Invest ideasNews
4 May 2026, 12:59
Bitmine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) Announces ETH Holdings Reach 5.18 Million Tokens, and Total Crypto and Total Cash Holdings of $13.1 Billion
Bitmine owns more than 4.29% of the total ETH coin supply of 120.7 million Bitmine is 86% of the way to the 'Alchemy of 5%' in just 10 months Crypto Spring has commenced and like past cycles, investor sentiment and conviction are muted and bearish even as crypto prices strengthen Ethereum continues to benefit from the dual tailwinds of Wall Street tokenizing on the blockchain and from agentic AI systems increasingly needing public and neutral blockchains Bitmine uplisted to the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") from the NYSE American effective as of April 9, 2026 Bitmine has 4,362,757 staked ETH, representing $10.2 billion at $2,336 per ETH MAVAN (Made in America VAlidator Network) is a premier Ethereum staking destination for BMNR and institutional investors, with a focus on security, performance, and resilience Bitmine owns $83 million of Eightco (NASDAQ: ORBS), now one of the only publicly listed equities in the world to provide investors indirect exposure to OpenAI Bitmine Crypto + Total Cash Holdings + "Moonshots" total $13.1 billion, including 5.18 million ETH tokens, total cash of $700 million, and other crypto holdings Bitmine leads crypto treasury peers by both the velocity of raising crypto NAV per share and by the high trading liquidity of BMNR stock Bitmine is the 173rd most traded stock in the US, trading $625 million per day (5-day avg) Bitmine remains supported by a premier group of institutional investors including ARK's Cathie Wood, MOZAYYX, Founders Fund, Bill Miller III, Pantera, Kraken, DCG, Galaxy Digital and personal investor Thomas "Tom" Lee to support Bitmine's goal of acquiring 5% of ETH NORWALK, Conn., May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- (NYSE: BMNR) Bitmine Immersion Technologies, Inc. ("Bitmine" or the "Company") a Bitcoin and Ethereum Network company with a focus on the accumulation of crypto for long term investment, today announced Bitmine crypto + total cash + "moonshots" holdings totaling $13.1 billion. The Company recently announced its uplisting to the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") from the NYSE American on April 9, 2026. The Company's common stock continues to trade under the symbol "BMNR". As of May 3, 2026 at 4:30pm ET, the Company's crypto holdings are comprised of 5,180,131 ETH at $2,336 per ETH (Coinbase NASDAQ: COIN), 200 Bitcoin (BTC), $200 million stake in Beast Industries, $83 million stake in Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) ("moonshots") and total cash of $700 million. Bitmine's ETH holdings are 4.29% of the ETH supply (of 120.7 million ETH). "The U.S. Senate released the CLARITY Act compromise text, and while it bans stablecoin yield on reserves, activity-based 'rewards' can be offered, in an attempt to balance the needs to protect existing depository institutions (aka traditional banks). This compromise is largely acceptable to us, and we hope to see this bill passed in 2026," stated Thomas "Tom" Lee, Chairman of Bitmine. "The prediction markets ( polymarket.com ) now see >60% chance of passage in 2026, the highest probabilities in more than a month." "Crypto Spring, in our view, has commenced and like past cycles, investor sentiment and conviction are muted and bearish even as crypto prices strengthen. We believe the potential passage, or even failure, of the CLARITY Act confirms the arrival of crypto spring. As for the upcoming drivers of crypto gains, Ethereum continues to benefit from the dual tailwinds of Wall Street tokenizing on the blockchain and from agentic AI systems increasingly needing public and neutral blockchains," said Lee. "Ethereum remains the most widely used and reliable smart contract blockchains for tokenization and well suited for the upcoming rise of agentic commerce. And increasingly, we believe ETH will be viewed as both a store of value and a unit of exchange. This role for ETH has arguably been demonstrated by its outperformance since the Iran War commenced. ETH has outperformed the S&P 500 by 1,380 basis points since the war started and remains one of the top performing assets in the world (beside crude oil prices)," stated Lee. "Bitmine has maintained the increased pace of ETH buys in each of the past four weeks, as our base case ETH is in the final stages of the 'mini-crypto winter.' In the past week, we acquired 101,745 ETH, continuing our aggressive accumulation strategy," stated Lee. Bitmine recently launched MAVAN (the Made in American VAlidator Network), the institutional grade staking platform. While MAVAN was originally developed to support Bitmine's own Ethereum treasury, MAVAN intends to expand to serve institutional investors, custodians, and ecosystem partners seeking best-in-class staking infrastructure. A portion of Bitmine's ETH is already staked on the MAVAN platform. As of May 3, 2026, Bitmine total staked ETH stands at 4,362,757 ($10.2 billion at $2,336 per ETH). "Bitmine has staked more ETH than other entities in the world. At scale (when Bitmine's ETH is fully staked by MAVAN and its staking partners), the projected ETH staking reward is $352 million annually (using 2.91% 7-day BMNR yield)," stated Lee. "Annualized staking revenues are now $297 million. And this 4.4 million ETH is over 84% of the 5.18 million ETH held by Bitmine. Bitmine's own staking operations generated a 7-day yield of 2.91% (annualized)," continued Lee. Bitmine crypto holding reigns as the #1 Ethereum treasury and #2 global treasury, behind Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ: MSTR), which reportedly owns 818,334 BTC valued at $64.2 billion. Bitmine remains the largest ETH treasury in the world. Bitmine is one of the most widely traded stocks in the US. According to data from Fundstrat, the stock has traded average daily dollar volume of $625 million (5-day average, as of May 1, 2026), ranking #173 in the US, behind Cheniere Energy (rank #172) and ahead of DoorDash (rank #174) among 5,704 US-listed stocks ( statista.com and Fundstrat research). The GENIUS Act and Securities and Exchange Commission's (the "SEC") Project Crypto are as transformational to financial services in 2025 as US action on August 15, 1971 ending Bretton Woods and the USD on the gold standard 54 years ago. This 1971 event was the catalyst for the modernization of Wall Street, creating the iconic Wall Street titans and financial and payment rails of today. These proved to be better investments than gold. The Chairman's message can be found here: https://www.Bitminetech.io/chairmans-message The Fiscal Full Year 2025 Earnings presentation and corporate presentation can be found here: https://Bitminetech.io/investor-relations/ To stay informed, please sign up at: https://Bitminetech.io/contact-us/ About Bitmine Bitmine (NYSE: BMNR) is a Bitcoin miner with operations in the US. The company is deploying its excess capital to be the leading Ethereum Treasury company in the world, implementing an innovative digital asset strategy for institutional investors and public market participants. Guided by its philosophy of "the alchemy of 5%," the Company is committed to ETH as its primary treasury reserve asset, leveraging native protocol-level activities including staking and decentralized finance mechanisms. The Company launched MAVAN (Made-in America VAlidator Network), a dedicated staking infrastructure for Bitmine assets, in 2026. For additional details, follow on X: https://x.com/bitmnr https://x.com/fundstrat Forward Looking StatementsThis press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." The statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. This document specifically contains forward-looking statements regarding: (i) progress and achievement of the Company's goals regarding ETH acquisition, including the 'Alchemy of 5%' initiative and the long-term value of Ethereum; (ii) the Company's beliefs regarding Ethereum's performance relative to other assets, including its characterization as a "wartime store of value" and its performance during geopolitical events; (iii) the Company's expectations regarding the current state and future trajectory of the cryptocurrency market, including statements that ETH may be in the "final stages of the mini-crypto winter"; (iv) continued growth and advancement of the Company's Ethereum treasury strategy and the applicable benefits to the Company; (v) the Company's share repurchase program, including statements regarding shares trading below intrinsic value, the Company's ability to accretively retire common shares, and the execution of repurchases through open market transactions; (vi) the Company's digital asset accumulation strategy and staking operations, including MAVAN, its expansion to serve institutional investors, custodians, and ecosystem partners, and projected annual staking revenues and rewards; (vii) statements regarding the benefits of Wall Street tokenization on the blockchain and agentic AI systems utilizing public blockchains; (viii) expectations regarding the potential impact of regulatory developments, including the GENIUS Act and SEC Project Crypto, on financial services and digital assets; and (ix) the Company's financial flexibility to support its treasury operations and expanded repurchase authorization. In evaluating these forward-looking statements, you should consider various factors, including: Bitmine's ability to keep pace with new technology and changing market needs; Bitmine's ability to finance its current business, Ethereum treasury operations, share repurchase program, and proposed future business; the competitive environment of Bitmine's business; market conditions affecting the trading price of the Company's common stock; regulatory developments affecting digital assets, including the ultimate enactment and implementation of pending legislation and SEC initiatives; geopolitical events and their impact on cryptocurrency markets; the volatility and unpredictability of digital asset prices; and the future value of Bitcoin and Ethereum. Actual future performance outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond Bitmine's control, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of Bitmine's Form 10-K filed with the SEC on November 21, 2025, as well as all other SEC filings, as amended or updated from time to time. Copies of Bitmine's filings with the SEC are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . Bitmine undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. Disclaimer: This is a sponsored press release and is for informational purposes only. It does not reflect the views of Bitzo, nor is it intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, or financial advice.
4 May 2026, 12:59
Bitmine Immersion Technologies (BMNR) Announces ETH Holdings Reach 5.18 Million Tokens, and Total Crypto and Total Cash Holdings of $13.1 Billion
Bitmine owns more than 4.29% of the total ETH coin supply of 120.7 million Bitmine is 86% of the way to the 'Alchemy of 5%' in just 10 months Crypto Spring has commenced and like past cycles, investor sentiment and conviction are muted and bearish even as crypto prices strengthen Ethereum continues to benefit from the dual tailwinds of Wall Street tokenizing on the blockchain and from agentic AI systems increasingly needing public and neutral blockchains Bitmine uplisted to the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") from the NYSE American effective as of April 9, 2026 Bitmine has 4,362,757 staked ETH, representing $10.2 billion at $2,336 per ETH MAVAN (Made in America VAlidator Network) is a premier Ethereum staking destination for BMNR and institutional investors, with a focus on security, performance, and resilience Bitmine owns $83 million of Eightco (NASDAQ: ORBS), now one of the only publicly listed equities in the world to provide investors indirect exposure to OpenAI Bitmine Crypto + Total Cash Holdings + "Moonshots" total $13.1 billion, including 5.18 million ETH tokens, total cash of $700 million, and other crypto holdings Bitmine leads crypto treasury peers by both the velocity of raising crypto NAV per share and by the high trading liquidity of BMNR stock Bitmine is the 173rd most traded stock in the US, trading $625 million per day (5-day avg) Bitmine remains supported by a premier group of institutional investors including ARK's Cathie Wood, MOZAYYX, Founders Fund, Bill Miller III, Pantera, Kraken, DCG, Galaxy Digital and personal investor Thomas "Tom" Lee to support Bitmine's goal of acquiring 5% of ETH NORWALK, Conn., May 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- (NYSE: BMNR) Bitmine Immersion Technologies, Inc. ("Bitmine" or the "Company") a Bitcoin and Ethereum Network company with a focus on the accumulation of crypto for long term investment, today announced Bitmine crypto + total cash + "moonshots" holdings totaling $13.1 billion. The Company recently announced its uplisting to the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") from the NYSE American on April 9, 2026. The Company's common stock continues to trade under the symbol "BMNR". As of May 3, 2026 at 4:30pm ET, the Company's crypto holdings are comprised of 5,180,131 ETH at $2,336 per ETH (Coinbase NASDAQ: COIN), 200 Bitcoin (BTC), $200 million stake in Beast Industries, $83 million stake in Eightco Holdings (NASDAQ: ORBS) ("moonshots") and total cash of $700 million. Bitmine's ETH holdings are 4.29% of the ETH supply (of 120.7 million ETH). "The U.S. Senate released the CLARITY Act compromise text, and while it bans stablecoin yield on reserves, activity-based 'rewards' can be offered, in an attempt to balance the needs to protect existing depository institutions (aka traditional banks). This compromise is largely acceptable to us, and we hope to see this bill passed in 2026," stated Thomas "Tom" Lee, Chairman of Bitmine. "The prediction markets ( polymarket.com ) now see >60% chance of passage in 2026, the highest probabilities in more than a month." "Crypto Spring, in our view, has commenced and like past cycles, investor sentiment and conviction are muted and bearish even as crypto prices strengthen. We believe the potential passage, or even failure, of the CLARITY Act confirms the arrival of crypto spring. As for the upcoming drivers of crypto gains, Ethereum continues to benefit from the dual tailwinds of Wall Street tokenizing on the blockchain and from agentic AI systems increasingly needing public and neutral blockchains," said Lee. "Ethereum remains the most widely used and reliable smart contract blockchains for tokenization and well suited for the upcoming rise of agentic commerce. And increasingly, we believe ETH will be viewed as both a store of value and a unit of exchange. This role for ETH has arguably been demonstrated by its outperformance since the Iran War commenced. ETH has outperformed the S&P 500 by 1,380 basis points since the war started and remains one of the top performing assets in the world (beside crude oil prices)," stated Lee. "Bitmine has maintained the increased pace of ETH buys in each of the past four weeks, as our base case ETH is in the final stages of the 'mini-crypto winter.' In the past week, we acquired 101,745 ETH, continuing our aggressive accumulation strategy," stated Lee. Bitmine recently launched MAVAN (the Made in American VAlidator Network), the institutional grade staking platform. While MAVAN was originally developed to support Bitmine's own Ethereum treasury, MAVAN intends to expand to serve institutional investors, custodians, and ecosystem partners seeking best-in-class staking infrastructure. A portion of Bitmine's ETH is already staked on the MAVAN platform. As of May 3, 2026, Bitmine total staked ETH stands at 4,362,757 ($10.2 billion at $2,336 per ETH). "Bitmine has staked more ETH than other entities in the world. At scale (when Bitmine's ETH is fully staked by MAVAN and its staking partners), the projected ETH staking reward is $352 million annually (using 2.91% 7-day BMNR yield)," stated Lee. "Annualized staking revenues are now $297 million. And this 4.4 million ETH is over 84% of the 5.18 million ETH held by Bitmine. Bitmine's own staking operations generated a 7-day yield of 2.91% (annualized)," continued Lee. Bitmine crypto holding reigns as the #1 Ethereum treasury and #2 global treasury, behind Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ: MSTR), which reportedly owns 818,334 BTC valued at $64.2 billion. Bitmine remains the largest ETH treasury in the world. Bitmine is one of the most widely traded stocks in the US. According to data from Fundstrat, the stock has traded average daily dollar volume of $625 million (5-day average, as of May 1, 2026), ranking #173 in the US, behind Cheniere Energy (rank #172) and ahead of DoorDash (rank #174) among 5,704 US-listed stocks ( statista.com and Fundstrat research). The GENIUS Act and Securities and Exchange Commission's (the "SEC") Project Crypto are as transformational to financial services in 2025 as US action on August 15, 1971 ending Bretton Woods and the USD on the gold standard 54 years ago. This 1971 event was the catalyst for the modernization of Wall Street, creating the iconic Wall Street titans and financial and payment rails of today. These proved to be better investments than gold. The Chairman's message can be found here: https://www.Bitminetech.io/chairmans-message The Fiscal Full Year 2025 Earnings presentation and corporate presentation can be found here: https://Bitminetech.io/investor-relations/ To stay informed, please sign up at: https://Bitminetech.io/contact-us/ About Bitmine Bitmine (NYSE: BMNR) is a Bitcoin miner with operations in the US. The company is deploying its excess capital to be the leading Ethereum Treasury company in the world, implementing an innovative digital asset strategy for institutional investors and public market participants. Guided by its philosophy of "the alchemy of 5%," the Company is committed to ETH as its primary treasury reserve asset, leveraging native protocol-level activities including staking and decentralized finance mechanisms. The Company launched MAVAN (Made-in America VAlidator Network), a dedicated staking infrastructure for Bitmine assets, in 2026. For additional details, follow on X: https://x.com/bitmnr https://x.com/fundstrat Forward Looking StatementsThis press release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements." The statements in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties. This document specifically contains forward-looking statements regarding: (i) progress and achievement of the Company's goals regarding ETH acquisition, including the 'Alchemy of 5%' initiative and the long-term value of Ethereum; (ii) the Company's beliefs regarding Ethereum's performance relative to other assets, including its characterization as a "wartime store of value" and its performance during geopolitical events; (iii) the Company's expectations regarding the current state and future trajectory of the cryptocurrency market, including statements that ETH may be in the "final stages of the mini-crypto winter"; (iv) continued growth and advancement of the Company's Ethereum treasury strategy and the applicable benefits to the Company; (v) the Company's share repurchase program, including statements regarding shares trading below intrinsic value, the Company's ability to accretively retire common shares, and the execution of repurchases through open market transactions; (vi) the Company's digital asset accumulation strategy and staking operations, including MAVAN, its expansion to serve institutional investors, custodians, and ecosystem partners, and projected annual staking revenues and rewards; (vii) statements regarding the benefits of Wall Street tokenization on the blockchain and agentic AI systems utilizing public blockchains; (viii) expectations regarding the potential impact of regulatory developments, including the GENIUS Act and SEC Project Crypto, on financial services and digital assets; and (ix) the Company's financial flexibility to support its treasury operations and expanded repurchase authorization. In evaluating these forward-looking statements, you should consider various factors, including: Bitmine's ability to keep pace with new technology and changing market needs; Bitmine's ability to finance its current business, Ethereum treasury operations, share repurchase program, and proposed future business; the competitive environment of Bitmine's business; market conditions affecting the trading price of the Company's common stock; regulatory developments affecting digital assets, including the ultimate enactment and implementation of pending legislation and SEC initiatives; geopolitical events and their impact on cryptocurrency markets; the volatility and unpredictability of digital asset prices; and the future value of Bitcoin and Ethereum. Actual future performance outcomes and results may differ materially from those expressed in forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are subject to numerous conditions, many of which are beyond Bitmine's control, including those set forth in the Risk Factors section of Bitmine's Form 10-K filed with the SEC on November 21, 2025, as well as all other SEC filings, as amended or updated from time to time. Copies of Bitmine's filings with the SEC are available on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . Bitmine undertakes no obligation to update these statements for revisions or changes after the date of this release, except as required by law. Disclaimer: This is a sponsored press release and is for informational purposes only. It does not reflect the views of Crypto Daily, nor is it intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, or financial advice.
4 May 2026, 12:25
ZachXBT Exposes imToken and Tokenlon as Hotbeds for Laundering Illicit Funds: A Deep Dive into Romance Scams
BitcoinWorld ZachXBT Exposes imToken and Tokenlon as Hotbeds for Laundering Illicit Funds: A Deep Dive into Romance Scams On-chain investigator ZachXBT has identified imToken and the decentralized exchange (DEX) Tokenlon as hotbeds for laundering illicit funds. This revelation sends shockwaves through the cryptocurrency community, highlighting a critical vulnerability in the DeFi ecosystem. ZachXBT alleges that the majority of Tokenlon’s trading volume originates from illegal money laundering activities, including romance scams. ZachXBT’s Allegations: A Closer Look at the Evidence ZachXBT, a pseudonymous blockchain detective, published a detailed analysis linking imToken and Tokenlon to a network of illicit financial flows. He claims that these platforms have become a preferred channel for criminals to launder proceeds from romance scams, a type of fraud where attackers build fake relationships to steal money. According to his findings, a significant portion of Tokenlon’s trading volume is tied to addresses flagged for suspicious activity. This is not an isolated incident. The investigation reveals a pattern of transactions involving stolen funds moving through imToken wallets and then being swapped on Tokenlon. ZachXBT emphasizes that these platforms lack adequate Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) protocols, making them attractive to bad actors. He calls for immediate regulatory scrutiny and platform-level changes. The Role of Romance Scams in Cryptocurrency Laundering Romance scams have evolved into a multi-billion-dollar industry, with cryptocurrency becoming a primary tool for laundering illicit funds. In these schemes, victims are tricked into sending money to fake romantic partners. The funds are then funneled through decentralized platforms like Tokenlon and stored in wallets like imToken. ZachXBT’s data shows that these scams often involve small, frequent transactions to avoid detection. He tracked over $100 million in suspicious flows through these platforms in the past year alone. This highlights a systemic issue: decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, by design, offer anonymity that can be exploited. How imToken and Tokenlon Facilitate Illicit Flows imToken, a popular mobile wallet, allows users to store and trade cryptocurrencies without identity verification. Tokenlon, a DEX built on the Ethereum network, enables peer-to-peer swaps without intermediaries. Together, they create a frictionless pipeline for money laundering. ZachXBT explains that criminals use imToken to receive funds from victims, then swap them on Tokenlon for privacy coins or stablecoins. This process obfuscates the trail, making it difficult for law enforcement to trace. He provides transaction IDs and wallet addresses as evidence, urging exchanges to blacklist these addresses. Broader Implications for the DeFi Ecosystem This case underscores a growing concern: DeFi platforms are becoming safe havens for financial crime. Unlike centralized exchanges, DeFi protocols lack centralized oversight, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. Regulators worldwide are now scrutinizing these platforms more closely. The European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, effective 2025, mandates stricter AML requirements for DeFi platforms. However, enforcement remains a challenge. ZachXBT’s findings could accelerate regulatory action, forcing platforms like imToken and Tokenlon to implement KYC measures or face legal consequences. Industry experts warn that this could lead to a split in the DeFi community: those who prioritize privacy and those who prioritize compliance. The outcome will shape the future of decentralized finance. Expert Reactions and Industry Response Blockchain security firms have echoed ZachXBT’s concerns. Chainalysis, a leading analytics company, reports that DeFi-related illicit activity reached a record high in 2024. They note that platforms like Tokenlon are particularly vulnerable due to their lack of transaction monitoring. Representatives from imToken and Tokenlon have not yet commented on the allegations. However, industry insiders suggest that both platforms are under pressure to adopt better compliance tools. Some propose integrating zero-knowledge proofs to balance privacy and security. Timeline of Events: From Investigation to Exposure ZachXBT’s investigation began in early 2025, after noticing a spike in suspicious transactions linked to romance scams. He spent months analyzing on-chain data, collaborating with other researchers. The findings were published in a detailed report on March 15, 2025. Since then, several cryptocurrency exchanges have already blacklisted addresses identified by ZachXBT. The crypto community is now debating the ethical implications of using DeFi platforms for legitimate purposes versus their potential for abuse. Conclusion ZachXBT’s identification of imToken and Tokenlon as hotbeds for laundering illicit funds is a wake-up call for the cryptocurrency industry. The prevalence of romance scams and other financial crimes on these platforms demands immediate action. Regulators, developers, and users must work together to create a safer DeFi ecosystem. Without robust AML and KYC measures, the trust in decentralized finance will erode, threatening its long-term viability. This investigation serves as a critical reminder that innovation must be balanced with responsibility. FAQs Q1: What did ZachXBT find about imToken and Tokenlon? ZachXBT identified imToken and Tokenlon as hotbeds for laundering illicit funds, with most of Tokenlon’s trading volume linked to illegal activities like romance scams. Q2: How do romance scams use cryptocurrency? Romance scams trick victims into sending money to fake partners, who then use platforms like imToken and Tokenlon to launder the funds through anonymous transactions. Q3: Are imToken and Tokenlon illegal? No, but they are being exploited by criminals due to weak KYC and AML protocols. The platforms are legal but face regulatory scrutiny. Q4: What actions are being taken after this investigation? Exchanges have blacklisted flagged addresses, and regulators are pushing for stricter compliance measures on DeFi platforms. Q5: Can DeFi platforms prevent money laundering? Yes, by implementing KYC, transaction monitoring, and zero-knowledge proofs. However, this requires industry-wide cooperation and regulatory support. This post ZachXBT Exposes imToken and Tokenlon as Hotbeds for Laundering Illicit Funds: A Deep Dive into Romance Scams first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
4 May 2026, 12:20
Trump Just Launched Project Freedom to Escort Ships Through the Strait of Hormuz And Bitcoin Hit $80,000
Bitcoin price surged to a four-month high of $80,529 on Monday, May 4, breaking through the $80,000 resistance level hours after President Donald Trump announced Project Freedom, an initiative to escort foreign cargo ships through the Strait of Hormuz amid escalating U.S.-Iran tensions. The breakout is not purely geopolitical. Bitcoin Spot CVD data showing aggressive institutional spot buying confirms the move is structurally supported, not a leverage blip. Bitcoin (BTC) 24h 7d 30d 1y All time Spot CVD, or Cumulative Volume Delta, had already surged 199.1% in the prior week, a signal of high-conviction accumulation preceding the catalyst, not chasing it. Discover: Best Crypto to Buy Right Now What Is Project Freedom – and Why Does It Move Bitcoin? Trump announced Project Freedom via Truth Social on Sunday, May 3, framing the initiative as a humanitarian escort mission: U.S. naval assets would guide stranded foreign cargo vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively closed by the U.S.-Iran standoff since earlier in 2026. The initiative went into effect Monday. Iranian officials have already warned that any U.S. navigation through the strait would constitute a ceasefire violation, making this a live geopolitical flashpoint, not a resolved one. BREAKING: President Trump said the United States will begin to help free neutral foreign ships locked up in the Strait of Hormuz. He called the operation "Project Freedom" and said it will begin Monday morning. — Fox News (@FoxNews) May 3, 2026 Trump also confirmed his representatives are in “very positive discussions” with Iran, raising the probability of a broader Middle East de-escalation that would reduce oil risk premiums and rotate capital back into risk assets. West Texas Intermediate is already reflecting this rebalancing, up 0.6% at $102 per barrel, with Brent Crude at $108, up 0.4%. Can Bitcoin Price Hold $80K And Flip it to Support? BTC pushing to $80.5K is a real shift, but the key question is whether $80K holds, not whether it was broken. Right now, $80K is the level that needs to flip into support. If it holds on pullbacks, that confirms strength and keeps the path open toward $86K–$93K. Source: Tradingview Below, $78K is the safety line. As long as BTC stays above it, the bullish structure remains intact. If $78K breaks, momentum weakens fast, and $75K becomes the next major support where buyers need to step in again. What matters here is the sequencing. Buyers were already accumulating before the news, and the catalyst just accelerated the move. That suggests this is not just a reaction; it has an underlying demand. So this is a bullish setup, but confirmation comes from holding above $80K, not just breaking it. Explore: The best pre-launch token sales The post Trump Just Launched Project Freedom to Escort Ships Through the Strait of Hormuz And Bitcoin Hit $80,000 appeared first on Cryptonews .
4 May 2026, 12:20
Anthropic advances $1.5 billion venture to sell AI tools to private-equity companies
Anthropic is close to forming a $1.5 billion AI venture with Blackstone (BX), Goldman Sachs (GS), Hellman & Friedman, General Atlantic, and other Wall Street companies. The planned company will sell artificial intelligence tools to businesses owned by private-equity funds. That means the first customers will likely be companies already sitting inside buyout portfolios, where owners are always hunting for lower costs, faster work, better software, tighter cyber checks, and cleaner financial reporting. The announcement could come as soon as Monday. Anthropic , Blackstone, and Hellman & Friedman are each expected to put in about $300 million. Goldman Sachs is expected to invest around $150 million as a founding backer. General Atlantic and other investors are also part of the plan. The total backing is expected to reach about $1.5 billion. Wall Street companies back Anthropic as private-equity companies look for AI tools that cut real operating costs The new business is being designed as a consulting-style arm for Anthropic. Its job will be to help companies add AI into their daily work. That can include customer service, legal review, finance, coding, cybersecurity, research, document handling, and internal data searches. A private-equity company can test the tools in one company, then push the same playbook across other holdings if the numbers work. That gives Anthropic a way to reach many businesses through a smaller group of investors and owners. The deal also puts Anthropic deeper into the enterprise AI race . OpenAI, Google parent Alphabet (GOOGL), Microsoft (MSFT), Amazon (AMZN), and Nvidia (NVDA) are all fighting for the same corporate budget. Most companies are past the cute demo stage now. They want AI that can save money, protect systems, help workers find answers faster, and avoid creating a compliance disaster. For private-equity companies, higher financing costs have made margin gains more important. That is the part Wall Street cares about. Nobody is writing a $1.5 billion check for vibes. Defense officials still treat Anthropic as a risk while Mythos pulls interest from national security agencies Meanwhile, Department of Defense CTO Emil Michael said on Friday that Anthropic remains a supply chain risk. At the same time, Emil separated that dispute from Mythos, the company’s cyber-focused AI model. He told reporters that the Mythos matter is being handled across the government, not only inside the Department of War. Emil said the model has special ability to find cyber weaknesses and help patch them, so government networks need stronger protection. The dispute started after the DOD and Anthropic failed to agree on how the agency could use Anthropic’s models. The Pentagon then placed the company under a supply chain risk label as a danger to U.S. national security. Anthropic sued the Trump administration in March to fight the Pentagon’s blacklist. The cases are still active in San Francisco and Washington, D.C. One hard question remains open: how can the DOD use Mythos while the broader Anthropic risk label still exists? Emil said the Pentagon still wants guardrails. He also said those terms can be negotiated because each AI company has its own view. After a meeting on the matter, President Donald Trump told CNBC that a deal between Anthropic and the DOD is possible. Trump also said the company is “very smart” and could “be of great use.” Even with the risk label, the DOD has used Anthropic models to support military work tied to the war in Iran. The National Security Agency, which sits under the DOD, has reportedly used Mythos, Axios reported. Emil said national security reviews must look at frontier AI models, including Chinese systems. He said the NSA and Commerce Department test models to see what they can do at the edge. Also on Friday, the DOD announced agreements with seven AI companies to place their tools on classified networks for “lawful operational use.” The list includes Google, OpenAI, Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon Web Services, SpaceX, which merged with Elon Musk’s xAI, and Reflection, a startup building open-weight models. The smartest crypto minds already read our newsletter. Want in? Join them .
4 May 2026, 12:02
Here’s How This Ripple’s Acquisition Will Directly Impact XRP
Crypto researcher SMQKE (@SMQKEDQG) recently highlighted a development that institutional investors in the digital asset space should pay close attention to. On January 28, 2026, Ripple launched Ripple Treasury, an enterprise-focused platform built on the foundation of its $1 billion acquisition of GTreasury in 2025. The product marks Ripple’s most significant step yet toward becoming a full-stack institutional financial services provider. Yes, Ripple’s GTreasury acquisition will directly enhance XRP’s utility. Documented. pic.twitter.com/eEDZxGPl0V — SMQKE (@SMQKEDQG) May 2, 2026 Ripple Treasury’s Role Ripple Treasury combines GTreasury’s corporate treasury software with Ripple’s blockchain infrastructure. The platform enables cross-border settlements in three to five seconds using Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin. Traditional bank wires take three to five business days for the same task. The platform also provides a unified dashboard for managing both fiat and digital assets. It connects corporate clients to overnight repo markets and tokenized money-market funds, including BlackRock’s BUIDL . Infrastructure from Hidden Road, the prime brokerage Ripple acquired for $1.25 billion, powers access to short-term funding markets. GTreasury CEO Renaat Ver Eecke made one point clear: blockchain features remain optional. Clients are not forced to adopt crypto technology. However, the XRP-powered system solves major problems that these institutions cannot ignore. Why This Matters for XRP Ripple’s product stack now covers the full institutional spectrum. It spans payments via RippleNet, custody through Ripple National Trust Bank, stablecoin issuance through RLUSD, prime brokerage through Hidden Road, and now corporate treasury management. The company provides all these services within a single integrated platform. The XRP utility case here is direct. Cross-border settlements run through RLUSD on the XRP Ledger. Fortune 500 treasury operations generate significant transaction volume. As enterprise adoption scales, organic demand for XRP and RLUSD increases . The platform also allows companies to deploy idle cash 24/7 through tokenized money-market funds, generating yield that was previously inaccessible outside traditional banking hours. We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025 The Institutional Shift SMQKE’s post affirms what the data supports. The GTreasury acquisition directly enhances XRP’s utility. Ripple has repositioned itself from a crypto payments provider to a regulated institutional financial services platform. It did so by acquiring established companies with decades of enterprise credibility. GTreasury brought decades of corporate treasury experience, with clients managing billions across borders using disconnected legacy systems. Ripple Treasury provides those teams a single environment in which blockchain settlement, liquidity management, and digital asset operations coexist. Corporate finance adoption of this platform generates real, measurable demand for XRP at the infrastructure level. The launch is a concrete signal that Ripple’s institutional strategy is executing as planned. 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 Here’s How This Ripple’s Acquisition Will Directly Impact XRP appeared first on Times Tabloid .
