hodler

15 May 2026, 13:47

Ethereum eyes recovery above $2,300: Check forecast

Ethereum (ETH) is attempting to recover above the $2,300 level on Friday after a week of declining network activity. At press time, Ether is trading at $2,238, down by 1% in the last 24 hours. However, the coin could reverse the decline and surge amid improved network activity. Ethereum’s active addresses continue to rise Active addresses, which track the number of wallets sending and receiving tokens or interacting with smart contracts, have risen over the past week. This latest development comes after a steady decline the previous week. According to CryptoQuant , while the growth appears positive on the surface, it wasn't accompanied by a subsequent rise in transaction counts, which measure the volume of user activity on the blockchain. The data shows that transaction counts declined sharply over the past week by roughly 1 million, before slightly picking up in the past few days. The divergence between active addresses and transaction counts suggests that the network remains quiet, with the user base not driving usage at the moment. The weakened network activity is also seen in Ethereum's proof-of-stake participation. The CryptoQuant data also shows that staking inflows have dropped by more than 80% over the past week, with the total value staked declining by roughly 100K ETH to 39.01 million ETH. The staking decline comes amid community discussions around a potential reduction in staking rewards. On-chain data also shows Ethereum is facing selling pressure in recent days amid rising exchange deposits and exchange-traded fund (ETF) outflows. Ethereum price forecast: ETH eyes the 50-day EMA The ETH/USD 4-hour chart remains bearish despite the broader crypto market recovering from its recent selloff. On the 4-hour chart, ETH is holding a neutral to slightly capped tone as it consolidates between key moving averages. At the moment, Ethereum’s price stands below the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at around $2,274, which lends nearby support. Furthermore, Ethereum remains below the 20-day EMA near $2,306 and the longer-term 100-day EMA around $2,351, signaling overhead supply limiting upside attempts. Momentum is mixed, with traders undecided about ETH’s next direction. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is hovering around 43 and the Stochastic Oscillator (Stoch) slipping toward the oversold band, suggesting waning bullish pressure but not yet a decisive bearish breakdown. If the bearish trend persists, initial support would be encountered at the 50-day EMA, followed by a more solid horizontal floor around $2,211 and then $2,108 if selling deepens. A daily candle close below these levels could see Ethereum retest the deeper support levels at $1,909 and $1,741. However, if the rally resumes, immediate resistance lies at the 20-day EMA around $2,306, followed by the 100-day EMA near $2,351 and the horizontal cap at roughly $2,389. A decisive close above these zones would ease the current cap and allow ETH to surge toward the higher resistance band at $2,746. The post Ethereum eyes recovery above $2,300: Check forecast appeared first on Invezz

15 May 2026, 13:23

Thorchain Suffers Multi-Chain Exploit— $10M+ Drained Across Blockchains

THORChain suffered a coordinated multi-chain exploit that drained more than $10.8 million from its liquidity vaults. According to Coinglass data, the sudden price drop today triggered an approximately $11.3 million in long-liquidation, while short-positioned traders witnessed a $34.6k liquidation. The THORChain price pullback could seek support at the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level at $0.526, followed by its next cushion at 50% FIB at $0.5. On May 15th, the THORChain price witnessed a sudden outflow after suffering a sophisticated multi-chain exploit that drained more than $10.8 million from its liquidity vaults. The attack forced validators to halt core network operations and the RUNE price plunged with double-digit loss to breach $0.55 support. THORChain Halts Network Following $10.8 Million Multi-Chain Exploit Cross-chain liquidity protocol THORChain has been completely halted due to a major, coordinated security attack. The hacker managed to siphon out about $10.8 million from the platform’s liquidity vaults, triggering the immediate emergency of network validators, and resulting in double-digit RUNE token losses. The vulnerability was first identified in the early morning hours of Friday, May 15, 2026. On-chain security researcher ZachXBT identified a series of highly unusual, automated outbound liquidity operations that emerged from the main vault addresses of THORChain. Blockchain security firm PeckShield immediately cross-checked the data and found that a hacker was stealing money at the same time in several integrated blockchain networks. Stolen funds THORChain Freezes Operations After Coordinated Multi-Asset Exploit The exploit involved a very sophisticated attack on native assets and EVM-compatible tokens. The attacker managed to accumulate around $10.8 million at a few key address destinations – one for the Bitcoin network (bc1ql4…f6f37) and one for the EVM network (0xd4…890Bd). Current Loss breakdown: Bitcoin (BTC): 36.85 native BTC which is worth around USD $3 million. Ethereum (ETH) & BNB Chain: Roughly 3,443 ETH and 96.6 BNB. Stablecoins & Wrapped Assets: Over $7.2 million in USDT, USDC, and wrapped tokens, which the attacker rapidly swapped out to prevent any remote freezing mechanisms. Stolen Funds Address THORChain node operators intervened quickly to avoid the total draining of the liquidity pools of the protocol. Validators convened an emergency meeting after the finding the unusual transaction in the public ledger and were able to stop all outbound signing and trading operations. Stolen Funds Address The freeze effectively kept the remaining user funds safe in the pools while it has completely suspended the core cross-chain swapping capability of the network. A full technical post-mortem from the THORChain core dev team is still underway, However, p rior to the exploit, bad actors behind a recent breach at liquid staking platform KelpDAO had been actively routing illicit funds through THORChain’s high-velocity liquidity pools. Market Impact and What Comes Next The market was affected immediately. As news of the exploit and the subsequent network freeze spread, THORChain’s native token, RUNE, plummeted between 10% and 15%, falling sharply to around the $0.51 mark. Such hacks can lead to a loss of trust in the protocol from investors and induce significant capital outflows from the impacted protocols. Users are sometimes hastily moving out of funds to withdraw them, causing a drop in total value locked (TVL) and destabilizing the protocol when the exploits hit the core infrastructure, like liquidity pools, bridges, or staking systems. These attacks also increase the regulatory pressure and harm the reputation of decentralized finance systems, making them even more cautious about participating in institutional settings. The increase in the number of exploits could result in increased security expenses, slower adoption, and extended repair times for DeFi projects, potentially limiting the growth of the ecosystem. The THORChain project now faces a challenging road to recovery. The protocol’s development is completely halted, and code is being reviewed by the developers to pinpoint the exact attack path. The community is eagerly awaiting two updates: The official technical post-mortem explaining the flaw and an announcement about possible whitehat bounty negotiation or a plan to reimburse funds to affected liquidity providers. Until then, cross-chain operations remain completely dark. Crypto Hacks Show No Slowdown as DeFi Losses Mount Security vulnerabilities have continued to plague the cryptocurrency sector, showing no signs of letting up. Two key DeFi projects — decentralized perpetual exchange Drift Protocol and liquid restaking project KelpDAO — experienced significant losses worth a combined $600 million in just April. The decentralized finance sector has traditionally been a hot spot for malicious parties, with cross-chain bridges and liquidity protocols often being their first choice. Data from Chainalysis reveals that thefts associated with bridges have reached over $2.8 billion since 2021, indicating that there are significant underlying structural vulnerabilities that are yet to be addressed throughout the sector. THORChain Price Seeks Bullish Support at Key Fibonacci Floors From early-April to May 11th, the RUNE price witnessed a high-momentum rally from $0.376 to $0.638, registering a gain of roughly 70%. The upstream can be attributed to major network upgrades, upcoming high-profile integrations, and a massive, system-wide volume spike from the Kelp DAO laundering funds. However, the coin price witnessed a sudden accelerated pullback following the recent record breach in its own network. The asset price currently trades at $0.526 and holds a $185.39M. According to Fibonacci retracement level, the current correction is seeking support at 38.2% retracement level, which coincides with the $0.527. If the price fails to defend this floor, the coin sellers could drag its price to 50% FIB at $0.494, followed by 61.8% FIB at $0.46. Theoretically, a pullback to 61.8% FIB is still considered healthy retracement for an asset to recoup the exhausted bullish momentum. The RUNE price holding above the 100-day exponential moving average (EMA) also accentuate the mid-term bullish trend in the market. If the buyers manage to hold these support, the RUNE -8.44% price could rebound and attempt a sustainable above $0.6 resistance. RUNE/USDT -1d Chart On the contrary, a breakdown below the 61.8% FIB will accelerate the market selling pressure and strengthen the sellers grip over this asset. The post-breakdown fall could push the asset to $0.41, back to multi-month floor of $0.375 The momentum indicator RSI (Relative Strength Index) dropped to 47% indicating a sudden bearish shift in market sentiment.

15 May 2026, 12:45

Osaurus brings both local and cloud AI models to your Mac

BitcoinWorld Osaurus brings both local and cloud AI models to your Mac As AI models become increasingly commoditized, startups are racing to build the software layer that sits on top of them. One interesting entrant into this space is Osaurus, an open-source, Apple-only LLM server that lets users move between different local AI models — either running on-device or in the cloud — while keeping their files and tools on their own hardware. From AI companion to local LLM server Osaurus evolved out of the idea for a desktop AI companion called Dinoki, which co-founder Terence Pae described as a sort of “AI-powered Clippy.” Dinoki’s customers had asked him why they should buy the app if they still had to pay for tokens — the usage units AI companies charge for processing prompts and generating responses. That got Pae thinking more deeply about running AI locally. “That’s how Osaurus started,” Pae, previously a software engineer at Tesla and Netflix, told Bitcoin World over a call. The idea, he explained, was to try to run an AI assistant locally. “You can do pretty much everything on your Mac locally, like browsing your files, accessing your browser, accessing your system configurations. I figured this would be a great way to position Osaurus as a personal AI for individuals.” Pae began building the tool in public as an open-source project, adding features and fixing bugs along the way. How Osaurus works: a harness for AI models Today, Osaurus can flexibly connect with locally hosted AI models or cloud providers like OpenAI and Anthropic. Users can freely choose which AI models they’re using, while keeping other aspects of the AI experience on their own hardware — like the models’ own memory, files, and tools. Given that different AI models have different strengths, the advantage of this system is that users can switch to the AI model that best fits their needs. Such a structure makes Osaurus what’s called a “harness” — a control layer that connects different AI models, tools, and workflows through a single interface, similar to tools like OpenClaw or Hermes. However, those tools are often aimed at developers who know their way around a terminal. And sometimes, like in the case of OpenClaw, they may pose security issues. Osaurus, meanwhile, presents an easy-to-use interface for consumers and addresses security concerns by running things in a hardware-isolated, virtual sandbox. This limits the AI to a certain scope, keeping your computer and data safe. Hardware requirements and the future of local AI Running AI models on your machine is still in its early days, given that it’s heavily resource-intensive and hardware-dependent. To run local models, your system will need at least 64 GB of RAM. For running larger models, like DeepSeek v4, Pae recommends systems with about 128 GB of RAM. But Pae believes local AI’s needs will come down in time. “I can see the potential of it, because the intelligence per wattage — which is like the metric for local AI — has been going up significantly. It’s on its own curve of innovation. Last year, local AI could barely finish sentences, but today it can actually run tools, write code, access your browser, and order stuff from Amazon. It’s just getting better and better,” he said. Supported models and plugins Osaurus today can run MiniMax M2.5, Gemma 4, Qwen3.6, GPT-OSS, Llama, DeepSeek V4, and other models. It also supports Apple’s on-device foundation models, Liquid AI’s LFM family of on-device models, and in the cloud, it can connect to OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, xAI/Grok, Venice AI, OpenRouter, Ollama, and LM Studio. As a full MCP (Model Context Protocol) server, you can give any MCP-compatible client access to your tools as well. Plus, it ships with over 20 native plugins for Mail, Calendar, Vision, macOS Use, XLSX, PPTX, Browser, Music, Git, Filesystem, Search, Fetch, and more. More recently, Osaurus was updated to include voice capabilities. Adoption and next steps Since the project went live nearly a year ago, it has been downloaded north of 112,000 times, according to its website. Currently, Osaurus’ founders (who include co-founder Sam Yoo) are participating in the New York-based startup accelerator Alliance. They’re also thinking about next steps, which could see Osaurus being offered to businesses — like those in the legal space or in healthcare — where running local LLMs could address privacy concerns. As the power of local AI models grows, the team believes it could lower the demand for AI data centers. “We’re seeing this explosive growth in the AI space where [cloud AI providers] have to scale up using data centers and infrastructure, but we feel like people haven’t really seen the value of the local AI yet,” Pae said. “Instead of relying on the cloud, they can actually deploy a Mac Studio on-prem, and it should use substantially less power. You still have the capabilities of the cloud, but you will not be dependent on a data center to be able to run that AI.” Conclusion Osaurus represents a notable step in making local AI more accessible and practical for everyday Mac users. By offering a flexible harness that connects both local and cloud models with a strong emphasis on privacy and security, it addresses key concerns around data control and cost. As local AI models continue to improve in capability and efficiency, tools like Osaurus could help shift the balance away from cloud-dependent AI toward more decentralized, on-device solutions. FAQs Q1: What is Osaurus? Osaurus is an open-source, Apple-only LLM server that lets users run and switch between local and cloud AI models while keeping files and tools on their own hardware. Q2: What are the hardware requirements for running local models with Osaurus? For local models, a Mac with at least 64 GB of RAM is recommended. For larger models like DeepSeek v4, about 128 GB of RAM is advised. Q3: Which AI models and cloud providers does Osaurus support? It supports local models like MiniMax M2.5, Gemma 4, Llama, DeepSeek V4, and Apple’s on-device models. Cloud providers include OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, xAI/Grok, and others. This post Osaurus brings both local and cloud AI models to your Mac first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

15 May 2026, 12:30

AI Trading Lab Nof1 Secures $15M From Sui Group and Carthage to Build Alpha Arena

BitcoinWorld AI Trading Lab Nof1 Secures $15M From Sui Group and Carthage to Build Alpha Arena Nof1, an artificial intelligence trading laboratory, has raised $15 million in a funding round led by Nasdaq-listed Sui Group (SUIG) and London-based hedge fund Carthage, as reported by CoinDesk. The capital will accelerate the development of Alpha Arena, a platform where AI models from leading developers such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google compete against each other using real financial funds. What Alpha Arena Brings to AI Trading Alpha Arena represents a novel approach to algorithmic trading. Instead of backtesting strategies on historical data alone, the platform allows multiple AI agents to operate with live capital in a controlled environment. This real-money competition is designed to evaluate which models can generate consistent returns under actual market conditions. Nof1’s focus on practical, high-stakes testing could provide valuable insights into the strengths and weaknesses of current AI trading systems. Sui Group’s Strategic Move The participation of Sui Group, a publicly traded company on the Nasdaq, signals a growing interest in bridging institutional capital with blockchain and AI technologies. Sui Group is actively working to attract more institutional investment into the SUI blockchain ecosystem. By backing Nof1, the firm gains exposure to cutting-edge AI trading infrastructure while potentially driving adoption of its own blockchain platform. This dual focus on AI and blockchain infrastructure suggests a long-term strategy to position SUI as a foundational layer for next-generation financial applications. Implications for Institutional Crypto Investment This funding round highlights a broader trend: institutional investors are increasingly looking for technology-driven solutions that combine AI’s analytical power with blockchain’s transparency and efficiency. For traditional hedge funds like Carthage, backing Nof1 provides a way to explore automated trading strategies without building the technology in-house. For the crypto ecosystem, it demonstrates that sophisticated investors are willing to deploy capital into projects that demonstrate clear technical differentiation and real-world utility. Conclusion Nof1’s $15 million raise, supported by a major listed company and an established hedge fund, marks a significant vote of confidence in AI-driven trading platforms. Alpha Arena’s live competition model could set a new standard for evaluating AI trading performance, while Sui Group’s involvement underscores the increasing convergence of AI, blockchain, and institutional finance. The development of this platform will be worth monitoring for anyone interested in the future of automated trading and digital asset management. FAQs Q1: What is Alpha Arena? A1: Alpha Arena is a platform developed by Nof1 where AI models from companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google compete using real financial funds to test their trading performance under live market conditions. Q2: Why is Sui Group’s involvement significant? A2: Sui Group is a Nasdaq-listed company focused on attracting institutional investment to the SUI blockchain. Its backing of Nof1 signals growing institutional interest in combining AI trading with blockchain infrastructure. Q3: How does this affect the broader crypto market? A3: The funding demonstrates that institutional investors are seeking advanced, technology-driven trading solutions. It may encourage further development of AI-powered tools in the crypto space and increase confidence in automated strategies among traditional finance players. This post AI Trading Lab Nof1 Secures $15M From Sui Group and Carthage to Build Alpha Arena first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

15 May 2026, 12:30

THORChain Pauses Trading After Suspected $10M Exploit

Early estimates suggest that more than $10 million may have been stolen, although the exploit has not yet been officially confirmed. The incident only adds to a series of previous operational and security issues surrounding the protocol. THORChain Hit by Suspected Exploit Cross-chain liquidity protocol THORChain temporarily paused trading activity after blockchain investigators raised concerns over a suspected exploit that may have impacted multiple blockchain networks, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB Smart Chain, and Base. The incident was first pointed out by well-known on-chain security researchers ZachXBT and PeckShield , who identified suspicious wallet activity tied to alleged theft addresses operating on Bitcoin and EVM-compatible chains. Early estimates suggest that the exploit may have resulted in losses of more than $10 million, although investigators made it clear that the attack had not yet been fully confirmed at the time of reporting. The latest disruption only adds to a growing list of operational and security-related challenges that have surrounded THORChain over the past two years. The protocol is designed to facilitate decentralized cross-chain swaps without intermediaries, but it has come under scrutiny because of its role in facilitating large asset transfers between different blockchain ecosystems. While this functionality has made THORChain one of the more well known decentralized cross-chain liquidity networks in the crypto sector, it also attracted attention from security analysts and regulators concerned about the movement of illicit funds. The suspected exploit follows a particularly difficult period for the protocol. In January of 2025, THORChain halted its ThorFi lending operations after insolvency concerns surfaced in the community. Validators later implemented a 90-day restructuring plan to stabilise the platform’s operations and restore confidence among users. During that process, the protocol addressed a reported $200 million debt crisis by converting defaulted liabilities into a newly created equity-style token structure. THORChain also repeatedly appeared in investigations involving hacked or stolen crypto funds moving across chains. One of the bigger incidents occurred in September 2025 when THORSwap announced a bounty after approximately $1.2 million was stolen from the personal wallet of THORChain founder John-Paul Thorbjornsen. ZachXBT later linked the activity to suspected North Korean hacking groups. More recently, the protocol was again thrust into the spotlight after the Kelp DAO hack, where stolen ETH was reportedly bridged into Bitcoin through THORChain. The incident contributed to a major spike in the network’s daily transaction volume, which reportedly climbed to approximately $394 million in a single day.

15 May 2026, 12:09

Thorchain Loses Nearly $11M as Attackers Poison Vault Churn Process Across 4 Chains

Thorchain suffered an estimated $10 to $11 million exploit on Friday, after attackers used vault churn address poisoning to redirect funds during a routine migration process across multiple blockchains. Thorchain Funds Compromised Onchain investigator ZachXBT first flagged the incident via his Telegram channel, placing initial losses above $7.4 million before revised estimates pushed the total