Ethereum

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...

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...

Friday’s Nightmare: When $60,000 Stopped Being Support

On Sunday morning, the crypto community finally exhaled. Not loudly, not joyfully—the kind of exhale that comes after narrowly surviving a disaster. Bitcoin climbed back above $61,000, gaining 1.7% in just a few hours. On a normal day, that wouldn’t even make headlines. But this was no normal week. It was the most brutal week since the collapse of FTX and the imprisonment of Sam Bankman-Fried.

Let’s start with the numbers to grasp the scale of the damage. Bitcoin lost more than 17% over the week. Ethereum fell around 20%. The entire crypto market shed roughly $390 billion in market capitalization. Three hundred ninety billion dollars—more than the GDP of New Zealand or Portugal—vanished in just five days.

Friday was the real horror show. Bitcoin briefly dropped below $60,000. This wasn’t just another price level; it was a psychological wall. When Bitcoin broke above it, everyone was shouting, “To the moon! $100,000 next!” When it fell below, panic took over. If $60,000 couldn’t hold, where was the bottom? $50,000? $45,000? Nobody knew. Nobody wanted to find out. Everyone simply sold.

And now, on Sunday, traders stare at the chart in disbelief. Bitcoin is back around $61,800. It should be a reason to celebrate. Yet the optimism feels nervous, cautious. What if another crash comes tomorrow? What if this is just a dead-cat bounce?

Strategy Sold Bitcoin. Is That a Sign?

Do you know what triggered the panic for many investors? Not macroeconomic news, not Federal Reserve comments, not even the stock market decline. It was news from a company called Strategy.

Formerly known as MicroStrategy, the company rebranded after Bitcoin effectively became its sole reason for existence.

Strategy spent decades building business intelligence software. Then founder Michael Saylor discovered Bitcoin and became obsessed....

Hi, this is NorthRay.🙌

While I’ve been learning Forex, indices, and gold trading, the entire internet has been shouting about Bitcoin.

— “Bitcoin hits a new all-time high!”
— “Crypto crashed — time to buy!”
— “A kid from Omsk bought Dogecoin and now drives a Lamborghini.”

I honestly tried to ignore it. But curiosity won.

So I decided to figure out what cryptocurrency actually is, how it works, what exchanges people trade it on, and whether it’s something a beginner trader like me should get involved with.

Spoiler: I still haven’t bought a single coin. But at least now I understand what everyone is talking about.

What Is Cryptocurrency? (A Simple Explanation)

Cryptocurrency is digital money. It has no physical form. No coins in your pocket, no banknotes in your wallet — just numbers on a screen.

The biggest difference between crypto and traditional money is that cryptocurrencies don’t have a central bank. No one can simply print more Bitcoin whenever they feel like it. No one can easily freeze your wallet. No single authority decides what a coin should be worth.

Here’s a simple way to think about it:

Imagine a notebook that is stored on millions of computers around the world at the same time. Every page in that notebook is a “block.” Whenever money is transferred, everyone can see the record. It can’t be erased, altered, or reversed.

That’s blockchain — the technology that powers cryptocurrency.🤔

The Main Features of Cryptocurrency

When I started learning about crypto, I identified five key differences from traditional money.

1. Decentralization

No bank or government controls cryptocurrency. It belongs to everyone and no one at the same time.

2. Limited Supply

There will never be more than 21 million Bitcoins. They can’t be “printed” like dollars or rubles. This helps...

Friday the 13th for ADA Holders

Friday turned into a bloodbath for Cardano supporters. Cardano, once among the world's top three cryptocurrencies and a contender for the throne, fell 10.17% in a single day. The price dropped to $0.1728, marking its sharpest decline since June 4 and coming at a time when the broader market was already on edge.

The numbers confronting ADA holders are enough to break the heart of even the most resilient crypto enthusiast. Cardano’s market capitalization shrank to $6.28 billion. That sounds enormous until you remember that at its peak in 2021, Cardano was worth nearly $95 billion. Since then, its value has evaporated like morning mist. The token has lost 94% of its value from its all-time high of $3.10 reached on September 2, 2021.

Over the past week, Cardano has fallen 26%. Twenty-six percent in seven days is not a correction—it is a collapse. Trading volume over the last 24 hours reached nearly $937 million, accounting for 0.69% of the entire cryptocurrency market's turnover. People are selling in panic. Some are cutting their losses; others are simply leaving and may never return to the asset.

At the time of writing, Cardano ranks 15th among all cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. It was once third. That decline in ranking is perhaps the clearest indication of how much has gone wrong.

But the most frightening aspect for holders is not the numbers themselves. It is the news accompanying them. Project founder and spiritual leader Charles Hoskinson announced that he is taking a “creative break.” Just four words posted on X: “I'm taking a break. TTYL.” The market heard those words—and collapsed.

Four Words That Wiped Out Billions

It is difficult to overstate Hoskinson’s influence on Cardano. He is not merely the founder; he is the face, voice,...

Fifty-seven percent. That’s how much Ethereum has fallen from its August 2025 peak. Today, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency trades at around $2,100, and looking at the chart, it’s hard to imagine that it once climbed to heights that seemed unreachable. Over the same period, the ETH/BTC ratio has dropped by 37%. Bears are celebrating, bulls are licking their wounds, and retail investors are asking the same question in panic: Is this the end for Ethereum?

Jeff Kendrick of Standard Chartered answers that question with a confidence that may seem provocative. No, it’s not the end. It’s a temporary disconnect between fundamentals and price. And if history teaches us anything, it’s that such gaps eventually close. The only question is when—and how high Ether can rise when it does.

The Dot-Com Parallel: What Ethereum Can Learn from Amazon

Standard Chartered draws a comparison that is both encouraging and sobering.

The year is 2001. The dot-com bubble bursts. Technology stocks plunge. Amazon—now worth trillions of dollars—loses 90% of its market value. Yet inside the company, something important is happening that stock charts fail to capture. Business processes are improving. The customer base is growing. Infrastructure is becoming more reliable.

At the time, Jeff Bezos made a statement that would later become famous: “While the stock price was moving in the wrong direction, everything inside the company was moving in the right direction.”

Kendrick believes the same logic applies to ETH today.

On the surface, everything looks terrible. The price chart resembles a falling knife. Sentiment across the crypto market is bleak. Bitcoin ETFs are seeing outflows, macroeconomic conditions are weighing on risk assets, and geopolitical uncertainty is adding another layer of fear.

Yet beneath the surface, activity on the Ethereum blockchain remains strong. Transaction volumes are hovering near historic highs. Total value...

Seventy-seven thousand one hundred twenty-seven dollars. On Wednesday evening, Bitcoin hovered at that mark, gaining a symbolic four-tenths of a percent for the session. A move that, in normal times, wouldn’t even make the news feed now tells an entire story. A story about how the world’s leading cryptocurrency is trying to find solid ground after being rejected from the coveted eighty-two-thousand-dollar level and thrown back into the abyss of uncertainty. And that abyss is lined not with technical failures or regulatory fears, but with old-fashioned macroeconomic forces — Treasury yields, oil prices, and geopolitical swings orchestrated personally by Donald Trump.

The Iranian Pendulum: From Bombs to Negotiations in Sixty Minutes

Trumpian diplomacy is always theater, and the current Iranian drama is no exception. On Tuesday, the U.S. president made a statement that left traders breathless. He admitted he was “an hour away” from authorizing another military strike against Iran. One hour. Sixty minutes separated the world from another escalation in the Persian Gulf, another spike in oil prices, another wave of inflation, and, as a consequence, another collapse in risk assets, including cryptocurrencies. But the strike was postponed. Trump decided to give diplomacy one more chance.

The admission was a masterful rhetorical maneuver. At the same time, Trump portrayed himself as both a decisive leader ready to press the button and a prudent peacemaker who prefers negotiations over war. For markets, this creates an explosive mixture of hope and fear. Hope that the conflict may genuinely be moving toward resolution. Fear that the entire structure could collapse at any moment. Vice President J.D. Vance added fuel to the fire by declaring that the United States would remain “ready for combat” if negotiations fail. A double signal: we believe in peace, but our hand remains on the trigger.

For Bitcoin,...