U.S. stocks closed higher as investors welcomed signs of progress on trade policy and processed a flurry of corporate earnings. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 300 points, or nearly 0.75%, while the S&amp;P 500 gained 0.6% and the Nasdaq…

Dow rises 300 points as trade deal hints lift Wall Street from Trump-era slump

Nike is facing a class action lawsuit after abruptly shutting down its crypto- 
focused subsidiary, RTFKT, leaving investors with significant losses tied to 
Nike-themed NFTs and digital assets. Plaintiffs, led by Australian investor 
Jagdeep Cheema, allege they were misled into buying what they now claim were 
unregistered securities, only to see their value collapse after Nike […]

Nike Faces $5M NFT Meltdown Lawsuit

Trump Media and Technology Group, the social media conglomerate backed by US 
President Donald Trump, is considering integrating a crypto token and wallet 
into its video streaming site, Truth+.
&#8220;We&#8217;re exploring the introduction of a utility token within a Truth digital 
wallet that can initially be used to pay for Truth+ subscription costs, and 
later be applied to other products and services in the Truth ecosphere,&#8221; Trump 
Media CEO Devin Nunes wrote in an April 29 letter to shareholders.
He added that the crypto token and wallet would be part of a rewards program 
that Trump Media is exploring across its services, which include the social 
media platform Truth Social and the financial services platform Truth.Fi.
Trump Media first signaled plans for a potential crypto payments venture last 
November when it filed a trademark application with the US Patent and 
Trademark Office for computer software designed to function as a digital 
wallet, enable digital asset trading and process crypto payments on Truth.Fi.
_Source:__Cointelegraph_
Truth+ launched in October, offering movies and shows mainly targeting a 
politically conservative audience.
Trump Media signed a binding agreement with the crypto exchange Crypto.com and 
asset manager Yorkville America Digital to launch exchange-traded funds (ETFs) 
that will include crypto and stocks &#8220;with a Made in America focus&#8221; to launch 
on Truth.Fi.
The company said in January that it plans to invest up to $250 million of its 
cash reserves into a range of financial products, including Bitcoin (BTC) and 
other crypto tokens or crypto-related securities, which would be custodied by 
asset manager Charles Schwab.
## More potential for conflict of interest
The launch of a Trump Media utility token would only heighten concerns about 
the president&#8217;s crypto-related ventures potentially conflicting with his 
duties. Trump, however, transferred his 59% stake into a trust last December.
_**Related:**__**Trump &#8216;s first 100 days &#8216;worst in history&#8217; despite crypto 
promises**_
Trump has also been criticized for backing the crypto platform World Liberty 
Financial, where he&#8217;s named the firm&#8217;s &#8220;Chief Crypto Advocate&#8221; and draws a 
portion of its profits.
Some senators have raised concerns that Trump&#8217;s influence on policy could 
benefit World Liberty, which is 60% owned by the Trump family.
Trump also received backlash for the controversial launch of his memecoin, 
Official Trump (TRUMP), on Jan. 18 &#8212; just two days before he re-entered the 
White House.
_**Magazine:**__**Trump &#8216;s crypto ventures raise conflict of interest, insider 
trading questions**_

Trump Media considers crypto token and wallet for streaming arm

**Key points:**
 * Weak labor and consumer data often precede Bitcoin rallies, leading some analysts to anticipate future economic stimulus programs.
 * Job openings fell to 7.2 million in March versus the 7.5 million forecast and consumer confidence hit its lowest level since January 2021.
 * If past patterns hold, Bitcoin could rally by mid-July and possibly reach $140,000 by October 2025.
Macroeconomic conditions have long been seen as a major influence on 
cryptocurrency prices. Generally, Bitcoin (BTC) and altcoins perform poorly 
when investors fear that employment and consumer data are weakening.
According to a US Labor Department JOLTS report released on April 29, job 
openings in March approached their lowest levels in four years. US employers 
posted 7.2 million vacancies in March, below the 7.5 million that economists 
had forecast. Meanwhile, US consumer confidence fell for the fifth straight 
month in April, reaching its lowest point since January 2021.
_US Consumer Confidence (left) vs. Total non-farm US job openings (right). 
Source: TradingView/Cointelegraph_
Worsening conditions raise the chances that central banks will introduce 
economic stimulus measures, making the overall impact on cryptocurrency 
markets uncertain. Typically, the additional liquidity encourages investment 
in risk-on assets like Bitcoin, as more capital flows into the economy.
## Future expectations matter more than today&#8217;s weak economic data
The last time the US experienced a drop in job openings and weakening consumer 
confidence was between January and June 2024. In the three months that 
followed, Bitcoin&#8217;s price moved between $53,000 and $66,000. Then, a 60% rally 
began in mid-October, pushing BTC above $100,000. The final result was 
positive, but it took more than 105 days for this effect to show in the 
cryptocurrency market.
_Bitcoin/USD, log scale. Source: TradingView / Cointelegraph_
Although these conditions may seem worrying at first, weaker labor and 
consumer sentiment are usually backward-looking. Financial markets and 
companies base their decisions on expectations for future economic growth, 
rather than just past data. Also, improved sentiment among crypto investors 
tends to come after there is some confirmation of better macroeconomic 
conditions. This explains why the 105-day lag is not unusual.
Before 2024, a similar situation occurred between January and June 2023, with 
declines in both job market data and consumer confidence. The next four months 
were difficult, as Bitcoin&#8217;s price fell 18% to $25,000. It took 115 days for 
the price to recover to $30,500 by late October. However, the following two 
months were very positive, with BTC gaining 45% to reach $43,900.
_Bitcoin/USD in 2020, log scale. Source: TradingView / Cointelegraph_
The last time in the past eight years when both the labor market and consumer 
confidence suffered significantly was between February 2020 and May 2020, 
right after the implementation of the COVID-19 lockdowns. This period saw 
Bitcoin briefly drop below $4,000 on March 13, 2020. As a result, a longer 
period of consolidation was expected before investors regained confidence in 
the crypto markets.
_**Related:**__**Bitcoin acts like &#8216;store of value that it is&#8217; amid Trump 
policy chaos: NYDIG**_
## Could Bitcoin hit $140,000 by October?
Looking back at the macroeconomic data, there was no major impact on Bitcoin 
between May 2020 and September 2020, as its price increased from $8,900 to 
$10,600, a 20% gain. However, the next 60 days brought an impressive 85% rally 
to $19,700. For the third time, weaker labor and consumer sentiment data 
seemed to come before a rally in Bitcoin prices.
While the time between the lowest point of economic conditions and Bitcoin&#8217;s 
rally ranged from 105 to 130 days, the result was clear in all three cases. 
Therefore, if US job openings and consumer confidence improve from April 2025, 
it is likely that Bitcoin&#8217;s price will start to rise by mid-July. If history 
repeats itself, this could mean a minimum target of $140,000 by October 2025, 
but further positive macroeconomic data is needed to confirm this outlook.
This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and 
should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and 
opinions expressed here are the author&#8217;s alone and do not necessarily reflect 
or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

Labor pain, crypto gain — How weak JOLTS data sets path for Bitcoin price to rally

Chainlink (LINK) is currently consolidating around the $15 level, as bulls 
attempt to reclaim higher ground after a volatile yet promising few weeks. 
Despite facing stiff resistance near this zone, LINK continues to show 
strength amid a broader market rebound, holding steady while many other 
altcoins experience mixed performance. Related Reading: Ethereum Shows 4H 
Bearish Divergence – Can Bulls Hold $1,750? The asset is now up over 50% from 
its April lows, suggesting that bullish momentum is building beneath the 
surface. Market participants are closely watching for signs of a breakout, 
especially as the overall crypto market heats up and investors rotate capital 
back into high-potential altcoins. Adding to the optimism, top analyst Ali 
Martínez shared a technical chart indicating that the SuperTrend indicator has 
just flashed a buy signal on Chainlink’s daily chart. This indicator is often 
viewed as a reliable tool for identifying the start of new bullish phases or 
trend reversals. A confirmation of this signal could set the stage for further 
gains if bulls manage to clear the current resistance. As the market awaits 
clarity, LINK’s ability to hold its current level and potentially break higher 
may set the tone for its next significant move, possibly reigniting a long- 
awaited rally for the popular oracle protocol. Chainlink Eyes Breakout as 
Momentum Builds Chainlink has been range-bound between $10 and $16 since 
March, consolidating after a volatile start to the year. Despite the sideways 
action, market participants are increasingly focused on the potential for a 
breakout as LINK presses against its key resistance level around $16. A 
sustained move above this barrier could trigger a strong upside move, 
especially if accompanied by a broader altcoin rally. The current setup comes 
amid high-risk macroeconomic conditions. Global tensions continue to rise, 
particularly between the US and China, where escalating tariffs and trade 
disputes have sparked fears of a global recession. Such a backdrop adds a 
layer of caution to any bullish outlook, as risk assets remain vulnerable to 
sudden shifts in investor sentiment. Nevertheless, optimism for Chainlink has 
grown after Ali Martínez pointed out that the SuperTrend indicator has flashed 
a buy signal on LINK’s daily chart. This technical tool is often used to 
detect early trend reversals or sustained shifts in market direction. When it 
appears after a prolonged consolidation, as it has now, it can signal that 
bullish momentum is about to accelerate. If bulls manage to reclaim and hold 
levels above $16, it could confirm a trend change and potentially send LINK 
surging toward new 2024 highs. Still, until the price breakouts, the range 
remains in play—and so does the risk of another rejection. Related Reading: 
Solana Forms Textbook Cup And Handle Pattern – Massive Breakout Ahead? LINK 
Price Analysis: Key Levels Chainlink is currently trading at $15.10, gradually 
climbing toward the critical $16 resistance level. This zone has acted as a 
ceiling throughout April and May, and bulls now face a pivotal test. 
Reclaiming and holding above $16 would not only break the multi-week range but 
also set the stage for a possible breakout if momentum continues to build. The 
technical picture highlights the importance of the 200-day moving average (MA) 
and exponential moving average (EMA), both clustered in the $16–$17 range. 
These trend indicators have served as dynamic resistance in recent months, and 
a clean push above them could confirm a bullish reversal and open the path 
toward higher targets. However, the structure remains fragile, and failure to 
maintain strength could put LINK at risk of a deeper pullback. If the $14 
support level breaks, selling pressure may accelerate, potentially dragging 
the price toward lower demand zones around $12 or even $10. Related Reading: 
Ethereum Reclaims Local Range Against BTC – Can Bulls Target The Range High? 
As the broader market heats up and speculative appetite returns, LINK&#8217;s 
positioning around this key resistance will likely determine its short-term 
trend. A decisive move in either direction could shape the price action 
heading into the next few weeks. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from 
TradingView

Chainlink Flashes Daily Buy Signal – Breakout Next?

Canada’s Conservative party leader Pierre Poilievre was poised to win the 
election by a landslide, until U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to annex 
the country. Mark Carney Assumes Power After Trump Took Center Stage in 
Canada’s Federal Election Mark Carney, the shadowy former governor of Canada’s 
central bank, was elected as Prime Minister on Monday […]