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The BNB Chain has officially completed the Lorentz mainnet hard fork, marking a significant technical leap forward for both BNB Smart Chain (BSC) and OpBNB.

With the upgrade, the network reduces BSC block times to 1.5 seconds, while OpBNB now boasts 0.5-second blocks. This makes it one of the fastest Layer-2 (L2) networks.

BNB Chain Completes Lorentz Hard Fork

The Lorentz upgrade is expected to significantly improve transaction confirmation speed, enable more responsive decentralized applications (dApps), and enhance the overall user experience.

“Welcome everyone to experience a faster and smoother BNB Chain,” the network stated.

The Lorentz upgrade builds on momentum from the Pascal hard fork, which laid the groundwork for this new era of performance improvements.

These upgrades aim to position BNB Chain as a top-tier ecosystem for developers and users seeking high throughput and low latency.

“Lorentz at 1.5s blocks? Solana already does 0.4s. But Maxwell is at 0.75s… BNB’s roadmap is evolution on crack,” one user quipped.

Despite this news, BNB’s price is up by a modest 0.29% in the last 24 hours. As of this writing, it was trading for $608.22.

While BNB Chain enjoys smooth progress, Ethereum’s upcoming Fusaka hard fork is mired in internal controversy. Specifically, the now-scrapped EVM Object Format (EOF) upgrade has become contentious.

Originally slated to be part of Fusaka, EOF aimed to modernize Ethereum’s virtual machine (EVM) architecture. This could make future upgrades easier and improve developer tooling.

However, in a post on Monday, April 28, Ethereum Foundation executive Tomasz Kajetan Stańczak clarified that EOF would not be part of the upcoming May 7 Pectra upgrade. Further, its inclusion in Fusaka is under debate.

“The Pectra upgrade does not include EOF, nor intended to include EOF. Everything on Pectra is going as planned for the May 7th release,” Stańczak articulated.

Fate of Ethereum’s EOF on the Balance

In a follow-up post, Ethereum core developer Tim Beiko confirmed EOF’s removal from Fusaka, citing concerns over complexity and potential delays.

“EOF was removed from the Fusaka network upgrade today,” Beiko stated.

The decision followed contentious developer calls. Strong disagreements emerged over whether the EOF was technically necessary or merely a symbolic improvement.

“EOF is probably dead due to a lack of rough consensus. This is a massive milestone… symbolic of Ethereum evolving toward maximal consideration of user impact,” said Storm, a data researcher at Paradigm.

Some developers voiced concerns that EOF added too much complexity and risked future maintainability. Others argued that dropping EOF represents a shift toward prioritizing user-centric governance over rigid adherence to prior technical roadmaps.

Supporters of EOF believe it would have made Ethereum’s core system cleaner and more modular. Such an outcome would align with the Ethereum Foundation’s broader vision of the platform as the “world computer of humanity” and an “infinite garden” that supports sustainable, decentralized growth.

Still, with Fusaka now targeted for Q3 or Q4 2025, likely in September or October, the Ethereum community will continue debating what constitutes necessary innovation versus over-engineering.

In the short term, the contrast between BNB Chain’s aggressive technical advancements and Ethereum’s philosophical debates reflects two approaches to blockchain evolution. While one focuses on speed and optimization, the other targets resilience and social consensus.

The post BNB Chain Optimizes for Speed, While Ethereum’s Fusaka Faces Developer Rift appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Bitcoin’s supply in profit has continued to rise steadily despite recent setbacks and persistent market headwinds.

On-chain data shows that over  85% of BTC’s circulating supply is currently in profit. This is a historically bullish signal but often marks the beginning of euphoric phases in market cycles. 

BTC Enters Bullish Territory, but Analysts Warn of Possible Pullback

BTC’s supply in profit measures the percentage of coin holders who acquired their assets at prices lower than the current market value. When this number rises, it indicates broad investor confidence and strong capital inflows into the asset.

In a new report, pseudonymous CryptoQuant analyst Darkfost found that more than 85% of BTC’s circulating supply is currently held in profit. Although this trend represents a bullish signal, it comes with a catch.

“Having a large portion of the supply in profit is not a bad thing, quite the opposite. Of course, there are certain levels that are more “comfortable” than others, but generally, an increase in the supply in profit tends to fuel bullish phases,” Darkfost wrote. 

According to the analyst’s note, the market is now entering the euphoric zone, a phase that emerges when the profit supply approaches or exceeds 90%. These levels, while bullish, have often coincided with local market tops as traders begin to lock in profits, triggering short- to medium-term corrections.

“Historically, when the supply in profit surpassed the 90% threshold, it consistently triggered euphoric phases, and we are now approaching that level. However, these euphoric phases can be short-lived and are often followed by short- to medium-term corrections.”

Funding Rate Signals Market in Wait-and-See Mode

Interestingly, BTC’s funding rate remains relatively balanced, indicating that the market is in a state of anticipation. At press time, the coin’s funding rate is 0%.

The funding rate is a periodic payment between traders in perpetual futures markets, used to keep contract prices aligned with the spot market. As with BTC, when an asset’s funding rate is 0%, it indicates a neutral market sentiment, where neither long nor short positions dominate.

This signals that BTC investors are waiting for a catalyst to provide clearer direction. This neutral market sentiment and rising profit supply set the stage for potential price volatility in the near term.

Bitcoin Holds Firm Below Resistance

At press time, the king coin trades at $95,125, resting below a major resistance level of $95,971. Despite recent market volatility, BTC demand among spot market participants remains significant, as reflected by its Relative Strength Index (RSI), which currently stands at 68.21.

The RSI indicator measures an asset’s overbought and oversold market conditions. It ranges between 0 and 100, with values above 70 suggesting that the asset is overbought and due for a price decline. Converesly, values under 30 indicate that the asset is oversold and may witness a rebound.

BTC’s RSI reading indicates room for further price growth before the coin becomes overbought. If demand strengthens, the coin could break above the $95,971 resistance and rally to $98,983.

However, if bearish sentiment grows, BTC could resume its downtrend and fall to $91,851.

The post Bitcoin (BTC) Approaches Euphoria Zone With 85% of Supply in Profit appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Virtual Protocol, a decentralized platform for creating and monetizing AI agents, has seen a sharp uptick in user activity over the past few days. This has fueled a surge in demand for its native token, VIRTUAL.

According to on-chain data, the number of unique wallets holding Virtual Protocol’s AI agent tokens has increased significantly across the Base and Solana networks. This has driven a rally in the VIRTUAL’s price, which has climbed 161% over the past week. 

VIRTUAL Token Rockets to 2-Month High

According to Dune Analytics, the number of unique active wallets holding Virtual Agents’ tokens across the Base and Solana blockchains has jumped by 95% in the past five days.  

 This spike in wallet activity highlights growing user engagement with the platform’s AI agent ecosystem, as more participants join to create, deploy, and interact with decentralized AI services.

Buying pressure on VIRTUAL has intensified as users seek to acquire Virtual Agents and participate more actively in the protocol. Over the past week, the token’s price has climbed by 161%, reflecting the heightened demand.

Today alone, VIRTUAL is up 18%, making it the top gainer across the cryptocurrency market. As of this writing, it trades at a two-month high of $1.46, with technical indicators pointing to further price rallies. 

Readings from VIRTUAL’s Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) indicator, which tracks capital accumulation into an asset, confirm the high demand for the altcoin. At press time, this momentum indicator is above the zero line and in an upward trend at 0.23. 

When an asset’s CMF is above zero, buying pressure exceeds selling activity among market participants. This trend, coupled with VIRTUAL’s rising price, is a significantly bullish signal, hinting at an extended rally where the token could record new multi-month highs. 

Triple-Digit Rally Signals Possible Run to $2.25

VIRTUAL’s triple-digit spike over the past week has pushed its price above the key resistance of $1.44. If demand strengthens and the bulls retain market control, the altcoin could extend its current gains and climb toward $2.25, a high it last reached on January 31. 

However, caution may be warranted in the short term. Technical indicators such as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) show that VIRTUAL currently trades in overbought territory. As of this writing, the momentum indicator is 83.92, indicating that the altcoin is significantly overbought and is due for correction.

If profit-taking activity commences, VIRTUAL could lose some gains, fall below $1.44, and target $0.96. 

The post Virtual Protocol (VIRTUAL) Hits 2-Month High as AI Agent Activity Soars appeared first on BeInCrypto.

The old financial market adage “Sell in May and go away” has long been a guiding principle for investors looking to avoid potential summer volatility. However, some analysis suggests that this adage may not hold true for Bitcoin in the coming month.

Several arguments indicate significant differences in the market landscape for 2025. These factors suggest that May could see price increases instead of decreases.

4 Reasons Why Selling in May Could Be a Big Mistake in 2025

Many analysts recently emphasized a key reason: Bitcoin now aligns closely with the global M2 money supply.

M2 measures the amount of money circulating in the economy. It includes cash, savings deposits, and highly liquid assets. Historically, M2 has shown a strong correlation with Bitcoin prices. When central banks such as the FED, ECB, or PBoC increase the money supply, Bitcoin tends to rise.

Kaduna shared a chart that confirms this trend will continue in 2025. According to this pattern, May could be a breakout month for Bitcoin. While not all analysts agree with this view, investors are increasingly accepting it, creating positive sentiment in the market.

“Sell in May and go away would be a huge mistake,” Kaduna emphasized.

Second, historical data backs up Kaduna’s outlook. According to Coinglass, Bitcoin has delivered an average return of over 7.9% in May over the past 12 years. Although financial markets often experience turbulence in summer, Bitcoin doesn’t always follow that pattern.

Instead, May often shows positive performance. It’s not the strongest month, but it outperforms June and September. One investor on X observed that since 2010, Bitcoin has seen nine green Mays and six red ones.

The original proverb comes from the stock market, where historical data shows it works better for equities, not necessarily for crypto.

Another major point supporting Kaduna’s thesis is the surge in inflows into Bitcoin ETFs. BeInCrypto recently reported that spot Bitcoin ETFs attracted fresh investor demand on Monday. They recorded net inflows of $591.29 million and extended their winning streak to seven consecutive days.

Notably, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) led the way. It recorded the largest inflow among its peers, attracting $970.93 million in one day, bringing its total accumulated net inflows to $42.17 billion.

This increase reflects growing investor confidence and long-term optimism for Bitcoin in 2025. That sentiment may well carry into May, giving further upward momentum to Bitcoin’s price.

Finally, Bitcoin is clearly decoupling from the S&P 500, which historically has signaled large price surges.

Investor arndxt noted this divergence. BeInCrypto also reported a growing disconnect between Bitcoin and the NASDAQ index. Bullish analysts interpret this as a sign that Bitcoin behaves more like an independent asset, less tied to traditional markets.

“The old ‘Sell in May and go away’ mantra doesn’t apply the same way for crypto, liquidity pressures are easing, and this time, May could mark the beginning of an acceleration, not a pause.” – arndxt predicted.

Strong support from M2 correlation, positive May performance in Bitcoin’s history, large ETF inflows, and decoupling from traditional indexes suggest that selling Bitcoin in May 2025 could be a serious mistake.

However, investors should remain cautious. Key data from the Fed, such as CPI, interest rates, and updates on trade tensions, could still introduce uncertainty into May’s outlook.

The post Why “Sell in May” Could Be a Huge Mistake in 2025, Analyst Reveals appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Welcome to the US Morning Crypto News Briefing—your essential rundown of the most important developments in crypto for the day ahead.

Grab a coffee to see expert opinions on what the future holds for Bitcoin (BTC) amid renewed institutional interest. Meanwhile, its market peer, gold, is no longer the only go-to investment in times of uncertainty.

Bitcoin to $120,000: Standard Chartered Predicts Next BTC Rally

As indicated in a recent US Crypto News publication, Bitcoin price remains on course to the target objective of the falling wedge pattern.

After overcoming the resistance at $94,000, BTC is confronting immediate resistance at $95,765. A decisive candlestick close above this roadblock could clear the path for further upside, with Bitcoin price potentially completing the forecasted 20% climb to $102,239.

This optimism comes as Bitcoin emerges as a potential beneficiary amid global trade tensions. US tariffs are sparking capital flight and market volatility.

Against this backdrop, analysts are already predicting a major revaluation of Bitcoin. They cite growing liquidity and global conditions, elements that suggest a shift away from dollar-dependent assets.

BeInCrypto contacted Standard Chartered for insight into the current Bitcoin market outlook. Interestingly, the bank forecasted a breakout Bitcoin rally mirroring its post-US election surge, with a Q2 price target of $120,000 now in sight.

According to Standard Chartered Head of Digital Asset Research Geoff Kendrick, Bitcoin’s price is primed for a rally similar to its dramatic rise following the US presidential election in November 2024.

The pioneer crypto hit a record high of $103,713 the following month.

Kendrick pointed to accelerating US spot Bitcoin ETF (exchange-traded funds) inflows, particularly when contrasted with declining gold ETP (exchange-traded product) inflows.

“The last time the gap between Bitcoin and gold ETF flows was this wide was during the week of the US election,” Kendrick told BeInCrypto.

According to Kendrick, Bitcoin is catching up to gold, with the king of crypto already serving as a better hedge amid strategic asset reallocations away from the US.

This aligns with another recent US Crypto News publication that highlighted Bitcoin as a hedge against traditional finance (TradFi) and US Treasury risk.

With this, the Standard Chartered executive maintains a bullish Q2 target for the largest digital asset by market capitalization.

“I look for a fresh all-time high of $120,000 in Q2, then on to my $200,000 end-year forecast,” Kendrick added.

Indeed, Standard Chartered recently predicted that Bitcoin would hit a new all-time high, forecasting $200,000 by 2025 and $500,000 by 2028.

Chart of the Day

This chart compares investment flows into two financial instruments, Bitcoin ETFs and Gold ETPs. It shows higher investor interest and volatility in the former compared to the latter.

Byte-Sized Alpha

• Over 85% of Bitcoin’s circulating supply is currently in profit, signaling strong investor confidence and bullish trends.
• Billionaire Ray Dalio warns the global monetary order is nearing collapse, driven by tariffs and deglobalization trends.
• Tether’s Q1 2025 report reveals its tokenized gold product, XAUT, is backed by over 7.7 tons of physical gold. With rising global economic uncertainty, XAUT’s market cap surged to $853.7 million, making it the largest tokenized gold product.
• Bitcoin ETFs enjoyed seven consecutive days of positive inflows, with over $500 million in new capital added. Despite strong ETF demand, Bitcoin’s futures market shows caution, with a growing preference for bearish options.
• BNB Chain optimizes for speed, cutting block times to 1.5 seconds for BSC and 0.5 seconds for OpBNB. Meanwhile, Ethereum’s Fusaka faces a developer rift.
• Experts caution that stablecoin transaction volumes may be inflated by bots, wash trades, and flash loans that distort actual usage.
• Virtual Protocol’s native token, VIRTUAL, has surged 161% in a week, reaching a two-month high as AI agent activity rises.

Crypto Equities Pre-Market Overview

Company	At the Close of April 28	Pre-Market Overview
Strategy (MSTR)	$369.25	$370.47 (+0.33%)
Coinbase Global (COIN)	$205.27	$206.79 (+0.74%)
Galaxy Digital Holdings (GLXY.TO)	$21.21	$21.81 (+2.81%)
MARA Holdings (MARA)	$14.01	$14.04 (+0.21%)
Riot Platforms (RIOT)	$7.63	$7.66 (+0.39%)
Core Scientific (CORZ)	$8.24	$8.34 (+1.21%)

The post Bitcoin ETF Inflows Surge as Gold Lags—$120K Target in Sight, Says Standard Chartered | US Crypto News appeared first on BeInCrypto.