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SpaceX just validated Bitcoin with US$1.4B treasury and Wall Street is taking notice

SpaceX just validated Bitcoin with US$1.4B treasury and Wall Street is taking notice

After days of relentless selling pressure, equity indices around the world staged a powerful rebound, touching nearly every corner of the financial landscape. The catalyst was not a single event but rather a series of positive developments that collectively eased the suffocating grip of inflation fears and geopolitical uncertainty that had gripped investors for weeks.

The numbers tell a compelling story. The Dow Jones Industrial Average surged past the historic 50,000 mark for the first time, closing at 50,009.35 with a gain of 1.31 per cent. This milestone represents more than just a psychological barrier breached. It signals that investors are willing to look past near-term volatility and focus on the underlying strength of corporate America. The S&P 500 followed suit, climbing 1.08 per cent to 7,432.97, effectively halting a troubling three-day slide that had many strategists questioning whether the bull market had finally run its course.

What struck me most about this rally was its breadth. The NASDAQ Composite led major US indices with a 1.54 per cent advance to 26,270.36, buoyed by strength in chipmakers and technology megacaps. The Russell 2000 truly stole the show, jumping 2.56 per cent to 2,817.36. This outperformance of smaller companies suggests that borrowing stress, which had been crushing smaller firms with variable-rate debt, is finally cooling. When small caps rally like this, it indicates a healthy rotation rather than a narrow rally driven by a handful of mega-cap names.

The corporate earnings backdrop provided essential fuel for this rebound. NVIDIA reported a staggering US$81.6 billion in quarterly revenue, a record that underscores the insatiable demand for artificial intelligence infrastructure. While the stock experienced choppy after-hours trading as investors debated valuation, the sheer magnitude of the number cannot be ignored. Samsung Electronics shares spiked nearly 7 per cent to an intraday record after the company successfully negotiated a tentative pay deal with its labour union, averting a potentially devastating factory shutdown. In the consumer sector, Target delivered a 32 per cent jump in adjusted earnings per share and doubled its growth forecasts, though management wisely cautioned about stretched consumer budgets. Lowe’s posted a solid 10.3 per cent sales increase, suggesting the housing market retains underlying resilience despite higher mortgage rates.

Perhaps the most significant development came from an unexpected source. SpaceX filed its official S-1 registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission, revealing a Bitcoin treasury of 18,712 coins worth over US$1.4 billion. The company acquired these holdings at an average cost of US$35,000 per coin, resulting in a massive unrealised gain. This disclosure from Elon Musk’s flagship company provides powerful validation of Bitcoin as a legitimate corporate reserve asset, reinforcing the institutional adoption narrative that has been building for years.

The cryptocurrency market responded enthusiastically. Bitcoin climbed 1.40 per cent to US$77,799.84 over a 24-hour period, while the total crypto market capitalisation rose 1.54 per cent to US$2.59 trillion. What intrigues me is the correlation data. Bitcoin now shows an 80 per cent correlation with the S&P 500 and an 85 per cent correlation with Gold. This suggests that cryptocurrency has matured into a macro-driven asset class that moves in tandem with traditional risk assets and inflation hedges, rather than existing in its own isolated ecosystem.

The rally was not purely fundamental. A technical short squeeze played a crucial role, with US$22.54 million in short liquidations over 24 hours, forcing bearish traders to cover their positions rapidly. Shorts accounted for 71 per cent of the US$31.77 million in total Bitcoin liquidations, creating immediate buy-side pressure that propelled prices higher from the US$76,000 support zone. This mechanical dynamic, combined with fresh buying interest, created the conditions for a powerful bounce.

International markets joined the celebration with even more enthusiasm. The Nikkei 225 in Japan soared 3.46 per cent to 61,872.35 on optimism surrounding Middle East peace progress, while South Korea’s KOSPI exploded higher by 5.80 per cent following a major domestic technology labour resolution. These moves were not random. President Trump’s decision to pause immediate military options against Iran in favour of diplomatic mediation sent Brent crude prices tumbling 5.6 per cent to the US$105.78-US$108.39 range. This sharp decline in oil prices brought immediate relief to inflation-sensitive sectors and helped the US 10-year Treasury yield slide 10 basis points back below the 4.60 per cent mark, currently sitting at 4.67 per cent.

President Trump’s executive order on May 19, directing regulators to review fintech and crypto access to payment systems, added another layer of positive sentiment. This regulatory clarity, combined with capital rotation into specific narratives like privacy coins, where ZEC jumped 18 per cent, and DASH gained 16 per cent, demonstrates that traders are seeking opportunities beyond simple market beta.

Looking ahead, the technical picture suggests cautious optimism. Bitcoin must hold above US$76,000 to maintain its bullish momentum, with US$78,822 as the next hurdle. For the broader crypto market, holding the US$2.59 trillion pivot is essential before testing US$2.66 trillion in resistance. The real test will come on May 30 with the US PCE inflation data, which could either validate this relief rally or send markets back into turmoil.

What strikes me most about this market action is the maturation we are witnessing. Cryptocurrency now moves in lockstep with traditional macro drivers. Small caps can rally alongside mega-cap tech. Corporate Bitcoin treasuries are becoming normalised rather than controversial. We are seeing the emergence of a more integrated, sophisticated financial ecosystem where digital and traditional assets coexist and respond to the same fundamental forces. The question now is whether this cohesion can survive the next wave of economic data.

 

Source: https://e27.co/spacex-just-validated-bitcoin-with-us1-4b-treasury-and-wall-street-is-taking-notice-20260521/

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

www.anndy.com
j j j

Bitcoin ETFs just lost US$1B: What smart money knows that you don’t

Bitcoin ETFs just lost US$1B: What smart money knows that you don’t

United States spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds experienced their most severe single-day outflow since late January. Investors pulled approximately US$648.6 million from these products in just one trading session, marking a stark reversal of fortune for digital asset investment vehicles that had enjoyed relatively stable inflows in recent months. This exodus represents more than an isolated incident, as cumulative withdrawals across roughly five trading days have now reached approximately US$1.8 billion, with close to US$1 billion exiting these funds in just the most recent 24 to 48-hour period.

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust bore the brunt of this selling pressure, accounting for roughly US$448 million of the total outflows. The redemption scale from the market’s largest Bitcoin ETF underscores the seriousness of the investor retreat. Ark 21Shares’ ARKB product saw approximately US$110 million in outflows, while Fidelity’s FBTC experienced about US$63 million in redemptions. The selling pressure proved to be universal across the sector, with smaller but notable withdrawals affecting products from Bitwise, VanEck, Invesco, and Franklin. Not a single Bitcoin ETF recorded inflows on May 18, painting a picture of wholesale investor retreat from cryptocurrency exposure through regulated investment vehicles.

This Bitcoin-specific weakness coincides with deeper structural concerns plaguing the broader decentralised finance ecosystem. Ethereum’s Total Value Locked has contracted by approximately US$43 billion since its January peak, according to Yahoo Finance data. This massive capital depletion locked into DeFi protocols signals waning confidence in the yield-generating opportunities that once attracted billions to the space.

Compounding these concerns, news that six core researchers departed the Ethereum Foundation has raised legitimate questions about leadership stability and the pace of innovation at the world’s second-largest blockchain network. These developments suggest that the weakness in cryptocurrency extends beyond simple price volatility to fundamental questions about ecosystem health and development momentum.

The total cryptocurrency market capitalisation declined to US$2.55 trillion, with Bitcoin’s 24-hour price movement tracking the broader market’s decline closely. This correlation indicates a beta-driven, risk-off environment rather than weakness specific to any particular digital asset. The Fear and Greed Index reading of 39, firmly in fear territory, reflects the anxious sentiment pervading cryptocurrency markets. Investors appear to be treating Bitcoin and other digital assets as what they truly are: high-beta risk assets that get sold aggressively when broader market conditions deteriorate.

Traditional equity markets provided no sanctuary for investors seeking stability. The S&P 500 Index closed at 7,353.61, down 49.44 points or 0.67 per cent. The technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite fared worse, falling 220.02 points to 25,870.71, representing a 0.84 per cent decline. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 322.24 points to 49,363.88, a 0.65 per cent loss, while the small-cap Russell 2000 Index suffered the steepest percentage decline at 1.01 per cent, falling 27.38 points to 2,747.07. These losses marked the third consecutive session of declines for major United States benchmarks, with Asian stocks extending their losing streak to four days. The major indices logged their sharpest three-day cumulative declines since late March, signalling intensified selling pressure across asset classes.

The root cause of this broad-based selloff traces directly to the bond market, where a brutal rout has pushed Treasury yields to multi-decade highs. The 30-year United States Treasury yield settled at 5.18 per cent, its highest level since July 2007. The 10-year Treasury yield climbed to 4.67 per cent. These rising risk-free rates have compressed the equity risk premium, making high-growth sectors like technology and cryptocurrencies significantly less attractive. When investors can earn over five per cent with virtually no risk from long-dated government bonds, the calculus for holding speculative assets with uncertain cash flows changes dramatically.

Inflation anxieties continue to simmer, exacerbated by energy prices that refuse to retreat. Global oil prices remain stubbornly above US$110 per barrel despite temporary pullbacks following political headlines. This persistent elevation in energy costs functions as a tax on corporate margins and consumer demand, reinforcing fears of systemic producer price inflation.

The situation grew more tense after United States President Donald Trump announced the postponement of planned military strikes against Iran in favour of continued negotiations. With no definitive resolution to the Middle East conflict, markets remain highly reactive to risks surrounding energy flows through the Strait of Hormuz, where any disruption could send oil prices even higher.

Geopolitical volatility extends beyond the Middle East. In Asia-Pacific markets, broad declines swept across regional indices. South Korea’s KOSPI dropped 3.25 per cent, weighed down severely by memory chip and microprocessor hardware exporters. Japan’s Nikkei 225 fell 0.44 per cent as a higher GDP deflator of 3.4 per cent intensified domestic inflation fears. The United States dollar index strengthened to a six-week high on safe-haven flows and hawkish Federal Reserve rate expectations, creating additional headwinds for emerging markets and commodity prices.

Corporate developments provided mixed signals amid the broader weakness. Chip stocks pulled back ahead of Nvidia’s market-moving earnings, with additional pressure stemming from indications that China is shifting demand away from Western microprocessors to prioritise domestic technology.

Standard Chartered shares fell 2.2 per cent following an announcement to eliminate over 7,800 positions globally, with the bank directly citing a structural shift toward generative AI and automation workflows. In a rare bright spot, Macy’s shares jumped four per cent on news that Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway initiated a fresh equity position in the retail chain, suggesting that value opportunities still attract patient capital even in turbulent times.

These factors create a challenging environment for risk assets like Bitcoin. Rising bond yields, persistent inflation, geopolitical tensions, and equity market weakness form a perfect storm that drives investors toward safety and away from speculation. Smart money understands that market cycles test conviction, and those who maintain discipline during periods of fear often position themselves for outsized returns when sentiment eventually shifts.

 
Source:
 

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

www.anndy.com
j j j

Bitcoin just rallied on regulation: Why the CLARITY Act changes everything

Bitcoin just rallied on regulation: Why the CLARITY Act changes everything
Bitcoin climbed 2.45 per cent to US$81,511.13 over the last 24 hours, outpacing the broader digital asset market’s 1.97 per cent gain. This move did not happen in isolation. A decisive regulatory breakthrough in Washington provided the spark, while crowded derivative positioning added fuel.

The correlation between Bitcoin and the S&P 500 now sits at 0.91, signalling that macro forces and policy shifts drive price action as much as any blockchain metric. This moment looks like an inflection point where regulatory clarity finally begins to align with market reality, creating conditions for sustainable institutional participation without sacrificing the core principles of decentralisation.

The passage of the CLARITY Act through the US Senate Banking Committee represents the most tangible progress the industry has seen in years. The committee approved H.R. 3633 in a 15-9 vote on May 14, 2026, moving the bill toward a full Senate floor vote, where prediction markets currently assign a 73 per cent probability of passage. This legislation resolves two persistent friction points that have hampered US innovation.

First, it establishes a workable framework for stablecoin rewards. Crypto firms can now offer activity-based incentives to users who transact, trade, spend, or stake their tokens, while prohibiting purely passive interest payments that traditional banks argued resembled deposit-taking. This compromise acknowledges that digital assets operate on different economic primitives than legacy finance.

Second, the Act draws a clear jurisdictional boundary between the CFTC and SEC. Most mainstream tokens now fall under the CFTC’s commodity oversight, while only a narrow subset retains security classification. This ends the era of regulation by enforcement and gives builders the predictability they need to deploy capital with confidence.

Market structure amplified the regulatory catalyst. Derivatives data shows total open interest surged 37.14 per cent in 24 hours, while Bitcoin’s funding rate turned deeply negative just before the rally. This setup created a crowded short position, making it vulnerable to a squeeze. When the price began moving higher on the CLARITY Act news, forced buying from short covering accelerated the move. Liquidation data confirms this dynamic, with US$71.02 million in short bets wiped out over the same period.

This leverage-driven volatility is a feature, not a bug, of maturing markets. It reflects growing participation from sophisticated traders who understand how to position around policy events. Even so, it also means that sharp moves can extend in either direction. Sustained high open interest suggests continued volatility as the market digests this new regulatory landscape.

From a technical perspective, Bitcoin now tests a critical confluence zone. The 200-day simple moving average sits near US$82,000, at US$82,455. A confirmed daily close above this threshold, especially with the CLARITY Act advancing toward a full Senate vote, opens a path toward the Fibonacci extension target at US$85,102. The immediate support band ranges from US$80,000 to US$80,458.

Holding this zone keeps the bullish structure intact. Conversely, a break below US$78,000 would invalidate the near-term uptrend and risk triggering approximately US$1 billion in long liquidations, potentially pushing the price toward US$70,000. These levels reflect collective market psychology and liquidity pools rather than arbitrary lines. The current setup favours bulls, but only if they can defend recent gains against profit-taking and macro headwinds.

The broader macro backdrop adds another layer of complexity. Global equity markets show mixed signals as an AI-driven rally pauses. The S&P 500 recently closed above 7,500 for the first time, while the Dow Jones recaptured 50,000 on strong corporate earnings.

US equity futures now trend 0.1 per cent to 0.2 per cent lower as investors assess geopolitical risks. The Trump-Xi summit in Beijing commands attention, while tensions in the Strait of Hormuz keep energy markets on edge. Brent crude climbed 0.9 per cent to hover above US$106 per barrel, marking a five per cent weekly gain due to the blocked shipping lane. These inflationary pressures feed into Treasury yields, with the 10-year note advancing to 4.51 per cent and the two-year settling near 4.04 per cent.

The Bloomberg Dollar Spot Index strengthened 0.1 per cent, pressuring gold, which fell 0.6 per cent to US$4,619 per ounce. In this environment, Bitcoin’s 0.91 correlation with the S&P 500 suggests it will likely continue to move in lockstep with risk assets until a distinct crypto-native catalyst emerges. The CLARITY Act may provide that catalyst, but only if it clears the full Senate without material dilution.

This regulatory progress matters most for what it enables next. Clear rules allow institutions to allocate capital with defined compliance pathways. They let builders focus on product innovation rather than legal defence. And they give retail participants greater confidence that the platforms they use operate within a stable framework.

Anndy Lian is an early blockchain adopter and experienced serial entrepreneur who is known for his work in the government sector. He is a best selling book author- “NFT: From Zero to Hero” and “Blockchain Revolution 2030”.

Currently, he is appointed as the Chief Digital Advisor at Mongolia Productivity Organization, championing national digitization. Prior to his current appointments, he was the Chairman of BigONE Exchange, a global top 30 ranked crypto spot exchange and was also the Advisory Board Member for Hyundai DAC, the blockchain arm of South Korea’s largest car manufacturer Hyundai Motor Group. Lian played a pivotal role as the Blockchain Advisor for Asian Productivity Organisation (APO), an intergovernmental organization committed to improving productivity in the Asia-Pacific region.

An avid supporter of incubating start-ups, Anndy has also been a private investor for the past eight years. With a growth investment mindset, Anndy strategically demonstrates this in the companies he chooses to be involved with. He believes that what he is doing through blockchain technology currently will revolutionise and redefine traditional businesses. He also believes that the blockchain industry has to be “redecentralised”.

www.anndy.com
j j j