BitMine may slow ETH purchases as Tom Lee says the firm could reach its 5% Ethereum supply goal within weeks.
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A crypto analyst has projected explosive price targets for both the Bitcoin price and the Solana price. According to the forecast, if Bitcoin surpasses $400,000, Solana could be trading around $1,500 at the same time. The basis of this projection rests on the assumption that altcoins could mirror BTC’s explosive rally to reach their respective all-time high targets. The analyst has also urged investors and traders to buy more Bitcoin before this surge, underscoring his strong belief that the cryptocurrency could soon enter a fresh bull market. Analyst Sees Bitcoin Price At $400,000 And Solana Price At $1,500 The Bitcoin price is currently sitting at above $80,000. However, market analyst Crypto Fergani predicts that the flagship cryptocurrency could eventually reach an ambitious price target of $400,000. Related Reading: Bitcoin Closes 2 Green Monthly Candles: Here’s What Historical Data Says Is Coming Next According to the analyst, Bitcoin reaching such a high level could mean the Solana price may rise to $1,500 around the same period. He also projected that other altcoins such as Ethereum, XRP, Binance Coin, and Dogecoin could experience a similar price explosion alongside Solana. Notably, the analyst has shared a timeline for his bullish outlook. He believes that one year from now, Bitcoin could reach explosive new highs. He backed his bullish projection by sharing a price chart showing past cycles in which Bitcoin traded within a narrow ascending channel that eventually led to price surges of hundreds of percent. The chart showed that in early 2018, Bitcoin rallied to about $19,000 and then crashed to a price bottom the following year. Crypto Fergani marked this low as a key buy zone, noting that BTC’s decline to that level triggered a massive 324.44% rally. In the next cycle, Bitcoin formed another buy zone in 2020 after declining from its 2019 ATH. Once a bottom was reached, the cryptocurrency skyrocketed above $69,000 in 2021, representing a surge of more than 961.57%. The same trend recurred in the 2022 cycle, when Bitcoin crashed and formed a new buy zone. Following this, the price consolidated for a few years before skyrocketing to BTC’s current all-time high above $126,000, set around October 2025. Fast forward to today, Crypto Fergano believes that Bitcoin is mirroring this same pattern. He has marked a buy zone for 2026 around the $70,000 level, suggesting that the flagship cryptocurrency could be preparing for a mega bull rally to about $420,000, representing more than a 691% gain from the buy zone. Analyst Urges Investors To Buy Ahead After sharing his bullish projections, Crypto Fergani now urges traders and investors not to miss the opportunity to buy the dip ahead of the next potential rally. He noted that during the last bull run, several market signals had hinted at an incoming rally, yet many failed to act. Related Reading: Can This Latest Integration Send Solana To $500 And XRP to $10? During that period, US President Donald Trump was openly bullish on crypto, institutional investors and BlackRock were quietly accumulating Bitcoin, and retail remained largely on the sidelines. At the same time, most market participants were calling for a bear market, with fear at its peak. Despite these signals, Crypto Fergani said that many did not buy the dip. He urges investors not to repeat the same mistake, suggesting that they begin buying BTC and other altcoins now, ahead of a potential new bull market. Featured image from Pngtree, chart from Tradingview.com
As Solana (SOL) breaks out of a multi‑week pattern, some market observers suggest a retest of a key resistance level could be on the horizon. Nonetheless, they also warned that the next leg up could be short‑lived if momentum fails to hold. Related Reading: $150M Crypto Ponzi Crumbles: $41.5M Frozen In DSJ Exchange Collapse Solana Breakout Targets Key Resistance On Wednesday, Solana jumped 4.2% on the daily timeframe, retesting the $90 area for the first time in nearly a month before retracing. The cryptocurrency has been in the $75 to $96 price range since the early February market crash, failing to reclaim the upper zone of this range during this period. Amid today’s surge, analyst Ali Martinez highlighted that Solana was breaking out of an eight-week symmetrical triangle formation, which could lead to a rally toward the local range’s upper boundary. As he explained, a spike in buying pressure could push SOL’s price to $92, a key horizontal resistance over the past three months in the daily and weekly timeframes. If this level is reclaimed, the cryptocurrency’s breakout could extend toward $96, a level not retested since the mid-March market rally. In addition, CryptoRand noted that after its recent price jump, Solana has also broken out of its eight-month downtrend, suggesting that a bullish reversal could be on the horizon if this level holds. However, market observer Daan Crypto Trades pointed out that the altcoin has been consolidating within a 10% range for three months, recording its lowest volatility in years. As a result, the analyst affirmed that a big move would happen sooner than later, but the direction “will entirely depend on which side breaks first. It won’t be a move to fade (…). Likely to see at least a 20-30% leg following the break of this compression.” SOL To Rally Before Next Dump? In an X post, Altcoin Sherpa noted that Solana has underperformed all other majors over the past few months. Unlike Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), SOL has not been able to retest or break out of its three-month range despite the recent market recovery. The analyst affirmed that the altcoin needs bullish conditions and BTC’s price to stabilize to continue climbing higher. Meanwhile, More Crypto Online underscored the importance of SOL’s overall context in a video analysis. He explained that “on the higher timeframe, there is no sign whatsoever that we have a meaningful low in place,” and that “the upside reaction from the February low was just too weak. And the structure that’s even more important does not currently support a long-term rally.” The analyst pointed out that there is “a lot of resistance along the way,” but noted that a counter-trend rally to the $110-$140 area is “a very reasonable expectation” to form a top as long as the February lows hold. Related Reading: Bitcoin Targets $86,000 After Key EMA Reclaim: Is The Next Rally Here? Nonetheless, he considers that “from there, there’s a good chance of going lower, possibly either in a fifth wave down to complete a larger correction in a so-called wave four, or like Bitcoin, the expectation is a more meaningful correction into the mid $30 region.” “So, the market might just need to move up a little bit to complete this correction. Make the crowd bullish again so that the new sellers can come in,” he concluded. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com
Ethereum price started a fresh increase and remained stable above $2,380. ETH is now correcting gains and might decline if it trades below $2,300. Ethereum started a downside correction from the $2,420 zone. The price is trading below $2,350 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There was a break below a bullish trend line with support at $2,365 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken). The pair could continue to move down if it stays below the $2,365 zone. Ethereum Price Trims Gains Ethereum price managed to stay above the $2,320 support and started a fresh increase, like Bitcoin. ETH price gained pace for a move above $2,380 and $2,385. However, the bears were active near $2,420. The last swing high was formed at $2,423 before there was a downside correction. The price dipped below the $2,365 level. Besides, there was a break below a bullish trend line with support at $2,365 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD. The price even tested the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $2,220 swing low to the $2,423 high. Ethereum price is now trading below $2,360 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. If the bulls remain in action above $2,300, the price could attempt another increase. Immediate resistance is seen near the $2,350 level. The first key resistance is near the $2,380 level. The next major resistance is near the $2,420 level. A clear move above the $2,420 resistance might send the price toward the $2,450 resistance. An upside break above the $2,450 region might call for more gains in the coming days. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $2,500 resistance zone or even $2,550 in the near term. Another Decline In ETH? If Ethereum fails to clear the $2,360 resistance, it could start a downside correction. Initial support on the downside is near the $2,320 level. The first major support sits near the $2,300 zone. A clear move below the $2,300 support might push the price toward the $2,265 support or the 76.4% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $2,220 swing low to the $2,423 high. Any more losses might send the price toward the $2,200 region. The main support could be $2,150. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is losing momentum in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now below the 50 zone. Major Support Level – $2,300 Major Resistance Level – $2,360
Analysts are predicting an explosive surge in XRP’s price this year, comparing the current cycle to the 2017 bull market. According to a recent forecast, XRP’s chart structure is replicating the bullish patterns that preceded its historic 2017 rally. Experts believe that if this historical trend plays out perfectly, the XRP price, which has been trending downward for months now, could go parabolic. XRP Price Mirrors Bull Setup From 2017 Rally @Cryptocupra, a market analyst on X, is sounding the alarm about a major bullish move he believes could soon take place in XRP’s price. In a video analysis shared on May 4, the expert forecast that XRP could soon go parabolic, citing historical chart patterns from the 2017 cycle. Related Reading: Here’s How High The XRP Price Will Be If It Repeats The 2017 Surge The analyst drew comparisons between XRP’s price action in 2026 and its movements in 2017. According to @Cryptocupra, XRP is currently displaying the exact structure and setup that had led to its parabolic rally in 2017. At the time, the cryptocurrency was trading around $0.006. However, it broke out of lower levels and rallied, extending its bullish run until it hit an all-time high above $3.84 in 2018. @Cryptocupra’s video chart further shows that in 2017, XRP broke out of a descending triangle pattern before launching into a rally. The chart shows that XRP had been trending downward for months inside this narrow triangle before breaking out to the upside. @Cryptocupra reveals that this same triangle pattern has appeared in the 2026 cycle, reinforcing his bullish outlook for XRP this year. The chart shows that after the cryptocurrency surged above $3.5 in 2025, it began to trend downward and eventually formed a descending triangle. Since then, XRP has been trading in the red, steadily declining even as other cryptocurrencies surged. Notably, if XRP can break out as it did in 2017, @Cryptocupra believes its price could surge, turning many holders into millionaires. He predicted that all that’s left is a final shakeout before a trend reversal to the upside begins, triggering the projected price explosion. Analyst Says XRP At $10-$20 Still On The Table In a separate analysis, market expert Crypto Patel forecasted that XRP’s potential rally toward the $10 to $20 range was “absolutely” still on the table. Despite the cryptocurrency currently trading around $1.4 after months of decline and muted price action, the analyst maintains a solid bullish outlook, citing past price performance and achievements. Related Reading: Analyst Shares ‘Realistic Stance’ For XRP, But Is It The End Of The Road? He noted that despite market participants calling XRP a dead coin in 2023, the cryptocurrency jumped from $0.006 in 2017 to over $3 in 2018. He said that XRP also skyrocketed from $0.50 in November 2024 to over $2.60 in just 30 days. As a result, Crypto Patel believes that a surge to $10 is closer than ever, highlighting a critical accumulation zone between $0.70 and $1.10 for XRP. He believes that this parabolic rally will likely be fueled by the cryptocurrency’s underlying network, which he says is 1,000x faster than Bitcoin, 99% cheaper than Ethereum, and already being used by global banks. Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview.com
Robert Kiyosaki, author of the best-selling personal finance book “Rich Dad Poor Dad,” has issued a stark warning about what he describes as a coming retirement crisis for Baby Boomers, pointing to cryptos such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other assets like gold, and silver as the core assets families should hold to protect themselves from the turbulence ahead. Related Reading: Bitcoin Reclaims $80,000 But Something Doesn’t Add Up, Here’s What In a post on X directed at “Boomers” and their families, Kiyosaki traced his concern back to 1974, when he said he first identified the structural conditions that would eventually produce what he now calls the “Baby Boomer Retirement Disaster.” With millions of Boomers facing financial difficulty in 2026 — some, he warned, facing homelessness — the author framed the moment as the arrival of a crisis he has spent decades trying to help people avoid. What Top Cryptos You Should Hold? The prescription Kiyosaki offered was direct. In the post, he pointed readers toward what he described as the foundation of a sound financial future: real gold, silver, Bitcoin, and Ethereum. The framing was deliberate — “real gold” rather than paper or ETF exposure — signaling a preference for physical and decentralized assets over instruments tied to the traditional financial system he has long criticized. The recommendation places Bitcoin and Ethereum alongside the two oldest monetary hedges in history, a pairing Kiyosaki has returned to consistently in recent years as his skepticism toward fiat currency and Wall Street has deepened. The Broader Warning Kiyosaki’s post also referenced two books he wrote specifically for Boomers facing retirement uncertainty — “Retire Young Retire Rich” and “Who Stole My Pension?” — noting that Wall Street has historically resisted both titles. For those who acted on the advice in those books, he suggested, the current environment has validated the preparation. The author closed with a characteristically blunt assessment of what lies ahead, describing a “rough global economy” and urging followers to prepare accordingly. Related Reading: David Schwartz Says Selling XRP Doesn’t Make Him The Villain As of this writing, Bitcoin trades at around $79,500, with the broader market consolidating near key support levels as macro uncertainty continues to weigh on sentiment. BTC's price trending upwards on the daily chart. Source: BTCUSD on Tradingview Cover image from Grok, BTCUSD chart from Tradingview
Joseph Lubin backed ETH treasury firms, confirmed Linea's Linux Foundation move, and highlighted Ethereum's quantum-safe roadmap.
Ethereum price started a fresh increase and remained stable above $2,360. ETH is now consolidating and might aim for more gains if it clears $2,400. Ethereum started a steady increase above the $2,360 zone. The price is trading above $2,355 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a bullish trend line forming with support at $2,360 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken). The pair could continue to move up if it stays above the $2,310 zone. Ethereum Price Aims for Fresh Surge Ethereum price managed to stay above the $2,300 support and started a fresh increase, like Bitcoin. ETH price gained pace for a move above $2,350 and $2,360. The price even climbed toward $2,385. A high was formed at $2,398, and the price is now consolidating gains. There was a minor decline below the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $2,220 swing low to the $2,399 high. Ethereum price is now trading above $2,350 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is also a bullish trend line forming with support at $2,360 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD, If the bulls remain in action above $2,310, the price could attempt another increase. Immediate resistance is seen near the $2,380 level. The first key resistance is near the $2,400 level. The next major resistance is near the $2,440 level. A clear move above the $2,440 resistance might send the price toward the $2,500 resistance. An upside break above the $2,500 region might call for more gains in the coming days. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $2,550 resistance zone or even $2,565 in the near term. Another Pullback In ETH? If Ethereum fails to clear the $2,400 resistance, it could start a downside correction. Initial support on the downside is near the $2,360 level and the trend line. The first major support sits near the $2,340 zone. A clear move below the $2,340 support might push the price toward the $2,310 support or the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $2,220 swing low to the $2,399 high. Any more losses might send the price toward the $2,265 region. The main support could be $2,220. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is gaining momentum in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now above the 50 zone. Major Support Level – $2,360 Major Resistance Level – $2,400
Ethereum is holding above $2,300 as the market builds toward what feels like a decisive move in either direction. The price is constructive but unresolved, and an Arab Chain report has just surfaced a shift in accumulation behavior that adds a layer of structural context to the current setup that the price chart alone does not capture. Related Reading: XRP Liquidity Just Hit A Five-Year Low: Discover What Happens When A Market Gets This Thin The pace of Ethereum withdrawals from exchanges slowed significantly in April, reaching their lowest level since September 2024. Across all exchanges, approximately 19.8 million ETH was withdrawn during the month — a figure that looks substantial in isolation but represents a clear deceleration compared to the withdrawal pace recorded in previous months. Binance accounted for the largest share at approximately 7.09 million ETH, followed by OKX at 2.4 million, Coinbase Prime at 1.62 million, and Kraken at approximately 557,000 ETH. The deceleration matters because of what exchange withdrawals represent in on-chain analysis. When investors move ETH off exchanges and into cold storage or staking, it reflects a decision to hold for the long term rather than maintain liquid positions ready for trading. April’s slowdown in that activity suggests a portion of the investor base that had been actively accumulating has either paused or is waiting for greater clarity on market direction before recommitting. Ethereum above $2,300 with slowing accumulation beneath it is a more complicated picture than the price level alone suggests. Investors Are Waiting. The Question Is What They Are Waiting For The Arab Chain report interprets the withdrawal decline as a behavioral signal that extends beyond the numbers themselves. When exchange outflows slow to this degree, it typically reflects a specific investor posture: liquidity kept on platforms rather than committed to cold storage, positions maintained in a tradeable state rather than locked away in long-term custody. The investors who slowed their withdrawals in April are not necessarily bearish — they are undecided, keeping their options open while the market fails to provide the directional clarity that would prompt a stronger commitment. The report presents two possible explanations that carry different implications. The first is institutional caution — a reduction in the large-scale accumulation activity that drove stronger outflow periods, reflecting funds and larger participants stepping back from the pace of buying they maintained earlier in the cycle. The second is a transitional pause — investors consolidating positions rather than extending them, waiting for a catalyst before resuming the accumulation behavior that has characterized periods of stronger withdrawals. Related Reading: Ethereum Doubles Smart Contract Activity In 15 Days, But Price Barely Moves: Discover What That Gap Means The sideways price action that has defined Ethereum in recent months provides the context for both readings. Continued caution across the broader market, compounded by the volatility of recent months, has made decisive positioning more difficult for participants at every level. The forward signal the report identifies is straightforward. If withdrawals remain at April’s reduced pace, it suggests long-term buying momentum is genuinely weakening — a structural concern for the supply compression thesis that has supported the bullish case. If outflows begin recovering, it would signal that the pause was temporary and accumulation is resuming. That distinction, more than any price level, will define Ethereum’s next structural phase. Ethereum Reclaims Key Support But Faces Structural Resistance Overhead Ethereum is trading around $2,370 after recovering from its sharp early-2026 drawdown, but the broader structure remains conflicted. On the weekly chart, ETH has reclaimed the $2,200–$2,300 zone, which now acts as a critical pivot after previously serving as resistance during the breakdown phase. Holding this level is constructive, but not yet sufficient to confirm a trend reversal. The recovery has produced a sequence of higher lows since the February bottom, indicating improving short-term structure. However, price remains compressed beneath the 50-week and 100-week moving averages, both of which are flattening and acting as dynamic resistance in the $2,500–$2,800 range. Until Ethereum clears that cluster, the market remains in a transitional phase between recovery and continuation of the broader range. Related Reading: ‘Ethereum’s Price Should Have Dropped Already’ – Analyst Explains The On-Chain Signal Behind The Warning The 200-week moving average, still trending upward below price, provides longer-term structural support near the $2,000 region. That level defines the downside risk if current support fails. Volume patterns reinforce the uncertainty. The rebound from the lows has occurred with lower participation compared to the selloff, suggesting that the move higher is not yet driven by strong conviction. If ETH sustains acceptance above $2,300, it opens the path toward $2,800. A rejection would likely rotate the price back toward $2,000–$2,100. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
Ethereum has been relatively quiet as Bitcoin pushes above $80,000 and captures most of the market’s attention. ETH is holding its range, waiting for a catalyst that forces a directional decision. A few hours ago, data from Arkham Intelligence provided one piece of evidence that the structure beneath that quiet may be more significant than the price chart is currently showing. Related Reading: XRP Liquidity Just Hit A Five-Year Low: Discover What Happens When A Market Gets This Thin Bitmine staked another 190,800 ETH — approximately $451 million — in a single transaction. That is the largest single stake this accumulation strategy has produced, and it arrived while Ethereum was barely moving and most participants were watching Bitcoin. The timing is part of what makes it significant. Institutional commitments of this scale do not happen reactively — they are planned, executed deliberately, and reflect a conviction that was formed before the market confirmed it. A company choosing to lock $451 million into Ethereum’s validator infrastructure during a period when the asset is underperforming its primary competitor is not responding to price. It expresses a thesis about where value is being built regardless of where attention is currently directed. Staked ETH is not liquid. It cannot be sold on short notice. Every transaction of this scale removes a meaningful amount of Ethereum from the immediately available sell side — quietly, without announcement, while Bitcoin gets the headlines. $10.77 Billion Locked. 88% of Everything. The Strategy Has a Name Now. The cumulative picture that the latest stake completes is the one that changes how Bitmine’s activity should be categorized. With 4,553,557 ETH now staked — $10.77 billion at current prices — and 87.9% of total holdings committed to validator infrastructure, this has moved beyond a treasury diversification strategy or a yield play. It is a structural claim on Ethereum’s network. The 88% figure is the one that demands attention. A company that has locked nearly nine tenths of everything it owns into a single asset in an illiquid form has made a decision that has no meaningful parallel in institutional finance. This is not portfolio management. It is a thesis executed at scale — the belief that Ethereum’s value as infrastructure is more durable than any short-term price consideration. Related Reading: Ethereum Doubles Smart Contract Activity In 15 Days, But Price Barely Moves: Discover What That Gap Means The supply implications follow directly. At 4.55 million ETH, Bitmine controls approximately 3.7% of Ethereum’s entire circulating supply — locked in staking contracts that cannot be liquidated quickly. That is not a trading position. It is a structural removal of supply from the liquid market that compounds with every additional stake. Ethereum trading quietly while Bitcoin takes the headlines is the current surface reality. Beneath it, one entity has been systematically removing nearly 4% of the asset’s available supply from the sell side — at an accelerating pace, with the largest single transaction arriving today. At some point, that supply math forces a conversation the price chart has not yet started. Ethereum Reclaims $2,300 As Recovery Tests Overhead Resistance Ethereum is trading near $2,370 after extending its recovery from the February capitulation low, but the structure remains a developing rebound rather than a confirmed uptrend. The chart shows a clear transition from a sharp downtrend into a sequence of higher lows, with price reclaiming the short-term moving average and stabilizing above the $2,250–$2,300 zone. This area is now critical. It previously acted as resistance during March and early April and is now being tested as support. The fact that ETH is holding above it suggests buyers are defending the level, but the follow-through lacks strength. Related Reading: ‘Ethereum’s Price Should Have Dropped Already’ – Analyst Explains The On-Chain Signal Behind The Warning Overhead, the $2,400–$2,500 region remains the immediate barrier. This zone aligns with the descending 100-day moving average, which continues to act as dynamic resistance. Until ETH can break and hold above that level, the broader trend remains structurally capped. Volume trends add caution. Participation has declined compared to the selloff phase, suggesting reduced selling pressure is driving the move higher more than aggressive accumulation. If ETH holds above $2,250, the recovery structure remains intact and opens the door for a test of $2,500. A failure to hold would likely rotate price back toward the $2,000–$2,100 demand zone. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
The BNB price is sitting below the spotlight that has surrounded Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana in recent months, but a new technical outlook suggests that this quiet phase may be exactly where the larger setup is forming. Crypto analyst Crypto Patel has predicted that BNB could be one of the biggest trades of the cycle, with a long-term chart target reaching as high as $12,000. BNB Is Repeating A Multi-Year Breakout Structure Most of the industry’s attention has been locked in the constant competition between Ethereum and Solana, but BNB has been quietly assembling a multi-layered technical and fundamental case that crypto analyst Crypto Patel believes points to a price target of $12,000. Related Reading: BNB Price To Break $3,000? Crypto Trader Shares Game Plan For 500% Rally The $12,000 projection is bold, especially with BNB trading around $626. However, the Fibonacci structure on Crypto Patel’s BNB chart tells a longer story that supports this projection, alongside a few fundamental factors that are live on the BNB chain. The 3-week candlestick chart maps BNB’s full price history from its 2018 lows around $1.41, through the 2021 blow-off top above $662, and into the current price action. According to this setup, BNB is currently moving just above a broad support zone between roughly $300 and $600, with the analyst labeling the area as the best accumulation zone. The setup also includes Fibonacci retracement levels around $657 and $417 within the support zone. The outlook here is a bounce from any Fibonacci level that sends the BNB price to new all-time highs. The chart projects three upside targets from this base: Target 1 at $2,112, Target 2 at $5,000, and Target 3 at $12,000. At the time of writing, BNB is trading at $626.5. Therefore, a move to $12,000 from the current price would require an increase of 1,895%. BNB Chain Is Quietly Pulling In Tokenized Finance Giants A major reason behind Crypto Patel’s $12,000 price prediction is based on what is currently going on within the BNB Chain. Notably, recent updates have placed the BNB Chain in a position that is no longer termed only as a retail chain. Related Reading: XRP Vs. Dogecoin ETFs: Which Of These Has Performed Better In April? Crypto Patel pointed to the presence of major tokenized finance products on BNB Chain, including BlackRock’s BUIDL, Franklin Templeton’s BENJI, and VanEck’s VBILL as examples. BNB Chain’s institutional finance page confirms that BlackRock’s BUIDL has been live on BNB Chain since 2025 through Securitize, providing qualified investors on-chain access to tokenized US dollar yields. The same institutional page also lists Franklin Templeton’s OnChain US Government Money Fund, BENJI, as part of the network’s tokenized finance stack Other fundamentals supporting ultra-bullish BNB price targets include the launch of the first 2x leveraged BNB ETF approved in the US, over 30 public companies building BNB treasury plays, over 31 million daily transactions, 40% of global stablecoin volume, and pending Spot BNB ETF applications from firms including VanEck and Grayscale, among a few others. Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from Tradingview.com
Bitmine has staked more than $10 billion in ETH, making it the largest corporate Ethereum treasury company and a yield-generating bet on the network’s proof-of-stake economy. On May 4, the Las Vegas-based company said its staked ETH position stood at 4.36 million tokens, valued at $10.2 billion at ETH's average price of $2,336. The position […]
The post Ethereum’s biggest staker has just become a public company with over $10 billion locked up appeared first on CryptoSlate.
The crypto layoffs wave isn’t slowing down it’s accelerating in 2026, and this time it’s not just about market cycles. It’s about survival in an AI-driven world. In early May 2026, major firms are cutting deep, trimming teams, and quietly admitting that fewer humans can now do a lot more work and Coinbase joined the …
The inflows mark the fifth straight positive week, though the total masked strong outflows that were reversed by a single session on Friday.
Ethereum price started a fresh increase and remained stable above $2,355. ETH is now consolidating and might aim for more gains if it clears $2,400. Ethereum started a steady increase above the $2,365 zone. The price is trading above $2,350 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a bullish trend line forming with support at $2,350 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken). The pair could continue to move up if it stays above the $2,300 zone. Ethereum Price Looks To Claim $2,400 Ethereum price managed to stay above the $2,320 support and started a fresh increase, like Bitcoin. ETH price gained pace for a move above $2,340 and $2,350. The price even climbed toward $2,380. A high was formed at $2,398, and the price is now consolidating gains. There was a minor decline below the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $2,220 swing low to the $2,398 high. Ethereum price is now trading above $2,360 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is also a bullish trend line forming with support at $2,350 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD, If the bulls remain in action above $2,350, the price could attempt another increase. Immediate resistance is seen near the $2,380 level. The first key resistance is near the $2,400 level. The next major resistance is near the $2,420 level. A clear move above the $2,420 resistance might send the price toward the $2,500 resistance. An upside break above the $2,500 region might call for more gains in the coming days. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $2,550 resistance zone or even $2,565 in the near term. Another Pullback In ETH? If Ethereum fails to clear the $2,400 resistance, it could start a downside correction. Initial support on the downside is near the $2,350 level and the trend line. The first major support sits near the $2,330 zone. A clear move below the $2,330 support might push the price toward the $2,310 support or the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $2,220 swing low to the $2,398 high. Any more losses might send the price toward the $2,285 region. The main support could be $2,250. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is gaining momentum in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now above the 50 zone. Major Support Level – $2,350 Major Resistance Level – $2,400
The upcoming Ethereum scaling upgrade is drawing attention across the market, raising a critical question about whether a major leap in network capacity can translate into equally strong price growth. The idea sounds straightforward, but the relationship between infrastructure and valuation is rarely that direct. Does A 300% Capacity Increase Translate To A 3x Ethereum Price Move? The conversation begins with the expected “Glamsterdam” upgrade, recently highlighted by crypto commentator @Hasufl. The upgrade is set to raise Ethereum’s gas limit from about 60 million to roughly 200 million, marking a jump of more than three times its current execution capacity. There are also indications that this capacity may grow even further after the upgrade goes live. Related Reading: Bitcoin Renko Mari-Ashi Reveals Where The Bottom Lies And When The Rise Will Begin Again This shift is not coming from a single change, but from several improvements working together. Proposer-builder separation gives more time for blocks to be assembled, helping transactions get processed more efficiently. Block access lists allow systems to prepare transaction data in advance, making it easier to handle multiple processes at once. Moreover, gas repricing adjustments are being introduced to better match actual resource usage, helping the network safely support higher limits. A related proposal also increases the cost of creating new data on the network, helping prevent it from growing too quickly. Following coordinated efforts involving over 100 developers, there is now alignment around maintaining a gas limit close to 200 million after the upgrade. The direction is clear: increase how much the network can handle while keeping it stable and efficient. Even with this strategy, higher capacity alone does not guarantee higher demand. Without a matching rise in usage, the impact remains more about improving structure than directly influencing price. Lower Fees And Market Dynamics: Can $6,000 Be Reached? One of the most notable implications of this upgrade is the possibility that transaction fees could remain near zero for an extended period if usage does not rise at the same pace as capacity. While lower fees improve accessibility and make the network more attractive to users and developers, they also reduce the congestion-driven pressure that has historically accompanied strong price rallies. Related Reading: Industry Expert Samson Mow Reveals When The Bitcoin Price Will Hit $1M Ethereum is currently trading around $2,363 and is up by 2.2% over the past seven days, reflecting steady but moderate market movement. A rise to $6,000 would represent roughly a threefold increase, but such a move would require more than improved efficiency. It would depend on a significant expansion in user activity, capital inflows, and sustained demand across applications built on the network. Past market cycles show that price surges tend to follow periods of intense adoption rather than infrastructure upgrades alone. While the Glamsterdam upgrade strengthens Ethereum’s long-term scalability and positions it for future growth, it does not directly drive valuation upward on its own. In clear terms, a 300% increase in capacity does not equate to a 300% increase in price. The upgrade lays the groundwork, but market demand remains the deciding factor in whether Ethereum can approach the $6,000 level. Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com
Bitcoin is trading close to $80,000 in the first week of May; Jerome Powell is weeks away from stepping down as Federal Reserve chair; the S&P 500 is at an all-time high; and sentiment across crypto markets is slowly turning positive. Crypto trader and market analyst Aralez has stepped forward with a full arc of the industry’s next major cycle that stretches from the second quarter of 2026 into the end of 2027. The prediction starts with a bearish short-term outlook for both Bitcoin and Ethereum, but it does not end there. Bitcoin And Ethereum Could Face Another Deep Drop Before Q3 The first stage of Aralez’s prediction focuses on May and June 2026, where he expects the market to see one more wave of panic. This is the most bearish part of the forecast, and it places the Bitcoin price reaching below $58,000, which would represent a drop of about 27% from its current price near $79,715. The chart attached to the analysis shows Bitcoin holding close to $80,000 before rolling over into a projected Q2 decline. Related Reading: This Week In Bitcoin: Top Developments That Could Signal A New Era Ethereum, in his view, could fall to around $1,600. This would also translate to a decline of about 32% from its current price of $2,359. Aralez also tied this stage to weakness in the S&P 500, with a prediction that it could reverse and fall below 6,800. That would be a clear break from the current mood in equities, where the index is currently trading at new highs around 7,230. The second part of the forecast is on Q3 2026, when Bitcoin will start to form a bottom while whales begin accumulating. The trigger in his forecast is a change in Federal Reserve leadership, followed by a strong market drop and the first US rate cut. Aralez’s prediction is that the leadership transition will lead to a market sell-off, with the S&P 500 falling to as low as $5,200 in the worst of it. Q4 2026 To 2027 Could Bring Bitcoin Back Above Its Record High The most bullish section of the prediction begins in Q4 2026. Aralez expects Bitcoin to start a new uptrend and reach above $90,000 before the end of the year. That would represent a major recovery from the projected sub-$58,000 Q2 target, but the analyst sees it as only the first stage of a bigger move. Related Reading: Here’s Why The Bitcoin And Ethereum Prices Have Been Rising And Falling Sharply The outlook is that Bitcoin will break its all-time high and reach above $140,000 sometime between Q1 and Q4 2027. The surge will be supported by mass integration of AI into the crypto industry, the launch of quantitative easing amid a global crisis, and new narratives bringing millions of participants into crypto. Those who buy Bitcoin during the Q3 2026 bottom, at or below $58,000, would achieve close to a 3x return within twelve months if the $140,000 target is hit. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com
Bitmine Immersion Technologies added 101,745 ETH last week, pushing its total holdings to about 5.18 million ETH alongside smaller Bitcoin and equity positions. The move reflects aggressive accumulation and confidence in Ethereum’s long-term value, especially with a large portion already staked to generate yield. It matters because such concentration by a single firm can influence …
The Ethereum price once again failed to rise above $2,400 as Bitcoin surpassed $80,000 for the first time since February. It continues to respect a descending channel, with price once again rejecting near the upper trendline close to $2,400. This marks another failed breakout attempt, reinforcing the level as strong resistance. Despite multiple pushes higher, …
Ethereum’s price action may look stable on the surface, but underneath, a powerful accumulation phase is unfolding. Over $300 million worth of ETH has been absorbed by whales in recent days, while staking queues continue to expand, tightening circulating supply at a rapid pace. Despite this, price remains compressed below a critical resistance zone, suggesting …
Ethereum price started a fresh increase and remained stable above $2,350. ETH is now consolidating and might aim for more gains if it clears $2,400. Ethereum started a steady increase above the $2,350 zone. The price is trading above $2,365 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a bullish trend line forming with support at $2,340 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken). The pair could continue to move up if it stays above the $2,320 zone. Ethereum Price Aims for Fresh Gains Ethereum price managed to stay above the $2,300 support and started a fresh increase, like Bitcoin. ETH price gained pace for a move above $2,320 and $2,350. The price even climbed toward $2,365. A high was formed at $2,387, and the price is now consolidating gains. It is holding gains above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $2,220 swing low to the $2,387 high. Ethereum price is now trading above $2,350 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is also a bullish trend line forming with support at $2,340 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD, If the bulls remain in action above $2,350, the price could attempt another increase. Immediate resistance is seen near the $2,385 level. The first key resistance is near the $2,400 level. The next major resistance is near the $2,420 level. A clear move above the $2,420 resistance might send the price toward the $2,500 resistance. An upside break above the $2,500 region might call for more gains in the coming days. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $2,550 resistance zone or even $2,565 in the near term. Another Decline In ETH? If Ethereum fails to clear the $2,400 resistance, it could start a downside correction. Initial support on the downside is near the $2,350 level. The first major support sits near the $2,340 zone and the trend line. A clear move below the $2,340 support might push the price toward the $2,300 support or the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $2,220 swing low to the $2,387 high. Any more losses might send the price toward the $2,260 region. The main support could be $2,220. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is gaining momentum in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now above the 50 zone. Major Support Level – $2,340 Major Resistance Level – $2,400
The Bitcoin market appears to be at a critical phase, as evidenced by data from a recent on-chain evaluation. According to this latest analysis, the Bitcoin price shows few signs of a clear directional trend, with uncertainty as the prevailing structure. Related Reading: Bitcoin Set For $80K Retest, Options Flash Potential Short Squeeze – Details Bull Score Index Within Neutral Territory In an X post on May 2, pseudonymous market analyst Darkfost reveals that Bitcoin is in a transitional phase, based on a reading from the Bitcoin Bull Score Index. For context, this metric primarily measures overall market strength by combining key indicators — such as liquidity, demand, activity, and sentiment — into a single value that indicates whether conditions are bullish or bearish. According to Darkfost, the Bull Score stands at 50 on the metric, a level the market expert notes is neutral. Notably, while a ‘50’ reading is typically taken as a sign of short-term improvement, it still does not reflect a shift in the market’s structure. The bull index readings are supported by a confluence of three on-chain events. First, while demand might exist in the market, it is still too weak to be of any consequence to Bitcoin’s price. Secondly, a significant number of Bitcoin investors are still holding unrealized losses. The combination of low demand and high unrealized losses further reduces the likelihood of prices seeing significant bullish pressure. This is because investors are increasingly pushed to exit their positions rather than being incentivized to hold or add more. The third component of this dynamic is the event where too few investors are holding while accumulating profits in their bags. This is actually an important metric to monitor, as healthy bullish markets are often characterized by widespread profitability across investors. As such, there is increased confidence to hold their positions and transact more in Bitcoin’s name. Related Reading: ‘Ethereum’s Price Should Have Dropped Already’ – Analyst Explains The On-Chain Signal Behind The Warning Bitcoin To Resume Bull Run? Darkfost notes that Bitcoin is still transitioning into a more defined bullish structure. But even if this were to happen, the analyst notes that we still cannot conclude that a new bull cycle has begun. To be on the safer side, it would be more sensible, implies the analyst, to see such moves as mere recoveries within a broader corrective cycle. At press time, Bitcoin trades at $78,828. According to more data from CoinMarketCap, the world’s leading cryptocurrency is up 0.86% over the past 24 hours. Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview
Crypto pundit Crypto Dyl has revealed how high the XRP price could reach if it replicates its historical surge in 2017. This comes amid former Ripple CTO David Schwartz’s statement in which he addresses predictions that the altcoin could rally to $10,000. Pundit Reveals XRP Price Target If It Mirrors 2017 Surge In an X post, Crypto Dyl stated that the XRP price could rally to $1,044 if it sees another supply shock and records a 768x gain as it did in 2017. He noted that in 2017, the altcoin rallied from $0.005 to $3.84 due to a supply shock. The pundit added that XRP had decoupled from Bitcoin prior to the SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple, which helped contribute to this rally. Related Reading: Breaking Down The Price Modelling That Puts XRP As High As $18,000 Crypto pundit SMQKE had recently alluded to the XRP price surge in 2017, noting that this was something important for XRP investors to remember. He highlighted how XRP delivered nearly 350x returns during the period, compared to Bitcoin and Ethereum, which gained 14x and 100x, respectively. SMQKE stated that XRP was able to achieve such massive returns without Ripple making any major acquisition at the time to boost the token’s use case. As such, he believes that the XRP price is better positioned to record more significant gains than it was back then, since Ripple has made major acquisitions that have boosted the token’s use case. However, amid these bullish outlooks for the XRP price, crypto pundit ChartNerd has warned about ultra-bullish price targets for the altcoin. He stated that the overly ambitious price targets being thrown around for XRP are far more “dangerous and unrealistic” than the predictions of a drop below $1, which are grounded in historical data. Former Ripple CTO Comments On $10,000 XRP Prediction In an X post, former Ripple CTO David Schwartz suggested that an XRP price rally to $10,000 as unlikely to ever happen. He stated that if there were a few “very rich, very rational” people who really believed that there was a 1% chance that XRP could hit this target in ten years, they would be bidding the altcoin up to at least $20 today. Related Reading: Pundit Shares The Most Important Thing To Remember About XRP Meanwhile, he also addressed assumptions that Ripple had ways to drive the XRP price higher. He noted that they have explained what they are doing, why they are doing it, and what they hope to achieve. The former Ripple CTO added that they are not hiding any grand conspiracy about XRP, even if they aren’t transparent about everything. Schwartz also indicated that there is no way they would have waited this long if indeed they had ways to boost XRP’s price. At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $1.38, up in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap. Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from Tradingview.com
More than 500 long-inactive Ethereum wallets were suddenly compromised, resulting in losses of around $800K. Attackers moved over 260 ETH ($600K) to a flagged address before routing 324 ETH through THORChain, suggesting an attempt to obscure funds. The exact breach method remains unclear, but experts point to exposed private keys, leaked seed phrases, or outdated …
After a shaky start to the year, Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and XRP Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) have recorded their strongest performance in months, signaling strong institutional demand despite the recent market volatility. Related Reading: XRP 2017 Breakout Replay? Analyst Drops Bold Target As Multi-Year Pattern Repeats Bitcoin Leads ETF Boom With $2B Inflows As the crypto market recovered from the start-of-year correction, US spot Bitcoin ETFs kicked off a new positive inflow streak, capping the second straight month of massive gains. The flagship crypto saw an 11.8% rise in April, climbing from the $68,000 mark to the $78,000-$79,000 resistance area for the first time since February, BTC’s strongest monthly gain in a year, according to CoinGlass data. Amid this performance, Bitcoin-based investment products recorded their strongest inflows in six months, with a nine-day streak between April 14 and April 24 totaling $2.1 billion. This marked the longest and largest inflows since the category’s $5.33 billion nine-day streak that ended in early October 2025. Nonetheless, this week’s market volatility, which recently pushed BTC’s price to a weekly low of $74,973, snapped Bitcoin ETFs from their daily and weekly positive spells, pulling nearly half a billion dollars from the funds in just three days. As reported by NewsBTC, the category saw $490 million in outflows between April 27 and April 29, its biggest negative net flows in three months. Despite the recent withdrawals, the funds posted $1.97 billion in April after a mild $14.76 recovery on Thursday, surpassing March’s $1.32 billion and recording their best performance of the year, the first two-month streak since Q4 2025. Notably, these inflows have offset outflows from January and February, with nearly $1.5 billion in net inflows Year-to-Date (YTD). ETH, XRP Funds See April Comeback Like Bitcoin, altcoin-based ETFs also saw a strong performance during the April market recovery, with Ethereum and XRP leading the charge. As ETH’s price printed its second green candle in 2026, its investment products logged their first positive performance of the year. SoSoValue data shows that the category posted $356 million in inflows in April, ending a six-month negative streak totaling $2.8 billion. Ethereum ETFs recorded a 10-day positive spell between April 9 and April 22, bringing in $633.5 million during this period. It’s worth noting that ETH funds remain in red despite the recent inflows, with about $413 million in net outflows during the first four months of 2026. XRP funds also rebounded in April, with inflows totaling $81.59 million. This marked a strong recovery from March’s performance, when the category saw the first red month since its November launch. Related Reading: Bitcoin Faces ‘Most Critical Week In Months’ Amid $76,000 Retest – Should Investors Worry? Similar to Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, the XRP-based products recorded their best daily streak of the year, seeing 14 days of positive net flows between April 10 and April 29. Following this performance, the funds have seen around $124 million in inflows during the first four months of the year, bringing their total cumulative inflows to $1.29 billion. Meanwhile, Solana ETFs continued their seven-month positive streak, posting $38.69 million in inflows last month and recording $251.8 million net inflows for 2026. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com
A new security incident has shaken the crypto space after more than 500 long-dormant Ethereum wallets were suddenly drained, resulting in losses of nearly $800,000. The attack, first flagged by analyst WazzCrypto, is raising deeper concerns about old wallet vulnerabilities and long-forgotten private key exposure. Old Ethereum Wallets Become New Targets The affected wallets had …
Ethereum has surged more than 25% since late March, pushing back toward levels that have defined the upper boundary of its recent recovery range and testing resistance that has capped every previous attempt higher. The move has been convincing enough to shift sentiment — but a CryptoQuant analyst has just flagged a divergence in the on-chain data that complicates the bullish reading and raises a question the price chart cannot answer on its own. Related Reading: XRP’s Leverage Has Been Flushed Out, But Price Is Still Holding: Find Out What Follows That Setup The analyst examines the Exchange Supply Ratio — a metric that tracks the relationship between exchange supply and the broader market. Historically, when this ratio drops sharply, it has been accompanied by price declines that form a bottom. The logic is straightforward: falling exchange supply means fewer coins available for immediate sale, which reduces selling pressure and signals that the market is approaching a zone where price tends to find support. The current chart is showing that pattern — but only halfway. The ratio has once again fallen to low levels, confirming the reduction in exchange supply that the indicator is designed to detect. What is missing is the corresponding price decline that has historically accompanied it. Rather than dropping to form a bottom alongside the ratio, Ethereum’s price has continued holding relatively high. That gap — between a ratio that says a bottom should be forming and a price that has not yet corrected to form one — is what the analyst has identified as the divergence that demands attention. The Ratio Has Bottomed. The Price Has Not Followed. That Gap Tends to Close The CryptoQuant analyst’s interpretation of the divergence is direct and does not overcomplicate what the data is describing. The supply reduction that the Exchange Supply Ratio tracks has already occurred — that part of the historical sequence is complete. What has not occurred is the corresponding price movement that has historically accompanied it. The market has received the signal and has not yet responded the way the pattern says it should. The analyst offers a specific explanation for the delay. Derivatives influence can sustain prices at levels that the underlying spot market structure would not support on its own. When leveraged positioning creates artificial demand — bids that exist because of borrowed capital rather than genuine buying conviction — the price can remain resilient longer than the on-chain data suggests it should. That resilience is not a contradiction of the signal. It is a postponement of its resolution. The historical record on these divergences is consistent. They do not tend to resolve upward, with price rallying to justify the elevated level. They tend to resolve downward, with price declining to align with where the ratio says it should be. The gap between the ratio’s current position and the price’s current position is the distance the market may need to travel before the two return to alignment. Ethereum’s 25% surge since late March has been real. The analyst’s warning is not that the recovery was wrong — it is that the price may still need to complete the bottoming process that the ratio has already signaled. The dip may be delayed. According to the data, it is likely not canceled. Related Reading: Ethereum Pullback Sparks $1B Buying Frenzy Despite Hawkish Fed Warning on Inflation — What Changed? Ethereum Reclaims Structure but Faces Heavy Overhead Resistance Ethereum is trading near $2,280 after rebounding from the sub-$2,000 region, but the weekly chart shows a market still caught between recovery and structural resistance. The recent bounce has reclaimed the 50-week moving average, a constructive development, yet price remains compressed beneath the 100-week and 200-week moving averages, which continue to trend sideways to down. This positioning matters. Historically, sustained bullish expansions occur when Ethereum reclaims and holds above these higher time frame averages. Until that happens, rallies tend to behave as relief moves within a broader consolidation or distribution range. Related Reading: Bitcoin Large Players Have Built A Sell Wall At $80.5K–$82K – Spoofing Or Structural Supply? The $2,200–$2,300 zone is now acting as a pivot. It previously served as support during the 2024 structure and is currently being retested from below. The market’s ability to hold this level will determine whether the recent move evolves into a trend reversal or fades into another lower high. Volume does not yet confirm a strong conviction. While the bounce from the lows was sharp, follow-through buying has been relatively muted compared to prior impulsive phases, suggesting cautious participation. A break above $2,600 would shift the structure decisively and open the path toward $3,000. Failure to hold $2,200 would expose Ethereum to renewed downside, with $1,900 acting as the next major support zone. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
Bitcoin is trading below a key cost threshold that short-term holders paid to acquire it — a sign that many recent buyers are sitting on losses heading into one of the largest options expiry events of the month. Related Reading: 23 Billion+ XRP Already Quantum Safe, According To New Wallet Analysis Bitcoin: Bears Hold The Edge Going Into Expiry Glassnode data shows Bitcoin is currently priced under the Short-Term Holder Cost Basis of $78,900, and also below the True Market Mean of $78,000. Support is seen further down, in the $65,000–$70,000 range. That backdrop sets a cautious tone as roughly 23,000 Bitcoin options contracts — worth $1.74 billion — are set to expire today on derivatives exchange Deribit. The put-call ratio for those contracts sits at 1.10, meaning more traders are betting on price declines than on gains. Bitcoin’s max pain price — the level where the greatest number of options expire worthless — is $76,000, slightly below where it was trading at press time around $77,200. Deribit has flagged the settlement as one to watch closely, with data showing a 95% probability that Bitcoin options expire above that $76,000 mark. Heavy volume is concentrated at the $75,500 and $77,000 strike prices. ???? May 1st Options Expiry Alert. At 08:00 UTC today, ~$2.14B in crypto options are set to expire on Deribit.$BTC: ~$1.74B notional | Put/Call: 1.10 | Max Pain: $76,000$ETH: ~$394M notional | Put/Call: 0.95 | Max Pain: $2,325 BTC spot pinned right at max pain. ETH trading… pic.twitter.com/UC2GkTnBMb — Deribit (@DeribitOfficial) May 1, 2026 In the past 24 hours, the put-call ratio for Bitcoin trading activity climbed to 0.73, while overall volume dropped. The Federal Reserve’s decision to hold interest rates unchanged contributed to the slowdown. Ethereum Sits Below Its Own Pain Point Ethereum is facing similar pressure. More than 175,000 ETH options worth $400 million are expiring on Deribit today, with a put-call ratio of 0.95. In the last 24 hours alone, put volume rose sharply past call volume, pushing that ratio to 1.17 — a sign traders are adjusting for potential downside. What makes Ethereum’s situation slightly different is where it’s trading relative to max pain. The ETH max pain price is $2,325, but the token was changing hands around $2,284 at the time of writing — already below that level. Its 24-hour range ran from $2,232 to $2,293. Trading volume fell 45% over the past day. Broader Pressures Weigh On Crypto Markets The options expiry is not happening in a vacuum. US PCE inflation came in at a three-year high of 3.5%, rattling broader markets and prompting profit-taking across crypto. Oil prices rose to $106 a barrel as the US maintained a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Reports indicate US President Donald Trump has rejected Iran’s offer to end the standoff, with reports of a possible escalation adding to market unease. Related Reading: Bitcoin Bull Run Brewing: ATH In Sight By Late 2026: Analyst Together, those factors have kept buyers cautious. Crypto markets saw widespread selling after the inflation data dropped, and uncertainty around the geopolitical situation has not eased. Whether today’s options expiry adds to that pressure — or passes without incident — may depend on whether Bitcoin can hold above the $76,000 mark when contracts settle. Featured image from Gemini, chart from TradingView
Ethereum has held above $2,250 as the market builds toward what feels like a decisive move in either direction. The recovery from the February lows has been real and sustained — but according to top analyst Darkfost, the participants who should be most convinced by it are doing the opposite of what conviction looks like. Related Reading: XRP’s Leverage Has Been Flushed Out, But Price Is Still Holding: Find Out What Follows That Setup The context behind that observation starts with how severe the preceding correction was. ETH fell approximately 65% from its last peak — a decline that placed it among the hardest-hit assets in a downturn that damaged the entire altcoin market. TOTAL2, which measures the combined market cap of altcoins excluding Bitcoin and stablecoins, shed more than 51% of its value over the same period. The selling was broad, deep, and extended enough to leave lasting marks on participant psychology. The recovery since then has been meaningful. Ethereum is now trading more than 30% above the low it recorded on February 6 — a recovery that, in any normal market environment, would be drawing fresh buyers and building bullish consensus. That consensus has not formed. Darkfost’s data shows that despite the 30% recovery, most investors remain unconvinced. They are not sitting on the sidelines waiting for confirmation. They are actively taking aggressive short positions against a market that has already moved significantly higher — a posture that sets up a specific dynamic the data is now making visible. The Last Time Funding Looked Like This, the Bear Market Was Ending Darkfost’s funding rate data is where the setup becomes historically significant. Throughout Ethereum’s 30% recovery from the February lows, funding rates on Binance have remained persistently negative — not briefly, not as a daily fluctuation, but as a sustained, month-long condition that reflects the collective positioning of participants who refuse to believe the rebound is real. The monthly average funding rate currently sits at -0.0018. The last time funding remained this negative for this long was November 2022 — during the FTX collapse, at the end of the previous bear market. Darkfost is careful to note that today’s environment is not comparable to that moment in any fundamental sense. What is comparable is the behavioral fingerprint: a market recovering while the majority of derivatives participants position aggressively against it, paying persistently to maintain short exposure even as the price moves higher. That bet is already extracting a cost. Short liquidation volumes have been rising as Ethereum’s upward momentum forces overleveraged positions out of the market. Each forced liquidation removes a short and adds buying pressure, which creates the potential for the recovery to feed on itself as more shorts are caught and closed. Markets rarely reward the kind of consensus that currently surrounds Ethereum’s short side. The FTX-era parallel is not a prediction. It is a reminder that the strongest moves tend to start precisely when the most people are positioned against them. Related Reading: Ethereum Pullback Sparks $1B Buying Frenzy Despite Hawkish Fed Warning on Inflation — What Changed? Ethereum Tests Structure As Momentum Stalls Below Resistance Ethereum is trading around $2,280 after a steady recovery from its February capitulation low near $1,800, but the chart shows a market losing momentum as it approaches a key resistance cluster. Price is now compressing between the rising short-term trend (around the 50-day moving average) and the descending 100-day and 200-day moving averages, which continue to slope downward and cap upside attempts. The recent structure is constructive but not yet bullish. Higher lows since mid-March indicate accumulation, yet each push toward the $2,350–$2,450 region has been rejected, forming a clear supply zone. This repeated failure suggests sellers remain active at higher levels, likely using rallies to distribute. Related Reading: Bitcoin Large Players Have Built A Sell Wall At $80.5K–$82K – Spoofing Or Structural Supply? Volume reinforces the hesitation. The recovery phase has not matched the intensity seen during the February selloff, implying that the current move lacks strong conviction. Buyers are present, but not aggressive enough to absorb overhead supply decisively. From a structural standpoint, Ethereum is coiling. A clean break above $2,450 would shift momentum and open the path toward reclaiming the $2,700 region. Conversely, losing the $2,200–$2,250 support area would invalidate the higher-low structure and expose the market to a deeper retracement back toward $2,000 or lower. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
In an environment where tighter monetary policy typically pressures risk assets, Ethereum has attracted over $1 billion in buying interest despite a hawkish stance from the Federal Reserve, which typically tightens liquidity and weighs on markets. That kind of inflow suggests that investors aren’t just reacting to short-term narratives, but are positioning around longer-term conviction in the network. Why Ethereum Is Holding Strong Against A Hawkish Federal Reserve Ethereum is showing a notable mix of short-term weakness and underlying demand, despite the hawkish Fed macro backdrop that is in place. Crypto analyst Darkfost has highlighted on X that ETH recently rebounded above $2,450 before facing a roughly 10% correction despite the price still trading within a broader range. Related Reading: Ethereum Traders Shift: Spot Market Weakness Drives Rise In Derivatives Trading The move back below the $2,300 level could have signaled weakness, but instead it appears to have triggered aggressive buying interest. Within 1 hour, the taker buy volume on Binance surged above $1 billion. A similar reaction was also seen on OKX, where nearly $20 million in buying flows were recorded over the same period. That kind of move suggests that these price levels are where some investors aggressively stepped in on the long side, waiting to take advantage of the pullback. This buying move came even as the Federal Reserve had announced that it would keep interest rates unchanged in the 3.5% to 3.75% range. Also, the institution indicated that short-term inflation could move higher, notably due to the rise in energy prices. Darkfost noted that despite this relatively Hawkish tone, some market participants still appear willing to bet on a more constructive short-term outlook for ETH. Why The Next Decade Could Be Transformational For Ethereum The disconnection between expectation and reality is where most investors go wrong with Ethereum. According to Shibatarzan, many enter the market expecting a quick upside in a few weeks, and when that doesn’t happen, they feel disappointed. In reality, investing in ETH should be based on where it can stand over the next 10 to 20 years. Related Reading: Ethereum Net Taker Volume Rises To Most Positive Level Since 2023 – Bullish Reversal Soon? Shibatarzan stated that in the meantime, the journey won’t be smooth, it will have drawdowns. In fact, those periods of weakness often present the best opportunities to accumulate. Also, there’s a shift happening in how investors engage with ETH. Instead of simply holding, many investors are finding ways to make their assets productive, through platforms like Strato_net, turning idle capital into yield while waiting for the broader thesis to play out. In Strato_net, investors are not just investing in an asset, but investing in the future of an ecosystem. Over the last 5 years, ETH has been developing at an incredible pace, with Shibatarzan predicting that the next 10 to 20 years of ETH will bring larger progress, drawing a parallel to the early internet days. Featured image from Getty Images, chart from Tradingview.com