Author: Anthony M. Orbison
Crypto investor sentiment took another significant hit this week after Mantra’s OM token collapsed by over 90% within hours on Sunday, April 13, triggering knee-jerk comparisons to previous black swan events such as the Terra-Luna collapse.Elsewhere, Coinbase’s report for institutional investors added to concerns by highlighting that cryptocurrencies may be in a bear market until a recovery occurs in the third quarter of 2025.Mantra OM token crash exposes “critical” liquidity issues in cryptoMantra’s recent token collapse highlights an issue within the crypto industry of fluctuating weekend liquidity levels creating additional downside volatility, which may have exacerbated the token’s crash.The Mantra…
This is the third article in a series deep diving into individual covenant proposals that have reached a point of maturity meriting an in-depth breakdown. TXHASH and CHECKTXHASHVERIFY (TXHASH), put forward by Steven Roose and Brandon Black with a BIP number currently unassigned, is a “template based” covenant that can conceptually seen as an extension or more advanced version of CHECKTEMPLATEVERIFY (CTV). Before getting into the nitty gritty of how TXHASH works, let’s refresh on the pieces of data in a Bitcoin transaction. At a high level you have the outputs, the inputs, and the witness (or script sig for…
The global economy has struggled to make any significant movements upward in recent weeks. Whether the cryptocurrency or stock market, the US has succumbed to increased geopolitical tension and economic frailty. However, that hasn’t stopped Bitcoin from potentially targeting $90,000 in Q2, with one factor looking to push the leading crypto upward.The asset has underwhelmed in a big way throughout the first three months of the year. Indeed, it has been unable to recreate the six-figure increase that took place in late 2024, with the token continuously failing to break through the $85,000 mark in any notable way. That could…
Opinion by: Axel Schorn and Dr. Duc AuTraditional stocks, bonds and commodities markets have long benefited from well-established standards governing the flow of information and data. These standards underpin the seamless functioning of trading, settlement and regulatory compliance, ensuring all participants can rely on the same consistent frameworks.As the financial industry moves into decentralized finance (DeFi) with the introduction of digital assets, like crypto assets and tokenized securities, the lack of such standards presents a growing challenge. While digital assets promise transformative potential, their fragmented information landscape risks undermining their adoption and integration into the broader financial ecosystem.Independent platforms like CoinMarketCap…
Bitcoin’s 2025 journey hasn’t delivered the explosive bull market surge many expected. After peaking above $100,000, the 2025 Bitcoin price retraced sharply to as low as $75,000, sparking debate among investors and analysts about where we stand in the Bitcoin cycle. In this analysis, we cut through the noise, leveraging on-chain indicators and macro data to determine if the Bitcoin bull market remains intact or if a deeper Bitcoin correction looms in Q3 2025. Key metrics like MVRV Z-Score, Value Days Destroyed (VDD), and Bitcoin capital flows provide critical insights into the market’s next move. Is Bitcoin’s 2025 Pullback Healthy…
Early cypherpunk Adam Back, cited by Satoshi Nakamoto in the Bitcoin white paper, suggested that quantum computing pressure may reveal whether the blockchain’s pseudonymous creator is alive.During an interview after a Q&A session at the “Satoshi Spritz” event in Turin on April 18, Back suggested that quantum computing may force Nakamoto to move their Bitcoin (BTC). That’s because, according to Back, Bitcoin holders will be forced to move their assets to newer, quantum-resistant signature-based addresses.Back said that current quantum computers do not pose a credible threat to Bitcoin’s cryptography but will likely threaten it in the future. Back estimated that…
Bitcoin is the first instantiation of digitally scarce capital—allowing companies to raise, deploy, and prove value faster than ever before. In legacy finance, capital formation is a slow, friction-filled process. A company raises funds, deploys them over months or years into infrastructure, products, or real estate—and only then begins the long wait to see whether the capital generated a return. This lag isn’t a bug. It’s a defining feature of the traditional system, built on physical constraints, regulatory overhead, intermediated trust, and long feedback loops. That system has not changed—until now. Bitcoin is fundamentally different. For the first time, companies…
Blockchain firm Astar Network implemented changes to its tokenomics to reduce inflationary pressures in its ecosystem. On April 18, Astar Network announced that it reduced the blockchain’s base staking rewards to 10% from 25% to curb token inflation. The company said the change promotes a more stable annual percentage rate (APR) for users as staking inches closer to a more ideal ratio. The firm said this ensures that rewards “remain meaningful” without causing excessive inflation. “This change lowers automatic token issuance, reducing overall inflationary pressure while maintaining strong incentives for users to stake their ASTR,” Astar Network wrote. Astar Network highlights key changes to…
Bitcoin (BTC) speculators may spark “significant” BTC price volatility as a large tranche of coins moves onchain.In one of its “Quicktake” blog posts on April 18, onchain analytics platform CryptoQuant warned that a Bitcoin market shake-up is due.CryptoQuant: “Volatility is coming” for BTC priceBitcoin short-term holders (STHs) are signaling that the current calm BTC price behavior may not last long.CryptoQuant reveals that 170,000 BTC owned by entities with a purchase date between three and six months ago has begun to circulate.“Around 170,000 BTC are moving from the 3–6 month holder cohort,” contributor Mignolet confirmed. “Large movements from this group often signal…
Altcoins may see a resurgence in the second quarter of 2025 as regulations for digital assets continue to improve, according to Swiss bank Sygnum.In its Q2 2025 investment outlook, Sygnum said the space has seen “drastically improved” regulations for crypto use cases, creating the foundations for a strong alt-sector rally for the second quarter. However, it added that “none of the positive developments have been priced in.” In April, Bitcoin dominance reached a four-year high, signaling that crypto investors are rotating their funds into an asset perceived to be relatively safer. Still, Sygnum said regulatory developments in the US, such as President…