From Flat to Flying: This Token Just Surged 150%

Hello and welcome to Crypto Intel, the twice-weekly newsletter covering the latest updates, breaking news, and exciting opportunities in the crypto world.

From drive-thrus to Senate showdowns, the signals this week are sharp but quiet—nested in burger chains, software upgrades, and legislative stalls. They're not coming from trading floors or hype cycles. They're coming from systems where code gets pushed, votes fall short, and price moves chase deeper shifts beneath the surface.

This isn't about volatility—it's about velocity. The speed at which crypto moves into places no one expected. A restaurant chain. A stalled bill. A 20% candle that shouldn't have happened, but did. Ignore the noise, and you might catch the signal. Because real adoption isn't declared—it just shows up.

Serious Returns (Sponsored)

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*Disclaimer: All individual claims are independent views, and the result may vary as per potential & caliber
(from person to person). Results may not be typical nor expected for every person. This is not a "get rich quick" scheme. All information provided on this website and webinar is based on best practices and for educational-purposes only. We are publishers, not licensed financial advisors. Information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as financial advice. Always consult a professional advisor for personalized financial guidance.

Market-Moving News

The map is redrawing itself—subtly, structurally, and in plain sight.

A fast-food giant just flipped the switch on real-world Bitcoin payments. A foundational asset suddenly broke out after months of dormancy. And a bill that could have changed everything died on the Senate floor. These aren't isolated events—they're pressure points in the system. Watch them closely, because what comes next won't wait for the headlines.

Adoption

Steak 'n Shake to Accept Bitcoin Nationwide Starting May 16

Fast-food chain Steak 'n Shake announced it will begin accepting Bitcoin at all US locations on May 16, becoming one of the first major drive-thru brands to roll out full-scale crypto payments. The move follows a March teaser that hinted at possible integration, which attracted notable engagement from figures like Jack Dorsey.

The company's decision is a notable departure from the norm. While retailers like Starbucks and Chipotle have dabbled in crypto payments, they've often limited it to narrow pilots or used third-party apps that convert crypto to fiat before transactions. Steak 'n Shake is pushing forward with native BTC payments across hundreds of outlets.

What makes this more significant is the operational environment: fast food runs on razor-thin margins and high transaction volumes. If Bitcoin payments can function smoothly here, it could prove that crypto is viable for real-world, high-frequency retail use and not just boutique experiments or online shops.

The campaign also taps into Bitcoin's cultural cachet. Recent posts from the chain have leaned into crypto-native memes, featuring Mars imagery and references to Elon Musk and RFK Jr. This further positions Steak 'n Shake as a forward-thinking, digitally fluent brand.

For investors, this rollout isn't just a headline—it's a test. If crypto can scale in fast food, it can scale almost anywhere. Watch closely to see if other high-volume brands follow suit.

Ethereum

Ether Surges 20% After Pectra Upgrade—Turning Point or Temporary Rally? 

Ether (ETH) surged nearly 20% in a single day following the rollout of Ethereum's Pectra upgrade on May 7, triggering speculation that a broader bullish reversal could be underway. The upgrade introduced smart accounts, higher staking caps, and Layer 2 data enhancements—all designed to make Ethereum more scalable and user-friendly.

The rally caught many traders off guard. Open interest in ETH futures rose 21%, while more than $328 million in ETH short positions were liquidated. Analysts noted that the price jump was largely fueled by new long positions entering the market after months of lagging sentiment.

ETH had been down 56% year-to-date prior to this, and despite the current 52% monthly gain, skepticism lingers. Spot Ether ETFs, for example, continue to see outflows, suggesting that traditional investors remain cautious. That said, Ethereum's fundamentals appear stronger than ever, with transaction throughput and staking metrics improving rapidly.

External factors also added fuel to the fire: easing trade tensions between the US and UK, and Coinbase's acquisition of Deribit for $2.9B, further strengthened investor confidence in ETH's near-term upside.

For investors, this looks like more than just a dead cat bounce. The mix of technical progress, macro tailwinds, and liquidation-driven momentum could point to ETH's first real breakout in 2025—but sustainability remains the key question.

Quiet Alpha (Sponsored)

The Asset Class Wall Street Ignores

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*Disclaimer: All individual claims are independent views, and the result may vary as per potential & caliber
(from person to person). Results may not be typical nor expected for every person. This is not a "get rich quick" scheme. All information provided on this website and webinar is based on best practices and for educational-purposes only. We are publishers, not licensed financial advisors. Information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as financial advice. Always consult a professional advisor for personalized financial guidance.

Regulation

GENIUS Act Fails in Senate, Treasury Secretary Slams Missed Opportunity

The US Senate's failure to advance the GENIUS Act—a sweeping bill aimed at regulating stablecoins—sparked immediate backlash from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. He called the defeat "a missed opportunity" to assert US leadership in the global digital asset race.

Once seen as a bipartisan effort, the bill unraveled at the last moment due to a mix of Democratic defections and concerns over rushed changes. Lawmakers cited national security and AML gaps, while others pointed to political tensions tied to Trump-era crypto ties and endorsements.

Bessent warned that without federal oversight, stablecoins would continue operating under a fragmented patchwork of state laws, risking US competitiveness. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong echoed those concerns, saying crypto remains a top legislative priority and talks will likely resume next week.

The fallout also comes amid wider partisan clashes over digital assets. Democrats staged a walkout earlier in the week at a House hearing, citing concerns about "Trump's crypto corruption," and Republican leaders accused the opposition of blocking innovation for political gain.

For investors, this is a setback, but not the end. While the GENIUS Act failed, the urgency around stablecoin regulation isn't going away. Expect more volatility and renewed legislative pushes in the weeks ahead.

Hidden Edge (Sponsored)

This Overlooked Market Is Quietly Minting Millionaires

Most people are chasing meme coins, TikTok crypto tips, or whatever the latest "wealth hack" is.

But one full-time investor quietly found something else—something real—that’s outperforming even Apple and Nvidia.

It’s not on the stock exchange. It's not flashy. But it's backed by billion-dollar industries and quietly traded in a hidden market like stocks.

He put together a free report to show exactly how it works — no pitch, no hype, just something most investors never see.

[Read the Free Report] – Skip the noise. See what actually works.

*Disclaimer: All individual claims are independent views, and the result may vary as per potential & caliber
(from person to person). Results may not be typical nor expected for every person. This is not a "get rich quick" scheme. All information provided on this website and webinar is based on best practices and for educational-purposes only. We are publishers, not licensed financial advisors. Information provided is for informational purposes only and is not intended as financial advice. Always consult a professional advisor for personalized financial guidance.

Future Forward

The biggest moves don't go viral—they're hidden in the details, buried in updates and backroom calls. Stick around, and you'll spot them before they surface.

Crypto Conferences:

💎 CryptoAI Summit 2025 (May 10, 2025)

💎 Amsterdam Cryptocurrency Conference 2025 (May 10, 2025 - May 11, 2025)

💎 World Expo on Blockchain 2025 (May 10, 2025 - June 3, 2025)

Upcoming Airdrops:

🎁 QuarkChain (QKC) Airdrop (May 13, 2025)

🎁 Beincom (BIC) Airdrop (May 15, 2025)

🎁 SANCHO Airdrop (May 16, 2025)

Upcoming Token Launches:

🚀 GamersXP (GMXP) IDO on KingdomStarter (May 11, 2025)

🚀 Iceberg (ICEBERG) SHO on DAO Maker (May 11, 2025)

🚀 Emmet Finance (EMMET) IDO on Spores (May 15, 2025)

Which event are you most excited for? Let us know!

Crypto Know-How: What Is Tokenomics?

Tokenomics is short for "token economics"—it's how a crypto token works within its project. It covers things like how many tokens exist, how they're distributed, and what they're used for.

Some tokens are meant for spending, others for staking, voting, or earning rewards. Supply limits, inflation rates, and unlock schedules all impact a token's value over time.

Sound tokenomics can make a project sustainable and appealing to investors. Bad tokenomics? They can tank a token's price, no matter how good the tech is. Think of it like a game's rules—it has to be balanced to keep players interested.

That's a wrap for this cycle—if we missed something major, let us know. Thanks for tuning in. Same signal, next round.

Everything Else

• A Taiwanese lawmaker proposed adding Bitcoin to the country's national reserves as a hedge against inflation and geopolitical risks.

• German police seized $38M in crypto from eXch, a laundering platform linked to the Bybit hack, marking one of the largest crypto busts in the country's history.

• Japan's Metaplanet is issuing another $21M in zero-coupon bonds to expand its Bitcoin holdings after recently surpassing 5,555 BTC.

• Florida-based Wellgistics Health is integrating XRP into a $50M financing deal to enable real-time payments across its pharmaceutical network.

• Memecoin developer Jeffy Yu was found alive days after faking his death—an event that triggered a 2,000% pump and crash in his $LLJEFFY token.

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