Crypto Markets Drop Slightly After Yesterday’s Surge, Stock Market Drops as Apple Plunges 2923

Following yesterday’s crypto market surge that sent Bitcoin up more than 4% and Ethereum up more than 10%, the markets have found some levels of stability and are currently trading down slightly.

Although the crypto markets are relatively stable as of now, the stock market is seeing tremendous levels of instability, with today’s drop being primarily driven by Apple plunging over 8% after adjusting their Q1 guidance.

Crypto Markets Down Slightly

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading sideways and is down less than 1% at its current price of $3,850. Yesterday, Bitcoin rose to highs of $3,950 which proved to be a level of resistance. It is unclear as to whether or not bulls will place enough buying pressure on Bitcoin to push it above $4,000, which has acted as a resistance level over the past few weeks.

Ethereum, which surged well over 10% yesterday, is currently trading down nearly 2% at $148.5. Ethereum has dropped slightly from its daily highs of $157, which were set yesterday. Ethereum is trading up significantly from its one-week lows of $115 and is up just under 80% from its monthly lows of $83.

XRP has also lost some of yesterday’s gains and is currently trading down 2.7% at its current price of $0.36. XRP hasn’t seen large levels of volatility over the past week and is currently up from its seven-day lows of $0.336.

EOS is one of today’s worst performing altcoins and is trading down just under 4% at its current price of $2.86. EOS was one of yesterday’s best performing altcoins and was trading up well over 10% throughout the day.

Stock Market Drops, Volatility Continues

The stock market’s volatility has extended into 2019, with today’s drop being driven by Apple lowering their Q1 guidance due to slow sales in China.

At the time of writing, the Dow is trading down 400 points, currently trading down 1.7% at 22,960. Both the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq also dropped, trading down 1.1% and 1.5% respectively. Apple’s release of lower-than-expected manufacturing data stems from economic slowdown in China, which in turn intensified investor’s fears that a global economic downturn is imminent.

Jeff Kilburg, the CEO of KMM Financial, said that Apple acts as a proxy to gauge China’s economic conditions, which makes their latest set of data scary for equities investors.

“This piles on to existing anxiety of a slowdown in global growth. Apple can be used as a proxy to China’s growth,” Kilburg explained.

Apple CEO, Tim Cook, discussed the China slowdown in a letter to investors, saying that the economic conditions in China are being driven primarily by the trade tensions between the US and China.

“While we anticipated some challenges in key emerging markets, we did not foresee the magnitude of the economic deceleration, particularly in Greater China… We believe the economic environment in China has been further impacted by rising trade tensions with the United States. As the climate of mounting uncertainty weighed on financial markets, the effects appeared to reach consumers as well, with traffic to our retail stores and our channel partners in China declining as the quarter progressed,” Cook explained.

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R0AR Announces R0ARchain: A Purpose-Built Layer 2 Accelerating Ethereum 536

In an ecosystem flooded with performance-optimized chains, R0AR has announced R0ARchain, a custom Layer 2 blockchain designed to serve as the backbone of its unified DeFi, NFT and AI ecosystem. Built on the Optimism OP Stack, R0ARchain extends Ethereum’s security guarantees while eliminating the complexity, fragmentation and inefficiencies that plague most multichain user journeys.

Built for Everyday Crypto

R0ARchain consolidates core web3 functions such as staking, liquidity, NFTs and real-world asset issuance into a single execution environment, while offering lower fees, faster finality and seamless integration with OP-based ecosystems like Base and Zora.

From genesis, R0ARchain supports:

  • Native token staking and time-based APY rewards
  • Built-in AI compatibility for wallet-driven automations
  • NFT functionality tied to access, identity, and on-chain reputation
  • Embedded support for tokenized real-world assets (RWAs) using ERC-3463

All features operate within a unified environment with no bridges, no third-party dashboards and no contract hopping required.

«We’re not launching a chain for the sake of it, R0ARchain exists because people are tired of navigating dashboards, jumping bridges, and chasing fragmented narratives just to complete a single transaction. We just built one home for it all where users can move, earn, and build without sacrificing privacy or control». – Dustin Hedrick, Co-Founder & CTO

Designed for Human-Centric Onboarding

While most chains focus on developer performance, R0ARchain prioritizes human usability first. Once a wallet is connected, users can manage assets, interact with modules, and claim rewards through a unified dashboard with no external tools or extra steps required. This streamlined experience reduces errors, enhances safety and simplifies onboarding especially for new users entering Web3.

Developer-Ready from Day One

For developers, R0ARchain offers a familiar EVM-compatible environment with:

  • Support for Hardhat, Remix, and other standard toolkits
  • Pre-integrated modules for staking, NFT logic and AI hooks
  • Gas-efficient contract execution for complex, composable applications

For institutions, it lays the foundation for compliant, auditable deployment of tokenized assets via the upcoming R0AR Portal, which includes integrated scoring, identity layers and asset tracking features.

AI Integration from the Start

Unlike platforms that retro-fit AI integrations, R0ARchain was built from the ground up for on-chain AI agents. These agents can read wallet activity, staking history, and NFT metadata in real time enabling automated actions, dynamic UIs and predictive personalization.

All logic is native, transparent and composable with no external APIs or centralized compute layers required.

Real-World Assets Ready by Design

With rising demand for real-world asset tokenization, R0ARchain integrates native ERC-3463 support, a standard built for representing off-chain value on-chain. This includes scoring, compliance tooling, and real-time tracking. Rather than chasing short-term trends, R0ARchain focuses on durable, regulated ownership without compromising Ethereum compatibility or decentralization.

Extending the Possibilities of Ethereum

Instead of reinventing the wheel, R0ARchain anchors to Ethereum for security and finality, while expanding its day-to-day capabilities. With a focus on staking, NFTs, AI interaction, and RWAs, it delivers real-world utility without fragmenting the user or developer experience.

By building on the OP Stack, R0ARchain inherits Ethereum’s trust while unlocking better uptime, lower risk, and consistent UX across all users.

Explore the ecosystem: www.r0ar.io/r0archain

About R0AR

R0AR is a next-gen DeFi ecosystem built on a custom Layer 2 chain using the Optimism OP stack. It unifies self-custody, AI-powered trading, staking, NFTs and real-world asset support into one seamless platform. Powered by the $1R0AR token and governed by its community, R0AR is engineered to unlock secure, intelligent and sovereign finance for everyone.

Learn more at r0ar.io.

AixuSpeed Reports $500K in Token Commitments Within First 72 Hours of Pre-Sale 712

AixuSpeed a meme-inspired cryptocurrency developed with a focus on real-time transaction capabilities, has reported exceeding US $500,000 in pre-sale commitments within the first 72 hours of its offering. The early traction highlights the level of initial interest in the token, which combines community-driven branding with a payment infrastructure designed to support sub-second settlement times.

“People love the fun of memes but hate waiting ten minutes for a coffee on-chain,” said Sara “AiXuSpeed_” Akram, co-founder of AixuSpeed. “We built AIXU so your transaction travels faster than the joke itself.”

AixuSpeed Key Features

  • Blazing Speed — Transactions confirm in under a second, unlocking in-game micro-drops, smart vending, pay-per-view, and everyday retail payments.
  • Near-Zero Fees — Optimized gas architecture makes nano-payments economical, from tipping streamers to buying a single news article.
  • Ironclad Security — Audited smart contracts and proven cryptography guard every wallet, every block, every time.
  • Meme-Fueled Community — Viral challenges, NFT airdrops, and weekly meme contests turn holders into hype machines and reward creativity.

Early Traction & 2025 Roadmap

  • $500K Pre-Sale: Oversubscribed in three days, with a billion-token hard cap and liquidity locks already audited.
  • DEX Listing (Q3 2025): Tight circulating supply, transparent tokenomics, and community governance from day one.
  • Speed Grants: Dedicated fund for builders integrating AIXU into games, social apps, and e-commerce.
  • Cross-Chain Bridge (Q4 2025): Seamless transfers to Ethereum L2s and Solana to supercharge reach and liquidity.

Joining the Pre-Sale Today

Users can visit aixuspeed.com to participate in the allocation event. Early participants may be eligible for bonus multipliers and a limited-edition ‘Speedster’ NFT collectible.

About AiXuSpeed

AiXuSpeed is a cryptocurrency project that integrates elements of online culture, livestream dynamics, and meme aesthetics into the blockchain ecosystem. Designed to reflect the high-speed, user-driven nature of digital communities, AiXuSpeed seeks to capture the attention of participants interested in emerging internet trends.

Positioned as a community-oriented initiative, AiXuSpeed encourages participation from a diverse group of online users, ranging from casual observers to active digital creators. The project is currently in its presale phase, offering early access to those interested in engaging with the platform during its initial development stage.

By merging real-time engagement with meme-inspired themes, AiXuSpeed aims to establish a presence within the broader crypto landscape through cultural relevance and social momentum.

X/Twitter: @AiXuSpeed_
Instagram: @AiXuSpeed

Founders of LayerZero, SEI, Selini Capital, and Plume back hyper-personalized AI crypto discovery engine 842

TrueNorth, led by a former chief of hybrid CeFi/DeFi exchange WOO and AI experts, raises a strategic angel round to pioneer the agentic economy.

The founders of LayerZero, SEI, Selini Capital, Virtuals, Plume, and Presto Labs have collectively backed an AI platform that uses autonomous agents and real-time data to uncover crypto opportunities. AI-focused firm TrueNorth, co-founded by former WOO COO Willy Chuang and ex-Temasek AI tech investor Alex Lee, has raised $1 million in funding to develop Crypto’s first AI-powered engine. An engine symbiotic to the users’ discovery journey from intent straight to the outcome.

TrueNorth’s agentic technology continuously scans across chains, socials, and macro and project data to surface timely, high-signal insights for every user personalized to their portfolio, trading style, and past behavior.

“We see true AI agents becoming the foundation for how people invest in crypto for the future,” said Willy Chuang and Alex Lee, co-founders of TrueNorth. “The market is only getting more complex, and our goal is to cut through the noise with a hyper-personalized engine powered by a generative user interface (known as Gen UI) that adapts to each user’s style and behavior in real-time. We’re building a system where the agnetic flow and expert distilled reinforcement learning models work quietly in the background, driving the user’s intent infinitely closer to the outcome.

Willy Chuang, who previously led operations at the CeFi/DeFi exchange WOO, emphasized the real-world need for tools that reduce cognitive overload in fast-moving markets. “Having led crypto exchanges and worked closely with a broad range of traders and investors, I’ve seen how fragmented data and constant noise creates friction in decision-making,” said Chuang. “TrueNorth is built to simplify this, delivering personalized insights that evolve with each user so they can move faster with more confidence.”

For his part, Alex Lee, a PhD in AI, highlighted the platform’s AI-driven approach and ongoing development phase. “AI has reached a point where it can do more than just process data; it can understand context, adapt to users, and continuously improve decision-making,” said Lee. “That’s the foundation we’re building on: agentic intelligence that works behind the scenes to surface what matters most. We’re currently in closed beta, working closely with early users to refine a system that feels intuitive but is powered by serious intelligence.”

TrueNorth’s backers, Bryan Pellegrino of LayerZero, Jeff Feng of SEI, Jordi Alexander of Selini Capital, and Yongjin of Presto Labs, as well as Will Wang of Generative Ventures, share a strong belief in AI’s transformative power in crypto trading. Their interests span key themes such as interoperability, data-driven AI models, algorithmic market strategies, and innovative infrastructure development. Together, these interests reflect not only a shared belief in AI’s potential but also the same principles driving TrueNorth’s mission to simplify and personalize decision-making in decentralized markets.

TrueNorth, a platform under Singapore-registered Advent AI, is working closely with its first 500 early users, the Truthsayers, to refine agentic workflows for AI-native investing in closed beta. In the coming weeks, the team will unveil key details of its advanced architecture and agentic frameworks as it gears up for a public launch aimed at delivering smarter, hyper-personalized crypto discovery tools to a wider audience.

To learn more about TrueNorth, users can visit https://true-north.xyz/

About TrueNorth

TrueNorth is the crypto industry’s first autonomous, AI-powered discovery engine, designed to be symbiotic with the user journey, bringing intent straight to an outcome. Combining on-chain, social, and macro data, TrueNorth uses advanced agentic infrastructure to deliver real-time, tailored insights that evolve with each user’s investment journey. Founded by DeFi/CeFi and AI experts, TrueNorth aims to democratize decentralized finance by making complex crypto information accessible and actionable for investors at all levels. TrueNorth is part of Delphi Labs’ dAGI accelerator, a protocol R&D lab focused on incubating and accelerating new Web3 primitives.

ghost.fun Unveils the First Onchain Marketplace for Tokenized AI Video Influencers 1118

ghost.fun has announced the development of the first onchain marketplace for AI video influencers. The platform introduces a new category at the intersection of AI video, crypto native tokenomics, and the creator economy, enabling users to launch, customize, and invest in programmable AI video personas.

The project features Songbird (@0xSongbird) – a prototype AI video persona showcasing ghost.fun’s vision. Equal parts cultural provocateur and platform demonstration, Songbird represents what programmable influence can become: autonomous, expressive, and viral by design.

ghost.fun fuses AI video generation with performance intelligence, empowering agents to adapt in real time based on campaign results, trend data, and cultural insights. Users earn XP (experience points) for meaningful participation, from launching agents to ‘ghosting’ KOLs, prompting content, and unlocking cultural trends.

“We’re building the onchain rails for programmable media agents – AI personas that create, grow, and tokenize influence,” said Songbird. “ghost.fun is where culture and code converge.”

ghost.fun Roadmap & Vision

  • AI-powered video agents – customizable influencers with video, voice, style, and persona, generated from a prompt or image
  • Tokenized influence – the most popular agents on the platform will unlock their own token
  • XP Engagement System – users can earn XP for testing and hiring agents and contributing to the ecosystem
  • Planned Autonomous Campaigns – agents are designed to post across major social platforms including X, TikTok, and more, with no human input required
  • Performance Intelligence Layer – designed to track agent performance, adapt output, and surface real time trends

Alpha Launch June 2025

ghost.fun begins early access in June 2025 with initial platform features, expanding capabilities for creators and partners throughout the year.

About ghost.fun

Backed by top creators and early partners, ghost.fun is unlocking a new frontier for programmable influence. Join the alpha at ghost.fun (https://ghost.fun/) and follow @ghostdotfun and @0xSongbird on X for updates.

Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade triggers MEV surge: ZenMEV maximizes staking rewards 1184

Ethereum’s recent Pectra upgrade, the network’s biggest update since the Merge, is changing the game for crypto stakers. Activated on May 7, 2025, this feature-packed upgrade makes Ethereum staking easier, faster, and more rewarding. It introduced key improvements like EIP-7251, which raised the validator stake limit from 32 ETH to 2048 ETH, letting stakers combine and top up validators for compounded rewards. At the same time, EIP-6110 slashed deposit wait times from ~12 hours down to about 13 minutes by moving staking deposits on-chain. Additionally, EIP-7002 brought unprecedented flexibility by enabling on-chain partial withdrawals and quick validator exits.

These changes have supercharged the staking landscape. Larger validator balances mean fewer nodes can carry more weight, boosting the odds of proposing blocks and capturing more MEV (Maximal Extractable Value). In short, Pectra unlocked a surge in MEV activity and created lucrative new opportunities for anyone staking ETH. Industry observers note that Pectra’s enhancements are “enhancing MEV potential” for validators. Ethereum’s latest upgrade has effectively kicked off a gold rush for savvy stakers eager to maximize their yields.

ZenMEV: Great way to capture post-Pectra MEV

With the Pectra upgrade opening the floodgates of MEV profits, ZenMEV has quickly emerged as the go-to platform for capturing this value. ZenMEV is a fast rising staking platform optimized for capturing MEV, combining advanced technology and smart strategies to help users reap higher rewards. Unlike regular staking services which rely only on block rewards, ZenMEV unlocks extra yield by extracting MEV and returning those structural profits directly to ordinary users.

For capturing the new MEV opportunities, ZenMEV stands out in several key ways:

  • Advanced MEV technology: ZenMEV’s core strength is its Zenbot engine, an AI-driven system that scans blockchain transactions in real time. The platform efficiently processes thousands of transactions per second using deep learning models and mempool scanning techniques to spot profitable opportunities instantly. These sophisticated algorithms enable ZenMEV to accurately detect lucrative arbitrage, swaps, or price discrepancies and execute them within milliseconds for maximum gain.
  • Optimized MEV strategies: ZenMEV employs a suite of strategies to extract value that others miss. Its bots capture DeFi arbitrage, large DEX swap opportunities, and liquidation events across the Ethereum network. The platform also goes beyond Ethereum, seeking MEV on other networks like BNB Chain, Solana, and Cosmos and customizing its tactics for each chain’s unique opportunities. This broad approach means stakers enjoy a diversified stream of MEV profits across multiple ecosystems.
  • Liquidity flexibility: Thanks to Pectra’s upgrades, ZenMEV offers stakers more control over their funds. The platform supports on-chain partial withdrawals and automated exits, meaning users can access their capital or rebalance with minimal delay. ZenMEV can dynamically adjust validator stakes and reallocate funds to higher yield strategies on the fly. You can also claim your accumulated MEV rewards at any time or even compound them by restaking for even greater gains. This flexibility ensures you’re never cut off from your liquidity, even while earning high yields.
  • Ease of use: ZenMEV is built for simplicity. No specialized knowledge is required to benefit from its advanced services. The platform handles all the complex MEV processes automatically. You simply stake your assets through a straightforward web interface, and ZenMEV’s system takes care of identifying and executing profitable transactions behind the scenes. The result is enhanced returns with minimal effort, making sophisticated MEV income accessible to anyone.
  • Ethical profit sharing: ZenMEV is committed to transparency and fair profit sharing. Historically, MEV profits were an “exclusive insider game” limited to miners or bots, but ZenMEV flips that script. All MEV gains are redistributed to ZenMEV stakers transparently via smart contracts. By democratizing access to MEV revenue, ZenMEV ensures that everyday stakers get their fair share of the extra profits that used to be enjoyed only by insiders. This ethical approach builds trust and aligns ZenMEV’s success with the community’s success.

Seize the moment: Start staking with ZenMEV today

Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade has ushered in a new era of higher staking rewards, and ZenMEV is uniquely positioned to help you capitalize on it. By merging standard staking yields with bountiful MEV earnings, ZenMEV can boost your returns. Even during market downturns, ZenMEV’s strategies continue to generate income from network activity.

ZenMEV provides an institutional quality platform that is also easy to use, letting anyone tap into advanced MEV profits to amplify their staking yields. If you’re ready to ride the wave of these new opportunities, it’s simple to get started: visit the official ZenMEV website to learn more and begin staking. Join the growing community of stakers who are already enjoying higher rewards with ZenMEV’s MEV powered staking.

Huma Joins the Global Dollar Network to Advance Stablecoin Adoption on Solana 1224

Huma has officially joined the Global Dollar Network (GDN) — a coalition of leading enterprises committed to accelerating the adoption of stablecoins through aligned incentives, regulatory clarity, and global utility. Launched by Paxos and powered by Global Dollar (USDG), the network includes members such as Robinhood, Kraken, Anchorage, Nuvei, and Worldpay.

USDG is a US dollar-backed stablecoin issued by Paxos Digital Singapore and is compliant with the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) upcoming stablecoin regulatory framework. Available on Solana, Ethereum, and other public blockchains approved by MAS, USDG supports fast, low-cost, and secure global money movement. Significantly, USDG’s preferred blockchain is Solana—chosen for its unparalleled speed, efficiency, and scalability, making it ideally suited for powering real-time financial transactions. Currently, around $3.5 to $4 billion of daily stablecoin volume already occurs on Solana, highlighting its strong adoption and capacity for supporting global-scale financial operations.

A Step Forward for PayFi

Stablecoins have become a foundational layer of programmable finance—central to the future of PayFi and global liquidity—powering use cases from real-time settlement to cross-border payments. The Global Dollar Network builds on this momentum with a model designed to strengthen and scale the PayFi ecosystem.

  • Aligned incentives: Network revenue is shared with GDN partners who mint, transact, and hold USDG.
  • Regulatory confidence: USDG is designed to comply with MAS’s forthcoming stablecoin framework, providing the trust institutions require.
  • Lower barriers to participation: Enterprises can tap into stablecoin benefits without launching their own asset.
  • Collaborative adoption: GDN fosters industry coordination to drive real-world stablecoin use cases across finance and commerce.

Erbil Karaman, Co-Founder of Huma, said “Stablecoins are ready to power global payments and fintechs, however single issuer stablecoins fail to create the network effect needed to accelerate adoption. That’s why we are so excited to be joining GDN alongside many of our existing partners and bring the PayFi movement to the masses.”

Huma’s PayFi network has already facilitated over $4.5 billion in payment-backed transactions, addressing a global market exceeding $30 trillion annually. Stablecoins, such as USDG, have become essential financial infrastructure, processing over $35 trillion in transactions in 2024 alone, underscoring their critical role in the evolving financial landscape.

Ronak Daya, Head of Product at Paxos, said “Huma joins Global Dollar Network with a proven track record in delivering liquidity and credit solutions for global payments. Their infrastructure directly strengthens our network partners’ ability to move money efficiently across borders. With significant stablecoin volume already on Solana, USDG is well positioned for adoption in remittance and money movement, an area in which Huma addresses critical challenges around liquidity and pre-funding.”

Accelerating Always-On Financial Infrastructure

As stablecoin adoption accelerates with regulatory clarity emerging with the GENIUS Act, Huma is positioned to capture the infrastructure opportunity ahead with this integration with Global Dollar Network. 

About Huma

Huma Finance is the first PayFi network accelerating global payments with instant liquidity through regulatory-compliant infrastructure. Processing over $4 billion in transactions, Huma bridges traditional and decentralised finance, enabling real-time settlement and sustainable yields backed by payment flows. As the leader in payment financing, Huma’s network addresses a total market estimated at over $30 trillion, providing an innovative payment infrastructure that transforms how money moves globally.