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- Crypto Saving Expert Newsletter - Issue 150
Crypto Saving Expert Newsletter - Issue 150
Good morning! Bitcoin has bounced back to $106,00 despite the geopolitical chaos! The sharp recovery followed US President Donald Trump's announcement of a “total ceasefire” between Israel and Iran, which helped ease immediate fears in the market. Let’s break down BTC, ETH, Fartcoin, and the key levels to watch this week 👇
Table of Contents
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Bitcoin Wobbles But Stays Sturdy
Bitcoin dipped all the way towards $98,000 on Sunday as uncertainty surrounding global affairs increased, but it has recovered very convincingly since.
Bitcoin
Bitcoin’s drop was aggressive in parts, as it gradually fell from $110,00, a price achieved several weeks ago.
However, the speed of the drop intensified as global uncertainty increased, leading to bitcoin falling to just over $98,000.
The recovery has been strong thus far, but the price is now testing supply, which could see it either fall away or continue upwards should it break above.
Bitcoin 5-Minute Chart
Bitcoin on the 5-minute chart paired with Stonksy is exceptional.
We highlighted areas that demonstrate a double confirmation, which is when a background colour change plus the arrow confirmation come in close together.
As seen, the results from this indication speak for themselves, capturing the big volatile moves in the price.
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Ethereum
Ethereum has also witnessed increased volatility of late, falling to its lowest level in almost two months.
Much like on bitcoin, Stonksy took full advantage of the volatility on the 5-minute time frame, hitting some HUGE trades with the double confirmation. This technique also works very well on the 6-minute chart.
As seen, it is very effective for both longs and shorts.
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Fartcoin
Fartcoin remains one of, if not the most hyped-up memecoins on the market.
After its massive run, which saw it do multiple X’s, it has suffered a retrace, to which Stonksy took full advantage.
The red background came in as bearish momentum re-entered FARTCOIN, dropping by 35%. Upon the relief bounce, Stonksy closed the red and opened a green on the 1-hour, thus far capturing the bounce.
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Important Dates
Tuesday 24 June, 14:00 UTC - Jerome Powell Testifies
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell testifies about the semiannual Monetary Policy Report before the US Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Powell will also testify the following day.
Friday 27 June, 12:30 UTC - Core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE)
The US Bureau of Economic Analysis releases the core PCE data, which measures the average amount of money consumers spend monthly in the economy.
PCE is released in two formats: month-over-month and year-on-year. The data also removes volatile products, such as energy and food.
The year-on-year data is forecast to come in at 2.6%, with the previous data at 2.5%.
Friday 27 June, 20:30 UTC - Bank Stress Test Results
Bank Stress Test results are released by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and include the largest banks in the US.
The test aims to determine banks’ reactions to different financial situations and would be another factor for the Fed to consider.
Gainers
Losers
What Just Happened in Iran? Weekend Chaos Explained
Iran was rocked this weekend by U.S. airstrikes targeting key nuclear facilities, sparking vows of retaliation from Tehran, surging oil prices, and rising geopolitical tensions across the Middle East. Here's a full breakdown of what happened and why it matters.
Here’s a sharp summary of what shook Iran over the weekend:
TL;DR:
💣 The US struck Iranian nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz, and others—using stealth bombers and bunker‑busting ordnance.
💥 Tehran responded with protests and vows of heavy retaliation led by top military commanders.
🇮🇱 Israel’s involvement prompted regional tensions; oil prices spiked, airlines rerouted flights, and Middle East markets jitters deepened.
🎯 What happened this weekend?
1. US-led strikes on Iran's nuclear sites
👉 Over the weekend, B‑2 bombers and possibly submarines bombed key nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
👉 President Trump publicly celebrated the strikes, stating they “completely and fully obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program.
2. Tehran protests and leadership response
👉 Iran’s military chief declared Tehran had the right to retaliate, pointing at potential targets including Israel.
👉 Massive anti‑US rallies erupted in Tehran. Debate continues over domestic push for regime change.
3. Global ripple effects
👉 Brent crude spiked to five‑month highs above $80/bbl; oil markets remained jittery.
👉 Over 150 airlines diverted flights from regional airports due to security concerns.
👉 Regional leaders express concern as conflict could spiral, though some caution that global war isn’t yet imminent.
4. Domestic US pushback
👉 In San Francisco, several hundred protested Trump’s action, accusing him of war crimes and calling for investments in social services instead.
🌐 Why it matters
🤔 Nuclear escalation: Strikes targeting Iran’s uranium enrichment mark a significant military escalation, risking regional retaliation.
📈 Economic shockwaves: Rising oil prices and disrupted airline routes could pressure inflation and global supply chains.
☄️ Political tinderbox: Tehran’s vow of “severe punishment” introduces new geopolitical risk—markets and regional players will be on edge.
🔭 What to watch next
🇮🇷 Iran’s response: military if retaliation follows the threats, plus global energy and risk‑asset impact.
👀 Diplomatic moves: US allies and global powers seeking de‑escalation may trigger behind‑the‑scenes manoeuvring.
📊 Market signals: Oil spikes, flight disruptions and geopolitical risk will echo through commodities, currencies, and equities.
Summary
This weekend’s bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities by the US marks a steep escalation in the Middle East conflict. With Iran vowing serious retaliation, protests surging in Tehran, and global markets on alert, the next phase could either spark a broader regional confrontation or be tempered by back‑channel diplomacy. The world—economists, policymakers, investors—is watching closely.
Let me know if you'd like a deeper breakdown on markets, political fallout, or what's next.
Is Solana Stagnating: Memecoins, Bots, and No Real Economy
Solana’s meme coin mania boosted short-term gains, but without real utility or sticky apps, its momentum is fading. We compare Solana’s bot-driven hype with Ethereum’s DeFi-based resilience.
TL;DR
🚀 Solana surged earlier this year thanks to meme coin mania, not fundamentals.
🤖 Platforms like Pump.Fun saw $100m+ daily volumes, but 60–90% of that came from trading bots.
💸 Bots generated fake hype and momentum, luring in retail investors with unsustainable spikes.
🪙 Ethereum’s growth, by contrast, is built on real utility: DeFi, stablecoins, and L2s.
📉 Solana's meme-driven momentum is fading as there's no sticky value being created.
🧱 Ethereum has >$60bn in TVL vs Solana’s ~$4bn — real capital prefers real use cases.
🧠 Unless Solana attracts builders with lasting dApps, it won't rival Ethereum long term.
🪄 Meme Magic Only Lasts So Long
Solana’s explosive rise earlier this year wasn’t powered by fundamentals; it was meme-fueled madness. Platforms likePump.Funmade it effortless to launch meme coins, turning Solana into the ultimate degen playground. For a while, it worked: on-chain activity spiked, fees rose, and SOL rallied. But here’s the catch —the meme economy didn’t build anything.
Solana became the “fun chain,” but when the fun stopped, so did the volume.
⚡ Pump.fun and Meme Fever
💰 Pump.Fun saw daily volumes over $100m during peak mania.
🤔 Meme coins drew in massive speculation, but offered no long-term utility.
🤖 Bots ran the show: trades executed in milliseconds, creating fake hype and artificial spikes.
🔍 Sources on Bot Activity:
👉BeInCrypto(via Dune): 60–80% of Pump.Fun's volume comes from bot “proxies.”
👉CoinStats & Solidus Labs: Nearly 90% of top wallets on Pump.fun likely bot-controlled.
👉AInvest: Bots manipulate volume to lure in retail FOMO.
🧱 Ethereum Isn’t Just Hype
Ethereum didn’t ride a meme wave — it built an economy. Its dominance in DeFi, stablecoins, and real-world utility gives ETH staying power.
⚔️ Ethereum’s TVL: Over $60B vs Solana’s ~$4B (viaDeFiLlama).
🤑 Hosts significant quantities of the biggest stablecoins: USDC, USDT, and more.
🦾 L2 ecosystem (Arbitrum, Optimism, Base) adds scalability and innovation.
Ethereum attracts developers and institutions, not just degens chasing the next 10x meme.
🚦 Solana’s Crossroads
Solana’s infrastructure is fast and cheap, but largely unused for real apps. Until builders arrive with sticky products, capital won’t stay.
👉 It needs dApps people to return to daily.
👉 Ecosystem growth can’t rely on gambling.
👉 Real innovation must replace short-term dopamine hits.
💬 Conclusion
Solana’s meme surge was a vibe, but Ethereum built a foundation. Bots, hype, and volume spikes might move SOL in the short term, but without substance, the capital always flows elsewhere. If Solana wants to challenge Ethereum, it needs to build an economy that lasts longer than the next meme cycle.
Until then, Solana remains the fun chain, not the future chain.
Crypto ETNs and the UK’s Evolving Regulatory Landscape: A Path to Derivatives Reform
The UK's Financial Conduct Authority is proposing to allow retail access to crypto ETNs, marking a shift in its regulatory stance. Could this pave the way for long-overdue reform of the retail crypto derivatives ban? We explore the implications, risks, and opportunities in this crucial moment for UK crypto policy.
TL;DR
📈 The UK’s FCA proposes allowing retail access to crypto ETNs, a big step toward mainstream adoption.
🛡️ ETNs offer regulated crypto exposure without direct ownership but still carry issuer risk.
🧩 The move signals a softening stance, but the retail ban on crypto derivatives remains in place.
💬 Industry voices argue it's time for bold reform, starting with capped-leverage derivatives access.
🇬🇧 If the UK wants to stay competitive, regulators must act or risk falling behind global leaders like the US and Hong Kong.
The United Kingdom’s approach to cryptocurrency regulation is at a pivotal juncture. The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) recent proposal to permit retail access to crypto Exchange-Traded Notes (ETNs) marks a significant departure from its historically cautious stance. As lawyers and advocates for cryptocurrency, we see this as an encouraging step toward embracing digital assets, yet the persistent ban on retail crypto derivatives trading remains a frustrating barrier. This article explores the nature of crypto ETNs, the FCA’s softening position, and the possibility of a future relaxation of the derivatives ban, offering a perspective that champions innovation while acknowledging regulatory realities.
Understanding Crypto Exchange-Traded Notes
Crypto ETNs are financial instruments that allow investors to gain exposure to the price movements of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin or Ethereum without direct ownership. Issued by financial institutions such as Barclays or 21Shares, ETNs are unsecured debt securities listed on regulated exchanges, such as the London Stock Exchange. Their value tracks the performance of a specific crypto asset or index, minus management fees, which typically range from 0.5% to 2% annually. Unlike direct crypto ownership, ETNs eliminate the need for digital wallets or exposure to custodial risks. However, they introduce counterparty risk: if the issuer becomes insolvent, investors may lose their capital, regardless of the underlying crypto’s performance.
For UK retail investors, ETNs offer a regulated entry point into crypto markets through traditional brokerage accounts. The FCA’s decision this month to lift the 2021 ban on retail crypto ETN trading, subject to strict risk disclosures and exchange oversight, reflects a pragmatic approach to balancing innovation with investor protection. This move aligns with the broader regulatory framework outlined in the Draft Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Cryptoassets) Order 2025, which seeks to integrate cryptocurrencies into the UK’s financial system.
The FCA’s Softening Stance on Crypto
The FCA’s ETN proposal is, in our view, a clear signal of a softening stance on cryptocurrencies, driven by a desire to bolster the UK’s competitiveness in global financial markets. The regulator’s shift comes amid growing international acceptance of crypto products, such as spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States and retail crypto derivatives in Hong Kong. By allowing retail access to ETNs, the FCA acknowledges that cryptocurrencies are no longer a fringe asset class but a legitimate component of modern portfolios. This is a victory for digital asset advocates, who have long argued that overzealous regulation stifles innovation and drives capital to less-regulated jurisdictions.
The ETN decision is not an isolated act. The FCA’s earlier move in 2025 to permit institutional investors to trade crypto derivatives on platforms like GFO-X, coupled with the launch of Bitcoin futures and options in May, seems to demonstrate a willingness to embrace regulated crypto markets for sophisticated players. These developments suggest a nuanced regulatory philosophy: the FCA is open to crypto’s potential but remains wary of retail investor risks. As lawyers, we applaud this progress, yet we cannot ignore the FCA’s stubborn refusal to extend similar freedoms to retail derivatives trading. The regulator’s insistence on maintaining the 2021 ban, citing volatility and market abuse, feels increasingly anachronistic in a maturing crypto ecosystem.
The Potential for Derivatives Reform
Could the ETN breakthrough herald a relaxation of the FCA’s ban on retail crypto derivatives? Derivatives, such as futures and options, allow investors to speculate on crypto price movements, often with leverage, amplifying both gains and losses. The FCA’s 2021 ban (PS20/10) was grounded in arguably legitimate concerns about retail investor losses, but it has left the UK trailing behind jurisdictions that permit regulated derivatives trading. As pro-crypto lawyers, we believe the ETN decision could lay the groundwork for reform, though significant hurdles remain.
The successful implementation of regulated ETN trading could demonstrate that retail investors are capable of navigating crypto markets with appropriate safeguards. If ETNs prove resilient to market shocks and retail investors show financial literacy, the FCA may gain confidence to reconsider its derivatives stance. Industry voices, such as CryptoUK’s Ian Taylor, are already advocating for such a shift, arguing that capped leverage and enhanced disclosures could mitigate risks. The global competitive landscape adds pressure: as jurisdictions like the US and Hong Kong expand retail crypto access, the UK risks becoming a regulatory laggard, haemorrhaging investment to more permissive markets.
Yet, the FCA’s caution is not without merit. Crypto derivatives are inherently complex, and leverage magnifies the potential for catastrophic losses. As lawyers, we must concede that investor protection is paramount, but we would contend that a blanket ban is a blunt instrument. A phased approach - permitting derivatives with strict leverage caps and mandatory risk warnings - could strike a balance. The FCA’s own actions, such as approving institutional derivatives, suggest it trusts regulated frameworks to manage risks. Why not extend this trust to retail investors under similar conditions?
A Call for Bold Reform
The FCA’s ETN proposal is a commendable step, but it is not enough. The UK has an opportunity to lead the global crypto revolution, yet the retail derivatives ban holds us back. We would urge the FCA to engage with industry stakeholders and explore regulated derivatives access for retail investors. Let us not shy away from bold reforms that embrace innovation while safeguarding consumers. The crypto genie is out of the bottle, and the UK must decide whether to harness its potential or be left behind. We invite regulators, investors, and policymakers to join this debate and shape a future where the UK is a crypto powerhouse. For more information on the FCA’s proposal and any other legal matters, check out BlockSize Law.
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