Bitcoin's failure to break through the $27,500 resistance on May 15 has put bears in a better position for the May 19 expiry. Regulatory news has played a role in reducing investors' risk appetite, with Democrats in the US legislature seeking to cement the SEC's authority over crypto and the UK's Treasury Committee recommending regulating retail crypto trading and investment activity as gambling. The $735 million Bitcoin weekly options expiry on May 19 could determine whether the price falls below $26,000, with bears taking advantage of the negative regulatory environment and uncertainty caused by the risk of the US Treasury running out of funds. Traders should be cautious as bears are currently in a better position for Friday's weekly options expiry, favoring negative price moves.

The Solana network has experienced a surge in daily active users, reaching its highest number in almost a year, while its major competitors, Bitcoin and Ethereum, have been struggling with network congestion and high transaction fees. Despite this positive trend, the price of SOL, the token that powers the Solana blockchain, has remained stagnant. However, if SOL can break key resistance levels, it could surge higher quickly, making it a good investment for those confident in the broader crypto bull market. Additionally, investors should consider diversifying their holdings by exploring high-risk-high-reward investment strategies, such as investing in crypto presales, which can offer exponential gains to early investors.

Ana Palacio, a former World Bank Executive, has suggested that the BRICS countries - Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa - may be considering alternatives to the US dollar, including the use of a shared currency. Palacio believes that the quest for a "new order" is driven by a perceived gap between the current Western-led global governance system and the interests of some developing countries. At least 19 countries have expressed interest in joining BRICS, including Argentina, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia. Bitcoin is also being considered as a possible alternative currency due to its potential to mitigate currency risks and increase efficiency, as well as its potential to facilitate trade and financial transactions among countries outside the traditional banking system.

The Federal Reserve has addressed concerns that its newly launched rapid payment system, FedNow, may give the government access to Americans' bank accounts and allow them to be frozen. However, representatives from the Federal Reserve have stated that the FedNow service will not grant the agency any additional powers for surveillance or enforcement. Despite this, fears of a new financial system that monitors Americans' financial activities have grown in recent years, particularly with discussions of a central bank digital currency (CBDC). Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has warned about the potential threat of CBDCs to the economic freedom of US citizens and expressed support for Bitcoin as a decentralized form of money that enables people to control their finances without restriction or influence from authorities or financial organizations.

Tether, the global stablecoin leader, has announced a new investment strategy that involves regularly setting aside a portion of its profits to purchase Bitcoin. The company plans to invest up to 15% of its profits in Bitcoin, moving away from U.S. government debt. Tether's Bitcoin holdings were reported to be around $1.5 billion at the end of Q1, and the company is looking to consistently increase its Bitcoin reserves. Tether views Bitcoin as a long-term investment opportunity and plans to use actual profits from its investment activities to buy BTC.

Tether, the platform behind the largest stablecoin USDT, has announced that it will allocate up to 15% of its net realized operating profits towards purchasing Bitcoin every month. This move is aimed at further strengthening its reserves portfolio and diversifying its reserves. Tether already holds $1.5 billion in Bitcoin, which backs only 1.83% of its near-$83 billion market cap. The decision to invest in Bitcoin is underpinned by its strength and potential as an investment asset, according to Paolo Ardoino, the CTO of Tether. The USDT market cap soared to a record high in Q1 but has since flatlined.

According to data from Cryptoflows, over 70% of tokenized Bitcoin, valued at more than $4.3 billion, has been transferred to Ethereum. This trend highlights the increasing use of Bitcoin within Ethereum's decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem.

The market session started off slowly today, with a 0.2% increase in trading and a total market cap of $1.13T. Bitcoin is experiencing a turbulent session, dropping back to $26K and facing resistance at the $27K level. While Bitcoin's volatility levels are decreasing, the RSI is moving below its average line, signaling a potential bearish trend.

Bitcoin (BTC) is at risk of breaking down below the $27,000 support level, with traders anticipating new lows. BTC/USD is currently trading near $26,800, having crossed the $27,000 mark multiple times the day before. Traders are predicting a potential target of $26,400, with some anticipating an "expansion candle" if the breakdown continues.

Bitcoin has fallen below $27,000 after failing to continue upwards and hitting resistance at $27,500. Other altcoins such as ETH and BNB are also slightly down, while XRP has seen a notable price jump. Bitcoin had briefly spiked to over $27,600 before retracing and experiencing another minor drop below $27,000.