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22 May 2026, 09:17
ETH supply turns inflationary while bulls point to changing investor mood
Ethereum sentiment is at a crossroads, as former supporters are re-evaluating the network’s usage. ETH also trades around $2,100, with virtually no net gains for the past five years. Ethereum is going through a ‘vibe shift’, according to David Hoffman, founder of Bankless. Hoffman recently sold all his personal ETH holdings, and noted a shift on social media. Hoffman, who has previously shown himself to be an Ethereum maximalist, recently started evaluating other crypto narratives, especially following the series of hacks in April . The shift to ETH skepticism was seen as a strong sign that Ethereum may finally have other competitors, while facing a shift in crypto usage. Currently, Bankless holds less than 1 ETH in one of its public wallets . Crypto investor Ryan Adams also mentioned he would step back from direct control over Bankless, but remains bullish on crypto and Ethereum. According to Messari, ETH mindshare fell below its baseline in May and recovered slightly to 4.2%. Currently, Ethereum retains its legacy status as a network for DeFi and stablecoin payments, but sentiment remains relatively low. Is Ethereum going through another crypto winter? As of May 2026, ETH sentiment remained neutral , based on the fear and greed index. ETH open interest stands at $12.3M, near the one-year low mark. For now, ETH derivative trading is more active compared to the 2022-2023 crypto winter. ETH is already down by over 55% of its peak from August 2025, after failing to climb to a higher price range. Ongoing spot market weakness and signs of selling pressure have weighed down on ETH and prevented a price recovery. According to Bitmine’s founder Tom Lee, the current ETH sentiment may reflect the general despair due to decreased liquidity. Lee still believes Ethereum can become the settlement layer for global finance and serve as a platform for AI agents. Agree with @RyanSAdams that a deep bench of leaders and developers are ready to ensure $ETH remains the future settlement layer of finance and AI – to me, much of bearish sentiment reflects the disdain and despair seen at the nadir of crypto winter (finger pointing at the lows)… https://t.co/RHgwgutIo2 — Thomas (Tom) Lee (not drummer) FundstratDirect.com (@fundstrat) May 21, 2026 Research by Santiment shows traders and other ETH backers have recently shifted to an even worse sentiment. The recent exits from the Ethereum Foundation also put a question on the network’s goals. Santiment also noted Ethereum comments switched more negative in May, after holding up a more bullish attitude in April. Additionally, the Ethereum Foundation heavily pushed L2 chains, which led to a brief bull market and increased liquidity for some networks. Now, the Foundation has taken up the task of scaling the L1 once again, while competing with networks that are already much faster and cheaper. ETH turns into an inflationary asset Current ETH activity happens at extremely low gas prices. As a result, more ETH is produced each week. The Ethereum network no longer acts as sound money, and has achieved a 0.82% annualized inflation. The inflation may be partially offset by staking. However, even staking nodes may need to sell or loan some of their ETH to lock in profits. Currently, ecosystems like BNB Chain, Solana, and Hyperliquid show a larger speculative enthusiasm, while Ethereum lacks clear narratives and new trends to draw in traders. Don’t just read crypto news. Understand it. Subscribe to our newsletter. It's free .
22 May 2026, 09:08
XRP Price Defies Market Weakness as ETF Flows Crush BTC and ETH
XRP price is holding its ground while the rest of the market buckles, as supported by its ETF flow data. XRP ETFs pulled in $8.88 million in the latest session, extending a run that included $18.52 million on May 14 and $10.87 million on May 15, totaling $42 million in net inflows across the past week. Bitcoin ETFs, by contrast, shed another $100.9 million in the same session , following a brutal stretch of $648.6 million, $331.1 million, and $290.4 million in consecutive daily redemptions. Ethereum also lost $32.6 million in the latest session. Not just ETF flows, XRP has also recorded its fourth-largest daily wallet creation spike of 2025 , with 4,300 new addresses added in 24 hours. $XRP has had 4,300 new wallets created in 24 hours, the 4th largest spike of 2026. Network growth is among the top leading signals to identify reversals. Check out XRP’s network growth and level of address activity any time with this handy chart: https://t.co/8jwj1uvJta pic.twitter.com/Fbo1WRKEN8 — Santiment Intelligence (@SantimentData) May 21, 2026 The contrast between XRP inflows and BTC/ETH outflows points to selective rotation as BTC and ETH in fights againts its key supports. Discover: The best crypto to diversify your portfolio with Can XRP Price Break $1.50 This Week? XRP’s price range of $1.36–$1.38 represents a holding pattern. The 7-day picture is less flattering with a -7% drawdown over the past week; the current stabilization is a recovery from a slide, not a continuation of a trend. We identify $1.20–$1.25 as the critical support floor, with the $1.50–$1.60 band acting as near-term resistance that XRP has yet to convincingly reclaim. Xrp (XRP) 24h 7d 30d 1y All time Options positioning around the $1.40 level has been flagged as a near-term magnet, suggesting market makers may be keeping price anchored in a tight range heading into June expiry. ETF inflow data is encouraging, but spot volume has been modest, which limits the conviction behind the move. The data points to a token in a critical zone, not yet confirming a reversal. Watch the $1.40 level closely. Discover: The best pre-launch token sales Bitcoin Hyper: A Superior Chain XRP’s rotation story is compelling, but even a successful breakout to $1.60 from $1.37 would represent just 17% upside. For traders who want the narrative of Bitcoin ecosystem expansion, institutional capital flows, and infrastructure plays without the large-cap ceiling, early-stage presales offer a different risk/reward profile entirely. Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER) is currently in presale at $0.0136 , having raised a huge $32 million to date. The project positions itself as the first-ever Bitcoin Layer 2 with Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) integration, targeting sub-second finality and smart contract capability on top of Bitcoin’s security layer, with performance that exceeds Solana. A Decentralized Canonical Bridge handles BTC transfers, and staking is live with a high 36% APY for early participants. The infrastructure thesis aligns directly with the capital rotation dynamic driving XRP’s current moment. Investors are not abandoning crypto; they are hunting for assets with structural upside that the majors can no longer provide at scale. Research Bitcoin Hyper here. The post XRP Price Defies Market Weakness as ETF Flows Crush BTC and ETH appeared first on Cryptonews .
22 May 2026, 08:55
Bitcoin Volatility Drops to Lowest Level Since October as Market Jitters Ease
BitcoinWorld Bitcoin Volatility Drops to Lowest Level Since October as Market Jitters Ease Bitcoin’s implied volatility has fallen to its lowest point in roughly six months, signaling that traders and institutional investors are growing more comfortable with the current market environment. The Bitcoin 30-day Implied Volatility Index (BVIV) recently declined to 38%, a level not seen since October of last year, according to data from CoinDesk. What the Decline in Implied Volatility Means Implied volatility reflects the market’s expectation of future price swings. A falling BVIV suggests that options traders are pricing in less uncertainty about Bitcoin’s near-term direction. Silian Tang, a partner at Monarq Asset Management, said the drop indicates a notable reduction in risk aversion among market participants. Tang attributed the shift to two primary factors: easing geopolitical tensions, particularly related to Iran, and continued Bitcoin purchases by Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy). Tang explained that Strategy’s ongoing acquisitions, financed through its STRC preferred stock structure, are helping to establish a price floor for Bitcoin. This consistent buying pressure has limited downside volatility, giving traders fewer reasons to hedge aggressively against sharp declines. Institutional Options Selling Compresses Volatility Further Beyond spot market dynamics, Tang pointed to a structural shift in how institutional investors are interacting with Bitcoin options. Many large holders are employing a strategy known as covered call writing, where they hold spot Bitcoin while systematically selling high-strike call options to generate premium income. This practice effectively caps upside volatility in the options market, contributing to the overall compression of implied volatility. This behavior is not unusual in mature financial markets. Similar patterns have been observed in equity markets, where institutional covered call programs, such as those tracked by the CBOE BuyWrite Index, tend to reduce implied volatility during periods of relative stability. Why This Matters for Bitcoin Investors Lower implied volatility often correlates with reduced fear and uncertainty in the market. For retail investors, it may signal a more predictable trading environment, though it does not guarantee that large price swings will not occur. For institutional participants, lower volatility can reduce the cost of hedging, potentially encouraging greater capital allocation to digital assets. However, some analysts caution that extremely low volatility can precede sharp moves. In options markets, a prolonged period of low implied volatility sometimes leads to a sudden re-pricing when unexpected news breaks. The current environment bears watching, particularly as macroeconomic factors such as interest rate decisions and regulatory developments remain in flux. Conclusion Bitcoin’s declining implied volatility reflects a market that is increasingly comfortable with the status quo. Easing geopolitical risks, consistent institutional buying, and systematic options selling are all contributing to a calmer pricing environment. While this may benefit investors seeking stability, the nature of cryptocurrency markets means that conditions can change rapidly. For now, the data suggests that the market is pricing in less risk than at any point since last October. FAQs Q1: What is the Bitcoin 30-day Implied Volatility Index (BVIV)? The BVIV measures the market’s expectation of Bitcoin’s price volatility over the next 30 days, derived from options pricing. A lower reading indicates that traders expect smaller price swings. Q2: Why does institutional call option selling reduce volatility? When institutions sell call options while holding spot Bitcoin, they create a supply of options that caps upside price expectations. This activity dampens the implied volatility calculated from options market data. Q3: Does low implied volatility mean Bitcoin prices will stay flat? Not necessarily. Implied volatility reflects expectations, not guarantees. Low volatility can sometimes precede sudden price movements if unexpected news or events occur. This post Bitcoin Volatility Drops to Lowest Level Since October as Market Jitters Ease first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
22 May 2026, 08:50
Bitcoin Pizza Day 2026: Commemorating Crypto’s First Real-World Transaction
Every May 22, the crypto industry remembers and celebrates a trade that sparked a financial revolution: 10,000 bitcoins (BTC) for two Papa John’s pizzas. That one trade, although trivial at the time, marked the first known real-world transaction using BTC. Today marks Bitcoin Pizza Day’s 16th anniversary, and it’s a good time to assess how far the digital assets landscape has evolved. But before we get to measuring, let us recap the story of how a man spent thousands of coins, currently worth hundreds of millions of dollars, on two boxes of pizza. Pizza Day’s 16th Anniversary The year was 2010 when Floridian programmer and early BTC adopter Laszlo Hanyecz ordered two pizzas from Papa John’s to be delivered to his home. At the time, BTC was worth $0.0041, so the purchase cost Hanyecz $41; however, BTC hit $1 nine months after the transaction, increasing the cost to $10,000. As it’s more than evident now, BTC did not stop there. Over the following years, the leading digital asset went on to hit an all-time high (ATH) after another. As of 2024, 10,000 BTC was worth $690 million. In 2025, the assets were valued at $1.1 billion, given bitcoin’s price of $111,000 at the time. It is worth noting that last year’s Bitcoin Pizza Day was celebrated during the bull market, and BTC hit an ATH on that day. At the peak of the bull run in October, BTC surged to $126,200, bringing the value of 10,000 BTC to $1.26 billion. Unfortunately, this year’s Pizza Day comes at a time when the bears are in control, and bitcoin’s momentum is low . Regardless, the 10,000 BTC from the pizza purchase 16 years ago is currently valued at more than $770 million, per current prices. Data from CoinMarketCap shows BTC trading around $77,360 at press time. Bitcoin’s Growth in 16 Years The current value of those Papa John’s pizzas reflects how much Bitcoin as an asset and a network has grown. From adoption to recognition to network development, the asset has come a long way. A growing number of vendors and merchants now accept BTC as payment, and the asset is increasingly integrated into modern wealth portfolios and institutional frameworks. The crypto industry has grown alongside Bitcoin, and leading financial networks are jumping on the bandwagon. Meanwhile, 10,000 BTC could only afford two pizzas 16 years ago, but that is not the case today. With $770 million, one can access multiple luxury items, property, and experiences today. The post Bitcoin Pizza Day 2026: Commemorating Crypto’s First Real-World Transaction appeared first on CryptoPotato .
22 May 2026, 08:50
Binance Expands Monitoring Tag to 9 Tokens, Including ALCX and COOKIE
BitcoinWorld Binance Expands Monitoring Tag to 9 Tokens, Including ALCX and COOKIE Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, has added nine digital assets to its monitoring tag list, signaling heightened volatility and delisting risk for the affected tokens. The exchange announced the inclusion of ALCX, COOKIE, DODO, EPIC, HEI, HFT, STORJ, SYN, and TLM in a routine update to its risk assessment framework. What the Monitoring Tag Means for Traders The monitoring tag is a designation Binance applies to tokens that exhibit significantly higher volatility or risk compared to other listed assets. Tokens under this tag are subject to stricter trading conditions, including mandatory risk acknowledgment pop-ups for users before they can trade. The exchange periodically reviews these tokens and may delist them if they fail to meet ongoing listing criteria. For traders holding or considering positions in these assets, the tag serves as an official warning that the token’s future on the platform is uncertain. Binance has previously delisted several monitoring-tagged tokens after they failed to demonstrate sufficient project development, community engagement, or compliance with regulatory standards. Breakdown of the Affected Tokens The nine tokens span various sectors of the crypto ecosystem. ALCX (Alchemix) is a DeFi protocol focused on self-repaying loans, while DODO is a decentralized exchange aggregator. STORJ operates in decentralized cloud storage, and SYN (Synapse) bridges multiple blockchain networks. The inclusion of lesser-known tokens like COOKIE, EPIC, HEI, and TLM suggests Binance is casting a wide net in its risk review process. Notably, HFT (Hashflow) and COOKIE have seen significant price volatility in recent months, which may have triggered the review. Binance has not disclosed specific reasons for each token’s inclusion, but the move aligns with its broader push to tighten listing standards amid increasing regulatory scrutiny globally. Market Reaction and Trading Implications Following the announcement, several of the affected tokens experienced price declines as traders reacted to the heightened risk. ALCX dropped approximately 8% within hours of the news, while COOKIE and DODO saw similar downward pressure. The monitoring tag often leads to reduced liquidity as institutional and retail traders avoid assets facing potential delisting. Binance advises users to monitor these tokens closely and stay updated on project developments. The exchange also recommends diversifying portfolios to mitigate risk associated with any single asset’s potential removal. Conclusion Binance’s expansion of its monitoring tag to include nine additional tokens reflects the exchange’s ongoing efforts to manage risk and maintain market integrity. For traders, the update serves as a clear signal to reassess exposure to these assets and stay informed about future delisting decisions. As the crypto market matures, such risk management tools are becoming standard practice among major exchanges, underscoring the importance of due diligence for all market participants. FAQs Q1: What does the Binance monitoring tag mean for token holders? The monitoring tag indicates that a token is under review for potentially higher risk or volatility. Holders may face trading restrictions, including mandatory risk warnings, and the token could be delisted if it fails to meet Binance’s criteria. Q2: How long do tokens stay on the monitoring list? There is no fixed timeline. Binance reviews tokens periodically and may remove the tag if the project improves its fundamentals, or proceed with delisting if issues persist. The duration varies case by case. Q3: Can I still trade monitoring-tagged tokens on Binance? Yes, trading is still permitted, but users must acknowledge a risk warning before executing trades. The exchange may also impose additional restrictions, such as higher margin requirements or limited access to certain features. This post Binance Expands Monitoring Tag to 9 Tokens, Including ALCX and COOKIE first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
22 May 2026, 08:47
Why is XRP falling despite six straight days of ETF inflows?
Ripple’s XRP has underperformed so far this week despite the massive inflows into its ETFs. XRP is down by less than 1% in the last 24 hours and now trades at $1.36. The bulls could lose the $1.32 support level in the near term as the bearish price action gets stronger. Momentum indicators are still bearish, adding further pressure to XRP. ETF inflows continue to surge higher XRP has been underperforming over the past few days despite the massive ETF inflows recorded. According to CoinGlass’s ETF page , XRP ETFs recorded an inflow of $8.7 million on Thursday, up from the $1.4 million recorded the previous day. Yesterday’s data means that the funds saw inflow for six consecutive days. However, the ETF inflow is yet to reflect in XRP’s price as the coin is down by 7% in the last seven days. While institutional demand is growing, retail demand continues to decline. The derivatives data shows that XRP’s futures Open Interest now stands at $2.9 billion. The long-to-short ratio reads 0.9135, indicating that the shorts are paying the longs. The ratio staying below one means that the bears are currently in control of the market. Meanwhile, the XRP OI-Weighted Funding Rate flipped positive on Thursday and now reads 0.0054%. The positive rate suggests that buyers are starting to open new positions in the market. Finally, on-chain activity on XRP Ledger (XRPL) has increased since the start of the week. According to Santiment , the number of active addresses on XRPL has surged since the start of the week and is now approaching 24,000. An increase in this metric suggests growing user engagement and speculative interest. Usually, investor confidence increases when on-chain activity shows growing user engagement. Ripple price forecast: XRP still consolidating above $1.32 The XRP/USD 4-hour chart is still bearish as XRP is down 1% and now trades around $1.36 per coin. The bearish trend is kept in check by XRP’s struggle to surpass the 50-day EMA at $1.41. The momentum indicators also support a bearish outlook in the near term. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is hovering near 43, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) histogram is in negative territory, hinting that the sellers might continue to dominate. If the bulls regain control, they would encounter immediate resistance just around the 50-day EMA at $1.41. The buyers would need to close the daily candle above this resistance if they stand a chance to push XRP higher towards the $1.50 psychological level. An extended rally could enable XRP to reclaim the $1.70 resistance and break the bearish trend. However, if the selling pressure persists, XRP may retest the support at $1.32. A deeper pullback below this level would expose demand zones below $1.30. The post Why is XRP falling despite six straight days of ETF inflows? appeared first on Invezz
