KuCoin partners with UAE team Emirates-XRG ahead of Tour de France

  • KuCoin partners with UAE Team Emirates–XRG ahead of Tour de France.
  • KuCoin debuts Tour de France sponsorship with UAE Team Emirates–XRG.
  • KuCoin expands global sports push with UAE Team Emirates–XRG deal.

KuCoin announced that it has become the official cryptocurrency partner of UAE Team Emirates – XRG, marking a new sports sponsorship agreement that will debut publicly during the 2026 Tour de France.

The partnership gives KuCoin exclusive rights in the Cryptocurrency Exchanges, Blockchain Trading Platforms and Crypto Wallet Services categories.

The company’s branding will appear across the team’s buses, support vehicles and fleet cars throughout the three-week Tour de France.

The agreement expands KuCoin’s sports sponsorship portfolio as the cryptocurrency exchange seeks to strengthen its global brand presence through partnerships with internationally recognized sporting organizations.

KuCoin secures exclusive sponsorship rights

Under the agreement, KuCoin will serve as UAE Team Emirates – XRG’s sole partner across cryptocurrency exchanges, blockchain trading platforms and crypto wallet services.

The partnership brings together two organizations that said they share a focus on innovation, precision and long-term performance.

The collaboration will make its public debut at the 2026 Tour de France, one of cycling’s most prominent events, where KuCoin branding will be prominently displayed on the team’s transportation fleet throughout the race.

Commenting on the partnership, BC Wong, Chief Executive Officer of KuCoin, said: “We are incredibly proud to partner with UAE Team Emirates – XRG and launch this collaboration on cycling’s grandest stage.”

He added that, “World-class achievements are never solitary; they require a dedicated team moving in unison toward a shared vision. These are the very values that have fueled KuCoin’s growth, and we look forward to empowering the team as they chase victory at the Tour de France.”

Tour de France provides global platform

The partnership will be introduced during the 2026 Tour de France, a three-week race regarded as one of the most prestigious events in professional cycling.

KuCoin said the competition reflects values that align with its business, including discipline, teamwork, trust and strategic coordination.

According to the company, success in the Tour de France depends on collaboration among riders, coaches, mechanics and support staff, principles that it said also underpin its approach to building a global digital asset infrastructure.

The sponsorship gives KuCoin visibility throughout the event by placing its branding on team buses, support vehicles and fleet cars used during the race.

Partnership expands KuCoin’s sports strategy

The agreement represents the latest addition to KuCoin’s global sports sponsorship initiatives as cryptocurrency companies continue using major sporting events to increase brand awareness.

UAE Team Emirates – XRG is one of the leading professional cycling teams and includes several high-profile riders, including multi-time Tour de France champion Tadej Pogačar.

KuCoin said the collaboration marks a significant expansion of its international sports sponsorship portfolio and is intended to reinforce the company’s global brand presence.

The company also said additional collaborative initiatives involving UAE Team Emirates – XRG and Tadej Pogačar will be announced later in the season, although no further details were disclosed.

The announcement comes as cryptocurrency firms continue pursuing partnerships in global sports as part of broader efforts to expand their visibility among mainstream audiences through internationally followed competitions and teams.

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Mixed market signals leave XLM at key technical levels

Key takeaways

  • Stellar (XLM) is trading lower as bullish momentum fades.
  • Derivatives data shows bearish positioning, with long-to-short ratios below 1 
  • Positive funding rates indicate traders are still willing to maintain long positions despite the pullback.

Stellar (XLM) remains under pressure on Tuesday as the coin extends its recent pullbacks.

Although prices have weakened, derivatives and on-chain metrics suggest investor sentiment has not turned decisively bearish. 

Instead, market participants appear cautiously optimistic, with traders balancing expectations for a potential recovery against continued short-term weakness.

Derivatives data shows mixed sentiment

Recent derivatives metrics present conflicting signals for the digital asset. According to CoinGlass, XLM’s long-to-short ratio stands at 0.84, also near a one-month low.

A ratio below 1 indicates that short positions outnumber long positions, suggesting traders are increasingly betting on further downside.

However, funding rates tell a different story. XLM’s funding rates read 0.0058%, indicating that the bulls are still paying the bears. 

Positive funding rates mean traders holding long positions are paying those holding shorts, indicating that bullish positioning still outweighs bearish conviction among leveraged participants.

The divergence between positioning and funding suggests many investors remain cautiously optimistic despite the recent correction.

Stellar technical outlook: XLM holds above key support

Stellar continues to trade above its short-term moving averages, preserving a modest bullish bias despite recent weakness.

XLM is currently trading near $0.193, holding above the 50-day EMA at $0.1922 and the 100-day EMA at $0.1872

However, the token remains capped below the 200-day EMA at $0.1985 and the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement at $0.2001

These levels represent immediate resistance for the current recovery attempt. Technical indicators continue to lean slightly positive. The RSI remains near 48, reflecting bearish momentum, while the MACD stays above the zero line, suggesting underlying bullish momentum has not yet faded completely.

If the bulls regain control, XLM could rally towards the $0.1985 (200-day EMA) and $0.2001 (61.8% Fibonacci retracement).

A daily candle close above these levels would allow XLM to extend its rally towards the $0.2188, $0.2376, and $0.2607 resistance zones. 

However, if the bearish trend persists, XLM could drop below $0.1922 (50-day EMA) and $0.1872 (100-day EMA) in the near term.

XLM/USD 4H Chart

A decisive close below these levels would expose lower demand zones at $0.1774, $0.1735 (78.6% Fibonacci retracement), and $0.1421 (major structural support)

Holding above the 50-day EMA would help preserve XLM’s near-term recovery, while a break below $0.1872 could shift momentum back in favor of sellers.

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Ethereum begins new week on strong footing as bulls target key breakout levels

Key takeaways

  • Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP started the week holding onto last week’s strong gains.
  • Ethereum is approaching its 50-day EMA near $1,806, a key hurdle for extending its recovery.

Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH) and Ripple (XRP) began the week on a constructive note after surging over 6%, 13% and 10% in the previous week. 

BTC holds steady below $63,000, ETH approaches a key technical resistance at $1,800, while XRP has broken above the upper boundary of a falling channel, strengthening the bullish outlook.

Ethereum tests key resistance near the 50-Day EMA

Ethereum (ETH) is also extending last week’s recovery after climbing more than 13%, trading near $1,784 on Monday.

The cryptocurrency is approaching a significant technical hurdle at the 50-day EMA around $1,806, which currently serves as the first major resistance level.

Despite the recent rebound, Ethereum remains below the 100-day EMA near $1,972 and the 200-day EMA around $2,241, leaving the broader trend tilted to the downside.

However, technical momentum continues to strengthen. The RSI is hovering near 57, indicating healthy buying momentum, while the MACD remains firmly positive, suggesting bulls continue to regain control after recent weakness.

If ETH successfully breaks above the 50-day EMA, attention would shift toward resistance near $1,972, followed by the psychologically important $2,000 level and the 200-day EMA around $2,242.

On the downside, the strongest support remains near $1,385, where buyers previously stepped in to defend the market.

Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP have all entered the new week with improving momentum following strong performances last week.

ETH/USD 4H Chart

While each asset faces important technical resistance, bullish indicators continue to strengthen.

A decisive move above $64,000 for Bitcoin, $1,806 for Ethereum, and continued strength above XRP’s channel breakout could reinforce the recovery across the broader cryptocurrency market and set the stage for further gains.

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Bitcoin dips below $63K amid ETF outflows and geopolitical risks

Key takeaways

  • Bitcoin is trading below $64,000 after rallying more than 6% last week.
  • U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $526.64 million in net outflows, marking an eighth consecutive week of withdrawals.
  • Renewed geopolitical concerns surrounding the Strait of Hormuz are limiting demand for risk assets.

Bitcoin (BTC) is trading slightly lower on Monday after climbing more than 6% last week, with buyers struggling to push the cryptocurrency above the key $64,000 resistance level.

Although last week’s rebound improved short-term sentiment, persistent institutional selling and renewed geopolitical uncertainty continue to cap upside momentum.

For now, Bitcoin remains caught between improving technical conditions and cautious macroeconomic sentiment.

Spot Bitcoin ETFs extend historic outflow streak

Institutional demand for Bitcoin remains under pressure. According to CoinGlass data, U.S. spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded $526.64 million in net outflows during the previous week.

The withdrawals mark the eighth consecutive week of net redemptions, extending the longest outflow streak since spot Bitcoin ETFs began trading.

If institutional investors continue reducing exposure this week, Bitcoin could face renewed selling pressure despite last week’s rebound.

Global geopolitical uncertainty remains another obstacle for Bitcoin. The cryptocurrency rallied last week after easing tensions between the United States and Iran briefly improved investor sentiment.

However, optimism has faded as concerns surrounding the Strait of Hormuz resurfaced.

Reports that Iran may introduce new service fees for vessels passing through the strategically important shipping route have renewed uncertainty, while the United States and several Gulf allies continue opposing such measures.

The lingering geopolitical risks have kept investors cautious, limiting demand for higher-risk assets such as cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin price outlook: Bulls defend long-term support

From a technical perspective, Bitcoin continues to trade above a critical long-term support level.

Last week’s rally allowed BTC to reclaim the 200-week Simple Moving Average (SMA) at $62,867 after bouncing from an ascending trendline that has supported prices since early 2023.

Holding above this level keeps the broader recovery intact. If buyers maintain control above the 200-week SMA, Bitcoin could extend its advance toward the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement level at $65,520, measured from the August 2024 low to the October 2025 record high.

On the daily timeframe, Bitcoin continues to trade below its major moving averages. The cryptocurrency remains beneath the 50-day EMA at $65,744, the 100-day EMA at $69,455, and the 200-day EMA at $75,471, leaving the broader trend tilted to the downside despite recent gains.

Immediate resistance is located around $64,004. A successful breakout above that level could allow Bitcoin to challenge the 50-day EMA, with additional upside targets at the 100-day EMA, the 200-day EMA, and eventually the major resistance area near $84,410.

While momentum has improved, the daily RSI near 49 and a positive MACD crossover indicate buyers are gradually regaining strength, although confirmation of a sustained uptrend is still lacking.

The 200-week SMA at $62,867 remains the most important support level in the near term.

A sustained move below that area would weaken the current recovery and expose the long-term ascending trendline near $58,000. If selling pressure intensifies further, Bitcoin could revisit its yearly low around $57,800.

Bitcoin has recovered significantly from recent lows, but the rally is encountering resistance just below $64,000.

BTC/USD 4H Chart

Persistent ETF outflows, geopolitical uncertainty, and overhead technical resistance continue to limit upside potential.

As long as BTC holds above its 200-week SMA, the recovery remains intact. However, buyers will need to reclaim $64,004 and then $65,744 to build momentum for a broader move higher.

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REAL launches confidential layer to expand institutional RWA adoption

  • REAL launches private execution layer for RWA institutions.
  • ZKsync tech enables confidential on-chain settlement via Ethereum.
  • Platform aims to bridge the privacy gap in institutional blockchain use.

REAL has introduced a confidential execution layer designed to support regulated financial institutions operating in tokenized real-world asset (RWA) markets, addressing one of the key barriers to broader institutional adoption of blockchain-based finance.

The new layer, built using ZKsync’s Prividium technology, operates alongside REAL’s public Layer 1 network.

According to the company, it enables institutions to keep positions, allocations, and counterparty data private while still benefiting from public settlement and liquidity through Ethereum.

The company said the confidential layer is intended to provide privacy controls without compromising compliance, liquidity, or distribution, allowing institutions to participate in onchain markets while maintaining the confidentiality required for regulated financial operations.

Confidential infrastructure targets institutional needs

REAL said the new execution layer is designed to bridge the gap between public blockchain infrastructure and the operational requirements of regulated financial institutions.

While public blockchains offer benefits such as global access, instant settlement, and composability, the company noted that institutions have been reluctant to conduct business on networks where sensitive information—including positions, treasury strategies, and counterparty relationships—is publicly visible.

Because the confidential layer settles transactions on Ethereum, institutions can access the broader onchain capital market while maintaining operational privacy instead of operating within isolated private networks.

Platform supports regulated financial workflows

According to REAL, the confidential execution layer is built to support a range of institutional workflows where privacy is considered essential.

These include wealth and asset management activities that require protected portfolio information, balance sheet operations, tokenized deposit models, and selective disclosure capabilities for auditors, compliance teams, and regulators when necessary.

The company said institutions using the platform will continue to benefit from blockchain-native settlement, distribution, and liquidity while avoiding the need to expose sensitive business activity on fully public networks.

The launch also expands REAL’s broader strategy of supporting the entire lifecycle of tokenized real-world assets within a compliance-focused infrastructure.

The company said its platform covers issuance, risk assessment, insurance, trading, and institutional execution under a single architecture designed for regulated financial markets.

REAL expands institutional blockchain offering

REAL describes itself as an institutional blockchain infrastructure provider focused on compliant real-world asset tokenization and risk-managed capital flows.

Built on Cosmos Tendermint, the platform supports multiple stages of onchain financial products, including issuance, compliance, liquidity, insurance, risk assessment, and trading.

The company said its dual-validator architecture combines technical validators with business validators such as tokenizers, risk scorers, insurers, and credit agencies to provide an infrastructure aimed at institutional trust.

The confidential execution layer uses ZKsync’s Prividium privacy technology, which is designed to enable regulated entities to operate onchain with configurable confidentiality, selective disclosure, and settlement on Ethereum.

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