Ripple expands into Africa amid growing crypto regulation adoption Ripple outlined the company’s aim to push crypto adoption across the globe and expand its presence in Africa. This follows the continent’s rapid embrace of digital assets, which has prompted regulators in key jurisdictions to begin laying the groundwork for formal digital asset regulation.
The company says it is providing crypto solutions to support Africa’s growing digital economy through its stablecoin, RLUSD.
They are also working with Mercy Corps Ventures in Kenya to improve the speed and transparency of aid delivery, alongside partnerships with companies aimed at expanding institutional access across the continent. Most recently, Ripple entered a strategic partnership with Absa Bank, focused on delivering security and compliance to customers.
Africa’s clear crypto regulations are attracting major institutional players like Ripple who can now build compliant infrastructure for cross-border payments. This validates that regulatory clarity unlocks real-world utility, transforming crypto from speculative assets into practical tools for remittances and financial inclusion where traditional banking hasn’t reached.
MORGAN STANLEY LAUNCHES MSBT, WALL STREET’S FIRST BANK-BACKED BITCOIN ETF
Morgan Stanley Investment Management announced in a press release the launch of Morgan Stanley Bitcoin Trust, an exchange-traded product (ETP) that will track the performance of Bitcoin.
It’s the first Wall Street bank to launch its own Bitcoin-tracking ETF. Other banks have launched their own ETFs but the distinction here being that previous Bitcoin ETFs were all issued by standalone asset managers like BlackRock and Fidelity, not bank-owned investment arms.
CoinDesk reports that the ETF began trading on Wednesday on strong footing, tagging over 1.6 million shares traded and an estimated $34 million in inflows. These figures might be an early sign of demand, although it remains to be seen whether MSBT will really thrive in a competitive and saturated market.
This marks a turning point in Wall Street’s acceptance of crypto. When a major bank builds its own product rather than just offering third-party options, it could signal institutional confidence that Bitcoin is a permanent asset class.
CRYPTO LAST WEEK: MORGAN STANLEY MAKES CRYPTO HISTORY
Stocks and crypto markets saw a brief return of, dare we say, optimism after a proposed US-Iran ceasefire last week. While Wall Street made crypto history, again, the Clarity Act got another push from the White House. Will it land this time, though? Ripple also has its sights on Africa. Let’s get into it.
IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE:
Black gold calls the shots Morgan Stanley launches new Bitcoin ETF Ripple sets its sights on Africa
01 — CRYPTO MARKETS
Bitcoin reaches $72,000 during turbulent week of geopolitical tension Crypto markets posted a cautious recovery with Bitcoin rising roughly 4-5% above $70k and Ethereum gaining around 3-8%, as easing US-Iran tensions triggered a broad risk‑on move and over $600 million in short‑liquidations. Main catalysts were geopolitical relief, steady BTC‑ETF inflows, and further institutional accumulation (Strategy, Metaplanet).
02 — THE BIG NEWS
What IS The STRAIT Of HORMUZ AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway and global trade route connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, passing between Iran and Oman and the UAE. It is the world’s most critical oil chokepoint and the only maritime passage out of the Gulf.
Around 20% of global oil and a significant share of the world’s liquefied natural gas normally transit through it.
The closure due to the ongoing conflict has effectively shut down global shipping traffic through the Gulf, disrupting the flow of oil, gas and other essentials from states that collectively export roughly a fifth of the world’s oil. The result has been sharp price hikes and severe volatility across global financial markets. Oil prices surged above $100 per barrel from a pre-war price of around $65.
US President Donald Trump has attempted various measures to restore the flow of oil, from threats to diplomatic negotiations, but the strait remains largely closed.
CRYPTO LAST WEEK: MORGAN STANLEY MAKES CRYPTO HISTORY
Stocks and crypto markets saw a brief return of, dare we say, optimism after a proposed US-Iran ceasefire last week. While Wall Street made crypto history, again, the Clarity Act got another push from the White House. Will it land this time, though? Ripple also has its sights on Africa. Let’s get into it.
IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE:
Black gold calls the shots Morgan Stanley launches new Bitcoin ETF Ripple sets its sights on Africa
01 — CRYPTO MARKETS
Bitcoin reaches $72,000 during turbulent week of geopolitical tension Crypto markets posted a cautious recovery with Bitcoin rising roughly 4-5% above $70k and Ethereum gaining around 3-8%, as easing US-Iran tensions triggered a broad risk‑on move and over $600 million in short‑liquidations. Main catalysts were geopolitical relief, steady BTC‑ETF inflows, and further institutional accumulation (Strategy, Metaplanet).
02 — THE BIG NEWS
What IS The STRAIT Of HORMUZ AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway and global trade route connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, passing between Iran and Oman and the UAE. It is the world’s most critical oil chokepoint and the only maritime passage out of the Gulf.
Around 20% of global oil and a significant share of the world’s liquefied natural gas normally transit through it.
The closure due to the ongoing conflict has effectively shut down global shipping traffic through the Gulf, disrupting the flow of oil, gas and other essentials from states that collectively export roughly a fifth of the world’s oil. The result has been sharp price hikes and severe volatility across global financial markets. Oil prices surged above $100 per barrel from a pre-war price of around $65.
US President Donald Trump has attempted various measures to restore the flow of oil, from threats to diplomatic negotiations, but the strait remains largely closed.
CRYPTO LAST WEEK: MORGAN STANLEY MAKES CRYPTO HISTORY
Stocks and crypto markets saw a brief return of, dare we say, optimism after a proposed US-Iran ceasefire last week. While Wall Street made crypto history, again, the Clarity Act got another push from the White House. Will it land this time, though? Ripple also has its sights on Africa. Let’s get into it.
IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE:
Black gold calls the shots Morgan Stanley launches new Bitcoin ETF Ripple sets its sights on Africa
01 — CRYPTO MARKETS
Bitcoin reaches $72,000 during turbulent week of geopolitical tension Crypto markets posted a cautious recovery with Bitcoin rising roughly 4-5% above $70k and Ethereum gaining around 3-8%, as easing US-Iran tensions triggered a broad risk‑on move and over $600 million in short‑liquidations. Main catalysts were geopolitical relief, steady BTC‑ETF inflows, and further institutional accumulation (Strategy, Metaplanet).
02 — THE BIG NEWS
What IS The STRAIT Of HORMUZ AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?
The Strait of Hormuz is a vital waterway and global trade route connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea, passing between Iran and Oman and the UAE. It is the world’s most critical oil chokepoint and the only maritime passage out of the Gulf.
Around 20% of global oil and a significant share of the world’s liquefied natural gas normally transit through it.
The closure due to the ongoing conflict has effectively shut down global shipping traffic through the Gulf, disrupting the flow of oil, gas and other essentials from states that collectively export roughly a fifth of the world’s oil. The result has been sharp price hikes and severe volatility across global financial markets. Oil prices surged above $100 per barrel from a pre-war price of around $65.
US President Donald Trump has attempted various measures to restore the flow of oil, from threats to diplomatic negotiations, but the strait remains largely closed.
MAY CRYPTO ECONOMIC CALENDAR – WHICH EVENTS ARE INVESTORS TRACKING?
Many crypto markets made some tentative moves last month against geopolitical headwinds and a stubborn Fed. Is May shaping up to be a month of recovery, or are there more range-bound moves ahead? The catalysts are lining up, though. Are you positioned for what comes next?
April recap Bitcoin opened April around $71-72K and climbed steadily to tag $78K by late April, closing near $77K, a stronger performance than the range-bound moves seen in prior months. The Iran conflict again kept sentiment in check, but institutional crypto ETF demand provided some relief.
In stocks, US equities delivered a strong close to the month. Tesla missed delivery estimates but beat on earnings per share, while Alphabet, Microsoft, and Amazon all beat expectations on April 29, with Google Cloud up 63% and AWS reaccelerating to 28% growth. It has provided a strong tailwind for tech sentiment heading into May.
The Fed held rates at 3.5%-3.75% for a third consecutive meeting Four members dissented, though, the most since 1992, reflecting deep divisions over inflation risk and the path ahead
BULLS EYE 80K, BEARS PUSH BACK WHAT COULD HELP BREAK RESISTANCE?
Everyone is watching $80K as the bull trigger. The real resistance is not $80K. It is the 200 day moving average sitting at $84,593 that BTC has not closed above since October 2025. 👇
Here is why that distinction matters for every trader watching this level right now. BTC$BTC
$80K is psychological. It is a round number that retail traders and media focus on because it is easy to remember. Breaking it would feel significant and trigger headlines.
But institutional risk frameworks do not care about round numbers. They care about the 200 day moving average. That single indicator separates a bear market rally from a genuine trend reversal in every institutional playbook on earth.
BTC has been below its 200 day MA since February 2026. Every rally attempt including the current one from $60K has failed to reclaim it. Whales who know this have been positioning sell walls right at that zone.
Here is what the data says about the current setup.
Whales holding 1,000 BTC or more bought 270,000 BTC in the last 30 days. The biggest monthly accumulation since 2013. Exchange reserves at 7 year lows. Perpetual futures funding at the most negative level ever recorded meaning shorts are massively overcrowded.
That combination does not look like a market preparing to reject $80K permanently. It looks like a market coiling for a move that clears both $80K and the 200 day MA in one violent squeeze when shorts get caught.
$80K breaks the narrative. $84,593 breaks the trend.
⚡ Pāvils paliek: Fed priekšsēdētājs turpinās būt gubernators
Jerome Pāvils vēl neplāno doties prom! Kamēr $BTC tirgotāji vēroja, ka Fed saglabāja procentu likmes stabilas 3.5%-3.75% līmenī, Pāvils šokēja tirgus, paziņojot, ka paliks valdē kā gubernators pēc viņa pilnvaru beigām maijā. 🤯
SAYLOR AND BLACKROCK ARE STACKING BITCOIN LIKE THERE’S NO TOMORROW… BUT WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR RETAIL?
Every cycle, the narrative shifts. This time, institutions aren’t just dipping their toes—they’re diving in headfirst. Massive allocations, ETF inflows, corporate treasury plays… it’s a different game now.
So the question is: Are they “eating” retail BTC, or is this just the beginning of a much bigger market?
Let’s be real—Bitcoin isn’t running out. What is shrinking is the available supply on exchanges. Long-term holders are locking it up, institutions are absorbing liquidity, and miners are producing less post-halving.
That creates pressure. And pressure creates price movement.
For retail, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. It just means:
The easy accumulation phase may be closing
Volatility might increase as supply tightens
Timing and strategy matter more than ever
Bitcoin was built to be scarce. Now we’re watching that scarcity play out in real time.
So no, BTC isn’t “gone.” But the window to accumulate cheaply? That might not stay open forever.
13B wiped from the DeFi market in 48h 13B wiped from the DeFi market in 48h Will Aave bleed beyond the Kelp hack? R3N @R3N_Research · 2h AAVE$AAVE is under heavy pressure after the $293M Kelp hack, with DeFi TVL shrinking by more than $13B in 48 hours. The daily chart shows AAVE trading at $91.14, far below its mid‑2025 levels above $400, with moving averages (MA 9 at 101.28, MA 21 at 97.38) trending lower and RSI stuck near 42, signaling weak momentum. Despite a small bounce, the broader structure is still a clear downtrend. The hack has amplified existing fragility in DeFi markets, where liquidity flight is accelerating. Aave’s market cap has slipped to $5.83B, down over 4% in a day, even as trading volume spiked more than 500%, showing panic activity rather than healthy inflows. This combination — collapsing TVL, bearish technicals, and forced liquidations — suggests Aave could bleed further unless confidence is restored quickly. AAVE$AAVE is caught in a feedback loop of security risk → liquidity drain → price weakness. The hack didn’t just hit Aave’s balance sheet; it undermined trust across DeFi, pulling billions out of protocols. Unless governance and risk controls deliver fast reassurance, the $90 zone may not hold, and the market could test deeper supports. Right now, Aave is less about technical recovery and more about whether DeFi can absorb another credibility shock without cascading losses. #AAVE #DeFi #BTCPriceAnalysis
Crypto Last Week: #BITCOIN HOLDS ABOVE $71,000 DESPITE MARKET PRESSURE, WHILE THE SEC AND CFTC UNITE ON CRYPTO REGULATION
THIS WEEK’S BIG STORY
Crypto’s two regulators finally agree to share a desk
Bitcoin held firm while stocks had a slight wobble, the SEC and CFTC buried the hatchet, and Oracle had a very good Tuesday. Here’s what it all means for your investments.
ETHEREUM’S ERC-8004 STANDARTS TIKS PALAISTS GALVENAJĀ TĪKLĀ
Ethereum vakar palaida ERC-8004 savā galvenajā tīklā. Ethereum Foundation AI vadītājs, Davide Crapis, paziņoja par izvietošanas sākšanu, iezīmējot “8004 Ģenēzes Mēneša” pasākumu. Uzlabojums ļauj AI aģentiem iesaistīties dažādās organizācijās un platformās decentralizētā, atļaujām nevajadzīgā ekonomikā.
AI aģenti var veikt uzdevumus, kas svārstās no mazāk riskantiem darbiem, piemēram, picu pasūtīšana, līdz augsta riska gadījumiem, piemēram, medicīniskai diagnozei. ERC-8004 ievieš identitātes, reputācijas un validācijas reģistrus, kas ļauj AI aģentiem tikt verificētiem un uzturēt uzticību visās lietotnēs uz Ethereum.
“Piedāvājot atklātību un pārnēsājamu reputāciju, ERC-8004 ļauj AI aģentiem mijiedarboties starp organizācijām, nodrošinot, ka ticamība ceļo visur,” rakstīja Ethereum X. “Tīklam ir ‘unikāla pozīcija’, lai kļūtu par platformu, kas noregulē AI uz AI mijiedarbību,” sacīja Crapis.
IKDIENAS APSKATS: KRIPTOVALŪTA VADOŠĀS NAKTS TIRGUS DRAUDU VIDŪ
Šonedēļ kriptovalūtās notika daži ievērojami notikumi. Viens no tiem bija Ethereum jaunā tīkla atjauninājums, kas ļauj AI aģentiem tiešāk mijiedarboties ar on-chain lietojumprogrammām, neliels, bet nozīmīgs solis ceļā uz autonomāku darbību ekosistēmā. Tas tā teikts, ir plašais nakts pārdošanas vilnis, kas šorīt dominē tirgos.
Bitcoin un lielākā daļa galveno kriptovalūtu ir samazinājušās vairāk nekā par 5% nakts laikā, kopējā kriptovalūtu tirgus kapitalizācija ir samazinājusies par aptuveni 5.4% rakstīšanas brīdī. Šis kustība nav bijusi izolēta tikai uz kriptovalūtām. Zelts, kas bieži tiek uzskatīts par tirgus oriģinālo drošo patvērumu un vienu no spēcīgākajām aktīva snieguma vienībām pēdējā gada laikā, arī strauji kritās, vietējās cenas samazinoties par vairāk nekā 3%.
Tirgi šķiet reaģējot uz spiedienu maisījumu, nevis uz vienu katalizatoru. Vājāki nekā gaidīts ienākumi no lielajiem ASV tehnoloģiju uzņēmumiem, stingrāka nots no Federālo rezervi un atjaunotas bažas par vēl vienu potenciālu ASV valdības slēgšanu visi ietekmē risku noskaņojumu. Tomēr nav skaidra galvenā notikuma, kas pilnībā izskaidro kustības ātrumu vai apmēru.
Kā mēs virzāmies uz nedēļas nogali, investori skatīsies, vai šis ir īstermiņa riska pārvērtēšana vai plašāka noskaņojuma maiņa globālajos tirgos.
Jaunumi Tramps draudēja ES ar tarifiem par Grenlandi, un pēc tam to atsauca
“Globālās tirgus saskaras ar svārstībām pēc tam, kad prezidents Donalds Tramps solīja uzlikt tarifus astoņām Eiropas valstīm, līdz ASV būs atļauts iegādāties Grenlandi, ieviešot jaunu tirdzniecības nenoteiktību, jo akcijas samazinājās un dolārs plaši vājinājās,” ziņo Reuters.
“Lai gan jūs varētu apgalvot, ka tarifi apdraud Eiropu, patiesībā tieši dolārs ir tas, kas piedzīvo vislielāko ietekmi, jo es domāju, ka tirgi novērtē palielinātu politisko risku prēmiju uz ASV dolāra,” sacīja Khoon Goh, ANZ Āzijas pētījumu vadītājs, ziņojot Reuters.
Tehnoloģijām bagātais Nasdaq indekss pagājušajā nedēļā vienā brīdī kritās par 2.4%, kamēr Amazon sekoja uz leju, samazinoties par 2.9%, un Tesla un Nvidia abi krita par vairāk nekā 3%.
Sarunājoties ar The Guardian, Kathleen Brooks, pētījumu direktore brokerī XTB, sacīja: “Kopumā šī ir cilvēku radīta krīze, un turpinātais pārdošanas spiediens otrdien norāda, ka ASV draudi Grenlandei un to ietekme uz finanšu tirgiem varētu būt tālāk, ja situācija drīz netiks deeskalēta,” viņa sacīja.
Zelts un sudrabs sasniedza jaunas rekorda augstienes, kad dārgmetāls otrdien pieauga līdz jauniem augstumiem, kamēr sudrabs arī sasniedza jaunu augstāko līmeni.
Volstrītā visvairāk vērotais investoru trauksmes rādītājs, Cboe Volatility Index, pieauga līdz astoņu nedēļu augstākajam līmenim 20.69, ziņo Reuters. “Mēs noteikti esam redzējuši nozīmīgu reakciju riska rādītājos, kopš piektdienas … tā ir ļoti nozīmīga pāreja,” komentēja Džims Kerolls, Ballast Rock Private Wealth vecākais bagātības konsultants un portfeļa pārvaldnieks, ziņu aģentūrai.
KO ŠIS NOZĪMĒ?
Vēsturiski tirgi ir pierādījuši, ka ir jutīgi pret ASV tarifu paziņojumiem, un šoreiz nebija citādi.
KRIPTOVALŪTA PAGĀJUŠAJĀ NEDĒĻĀ: ZELTS SASNIEDZ JAUNUS AUGSTUMUS, KAMER KRIPTOVALŪTU REGULĀCIJA IR FOKUSĀ, UN PREZIDENTS TRUMPS APDROŠINĀJA TARIFUS, UN PĒC TAM NEIZDARĪJA
ASV kriptovalūtu regulācija šonedēļ nedaudz virzījās uz priekšu, neskatoties uz turpinājām iekšējām valdības un kriptovalūtu nozares nesaskaņām, kamēr globālās tirgus piedzīvoja svārstības ģeopolitisko spriedžu dēļ. #Zelts turpināja savu rekordu sēriju, un visā Vašingtonā likumdevēji turpināja apspriest jauno kriptovalūtu likumdošanu, lai gan politiskās dalīšanās un interešu konflikti turpina lēnām virzīt progresu. Viss šis un vēl vairāk, zemāk.
Ethereum aktivitāte ir pieaugusi pēdējā mēneša laikā, ko veicina jauni lietotāji, kuri pirmo reizi mijiedarbojas ar tīklu.
“Dati par Ethereum mēneša aktivitātes saglabāšanu rāda izteiktu pieaugumu ‘jaunajā’ grupā — metrika, kas izseko makus, kas veic savu pirmo reģistrēto mijiedarbību ar blokķēdi noteiktā laikposmā,”
Atšķirība starp jauno un esošo lietotāju iesaisti ir svarīga. Pieaugumi on-chain aktivitātē bieži var būt saistīti ar esošajiem lietotājiem, kuri biežāk pārvieto līdzekļus, īpaši svārstīgās periodos. Izaugsme, ko veicina jauni maki, norāda uz plašāku interesi par pašu Ethereum, vai nu caur decentralizētām finansēm, stabilcoin lietošanu, NFT vai jaunākām lietojumprogrammām, kas izveidotas uz tīkla. $BTC $ETH $XRP
Privātuma žetoni būtībā ir tāda pati sērija dažādās straumēšanas lietotnēs.
ZEC$ZEC vispirms, tad XMR$XMR beidzot veica “ak wow, tas patiešām iztīrīja” kustību, un DASH$DASH tur sēž kā jaunākais izlaidums, jauna sezona bla bla bla.
ZEC$ZEC un XMR$XMR jau ir pierādījuši, ka meta ir atgriezusies, labi. ņemts vērā.
DASH$DASH vēsturiski ir trio atpalicējs un šobrīd kustas lieliski.
Ja rotācija turpina darīt to, ko tā vienmēr dara, DASH$DASH ir tā, kurai ir tīrākais atgūšanas darījums palicis. Ja ieiet jebkurā no 3, noteikti neiesim Zcash vai Monero.
Nesaku, ka DASH$DASH ir jādara 10x rīt. Vienkārši saku, ja privātuma piedāvājums paliek, pēdējais pārvietotājs parasti iegūst visvairāk uzmanības visātrāk. Augstāka izdevīgums. Vienkārša matemātika. Vienkārši pārbaudiet diagrammas.
✅ BTC uzlēca virs 95 000 USD naktī - īsās pozīcijas likvidētas par gandrīz 600 miljoniem USD. Tirgotāji satraukti par altseason, taču pacietība ir būtiska: vispirms BTC jānoslēdz virs 95 000 USD, tad mērķis - 102 000 USD reālai izlaušanai. Līdz tam - tikai aizsargājoša svārstība 🐻
✅ ETH arī saņem svaigu cerību: divi lielākie kriptovalūtas gaida atgriešanos uz augošo tendenci 🌱 Q1 parasti ir zaļš pēc sarkana Q4 (vidēji +3%)