Standard Chartered believes stablecoin supply could swell to $2 trillion by 2028, driving $1.6 trillion in new demand for US Treasury bills if upcoming US legislation passes as expected. The report, authored by StanChart’s head of digital assets research, Geoffrey Kendrick, anticipates that the US GENIUS Act, which would formalize the legal framework for stablecoins, […]
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Kyrgyzstan President Sadyr Japarov signed amendments that provide its digital som legal status.
Issued by FINRA, the license will allow the company to broaden fixed income prime brokerage services for institutional clients.
A Kraken spokesperson said the firm is “making the difficult decision to eliminate certain roles and consolidate teams where redundancies exist, while continuing to hire in key areas of the business.”
Ethereum is trading around the $1,600 level after several days of failed attempts to reclaim higher prices. Bulls are showing signs of life, but their momentum remains weak as bearish pressure continues to dominate the market. Despite a brief recovery bounce last week, Ethereum’s broader structure still reflects a clear downtrend. Related Reading: Solana Retests Bearish Breakout Zone – $65 Target Still In Play? The crypto market remains under the shadow of macroeconomic uncertainty, as ongoing tensions between the United States and China weigh heavily on global financial sentiment. No resolution or agreement between the two economic giants has been announced, leaving investors cautious and risk-averse. Adding to the negative sentiment, CryptoQuant data shows that Ethereum whales have offloaded approximately 143,000 ETH over the past week. This large-scale distribution reinforces fears of further downside, with long-term holders and large wallets choosing to reduce exposure rather than accumulate. While some analysts still see potential for a turnaround if key levels are reclaimed, the current market environment remains fragile. Unless Ethereum can regain and hold above short-term resistance levels, the threat of another leg down remains very real. Traders are now closely watching price action for signs of a shift — but for now, caution continues to lead the way. Ethereum Faces Selling Pressure As Whales Exit Ethereum is facing a critical test as price action continues to lack clarity, and support levels remain fragile. Despite brief attempts to rebound, ETH has failed to establish a clear bottom, and the downtrend structure remains intact. The market is struggling to define a strong demand zone, making it difficult for bulls to sustain upward momentum. As selling pressure mounts, analysts are warning that Ethereum may continue to slide toward lower demand levels in the absence of strong buying interest. Broader macroeconomic conditions continue to weigh heavily on risk assets like Ethereum. Global trade tensions, particularly the unresolved tariff standoff between the United States and China, have created uncertainty across financial markets. Combined with fears of a slowing global economy and lack of coordinated fiscal support, crypto markets remain under pressure. Adding to the bearish sentiment, top analyst Ali Martinez shared on-chain data revealing that whales have offloaded approximately 143,000 ETH over the past week. This large-scale distribution by influential holders has significantly weakened Ethereum’s outlook, reinforcing concerns that smart money is preparing for deeper downside. Since late December, ETH has remained in a prolonged bearish trend, with every attempt at recovery being met by renewed selling. Unless bulls reclaim key technical levels and shift market sentiment, Ethereum may continue to slide further. Related Reading: Over 1.9M Ethereum Positioned Between $1,457 And $1,598 – Can Bulls Hold Support? ETH Price Stuck In Volatile Range Ethereum is currently trading at $1,600 after enduring days of massive volatility and macroeconomic-driven uncertainty. Despite brief relief bounces, ETH remains locked in a bearish structure, unable to generate sustained momentum. For bulls to regain control, reclaiming the $1,850 resistance level is critical. This level aligns with the 4-hour 200 MA and EMA around $1,800, making it a key zone to watch for confirmation of a short-term trend reversal. Holding above these moving averages would signal renewed strength and possibly mark the beginning of a recovery rally. However, price action continues to struggle beneath them, and failure to push above these indicators would confirm persistent weakness. In that case, Ethereum may retest the $1,500 level or even dip below it if selling pressure intensifies. Related Reading: Ethereum Metrics Reveal Critical Support Level – Can Buyers Step In? The current environment is shaped by global tensions and macro uncertainty, with no clear catalysts to drive a breakout in either direction. As long as ETH remains below its key moving averages, the risk of another leg down remains elevated. Bulls must act swiftly to flip sentiment and avoid a deeper correction toward long-term demand levels. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView
The A16z team intends to lock the acquired ZRO tokens for three years to ensure its market stability. ZRO price is well primed for a major bullish rebound if the wider crypto market rises in the near future. Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) has been a huge contributor to the success of the LayerZero (ZRO) omnichain protocol. …
Barry Silbert, the CEO of Digital Currency Group, said he would have secured higher investment gains by just holding the Bitcoin that he invested in early-stage crypto projects around 2012.During an April 17 appearance on Raoul Pal's Journey Man podcast, Silbert said he discovered Bitcoin (BTC) in 2011, purchasing BTC at $7-$8 per coin. Once the price of BTC surged, Silbert started looking for early-stage crypto companies to invest in. The executive told Raoul Pal:"I was using Bitcoin to make a bunch of those investments, and you would think, if you invested in Coinbase you would have done really well. Had I just held the Bitcoin, I actually would have done better than making those investments."Silbert's comments come at a time when Bitcoin maximalists, including Strategy co-founder Michael Saylor, forecast a seven-figure Bitcoin price in the coming decade, and BTC receives greater attention from governments worldwide.Bitcoin price history 2011-2025. Source: CoinMarketCapRelated: Bitcoin gold copycat move may top $150K as BTC stays 'impressive'Bitcoin could hit $1 million if US begins buying BTC Zach Shapiro, the head of the Bitcoin Policy Institute (BPI) think tank, recently predicted BTC would hit $1 million per coin if the United States government were to purchase 1 million BTC.“If the United States announces that we are buying a million Bitcoin, that’s just a global seismic shock," Shapiro told Bitcoin Magazine in an April 16 podcast appearance.Bo Hines, the executive director of President Trump's White House Crypto Council, signaled that the council is exploring several budget-neutral strategies for acquiring more Bitcoin for the US Strategic Reserve.These strategies included revaluing the US Treasury's gold reserves, which are currently priced at $43 per ounce while the market rate is at an all-time high of $3,300 per ounce, and funding Bitcoin acquisition through trade tariffs.BTC has been floated as a way to eliminate or alleviate the growing national debt by President Trump and several market analysts.According to asset management firm VanEck, Bitcoin could help claw back the $36 trillion national debt by $14 trillion if the US Treasury introduces long-term bonds with BTC exposure.Magazine: TradFi fans ignored Lyn Alden’s BTC tip — Now she says it’ll hit 7 figures: X Hall of Flame
The venture capital firm's ZRO acquisition follows previous investments in the protocol.
The fund will hold between 30 and 60 assets linked to the blockchain economy.
Slovenia's proposed crypto tax could level the playing field for investors, enhance fiscal transparency, and boost government revenue.
The post Slovenia floats 25% tax on personal crypto profits appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
Circle announced the launch of its Refund Protocol on April 17, introducing a non-custodial smart contract system to enable dispute resolution for stablecoin transactions without relying on centralized intermediaries. The initiative addresses what it labels as a key shortcoming of using stablecoins, which is the lack of a built-in mechanism for refunds or chargebacks. The […]
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Ripple’s XRP, once seen as a slow mover in the crypto world, is now turning heads. For the past six months, it has been beating Ethereum, the worlds largest altcoin in the price growth. This has left many wondering what’s driving this success and how long it will take XRP to surpass Ethereum in market …
Crypto market analyst Dr Cat (@DoctorCatX) has declared XRP the strongest chart in the entire crypto space, citing Ichimoku Cloud dynamics that currently favor XRP over both Bitcoin and major altcoins such as Ethereum. XRP Is The ‘Strongest Chart’ In a weekly comparison of XRP/USD and BTC/USD, Dr Cat explains that XRP continues to exhibit full bullish structure within the Ichimoku framework. On the weekly chart, XRP is holding above the Kijun-Sen (base line), and the Tenkan-Sen (conversion line) remains above both price and Kijun, maintaining a textbook bullish configuration. The price, marked at $2.09688, has now consolidated for multiple weeks above the Kijun, with no significant violations. The Ichimoku cloud projected ahead — the Kumo — shows a sharply rising Senkō Span A, forming an upward-sloping top to the cloud that extends into May. Senkō Span B is positioned lower and flat, adding to the positive slope of the cloud. This forward structure typically reflects underlying trend strength. While precise values for these lines are not labelled on the chart, their shape and relative positioning confirm that the cloud is bullishly aligned, with Span A above Span B, and rising — a configuration often preceding strong continuation moves. Related Reading: XRP Dips To $1.97 – A Golden Opportunity Before The Next Rally? In contrast, the BTC/USD weekly chart presents a more fragile picture. While Bitcoin trades at $84,940, and remains above the Kumo, it has lost the Kijun-Sen, with price slipping below that critical baseline over the last two candles. Moreover, the Tenkan-Sen has crossed beneath the Kijun-Sen, forming a classic bearish crossover. Even if this crossover eventually proves to be a whipsaw, it is technically significant, as Dr Cat notes: “Even if a fake one, it’s a score point for bears that needs to be overcome.” Dr Cat summarizes the contrast across the majors as follows: “Plenty of altcoins are already in a bear market on the weekly, including ETH. BTC is struggling to fight back. But XRP bulls still have full control.” In response to users speculating on timelines, tops, and price targets — some calling for $0.80 retracements, others for new all-time highs imminently — the analyst replied: “By the end of May it should be pretty clear.” Related Reading: XRP To $15? Pundit Explains How ETFs Could Trigger Massive Rally Dr Cat has also reiterated his medium-term upside target of $4.50 for XRP, suggesting that the setup may culminate in a full-scale breakout attempt toward or beyond the all-time high near $3.84. That move, however, remains contingent on bulls maintaining their current technical advantage. XRP Sets New Record Against Ethereum Additional evidence of XRP’s rising strength comes from independent analyst Dom (@traderview2), who published a historical performance heatmap comparing XRP to ETH on a monthly basis. His data shows that XRP has now outperformed ETH for five consecutive months (entering the six month) — the longest such streak ever recorded. The outperformance began in November 2024, with XRP gaining +160.4% relative to ETH, followed by +18.5% in December, +47.3% in January, +4.3% in February, +19.6% in March, and +14.3% so far in April 2025. Prior to this run, the longest relative win streak had been four months (June–September 2024), making the current stretch a historical first. The cumulative arithmetic gain across this period exceeds +264%, showcasing a sustained capital rotation toward XRP not seen in prior cycles. While it remains to be seen whether the current strength translates into new highs, XRP’s chart structure is unmatched across major tokens on the weekly timeframe. With a clean bullish alignment, a rising cloud, and dominant relative performance, Dr Cat’s conclusion remains firmly grounded: “XRP bulls still have full control.” At press time, XRP traded at $2.09. Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com
Over the past year, most altcoins have struggled to keep up with Bitcoin, but one project is breaking away from the pack: XRP.While other tokens have stagnated or slid, XRP (XRP) has surged more than 300% in just six months against Bitcoin (BTC) to quickly become one of the best-performing assets in the crypto space. But what’s really behind this rally — and more importantly, can it last?Some say it’s the fundamentals finally shining through. Others argue it’s just hype and speculation driven by a passionate community. Then there’s the legal, political, and institutional side of things — factors that could have a far greater impact on XRP’s trajectory than many realize.In Cointelegraph's latest video, we dive deep into the forces driving XRP’s recent performance, the growing institutional interest, and the potential game-changing developments on the horizon. From exchange-traded funds (ETFs) and stablecoins to regulation and Ripple Labs’ evolving strategy, this video breaks it all down.Whether you’re an XRP holder, a skeptic, or just trying to make sense of the altcoin market in 2025, this is a video you don’t want to miss.Check out the full breakdown on our YouTube channel — and make sure to subscribe for future updates.
Chainlink network is heavily bolstered by growing fundamentals and a positive regulatory outlook in the United States. LINK bulls must defend the support level above $9.4 to invalidate further capitulation in 2025. Chainlink (LINK) price has been trapped in a multi-week falling channel since the second inauguration of the U.S. President Donald Trump. The large-cap …
Dogecoin has been among the top-traded tokens, which has been attracting enough liquidity, which has maintained the volatility. Meanwhile, the latest price action has remained stuck within a narrow range, hinting towards a drop in the bullish and bearish pressures. While the spot market remains uncertain, the whales seem to be confident of the upcoming …
North American institutional interest grows as SOL reclaims DEX dominance over Ethereum with 16% weekly gain.
Google search volume for “Bitcoin” for the month of March 2025 stood at 34, its highest level so far in 2025.
XRP is making headlines this month as whale activity surges across the network. In a surprising twist, reports indicate that XRP whales have dumped more than $700 million worth of tokens just this April. This sudden shift in whale behavior raises the question of what these big players are really up to. XRP Whales Offload 370 Million Tokens In April On April 15, prominent crypto analyst Ali Martínez reported on X (formerly Twitter) that XRP whales have begun dumping the popular cryptocurrency in large volumes. Following a period of substantial token accumulation, these large-scale investors have sold over 370 million XRP since the beginning of April. Related Reading: Trump-Powered Rally Triggers Heavy Dumping From XRP Whales, Here’s How Much Notably, this massive whale sell-off amounts to over $700 million, triggering a wave of speculation about the intentions behind this move. More interestingly, the XRP dumps appear to align with recent price fluctuations, as whales tend to heavily influence market dynamics, especially during a downturn. The Santiment chart provided by Martinez reveals a clear trend, from April 3 to 14, 2025, that XRP wallets holding between 100 million to 1 billion tokens have drastically reduced their holdings. As this large-scale whale dumping progressed, the XRP price dropped to new lows around April 8 and then began a steady climb, reaching $2.1 at the time of writing. While the reason behind such large-scale exits is unclear, a few plausible explanations exist. Whales might be capitalizing on earlier price gains to lock in profits while the market conditions for XRP remain relatively stable. These investors could also be responding to heightened market volatility, pushing them to shift their holdings into alternative assets to hedge risks and safeguard against losses. Another possibility is that these big players are selling tokens between wallets or transferring them to exchanges in anticipation of a significant event — perhaps the final legal decision between Ripple and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In less optimistic scenarios, such coordinated whale activity, which tends to influence prices, may be indicative of market manipulation, often aimed at achieving strategic gains. Although it’s uncertain whether the above motives are driving recent whale dumps, one thing is clear: large-scale XRP movements always warrant close attention. With XRP now hovering around $2, the market waits to see just how these sell-offs will influence the future price of the cryptocurrency. Update On Latest XRP Price Action According to crypto analyst Andrew Griffiths, the current XRP price analysis indicates a notably bullish trend. This momentum emerged after the cryptocurrency surpassed two key resistance levels and established a solid support level, signaling a potential upward movement. Related Reading: XRP Price Reversal Toward $3.5 In The Works With Short And Long-Term Targets Revealed As a result, the analyst predicts that XRP could record a massive gain of over 20% in the coming weeks. With the token currently trading at $2.10, a 20% increase would bring it to approximately $2.589. Based on the upward trajectory within the Ascending Channel seen on the price chart, the analyst predicts that XRP could climb as high as $3.3. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com
Bitcoin mining company Bit Digital has acquired an industrial building in Madison, North Carolina, upping the ante in a business diversification strategy that includes strategic pivots into AI and high-performance computing. Bit Digital agreed to buy the property for $53.2 million through Enovum Data Centers Corp., the company’s wholly owned Canadian subsidiary, regulatory filings show. The investment includes a $2.25 million initial deposit, with $1.2 million being non-refundable. The transaction is expected to close on May 15.Bit Digital disclosed the acquisition in a Form 8-K filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Source: SECBit Digital’s regulatory filing was submitted around the same time that it announced a new Tier 3 data center site in Quebec, Canada, which will support the company’s 5 megawatt colocation agreement with AI infrastructure provider Cerebras Systems. The Quebec facility is being retrofitted with roughly $40 million in upgrades to meet Tier 3 standards — strict requirements that ensure high reliability for critical systems and continuous operation.Bit Digital CEO Sam Tabar said at the time that the Quebec operation “represents continued momentum in our strategy to deliver purpose-built AI infrastructure at scale.”Related: Auradine raises $153M, debuts business group for AI data centersMiners under pressure to diversifyFaced with volatile crypto prices and a quadrennial Bitcoin halving cycle that squeezes revenues, several mining firms have leveraged their existing infrastructure to pivot to other data-intensive workloads. Mining companies like Hive Digital say AI data centers offer potentially higher revenue streams than crypto mining. In the latest sign of economic pain, public Bitcoin miners sold more than 40% of their Bitcoin (BTC) holdings in March, according to data from TheMinerMag publication. Public miners that can’t keep their costs under control struggle the most in maintaining their Bitcoin operations, placing more pressure on executives to seek out alternative revenue streams.An October report by CoinShares suggested that the least profitable miners are more likely to shift gears to AI and other workloads. The cost per Bitcoin is an important metric for mining companies, which have struggled to remain profitable in a post-halving environment. Source: CoinSharesRelated: SEC says proof-of-work mining does not constitute securities dealing
Algorithmic trading strategies in crypto Algorithmic trading has become a go-to for many traders as it lets you automate trades based on specific rules — no emotions, no hesitation, just pure logic. These strategies can scan markets 24/7, react instantly to price movements, and handle large volumes way faster than a human ever could.Some common algo trading strategies include:Trend following: riding the wave of upward or downward momentum.Arbitrage: taking advantage of price differences across exchanges.Market making: placing buy and sell orders to profit from the spread.Mean reversion: betting that prices will return to their average over time.Now, within the world of algorithmic trading, there’s a special group called execution algorithms. These aren’t about predicting where the market is going — they’re about how to get in or out of a position without moving the market too much. They’re especially useful for handling large orders discreetly.A key subset of these is passive order execution strategies. These aim to minimize slippage and get you as close as possible to a fair average price. The two big names here are:Time-weighted average price (TWAP): splits your order into equal parts over time, ignoring volume. It’s great for low-liquidity situations or when you want to stay under the radar.Volume-weighted average price (VWAP): adjusts your trade size based on market volume, placing bigger trades when activity is higher.Both help you avoid tipping off the market and are essential tools in the crypto trader’s toolkit. What is time-weighted average price (TWAP)? TWAP, or time-weighted average price, is one of the simplest and most widely used execution strategies in algorithmic crypto trading. At its core, TWAP helps traders break down a large order into smaller trades, executed evenly over a set period of time — regardless of market volume. The goal? To get an average price that reflects time, not market activity, and to avoid causing sudden price moves.This strategy is especially useful in two scenarios: when you’re trying to quietly execute a large trade without alerting the market and when you’re trading in low-liquidity environments where even moderate orders can move prices. By pacing your trades, TWAP helps reduce slippage and keeps your activity under the radar.Its biggest strength is its simplicity — it’s easy to implement and understand. But that simplicity also comes with a tradeoff: TWAP doesn’t account for trading volume. So, during high-volatility periods or sudden market shifts, it might miss key signals and give you an execution price that doesn’t reflect the true state of the market.In short, TWAP is a great option when you need to trade steadily over time, especially in quieter markets. But if volume and volatility are major concerns, it might not always give you the best result.Did you know? You can easily add TWAP (time-weighted average price) to your trading setup on platforms like TradingView by simply opening your chart, clicking “Indicators” and searching for “TWAP.” How to calculate TWAP To calculate TWAP, you take the price of the asset at regular time intervals, add them all up, and divide by the number of times you checked the price.Here is the formula to calculate TWAP:In layman’s terms, the formula looks like this:TWAP = (Price₁ Price₂ ... Priceₙ) / nLet’s walk through an example.Say you check the price of Bitcoin (BTC) every 10 minutes and get the following:90,000 → 90,100 → 89,900 → 90,050Now add them together:90,000 90,100 89,900 90,050 = 360,050Then divide by the number of intervals (4):TWAP = 360,050 ÷ 4 = 90,012.5 What is volume-weighted average price (VWAP) VWAP stands for volume-weighted average price, and it’s a go-to metric for traders who want a more realistic sense of an asset’s average price throughout the day. Unlike TWAP, which just averages prices over time, VWAP factors in how much volume was traded at each price. That means prices with more trading activity carry more weight in the final average — making it a better reflection of where the market actually values the asset.Traders often use VWAP as a benchmark. If you buy below VWAP, you’re likely getting a better-than-average deal compared to the rest of the market. It’s also handy for spotting trends — if the current price is above VWAP, the market’s probably bullish; if it’s below, that could be a bearish signal.VWAP has its advantages: It gives a more accurate picture of market value and can help identify when an asset might be overbought or oversold. But it’s not perfect. It’s more complex to calculate and can get thrown off by a few unusually large trades, which might skew the average.All in all, VWAP is a powerful tool for traders who want deeper insight into market dynamics, but like any indicator, it works best when used alongside other signals.Did you know? The term volume-weighted average price (VWAP) was first introduced to the trading community in a March 1988 Journal of Finance article titled “The Total Cost of Transactions on the NYSE” by Stephen Berkowitz, Dennis Logue, and Eugene Noser Jr. In this paper, the authors presented VWAP as a benchmark for assessing the quality of trade executions by institutional investors. How to calculate VWAP VWAP works a bit differently. Instead of treating each price equally, it gives more weight to prices where more trading volume occurs. Here is the formula to calculate VWAP:In plain terms, the formula is:VWAP = (Price × Volume at each point, all added up) ÷ Total VolumeLet’s go through an example.Say you have this data for BTC:90,000 at 10 trades90,100 at 20 trades89,900 at 5 trades90,050 at 15 tradesFirst, multiply each price by its volume:90,000 × 10 = 900,00090,100 × 20 = 1,802,00089,900 × 5 = 449,50090,050 × 15 = 1,350,750Now add those results:900,000 1,802,000 449,500 1,350,750 = 4,502,250Then calculate the total volume:10 20 5 15 = 50Finally, divide the total value by the total volume:VWAP = 4,502,250 ÷ 50 = 90,045 When to use TWAP vs. VWAP? It really comes down to what kind of trade you’re making and what the market looks like at the time.If you’re trading during busy hours and want to make sure you’re not overpaying — or underselling — compared to where most of the action is happening, VWAP is your friend. It gives you a sense of the market’s “true” average price by factoring in volume, so it’s great for benchmarking your trades or timing your entry and exit in line with market momentum. If you’re buying below VWAP, you’re likely getting a solid deal.TWAP, on the other hand, is better when you’re trying to stay under the radar. Maybe you’re dealing with a less liquid coin, or you’re trading at a quieter time of day when volume is all over the place. In that case, TWAP helps you slowly work your way into or out of a position without spooking the market. It doesn’t care about volume — it just paces your trade out over time in equal chunks.So, big picture: Use VWAP when you’re following the crowd and want to time things smartly. Use TWAP when you’d rather move quietly and keep things simple. TWAP vs. VWAP: Key differences to be aware of TWAP and VWAP in crypto trading Traders and institutions use TWAP and VWAP to minimize market impact and secure better execution prices. Let’s look at two real-world examples that show how these algorithms perform when the stakes are high.1. Strategy’s $250-million Bitcoin buy with TWAPBack in August 2020, Strategy (called MicroStrategy at the time) made headlines by announcing a $250-million investment in Bitcoin (BTC) as a treasury reserve asset. Rather than entering the market all at once — and risking a sharp price jump — they partnered with Coinbase and used a TWAP strategy. By spreading the purchase out over several days, Strategy was able to blend into market activity, minimizing slippage and securing a favorable average price.2. Definitive’s TWAP strategy for Instadapp (INST)A major crypto VC firm used TWAP to handle a large position in Instadapp (INST), a decentralized finance token known for its low liquidity. Over two weeks in July 2024, it executed the trade in small chunks using Definitive’s TWAP algorithm. The result was a 7.5% improvement over what it would’ve paid using VWAP, and gas fees made up just 0.30% of the $666,000 order. It was a clear win in terms of both cost-efficiency and stealth execution.3. Kraken Pro and the use of VWAPKraken offers advanced trading capabilities through its Kraken Pro platform, which includes VWAP as a built-in technical indicator for traders. On Kraken Pro, users can access VWAP directly in the charting interface, powered by TradingView integration, to analyze crypto assets across various timeframes.For instance, a trader on Kraken Pro might use VWAP to optimize a Bitcoin trade. They could set up an order to buy BTC when the price dips below the daily VWAP — indicating it’s trading below the volume-weighted average and potentially undervalued — and sell when it rises above, suggesting overvaluation or profit-taking opportunities. Institutional clients and high-volume traders, in particular, rely on Kraken’s VWAP functionality for precision in the fast-moving crypto market.Whether you’re managing a big order or just trying to get a fair entry, knowing when and how to use both TWAP and VWAP can give you a serious edge in the market.Happy crypto trading!
The steep decline in crypto valuations and a breakdown of key technical indicators may signal the start of a new bear market for digital assets, according to a new report from Coinbase. In its April Monthly Outlook report, the crypto exchange warned that market signals are increasingly pointing to what many in the industry call […]
The post Coinbase warns of potential new crypto winter as market signals turn bearish appeared first on CryptoSlate.
Former Galaxy, Goldman Sachs, and JP Morgan executive Richard Kim faces securities and wire fraud charges after allegedly gambling away "nearly all" of his investors' funds.
According to a recent post by C0d3slayer on X, Dogecoin is beginning to show early bullish signals following a brief pullback. He noted that the 1-minute chart is starting to display subtle shifts in momentum that a short-term recovery could be taking shape. While often overlooked, these micro-level patterns are catching active traders’ attention, scanning for early entries before the next significant price move. In the absence of a breakout, the early formation of higher lows and buying activity offers a glimmer of bullish potential. As the market gauges its next move, DOGE may be quietly setting the stage for a near-term upside surprise. Technical Patterns Reveal Bullish Setup Based on C0d3slayer’s recent observation, after briefly dipping to around $0.15100, the price rebounded sharply with a noticeable surge in trading volume, an indication of strong buying interest returning at lower levels. This bounce suggests that traders were eager to scoop up DOGE at a discount, hinting at growing confidence among bulls. Related Reading: Analyst Who Called Dogecoin Price Rally In 2024 Predicts 300% Rally In April Currently, DOGE is trading near $0.15385, holding slightly above a key support zone that has historically acted as a pivot area for price action. The ability to maintain this level could serve as a solid foundation for further gains, especially if momentum continues to build. This zone is technically important for traders who view it as a line between short-term weakness and renewed strength. He further highlighted the $0.15100 – $0.15120 range as a key reaction zone, where DOGE saw a strong bounce, signaling firm buyer interest at that level. He also identified $0.15250 as a short-term accumulation area, suggesting that traders may be gradually positioning for a potential breakout. According to his analysis, the chart structure hints at a possible W-pattern, commonly known as a double bottom. If the price continues to build momentum above these levels, this setup strengthens the case for a recovery. Bullish Vs. Bearish Scenarios: What’s Next For Dogecoin? At this critical juncture, DOGE sits between key technical levels that could determine its short-term direction. On the bullish side, C0d3slayer noted that a break above the $0.15450 resistance, backed by strong volume, would signal upside potential. In that scenario, price targets of $0.15550 and $0.15650 come into play, aligning with recent reaction zones and short-term momentum shifts. Related Reading: Dogecoin Gears Up For A Breakout To $0.29: Can Bulls Hold Key Support? Conversely, a failure to hold above $0.15250 could trigger a retest of the $0.15100 support region. A drop below this level would weaken the bullish case, possibly invalidating the current reversal structure. If selling pressure intensifies below $0.15100, DOGE may slide further, suggesting bears have regained short-term control. Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from Tradingview.com
The overall cash inflows to Solana DeFi products have gradually grown in the past few weeks. SOL price has consolidated between $123 and $134 in the past three weeks amid a growing bullish outlook. The wider altcoin market, led by Solana (SOL), continued with horizontal consolidation akin to Bitcoin (BTC) on Thursday, during the early …
Opinion by: Alexander Guseff, founder and CEO of TectumCrypto companies have spent years pushing digital wallets and exchange apps, convinced they’ll bring financial inclusion to the world. Here’s the reality: 1.4 billion people remain unbanked, and crypto adoption has barely exceeded 8%. For all the talk about decentralization and accessibility, the industry continues to overlook the billions of people who rely on cash for their daily lives.In developing economies of Africa, South Asia and Latin America, cash is not just dominant — it’s essential. Banking services are sparse, smartphone penetration is low, and digital literacy remains a hurdle. Expecting these populations to onboard through a process designed for tech-savvy users with internet access is unrealistic.Yet whenever offline crypto solutions have been tested, adoption has jumped. The message is clear: People are willing to use crypto but need a way to access it that fits their reality.The global reality of cash dependenceDespite assumptions that digital finance will eventually replace cash, that’s not what the numbers show. Take Romania. Notably, 76% of transactions there are still cash-based, yet crypto adoption has hit 14%. In Morocco, cash remains king despite digital payment growth, yet 16% of the population has found a way to use crypto — even though it’s officially banned.Then there’s Egypt, where approximately 72% of payments rely on cash, but crypto adoption sits at around 3%, primarily due to limited digital infrastructure. Even in India, where crypto enthusiasm runs high, 63% of transactions still happen in cash. Across these markets, the pattern is clear: People want to use crypto, but the industry isn’t giving them a practical way to integrate it into their everyday transactions.Crypto’s real problemThe barriers to crypto adoption go far beyond technology. Government regulations, economic conditions and local financial habits all play a role. Crypto’s biggest flaw isn’t a lack of demand. It’s the assumption that digital wallets and banking apps are the only viable entry points. That thinking ignores billions of people who still operate in cash-driven economies.A more practical approachInstead of forcing a digital-only model onto cash-heavy regions, crypto should adapt. Blockchain-linked physical banknotes, QR-coded vouchers and SMS-based transfers could bring crypto into the real economy in a way that makes sense for people who already use cash.Recent: Stop making crypto complexThe idea isn’t as radical as it sounds. Africa’s M-Pesa, which has over 66.2 million active users, operates on a simple agent-based model that lets people exchange cash for digital value without needing a bank account. The same approach could work for crypto, enabling users to trade blockchain-linked cash notes at local vendors.It’s already happening in small pockets. Machankura, for example, enables Bitcoin transactions via basic mobile networks, attracting over 13,600 users in Africa. In a region where nearly all digital payments rely on simple mobile codes rather than smartphone apps, solutions like this are far more viable than pushing another exchange-based onboarding process.Security concerns will always come up with physical assets, but trained agents and proper oversight can mitigate risks. More importantly, that’s a solvable problem — excluding billions of people from the financial system isn’t.The digital purists get it wrongMany in the crypto space dismiss paper-based solutions as outdated. The idea that everything must be digital ignores how financial systems evolve. People need time to transition and systems that fit their current way of life.CoinText, an SMS-based crypto transfer service, spread to 50 countries before it shut down — not because the idea didn’t work, but because the industry wasn’t ready to support it. The same rigid thinking that dismissed SMS transfers is now preventing adoption in cash-heavy economies. A new service called Text BSV has emerged, enabling seamless peer-to-peer (P2P) payments of satoshis via SMS — no app downloads, registrations or prior knowledge of Bitcoin (BTC) is required. It works on any phone, even non-smartphones.If crypto adoption remains stalled at 8%, it won’t be because people don’t want it. It’ll be because the industry insisted on an approach that doesn’t work for most of the world.A $50-billion opportunity The financial upside of integrating crypto into cash economies is enormous. Similar markets could follow if Romania, with a 76% cash reliance, can reach 14% adoption. That translates into a $50-billion opportunity globally as crypto enters economies where trillions of dollars move in informal cash transactions every year.A network of cash-to-crypto agents could generate $10 billion in revenue by 2030, mirroring the success of mobile money platforms like M-Pesa. Even crypto exchanges would benefit from tapping into these underserved markets, bridging the gap between digital and cash economies.Regulators may hesitate at paper-based crypto owing to transparency concerns, but financial inclusion at this scale is hard to ignore. If governments see a potential $50 billion in new economic activity, they’re more likely to work toward solutions rather than block progress.Cash meets cryptoCrypto was supposed to revolutionize financial access, but it remains out of reach for billions of people. Expecting these communities to abandon cash entirely and jump straight into digital wallets is unrealistic and a bad strategyThe solution isn’t to wait for these economies to modernize. It’s to meet people where they are. That means experimenting with cash-compatible solutions, partnering with telecom providers, and rolling out agent-based models that let people use crypto in a way that feels familiar.The current adoption stall will become permanent if the industry doesn’t make these changes. Instead of a step backward, paper-based crypto could be the bridge that finally connects billions of people to the future of finance.Opinion by: Alexander Guseff, founder and CEO of Tectum. This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.
Cryptocurrency and equities markets entered a “new phase of the trade war, amid ongoing tariff escalations between the United States and China.Global trade war concerns intensified on April 15 after the White House published a fact sheet announcing that Chinese imports would be hit with tariffs of up to 245%.The penalties include a “125% reciprocal tariff, a 20% tariff to address the fentanyl crisis, and Section 301 tariffs on specific goods, between 7.5% and 100%,” according to the White House.Fact sheet on tariffs, investigation into security risks posed by US reliance on imports. Source: White HouseCrypto, tech stocks and other “expensive assets” have entered a “new phase” of the global trade war in response to the latest escalation, according to Aurelie Barthere, principal research analyst at crypto intelligence platform Nansen.“We are now in a new phase of the trade war, with the focus on high-added-value sectors, Tech (and Pharma), and the zeroing in on US-China,” the analyst told Cointelegraph, adding:“Until and IF we see a resolution of the US-China conflict (one leader picks up the phone and gives some concessions to the other), we are facing highly correlated risk assets.”“I also think this situation is negative for non-US equities,” Barthere said. US equities and crypto have been “highly correlated” since November 2024, which increased to the downside during the current market correction, as “investors de-risk, especially expensive assets,” she added.BTC, SPX, Nasdaq, gold chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewRelated: Bitcoin’s safe-haven appeal grows during trade war uncertaintyThe recovery of global equities and cryptocurrency markets hinges on the tone of global tariff negotiations, with a 70% chance to bottom by June 2025 before recovering, Nansen analysts previously predicted.China recently appointed a new chief trade negotiator, Li Chenggang, a former assistant commerce minister during the first administration of US President Donald Trump.Chenggang is characterized as a “very intense” negotiator experienced in dealing with US officials, Reuters reported on April 16, citing an unnamed source in Beijing’s “foreign business community.”Related: Trump’s tariff escalation exposes ‘deeper fractures’ in global financial systemEyes on Powell’s next moveAs tariff tensions increase alongside inflation-related concerns, all eyes are now on US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s upcoming speech during the next Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on May 6.“Markets were on edge for any signal that the Fed might delay rate cuts due to sticky inflation or heightened geopolitical risk,” analysts from Bitfinex exchange told Cointelegraph, adding that if Powell leans hawkish, risk assets like Bitcoin could see downside:“A neutral or balanced tone may calm markets more than they already have over the past week with some signficant recoveries across many risk assets and particularly crypto where many lower market cap assets have moved 30–40% off the lows.”“Crypto is reacting to macro news not because fundamentals have changed, but because positioning is thin and confidence is sensitive,” the analysts added.Magazine: Bitcoin ATH sooner than expected? XRP may drop 40%, and more: Hodler’s Digest, March 23–29
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Messenger, is facing antitrust proceedings that could limit its ability to develop AI amid a field of competitors.First filed in 2021, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) alleges that Meta’s strategy of absorbing firms — rather than competing with them — violates antitrust laws. If the court rules against Meta, it could be forced to spin out its various messenger services and social media sites into independent companies.The loss of its stable of social media companies could harm Facebook’s competitiveness not only in the social media industry but also in its ability to train and develop its proprietary Llama AI models with data from those sites.The trial could take anywhere from a couple of months to a year, but the outcome will have lasting consequences on Meta’s standing in the AI race.Meta’s antitrust case and its effect on AIThe FTC first opened its complaint against Meta in 2020 when the firm was still operating as Facebook. The agency’s amended complaint a year later alleges that Meta (then Facebook) used an illegal “buy-or-bury” scheme on more creative competitors after its “failed attempts to develop innovative mobile features for its network.” This resulted in a monopoly of the “friends and family” social media market.Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg had the chance to address these allegations on April 14, the first day of the official FTC v. Meta trial. He testified that only 20% of user content on Facebook and some 10% on Instagram was generated by users’ friends. The nature of social media has changed, Zuckerberg claimed.“People just kept on engaging with more and more stuff that wasn’t what their friends were doing,” he said — meaning that the nature of Meta’s social media holdings was sufficiently diverse.The FTC alleges that Meta identified potential threat competitors and bought them up. Source: FTCAt the time of the FTC’s initial complaint, Meta called the allegations “revisionist history,” a claim it repeated on April 13 when it stated the agency was “ignoring reality.” The company has argued that the purchases of Instagram and WhatsApp have benefited users and that competition has appeared in the form of YouTube and TikTok. If the District of Columbia Circuit Court rules against Meta, the global social media giant will be forced to unwind these services into independent firms. Jasmine Enberg, vice president and principal analyst at eMarketer, told the Los Angeles Times that such a ruling could cost Meta its competitive edge in the social media market. “Instagram really is its biggest growth driver, in the sense that it has been picking up the slack for Facebook for a long time, especially on the user front when it comes to young people,” said Enberg. “Facebook hasn’t been where the cool college kids hang out for a long time.”Such a ruling would also affect the pool of data from which Meta can draw to train its AI models. In July 2024, Meta halted the rollout of AI models in the European Union, citing “regulatory uncertainty.” The pause came after privacy advocacy group None of Your Business filed complaints in 11 European countries against Meta’s use of public data from its platforms to train its AI models. The Irish Data Protection Commission subsequently ordered a pause on the practice until it could conduct a review. Related: Meta’s Llama 4 puts US back in lead to ‘win the AI race’ — David SacksOn April 14, Meta got the go-ahead to use public data — i.e., posts and comments from adult users across all of its platforms — to train the model. If these firms dissolved into separate companies, with their own organizational structures and data protection policies and practices, Meta would be cut off from an ocean of data and human communication with which its AI could be improved. Andrew Rossow, a cyberspace attorney with Minc Law and CEO of AR Media Consulting, told Cointelegraph that in such an event, “companies would most likely control their own user data, and Meta would be restricted from using it unless new data-sharing agreements were negotiated, which would be subject to regulatory scrutiny and user/consumer privacy laws.”However, Rossow noted that it wouldn’t be a total loss for Meta. Zuckerberg’s firm would retain the wealth of data from Facebook and Messenger. It could continue to use “opt-in” data from consumers who allow their posts to be used for AI training, and it could also employ synthetic data sets as well as third-party and open data.Meta, the AI race and data protectionsThe race to unseat OpenAI and its ChatGPT model from AI dominance has grown more competitive in the last year as DeepSeek joined the fray and Meta launched the fourth iteration of its open-source Llama model. In addition to training new models, major AI development firms are investing billions in new data centers to accommodate new iterations. In January 2025, Meta announced the construction of a 2-gigawatt data center with more than 1.3 million Nvidia AI graphics processing units. Zuckerberg wrote in a post on Threads, “This will be a defining year for AI. In 2025, I expect Meta AI will be the leading assistant serving more than 1 billion people [...] To power this, Meta is building a 2GW+ datacenter that is so large it would cover a significant part of Manhattan.”Illustration of the data map coverage. Source: Mark ZuckerbergHis announcement followed the $500-billion Stargate project, which would see massive investment in AI development led by OpenAI and SoftBank, with Microsoft and Oracle as equity partners. Related: Trump announces $500B AI infrastructure venture ‘Stargate’Amid this competition, AI firms are looking for broader and more varied sources of data to train their AI models — and have turned to dubious practices in order to get the data they need. In order to stay competitive with OpenAI when developing its Llama 3 model, Meta harvested thousands of pirated books from the site LibGen. According to court documents in a case pending against Meta, Llama developers harvested data from pirated books because licensing them from sources like Scribd seemed “unreasonably expensive.” Time was another perceived motivator for using pirated works. “They take like 4+ weeks to deliver data,” one engineer wrote about services through which they could purchase book licenses.The practice is not limited to Meta. OpenAI has also been accused of mining data from pirated work hosted on LibGen. Rossow suggested that, “to ensure lasting impact — beyond short-term profit,” Meta would do well to “prioritize investment in advanced data collection, rigorous auditing and the implementation of privacy-preserving and encryption-based technologies.”By focusing on transparency and responsible practices, “Meta can continue to genuinely advance AI capabilities, rebuild and nurture long-term user trust, and adapt to evolving legal and ethical standards, regardless of changes to its platform portfolio.”What a ruling for the FTC would meanLitigation is now hitting tech firms from all sides as they face allegations of privacy violations, copyright law infringement and stifling competition. Major cases like those facing Google, Amazon and Meta that have yet to play out will decide how and whether these firms can proceed as they have, defining the guardrails for AI development as well. Rossow said that the current antitrust case against Meta could decide how courts interpret antitrust law for tech firms, spanning tech mergers, data usage and market competition. It would also signal that courts are “willing to break up tech conglomerates” when issues of smothering competition are involved, while at the same time, “taking current precedent a step further in harmonizing it with the laws of cyberspace.”Magazine: Memecoin degeneracy is funding groundbreaking anti-aging research
Bitcoin’s (BTC) price failed another attempt at breaking above resistance at $86,000 on April 16 as Fed Chair Jerome Powell dashed hopes of early rate cuts, citing the impact of Trump’s tariffs.Since April 9, BTC price has formed daily candle highs between $75,000 and $86,400, but has been unable to produce a close above $86,000.BTC/USD daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewMany analysts and traders ask, “Where is Bitcoin price headed next?” as the asset remains stuck in a tight range on the lower time frame (LTF) of the 4-hour chart.88% chance interest rates unchangedPolymarket bettors say there is an 88% chance that the current interest rates will remain between 4.25% and 4.50%, leaving just a 10% probability of a 0.25% rate cut.Interest rate expectations. Source: PolymarketHowever, a common market belief is that any bearish price action from unchanged interest rates is already priced in.On April 16, US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell indicated that the Fed is not rushing to cut interest rates. Speaking in Chicago, he emphasized a "wait-and-see" approach, needing more economic data before adjusting policy. Powell highlighted risks from President Trump’s tariffs, which could drive inflation and slow growth, potentially creating a "challenging scenario" for the Fed’s dual mandate of stable prices and maximum employment. "The level of the tariff increases announced so far is significantly larger than anticipated," said Powell in a speech, adding: "The same is likely to be true of the economic effects, which will include higher inflation and slower growth."He stressed maintaining a restrictive policy to ensure inflation doesn’t persist, suggesting any immediate rate cuts despite market volatility and tariff uncertainties.Related: Bitcoin gold copycat move may top $150K as BTC stays 'impressive'As a result, President Trump has threatened Powell with termination, arguing that he is “always too late and wrong” and that his April 16 report was a typical and complete “mess.”“Powell’s termination cannot come fast enough!”Meanwhile, Polymarket now says there’s a 46% chance that Bitcoin’s price will hit $90,000 on April 30, with less than 5% possibility of hitting new all-time highs above $110,000.Key Bitcoin price levels to watchBitcoin must flip the $86,000 resistance level into support to target higher highs at $90,000.For this to happen, BTC/USD must first regain its position above the 200-day exponential moving average (purple line) at $87,740. This trendline was lost on March 9 for the first time since August 2024.Above that, there is a major supply zone stretching all the way to $91.240, where the 100-day SMA sits. Bulls will also have to overcome this barrier in order to increase the chances of BTC’s run to $100,000.Bitcoin daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewConversely, the bears will attempt to keep the $86,000 resistance in place, increasing the likelihood of new lows under $80,000. A key area of interest lies between $76,000 and the previous range lows at $74,000, i.e., the previous all-time high from March 2024.Below that, the next move would be a retest of the US election day price of $67,817, erasing all the gains made from the so-called Trump pump.Onchain analyst James Check points out that Bitcoin’s true bottom lies at its "true market mean" — the average cost basis for active investors — around the $65,000 area. “The $75,000 zone is an area where you want the bulls to mount a defense,” check said in an interview on the TFTC podcast, adding:“If they don’t, the next step is we go back to the chop consolidation range, we find out how deep into that we go, and the flag in the sea of sand is $65,000.”Interestingly, this price level aligns closely with Michael Saylor’s Strategy cost basis, which sits around $67,500. This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
Eliza Labs, the developer behind the AI agent framework ai16z, announced the launch of auto.fun, a new no-code platform allowing users to launch AI agents on Web3 applications.Auto.fun allows for the creation, deployment and monetization of AI agents by non-developers without programming knowledge, according to an April 17 announcement.The platform supports the creation of AI agents that interact with social media, decentralized finance (DeFi) apps and other Web3 services.“The vision for auto.fun is to democratize access to both AI and Web3 technologies by creating agents that can execute tasks autonomously on behalf of users,” said Shaw Walters, founder of Eliza Labs and the open-source elizaOS.The animated ASCII art shown to auto.fun visitors ahead of launch. Source: auto.funWalters said the agents could automate yield farming strategies, manage social media accounts or trade on behalf of users. The platform is focused on X support, with DeFi, gaming and other application support promised in the future.Related: AI takes nearly 60% of global venture capital dollars in Q1: PitchbookAI agents with no coding requiredEliza Labs said auto.fun will allow users to create agentic AI systems that both respond to queries and perform tasks. Users will purportedly be able to tell their AI agents what to do with their funds in DeFi through simple commands. “Find me the best staking opportunities with at least 12% APY and automatically allocate funds.”An Eliza Labs spokesperson told Cointelegraph that the product’s focus is accessibility, with some user education in place:“While the platform makes it possible for users to spin up agents in a few clicks, key educational prompts and user experience guardrails are embedded throughout the process to help users make informed choices.Token launch mechanicsAuto.fun also introduces what Eliza Labs calls “fairer than fair” token launches. The company is employing a bonding curve mechanism that “combines the benefits of a fair launch with enough flexibility for project teams to secure up to 50% of their tokens before market listing.”Related: Ethereum could be AI’s key to decentralization, says former core devA bonding curve is a smart contract-based algorithmic pricing model in DeFi that dynamically adjusts a token’s price based on its circulating supply. When tokens are bought or sold, the bonding curve automatically adjusts the price according to predefined mathematical relationships, ensuring continuous liquidity without relying on traditional order books.The Eliza Labs spokesperson said (RAY) purportedly allows for “a more sustainable alternative.”that traditional token launches often leave core teams with little in terms of resources and allow for easier token dumps. The hybrid bonding curve approach developed in partnership with Raydium The system allows project teams to pre-reserve up to 50% of the supply, which supposedly ensures “they have meaningful skin in the game and resources for post-launch development.” The remaining tokens are sold through a bonding curve that should limit the advantages of bot-driven purchases.Walters also highlighted that auto.fun is open source. This “ensures users can verify exactly how their agents operate and what happens with their data.”Agents that will operate on the platform include FightFi, a collection of social media agents that compete with each other with agent-specific tokens providing token-gated access to higher-level functions.Other agents include Secret, which launches Solana (SOL) tokens, and Sigma Music Agent, which connects musicians and fans with AI agents. Another agent on the platform is Astra, which manages crosschain payments between Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) blockchains, Solana, and the Bitcoin (BTC) layer-2 Lightning Network.Magazine: ‘Chernobyl’ needed to wake people to AI risks, Studio Ghibli memes: AI Eye