Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has acknowledged that Bitcoin holds key advantages over Ethereum in protocol design and decentralization. Key Takeaways: Vitalik Buterin says Bitcoin leads Ethereum in code simplicity, node count, and RPC independence. Ethereum’s Layer 2 ecosystem still relies on intermediaries, falling short of full decentralization. Despite innovations, Ethereum trails Bitcoin in protocol stability and network decentralization. In a June 4 post on X , Buterin responded to a thread debating Ethereum’s current strengths and weaknesses. Users argued that Ethereum leads in censorship resistance but still faces limitations in transaction throughput. Buterin agreed, stating, “There’s some aspects of this where bitcoin is ahead imo.” Buterin: BTC Leads on Code Simplicity The Ethereum mastermind identified Bitcoin’s simpler codebase, fewer protocol changes, higher node count, and lower reliance on third-party remote procedure call (RPC) services such as Infura, Alchemy, and Ankr. By comparison, Ethereum’s more complex architecture, including smart contracts and the Ethereum Virtual Machine, requires more sophisticated infrastructure. Ethereum has undergone approximately 20 major network upgrades, most recently with the Pectra upgrade on May 8. Bitcoin’s base protocol has changed far less. Bitcoin’s lightweight code makes it easier to audit and maintain. Its lower hardware requirements allow a broader set of users to run full nodes, reinforcing network decentralization and censorship resistance. Buterin also addressed Ethereum’s Layer 2 ecosystem. In a separate post, he pushed back on claims that cross-chain interoperability is a solved problem. “It’s not solved until cross-L2 actions can be as censorship-resistance, trustless and intermediary-free as within-L2 actions,” he said. He emphasized that current cross-Layer 2 activity still depends on intermediaries, falling short of Ethereum’s intended level of decentralization. He reiterated the platform’s “no regression principle,” which holds that native ETH transfers on Layer 1 remain censorship-resistant, trustless, and free of intermediaries. > I believe Ethereum is leading in terms of CR and security. There's some aspects of this where bitcoin is ahead imo (eg. less code complexity, lower rate of protocol change, higher full node count, less dependence on RPCs) — vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) June 3, 2025 Buterin’s comments highlight an ongoing tradeoff. While Ethereum has advanced features like Proof of Stake, rollups, and MEV mitigation, it still lags behind Bitcoin in protocol simplicity and node decentralization. Buterin Calls to Simplify Ethereum Protocol In May, Buterin proposed a major overhaul of the Ethereum base layer, aiming to simplify the protocol’s architecture for improved security, scalability, and long-term sustainability. Drawing on Bitcoin’s minimalist design principles, Buterin published a blog post titled “Simplifying the L1” on May 3, outlining a path to reduce the network’s technical complexity. Buterin’s vision targets Ethereum’s core layers, consensus, execution, and shared components, with a strategy to streamline processes that have grown increasingly convoluted since the network’s inception. Buterin argued that unnecessary complexity has led to bloated development timelines, higher maintenance costs, and increased risks of bugs. Last month, Buterin also unveiled a new proposal aimed at making it significantly easier for everyday users to run Ethereum nodes, by reducing the hardware and storage requirements currently needed to sync with the network. The Ethereum mastermind suggested a shift in how nodes store and retrieve data, moving from full data replication to a more flexible, user-centric model. The post Ethereum vs. Bitcoin? Vitalik Says BTC Wins on Simplicity and Node Count appeared first on Cryptonews .
Bitcoin is undergoing a retracement after hunting the liquidity above the $111K level, and is now approaching a key support zone around the $100K recent swing low. A breakdown below this level could trigger a deeper correction in the coming sessions. Technical Analysis By ShayanMarkets The Daily Chart Bitcoin has entered a corrective phase after tapping liquidity above the $111K level, encountering significant selling interest in that region. This distribution-driven pullback has pushed the price down toward a pivotal support zone near the recent swing low at $100K, a key area that could determine the asset’s next directional move. Market momentum has noticeably cooled, and the RSI is hovering near the neutral 50 level, further reflecting indecision among participants. Should this support hold and fresh demand re-enter the market, a recovery toward the $111K all-time high becomes increasingly probable. Conversely, if sellers manage to push the price below this crucial $100K support, a continuation of the downtrend is likely, with the 200-day moving average around $95K emerging as the next potential target. The 4-Hour Chart Zooming in, Bitcoin has broken down from a long-standing ascending channel and confirmed the move with a textbook pullback to the channel’s lower boundary near $106K, a bearish order block. This rejection led to renewed selling pressure, driving the price toward $103K. Currently, BTC is consolidating within a bearish flag pattern, a classic continuation setup that typically precedes further downside. A breakdown below the $103K support would validate the pattern and likely extend the correction toward the $100K psychological level. However, if $103K acts as support, a period of sideways movement within the $103K–$106K range could unfold, awaiting a decisive breakout to define the next market direction. On-chain Analysis By ShayanMarkets This chart illustrates the Exchange Outflow metric, which tracks the number of coins withdrawn per transaction from centralized exchanges. Elevated outflow values typically suggest that investors are transferring larger amounts of Bitcoin off exchanges, often interpreted as a signal of reduced short-term selling pressure and a preference for holding. A major development recently occurred on Bitfinex, where nearly 20,000 BTC, valued at over $1.3 billion at current market prices, was withdrawn in a single day. This marks the largest daily outflow from Bitfinex since July 2022, a notable event that often signals strategic accumulation by large investors or institutions. Such significant withdrawals are generally associated with long-term storage intentions, reducing the likelihood of these coins re-entering the market in the near term. Despite the current market volatility and price consolidation, several on-chain and derivative market indicators point toward a potential bullish phase. The alignment of neutral funding rates, deleveraging through liquidations, and heightened whale accumulation suggests the market may be undergoing a healthy reset, potentially paving the way for Bitcoin’s next upward leg. The post Bitcoin Price Analysis: Is BTC Poised to Retest the $100K Support? appeared first on CryptoPotato .
South Korea is on the brink of transformative changes in its crypto landscape following President Lee Jae-myung’s inauguration, signaling new regulatory and market developments. Key initiatives include the potential launch
The post MoonPay Gets License to Expand Crypto Services in New York appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News MoonPay has officially received regulatory approval from the New York State Department of Financial Services, securing both a BitLicense and a Money Transmitter License. These licenses allow MoonPay to legally offer and expand its cryptocurrency services within New York. This regulatory green light is a significant step for MoonPay as it strengthens its presence in a key market, ensuring compliance with state laws while providing secure and reliable crypto transactions to New York users.
Though the crypto market cap is still down, the majority of the top 100 coins have seen their prices increase over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency market capitalization has decreased by 1.9% to $3.44 trillion. The total crypto trading volume is at $92.3 billion. TLDR: Most coins remain in green today, many are unchanged; The crypto market seems to be preparing for the next rally; Potential catalysts for the next leg of the bull cycle appear; Sentiment has “improved sharply across the board”; US spot BTC ETFs break the break outflow streak; The rally still seams sustainable. Crypto Winners & Losers At the time of writing, four of the top 10 coins per market capitalization are green, four are red (not taking the two stablecoins into account). Bitcoin (BTC) is among the green coins, but it’s unchanged over the past day. It’s currently trading at $105,368. Ethereum (ETH) appreciated 0.5% over the last day, now changing hands at $2,628. At the same time, the category’s highest gainer is XRP , which appreciated 1.8% to the price of $2.23. Moreover, the highest decrease is Solana (SOL)’s 2.2% to $156. The rest, though red, are unchanged. About 30 of the top 100 coins are now down, with the majority of these decreasing by around 1% or less per coin. The reddest of them is Fartcoin (FARTCOIN) , which fell 7.4% to $1.05. On the other hand, SPX6900 (SPX) is the highest gainer in this category. As the market moves through this consolidation period, multiple technical factors indicate that we may be on the cusp of a breakout . For the moment, Bitcoin price prediction remains neutral, with the price in a narrow range. #Bitcoin $105K Triangle Squeeze: 6% Rally on Deck? Symmetrical triangle near $105K RSI divergence + bullish MACD crossover 50 EMA = strong support Declining volume = pre-breakout signal Target: $109K on breakout above $106,767 Smart money's watching. Are you? pic.twitter.com/gWJt8cR7S9 — Arslan Ali (@forex_arslan) June 4, 2025 Moreover, according to the Monthly Investment Outlook by the global digital asset banking group Sygnum , the US tariff-related uncertainty continues to be an issue for the global economy. Furthermore, the escalating fiscal challenges have placed pressure on the US Treasury markets and have contributed to dollar weakness. That said, “the lower dollar supports global liquidity while the severity of the US debt situation compels liquidity injections, providing a positive backdrop for risk assets and for the crypto market,” the report says. Why is Crypto Up Today: Potential Catalysts for the Next Leg of the Bull Cycle According to the Sygnum analysts, the “tariff-related chaos and uncertainty continues.” The markets are sensitive to these challenges. However, the liquidity injections will likely stabilize the market, “as the alternative is a system collapse.” Combined with the lower dollar helping global liquidity, all this provides a positive backdrop for risk assets, including crypto. Looking at Bitcoin, there is a continual positive demand trend, fueled by institutional adoption on the one hand, and BTC’s increased use as a safe haven asset on the other. “Bitcoin’s fast-shrinking liquid supply is creating the conditions for demand shocks and upside volatility.” That said, Bitcoin balances decreasing on exchanges are typically a bullish signal. It indicates that investors are withdrawing funds, aiming to hodl for the long term. Bitcoin ETFs and acquisition vehicles are creating more demand from equity and fixed income investors in Bitcoin. That, coupled with governments exploring purchases for BTC reserves, “provides potential catalysts for the next leg of the bull cycle.” The recent #Bitcoin ATH breakout has led to a notable uptick in profits locked in, with the average coin capturing a +16% profit. Fewer than 8% of trading days have been more profitable for investors, suggesting a meaningful transition into profit-taking activity is underway. pic.twitter.com/3Fz1A6Ccis — glassnode (@glassnode) June 3, 2025 Speaking of which, several countries have expressed interest in central bank Bitcoin reserves. However, even though “none of the officially approved reserves have commenced Bitcoin purchases yet, but when they do, this can be a pivotal price catalyst – both because of the demand it creates and because of the signalling effect.” Meanwhile, looking at Ethereum, analysts found that the recent upgrade has fueled strong revenue growth. Additionally, traditional financial institutions are increasingly building tokenization platforms on Ethereum or its Layer 2 scaling protocols – or even building their own Ethereum-based L2s. Per the report, “this is leading to a narrative shift from ‘Ethereum is losing its competitive edge’ to the expectation that it is the likeliest platform choice for major financial institutions due to its superior security and stability, underscored again by a recent bug on Solana.” Levels & Events to Watch Next BTC currently trades at $105,368. It again reached the intraday high of $106,807, but failed to keep it. Compared to its all-time high of $111,814, the coin is down 5.6%. It decreased by 3% in a week and rose by 11.4% in a month. Bitcoin Price Chart. Source: Tradingview The Sygnum analysts reported that Bitcoin’s volatility has been trending lower over time. This follows the maturation of the market, deepening of the liquidity, and institutional involvement. For a store-of-value or investment, downside volatility is a drawback. That said, downside shocks have often been greater than upside shocks in BTC’s entire history, but over the past three years, “upside volatility has consistently exceeded downside volatility.” Source: Sygnum Moreover, the Fear and Greed Index still stands within the neutral territory at 57 today . This indicates caution in the market, standing between fear and greed, likely waiting for additional signals to make the next move. Moreover, sentiment has “improved sharply across the board on a more favourable macro backdrop, strong Bitcoin demand trends, and a long-awaited turnaround in Ethereum. Macro correlation has dissipated somewhat, and onchain activity increased sharply, driven in part by Ethereum’s recent upgrade,” analysts have noted. Meanwhile, on 3 June, US BTC spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs) broke the brief net outflow streak, with an inflow of $378.04 million . Ark & 21 Shares and Fidelity led the inflows, with $139.93 million and $136.83 million, respectively. At the same time, US ETH spot ETFs continue the inflows streak, gaining another $109.43 million on 3 June. BlackRock leads this list with $77.06 million. Legislators in the US are looking to pass bills on stablecoins and crypto market structure in the near future. “Optimistic estimates hope for bills to pass before autumn,” Sygnum says. However, controversy around the Donald Trump family’s conflicts of interest is causing delays in stablecoin regulation, it added. Quick FAQ Why did crypto move with stocks today? Both the crypto and stock markets recorded two days of gains. The S&P 500 has increased by 0.58%, the Nasdaq-100 is up 0.79%, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 0.51%. Investors are waiting for more data on the labor market, which may impact stock prices. For now, the concerns over Donald Trump’s trade war and subsequent economic slowdown have somewhat subsided, but they could be significantly reignited by a potential tariffs-caused weakening in US employment in the coming months. Is this rally sustainable? It doesn’t seem that the market is ready for a bear yet. Analysts seem to agree that, while drops are always possible – even typical – the crypto market is positioning itself for the next rally. All it needs now is one or more of the above-mentioned catalysts to materialize. The post Why Is Crypto Up Today? – June 4, 2025 appeared first on Cryptonews .
The post SMLR Buys 185 More Bitcoins, Now Holds 4,449 BTC appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News Semler Scientific has expanded its Bitcoin holdings by purchasing 185 BTC for $20 million, bringing its total to 4,449 BTC. This move reflects the company’s ongoing confidence in Bitcoin as a long-term asset. So far in 2025, SMLR has earned an impressive 26.7% yield on its BTC holdings. The acquisition highlights SMLR’s commitment to strengthening its digital asset strategy while benefiting from strong market performance. As Bitcoin gains momentum, companies like SMLR are securing a solid position in the crypto space.
The decentralized physical infrastructure network market could surge to $3.5 trillion by 2028 as AI and blockchain converge, according to a new World Economic Forum report.
BitcoinWorld AI Startup Success: African Founders Secure $9M Seed Funding for Thunder Code In the world of tech and venture capital, particularly within emerging markets like Africa, stories of successful exits are always exciting. But what happens when founders who achieved one of the continent’s largest startup acquisitions decide they aren’t quite done building? That’s the case for Karim Jouini and Jihed Othmani, the minds behind Expensya, and they are back with a new venture focused on the booming field of artificial intelligence. From Expense Management to a New AI Startup Karim Jouini and Jihed Othmani previously made significant waves with Expensya, their expense management platform. In 2023, they sold Expensya to Medius in a deal reported to be one of the largest acquisitions of an African startup, potentially exceeding $120 million. Following this success, both founders initially planned to step away from the intense world of entrepreneurship. Jouini even took on a CTO role at Medius, overseeing integrations across multiple continents. However, the rapid advancements and potential of generative AI proved too compelling to ignore. This new technological frontier presented an opportunity they felt they couldn’t pass up. The idea that they could potentially build something even larger and more impactful using AI pulled them back into the startup arena. Introducing Thunder Code: AI-Powered Software Testing Their return is marked by the launch of Thunder Code, a new AI startup . This venture is focused on revolutionizing software testing using generative AI. The platform aims to address common pain points in the software development lifecycle, specifically the slow and often manual process of quality assurance (QA) testing. Thunder Code utilizes AI-powered “agents” designed to mimic human testers. These agents can simulate QA processes, identify subtle user interface (UI) and user experience (UX) issues, and learn from feedback to improve their effectiveness. This approach promises to significantly accelerate testing cycles and improve software quality. Securing Significant Startup Funding Early On The confidence in Jouini and Othmani’s vision is already evident. Thunder Code, despite being less than six months old, has successfully raised $9 million in seed funding . This substantial early investment highlights investor belief in the founders’ ability to execute and the market potential for AI-driven testing solutions. The funding round saw participation from familiar investors from the Expensya cap table, including Silicon Badia and Jaango Capital, alongside new partners like Titan Seed Fund and strategic angel investors. Notably, some former and current Expensya employees who benefited from the acquisition also invested, demonstrating strong internal confidence in the new venture. Lessons Learned: Speed and Talent Drawing on their experience building Expensya, Jouini and Othmani are applying hard-earned lessons to Thunder Code. A key focus is speed. Jouini noted that they shipped their first minimum viable product (MVP) within six weeks, and the product at six months is significantly more robust than Expensya was at four years. This reflects a strategic emphasis on rapid iteration and getting the product into the hands of users quickly for feedback. Another critical lesson is the importance of securing top talent early. Jouini is clear that investing in the best people is paramount, even if it means early capital dilution. He believes that creating a high-value company, a potential “unicorn,” while diluting ownership is preferable to holding a larger stake in a less successful venture. He also anticipates that AI will enable Thunder Code to achieve significantly higher value with a leaner team compared to traditional software companies. The Massive Software Testing Market Opportunity While the jump from expense management to developer tools might seem significant, Jouini sees software testing as a vast and complex market. The global software testing market is projected to exceed $100 billion by 2027 . This market is still largely dominated by legacy code-based platforms, which may be slower to adapt to new technologies like generative AI. Thunder Code aims to compete in this crowded space, leveraging its fast execution and AI-powered approach. While other companies are also exploring agentic AI for testing, the founders believe their experience and speed provide a competitive edge. African Founders Building for a Global Market With headquarters in Paris and an office in Tunis, Thunder Code is positioned to build a global product. The company is already gaining traction with paying customers and pilot programs across the U.S., Canada, France, and Tunisia. They are partnering with delivery managers, QA shops, and development teams looking to accelerate their testing processes. Jihed Othmani’s deep expertise in generative AI, developed while building internal tools at Expensya before the mainstream AI boom, is a crucial asset. This complementary skill set, combined with the substantial startup funding secured, positions Thunder Code to move quickly and capture market share in the evolving software testing landscape. Conclusion: A Powerful Return The return of Karim Jouini and Jihed Othmani to the startup world is a compelling story of experienced African founders leveraging past success and hard-earned lessons to tackle a massive global market with cutting-edge technology. Their new AI startup , Thunder Code, armed with significant early funding and a focus on speed and talent, is poised to make a significant impact on software testing. It serves as a powerful reminder that even after a major exit, the drive to build and innovate can lead to exciting new ventures, especially at the forefront of transformative technologies like generative AI . To learn more about the latest AI market trends, explore our article on key developments shaping AI features. This post AI Startup Success: African Founders Secure $9M Seed Funding for Thunder Code first appeared on BitcoinWorld and is written by Editorial Team
Bitcoin is currently navigating a critical phase marked by concentrated liquidity zones, signaling a potential breakout toward new all-time highs. Market analysts emphasize the importance of the $107,500 resistance level
Semler Scientific, a publicly listed firm, revealed a strategic acquisition of 185 Bitcoin (BTC) valued at $20 million, underscoring its commitment to expanding its digital asset portfolio. This move, announced