Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Monday (May 25) as of 9:00 a.m. UTC.
Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ether and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrencymarket news
Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$77,352.26, trading flat over the past 24 hours.
Chart via TradingView
Bitcoin price performance, May 25, 2026.
Bitcoin breached the US$75,000 threshold for the first time in over a month to hit a low of US$74,344 over the weekend.
The flagship cryptocurrency is currently attempting a rebound around the US$75,500 level, though it remains down by 2.7 percent for the week. The sudden price drop triggered a wave of crypto futures liquidations, erasing nearly US$917 million in positions over a 24-hour period.
While there is no single obvious catalyst for the sell-off, the decline coincides with a brutal six-day streak of outflows from spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds, which shed over US$1.25 billion in total investments.
Ether (ETH) was priced at US$2,114.51, down by 0.5 percent over the last 24 hours.
Altcoin price update
- XRP (XRP) was priced at US$1.36, down by 0.5 percent in 24 hours.
- Solana (SOL) was trading at US$85.94, 0.8 percent lower over the past 24 hours.
Today’s crypto news to know
Nasdaq secures conditional SEC approval for Bitcoin Index Options
Nasdaq has secured conditional approval from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to list cash-settled Bitcoin index options.
Trading under the ticker QBTC, the European-style derivatives will track the CME CF Bitcoin Real Time Index and settle entirely in US dollars without requiring the physical delivery of cryptocurrency. Pending final authorization from the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CMFTC), the new financial products will trade on the standard Nasdaq platform alongside major technology stocks.
This integration allows market participants to execute complex hedging strategies directly through their existing conventional brokerage accounts rather than navigating specialized derivatives setups.
The Nasdaq product also introduces a highly accessible contract size, representing exactly one Bitcoin of exposure through a 1/100th index scaling factor and a standard US$100 multiplier. By contrast, existing CME Bitcoin option demand a dedicated derivatives account and represent a massive five-Bitcoin commitment per contract.
SEC pauses tokenized stock exemption
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has abruptly delayed its planned “innovation exemption” that would have permitted domestic crypto firms to trade tokenized stocks, according to a Bloomberg report.
The regulatory agency had originally aimed to release the highly anticipated framework this week but hit the brakes to absorb incoming feedback from stock exchange executives and market participants.
A major point of friction involves a controversial provision that would allow the trading of third-party tokens, which are digital representations of corporate shares created without the explicit knowledge or approval of the underlying company.
Market experts and former regulators warn that proliferating unauthorized tokens across decentralized networks could create severe logistical headaches for public companies attempting to administer dividends or accurately tally shareholder votes.
SEC Chair Paul Atkins had previously championed the proposal as a regulatory sandbox intended to integrate blockchain technology into mainstream equities.
Tencent’s TenPay Global expands Central Asia payment network
Tencent Holdings’ (OTC Pink:TCEHY,HKEX:0700) cross-border payment platform, TenPay Global, is expanding its payment network across Central Asia following a newly signed memorandum of understanding with the Kyrgyz Republic’s Eldik Bank.
Unveiled at the 10th Silk Road International Expo in Xi’an, the agreement builds upon a recent strategic partnership with Uzbekistan’s HUMO Pay. The initiative aims to connect regional Central Asian payment networks directly to the Weixin Pay merchant network by utilizing China’s central bank-backed Cross-Border Interconnection Payment Gateway (CPG).
This integration allows international travelers and business visitors to seamlessly conduct transactions in China by scanning Weixin Pay QR codes with their existing domestic digital wallets, eliminating the need to download new applications.
Tencent has now successfully connected 36 e-wallets across 13 distinct countries and regions.
Don’t forget to follow us @INN_Technology for real-time news updates!
Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.
Editorial Disclosure: The Investing News Network does not guarantee the accuracy or thoroughness of the information reported in the interviews it conducts. The opinions expressed in these interviews do not reflect the opinions of the Investing News Network and do not constitute investment advice. All readers are encouraged to perform their own due diligence.
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