The former UFC champion tried to launch his own celebrity memecoin, REAL, in April, but the project failed to gain traction. UFC star Conor McGregor criticized former rival Khabib Nurmagomedov for his non-fungible token (NFT) drop on Telegram, which featured digital “papakhas” — a traditional hat worn in Nurmagomedov’s native country of Dagestan. “There is just no way good guy Khabib used his late father’s name, as well as Dagestan’s culture, to scam his fans and fire sell a bunch of digital NFTs online,” McGregor wrote in a now-deleted X post. Onchain sleuth ZachXBT responded to McGregor, pointing out that McGregor attempted to launch his own celebrity memecoin in April called REAL. ZachXBT said: Read more
A recent analysis shed light on another correlation between the world’s largest cryptocurrency and stablecoin by market capitalization. Blockchain analytics provider Glassnode reported a “strong negative correlation” between Bitcoin’s and USDt’s activity over the last two years. In a Wednesday X post, Glassnode shared a comparison between Bitcoin’s (BTC) price and net flows of USDt (USDT) to exchanges starting in December 2023. According to the analysis, net outflows of USDT from exchanges coincided with increases in the price of BTC. “During euphoric phases, USDT typically flows out at –$100M to –$200M/day as investors lock in profits,” said Glassnode. “At the $126K peak [in October], net outflows reached >$220M (30D-SMA); A clear profit-taking signal now easing as flows turn positive again.” Read more
On-chain money market funds have grown nearly tenfold since 2023, but the Bank for International Settlements warns their adoption brings new liquidity and contagion risks. Tokenized money market funds are emerging as one of the most important yield-bearing assets on public blockchains, offering money-market returns and securities-level protections that stablecoins can’t provide, according to a new report from the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). According to the bulletin, tokenized money market funds now hold nearly $9 billion in assets, up from about $770 million at the end of 2023. The BIS warned that as these tokenized Treasury portfolios become a key source of collateral in the crypto ecosystem, they also bring new operational and liquidity risks. Tokenized money market funds are blockchain-based representations of traditional money market portfolios, providing investors with onchain access to short-term, interest-bearing assets, such as US Treasurys. Read more
Binance’s latest move targets demand from traditional wealth clients and asset managers taking their first steps into the crypto space. Binance has launched a concierge-style service designed for family offices, asset managers, and private funds taking their first steps into the crypto space. According to the exchange on Wednesday, the new service offers personalized onboarding with dedicated managers, support for over 100 fiat currencies, and access to tailored structured products. The service also includes credit lines, institutional-grade custody through partnered custodians, and real-time analytics and reporting tools designed to give professional investors clear visibility into their portfolios. Read more
Bitcoin’s momentum is restrained by uncertainty in interest rate policy, inflation expectations, the pending MSCI decision on crypto-focused firms, and stress in BTC derivatives. Key takeaways: Bitcoin derivatives and cautious interest rate expectations keep sentiment restrained, yet improving liquidity conditions bolster upside potential. Regulatory easing and MSCI’s review of BTC-heavy firms could lift risk appetite, supporting a more constructive medium-term outlook for Bitcoin. Read more
S&P Global Ratings downgraded Tether’s USDt to its lowest stability rating, raising concerns over its dollar peg. Tether classified the report as “misleading.” S&P Global Ratings has downgraded Tether’s USDt to the lowest score on its stablecoin stability scale, questioning the token’s ability to maintain its dollar peg. The “weak” assessment was due to several factors, including Tether backing USDt (USDT) with “higher-risk” assets such as Bitcoin (BTC), gold, loans, and corporate bonds that are subject to higher volatility, according to S&P Global. The report read: Tether is headquartered in El Salvador and is regulated according to the National Commission of Digital Assets (CNAD), which has looser requirements for reserve assets backing stablecoins, S&P said. Read more
Bitcoin and select altcoins have started a recovery, but higher levels are likely to attract solid selling by the bears. Is $100,000 BTC's next stop? Key points: Bitcoin has been facing selling near $89,000, but the bulls have not given up much ground, suggesting a rally to $93,500. Several major altcoins have started a recovery, but they are likely to face selling at higher levels. Read more