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A crypto trader with a keen eye for artificial intelligence (AI) projects has reportedly amassed profits of more than $17 million from several AI-focused tokens, and on-chain data now points to a pivot toward fresh memecoins. According to an analysis shared by Lookonchain on X, the trader’s largest gains stem from early positions taken in GOAT, ai16z, Fartcoin, and ARC. Crypto Trader Turns AI Coins Into $17 Million Lookonchain reports via X, “What a smart AI coin trader! Profits exceeded $5.14M on GOAT. Profits exceeded $4.5M on ai16z. Profits exceeded $4M on Fartcoin. Profits exceeded $4M on arc. Let’s take a look at which tokens he is buying.” Related Reading: Altcoins Surge As Crypto Market Kicks Off 2025 On A High Note The trader’s most significant win reportedly came from GOAT. He entered the token at a time when its overall market cap was below $2 million dollars, spending around $62,000 to purchase approximately 11.1 million GOAT tokens. After riding GOAT’s rapid ascent, he sold all GOAT with a total of about $5.2 million, netting an estimated $5.14 million. His performance with ai16z – a decentralized AI-powered trading fund on the Solana blockchain – is similarly impressive, as he spent one $123,000 to acquire 6.17 million tokens at a market cap of $22 million. Lookonchain’s data indicates that he sold 4.67 million ai16z tokens at around $1.78 each and still retains 2.65 million tokens currently valued near $2.9 million. According to Lookonchain, this amounts to a total ai16z profit of more than $4.5 million. The analysis also highlights significant gains from Fartcoin, which the trader bought at a market cap of under $7 million, paying $121,000 for around 9.46 million tokens. He sold 6.81 million of those tokens for $610,000 while keeping 2.65 million tokens that are collectively valued at $3.55 million, bringing his net profit on Fartcoin to roughly $4 million. A similar pattern emerged in his ARC position, where he invested $212,000 to acquire 11.6 million ARC tokens when the project’s market cap was approximately $15 million. After selling 1.6 million tokens for $212,000, he currently holds 10 million arc tokens worth about $4 million, resulting in another $4 million profit. Related Reading: Crypto Trader Capitalizes On Elon Musk’s X Name Change For 17,000% Return Lookonchain’s post also details the trader’s recent moves into several smaller-cap memecoins, including CREATE, PIPPIN, SANDY, MOLE, and FORGE. A screenshot provided by Lookonchain shows that he financed part of these purchases by selling Fartcoin in two batches of 25,000 units for $31,446.35 and $29,681.37, respectively. Additional funding appears to have come from selling Wrapped SOL (WSOL) in multiple transactions, including 100 units for $21,611, 50 units for $10,805.50, and 153 units for $33,069.42. The distribution of these WSOL sales suggests a methodical approach to securing liquidity before deploying funds into CREATE, PIPPIN, SANDY, MOLE, and FORGE. In total, he allocated $202,255 to acquire stakes in the memecoins. He spent $61,127 on CREATE, $21,611 on PIPPIN, $21,611 on SANDY, $65,486 on MOLE, and $32,420 on FORGE. At press time, GOAT traded at $0.52. Featured image from iStock, chart from TradingView.com

Every year-end, some of the top crypto analysts and crypto firms reflect on the industry’s performance, and look forward to the next year. Traditionally, the top digital assets, like Dogecoin, are subject to market analysis and price predictions. Related Reading: Bitcoin Dominates 2024, Outperforms Gold And Major Indices – Details Galaxy Digital, a leading blockchain company, has joined the conversations and offers its price prediction for Dogecoin, the market’s leading meme coin. According to the Galaxy Digital team, Dogecoin will finally breach $1 this year and top a $100 billion market cap. In its Crypto Predictions Report, the team expects that Dogecoin’s potential performance and market cap may be affected by the new Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.) operations, which they expect to call for cuts, impacting Dogecoin’s market capitalization. Dogecoin On Track To Hit $1 Soon? As part of this year’s wrap-up, Galaxy Digital has published its predictions for top digital assets and the industry in general. In a report published on its official website on December 31st, the company offers its team’s take on Bitcoin, Ethereum, stablecoins, and meme coins like Dogecoin. According to an opinion by Alex Thorn of the Galaxy Digital team, they see the world’s top meme coin finally hitting the $1 mark and its market cap finally reaching $100 billion. The target of $100 billion as a market cap is surprising since no other meme coins have achieved this feat. In 2021, Dogecoin surged in price and, for a moment, hit $98.7 billion, but its price immediately retreated. What To Expect From Dogecoin, According To Galaxy Digital If Dogecoin’s market cap finally reaches the $100 billion valuation, the token’s price will have hit $0.678, still below its all-time high of $0.739. If Dogecoin’s price surges to $0.678 to finally hit the $100 billion mark, it means that the price will have jumped by 87%. However, the Galaxy Digital team believes that $0.678 isn’t the price peak for Dogecoin this year. According to their estimates, Dogecoin will finally surpass its current all-time high and top $1. If this scenario happens, Dogecoin’s market cap will be $147.47 billion, an increase of 176% from its current valuation. Related Reading: Dogecoin Recovery In Sight: Strong Support Hints At Bullish 2025 Galaxy Digital Team Also Offers Predictions For BTC, ETH In the same report, the Galaxy Digital team also offered their insights and price predictions for other digital assets. According to Thorn, Bitcoin will trade past $150k during the year’s first half and may test $185k by the last quarter. Thorn adds that the top digital asset will get support from increasing institutional adoption. The team expects Ethereum to trade over $5,500, adding that the second-best blockchain will benefit from favorable regulatory conditions for staking and DeFi. Ethereum will also benefit from the growing number of companies that will test their Layer 2 networks using Ethereum’s technology. Featured image by Anna Shvets from Pexels, chart from TradingView

As the new year begins, the crypto market is experiencing a notable resurgence, with many altcoins outpacing Bitcoin (BTC) in performance. Bitcoin recently saw an increase of up to 2.9%, reaching $97,526, while alternative cryptos such as Ethereum (ETH), XRP, and Dogecoin (DOGE) surged by over 4%.  Notably, Solana (SOL) climbed an impressive 8.2%, signaling a renewed interest in digital assets beyond the leading cryptocurrency. Altcoins And Crypto Stocks Gain Momentum In New Year Chris Newhouse, director of research at Cumberland Labs, noted that investors are diversifying their portfolios as they enter 2025. “Market participants have started to allocate capital to representations of more speculative narratives,” he stated, highlighting a shift towards altcoins that may offer higher returns.  This trend aligns with historical data showing that digital assets often perform well in the first quarter, adding to the optimism surrounding the current market dynamics. Related Reading: XRP Surpasses USDT: Becomes 3rd Largest Crypto With $139 Billion Market Cap The positive momentum is further supported by the notion of capital rotation into thematic sectors, which Newhouse describes as a “strong tailwind for altcoins.”  Investors appear to be capitalizing on seasonal strength, coupled with improving macroeconomic conditions and an interest in narratives that extend beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. This renewed enthusiasm isn’t limited to cryptocurrencies alone; crypto-dependent stocks are also benefiting from the market’s upswing.  On the first trading day of 2025, Coinbase shares climbed as much as 5.6%, while MicroStrategy and MARA Holdings saw increases of 7.3% and over 8%, respectively, indicating a growing confidence among investors in the broader cryptocurrency sector. Optimism Grows For 2025’s Bull Market Amid Regulatory Changes Despite the gains, it’s important to note that cryptocurrency prices remain below the highs experienced in December. Some market analysts suggest this dip may be fueling current buying activity.  Strahinja Savic, head of data and analytics at FRNT Financial Inc., remarked, “Rallies among alts like the one we are seeing today are investors following the popular crypto mantra of ‘buy the dip’ in anticipation of the bull market’s continuation.”  For many crypto investors, the fundamental case for a budding bull market remains robust, despite the inherent volatility. Looking ahead, many investors are optimistic about a more favorable regulatory environment for cryptocurrencies in 2025, particularly with the anticipated presidency of Donald Trump.  Trump’s election victory and the nomination of crypto-friendly individuals to his administration have already resulted in substantial inflows into altcoins that had previously faced scrutiny from the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Related Reading: Coinbase Premium Index Reaches Two-Year Low At -0.23%: Impact On Bitcoin Price Unveiled The market’s leading altcoin, ETH, is trading at $3,660, which, despite the rally, is still nearly 25% below its record high of $4,878 set during the 2021 bull run.  Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

Steno Research predicts a fantastic year for cryptocurrencies in 2025, with Bitcoin seen to reach $150,000 and Ethereum potentially hitting an $8,000 value. Related Reading: Shiba Inu 260% Rally: Analyst Sees Classic Bullish Patterns Emerging This projection isn’t just speculative; Steno’s analysis cites a number of positive economic variables, rising institutional interest, and the growing presence of cryptocurrency ETFs. However, the question remains: can these digital assets genuinely reach such amazing milestones? The Crypto ETF Boom: A Game Changer? Bitcoin and Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are likely to play a significant role. Bitcoin, in particular, is expected to profit from nearly $50 billion in net inflows as institutional investors become more interested in these products. Ethereum is still a big player, but it’s expected to get $28 billion, thanks to similar trends in usage. These funds could bring a lot of cash into the cryptocurrency market, which would cause prices to rise even more. Similar to 2024, we expect the U.S. crypto ETFs to take center stage once again in 2025, partly due to the direct buying pressure they generate and partly because they serve as a proxy for non-native crypto retail and institutional interest in the asset class. We project that… pic.twitter.com/T8cs5gEbJy — Mads Eberhardt (@MadsEberhardt) December 30, 2024 Regulations And Macroeconomics: The Perfect Storm Supportive rules are another important factor in Steno Research’s hopeful prognosis. As governments throughout the world shift their sentiment on digital assets, cryptocurrencies’ prospects improve. Bitcoin’s solid price performance in particular appears to be linked to the rising acceptance of cryptocurrency as a viable asset class. This, paired with good macroeconomic conditions, prepares Bitcoin and Ethereum for tremendous growth over the next coming months. Bitcoin And Long-Term Strategy The research believes 2025 macroeconomic conditions will support the growth of cryptocurrencies. The popularity of cryptocurrencies as an inflation hedge and store of wealth boosts investor confidence. This implies that mainstream investors are more likely to use Bitcoin for long-term portfolio diversification, while Ethereum’s potential for decentralized finance and smart contracts makes it an attractive alternative. Some analysts believe Bitcoin’s price will rise as consumer and institutional demand grows. Ethereum’s adoption in DeFi and NFT marketplaces suggests a price hike. Related Reading: Will Bitcoin Enter Its Most Massive Bull Cycle? This Engineer Thinks So Is 2025 The Year Of Cryptocurrency? The 2025 forecast from Steno Research is optimistic, but it is not risk-free. These projections could be affected by changes in regulations, market volatility, and general economic conditions. However, there is no doubt that Bitcoin and Ethereum have a great chance of rising to new heights, especially if present trends continue. According to market forecasts, cryptocurrency markets will soon shift toward more widespread mainstream use, with new financial products and ETFs making it easier for institutional investors to get involved. As we begin the new year, the question remains: are we actually on the verge of the best year ever for cryptocurrency, or is this just another speculative bubble about to burst? Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

There is growing excitement from cryptocurrency investors as Solana finally was able to get out of a slump, gathering more momentum for a robust comeback in the new year. SOL clawed its way back above the critical level of $202, signaling the resurgence of one of the crypto market’s most popular digital assets. Related Reading: Wealth Mentor Predicts XRP Path To $100 – Should You Invest Now? SOL Price Rebounds Analysts are seeing that Solana is off to a good start as the virtual coin opened the new year with a price uptick, raising market optimism over the crypto. SOL experienced an 10% surge in its price on January 2, opening 2025 on a positive note. Market observers also noted that Solana continues its dominance over Ethereum on year-to-date performance. At the time of writing, SOL was trading 209.22, up 3.5% in the last 24 hours, and soaring 10% in weekly timeframe. Data shows the price hike happened after a brief consolidation for the altcoin. During the day, the crypto reached a high of $209.35, nearing the $210 mark, while recording a low of $188, which some analysts said was a reflection of the regaining investors’ confidence and optimism on the digital asset. What’s Next For Solana? Market observers explained that Solana hitting $208 per coin is a significant achievement for the virtual asset, saying that the price increase allowed the crypto to break the resistance level of $202. This milestone is seen by analysts as a crucial step for the ongoing recovery of the SOL crypto and in propelling it to attain further gains. Related Reading: XRP’s Path To $15: A Look At Historical Price Alignments After the $202 level, many analysts see the next goal for the crypto is clawing way back to $220, a critical level that SOL needs to surpass so it can reclaim its loss glory at $245 per coin. If Solana is triumphant in getting back to the $245 level, analysts believe it “would enable Solana to recover most of its recent losses, reinforcing its bullish outlook and boosting investor sentiment.” Excitement About SOL ETF The regained investors’ confidence in Solana is being attributed by some analysts to the growing excitement of a possible Solana exchange-traded fund. Many crypto investors are anticipating that the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) will approve the Solana exchange-traded fund this year, a milestone that some traders believe would drive the price of the coin up. Some traders are speculating that the SEC would give the green light to Solana exchange-traded fund as early as July 31, 2025, a rumor which is gaining traction. Even the Polymarket platform said that there is a 65% probability that the ETF would get the approval, up from the previous 50% approval likelihood prediction. Featured image from Chainalysis, chart from TradingView

Popular Solana-based Launchpad Pump.fun started 2025 with a record-breaking $15 million daily revenue amid the ongoing frenzy surrounding memecoins. The sector continues to be the best-performing narrative of the cycle, driving millions into the hands of investors. Related Reading: Altcoins To Explode In Early 2025: Analyst Says “Grand Finale” Is Around The Corner Pump.Fun Sees Record-Breaking Daily Revenue Memecoins have been this cycle’s largest narrative, with Solana-based tokens stealing the spotlight throughout 2024. This trend is seemingly set to continue this year after Solana’s launchpad Pump.fun saw a record-breaking performance on January 1st, 2025. Last year, Pump.fun cemented itself as the most popular token launcher for simplifying the creation of memecoins and facilitating token deployment. During Q3 2024, the launchpad surpassed Ethereum and most Solana protocols, doubling the fees and revenue of these projects. The remarkable success of Pump.fun saw the creation of several competitors, including the Tron-based SunPump and multi-chain platform GraFun. Despite being banned in the UK in December, the launchpad’s performance remained steady, recording a daily revenue between $2 million and $3 million throughout the month. As of this writing, the platform has deployed 5.39 million tokens since its launch and generated over 2.02 million SOL in revenue, worth $418.7 million at current prices. Moreover, the Solana launchpad started 2025 with a new record-breaking day, surpassing its previous milestone. According to Dune Analytics data, Pump.fun registered 72,506 SOL, around $15 million, in daily revenue this Wednesday. This performance represents a nearly 30% increase from the 55,000 SOL recorded in late November. Additionally, the launchpad continued to dominate Solana decentralized exchange (DEX) transactions last month. Dune data shows that Pump.fun-related transactions accounted for 52.8% of all SOL DEX transactions in December. Memecoin Mania Continues Despite Criticism The platform’s success has also brought heavy criticism. At the end of 2024, Pump.fun received criticism after several users broadcasted harmful and violent content using its Livestream feature. In late November, users created numerous memecoins using controversial prompts to become viral and pump their tokens. The trend started after a 12-year-old livestreamed himself rugging a memecoin. Amid the livestream chaos, the Solana launchpad registered its largest revenue day, recording 55,832 SOL, worth around $11 million, in a single day. However, the incident resulted in backlash from the crypto community and the temporary shutdown of the feature. Moreover, on-chain data analysis firm Lookonchain reported that Pump.fun deposited over 355,608 SOL to Kraken during the last day. This brings the total tokens sent to the exchange to 1,564,064 SOL and the amount sold to 264,373 SOL for 41.64 million USDC. The platform’s transfers and sell-offs have also received significant backlash, with community members driving comparisons between the Solana-based launchpad and the Ethereum Foundation. Related Reading: Bitcoin Retests $95,000 Amid 4.2% Surge, Is A New Year Rebound Coming? Nonetheless, the memecoin narrative continues to dominate the crypto market, with the “Solana Meme” category on CoinGecko recording a 12.5% increase to a market capitalization of $20.9 billion in the last 24 hours, suggesting that the trend is likely to extend. Newer players like ai16z (AI16Z) and Fartcoin (FARTCOIN) saw an 8.9% and 43.7% daily surge to hit new all-time highs (ATHs) on January 2nd. Ultimately, these relatively new tokens have stolen the sector’s spotlight, making it to the top 10 memecoin list in record time. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com

Haseeb Qureshi, managing partner at Dragonfly Capital, outlined his crypto predictions 2025 via X, forecasting transformative trends that could significantly alter the crypto landscape. Here are the detailed insights from each of the key areas Qureshi covered: Crypto Predictions 2025 By Haseeb Qureshi #1 A Blurring Line Between L1s/L2s: In his crypto predictions 2025, Qureshi forecasts the diminishing distinctions between Layer 1 and Layer 2 networks, forecasting a major consolidation within the blockchain industry. “The era of differentiating L1s from L2s based on technical capabilities is over. It’s now about carving out niches and enhancing user stickiness,” he declares. Related Reading: Crypto Trader Capitalizes On Elon Musk’s X Name Change For 17,000% Return This shift implies a future where strategic market positioning and user experience outweigh pure technological innovation. “EVM will not only retain its dominance but expand, driven by platforms like Base, Monad, and Berachain,” he further asserts. Qureshi credits this growth to the vast repositories of Solidity training data, which will empower language models to write advanced application code in 2025, marking a significant transition towards AI-driven development within blockchain ecosystems. #2 Better Token Launches: Qureshi’s crypto predictions 2025 also foresee a revolution in token distribution mechanisms. He sees the industry moving away from large-scale airdrops, which often prioritize quantity over quality of engagement. “We’ll see a more strategic approach, where token distribution is aligned with long-term user engagement and project viability,” he notes. For projects with clear metrics and defined goals, tokens will be used as tools to enhance user retention and incentivize meaningful interactions. Meanwhile, projects lacking concrete metrics will likely pivot towards structured crowdsales to build and maintain a dedicated user base. Furthermore, he predicts that “memecoins will continue to lose market share to AI agent coins. I consider this a migration from financial nihilism to financial over-optimism. (Yep I’m coining that.).” #3 Accelerated Stablecoin Adoption: Stablecoins are set to become a cornerstone of business transactions for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) seeking reliable and instant financial settlements. “We’re on the brink of seeing SMBs broadly adopt stablecoins, driven not just by their efficiency but by increasing institutional trust and involvement,” Qureshi noted. He anticipates significant movements from banks, including new stablecoin launches as financial institutions seek to capture part of this burgeoning market. Moreover, he remarks, “With Howard Lutnick as Secretary of Commerce, institutional hesitance will decrease, securing Tether’s top position amidst growing competition.” He adds, “Expect Ethena to gobble up even more capital, especially as treasury yields continue to decline over the coming year. When the opportunity cost of capital declines, it makes basis trade yields even more attractive.” #4 A Cautious Regulatory Advance: The regulatory outlook within Qureshi’s crypto predictions 2025 suggests a mixed bag of advancements and setbacks. According to him, 2025 will witness evolving regulations, with specific legislation around stablecoins likely to pass in the US. Related Reading: Top Crypto Assets For Q1 2025: Grayscale Reveals The Best Altcoins However, comprehensive market reforms such as the Financial Innovation Technology of the 21st Century Act (FIT21) might face delays. “While we see the regulatory framework for stablecoins strengthening, broader financial technology reforms will lag, creating a piecemeal regulatory environment,” he predicts. Additionally, Qureshi foresees that Fortune 100 companies will become more willing to offer crypto to consumers under the Trump administration. “Trump’s inauguration will create a perceived regulatory jubilee until clear rules and enforcement priorities are set. During this window, expect to see aggressive expansion of crypto integration into Web2 platforms,” he remarks. #5 AI Agents Will Evolve Beyond The Hype: A significant portion of Qureshi’s crypto predictions 2025 involves the role of AI agents in reshaping the crypto landscape. He criticizes the current state of AI agents, suggesting, “Today’s AI agents are essentially sophisticated chatbots linked to cryptocurrencies. They lack true agency and are primarily designed for interactions rather than autonomous operation.” Despite these limitations, he believes the role of AI in crypto will grow significantly, moving from novelty to necessity. “AI’s capability to automate and enhance blockchain operations will lead to a software development renaissance, drastically lowering the barriers to entry for blockchain applications,” he forecasts. #6 Crypto x AI: Looking beyond 2025, Qureshi envisions a deeper integration between crypto and AI technologies. “As we refine AI capabilities and regulatory frameworks, crypto will increasingly facilitate AI operations, leading to autonomous agents conducting transactions and managing their own economies on blockchain networks,” he stated. This interplay is expected to revolutionize user experiences and operational efficiencies, paving the way for a new era of decentralized and autonomous digital ecosystems. At press time, the total crypto market cap stood at $3.31 trillion. Featured image from YouTube, chart from TradingView.com

Shiba Inu (SHIB) is back in the news courtesy of projections of a 260% price increase, which is making people very excited. There are “textbook bull signals” on the charts, which means SHIB could reach $0.000081 in the next few months, according to an analyst. But what’s making people so hopeful? Related Reading: Will Bitcoin Enter Its Most Massive Bull Cycle? This Engineer Thinks So Whale Activity Sparks Fresh Momentum Recent whale movements are yielding very significant insights into the prospects of SHIB. One such movement involved the withdrawal of 220 billion SHIB tokens, worth $4.63 million, from Binance by a single entity. Such withdrawals have usually been linked to heightened interest among institutional or high-net-worth investors, and it bodes well for the token. $SHIB (Shiba Inu) finishing up the year holding a major breakout and coming off of textbook bull signals on lower timeframes! Holding broken out, the target at $0.000081 goes unchanged and these bull signals can be pointing to a continuation within an over 264% run to reach it! https://t.co/4L9HEciT3a pic.twitter.com/qkmLQURP5u — JAVON⚡️MARKS (@JavonTM1) December 31, 2024 According to IntoTheBlock data, the large transaction and whale activity also supports this trend. As more interest is gathered, SHIB is building up the momentum needed for overcoming critical resistance levels. Breaking Resistance Levels Even though the prediction is for price growth, SHIB needs to break through a key resistance level at $0.000029. Analysts say that breaking above this level is the first thing that needs to happen for the token to reach its lofty goal of $0.000080. In the past, this resistance had stopped SHIB in its tracks, but recent good sentiment might be enough now. Meanwhile, the metrics from Coincheckup have shown an improved trading volume and market sentiment of SHIB. If this continues, the token might find the strength to overcome the current barriers it faces. The Broader Crypto Context The surge for Shiba Inu is happening in the midst of more significant changes in the cryptocurrency space. The recent stabilization of Ethereum and Bitcoin has created an opportunity for altcoins like SHIB to flourish. Furthermore, new players have entered the market as a result of memecoins’ growing appeal as speculative investments. According to other analysts, the optimism may also stem from SHIB’s long-term strategy, which centers on Shibarium, their Layer 2 blockchain. Investors find SHIB’s use case more appealing since Shibarium enables quicker transactions and cheaper costs. Related Reading: Bitcoin As A Strategic Asset? CryptoQuant CEO Questions US’s Next Move Proceed With Caution As the hype around Shiba Inu continues to grow, investors are reminded to stay informed and exercise prudent risk management. Whether SHIB reaches $0.000080 or faces further resistance, the coming months promise to be pivotal for the token’s journey. Featured image from Vector illustration. Pro Vector, Vecteezy, chart from TradingView

Elon Musk, billionaire entrepreneur and CEO of Tesla and SpaceX, has once again rattled the crypto market with a simple name change on his X account. This time, Musk renamed his official profile to “Kekius Maximus” and replaced his avatar with a PEPE frog dressed in antique armor holding a gaming controller. While the eccentric tech magnate has not offered an explanation, the sudden shift has fueled intense speculation. One of the biggest beneficiaries of this development is a relatively unknown memecoin, also called Kekius Maximus (KM). Notably, mere hours before Musk’s rebranding, an anonymous trader made a noteworthy purchase that led to a massive windfall. On-chain analysis firm Lookonchain (@lookonchain) reported via X: “What a lucky trader—or perhaps an insider! 9 hours ago, he spent $4,360 to buy 18.15M KM. Just one hour ago, Elon Musk changed his profile name to Kekius Maximus, sending the price of KM soaring by ~17,000%. The 18.15M KM he bought is now worth $638K!” Related Reading: Top Crypto Assets For Q1 2025: Grayscale Reveals The Best Altcoins Whether the timing was pure coincidence or something more coordinated remains an open question. As of press time, there is no indication that Musk has any direct affiliation with the token. Yet the trader’s sensational profit underscores the often-unpredictable relationship between Musk’s online antics and sudden market movements. As of press time, Kekius Maximus (KM) is trading at $0.03087, representing a staggering 12,533% increase in the past 24 hours. Its market capitalization has shot up to $30.87 million, while daily trading volume has surged to approximately $103.51 million. However, contrary to claims from some crypto media outlets, Musk’s name change has no connection to the memecoin itself, and there is no affiliation. Once again, it’s a fortunate surprise for certain crypto traders. Related Reading: Expert Reveals Top 15 Crypto Predictions For 2025 You Need To Know Remarkably, this is not the first time Musk has generated a frenzy with his name or profile changes. In the past, he has adopted monikers like Mr Tweet, Naughty Moniker, and Naughtius Maximus. In April 2023, he famously replaced the Twitter bird logo with the Dogecoin Shiba Inu dog, causing a temporary DOGE price spike. Regarding his latest adoption of the term “Kekius Maximus,” various interpretations abound within online communities. “Kek” traces its origins to World of Warcraft’s auto-translation of “LOL,” evolving into a broader internet meme. “Pepe the Frog” is similarly intertwined with “Kek,” having been adopted by assorted online subcultures over the years. The notion of “Kekistan”—a fictional internet “nation” that plays on cultural satire as a satirical response to identity politics, while the flag of Kekistan mimics a German war flag. Recently, Musk has made significant waves in German politics by expressing support for the Alternative for Germany (AFD). The mainstream media and other political parties have strongly criticized Musk’s actions, while he himself has reaffirmed his stance by agreeing to an interview with AFD leader Alice Weidel. However, whether there’s a broader context to these actions remains purely speculative. Featured image from X, chart from TradingView.com

With the new year just one day away, crypto analyst Alex Wacy (@wacy_time1) shared an overview of what he calls the best altcoins heading into 2025. The analyst, who has amassed an audience of over 190,000 followers on X, highlighted several projects that he believes have the potential to dominate in the potential coming altseason. Best Altcoins In 2025 He begins with Render (RNDR), describing it as a decentralized GPU rendering platform for AI, metaverse, and creative content. He maintained that “Render is poised to become a key player in the virtual future,” pointing to its $3.66 billion market capitalization as evidence of investor confidence. Following closely is Virtual, an AI-driven avatar initiative that is pegged at $3.41 billion in market cap, with Wacy touting Virtual as “the growth leader in 2024 in the virtual avatar sector” and predicting increasing adoption for metaverse, gaming, and social media applications. Wacy also turns his attention to SEKOIA, mentioning its focus on identifying and mentoring emerging AI talent. Although smaller in scale at a $94 million market cap, this autonomous AI investment agent uses advanced pattern recognition and quantifiable predictions to gain a foothold in a competitive space. Related Reading: Altcoins To Explode In Early 2025: Analyst Says “Grand Finale” Is Around The Corner Next in line for the best altcoins in 2025 is Pengu, which he calls “the official coin of Paddy Penguin, a major force  in crypto.” Its substantial community and cultural traction reflect a hefty $2.28 billion market valuation, and its omnipresence in ETF ads combined with over 90 billion visits appear to confirm its cult-like following. The list of best altcoins continues with Clearpool (CPOOL), a Decentralized Capital Markets Ecosystem valued at $341 million that provides insured loans to institutional borrowers in the DeFi arena through a dynamic interest model. The analyst noted that Clearpool’s approach to decentralized lending could offer a unique avenue for strategic investors. He also spotlights Bittensor (Tao), a project intent on decentralizing AI solutions through an open ecosystem, weighed at $3.48 billion, and Hyperliquid (HYPE), a decentralized perpetuals exchange living on its own L1 with a $9.23 market cap. He describes Hype’s vision as “a high-speed, low-cost, transparent solution for perpetual futures,” though he advises caution, remarking that prospective investors should “research to understand its risks and potential.” Io.net, which sits at $397 million, is categorized as a decentralized GPU network that reduces costs for AI developers, while CFG (Centric) aims to bridge DeFi with real-world assets. This $162 million project focuses on stable returns generated from real fiat value rather than solely leveraging volatile crypto. Akash Network (AKT), valued at $746 million, is labeled by Wacy a “supercloud” that transforms cloud computing through a decentralized marketplace, and Ethena (ENA), at $2.69 billion, provides a synthetic dollar protocol on Ethereum, touted as “a crypto-native, bank-free solution for money.” Wacy’s list also featured Helium (HNT) with a $1.13 billion market cap, identified for its decentralized IoT network, and Griffain in the Solana ecosystem, with a $211 million market cap, delivering scalable DeFi solutions for token swaps while upholding transparency. Related Reading: Is Altcoin Season Here Already? VanEck Answers As Bitcoin Price Struggles Below $100,000 The analyst also highlights Grasso (GRASS) in his list of the best altcoins for 2025 and its $683 million market cap, describing its decentralized data collection network for AI training as both functional and user-friendly. VitaDAO (VITA) is in Wacy’s focus because of its community-governed DAO funding longevity research. Its compact $54 million market cap appears poised for growth as members actively engage in decision-making and ownership, signifying a communal approach to biotech research in crypto. Spectral, carrying a $194 million market cap, offers on-chain agents for easier application creation and includes a syntax tool that transforms natural language into Solidity. ETIGEN, or Energy Layer, at $170 million, extends novel concepts of restorative energy on Ethereum, and ONDO, with an impressive $2.83 billion market cap, aims to open up institutional-grade DeFi services and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization. Wacy further singles out AIXTB, at $377M, which monitors crypto-related discussions via a proprietary engine to uncover high-sentiment opportunities, and Ether.fi (ETHFI), priced at $446M, which supports non-custodial ETH staking and DeFi integration. Throughout his breakdown, he underscored the cyclical nature of the crypto market, stating that these best altcoins “could see significant growth in 2025” once capital flow rotates away from Bitcoin and into high-potential altcoin narratives. His overall thesis hinges on what he perceives as a predictable pattern in every major market cycle. “Altcoins typically pumping when BTC Dominance starts a strong downtrend,” the analyst wrote. He cited the example from 2021, when Bitcoin’s dominance fell from around 73% to 40%, triggering a monumental rally for altcoins like SOL, ADA, and DOGE. Pointing out that current BTC dominance is about 55%, which he calls a “significant resistance zone,” he predicts a swift drop to 40% if a breakdown occurs. “As I mentioned before, my bet for the altseason is in the spring of 2025,” he said, while admitting that he also shares the common sentiment of disbelief that surrounds every cycle. “That’s okay, it means the market is doing a good job of ‘smoking people out.’ Patience friends, patience always pays off,” he concluded. At press time, the Bitcoin dominance (BTC.D) stood at 58.02%. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

With the new year approaching, some analysts forecasted a “very bullish” 2025 for Altcoins. The sector is expected to explode soon and kickstart the long-awaited “Altseason” after retesting a key support level. Related Reading: Ethereum Stays Within Symmetrical Pattern – Analyst Sets ETH Target Altcoins Retest Key Support Level Amid the recent market’s performance, many Altcoins have struggled to record significant gains. However, several market watchers forecasted the start of the altcoin will come as soon as January 2025. Fueled by the post-US election pump, the total crypto market capitalization, excluding Bitcoin and Ethereum, broke out on a three-year downtrend in mid-November, surpassing its yearly high of $788 billion. During this month’s rally, the sector surged to $1.1 trillion, its highest market cap since 2021. Since then, Altcoins has struggled over the last two weeks, dropping nearly 26% as Bitcoin lost the $100,000 mark but remains above a key level despite the recent performance. Crypto Jelle pointed out that the sector broke out and retested its “major trendline while destroying all leverage in the process.” The analyst highlighted that funding was “completely reset,” sentiment has been at its lowest, and the chart seems promising, adding he is “Very bullish for 2025.” He also noted that Altcoins’ price action is “very similar” to Bitcoin’s first major pullback of 2021. Per the chart, the flagship crypto had a “strong rally, pullback, lower high, and chopping below the first low” before breaking out to new highs. Based on this performance, Altcoins’ pullback is seemingly over, they “should start pushing back up soon if this keeps playing out the same.” Similarly, Michaël van de Poppe stated, “The correction is almost over, and the time for up only is on the horizon for Altcoins and Bitcoin. Expecting a lot to come.” Altseason To Follow 2021’s Playbook? Titan of Crypto asserted that Altcoins are set to explode soon, suggesting that “the grand finale is around the corner.” Per the analyst’s chart, Altcoins have been in a two-year cup and handle pattern, breaking out of the pattern’s upper line during the recent market highs. According to the pattern, Altcoins, excluding ETH, could see a 200% to a market capitalization of $1.4 trillion, surpassing 2021’s high of $1.13 trillion. The analyst also pointed out that, ahead of its 2021 rally, the sector saw a similar performance. In 2020, Altcoins broke out in November and saw a significant 30% drop in early December, followed by a four-week recovery. Then, they recorded a 143% surge in January 2021, which led to other three-monthly green candles before the first major retrace. Related Reading: Top Crypto Assets For Q1 2025: Grayscale Reveals The Best Altcoins Similarly, they’ve experienced a 26% drop this December, currently being on the third week out of the expected four-week recovery period. To the analyst, “Early January could mark the start of an ‘up only’ season.” Lastly, Titan of Crypto added that, during the last two cycles, Altcoins’ initial rally lasted between 140 and 175 days, suggesting that this cycle’s rally could hit a new high around April or May. If it were to follow the past cycles’ performance, it could see a first pump around Q2 2025 before peaking in Q4. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com

Grayscale Investments has published its quarterly review, unveiling its top 20 crypto assets for Q1 2025. Each quarter, the Grayscale Research team evaluates “hundreds of digital assets” to guide the rebalancing of the FTSE/Grayscale Crypto Sectors family of indexes. In the words of the research note, “Our approach incorporates a range of factors, including network growth/adoption, upcoming catalysts, sustainability of fundamentals, token valuation, token supply inflation, and potential tail risks.” The newest additions to the top 20 list are guided by three main market themes that Grayscale believes will shape the coming months: the US election and potential regulatory implications, rapid developments in decentralized AI, and the expanding Solana ecosystem. Related Reading: 2025 Crypto Forecast: Four-Year Cycle Points To Peak In Q2/Q4, Expert Advises Caution While Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Chainlink, Uniswap, SushiSwap, Aave, Bittensor, Optimism, Lido DAO, Helium, Arweave, Aerodrome and Akash Network remain on the the list, six new altcoins were added compared to the previous quarter. “We are adding the following six assets to our Top 20 list for Q1 2025,” the report states, emphasizing each project’s notable alignment with one or more of the aforementioned themes. Best (New) Crypto Assets For Q1 2025 Hyperliquid (HYPE): A Layer 1 blockchain geared toward on-chain financial applications, Hyperliquid’s flagship product is a decentralized exchange (DEX) for perpetual futures. Built around a fully on-chain order book, HYPE seeks to capture the growing demand for advanced derivatives trading in a decentralized environment. Notably, HYPE has seen a meteoric rise over the past weeks, already claiming rank #19 on the list of the largest cryptocurrencies by market cap. Ethena (ENA): Ethena protocol has introduced a novel stablecoin, USDe, backed by hedged positions in Bitcoin and Ether. As Grayscale explains, “Specifically, the protocol holds long positions in Bitcoin and Ether and short positions in perpetual futures contracts on the same assets.” A staked version of the token leverages the pricing differential between spot and futures markets, potentially offering a unique yield profile for participants. Virtual Protocol (VIRTUAL): Operating on Base, an Ethereum Layer 2 network, Virtual Protocol enables the creation of AI agents designed to function autonomously. “These AI agents are designed to perform tasks autonomously, mimicking human decision-making,” Grayscale notes. The platform further allows for co-ownership of these agents via tokenization, bridging AI capabilities with blockchain infrastructure. Related Reading: Expert Reveals Top 15 Crypto Predictions For 2025 You Need To Know Jupiter (JUP): Jupiter has emerged as a leading DEX aggregator on Solana, recording the highest total value locked (TVL) among all Solana applications. With Solana’s user base broadening and speculation intensifying around memecoins and AI agent tokens, “we believe Jupiter is well positioned to capitalize on this growing market activity,” states the report. Jito (JTO): Jito is a liquid staking protocol on Solana that has demonstrated strong adoption over the past year. Notably, Grayscale highlights the project’s substantial earnings: “Jito has experienced substantial growth in adoption over the past year and offers one of the best financial profiles in all of crypto, generating over $550mn in 2024 fee revenue.” Grass (GRASS): Grass rewards users for sharing unused internet bandwidth via a Chrome extension. “This bandwidth is used to scrape online data, which is then sold to AI companies and developers for training machine learning models,” according to Grayscale. The project monetizes web scraping by redistributing rewards to users who contribute their idle bandwidth. Furthermore, Grayscale notes that it continues to be “excited about themes from previous quarters such as Ethereum scaling solutions, tokenization, and decentralized physical infrastructure (DePIN).” Examples of these established themes include Optimism, Chainlink, and Helium, which remain in the Top 20 due to their alignment with scaling, tokenization, and DePIN use cases, respectively. Notably, six assets—NEAR, Stacks, Maker CELO, UMA, and TON—have been rotated out of the Top 20 list this quarter. “Grayscale Research continues to see value in each of these projects, and they remain important elements of the crypto ecosystem. However, we believe the revised Top 20 list may offer more compelling risk-adjusted returns for the coming quarter,” Grayscale notes. At press time, HYPE traded at $29.45. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

As the market approaches the end of 2024, the crypto landscape is teeming with speculation and anticipation. A recent report from the data aggregator CoinGecko has provided a comprehensive analysis of what investors can expect in 2025.  With the market experiencing a significant correction, many industry participants are left questioning their next steps. However, CoinGecko’s insights suggest a promising trajectory ahead. Broader Crypto Market Signs Point To Significant Growth  One of the standout predictions centers around Bitcoin (BTC), the flagship cryptocurrency. The report indicates that Bitcoin is positioned favorably within a logarithmic analysis of its monthly chart, revealing a consistent upward movement within an ascending channel.  Related Reading: Ethereum On The Cusp Of Major Breakout In Q1 2025, Altcoins Expected To Follow Suit Currently, Bitcoin is nearing a pivotal axis point within this channel, echoing patterns observed during previous bullish cycles. Optimistically, the analysis forecasts that Bitcoin could soar to $250,000, reflecting a staggering 154% increase.  This projection aligns closely with historical trends observed following Bitcoin’s Halving events, where supply constraints often lead to price surges. Such a milestone would not only reinforce Bitcoin’s dominance in the crypto market but also attract a wave of new investors. The broader cryptocurrency market is also showcasing signs of significant growth. The total market capitalization is currently navigating a rising wedge pattern, which historically has served as a precursor to substantial bullish rallies.  Altcoin Season On The Horizon? In a more granular look at the market, the report highlights the total market capitalization of cryptocurrencies outside the top 10.  This segment has reportedly formed a classic “cup and handle” pattern on its monthly chart. Currently, it is testing a crucial resistance level of $370 billion.  A breakout above this threshold could trigger a remarkable 317% rally, potentially pushing the total cap to $1.6 trillion. Such a move would signify the onset of what many are calling a “robust altcoin season,” where lesser-known cryptocurrencies could see substantial gains. Several key milestones from 2024 are expected to drive this anticipated growth. Bitcoin’s Halving event, which historically leads to supply constraints, is poised to play a critical role.  Additionally, anticipated approvals for exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for coins such as XRP, Litecoin or Solana could further legitimize Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies in the eyes of mainstream investors, according to the report. Related Reading: Historical Data Shows What To Expect From Ethereum Price In Q1 2025 – It’s Very Bullish CoinGecko further points to political factors, such as pro-digital asset policies from influential figures like President-elect Donald Trump, may also create a conducive environment for growth. As cryptocurrencies begin to integrate more deeply into economic frameworks, their adoption is likely to rise. At the time of writing, the total crypto market capitalization stands at $3.22 trillion. Bitcoin, trading at $94,456, recorded losses of 1.8% and 3% on the 24 and seven day time frames, respectively.  Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

FLOKI is poised to become the second memecoin to launch a regulated Exchange-Traded Product after Dogecoin, following a decisive Floki DAO vote that approved allocating tokens for ETP liquidity. The proposal won “overwhelming” support, with 332.7 billion token (99.9%) voting in favor, 328.9 million token abstaining, and none opposing—a result the team described as the first time a DAO proposal passed without any vote against it. “The proposal, which was the first time ever in which a Floki DAO proposal has been passed without a single opposing vote, will result in a portion of 16,310,285,772.6 FLOKI tokens currently residing in a ‘community buyback wallet’ being used to provision liquidity for the Floki ETP while the rest is burned,” the official announcement from the team via X emphasized. FLOKI Aims To Mirror Dogecoin Community members see this as a landmark event, as the Floki ETP is scheduled to debut in early Q1 2025 in collaboration with what the team calls “a respected Asset Manager and an ETP Issuer.” According to Floki representatives, it will be listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange, recognized as one of the largest stock exchanges in Europe, thus elevating FLOKI’s profile in traditional financial markets. Related Reading: FLOKI Faces Downside Risks: $0.000110 Support Level Under Scrutiny Currently, Dogecoin remains the only other memecoin with a live ETP, although that product is traded on Sweden’s Spotlight Stock Market; the team notes that listing on Switzerland’s exchange has the potential to draw broader attention from both institutional and retail investors seeking regulated access to crypto assets. “When it goes live, the Floki ETP will allow institutional investors, regulated entities and retail investors to get exposure to FLOKI in a regulated way. This is a big move that is almost unprecedented in this space, because Dogecoin is currently the only memecoin in the WORLD, with a live ETP –and Floki could become the next memecoin with an ETP besides Dogecoin,” the DAO proposal stated. While many details remain under wraps due to nondisclosure agreements, the team further revealed that any tokens allocated for liquidity will remain the property of Floki itself, meaning they can be withdrawn “if there is enough third-party liquidity in the ETP” later on. Related Reading: Floki Inu Warning: Analyst Says ‘Prepare For The Crash’ – Details This news comes on the heels of a recent meeting of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s Global Markets Advisory Committee, where the memecoin was used as a “case study of a utility token.” Observers have noted that any regulatory attention—particularly of this kind—can boost a token’s credibility in a market that remains sensitive to compliance signals. The DAO-centric approach continues to be a cornerstone of the token’s philosophy, with frequent community votes and proposals shaping the project’s direction. Members have consistently backed initiatives focused on increasing recognition of the memcoin, which the team says aims “to be the world’s most known and most used cryptocurrency.” Reaction from the wider crypto community has also been enthusiastic. Crypto analyst Shelby, who has a substantial following, remarked via X: “Huge milestone – FLOKI about to make history as 2nd memecoin ETP! Clear sign of institutional adoption while keeping decentralized roots. Not DOGE, not SHIB, but FLOKI leading the charge in bridging TradFi and DeFi.” At press time, FLOKI was trading at $0.0001798. Thus, the memecoin has reclaimed the 200-day EMA, a crucial line often referred to as a “bull line.” However, the memecoin is still trading below the major resistance area between $0.000205 and $0.000215 (shown in red on the chart). Reclaiming this zone could open the gates for a new run toward the yearly high of $0.000349 from June. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

The recent rejection at the $100,000 has prompted a wave of warnings from leading financial analysts, who caution that Bitcoin could be poised for a significant pullback toward the $70,000 region or, in some cases, even $60,000. Ali Martinez (@ali_charts), a crypto analyst, compiled the viewpoints of several market veterans on X , offering a multi-perspective take on the likelihood of an impending correction. Bitcoin Price Crash Incoming? One of the voices in this discussion is Tone Vays, a well-known trader who has expressed grave concerns about Bitcoin’s trajectory. Vays conveyed that Bitcoin trading below $95,000 is “very, very bad” as it heightens the likelihood of a correction to around $73,000. In a shared video, Vays elaborated, “We’re now opening the month day trading below $95,000, […] getting too close to the $92,000 range literally opens like Pandora’s box into a massive crash down to $73,000. Now, I’m not saying it’s going to crash $73,000. I’m saying the possibility has significantly increased that we can easily go to $73,000. You are sitting at the last line of support.” Related Reading: Bitcoin Reserve Idea Sparks Cautious Response From Japan PM: Report Peter Brandt, another prominent analyst, added to the growing concern by discussing the formation of a “broadening triangle” in Bitcoin’s price chart. According to Brandt, this pattern could potentially project a retracement toward the $70,000 zone. Although Brandt was careful to clarify that his statements are not definitive predictions, he emphasized the increased possibility of such a movement. “Hey trolls — this is not a prediction. Just always pointing out possibilities, not probabilities, not ‘certainties’. No screen shot is necessary, BTC right angled broadening triangle could project back into the $70,000s and a test of the parabolic modality,” Brandt stated. Contrasting with these bearish viewpoints, Fundstrat maintains a more optimistic long-term perspective, predicting that Bitcoin could reach $250,000 by 2025. However, Fundstrat’s Global Head of Technical Strategy, Mark Newton, acknowledges the potential for short-term volatility, suggesting that Bitcoin might experience a downswing to $60,000 before embarking on its ascent. In a video shared by Martinez, Fundstrat CEO Tom Lee elaborated on this outlook: “Bitcoin, one year from now, I think is something around $250,000. […] it is hyper volatile. People don’t like the volatility. Yeah, Mark Newton, our technician, thinks that the cycle of Bitcoin turns a little bit down early next year, so maybe Bitcoin gets to the $60,000s.” Related Reading: Bitcoin Sentiment Still Close To Extreme Greed: More Cooldown Needed For Bottom? Adding to the chorus of caution, Benjamin Cowen, CEO and Founder of Into The Cryptoverse, posits that Bitcoin’s price action could mirror that of the Nasdaq 100 (QQQ). According to Cowen, this alignment could precipitate a “flash crash” to $60,000, potentially coinciding with Donald Trump’s inauguration day. From an on-chain analysis standpoint, Martinez confirms the bearish possibilities. He notes that if Bitcoin falls below $93,806, the path to $70,085 becomes increasingly plausible, describing the area below as “open air all the way down to $70,085.” Martinez identifies the critical support zone between $97,041 and $93,806, emphasizing that failure to maintain these levels could trigger a sharp decline. He observes that market dynamics indicate some investors are preparing for such a downturn, evidenced by the transfer of over 33,000 BTC (valued at more than $3.23 billion) to exchanges in the past week. Additionally, profit-taking appears to be intensifying, with more than $7.17 billion in Bitcoin profits realized on December 23 alone. The proportion of Binance traders with open long positions on BTC has also decreased from 66.73% to 53.60%, suggesting a shift in market sentiment towards a more bearish stance. Ultimately, Martinez underscores the importance of Bitcoin reclaiming the $97,300 support zone to invalidate the bearish forecasts. “Bitcoin recently broke below one of its most significant support zones at $97,300. So, for the bearish outlook to be invalidated, BTC must reclaim this critical area of support and, more importantly, sustain a daily close above $100,000,” he states. Should Bitcoin manage to sustain a daily close above $100,000, Martinez posits the potential for a significant upswing, possibly reaching $168,500 based on the Mayer Multiple. However, the failure to do so leaves the door open for the predicted corrections to materialize. At press time, BTC traded at $96,905. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

Crypto and animal welfare have never been more interconnected, using blockchain to fund and promote animal rights initiatives around the globe. At Thailand’s Khao Kheow Open Zoo, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin made headlines when he adopted Moo Deng, a juvenile pygmy hippopotamus. A $10 million Thai Baht ($290,000) donation to the zoo’s conservation efforts is part of this heartwarming gesture. Related Reading: Can Dogecoin Hit $4? Expert Sets Prediction For Breakout Timing News of the adoption raised MOODENG token values over 70%, suggesting growing interest in meme coins. Following the news, trading volume surged by 380%, implying that fresh investors jumped in to join the thrill around this special digital asset. Source: CoinMarketCap MOODENG Crypto Price Shoots Up The price of MOODENG rapidly increased from approximately $0.0001228 to $0.0002417 within a matter of hours, illustrating the rapidity with which market sentiment can fluctuate in response to positive news. Currently, the token is trading at approximately $0.0001958, which is a significant increase from its previous levels. Beyond just providing financial assistance, Buterin has committed to adopting Moo Deng and her family for a two-year period as part of the zoo’s Wildlife Sponsorship Program. This project not only demonstrates his dedication to animal welfare but also positions him as a well-known crypto industry figure who supports humanitarian programs. Thank you Vitalik Buterin @VitalikButerin for joining the Wildlife Sponsorship Program and adopting Moo Deng with a generous gift of 10,000,000 THB for her family! We look forward to working with you over the next 2 years for the benefit of the Khao Kheow Open Zoo community & all… pic.twitter.com/Ykrr53Y2tZ — สวนสัตว์เปิดเขาเขียว Khao Kheow Open Zoo (@KhaokheowZoo) December 26, 2024 Contribution To Charity Buterin’s philanthropic efforts are well-documented. He has donated large sums of money to a number of causes in the past, including funding efforts and contributions to the fight against COVID-19 within the Ethereum network. His latest donation to Moo Deng is one of the best examples through which cryptocurrency can be leveraged for social good. Buterin stated his happiness about becoming the adoptive father of Moo Deng and underscored the importance of conservation efforts. The donation will be disbursed in two installments: an immediate payment of 5 million THB, with the balance to be paid within one year. This systematic method guarantees that the zoo can efficiently organize its conservation initiatives while simultaneously improving Moo Deng’s environment. Related Reading: Dogecoin (DOGE) Hints at Revival: Can It Defy The Odds? The Road Ahead For Meme Coins The rise of MOODENG highlights a fascinating trend in the cryptosphere: meme coins are becoming platforms for philanthropic activities and community involvement as well as speculative assets. Buterin’s involvement has cultivated a perception of genuine community involvement and social responsibility, despite the fact that many view these tokens with skepticism due to their volatility. The increased awareness of MOODENG’s association with animal welfare and Buterin’s philanthropic background may serve as a catalyst for other cryptocurrencies to emulate them. Featured image from San Diego Zoo, chart from TradingView

The newly launched PENGU token has stolen the spotlight after becoming the largest Solana-based memecoin by market capitalization. The token’s rally has gathered massive interest from large-scale investors, who have heavily invested in the token over the last few days. Related Reading: ONDO Faces 30% Correction Risk If It Loses $1.46 Support – Top Analyst New Solana Token Steals The Spotlight On December 17, the Pudgy Penguins Non-Fungible Token (NFT) project launched its official token, PENGU, on the Solana Blockchain. The token has moved through the ranks, flipping other Solana-based tokens and gathering massive attention in nine days. Pudgy Penguins, one of the largest NFT collections, consists of 8,888 unique cartoons of cute penguins and has a market capitalization of 205,757 ETH. In anticipation of the token launch, the project surged as the second-largest NFT collection, only falling behind CryptoPunks. Since its launch three years ago, the project has seen its community significantly grow and “cemented itself in the hearts and minds of everyday people and culture,” according to the project’s team. Additionally, it is expected to contribute to the project’s governance despite not having a specific use case announced yet. As such, the newly launched cryptocurrency aims to “expand its community and further widen the reach” of the project by allowing old and new users “to align” themselves with the penguins. According to CoinGecko data, the Solana-based memecoin debuted with a 500% surge to a market capitalization of $3.5 billion but registered massive volatility in the following days. Just hours after launching, PENGU’s price retraced over 50% before descending to a $1.4 billion market cap on December 20. The token hovered between the $0.025-$0.037 range over a few days, stabilizing around the range’s upper zone on Christmas Eve. Whales Fill Their Bags As PENGU Flips BONK Amid the market’s momentary Christmas Day gains, the token broke above this range and climbed to the $0.042 mark on Thursday morning, hitting a $2.6 billion market cap. During this 18% rally, the token flipped dogwifhat (WIF) and BONK to become the largest Solana memecoin by market cap, currently holding its position as the sector’s leader. PENGU became the fourth largest memecoin by this metric, just behind Dogecoin, Shiba Inu, and PEPE. Additionally, in the last 24 hours, the token has seen a 25% increase in market activity, with a daily trading volume of $1.92 billion. According to on-chain data analysis firm Lookonchain, Crypto whales have also noticed PENGU’s rally, with several large-scale investors filling their bags over the past week. Related Reading: Analyst Forecast ‘Highly Bullish’ 2025 For Ethereum: Is The Bleeding Over? On December 24, a whale that had received an airdrop of 116.7 million PENGU, worth $3.52 million, increased its holding with a $1 million purchase. According to the post, the wallet spent 5,250 SOL to buy an additional 34.42 million PENGU, holding a total of 151.12 million PENGU, valued at $5.08 million. Similarly, another whale exchanged 500,000 ai16z, another trending Solana-based memecoin, today for PENGU. In the past eight days, this investor has spent $2.47 million to buy 79.9 million PENGU, having unrealized profits of around $835,000. As of this writing, PENGU is trading at $0.038, a 4.8% increase in the daily timeframe. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com

Ondo Finance has faced significant challenges in recent weeks, with its price dropping over 30% from its all-time high of $2.14. Despite the recent downturn, many analysts remain optimistic about ONDO’s potential for recovery, citing its strong performance earlier this cycle as evidence of its resilience. As one of the top-performing altcoins, ONDO has consistently attracted investor attention, leading to speculation about its next move. Related Reading: Bitcoin Is Forming A Symmetrical Triangle – Can BTC Reclaim $100K? However, caution is warranted. Renowned analyst Ali Martinez recently shared a technical analysis warning that ONDO may be at risk of further correction. Martinez highlights the potential formation of a head-and-shoulders pattern on the price chart, a bearish signal often associated with trend reversals. If this pattern plays out, it could lead to increased selling pressure and a deeper pullback. The coming days will be critical for Ondo Finance as it navigates this pivotal moment. Investors will closely watch whether the token can defy bearish signals and reignite bullish momentum or if the feared pattern will confirm, leading to additional declines. For now, ONDO’s future hangs in the balance, with market sentiment and technical indicators offering conflicting signals about its short-term trajectory. ONDO Testing Crucial Demand Ondo Finance has faced a significant correction after its strong rally earlier in the cycle, now testing crucial demand levels at key price points. The token’s price halted at its previous all-time high, around $1.50, which now serves as a pivotal support level. If It holds above this mark, bullish momentum could return, potentially setting the stage for a renewed uptrend. However, top analyst Ali Martinez has raised concerns with a technical analysis that suggests ONDO may be forming a bearish head-and-shoulders pattern. This pattern, if confirmed, typically signals a trend reversal and could lead to increased selling pressure. Martinez warns that a decisive close below the $1.48 level could trigger a steep 30% correction, driving ONDO’s price down to approximately $1.05. Such a move would represent a significant setback for the token and its investors. Related Reading: Solana Sees Consistent Capital Inflows Since 2023 – Liquidity Influx Signals Growth To invalidate this bearish scenario, ONDO must reclaim the $1.86 level as support, a move that would signal strength and restore confidence in the asset’s bullish potential. Until then, the market remains at a critical juncture, with traders closely monitoring price action for clues about ONDO’s next direction. The coming days will be decisive in determining whether ONDO can recover or faces further downside risk. Technical Analysis: What To Expect Ondo Finance (ONDO) is currently trading at $1.49 after successfully testing the critical $1.46 support level highlighted by top analyst Ali Martinez. This level has proven to be a significant line of defense for ONDO, reflecting strong buying interest at this price. The token appears stable for now, but market participants remain cautious, as broader market conditions could still impact ONDO’s trajectory. The recent resilience at $1.46 is encouraging, suggesting that ONDO may be building a foundation for a potential recovery. However, a market-wide retrace could put additional pressure on ONDO, possibly driving its price lower and retesting critical demand levels. Investors are keeping a close eye on key technical levels for confirmation of a bullish rebound. Related Reading: XRP Whales Keep Buying – Data Reveals Smart Money Prepares For A Rally For ONDO to regain upward momentum, reclaiming the $1.70 level in the coming days is essential. A decisive move above this mark would signal renewed strength, paving the way for a bullish recovery and potentially retesting previous highs. Until then, ONDO remains in a delicate position, with traders monitoring broader market sentiment and the asset’s ability to sustain current support levels. The next steps will be crucial in determining whether ONDO can resume its uptrend or face continued consolidation. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

Ethereum (ETH) has started to climb some levels after it fell to the $3,100 support zone last week. The second-largest cryptocurrency is attempting to break from its downtrend, with some market watchers suggesting it is poised for a massive run in 2025. Related Reading: Is Altcoin Season Here Already? VanEck Answers As Bitcoin Price Struggles Below $100,000 Ethereum Key Levels To Reclaim With only a week left in 2024, several market watchers have started forecasting the crypto market’s potential performance for next year. Despite the recent pullbacks, several analysts have predicted a remarkable performance for Ethereum in 2025. The King of Altcoins has struggled to turn the $4,000 level into support. After breaking past this level earlier this month, ETH has been rejected from this price range three times. Its latest attempt occurred a week ago when Ethereum soared to $4,100 before retracing 7.3%. As Bitcoin (BTC) fell to $92,000, the second-largest crypto continued its freefall to the $3,100 support zone, reaching its lowest price in a month. Since then, Ethereum has hovered between $3,200 and $3,550 but failed to break past the price range’s higher zone for the past four days. However, the cryptocurrency has broken out of its downtrend line and is attempting to reclaim the $3,500 support. A crypto analyst noted that ETH appears to have broken and retested its one-week downtrend after reclaiming the $3,400 support. According to the post, a “clean breakout” of this downtrend could lead the cryptocurrency to a retest of higher levels. Ali Martinez highlighted that ETH’s next big support zone was between the $3,032 and $3,132 price range, with 4.85 million ETH bought by 3.69 million addresses. Meanwhile, Ethereum’s next big resistance wall is between $3,640 and $3,740, where over 2 million addresses bought around 4.3 million ETH. To Martinez, “a sustained close outside this no-trade zone will determine the direction of ETH’s trend.” Will ETH Follow 2021’s Performance? Analyst Ted Pillows pointed out that “the first four months after U.S. elections are often highly bullish for ETH.” Per the chart, Ethereum registered massive gains in the first third of the year after the 2016 and 2020 US elections. In 2017, Ethereum started the year with a 31.92% increase in the first month, while it recorded a 78.51% surge in January 2021. In both years, ETH hit its peak monthly performances between March and April, seeing 214% and 44% returns in 2017 and 2021, respectively. If Ethereum repeats this historical performance, its price could surge above its all-time high (ATH) of $4,878 in January and continue to climb during the rest of Q1. Crypto trader Immortal noted that Ethereum’s recent performance resembles its 2020-2021 price action. According to the chart, ETH saw a significant rise in early 2021 before consolidating in its new range. This was followed by a breakout and a massive drop to retest consolidation zone. Related Reading: Solana Recovery Momentum Set The Stage For $194 Resistance Breakout However, when ETH reclaimed its breakout levels in 2021, the cryptocurrency continued rallying toward its previous ATH of $4,300, eventually hitting its current ATH at the end of the year. The trader notes that ETH is retesting the consolidation range after last week’s dip, which signals that the cryptocurrency could soar in the coming weeks if it follows a similar path. As of this writing, Ethereum is trading at $3,501, a 6.3% increase in the last 24 hours. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com

In a thread on X, Hitesh Malviya, co-founder of DYOR—a free on-chain analytics platform—unveiled his set of crypto predictions for the year 2025. Malviya outlines pivotal trends and shifts expected to shape the crypto landscape. Below are the top 15 predictions that stakeholders and enthusiasts should closely monitor. Top 15 Crypto Predictions For 2025 #1 US Regulation Of the Crypto Market In 2025 Malviya anticipates the formalization of the United States’ regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies by 2025. “The US crypto regulation framework has been under discussion for the past two years, but we’re yet to see any approval on it,” he states. He further predicts that during the Trump presidency, favorable regulations will emerge, significantly bolstering sectors with robust cash flows, particularly decentralized finance (DeFi). #2 Sustained Memecoin Popularity Despite anticipated regulatory interventions, Malviya expects the memecoin sector to regain its momentum. “Most of the memes will eventually have a short term hit when the regulation framework is introduced in the USA, as I don’t see them becoming part of it,” he explains. He further forecasts that regulation will “eventually create a clear divide between hyperspeculative trading assets and assets with some sort of fundamental value associated with them.” Nonetheless, like in 2024, the “majority of people will choose memes over fundamentally backed assets, even if they are not recognized by the government,” Malviya predicts, adding, “meme mania will only grow—more participants will join in the hope of changing their lives. The casino will only get bigger with time.” #3 Expansion Of Hyperspeculative Markets Beyond memecoins, Malviya foresees significant growth in hyperspeculative markets, particularly within prediction markets for events, news, affairs and almost everything. “Memes are not the most hyper-speculative market that crypto offers—prediction markets are the bigger fish in the pond. […] Prediction market platforms like Polymarket will eventually capture the largest audience in 2025,” he notes. #4 DeFi Renaissance A resurgence in DeFi is a cornerstone of Malviya’s predictions. He projects that DeFi will become a focal point for mature investors, with total value locked (TVL) in DeFi protocols surpassing $250 billion by the end of 2025. “Money markets like AAVE will eventually attract more TVL,” Malviya asserted, highlighting the role of Donald Trump’s crypto project World Liberty Financial as a key growth catalyst. “Some DeFi coins will also hit $30B-$50B market caps next year,” the expert added. Related Reading: Is The Crypto Bull Run Over? Top Exec Discusses The Market Crash #5 On-Chain Commodities Trading The integration of commodities into blockchain ecosystems is expected to gain traction. Malviya forecasts, “Different types of commodities will eventually be offered for trading on many DEXs in 2025.” Ostium Labs is identified by the expert as an early mover in this domain, with expectations that numerous projects will launch on-chain commodity trading platforms. #6 Stablecoin Market Cap Reaches $500 Billion The stablecoin sector is poised for substantial growth, with Malviya forecasting a market capitalization of $500 billion. “Many new stablecoins will eventually capture some market share from big players like USDC and USDT,” he remarked. The Reserve Protocol, facilitating asset-backed stablecoins, is singled out as a promising initiative within this expansion. #7 Rise of AI Art NFTs Artificial Intelligence-driven art NFTs are projected to garner significant attention. “Some AI artists, like Refik Anadol, can steal the maximum attention from NFT art collectors next year,” Malviya predicts. He anticipates that AI Art NFT collections may achieve floor prices reaching 100 Ethereum (ETH). Related Reading: Bitwise Exec Reveals His Personal Top 3 Crypto Predictions For 2025 #8 Staking-Driven Airdrop Mechanisms Malviya forecasts that Polygon and EigenLayer are going to have a series of major token launches next year. “I am anticipating that Polygon and EigenLayer staking will probably bring a couple of ecosystem airdrops for holders,” he explained. #9 Peak And Decline Of Initial AI Offerings (IAOs) The initial phase of IAOs is expected to reach its zenith, followed by a contraction. “IAOs are currently going through the first phase,” Malviya noted, cautioning that oversaturation will lead to the decline of many AI agents. “Only a few agents with quality data training and a clear purpose will manage to survive the AI agent winter, which is going to happen at some point next year,” the expert cautions. #10 Perpetual Bull Market Perception Malviya suggests that the bull market will persist in perception but will not be as straightforward as in the past where every altcoin surged at the same time. “That’s the saddest part of this prediction list—most people will remain delusional about a bull market, just like they are now. The market’s nature will remain rotational for a few more months,” he stated. He foresees a major correction resembling a bear cycle, yet expects an unexpected recovery influenced by potential black swan events: “I am expecting a major correction, which might resemble a bear cycle in 2025, but it will surprise people with an unexpected recovery, aligned with some potential black swan events.” #11 Focus On Privacy-Based Projects Post-regulatory clarity under Trump, privacy-centric projects are projected to gain prominence. “Confidential transactions and private computation would become a necessity at some point,” Malviya emphasized. Projects like Nillion are expected to attract substantial attention within the DeFi and DeAI sectors, catering to the growing demand for privacy solutions. #12 SUI Surpassing Solana In Daily Transactions The SUI blockchain, leveraging the SocialFi narrative, is anticipated to eclipse Solana in daily transaction volumes. “SUI is currently cooking the SocialFi narrative. Most of the application activities on SUI come from their SocialFi app, which directly deals with the creator economy. I am expecting that some of the apps from SUI will eventually crack the creator economy code and bring the masses onchain, eventually surpassing Solana in daily transaction metrics.” #13 Intense Competition Among Alternative Virtual Machines (AltVMs) The battle among AltVMs is set to intensify, with Malviya identifying contenders like Monad, MegaETH, Berachain, HyperVM, Sonic, and Sei. “One of them will capture 75% of the market share within 12 months after launch,” he predicts, attributing success to community support and developer relationships. Malviya expresses a particular interest in MegaEth Labs as a potential market leader. #14 Mainstream Adoption Of Web3 Wallets Web3 wallets are expected to achieve mainstream status, facilitated by enhanced user onboarding and intuitive interfaces. “Web3 wallets are going to become super easy for onboarding and usage next year,” Malviya states. The emergence of super apps, alongside Web3 wallets from major exchanges like OKX and Binance, is projected to drive widespread adoption through mobile platforms. #15 DEXs Capturing 30% Of Trading Volume Finally, Malviya foresees decentralized exchanges (DEXs) substantially increasing their share of trading volumes. “DEX/CEX trading volume ratio sits at 15% right now. I am expecting it to double in the next 12 months,” he asserts. The shift towards on-chain trading is attributed to the advantages of self-custody and improved onboarding technologies like account abstraction, leading to an anticipated rise in on-chain user activity. At press time, Bitcoin traded at $96,139. Featured image from iStock, chart from TradingView.com

As 2024 nears its conclusion, Ethereum price fluctuations are being closely monitored. The trajectory of the cryptocurrency is critically influenced by key resistance and support levels, as indicated by recent analysis from crypto experts, which suggests a cautiously optimistic outlook. Related Reading: Ethereum Adoption Grows As BlackRock ETF Secures 1 Million ETH Important Price Levels To Monitor Analyzing cryptocurrencies, Justin Bennett emphasized the importance of Ethereum recovering the $3,540 level over the weekly period on December 22. This pricing range is regarded as necessary to show a potential change in the market toward optimism. Should Ethereum be unable to clear this barrier, it runs the danger of sliding below the significant support zone of $3,000, leading to a drop toward $2,600. For investors as well as speculators, a drop of this degree would be costly. As bullish as I’m turning with the overall setup going into 2025, buyers still have work to do. For example, $ETH needs to recover $3,540 on the weekly time frame to look bullish next week. Buyers have 33 hours to get it done.#Ethereum pic.twitter.com/cAChCbJxjd — Justin Bennett (@JustinBennettFX) December 21, 2024 Market Sentiment And Analyst Predictions The analysis by Titan of Crypto who utilized the Ichimoku cloud approach to predict probable recovery further strengthens the optimism surrounding Ethereum. The analyst noted that Ethereum has retested some critical levels, which gives the impression that the present correction cycle is about nearing its end. The strength of Kumo Cloud’s support line indicates that Ethereum may well form a base for higher moves if it can manage to hold on to the existing levels. Whales Ramp Up Accumulation Meanwhile, Ethereum whales have increased their holdings and amassed about 340,000 ETH, which is worth more than $1 billion, in just a few days. This rise in accumulation shows that big investors are becoming more confident of the prospects of the altcoin. Ethereum Whales Bought $1 Billion ETH In The Past 96 Hours – Details https://t.co/fZe8jWmQ3S — Jose JM (@CryptoJoseJM) December 22, 2024 In addition, spot Ethereum ETFs have garnered inflows of over $2 billion since their introduction in the US market, which is indicative of the growing interest in these instruments. If regulatory authorities permit staking yields within these funds, analysts anticipate that this trend could surpass Bitcoin ETFs by 2025. Ethereum Price Forecast At the time of writing, Ether was trading at $3,330, down 0.7% and 15.7% in the daily and weekly timeframes, data from Coingecko shows. Based on how the Ethereum market is doing right now, there will likely be a positive upward trend within the next week, despite Ether’s numbers flashing red in the charts. Analysts are hopeful about its chances of recovering, even though it is selling at a 21% discount to what they think it will be worth in a month. Source: CoinCheckup A potential breakout that could test critical resistance levels is being indicated by technical indicators such as the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and Moving Averages. Ethereum is anticipated to experience a robust development trajectory in the medium to long term, with a 35% price increase within the next three months and a remarkable 100% growth within a year, according to projections. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView

The market for Dogecoin (DOGE) is contracting: the memecoin shed more than 25% of its value during the last three days. The broader market is still bearing the brunt of Bitcoin’s crash, worrying both investors and speculators. Related Reading: SUI The Rising Star: Analyst Foresees Over $25 Breakthrough Market Overview: A Sudden Change The recent drop in the value of crypto assets has caused around $787 million to be lost through liquidations of different types of digital assets. Dogecoin, which is often considered as a joke, has been among the hardest hit. Approximately $29 million in DOGE liquidations were recorded recently, with bullish positions suffering the most losses, according to CoinGlass data. In a mere 24 hours, the price of Dogecoin plummeted to a low of $0.34 before ultimately stabilizing at approximately $0.365, a 6.05% decline. Macroeconomic issues influencing more general market movements can help to explain this fall. The Federal Reserve’s concern about interest rate cuts has aggravated bearish attitude. For example, Ethereum and Dogecoin followed suit after Bitcoin’s value dropped to the $94k level. A Closer Examination Of Liquidation Issues Approximately $24 million in bullish wagers on Dogecoin were liquidated in the past 24 hours, while $5.93 million in losses were attributed to short positions. The market’s present extreme volatility is underscored by this wave of liquidations. Dogecoin is currently approaching critical support levels, as noted by analysts. Some analysts have speculated that it could fall below $0.20 if adverse momentum persists. Key support levels for DOGE are being closely monitored by market analysts. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) suggests that Dogecoin may be oversold, which could indicate a potential rebound if traders are able to effectively defend the critical price zones. Related Reading: Solana Poised For Growth In 2025 With Record $173 Million Q3 Funding—Report The Road Ahead For Dogecoin Despite the present challenges, market watchers’ future expectations of Dogecoin remain high. Some analysts believe that DOGE’s capacity to maintain a weekly closing above $0.26 will help to create a recovery rally toward higher goals. Still, the reality of continuous market pressures and unpredictability helps to temper this hope. As they negotiate this stormy terrain, many traders are left wondering how low Dogecoin might fall before it finds solid ground. Given the expected significant price swings in the next days and weeks, all eyes will be on this famous meme coin as it tries to recuperate in the face of a difficult crypto climate. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView

Hailey Welch, popularly known as the “Hawk Tuah Girl,” has been absent from public view for two weeks, igniting a wave of controversy surrounding her cryptocurrency project, the Hawk Tuah (HAWK) memecoin.  Welch, who gained fame through her podcast “Talk Tuah,” last communicated with her audience by stating she was “going to sleep,” shortly before the value of her memecoin plummeted by a staggering 95%. Investors Sue Hailey Welch Over Alleged Memecoin Fraud The fallout from the rapid decline in the Hawk Tuah token has been swift, with disappointed investors taking legal action against Welch and several associated entities.  The lawsuit, filed on behalf of affected investors, accuses Welch, the Tuah The Moon Foundation, OverHere Ltd., its executive Clinton So, and coin promoter Alex Larson Schultz of orchestrating a fraudulent “rug pull.”  Related Reading: Interest Rate Cut Impact: Bitcoin Price Reaction Unraveled With Future Projections According to court documents obtained by Newsweek, the complaint alleges that the “unlawful promotion and sale” of the Hawk Tuah memecoin resulted in significant financial losses, particularly impacting those new to cryptocurrency investing. The lawsuit emphasizes that many investors were attracted to the Hawk Tuah project due to Welch’s public endorsement and her influential role in its development roadmap. It states, “The rapid decline in the token’s value caused substantial damages to investors who relied on Welch’s participation and the project’s stated roadmap.” Initially, the Hawk Tuah token captured attention as part of a wave of community-driven memecoins, buoyed by Welch’s “aggressive promotion” across social media platforms and her podcast.  However, allegations of mismanagement and deceptive practices soon surfaced after the token’s value collapsed almost overnight, erasing millions of dollars in investor funds. Insider Trading Allegations Bitcoinist reported two weeks ago that on-chain investigator Coffeezilla accused Hailey Welch and the Hawk Tuah team of scamming investors following the token’s launch.  On November 26, Welch had announced her partnership with the Web3 platform OverHere to launch the Hawk Tuah memecoin, claiming it would “set to redefine the crypto space.” Upon its launch on December 4, the token’s market capitalization skyrocketed to $500 million, only to plummet 88% within minutes as major holders rapidly sold off their assets. As the token’s value collapsed, investors and market analysts raised alarms about potential insider trading and a coordinated rug pull orchestrated by the project’s creators. Many of the affected investors were Welch’s fans, many of whom were new to the crypto landscape. Related Reading: Ethereum To Outpace Solana In 2025, Bitwise CIO Asserts In the wake of the backlash, Welch revealed the token’s “Hawkanomics,” which indicated that only 2% of the total supply was allocated for public distribution, while 17% was designated for a “strategic allocation” that was fully unlocked at launch and allegedly funneled to insider wallets.  During an X Space discussion, Coffeezilla confronted the Hawk Tuah team about over $1 million in fees generated from the token and questioned their handling of the situation. He suggested that the sell-off was not merely the result of market snipers but rather linked to insider trading related to the creators’ accounts. Despite the team’s denials, Coffeezilla criticized the launch as one of the worst he has reviewed, labeling the tokenomics as “horrible” and calling for accountability regarding the presale funds, which amounted to approximately $16.69 million. Featured image from Yahoo, chart from TradingView.com 

In a notable development for Donald Trump’s crypto initiative, World Liberty Financial (WL), has reportedly exchanged approximately $10 million worth of wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC) for tokens associated with project adviser Justin Sun, founder of the TRON blockchain.  World Liberty Financial Links With Justin Sun In Major Token Swap According to blockchain data analytics firm Nansen, a digital wallet linked to President-elect’s World Liberty Financial swapped its entire holding of 103 cbBTC tokens for WBTC on a Wednesday operation.  Wrapped Bitcoin serves as a bridge for Bitcoin (BTC) holders to engage in decentralized finance (DeFi) activities on the Ethereum (ETH) blockchain, enabling broader participation in the DeFi ecosystem.  Related Reading: Crypto Expert Predicts Major Altcoin Season As Market Cap Eyes Record Levels Although World Liberty has been marketed as a decentralized finance lending platform, it has yet to become operational as it is still in early stages of development and presales of its WLF token. Sun, a cryptocurrency entrepreneur known for his high-profile investments and attention-grabbing antics—including purchasing a banana duct-taped to a wall for $6.2 million—invested $30 million in World Liberty Financial in November, becoming an adviser to the project.  His involvement appears to have pushed World Liberty past a financial threshold that could allow Trump to profit from the enterprise, potentially securing at least $15 million for the Trump family based on terms outlined in World Liberty’s “gold paper.” Trump’s Crypto Initiative Struggles The recent token swap follows World Liberty’s earlier cryptocurrency acquisitions, including significant investments in Aave (AAVE) and Chainlink (LINK). Additionally, Nansen’s data indicates that the project’s wallets received around $250,000 in ONDO, a token from Ondo Finance, which specializes in tokenization. The backdrop of these transactions is marked by controversy, particularly following a backlash triggered by a strategic partnership between Sun’s BiT Global and crypto custody firm BitGo, the operator of Wrapped Bitcoin. This partnership prompted US-based crypto exchange Coinbase to seek a delisting of WBTC from its exchange due to concerns over Sun’s potential influence and control.  Related Reading: Bitcoin May Surge To $200,000 By Mid-2025 Amid ‘Mild’ Price Pullbacks: Report Earlier this month, BiT Global filed a lawsuit against Coinbase in response to the delisting, but a federal judge in California ruled in favor of Coinbase, denying BiT Global’s request for a temporary restraining order. Despite the promotional efforts by Trump and his sons, World Liberty Financial has faced challenges in the market, with sales reportedly falling 93% short of projections. This lack of traction raises questions about the project’s viability and its ability to fulfill its ambitious promises of transforming the financial landscape. At the time of writing, the total crypto market capitalization has fallen to the $3.3 trillion mark, after hitting an all-time high of $3.73 trillion on Tuesday, which also pushed the price of Bitcoin to a new record above $108,000.  Featured image from RFI, chart from TradingView.com 

The broader crypto market experienced a pronounced downturn following yesterday’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting, held on December 18. After the US Federal Reserve delivered a 25-basis-point rate cut as anticipated, it also signaled fewer cuts in 2025 than previously expected. In response, the Bitcoin price fell by more than 5%, dropping below the $100,000 mark before showing slight signs of recovery. Altcoins saw across-the-board double-digit percentage declines. The Federal Reserve’s decision—while meeting expectations for a 25-basis-point reduction—came with a notable shift in the projected rate trajectory for next year. Rather than the previously communicated four cuts, the central bank now anticipates only two, signaling a more cautious stance. This recalibration of future monetary policy sent ripples through the entire risk asset spectrum, prompting the S&P 500 to decline 3% and the Russell 2000 Small Cap Index to drop 4.4%. Is The Crypto Bull Run Over? Within the crypto sector, the immediate aftermath was pronounced. Matt Hougan, Chief Investment Officer at Bitwise Asset Management, addressed the market conditions this morning via X, writing: “The big catalyst today was the Fed announcement […] The Fed cut rates by 25 basis points as expected, but lowered expectations for next year from 4 cuts to 2 cuts. Higher rates are bad for risk assets, and the Fed’s announcement caused a sharp pullback in all risk assets.” Related Reading: Bitwise Exec Reveals His Personal Top 3 Crypto Predictions For 2025 According to Hougan, Bitcoin’s price action reflected heightened sensitivity to shifting monetary conditions. He noted that Bitcoin price drop was exaggerated by leveraged positions being liquidated. “$600 million of leveraged long positions were blown out in today’s market, exacerbating the pullback.” Despite the steep correction, Hougan argued that the broader outlook remains constructive: “Crypto now has internal momentum, and nothing about today’s announcement interrupts the mega-trends: The pro-crypto reversal in Washington policy, rising institutional adoption and ETF flows, Bitcoin purchases by governments and corporations, and major tech breakthroughs in the programmable blockchain space.” He pointed to technical indicators as a supporting factor for his thesis: “My favorite momentum gauge is still positive: Bitcoin’s 10-day exponential moving average ($102k) is still above its 20-day exponential moving average ($99k).” Related Reading: Crypto Watchlist: Top 5 Coins To Watch This Week Hougan concluded his thread by maintaining that the shift in Fed expectations would not derail the longer-term bull run, stating: “Crypto’s in a multi-year bull market. 50bps of projected rate cuts won’t change that.” Other market observers offered similar interpretations of the Fed’s communication strategy. Warren Pies, Founder of 3Fourteen Research, commented via X: “By upping inflation forecast, lowering UE rate, and keeping cuts in place, the Fed has actually opened the path to more than 2 cuts in 2025 as data ‘surprises’ to the dovish side.” Renowned macro analysts echoed this sentiment. Crypto analyst and podcaster Fejau (@fejau_inc) described the central bank’s approach as a strategy designed to guide market expectations: “Fed forced itself into cutting this week so is using a hawkish 2025 FFR dot plot forecast to talk down long bond yields despite cutting today […] Welcome to macro psyop warfare. Smoke and mirrors baby.” He characterized the dot plots as a tool for psychological influence rather than a strict roadmap: “It’s important to view the dot plots not as a future forecast of events, but as a psychological tool […] The Fed has bought themselves time to allow further data to come out before they actually make a move […] Can almost guarantee you 2025 will not occur as is forecasted in their dots.” Andreas Steno Larsen, CIO of Steno Global Macro Fund and CEO at Steno Research, offered a similar assessment: “By hawking up all forecasts a lot, the Fed lowers the bar materially for cuts next year. It is a wise move, if you want to cut further, but do not want to precommit.” At press time, Bitcoin traded at $101,766. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

The Dogecoin (DOGE) price appears primed for a significant bullish reversal, supported by technical indicators and market sentiment data. Despite recent downward pressures, several factors suggest a potential upward trajectory for the popular memecoin. #1 Dogecoin Bounces Off Key Support Level (1D Chart) Crypto analyst CRG (@MacroCRG) highlighted the resilience of Dogecoin and PEPE, another prominent memecoin, stating, “DOGE + PEPE both bouncing from important areas. The memecoin demise is greatly exaggerated IMO. Next leg up gonna take many by surprise.” CRG’s technical analysis reveals that DOGE has maintained a daily close above the critical support level of $0.385 for nine consecutive days, despite substantial selling pressure. Similarly, PEPE has sustained crucial support, indicating that the “memecoin season” might be making a comeback imminently. Related Reading: Ex-Hedge Fund Guru Bets Big On Dogecoin As ‘Core Crypto Bet’ For Dogecoin, the short-term resistance zone at $0.42 remains a pivotal level. CRG suggests that a break above this threshold could signal the onset of a new bull run, potentially catching many investors off guard. #2 Bullish Market Structure (4-Hour Chart) Further technical insight comes from crypto analyst Gonzo (@GonzoXBT), who provided a technical breakdown of Dogecoin’s price action. Gonzo explained, “DOGE 4H EMA100 -> acting as resistance 4H EMA200 -> acting as support. Until we flip 4H EMA100 we will just chop in between, don’t want to see it lose 4H EMA200 tho.” This analysis underscores the importance of the 4-hour exponential moving averages (EMAs) in determining short-term price movements. The 4H EMA100 currently serves as a resistance level, while the 4H EMA200 offers support. A sustained breach above the 4H EMA100 could facilitate an upward breakout, whereas a failure to maintain above the 4H EMA200 might lead to further consolidation or decline. #3 Trading Against The Crowd Crypto analyst Ali Martinez (@ali_charts) presented another bullish perspective on DOGE’s immediate outlook. He noted, “Market sentiment for Dogecoin has turned negative. It seems as if traders are getting impatient during the ongoing price consolidation!” Related Reading: Bull Flag Formation Puts Dogecoin Price As High As $2.15 This Cycle Martinez’s analysis, based on Santiment data, indicates a sharp decline in both search volume and Weighted Sentiment. Specifically, Weighted Sentiment has plummeted to its lowest point since mid-October, while search volume has dropped to levels not seen since early November. Martinez speculated on potential catalysts that could quickly reignite positive momentum for Dogecoin, referencing the establishment of the new US Department of Government Efficiency under the leadership of Elon Musk. He suggested, “Or you can wait the first POPULAR action of the Department of Government Efficiency.” #4 Liquidation Dynamics Indicate Potential Upside Adding another layer to the bullish thesis, crypto analyst Carlos Garcia Tapia (@CAGThe3rd) shared insights into the liquidation heatmap over the past three days, commenting, “FOMO longs just got liquidated on the 3D chart. DOGE.” The heatmap by Coinglass illustrates a significant liquidation of leveraged long positions clustered between $0.393 and $0.385 over the past two days. But there’s a bullish caveat: with the majority of longs now liquidated, the remaining liquidation cluster is positioned around the $0.42 mark. This setup suggests that Dogecoin could experience a bullish candle formation, potentially triggering further liquidations of bearish positions and propelling the price upward. Why? Because liquidation heatmaps are valuable tools in forecasting price movements as they reflect the underlying market liquidity and leverage dynamics. These heatmaps highlight where traders are most susceptible to forced liquidations, acting as psychological and technical barriers. When the price approaches these levels, large market participants can influence price direction by triggering a cascade of liquidations, thereby amplifying the resultant price movement. At press time, DOGE traded at $0.3843. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com

According to reports, on December 17, Bitcoin (BTC) hit a new all-time high (ATH) of $107,756.83 before falling to $106,657.32 at the time of writing. It continues to rule the cryptocurrency field thanks to its strong bullish momentum, which has market watchers wondering if it could soon shatter this record and reach a new all-time high. Reasons Behind the Rise The price surge of Bitcoin has been largely driven by institutional investment, as evidenced by the large purchases of Bitcoin by companies such as MicroStrategy and Riot Platforms, which have increased market confidence. In addition, the inclusion of MicroStrategy in the Nasdaq 100 stock market Index has further fueled optimism. Take precautions against inflation and economic uncertainty. The state of the economy and politics has also had an impact on the rise of Bitcoin. Speculation over potential federal Bitcoin reserves and inflationary pressures have led to a rise in investments as a hedge against economic instability. Developments in technology and network enhancements. With the help of network improvements and technological breakthroughs, Bitcoin’s technical indicators have demonstrated robust bullish momentum. Analysts anticipate more expansion since higher lows and the development of bullish patterns indicate a long-term upward trend.   Related Reading: Bitcoin Price Moves Similarly To The Elliot Wave Count From 2017, Why Price Can Jump Another 80% Bitcoin Price Prediction After reaching a high of $107,756.83 on December 17, Bitcoin is currently rising, rising 1.74% in the previous day and 10.83% in the last week. Earlier this month, it reached a record high of $100,000 and had an 18.41% increase over the previous 30 days.  Chart illustrating BTC reaching an all-time high of $107,756.83 on December 17, 2024, based on TradingView.com According to analysts, BTC’s surge to a new ATH was driven by a series of short liquidations. With the increasing investor sentiment backing Bitcoin, it’s no surprise that BTC’s price is soaring these days. Related Reading: Bitcoin Confidence Grows As Binance Data Highlights Surprising Market Trends But can BTC set a new record high again soon? Analysts and market observers debate that it could hit another new record as the anticipated bull run looms on the horizon. Additionally, President-elect Donald Trump’s return to the White House in 2025 and his pro-crypto stance could also bring a fresh boost to the cryptocurrency market. This combination of favourable market conditions and political shifts suggests Bitcoin could soon break new records. Can Bitcoin Record A New ATH With Growing Interest?  The most well-known cryptocurrency, BTC, reached a new all-time high of $107,756.83 on December 17. This has market watchers wondering if it will soon set a new milestone. Analysts argue that with the expected bull run and Trump’s forthcoming term sets in January 2025, Bitcoin may soon set a new record price.    Featured image from Pixabay, Chart from TradingView

The cryptocurrency landscape stands at a historic crossroads as the battle between XRP and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) enters its most critical phase. Since December 2020, this legal confrontation has shaped the future of digital asset regulation, with implications reaching far beyond the immediate case. The potential impact of Donald Trump’s election adds another layer of complexity to an already intricate situation. The Evolution of SEC’s Cryptocurrency Stance Under SEC  Chair Gary Gensler’s leadership, the commission has maintained an aggressive enforcement approach toward digital assets. The SEC’s strategy of classifying various cryptocurrencies as securities has led to numerous enforcement actions against industry players. This strict interpretation of securities laws has particularly affected the relationship between Ripple and Coinbase, with many exchanges temporarily delisting XRP following the initial SEC lawsuit. Related Reading: 3 Reasons Ripple (XRP) Could Pump to $10 Before Trump’s Swearing-In on January 20 The commission’s approach has sparked intense debate within the crypto community. Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty has repeatedly challenged the SEC’s interpretation, arguing that XRP functions as a digital currency rather than a security. This position gained significant support when Judge Analisa Torres issued her landmark ruling in July 2023. Institutional Interest and Market Evolution In XRP The institutional landscape for XRP has transformed dramatically since the initial SEC filing. Major financial institutions are no longer sitting on the sidelines, with Fox Business journalist Eleanor Terrett reporting unprecedented levels of interest from traditional finance. Investment firms are particularly drawn to XRP’s potential in cross-border payments, with transaction volumes reaching historic highs in Asian markets. The evolution of institutional involvement extends beyond simple trading activities. Banks are developing comprehensive blockchain strategies, incorporating Ripple’s technology into their existing frameworks. This integration represents a fundamental shift in how traditional finance views digital assets, with XRP at the forefront of this transformation. XRP Market Metrics and Performance The daily trading volume for XRP has consistently exceeded $2 billion since the partial court victory. Institutional inflows have reached unprecedented levels, with major investment firms allocating significant portions of their portfolios to digital assets. The potential approval of an XRP ETF could further accelerate this trend, opening new channels for institutional investment. The XRP price shows significant potential as the market digests recent developments. After reaching its highest level since 2022, analysts suggest the token could soar beyond current levels. Recent price analysis indicates strong support at key levels, particularly as crypto enforcement actions create market volatility. | Source; https://www.tradingview.com/x/wG67AyhZ/  Technical Analysis and Price Projections Market analysts provide detailed projections based on technical indicators and fundamental factors. The convergence of legal developments, political changes, and market dynamics suggests several possible scenarios for XRP’s price action through 2025. Related Reading: XRP Fever Sweeps The Web As Google Queries Soar To 100 Short-term Outlook Technical analysis indicates strong support levels around key price points, with resistance zones identified through historical trading patterns. The impact of SEC’s appeal continues to influence short-term price movements, creating opportunities for both institutional and retail investors. Long-term Projections Looking ahead to 2025, analysts factor in multiple variables: Potential resolution of the SEC case under new leadership Increased institutional adoption driving demand Expansion of cross-border payment networks Integration with traditional financial systems As we approach 2025, the convergence of legal resolution, political change, and market development suggests a transformative period for XRP and the broader crypto industry. The outcome of the SEC case, combined with potential regulatory shifts under new leadership, could fundamentally reshape the digital asset landscape.    

In a post on X dated December 17, 2024, Jeff Park, Head of Alpha Strategies at Bitwise Asset Management, shared his personal top three predictions for the crypto sector in 2025. His insights come at a time when the crypto market has experienced significant growth, and after Bitwise released its annual top 10 crypto predictions for the next year. #1 Bitcoin Structured Products Surge Park predicts that by 2025, Bitcoin structured products will see an asset influx of at least $5 billion. He states, “The cold, hard truth is that most private wealth managers and institutions remain hesitant about taking on directional Bitcoin exposure.” Related Reading: Crypto Watchlist: Top 5 Coins To Watch This Week He elaborates that products like buffered notes and principal-protection ETFs will be pivotal in bridging this gap, offering tailored exposure to Bitcoin’s volatility to meet institutional preferences. “I predict that buffered notes, principal-protection ETFs, and similar instruments will unlock a floodgate of new demand, giving institutions access to Bitcoin’s volatility at the price they deserve, customized to their own preferences,” Park remarks. #2 Maple Finance Outpaces BlackRock’s BUIDL With a total value locked (TVL) of approximately $535 million as of his writing, Park believes Maple Finance will surpass BlackRock’s BUIDL project. He argues, “I hold an unapologetic view that decentralized markets, which enable novel financial primitives, will see adoption faster than ‘security tokenization’ projects retrofitting to legacy infrastructure.” Park sees decentralized lending platforms like Maple Finance, which provide institutional-grade services, as the category winners in the near future, potentially aided by favorable regulatory changes under the incoming Trump administration. “Institutional-grade, crypto-asset-backed decentralized lending like Maple Finance remains the most promising near-term category winner, bolstered by potential regulatory tailwinds,” Park forecasts. #3 Emergence Of A New Decentralized Crypto Stablecoin Despite past failures like LUNA, Park anticipates the rise of a new decentralized stablecoin backed by a decentralized strategic reserve. He asserts, “Bitcoin’s role as a reserve asset is now undeniable, spanning corporate balance sheets to nation-states,” but emphasizes the crypto community’s desire for a reserve that is “decentralized free from sovereign whims at all costs.” Related Reading: Crypto Market Hit Hard With $1.7 Billion Liquidated, Largest Event Since 2021 The new stablecoin, he predicts, will leverage heightened transparency and cryptographic proofs, aiming to restore trust and utility in decentralized finance. “Despite the scars left by LUNA, I predict a more robust effort will rise, built with heightened transparency and leveraging the long-awaited arrival of cryptographic proofs. I have some exemplary candidates in mind that can and will lead the way,” he states. These predictions by Park come after the predictions from Bitwise for 2025. The firm has projected Bitcoin to exceed $200,000, driven by institutional investment and ETF inflows. Ethereum and Solana are also expected to reach new all-time highs, further solidifying the growth narrative in the crypto space. Additionally, Bitwise sees 2025 as potentially becoming the “Year of the Crypto IPO,” with several crypto unicorns expected to go public in the US. At press time, Bitcoin traded at $106,794. Featured image from YouTube, chart from TradingView.com

According to Messari’s most recent analysis, Solana (SOL) is primed for explosive expansion in 2025, fueled by major funding, technological improvements, and growing institutional interest. Related Reading: The $589 XRP Dream: Believers Aren’t ‘Delusional’ Enough, Expert Says The study indicates that in the third quarter of 2024 Solana’s ecosystem funding reached $173 million, the highest level since mid-2022. This money flow shows a strong conviction in Solana’s ability to be the top blockchain platform. Solana: Key Drivers Of Growth One of the key reasons for this positive prognosis is the upcoming introduction of a spot SOL Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF). As regulatory conditions improve, experts predict that institutional investors will flock to Solana, increasing its market position. We are so back! The Messari Theses for 2025 is live and available for free. Jump into the full report now ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/AzOZhiAib5 — Messari (@MessariCrypto) December 16, 2024 The introduction of a spot ETF might result in considerable financial inflows, placing Solana as a viable competitor to other cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ethereum. Moreover, ongoing improvements to Solana’s infrastructure are anticipated to augment its performance. Jump Trading’s Firedancer client pledges to enhance transaction velocities and network scalability. The preliminary implementation has commenced, with complete deployment anticipated in 2025. This enhancement will broaden client alternatives while bolstering network security by reducing dependence on a singular codebase. Institutional Interest And Market Sentiment Reflecting the increasing institutional interest in Solana, companies like VanEck and Bitwise have lately registered for a spot SOL ETF. This action points to Solana’s unique value proposition as a high-performance blockchain starting to be acknowledged by conventional finance. If this tendency keeps up, many predict SOL’s price would soar to new heights; some even project it may hit $4,000. Solana’s market attitude remains positive, particularly after it just went past the $220 price level. If the movement continues, analysts anticipate SOL will reach its previous all-time high of $263. The combination of increased capital, technological breakthroughs and institutional support fosters Solana’s expansion. Related Reading: New ATH: Bitcoin Tops $106K—Is FOMO And Strategic Reserve The Game-Changer? Looking Ahead: A Promising Future Looking ahead to 2025, Messari’s insights offer optimism for Solana’s growth. Favorable regulations, cutting-edge advancements like Firedancer, and rising institutional interest hint at transformative opportunities for the ecosystem. With these elements aligning, Solana could firmly establish itself as a dominant force in the digital currency landscape. At the time of writing, SOL was trading at $222.29, up 2.4% in the daily and weekly timeframes, data from Coingecko shows. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView