Grass, the decentralized web crawling and AI infrastructure token, has seen its price drop over 9% today, trading at $1.96. Despite this pullback, analysts are suggesting that the token may be primed for a breakout, given its strong technical indicators…

GRASS crypto dips over 9%, but analysts believe it could be poised for a breakout

XRP just hit the big leagues as CME Group launches regulated futures, 
unlocking a powerful gateway for institutional capital to flood into the XRP 
ecosystem. XRP Futures Go Live—Is This the Institutional On-Ramp Bulls Waited 
for? Chicago-based CME Group officially introduced XRP and Micro XRP futures 
to its crypto derivatives lineup on May 19, confirming […]

XRP Explodes Into Institutional Trading With CME’s Futures Launch

**Key takeaways:**
 * Bitcoin&#8217;s Sharpe ratio converges with gold&#8217;s, indicating similar risk-adjusted returns, supporting its store-of-value role.
 * Gold outperformed Bitcoin in Q1 2025 with a 30.33% price gain versus Bitcoin&#8217;s 3.84%, driven by economic uncertainty.
 * Bitcoin ETF inflows are recovering, and analysts predict BTC could reach $110,000-$444,000 in 2025.
Bitcoin&#8217;s (BTC) price is holding above $100,000, leading Fidelity Director of 
Global Macro, Jurrien Timmer to say the crypto asset could reclaim its 
position as a leading store-of-value contender.
Timmer&#8217;s recent analysis highlights a convergence in the Sharpe ratios of 
Bitcoin and gold, suggesting that the two assets are increasingly comparable 
in risk-adjusted returns. The Sharpe ratio measures the rate of return an 
investment provides for the risk taken, by comparing its performance to a 
risk-free benchmark relative to its volatility.
The chart below, tracking weekly data between 2018 and May 2025, shows 
Bitcoin&#8217;s returns (1x) catching up to gold&#8217;s (4x), with gold at $22.48 and 
Bitcoin at $15.95 in relative performance terms.
_Gold vs Bitcoin Sharpe ratio. Source: X.com_
From an allocation standpoint, Timmer recommended a 4:1 gold-to-Bitcoin ratio 
for a store-of-value hedge, highlighting an intriguing observation. Timmer 
said,
&gt; &#8220;I continue to be fascinated by the fact that the most negatively correlated 
&gt; asset to Bitcoin is gold. For two players on the same store-of-value team, 
&gt; it&#8217;s not what I would expect to see. Bitcoin&#8217;s risk-reward ratio has 
&gt; continued to impress. There is no other asset quite like it!&#8221;
While Bitcoin&#8217;s SoV credential improves above $100,000, Ecoinometrics, a 
Bitcoin-focused macroeconomic newsletter, pointed out that it was not smooth 
sailing in Q1 2025.
In 2024, Bitcoin spot exchange-traded traded-funds (ETFs) saw a staggering $35 
billion net inflows, purchasing 500,000 BTC and driving a 120% return. 
However, 2025 started on a different note. The first four months saw Bitcoin 
ETF flows drop to less than a third compared to 2024, while gold ETFs 
attracted more capital.
The newsletter noted that this shift could be attributed to Q1 uncertainty 
surrounding Federal Reserve policy, trade policy, and the US economy. 
Ecoinometrics stated,
&gt; &#8220;Between two hard assets, gold and Bitcoin, it&#8217;s easy to see why capital 
&gt; went to the one seen as a haven.&#8221;
_Bitcoin vs gold ETF netflows comparison. Source: X.com_
Gold, with a 30.33% price gain in 2025 compared to Bitcoin&#8217;s 3.84%, benefited 
from its stability during economic unease. Additionally, the analysis added 
that Bitcoin performed better as a &#8220;high-beta growth asset,&#8221; thriving in 
rising liquidity and fiat debasement environments.
Recent developments signal a shift: US trade policy clarity, a softer Federal 
Reserve stance, and easing financial conditions have spurred steady inflows 
into Bitcoin ETFs.
_**Related: Bitcoin bull flag and standard profit taking hint at eventual 
rally to new BTC price highs**_
## Bitcoin is on track for new highs in 2025
A higher Sharpe ratio is a positive metric for Bitcoin, significantly 
increasing the probability of reaching new all-time highs above $110,000 in 
May. According to Bitcoin Suisse, a crypto custody firm, BTC&#8217;s high Sharpe 
ratio has allowed the asset to thrive in risk-on and risk-off environments 
since the US presidential election.
_Bitcoin price performance in risk-on, risk-off. Source: Bitcoin Suisse_
With more than 88% of its supply in profit, BTC currently behaves as a high- 
conviction bet, where the likelihood of an &#8220;acceleration phase&#8221; moving 
forward. Bitcoin Suisse head of research Dominic Weibei said,
&gt; &#8220;In this environment, Bitcoin has emerged as the Swiss army knife asset. 
&gt; Whether equities rally or bonds crumble, BTC trades on its supply-demand 
&gt; fundamentals, delivering a win-win profile that traditional assets simply 
&gt; can&#8217;t offer.&#8221;
Similarly, Cointelegraph reported that Bitcoin has a &#8220;decent chance&#8221; of 
reaching $250,000 or more in 2025, driven by its interplay with gold, 
according to a gold-based forecast. The report uses a scenario-based framework 
rooted in its gold model to project Bitcoin&#8217;s potential revaluation as a non- 
sovereign hard asset.
If Bitcoin&#8217;s network value, measured in gold, follows a power curve, and gold 
maintains its current value, analysts suggest it could hit $444,000 in 2025. 
However, a more conservative estimate by Bitcoin analyst Apsk32 points to a 
&#8220;reasonable&#8221; target of $220,000 for the year.
_**Related: Altcoins are on the verge of &#8216;most powerful rally&#8217; since 2017 &#8212; 
Analyst**_
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 trading in six-figure territory shows BTC is ready to carry gold’s ‘baton’ — Fidelity exec

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has initiated an investigation into a 
significant security breach at Coinbase, the largest US-based cryptocurrency 
exchange. According to sources familiar with the matter cited by Bloomberg, 
the DOJ&#8217;s criminal division in Washington is examining the circumstances 
surrounding the breach, which has raised serious concerns about cybersecurity 
within the crypto sector. Coinbase Collaborates With DOJ Amid Major Data 
Breach Coinbase disclosed that the breach involved criminal actors bribing 
employees and contractors in India to gain access to sensitive client data. 
Paul Grewal, Chief Legal Officer of Coinbase, stated: We have notified and are 
working with the DOJ and other US and international law enforcement agencies 
and welcome law enforcement&#8217;s pursuit of criminal charges against these bad 
actors. Related Reading: Dogecoin On The Edge: Major Breakout Or Breakdown 
Imminent? Importantly, the exchange&#8217;s CLO clarified that while Coinbase itself 
is not under investigation, the DOJ is focused on the criminals involved in 
the breach. The incident first came to light when Coinbase received an email 
from an unidentified threat actor on May 11, claiming to possess information 
about certain customer accounts alongside internal documents. The company 
anticipates losses ranging from $180 million to $400 million due to the 
cyberattack. $20 Million Reward Fund After Rejecting Ransom While the 
attackers managed to steal some data, including names, addresses, and email 
addresses, the exchange confirmed that login credentials and passwords were 
not compromised. In a statement on May 15, Coinbase reassured its users via 
social media platform X (formerly Twitter) that it would not succumb to the 
attackers&#8217; demands. The criminals had requested a ransom of $20 million. 
Related Reading: Pundit Says XRP Price Will Stabilize At $1,000 And Become 
‘Very Expensive’ Instead of paying the ransom, Coinbase announced the 
establishment of a $20 million reward fund aimed at encouraging information 
leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the attack. At 
the close of trading on Monday, the company’s stock (COIN) was trading at 
$263. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com

Coinbase Confirms DOJ Investigation Following Major Security Incident

Bitcoin is showing signs of calm after a wild ride earlier this year. The top 
cryptocurrency dropped sharply from a high of $109,000 in January to a low of 
$74,600 by mid-April. That’s more than $34,000 wiped out in just a few months. 
Related Reading: XRP 100x Gains Coming? The Future Is Closer Than You 
Think—Analyst But things have shifted since then. Bitcoin climbed back, 
gaining over 30% and recently reaching $105,700. It’s been trading quietly 
between $101,000 and $104,000 over the past week. $10,000 Steps Keep Adding Up 
Some traders are starting to notice a pattern. According to analyst Trader 
Tardigrade, Bitcoin has been rising in $10,000 chunks, then taking short 
breaks. He pointed out moves from $75,000 to $85,000, then to $95,000, and 
again to $105,000. Each jump is followed by seven to 10 days of sideways 
action. #Bitcoin is climbing steadily, with intervals of around 10k in each 
consolidation 🔥$BTC pic.twitter.com/stEgE5NkQH — Trader Tardigrade 
(@TATrader_Alan) May 16, 2025 This stair-step pattern isn’t just a lucky 
guess. It gives traders a chance to breathe, take profits, or set new entries. 
These pauses can also turn into support zones—levels where buyers step in 
again. If the same behavior continues, the next target could be $115,000, 
which is about an 11% jump from where Bitcoin is now. Price Holding Above 
$100K Gives Bulls Confidence Trading above $100,000 is no small feat. Holding 
that level gives Bitcoin some strength and psychological support. The more 
time it spends above this line, the more likely buyers feel safe to enter. 
Last week&#8217;s move was modest, only about a 0.50% gain, but that followed a 
strong 11% surge earlier in May. Some market watchers think this slow and 
steady growth is a healthy sign. Instead of wild swings, Bitcoin is showing 
more controlled movement. It’s building a base, and that can be a setup for 
something bigger down the road. The Golden Ratio Multiplier was one of the few 
metrics to be accurate in real time at the April 2021 Bitcoin Cycle Top. We&#8217;ve 
already hit our cycle top level this cycle once, but this was for the cycle 
mid-top in March 2024, which means we&#8217;re bound to do it again. Level 5 is… 
pic.twitter.com/wEHOI6L5Tm — CryptoCon (@CryptoCon_) May 15, 2025 Long-Term 
Model Points Toward $160K Beyond the short-term moves, a few analysts are 
looking much higher. CryptoCon, who follows long-term cycle models, shared 
that Bitcoin may be in the middle of a buildup. He referenced the Golden Ratio 
Multiplier, a model that uses Fibonacci levels and long-term averages. 
According to him, a major cycle level was already hit in March 2024, but that 
wasn’t the final top. Related Reading: Trump Token Mania: Over 6,000% Pump Or 
Classic Solana Trap? His forecast puts the next ceiling near $160,000, a level 
he calls “Level 5” in the cycle. That would be a big leap from today’s 
price—over 50% higher. He compared today’s market to what happened between 
2015 and 2017, when a long stretch of slow growth led to a fast rally. 
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin’s $10K Rhythm: Steady Climb Signals Strong Push To $115K

Digital asset investment products saw $785 million in inflows last week, fully 
reversing losses from early 2024. Ethereum led the charge with $205 million in 
fresh capital, buoyed by technical upgrades and leadership momentum. Ethereum 
Leads $785 Million Inflows As Digital Asset Sentiment Rebounds Crypto 
investment products recorded $785 million in inflows last week, marking […]