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WhiteBIT has launched a dedicated UK platform as it expands into Britain’s highly regulated crypto market. The new service will offer spot trading, instant crypto swaps, and market analytics for both retail and professional traders. Users will also be able to deposit British pounds through bank cards and the UK’s Faster Payments Service (FPS). The launch matters because it shows major crypto exchanges are continuing to target regulated markets despite tighter oversight, while improving local payment access for UK users.

Bitcoin Depot has entered voluntary Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings to wind down operations and sell assets after mounting regulatory pressure battered its business model. The company said stricter state compliance rules, transaction limits, lawsuits and enforcement actions made Bitcoin ATM operations increasingly unsustainable. Its entire ATM network has already been shut offline. CEO Alex Holmes said fraud prevention measures were expanded, but worsening legal and financial conditions left restructuring as the only viable path forward for the struggling crypto cash-access sector.

Bitcoin is hovering near a major technical support zone while global bond yields continue climbing, tightening pressure across risk assets. Traders are watching the $79,100 CME gap closely, with many expecting it to fill within days. A break lower could trigger broader weakness across altcoins, where valuations remain highly sensitive to liquidity conditions. Meanwhile, oil prices have rebounded after closing a CME gap, adding inflation pressure. Analysts now see $71,000 as the next key defense level before fears of a deeper market-wide correction accelerate rapidly.

New on-chain data shows retail Bitcoin participation has dropped to historic lows, with Binance receiving an average of just 314 BTC monthly from wallets holding under 1 BTC. Analysts note retail inflows previously reached 5,400 BTC in 2018, 2,600 BTC in 2021, and nearly 1,800 BTC during the recent bear market. The sharp decline suggests smaller investors are becoming less active on-chain, with many potentially shifting toward spot Bitcoin ETFs instead of direct BTC ownership. The trend highlights Bitcoin’s growing institutionalization and changing investor landscape.

Iran has launched Hormuz Safe, a state-backed maritime insurance platform accepting cryptocurrency payments, including Bitcoin. Officials say the system is designed to reduce reliance on SWIFT and Western financial intermediaries while supporting vessels operating through the Persian Gulf and Strait of Hormuz. Iranian authorities reportedly estimate the initiative could generate more than $10 billion in revenue if adoption grows. Analysts warn the platform may still face significant sanctions pressure, regulatory scrutiny, and compliance hurdles as global governments tighten oversight of crypto-linked financial networks and cross-border trade.

JPMorgan Chase warned Ethereum and other altcoins are unlikely to outperform Bitcoin anytime soon. In a May 14 client note, analysts cited Ethereum’s weak network activity, slow DeFi growth, and limited real world adoption since 2023. Bitcoin continues attracting stronger ETF inflows while more holders move coins into long term storage. JPMorgan also pointed to rising selling pressure on Ethereum despite upcoming upgrades like Glamsterdam. The bank believes Bitcoin’s growing dominance near 60% strengthens its position as crypto’s leading store of value globally.

JPMorgan Chase increased its holdings in iShares Bitcoin Trust by 175% to 8.3 million shares, according to a new SEC filing, highlighting continued institutional demand for regulated crypto exposure despite longstanding skepticism from CEO Jamie Dimon toward Bitcoin. The position is valued near $400 million and reflects growing client appetite for spot Bitcoin ETFs as traditional financial firms deepen involvement in digital assets. Investors are now watching whether broader Wall Street adoption can support Bitcoin prices amid volatile macroeconomic conditions.

A longtime Bitcoin holder says Anthropic’s Claude AI helped recover access to a wallet containing about 5 BTC, now worth roughly $400,000, after more than a decade of failed attempts. The user had spent weeks brute-forcing passwords before uploading files from an old computer into Claude, which identified a forgotten wallet backup. The backup matched recovery details already written in a notebook, allowing the wallet to be unlocked. The case highlights AI’s growing usefulness in digital forensics and data recovery rather than breaking cybersecurity itself.

Bhutan has reportedly moved another 100 BTC — worth around $8.1 million — from government-linked wallets, fueling speculation the country may be accelerating its Bitcoin selloff. According to Arkham data, Bhutan has already sold over $230 million in BTC during 2025 while still holding roughly $252 million. If sales continue near the current pace of $50 million monthly, the kingdom could fully exit its Bitcoin position before September. Even after the selloff, Bhutan would still secure an estimated $767 million profit from its long-term crypto strategy.