Crypto markets showed minimal changes in the last 24 hours, with major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether experiencing slight fluctuations, according to CoinGecko data. Bitcoin rose by just over 1%, while Ether dropped by 0.5%. Meanwhile, BNB from BNB Chain and Sol from Solana recorded a 3% decrease.

The crypto landscape saw significant activity among meme coins, which surged following a continued rally in GameStop’s (NYSE:GME) shares earlier in the week. Dog-themed Floki led the gains among major tokens, climbing 12%, while Pepe  reached a new all-time high with a 5% increase.

The meme coin rally was partly fueled by a social media post from Keith Gill, a notable retail trader who previously influenced a major short squeeze on GameStop’s stock in 2021. His recent post led to a surge in meme stocks and tokens, drawing on his @TheRoaringKitty persona.

Amid this, a joke GameStop token on the Solana blockchain reached a $100 million market capitalization, marking a 700% increase in just a week.

Despite these gains among meme tokens, the broader crypto market appears weak, with no significant support from the bullish trends in equities or the weakening dollar, as noted by Alex Kuptsikevich, a senior market analyst at FxPro.

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Coinbase, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange, is currently grappling with a system-wide outage, prompting concerns among users. The exchange has swiftly responded to the situation, assuring customers that their funds remain secure while its team diligently works on resolving the issue.

In a recent announcement, Coinbase acknowledged the outage and disclosed that its team is actively investigating the underlying cause. Despite the disruption, the exchange emphasized that users’ funds are safe, aiming to alleviate any potential concerns regarding the security of their assets.

As of now, accessing Coinbase’s website results in a “503 Service Temporarily Unavailable” alert, indicating the extent of the technical difficulties being faced by the platform.

This isn’t the first instance of technical challenges for Coinbase. In March, the exchange encountered similar issues, including disruptions to its trading platform during periods of heightened activity. Some users even reported inaccuracies in their account balances, further underscoring the importance of swift and transparent communication from the exchange during such incidents.

While system-wide outages can be disruptive, Coinbase’s proactive response and assurance regarding the safety of users’ funds reflect its commitment to maintaining trust and transparency within the cryptocurrency community. As the exchange works to resolve the current issue, users can expect updates from Coinbase regarding the restoration of services and any further developments.

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In a recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the State of Wisconsin Investment Board disclosed substantial investments in various crypto entities, marking a significant foray into the digital asset space.

The Board revealed ownership of 2,450,400 shares of the iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), a spot bitcoin exchange-traded fund managed by BlackRock, valued at approximately $99.2 million by the end of the first quarter of 2024. Additionally, the Board disclosed ownership of 1,013,000 shares of the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust (GBTC), valued at around $63.7 million.

Aside from bitcoin trusts, the Board’s crypto portfolio includes investments in leading cryptocurrency firms such as Coinbase, Marathon Digital, Riot Platforms, Block, Cipher Mining, Cleanspark, and MicroStrategy.

This significant move by the State of Wisconsin Investment Board underscores the growing institutional interest in digital assets. The Board, tasked with managing investments for public retirement and other trust funds in Wisconsin, has joined the ranks of institutional investors embracing cryptocurrencies as part of their diversified investment strategies.

BlackRock’s IBIT and Grayscale’s GBTC are prominent players in the spot bitcoin ETF market, commanding significant market share. The Board’s substantial investment in these ETFs reflects its confidence in the long-term potential of cryptocurrencies as an asset class.

Commentary from Bloomberg’s ETF analyst highlights the swift adoption of spot bitcoin ETFs by institutional investors. The Board’s quick entry into IBIT signals a departure from the usual timeline for institutional adoption, indicating growing confidence in the maturity and liquidity of crypto ETFs.

IBIT’s rapid growth and surpassing of previous ETF records underscore its significance in the evolving investment landscape. As institutional investors continue to explore opportunities in digital assets, the trajectory of spot bitcoin ETFs like IBIT will likely shape the future of crypto investment strategies.

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Galaxy Digital Holdings disclosed robust growth in revenue and profits for the first quarter, propelled by its mining operation’s exceptional performance amidst the cryptocurrency price surge.

The financial services firm focused on digital assets revealed that its net income surged to $421.7 million ($1.23 per share) in the quarter ending March, marking a remarkable 214% increase compared to the same period last year. This significant bottom-line growth was underpinned by a surge in revenue, which reached $259.7 million, up from $146.7 million year-on-year. These impressive results signal Galaxy’s recovery trajectory following a $1 billion net loss in 2022.

Breaking down the company’s business segments, Galaxy’s mining operation emerged as a key contributor, generating $31.5 million in revenue. This division’s robust performance was driven by a record hashrate of 5.7 exahash per second for mining transactions, demonstrating its resilience amidst market fluctuations. Notably, the mining operation’s revenue surge complemented similar increases recorded by Galaxy’s Global Markets and Asset Management divisions during the first quarter.

In April, Galaxy secured $125 million in funding, earmarked for expanding its trading operations and enhancing its mining infrastructure. This strategic move underscores Galaxy’s commitment to capitalizing on market opportunities and strengthening its position in the rapidly evolving digital assets landscape.

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Polymarket, a cryptocurrency-based prediction market platform, has successfully raised $45 million in a Series B funding round amid a surge in popularity leading up to the U.S. presidential election. The round was led by Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund, with notable contributions from Ethereum’s creator Vitalik Buterin, 1confirmation, ParaFi, and Dragonfly Capital, according to Polymarket founder Shayne Coplan, who communicated with CoinDesk via Telegram. The company’s valuation in this round was not disclosed.

This latest investment follows a previously undisclosed $25 million Series A funding round led by General Catalyst and includes a $4 million seed round from 2020, bringing Polymarket’s total raised funds to over $70 million. To support its next growth phase, Polymarket has appointed Richard Jaycobs as the head of market expansion, who previously held executive roles at traditional finance firms, including President of Cantor Exchange and CEO of The Clearing Corporation.

Polymarket is recognized as a leading platform for building prediction markets on cryptocurrency infrastructure. In these markets, participants place bets on the outcomes of real-world events within a specified timeframe, ranging from sports games to political events. For instance, a current market on Polymarket is gauging whether the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission will approve a spot exchange-traded fund for Ethereum by May 31, with “Yes” shares trading at 16 cents, suggesting a 16% probability of approval.

These markets are touted not just as gambling venues but as tools for gaining a more accurate understanding of public sentiment and providing more reliable forecasts than traditional polls and punditry, a standpoint long advocated by economist Robin Hanson.

Despite a regulatory setback in 2022 that barred Polymarket from serving U.S. residents under a Commodity Futures Trading Commission settlement, the platform continues to see significant betting activity. This year alone, $202 million has been wagered on various events, with over $125 million staked on the presidential election. This exclusion from the U.S. market contrasts with Kalshi, the only CFTC-regulated prediction market, which faces potential regulatory challenges from the CFTC’s recent proposals to ban election-related bets, a rule that would not affect Polymarket.

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