BREAKING: Bitcoin’s Nightmare: BTC Plunges to $81K in Terrifying Flash Crash!

Posted on November 21, 2025November 21, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Bitcoin (BTC) has undergone a severe flash crash, falling as low as $81.8K in recent hours amid high market volatility. Over $2 billion in leveraged positions throughout the cryptocurrency ecosystem have been wiped out in the last 24 hours alone, representing a roughly 7-8 percent single-day decline from levels around $88,000–$90,000.

The event is similar to the high-stakes deleveraging waves that were observed earlier in November 2025, but it is notable for its size and speed. It mainly targets long (bullish) bets on Bitcoin and Ethereum (ETH). Let’s dissect it using the most recent information and background.

BTC experienced its steepest intraday decline since April 2025 lows, falling below $81,000 over the course of two to four hours. As of November 21, 2025 (UTC), it had momentarily tested the $78,000 support level before slightly rising to hover around $81,500–$82,000.

Altcoins like XRP dropped below $2, and ETH followed suit, plummeting to about $2,700. Trump’s tariffs, which imposed a 10 percent charge on all imports and up to 54 percent on Chinese goods, have reignited trade tensions between the US and China, leading to a risk-averse withdrawal from Bitcoin.

The release of strong jobs data and the Federal Reserve’s reluctance to cut interest rates in December dashed hopes for a more lenient monetary policy, turning optimism into fear. In October, open interest in Bitcoin futures reached $94 billion but subsequently fell by 43%. Stop-loss orders were clustered in the $81,000 to $90,000 range as traders took on leverage of 20x to 100x.

Automated selling cascades eroded liquidity, with exchange depth dropping to only 5% of typical levels in response to a 2% decline. This led to a $19 billion wipeout on October 10, reflecting a self-reinforcing cycle where margin calls on long positions triggered additional sell-offs that drove down prices further.

According to CFGI, the “extreme fear” index for cryptocurrency hit cycle lows, with Bitcoin erasing all of its 2025 gains and dropping 30% from its peak of $126,000.

Institutional ETF outflows rose to $278 million on November 12, exacerbating the situation and revealing persistent faith in FTX in contrast to earlier inflows of $524 million.

Ripple’s Blockchain Blitz: How SWIFT’s 90% ISO 20022 Pivot Cements XRP’s Victory

Posted on November 21, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

SWIFT anticipates that by the beginning of 2026, 90% of all transactions will transition to ISO 20022.

The organisation responsible for overseeing ISO 20022 compliance is the Registration Management Group (RMG), which includes a range of members or parent companies associated with well-known Layer 1 blockchains. Notable members include Algorand (ALGO), Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR), Stellar Lumens (XLM), and Ripple (XRP), the latter two of which joined in 2020.

Stellar’s participation has provided both original altcoins with an opportunity to improve interoperability with SWIFT and other major financial institutions.

Financial giants like BlackRock and JP Morgan are actively accumulating coins that comply with ISO 20022. Stellar (XLM) boasts significant partnerships with companies like MoneyGram and IBM World Wire; however, its trading volumes fall short compared to those of XRP. Ripple has established active partnerships with over 300 banks and financial payment solutions, including Santander and SEB, and is in the process of integrating its own RLUSD stablecoin.

Ripple’s (XRP) spot market volume consistently exceeds $2 billion, making it reasonable for the altcoin to grow with relatively low transaction fees. However, this $2 billion in spot trading is quadrupled by its futures market volume. XRP’s demand in perpetual contracts has reached $8 billion in a single day, indicating a new trend among traders seeking potentially larger gains.

Stellar Lumens (XLM) typically maintains a daily trading volume ranging from $100 million to $200 million, although both Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) chains process a block in an average of five seconds. XRP’s ledger handles an average of 40 million transactions daily, far surpassing Stellar’s 7 million average daily transactions.

Brent Eyes $65–$66 Surge: Russian Oil Adrift as US Sanctions Bite Harder

Posted on November 21, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

US sanctions that took effect on Friday could leave nearly 48 million barrels of Russian crude oil stranded at sea, forcing numerous tankers to search for alternative destinations.

The U.S. government made one of its most aggressive moves to date last month by blacklisting major oil producers Rosneft PJSC and Lukoil PJSC as President Donald Trump seeks to increase pressure on the Kremlin over the conflict in Ukraine.

Brent crude has remained within a narrow range of $62 to $66 this month, showing resilience but lacking upward momentum. Following the sanctions, prices increased by 5% to approximately $65.87 in late October. However, concerns about the enforcement of these sanctions and an anticipated global surplus have limited further gains. If disruptions persist, Brent may test the $65 to $66 range, but an abundance of supply could lead to a decline towards $62.

Moving forward, it will be important to monitor buyer compliance and Russian export volumes (as reported by Kpler). This situation illustrates how targeted sanctions can affect trade flows without necessarily raising price benchmarks.

The U.S. Treasury stated earlier this week that these actions have already been effective, citing reduced demand and discounts on key Russian oil grades. With the restrictions now in place, Indian refiners are actively seeking replacement supplies and scheduling oil tankers for Middle Eastern cargoes at a rate that has driven freight rates for this route to nearly a five-year high. Meanwhile, traders are closely monitoring potential buyers for Lukoil and Rosneft crude oil that is already en route.

Moscow has prioritised loading because it wants to keep oil flowing. As a result, seaborne shipments have remained substantial, at about 3.4 million barrels per day.

Even in the biggest markets in Asia, not all of these barrels will necessarily find a home. Since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022, China and India have absorbed the majority of Russia’s exports, and they still maintain close relations with Moscow. However, as the US increases pressure on any entity that facilitates Russian exports, both nations are also cautious about becoming entangled in impending secondary sanctions. The amount of oil that reaches refiners will depend on the severity of those limitations and Washington’s willingness to implement them.

Intel Brushes Off TSMC Tech Theft Fears—But Shares Plunge 4% Anyway

Posted on November 21, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Lip-Bu Tan, the CEO of Intel, denied rumors that a recent hire had stolen trade secrets from Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. to his business, stating that the US chipmaker respects the intellectual property of other companies.

Intel’s shares (NASDAQ: INTC) fell by 4%, closing at $33 per share. This drop aligns with the ongoing volatility in the sector, exacerbated by U.S.-China trade disputes and funding delays related to the CHIPS Act. Nevertheless, retail investors remain cautiously optimistic; some view the hiring efforts as a talent acquisition rather than a risk.

The 75-year-old Lo Wen-jen’s transition from retiring from TSMC earlier this year to joining Intel in recent weeks was covered by Taiwanese newspapers throughout the week.

An executive is accused of stealing confidential information from his previous employer, but these claims are based on conjecture and gossip. At the Semiconductor Industry Association Awards in San Jose on Thursday, Tan stated to Bloomberg News, “We respect intellectual property.”

TSMC’s CEO, C.C. Wei, was honored at the event, along with former Chairman Mark Liu, receiving the Robert N. Noyce Prize. With a valuation of over $1.15 trillion, TSMC has surpassed semiconductor pioneer Intel to become the global leader in contract chipmaking.

In response to the allegations, TSMC has launched an internal investigation to determine whether Lo stole trade secrets without authorization. An anonymous source, citing the confidential nature of the information, mentioned that it is uncertain if TSMC has assessed any potential impact on the business.

Lo was responsible for corporate strategy and played a key role in overseeing research and technology development. He was instrumental in helping the company produce cutting-edge chips in large quantities, including those used in AI accelerators. Lo is also a recipient of an esteemed award from the Industrial Technology Research Institute in Taiwan. Before joining TSMC in 2004, he worked at Intel, where he focused on advanced technology development and managed a chip factory in Santa Clara, California. He holds a Ph.D. in surface chemistry and solid-state physics from UC Berkeley.

Oracle’s AI Bubble Bursts: ORCL Eyes $150 Plunge in November—2011 Flashback Looms

Posted on November 21, 2025November 21, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Oracle (NYSE: ORCL) has been under pressure and has been declining for the entire month. Shares have since extended losses into the low $200s after closing at roughly $210 on November 21, down by more than 6% yesterday

This puts ORCL on track for its worst monthly performance since 2011, representing a roughly 19–20 percent decline from its mid-November highs, which were close to $263. The stock is still up about 35% so far this year, but the recent decline has wiped out most of the post-earnings gains from earlier in 2025.

A significant downgrade from Piper Sandler on April 23, 2025, which reduced their target from $190 to $130 and changed to Neutral, aligns with a $150 target. Citing worries about cloud competition and margins at the time, this was an anomaly amid more general bullishness.

However, none of the big companies have recently reaffirmed or clustered around $150; instead, most have increased their goals following AI deals. With more than thirty analysts predicting significant upside, the consensus remains a moderate buy. The average 12-month target ranges from approximately $322–$344, up 46–56 percent from $220.

Range: $130 to $175 (conservative, e.g., The g. Stephens at $167); high $410–$430 (bullish on AI, Citigroup).

Bernstein has raised its target to $364 for September 2025, while TD Cowen targets $275 for July 2025 after OpenAI’s expansion. Long-term projections are positive, with a model predicting a decline to $212 by November 2025, recovering to $230 by December, and growing to over $313 by the end of 2026, driven by cloud and AI interest.

Cathie Wood Grabs Nvidia for First Time in Months as Stock Eyes $250 Target

Posted on November 21, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Nvidia was acquired by Cathie Wood’s flagship fund in response to the company’s spectacular earnings, confirming the bullish position of her company, ARK Investment Management, on the chip bellwether.

The US-based actively managed exchange-traded fund ARK Innovation ETF purchased 93,374 Nvidia shares on Thursday, according to daily trading data provided by the ETF provider. That was the first time an ARK fund had bought Nvidia stock since August. 4,

A rally in Nvidia shares fizzled out on Thursday after investors dismissed a higher-than-expected revenue forecast and guarantees that the AI economy isn’t in a bubble

The stock closed down 3.2 percent at $180.64 in New York after initially rising more than 5 percent. As investors reduced their bets on a potential December interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve, the overall market also fell.

ARK Investment owned over 1.1 million shares in the most valuable company in the world before Thursday’s acquisition. 30, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. The management team’s active decisions are the only ones displayed in ARK’s daily trading updates; creation or redemption activity by investor flows is not included. From a peak in October, the price of ARK’s flagship ETF has decreased by more than 20%, while the Nasdaq 100 Index has decreased by 4.3% during the same time frame.

The bet might be validated if AI adoption accelerates. Risks: As of early 2025, ARKK underperformed in high-rate environments, declining about 20 percent YTD with $2.3 billion in outflows.

Wood’s timing is mocked by X critics as “buying the top,” echoing past mistakes like selling Nvidia before the 2023 rally. Stock Target: Wall Street’s median 12-month price target for NVDA ranges between $200 and $220 after earnings, with bulls like Goldman at $250,

Although Wood’s strategies suggest a much higher long-term outlook—potentially over $1,000 by 2030 based on her AI models—ARK does not issue public targets.

Gold Charges Toward $4,100 Milestone: Safe-Haven Buying Heats Up Amid NFP Delay Drama

Posted on November 20, 2025November 20, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Gold attracts new sellers and continues to drop from the weekly high hit the previous day after rising to the $4,110 region during the Asian session on Thursday.

Less dovish Federal Reserve (Fed) expectations push the US dollar (USD) to its highest level since late May despite concerns about the slowing economic momentum following the longest-ever US government shutdown.

The non-yielding yellow metal is therefore believed to be under considerable downward pressure. Additionally, the generally positive sentiment surrounding the equity markets is thought to weaken the demand for safe-haven gold.

However, traders seem apprehensive and decide to wait until later in the North American session for the release of the US Nonfarm Payrolls (NFP) report for September. However, given the fundamental backdrop, one should be cautious before positioning for an extension of this week’s bounce from levels below the $4,000 psychological mark.

From a technical perspective, any further price decline is likely to encounter significant support near the 200-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA), currently situated around $4,018. Following that, the weekly swing low, just below the psychological $4,000 level, serves as the next support point.

If this level is tested, the price of gold may accelerate its drop toward the $3,931 support.

The downward trend could continue until reaching the $3,886 area, which corresponds to the swing low from late October.

On the other hand, the peak of the Asian session around $4,110 may act as an immediate resistance level. If there is some follow-through buying beyond the overnight swing high near $4,120, the price of gold could advance to the next significant resistance range of $4,152–$4,155. Bullish traders would see this as a fresh buying opportunity. A subsequent increase could allow for a move towards regaining the round number of $4,200.

GPU Gold Rush: Nvidia Blowout Lift Bitfarms, TeraWulf, CleanSpark,—Cipher Jumps 13% on AI Hype

Posted on November 20, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Bitcoin and mining stocks saw an uptick late on Wednesday after Nvidia released its Q3 earnings, and guidance exceeded expectations. Bitfarms, TeraWulf, CleanSpark, and IREN all experienced gains of approximately 10%, while Cipher Mining rose by over 13%. Nvidia helped stabilize the market with a solid quarterly earnings report, even as other markets continued their downward trend.

Nvidia reported third-quarter revenue of $57 billion, which was below the consensus estimate of $61.98 billion, but projected fourth-quarter revenue between $63.7 billion and $66.3 billion. Colette Kress, CFO of Nvidia, mentioned during the earnings call that the useful lives of GPUs are being extended.

This positive announcement caused Nvidia’s stock to rise by 5%, pushing Bitcoin’s price up to about $92,000 after it had dipped below $89,000 earlier in the day.

Several Bitcoin miners have begun shifting portions of their operations to support AI and high-performance computing (HPC) infrastructure amid increasing demand for data center capacity alongside the growth of artificial intelligence. For instance, earlier this month, Cipher Mining announced a $5.5 billion AI hosting agreement with Amazon Web Services, while IREN signed a $9.7 billion AI cloud deal with Microsoft. Concerns regarding a potential AI bubble have led miners to sell off assets on two occasions.

IREN is taking on debt to purchase GPUs, and the supply-demand balance for GPUs is directly (and inversely) correlated with loan interest rates. In a post on X, Matthew Sigel, head of digital asset research at VanEck, remarked, “Falling BTC + widening spreads = double whammy given the capital expenditure needs.”

Although Bitcoin has remained relatively stable, analysts at JPMorgan mentioned last month that Bitcoin mining stocks have decoupled from the price of BTC, with their market capitalizations rising significantly since July.

BlackRock’s Ethereum Evolution: Launching a Staked Trust ETF

Posted on November 20, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

BlackRock appears to be planning to launch a new staked Ethereum fund. Daniel Schweiger, a managing director at BlackRock, who filed the asset manager’s initial iShares Ethereum fund in late 2023, has also filed the iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF.

One of the first indications that a new exchange-traded fund (ETF) is being developed is the registration of the fund’s name in Delaware.

According to senior Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas, a filing for the new iShares ETH staking fund is “coming soon.”

Nasdaq submitted an amended 19b-4 to include staking in BlackRock’s existing iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA). Competing cryptocurrency asset managers, such as Grayscale and 21 Shares, have also submitted proposals to update their Ethereum funds. As of November, ETHA, with nearly $11.5 billion in total holdings, is the largest Ethereum ETF by assets under management, according to SoSoValue.

Relatively few funds offering staking rewards have been approved despite a more lenient approach by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to allow additional cryptocurrency-related exchange-traded products to enter the market during the second Trump administration.

Grayscale recently became the first spot-market funds registered under the Securities Act of 1933 to permit staking rewards for holders, receiving approval in October for its U.S. Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHE) and Ethereum Mini Trust ETF (ETH) products.

REX-Osprey introduced a staking Solana ETF using the less common Investment Company Act of 1940. In September, REX-Osprey also launched an ETH staking fund under the 1940 Act ETF structure. Robert Mitchnick, Head of Digital Assets at BlackRock, has previously expressed his expectation that the SEC will approve ETH ETF staking as “a next phase.”

Bitwise Ignites Altcoin ETF Boom: Spot XRP Fund Goes Live Today on NYSE

Posted on November 20, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Bitwise’s spot XRP ETF will begin trading under the ticker XRP. New altcoin ETFs have proliferated in the United States. SEC revised its guidelines to clarify the process for companies looking to launch cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds.

Bitwise Asset Management has announced the launch of its spot XRP exchange-traded fund on the New York Stock Exchange.

The ETF, which has a management fee of 0.34 percent that is waived for the first month on the first $500 million in assets, will begin trading on Thursday under the ticker XRP. “XRP is a really intriguing asset for several reasons,” stated Matt Hougan, CIO at Bitwise.

It processes large volumes of transactions, has a very robust and active community of supporters, and has been operating successfully for a very long time at incredibly low costs. With a market valuation of $127.3 billion, XRP is currently the third-largest non-stablecoin cryptocurrency in the world. Having enabled more than 4 billion transactions, XRP is posing a threat to the cross-border payments industry.

Canary Capital’s XRPC will be the top XRP product, followed by Bitwise’s fund. Since its launch last week, Canary’s fund has amassed net inflows totaling $276.8 million.

The Bitwise Physical XRP ETP (GXRP), which offers investors direct, physically backed exposure to the cryptocurrency, was previously introduced by Bitwise in Europe. After declaring earlier on Wednesday that its GXRP fund would soon launch, Grayscale is expected to be the next. James Seyffart, a Bloomberg analyst, stated on X that Grayscale’s Dogecoin ETF and spot XRP ETP are expected to launch next Monday, marking a first. Additionally, I believe that on Monday, the 24th, Franklin Templeton’s XRP ETF may also launch. Next week will be filled with events,” Seyffart wrote.