Invest ideasNews
21 May 2026, 07:00
AVAX price prediction – How important is $9 support as sidelined traders refuse to chase news?
The psychological round-number support at $9 is a key short-term demand zone for Avalanche.
21 May 2026, 07:00
Bitcoin Quantum Exposure: Glassnode Says 30% of Supply Is Highly Vulnerable
A new study by Glassnode is putting fresh focus on a security risk for the wider Bitcoin (BTC) ecosystem—one that relates not to today’s cryptography, but to what could happen if quantum computers become powerful enough to run the right algorithms. According to the research , 6.04 million Bitcoin, or 30.2% of the issued supply, is exposed under an “at-rest” model that looks for whether public-key material is already visible on-chain. The remaining 13.99 million BTC, representing 69.8% of the supply, is described as showing no public-key exposure at rest Structural Vs. Operational Exposure Glassnode breaks the concern into two distinct categories: structural exposure and operational exposure. Structural exposure covers outputs where the script type itself reveals the public key by design. Operational exposure is different. It refers to coins that may have been protected originally, but where address reuse, partial spending, or custody behavior has already made the public key visible—while the BTC remains tied to the same address, key, or script structure. In the study’s breakdown, structural exposure accounts for 1.92 million BTC, equal to 9.6% of issued supply. Operational exposure is larger, totaling 4.12 million BTC, or 20.6%. Within this operational bucket, exchange-related balances alone come to 1.63 million BTC, or 8.1% of all issued Bitcoin. The quantum risk behind the analysis is rooted in a scenario involving a sufficiently capable “Cryptographically Relevant Quantum Computer” (CRQC) running Shor’s algorithm. In principle, if an attacker knows a public key, Shor’s algorithm could be used to recover the corresponding private key. Glassnode’s at-rest framework matters here because the attacker would not need the owner to move the coins. If the public key is already visible on-chain, the coin is considered exposed; if the public key is not visible on-chain, the coin is not exposed under this specific model. The Bigger Warning Under Glassnode’s structural exposure definition, the output type itself reveals the relevant public-key information, independent of how carefully the owner manages addresses. The report points to early P2PK outputs—associated with Satoshi-era coins —and legacy bare multisig structures such as P2MS. It also includes modern Taproot (P2TR) outputs. While these script types come from different eras and were built for different purposes, they share the same property in Glassnode’s framework: the public key, or a public-key equivalent, is visible by default on-chain. That means these coins are targetable while they remain unspent. Operational exposure is where the situation becomes more complex, and where the report places most of its emphasis. In these cases, the outputs are not necessarily vulnerable by design. Instead, they become exposed because the public key has already been revealed at some point during spending, yet Bitcoin remains associated with the same key or script arrangement. Glassnode describes this as an “address reuse problem.” 4 Million Bitcoin Operationally Unsafe Glassnode classifies 4.12 million Bitcoin, or 20.6% of issued supply, as operationally unsafe, and within that bucket, it highlights exchanges as a major labeled subset. For exchange-related balances , the study estimates 1.66 million BTC, or 8.3% of total supply, falls into the operationally unsafe category. Glassnode notes that this represents approximately 40% of all operationally unsafe BTC. Among the largest exchanges, Glassnode reports that Coinbase labeled balances appear largely concentrated in non-exposed structures, with only 5% exposed balance. By contrast, Binance and Bitfinex show dramatically higher susceptible balances—85% and 100%, respectively. For the countries covered in the report—the United States, the United Kingdom, and El Salvador—Glassnode indicates 0% quantum exposure to their Bitcoin holdings. Featured image created with OpenArt, chart from TradingView.com
21 May 2026, 07:00
Macquarie Group Reduces Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF Holdings in Q1, SEC Filing Shows
BitcoinWorld Macquarie Group Reduces Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF Holdings in Q1, SEC Filing Shows Macquarie Group, the Australian financial services giant, significantly reduced its exposure to spot cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds during the first quarter of 2025, according to a recent filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Details of the ETF Reduction The 13F filing, which discloses institutional holdings of U.S.-listed securities, shows that Macquarie cut its position in BlackRock’s spot Bitcoin ETF (IBIT) by approximately 19%. The group held 5.126 million shares at the end of December 2024 but reduced that to 4.139 million shares by March 31, 2025. The market value of those holdings dropped from roughly $255 million to $159 million, reflecting both the share reduction and price fluctuations in Bitcoin during the period. Macquarie also trimmed its stake in BlackRock’s Ethereum spot ETF (ETHA) by 9.5%, moving from 3.634 million shares to 3.289 million shares over the same three-month window. Context and Market Implications This move by a major institutional investor comes during a period of heightened volatility and regulatory uncertainty in the cryptocurrency market. While spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs have seen growing retail and institutional adoption since their approval in early 2024, some large players are reassessing their positions. Macquarie’s reduction is notable because the firm had previously been a relatively early and significant holder of these products. The filing does not specify the reasons behind the decision, but analysts point to several possible factors: Profit-taking: The funds had appreciated considerably since their launch, and Macquarie may have locked in gains. Risk management: Portfolio rebalancing amid broader market uncertainty, including interest rate concerns and geopolitical tensions. Regulatory caution: Ongoing debates in the U.S. Congress and SEC about cryptocurrency oversight may have influenced the firm’s risk appetite. What This Means for the Broader Market While a single institutional filing does not signal a trend, Macquarie’s decision is being closely watched by market participants. Large financial institutions often act as bellwethers for institutional sentiment. If other major holders follow suit, it could indicate a cooling of institutional enthusiasm for crypto ETFs in the near term. However, it is equally possible that Macquarie is simply rebalancing its portfolio rather than abandoning the asset class. The firm still holds millions of shares in both funds, suggesting a continued, albeit reduced, conviction in the long-term potential of digital assets. Conclusion Macquarie Group’s reduction of its spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF holdings in Q1 2025 reflects a cautious institutional approach amid market volatility and regulatory uncertainty. While the move is significant given the firm’s size and influence, it does not necessarily signal a broader exodus from crypto ETFs. Investors should monitor upcoming 13F filings from other major institutions for a clearer picture of institutional sentiment. FAQs Q1: What is a 13F filing? A 13F filing is a quarterly report required by the SEC from institutional investment managers with at least $100 million in assets under management. It discloses their holdings of U.S.-listed securities, including ETFs. Q2: Does Macquarie’s reduction mean it is bearish on cryptocurrency? Not necessarily. The reduction could be part of routine portfolio rebalancing, profit-taking, or risk management. Macquarie still holds a significant position in both Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. Q3: How does this affect retail investors in crypto ETFs? While institutional moves can influence market sentiment, retail investors should focus on their own investment goals and risk tolerance. A single institutional filing is not a definitive signal for individual investment decisions. This post Macquarie Group Reduces Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF Holdings in Q1, SEC Filing Shows first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
21 May 2026, 06:58
XRP Ledger Gets Major Quantum Security Boost Before “Q Day,” Thanks to Ripple & Project Eleven Partnership
Ripple and Project Eleven Launch Quantum-Proof Security Push for XRP Ledger Quantum computing was once viewed as a distant risk to blockchain security, but that timeline is closing fast. In response, Ripple is working with Project Eleven to strengthen the XRP Ledger against emerging quantum-era threats. Project Eleven, a leading post-quantum cryptography firm, has announced a partnership aimed at strengthening blockchain systems for the era of advanced computing. The collaboration centers on boosting post-quantum readiness across the XRP Ledger (XRPL), one of the longest-running public blockchains in operation. Realistically, the quantum threat is no longer theoretical. The cryptography protecting major blockchains like Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP could one day be compromised by powerful quantum computers, prompting early action from governments and tech leaders. As a result, the U.S. has already set 2035 as a deadline to retire vulnerable encryption, while firms like Google and Cloudflare are pushing to transition even sooner. Ripple and Project Eleven Launch Quantum-Security Push to Future-Proof XRPL Before “Q Day” Rather than waiting for quantum threats to become immediate, Ripple and Project Eleven are taking a proactive stance. The initiative will kick off with a comprehensive audit of XRPL’s validator infrastructure, custody systems, networking layers, and wallets to uncover potential quantum vulnerabilities. From there, the teams will roll out hybrid signature schemes that blend today’s cryptographic standards with quantum-resistant safeguards, alongside a prototype of a quantum-secure custody wallet built for real-world use. Crucially, this goes beyond theory. Project Eleven emphasizes that the collaboration will produce working implementations, performance benchmarks, and a clear, production-ready roadmap for integrating post-quantum security across the XRP Ledger ecosystem. According to J. Ayo Akinyele, Head of Engineering at RippleX, quantum threats can no longer be treated as distant theory. He emphasized : ”What puts XRPL in a strong position is that we are not starting from scratch. We already have core capabilities like key rotation and a validator network that can coordinate upgrades at scale. Working with Project Eleven helps us move faster and more rigorously as we test and implement post-quantum approaches across the stack. The goal is to be production ready well before we need to be, not reacting when Q Day arrives.” This undertaking highlights XRPL’s increasingly proactive security posture. A recent quantum risk review reportedly confirmed that nearly 300,000 XRPL accounts holding about 2.4 billion XRP remain secure, with only two dormant accounts flagged as potentially vulnerable due to exposed keys. Researchers are already citing XRPL as one of the few major blockchain ecosystems actively preparing for quantum resistance before “Q Day” arrives. As the push toward post-quantum security intensifies, Ripple appears intent on keeping XRPL ahead of the curve rather than reacting to it.
21 May 2026, 06:57
Bitcoin Policy Breakthrough Brewing in Washington
Capitol Hill is bracing for a "landmark day" in cryptocurrency regulation as digital assets increasingly intersect with U.S. national security.
21 May 2026, 06:55
B.AI Integrates Deposit Support for HTX and WBTC Across Multiple Networks
BitcoinWorld B.AI Integrates Deposit Support for HTX and WBTC Across Multiple Networks B.AI, the financial infrastructure project designed for AI agents at the intersection of artificial intelligence and Web3, has announced the addition of deposit support for two digital assets: HTX and Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC). The integration expands the platform’s utility for users seeking to fund AI agent operations with these tokens. Deposit Details and Network Support According to the official announcement made on X, deposits for both HTX and WBTC are now active on the Tron and Ethereum networks. For the BNB Chain, support is limited to HTX deposits only. This multi-network approach allows users to choose their preferred blockchain for transferring assets into the B.AI ecosystem. Context and Implications for AI Agent Infrastructure B.AI positions itself as a foundational layer for AI agents, providing the financial rails needed for autonomous programs to manage, transfer, and utilize digital assets. The addition of HTX and WBTC broadens the range of collateral and operational tokens available within this framework. WBTC, a tokenized version of Bitcoin on Ethereum, is particularly significant as it brings Bitcoin’s liquidity into the AI agent economy without requiring direct Bitcoin blockchain integration. Why This Matters for Users For developers and users building or interacting with AI agents on B.AI, the new deposit options offer greater flexibility. HTX, associated with the HTX exchange ecosystem, provides access to a widely traded altcoin, while WBTC enables exposure to Bitcoin’s value within Ethereum-compatible smart contract environments. This move could lower barriers for users who already hold these assets and wish to deploy them in AI-driven financial applications. Conclusion B.AI’s expansion of supported deposit assets marks a practical step in building out its infrastructure for the growing AI agent sector. By enabling HTX and WBTC deposits across multiple networks, the project aims to accommodate a broader user base and facilitate more diverse use cases within its ecosystem. FAQs Q1: What is B.AI? B.AI is a financial infrastructure project that combines artificial intelligence with Web3 technology, designed to provide financial services and tools for AI agents. Q2: Which networks support HTX and WBTC deposits on B.AI? HTX and WBTC deposits are supported on the Tron and Ethereum networks. On the BNB Chain, only HTX deposits are currently available. Q3: Why is WBTC important for AI agent platforms? WBTC brings Bitcoin’s liquidity into Ethereum-compatible environments, allowing AI agents to interact with Bitcoin value without needing direct Bitcoin blockchain integration. This post B.AI Integrates Deposit Support for HTX and WBTC Across Multiple Networks first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
