Frankfurt authorities have suspended operations for eXch and seized its crypto assets valued $38.2 million. The platform allegedly facilitated money laundering for major crypto heists including the Bybit and Multisig hacks. According to an official statement issued on May 9,…

Frankfurt authorities seize $38.2m from eXch due to money laundering allegations

Mantra continues its decline, as investors are still demanding answers over 
its 95% collapse.

Mantra rejects at $0.4, erases daily gains, as traders still demand answers

Chainlink (LINK) continues to showcase resilience, holding firm within a well- 
established uptrend as the price consolidates near a critical support level at 
$15.29. This zone, which has previously acted as a launchpad for bullish 
momentum, is once again drawing attention as bulls defend it with 
determination. The current price action suggests that the market is taking a 
breather, potentially setting the stage for a fresh leg higher. With bullish 
sentiment gradually building and support holding steady, speculations are 
whether LINK can capitalize on this consolidation and ignite its next rally 
toward higher resistance zones. Why Chainlink Bulls Are Still In Control The 
current price action reveals that Chainlink has resumed its upward movement 
following a brief and healthy pullback. After testing the immediate support 
zone and holding firm above the $15.29 level, the bulls have stepped back in 
with renewed confidence. LINK’s rebound suggests that the temporary pause in 
momentum was likely a consolidation phase rather than a full-fledged reversal, 
allowing the market to reset before continuing its ascent. Related Reading: 
Chainlink (LINK) Targets Rebound To $19 — But Only If This Key Support Holds 
One of the standout bullish signals is LINK’s recent break above the 100-day 
Simple Moving Average (SMA). This moving average often acts as a dynamic 
resistance in downtrends, and a successful close above it suggests a potential 
trend reversal or continuation of bullish momentum. Such a move typically 
garners the attention of technical traders, increasing the likelihood of 
follow-through buying pressure. Further confirmation comes from the MACD 
(Moving Average Convergence Divergence) indicator, which has now made a 
bullish crossover and climbed above the zero line. This momentum shift 
reflects a strengthening buying trend and hints that LINK could be gearing up 
for a broader breakout. If the current setup holds, LINK may soon challenge 
higher resistance zones, opening the door for a sustained rally. What Could 
Derail The Uptrend? While Chainlink shows promising signs of continuing its 
uptrend, the bullish momentum is still at risk. A failure to hold above the 
immediate support at $15.29 could invite increased selling pressure and signal 
a potential shift in sentiment. If bears push the price below this level, a 
deeper retracement toward the next major support zones is probable. Related 
Reading: Chainlink Shake-Up: Investors Pull $120 Million From Exchanges 
Additionally, overbought signals from momentum indicators such as the RSI 
might suggest exhaustion among buyers if they begin to flash warning signs. A 
bearish crossover or weakening in the MACD could further confirm waning 
strength. Traders should also be cautious of broader market volatility or 
negative macroeconomic developments, which can weigh heavily on sentiment even 
for technically strong assets like LINK. Keeping an eye on volume and price 
reaction at key levels will be critical to assess whether the uptrend remains 
intact or is at risk of faltering. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from 
Tradingview.com

Chainlink Holds Strong At $15.29 Support – Is A New Breakout Imminent?

**Key takeaways** :
 * Bitcoin&#8217;s price closely tracks global liquidity growth, with liquidity explaining up to 90% of its price movements, according to Raoul Pal.
 * In the long term, global liquidity continues to expand, driven by the increasing debt levels in many countries.
 * On a shorter timeframe, global liquidity follows a cyclical pattern, with Michael Howell projecting the current cycle to peak by mid-2026.
Bitcoin (BTC) price is notoriously sensitive to global liquidity. Some 
analysts go as far as calling their correlation near-perfect, with a lag of 
about three months. This relationship is fueling the current bullish narrative 
as BTC price soars back above $100,000, but how long can this trend last?
## Liquidity is Bitcoin&#8217;s silent price driver
Raoul Pal, the founder of Global Macro Investor, recently gave a speech on the 
strong correlation between Bitcoin and global M2 liquidity. In a recap posted 
by Paul Guerra, Pal&#8217;s message refers to: despite looming concerns&#8211;recession 
risks, geopolitical tensions, and other global stressors&#8211;rising liquidity as 
the dominant force behind asset price action.
According to Pal, expanding liquidity backs up to 90% of Bitcoin&#8217;s price 
action and as much as 97% of the Nasdaq&#8217;s performance. Indeed, a chart 
comparing global M2 (with a 12-week lead) and Bitcoin&#8217;s price shows an almost 
uncanny alignment.
_Global M2 and BTC/USD. Source: Real Vision_
Pal also frames the issue in personal finance terms. He says there&#8217;s an 11% 
&#8220;hidden tax&#8221; on all of us, composed of 8% currency debasement and 3% global 
inflation. He notes,
&gt; &#8220;If you&#8217;re not earning more than 11%/yr, you&#8217;re getting poorer by 
&gt; definition.&#8221;
Bitcoin has returned an average of 130% annually since 2012, despite dramatic 
drawdowns. That makes it one of the most asymmetric bets of the past decade&#8211; 
and it&#8217;s outperformed the Nasdaq by over 99%.
## What drives global liquidity?
At its core, global liquidity is fueled by expanding the money supply. As 
independent investor Lyn Alden puts it,
&gt; &#8220;Fiat currency systems are primarily based on ever-growing debt levels. The 
&gt; money supply continuously grows in every country for this reason.&#8221;
This offers a high-level view of global liquidity and suggests its long-term 
expansion is structural. However, this growth isn&#8217;t linear. Over shorter time 
frames, it fluctuates based on specific drivers. Michael Howell, author of 
&#8220;Capital Wars,&#8221; identifies three main drivers currently impacting global 
liquidity: the US Federal Reserve, the People&#8217;s Bank of China (PBoC), and 
banks lending through collateral markets.
_Global liquidity drivers. Source: Michael Howell_
Howell also points to indirect influences that act with a lag of 6 to 15 
months. These include the world business cycle, oil prices, dollar strength, 
and bond market volatility. A weak global economy and a softening dollar 
typically boost liquidity. But rising bond volatility tightens collateral 
supply and chokes lending, undermining liquidity.
_**Related:**__**New bull cycle? Bitcoin&#8217;s return to $100K hints at 
&#8216;significant price move&#8217;**_
## How long will global liquidity rise?
Michael Howell believes that global liquidity moves in roughly five-year 
cycles, and is now on the way to its local peak. He projects the current cycle 
to mature by mid-2026, reaching an index level of around 70 (below the post- 
COVID index of 90). That would mark a turning point, with a subsequent 
downturn being a likely outcome.
_Global liquidity cycle. Source: Michael Howell_
The recent growth in global liquidity stems from the rapidly weakening world 
economy, which is likely to prompt further easing by central banks. The 
People&#8217;s Bank of China has already begun injecting liquidity into the system. 
The Fed now faces a tough choice: continue fighting inflation or pivot to 
support an increasingly fragile financial system. At its May 7 meeting, rates 
were held steady, but the pressure on Chair Jerome Powell is mounting, 
especially from US President Donald Trump.
At the same time, economic uncertainty is driving up US Treasury yields and 
fueling bond market volatility, both indicators of collateral scarcity and 
tightening credit conditions. Over time, these pressures are likely to become 
headwinds for liquidity expansion. Meanwhile, a looming recession is expected 
to weaken investor risk appetite, further draining liquidity from the system.
Even if a downturn lies ahead in 2026, global liquidity still has room to run, 
at least through 2025. And that matters for Bitcoin.
Howell notes,
&gt; &#8220;The likely inevitable policy response of &#8216;more liquidity&#8217; is a great future 
&gt; omen. It establishes the upward path of persistent monetary inflation that 
&gt; ultimately underpins hedges such as gold, quality equities, prime 
&gt; residential real estate, and Bitcoin.&#8221;
Interestingly, Howell&#8217;s liquidity cycle roughly aligns with Bitcoin&#8217;s four- 
year halving cycle. The former points to a potential peak in late 2025, and 
the latter in early 2026. If history rhymes again, that convergence could set 
the stage for a major price move.
This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every 
investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their 
own research when making a decision.

Bitcoin price rallies as global liquidity growth accelerates — Analysts

German authorities seized €34 million in cryptocurrency and shut down the 
crypto swapping service Exch linked to money laundering, including funds 
stolen in the 2025 Bybit hack. Crypto Swapping Service Exch Closed; €34M 
Seized in Third-Largest BKA Crypto Bust The Public Prosecutor General’s Office 
in Frankfurt and Germany’s Federal Criminal Police Office (BKA) confiscated 
Exch’s […]

German Authorities Shut Down Exch Crypto Service, Seize €34M in Laundered Funds

VP Vance&#8217;s endorsement of Bitcoin at a major conference signals growing 
political acceptance and potential policy shifts towards cryptocurrency.
The post VP JD Vance joins 2025 Bitcoin Conference as featured speaker 
appeared first on Crypto Briefing.