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Layer-1 blockchain Solana may be evolving into a “one-trick pony” for memecoin generation and trading, according to a recent Standard Chartered report.

According to a May 27 Standard Chartered research report shared with Cointelegraph, Solana “dominates in areas that demand high-volume, low-transaction-cost solutions” due to its design prioritizing fast and cheap transaction confirmation. The report suggested that this has had an unintended consequence:

Standard Chartered said the memecoin frenzy served as a stress test for Solana’s scalability but came with drawbacks due to the volatility and speculative nature of such assets. As memecoin trading volumes decline, the bank warned that Solana may struggle to maintain momentum.

Related: Migos Instagram account hacked in apparent blackmail bid on Solana co-founder

Memecoin trading passed its peak

The report said Solana-based memecoin activity is past its peak, and “declining usage and trading ‘cheap’ are not a good mix.” The bank suggested that Solana should expand into other sectors that require processing large volumes of transactions cheaply and quickly.

Investments in the fast-paced cryptocurrency market require real-time insights and efficient research. With thousands of projects emerging or disappearing, you need innovative ways to separate signal from noise. 

AI solutions such as ChatGPT and Grok could benefit you as your research assistant, reducing research time and delivering actionable information. 

This article discusses how to use both platforms to make better decisions regarding investment in altcoins.

How to share content with ChatGPT and Grok

Both ChatGPT 4o and Grok 3 allow you to share content in three ways. 

You can simply paste content in the text box with inverted commas and write your prompt. 

MARA Holdings, formerly Marathon Digital Holdings, reached a new all-time high in Bitcoin mining revenue, fueled by its recent surge to a record price.

The company’s annualized mining revenue exceeded $752 million on May 27, according to data from CryptoQuant, making it the most profitable day in the company’s history. Marathon is currently the world’s largest publicly traded Bitcoin (BTC) mining firm by market capitalization.

“Quarterly reports are slow. Onchain shows revenue in real time,” CryptoQuant founder and CEO Ki Young Ju wrote in a May 27 X post, confirming the milestone. 

Marathon’s record revenue surge occurred days after Bitcoin rose to a new all-time high of $112,000 on May 22, a development attributed by some analysts to Japanese bond market turbulence, which saw bond yields rise to new highs amid economic turmoil in the country.

Related: Metaplanet’s Bitcoin’ premium’ nears $600k per BTC

Blockchain company StarkWare has unveiled zero-knowledge (ZK) prover STARK Two (S-two), enabling enhanced privacy and verification on everyday devices like phones, laptops and browsers. 

The company said the new ZK prover allows users to generate complex cryptographic proofs from the client side. This means users can generate ZK-proofs directly on their devices instead of relying on a server or cloud infrastructure, opening the door for faster and more private applications across the internet. 

“S-two will bring STARK proving to everyday devices, and open the door for new real-world proving use cases,” said Eli Ben-Sasson, StarkWare co-founder and CEO, adding that the tool could empower the next wave of ZK applications. 

The company said the ZK prover is now available in public alpha and is set to roll out on Starknet, its Ethereum layer-2 scaling solution, later this year.  

StarkWare says new ZK prover is 39 times faster than old solutions 

StarkWare said that benchmark tests for the S-two ZK prover showed that it was 39 times faster than previous solutions. The performance leap enables smoother experiences in privacy-enhancing applications. 

Fintech companies Taurus and Parafin have partnered to deliver blockchain infrastructure to financial institutions in Europe and Latin America — a move aimed at accelerating the adoption of crypto custody and settlement services across both regions.

As part of the partnership, Taurus has integrated its product suite into Parafin’s institutional platform, creating an end-to-end solution for digital asset management, including custody, governance, and compliant token issuance, the companies announced on May 27.

Financial institutions using the integrated Taurus-Parafin solution will gain access to custody and tokenization services, real-time wallet execution and a full range of trading capabilities.

Taurus is an enterprise digital asset custody and tokenization solution that enables businesses to issue, store and trade a range of crypto products. 

Parafin, by contrast, is not a blockchain-native company; instead, it offers financial infrastructure and merchant services for small businesses. In December, the company was valued at $750 million following a $100 million late-stage funding round. 

Circle, the issuer of USDC, the second-largest stablecoin by market capitalization, has launched an initial public offering (IPO) of 24 million shares of its Class A common stock, the company said on May 27.

The firm has applied to list its Class A common stock on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) under the ticker symbol CRCL. As part of the offering, Circle is issuing 9.6 million shares of Class A common stock, the company said in a news release.

The remaining 14.4 million shares of Class A common stock will be offered by selling stockholders. Circle is also expected to grant the underwriters a 30-day option to buy up to an additional 3.6 million shares of Class A common stock to cover over-allotments.

The IPO involves participation from several major US investment banks, with JPMorgan, Citigroup and Goldman Sachs acting as joint lead active bookrunners, the announcement added.

The offering will also feature European banks, including Barclays, Deutsche Bank Securities and Societe Generale acting as bookrunners.

The United Kingdom is leading the world in increasing cryptocurrency ownership among its population in 2025, outpacing economies including the United States, according to a new study by Gemini.

Gemini, the US-based crypto exchange founded by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, on May 27 released its latest “State of Crypto” report, giving insights into changes in the global adoption of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC).

Based on a survey of 7,200 adults across the US, Europe, Singapore and Australia, the report found that Europe has been leading the way in growing crypto ownership, with the UK in front.

The UK saw the biggest year-over-year growth in crypto ownership of the surveyed nations, with the share of respondents indicating crypto holdings rising to 24% as of April from 18% last year, Gemini said in the report shared with Cointelegraph.

Crypto sees highest ownership in Singapore

While the UK has reportedly seen an increase in new crypto owners, it’s yet to reach the world’s top crypto ownership rate.

Key takeaways:

Bitcoin’s RSI has dropped 15% and is now below the overbought threshold.

Bitcoin futures flip bearish with a 43% decline in perpetual CVD.

Analysts predict Bitcoin could reach $150,000 as long as a key support level holds.

Bitcoin’s (BTC) price hit fresh all-time highs of nearly $112,000 on May 23, gaining 50% from its April 1 lows. According to analysts, BTC price is now “showing signs of easing momentum” as it consolidates. 

Luxembourg classified virtual asset service providers (VASPs) as high-risk entities for money laundering in its 2025 National Risk Assessment (NRA), highlighting concerns over the crypto industry’s exposure to financial crime.

According to the report, the inherent risk level of VASPs is deemed “High,” driven by factors including transaction volume, client reach, distribution channels, legal structures and the international scope of operations.

The NRA identified VASPs as an emerging risk in its 2020 report after “a detailed assessment of ML inherent risks emerging from virtual assets.” This was followed by a 2022 NRA report deeming “the risks associated with crypto assets and virtual currencies as very high,” because, among other things, they are internet-based and cross-border.

Related: Blender and Sinbad operators face US money laundering charges

EU’s evolving crypto regulation

The European Union, of which Luxembourg is a founding member, has been working to regulate the cryptocurrency industry. A key part of this effort is the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework, which is designed to unify crypto regulation across all 27 EU member states.

Japanese investment firm Metaplanet’s Bitcoin premium has reached almost $600,000 per coin, as Asia’s leading Bitcoin treasury firm pushes forward with its plan to purchase 21,000 BTC by 2026.

Metaplanet’s stockholders are paying more than a fivefold premium on Bitcoin (BTC) when investing in the Japanese company, according to a report by 10x Research published on May 27.

“A little-known Japanese stock trades as if Bitcoin were worth $596,154, more than five times its actual price,” the report states.

Investors who don’t understand the importance of a firm’s net asset value (NAV) may be “dramatically overpaying for their Bitcoin exposure” on a position that doesn’t provide additional upside leverage, the report adds.

The NAV represents the per-unit price of a fund, calculated by dividing the fund’s total assets minus its liabilities by the number of outstanding shares.

Crypto exchange Bitget has entered the expanding market for crypto investment products with the launch of BGUSD, a yield-bearing stable asset backed by tokenized real-world assets.

The company announced that BGUSD offers an annual yield of 4%, which is credited daily to users’ spot accounts. Subscriptions to BGUSD can be made using either USDC (USDC) or USDt (USDT), and the asset is redeemable back to USDC on demand.

The company said the yield is derived from a basket of tokenized instruments, including US Treasury bills and high-grade money-market funds. “These assets are managed via partnerships with regulated institutional tokenization providers such as Superstate,” Bitget CEO Gracy Chen told Cointelegraph.

The product’s structure is designed to reduce exposure to crypto volatility while delivering returns through traditional financial instruments. 

Bitget to roll out third-party attestations

In response to questions about transparency, Chen said that Bitget is preparing to roll out third-party attestations to provide visibility into BGUSD’s asset backing.

Blockchain.com is stepping up its presence in Africa, targeting markets where governments are beginning to implement crypto regulations.

The UK-based exchange plans to open a physical office during the second quarter in Nigeria — its “fastest-growing market” in West Africa — along with broader expansion efforts in Ghana, Kenya and South Africa, according to a May 27 report by Bloomberg.

“Nigeria has taken meaningful steps toward creating a clear framework for crypto,” Owenize Odia, Blockchain.com’s general manager for Africa, reportedly said.

The move comes as global sentiment shifts, including political tailwinds from the United States, where President Donald Trump’s pro-crypto stance has encouraged industry expansion.

Related: Hedera Africa Hackathon launches with $1M prize pool and Web3 focus

Thailand is preparing to let tourists spend cryptocurrency via credit card-linked platforms as part of a broader strategy to modernize its financial system and embrace digital assets.

The plan was announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira during an investment seminar in Bangkok on May 26, according to reports from Bangkok Post and The Nation.

The initiative, currently under review by the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Thailand, will enable tourists to link their crypto holdings to credit cards for local purchases.

Merchants will receive Thai baht as usual, often without knowing crypto was used in the transaction. The pilot is expected to roll out after key infrastructure and regulatory checks are in place.

“This approach can be immediately adapted for Thailand, provided the supporting systems are in place,” said Pichai, noting that the model avoids using the Thai baht directly, reducing risks to the domestic currency.

French authorities have arrested more than 12 people who have been linked to two high-profile crypto kidnapping cases in Paris, France, local media reports.

Those arrested include several minors, with charges against them including kidnapping, attempted kidnapping and criminal conspiracy, Le Parisien reported on May 26.

French investigators are exploring the possibility that a criminal organization is behind two recent crypto-linked kidnapping cases, with social media networks being used for recruitment.

In one recent alleged kidnapping attempt on May 13, three men tried to snatch the daughter and grandson of Pierre Noizat, the co-founder and CEO of French crypto exchange Paymium, in broad daylight in Paris.

That attempt, which bystanders captured on video, shows that the alleged attempt was thwarted as Noizat’s daughter fought back and passersby intervened.

Four artificial intelligence-enhanced robots have been put through their paces in a Chinese robot fighting competition, duking it out in kickboxing matches until one was declared the champion.

The World Robot Competition Mecha Fighting Series had four human-controlled robots built by China-based firm Unitree compete in three, two-minute rounds with winners crowned through a points system, according to a May 26 report from the China state-owned outlet the Global Times. 

Chen Xiyun, a Unitree team member, said the “robots fight in a human-machine collaborative way,” with the machines pre-taught moves, but ultimately, a person controls the bot’s movements.

The robots reportedly weighed 35 kilograms and stood 132 centimeters tall. Ahead of the boxing rounds, the pint-sized robots were put through tests to demonstrate a variety of kicks and punches and assist the organizers in refining the rules.

The team with the highest points across the three rounds moves on to fight another opponent. A punch to the head was worth one point, and a kick to the head was worth three. Teams lost five points if their robot fell and 10 points if their robot was down for over eight seconds. 

Christopher Giancarlo, former chairman of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), has joined Sygnum in an advisory role, where he will help the crypto bank navigate global regulations amid growing institutional interest in digital assets. 

Giancarlo’s appointment as senior policy adviser places him alongside 11 other members of Sygnum’s Advisory Council, the company disclosed on May 27.

In his role, Giancarlo will advise on regulations and strategic partnerships in both the public and private sectors. 

Sygnum is a Swiss banking group dedicated to providing crypto asset services. It’s often called the first digital asset bank, having recently achieved unicorn status following a $58 million funding round. 

Giancarlo, who headed the CFTC between 2017 and 2019, said he is joining Sygnum at a time when the global digital asset industry is nearing a turning point in institutional adoption.

Bitcoin markets recently experienced two major liquidation events, causing a cascade of forced selling from over-leveraged traders, but analysts say a distinct pattern has emerged.

“Overleveraged short-term traders were flushed out, long-term holders have been quietly capitalizing on the reset,” CryptoQuant analyst Amr Taha said on May 26. 

They noted the first flush occurred when Bitcoin (BTC) fell below $111,000, and over $97 million in long positions were liquidated. As its price broke $109,000, another $88 million in longs were wiped out in the second wave.

However, as short-term traders faced margin calls and forced selling, long-term holders (LTH) responded very differently and increased their accumulation.

This caused the long-term holder realized capitalization to surge past $28 billion, a level not seen since April. Realized cap is a measure of the value of each Bitcoin based on the last time it was moved, rather than the current market price.

The Instagram account of former US rap trio Migos was hacked in an apparent attempt to blackmail Solana co-founder Raj Gokal.

On May 27, Migos’ Instagram account posted at least seven images seen by Cointelegraph that have since been deleted. Two of the images appeared to depict Gokal holding up his passport and driver’s license, clearly showing the full details of each document.

The account’s hacker tagged Gokal in one of the images that apparently showed him with the caption “you should’ve paid the 40 btc,” while another image depicting Gokal was captioned “it was only 40 btc.. should’ve paid,” in what appears to be a references to a failed extortion attempt.

Another image posted by the account hacker shows what the caption claimed was Gokal’s wife holding up a driver’s license, while a further two images appear to be a dump of private information, including mobile phone numbers and email addresses.

The type of photos posted, where a person holds personal identifying documents in clear view of the camera with their face visible, are commonly used by crypto exchanges in Know Your Customer checks.

Michael Saylor, the executive chair of major Bitcoin-buying firm Strategy, formerly MicroStrategy, says institutions posting onchain proof-of-reserves is a “bad idea” that could pose security risks.

“The current, conventional way to publish proof of reserves is an insecure proof of reserves,” Saylor said when asked about institutions adopting the transparency measure at a May 26 event on the sidelines of the Bitcoin 2025 conference in Las Vegas.

Saylor didn’t answer whether Strategy would publish its proof-of-reserves when asked by Blockware Solutions head analyst Mitchell Askew whether his firm would do so.

I asked @saylor if @MicroStrategy has any plans to publish on-chain proof of reserves

His answer will SHOCK you

“It’s a bad idea.”

- Security Risk
- Irrelevant without also having Big 4-audited liabilities

Check it out 👇 pic.twitter.com/tIxUckgbEp

Proof-of-reserves are common among crypto exchanges and verify that the company holds sufficient crypto reserves to cover customer deposits. They can also confirm that other entities, such as crypto-tracking exchange-traded funds, hold the required amount of crypto for the funds.