hodler

18 May 2026, 09:45

XRP wipes out $10 billion in 4 days

XRP’s market capitalization has erased nearly $10 billion in four days as bearish momentum continues to pressure the broader cryptocurrency market . Specifically, on May 14, XRP’s market capitalization stood at $95.39 billion before falling to $85.66 billion at press time, wiping out about $9.73 billion in four days. XRP one-week market cap chart. Source: CoinMarketCap Meanwhile, XRP was trading at $1.38, down 4.5% over the past week and more than 2% in the last 24 hours. XRP seven-day price chart. Source: Finbold XRP’s decline has largely been driven by its strong correlation with Bitcoin ( BTC ), often magnifying market moves due to thinner liquidity and risk-off sentiment in altcoins. As Bitcoin fell below $80,000 and struggles to hold above $75,000, additional pressure has weighed on XRP. The broader crypto market weakness has also been fueled by geopolitical tensions and macroeconomic uncertainty. In this line, the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict and disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz have lifted oil prices and triggered risk-off sentiment across global markets. Meanwhile, rising U.S. Treasury yields and persistent inflation have reduced expectations for near-term Federal Reserve rate cuts, making speculative assets like cryptocurrencies less attractive. Profit-taking by long-term holders and large investors has further added to the selling pressure, particularly after XRP rallied above $1.50. XRP ETFs strong momentum Notably, the correction has come despite strong momentum in spot XRP ETFs , which recorded $60 million in net inflows last week, their best weekly performance of 2026. Notably, all five XRP ETF products recorded positive flows during the week, with the latest figure alone exceeding the combined monthly totals recorded in January, February, and March 2026. XRP spot ETF flow history. Source: SoSo Value The strong momentum has also pushed May ahead of April’s previous monthly record of $81.59 million, making it the best-performing month for XRP ETFs so far this year. With the latest inflows, XRP ETFs have fully recovered their earlier 2026 losses and reached a new cumulative net inflow total of $1.39 billion. Meanwhile, XRP’s key price levels to watch include resistance at $1.45 to $1.50 and support at $1.30 to $1.35. A sustained Bitcoin recovery above $80,000 to $82,000 could help lift XRP toward the $1.50 to $1.70 zone, while a breakdown below $1.30 risks deeper losses toward $1.20 to $1.15. The post XRP wipes out $10 billion in 4 days appeared first on Finbold .

18 May 2026, 09:41

Cardano faces fresh selling pressure as ADA drops below $0.26

Cardano (ADA) remained under pressure on Monday, trading below the $0.260 level after declining more than 10% last week. The bearish performance comes as weakening on-chain activity and mixed derivatives data reinforced a cautious outlook for the cryptocurrency. Bearish derivatives positioning limits ADA recovery Derivatives data from CoinGlass showed mixed sentiment among Cardano traders, keeping recovery expectations subdued. Cardano’s long-to-short ratio dropped to 0.54 on Monday, marking its lowest level in more than a month. A ratio below 1 indicates bearish positioning dominates the market, with traders increasingly betting on further downside for ADA. However, funding rate data offered a slightly more constructive signal. CoinGlass’ Open Interest-weighted funding rate for Cardano turned positive on Sunday and reads 0.0078% on Monday. Positive funding rates indicate long traders are paying shorts to maintain positions, reflecting mild bullish sentiment despite broader weakness. The conflicting derivatives data suggest uncertainty among traders and a lack of strong conviction in either direction, reducing the probability of a sustained rebound in the near term. In addition to that, on-chain data from Santiment further supports the bearish outlook for Cardano. Santiment’s Social Dominance metric, which measures the share of online crypto discussions related to ADA, has continued to trend lower and currently sits at 0.009 — its lowest level in more than a year. The decline suggests fading market attention and weakening sentiment around the Cardano ecosystem. Network activity has also declined steadily over recent weeks. Santiment’s Daily Active Addresses metric, which tracks the number of active wallets interacting with the blockchain, fell to 12,800 on Monday after declining consistently over the past month. The slowdown in network participation suggests weakening demand for Cardano’s blockchain usage, a trend that historically correlates with softer price performance. Cardano technical outlook: Bears remain in control The ADA/USD 4-hour chart is bearish as Cardano is trading below all major Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs). ADA is currently trading below the 50-day EMA at $0.259, the 100-day EMA at $0.281, and the 200-day EMA at $0.358, indicating persistent downside pressure across multiple timeframes. The failed recovery attempt week means that Cardano is now consolidating just above former trendline resistance-turned-support near the $0.238 level. Momentum indicators also continue to favor sellers. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) hovers near 35, signaling an oversold momentum. Meanwhile, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) remains below the zero line, reinforcing the bearish bias. If the rally resumes, the bulls would encounter the first major resistance zone near the 50-day EMA around $0.259. A daily close above this level would see a stronger resistance level emerge at the 100-day EMA at $0.281. Beyond that, additional resistance levels are located at the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement near $0.321, the 50% retracement around $0.352, and the 200-day EMA at $0.358. However, if the selloff continues, immediate support rests near the $0.238 trendline breakout level, followed by a horizontal support floor around $0.235. A decisive breakdown below those levels could expose Cardano’s cycle low near $0.220, potentially opening the door for a deeper correction. The post Cardano faces fresh selling pressure as ADA drops below $0.26 appeared first on Invezz

18 May 2026, 09:37

Hive Digital boosts AI infrastructure push with new 320 MW site

Hive Digital announced a 320 MW sovereign AI infrastructure, built and operated through the BUZZ HPC branch. BUZZ is building scalable AI infrastructure to boost Canada’s compute capacity. Hive Digital Technologies (TSX: HIVE) will use its wholly-owned subsidiary, Buzz High Performance Computing, Inc., for a major infrastructure investment in Ontario. The facility in the Greater Toronto Area will also be known as an ‘AI gigafactory’, with access to 320MW in utility capacity. The project will become one of Canada’s biggest data centers, with more than 100,000 GPUs at completion. The facility targets AI startups and other needs for high-capacity computation for business purposes. Hive Digital to own a large share of Canada’s computation capacity Buzz HPC acquired 21 acres of land for its main site, in a purchase valued at $46M, with an additional 4-acre site acquired for $12M. Both locations have secured access to the grid, the main bottleneck in AI data center creation. Hive Digital follows a recent announcement by Hut for another large-scale investment in AI computation, as Cryptopolitan reported . Hive Digital retains its access to older high-capacity locations for Bitcoin mining. The company still produces around 2% of the network’s capacity. The experience and access to the energy grid push Hive as a top candidate for a pivot to AI. Buzz will position its data centers close to one of Canada’s largest metropolitan areas, servicing a technology hub with low latency. The AI infrastructure will rebuild Canada’s backbone, offering access to technological companies, financial services, and general AI models. “ BUZZ has done a phenomenal job expanding our footprint in Canada. With 5,500 GPUs online today doing AI compute, along with our 70 MW New Brunswick Grand Falls site, and now our 320 MW GTA site, we have the land and power to develop a pipeline of infrastructure to support approximately 130,000 GPUs,” said Aydin Kilic, President & CEO of HIVE Digital Technologies. The data centers are also within one of the high-capacity 100-kilometer corridors for global AI computation. The facility will come online in the second half of 2027, following a $2.55B investment. The data center will partner with the University of Toronto and the Vector Institute. BUZZ will also use an efficient closed-loop cooling system and a share of its electricity will be provided by renewable sources. HIVE trades near a one-month high HIVE is among the leading Bitcoin mining stocks to benefit from a pivot to AI. HIVE traded at a one-month high at $2.69, though still far from its peak above $6 in October 2026. The company is still somewhat correlated with crypto pricing. Hive Digital was founded in 2017 and was one of the first public companies to focus on digital asset mining through green energy. The company also shrank its BTC treasury to boost investments in AI, selling in December 2025. Now, Hive Digital is down to around 481 BTC, a relatively minor treasury compared to other former mining companies. Hive already controls several Tier-I and Tier-III data centers in Canada, Sweden, and Paraguay, combining BTC mining with high-performance computing. The company has shifted from the ‘data center’ model, instead calling its facilities ‘ data factories ’, with more agile compute capabilities on high-powered GPUs. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .

18 May 2026, 09:36

Crypto ATM Operator Bitcoin Depot Files for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy

North America's largest Bitcoin ATM operator cited a hostile regulatory environment and an 'unsustainable' business model.

18 May 2026, 09:30

Trump Says Iran ‘Dying to Sign a Deal’ as Nuclear Talks Remain Stalled

BitcoinWorld Trump Says Iran ‘Dying to Sign a Deal’ as Nuclear Talks Remain Stalled Former President Donald Trump has stated that Iran is “dying to sign a deal” with the United States, reigniting speculation about the future of nuclear negotiations between the two countries. The remark, made during a recent public appearance, adds a new layer of complexity to an already fragile diplomatic landscape. Context of the Statement Trump’s comment comes amid ongoing tensions over Iran’s nuclear program, which has accelerated enrichment activities since the collapse of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA). The United States withdrew from the agreement in 2018 under Trump’s first term, reimposing crippling sanctions on Tehran. Since then, indirect talks through European and Gulf intermediaries have failed to produce a breakthrough. The former president’s characterization of Iran as “dying” to negotiate appears to contrast with recent statements from Iranian officials, who have publicly insisted on conditions including the full lifting of sanctions and guarantees against future US withdrawal. This discrepancy raises questions about the accuracy of Trump’s assessment and the potential for renewed diplomacy. Implications for Markets and Geopolitics Any shift in US-Iran relations has significant implications for global energy markets, shipping routes, and regional security. Iran holds some of the world’s largest oil and gas reserves, and a potential deal could increase global supply, lowering prices. Conversely, a failure to reach an agreement could lead to further instability in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for oil tankers. Cryptocurrency markets are also sensitive to geopolitical developments. Uncertainty around Iran—a country with a history of using digital assets to bypass sanctions—can influence investor sentiment and regulatory discussions. A diplomatic thaw might reduce the premium on privacy-focused coins and alter the risk profile for exchanges operating in the region. What This Means for Readers For investors and analysts, Trump’s statement should be viewed with caution. While it signals a potential opening for talks, it does not represent a formal policy shift. The Biden administration, which is currently in office, has pursued a different approach—one that includes indirect negotiations but has yet to yield a renewed agreement. Readers should monitor official statements from the State Department and the Iranian Foreign Ministry for concrete developments. Until then, Trump’s remark remains a political signal rather than a diplomatic breakthrough. Conclusion Trump’s claim that Iran is eager to negotiate adds a rhetorical twist to a long-standing geopolitical standoff. However, without corroborating evidence or a change in official policy, the statement should be treated as commentary rather than fact. The path to any new nuclear deal remains uncertain, with deep mistrust on both sides and significant obstacles to overcome. FAQs Q1: Did Trump provide any evidence for his claim about Iran? No. The former president did not cite specific intelligence, diplomatic cables, or direct communications with Iranian officials. His statement appears to be based on general political assessment rather than verified information. Q2: How has Iran responded to Trump’s comment? Iranian officials have not officially responded to Trump’s remark as of this writing. However, past statements from Tehran have consistently demanded sanctions relief and guarantees against future US withdrawal before any new agreement. Q3: Could Trump’s statement affect current nuclear negotiations? Indirectly, yes. Public statements by influential figures can shape domestic political pressure and international perceptions. However, the current administration holds formal negotiating authority, and no direct talks are known to be underway at this time. This post Trump Says Iran ‘Dying to Sign a Deal’ as Nuclear Talks Remain Stalled first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

18 May 2026, 09:20

HYPE Defies Altcoin Crash as BTC Dips Below $77K: Market Watch

Bitcoin’s troubles only intensified as the legacy financial markets started to open during the night, with the asset dipping to a new multi-week low of under $77,000. Most altcoins have followed suit with painful declines from ETH, DOGE, and especially BCH. On the contrary, HYPE and ZEC have defied the crash. BTC Below $77K The previous business week was significantly more bullish for the primary cryptocurrency. It began with some volatility on Sunday that included a dip below $80,400, but it quickly rebounded and gained $2,000 in minutes. Although it was stopped there at first, BTC returned to the $82,000 level on Tuesday, only to be halted once again. This correction was more painful and pushed it south to under $79,000 on Wednesday. The bulls took the upper hand on Thursday after the CLARITY Act passed the US Senate Banking Committee, and bitcoin returned to $82,000. However, this turned out to be another fakeout, and the subsequent rejections have been quite brutal. The asset fell to under $80,000 by Saturday and down to $78,000 on Sunday. After spending 24 hours fighting to stay above that support, it gave in on Monday morning after Trump’s latest threats against Iran . Bitcoin dropped to $76,500 for the first time in roughly three weeks, and currently stands below $77,000. Its market capitalization is down to $1.540 trillion on CG, while its dominance over the alts remains above 58%. BTCUSD May 18. Source: TradingView HYPE Up, Most Down Ethereum is close to breaking below $2,100 after another 3% drop on a daily scale. BNB is down to $640 after a 2% decline, while XRP is under $1.40 following a similar dip. DOGE has plunged by over 5% daily, while BCH has plummeted by more than 11% and now struggles at $365. With most other alts in the red, there are two evident exceptions – HYPE and ZEC. The former has soared past $45, while the latter stands at around $530. Pi Network’s native token continues to dig new local lows, dumping below $0.15 earlier today. The total crypto market cap has shed another $50 billion and is down to $2.630 trillion as of press time. Cryptocurrency Market Overview May 18. Source: QuantifyCrypto The post HYPE Defies Altcoin Crash as BTC Dips Below $77K: Market Watch appeared first on CryptoPotato .