Noticias

The U.S. labor market delivered a stronger-than-expected performance in April, adding 115,000 jobs and nearly doubling economist forecasts of 62,000 — a result that steadied markets and kept Bitcoin above the $80,000 level as traders assessed the implications for Federal Reserve policy.
What you need to know
The April jobs report beat expectations by a wide margin, with 115,000 nonfarm payrolls added versus the 62,000 forecast. Bitcoin traded at $80,200 in the minutes following the release, roughly flat over 24 hours. The report arrives as the Senate prepares to confirm Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve chairman, replacing Jerome Powell later this month.
Jobs report breakdown: stronger than expected, but cooling from March
The Bureau of Labor Statistics released the April employment data on Friday, showing the economy added 115,000 jobs during the month — well above the consensus forecast of 62,000. However, the figure marks a step down from March's revised total of 185,000 (originally reported as 178,000), suggesting the labor market remains resilient but is gradually moderating.
The unemployment rate held steady at 4.3%, in line with analyst expectations.
How markets reacted: Bitcoin steady, stocks and bonds move
Bitcoin was trading at $80,200 in the immediate aftermath of the release, holding roughly flat over the prior 24 hours. Risk appetite was visible across other asset classes: U.S. stock index futures extended earlier gains, with the Nasdaq 100 rising 0.9%. The 10-year Treasury yield slipped 2 basis points to 4.37%, reflecting modest demand for safe-haven bonds even as the jobs data came in strong.
Why the jobs report matters for Fed policy right now
The April employment data lands at an unusually sensitive moment for U.S. monetary policy. Last week, the Federal Reserve held its benchmark fed funds rate unchanged at 3.50%–3.75% — a decision that extended the Fed's holding pattern as policymakers balance slowing economic growth against inflation that has proven stubborn.
The central bank is also in the middle of a leadership transition. Kevin Warsh is expected to be confirmed by the Senate as the new Federal Reserve chairman later this month, taking over from Jerome Powell. Markets will be watching closely for any early signals about how Warsh intends to approach the rate path, particularly if incoming data — like today's jobs report — continues to complicate the inflation versus growth trade-off.
Oil prices and inflation remain a wildcard
Adding to the complexity, energy markets remain unsettled. Oil prices have pulled back from recent highs but remain elevated, with ongoing uncertainty around the Strait of Hormuz keeping traders on edge. Persistently high crude prices carry a dual risk for the economy: they can feed directly into headline inflation while simultaneously weighing on consumer spending and broader economic activity — two dynamics that make the Fed's job harder regardless of who is chairing the institution.
What it means for Bitcoin
For Bitcoin, a stronger-than-expected jobs market is broadly positive in the near term. A resilient labor market reduces immediate recession fears, supports risk appetite, and keeps the broader macro environment constructive for speculative assets. The flat price reaction — BTC holding above $80,000 rather than selling off — suggests the market digested the report as a neutral-to-positive development.
The bigger variable for crypto in the weeks ahead will be how Warsh's Fed signals its intentions on rates. A more hawkish tilt at the central bank could strengthen the dollar and weigh on risk assets including Bitcoin, while a dovish or data-dependent stance could provide further tailwinds for the current rally.

Tokenized real-world assets (RWA) have experienced significant growth, increasing tenfold over the past two years to surpass $30 billion, according to ChainCatcher, citing a16z crypto. Nearly half of these assets are comprised of U.S. Treasury bonds. This expansion highlights the growing institutional demand for on-chain traditional financial instruments such as government bonds, commodities, stocks, and private credit.
While U.S. Treasury bonds currently dominate the tokenized asset market, the asset class is diversifying. In recent quarters, other categories have gained substantial market share, indicating a broader acceptance and integration of tokenized assets within the financial sector.

Arthur Hayes, speaking at the Consensus Miami 2026 event, expressed a stark outlook for altcoins, suggesting that 99% could become worthless as part of a typical market correction. According to NS3.AI, Hayes emphasized that Bitcoin's value is more influenced by the creation of fiat currency than by political or regulatory factors.

Tether has initiated legal proceedings in São Paulo, Brazil, seeking to recover a $300 million loan from Titan Holding, a company under the Master Group. According to ChainCatcher, the loan was issued by Tether's venture capital arm, Tether Investments, in 2025 and was originally due for repayment in 2026. However, no repayments have been made to date.

The owner of Master Group, Daniel Vorcaro, was recently arrested. Banco Master, a subsidiary of the group, faced liquidation by the Brazilian Central Bank last November due to a reserve shortfall of $2.2 billion, affecting over a million customers. In its lawsuit, Tether is requesting the freezing of all financial assets of Titan and its affiliated companies.

BlackRock is set to launch two new money market funds, BRSRV and BSTBL, targeting investors who hold cash in stablecoins. According to NS3.AI, the BRSRV share tokens will be available on multiple blockchain networks, while the BSTBL share tokens will be specifically issued on the Ethereum network. BlackRock's BUIDL fund, which was launched in 2024, currently manages $2.5 billion in assets.

At the Consensus Miami 2026 conference, Binance founder and former CEO, Changpeng Zhao (CZ), said YZi Labs currently allocates 70% of its capital to blockchain, 20% to AI, and 10% to biotechnology.He linked the future of BNB Chain to the rise of AI agents, arguing that blockchains must become “AI-ready” to support agentic payments and AI tool protocols such as MCP.According to CZ, AI agents will increasingly need to transact autonomously with other agents for cross-border services, subscriptions, bookings, and microtransactions — areas where traditional payment infrastructure falls short.CZ emphasized that blockchain is the most native payment layer for AI-driven interactions.On RWA, CZ noted that although he viewed the sector as overvalued a year ago, he has since changed his perspective and now believes real-world assets are both legitimate and currently undervalued.

U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs ended a five-day inflow streak on Thursday, logging $277.5 million in net outflows as Bitcoin dropped below the $80,000 level amid sharp intraday volatility. The reversal marks the first day of outflows in May and snaps a run that had accumulated nearly $1.7 billion in net inflows since late April.What you need to knowBitcoin ETFs recorded $277.5 million in outflows on Thursday — the first negative flow day in May — ending a five-consecutive-day inflow streak totaling $1.7 billion. Fidelity's FBTC led outflows at $129 million, followed by BlackRock's IBIT at $98 million. Morgan Stanley's MSBT has now gone its entire existence without a single day of outflows since launching on April 8. Bitcoin Stays above $82,000 on Thursday, pushing the Crypto Fear and Greed Index back into "Fear" territory at 38.  Bitcoin ETF flows: who sold and who heldAccording to SoSoValue data, Thursday's $277.5 million in outflows were concentrated at the two largest funds. Fidelity's Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) led the retreat with $129 million in outflows, while BlackRock's iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF (IBIT) followed with $98 million leaving the fund. Together, the two market leaders accounted for the vast majority of the day's negative flows.Two funds bucked the trend. The Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF (BTC) recorded modest inflows, as did the Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust ETF (MSBT) with $7.3 million — continuing what has become a remarkable unbroken inflow streak for the newest major entrant in the space.Morgan Stanley's Bitcoin ETF: no outflows since launchThe Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust ETF has not recorded a single day of outflows since its debut on April 8, 2026 — making it the standout performer during Thursday's broader retreat. MSBT has accumulated 2,920 BTC since launch, worth approximately $232.6 million at current prices, representing a 557% increase in assets under management since its first trading day.  The fund's resilience is notable given that Morgan Stanley's MSBT was the first spot Bitcoin ETF launched by a U.S. bank — a milestone that appeared to attract a loyal and sticky investor base from the institutional and wealth management channels the bank serves.What triggered the outflow reversal: BTC's sharp dropThe catalyst for the ETF flow reversal was a steep intraday correction in Bitcoin itself. BTC climbed above $82,000 on Wednesday — its highest level since late January — before retreating sharply and falling below the psychologically significant $80,000 level on Thursday. The move caught leveraged and short-term traders off-guard and appears to have prompted profit-taking among some ETF holders who had been riding the week's earlier gains.Canton Network ETF debuts on NasdaqThursday also saw the Nasdaq debut of the 21Shares Canton Network ETF (TCAN), the first U.S.-listed ETF designed to offer direct exposure to Canton Coin, the native utility token of the Canton Network. TCAN closed its opening session at $24.66, slightly below its initial price of $24.76, according to Nasdaq data. Canton Coin itself slipped 1.7% on the day to $0.145, reflecting the broader cautious tone across crypto markets.Fear and Greed Index slips back into fearThe day's negative price action pushed the Crypto Fear and Greed Index to 38 on Friday, returning the sentiment gauge to "Fear" territory after it had briefly recovered to "Neutral" the previous session. Despite the pullback, the index remains substantially above its April average of 17 — a period when Bitcoin was trading roughly 11% lower than current levels. The reading suggests that while short-term sentiment has softened, the medium-term shift in market mood since April's lows remains largely intact.What to watch nextThe key question for Bitcoin ETF flows in the coming days is whether Thursday's outflows represent a one-day correction or the start of a more sustained reversal. The five-day inflow streak that preceded it — totaling $1.7 billion — reflected genuine institutional demand. But with Bitcoin now back below $80,000 and the Fear and Greed Index retreating, the near-term trajectory of both price and flows will depend heavily on whether BTC can reclaim and hold the $80,000 level as support.

Wall Street's most speculative options binge in history is sending mixed signals to crypto markets. The surge in bullish S&P 500 bets is lifting Bitcoin — but the same frenzied momentum that's driving stocks higher could trigger a sharp reversal across all risk assets.
Key takeaways
Record S&P 500 call options volume — $2.6 trillion in a single day — signals an unprecedented surge in speculative risk appetite on Wall Street.Bitcoin benefits directly: its positive correlation with U.S. equities means a rising stock market has already helped lift BTC from under $70,000 to $80,000 since early April.The same speculative frenzy is a warning sign. Overcrowded bullish positioning leaves all risk assets — including crypto — exposed to sharp, sudden reversals.
What happened: a record-breaking day for S&P 500 call options
On Wednesday, U.S. equity derivative exchanges recorded a single-day notional volume of $2.6 trillion in S&P 500 call options, according to data tracked by Zero Hedge. That figure accounted for 60% of all S&P 500 options activity — meaning bullish bets overwhelmingly dominated the market.
To put the scale in perspective: $2.6 trillion nearly matches the entire crypto market's combined capitalization of $2.73 trillion — the aggregate value of thousands of cryptocurrencies, with Bitcoin accounting for the largest share. In a single trading session, Wall Street placed directional bets roughly equivalent to the worth of all digital assets on earth.
A call option gives a trader the right to buy the index above a specified price before expiration — in simple terms, it's a bet that stocks will go up. The sheer scale and one-sided nature of Wednesday's activity suggests the market is not just optimistic; it is aggressively chasing upside.
Why this matters for Bitcoin: the S&P 500–BTC correlation
Bitcoin doesn't operate in a vacuum. Over the past several years, analysts have repeatedly documented a positive correlation between BTC and U.S. equity indices — when stocks rise, crypto tends to follow, and vice versa.
That dynamic has been on full display recently. Double-digit gains in the S&P 500 and Nasdaq since early April directly contributed to Bitcoin's rally from under $70,000 to above $80,000 over the same period.
QCP Capital on BTC breaking $80,000: "After a solid April, BTC has begun May on firm footing, breaking above $80k for the first time since January 31. The move appears aligned with equities, reinforcing a broader trend as BTC's correlation with U.S. stocks climbs back toward 2023 levels, signaling a renewed linkage with risk assets broadly."
In this context, a speculative surge in the S&P 500 driven by record call options volume is, on the surface, a bullish signal for Bitcoin. More risk appetite on Wall Street historically means more capital flowing into high-beta assets — and few assets are higher beta than cryptocurrency.
The bullish case vs. the hidden risk
Bullish for Bitcoin
Record speculative appetite in equities historically spills over into crypto. BTC's rising correlation with U.S. stocks means continued stock market strength could push prices higher.
Risk to watch
Overcrowded bullish positioning is a classic contrarian warning sign. A sudden stall in equity momentum could trigger forced selling across stocks and crypto simultaneously.
 Signs of speculative excess: what analysts are warning
The record call options volume has not gone unnoticed. Across financial social media, traders and analysts flagged Wednesday's activity as a sign of an overcrowded trade. When market positioning becomes too one-sided — in this case, overwhelmingly bullish — the market grows increasingly fragile. Any stall in upward momentum can trigger a rapid unwind as traders rush to exit simultaneously.
Goldman Sachs analysts were cited in multiple media reports describing current market conditions as a "semi-irrational chasing mode" — widely interpreted as a reference to the semiconductor-driven surge powering the Nasdaq higher.
Semiconductor stocks are at the center of this dynamic. The bullish momentum in the Nasdaq-listed PHLX Semiconductor Sector index (SOX), as measured by the 14-week relative strength index (RSI), has reached its strongest level since 1999 — the height of the dot-com bubble — according to TradingView data. That's a historically significant warning signal about the sustainability of the current rally.
What it means for Bitcoin investors
For Bitcoin holders and traders, the current environment is a double-edged sword. The same speculative energy that has helped push BTC above $80,000 is concentrated in equity markets in a way that has historically preceded sharp corrections. If the S&P 500 call options frenzy unwinds — whether due to disappointing earnings, macro data, or simple exhaustion — the resulting volatility in stocks is likely to hit crypto markets hard given the strengthening correlation.
The near-term outlook therefore hinges on whether Wall Street's risk appetite can sustain itself at current extremes — or whether the record options binge marks the peak of the current speculative cycle.

UBS Group, Switzerland's largest bank, has recently acquired 551,121 shares of MicroStrategy (MSTR) stock, valued at approximately $98 million. According to ChainCatcher, this purchase increases UBS Group's total holdings to 6.31 million shares of MSTR, with a total portfolio value of around $1.12 billion.

DeepSeek is facing challenges in its funding negotiations with Alibaba and Tencent, according to Odaily. A source close to DeepSeek revealed that Alibaba and DeepSeek could not agree on specific financing terms. Alibaba's ecosystem does not align well with DeepSeek's needs, and DeepSeek prefers to minimize restrictive conditions, given its access to potential external investors.

Additionally, DeepSeek is engaged in negotiations with potential shareholders. Bloomberg reported that Tencent has proposed acquiring up to 20% of DeepSeek's shares in the current funding round, but DeepSeek is reluctant to relinquish significant control. Previous reports indicated that DeepSeek's valuation is as high as 300 billion, with plans to raise 50 billion, including 20 billion in internal funding and 30 billion from external sources. This valuation has been confirmed by DeepSeek employees.

The Russian State Duma's State Building and Legislation Committee has recommended the first reading of a government-submitted bill addressing criminal liability for illegal cryptocurrency mining. According to ChainCatcher, the proposed legislation introduces Article 171.6 to the Criminal Code, targeting unauthorized digital asset mining and unlicensed mining infrastructure operations not registered with the state.

Penalties will vary based on the severity of the offense. For cases where income or damages exceed 3.5 million rubles, fines could reach up to 1.5 million rubles or two years' income, with the possibility of up to two years of compulsory labor. For organized groups or cases where income exceeds 13 million rubles, fines could rise to 2.5 million rubles or three years' income, with compulsory labor or imprisonment of up to five years, and an additional fine of up to 400,000 rubles or six months' income. In all instances, confiscation of mined cryptocurrency is mandated.

The government estimates that approximately 50,000 entities are involved in mining activities in Russia, but only 1,489 (609 legal entities and 880 individual entrepreneurs) are registered with the state.

The Moscow Exchange has announced the introduction of new settlement futures for Solana, Ripple, and Tron digital assets, set to begin on May 14. According to ChainCatcher, these futures will be available exclusively to qualified investors.

The contracts will be settled in Russian rubles and will not involve the physical delivery of digital assets. The Solana index futures will be quoted in U.S. dollars, with a minimum price fluctuation and value change of $0.01. For Ripple and Tron index futures, the minimum price fluctuation is set at $0.0001, with a value change of $0.01. Each contract will have a one-month duration, with the last trading day being the last Friday of each month. Contracts expiring in June, July, and August will be available starting May 14.

Additionally, the Moscow Exchange will begin calculating and publishing indices for Solana, Ripple, Tron, and BNB cryptocurrencies starting May 13.

LayerZero has issued an apology for its role in a security oversight that contributed to the April 18 exploit, which resulted in the loss of approximately $292 million from Kelp DAO's rsETH bridge. According to NS3.AI, the incident involved the use of LayerZero's own DVN in a 1/1 setup, which was compromised. The Lazarus Group exploited internal RPC nodes, while an external RPC provider was subjected to a DDoS attack. LayerZero clarified that the underlying protocol remained unaffected. In response, LayerZero announced that its Labs DVN will no longer support 1/1 configurations, and efforts are underway to migrate default pathways to a more secure 5/5 setup where feasible.

The Senate Banking Committee may soon review the CLARITY Act, according to PANews. Crypto journalist Eleanor Terrett reported that multiple industry sources have revealed that the committee could notify members as early as tomorrow about the review. Draft legislation has been distributed to some industry members, with a vote expected next Thursday. Sources indicate that the language of the draft is still being finalized, with additional revisions anticipated to reflect the priorities of Democratic offices. After reviewing the act and coordinating with industry leaders, one source noted that the overall atmosphere is currently positive, although certain clauses in parentheses have raised concerns. Some key provisions previously thought to be resolved may still be subject to change.

Block, the payments firm led by Jack Dorsey, experienced a 7.9% rise in after-hours trading following its first-quarter earnings report, which exceeded analyst predictions despite marking its first loss in three years. According to Cointelegraph, Block's earnings reached 85 cents per share, surpassing the Zacks consensus estimate of 68 cents per share. This positive earnings surprise of 25.68% led to an increase in Block's share price to $75.70 after hours, as reported by Google Finance.The company has consistently outperformed consensus EPS estimates in two of the last four quarters. A significant focus for Dorsey has been expanding Bitcoin's use in the payments sector, aligning with Satoshi Nakamoto's vision of Bitcoin as a peer-to-peer electronic cash system. By late April, Block reported that over 800,000 U.S.-based merchants had enabled Bitcoin transactions for everyday purchases. Despite the earnings beat, Block reported its first quarterly loss since 2023, attributed to a 23.8% decline in Bitcoin's price over the three-month period. The net loss for Q1 was $309 million, including a $172.8 million Bitcoin remeasurement loss on the 8,883 Bitcoin held as of March 31. Bitcoin revenue from Cash App and other Block products decreased to $1.8 billion from $2.33 billion a year ago, which Block attributed to 'Bitcoin trading dynamics' and a strategic decision to reduce fees on certain Bitcoin transactions via Cash App.Despite these challenges, Block's Q1 gross profit rose by 27% to $2.9 billion, driven by net sales minus the cost of goods sold. Bitcoin payments in Cash App contributed $63 million to Block's gross profit, while Square had no significant impact on Block's Bitcoin business. Sean Emory, founder and chief investment officer of Avory & Co., noted that Block had a strong quarter, having 'beat and raised' its guidance. The quarter also saw a restructuring overhaul in late February, with Dorsey announcing about 4,000 staff cuts, representing roughly 40% of the company's workforce, as part of a plan to increase reliance on AI for greater operational efficiency. Consequently, Block's operational expenses rose by 57.2% year-on-year to $3.08 billion in Q1.In late April, Block expanded its Bitcoin offerings by launching a proof-of-reserves for its corporate Bitcoin treasury and allowing users to confirm Bitcoin balances on Cash App and Square, aiming to enhance transparency with its customers. Additionally, Block introduced a Bitkey hardware wallet with a touchscreen for transaction verification and a new Cash App feature enabling certain users to automatically convert payments into Bitcoin. The company also began offering 5% Bitcoin cash back rewards for Square merchants and increased customer withdrawal limits to $10,000 per day and $25,000 per week, furthering Dorsey's efforts to integrate Bitcoin into everyday payments.

Venezuela has reiterated its nationwide ban on cryptocurrency mining in response to the ongoing energy crisis. According to ChainCatcher, the country's national power system has reached a peak demand of 15,579 megawatts, marking the highest level in nine years. This surge in electricity usage is attributed to a persistent heatwave and the country's economic growth. The government has emphasized the 'absolute prohibition of digital mining nationwide,' warning that violators will face legal consequences. Authorities have also developed a monitoring plan to enforce this ban.

U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul S. Atkins addressed the regulatory direction for AI and blockchain financial markets at the AI+ Expo on May 8. According to ChainCatcher, Atkins outlined several regulatory initiatives aimed at blockchain markets, including establishing rules for defining 'exchanges' in blockchain trading systems, clarifying the applicability of broker and dealer definitions in blockchain activities, delineating the boundaries of 'clearing agency' definitions for blockchain clearing and settlement activities, and providing regulatory guidance for activities related to 'Crypto Vaults.'

In terms of AI regulation, Atkins emphasized that the SEC will not mandate the use of specific models by companies. Instead, the focus will remain on protecting investors, ensuring market fairness and efficiency, and promoting capital formation, with companies held accountable for the outcomes of their deployed AI tools.

Atkins also urged Congress to expedite the CLARITY Act for presidential approval, aiming to provide long-term certainty for the digital asset market through legislation. He warned that pushing innovation overseas could repeat the mistakes seen with FTX, ultimately harming U.S. investors.

On May 08, 2026, 17:27 PM(UTC). According to Binance Market Data, Bitcoin has crossed the 80,000 USDT benchmark and is now trading at 80,004.882813 USDT, with a narrowed 0.59% increase in 24 hours.

UBS Group has acquired an additional 551,121 shares of Strategy for $98 million, raising its total investment in the company to approximately $1.12 billion. According to NS3.AI, UBS Group now possesses 6.31 million shares of Strategy. Strategy currently holds 818,334 BTC, valued at $66.3 billion.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on the 8th at the White House that the United States might reinstate the 'Freedom Plan' to assist ships stranded in the Hormuz Strait. According to Odaily, Trump mentioned that he expects a response from Iran regarding the U.S.-Iran agreement proposal later that evening.

Trump expressed that he believes the 'Freedom Plan' is a good idea but noted that there are other possible solutions. If no progress is made, the U.S. may restart the 'Freedom Plan.' However, he indicated that it would be an 'upgraded version,' incorporating additional measures beyond the original plan.

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang praised a new partnership with Corning, describing it as a significant opportunity to rebuild the U.S. technology supply chain. According to Odaily, Huang emphasized the need for extensive optical connections in next-generation AI infrastructure due to rapidly increasing computational demands that copper wires can no longer meet.
Huang stated, "We will expand the use of optical technology on an unprecedented scale, and frankly, no optical company has ever operated at this scale."
He also noted that the benefits of the current wave of AI investments extend beyond tech companies. The AI industry is driving demand for electricians, construction workers, chip manufacturing employees, and data center infrastructure experts, demonstrating the widespread economic impact of this development.

The U.S. Senate has reached a compromise on stablecoin yield issues, leading to improved expectations for the advancement of the crypto market structure bill. According to ChainCatcher, industry experts have noted that this development has significantly boosted market sentiment. The Senate Banking Committee may proceed with discussions and voting next week.

Previously, the probability of the bill passing was estimated at only 20%–30%, but expectations have now risen to approximately 60%. However, ethical concerns related to U.S. President Donald Trump and his connections to crypto businesses remain a critical obstacle. The bill aims to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework at the federal level for the first time, delineating the regulatory responsibilities between the SEC and the CFTC.

LayerZero announced plans to transition from its single-validator DVN setup to a default 3:3 multi-validator configuration. This decision follows the recent Kelp DAO rsETH incident. According to NS3.AI, LayerZero also issued an apology for inadequate communication regarding the event. The protocol itself remained unaffected, and LayerZero is planning a comprehensive upgrade to its security infrastructure.

CoinMarketCap's Altcoin Season Index increased by five points to reach 48, indicating a shift in market dynamics. According to NS3.AI, the index measures whether 75% of the top 100 non-stablecoin and non-wrapped coins have surpassed Bitcoin's performance over the last 90 days. This rise suggests a growing trend in altcoin performance relative to Bitcoin, reflecting changes in investor sentiment and market behavior.

On May 9, Jin10 reported that the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) released data on May 8 indicating a continued rise in food prices for the third consecutive month due to increased energy costs and logistical disruptions caused by the Middle East conflict. According to Jin10, the FAO Food Price Index reached 130.7 points in April, marking a 1.6% increase from the revised March level and a 2.0% rise compared to the previous year. The cereal price index saw a month-on-month increase of 0.8% and a year-on-year rise of 0.4%. The FAO analysis suggests that the ongoing conflict in the Middle East is prompting farmers to cultivate crops that require less fertilizer, leading to a reduction in wheat planting areas in 2026, which is expected to further elevate wheat prices. The FAO has slightly lowered its global wheat production forecast for 2026, anticipating a decrease of approximately 2% compared to last year's output.

BlackRock has filed documentation to introduce a digital share class linked to its approximately $6.1 billion BlackRock Select Treasury Based Liquidity Fund on the Ethereum blockchain. According to NS3.AI, this initiative is aimed at investors who prefer to hold cash in stablecoins instead of traditional bank accounts. The tokenized shares are intended to function alongside the fund's existing traditional share classes.

Six banking trade groups have expressed concerns that the latest compromise on the Clarity Act still contains loopholes that may enable cryptocurrency companies to offer stablecoin rewards linked to account balances. According to NS3.AI, while the draft legislation aims to prohibit direct yield on stablecoins, it might still permit rewards associated with governance, validation, staking, and account balances. Senators have indicated that the Senate Banking Committee could review the bill either next week or the week after.

Japan's major banks and securities firms are advancing plans to establish a 24-hour, 365-day trading mechanism for Japanese government bonds by 2026. According to Odaily, the initiative aims to transition government bonds into digital securities. The plan involves migrating the registration and management of Japanese government bonds to a blockchain-based distributed ledger system, enabling issuance and circulation to be processed on-chain. Additionally, a stablecoin system will be introduced at the settlement layer to facilitate low-cost, high-speed fund clearing without traditional banking intermediaries, enhancing institutional investors' fund utilization efficiency. This move will allow bonds and other traditional securities to be issued and traded as digital securities on-chain, driving the Japanese government bond market towards an always-on, programmable financial infrastructure.

Admiral Samuel Paparo addressed the Senate Armed Services Committee, revealing that the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command considers Bitcoin a significant tool in computer science for power projection. According to NS3.AI, Paparo shared that INDOPACOM is actively operating a Bitcoin node as part of experiments with the protocol. The committee's discussion centered on the potential of Bitcoin's proof-of-work model to enhance network security beyond its traditional use in payments.

Singapore's commercial real estate market is witnessing a potential shift as the stalemate between sellers and investors begins to ease. Bloomberg posted on X, highlighting the renewed interest in the sector. The Singapore Edition newsletter delves into the factors contributing to this resurgence, noting increased investor activity and changing market dynamics. This development comes amid broader economic trends influencing real estate investments in the region. Analysts suggest that the market's recovery could signal new opportunities for stakeholders, as both local and international investors reassess their strategies in light of evolving conditions.

Cathie Wood has expressed that innovation-driven deflationary forces are gaining momentum, suggesting that inflation may be lower than anticipated in the next 6 to 9 months. According to NS3.AI, Wood highlighted several factors contributing to this outlook, including a flattening yield curve, reduced costs for AI training and inference, accelerated productivity growth, and restrained unit labor costs.

Cloudflare, a U.S. cybersecurity services company, has announced plans to lay off approximately 20% of its workforce, which equates to over 1,100 employees, according to Reuters. The company's CEO, Matthew Prince, stated that the restructuring is aimed at adapting to the era of AI tools, with a redesign of each team and function. According to PANews, Cloudflare has reported a more than sixfold increase in its AI usage over the past three months. The layoffs are part of an internal process and role redesign, rather than being driven by employee performance or short-term cost pressures. Cloudflare anticipates second-quarter revenue to be between $664 million and $665 million, slightly below analysts' expectations of $665.3 million. Despite exceeding expectations for first-quarter revenue and profit, the company's stock fell by approximately 19% in after-hours trading.

SPDR Gold Trust, the world's largest gold ETF, reported an increase in its holdings by 0.512 tons from the previous day. According to Jin10, the current holdings stand at 1,033.995 tons.

Cathie Wood recently shared insights on the X platform, noting that despite rising oil prices over the past three months, the yield curve remains flat, and the Federal Reserve has not monetized this energy shock. According to Odaily, the bond market may begin to absorb the deflationary effects driven by AI and technological advancements. Currently, the costs associated with AI model training and inference are significantly decreasing, leading to accelerated productivity growth while unit labor costs remain subdued.

While the current market narrative focuses on tariffs, deficits, and structurally high inflation, underlying signals indicate that deflationary forces related to innovation are building. Inflation is expected to be lower than anticipated in the next 6 to 9 months, which could have significant implications for interest rates and long-term stocks.

On May 8, Solana spot ETF experienced a net inflow of $6.23 million, according to Odaily. The Bitwise Solana Staking ETF (BSOL) was the sole contributor to this inflow, bringing its historical total net inflow to $862 million. As of the latest update, the total net asset value of the Solana spot ETF stands at $987 million, with a net asset ratio of 1.82%. The cumulative historical net inflow has reached $1.057 billion.

According to NS3.AI, a Polymarket account with a 44% win rate has placed a $370,000 bet on the Spurs to defeat the Timberwolves in Game 3 of the Western Conference semifinals. The position was entered at an average price of 64.6 cents, resulting in an unrealized profit of $11,000.

Iranian news early on the 9th reported that Jafar Pourkabani, a representative of the Islamic Parliament from Bushehr Province, refuted media claims that Iran was dumping oil into the sea due to full storage tanks. According to Odaily, Pourkabani stated that these reports are part of a psychological warfare campaign by adversaries. He explained that satellite images showing oil pollution around Kharg Island were actually caused by a European oil tanker discharging oil residues and ballast water waste, which has harmed the environment.

The prediction market Polymarket is currently witnessing significant trading activity around the event '2026 FIFA World Cup Champion,' with the total pool size reaching $914 million. According to ChainCatcher, the option with the highest market consensus is 'France,' which holds an estimated winning probability of 16.85%.

According to Odaily, data from SoSoValue indicates that on May 8, XRP spot ETF experienced a net inflow of $6.0407 million. The Canary XRP ETF (XRPC) was the sole contributor to this inflow, bringing its historical total net inflow to $438 million. As of the time of reporting, the total net asset value of the XRP spot ETF stands at $1.115 billion, with an XRP net asset ratio of 1.26%. The cumulative historical net inflow has reached $1.325 billion.

David Battaglia has likened Strategy's STRC preferred stock to an insurance product, highlighting its distinctive investment strategy. According to NS3.AI, the security aims to deliver a monthly variable dividend with an annual yield of 11.5%. STRC has played a significant role in funding Strategy's recent Bitcoin acquisitions.