papers and emphasized exploration, but no concrete plans yet. A recent Senate stablecoin bill signals growing interest in private-dollar tokens but the Fed itself is cagey, preferring to study use cases before committing. President Trump’s 2025 executive order outright bans a U.S. CBDC but recent legislation such as the Genius Act, which erases guardrails for stablecoins, can usher in a central digital coin creation. What’s Next? 2025 is pivotal. China is pushing e‑CNY globally. The EU is inching toward a digital euro. Countries like Japan, India, Australia, Brazil, and Russia are in fast pilots. The U.S. is keeping its distance—but stablecoin regulation is warming up. Crypto fans should see CBDCs as the axis America woke up at a fork in the road. If the U.S. stays on the sidelines while China and Europe shape the rules, private dollar tokens like USDC may leap forward into that vacuum. EXPLORE: Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino Hopes For Net Positive From US Elections, Says Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Is A Great Idea: 99Bitcoins Exclusive Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates Key Takeaways No topic is more contentious in crypto than Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs). 2025 is pivotal. China is pushing e‑CNY globally. The post CBDCs: Will the Digital Currencies Released by Central Banks Replace Crypto appeared first on 99Bitcoins.

After months of posturing, standoffs, and closed-door edits, the Senate crypto bill passed, AKA the GENIUS Act. It is the first real attempt at regulatory framework targeting stablecoins. The final vote came in at 68 to 30, a rare show of bipartisan muscle in a chamber better known lately for doing nothing. For crypto, it’s a clear signal: the grown-ups are finally paying attention. Some on crypto Twitter believe this effectively makes using Chainlink’s proof of reserve a law. While that’s not the case, many altcoins will benefit; here’s what to know: EthereumPriceMarket CapETH$304.55B24h7d30d1yAll time Senate Crypto Bill Passed: What the GENIUS Act and Crypto Senate Mean for Stablecoins Stablecoins are no longer the unruly stepchild of finance. With the GENIUS Act, the Senate just handed builders a rulebook of how they’re issued, what reserves back them, and how their transparency will be enforced. It’s a bid to inject some order into one of the most volatile corners of crypto. But the bill nearly fell apart under pressure from the left. Senator Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts mounted a last-minute rebellion, warning that the bill lacked precision when it came to fighting fraud, especially those tied to Trump’s crypto experiments. Still, Senator Gillibrand held the line, working backroom phones until the votes stacked up. For the industry, the act delivers a significant win. By giving stablecoin projects a clear compliance framework, it addresses a long-standing pain point. The result could be a tighter bond between the crypto sector and institutional investors eager for regulatory certainty. Ethereum Gains as Crypto Senate Negotiations Create Regulatory Clarity For all the focus on stablecoins in the GENIUS Act, Ethereum is quietly racking up the biggest gains. The bill’s arrival, paired with rising institutional interest, is reshaping how ETH ▼-1.51% is viewed by serious money. “Until now, Ethereum’s role was underappreciated,” said Vivek Raman, head of the Ethereum-focused group Etherealize. But with regulators finally outlining the rules of engagement, Ethereum’s role as the backbone of tokenized finance is harder to ignore. From anchoring stablecoins to powering smart contract settlement, ETH will be one of the standout benfeciaries of the Genius Act. Why Regulatory Clarity Matters (CoinGecko) After years of political hand-wringing and turf wars between regulators, the GENIUS Act delivers what crypto needed most: certainty. Not just for stablecoins, but for Ethereum, Chainlink, and the rest of the ecosystem. Still, it’s early days. Lawmakers have only begun to scratch the surface. EXPLORE: Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino Hopes For Net Positive From US Elections, Says Bitcoin Strategic Reserve Is A Great Idea: 99Bitcoins Exclusive Join The 99Bitcoins News Discord Here For The Latest Market Updates Key Takeaways After months of posturing, standoffs, and closed-door edits, the Senate crypto bill passe For the industry, the act delivers a significant win. The post Senate Crypto Bill Passed: The US GENIUS Act Just Changed Everything For Stablecoins appeared first on 99Bitcoins.