Category: News

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.

Stablecoins—cryptocurrencies pegged to stable assets like the USD—are drawing increasing attention from top payment companies. Recent reports claim stablecoin transaction volumes over the past year have surpassed Visa.

However, industry experts are skeptical of these numbers. This article explores the reasons behind that skepticism.

Why Experts Suspect Stablecoin Volume Might Be Inflated

Recently, Chamath Palihapitiya, CEO of Social Capital, posted on X that the weekly transaction volume of stablecoins has exceeded that of Visa, reaching over $400 billion. He added that companies like Visa, Mastercard, and Stripe are actively embracing the trend.

According to the data, in Q4 of 2024, the average weekly stablecoin transaction volume reached $464 billion. That’s significantly higher than Visa’s $319 billion. A Bitwise report estimates that stablecoins processed about $13.5 trillion in total transaction volume in 2024. This marks the first time stablecoin volume surpassed Visa’s annual total.

At first glance, this seems like a major milestone, suggesting that stablecoins could reshape the future of global payments. Citigroup even projects that the stablecoin market could reach $3.7 trillion by 2030.

Not everyone shares the enthusiasm. Some experts have warned that the reported stablecoin volume might be inflated. They argue it doesn’t reflect real economic activity and shouldn’t be directly compared with traditional systems like Visa.

Joe, an advisor at Maven 11 Capital, pointed out that professional traders can generate hundreds of millions in volume using very little initial capital.

“If you have $100,000 of USDC on Solana, you can do ~$136 million of ‘stablecoin volume’ for $1 in fees,” Joe said.

He used Solana as an example. Solana is a fast blockchain with extremely low transaction fees—about $0.0036 per transaction. Joe even joked that with $3,400, someone could double weekly stablecoin transaction volumes. He implied that the metric is easy to manipulate and not truly reliable.

Dan Smith, a data expert at Blockworks Research, strongly supported Joe’s view. Dan explained that using flash loans—uncollateralized loans in DeFi—can inflate volume even further at lower costs.

Flash loans allow users to borrow large sums without collateral, as long as they repay within the same transaction. This enables volume manipulation without requiring significant capital, further casting doubt on the numbers cited by Palihapitiya.

Rajiv, a member of Framework Ventures, was even more direct. He called stablecoin volume a “useless metric.” Dan Smith agreed. He added that the unusually high volume often signals exploitative behavior within the system.

Wash Trading and Bot Trading Undermine Economic Value

One key reason experts doubt stablecoin volume is the presence of wash trading and bot trading.

Wash trading involves repeatedly buying and selling between wallets controlled by the same person or entity. The goal is to artificially inflate transaction volume. Bot trading uses automated programs to conduct trades, often for arbitrage or fake liquidity.

A $1 million stablecoin transaction might just be money transferred between two wallets owned by the same person. It adds no real economic value. This contrasts sharply with Visa, where each transaction typically represents a real purchase or payment, like buying goods or services.

Last year, Visa’s dashboard also reported that only 10% of stablecoin transactions were genuine. A wash trading report by Chainalysis found that wash trades involving ERC-20 and BEP-20 tokens could total up to $2.57 billion in volume in 2024.

The post Experts Suspect Stablecoin Transaction Volume May Be Inflated Compared to Visa appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Trump’s trade agenda continues to shock global financial markets, prompting a revaluation of Bitcoin (BTC) and equities.

Bitcoin and the crypto market witnessed notable volatility over the last several weeks. This came as traders and investors reeled from the impacts of tariffs under US President Donald Trump.

Bitcoin and Equities May Be On The Cusp Of A Major Revaluation

The recent surge in Trump tariffs has inadvertently positioned Bitcoin as a potential beneficiary. Venture capital firm MV Global highlights the spike in US tariffs in 2025, citing levels last seen in the 1930s. This has triggered more than $10 trillion in equity losses worldwide.

“The resulting capital flight is reshaping investment flows across asset classes,” MV Global noted.

With liquidity quietly rebuilding, analysts anticipate a major market revaluation, with Bitcoin at the heart of it.

This forecast comes after MV Global’s Global Economy Index recently turned upward. This often precedes broader asset reflation. Notably, the metric tracks both cross-border capital flows and monetary conditions.

“Liquidity is quietly rebuilding across major economies. As the Global Economy Index turns upward, historical patterns suggest Bitcoin and equities may be on the cusp of a major revaluation,” the firm noted.

Indeed, Bitcoin’s performance is already outpacing traditional markets, which adds credence to its average April return of more than 34.4%. Macroeconomic instability and capital flight are the forces behind this seasonal pattern.

Based on this, analysts argue that the current market outlook mirrors historical periods when investors moved away from dollar-centric systems in search of decentralized alternatives.

Tomas Greif, chief of product strategy at Braiins Mining Ecosystem, agrees. He notes that Bitcoin’s volatility aligns more closely with major equity indexes.

“If you previously thought Bitcoin was too volatile, you may want to re-evaluate your passive investment strategies for retirement,” Greif remarked.

According to Mathew Sigel, head of digital assets research at VanEck, this emerging macro backdrop may accelerate Bitcoin’s transition from a speculative asset to a functional monetary hedge.

“Bitcoin is evolving from a speculative asset into a functional monetary tool—particularly in economies looking to bypass the dollar and reduce exposure to US-led financial systems,” Sigel wrote.

Sigel’s point reflects a broader trend: Bitcoin is increasingly viewed as a strategic asset as geopolitical and trade tensions mount. This aligns with a recent US Crypto News publication, which indicated how Bitcoin is progressively presenting itself as a hedge against traditional finance (TradFi) and US treasury risks.

Bitcoin’s potential to gain traction as an alternative reserve or settlement asset could grow. This optimism comes as more economies distance themselves from traditional US monetary influence. BeInCrypto reported that Russia is considering Ruble-pegged stablecoin to challenge US Dollar dominance.

As equity markets reel and liquidity rotates, Bitcoin’s resilience could redefine how investors hedge against geopolitical uncertainty.

The post Trump Tariffs Spark Bitcoin Revaluation Debate Amid $10 Trillion Equity Rout appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Pi Network has faced a significant setback recently, registering one of the few declines among the top tokens. Currently, Pi is trading at $0.6077, reflecting a 15% drop over the past month. 

This poor performance has left many investors questioning its future, especially as it struggles to show signs of improvement.

Pi Network Needs To Note Inflows

Despite the decline, the Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) indicator reveals that Pi Network has observed some inflows. However, this increase is still stuck in the negative zone, under the zero line. This suggests that while there are occasional inflows, the outflows remain dominant, keeping the altcoin subdued.

The negative CMF reading indicates that selling pressure still largely controls the altcoin price movement. Even though there is some positive market activity, it is not enough to overcome the dominant outflows. 

The lack of support from investors is driven by fundamental issues with Pi Network, which Alvin Kan, COO, Bitget Wallet, agreed with, responding to BeInCrypto.

“Pi Network’s initial surge was largely driven by anticipation and years of community mining, but the follow-through has been more muted. As early users began realizing gains, increased token supply met limited exchange listings and a still-developing ecosystem. Without strong utility or broader liquidity, investor demand naturally tapered off. Like many new tokens, Pi is now facing the challenge of transitioning from early hype to long-term value delivery,” Kan told BeInCrypto.

Pi Network’s correlation with Bitcoin is also a point of concern. Currently, Pi shares a correlation of -0.11 with Bitcoin, indicating an inverse relationship. This means that whenever Bitcoin experiences upward momentum, Pi tends to face declines.

With Bitcoin nearing $100,000, Pi Network could struggle to capitalize on Bitcoin’s potential gains, potentially facing further corrections.

Given Bitcoin’s strength, Pi may continue to decline, as its price typically moves in the opposite direction of Bitcoin’s rise. This inverse correlation suggests that even if Bitcoin reaches new highs, PI might not benefit from the broader market rally. Instead, it could face additional downward pressure.

PI Price Needs A Strong Reversal

Pi Network’s price has dropped 15% over the last month, currently sitting at $0.6077. The decline in price, especially after the high expectations surrounding the token, has caused frustration among investors. As the selling pressure mounts, it appears that more investors are pulling their money out of Pi, resulting in ongoing losses for the token.

If this trend continues and Bitcoin’s price continues to rise, the altcoin could experience a further drop. The negative correlation with Bitcoin could result in Pi falling through the $0.6077 support level and heading toward the $0.5192 support. If the trend persists, the altcoin may approach its all-time low of $0.4000, further deepening its losses.

Thus, staying on alert is the best option for any investor.

While the novelty of Pi Network’s minting on the mobile device took off strongly, it did not stick around for long, impacting the price as a result.

“Pi Network’s mobile mining and referral model helped it build a massive user base, but also invited skepticism around sustainability. While the project clarifies that it doesn’t follow a multi-level structure, concerns persist over perceived lack of transparency and real-world use cases. To move past the debate, the focus will need to shift toward building credible utility and expanding access. If that happens, sentiment could recover—but trust takes time,” Kan told BeInCrypto.

However, if market conditions improve and investor sentiment shifts, Pi Network may have a chance at recovery. A breach of the $0.8727 resistance, followed by flipping it into support, could signal a reversal. This would set Pi on a path toward $1.0000, invalidating the current bearish outlook and setting the stage for potential growth.

The post What To Expect From Pi Network in May 2025? appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Ray Dalio, the billionaire founder of Bridgewater, has issued a stark warning that the global monetary order is “on the brink” of collapse.

He pointed to the current administration’s tariff policies as a significant catalyst, arguing that they have fueled deglobalization trends and caused severe trade imbalances.

Ray Dalio’s Warnings: The Coming Challenges to US Economic Superiority 

Earlier this month, President Donald Trump introduced reciprocal tariffs on all imports, setting a minimum of 10% for all nations. Although a 90-day pause followed, the situation worsened for China as Trump increased tariffs on Chinese goods.

The US tariff on most Chinese imports has risen to 145%. In retaliation, Beijing has imposed a 125% tariff on American goods. While reports have circulated that de-escalation could be expected soon, nothing has been confirmed yet.

In his latest essay, Dalio delves deeper into this dynamic, arguing that even if negotiations result in de-escalation, it may not fully undo the damage already inflicted.

“Some people believe that the tariff disruptions will settle down as more negotiations happen and greater thought is given to how to structure them to work in a sensible way.  However, I am now hearing from a large and growing number of people who are having to deal with these issues that it is already too late,” he wrote.

Dalio highlighted that exporters and importers worldwide are now forced to reduce their dealings with the US drastically. He noted that both American and Chinese producers and investors are actively seeking alternative plans to minimize interdependence. 

He believes this trend is becoming broadly recognized across trade, capital markets, geopolitical, and military relations. Dalio argued that the world is nearing a breakdown of monetary, domestic, political, and international order due to unsustainable fundamentals. This situation mirrors past historical shifts in global orders. 

“Though not yet fully realized, it is also increasingly being realized that the United States’ role as the world’s biggest consumer of manufactured goods and greatest producer of debt assets to finance its over-consumption is unsustainable, so assuming that one can sell and lend to the US and get paid back with hard (i.e. not devalued) dollars on their US debt holdings is naive thinking, so other plans have to be made,” Dalio remarked.

The billionaire investor expressed concern that the US risks being bypassed as other countries adapt to these separations, establishing new trade networks and economic “synapses” that exclude the US. This shift could further erode trust in the US dollar, which is already losing ground amid global economic uncertainty. 

While he did not specify which currencies might gain prominence, Dalio has previously advocated for “hard money” assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and gold as hedges.

“I want to steer away from debt assets like bonds and debt, and have some hard money like gold and Bitcoin,” Dalio said during the Abu Dhabi Finance Week (ADFW) in December 2024.

Global Monetary System at Risk: Is Bitcoin the Solution?

The warning has resonated within the cryptocurrency community. Jeff Park, Head of Alpha Strategies at Bitwise, stated that Dalio’s recent comments signal a looming “dedollarization” threat.

Park emphasized that Dalio’s shift from supporting China to acknowledging US economic imbalances suggests the global move away from the US dollar is approaching faster than many anticipate, a concept long recognized by Bitcoin advocates.

“The dedollarization threat is nearer than you and I know,” Park wrote.

Similarly, another expert asserted that the conditions Dalio describes create an ideal environment for Bitcoin. Rex believes these developments could drive Bitcoin to surge significantly within the next 18 months, potentially exceeding market expectations.

This impact is already quite visible as BTC’s value has recovered amid a dropping dollar. Over the past week, it has appreciated by 7.5%. At the time of writing, BTC was trading at $94,985.

In fact, market watchers are increasingly bullish on BTC, predicting higher price targets for the largest cryptocurrency. Last week, ARK Invest raised its BTC price forecast from $1.5 million to $2.4 million by 2030. Meanwhile, experts’ forecasts for BTC range from $150,000 per coin to a more optimistic $1 million by the end of 2025.

The post Ray Dalio Sounds Alarm on Global Monetary Order Collapse: Will Bitcoin Benefit? appeared first on BeInCrypto.

In 2025, AI agents became the newest obsession for crypto market participants. They were integrated into decentralized finance (DeFi), gaming, infrastructure, and even DAO governance, touted as the next evolution of Web3 intelligence.

With this in mind, BeInCrypto contacted OORT CEO Dr. Max Li for his perspective on whether these autonomous, machine-learning-driven software acting on behalf of users could reshape crypto. Li had some interesting insights, but warned that real-world adoption, security, and regulation are the biggest hurdles ahead.

The AI Agent Gold Rush: Disruption or Distraction?

Data from the AI Agents Directory indicates an average monthly increase of 33% in the number of AI agents.

However, despite the growing interest, Web3-based artificial intelligence solutions still account for a minimal fraction (3%) of the overall AI agent ecosystem.

According to Dr. Max Li, founder and CEO of decentralized cloud network OORT, the space is moving faster than its infrastructure can handle, pointing to models like ElizaOS (formerly ai16z).

Yet, in his opinion, the broader playing field is not ready. He says the core infrastructure, from decentralized storage to tokenized agent marketplaces, is still under construction.

The Real Bottleneck? Security, Not Speed

While scalability is often seen as crypto’s weakness, Max Li says security and compliance are bigger threats. This is especially true when tokenizing AI outputs like computing, decision-making, or real-time data.

Dr. Li added that tokenized AI raises difficult questions. Who owns the data that the agents generate? How can decentralized systems comply with global data laws like GDPR? And what happens when AI agents interact with sensitive personal or financial information on-chain?

“These may already be more significant barriers than scalability,” Dr. Li warned.

The OORT executive emphasized that without clear custodianship or compliance frameworks, the risks extend beyond crypto to regulators, investors, and end-users.

Enterprise Adoption Isn’t Coming Anytime Soon

The industry often claims AI agents will bring real-world industries on-chain. However, Dr. Li says it is still a fantasy, particularly in the public blockchain.

He explained that while enterprises like Walmart could benefit from AI for internal operations, there is little incentive to tokenize those agents. Traditional firms want efficiency and control, not decentralized tokens wrapped around their core systems.

“Most enterprises would prefer to keep that data within their own secured servers rather than exposing it on a public, decentralized network,” he said.

While private chains may offer a bridge, Max Li says the idea of tokenized agents powering real-world logistics or finance is, for now, a crypto-native dream.

A Market Fueled by Hype

AI agent tokens have exploded in 2025. Riding the momentum of both AI and crypto, they have attracted massive capital inflows. However, Dr. Li parallels the dot-com bubble, concluding that while innovation is real, the market is overheated.

Based on this, he does not believe the current rally is sustainable: “It’s fair to say there’s a bubble forming here.”

This sentiment echoes Binance founder Changpeng Zhao (CZ), who recently warned that most AI token projects launch too early.

“Too many AI agent developers focus too much on their token and not enough on the agent’s usefulness. I recommend making a really good agent first,” wrote CZ in a post.

Zhao argued that only a tiny fraction of AI agents, say 0.05%, actually need tokens at this stage. Similarly, Hitesh Malviya, an analyst and popular figure on X, recently echoed this sentiment in a post.

“If you look outside the crypto echo chamber, you’ll find that we do have a solid ecosystem of free and better AI agents—and they don’t have tokens, nor might they ever need one. So, what we’re trading in the name of agents is nothing but memes—a value we created out of thin air, like we always do,” Hitesh observed.

Regulatory Turbulence Ahead

Perhaps the most underappreciated risk in the AI agent boom is regulation. The intersection of open AI systems, tokenized data, and borderless blockchains is a minefield for compliance.

Dr. Li warned of contradictions yet to be resolved: How can decentralized AI be transparent and private? Who is liable when agents act autonomously but cause financial losses?

“In the short term, regulatory intervention will likely create additional hurdles for innovation,” he concluded.

This is especially true where there is no global consensus. Until jurisdictions align on KYC (know-your-customer), AML (anti-money laundering) laws, and data governance, institutional adoption will remain cautious, if not frozen.

While the rise of AI agents is real, their integration into tokenized crypto ecosystems is still a high-risk, high-ambiguity frontier. Infrastructure remains fragile. Legal frameworks are missing, and real-world adoption is still speculative at best.

Dr. Max Li’s view is clear: crypto must shift its focus from hype to functionality—from token-first to agent-first design.

Only then will the next leap in AI-powered decentralization become more than just a market cycle.

The post OORT CEO Dr. Max Li Discusses the Real Bottleneck in AI Agent Adoption appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Tether, a leading stablecoin issuer, has published its first Q1 2025 attestation report on Tether Gold (XAUT). The report revealed that more than 7.7 tons of physical gold backed its tokenized gold product. 

The findings arrive amid growing demand for gold as an inflation hedge, driven by escalating geopolitical tensions.

Tether Gold Surpasses 7.7 Tons in Gold Reserves 

The company shared the report on April 28. It highlighted that as of March 31, 246,524.33 gold secure XAUT tokens were in circulation. Each token is pegged 1:1 to one troy ounce of physical gold stored in Swiss vaults. Thus, this amounts to 246,524.33 ounces or over 7.7 tons of gold.

“With XAUT, we’re offering users the ability to access the security of physical gold in a digital form—secure, easily transferrable, and backed 1:1 by fully held gold reserves. It’s part of our broader commitment to building financial tools that combine the best of traditional assets with the efficiency of blockchain technology,” Tether’s CEO, Paolo Ardoino, remarked.

Furthermore, 180,777.07 of the 246,524.33 XAUT tokens minted have already been sold. The corresponding gold reserves had a market value of approximately $564.67 million. 

The remaining 65,747.26 XAUT tokens are available for sale, backed by gold valued at around $205.37 million. Based on the gold price of $3,123.5 per ounce, the XAUT tokens’ market value was approximately $770.04 million.

The attestation was conducted under the new regulatory framework in El Salvador, where Tether Gold is now regulated. The London Bullion Market Association (LBMA) supplies the physical gold backing XAUT.

Meanwhile, Tether attributed the surge in XAUT adoption to escalating global economic uncertainty, heightened trade war tensions, and a rising demand for inflation-resistant assets. 

“Tether Gold continues to demonstrate the strength and resilience of gold as a store of value, especially in times of economic uncertainty,” Ardoino added.

The company’s statement aligns with broader market trends. According to the World Gold Council, gold demand grew by 1% year-over-year in Q4 2024, setting a new record for the quarter. In addition, central bank net purchases reached 1,044.6 metric tons in 2024, with 332.9 metric tons acquired in Q4 alone.

In fact, BeInCrypto previously reported that the US Dollar Index (DXY) dropped to a three-year low. This currency devaluation sparked a rally in gold, which reached a new all-time high.

This surge highlighted gold’s strategic role as a hedge against volatility, a trend that has also driven increased demand for tokenized gold assets like XAUT. According to BeInCrypto data, XAUT’s market capitalization reached $853.7 million last week, representing a new record peak.

Moreover, CoinGecko data shows that Tether Gold is the largest tokenized gold product, reinforcing its position in the digital asset ecosystem.

The post Tether’s Q1 2025 Report Reveals 7.7 Tons of Physical Gold Backing XAUT Tokens appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) continued their inflow streak on Monday, raking in over $500 million in fresh capital and marking seven consecutive days of positive flows. 

The sustained momentum reflects the resurgence in investor appetite for BTC exposure through regulated investment vehicles, even amid broader market volatility.

BTC ETFs See Steady Inflows

On Monday, BTC spot ETFs attracted fresh investor demand, recording $591.29 million in net inflows and extending their winning streak to a seventh consecutive day. This happened as the leading coin sought stable support above the $94,000 price. 

Once again, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) led the charge, recording the largest inflow among its peers. The fund saw inflows totaling $970.93 million, bringing its total cumulative net inflows to $42.17 billion.

ARKB, the BTC spot ETF managed by Ark Invest and 21Shares, recorded the largest net outflow yesterday. On Monday, $226.30 million exited the fund. Despite this setback, ARKB’s total historical net inflow remains at $2.88 billion.

Rising Open Interest and Bearish Options Sentiment Set the Stage

Open interest across BTC’s futures market has risen by 2% over the past day, signaling an increase in outstanding futures contracts. The coin’s price has noted a modest 0.14% uptick during the same period.

A rise in open interest indicates that more traders are opening new positions rather than closing existing ones. This bullish signal can strengthen BTC’s price rally in the short term. 

Meanwhile, as of this writing, BTC’s funding rate is 0%, indicating a balanced market between long and short positions. A neutral funding rate like this suggests no immediate dominance by bulls or bears in the coin’s perpetual futures market. 

This reduces the likelihood of sudden liquidations, meaning any major price movement would likely need fresh momentum rather than being triggered by leverage-driven squeezes.

However, the sentiment among BTC options traders is clear. Today’s high demand for puts indicates a more cautious or bearish outlook among BTC options traders. 

The growing interest in these bearish contracts suggests that many investors anticipate a potential pullback in BTC’s price, despite the recent inflows into Bitcoin ETFs.

Until a clear breakout or breakdown occurs, BTC may continue to consolidate within the narrow range.

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