The post South Korea’s KOSPI Near 6,937 as Stock Surge Drains Crypto Liquidity appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

South Korea’s financial markets are seeing a dramatic shift, with equities surging while crypto demand weakens sharply. The benchmark KOSPI has gone parabolic, hitting a fresh all-time high and climbing 37% in just 34 days after adding nearly $1 trillion in market value. According to the Bull theory X post, over the past year, the index has been up an impressive 172%, pushing closer to the key 7,000 level.

The South Korean stock market is going parabolic like never seen before in history. $KOSPI just hit a new all-time high today and is up +37% in the last 34 days after adding ₩1,600 trillion ($1 trillion USD) to its market cap.

It is now up 172% in the last year. pic.twitter.com/3QtM3aPHvF

— Bull Theory (@BullTheoryio) May 5, 2026

This rally has been fueled by strong foreign and institutional inflows, along with improving global sentiment. A rebound in U.S. tech stocks during South Korea’s holiday break triggered nearly $3.5 billion in fresh buying. 

At the same time, major firms like Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix have seen upgraded earnings forecasts, further boosting confidence that the rally may extend.

According to an X user, Investing to Mars the KOSPI rally is still far from over. The index continues to surge higher, with a potential upside target in the 8,000–9,000 range before any major correction kicks in. The outlook could turn even more bullish if KOSPI breaks above its current channel resistance, which may push long-term targets even higher.

$KOSPI keeps on ripping higher

Still seeing 8-9K as a target before a more substantial correction.

Should the Korean index break above the channel top line, the long-term targets will be readjusted higher. https://t.co/iRJ6wwZPHA pic.twitter.com/2WyqAKkGb2

— Investing to Mars (@investingtomars) May 4, 2026

Crypto Weakens as Funds Rotate

However the local report, says while stocks surge, South Korea’s crypto market is losing momentum. Total crypto holdings across major exchanges like Upbit and Bithumb have dropped to 60.6 trillion won by February, down nearly half from the 121.8 trillion won peak seen earlier.

Trading activity has also cooled significantly. Daily volumes fell from 17.1 trillion won in late 2024 to just 4.5 trillion won, while exchange deposits, often seen as ready-to-invest capital, declined sharply as well. The shift suggests investors are actively reallocating funds away from crypto and into equities.

Interestingly, demand for stablecoins is moving in the opposite direction. Holdings surged from under 100 billion won to over 600 billion won, reflecting growing interest in dollar exposure amid currency volatility.

Analysts say the trend is clear. According to NH Investment & Securities analyst Hong Sung-wook, the stock market rally and weaker crypto prices have driven capital rotation. Meanwhile, Korbit’s Kim Min-seung points to exchange rate fluctuations as a key factor boosting stablecoin demand.

The bigger picture is unfolding fast: as South Korea’s stock market heats up, crypto is losing local momentum, at least for now.

The post Bitcoin Price Today: Analysts Map the Road to $100,000 and Beyond appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Bitcoin is currently trading around $80,874, showing steady resilience despite minor short-term fluctuations. Over the past 24 hours, BTC has gained about 1.49%, with trading volume crossing $47.5 billion, highlighting strong market participation. While still down roughly 36% from its all-time high of $126,198 in October 2025, Bitcoin’s long-term trajectory remains impressive, considering its rise from near-zero levels in its early days.

Technical Signals Point Higher

According to Ali Martinez, Bitcoin continues to show structural strength following a bullish MACD crossover on April 13. This signal has already driven a 15% rally and has historically marked the beginning of major multi-month uptrends, with past gains reaching as high as 147%.

On the daily chart, Bitcoin is now approaching the crucial 200-day moving average near $83,000. A clean breakout above this level could unlock further upside toward $89,000 and potentially $94,000 in the near term.

Whales Accumulate as Retail Stays Quiet

According to him, one of the most notable developments is strong whale activity. Large holders accumulated 4,527 BTC in the past 24 hours, worth approximately $362 million, indicating high conviction buying at current levels.

Whales bought 4,527 Bitcoin $BTC in the past 24 hours, worth around $362 million. pic.twitter.com/bg4aoIzHby

— Ali Charts (@alicharts) May 4, 2026

At the same time, on-chain data from Santiment shows network activity at two-year lows, with only 531,000 daily transactions and around 203,000 new wallets being created. This divergence suggests that while institutional and large players are accumulating, retail investors have yet to re-enter the market in full force.

$100K Narrative Gains Momentum

Crypto analyst Arthur Hayes thinks Bitcoin could reach $100,000 after the summer, driven by improving global dollar liquidity. He also projects a potential move toward $125,000 by the end of 2026, noting that Bitcoin is already outperforming traditional markets like the Nasdaq despite geopolitical tensions, including risks involving Iran.

Institutions Keep Buying

Institutional demand remains a main pillar of support. MicroStrategy (Strategy) now holds over 818,000 BTC worth more than $64 billion, continuing to accumulate aggressively.

Meanwhile, BlackRock manages over $50 billion in Bitcoin ETF assets, with total ETF holdings surpassing $100 billion again. Recent inflows nearing $630 million in a single day reinforce the growing institutional appetite.

The post What Is Happening With Toncoin Today: Telegram Control Shift Fees Cut and Roadmap Revealed appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Pavel Durov confirmed this week that Telegram is replacing the TON Foundation as the primary operational force behind the TON blockchain, marking a significant structural shift for one of crypto’s most closely watched Layer 1 networks.

“Fees in TON have dropped 6x, to nearly zero,” Durov wrote on X. “Next step: Telegram replaces the TON Foundation. Focus shifts to tech superiority.”

Toncoin rose on the news as markets digested what the change means for the network’s direction and governance.

Why the Fee Cut Matters More Than It Looks

TON’s transaction fee is now approximately 0.00039 TON, roughly half a tenth of a cent, fixed regardless of how busy the network gets. That fixed element is as important as the size of the cut itself. Unpredictable fees are one of the main reasons developers and users avoid blockchain applications for everyday payments.

Here is how TON now compares to its main rivals:

• Ethereum: highly variable, can spike to several dollars during busy periods
• Solana: around $0.00025 per transaction, high throughput, TON’s closest competitor
• BNB Smart Chain: around $0.10 per transaction
• Cardano: $0.11 to $0.40 per transaction
• Polkadot: around $0.60 per transaction

TON and Solana are now in a category of their own on cost. The difference is that TON comes with direct distribution through a messaging app used by nearly one billion people.

Telegram’s Big Plan Ahead

Telegram is not just supporting TON, it’s taking over its core operations. This includes becoming the largest validator, staking around 2.2 million TON, and directly strengthening network security.

Whether replacing it with direct Telegram control accelerates development or introduces new dependencies is a debate the community has already started. Durov’s answer, implicitly, is that the speed and focus that comes with unified control outweighs the governance trade-off.

The post Russia’s Biggest Exchange Adds XRP Solana TRON and BNB Indexes appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Russia is stepping deeper into crypto, but not through hype cycles or speculative mania. Instead, it’s building quietly through structured financial products and regulatory alignment. The Moscow Exchange (MOEX), the country’s largest securities exchange, is now expanding its crypto footprint in a way that reflects long-term positioning rather than short-term noise.

Expanding Beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum

From May 13, MOEX will introduce four new crypto indexes tracking Solana, XRP, TRON, and BNB. These will trade under MOEXSOL, MOEXXRP, MOEXTRX, and MOEXBNB, expanding its existing lineup that already includes Bitcoin and Ethereum indexes launched in 2025.

This move signals a clear shift; Russia is no longer just tracking the top two assets, it’s opening the door to broader altcoin exposure within a regulated framework.

Built on Global Liquidity

The structure behind these indexes is carefully designed. Pricing data will be aggregated from leading global exchanges, with Binance contributing 50%, Bybit 20%, OKX 15%, and Bitget 15%.

At the same time, MOEX is upgrading how these indexes function. Instead of daily updates, all crypto indexes will now refresh every 15 seconds during trading sessions, bringing them much closer to real-time market conditions.

A Derivatives-First Strategy

This expansion isn’t about spot trading yet. These indexes will primarily serve as the foundation for crypto derivatives, which are currently restricted to professional investors. Under existing rules, these instruments cannot involve direct delivery of crypto assets, keeping exposure indirect but regulated.

MOEX has already been active in this space, offering derivatives linked to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and even products from BlackRock, showing how traditional finance and crypto are beginning to overlap.

Regulation Is Catching Up

Behind the scenes, Russia is working toward a broader legal framework. A new digital asset bill under review is expected to be finalized by mid-2026, potentially allowing limited retail participation with caps of around $4,000 annually.

At the same time, MOEX plans to expand its crypto index suite to at least 10 assets, with future additions likely including Dogecoin and Cardano.

The post Former Ripple CTO Says He Had 26 Million XRP, Recalls Co-Founder Selling Bitcoin Not XRP appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

David Schwartz, aka JoelKatz and formerly Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, disclosed in a social media exchange this week that he once held 26 million XRP, significantly more than what he currently holds.

Responding to a question on X about the size of his personal XRP position, Schwartz offered an unexpected point of reference. “My idea of not a lot is still more than a million,” he wrote. “I once had 26 million XRP.”

The comment came in the context of a broader exchange about risk tolerance and crypto exposure among Ripple’s founding figures.

David Schwartz reveals he once held 26M XRP and touches on Arthur Britto’s historical preference for holding XRP over BTC. pic.twitter.com/ZvmaF6c0IK

— 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗸XRP (@BankXRP) May 4, 2026

When asked whether Ripple co-founder Arthur Britto shares a similar approach to risk and asset exposure, Schwartz said the two had never directly discussed the topic. He added that his vague recollection from years ago was that Britto had been selling Bitcoin to cover personal expenses while holding onto most or all of his XRP.

“I vaguely remember him saying that he’s been selling Bitcoin to cover expenses and hadn’t sold any, or very little, XRP,” Schwartz wrote. “But that was many years ago and I have no idea what he’s done since then.”

Schwartz was careful to note the limits of his knowledge, stressing that the recollection was both vague and dated, and that Britto’s current holdings and strategy are unknown to him.

The exchange drew attention within the XRP community, given the rarity of public disclosures from Ripple’s founding figures about their personal crypto positions. Schwartz’s acknowledgement that he once held 26 million XRP, a sum worth tens of millions of dollars at current prices, added context to how his personal holdings have changed over the years since the network launched.

Neither Schwartz nor Ripple made any further comment on the matter at the time of publication.

The post Ethereum at a Make-or-Break Level — Will May Trigger Another Explosive Rally? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Ethereum ended April on a solid note, posting a 7.3% gain and marking its second consecutive green month. This steady recovery is now drawing attention to May, historically one of Ethereum’s strongest months. In 2024, ETH surged 25%, followed by an even sharper 41% rally in 2025.

Resistance at $2,375

According to crypto analyst Ali Martinez, Ethereum is currently testing the top of its channel near $2,375, a level that has repeatedly acted as strong resistance.

In previous attempts, ETH has been rejected from this zone, pulling the price back toward lower support levels. If history repeats, a failure here could send Ethereum back toward the $2,210 support region, which marks the lower boundary of the channel.

However, there’s a shift in tone this time. As Martinez notes, repeated tests of resistance tend to weaken it. With Ethereum now approaching what appears to be a fourth test, the market is entering a decisive phase.

Breakout Could Send ETH to $2,550

If Ethereum manages a strong daily close above $2,375, it could trigger a bullish breakout. Martinez points to a potential 7% upside move, targeting the next structural resistance around $2,550.

Market sentiment also finds support from institutional activity. U.S. spot Ethereum ETFs recorded $23.5 million in net inflows last week, with major contributions from Grayscale’s ETHE. This suggests growing institutional interest, even as price consolidates.

Supply Crunch Building Under the Surface

On-chain data adds another layer to the story. Ethereum exchange reserves have dropped to around 14.5 million ETH, the lowest level on record. Over 1.5 million ETH has been withdrawn from exchanges in the past four months alone.

This shrinking supply means there’s less ETH available for selling, reducing downward pressure. While this doesn’t guarantee an immediate breakout, it creates a setup where any strong demand could push prices sharply higher due to thinner liquidity.

Decision Zone Ahead

Overall, Ethereum now sits at a crucial inflection point. A breakout above $2,375 could open the door to $2,550 and potentially extend May’s bullish trend. 

But failure here risks another pullback toward $2,210. Either way, the next move could be decisive.

The post Morgan Stanley’s Bitcoin ETP Draws $100M in Days, Fuels Bitcoin Rally appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Morgan Stanley has launched a Bitcoin exchange-traded product (ETP), drawing more than $100 million in inflows within six days, according to reports.

The product, MSBT, attracted demand before being made available through the firm’s financial advisors, indicating early activity was largely driven by self-directed investors.

Bitcoin ETP demand driven by self-directed investors and institutional interest

The initial inflows suggest investors are allocating to Bitcoin exposure independently, without waiting for advisory guidance.

Amy Oldenburg said, “All of that was self-directed; it was not even available in advisory on the wealth platform,” highlighting that early demand came before advisor distribution.

Bitcoin allocation strategy and advisor adoption gap in wealth management

Morgan Stanley recommends a 2% to 4% Bitcoin allocation for eligible portfolios. However, advisor adoption remains limited compared to client demand.

Oldenburg said this reflects an education gap rather than a lack of interest. Around 80% of ETP exposure on the platform is currently self-directed. The firm is expanding internal training to support advisors.

Morgan Stanley expects Bitcoin to eventually be included on bank balance sheets, though regulatory constraints remain.

Oldenburg said, “The regulatory environment has been more supportive,” but noted that Federal Reserve policies, Basel capital rules, and global compliance requirements still limit broader integration.

Crypto custody, OCC charter plans, and Coinbase BNY Mellon partnership

The firm is pursuing a digital trust charter from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) to enable crypto custody and spot trading.

The MSBT product currently uses Coinbase and BNY Mellon as custodians.

Bitcoin ETF competition: MSBT vs BlackRock iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT)

MSBT enters a market led by BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), which holds more than $61 billion in assets.

Morgan Stanley’s product carries a fee of 0.14%, compared with 0.25% for IBIT. However, IBIT continues to lead in trading volume and market liquidity.

Morgan Stanley’s network of about 16,000 advisors may support future inflows once the product is fully integrated into advisory channels.

The post Exclusive: India’s Crypto Future Hinges on Clarity, Not Just Taxes — CoinSwitch Co-founder Speaks appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

India’s crypto story is moving forward, but not without friction. In an exclusive conversation with Coinpedia, Ashish Singhal, Co-founder CoinSwitch, breaks down where things stand, from CBDCs and UPI dominance to Budget 2026, taxation, and why startups are quietly looking offshore.

UPI Dominates, But CBDC Plays a Different Game

Singhal makes it clear that India isn’t lacking payment solutions. Unified Payments Interface has already made transactions effortless, whether it’s paying vendors or splitting bills.

But CBDC isn’t competing with UPI. It’s something deeper.

He explains that a CBDC is essentially digital cash issued by the central bank, like a ₹100 note, but on your phone. Its real strength lies in targeted use cases. Government subsidies can be programmed for specific spending, and emergency funds can reach citizens instantly without intermediaries.

In his words, UPI is the “road,” while CBDC becomes a new “vehicle” running on it. For users, the experience may not change, but the backend becomes far more powerful.

Budget 2026: Clarity Without Relief

India Budget 2026 kept crypto taxes unchanged, continuing with one of the toughest regimes globally.

Singhal doesn’t see this as an attempt to kill retail participation, but rather to control it. The framework has brought clarity and improved traceability, even if high taxes and 1% TDS have pushed some activity offshore.

He suggests the government is prioritizing responsible investing and compliance first. But going forward, a more balanced tax structure, aligned with other asset classes, could unlock real growth while keeping innovation within India.

Startups Are Watching… and Moving

Moreover, regulatory ambiguity remains a bigger concern than taxes.

Singhal points out that many Web3 founders are drifting toward hubs like Dubai, Singapore, and Hong Kong, where clearer rules make it easier to access banking, capital, and partnerships.

India still has a strong advantage, its massive developer base and user market. But without clear and proportionate regulation, that edge could slowly erode.

Bitcoin ETFs and What Comes Next

On the question of Bitcoin ETFs, Singhal takes a grounded view.

He says India is still figuring out the basics, how crypto assets are classified, who regulates them, and how investors are protected. Products like ETFs will only come after that foundation is set.

Still, global momentum, especially after U.S. ETF approvals, is hard to ignore. Institutional demand in India is already building, particularly among investors seeking exposure without directly holding crypto.

Why Regulation Is Slower Than Adoption

Singhal ends with a reality check.

Crypto isn’t just another sector; it touches capital controls, taxation, AML, and financial stability. That means multiple regulators are involved, which naturally slows things down.

India, he says, is taking a “risk-first” approach, building guardrails through taxation and compliance while watching how global frameworks evolve.

Adoption, meanwhile, doesn’t wait. It’s market-driven, fast, and already ahead of policy.

And that gap, between speed and structure, is where India’s crypto future will ultimately be decided.