Bitcoin

Thursday: The Crypto Market Freezes in Anticipation

Bitcoin BTCUSD ... appeared frozen in indecision on Thursday. The world’s largest cryptocurrency slipped only slightly—less than 1%—and settled at around $64,800. This followed several days of attempts to climb out of the hole it had fallen into earlier this month. Although Bitcoin has gained nearly 1.6% over the past week, the mood across the market is far from triumphant.

The problem is that cryptocurrencies are currently caught between two opposing forces. On one side are softer US inflation figures, which suggest that further interest-rate hikes may be put on hold, creating a more favorable environment for risk assets. On the other side is geopolitics, which is becoming more alarming by the day. Iran, military strikes, and the Strait of Hormuz are keeping investors on high alert and preventing them from celebrating even positive macroeconomic news.

Two Opposing Forces: Inflation and the Middle East

Let us examine exactly what is driving prices.

First, the good news: US consumer and producer inflation figures for June came in below expectations. For the market, this means that the Federal Reserve may be able to avoid rushing into further interest-rate hikes.

This is critically important for Bitcoin, which does not generate interest income. High interest rates have always put pressure on cryptocurrencies because investors prefer to keep their money in US dollar-denominated assets that offer attractive yields rather than in volatile digital assets. That source of pressure has now weakened.

However, a second and far more troubling factor has entered the picture. Exchanges of military strikes between the United States and Iran have continued for five consecutive days. Oil prices have risen, triggering a mechanism as old as the markets themselves: higher oil prices increase inflation expectations, and rising inflation may push the Federal Reserve toward tighter monetary...

Introduction: The Call That Changed Everything

It was supposed to be a landmark event for the crypto industry. One of Wall Street’s oldest financial firms, Cantor Fitzgerald, was joining forces with the bitcoin investment company of the legendary Adam Back. A man who stood at the origins of Bitcoin, whose work is linked to Satoshi’s white paper, was bringing his business to the public market through a SPAC. The deal was expected to legitimize cryptocurrency in the eyes of conservative institutional investors and generate billions in profits.

And then — silence. Followed by a dry statement: the parties were abandoning the original terms. The merger was canceled. But not entirely. They want to negotiate a revised deal. The financial parameters were not disclosed. The timeline was not specified. Private financing was annulled. The shareholder meeting scheduled for July 10 was postponed indefinitely.

So what happened? Why did a deal that seemed almost guaranteed a year ago fall apart at the last moment, leaving investors confused? Was it a crisis of trust, funding problems, or a sign that bitcoin euphoria is beginning to fade?

The SPAC Mechanism: A Shortcut to the Stock Market That Became a Rocky Road

What Is a SPAC and Why Was It Chosen

To understand the scale of what happened, it is important to recall what a SPAC is — a special purpose acquisition company. In essence, it is a “blank check”: a company with no operating business that goes public, raises money from investors, and then searches for a target to acquire. If the deal goes through, the private company becomes public without a traditional IPO.

This mechanism was incredibly popular at the beginning of the decade. It promised speed, less bureaucracy, and access to capital even for companies that were not ready for a full...

Introduction: The Forgotten Hero Returns

Sunday. A time when most investors take a break from market turbulence, while the cryptocurrency market never sleeps. And this Sunday, something happened that caught the attention of even the busiest traders. EOS, a cryptocurrency that many had already written off, suddenly came back to life. A 10.07% gain in one day was its sharpest daily jump since December 11, 2025. The price rose to $0.0743, while the asset gained almost 22% over the week.

For those who remember the old days, when EOS was among the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization and traded above $20, the current figures look modest. But for those who still believe in this project, even such growth is a reason for cautious optimism. EOS’s market capitalization once reached $17.5 billion. Today, it represents only a small fraction of that peak, but every new day brings hope for recovery.

What is behind this growth? EOS is not just another coin that surged on the wave of general bullish sentiment in the crypto market. It has its own history, its own technology, and its own audience that still believes in the platform’s potential. Let’s examine why EOS rose by 10%, what it means for the market, and whether it has a future.

What Is EOS and Why Is It Still Alive

A Technology Platform for Decentralized Applications

EOS is not just a cryptocurrency; it is an entire blockchain platform created for developing decentralized applications, or dApps. It was launched in 2018 by Block.one and was positioned as a competitor to Ethereum. Its main feature is high throughput and the absence of transaction fees for users.

Unlike Ethereum, where users pay gas fees for every operation, EOS uses a Delegated Proof-of-Stake, or DPoS, model, where token holders vote for block producers....

Introduction: A Monday That Started in the Green

Monday, Asian trading session. Traders in Tokyo, Singapore, and Hong Kong open their terminals and see a familiar picture. Bitcoin is back in the green. $63,227.5 — that is the current price of the world’s leading cryptocurrency, gaining 0.8% in the morning and continuing the rally that began last week. This is not just a move — it is a return of confidence after several weeks of chaos, during which Bitcoin fell to a 21-month low below $58,000.

What changed? The main driver is the shift in expectations regarding the Federal Reserve’s policy. Weak U.S. labor market data for June and comments from Fed Chair Kevin Warsh about declining inflation convinced investors that the regulator is unlikely to raise rates this year. This means liquidity will remain high, while risk assets, including cryptocurrencies, will continue to attract demand.

But macroeconomics is not the only factor supporting Bitcoin. The renewed inflow of funds into spot Bitcoin ETFs after several weeks of outflows became another signal that institutional investors are returning to the market. The $221.7 million in inflows recorded last week ended a 10-day streak of outflows and changed market sentiment.

Over the past week, Bitcoin has risen by roughly 5%. This is not an impressive result compared with years when it doubled in a month, but it is important as a change in trend. After a prolonged decline, even a modest recovery is perceived as a victory. But is this growth sustainable? Analysts warn that trading volumes remain relatively low, and further ETF inflows and favorable macroeconomic data will likely be needed to maintain the upward momentum.

Altcoins are also feeling confident. Ethereum rose 0.7% to $1,775.92. XRP gained 0.6% to $1.14. Even meme tokens such as Dogecoin increased by 1.4%. On...

Introduction: Friday Recovery After a Long Winter

Friday. The cryptocurrency market, which in recent weeks had resembled a desert, suddenly comes back to life. Bitcoin, the world’s leading cryptocurrency, rises above $61,000 and moves toward a weekly gain. $61,632.5 — that is exactly how much Bitcoin is worth on Friday morning, adding 1.9% over the past 24 hours. This is not an all-time high, not a record, but it is a breath of life after the market went through one of the most painful declines in its short history.

What happened? Weak U.S. labor market data released on Thursday changed investors’ expectations regarding Federal Reserve policy. If the market had previously been preparing for another rate hike, those expectations have now weakened. And for Bitcoin, which is highly sensitive to liquidity and macroeconomic signals, this became a long-awaited catalyst.

But macroeconomics is not the only factor supporting Bitcoin. On Friday, it became known that U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded net inflows of $221.7 million, ending a streak of 10 consecutive sessions of outflows. Institutional investors, who had been exiting cryptocurrency in recent weeks, began entering the market again. And this changed market sentiment.

Altcoins also caught the wave. Ethereum jumped 5% to $1,707.89. XRP rose 3.3%. Solana gained 3.5%. Cardano surged 6%. Meme tokens also kept pace. The cryptocurrency market came back to life on Friday, and investors once again began to believe in the possibility of a recovery.

But let’s not rush to conclusions. Bitcoin lost more than 30% in the first half of 2026 — its weakest six-month performance in years. And although the current rise looks encouraging, the market remains vulnerable. One negative signal would be enough for Bitcoin to fall below $60,000 again. Let’s examine what is really behind this recovery and where the cryptocurrency market...

A Sunday Morning That Started in the Green

Sunday. Traditional markets are closed, but cryptocurrencies never sleep. While many people are just sipping their morning coffee, Bitcoin has already gained 1.05%, breaking above the $64,000 mark and settling at $64,070.60. After a week that left many investors on edge, seeing green on the chart feels like a breath of fresh air.

So what happened? Why has Bitcoin, which only a few days ago seemed vulnerable to every negative headline, suddenly found the strength to rally?

As has often been the case lately, the answer lies at the intersection of geopolitics and market expectations. On one side are the ongoing U.S.–Iran negotiations in Switzerland, offering the prospect of greater stability in the Middle East. On the other are options markets that continue to paint bullish scenarios, even as short-term volatility encourages traders to hedge their positions.

At the center of it all is Bitcoin, once again proving that it is more than just a digital asset—it is a complex financial instrument that reacts to macroeconomic and geopolitical signals. Let’s take a closer look at what is really driving this recovery and where the price could head next.

The Geopolitical Factor: Iran, Switzerland, and the Strait of Hormuz

Negotiations Keeping Markets on Edge

The peace agreement between the United States and Iran signed last week was met with cautious optimism. But diplomacy is a process, not an event. Now that the initial documents have been signed, the difficult part begins: negotiating the details.

Officials from both countries have met in Switzerland to transform a memorandum of understanding into something more durable and sustainable.

For markets, this is highly significant. The Middle East remains one of the world’s primary sources of geopolitical uncertainty. Any conflict in the region can trigger a surge in...

Monday: The Day XRP Made a Comeback

While the world was focused on a peace agreement between the United States and Iran, falling oil prices, and central bank meetings, one cryptocurrency quietly but decisively stole the spotlight. XRP, a digital asset that many had written off as “dead” or “hopeless,” jumped 10.07% in a single day, reaching $1.2454 — its sharpest daily gain since February 6.

This is more than just a technical move. It’s a signal. XRP, which has spent years in the shadow of Bitcoin and Ethereum, has finally come back to life. Its market capitalization has climbed to $76.85 billion, representing 3.37% of the entire crypto industry. For perspective, XRP’s market cap peaked at $210.6 billion in 2018, when it was the second-largest cryptocurrency after Bitcoin. Since then, it has lost ground to Ethereum, Solana, and BNB. But today’s rally serves as a reminder: XRP is still very much alive.

What’s driving the surge? Not a single news event, but a combination of factors. Improved sentiment stemming from stability in the Middle East has boosted risk appetite. Bitcoin rose 4.14% to $66,642, while Ethereum gained 9.53% to $1,817. The entire market is in the green. Yet XRP outperformed them all.

Why? Because XRP has unique catalysts of its own. Investors looking beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum are searching for alternatives. And XRP may be entering a new chapter.

Let’s take a closer look.

Why Did XRP Rise? The Key Drivers

1. A Broad Bullish Market Environment

A calmer geopolitical backdrop, lower oil prices, and hopes for a more accommodative Federal Reserve have encouraged investors to take on risk. As a result, capital is flowing into cryptocurrencies, particularly assets that have lagged behind the broader market. XRP had underperformed Bitcoin and Ethereum for months. Now it’s catching up.

2....

Sunday: A Day of Hope and Green Candles

While most people were enjoying a well-earned Sunday after a long workweek, the cryptocurrency market was wide awake. Bitcoin climbed back above $64,000 and managed to hold the level. The cryptocurrency reached a peak of $64,475, about 8% above its June lows, when fear and panic pushed the price below $60,000. Who would have imagined just a week ago, when Bitcoin was teetering on the edge of a psychological cliff, that the recovery would be this swift?

Several factors contributed to the rally.

First, geopolitics. Peace in the Middle East, which seemed like a distant dream only days ago, suddenly became a realistic possibility. The United States and Iran reportedly moved closer to an agreement, oil prices fell sharply, and inflation expectations dropped along with them. This raised hopes that the Federal Reserve may not need to remain as hawkish. A more accommodative Fed is generally positive for risk assets, including Bitcoin.

Second, ETFs. Spot Bitcoin ETFs, which had experienced persistent outflows in recent weeks, suddenly began attracting capital again. On Friday, net inflows reached $85.9 million, marking the strongest single-day inflow since mid-May. Institutional investors who had previously fled the market may be starting to return.

Third, SpaceX. Yes, Elon Musk’s space company. In its IPO filing, SpaceX revealed that it holds 18,712 BTC. At current prices, that position is worth approximately $1.29 billion. The company does not trade cryptocurrencies, mine Bitcoin, or accept it as payment for trips to the Moon. It simply holds Bitcoin as a strategic treasury reserve alongside its corporate cash holdings in dollars and euros.

And that is a powerful signal for the market. If one of the world’s most innovative and successful companies considers Bitcoin worthy of a place in its treasury, perhaps other corporations...

Hi, this is NorthRay.

Remember when I told you I bought Bitcoin on Binance?

I was happy. Proud of myself. I felt like a real crypto investor.

Then I thought, “Why not transfer some crypto to another wallet? Just for experience. Let’s see how it works.”

I opened my wallet, copied the address, and clicked Send.

Binance asked me to choose a network. I saw a list: BEP20, ERC20, TRC20, and a bunch of other confusing abbreviations.

“What’s the difference?” I thought. “I’ll just pick one.”

And I almost lost my money forever.

Luckily, at the last moment, I decided to Google it and double-check everything.

Today I’ll explain what crypto networks are, why you should never mix them up, and how I saved my transfer.

What Is a Cryptocurrency Network? (Simple Explanation)

A cryptocurrency network is the infrastructure that moves your coins. Think of it as a road that a car travels on.

The same cryptocurrency (for example, USDT or Bitcoin) can exist on different networks. It’s like shipping the same package using different transportation routes.

Imagine you need to send a package from one city to another:

• A toll highway — fast but expensive.

• An older road — cheaper but slower.

• A train — different method, different rules.

These are different “networks.”

The package is still the same (USDT), but the delivery route changes.

Crypto works the same way. The same token can exist on multiple networks, and each network has:

• Its own address format

• Its own fees

• Its own speed

The Most Important Rule

When you send cryptocurrency, the sender’s network and the recipient’s network must match.

If you send USDT via BEP20 to an address that only supports ERC20, your funds may be lost permanently.

The Most Popular Networks You Should Know

I...

Monday: A Hint of Green Through the Red Haze

After seven days of nonstop nightmare, after the cryptocurrency market lost nearly $400 billion in market capitalization, after $7 billion in liquidations and panic not seen since the collapse of FTX, Monday finally arrived. It did not bring relief, but at least it offered a brief pause.

Bitcoin rose by 1.5%, reaching $63,053.

Sounds insignificant? Perhaps. After an 18% decline in a single week, one and a half percent is just a drop in the ocean. But in the crypto world, where fortunes are made and lost in a matter of hours, any green candle feels like a gift from fate.

Yet the optimism is cautious, tinged with anxiety about both the past and the future. The fundamental problems that triggered the selloff have not disappeared. Institutional investors continue pulling money out of spot Bitcoin ETFs. The conflict between Iran and Israel has not been resolved—it has merely frozen under a fragile ceasefire that could collapse at any moment. And the Federal Reserve continues to rattle markets with the prospect of persistently high interest rates.

Still, Bitcoin is up 1.5%.

The cryptocurrency managed to hold above the psychologically important $60,000 level, which it briefly fell below on Friday. Altcoins are showing signs of life as well: Ether gained 3.4%, while Solana and XRP each rose 1.3%. Even memecoins, which typically suffer the most during panic-driven selloffs, posted modest gains.

The market is trying to find a bottom.

The only question is whether it has actually found one—or whether this is simply another pause on the way down.

Institutional Exodus: $5.4 Billion Gone in Four Weeks

The biggest story of the past month is not missiles in the Middle East or even Federal Reserve policy.

The biggest story is spot Bitcoin ETFs.

...