Sygnum’s off-exchange custody platform allows traders to mirror assets held in Sygnum’s custody while trading on an exchange like Deribit.
Cryptocurrency banking firm Sygnum is partnering with crypto derivatives exchange Deribit, providing its off-exchange custody platform, Sygnum Protect.
On March 5, Sygnum announced the expansion of Sygnum Protect, its off-exchange custody platform, to include Deribit, one of the world’s largest derivatives exchanges in crypto.
This integration enables institutional Deribit traders to hold their assets in Sygnum’s institutional-grade custody while accessing Deribit’s broad trading offering and liquidity.
Americans now own more Bitcoin than gold, with approximately 50 million Americans holding Bitcoin compared to 37 million owning gold.
The trend of viewing Bitcoin as a reserve asset alternative to gold is growing. Bitcoin is becoming integral to the US’s economic plans, purchasing policies, and financial systems.
Bitcoin Surpasses Gold in US Ownership
A May 20 report from Bitcoin investment firm River emphasizes that the US is leading the way in Bitcoin adoption, with significant investments and infrastructure supporting its dominance. Bitcoin’s outperformance over gold in American ownership marks a significant milestone, signaling a major shift in public perception of investment assets.
America is the global Bitcoin superpower. Source: River
The report also highlights that the US is at the forefront globally in adopting Bitcoin, with 40% of global Bitcoin companies headquartered there. Also, American firms account for 94.8% of all Bitcoin owned by publicly traded firms worldwide.
This reflects the US’s strong investment in Bitcoin infrastructure, from startups and ETFs to policies supporting cryptocurrency.
Another noteworthy point is the trend of considering Bitcoin as a modern reserve asset alternative to gold. River’s report shows that Bitcoin is becoming an “underestimated pillar” of American economic dominance.
With 790 billion USD worth of Bitcoin held by Americans, Bitcoin is not just an investment asset. It is also integrated into the nation’s economic plans and financial systems.
“Bitcoin is an underestimated pillar of American dominance. Americans have a larger estimated share of the bitcoin supply than of global wealth, GDP, or gold reserves.” River stated
Nearly 50 million Americans own Bitcoin, while the number of gold owners is almost 37 million. Source: River
Growing confidence in Bitcoin is reinforced by factors such as the ease of digital storage and transfer and expectations that the US might establish a strategic Bitcoin reserve, as proposed by some politicians. This indicates that Bitcoin is gradually reshaping how Americans perceive safe-haven assets during economic uncertainty, surpassing the traditional role of gold.
Moody’s US credit downgrade ends a century of top ratings, boosting Bitcoin’s appeal as a hedge against fiscal instability.
However, this shift also raises questions about sustainability and risks. While Bitcoin is considered a safe haven asset, its price volatility may make some investors cautious.
Cardano (ADA) is up more than 12% over the last seven days and is now trading above $0.70 for the first time since the end of March. Trading volume is also rising, up 33% in the past 24 hours to reach $723 million.
Despite the price recovery, some technical indicators suggest that ADA’s momentum is weakening and approaching key decision points. Here’s a closer look at Cardano’s current setup as the new week begins.
Cardano BBTrend Weakens After Positive Streak
Cardano BBTrend indicator is currently at 7.55, down from 13.27 just three days ago. This sharp decline shows that the strength of recent price expansion has cooled, even though the asset has posted positive daily closes over the last four days.
The falling BBTrend suggests that while ADA has been moving higher, the expansion’s underlying momentum is losing intensity.
The BBTrend, or Bollinger Band Trend indicator, measures the strength of a price trend based on the expansion or contraction of Bollinger Bands.
A rising BBTrend typically signals strong momentum and increasing volatility, while a falling BBTrend suggests weakening momentum or the start of a consolidation phase.
With ADA’s BBTrend now at 7.55, the indicator still points to some positive momentum, but at a much weaker pace than earlier in the week.
If the BBTrend continues to decline, ADA could enter a consolidation phase, but if buying pressure returns, the token could extend its current positive streak.
ADA Faces Indecision as Buyers and Sellers Battle for Control
Cardano Directional Movement Index (DMI) shows its Average Directional Index (ADX) currently sitting at 17.14, a notable drop from 31 two days ago.
This sharp decrease signals that the strength of ADA’s recent trend has weakened significantly. Meanwhile, the +DI (positive directional indicator) is at 19.95, up from 15.96 a few hours ago but still down from 26 two days ago.
The -DI (negative directional indicator) sits at 19.07, slightly down from 21.16 earlier but up compared to 14.49 two days ago, reflecting mixed momentum between buyers and sellers.
The ADX measures the strength of a trend without indicating its direction.
Readings above 25 typically suggest a strong trend, while readings below 20 point to a weak or consolidating market. With ADA’s ADX now at 17.14, trend strength is weak, and neither buyers nor sellers currently have a clear advantage.
Cardano’s Bullish Structure Faces Critical Test Near $0.69
Cardano’s Exponential Moving Average (EMA) lines suggest an uptrend, with the short-term EMAs positioned above the long-term ones.
However, Cardano price has repeatedly tested the support level at $0.69 and is trading very close to it.
This price action signals that while the broader trend remains positive, the bullish momentum has weakened, and the $0.69 support is becoming a critical zone.
If ADA loses the $0.69 support, the next downside targets would be around $0.63, followed by $0.609 and potentially $0.59 if selling pressure accelerates.
On the other hand, if buyers step back in and reinforce the uptrend, ADA could rally to retest resistance at $0.746.
A breakout above $0.746 could open the door for a move toward $0.77, offering a strong bullish setup if momentum strengthens again.
For years, crypto in Africa was synonymous with Bitcoin (BTC). Today, that narrative has flipped, with companies like Yellow Card, a crypto exchange operating in Africa, clearly reflecting this shift.
In an exclusive with BeInCrypto, Yellow Card co-founder and CEO Chris Maurice reveals how it is building a pan-African stablecoin network to leapfrog traditional finance (TradFi). This is amid growing regulatory clarity, collapsing fiat systems, and a remittance revolution.
Stablecoins Are Transforming Africa’s Financial Scene
The pan-African exchange operates in over 20 markets, and Maurice says stablecoins now account for over 99% of its transactions. This makes Yellow Card a bellwether for what might be the most transformative trend in emerging markets finance.
“When we first launched Yellow Card in 2019, people were exclusively buying Bitcoin. Now, the most popular asset is Tether (USDT),” Maurice told BeInCrypto.
As it happened, necessity, not speculation, has driven this evolution. Africa leads the world in peer-to-peer (P2P) crypto trading volume. However, unlike global crypto hubs chasing volatile returns, Africans are choosing stablecoins out of financial survival.
Local currencies are eroding under inflationary pressure in countries like Nigeria, which ranks second globally in crypto adoption (per Chainalysis). Stablecoins offer a reliable store of value and seamless means of cross-border payments.
This is especially critical in a continent with $48 billion annual remittances and persistent banking limitations.
“Stablecoins are solving practical financial services challenges in Africa. People aren’t in love with the tech. They need faster, cheaper ways to move money to survive and thrive,” Maurice added.
Infrastructure Built for the Unbanked
Yellow Card has gone beyond trading services. Its infrastructure integrates mobile money systems (like M-Pesa in Kenya) and local fiat currencies such as the Nigerian naira and Ghanaian cedi. According to the firm’s CEO, this helps onboard users without bank accounts.
By managing compliance, currency exchange, and payments internally, the firm enables businesses to operate without battling unreliable local rails.
“Our mission is to let companies invest, hire, and grow in emerging markets without needing to stress over infrastructure. We’ve built the back office [meaning] cybersecurity, AML, [and] data protection, so they can focus on growth,” he articulated.
The Regulatory Dam Has Broken
Maurice also observed that African regulators kept crypto in limbo for years. In Yellow Card’s view, 2024 marked a tipping point.
“There is regulatory momentum in Africa that is only accelerating. The dam has broken,” he said.
South Africa now classifies crypto as a financial product. It has licensed major exchanges like Luno and VALR. Countries in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), Mauritius, Botswana, and Namibia have followed suit with licensing regimes.
Meanwhile, regulatory incubators are emerging in Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Tanzania. Against this backdrop, Maurice says Yellow Card has actively helped draft legislation in Kenya and supports crypto frameworks in Morocco.
Fighting the Informal Market
Still, challenges remain. In countries like Ethiopia, Cameroon, and Morocco, outright bans have driven users underground into high-risk P2P networks. Yellow Card pushes for frameworks that level the playing field for compliant players.
“We face a lot of competition from companies that don’t maintain high AML standards…A level playing field is all we seek,” he said.
With $85 million in venture funding, Yellow Card is deploying capital into compliance and partnerships. With this, the company positions itself as the go-to infrastructure provider for global firms looking to tap African markets.
From Africa to Emerging Markets Everywhere
Cross-border payments are perhaps Yellow Card’s most powerful use case. The company’s co-founder says its stablecoin-powered rails are helping businesses reduce working capital needs, expand to new regions, and hire faster.
“We’ve had clients tell us we’ve enabled them to scale into new countries and reduce their costs dramatically. That’s real economic impact,” said Maurice.
The company is not stopping at Africa. Its infrastructure extends into other frontier markets, with a wave of strategic partnerships expected in 2025.
“Yellow Card has built a series of easy buttons for developed world companies to expand into complicated, high-growth markets,” he noted.
“Stablecoins are already a standard part of the financial infrastructure in Africa. CFOs and treasurers in traditional industries are now routinely using them to store and transfer value,” he added.
Africa’s crypto market is still small compared to global giants. Nevertheless, as the world shifts from speculation to utility, the continent’s fragmented financial systems may offer a glimpse into crypto’s most impactful use case: economic empowerment. For Yellow Card, the mission is clear and increasingly urgent.
“We’ve built a company for longevity and scale. Crypto adoption in Africa is stablecoin adoption,” Maurice concluded.
