News
15 May 2026, 09:49
RUNE Plunges by 15% as THORChain Falls Victim to New Hack: ZachXBT

Popular on-chain investigator ZachXBT updated his 100,000 followers on Telegram minutes ago that the popular decentralized exchange THORChain has likely become a victim of a new crypto hack. The reported attack appears to be for over $7.4 million, as the platform was exploited on Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, and Base. Although there has been no official confirmation from THORChain’s team as of the time of this point, the project’s native token plummeted immediately after the news spread on X. RUNE traded above $0.58 before it crashed by double-digits to a two-week low of $0.50, where it found some support. RUNEUSD. Source: CoinGecko This is a breaking story with few details at the moment, so make sure to follow for additional information in the following hours. The post RUNE Plunges by 15% as THORChain Falls Victim to New Hack: ZachXBT appeared first on CryptoPotato .
15 May 2026, 09:37
Thorchain appears to have been attacked on Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, and Base Chain, with potential...

Thorchain appears to have been attacked on Bitcoin, Ethereum, Binance Smart Chain, and Base Chain, with potential...
15 May 2026, 09:35
Bitcoin Short Squeeze Alert: $761M in Positions at Risk If BTC Hits $82,302

BitcoinWorld Bitcoin Short Squeeze Alert: $761M in Positions at Risk If BTC Hits $82,302 New data from Coinglass reveals that a significant wave of liquidations could hit the Bitcoin market if the price moves past key thresholds. According to the analytics platform, short positions totaling $761.31 million across major centralized exchanges are at risk of being liquidated if Bitcoin’s price breaks through the $82,302 level. Conversely, a drop below $79,837 could trigger the liquidation of long positions worth $607.04 million. Understanding the Liquidation Zones Liquidation occurs when a trader’s position is forcibly closed by an exchange due to insufficient margin, often during rapid price movements. The data from Coinglass aggregates open interest and leverage data from major exchanges, providing a real-time view of potential market stress points. The concentration of short positions near the $82,302 mark suggests a significant number of traders are betting against further price increases, creating a potential ‘short squeeze’ scenario. If buying pressure pushes Bitcoin above this level, the forced buying from liquidated shorts could amplify upward momentum. Market Implications and Trader Sentiment The current liquidation map indicates a highly leveraged market environment. The asymmetry between the short and long liquidation values—$761 million versus $607 million—suggests that bearish bets are more heavily concentrated at a specific price point. This setup often precedes increased volatility, as the market tests these key levels. Traders should be aware that such liquidation clusters can act as price magnets, with the potential for rapid, cascading moves once a threshold is breached. The data serves as a risk management tool, highlighting where the largest forced position closures may occur. What This Means for Bitcoin Traders For active traders, the $82,302 and $79,837 levels are now critical watchpoints. A break above the higher level could signal a short-term bullish surge, while a drop below the lower level might indicate renewed selling pressure. However, these are potential trigger points, not guarantees. Market conditions, order book depth, and broader macroeconomic factors will ultimately determine the price action. The data underscores the importance of monitoring leverage and position sizing in the current volatile environment. Conclusion The Coinglass data provides a clear, data-driven snapshot of potential market stress. With over $761 million in short positions at risk above $82,302 and $607 million in longs below $79,837, Bitcoin is positioned for a potential volatility event. Traders and investors should use this information to assess their own risk exposure and prepare for possible rapid price swings. As always, leveraged trading carries significant risk, and these levels should be viewed as part of a broader market analysis. FAQs Q1: What does it mean when a position is liquidated? A: Liquidation occurs when a trader’s leveraged position is forcibly closed by the exchange because the margin (collateral) is no longer sufficient to maintain the trade, usually due to adverse price movements. Q2: How accurate is the Coinglass liquidation data? A: Coinglass aggregates data from major centralized exchanges using their public APIs. While it provides a reliable estimate of liquidation clusters, it may not capture every position, especially those on decentralized platforms or with unique margin arrangements. Q3: Should I trade based on these liquidation levels? A: These levels are useful for understanding potential market stress points, but they should not be used as the sole basis for trading decisions. Always combine liquidation data with other forms of analysis, including technical indicators, market sentiment, and fundamental news. This post Bitcoin Short Squeeze Alert: $761M in Positions at Risk If BTC Hits $82,302 first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
15 May 2026, 09:03
OKX Eyes A 20% Stake In South Korean Exchange — Here’s What It Signals For The Region

Global crypto exchange OKX is in discussions to acquire approximately a 20% stake in Coinone, one of South Korea’s five licensed crypto exchanges, according to a May 15 report by Yonhap News Agency — a move that would mark OKX’s most significant strategic foothold in one of Asia’s most active digital asset markets. Korea Investment & Securities, one of South Korea’s major brokerage firms, is reportedly pursuing a parallel 20% stake in Coinone under the same framework, per the Yonhap report as cited by Bloomberg’s Bloomingbit. The two parties are said to be in active discussions, with no deal terms formally confirmed. Coinone’s largest shareholder is The One Group at 34.30%, followed by gaming company Com2uS Holdings at 21.95%, CEO Cha Myung-hoon at 19.14%, and Com2uS Plus at 16.47%, per the Bloomingbit report. Cha, who founded Coinone, is also the largest shareholder of The One Group. The Regulatory Opening Behind The Move The reported discussions arrive at a precise moment in South Korea’s rapidly shifting crypto ownership landscape. The country’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) proposed in late December 2025 that major shareholders of domestic crypto exchanges be capped at 15–20% ownership — a regulatory framework explicitly designed to bring securities firms and institutional asset managers into the exchange ownership structure for the first time. That opening is now being acted on at speed. Earlier deals in the same wave include Mirae Asset Consulting’s approximately $96.7 million purchase of a 92.06% stake in Korbit and Hana Financial Group’s roughly $727 million acquisition of a 6.55% stake in Dunamu — the parent company of Upbit, South Korea’s dominant exchange — per Bloomingbit’s market overview. OKX’s Broader Expansion Play For OKX, the Coinone discussions fit a pattern of accelerating global institutional positioning. In March 2026, Intercontinental Exchange — the NYSE’s parent company — invested approximately $200 million in OKX at a $25 billion valuation and secured a board seat, per Bloomberg’s reporting at the time. The deal included a commitment for OKX users to eventually gain access to tokenized NYSE-listed stocks and derivatives. A regulated stake in Coinone would extend that institutional architecture into South Korea — a market where approximately 30% of the population, or roughly 15.5 million people, held digital assets as of 2025, per industry data. For a global exchange that currently lacks Korean Won support and operates in the country without a domestic license, a minority stake in a licensed local venue represents a structurally different form of market access than organic growth alone could deliver. This development marks a pivotal juncture for the nascent sector’s consolidation phase in Asia. As South Korea’s regulatory framework actively reshapes who can own its exchanges, global players with institutional backing are moving quickly to secure positions before the ownership landscape settles — and OKX appears determined not to be left outside looking in. As of this writing, Bitcoin trades at around $80,000, consolidating near its 200-day moving average as the broader market awaits the next macro catalyst. Cover image from ChatGPT, BTCUSD chart from Tradingview
15 May 2026, 08:42
Binance Online Draws Global Audience for Conversations on Crypto’s Next Chapter

BitcoinWorld Binance Online Draws Global Audience for Conversations on Crypto’s Next Chapter Featuring Binance Co-CEOs Yi He and Richard Teng alongside speakers from BlackRock, Ripple, Solana Foundation, Blockstream, Coin Bureau, and more, the global livestream drew over 680,000 views on Binance Square May 14, 2026 – Binance concluded Binance Online , a global virtual event that brought together leading voices from across crypto, finance, blockchain, and technology for more than four hours of live programming streamed on Binance Square on 13 May. A Global Conversation on Crypto’s Next Chapter The event convened a high-caliber lineup of speakers spanning exchange leadership, institutional finance, blockchain ecosystems, venture capital, research, media, and infrastructure. Across the program, viewers heard from Binance Co-CEOs Yi He and Richard Teng, Binance Founder CZ, and executives from organizations including BlackRock, Ripple, Solana Foundation, Blockstream, Coin Bureau, YZi Labs, Messari, CoinMarketCap, DefiLlama, BNB Chain, and The Block. Binance Online drew strong global interest, generating more than 680,000 views on Binance Square during the livestream and nearly 65,000 chat replies throughout the event. The strong turnout reflected a growing appetite for deeper conversations about the forces shaping the next phase of the digital asset industry. Binance Leadership on Scaling Crypto Adoption Binance Co-CEOs Yi He and Richard Teng kicked off the event with a conversation on Binance’s long-term ambition to help scale crypto from 300 million users to 3 billion, and what that next phase of growth could mean for the industry more broadly. “If you want to be the best company in the world, you should think big, you should think crazy. And when you set a really big goal, your whole team will think about how to achieve a bigger goal. Three billion — that means not just an exchange. That means we are basically the financial infrastructure for the world,” said Yi He, Co-CEO of Binance. Richard Teng, Co-CEO of Binance, emphasized the broader importance of crypto in expanding access to financial services globally. “I travel the world, including to many frontier and emerging markets. And I see that even today, 1.4 billion people are excluded from financial services globally. That is something that we need to solve. Crypto is here to solve that problem. That’s why we are very passionate about freedom of money globally.” Where Capital, Infrastructure, and Innovation Are Converging Following the opening session, Richard Teng was joined by Lily Liu, President of the Solana Foundation, and Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, for a panel titled “The Evolution Era.” The session covered stablecoin growth, tokenized real-world assets, the convergence of crypto and traditional finance, and the role of regulatory clarity in broader adoption. Another panel, “Where Smart Money Is Moving Now,” brought together venture capitalist and entrepreneur Chamath Palihapitiya, Binance Founder CZ, and Anthony Pompliano, Founder and CEO of Professional Capital Management, for a discussion on the investment themes shaping the next cycle of innovation. The conversation focused on the intersection of AI, crypto, and real-world infrastructure, including opportunities in compute, energy, robotics, digital payments, and tokenized assets. Tokenization and the Future of Capital Markets Featuring BlackRock The event closed with a wrap-up session featuring Rob Goldstein, Chief Operating Officer of BlackRock, and Kaiser Ng, SVP of Finance at Binance, focused on tokenization and the future of capital markets. The conversation highlighted the increasing relevance of blockchain-based infrastructure to major financial institutions and the broader evolution of financial products and market structure. “If you ask the leadership of BlackRock whether the amount of wealth stored in digital wallets is going to increase, I think everyone would raise their hand,” said Rob Goldstein, COO of BlackRock. “That’s why it’s so important to make capital markets exposures available as tokens that can live in those wallets. And on the other side, clients in traditional finance are also increasingly looking for digital asset exposure in their portfolios. It’s both sides of that bridge that are exciting to us.” During the session, he also said: “I do think Binance plays an important role in helping to really provide that better, faster, cheaper value proposition — because at the end of the day, technology needs to be properly implemented and properly explained to people. And Binance is going to play such an important role in that.” Broader Themes, Community Impact, and Continued Access Across the rest of the program, speakers explored how crypto is evolving beyond its early growth phase into a more mature and interconnected ecosystem. Discussions touched on blockchain scalability, developer adoption, institutional integration, where capital is moving across crypto and frontier technologies, and the growing role of stablecoins as a practical tool for financial access. Binance Online was supported by partners including Epic , Fusionist , Pixels , Chromia , and ZEROBASE . All proceeds will be donated to two education-focused charitable initiatives: $35,000 to the UZH Blockchain Center at the University of Zurich to support student enrollment in its Deep Dive into Blockchain summer program, and $15,000 to Geeks Academy, Kyrgyzstan’s largest IT academy, to expand access to online courses on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology. Binance Online remains available to watch on Binance Square , allowing community members around the world to revisit the conversations and key moments from the event. About Binance : Binance is a leading global blockchain ecosystem behind the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume and registered users. Binance is trusted by more than 310 million people in 100+ countries for its industry-leading security, transparency, trading engine speed, protections for investors, and unmatched portfolio of digital asset products and offerings from trading and finance to education, research, social good, payments, institutional services, and Web3 features. Binance is devoted to building an inclusive crypto ecosystem to increase the freedom of money and financial access for people around the world with crypto as the fundamental means. For more information, visit: https://www.binance.com For all media queries, please contact: [email protected] This post Binance Online Draws Global Audience for Conversations on Crypto’s Next Chapter first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
15 May 2026, 08:25
Upbit to Temporarily Halt POL and GMT Transactions Ahead of Polygon Hard Fork

BitcoinWorld Upbit to Temporarily Halt POL and GMT Transactions Ahead of Polygon Hard Fork South Korean cryptocurrency exchange Upbit has announced a temporary suspension of deposits and withdrawals for two tokens—POL and GMT—in preparation for an upcoming hard fork on the Polygon network. The scheduled maintenance will begin at 11:00 a.m. UTC on May 21. Timeline and Scope of the Suspension According to an official notice from Upbit, the suspension will affect all transactions involving POL and GMT, the native tokens of the Polygon ecosystem. The halt is a standard precautionary measure taken by exchanges to ensure network stability and prevent potential losses during the hard fork. The exchange has not yet specified an exact end time for the suspension, stating that services will resume once the network upgrade is confirmed to be stable. Why This Matters for Traders Hard forks involve significant changes to a blockchain’s protocol, often requiring nodes to upgrade their software. During this period, transactions can be delayed, or in rare cases, lead to splits in the network. By suspending deposits and withdrawals, Upbit aims to protect user funds from any technical issues that may arise. Traders holding POL or GMT on Upbit should be aware that they will not be able to move their assets in or out of the exchange during the maintenance window. Impact on Polygon Ecosystem and Market Sentiment Polygon, a layer-2 scaling solution for Ethereum, has undergone several upgrades in the past. While hard forks are generally routine events, they can cause short-term volatility in token prices. Market participants often watch such announcements closely, as they may indicate upcoming improvements or changes to the network’s functionality. For now, the suspension is a procedural step, but it serves as a reminder for users to stay informed about network upgrades affecting their holdings. Conclusion Upbit’s decision to temporarily halt POL and GMT transactions is a standard operational measure aligned with the Polygon hard fork. Users should plan their trading activities accordingly and expect services to resume shortly after the upgrade is completed. As always, keeping an eye on official exchange announcements is crucial during such network events. FAQs Q1: When exactly will Upbit suspend POL and GMT deposits and withdrawals? A: The suspension begins at 11:00 a.m. UTC on May 21. Q2: How long will the suspension last? A: Upbit has not provided an exact end time. Services will resume once the Polygon hard fork is confirmed to be stable. Q3: Will trading of POL and GMT still be possible during the suspension? A: The notice only mentions deposits and withdrawals. Trading pairs may still be active, but users should check Upbit’s platform for specific trading status updates. This post Upbit to Temporarily Halt POL and GMT Transactions Ahead of Polygon Hard Fork first appeared on BitcoinWorld .













































