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26 May 2026, 18:45

Vitalik Buterin pushes privacy and security as EF priorities while Aave's Kulechov bets on revenue

The Ethereum Foundation (EF) is doubling down on privacy and security tooling even as critics demand the organization do more to support ETH’s price, which has dropped nearly 60% against Bitcoin over five years. Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, on May 26, promoted Kohaku, a privacy-focused initiative housed inside the EF, calling for security and privacy to become “normal” on Ethereum’s access layer. The endorsement comes days after Buterin published a lengthy defense of the foundation’s strategy, stating that it should remain a research body and not an ETH price support mechanism. Buterin’s position is in sharp contrast with Aave founder Stani Kulechov, who on May 23 publicly committed to a 12-month “revenue-led protocol strategy.” What did Vitalik say about Kohaku? Buterin’s post on X highlighted work by EF contributors, who have spent close to a year building Kohaku. The project targets two properties at Ethereum’s access layer, which are security (including trustlessness) and privacy, which covers both read and write operations, according to Buterin’s post . Kassandraeth, who identifies as part of the Kohaku Initiative inside the EF, wrote on May 25 that she wanted to “get a bit more public” about the work and address confusion around the project. “Best way to clarify things is to speak candidly and openly about what I’m working on day-to-day,” she wrote on X . The Kohaku GitHub repository describes the project as “privacy-first tooling for the Ethereum ecosystem.” It includes libraries for the Railgun privacy protocol, privacy pools, a provider abstraction layer, and a post-quantum 4337 account implementation, according to the repository’s README . Several components are marked as works in progress. Kohaku fits into a broader privacy roadmap Buterin has been building throughout 2026. Cryptopolitan has previously reported that Buterin named three active technical efforts in May: account abstraction paired with FOCIL (a forced inclusion list mechanism), a keyed nonces proposal (EIP-8250), and access-layer work including Kohaku. EIP-8250 would replace Ethereum’s single sender nonce with a two-part system designed to prevent observers from linking transactions originating from the same account. Why is the Ethereum Foundation under fire? While the privacy push is being discussed, at least eight senior contributors have left EF or announced departures in 2026, with five of these exits coming in May alone. Among the most recent are Carl Beek, who spent seven years at the foundation and played a role in the Beacon Chain launch, and Julian Ma, a cryptoeconomics researcher who served for four years, both of whom announced their departures on May 18, as Cryptopolitan reported . Buterin responded on May 25 with a public statement calling the EF “one node, with a defined purpose, alongside other nodes” rather than Ethereum’s central authority. He disclosed that the foundation holds roughly 0.16% of circulating ETH and said it plans to reduce token sales while narrowing its mission to what he called CROPS: censorship resistance, capture resistance, openness, privacy, and security. The foundation has faced repeated pressure from ETH holders who have been frustrated by the token’s performance. ETH trades around $2,136, which is less than half its level last August and down sharply against Bitcoin over a multi-year window. However, for Buterin, EF should not orient itself around price support, a position he reiterated in his May 25 post by stating that chasing throughput and speed would be “a route to mediocrity.” Aave takes the opposite tack Where Buterin distances the EF from revenue concerns, Kulechov is leaning into them. The Aave founder announced on May 23 that the lending protocol would pursue a revenue-led strategy over the next 12 months. “Sustainable, consistent revenue is what proves that DeFi can evolve beyond pure token speculation into durable businesses backed by balance sheets,” Kulechov wrote on X , as reported by Cryptopolitan. Aave generated $7.96 million in fees over the past seven days and holds over $14 billion in total value locked, according to DeFiLlama data. Its V4 crossed $100 million in combined deposits and loans on May 22, with institutional lending ambitions expanding alongside plans to grow GHO, the protocol’s overcollateralized stablecoin. The divergence between the two camps captures a live debate inside Ethereum’s community, with some leaning towards prioritizing philosophical commitments to privacy, decentralization, and censorship resistance, while others believe protocol-level revenue generation is what will sustain long-term adoption. Buterin is betting on the former, while Kulechov is building for the latter. The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them .

26 May 2026, 18:45

OKX to Delist Three Spot Trading Pairs, Including MAJOR, in Early June

BitcoinWorld OKX to Delist Three Spot Trading Pairs, Including MAJOR, in Early June Cryptocurrency exchange OKX has announced plans to remove three spot trading pairs from its platform, including pairs tied to the MAJOR token. The delistings are scheduled for early June 2025, according to an official notice published by the exchange. Delisting Schedule and Affected Pairs OKX confirmed that the MAJOR/USD trading pair will be removed first, with the delisting window set between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. UTC on June 2. The two remaining pairs—MAJOR/USDT and J/USDT—are scheduled for delisting between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. UTC on June 5. The exchange did not provide a specific reason for the delistings in its initial announcement, but such actions typically occur when a token no longer meets listing criteria, which can include low trading volume, lack of community engagement, or regulatory concerns. What This Means for Traders Traders holding positions in these pairs should close them before the respective deadlines. After the delisting windows close, open orders will be automatically canceled, and remaining balances may be converted or moved to a different section of the platform. OKX has advised users to manage their positions proactively to avoid any disruption. Broader Context Delistings are a routine part of exchange operations, but they can signal underlying issues with a token’s liquidity or project health. For the MAJOR token, the removal of both its USD and USDT pairs effectively ends direct fiat and stablecoin trading on OKX, potentially reducing its accessibility for traders. The J token faces a similar reduction in trading venues. OKX, one of the largest global exchanges by trading volume, periodically reviews its listed assets. The exchange has previously delisted tokens that failed to maintain adequate trading activity or comply with its listing standards. Conclusion The delisting of MAJOR/USD, MAJOR/USDT, and J/USDT on OKX represents a notable change for holders of these tokens. Traders should act before the June deadlines to avoid any forced conversions or loss of access. As always, staying informed about exchange policies is essential for managing crypto portfolios effectively. FAQs Q1: Why is OKX delisting these trading pairs? OKX has not provided a specific reason, but exchanges typically delist tokens due to low trading volume, poor project performance, or failure to meet listing criteria. Q2: What happens to my MAJOR or J tokens after the delisting? After the delisting window closes, open orders will be canceled. Remaining balances may be moved to a different section of the exchange or converted, depending on OKX’s policy. Users should withdraw or trade their tokens before the deadline. Q3: Can I still trade MAJOR or J on other exchanges? Yes, these tokens may still be available on other exchanges that list them. Traders should check other platforms for continued access. This post OKX to Delist Three Spot Trading Pairs, Including MAJOR, in Early June first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

26 May 2026, 18:41

CME lists AVAX and SUI futures for US institutions

🚀 CME Group has listed futures for both AVAX and SUI targeting big US investors. Institutions can now trade AVAX and SUI price moves directly in $AVAX futures without owning coins. 🌐 Key point: 24/7 trading is launching, aiming for broader crypto market access. Continue Reading: CME lists AVAX and SUI futures for US institutions The post CME lists AVAX and SUI futures for US institutions appeared first on COINTURK NEWS .

26 May 2026, 18:30

Whale Wallets Stack $4.3M in Chainlink and Dogecoin Longs, $8M+ in Pending Orders

At least two major onchain wallets have simultaneously opened leveraged long positions worth more than $4.3 million across chainlink and dogecoin, with additional limit orders signaling intent to add $8 million more in exposure. Whale Wallets Build Chainlink and Dogecoin Long Positions Two separate whale wallets opened coordinated long positions on chainlink (LINK) and dogecoin

26 May 2026, 18:25

Strive overtakes Coinbase in BTC holdings, replaces Strategy in buying lane with $85M purchase

Strive (NASDAQ: ASST) has bought a fresh batch of 1,109 Bitcoins, according to the firm’s CEO earlier today, for approximately $85.4 million, bringing its total holdings to 16,500 BTC. The company has now leapfrogged Coinbase and the selling Riot Platforms to become the seventh-largest publicly traded corporate Bitcoin holder. Strive is climbing the rankings among the top 10 public Bitcoin treasury companies. Source: BitcoinTreasuries.net Is Strive replacing Strategy as the top Bitcoin buyer? Strive’s purchase took place in the same week that Strategy, the company that started the corporate Bitcoin accumulation trend and holds more than 843,000 BTC, paused its weekly purchases and redirected its resources toward retiring $1.5 billion in convertible debt due in 2029. Strive’s CEO, Matt Cole, disclosed on X that the company paid an average of roughly $76,989 per coin for the latest batch of its Bitcoin purchases. The company has made 17 separate Bitcoin purchases since September 2025, when it held just 69 BTC. The value of its total holdings across all purchases now sits at $1.64 billion, with an overall average price of $99,617 per coin. Strive has accumulated 16,500 BTC. Source: Strive Dashboard When Strive completed its acquisition of Semler Scientific in January, it inherited roughly 12,798 Bitcoins and became the 11th-largest public corporate holder at the time. The company’s holdings have exploded since then through the use of a series of at-the-market programs tied to its Class A common stock and its Variable Rate Series A Perpetual Preferred Stock, which trades under the ticker SATA. Strive now ranks seventh among public companies on the BitcoinTreasuries.net leaderboard, just ahead of Coinbase (16,492 BTC) and Riot Platforms (15,680 BTC). Coinbase only needs to buy eight coins to close the gap. Cryptopolitan reported that the gap with Riot, meanwhile, has widened after the company sold 3,778 Bitcoins in Q1 2026 for $289.5 million, citing rising energy costs. Riot’s treasury fell 18% to 15,680 BTC by the end of March. How does Strive intend to keep pace with its dividend plan? Strive facilitates its Bitcoin purchases through SATA because it pays a 13% annualized dividend and has no fixed maturity date. Cryptopolitan recently reported that the initial $149.3 million SATA offering in November 2025 funded Strive’s purchase of 1,567 BTC. Strive disclosed in its latest SEC filing that it might refresh its ATM programs for both Class A shares and SATA stock, giving the company additional flexibility for future raises and purchases. Cash and equivalents rose to $93.3 million from $87.3 million, and Strive holds over $50 million in Strategy’s STRC preferred stock. Cole said in May that Strive had eliminated all its outstanding debt, be that short- or long-term. However, the company’s average acquisition cost of $99,617 per coin is well above the current spot price of roughly $77,000, meaning its total position carries an unrealized loss of approximately $373 million. ASST shares have gained 133% over the past three months, outperforming other Bitcoin treasury companies. The stock closed at $18.21 on Friday and rose 3% in premarket trading on Monday alongside Bitcoin’s move back toward $77,000. On a one-year basis, however, ASST remains down more than 88% from its 2025 high. Strive has planned a daily rollout of SATA dividends starting June 16 to fund more purchases. Cole said the move would make Strive the first listed company to offer daily dividend payouts . Saylor called the model “impressive.” However, Strategy still holds more than 50 times Strive’s stack, and commands a market capitalization many multiples larger. The firm’s BTC yield of 23.4% year-to-date and its amplification ratio of 45.2%, both disclosed by Cole, suggest the company is growing its per-share Bitcoin exposure at a pace that has caught Wall Street’s attention. Analysts reportedly now see a price target as high as $38 for ASST. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .

26 May 2026, 18:23

TeraWulf Stock Pops as Bitcoin Miner Acquires Kentucky Site to Meet AI Power Demands

Bitcoin miner TeraWulf’s latest deal adds more than a gigawatt of potential data center capacity in a region eager for economic investment.