Renowned crypto analyst Josh Olszewicz has declared what many crypto traders have long been waiting for: Altcoin Season has officially begun. In a market breakdown released on July 16, Olszewicz dismissed any lingering doubt about the current market structure, arguing that the conditions for outsized altcoin performance are firmly in place. Crypto Alert: Altcoin Season Is Here “For years, you’ve had people telling you, ‘It’s an alt season.’ The funny thing is, when alt season is actually here, you don’t need anybody to tell you—it’s obvious,” Olszewicz said, emphasizing that current price action across major alts and risk assets leaves little room for ambiguity. Related Reading: Crypto Relief: House Advances GENIUS, CLARITY, Anti-CBDC Bills After Narrow Vote According to Olszewicz, Bitcoin remains the backbone of the crypto market, consolidating near $120,000 at the yearly pivot with “plenty of room to go” on technicals. He acknowledged that BTC’s strength underpins the entire market cycle, but the focus has shifted to the explosive moves underway in altcoins. “Let’s be honest—you’re here because you want to outperform BTC by 2x to 5x. That’s the goal,” he said. Ethereum sits at the center of this rotation, breaking out decisively from $2,200 to above $3,200. “ETH has had quite the breakout. It’s above the next pivot at $3,200. I don’t need the cloud to tell me this is bullish,” Olszewicz noted, pointing to technical tailwinds and regulatory clarity surrounding staking and ETFs as additional catalysts. While ETH advocates have renewed confidence, Olszewicz cautioned against overconfidence: “Be careful drinking the Kool-Aid. ETH could go to $10K, but I think it’ll struggle at $5K. For July, $4K looks realistic—but that’s already nearly 4x from the April bottom.” The analyst also flagged Solana as a key player for those who missed the early moves in BTC and ETH. “Sol is starting to look better and better here, approaching the yearly pivot. If it breaks above $177, watch out,” he said, although he warned that the SOL/ETH chart still shows weakness. Other strong setups include Sui, Avalanche, and meme coins like Dogecoin and Pepe, which have already logged triple-digit percentage gains in recent weeks from their respective bottom. Still, Olszewicz urged traders to temper expectations for an uninterrupted melt-up. Historically, August and September have been weaker months for crypto, and he anticipates potential sharp corrections in alts. “Maybe we don’t see huge continuation in those months. We could even get negative 25% days on alts—just randomly, for whatever reason. You know that’s coming,” he said. Related Reading: Crypto Bulls Rejoice: Congresswoman Confirms Powell’s Imminent Firing Despite these caveats, the broader outlook remains decisively bullish. “It’s hard to throw a dart and miss at this point in the market. Everything looks good. If you’re in positions that aren’t working here, you need to ask yourself why,” Olszewicz added. He highlighted that even NFTs, long considered a proxy for speculative appetite, are surging again, with collections like Pudgy Penguins and Bored Apes seeing multi-week highs. As for the much-debated ETH/BTC pair, Olszewicz reminded traders that relative value matters. “This is why everyone came here—for this chart. We’re still far below the cloud, at levels last seen in 2020. The target for mean reversion is 0.038. Until ETH/BTC is above the weekly cloud, don’t get carried away with the ETH-maxi stuff,” he said, adding that the long-term bear trend could persist into 2026 despite short-term strength. Olszewicz closed with a note of caution for overleveraged traders. “This is a marathon, not a sprint. Don’t lose your shirt on 50x leverage when there’s so much market left to trade,” he warned. With total altcoin market capitalization approaching critical resistance near $1.5 trillion and sentiment flashing risk-on across the board, the message from one of crypto’s most followed analysts is clear: Altcoin Season isn’t coming—it’s already here. At press time, the total crypto market cap surged to 3.75 trillion. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
A single-word reply on X from Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R‑FL) — “Confirmed” — rocketed through the crypto markets early Wednesday, convincing a growing chorus of traders that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s tenure is measured in days, not months. Within minutes of Luna’s affirmation that “Jerome Powell is going to be fired. Firing is imminent,” prediction‑market odds of his ouster on Polymarket leapt to 26 percent, the highest reading this year, up from 16 percent only 24 hours earlier. A White‑House‑backed search is already under way. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, in an on‑record Bloomberg interview, acknowledged “a formal process that’s already starting” to identify Powell’s successor, adding that “there are a lot of good candidates inside and outside the Federal Reserve.” Related Reading: ‘Crypto Week’ Takes A Hit: US House Fails To Advance Key Acts President Donald Trump underscored the point during an impromptu press gaggle, repeating last week’s warning that “the renovations at the central bank were a fireable offense.” Those renovations — an over‑budget, $2.5 billion overhaul of the Fed’s historic Eccles Building — have become the legal pretext for dismissal, with Trump allies alleging “inefficiency” and “neglect of duty,” two of the three causes for removal spelled out in the Federal Reserve Act. Powell has asked the Fed’s inspector general to reopen its review of the project. Notably, Bill Pulte, the Federal Housing Finance Agency head and a longtime Powell critic, confirmed the rumors to his followers on X: “I heard from a very credible, bipartisan source, today, that Jerome Powell is considering resigning. This maps with both reports and also the talk in DC.” Crypto Markets Sense A Massive Bull Run The Bitcoin and crypto prices haven’t shown any reaction to the rumor yet. After piercing $123,000 on Monday, BTC is still 4.5 percent below the record high. The entire crypto market seems to be in a wait-and-see position. However, long-term, the implication could be profound for the crypto markets. “I cannot think of a more bullish catalyst for Bitcoin in the past five years than the complete and utter humiliation of Jerome Powell,” wrote macro commentator Julian Figueroa, pointing to what he called the “façade” of central‑bank independence collapsing in real time. Related Reading: Happy Ending: Crypto Hacker Returns Funds From $42 Million GMX Exploit Long‑time trader Byzantine General echoed the ambivalence: “Powell was actually a great Fed chair. But… if he resigns then it’s very likely that whoever comes next will lower rates, which is bullish for our cryptographic currencies.” Should President Trump succeed in replacing Powell with a more accommodating successor—one prepared to deliver the “three‑percentage‑point” rate cut he has publicly demanded—the Federal Reserve would likely be forced to shelve its balance‑sheet runoff precisely as Washington ramps up fresh fiscal stimulus. That synchronous pivot away from quantitative tightening would flip the liquidity regime from drain to deluge, recreating the macro backdrop that powered the crypto market’s 2020‑21 vertical ascent and positioning it for the next major bull run. At press time, the total crypto market cap stood at $3.68 trillion. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
In a livestream broadcast on X, independent market technician Kevin, known online as @Kev_Capital_TA, argued that crypto markets are only now entering what he called “the real bull run,” pointing to a confluence of technical signals, macroeconomic data and inter-market correlations that he believes have not been fully appreciated by traders. The Real Bull Run Starts Here Kevin placed particular emphasis on the behavior of Tether dominance (USDT.D), the share of crypto market capitalization held in the dollar-pegged stablecoin. The analyst displayed two long-term logarithmic USDT.D charts, each showing an initial sharp decline followed by what he described as a “rising channel slash bear flag.” In both 2024 and the present structure, the measured-move target of the pattern sits at 3.70 percent. “It’s really astonishing how this is kind of attempting to play out,” he said, stressing that any sustainable rally in risk assets will require that level to be reached. “The two key words that are going to be the most important words over the next couple of weeks are follow through.” Related Reading: Crypto Market Cap On Track To $4.5 Trillion As Q3 Unfolds – Details He then overlaid a macro descending triangle on a separate two-week USDT.D chart dating back to March 2020. Each time the two-week Stochastic RSI crossed downward, the dominance metric fell sharply, coinciding with periods of strength in Bitcoin and altcoins. The latest cross, now curling lower, again targets 3.70 percent. If that support were to give way, Kevin allowed, a deeper slide toward “the two-percent handle” could mark a “peak bull market” phase—though he cautioned against speculating that far ahead. The technical discussion broadened to Bitcoin’s hash-ribbon indicator, which tracks miner capitulation and recovery. Historically, weekly “buy” signals have preceded 40 to 100 percent upside moves within nine weeks, with what Kevin called a “100 percent hit rate” over eight years of back-testing. Kevin linked the on-chain data to macro conditions. Citing the real-time inflation gauge “Truthflation,” he highlighted a 1.66 percent reading—below the Federal Reserve’s nominal 2 percent target—and falling import prices, both of which, he argued, increase the odds of an imminent shift to easier policy. “If Truthflation stays below 2 percent, you’re going to get the easing you want,” he said, predicting that markets would price in an end to quantitative tightening ahead of any official announcement. “Retail traders are becoming more educated than they’ve ever been.… The market will sniff out rate cuts coming.” Altcoin capital rotation formed a second pillar of the bullish thesis. Ethereum’s market-share chart, he said, had been basing at 2019-2020 lows, with monthly MACD, Stochastic RSI and Market Cipher signals all turning up. Early reallocations into ETH-beta names such as Chainlink and Uniswap are already “up 60 percent” from their accumulation zones, he claimed, framing the moves as the foothills of a broader run. Nonetheless, he warned viewers not to wait for central-bank confirmation: “Don’t be the person sitting on the sidelines waiting for Powell to come out saying QT is over.” Related Reading: XRP Set To Shock The Crypto Market With 30% Share, Analyst Predicts Turning to Bitcoin itself, Kevin acknowledged that the benchmark still faces substantial resistance. Price must clear the March record, then the $112,000–$116,000 range and, ultimately, $120,000 before “thin air” opens a path to $140,000–$150,000. Similarly, the “total three” index—market cap excluding Bitcoin and Ethereum—needs a daily close above $877 billion and, crucially, the yellow-shaded resistance band that has capped rallies five times since February. Only then, he argued, would a new all-time high for the broader alt-basket come into view. Despite the optimism, Kevin repeatedly returned to the notion that conviction without confirmation is premature. “We need to see real deal price action,” he said, noting that Bitcoin’s daily RSI has not reached the 90-plus “euphoria” zone since 2017. He called the post-March tape “down-trending crappy price action” and insisted that any declaration of a full-fledged cycle peak must await multiple days of decisive follow-through. In closing, the analyst underscored the time sensitivity of the opportunity. With the halving behind and the traditional four-year cycle ostensibly entering its final phase, “you’ve got five to six months of what should be elite-level price action,” he said. Whether or not the textbook cycle ends on schedule will depend, in his view, on the interaction between a Federal Reserve pivot and the crypto market’s ability to anticipate it. For now, Kevin’s roadmap is unambiguous: monitor USDT dominance for a breakdown toward 3.70 percent, watch for successive hash-ribbon buy signals, and demand momentum “follow through” above the identified technical hurdles. If those conditions are met, he contends, the rally that many traders thought was already under way will reveal itself as only the warm-up act for “the real bull run.” At press time, BTC traded at $111,250. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
Open interest in SHIB futures has risen, indicating growing investor interest despite potential challenges from large token holders.
UAE’s EmCoin combines digital and traditional assets on one platform. It may set the global standard for regulated, inclusive investing.
Cryptocurrency mixers explained A cryptocurrency mixer is a specialized service designed to increase the privacy and anonymity of blockchain transactions. Unlike traditional financial transactions, which are private by default, most cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) operate on public blockchains. This means every transaction is permanently recorded and accessible to anyone, making it possible for blockchain analysts or malicious actors to trace the flow of funds between wallets.A crypto mixer’s primary function is to break the link between the sender’s wallet and the recipient’s wallet. It does so by pooling together coins from many users and then redistributing them in a way that makes it difficult to track which coins went where. Think of it like a digital version of shuffling cards in a deck. After mixing, your cryptocurrency is returned to you or a recipient’s address, but it’s “cleaned” of any direct transaction history.This privacy-enhancing feature is why some people rely on mixers, especially those seeking to keep their financial activities confidential in an open-ledger world. How does a crypto mixer work? To understand a crypto mixer, it’s useful to compare it to the concept of money laundering in traditional finance, albeit with legal and ethical nuances. The process of “mixing” is essentially designed to obscure the origin and destination of coins.Here’s a typical workflow of how a cryptocurrency mixer operates:Deposit: You send your cryptocurrency to the mixer’s wallet address. Multiple users do the same, creating a large pool of coins.Mixing/shuffling: The mixer’s system pools and shuffles these coins together, breaking any visible connection between deposited and withdrawn funds.Redistribution: After mixing, the service sends back an equivalent amount of coins to your specified address, but these aren’t the same coins you deposited. They come from the pooled coins of all participants.Fees: The mixer usually deducts a small fee, generally ranging from 1% to 3%, to cover operational costs.This process effectively disrupts blockchain analysis, making it extremely difficult for anyone to trace the coins back to their original owners. Types of cryptocurrency mixers Not all mixers are created equal. They can broadly be divided into two categories: centralized and decentralized mixers.Centralized mixersCentralized mixers are the most common and operate similarly to traditional services. You send your coins to a company or entity that controls the mixing process, and then they send back “clean” coins after mixing. These services are relatively easy to use, often providing a simple user interface.However, centralized mixers require you to trust the service operator with your coins, at least temporarily. This introduces risks such as:The mixer could be a scam and disappear with your funds.It could be hacked, exposing users’ data and coins.The operator may keep logs that could compromise your privacy.Decentralized mixersDecentralized mixers use blockchain technology and smart contracts to automate the mixing process without a trusted third party. They rely on cryptographic methods such as zero-knowledge proofs to mix coins in a trustless environment. Users pool their coins into a smart contract, which then redistributes coins in a way that ensures privacy.Advantages of decentralized mixers include:No central point of failure or custody risk.Higher privacy because no single party controls the funds.Often more resistant to regulatory crackdowns.Did you know? The DOJ indicted four Russians for operating crypto mixers Blender.io and Sinbad.io, yet failed to show they knowingly laundered illicit funds. The indictment relies heavily on vague forum posts and lacks concrete evidence of criminal intent or ties to US commerce, raising serious doubts about its strength in court. Real-world cases involving mixers and scams Unfortunately, the privacy offered by crypto mixers has also attracted criminals. The very anonymity that protects innocent users can also shield illicit activities, leading to widespread misuse.Crypto mixers have been linked to ransomware attacks, dark web marketplaces, fraud and drug trafficking. Criminals often use these services to “clean” proceeds from illegal transactions and hide their tracks from law enforcement.A notable example is ChipMixer, a service seized by Europol in 2023 for allegedly facilitating money laundering for dark web markets and ransomware groups. Authorities dismantled the platform’s infrastructure over alleged money laundering, seizing four servers, 1,909.4 BTC (about $210 million as of May 26, 2025) and seven TB of data across 55 transactions.Mixers have also been involved in laundering stolen funds from cryptocurrency exchange hacks. The complexity of these transactions makes it difficult for investigators to recover stolen assets.In February 2025, Bybit, a major cryptocurrency exchange, suffered a significant security breach resulting in the theft of about $1.5 billion worth of cryptocurrencies. The attackers, attributed to the Lazarus Group, a North Korean state-sponsored hacking organization, employed various crypto mixers, including Wasabi, CryptoMixer, Railgun and Tornado Cash, to launder portions of the stolen assets. Despite efforts to trace the funds, a significant portion remains unaccounted for, highlighting the challenges posed by mixers in cybersecurity investigations. Are crypto mixers legal? The legal status of cryptocurrency mixers depends largely on the jurisdiction and context of their use.Most governments impose strict Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Counter-Terrorist Financing regulations on financial services, including digital currency services. Mixers, by their nature, complicate AML compliance because they obscure transaction trails.For instance,In the European Union, the 5th Anti-Money Laundering Directive (5AMLD) includes digital currency providers under its regulatory scope, requiring them to perform KYC checks and report suspicious activity.In the United States, FinCEN classifies cryptocurrency mixers as money transmitters, requiring registration and compliance with AML regulations. Unlicensed mixers can face severe penalties and criminal charges.Legal uses vs misuseUsing a mixer for privacy reasons is not inherently illegal. However, if mixers are used to launder proceeds from crimes, authorities will prosecute offenders. Similarly, operating a mixer without appropriate licenses or regulatory oversight can be illegal.If you choose to use a mixer, make sure you understand the legal implications in your country and avoid any activity that could be linked to money laundering or fraud.Did you know? Crypto mixer transactions are still taxable. Using a mixer doesn’t hide gains from tax authorities; failing to report them can trigger audits or penalties. Always keep records and understand your local tax obligations. How to stay safe and avoid scam-linked mixers If you decide to use a cryptocurrency mixer, your safety and security should be paramount. Here are some essential tips to avoid scams and legal troubles:Choose reputable mixers: Conduct thorough research. Look for mixers with good reviews, transparent operations and clear compliance policies.Avoid unknown or suspicious services: Steer clear of mixers linked to scams, hacks or regulatory actions.Check for licensing and compliance: Prefer mixers that comply with AML/KYC regulations, especially if you are a business or high-value user.Understand fees and timelines: Be clear on the fees involved and the expected time for your funds to be returned after mixing.Use hardware wallets and strong security practices: Always safeguard your private keys and use hardware wallets to minimize risks.Stay updated on regulations: Laws surrounding crypto mixers evolve rapidly. Staying informed will help you avoid inadvertent legal violations.
The final week of April delivered a jolt of optimism to a crypto market that has spent most of the year wrestling with macro cross-currents. Bitcoin’s resilience above the psychological $90,000–$95,000 level, an unexpected surge in stablecoin issuance and a swarm of textbook bullish patterns across large-caps and meme names have converged to create what veteran chartist Josh Olszewicz calls “one of the cleanest multi-asset breakout tapes we’ve seen since late 2023.” Crypto Bull Run Back? Olszewicz’s argument begins and ends with liquidity. Two consecutive one-billion-dollar Tether mints on 29 April pushed combined USDT + USDC supply to a fresh all-time high, an event he frames as an unequivocal tailwind for speculative assets. “Tether’s been printing, printing, and minting, baby,” he said, emphasising that the dual $1 billion tranches arrived alongside a clear premium in the USDT/USD pair on Kraken—evidence, in his view, of real demand rather than opportunistic treasury rebalancing. “Typically that means people are deploying it in alts. That’s why stable-coin mints—specifically Tether—[are] generally bullish for alts because people are using it to speculate.” The liquidity pulse arrives just as several macro obstacles appear to be receding. Bitcoin survived a negative-print US GDP release, sticky PCE inflation data and what Olszewicz called “some jobs numbers that came out this week,” without surrendering its three-month up-trend. Meanwhile gold has rolled over and the Dollar Index remains pinned near cycle lows, recreating the “everything-rally” backdrop that powered crypto’s late-2023 melt-up. Funding markets, however, are delivering a curious split: “We still have negative funding on the BTC side on crypto exchanges. We have positive funding in legacy land with futures. So that’s very bizarre right now, but so far so good.” Against that backdrop, Olszewicz drills into the Ichimoku-cloud mechanics that underpin his altcoin watch-list. The premise is as old as the indicator itself: a daily candle close inside the cloud accompanied by a bullish Tenkan-Kijun (TK) cross triggers a mean-reversion target to the opposing edge of the cloud. “All these trades are always the same. I never treat them differently,” he said. “You get a better entry… it’s just a game of probabilities.” The strategy sets clear invalidations—either the Kijun line or a lower-low—and provides what he characterises as Dow-theory mean-reversion framed through an Ichimoku lens. That formula is now flashing across a surprising breadth of assets. Solana And Curve Solana sits at the top of his list. The layer-one token has posted six consecutive red daily candles, sculpting the “right shoulder” of an inverted head-and-shoulders whose neckline rises toward $200. “What I’ve got to laser focus on is this potential edge-to-edge move,” he explained, noting that ideal entries would materialise between $140 and $120 but are not essential. “Within the next week or two, you should get a great signal on an entry here on SOL just from the cloud.” Related Reading: XRP Gains Ground in Weekly Crypto Inflows as Ethereum Continues Downtrend Curve, by contrast, is already in motion—up double-digits on a day when most altcoins bled. “Why is it up 10 percent today and everything else is down? I don’t have a good answer for that,” he admitted. Yet the technical structure leaves little to interpret: a multi-month flat-bottom accumulation, a candle close inside the cloud near its lower boundary and a bullish TK cross. “You’re on your journey to somewhere up here—the other edge of the cloud,” he said, implying a measured-move objective near $1.20 that would represent a near-doubling from current levels. Ethereum And Litecoin Where Solana and Curve show imminent triggers, Ethereum remains the quintessential laggard, still chiselling out what Olszewicz labels a bottoming process. “It’s going to take ETH kicking and screaming to get started here […] but this is a bottom in process. Certainly may take you into June.” The calculus is familiar: traders intent on rotation may find better risk-adjusted returns elsewhere, returning to ETH only once its own daily cloud admits a candle close. Litecoin exhibits a similar dynamic, with an inverted head-and-shoulders outline that “feels a little early,” perhaps ripening by early June. FET, LINK, ALGO Fetch.ai breached the cloud on April 23 and already sports a bullish TK cross, yet Olszewicz acknowledges it arrives “after two or three weeks of up-move,” reducing risk-reward. Related Reading: CoinGecko Q1 Report: Top 10 Crypto Exchanges See Spot Trading Volume Drop To $5.4 Trillion Chainlink shows a textbook right-shoulder still under construction—“alerts at fifteen,” he suggests—while Algorand edges toward a 32-cent cloud target, one daily close away from confirmation. In each instance, the analyst reiterates that until the formal triggers print, the probability of follow-through remains statistically lower. DOGE, PEPE And WIF The most combustible corner of the market—the meme cohort—is, in his telling, already foreshadowing a retail return. Dogecoin intrigues him most. “Along with ENA, one of the best bang for your bucks is Doge,” he said, though he concedes the pattern needs another week to sculpt a complete right-shoulder. He is explicit about his trigger: “Give it another week or two and this is definitely one of the better-looking setups,” with attention fixed on the $0.175 area. PEPE presents fewer moving parts: it is inside the cloud with a bullish TK cross and a clear neckline at the Kijun. “If ETH even sneezes higher, I expect this to just be up twenty-five percent one day,” he said, while cautioning that a transitional “negative twenty percent day” could precede the pop. WIF, for its part, is “slamming against the cloud,” on the cusp of its own TK cross. Having retraced from $4.80 to current levels, it offers what he calls “a great-looking setup,” albeit one where “the greed in me always wants an entry down here”—a reference to a hypothetical bid parked at the cloud’s lower edge. BTC Dominance Bitcoin dominance, still pressing cycle highs, complicates the rotation narrative. “Does it really matter that you’re not all-in BTC if this is an extreme in dominance?” he asked rhetorically. His answer is temporal. Dominance mattered enormously at the October 2023 bottom, and he suspects it will matter again once it rolls over. “Come May, June, I think we will start to see the outperformance of the altcoins,” he predicts, but he tempers that with a blunt reminder: “It hasn’t made sense to sit in these BTC pairs.” The exception is Solana’s BTC chart, which mirrors the USD thesis with a half-formed inverted head-and-shoulders and a cloud target significantly higher. At press time, SOL traded at $151.90. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
Crypto, stocks and bonds: Are they the same? When you dive into investing, you’ll find three frequently utilized investment options: Crypto is the risky thrill-seeker’s choice, stocks offer a middle ground with growth potential, and bonds are for those who prefer a steadier, more predictable path. While both stocks and crypto offer growth potential, regulation makes stock market investments more structured and predictable, and crypto aims for decentralization and remains less regulated.CryptoCryptocurrency is a digital currency built on blockchain technology, a decentralized, transparent and secure system that records all transactions. No entity, such as a bank, directly controls it. Crypto is known for massive swings — big gains (and losses) can happen fast, making it exciting for those who want to play the high-risk game. Although cryptocurrency has been available for a while, its adoption has surged in recent years, gaining traction among retail investors, institutions and even some governments. Cryptocurrency is not universally regulated and can be accessed through various channels, including crypto exchanges, brokers, ATMs and fintech apps.StocksStocks represent ownership in a company — when you buy a stock, you’re purchasing a share of that business. If the company performs well and earns profits, shareholders may benefit through dividends and capital gains. On the flip side, poor performance or negative market sentiment can lead to losses.Stocks are typically regulated by government agencies, such as the US Securities and Exchange Commission, making them generally less risky than cryptocurrencies. However, they are still influenced by factors such as company performance, market conditions, economic trends and global events — making them potentially volatile.You can purchase stocks through traditional stock exchanges (like the NYSE or Nasdaq) or online brokerage platforms.BondsBonds are essentially loans that investors give to governments or companies. In exchange, the issuer pays regular interest over a set period and returns the full loan amount — known as the principal — when the bond reaches its maturity date, which can range from a few months to 30 years.Bonds are often considered less volatile than stocks, making them a popular choice for conservative investors. However, they are not without risks. Rising interest rates can lower a bond’s market value, inflation can erode purchasing power, and corporate bonds carry the risk of default if the issuer experiences financial trouble.The trade-off for this relative stability is usually lower returns, which may not appeal to those seeking high-growth investments. Bonds are regulated financial instruments and can typically be purchased through brokers or directly from government agencies. Is crypto more profitable compared to stocks and bonds? While crypto can offer diversification benefits, its relationship with traditional assets is complex and evolving.For instance, in 2024, Bitcoin (BTC), the most popular cryptocurrency, demonstrated remarkable profitability, achieving a 121% return and outperforming traditional assets like the Nasdaq 100, which gained 25.6%, and the S&P 500, which rose by 25%. Gold also saw a significant increase of 26.7%, while US large-cap stocks experienced a 24.9% gain.Bonds, on the other hand, offered a more modest return: The 10-year US Treasury bond, known for its fixed interest payments, ended the year with a yield of approximately 4.57%.Historically, Bitcoin has exhibited a low correlation with the S&P 500, averaging 0.17 over the past decade. However, this correlation has fluctuated, reaching as high as 0.75 before declining toward zero in early 2025, indicating periods of both alignment and independence from traditional markets. Tariff fallout: Which is more profitable now — Crypto, stocks or bonds? The tariffs introduced by US President Donald Trump on April 2, 2025, have had an unprecedented impact on both traditional and crypto markets. But the effects have followed the above pattern consistently — stocks experienced a sharp price reduction.According to the Guardian, the Nasdaq Composite entered a bear market by the close of trading on April 3, falling more than 20% below its most recent peak on Dec. 16, 2024. In the meantime, European indexes such as the FTSE 100 fell over 11%, and the S&P 500 dropped at least 12% since the introduction of tariffs.Crypto had an even stronger downturn, which was once seen as a hedge against market volatility but has not been immune. Bitcoin’s price dropped by over 6% and Ether’s (ETH) by more than 12% within 24 hours of the tariff announcement, as global markets reacted with fear. The unpredictability of tariff policies contributes to market jitters, affecting all asset classes, from stocks to bonds and crypto, in unique ways.Bonds have experienced only a small return rate increase, given that a higher return means a lower price for a bond. According to CNBC, in response to President Trump’s tariff announcements, global bond yields sharply dropped as investors sought safe havens amid stock market turmoil. For example, Germany’s 10-year bond yield fell from 2.72% to below 2.6%, and US Treasury yields also hit their lowest levels in months, signaling heightened demand for government debt, though economists warn this rally may not be sustainable if inflation concerns persist. Trading and investing in crypto, stocks and bonds: What sets them apart? All asset classes — crypto vs. traditional investments — involve identifying patterns, but the timeframes, dynamics and tactics differ significantly.Crypto and stock trading share similar patterns, like sensitivity to macroeconomic trends andtechnical patterns, but their market structures contrast sharply. Stock markets operate within set hours, such as the NYSE’s hours of 9:30 am–4:30 pm ET, while crypto markets run 24/7. Bonds are typically traded during regular market hours, similar to stocks, but the exact trading hours can depend on the type of bond, such as Treasurys or corporate issues.Crypto trading involves pairs using common tokens like Bitcoin or Ether as base currencies, while stocks are typically bought with fiat, and bonds are traded in fixed denominations, often with a minimum investment threshold. Liquidity issues can affect all three: Crypto can face challenges with small-cap tokens, stocks with micro-cap companies and bonds with less-traded long-term or corporate issues.Timeframes for market patterns highlight further distinctions. Crypto market patterns thrive on short-term volatility, demanding rapid decisions and frequent trades, while stock patterns often track longer-term trends tied to company performance and broader economic cycles. Bonds move the slowest, with price shifts driven primarily by interest rates, and offer stable, predictable patterns.Price drivers also set them apart. Crypto values hinge on market trends, adoption and utility; stocks rely on company fundamentals, research and earnings; and bonds depend on interest rate movements and issuer creditworthiness, prioritizing stability over growth. Entry barrier to crypto, stocks and bonds Stock issuance is governed by company laws, blockchain protocols with hard caps control crypto supply, and bonds are issued based on creditworthiness.To invest in stocks and bonds, you generally need to be at least 18 years old and have a brokerage account to invest in the stock and bond markets. Some stocks may require a higher income or level of experience, while most stocks only allow accredited or wealthy investors to participate.Buying stocks and bonds means going through regulated brokers and exchanges. Crypto, on the other hand, lets you jump in with just a wallet — no intermediary, no paperwork. Centralized crypto exchanges require Know Your Customer (KYC) verification, but decentralized platforms let you trade freely with only your private keys.Did you know? Stocks represent company equity with dividends; crypto represents digital assets with varying uses; and bonds are loans offering fixed-interest payments. Regulatory differences between crypto, stocks and bonds While stocks and bonds follow strict rules, crypto is still figuring things out, making buying, selling, holding and taxes a whole different experience.In most countries, investing in stocks and bonds is legal and regulated. Still, some governments, like North Korea and Cuba, impose strict restrictions or outright bans on private investment in these assets. Crypto faces a patchwork of regulations worldwide, ranging from full bans in countries like China and Egypt to partial restrictions in places like India, where regulations limit banking support but don’t outlaw trading. Meanwhile, crypto-friendly nations like El Salvador embrace digital assets with clear legal frameworks and government support.Holding stocks and bonds is straightforward. The shares sit safely with a brokerage, and bonds pay you interest at fixed intervals. Holding crypto, however, comes with risks. You can self-custody in a wallet, but if you lose your private keys, your funds are gone forever. If you keep crypto on an exchange, there’s always a risk of hacks or platform failures.Taxes add another layer of complexity. Stocks and bonds typically fall under capital gains and dividend tax rules, with clear guidelines based on how long you’ve held them. Crypto tax laws vary widely by country. Some countries treat it like property, others like a commodity, and a few don’t tax it at all. Keeping track of every transaction is crucial, as even swapping one crypto for another can be taxable. Crypto vs. stocks vs. bonds: Which one should you buy in 2025? Choosing between crypto, stocks and bonds in 2025 depends on your personality, risk appetite and financial goals.If you love the adrenaline and believe in the future of decentralized finance (DeFi), then a crypto-focused portfolio might be for you. For example, a high-risk, high-reward portfolio could be 70% crypto, 20% stocks and 10% bonds.If you prefer a more structured approach but still want growth, stocks balance risk and return. A portfolio, for instance, with 60% stocks, 30% crypto and 10% bonds could give exposure to innovation while keeping things grounded.For those who sleep better knowing their money is safe, bonds provide stability. For example, a conservative mix could contain 70% bonds, 20% stocks and just 10% crypto, ensuring steady returns with a taste of market excitement.This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
Over the past two weeks, Bitcoin and the broader crypto market have seen a slight recovery. However, Crucible Capital General Partner Meltem Demirors struck a cautious tone on the future of the crypto rally. In an interview on Bloomberg on March 25, Demirors addressed everything from trading volumes and ETF inflows to concerns about “hidden leverage” in the crypto ecosystem. “It’s a tale of two cities. Sentiment is positive. You see a lot of enthusiasm about the Trump administration policy direction,” she said, referencing the renewed buzz around crypto in political rhetoric. “But if we look at markets, volumes are abysmal. We’re back to trading levels we saw pre-election.” While media coverage surrounding pro-crypto signals from President Trump and World Liberty Financial has created a burst of excitement, Demirors highlighted the need to separate hype from tangible market activity. She noted that so far, the data suggest limited buying pressure—raising serious questions about where any lasting bid for Bitcoin and other crypto assets will come from. Related Reading: Crypto Braces For April 2 — The Most Crucial Day Of The Year Discussing 2024’s performance triggers, Demirors emphasized the role of institutional ETF trading strategies in shaping demand: “We had ETF buyers. If we look at the ETF buyers based on 13F filings from December, the majority of those are firms that are farming the basis trade, right? They’re not long-term holders. It’s not mom and pop going out and buying in their brokerage.” She explained that these firms often “buy the ETF and then short Bitcoin,” capturing price spreads rather than seeking fundamental exposure. The dynamics surrounding MicroStrategy’s convert arbitrage—where big institutional players leverage MicroStrategy’s publicly traded Bitcoin holdings—further complicate market flows. Demirors flagged “growing concerns about a potential black swan if that trade unwinds.” In recent sessions, certain altcoins have logged short-lived rallies that, on the surface, might imply renewed appetite among traders. Demirors was quick to contextualize these moves: “If we take out Bitcoin and Ether, [there’s been] no change in market cap of that long tail of crypto and no change in trading volume, it’s been flat. Just the names are rotating. So it’s a game of musical chairs.” Related Reading: Bitcoin-Backed Loans Surge As New Players Enter The Crypto Lending Arena Market observers have been buzzing over President Trump’s online comments and closer ties between major financial players—such as Cantor Fitzgerald and Tether—amid broader regulatory conversations in Washington. Demirors, however, suggested that these developments are merely part of the cycle: “Is this value accretive? We’re taking liquidity out of the crypto ecosystem, putting it into the banking sector or putting it into the pockets of the creators of these coins. So is that value accretive to boosting volume in Bitcoin and the broader crypto complex? Not necessarily.” Still, she reiterated optimism about Bitcoin’s resilience, pointing to Bitcoin dominance hovering around 70%—a multi-year high. However, she also expressed concerns about hidden leverage in the system. From potential unwind scenarios involving MicroStrategy’s Bitcoin holdings to large distributions from Mt. Gox creditors and the defunct FTX platform, Demirors sees a possible wave of selling pressure: “We’ve got Mt. Gox starting to distribute coins. FTX is distributing coins, so we’ve got potential net sellers and distributions that may become net sellers. Where are the inflows coming from? Who else is left to buy?” The question of what could reverse the tide remains open, especially amid disappointing volume data. “I’m a simple girl,” Demirors added. “Every time I talk, I say it’s all about the flows.” At press time, BTC traded at $87,926. Featured image from YouTube, chart from TradingView.com
The crypto market is on high alert ahead of April 2, a date some analysts are calling “the biggest event of the year by an order of magnitude.” Macro economist Alex Krüger (@krugermacro), warns that President Donald Trump’s upcoming announcement of new reciprocal tariffs could deliver a seismic jolt to global markets — including crypto. Why April 2 Is Massive For Crypto In a post shared on X, Krüger describes the looming announcement, which the president has dubbed “Liberation Day,” as “10x more important than any FOMC” meeting: “April 2nd is similar to election night. It is the biggest event of the year by an order of magnitude. 10x more important than any FOMC, which is a lot. And anything can happen.” According to Krüger, Trump might choose one of several paths: “Trump could go soft, in which case markets would rally fast and furiously. Or could go half-way, adding uncertainty on timelines, in which case markets would take out the stops of all longs and shorts. Or go all out, in which case markets could easily crash another 10% to 15%, fast.“ Related Reading: Crypto Sleuth Claims Mysterious $20M ‘Hyperliquid Whale’ Is Tied To Illicit Activity Krüger also suggests that “the US economy is still strong, but will highly likely slow down due to tariffs regardless of the path Trump chooses.” Nevertheless, he notes that many economists have already factored in a sharp year-end slowdown. He stresses that April 2 could mark the peak of market anxiety, aligning with the arrival of US Tax Day just two weeks later. “Either way, you all want to be prepared and ready to act on ‘Liberation Day.’ It will be big.” Trump’s “Liberation Day” announcement will reportedly focus on “reciprocal tariffs” targeting specific countries or blocs deemed to maintain unfair trade barriers. Although this strategy appears “more targeted than the barrage he has occasionally threatened,” officials familiar with the matter believe it could still prove far-reaching. President Trump has repeatedly signaled that these tariffs would be significant. Citing trade disparities with nations such as the European Union, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, Canada, India, and China, he asserts the US has been treated unfairly for too long. In remarks from the Oval Office, he declared: “April 2nd is going to be liberation day for America. We’ve been ripped off by every country in the world, friend and foe.” Worst Case Scenario Aides and allies suggest that while some countries may be excluded, Trump is looking for immediate impact. Tariff rates could take effect right away, adding to market fears of spiraling retaliation. In this case, Krüger says: “In worst case scenario sh*t would hit the fan then tariffs would start coming off as Trump negotiates hard in the following month, in which case peak negativity would hit around week 2 of April, which would coincide with US Tax Day.” Related Reading: Trump’s Crypto Czar David Sacks Unloads $200M In Digital Asset Holdings Senior officials, including National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, have indicated that the administration is focusing on a “dirty 15” group of countries where tariff and non-tariff barriers are allegedly most egregious. Hassett recently remarked, “It’s not everybody that cheats us on trade, it’s just a few countries, and those countries are going to be seeing some tariffs.” For the crypto market, global macroeconomic events have increasingly played a pivotal role in price action in recent weeks. The April 2 “Liberation Day” announcement arrives at a time when digital asset traders already face headwinds from monetary policy shifts and a slowing global economy. Krüger believes that if the tariffs come in softer than expected, “markets would rally fast and furiously.” On the other hand, a maximalist tariff approach could deliver a significant shock, potentially denting cryptocurrencies. At press time, the total crypto market cap stood at $2.81 trillion. Featured image from iStock, chart from TradingView.com
Explore the history of attempts to change Bitcoin’s 21-million hard cap and why it has proven to be hard to create an alternative to the apex asset.
In a market breakdown shared on X, independent trader and Zero Complexity Trading founder Koroush Khaneghah points to a handful of critical crypto charts that he believes could dictate the next major market move. Khaneghah, who has invested in over 50 startups, emphasizes that the charts for BTC/USD, BTC Dominance (BTC.D), TOTAL2, ETH/BTC, and SOL/BTC provide invaluable insights into the crypto market’s current condition and possible future shifts. BTC/USD: Defining The Crypto Market Khaneghah identifies BTC/USD as the yardstick for gauging what stage of the bull run the market might be in. According to his view: “This decides what stage of the bull run we’re in. – Breaks above ATH resume the bull run – Consolidation below ATH -> Altcoins enter accumulation zones – Major structural breaks -> Time to turn bearish” He suggests traders begin by determining which of three market environments Bitcoin is in: a raging bull market, a consolidation phase, or a structural downturn. Currently, Khaneghah sees BTC/USD “ranging below all-time highs, coming off some major uptrends,” which often presents either a catch-up scenario for altcoins or a prolonged accumulation phase ahead of Bitcoin’s next attempt to break all-time highs. BTC Dominance (BTC.D) To clarify whether altcoins are poised for a significant move, Khaneghah turns to BTC Dominance. As he explains: “BTC.D (bitcoin dominance) tracks Bitcoin’s share of the total crypto market cap. “Increasing Dominance = BTC outperforms and altcoins lag (same for upside and downside). Decreasing Dominance = BTC cools off and money flows into Altcoins.” Dominance rising typically means Bitcoin is absorbing the bulk of market liquidity. Meanwhile, a drop in BTC.D often suggests altcoins are about to see greater inflows of capital. Crypto Market Cap Excluding Bitcoin (TOTAL2) The TOTAL2 chart, which excludes Bitcoin from the total crypto market capitalization, is key to analyzing altcoin behavior. Khaneghah advises: “When BTC.D Falls, TOTAL2 increases because capital is rotating into altcoins. When TOTAL2 breaks out, look for longs on the strongest altcoins, rotate out of Bitcoin, and shift capital into alts again.” He stresses that the highest probability trades come from identifying moments when the market rotates away from Bitcoin. In these instances, traders might see stronger returns by entering altcoin positions rather than remaining primarily in BTC. ETH/BTC Khaneghah underscores that ETH/BTC is a helpful barometer for broader altcoin sentiment: “The best altcoin plays happen when ETH/BTC stops trending downwards because the market confidence in alts returns here.” When Ethereum is outperforming Bitcoin or stabilizing against it, it generally sparks confidence that altcoins could experience rallies, often referred to as “altseason.” SOL/BTC Khaneghah also shines a spotlight on SOL/BTC, suggesting that Solana’s performance relative to Bitcoin could reshape altcoin capital rotation: “I don’t normally look at this but a comparison helps decide if the money rotation has a better reward within the SOL ecosystem or ETH. People will think SOL has ‘pumped already’ but I like buying coins with strength, rather than buying coins that might catch a bid.” While Solana has posted significant gains, Khaneghah believes its strong performance could continue. He notes that if Solana keeps outperforming Bitcoin, some capital might shift away from ETH, potentially amplifying activity across the SOL ecosystem. At press time, BTC traded at $105,026. Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com
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New MakersPlace accounts were disabled immediately, but users can still purchase NFTs on the platform until it shuts down completely.
In a significant move amid the growing adoption of Bitcoin (BTC) and digital assets, Oklahoma has become the sixth US state to introduce a “Strategic Bitcoin Reserve” policy. This initiative aims to allow the state to purchase Bitcoin once the legislation is passed, reflecting a broader trend as states across the nation explore similar proposals […]
With a Republican majority having taken control of the US Senate in January, Tim Scott said the Banking Committee would have an “open-minded environment” for digital assets.
The Open Network (TON) Foundation, closely associated with Telegram, is setting its sights on an ambitious expansion in the United States. This strategic move comes amid expectations of a more favorable regulatory environment under the incoming administration led by Donald Trump. TON Foundation Appoints Manny Stotz As New President The foundation announced the appointment of […]
In a recent interview with CNBC’s Squawk Box, outgoing US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler offered a nuanced perspective on the digital asset landscape, particularly focusing on Bitcoin (BTC) and the broader crypto market. His remarks come amid increased scrutiny of the industry, which has faced regulatory challenges and calls for greater […]
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Two Russian nationals face charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering and operating an unlicensed money-transmitting business, while one remains at large.
In an interview with David Gura on Bloomberg Markets on Wednesday, outgoing Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Gary Gensler reviewed his tenure and the role of crypto within the US capital markets. Gensler, who has less than two weeks left in his term, remained steadfast on his stance toward the digital asset space, calling […]
French Hill has stepped back as leader of the digital assets, fintech and AI subcommittee to become chair of the full House committee in the 119th Congress.
In what he said would be his last remarks as CFTC chair, Rostin Behnam said he intended to advocate for the commission to address regulatory challenges over digital assets.
On Tuesday, US-based crypto exchange Coinbase, achieved a significant legal victory in its ongoing dispute with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Judge Katherine Polk Failla of the Southern District of New York has granted Coinbase a “rare interlocutory appeal,” allowing the company to challenge the SEC’s claims that it operates as an “unregistered exchange […]
In a potentially major turn for crypto regulation in the US, Rostin Behnam, the Chairman of the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), has revealed his resignation, effective January 20, with his exit from the commission scheduled for February 7. Behnam Resigns, Leaves Key Regulatory Challenges In Crypto In a statement released Tuesday morning, Behnam […]