Virtuals Protocol token targets $5 after breaking from a 5-month technical pattern

  • VIRTUAL breaks out of a 5-month pattern, eyes $5 target.
  • On-chain metrics show strong user activity and accumulation.
  • Gaming partnership boosts token utility beyond trading.

Virtuals Protocol (VIRTUAL), one of the standout performers in the artificial intelligence (AI) crypto space, has broken through a key technical level, setting its sights on a potential rally toward the $5 mark.

The token, which has surged over 10% in a single day, reclaimed the $2 psychological level after dipping briefly last week, a move that analysts see as the beginning of a larger breakout.

AI crypto market sentiment is rebounding

Importantly, VIRTUAL’s latest price action confirmed the end of a five-month consolidation phase, marked by a cup-like pattern that began forming after its January peak.

Following its April low of $0.41, Virtuals protocol’s token began carving a U-shaped recovery, which has now matured into a bullish breakout above the $2.22 resistance zone, often referred to as the neckline in technical charting.

VIRTUAL price chart

Notably, the breakout comes at a time when market sentiment around AI tokens is rebounding, buoyed by anticipation surrounding NVIDIA’s earnings report, which is expected to reflect strong AI-driven revenue growth.

With NVIDIA projected to post a 65% year-on-year revenue increase, investors are eyeing broader gains in AI-aligned cryptocurrencies, including VIRTUAL, which has strong ties to AI ecosystems.

Virtuals Protocol price outlook

VIRTUAL’s fundamentals appear to be strengthening as on-chain activity surges alongside renewed investor interest.

According to recent analytics, the price-to-daily active addresses (DAA) divergence metric has spiked nearly 400% in just one week, highlighting a dramatic rise in user engagement and network activity.

This metric, often a leading indicator for price movements, suggests that the current rally is being driven by organic growth rather than short-term speculation.

Simultaneously, the Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) indicator, which tracks accumulation and distribution trends, remains above the zero line, signalling persistent buying pressure.

Moreover, the Bull Bear Power (BBP) histogram has flashed consistent green signals, reinforcing the narrative that buyers currently dominate market momentum.

While smart money investors have recently reduced their exposure, with holdings falling from 11.9 million to 7.1 million tokens, the technical strength appears to be countering these outflows.

In addition to strong chart patterns and on-chain signals, the Virtuals protocol is gaining traction through a newly announced partnership with a top-tier blockchain gaming studio.

This collaboration aims to embed VIRTUAL tokens into upcoming play-to-earn and metaverse titles, further expanding the token’s real-world utility beyond speculative trading.

Notably, such strategic moves could help sustain demand by introducing VIRTUAL to an entirely new segment of users in the gaming ecosystem.

As a result, analysts now view the $2.81 resistance level as the next key hurdle, which, if broken, could pave the way for a move toward the 0.382 Fibonacci retracement level at $3.0688.

Should bullish momentum persist, the token could revisit its all-time high of $5.13, which it last touched in January, thereby completing a full recovery and signaling a possible continuation of its long-term uptrend.

However, traders remain cautious about the $2.24 support zone, as failure to hold this level might invalidate the bullish outlook and trigger a drop toward $1.44.

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Circle files for IPO to raise up to $624 million amid stablecoin growth

  • Price range set between $24.00 and $26.00 per share.
  • Offering led by J.P. Morgan, Citigroup, and Goldman Sachs.
  • 9.6 million shares offered by Circle, 14.4 million by existing holders.

Circle Internet Group, the company behind the world’s second-largest stablecoin USDC, has filed to go public on the New York Stock Exchange. The move could generate up to $624 million in proceeds if the shares are priced at the upper end of the $24.00 to $26.00 range.

The proposed offering includes 24 million shares of Class A common stock under the ticker “CRCL”, with 9.6 million offered by Circle itself and the remainder from existing shareholders.

Circle’s public listing attempt comes at a time of rapid transformation in the stablecoin market, where institutional players are gaining prominence and regulation is beginning to catch up.

With stablecoins being seen as the bridge between traditional finance and decentralised ecosystems, the IPO is expected to shape investor sentiment in this emerging sector.

Major banks lead Circle IPO

Circle’s IPO will be led by financial heavyweights, including J.P. Morgan, Citigroup, and Goldman Sachs, alongside several co-managers.

The firm has also provided underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to 3.6 million more shares in the event of high demand.

This marks a strong show of confidence from Wall Street at a time when digital asset companies have faced scrutiny from both lawmakers and markets.

Institutional interest in stablecoins has grown in recent quarters. Unlike volatile cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Ether, stablecoins like USDC are pegged to fiat currencies and serve as reliable vehicles for payments, remittances, and DeFi applications.

Circle’s decision to tap public markets could signal broader mainstream adoption of stablecoin infrastructure, even as broader market uncertainty lingers.

Rumours of acquisition before filing

The announcement of Circle’s IPO follows recent speculation that the company could be acquired by larger crypto firms.

Reports surfaced earlier this year linking Ripple, the developer of XRP, and Coinbase, the Nasdaq-listed exchange, to potential acquisition discussions with Circle. However, Tuesday’s filing confirms that Circle is moving ahead independently.

Circle had previously filed an S-1 form with the US Securities and Exchange Commission in April 2024.

While early reports indicated a potential delay in its IPO plans due to market volatility triggered by former president Donald Trump’s renewed tariff stance, no formal announcement of postponement was ever made by the company.

The filing on May 21 represents a reassertion of Circle’s intent to join the public markets despite external economic factors.

Regulatory risk still looms

Although the IPO remains subject to final SEC approval and market conditions, its timing comes amid growing debate over how stablecoins should be regulated in the US.

With the Securities and Exchange Commission and Federal Reserve taking a keener interest in digital dollar instruments, Circle’s listing could offer investors a rare glimpse into the financial mechanics of a stablecoin operator.

The IPO also serves as a barometer for how traditional financial institutions perceive the role of tokenised assets. Circle’s USDC supply has fluctuated with market demand but remains a key instrument in crypto trading pairs and decentralised lending platforms.

A successful IPO may provide further validation for the token’s broader use in cross-border transactions and settlement mechanisms.

Circle’s move toward a public listing is one of the most significant to emerge from the stablecoin sector to date, with competitors such as Tether and Paxos still operating privately.

Whether or not Circle can meet its fundraising target, its market debut will likely shape how regulators and investors evaluate crypto-linked companies in public equity markets going forward.

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Hyperliquid price prediction: is $100 next after HYPE hit new ATH?

  • Hyperliquid price is at $37 after hitting an all-time high above $39.
  • The HYPE token is up amid massive buying pressure.
  • Key on-chain metrics suggests the decentralized perpetual trading platform could explode to target $100.

Hyperliquid (HYPE) price reached its all-time high above $39 on May 26, breezing to the peak amid massive buying pressure.

HYPE has outpaced Solana and Cardano in recent performance.

Per market data, the decentralized perpetual trading platform recorded daily trading volume exceeding $426 million as HYPE reached a new all-time high.

This marked a significant increase from the $292 million logged the previous day when the token was trading around $34.

The layer 1 blockchain also managed other milestones across its ecosystem, with the price surge helping the total value locked jump to a new high.

Open interest also rose as HYPE’s uptrend continued to attract attention, while other on-chain metrics such as stablecoin market cap pumped to a record high.

Hyperliquid and key network growth

As noted above, on-chain metrics for Hyperliquid are pointing to potential upward continuation amid broader market moves.

Per Coinglass data, the open interest in the HYPE token has jumped to $1.41 billion.

OI hovered around $900 million last week. This represents an all-time high for OI in the token that traded to lows of $3.20 in late November 2024 and is up an impressive $1,061% since then.

The rebound as the altcoin reached its ATH was even bigger.

This positions HYPE for a potential breakout, as fear of missing out on one of the cycle’s top-performing altcoins draws in new buyers.

Whales have recently shown confidence in the long-term price of HYPE, and DeFiLlama shows the Hyperliquid 1 TVL has topped $1.75 billion.

The platform has seen daily revenue hit $1.87 million, while DEX and perps 24-hour counts stand at $509 million and $6.9 billion, respectively.

Meanwhile, the stablecoin market cap across the platform has grown to over $3.62 billion.

HYPE price prediction

While Hyperliquid’s token has traded to lows of $36.14, as the area around $38 looks to offer bears an advantage, analysts are bullish about HYPE.

The surge to a new ATH has moved HYPE off the lows seen amid negative sentiment earlier in the year.

If bulls break above $40, could another leg up bring the much-desired $100 mark into view?

A rally for HYPE amid price discovery could see bulls target the psychological mark, in this case, catalysts including altcoins breakout and fundamental interest in the DEX and perps platform.

On the downside, key support levels could be around $32 and $26.

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Cardano gains 11% in May, but weak derivatives data hint at looming pullback

  • ADA is currently priced at $0.7677, down 0.04% in the last 24 hours.
  • A bullish MACD crossover has formed, supporting short-term upside.
  • ADA futures open interest dropped 0.43% to $920.12 million.

Cardano (ADA) has recorded an 11% monthly gain so far in May, buoyed by a technical bounce from the $0.72 support level.

However, underlying market indicators raise caution.

Despite recent bullish momentum, ADA continues to struggle within a tight trading range and faces potential bearish pressure from weakening derivatives data.

At the time of writing, ADA is priced at $0.7677, reflecting a minor 0.04% decline over the last 24 hours.

Cardano price
Source: CoinMarketCap

On the 4-hour chart, ADA rebounded from the 200-period exponential moving average (EMA) at $0.74, climbing toward a short-term resistance level of $0.7745.

This movement marks the latest attempt to retest the $0.84 resistance zone, which Cardano last approached on 13 May and 23 May.

Yet, the upside move has been met with hesitation.

The token remains stuck between the key $0.72 and $0.77 levels — a range that analysts are closely monitoring as a “no-trade zone” due to limited directional clarity.

Mixed technical signals

Currently, ADA is consolidating above the 200-day EMA, with the moving average structure offering some near-term support.

The MACD indicator has formed a bullish crossover, further confirmed by positive histogram bars.

This setup suggests that buyers still maintain some control over short-term price action.

However, not all technical signals are aligned. A bearish crossover between the 50- and 100-day EMAs is beginning to form.

If ADA breaks below the 200-day EMA, this crossover could result in a “death cross” scenario — a historically bearish technical pattern that often signals extended declines.

Cardano’s ability to maintain momentum will likely depend on whether it can break through the $0.77 resistance barrier.

A successful breach could lead to a rally back toward the $0.84 level.

In contrast, failure to hold above $0.72 could see ADA retesting longer-term support near $0.70.

Derivatives data weakens

While spot prices hold firm, data from the derivatives market presents a less optimistic view.

According to CoinGlass, open interest in ADA futures contracts has declined 0.43% to $920.12 million.

This declining activity in the derivatives space reflects weakening trader interest and reduces the likelihood of a strong breakout.

It also indicates that large speculative positions are being trimmed or closed, a trend that often leads to price consolidation or short-term reversals.

ADA at a critical level

Cardano’s price action now depends on whether it can decisively break out of its current range.

While there is potential for a move back to $0.84 if bulls regain momentum, current market dynamics suggest ADA could remain range-bound or even experience renewed selling pressure.

Volatility in the broader crypto market has also contributed to ADA’s stagnation.

Bitcoin is currently holding near the $109,000 level, and major altcoins are consolidating after strong April rallies.

Without a strong catalyst, Cardano may struggle to attract fresh inflows in the short term.

As of now, ADA remains in a technical holding pattern, with both bullish and bearish scenarios in play.

The next few trading sessions will be critical in determining whether Cardano can reclaim its March highs — or face another leg lower.

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Bitcoin rally pauses below $110K; profit-taking by short-term holders intensifies

  • Bitcoin slipped to $109,000 Monday amid sluggish Memorial Day trading, but remains up 1.7% in 24 hours.
  • Short-term Bitcoin holders realized $11.4 billion in profits over the past 30 days, intensifying selling pressure.
  • A temporary US delay on 50% EU tariffs (until July 9) spurred overnight gains in crypto and European stocks.

Bitcoin experienced a slight pullback to $109,000 on Monday, May 26th, navigating sluggish trading conditions as traditional US markets remained closed for the Memorial Day holiday.

Despite this minor dip, the premier cryptocurrency maintained a position of strength, holding onto gains from a gentle weekend rise and remaining tantalizingly close to the all-time high it achieved just last week.

While Bitcoin consolidated, the broader digital asset market saw pockets of notable activity.

The CoinDesk 20 index, which tracks the top 20 digital coins (excluding stablecoins, memecoins, and exchange tokens), highlighted decentralized exchange Uniswap (UNI) as the day’s standout performer, with its token surging 6.6%.

Tokens for Chainlink (LINK) and Avalanche (AVAX) also posted respectable gains of 3.3% and 3.4%, respectively.

These gains largely materialized overnight, receiving a boost from a shift in US trade policy rhetoric.

President Trump announced on Sunday that the implementation of proposed 50% tariffs on EU goods would be delayed until July 9.

This was a reversal from his statement on Friday, which had called for the tariffs to take effect on June 1 and had consequently triggered a sell-off in risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.

European stocks, initially shaken by the tariff threat, rebounded on this news of a temporary reprieve.

Profit-taking wave: short-term holders cash in

Despite the overall positive sentiment that has recently propelled Bitcoin near record highs, analysts suggest the cryptocurrency may have entered a more volatile, consolidatory phase. T

raders are currently digesting the rapid, nearly 50% surge from the lows seen in April, according to a Monday report from Bitfinex analysts.

A significant factor potentially capping Bitcoin’s immediate upside is an intensification of profit-taking by short-term holders.

The Bitfinex report highlighted that this particular cohort of investors has realized a substantial $11.4 billion in cumulative profits over the past 30 days.

This figure stands in stark contrast to the $1.2 billion in profits realized by the same group in the preceding 30-day period, indicating a significant ramp-up in cashing out gains.

“At these levels, the risk emerges that profit-taking outpaces new demand inflows,” the Bitfinex analysts wrote.

Unless thereʼs a corresponding rise in new capital entering the market to absorb this supply, prices may begin to stall or even retrace.

Navigating choppy waters

The coming days are seen as crucial in determining Bitcoin’s near-term trajectory.

“The next few days will be key to gauge whether the dip to $106,000 has set the range lows or a bigger reset is in the cards,” the Bitfinex report stated.

Should a more significant pullback materialize, a key level of support to monitor is the short-term holder cost basis, which currently sits around $95,000.

This represents the average price at which this group of investors acquired their Bitcoin.

Despite the potential for near-term choppiness and profit-taking, the underlying outlook remains constructive, according to the analysts.

They pointed to strong inflows into US spot Bitcoin ETFs—totaling an impressive $5.3 billion in May so far—alongside currently low market volatility and a lack of excessive speculative froth.

These factors, they argue, suggest that Bitcoin is likely to resume its upward trend heading into the third quarter of the year, following this potential period of consolidation.

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