Bybit showcased its innovative crypto solutions at Web Summit Rio 2025, emphasizing its role in integrating crypto into traditional payments. 

Daily top performer — Zebec Network (ZBCN)

The S&P 500 extended its rally with a nine-day winning streak, its longest since 2004, as optimism over potential trade deals and upcoming Fed and earnings updates lifted sentiment. Gold rose to $3,245 on trade uncertainty and Fed rate cut hopes. CoinDesk Indices, which tracks the broader crypto market, fell 1.50% in the past 24 hours, while Bitcoin and Ether dropped 0.10% and 0.51%, respectively. Trade these markets and more with up to 500x leverage on Bybit MT5 using this 

Today's top performer is ZBCN, which surged 19.5% after Zebec Network joined the Circle Alliance, aiming to make USDC the default stablecoin for real-world payments.

Zebec Network (ZBCN), founded in 2021, is a Solana-based DeFi protocol enabling real-time payroll and payments, with products like Zebec Card, Safes, and Web3 Banking, all governed by ZBC token holders. 

, with Circle Ventures being an early backer. USDC powers Zebec's products, including Zebec Cards and payroll services. With Circle holding a significant amount of ZBCN, Zebec aims to establish USDC as the default stablecoin for real-world payments.

Check out the latest prices, charts, and data of 

 its innovative crypto solutions at Web Summit Rio 2025, emphasizing its role in integrating crypto into traditional payments. The exchange launched Bybit Pay in Brazil, offering a seamless crypto-to-fiat experience with features like QR code payments, multi-currency support, and secure blockchain transactions. Bybit also highlighted its strategic partnerships, including with Tomorrowland Brasil, and introduced its rewarding Bybit Card. The event showcased Bybit’s commitment to empowering the LATAM crypto community and making crypto accessible in everyday life.

BTC spot ETFs saw $1.8B net inflows last week, driven by $1.86B into non-GBTC ETFs despite a $58.7M GBTC outflow. Since inception, total net inflows stand at $40.2B.

GiveRep is experiencing heavy traffic, causing site loading issues, but the team is actively working on 

 V1 soon. In the meantime, users can continue earning rewards as all tweets about GiveRep are still being indexed. A confirmed ATTN token airdrop will reward those who rank higher on the leaderboard, so continued engagement is encouraged.

Beginner

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Bybit showcases crypto payment solutions at Web Summit Rio 2025 with Bybit Pay launch in Brazil

Crypto portfolio diversification is the practice of spreading investments across different asset classes, industries or geographies in order to reduce risk.

In the whirlwind cryptocurrency space, the secret to keeping your profits lies not in predicting the next moonshot, but in mastering portfolio diversification: the art of turning market chaos into a calculated advantage. From blending rock-solid 

, this article reveals how strategically spreading your investments can shield your portfolio from meltdowns and position you to profit — no matter which way the crypto winds blow.

Portfolio diversification is the practice of spreading investments across different asset classes, industries or geographies in order to reduce risk.

This strategy aims to mitigate the impact of poor performance in one area by balancing it with gains or stability in others.

Portfolio diversification entails spreading investments across different asset classes in order to minimize risk. By holding a mix of stocks, bonds, real estate and commodities, you avoid putting all your eggs in one basket. When one asset class takes a hit, others may remain stable or even perform better, helping to reduce the overall risk to your portfolio.

In the crypto market, diversification works in a similar way, but with an extra layer of complexity. Cryptocurrencies 

, so diversifying within this market is essential. A well-diversified crypto portfolio often starts with well-established coins like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH). These major assets are the foundation of many portfolios, due to their market dominance and liquidity. Then, in order to add growth potential (though with higher risk), investors might include mid-to-small cap coins like 

You can also diversify by sector, investing in different use cases, such as 

, AI or non-fungible tokens (NFTs). This can involve a mix of altcoins and newer tokens that are part of various blockchain ecosystems — such as 

 (DOT) — to reduce dependency on a single blockchain's performance.

For those looking to minimize volatility, diversifying into stablecoins like 

 can be a good option. These assets are pegged to traditional currencies such as the US dollar, making them more stable while still allowing you to gain exposure to the crypto market.

 (ETFs) or index funds can help simplify crypto diversification. These options give investors access to a basket of cryptocurrencies, reducing the need to manage each asset individually and providing a more hands-off approach to diversification.

Diversifying your cryptocurrency portfolio is a strategic approach to managing risk and enhancing potential returns in the volatile crypto market. By spreading investments across various digital assets, sectors and regions, investors can mitigate the impact of adverse movements in any single asset as follows.

Different types of portfolio diversification

Diversifying your crypto portfolio is essential for managing risk and capturing growth across varying market conditions. Below are some key methods to consider.

Infrastructure tokens like Ethereum (ETH) and Cardano (ADA) are vital for running blockchain networks, while 

) give holders a voice in project decisions. Meanwhile, 

), though speculative, can offer short-term gains, due to community hype and viral momentum.

Diversification is a powerful strategy to manage risk and optimize returns, but it requires careful planning and ongoing monitoring. Following are some key considerations before diversifying your crypto portfolio.

Assess your risk tolerance and investment goals

 and investment objectives. If stability is your priority, consider focusing on well-established assets like BTC, ETH and stablecoins like USDC and USDT. These assets tend to offer lower volatility and more predictable returns. However, if you're comfortable with higher risk for potentially higher rewards, you might allocate a portion of your portfolio to emerging sectors, such as DeFi tokens or gaming coins. Additionally, your time horizon matters — since short-term investors may prefer liquid, low-volatility assets (such as stablecoins), while long-term holders may opt for high-potential assets, such as NFTs or blockchain infrastructure (e.g., mining operations or tokenized real estate).

When diversifying, balance large-cap cryptocurrencies (e.g., BTC or ETH) with smaller, high-growth altcoins. Large-cap assets are generally more stable, and provide a solid foundation for your portfolio. Meanwhile, smaller-cap coins can offer higher growth potential, but they come with more risk. 

Spread your investments across different sectors, such as DeFi, 

 platforms, in order to reduce overexposure to any one area. Consider geopolitical factors and the regulatory environment, as these factors can affect markets differently in various regions, making geographical diversification important.

A balanced portfolio is key to effective diversification. For example, you could allocate 40% to Bitcoin and Ethereum, 30% to stablecoins for liquidity and risk mitigation and the remaining 30% to altcoins or alternative investments, such as blockchain startups. Another strategy is that of 

 (DCA), whereby you invest a fixed amount periodically, regardless of market fluctuations. This helps to reduce the impact of market timing and smooth out crypto market volatility.

While diversification has its advantages, over-diversifying can dilute your returns because your gains may be spread thin across many assets. Frequent trading and rebalancing can also lead to higher transaction fees that can into your profits. Additionally, managing a diverse portfolio requires time, expertise and constant attention, which might not be feasible for every investor.

To further reduce exposure to crypto volatility, think about including traditional assets, such as stocks, ETFs or blockchain infrastructure investments. These can act as a stabilizing force during crypto market downturns, offering balance to your portfolio.

Ultimately, a well-diversified portfolio can help investors navigate market volatility with more confidence. Diversifying your portfolio is a vital strategy for managing risk and optimizing returns, particularly in the volatile crypto market. By spreading investments across various asset types, market caps, sectors and investment vehicles, investors can cushion the impact of market fluctuations and potentially capture better returns. While diversification offers many benefits, it requires careful planning, constant monitoring and a balanced approach in order to avoid over-diversification and excessive trading costs.

portfolio diversification.png

Portfolio diversification: The key to efficiently navigating market volatility

Ethereum R1 is a new donation-funded, tokenless Layer 2 rollup designed to offer a decentralized, censorship-resistant, and governance-minimized scaling solution for Ethereum

The S&P 500 rose 0.63% Thursday, boosted by strong Meta and Microsoft earnings, but futures slipped Friday as investors awaited the April jobs report and weighed Apple and Amazon tariff concerns. Gold fell to $3,235 as easing trade tensions cut safe-haven demand; markets await US jobs data for rate cut signals. The Coindesk Indices, which tracks the broader crypto market, rose 2.19%, with Bitcoin and Ether up 2.57% and 2.60%, respectively in the past 24 hours. Trade these markets and more with up to 500x leverage on Bybit MT5 using this 

Today's top performer is AR, which gained 16.8% following CloneX's successful migration to Arweave, sponsored by ArDrive.

Arweave (AR), founded in 2017, is a decentralized network for permanent data storage, using blockweave and Proof of Access to ensure long-term accessibility. It offers 200-year storage for a one-time fee, incentivized by AR tokens for miners. The system connects blocks efficiently to preserve and retrieve data, aiming to create a lasting digital knowledge repository. CloneX has successfully 

 to Arweave for permanent storage, with the support of ArDrive, which sponsored the migration of 100 GB of data. The process is nearly complete, with only Animus remaining to undergo decentralization.

 is a new donation-funded, tokenless Layer 2 rollup designed to offer a decentralized, censorship-resistant, and governance-minimized scaling solution for Ethereum. Built on open-source code and the Nethermind Surge stack, it emphasizes credible neutrality, public good funding (with all fees burned after 2030), and infrastructure that remains free from VC control or centralized dependencies.

Yesterday, BTC spot ETFs saw $71.1M in total inflows, with $16M from GBTC and $55.1M from other ETFs.

 $BOOP tokens to active Solana memecoin traders and creators who promote memecoins or Solana dapps on X. To claim, users must connect their Solana wallet or X account and launch a free token. The airdrop arrives in 30 days, but growing the token’s market cap can accelerate the reward.

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Ethereum R1 offers a decentralized rollup solution for Ethereum

This article dives into Bitcoin liquid staking protocol Lombard Finance, how LBTC works and how you can stake LBTC through Bybit Web3.

Bitcoin stands as the undisputed giant of the cryptocurrency space, commanding the largest market capitalization. Yet, much of its potential remains untapped, often sitting idle as a store of value rather than actively participating in the thriving 

 ecosystem. Lombard Finance aims to change this narrative by unlocking Bitcoin's utility and integrating it seamlessly into DeFi.

Lombard is built upon Babylon, the innovative Bitcoin staking protocol, and is incubated by Polychain Capital. Lombard’s flagship product, 

 (LST) for BTC. This article explores what Lombard Finance is and how LBTC works, and describes the Lombard ecosystem and how you can stake LBTC through Bybit Web3.

 is a liquid staking protocol that focuses on transforming 

's role in the digital economy. Its core mission is to evolve BTC from simply being a store of value — also viewed as 

 — into a productive asset that actively generates yield and participates within DeFi. Currently, a significant portion of Bitcoin's

 sits idle, lacking the native staking capabilities or cross-chain composability seen with assets such as 

Lombard Finance addresses this shortcoming by building on top of 

, a protocol that supports BTC staking without needing 

 or custodians. Babylon allows Bitcoin's economic weight to secure other 

 (PoS) chains and applications, creating a new yield source for holders. Lombard leverages this foundation to offer LBTC, making staked BTC liquid and usable across the DeFi market.

Lombard’s goal is ambitious: to channel Bitcoin's vast liquidity into DeFi. This could potentially double the ecosystem's 

 (TVL) if even a fraction of available BTC is introduced. Lombard believes this integration will catalyze significant growth and create more sustainable market dynamics by making BTC a core, yield-bearing primitive within DeFi.

Founders and investors of Lombard Finance

Lombard Finance was founded in April 2024 by a team with deep expertise within DeFi, drawing talent from established crypto projects like Polychain, Babylon, Argent, Coinbase and Maple. This collective experience underpins the protocol's design and strategic direction.

The project was notably incubated by Polychain Capital, a prominent crypto investment firm that also led Lombard's $16 million seed funding round (which was 

 in July 2024). This round saw participation from a wide array of significant players in the crypto space — including Babylon, dao5, Franklin Templeton, Foresight Ventures, HTX Ventures, Mirana Ventures, Mantle EcoFund, Nomad Capital, OKX Ventures and Robot Ventures — thus highlighting broad industry confidence in Lombard's vision. Strategic partnerships and contributions from exchanges like

 and Bitget are further bolstering its distribution and liquidity aggregation efforts.

LBTC is Lombard Finance's flagship product — a liquid staking token (LST) that represents Bitcoin staked through the Babylon protocol. Designed as a universal liquid BTC standard, LBTC is fully backed 1:1 by native Bitcoin, ensuring its value is directly tied to the underlying asset.

The token is yield-bearing, capturing rewards generated from securing PoS networks via Babylon staking. Crucially, LBTC remains liquid, meaning holders can freely use it across various DeFi applications — such as 

 and automated vaults — without sacrificing their underlying staked positions or associated yield.

LBTC is also designed for cross-chain compatibility, natively minted on supported blockchains like Ethereum, Base and Sui and using secure infrastructure [such as 

]. This avoids the risks associated with traditional bridging or wrapping methods, thus aiming to provide a more secure and seamless way to utilize Bitcoin across the multichain DeFi ecosystem.

Lombard Finance simplifies the process of putting Bitcoin to work within DeFi through its LBTC token. The mechanism is designed with security and user experience in mind, leveraging the Babylon protocol and a robust Security Consortium.

The core benefit of LBTC lies in its ability to unlock multiple layers of value simultaneously. Holders earn native yield from Babylon staking, potentially accrue additional rewards (such as Lombard Lux points) and gain access to diverse DeFi yield opportunities, all while maintaining the liquidity of their Bitcoin position. This transforms BTC from a static asset into a dynamic, yield-generating component of the DeFi ecosystem.

Lombard Finance is actively building a wide LBTC ecosystem that already boasts over 75 DeFi integrations. Security is foundational, anchored by the 14-member Security Consortium (including prominent names like Galaxy and OKX Ventures) and validating all critical operations alongside audits and bug bounties.

Core infrastructure relies both on Babylon for staking, and on the Chainlink CCIP for secure cross-chain movement, with EigenLayer integration 

. LBTC integrates with leading DeFi applications across lending platforms (e.g., 

) and automated vaults. The platform supports multiple blockchains (including Ethereum, Base, Sui, BNB Chain) and 

 (L2s), positioning LBTC as a versatile cross-chain asset.

Here's how you can stake BTC on Lombard and use LBTC in DeFi and automated vaults.

Lombard Finance (via its LBTC token) offers a compelling way for Bitcoin holders to put their assets into use, earn yield via Babylon staking and gain exposure to the expansive DeFi ecosystem — all while maintaining liquidity. Incubated by Polychain Capital and supported by a robust consortium and growing partner network, Lombard is positioning LBTC as a secure and versatile liquid Bitcoin standard.

It’s easy to participate in the Lombard ecosystem through 

, you can utilize your Bybit Web3 Seed Phrase Wallet to stake BTC and mint 

, Lombard's vault token that represents deposits in automated yield strategies. This provides you with a seamless gateway to access Bitcoin liquid staking and DeFi yields.

Ready to unlock your Bitcoin's potential? 

Intermediate

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Lombard Finance: Polychain-backed Bitcoin liquid staking protocol

Candlestick

Trading

The dark cloud cover pattern tells traders that there is a potential correction ahead. But how to spot it & how reliable it is? Learn more.

Dark-Cloud-Pattern.jpg

 that crypto traders use to spot bearish reversals within the market. The pattern is fairly easy to spot and read. When traders see it, they use the pattern as a signal to enter short positions or possibly to exit long positions. 

However, the pattern should not be viewed in isolation. It’s best to get confirmation from other technical signals, like divergence on oscillators, or to see the pattern developing at an area of resistance before taking action.

When enough evidence is present, placing a bearish trade from the pattern is simple.

The Dark Cloud Cover is a bearish two-candlestick pattern in which the first candle is a large bullish range. It is followed by a bearish second candle with gaps higher on the open but closes in the lower half of the first candle’s price range.

Technical traders use the Dark Cloud Cover pattern to signal the start of a potential correction. If identified correctly, crypto traders can use the signal to exit long trades or possibly enter short positions.

The Dark Cloud Cover pattern looks like two opposing candlesticks, a large green bullish candle followed by a large red stick. Most of the price action undertaken by the green candle is unwound when the red candle is completed.

This price action indicates a developing bearish reversal in the market. Buyers appear to hold control initially, but then sellers step in and retrace a lot of the progress made.

The net effect of these two candles is that much buying power is utilized, but only to drive the price a little higher. Buyers are losing momentum, and the market is at risk of further consolidation — or outright reversal.

The Dark Cloud Cover candlestick pattern can be found in all markets, but it’s especially useful in identifying reversals on crypto charts. In addition, this candlestick formation can be spotted on all chart time frames.

How to Identify a Dark Cloud Cover Pattern

The structure of the two-candle Dark Cloud Cover pattern is fairly simple.

1 — Larger than an average bullish green candle

2 — The gap higher on the open of the second candle

3 — Large bearish red candle that retraces at least 50% of the first candle

The first candle is a bullish green candle with a larger price range than the average candle on the chart. This is important to the setup of the pattern, as it indicates a large amount of buying interest in the market.

The second candle will gap higher on its open, then work lower, finishing in the lower half of the first candle’s body (previous candle). This price action suggests an exhaustive bullish move, as the price is quickly retraced lower.

More aggressive traders may consider opening a short trade on the open of the next candle. For traders who opened an existing long position in the market, this bearish Dark Cloud Cover pattern signals the possibility of exiting all or part of the long trade.

When looking for the Dark Cloud Cover pattern in crypto charts, it’s important to note that gaps within the 

 are a rare occurrence. This is due to the 24-hour trading that’s available for crypto. In essence, there is no open or close trading in crypto, which is the most common reason price gaps appear on charts.

To accommodate this nuance within crypto, you want to see a large-bodied red candle that retraces more than 50% of the large-bodied green candle which comes right before it.

Aside from the three critical elements of the Dark Cloud Cover pattern noted above, other criteria strengthen the signal. 

First of all, the candlestick pattern is bearish, so it works best at the end of an uptrend. If the market is moving lower, then this pattern occurs doesn’t provide a good risk-to-reward ratio opportunity.

Secondly, you may find oscillators and other 

 displaying overbought values, as the trend has been strongly planted to the upside. As these oscillators turn lower, they’re likely to diverge from the price action, creating a lower high on the oscillator but a higher high on price.

At this stage, the uptrend is still in force but has weakened substantially. This could be due to a wave relationship or resistance level looming overhead. Either way, the market tries to rally one last time, but that rally is met with strong resistance — and a big red candle carving the Dark Cloud Cover pattern.

The Dark Cloud Cover pattern above suggests the market is changing from an uptrend to a downtrend. A break of support will confirm the trend has changed, opening the door for a deeper correction.

Crypto traders use the pattern with other technical signals to enter into new short positions or exit signals to close out long positions.

The Dark Cloud Cover pattern by itself is a simple two-candle pattern. However, identifying it correctly on a crypto chart requires careful consideration of other criteria.

Here is an example of an 8-hour Ether chart. ETH was in a strong uptrend with nearly 100% gains, but those gains started to slow down in early May 2021.

 (RSI) oscillator was consistently in overbought territory. However, the rally lost momentum as RSI began showing lower highs while Ether’s price continued to all-time highs.

Shortly thereafter, the Dark Cloud Cover candlestick pattern appears. The first green candle shoots higher to new all-time highs. Then the second candle of the pattern, the red candle, closes in the lower half of the range of the first green candle.

This indicates that the uptrend is losing its momentum, signaling a downturn. However, the market is at all-time highs, so it is difficult to tell for sure that a bearish reversal pattern would show or be sure trend reversal is approaching.

A trader will want to add a trend line that encompasses the uptrend to gain an additional sense of when the market’s mood is changing from uptrend to downtrend. Where the trend line breaks, the trader will have confirmation that a correction is at hand. 

You can also look to horizontal levels of support and wait for price action to break it. Then you can initiate a short position or use the opportunity to exit long positions.

Once the trend line is broken, ETH begins a sharp correction that drains about 55% of the value out of Ethereum. This correction was forecast with the combination of the Dark Cloud Cover candlestick pattern, RSI divergence, and a support trend line break. 

How to Trade the Dark Cloud Cover Pattern

Once you’ve spotted a Dark Cloud Cover pattern, trading it is fairly simple. There are multiple ways to trade, based on whether you’re a more conservative or aggressive trader. 

The more conservative approach allows you to witness additional trend confirmations before entering short. The more aggressive approach puts you in the short trade quicker but with greater potential to act on a false signal and get stopped out of the trade.

Let’s explore each of these approaches on a recent Dark Cloud Cover for Bitcoin.

Before the pattern manifests, we need to see a prior uptrend. From July 16 to August 17, 2020, the price of Bitcoin rallies 38%.

Next, we need to see a larger-than-average bullish candle driving higher to form the first candle of the pattern. The second candle of the pattern needs to retrace at least 50% of the price range of the first candle.

In the example above, the second candle of the pattern finishes near the lower portion of the range of the first candle. Both candles are carved with larger-than-average bodies.

At this point, the market is giving us clues about a potential turn lower or perhaps a pause in the uptrend. We can look to other classic 

The glaring clue above is the formation of the Dark Cloud Cover pattern at a strong level of horizontal resistance. On August 6, 2019, Bitcoin’s price rallies were reversed at $12,342.50, creating a horizontal resistance level.

Astute market participants are watching as this bearish Japanese candlestick pattern occurs near this important level of resistance. 

Additionally, we can see the RSI oscillator diverging against Bitcoin’s price. This is yet another bearish symptom, suggesting the market may turn lower.

At this point, the opportunity appears strong, so an aggressive trader can initiate a short position on the open of the next candle. The stop loss would be placed just above the recent swing high, which is likely to be the high of the pattern.

Traders look to target at least twice the distance to their stop loss. This gives the trader a 1:2 risk-to-reward ratio.

There are times when clues to a turn lower aren’t as strong, and the trader may want to be more conservative in their setup. Conservative traders can look for a break of a support trend line to provide the confirmation needed to initiate a short trade.

The trade setup would be similar to the aggressive approach, where the stop loss is placed just above the swing high in the same place. However, the entry price will be lower as we await additional levels of confirmation. This means our target price also needs to be lowered to maintain the 1:2 risk-to-reward ratio.

Dark Cloud Cover vs. Bearish Engulfing: The Differences

To a newer trader, the Dark Cloud Cover may resemble the Bearish Engulfing candlestick pattern. Indeed, they possess some similarities, but there are a couple of differences.

The similarities are that both candlestick patterns are two-candle formations created after an uptrend. However, there are two general differences between them.

First, the Dark Cloud Cover requires the candle price ranges to be larger than average. Within the Bearish Engulfing pattern, the first candle has no size specifications.

Additionally, the second candle of the Dark Cloud Cover pattern needs to cover only 50% of the first candle. In the Bearish Engulfing, the second candle must completely engulf the body of the first candle. Therefore, the Bearish Engulfing pattern has to overlap 100% of the first candle, which could be small, but the size of the candles in the Dark Cloud Cover will be larger than average. 

Is the Dark Cloud Cover Pattern Reliable?

By itself, the pattern only suggests the potential for consolidation or a lower turn. Therefore, the trader needs to seek out confirmation signals from other technical analysis tools.

For example, not all Dark Cloud Cover patterns will form near resistance. But if they do, it provides a strong signal. All forms of resistance apply, whether trend line resistance, horizontal resistance, or a Fibonacci retracement level.

Additionally, this pattern tends to appear after an uptrend. Therefore, the indicators and oscillators will signify overbought. If the pattern appears while your indicators are flashing a sell signal, then that combination of confirmations strengthens the signal.

Again, the Dark Cloud Cover pattern can appear on all time frames of crypto charts. The longer time frame charts tend to offer more reliability than shorter, minute charts because the former’s risk-to-reward ratios tend to be better.

The Dark Cloud Cover is a Japanese candlestick pattern that is easy to spot on all time frames of crypto price charts. When correctly identified, this pattern can easily be used to set up your entry and exit signals. 

However, taken in isolation, the pattern can generate false signals. It is best for you to confirm the signals with technical indicators and further confirm the trend with 

. Whether you’re a novice trader, always trade responsibly and do your due diligence to assess the 

 before jumping into the crypto bandwagon. That is especially 

Candlestick Patterns Professional Traders Use

 – A curated list of candlestick patterns most frequently used by traders

 – Learn the basics of candlestick patterns

 (Chart basics: trend, neckline, wedges)

How to Use Dark Cloud Cover Pattern to Trade Crypto

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How to Use Dark Cloud Cover Pattern to Trade Crypto

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