Bitcoin is showing renewed strength as on-chain data and macro conditions align to support a bullish outlook. According to a May 13 post on the Bitfinex Alpha blog, the realized market cap of Bitcoin (BTC) has reached $889 billion after…

Fresh Bitcoin inflows amid rising realized cap suggest bullish trend will continue: Bitfinex

An artificial intelligence training image data set developed by decentralized 
AI solution provider OORT saw considerable success on Google&#8217;s platform 
Kaggle.
OORT&#8217;s Diverse Tools Kaggle data set listing was released in early April; 
since then, it has climbed to the first page in multiple categories. Kaggle is 
a Google-owned online platform for data science and machine learning 
competitions, learning and collaboration.
Ramkumar Subramaniam, core contributor at crypto AI project OpenLedger, told 
Cointelegraph that &#8220;a front-page Kaggle ranking is a strong social signal, 
indicating that the data set is engaging the right communities of data 
scientists, machine learning engineers and practitioners.&#8221;
Max Li, founder and CEO of OORT, told Cointelegraph that the firm &#8220;observed 
promising engagement metrics that validate the early demand and relevance&#8221; of 
its training data gathered through a decentralized model. He added:
&gt; &#8220;The organic interest from the community, including active usage and 
&gt; contributions &#8212; demonstrates how decentralized, community-driven data 
&gt; pipelines like OORT&#8217;s can achieve rapid distribution and engagement without 
&gt; relying on centralized intermediaries.&#8221;
Li also said that in the coming months, OORT plans to release multiple other 
data sets. Among those is an in-car voice commands data set, one for smart 
home voice commands and another one for deepfake videos meant to improve AI- 
powered media verification.
_**Related:**__**AI agents are coming for DeFi &#8212; Wallets are the weakest 
link**_
## First page in multiple categories
The data set in question was independently verified by Cointelegraph to have 
reached the first page in Kaggle&#8217;s General AI, Retail &amp; Shopping, 
Manufacturing, and Engineering categories earlier this month. At the time of 
publication, it lost those positions following a possibly unrelated data set 
update on May 6 and another on May 14.
_OORT &#8216;s data set on the first Kaggle page in Engineering category. Source: 
__Kaggle_
While recognizing the achievement, Subramaniam told Cointelegraph that &#8220;it&#8217;s 
not a definitive indicator of real-world adoption or enterprise-grade 
quality.&#8221; He said that what sets OORT&#8217;s data set apart &#8220;is not just the 
ranking, but the provenance and incentive layer behind the data set.&#8221; He 
explained:
&gt; &#8220;Unlike centralized vendors that may rely on opaque pipelines, a 
&gt; transparent, token-incentivized system offers traceability, community 
&gt; curation, and the potential for continuous improvement assuming the right 
&gt; governance is in place.&#8221;
Lex Sokolin, partner at AI venture capital firm Generative Ventures, said that 
while he does not think these results are hard to replicate, &#8220;it does show 
that crypto projects can use decentralized incentives to organize economically 
valuable activity.&#8221;
_**Related:**__**Sweat wallet adds AI assistant, expands to multichain DeFi**_
## High-quality AI training data: a scarce commodity
Data published by AI research firm Epoch AI estimates that human-generated 
text AI training data will be exhausted in 2028. The pressure is high enough 
that investors are now mediating deals giving rights to copyrighted materials 
to AI companies.
Reports concerning increasingly scarce AI training data and how it may limit 
growth in the space have been circulating for years. While synthetic (AI- 
generated) data is increasingly used with at least some degree of success, 
human data is still largely viewed as the better alternative, higher-quality 
data that leads to better AI models.
When it comes to images for AI training specifically, things are becoming 
increasingly complicated with artists sabotaging training efforts on purpose. 
Meant to protect their images from being used for AI training without 
permission, Nightshade allows users to &#8220;poison&#8221; their images and severely 
degrade model performance.
_Model performance per number of poisoned images. Source:__TowardsDataScience_
Subramaniam said, &#8220;We&#8217;re entering an era where high-quality image data will 
become increasingly scarce.&#8221; He also recognized that this scarcity is made 
more dire by the increasing popularity of image poisoning:
&gt; &#8220;With the rise of techniques like image cloaking and adversarial 
&gt; watermarking to poison AI training, open-source datasets face a dual 
&gt; challenge: quantity and trust.&#8221;
In this situation, Subramaniam said that verifiable and community-sourced 
incentivized data sets are &#8220;more valuable than ever.&#8221; According to him, such 
projects &#8220;can become not just alternatives, but pillars of AI alignment and 
provenance in the data economy.&#8221;
_**Magazine:**__**AI Eye: AI &#8216;s trained on AI content go MAD, is Threads a 
loss leader for AI data?**_

Decentralized OORT AI data hits top ranks on Google Kaggle

Veteran wave technician “BigMike7335” (@Michael_EWpro) argues that the XRP 
token has just completed a textbook reversal on the daily chart. In a post 
that accompanied the chart shown below, the strategist quipped, “While you 
were busy being all excited about COIN being added to ES, XRP decided to 
breakout.” XRP Breakout Confirmed The annotated Bitstamp daily shows price 
clawing back to $2.5717, a 21% gain over the last seven sessions that 
decisively lifts the token through a six-month neckline sitting fractionally 
above $2.40. That horizontal barrier—coloured red on the chart—coincides with 
the top of a thin, downward-slanted Ichimoku cloud. Thursday’s close placed 
the candle not only above the Kumo but also above the 50-day EMA (orange), the 
100-day EMA (aqua) and the 200-day SMA (dark blue), stacking the moving- 
average ribbon in a classic bullish configuration. The thrust completes an 
inverted head-and-shoulders that formed inside wave (iv) of a larger five-wave 
advance. The April swing low almost tagged the 0.382 Fibonacci retracement of 
the entire November-to-February impulse at $1.56732; wave “c” of that 
corrective leg created the pattern’s head, with symmetric shoulders in mid- 
March and early-May. Measured-move arithmetic from the formation’s $0.80 depth 
projects approximately $3.58—Big Mike boxes the target at $3.57638, exactly 
where the white arrow terminates on his chart and where the dashed vertical 
line identifies Wednesday, 18 June 2025 as a plausible time window. Related 
Reading: XRP Target Could Be $15 If This Pattern Is In Play, Analyst Says 
Market-profile data on the right flank strengthen the case: the heaviest 
volume node (green and tan bars) sits between $2.30 and $2.50, meaning the 
breakout thrust has already cleared the zone of greatest historical order 
flow. Above $2.80 the profile thins dramatically, implying scant overhead 
supply until the prior cycle’s upper channel rail near $3.00 and, ultimately, 
the $3.57 objective. Momentum gauges back the move. Daily RSI has reclaimed 
the 60-line and is rising briskly without yet entering overbought territory, 
while the stochastic oscillator has punched through its signal line and is 
accelerating toward the upper band—confirmation that impulse rather than mere 
short covering is at work. Related Reading: XRP Chart Hits Critical Level That 
‘Opens The Sky,’ Analyst Warns Key risk markers remain below. Dashed support 
at $1.66027—the lower edge of the December–May broadening wedge—remains key; a 
failure to hold that level would invalidate the breakout thesis. Until then, 
the chart now offers bullish traders a classic post-neckline retest scenario, 
with the analyst eyeing $3.57 as the technical terminus of wave (v). For now, 
XRP bulls finally have a structure that justifies optimism—and, as Big Mike 
notes, they did it while the rest of the market was distracted by the 
inclusion of Coinbase (COIN) in the S&amp;P 500 on Tuesday. At press time, XRP 
traded at $2.60. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from 
TradingView.com

XRP Surges Past Neckline—Analyst Projects Rally To $3.57

Bitcoin&#8217;s fluctuating correlation with US equities is raising questions about 
its role as a global safe-haven asset during periods of financial stress.
Bitcoin (BTC) exhibited a strong negative correlation with the US stock market 
when analyzing the short-term, seven-day trailing correlation, according to 
new research from blockchain data provider RedStone Oracles, shared 
exclusively with Cointelegraph.
_Bitcoin, S &amp;P 500, 7-day rolling correlation. Source: Redstone Oracles_
However, RedStone said that the 30-day indicator signals a &#8220;variable 
correlation&#8221; between Bitcoin price and the S&amp;P 500 index, with the correlation 
coefficient ranging from -0.2 to 0.4.
This fluctuating correlation suggests that Bitcoin &#8220;doesn&#8217;t consistently 
function as a true hedge for equities&#8221; due to its lack of a strong negative 
correlation below -0.3, which is needed for &#8220;reliable counter movement during 
market stress,&#8221; the report states.
_Bitcoin, S &amp;P 500, 30-day rolling correlation, 1-year chart. Source: Redstone 
Oracles_
 _**Related:**__**$1B Bitcoin exits Coinbase in a day as analysts warn of 
supply shock**_
The research suggests that while Bitcoin may not be a dependable hedge against 
stock market declines, it still offers value as a portfolio diversifier.
This fluctuating dynamic signals that Bitcoin often moves independently from 
other assets, potentially offering additional returns while other assets are 
struggling. Still, Bitcoin has yet to mirror the safe-haven dynamics of gold 
and government bonds, RedStone suggests.
_**Related:**__**Nasdaq-listed GDC plans to buy Bitcoin and TRUMP memecoin for 
$300M**_
## Bitcoin needs to &#8220;mature&#8221; before decoupling from stock market
While Bitcoin is poised to grow into a safe-haven asset in the future, the 
world&#8217;s first cryptocurrency still needs to &#8220;mature&#8221; as a global asset, 
according to Marcin Kazmierczak, co-founder and chief operating officer at 
RedStone.
&#8220;Bitcoin still needs to mature before decoupling from stock markets,&#8221; 
Kazmierczak told Cointelegraph, adding:
&gt; &#8220;Increased institutional adoption will absolutely help &#8212; we&#8217;re already 
&gt; seeing this effect with corporate treasury investments reducing Bitcoin&#8217;s 
&gt; 30-day volatility and with BlackRock repetitively praising BTC as an asset 
&gt; in a portfolio.&#8221;
Meanwhile, Bitcoin will see growing recognition as a portfolio diversified, 
with an annualized return of over 230% for the past five years, which 
&#8220;significantly outperformed&#8221; both stocks and traditional safe-haven assets, 
Kazmierczak said, adding that &#8220;even a small 1-5% Bitcoin allocation can 
meaningfully enhance a portfolio&#8217;s risk-adjusted returns.&#8221;
_Source: Vetle __Lunde_
Meanwhile, Bitcoin&#8217;s falling volatility supports BTC&#8217;s apparent growing 
maturity as a global financial asset._****_Bitcoin&#8217;s weekly volatility hit a 
563-day low on April 30, a development that may signal more stable price 
action.
Bitcoin&#8217;s price volatility fell below the realized volatility of the S&amp;P 500 
and the Nasdaq 100, signaling that investors are increasingly treating Bitcoin 
as a long-term investment vehicle, Cointelegraph reported on May 13.
_**Magazine:**__**Uni students crypto &#8216;grooming&#8217; scandal, 67K scammed by fake 
women: Asia Express**_

Bitcoin more of a ‘diversifier’ than safe-haven asset: Report

## Key takeaways
 * Fake crypto investment platforms give themselves away in a few obvious ways.
 * Many use fake reviews, incorrect contact information and unrealistic promises to lure you in.
 * The best approach is a healthy dose of skepticism. Watching for these red flags will keep you safe while investing.
The burgeoning cryptocurrency market, with its lack of centralized authority 
and a constant flow of inexperienced users, makes digital assets a prime 
target for scammers. Fake crypto investment platforms are a common scam 
method, masquerading as useful services for crypto traders.
Before signing up for any crypto investment platform, it&#8217;s essential to learn 
the telltale signs of a scam.
This article will detail what to watch out for and how to verify if a crypto 
investment platform is legitimate. These tips will teach you how to avoid 
crypto scams.
_**Did you know?**__The FTC hosts a crypto scam detection guide that allows 
you to_ _view common crypto scams_ _, sorted by company name, scam type and 
other keywords. _
## How to spot a crypto scam
Here are 10 crypto investment scam red flags to watch for when choosing a 
cryptocurrency investment platform.
### 1\. Promising unrealistic returns
 * **What to watch for:** Fake crypto investment platforms will try to entice you with unrealistic promises, like &#8220;Make 1 Bitcoin in just a few days!&#8221; A legitimate crypto exchange won&#8217;t need to sell you with fake deals.
 * **How to verify:** The platform&#8217;s services should speak for themselves. None of them will give you a special advantage over the other, especially not one that can net you a Bitcoin just days after signing up. This is one of those prime crypto scam warning signs.
### 2\. Fake team members
 * **What to watch for:** It&#8217;s easy to make an &#8220;our team&#8221; page on any website, let alone one offering a decentralized service. At a minimum, these pages should include photos, descriptions and links to LinkedIn or other verified social media platforms.
 * **How to verify:** Double-check team pages for legitimacy. Some scammers might also set up fake social media pages, so scan those for authentic interactions and delve deep into each team member&#8217;s project history.
### 3\. Inconsistent white paper
 * **What to watch for:** Let&#8217;s be honest, most scammers won&#8217;t expect customers to read their project white paper. It&#8217;s probably something they threw together in ChatGPT or even plagiarized from a legitimate project.
 * **How to verify:** Read a project&#8217;s white paper in-depth and watch for legitimate use cases. Make sure the project solves a real problem, has a legitimate purpose and a realistic plan for the future. Don&#8217;t fall for buzzwords!
_**Did you know?**__Justin Sun,__****__founder of Tron &#8216;s long-standing 
blockchain platform, __has been accused_ _of plagiarizing Ethereum &#8216;s white 
paper._
### 4\. False endorsements
 * **What to watch for:** Just as it&#8217;s super easy to fabricate an &#8220;our team&#8221; page, scammers can place fake endorsements all over their home page. It&#8217;s as quick as copying and pasting a company logo like Forbes.
 * **How to verify:** Instead of trusting an exchange&#8217;s webpage, look up news releases and other proof of these supposed endorsements. Cointelegraph provides a directory of legit exchanges to help you identify fake crypto websites.
### 5\. Lack of regulatory information
 * **What to watch for:** Now, regulatory requirements may vary depending on whether you&#8217;re looking at a centralized or decentralized platform, but if you&#8217;re looking at the former, know that centralized platforms cannot operate without regulatory approval from your government.
 * **How to verify:** Typically, you can check a government database to confirm if a platform is licensed. If it&#8217;s not, it may not be trustworthy. For example, the CEO of Tether (USDT) refuses to comply with the European Union&#8217;s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework. The company is known for its resistance to comply with regulatory policies, causing industry-wide suspicion.
### 6\. Pushy sales tactics
 * **What to watch for:** Pushy sales tactics are a big red flag. If a platform reaches out to you through social media, such as through a direct message on X, Discord or Telegram, you can be sure it&#8217;s a scam. Scammers might claim to be an employee or crypto influencer ready to provide you with an &#8220;exclusive offer&#8221; or &#8220;limited time deal.&#8221; 
 * **How to verify:** A real exchange would never reach out to potential customers like this, especially via social media. Social media DMs are widespread crypto scam tactics.
_**Did you know?**__Some_ _top crypto scams in 2024_ _were phishing attacks, 
rug pulls and fake airdrops. _
### 7\. Fake location/contact info
 * **What to watch for:** Crypto investment platforms with a real product, even decentralized ones, will have contact information. Even Uniswap has a support email with which to get in touch. Centralized entities should also have addresses of their offices, ones that you can cross-reference with Google Maps for legitimacy purposes. 
 * **How to verify:** If a crypto investment platform is missing any contact information, consider that a red flag. This is an easy sign to miss.
### 8\. Fake reviews
 * **What to watch for:** Tech products, blockchain-based and otherwise, feature user reviews front and center on their websites. That said, you can tell if these are real or manufactured. Keep an eye out for reviews with repetitive language and a lack of a critical eye, which only praise the platform. Glowing reviews are often fake, possibly even written by AI.
 * **How to verify:** Search for platform reviews on Reddit and other social media sites. Other users will tell you if the platform is legit or not. If a platform has no social media accounts, there is more reason to avoid it.
### 9\. Fake airdrops or giveaways
 * **What to watch for:** Some fraudulent platforms may offer airdrops or giveaways as promotions to attract positive attention. However, participating in the fake airdrop might require inputting a wallet seed phrase or private key. 
 * **How to verify:** Legitimate airdrops will be announced on social media platforms like X, the platform&#8217;s blog on Medium or its official website. They&#8217;ll only ask for your wallet address, nothing more.
### 3\. No fiat offramping
 * What to watch for: A crypto exchange with no fiat offramping means it&#8217;s not registered with local financial institutions. The platform might demand that you only work in crypto.
 * How to verify: If you sign up for an exchange and it immediately asks you to send crypto into your wallet on the platform instead of linking a payment method like a bank or card, this is a big red flag.
Cryptocurrency investment scams thrive on urging you to make rash decisions. 
It&#8217;s always best to be skeptical when choosing where to trade, invest or hold 
your crypto. Take your time, do your research, and double-check every piece of 
information a platform provides. These crypto fraud prevention tips will help 
keep you safe, protecting your assets and peace of mind. Use them to create a 
crypto scam checklist.

How to spot a fake crypto investment platform: 10 red flags

GFO-X announced the successful launch of its UK regulated trading venue for 
centrally cleared digital asset derivatives. This venue aims to meet the 
growing institutional demand for compliant crypto futures and options. The 
first institutional trade was executed between Virtu Financial and IMC, 
marking a significant milestone in the evolution of institutional-grade 
digital asset markets. […]