Binance News

The Federal Reserve Board has requested public comment on a proposal that would require certain payment stablecoin issuers to establish and maintain effective customer identification programs (CIP). According to Foresight News, the proposal was issued jointly by the Federal Reserve and four other agencies.
Under the proposal, the affected stablecoin issuers would be required to follow customer identification standards similar to those applied to banks and credit unions.
The public comment period would run for 60 days after the proposal is published in the Federal Register.

Oppenheimer raised its price target on SpaceX (SPCX.O) to $250 from $190.
According to Jin10, the firm increased the target from $190 to $250.

In the latest episode of Inside The Blockchain 100 on Binance Square, Aster CEO Leonard discussed the project’s merger and rebranding journey, competition in the decentralized perpetuals market, the rise of tokenized U.S. equities and real-world assets (RWA), as well as Aster’s recent tokenomics upgrade.
Aster was formed through the merger and reshaping of two protocols that already had established user bases. Within a relatively short period, the platform has surpassed 21 million cumulative users and recorded more than $4 trillion in cumulative trading volume, becoming one of the frequently discussed players in the decentralized perpetuals sector.
From Merger to Product Focus: Users Ultimately Care About the Product
Discussing Aster’s relatively low-profile public presence, Leonard said it is partly related to his personality and partly shaped by his previous experience working on high-frequency trading infrastructure and risk systems, roles that are often more behind the scenes. However, as the project has grown, he believes it is important for someone from the team to communicate directly with the community.
“Every project needs someone to step forward, communicate with users, give them confidence, and convey the project’s philosophy and product direction,” Leonard said.
On the process of merging two protocols into Aster, Leonard noted that technical issues were comparatively manageable, while cultural integration was the more challenging part. One side of the team was more focused on dApps and yield products, emphasizing fairness and openness, while the other side placed greater emphasis on trading efficiency and execution experience.
As Aster became more clearly positioned as a trading-driven product, the team adjusted its structure around product, technology, and liquidity capabilities. Leonard emphasized that whether users stay or leave does not depend on whether a brand has been relaunched, but on whether the product has delivered meaningful improvements.
DEX Competitors Are Not Just Other DEXs: Capital Efficiency and Liquidity Are Key
Reflecting on Aster’s rapid growth after launch, Leonard acknowledged that market expectations were high in the early stages, and mechanisms such as trading mining meant that some data included inflated elements. He also said the team’s delivery speed did not fully meet market expectations at one point. Still, for a team focused on long-term building, high attention is not necessarily a bad thing.
“Having pressure is better than having no attention at all,” he said.
When discussing the future competitive landscape for DEXs, Leonard said decentralized exchanges have never only competed with other DEXs. Users do not pay for “decentralization” alone; instead, they choose platforms with higher trading efficiency, lower costs, richer asset offerings, and deeper liquidity.
“As long as you are in the liquidity business and providing exchange liquidity, you are competing with everyone,” Leonard said.
As the boundaries between traditional brokerages, centralized exchanges, and on-chain protocols continue to blur, the long-term growth of DEXs will still depend on capital efficiency, transaction costs, and asset availability.
Tokenized U.S. Stocks and RWA: 24/7 Trading Is Only the First Step
On the trend of tokenized U.S. equities and RWA, Leonard said the market has gone through several rounds of experimentation, and this cycle appears to be “heading in the right direction, but still only at the beginning.” He pointed out that 24/7 trading is only the first step, while the deeper value of blockchain lies in composability.
If stocks, futures, stablecoins, and yield products can eventually be settled on the same chain and combined into different strategies, capital efficiency could be significantly improved, Leonard said.
Aster has also been advancing unified cross-asset trading capabilities. For example, it recently began supporting bStocks as spot and margin assets. According to Leonard, this allows users to place a portion of their U.S. stock-related assets on Aster while also using them as margin for crypto trading, enabling cross-asset strategies.
He added that crypto-native users are already accustomed to 24/7 capital movement, self-custody, and on-chain composability. These features may, over time, encourage part of traditional asset trading volume to move on-chain.
Regarding Aster’s long-term role, Leonard said the project does not aim to be merely a trading entry point. Instead, Aster hopes to become underlying infrastructure for on-chain financial markets. He said Aster will build around a front-end ecosystem, an asset issuance ecosystem through its permissionless listing validator model, and future vault and asset management products. Underlying liquidity and settlement capabilities will remain the core focus.
Tokenomics Upgrade: Buybacks Are Not a Growth Strategy, but a Value Transmission Mechanism
Aster recently announced a major tokenomics upgrade, with a target to reduce total supply from 8 billion to 3 billion and allocate 99% of daily platform fees to automatic buybacks. Leonard clarified that the reduction to 3 billion is a long-term target, not an immediate change.
He said the team believes that as Aster’s market share increases and the broader industry grows, revenue will not remain at current levels, giving the project confidence to pursue the target within a more reasonable timeframe.
Responding to market skepticism around buyback narratives, Leonard said he agrees that tokenomics alone cannot fundamentally change a project’s value.
“Buybacks can only transmit or amplify value; they cannot create new value. Value still comes from users and business growth,” he said.
Leonard stressed that Aster must continue to prove the quality of its revenue, users, and product competitiveness, rather than relying on short-term narratives.
When discussing Aster’s moat, Leonard summarized three key areas. First, Aster provides liquidity for certain scarce on-chain assets. Second, its trading privacy features can serve users who want to trade on-chain without fully exposing their trading information. Third, unified cross-asset trading and margin capabilities can help improve capital efficiency.
However, Leonard also acknowledged that many on-chain products can be copied. In the long run, he said, competitiveness will depend on team execution and the ability to keep innovating.
Finally, when asked whether he would rather prove over the next year that “Aster is the most profitable DEX” or “Aster is the fastest-growing DEX,” Leonard chose the latter. He said that if a team has long-term confidence in the sector, “market share is always more important than profit.”
Leonard concluded that the next major opportunity lies in bringing RWA on-chain and making these assets composable, self-custodial, and usable across multiple strategies. Aster, he said, aims to become infrastructure for that future.

Hsiao-Wei Wang said she has resigned from her roles as co-executive director and board member of the Ethereum Foundation. According to Odaily, Wang announced the decision in a post on X, saying she concluded during a leave of absence that it was an appropriate time to step down based on her priorities and future plans.
Wang said her experience as co-executive director gave her a broad view of how the Ethereum community collaborates. She said she is proud of the achievements of the Ethereum Foundation and contributors across the ecosystem, including developers, researchers, educators, node operators, validators, and users.
She said she plans to spend more time with her family but will continue contributing to the Ethereum ecosystem as a community member.

Goldman Sachs forecast that gold prices will rise to $4,900 per ounce by December.
According to Jin10, the bank issued the outlook without providing additional details in the report cited.

Citi said its base-case scenario expects capital flows to continue normalizing under a memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States, and it forecasts oil prices will trend lower over the next 6 to 12 months.
According to Jin10, Citi said oil prices are expected to reach $60 to $65 per barrel before the first quarter of 2027.

Stellar (XLM) rose 10% even as the CoinDesk 20 index declined. In the same session, Internet Computer (ICP) fell 4.1% and Sui (SUI) dropped 4%, leading the index lower from Wednesday, according to CoinDesk.

Oil prices have fallen after news of a US-Iran deal meant to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but US drivers may not see $3 gasoline soon. In the second sentence, according to Bloomberg, traders and analysts said prices are unlikely to return to pre-crisis levels until crude oil and gasoline stockpiles are replenished, which they said probably won’t happen before the end of 2026.

Oil headed for a substantial weekly drop as the US-Iran interim peace deal saw shipping through the Strait of Hormuz start to return to normal. According to Bloomberg, the pickup in traffic eased what it called the global crude market’s biggest-ever supply shock.

England produced the most entertaining performance of their tournament so far in a breathless 4–2 victory over Croatia, while DR Congo announced themselves to the world by holding Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal to a dramatic 1–1 draw. Colombia eased past World Cup debutants Uzbekistan with a composed 3–1 win, and Ghana snatched the points against Panama thanks to a last-gasp goal deep into stoppage time — a fittingly pulsating end to a day full of drama across Groups K and L.
In Group L, England's World Cup campaign began in chaotic, thrilling fashion at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas. Harry Kane gave Thomas Tuchel's side the lead on 12 minutes, converting a penalty at the second attempt after VAR ruled that Croatia goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic had strayed off his line to save the first effort. The Bayern Munich striker, who equalled Gary Lineker's England record of 10 World Cup goals with his second of the night, had researched Livakovic's tendency to move early — and the tactical gamble paid off handsomely. Croatia hit back through Martin Baturina's powerful drive on 36 minutes, before Kane restored England's advantage with a clinical header from Declan Rice's corner three minutes before half-time. England's defending, however, remained alarmingly porous: Petar Musa levelled once more for Croatia with virtually the last kick of the first half, steering Ivan Perišić's header past Jordan Pickford. Tuchel's half-time response was emphatic. Jude Bellingham, selected ahead of Morgan Rogers in one of the tournament's first tight calls, ended the debate moments after the restart with a surging run and composed finish that turned the game decisively. Substitute Marcus Rashford wrapped up a 4–2 win with five minutes to go, converting after a swift counter-attack to leave Tuchel celebrating with compatriot and pundit Jürgen Klopp on the touchline. England's attack was a joy; their defence a concern — but for now, the Three Lions are up and running in Group L.
Also in Group L, Ghana denied Panama a share of the spoils in the most dramatic fashion in Toronto. The two sides served up a tight, attritional contest before substitute Brandon Thomas-Asante raced down the left in the 95th minute and squared for Caleb Yirenkyi to tap home from close range, sparking wild celebrations among the West African supporters. It was a cruel outcome for Panama, who had matched Ghana throughout and went agonisingly close through Cristian Martinez, who struck the side-netting from close range in the second half. Ghana were themselves without Thomas Partey, denied entry to Canada due to ongoing criminal proceedings in the UK — a notable absentee. The late winner gives Ghana three points and sets up a fascinating encounter with Group L leaders England next.
In Group K, the evening's most talked-about result unfolded as DR Congo produced a stunning fightback to hold Portugal to a 1–1 draw. It was an occasion that reignited the debate around Cristiano Ronaldo's place in the Portugal team — and his impact on those around him. Portugal took the lead through a first-half goal, but DR Congo equalised through Brentford striker Yannick Wissa, who headed home to score his nation's first-ever World Cup goal — a moment of historic significance for a country making its debut in the tournament. Ronaldo — operating under immense scrutiny as he bids to become the greatest scorer in World Cup history — passed up a key chance when his run disrupted a potential pass to Bruno Fernandes, who was free inside the penalty area. Pundits including Thierry Henry and Gael Clichy were outspoken about the 41-year-old's influence on his team-mates, with Henry arguing Ronaldo's desire to score personally had cost Portugal a second goal. The draw leaves Group K wide open at the halfway point of the first round of fixtures.
Colombia, meanwhile, provided the night's most composed display, defeating World Cup debutants Uzbekistan 3–1 at the Mexico City Stadium. Daniel Muñoz volleyed a brilliant opener to set Colombia on their way, and despite Abdullaev Fayzullaev heading home an equaliser to raise hopes for the Uzbek crowd, Luis Díaz restored Colombia's lead with a clinical finish. Jaminton Campaz added gloss to the scoreline deep into second-half stoppage time, heading home a pinpoint cross from Cucho Hernández who had refused to give up on a late run down the right. Uzbekistan, managed by legendary Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro, had pressed gamely in the second half and hit the crossbar late on through Bekhruz Karimov, but Colombia's quality told in the end. Colombia top Group K and look every inch a side capable of going deep into this tournament.
Upcoming Matches for June 18 (all times ET):
12:00 PM, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta — Czechia vs. South Africa (Group A)
3:00 PM, SoFi Stadium, Los Angeles — Switzerland vs. Bosnia and Herzegovina (Group B)
6:00 PM, BC Place, Vancouver — Canada vs. Qatar (Group B)
9:00 PM, Estadio BBVA, Guadalajara — Mexico vs. South Korea (Group A)

Goldman Sachs said risks to its medium-term gold price forecast were skewed to the upside.
According to Jin10, the bank described the overall balance of risks around its medium-term outlook as tilted higher.

Investors are rotating out of the Magnificent 7 and crypto and into AI “bottleneck” plays such as semiconductors, memory stocks, real estate and space-related opportunities, according to CoinDesk. Microsoft is down 33% from recent highs and Meta 28%, while Tesla, Amazon, Nvidia and Alphabet are more than 10% below; Apple is down 7%. Bitcoin has slid about 50% from its October all-time high. Sandisk is up roughly 800% this year, the Global X Artificial Intelligence & Technology ETF (DRAM) about 140%, Micron 230% and VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) 67%.

Philippine and Thai companies are bearing the brunt of earnings downgrades across Southeast Asia as their economies rely heavily on oil and gas choked off by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. In the region, according to Bloomberg, the Philippines and Thailand are seen as the most exposed to the impact of the Iran war on energy supplies.

Tesla Inc. shares were set to end the holiday-shortened week lower after SpaceX went public last Friday. In the first week after SpaceX’s IPO, Tesla stock underperformed, according to Bloomberg,

Asian stocks were poised to rise Friday after a peace deal between the US and Iran boosted optimism that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz will ease inflation pressures by restoring oil flows, according to Bloomberg.

Micron closed at $1,043 on June 17, 2026, while most analyst price targets range from $1,200 to $1,750.
According to NS3.AI, Wall Street’s consensus estimate for 2027 is around $1,500.
The report added that even bullish models projecting to 2030 do not place Micron at $5,000.

OPEC said global oil demand has not yet peaked and raised its 2050 oil demand outlook to 124 million barrels per day.
According to Jin10, OPEC updated its long-term projection by increasing its estimate for oil demand in 2050 to 124 million barrels per day.

Wall Street staged a comeback, with stocks climbing as oil fell after a peace deal between the US and Iran. In the second sentence, according to Bloomberg, investors bet that a revival of the Strait of Hormuz will ease inflation risks.

Strategy halted its at-the-market (ATM) offering program for STRC after the preferred stock showed continued weakness. According to NS3.AI, STRC dropped to an intraday low of $82.50 before closing at $88.59.
TD Cowen maintained its buy rating on Strategy’s common stock and preferred shares.

The Nasdaq’s gains widened to 2% late in the session. According to Jin10, the late-day move lifted the index’s advance to 2% by the close.

SK Hynix shares rose about 6.51% today, lifting the company’s market capitalization to $1.24 trillion. According to NS3.AI, data from InfiniteMarketCap shows SK Hynix now ranks 16th globally by market value.
The data places SK Hynix behind Bitcoin, which was listed with a market capitalization of $1.28 trillion.

Wall Street stocks rebounded on Thursday after the prior session’s pullback triggered by a Federal Reserve policy outlook that signalled possible rate hikes ahead. according to RTHK, the dollar continued to strengthen on the Fed outlook, while oil prices were mixed as markets weighed when the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz will boost crude supply.
The S&P 500 rose 1.1% to 7,500, the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1% to 51,564, and the Nasdaq gained 1.9% to 26,517.
Briefing.com analyst Patrick O'Hare said Wednesday’s losses created an opportunity for bullish investors. Major US indices had fallen about 1% or more on Wednesday after newly installed Fed Chair Kevin Warsh highlighted the central bank’s commitment to price stability as the Fed raised its inflation forecast and projected a rate hike in 2026.

European stocks retreated from a record high, snapping a five-day winning streak as energy producers fell alongside crude prices. In the move, according to Bloomberg, oil majors weighed on regional indexes as oil prices declined.

Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey said the decline in oil prices was “encouraging,” but warned that some inflation pressures were building. According to Jin10, Bailey said some inflationary pressures were already brewing despite the supportive move in energy prices.

SPDR Gold Trust, the world’s largest gold ETF, increased its holdings by 7.422 tons from the previous day, marking its biggest daily rise since April 17. According to Jin10, the fund’s total holdings stood at 1,020.491 tons after the increase.

SpaceX’s investment banking team is preparing a bond issuance of at least $20 billion.
According to Jin10, the planned deal is being organized by the company’s investment banking team.

Netflix Inc. is under contract to buy Radford Studio Center, a historic Los Angeles movie studio space, for a fraction of its 2021 $1.85 billion sale price, according to Bloomberg, after lenders including Goldman Sachs Group Inc. repossessed the property.

China and U.S. markets will be closed on June 19 as the Dragon Boat Festival coincides with Juneteenth.
According to Jin10, A-shares, Hong Kong stocks, Taiwan stocks, and U.S. stocks will each suspend trading for one day.
Domestic futures exchanges in China will not trade throughout the day.
Trading in CME Group futures contracts covering precious metals, energy, foreign exchange, equity indexes, and U.S. Treasury futures will end early at 01:00 (UTC+8) on June 20.
Trading in Intercontinental Exchange (ICE) Brent crude oil futures contracts will end early at 01:30 (UTC+8) on June 20.

US stocks rose Thursday as chip shares extended Wednesday’s rally. In the second sentence, according to Bloomberg, Nvidia Corp. led S&P 500 Index gainers on a points basis and the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index (SOX) climbed 6.4% to a record high.

Gold was on track for a third weekly loss as a hawkish Federal Reserve and rate-hike bets outweighed the signing of an interim peace deal between the US and Iran. In a brief update, according to Bloomberg, the Fed-driven outlook for higher rates was seen as the dominant factor for bullion.

Japan’s government is urging companies to use their cash for longer-term growth, a shift that is drawing skepticism from some observers. According to Bloomberg, critics warn the push could encourage unprofitable investments and ultimately erode corporate value.

Moderna Inc.’s influenza vaccine made with mRNA technology was recommended for approval by outside advisers to the US Food and Drug Administration. According to Bloomberg, the backing is a positive development for a product that has been contentious at the agency.

U.S. stocks ended higher on Thursday, June 18, with the Nasdaq Composite leading gains.
According to Jin10, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 73.14 points, or 0.14%, to close at 51,565.69. The S&P 500 added 80.57 points, or 1.09%, ending at 7,500.67. The Nasdaq Composite climbed 496.28 points, or 1.91%, to 26,517.93.

European Central Bank Governing Council member Jose Luis Escriva said there is uncertainty over oil prices and how inflation is transmitted through the economy.
According to Jin10, Escriva highlighted uncertainty surrounding both oil prices and the inflation pass-through mechanism.

Moody’s assigned SpaceX a Baa1 rating, classifying it as investment grade, and gave it a stable outlook.
According to Jin10, Moody’s said the rating outlook for SpaceX is stable.

Japan’s key inflation gauge held steady in May, helped by government subsidies that restrained energy costs. According to Bloomberg, the data keep the Bank of Japan on track for another interest-rate hike later this year.

SpaceX shares ended their first week of trading up 37% from the IPO price after a volatile debut. In its biggest-ever initial public offering, according to Bloomberg, the stock’s rough ride showed the deal was not immune to the post-listing swings that often hit newly public large-cap companies.

A member of the Bank of Japan said the central bank should maintain an accommodative monetary policy stance and avoid raising interest rates if Japan faces severe supply chain disruptions.
According to Jin10, the comment was included in the Bank of Japan’s meeting minutes.

A top US energy regulator voted to ease environmental requirements for pipelines and other natural gas projects, according to Bloomberg, saying the reviews are no longer needed after a recent Supreme Court ruling.