Blockonomi

Key Takeaways
Federal agencies including the Fed, Treasury, OCC, and FDIC unveiled proposed regulations mandating identity verification for stablecoin providers
These requirements originate from the GENIUS Act legislation enacted in July 2025
Providers must authenticate customer identities, including name verification, address confirmation, and terrorism watchlist screening per Bank Secrecy Act protocols
Public feedback window opens for 60 days following Federal Register publication
Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr expressed reservations about inadequate coverage of secondary market activities
A coalition of federal financial oversight bodies has unveiled regulatory proposals mandating that stablecoin providers implement customer identification protocols equivalent to those enforced in the banking sector.
JUST IN: The Federal Reserve proposes a stablecoin issuer identification program
This is the first GENIUS Act rulemaking from the Fed. pic.twitter.com/Obej8CfbZy
— Bitcoin Magazine (@BitcoinMagazine) June 18, 2026
The regulatory framework was announced Thursday through a coordinated effort among the Federal Reserve, Department of the Treasury, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, and the National Credit Union Administration.
This initiative represents a key implementation phase of the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins Act—commonly referred to as the GENIUS Act—which became federal law in July 2025.
Core Requirements of the Proposed Framework
The regulatory blueprint would designate stablecoin providers as regulated financial entities subject to Bank Secrecy Act compliance obligations.
This classification would compel these companies to authenticate the identity of all account holders, maintain comprehensive records of identification data, and screen customers against federal terrorism watch databases.
These obligations mirror existing anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing mandates currently imposed on banking institutions and securities firms.
Following its official publication in the Federal Register scheduled for Monday, the proposed regulation will enter a 60-day public consultation phase.
This marks the second opportunity for stakeholder input. During an initial consultation period last September, the Treasury Department collected 450 individual submissions.
Market Landscape
Current U.S.-based stablecoin operators include Tether, the entity behind the USDT token, alongside Circle, which manages USDC.
Several established financial institutions have recently launched their own stablecoin offerings in this expanding market segment.
The GENIUS Act’s complete implementation is scheduled for 18 months following its enactment, or alternatively 120 days after regulators complete their rulemaking process.
The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the Treasury’s anti-financial crime division, has independently advanced its own regulatory proposals focused on combating illicit financing under the same legislative authority.
Additionally, the FDIC put forward a proposal in April clarifying that federal deposit insurance coverage for stablecoin issuers would not extend protection to individual token holders.
Regulatory Concerns Persist
Not all board members view the current proposal as sufficiently comprehensive.
Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr articulated ongoing concerns that the GENIUS Act regulatory structure inadequately addresses illicit finance risks within secondary market transactions.
Barr emphasized that “bad actors” can too easily “evade these restrictions” during digital asset trading activities.
The comprehensive 130-page proposal explicitly solicits feedback on whether identity verification mandates should encompass secondary market operations, directly inviting stakeholder perspectives on this issue.
In parallel legislative activity, Congress has yet to establish a definitive schedule for advancing the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, companion legislation designed to reshape how regulatory agencies oversee cryptocurrency markets more comprehensively.
Capitol Hill observers anticipate possible passage before the August congressional recess, though Democratic lawmakers’ concerns regarding potential conflicts of interest may delay advancement.
The post Federal Agencies Unveil Banking-Level Identity Verification Requirements for Stablecoin Providers appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Points
The controversial influencer experienced eight consecutive liquidations on Bitcoin trades within a 16-hour timeframe via Hyperliquid
Initial deposit of approximately $100,000 USDC dwindled to a mere $14,219
A leveraged Bitcoin long position worth $3.8 million utilizing 40x leverage was eliminated when BTC declined to $64,127
Following the failed long position, he reversed to a short position — which also got liquidated
Close to 100,000 traders across multiple exchanges faced liquidation during the same 24-hour stretch, resulting in over $400 million in losses
Controversial social media figure and influencer Andrew Tate experienced devastating losses totaling nearly $86,000 through leveraged Bitcoin trading during a 16-hour span on June 17–18, 2026. The blockchain analytics platform Lookonchain documented these losses as they unfolded.
Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) has been liquidated 8 times in the past 16 hours.
He got liquidated on a $BTC long, then flipped to a $BTC short and got liquidated again.
His account now has only $14,219 left.https://t.co/2bAiThkXwS pic.twitter.com/ySSUWhFIYV
— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) June 18, 2026
Tate initiated his trading session by depositing around $100,000 worth of USDC into his Hyperliquid trading account before establishing a substantial Bitcoin long position. Following eight consecutive liquidation events, his account balance was decimated to approximately $14,219.
Breakdown of the Trading Disaster
The influencer established a Bitcoin long position with a notional value approaching $3.8 million. This position employed 40x leverage, creating a situation where minimal price movement in the wrong direction would result in automatic liquidation.
Bitcoin‘s price tumbled from approximately $66,400 down to roughly $64,127 throughout this period. This price decline breached Tate’s calculated liquidation threshold of $65,216, prompting the exchange to automatically terminate the position.
Following the failed long position, Tate pivoted his strategy and initiated a short position valued at approximately $1 million. Short positions generate profits when asset prices decrease, however Bitcoin’s price trajectory reversed immediately afterward.
This price reversal resulted in yet another liquidation. The most significant individual loss within this trading sequence involved approximately 11.47 BTC in notional value.
Broader Market Volatility Context
Tate’s substantial losses occurred within a larger market downturn affecting numerous traders. The Federal Reserve’s June policy announcement indicated a more aggressive approach toward interest rates, creating downward pressure on speculative assets including cryptocurrencies.
Across various exchanges during this identical timeframe, over $400 million worth of leveraged cryptocurrency positions were forcibly liquidated. Long positions accounted for roughly $280 million of these liquidations.
Approximately 100,000 separate trader accounts experienced forced closures throughout the market selloff. The most substantial individual liquidation across all platforms was a $5 million long position on Binance.
Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds experienced approximately $5.8 billion in capital outflows between mid-May and early June, contributing to Bitcoin’s decline toward levels below $60,000 earlier in 2026.
History of Similar Losses
This trading debacle represents a continuation of Tate’s problematic history with leveraged cryptocurrency speculation. Throughout the preceding year, he had deposited approximately $727,000 into Hyperliquid without executing any withdrawals.
By the conclusion of 2025, continuous liquidation events had completely depleted that account. The June 2026 incident mirrors this established pattern of behavior.
Tate broadcasts his trading activities openly through social media platforms. Lookonchain’s blockchain data validated the account activity sequence and final balance.
Wintermute, a prominent crypto market making firm, cautioned that temporary improvements in market sentiment don’t necessarily indicate a sustained Bitcoin recovery. The firm highlighted the potential for additional downside movements if selling pressure resurfaces.
The Coinbase premium metric, which measures U.S. institutional buying demand, had demonstrated modest improvement in preceding weeks. Nevertheless, overall market conditions remained unstable during Tate’s trading activity.
For traders employing leverage, this incident serves as a clear demonstration of the risks associated with high-leverage positions during periods of heightened market volatility.
The post Andrew Tate Suffers $86K Loss Through Multiple Bitcoin (BTC) Liquidations in Single Day appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
Andrew Tate experienced eight consecutive liquidations on Bitcoin positions through Hyperliquid within a 16-hour timeframe
His initial deposit of approximately $100,000 USDC was reduced to merely $14,219
A massive Bitcoin long position valued at $3.8 million utilized 40x leverage and collapsed when BTC declined to $64,127
Following the failed long position, he attempted a short trade — which also faced liquidation
Close to 100,000 traders experienced liquidations across various exchanges during the same 24-hour span, with total losses exceeding $400 million
The controversial social media figure and influencer Andrew Tate experienced substantial financial losses amounting to approximately $86,000 through high-leverage Bitcoin trading operations during a 16-hour stretch spanning June 17–18, 2026. Blockchain analytics platform Lookonchain documented these losses as they unfolded.
Andrew Tate (@Cobratate) has been liquidated 8 times in the past 16 hours.
He got liquidated on a $BTC long, then flipped to a $BTC short and got liquidated again.
His account now has only $14,219 left.https://t.co/2bAiThkXwS pic.twitter.com/ySSUWhFIYV
— Lookonchain (@lookonchain) June 18, 2026
Tate transferred roughly $100,000 worth of USDC into his Hyperliquid trading account prior to establishing a substantial Bitcoin long position. Following eight distinct liquidation events, his account balance dwindled to approximately $14,219.
Breakdown of the Trading Losses
Tate initiated a Bitcoin long position with a notional value approaching $3.8 million. This trade employed 40x leverage, which meant that even minimal price movements in the opposite direction could result in automatic position closure.
Bitcoin experienced a decline from approximately $66,400 down to roughly $64,127 throughout this timeframe. This price movement pushed Bitcoin below Tate’s calculated liquidation threshold of $65,216, prompting the exchange to automatically terminate the position.
Following the collapse of his long position, Tate reversed his strategy by establishing a short position valued at approximately $1 million. Short positions generate profits when asset prices decrease, but Bitcoin quickly rebounded.
This price reversal resulted in yet another liquidation event. The most significant individual loss within this series involved approximately 11.47 BTC in notional value.
Wider Market Turmoil Context
Tate’s financial setbacks occurred within a broader context of market distress. The Federal Reserve’s June policy announcement conveyed a more aggressive approach toward interest rate management, creating downward pressure on speculative assets including cryptocurrencies.
Across all exchanges during this identical period, leveraged cryptocurrency positions totaling over $400 million were forcibly liquidated. Long positions accounted for approximately $280 million of these liquidations.
Close to 100,000 individual trading accounts were automatically closed during this market downturn. The single largest liquidation event market-wide was a $5 million long position on Binance.
Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded nearly $5.8 billion in capital outflows between mid-May and early June, contributing to Bitcoin’s descent toward levels below $60,000 earlier in 2026.
Established Trading Behavior
This incident represents a continuation of Tate’s previous experiences with leveraged cryptocurrency trading losses. Throughout the preceding year, he deposited approximately $727,000 into Hyperliquid without making any withdrawals.
By the conclusion of 2025, consecutive liquidation events had completely depleted that account. The June 2026 episode represents a recurrence of this established pattern.
Tate openly broadcasts his trading activities through social media platforms. Lookonchain’s tracking data verified the account transaction history and final balance.
Wintermute, a cryptocurrency market-making firm, observed that temporary improvements in market sentiment do not necessarily indicate a sustained Bitcoin recovery. The company highlighted the potential for additional price declines should selling pressure intensify.
The Coinbase premium indicator, which measures purchasing demand from United States-based buyers, had demonstrated modest improvement in the weeks preceding these events. Nevertheless, market fundamentals remained unstable during the period when Tate executed these trades.
For traders utilizing leverage, this episode provides a clear illustration of potential consequences when high-leverage positions are established amid volatile market environments.
The post Andrew Tate’s Hyperliquid Bitcoin Trades Result in $86K Loss Within 16 Hours appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
A major banking institution established an ambitious $100 valuation target for UNI, catalyzing significant blockchain network activity
Large-holder transactions reached their highest level in seven months immediately after the bullish price projection
Network participants rose to levels not seen since October
Daily wallet generation experienced its most significant jump since the final weeks of December
The token is approaching critical resistance around $3.30, with $4.13 representing the subsequent major barrier
The blockchain metrics for Uniswap are displaying their most robust signals in several months. What sparked this shift? Standard Chartered, a prominent global financial institution, issued a $100 price projection for the protocol’s native token.
Uniswap (UNI) Price
Blockchain analytics provider Santiment documented the activity spike immediately following the announcement. Their findings reveal widespread increases across numerous network indicators, signaling a resurgence in market attention toward UNI.
Participating addresses across the Uniswap protocol surged to their highest point in four months. Simultaneously, high-value transfers — substantial movements generally associated with institutional participants — hit a seven-month maximum.
UNISWAP WHALE ACTIVITY HITS 7-MONTH HIGH
Whales are piling into Uniswap following Standard Chartered's $100 UNI price target.
Active addresses have surged to a 4-month high, while whale transactions just reached their highest level in seven months. pic.twitter.com/30YCwGAz0r
— Coin Bureau (@coinbureau) June 19, 2026
Wallet creation also experienced a notable jump. Santiment documented the most substantial one-day growth in fresh UNI addresses since December’s closing weeks, further confirming the heightened engagement.
The analytics firm attributes this entire wave of activity to Standard Chartered’s price projection, rather than any protocol developments or technical updates.
Major Holders Accumulate at Levels Unseen in Months
Cryptocurrency market observer Zayn, known as @Zaynnode on X, disclosed a $10,000 spot purchase in UNI. He highlighted that the token had reversed an entire month’s worth of negative price movement within just several days. Zayn observed that UNI is currently positioned near price levels that preceded its significant 2020 rally, stating he’s building his spot holdings and allowing market forces to play out.
Bought a $10,000 bag of $UNI in spot for long term
After months of pain and consolidation, $UNI just erased an entire month of bearish price action in a matter of days.
This is exactly what strong coins do when smart money starts accumulating.
The chart is insanely… pic.twitter.com/ClCmAZd9c3
— Zayn (@Zaynnode) June 17, 2026
Institutional participants entering positions before widespread market movement represents a behavioral pattern closely monitored by market participants. The seven-month peak in substantial transactions indicates that significant stakeholders are establishing positions in anticipation of potential price appreciation.
The banking giant’s $100 forecast implies considerable upside potential from present valuations. This projection has redirected market focus toward Uniswap’s standing as a premier decentralized trading platform within the ecosystem.
Token Nears Critical Technical Threshold
From a technical perspective, UNI has remained confined within a descending formation for several months — characterized by progressively lower peaks and troughs. Recent purchasing momentum has elevated the asset toward the upper boundary of this formation, approximately $3.30.
Prior upward movements have encountered resistance at this zone. Surpassing this threshold would represent the first significant structural change in market dynamics for 2026.
The subsequent resistance objective stands at $4.13, representing a crucial level on the daily timeframe. Should bullish momentum persist, market observers have identified $6.34 as the following target. Conversely, price support exists within the $2.80–$2.90 zone.
Santiment’s analysis confirms that network engagement across Uniswap has climbed to multi-month peaks, propelled exclusively by the major bank’s valuation forecast.
The post Uniswap (UNI) Surges as Standard Chartered Announces $100 Price Forecast appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
Hsiao-Wei Wang, co-executive director of the Ethereum Foundation, has announced her immediate resignation following a sabbatical period.
Wang’s exit follows the earlier departure of her counterpart Tomasz Stańczak, who left the same position earlier this year.
The organization has experienced approximately 19 staff exits and layoffs throughout 2026, with at least eight senior-level departures occurring within a five-month span.
Board member Bastian Aue has assumed interim responsibilities to manage the ongoing leadership restructuring.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin described Wang’s role as “the most challenging position” within the foundation.
The Ethereum Foundation’s co-executive director Hsiao-Wei Wang has announced her resignation, becoming the latest high-profile departure from the Swiss nonprofit organization overseeing the blockchain protocol’s development.
In a Thursday announcement on X, Wang revealed that her decision came after taking time away from the role for personal reflection. “I’ve come to feel that this is the right moment for me to step back,” she shared. Wang indicated she hasn’t finalized plans for her next professional chapter.
After my sabbatical, I have decided to step down as co-executive director and board member of the Ethereum Foundation (@ethereumfndn), effective today.
That time gave me space to reflect on my priorities and the kind of life I want to build next. During my break, Bastian…
— hww.eth | Hsiao-Wei Wang (@hwwonx) June 18, 2026
The timing of Wang’s resignation is particularly notable as it follows the exit of her co-executive director Tomasz Stańczak by only a few months. Stańczak had been instrumental in managing organizational transitions before his own departure.
Mounting Leadership Exodus
The Ethereum Foundation has witnessed approximately 19 personnel departures and workforce reductions during 2026. Among these, at least eight individuals in senior leadership positions have exited within the last five months.
Responding to Wang’s announcement on X, Ethereum’s co-founder Vitalik Buterin acknowledged the difficulty of her position, stating she had undertaken “the most challenging position in the Ethereum Foundation” together with Stańczak.
To address the leadership vacuum, board member Bastian Aue has taken on expanded responsibilities. Aue previously assisted with leadership continuity during Wang’s sabbatical and has now assumed a more prominent interim role following the dual co-director departures.
These successive exits have sparked increased examination from the Ethereum ecosystem. Community members are questioning the foundation’s organizational structure, long-term strategy, and capability to maintain top talent amid intensifying competition from alternative blockchain platforms.
Defining the Organization’s Purpose
Buterin has responded to critics calling for more aggressive network promotion by the foundation. Last May, he clarified that the foundation is “not the ‘center of Ethereum'” but instead “one node, with a defined purpose, alongside other nodes.”
This past March, the foundation published an updated charter emphasizing decentralization as a core priority. The document outlined the foundation’s objective for Ethereum to satisfy the “walkaway test” — demonstrating that the protocol could continue operating seamlessly even if the foundation and core development team ceased to exist.
Buterin has also recently challenged conventional thinking about Ethereum’s layer-2 scaling approach, suggesting the original concept “no longer makes sense.” He contended that numerous layer-2 implementations have failed to achieve genuine decentralization, while enhancements to Ethereum’s base layer offer superior long-term scalability prospects.
In her departure message, Wang emphasized the protocol’s enduring significance beyond individual contributors. “Ethereum has always been bigger than any one role, any one organization, or any one moment,” she noted.
The foundation has yet to announce permanent successors for either co-executive director position.
The post Ethereum Foundation Loses Another Senior Leader as Co-Director Wang Steps Down appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR
SOL breached the $70 level on Friday, declining more than 6% from its June 15 peak at $75.60
Morgan Stanley submitted an updated S-1 filing to the SEC for a Solana ETF product (MSOL)
Weekly capital flows into SOL ETFs reached $7.11 million even as prices retreated
Solana has emerged as the leading blockchain for tokenized Real-World Assets by holder count, surpassing 285,000 holders
Critical support zone established at $70; breach could trigger decline toward June lows around $62
Solana experienced a sharp reversal from its recent $75.60 high, falling to an intraday bottom of $70.70 on June 18 before finding temporary support around $71. This downturn came after a strong 20%+ recovery from early June’s $62 floor.
Solana (SOL) Price
The downward pressure intensified following the Federal Reserve’s decision to maintain interest rates within the 3.50%–3.75% range, coupled with cautionary language about persistent inflation threats. Fed officials signaled potential additional policy tightening through 2026, prompting investors to retreat from high-volatility assets such as SOL.
Bitcoin simultaneously retreated toward the $64,000 mark in response to the Fed’s stance. Many major altcoins experienced more pronounced declines compared to Bitcoin during this period.
Crypto analyst Ash Crypto observed that SOL’s monthly chart indicators show the most oversold conditions in its history. He further noted that Solana achieved a new milestone for tokenized stock trading volume in a single day, processing over $140 million in spot transactions—97% of the total crypto market share, outperforming all competing blockchains combined.
$SOL on the monthly chart is the most oversold it has ever been in history.
But fundamentally, Solana just set a new single-day record for tokenized stock trading in crypto.
Over $140 million was traded in spot yesterday, and 97% of it occurred on Solana, beating every other… pic.twitter.com/lKukNE7QET
— Ash Crypto (@AshCrypto) June 18, 2026
Despite the bearish price action, institutional appetite for Solana exposure has remained robust. SOL-based ETF products attracted $2.99 million in a single day on Thursday, contributing to a weekly total of $7.11 million in net inflows.
ETF Filing and Institutional Moves
Morgan Stanley submitted a revised S-1 registration statement to the SEC on Thursday for its Solana-focused exchange-traded fund, which will trade under the ticker MSOL. This filing represents the latest in a series of institutional developments surrounding SOL in recent weeks.
NEW: @MorganStanley just filed amendments for both their Ethereum and Solana ETFS. ethereum:native solana:So11111111111111111111111111111111111111112 pic.twitter.com/SxPiszp9RS
— James Seyffart (@JSeyff) June 18, 2026
Eight consecutive months of positive net flows into SOL ETF products demonstrate persistent institutional conviction. Continued capital inflows throughout the coming week could potentially shift the monthly balance from marginally negative to positive territory.
RWA Adoption on Solana
On the retail adoption front, Solana has claimed the top position among blockchains by Real-World Asset holder count. The network now hosts over 285,000 holders of tokenized RWAs, with the tokenized SpaceX IPO serving as a significant catalyst.
Despite these positive on-chain developments, derivatives market data paints a more cautious picture. SOL futures Open Interest contracted to $4.85 billion on Friday, down from $5.18 billion just two days earlier on Wednesday.
Long position liquidations over the past 24 hours totaled $13.66 million, dramatically outpacing the $1.80 million in short liquidations, indicating clear bearish control of the market.
Market analyst BATMAN observed that Solana had been “rejected by its previous support level, now as resistance,” and that the stochastic oscillator had climbed to the same overbought zone that preceded the previous significant peak.
$SOL weekly MACD just triggered a massive bullish divergence, from the exact same structural wedge breakout that previously started the historic bullrun pic.twitter.com/zu2JfJej61
— BATMAN (@CryptosBatman) June 14, 2026
CoinGlass liquidation heatmap analysis reveals concentrated leveraged positions clustered between $74 and $76. Another significant liquidity pool exists in the $65–$66 range.
The critical near-term support level holds at $70. A confirmed daily close beneath this threshold could accelerate movement toward the June low near $62, with Fibonacci extension levels suggesting potential downside toward $60.
For bullish momentum to reassert itself, SOL needs a definitive daily close above the descending trendline, with overhead resistance barriers positioned at $74.80 and $79.30.
The post Solana (SOL) Tumbles Under $70 Despite Surging ETF Interest and RWA Dominance appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights
Bitcoin declined to $62,700, registering a 1.9% decrease over a 24-hour period amid global risk-off sentiment
Major altcoins including Ether, XRP, Solana, and BNB experienced losses ranging from 2.3% to 3.2%
Asian equity markets retreated on Friday, with South Korea’s KOSPI falling from an intraday record
Vice President JD Vance scrapped scheduled meetings with Iranian representatives in Switzerland
Curve Finance founder suggests altseason could be three years away as market dynamics shift
Bitcoin retreated below the $63,000 threshold on Friday as widespread selling across risk assets erased gains accumulated earlier in the week. The decline followed renewed skepticism surrounding the potential U.S.-Iran peace agreement.
Bitcoin (BTC) Price
The world’s leading cryptocurrency was trading near $62,700, marking a 1.9% decline over the previous 24 hours. Weekly performance showed a 1.3% loss, according to CoinDesk figures.
The downturn extended across the entire cryptocurrency ecosystem. Ether decreased 2.3% to reach $1,695, while XRP tumbled 3.2% to $1.13. Solana experienced a 3.2% decline to $69, and BNB retreated 2.7%. Hyperliquid’s HYPE token stood out as an exception, falling 3.7% daily but maintaining a 13.2% weekly gain.
Tron remained the sole major digital asset trading relatively flat.
Critical Technical Zone for Bitcoin
Technical analysts are monitoring the situation closely. Bitcoin is currently positioned near the bottom boundary of its two-week consolidation pattern.
A failure to rebound from current levels could see traders targeting the $59,000 to $60,000 range as the next support zone. Further weakness might lead to a test of the $45,000 level, according to some market observers.
The cryptocurrency weakness reflected broader global market dynamics. An index tracking Asian equities declined 0.6% following five consecutive sessions of advances. Brent crude oil fell approximately 9% for the week to roughly $79 per barrel, responding to the U.S.-Iran agreement’s positive impact on Strait of Hormuz shipping routes.
Asian Equity Markets Retreat on Diplomatic Setback
South Korea’s KOSPI index touched a fresh all-time high of 9,385.59 points during the trading session before reversing course to close down 0.6%. Semiconductor manufacturers drove the decline, with Samsung Electronics dropping nearly 2%.
KOSPI Composite Index (^KS11)
Japan’s Nikkei 225 index similarly pulled back from record territory but managed to finish 0.2% higher. Australia’s ASX 200 declined 1.2%, pressured by BHP following the mining giant’s disclosure of budget overruns at a Canadian potash facility.
The primary catalyst for the market reversal was renewed uncertainty regarding Iran negotiations. Vice President JD Vance’s cancellation of his planned Switzerland trip to meet Iranian officials dampened optimism. Iranian media outlets indicated that Tehran requires additional proof of commitment before advancing discussions.
The Federal Reserve contributed to market pressure this week by adopting a more restrictive policy stance than investors anticipated, sparking concerns about elevated U.S. interest rates and creating headwinds for technology sector equities.
Meanwhile in Japan, consumer price index data for May remained subdued, staying beneath the Bank of Japan’s 2% inflation objective. This development followed the Bank of Japan’s interest rate increase earlier in the week.
Extended Wait Expected for Altcoin Rally
Michael Egorov, who founded Curve Finance, shared with CoinDesk that Bitcoin is exhibiting unique characteristics during the current market cycle. He explained that the introduction of spot exchange-traded funds shortly before the 2024 halving event attracted institutional capital that disrupted traditional cycle dynamics.
According to Egorov, the speculative capital that previously rotated into alternative cryptocurrencies has instead moved into “useless memecoins.” He advised project developers not to anticipate an altseason for a minimum of three additional years.
His recommendation: concentrate on tokenomics models anchored to genuine project revenue streams rather than market speculation.
Dogecoin exchange-traded funds are presently attracting minimal capital inflows, while investment continues to favor Bitcoin relative to the broader cryptocurrency market.
The post Bitcoin (BTC) Slides Under $63K Amid Global Market Selloff and Iran Deal Doubts appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
Alex Mashinsky has been issued a lifetime prohibition from all CFTC-regulated trading activities
This enforcement action represents the CFTC’s inaugural case against a cryptocurrency lending platform
The Celsius founder is currently incarcerated, serving 12 years for fraud charges connected to the 2022 platform failure
Regulatory bans now include the CFTC and FTC, while SEC litigation remains unresolved
A motion to overturn his criminal conviction was submitted in May, citing legal representation failures and prosecutorial issues
The founder of the defunct cryptocurrency lending platform Celsius, Alex Mashinsky, has received a permanent prohibition from participating in any trading activities regulated by the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission.
LATEST: The CFTC has formally banned Celsius founder Alex Mashinsky from commodities trading and registration, finally settling its case against him. pic.twitter.com/VlpJc30b38
— CoinMarketCap (@CoinMarketCap) June 18, 2026
On Thursday, a federal court within the Southern District of New York granted approval for the consent decree. This ruling permanently prevents Mashinsky from obtaining CFTC registration or engaging in any commodities, futures, or derivatives trading activities.
According to the CFTC, this resolution marks the conclusion of the agency’s inaugural enforcement proceeding against a digital asset lending operation. The regulatory body initially launched this action in 2023.
This settlement includes no additional monetary penalties. Mashinsky is presently fulfilling a 12-year prison term imposed in May 2025, after entering a guilty plea to charges of securities fraud and commodities fraud.
Additionally, he received orders to pay $50,000 in fines and forfeit $48 million as components of his criminal proceedings.
Allegations Against the Celsius Platform
The CFTC asserted that Mashinsky, along with Celsius, orchestrated a fraudulent operation that deceived hundreds of thousands of users regarding the platform’s security, profitability, and adherence to regulatory standards.
Regulators claimed the platform collected approximately $20 billion in customer deposits and deployed these funds in high-risk ventures to fulfill the returns promised to its user base.
The Celsius platform failed in 2022 amid a widespread cryptocurrency market decline. According to the CFTC, the company continued assuring customers of fund security even while experiencing substantial financial losses.
Celsius joined several prominent cryptocurrency enterprises that collapsed during the same timeframe, amplifying the devastating impact on the broader industry.
Multiple Regulatory Prohibitions Accumulate
This CFTC prohibition represents just one of several industry bans imposed on Mashinsky.
In April, he reached a settlement agreement with the Federal Trade Commission. This agreement permanently prohibits him from involvement with any product or service facilitating asset deposits, exchanges, investments, or withdrawals.
The SEC maintains an ongoing legal action against Mashinsky, initiated in July 2023. The charges include conducting an unregistered securities offering, misrepresenting Celsius operations, and engaging in price manipulation of the Celsius token.
Toward the end of May, the SEC informed a federal court that settlement discussions with Mashinsky had commenced. No agreement has been finalized. The court extended the negotiation period by an additional 60 days for both parties.
Concurrently, Mashinsky submitted a motion on May 26 seeking to overturn his 12-year criminal sentence. His claims include inadequate legal representation, evidence contamination through official misconduct, and allegations that FTX co-founder Sam Bankman-Fried orchestrated the manipulation of Celsius token prices.
Prosecutors have been directed by the court to file their response to this motion by mid-August.
The CFTC settlement represents among the final significant regulatory proceedings against Mashinsky to conclude, leaving only the SEC litigation outstanding.
The post CFTC Issues Lifetime Trading Ban on Celsius Founder Alex Mashinsky appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights
Investment banks are engaged in preliminary IPO discussions with Kalshi
Annual revenue has exceeded the $2 billion threshold
A $1 billion funding round closed in May, valuing the company at $22 billion
May trading volume reached $16.81 billion, surpassing competitor Polymarket
Several states have launched legal action alleging unlicensed gambling operations
Kalshi, the leading prediction market platform, has entered preliminary conversations with investment banks regarding a possible public market debut, The Information has reported.
Kalshi is reportedly generating more than $2B in annualized revenue, roughly triple its level from November, as betting activity around the NBA and World Cup drove a surge in trading volume.
The prediction market platform is also reportedly holding early discussions with… pic.twitter.com/wUfQ5jdlts
— Sam Badawi (@Sam_Badawi) June 19, 2026
These initial conversations remain informal and carry no binding commitments. When approached for comment, Kalshi representatives declined to provide a statement.
The platform’s annual revenue has now surpassed the $2 billion mark. This represents significant acceleration from the $1 billion annualized figure the Wall Street Journal documented in March.
This momentum follows closely on the heels of Kalshi’s massive $1 billion Series F financing completed in May. The round established a $22 billion company valuation and featured Coatue as lead investor, joined by prominent backers including Sequoia Capital, Andreessen Horowitz, Paradigm, Morgan Stanley, and ARK Invest.
Trading Volume Demonstrates Market Dominance
The prediction market sector is primarily commanded by two platforms: Kalshi and Polymarket. During May, Kalshi registered $16.81 billion in trading volume, marking an increase from April’s $14.81 billion figure.
Meanwhile, Polymarket experienced a decline, posting $7.08 billion in May volume compared to $9.01 billion the previous month.
The competitive distance between these platforms continues to expand. Kalshi has established a commanding lead in terms of monthly trading activity.
Mounting Legal Challenges and Regulatory Conflicts
Kalshi’s explosive expansion has attracted significant legal scrutiny. This week, Kentucky joined a growing list of states pursuing legal action against Kalshi, Polymarket, and associated companies.
These state-level lawsuits claim the platforms operate illegal gambling and sports betting services without proper licensing. Numerous other states have launched comparable legal challenges.
Industry associations intensified this pressure recently. Gaming industry groups dispatched correspondence to the Senate this week, advocating for crypto market structure legislation to include explicit prohibitions on prediction markets related to sports events and casino-style gaming.
Federal regulatory bodies maintain a contrasting position. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission asserts that prediction markets fall exclusively under its regulatory jurisdiction through the Commodity Exchange Act.
The CFTC has taken the extraordinary step of filing lawsuits against several states attempting to impose restrictions on these platforms.
This ongoing conflict between state-level enforcement actions and federal regulatory authority remains a significant unresolved issue. Kalshi is navigating this uncertain legal landscape as it considers going public.
Neither specific dates nor timelines for a potential IPO have been disclosed. Sources characterize the current discussions as exploratory and preliminary in nature.
The post Kalshi Eyes Public Markets as Revenue Hits $2B and Trading Volume Soars appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
ETH currently sits at approximately $1,682, declining close to 5% intraday, having breached critical trendline support.
Q1 2026 witnessed record-breaking network engagement with 13.2 million average monthly active addresses and 200.4 million total transactions.
Tokenized commodity assets on Ethereum surged 60% from the previous quarter to $4.7 billion, predominantly driven by Gold tokens.
Options market activity has significantly contracted, with open interest dropping to $5.5 billion from an earlier peak of $8.5 billion.
ETH remains range-bound between the $1,500 support zone and $1,920 resistance level, with volatility showing signs of compression.
Ethereum is currently changing hands around $1,682 following a nearly 5% single-session decline. The digital asset has breached a crucial ascending trendline, with the next significant support zone positioned near $1,500.
Ethereum (ETH) Price
The daily timeframe reveals another volatility compression phase following June’s sharp correction. This identical pattern preceded the previous significant downward movement.
Cryptocurrency analyst Ali Charts shared on X: “Ethereum $ETH is breaking down from its channel and is now trading below the 200-hour SMA. I’m expecting a move toward $1,580.” This projection matches the prevailing bearish technical framework, where ETH remains trapped beneath the $1,750 resistance following a temporary rebound from the $1,500 base.
Ethereum $ETH is breaking down from its channel and is now trading below the 200-hour SMA.
I’m expecting a move toward $1,580. pic.twitter.com/bri8017ic1
— Ali Charts (@alicharts) June 18, 2026
ETH has surrendered two critical support zones in recent weeks. The ascending trendline and $2,150 threshold were breached in mid-May, followed by a breakdown through the $1,920 support area before buyers emerged near $1,500.
Following that bottom, ETH has rallied back toward the lower boundary of a descending channel around $1,750. This price point has now transformed from support into resistance.
Options Activity and ETF Movements Reflect Muted Sentiment
Ethereum options open interest has contracted to approximately $5.5 billion across major exchanges, substantially lower than the $8.5 billion peaks observed during January and March. Perpetual swap funding rates have similarly flattened around zero, indicating a lack of directional conviction from both bulls and bears.
Source: Glassnode
Reduced open interest combined with neutral funding rates indicates diminished leverage throughout the market. When a meaningful catalyst emerges, price action could experience sharp movements with minimal resistance in either direction.
Spot Ethereum ETF flows have shown signs of stabilization. Following extended periods of consistent outflows, June recorded several modest positive inflow sessions. While the volumes remain small, this transition from persistent selling to mild accumulation represents a notable shift from previous months.
Network Fundamentals Reach All-Time Highs Despite Price Weakness
Notwithstanding the challenging price environment, Ethereum’s foundational network metrics delivered impressive performance during Q1 2026. Monthly active addresses averaged an unprecedented 13.2 million, representing a 53.5% increase from the previous quarter. Transaction volume climbed to 200.4 million, marking a 38% quarter-over-quarter gain.
Network throughput achieved a record 25.78 transactions per second. Transaction fees, however, declined 47.9% quarter-over-quarter in the aftermath of December’s Fusaka upgrade, which significantly expanded data availability.
Tokenized commodities built on Ethereum expanded 60% quarter-over-quarter to reach $4.7 billion in total value, with Gold representing nearly the entire growth segment. Ethereum commands an 84% market share of tokenized commodities among the leading five blockchain platforms.
ETH’s fully diluted valuation decreased to $290 billion during Q1, reflecting a 30.3% quarterly decline. The daily Relative Strength Index currently hovers near 38, suggesting weakening downward momentum that may be stabilizing.
The post Ethereum (ETH) Price Slips to $1,682 as Analyst Projects Decline to $1,580 — Critical Levels Ahead appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
STRC finished Thursday at $88.59, reaching an intraday bottom of $82.50 — representing the most extended period below $100 par since its July 2025 launch
Volume exploded to 10.7 million shares, significantly exceeding the typical 3.4–3.5 million daily range
Analyst Jeff Dorman from Arca suggests Strategy could be forced to liquidate $3B–$4B in Bitcoin holdings to bring STRC back to par
TD Cowen upheld its Buy rating on MSTR with a $400 target, even as MSTR shares dropped 4% to $112.53
The company has suspended STRC’s ATM offering while shares remain under par value
Strategy’s preferred equity STRC ended Thursday’s trading at $88.59, representing back-to-back closes beneath $90 and the most prolonged period trading under its $100 par value since its initial offering in July 2025.
Intraday action saw STRC plunge to $82.50 before staging a modest comeback. The security was structured to maintain par value through a flexible dividend mechanism — presently yielding 12.9% with monthly recalibrations.
Share volume exploded to roughly 10.7 million on Thursday, dwarfing the standard daily turnover of approximately 3.4 to 3.5 million. This marked one of the most active trading sessions since the preferred stock’s inception.
BREAKING: $STRC just hit at $85.32, its lowest level ever.
It could force Strategy to sell more Bitcoin.
STRC is Strategy's preferred stock that pays an 11.5% annual dividend. When it trades below its $100 par value, the market is signaling that the yield is not high enough.… pic.twitter.com/EmBXwbKaTC
— Bull Theory (@BullTheoryio) June 18, 2026
With STRC languishing below par, Strategy has temporarily halted the security’s ATM offering. Under normal circumstances when STRC exceeds $100, Strategy issues additional shares to acquire Bitcoin.
The company’s common equity also experienced turbulence, declining 4% to settle at $112.53.
Potential Remedies for STRC’s Par Value Problem
Jeff Dorman, Arca’s Chief Investment Officer, outlined the available pathways on X, characterizing it as the “MSTR pickle continues.”
Dorman’s primary projection — assigned a 70% likelihood — envisions Strategy gradually offloading modest quantities of MSTR shares monthly at dilutive prices. He contends this approach provides STRC investors “a glimmer of hope” while preserving most Bitcoin reserves, though he cautions MSTR equity “would get hammered.”
His secondary forecast, weighted at 25% probability, involves more aggressive intervention: liquidating $3 billion to $4 billion in Bitcoin holdings. Dorman suggests this would “buy a ton of time” and benefit STRC holders, despite creating short-term headwinds for Bitcoin prices.
The final alternative — what Dorman labels the “nuclear” option at 5% probability — would see Strategy suspending dividend payments on its preferred securities. This could leave preferred shareholders recovering just 30 to 40 cents per dollar and potentially exclude Strategy from capital markets indefinitely. However, it would eliminate what Dorman calculates as approximately $1.7 billion in annual cash obligations.
TD Cowen Maintains Optimistic Stance
Despite mounting concerns, TD Cowen reaffirmed its Buy recommendation on MSTR Thursday, preserving its $400 price objective while expressing confidence in Strategy’s preferred stock portfolio, including STRC.
The investment bank characterized Strategy as evolving beyond merely functioning as a leveraged Bitcoin vehicle toward establishing what it describes as a “Bitcoin capital markets platform.”
TD Cowen analysts referenced three investor briefings with CFO Andrew Kang, observing that Strategy may emphasize reserve reconstruction and preferred stock stabilization over fresh Bitcoin acquisitions during challenging market environments.
Critic Peter Schiff escalated warnings on social platforms, suggesting potential litigation against Michael Saylor’s Strategy regarding STRC’s persistent deterioration.
Dorman additionally scrutinized MSTR’s broader valuation metrics, calculating the firm possesses approximately $35.2 billion in unencumbered Bitcoin assets against a $40.4 billion equity capitalization — positioning MSTR at 1.15x modified NAV. He argues the shares “should trade at a discount to NAV now” and face continued downside pressure absent a swift Bitcoin recovery.
The post Strategy (MSTR) Stock Plummets 4% as STRC Preferred Shares Sink to Record Lows appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights
BTC declined approximately 5% to $62,500 following intensified Israeli military operations in Lebanon
The cryptocurrency market experienced $580 million in forced liquidations within 24 hours, impacting more than 139,000 traders
Strategy Inc.’s STRC preferred shares dipped beneath their $100 par value, sparking speculation about potential Bitcoin sales
Increasing interest rate projections continue to weigh on Bitcoin and similar risk-oriented investments
Market observer Daan Crypto Trades highlights BTC’s position near critical weekly 200MA support zone
Bitcoin finds itself caught between escalating geopolitical turmoil in the Middle East and mounting uncertainty surrounding Strategy Inc.’s cryptocurrency acquisition strategy.
The leading digital asset declined to approximately $62,500 on Thursday, marking a nearly 5% single-day plunge. This positions Bitcoin about 50% beneath its October 2024 peak.
Bitcoin (BTC) Price
Israeli forces initiated fresh military operations in southern Lebanon, intensifying regional hostilities notwithstanding a Memorandum of Understanding between Washington and Tehran. The agreement outlined an “immediate and permanent termination of military operations on all fronts, including in Lebanon.” However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared the arrangement doesn’t bind his nation.
[[EMBED_0]]
Following the agreement’s signing, Lebanese state media reported one fatality from a drone attack. Israeli sources confirmed one soldier killed and seven wounded.
The regional instability sent shockwaves through global financial markets, unleashing substantial forced liquidations across cryptocurrency platforms.
Mass Liquidation Event Hits $580 Million
According to CoinGlass analytics, the cryptocurrency sector witnessed $579.43 million in liquidations across a 24-hour window. Long positions accounted for $496.62 million of these forced closures. The liquidation event affected over 139,000 individual traders.
Source: Coinglass
Bitcoin dominated liquidation figures with $191.49 million in closed positions. Ethereum ranked second at $135.46 million. Additional major cryptocurrencies including XRP, Solana, and ADA experienced significant liquidations as well.
Market analyst Daan Crypto Trades offered perspective on the price action, observing on X that BTC remains “still fighting around its Weekly 200MA after the $60K sweep 2 weeks ago.” Despite the prevailing downward trend, he expressed reluctance about “getting bearish right at high timeframe supports,” emphasizing that even modest recoveries have sparked notable rallies in alternative cryptocurrencies.
[[EMBED_1]] Strategy Inc. Faces Capital Structure Crisis
Beyond geopolitical developments, Strategy Inc. contributes additional downward pressure on Bitcoin valuations.
The corporation’s STRC preferred shares — utilized to finance Bitcoin acquisitions — have declined beneath their $100 par value benchmark. Thursday saw these shares momentarily fall to $83. Trading below par value forces Strategy to raise capital at unfavorable terms.
“All eyes are on STRC price as a measure of market pressure on Strategy,” stated Joshua Lim, global co-head of markets at FalconX.
Jeff Dorman, Chief Investment Officer at Arca, suggested Strategy should liquidate substantial Bitcoin holdings or common stock to restore stability, warning against allowing “every part of your cap structure melt.”
Strategy shares decreased 3.5% on Thursday and have fallen approximately 14% since Monday’s opening. The stock has plummeted 70% over the trailing twelve months.
The company repurchased $1.5 billion worth of its 2029 Convertible Senior Notes, a move QCP Capital identified as heightening concerns about whether Strategy might need to liquidate Bitcoin holdings to satisfy dividend obligations.
Strategy declined to provide commentary when approached for this report.
The post Bitcoin (BTC) Tumbles to $62K Amid Middle East Conflict and Strategy Inc. Concerns appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR:
Uniswap API won 52.4% of 554,137 MetaMask swaps over 99 days, beating all rivals combined by count
The API recorded the lowest median slippage of 0.21–0.88 bps and a 0.12% failure rate across all providers
OKX’s volume lead of 25.3% stemmed from whale concentration, with one signer routing $42.6M in six trades
Excluding top 100 wallets per provider, Uniswap led adjusted volume at 32.9%, ahead of Kyber and 1inch v6
The Uniswap API has emerged as the dominant routing provider inside MetaMask’s swap architecture on Ethereum mainnet.
An independent researcher identified as Vaish analyzed 554,137 successful swaps over 99 days, totaling $567.8 million in volume.
The study found the Uniswap API won 52.4% of all routed transactions by count. That figure exceeds every competing provider combined, raising questions about how AMM-based routing holds its ground against RFQ desks.
Uniswap API Leads on Transaction Count and Execution Quality
MetaMask operates a multi-provider swap architecture where each trade request goes out to roughly a dozen routing providers simultaneously.
The platform selects the best quote net of fees and presents it to the user. Since Uniswap’s API integration in March 2026, it has consistently won more of those head-to-head quote competitions than any rival.
Realized execution data backs the routing outcome. Vaish’s study measured slippage as the deviation between a user’s actual fill and the on-chain mid-price at execution time.
The Uniswap API posted the lowest median slippage across all five trade-size buckets, ranging from 0.21 to 0.88 basis points. Competitors recorded medians between 1 and 27 basis points.
New research finds Uniswap API wins 52.4% of MetaMask routing decisions on mainnet, with the most reliable quotes and lowest failure rate
Just use https://t.co/qpKmAzDgG0
— Uniswap (@Uniswap) June 18, 2026
Vaish summarized the finding directly: “Among the hundreds of thousands of ordinary users whose wallet shops their order across a dozen providers, Uniswap is the routing outcome more often than every competitor combined, and the settled trades justify the routing.”
The Uniswap API also recorded a failure rate of just 0.12%, the lowest among all major providers. Competing platforms ran failure rates between 0.27% and 0.64%.
At MetaMask’s transaction volume, that gap translates to thousands of avoided failed swaps and their associated gas costs.
The routing advantage held across pair types, gas conditions, and times of day, with transaction share staying between 52% and 55% in every UTC hour.
OKX Volume Lead Tied to Whale Concentration, Not Broad User Demand
By raw dollar volume, OKX led the dataset at 25.3%, compared to Uniswap’s 21.3%. However, the researcher found that figure came from extreme wallet concentration. OKX’s $143.8 million in volume originated from just 13,850 wallets, with the top 10 accounting for 48% of it.
A single intermediary contract operated by one signer sent $42.6 million through OKX across just six transactions. That entity alone represented roughly 30% of OKX’s total volume in the study period.
On this distinction, Vaish was direct: “Routing share by transaction count is a tally of independent quote competitions, one per user decision. Routing share by raw volume is that same tally reweighted by a few large actors.”
Uniswap, by contrast, drew its volume from 134,876 wallets, with only 5.4% concentrated among its top 10. After excluding the top 100 wallets from each provider, Uniswap led the adjusted volume ranking at 32.9%. Kyber followed at 18.2%, with 1inch v6 at 15.7%, OKX at 13.3%, and 0x at 12.9%.
On routes involving five or more legs, OKX captured 43.1% of volume while Uniswap dropped to 4.1%. That split reflects a structural divide: AMM-based routing performs strongest on standard retail trades, while RFQ desks hold an edge on complex, large-ticket routes above $100,000.
The Uniswap API was the only major provider whose share rose consistently under progressive whale exclusion.
The post Uniswap API Captures Over Half of MetaMask Swaps on Ethereum Mainnet appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR:
NEAR Protocol has processed 5.36B transactions since its 2020 mainnet launch, nearing the 5.4B milestone.
The network supports 397 active validators and a peak throughput of 4,135 TPS across 100 blocks.
Analysts identify $9 as NEAR’s first major resistance, with trapped holders likely to sell at that level.
A confirmed break above $9 could open a relatively clear technical path toward NEAR’s $20-plus ATH zone.
NEAR Protocol is closing in on a major network milestone, with transaction data pointing to steady blockchain activity.
On-chain figures from Chainspect show the layer-1 network has processed approximately 5.36 billion transactions since its 2020 launch.
The network currently supports 397 active validators and records a maximum throughput of 4,135 transactions per second.
Meanwhile, technical analysts are drawing attention to NEAR’s price structure, which mirrors patterns seen before previous bull runs.
Network Activity Reflects Growing On-Chain Demand
The approaching 5.4 billion transaction mark puts NEAR Protocol among the more active layer-1 blockchains in the current market cycle.
BSC News reported the milestone figures citing Chainspect data, noting validator count and peak TPS alongside the transaction total.
NEAR Protocol has processed nearly 5.4B transactions…
According to @chainspect_app data, @NEARProtocol is edging towards a new transaction milestone, having currently processed some 5.36B txns since launching in 2020.
Data also shows that $NEAR now has some 397 different… pic.twitter.com/4l9eZk2e2x
— BSCN (@BSCNews) June 19, 2026
These metrics collectively reflect a network that has maintained consistent usage since its mainnet debut six years ago.
The validator count of 397 points to a reasonably distributed consensus layer. A broad validator set generally reduces centralization risk and strengthens network reliability over time. For a proof-of-stake chain, this number carries weight when evaluating long-term infrastructure credibility.
The 4,135 maximum TPS figure, measured across 100 blocks, positions NEAR among faster layer-1 networks in the space.
High throughput capacity is a key requirement for applications handling large transaction volumes, including DeFi protocols and gaming platforms. This capacity matters as developers evaluate which base layers can handle real-world scale.
Transaction volume alone does not determine a network’s value, but it does serve as one baseline signal of ecosystem usage.
As NEAR edges closer to 5.4 billion processed transactions, the milestone adds a concrete data point to ongoing conversations about the network’s adoption trajectory.
Price Structure Points to Key Resistance Levels Ahead
On the technical side, analyst Flippix outlined a market structure on X that has drawn attention from traders watching NEAR’s price action.
According to the post, NEAR at approximately $2.23 has already reclaimed a price zone where major rallies historically originated.
The analyst identified two critical resistance levels: $9 as the first major test and $20-plus as the all-time high zone.
$NEAR has already reclaimed the level where previous major rallies started
Most people are focused on the ATH around $20+
But the more important level right now sits much lower
First major resistance: $9
ATH zone: $20+
Current price: ~$2.3
The chart is showing a… pic.twitter.com/eOlz00737q
— Flippix (@Flippix_sol) June 17, 2026
Flippix noted that NEAR is not recovering from mid-range territory but rather from a historically significant demand zone where buyers previously stepped in with force.
This distinction matters to technical traders who track entry zones tied to prior cycle behavior. The positioning suggests a different recovery dynamic compared to assets bouncing from weaker support areas.
The $9 level carries particular significance because that zone marked where the previous cycle lost upward momentum.
Trapped holders from that period may look to exit around that price, creating natural selling pressure. A clean break above $9 would remove a key overhead obstacle and shift market sentiment considerably.
Above that level, the analyst noted relatively thin resistance stretching toward the $20-plus ATH region. If NEAR can confirm the multi-year downtrend reversal and clear $9, the technical path toward previous highs becomes more straightforward.
That outcome, however, remains contingent on broader market conditions and sustained buying pressure at current levels.
The post NEAR Protocol Approaches 5.4 Billion Transaction Milestone Amid Technical Bullish Outlook appeared first on Blockonomi.

TLDR:
Algorand will roll out native Falcon-1024 account support in its Q3 2026 protocol release.
Hybrid accounts combining elliptic-curve and Falcon signatures offer dual classical and quantum protection.
A post-quantum VRF replacement is under active research, with a paper expected by early 2027.
France’s ANSSI will stop certifying non-quantum-safe products from 2027, adding regulatory urgency.
Algorand quantum computing resistance is now a formal priority, with the Algorand Foundation announcing a structured roadmap to secure its blockchain against future quantum threats by end of 2027.
The plan covers user accounts, wallets, custody systems, and core consensus infrastructure. First milestones are set to begin rolling out in Q3 2026, positioning Algorand among the most proactive blockchain networks preparing for the post-quantum era.
Falcon-1024 Accounts and Hybrid Cryptography Lead the 2026 Rollout
The foundation’s immediate focus centers on native Falcon-1024 account support, scheduled for the Q3 2026 protocol release.
Unlike earlier Falcon implementations built on LogicSignatures, native accounts will integrate directly with the ledger and developer tooling. Support will extend to Algorand’s SDKs, AlgoKit, and Pera Wallet within the same release window.
A key design choice is the hybrid account model, combining traditional elliptic-curve signatures with lattice-based Falcon signatures.
The foundation chose this approach because post-quantum schemes have not yet accumulated decades of real-world security testing. Hybrid accounts provide layered protection against both classical and quantum-era attack vectors simultaneously.
Algorand Foundation CTO Bruno Martins outlined the broader vision behind the rollout. “Algorand’s roadmap reflects a belief that security should be designed for the future,” Martins wrote.
“With the first milestones launching in 2026 and broad deployment targeted for the end of 2027, Algorand is taking concrete steps toward a future where users, developers, and institutions can build with confidence.”
Multi-signature accounts will also receive upgrades under the 2026 roadmap. Institutional users will be able to configure m-of-n quorum policies mixing classical, pure-Falcon, and hybrid keys across participants.
This capability targets treasury management and high-stakes financial operations ahead of native multi-scheme multisig support.
Consensus and VRF Research Push Toward Full Quantum Resilience by 2027
Beyond user accounts, the foundation is addressing the cryptographic layer powering Algorand’s consensus mechanism.
The current Verifiable Random Function relies on elliptic-curve cryptography, which remains vulnerable to quantum attacks.
Chief Scientific Officer Chris Peikert is leading research into a post-quantum VRF replacement, with a research paper targeted for early 2027 publication.
Consensus messaging itself also depends on Ed25519 signatures, which carry the same quantum vulnerability. The foundation is evaluating hybrid models using both Ed25519 and Falcon signatures for consensus messages during the transition period. Key and signature size remains the primary engineering challenge under active analysis.
Martins was direct about the industry-wide stakes. “As a custodian of a global blockchain network, the Algorand Foundation takes that threat seriously and has been researching and preparing for several years,” he wrote.
He added that the foundation does not embrace alarmism, given that post-quantum countermeasures still lack the battle-testing of established systems like RSA and elliptic-curve cryptography.
France’s cybersecurity agency ANSSI recently announced it would stop certifying products lacking quantum-safe encryption from 2027, adding regulatory weight to the timeline. ANSSI Chief of Staff Samih Souissi noted the issue extends well beyond technical concerns.
“It’s not only a technical issue,” Souissi said. “It’s a matter of governance, industrial planning, regulation, and sovereignty.”
Algorand’s roadmap, initiated with State Proofs in 2022, now targets broad deployment precisely as that global compliance deadline approaches.
The post Algorand Sets 2027 Deadline to Become Fully Resistant to Quantum Computing Threats appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Takeaways
Strategy’s common stock plummeted nearly 6%, settling around $109 following STRC preferred stock’s decline to an all-time low of $89
The STRC price drop beneath $100 par value has suspended Strategy’s capacity to issue additional shares for bitcoin acquisitions
In May, Strategy liquidated 32 bitcoin — marking its first cryptocurrency sale since 2022 — to cover STRC dividend obligations
Board member Jarrod Patten offloaded approximately $9 million in MSTR shares across a three-month period; additional executives sold earlier this year
Wall Street firms including Bernstein, TD Cowen, Citigroup, and BTIG maintained positive ratings with price objectives ranging from $250 to $450
Strategy (MSTR) shares experienced a sharp 6% decline Thursday, hovering near $109, as the company confronted mounting challenges from several fronts — deteriorating preferred share valuations, executive stock sales, and a subdued cryptocurrency market following the Federal Reserve’s recent policy announcement.
The primary catalyst was the decline of STRC, Strategy’s Stretch preferred stock, which plummeted to an unprecedented low of $89. This development carries significant implications because STRC’s trading price below its $100 par value has compelled Strategy to suspend its at-the-market offering program — the principal vehicle through which it generates capital for bitcoin purchases.
With this financing avenue now closed, Strategy’s fundamental bitcoin acquisition model has ground to a halt.
Company Breaks Bitcoin-Only Policy
Toward the end of May, Strategy liquidated 32 bitcoin for roughly $2.5 million to satisfy STRC dividend requirements. This transaction represented the company’s first bitcoin sale since initiating its accumulation program in 2022.
Executive Chairman Michael Saylor had consistently championed a hold-only approach. The sale marked a significant shift from that established strategy, though analysts from Benchmark and TD Cowen dismissed concerns about a wider strategic unraveling.
Compounding the competitive dynamics, Strive’s competing SATA preferred stock maintains trading above $99 while offering a 13.69% yield, attracting dividend-seeking investors toward an alternative vehicle.
Market analytics firm QCP calculates Strategy possesses approximately 7.5 months of remaining liquidity to satisfy preferred dividend commitments. QCP highlighted the company may ultimately confront a decision between securing additional capital, further diluting existing shareholders, or liquidating additional bitcoin holdings.
Strategy recently bought back nearly $1.5 billion in convertible debt instruments maturing in 2029 while simultaneously raising approximately $200 million through MSTR equity sales — a portion of which financed another $100 million bitcoin purchase.
Director Stock Sales Compound Concerns
Director Jarrod Patten exercised options on 1,500 Class A shares at an exercise price of $18.236 and disposed of them at approximately $134, netting roughly $200,000. Throughout the preceding three months, Patten has divested 55,750 MSTR shares generating total proceeds near $9 million.
He maintains ownership of 28,406 Class A shares along with 44,250 outstanding director options.
Earlier this year, CEO Phong Le, CFO Andrew Kang, and former EVP Wei-Ming Shao similarly sold millions in MSTR equity.
The Federal Reserve’s June 17 unanimous 12-0 decision maintained interest rates at 3.50%–3.75%, though the updated dot plot revealed nine of 18 FOMC participants now anticipate at least one rate increase before 2026 concludes. This hawkish shift pressured bitcoin and cryptocurrency-related equities despite broader market strength.
Bitcoin was trading around $63,850 at publication time, declining approximately 2% over 24 hours. At this valuation, Strategy’s holdings reflect an unrealized loss of roughly $11,658 per coin relative to its average purchase price.
MSTR finished Wednesday’s session down 5.09% at $116.56, followed by an additional 2.1% drop to $114.04 during Thursday morning trading. The equity has now declined approximately 31% over the trailing month.
Notwithstanding these headwinds, Bernstein maintained its buy recommendation with a $450 price objective. TD Cowen sustains its $350 target, Citigroup at $260, and BTIG at $250.
The post Strategy (MSTR) Stock Plunges Over 6% Amid Preferred Stock Collapse and Insider Sales appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights
Intel stock soared following news of a strategic chip collaboration with Apple centered on domestic U.S. production facilities
Major semiconductor names like Nvidia, Micron, and Broadcom staged a powerful comeback following recent weakness
SpaceX experienced its most significant drop since its blockbuster public debut as early investors locked in returns
Crude oil retreated on optimism surrounding potential diplomatic progress between the United States and Iran
Apple cautioned investors that escalating memory and storage component expenses may necessitate higher device pricing
Intel’s shares surged during Wednesday’s trading session following revelations that Apple intends to partner with the chipmaker on design and production initiatives within American borders. The strategic alliance between these tech giants is anticipated to focus on semiconductor projects as the nation intensifies efforts to expand domestic chip manufacturing capabilities.
This development arrives as welcome news for Intel during a critical transformation period. The company has been aggressively expanding its contract manufacturing operations—referred to internally as its foundry business—in an effort to challenge industry leaders such as TSMC and Samsung.
Semiconductor Sector Mounts Impressive Comeback
The wider chip industry experienced a robust trading day. Nvidia, Micron, Broadcom, and Marvell Technology each recorded significant advances following several challenging weeks.
Market participants had been stepping away from semiconductor investments amid worries about elevated valuations and interest rate dynamics. Numerous investors viewed the recent decline as an attractive entry point to rebuild positions.
Artificial intelligence continues serving as the primary catalyst for sector demand. Corporations are allocating substantial capital toward AI processors, data center infrastructure, and network equipment, with industry observers projecting this momentum to persist.
SpaceX Experiences Profit-Taking Pressure Following Historic Public Offering
SpaceX endured one of its most challenging trading sessions since its market debut earlier in the year. Shares declined as initial investors capitalized on profits following the company’s unprecedented IPO performance.
The SpaceX public offering set records as the largest ever completed. The enterprise’s diversified operations spanning rocket technology, satellite broadband services, artificial intelligence, and defense contracting generated substantial early enthusiasm among market participants.
Industry analysts note that post-IPO price swings are typical following high-profile market entries. The stock is projected to exhibit continued volatility in coming sessions as market forces establish appropriate valuation levels.
Crude Prices Decline on Diplomatic Optimism
Oil prices retreated as market participants grew increasingly hopeful regarding potential diplomatic breakthrough between Washington and Tehran. Should Iran resume greater oil exports to international markets, global supply would expand and prices would face additional downward pressure.
Decreasing crude costs typically provide relief for aviation companies, logistics firms, and end consumers. They can also alleviate pressure on monetary authorities working to contain inflationary forces.
Apple Signals Potential Device Price Increases
Apple informed the investment community that escalating expenses for memory and storage elements may result in price adjustments for upcoming product releases. The technology leader has been impacted by robust demand for AI-focused semiconductors, which has elevated costs for critical components within its supply chain.
Market watchers are monitoring whether potential price hikes will impact unit sales volumes and the company’s profitability metrics.
Apple’s cost warnings underscore how artificial intelligence investment is creating cascading effects throughout the broader technology landscape, influencing everything from enterprise computing infrastructure to consumer-facing electronics products.
The post Intel (INTC) Soars on Apple Partnership as Chip Sector Rallies and SpaceX Stumbles appeared first on Blockonomi.

Key Highlights
On June 18, 2026, Cipher Digital (CIFR) achieved a record peak of $28.64, currently hovering near $28.67.
The stock has notched five consecutive winning sessions, accumulating 25% gains and boosting market capitalization by approximately $2.2 billion.
Year-over-year performance shows a staggering 649% increase, with 2026 year-to-date gains reaching 78.5%.
An $810 million senior secured notes issuance funds a West Texas data center project with Amazon as the anchor tenant under a 15-year lease agreement.
The company’s latest annual financials reveal a net loss exceeding $822 million, prompting valuation concerns from market analysts.
Cipher Digital (CIFR) reached an unprecedented trading level of $28.64 on June 18, 2026. During market hours, shares were changing hands around $28.67, reflecting an intraday surge of approximately 11.4%.
This performance marks the fifth consecutive session of gains, with accumulated returns totaling 25.4% across that period. The rally has inflated CIFR’s market valuation by roughly $2.2 billion during this five-day run, pushing total market capitalization to approximately $11 billion.
Broader timeframes reveal even more dramatic appreciation. In 2026 alone, CIFR has advanced 78.5%, while the trailing twelve-month period shows an extraordinary gain of approximately 649%.
By contrast, the benchmark S&P 500 index has registered gains of roughly 8.4% in 2026 thus far.
With a beta coefficient of 3.2, CIFR exhibits significant volatility compared to the overall market. Investors should recognize this characteristic when evaluating the stock’s recent performance trajectory.
Strategic Amazon Partnership Drives Investor Enthusiasm
The primary catalyst behind this recent price appreciation centers on a substantial infrastructure transaction. Cipher Digital successfully secured $810 million through a senior secured notes issuance via its Stingray Compute LLC subsidiary. These debt instruments carry a 6% coupon rate with maturity scheduled for 2031.
Capital raised will fund construction and development of a data center facility in West Texas. Amazon has committed to a 15-year lease arrangement for the property, providing Cipher Digital with stable, long-duration revenue visibility and a prestigious corporate partner.
Morgan Stanley served as representative for the initial purchasers in this financing transaction.
In a strategic hiring move, Cipher Digital appointed Bill Blevins to the newly created position of Head of Grid Strategies. Blevins brings relevant experience from his previous role as Director of Grid Coordination at the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, where he’ll now guide the company’s power grid strategic initiatives.
Financial Performance Presents Ongoing Challenges
While the equity price has skyrocketed, the company’s financial statements paint a more complex picture that has caught analysts’ attention.
For its most recent annual reporting period, Cipher Digital generated $223.9 million in revenues, representing 38% growth compared to the prior year. However, operational losses reached $337.4 million, while net losses totaled a substantial $822.2 million during the same timeframe.
Quarterly performance for the two most recent periods showed revenue figures of $59.7 million and $34.8 million, accompanied by operating losses of $228.9 million and $64.3 million respectively.
According to InvestingPro’s valuation framework, the current stock price appears elevated relative to Fair Value calculations. Similarly, Trefis has assigned CIFR a “Very Unattractive” rating, citing insufficient operating performance and stretched valuation metrics as primary justifications.
At the company’s latest shareholders meeting, quorum was established with approximately 66.24% of outstanding common shares represented. All three director nominees received approval, and shareholders ratified all management proposals.
While revenue expansion has reached 38% on a trailing twelve-month basis, the path to profitability remains unclear as Cipher Digital continues deploying substantial capital toward infrastructure development initiatives.
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Key Highlights
Shares of Take-Two Interactive climbed more than 6% following Rockstar Games’ announcement that GTA VI preorders begin June 25.
Rockstar confirmed a November 19, 2025 release date, bringing clarity after multiple delays.
Piper Sandler maintains an Overweight rating with a $280 target, forecasting over 45 million units sold initially.
CEO Strauss Zelnick projects FY2027 net bookings between $8 billion and $8.2 billion.
Official box art revealed by Rockstar generated significant buzz across social platforms.
Shares of Take-Two Interactive (TTWO) rallied over 6% Thursday following Rockstar Games’ confirmation that Grand Theft Auto VI will be available for preorder starting June 25, ahead of its November 19 launch. The stock traded near $241.74 during afternoon hours.
Rockstar made the announcement through its verified X account, simultaneously unveiling the game’s retail box artwork. The reveal quickly gained traction online.
For market watchers, this preorder timeline represents more than just a marketing milestone. It provides concrete evidence that the November launch window remains on track — a crucial signal following years of uncertainty and postponements.
The road to GTA VI’s release has been turbulent. Originally targeted for 2025, the launch was subsequently delayed to mid-2026, then pushed again to November 2026. When that final postponement was revealed, TTWO shares tumbled nearly 18% in a single trading day.
By announcing preorders five months before launch, institutional investors are interpreting this as strong indication that additional delays are unlikely.
The franchise’s previous installment debuted in 2013. That represents thirteen years of accumulated anticipation, and market data supports the magnitude of this buildup.
Wall Street’s Expectations
Piper Sandler maintained its Overweight stance on TTWO with a $280 price objective. Their analysis suggests GTA VI could move more than 45 million copies in its initial release period.
To put this in perspective, GTA V generated over $1 billion in sales during its first three days in 2013 and has delivered more than 200 million units lifetime — establishing it as the most successful entertainment launch ever.
FactSet consensus estimates point to Take-Two generating $8.6 billion in revenue for the fiscal year concluding next March, representing a 27% increase from fiscal 2026.
CEO Strauss Zelnick has provided guidance for FY2027 net bookings in the $8 billion to $8.2 billion range.
Preorder Window Opens Late June
The June 25 preorder availability will span PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S digital platforms, alongside physical reservation options at leading retailers globally.
The game’s cultural impact is already extending beyond the gaming sector. Burger Motorsports, an automotive parts retailer, announced it will shut down operations on November 19 — the GTA VI release day — describing it as “an unprecedented cultural event.”
TTWO remains down approximately 6.9% for the year and roughly unchanged over the trailing twelve months. Preorder metrics in the weeks ahead will provide investors with better visibility into whether consumer demand aligns with market expectations.
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Key Highlights
QUBT stock advanced following Planck Dynamics’ order of five NeuraWave platforms for 2026 delivery.
The NeuraWave agreement provides QCi with tangible commercial momentum in AI computing markets.
The partnership with Planck Dynamics opens defense sector opportunities for QCi’s photonic technology.
A possible $10M expansion hinges on achieving specific milestones and customer requirements.
NeuraWave leverages photonic reservoir computing for edge AI applications requiring minimal latency.
Shares of Quantum Computing Inc. (QUBT) advanced following news that Planck Dynamics had placed an order for the company’s NeuraWave technology. QUBT stock traded at $10.34, representing a 5.78% gain, as investors responded to the commercial validation. The shares briefly touched $10.50 during intraday trading before stabilizing near session highs.
Quantum Computing, Inc., QUBT
NeuraWave Contract Lifts QUBT Stock
Quantum Computing announced that Planck Dynamics has committed to an initial purchase of five NeuraWave computing systems. Delivery is scheduled for 2026, with technical coordination work commencing immediately. This purchase order establishes QCi’s first commercial foothold in photonic reservoir computing applications.
The arrangement establishes a foundation for potential expansion of NeuraWave deployments moving forward. QCi indicated the overall program value could surpass $10 million based on achievement of specified performance benchmarks. Additional system orders remain contingent upon Planck Dynamics reaching development targets and satisfying contractual requirements.
Planck Dynamics functions as part of NUNC Capital BV’s investment portfolio based in the Netherlands. The firm specializes in defense applications and develops real-time analytical systems for operational environments. This collaboration positions QCi’s photonic technology within a rigorous, performance-driven sector.
Photonic Computing Partnership Focuses on Edge Applications
QCi engineered NeuraWave specifically for temporal artificial intelligence and time-series data analysis tasks. The platform employs photonic reservoir computing architecture to deliver rapid, efficient processing of sophisticated datasets. Consequently, it addresses scenarios where centralized computing infrastructure introduces unacceptable latency.
The collaborative program will validate electro-optic computing capabilities for advanced AI processing needs. It seeks to enable both commercial and governmental applications across diverse operational contexts. The initiative emphasizes rapid response times, minimal energy consumption, and instantaneous analytical output.
This application domain is significant because edge computing architectures process information at or near data generation points. Such systems frequently support sensor arrays, mobile platforms, and geographically distributed infrastructure. Thus, QCi has tailored NeuraWave for scenarios where processing speed and reduced power requirements are mission-critical.
Commercial Validation Strengthens QCi Strategy
Quantum Computing has centered its business approach on quantum optics and integrated photonic technologies. The firm aims to transition advanced computing capabilities from laboratory environments into practical commercial deployments. This partnership delivers tangible evidence of customer demand supporting that strategic direction.
Both organizations will develop a detailed Statement of Work governing the partnership activities. This document will define technical milestones, system integration objectives, and implementation timelines. It will serve as the roadmap for continued collaboration between QCi and Planck Dynamics throughout the project lifecycle.
While the agreement doesn’t ensure the complete $10 million program materialization, it provides QUBT with substantive positive news following a turbulent trading period. The contract also validates growing market recognition of photonic computing solutions for sophisticated AI applications.

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