Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell stuck to his cautious stance on interest rate policy during his Congressional testimony on June 24, stating that the U.S. central bank is in no rush to adjust rates as it continues to monitor economic data. Fed Chair Repeats Wait-and-See Approach In his semiannual testimony to Congress, Powell reiterated that the economy is performing well, giving the Fed enough space to be “well positioned to wait” before shifting its monetary policy stance. “For the time being, we are well positioned to wait to learn more about the likely course of the economy before considering any…
Author: Blockto Team
Blockchain prediction platform Polymarket is reportedly finalizing a $200 million funding round, pushing its valuation to $1 billion, according to sources cited by The Information. The round is led by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund and includes $50 million in previously undisclosed capital. Record-Breaking Growth in a U.S. Election Year Polymarket has witnessed explosive user growth and engagement during the current U.S. election cycle, becoming a go-to platform for political forecasts and speculative markets. Polymarket is now more than just a prediction market—it’s evolving into a political forecasting engine. Backed by Heavyweights: Founders Fund and Elon Musk’s xAI Polymarket’s momentum is…
Cosmos’ native token ATOM surged over 10%, defying broader market uncertainty and geopolitical volatility in the Middle East. This sharp upward move was backed by a significant increase in trading volume, confirming strong buyer conviction. Middle East Tensions Spark Market Volatility, ATOM Stays Strong Despite ongoing tensions between Iran and Israel, which have caused heightened volatility across global markets, ATOM has shown resilience and bullish momentum. ATOM-USD rallied from $3.787 to $4.042, a gain of 6.73% in 24 hours, firmly breaking above the critical $4.00 psychological resistance level. High-Volume Breakout Confirms Market Confidence The breakout began decisively at 22:00 on…
MicroStrategy’s (MSTR) stock has entered a historic low-volatility phase, raising questions about its continued attractiveness to traders and institutional investors who previously favored the stock as a high-beta proxy for Bitcoin. Volatility Plunges to Pre-2020 Levels MSTR’s 10-day realized volatility has dropped to its lowest point since the firm began acquiring Bitcoin in 2020, according to Jeff Park of Bitwise Asset Management. Simultaneously, implied volatility (IV)—a forward-looking measure derived from options markets—has sunk to 48.33%, near all-time lows. For context, MSTR’s IV peaked at 225% in November 2024 during a surge following Trump’s election victory, when Bitcoin crossed $95,000 and…
Bitcoin mining profitability climbed significantly in May 2025, rising 18.2% month-on-month, according to a new research report from investment bank Jefferies. This increase was fueled primarily by a 20% rise in Bitcoin’s price, while the network hashrate—the measure of mining difficulty—rose only 3.5%, easing competitive pressure on miners. Key Highlights from Jefferies’ Report “BTC’s rally follows the recent gold rally, as investors seek inflation-protected assets amid rising fiscal deficits,” analysts Jonathan Petersen and Jan Aygul explained. Top Mining Performers in May CompanyBTC MinedMoM ChangeInstalled HashrateMARA Holdings (MARA)950 BTC+35%58.3 EH/sCleanSpark (CLSK)694 BTC+15%45.6 EH/s MARA Holdings remained the largest U.S.-listed miner, both…
In a bold regulatory shift, Japan’s Financial Services Agency (FSA) has proposed reclassifying cryptocurrencies as financial products, a move that could transform the country’s digital asset market. The proposed changes would bring crypto under the Financial Instruments and Exchange Act (FIEA), the same legal framework that governs securities and traditional financial instruments like stocks and bonds. Flat 20% Tax and ETFs on the Horizon One of the most impactful elements of the proposal is a plan to introduce a flat 20% capital gains tax on crypto profits—replacing the current progressive tax system that reaches up to 55%. This could dramatically…
Bitcoin is trading sharply higher on June 24, with the price climbing over 3% to around $105,000, continuing a broader upward trend. A combination of geopolitical relief, ETF inflows, and bullish technical signals are driving the latest surge in BTC’s value. 1. Ceasefire Between Israel and Iran Lifts Risk Appetite The biggest catalyst behind today’s rally is the surprise ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran, announced by U.S. President Donald Trump. The ceasefire ends a 12-day war that included strikes on Iranian nuclear sites and retaliatory attacks. Global tensions had pushed Bitcoin below $100,000 just days ago. The announcement has…
The Trump administration is reportedly considering a new executive order aimed at stopping banks from discriminating against politically disfavored industries—including cryptocurrency firms—according to sources familiar with the matter. This move could effectively end what critics have called “Operation Chokepoint 2.0,” a debanking campaign that allegedly targeted crypto companies under the previous administration. What Is Operation Chokepoint 2.0? The term refers to the alleged coordinated effort by regulators and banks to cut off financial services to crypto startups, firearms businesses, and fossil-fuel firms. The crackdown intensified after the collapse of three major crypto-friendly banks in 2023: More than 30 tech and…
Hashrate Plunges 30% in Two Weeks, Triggering a Projected 9% Difficulty Adjustment Bitcoin’s mining sector is bracing for its most significant difficulty drop since July 2021, as the network’s hashrate has fallen sharply amid post-halving stress and seasonal power constraints. In the past two weeks, Bitcoin’s hashrate has plunged approximately 30%, falling below 700 exahashes per second (EH/s) — its lowest level since early Q1 2024. This sudden contraction in network power sets the stage for a projected 9% downward difficulty adjustment within the next five days. Why the Hashrate Is Falling The drop in hashrate comes on the back…
In a major development for crypto adoption, the U.S. Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is actively exploring whether crypto holdings like Bitcoin and stablecoins could be considered as part of mortgage qualification criteria. This move could signal a historic shift toward deeper integration between digital assets and traditional finance, making homeownership more accessible for crypto investors. FHFA Opens the Door to Bitcoin-Based Mortgage Assessment FHFA Director William Pulte, in a post on X (formerly Twitter), confirmed that the agency will “study the usage of cryptocurrency holdings as it relates to qualifying for mortgages.” The FHFA oversees mortgage rulemaking for Fannie…