Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) is off to slow start this year, but the political landscape in the U.S. should keep that “digital gold” narrative in place.  That doesn’t mean the main crypto trade will rise and fall along with gold. Recall last year that gold was a better buy than Bitcoin. But founders in the space think that it will continue to decouple from the tech stocks and be seen as a highly speculative gold alternative with a lot of upside.

“Bitcoin doesn’t respond to politics—it responds to math and in periods of global stress, we see it is clearly decoupling from tech and re-entering the macro conversation, pricing credibility rather than growth stories,” said Travis VanderZanden,…

Read more on Benzinga

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) falling below the $90,000 level has raised questions over whether the asset is entering a corrective phase, even as on-chain data shows a significant ownership shift.

Bitcoin Correction And Macro Pressure

According to CryptoQuant, renewed tariff policies under President Trump since 2025 have increased macro uncertainty, reduced risk appetite, and added downside pressure on Bitcoin.

During periods of trade tension and tariff escalation, Bitcoin has traded in line with equities, reinforcing its status as a macro-sensitive risk asset rather than a defensive hedge.

Investors have tended to sell Bitcoin in the short term to reduce portfolio risk amid growth and rate…

Read more on Benzinga

Yield-bearing stablecoins are drawing attention from U.S. banks and regulators as the gap between bank deposits and digital cash products narrows. These tokens began as tools for trading and settlement inside crypto markets. Some now offer returns, placing them closer to instruments long associated with the banking system.

That shift carries weight for investors. Regulatory treatment of yield-bearing stablecoins can shape capital movement, influence DeFi liquidity design, and affect which platforms gain access to deeper pools of funding.

Why Yield-bearing Stablecoins Are Under Pressure

Pressure has grown as banks warn that interest-paying digital dollars may compete with deposits at scale….

Read more on Benzinga

Monica Long, president of Ripple (CRYPTO: XRP), predicts half of Fortune 500 companies will adopt formal crypto strategies by the end of 2026 as stablecoins become the default for global payments.

Stablecoins Become The Default Payment Rail

Long says stablecoins will replace traditional payment systems within five years, not as an alternative but as the foundation.

The shift is already happening. Visa Inc (NYSE:V) and Stripe are building stablecoin infrastructure into their core systems. 

The GENIUS Act legalized compliant U.S. stablecoins, making them the standard for 24/7 global payments.

Ripple’s recent conditional approval from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to charter a…

Read more on Benzinga

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) tapped $88,000 on Wednesday amid heightened geopolitical tensions, though some analysts argue the weakness is temporary rather than structural.

Analyst Says Bitcoin–Gold Divergence Is Cyclical, Not Structural

Crypto trader Ansem said Bitcoin’s recent lag relative to gold is driven by cyclical and structural factors, not a breakdown of the long-term thesis.

He attributed the divergence to early Bitcoin holders taking profits, four-year cycle dynamics, and portfolio rebalancing as gold and silver break out of a decade-long consolidation.

According to Ansem, renewed demand from high-net-worth individuals and institutions, is driven by Bitcoin’s advantages as a “digital…

Read more on Benzinga