Weekly Recap | Strategy Hints at Potential Bitcoin Sales to Cover Dividend Obligations, South Korea
2026.05.12
Weekly Review (May 4 – May 11)
Last week, the crypto market was mainly driven by macroeconomic policy developments, progress in U.S. regulatory legislation, and the growing convergence between AI and crypto. Amid expectations of tighter liquidity conditions, institutional investors reduced exposure to BTC and ETH, leading to more cautious capital flows, while assets such as SOL continued to attract strategic inflows. Bitcoin remained firmly above the $80,000 level as the market entered a phase of high-level consolidation and adjustment.
Despite pressure from tightening global liquidity, the market continued to show resilience, although institutional sentiment remained cautious amid ongoing deleveraging. U.S. inflation data and Federal Reserve policy expectations continued to influence crypto market direction, with investors closely watching whether easing inflation could strengthen confidence in future rate cuts.
This report brings you a quick recap of last week’s key crypto industry developments and a preview of the major trends and events to watch in the coming week.
Market Pulse
The U.S. SEC proposal to shift corporate quarterly reporting to semi-annual reporting has passed White House review.
GameStop is reportedly planning a $56 billion acquisition of eBay.
Tether CEO stated that the company’s AI research team will unveil a new breakthrough in local AI technology this week.
Strategy hinted that it may sell Bitcoin to meet dividend obligations after reporting a $12.54 billion net loss in Q1.
BlackRock is expected to announce a mega-scale data center deal this week.
Drift unveiled a user recovery plan following a $295 million North Korean-linked hack.
Bittrex requested the court to void its settlement agreement with the SEC and seeks the return of a $24 million fine.
Trump Media reported a $406 million Q1 loss due to impairment of crypto and equity assets.
Funding & M&A
GameStop is reportedly planning a $56 billion acquisition of eBay.
Tether CEO stated that the company’s AI research team will unveil a new breakthrough in local AI technology this week.
Strategy hinted that it may sell Bitcoin to meet dividend obligations, after reporting a $12.54 billion net loss in Q1.
BlackRock is expected to announce a major data center transaction this week.
Drift unveiled a user recovery plan following a $295 million North Korean-linked hack.
Bittrex requested the court to void its settlement agreement with the SEC and seeks the return of a $24 million fine.
Trump Media reported a $406 million Q1 loss due to impairment of crypto and equity assets.
Policy & Compliance
The chairman of a South Korean exchange announced plans to launch digital asset derivatives in Busan.
A U.S. senator stated that crypto market structure legislation will be reviewed “next week” and could be signed into law before July 4.
South Korea’s Ministry of Economy and Finance confirmed that virtual asset taxation will begin as scheduled on January 1 next year.
The German government is considering adjustments to crypto asset taxation, potentially removing the one-year Bitcoin tax exemption policy.
South Korea’s National Assembly passed amendments to the Foreign Exchange Transactions Act.
Echobit Highlights
Echobit’s May Futures Trading Competition continued, fueling market trading momentum.
Echobit launched its May New Listing Trading Frenzy campaign to enhance user participation.
Echobit introduced the USDC Zone Carnival, focusing on stablecoin trading activity.
Echobit launched a Mother’s Day Special campaign to strengthen community engagement.
Echobit Weekly Hot Topic continued updating trending community discussions.
Echobit Quiz Challenge went live, boosting interactive participation.
Echobit Word Puzzle Challenge launched, adding a fun community experience.
Echobit Chart Prediction Challenge continued, strengthening market interaction.
Echobit Fast Giveaway campaign launched, encouraging community engagement and sharing.
Echobit officially started its Anniversary Countdown campaign, building momentum for upcoming celebrations.
Echobit Labs continued publishing industry insights and market perspectives.
Echobit released product updates to further optimize the trading experience.
Next Week Preview (May 11 – May 17)
The U.S. Senate Banking Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing on the CLARITY Act on May 14.
Ronin will migrate to Ethereum Layer 2 on May 12.
A Starknet Foundation executive stated that strkBTC is expected to launch on May 12.
The U.S. will release April CPI data, along with April PPI YoY and MoM figures.
The Ethereum Foundation has opened applications for EPF7, with submissions closing on May 13.
Base’s first standalone network upgrade, “Base Azul,” will go live on mainnet on May 13.
Stable will launch its mainnet v1.3.0 upgrade on May 13.
The U.S. Senate Banking Committee will hold a CLARITY Act review hearing on May 14.
Echobit will continue tracking global crypto developments, focusing on market movements, regulatory trends, and investment opportunities — helping users navigate market cycles and stay ahead of the curve.