U.S. liquefied natural gas exports to China all but vanished in 2025, plunging from 4.15 million tonnes in 2024 to just 26,000 tonnes—a 99.4% drop that effectively wiped out one of the world's biggest energy trade routes. That breakdown is now set to dominate a Trump–Xi summit scheduled for May 14–15, 2026, in Beijing. The primary goal: push China to resume purchases of U.S. LNG and oil as part of a broader bid to steady commercial ties battered by the trade war. The talks build on a November 2025 framework agreement that extended well beyond energy, spanning agricultural imports, rare-earth export controls, and semiconductor supply chains. Under that framework, China agreed to remove export controls on rare earths and pause retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural products. Beijing also committed to buy at least 12 million metric tons of U.S. soybeans in late 2025, with annual purchases of no less than 25 million metric tons through 2028. Export controls on rare earths and other critical minerals were suspended specifically for U.S. end users. Energy was the most conspicuous omission. With LNG trade between the two largest economies nearly erased, the Beijing summit is designed to close that gap. The November 2025 deal also highlighted China's leverage over critical supply chains. The Trump administration's concessions on rare-earth restrictions underscored how dependent key industries remain on Beijing's position. Analysts caution that any energy commitments announced in Beijing could be largely symbolic, allowing China to pledge additional U.S. LNG purchases on paper while keeping flexibility to source supplies elsewhere. The collapse in LNG imports was not driven by routine market moves; it was a policy response to trade tensions. Restoring flows would require durable, structural commitments—an outcome China may be reluctant to lock in given its negotiating advantage. For markets, the clearest upside from a substantive LNG pact would accrue to U.S. gas producers and LNG terminal operators that expanded capacity on expectations of sustained Asian demand. The main signal will not be the announcement itself, but whether U.S.-to-China LNG volumes actually rebound in the months that follow.

ConsenSys, the Brooklyn-based software firm behind the MetaMask wallet, has pushed back its long-awaited U.S. initial public offering to no earlier than fall 2025, CoinDesk reported. The company's decision comes as the broader crypto market remains stuck in a prolonged downturn, limiting demand for new listings. People familiar with the matter said ConsenSys had already lined up JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs as lead underwriters, but weak investor appetite for crypto-linked equities and ongoing regulatory uncertainty prompted management to pause. The pullback mirrors moves across the sector. Kraken, one of the largest U.S. crypto exchanges, and Ledger, the French maker of hardware wallets, have also shelved IPO plans, pointing to similar pressures. The pattern underscores a wider industry rethink on whether public-market debuts are feasible during a bearish cycle. The delays come even as the U.S. regulatory backdrop shows incremental progress. Market participants cite steps such as clearer Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) guidance on certain token classifications, but institutional sentiment remains cautious. Depressed valuations during the downturn have also reduced the near-term payoff for private companies seeking an IPO. For ConsenSys, the extra time also provides room to focus on product development and its legal fight with the SEC. The company has been involved in litigation over the classification of Ethereum and MetaMask's services, a dispute that could materially affect its business model and valuation. For investors, the postponement means a closely watched potential liquidity event and valuation reference point for private crypto companies is unlikely to emerge soon. With multiple major firms on hold, the pipeline of publicly traded, regulated crypto-related vehicles available to traditional investors may remain limited until markets stabilize and regulatory clarity improves. Disclosure: This content is not trading advice. Bitcoinworld.co.in disclaims liability for investments made based on the information on this page. Investors should conduct independent research and/or consult a qualified professional before making investment decisions.

Gulf International Bank has increased its exposure to Strategy, underscoring growing institutional demand for Bitcoin-linked equities. A regulatory filing by the bank's UK unit shows it boosted its holding in Strategy by 53% to 20,207 shares, valued at about $3.76 million. The disclosure was flagged by BitcoinTreasuries.NET on May 13. Strategy, led by Michael Saylor, has become a widely used proxy for Bitcoin after amassing one of the largest corporate BTC treasuries. As a result, investors often use the stock as an indirect route to cryptocurrency exposure through public markets. Gulf International Bank is Saudi-linked, with ownership connections that include ties to the Public Investment Fund. The bank manages sizable portfolios across the Gulf and has been gradually increasing allocations to alternative investments. Filings also indicate Saudi-linked entities already hold Strategy shares; last year, disclosures showed the Saudi Central Bank owned 25,656 shares. Strategy's results continue to swing with Bitcoin's price. The company reported a $12.54 billion net loss in the first quarter of 2026 as Bitcoin fell from roughly $87,000 to about $68,000. Bitcoin later rebounded above $80,000 in the second quarter, easing pressure on digital-asset valuations. Strategy said it holds 818,334 Bitcoin acquired at an average price of $75,537. It also ended the quarter with $2.25 billion in cash, which it says could fund preferred dividend payments for around 18 months. Shares of Strategy last traded at $178.71, down 3.1% on the session, according to Yahoo Finance. Even after the dip, the stock is up about 20% year to date as investors track Bitcoin's recovery and sustained institutional demand for crypto exposure. Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Coin Edition is not responsible for losses resulting from the use of any content, products, or services mentioned. Readers should exercise caution before taking any action related to the company.

BitGo Holdings released its first quarterly results as a public company, reporting Q1 revenue of $3.77 billion, up 113% year on year but down 39% from Q4 2025. Management said the quarter-on-quarter decline largely reflects accounting presentation. BitGo rolled out a derivatives product on January 1 that generated $3 billion in notional volume during the quarter. Derivatives revenue is recorded net, while spot trading is recorded gross, complicating comparisons with prior periods. Underlying digital asset sales margins improved to 32 basis points from 20 a year earlier. Net loss widened to $60.7 million from $50 million in Q4, driven by $53.7 million of non-cash markdowns on the firm's Bitcoin treasury and higher IPO-related stock-based compensation. Adjusted EBITDA swung to a loss of $1.7 million. Client count rose 42% year on year to 5,569. Stablecoin-as-a-Service take rate increased to 7.4% from 5.5% in Q4, supported by new partnerships including SoFi and 21shares. BitGo said it holds 2,449 bitcoin:native in treasury alongside $186.6 million in cash.

After a $0.02 swing, $STRC finished the session at par, with $508M in available liquidity.

Ledger has paused preparations for a U.S. initial public offering as weak conditions across crypto markets continue to weigh on investor sentiment, according to people familiar with the matter. The French hardware-wallet maker, known for devices that store cryptocurrencies offline, has not submitted confidential IPO paperwork to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Earlier reports put Ledger's valuation at roughly $4 billion, with Goldman Sachs, Jefferies and Barclays tied to the planned listing. Ledger's decision comes as several digital-asset companies scale back public-market ambitions amid falling token prices, softer trading volumes and reduced demand for crypto-related equities. People familiar with the matter said Ledger may wait for markets to improve or pursue private fundraising instead. Crypto issuers reassess listing timelines The pullback reflects broader caution across the sector, where weaker price action and slower activity have pressured valuations. Some companies are choosing to delay offerings until investor demand strengthens and financial performance becomes clearer. Kraken has also slowed its IPO timeline. The exchange filed confidentially with U.S. regulators late last year and still intends to go public, people familiar with the matter said, but likely only after conditions improve. A Kraken spokesperson said: "As we announced in November, we filed confidentially with the SEC, and that is all we can really share." BitGo's recent market performance underscores the challenge. The company raised about $213 million in its January listing. After an initial lift, the shares retreated and now trade nearly 36% below the IPO price. U.S. expansion continues Despite pausing its IPO plans, Ledger is continuing to build out its U.S. presence. In March, it hired former Circle Internet executive John Andrews as chief financial officer and opened a New York office. The company said the site will support Ledger Enterprise, its institutional platform, and create dozens of jobs. The expansion comes as banks, asset managers and stablecoin firms deepen their involvement in digital assets and blockchain infrastructure. Elsewhere, Securitize is still planning to pursue a public listing after receiving SEC approval. The firm works with BlackRock on tokenized-asset products, signaling that parts of the crypto infrastructure segment still see an opening in public markets despite ongoing volatility. Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Coin Edition is not responsible for losses resulting from the use of any referenced content, products or services. Readers should exercise caution before taking any action related to the companies mentioned.

The U.S. Senate has confirmed Kevin Warsh to serve as the next Chair of the Federal Reserve, replacing Jerome Powell.

Charles Schwab has begun letting a limited group of clients buy and sell Bitcoin and Ethereum directly within their accounts, allowing crypto trades to sit alongside their traditional investments.

The S&P 500 climbed to a fresh all-time high of 7,450.