News
22 May 2026, 14:38
Stolen 4,052 ETH returned after $11.3M Verus bridge hack

🛑 Nearly 4,052 ETH worth about $8.5 million in $ETH was returned after the $11.3 million Verus bridge hack. The attacker agreed to keep 1,350 ETH as a white hat bounty in return for most of the funds. 🚨 Key point: Cross-chain bridges remain a prime target for hackers in decentralized finance. Continue Reading: Stolen 4,052 ETH returned after $11.3M Verus bridge hack The post Stolen 4,052 ETH returned after $11.3M Verus bridge hack appeared first on COINTURK NEWS .
22 May 2026, 14:32
Strategy insiders dump MSTR shares amid Bitcoin weakness

Strategy (NASDAQ: MSTR ) is under renewed scrutiny, with noteworthy insider sales coinciding with ongoing volatility in Bitcoin ( BTC ) markets. Most notably, CFO Andrew Kang has sold 5,597 MSTR shares at prices between $163.98 and $166, according to May 19 SEC filings . Prior to the move, he received 12,500 shares through vested restricted stock units (RSUs). The transaction was valued at approximately $927,866, and it comes just as Strategy stock has fallen nearly 10% over the past month. Following the sale, Kang still retains roughly 33,675 company shares. Andrew Kang stock moves. Source: SEC.gov Receive Signals on SEC-verified Insider Stock Trades Stocks This signal is triggered upon the reporting of the trade to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Enable signal Strategy insider sales alert Similarly, director Jarrod M. Patten has also offloaded 5,250 MSTR shares over the past few days, worth $875,087, as per his own filings . The shares were sold at prices ranging from $165.87 to $167 per share, slightly above the stock’s current price of $163. What’s more, the transactions followed the exercise of stock options totaling $97,933, executed at $18.654 per share. Jarrod M. Patten stock moves. Source: SEC.gov Receive Signals on SEC-verified Insider Stock Trades Stocks This signal is triggered upon the reporting of the trade to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Enable signal Even after the transactions, Patten retains direct ownership of 28,000 Class A Strategy shares. He also holds 10,000 shares of Series A Perpetual Strife Preferred Stock, 29,335 shares of Series A Perpetual Stretch Preferred Stock, and 5,000 shares of Series A Perpetual Stride Preferred Stock. Reportedly, the insider sales were executed to cover some of the tax withholding obligations. At the same time, former CEO Michael Saylor is saying that Bitcoin is going to rally soon and promises the company will be there to buy it. “I think we’ll rally from here…. Our company will probably buy all of the Bitcoin that gets produced by the miners between here and the year 2140,” Saylor told CNBC . MSTR shares are changing hands at $163 at the time of writing, down roughly 1% on the daily chart after trading between $162.4 and $168.71 during the previous session. Featured image via Shutterstock The post Strategy insiders dump MSTR shares amid Bitcoin weakness appeared first on Finbold .
22 May 2026, 14:30
Billionaire Mark Cuban Reveals He Sold Most Of His Bitcoin: Here’s Why

Mark Cuban said he has sold most of his Bitcoin, arguing that the asset failed to behave as the hedge he expected during a period of geopolitical stress and dollar weakness. Speaking on Portfolio Players by Front Office Sports, released on May 21, 2026, the billionaire investor said it had “lost the plot” after underperforming gold in the conditions he believed should have favored it. Why Mark Cuban Sold Most Of His Bitcoin “This might get some people upset,” Cuban said. “I think Bitcoin has lost the plot.” Cuban said his original thesis for buying BTC was tied to its role as an alternative to fiat currency debasement . He said he saw BTC as “a better version of gold than gold,” particularly in moments when confidence in traditional currencies came under pressure. But he said that view changed after it failed to rally during a period he described as marked by the “Iran war” and broader stress in fiat markets. “When all the shit hit the fan with the Iran war ,” Cuban said, “Bitcoin was always the best alternative to fiat currency losing its value.” According to Cuban, that expectation was not met. He contrasted BTCs performance with gold, which he said “blew up” and moved to $5,000, while Bitcoin fell. For Cuban, the issue was not simply that BTC traded lower, but that it failed in the specific macro environment in which he believed it should have shown strength. “Every time the dollar dropped, Bitcoin should have gone up,” Cuban said, arguing that a weaker dollar should have made the asset more attractive globally because Bitcoin is priced in dollars. “And it just didn’t do that.” NEW – BILLIONAIRE MARK CUBAN: I SOLD MOST OF MY BITCOIN. IT’S LOST THE PLOT. pic.twitter.com/9NlILDsKwu — Neil Jacobs (@NeilJacobs) May 21, 2026 The comments cut directly into one of BTC’s most persistent investment narratives: its role as a hedge against fiat weakness and monetary instability. Cuban’s criticism is not framed around network security, adoption, or long-term scarcity. It is focused on market behavior. In his view, Bitcoin failed to respond like a macro hedge when the setup appeared to demand it. Asked whether Bitcoin was “not such a hedge,” Cuban agreed. “No, it’s not the hedge that I expected it to be,” he said. “And that was really disappointing.” Cuban’s remarks also draw a distinction between BTC and ETH. While he said he was “more disappointed in Bitcoin,” he added that he was “not as disappointed in Ethereum.” He did not expand on the Ethereum comparison in the excerpt, but the contrast suggests his disappointment is concentrated on BTC’s failure to deliver against its hedge narrative rather than a blanket rejection of the entire crypto sector. His comments were harsher toward other parts of the market. Referring to “the token stuff” and meme coins, Cuban dismissed them as “garbage,” placing speculative tokens outside the part of the market he still appears willing to treat seriously. At press time, BTC traded at $77,257.
22 May 2026, 14:30
Futures Market Signals First Fed Rate Hike as Early as October

BitcoinWorld Futures Market Signals First Fed Rate Hike as Early as October The interest rate futures market has shifted its expectations, now pricing in the first Federal Reserve rate hike as early as October. This marks a notable change in market sentiment, reflecting growing confidence that the central bank will begin tightening monetary policy sooner than previously anticipated. What the Futures Market Is Signaling Futures contracts tied to the federal funds rate have adjusted in recent trading sessions, with implied probabilities for a rate increase at the October Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting rising above 50%. This represents a significant move from just weeks ago, when markets had largely discounted any move before December. The shift is driven by a combination of factors: stronger-than-expected economic data, persistent inflation readings, and recent hawkish commentary from Fed officials. Traders are now reassessing the pace at which the central bank will normalize policy after an extended period of near-zero interest rates. Economic Context Behind the Move The Fed has maintained its benchmark rate near zero since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, aiming to support economic recovery. However, with GDP growth accelerating and unemployment falling, the debate has shifted to when—not if—the central bank will act. Inflation has remained above the Fed’s 2% target for several months, driven by supply chain disruptions, rising energy costs, and robust consumer demand. While Fed Chair Jerome Powell has characterized current price pressures as largely transitory, markets are increasingly betting that the central bank will need to act preemptively to prevent overheating. Implications for Borrowers and Investors An October rate hike would have immediate implications for variable-rate debt, including credit cards, adjustable-rate mortgages, and business loans. For investors, a sooner-than-expected hike could trigger a repricing of risk assets, particularly growth stocks and cryptocurrencies, which have benefited from low-rate liquidity. Bond markets have already begun adjusting, with short-term Treasury yields rising in anticipation. The yield curve has flattened as traders price in tighter policy ahead. What Comes Next While the futures market is a useful gauge of expectations, it is not a guarantee. The Fed has emphasized that its decisions will remain data-dependent. Key indicators to watch include the next nonfarm payrolls report, consumer price index readings, and any further guidance from Fed officials at upcoming speaking engagements. If the data continues to run hot, October could become a live meeting. If economic momentum cools, the timeline could shift again. Markets are now pricing in a higher probability of action, but uncertainty remains high. Conclusion The pricing in of an October rate hike by the futures market represents a significant shift in expectations. It signals that traders see the Fed moving sooner than previously thought to address inflation and a strengthening economy. For investors and consumers, this means preparing for a potential change in the interest rate environment in the months ahead. FAQs Q1: What does it mean when the futures market prices in a rate hike? The futures market reflects the collective expectations of traders about where the federal funds rate will be at a future date. When prices shift, it indicates that market participants have changed their views on the likelihood and timing of a Fed move. Q2: Could the Fed still decide not to hike in October? Yes. The futures market reflects probabilities, not certainties. The Fed will base its decision on incoming economic data, and conditions could change between now and October. Q3: How would a rate hike affect cryptocurrency and stock markets? Higher interest rates typically reduce liquidity and increase the cost of borrowing, which can pressure growth stocks and speculative assets like cryptocurrencies. However, the actual impact depends on how the move is communicated and whether it is already priced in. This post Futures Market Signals First Fed Rate Hike as Early as October first appeared on BitcoinWorld .
22 May 2026, 14:28
Polymarket And Kalshi Are Now Under Congressional Investigation — The Evidence That Triggered It Is Hard To Dismiss

Representative James Comer, Republican of Kentucky and chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, announced a formal investigation into prediction market platforms Polymarket and Kalshi on May 22 — demanding that the CEOs of both companies explain how their platforms detect and prevent insider trading, in a probe triggered by a series of suspicious trades tied to classified US military operations and geopolitical events. Comer, who announced the investigation on CNBC’s Squawk Box, sent formal letters to the leadership of both platforms seeking information on how they verify user identities, enforce bans on users from restricted jurisdictions, and identify unusual trading patterns that could indicate exploitation of non-public information, per CNBC’s reporting. The inquiry marks a significant escalation of congressional scrutiny that has been building across both parties for months. The Evidence That Triggered The Probe The specific trading patterns that prompted the investigation are difficult to dismiss as coincidence. A US special forces soldier was arrested for placing insider trades on Polymarket tied to the US military incursion into Venezuela that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro — bets placed hours before the operation became public knowledge, per The Hill’s reporting . A separate trader accumulated nearly $1 million with a 93% success rate on wagers predicting unannounced US and Israeli operations against Iran, placing bets hours before strikes in October 2024, June 2025, and February 2026, according to a CNN report cited by Democratic lawmakers in a letter to Comer. The February 28 incident is the most striking data point. A group of 38 accounts collectively netted more than $2 million on bets tied to that day’s Iran strikes — with the accounts preloaded with funds the preceding week, per the Democratic lawmakers’ letter. On April 7, at least 50 newly created accounts placed coordinated bets on a US-Iran ceasefire, some opened minutes before the announcement, per the same letter. Polymarket separately reported suspicious activity across nearly 50 accounts in advance of the US-Iran ceasefire talks, per casino.org’s reporting of the congressional correspondence. Both Platforms Push Back Kalshi responded through its head of communications, Elisabeth Diana, who said the company looks forward to engaging with the committee and described its protections against insider trading as comprehensive, per CNBC. Polymarket did not immediately respond to a request for comment at the time of publication. Both platforms announced updated rules and surveillance tools in March 2026, restricting politicians from trading on their own campaigns and barring athletes from sports-related contracts — moves that preceded but did not prevent the current congressional escalation. The investigation lands at a moment of peak political sensitivity for prediction markets. Combined trading volumes on Kalshi and Polymarket reached tens of billions of dollars in March 2026 alone, per TipRanks. Both platforms count Donald Trump Jr. as an advisor. And both spent a combined nearly $1 million on federal lobbying in 2025, per CNBC — a Washington presence that may now complicate rather than protect their regulatory standing. This development marks a pivotal and potentially consequential moment for the nascent prediction market sector. A formal congressional investigation with documented evidence of military-linked insider trading is a categorically different threat than a regulatory inquiry — and the outcome could reshape how these platforms operate, who can participate, and whether the CFTC’s current oversight framework survives intact. Cover image from Grok, ETHUSD chart from Tradingview
22 May 2026, 14:25
Bitcoin miner MARA spent $4.3M on CEO security in 2025 as crypto attacks rise

MARA spent $4.3 million on CEO Fred Thiel’s security in 2025, including vehicle armoring, as crypto wrench attacks increased globally.











































