Alternative News for You

by Sundance on April 23, 2025 at 9:15 pm

President Trump’s patience with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is obviously wearing thin.  However, the key for President Trump to change the dynamic; the thing he is inarguably trying to avoid; is a full U.S withdrawal and subsequent isolation for Zelenskyy. President Trump via Truth Social: “Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is boasting on the front page The post President Trump Asserts Zelenskyy is “making it difficult to settle this war” appeared first on The Last Refuge.

by Isabella Higgins on April 23, 2025 at 9:13 pm

How exactly did some of our workplaces become the target of populist politics — and why is it working in the US while in Australia the Coalition has had to reign in its attacks? 

by Grace Whiteside on April 23, 2025 at 9:12 pm

Researchers hope new breeding sites are a positive sign for the endangered species' survival.

on April 23, 2025 at 9:04 pm

US-born Maya Joint becomes the youngest Australian winner at the WTA 1000 level with an opening-round win over a local wildcard at the clay-court Madrid Open.

by Courtney Gould on April 23, 2025 at 9:03 pm

A popular tax break for people who buy an electric vehicle would be scrapped under a policy U-turn from Peter Dutton. Follow live. 

by Cointelegraph by Alex O’Donnell on April 23, 2025 at 8:45 pm

United States exchanges are betting big on cryptocurrency derivatives as market turbulence from US President Donald Trump’s looming trade war propels demand for the financial instruments. Since late 2024, exchanges including Coinbase, Robinhood, Kraken, and the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Group have been listing new types of crypto derivatives and mulling multibillion-dollar acquisitions as they vie for control of the burgeoning market. In April, the stakes became even higher after Trump’s unveiling of sweeping tariff plans sent financial markets into a frenzy and spiked crypto derivatives trading volumes. “Institutional and sophisticated retail traders are increasingly turning to crypto derivatives platforms to navigate macroeconomic risks and uncertainty brought on by escalated tariff policies and global trade tensions,” David Siemer, CEO of asset manager Wave Digital Assets, told Cointelegraph. Consequently, US exchanges are “experiencing record-breaking surges in trading activity and are expanding their investment offerings with the promise of regulatory clarity,” Siemer said. Net open interest in Bitcoin futures rose sharply in April. Source: CoinalyzeRelated: Coinbase launches CFTC-regulated SOL futures in USTrump spikes trading activityCrypto derivatives trading activity took off in 2024 after Trump’s November election victory sent exchange volumes to record highs. In December, Coinbase said trading activity on its derivatives exchange rose by more than 10,000% year-over-year. Similarly, CME Group flagged crypto derivatives as among the exchange’s fastest-growing product segments during its 2024 earnings call. Trump’s tariff plans, announced April 2, further accelerated trading activity. As of April 23, net open interest in Bitcoin (BTC) futures, the most popular crypto derivatives, rose by approximately 30% from the start of the month, according to data from Coinalyze. Futures contracts are standardized agreements to buy or sell an underlying asset at a future date, often using leverage in a bid to enhance returns. Kraken bought NinjaTrader in March. Source: KrakenHeated competitionBurgeoning trading volumes are fueling competition among exchanges. Since February, Coinbase has launched several new crypto derivatives products, including futures contracts tied to altcoins such as Solana (SOL) and XRP (XRP).Meanwhile, Robinhood listed Bitcoin futures — its first crypto derivatives contracts — in February and, in March, CME Group listed its first Solana futures contracts. The CME SOL futures clocked upward of $12 billion in volume during the first day of trading, the exchange told Cointelegraph. Additionally, exchanges are turning to mergers and acquisitions to hasten growth. Coinbase is reportedly in talks to buy crypto derivatives exchange Deribit in a multibillion-dollar bid to expand its footprint in the market segment. In March, US crypto exchange Kraken agreed to buy NinjaTrader, a futures exchange, for $1.5 billion.“The recent wave of tariffs has transformed crypto derivatives exchanges into critical market infrastructure,” Nic Roberts-Huntley, CEO of Web3 developer Blueprint Finance, told Cointelegraph. “While traditional markets faltered under tariff pressures, derivatives platforms have inversely flourished, serving both as speculative venues and protective hedging mechanisms in a fragmenting global trade landscape,” Roberts-Huntley said.Magazine: Trump’s crypto ventures raise conflict of interest, insider trading questions

by Emily Doak on April 23, 2025 at 8:43 pm

A six-week journey on horseback through more than 30 rural towns has brought the story of the Australian Light Horse to life for students across country Australia.

by Cointelegraph by Biraajmaan Tamuly on April 23, 2025 at 8:41 pm

Key Takeaways: XRP has gained 25% since April 7, and its open interest has risen by 32%.Positive spot market activity contrasts with a neutral futures funding rate, highlighting a tug-of-war between traders.Analysts still have double-digit price targets for XRP.XRP's (XRP) price fell to a year-to-date low of $1.61 on April 7, but has gained 25% over the past two weeks as the broader crypto market recovered and XRP open interest surged. XRP futures open interest. Source: CoinGlassThe altcoin’s open interest surged 32% from $3.14 billion to $4.13 billion between April 21 and 23, signaling the return of derivatives traders. Futures OI increasing alongside the price indicates a bullish sentiment, but data from the Velo painted a different picture. Based on the negative aggregated premium on open interest, the XRP futures market continued to bid against an XRP price rise. The funding rate remained near 0, implying a neutral stance between the bulls and bears. XRP aggregated premium, spot tape and open interest chart. Source: VeloThe aggregated spot tape cumulative volume delta became positive in April. This indicator measures the net difference between aggressive buy and sell trades across various exchanges. When it turns green and rises above zero, it indicates increasing buying pressure, with market buy trades surpassing sell trades.Despite rising futures interest, the data suggests XRP’s price remains caught in a tug-of-war between bullish spot market activity and bearish perpetual futures.Related: Price predictions 4/23: BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, DOGE, ADA, LINK, AVAX, SUIIs XRP destined for double-digits?Following XRP’s price pump, Sistine Research, a crypto investment community, posted a bold prediction for XRP, forecasting a long-term target between $33 and $50. The prediction is based on a higher time frame (HTF) symmetrical triangle that mirrors 2017’s 2,600% rally. The platform suggested that an optimistic target may drive prices as high as $77-$100.XRP price target by Sistine Research. Source: X.comFor context, XRP is currently valued at $2.23 with a market cap of $131 billion. A $33 target increases the market cap to ~$2 trillion (1,400 %+), which is more than Bitcoin’s current market cap. From a lower-time frame (LTF) perspective, XRP shows an inverse head-and-shoulders pattern, which could potentially test the resistance range between $2.50 and $2.67. The resistance range also coincides with the Fibonacci extension levels drawn from the neckline's base to the head's lowest point. Although the relative strength index (RSI) is nearing overbought territory, suggesting a potential pause in price movement at the current range.XRP 4-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewRelated: XRP Ledger Foundation spots ‘crypto stealing backdoor’ in code libraryThis 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.

by James Tugwell on April 23, 2025 at 8:38 pm

In the dense jungle of New Guinea, April 1944, a patrol of American troops with vital military intel were surrounded by enemy troops when their radios stopped working.

by James Wakelin on April 23, 2025 at 8:30 pm

As 94-year-old Australian war veteran Patrick Forbes prepares for his final Anzac Day march, he reflects back on his family's history of service which saw three members awarded the distinguished Military Cross. 

on April 23, 2025 at 8:26 pm

Police have charged a man with a string of offences following an incident on Wednesday morning in which a woman accompanying her husband to hospital was allegedly struck by her own car.

by Aisling Brennan on April 23, 2025 at 8:22 pm

The review into the Queensland hospital expansion program reveals that the delivery of hundreds of public hospital beds will have to go back to the drawing board.

by Sundance on April 23, 2025 at 8:16 pm

Earlier today President Trump was spotted personally reviewing the placement for two new 100-foot flagpoles that will be placed on the White House grounds.  President Trump briefly talked to media about the new additions. President Trump is personally paying for the installations. WATCH: . The media quickly rushed to see what President Trump was doing, The post President Trump Surveys White House Lawn and Announces Two New 100 Foot Flagpoles appeared first on The Last Refuge.

by Jesse Hyland on April 23, 2025 at 8:09 pm

NSW Police were called to a car park shortly before midnight and found a man, believed to be 18, with a gunshot wound. 

by Cointelegraph by Vince Quill on April 23, 2025 at 8:08 pm

The Alabama Securities Commission, a financial regulator for the US state, dropped its lawsuit against crypto exchange Coinbase, which accused the company of violating securities laws by offering staking services to clients.The regulator cited the ongoing work between the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and the crypto industry to develop clear crypto regulations as the primary reason for dropping the litigation, according to the April 23 legal filing shared by Coinbase's chief legal officer, Paul Grewal.The filing read:"The SEC has announced the formation of a new task force to, among other things, provide guidance for the promulgation of rules regarding the regulation of cryptocurrency products and services.""Due to the foregoing, the Commission believes it would be apt to allow policymakers time to consider regulatory constructs," the filing continued.The Alabama Securities Commission filed its lawsuit against Coinbase in June 2023, alongside state regulators from California, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, South Carolina, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin.The Alabama Securities Commission dismisses its 2023 lawsuit against Coinbase. Source: Paul GrewalThe Commission's dropped lawsuit reflects the positive regulatory shift toward cryptocurrencies in the United States as reform at the federal level matriculates into state-level regulatory policy.Related: Oregon targets Coinbase after SEC drops its federal lawsuitUS states drop Coinbase lawsuit but half still holding outFive of the 10 states that filed the litigation against Coinbase for its staking services have dropped their lawsuits.On March 13, Vermont's Department of Financial Regulation became the first of the 10 state regulators to drop the staking lawsuit against Coinbase.South Carolina's securities watchdog was the next to drop the 2023 litigation against Coinbase, dismissing the lawsuit on March 28.Grewal announced that Kentucky's Department of Financial Institutions followed Vermont and South Carolina's lead on April 1 by also dismissing its Coinbase lawsuit.Despite the domino effect of states rescinding litigation against the crypto exchange, the Coinbase chief legal officer said that more work needs to be done."Five holdouts are still electing to waste taxpayer resources on lawsuits, and four of those have banned staking with Coinbase, depriving consumers of the right to earn on their platform of choice," Grewal wrote in an April 23 X post.Magazine: SEC’s U-turn on crypto leaves key questions unanswered

by Tom Saunders on April 23, 2025 at 8:07 pm

From showers in the east to a chilly dawn service in the west, this is the Anzac Day weather forecast across Australia.

by Andrew Greene on April 23, 2025 at 8:00 pm

A new fleet of tug boats ordered for the Australian Navy by the Defence Department were secretly built at a Chinese shipyard under a $28 million contract awarded last year to a Dutch company. 

by Ellen Phiddian on April 23, 2025 at 8:00 pm

New research suggests a skeleton which belonged to a gladiator was mauled by a lion or another big cat during combat.

by Emily Bissland and Jeremy Lee on April 23, 2025 at 7:59 pm

London plane trees are a feature of many Australian towns and cities, but some say it's time they were removed amid mounting reports of infrastructure damage and pedestrian injuries.

by Scout Wallen on April 23, 2025 at 7:52 pm

A long-awaited Tasmanian container deposit scheme which promotes recycling will leave beverage retailers "no choice" but to pass on the cost to consumers, an industry representative says.

by Claudia Long on April 23, 2025 at 7:44 pm

Who will finish first of the three candidates in the sunshine state's most anticipated three-cornered contest?

by Kirrin McKechnie on April 23, 2025 at 7:41 pm

They often shy away from the spotlight, but signallers play a crucial role in defending Australia. They'll be recognised for their service by leading Anzac Day marches across the nation.

by Alison Xiao and Holly Tregenza on April 23, 2025 at 7:37 pm

Two of Australia's most striking populist figures are again at odds; this time, over preference deals. Here's how it could influence the election.

by Casey Briggs, Ben Spraggon, Simon Elvery, Julian Fell, Matt Liddy, and Cristen Tilley on April 23, 2025 at 7:30 pm

This triangle is going to help us explain how Australian politics has fundamentally changed over the past five decades.

by Emily Clark on April 23, 2025 at 7:21 pm

In New Zealand, there is now a conversation about an organisation called Atlas Network and whether or not it has influenced the right-bloc government's agenda.   

by Natasha Schapova on April 23, 2025 at 7:17 pm

Green waste bins are supposed to reduce the amount of organic matter going to landfill, and in Geelong, it's also feeding residents.

by Cointelegraph by Biraajmaan Tamuly on April 23, 2025 at 7:05 pm

Key Takeaways:Bitcoin short-term holders are back in profit, increasing chances for a rally to $100,000.Long-term holders added 363,000 BTC since February, with new buyers injecting capital in April.Bitcoin sell pressure risk exists at $97,000, where 392,000 BTC could be sold. Bitcoin’s (BTC) surge above $91,700 on April 22 pushed its value above the short-term realized price or cost basis. This implies that a majority of short-term holders (STHs) are currently back in profit.STHs returning to profit after unrealized losses signal a bullish outlook, paving the way for a potential $100,000 retest.Bitcoin short-term onchain cost basis bands. Source: GlassnodeHistorically, during the early phase of a rally, STHs in profit provided upward momentum by holding firm and drawing in new investors. Bitcoin’s supply mapping indicated “strong activity” in April from first-time buyers, indicating fresh capital injections in the market at higher prices. Long-term holders (those holding for more than 155 days) increased their allocation by 363,000 BTC since February, while Bitcoin whales and sharks have absorbed 300% of the yearly issuance. Despite this week’s price breakout, Bitcoin researcher Axel Adler Jr. noted that the last strong resistance remains at $96,100. In an X post, the analyst said, “At the $96K level, there will be the final resistance from the cohort holding coins for 3-6 months, after which the next target of $100K opens up.”Bitcoin realized price analysis. Source: X.comRelated: Why is Bitcoin price up today?392,000 Bitcoin at $97K could trigger a sell-offAccording to Bitcoin’s cost basis distribution data, investors hold approximately 392,000 BTC at an average cost basis of $97,000, creating a potential resistance zone. This concentration suggests many investors may sell at break-even, potentially stalling Bitcoin’s upward momentum.Bitcoin cost basis distribution chart. Source: X.comHowever, anonymous trader Ezy Bitcoin emphasized Bitcoin's price action in the Wyckoff reaccumulation phase is “playing out beautifully”. The chart indicated continued strength, with three price targets: $131,500 (target 1), $144,900 (target 2), and $166,700 (target 3). This Wyckoff pattern points to possible accumulation by large players, signaling an upward trend for Bitcoin, as the market absorbs supply and prepares for an uptrend.Bitcoin Wyckoff pattern analysis by Ezy Bitcoin. Source: X.comRelated: Bitcoin price prepares for ‘70% to 80%’ gain as onchain metrics and spot BTC ETF inflows spikeThis 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.

by Stephanie Dalzell on April 23, 2025 at 7:00 pm

Just like Oprah's iconic "you get a car" moment, Labor is throwing urgent care clinics to punters like confetti.

by David Speers on April 23, 2025 at 7:00 pm

The opposition leader is being cautious with his language as he doesn't want to turn off Chinese-Australian voters, as the Coalition did last election, but he also doesn't want to upset those on his right flank. 

by Julia Baird on April 23, 2025 at 7:00 pm

Pope Francis's passing reminds us yet again of the complete absence of women in the upper echelons of the church. This is despite the fact that he did more to elevate women than any other pope.

by Ben Knight on April 23, 2025 at 6:56 pm

Voters tell ABC's Your Say campaign what they want out of Medicare and where it isn't working. 

by Cointelegraph by Turner Wright on April 23, 2025 at 6:52 pm

Officials with the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) crypto task force met with the El Salvador National Commission on Digital Assets (CNAD) to discuss regulation and a proposed cross-border sandbox.In an April 22 memo, the SEC’s crypto task force reported meeting with officials from El Salvador, Perkin Law Firm, and former Goldman Sachs partner Heather Shemilt as part of the commission’s outreach to the industry. The representatives discussed US-El Salvador cross-border collaboration on crypto regulation at a time when the relationship between the two countries was in the national spotlight over immigration and US deportations to an El Salvador prison.According to the meeting notes, El Salvador’s national commission agreed to collaborate with the SEC to establish a sandbox pilot program, capped at $10,000 for each scenario. The program proposed allowing brokers licensed in the US to obtain a digital asset license in El Salvador and issue “non-securities” tokens in collaboration with a local company.Many in the crypto industry see Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele as behind the country’s efforts to adopt cryptocurrency since he announced legislation to recognize Bitcoin (BTC) as legal tender in 2021. Bukele met with US President Donald Trump on April 14, discussing details of a $6 million deal in which the Trump administration has been sending immigrants, whose legal status to be in the US is unclear, to prisons in El Salvador. Some of these deportations violated orders from federal judges.Related: Bitcoin takes back seat as Trump, Bukele focus on trade and immigrationNew SEC chair sworn inIt’s unclear if the Trump administration may intend to deepen ties to El Salvador through additional regulatory partnerships or stepping up deportations in its existing deal. Cointelegraph reached out to SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, who heads the crypto task force, for comment, but did not receive a response at the time of publication.The meeting report came roughly a day after the SEC announced that Paul Atkins had been sworn in as the commission’s new chair, following Gary Gensler and acting chair Mark Uyeda. During his swearing-in ceremony, Atkins said his top priority would be to “provide a firm regulatory foundation for digital assets.” Magazine: Ethereum maxis should become ‘assholes’ to win TradFi tokenization race

by Cointelegraph by Christopher Tepedino on April 23, 2025 at 6:20 pm

Luxury hospitality platform Dorsia is rolling out crypto payments for clients in the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, and six Arab nations.The payments feature is being enabled through a partnership with MoonPay, the companies told Cointelegraph. With the integration, users will be able to book luxury travel experiences and complete transactions directly in USDC (USDC) and Solana-based tokens through the Dorsia app.“ integrating crypto payments is a natural next step in aligning with the evolving preferences of our members,” Marc Lotenberg, founder and CEO of Dorsia, said in an interview.Dorsia is the latest luxury firm to turn to crypto services for high-net-worth individuals. The industry has been highly active in the Web3 space over the past few years, exploring crypto on-ramps and customer engagement features, such as non-fungible tokens and metaverses.Luxury carmakers Lamborghini and Ferrari, and watchmakers like Patek Philippe, are a few companies accepting payments in cryptocurrencies.Dorsia is a luxury hospitality app that connects its members with high-end restaurants and cultural experiences. Instead of traditional booking models, Dorsia uses dynamic pricing and a membership-based system for reservations at luxury facilities. According to Grand View Research, the luxury travel market is expected to reach $2.3 trillion by 2030.Related: Gucci the latest luxury brand to accept crypto payments in storeThe company has raised a total of $50.4 million in funding across Seed and Series A rounds. Major backers include Index Ventures, RedSea, and individuals from Meta, Uber, Atomic, Groot Hospitality, and the Rockwell Group.Related: Polygon-based lending platform to provide crypto liquidity for luxury itemsMoonPay expands in 2024Dorsia isn’t the first luxury brand to partner with MoonPay. According to the company's CEO, Ivan Soto-Wright, it also offers a crypto on-ramp for clients like fashion house Gucci, carmaker Bugatti, and auction house Christie’s.MoonPay's net revenue increased 112% in 2024, while transaction volume in Q1 2025 soared 123%, according to the company.In January, MoonPay acquired the Solana-based payment processor Helio in a $175 million deal. The acquisition enabled a broader range of partnerships for payments, including with Dorsia, the company revealed. MoonPay has also recently acquired Iron to facilitate payments in stablecoins for merchants.Magazine: AI Eye: AI travel booking hilariously bad, 3 weird uses for ChatGPT, crypto plugins

by Cointelegraph by Rakesh Upadhyay on April 23, 2025 at 6:01 pm

Key points:Bitcoin’s rally is backed by solid institutional buying in the spot BTC ETFs.A rally above the $95,000 level could be difficult, but analysts’ end-of-year price projections now extend to $200,000.Select altcoins are showing signs of a price bottom.Bitcoin (BTC) price rallied close to the $95,000 resistance level on April 23 as the cryptocurrency finds support from rising spot BTC ETF inflows and positive macroeconomic news in the United States. According to Farside Investors, the funds recorded net inflows of $381.3 million on April 21 and $912.7 million on April 22.Analysts from Standard Chartered and Intellectia AI said that institutional demand for Bitcoin ETFs and BTC’s use as a hedge against macroeconomic risk could propel the price to $200,000 in 2025.Crypto market data daily view. Source: Coin360Not everyone is convinced about the current rally. 10x Research head of research Markus Thielen questioned the sustainability of the Bitcoin rally in an April 23 markets report, as the stablecoin minting indicator was “yet to return to high-activity levels.”Could Bitcoin break above the $95,000 mark, pulling altcoins higher? Let’s analyze the charts of the top 10 cryptocurrencies to find out.Bitcoin price predictionBitcoin formed a Doji candlestick pattern on April 23, indicating indecision between the bulls and the bears near the $95,000 overhead resistance.BTC/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe 20-day exponential moving average ($85,773) has started to turn up, and the relative strength index (RSI) is near the overbought zone, suggesting that the path of least resistance is to the upside. If buyers do not cede much ground to the bears, it enhances the prospects of a rally above $95,000. The BTC/USDT pair may then skyrocket to $100,000 and subsequently to $107,000.This positive view will be invalidated in the near term if the price turns down sharply from $95,000 and plunges below the moving averages. Ether price predictionEther (ETH) turned up sharply on April 22 and rose above the 20-day EMA ($1,676). Buyers will try to retain the advantage by pushing the price above the 50-day SMA ($1,830) on April 23.ETH/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewIf they succeed, the ETH/USDT pair could jump to the breakdown level of $2,111. Sellers will try to stall the recovery at $2,111, but if the bulls prevail, the pair could soar to $2,550. Such a move suggests that the corrective phase may be over.Conversely, if the price turns down sharply from $2,111, it indicates that the bears are active at higher levels. That could keep the pair range-bound between $2,111 and $1,368 for a while longer.XRP price predictionXRP (XRP) rose above the 50-day SMA ($2.20), but the long wick on the candlestick shows selling at higher levels.XRP/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe bears are expected to defend the resistance line with all their might because a break and close above it signals a potential trend change. The XRP/USDT pair could then attempt a rally to $3.On the contrary, if the price turns down and breaks below the moving averages, it signals that bears remain in command. The pair may then retest the $2 support, which is likely to attract buyers.BNB price predictionBNB (BNB) broke out of the downtrend line on April 21, but higher levels are attracting solid selling by the bears.BNB/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe BNB/USDT pair could drop to the moving averages, an important near-term support to watch out for. If the price rebounds off the moving averages with strength, the prospects of a rally to $644 and thereafter to $680 increase. Alternatively, a break and close below the moving averages indicates that the breakout above the downtrend line may have been a bull trap. The pair then risks falling to $566.Solana price predictionSolana (SOL) rebounded off the 20-day EMA ($133) on April 22 and is attempting to climb above the overhead resistance at $153 on April 23.SOL/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe 20-day EMA is sloping up, and the RSI is in the positive territory, indicating an advantage to buyers. A close above $153 clears the path for a rally to $180. Such a move brings the large $110 to $260 range into play.Time is running out for the bears. If they want to make a comeback, they will have to swiftly pull the price below the moving averages. If they do that, the SOL/USDT pair could plunge to the $120 to $110 support zone.Dogecoin price predictionDogecoin (DOGE) broke above the moving averages on April 22, indicating that the bulls are on a comeback.DOGE/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe price could rally to the overhead resistance at $0.21, where the bears are expected to step in. If the price turns down from $0.21 and breaks below the moving averages, it signals a range-bound action in the near term. The DOGE/USDT pair could swing between $0.21 and $0.14 for some time.Contrarily, a break and close above $0.21 completes a double-bottom pattern. The pair could then rally toward its target objective of $0.28.Cardano price predictionBuyers pushed Cardano (ADA) above the 20-day EMA ($0.64) on April 22 and are trying to sustain the price above the 50-day SMA ($0.68) on April 23.ADA/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe 20-day EMA is flattish, but the RSI has jumped into positive territory, indicating that the momentum has turned positive. A close above the 50-day SMA opens the gates for a rally to $0.83.Buyers are expected to defend the zone between the 20-day EMA and $0.58 on the downside. Sellers will be back in the driver’s seat if they sink the ADA/USDT pair below $0.58. The pair may then slump to $0.50.Related: Why is Bitcoin price up today?Chainlink price predictionChainlink (LINK) turned up from the 20-day EMA ($13.16) and rose above the 50-day SMA ($13.62) on April 22.LINK/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe LINK/USDT pair could rise to $16, where the bears may mount a strong defense. If buyers do not allow the price to dip back below the 20-day EMA, it improves the prospects of a rally to the resistance line of the descending channel pattern. A trend change will be signaled on a break above the channel.The 20-day EMA is the crucial support to watch out for on the downside. A dive below the 20-day EMA opens the doors for a fall to $11.89 and later to the support line.Avalanche price predictionAvalanche (AVAX) broke out of the downtrend line on April 22, indicating that the bears are losing their grip.AVAX/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe bears will try to halt the recovery at $23.50 because if they fail in their endeavor, the AVAX/USDT pair will complete a double-bottom pattern. This bullish setup has a target objective of $31.73.If the price turns down from $23.50, the bulls will try to buy the dips to the 20-day EMA ($19.72). A bounce off the 20-day EMA increases the likelihood of a break above $23.50. Contrarily, a break below the moving averages signals a range formation between $15.27 and $23.50.Sui price predictionSui (SUI) soared above the moving averages on April 22 and the overhead resistance at $2.86 on April 23.SUI/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe long wick on the candlestick shows selling above $2.86, but if the bulls do not give up much ground, the possibility of a break above the overhead resistance increases. That could propel the SUI/USDT pair to $3.25 and then to $3.50.The 20-day EMA ($2.29) is expected to act as strong support on any pullback. A break and close below the 20-day EMA suggests the bullish momentum has weakened. That could result in a range formation in the near term.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.

by Cointelegraph by Vince Quill on April 23, 2025 at 5:59 pm

United States Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent recently called for “Bretton Woods institutions,” such as the International Monetary Fund (IMF), to reorient themselves, a signal that the global monetary order could be shifting.Speaking at the Institute of International Finance (IIF) on April 23, Bessent called on the IMF and the World Bank to correct trade imbalances and protect the value of fiat currencies against exchange rate risk."The Bretton Woods institutions must step back from their sprawling and unfocused agendas," Bessent said. He added:"The IMF's mission is to promote international monetary cooperation, facilitate the balanced growth of international trade, encourage economic growth, and discourage harmful policies like competitive exchange rate depreciation."Bessent's call for the IMF to correct trade imbalances between countries, specifically the US and China, coincides with a decline in the US dollar to three-year lows, $36 trillion in US government debt, and stiff economic competition from China.The Dollar Currency Index (DXY), a measure of the US dollar’s strength relative to other major fiat currencies, plunges to three-year lows. Source: TradingViewInvestor and hedge fund manager Ray Dalio argues that the world is experiencing a global macroeconomic shift that will upend the post-WWII financial order and eventually replace the US dollar as the global reserve currency, potentially with a digital form of money.Related: Trump tariffs reignite idea that Bitcoin could outlast US dollarThe Bretton Woods AgreementThe Bretton Woods Agreement was signed in 1944 and pegged the currencies of 44 countries to the value of the US dollar, which, at that point, was pegged to the value of gold at $35 per ounce.Eliminating complex foreign exchange risks between freely floating currencies to make global trade more efficient was the primary goal of the agreement.US President Richard Nixon delivers the infamous “Nixon shock” speech in August 1971, suspending the dollar’s convertibility to gold. Source: Richard Nixon Presidential LibraryIn August 1971, US President Richard Nixon announced the end of the dollar's convertibility to gold — formally ending the Bretton Woods agreement in a move that was supposed to be temporary.“Your dollar will be worth just as much tomorrow as it does today,” Nixon incorrectly told Americans during his now-infamous address.The IMF and the World Bank, which were spawned from the Bretton Woods agreement, continue operating in an attempt to curb the effects of free-floating fiat currencies on the foreign exchange market.Bessent eyes stablecoins to protect the US dollar, BTC advocates have another ideaSpeaking at the White House Digital Asset Summit on March 7, Bessent said stablecoins could drive international demand for US dollars and US government debt instruments.Bessent added that the Trump administration will use stablecoins to protect the US dollar and its status as the global reserve currency.Bitcoin maximalist Max Keiser argued against this plan, predicting that gold-backed stablecoins would outcompete dollar-pegged tokens due to the desire for low-volatility, inflation-resistant money.The US dollar’s purchasing power has declined by over 90% since the year 1900. Source: Visual CapitalistIn March this year, BlackRock CEO Larry Fink wrote that the $36 trillion US national debt could drive investors to Bitcoin (BTC) as market participants start to see BTC as a better store of value than the US dollar.Bitwise executive Jeff Park voiced a similar prediction in February, focused on the effects of US President Donald Trump's trade tariffs.The analyst wrote that the tumult from the ongoing trade war would cause worldwide inflation, which would cause individuals to seek alternative stores of value like Bitcoin, driving its price much higher in the long term.Magazine: Bitcoin payments are being undermined by centralized stablecoins

by Cointelegraph by William Suberg on April 23, 2025 at 5:25 pm

Key points:Bitcoin ETF inflows obliterated the 2025 average on April 22.ETF performance remains tightly dependent on BTC price action, with the turnaround following six-week highs in BTC/USD.ETFs themselves are gaining influence, with one commentator arguing that they can “determine” exchange activity.Bitcoin (BTC) institutional investors piled over eleven times the all-time average into the US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on April 22.Fresh data from onchain analytics firm Glassnode confirms that the $912 million ETF inflows equal more than 500 times the 2025 daily average.Glassnode: 2025 ETF average inflow just 23 BTCBitcoin ETFs immediately felt the impact of BTC price rises this week, with inflows undergoing a “dramatic” turnaround to nearly $1 billion in a single day. BTC/USD hit its highest levels since early March.Glassnode reveals just how unusual such a tally is — in 2025, so far, the average daily inflow has been just 23 BTC ($2.1 million).“This was the largest daily inflow since November 11, 2024, marking a notable resurgence in demand,” researchers explained in an X thread on the topic.US spot Bitcoin ETF flows. Source: GlassnodeThe April 22 total thus stands at more than 500 times the average for a year in which dramatic sentiment shifts have led to periods of major outflows across the ETF cohort.Even in the context of the ETFs’ entire lifespan since their January 2024 launch, the $912 million figure is rare and constitutes around 11.5 times the daily average.“Since inception, the average daily inflow is approximately 1,031 $BTC,” Glassnode added, calling the April 22 total a “significant deviation.”US spot Bitcoin ETF flows. Source: GlassnodeETFs become “marginal buyer” for BTCContinuing, Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas was among those optimistic about the ETFs’ change of fortunes.Related: Bitcoin exchange buying is back as 'Spoofy the Whale' lifts $90K asks“The spot bitcoin ETFs went Pac-Man mode yesterday,” he told X followers.Balchunas noted that inflows increased across most of the eleven ETFs — a move that contrasts with the common scenario in which the largest product, BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), takes in the lion’s share of investments.Andre Dragosch, European head of research at asset management firm Bitwise, was equally buoyant.“Great to see very positive net inflows into Bitcoin ETFs again -- In fact, they have become ‘the marginal buyer’ in Bitcoin since Jan 2024,” he observed alongside more Glassnode data. “The can actually determine whether you see negative or positive net buying volumes on BTC spot exchanges.”US spot Bitcoin ETF flows (screenshot). Source: Farside InvestorsThis 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.

by Cointelegraph by Turner Wright on April 23, 2025 at 5:06 pm

Some of the top holders of Donald Trump’s memecoin could come out of the shadows to appear for a dinner the US President is planning to host on May 22.As of April 23, the official Trump memecoin (TRUMP) website offered the opportunity for the “top 220” holders to meet the president in person at his golf club in Washington, DC. At the time of publication, the guest list for the event was unclear, but the project stated any tokenholder who applied had to pass a background check, “can not be from a [Know Your Customer] watchlist country,” and could not have any additional guests.The memecoin, which the then-president-elect launched on Jan. 17 before taking office, has been heavily criticized by the crypto industry and lawmakers for potentially allowing foreign officials and interest groups to send money directly to the US President without proper disclosure and oversight. The team behind the project controls 80% of the total supply, while the identities of many of the other top tokenholders are mainly unknown.Top TRUMP memecoin holders as of April 23. Source: TRUMP tokenThe price of the TRUMP memecoin surged roughly 52% from $9.30 to $14.20 shortly after the dinner announcement. After the token launched on Jan. 17, the project’s market capitalization increased to roughly $15 billion before dropping more than 50% by Jan. 20.Related: US lawmaker says TRUMP coin could risk national securityTrump’s wife released her MELANIA memecoin on Jan. 19. The token followed similar price movement to TRUMP’s, but, as of April 23, it had fallen by more than 90% from its all-time high price of $13.73. Blockchain data showed the project’s team moved roughly $30 million of the token’s community funds in April.Campaigning on cryptoDuring his first term in 2019, Trump said he was “not a fan” of cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC), later comparing the coin to a “scam.” However, he appeared to shift campaign strategies when running for office again: releasing his own line of non-fungible tokens, accepting crypto donations, and appearing at crypto-themed events and conferences.Before the 2024 election, Trump arranged a similar dinner in Florida with supporters who purchased his “mugshot” NFTs — featuring a picture of the then-candidate at his surrender to authorities in Georgia related to attempts to overturn the 2020 election. It’s unclear whether any of the same individuals who attended the May 2024 event are among the top memecoin holders.Magazine: Trump’s crypto ventures raise conflict of interest, insider trading questions

by Cointelegraph by Marco Castrovilli on April 23, 2025 at 5:00 pm

For years, crypto investors have looked to the four-year cycle, anchored around Bitcoin’s halving events, as a kind of sacred roadmap. The theory goes: Every four years, Bitcoin’s supply is cut in half, triggering a bullish frenzy, followed by a euphoric peak, a brutal crash, and then a slow recovery. Rinse, repeat.But what if that model is starting to break? That is what onchain analyst James Check suggests. In an interview with Cointelegraph, Check said that the tidy frameworks that once defined Bitcoin’s market behavior are no longer as useful in today’s macro-driven, institutionally influenced environment.Rather than labeling the current market as “bull” or “bear,” Check paints a more nuanced picture. Bitcoin, he argues, is now driven more by macroeconomic conditions and investor psychology than by predictable cycles or halving dates. As such, the lines between bull and bear get blurry.“The world doesn’t operate on four-year cycles,” he says. “You can imagine a headline tomorrow where suddenly all these tariffs get pulled back and markets start to move. I can just as easily construct a case where the next headline could send all risk assets into a pretty nasty decline.”Check also breaks down why the $70K–$75K range is such a critical confidence zone for the Bitcoin market — and how thinking in terms of scenarios rather than predictions is key for an investor’s long-term success.Check out the full interview on Cointelegraph's YouTube channel, and don’t forget to subscribe!For years, crypto investors have looked to the four-year cycle—anchored around Bitcoin’s halving events—as a kind of sacred roadmap. The theory goes: every four years, Bitcoin’s supply is cut in half, triggering a bullish frenzy, followed by a euphoric peak, a brutal crash, and then a slow recovery. Rinse, repeat.But what if that model is starting to break?That’s exactly what leading on-chain analyst James Check suggests in our latest interview. In his view, the tidy frameworks that once defined Bitcoin’s market behavior are no longer as useful in today’s macro-driven, institutionally influenced environment.Rather than labeling the current market as “bull” or “bear,” James paints a more nuanced picture. Bitcoin, he argues, is now driven more by macroeconomic conditions and investor psychology than by predictable cycles or halving dates. And in that world, the lines between bull and bear get blurry.“The world doesn’t operate on four-year cycles,” he says. “You can imagine a headline tomorrow where suddenly all these tariffs get pulled back and markets start to move. I can just as easily construct a case where the next headline could send all risk assets into a pretty nasty decline.”Check also breaks down why the $70K–$75K range is such a critical confidence zone for the Bitcoin market—and how thinking in terms of scenarios rather than predictions is key for an investor’s long-term success.Check out the full interview on our YouTube channel—and don’t forget to subscribe!

by Cointelegraph by Onkar Singh on April 23, 2025 at 4:33 pm

If you’re following developments in the cryptocurrency market, you’ve likely noticed that Coinbase Derivatives has introduced XRP futures contracts to its US derivatives exchange. This move is part of a broader trend where regulated platforms are expanding access to futures trading, giving investors new ways to engage with digital assets like XRP (XRP).But what exactly are XRP futures? And how do you get involved as an investor or trader?Let’s take a closer look.What are XRP futures?XRP futures are standardized financial contracts that allow you to agree to buy or sell XRP at a predetermined price on a specific future date. Rather than trading the actual token, you’re trading a contract that tracks the price of XRP.These contracts are overseen by the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), meaning they operate within a regulated framework. That adds a level of oversight and structure that appeals to many investors, particularly those wary of the risks tied to unregulated platforms.On April 3, 2025, Coinbase Derivatives announced it had filed with the CFTC to self-certify XRP futures contracts, and the contracts were launched on April 21, 2025.Types of XRP futures contracts offered by CoinbaseCoinbase’s offering includes:Nano XRP futures represent 500 XRP per contract, cash-settled in US dollars. These are designed for retail traders and smaller institutions, offering lower capital requirements while still providing exposure to XRP price movements.Standard XRP futures cover 10,000 XRP per contract, are also settled in USD, and are aimed at larger institutions and active traders.This variety lets you choose a position size that matches your risk tolerance and investment strategy. But what do terms like “cash-settled” actually mean?Both Nano and Standard XRP futures are contracts that let you trade based on the price of XRP — but you don’t actually own or receive XRP. You’re trading contracts that track XRP’s price.And, when the contract closes, the difference between your entry and exit price is calculated (profit or loss) and settled in USD — this is what cash settlement means. Did you know? Other products offered by the Coinbase Derivatives exchange include more than 20 futures contracts on assets such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ether (ETH), Dogecoin (DOGE), Solana (SOL), Chainlink (LINK) and Stellar (XLM).Why choose XRP futures contracts over buying XRP?You might be wondering why someone would choose futures over simply buying XRP on the spot market.Here are a few reasons:Leverage: Futures often allow you to control a large position with a relatively small amount of capital. While this can amplify gains, it also increases potential losses.Hedging: If you already hold XRP and expect short-term volatility, futures can be used to protect your portfolio.Speculation: Futures allow you to take both long (bullish) and short (bearish) positions, so you can potentially benefit from market moves in either direction.No wallet or storage needs: Buying XRP requires a secure wallet and managing private keys, which carries risks like hacking or loss. Futures contracts are financial instruments traded on exchanges, eliminating the need for direct XRP custody.Liquidity and accessibility: Futures markets often have high liquidity, making it easier to enter and exit positions. Some exchanges offer XRP futures with lower barriers than buying XRP on certain crypto platforms, especially in regions with regulatory restrictions.Cash settlement: Many XRP futures are cash-settled, meaning you settle profits or losses in fiat or stablecoins without handling XRP itself, simplifying the process for traders avoiding crypto custody.When to choose futures contracts:You want to trade XRP price movements with leverage or flexibility to go long or short.You prefer not to deal with crypto wallets or custody.You’re hedging an existing XRP position or portfolio.You’re comfortable with the risks and complexities of derivatives.When to buy XRP:You believe in XRP’s long-term value and want to hold it as an investment.You plan to use XRP for transactions or in its ecosystem (e.g., Ripple’s payment network).You want to avoid the risks of leverage and futures margin calls.Ultimately, futures suit active traders or those seeking leveraged exposure, while buying XRP could be ideal for long-term holders or users of the asset. You must always assess your risk tolerance and goals before deciding whether to invest in XRP or XRP futures.Did you know? The MarketVector™ Coinbase XRP Benchmark Rate provides a robust USD price reference exclusively for XRP traded on the Coinbase Exchange. It includes no other assets and no other exchanges — just XRP, just Coinbase.Where to invest in XRP futuresIf you’re looking to invest in XRP futures, there are several platforms (other than Coinbase) offering access depending on your location and trading needs.Kraken Futures: Kraken provides XRP futures with leverage. In Australia, access is limited to wholesale clients through Beaufort Fiduciaries Pty Ltd (AFSL no. 545124). In the United Kingdom, only clients classified as Professional Clients under Financial Conduct Authority rules can trade through Crypto Facilities Limited (FRN: 757895).Binance: Binance offers XRP/USDT perpetual futures contracts, allowing users to trade XRP without an expiry date. These contracts support leverage, giving traders flexibility in managing exposure. However, as of May 28, 2024, Binance no longer supports XRP as a margin asset under its “Multi-Assets Mode,” though XRP futures remain available in other trading modes.OKX: OKX also provides XRP/USDT perpetual swaps, which let traders speculate on XRP price movements continuously. While OKX delisted XRP expiry futures contracts in December 2024, perpetual swaps are still supported. Traders can apply leverage and adjust positions based on their risk strategy.Bitget: It is a globally accessible platform that offers XRP futures with options to take long or short positions. It features a user-friendly interface, making it suitable for both new and experienced traders, though availability depends on regional regulations.KuCoin Futures: KuCoin supports XRP perpetual contracts (XRP/USDT) with leverage. The platform is known for low trading fees and offers various features for different trading strategies. It’s accessible in many countries, with some regional restrictions.MEXC: It provides XRP futures in both USDt-margined and coin-margined formats. MEXC supports high leverage and offers educational tools, catering to traders of all levels. The platform is available in most regions, though users should check for local compliance.Delta Exchange: It lists XRP perpetual futures with leverage up to 100x. It’s known for low fees and advanced risk management tools. The platform is available to traders in several countries, depending on local laws.Bitfinex: Lastly, Bitfinex offers XRP futures as part of its broader derivatives portfolio. Its platform caters to advanced users with customizable strategies. Access is region-dependent, and traders must ensure eligibility based on their location.Did you know? Coinbase crypto derivatives are not available to retail clients based in the United Kingdom or Spain due to local regulatory restrictions. How to invest in XRP futures If you’re interested in trading XRP futures, here are general steps to get started:Choose a platform: Select a regulated exchange offering XRP futures, such as Coinbase’s US Derivatives Exchange. Create an account and complete identity verification, which typically involves submitting a valid ID and proof of address.Understand the product: Research how XRP futures contracts work, including contract sizes (e.g., Coinbase offers standard contracts of 10,000 XRP or nano contracts of 500 XRP), margin requirements, leverage options and fees. Futures are complex, so review the exchange’s documentation and understand risks, such as liquidation.Fund your account: Deposit USD or another accepted currency to use as collateral (margin) for trading. Check the platform’s minimum deposit and margin requirements. For example, Coinbase settles futures in USD, and you can fund via bank transfer or debit card.Place your trade: Use the platform’s trading interface (e.g., Coinbase Advanced) to select XRP futures contracts (symbol: XRL for standard XRP contracts on Coinbase). Decide whether to go long (buy) or short (sell), set your position size, and apply any leverage if available. Confirm the trade after reviewing details.Practice risk management: Futures carry high risks due to leverage and volatility. Set stop-loss orders, limit position sizes based on your risk tolerance, and avoid risking more than you can afford to lose. For instance, some exchanges pause trading if the underlying asset’s price moves over 10% in an hour to mitigate volatility risks.Monitor the market: Track XRP’s price, market sentiment, funding rates and external factors like regulatory news or macroeconomic trends. Use tools like candlestick charts or technical indicators on the platform to inform your strategy. Stay updated to adjust positions and avoid unexpected losses.Oregon targets Coinbase over XRP, cites securities violationsOregon’s Attorney General has sued Coinbase, claiming the exchange offered unregistered securities, including XRP. The lawsuit argues that a wide range of digital assets traded on the platform qualify as investment contracts under state law.State officials say the case is part of a broader effort to step in where federal enforcement has pulled back. Legal experts note that while the outcome won’t set a national precedent, it could influence how regulators and courts approach similar cases.The timing is notable — just weeks after the SEC dropped its case against Ripple and days after Coinbase listed XRP futures on its US derivatives exchange.Did you know? On March 25, 2025, Ripple Labs settled its long-standing legal dispute with the SEC. As part of the agreement, Ripple consented to pay a reduced fine of $50 million — down from the original $125 million — without admitting any wrongdoing.How risky are crypto futures?Futures trading offers opportunities, but it comes with significant risks — especially if you’re new to derivatives. Here’s what you should keep in mind:Leverage risk: While leverage can increase your returns, it also amplifies losses. A small price move in the wrong direction can quickly deplete your account.Volatility: XRP is known for its sharp price swings. Futures contracts can exaggerate the impact of volatility on your position.Funding rates: Perpetual futures contracts charge periodic funding fees, which can eat into profits if held long-term.Liquidation: If the market moves against you and your margin falls below the required level, your position may be automatically closed — often at a loss.Complexity: Futures are more complicated than spot trading. Understanding contract terms, funding rates and expiry dates is crucial to managing your trades effectively.Market liquidity: While XRP is a liquid asset, futures trading depends on active participation. Thin order books can lead to slippage and unexpected price movements.Emotional pressure: The fast-paced nature of futures trading can lead to impulsive decisions. Discipline and a clear strategy are essential.If you’re new to this type of trading, consider starting with a demo account or using nano contracts to reduce your exposure while you learn. Trade smart — your safety’s on you!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.

by Cointelegraph by Sam Bourgi on April 23, 2025 at 4:05 pm

Riot Platforms has used its massive Bitcoin stockpile as collateral to secure a $100 million credit facility from Coinbase as the cryptocurrency miner eyes continued expansion. The $100 million loan from Coinbase’s credit arm marks Riot’s “first Bitcoin-backed facility,” CEO Jason Les said in an April 23 statement.Les said the credit line will be used to fund general corporate operations and support the company’s “strategic growth initiatives.”Source: Riot PlatformsThe credit line is scheduled to mature in one year’s time, but could be extended for an additional year. The loan carries an annual interest payment of at least 9%, based on the current upper limit of the federal funds rate plus 4.5%. Crucially, the funding amount “will be secured by a portion of [Riot Platforms’] total Bitcoin holdings,” the company said. Riot owns the third-largest corporate Bitcoin (BTC) treasury, with 19,223 BTC on its books as of April, according to industry data. At current prices, its Bitcoin holdings are valued at roughly $1.8 billion.As Cointelegraph reported, Riot acquired $500 million worth of Bitcoin in December. Earlier in the month, the company unveiled plans to raise $500 million through a private bond offering to fund additional BTC purchases. Related: Bitcoin miner Bitfarms secures up to $300M loan from MacquarieRIOT stock ralliesShares of Riot Platforms, which trade on the Nasdaq stock exchange under the ticker symbol RIOT, rose more than 8% on April 23 amid a broad rally for Bitcoin miners and the overall stock market.However, like other Bitcoin mining stocks, RIOT has struggled since the start of the year, weighed down by the global trade war and falling cryptocurrency prices.After its latest rally, RIOT stock has pared its losses for the year to -24.6%. Source: Yahoo FinanceIndustry research has tracked a strong correlation between mining stocks and Bitcoin’s price going back to at least 2020.Currently trading at around $93,000, Bitcoin is down approximately 15% from its peak following US President Donald Trump’s inauguration. Over the same period, RIOT shares have fallen by more than 40%.Despite share price volatility, Riot Platforms is coming off a record year of earnings and revenue, having successfully bolstered its operations after the Bitcoin halving.In 2024, the company generated $376.7 million in sales and $109.4 million in net income. The company will hold its next earnings call on May 1, covering the quarter ending March 31. Related: BTC miners adopted ‘treasury strategy,’ diversified business in 2024: Report

by Cointelegraph by Yohan Yun on April 23, 2025 at 3:09 pm

Ethereum is entering one of its most precarious periods since its inception. Usage on the base layer is plummeting, core metrics are nearing multi-year lows, and even co-founder Vitalik Buterin is proposing a radical architectural overhaul. Institutions aren’t waiting to see how it plays out. Blockchain data shows that long-time supporters such as Galaxy Digital and Paradigm have been slashing their Ether (ETH) holdings in recent weeks. So far in April, Ethereum’s base-layer activity has continued to collapse. Ethereum’s network fees are dropping, and inflation has been rising. Though layer-2 networks continue to develop, they’re cannibalizing the base layer’s value capture.But the story isn’t entirely about Ethereum’s collapse. Some whales are treating this downturn as a rare buying opportunity. Even those who are selling Ether can’t fully let it go.Ethereum gets dumped by institutions, but for how long?Institutions are dumping Ethereum, but it’s the ex they keep checking on. It’s not entirely out of the picture — just benched while they explore options like Solana (SOL).In recent weeks, blockchain analysts on the lookout for large crypto movements spotted several institutions moving ETH out of their tagged wallets, likely to sell. Lookonchain reported that Galaxy Digital deposited 65,600 ETH ($105.5 million) to Binance. The investment firm’s Ether exposure rose to as high as around 98,000 coins in February, but that has dropped to almost 68,000 ETH at the time of writing, Arkham data shows.Galaxy dumps Ether, but not all of it. Source: ArkhamGalaxy’s holdings may have declined in recent weeks, but they’re still higher compared to the start of the year. Its Ether holdings reflect a broader trend seen in Ethereum-based investment products. According to CoinShares, ETH funds saw $26.7 million in outflows over the past week, bringing total outflows to $772 million over eight weeks. However, year-to-date flows remain positive, with $215 million in net inflows. As Galaxy trimmed its Ether holdings, it also withdrew 752,240 SOL ($98.37 million), Lookonchain reported. Ethereum lost considerable momentum to Solana, which became the chain of choice during the memecoin casino frenzy that dominated much of 2024 and early 2025. While that eventually cooled amid rampant scams, bots and low-quality tokens, it also served as a technical showcase for Solana — proving its ability to process massive transaction volumes without major fee spikes or outages.Related: Pump.fun’s memecoin freak show may result in criminal charges: ExpertParadigm is another investor that has cut back on Ether. On April 21, it moved 5,500 ETH ($8.66 million) to Anchorage Digital. Paradigm transferred around 97,000 ETH (around $301.57 million) to Anchorage from January 2024, which was then moved to centralized exchanges, as onchain analyst EmberCN pointed out.Paradigm Capital held about 236,000 ETH in 2019 but holds 2,873 ETH on April 23. Source: Arkham“While institutional investors initially bought into the ‘ultra-sound money’ narrative, they’re now facing a reality where decreasing protocol revenue and weakening tokenomics create legitimate concerns,” Jayendra Jog, co-founder of Sei Labs, told Cointelegraph.Ethereum returns to net inflationary stateEther deflation has been an attractive selling point to Ethereum investors. It was integrated into the network through two major upgrades. First, the London hard fork of August 2021 introduced Ethereum Improvement Proposal 1559, which partially burns transaction fees. Then in the Merge upgrade of September 2022, Ethereum became a proof-of-stake network and drastically cut new token issuance.Ether’s supply consistently decreased following the Merge until April 2024, when Ether’s inflation began to accelerate. By early February 2025, the total ETH supply had surpassed its Merge level.Ether’s total supply is approximately 186,705 ETH higher than it was at the time of the Merge. Source: Ultra Sound MoneyPart of Ether’s inflation has been due to dropping fees, which results in less Ether burned. According to data from IntoTheBlock, Ethereum collected 1,873.52 ETH in fees from April 14 to April 21. That’s slightly higher than the 1,697.61 ETH in fees from the week starting on March 17, which was the lowest amount of fees collected (measured in ETH) since July 31, 2017.Ethereum base layer’s fees drop to 2017 levels. Source: IntoTheBlockButerin’s radical RISC-V proposal for EthereumOn April 20, Buterin proposed the RISC-V instruction set to substitute the current Ethereum Virtual Machine contract language, aiming to improve the speed and efficiency of the network’s execution layer. Some view the proposal as a white flag on the existing architecture.Source: Rooter“Vitalik’s RISC-V proposal is essentially an acknowledgment that the EVM’s fundamental architecture has reached its limits. When Ethereum’s founder proposes replacing the core VM that underpins the entire ecosystem, it signals not evolution but recognition of a design limitation that can’t be incrementally improved,” Jog said.Cointelegraph has reached out to the Ethereum Foundation and will update this article when it answers.Related: A guide to crypto trading bots: Analyzing strategies and performanceThe proposal follows a leadership shuffling in the Ethereum Foundation following rising complaints on the project’s direction. Could Ethereum be the one that got away?Part of Ethereum’s struggles has been attributed to its rollup-centric approach to scaling its network. The idea was to build layer-2 scaling networks that would offload the transactions from the base chain but still utilize its security. That has alleviated congestion issues during times of high network demand but has also created new problems of its own, such as dropping Ether burns and fragmentation of the Ethereum ecosystem.But there is an increased focus on layer-1 scaling, according to Tomasz Stańczak, the new co-executive director of the Ethereum Foundation. Stańczak said on X that the Ethereum Foundation will shift its focus to near-term goals, such as layer-1 scaling and layer-2 scaling support.Source: Tomasz StańczakSome whales have taken advantage of Ethereum’s cheaper price tag. On April 23, Lookonchain identified two wallets accumulating millions of dollars worth of ETH. The blockchain monitor identified another wallet on April 22 that has accumulated over $100 million in ETH since Feb. 15. Ether is currently down from the plus-$4,000 it reached in December but rose over 10% on April 23 to over $1,800. In a recent client letter, Standard Chartered Bank slashed its 2025 price estimate for Ether from $10,000. However, for whales accumulating at current levels, upside potential remains, as the bank still predicts a year-end target of $4,000.Geoff Kendrick, the bank’s head of digital assets research, attributed the more cautious outlook to Ethereum’s structural decline, noting that the layer-2 networks designed to improve scalability are now extracting much of the fee revenue once captured by the base layer.Magazine: What are native rollups? Full guide to Ethereum’s latest innovation

by Cointelegraph by Sasha Shilina on April 23, 2025 at 3:00 pm

Opinion by: Sasha Shilina, PhD, founder of Episteme and researcher at Paradigm Research InstituteDecentralized prediction markets are gaining ground in the scientific world, offering an intriguing answer to the field’s ongoing reproducibility crisis. While a notable share of research findings fail to replicate in independent tests, supporters believe market-driven forecasting can speed up identifying robust studies. Detractors remain cautious, worried that introducing financial wagers could compromise the measured, peer-reviewed process that has guided academic inquiry for centuries. The debate hinges on whether blockchain-based forecasting will elevate or destabilize scientific credibility.Crowdsourcing predictionsDespite these concerns, recent developments point toward real promise. Platforms like Polymarket and Pump.science have shown that crowdsourcing predictions can help refine collective judgment in fields as varied as politics and longevity. This model is being adapted for science, where it could quickly flag dubious claims and reward reproducible ones. Although critics highlight potential market manipulation, decentralized science (DeSci) advocates argue that broad participation from multiple stakeholders could democratize the validation process, discouraging one-sided interventions by well-funded groups.The crux of the pro-market argument is the possibility of financial accountability for flawed or exaggerated studies. Under the conventional system, questionable research can remain influential for years before its shortcomings come to light. Market-based validation turns that dynamic on its head, issuing direct financial losses to those who bet on shaky findings. Of course, the same mechanism allows for the “shorting” of credible but lesser-known work. Supporters note, however, that transparent market structures and robust liquidity can mitigate the worst effects of speculation, putting a welcome dose of rigor back into funding decisions and public trust.Regulations and complexitiesRegulatory scrutiny adds a layer of complexity. Some jurisdictions still classify prediction markets as gambling or derivatives, limiting their growth without specialized approvals. The early experience of platforms like Augur underscores how legal uncertainties can dampen mainstream engagement. Recent shifts in digital asset regulation and greater public interest in scientific accountability suggest that, with the proper framework, a path toward legitimacy is possible. Proponents see this as an opportunity for policymakers to differentiate between purely speculative markets and those with clear societal benefits, such as improving research standards.Knowledge frameworksData integrity is another obstacle that innovators are tackling head-on. Oracles, which feed external results into blockchains, remain a weak link if they rely on unverified or manipulated sources. More advanced AI oracle networks are incorporating multiple data feeds and transparent auditing processes to overcome this. This, in turn, incentivizes labs and journals to adopt higher data reporting standards, knowing that the market’s collective intelligence would quickly expose fraudulent or incomplete information.Recent: Bitcoin price prediction markets bet BTC won't go higher than $138K in 2025Some experts remain unconvinced that prediction markets alone can outperform traditional peer review. After all, scientific publication is based on specialized expertise, and markets often rely on overlapping pools of experts who may carry existing biases. Yet others counter that the financial incentive can serve as a powerful accelerant for truth, ensuring that the possibility of monetary loss balances any conflict of interest. Rather than replacing peer review, prediction markets could operate in parallel, catching oversight or misconduct that slips through editorial filters.For advocates, this blend of market-driven oversight and decentralized participation holds the greatest promise. With a growing number of platforms willing to host questions on scientific claims and major institutions increasingly alarmed by irreproducible research, the stage is set for a new era of rigorous public validation. The outcome remains uncertain, but the core idea — that a small bet can spark a significant reckoning — has won over many open-science supporters and decentralized finance innovators. If blockchain-based prediction markets continue to mature, they may become a key ally in restoring scientific credibility, offering a faster, more transparent form of discovery.Opinion by: Sasha Shilina, PhD, founder of Episteme and researcher at Paradigm Research Institute. 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.

by Cointelegraph by Adrian Zmudzinski on April 23, 2025 at 1:54 pm

Payments behemoth PayPal plans to offer a 3.7% yield on balances held in its PayPal USD stablecoin.According to an April 23 Bloomberg report, a PayPal representative said that the measure aims to encourage more usage of the firm’s stablecoin. The program is expected to launch this summer, and the rewards will also be paid out in PayPal USD (PYUSD).Users will be able to exchange PYUSD for fiat currency, spend it or send it to other users. The rewards will accrue daily and will be paid on a monthly basis. The company hopes this feature will lead to a higher predominance of stablecoin and crypto payments on its platform.The report follows PayPal USD reaching a $1 billion market cap in the summer of 2024. As of publication, the stablecoin’s market cap is nearly a quarter lower at $873.3 million.PayPal USD’s market cap chart. Source: CoinMarketCapTzahi Kanza, CEO of crypto investment firm Syndika, told Cointelegraph that “from a regulatory standpoint, PayPal must ensure that offering interest doesn’t cause its stablecoin to be classified as a security. “When it comes to financial risks for the users, he said that PayPal can keep its promises, and the main risk is losing the peg to the dollar rather than interest-related issues. He said:“Stablecoins that don’t offer yield are generally not considered securities. However, yield-bearing stablecoins may fall under that classification.”Related: PayPal’s Xoom launches cross-border stablecoin settlementPayPal is betting on cryptoPayPal is betting on blockchain technology with its continued product development. Reports from earlier in April show that PayPal has expanded its cryptocurrency offerings to include Chainlink (LINK) and Solana (SOL), giving US-based users the ability to buy, sell and transfer the popular tokens.In fact, PayPal was cited by Polygon Labs CEO Marc Boiron as one of the catalysts for the stablecoin industry’s rapid growth in recent years. In an interview with Cointelegraph, Boiron said, “Companies like Stripe and PayPal integrating stablecoins is likely the primary catalyst for their growth.”Related: PayPal, Ernst & Young settle first corporate payment via PYUSD stablecoinThe story of PayPal USDPYUSD is a US dollar-pegged stablecoin issued by Paxos Trust Company on behalf of PayPal in August 2023. At the time of the launch, PayPal became the first major payment network to launch its own stablecoin, with Venmo rolling out support in September 2023.Each token is purportedly backed one-to-one by cash deposits, short-term US Treasury notes and similar cash-equivalent assets in accounts overseen by the New York State Department of Financial Services. Initially, PYUSD was a token compliant with the ERC-20 Ethereum standard, but has since also been deployed on Solana (SOL).PayPal USD’s current market cap is still a far cry from the top stablecoin, Tether’s USDt (USDT). At the time of writing, CoinMarketCap data shows that USDT’s market cap stands at $145.3 billion, over 17,255% higher than PYUSD’s. Kanza said that “Tether’s strength lies in its market dominance — not in its regulatory compliance, transparency, or yield” since it does not offer those. He added:“To compete effectively, targeting these three areas — compliance, transparency and returns — would be a smart strategy [for PayPal.]“Magazine: Chinese Tether laundromat, Bhutan enjoys recent Bitcoin boost: Asia Express

by Cointelegraph by Aaron Wood on April 23, 2025 at 1:50 pm

Richard Heart, the controversial founder of HEX, is claiming total victory over the US SEC after years of court battles.On April 21, the SEC said that it would not amend and refile its fraud case against the former child actor and crypto evangelist. A court had dismissed the SEC’s fraud charges against Heart on Feb. 28.Heart announced on X that HEX had obtained a victory very few crypto projects could boast: “Richard Heart, PulseChain, PulseX, and HEX have defeated the SEC completely and have achieved regulatory clarity that nearly no other coins have.”HEX may be out of hot water with American securities regulators (for now), but Heart still faces charges in Europe, where he is wanted both for alleged tax fraud and for alleged assault on a minor. Richard Heart, real name Richard James Schueler, is still on Interpol’s wanted list. Source: InterpolSEC claimed Heart used HEX to defraud investorsIn July 2023, the SEC filed a complaint against Heart, whose real name is Richard James Schueler, along with HEX, HEX’s layer-1 blockchain project, PulseChain, and the decentralized exchange (DEX) for the PulseChain network, PulseX. The SEC made a number of allegations, including securities fraud and securities registration violations. It asked the court to bar Heart and his projects from participating in any sort of crypto asset security offering and to give up “all ill-gotten gains received as a result of the violations alleged.”The complaint noted Heart’s repeated claims that HEX could offer incredible rewards to make investors rich. It also wrote that Heart spent over $12 million of proceeds from HEX offerings on luxury goods such as watches, sports cars and a 555-carat diamond ring.Indeed, Heart is no stranger to the finer things in life. His celebrity is in part due to his frequent displays of wealth. In one video on X, he flaunted Louis Vuitton cases filled with dozens of luxury watches that he said were worth 9 million euros. Richard Heart wears four Rolex watches. Source: Luxury BazaarHeart’s court case came down to jurisdiction. Last year, his legal team filed a motion to dismiss the case on the grounds that the SEC failed to show that any activities had occurred within the United States. The SEC protested the motion. Ultimately, US District Judge Carol Bagley Amon agreed with Heart (the HEX founder does not live in the US), and she ruled that the statements regarding HEX’s price were targeted to a global audience — not US investors.“The alleged misappropriation occurred through digital wallets and crypto asset platforms, none of which were alleged to have any connection with the United States,” Amon stated.Finnish authorities want Heart on tax and assault chargesHeart claims that this legal victory provides new ground on which the crypto industry can thrive, creating a legal precedent that supposedly makes HEX safer to work with than any other crypto project.Heart and HEX may not face American securities regulators, but he is still in hot water with Finnish authorities over alleged tax evasion and assault.In September 2024, Finnish media wrote that Heart, who was reportedly residing in Helsinki, was remanded into custody in absentia. Finnish investigators, at the request of the country’s tax authorities, were investigating Heart and reportedly found that Heart’s income reporting did not match the tax service’s estimates.Helsinki police detective Harri Saaristol said, “Based on the very considerable amount of money in question and the long-term and planned nature of the activity, there are grounds to suspect gross tax evasion.”Related: Interpol issues ‘Red Notice’ for Hex founder Richard HeartIn the course of their investigation, Finnish police seized millions of euros worth of luxury watches from a residence in the city of Espoo near Helsinki. Europol also stated that Heart (referred to as Schueler in the report) is wanted for assaulting a minor. “Schueler physically assaulted a 16-year-old victim by grabbing their hair, dragging them into the stairwell and knocking them to the ground.”The allegations together have earned him a profile on Europol and Interpol’s most wanted criminal lists. Investigations are ongoing. How long can HEX keep it up?It seems Heart dodged US regulation because the SEC lacked jurisdiction rather than evidence. So, how long can he keep HEX going?Industry observers and analysts have long claimed that HEX was a new form of Ponzi scheme, namely due to the promises of a whopping 38% annual percentage yield, larger profits for onboarding new users and the fact that Heart owned some 90% of HEX tokens.Despite a number of committed acolytes on social media, the token seems all but dead. HEX’s price pumped briefly on news of the SEC dismissal. Zooming out, it’s barely moved since Heart’s legal troubles with the SEC began.At publishing time, HEX’s price is $0.002253; 24-hour transaction volumes barely top $250,000. HEX’s price spiked in 2021 before nearly falling off by early 2023. Source: CoinMarketCapMagazine: Former Love Island star’s tips on how to go viral in crypto: Van00sa, X Hall of Flame

by Cointelegraph by Cointelegraph on April 23, 2025 at 1:30 pm

Today in crypto, gaming giant Ubisoft has partnered with Web3 firm Immutable to launch Might & Magic: Fates, a blockchain-powered strategy card game set in the Might & Magic universe, Trump Media finalized its exchange-traded fund (ETF) deal with Crypto.com, and publicly listed companies are broadening their crypto reserves to include more tokens.Ubisoft taps Immutable to launch Web3 card game “Might & Magic: Fates”Ubisoft has partnered with Immutable to launch a new Web3 card game. According to a news release shared with Cointelegraph, Might & Magic: Fates blends classic strategic gameplay with modern blockchain technology, offering players digital ownership through Immutable’s Web3 infrastructure.The game will launch on iOS and Android. The title introduces fresh mechanics, faction-based strategies and a wide array of legendary heroes and creatures.Players can collect, trade, and customize decks using hundreds of cards, crafting unique strategies in a competitive environment where success is driven by skill and tactical decision-making.Immutable co-founder Robbie Ferguson teases major announcement. Source: Robbie Ferguson“The game is free-to-play with no hard progression barriers. Players advance by collecting cards and in-game currency through gameplay,” Justin Hulog, chief studio officer for Immutable, told Cointelegraph.“Additionally, those looking to speed up their progression or acquire specific cards can do so through marketplaces,” Hulog said.He added that players will have the ability to trade the digital collectible cards they own using dedicated platforms.Trump Media inks deal with Crypto.com for crypto, “Made in America” ETFsUS President Donald Trump’s company, Trump Media and Technology Group, signed a binding agreement with crypto exchange Crypto.com on April 22 to launch exchange-traded funds (ETFs) “with a Made in America focus.”Trump Media said the funds, set to go live later this year, will launch through its decentralized finance brand Truth.Fi and will be available through Crypto.com’s broker-dealer, Foris Capital. The company said the ETFs “are expected to comprise digital assets as well as securities with a Made in America focus spanning diverse industries such as energy.”The finalization of the agreement follows Trump Media and Crypto.com signing a non-binding deal in March.The ETFs will be the latest crypto-related venture involving Trump or his family. The president has financial ties to the crypto platform World Liberty Financial, which has a token and plans for a stablecoin, and he and First Lady Melania Trump both launched memecoins days before entering office.President Trump’s sons, Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr., have also gone in on a crypto mining venture called American Bitcoin.DeFi Development Corp adds $11.5 million SOL, shares jump 12%DeFi Development Corporation, formerly known as Janover, is ramping up its Solana treasury strategy following a buyout led by Kraken executives.According to an April 22 announcement, the company added 88,164 Solana (SOL) to its treasury, worth $11.5 million and bringing its Solana stake to $34.4 million.On April 7, DeFi Development Corporation was acquired by a group of former Kraken executives. As part of the deal, the company announced a shift toward crypto, including a rebrand and a Solana-based reserve treasury. Before the transition, Janover operated in the real estate financing space, linking lenders with commercial property buyers.Since the takeover, the company has made multiple purchases of SOL, including a buy of $10.5 million on April 16. With the latest purchase, DeFi Development Corporation’s total holdings stand at 251,842. The company plans to stake the tokens to generate additional yield.Shares of DeFi Development Corporation (JNVR) were up 12.83% on the news, according to Google Finance.DeFi Development Corporation's intraday performance. Source: Google Finance

by Cointelegraph by Amin Haqshanas on April 23, 2025 at 1:15 pm

Gaming giant Ubisoft has partnered with Web3 firm Immutable to launch Might & Magic: Fates, a blockchain-powered strategy card game set in the Might & Magic universe.According to a news release shared with Cointelegraph, Might & Magic: Fates blends classic strategic gameplay with modern blockchain technology, offering players digital ownership through Immutable’s Web3 infrastructure.The game will launch on iOS and Android. The title introduces fresh mechanics, faction-based strategies and a wide array of legendary heroes and creatures.Players can collect, trade, and customize decks using hundreds of cards, crafting unique strategies in a competitive environment where success is driven by skill and tactical decision-making.Immutable co-founder Robbie Ferguson teases major announcement. Source: Robbie Ferguson“The game is free-to-play with no hard progression barriers. Players advance by collecting cards and in-game currency through gameplay,” Justin Hulog, chief studio officer for Immutable, told Cointelegraph.“Additionally, those looking to speed up their progression or acquire specific cards can do so through marketplaces,” Hulog said.He added that players will have the ability to trade the digital collectible cards they own using dedicated platforms.Related: SEC closes investigation into Immutable nearly 5 months after Wells noticeImmutable to provide blockchain backboneImmutable, a leading Web3 gaming platform, will provide the blockchain backbone for the project.The firm is known for hosting titles like Gods Unchained and Guild of Guardians, both designed to give players true ownership of in-game assets through blockchain technology.Gods Unchained is a free-to-play NFT trading card game where players collect, trade, and battle using unique, player-owned cards. It runs on Immutable’s gas-free layer-2 solution and is transitioning to Immutable zkEVM for enhanced functionality.The card anatomy of Gods Unchained. Source: Gods UnchainedGuild of Guardians is a mobile RPG where players assemble NFT-based teams of heroes to battle in dungeon raids.Ubisoft has been among the few video game publishers that have incorporated crypto elements into their games.Related: How Web3 can change gaming without changing how gamers playIn October 2024, the firm announced the release of its first game incorporating Web3 technology. Dubbed Champions Tactics: Grimoria, the game was deployed on the Oasys layer-2 Home Verse, a blockchain-powered ecosystem for Web3 gaming.Later in December 2024, Ubisoft and the Arbitrum Foundation announced the launch of Captain Laserhawk: The G.A.M.E., a Web3-enabled top-down shooter. The game is set in the Ubisoft gaming universe and features a cast of characters from titles including Far Cry: Blood Dragon, Rayman, Assassin’s Creed, Beyond Good and Evil, The Crew, Rainbow Six, Splinter Cell and Watch Dogs.Magazine: XRP win leaves Ripple and industry with no crypto legal precedent set

by Cointelegraph by Zoltan Vardai on April 23, 2025 at 1:00 pm

Cryptocurrency staking protocol Symbiotic closed a $29 million Series A funding round led by Web3-focused investment firms, including Pantera Capital and Coinbase Ventures, to support the launch of a new economic coordination layer for blockchain security.The round included more than 100 angel investors, with participation from major industry players including Aave, Polygon and StarkWare, the company said in an April 23 announcement shared with Cointelegraph.The closing of the funding round also marks the launch of Symbiotic’s Universal Staking Framework, which aims to be an economic coordination layer that bolsters blockchain security via staking.The new staking layer enables the use of any combination of cryptocurrencies to secure networks, including monolithic and modular layer-1 and layer-2 blockchains, the announcement stated.“We’ve created a modular framework that lets protocols evolve security models over time while efficiently coordinating risk,” Misha Putiatin, co-founder of Symbiotic, told Cointelegraph. “This empowers protocols at every stage of their lifecycle to evolve their security models seamlessly without rebuilding infrastructure.”Related: Ethereum L2 development is ‘double-edged sword’ for ETH valueThe “next step” in blockchain infrastructureThe new staking layer is the “next step in blockchain infrastructure” due to unlocking “economic coordination between assets and networks that were previously impossible,” according to Paul Veradittakit, managing partner at Pantera Capital.“As the number and variety of onchain assets continue to increase, Symbiotic allows them to easily serve as economic security while enabling entirely new use cases across DeFi,” he added.Blockchain networks looking to bolster security can adopt Symbiotic’s network of decentralized validators that bring “programmable security” without the need to modify infrastructure.According to the company, 14 networks, including Hyperlane, Spark and Avail, have already adopted the new coordination layer, with 20 more expected to follow.The staking layer enables “any protocol, including L1s, bridges, oracles, and even emerging verticals like artificial intelligence or zero-knowledge systems, to configure their own validator sets, incentive mechanisms and slashing conditions without having to rebuild core infrastructure,” Putiatin said.Related: Bitcoin ETFs log $912M inflows in ‘dramatic’ investor sentiment boostCrypto needs more collaborative economic incentives: HoskinsonCardano founder Charles Hoskinson, speaking at Paris Blockchain Week 2025, emphasized the need for collaborative economics in the crypto industry to counter growing competition from traditional tech firms entering the blockchain space.Charles Hoskinson. Source: CointelegraphCrypto’s “circular economy,” which often means that the rally of a specific cryptocurrency is bolstered by funds exiting another token, is limiting the growth of the industry, said Hoskinson.“The problem right now, with the way we’ve done things in the cryptocurrency space, is the tokenomics and the market structure are intrinsically adversarial. It’s sum 0,” said Hoskinson. “Instead of picking a fight, what you have to do is you have to find tokenomics and market structure that allows you to be in a cooperative equilibrium.”“You can’t build a global ecosystem this way, and you can’t win this way,” he said. “Because here’s the thing. The incumbents are much larger.”Magazine: 3 reasons Ethereum could turn a corner: Kain Warwick, X Hall of Flame

by Cointelegraph by Yashu Gola on April 23, 2025 at 12:51 pm

Key takeaways:Bitcoin is up alongside global risk markets following signs of easing US-China trade tensions.Bitcoin ETFs attract $1.29 billion in daily inflows.Short-term Bitcoin holders are back in profit.A classic bullish reversal pattern is in play. Bitcoin (BTC) has risen 6.80% in the last 24 hours to reach $94,510 on April 23, its highest level in almost two months.BTC/USD daily price chart. Source: TradingViewUS Bitcoin ETFs see biggest inflow since NovemberOn April 22, a total of eleven Bitcoin ETFs attracted over $1.29 billion, the highest since November 2024, when Donald Trump won the US presidential election.BTC US Spot ETF net flows. Source: GlassnodeTrading sentiment improved following Trump’s clarification that he has "no intention" of firing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell. The president also said he is willing to reduce tariffs on Chinese goods, signaling de-escalation in the ongoing trade war with Beijing.These remarks led to a rally in global markets, with the S&P 500 and Nasdaq each gaining over 2.5%, and Asian markets such as Japan's Nikkei and South Korea's Kospi rising by 2.3% and 1.2%, respectively.SXP, IXIC, NIKKEI, KOSPI, BTC/USD year-to-date performance chart. Source: TradingViewBitcoin, which was already showing signs of “decoupling” from risk assets, rose in tandem with positive inflows across its spot ETFs.BTC’s price pump in the last 24 hours further aligned with the liquidations worth $321.78 million in the futures market, including over $300 million in shorts.Crypto market liquidations (24h). Source: CoinGlassShort liquidations, which reflect traders buying back BTC at higher prices to close their bearish positions, boosted the cryptocurrency’s price further today.Most recent Bitcoin buyers are back in profitsBitcoin reclaimed its short-term holder (STH) realized price band (~$91,000; the blue wave in the chart below) on April 22, according to onchain data platform Glassnode.Bitcoin short-term onchain cos basis bands (hourly). Source: Glassnode“Recently, we have highlighted this level as a benchmark for market sentiment and positioning,” Glassnode wrote, adding:“A sustained move above it often signals renewed confidence and can act as a springboard for further upside.”This event suggests that most recent buyers are now back in profit, potentially reducing sell pressure and restoring confidence among short-term holders.Bitcoin technicals hint at rally over $100KBitcoin’s ongoing price rise appears to be part of the breakout stage of its prevailing falling wedge, a classic bullish reversal pattern.BTC/USD daily price chart. Source: TradingViewAdditionally, BTC has avoided forming a “death cross,” a bearish indicator that forms when an asset’s 50-period moving average drops below the 200-period moving average.Related: Bitcoin exchange buying is back as 'Spoofy the Whale' lifts $90K asksThe confluence of these optimistic indicators suggests Bitcoin may reclaim $100,000 again by May, with the falling wedge target at around $102,700.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.

by Cointelegraph by Nancy Lubale on April 23, 2025 at 12:38 pm

Key takeaways:ETH price rebounds alongside Bitcoin and major altcoins as the US-China tariff war de-escalates.Short liquidations in the ETH Futures market.Renewed enthusiasm among derivatives traders.Ether price technical breakout has a target of $2,100.Ether (ETH) rose on April 23, up 10% in the last 24 hours to trade at $1,795 amid increasing optimism over the de-escalation of the US-China tariff wars. Its daily trading volume has jumped by 67% to $26.6 billion, reinforcing the intensity of the demand-side activity.ETH/USD daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewLet’s closely examine the factors behind Ether’s bullishness today.ETH rallies in tandem with broader crypto marketThe bullish sentiment was not exclusive to Ether, as crypto prices also rallied across the board, triggered by easing tensions over the US-China trade wars.Bitcoin (BTC), the market leader, is trading at $94,000, up 6.5% over the last 24 hours. Fourth-placed XRP (XRP) has gained more than 8% over the last day to trade just above $2.28. Solana (SOL), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Cardano (ADA) also posted significant gains among the top 10 cryptocurrencies.Performance of top-cap cryptocurrencies: Source: CoinMarketCapOn April 22, 2025, President Trump told reporters at the White House that US tariffs on Chinese goods "will come down substantially," while US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent called the US-China tariff standoff "unsustainable," hinting at a potential resolution.Reduced trade tensions often lead to increased investor confidence in riskier assets, as global economic stability encourages capital flow into cryptocurrencies.“Macro risks remain, but one critical overhang appears to be cleared,” said trading firm QCP Capital in response to Trump’s supposed policy shift, adding:“Trump is signaling no intention to replace Fed Chair Powell for now. The reassurance has prompted a modest pullback in long-end yields, helping reduce a key tail risk.”$110M in short ETH positions liquidatedEther’s bullishness on April 23 is accompanied by significant liquidations in the derivatives market, signaling strong upward pressure.Over $109 million worth of short ETH positions have been liquidated over the last 24 hours, compared to $22 million in long liquidations.Bearish traders’ positions are forcibly closed when short positions are liquidated.Total ETH liquidations. Source: CoinGlassThe scale of these liquidations mirrors the March 19 liquidation event, when a total of $72.29 million in short ETH positions were wiped out. This accompanied a 13% rise in price from a low of $1,840 to a ten-day high of $2,020 on the same day.Related: Ethereum Foundation shifts focus to user experience, layer-1 scalingEther’s open interest (OI) has jumped by 16% from $18.87 billion to $21.92 billion over the last 24 hours, indicating increased trading activity in the derivatives market. Ether’s OI across all exchanges. Source: CoinGlassPositive funding rates in ETH perpetual futures markets are also a bullish sign. Funding rates represent the periodic payments exchanged between long and short-position holders. This metric has increased from -0.0018% on April 21 to $0.007% at the time of writing.ETH funding rates across all exchanges. Source: CoinGlassIncreasing OI and positive funding rates mean more capital is entering the market, which can boost the price increase as buying pressure builds up.ETH price must hold above $1.6K — AnalystEther’s price traded in a tight $200 range between April 9 and April 22, as shown in the four-hour chart below. ETH’s 17% rally over the last two days saw the altcoin finally break out of this consolidation on April 22. A successful retest of the upper limit of this range at $1,700 confirmed the breakout, and the price breached the 200-period simple moving average (SMA) at $1,751 during the early Asian trading hours on April 23.As such, the ETH trades above all the major moving averages in the four-hour timeframe, reinforcing the intensity of the ongoing recovery.Now, the bulls are focused on the April 2 range high at $1,950 and, thereafter, the $2,100 resistance level.ETH/USD four-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewConversely, the RSI is at 78, which shows that ETH is “overbought,” suggesting that a pullback might be in the cards as buyer exhaustion sets in.If this happens, ETH may drop back into the $1,500 and $1,700 range, where it could trade for a few more days before establishing any directional bias.For popular analyst Rekt Capital, Ether was required to hold the area above $1,600 to sustain the upward momentum.“Ethereum is holding the bottom of the light blue historical demand area as support, repeating history also by wicking briefly below it,” the analyst wrote in part of a caption accompanying Ether’s monthly chart.Rekt Capital was referring to the area between $1,600 and $2,000, within which ETH price oscillated for over eight months between April 2023 and November 2023 before rallying 126% to $4,093 in March 2024. “Ethereum needs to keep holding here,” Rekt Capital said, adding that if the price stability can be sustained, there is a chance that the altcoin could stage a similar recovery as the one seen in early 2024.ETH/USD monthly chart. Source: Rekt CapitalAs Cointelegraph reported, Ether’s price still needs to overcome the 50-day SMA currently sitting at $1,830 to clear the path toward $2,100.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.

by Cointelegraph by Adrian Zmudzinski on April 23, 2025 at 12:18 pm

Michael Saylor, the CEO of top corporate Bitcoin holder Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy), expressed support for newly appointed US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chair Paul Atkins.In an April 23 X post, Saylor wrote that “SEC Chairman Paul Atkins will be good for Bitcoin.” The statement follows Atkins’ swearing-in as the 34th chairman of the SEC on April 21.Source: Michael SaylorBlue Macellari, the head of digital assets at investment firm T. Rowe Price, also commented positively on Atkins’ swearing in during a recent Bloomberg interview. She seemed hopeful and recognized a change in how the SEC has acted under the new administration, particularly with crypto-related information, including “close to six or seven roundtables” with industry professionals. She said:“I think that that’s gonna feed into the ability to make thoughtful and considerate policies.”Vincent Liu , chief investment officer at crypto investment firm Kronos Research, told Cointelegraph that “under Chair Atkins, finalizing custody rules for digital assets is expected to provide the investor protections that institutions demand.” Other issues expected to be resolved are clarification on whether some digital assets are securities or commodities:“Together, these two moves will help establish clear custody standards and bring much-needed clarity paving the way for the next wave of crypto product innovation.”Related: SEC and feds charge man over $200M crypto trading schemeWho is Atkins, and what does he mean for crypto?Accolades from representatives of the crypto industry readily followed Atkins’ appointment by US President Trump in late 2024. Bitwise Asset Management general counsel Katherine Dowling said at the time that he is a “great choice,” and Ripple Labs CEO Brad Garlinghouse said that he “will bring common sense back to the agency.”Not everyone was happy with the choice. Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren said during Atkins’s nomination hearing that he had had “staggeringly bad judgment” in his role as a SEC commissioner leading up to the 2008 financial crisis. Atkins served at the agency from 2002 to 2008.She also raised an issue with his consulting firm, Patomak Global Partners, which had advised the crypto exchange FTX before its 2022 collapse. Warren said:“Your clients pay you north of $1,200 an hour for advice on how to influence regulators like the SEC, and if you’re confirmed, you will be in a prime spot to deliver for all those clients who’ve been paying you millions of dollars for years.”Liu said that “to maintain public trust and avoid even the perception of regulatory conflict of interest, it’s essential to implement clear guardrails.” Such a guardrail would include mandatory disclosures of prior industry ties, ethics oversight, and transparent public comment periods for all crypto rules.Related: SEC says it won’t re-file fraud case against Hex’s Richard HeartAtkins accused of biasWarren also sent a letter to Atkins in late March, stating that he should expect questions about his potential role at the agency due to his ties to the crypto industry through Patomak. Before being appointed, Atkins revealed a personal and family financial portfolio worth more than $327 million, according to a public ethics filing released ahead of his Senate confirmation hearing. Similarly, Trump’s artificial intelligence and crypto czar, David Sacks, filed a notice in early March suggesting that his venture capital firm sold more than $200 million in crypto and related stocks ahead of assuming his role.Magazine: Your AI ‘digital twin’ can take meetings and comfort your loved ones