Bitcoin is holding just below $70k after a hawkish FOMC, ETF outflows, and a 
shift to Fear, with weak long conviction but easing miner selling and 
difficulty. Bitcoin is trading above $69,900 on Friday evening, clinging to 
key support levels…

Bitcoin clings to $69k support as ETFs flip and fear index sinks

Bitcoin’s mining difficulty is set to drop about 7.5% tonight, the sharpest 
fall since the 2022 bear, as hash rate leaves the network and miner margins 
get relief. Bitcoin&#8217;s (BTC) mining difficulty is on the verge of its steepest 
downward…

Bitcoin mining difficulty set for 7.5% drop as hash rate retreats

Ethereum investor Stanley Druckenmiller has added his voice to the growing 
conversation around the future of digital finance, predicting that stablecoins 
could become the dominant force in global payment systems within the next few 
years. The veteran investor’s outlook reflects a broader shift among 
institutions and market participants toward viewing blockchain-based money as 
a critical financial infrastructure. Why Stablecoins Could Replace Traditional 
Payment Rails Stanley Druckenmiller, a prominent investor with exposure to 
Ethereum, is increasingly aligning his investment positioning with his outlook 
on the future of payments; one dominated by stablecoins and blockchain 
infrastructure. According to the Etherealize post on X, the veteran investor 
has publicly stated that stablecoins could power the entire payment system 
within the next 10 to 15 years. He further pointed to the clear advantages of 
blockchain-based money, such as greater efficiency, faster settlement, and 
significantly lower costs. Related Reading: Ethereum Remains The Top Network 
For Tokenized Assets As Adoption Grows This view is reflected in his exposure 
of the ETH ecosystem, in which Druckenmiller is listed among key backers of 
BitMine (BMNR), an Ethereum-focused treasury firm chaired by Tom Lee, which 
reportedly holds over $10 billion in ETH. Other notable supporters include ARK 
Invest and Bill Miller. Druckenmiller’s aligns with his recent bullish 
comments on stablecoins and blockchain payments. He frames blockchain and the 
use of stablecoins as highly practical tools for investors to invest their 
crypto and tokens, as they can significantly improve financial productivity. 
Ethereum As A Neutral Settlement Layer For Institutions The recent Cari 
announcement has reignited a critical debate around the future of 
institutional blockchain infrastructure, with much of the discussion focusing 
on architecture. Analyst Alex argued that the real issue lies in the business 
model of proprietary systems versus open standards. Related Reading: Ethereum 
Futures Volume Outruns Spot 6-to-1 As Macro Stress Weighs On Crypto The 
Government of propriety networks like Canton or Tempo will be controlled by a 
small group with disproportionate voting weight. They will be permissionless, 
but participants have to submit a Google form with opaque admission criteria 
to join. It&#8217;s unclear who decides this, but over time, the most influential 
participants will set the terms of access and pricing. From a bank’s 
perspective, this structure is familiar because it mirrors the early dynamics 
of legacy systems like SWIFT and Visa, locking in structural advantages while 
late joiners absorb the cost. As Alex noted, everyone wants to build the next 
SWIFT-killer, but nobody wants to join someone else&#8217;s SWIFT-Killer; a typical 
comment from banks. This is where Ethereum stands out as the only neutral 
settlement layer where that dynamic can&#8217;t take hold, because no single entity 
can capture it. The ETH network is the only place where every participant can 
permanently trust that no future coalition will rewrite the rules against 
them. From a game-theoretical standpoint, Alex concluded that ETH represents 
the only sustainable equilibrium as a global settlement layer for 
institutional finance that works long-term. Featured image from Adobe Stock, 
chart from Tradingview.com

Ethereum Investor Druckenmiller Predicts Stablecoin-Led Payment Systems

Eightco&#8217;s increased investment in OpenAI underscores the growing influence of 
AI in reshaping global industries and investor strategies.
The post Tom Lee-backed Eightco doubles down on OpenAI as total stake hits $90 
million appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Tom Lee-backed Eightco doubles down on OpenAI as total stake hits $90 million

Bluesky disclosed a $100 million Series B led by Bain Capital Crypto as its 
user base topped 43 million amid a leadership transition.
The post Bluesky discloses $100 million Series B as user growth tops 43 
million appeared first on Crypto Briefing.

Cryptocurrency price in PHP