BitcoinWorld Bitcoin ETFs: Calamos Launches Revolutionary Protection Funds Are you an investor intrigued by the potential of Bitcoin but wary of its notorious volatility? The wait for a more structured approach to digital asset investing might finally be over. Calamos Investments, a prominent U.S. asset management firm, is set to revolutionize how investors gain exposure to cryptocurrencies with the launch of three innovative Bitcoin ETFs . These new funds promise a unique blend of upside potential and crucial downside protection, marking a significant step forward in the institutional adoption of digital assets. Understanding the New Era of Bitcoin ETFs On July 8, Calamos will introduce three distinct Bitcoin-structured ETFs: CBOY, CBXY, and CBTY. These aren’t your typical spot Bitcoin ETFs. Instead, they fall under the category of ‘defined outcome’ ETFs, designed to offer investors a predictable range of returns over a specific period. This structure is particularly appealing for those seeking to participate in Bitcoin’s growth while mitigating some of its inherent risks. CBOY, CBXY, and CBTY: Each ticker represents a unique level of downside protection, allowing investors to choose the risk profile that best suits their financial goals. One-Year Protection Period: The downside protection is offered over a defined one-year period, providing clarity and a structured investment horizon. Annual Reset Feature: At the end of each year, the ETFs will reset, establishing new upside caps and downside protection levels based on market conditions, offering continuous adaptability. The Innovative Approach of Calamos Investments This strategic move by Calamos Investments highlights a growing trend among traditional financial institutions to cater to the increasing demand for regulated and sophisticated crypto investment vehicles. Unlike direct Bitcoin ownership, these ETFs provide a wrapper that simplifies access for traditional brokerage accounts and offers a layer of professional management. The management of these groundbreaking funds will be overseen by Co-CIO Eli Pars and the dedicated Alternatives Team at Calamos. Their expertise in managing complex financial products is expected to provide robust oversight and strategic adjustments, ensuring the ETFs align with their stated objectives of offering defined outcomes. Why Crypto Protection is a Game Changer For many potential investors, the wild price swings of Bitcoin have been a significant deterrent. The concept of crypto protection embedded within these ETFs directly addresses this concern. By offering varying levels of downside protection, Calamos aims to attract a broader audience, including risk-averse investors, institutional clients, and financial advisors looking for more stable ways to allocate capital to the digital asset space. This innovative structure provides a sense of security, allowing investors to participate in Bitcoin’s potential appreciation without the constant fear of sudden, significant losses. It’s a bridge between the high-growth potential of cryptocurrencies and the risk management principles common in traditional finance. Navigating the Upside Caps in Defined Outcome ETFs While the downside protection is a major draw, it’s crucial for investors to understand the trade-off: the ETFs come with defined upside caps. This means that while you’re protected from significant losses beyond a certain point, your potential gains are also limited. These caps are set at the beginning of each one-year period and reset annually. This characteristic is fundamental to all defined outcome ETFs . They are designed to offer a known range of potential returns, making them suitable for investors who prioritize predictable outcomes over unlimited upside potential. It’s about managing expectations and providing a more controlled investment experience in a notoriously volatile market. The Future of Digital Asset Investing The launch of these Calamos ETFs signifies a maturing landscape for digital asset investing . It reflects a growing sophistication in product development, moving beyond simple spot exposure to more nuanced, risk-managed strategies. As more traditional firms enter the space with diverse offerings, it paves the way for greater institutional adoption and wider accessibility for retail investors. This evolution is critical for integrating cryptocurrencies into mainstream investment portfolios, offering investors more choices and tailored solutions to meet their unique risk tolerances and financial objectives. It underscores the long-term viability and increasing legitimacy of digital assets as a recognized asset class. Conclusion: A New Horizon for Bitcoin Exposure Calamos Investments’ forthcoming launch of CBOY, CBXY, and CBTY on July 8 marks a pivotal moment for the cryptocurrency investment landscape. By offering defined downside protection coupled with upside caps, these innovative Bitcoin ETFs provide a compelling option for investors seeking a more controlled and predictable way to gain exposure to the world’s leading digital asset. This move not only expands the accessibility of Bitcoin but also sets a new standard for risk-managed investment products in the evolving digital asset ecosystem. It’s an exciting development that promises to reshape how many approach their crypto portfolios. To learn more about the latest Bitcoin ETFs and digital asset investing trends, explore our article on key developments shaping Bitcoin institutional adoption. This post Bitcoin ETFs: Calamos Launches Revolutionary Protection Funds first appeared on BitcoinWorld and is written by Editorial Team
The post Bitcoin Price Analysis: Low Speculative Urgency Signals More Pain In the Midterm appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News Bitcoin (BTC) price has experienced faded bullish sentiment in the recent past as traders factor in external factors led by the Middle East crisis and the U.S.-led trade wars. The flagship coin has struggled to rally beyond $108k in the weekly timeframe, thus signaling possible midterm weakness. Although institutional investors, led by Strategy and Metaplanet , have continued to relentlessly accumulate more BTCs, market data shows the appetite for long exposure has faded over time. According to market data from Glassnode, Bitcoin’s spot volume has hovered at around $7.7 billion in the recent past, far below the prior peaks. Why Traders Are Cautious About Bitcoin Price Consolidation Bitcoin price has failed to record similar bullish gains as Gold (XAUUSD) in the past few months despite the U.S. dollar losing around 10 percent in value since President Donald Trump took office earlier this year. The short-term market uncertainty caused by the sharp differences between the Federal Reserve and the government of the day on Interest rates has reduced the overall BTC speculation. According to Aksel Kibar , a popular classical chart trader, the BTC price has gradually formed a potential head and shoulders (H&S) pattern in the weekly timeframe. Although the buyers have been attempting to push higher in the recent past, Kibar highlighted that BTC price must consistently close above $109k in the weekly timeframe to confirm bullish momentum. With the poor performance of the trade negotiations between the United States and other nations led by Canada, Japan, and the European Union, the BTC price faces a midterm bearish outlook. As Coinpedia reported, BTC price is likely to retest $92k before reaching $120k in the near term.
Investors of the crypto market are once again questioning, which coin will deliver the next 100X investment return as the digital assets gain a fresh push. The original meme coin and retail traders’ favorite, Dogecoin, is now facing stiff competition. Now, analysts’ eyes are turning to MAGACOIN FINANCE which is disrupting expectations with strong growth potential and a roadmap designed for scale. MAGACOIN FINANCE: The New Contender for Explosive Growth MAGACOIN FINANCE is Quickly Working Its Way to Become an Appealing Altcoin. Experts in crypto have put it on the list of major candidates for parabolic gains in the cycle right now. This project is capturing investor attention early through a fully audited smart contract, limited token supply and solid fundamentals behind the project launch. The current presale is in extreme demand after the recent rounds sold out quickly. It could be the major break out of various early stage players to position themselves early on. To encourage participation from early contributors, MAGACOIN FINANCE also created a staking mechanism that provides good incentives. However, its ability to channel true attention is debatable and sell-out without relying much on the messy meme coin system. Experts believe it is a smart branding, a bold strategy and a real potential designed for longevity and the ability to grow. The Legacy of Dogecoin Dogecoin is among the most recognized and popular tokens in the digital asset space. It started off as a joke, but with the passage of years, it gained popularity and went viral, eventually becoming one of the products. Over the years, dogecoin has become a benchmark for meme coins which very few coins have been able to achieve. According to analysts, the upsurge in assets may be topping out as more investors go on the aggressive. Even with its long history and some fans, the bloodhound breed seems to be stabilizing. People in the past and the present are searching far beyond what seems to be the next big opportunity Analysts’ Outlook: 100x Possibilities Recently, experts form the industry debate whether MAGACOIN FINANCE Executes Massive Gains Faster Dogecoin. Many investors feel that Dogecoin’s price will continue to go up but it won’t deliver massive gains anymore. Notwithstanding, MAGACOIN FINANCE is in the early days, and often the greatest returns are garnered from being early in the momentum. Investor cash is flowing toward promising new tokens, but MAGACOIN FINANCE keeps landing on analysts’ breakout lists. MAGACOIN FINANCE is gaining momentum due to its roadmap, positioning, and verygood demand from investors. Final Thoughts In the search for the next big crypto winner, Dogecoin might be a legacy giant, but MAGACOIN FINANCE is becoming a formidable contender with real upside potential. If you are looking for an opportunity and want to take advantage of growing area, MAGACOIN FINANCE will be the clearest rising star of 2025. For more information, please visit: Website: magacoinfinance.com Exclusive Access: magacoinfinance.com/entry Continue Reading: Analysts Reveal Which Crypto Might Reach 100x Gains Faster: Dogecoin or This New Meme Coin?
Ethereum is trading at a critical level after reclaiming the $2,400 mark, showing resilience in the face of market-wide volatility. Bulls have managed to defend key support levels following a recent fakeout below $2,200, but momentum remains fragile as ETH struggles to establish a clear trend. Despite attempts to push higher, price action is consolidating near the mid-range, suggesting indecision among traders. However, fundamental strength continues to build beneath the surface. Related Reading: Ethereum Fakes Out Bears – Altcoin Rally Depends On Key Level Breakout Top analyst Ted Pillows highlighted a major on-chain development: the percentage of Ethereum supply being staked has reached a new all-time high. This milestone signals rising confidence among long-term holders and validators, who are increasingly locking up ETH to secure the network and earn yield. Elevated staking levels historically coincide with lower active supply and reduced sell pressure—an encouraging sign for bulls anticipating a breakout. As macroeconomic uncertainty and geopolitical risks persist, Ethereum’s price behavior at this level could determine whether the broader altcoin market finally ignites. For now, ETH sits at a technical and psychological crossroads, with both bulls and bears preparing for the next major move. All eyes are on staking data and price structure to guide what comes next. Ethereum Builds Bullish Momentum As Staking Hits All-Time High Ethereum has climbed 75% from its April lows, showing strong recovery and resilience in a volatile market. Despite this impressive rebound, ETH remains nearly 98% below its all-time high, leaving significant upside potential. Many analysts believe Ethereum could be gearing up for a rally that may trigger the long-awaited altseason. However, caution still lingers in the market due to ongoing global risks and macroeconomic uncertainty, including rising interest rates and geopolitical tensions. The growing optimism is supported by improving on-chain fundamentals. Ted Pillows highlighted a key metric showing that the percentage of Ethereum supply staked has reached a new all-time high of 29.02%. This steady increase in staked ETH reflects strong long-term conviction from holders, who are choosing to lock up their assets to support the network and earn yield rather than sell during market turbulence. Historically, high levels of staking reduce active circulating supply, which can ease sell pressure and fuel bullish price movements. Combined with technical strength and growing confidence among long-term investors, Ethereum appears well-positioned for a breakout, provided bulls can hold current levels and reclaim resistance zones. Related Reading: Ethereum Reclaims $2,444 Level – Bullish Continuation In Focus ETH Reclaims Key Level But Faces Resistance Ethereum (ETH) is showing renewed strength after bouncing from its April 2025 lows and reclaiming the $2,400 level. On the weekly chart, ETH is up over 10% this week, closing firmly above the 200-week simple moving average (SMA) at $2,437.52 — a key threshold that previously acted as both resistance and support in past cycles. Reclaiming this level is a bullish sign and shows that buyers are stepping back in after months of selling pressure. However, Ethereum now faces significant resistance around the $2,625–2,660 zone, where the 100-week and 50-week SMAs converge. This zone has historically served as a pivot for major price action, and a clear break above it would likely trigger a broader rally targeting the $2,800–$3,000 range. Volume has also picked up, signaling renewed interest, though it remains below early 2024 levels. This indicates cautious optimism among traders, especially as global macro uncertainty and geopolitical tensions continue to weigh on markets. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView
Robinhood has expanded its crypto trading platform by launching micro futures contracts for XRP, Solana, and Bitcoin, providing retail investors with more accessible derivative options. This initiative follows Robinhood’s strategic
A new meme coin called XYZVerse has seen its presale surge by an incredible 13,000%. This unexpected rise is turning heads in the crypto community. There is growing speculation about whether XYZVerse can surpass Dogecoin and Shiba Inu. The possibility of a new leader in the meme coin arena sparks curiosity and invites a closer look at this emerging contender. Demand for $XYZ Surges As Its Capitalization Approaches the $15M Milestone ne The XYZVerse ($XYZ) project, which merges the worlds of sports and crypto, has attracted significant investor interest. Unlike typical memecoins, XYZVerse positions itself as a long-term initiative with a clear roadmap and an engaged community. The project was recently recognized as Best NEW Meme Project , further solidifying its appeal. Price Dynamics and Listing Plans During its presale phase, the $XYZ token has shown steady growth. Since its launch, the price has increased from $0.0001 to $0.003333, with the next stage set to push it further to $0.005. The final presale price is $0.02, after which the token will be listed on major centralized and decentralized exchanges. The projected listing price of $0.10 could generate up to 1,000x returns for early investors, provided the project secures the necessary market capitalization. So far, more than $14 million has been raised, and the presale is approaching another significant milestone of $15 million . This fast progress is signaling strong demand from both retail and institutional investors. Champions Get Rewarded In XYZVerse , the community calls the plays . Active contributors aren’t just spectators—they’re rewarded with airdropped XYZ tokens for their dedication. It’s a game where the most passionate players win big. The Road to Victory With solid tokenomics, strategic CEX and DEX listings, and consistent token burns, $XYZ is built for a championship run. Every play is designed to push it further, to strengthen its price , and to rally a community of believers who believe this is the start of something legendary. Airdrops, Rewards, and More – Join XYZVerse to Unlock All the Benefits Dogecoin’s Rise: How a Shiba Inu Changed the Crypto Game Dogecoin began in 2013 as a lighthearted joke, featuring the popular Shiba Inu meme as its logo. Created by software engineers Billy Marcus and Jackson Palmer, it was meant as a fun alternative to the serious world of cryptocurrencies. Unlike Bitcoin’s limited supply, Dogecoin has no cap, and 10,000 new coins are mined every minute, making it abundant and accessible. Despite its humorous origins, Dogecoin’s value skyrocketed in 2021, propelled by social media buzz and endorsements from personalities like Elon Musk. It surged into the top ten cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, exceeding $50 billion and showcasing the power of community and online influence. Dogecoin’s potential lies in its vibrant community and mainstream recognition. Its technology is based on Litecoin, offering fast transaction times and low fees. In the current market cycle, Dogecoin stands out for its widespread acceptance and the enthusiasm of its supporters. Compared to more traditional cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum, Dogecoin’s abundant supply and lower price per coin make it more approachable for new investors. The rise of meme coins and increased interest in crypto markets suggest that Dogecoin may continue to play a significant role in the evolving digital landscape. Shiba Inu: The Meme Coin with Big Ambitions on Ethereum Shiba Inu (SHIB) started as a fun alternative to Dogecoin. Launched in August 2020 by the mysterious Ryoshi, this coin runs on the Ethereum blockchain. That means it’s part of a big ecosystem of apps and services. At first, there were a quadrillion SHIB tokens. Half of them went to Vitalik Buterin, the co-creator of Ethereum. This move was meant to build trust. Buterin donated some of his SHIB to the India Covid Crypto Relief Fund. Then he “burned” 40% of the total supply, taking those tokens out of circulation. These actions put SHIB in the spotlight. Unlike Dogecoin, SHIB can do more than just be a meme. Its connection to Ethereum allows for projects like ShibaSwap, a place to trade cryptocurrencies without a central authority. There are also plans for a platform for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) and a system where the community can vote on changes. In the current market, SHIB stands out because it offers more than just hype. While many coins are struggling, SHIB’s technology and community support could help it grow. Compared to other meme coins, SHIB seems to have a real plan for the future. Conclusion While DOGE and SHIB have dominated memecoins, XYZVerse’s unique fusion of sports and meme culture positions it to become the new king, aiming for 20,000% growth this bull run. You can find more information about XYZVerse (XYZ) here: https://xyzverse.io/ , https://t.me/xyzverse , https://x.com/xyz_verse Disclosure: This is a sponsored press release. Please do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any projects. Read the full disclosure here .
As the bull run unfolds, curiosity swirls around the potential of Dogecoin hitting the elusive $1 mark by the end of the year. Crypto enthusiasts and investors alike are keenly observing its performance amidst increasing market activity. Simultaneously, a promising new digital coin has emerged, capturing attention and potentially diverting focus from traditional favorites. In this dynamic environment, this piece explores the unfolding scenarios in the crypto world, sparking interest in what’s next for these digital assets. Catzilla ($CATZILLA): A Meme Coin with Serious Growth Potential Catzilla ($CATZILLA) is one of those projects that seems too wild to ignore—a mix of Japanese kaiju culture, internet memes, and crypto. At first glance, it might just seem like another meme token, but there’s more going on under the hood. With a structured presale and a growing community, Catzilla has some actual momentum behind it . A Presale with 14 Stages—Here’s Where Things Stand Instead of a typical one-shot token sale, Catzilla’s presale is broken into 14 stages, giving investors multiple chances to buy in before launch. As each stage progresses, the price ticks up, meaning early buyers get in at a lower cost. Current Presale Stats: Current Price: $0.0009 Next Stage Price: $0.0010 Final Presale Price: $0.0016 Funds Raised So Far: $2.2M+ and climbing Right now, it’s at Stage 7, and the CoinMarketCap community seems optimistic about where it’s headed. Since the price keeps increasing with each stage, some investors are getting in now to lock in a lower price before the token hits exchanges. Secure $CATZILLA Now Before Its Price Surges What Makes Catzilla Different? Plenty of meme coins rely purely on hype, but this one has a few things going for it besides just viral appeal. 1. There’s a Unique Concept A big part of the project revolves around a kaiju-style concept. Its mascot is a giant cat that destroys cities and earns rewards. 2. It’s Tapping into Multiple Communities Catzilla is clearly designed to appeal to more than just crypto traders. The mix of anime, gaming, and meme culture makes it something that could attract: Crypto investors looking for early-stage projects Meme lovers who enjoy viral, internet-driven trends Anime and gaming fans who like the kaiju-inspired theme That mix of audiences could help sustain interest in the long term. 3. There’s a Strong Focus on Community Involvement A big part of the project is community engagement, whether it’s through governance voting, staking rewards, or the play-to-earn mechanics in the game. The more people participate, the more active the ecosystem becomes—which could help with long-term sustainability. Is It Worth Getting In Now? The presale is moving along quickly, and since the price keeps increasing in stages, there’s a time factor involved. Like any meme coin, it’s a speculative play—there’s potential for major upside, but also risks, especially in a volatile market. That said, the combination of an actual game, community engagement, and a structured presale makes Catzilla more interesting than most meme coins that pop up and disappear. Whether it turns into a big winner depends on how well they execute on the roadmap, but it’s one to keep an eye on. Take Advantage of the $CATZILLA Surge Dogecoin Set to Make a Move: Breakout or Breakdown? Source: TradingView Dogecoin is dancing between $0.14 and $0.17, teasing traders with potential moves. It’s recently been on a slide, dropping over 28% this month and 50% over the past six months. Yet, with RSI at around 45 and stochastic at nearly 48, it’s not fully overbought or oversold. Analysts are watching to see if it breaks above the $0.20 resistance or dips back towards the $0.12 support. If bullish energy pumps in, DOGE could rise to $0.20 or more, jump-starting a rally. A break below key supports might spell a further dip. The scene is set, but where Dogecoin goes next is up to market sentiment. Conclusion While Dogecoin’s potential to reach $1 is uncertain, other coins may offer less short-term promise. Catzilla emerges as the ultimate meme coin hero, aiming to bring financial freedom to everyone. With a remarkable 700% ROI potential during its presale, starting at $0.0002 and increasing over 14 stages, it offers governance features, rewarding incentives, and staking options. Catzilla invites enthusiasts to join the fight for true financial freedom. Site: Catzilla ($CATZILLA) Twitter: https://x.com/CatzillaToken Telegram: Telegram Chat Telegram News Disclosure: This is a sponsored press release. Please do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any projects. Read the full disclosure here .
“It is becoming clearer to gamers that [blockchain] is the technology that allows us to unlock our vision for the game that they want.”
Speed, scalability, and cost-efficiency are the keys to success in the blockchain world as Layer 1 protocols are engaged in a fierce competition. Kaanch is one of them, and it is already a serious competitor, and its price is very affordable, only 0.64 dollars at the presale stage, compared to hundreds of dollars per token that Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL) cost. There are still two days remaining in Kaanch presale, and investors are encouraged to take their action as soon as possible to take advantage of this quickly moving opportunity. Ethereum and Solana have been long-time players in the Layer 1 arena. Ethereum, which has recently undergone upgrades such as the PECTRA update, is still faced with high gas fees and is trading at approximately 2450 dollars with a 1.46 percent fall in the last twenty-four hours. Solana has the best scalability and speed, supporting more than 65,000 transactions per second (TPS) and trading at around 141 dollars, but it has issues regarding its network uptime and decentralization, and it is down 2.36 percent in 24 hours. The two have had weak price action in the recent past, which has opened the gates to new entrants. Kaanch’s Unmatched Value and Scalability Kaanch is the most optimal Layer 1 solution that has never been seen before with 1.4 million TPS and a blistering speed of 0.8 seconds finality which allows it to execute trades in no time and to have a seamless flow of smart contracts. Its low gas fee ensures that it is very economical to use decentralized applications, microtransactions and payments. The decentralized network has 3,600 nodes to secure it, and it has the ability to tokenize real-world assets like gold, real estate, and digital bonds, which fill the gap between traditional finance and blockchain technology. Kaanch is currently at stage 7 of its presale with a price of 0.64 dollars per token and has already raised close to 3 million dollars. As the presale is set to end in a mere two days, there is an exclusive opportunity to invest at a low price before the token explodes. Kaanch is a good investment as top traders forecast an increase of up to 31,700 percent. The future listings in BitMart, LBank , and xT exchanges will be launched at 30 dollars, with high liquidity and market presence. Ethereum and Solana: Legacy Giants with Challenges Ethereum is the most decentralized and secure Layer 1 blockchain with a large developer ecosystem and strong DeFi, NFT and dApp infrastructure. Its modular architecture however is dependent on Layer 2 solutions to scale, leading to inconsistent user experiences and variable, and often expensive, gas charges. Ethereum can support only 15-30 TPS on the mainnet, despite the continuous improvements. Solana, in its turn, provides monolithic architecture with the focus on speed and throughput, able to process more than 65,000 TPS, with sub-second finality and low fees. This architecture is advantageous to high-frequency use cases such as gaming and NFTs but comes with the issue of centralization since validators require specialized hardware. Solana’s network has faced occasional downtime, impacting reliability. Why Kaanch will be the Best Layer 1 to Investors and Developers Kaanch is a union of the best of Ethereum and Solana with their weaknesses. It has an unrivaled speed and scalability of 1.4 million TPS, which is miles ahead of ETH and SOL. It has nearly zero gas costs and is enterprise-friendly, which makes it a perfect choice to become massively adopted in DeFi, gaming, AI, and identity verification. The platform has an open governance and a staking dashboard which enables the community to participate and be stable in the long run. Kaanch is audited by SpyWolf and VerifyLab to make it transparent and secure to investors. It is also compatible with Ethereum, Solana and BNB Chain, which increases the flexibility of developers to integrate blockchain. The presale provides an APY of up to 30%, and the total supply of the token is 58 million, which is a good investment opportunity to early investors. To those investors who are interested in the best Layer 1 project, visiting the Kaanch presale site is essential to purchase tokens before the presale period is over. As the presale will be over in two days and listings will be coming soon, this window of opportunity is not going to last long. For more information about Kaanch Network ) visit the links below: Website: https://presale.kaanch.com/ Whitepaper: https://docs.kaanch.network/ Twitter/X: https://x.com/KaanchNetwork Telegram: https://t.me/kaanchnetwork Win 1M: https://presale.kaanch.com/win-1-million How to buy : https://presale.kaanch.com/how-to-buy Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
Meta Platforms has accused EU antitrust regulators of moving the goalposts as it works to comply with a directive targeting its pay-or-consent business model. The US tech giant claims the European Commission has unfairly singled out its approach, despite Meta’s efforts to engage in constructive dialogue and implement substantial changes. A Meta spokesperson speculated that the variety of options they provide to people in the EU not only meets the EU’s regulations but also exceeds them. EU regulators enforce broader crackdown against giant tech firms EU regulators may levy daily fines against Meta Platforms if they determine that the changes the company proposed to its pay-or-consent model do not meet an antitrust order issued in April. The warning from the European Commission, the EU’s competition enforcer, came two months after it hit the US social media giant with a 200-million-euro fine, worth $234 million, for breaking the Digital Markets Act (DMA). The legislation is designed to limit the influence of major technology companies . According to the Commission, Meta’s original pay-or-consent model, launched in November 2023, breached the DMA by relying heavily on personal data for targeted ads. Although the company modified the model in November 2024 to reduce data usage, regulators still assess whether those changes go far enough. The model offers Facebook and Instagram users a free service, as long as they agree to be tracked; the service is paid for out of advertising revenues. Alternatively, they can pay for a service without ads. Meanwhile, daily fines for failing to comply with the DMA amount to up to 5% of a company’s average daily worldwide turnover. The action reveals the Commission’s broader crackdown against Big Tech and its ambitions to level the playing field for smaller rivals, even if the United States has accused the bloc’s rules of being directed primarily against its companies. The EU competition watchdog said that Meta is expected to make only limited changes to its pay-or-consent model. EU watchdog claims DMA applies equally to all giant tech firms operating in the EU The European Commission’s action towards Meta raises concerns in the tech ecosystem. Following Meta’s claims that the Commission is treating them unfairly and changing the requirements during discussions over the past two months, a Meta spokesperson stepped up to explain this. Based on the spokesperson’s argument, a choice for users between a subscription with no ads or a free service supported by ads is a valid business model for every company in Europe, except for Meta. In response, the EU watchdog rejected Meta’s discrimination claims, stating that the DMA applies equally to all large digital companies operating in the EU, regardless of their home country or who owns them. A commission spokesperson elaborated on this, stating that they have always enforced their laws fairly and will keep doing so without bias against any company working in the EU, fully complying with international regulations. At the time, the Commission could not say if these measures were enough to meet the key compliance standards mentioned in its non-compliance decision. “Keeping this in mind, we will look at the next steps, which include noting that ongoing non-compliance could lead to periodic penalty payments starting from June 27, 2025, as mentioned in the non-compliance decision,” the spokesperson added. KEY Difference Wire : the secret tool crypto projects use to get guaranteed media coverage