The European Central Bank has taken a practical step forward in its digital euro project. On Monday, the regional bank launched a testing platform involving around 70 companies from across Europe, including banks, startups, and payment providers.
The goal is to trial how the digital euro could work in day-to-day transactions and explore new services built around it. Participants are split into two groups called Pioneers and Visionaries.
Digital Euro Moves to Real World Simulations
The Pioneers are testing basic transaction functions, such as conditional payments that complete automatically when a set condition is met, for purposes like a package being delivered.
The ECB is providing a technical setup that mirrors what a future digital euro ecosystem might look like. This includes application programming interfaces and support materials. Companies are using these tools to simulate transactions, develop use cases, and test how well this digital currency integrates into their existing systems.
The ECB also expects each company to document its findings. This is in order that these will help the central bank evaluate both the performance and the practical use. It also gives companies a chance to offer feedback on what works and what needs improvement.
Digital Euro: Testing Larger Access
The Visionaries group is exploring how the digital euro could serve social goals. One example is giving people access to their digital wallets through post offices. This could make digital payments available to those without a bank account or smartphone.
Visionaries will present their work to the ECB in workshops running until May 2025. Both groups’ insights will be compiled into a final report later this year. The ECB says this joint effort shows strong interest from the private sector and will guide future decisions about launching a digital euro.
Meanwhile, the regulators are dealing with messier parts of the crypto world. After hackers used OKX’s Web3 platform to wash $100 million from a Bybit hack, EU officials are now checking if the exchange broke MiCA rules. This clearly shows why trust and control matter more than ever.
Pi Coin price has continued to fall due to the absence of any positive catalyst despite the broader crypto market resting in the green. The Pi Network community has blamed the delay in Binance listing as one of the prime reasons behind the continuing downturn momentum in the asset. However, some argue this delay could actually be a strategic win for Pi’s long-term growth.
Pi Network’s Binance Listing Delay: A Positive Sign?
While most crypto tokens rush to secure exchange listings, Pi Network seems to be playing a longer game. A recent post by Pi-focused X account PiNewsLast24Hrs argued that not listing the asset on Binance just yet might be a smart move.
According to the post, many newly listed tokens experience price dumps and volatility shortly after listing. This pattern often harms long-term holders and attracts short-term traders. By delaying its Binance debut, Pi Coin is keeping the focus on real-world utility rather than price speculation.
The ecosystem is currently centered around merchant adoption and use cases, instead of just attracting traders looking to flip the token. This helps Pi Network avoid becoming another pump-and-dump target.
In addition, the delay gives the team tighter control over tokenomics. Without a major exchange listing, Pi can manage its circulating supply more efficiently. This prevents early whales from accumulating large volumes and manipulating the market later.
Meanwhile, the post also mentioned that Pi Network is working to build a closed ecosystem where users can actually spend the token. From in-app purchases to future decentralized apps and payment use cases, the goal is to create actual demand. This foundation could lead to stronger price action once Pi lists on major platforms.
Long-Term Goal Vs Short-Term Gains
Another key reason for the delay is to create a committed and patient community. Without instant liquidity on Binance, users are encouraged to stay involved with the project. This helps build a strong, mission-driven user base focused on utility, not hype.
Simultaneously, regulatory readiness is a concern. Taking the time to align with legal frameworks in different countries positions Pi Network for smoother future listings. It also adds credibility, especially among institutional investors and global users.
However, Pi Coin price today continued to slip and was down more than 3% to $0.58. Notably, the token has hovered between the $0.6087 and $0.56 range over the last 24 hours. However, a recent report highlighted when the Pi price may continue to move towards the north.
Despite the bullish speculations, investors should exercise due diligence while putting their bets into the asset. Besides, a recent Pi price prediction also showed that currently the bears are dominating and the value may fall to as low as $0.54 through next month.
Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy (MSTR), has announced plans to issue 2.5 million shares of 10% Series A Perpetual Stride Preferred Stock (STRD) to raise funds to expand its Bitcoin holdings and support working capital.
The company aims to raise approximately $250 million from this initial public offering (IPO), based on an initial liquidation preference of $100 per share. Meanwhile, other firms are also advancing Bitcoin treasury initiatives across the globe.
Strategy Plans Major IPO to Raise Funds for Bitcoin Expansion
According to Strategy’s official announcement, the offering targets institutional and select non-institutional investors. Holders are eligible for non-cumulative dividends, paid quarterly if declared, at a 10% annual rate.
“Strategy will have the right, at its election, to redeem all, but not less than all, of the STRD Stock, at any time, for cash if the total number of shares of all STRD Stock then outstanding is less than 25% of the total number of shares of STRD Stock originally issued in the offering and in any future offering, taken together,” the statement read.
The offering plan follows Strategy’s latest acquisition of 705 BTC for around $75.1 million yesterday. SaylorTracker data shows that the firm holds 580,955 BTC, valued at over $60 billion.
Strategy’s move comes amid a wave of corporate cryptocurrency adoption. On June 2, Hong Kong-based Reitar Logtech Holdings Limited (RITR), a logistics solutions provider, revealed that it is in advanced negotiations to create a strategic Bitcoin treasury. The initiative aims to purchase up to 15,000 BTC, valued at approximately $1.5 billion.
“Management believes this treasury diversification could provide several strategic benefits including enhanced financial resilience through allocation to a non-correlated digital asset, increased financial flexibility for future strategic acquisitions in logistics technology and automation platforms, and positioning for expansion in high-growth Asian markets where demand for smart logistics infrastructure continues to increase,” the filing read.
Similarly, the Norwegian Block Exchange (NBX) made history as Norway’s first listed company to adopt Bitcoin as a treasury asset. The company has acquired 6 Bitcoin and aims to raise its holdings to 10 BTC by June.
In Russia, Sberbank, the country’s largest bank, launched structured bonds tied to Bitcoin. This product is available to a limited group of qualified investors in the over-the-counter market.
“Ethereum remains at the core of our blockchain infrastructure strategy. Our expanding ETH position is not simply a treasury play-it’s a strategic byproduct of our NodeOps and high-growth Builder+ activities. We are focused on building highly scalable, revenue-generating infrastructure,” CEO Charles Allen said.
Now, it has entered into an agreement to issue up to $500 million in senior secured convertible notes, with an initial $11 million funding set to close soon. A significant portion of the proceeds, up to 80%, will be allocated to purchasing SOL.
As Bitcoin smashes through the $120,000 mark and market sentiment surges, HTX, a leading global cryptocurrency exchange takes a more measured approach, cutting through the noise to spotlight crypto assets with strong fundamentals and credible tailwinds. Now in its eighth report, HTX’s Crypto Gem Hunt reinforces the platform’s philosophy of value investing, early discovery, and quality priority, curating a list of seven standout assets that combine market momentum with long-term narrative. This is not merely a hotlist of weekly top gainers. It’s a forward-looking curation of projects positioned to outperform over longer cycles.
HTX New Listing Winners
The Selected Seven Assets: From Meme Coins and GameFi to DeFi and L1 Narratives
HTX’s Crypto Gem Hunt #8 features seven cherry-picked assets from several trending sectors with prosperous narratives. These sectors cover meme coins, GameFi, DeFi and RWA innovations, and public blockchain infrastructure.
L1 Public Chain: Time-Honored Infrastructure, New Catalysts
● TRON ($TRX) | Rated S: TRON’s native token $TRX was recently adopted by Nasdaq-listed firm SRM as part of its strategic reserve, making TRON one of the first blockchain networks bridging into U.S. capital markets. This also makes TRON as a battle-tested Layer 1 network with a fresh off-chain narrative. While its price move of +16.7% is modest, its global exposure and off-chain integration signal a longer-term value growth.
Meme Coins: Narrative Continues with Strong Community Backing
● BONK ($BONK): As one of Solana’s OG meme coins, $BONK is back in the spotlight, thanks to the Solana ecosystem revival. According to LetsBONK.fun, BONK has surpassed Pump.fun in on-chain activity, gaining a 193.2% surge over the period.
● MemeCore ($M): The top gainer, with a jaw-dropping +378.3% performance. Recently listed on both HTX and BN futures markets, its liquidity and social buzz continue to scale.
● Banana For Scale ($BANANAS31): A dark horse from the BNB Chain, up 347% since launch. Fueled by the light-hearted vibe and community energy, its memetic power still shows further viral marketing potential.
● Build On BNB ($BOBBSC): Another rising star of meme coin on BNB Smart Chain, $BOBBSC has surged over 200%, leveraging the BNB ecosystem’s benefits. It now plays at a low market cap, ideal for early value investment.
GameFi: Legacy Tokens, New Momentum
● FUNToken ($FUN): A veteran in the GameFi space, now seeing renewed interest. With a robust tokenomics model and real in-game utility, $FUN has rebounded nearly by 94%, positioning itself as a strong recovery asset in the GameFi comeback story.
DeFi + RWA: Real-World Asset Tokenization Heats Up
● Maple Finance ($SYRUP): The rising star of DeFi’s institutional pivot, specializing in on-chain credit and RWA lending. While Maple is tokenizing high-quality real-world assets with strong compliance narratives, $SYRUP has gained a 71.1% increase since its launch on HTX, driven by demand for yield-generating, regulation-friendly assets.
Beyond the Charts: Why These Projects Matter
These seven assets in HTX’s Crypto Gem Hunt #8 share a key trait: they are actively delivering on their narratives, not just promising them. From TRON’s growing real-world footprint to BONK’s strong rise on Solana, from the explosive virality of MemeCore and Build On BNB to the yield-driven momentum of Maple behind RWA’s building, these aren’t flash-in-the-pan plays. They’re structurally supported stories with runway left to go.
HTX’s research team carefully tracks narrative fulfillment, not just speculation. This forward-focused methodology aims to help users identify long-term value, especially as retail sentiment continues to chase short-term price spikes. As the market heats up and narratives rotate at breakneck speed, the report stands as a reminder that the next bull cycle won’t be won by hype alone and the true gems may already be on-chain yet underexposed.
About HTX
Founded in 2013, HTX has evolved from a virtual asset exchange into a comprehensive ecosystem of blockchain businesses that span digital asset trading, financial derivatives, research, investments, incubation, and other businesses.
As a world-leading gateway to Web3, HTX harbors global capabilities that enable it to provide users with safe and reliable services. Adhering to the growth strategy of “Global Expansion, Thriving Ecosystem, Wealth Effect, Security & Compliance,” HTX is dedicated to providing quality services and values to virtual asset enthusiasts worldwide.To learn more about HTX, please visit https://www.htx.com/ or HTX Square , and follow HTX on X, Telegram, and Discord.
