The Japanese yen (JPY) is one of the most active and volatile currencies in the foreign exchange (FX) market. 

The Japanese yen (JPY) is one of the most active and volatile currencies in the foreign exchange (FX) market. Traders around the world focus on JPY pairs like USD/JPY, EUR/JPY and AUD/JPY because they offer strong price movements and frequent opportunities.

Unlike stocks or cryptocurrencies that typically swing wildly, most FX pairs are relatively stable. That’s why JPY moves stand out. For example, in July 2024, the USD/JPY ratio reached 162 — its highest level since December 1986. Then, it dropped to 139 by September — a 14% decline in just two months.

By January 2025, USD/JPY bounced back to 158, only to fall again to 139 in April. These large moves show why JPY is a favorite for traders seeking momentum and volatility.

Interest rate gap: The most important driver

One of the main drivers behind JPY price movements is the 

 between Japan and other major economies — especially that of the US.

In simple terms: currencies with higher interest rates usually attract more capital. When US rates rise and Japanese rates stay low, investors shift money into the dollar and out of the yen. This pushes USD/JPY higher.

But when Japan starts raising its rates — or the US holds rates steady or cuts them — the gap narrows. Then, investors shift back into the yen, pushing USD/JPY downward.

Right now, the US interest rate is 4.5%, while Japan’s is just 0.5%. That’s a big gap. However, this could change soon.

If Japan raises rates or signals higher rates while the US holds or cuts its own, expect downward pressure on USD/JPY. If both rates stay unchanged, the focus will shift to the tone of the policy statements and forward guidance.

Beyond interest rates, the yen is also seen as a 

During times of global uncertainty and/or geopolitical risk, investors prefer holding assets that are seen as stable and less risky. JPY fits this role. This is especially true when tensions rise between major economies, like the ongoing 

In early 2025, after US President Trump returned to office and reignited trade tensions, the yen gained strongly. So far this year, it’s up 

The reason is simple: traders and investors are nervous about global growth. If Trump pushes for more tariffs, or if trade talks fail, the yen is likely to rise further. On the other hand, 

, the dollar could recover against the yen.

Technical analysis: Levels and indicators to watch

The current technical setup for USD/JPY is interesting for traders.

In short: 139 is the floor, and 150–155 is the ceiling. Traders should watch price reactions at these levels closely.

Key events ahead: Rate decisions and trade headlines

Two major types of events will shape JPY trading in the short term:

Conclusion: Volatility, strategy and the JPY outlook

The Japanese yen offers one of the most attractive trading setups in the FX market. Its strong volatility, sensitivity to global news and clear technical levels make it a prime choice for both short- and medium-term strategies.

The key to trading JPY successfully lies in watching the 

. June 2025 will be a critical month, with back-to-back central bank meetings in Japan and the US.

technical chart shows strong support at a level of 139

, backed by clear CCI signals. On the upside, resistance lies at 150 and 155 — levels that could come into play if the market turns more optimistic.

Traders should also keep in mind that if a trade deal is signed between the US and China, the dollar could gain ground, easing pressure on USD/JPY.

Until then, the Japanese yen remains one of the best currencies for active traders looking for momentum, opportunity and global relevance.

Advanced

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Bybit x FXStreet FX Report: Why the yen is a trader’s favorite

MetaMask will roll out native support for Solana ($SOL) in May 2025, enabling users to directly access SOL tokens and interact with Solana-based decentralized applications (dApps) from within the wallet. 

Daily top performer — Hyperliquid (HYPE)

The S&P 500 rose 0.41% on Thursday, supported by trade optimism and cooling inflation, marking its fourth straight gain. Gold climbed 1.3% to $3,218 as weak U.S. data and a softer dollar raised Fed rate cut hopes, while geopolitical tensions added safe-haven demand. The Coindesk Indices, which tracks the broader crypto market, down 0.91%, with Bitcoin and Ether down 0.13% and 2.42%, 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 HYPE, which rose 7.9% after Hyperliquid was spotlighted in a Bloomberg podcast for its transparent onchain revenue model.

Hyperliquid (HYPE), launched in June 2023, is a decentralized perpetuals exchange built on a high-performance Layer 1 blockchain. It offers fast, low-cost perpetual futures trading with full on-chain transparency and performance comparable to centralized exchanges. Bloomberg’s Surveillance podcast 

 crypto’s role in shaping the future of finance, citing projects like Hyperliquid for their transparent, onchain revenue models.

Check out the latest prices, charts, and data of 

, enabling users to directly access SOL tokens and interact with Solana-based decentralized applications (dApps) from within the wallet. Confirmed by MetaMask’s CEO and co-founder, this integration marks a major step in expanding beyond Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) chains. The move enhances interoperability across blockchain ecosystems and broadens MetaMask’s reach in the multichain DeFi space.

Yesterday, U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs saw $294.8 million in net outflows on May 15, with $39.1 million from GBTC and $255.7 million from other issuers.

, offering users a chance to earn testnet access through Galxe quests. Participants can complete tasks to win invite codes for the APT Game, a rollup built by Radius. Only 1,000 codes will be released over the next month.

Beginner

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Metamask to add native Solana support in May, expanding beyond EVM chains

Explore Vulcan Forged (PYR), a leading web3 ecosystem with gaming, NFTs, metaverse, and its own L1 blockchain, Elysium. Discover what sets it apart.

Vulcan Forged started out as a gaming hub targeting 

 users who could access play-to-earn (P2E) games on it that are powered by 

 blockchains. However, over time, Vulcan Forged has evolved into an all-encompassing blockchain and web3 platform. It now offers Elysium (a Layer 1 blockchain), a 

 (NFT) projects, and Vulcan Studios for developing mobile and PC web3 games.

Let's explore the Vulcan Forged web3 ecosystem and learn why it's definitely a project to watch in the busy web3 space.

, a blockchain-powered gaming ecosystem, offers comprehensive solutions to web3 users, suited to all gaming needs.

Founded in 2019 by a team led by current CEO and founder Jamie Thomson, Vulcan Forged started out as a gaming hub in which users could access NFT-powered web3 games. However, with Thomson at the helm, Vulcan Forged has transitioned into a full-fledged blockchain ecosystem that’s designed to solve the challenges faced by web3 users, such as high fees, slow transaction times and user-unfriendly gaming interfaces.

At the core of its comprehensive ecosystem is Elysium, a 

 designed specifically to power gaming and the metaverse. By leveraging the Elysium blockchain, Vulcan Forged is better positioned to offer enhanced functionalities, such as dynamic NFTs, an advanced suite of tools and a more immersive gaming experience.

Vulcan Studios, part of the Vulcan Forged ecosystem, supports the development of blockchain games. Several enhancements to Vulcan Studios now provide for an interconnected universe for gamers, a critical move in the platform's bid to become a more unified gaming ecosystem.

Vulcan Forged NFT marketplaces like Agora and Cedalion offer users a seamless experience in trading and creating digital assets. In particular, Agora provides a user-friendly interface for minting NFTs without gas fees that makes it accessible for creators and collectors alike.

Furthermore, the Vulcan Forged team has announced that VulcanX, its 

 (CEX), is almost complete. VulcanX will provide the platform's users with a gamified trading experience in which landholders In its ecosystem will share in generated revenue.

The entire Vulcan Forged ecosystem is governed by a dual-token economy consisting of PYR and ELY (previously LAVA) tokens.

 blockchain developed by Vulcan Forged that’s designed to power the future of web3 gaming, NFTs and 

 (DApps). Created with developers and users in mind, Elysium combines scalability, high throughput and a strong sustainability ethos to deliver a robust and eco-friendly blockchain ecosystem.

 (EVM) framework, Elysium supports fast, low-cost transactions, and is fully compatible with both Ethereum-based and Substrate-based tools. Its interoperability makes it an ideal platform for developers looking to deploy DApps, launch NFT collections or create gaming projects with dynamic on-chain mechanics.

A standout aspect of Elysium is its growing ecosystem of integrated tools, such as:

In addition to its robust technology, Elysium is central to the larger Vulcan Forged vision of a unified digital universe. It underpins diverse applications, including Vulcan’s NFT marketplaces, upcoming CEX and multi-game metaverse.

With an emphasis on accessibility, innovation and real-world use cases, Elysium is positioning itself as the core infrastructure for the mission Vulcan Forged has to merge gaming, blockchain and digital ownership into one immersive ecosystem.

In order to lower barriers to entry through enhanced user experience, Elysium offers three protocols that work together seamlessly to benefit web3 individuals and businesses. These protocols simplify the process of converting tokens, while offering fee delegation and allowing users to utilize any token in their wallets when transacting.

Vulcan Forged has created a comprehensive ecosystem to enhance web3 user experiences. Apart from the Elysium blockchain discussed above, other key components of the Vulcan Forged ecosystem are as follows.

Vulcan Studios is a gaming development platform designed to facilitate the creation, development and playing of PC and mobile games. In the revamped Vulcan Forged road map, these studios’ DeFi games are undergoing various enhancements to improve user experience.

Some of the notable games produced by Vulcan Studios include 

Vulcan Verse, Vulcan Runner, Berserk, Vulcan’s Creed

​MetaScapes is an innovative metaverse-as-a-service (MaaS) platform that empowers users to create and customize their own digital realms. Offering four distinct worlds — Fantasy, Cartoon, Urban and Futuristic — MetaScapes provides a versatile environment for creativity and exploration. Its users can personalize their avatars, design unique landscapes and even monetize their creations through in-world economies. 

With features like VR compatibility and AI assistance, MetaScapes aims to deliver an immersive and user-friendly experience, bridging the gap between imagination and digital reality.

The Vulcan Forged platform is powered by a dual token economy that consists of PYR and ELY tokens, each one playing a distinct role on the platform.

PYR is the primary token of Vulcan Forged. Initially, PYR was powered by the Ethereum and Polygon blockchains, but it’s now primarily powered by the Elysium blockchain. PYR plays three major roles on the platform: gaming, settlement and 

. It has a total supply of 50,000,000 tokens, with a circulating supply of 23,897,700 (as of May 15, 2025).

The primary use cases of the PYR token are as follows:

The second token on Vulcan Forged is ELY, which was formerly known as LAVA. ELY is Elysium's native and gas token. It also features many other uses, such as powering transactions and rewarding gameplay on Vulcan Forged games. You can earn ELY by participating in various games and accumulating XP points on the platform. Additionally, you can generate ELY tokens as rewards for holding PYR.

ELY’s total supply is 1 million tokens. Some uses of ELY include:

You can buy PYR on Bybit as the PYRUSDT Perpetual contract, with leverage of up to 12.5x. It's listed in Bybit's Innovation Zone, which gives you access to handpicked projects with a potential for high returns (also with higher fees and risk).

Vulcan Forged (PYR) crypto price prediction

As of May 15, 2025, PYR is priced at $1.34, 97.3% higher than its all-time high of $49.24 on Dec 1, 2021 and 51.8% higher than its all-time low of $0.88 on Apr 7, 2025.

Price prediction experts are cautiously bullish on PYR's future price. CoinCodex predicts that PYR 

 a maximum price of $1.49 in 2027 and increase to $4.43 in 2030. Meanwhile, DigitalCoinPrice is relatively more bullish on PYR, and expects that the token 

 a maximum price of $4.85 in 2027 and surge to $7.34 in 2030.

While these forecasts are bullish, they aren’t financial advice and they don’t guarantee the future price of PYR. We highly recommend that you 

 before you invest in Vulcan Forged or any other cryptocurrencies.

Vulcan Forged (PYR) is shaping the expanding universe of web3 gaming by merging cutting-edge technology with immersive player experiences. From its native Elysium blockchain to dynamic NFT ecosystems and the upcoming VulcanX decentralized exchange, the platform is setting new standards in decentralization, creativity and scalability.

Featuring a unified road map, tools like MetaScapes, NFT marketplaces, and Elysium Swap, Bridge and Scan, Vulcan Forged is building more than games — it’s forging a sustainable digital economy. As its ecosystem grows, PYR, its cross-platform utility token, remains at the heart of this transformation, empowering game developers, creators and players in the next era of decentralized entertainment. 

Intermediate

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Vulcan Forged (PYR): The expanding universe of web3 gaming and beyond

Discover MapleStory Universe, Nexon's blockchain-powered version of the iconic MMORPG game loved by over 250 million players. Learn more about the launch of MapleStory N on May 15, the NXPC token and how to trade NXPC on Bybit.

, a simple, 2D MMORPG that quickly became a cultural phenomenon. Its blocky characters and iconic town of Henesys were etched in the memories of over 250 million players who played the game worldwide. Now, Nexspace, an Abu Dhabi–based subsidiary of Nexon, is recreating this world on-chain with MapleStory Universe. 

At its core, MSU is a faithful recreation of 

s legacy. It revives the beloved characters, art styles and lore while simultaneously improving the game by integrating blockchain technology. Nexpace believes this integration will transform the franchise from a centralized ecosystem into a player-owned universe, creating a win-win scenario for both the original players and web3 natives. 

 IP is already an established success, with 250 million players and over $5 billion in revenue. MapleStory Universe aims to bring its enormous player base into MSU through various incentives, such as cross-platform progression and exclusive rewards for legacy users. 

Behind all of this development is Nexpace, the blockchain-focused subsidiary of Nexon established in 2023. Sun Young Hwang is the CEO of Nexpace and a leader at MapleStory Universe. With 15 years of experience at Nexon, Hwang brings a wealth of expertise and a clear vision for the ecosystem’s growth in the web3 space. 

As part of its mission to launch a gaming universe, Nexpace teams announced 

, the first standalone game of the MapleStory Universe. It’s a PC-based MMORPG with onchain item ownership. The game is set for a global launch on May 15, 2025, and is currently available for 

. According to BlockchainGamer.biz, the game was so popular that it 

 players can issue, trade and manage in-game 

. Post-launch, the community can collaborate on content development, influencing the game’s evolution through creator tools. 

, a blockchain tailored for gamers. Built on 

, it combines Nexon’s 20-plus years of anti-cheat expertise with 

’s tamperproof randomness (critical for fair loot boxes). Transactions are free, fast and invisible during gameplay. No crypto wallets are required upfront. For 

 veterans, this offers a smooth gateway into web3, and for crypto natives, it brings a beloved gaming franchise on-chain.

Blockchain's role in the MapleStory Universe

The Henesys blockchain plays a crucial role in MSU’s development and execution. It provides sub-second finality and support for thousands of 

 (TPS), ensuring gameplay remains fluid and uninterrupted.

On top of that, the use of blockchain also enables players to own and trade in-game assets as NFTs. These NFTs are designed to be interoperable across every game that’s built in the MapleStory Universe, providing increased utility and value for these digital assets.

The game’s economy also relies on the decentralized nature of blockchains to create an ever-changing world. It incentivizes creators to design unique planets, each with its own tailored gameplay and social experiences, and rewards them with NXPC tokens for their contributions. 

NXPC is the native utility token of MapleStory Universe, with a fixed supply of 1 billion. It functions as the reserve currency of the universe, and is used to link gameplay assets to the border ecosystem. 

The token’s initial distribution also reinforces its decentralized nature, as 80% of NXPC is reserved for contributor reward, with just 0.696% allocated for the team and 0.4% for advisors,

Additionally, the team and advisors allocations also have vesting requirements. The team token has a structured vesting schedule with a 9-month cliff, followed by quarterly unlocks over the next three years. For advisors, there’s a 12-month cliff, followed by milestone-based vesting. 

MSU’s franchise has generated $5 billion in revenue since 2003. The organization behind the game is focused on longevity, as opposed to a quick money grab. Crucially, blockchain technology has matured to an extent where it can deliver seamless gameplay, matching the smooth experience players expect from traditional platforms. 

 starting on May 15, 2025. From now through May 28, 10AM UTC, new and existing Bybit users can stand a chance to win from a prize pool of 9,000,000 NXPC by 

. Register for this event at Bybit Token Splash 

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Nexpace (NXPC): MapleStory IP goes web3

Bybit Learn

Live ICYMI

In our latest Learn 101 livestream session, we gathered an esteemed panel of crypto experts to share insights on how to master technical analysis.

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 plays a critical role in making timely and well-informed crypto investment decisions. Identifying indicators that align with your trading style and goals is important. In addition, these indicators must be used in conjunction with independent market research, as well as a deep understanding of macroeconomics.

, we uncover Mastering Technical Analysis.

, provides a recap of our Learn 101 livestreams, offering you comprehensive expertise and insights from leading figures in the crypto industry in case you miss the livestream.

Joining the livestream on Aug 20, 2024, were two distinguished guests: Markus Thielen, Founder of 10x Research, and Toh Shun Gui, Japan BD Manager at Bybit. Under the moderation of Sabrina Chua, Crypto Evangelist and SEO Editor at Bybit, this episode explores Mastering Technical Analysis.

Introducing the Market Sentiments — A Comprehensive Overview

Global economic events shape market sentiment and drive prices. When you know how to analyze market sentiment and volatility, you can position yourself to profit from your analysis of them. Markus Thielen illustrated this by discussing how Bitcoin’s price moved during the most recent Federal Reserve announcement. Initially, Bitcoin rallied around the announcement before seeing a sell-off. Currently, there’s once again movement in anticipation of an upcoming Fed announcement. According to Thielen, technical analysis is about looking at market structure and positioning for macroeconomic events.

Toh Shun Gui, on the other hand, said he believes that, for newcomers, it’s best not to trade when the market is choppy. He deferred to Thielen to show newcomers how to position themselves using technical analysis. Thielen stated that technical analysis allows traders to take advantage of opportunities in a time of risk or volatility by encouraging them to make unemotional decisions in times when fear is high. He uses a 21-week moving average to determine whether or not he should be active in the market at a given time.

Thielen stated that if you don’t make the right call, don’t take it personally. You don’t have to be accurate 100% of the time to make money. Instead, you need to be accurate closer to 55% or more of the time. For 

, try using a smaller amount of your portfolio. Thielen believes that there will be more value investors in the crypto market who buy the dip.

There are signals to focus on when timing market sentiment. Thielen draws attention to the 

. Using technical analysis, he discerns opportunities that begin 250 days before halving and extend 250 days after it. He also points out that the weekly relative strength index (

) eliminates noise present in the daily index, which enables you to see trends. Combining the 21-week moving average with these factors gives you a clearer picture.

Cracking the Code to Find the Best TA Combination

Thielen discussed reverse indicators when trying to crack the code. For example, when you look at the RSI both currently and in relation to the 5- or 7-day moving average, you can see momentum. In addition, you can push the moving average out on a longer time frame.

According to Toh, indicator overload can trigger poor decisions. He recommends finding a few indicators to monitor, based on your personality. Thielen reinforced this approach, remarking that confusion doesn’t enable you to make smart decisions. Find what works for you. If you like to 

, look at momentum indicators. If you’re focused on long-term growth, look at moving average indicators.

Toh pointed out that losing money is actually a valuable experience. It teaches you fundamentals, such as the speed of the market. Thielen suggested that, when finding a strategy that suits you, don’t follow a social media trader. Make decisions and learn from your experiences using indicators that match your interests. Through your own experiences, you can learn about your emotions and understand what kind of trading strategy you need to use. 

According to Thielen, you look at the 21-week moving average in real time. This needs to be taken into consideration with macroeconomic data and world events. An investor must look at the risk and reward for the current conditions. To minimize risk, he recommends using a 

 to protect against losses due to major, sudden events. You can also mitigate loss by limiting how heavily you invest, based on your portfolio value. Having a strategy decreases both stress and the risk of loss related to emotionally motivated decision-making.

According to Thielen, conflicting signals often cancel each other out. However, he added that investors must also look at the big picture in relation to trends and events. Moreover, he recommends reading insights from other experienced investors to learn how they read the signals in given situations.

Technical analysis plays a key role in identifying investment opportunities and aligning your decisions and strategies. Understanding what the indicators are and how they can help you identify opportunities is essential. Regular focus on education and making risk-managed decisions to gain real-life experience will help you apply technical analysis successfully.

This session of the Learn 101 livestream effectively highlighted Mastering Technical Analysis.

As part of the livestream, Bybit is holding an 

 that offers you the chance to participate in our pop quiz and win P2P coupons. The event period is through Aug 27, 2024, 11:59PM UTC.

Stay tuned for more discussions on the dynamic world of cryptocurrencies!

Learn Live ICYMI: Mastering Technical Analysis

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Learn Live ICYMI: Mastering Technical Analysis

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards

Compete for 2,500 USDT USDT Every Week

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards