Category: Cryptocurrency News

The market cap of the world’s first cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, surpassed that of retail and tech behemoth Amazon on “Bitcoin Pizza Day.”Market data shows that Bitcoin (BTC) had a market cap of $2.205 trillion at the time of writing, $70 billion more than the $2.135 trillion Amazon valuation.“By surpassing Amazon in terms of capitalization, Bitcoin has attracted even more attention from the non-crypto audience,” said Alex Obchakevich, founder of Obchakevich Research. Obchakevich said the latest rally “will strengthen confidence in Bitcoin and lead to new injections into the crypto market.” The surge came as Bitcoin set a new all-time high and traded above $110,000, which Obchavich said will “attract new investors to large funds.” Obchakevich noted that institutional players continue to expand their role in the digital asset space:“In May, BlackRock became the second largest bitcoin holder after Satoshi Nakamoto, surpassing Binance in this indicator.”Hassan Khan, the CEO of Bitcoin liquidity platform Ordeez, told Cointelegraph that “this is a structural change.” He explained that “Bitcoin is no longer simply a hedge, it’s in the process of becoming a benchmark currency.”Related: Bitcoin ‘looks exhausted’ as next bear market yields $69K targetThe crypto market approaches new highsAccording to CoinMarketCap data, the total cryptocurrency market cap stood at $3.49 trillion at the time of writing. While high, this is still nearly 6% lower than the all-time high of $3.71 trillion reported at the end of 2024.Total crypto market cap one-year chart. Source: CoinMarketCapMore CoinMarketCap data shows that Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) saw nearly $604 million of net inflows on May 21. The current open interest on crypto derivatives is $756.16 billion for perpetual swaps and $3.24 billion for futures. Looking into the future, Obchakevich shared his view on Bitcoin’s direction:“We are moving gradually towards $200,000, with gradual adjustments. I am sure that this year we will see Bitcoin at $150,000 and $90,000.“Khan said that “large net inflows to ETFs and increasing open interest demonstrate that institutional confidence is growing.” Looking forward, he said:“Short term profit taking and macro rate uncertainty are tempering momentum. But below-the-surface metrics […] point to continued high conviction. The foundation is more solid than in any other cycle before it.“Related: BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF notches 2-week high inflow as BTC nears $112KToday is a special day for BitcoinToday, May 22, is “Bitcoin Pizza Day,” a recurrence commemorating May 22, 2010, when programmer Laszlo Hanyecz made the first documented purchase of goods using Bitcoin, paying 10,000 BTC for two Papa John’s pizzas.“What was once considered a highly speculative risk has evolved into a serious asset class,” said Ulli Spankowski, chief digital officer at Boerse Stuttgart Group.Spankowski added that, nowadays, Bitcoin “boasts a market capitalization of over 2 trillion US dollars, ranking it as the fifth-largest asset globally, behind gold and the three largest publicly traded companies.”Magazine: NBA star Tristan Thompson misses $32B in Bitcoin by taking $82M contract in cash

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Binance announced that its customers in Brazil will be able to make payments using their cryptocurrency balances at millions of businesses through the Pix system. This development increases the usability of crypto in the country, allowing users to save and spend directly in crypto. Binance Revolutionizes Crypto Payments in Brazil With Pix Integration Binance has […]

Key takeawaysChatGPT-powered AI agents automate trading tasks using natural language prompts and API integrations, improving speed and consistency.Successes occur when ChatGPT is used as a support tool, not a fully autonomous trading system.Failures happen when traders over-rely on ChatGPT without real-time data, proper risk management or manual oversight.Regulatory focus on AI in trading is increasing, with new frameworks emerging to ensure transparency, accountability and compliance.What if a crypto trader didn’t need to constantly check charts, worry about emotions, or stay up all night watching for sudden price swings? What if those tasks could be handled by an intelligent agent that understands instructions in plain English — and reacts within milliseconds? That’s where ChatGPT-powered AI agents come in.These tools combine natural language processing with real-time trading logic to automate decision-making in one of the world’s most volatile markets. From rebalancing portfolios to reacting to market sentiment, ChatGPT is being adapted to act as a trading assistant, risk manager and market analyst — all rolled into one. But can it truly match or even outperform human intuition? This article explores how far these agents have come, where they shine and where they still fall short.How ChatGPT-powered AI agents operate in cryptocurrency marketsChatGPT-powered AI agents are changing how people interact with crypto markets. These tools combine ChatGPT’s language abilities with external trading tools and APIs to help users monitor prices, understand trends and even place trades automatically. Instead of just reacting to charts or numbers, ChatGPT can understand plain language commands like “Buy Ethereum if the price drops below $2,000” or “Sell Bitcoin if RSI goes above 70.”These AI trading assistants can work with major platforms like Coinbase, Kraken, OKX and other centralized or decentralized exchanges and can also tap into decentralized finance (DeFi) tools and smart contracts. With the right setup, ChatGPT can help automate trading strategies based on both technical data and market news.Success stories vs. failures in ChatGPT-powered crypto tradingSome traders have used ChatGPT to assist in automating parts of their crypto trading processes, particularly for strategy generation and sentiment analysis. For example, a user shared on Reddit that they used a ChatGPT-based AI agent for technical analysis on Ether (ETH), feeding it four-hour and daily chart screenshots. By interpreting market sentiment, support and resistance zones, and other indicators, they managed to make $6,500 in profits.Similarly, in the broader crypto sector, ChatGPT has been applied to support project development activities such as drafting white papers and marketing content. A notable example is the launch of the “TURBO” memecoin, which reportedly reached a market capitalization of over $50 million in 2024. In this case, ChatGPT was used to streamline documentation and communication rather than manage trading activity, illustrating its usefulness as a support tool in crypto-related initiatives.However, limitations are evident when ChatGPT is applied beyond its core design. While ChatGPT could suggest a trading portfolio and explain its reasoning clearly, it lacks access to real-time market data and couldn’t respond to sudden volatility. In one instance, ChatGPT was allocated $100 across multiple tokens but failed to actively manage the portfolio as prices fluctuated. This resulted in missed opportunities and underperformance compared to dynamic algorithmic strategies.Individual experiences reinforce these observations. A Redditor exposed a scam where a YouTuber promoted a “ChatGPT trading bot” tutorial that led users to deploy malicious smart contracts. The contracts, generated using ChatGPT and passed off as safe, were designed to drain user wallets once funded. Victims collectively lost $17,240 in ETH, highlighting the danger of blindly trusting AI-generated code without proper auditing.Even when asked, “If I use ChatGPT to build an AI agent for crypto trading, can I become a millionaire?” ChatGPT responded with a realistic outlook — acknowledging that while it’s possible, success depends on having a profitable strategy, disciplined risk management, and the ability to scale effectively.Here is ChatGPT’s response:These cases suggest that while ChatGPT can support certain elements of the trading process, it should not be treated as a standalone solution for autonomous crypto trading.AI in crypto trading: Key benefits and limitationsAI tools like ChatGPT are increasingly being integrated into crypto trading workflows to improve speed, accuracy and efficiency. While they offer important advantages, they also carry specific limitations that traders must actively manage. Below are the main benefits and challenges:Key benefits of using AI for crypto tradingAI bots can execute trades in milliseconds, crucial for capturing opportunities in fast-moving crypto markets.Bots follow pre-programmed rules precisely, eliminating emotional biases that often affect human traders.Crypto markets are always open, and AI bots can monitor and act around the clock without interruption.A single bot can manage multiple trading pairs, exchanges and strategies simultaneously.ChatGPT can understand specific prompts like “Rebalance every Monday” or “Set stop-loss at 5%,” allowing flexible automation.Limitations of ChatGPT in cryptocurrency tradingChatGPT does not access live market data unless specifically integrated with external APIs (e.g., TradingView, CoinMarketCap or exchange websockets).Instructions must be clear and unambiguous; ChatGPT may misinterpret vague or complex commands.Improperly secured API keys or lack of two-factor authentication (2FA) can expose trading accounts to unauthorized access.ChatGPT’s cloud-based infrastructure can introduce latency, which could impact performance during highly volatile periods.ChatGPT does not monitor regional compliance rules; users must manually enforce trading limits based on local regulations.Ethical and regulatory implications of AI in crypto tradingAs AI becomes more integrated into trading systems, it raises significant ethical and regulatory concerns that stakeholders across the financial sector are beginning to address.Accountability: If an AI agent executes a harmful or unlawful trade, questions arise around legal responsibility. It remains unclear in many jurisdictions whether liability falls primarily on the developer, the trader using the AI system or the platform facilitating the transactions.Market manipulation risks: Autonomous AI bots could unintentionally engage in activities such as spoofing (placing and canceling fake orders to mislead the market) or wash trading (creating artificial volume), especially if not properly programmed with compliance safeguards.Regulatory oversight: Financial authorities, including the US Securities and Exchange Commission and the European Securities and Markets Authority, are actively studying the implications of AI and algorithmic trading. These agencies have recognized that traditional trading regulations may not fully account for autonomous decision-making by AI systems.Policy developments: In January 2024, the European Commission released updates to its Digital Finance Strategy, which included references to AI-based financial services. While not yet finalized, these draft regulations under the broader Digital Finance Package signal a move toward stricter compliance expectations for firms deploying AI in financial markets.Meanwhile, ethical crypto platforms are beginning to voluntarily disclose the use of trading bots in their systems. In parallel, open-source communities are advocating for clearer audit trails, improved model transparency and the establishment of ethical guidelines for AI applications in finance to ensure accountability and fairness.This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

Travelers using cryptocurrency for booking arrangements spend more than twice as much as regular travelers using fiat money, according to a joint report from Binance Pay and crypto travel platform Travala shared with Cointelegraph.Crypto-based bookings on Travala reached $80 million in 2024, up from $45 million the year before. Crypto travelers are also outspending their fiat counterparts, with an average booking value of  $1,211 per transaction, over 2.5 times more than fiat users who spend $469.Additionally, the report said crypto users were three times more valuable over their lifetime due to longer stays and higher repeat bookings, with crypto travelers 57% more likely to make a repeat hotel purchase.Source: Binance Pay, TravalaJuan Otero, CEO of Travala, attributed these travel preferences to the flexible nature of Web3 jobs:“Many also work in the digital asset industry or have flexible, remote work lifestyles, which makes them more likely to travel frequently and stay in one place for longer while seeking out destinations that support seamless, global payments.”Crypto-based transactions have become more common in the travel sector and beyond. Airlines that have integrated digital currencies into their booking systems have seen a 40% boost in bookings, with travel and hospitality representing 14% of all crypto transactions in 2024, according to a Feb. 21 report by Triple-A.Related: Crypto spending will grow, but fiat isn’t going anywhere: Mercuryo CEOThe main benefit of using crypto for travel is its borderless, global utility, Jonathan Lim, the global head of Binance Pay, told Cointelegraph. “Travelers can skip currency exchange lines, avoid foreign transaction fees, and pay instantly using assets they already hold,” he added.A growing number of crypto users also drives the increase in travelers using crypto to pay for trips. Triple-A’s report shows that cryptocurrency ownership has a compound annual growth rate of 99%, significantly outpacing the growth of traditional payment methods. Among crypto owners, 65% express interest in using it for payments.Founded in 2017, Travala is among the most popular crypto-native travel platforms, which enables users to pay for services like flights, hotel stays and tours with 141 different cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin (BTC) and USDC (USDC) via Binance Pay. Related: Bhutan launches tourism crypto payments with Binance Pay and DK BankCrypto payment covers more and more retail industriesThe first real-world Bitcoin transaction — 10,000 BTC for two pizzas — occurred 15 years ago today, on May 22, 2010, now commemorated as Bitcoin Pizza Day. Since then, crypto payments have expanded into high-end retail, luxury goods and more recently, fast food.First real-world purchase using BTC Source: bitcointalk.orgThe first retail businesses to accept cryptocurrency payments were primarily targeted at high-income consumers. In 2021, fashion brand Philipp Plein became one of the pioneers in accepting crypto, followed by Gucci, luxury watchmakers Franck Muller and Norgain, as well as high-end car dealerships and manufacturers.As the crypto holder base expands, more retailers are beginning to accept digital currencies for everyday transactions. On May 16, American fast food outlet Steak’n Shake began to accept Bitcoin as payment.Yet even with the Lightning Network implementation, a Steak’n Shake customer revealed that a $5 burger could cost over $8 with network fees and take over 20 minutes to confirm payment.Related: Bitcoin accepted at fast food chain Steak ’n Shake from May 16With Binance Pay, payments are confirmed within seconds. Lim told Cointelegraph that’s because “Binance Pay operates as an offchain, closed-loop payment solution within the Binance ecosystem.”Still, most crypto travel payments on Travala are made using stablecoins like Tether’s USDt (USDT) and Circle’s USDC (USDC). Binance Pay transactions are ultimately converted into fiat at the point of sale by the merchant or payment partner based on a predetermined exchange rate.Magazine: Crypto is used for payments in Georgia, not to get rich: Tbilisi Crypto City Guide

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Following its launch by the Shiba Inu team back in August 2023, the Shibarium network has been subject to the highs and lows of the market. Despite coming from a team with a large community, the Ethereum Layer 2 network has struggled to stay relevant in the fierce competition among Ethereum Layer 2 networks. After the initial run fueled by the anticipation of the launch, the Shibarium network is dealing with low participation as new account numbers flatline. New Accounts On Shibarium Fall Below 100 The new account metric tracks the total number of brand new accounts that are created on the Shibarium network daily. This is different from the total daily users as it only tracks new accounts and not existing accounts. It also helps to show the adoption rate as more new accounts signing up shows adoption is rising and the number falling means the opposite. Related Reading: Did Cardano Founder Steal $619 Million? Hopkinson Makes Shocking Revelation Presently, the Shibarium network is falling behind as the total number of new accounts signing up have fallen below the 100 mark. This comes after a major spike at the beginning of May 2025 when a total of 5,111 new accounts were created on May 6th alone. Since then, the number has crashed by over 99%, dropping first to just above 200 new daily accounts, before bottoming out below 100. Data from ShibariumScan shows that in the last four days, fewer than 100 new accounts have been recorded daily. This also coincides with a sharp decline in the active accounts on the network, going from over 21,000 daily at the start of May to less than 15,000% by the middle of the month. New transaction figures have also fallen with 1.87 million recorded on Tuesday compared to the 3 million average at the start of the month. Related Reading: Bitcoin Weekly Closes Above Range High Despite Crash From $107,000, Why The Bulls Are Still In Charge Shiba Inu Follows Bearish Trend The trend of low adoption recorded on the Shibarium blockchain has also been felt in other areas such as the total addresses holding the Shiba Inu token. According to IntoTheBlock, the total addresses holding Shiba Inu have seen a decline over the last couple of days. This metric went from above 1.4 million to 1.39 million addresses. A small decline, but nonetheless pointing to an exit from the cryptocurrency by investors. At the same time, the Shiba Inu price has also struggled to stay afloat at this time. Caught in a power struggle between the bears and the bulls, Shiba Inu has seen its price constrained to a tight range of $0.000014 and $0.000017. If the sell-offs continue, then the meme coin could break below the support currently being established at $0.000014. Featured image from Dall.E, chart from TradingView.com

VeChain has announced the launch of its bridge through an integration with Wanchain, enabling interoperability with bitcoin, ethereum, and over 40 other leading blockchains. This milestone marks a significant evolution in VeChain’s transition to a fully interconnected Web3 ecosystem, allowing users to bridge assets such as BTC, ETH, and USDC directly into VeChain while also […]

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David Sacks, US President Donald Trump’s top adviser on crypto and artificial intelligence, said the administration expects the stablecoin bill to clear the Senate with bipartisan backing.“We have every expectation now that it’s going to pass,” Sacks told CNBC on May 21, following a key procedural vote that saw 15 Democrats join Republicans to clear the filibuster threshold.The Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act is the most advanced federal effort yet to establish a legal framework for dollar-pegged digital assets.Sacks said the bill could trigger “trillions of dollars” in demand for US Treasurys by unlocking stablecoin growth under clear rules.“We already have over $200 billion in stablecoins — it’s just unregulated,” he added. “If we provide legal clarity, we create enormous demand for Treasurys practically overnight.”Related: GENIUS Act ‘legitimizes’ stablecoins for global institutional adoptionStablecoin bill moves forward despite Trump controversyThe stablecoin bill’s progress comes despite controversy surrounding the Trump family’s crypto dealings. Critics have raised concerns that the administration benefits from the legislation, given its ties to World Liberty Financial, a crypto firm backed by Trump family members that recently launched a stablecoin, USD1.The US Senate voted 66–32 to advance debate on the GENIUS stablecoin bill. Source: US SenateThe token is backed by US Treasurys and dollar deposits and has received a $2 billion investment commitment from Abu Dhabi’s MGX fund via Binance.Sacks, who disclosed the sale of $200 million in crypto-related holdings before joining the White House, declined to comment on whether the president or his family may financially gain from the bill’s passage.Despite momentum, final passage is not guaranteed. Senator Josh Hawley has added a controversial provision to the bill that would cap credit card late fees, a move that could cost the legislation support from financial industry allies.Related: Hong Kong passes stablecoin bill, set to open licensing by year-endBanks panicking over yield-bearing stablecoinsIn a May 21 post titled “The Empire Lobbies Back,” New York University professor Austin Campbell said the US banking industry is “panicking” over the rise of yield-bearing stablecoins, which threaten their profit model.An excerpt of Campbell’s X post. Source: Austin CampbellCampbell criticized the banking lobby for pressuring lawmakers to defend their interests and block competition from interest-paying stablecoins.He argued that banks rely on fractional reserve practices to profit while offering low returns to depositors, and fear stablecoins may expose and disrupt that system.As reported by Cointelegraph, the US Securities and Exchange Commission in February approved the first yield-bearing stablecoin security by Figure Markets.According to a May 21 report from Pendle, yield-bearing stablecoins have soared to $11 billion in circulation since January 2024, representing 4.5% of the total stablecoin market.Magazine: TradFi is building Ethereum L2s to tokenize trillions in RWAs: Inside story