SnapShot 205

Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade, BTC reclaims $100K, and CRO’s ETP debut.

Hello SnapShotters,

Ethereum’s long-awaited Pectra upgrade went live this week, introducing smart account functionality, better validator efficiency, and foundational changes for future scalability. ETH slid below $1,800 in the 24 hours leading up to the event, before rebounding to $1,864 on May 7, and a further 19% spike to $2,216 on May 9. 

Meanwhile, Bitcoin continued to assert dominance, climbing to 64.89% market share — its highest since January 2021 — as it retook the $100,000 milestone. The past week also saw Bitcoin ETFs pulling in $1.6 billion for a third straight week of consecutive gains, which analysts attributed to risk-off sentiment in the altcoin space and growing investor preference for BTC’s perceived resilience.

In Europe, 21Shares has built upon the ETF momentum by launching a new ETP for the CRO token on Euronext Paris and Amsterdam. Read on for this week’s other big crypto moves and storylines.

Market Spotlight

Note: Market prices captured in USD at the time of sending. Explore more on Crypto‌.com/Price. 
Want more? Get weekly Market and DeFi Updates from Crypto.‌com’s Research Team.

News Snaps

🔧 Ethereum’s Pectra Upgrade Goes Live

Ethereum activated its long-anticipated Pectra upgrade this week, introducing smart account functionality (EIP-7702), validator efficiency improvements, and Layer-2 scaling. This is the network’s most comprehensive update since The Merge.

📈 21Shares Launches ETP for Cronos (CRO)

21Shares debuted a new ETP for the CRO token, now trading on Euronext Paris and Amsterdam. The product offers regulated exposure to the Layer-1 chain without needing direct crypto custody.

🥇 First Two U.S. States to Hold Crypto

Arizona and New Hampshire just made U.S. history by officially authorizing crypto holdings at the state level, from staking unclaimed assets to allocating treasury funds to Bitcoin.

⛽ Fueling up With Crypto

This week, Crypto.com announced an innovative partnership with Emarat to enable cryptocurrency services at Emarat service stations in the UAE, pending regulatory approval.

🇮🇩 Indonesia Reins in Crypto, Industry Wants Reforms

Indonesia suspended Worldcoin over data privacy concerns, while its crypto industry pushes for tax reforms to stay competitive. With 28.5 million users and an upcoming regulatory handover, the country could see a turning point.

💱 Crypto.com Exchange Joins Lynq to Enhance Trading Settlements

Crypto.com became the first digital asset exchange to integrate with Lynq, a real-time, yield-bearing settlement network for digital assets. Institutional clients will be able to fund their trading accounts more seamlessly and efficiently, and off-ramp to the settlement platform in one click.

🎮 MapleStory Gets Web3 Reboot on Avalanche

Gaming developer Nexon is bringing MapleStory to Avalanche, letting players indulge in custom world building and earn on-chain rewards.

What’s Ahead

🗳️ WLFI Vote on USD1 Airdrop 

World Liberty Financial has opened voting on a proposed test airdrop of its USD1 stablecoin to WLFI holders, with 99.97% support so far. The voting closes on May 14, although the project has reserved the right to alter or cancel the airdrop post-approval.

Number of the Week

Chart of the Week

Corporate Bitcoin holdings reportedly jumped by 80,000 BTC from the first quarter of 2025 to the end of April 2025, bringing the total to 750,000 BTC globally. Strategy led the charge with a 25,370 BTC buy, while 15 new public firms added BTC to their balance sheets, up from just nine in March. This may point toward accelerating institutional interest.

Research & Insights

Monthly Feature Article | The Rise of Crypto Treasury

The adoption of cryptocurrencies (particularly BTC) as treasury reserve assets by companies has emerged as a transformative financial strategy since 2020. This report examines the conceptual framework, global adoption trends, and stock performance of companies embracing crypto treasuries.

Read the full report here.

Crypto Trivia

Which of the following token standards is used to create and manage tokens on the Solana blockchain?

A) ERC-20

B) SPL

C) TRC-20

Find the correct answer at the end of this newsletter. 👇

NFT Spotlight

Welcome to the next chapter of SYNTHTOPIA, a “dynamic collective of seasoned artists and entrepreneurs, merging art, culture, and community into an electrifying movement.” SYNTHTOPIA is “reshaping the future of gamified entertainment through the power of Web3 and AI.”

The collective’s next NFT feature, ‘The SYNTHETIX’, which drops on Wednesday, May 14, is “a collection of 1,881 visionary 3D PFP avatars — warriors, sorcerers, and explorers forged to shatter the Matrix and awaken new realms of consciousness.” They are “more than characters. They are vessels of coded light, fragments of a collective imagination designed to spark transformation — each carrying fragments of the spiritual DNA of the new world.”

This drop “invites you to awaken the inner engineer, the oracle, and the dreamer within. To mirror the self through the other. To build a fractal world of balance, where every avatar reflects the whole,” and offering holders “hidden prizes, tier-based rewards, $BIOSYNTH airdrops, and access to exclusive events.”

Enter the SYNTHETIX.

“Forged in Rebellion. Propelled by Magic.”

Terms and conditions apply.  Advertised benefits will be provided by the Creator in their discretion, in accordance with the terms and conditions. 

A geometric alignment between memory and imagination. Join the movement.

Product Updates

Trade Better With ‘AI Insights’ in Crypto.com Onchain

‘AI Insights’ has now arrived to Crypto.com Onchain! You can now view auto-generated AI insights on recent price action, holder distribution, and social sentiment for virtually any token in the Onchain wallet. Simply tap on a token, then select ‘Token Info’ to access ‘AI Insights’. Try it now!

Crypto.com Exchange VIP Portal Gets an Upgrade

VIPs on the Crypto.com Exchange can now enjoy an unparalleled trading experience with the upgraded VIP portal, which brings together OTC services, API integration, VIP tier tracking and progression, and much more. Learn more about the Crypto.com Exchange VIP program here. 

New token listings

ai16z (AI16Z)

ai16z is a decentralized autonomous organisation (DAO) within the Solana ecosystem that uses AI agents to make investment decisions and execute trading strategies. 

Hyperlane (HYPER)

Hyperlane is a permissionless cross-chain interoperability protocol that facilitates seamless communication between blockchains and multiple virtual machines. 

This is informational content only and should not be considered as an investment recommendation. Some Crypto.com products may not be available in some jurisdictions.

Crypto Learn

ERC-20 is a foundational technical standard for creating fungible tokens on the Ethereum blockchain. It defines how tokens are created, transferred, and interacted with. Thanks to this token standard, your tokens can work seamlessly with wallets, exchanges, and other smart contracts.

ERC-20 enables you to easily buy, trade, and store ERC-20 tokens, and has also played a key role in Ethereum’s rise, fueling the 2017 ICO boom and making token creation accessible to developers. Today, thousands of cryptocurrencies use the ERC-20 standard, making it one of the most widely adopted frameworks in the crypto ecosystem.

Learn how this token standard enhances interoperability between platforms in our University article.

CryptoIRL

Yes, travel is a whole lot better when the Lion comes along. In @_silverstar88’s case, though, it’s doubly better while airport lounging with the Crypto.com Royal Indigo and Jade Green Cards.

Hashtag #CryptoIRL with your Crypto.‌com Card on your social profiles to get featured! Your 15 minutes of fame in the #CROFam awaits you!

Security Tips

New York Post‘s X Account Compromised and Used for Telegram Crypto Scam

Hackers hijacked the New York Post’s X account to run a phishing scam targeting crypto users via Telegram.

Scammers sent direct messages inviting users to feature in a podcast, and then blocked replies to avoid detection. Users were then led to a fake Zoom call, where clicking an audio prompt gave attackers remote access to their devices, enabling crypto theft.

How to stay safe:

1. Do not click links from unknown or suspicious messages.

2. Always verify social media accounts.

3. Stay updated with the latest scam tactics.

4. Enable two-factor authentication.

Crypto Trivia Answer

B) SPL

SPL stands for Solana Program Library, which is analogous to Ethereum’s ERC-20 and TRON’s TRC-20.

That’s it for this week’s SnapShot. Want more? Find out what’s trending in the crypto world.