

Bitcoin mining stocks are back in focus, and this time the rally is not just about the price of Bitcoin. A wave of corporate announcements from major industry players is giving investors a new narrative to work with, one centered on data centers, artificial intelligence, and long term infrastructure plays.
Two companies in particular, Riot Platforms and Galaxy Digital, helped spark renewed interest across the sector after unveiling ambitious plans tied to Texas based operations. The moves highlight how crypto miners are quietly reshaping themselves as broader digital infrastructure companies.
Mining equities tend to act like leveraged bets on Bitcoin, and recent price action has followed that familiar script. As Bitcoin pushed higher and held key levels, stocks tied to the mining ecosystem responded quickly. Names like Riot Platforms, Marathon Digital, CleanSpark, Hive Digital, and Bitfarms all saw renewed buying interest.
But this rally looks different from past cycles. Instead of focusing purely on hash rate growth or fleet upgrades, investors are paying closer attention to balance sheets, power access, and how miners are positioning themselves beyond block rewards. The sector is increasingly being viewed through the same lens as energy infrastructure and data center operators.
Riot Platforms (Nasdaq: RIOT) delivered one of the more consequential announcements. The company revealed a long term lease agreement with AMD that will bring a significant data center tenant to Riot’s Rockdale, Texas site.
Under the deal, Riot will provide 25 megawatts of capacity to AMD under an initial 10 year contract worth at least $311 million with further extension options that could boost spending to $1 billion. Potentially scaling into the hundreds of megawatts if demand grows.
For Riot, the deal is about more than headline revenue. It is a signal to the market that its infrastructure has value beyond Bitcoin mining. The company owns large tracts of land, controls substantial power capacity, and now has proof that major technology firms are willing to commit capital to those assets.
Investors reacted accordingly. Riot shares moved higher, up more than 14% on Friday trading, following the announcement as markets began to reassess the company not just as a miner, but as a data center landlord with optionality tied to AI and high performance computing.
Galaxy Digital Holdings (Nasdaq: GLXY) is taking a similar path, but on a much larger scale. The company is pushing ahead with plans to transform its Helios site in Texas into one of the largest AI and high performance computing campuses in North America.
Originally built with Bitcoin mining in mind, the Helios campus is being reimagined as a multi gigawatt data center hub. Galaxy has lined up major financing, private investment, and long term leasing commitments from AI focused cloud providers to make the vision real.
If fully built out, the site could support several gigawatts of capacity and generate recurring revenue that dwarfs traditional mining income. For Galaxy, this represents a pivot away from the boom and bust nature of crypto markets toward something closer to a regulated infrastructure business.
The market response has been mixed but attentive. While Galaxy shares remain volatile, investors appear increasingly willing to assign value to the long term cash flow potential of the Helios project, Galaxy shares were up over 6% on the day to $34, following a 13% rally on Thursday. The stock is now up about 57% year-to-date.
Taken together, the Riot and Galaxy announcements point to a broader transformation underway in crypto mining. Rising competition, higher network difficulty, and the effects of Bitcoin’s halving cycle are pushing miners to look for steadier revenue streams.
Access to cheap power and large scale land holdings are turning out to be valuable assets beyond mining. AI workloads, cloud computing, and enterprise data services are all competing for the same infrastructure that miners already operate.
For public market investors, this creates a new way to think about mining stocks. They are no longer just proxies for Bitcoin price action. In some cases, they are becoming hybrid plays on energy, data centers, and next generation computing.
Mining stocks in general are up significantly compared to other crypto-related public companies on Friday. IREN is up 12.8%, Cypher 8%, and MARA 6%, for example, while RIOT, leading the pack, is approaching a multi-year high.
The recent rally in mining stocks suggests markets are starting to price in these shifts. Bitcoin’s price still matters, but it is no longer the only story. Corporate strategy, infrastructure quality, and long term contracts are beginning to carry more weight.
If the trend continues, the next phase of the crypto mining industry may look less like a speculative arms race and more like a battle to become essential digital infrastructure providers. For now, investors appear willing to give the sector another look, especially when miners start acting a little more like data center companies and a little less like pure crypto bets.
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X is getting ready to roll out something called Smart Cashtags, and while the feature sounds minor on the surface, it could change how people follow crypto markets day to day.
Cashtags are already familiar to anyone who spends time on crypto Twitter. Add a dollar sign in front of a ticker like $BTC or $ETH and the platform turns it into a clickable reference tied to ongoing conversations. It has always been useful for tracking sentiment, but not particularly helpful if you actually want to know what the market is doing in that moment.
Smart Cashtags are meant to fix that.
Instead of just linking to a stream of posts, the upgraded version will surface live prices, basic performance data, and charts directly in the feed. The idea is simple: if people are talking about a token, you should be able to see what it is doing without leaving the timeline.
For a platform where crypto narratives often move faster than prices themselves, that shift matters.
Crypto trading already lives on X. News breaks there. Narratives form there. Panic and euphoria show up there first. What has been missing is the data itself.
Smart Cashtags bring that data closer to the conversation.
The feature was announced by Nikita Bier, who is Head of Product at X, saying it will convert posts into live market data entry points.
When someone mentions a token using a cashtag, the platform will recognize the asset and display up to date pricing alongside the post. Tapping the tag is expected to open more context, recent price moves, charts, and related discussion, all in one place.
It reduces the constant app hopping that most traders know too well. Instead of checking a charting app, then jumping back to X to see what people are saying, everything shows up together.
Over time, that could subtly change how people consume market information. The feed becomes less of a rumor mill and more of a lightweight market view.
Crypto is unusually sensitive to social momentum. A token can start trending hours before volume shows up. A single viral post can spark a rally or accelerate a selloff.
Putting price data directly next to those conversations tightens that feedback loop.
A trader scrolling their timeline might see a surge in posts about a token at the same moment the price is breaking out. The same dynamic works in reverse during downturns. That kind of visibility favors speed and awareness, especially for retail traders who do not live inside professional trading dashboards.
It also lowers the barrier to entry. You do not need to know where to look or which tools to use. The information comes to you as part of the conversation.
That accessibility cuts both ways. More visibility can mean better context, but it can also amplify emotional reactions during volatile moments.
Smart Cashtags are not just about showing a price number.
One of the quieter improvements is accuracy. Crypto tickers can be messy. Different tokens share similar symbols, and some symbols overlap with stocks or other assets. Smart Cashtags are expected to better identify and map posts to the correct asset, reducing confusion and mislabeling.
That matters more as crypto bleeds into traditional finance, with tokenized assets, ETFs, and crossover tickers becoming more common.
This is also not X’s first step into market data. Earlier versions of cashtags already offered limited chart previews through external integrations. Those features felt bolted on. Smart Cashtags move the data front and center, making it part of the native experience instead of a side panel.
Embedding live prices into social feeds is not risk free.
If data is delayed or inaccurate, misinformation spreads faster. When price movements and social reactions are displayed together, markets can become more reflexive. Trends may accelerate, and herd behavior could become more pronounced, especially in smaller or thinner markets.
There is also the question of incentives. Once price data lives inside the feed, it opens the door to monetization, premium analytics, or trading integrations. None of that has been formally announced, but the direction is hard to ignore.
Smart Cashtags fit neatly into X’s broader ambitions. The platform has been inching toward financial services, payments, and creator driven monetization for some time. Turning the feed into a place where financial data lives alongside conversation feels like a natural extension, and ultimately leads toward X becoming the everything app.
For crypto specifically, it reinforces X’s position as the main arena where narratives meet price action. It is not a trading terminal, but it does not need to be. Influence often matters more than precision.
Smart Cashtags may look like a small product update, but they point to something bigger.
By putting live crypto prices directly into the timeline, X is collapsing the distance between sentiment and market reality. For traders, builders, and casual observers alike, that could change how quickly ideas turn into action.
Whether it leads to better informed decisions or faster hype cycles will depend on how it is used. Either way, crypto conversations on X are about to feel a lot closer to the market itself.
You can stay up to date on all News, Events, and Marketing of Rare Network, including Rare Evo: America’s Premier Blockchain Conference, happening July 28th-31st, 2026 at The ARIA Resort & Casino, by following our socials on X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Bitcoin is waking up to a market that feels unusually fragile.
Price itself looks calm enough. The range has been tight, daily swings have been muted, and nothing on the surface screams urgency. But anyone paying attention to today’s calendar knows this kind of calm can disappear quickly.
Several macro events are stacked into the U.S. session, all tied to interest rates, inflation, and risk appetite. When those forces collide, Bitcoin rarely sits still.
This is shaping up to be one of those days where volatility does not need a single dramatic headline. It just needs friction.
The first real test arrives early, when U.S. jobs data hits the tape around the start of the New York session.
Employment numbers still carry outsized influence over markets. They shape expectations around how tight financial conditions will remain and how much flexibility the Federal Reserve really has. Bitcoin has become increasingly sensitive to these shifts, especially when liquidity is thin.
The initial reaction is often fast and emotional. Sometimes it sticks. Sometimes it fades within minutes. Either way, it tends to wake the market up.
From there, the morning does not get any simpler.
As the session develops, attention turns to Washington. A Supreme Court ruling related to tariffs is expected during the late morning hours. While not crypto-specific, tariff decisions feed directly into inflation assumptions, and inflation is still one of the most important variables in global markets.
Around the same window, a Federal Reserve official is scheduled to speak. That overlap matters. When legal decisions, inflation narratives, and Fed messaging collide, markets can struggle to find a clean interpretation. Bitcoin often reflects that confusion in real time.
What makes today feel different is not just the events themselves, but how close together they land.
Bitcoin thrives on liquidity and clear narratives. Days like this offer neither. Instead, traders are forced to process multiple signals that may not point in the same direction.
That is when volatility tends to rise.
A strong jobs report followed by cautious Fed language. A soft report paired with inflation concerns. Even outcomes that are mostly expected can trigger sharp moves if positioning is wrong.
Bitcoin does not need certainty to move. It needs imbalance.
Another reason this day feels risky is what has been happening quietly in the background.
Spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen periods of outflows recently, reducing a layer of steady demand that helped stabilize price during previous pullbacks. With that cushion thinner, price reacts more aggressively to macro headlines.
That cuts both ways. Breakouts can extend faster. Pullbacks can feel heavier. The same headline that barely moved Bitcoin a month ago can suddenly matter a lot more.
If Bitcoin survives the morning without a major break, it would not be surprising to see price settle into a narrow range through the middle of the day.
That lull can be deceptive.
Often, midday calm simply reflects traders waiting for confirmation, not confidence that the danger has passed. Volatility can resurface later as markets digest positioning data and prepare for the next global session.
Bitcoin has a habit of making its real move when attention starts to drift.
Recent price action tells a familiar story. Bitcoin has struggled to push decisively higher, but sellers have not taken control either. The result is a compressed range that feels increasingly unstable.
Historically, these conditions do not resolve gently.
When volatility returns after a long period of compression, it tends to overshoot. Direction is still uncertain, but movement feels inevitable.
This is not about predicting whether Bitcoin goes up or down today. It is about recognizing the environment.
Macro pressure is building. Liquidity is thinner. Volatility has been suppressed for too long. And the calendar is packed with catalysts that can disrupt the balance.
For traders, today is about staying alert, not getting comfortable.
For long-term holders, it is another reminder that Bitcoin often chooses moments like this to reassert its personality.
The market may look calm right now, but we'll see how the day plays out. Jobs reports, Supreme Court decisions, and Fed Talks should make it very interesting either way.
You can stay up to date on all News, Events, and Marketing of Rare Network, including Rare Evo: America’s Premier Blockchain Conference, happening July 28th-31st, 2026 at The ARIA Resort & Casino, by following our socials on X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Florida lawmakers are once again taking up the question of whether the state should hold Bitcoin as part of its long-term financial strategy, reviving a proposal that failed to advance last year but now returns with a revised structure and new momentum.
The effort comes as crypto markets have stabilized after a volatile stretch, with Bitcoin regaining ground and institutional interest continuing to grow. Against that backdrop, Florida’s move places it back into a widening national debate over whether digital assets belong on government balance sheets.
At the center of the push is House Bill 1039, filed during the 2026 legislative session, which would establish a Florida Strategic Cryptocurrency Reserve.
House Bill 1039 proposes creating a standalone reserve fund held outside the State Treasury and overseen by Florida’s Chief Financial Officer. The CFO would be granted authority to acquire, hold, sell, or manage digital assets under prudent investment standards, including the ability to contract with third-party custodians and service providers.
While the bill is written broadly, it sets strict eligibility rules for any asset included in the reserve. To qualify, a cryptocurrency must have maintained an average market capitalization of at least $500 billion over the prior two years. Based on current market conditions, that threshold effectively limits the reserve to Bitcoin.
The legislation also establishes a Strategic Cryptocurrency Reserve Advisory Committee, designed to provide guidance and oversight. At least three members would be required to have direct experience investing in digital assets, acknowledging the technical and operational complexity involved in managing crypto at the state level.
If passed, the bill would take effect on July 1, 2026.
Florida’s renewed push follows the collapse of similar efforts during the 2025 legislative session. Those earlier proposals would have allowed the state to allocate up to 10 percent of certain public funds directly into Bitcoin but were ultimately withdrawn before a final vote.
Another bill introduced around the same time would have gone even further, authorizing the CFO and the State Board of Administration to invest portions of public and pension funds into Bitcoin, crypto exchange-traded products, tokenized securities, and non-fungible tokens. That proposal included detailed custody and compliance provisions but also failed to gain enough traction to advance.
This year’s bill reflects a more cautious approach. By placing the reserve outside the main treasury and narrowing eligible assets, lawmakers appear to be trying to strike a balance between experimentation and risk control.
The timing of Florida’s move is notable. Bitcoin prices have rebounded from earlier lows, and digital assets are increasingly being discussed in the context of long-term portfolio diversification rather than short-term speculation. Exchange-traded products, corporate treasury allocations, and broader institutional adoption have shifted how policymakers frame the asset.
Florida is not alone. Texas moved ahead last year with legislation establishing a state-managed Bitcoin reserve funded with public dollars, making it the most aggressive example so far of a U.S. state embracing Bitcoin at an institutional level. Other states, including Arizona and New Hampshire, have passed narrower frameworks that stop short of direct funding.
Many similar proposals across the country have stalled, underscoring how politically sensitive the issue remains.
Supporters of Florida’s proposal argue that a Bitcoin reserve could help diversify state assets, hedge against inflation, and position Florida as a forward-looking financial hub. They also point to the advisory committee and high eligibility threshold as safeguards against reckless exposure.
Critics continue to raise concerns about volatility, custody risks, and the appropriateness of using public funds for an asset that can swing sharply in value. Questions about accounting standards, security practices, and public accountability are expected to feature prominently as the bill moves through committee hearings.
House Bill 1039 must clear multiple legislative hurdles, including committee review, passage in both chambers, and approval by the governor. While its future remains uncertain, the proposal signals that Florida lawmakers are not ready to abandon the idea of state-level crypto reserves.
As more governments revisit Bitcoin through a policy lens rather than a speculative one, Florida’s debate could offer a clearer picture of how digital assets fit into the next phase of public finance.
You can stay up to date on all News, Events, and Marketing of Rare Network, including Rare Evo: America’s Premier Blockchain Conference, happening July 28th-31st, 2026 at The ARIA Resort & Casino, by following our socials on X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

Rumble has been talking for years about building an alternative to YouTube. With the launch of its new crypto wallet, it is now making a serious attempt to rethink how creators actually get paid.
The company has rolled out Rumble Wallet, a built-in, non-custodial wallet that lets viewers tip creators directly in Bitcoin, USDT, and Tether Gold. The wallet is integrated into the Rumble platform itself, meaning users do not have to leave the site or rely on third-party payment tools to support creators.
On paper, it looks like a tipping feature. In reality, it is closer to a payments strategy.
Rumble Wallet allows users to hold crypto and send it directly to creators inside the platform. The wallet is non-custodial, which means users control their own funds rather than handing custody to Rumble.
At launch, the wallet supports three assets. Bitcoin provides the recognizable flagship. USDT offers price stability for users and creators who do not want volatility. Tether Gold adds a more niche option, but one that fits Rumble’s broader narrative around alternatives to traditional finance.
MoonPay is handling the fiat on and off ramps, which matters more than it might sound. Without that bridge, crypto tipping stays limited to users who already hold tokens. With it, Rumble can realistically target a much wider audience.
Many platforms have tried tipping. Few have tried wallets.
A tipping button is a feature layered on top of an existing system. A wallet becomes part of the system itself. Once users hold value inside the platform, the possibilities expand quickly.
A native wallet opens the door to subscriptions, paywalled content, creator payouts, merch payments, and cross-border transfers that do not depend on banks or card networks. It also shifts leverage. Instead of creators relying on ad revenue or platform-controlled payouts, they can receive funds directly from their audience.
Rumble appears to be aiming for exactly that. Control the wallet, and you control the flow of value across the platform.
Tether’s role here goes well beyond providing a stablecoin.
The wallet is built using Tether’s wallet infrastructure tooling, positioning Rumble as an early, high-profile example of how Tether wants its technology used. This fits neatly with Tether’s broader strategy of moving downstream, not just issuing tokens but embedding them directly into consumer products.
There is also a financial alignment. Tether has already invested heavily in Rumble, and this wallet turns that relationship into something tangible. Rumble gets infrastructure and liquidity. Tether gets distribution inside a large, consumer-facing platform.
From Tether’s perspective, a wallet embedded into a video platform is far more powerful than another exchange listing.
Creators have spent years complaining about monetization. Ad revenue is unpredictable. Platform rules change. Payouts can be delayed, reversed, or cut off entirely.
Crypto does not magically solve those problems, but it offers a different model. Direct payments. Faster settlement. Global reach. Fewer intermediaries.
Stablecoins like USDT are especially practical here. They reduce volatility while keeping payments digital and borderless. For international creators or audiences outside major banking systems, that matters.
If Rumble can make tipping and payments feel normal, not like a crypto experiment, it gives creators a reason to treat the platform as more than a backup distribution channel.
Adoption will matter more than announcements. If tipping remains niche, the wallet is a branding move. If it becomes common behavior, it changes how Rumble makes money.
The first signal will be usage. Are creators actually receiving tips at scale, or is this limited to a small crypto-native subset?
The second is expansion. A wallet built only for tips leaves value on the table. Subscriptions, gated content, and commerce feel like natural next steps.
The third is competition. If Rumble proves crypto payments can work at scale inside a video platform, larger players will take notice.
Rumble Wallet is not just a crypto feature. It is an attempt to rebuild creator monetization around direct payments rather than ads and intermediaries.
If it works, it offers a glimpse of how social platforms could operate when payments are native, programmable, and global by default. If it fails, it will still serve as one of the clearest real-world tests of crypto’s promise in the creator economy so far.
Either way, it shows that the next phase of crypto adoption may not come from trading apps, but from where people already spend their time online.


Crypto enters 2026 without the drama that once defined the start of a new year. Prices are steady but not euphoric. The timelines are calmer. The noise has faded. And yet, beneath that surface calm, the industry feels more focused and more self-assured than it has in a long time.
This does not feel like a market losing relevance. It feels like one that has stopped trying to prove itself every day.
After a tough reset in 2025, crypto is no longer driven by momentum alone. It is being shaped by infrastructure, regulation, and a growing sense that digital assets are slowly becoming part of the financial background rather than a constant headline.
The pullback that closed out 2025 forced a hard reset across the industry. Excess leverage was flushed out. Projects built purely on narrative struggled to survive. Capital became more cautious, and in many cases, more serious.
Entering 2026, the market feels leaner and more selective. Bitcoin and Ethereum remain central, not because they promise overnight gains, but because they sit at the core of a system that is gradually being integrated into global finance.
Volatility has not disappeared, but it feels more tied to real catalysts. Flows, macro conditions, regulatory developments. This is no longer a market reacting to every rumor or viral post.
For investors who think in cycles rather than weeks, this is often the phase where foundations quietly form.
Institutional involvement is no longer a future narrative. It is an active force shaping how crypto evolves.
ETFs, custody platforms, tokenized funds, and on chain settlement tools are becoming familiar concepts inside traditional finance. What stands out is how little of this activity is happening in public. Much of it is operational, slow, and deliberate.
That shift is noticeable at industry conferences and in private meetings. The energy is different. Fewer grand predictions. More conversations about compliance, liquidity, risk frameworks, and long term deployment. More handshakes, fewer hype decks.
Institutions do not move quickly, but when they start building infrastructure, they tend to stay.
Regulation is still controversial, but the tone has softened. Clearer rules are beginning to replace uncertainty, especially around stablecoins, custody, and reporting.
For many market participants, this clarity is not restrictive. It is enabling. It allows companies to plan, investors to allocate, and builders to focus on execution instead of interpretation.
Crypto does not need to be unregulated to grow. It needs to be understood. 2026 feels like a step in that direction.
One of the strongest signals for crypto’s future is how little attention some of its most important developments receive.
Stablecoins are increasingly used for payments and settlement, especially in cross border contexts where traditional systems are slow and expensive. This is not a speculative use case. It is a practical one.
Tokenization is following a similar path. Real world assets like funds, bonds, and private credit are being tested on chain. The goal is efficiency, transparency, and liquidity, not buzz.
These are the kinds of changes that rarely reverse once they gain traction.
DeFi is no longer trying to reinvent finance overnight. It is focusing on doing specific things better. Automation, interoperability, and capital efficiency are the priorities now.
AI, meanwhile, is becoming part of the background. It shows up in analytics, trading strategies, monitoring tools, and security systems. Less hype, more utility.
This maturation may feel less exciting, but it is exactly what long term systems tend to look like before they scale.
Crypto in 2026 does not feel like a peak. It feels like a setup.
Builders are still building, even without constant attention. Institutions are committing resources, not just headlines. Regulators are engaging instead of reacting. Investors are meeting in person again, comparing notes, and thinking beyond the next quarter.
The industry feels more grounded, but also more aligned.
What makes 2026 particularly interesting is not what happens this year, but what it enables next.
If infrastructure continues to solidify, regulation continues to clarify, and real usage keeps expanding, crypto may enter its next growth phase from a position of strength rather than speculation. The next cycle, whenever it arrives, is likely to be driven less by hype and more by inevitability.
Markets tend to move fastest when most people are no longer watching closely. Crypto may be entering that phase now.
It does not need to shout. It just needs to keep working.
And if it does, the years beyond 2026 may end up being the ones that finally justify everything that came before.
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The crypto market has seen a sharp rise in volatility and price movement, with Bitcoin and Ethereum leading the rally. This surge has not come out of nowhere. It is tied closely to speculation surrounding the latest Federal Open Market Committee decision. As traders positioned themselves for potential changes in U.S. monetary policy, the crypto market responded with a wave of buying, short liquidations, and renewed bullish sentiment.
The move is another clear example of how deeply connected crypto has become to broader macroeconomic conditions.
In the days leading up to the meeting, expectations grew that the Federal Reserve might soften its stance on interest rates. Even the possibility of a rate cut or a more dovish tone tends to shift investors toward higher risk assets. Crypto is usually among the first to react.
Lower interest rates reduce the appeal of cash and bonds, while making speculative and growth oriented assets more attractive. That dynamic has long played out in equities. Now it is becoming increasingly visible in crypto as well.
Bitcoin and Ethereum both climbed into short term highs before the decision. As prices moved up, heavily leveraged short positions began to unwind. This added fuel to the rally as forced liquidations pushed prices even higher. It was a feedback loop that often appears during major macro events and is especially common in the crypto market due to its high leverage environment.

Even though crypto operates independently of government control, the industry still reacts strongly to the tone and trajectory of central bank policy.
A few things are becoming clear:
Traders treat FOMC guidance as a direct indicator of risk sentiment.
Expectations alone can drive price action before the decision is released.
Liquidity conditions continue to shape the strength of crypto market rebounds.
Bitcoin and Ethereum are increasingly acting like macro assets rather than purely speculative ones.
As the market leaned toward a more accommodative outlook, traders began rotating capital back into large cap cryptocurrencies. Bitcoin and Ethereum benefited the most, but the effect spilled into altcoins as well.
Short term, this created a volatile environment. Longer term, it signals a deeper connection between crypto and global financial cycles.
While investors always react to big economic events, this moment feels different. The alignment of easing inflation, slower economic pressure, and the possibility of rate cuts creates a setup where risk assets could see more sustained inflows.
Crypto is no longer operating separately from traditional finance. If liquidity improves across the economy, that liquidity tends to find its way into high growth and high volatility markets. Bitcoin and Ethereum fit that profile perfectly.
This raises a question that many in the industry are now considering. Is this the beginning of a broader shift where crypto consistently responds to macro cycles the same way equities and bonds do?
If so, price behavior may become more predictable around central bank events than it was in the early years of the industry.
If the Fed follows a path of easing or signals greater flexibility, crypto markets could experience a sustained wave of inflows.
Investors may shift back toward risk, viewing Bitcoin and Ethereum as core components of a diversified macro portfolio.
Lower interest rates increase liquidity across financial markets, which historically supports larger moves in non traditional assets.
A clearer link between crypto and macro conditions could attract more institutional traders who specialize in macro driven strategies.
If the Fed holds rates higher for longer or delivers a hawkish message, the market could see an immediate reversal.
Liquidations can cut both ways. The same leverage that amplifies rallies can intensify declines.
Uncertainty in global markets, geopolitical pressure, or a sudden risk off event could stall any recovery.
Crypto may remain highly sensitive to macro shifts, reducing the independence that once drove speculative surges.
This moment serves as a reminder that crypto does not move in isolation. Bitcoin and Ethereum now sit within the larger financial ecosystem. When central bank policy shifts, these assets feel the impact quickly. That connection is growing stronger, not weaker.
For traders, FOMC weeks will continue to be periods of heightened volatility. Positioning before and after the decision may offer opportunities, but it also increases risk.
For long term investors, understanding macro cycles is becoming just as important as understanding blockchain fundamentals.
For the market as a whole, this could signal a shift toward a more mature ecosystem. If crypto continues to move with global financial cycles, it may attract more institutional interest, more capital, and more stability over time.
The surge before the FOMC decision is not just another short term rally. It is a signal of where the market is heading and how interconnected crypto has become with traditional finance.
You can stay up to date on all News, Events, and Marketing of Rare Network, including Rare Evo: America’s Premier Blockchain Conference, happening July 28th-31st, 2026 at The ARIA Resort & Casino, by following our socials on X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.

The crypto industry is moving into a new phase, and Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan believes the shift is much larger than the market realizes. His view is that the combination of regulatory changes, institutional interest, and the rise of on chain financial infrastructure is creating an environment that could redefine how global markets function.
What is striking is not just his optimism, but the level of detail behind it. Hougan is not talking about the next bull run or a temporary upswing. He is talking about a structural change that could reshape how assets move and how financial services are delivered.
For years, regulation has been the main obstacle standing between crypto and traditional finance. That has started to change in a very real way. In a recent address, Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Paul Atkins presented a plan known informally as Project Crypto. Instead of focusing primarily on enforcement, the initiative outlines a path for integrating traditional markets with public blockchains.
Hougan called this the most optimistic regulatory stance he has ever seen and said it forced him to revise not just the scale of crypto’s potential, but the timeline as well. His point is straightforward. The market has not fully absorbed what a cooperative regulatory regime could unlock. Investors have priced in caution for so long that they have not adjusted to the possibility of acceleration.
Hougan identifies three categories where he sees the strongest potential.
1. Layer 1 blockchains and core crypto networks.
If financial activity continues to move on chain, the blockchains that support settlement, tokenization, stablecoins, and decentralized financial rails could see massive growth. Hougan mentions networks like Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, Avalanche, Aptos, Sui, NEAR and others. His view is that the right approach is not to pick a single winner, but to build a diversified basket of networks that are gaining real world usage.
2. Decentralized finance protocols.
With clearer regulatory treatment, DeFi could move from a niche set of applications to the backbone of a new financial system. Protocols that automate trading, lending, borrowing, derivatives, and stablecoin issuance could scale far beyond their current user base. Hougan believes that once regulatory friction drops, institutional participation could flow in rapidly.
3. Financial super apps.
This is one of the most ambitious parts of the projection. Hougan believes new platforms will combine traditional finance and crypto into a single interface. Instead of having brokerage accounts in one place, bank accounts in another, and crypto apps somewhere else, users could interact with all financial assets through one unified system. He thinks a company in this category could become the largest financial services firm in the world, potentially passing a one trillion dollar valuation.
Hougan has consistently argued that crypto could deliver ten to twenty times growth over the next decade. His reasoning is not based on hype. It is based on the idea that crypto is entering a period where cycles driven by halving events or speculative trading matter less than structural factors. He believes the “four year cycle” narrative has lost relevance. What now matters is the maturation of the asset class and the integration of crypto with global finance.
In his view, the size of the market today reflects years of hesitation driven by legal uncertainty. Once that uncertainty lifts, capital could move faster than analysts expect. Institutions that have been watching from the sidelines may feel more comfortable allocating real budget to crypto infrastructure, tokens, or tokenized assets.
There is no guarantee that the optimistic scenario plays out. Hougan acknowledges both sides.
What could go right:
Regulatory clarity could remove the largest barrier to institutional adoption.
Layer 1 networks with real usage could become the settlement layers of a digital financial system.
Super apps could reduce friction for everyday users, pulling millions more into on chain ecosystems.
The industry could attract capital at a scale closer to major traditional asset classes.
What could go wrong:
Regulatory implementation may move slower than expected, or shift again under new political leadership.
Some networks or protocols may fail to scale, or may lose out to competitors.
Macroeconomic conditions could suppress risk assets even if fundamentals improve.
Volatility could remain a psychological barrier for mainstream investors.
If Hougan is right, the industry is not just entering a new market cycle. It is entering the early stages of a long transformation in how financial markets operate. Investors who once tried to time cycles may need to rethink their approach and focus more on diversified exposure to infrastructure. Builders may find themselves working in an environment that is more supportive than anything they have experienced so far. Policymakers may influence the shape of global finance for decades based on decisions they make in the next few years.
It is possible that crypto still has years of volatility ahead. It is also possible that the industry is standing on the edge of the most meaningful phase of its development. Hougan’s message is that the market may be thinking too small. He believes the shift underway is not incremental. It is transformative.
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In early December 2025, Indiana surprised a lot of people by stepping directly into the world of digital assets. A new proposal, House Bill 1042, was introduced by state representative Kyle Pierce, and it does something pretty groundbreaking. It requires public retirement programs to offer crypto linked exchange traded funds, or ETFs, as part of their standard investment lineup.
This means that many public employees, including teachers, government workers, and possibly police and firefighters, would now see crypto related funds sitting right next to traditional retirement options. Instead of crypto being something you explore on your own, Indiana wants it to be a normal part of the overall retirement system.
The bill also outlines a set of protections for everyday crypto users. It limits how much local governments can restrict or interfere with digital asset activity. That includes mining, payments, self custody, and private wallet use. Unless restrictions also apply to traditional financial assets, cities and counties would not be allowed to single out crypto for special limitations.
If this becomes law, Indiana would be the first state in the country to require Bitcoin linked ETFs in public pension systems. That alone sets a bold precedent for how states might approach retirement investing in the future.
Indiana might feel like it is out ahead, but the move fits into a larger trend. Several other states have already been exploring crypto exposure in different ways.
For example, some states have passed laws allowing retirement systems to purchase Bitcoin ETFs. Others have focused more on legal protections, such as protecting self custody, clarifying how digital assets are classified, or encouraging blockchain adoption within government departments.
What makes Indiana stand out is not the idea of crypto exposure itself, but the fact that the bill attempts to make it a standard part of public retirement offerings. This goes beyond optional access and moves toward normalizing crypto as a core part of long term, institutional investing.
Backers of House Bill 1042 believe this is simply a reflection of financial reality. Crypto is becoming a bigger part of the global economy, and Indiana residents should have access to it in the same way they do to other investments.
Supporters argue that this gives people more financial flexibility, especially younger workers who want exposure to assets they believe will appreciate over the next several decades. They also point out that Bitcoin ETFs remove much of the risk and complexity of direct crypto ownership, since they function inside the regulated ETF structure.
The bill also proposes pilot programs to test blockchain technology within state agencies. That includes using distributed ledgers for record keeping, identity management, and improving government transparency and efficiency. Supporters say this could modernize the way public systems operate.
Not everyone is excited about crypto appearing in pension plans. Critics bring up several concerns.
One of the biggest issues is volatility. Cryptocurrencies can swing up or down rapidly, and pension systems are normally built around stability and long term reliability. Some people worry that exposing retirement funds to such unpredictable markets may not serve the best interests of retirees.
There are also questions about long term regulation. National rules around crypto continue to shift, and that uncertainty could create complications for publicly managed funds. Critics say lawmakers should move slowly and avoid building pension plans around assets that still feel risky to many households.
Another concern is whether the state should be responsible for promoting exposure to crypto at all. Some people feel that these decisions should be optional and entirely individual, rather than part of a default menu in a public benefits system.
If Indiana does pass House Bill 1042, the impact could go far beyond state borders.
It would accelerate the mainstream acceptance of crypto within public institutions. At the same time, it would create a legal framework that protects wallet access, mining, payments, and self custody rights. That combination of investment access and personal rights could easily serve as a template for other states.
It also encourages conversation about what public retirement investing should look like in the future. Some believe this is an opportunity for long term growth. Others feel the risks are too high. Either way, the bill forces the debate into the spotlight.
There are several things worth paying attention to in the months ahead.
First, lawmakers may modify the bill. They could adjust the requirement to offer crypto ETFs or turn it into an optional feature instead. They might also place limits on how much of a pension portfolio can be allocated to digital asset funds.
Second, pay attention to how pension administrators respond. Even if the bill passes, the practical process of integrating crypto ETFs will require careful planning.
Third, other states may begin crafting similar laws. Indiana’s move could spark a wave of legislative activity across the country as states look at whether they want to follow the same path.
Finally, federal regulatory changes will play a major role. As national crypto rules evolve, they could strengthen or weaken the long term viability of crypto pension investments.
Indiana’s proposal captures a pivotal moment in the evolution of digital assets. Crypto is no longer viewed as a fringe experiment. It is now part of serious, institutional conversation. Whether this turns out to be a smart long term shift or an overly ambitious leap is something only time will reveal, but it is clear that the landscape of public finance is changing quickly.


If you’ve been watching the crypto market lately, it has not felt great. Bitcoin dipping into the low 90s usually sparks panic, threads full of doom and plenty of “it’s over” takes. But this time, the headlines do not tell the full story. Something different is happening underneath the surface. Something that actually looks pretty promising.
A few major shifts are lining up at once, and together they point in one direction.
We might be closing out the long, grinding downtrend that has weighed on crypto for nearly two years.
The Federal Reserve formally ended quantitative tightening on Dec. 1, coinciding with the New York Fed conducting approximately $25 billion in morning repo operations and another $13.5 billion overnight, the largest injections that we've seen since 2020.
For years, crypto’s biggest obstacle has not been technology or innovation. It has been access. Most big financial institutions treated crypto like a guest they did not want at the party.
That wall is finally cracking.
The clearest sign is Vanguard, managing roughly $9 trillion to $10 trillion in assets, opened its brokerage platform to third-party crypto ETFs and mutual funds tied to BTC, ETH, XRP, and SOL for the first time, creating immediate demand pressure.
This is a firm that has historically avoided anything remotely risky. They did not just ignore crypto; they actively rejected it. And now they are letting clients buy regulated crypto ETFs through the same accounts they use for retirement and index funds.
That is not a small change. When a company managing trillions finally decides that crypto belongs on the menu, it means something fundamental has shifted.
Even if only a small percentage of Vanguard’s clients add exposure, it creates a slow, steady flow of long term capital. That type of investor does not FOMO in or panic out. They allocate, rebalance and hold. That is the kind of capital that helps stabilize a market.
You can talk narratives all day, and crypto certainly loves its narratives. But the thing that consistently moves this market more than anything else is global liquidity.
And for the first time in a long while, liquidity is starting to return. The era of aggressive tightening looks like it is ending. If central banks start easing, capital gets cheaper, markets loosen up and investors take on more risk. Crypto usually reacts quickly.
The money supply had been shrinking for months. Now those indicators are stabilizing and, in some cases, ticking upward.
Look back at previous bull runs. They did not start because of tweets or new coins. They all aligned with periods of easier monetary policy.
We are entering one of those periods again.
One of the underrated shifts happening right now is how investors access crypto.
Before ETFs, getting into Bitcoin or Ethereum meant dealing with exchanges, wallets, seed phrases and a bunch of complexity that ordinary investors simply did not want.
Now it is as simple as buying an index fund. ETFs are often part of automated portfolios. When crypto drops, the system buys more to rebalance. When it rises too fast, it trims. That smooths out volatility.
Investors trust the platforms they already use. If crypto is right there next to S&P 500 funds, the hesitation disappears. Those regulated products bring in the kind of capital that sticks around. Not tourists. Not gamblers. Long term investors.
This shift alone could reshape how crypto behaves during both rallies and corrections.
The last couple of years have been rough for risk assets across the board. Higher rates, reduced liquidity and tighter financial conditions made it hard for anything speculative to breathe. Crypto got hit hardest.
Now that cycle is ending.
When quantitative tightening slows, liquidity flows back into the system. Banks lend more. Investors take more risk. Capital moves faster. Crypto is one of the first beneficiaries because it lives so far out on the risk curve.
Put simply, crypto does not need a hype cycle to turn around. It needs liquidity.
And liquidity is finally returning.
People are tired. They are skeptical. And that is usually when markets quietly shift direction.
Think about the setup right now:
Institutions are entering.
ETFs are creating new pipelines.
Liquidity is stabilizing.
Rate cuts look increasingly likely.
Crypto is oversold and structurally stronger than it was in past cycles.
This is the kind of macro environment where bottoms form, often long before sentiment catches up.
Downtrends do not end on good news. They end when conditions change behind the scenes while everyone is too focused on the price chart.
That is what seems to be happening now.
The end of quantitative tightening is not just another headline. It is the kind of shift that has historically marked the beginning of major reversals in risk assets. And with crypto gaining easier access, stronger infrastructure and broader institutional acceptance, this could be the setup for something bigger than most people expect.
Crypto might not just recover.
It may be preparing for a stronger, more mature cycle than anything we have seen before.

For years, Vanguard was the holdout. While BlackRock, Fidelity and nearly every major brokerage warmed up to Bitcoin and other digital assets, Vanguard kept the door shut. The message was always the same. Crypto is too volatile, too speculative and not aligned with the firm’s long term investment philosophy.
But that chapter is officially over.
Vanguard has reversed course and will now allow its clients to buy regulated crypto exchange traded funds. Considering the firm manages nearly 11 trillion dollars for about 50 million people, this is not a small policy change. This is one of the biggest signals yet that crypto has crossed into the financial mainstream.
And honestly, it is about time.
Let’s make this simple. When a financial giant the size of Vanguard changes its mind, everyone else pays attention. Before this shift, millions of Vanguard clients who wanted crypto exposure had to open accounts elsewhere. Now they can invest in Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana and other major assets directly through the platform they already use for retirement accounts, tax advantaged portfolios and long term investing.
That convenience alone is enough to drive new inflows.
For years, Vanguard executives wrote off crypto as noise. They did not want to offer products that they viewed as speculative. Investors disagreed. Crypto ETFs brought regulatory clarity, and retail demand never really disappeared. Eventually, the disconnect became too large to ignore.
The firm is not rushing into anything, but it is acknowledging reality. Crypto is not going away.
Andrew Kadjeski, head of brokerage and investments at Vanguard, reportedly said:
“Cryptocurrency ETFs and mutual funds have been tested through periods of market volatility, performing as designed while maintaining liquidity. The administrative processes to service these types of funds have matured, and investor preferences continue to evolve.”
Once the most conservative player in the room changes its tune, excuses start to disappear. If Vanguard believes regulated crypto ETFs are fit for millions of retirement portfolios, it becomes harder for other institutions to argue otherwise.
This could spark a wave of copycat decisions across the finance industry.What makes Vanguard’s move important is not how fast new money will flow in, but how stable that money tends to be. Vanguard’s capital is not like hedge fund cash that races in and out of positions. It is not like retail trading either, where sentiment can change overnight. Vanguard clients invest steadily, hold for years and rarely chase price swings. That kind of capital is long term and sticky.
Take a simple example. If an investor uses a “60, 40, 1” portfolio split across stocks, bonds and crypto, the system automatically keeps those weights balanced. If Bitcoin or Solana drops, the portfolio buys more to restore the target 1 percent allocation. If crypto rises too quickly, it trims the position back down. Even that small allocation, repeated across millions of accounts, can have real impact. When a firm with trillions under management opens a new asset class to its clients, it is not a niche development. It creates a steady, predictable pipeline of investment.
And whether the crypto community likes it or not, mainstream validation matters. For many everyday investors, seeing Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs listed next to S&P 500 index funds or bond ETFs instantly reframes how they think about digital assets. Buying crypto through a familiar brokerage account removes friction. It removes fear. It lets people treat crypto like any other part of their long term portfolio. For many, a regulated ETF inside a retirement account is the safest and simplest way to get exposure. Vanguard recognizing this is a meaningful signal.
It is worth being clear. Vanguard is not becoming a crypto company overnight.
It will not launch its own crypto funds.
It will only list approved, regulated ETFs from other issuers.
It will not support speculative or meme based assets.
This is a cautious step, but it is still a big one. The firm has gone from “crypto is not welcome here” to “crypto is allowed if it is regulated, structured and aligned with long term investing.”
Crypto still carries real risk. Prices remain volatile. Regulations are evolving. Not every Vanguard customer will jump into digital assets, and that is perfectly fine. This move is about access, not pressure.
There is also the chance that Vanguard may expand slowly. It will likely start with a small list of ETFs and add more only after seeing how clients respond.
But the important part is that the door is open. Even a cautious opening is still an opening.
The truth is simple. Vanguard was one of the last major hurdles between crypto and true mainstream adoption. Now that barrier is gone.
This does not guarantee a bull market. It does not promise returns. But it does mark a new stage. Crypto now sits alongside traditional assets inside one of the most respected financial institutions in the world.
People who would never consider setting up a crypto exchange account can now invest in digital assets the same way they invest in index funds or bonds.
That is how real adoption grows. That is how new capital enters. And that is how crypto becomes part of normal investing instead of something people talk about from the sidelines.
Vanguard did not just allow crypto ETFs.
It helped legitimize the entire space.
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BlackRock, the largest asset manager in the world, has confirmed that its Bitcoin exchange traded funds have become its single most profitable product line. The company’s U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF, the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), along with related crypto investment offerings, now generate more annual revenue than any other BlackRock ETF category. This development signals a powerful shift in how traditional finance views crypto assets. Bitcoin is no longer at the fringe of the investment landscape. It is becoming a core part of institutional portfolios.
BlackRock launched IBIT in early 2024. In less than two years the fund surged to tens of billions of dollars in assets under management. IBIT’s fee revenue now rivals, and in many cases exceeds, long established equity and index funds that were once the backbone of BlackRock’s ETF business.
The growth was faster than almost any ETF in history. Internal reports also show that BlackRock’s own multi asset portfolios have increased their IBIT exposure over the past year, signaling strong conviction from the firm’s internal investment teams.
The message is clear. Bitcoin is not only an asset class investors want. It is an asset class that produces serious fee revenue for traditional institutions.
The overwhelming demand for Bitcoin exposure through regulated ETFs shows that the asset has crossed a threshold. For years it was considered too volatile or too risky for institutions. Now the largest asset manager on the planet is stating publicly that Bitcoin has become its most profitable ETF category. That represents a structural change.
This shift encourages pension funds, endowments and corporate treasuries to consider Bitcoin exposure through safe, regulated channels. It legitimizes the asset in ways no amount of marketing or evangelism could ever achieve.
For institutions, large inflows are only part of the story. Sustainable, recurring fee revenue is the real prize. Bitcoin ETFs are proving they can deliver consistent income to managers, something that reinforces long term commitment to the product line. This encourages competitors to join the market and expands access for investors.
When institutional inflows grow, liquidity becomes deeper and more stable. Bitcoin has historically suffered from sharp market swings amplified by retail activity. With more participation from institutional ETFs, price discovery becomes smoother and more efficient. This maturation attracts even more institutional participants.
As traditional finance embraces Bitcoin through regulated ETFs, crypto native platforms that previously benefited from being the main entry point into the ecosystem now face increased competition. Investors may favor regulated products, compelling exchanges and custodians to improve compliance, transparency and user protections.
Despite the momentum, several risks remain.
ETF inflows are sensitive to macroeconomic conditions. Periods of volatility can trigger outflows even for successful funds.
Regulatory changes remain a constant factor. Any shift in U.S. or international policy could affect accessibility and demand.
Concentration risk is increasing. If too much institutional capital is routed through a handful of ETFs, any operational issue could create market wide instability.
The infrastructure powering these funds, from custody to auditing, is still relatively new compared to traditional financial systems.
The crypto markets may be maturing, but they are not yet fully stable.
Given the trajectory, several outcomes appear increasingly likely:
More asset managers will expand their crypto ETF offerings to capture demand.
Bitcoin ETFs may find their way into pension fund models, sovereign wealth funds, and insurance allocation strategies.
New hybrid funds could emerge, combining Bitcoin with equities, commodities and fixed income into a diversified multi asset product.
As custodial technology matures, institutions will grow even more comfortable allocating large amounts of capital.
Regulatory clarity in major markets will continue to strengthen, reducing uncertainty and encouraging broader adoption.
In other words, Bitcoin is rapidly becoming intertwined with mainstream finance rather than existing apart from it.
BlackRock’s confirmation that Bitcoin ETFs are now its top revenue source represents a profound moment in financial history. For the first time a major global asset manager is not only offering Bitcoin exposure but generating more revenue from it than from any other ETF product. This is a powerful endorsement of Bitcoin’s staying power, its commercial viability and its growing role in global markets.
Skeptics who once dismissed Bitcoin as a passing trend may now find themselves reassessing their position. Institutions thrive on scale, predictability and revenue. Bitcoin ETFs are now providing all three.
This milestone signals that the era of institutional Bitcoin is not approaching. It is already here.