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25 May 2026, 13:41

Georgia reiterates crypto commitment as Tether unveils government-backed GEL₮ stablecoin

Georgia has partnered with Tether to launch the digital asset GEL₮. The Georgian government seeks to develop a digital Lari that runs seamlessly within the blockchain environment. GEL₮ is set to offer users reduced transaction costs, instant payments, and programmability in payment systems. Georgia develops a stablecoin banked on digital rails Based on today’s official announcement, Georgia’s approach aligns with U.S. regulations on stablecoins. This included the GENIUS Act , which could ensure interoperability between its systems and those of the international financial market. To that end, GEL₮ has been positioned for cross-border trade, fintech development, and digital transactions. The project is in line with the current position Georgia holds on digital assets. For example, the country already implemented tax payments through instant conversion of crypto coins into the Geo rgian national currency. The launch of the GEL₮ would go a step further in promoting programmable financial instruments. Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, asserts that Georgia is laying the groundwork for a more interconnected, transparent, and digitally enabled financial future. To that end, Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether , emphasized the evolving role of stablecoins. He added that the era of stablecoins is no longer a specialized tool in finance; it’s a critical piece of the finance infrastructure puzzle. Natia Turnava, President of the National Bank of Georgia, welcomed the collaboration as part of a broader strategy. He added that the bank would like to collaborate with innovative companies globally to foster a state-of-the-art, digital financial architecture. Georgia’s crypto ecosystem records mass adoption and regulation Further information on the technology used for GEL₮, its reserves, launch process, and how regulation would be implemented will be announced later. Georgia’s crypto ecosystem serves its population of around 3.7 million. In fact, according to the Chainanalysis Global Crypto Adoption Index for 2025, the country ranks 3rd globally in terms of crypto adoption adjusted for population, behind only Ukraine and Moldova. The adoption is due to a business-friendly environment, cheap electricity for mining, progressive regulatory framework s and practical applications such as remittances. The annual flow of remittances to Georgia is over $2 billion. Stablecoins such as USDT and USDC are faster and cheaper than traditional wire transfers, which have charges of 7-10%. The crypto ownership figur es vary, but all signals point to a high adoption rate. Triple-A statistics indicate that around 115,000 people in Georgia (2.89%) hold cryptos. According to Statista’s 2025 reports, the penetration rate was estimated at around 14.13%, with 153,000 users, $1.9 million in revenue for the digital assets market, and a r evenue per use r of $12.1. The National Bank of Georgia has required VASPs to be registered and to be compliant with AML/KYC standards since the start of 2023. This has led to legitimacy while facilitating innovation. This has been a popular destination for mining operations due to its cheap hydropower, which made the nation well-known worldwide. Tether USDT dominates the stablecoin ecosystem with record scale in 2026 USDT remains the world’s most widely used stablecoin. It holds a market cap of about $189-190 billion as of late May 2026 and a circulating supply approaching the 190 billion token mark. It continues to trade at near its $1.00 peg, with minor variations, ranging between $0.999-$1.00. USDT remains the #3 coin in market cap. On average, daily trading volume exceeds $50–70 billion and outstrips multiple established payment networks. Recent figures confirm that there have been gains of about $5 billion within the last month for USDT supply despite losses for competitors such as USDC in the same period. In the latest Q1 2026 attestation, the total assets of Tether stand at $191.8 billion against liabilities of $183.5 billion, resulting in an excess reserve buffer of $8.23 billion, which is the highest ever recorded. For the quarter under review, net profits were $1.04 billion. Most of the earnings from interest on government bonds and other investments. Most of the reserves have been kept in cash and government bonds, with some investment in gold and Bitcoin. If you're reading this, you’re already ahead. Stay there with our newsletter .

25 May 2026, 13:20

New York Lawsuit Claims Ownership of 3.7 Million Dormant Bitcoin as ‘Abandoned Property’

BitcoinWorld New York Lawsuit Claims Ownership of 3.7 Million Dormant Bitcoin as ‘Abandoned Property’ A lawsuit filed in New York is seeking to claim ownership of approximately 39,069 dormant Bitcoin wallet addresses, which the plaintiff argues constitute abandoned property under state law. The combined holdings in these wallets are estimated at around 3.7 million BTC, a sum worth tens of billions of dollars at current market prices. The case, reported by Cointelegraph, targets addresses believed to be linked to Bitcoin’s pseudonymous creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, and the hacker responsible for the 2014 Mt. Gox exchange collapse. Legal Basis and Claims The plaintiff asserts that the wallets have shown no activity for an extended period, qualifying them as abandoned under New York’s lost property laws. In traditional finance, dormant accounts or unclaimed assets can eventually be claimed by the state or, under certain conditions, by finders. The plaintiff claims to have reported the discovery to the New York Police Department (NYPD) and argues that the same principle should apply to cryptocurrency. However, the legal framework for digital assets remains largely untested, and no court has yet ruled on whether dormant Bitcoin can be treated as abandoned property in this manner. Enforceability and Practical Hurdles Market analysts and legal experts have expressed strong skepticism about the lawsuit’s prospects. The fundamental challenge lies in the nature of Bitcoin itself: ownership and control are determined by possession of private keys, not by a central authority or legal declaration. Without access to the private keys associated with these wallets, no court order or legal judgment can compel the transfer of the Bitcoin. The plaintiff cannot access the funds, and the anonymous or deceased owners cannot be forced to comply. This makes the suit largely symbolic, though it raises important questions about how existing property laws apply to decentralized digital assets. Broader Implications for Crypto Regulation While the lawsuit is unlikely to succeed in its current form, it highlights a growing area of legal uncertainty. As cryptocurrency adoption increases, courts and regulators are being forced to address how traditional legal concepts—such as property, ownership, and abandonment—apply to blockchain-based assets. The case could prompt legislative clarification or set a precedent for future disputes, particularly as governments around the world develop frameworks for digital asset inheritance, escheatment, and unclaimed property. For now, the wallets remain untouched, and the Bitcoin remains beyond the reach of any legal claim. Conclusion The New York lawsuit claiming ownership of 3.7 million dormant Bitcoin is a bold but legally precarious attempt to apply abandoned property law to cryptocurrency. While it underscores the need for clearer digital asset regulations, the practical impossibility of accessing the funds without private keys means the case is unlikely to result in any transfer of ownership. The story serves as a reminder that, in the world of cryptocurrency, possession of the keys remains the ultimate form of control, regardless of what a court may say. FAQs Q1: Can a court actually force the transfer of dormant Bitcoin? No. Bitcoin transactions require the private key associated with the wallet address. Without it, no court order can compel a transfer, as there is no central authority or intermediary that can execute the transaction. Q2: What is New York’s abandoned property law? New York’s Abandoned Property Law generally requires banks, insurers, and other entities to turn over dormant accounts or unclaimed assets to the state after a specified period. The plaintiff in this case is attempting to apply that same logic to cryptocurrency wallets. Q3: Who owns the wallets targeted in the lawsuit? The lawsuit targets addresses believed to belong to Satoshi Nakamoto, the pseudonymous creator of Bitcoin, and the hacker who stole funds from the Mt. Gox exchange in 2014. However, the actual identities of the wallet owners are unknown and may never be confirmed. This post New York Lawsuit Claims Ownership of 3.7 Million Dormant Bitcoin as ‘Abandoned Property’ first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

25 May 2026, 13:17

Bitcoin News Today: Saylor Moves to MicroStrategy 2.0 with Treasury Bonds as the Company Stops Buying BTC

In Bitcoin News today, Strategy has paused its BTC purchases this week to repurchase $1.5 billion in face value of its 0% convertible senior notes due 2029 for approximately $1.38 billion in cash. Michael Saylor confirmed it himself on X with a single line: “This week we bought bonds, not bitcoin. The ₿itVac is charging.” This week we bought bonds, not bitcoin. The ₿itVac is charging. pic.twitter.com/yUpVNiNTPT — Michael Saylor (@saylor) May 24, 2026 This is no longer a one-way accumulation machine. Strategy is now actively managing its capital structure, retiring debt at a discount, recycling capacity, and integrating US Treasury instruments as a yield-generating funding leg. The company that pioneered corporate Bitcoin accumulation is evolving into something closer to a macro carry trade vehicle. Discover: The Best Crypto to Diversify Your Portfolio Treasury Yield Leg Could Work The mechanics are straightforward, with Strategy raising capital through equity sales, convertible notes, and perpetual preferred shares like STRC. A portion of the capital gets parked in short-duration US Treasuries and money-market instruments, generating yield while BTC accumulation conditions are evaluated. That yield becomes the “safe leg” of a macro barbell as Treasuries generate cash flow that can service dividends on STRC, fund opportunistic buybacks of discounted convertibles, and eventually recycle into BTC purchases when the entry is right. Buying bonds opens up @MicroStrategy to more cashflow, but there appears to be a shift in the weekly buys from the company. In the last month or so the narrative has shifted from never sell bitcoin:native, to sometimes sell bitcoin:native, to buying bonds. Is this bullish?… https://t.co/1mQcoULkuT — BSCN (@BSCNews) May 24, 2026 The Carry Trade logic here is that Strategy borrows or issues at ultra-low cost (0% coupon on the 2029 notes, fixed dividends on STRC) and earns spread against Treasury returns and BTC appreciation. The $1.38 billion bond repurchase this week is a direct expression of that logic. Strategy is retiring debt at a discount to face value ($1.38B cash for $1.5B face), which immediately improves its balance sheet, reduces future share dilution (fewer notes means fewer potential conversion events into MSTR equity), and increases Bitcoin per share for existing holders. Strategy currently holds 843,738 BTC, worth $65.25 billion, against an acquisition cost of $63.88 billion, for approximately $1.50 billion in unrealized profit. No Bitcoin was sold to fund this bond repurchase. The BitVac, as Saylor frames it, is recharging. It is not liquidating. Bitcoin News Today: What the Carry Trade Structure Does to MSTR’s Risk Profile MSTR is no longer a clean Bitcoin proxy. It is a layered instrument: BTC price exposure stacked on top of rate sensitivity stacked on top of equity volatility. Institutional desks now need to model three variables simultaneously, and that changes how the stock behaves in different macro regimes. Bitcoin (BTC) 24h 7d 30d 1y All time The clearest structural risk is the 2028 liquidity window. Strategy carries around $3 billion in convertible notes with put rights that allow holders to demand cash repayment beginning June 2028. If capital markets are closed, or MSTR is trading poorly relative to conversion prices, those obligations could force Bitcoin sales at the worst possible time. That is precisely why Strategy is front-loading debt retirement now, while it trades at a discount and before the put window opens. Discover: The Best Token Presales The post Bitcoin News Today: Saylor Moves to MicroStrategy 2.0 with Treasury Bonds as the Company Stops Buying BTC appeared first on Cryptonews .

25 May 2026, 12:50

Whale's Insight: The Bond Market Just Broke - Where Does That Leave Bitcoin?

Summary U.S. 30Y Treasury yields hit 5.197%, the highest since July 2007, with Japan, U.K., and Germany breaking multi-decade or record highs in the same week. Energy-driven inflation, fiscal supply pressure and a fracturing Fed are driving a structural repricing of the macro discount rate. High yields pushed crypto into stocks. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw $649 million in single-day outflows. BofA's May survey shows institutions at net 44% underweight bonds and net 50% overweight equities, the largest single-month rotation on record. Longs squeezed across the curve. $657 million in liquidations on May 18, 89% on the long side. Combined with ETF outflows, on-chain leverage and off-chain institutional capital are bleeding at the same time. The bond market just broke. U.S. 30Y Treasury yields hit 5.197% this week, the highest since 2007, with Japan, U.K., and Germany simultaneously breaking multi-decade highs. The global bond market is rewriting the discount rate for every risk asset. As institutions rotate out of bonds and into stocks at a record pace, where does that leave crypto? The Global Bond Rout and What It Means for Crypto Global sovereign bonds suffered a synchronized selloff the week of May 19, pushing yields across the U.S., Japan, the U.K., and Germany to levels not seen in decades. Four major bond markets, four time zones, one direction: sell. What's Behind the Rout? First, energy-driven inflation is broadening. Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz have kept Brent crude near or above $100 per barrel, while U.S. gasoline inflation has accelerated sharply, with the CPI gasoline index up 28.4% yoy in April. Headline CPI rose 3.8% YoY, while final-demand PPI rose 6.0% YoY, its fastest annual pace since December 2022. Critically, price pressures are spreading beyond energy. Final-demand services PPI rose 1.2% in April, suggesting inflation pressure is broadening through the services channel and may also reflect tariff pass-through on top of the energy shock. Second, fiscal supply-demand mismatch is intensifying. The most acute case is the U.K., where 30-year gilt yields hit 5.868% on May 18, a 28-year high, as political uncertainty around Prime Minister Starmer intensified concerns over the U.K.’s fiscal credibility. The same logic applies broadly. Governments are issuing more debt to fund persistent deficits, while the marginal buyer demands higher compensation. When one of the world’s largest sovereign bond markets begins pricing a larger political-risk premium, it can force a broader re-rating of the long end across developed economies. 30-Year Gilt Price, Source: Financial Times Third, central bank credibility is fracturing. The Fed's April decision drew four dissents, the most since 1992, exposing a committee unable to agree on whether the next move is a hike or a cut. Rate futures now assign roughly 40% or higher odds to a hike by year-end, versus consensus expectations of multiple cuts at the start of the year. When the market shifts from pricing cuts to pricing hikes within five months, what is being repriced is not the path of rates but the market's confidence that the central bank's reaction function is still predictable. The leadership transition from Powell to Kevin Warsh adds another layer of uncertainty to an already divided committee. The Transmission to Crypto Is Direct A 30-year Treasury yield above 5% resets the opportunity cost for every non-yielding asset. Institutional capital faces a simple arithmetic problem. A 5% risk-free rate compounded over 30 years returns 4.3x. Every dollar allocated to BTC must beat that hurdle to justify its place in a portfolio. This repricing has already shown up in flows. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded approximately $649 million in single-day net outflows on May 18, the largest since January, with the 10-day cumulative total reaching negative $1.6 billion. The pattern is clear. When long-end yields spike, BTC acts as a release valve for institutional risk reduction. It is liquid, trades around the clock, and carries no contractual cash flow to anchor its valuation. The deeper question is whether this yield environment is cyclical or structural. U.S. long-term rates declined for 40 years, with the 10-year Treasury yield falling from roughly 15% in 1981 to around 0.5% in 2020. That long downtrend underpinned much of the modern valuation framework. If it has reversed for crypto markets, this means the macro discount rate applied to risk assets may remain structurally higher , compressing the multiple that speculative capital is willing to pay for duration and volatility. High Yields Pushed Crypto Into Stocks U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs ended a six-week inflow streak with the most pronounced redemption episode since February. The week of May 11–15 saw roughly $1.0 billion in net outflows, followed by a single-day net outflow of roughly $649 million on May 18, the largest daily redemption since January. The May 2026 BofA Global Fund Manager Survey (released May 20, polling 200 institutional managers overseeing $517 billion) shows where the money went: Bonds: net 44% underweight, the deepest negative positioning since June 2022 Global equities: net 50% overweight, the largest single-month jump on record Cash: 3.9%, falling below BofA's 4.0% "sell signal" threshold for the first time since February 2024 Commodities: net 31% overweight, reflecting inflation-hedge demand Notably, 62% of surveyed managers expect the U.S. 30-year Treasury yield is more likely to break above 6% than fall below 4%. Against this backdrop, duration exposure has become increasingly difficult to hold. Institutions exited bonds and rotated into equities, which are still benefiting from the AI earnings cycle. Crypto was vulnerable to the same rebalance because BTC ETFs are liquid, transparent, and easy to reduce when portfolios need to raise cash or fund risk elsewhere. Long Squeeze Across the Curve The recent pullback in BTC from roughly $82,000 to $76,000 over two weeks was enough to trigger a sequential unwind of long-side leverage in crypto perpetuals. Key data points: May 16 : About $500M in long liquidations as BTC fell toward $78,000 May 18 (24-hour window) : About $657M in total liquidations, of which $584M (89%) were longs , as BTC briefly slid below $77,000 When liquidation composition tilts this heavily toward longs (close to 89%), it suggests the market was heavily skewed toward upside exposure heading into the move. BTC perpetual futures open interest posted its fastest growth of 2026 during the first half of May as BTC pushed past $80,000. Longs crowded in while macro risks remained unresolved, leaving the market vulnerable to a leverage flush. Combined with the ETF outflows discussed above, both derivatives leverage and off-chain institutional capital were being unwound simultaneously. BTC has now stabilized around $77,000, but the buy-side has clearly weakened. The market sits in a silent holding pattern, waiting for the next signal. Week Ahead Ongoing: U.S.-Iran geopolitical tensions and energy supply risk May 27: RBNZ Interest Rate Decision May 28: U.S. Q1 GDP Second Estimate May 28: Core PCE Price Index (April) Thursday's data dump is the week's focal point. Core PCE arrives after Q1 advance GDP already showed PCE prices accelerating to 4.5% annualized. Any upside surprise reinforces the "higher-for-longer" repricing driving the Treasury yield move; a simultaneous GDP hold near 2.0% would add stagflationary undertones. RBNZ is expected to hold the OCR at 2.25%, with the decision likely reflecting how developed-market central banks are collectively responding to elevated oil prices. The U.S.-Iran situation continues to keep crude at elevated levels, and the inflationary transmission is deepening and broadening across global supply chains. Disclaimer: The information provided herein does not constitute investment advice, financial advice, trading advice, or any other sort of advice, and should not be treated as such. All content set out above is for informational purposes only. Original Post

25 May 2026, 12:45

Trump Says Iran Negotiations Proceeding Smoothly: What It Means

BitcoinWorld Trump Says Iran Negotiations Proceeding Smoothly: What It Means U.S. President Donald Trump stated on [Date, e.g., May 23, 2026] that negotiations with Iran are proceeding smoothly. The brief statement, made without providing specific details, signals a potentially positive development in the ongoing diplomatic efforts between the two nations, which have been marked by decades of tension and periodic conflict. Background of US-Iran Tensions The relationship between the United States and Iran has been fraught with challenges, particularly surrounding Iran’s nuclear program. The U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) in 2018 under the Trump administration led to a series of escalating sanctions and retaliatory measures. Since then, diplomatic channels have been intermittently active, with various rounds of talks in Vienna and other locations aimed at reviving the nuclear deal or establishing a new framework. Implications of Trump’s Statement Trump’s characterization of the negotiations as proceeding smoothly is a notable departure from his previous rhetoric, which often included threats of military action and maximum pressure campaigns. The statement suggests that behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts may be yielding progress, although no concrete agreements or timelines have been announced. Analysts caution that such statements can be strategic, serving to manage public expectations or signal flexibility to negotiating partners. Market and Geopolitical Impact The news has already had a modest impact on global oil markets, with prices stabilizing slightly as traders interpret the statement as reducing the risk of immediate supply disruptions. Geopolitically, any progress in US-Iran talks could reshape alliances in the Middle East, affecting relationships with Israel, Saudi Arabia, and other regional powers. For the broader international community, a successful negotiation could lead to a reduction in regional tensions and a potential easing of sanctions, with significant economic implications. Conclusion While Trump’s statement provides a glimmer of hope for a diplomatic resolution, the lack of specific details means the situation remains fluid. Observers will be watching for further official statements, potential meetings, or concrete proposals. The coming weeks will be critical in determining whether this represents genuine progress or a temporary shift in tone. For now, the world watches as two long-time adversaries navigate a complex path toward potential rapprochement. FAQs Q1: What did President Trump say about Iran negotiations? A: President Trump stated that negotiations with Iran are proceeding smoothly, without providing further details on the status or content of the talks. Q2: Why are US-Iran negotiations important? A: The negotiations are crucial for addressing Iran’s nuclear program, regional stability in the Middle East, and global oil markets. A successful outcome could reduce tensions and lead to the lifting of economic sanctions. Q3: What is the current status of the Iran nuclear deal? A: The US withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018. Since then, various rounds of indirect talks have occurred, but no new comprehensive agreement has been reached. Trump’s recent statement suggests potential progress in the current round of negotiations. This post Trump Says Iran Negotiations Proceeding Smoothly: What It Means first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

25 May 2026, 12:33

Bitcoin Continues Steady Decline: Is a Crash on the Horizon?

A steady decline of lower highs and lower lows over nearly three weeks has meant that the $BTC price is currently well back inside what is almost a 4-month long bear flag. With Bitcoin looking as though it may continue to subside, could the bears really take control and force this correction into a tailspin? Back into the channel or yet another rejection? Source: TradingView The short-term time frame for $BTC shows that the price is still bumping along below the descending channe l, having arrived at the underside of that channel once again. It is now up to the bulls to force the price back into the channel. If this does not happen, and the probabilities are for a rejection, the price would then fall through the ascending trendline and the next bearish phase could begin. If the bulls do surprise to the upside, the $78,000 resistance band overhead, together with the 200 SMA , are another obstacle to further price appreciation. Lending their signal to the bear case are the short-term Stochastic RSI momentum indicators. The 4-hour, 8-hour, and 12-hour indicators are right at the top of their range and therefore they are not far away from signalling negative price momentum as they roll over and come back down. Golden cross coming soon Source: TradingView The negative picture for the daily time frame is that the 200-day simple moving average (SMA) is coming down, to all intents and purposes to force the $BTC price back down. If another lower low is made, the current bearish phase will probably continue. In the RSI at the bottom of the chart, the indicator line has clearly dropped out of the last ascending channel and might be about to be rejected from the RSI-based moving average line (in yellow). All that said, the 50-day SMA is rising fast and is only a matter of a week or so away from crossing above the 200-day SMA, which would be a “golden cross” . Could this be the golden cross that initiates the next bull market? Bottom of the bear market to take place below 200-week SMA Source: TradingView The weekly chart with the main moving averages gives us food for thought. First, it must be noted that the current bear flag has been redrawn with a much sharper ascending angle, allowing for the price action to still be contained within. This would mean that the $BTC price would not have as far to go in order to drop out of the bottom. The 200-week, 100-week, and 50-week simple moving averages are still in their bull market order, with the 50-week above, the 200-week below, and the 100-week sandwiched between. However, it can be noted that the 50-week is falling quickly and is likely to fall below the 100-week in the next few weeks. That said, it still has a long way to go to get below the 200-week SMA, which was last achieved shortly into the new bull market early in 2023. As can be seen, it was around the 200-week SMA where most of the bottom price action of the last bear market took place. It would not be a surprise if this happened again, especially considering the 53 and 54 week lengths of the last two bear markets. So far in this bear market we are only out to 33 weeks. 54 weeks would take the end of this bear market out to mid-October. If this is going to be the case, it would be imagined that the current $60K bottom would be tested. The MACD indicator at the foot of the chart is showing a series of slightly shorter light green bars in the histogram. Are these bars going to turn red again, signalling more downside? 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.