Invest ideasNews
18 May 2026, 13:00
Hyperliquid: Can $9.57M whale buy push HYPE price above $50?
Whales split between accumulation and profit‑taking, leaving Hyperliquid’s HYPE price at a crossroads.
18 May 2026, 13:00
RWA open interest on Hyperliquid reaches new all-time high at $2.6B
RWA activity on Hyperliquid reached a new record. Open interest doubled in the past two months, reflecting the shifting interests of on-chain traders. Real-world assets (RWA) on Hyperliquid reached open interest of $2.6B, a new all-time peak. Hyperliquid reported constant growth in the past two months, as open interest doubled. The RWA expansion coincides with a general inflow of traders to Hyperliquid, boosting open interest to $8.56B . RWA trading on Hyperliquid reached a new ATH of $2.6B in open interest, double the amount from two months ago. Demand for 24/7, onchain access to real world assets continues to grow. pic.twitter.com/TZi0mm8Q8V — Hyperliquid (@HyperliquidX) May 18, 2026 Hyperliquid is an access hub for multiple real-world assets, reflecting investment trends almost immediately. The exchange, and especially its HIP-3 version , is the easiest way to tokenize trends, while also ensuring significant open interest and liquidity. According to DeFiLlama, total RWA perpetual futures have an open interest of $2.79B , leaving the biggest share to Hyperlilquid. The recent shift in trading activity showed capital flowed out of token markets and into the most easily accessible and liquid RWA platforms . RWA open interest shifts to stocks Around $2.14B of the RWA open interest comes through TradeXYZ, the leading asset pair builder on HIP-3. Currently, Hyperliquid and its native token and coin trading take up 75% of trading activity. TradeXYZ was the main booster to RWA open interest on Hyperliquid. | Source: Dune Analytics TradeXYZ is taking up a larger share as the leading liquidity pair deployer, leading to expanded representation of RWA open interest. The new popularity of permissionless trading and 24/7 settlement led to calls for regulating Hyperliquid, as Cryptopolitan reported earlier. SP500/USDC is now the leading pair, as traders focus on stocks. Oil perpetual futures are still among the top 10 pairs, with some remaining focus on precious metals. Unlike other tokenization platforms, Hyperliquid attracts traders with no-KYC access. The deployment of new pairs also depends on their activity, as TradeXYZ seeks out the most active stocks, commodities, or metals. What are the most active RWA pairs on Hyperliquid? The S&P 500 market on HIP-3 expanded its open interest to $495.74M, also leading with daily trading volumes of over $356M. The XYZ100 index follows as a close second with $352.15M in open interest. The two stock indexes are in the top 5 of Hyperliquid pairs, getting close to the activity of BTC, ETH, and HYPE pairs. The recent RWA expansion was triggered by the rising demand for gold and oil trading starting in Q1. Currently, RWAs take up nearly 25% of DEX trading activity. The deployment of RWA pairs turns Hyperliquid into more than a DEX for pure speculation. Instead, the exchange turns into a hub for testing traditional finance settlement on a separate L1 chain. After the rise in RWA trading, the HYPE token went on a run, breaking above the $45 tier once again. HYPE rose by 6.2% in the past day, to $45.62. Hyperliquid also got a boost from adopting Circle as its stablecoin deployer, moving back to USDC, and decreasing the role of native USDH. The partnership with Coinbase and the regulated stablecoin issuer suggests Hyperliquid seeks compliant counterparties. For now, Hyperliquid will retain its permissionless trading access. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .
18 May 2026, 13:00
Justin Sun Deposits Another $1.23 Million in SPK Tokens to HTX Exchange
BitcoinWorld Justin Sun Deposits Another $1.23 Million in SPK Tokens to HTX Exchange Tron founder Justin Sun has moved an additional 41.99 million SPK tokens, valued at approximately $1.23 million, to the cryptocurrency exchange HTX, according to on-chain data shared by analyst ai_9684xtpa. The tokens were acquired through airdrops and staking rewards. Accumulating Deposits Since September 2025 This latest transfer adds to a significant pattern of SPK deposits by Sun over the past several months. Since September 2025, the Tron founder has deposited a total of 610 million SPK tokens to exchanges, with a cumulative value of roughly $19.08 million. The deposits have been made in multiple tranches, suggesting a deliberate strategy rather than a single liquidation event. SPK is a token associated with the Spark ecosystem, a decentralized finance (DeFi) project that rewards users through staking and airdrop programs. Sun’s consistent accumulation and subsequent deposits to HTX have drawn attention from market observers tracking whale movements. Implications for the Market Large deposits to exchanges are often interpreted as a signal of potential selling pressure, as tokens moved from private wallets to trading platforms can be more easily liquidated. However, Sun’s deposits have been spread over weeks, which may indicate a gradual distribution rather than a sudden market dump. The Tron founder has been an active participant in the SPK ecosystem, and his staking activity has generated substantial token rewards. The decision to deposit these rewards to HTX, a Seychelles-based exchange, provides liquidity for trading and potential conversion to other assets. What This Means for SPK Holders For holders of SPK, the continued deposits by a prominent figure like Sun could influence short-term price sentiment. While the deposits themselves do not guarantee a sell-off, they increase the available supply on exchanges, which can put downward pressure on price if demand does not keep pace. Conversely, the fact that Sun is actively staking and earning rewards suggests ongoing engagement with the project. Conclusion Justin Sun’s latest SPK deposit to HTX continues a multi-month trend of moving staking rewards to an exchange. While the total amount is notable, the gradual nature of the deposits suggests a measured approach. Market participants will likely watch for further deposits or any official statements from Sun regarding his plans for the tokens. FAQs Q1: Why is Justin Sun depositing SPK tokens to HTX? A: The exact reason has not been publicly stated. However, depositing tokens to an exchange typically allows for easier trading, selling, or conversion to other cryptocurrencies. Sun has been accumulating SPK through staking and airdrops since at least September 2025. Q2: What is SPK token? A: SPK is a token associated with the Spark ecosystem, a decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol. It is distributed through staking rewards and airdrop programs to participants in the network. Q3: How much SPK has Justin Sun deposited in total? A: According to on-chain data, Sun has deposited a total of 610 million SPK tokens to exchanges since September 2025, valued at approximately $19.08 million at current market rates. This post Justin Sun Deposits Another $1.23 Million in SPK Tokens to HTX Exchange first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
18 May 2026, 13:00
Crypto Users Warned Over Sophisticated Google Email Scam
The reported attack uses Google account recovery request systems and hidden formatting tricks to make phishing emails look more trustworthy. Meanwhile, Coinbase, Microsoft, and Europol have taken action against large-scale phishing networks linked to millions of malicious emails each month. Google Email Phishing Scam Targets Crypto Users Crypto users are being warned about a phishing campaign that disguises malicious emails as legitimate Google security notifications. The scam reportedly abuses real Google account recovery systems to send messages that look trustworthy at first glance, which increases the chances that users will interact with them. The emails often use phrases like “recovery contact request” or “review request,” which creates the impression that the message is part of a genuine Google security process. The danger lies in how convincing these emails can appear. Unlike traditional phishing attempts that often contain obvious spelling mistakes or suspicious sender addresses, these messages may appear to come through real Google systems. Attackers are also using formatting tricks inside the email itself. Large blank spaces or hidden formatting can push malicious links far below the visible part of the message. This allows the top section to resemble a normal security alert while concealing harmful content further down. For crypto users, the consequences of falling for these scams can be severe. A fake login page can capture passwords, session cookies, or two-factor authentication codes. Once attackers gain access to an exchange account or wallet interface, funds can potentially be transferred within minutes. Because cryptocurrency transactions are generally irreversible, victims often have little chance of recovering stolen assets after an account compromise. There has been an increase in phishing and online fraud targeting the crypto industry. Binance recently stated that its systems blocked 22.9 million phishing and scam attempts during the first quarter of 2026. According to the exchange, these security measures helped protect almost $2 billion in user funds. At the same time, developers across the blockchain industry are trying to improve wallet security. Ethereum’s ERC-7730 Clear Signing standard is one example, as its goal is to make transaction approvals easier for users to understand before authorizing potentially dangerous requests. Blog post from Coinbase Authorities and major technology firms are also intensifying their efforts against organized phishing networks. Earlier reports revealed that Coinbase , Microsoft, and Europol participated in operations targeting the Tycoon 2FA phishing network, which was allegedly responsible for distributing millions of phishing emails every month. Security experts and Google itself are encouraging users to avoid interacting with suspicious links sent through email. Instead, users should manually open their Google account settings, exchange applications, or wallet platforms directly through official websites or apps to verify any alerts.
18 May 2026, 12:59
Verus-Ethereum bridge drained for $11.5M in forged proof exploit
On May 18, an attacker drained approximately $11.5 million from the Verus-Ethereum bridge using a forged Merkle proof. This event adds to the growing number of cross-chain bridge exploits that have now reached $328.6 million in 2026 alone. The Verus-Ethereum bridge is the latest to suffer an exploit in a month that seems to have picked up from where record-making April left off. How was Verus hacked? Blockchain security firm PeckShieldAlert reported that the attacker extracted 103.6 tBTC, 1,625 ETH, and 147,000 USDC from the bridge contract, then swapped the stolen tokens into 5,402.4 ETH worth roughly $11.4 million. The flow of the Verus-Ethereum bridge exploit. Source: PeckShield According to PeckShieldAlert and Blockaid, both of whom independently flagged the exploit, the converted funds reportedly remain in a single wallet at address 0x65Cb8b128Bf6e690761044CCECA422bb239C25F9. Blockaid also identified the attacker’s externally owned account and published the exploit transaction hash. How did the exploit work? Blockaid shared a thread on X, stating that the attack was of the same vulnerability class behind two of crypto’s most notorious bridge hacks, the $320 million Wormhole breach and the $190 million Nomad drain, both in 2022. Attacker EOA: 0x5aBb91B9c01A5Ed3aE762d32B236595B459D5777 Drainer wallet (still holding the funds): 0x65Cb8b128Bf6e690761044CCECA422bb239C25F9 Exploit tx: https://t.co/OqBh2alXGc Bridge contract: https://t.co/EN3LkDfId9 — Blockaid (@blockaid_) May 18, 2026 According to Blockaid, the Verus bridge correctly verified notarized state roots, including cryptographically valid signatures from 8 of 15 notaries. However, the weakness lay in what the bridge failed to check beyond that verification step. Cos, who is the founder of blockchain security firm SlowMist and known as @evilcos on X, stated , “The cause of the hack might be that the attacker constructed a forged Merkle proof, which passed the verification of the Verus Ethereum bridge (not open-source), allowing them to smoothly withdraw the funds (ETH/tBTC/USDC).” Cos added that “specific details need further verification.” Verus ran an emergency patch just two days before hack According to CoinXtreme , Verus had pushed what it called an “urgent and mandatory” emergency update, version 1.2.14-2, just two days before the exploit occurred. The update was described as a fix for a vulnerability; however, it is not yet clear whether the patched issue and the exploited vulnerability are related, as Verus has not publicly commented on the incident as of the time of reporting. Bridge exploits top $328 million this year Eight major bridge-related exploits have now occurred this year, with the Verus bridge being the latest, per PeckShieldAlert. The cumulative loss is around $328.6 million. Bridge exploits are approaching $329M for the year as of May. Source: PeckShield This adds to what is now seen as a pattern that has afflicted cross-chain infrastructure since bridges like Wormhole and Nomad suffered major exploits four years ago. Critics continue to point out that bridges remain high-value targets because they custody large pools of locked assets, and a single verification flaw can unlock the entire pool. The DeFi space has generally been under attack, with large-scale and small-scale attacks spilling from April into May. Cryptoplitan reported on notable exploits that have occurred in May, including exploits against Ink Finance and Renegade that cost a combined $349,000 and a private key compromise at Syndicate Labs that led to the loss of 18.5 million SYND tokens. VRSC , the native token of the Verus network, was trading at approximately $0.75 with a market capitalization of over $60 million at the time of the exploit, according to CoinMarketCap data. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .
18 May 2026, 12:54
Bitmine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) Announces ETH Holdings Reach 5.28 Million Tokens, and Total Crypto and Total Cash Holdings of $12.6 Billion
Bitmine owns more than 4.37% of the total ETH coin supply of 120.7 million Bitmine is 87% of the way to the 'Alchemy of 5%' in just 11 months Ethereum continues to benefit from the dual tailwinds of Wall Street tokenizing on the blockchain and from agentic AI systems increasingly needing public and neutral blockchains Bitmine uplisted to the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") from the NYSE American effective as of April 9, 2026 Bitmine has 4,712,917 staked ETH, representing $10.3 billion at $2,191 per ETH MAVAN (Made in America VAlidator Network) is a premier Ethereum staking destination for BMNR and institutional investors, with a focus on security, performance, and resilience Bitmine owns $83 million of Eightco (NASDAQ: ORBS), now one of the only publicly listed equities in the world to provide investors indirect exposure to OpenAI Bitmine Crypto + Total Cash Holdings + "Moonshots" total $12.6 billion, including 5.28 million ETH tokens, total cash of $685 million, and other crypto holdings Bitmine leads crypto treasury peers by both the velocity of raising crypto NAV per share and by the high trading liquidity of BMNR stock Bitmine is the 133rd most traded stock in the US, trading $857 million per day (5-day avg) Bitmine remains supported by a premier group of institutional investors including ARK's Cathie Wood, MOZAYYX, Founders Fund, Bill Miller III, Pantera, Kraken, DCG, Galaxy Digital and personal investor Thomas "Tom" Lee to support Bitmine's goal of acquiring 5% of ETH NORWALK, Conn., May 18, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- (NYSE: BMNR) Bitmine Immersion Technologies, Inc. ("Bitmine" or the "Company") a Bitcoin and Ethereum Network company with a focus on the accumulation of crypto for long term investment, today announced Bitmine crypto + total cash + "moonshots" holdings totaling $12.6 billion. The Company recently announced its uplisting to the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") from the NYSE American on April 9, 2026. The Company's common stock continues to trade under the symbol "BMNR". As of May 17, 2026 at 4:00pm ET, the Company's crypto holdings are comprised of 5,278,462 ETH at $2,191 per ETH (Coinbase NASDAQ: COIN), 202 Bitcoin (BTC), $200 million stake in Beast Industries, $83 million stake in Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) ("moonshots") and total cash of $685 million. Bitmine's ETH holdings are 4.37% of the ETH supply (of 120.7 million ETH). On May 11, 2026, Bitmine released the latest Chairman's Message ( link here ) for May 2026. The CLARITY Act cleared the Senate Banking Committee last week, and will move to the full Senate for a vote later this year. This proposed legislation provides the necessary regulatory framework for the crypto industry and properly defines decentralization, strengthens consumer protection and AML (anti-money laundering). "The CLARITY Act provides the necessary regulatory clarity for the crypto industry and Wall Street to build the next generation set of financial products and architecture." stated Thomas "Tom" Lee, Chairman of Bitmine. "There are still many steps and hurdles to overcome before the CLARITY Act becomes law. But we believe the probability of passage is higher than the 61% reflected on Polymarket.com ." "Over the past week, we acquired 71,672 ETH. We view the recent pullback of ETH to below $2,200 as an attractive opportunity. Bitmine is expected to reach the 'alchemy of 5%' sometime in 2026." stated Lee. Bitmine recently launched MAVAN (the Made in American VAlidator Network), the institutional grade staking platform. While MAVAN was originally developed to support Bitmine's own Ethereum treasury, MAVAN intends to expand to serve institutional investors, custodians, and ecosystem partners seeking best-in-class staking infrastructure. A portion of Bitmine's ETH is already staked on the MAVAN platform. As of May 17, 2026, Bitmine total staked ETH stands at 4,712,917 ($10.3 billion at $2,191 per ETH). "Bitmine has staked more ETH than other entities in the world. At scale (when Bitmine's ETH is fully staked by MAVAN and its staking partners), the projected ETH staking reward is $324 million annually (using 2.80% 7-day BMNR yield)," stated Lee. "Annualized staking revenues are now $289 million. And this 4.7 million ETH is over 89% of the 5.28 million ETH held by Bitmine. Bitmine's own staking operations generated a 7-day yield of 2.80% (annualized)," continued Lee. Bitmine crypto holding reigns as the #1 Ethereum treasury and #2 global treasury, behind Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ: MSTR), which reportedly owns 818,869 BTC valued at $64.1 billion. Bitmine remains the largest ETH treasury in the world. Bitmine is one of the most widely traded stocks in the US. According to data from Fundstrat, the stock has traded average daily dollar volume of $857 million (5-day average, as of May 15, 2026), ranking #133 in the US, behind Applied Digital Corp (rank #132) and ahead of Capital One Financial Corp (rank #134) among 5,704 US-listed stocks ( statista.com and Fundstrat research). The GENIUS Act and Securities and Exchange Commission's (the "SEC") Project Crypto are as transformational to financial services in 2025 as US action on August 15, 1971 ending Bretton Woods and the USD on the gold standard 54 years ago. This 1971 event was the catalyst for the modernization of Wall Street, creating the iconic Wall Street titans and financial and payment rails of today. These proved to be better investments than gold. The Chairman's message can be found here: https://www.Bitminetech.io/chairmans-message The Fiscal Full Year 2025 Earnings presentation and corporate presentation can be found here: https://Bitminetech.io/investor-relations/ To stay informed, please sign up at: https://Bitminetech.io/contact-us/ About Bitmine Bitmine (NYSE: BMNR) is a Bitcoin miner with operations in the US. The company is deploying its excess capital to be the leading Ethereum Treasury company in the world, implementing an innovative digital asset strategy for institutional investors and public market participants. Guided by its philosophy of "the alchemy of 5%," the Company is committed to ETH as its primary treasury reserve asset, leveraging native protocol-level activities including staking and decentralized finance mechanisms. The Company launched MAVAN (Made-in America VAlidator Network), a dedicated staking infrastructure for Bitmine assets, in 2026. For additional details, follow on X: https://x.com/bitmnr https://x.com/fundstrat Forward Looking Statements This press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." The statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. This document specifically contains forward-looking statements regarding: (i) progress and achievement of the Company's goals regarding ETH acquisition, including the 'Alchemy of 5%' initiative and the long-term value of Ethereum; (ii) the Company's beliefs regarding Ethereum's performance relative to other assets, including its characterization as a "wartime store of value" and its performance during geopolitical events; (iii) the Company's expectations regarding the current state and future trajectory of the cryptocurrency market, including statements that ETH may be in the "final stages of the mini-crypto winter"; (iv) continued growth and advancement of the Company's Ethereum treasury strategy and the applicable benefits to the Company; (v) the Company's share repurchase program, including statements regarding shares trading below intrinsic value, the Company's ability to accretively retire common shares, and the execution of repurchases through open market transactions; (vi) the Company's digital asset accumulation strategy and staking operations, including MAVAN, its expansion to serve institutional investors, custodians, and ecosystem partners, and projected annual staking revenues and rewards; (vii) statements regarding the benefits of Wall Street tokenization on the blockchain and agentic AI systems utilizing public blockchains; (viii) expectations regarding the potential impact of regulatory developments, including the GENIUS Act and SEC Project Crypto, on financial services and digital assets; and (ix) the Company's financial flexibility to support its treasury operations and expanded repurchase authorization. In evaluating these forward-looking statements, you should consider various factors, including: Bitmine's ability to keep pace with new technology and changing market needs; Bitmine's ability to finance its current business, Ethereum treasury operations, share repurchase program, and proposed future business; the competitive environment of Bitmine's business; market conditions affecting the trading price of the Company's common stock; regulatory developments affecting digital assets, including the ultimate enactment and implementation of pending legislation and SEC initiatives; geopolitical events and their impact on cryptocurrency markets; the volatility and unpredictability of digital asset prices; and the future value of Bitcoin and Ethereum. Actual future performance outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond Bitmine's control, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of Bitmine's Form 10-K filed with the SEC on November 21, 2025, as well as all other SEC filings, as amended or updated from time to time. Copies of Bitmine's filings with the SEC are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . Bitmine undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. Disclaimer: This is a sponsored press release and is for informational purposes only. It does not reflect the views of Bitzo, nor is it intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, or financial advice.
