hodler

23 May 2026, 14:30

Bitcoin Trading Enters New Era With SEC-Approved Nasdaq Index Options

Trading in the new Bitcoin index options will not begin right away. The SEC approval does not automatically open the door — the Commodity Futures Trading Commission must still grant its own exemptive relief before any contracts change hands on the exchange, because Bitcoin is classified as a commodity and falls under the CFTC’s jurisdiction . The SEC approved Nasdaq’s proposal to list the options on the Philadelphia Stock Exchange, known as Phlx, on an accelerated basis, with the decision published Friday on the agency’s website. A Different Kind Of Bitcoin Contract The contracts are European-style and cash-settled, meaning buyers receive the difference between the Bitcoin spot price and the strike price at expiration — no actual Bitcoin changes hands. That structure also removes the risk of early assignment, which sets these apart from options tied to spot Bitcoin ETFs that have been available to investors. Source: SEC The contracts will trade under the ticker QBTC, with a minimum price increment of one cent and a position limit of 24,000 contracts per side, which works out to roughly 0.12% of Bitcoin’s total outstanding supply. They are tied to the Nasdaq Bitcoin Index, a benchmark that tracks one one-hundredth of the CME CF BTC Real Time Index, which pulls pricing data from major cryptocurrency exchanges every 200 milliseconds. CME Group filed a comment letter last October arguing the new contracts fall under the CFTC’s exclusive authority. The SEC pushed back, writing in its order that shared jurisdiction between the two regulators is not new, citing mixed swaps and security futures as existing examples, and referencing Section 717 of the Dodd-Frank Act as the legal basis for concurrent oversight. A Shift In Tone At The SEC The approval fits a broader shift underway at the SEC under Chairman Paul Atkins. The agency has moved to drop several enforcement cases against crypto firms that were launched under the previous administration, and Atkins has called publicly for clearer rules that support innovation. Reports indicate the SEC is also preparing what it calls an innovation exemption that would allow tokenized trading of public company shares on decentralized crypto platforms, even without consent from the companies involved. The Philadelphia Stock Exchange will host the new QBTC contracts once both regulators have signed off, marking another step in Wall Street’s growing embrace of Bitcoin-linked financial products. Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

23 May 2026, 14:25

Wall Street Quietly Accumulating Bitcoin, Says Bloomberg ETF Analyst

BitcoinWorld Wall Street Quietly Accumulating Bitcoin, Says Bloomberg ETF Analyst Wall Street is quietly accumulating Bitcoin (BTC), according to Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart. Speaking on the New Era Finance podcast, Seyffart noted that the first quarter of this year was the most successful in crypto history, driven largely by strong demand for spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) from asset managers. Despite sluggish price action for BTC, institutional interest has remained steady, signaling a shift in market leadership away from retail investors. Institutional Demand Outpaces Retail Selling Seyffart pointed out that since the launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs, MicroStrategy has continued to buy BTC while retail investors have been selling. This divergence suggests that institutions are increasingly taking control of the market. The crypto market originally grew with a focus on retail investors, unlike other asset classes, but that dynamic is now changing. Seyffart emphasized that the strong demand from asset managers indicates a quiet accumulation trend among Wall Street players. The Traditional Four-Year Cycle May Be Fading The analyst also suggested that the traditional four-year cycle, which has historically driven Bitcoin’s price movements, may no longer be as significant. As long as overall market confidence is maintained, the upward structure for BTC will likely remain intact. This shift could mean that Bitcoin’s price action becomes less predictable but more resilient over the long term, as institutional holders tend to have longer investment horizons. What This Means for Investors For retail investors, the trend toward institutional accumulation could reduce short-term volatility but also change the market’s character. Institutions typically buy through ETFs and OTC desks, which have less immediate impact on exchange prices than retail trading. This could explain why Bitcoin’s price has remained relatively flat despite strong ETF inflows. The shift also suggests that Bitcoin is maturing as an asset class, moving closer to traditional financial markets in terms of participant behavior. Conclusion Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart’s comments highlight a significant structural change in the Bitcoin market. Wall Street’s quiet accumulation, combined with strong spot ETF demand and a potential shift away from the four-year cycle, points to a market increasingly dominated by institutional players. For readers, this underscores the importance of monitoring institutional flows rather than just price action when assessing Bitcoin’s health. FAQs Q1: Why is Wall Street accumulating Bitcoin quietly? Institutions often accumulate assets through OTC desks and ETFs to avoid moving the market price. This quiet approach allows them to build positions without triggering the volatility that large exchange orders would cause. Q2: How does institutional accumulation affect Bitcoin’s price? Institutional buying tends to have a more gradual impact on price compared to retail trading. It can create a stable price floor but may not lead to rapid price increases. Over time, however, it reduces the available supply, which can support higher prices. Q3: Is the four-year Bitcoin cycle still relevant? Analysts like James Seyffart argue that the traditional four-year cycle may be weakening due to institutional involvement. With longer holding periods and different trading patterns, Bitcoin’s price may follow a less predictable but potentially more sustainable upward trajectory. This post Wall Street Quietly Accumulating Bitcoin, Says Bloomberg ETF Analyst first appeared on BitcoinWorld .

23 May 2026, 14:19

Crypto trader sees Hyperliquid, AI tokens leading next altcoin rally

Hyperliquid’s surge and renewed interest in AI-focused crypto projects are signaling a broader return of risk appetite in altcoins, says Michael van de Poppe.

23 May 2026, 14:09

XRP open interest jumps as NVT signals correction risk

🚨 Open interest in $XRP futures is soaring, fueling volatility. Prices may rally sharply, but key on-chain signals warn of instability. Continue Reading: XRP open interest jumps as NVT signals correction risk The post XRP open interest jumps as NVT signals correction risk appeared first on COINTURK NEWS .

23 May 2026, 14:01

Bitdeer Sells 100% Of Weekly Bitcoin Output As ETF Outflows and Market Weakness Push BTC Below $75K

Bitdeer, a Nasdaq-listed Bitcoin mining company, sent shockwaves throughout the cryptocurrency market when it confirmed that all weekly Bitcoin production was sold and that its own holdings amounted to zero. This decision comes as Bitcoin prices come under renewed pressure turning one of the larger players she mines to a cautious stance. Bitdeer mined 201.6 BTC in the week scheduled to finish on May 22 next year The company sold 100% of this output over at the end of October instead of keeping any part of it, therefore leading to a zero addition for its deposit with Bitcoin on its balance sheet. As a result, Bitdeer now holds zero BTC on its balance sheets apart from customer assets. Bitdeer #BTC Weekly Update BTC Holdings: 0 (pure holdings, excluding customer deposits) BTC Output: 201.6 BTC BTC Sold: 201.6 BTC Net BTC Added: 0 BTC Data as of May 22, 2026. #Bitcoin #BTC #BitcoinHoldings #BitcoinCommunity #BTCMining $BTDR pic.twitter.com/j0RNtD0Gk8 — Bitdeer (@Bitdeer) May 23, 2026 This decision represents a significant break from the accumulation strategies common among mining firms, many of whom tend to keep mined Bitcoin for the long-term price appreciation. Strategic Shift Reflects Changing Market Conditions The changeover from Bitdeer additionally underscores a broader outgrowth of mining companies altering the method they exchange with current market conditions. Bitcoin prices are under constant pressure, along with high operational costs, miners have begun to focus more on liquidity than accumulation. Mined BTC is sold for immediate cash flow which could fund costs of energy consumption, marketing expenses and infrastructure or capacity expansion. During such turbulent market conditions, it may be more important to have cash than assets that are likely to continue declining in value. The decision also indicates a shift to a more defensive positioning as miners seek to reduce vulnerability to the incoming price volatility, which can often materialize on shorter time frames. Bitcoin Falls Below the $75,000 As The Sentiment Changes Bitdeer released its move in conjunction with bigger declines seen across the Bitcoin market. The digital currency recently dropped below the $75,000-Crypto key level amid growing selling pressure and declining investor sentiment. This is not an isolated decline: it is being supported in the strong sector by large withdrawals from spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) that have had a considerable impact on markets over the last year. The effect of institutional flows on price here is magnified as they start reversing, signalling a greater entanglement between traditional financial instruments and crypto market dynamics. Huge Outflows from US ETFs is Signaling that Hands-on the Wheal Needed In the last two weeks alone, spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen more than $2.2 billion of net outflows, showing how sharply institutional demand has reversed. The most recent week seemed to confirm the trend with a cumulative outflow of $1.26 billion from US-based Bitcoin ETFs. Most of that, some $1 billion, to be exact, is linked to BlackRock, the world’s largest asset manager. The scale of these redemptions reflects a paradigm shift in institutional positioning with large entities reducing exposure to Bitcoin given current market dynamics. It also shows this is not a one off though, last week there were large outflows with $995 million pulled in total. Spot Bitcoin ETF’lerinde son iki haftada 2,2 milyar doların üzerinde çıkış yaşandı! ABD merkezli Bitcoin ETF'lerinde bu hafta toplamda 1,26 milyar dolarlık net çıkış yaşanırken, bunun 1 milyar dolarlık kısmı BlackRock tarafında gerçekleşti. Geçtiğimiz hafta da 995 milyon dolar… pic.twitter.com/fkxe0MH7HO — Ninja News (@ninjanewsx) May 23, 2026 The Partnership Between Miners and Institutional Flows Miner selling, and ETF outflows create a dangerous feedback loop that can blow price action up or down. The process adds to selling pressure as miners such as Bitdeer liquidate their holdings, increasing supply on the market itself. At the same time, institutional outflows decrease demand, which exacerbates the imbalance of buyers vs. sellers. This dynamic is especially exacerbated in periods of high uncertainty and can serve to drive prices lower. This means Bitdeer is not only reacting to current market conditions but actually influencing it too: such a decision to sell all mined BTC can hardly be interpreted independently of market behaviour. The company focuses on liquidity, which is consistent with the current trend of preserving capital. Implications On The Mining Sector Bitdeer might be sending a signal of a greater transition in the mining sector. Amid economic pressures and ongoing volatility in the broader market, more miners will likely follow suit, selling production for immediate gains rather than tackling an inventories building plan. That would have ramifications for market supply and the broader narrative behind Bitcoin in the long-term. In the past, miner accumulation has been seen as a bullish signal indicative of confidence in price growth over time. An increasingly uniform selling approach, however, could imply some caution. Additionally, having zero proprietary holdings as a baseline begs the question of whether mining companies were able to maintain their existing liquidity holds to operate by simultaneously securing proper positions. Exists, especially when near cash is scarce, selling can shore up immediate capital, but also it shuts off the upside if things change favorably. A Market At A Crossroads The combination of miner selling, ETF outflows and the declining price suggest that the bitcoin market is entering a new phase of calibration. The momentum forces that moved us majorly bullish in the past, namely heavy cash inflows from institutions, are now, correctly or incorrectly (you decide), shifting to become a headwind. The current priorities seem at Bitdeer, much as it was the case for many of these companies, to remain resilient and stay agile. To continue weathering the uncertain period that lies ahead, the company similarly plans to convert its mined assets into fiat cash in order to remain operational and have more increased flexibility. The broader market has to adjust to changing narratives and shifting dynamics. The direction Bitcoin takes will depend on several other factors, mainly institutional interest, the macroeconomic environment and the decisions made by market movers. For the time being, Bitdeer clearly states: liquidity and risk management is more important than long-term accumulation strategies in an environment like this. Disclosure: This is not trading or investment advice. Always do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any services. Follow us on Twitter @nulltxnews to stay updated with the latest Crypto, NFT, AI, Cybersecurity, Distributed Computing, and Metaverse news !

23 May 2026, 14:00

Big banks, IREN in gainers; Pershing Square, Futu among losers: week's financials wrap

More on Financials The Next Rotation (The Value Call Is Wrong) Big Bank Earnings: Resilience And Concern Big Bank Earnings Roundup Only two sectors are driving the S&P 500 bull market higher since 2022 Weekly ETFs: Six of 11 sectors record outflows; gold leads inflows