Bitcoin traded under pressure as markets reacted to broader risk-off conditions, while news flow centered on sanctions-related crypto comments, a bank-issued stablecoin rollout, and fresh regulatory and security developments.
Bitcoin weakens as ETF outflows add to market pressure
Bitcoin fell below $80,000 over the weekend and was described as trading at its weakest level in more than a month. Separate reports said spot bitcoin ETFs posted their largest daily outflow of the month on Thursday, with Ethereum and Solana funds also seeing outflows. Other market updates showed bitcoin hovering around the low-$81,000 range as traders tracked broader macro stress.
Sources: CoinDesk, Decrypt, Cointelegraph, CoinDesk, CoinDesk
Netanyahu’s crypto sanctions remarks draw attention
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel could consider blockchain and crypto as part of a response if financial sanctions were imposed, a comment made ahead of elections and criticized by opponents and the central bank. A separate report said he asked for a blockchain plan in case banks face sanctions.
Sources: Cointelegraph, Decrypt
Stablecoin, policy, and enforcement developments continue
HSBC switched on a Hong Kong dollar stablecoin inside its PayMe app, putting a bank-issued token into use across millions of wallets. In the U.S., reports said the IRS is considering lower penalties and more flexible payment options for some voluntary tax disclosures, while senators are also probing Tether over reported payments tied to a former White House crypto adviser’s firm.
Sources: Decrypt, Cointelegraph, Decrypt, Cointelegraph
Security incidents and protocol changes remain in focus
Initia halted its blockchain and rollups after an exploit reportedly involved unauthorized token minting and more than $2.6 million in assets moving to Ethereum. Bitcoin Core developers also changed their security policy so vulnerabilities that are quickly discoverable with AI prompts can be fixed and released without long embargoes. Ethereum’s Glamsterdam testnet fork was delayed after gas-related security issues were flagged.
Sources: Cointelegraph, Decrypt, Decrypt
Memecoins and related legal fallout
Argentina dropped a criminal probe into President Javier Milei over his promotion of the crashed LIBRA memecoin, with the judge finding no fraud. Separately, CoinDesk reported that memecoins were among the assets recovering during a broader rebound in crypto trading, with pepe posting a double-digit gain in one session.