hodler

27 May 2026, 15:07

StakeDAO exploit creates 5.4 trillion vsdCRV but nets only $91K

PeckShield said the attacker bridged 43.7 ETH to Ethereum after minting trillions of vsdCRV, while EmberCN said most of the remaining tokens had insufficient liquidity to sell.

27 May 2026, 15:06

Kraken VIP Behind the Curtain: dispatches from the field

TL;DR Kraken VIP dinners and experiences ran across Paris, Hong Kong, Lisbon, Las Vegas, Miami, Madrid, and Seville between April 7 and May 14, 2026 The all-new dedicated VIP portal went live on May 13, bringing relationship manager (RM) access, Private Sessions, perks, and priority support into one destination VIP Private Sessions with Kraken’s Chief Economist, Security and Risk leaders, and Product leaders continue to scale, with 97 completed sessions rated Excellent or Very Good Kraken VIP is a worldwide program that is distinctly personal. Here’s what the last six weeks have looked like. On the ground Paris, April 14 . The Kraken VIP dinner during Paris Blockchain Week was hosted under the gilded ceilings of the Château de Versailles. Clients described being “genuinely amazed” and the evening turned into the kind of long, unhurried conversation that rarely happens at a conference. Seville, April 18 . We hosted four Atlético matches in the space of a few weeks, totaling 16 VIP guests with plus-ones across Champions League fixtures and the Copa del Rey final in Seville. After the Seville trip, one client wrote: “It was a spectacular evening. Everything was perfectly coordinated, the suite, the journey there and back.” For the Atlético vs. Arsenal Champions League match in Madrid on May 1, we hosted a pregame gathering at a private museum-style venue with wine and tapas before moving to the VIP box. One guest brought his father, who, in the client’s words, “couldn’t believe what he was experiencing.” Hong Kong, April 21 . Kraken VIP’s first dinner in Asia Pacific. A milestone for the program, and a reminder of how quickly the region has come together. Following the dinner, the group extended to a second venue for more intimate conversations afterward. Lisbon, April 22 . A private dining room with city views, hosted together with the OTC team. Founders, protocol leaders, crypto policymakers, family office leads, and CEOs around a single table; a 5-course menu with wine pairing and VIP-branded menus on every place setting. Las Vegas and Miami , late April/early May. During Bitcoin Vegas, we hosted a VIP dinner at Komodo. A couple of weeks later, Consensus brought multiple lunches and dinners throughout the week, anchored by a Kraken VIP dinner where Chief Economist Thomas Perfumo spent unhurried time with clients. The Miami Grand Prix, May 3 . A Williams Racing weekend that drew clients in from multiple geographies. Feedback came back as straight 10s across the board, with every facet of the experience rated Very Satisfied or above. Co-CEO Arjun Sethi and CMO Mayur Gupta were both on the ground and spent time with VIPs directly. One client came with product suggestions that turned into direct conversations with the product team before the weekend was out. Each of these moments felt specific to the rooms they were in. Versailles for Paris Blockchain Week. A Lisbon dining room with a city view for the city’s crypto community. A box at Atlético for clients who happen to love football. The program scales globally and shows up locally. The new VIP portal On May 13, the Kraken VIP portal went live on Kraken Pro web. Inside the all-new VIP portal, clients will find a dedicated homepage featuring: An RM card shows clients exactly who their RM is, with a direct line to reach them Private Sessions with our Chief Economist Thomas Perfumo and our Product leaders can be requested directly from the portal Priority VIP Support built in and connected to the same Client Engagement chat infrastructure clients already know Milestones and rewards surfaced in-app, with a simple flow to confirm shipping for gifts An Events and Experiences preference hub, letting clients express interest directly in what we host Real-time market insights from Thomas’ desk Kraken VIP has always been built on personal, high-touch relationships. The portal does not replace any of that. It gives it a home. Private sessions VIP Private Sessions continue to be one of the most quietly valuable parts of the program. To date, 97 sessions have been completed across the three formats: 1:1s with Thomas, sessions with our Security and Risk leadership, and sessions with Kraken Product leaders. Thomas’ footprint outside of 1:1s has continued to grow as well. It now includes weekly macro presentations, a biweekly VIP newsletter, and a deepening roster of institutional research relationships, including Citizens JMP, Jefferies, JP Morgan, Citi, Deutsche Bank, RealVision, and Ark Invest. What’s ahead Relationship manager coverage has expanded meaningfully this spring and the experience calendar continues to fill out. The FIFA World Cup, Wimbledon, the Monaco Grand Prix, and a Kraken VIP Château Retreat are all on the way. Portal development is ongoing, with a mobile version in progress. Building momentum Six weeks. Seven cities. One portal launch. Dozens of conversations still ongoing. The program is bigger than it was a year ago, and busier than it was three months ago, and each evening still feels like it was put together for the room it was in. Want to learn more? Explore Kraken VIP The post Kraken VIP Behind the Curtain: dispatches from the field appeared first on Kraken Blog .

27 May 2026, 15:04

Shiba Inu sees 451 billion token outflow in 24 hours

🚀 451 billion tokens were pulled out of exchanges in $SHIB within 24 hours. Outflows were almost double the inflows, pointing to stronger holding signals. 😮 Key point: Slower selling and stabilizing price may mark a turn in $SHIB sentiment. Continue Reading: Shiba Inu sees 451 billion token outflow in 24 hours The post Shiba Inu sees 451 billion token outflow in 24 hours appeared first on COINTURK NEWS .

27 May 2026, 15:02

Finance Pundit: Raoul Pal Leaked the XRP Price Surge Date

Financial expert Levi Rietveld recently highlighted Raoul Pal’s comment regarding the timing of a potential major expansion phase for the cryptocurrency market. Levi reacted strongly to Pal’s market outlook, suggesting that the macroeconomic signals discussed by the Real Vision executive could note an approaching surge for XRP and other digital assets. The discussion centered on a recent video in which Pal argued that the broader crypto cycle continues to follow global liquidity conditions closely. According to Pal, many investors prematurely concluded that the bullish phase had ended during the recent market correction, but the following recovery aligned with the expectations he had previously outlined. Pal stated that liquidity flows have returned and that current market behavior remains “on track” with his projections. He also maintained his view that cryptocurrencies could outperform technology stocks during the next stage of the market cycle. Levi highlighted those remarks while noting that recent rebounds in XRP, Bitcoin , and several other digital assets appeared to support Pal’s thesis. HOLY!!!! HE KNOWS!!! HE LEAKED THE ripple:native PRICE SURGE DATE!?!? RAOUL PAL https://t.co/Idk8xvpUx1 — Levi | Crypto Crusaders (@LeviRietveld) May 25, 2026 Macro and Political Conditions Form the Core of the Thesis A major portion of Pal’s analysis focused on macroeconomic and geopolitical developments that he believes are shaping financial markets. He argued that artificial intelligence, crypto adoption, global liquidity, and political strategy are becoming increasingly interconnected. Pal claimed that the current U.S. administration is moving aggressively to accelerate technological and crypto-related initiatives ahead of future elections. He referenced ongoing regulatory efforts around crypto legislation and suggested that policymakers understand the importance of digital assets within the broader financial system. He also discussed the recent change in Federal Reserve leadership, stating that current policies may support financial conditions favorable to risk assets. Pal argued that productivity gains from artificial intelligence could help contain inflation pressures while allowing looser monetary conditions to emerge. In addition, he linked global trade negotiations, energy policy, and U.S.-China relations to liquidity expansion. According to Pal, these developments could weaken the U.S. dollar, improve financial conditions, and create an environment that allows additional capital to move into crypto markets. Levi summarized Pal’s argument by explaining that lower interest rates, higher global demand for dollars, and growth tied to artificial intelligence could collectively support another strong move higher for cryptocurrencies. He said those conditions could help XRP and the wider crypto market potentially reach new all-time highs faster than many investors expect. We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025 Geopolitical Risks Could Delay the Timeline Despite agreeing with many aspects of Pal’s analysis, Levi also cautioned that several unresolved geopolitical issues could delay the projected timeline. He specifically referenced tensions involving Iran and ongoing disagreements surrounding nuclear negotiations. According to Levi, unresolved conflict in the Middle East could keep inflation elevated longer than expected, making it more difficult for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates aggressively in the near term. He argued that policymakers would likely remain cautious if inflation risks continue threatening consumer spending and broader economic stability. Levi ultimately said he still expects the crypto market to strengthen over time, although he believes the timeline may extend beyond Pal’s summer projection. He added that the market could potentially establish a broader bottom around October before entering another major upward phase. Throughout the discussion, Levi maintained that Pal’s broader liquidity thesis remains highly relevant for investors closely watching XRP and the wider cryptocurrency market. Disclaimer : This content is meant to inform and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author’s personal opinions and do not represent Times Tabloid’s opinion. Readers are advised to conduct thorough research before making any investment decisions. Any action taken by the reader is strictly at their own risk. Times Tabloid is not responsible for any financial losses. Follow us on X , Facebook , Telegram , and Google News The post Finance Pundit: Raoul Pal Leaked the XRP Price Surge Date appeared first on Times Tabloid .

27 May 2026, 15:01

Stablecoin Duopoly Problem: Why USDT and USDC Dominance Cuts Both Ways

Stablecoins are crypto’s cash rails, and two tickers do most of the heavy lifting: USDT and USDC. Their dominance has become a feature of how exchanges settle, how DeFi prices assets, and how funds move across chains. That concentration is efficient—until it isn’t. This article looks at how the “duopoly” emerged, the benefits users feel day to day, and the vulnerabilities that come with relying on a narrow base of issuers. It also offers a pragmatic playbook to diversify exposure and monitor risks without abandoning the liquidity that powers most activity. None of this is financial advice. Stablecoins can depeg, face regulatory action, or be frozen at the address level. Treat them like financial infrastructure with counterparty and technical risk, not digital cash that’s guaranteed. Where relevant, we reference public resources from issuers and regulators so you can dig deeper and verify claims yourself. PointDetails Liquidity vs. ConcentrationUSDT and USDC provide deep liquidity and tight spreads, but their dominance concentrates counterparty and regulatory risk. Systemic SpilloversDepegs ripple through DeFi collateral, oracles, and AMM pools; a small price move can trigger liquidations and losses. Censorship SurfacesBoth issuers can blacklist addresses, enabling compliance but introducing freeze risk for sanctioned or flagged wallets. Cross-Chain FragilityWrapped and bridged stablecoins add extra trust links—issuer, bridge, and chain—multiplying failure points. Diversification MattersCombining fiat-backed, overcollateralized crypto-backed, and region-specific stables can reduce single-issuer exposure. Policy in MotionRegulatory frameworks like the EU’s MiCA are advancing; U.S. and U.K. regimes are developing, shaping issuance and custody risks. How two stablecoins came to dominate Stablecoins solve two problems simultaneously: a crypto-native settlement asset and a value reference to fiat. The winners are the tokens that can be held and redeemed at scale, across exchanges and chains, with minimal friction. Over time, that dynamic produced a network effect around USDT and USDC. Distribution and exchange support Listing breadth and prime placement on centralized exchanges created powerful momentum. When spot and derivatives markets settle in a particular stablecoin, liquidity begets more liquidity. Market makers carry inventory where demand is most reliable and fees are lowest, reinforcing the trend. Issuer operations and convertibility Fiat-backed models promise redemption for dollars (or other fiat) with short-dated, high-quality reserve assets. Confidence in timely redemptions underpins secondary-market peg stability. Both Tether and Circle publish disclosures about reserves and redemptions; users can review these directly via issuer resources such as Tether’s transparency page and Circle’s USDC transparency hub . Multi-chain presence and tooling Native issuance across major chains reduces reliance on bridges and fosters deeper pools in DeFi. Wallets, payment processors, and custody providers built around the most demanded tickers, further consolidating their lead. Public trackers like CoinMarketCap’s stablecoin pages and DefiLlama’s stablecoin dashboard illustrate how supply is distributed by token and chain. Upsides of consolidation you actually feel Concentration isn’t all downside. Users benefit from tangible efficiencies every day. Tighter spreads, deeper books High daily turnover in USDT and USDC results in narrow bid-ask spreads and thicker order books. For institutions and active traders, that reduces slippage and funding costs. Uniform settlement and accounting Using a single stable unit across trading pairs, collateral, and payouts streamlines operations. Treasury teams avoid juggling numerous FX-like conversions between niche tokens. Integration ubiquity Custodians, on- and off-ramps, and payment gateways tend to prioritize the largest stables. This can mean faster onboarding, more banking options, and better coverage for multi-jurisdiction teams. Where concentration bites: single points of failure Relying heavily on one or two issuers compresses risk into a few failure modes. These risks are not hypothetical; some have appeared in the past during market stress. Issuer and reserve exposure Fiat-backed stablecoins depend on issuer solvency, reserve quality, and reliable banking partners. Reserves are typically composed of cash and short-term government securities, with other instruments potentially included subject to issuer policy. While issuers publish attestations and breakdowns, users still assume counterparty and operational risk. If reserve access is impaired or redemptions are paused, secondary markets can react quickly. Regulatory or legal actions Stablecoin issuers operate in the shadow of evolving regulation. A policy change, enforcement action, or bank partner issue could affect issuance, redemptions, or listings. These risks vary by jurisdiction and can change without much notice. Blacklisting and address controls Contract-level freeze functions allow issuers to comply with sanctions and court orders by blocking specific addresses. This is a policy reality in fiat-backed models. It also means compliant users share a ledger where assets can be administratively restricted under certain conditions. Pro tip: If you custody client funds, review your wallet hygiene and compliance processes. Mixing high-risk counterparties into the same wallet can contaminate otherwise clean balances if a sanction event occurs. DeFi’s reflexivity: what a depeg really does DeFi is built around assumptions about the “moneyness” of stablecoins. When one of the pillars wobbles, those assumptions break in multiple places at once. Collateral loops and liquidations Lending markets often treat top stablecoins as near-cash collateral. A small deviation from $1 can reduce collateral value, triggering liquidations or forcing deleveraging. Leverage unwinds may then amplify sell pressure, extending the depeg. AMM pool imbalance Stable-swap pools are designed for tight bands around parity. In a stress event, arbitrageurs will drain the stronger asset and leave the weaker one, producing persistent imbalance until confidence returns. LPs who do not actively manage exposure can end up over-indexed to the depegged coin. Oracle and pricing nuances Oracles that mix centralized exchange prices with on-chain data can reflect rapid swings. Downstream protocols relying on those oracles may behave procyclically during volatility, even if the peg ultimately recovers. Risk reminder: If you LP in stable-stable pools, monitor composition as closely as price. Your inventory matters more than the momentary spot quote. Censorship, compliance, and address blacklists Sanctions and law-enforcement requests shape how fiat-backed stablecoins operate. Both USDT and USDC have mechanisms to freeze balances at designated addresses. This is part of how issuers maintain banking relationships and comply with regulations. For context on how sanctions regimes interact with crypto, review official sources such as the U.S. Treasury’s announcement on sanctioning Tornado Cash-related entities ( press release ). Issuers publish policies and past actions; Circle, for example, communicates compliance decisions and blacklisting events through its site and blog, while Tether provides updates on law-enforcement collaborations and freezes on its transparency and news pages. Operational takeaways Segregate wallets by counterparty risk and business line to limit contagion from a freeze. Verify whether your custodian supports rapid address rotation if a wallet is flagged. For sensitive use cases, consider reducing reliance on assets with centralized freeze features—balancing that against liquidity needs. Cross-chain realities: chains, bridges, and wrappers USDT and USDC are native on multiple chains, but not everywhere. When a stablecoin isn’t native, wrapped versions fill the gap. That convenience comes with added trust assumptions. Bridge risk is additive A wrapped stablecoin inherits issuer risk plus bridge risk. Exploits, validator failures, or governance issues at the bridge can cause a wrapper to diverge from parity with the native asset. In a stress event, redeemability often only exists on the native chain, not where you hold the wrapped token. Settlement pathways can jam During congestion or outages on a major chain, liquidity may fragment. If your operating chain depends on bridged stablecoins for key functions, your ability to exit quickly may be impaired at the worst time. Checklist: Prefer native stablecoins where large, reliable pools exist. Understand the specific bridge’s security model (trusted, multisig, light-client). Test small transfers across your intended path before relying on it at size. Practical diversification: building a stablecoin stack Diversification is not about abandoning USDT or USDC; it’s about avoiding single points of failure. Construct a stack that mixes models, issuers, and jurisdictions. Know your buckets CategoryExamplesStrengthsKey Risks Fiat-backed (custodial)USDC (Circle), USDT (Tether), PYUSD (Paxos/PayPal), FDUSD (First Digital)Deepest liquidity, redemption to fiat, wide CEX/DeFi supportIssuer/custodian risk, address freezes, regulatory actions Overcollateralized crypto-backedDAI (MakerDAO), LUSD (Liquity)No centralized freeze function, on-chain transparency, crypto-nativeCollateral volatility, liquidation risk, governance changes Hybrid/algorithmic with reservesFRAX (Frax Finance)Flexible design, potential capital efficiencyDesign complexity, market confidence sensitivity Non-USD, regulated regionalEURC (Circle)Currency diversification, potential alignment with local regimesLower global liquidity, FX basis vs. USD markets Explore official project resources for specifics: MakerDAO (DAI) , Liquity (LUSD) , Frax , PYUSD , FDUSD , and EURC . Design a blended allocation Core settlement: Keep a majority in the most liquid stable(s) used by your primary venues. Counterparty hedge: Allocate a meaningful minority to an alternative issuer and model (e.g., overcollateralized crypto-backed). Operational sandbox: Maintain small balances on experimental or regional stables to learn the rails before you need them. Operational guardrails Redemption drills: Periodically redeem a test amount to and from fiat with each issuer to validate banking pathways. Pool selection: In DeFi, prefer pools with multiple balanced assets or circuit breakers that pause during extreme divergence. Custody segregation: Separate hot wallets for trading from cold or warm wallets holding strategic reserves. Monitoring and incident playbooks Dashboards: Track issuer updates (attestations, policy posts), peg metrics, and pool balances via tools like CoinMarketCap or DefiLlama. Tripwires: Set alerts for price deviations beyond a tight band (e.g., ±0.3%), abnormal on-chain blacklist activity, or sudden pool imbalance. Response plan: If a peg wobbles, pause new LP deployments, reduce leverage, and migrate treasury runway to an alternate stable on a chain with native liquidity. Post-mortem: After stability returns, review what worked, where you lacked visibility, and whether allocation or venue choices need revision. Policy trajectories to watch Regulation is a moving target and a major variable for duopoly risk. Europe’s MiCA framework The EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regime is phasing in requirements for issuers and service providers, including rules for stablecoins classified under its framework. For a live view of guidance and timelines, follow updates from the European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) at its MiCA portal . United States outlook U.S. federal legislation specific to stablecoins is still evolving. In the interim, oversight arrives via existing financial and sanctions rules. Market participants should monitor statements and actions from banking regulators and the Treasury, as changes can influence issuer banking access and compliance practices. United Kingdom developments The U.K. is working toward a regulatory regime for fiat-referenced stablecoins used in payments. For details on consultation progress, see publications from the Bank of England and the FCA, such as the Bank’s consultation on a potential stablecoin regime ( consultation paper ). Why this matters: Clear rules can reduce uncertainty for custodians and banks, potentially lowering the odds of abrupt service changes that affect peg stability. If you want ongoing coverage of stablecoin policies, market structure shifts, and on-chain liquidity dynamics, Crypto Daily follows these themes closely at cryptodaily.co.uk . Frequently Asked Questions Does USDT/USDC dominance mean I should avoid them? No. It means you should treat them as core settlement assets with clear benefits and concentrated risks. Most active venues use them heavily. The practical approach is to hold enough for liquidity needs while diversifying a portion into alternative models and issuers. What exactly happens during a stablecoin depeg? Secondary market prices diverge from $1 on exchanges and AMMs. Liquidity pools can skew toward the weaker asset, lending markets may trigger liquidations if the asset is posted as collateral, and spreads widen. If the underlying cause is resolved and redemptions function, the peg can recover, but there’s no guarantee. How worried should I be about address blacklisting? For ordinary users operating within compliance norms, direct freeze risk is typically low but non-zero. The bigger operational risk is wallet contamination via interactions with sanctioned or high-risk counterparties. Segregate addresses and maintain clear records to reduce exposure. Are crypto-backed stablecoins safer? They remove some centralized counterparty and freeze risk but introduce collateral volatility and liquidation risk. Safety depends on your threat model: if you worry about compliance freezes, crypto-backed may help; if you need immediate fiat redemption or the deepest liquidity, fiat-backed may be preferable. How do I check whether an issuer actually holds reserves? Review issuer disclosures, attestations, and auditor statements on official sites (e.g., Tether’s transparency page or Circle’s USDC transparency hub). Compare multiple reporting periods and read footnotes to understand asset composition, custodians, and redemption terms. Do wrapped stablecoins carry extra risk? Yes. A wrapped token depends on the original issuer plus the bridge or custodian that issues the wrapper. If the bridge is compromised or redemptions are limited to another chain, the wrapper may trade at a discount during stress. Will regulation solve the duopoly problem? Regulation may improve reserve quality, disclosures, and custody standards, which could lower systemic risk. It can also raise barriers to entry, potentially entrenching large incumbents. The market outcome will depend on how accessible compliance paths are for new issuers. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.

27 May 2026, 15:00

Hedging With XRP: The Trillion-Dollar Push That Could Send Price Above $300

Crypto pundit CharuSan has again commented on his prediction that XRP could rally above $300. He addressed concerns that the token’s potential market cap makes it impossible to reach this target, highlighting why the market cap metric doesn’t affect XRP. Pundit Points To Trillion-Dollar Market That Could Push XRP Above $300 In an X post, CharuSan alluded to the $27 trillion sitting idle in global Nostro/Vostro accounts, the massive volumes in FX markets, major banks, DTCC clearing, and institutional corporations as the reason why XRP could rally above $300. He noted that, based on this, it is a necessity to prevent the system from locking up for a bridge asset carrying this volume to reach a value of $10 trillion. Related Reading: Market Analyst Accuses XRP Of Being The Biggest Crypto Scam, What’s Going On? The pundit noted that XRP is an institutional bridge asset and a liquidity tool specifically engineered to settle large cross-border value transfers without slippage. He also mentioned that market cap is a metric for stocks, not for institutional bridge assets or liquidity tools like XRP. Charusan further explained how the market is getting it wrong by focusing on the market cap metric. He said that traditional financiers make a mistake when they say an $8 to $10 trillion market cap is too big. CharuSan noted that market cap doesn’t mean all circulating coins will be cashed out at that current price. Instead, it is simply the unit price of the last executed transaction multiplied by the supply. CharuSan had earlier predicted that XRP would rally to $300 as it gains adoption by banks for settling cross-border transactions. He explained that the token needs to have a high price to avoid bottlenecks or massive slippage when banks are using it for settlements. The analyst also mentioned that the CLARITY Act will boost banks’ adoption of XRP. Why XRP Could Be Undervalued On-chain analytics platform Santiment has explained why XRP could soon see a rebound. In an X post, they noted that the average XRP trader that has been active in the past 30 days is down around 47%, with many selling at the bottom. Santiment stated that, historically, the market value-to-realized value ratio (MVRV) will always average out to 0%, making the current period an “extreme” zone for XRP. Related Reading: XRP Primary Elliot Wave Remains Intact And It’s Pointing Above $8 Santiment noted that XRP’s 30-day MVRV has fallen to its lowest level since December 2020, suggesting that fear and frustration among traders have reached rare extremes. This has historically preceded strong rebounds, indicating that a rebound for XRP may be on the horizon. The platform added that this deeply negative MVRV zone creates conditions where even small positive catalysts can trigger strong recoveries. At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $1.32, down in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from Tradingview.com