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First Mover Americas: Bitcoin Price Edges Lower, Tron Rallies

The latest price moves in crypto markets in context for May 22, 2023.

Updated May 22, 2023, 2:25 p.m. Published May 22, 2023, 12:20 p.m.
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This article originally appeared in First Mover, CoinDesk’s daily newsletter putting the latest moves in crypto markets in context. Subscribe to get it in your inbox every day.

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Bitcoin and stocks started the week on a hesitant note as uncertainty in markets continued. Bitcoin dropped back below $27,000 on Saturday and is down slightly over the last 24-hours at $26,800. This comes as U.S. President Joe Biden and House Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy will meet to discuss the debt ceiling on Monday. Some altcoins rose on Monday, among them Tron’s TRX, gaining 8% on the day as a rumor circulated on Twitter that Tron will become legal tender in Hong Kong on June 1.

Digital Currency Group (DCG) missed a $630 million payment owed to Gemini last week, according to crypto exchange Gemini. Gemini CEO Cameron Winklevoss had previously threatened to sue DCG CEO Barry Silbert and DCG over the repayment of a $900 million loanafter Genesis, a DCG entity, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in January. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has accused both firms of selling unregistered securities through their Earn program. Both Genesis and CoinDesk are owned by DCG. Gemini and other parties are proposing an amended reorganization plan with Genesis that doesn't require DCG's approval, Gemini said in an update on its site.

The Securities Commission Malaysia ordered Huobi Global to stop operations in the country – including disabling its website and mobile applications – because it is operating a digital asset exchange without registration. The regulator told the company to cease circulating, publishing or sending advertisements to Malaysian investors, according to a Monday announcement. Operating a digital asset exchange without obtaining registration from the Securities Commission as a Recognised Market Operator is an offense under the Capital Markets and Services Act.

Chart of the Day

IntoTheBlock
IntoTheBlock
  • The chart shows daily changes in bitcoin supply controlled by wallets holding coins for at least a year and the cryptocurrency's price since June 2022.
  • The balance held by the so-called long-term investors is fast approaching a record high of 13.2 million BTC.
  • Per blockchain data firm IntoTheBlock, the continued accumulation reflects unwavering conviction in the cryptocurrency's prospects.

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Protocol Research: GoPlus Security

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What to know:

  • As of October 2025, GoPlus has generated $4.7M in total revenue across its product lines. The GoPlus App is the primary revenue driver, contributing $2.5M (approx. 53%), followed by the SafeToken Protocol at $1.7M.
  • GoPlus Intelligence's Token Security API averaged 717 million monthly calls year-to-date in 2025 , with a peak of nearly 1 billion calls in February 2025. Total blockchain-level requests, including transaction simulations, averaged an additional 350 million per month.
  • Since its January 2025 launch , the $GPS token has registered over $5B in total spot volume and $10B in derivatives volume in 2025. Monthly spot volume peaked in March 2025 at over $1.1B , while derivatives volume peaked the same month at over $4B.

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Japan’s Higher Rates Puts Bitcoin in the Crosshairs of a Yen Carry Unwind

Aerial view of Tokyo (Jaison Lin/Unsplash, modified by CoinDesk)

A stronger yen typically coincides with de-risking across macro portfolios, and that dynamic could tighten liquidity conditions that recently helped bitcoin rebound from November’s lows.

What to know:

  • The Bank of Japan is expected to raise interest rates to 0.75% at its December meeting, the highest since 1995, affecting global markets including cryptocurrencies.
  • A stronger yen could lead to de-risking in macro portfolios, impacting liquidity conditions that have supported bitcoin's recent recovery.
  • Governor Kazuo Ueda indicated a high probability of a rate hike, with officials prepared for further tightening if their economic outlook supports it.