Key Takeaways:

Bitcoin’s realized cap has grown by $30 billion since April 20, reflecting steady investor confidence and new capital inflows.

A Bitcoin price consolidation pattern forecasts a potential 10% breakout by next week.

Bitcoin (BTC) continues to show strong bullish momentum as fresh capital inflows signal potential new price highs in the coming week. In an X post, Glassnode reported that Bitcoin’s Realized Cap, which measures the total value of BTC based on the price at which each coin last moved, grew by $30 billion since April 20, growing at a 3% monthly rate in May. The current realized cap is $900 billion.

Bitcoin Realize cap. Source: Glassnode

Though slower than the 8% spike in late 2024 when BTC hit $93,000, this growth reflects steady investor confidence and new capital entering the market.

Adding to the optimism, Glassnode revealed a significant shift in market dynamics. The 7-day simple moving average (SMA) of Bitcoin’s Spot Volume Delta flipped positive, peaking near $5 billion on May 13.

Bitcoin spot volume delta. Source: Glassnode

This aggressive net spot buyer demand, seen only a few times this year as highlighted, confirms strong spot market conviction behind Bitcoin’s recent push above the $100,000 psychological resistance. The surge in spot buying pressure suggests institutional and retail investors drive the rally, not just leveraged trading.

Despite the slower Realized Cap growth compared to late 2024’s $50 billion spike, the current market sentiment remains positive.

Related: Strategy will beat all public equities with Bitcoin, analyst says

Will Bitcoin gain 10% by next week?

Bitcoin has shown a steady consolidation and expansion trend since forming a bottom around $74,500 in early April. Over the past four weeks, a pattern has emerged where each time Bitcoin hits a key level, it moves sideways before breaking out to a higher range. This pattern has repeated twice, with a third consolidation currently underway.

Bitcoin 4-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Each phase has followed a similar setup, forming higher upper and lower ranges. The bottom range is typically tested at least once before Bitcoin pushes to new highs. The relative strength index (RSI) has complemented this price action, reaching overbought levels during new highs and dropping to around 50 during sideways movement.

Currently, Bitcoin is consolidating between an upper range of $105,700 and a lower range of $100,678. If the pattern holds, Bitcoin might retest the $100,000-$102,000 level before potentially breaking above $110,000. However, a bearish invalidation could occur if prices fall below $102,000 and fail to recover swiftly.

Related: Market volatility indicator still points to $135K Bitcoin within 100 days — Analyst

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

Tanim Rasul, chief operating officer at Canadian crypto exchange NDAX, said Canada “got it wrong” categorizing stablecoins as securities in 2022, and the country needs to realize that every other regulatory regime is looking at stablecoins as payment instruments.

Rasul made the remarks during a panel on May 13 at the Blockchain Futurist Conference in Toronto, pointing to Europe’s crypto regulatory framework as a model for Canada to consider:

“I’m sure the regulators are wondering if this was the right choice to approach stablecoins as a security. […] I would just say, look at MiCA, look at the way they’re approaching stablecoins. It’s a payment instrument. It should be regulated as such.”

The Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) classified stablecoins as “securities and/or derivatives” in December 2022, following “recent events in the crypto market,” such as the dramatic collapse of crypto exchange FTX just a month before.

Related: What Canada’s new Liberal PM Mark Carney means for crypto

Canadian Web3 Regulation panel at Blockchain Futurist Conference. Source: Cointelegraph

The agency elaborated on stablecoin rules in February and October of 2023, placing such tokens under the umbrella of “value-referenced crypto assets.”

Canada’s stance on digital assets led many top crypto companies, including Binance, Bybit, OKX, and Paxos, to scale back operations in the local market. Crypto exchange Gemini also announced exit plans in September 2024.

The regulatory setback, however, hasn’t stopped Canada’s digital asset market from flourishing. According to Grand View Research, the local crypto industry posted revenue of $224 million in 2024, higher than in previous years. It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 18.6% until 2030, when it is forecast to reach $617.5 million in annual revenue.

Related: Bitstamp’s departure from Canada is ‘timing issue,’ says CEO

Stablecoins have emerged as key crypto use case

Stablecoins, cryptocurrencies pegged to a fiat currency, have emerged as a key use case for digital assets. According to DefiLlama, the current market capitalization for all stablecoins is at $242.8 billion as of May 14, up 51.9% in the past 12 months.

Stablecoin market cap. Source: DefiLlama

Nation-states and economic blocs are increasingly working on stablecoin regulations to tackle the rising usage across the world. While the most used stablecoins are pegged to the US dollar, there is demand for stablecoins pegged to other fiat currencies.

Magazine: Legal Panel: Crypto wanted to overthrow banks, now it’s becoming them in stablecoin fight

Key points:

Bitcoin continues to range around $103,000 as bulls struggle to keep upside momentum going.

Traders favor short-term BTC price gains eventually returning, while overall faith in the bull market varies.

Fed rate cuts seem increasingly far off despite encouraging inflation data.

Bitcoin (BTC) hugged familiar territory around the May 14 Wall Street open as traders awaited fresh US macro cues.

BTC/USD 1-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewTrader: BTC needs $108,000 reclaim for breakout

Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed $103,000 remaining a BTC price magnet.

Bulls had managed another trip to $105,000 the day prior, with momentum nonetheless lacking after brisk gains throughout the first half of the month.

Now, traders eyed consolidation prior to a return to volatility, with predictions favoring further upside.

It’s all just a big shake-out range in before another break-out 📈 againPATIENCE$BTC https://t.co/t9vNUsoIQA pic.twitter.com/5BSUTzPLoM

— Phoenix (@Phoenix_Ash3s) May 14, 2025

“Even though $BTC looks great IMO, I still stand by the fact that it probably moves sideways from here for a while, which would probably be great news for alts tbh,” popular trader Byzantine Trader wrote in one of his latest posts on X. 

“If BTC remains calm, then alts can do their own thing for a bit.”BTC/USDT 4-hour chart. Source: Byzantine General/X

Despite seeing the Bitcoin bull market unwinding sooner rather than later, fellow trader Roman agreed that higher highs would come first.

“Looking for more upside if we can continue to consolidate here as consolidation = continuation of trend. Yes my macro views believe the $BTC bull is close to over but there’s still some room for short term upside,” he told X followers. 

“Break 108 resistance and 120 is possible.”Market rate cut odds “adjusted” after CPI

Macro influences were less pronounced on the day thanks to a gap in US inflation data releases.

Related: BTC bulls get ‘biggest signal’ — 5 things to know in Bitcoin this week

The day prior, a lower-than-expected Consumer Price Index (CPI) print had failed to spark a fresh crypto rally, with eyes now on the Producer Price Index (PPI) numbers due on May 15.

Commenting, trading firm QCP Capital stressed that the Federal Reserve’s hawkish policy was dictating market expectations. Interest rate cuts in the first half of 2025, a would-be risk-asset tailwind, were being increasingly priced out.

“US CPI came in below expectations, providing a welcome reprieve to inflation worries and bolstering bets on rate cuts,” QCP wrote in its latest bulletin to Telegram channel subscribers. 

“Still, the Fed remains cautious. At its last meeting, officials reiterated a data-dependent stance, flagging the uncertain downstream effects of tariffs on both unemployment and inflation.”Fed target rate probabilities (screenshot). Source: CME Group

Data from CME Group’s FedWatch Tool put the Fed’s September meeting as the likely occasion to deliver the next cut.

“Market pricing has also adjusted accordingly, with two rate cuts now expected for 2025, down from four just a month prior,” QCP added.

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

Update (May 14 at 6:58 pm UTC): This article has been updated to include comments from the Blockchain Association.

Summer Mersinger, one of four commissioners currently serving at the US financial regulatory body Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), will become the next CEO of the digital asset advocacy group the Blockchain Association (BA). 

In a May 14 notice, the Blockchain Association said its current CEO, Kristin Smith, would step down for Mersinger on May 16, allowing an interim head of the group to work until the CFTC commissioner assumes the role on June 2. Though her term at the CFTC was expected to last until April 2028, the BA said Mersinger is set to leave the agency on May 30.

The departure of Mersinger, who has served in one of the CFTC’s Republican seats since 2022, opens the way for US President Donald Trump to nominate another member to the financial regulator. Rules require that no more than three commissioners belong to the same political party. 

Like the Securities and Exchange Commission, the CFTC is one of the significant US financial regulators whose policies impact digital assets. Lawmakers in Congress are currently working to pass a market structure bill to clarify the roles each agency could take in overseeing and regulating crypto.

Related: KuCoin’s settlement with CFTC in flux after Trump policy shift

New leadership at the Blockchain Association had been expected since Smith announced her departure on April 1 to become the next president of the Solana Policy Institute.

“We didn’t hire a search firm because we knew we were going to know the person who was the right candidate,” the Association president, Marta Belcher, told Cointelegraph on May 14. “It was very important to us that it was someone from the crypto world.”

Some of the biggest crypto firms in the US, including Coinbase, Ripple Labs and Chainlink Labs, are members of the Association. The organization “support[s] a future-forward, pro-innovation national policy and regulatory framework for the crypto economy,” according to its website.

Changing the leadership at a major US financial regulator

A nominee of former US President Joe Biden, Mersinger has called for standardized crypto-related policies and said the CFTC was the “ideal regulator for the cryptocurrency spot market.” Some expected she would lead the regulator following the election of Trump and the departure of then-CFTC Chair Rostin Behnam, but Commissioner Caroline Pham took on the role in an acting capacity in January.

Trump chose former commissioner Brian Quintenz to chair the CFTC in February, but his nomination has not moved through the Senate for a vote in roughly three months. Commissioner Christy Goldsmith Romero reportedly said she plans to leave the agency once Quintenz is confirmed, potentially giving Trump the chance to nominate three new commissioners to fill the five-seat panel.

Any CFTC commissioner picked by the president needs a majority vote in the Senate to be confirmed for a five-year term or to fill in for a resigning member.

Magazine: Crypto wanted to overthrow banks, now it’s becoming them in stablecoin fight

Opinion by: Mike Cahill, co-founder and CEO of Douro Labs

Despite the institutional frenzy around crypto and the ubiquitous narrative of democratized access to investing, most of the world population is still barred from traditional wealth-building. 

Take the US, for example — here, the top 10% of earners own more than 90% of all stocks. On a global scale, it gets even worse: Billions of individuals don’t have the financial literacy, digital tools or minimum funds required to even access the most basic investment opportunities. 

Traditional institutions must do more than just invest in crypto to ameliorate this disparity — they must start employing digital assets for new use cases altogether. 

The facet of TradFi that is most ripe for disruption is equities. Investing in shares of private companies is an opportunity historically reserved only for the wealthy and hyper-connected. It is often siloed within the most economically advanced nations. Enhancing access to equities worldwide can be achieved, however, by injecting decentralized technology into three fundamental components of our financial system: price, execution and settlement.

The bedrock of traditional finance

Equities typically refer to shares of private companies, and they’re one of the most potent tools for wealth creation. On top of regulation, the main factor restricting access to equities is the infrastructure that underpins our financial system: stale and inaccurate pricing data, exclusive execution venues and painfully slow settlement periods. 

Price

Traditional equity markets are private. Here, pricing data is sequestered behind non-disclosure agreements, paywalls and groups of individuals who want to keep this information to themselves. Access to accurate, real-time pricing is what enables investors to make informed decisions, and it’s the crucial ingredient required to participate at all. If pricing data remains in the hands of those who can afford access or run in the right social circles, the system will continue to support only a small group of wealthy, privileged people.

Recent: Ether sentiment hits yearly low but that could be a good thing: Santiment

Execution

While many apps and platforms might make it seem like buying equities is as easy as pressing a button, the reality is that making these types of investments almost always requires strict vetting processes and minimum investment thresholds that everyday investors just don’t have access to. While it seems like public markets should be exempt from these barriers, brokerage fees and geographic limitations can still hamper participation. As a result, the current systems simply uphold the “rich get richer, poor get poorer” narrative.

Settlement

Most traders have experienced the frustratingly slow, highly bureaucratic and hazardous equity settlement systems in place today. It can take several days for a single trade to finalize. If it’s a cross-border trade, settlement times can lag even more. This results in capital being locked up, further dissuading smaller investors from participating — a snowball effect that keeps access to equities solely in the hands of the most elite traders. 

While these barriers are undoubtedly systemic, they’re also very solvable. As history has shown, time and time again, innovation always forces a shift. That’s where decentralized finance (DeFi) comes in.

Reimagining infrastructure through DeFi

Decentralized technologies have the potential to reimagine TradFi’s infrastructure to create a system that is faster, more accessible and more efficient and unlock new forms of equities participation. These include synthetic equity markets, tokenized private equity and even equity-based prediction markets.

Regarding price, execution and settlement, DeFi and TradFi have the opportunity to work together, combining forces to offer a new foundation to the financial system that promotes equity, access and transparency. 

Decentralized price feeds offer real-time, accurate price data on equities that don’t come at the exorbitant price of a Bloomberg Terminal. They empower traders of any background or location to access fresh market data to trade equities with the same knowledge as the most elite traders. 

At the same time, decentralized execution platforms enable marketplaces for fractional, tokenized equity exposure. Now, if traders have an internet connection, they can make trades supported by smart contracts that automate trade matching, liquidity provision and order fulfillment. This empowers traders to purchase small, fractional stakes in these assets, empowering those even in the most rural and secluded areas of the world to own a piece of the same high-growth company as an accredited investor in the US. 

Finally, settlement in DeFi is almost instantaneous. That’s because blockchain removes the need for intermediaries, making it possible for equities to be traded in milliseconds. This dramatically reduces counterparty risk while unlocking capital for continuous use, making trading even more attractive to smaller players. 

Building the next generation of finance

Creating a financial system that is genuinely democratized means more than encouraging institutions to buy and trade digital assets. It means rethinking the way our financial infrastructure exists and operates today. While equities are one of the most powerful wealth-building tools available, most of the global population still can’t access them due to geography, legacy and privilege. Through revolutionizing price, execution and settlement via decentralized innovations, equities can be entirely disrupted — closing the wealth gap that keeps billions of people at the mercy of a select few.

Opinion by: Mike Cahill, co-founder and CEO of Douro Labs.

This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

The French interior minister reportedly plans to meet cryptocurrency professionals in the aftermath of a violent kidnapping attempt on the family of a crypto exchange executive in Paris.

According to a May 14 France24 report, Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau has invited crypto professionals to meet him after a brazen attempt to kidnap the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, the co-founder and CEO of French crypto exchange Paymium.”I will assemble businesspeople working in cryptocurrencies, and we have a few of those in France, at the interior ministry to work with them on their security,” Retailleau reportedly told the Europe 1/CNews broadcaster.

On May 13, three masked men attacked Noizat’s daughter while she was walking in Paris’ 11th district with a man and her son. The attackers tried to force Noizat’s daughter and her son into a white van.

Related: Teens kidnap Las Vegas man at gunpoint, stealing $4M in crypto

Passersby intervened, with one scaring the assailants while brandishing a fire extinguisher before throwing it at them as they fled. The event is now being investigated by local authorities, with the vehicle used being found abandoned nearby on the same day.

En plein Paris, un homme a été violenté par des individus cagoulés, habillés tout en noir. Ils tentaient de l’enlever. Un homme a surgi, extincteur à la main, pour les faire fuir. →https://t.co/P0qV6PR40v pic.twitter.com/9f4r2Gi7ho

— Le Figaro (@Le_Figaro) May 13, 2025Growing risk for cryptoholders

Jameson Lopp, a cypherpunk and co-founder of self-custodial firm Casa, has created a list on GitHub recording dozens of offline crypto robberies, with 22 incidents of in-person crypto-related theft so far this year. Many in the crypto industry highlight that anonymity is the only way to effectively protect holders and their close circle against so-called “$5 wrench attacks.”

$5 wrench attack explanation. Source: XKCD

Lopp’s list is likely undercounting the total number of attacks targeting people over their involvement in the crypto industry. A University of Cambridge study in September 2024 found that these so-called “wrench attacks” are often underreported due to revictimization fears.

Related: How a $243 million crypto heist led to a real-world kidnapping

France saw its fair share of cases

Paris is also no stranger to these attacks. Earlier this month, Paris police freed the father of a crypto entrepreneur who was held for several days in connection with a 7 million euro ($7.8 million) kidnapping plot.

At the start of this year, David Balland, co-founder of leading crypto hardware wallet manufacturer Ledger, was abducted from his home in central France. He was held captive until a police operation on the night of Jan. 22 secured his release.

Magazine: Here’s how to keep your crypto safe

Key takeaways:

Ethereum’s market dominance has hit overbought RSI levels not seen since May 2021, historically followed by major pullbacks.

ETH/USD is showing a bearish divergence on the four-hour chart, hinting at a potential 10–15% price correction.

Despite the near-term risks, some analysts view a pullback as a “buy-the-dip” setup before a possible move toward $3,500–$3,800.

Ether (ETH) has surged over 50% month-to-date in May, vastly outperforming the broader crypto market’s 15.25% gain. The rally has pushed Ethereum’s market dominance (ETH.D) toward the critical 10% threshold for the first time since March.

But the rising dominance accompanies signs of overheating, indicating that Ethereum bulls should not celebrate the rally just yet.

Ether’s RSI most overextended since May 2021

The strong recovery in Ethereum’s crypto market share has pushed its daily relative strength index (RSI) to its most overbought zone since May 2021, raising red flags for traders betting on further upside, at least in the short term.

Historically, such extreme RSI levels on ETH.D have marked the beginning of major pullbacks. One notable instance occurred in early July 2024, when ETH dominance peaked near similar RSI levels.

ETH.D daily performance chart. Source: TradingView

Over the following 315 days, ETH.D dropped by more than 17.5%. The current RSI spike, again above 80, mimics a similar setup, suggesting that Ethereum could be nearing a local top in its market share.

Adding to the bearish outlook, ETH.D remains below its 200-day exponential moving average (200-day EMA; the blue wave). This resistance level has repeatedly capped Ethereum’s dominance during previous recovery attempts.

Previous overbought pullbacks have initially pushed Ethereum’s market share toward its 50-day EMA (the red wave).

The ETH.D metric, therefore, risks declining toward its current 50-day EMA support at around 8.24% by June, suggesting potential capital rotation out of Ethereum markets to other coins in the coming weeks.

Bearish divergence signals 15% ETH price drop

On the four-hour ETH/USD chart, a classic bearish divergence is emerging, where Ethereum’s price continues to print higher highs, but momentum indicators trend lower.

Crypto trader AlphaBTC noted that ETH is showing “three clear drives of divergence,” a setup often preceding trend exhaustion. He added that key Fibonacci levels align with potential support zones, suggesting a pullback could be imminent.

ETH/USD four-hour price chart. Source: AlphaBTC

With ETH hovering near the $2,740 Fibonacci extension, profit-taking pressure may intensify, opening the door for a short-term correction toward lower Fib levels at around $2,330 or even $2,190, down 10%-15% from the current prices.

Independent market analyst Michaël van de Poppe suggests ETH’s decline in the coming weeks could serve as a “buy-the-dip opportunity,” indicating that the cryptocurrency would eventually climb over $3,500.

Related: Altcoins’ roaring returns and falling USDT stablecoin dominance suggest ‘altseason’ is here

Veteran trader Peter Brandt further predicts a “moon shot” rally to over $3,800.

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

South Korea could soon follow Hong Kong in legalizing spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), as the country’s top presidential candidates have expressed pro-crypto positions.

Still, some industry observers remain cautious about the likelihood of near-term regulatory change.

“All three major South Korean presidential candidates support #Bitcoin ETFs and institutional investment,” Ki Young Ju, the founder and CEO of onchain data platform CryptoQuant, wrote in a May 14 X post.

Currently, Bitcoin ETFs and institutional crypto investments are banned in South Korea, meaning that “100% [of the] volume comes from retail,” Ju added.

From left: Democratic Party of Korea presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung, People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo and New Reform Party presidential candidate Lee Jun-seok. Source: Ki Young Ju

Related: Bitcoin more of a ‘diversifier’ than safe-haven asset: Report

On May 6, South Korea’s Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung promised to legalize spot crypto ETFs, lower transaction fees and “create a safe investment environment so that young people can [build] assets and plan for the future, according to a report from The Korean Economic Daily (KED).

The Democratic Party made similar promises in its 2024 election campaign, including the legalization of spot crypto ETFs, but progress has been delayed, KED reported.

Related: SEC delays Solana ETF as decisions for Polkadot, XRP loom

Candidates back ETFs, but history casts doubt

While the crypto-friendly perspectives of the leading candidates suggest a promising future for digital asset legislation in South Korea, regulation experts remain skeptical.

“The candidates’ pro-crypto pledges to push to legalize spot Bitcoin ETFs and reduce fees signal a potential shift. But history tempers optimism,” Anndy Lian, author and intergovernmental blockchain adviser, told Cointelegraph, adding:

“They will take on similar stances as Hong Kong. Whether the ETFs can perform or not depends on various other factors.”

“A pro-crypto president could drive reform, aligning South Korea with global trends like the US, where Bitcoin ETFs have attracted over billions in net inflows,” Lian said, adding that the Financial Services Commission’s tone also suggested “regulatory openness” for cryptocurrencies.

However, the People Power Party, elected in 2022, also promised to lift the crypto ETF ban and revise the controversial one-exchange-one-bank rule, “but failed to act before President Yoon’s impeachment,” Lian said.

Over in Hong Kong, the first batch of Bitcoin and Ether-based ETFs launched for trading on April 30, 2024, but saw disappointing trading activity compared to their US counterparts, Cointelegraph reported.

Magazine: Altcoin season to hit in Q2? Mantra’s plan to win trust: Hodler’s Digest, April 13 – 19

South Korea could soon follow Hong Kong in legalizing spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), as the country’s top presidential candidates express pro-crypto positions.

However, some industry observers remain cautious about the likelihood of near-term regulatory change.

“All three major South Korean presidential candidates support #Bitcoin ETFs and institutional investment,” Ki Young Ju, the founder and CEO of onchain data platform CryptoQuant, wrote in a May 14 X post.

Currently, Bitcoin ETFs and institutional crypto investments are banned in South Korea, meaning that “100% [of the] volume comes from retail,” Ju added.

Source: Ki Young Ju

Related: Bitcoin more of a ‘diversifier’ than safe-haven asset: Report

On May 6, South Korea’s Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung promised to legalize spot crypto ETFs, lower transaction fees and “create a safe investment environment so that young people can [build] assets and plan for the future, according to a report from The Korean Economic Daily (KED).

The Democratic Party made similar promises in its 2024 election campaign, including the legalization of spot crypto ETFs, but progress has been delayed, reported KED.

Related: SEC delays Solana ETF as decisions for Polkadot, XRP loom

Candidates back ETFs, but history casts doubt

While the crypto-friendly perspectives of the leading candidates suggest a promising future for digital asset legislation in South Korea, regulation experts remain skeptical.

“The candidates’ pro-crypto pledges to push to legalize spot Bitcoin ETFs and reduce fees signal a potential shift. But history tempers optimism,” Anndy Lian, author and intergovernmental blockchain adviser, told Cointelegraph, adding:

“They will take on similar stances as Hong Kong. Whether the ETFs can perform or not depends on various other factors.”

“A pro-crypto president could drive reform, aligning South Korea with global trends like the US, where Bitcoin ETFs have attracted over billions in net inflows,” Lian said, adding that the Financial Services Commission’s tone also suggested “regulatory openness” for cryptocurrencies.

However, the People Power Party, elected in 2022, also promised to lift the crypto ETF ban and revise the controversial one-exchange-one-bank rule, “but failed to act before President Yoon’s impeachment,” Lian said.

Over in Hong Kong, the first batch of Bitcoin and Ether-based ETFs launched for trading on April 30, 2024, but saw disappointing trading activity compared to their US counterparts, Cointelegraph reported.

Magazine: Altcoin season to hit in Q2? Mantra’s plan to win trust: Hodler’s Digest, April 13 – 19

South Korea could soon follow Hong Kong in legalizing spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), as the country’s top presidential candidates express pro-crypto positions.

However, some industry observers remain cautious about the likelihood of near-term regulatory change.

“All three major South Korean presidential candidates support #Bitcoin ETFs and institutional investment,” Ki Young Ju, the founder and CEO of onchain data platform CryptoQuant, wrote in a May 14 X post.

Currently, Bitcoin ETFs and institutional crypto investments are banned in South Korea, meaning that “100% [of the] volume comes from retail,” Ju added.

Source: Ki Young Ju

Related: Bitcoin more of a ‘diversifier’ than safe-haven asset: Report

On May 6, South Korea’s Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung promised to legalize spot crypto ETFs, lower transaction fees and “create a safe investment environment so that young people can [build] assets and plan for the future, according to a report from The Korean Economic Daily (KED).

The Democratic Party made similar promises in its 2024 election campaign, including the legalization of spot crypto ETFs, but progress has been delayed, reported KED.

Related: SEC delays Solana ETF as decisions for Polkadot, XRP loom

Candidates back ETFs, but history casts doubt

While the crypto-friendly perspectives of the leading candidates suggest a promising future for digital asset legislation in South Korea, regulation experts remain skeptical.

“The candidates’ pro-crypto pledges to push to legalize spot Bitcoin ETFs and reduce fees signal a potential shift. But history tempers optimism,” Anndy Lian, author and intergovernmental blockchain adviser, told Cointelegraph, adding:

“They will take on similar stances as Hong Kong. Whether the ETFs can perform or not depends on various other factors.”

“A pro-crypto president could drive reform, aligning South Korea with global trends like the US, where Bitcoin ETFs have attracted over billions in net inflows,” Lian said, adding that the Financial Services Commission’s tone also suggested “regulatory openness” for cryptocurrencies.

However, the People Power Party, elected in 2022, also promised to lift the crypto ETF ban and revise the controversial one-exchange-one-bank rule, “but failed to act before President Yoon’s impeachment,” Lian said.

Over in Hong Kong, the first batch of Bitcoin and Ether-based ETFs launched for trading on April 30, 2024, but saw disappointing trading activity compared to their US counterparts, Cointelegraph reported.

Magazine: Altcoin season to hit in Q2? Mantra’s plan to win trust: Hodler’s Digest, April 13 – 19