Major narxiMAJOR

Think the #altseason is fading away❓Think again. This isn’t the end it’s the buildup. While $BTC has been consolidating near its highs, #altcoins have been quietly gaining strength behind the scenes. From mid-May onward, volume has started shifting across major ecosystems. Let’s look at some real momentum since then: • $WIF : +54% • $PEPE : +45% • $TRUMP : +42% • $SUI : +28% • $JASMY : +30% • $PENDLE : +24% These aren’t flukes — they’re signals. The real kicker? Both ETH and total altcoin market cap are still far below their 2021 dominance levels. That means we’ve barely scratched the surface of what’s possible. Now combine that with: Bitcoin dominance starting to fall Liquidity rotating into higher-risk assets Rate cuts incoming ETF momentum building for ETH and more This is a recipe for explosive growth. If you think the rally is done, you’re early — not late. This isn’t the end of altseason. It’s just the calm before the real storm. Stack smart. Stay patient. The real wealth is made by those who wait through the noise.

Korea’s DAXA sets best practice standards for crypto exchanges with regulator guidance The Digital Asset eXchange Alliance (DAXA), a South Korean crypto consultative group of major local exchanges, has set best practice standards for virtual asset service providers (VASPs) on

A New York Times report has disclosed that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is investigating Coinbase. The report published on May 15 stated that the SEC is investigating whether claims of having over 100 million users are misrepresentations. According to the report , the investigation started under the Joe Biden administration when Gary Gensler was the SEC chair and has continued into the Trump administration. Coinbase had claimed 100 million verified users in its initial public offering documents in 2021 and other public filings after. However, Coinbase included a caveat in the filings stating that the metric might be an exaggeration since one user can open multiple accounts using several phone numbers and email addresses. The exchange finally stopped citing the metric in 2023, noting that it no longer reflects the company’s overall performance. Meanwhile, the New York Times report claimed that Coinbase had contacted the SEC to resolve the issue and even hired the Davis Polk & Wardwell law firm to represent it. While the regulator gave no information about the investigation, Coinbase has confirmed it. The company’s chief legal officer, Paul Grewal, said in a statement on CNBC that it was a holdover investigation that should have been suspended. He added that the exchange will continue to work with the SEC to resolve the matter. He said: “This is a holdover investigation from the prior administration about a metric we stopped reporting two and a half years ago, which was fully disclosed to the public. While we strongly believe this investigation should not continue, we remain committed to working with the SEC to bring this matter to a close.” Nevertheless, the SEC has not yet appeared to share this view. The report claims that the agency has reportedly been in contact with former Coinbase employees in recent months over the matter. The news that Coinbase still has a legal issue to contend with represents a major headwind for the exchange that has been basking in the euphoria of a pro-crypto administration. With most regulatory agencies changing their approach to crypto, the exchange has been a big beneficiary. So far this year, the SEC has dropped two lawsuits over unregistered securities and staking against Coinbase. Five US states have also dismissed similar litigations over the exchange staking program. Beyond its legal wins, the company also recently joined the S&P 500, becoming the first crypto company to achieve this and signaling its growth over the past few years. However, news of recently disclosed investigations by the SEC represents a headwind for the company. With a pro-crypto SEC that has dropped dozens of lawsuits and investigations and is choosing to hold on to one against Coinbase, there are concerns that the regulator might have a case against the company. Meanwhile, Coinbase had also revealed that it was the victim of a breach that allowed bad actors to gain access to the data of some of its users. Although the exchange said it affected less than 1% of its monthly users, it estimates that remediation and reimbursements for users may cost between $180 million and $400 million. The disclosure by Coinbase finally confirms the recent concerns raised by cybersecurity experts such as ZachXBT and Tayvano, who have criticized the exchange multiple times for allowing scammers to steal from its users. Tayvano recently condemned Coinbase’s plan to introduce encrypted messaging to the Coinbase Wallet, noting that it would only give scammers direct access to users. With the headwinds that the company is facing, it is unsurprising that its COIN stock fell 7% today to $244.44. This wiped out most of its gains for the past month, when it had gained almost 40%. Following today’s drop, COIN is down 1.55% year-to-date, a performance worse than that of Bitcoin and XRP, which has gained 9.44% and 4.57% YTD but better than that of major altcoins such as Ether and Solana. Interestingly, COIN’s performance contrasts with that of another major crypto stock, MSTR. The Bitcoin treasury company is up 37% YTD. Cryptopolitan Academy: Want to grow your money in 2025? Learn how to do it with DeFi in our upcoming webclass. Save Your Spot

In a landmark move for the cryptocurrency industry , Mastercard and MoonPay have joined forces to introduce stablecoin-powered payment cards. This collaboration allows users to seamlessly spend digital assets at over 150 million merchants worldwide, bridging the gap between digital currencies and traditional financial systems. But what does this mean for stablecoins in particular—and for the future of cryptocurrencies in general? Stablecoins like USDC and USDT have primarily been used for trading and as hedges against crypto volatility. With this new initiative, these digital currencies can now be used directly for everyday transactions—from coffee purchases to online shopping. This shift transforms stablecoins into functional mediums of exchange, making them far more relevant for day-to-day commerce. One of the biggest hurdles in global payments is high transaction fees and long settlement times. With Mastercard’s global payment network and MoonPay’s Iron infrastructure, stablecoins can now be instantly converted into local fiat currencies at the point of sale. This simplifies international transactions, reduces fees, and makes remittances faster and more efficient. The involvement of Mastercard—a trusted global financial giant—brings new credibility to stablecoins. By facilitating real-world usage through a familiar payment network, this partnership could drive wider adoption among both consumers and merchants. As more people experience the ease and convenience of using stablecoins, confidence in their long-term value is likely to increase. This collaboration is more than just a boost for stablecoins —it’s a significant milestone for the entire crypto ecosystem. With major financial institutions like Mastercard embracing digital currencies, the path to mainstream adoption becomes clearer. Other players in traditional finance may follow suit, accelerating the integration of cryptocurrencies into everyday financial activities. As Mastercard and Visa continue to explore crypto integrations, competition will likely fuel rapid innovation. This could lead to more user-friendly, secure, and accessible digital payment solutions that make crypto transactions as simple as using a debit or credit card. With stablecoins becoming more widely used for payments, regulatory bodies around the world are expected to respond. Clearer guidelines and compliance frameworks will be essential to ensure consumer protection while supporting the growth and innovation of the digital asset economy. The Mastercard and MoonPay partnership marks a turning point for both stablecoins and the broader cryptocurrency market . By leveraging Mastercard’s global network and MoonPay’s innovative crypto-to-fiat conversion infrastructure, digital currencies are stepping firmly into the realm of everyday finance. As this integration unfolds, we may be witnessing the early stages of a financial revolution—one where crypto becomes not just an investment class but a fully integrated part of global commerce. In a landmark move for the cryptocurrency industry , Mastercard and MoonPay have joined forces to introduce stablecoin-powered payment cards. This collaboration allows users to seamlessly spend digital assets at over 150 million merchants worldwide, bridging the gap between digital currencies and traditional financial systems. But what does this mean for stablecoins in particular—and for the future of cryptocurrencies in general? Stablecoins like USDC and USDT have primarily been used for trading and as hedges against crypto volatility. With this new initiative, these digital currencies can now be used directly for everyday transactions—from coffee purchases to online shopping. This shift transforms stablecoins into functional mediums of exchange, making them far more relevant for day-to-day commerce. One of the biggest hurdles in global payments is high transaction fees and long settlement times. With Mastercard’s global payment network and MoonPay’s Iron infrastructure, stablecoins can now be instantly converted into local fiat currencies at the point of sale. This simplifies international transactions, reduces fees, and makes remittances faster and more efficient. The involvement of Mastercard—a trusted global financial giant—brings new credibility to stablecoins. By facilitating real-world usage through a familiar payment network, this partnership could drive wider adoption among both consumers and merchants. As more people experience the ease and convenience of using stablecoins, confidence in their long-term value is likely to increase. This collaboration is more than just a boost for stablecoins —it’s a significant milestone for the entire crypto ecosystem. With major financial institutions like Mastercard embracing digital currencies, the path to mainstream adoption becomes clearer. Other players in traditional finance may follow suit, accelerating the integration of cryptocurrencies into everyday financial activities. As Mastercard and Visa continue to explore crypto integrations, competition will likely fuel rapid innovation. This could lead to more user-friendly, secure, and accessible digital payment solutions that make crypto transactions as simple as using a debit or credit card. With stablecoins becoming more widely used for payments, regulatory bodies around the world are expected to respond. Clearer guidelines and compliance frameworks will be essential to ensure consumer protection while supporting the growth and innovation of the digital asset economy. The Mastercard and MoonPay partnership marks a turning point for both stablecoins and the broader cryptocurrency market . By leveraging Mastercard’s global network and MoonPay’s innovative crypto-to-fiat conversion infrastructure, digital currencies are stepping firmly into the realm of everyday finance. As this integration unfolds, we may be witnessing the early stages of a financial revolution—one where crypto becomes not just an investment class but a fully integrated part of global commerce.

Solana price is currently trading around $173 after shedding over 3% in the past 24 hours. This dip follows an impressive run that saw SOL break above key moving averages on the daily chart. However, the current Solana price action suggests profit-taking at the $180–$185 resistance zone. This correction aligns with broader market volatility, but the technical picture still offers hope for bulls. On the hourly chart, SOL price recently broke below the 20 and 50 simple moving averages , now facing resistance near $175. The 100 SMA is trying to act as support around $170, while the 200 SMA has slightly flattened out, suggesting a tug-of-war between bulls and bears. Despite the current red candles, the downtrend is relatively contained, forming a staircase-style correction rather than a sharp dump. The price is consolidating just above a trendline formed since May 10, and any breach below $168 may trigger a sharper drop toward $160. However, as long as SOL price holds above the 200-hour SMA , there's a good chance of a bounce. The daily chart is more optimistic. Solana price recently reclaimed the 50-day and 100-day moving averages , which are now stacked below the current price. The next major challenge is the 200-day SMA at around $181, which is currently acting as dynamic resistance. The rejection near this level has triggered the recent pullback, but the support structure below remains intact. The Fibonacci retracement plotted from the previous peak near $210 to the recent low around $120 shows that SOL is holding above the 0.5 level, a sign that the correction is still healthy. A bounce from this zone could catapult the price toward the 0.618 level around $190 and possibly retest the psychological barrier at $200. For Solana to hit $200 in May, it needs to first reclaim $181 and close above it on the daily chart. This would flip the 200-day SMA into support and attract more momentum-driven buyers. Volume confirmation will be key here. If bulls can defend the $165–$170 support range and push above $185 with strong volume, the $200 breakout could happen quickly. However, failure to hold above $165 would expose SOL to a deeper correction, potentially testing the $150 zone, where the 100-day moving average lies. That would delay any hopes of a breakout rally this month. Short-term, Solana price is likely to remain range-bound between $165 and $181. A bullish breakout above $181 could set the stage for a retest of $190 and beyond. Conversely, a breakdown below $165 would signal growing weakness and shift the target to $150. The RSI on both hourly and daily charts appears neutral, hinting at a potential buildup before a bigger move. Given the overall market sentiment and Solana’s strong recovery from April lows, the path of least resistance still leans upward. But confirmation is needed in the form of reclaiming and holding $181 on a daily close. Solana's recent correction is not a trend reversal but a natural cool-off after a strong rally. If key supports hold, SOL still has a valid shot at testing $190–$200 in the coming days. Caution is advised below $165, but the bullish structure remains intact for now. Solana price is currently trading around $173 after shedding over 3% in the past 24 hours. This dip follows an impressive run that saw SOL break above key moving averages on the daily chart. However, the current Solana price action suggests profit-taking at the $180–$185 resistance zone. This correction aligns with broader market volatility, but the technical picture still offers hope for bulls. On the hourly chart, SOL price recently broke below the 20 and 50 simple moving averages , now facing resistance near $175. The 100 SMA is trying to act as support around $170, while the 200 SMA has slightly flattened out, suggesting a tug-of-war between bulls and bears. Despite the current red candles, the downtrend is relatively contained, forming a staircase-style correction rather than a sharp dump. The price is consolidating just above a trendline formed since May 10, and any breach below $168 may trigger a sharper drop toward $160. However, as long as SOL price holds above the 200-hour SMA , there's a good chance of a bounce. The daily chart is more optimistic. Solana price recently reclaimed the 50-day and 100-day moving averages , which are now stacked below the current price. The next major challenge is the 200-day SMA at around $181, which is currently acting as dynamic resistance. The rejection near this level has triggered the recent pullback, but the support structure below remains intact. The Fibonacci retracement plotted from the previous peak near $210 to the recent low around $120 shows that SOL is holding above the 0.5 level, a sign that the correction is still healthy. A bounce from this zone could catapult the price toward the 0.618 level around $190 and possibly retest the psychological barrier at $200. For Solana to hit $200 in May, it needs to first reclaim $181 and close above it on the daily chart. This would flip the 200-day SMA into support and attract more momentum-driven buyers. Volume confirmation will be key here. If bulls can defend the $165–$170 support range and push above $185 with strong volume, the $200 breakout could happen quickly. However, failure to hold above $165 would expose SOL to a deeper correction, potentially testing the $150 zone, where the 100-day moving average lies. That would delay any hopes of a breakout rally this month. Short-term, Solana price is likely to remain range-bound between $165 and $181. A bullish breakout above $181 could set the stage for a retest of $190 and beyond. Conversely, a breakdown below $165 would signal growing weakness and shift the target to $150. The RSI on both hourly and daily charts appears neutral, hinting at a potential buildup before a bigger move. Given the overall market sentiment and Solana’s strong recovery from April lows, the path of least resistance still leans upward. But confirmation is needed in the form of reclaiming and holding $181 on a daily close. Solana's recent correction is not a trend reversal but a natural cool-off after a strong rally. If key supports hold, SOL still has a valid shot at testing $190–$200 in the coming days. Caution is advised below $165, but the bullish structure remains intact for now.