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#crypto #sec #ripple #xrp #altcoins #cryptocurrency market news

The price of XRP, the native token of Ripple, has been a topic of much debate lately. While some analysts predict a significant price jump this weekend, others remain cautious due to the coin’s recent struggles and the ongoing legal battle between Ripple and the SEC. Related Reading: Pepe Power! Meme Coin Surges On Back Of GameStop Nostalgia Stalled At The Starting Line: XRP’s Recent Performance XRP has been stuck in low gear, failing to break past the $0.54 resistance level for weeks. This sluggishness extends to the broader timeframes, with the coin experiencing a decline in the past month, week, and even the last 24 hours. At the time of writing, XRP was trading at $0.5185, down 3.8% in the last 24 hours, but managed a measly 0.4% uptick in the last week, data from Coingecko shows. Weekend Surge On The Horizon? Coincodex, a prominent crypto prediction platform, stands out from the crowd with a bullish forecast. They predict a substantial price increase for XRP, with the coin potentially reaching $0.648 by Tuesday, May 21st. This would represent a jump of over 32% from its current price. However, even Coincodex acknowledges the potential for a different scenario. The report mentions the possibility of consolidation around $0.4952 or even a price drop if profit-taking intensifies. Legal Clouds Dampen Enthusiasm Many experts believe the ongoing lawsuit between Ripple and the SEC is a significant factor behind XRP’s underperformance. The SEC alleges that XRP is a security, while Ripple argues it’s a currency. This legal battle has cast a shadow over the cryptocurrency, leading to investor hesitation. There is a glimmer of hope, however. The article reports that the lawsuit is nearing its conclusion, with a final judgment expected from Judge Analisa Torres this year. A definitive resolution, especially if it favors Ripple, could pave the way for a significant price increase in the future. Some analysts, as the report mentions, even predict XRP could surge to $47 during the next bull run. Weighing The Bullish And Bearish Signs The future of XRP remains uncertain. Coincodex’s prediction offers a ray of optimism for a near-term price jump. However, the recent price slump, ongoing legal battle, and cautious investor sentiment paint a more complex picture. Related Reading: Floki Inu Moment Of Glory: Analysts Forecast Explosive 200% Rally Looking Ahead: A Post-Lawsuit Future For XRP? The resolution of the SEC lawsuit could be a turning point for XRP. If Ripple prevails, it could remove a major obstacle to wider adoption and institutional investment. This, combined with a potential bull run in the broader cryptocurrency market, could propel XRP to new heights. However, even a favorable outcome wouldn’t guarantee smooth sailing. The cryptocurrency market remains volatile, and XRP faces competition from other established players. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

#bitcoin #crypto #btc #cryptocurrency market news #metaplanet

Early-stage investment firm Metaplanet announced on Monday that it’s adopting Bitcoin (BTC) as its sole “strategic treasury reserve asset.” This audacious decision signals a growing confidence in the controversial cryptocurrency as a legitimate store of value and hedge against traditional economic woes. Related Reading: CEO Drops Bombshell: Trump Campaign Eyes Crypto-Friendly Policies Yen Under Pressure, Bitcoin On The Rise Metaplanet’s decision comes amidst a backdrop of sustained economic pressures in Japan. A weakening yen, coupled with high government debt levels and persistently low-interest rates, seems to have pushed the firm to seek alternative havens for its reserves. Bitcoin, with its finite supply and decentralized nature, appears to be their answer. ‘Bitcoin-First, Bitcoin-Only’ Approach In a clear statement of intent, Metaplanet outlined its new “Bitcoin-first, Bitcoin-only approach” to treasury management. The company plans to strategically convert its existing yen liabilities and future share issuances into BTC, effectively accumulating more of the digital asset over time. This strategy echoes the recent moves of US-based MicroStrategy, which has become a major institutional holder of Bitcoin. A screenshot of Metaplanet's press release. Believing In The ‘Absolutely Scarce’ Asset Metaplanet’s press release paints a glowing picture of the top crypto asset’s potential. They view it as “fundamentally superior” to traditional currencies and other investment options, highlighting its scarcity and lack of a central issuer. They are impressed by Bitcoin’s proof-of-work (PoW) consensus mechanism, emphasizing how it creates a progressively higher cost of production for the remaining coins yet to be mined. This, they argue, stands in stark contrast to traditional commodities whose supply can be readily increased. Bitcoin is now trading at $62.896. Chart: TradingView Following The Footsteps Of A Corporate Bitcoin Believer There are clear parallels between Metaplanet’s strategy and that of MicroStrategy. The US firm has aggressively amassed Bitcoin, currently holding over 1% of the entire circulating supply. Metaplanet, though smaller, has reportedly acquired over 117 BTC since April, signaling their commitment to replicating this strategy. While Metaplanet’s decision reflects a growing institutional interest in Bitcoin, it also carries significant risks. Bitcoin’s price remains highly volatile, with the potential for substantial losses if the market takes a downturn. Additionally, the regulatory landscape surrounding cryptocurrencies is still evolving, and future regulations could negatively impact Bitcoin’s viability as a reserve asset. Related Reading: Analyst Predicts Injective (INJ) Breakout: $50 Price Range On The Horizon A Digital Canary In The Coal Mine? Metaplanet’s bold move serves as a fascinating case study. Their all-in bet on Bitcoin raises questions about the future of traditional reserve assets and the potential for wider adoption of cryptocurrencies by institutional investors. Impact On Bitcoin Price The company’s investment, while significant for a single firm, represents a relatively small portion of the total Bitcoin market capitalization. However, the news itself could generate positive sentiment and short-term price increases, especially if it entices other institutional investors to follow suit. Conversely, if Metaplanet’s strategy backfires and they are forced to sell their Bitcoin holdings at a loss, it could trigger a broader sell-off and price decline. Ultimately, the long-term impact will depend on how this bold move by Metaplanet plays out, alongside broader market forces and evolving regulations. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

#crypto #ripple #price analysis #xrp #altcoins #cryptocurrency market news

The once-booming cryptocurrency Ripple (XRP) finds itself in a precarious position. The past month has been marked by a significant drop in XRP’s value, leaving investors and analysts in a state of flux. While some fear a continued decline, others see potential for a comeback, with technical indicators hinting at a possible reversal of fortune. However, the road ahead for XRP remains shrouded in uncertainty, with the ongoing legal battle with the SEC and broader market sentiment playing a crucial role. Related Reading: XRP All Talk, No Action? Social Media Booms, But Price Stuck In The Bear Pit A Downturn And Dampened Enthusiasm The last few weeks have been a rough ride for XRP holders. The cryptocurrency, which once held the distinction of being the only one with apparent regulatory approval in the United States, has shed over 5% in the last week alone. The price dipped as low as $0.49 before recovering slightly to its current position around $0.50. This downtrend has coincided with a noticeable dampening of enthusiasm within the crypto community. Discussions about XRP have dwindled, and the usual “bullish” fervor seems to have gone quiet. Technical Signals And Expert Opinions Despite the gloomy outlook, there are some glimmers of hope for XRP. Analysts point to technical indicators on TradingView that suggest a potential uptrend in the making. The chart shows a series of “higher lows and higher highs,” a pattern typically associated with bullish momentum. Additionally, the $0.50 mark seems to be acting as a support level. Each time the price dips close to this point, it rebounds slightly, indicating that some investors see it as an attractive entry point. This bullish sentiment is echoed by some experts. Dark Defender, a prominent crypto analyst, remains optimistic about XRP’s prospects for 2024, predicting a surge to $1.80 before year’s end. A recent poll conducted by Egrag Crypto among nearly 4,000 crypto community members also revealed mixed feelings. While a significant majority (61%) expressed optimism about XRP’s ability to participate in an upcoming bull run, a sizable minority (40%) remained apprehensive. Total crypto market cap currently at $2.2 trillion. Chart: TradingView Clouds Over XRP: The Looming Legal Battle XRP’s path forward is far from certain. The ongoing legal battle between Ripple Labs and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) continues to cast a long shadow. The lawsuit, which centers around whether XRP is a security, has created uncertainty in the market, hindering investor confidence. This regulatory ambiguity makes it difficult for institutional investors to enter the XRP market, further dampening its potential for significant growth. XRP price down in the weekly timeframe. Source: Coingecko Related Reading: Unlocking The Dogecoin Code: One Factor Holds The Key To Its Next Ascent Market Sentiment And Ripple Effect The broader bearish sentiment currently gripping the crypto market also adds pressure to XRP’s price. Bitcoin, the bellwether of the cryptocurrency market, has seen a significant correction in recent months, dragging many altcoins, including XRP, down with it. This creates a domino effect, where negative sentiment in one cryptocurrency bleeds over to others, further exacerbating the decline. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from TradingView

#ethereum #defi #crypto #eth #cryptocurrency #eigenlayer #crypto news #cryptocurrency market news #ethusd #ethusdt #airdrop news #eigenlayer (eigen)

Restaking protocol EigenLayer has unveiled its highly anticipated airdrop season, during which eligible users can claim a portion of the initial EIGEN token supply.  EigenLayer Sets September 2024 Deadline The protocol’s announcement on Friday revealed that “Season 1” commences with 6.05% of the total supply, which users can claim starting on May 10.  Moreover, “Season 1 phase 2,” set to begin mid-June, will increase the claimable percentage to 6.75%. Season 1 will distribute approximately 113 million EIGEN tokens to participants. EigenLayer has reserved 15% of the initial token supply for the community across all seasons, signaling its commitment to inclusive participation. Related Reading: XRP All Talk, No Action? Social Media Booms, But Price Stuck In The Bear Pit EigenLayer has also announced that EIGEN tokens are currently non-transferable. However, the protocol plans to unlock token transfers once new features are launched and “further decentralization” is achieved.  These developments are expected to take place by September 30th, 2024. Until transfer restrictions are removed, core contributors and investors will not receive EIGEN staking rewards, and no inflation will occur. Record-Breaking $14 Billion In Assets Since its soft launch in 2023, EigenLayer has reportedly attracted $14 billion in assets, making it a prominent player in the decentralized finance (DeFi) space.  According to Bloomberg, the protocol’s restaking service offers amplified returns by leveraging the process of depositing ETH coins to support the Ethereum blockchain. Eigen Labs, the Seattle-based firm behind EigenLayer, raised approximately $165 million from notable backers, including a16z Crypto. Investors gain access to EigenDA by staking EIGEN, a performance data availability system supporting Ethereum rollups. The protocol claims this presents an opportunity for users to secure amplified returns.  Additionally, EigenLayer will shortly introduce compatibility with various AVSs (Application-Specific Verification Systems), offering stakers more options.  Nonetheless, virtual private network users and residents of countries such as the US, Canada, and China have been excluded from the airdrop, highlighting the challenges of operating within regulatory frameworks and ensuring compliance. Eigen Foundation’s executive director, Robert Drost, acknowledged the complexities of navigating regulatory guidelines: It’s not possible to operate in the space without following regulatory guidelines and being responsible, and the challenging part is that there is not a lot of clarity.  Related Reading: Crypto Analyst Sets $10 Price Target For Cardano As Volume Jumps 90% Despite these setbacks, EigenLayer’s popularity has positioned it as the second most popular DeFi application, surpassing liquid staking platforms like Lido and Rocket Pool.  While liquid staking provides easier access to staking rewards and leads the DeFi category, it has experienced significant outflows in recent months. DefiLlama data indicates a 27% decline in total value locked in liquid staking protocols since their peak of $63 billion in March. EigenLayer’s restaking service has contributed to the restaking of nearly 4% of all ETH.  The second largest cryptocurrency on the market, Ethereum, is trading at $2,890, following Bitcoin’s lead with a 3.8% drop in the past 24 hours.  Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

#ethereum #eth #ether #cryptocurrency market news #ethusdt #crypto scam #wbtc #address poisoning scam #address spoofing #crypto scammers

A week ago, a crypto whale fell victim to a scam that resulted in the loss of over $71 million. In the following days, the scammer moved the funds to veil them. But in a shocking turn of events, they returned the funds to the victim. Related Reading: Ethereum Foundation Moves 1,000 ETH – Is The Top In? Address Poisoning Scam Snatches $71 Million On May 3, whale 0x1E22…8FD5 lost 1,155 Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC), worth around $71.31 million, after falling victim to an address poisoning scam. This scam, also known as address spoofing, consists of trying to trick users into sending funds to fraudulent lookalike accounts. #PeckShieldAlert #Phishing A whale 0x1E22…8FD5 lost ~1,155 $WBTC (worth ~$71 million) after falling victim to address poisoning.The phisher has swapped the stolen $WBTC for ~23K $ETH & transferred them out pic.twitter.com/dr7eTYQkAX — PeckShieldAlert (@PeckShieldAlert) May 3, 2024 The “vanity addresses” are custom-made with specific characters that look like the intended recipient’s address. Scammers send transactions of no value, hoping the similarity between the addresses will fool the user under attack. If successful, victims copy the fraudulent address from the previous transactions and accidentally send their assets to the scammers instead. PeckShieldAlert reported that the phisher immediately swapped the stolen WBTC for 23,000 Ether (ETH) before transferring them to a different address. Throughout the following days, the scammer laundered the funds. Sending them to ten different addresses before distributing the tokens through over 100 other addresses. This development painted a looming picture for the crypto whale. At this point, the funds appeared to be unrecoverable. One user called the massive number of transfers a “crypto musical chairs” game. Others justified the scammer, claiming he had not stolen the funds, as “he just received them.” This stance disregards the transaction’s nature. The transfer occurs under the belief that funds are safely being transferred to the intended account and not a lookalike. Moreover, the lookalike address is in the victim’s transaction history, clearly intended to deceive the user into receiving funds not meant for them. Change Of Heart Or Scared Of The Crypto Community? In a shocking turn of events, the scammer sent 51 ETH, worth around $153,000, back to the victim on Thursday. Alongside the funds, the phisher sent a message asking to contact the whale, seemingly looking to negotiate. The reasons behind the sudden change of heart remain a mystery to the community. Many are jokingly theorizing why the scammer returned the funds. One X user playfully suggested that the phisher feared being investigated by crypto sleuth ZachXBT. Others claimed that “even the scammer doesn’t want ETH,” referencing the criticism the second-largest cryptocurrency has faced after its performance during this cycle. In the early hours of Friday, PeckShieldAlert revealed that 2,683.7 ETH, worth about $8 million, had already been transferred to the whale from nearly 50 different addresses. A couple of hours later, an update showcased that around 50% of the total funds had been returned, accounting for 11,446.87 ETH, or $34.7 million. Related Reading: Crypto Expert Forecasts The ‘Age of Ethereum’: What This Means Retrieving all the assets might take time due to the large number of addresses holding the funds. At the time of writing, over $45 million worth of ETH has already been returned, and the transactions continue. Ether (ETH) is trading at $3,035.8 in the three-day chart. Source: ETHUSDT on TradingView Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com

#coinbase #coin #bitwise #crypto news #cryptocurrency market news #coin price #coinbase stock

In a recently published report by Bitwise, the leading crypto index fund manager, a striking comparison has been drawn between Coinbase and Amazon, highlighting a significant yet under-reported aspect of Coinbase’s business — the Base Layer 2 network. Titled “It’s All About That Base (and Other Thoughts on Coinbase),” the report authored by Matt Hougan and Juan Leon delves deep into the financial and strategic shifts underpinning Coinbase’s latest successes and potential future. Amazon Of Crypto? Bitwise Projects Stellar Future For Coinbase Coinbase’s latest financial results have been a revelation, demonstrating robust growth and operational efficiency. The company reported $1.6 billion in net revenue, marking a 116% increase year-over-year, significantly surpassing Wall Street’s expectation of $1.36 billion. Profits were equally impressive, reaching $1.2 billion with total cash reserves swelling to $7.1 billion. Each of Coinbase’s business lines showed notable growth: consumer trading revenue rose by 93%, institutional trading by 105%, stablecoin revenue by 15%, blockchain rewards by 59%, and custodial services by 64%. Related Reading: Coinbase Sees Largest USDC Inflow Ever, What This Could Mean For Bitcoin Despite these strong numbers, the stock has trended downwards, suggesting that the market may not fully appreciate the depth of the company’s strengths. However, Bitwise highlights a less conspicuous but potentially transformative element of Coinbase’s portfolio: the Base Layer 2 network. Launched in August atop Ethereum, Base aims to enhance the blockchain’s throughput while lowering costs. It operates similarly to a bar tab, aggregating transactions and settling them in batches, thereby reducing transaction costs to under $0.01 and speeding up processing times to less than one second. The adoption rate of Base has been staggering. The network saw a 74% increase in transactions quarter-over-quarter in the first quarter, with a 40% increase in April alone compared to the entire first quarter. The exponential growth in the number of developers using Base, which increased eightfold, underscores the network’s rising significance and the broader industry’s interest. From a financial perspective, Base has been lucrative for Coinbase. In the first quarter alone, the network generated $27.4 million in transaction fees, of which Coinbase retained $15.5 million. This high-margin revenue stream continued into April, adding another $11 million to Coinbase’s profits. Given these trends, Bitwise predicts that Base could soon be contributing $10 million to $20 million in monthly profits to Coinbase. The analogy with Amazon is rooted in the transformation potential of Base. Just as Amazon evolved from a simple online bookstore into a retail giant and later a dominant force in cloud computing through Amazon Web Services (AWS), Coinbase could similarly evolve from a crypto brokerage to a fundamental infrastructure provider for the crypto industry. Related Reading: Bitcoin Coinbase Premium Returns To Neutral: Buying Push Already Over? This shift could redefine Coinbase’s role and impact within the market, positioning it as a central infrastructure entity in the crypto ecosystem, akin to how AWS underpins much of today’s web services. The report concludes by reflecting on the significance of Base for Coinbase’s strategic direction. “[T]he early returns on Base suggest that Coinbase could end up becoming something even greater: a core infrastructure provider to the crypto ecosystem. And that would be a very big deal indeed.” COIN Price Analysis Analyzing the technical landscape, the price of Coinbase (COIN) currently faces a pivotal moment. After dropping to $211.20 (as of press time), down 11.4% from a weekly high of $235.79, the stock is testing significant resistance and support levels that could dictate its short-term trajectory. The Fibonacci retracement tool, applied from a low of $31.62 to a high of $429.52, identifies critical price points. Presently, COIN is contending with the $230.57 level (0.5 Fibonacci level), which acts as the primary resistance. The 20-week Exponential Moving Average (EMA) provides crucial support at $199.35, with the stock recently bouncing off this level. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 56.10, suggesting a balanced dynamic between buying and selling pressures, with a slight tilt towards buying. The recent price behavior, characterized by a candlestick with a small body and longer wicks, reflects the ongoing uncertainty and cautious sentiment among traders. Featured image from Nasdaq, chart from TradingView.com

#ethereum #bitcoin #eth #bitcoin halving #btc #etfs #glassnode #eth/btc #cryptocurrency market news #bitcoin spot exchange-traded funds #benjamin cowen #into the cryptoverse

Amid turbulence surrounding the crypto market, popular founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Into The Cryptoverse Benjamin Cowen has taken the spotlight to shed his insights on the recent downtrend observed in the Ethereum/Bitcoin (ETH/BTC) pair. Cowen’s views examine the complex relationship between Ethereum and Bitcoin pricing and the potential for further downside risk. According to Benjamin Cowen, the ETH/BTC pair is currently on the downside, and the last 2 times that the pair declined, ETHUSD witnessed a steep decline of around 70%. Given that the crypto community has been eagerly anticipating an Altcoin season for the past 2.5 years, Cowen thinks it is crucial to warn the community that there is still a possibility of a downward movement. ETH/BTC Pair Rejected By The Bull Market Band Cowen has also confirmed that ETH/BTC is presently being rejected by the bull market support band, which he previously predicted days back due to a price pump. “I would expect it (ETH/BTC) to be rejected by the bull market support band, at least when looking at weekly closes ($0.053-$0.054),” he stated. He further noted that the pump appears to be mirroring the last cycle of rate cuts right before summer capitulation. Related Reading: Cracking the Crypto Code: ETH/BTC Signals The Next Altcoin Explosion – Here’s How Following the launch of Bitcoin Spot Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs), Cowen mentioned that ETH/BTC saw a sharp rally. The analyst affirms that the rally was probably similar to the trend of the previous bull cycle, ushering in new lows. Furthermore, Cowen stated that there has been an unquestionable macro downtrend since November 2021, particularly following the merger of the ETH/BTC pair. However, it is also evident that the market did not decrease abruptly. As a result, investors held ETH instead of BTC all the way down from 0.085 to 0.048 because of the multiple lower highs, giving the impression that it was holding up quite well.  Prior to the Bitcoin Halving, Cowen predicted that the bull market support band would reject ETH/BTC, at least when considering weekly closes ($0.053-$0.054), should there be a rebound after the Halving, similar to that witnessed with BTC spot ETF launch. Regardless of what occurs, the expert is confident that ETH/BTC will reach between $0.03 and $0.04 by this summer. Heightened Divergence Between Ethereum And Bitcoin Being the two leading cryptocurrency assets, there is great interest surrounding Ethereum and Bitcoin. However, on-chain analytics firm Glassnode has highlighted a shift in performance between both digital assets. Related Reading: Ethereum Trouncing Bitcoin, ETH/BTC Ratio Bouncing Higher: Will This Trend Continue? According to the firm, the performance of Ethereum and Bitcoin has been increasingly diverging so far in the 2023–2024 cycle. This is due to poorer performance in ETH price, which is explained by a generally weaker trend in capital rotation. In addition, this is evident when particularly compared to preceding cycles and all-time highs. Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview.com

#bitcoin #crypto #cryptocurrencies #altcoins #crypto news #cryptocurrency market news #weekly crypto watchlist #crypto prices

In a post on X, crypto analyst Miles Deutscher laid out his strategic predictions for high-performing cryptocurrencies in the upcoming week to his 501,700 followers. His analysis delved deep into Bitcoin’s trading patterns, the surging AI-driven altcoin sector, and specific tokens that are displaying considerable potential due to recent developments and broader market dynamics. Bitcoin And AI Crypto Tokens Are Set To Dominate This Week At the forefront of Deutscher’s analysis, Bitcoin has recently returned to its previous trading range between $60,000 and $69,400 after experiencing a sharp drop. This movement was characterized as a significant deviation, suggesting manipulation or a shakeout of weak hands before a potential rally. “Bitcoin is at the top of my watchlist for this week. Had a big fakeout/deviation to the downside, and now back within the range,” Deutscher stated. He pointed out that the key factor to watch is whether the current range’s lower boundary will hold, which could serve as a strong foundation for an upward trajectory. Moreover, the AI sector has been particularly resilient and robust recently, bouncing back significantly amidst broader market recoveries. Deutscher highlighted the sector’s potential for outperformance, driven by several upcoming major events. These include Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), NVIDIA’s earnings announcement, and the anticipated release of ChatGPT 5. “AI is one of those unique narratives that retains constant mindshare due to its endless real-life news flow/hype,” Deutscher explained. Related Reading: Here’s Why This Crypto Analyst Believes Bitcoin Is At A ‘Prime Buy Zone’ One specific AI token which Deutscher watches closely due to its alleged partnership with Apple is Render (RNDR), making it a prime candidate for speculation around the upcoming Apple event. Historically, RNDR has also led the AI token sector during market rotations. Furthermore, Deutsches focuses on Near Protocol (NEAR), Fetch.ai (FET), AIOZ Network (AIOZ). He grouped these tokens together due to their correlation but noted their recent technical performance, where they bounced cleanly off daily support levels and established higher lows. More Altcoins To Watch TON: Recently the center of attention, TON experienced a drop after the Token2049 event in what Deutscher described as a “sell-the-news” scenario. However, recent investments by firms like Pantera signal continued interest and potential undercurrents of growth. Ethena (ENA): With the market sentiment turning bullish again, Deutscher anticipates a return to positive funding rates, which typically benefit tokens like Ethena. Recent activity from the Ethena team, including increased reward boosts and optimistic social media posts from its founders, further bolster the bullish case. “Also hearing rumors of a T1 exchange listing,” Deutscher added, suggesting an impending increase in liquidity and exposure. Related Reading: Crypto Analyst Reveals 6 Must-Buy Altcoins With The Most Potential Jito (JTO): Jito is reportedly developing what Deutscher referred to as the “Eigen Layer of Solana,” aiming to replicate the success and hype surrounding the Eigen project’s layer solutions. Despite the challenges of a recent airdrop, Deutscher sees potential if the team executes well, particularly as the restaking narrative has not yet fully penetrated the market. PopCat (POPCAT): Despite facing some fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) related to copyright issues over the weekend, POPCAT continues to exhibit strong price action, pushing toward new highs. “POPCAT seems the best contender, for now, not a single cat meme coin has yet to hit a $1B market cap,” noted Deutscher, highlighting its standout performance. Ethereum Finance (ETHFI): In the realm of liquidity reward tokens (LRT), ETHFI remains a notable mention despite a broader sector sell-off post-Eigen. Deutscher believes the selling may have been overreactive, and with total value locked (TVL) still on the rise, a reversion to mean on prices could be imminent. SEI Network (SEI): As anticipation builds for the launch of the new layer one blockchain, Monad, later this year, SEI is seen as a strategic play. Categorized within the parallelized Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) narrative, SEI experienced a substantial sell-off but is poised for recovery as the market focus shifts towards upcoming launches. Friend (FRIEND): After recommending FRIEND at $1.30, Deutscher continues to see upside potential, particularly as it approaches more significant centralized exchange listings. He advises keeping an eye out for major pullbacks as opportunities to buy. Featured image from Matt Paul Catalano / Unsplash, chart from TradingView.com

#defi #crypto #cryptocurrency #friend.tech #crypto news #cryptocurrency market news #friend #friend token #friend.tech news #friend.tech token

The decentralized social network Friend.tech, launched in August 2023, is facing a significant setback as its native token, FRIEND, experiences a staggering 98.5% drop in value.  Investors who participated in the recent airdrop of FRIEND tokens have expressed serious concerns about the development, highlighting issues with token claiming and app functionality. Investors Hit Hard As FRIEND Token Crashes Upon its debut, the FRIEND token entered the market with a trading price of $169 per token, attracting 18,000 holders, and boasting a circulating supply of 14 million tokens.  However, the current trading price has plummeted to approximately $1.26, resulting in a market cap of $27.7 million and liquidity of $5.4 million, according to DexScreener data, leaving many investors frustrated.  Related Reading: Why This Crypto Bull Run Might Not Live Up To The Past: Analyst The airdrop process, which aimed to distribute tokens to the community, has faced its fair share of challenges. Users on social media site X (formerly Twitter) expressed frustration over the declining value of their airdropped tokens.  Some claimants experienced difficulties claiming their tokens, while others reported watching the value of their holdings diminish significantly in hours.  One user even accused a prominent figure of orchestrating a rug pull, further fueling the community’s discontent.  DeFi Researcher Slams Friend.tech V2 Launch Despite the current downturn, some crypto analysts predict a potential recovery for the FRIEND token. Notably, crypto analyst Daan Crypto Trades suggests that the token’s value may rise in the future, emphasizing that market sentiment may change once users start to see returns on their investments. However, concerns remain regarding the functionality of the Friend.tech app, which experienced significant issues during its initial weeks. DeFi researcher DeFi Ignas expressed disappointment in Friend.tech’s V2 launch, describing it as a “massive flop.” Ignas criticized the app’s usability issues and questioned whether the team’s focus was misplaced during development. Speculation arose regarding whether the team deliberately orchestrated a price decline to prompt a subsequent surge in value. Related Reading: Bitcoin Update: $120 Million Futures Liquidated As Price Takes A Beating Despite this, the self-proclaimed number one creator on Friend.tech’s platform, using the pseudonym “Captain Levi,” stated the following in support of the token: The dump is brutal but actually healthy as jeeters sell at heavily discounted prices while real users have not even waken up to the full potential of V2 and money clubs given the app barely works. think we already saw bottom and price should slowly recover as users buy clubs As Friend.tech grapples with the challenges surrounding the FRIEND token, the crypto community eagerly awaits improvements in app functionality and a potential revival of the token’s value.  Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

#ethereum #defi #blockchain #crypto #eth #solana #blockchain technology #solana blockchain #crypto news #cryptocurrency market news #solusd #solusdt #ethereum blockchain #eclipse #neon evm #neonusd #neonusdt

Layer 2 (L2) blockchain Eclipse and developer-oriented bridge Neon EVM have formed a new collaboration to implement changes in the blockchain landscape, increasing interoperability and scalability with the integration of Ethereum (ETH) and Solana (SOL).  Aiming to combine the capabilities of both blockchains, Eclipse has consolidated the compatibility between the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) and the Solana Virtual Machine (SVM) by deploying Neon Stack. Solana And Ethereum Integration  The primary objective of this collaboration is to integrate Solana’s transaction handling capabilities, which can process thousands of transactions per second, into Ethereum.  Related Reading: Ripple Unlocks 1 Billion XRP From Escrow – How Will This Impact Price? This integration will be facilitated by Neon Stack, a standardized development stack that enables smart contract developers to achieve Ethereum Virtual Machine compatibility on Solana Virtual Machine-based blockchain networks. Eclipse plans to leverage Neon Stack on its SVM L2 to facilitate this integration. The Neon Stack consists of Neon EVM smart contracts and Neon Proxy. It has been live on the Solana mainnet since July 2023. It has deployed numerous Ethereum-native Solidity decentralized applications (dApps), including decentralized finance (DeFi), gaming, and decentralized exchanges (DEXs), on Solana from its existing codebase.  Neon EVM-Eclipse Partnership For Cross-Chain Development Davide Menegaldo, Chief Commercial Officer (COO) of Neon EVM, expressed enthusiasm for Neon Stack and the collaboration, stating:  With Neon Stack, we are paving the way for high-performance, scalable dApps infrastructure that transcends the limitations of traditional blockchain architectures and redefines computational efficiency. We are pleased to see Eclipse as the first industry partner to utilize the Neon Stack. On the other hand, Neel Somani, founder of Eclipse Labs, the company behind the development of the Layer 2 blockchain, also emphasized the importance of the partnership, saying: Our collaboration with Neon Stack enables developers to seamlessly deploy their dApps from EVM chains to Eclipse, further strengthening the harmonization between Solana and Ethereum. Solidity developers who wish to build on a high-performance L2 that leverages the strengths of the SVM can finally do so.” Interestingly, the Ethereum ecosystem hosts over 13,000 dApps, with only a small fraction, 0.4%, cross-chained with Solana. This collaboration between Neon EVM and Eclipse could also provide further opportunities for developers to build new dApps with the new integration.  Related Reading: Whales Dive In, But Dogecoin Price Sinks 20%: What’s Going On? In sum, it is believed that developers will be able to build advanced dApps that leverage the features of Ethereum and Solana, along with their respective native ecosystems and virtual machines, by leveraging the design of the NEON Stack and Eclipse. As of the current update, the native token of NEON EVM, NEON, is trading at $1.0135. It has shown a 2.6% recovery over the past 24 hours, aligning with the overall positive movement in the cryptocurrency market. However, during the past 7 days, the token has witnessed a price decline, experiencing a nearly 8% drop. Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com 

#whales #cardano #ada #altcoins #cryptocurrency market news

Cardano (ADA), the smart contracts platform known for its energy-efficient Proof-of-Stake consensus mechanism, has been generating buzz lately. On-chain data reveals a significant uptick in large transactions, hinting at a potential return of the whales – major investors who can significantly impact cryptocurrency prices. Related Reading: Polygon In Peril: Will MATIC Bounce Back Or Stay Stuck In The Sub-$1 Doldrums? Whales Making Waves On The Cardano Sea IntoTheBlock, a blockchain analytics firm, reported a surge in Cardano transactions exceeding $100,000. Over the past week, the average daily volume for these large transactions reached nearly $14 billion. Cardano whales are busy, with an average large transaction volume of $13.84B a day in the last 7 days. For comparison, this is a third of Bitcoin’s current volume, 5x as much as Litecoin’s volume and over 16x that of Dogecoin! pic.twitter.com/xU2XMoEQbM — IntoTheBlock (@intotheblock) April 29, 2024 This represents a third of Bitcoin’s transaction volume within the same timeframe, showcasing a surge in activity on the Cardano network. Interestingly, the data dwarfs Dogecoin’s large transaction volume by a whopping 16 times, highlighting the increased interest in Cardano compared to the meme coin. Unveiling The Mystery: Are Whales Buying Or Selling? While the high transaction volume is undeniable, its implication for Cardano’s price remains unclear. Large transactions can represent both buying and selling activity, making it difficult to predict a definitive price direction. ADA market cap currently at $16 billion. Chart: TradingView.com However, the sustained volume exceeding $10 billion throughout the week, even during a recent price dip, suggests continued movement within the network. This could indicate institutional investors entering the Cardano market or signify significant internal token transfers within the ecosystem. Data Hints At Bullish Undercurrents While the exact nature of the large transactions remains to be seen, Santiment, another on-chain analytics platform, provides a potentially bullish signal. Their data suggests a growing accumulation trend among large holders. Addresses containing between 100,000 and 100 million ADA have been steadily increasing their holdings since the beginning of April. This accumulation by whales could be a positive sign for Cardano’s future price, indicating their confidence in the project’s long-term potential. Technical Analysis Paints A Target-Rich Environment Market analyst Cobra Vanguard has weighed in on the recent developments, employing technical analysis to predict Cardano’s price trajectory. Vanguard identifies an expanding price channel that Cardano has been trading within since the start of the year. This pattern suggests higher highs and lower lows, potentially indicating continued price volatility. Based on this analysis, Vanguard outlines several price targets for ADA, with the first hurdle at $0.52. Related Reading: Ethereum Fees Dive: Will This Spark A Surge In Network Activity? If successfully breached, the analyst predicts further climbs towards $0.57, $0.61, and $0.67. The ultimate target sits at a bullish $0.77, potentially marking a significant price increase for Cardano. Cardano: A Sea Of Opportunity Or A Whale’s Playground? The recent surge in large transactions on the Cardano network has undoubtedly generated excitement within the cryptocurrency community. While the exact reasons behind the high volume remain unclear, the potential involvement of whales and the uptick in accumulation by large holders paint a cautiously optimistic picture. Featured image from Invyce, chart from TradingView

#ethereum #news #crypto #eth #airdrop #cryptocurrency #eigenlayer #cryptocurrency market news #ethusd #ethusdt #ethereum news #airdrop news #ethereum ecosystem #latest ethereum news #eigen #eigenlayer (eigen)

EigenLayer, a decentralized restaking protocol built on Ethereum (ETH), has made significant announcements, paving the way for new developments within the crypto ecosystem.  The protocol unveiled its native token, EIGEN, which the newly formed Eigen Foundation will distribute. Alongside this, EigenLayer introduced a major plan for an airdrop and released a comprehensive new Whitepaper. EigenLayer Unveils EIGEN With Novel Mechanism According to the protocol’s announcement, the introduction of the EIGEN token brings forth a complementary mechanism designed to address “intersubjective” faults, which cannot be resolved through ETH restaking alone.  By expanding ETH restaking, EigenLayer positions ETH as the Universal Objective Work Token, while the universality of EIGEN makes it the Universal Intersubjective Work Token. EIGEN’s universality is reportedly aimed at allowing it to fork and slash for intersubjective errors committed by EIGEN stakers in any AVS (Automated Verification System) within the protocol.  To ensure widespread adoption of EIGEN across applications, EigenLayer has designed an application-independent mechanism to maintain the system’s cryptoeconomic security.  Related Reading: Ethereum Fees Dive: Will This Spark A Surge In Network Activity? In EigenLayer, EIGEN staking and ETH restaking play complementary roles. EIGEN addresses safety properties through objective slashing, and ETH restaking ensures liveness and censorship-resistance properties dependent on stake decentralization. The launch of EIGEN also introduces intersubjective staking, marking a significant milestone for the protocol and the Ethereum ecosystem. However, due to its newly introduced design, the concept requires widespread adoption and discussion among ecosystem participants.  At launch, the Eigen token will have a total supply of 1.67 billion tokens, with the Foundation allocating 45% of the tokens to the community. This allocation is further divided into staked drops, community initiatives, and ecosystem development. Investors will reportedly receive almost 30% of the tokens, while early contributors will receive over 25%. Both these groups are subject to a three-year lockup period for their allocations.  A complete lock will be in place during the first year, followed by a gradual release of their total holdings at a rate of 4% per month over the subsequent two years. EIGEN Token Launches Meta-Setup Phase While the initial implementation of intersubjective staking at launch mirrors only a limited extent of the full protocol, several parameters still need to be determined for its full actuation.  To address this, EIGEN is being launched in a meta-setup phase, serving as a call to action for researchers, experts, and the broader community to engage in public discourse.  As EigenLayer announced, this collaborative effort aims to help define the necessary parameters to make the protocol and its interaction with the rest of the Ethereum ecosystem as effective as possible. Related Reading: Crypto Analyst Says Altcoins Are About To Enter A Parabolic Curve, Here’s Why Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com 

#crypto #ripple #xrp #altcoins #cryptocurrency market news

The once-booming cryptocurrency XRP, championed by Ripple Labs, finds itself precariously perched on a stormy sea of uncertainty. Recent weeks have been a tempestuous voyage for the digital asset, rocked by a confluence of challenges: regulatory scrutiny, dwindling investor confidence, and now, the ominous exodus of major whales. Related Reading: Render Revving Up: Analyst Predicts Potential Climb To $16 XRP Whale Exodus Sparks Fear These “whales,” the deep-pocketed investors holding vast quantities of XRP, have begun executing sizable sell orders, sending tremors through the market. On-chain data reveals a colossal transfer exceeding 24 million units, valued at slightly over $12 million, departing from the Bitvavo exchange and vanishing into an anonymous wallet. Such sizeable movements are often interpreted as a bearish signal, signifying a potential lack of faith among these influential investors and casting a dark cloud over XRP’s immediate future. Source: Whale Alert/X XRP Price Takes A Tumble The negative undercurrents permeating the market have manifested in a precipitous decline of XRP’s price. At the time of writing, XRP is trading at a meager $0.51, representing a staggering 16% devaluation over the past month alone. This price plunge underscores XRP’s struggle to regain its footing amidst a broader market correction that has gripped the cryptocurrency space since May 2023. Institutional Investors Lose Their Appetite For XRP Adding fuel to the fire of anxiety is a noticeable decline in institutional interest. Insights gleaned from Santiment’s data point towards a palpable disinterest among entities holding significant XRP reserves. XRP market cap currently at $27.7 billion. Chart: TradingView.com Investors with holdings ranging from 100,000 to 100 XRP, typically categorized as high-net-worth individuals or institutional players, are exhibiting signs of skepticism. This trend further diminishes XRP’s allure in the market, amplifying the prevailing bearish sentiment. On-Chain Metrics Signal Trouble On The Horizon Looking deeper into the murky waters of XRP’s on-chain metrics reveals a disturbing trend – a decline in both network growth and transaction velocity. The acquisition of new users on the XRP network appears to be stagnating, coupled with a decrease in the frequency of transactions. XRP 24-hour price action. Source: CoinMarketCap This suggests a potential loss of interest among investors and a reluctance to trade XRP. However, a solitary beacon of hope shines through the gloom – a surge in long-term holders. This uptick indicates that some investors remain confident in XRP’s long-term prospects, choosing to hold onto their assets despite the current turbulence. Related Reading: Is SUI Sinking? TVL Tanks As Crypto Price Fails To Keep Afloat Development Activity Dwindles, Raising Concerns About Innovation The realm of development also paints a concerning picture for XRP. Indicators such as code commits and the number of active developers working on XRP-related projects have displayed a downward trajectory. This dearth of development activity raises concerns about a potential lack of innovation or progress within the XRP ecosystem. A stagnant ecosystem can further erode investor confidence and exacerbate the bearish sentiment surrounding the cryptocurrency. Featured image from Corporate Finance Institute, chart from TradingView

#crypto #price analysis #altcoins #cryptocurrency market news #litecoin #ltc

Litecoin (LTC) defied the overall sluggishness of Proof-of-Work (PoW) coins this week, climbing 4% to a two-week high of $86 on April 26. This surge has rattled short sellers and ignited a potential short squeeze, with analysts predicting a bullish run towards the $100 mark. Related Reading: Is SUI Sinking? TVL Tanks As Crypto Price Fails To Keep Afloat Litecoin Bulls Flex Their Muscle While other cryptocurrencies have struggled to gain momentum this week, Litecoin bulls have managed to push slightly ahead. This unexpected rally has added a significant $190 million to Litecoin’s market capitalization, showcasing a renewed investor interest in the digital silver. Market watchers attribute the surge to a confluence of factors. Firstly, a significant number of traders are betting big on Litecoin’s continued rise, evident in the overwhelming leverage applied in the derivatives market. Data from Coinglass reveals a bullish sentiment, with the value of long leveraged positions exceeding shorts by a notable margin. This optimistic outlook places immense pressure on short sellers, who stand to incur heavy losses if the price keeps climbing. Source: Coinglass Short Squeeze Looms As Price Eyes $100 The current price action suggests that a short squeeze might be brewing. Short sellers borrow LTC tokens, sell them at a higher price in anticipation of buying them back later at a lower price to pocket the difference. However, if the price goes up instead of down, they are forced to buy back LTC at a loss to cover their positions. This buying activity to mitigate losses further pushes the price up, creating a snowball effect. LTC is currently trading at $84.42. Chart: TradingView Analysts estimate that a mere 10% price increase, propelling LTC to $96, could trigger liquidations worth $16 million for short sellers. Conversely, bullish traders have amassed leveraged long positions exceeding $16 million around the current price point. This leverage disparity empowers the bulls to potentially drive the price towards the coveted $100 milestone in the coming days. Related Reading: The Machines Know: Bitcoin Primed For Epic Price Surge To $77,000 Volatility Ahead: A Word Of Caution While the short-term outlook for Litecoin appears optimistic, experts advise caution. The current rally seems primarily driven by speculation and leveraged trading, not necessarily by fundamental advancements within the Litecoin ecosystem. This dependence on market sentiment makes the price susceptible to swings. If the bullish momentum fizzles out, a price correction could trigger significant liquidations of overleveraged long positions, causing a reversal. The coming days will be crucial in determining whether the bulls can maintain control and propel LTC to $100, or if the bears regroup and trigger a reversal of fortunes. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

#defi #uniswap #arbitrum #uniswap price #uni price #cryptocurrency market news #arb price #uniusdt #united states sec

Uniswap, one of the world’s largest decentralized exchanges (DEX) by total value locked (TVL), is approaching a major milestone on Arbitrum, the largest layer-2 by TVL on Ethereum. According to data from Dune Analytics shared by Uniswap Labs, Uniswap on Arbitrum is on the cusp of surpassing a staggering $150 billion in total swap volume. Riding The DeFi Boom As of April 25, Uniswap had facilitated over $146 billion in cumulative swap volume on Arbitrum alone. The number has gradually increased over the past three years since June 2021, when it was deployed on Arbitrum, looking at on-chain data.  By August 2021, Uniswap was processing less than $5,000 in swap volume. After that, they steadily picked up momentum throughout the crypto bear run of 2022. Notably, a sharp uptick from October 2023 coincided with the start of the crypto boom that eventually propelled Ethereum to over $4,000 in Q1 2024. Related Reading: HBAR Prices Crashes 35% As BlackRock Denies Any Ties To Hedera The rising swap volume on Arbitrum reflects the increasing preference for Decentralized Finance (DeFi) solutions. As Uniswap on Arbitrum nears $150 billion, more users are increasingly turning to the popular DEX to trade, all without giving up control of their assets. The surging popularity of Uniswap on Arbitrum can be partly attributed to significantly lower transaction fees compared to the Ethereum mainnet. Through Arbitrum, the optimistic roll-up solution, swappers enjoy low transaction fees. They can also trade from a scalable environment secured by the Ethereum mainnet.  Ethereum developers recently implemented Dencun, introducing a new transaction format called “blobs.” Because of this, layer-2 solutions can store large chunks of data off-chain, reducing the mainnet bloat. Subsequently, fees have been lowered, drastically enhancing the user experience for Arbitrum and other layer-2 users like Base and Optimism. Uniswap V4 And United States Wells Notice Following Dencun’s activation, Uniswap Labs plans to deploy v4. This iteration introduces features like Hooks that developers say will make the DEX even more efficient and flexible. The launch is set for this year. Though Uniswap V4 is huge for the DEX and DeFi as a whole, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) ‘s decision to issue a Wells notice is a setback. Related Reading: SEC Anticipated To Reject Spot Ethereum ETFs In Upcoming Decision, ETH Price Takes 5% Hit The regulator intends to sue. However, the founder, Hayden Adams, responded in a post on X that they are ready to fight. Feature image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView

#defi #crypto #blackrock #cryptocurrency #hedera #crypto news #cryptocurrency market news #blackrock news #hbar #hbar price #hbar price analysis #hbarusd #hbarusdt #hedera ecosystem #hedera news #hedera price

In a surprising turn of events, the native token of the decentralized ledger platform Hedera, HBAR, experienced a significant price surge of over 100% during the early hours of Tuesday. Starting from a low of $0.0875, HBAR skyrocketed to reach the $0.1821 mark by Wednesday.  The sudden surge was triggered by the news of BlackRock’s tokenized fund, BUIDL, which generated high expectations among HBAR investors regarding a potential collaboration between the prominent asset manager and the Hedera protocol. Not Directly Connected To Hedera? Launched by BlackRock in March 2024, BUIDL operates as a tokenized fund on the Ethereum blockchain, providing US dollar yields through tokenization.  Related Reading: Newbie Bitcoin Whales Hold 2x As Much As Veterans: What’s Behind This Trend? Initially, an announcement led to confusion among investors, who mistakenly believed that BlackRock would directly tokenize the fund on the Hedera network. This misunderstanding triggered a significant surge in the HBAR price. Upon closer examination of the announcement, it became clear that BlackRock and Hedera had no direct connection, although the initial reaction to the news was noteworthy.  Crypto analysts, who use the pseudonym “CrediBull” on social media site X (formerly Twitter), shed light on the situation, emphasizing that explicit permission from BlackRock was unnecessary to list tokenized versions of their funds.  It was not a deliberate decision by BlackRock to tokenize on Hedera; rather, an existing platform on the network took the liberty of tokenizing one of BlackRock’s funds. However, for the analyst, the fact that a platform on Hedera was among the first to tokenize a BlackRock fund reflects the platform’s leadership in the space. Analyst Clarifies Misconception Further examination reveals that Archax, the company behind the tokenized BlackRock fund on Hedera, is a portfolio company of ABRDN Investments, the largest asset manager in the UK, with approximately $500 billion in assets under management (AUM).  Additionally, CrediBull emphasizes that BlackRock happens to be the fourth-largest shareholder of ABRDN. Notably, around ten months ago, Archax tokenized one of ABRDN’s money market funds, preceding their launch of the BlackRock fund. An interview by the Head of Digital Assets at ABRDN clarifies their involvement in the tokenization process on Archax. A “distribution agreement” was signed permitting the tokenization to proceed. If a similar agreement were reached with BlackRock, it would imply the asset manager’s endorsement of the product. Related Reading: Analysts Identify Key Scenario For Bitcoin Hitting $100,000 Ultimately, the interview with the head of digital assets at ABRDN underscores the fact that significant players are utilizing and contributing to the growth of Hedera behind the scenes. Following the clarification of the situation, the price of HBAR has retraced to $0.1199. Nevertheless, it remains up 8% over the past 24 hours and has recorded an impressive gain of nearly 60% in the past seven days.  CoinGecko data highlights a substantial surge in HBAR’s trading volume, which has increased by over 1,100% in the past few days. This surge in trading volume indicates the widespread confusion sparked by the initial news announcement. Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

#solana #memecoin #bonk #bonk price #wif #dogwifhat #wif price #crypto news #cryptocurrency market news

Two Solana-based memecoins, Bonk (BONK) and Dogwifhat (WIF), have registered substantial gains over the past 24 hours. BONK recorded a 35% increase, while WIF climbed by 19%, positioning them among the top three gainers in the top 100 cryptocurrencies by market cap today. Only Hedera Hashgraph (HBAR) surpassed them, with a notable 44% rise during the same period. Resolution Of Solana’s Congestion Issues Spurs Memecoins The significant uptick in these Solana memecoins is closely linked to the recent improvements in the Solana network’s performance. A tweet from SolanaFloor earlier today indicated, “BREAKING: Solana’s congestion issues have been completely resolved, with block production back to normal. Transactions confirming in under 2 seconds.” This announcement marks a pivotal moment for the network which had been plagued by congestion issues. Source A: https://t.co/2TVnbaPNlHSource B: https://t.co/GfHxy8dC1B — SolanaFloor | Powered by Step Finance (@SolanaFloor) April 24, 2024 On April 15, Solana developers rolled out crucial updates designed to alleviate these problems, urging validators to adopt version v1.17.31. This version introduces changes in the treatment of validators based on their stakes. Further enhancements are anticipated with the release of version v1.18 next month, which will include a new scheduler, albeit disabled by default. Related Reading: Solana Meme Coin Massacre: 12 Projects Gone In 30 Days, $27 Million Vanished Andrew Kang, founder of Mechanism Capital, remarked a few days before the fix, “Let’s also not forget that the Solana congestion issues have weighed down SOL and Solana-based memecoins significantly. It’s not a question of if but when the network is significantly improved. That’s your springboard.” Kang’s comments now seem prophetic as the resolution of network issues has indeed acted as a springboard for memecoin valuations. Specifics On Rally Of Dogwifhat (WIF) And BONK The price of WIF soared to a 24-hour high of $3.43 on April 24, buoyed by an impressive 96% increase in trading volume. This influx was fueled by notable acquisitions from whales like Ansem, who capitalized on the positive market sentiments. Related Reading: Solana Price Jumps 7% On Bitcoin And Ethereum ETF Approvals, Network Congestion Update The breakout above the resistance level at $3.18, after a week of sideways trading between $1.97 and $3.18, was a significant trigger. WIF formed a two-week-long ascending triangle, a bullish chart pattern that indicated a continuation of the previous upward trend. The breakout was widely discussed in the crypto community, with trader Bluntz Capital confirming the pattern’s resolution and sparking further bullish sentiment. 2 week long ascending triangle forming here on $WIF, i think the breakout is imminent pic.twitter.com/S0OZWBsq6u — Bluntz (@Bluntz_Capital) April 24, 2024 BONK is registering a dramatic 35% rise, with a remarkable 304% increase in trading volume. The price action successfully breached the 0.236 Fibonacci retracement level at $0.000020727, and continued its upward trajectory to the 0.5 Fibonacci level, signaling strong buying interest and bullish momentum. This rally probably gained additional support from the recent listing of BONK by the global neobank Revolut, which was announced on April 22. This inclusion in Revolut’s trading platform, which features over 150 digital currencies, provided significant exposure and legitimacy, further enhancing investor interest and market activity around BONK. Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

#ethereum #crypto #eth #price analysis #altcoins #cryptocurrency market news

Ethereum (ETH) stands as a bellwether for the industry’s ebbs and flows. As of press time, Ethereum was trading at $3,174, its price trying to reach the crucial $3,000 mark. However, beneath the surface of these seemingly stable waters lies a complex interplay of market forces and investor sentiment. Source: CoinMarketCap Related Reading: Solana Meme Coin Massacre: 12 Projects Gone In 30 Days, $27 Million Vanished Ether’s Challenging Trajectory Since last week, the lower timeframes have seen repeated breaches of the $3,000 psychological threshold, and the enthusiasm surrounding the altcoin king has significantly waned. This downward pressure is further underscored by the notable drop in Open Interest (OI) behind ETH futures contracts, which plummeted from $10 billion to $7 billion in April alone. Such a decline suggests a recalibration in the futures market, potentially signaling a cooling-off period for speculative trading activity. Source: CryptoQuant Navigating Choppy Waters However, amidst the uncertainty, there exists a glimmer of hope for ETH bulls. Historical precedents, such as the mid-February 2021 correction, offer insight into the resilience of Ethereum’s price. Following a similar dip from an all-time high of $1,900 to $1,400, Ethereum experienced a V-shaped reversal, demonstrating the market’s propensity for swift recoveries. This historical context serves as a guiding light for investors navigating the choppy waters of cryptocurrency volatility. Total crypto market cap currently at $2.3 trillion. Chart: TradingView On the social sentiment front, Ethereum’s trajectory has been a tale of two halves. While sentiment was strongly positive in February and briefly in mid-March, a negative sentiment has dominated as prices entered a correction phase. Factors such as high gas fees on the Ethereum network have likely contributed to this shift, highlighting the impact of practical considerations on market sentiment. Ethereum: Fundamental Metrics Examining Ethereum’s fundamental metrics provides further insights into its current state. Network growth has slowed in recent months, signaling a potential decline in demand. However, a closer look reveals a silver lining: the 90-day mean coin age has trended steadily higher since late March, indicating a network-wide accumulation of ETH. Ether price action in the last 24 hours. Source: CoinMarketCap As Ethereum continues to navigate these turbulent waters, all eyes are on key resistance levels. Breaking above the $3,300 barrier could instill confidence among traders and investors, potentially heralding a new wave of bullish momentum. However, uncertainties loom large, particularly in light of the broader market dynamics and the selling pressure on Bitcoin, Ethereum’s perennial counterpart. Related Reading: Is The Bitcoin Bloodbath Over? Analysts Say $60,000 Is The Cycle’s Bottom While challenges abound and uncertainties persist, Ethereum’s historical performance and fundamental strengths offer hope for a brighter future. As investors brace for potential headwinds and opportunities alike, Ethereum stands poised to weather the storm and emerge stronger on the other side. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

#cryptocurrency news #crypto news #cryptocurrency market news #akash network #akash network news #akash price #akt #akt price

Amidst a rather quiet altcoin market, Akash Network (AKT) has emerged as today’s standout performer among the top 100 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, recording a significant 46% increase in price over the past 24 hours. This surge has propelled AKT to the forefront, well ahead of its peers such as Core (CORE) and Arweave (AR), which posted gains of 7% and 6%, respectively. As of this writing, AKT is trading at $6.03. This increase in price has pushed its market cap to approximately $1.4 billion, positioning it as the 68th-largest cryptocurrency. Additionally, Akash Network’s trading volume has seen a dramatic rise of 2,790%, reaching $116 million today. Earlier today, AKT reached a new all-time high of $6.84 on the cryptocurrency exchange Kraken, though it has since adjusted to around $6.03, below its previous peak of $6.49. Catalysts For The Akash Network Surge The primary driver behind today’s price escalation appears to be an announcement from Upbit, a major South Korean cryptocurrency exchange. Upbit has confirmed that it will list AKT, offering trading pairs in South Korean Won (KRW), Bitcoin (BTC), and Tether (USDT) starting at 10:00 UTC today. Related Reading: Akash Who? Lesser-Known Altcoin Rules Weekend’s Top 100 List With 40% Rally Further fueling investor interest, data from Santiment, a market intelligence platform, shows that Akash Network’s social media volume has spiked by 200% in the last 24 hours. This surge in social activity, predominantly on platforms like Reddit and Bitcointalk, has played a significant role in AKT’s market performance. Future Price Trajectory Looking ahead, if AKT’s price can record a daily close above the previous all-time high of $6.49 (set on March 11, 2024) today, the next target could be $7.46, corresponding to the 1.272 Fibonacci extension of the overarching price movement. Should the buying pressure continue, a move towards $8.64, marked by the 1.618 Fibonacci extension, might be on the horizon. Here, traders should anticipate potential profit-taking. A breakthrough beyond this level could pave the way to medium-term targets at $10.92 (2.272 Fibonacci extension) and potentially even $12.13 (2.618 Fibonacci projection), contingent on continued bullish sentiment across the broader crypto market. Related Reading: AI Crypto Tokens Like Render, WorldCoin Are ‘Overvalued’: Coinbase Research Conversely, if AKT fails to uphold its new highs and closes below $6.48, a downward correction towards the $5.74 zone (0.786 Fibonacci level) could occur, where new buying opportunities might arise. A further dip below this level could see retests of the $5.16 (0.618 Fibonacci level) and $4.75 (0.5 Fibonacci level) support zones. The trajectory of AKT, like that of many cryptocurrencies, could be influenced by broader market conditions, including potential downturns triggered by accelerating US inflation, the US Fed’s favorite inflation gauge, the Personal Consumption Expenditures Price Index (PCE) is set for release on Friday, April 26, or other macroeconomic factors. Nevertheless, the 200-day exponential moving average (EMA), currently at $3.24, remains the most critical long-term support level for AKT. Featured image from MetaNews, chart from TradigView.com

#bitcoin #crypto #halving #btc #btcusd #cryptocurrency market news

Bitcoin enthusiasts around the globe can now breathe a collective sigh of relief as the world’s premier cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, rebounds from a recent downturn. Related Reading: Bitcoin Miners Strike Gold: $107 Million Profit From Runes-Fueled Minting Spree Last week witnessed Bitcoin, akin to the broader market, sliding below the $60,000 mark, primarily due to risk aversion, the US tax season, and escalating geopolitical tensions in the Middle East. However, in a surprising turn of events, Bitcoin has not only recovered but has surged past the $66,000 mark, reigniting optimism and sparking discussions about its future trajectory. This recent resurgence in Bitcoin’s price comes on the heels of a significant price correction that coincided with April’s highly anticipated Bitcoin halving event. The halving event, a recurring phenomenon in Bitcoin’s protocol, entails a reduction in the rate at which new Bitcoins are mined, effectively halving the supply. 20% drawdown would fit the current bull’s pattern: pic.twitter.com/usNxQz1t92 — Tuur Demeester (@TuurDemeester) April 18, 2024 Historically, this event has been associated with heightened market volatility, as some analysts feared that the supply shock could trigger a prolonged sell-off. Nevertheless, prominent figures in the cryptocurrency space, such as Tuur Demeester, offer a more sanguine perspective. Demeester suggests that the recent dip to $60,000 might signal the floor of the correction, aligning with historical patterns observed during bull markets. According to Demeester, a 20% drawdown from highs is considered a typical correction for Bitcoin, and thus, there is a strong possibility that $60,000 could serve as a support level moving forward. BTCUSD trading at $65,883 on the 24-hour chart: TradingView.com While Demeester advocates for stability in Bitcoin’s price, anoother analyst, McKenna, foresee a period of sideways movement. McKenna agrees with Demeester regarding the $60,000 floor but predicts that Bitcoin may enter a re-accumulation phase, characterized by prolonged sideways price action. I think there is a high probability that the bottom for the halving selloff is in but simultaneously think there is an equal high probability that we are forming a re-accumulation range. Meaning expect sideways price action for longer than expected. #BTC pic.twitter.com/K24Md0TKXH — McKenna (@Crypto_McKenna) April 21, 2024 Interestingly, McKenna believes that this sideways movement could present an opportune moment for alternative cryptocurrencies, known as altcoins, to shine in the short term. Related Reading: Will Celestia (TIA) Hit $130? Analyst Makes Bold Prediction The recent resurgence in Bitcoin’s price has sparked optimism among investors and analysts alike. As attention turns to May, all eyes are on whether Bitcoin’s sideways movement materializes and if the effects of the halving event truly dissipate. With cautious optimism prevailing, the current price range between $60,000 and $71,000 could become a pivotal zone for future price dynamics, ushering in a new era of prosperity in the cryptocurrency markets. Featured image from Pxfuel, chart from TradingView

#bitcoin #crypto #halving #ordinals #btc #btcusd #cryptocurrency market news #runes

Bitcoin miners have struck a proverbial goldmine, reaping an astonishing $107 million in profits, according to data from Glassnode, a leading analytics platform. This unprecedented windfall, amassed on April 20th, underscores a significant shift in the revenue dynamics of Bitcoin mining operations. Related Reading: Will Celestia (TIA) Hit $130? Analyst Makes Bold Prediction The meteoric rise in transaction fees serves as a bellwether for the evolving economic landscape of Bitcoin mining. As the network adapts to new market demands and technological advancements, transaction fees have emerged as a crucial revenue stream for miners. This trend is particularly noteworthy given the scheduled reductions in block rewards, highlighting the resilience and adaptability of Bitcoin’s economic model. According to glassnode, affected by the Runes minting activity, on April 20, Bitcoin miner revenue reached US$106.7 million, of which 75.444% came from network transaction fees, both reaching record highs. https://t.co/lVSyqn1UaE pic.twitter.com/xjkkTor2I9 — Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) April 21, 2024 Runes-Fueled Minting Spree Boosts Miner Revenue Driving this surge in profitability is a recent minting spree focused on Runes, a pivotal development that has left a tangible mark on the network’s dynamics. Reports indicate that a staggering 75% of the total profits stemmed from transaction fees, marking a new pinnacle in the distribution of revenue among BTC miners. Runes is similar to Ordinals; they both let users permanently store data directly on the Bitcoin blockchain, like an inscription etched in stone. But there’s a key distinction in what they store: Ordinals are one-of-a-kind digital collectibles, similar to fancy trading cards. Runes, on the other hand, are designed to act more like meme coins, those widely tradable and often humorous tokens that have been a recent craze in the crypto world. BTCUSD trading at $66,144 on the weekly chart: TradingView.com This paradigm shift in income composition underscores the growing importance of transaction fees as a vital income source, especially as block rewards face planned reductions in the context of Bitcoin’s halving system. This financial triumph comes amidst ongoing debates surrounding the sustainability and profitability of mining activities. With escalating energy demands and mounting regulatory scrutiny, the viability of mining operations has been called into question. However, the recent data paints a reassuring picture of the economic vitality of Bitcoin mining, demonstrating its resilience in the face of external pressures. Implications For Bitcoin’s Future Beyond the immediate financial gains, the surge in transaction fees holds profound implications for the future trajectory of Bitcoin. The unprecedented collection of fees signifies robust network activity and user engagement, indicating strong demand and utilization of the Bitcoin blockchain. This bodes well for the long-term sustainability and development of Bitcoin as a prominent digital currency, bolstering confidence among stakeholders and enthusiasts alike. Related Reading: Ethereum Fueled Up: Will 320 Million USDT Inflow Ignite Price Surge? Featured image from VistaCreate, chart from TradingView

#crypto #cryptocurrencies #dogecoin #memecoin #doge #altcoin #cryptocurrency market news #ansem #next dogecoin

Crypto trading sensation Ansem, known on X (formerly Twitter) as @blknoiz06, has directed the market’s gaze towards the Bitcoin Runes ecosystem, labeling it as the nascent grounds for the next 100x crypto opportunity, as NewsBTC reported yesterday. Ansem, whose prowess is well-documented through his previous astronomical gains of 170x on Solana (SOL), 520x on dogwifhat (WIF), and 80x on Bonk (BONK), stirred the crypto community with his recent Dogecoin comparison. On the cusp of Bitcoin’s highly anticipated halving today, Ansem doubled down on his initial assessment, particularly highlighting two tokens within the Bitcoin Runes ecosystem: Bitcoin Wizards (WZRD) and PUPS. He equates WZRD with Dogecoin, suggesting it has the potential to mirror Dogecoin’s viral success. In contrast, he compares PUPS to the lesser-known but highly profitable dogwifhat (WIF). Related Reading: Elon Musk Latest Tweet: How Much Did Dogecoin Gain From It Today? In a tweet that caught the eye of both investors and enthusiasts, Ansem elaborated on his reasoning behind the picks, stating: Great thread, been saying, I believe Runes are next asymmetric 100x opp in crypto. The meme that got DOGE founder interested in Bitcoin & the phrase magic internet money is still used today – representative of bitcoin culture. DOGE equivalent = WZRD, WIF equivalent = PUPS. Ansem references a thread on X by Immutable Edge (@ImmutableSOL), who delved into the historical and cultural significance of the “Magic Internet Money” meme, originally sparked by mavensbot’s viral Reddit ad. The “Magic Internet Money” meme dates back to February 18, 2013, when mavensbot, a digital artist, submitted a hand-drawn depiction of a blue wizard to promote Bitcoin on Reddit. This ad, created during Bitcoin’s early adoption phase, was crucial in cultivating a cultural ethos around Bitcoin. It resonated deeply within the community, encapsulating the whimsical yet revolutionary nature of Bitcoin’s rise. The ad’s simplicity and authenticity resonated with the Reddit community, propelling Bitcoin from a niche internet experiment to a major financial phenomenon. Within weeks of the ad’s debut, Bitcoin’s value surged from $27 to a record high of $1,132 by November 2013. Related Reading: Dogecoin Flashes Weekly Golden Cross: Why This Analyst Believes The Bull Rally Is Far From Over Bitcoin Wizards, one of the highlighted tokens, aims to rekindle this original spirit. The token leverages the iconic imagery and cultural narrative of the “Magic Internet Money” meme to foster a new wave of interest and adoption. The creators of WZRD are not only paying homage to Bitcoin’s roots but are also embedding this storied meme within the mechanics of a modern cryptocurrency, aiming to capture both nostalgia and innovation. The Bitcoin Wizards project is part of the broader Bitcoin Runes ecosystem, which reached a lot of hype prior to its launch. According to Ansem, WZRD’s history and deep roots in memes give it the perfect ingredients to become the next Dogecoin, just on Bitcoin Runes. Moreover, the analyst assessment comes at a critical time for the crypto market, which is often influenced by the narratives that capture the community’s imagination. As the Bitcoin halving event unfolds, many eyes will be on the Bitcoin Runes ecosystem to see if it can indeed replicate the meteoric rises seen in BRC-20 tokens and Ordinals. At press time, WZRD traded at $12.15, up 70% in the last 24 hours. Featured image created with DALL·E, chart from TradingView.com

#ethereum #optimism #base #arbitrum #cryptocurrency market news #fraud proofs #layer-2s

Arbitrum, the largest Ethereum layer-2 scaling solution by total value locked (TVL), is taking steps towards decentralization. In an update on April 16, Offchain Labs–Arbitrum developers–said they have deployed the permissionless version of their fraud proofs, dubbed Bounded Liquidity Delay (BOLD), to testnet. Ethereum Layer-2s Are Popular, But There Is A Big Problem Ethereum layer-2 solutions have been gaining prominence over the years. According to L2Beat data on April 17, these platforms control over $37 billion of assets. Protocol developers and users can send transactions cheaply through Arbitrum, Optimism, Base, and other alternatives.  However, while they are popular and command billions in TVL, most of these platforms’ fraud proofs are being developed. Typically, when users transact all chains, all transactions must be confirmed by a web of miners or validators, depending on the consensus mechanism.  Related Reading: Whale Alert: MATIC Poised For Epic Surge – Time To Dive In? This differs in layer-2 options, which must reroute transactions and process them off-chain. There is no way of proving whether queued transactions are valid before being batched and confirmed on-chain. The fraud proofs, such as those presented by Arbitrum and other optimistic rollup solutions, are designed to address a critical issue in layer-2 solutions. Specifically, once live and integrated into Arbitrum, BOLD will serve as a safety net, ensuring the validity of transactions processed off-chain. This mechanism is crucial in maintaining the integrity of transactions while enabling efficient off-chain processing. In compliance with blockchain principles, BOLD will be decentralized. As such, the community will run nodes, which differs from the current setup. As it is, transaction validation in Arbitrum is centralized, and only a few validators are tasked with this. Arbitrum Deploys BOLD In Testnet, ARB Prices Falling With BOLD in the testnet, Arbitrum is opening up its rails so that anyone can participate in network security and validate withdrawals back to Ethereum. This move will be critical in building a more decentralized ecosystem and making the platform more robust. Arbitrum becomes the first Ethereum layer-2 to launch its fraud proofs in testnet. In a post on X, Ryan Watts of Optimism also notified the community that plans are underway to create a decentralized fraud-proof system for the second-most largest layer-2 by TVL. Even with this major milestone, ARB prices are stable and under pressure. Related Reading: Crypto Analyst Says Don’t Buy Altcoins Just Yet – Here’s Why The token is down 50% from March 2024 highs at spot rates and remains under immense selling pressure. If buyers reverse the April 12 and 13 sell-off, the token might recover strongly, racing towards $1.5. Feature image from Canva, chart from TradingView

#eth #sol #altcoins #cryptocurrency market news #crypto analyst #altcoin bearish #altcoin market #altcoin market cap

Many investors expressed worries about the crypto market corrections during this cycle. Bitcoin’s price drop has dragged altcoins with them, and, as a result, a more pessimistic sentiment has started to brew among some sectors of the crypto community. Analysts and traders have reassured investors that the market fluctuations are a normal part of the journey. Some urge the community to look at the bigger picture, as altcoins remain above levels not seen in years. Related Reading: Traders Forecast Massive Rally For Altcoins, But Why Is Sentiment “Down”? Renowned crypto analyst Altcoin Sherpa weighed in on the matter, exploring some of the reasons and differences that make this bull cycle different from the 2020s. Time For An Altcoins Cool-Off? In an X post, Altcoin Sherpa asserted that there’s a high possibility “that altcoins are done for the next 1-4 months.” The analyst considers that, right now, most of the market needs “time to chill out and consolidate after such a big run.” Despite recently falling below the $1 trillion market capitalization, altcoins have performed remarkably in the last few months. In 2024, cryptocurrencies’ market cap, excluding Bitcoin’s, has increased by 22.79%, according to TradingView data. Altcoins market cap has also considerably surged in longer timeframes, with a 91.31% and 52.46% jump in the last six months and the past year. This “big run,” as Sherpa called it, sits the cryptocurrency market at levels like those seen in 2022. However, what worries the crypto analyst is, despite the overall performance, “many alts didn’t even run that hard over the last few months.” He illustrated his point with Chainlink’s native token, LINK. Despite the +500 days of accumulation, LINK investors only got 3-4x gains depending on when they go in. Now, the token’s price is “strongly pulling back.” Expectations for altcoins during this cycle seemingly play a significant role in the current sentiment. As one X user pointed out, LINK was anticipated to be one of the biggest winners of this cycle, Sherpa replied that he “expected more lol.” The user playfully commented, “No dino coins and new and shiny coins are the better bet.” How Did The Market Change? The previous comment highlights what appears to be a significant difference between this bull run and the 2020s. Choosing your bag has become more difficult since the market has expanded significantly. Sherpa considers that “now more than ever, it is super important to choose the altcoins that are going to run hard.” In 2020, the massive altseason made “everything go up consecutively.” This time, the liquidity is more fragmented, and “only a few sectors are pumping.” The AI and memes sectors have been the hottest topic in 2024, and layer-1 (L1) tokens, like SEI, have also performed well. “Everything else? Not great,” remarked Sherpa. The massive number of tokens, both newly launched and old ones, are finding it more difficult to “capture mindshare/attention.” Regarding retail investors, the analyst is not surprised that the default choice is memecoins instead of “trying to learn about some DeFi veRewards type of stuff. Or Oracle or L1s or modular or anything else.” The analyst suggested investors “move to real value” like ETH and SOL. He also considers that big token launches, with significant money behind them, “have some real value.” These coins, as stated in the post, have the potential to “do very well” once Bitcoin stabilizes. Sherpa’s market analysis closes with a “pretty bearish” outlook for the following months. The growing difficulty in keeping user attention and “for people to become strong users/community members” for many projects has made the market a different playground. Ultimately, the analyst pointed out that “portfolio rebalances are necessary” and said he still believes this run is not over. Related Reading: Crypto Analyst Says Don’t Buy Altcoins Just Yet – Here’s Why Altcoins market cap sitting at $981 billion in the weekly chart. Source: TOTAL2 on TradingView Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com

#bitcoin #crypto #btc #cryptocurrency #bitcoin news #btcfi #crypto news #cryptocurrency market news #bitcoin altcoins #top 10 altcoins #top 10 btcfi altcoins

As the community prepares for the much-anticipated fourth halving set for April 19, 2024, the buzz around Bitcoin-based projects is reaching a fever pitch. Crypto influencer Leshka.eth, with a following of over 128,500 on X (formerly Twitter), has identified a set of altcoins under the Bitcoin financial ecosystem (BTCfi) that could see significant gains post-halving. Crypto Analyst Shares His Top-10 BTCfi Altcoins Leshka.eth told his 128,500 followers on X (formerly Twitter) about the potential of various projects in the BTCfi landscape. He remarked, “The countdown to BTC halving ends in 2 days. If you missed 1,000x on BRC20 and Ordinals, if you missed 800x on STAMP, check out my watchlist of BTCfi altcoins poised to surge because of the halving.” Here’s a breakdown of the top altcoins Leshka.eth believes could benefit from the upcoming Bitcoin halving: 1. Hulvin (HULVIN): This project is touted as the first halving-themed memecoin with the slogan “Make Halving Great Again.” Initially mentioned by Leshka.eth when it was valued at a $9 million market cap, Hulvin has seen an impressive ascent, crossing a $30 million market cap. “I first mentioned it when it was at $9M market cap. Today it surpassed $30M MC and outperforming all other tokens on the market. Still much space for a price discovery,” Leshka.eth highlighted. The coin currently trades at $0.01298 with a daily volume of $5.8 million. 2. Map Protocol (MAP): Designed to simplify cross-blockchain transactions using light clients and zero-knowledge (ZK) proofs, MAP Protocol operates without relying on trusted third parties. It facilitates secure peer-to-peer connections and emphasizes compatibility across different blockchains. Currently, MAP is trading at $0.0248 with a $107 million market cap and a 24-hour trading volume of $3.2 million. Leshka.eth views it as a crucial infrastructure component for the evolving blockchain ecosystem. 3. Stacks (STX): As a layer built on top of the Bitcoin blockchain, Stacks introduces functionalities such as smart contracts, decentralized finance (DeFi), non-fungible tokens (NFTs), and decentralized applications (dApps). It is often compared to the Lightning Network due to its extension of Bitcoin’s capabilities. Related Reading: Crypto Expert Predicts Bitcoin Will Reach $650,000 Due To This Reason With a substantial market cap of $4.04 billion and a price of $2.29, Stacks represents a significant part of the BTCfi landscape. “Stacks transforms Bitcoin from a digital gold into a more expansive ecosystem capable of supporting a wide array of applications,” Leshka.eth noted. 4. Mintlayer (ML): This layer 2 solution enhances Bitcoin’s functionality by enabling DeFi, smart contracts, atomic swaps, NFTs, and dApps directly on the Bitcoin network. Trading at $0.38 with a market cap of $24 million and a daily volume of $2.5 million, Mintlayer stands out for its integrative approach to extending Bitcoin’s utility without the need for an entirely separate blockchain. 5. SatoshiSync (SSNC): Collaborating with LayerZero and Chainlink, SatoshiSync offers a toolkit for easing transactions on Bitcoin’s L1 and L2 layers. Even before its token launch, the platform had attracted over 50,000 users, underscoring its practical value. SSNC is priced at $0.1275, with a market cap of $124.7 million and modest daily transactions amounting to $0.45 million. 6. Bitcoin Virtual Machine (BVM): BVM is a rapidly growing Layer 2 solution for Bitcoin that allows users to create their own L2 networks, thereby enhancing the value of BVM tokens. The BVM team is also planning to introduce airdrops for BVM stakers, which Leshka.eth believes could “drive up demand for the tokens significantly.” BVM is currently trading at $5.35, with a market cap of $133.6 million and a 24-hour volume of $2.74 million. Related Reading: Arkham Releases Top 5 Crypto Rich List – You Won’t Believe How Much Is Inaccessible 7. Naka Chain (NAKA): Positioned as a cost-effective, high-speed Bitcoin L2 blockchain tailored for DeFi applications that utilize Bitcoin for gas fees, Naka Chain enables developers to port decentralized apps from Ethereum to Bitcoin with minimal changes. It functions similarly to the Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM), enhancing its appeal. NAKA is trading at $0.026, with a market cap of $56.32 million and a daily volume of $128,000. 8. Elastos (ELA): Elastos aims to construct a blockchain-driven version of the internet, addressing scalability and flexibility issues found in Ethereum and other DApp platforms. With a market cap of $81 million and trading at $3.69, ELA focuses on building a robust infrastructure for a decentralized internet. 9. MVC (SPACE): This public blockchain integrates multiple technologies, including the UTXO model and Proof of Work (PoW), to deliver exceptional performance, minimal fees, and high decentralization. SPACE trades at $17.59 with a market cap of $52.3 million and a 24-hour volume of $1.31 million. 10. Photon: Touted as a superior traditional Layer 2 solution, Photon leverages the security of Bitcoin’s Layer 1 to support scalable decentralized applications, providing efficiency and flexibility comparable to Ethereum’s ecosystem. This project is one to watch, with its upcoming launch expected to attract significant attention. “Keep an eye out for its upcoming launch!,” Leshka.eth stated. 11. Additional Mention – BounceBit: BounceBit is a Bitcoin staking chain that allows users to earn yields on their dormant Bitcoin. With a focus on early access, the platform encourages active participation and utilization of Bitcoin for staking purposes. The imminent launch of BounceBit is highly anticipated by the community. At press time, Stacks (STX) was trading at $2.29, down 40% from its all-time high reached on April 1. Featured image created with DALL·E, chart from TradingView.com

#crypto #worldcoin #cryptocurrency #worldcoin price #cryptocurrency market news #wld news #wld price #wld token #wldusd #wldusdt #worldcoin data #worldcoin news #worldcoin rally

In recent months, Sam Altman’s open-source protocol Worldcoin (WLD) has faced increasing legal challenges as Portugal and Spain cracked down on its biometric data collection practices. Argentina has joined the list, issuing an indictment against Worldcoin after detecting allegedly abusive clauses in user contracts.  Worldcoin Faces Legal Scrutiny In Buenos Aires Buenos Aires authorities have identified discrepancies between Worldcoin’s reported data handling practices and findings from provincial inspections, raising concerns about the storage and deletion of biometric data and potential infringements on user rights. The Ministry of Production, Science, and Technological Innovation of the province of Buenos Aires ordered the indictment of Worldcoin following an investigation by the Provincial Directorate for the Defense of Consumer Rights.  Related Reading: Arbitrum’s Massive $107 Million Token Unlock Threatens To Send Price Below $1 The investigation revealed the inclusion of “abusive clauses” in the company’s accession contracts, which were allegedly in violation of the National Consumer Protection Law. Undersecretary Ariel Aguilar, responsible for Commercial Development and Promotion of Investments in the province, expressed concerns about the lack of transparency surrounding Worldcoin’s data processing procedures.  Aguilar questioned whether biometric data was being stored or immediately deleted, the existence of databases storing personal data of Argentine users, and the complexity of the contracts and operation of the entire system. The province’s inspections uncovered multiple violations in the adhesion contracts, including the “Terms and Conditions of Use,” “Privacy Notice,” and “Data Consent Form.”  Notably, the company failed to display signs indicating the minimum age requirement of 18 for accessing the service, potentially leading to the scanning of the personal data of minors. Contradictions In Worldcoin’s Handling Of Biometric Data Contradictions were also found between the company’s reported use, protection, and storage of biometric data collected from the faces and eyes of Argentine users. It appears that this private information is being stored in Brazil.  Additionally, abusive clauses were identified that allowed the company to interrupt the service without providing any repair or refund.  The contracts also allegedly forced users to waive collective redress claims and subjected them to foreign laws, specifically those of the Cayman Islands, with disputes to be resolved by arbitration in California, United States, violating Argentina’s Civil and Commercial Code. Worldcoin now faces potential fines of up to 1 billion pesos or $1.2 million.  The company had been operating in various cities in Buenos Aires. Worldcoin collected personal biometric data, such as iris and facial scans, in these locations through its Orb technology device. In exchange, users were offered the World App financial application on their phones and received cryptocurrency from Worldcoin’s native token, WLD. Unexpected Upswing Despite facing increasing legal scrutiny in recent months, including the latest development in Argentina, the token associated with the Worldcoin protocol, WLD, has experienced an unexpected surge of 2.6% within the past 24 hours, currently trading at $4.80. However, when examining key metrics, it becomes evident that the overall market correction has impacted WLD. CoinGecko data reveals that WLD’s trading volume in the last 24 hours amounts to $319,113,250, indicating a decrease of 7.10% compared to the previous day.  Additionally, WLD has witnessed a significant decline of over 58% from its all-time high of $11.74, reached on March 10. Related Reading: Bitcoin Analyst Set Sight On $79,591: Urges Traders To Be Patient Moreover, the token’s market capitalization has experienced a notable decrease. Since its peak of $1.4 billion recorded on March 17, the market cap has fallen below the billion-dollar level, currently standing at $920 million as of the time of writing. Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

#bitcoin #btc price #crypto #bitcoin price #altcoins #cryptocurrency #10x research #crypto news #cryptocurrency market news

Markus Thielen of 10x Research unveiled a significant shift in his crypto strategy in response to mounting financial pressures and market instability, as detailed in an investor note released earlier today. Thielen, an influential figure in the analysis sector, cited a concerning outlook on risk assets, which encompasses both technology stocks and cryptocurrencies, primarily driven by unanticipated and ongoing inflation rates. According to projections from Bank of America, US CPI headline inflation is expected to reach 4.8% by the November 2024 election. Over the past three months, month-over-month CPI inflation has averaged 0.4%. An acceleration at this speed would mean the rate is more than twice the Federal Reserve’s inflation target of 2% by November. Why 10x Research Sold (Almost) All Crypto And Risk Assets In light of this, 10x Research’s decision to divest from risky assets was catalyzed by an adverse shift in economic indicators. Notably, the US bond market is currently projecting fewer than three Federal Reserve rate cuts this year, a significant adjustment from earlier more optimistic forecasts. According to the CME FedWatch tool, the majority of market participants now think that a rate cut by the Fed will not come before the mid-September FOMC meeting. Additionally, the 10-year Treasury Yields have reached a peak of 4.61% this month, marking the highest rate since November 2023, further complicating the investment landscape for risk assets including technology stocks and cryptocurrencies. Related Reading: Bitcoin, Altcoins Price Decline As Crypto Liquidations Near $900 Million In The Past Day “Our growing concern is that risk assets are teetering on the edge of a significant price correction,” Thielen stated in the note. “We sold all our tech stocks last night as the Nasdaq is trading very poorly and reacting to the higher bond yield. We only hold a few high-conviction crypto coins. Overall, we are bearish on risk assets.” The bearish stance is further supported by the disappointing performance of US-listed spot Bitcoin ETFs. Despite the SEC’s approval of nearly a dozen such ETFs in January, which initially spurred a surge in Bitcoin prices, the influx of capital has markedly slowed. This month, the five-day average net inflows into these ETFs plummeted to zero, a stark contrast to the nearly $12 billion that flowed into these investment vehicles earlier in the year. Thielen’s comments also touched on the broader implications of the upcoming Bitcoin network’s quadrennial halving, scheduled for April 20. This event will reduce the reward for mining a block of Bitcoin by 50%, from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC. While such halvings have historically spurred bullish sentiment and price increases due to a perceived scarcity of Bitcoin, Thielen suggests that the current market conditions might dampen any potential rallies. “It is essential to understand that trading is a continuous game with high-conviction opportunities. The key is to keep analyzing the markets and uncovering those opportunities when the odds are in your favor. There are times when we advocate for a total risk-on approach and when the priority is safeguarding your capital, enabling you to seize opportunities at lower levels,” Thielen stated. Related Reading: Nervos Network CKB Token: The Market Disruptor With 75% Uptrend, Outshining Top 100 Cryptos In a notable exchange with Matthew Graham of Ryze Labs, Thielen defended his firm’s trading strategy amid criticism for what was described as erratic decision-making. Graham pointed to recent fluctuations in 10x Research’s stance on Bitcoin, citing a research note from early April that predicted a potential rally to $80,000, followed by a more cautious view and the recent sell-off. Thielen responded, “Actually, no. We have been cautious since March 8, and when the triangle breakout failed, we worked with the $68,300 stop loss. This is simply risk-reward trading.” This defense highlights the volatile nature of crypto trading and the necessity for agile strategies in response to rapidly changing market conditions. Thielen concluded, promising a strong re-entry into the market under more favorable conditions: “Will buy back with both hands at 52,000 – promise.” At press time, BTC traded at $63,045. Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

#luna #terra luna #ethena #cryptocurrency market news #charles edwards #ena #ethena news #ethena price

Charles Edwards, the founder of Capriole Investments, has sparked significant interest and debate within the cryptocurrency community. He heralded Ethena (ENA) as “the Luna of this cycle,” but with a crucial difference: its economic fundamentals are deemed sustainable. Edwards elaborated, “It’s 100% collateralized and the yield is variable based on market forces. Two things Luna wasn’t.” He also noted that at its zenith, Luna’s valuation exceeded ENA’s current market cap by more than twenty-fold, yet he cautioned, “ENA is not risk-free, custody and execution risk exist.” Ethena is the Luna of this cycle, except the underlying economics are actually sustainable. It's 100% collateralized and the yield is variable based on market forces. Two things Luna wasn't. At it's peak LUNA was over 20X bigger than what ENA is now. ENA is not risk free, custody… — Charles Edwards (@caprioleio) April 10, 2024 Since its launch on April 2, ENA has seen a meteoric rise from under $0.30 to a high of $1.45. This rally is largely attributed to Ethena Labs’ strategic enhancement of its rewards program, now in its “Season 2,” which offers a 50% reward boost for users locking their ENA tokens for at least seven days. This move aims to bolster user engagement and loyalty, fostering a sustainable ecosystem for the Ethena platform. Related Reading: Ethena’s (ENA) Crucial Role In Bitcoin Bull Market: Expert Identifies Critical Factors For Sustainable Growth A remarkable aspect of this ecosystem is the rapid growth of its stablecoin, USDe, which has outstripped the supply growth of established counterparts such as USDT, USDC, and DAI, reaching a $2 billion supply in just over 100 days. USDe is the fastest growing USD denominated asset in the history of crypto pic.twitter.com/xgiRJjf96t — G | Ethena (@leptokurtic_) April 8, 2024 However, the project’s high yields which are generated by harnessing the derivative markets and staked Ethereum have stirred skepticism among industry experts. Fantom founder Andre Cronje, among others, has raised concerns about the sustainability of these yields, which are the highest in the entire crypto industry. Risks Involved With Ethena Noteworthy, ENA is often compared to Terra Luna (LUNA), but the differences could not be much bigger, as Edwards also noted. While ENA is not risk free, a demise like the one of LUNA is highly unlikely. Despite that, investors need to be aware of other risks involved with ENA. Diving deeper into the discussion of risks, CL (@CL207) from eGirl Capital offers an intriguing perspective on the behavior of derivatives traders. She clarifies, “It appears Ethena is making many people who don’t trade derivatives have a really hard time wrapping their heads around the fact that derivatives traders are so genuinely retarded that we’re willing to pay like 50%+ APR to enter a position.” Related Reading: Ethena (ENA) Surges 60%, But Fantom Co-Founder Warns Of Luna-Like Demise Notably, last cycle crypto traders were bidding futures so high that Bitcoin quarterlies earned “a locked-in >50% apr. She added, “just 50 days into 2021, we collectively paid 2,400,000,000$ in funding rates by the end of 2021, the market has paid as much as a decently sized country’s GDP.” Monetsupply.eth (@MonetSupply) from Block Analitica provides a granular analysis of the risks Andre Cronje highlighted. Through his examination, several key areas of concern are outlined: Oracle Risk: The potential impact on exchange positions due to Ethena providing inaccurate quotes on minting or redeeming operations. However, MonetSupply notes, “there’s rate limits on this tho so max loss is constrained and counterparties are all whitelisted (can’t just run away with the money).” Liquidation Risk: Deemed not a significant factor as the portfolio is leveraged less than 1x, suggesting a conservative approach to borrowing and leverage. Spread Risk: The possibility of increased basis leading to higher funding revenue, which should theoretically attract inflows. Conversely, a negative basis might cause outflows, but Ethena could benefit from closing hedged positions profitably. Collateral Ratio Risk: Even though liquid staking tokens (LSTs) are given less than 100% weight on centralized exchanges (CEX), the overall low leverage mitigates this risk. The proportion of LST in spot collateral is relatively minor. Custody Risk: Highlighted as one of the more significant concerns, given the reliance on custodians with a good track record and the distribution of assets across multiple entities. Exchange Solvency Risk: This risk could lead to the loss of unsettled profit and loss (PnL) and some trading costs to rehedge on other exchanges. However, MonetSupply adds, “the Binance/ceffu nexus might change this assessment though, are they actually independent?” Ethena Entity Risk: The internal risk related to Ethena’s keys or authentication tokens being compromised, or a team member acting maliciously. MonetSupply concludes that despite these risks, the framework of overcollateralization on platforms like Morpho, the Maker surplus buffer, and the MKR backstop, supported by a substantial Proof of Liquidity (POL), serves as a robust mitigating factor. At press time, ENA traded at $1.329. Featured image from Bitget, chart from TradingView.com

#blockchain #altcoin #polkadot #dot #cryptocurrency market news

Polkadot, a blockchain platform designed for interoperability between different blockchains, is experiencing a surge in new users, but a disconnect between user growth and network activity is raising questions about its long-term viability. Related Reading: Don’t Miss The Boat! Ethereum Whales Signal Bullish Run With $40 Million Bet Based on the latest figures, DOT tallied an all-time high in active wallets and unique accounts in March, surpassing 600,000 and 5.59 million, respectively. This suggests a growing interest in the platform, potentially driven by the thriving developer ecosystem on Polkadot’s parachains, specialized blockchains that connect to the main Polkadot chain. Moonbeam, a prominent parachain, played a particularly significant role, contributing the highest number of active addresses with nearly 250,000. Source: Data Polkadot Transactions Dip Despite Active User Growth However, despite the influx of new users, the number of transactions on the Polkadot network hasn’t kept pace. While there was a modest increase in transactions compared to February, the current volume remains significantly lower than the peak recorded in December. This inconsistency raises concerns about how actively users are engaging with the network. The possibility exists that users are holding or staking their DOT tokens instead of utilizing them for transactions on the platform. Total crypto market cap is currently at $2.5 trillion. Chart: TradingView Polkadot Price Seeks Stability After Recent Decline The price of Polkadot’s native token, DOT, seems to be finding support around $9. This could indicate a period of consolidation after a decline from its previous highs above $11. While a price increase is typically seen as a positive sign, it’s important to consider it alongside actual network usage. Source: Data Is Polkadot Building Without Using? The current situation with Polkadot presents a paradox. The platform is attracting new users, but they aren’t necessarily translating into active network participants. This could be due to several factors. Perhaps users are waiting for a specific application or service to be built on Polkadot before actively engaging. It’s also possible that technical limitations are hindering user activity. Related Reading: SUI Slips After Hitting All-Time High: TVL Tumbles 12% – Token Price In The Gutter? Further analysis is needed to understand the reasons behind the lagging transactions. Examining the types of transactions occurring on the network could provide valuable insights. For instance, an increase in governance-related transactions might suggest a more engaged user base, even if overall transaction volume remains low. Polkadot’s Future Hinges On Active Network Use While the growth in active wallets and accounts is a positive sign for Polkadot, it’s crucial to convert this interest into actual network usage. The success of Moonbeam demonstrates the potential for a vibrant developer ecosystem on Polkadot. However, broader adoption across various use cases is necessary for the platform to reach its full potential. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

#crypto #cryptocurrency #crypto news #cryptocurrency market news #top crypto coins #top altcoins 2024 #top altcoins

In a detailed analysis shared on X, Miles Deutscher, a renowned crypto analyst, cast a spotlight on the burgeoning sector of Real World Assets (RWA) within the crypto market. Deutscher’s discourse comes in the wake of BlackRock’s groundbreaking venture into tokenized funds, signaling a seismic shift in the digital asset landscape. With projections indicating that tokenized assets are poised to reach a valuation of $10 trillion by 2030, Deutscher’s enthusiasm is palpable. “If you’re still sleeping on this sector, now is the time to wake up,” he declares, laying the groundwork for a deep dive into RWAs and their associated investment opportunities. The Genesis And Essence Of Real World Assets (RWA) Real World Assets (RWA) serve to bridge the tangible with the digital, tokenizing physical commodities such as gold, real estate, and various other commodities, thereby enhancing their efficiency and accessibility. This digitization process eliminates the need for traditional brokers, reduces entry barriers, and significantly cuts down on associated costs. “RWAs represent a revolutionary step forward in democratizing access to investment in major assets,” Deutscher asserts. He further explains that RWAs not only unlock vast markets for participation—such as global bonds and gold—but also integrate real-world, income-generating assets into the DeFi yield ecosystem. At their core, RWAs embody ownership rights over physical assets through the digital tokenization on blockchain platforms. Through smart contracts, issuers can mint these tokens, defining their value and the mechanics of their trade. This innovative approach has seen the market capitalization of tokenized public securities surpass $700 million, with the tokenized gold market nearing a $1 billion valuation, according to a report by Bank of America. Related Reading: Crypto Expert Reveals What To Expect For Bitcoin, Dogecoin, And XRP In 12-16 Months This growing demand underscores the sector’s potential, significantly buoyed by BlackRock’s recent foray into RWA with its digital asset fund focused on bonds. Within a mere fortnight, this fund ballooned to a $274 million market cap, capturing a 37.53% market share. BlackRock’s pivot towards RWAs is not an isolated trend but a bellwether for the industry’s trajectory. “Larry Fink’s bullish stance on tokenization heralds a new era for securities,” Deutscher notes, highlighting the BlackRock CEO’s long-maintained belief in the transformative power of tokenization. This movement is gaining momentum, with heavyweight TradFi players such as Citi, Franklin Templeton, and JPMorgan exploring RWA avenues. “The convergence of traditional finance and blockchain through RWAs is a testament to the sector’s viability and growth potential,” Deutscher adds, underlining the legitimization of RWAs by these financial titans. Deutscher’s Curated List Of Top RWA Altcoins Delving deeper into the specifics, Deutscher categorizes his top picks within the RWA ecosystem: Layer 1 and Layer 2 Blockchains: Highlighting the significance of foundational blockchain platforms, Deutscher points to L1 and L2 chains that are pivotal in hosting RWA protocols. He emphasizes the strategic advantage of these chains in attracting liquidity and users, albeit noting the nuanced investment approach needed to maximize RWA-specific gains. Related Reading: Crypto Analyst Predicts Shiba Inu Price To Rise 5000% To $0.001 – Here’s When “Hyped narratives often drive a lot of liquidity and users to the main chain that powers the underlying dApp. […] The issue with this style of investing, despite its ability to hedge against downside, is the lack of direct upside. If you want capture more RWA-specific upside, RWA-focused chains like Redbelly Network & MANTRA offer more direct exposure,” Deutscher argues. Oracles as the Backbone of RWA Tokenization: Oracles play a crucial role in ensuring the accurate reflection of real-world asset values on the blockchain. Deutscher is particularly bullish on Chainlink (LINK), citing its foundational role in secure, cross-chain information bridging. “Chainlink is indispensable for the RWA sector, offering real-time data verification that’s critical for the integrity of tokenized assets,” he explains. Moreover, the crypto analyst points to Pyth Network (PYTH) if investor want to “move further down the risk curve.” He added, “whilst Chainlink serves more broader sectors, Pyth is interesting as a DeFi-centric bet, due to its wide L1 compatibility.” RWA-Specific Protocols: Projects like Ondo Finance, Pendle Finance, and Frax Finance are lauded by Deutscher for their direct engagement with RWAs, each offering unique solutions to leverage real-world assets within the DeFi space. Deutscher applauds Ondo Finance for addressing liquidity challenges, Pendle Finance for its innovative yield-tokenization approach, and Frax Finance for its multifaceted DeFi offerings that include traditional investment avenues. Emerging Stars in the RWA Space: Deutscher also sheds light on upcoming projects like Lingo and Truflation, earmarking them as ones to watch. With Lingo’s unique model of funding RWA pools for brand partner rewards and Truflation’s infrastructure play in decentralizing economic data, these platforms are at the forefront of RWA innovation, according to him. At press time, ONDO had a market capitalization of $1.12 billion and was the 94th largest cryptocurrency by market cap. The price stood at $0.80. Featured image created DALL·E, chart from TradingView.com