Invest ideasNews
29 May 2026, 20:15
Crypto VC Funding Falls 50% After Massive Q4 2025 Surge: Galaxy
Crypto venture capital activity slowed in Q1 2026 following the exceptionally strong pace recorded in Q4 2025, according to a new report from Galaxy Digital. Venture firms invested roughly $4 billion across 355 crypto and blockchain-focused deals during the quarter, which is a 50% decline in capital invested quarter-over-quarter and a 16% drop in deal count. VC Market Loses Steam Despite the pullback, activity remained well above many of the quarterly levels seen during the 2023-2024 market downturn. Galaxy Research found that the decline was driven mainly by the absence of the very large later-stage financings seen in Q4 2025, while smaller seed and early-stage rounds continued to close at a relatively steady pace. If annualized, Q1’s pace would imply approximately $16 billion invested during 2026, below 2025’s nearly $20 billion total but still stronger than much of the previous two years. The historical relationship between Bitcoin prices and crypto venture investing has weakened compared with earlier cycles in 2017 and 2021. While Bitcoin reached new highs in late 2025, venture activity remained uneven, and both Bitcoin prices and venture funding declined in Q1 2026, though the drop in invested capital was more severe than the decline in deal activity. Later-stage startups accounted for the majority of funding during the quarter, as this cohort captured roughly 57% of all invested capital, while earlier-stage companies received the remaining 43%. By deal count, however, early-stage activity remained significant, even as the share of pre-seed deals declined to 19% and later-stage transactions rose to one-quarter of completed deals. Galaxy said that this trend indicates the growing maturity of the crypto industry and the increasing presence of larger, revenue-generating companies. Meanwhile, median crypto deal sizes also reached new all-time highs above $4.5 million in Q1 2026, even as valuations pulled back slightly from the record levels reached in Q4 2025. Among the sectors tracked by Galaxy Research, the Trading/Exchange/Investing/Lending category attracted the most venture funding by a wide margin after raising roughly $2.6 billion, or nearly three-fifths of all capital invested during the quarter. The same category also led in deal count with 74 transactions. Wallet startups ranked second in capital raised with roughly $270 million. Galaxy also found that startups founded in 2018 received the largest amount of capital in Q1 at $1.3 billion, while younger startups founded in 2024 and 2025 dominated overall deal count. US Leads Crypto Deals Geographically, the United States continued to dominate crypto venture activity, as it accounted for over 70% of all invested capital and 43.5% of total deals completed during the quarter. Bahrain and Singapore followed the US in capital share, while the United Kingdom ranked second by deal count. On the fundraising side, investors allocated nearly $1.1 billion to eight new crypto-focused venture funds, the fewest new funds launched in a quarter since Q3 2020. Galaxy said fundraising conditions remain difficult due to macroeconomic pressures, lingering effects from the 2022-2023 crypto market turmoil, growing institutional interest in artificial intelligence, and competition from spot crypto ETFs and digital asset treasury companies for investor capital. The post Crypto VC Funding Falls 50% After Massive Q4 2025 Surge: Galaxy appeared first on CryptoPotato .
29 May 2026, 15:02
Analyst: Who Else Is Unable to Sleep With XRP At This Critical Moment?
XRP entered another decisive stretch this week as price action tightened inside a multi-month structure. Crypto analyst CasiTrades (@CasiTrades) stated that she was closely watching XRP at what she described as a critical moment for the market. Her latest chart focused on a narrowing wedge pattern as XRP traded near $1.30. The setup arrives after several months of consolidation . XRP has repeatedly tested both rising support and descending resistance since February. The latest move pushed the asset’s price back toward the lower boundary of the formation, placing attention on whether buyers can defend the current zone. Who else is unable to sleep with XRP at this critical moment?! #xrpcommunity pic.twitter.com/8svsikITAI — CasiTrades (@CasiTrades) May 28, 2026 XRP Compresses Inside Multi-Month Structure CasiTrades’ chart showed XRP trading inside converging trendlines with multiple Elliott Wave labels marked throughout the pattern. The structure appeared to complete several corrective swings between February and May before the price rolled over again near the upper resistance line. The chart highlighted two nearby resistance levels at $1.3697 and $1.4411. XRP recently failed to hold above both areas after another rejection near the descending trendline. That move sent the token back toward the lower support trendline around the $1.30 region. Price compression continued to tighten as the wedge approached its apex . Traders often monitor these conditions closely because volatility tends to expand sharply once the price exits the pattern. Fibonacci Levels Remain in Focus The analysis also included major Fibonacci retracement zones. A resistance region between the 0.5 and 0.618 retracement levels sat between roughly $1.53 and $1.64. XRP tested this area multiple times during the consolidation period but failed to break through decisively. Below the current price, the chart identified support near the 0.786 retracement at $1.0854. Another deeper level appeared near the 0.854 retracement around $0.8621. Those zones may become important if XRP loses the lower wedge support. We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025 CasiTrades outlined a green zone within this range, suggesting that a strong recovery could follow after the correction phase completes. This area presents a buying opportunity if XRP fails to hold short-term momentum. XRP Approaches a Decision Point The daily RSI weakened as XRP declined, falling near 35 while staying above oversold territory at 30. The indicator also formed lower highs during May, signaling fading momentum as the price struggled near resistance and approached key structural support. The current structure leaves XRP at a technically important stage heading into June. A move back above the descending resistance line could place the $1.44 and $1.53 regions back into focus. Holding the lower support trendline may also strengthen the bullish structure shown on the chart. 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 Analyst: Who Else Is Unable to Sleep With XRP At This Critical Moment? appeared first on Times Tabloid .
29 May 2026, 13:02
Ripple (XRP) and Stellar (XLM) Is the Next Dominant Duopoly In Financial Services. Here’s why
As blockchain adoption in the financial sector continues to develop, discussions around which networks could become foundational to future payment infrastructure are gaining momentum. Crypto researcher SMQKE recently drew attention to Ripple and Stellar, arguing that both projects are increasingly positioned to dominate blockchain-based financial services, particularly in cross-border payments and correspondent banking. In the post, SMQKE compared the long-term potential of Ripple and Stellar to the dominant role Visa and Mastercard hold in the traditional payments industry. The researcher presented both blockchain networks as infrastructure-focused systems that are actively pursuing institutional integration rather than relying solely on speculative cryptocurrency activity. The comparison centered on the idea that Ripple and Stellar already occupy a unique position in the blockchain industry due to their shared focus on international settlements, banking connectivity, and financial interoperability. According to SMQKE, this positioning could allow both networks to emerge as the strongest duopoly in digital financial services if institutional adoption continues to expand. Ripple and Stellar = The Next Dominant Duopoly in Financial Services. Here’s why. https://t.co/vNhGY5hEU7 — SMQKE (@SMQKEDQG) May 27, 2026 Academic Research Highlights Ripple and Stellar’s Financial Focus To support the argument, SMQKE shared excerpts from research publications examining the role of blockchain technology in payment systems and remittance infrastructure. The referenced material focused heavily on Ripple and Stellar as two of the most prominent blockchain projects targeting cross-border financial services. One section explained that the two networks pursue similar objectives through different operational approaches. The publication stated that Ripple primarily focused on partnerships with banks and financial institutions worldwide to reduce dependence on intermediaries for international transfers. By using blockchain infrastructure, Ripple aims to make transactions settle more quickly and efficiently. The same research also noted Ripple’s institutional reach, noting that the company had already formed relationships with more than 100 banks globally at the time of the publication. In contrast, Stellar was described as focusing more heavily on underserved and underbanked regions by creating lower-cost access to global financial systems. Another highlighted passage discussed how both ecosystems use their native digital assets during international transfers. According to the research, transactions can move through XRP or XLM as bridge assets before converting into local currencies within seconds. The papers suggested that this mechanism enables both networks to improve transaction efficiency while lowering settlement friction in cross-border payments. Growing Attention on Correspondent Banking Solutions SMQKE also emphasized another research section examining correspondent banking infrastructure, an area often viewed as one of the largest opportunities for blockchain integration within global finance. We are on X, follow us to connect with us :- @TimesTabloid1 — TimesTabloid (@TimesTabloid1) June 15, 2025 The publication stated that Ripple and Stellar were among the most frequently cited blockchain applications within academic literature focused on remittances and payment systems. The paper further noted that the two projects stood out, directly developing distributed ledger technology solutions for correspondent banking networks. According to the researchers, Ripple had already established a significant track record through partnerships with banks and money transfer operators, while Stellar’s correspondent banking initiatives were still evolving. The paper added that Ripple became the primary subject of the study due to the availability of institutional partnership data and empirical material connected to the company’s operations. These observations formed a major part of SMQKE’s argument that Ripple and Stellar are separating themselves from many other blockchain projects by focusing on real-world financial infrastructure. Ripple and Stellar’s Institutional Direction Rather than positioning themselves as competitors to retail payment apps or speculative crypto platforms, Ripple and Stellar direct attention toward institutional finance, remittances, and banking efficiency. SMQKE used the academic references to reinforce the view that both projects are attempting to establish themselves as core settlement layers for international value transfer. 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 Ripple (XRP) and Stellar (XLM) Is the Next Dominant Duopoly In Financial Services. Here’s why appeared first on Times Tabloid .
29 May 2026, 09:30
Unknown Wallet Destroys $8.5 Million In Bitcoin In Shocking Burn
An exchange may have accidentally torched $8.5 million worth of Bitcoin — that’s one of the leading theories after an unidentified wallet sent 107 BTC to an address from which the funds can never be recovered. Related Reading: Bitcoin’s 4-Year Rhythm Is Still Playing Out, Says Crypto CEO Conor Grogan, head of product business operations at Coinbase, said the burn was most likely caused by an exchange that made an error during a cold storage transfer. No Public Explanation From Anyone Involved Five separate Bitcoin addresses carried out the transfers on Monday, all sending funds to a long-established burn address beginning with “11111,” according to onchain data shared by Galaxy Research. The move brought the total amount of Bitcoin ever sent to that address to 807 BTC, now worth close to $60 million, based on data from blockchain platform Arkham. 1111111111111111111114oLvT2 corresponds to Hash160 = 0x0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 (twenty zero bytes). Base58Check-encode that with the P2PKH version byte and you get this address. Because finding a public key whose Hash160 is all zeros would require either… pic.twitter.com/WAii2UbQ0U — Galaxy Research (@glxyresearch) May 27, 2026 The 107 BTC being destroyed made the event one of the biggest reported Bitcoin burns of 2026 so far. What made it more striking was the age of the coins — most of them had sat untouched for more than 12 years, acquired when Bitcoin was trading below $600. At today’s prices, that early buy had grown by 12,700%, according to TradingView data. What Happens When Bitcoin Gets Burned Bitcoin, unlike some other cryptocurrencies, has no built-in mechanism for removing coins from supply. Burning it means sending funds to an address that has no known private keys — the coins show up on the ledger but cannot be touched or moved by anyone. The burn address used in this case had been used before, including by the project Stacks, which sent 40 BTC to it in September 2015 for a namespace registration. Galaxy Research offered several possible explanations for why someone would walk away from an $8.5 million windfall. The firm raised the possibility of tax loss harvesting, funds destroyed because of ties to illegal activity, or even a mistaken transfer made by an artificial intelligence agent. This is fascinating to me. Someone bought 107 btc 12yrs ago, stomached nine, yes nine, 50%+ downturns, watched it grow to $8.5m only to send the coins this wk to a burn acct, permanently destroying. Smh. Theories incl: kidnapping, taxes, religion, divorce, rogue AI agent.. https://t.co/BWPk2eH1Dg — Eric Balchunas (@EricBalchunas) May 27, 2026 No clear connection was found between the burned coins and any known hacks or cyberattacks. Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas weighed in as well, floating the idea of a rogue AI agent, a kidnapping scenario, or tax-related motives behind the destruction. Related Reading: Bitcoin Dip Attracts Big Money: Cardone Capital Buys $9.5M More BTC Theories Pile Up But No Answers Yet The burn address itself has a documented history. Reports say the address was used by Stacks years before this latest transaction, giving it a verifiable on-chain record as a destination for deliberate coin destruction — not just a random wallet. Analysts have yet to land on a definitive answer for what happened Monday. The identity of the sender remains unknown. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView
29 May 2026, 08:00
Crypto Card Payments Explode As Transaction Volume Nears $8 Billion
Visa and Bridge, a fintech firm owned by Stripe, plan to bring stablecoin-linked payment cards to more than 100 countries by the end of 2026, with the first rollout already covering 18 nations across Latin America. Why Traditional Finance Is Winning The Crypto Payments Race Grocery runs and restaurant bills are now among the most common uses for crypto-linked cards, according to data from OKX’s European card product. In January, supermarket purchases made up over a quarter of all transactions on the OKX card, followed by restaurants at 18% and online shopping at 13%. The numbers point to something bigger happening in the payments space. Monthly transaction volume on crypto-linked debit and credit cards has jumped 230% from a year ago, with cumulative volume reaching $7.8 billion this month, based on data from The Kobeissi Letter, a market research publication. BREAKING: Cumulative crypto card payment volumes have reached a record $7.8 billion, with monthly volumes now up +230% since May 2025. Crypto card adoption has rapidly accelerated in 2026 due to growing access to stablecoins as a payment rail through crypto cards. In other… pic.twitter.com/nLIW0QCkys — The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) May 27, 2026 Stablecoins Driving The Surge Stablecoin access is widely credited for accelerating the trend. More cardholders can now spend dollar-pegged digital assets in place of traditional currency, pushing adoption at a faster pace than in previous years. The Kobeissi Letter put it plainly: crypto card adoption has rapidly picked up in 2026 because more people can spend stablecoins the way they spend cash. The cards are running on familiar payment networks — not replacing them. Visa holds a commanding position in this space, capturing roughly 90% of crypto card transaction volume through partnerships with blockchain-native companies. One of those partners is Jupiter Global, the payments project tied to the Jupiter decentralized exchange on the Solana network. OKX launched its stablecoin card for European customers in January, operating on the Mastercard network. That card’s spending data offers a ground-level view of how people are actually using digital assets in everyday life. Expansion Plans Signal Broader Ambitions Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, and Chile are among the countries already included in the Visa-Bridge rollout. Asia-Pacific, Africa, and the Middle East are next, reports say, with expansion targeted before the year is out. The broader picture shows crypto payments finding a place in daily transactions without sidelining the companies that have long dominated the industry. Visa and Mastercard are not being pushed out — they are the ones carrying the new rails. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView
29 May 2026, 04:30
Quantus Warns Quantum Computers Could Threaten $2T in Bitcoin and Crypto Assets
A new Quantus report says the crypto industry is not moving fast enough to prepare for quantum computers that could break today’s signature systems. The report warns that bitcoin, ethereum, and other major networks face a difficult migration problem because public keys live permanently on-chain. Google and IBM Advances Push Bitcoin Quantum Threat Closer Quantum
