To meet the rising demand for crypto derivatives, CBOE Global Markets has launched new Bitcoin futures contracts called Cboe FTSE Bitcoin Index futures (XBTF), now available on its Cboe Futures Exchange.
This follows CBOE’s earlier launch of Bitcoin options products (CBTX and MBTX), offering a range of tools for managing Bitcoin price swings. These products can be used individually for simpler trades or together for more advanced strategies. The XBTF futures, like the Bitcoin options, are cleared through OCC.
Cboe Expands Crypto Offerings
Cboe’s growing range of crypto products now includes spot bitcoin ETFs and bitcoin ETF index options, alongside their new bitcoin futures. The BTC index futures are cash-settled, which eliminates the need for physically delivering Bitcoin. These XBTF futures will settle on the last business day of each month in the afternoon.
“As customer demand for crypto-based derivatives continues to rise, Cboe is committed to building a well-rounded ecosystem to help facilitate more efficient, flexible access to bitcoin exposure and risk management,” said Catherine Clay, Global Head of Derivatives at Cboe.
She added that Cboe’s new Bitcoin futures are an important addition to their crypto offerings, allowing investors to gain exposure to or hedge Bitcoin in a regulated, transparent environment with centralized clearing.
Cboe is expanding its digital assets by listing U.S. spot bitcoin and ether ETFs. Its new cash-settled Bitcoin options have helped create ETFs that give investors Bitcoin exposure with limited risk.
Barak Capital, a leading market maker, noted the growing demand for stable and efficient markets as digital asset investments become more institutionalized. They are ready to provide liquidity to Cboe’s FTSE Bitcoin Index futures.
Ethereum price is dips 3% to hit $2,520 on Friday, bullish territory, with strong institutional accumulation signals stregthening key support levels.
BTCS Inc. Arranges Financing to Fund $57.8 Million of Etherereum (ETH) Resereve
Ethereum (ETH) found support amid a tame altcoin market trend on Thursdsy. While the likes of Cardano (ADA) and Solana (SOL) posted 4% losses apiece ETH managed to limit lossses to 3.2% on the day.
Ethereum’s resilient showing is linked to a critical statement from BTCS Inc. announcing a significant $57.8 million financing deal aimed at expanding its Ethereum holdings and validator infrastructure.
Ethereum Price Action, May 16, 2025 | Coingecko
The structure of the agreement includes an initial $7.8 million tranche and room for an additional $50 million, demonstrating institutional-level confidence in Ethereum’s long-term trajectory.
The convertible notes carry a hefty 194% premium at $5.85 per share, which not only reflects optimism but also mitigates short-term dilution unless BTCS stock appreciates considerably. Furthermore, the CEO’s personal commitment of $95,000—and $200,000 from a related trust—adds credibility to the bullish stance on ETH.
Strategically, BTCS is modeling this initiative after MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin playbook, but with a clear Ethereum-specific twist: recurring validator income. Unlike BTC holdings, Ethereum provides staking rewards, and BTCS plans to scale this revenue stream via its Builder+ platform. This means ETH functions not only as a store of value but also as a yield-bearing asset integrated into core operations. If Ethereum continues to rise alongside network demand, BTCS stands to benefit from both capital appreciation and validator-based cash flow.
What’s Next?
Ethereum’s steady price consolidation above $2,500 puts it in a favorable technical position as the market assesses macro and regulatory risks. Should price maintain its hold above this level, supported by fresh institutional inflows like those from BTCS, the path toward reclaiming the $2,700 to $2,800 resistance range remains viable.
More importantly, ETH price withstanding external shocks from the FTX-induced sell-offs, reduced volatility relative to its altcoin peers. If staking demand, validator scaling, and institutional ETH strategies continue to expand, Ethereum may enter a structurally stronger phase, with a long-term target at the $3,000 level.
Ethereum forecast today points to renewed bullish potential as price action consolidates firmly above $2,500, with technical indicators supporting a continuation move toward $2,800.
Despite modest retracement pressure in recent sessions, ETH remains structurally intact, with Bollinger Bands showing a steady upper band expansion, affirming bullish volatility. Friday’s close at $2,549.89—right at the session high. This signals strong intraday recovery and suggests dip buyers are defending the range lows with conviction.
The RSI, currently at 72.33, continues to hover in overbought territory but shows signs of stabilizing, reflecting healthy momentum without excessive froth. The price remains above both the VWAP and mid-band support, signaling control remains with buyers.
Ethereum Price Action, May 16, 2025 | Coingecko
As institutional interest deepens, highlighted by BTCS Inc.’s newly announced $57.8 million Ethereum accumulation strategy, an early rebound remains on the cards.
In the event bulls maintain control above $2,500 and momentum continues to hold above RSI 70, the next logical resistance sits near $2,800. On the flipside, decisive break below the $2450 this level could open the path toward $2,200 in the medium term.
The price of Bitcoin (BTC) has blasted past the resistance level at $80,000 after US President Donald Trump announced a 90-day pause on his reciprocal tariff measures. The price of the coin has faced series of rejection at this point following the trade war escalation with China.
BTC Price Soar on Reciprocal Tariff Pause
At the time of writing, the price of Bitcoin was changing hands for $81,318.29, up by more than 6.18% in the past 24 hours. This rebound followed an earlier tease in which President Trump asked to buy the dip in hopes, a statement that proved speculative earlier today.
Like Bitcoin, top altcoins are also in a rebound mode, with Ethereum (ETH) skyrocketing 9.2% to $1,589.81. XRP rallied past the $2 resistance point after gaining 13.26% in 24 hours. Cardano, Solana, and Dogecoin have also staged impressive rebounds as of writing with gains of 10.2%, 12.83%, and 9.6%, respectively.
While it remains uncertain whether this uptick will last long, the general market trend is trailing the rebound mode. Stock futures are also lifted as off-writing, with optimism surrounding risk-on assets.
Is The Tariff War Finally Over?
The full context of the US-China trade war shows that President Trump only postponed full implementation for about 75 countries that have opened negotiations with the US. The reciprocal tariff announced on April 2 was lowered to 10% alongside the 90-day pause.
However, China was exempted from this latest concession. Instead, President Donald Trump increased the tariff on goods from China to 125%, effective immediately. The President highlighted that the goal is for China to stop ripping the US off.
Meanwhile, China has chosen to stand up to the United States in the tariff war. Over the past few days, China has announced a counter tariff on the U.S, a move economists warn might cripple both economies.
Although BTC price has recovered, these trade headwinds remain a major one to watch out for.
Market Shifts Focus from Trade War
The trade war between the US and China has masked the hype surrounding other key events in the crypto ecosystem. This week, the first XRP ETF leverage product outshone Solana as it went live on NYSE Arca. Dubbed the 2X Daily Long XRP ETF, the leveraged product saw a substantial $5 million inflow at its debut.
In addition, Solana developers are innovating with the introduction of Confidential Balances and Open Relayer. Ethereum Pectra upgrade remains in view while the Bitcoin price correlation with the mainstream stock market is thinning out.
These events will likely fuel a sustained reversal of the negative trend recorded in the past few weeks.
Andrew Lunardi, Head of Growth at Immutable, expressed strong optimism about the cryptocurrency market, predicting a substantial rebound in the second half of 2025. The cryptocurrency market is currently experiencing a slump, with Bitcoin and Ethereum trading below $82k and $2k respectively.
One of the major catalysts, according to Lunardi, is the anticipated regulatory clarity from the Trump Administration. On the Milk Road podcast, he said that the administration’s forthcoming policies on compliant tokens will likely unlock substantial investment, particularly from institutional investors. “We’re about to see clear regulatory guidelines on what it means to have a compliant token, which will reduce risks and encourage more institutional capital to flow into the market,” Lunardi said.
Lunardi also pointed to the fading prominence of meme coins as a bullish indicator. While many have seen the decline of meme coins as a sign of a bear market, Lunardi views it as a positive shift, suggesting that liquidity from meme coins will likely be reallocated into more established altcoins, potentially benefiting diverse crypto portfolios.
Furthermore, Lunardi said that institutional capital inflows and the rise of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) will provide significant support to the market, helping to stabilize prices and facilitate broader crypto adoption. “The infrastructure for institutional capital is in place, with more ETFs opening up the market,” he explained.
He explained that his main focus is on Bitcoin, and he remains bullish on Solana as well, despite the current popularity of meme coins. He also mentioned that he believes the Trump Administration will pay special attention to U.S.-based cryptocurrencies, particularly those that have utility and real-world applications.
Despite his bullish outlook, Lunardi acknowledged the potential challenges posed by macroeconomic factors, such as tariffs and inflation. He warned that global economic uncertainties could still impact the crypto market in the short term, particularly if tariffs escalate and inflation remains high.
The post Crypto News: Trump Administration Set to Focus on U.S.-Based Altcoins, Expert Reveals Bullish Outlook appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
Andrew Lunardi, Head of Growth at Immutable, expressed strong optimism about the cryptocurrency market, predicting a substantial rebound in the second half of 2025. The cryptocurrency market is currently experiencing a slump, with Bitcoin and Ethereum trading below $82k and $2k respectively. One of the major catalysts, according to Lunardi, is the anticipated regulatory clarity …
