Bitcoin Stabilizes Above $94,000 While Ethereum Struggles to Maintain $1,800

The crypto market exhibits divergent trends as Bitcoin trades above $94,000 while Ethereum faces resistance at $1,800. Despite record

The cryptocurrency market displayed mixed signals on Friday morning, with Bitcoin continuing its march above $94,000 despite signs of weakness in Ethereum.

As the dust settles on a record inflow into Bitcoin ETFs, new data reveals that U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs saw massive inflows of $171 million over the past week. In stark contrast, Ethereum ETFs experienced outflows of $4 million during the same period.

This divergence in institutional interest might be linked to the macroeconomic environment. With uncertainty looming large, and President Donald Trump's decision to halt further reciprocal tariffs and revert to a 10% baseline for most countries (except China), investors appear to be seeking a hedge against inflation and economic instability.

In response to a question about Trump's actions, economist Saifedean Ammous, author of ‘The Bitcoin Standard,’ stated that it was most likely due to rising bond yields, adding that "Trump fought the bond market and the bond market won." He further highlighted Bitcoin's unique economic properties in a world characterized by uncertainty.

Highlighting the same, a new report by Unchained Capital pointed out that, in the history of the U.S. bond market, there has never been a sustained period of negative real yields for as long as the past two years.

"The implication is that bond investors are being forced to accept a return on their capital that is lower than the rate at which prices are rising in the market. In other words, bond investors are guaranteed to lose money in real terms if they hold bonds for any length of time," the report said.

However, in a surprising move, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Group announced its intention to introduce XRP futures contracts on May 19, offering investors the option of micro-sized contracts of 2,500 XRP or standard contracts of 50,000 XRP.

Each contract will be cash-settled, marking a significant step towards broader institutional adoption of cryptocurrency. The introduction of XRP futures follows the CME’s launch of Bitcoin futures in 2017 and Ethereum futures in February 2022.

Meanwhile, Strike creator Jack Mallers has launched Twenty One Capital, a new Bitcoin treasury firm designed to be a "superior vehicle for investors seeking capital-efficient Bitcoin exposure," an initiative that stands in contrast to Michael Saylor's Strategy.

With major funding from Tether, SoftBank, and Bitfinex, the venture is set to begin with 42,000 Bitcoin (valued at approximately $3.9 billion).

The firm’s public stock will be built by Bitcoiners, for Bitcoiners, and it will be a logical and useful investment for any person or institution that wishes to have direct and capital-efficient exposure to Bitcoin.

Bitcoin Price Analysis: BTC Above $94K As Institutional Interest Surges

As the dust settles on a record inflow into Bitcoin ETFs, new data from ETC revealed that U.S.-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs saw massive inflows of $171 million over the past week. In stark contrast, Ethereum ETFs experienced outflows of $4 million during the same period.

This divergence in institutional interest might be linked to the macroeconomic environment. With uncertainty looming large, and President Donald Trump's decision to halt further reciprocal tariffs and revert to a 10% baseline for most countries (except China), investors appear to be seeking a hedge against inflation and economic instability.

In response to a question about Trump's actions, economist Saifedean Ammous, author of ‘The Bitcoin Standard,’ stated that it was most likely due to rising bond yields, adding that "Trump fought the bond market and the bond market won." He further highlighted Bitcoin's unique economic properties in a world characterized by uncertainty.

Highlighting the same, a new report by Unchained Capital pointed out that, in the history of the U.S. bond market, there has never been a sustained period of negative real yields for as long as the past two years.

"The implication is that bond investors are being forced to accept a return on their capital that is lower than the rate at which prices are rising in the market. In other words, bond investors are guaranteed to lose money in real terms if they hold bonds for any length of time," the report said.

However, in a surprising move, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Group announced its intention to introduce XRP futures contracts on May 19, offering investors the option of micro-sized contracts of 2,500 XRP or standard contracts of 50,000 XRP.

Each contract will be cash-settled, marking a significant step towards broader institutional adoption of cryptocurrency. The introduction of XRP futures follows the CME’s launch of Bitcoin futures in 2017 and Ethereum futures in February 2022.

The move comes as crypto interest is heating up once again, with several new