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We Hand-Picked the 37 Best Deals From the 2025 REI Anniversary Sale

by admin May 19, 2025

It’s nearly summer. The flowers are in full bloom, the birds are well north, and REI is kicking off its annual anniversary sale, the outdoor company’s biggest sale of the year. This year’s REI sale starts May 16 and runs through Memorial Day, May 26. Many items are up to 30 percent off, but REI Co-op members save up to 20 percent off any full-price item of their choice and an extra 20 percent off any REI Outlet item. To get the discount, add the promo code ANNIV2025 at checkout.

Several other retailers have also launched early Memorial Day sales, including Backcountry and Public Lands, plus some of our favorite smaller retailers like Sea to Summit and Zenbivy along with many others you can find on Garage Grown Gear. We’ve highlighted some deals on gear we’ve loved over our years of testing. There’s something for nearly all our favorite summer activities—tents, stoves, sleeping bags, and plenty of outdoor apparel. Be sure to look at our guides to outdoor gear, like the Best Day-Hiking Packs, Best Tents, Best Sleeping Bags, Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads, Best Rain Jackets, Best Backpacking Water Filters, Best Merino Wool, and Best Binoculars.

Updated Monday, May 19, 2025: We’ve added deals from other sales, like Sea to Summit, Roark, Altra, and Six Moon Designs, along with some new REI deals on camp cookware and hiking apparel.

WIRED Featured Deals

Backpack Deals

Don’t forget to check out our guide to the Best Day-Hiking Backpacks and the Best Travel Bags.

Photograph: REI

The Flash 22 is possibly the best value day pack on the market, especially on sale. I was surprised by how comfortable this thing is, despite the lightweight straps and minimal padding. It carries loads up to 15 pounds without straining the shoulders, and the side stash pockets are fabulously large—big enough for a Nalgene bottle or rain jacket. The Flash 22 is made of 70-denier recycled ripstop nylon, which is on the lighter side, but mine has held up well, even coming through some rough canyon hikes in Utah without any more than mud stains.

The ultralight cousin to the Flash 22, the Flash 18 lacks the hip belt, side stash pockets, and floating lid. What you’re left with is a stripped-down, bare-bones pack that’s great for traveling since you can stuff it down to almost nothing, stash it in your carry-on, and have a nice backpack whenever you need it. Don’t load it up with more than 8 pounds of gear though, and avoid anything with pointy bits, as there’s no padding here.

One of our favorite day hiking packs, This Mystery Rack pack was my introduction to wider shoulder straps, which provide more comfort without the bulk of extra padding. The result is a comfortable pack that’s light (1 lb., 6 oz.) and packable, making it a great extra pack when traveling. The side pockets are big enough for a Nalgene water bottle and the 25L capacity carries everything you need for a day. It also fits under the seat of even small planes. This is a great little pack for hitting the trail or just walking around town.

Our favorite day hiking pack for the eco-conscious looking to travel light, Nemo’s Resolve pack is 100 percent recycled, infinitely adjustable, repairable, and once it’s reached the end of its life, it can be sent back to Nemo for total recycling. The Resolve has a somewhat strange system of bungees and pull-tabs, instead of straps or webbing, but it’s comfortable, sitting nice and high on your back. At 1 lb. 15 oz. it’s pretty light, considering all the hardware that it has on it.

Trail Running and Road Running Deals

This is last year’s version of my favorite Salomon X Ultra 5 hiking boots, which I just tested over the weekend in the Columbia River Gorge. Salomon makes our favorite hiking boots—the company offers impressive levels of protection and traction, while being lightweight and remarkably easy to take off and put on. I like how the heel grips so I don’t smash my toes while going downhill, and it’s so sticky that I can climb up rocks like an ant.—Adrienne So

I have worn the women’s version of this shoe for years and years. Altra is the best running shoe if you want a shoe that has a barefoot feel (zero heel to toe drop, big toebox) but retains traction and protection against rocks and prickers.—Adrienne So

These are Altra’s version of the Brooks Glycerin Max—a super-plush, comfy road running shoe. If you want a very cushioned shoe but are addicted to Altra’s big toe box (no need to be embarrassed, I am too), these are the shoe to get. Also, don’t forget to check out our guide to the Best Barefoot Shoes.—Adrienne So

Sleeping Bag and Sleeping Pad Deals

Confused by the options? Check out our guides to the Best Sleeping Bags and the Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads.

Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

REI Co-op’s Magma 15 is our favorite bag for shoulder-season trips when the temps might drop more than expected. It has an excellent draft collar that’s very good at keeping out the chill. The outside is a 15-denier nylon ripstop (Bluesign-approved, with a non-fluorinated DWR coating to keep moisture at bay). Baffles are variably spaced and not stitched through, which helps the fill stay put and minimizes cold spots. The Magma doesn’t have a lot of frills; it just gets the job done.

Our favorite summertime car-camping sleeping bag, the REI Siesta Hooded 20, is plenty warm and affordable. It’s also not a mummy bag, because you’re not climbing Denali; why cramp yourself if you don’t have to? The Siesta’s rectangular cut makes for a much roomier, more comfortable bag. The Siesta’s 20-degree rating makes it enough for three-season trips, and unlike most rectangular bags, the Siesta has a hood, which helps on those cold nights.

Nemo’s Forte 20 is a 20-degree synthetic-fill sleeping bag, but the comfort rating is 30 degrees. In my testing, this feels more like where you’d want to stay temperature-wise with this bag. The outer shell uses a 30-denier recycled polyester ripstop with an inside liner made from 20-denier recycled polyester taffeta. It does a good job of holding back the moisture that often forms inside a tent, which I discovered after one very soggy night of testing. The fill is what Nemo calls Zerofiber insulation, which is made from 100 percent postconsumer recycled content fibers. The Zerofiber packs down remarkably small—this is the most compact synthetic-fill bag I’ve tested in this temp range—and retains its ability to trap warmth even when wet.

Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

Our favorite backpacking sleeping bag, the Bishop Pass 30 offers the best warmth-to-weight ratio while also managing to pack down small and not be too expensive. It isn’t perfect, but it strikes the best compromise for most backpackers. I have slept in this bag for more than two weeks, with nighttime temps ranging from 28 to 65 degrees Fahrenheit, and, yes, it was too much in the heat, but on those warmer nights, I unzipped it and covered myself like a warm blanket. It’s a versatile bag. Note that for the men’s bag, only the long version is on sale. Both the long and regular size women’s 30 bags are on sale.

I haven’t had a chance to write about it yet, but I tested the Bishop Pass 0 over the winter and was pleasantly surprised at how warm it was. I took it out on several nights where temps dipped into the single digits (below the comfort rating of 13 Fahrenheit) and stayed warm. I did wear some merino base layers and a wool hat, but sleeping bag comfort ratings assume this. If you need a colder-weather bag, without dipping into extreme temps (and extremely pricey sleeping bags) this is a good option.

The Zenbivy Bed 25 (9/10, WIRED Recommends) is hands down the most comfortable backcountry sleeping experience I’ve ever had. It wouldn’t be my top pick for extreme situations, but so long as your expected temperatures fit in Zenbivy’s range (the comfort rating is 35 degrees Fahrenheit), it doesn’t get more comfortable than this. The Zenbivy isn’t just a sleeping bag. It’s a sheet, hood, and quilt-style bag that can be combined in various ways.

Zenbivy’s Light Bed is a brand new option that takes the basic clip design of other Zenbivy beds and lightens up the load. I’ve been testing this bag for several months and it is everything I loved about the original above, but lighter weight. I’ll have a full review very soon, but if you’ve been tempted by the Zenbivy, but wanted to keep your base gear weight down, this is the option you’ve been look for. The price I’ve put here includes both the bed/sheet portion and the quilt. Note that Zenbivy is having a 25 percent off sale on almost everything on its site right now.

Nemo Tensor All-Season Sleeping Pad

Photograph: Nemo

Nemo’s new 2024 Tensor-insulated sleeping pads (8/10, WIRED Recommends) have the best R-value-to-weight ratio of anything I’ve tested and the All-Season is our top pick for backpacking trips. It has an R-value of 5.4 and weighs 18.2 ounces. That alone is impressive, but what I love about the Tensor is that it’s thick, comfortable, and most importantly, nearly silent. The slightly lighter Trail model is also on sale, as is the Extreme Conditions pad, which is the lightest, warmest sleeping pad on the market.

The darling of ultralight hikers everywhere, the XLite NXT is our pick for backpackers looking to shed pack weight, but preserve some margin of comfort. The XLite delivers a comfortable night’s sleep while remaining well under 1 pound for the regular size. At 3 inches thick, it’s plenty of protection from the ground, and the R-Value of 4.5 means it’ll be plenty warm in most three-season conditions.

Sea to Summit’s Ether Light XT is only marginally heavier than the Therm-a-Rest above. The extra 4 ounces for the Sea to Summit pad gets you quite a bit more cushion too—this is a 4-inch thick pad, compared to the 3 inches of the Therm-a-rest X-Lite, which makes this a better ultralight option for side sleepers. I also happen to like the baffle design better too, and it seems to be a little more durable, making this an excellent alternative ultralight pad. Note that this one is an REI Outlet deal, the XT has been replaced by a newer model.

Tent Deals

Check out our Best Tents guide for more WIRED-tested recommendations.

REI Half Dome SL 2+

Photograph: REI

Our pick for Best Two-Person Backpacking Tent, REI’s Half Dome is rugged and lightweight (4 pounds), and offers generous living space for two with gear. The tent body is made of 40-denier ripstop nylon for durability at the base and on the floor, with 20-denier nylon mesh for the body. The Half Dome comes with a footprint, which is a rarity these days, and nice to have. The tent poles are aluminum and interchangeable, which makes them easy to set up and take down.

Sea to Summit’s ultralight Alto (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is designed to keep weight down on your solo adventures. At just 33 ounces for a semi-freestanding tent, it remains one of the lighter options on the market and at this price it’s hard to pass up. The mesh netting helps keep weight down, though for something warmer, the Plus version, which has less mesh, is also on sale for $275 ($275 off), an equally outstanding deal.

Sea and Summit’s “3-plus season” tents are capable enough in almost any weather while staying crazy light—just 3 pounds and 12 ounces for this three-person model. I used it on a five-day trip to Loon Lake in northern California in early October, a true “shoulder season” trip with daytime highs in the 80s, nighttime lows in the 40s, and overnight winds of up to 60 mph. My favorite design detail is that the pole bag is kept rigid by an insert of opaque white plastic. Clip it to the tent’s ceiling, pop in your headlamp, and illuminate your abode. —Michael Calore

Nemo’s Dagger Osmo (8/10, WIRED Recommends) line of tents are reasonably light with roomy interiors. The 3-person version (also on sale) has long been my tent of choice for trips with my kids. Setup is simple thanks to the single main pole design (which forks at each end) with a cross pole in the middle. There are two spacious vestibules for storing gear and if you leave the rain fly off the mesh room is excellent for stargazing.

Photograph: Scott Gilbertson

The Nemo Mayfly (8/10, WIRED Recommends) is a three-season backpacking tent with a trail weight of 3 pounds, 8 ounces for the two-person version I tested. Split between two people, each is carrying under 2 pounds. The Mayfly saves on weight by using a semi-freestanding design, which means you have to partly stake it out. It’s on the small side as well, at 27.9 square feet of living space, with two 7-square-foot vestibule areas. I find it plenty livable for two, and the cross pole gives you a wider roof area than most tents this size. I love the white mesh (instead of black) and the super simple clips that keep the rain fly secured.

This is my favorite single wall ultralight solo tent. I have a full review coming later this month, but after spending quite a while with this tent I’m something of a convert, at least for summer camping. The Lunar Solo makes it easy to combat the main problem with single wall tents: condensation. Thanks to plenty of mesh, and a top vent in the vestibule (ala my all-time favorite backcountry shelter, the Hilleberg Akto (10/10, WIRED Recommends)), I haven’t had much issue with condensation in the Lunar Solo. It’s not without its quirks (read the pitching tips), but if you want something more than tarp, that still weighs just 26 ounces (740 grams), this one is hard to beat.

Hiking Apparel Deals

REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket

Photograph: REI

Every year, I repurchase one of these rain jackets for each of my children. It’s hard to find rain jackets that are better value than REI’s. The kid’s version is a 2.5-layer shell with a non-fluorinated (read: PFAS-free) durable water-repellent (DWR) coating, taped seams, and an adjustable hood. These will last all year (at least, as long as your kid doesn’t lose theirs). —Adrienne So

I bought my father, father-in-law, brother-in-law, and husband each one of these shirts last year. Roark Clothing is a small company that makes some of my favorite active apparel, and the Bless Up shirt is the perfect summer shirt. It’s perforated and made from synthetic fibers, so it’s perfect for super-humid beach days when the temperatures are above 90 degrees Fahrenheit.—Adrienne So

I haven’t had a chance to add them to my Best Merino Wool Clothing Guide, but these are the best merino ankle running socks I’ve tried. They’re not the highest merino content (54 percent, the remainder is nylon and elastane), but they’re thin, light, and work well with barefoot shoes (and other shoes). They also resist odor surprisingly well for only about half merino. —Adrienne So

I still prefer Darn Tough’s lightweight hiking socks, but these Smartwool socks are a close second, and well worth buying at this price. Can you ever have too many wool hiking socks? I’d say no. These are 56 percent merino wool so there’s a good bit of stretchiness, yet they stay pretty odor-free even after a couple days on the trail. Grab two pair and rotate them to keep your feet dry and happy.

REI Co-op Sahara Shade

Photograph: REI

This is wildly affordable compared to the other sun hoodies we tested for our Best Sun Protection Clothing guide. WIRED reviewer Jaina Grey found it super soft and breathable, with thumb holes to protect the back of your hands. It’s UPF 50, and it may be a lot easier to get your kids or sensitive family members to wear clothing instead of smearing sticky sunscreen all over their bodies. —Adrienne So

Camping Deals

Photograph: MSR

We’re in the final stage of testing for a backpacking stove guide that will be up very soon, and the MSR PocketRocket 2 will be our top pick for propane canister stoves. It’s simple to use and boils water quickly (about 3.5 minutes for 1L at sea level). It’s also more durable and therefore more reliable than the other ultralight stoves I’ve tested. And it weighs just 2.6 ounces.

I have yet to do a trip with a satellite communicator, but I do understand why people use them. If I were to bring one along, this is the one I’d get. It’s tiny, light (3.5 ounces), and easily stashable. It utilizes the super-fast Iridium satellite network, so you can send a rapid SOS from pretty much anywhere. There are extra features like waypoints and interval tracking, and it plays nice with compatible Garmin watches.

This is my own personal REI purchase for this year, which is a life jacket for my 1-year-old puppy. We do a lot of boating during the summer and while my spouse insists that dogs can swim, I am not quite sure I trust her. At the very least, it gives my dog a few handles for me to grab if she gets swept away.—Adrienne So

Do you crave a chair when you’re backpacking? If so, this is one to get. It’s just about the lightest on the market at 18 ounces, packs down very small, and solves the number one problem with all pole chairs: the included base pad keeps it from sinking in soft ground.

Nalgene water bottles for half off, what’s not to love? I’ve always preferred the timeless classic to the latest style, which might be part of why I’ve never used another water bottle (well, not counting reusing Smartwater bottles when backpacking). Nalgenes are lighter than stainless steel and, frankly, the only sane option for hiking. Grab two of the big 48 ounce bottles, stick them in the sides of your Mystery Ranch Coulee 30 and your family will never be thirsty again.

Coleman Cascade Classic Camp Stove

Photograph: Coleman

This is the fancy version of our favorite camp stove. Here you get electronic ignition and a nice pale green paint job. Is it worth the extra $30? That’s up to you. If it’s not, snag the less fancy version for $59 at Walmart.

I’m not sure this really qualifies for the “ultralight” moniker, and these pots are unfortunately marred by having a ton of fake influencer reviews out there, but they’re actually quite good. And if you’re cooking for a group, this 3 liter pot is about as light as it gets. This is my go-to pot for family backpacking trips. The hard-anodized aluminum is sturdy and provides good heat transfer. The ceramic nonstick coating makes for easy clean up (esp paired with the GSI scrapper below). You can also nest the 2L version ($49) inside this one for more cooking options on the trail. If you want to go nuts with it, I haven’t tried it, but you can theoretically also nest the 1.3L version ($49) inside the 2L.

Sea to Summit’s Frontier pan is my all time favorite backcountry cooking vessel. It’s not ultralight to bring an 8-inch frying pan backpacking, but when you’re ready to move beyond boil in a bag food and whatever those disgust gel tubes are, the Frontier pan is the way to do it. When you want to build a cream sauce from dried milk (it can be done!) or need to sauté those brook trout, a good pan that distributes heat reasonably evenly is indispensable. The Frontier manages to to that and it has a nice curved edge, making it easy to work with and easy to cleans up. The Frontier pan checks all the boxes thanks to its great design and ceramic coating, and it somehow manages to weigh just 13 ounces.

No, it’s not an earth shattering deal, but this is possibly the best piece backpacking gear I own. GSI’s pot scrapper is the unsung hero of backcountry cooking, turning cleanup from a tedious chore to a couple of seconds work. Now if you seriously burn something, this thing will not save you (boil water in the pan to loosen the burnt bits), but for every other situation scrapping down your pot with this tool will get you 99 percent of the way to a clean pot. I consider this one indispensable, might as well grab one while it’s a couple bucks cheaper.

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May 19, 2025 0 comments

Game Reviews

In Theory: will next-gen Xbox run on a Qualcomm Snapdragon ARM processor?

by admin May 19, 2025

Could the next generation Xbox run on an ARM-based processor? The possibility has been mooted ever since Microsoft’s FTC-related leak revealed that the firm was investigating which architecture to consider for a circa-2028 console. Would it be x86 or ARM? Would Microsoft collaborate on a custom chip with AMD or tap into the firm’s roadmap of upcoming technology? We never found out. However, Microsoft commentator Brad Sams found something interesting last week: a Qualcomm job ad discussing “the next generation of Surface and Xbox products built on Snapdragon solutions”. Based on his tweets, Sams believes the upcoming tenth generation Xbox will run on ARM – but how plausible is it?

Well, job ads are notorious as a poor sourcing for actual company strategy but can sometimes offer up some insights. This one, for a sales director, seems particularly slight – and after Sams’ reporting, the link stopped working, with the ad eventually re-appearing with all Xbox mentions deleted. So is this an unintended leak or just an error?

Based on everything we know about how Microsoft works, what its intended strategy is, and its comments on delivering the “largest technological leap ever in a generation”, it’s difficult to reconcile any of this with the notion of an Xbox console running on Snapdragon hardware. While Qualcomm has achieved incredible success with its Snapdragon processors on mobile phones, its collaboration with Microsoft on the Surface line has so far been unimpressive. I bought a Surface laptop with the fully enabled Qualcomm Snapdragon X Elite, finding that gaming was a mess: the PRISM compatibility layer for running x86 code on ARM was missing key support to the point where many games would not even boot. Meanwhile, GPU performance was frankly awful with tremendous stuttering problems.

Xbox and Snapdragon is just one of the many stories within the latest edition of DF Direct Weekly.Watch on YouTube

0:00:00 Introduction
0:00:57 News 1: Nintendo reportedly not sending early Switch 2 review units
0:11:52 News 2: Should we criticize “forced ray tracing”?
0:32:03 News 3: Next-gen Xbox to use Snapdragon ARM chips?
0:43:03 News 4: Assassin’s Creed Shadows devs spill ray tracing revelations
0:59:11 News 5: Days Gone patch brings balanced modes, VRR support
1:13:27 News 6: John tests the Backbone Pro
1:23:23 Supporter Q1: Are we reaching the end of the home console era?
1:29:46 Supporter Q2: Should Halo run on id Tech?
1:38:38 Supporter Q3: Could Doom: The Dark Ages get a PS4 version? A Switch 2 version?
1:41:55 Supporter Q4: What happened to the review of Spider-Man 2 on PC?
1:48:33 Supporter Q5: What are your favourite memories of the Sega Saturn?

To base a new Xbox on Snapdragon hardware would see Microsoft facing huge challenges on every front. Interestingly, developing games on CPUs using the ARM architecture is possibly the least onerous problem. After all, developers got to grips quickly with Nintendo Switch, which ran a range of CPU-heavy games. Ultimately, it would all be down to how good the compiler is.

Graphics? Well, the latest Snapdragon processors do deliver the modern range of features. The Adreno graphics core does support ray tracing, for example. Snapdragon processors do ship with an NPU (neural processing units) that could have certain gaming applications: the Surface’s AutoSR upscaling is a very interesting piece of technology, while an NPU could conceivably handle frame generation too.

Where things start to get tricky is with compatibility. It’s hard to imagine even the most potent ARM processor being able to emulate the Zen 2 CPU of the Xbox Series X and Series S with the same level of performance – and it’s key for Microsoft to be able to assure gamers that its existing library of games will run (and run well) on its new hardware. Similarly, while the DirectX API does a lot of heavy lifting, shifting GPU architectures from one generation to the next is also going to cause problems. For that, there’s already a ready-made solution – certainly from the transition from GCN-based graphics in Xbox One and One X to the RDNA tech in the Series consoles, AMD baked in hardware backwards compatibility (which Sony benefits from too).

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Then there’s the whole question of what “largest technological leap ever in a generation” actually means and the extent to which a Snapdragon processor could deliver it. Both Microsoft and Sony face a unique challenge in delivering a tenth generation console: firstly, it needs an actual reason to exist bearing in mind how good the existing hardware is – and how limited the gains were with the PlayStation 5 Pro. Secondly, it needs to deliver this generational leap while still being affordable as a console should, which sounds almost impossible bearing in mind that Microsoft had just raised prices on its five-year-old consoles.

Ironically, it’s PlayStation 5 Pro that gives us some idea of where the platform holders are heading: sacrificing a much larger GPU in favour of ray tracing support and (inevitably) machine learning hardware. Moore’s Law may be alive, but the concept of cramming larger amounts of transistors – more logic – onto the same area of silicon is no longer cost effective. Microsoft itself knew this would happen, hence the creation of Xbox Series S, which as this classic DF interview reveals, essentially came about because the engineers could not foresee a scenario where Series X could be cost-reduced over the generation.

By confirming a tenth generation console, Microsoft and indeed Sony seem to have made the costs work for a future process node (TSMC 3nm being a likely prospect), but costs will be tight – and similar to PS5 Pro, expect that silicon budget to be less about extraordinarily large graphics hardware and more about a balance between graphics, RT and ML. Not much is known about AMD’s roadmap going forward but the unified UDNA graphics architecture (or a customised version of it) seems much more likely. There’s nothing to stop ARM being combined with UDNA on an architectural level, but remember, compatibility is king in a world where persistent digital libraries are so important and in that scenario, ARM is more hindrance than help.

And going back to the Qualcomm job ad, remember that the definition of Xbox is somewhat fluid. Is there any reason why a Surface device running the Xbox app isn’t an Xbox in the “this is an Xbox” era? With a planned mass diversification of Xbox devices, there’s plenty of room for a Snapdragon device of some description – and not just within the Microsoft Surface line.

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May 19, 2025 0 comments

NFT Gaming

Bitcoin Could Surpass $108,000 ATH This Month. Best Meme Coins like BTC Bull Token Next to Surge?

by admin May 19, 2025

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Who wants Bitcoin to hit a new all-time high? One of the new best meme coins does – and so does Arizona. But does Bitcoin itself?

The world’s leading crypto continues to waffle about, jumping at times to within range of the ATH, then falling back down.

The past 24 hours have been a case in point:

In the early morning hours, $BTC briefly traded near $107K, before falling back and eventually trading down nearly 2% from where it started.

Why?

Keeping Bitcoin down is general market uncertainty, stock market turmoil, and a crypto regulatory environment that only changes slowly in favor of $BTC.

On the plus side is the money – particularly from financial institutions with deep pockets. Here’s the current level of inflows into $BTC ETFs:

These are the eleven biggest Bitcoin spot ETFs, looking green across the board.

And despite the uncertainty, there are still positive signs on the regulatory front also. Let’s see, what else?

Arizona Puts Spare Digital Change Into Bitcoin Piggy Bank

Unclaimed digital assets are becoming a surprising problem. In an era when more and more people use digital currencies, some of those assets sit untouched in various exchanges and accounts.

Think of them as digital spare change and loose coins, falling down between the cracks of your electronic couch cushions. And Arizona’s coming around with the vacuum to hoover it all up.

It’s a surprisingly forward-thinking proposal from the US state, which has officially created the second state-level Bitcoin reserve. To fund that reserve, Arizona will include digital assets that go unclaimed for more than five years.

And if you shudder at the word ‘include,’ thinking it sounds a lot like ‘take,’ there’s actually a pleasant surprise in the legislation. Arizona plans to use a public ledger – the blockchain itself – to track all the funds included in the reserve.

If the original owners come forward to claim them, every penny should be accounted for.

In the meantime, Arizona will be able to leverage the funds for passive yield like staking rewards, potentially returning 10% of the reserve’s profit each year back into the state’s general fund.

If owners don’t come forward within three years of the assets being included in the fund, the assets can be liquidated entirely.

If successful, the plan could blaze a trail for state-level management of digital assets with full transparency. It could even set a precedent for the US digital reserve, or for more controversial measures like CBDCs (ouch).

And in the meantime, it adds more fuel to Bitcoin’s fire – and could push the crypto to at or near the all-time high.

It also sets the stage for a Bitcoin meme coin that’s blazing its own path to glory.

BTC Bull Token ($BTCBULL) – New Meme Coin Doubles Down on Bitcoin’s Rise

BTC Bull Token ($BTCBULL) doesn’t think $BTC will hit a new all-time high.

$BTCBULL thinks Bitcoin will utterly smash the new all-time high on its way to $250K – and beyond.

For that reason, the developers of one of the best meme coins tied $BTCBULL and $BTC together using an innovative combination of airdrops and token burns.

At key $BTC price milestones – namely $125K, $175K, and $225K – $BTCBULL tokens will be burned, exerting deflationary pressure on the token price.

At $150K and $200K, investors holding $BTCBULL in their Best Wallet app accounts will receive free $BTC airdrops. The more $BTCBULL they hold, the more $BTC they receive.

And when Bitcoin hits $250K, a massive $BTCBULL airdrop awAdded ‘token’ to BTC Bull name
Four ways to earn, not three (added staking APY)aits.

BTC Bull Token is a meme coin that rides the wave of Bitcoin’s success, but it also has a unique utility; Bitcoin believers can leverage $BTCBULL to earn even more from their crypto. With $BTCBULL, there are four ways to earn:

$BTCBULL price increase
$BTCBULL airdrop
$BTC airdrops
Staking APY (69% at the moment)

For a price – currently $0.00252 – that’s a mere fraction of Bitcoin’s, BTC Bull Token holders gain more ways to profit from Bitcoin’s rise.

Time to put that spare change to work. Learn how to buy BTC Bull Token, and see why our price prediction says $BTCBULL could reach $0.006467 by the end of the year, a full 156% increase.

Arizona Joins the Bulls to Run with Bitcoin

Arizona’s decision to establish a state reserve isn’t just an innovative public use of blockchain tech.

It’s actually an endorsement of a bullish attitude towards Bitcoin and crypto in general.

Always do your own research before investing – but don’t overlook Bitcoin and BTC Bull Token as they gain momentum.

Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.

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May 19, 2025 0 comments

Crypto Trends

Bitcoin Long-Term Holders Supply Back On The Rise After A Brief Decline

by admin May 19, 2025

Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure

Positive sentiment has returned to the market as Bitcoin witnessed a surge above the $105,000 mark, a key resistance level in its ongoing upward trend. Even though BTC has briefly pulled back, many seasoned investors are exhibiting significant interest in the flagship asset, which is evidenced by a recent spike in long-term holders’ supply.

Long-Term Bitcoin holders Are Accumulating Again

Bitcoin’s renewed upward trend beyond the $100,000 milestone is being met with growing interest and confidence. On-chain expert and author Darkfost reports a notable shift in supply dynamics among long-term BTC holders, often regarded as seasoned investors.

Presently, the Bitcoin long-term holders’ supply has increased after experiencing a rare second consecutive decline, which triggered speculation about a potential distribution from these committed holders. It also raised concerns that the seasoned investors are starting to reassess their positions during the previous slight shake downs in BTC’s price last week. However, the renewed rise in long-term holders’ supply suggests a resurgence in conviction and demand among these investors as BTC surges toward key resistance levels.

BTC long-term holders go on a buying spree | Source: Darkfost on X

Following his thorough analysis of the key Bitcoin Long-Term Holder Binary Spending Indicator, the expert revealed that their supply has sharply increased from 14.3 million BTC to approximately 15.8 million BTC in the past few days.

Given the long-term holders’ underlying commitment, this rebound may support BTC’s ongoing uptrend, stabilizing and strengthening its current market cycle. If the supply continues to increase, it could provide the necessary momentum for BTC’s rally to extend since this development typically encourages higher price levels.

Two Key Points From The LTHs Supply Rise

Thus far, Darkfost has underlined two important points in the rise in LTHs supply. According to the expert, long-term holders who have accumulated BTC over time appear to be holding their coins currently rather than selling them.

Furthermore, some Bitcoin holders who purchased more coins recently, especially more than six months ago, now seem to be holding steadily. Together, these factors show a general desire to hang onto their coins throughout the long and medium terms.

With the current market performance, the expert noted that the rising supply among long-term holders without spending is a critical signal to observe. Another key observation outlined by Darkfost is that the amount of UTXOs spent by LTHs has drastically fallen since peaking in December 2024 and the brief panic in March when BTC fell below $80,000.

At the time of writing, BTC’s price was trading at $102,603, indicating a nearly 3% decrease in the past week. Despite the sudden drop to the $102,000 threshold, investors are still betting on the asset’s potential to continue rallying, as evidenced by a surge in its trading volume by over 79% in the past day.

BTC trading at $103,213 on the 1D chart | Source: BTCUSDT on Tradingview.com

Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com

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May 19, 2025 0 comments

Gaming Gear

SAG-AFTRA says Fortnite’s AI Darth Vader voice violates fair labor practices

by admin May 19, 2025

SAG-AFTRA, the labor union representing performers in film, television and interactive media, has submitted an Unfair Labor Practice (ULP) filing against Epic Games for using an AI-generated version of Darth Vader’s voice in the current season of Fortnite. Disney and Epic first announced on May 16 that Fortnite would feature a take on the character using an AI-generated version of James Earl Jones’ voice.

The issue in SAG-AFTRA’s eyes is that the union is currently on strike while it negotiates a new contract with video game companies, and using an AI-generated voice represents Epic refusing to “bargain in good faith.” The AI-powered version of Darth Vader is interactive, but that doesn’t change the fact that the video game version of Darth Vader has frequently been played by actors other than Jones.

Disney got permission from Jones and his family to use AI to replicate his voice for film and TV in 2022, so there is precedent for an AI performance of this kind. After Jones’ death in September 2024, the AI route technically became the only way to use Darth Vader’s “original voice,” other than reusing clips of past performances. Unless of course Epic or Disney wanted to pay another actor to play Darth Vader, which would require coming to an agreement on a new contract for video game performers.

ULP filings are reviewed by the National Labor Review Board and can lead to hearings and injunctive relief (a court ordering Epic to remove Darth Vader from the game until a settlement is reached, for example). They are also often used as a way for unions to provoke companies to come back to the bargaining table or respond with a more realistic offer. SAG-AFTRA’s Interactive Media Strike has been ongoing since July 26, 2024. SAG-AFTRA members originally voted in favor of a strike in September 2023 for better wages and AI protections.

Engadget has reached out to both Disney and Epic for comment on SAG-AFTRA’s ULP filing. We’ll update this article if we hear back.

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May 19, 2025 0 comments

Esports

SAG-AFTRA files an unfair labor practice for AI Darth Vader in Fortnite

by admin May 19, 2025

SAG-AFTRA – the union that represents 160,000 actors, voiceover artists, and other media professionals – has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board against Llama Productions and Epic Games for using AI to portray Darth Vader in Fortnite.

SAG-AFTRA said it celebrated the rights of artists – such as James Earl Jones’ estate – to use digital replicas, but said Epic Games did so “without providing any notice of their intent to do this and without bargaining with us over appropriate terms.”

“We celebrate the right of our members and their estates to control the use of their digital replicas and welcome the use of new technologies to allow new generations to share in the enjoyment of those legacies and renowned roles,” the organization said.

“However, we must protect our right to bargain terms and conditions around uses of voice that replace the work of our members, including those who previously did the work of matching Darth Vader’s iconic rhythm and tone in video games.

“Fortnite’s signatory company, Llama Productions, chose to replace the work of human performers with A.I. technology,” the statement added. “Unfortunately, they did so without providing any notice of their intent to do this and without bargaining with us over appropriate terms. As such, we have filed an unfair labor practice charge with the NLRB against Llama Productions.”

The filing itself says: “Within the past six months, [Epic Games], by its agents and representatives, failed and refused to bargain in good faith with the union by making unilateral changes to terms and conditions of employment, without providing notice to the union or the opportunity to bargain, by utilizing AI-generated voices to replace bargaining unit work on the Interactive Program Fortnite.”

GamesIndustry.biz has reached out to Epic Games for comment.

SAG-AFTRA voted to strike at the end of July after it failed to reach an agreement with the convenience bargaining group over rights and protection concerns raised by the industry’s exploration of AI technologies.

SAG-AFTRA issued an update about the strike in March, saying it remained “frustratingly far apart” from video game studios and publishers. It came after two Zenless Zone Zero voice actors claimed they had been replaced for participating in the SAG-AFTRA strikes.

Since then, the union has issued two new agreements to permit members to work with students and game jams. Last week, it responded to the “video game employers’ April 30 offer “with a comprehensive AI proposal” detailing “in plain language what the proposed changes would mean for performers.”

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May 19, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

Bitcoin surpassed gold per kilo, but gold still leads as a safe haven: MEXC COO

by admin May 19, 2025

Bitcoin is now worth more than one kilogram of gold, but gold is outperforming in this volatile economy, says MEXC COO Tracy Jin.

Bitcoin (BTC) is worth more than one kilogram of gold, but many investors still favor the latter. On Monday, May 19, MEXC COO Tracy Jin shared her insights about Bitcoin’s relative performance with crypto.news.

Jin pointed out that Bitcoin traded above $106,000, which is worth more than one kg of gold. The biggest crypto asset reached a daily high of $107,089 on May 19. However, she added that the volatile macroeconomic environment still favors gold.

“Since the beginning of 2025, gold has risen by 23%, outpacing Bitcoin’s 12% gain. This divergence highlights that, in times of heightened uncertainty, institutional capital continues to favor traditional safe-haven assets. Gold remains the preferred hedge — at least for now,” Tracy Jin, MEXC.

Still, gold’s strong performance could be good for Bitcoin. This is because the current macroeconomic imbalances favor assets that are seen as safe havens. What is more, Bitcoin has more space to grow, Jin points out.

Bitcoin could be at $150,000 by year’s end: Tracy Jin

Despite gold’s relatively strong performance, Jin believes that Bitcoin is in a good position to grow further. Compared to traditional markets, Bitcoin has shown resilience, and investors are increasingly starting to view it as a safe haven.

“Bitcoin, however, is showing resilience. The asset has posted six consecutive weeks of growth, closing near $106,500. The $105,800 level is a key resistance zone: a confirmed breakout could open the way toward $109,000, with optimistic projections reaching $130,000 in Q3 and potentially $150,000 by year-end,” Tracy Jin, MEXC.

Long term, there’s still significant potential for growth, especially if investors start using Bitcoin as a safe haven and a hedge against inflation. For instance, Jin pointed out that Bitcoin’s market cap is still well below gold’s, at $2 trillion compared to $21 trillion.

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May 19, 2025 0 comments

Product Reviews

VR bop Thrasher is heading to PC and Steam Deck

by admin May 19, 2025

Thrasher is coming to flat screens, with a launch on Steam and Steam Deck scheduled for later in 2025. The new platform releases follow the VR game’s debut last summer on the Meta Quest and Apple Vision Pro. Devs Brian Gibson and Mike Mandel, collaborating under the moniker Puddle, announced the new hardware additions in a fittingly surreal trailer today.

Both Gibson and Mandel have a history making music- and audio-driven interactive experiences. Mandel worked on Fuser, Rock Band VR and Fantasia: Music Evolved. Gibson’s previous project was the VR title Thumper, which bills itself with the tagline “a rhythm violence game.” (Imagine Tetris Effect if it was filled with aggression rather than transcendent joy. But in a really, really good way.)

Thrasher follows their existing legacy of immersive and unsettling games with its strange concept of a cosmic eel doing battle against a space baby, all set to a throbbing soundtrack. The addition of a non-virtual reality option is an exciting development for fans of the title, and it should be interesting to see how well the pair adapts their VR control scheme to gamepads and mouse/keyboard setups.

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May 19, 2025 0 comments

GameFi Guides

Ripple CEO Reacts to Major XRP Milestone

by admin May 19, 2025

Brad Garinghouse, chief executive officer at Ripple, has already commented on the much-awaited launch of CME Group’s XRP futures, claiming that the rollout of the product has marked a major institutional milestone for the token.

Earlier today, CME confirmed that XRP futures (both standard and micro versions) went live after months of anticipation.

Institutional players will now be able to gain exposure to one of the leading altcoins without directly holding it.

XRP futures can be traded outright, meaning that traders simply buy or sell a contract.

Traders can also agree to buy or sell XRP futures on a fixed basis to the day’s index close instead of buying them at the current price.

How to manage your bookmarks in Google Chrome

by admin May 19, 2025

There’s a lot to look at, watch, and listen to on the web. Fully utilizing the bookmarks feature in Google Chrome can be a real help in staying on top of everything.

Chrome is the browser I use most often, and I’ve got a huge number of bookmarked sites inside it: long reads I want to get back to once work is done, news updates to write up for work, gift ideas, apps I’d like to check out, important Slack channels, and content systems for my job… the list goes on. All synced between devices and available everywhere.

If you haven’t done a deep dive into Chrome’s bookmarks feature then you might not be aware of everything you can do with it, how it can save you time, and how you can bring some kind of order to your web browsing.

You can edit bookmarks as soon as you’ve saved them. Screenshot: Google

The star icon to the right of the address bar in Chrome on the desktop is for saving new bookmarks. Click it and the current page gets saved to the most recently used bookmarks folder. You can also press Ctrl+D (Windows) or Cmd+D (macOS), which is even easier. On mobile, tap the three dots at the top then the star icon (Android), or the three dots at the bottom then Add to bookmarks (iOS) to save the current page as a new bookmark.

As soon as a bookmark is saved, a small dialog pops up. You can use it to change the bookmark name and folder if you need to, or just click Done to move on.

More options can be found on the desktop by clicking the three dots (top right) then Bookmarks and lists. You’re able to add bookmarks from this menu, too, and there’s also a Bookmark all tabs option, which saves every open tab (which, like tab groups, is handy if you need to do something else but want to be able to get back to where you are).

On the same Bookmarks and lists menu you can toggle the bookmarks bar on and off. The bookmarks bar sits just below the address bar, and gives you another way to add bookmarks: drag the URL of the site you’re viewing down from the address bar to the bookmarks bar.

You can find your saved links in the bookmark manager. Screenshot: Google

Bookmarks become a lot more useful when they’re well organized. On the desktop you can launch the full bookmarks manager by clicking Bookmarks on the bookmarks bar, or by clicking the three dots (top right) and then Bookmarks and Lists > Bookmark Manager. You can search through your bookmarks here, and create new folders: Click the three dots (top right), then Add new folder — and yes, you can put folders inside other folders. (This is also where you’ll find the Export feature, and it’s a good idea to export your bookmarks occasionally as a backup.)

Folders are a key part of keeping your bookmarks organized, and they’re all accessible on the left of the bookmarks manager page. Click and drag bookmarks to change their order, or to move them into different folders. Right-click on a folder to rename or delete it, or drag it on top of another folder to put it inside that folder.

You can double-click any bookmark to open it. To edit it, click the three dots to the right: You’re able to rename your bookmarks and change their URLs, as well as put them in different folders. If you right-click on a bookmarks folder, you get the option to open all the links it contains in separate tabs — which may not do your computer much good if there are dozens or hundreds of bookmarks in the folder.

The bookmark manager can be accessed on mobile too, though you don’t get quite as many options to play around with. Tap the three dots at the top (Android) or bottom (iOS) of the interface, then choose Bookmarks to see the list. As long as you’re signed in with your Google account, bookmarks will sync between your devices.

Doing more with bookmarks

With some tweaks, you can get your bookmarks bar looking much more compact. Screenshot: Google

There are other ways to work with your bookmarks in Chrome.

Here’s a clever trick for your desktop bookmarks bar: right-click on each bookmark in turn, remove the text in the Name field completely each time, and click Save. You’ll then have a compact row of bookmark icons showing only the favicons for each site (such as a purple V for The Verge). It’s a neat way to put more bookmarks within each reach, and you can still tell what each one is.
Something else you might want to try is to search through your bookmarks directly from the address bar. You may see some bookmark results suggested underneath as you type out your search query, and you can also force a bookmarks search by preceding your query with “@bookmarks” and a space.
If you want to keep bookmarks visible at all times, that’s possible too. Click the three dots in Chrome for the desktop, then choose Bookmarks and lists > Show all bookmarks. A side panel appears displaying all your bookmarks: You can search through them, create new folders, and edit your bookmarks from here (click the three dots to the side).
The icons in the top right corner, from left to right, let you change the order of the bookmark lists, switch between compact and visual views, and edit multiple bookmarks at once. You can shut down the panel with the X button, but if you click the pin button just next to it before you do, you get a dedicated bookmarks panel icon that stays permanently available on the Chrome toolbar, and will let you open it back up again.

This has hopefully given you some idea of what you can do with bookmarks in Google Chrome. And there’s more, so it might be worth it to take some time and look around. It’s not the most sophisticated of systems, but it does give you plenty of flexibility in terms of how you can use it and what’s possible, so you can get your folders and shortcuts set up in the ways that work best for you.

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May 19, 2025 0 comments