Evening digest: Bitcoin above 74,500, Trump criticise NATO allies

On Tuesday Bitcoin held firm amid macro uncertainty, while Trump criticied NATO allies for not supporting the Iran conflict.

Mastercard said its buying stablecoin startup BVNK while Pentagon is moving to replace Anthropic amid the feud.

Bitcoin holds above $74,500 as inflows rise

Bitcoin traded near the mid-$70,000 range, showing signs of stabilization after rebounding from recent lows around $66,000.

The cryptocurrency traded above $74,500, supported by steady spot demand and renewed institutional inflows.

Data from Glassnode suggests improving momentum, with buy-side pressure returning and ETF inflows accelerating.

Investor profitability has also improved modestly, while capital outflows have slowed.

However, derivatives positioning remains cautious and on-chain activity subdued, indicating that broader market participation has yet to fully recover.

The recent move higher has also been linked to a short squeeze dynamic.

Institutional demand remains a key driver, with spot bitcoin ETFs recording multiple days of inflows, including $199.4 million into spot Bitcoin ETFs on Monday.

Trump criticizes NATO allies over Iran war participation

US President Donald Trump criticized NATO allies for their reluctance to participate in the Iran conflict, calling their stance a strategic misstep.

The alliance of 32 nations is “making a very foolish mistake,” Trump said during an Oval Office meeting with Ireland’s prime minister.

Trump emphasized that while the US does not require assistance, allies should be more engaged.

He has urged countries benefiting from oil flows through the Strait of Hormuz to help secure the route, though no NATO members have firmly committed.

Trump reiterated his longstanding criticism of NATO, describing it as a “one way street — We will protect them, but they will do nothing for us.”

“Because of the fact that we have had such Military Success, we no longer ‘need,’ or desire, the NATO Countries’ assistance — WE NEVER DID!” Trump wrote.

Oil prices rose following his remarks, reflecting concerns about prolonged disruption in a key global shipping route.

Mastercard makes $1.8B move into stablecoin infrastructure

Mastercard announced it will acquire London-based stablecoin infrastructure firm BVNK for up to $1.8 billion, marking its largest push into digital currencies.

The deal includes $300 million in contingent payments tied to performance targets and is expected to close this year.

The acquisition will enable Mastercard to integrate traditional payment systems with blockchain-based networks, positioning the company to support stablecoins and tokenized deposits as adoption grows.

“We expect that most financial institutions and fintechs will in time provide digital currency services,” Mastercard Chief Product Officer Jorn Lambert said.

BVNK operates across more than 130 countries and supports transactions on major blockchain networks.

The deal comes amid increased interest in stablecoin infrastructure following a shift toward more crypto-friendly regulation in the US.

Pentagon seeks new AI partners after Anthropic fallout

The US Department of Defense is working to replace Anthropic’s artificial intelligence tools after labeling the company a supply-chain risk.

Cameron Stanley, the Pentagon’s chief digital and AI officer, said efforts are underway to transition to alternative large language models, though the process could take more than a month.

“The Department is actively pursuing multiple LLMs into the appropriate government-owned environments,” Stanley said. “Engineering work has begun on these LLMs and we expect to have them available for operational use very soon.”

The decision follows a breakdown in talks after Anthropic refused to remove safeguards limiting the use of its AI for surveillance or autonomous weapons.

The move jeopardizes a $200 million agreement and underscores the Pentagon’s broader push to diversify AI providers.

Companies such as OpenAI, xAI, and Google are now stepping in to fill the gap as the military accelerates efforts to become an “AI-first” force.

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