The Ethereum Fusaka upgrade will introduce PeerDAS (Peer Data Availability Sampling) to improve scalability, and is expected to go live in late 2025. Read more.

Ethereum advances its scaling road map with the upcoming Fusaka upgrade, introducing the innovative PeerDAS protocol. This major technical enhancement aims to revolutionize data availability, potentially enabling an 8x increase in storage capacity and driving 

This article examines the Fusaka upgrade's key features, with special focus on the PeerDAS protocol and its implications for validators downloading blob data. We also explore potential impacts on ETH prices and investment strategies for the forward-thinking crypto investor.

The Ethereum Fusaka upgrade is a planned network update targeted for late 2025. It will introduce PeerDAS (Peer Data Availability Sampling) to improve scalability by allowing validators to verify blob data by sampling only portions, rather than downloading entire datasets.

The name "Fusaka" combines "Fulu," a star from the Cassiopeia constellation, with "Osaka," a city that hosted a past 

 event. This maintains Ethereum's tradition of naming upgrades after stars and cities.

 deployed in May 2025, Fusaka represents the next step in Ethereum's technical road map. However, due to the extensive testing required for its components, the release date might slip into early 2026.

Impact of the recent Ethereum Pectra upgrade

Implemented in May 2025, the Pectra upgrade brought several significant changes to the Ethereum network. Most notably, it introduced EIP-7251, which increased the maximum effective balance (MaxEB) for validators from 32 ETH to 2,048 ETH.

Large-scale validators can now consolidate their operations, reducing the overall validator count while maintaining network security. Pectra also increased blob data capacity, raising the minimum from three to six blobs per block and the maximum from six to nine.

 benefit from more affordable data availability. The upgrade also introduced account abstraction improvements through EIP-7702, enhancing 

 functionality with features like bundled transactions and sponsored 

These changes have begun addressing scalability challenges while improving the user experience, setting the stage for the more ambitious improvements planned by Fusaka.

What does the Ethereum Fusaka upgrade aim to achieve?

The Ethereum Fusaka upgrade focuses on scaling Ethereum through improved data availability, aiming to make the network more efficient for all participants.

Fusaka aims to solve Ethereum's data availability bottleneck, which has become a critical scaling limitation. Currently, validators must process all blob data in each block, creating excessive demands for bandwidth and storage that restrict Layer 2 (L2) throughput and increase end-user fees.

PeerDAS (Peer Data Availability Sampling) transforms this approach by allowing validators to verify data availability through small random samples, rather than complete downloads. This breakthrough dramatically reduces resource requirements while improving network capacity, this enabling Ethereum to support far more L2 transactions without compromising security.

According to Ethereum researcher Alex Stokes, 

 from the current nine blobs per block to a potential 48 blobs with a maximum of 72. This 8x improvement delivers substantial scaling benefits throughout the Ethereum ecosystem by reducing the resource burden on validators.

Such expanded blob capacity translates directly to lower transaction costs for users of L2 solutions like 

. Applications previously hindered by high fees will become economically viable, thereby expanding Ethereum's utility and accessibility across more use cases.

The Pectra upgrade (implemented in May 2025) and the upcoming Fusaka upgrade represent distinct but complementary approaches to Ethereum's scaling challenges. Pectra focused on validator consolidation through MaxEB and made initial steps toward increased data capacity, while Fusaka targets fundamental changes to the way that data availability functions across the Ethereum network.

As mentioned earlier, Pectra's introduction of EIP-7251 increased the maximum effective balance from 32 ETH to 2,048 ETH, allowing large-scale validators to consolidate operations and reduce network overhead. It also introduced account abstraction improvements through EIP-7702, enhancing wallet functionality with features such as bundled transactions and sponsored gas fees.

On the data capacity front, Pectra made modest improvements, increasing blob capacity from three to 9 blobs per block. Fusaka dramatically expands this vision with a substantial 8x jump to 48 blobs per block (with a maximum of 72), representing a quantum leap in Ethereum's data availability capabilities.

The validator experience evolves significantly as a result of these two upgrades. While Pectra streamlined operations through consolidation, Fusaka fundamentally transforms how validators interact with data. PeerDAS requires validators to download only small samples (2–4%), instead of complete blob data, dramatically reducing hardware and bandwidth requirements.

Vitalik Buterin has projected that increasing blob capacity to just 16 could drive L2 fees below $0.01. With Fusaka targeting 48 blobs, transaction costs could approach near-zero levels, enabling Ethereum's L2 ecosystem to process volumes competitive with centralized payment systems while maintaining decentralization.

The impact of the Ethereum Fusaka upgrade on ETH prices

Ethereum's Fusaka upgrade could reignite market enthusiasm by addressing technical limitations that have driven Ethereum users toward competing blockchains. As Ethereum enhances its capabilities, projects and users who migrated to alternatives like Solana might return, bringing fresh activity and capital back to its ecosystem.

Institutional investors view blockchain architecture upgrades as key indicators of long-term viability. As Ethereum strengthens its foundation through Fusaka, cautious institutional capital may accelerate its allocation strategies, as sophisticated investors typically prioritize structural improvements over short-term price fluctuations.

Fusaka's PeerDAS protocol represents a breakthrough for L2 networks by revolutionizing the way data is processed and stored. The 8x increase in blob capacity slashes costs that previously constrained L2 growth. Such a quantum leap in efficiency could catalyze a wave of innovation and adoption across Ethereum's scaling ecosystem.

Reduced validator resource requirements may encourage broader staking participation, potentially decreasing ETH's circulating supply as more tokens become locked in staking contracts. This combination of increased utility and constrained supply could create favorable price dynamics.

However, Ethereum's upgrade history reveals mixed price performance. While ETH gained over 16% in the six months following The Merge, its price declined over 40% in the six months following 

. Moreover, market sentiment, broader cryptocurrency trends and macroeconomic factors influence prices alongside technical improvements. 

Ways to profit from the Ethereum Fusaka upgrade

Investors can position themselves to potentially benefit from the Ethereum Fusaka upgrade through several strategic approaches:

1. Accumulation strategy before upgrade announcements

Consider gradually accumulating ETH in the months leading up to testnet deployments and official announcements. Historically, ETH often experiences price appreciation during the pre-upgrade anticipation phase as speculation builds around potential improvements.

Timing is crucial with upgrade-related investments. The classic "buy the rumor, sell the news" pattern frequently plays out in crypto markets, with prices often peaking just before the actual implementation. Accumulating ETH early before mainstream attention focuses on Fusaka could provide significant advantages.

 (DCA) (rather than lump-sum investments) can mitigate 

 risks during an accumulation phase. Consider setting predetermined exit points to potentially capitalize on pre-upgrade speculation, since prices sometimes retrace following successful implementations despite technical improvements.

For those already running validators or considering staking operations, Fusaka presents unique opportunities. Since PeerDAS reduces hardware requirements, setting up additional validators could become more economical, lowering the barrier to entry for earning staking rewards.

The Pectra upgrade's increased MaxEB feature allows for consolidating existing validators for efficiency, thus reducing operational overhead. This consolidation opportunity, combined with Fusaka's resource efficiency improvements, creates a compelling optimization window for both existing and prospective validators.

 protocols that will likely update their infrastructures to leverage Fusaka's improvements. These services can enable investors to earn staking rewards while maintaining liquidity, offering highly flexible exposure to staking benefits without capital lockups.

Perhaps the most strategic approach involves identifying Layer 2 projects that stand to benefit the most from Fusaka's expanded data availability. Solutions that heavily rely on blob data for rollups will experience significantly reduced operational costs, potentially improving their competitive position.

Analysis of transaction volume and gas consumption can reveal which Layer 2 protocols currently suffer the most from data availability limitations. These projects may see the most dramatic improvements in user experience and cost structure post-Fusaka, potentially driving increased adoption.

Look for L2 protocols that are actively preparing for Fusaka's capabilities, especially those focused on high-throughput applications, such as decentralized exchanges and gaming or social platforms. Projects mentioning Fusaka in their road maps demonstrate awareness of the ways in which these improvements align with their development strategy.

For traders looking to capture Fusaka-related price movements, Bybit offers a straightforward yet powerful trading platform. Its Spot market provides easy ETH purchases with competitive fees, which is ideal for those looking to build positions ahead of the upgrade.

Traders seeking higher potential returns can use 

 to gain leveraged exposure to ETH without directly owning the asset. This approach works well for short-term strategies around key Fusaka development announcements.

To manage the volatility common during upgrade cycles, Bybit's conditional orders and 

 help protect investments. These features allow traders to set buy or sell levels automatically, based on price movements, thus reducing emotional decision-making.

Bybit also offers multiple staking services, allowing investors to earn passive rewards while holding ETH in anticipation of the Fusaka upgrade. This combination of trading tools and yield opportunities provides flexibility for various investment time frames and risk preferences.

The Ethereum Fusaka upgrade and its PeerDAS protocol represent a major leap forward in scaling Ethereum's Layer 2 ecosystem through improved data availability. By allowing validators to sample data rather than download entire blobs, Fusaka significantly reduces hardware requirements while enabling an 8x increase in capacity. These technical improvements translate to lower user transaction fees and new development possibilities for builders. While technical improvements don't always directly affect prices, Fusaka addresses fundamental limitations that could drive long-term adoption and strengthen Ethereum's position in the blockchain ecosystem.

Intermediate

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Ethereum Fusaka upgrade: What PeerDAS means for validators

MapleStory N marks the franchise's blockchain debut with a successful launch on Avalanche, generating massive interest through its free NFT mint and player-owned economy.

Daily top performer — EigenLayer (EIGEN)

The S&P 500 futures plunged about 1% after Moody’s cut the U.S. credit rating to Aa1 over rising debt costs and gridlock, despite recent tariff optimism and steady capital inflows. Gold surged over 1% to $3,247.40 an ounce on Monday as a softer dollar and renewed U.S. tariff threats under President Trump reignited safe-haven demand in a low-rate environment. CoinDesk Indices, which tracks the broader crypto market, fell 0.58% in the past 24 hours, while Bitcoin and Ether dropped 2.23% and 4.30%, respectively. Trade these markets and more with up to 500x leverage on Bybit MT5 using this 

Today's top performer is EIGEN, which surged 12.2% after Eigen Foundation and SOON launched an incentive program to boost LST/LRT adoption with 349,800 EIGEN tokens.

EigenLayer (EIGEN), founded in 2021, is an Ethereum protocol that lets users restake ETH for extra rewards while keeping it usable, and allows developers to tap into this pooled security for their own projects—boosting yields and decentralization. Eigen Foundation has 

 with SOON to launch the SOON Acceleration Incentive Program, distributing 349,800 EIGEN tokens to encourage adoption of LST/LRT assets within SOON's ecosystem. The collaboration makes EigenDA SOON's preferred high-throughput data availability solution (currently 15MB/s, scaling to 50MB/s), while offering DA cost rebates and support for developers building DePIN, AI, and blockchain projects on SOON's SVM rollup stack.

Check out the latest prices, charts, and data of 

MapleStory N marks the franchise's blockchain 

 with a successful launch on Avalanche, generating massive interest through its free NFT mint and player-owned economy. The game's NXPC token saw significant trading activity as it introduced full on-chain functionality via its dedicated Henesys chain, bringing true digital ownership to this beloved RPG series for the first time in its long history.

Between May 12–16, 2025, BTC spot ETFs saw $72 million in outflows from GBTC offset by $680.4 million of inflows into non-GBTC products, yielding a net weekly inflow of $608.4 million—driven primarily by $319.5 million on May 14 and $260.2 million on May 16. Since inception, GBTC has lost $22.99 billion while non-GBTC ETFs have gained $64.74 billion, for a total net inflow of $41.75 billion.

Beginner

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MapleStory N debuts on Avalanche, bringing blockchain gaming to classic RPG franchise

Doodles (DOOD) blends NFTs, AI storytelling, and community to redefine web3 entertainment with a dynamic, creator-driven digital universe.

Since 2021, Doodles has remained among the top 

 world, and its colorful line-drawn characters have remained popular. Now, almost four years later, the team behind Doodles has launched the DOOD token, which went live on May 9, 2025.

On May 7, 2025, Doodles announced that the DOOD token generation event would occur on May 9. Its NFT sales volume doubled within one day to hit $1.1 million on May 8, and by May 16, the Doodles NFT sales volume hit $3.9 million, registering a 255% spike in NFT sales from its $1.1 million achievement recorded just eight days earlier.

Furthermore, the project has added DreamNet, a decentralized AI narrative protocol initially powered by the Base network, to its thriving NFT ecosystem. This strategic expansion marks Doodles’ broader ambition to transition from a simple PFP collection to becoming a fully immersive entertainment and content ecosystem.

Let’s learn more about Doodles and its vision to disrupt the 

 is a web3 entertainment platform that includes a community-centric NFT ecosystem, an AI-powered storytelling protocol and other digital offerings.

After a launch led by its three founders (Jordan Castro, Evan Keast and Scott Martin), Doodles entered the web3 space in 2021. The project's 10,000 generative NFTs received a warm welcome in the web3 space.

Apart from its striking NFT characters, the project's hype involves popular names in the entertainment industry, including Pharrell Williams as Chief Brand Officer and Julian Holguin (former president of Billboard) as CEO. However, Scott Martin tweeted in March 2025 that he had stepped in as the new CEO of the Doodles project following Holguin's exit.

In its spirit of innovation and creativity, the project has expanded its ecosystem to include collector hubs known as Stoodio and Inkubator that act as community launchpads for its genesis NFT community. Other products include DoodleTV, which features original animations and music videos.

Furthermore, Doodles has a merchandise shop that sells physical items, including apparel, collectibles and kids' items, such as backpacks and water bottles.

The project recently launched its token, DOOD, which included an 

Doodles entered the crypto space in October 2021 as a PFP NFT project, floating 10,000 genesis NFTs at a minting price of 0.123 ETH per mint.

From the outset, the Doodles NFT project received a lot of hype. Particularly, the project made a bold move in closing its Discord channel after having acquired 1,000 members about a month before its launch. This move was intended to ensure exclusivity for its community and, ultimately, to reward its early NFT adopters.

Doodles was co-founded by notable names in the art and NFT spaces. Two of its co-founders, Evan Keast and Jordan Castro, were part of the team that helped build the popular 

 NFTs by Dapper Labs. Meanwhile, current CEO Scott Martin is a legendary Canadian-based illustrator, having hand-drawn 62 of the genesis collection of 10,000 Doodles NFTs that consisted of original art with unique visual traits that were randomly mixed and matched, similar to 

While the Doodles NFT collection remains at the core of the project's ecosystem, various creativity-related initiatives have been added to it.

DoodlesTV showcases original creations, such as animation shows and music videos by Doodles. One of the original works available on DoodlesTV is the animation show 

which was released in September 2024 (its tickets were sold out). The storytelling experience also features music from top celebrities, such as Pharrell Williams, Lil Wayne and Coi Leray. 

Doodles genesis NFT holders can join events hosted by DoodlesTV for free.

Stoodio is a creative space on Doodles where collectors can create and customize their 

 and upload them to the blockchain. The feature was initially powered by the 

, but has since migrated to the Base blockchain to leverage its speed and affordability. This migration was in line with the platform's vision of better community engagement and enhanced user experience. To commemorate it, Doodles has partnered with Zora for an open edition NFT mint.

 is an AI-driven decentralized storytelling protocol whose community can build, own and monetize story universes. It employs a tokenized economy model that combines human and agent participation in order to drive creativity.

At the heart of every story world on DreamNet is a Universe Token that’s automatically generated to represent the root idea. In order to create narratives and story universes, creators can leverage AI through integrated agents on the platform to enrich and hasten the process. Once created, each idea that's generated by the community is tokenized as an 

 to be paired with the respective Universe Token.

At the core of DreamNet is the agent terminal, where creators can bring characters to life through the AI Launchpad. The user-friendly terminal allows users to easily sculpt a personality, customize it, pick a PFP NFT for the agent, add context to it and then fund it with the Universe Token and launch it as an Agent Token for the community. When a DreamNet agent is launched, it’s paired with an Agent Token, as well as an Active Wallet that the character can use to invest in other agents and swap tokens.

Further, DreamNet’s Multiplayer Place Creation tool allows you to create stages for the characters to play. This tool empowers the community to create shared worlds within the greater story universe on DreamNet. It’s powered and governed by Place Tokens, which operate similarly to Agent Tokens but on a broader scale.

DreamNet also has an AI-readable Vector Worldstate database that uses a vector format to record all occurrences in the story universes. Vectors are mathematical representations (typically numerical arrays) that AI models can interpret, compare and build upon, allowing the system to track, understand and evolve narratives over time. This innovative database will record the profiles of verified characters, details of everywhere they’ve been and any other significant information related to them.

In short, DreamNet is Doodles' innovative approach to decentralizing and monetizing storytelling through AI and blockchain technology.

Another feature of the Doodles ecosystem is the Inkubator, which acts as a creative hub for Doodles OG holders to turn their creative dreams into reality. This community-centric hub allows these NFT holders to hold community events, experiment with ideas and obtain funding to fuel their brands.

As an incentive, Inkubator offers holders one-time community grants in order to explore and tap into their innovative spirits. For ease and efficiency, Inkubator's community grants are categorized into two categories: event grants and experiment grants.

The community can also submit proposals on Inkubator to offer ideas for enriching Doodles to make a real impact.

The Doodles Community Council powers Inkubator, processes proposals and supports those who are funded through the grants.

DOOD is the utility token for creating and participating in the Doodles ecosystem. It was launched on 

 in order to leverage the platform's speed and low transaction costs. However, the plan is to bridge DOOD to Base soon to make it a multichain digital asset and facilitate integration with the larger Ethereum NFT market.

The initial total supply of DOOD is 10 billion. According to its tokenomics, 68% of this total supply has been allocated to Doodles’ community and growth. The balance goes to the Doodles team and for liquidity. Allocation is as follows:

DOOD will act as the medium of exchange on the Doodles ecosystem, especially on DreamNet. It will be used in the following ways:

You can buy DOOD on Bybit as a Spot pair, or in the Innovation Zone as a Perpetual contract with leverage of up to 12.5x.

To celebrate its listing on the Spot trading platform, Bybit is holding two events in which 

As of May 19, 2025, the price of the Doodles crypto token is $0.004387, a 50.9% drop from its all-time high of $0.008887 on May 9, 2025, and a 2.6% increase from its all-time low of $0.004254 on May 18, 2025.

Price prediction platforms are pretty bullish on Doodles. According to price analysts at CoinCodex, 

 a maximum price of $0.0069 in 2027 and increase to $0.02045 by 2030. Meanwhile, experts at DigitalCoinPrice predict that 

 $0.0155 in 2027 and rise to $0.0197 by 2030.

While these prices are bullish, they don’t guarantee the future price of DOOD. We highly recommend you 

 before investing in Doodles or any other crypto tokens.

Doodles (DOOD) is ushering in a new era of participatory entertainment where fans aren’t just consumers — they’re creators. With innovative products like DoodlesTV, Stoodio and the Inkubator, its ecosystem empowers users to customize characters, mint digital wearables and engage in storytelling like never before. 

At the heart of it all is DreamNet, a decentralized protocol that’s redefining how communities co-create, share and monetize content. By blending blockchain technology with creative expression, Doodles is building a vibrant, interactive universe that puts fans in control and turns imagination into one decentralized story at a time.

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Doodles (DOOD): A new era of participatory entertainment

This article takes a look back at Bybit's journey, highlighting seven major milestones that have shaped our path from a budding derivatives exchange to the second-largest crypto trading platform globally.

The crypto space is constantly evolving and rapidly growing. At 

, we're excited to be at the forefront of this remarkable journey. Recently, we celebrated a monumental achievement: 

 globally. This incredible milestone is a testament to the trust and support of our community.

 that our platform now serves over 70 million registered users. As of May 2025, the official count stood at 70,245,487 users across 160 supported countries and regions. This growth is also reflected in our expanding market, with 1,907 cryptocurrencies listed for trading.

Our platform's robust growth is further demonstrated by significant trading activity, with our exchange’s 24-hour trading volume recently reaching $40.113 billion. These figures highlight not only the scale of Bybit's operations, but also the vibrant and active community that has chosen Bybit as their trusted crypto ark.

Bybit's path has been marked by consistent innovation and user-focused development. Let's explore some of the key moments that have defined our growth and our commitment to the crypto community.

 in March 2018. From its inception, the platform aimed to provide a professional, intuitive and innovative trading experience for both retail and institutional clients worldwide, initially focusing on crypto derivatives.

2. July 2020: Bybit's flagship World Series of Trading (WSOT) launches with a 200 BTC prize pool

 its flagship global trading competition, the 

. The first event captivated the crypto trading community with a substantial prize pool of 200 BTC, attracting thousands of participants and establishing WSOT as a premier annual event in the industry.

3. July 2021: Bybit introduces Spot trading with BTC, ETH, XRP and EOS against USDT

 in July 2021. The initial offering included popular pairs BTC/USDT, ETH/USDT, XRP/USDT and EOS/USDT, providing users with a robust and liquid market for direct crypto-to-crypto transactions.

4. February 2022: Bybit scores $150M sponsorship with the Red Bull Racing F1 team

In a landmark move bridging crypto and mainstream sports, Bybit announced a 

 with the Oracle Red Bull Racing Formula 1 team in February 2022. Valued at $150 million over three years, this sponsorship aimed to boost brand visibility and engage a global F1 audience.

5. June 2024: Bybit surpasses Coinbase to become the second-largest crypto exchange globally

According to a report by blockchain analytics platform Kaiko, Bybit's market share surged significantly by June 2024 to surpass Coinbase and 

 by trading volume, trailing only Binance. This achievement highlighted Bybit's rapid growth and competitive fee structures.

6. January 2025: Bybit Card hits milestone with 1 million cardholders

Demonstrating crypto's real-world utility, the Bybit Card

 by January 2025. This milestone underscored the demand for seamless cryptocurrency spending solutions, allowing users to easily convert and use their digital assets for everyday purchases through the Mastercard network.

Capping off a period of significant expansion and product development, Bybit announced in May 2025 that its global registered user base had exceeded 70 million. This achievement reflects both the platform's growing appeal, and the trust users place in our company's secure and comprehensive digital asset exchange.

From our launch in 2018 to serving over 70 million users today, Bybit's journey has been one of relentless growth, innovation and commitment to our community. Each milestone — from the launch of WSOT and Spot trading to F1 sponsorship deals and the expansion of our product suite with the Bybit Card — reflects our dedication to building a trusted and accessible crypto ark. We’re immensely grateful to our users for being a part of this incredible journey.

 event until June 4, 2025, with a total of $140,000 in rewards up for grabs. New users can earn 7 USDT by simply depositing and trading. Details about the event are available 

Ready to join a leading global crypto exchange? 

 and explore a world of trading opportunities!

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The road to 70 million: A look at Bybit's key milestones

Our weekly crypto derivatives analytics report delves into macro events; the current state of crypto and trading signals from spot trading volume; and futures, options and perpetual contracts.

In the past week, cryptocurrencies have surged as optimism grows that the US-China trade war may be easing. Following two days of talks, the US announced a 90-day tariff reduction on Chinese goods from 145% to 30%. ETH has been the biggest winner among the top 10 tokens, rising 40% in a week, though this has led to significant changes in implied volatility. BTC regained $100K for the first time since early February, with positive bias in OTM call skews, but its volatility market remains weak compared to ETH.

Please check out the report’s highlights.

Open interest for ETH surged by $900M over the past week, coinciding with a 40% rise in its spot price. This increase followed US-China trade negotiations, leading to a temporary 30% tariff reduction on Chinese goods. On May 12, 2025, after US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent confirmed the agreement, open interest and perpetual trading volumes hit monthly highs of $9B and $23B, respectively. While open interest has stabilized, trading volumes declined after peaking during a brief pause in the crypto rally between May 11 and 12, 2025.

BTC volatility smiles suggest risk-on sentiment

Despite low short-term volatility expectations, BTC's short-tenor smiles indicate a continued risk-on sentiment, with a 5% skew toward out-of-the-money calls. Early in the week, put option volume surpassed $200M, outpacing $140M for calls, while open interest remains higher for puts than calls.

ETH has outperformed BTC for the second consecutive week, achieving a remarkable 59% return over the past month. This rally came with volatility: ETH's front-end volatility briefly doubled BTC’s 7-day tenor, leading to an inverted term structure. By Monday, ETH had pulled back some gains, causing front-end volatility to drop swiftly, a faster resolution than seen in previous inversions.

However, another rise in spot price toward $2.6K reignited volatility expectations. Open interest and options trading for ETH remain skewed toward calls, with volumes exceeding $150M on May 13, 2025, coinciding with a second price surge after a brief retreat on May 12, 2025.

Advanced

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Bybit X Block Scholes crypto derivatives analytics report (May 14, 2025): BTC volatility remains weak relative to ETH

Strategic Bitcoin reserve (SBR): Established on March 6, 2025, integrating Bitcoin into national reserves

Strategic Bitcoin reserve hopes are all the rage

On March 6, 2025, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order to establish the nation's first strategic Bitcoin reserve (SBR). This pivotal initiative positions Bitcoin alongside traditional reserves like gold and oil, signaling a significant endorsement of digital assets by the federal government. The SBR aims to centralize and manage all Bitcoin acquired through legal forfeitures, ensuring these assets serve as long-term strategic holdings rather than being sold off.

The creation of the SBR reflects Trump's broader vision of making the US a global leader in cryptocurrency. By integrating Bitcoin into national reserves, the administration seeks to harness the benefits of digital currencies while providing a hedge against economic turbulence. This strategic move has also spurred state-level policies, as seen in New Hampshire, where legislation was recently passed allowing state investments in cryptocurrencies and precious metals. Such developments indicate a growing trend of governmental adoption of digital assets, reinforcing the legitimacy of cryptocurrencies in the financial landscape.

Institutional accumulation drives down Bitcoin availability

In the private sector, institutional investors are increasingly accumulating Bitcoin. Companies like Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) have expanded their holdings significantly, purchasing an additional 13,390 BTC for $1.34 billion, which brings their total to 568,840 BTC. Similarly, Metaplanet Inc. invested $126 million to acquire 1,241 BTC, surpassing the national Bitcoin holdings of some countries. This trend highlights a shift in Bitcoin ownership, with retail investors often taking profits during market rallies, leading to a redistribution of Bitcoin toward institutional entities.

As of May 13, 2025, over 19.86 million BTC have been mined. Wallets holding at least 100 BTC account for 60.84% of the total supply, while those with 10 or more BTC control 82.51%. With Bitcoin's price once again having surpassed $100K, it becomes evident that only about 17.5% of Bitcoin is held by wallets with less than $1 million in BTC. This concentration of ownership raises concerns about market accessibility for smaller investors.

The 10–100 BTC tier is primarily composed of small institutional investors, while wallets with over 100 BTC are predominantly held by institutions and liquidity providers. This oligarchic trend suggests that as cryptocurrency market caps rise, retail traders may feel pressured to sell during downturns, further consolidating wealth among larger holders. Notably, the increasing costs associated with 

, such as electricity and equipment, compel many miners — often retail investors — to sell portions of their holdings to cover expenses, exacerbating this trend.

Bitcoin concentration leaves smaller investors at disadvantage

The establishment of the SBR represents a critical milestone in the integration of digital assets into national financial strategies, positioning the US at the forefront of the cryptocurrency revolution. As of mid-May 2025, Bitcoin's price has fluctuated between $102K and $105K, maintaining an optimistic long-term outlook despite short-term volatility. Continued institutional interest, bolstered by supportive governmental policies, enhances the legitimacy and stability of Bitcoin as an asset class.

However, as smaller investors continue to sell during market rallies, larger wallets are increasingly accumulating supply, tightening their grip on the market. Currently, over 80% of Bitcoin's supply is held in wallets containing $1 million or more in BTC. This trend suggests that while individual portfolios may grow, retail investors could find themselves at a disadvantage in an increasingly concentrated market.

In conclusion, the strategic Bitcoin reserve and the surge in institutional investments signal a positive shift for Bitcoin's legitimacy and its role in the global financial system. However, the growing disparity in Bitcoin ownership underscores the need for retail investors to navigate the market carefully. As these dynamics evolve, awareness of trends in institutional accumulation and wealth concentration will be crucial for all participants in the cryptocurrency ecosystem.

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Bybit x Santiment social sentiment report: Bitcoin reserve hopes leave Bitcoin holdings more concentrated

A wallet address is a group of letters and numbers used for sending and receiving cryptocurrencies and other digital assets. It can be shared to facilitate digital transactions.

Wallet Address

An airdrop is a type of marketing strategy that involves sending crypto wallet addresses a few tokens or coins in exchange for small tasks, such as sharing a social media post. This is usually done to increase public awareness of a new cryptocurrency.

Airdrop

An algorithm is a finite sequence of instructions used to perform a calculation or to process data. These instructions must be completed in a specific order to produce the desired result.

Algorithm

All-time high, or ATH, is a term that refers to the highest historical price a cryptocurrency has reached since its initial launch.

All-Time High (ATH)

All-time low, or ATL, is an abnormally low price point. A crypto asset reaches its all-time low when the price of its coin is lower than it has ever been before.

All-Time Low (ATL)

An angel investor is an individual, usually of high net worth, who provides funding for entrepreneurs or startups in exchange for a percentage of ownership in the venture.

Angel Investor

Anti-money laundering, or AML, is any type of method that prevents criminals from moving illicit funds with crypto.

Anti-Money Laundering (AML)

Arbitrage is the buying and selling of the same asset concurrently in different crypto markets to earn a profit from the temporary price differences that are due to market inefficiencies.

Arbitrage

ASIC stands for application-specific integrated circuit, which has superior mining capability compared to traditional graphics cards. Cryptocurrencies with ASIC-resistant qualities cannot be mined with ASIC mining rigs.

ASIC-Resistant

Ask price is the lowest price at which a trader is willing to sell an asset, security or cryptocurrency.

Ask Price

An atomic swap is an automatic exchange of cryptocurrencies from different blockchains, facilitated by a hashed timelock contract (HTLC), without the need for centralized third-party trading platforms.

Atomic Swap

An automated market maker (AMM) is a system that facilitates automated trading on a decentralized exchange through crypto liquidity pools funded by liquidity providers.

Automated Market Maker (AMM)

Beacon Chain is a blockchain that lays the foundation for Ethereum 2.0, managing the registration of validators and the staking process to facilitate the proof of stake (PoS) protocol.

Beacon Chain

A bear market occurs when a market undergoes an extended price decline, which can last for anywhere from a few weeks to many years.

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