⚠️ Mind the BTC Gap

Bitcoin’s weekend rally left a fresh “CME gap”, referring to the price difference between where CME Bitcoin futures closed on Friday and where they reopened Monday, raising concerns of a short-term pullback. BTC spiked above $122,000 over the weekend before cooling, and traders are watching closely to see if the market “fills” the gap by retesting lower levels. While some see it as a technical blip, others warn it could invite opportunistic selling in an otherwise bullish macro environment. (CoinDesk)

💼 President’s 401(k) Order Could Send Billions into Bitcoin (and Ethereum) A bunch of executive orders are on the horizon. One of said executive orders signed by the President last week allows U.S. retirement accounts like 401(k)s to hold crypto and other alternative assets (private equity, real estate etc), a move analysts say could unleash billions in new capital into crypto markets. Supporters are calling it a milestone for mainstream adoption, while skeptics warn of volatility risks for retirement savers. (Decrypt)

🚀 ETH Breaks $4K After SEC Greenlights Liquid Staking Ethereum rallied past $4,000 for the first time in months after the SEC approved liquid staking products, triggering a surge in both staking protocols and Layer 2 tokens. The decision opens the door for more accessible yield opportunities and could accelerate institutional adoption of ETH staking, something that can be considered a long-term structural tailwind for the ecosystem. (CoinDesk)

📈 JPMorgan Sees Room for S&P 500 and crypto Who doesn’t love a good Wall Street analyst note?! JPMorgan analysts laid out three bullish catalysts for the S&P 500 that could also lift crypto markets: stabilizing inflation, improving earnings forecasts, and record-high global liquidity. While the note focuses on equities, the underlying macro conditions, particularly looser monetary policy, are a clear positive for risk assets across the board. (CoinDesk)

💳 MetaMask Partners with Stripe to Launch New Stablecoin Last week, it was leaked that MetaMask is teaming up with fintech heavyweight Stripe to roll out a new stablecoin aimed at simplifying on-chain payments. The product will integrate directly into MetaMask’s wallet, allowing users to transact across DeFi and Web3 platforms without the usual friction of converting between tokens and fiat. We have long been complaining about Web3’s UX problem, so this is a step in the right direction. (DL News)

⚖️ SEC vs. Ripple Is Officially Over…XRP Holders Declare Victory After years of legal battles, the SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple has ended (sigh of relief), with the court ruling that XRP sales on secondary markets did not violate securities laws. The decision sent waves through the altcoin community, with the “XRP Army” claiming vindication. (Decrypt)

📊 Analyst Warns Altcoin Rallies May Be Short-Lived Tell us something we don’t know…Altcoin rallies have been of the ‘blink and you missed it’ variety lately. Despite recent pops in some altcoins, market analysts caution that these rallies are unlikely to sustain without stronger macro tailwinds and higher liquidity. Traders may need to brace for more range-bound action and be selective in chasing short-term pumps. (DL News)