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Darkweb threat actors claim to have hundreds of thousands of user records — including names, passwords and location data — of Gemini and Binance users, putting the apparent lists up for sale on the internet. The Dark Web Informer, a Darkweb cyber news site, said in a March 27 blog post that the latest sale is from a threat actor operating under the handle AKM69, who purportedly has an extensive list of private user information from users of crypto exchange Gemini. “The database for sale reportedly includes 100,000 records, each containing full names, emails, phone numbers, and location data of individuals from the United States and a few entries from Singapore and the UK,” the Dark Web Informer said.Source: Dark Web Informer“The threat actor categorized the listing as part of a broader campaign of selling consumer data for crypto-related marketing, fraud, or recovery targeting.”Gemini didn’t immediately respond to Cointelegraph’s request for comment. A day earlier, Dark Web Informer said another user, kiki88888, was offering to sell Binance emails and passwords, with the compromised data reportedly containing 132,744 lines of information.Source: Dark Web InformerBinance says leaked info came through phishing, not data leakSpeaking to Cointelegraph, Binance said the information on the dark web is not the result of a data leak from the exchange. Instead, it was a hacker who collected data by compromising browser sessions on infected computers using malware. In a follow-up post, the Dark Web Informer also alluded to the data theft being a result of user’s tech being comprised rather than a leak from Binance, saying, “Some of you really need to stop clicking random stuff.” Source: Dark Web InformerIn a similar situation last September, a hacker under the handle FireBear claimed to have a database with 12.8 million records stolen from Binance, with data including last names, first names, email addresses, phone numbers, birthdays and residential addresses, according to reports at the time. Binance denied the claims, dismissing the hacker’s claim to have sensitive user data as false after an internal investigation from their security team. Related: Binance claims code leak on GitHub is ‘outdated,’ poses minor riskThis isn’t the first cyber threat targeting users of major crypto exchanges this month. Australian federal police said on March 21 they had to alert 130 people of a message scam aimed at crypto users that spoofed the same “sender ID” as legitimate crypto exchanges, such as Binance. Another similar string of scam messages reported by X users on March 14 spoofed Coinbase and Gemini attempting to trick users into setting up a new wallet using pre-generated recovery phrases controlled by the fraudsters. Magazine: Lazarus Group’s favorite exploit revealed — Crypto hacks analysis |
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The current state of crypto is akin to the internet's “America Online” (AOL) era during the late 1990s, when the user experience was clunky, technical, featured limited use cases, and moved at dial-up speeds, according to Polygon co-founder Sandeep Nailwal.In an interview with Cointelegraph, Nailwal identified several key areas of development to improve user experience, including seamless fiat on- and off-ramps, custody solutions that feature key recovery, and hardware wallets built into mobile devices."We are in the dial-up era of the internet where even connecting to the Internet was a tedious task, like you had to be a mini-engineer to be able to connect to the Internet — we are still there in crypto." “We are probably still in 1998, and it is going to take at least 10 to 15 years to see crypto in its full glory,” the Polygon founder added.While considered revolutionary at the time, the AOL days of the internet featured limited functionality and a high barrier to entry. Source: PC MagazineThe internet took between 30-40 years to achieve mass adoption and began with a limited number of use cases. In the late 1990s, the AOL era of the internet was primarily focused on email and basic web browsing, but today, the internet encompasses the entire economy.Nailwal said that the current state of crypto is similar, with financial use cases, particularly market speculation, being the core focus of crypto at this time.However, once the financial use cases have been fully developed and achieved sufficient adoption, crypto adoption will spread to alternative use cases such as decentralized social media, gaming, and other niche sectors, he said.Related: Security concerns slow crypto payment adoption worldwide — SurveyBeing in crypto today is being early to the partyNailwal pointed out that even the base use case for cryptocurrencies, which is financial, has not been fully developed.According to a February 2025 report from Bitcoin (BTC) financial services company River, only 4% of individuals worldwide own BTC — which is the original cryptocurrency with the largest market cap and has the most mainstream appeal.Bitcoin’s adoption path. Source: RiverThe report found that BTC has only achieved about 3% of its total adoption path when institutions, the total addressable market, and proper portfolio allocations are considered.This small number of BTC holders indicates that crypto mass adoption is still years away and signals that the entire industry is still in the early adopter phase of development.Magazine: They solved crypto’s janky UX problem — you just haven’t noticed yet |
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GameStop shed nearly $3 billion in market capitalization on March 27 as investors second-guessed the videogame retailer’s plans to stockpile Bitcoin (BTC), according to data from Google Finance. On March 26, GameStop tipped plans to use proceeds from a $1.3 billion convertible debt offering to buy Bitcoin — an increasingly popular strategy for public companies looking to boost share performance. GameStop’s announcement came a day after it proposed building a stockpile of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin and US dollar-pegged stablecoins. Investors initially celebrated the news, sending shares up 12% on March 26. Shareholders’ sentiment reversed on March 27, pushing GameStop’s stock, GME, down by nearly 24%, according to Google Finance. GameStop’s stock reversed gains on March 27. Source: Google FinanceRelated: GameStop buying Bitcoin would ‘bake the noodles’ of TradFi: Swan execChilly receptionAnalysts say the chilly reception reflects fears GameStop may be seeking to distract investors from deeper problems with its business model. “Investors are not necessarily optimistic on the underlying business,” Bret Kenwell, US investment analyst at eToro, told Reuters on March 27. “There are question marks with GameStop's model. If bitcoin is going to be the pivot, where does that leave everything else?”The sell-off also highlights investors’ more bearish outlook on Bitcoin as macroeconomic instability, including ongoing trade wars, weighs on the cryptocurrency’s spot price. Bitcoin is down around 7% year-to-date, hovering around $87,000 as of March 27, according to Google Finance.Bitcoin’s “price briefly jumped to $89,000 but has now reversed its trend,” Agne Linge, decentralized finance (DeFi) protocol WeFi’s head of growth, told Cointelegraph. Linge added that trade wars triggered by US President Donald Trump’s tariffs remain a concern for traders.Public companies are among the largest Bitcoin holders. Source: BitcoinTreasuries.NETCorporate Bitcoin treasuriesGameStop is a relative latecomer among public companies creating Bitcoin treasuries.In 2024, rising Bitcoin prices sent shares of Strategy soaring more than 350%, according to data from FinanceCharts. Founded by Michael Saylor, Strategy has spent more than $30 billion buying BTC since pioneering corporate Bitcoin accumulation in 2020, according to data from BitcoinTreasuries.NET.NET. Strategy’s success prompted dozens of other companies to build Bitcoin treasuries of their own. Public companies collectively hold nearly $58 billion of Bitcoin as of March 27, the data shows. Magazine: SEC’s U-turn on crypto leaves key questions unanswered |
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Crosschain US-dollar stablecoin USDT0 has been deployed to Optimism’s Superchain, increasing access to the world’s most widely used stable asset across Ethereum’s layer-2 ecosystem.On March 27, Optimism announced that the dollar-pegged USDT0 is now live on the OP mainnet. The crosschain stablecoin’s first deployment was on Ink, Kraken’s DeFi-focused layer-2.USDT0 is essentially a bridged version of Tether’s USDt (USDT), designed to extend the stablecoin’s adoption across various blockchains. It launched within the Tether ecosystem independently in January, with support from Tether and its CEO, Paolo Ardoino. Superchain is a network of layer-2 chains designed to scale Ethereum through Optimism’s OP Stack. The collective currently accounts for 52% of Ethereum layer-2 transactions, according to data tracked by Superchain.Since September, Superchain’s L2 dominance has grown from 36.6% of all transactions to 51.9%. Source: Superchain Health DashboardIn February, Optimism Chief Growth Officer Ryan Wyatt told Cointelegraph that Superchain will likely account for 80% of Ethereum L2 transactions this year. At the time, Superchain secured more than $4 billion in total value, which has since grown to $4.2 billion.Related: Celo, Chainlink, Hyperlane launch crosschain UDT on OP SuperchainStablecoin adoption heats upSuperchain said deploying USDT0 is expected to attract “more top-tier assets, applications and partners” to the collective, which highlights the role stablecoins play in fueling DeFi adoption.The total value of all stablecoins in circulation has reached nearly $228 billion, having increased 3.3% over the past 30 days. According to RWA.xyz, there are more than 155 million stablecoin holders worldwide.Ethereum accounts for 58% of the total stablecoin supply.In terms of market cap, Ethereum is by far the largest network for stablecoins. Tether’s USDt is the most widely used stable asset. Source: RWA.xyzTether has long had a first-mover advantage in the stablecoin market. The company has emerged as one of the world’s largest holders of US Treasury assets, which has helped fuel its record-breaking profits in recent years.With US President Donald Trump in the White House, dollar-pegged stablecoins have become a major policy driver in the United States.The head of Trump’s council on digital assets, Bo Hines, recently told a conference in New York that comprehensive stablecoin regulations could arrive on the president’s desk within two months.Related: Tether’s US Treasury holdings surpass Canada, Taiwan, ranks 7th globally |
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Stablecoin issuer Circle and Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), the company that operates the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) among others and provides clearinghouse services, are collaborating to explore stablecoin integration in ICE’s operations.The companies will explore the potential integration of Circle’s US dollar stablecoin (USDC) and its US Yield Coin (USYC) into ICE’s derivatives exchanges, clearinghouses, data services and other systems, under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) announced March 27. Lynn Martin, president of the New York Stock Exchange, issued this statement alongside news of the collaborative partnership:“We believe Circle’s stablecoins and tokenized digital currencies can play a larger role in capital markets as digital currencies become more trusted by market participants as an acceptable equivalent to the US Dollar. We are excited to explore the potential use cases for USDC and USYC across ICE’s markets.”The potential integration of stablecoins and real-world tokenized products into exchange settlement systems follows Nasdaq announcing 24-hour weekday trading starting in 2026 and the New York Stock Exchange’s plan to extend trading hours during the week as traditional financial markets shift toward a more global orientation.Stablecoin market breakdown by top issuers. Source: RWA.XYZRelated: ‘Stablecoin multiverse’ begins: Tether CEO Paolo ArdoinoStablecoins emerge as store-of-value in developing regionsAccording to Bitso’s “Crypto Landscape in Latin America 2024” report, stablecoins, including Tether’s USDt (USDt) and Circle’s USDC, accounted for 39% of crypto purchases in the region, with USDC accounting for 24% of the total stablecoin volume.The report added that stablecoins have become a store of value against rapidly depreciating local currencies due to significant inflation pressures.A 2023 report from Chainalysis found that stablecoins comprised the vast majority of crypto value received in the Latin American region, where individuals preferred the tokenized fiat instruments to Bitcoin (BTC) as a store of value.USDC was the most widely held and transferred crypto in Latin America. Source: BitsoThe low transaction costs, ease and speed of cross-border transfers make stablecoins ideal for remittances and international business.These features led to a sharp rise in stablecoin adoption in 2024. According to a January 2025 report from CEX.IO, stablecoin transfer volumes surpassed the combined volume of Visa and Mastercard in 2024.Stablecoins recorded $27.6 trillion in transfer volume during 2024, eclipsing the combined volume of Visa and Mastercard by 7.7%.Magazine: Unstablecoins: Depegging, bank runs and other risks loom |
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Opinion by: Shubham Kukrety, co-founder and CEO at QuoteIt Strange sights were seen as India recently concluded MahaKumbh, a Hindu congregation that occurs once every 144 years.Every day, a man took dips at Sangam — the triple confluence of rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Sarasvati — with several passport-sized photographs offering “Digital Snan,” symbolizing digital nectar baths. A nine-acre camp offered people a glimpse of the Hindu religion since the beginning of time. Several families received a 360-degree live virtual MahaKumbh tour with a VR box and packaged pure Sangam water at their homes.These are some of the sights that were seen for the first time in MahaKumbh’s known history. But all of it brings us to a fascinating question: Does the fusion of tech and tradition help us peek into India’s future of the metaverse? Indeed.Adopting technology religiouslyIndia’s approach to technology has always been unique. The country has previously leapfrogged many traditional technology adoption cycles. For example, it moved directly to mobile-first digital experiences without many households ever seeing a landline. As immersive technologies gain traction, the country shows signs of its distinctive adoption pattern.Over the past few years, digitization of religious experiences has surged in India. The VR Devotee app, launched in 2016, streamed rituals and festivals from over 150 temples, allowing devotees to participate virtually. During COVID-19, the platform saw a remarkable 40% jump in user engagement.The Indian government, recognizing this potential, launched “Temple 360” in 2022 — a web portal providing virtual darshan (viewing of deities) from significant pilgrimage sites. When the famous Puri Jagannath Rath Yatra was held without public attendance for the first time in 2020, millions watched live. The same holds for nearly all pilgrimages in India.What’s particularly striking about MahaKumbh?Immersive technologies were embraced at one of Hinduism’s most sacred gatherings, which saw over 663 million people make pilgrimages. If deep spiritual traditions can incorporate digital experiences, it signals a profound cultural readiness for adoption.From skepticism to frontier techUnder the Digital India initiative, AR/VR is explicitly identified as an emerging technology alongside AI, blockchain and 5G networks. And this isn’t mere lip service.The government has backed its words with concrete actions, establishing Centers of Excellence like VARCoE at the Indian Institute of Technology Bhubaneswar and launching initiatives such as IMAGE to incubate extended reality (XR) startups. In 2022, the MeitY Startup Hub partnered with Meta to launch the XR Startup Program, extending grants worth 20 lakh Indian rupees (~$23,000) to 16 startups.Recent: Indian town adopts Avalanche blockchain for tamper-proof land recordsThe Uttar Pradesh government recently launched a 3D VR experience center in Ayodhya. Multiple Hindu religious places, including Kashi Vishwanath Dham and Maa Vaishno Devi Bhawan, have already extended such immersive experiences.This deliberate strategy can prove to be a catalyst in India’s XR adoption, tapping the nation’s rich cultural heritage.Corporate giants embrace the immersive futurePerhaps the most telling sign of India’s metaverse readiness comes from its corporate landscape. Reliance leads the charge, headed by Asia’s richest person, Mukesh Ambani. In a landmark development, Jio Platforms recently partnered with Polygon Labs to integrate Web3 and blockchain capabilities into its existing digital ecosystem.The partnership is no small feat. It potentially brings Web3 functionality to Jio’s vast user base of over 482 million customers. Jio had previously demonstrated its commitment to immersive technologies by unveiling “Jio Glass,” an affordable mixed-reality device designed for the Indian market. Reliance’s acquisition of Tesseract in 2019 and recent discussions with Meta underscore its long-term bet on immersive futures.The country’s largest telecom provider is strategically investing in metaverse-enabling technologies. This speaks volumes about the future of digital experiences in the country.This year, after announcing its partnership with Polygon, Jio also launched its mystery JioCoin, a significant development for the Indian Web3 community. Meanwhile, the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation also issued non-fungible (NFT) train tickets on the Polygon blockchain to passengers traveling to the MahaKumbh festival.These initiatives tapped Polygon specifically for its faster throughput and low gas fees — practical considerations that signal maturity in blockchain implementation in India.Differing perspectives and the elusive mainstream momentNot everyone is convinced that digitizing sacred experiences represents progress. The “Digital Snan” service for 1,100 rupees in Sangam triggered a significant backlash on social media. Critics viewed such services as commercializing spirituality and reducing sacred rituals to transactional experiences.Furthermore, it’s been over eight years since Pokémon Go took the world by storm, demonstrating AR’s potential to create cultural phenomena that transcend demographic boundaries. The world hasn’t seen anything of that magnitude ever since.This absence of a defining moment also raises questions about whether immersive technologies will achieve the ubiquity that smartphones have at present. Mall VR arcades attract curious teens for one-off experiences, but habitual usage patterns haven’t materialized outside specific professional contexts.Green shoots of adoption?What distinguishes India’s potential metaverse from Western models is its grounding in cultural contexts with profound meaning for millions. While Silicon Valley envisions virtual offices and digital asset speculation, India’s early applications focus on democratizing experiences of profound cultural significance.This culturally rooted approach could ultimately prove more sustainable. By addressing genuine human needs — connection to heritage, participation in community rituals, access to experiences otherwise impossible due to distance or disability — India’s metaverse initiatives may find the elusive “why” that has hampered mainstream adoption elsewhere.Opinion by: Shubham Kukrety, co-founder and CEO at QuoteIt.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. |
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Key takeawaysCrypto payment gateways enable businesses to accept cryptocurrency payments from customers. They act as intermediaries, converting crypto payments into the business's preferred currency (crypto or fiat). Crypto payment gateways reduce transaction fees compared to traditional banking systems and provide access to a global customer base.These gateways leverage blockchain technology to offer secure and faster transactions with fewer intermediaries, enhancing transparency and reducing the risk of fraud.The cryptocurrency industry faces significant challenges, particularly in the area of seamless conversion between digital assets and fiat currencies. This issue makes it difficult for businesses and users to adopt cryptocurrencies for everyday transactions. Crypto payment gateways address this need by simplifying the process of converting digital currencies into fiat, enabling smooth and efficient transactions. This article explores what crypto payment gateways are, how these gateways work, and their pros and cons. Cryptocurrency payment gateways, explainedA cryptocurrency payment gateway is a digital transaction facilitator that enables businesses to accept crypto payments while ensuring seamless processing and settlement.These gateways act as intermediaries between customers who pay with digital assets and merchants who receive crypto payments, helping businesses navigate the complexities of blockchain transactions. Examples of crypto payment gateways include BitPay, Coinbase Commerce and PayPal’s crypto payment service.One of the key advantages of using a crypto payment gateway is that businesses can receive payments in cryptocurrency while opting to convert them into fiat currency, which is then deposited into their bank accounts. This eliminates concerns about crypto price volatility while allowing merchants to offer additional payment options to their customers.Are crypto payment gateways necessary for accepting digital currencies?While crypto payment gateways simplify the process of accepting digital assets, they are not the only way for businesses to receive cryptocurrency payments.Merchants can choose to accept crypto directly by using personal wallets, bypassing third-party processors. However, without a payment gateway, they would need to manually manage transactions, track payments on the blockchain, and handle currency conversion if they wish to receive fiat instead of crypto.For businesses looking to integrate cryptocurrency payments alongside traditional methods, crypto payment gateways provide an efficient solution. These services offer real-time transaction processing, automatic conversion to fiat and additional security features that protect businesses from fraudulent transactions.However, be aware of fees. Coinbase Commerce charges a 1% fee on all crypto payments. After your customer completes a payment, this fee is collected in the settlement currency of the transaction.For example, if your customer makes a $250 purchase in Bitcoin (BTC), and your settlement currency is in euros, it would collect 2.5 euros (1% of the payment amount) as a fee.Types of crypto payment gateways: Custodial vs. non-custodialCrypto payment gateways can be classified into two main types: custodial and non-custodial. The choice between these options depends on a business’s preferences regarding security, control and ease of use.Custodial crypto payment gatewaysCustodial gateways function similarly to traditional payment processors. They receive and temporarily hold payments before allowing merchants to withdraw funds to their crypto wallets or convert them to fiat currency. This model is ideal for businesses that want a streamlined experience without dealing with direct wallet management.Key characteristics of custodial payment gateways include:Automated fiat conversion: Payments can be converted to local currency instantly, mitigating volatility risks.User-friendly dashboard: Merchants can manage transactions, track payment history, and withdraw funds through an online portal.Compliance features: Many custodial gateways implement Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) measures to meet regulatory requirements.Non-custodial crypto payment gatewaysNon-custodial payment gateways provide merchants with full control over their funds by immediately transferring payments to their wallets without holding them on behalf of the business. These solutions prioritize decentralization and security, allowing merchants to manage their own private keys.Key characteristics of non-custodial payment gateways include:Enhanced security: Funds are not stored by the gateway, which reduces the risk of hacks or third-party control.Direct crypto transfers: Payments are sent straight to the merchant’s wallet, which eliminates withdrawal processes.Greater privacy: Merchants can accept payments without undergoing extensive KYC verification.Lower fees: Transaction costs are reduced for both parties since no intermediaries are involved.Increased transparency: The blockchain records transactions, providing an immutable and traceable record.Full control over funds: Merchants retain complete ownership and access to their crypto assets.Did you know? Major banks and fintechs, including Bank of America, Standard Chartered, PayPal, Revolut, and Stripe, are entering the stablecoin market to enhance cross-border payments. How do crypto payment gateways differ from traditional fiat payment gateways?Traditional payment gateways, such as those used for credit card processing, facilitate transactions in government-issued currencies like the US dollar or euro. These fiat gateways connect a merchant’s payment system to a bank, verifying transactions based on the customer’s bank details before authorizing or declining payments.Key distinctions between fiat and crypto payment gateways include:Currency type: Fiat gateways exclusively process national currencies, whereas cryptocurrency gateways support digital assets like BTC, Ether (ETH) and stablecoins.Decentralization: Traditional payment gateways rely on centralized financial institutions, while crypto payment gateways leverage blockchain technology for peer-to-peer transactions.Transaction speed: Crypto payments can be settled in minutes, whereas fiat transactions, especially international payments, may take days to clear.Chargeback protection: Unlike fiat payments, where chargebacks can be issued, crypto transactions are irreversible once recorded on the blockchain.While fiat payment gateways remain essential for conventional banking transactions, crypto payment gateways are expanding payment possibilities by integrating blockchain-based financial solutions. As cryptocurrency adoption continues to grow, businesses must evaluate their payment strategies and choose the right gateway solution that aligns with their operational needs.Pros and cons of cryptocurrency payment gatewaysYou must be aware of the pros and cons of cryptocurrency payment gateways before using them, whether for business transactions or everyday personal use.Pros of crypto payment gatewaysOne of the major advantages of using cryptocurrency payment gateways is the ability to settle transactions quickly. These platforms typically charge a minimal network fee (covered by the service provider) and a small service fee for customers. The streamlined process involves just one intermediary — the crypto payment processor — which enhances the user experience for both businesses and their clients.Additionally, crypto payment systems benefit from the transparency of blockchain technology, offering protection for merchants against chargeback fraud. Unlike traditional fiat payment systems, where transactions can sometimes result in businesses not receiving the funds after they have been deducted from a customer’s account, crypto payments provide more certainty. Furthermore, these gateways can handle a variety of cryptocurrencies, mitigating the risk of market volatility for merchants.Cons of crypto payment gatewaysHowever, crypto payment gateways are still intermediaries in the process, meaning settlements are not fully decentralized. This centralization could pose a risk. For instance, if a crypto payment processor experiences operational disruptions, merchants may face delayed payments until the issue is resolved. Similarly, if the gateway is compromised by a cyberattack, businesses may lose access to their funds.Another downside is that crypto payment gateways can be more expensive than direct blockchain transactions. Since these gateways act as intermediaries, they add their own fees on top of the blockchain network’s transaction costs.As centralized entities, crypto payment processors introduce a level of trust. Merchants need to ensure that the processor is capable of offering reliable, secure services to prevent potential cyber threats.Do cryptocurrency exchanges offer payment gateways?Binance, Coinbase and Kraken, which are centralized cryptocurrency exchanges, provide payment gateways to facilitate crypto transactions. Additionally, they offer application programming interfaces (APIs), which enable merchants to create custom checkout pages with full design control. APIs act as software intermediaries that allow different applications to communicate seamlessly.Binance offers a crypto payment solution called Binance Pay, tailored for businesses that are open to accepting digital currency. Merchants can integrate Binance Pay both online and in physical stores. By displaying a unique QR code, physical stores can offer a secure and contactless crypto payment option, enhancing customer convenience. For online businesses, Binance Pay allows seamless cross-border transactions, providing customers with more diverse payment options. Merchants can either create a merchant account or work with channel partners to start accepting crypto payments via Binance Pay.On the other hand, Coinbase offers its own payment gateway, Coinbase Commerce, which supports 10 different digital currencies, including ETH, USDC (USDC), Dogecoin (DOGE), Tether’s USDt (USDT) and Litecoin (LTC).Payments processed through Coinbase Commerce are instantly converted to US dollars, ensuring stability for merchants. Importantly, Coinbase does not have access to any funds deposited into merchant accounts. If a merchant loses their 12-word recovery phrase, Coinbase is unable to assist in retrieving the lost assets. Additionally, Coinbase applies a 1% fee on transactions before the funds are transferred to the merchant’s account, as mentioned above.Kraken Pay is a cryptocurrency payment processor that allows businesses to accept a wide range of digital currencies, offering fast and secure transactions. It provides easy integration with Kraken exchange wallets, low fees and the ability to convert crypto to fiat, but it still relies on centralized trust.Did you know? In March 2022, MoonPay enabled customers to purchase NFTs directly through marketplaces, simplifying the process by integrating traditional payment methods like credit cards and Apple Pay.Are crypto payment gateways secure?When selecting a cryptocurrency payment gateway, merchants should carefully evaluate how the provider manages the storage of cryptocurrencies and fiat funds.It’s important to review factors such as transaction fees, the variety of supported cryptocurrencies and the platform’s history regarding security breaches or scams. Understanding these elements helps merchants make informed decisions about which gateway aligns with their needs.In addition, ensuring that the crypto payment gateway offers reliable customer support is essential. Having access to prompt and effective assistance is crucial in case of disruptions or issues with payments. A responsive support team can help resolve problems quickly and minimize downtime for businesses.Finally, merchants should always check the reputation of a payment gateway before committing. Consulting specialized review sites and reading feedback from other users will provide insights into the platform’s reliability and trustworthiness. Thorough research ensures that merchants select a secure and reliable payment processor for their business. |
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Ripple has partnered with African payment infrastructure provider Chipper Cash to support crypto-enabled cross-border payments.According to a March 27 announcement, Chipper Cash will use Ripple Payments for its cross-border transactions as part of the deal. The companies said the partnership is designed to offer faster, cheaper, more efficient settlements.Chipper Cash. Source: Chipper Cash websiteReece Merrick, Ripple’s managing director for Middle East and Africa, said that the partnership is an important step in the firm’s expansion in the region. He also highlighted that African consumers and businesses “are increasingly recognizing the potential of blockchain technology.”Related: XRP ETF ‘obvious’ as Polymarket bettors up approval odds to 85%The collaboration comes as blockchain adoption continues to grow across Africa, particularly in the remittance and payments sectors. A recent report from Chainalysis found that stablecoins now make up nearly half of all transaction volume in Sub-Saharan Africa.Similarly, a late 2024 report suggested that a number of emerging economies across Africa have the potential to become digital asset hubs. Merrick said:“By integrating our technology into Chipper Cash’s platform, we’re enabling faster, more affordable cross-border payments while driving economic growth and innovation across the markets they serve.”Growing blockchain adoption in remittancesThe Ripple executive further highlighted that as the remittance market grows, many companies are deciding to adopt blockchain technology because of the increased operational efficiency that it allows. Chipper Cash co-founder and CEO Ham Serunjogi said the implementation of crypto in the industry has far-reaching consequences in Africa.“Crypto-enabled payments have the potential to enable greater financial inclusion, accelerate access to global markets, and empower businesses and individuals across Africa,” he said.Serunjogi further explained that by integrating Ripple, Chipper Cash was able to allow its customers “to receive payments faster and at lower cost.” The partnership also expands on Ripple’s 2023 Onafriq deal, using the firm’s infrastructure to process payments between 27 African countries and Australia, the United Kingdom and the Gulf Cooperation Council.Ripple moves forwardIn March, Ripple also secured a Dubai license to offer cryptocurrency-powered payments in the United Arab Emirates. The company will also likely step up its activities following its recent win against the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said at the time that the decision “provides a lot of certainty for Ripple.” He added:“We now are in the driver’s seat to determine how we want to proceed.”Ripple and Chipper Cash did respond to Cointelegraph’s request for comment by publication time.Magazine: Real life yield farming: How tokenization is transforming lives in Africa |
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BlackRock’s new European Bitcoin exchange-traded product (ETP) is a major step for Bitcoin’s institutional adoption in Europe, though analysts expect lower inflows than its US counterpart.The iShares Bitcoin ETP, managed by the world’s largest asset manager, began trading on March 25 on Xetra, Euronext Amsterdam and Euronext Paris.While the launch marks a significant step in bringing Bitcoin (BTC) exposure to European investors, analysts at Bitfinex said the product is unlikely to match the success of the US-based iShares Bitcoin Trust exchange-traded fund (ETF), which has seen strong demand from institutional and retail investors.SiShares Bitcoin ETP listings. Source: BlackRock“The US spot Bitcoin ETFs benefited from pent-up institutional demand, a deep capital market and significant retail investor participation,” Bitfinex analysts told Cointelegraph, adding:“The presence of a BlackRock Bitcoin ETP in Europe still represents progress in terms of mainstream adoption, and as regulatory clarity improves, institutional interest could grow over time.”They added that although Europe’s Bitcoin ETP market may develop at a slower pace, it remains a key part of Bitcoin’s global adoption story.BlackRock, which oversees more than $11.6 trillion in assets under management, could encourage broader adoption of Bitcoin investment products in Europe and open new pathways for institutional capital to enter the crypto market.Bitcoin ETF, institutional holder growth. Source: Vetle LundeOver in the US, institutional adoption of Bitcoin ETFs surged to over 27% during the second quarter of 2024 when over 262 firms invested in Bitcoin ETFs, Cointelegraph reported on Aug. 16.Related: BlackRock increases stake in Michael Saylor’s Strategy to 5%BlackRock’s global reputation may build momentum for European Bitcoin ETP adoptionBlackRock’s global reputation and expertise may “gradually build momentum” for European Bitcoin ETPs, according to Iliya Kalchev, dispatch analyst at digital asset investment platform Nexo.“Modest inflows shouldn’t be interpreted as a failure but rather as a function of structural differences in the market,” Kalchev told Cointelegraph, adding:“Long-term success in Europe may depend less on first-week flows and more on consistent access, education and infrastructure — elements BlackRock is well-positioned to deliver.”While BlackRock’s European fund may not replicate the explosive growth of its US Bitcoin ETF, this should be “seen in context, not as a red flag,” considering the smaller European market’s limited liquidity.Related: Michael Saylor’s Strategy surpasses 500,000 Bitcoin with latest purchaseBitcoin ETF dashboard. Source: DuneBlackRock’s US spot Bitcoin ETF briefly surpassed $58 billion, making it the world’s 31st-largest ETF among both traditional and digital asset funds as US Bitcoin ETFs surpassed $126 billion in cumulative BTC holdings, Cointelegraph reported on Jan. 31.BlackRock’s ETF currently accounts for over 50.7% of the market share of all spot US Bitcoin ETFs, valued at $49 billion as of March 27, Dune data shows. Magazine: Bitcoin’s odds of June highs, SOL’s $485M outflows, and more: Hodler’s Digest, March 2 – 8 |
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Paolo Ardoino, CEO of stablecoin issuer Tether, said the industry has just entered a new era, marked by an influx of stablecoin solutions from both private companies and governments.In a March 27 X thread, Ardoino said the crypto industry just entered the “stablecoin multiverse” era, where multiple stablecoins are launching to meet growing global demand.Source: Paolo AdroinoRelated: Rumble wallet rolls out with Tether’s USDT for creator paymentsNot everyone agrees with the assessmentHowever, Slava Demchuk, CEO of crypto compliance firm AMLBot, told Cointelegraph that he disagrees “with the premise that there are hundreds of stablecoins launched by companies and governments.” He said the claims are an exaggeration and highlighted that “launching a stablecoin is a complex and resource-intensive process,” made even more involved by the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) framework:“MiCA, for instance, imposes stringent requirements — particularly prudential ones such as capital reserves, liquidity buffers, and robust governance structures — that not all companies can easily meet. “On the other hand, Demchuk noted that a growth in the number of stablecoins poses challenges and risks. He pointed out that regulatory differences across jurisdictions are an issue with MiCA providing clarity in the EU while the US market is still in debate, leading to a global “patchwork of rules.”He warned that such inconsistency risks pushing companies to less regulated markets. The consequence of such an exodus would be that consumer protection efforts would be undermined.Related: Tether seeks Big Four firm for its first full financial audit — ReportArdoino expects fast growthIn a subsequent X post, Ardoino claimed Tether currently counts 400 million users worldwide, adding that he expects that number to reach one billion soon. He attributes the quick growth to an approach different from that of players in traditional finance:“We always focused on the adoption from the ground up, working in the streets, among other people, while traditional finance was watching at us from their ivory towers.“Vasily Vidmanov, the chief operating officer of decentralized finance compliance protocol PureFi, told Cointelegraph that Ardoino’s forecast “is interesting but not entirely realistic.” He cited “the recent delisting of USDT in the EU,” noting that it “has shown that resisting regulation is futile — adaptation and new approaches to decentralization are necessary.“The comments reference Tether’s USDt (USDT) being delisted for European Economic Area-based users of Binance, Crypto.com, Kraken and Coinbase. A Tether spokesperson told Cointelegraph that the firm found the actions disappointing.Vidmanov explained that data concerning swaps between USDT and Circle’s competing USDC (USDC) “indicates a noticeable increase […] following the delisting.” He also raised concerns over the firm’s reputation and “ongoing investigations in the US related to sanctions compliance and Anti-Money Laundering.”USDT/USDC swaps number. Source: DuneUS authorities are reportedly investigating third-party use of Tether’s stablecoins for criminal activities.Ardoino already commented on those claims when they surfaced in late October 2024, calling the story “old noise.” Still, according to Vidmanov, with all those challenges, “achieving the projected figures within the next one to two years seems unlikely unless there are significant shifts in global policy and a substantial influx of new users from underpenetrated crypto markets.”Tether and Paolo Ardoino had not responded to Cointelegraph’s inquiry by publication time.Magazine: Stablecoin for cyber-scammers launches, Sony L2 drama: Asia Express |
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European banks and financial institutions may be significantly underestimating the demand for cryptocurrency services, with fewer than one in five offering digital asset products, according to a new survey by crypto investment platform Bitpanda.The study surveyed 10,000 retail and business investors across 13 European countries and found that more than 40% of business investors already hold cryptocurrencies, with another 18% planning to invest in the near future. Yet, only 19% of surveyed financial institutions said their clients showed strong demand for crypto products — suggesting a 30% gap between actual investor adoption and perceived interest.Crypto investments of EU private investors by country. Source: BitpandaMoreover, only 19% of surveyed European financial institutions are offering crypto services, while over 80% of institutions acknowledge crypto’s growing importance.Related: Michael Saylor’s Strategy surpasses 500,000 Bitcoin with latest purchaseStill, some European banks are recognizing the growing demand for digital assets, with 18% of surveyed financial institutions planning to expand their crypto service offering, particularly offerings related to crypto transfers.“Financial institutions in Europe know that crypto is here to stay, but most are still not offering services that match investor demand,” according to Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad, deputy CEO of Bitpanda.The main barriers to adoption aren’t external issues such as regulation but internal, like a “lack of resource or knowledge,” he told Cointelegraph, adding:“These can be overcome, and the challenge to financial institutions is clear: go and check your revenue outflows. You can see where customers are moving their money; you can see just how real the demand for crypto is.”Partner preferences of private investors regarding crypto investments. Source: BitpandaMore crypto products from banks may increase European crypto adoption, considering that 27% of the survey’s respondents would prefer to invest in cryptocurrencies through a traditional bank, while only 14% would choose a crypto exchange.In comparison, 36% of business investors choose to invest through an exchange, while traditional banks were only the third most popular option with 27%.Related: Security concerns slow crypto payment adoption worldwide — SurveyFinancial institutions with no crypto integration risk losing revenueBanks and financial institutions without cryptocurrency integrations risk losing significant revenue share from both businesses and retail investors, according to Enzersdorfer-Konrad.“Financial institutions that delay integrating crypto services risk losing revenue to their competition or crypto native companies. With the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) providing regulatory clarity, the time to act is now,” he added.Crypto sentiment among European financial institutions. Source: BitpandaMoreover, 28% of surveyed institutions said they expect crypto to become more relevant within the next three years.Magazine: Ripple says SEC lawsuit ‘over,’ Trump at DAS, and more: Hodler’s Digest, March 16 – 22 |
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Update March 27, 12:20 pm UTC: This article has been updated to add comments from San FranTokyo head David Taing and Moca Network project lead Kenneth Shek.Sony’s Soneium blockchain partnered with Animoca Brands to boost anime culture in Web3 by integrating anime artwork in decentralized digital identities. On March 27, the companies announced a collaboration that targets global anime and manga fans to boost user engagement in Web3. With the partnership, Animoca’s digital identity infrastructure platform, Moca Network, will create an identity layer on the Soneium blockchain, starting with Anime ID, a decentralized identifier and reputation layer.Anime ID is spearheaded by San FranTokyo, an initiative to integrate traditional anime and manga culture with decentralized technologies. Anime-themed experiences are coming to Web3The partnership integrates Moca Network’s Account, Identity and Reputation Software Development Kit (AIR SDK) into the Soneium blockchain. This allows users to maintain embedded accounts with unique identities and credentials as they use different decentralized applications (DApps) on the network. San FranTokyo’s Anime ID will be the first to adopt the AIR SDK, enhancing anime fan engagement on Soneium. In addition, San FranTokyo will collaborate with Animoca Brands to launch anime-inspired cultural campaigns on Soneium to onboard anime fans to the Soneium blockchain and connect with new anime-themed experiences.San FranTokyo head David Taing told Cointelegraph that Anime ID makes blockchain engagement feel “more natural” for anime and manga fans. Taing told Cointelegraph: “Currently, navigating the Web3 space can be overwhelming due to the need for multiple wallets, platforms and accounts. Anime ID simplifies this experience by offering fans one simple identity to use across all aspects of their fandom.”Taing said the first initiative would be the Anime Art Festival on Soneium, which is designed to spotlight anime-focused intellectual properties, creators and Web3 projects. “We are excited to kick things off with the globally acclaimed Solo Leveling in collaboration with the Otherworld team,” Taing told Cointelegraph. Meanwhile, Moca Network project lead Kenneth Shek told Cointelegraph that anime is a “core part” of modern-day entertainment culture, and the partnership is just the beginning. “Starting with anime, we foresee many other entertainment-related applications to participate in the network, and further enrich the user-owned identity and data,” Shek added. Sony Block Solutions Labs (Sony BSL) launched the blockchain’s public testnet on Aug. 28, 2024. The layer-2 network aims to foster a fan community centered on creators who connect diverse values through the blockchain. On Jan. 14, the blockchain’s mainnet went live amid backlash from community members. Pump.fun’s Alon slammed the network for blacklisting specific memecoins and “nuking everyone’s position to 0.”Related: Captain Tsubasa NFT soccer game debuts on Oasys blockchainGhibli-inspired memecoins flood the crypto marketOn March 25, OpenAI launched image generation for its ChatGPT-4o mode. This was met with social media users generating images in the art style of Studio Ghibli, a company known for its anime films. Following the surge, a Ghibli-inspired memecoin reached a market capitalization of $20 million. Since then, at least 20 other Ghibli-related memecoins have been created in the market. While the news may be great for Web3 and anime fans, anime and crypto may not always work in favor of men seeking relationships. On Aug. 26, women ranked anime as the third-most unattractive hobby for a man, while crypto took the number two spot. Magazine: Azuki founder airdrops ANIME for a ‘billion global fans’: Zagabond, NFT Creator |
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A crypto whale who allegedly manipulated the prize of the Jelly my Jelly (JELLY) memecoin on decentralized exchange Hyperliquid still holds nearly $2 million worth of the token, according to blockchain analysts.The unidentified whale made at least $6.26 million in profit by exploiting the liquidation parameters on Hyperliquid.According to a postmortem report by blockchain intelligence firm Arkham, the whale opened three large trading positions within five minutes: two long positions worth $2.15 million and $1.9 million, and a $4.1 million short position that effectively offset the longs.Source: ArkhamWhen the price of JELLY rose by 400%, the $4 million short position wasn’t immediately liquidated due to its size. Instead, it was absorbed into the Hyperliquidity Provider Vault (HLP), which is designed to liquidate large positions.Related: Polymarket faces scrutiny over $7M Ukraine mineral deal betIn more troubling revelations, the entity may still be holding nearly $2 million worth of the token’s supply, according to blockchain investigator ZachXBT.“Five addresses linked to the entity who manipulated JELLY on Hyperliquid still hold ~10% of the JELLY supply on Solana ($1.9M+). All JELLY was purchased since March 22, 2025,” he wrote in a March 26 Telegram post.The entity continues selling the tokens despite Hyperliquid freezing and delisting the memecoin, citing “evidence of suspicious market activity” involving trading instruments.The JELLY token’s collapse is the latest in a series of memecoin scandals and insider schemes looking to capitalize on investor hype. Source: BubblemapsThe exploit occurred only two weeks after a Wolf of Wall Street-inspired memecoin — launched by the Official Melania Meme (MELANIA) and Libra (LIBRA) token co-creator Hayden Davis — crashed over 99% after launching with an 80% insider supply.WOLF/SOL, market cap, 1-hour chart. Source: DexscreenerRelated: Polymarket whale raises Trump odds, sparking manipulation concernsLessons from the JELLY memecoin meltdown: “Hype without fundamentals”“The JELLY incident is a clear reminder that hype without fundamentals doesn’t last,” according to Alvin Kan, chief operating officer at Bitget Wallet.“In DeFi, momentum can drive short-term attention, but it doesn’t build sustainable platforms,” Kan told Cointelegraph, adding:“Projects built on speculation, not utility, will continue to get exposed — especially in a market where capital moves quickly and unforgivingly.”While Hyperliquid’s response cushioned short-term damage, it raises further questions about decentralization, as similar interventions “blur the line between decentralized ethos and centralized control.”The Hyper Foundation, Hyperliquid’s ecosystem nonprofit, will “automatically” reimburse most affected users for losses related to the incident, except the addresses belonging to the exploiter.Magazine: Memecoins are ded — But Solana ‘100x better’ despite revenue plunge |
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A South Korean court temporarily lifted the partial business suspension on crypto exchange Upbit that had prohibited the trading platform from servicing new clients for three months. On Feb. 25, South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) sanctioned the exchange, imposing a three-month ban on deposits and withdrawals for new clients. The FIU previously said the suspension was in response to Upbit’s violations of policies that prohibit exchanges from transacting with unregistered virtual asset service providers (VASPs). In response to the FIU’s sanction, Upbit’s parent company, Dunamu, filed a lawsuit against the FIU, seeking to overturn the partial suspension order. In addition, Dunamu requested an injunction to temporarily lift the suspension order. On March 27, local media Newsis reported that the court granted the injunction, moving the suspension order 30 days after a court judgment is reached. This allows Upbit to service new clients while the legal battle continues. Upbit investigations led to a 3-month suspension orderFounded in 2017, Upbit is South Korea’s largest crypto exchange. On Oct. 10, the country’s Financial Services Commission (FSC) initiated an investigation into Upbit for potential breaches of the country’s anti-monopoly laws. In addition to anti-monopoly breaches, the exchange is suspected of violating Know Your Customer (KYC) rules. On Nov. 15, the FIU identified up at least 500,000 to 600,000 potential KYC violations of the exchange. The regulator spotted alleged breaches while reviewing the exchange’s business license renewal. In 2018, South Korean regulators ended anonymous crypto trading for its citizens. With the new development, users must pass KYC procedures before being allowed to trade digital assets on crypto trading platforms like Upbit. Apart from these allegations, the FIU accused Upbit of facilitating 45,000 transactions with unregistered foreign crypto exchanges. This violates the country’s Act on Reporting and Using Specified Financial Transaction Information.Related: South Korea plans to regulate cross-border stablecoin transactionsSouth Korea cracks down on overseas exchangesOn Oct. 25, 2024, South Korea strengthened its oversight of cross-border crypto asset transactions. The country’s finance minister, Choi Sang-Mok, said the government will introduce a reporting mandate for businesses that handle cross-border transactions with digital assets. This aims to promote preemptive monitoring of crypto transactions “used for tax evasion and currency manipulation.”In line with the rules, South Korea’s Google Play blocked the applications of 17 crypto exchanges at the request of the FIU. The FIU said it’s also working to restrict exchange access using the internet and Apple’s App Store. Magazine: Ridiculous ‘Chinese Mint’ crypto scam, Japan dives into stablecoins: Asia Express |
Blockchain.News
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The Hong Kong Monetary Authority has issued a warning about a fraudulent website posing as OCBC Bank (Hong Kong) Limited, urging public vigilance. (Read More) |
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BitMEX has changed the Mark Method for NILUSDTH25 and REDUSDTZ25 to Fair Price marking, effective March 25, 2025, enhancing price accuracy. (Read More) |
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BitMEX introduces NILUSDT perpetual swaps, offering traders up to 50x leverage. This new listing enhances trading options on the platform. (Read More) |
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Bitcoin remains vulnerable to downward pressure due to tight liquidity conditions and weak investor sentiment, with ETF outflows and cautious market behavior persisting. (Read More) |
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Vodafone implements AI-driven solutions using LangChain and LangGraph to optimize data operations and improve performance metrics monitoring and information retrieval across its data centers. (Read More) |
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Bitfinex emphasizes the importance of robust security measures for cryptocurrency traders to protect their assets from cyber threats and phishing attacks. (Read More) |
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Conflux (CFX)Portal wallet will be removed from the Chrome plugin market due to security risks. Users are advised to switch to the Fluent wallet for enhanced safety and support. (Read More) |
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Tezos introduces the Trailblazers program, inviting builders, creators, and changemakers to contribute to the ecosystem's growth through various impactful missions. (Read More) |
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Explore how NVIDIA Research has been instrumental in pioneering AI, graphics, and computing innovations over the past two decades, influencing major product developments. (Read More) |
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Cryptocurrency is increasingly used in fentanyl trafficking, with blockchain intelligence offering critical tools to combat this global issue, according to Chainalysis. (Read More) |
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NVIDIA's vGPU 18.0 release enhances AI capabilities on virtual platforms, supporting Microsoft Windows Server 2025 and Proxmox VE, and introduces new AI toolkits for developers. (Read More) |
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NVIDIA introduces Blackwell Ultra, a platform designed for the era of AI reasoning, offering enhanced performance for training, post-training, and test-time scaling. (Read More) |
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Explore how Inconvo is revolutionizing data analytics by utilizing LangGraph to enable natural language queries, making data insights accessible to non-technical users. (Read More) |
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Bitfarms Ltd. is set to release its Q4 and full year 2024 financial results on March 27, 2025, followed by a conference call hosted by management. (Read More) |
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NVIDIA's Earth-2 platform, in collaboration with G42, advances regional weather forecasting in the UAE, offering high-resolution predictions to tackle extreme weather challenges. (Read More) |
Blockchain - Hacker Moon
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Blockchain hardware decentralization is influenced by the shift from generic to specialized machines (ASICs in PoW) and the growing reliance on cloud providers in PoS. While specialization boosts efficiency, it introduces centralization risks, including security threats, network control, and vendor-specific failures.Read All |
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Can Early-Stage Tokens Survive the Liquidity Crunch? WOO X Dives Into the Challenge WOO X tackles liquidity squeeze for early-stage tokens with Swap Spotlight, offering traders access to curated assets amid rising market volatility. Read All |
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Cryptocurrency Economics: Token Distribution, Ownership, and Market Decentralization Tokenomics plays a crucial role in blockchain decentralization. Initial distribution models, token ownership concentration, and secondary markets influence system security, stability, and accessibility.Read All |
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Blockchain consensus mechanisms face centralization risks from mining pools, validators, and MEV attacks. Proposer-builder separation aims to reduce manipulation, but challenges remain in both PoW and PoS models, particularly in power distribution and self-healing capabilities.Read All |
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Blockchain networks rely on P2P structures for decentralization, but centralization risks in network topology and node bootstrapping introduce safety, liveness, and privacy vulnerabilities. Solutions like diverse peer discovery and Byzantine resilience can mitigate these threats.Read All |
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Blockchain software decentralization impacts security and stability. Overreliance on a few full node implementations risks systemic failures, while wallet vulnerabilities can lead to asset loss or theft. Diverse implementations and independent development teams enhance resilience.Read All |
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This paper introduces a structured methodology to measure blockchain decentralization across multiple layers, assessing risks to security, governance, and stability. It defines the Minimum Decentralization Test (MDT) to determine whether a blockchain system is legally and functionally decentralized.Read All |
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This paper introduces a methodology for assessing blockchain decentralization across 8 layers, highlighting risks tied to centralization and applying a Minimum Decentralization Test (MDT) to Bitcoin. It explores decentralization's impact on security, governance, and regulation.Read All |
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Can Blockchain Improve Evidence Integrity? Constellation Network Thinks It Can Constellation Network launches Digital Evidence, a blockchain-based compliance solution for law enforcement and enterprises.Read All |
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Can Web3 Achieve Confidentiality and Compliance? COTI’s Mainnet Provides a Path COTI launches its mainnet as a scalable Layer 2 for confidential transactions. The network supports Privacy-on-Demand across multiple chains and bridges privacy with compliance for secure Web3 services.Read All |
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DIA launches Lumina mainnet to replace closed oracle systems with a fully on-chain data verification process for blockchain networks and DeFi applications.Read All |
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How World Chain Ensures Humans Stay in Control: The Blockchain Built for Verified Humans Discover how World Chain is revolutionizing blockchain technology by prioritizing verified humans over AI bots.Read All |
Blockchain - NewsBTC
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In an interview, Arthur Hayes—co-founder of the pioneering crypto derivatives exchange BitMEX—laid out his outlook for Bitcoin, predicting a momentous rally fueled by what he describes as “stealth printing” by global central banks. While Hayes has long stressed the crucial role of liquidity in driving the Bitcoin price, his latest remarks go even further, suggesting a new phase of expansion is imminent. Bitcoin’s 4-Year Cycle Is History Hayes believes that Bitcoin’s original four-year “halving cycle” framework has been overshadowed by the asset’s ascent into mainstream financial consciousness. According to him, early on, Bitcoin’s market dynamics were more closely tied to mining profitability cycles. However, those days appear largely gone: “Now that Bitcoin and crypto are a bona fide asset class…everyone’s responding to it,” Hayes said. “It has transitioned from this technological digital bearer asset into the best smoke alarm for fiat liquidity that we have globally.” Related Reading: Bitcoin Whales Make Big Moves As Bullish Momentum Resurfaces Rather than focus on halving events, Hayes urges investors to track how many dollars, euros, yen, and yuan are actively being created—or destroyed—by the world’s major central banks. In his view, the Federal Reserve, the People’s Bank of China, the Bank of Japan, and the European Central Bank drive the most significant flows: “All I care about is fiat liquidity. As long as we believe [Bitcoin] works, then it just comes down to how many fiat things are in the denominator, and then you just get to the price.” According to Hayes, markets are underestimating the US Federal Reserve’s willingness to revert to looser monetary policy far sooner than publicly stated. He calls recent Fed moves “stealth printing,” arguing that Chair Jerome Powell is quietly laying groundwork to keep credit conditions easy—even though official language still references inflation concerns. Hayes pointed to signs in the Fed’s communications that quantitative tightening (QT) will slow or even pause. One such indicator is Powell’s mention of offsetting any reduction in mortgage-backed securities with fresh purchases of US Treasuries: “They said they might taper QT to be flat […] That’s very positive for dollar liquidity.” He also noted Powell’s statements that any inflation arising from tariffs would be considered “transitory”—in effect granting the Fed cover to maintain accommodative policies: “Tariffs don’t matter anymore to Powell, and they shouldn’t matter anymore as crypto investors […] because we know that Powell’s going to continue to provide the monetary conditions […] that we need to have our portfolios go up in value in fiat dollar terms.” The Bottom Is (Probably) In In Hayes’s estimation, the worst of Bitcoin’s recent downturn may already be behind us. Although he concedes that the market could still retest lows, he contends that Bitcoin has likely established a key floor: “On balance, we probably hit a bottom of 76,000 […] Does that mean that we’re not going to retest it? No, of course not, but if I had to make a bet, I would bet that we go higher rather than lower.” For Hayes, this is a question of recognizing a turning point in monetary policy. Once the Federal Reserve and other central banks signal they are fully done tightening—“or never truly started,” in his phrasing—he expects Bitcoin to climb. Related Reading: One Of Bitcoin’s Most Reliable Buy Signals Just Flashed Hayes also dismissed the idea that looming crypto regulations in the United States or elsewhere could meaningfully stifle Bitcoin’s trajectory. He believes Bitcoin’s permissionless, decentralized design makes it effectively impervious to traditional regulatory blockades: “Crypto regulation doesn’t matter. Bitcoin doesn’t need anyone’s permission. It’s moving with or without them […] If Bitcoin trades on tradfi regulations, then I don’t want to own it. I want something immune to regulation.” In one of his most attention-grabbing statements, Hayes contemplated whether Bitcoin could achieve “a numerically interesting number”—including the possibility of $1 million—during the next wave of dollar-driven liquidity. Although he did not definitively lock in an exact price ceiling, he mentioned that it might be a psychologically resonant figure: “I put $1 million Bitcoin out there- I hope it will be $1 million dollars but you know maybe it’s just 666,000 or 500,000 or 250,000 what some round number that the human mind sees as significant, for some arbitrary reason.” For Hayes, it comes down to global monetary authorities deciding they have “gone too far” in trying to rein in spending and inflation. Once central banks resume large-scale liquidity injections, he argues, the stage is set for rapid upside in Bitcoin’s price. Arthur Hayes’s perspective centers on the idea that Bitcoin’s fate hinges almost exclusively on global liquidity conditions. He remains convinced that central bankers, especially at the Fed, are closer to providing a renewed wave of monetary stimulus than the market believes—paving the way for a dramatic Bitcoin rally. While volatility remains inherent, Hayes insists that the largest cryptocurrency is poised to move swiftly once the policy backdrop aligns. “If you know what to look for, the clues are everywhere. The bottom is in, liquidity is coming back, and Bitcoin… it’s already turning the corner.” Where that corner leads, according to Hayes, could be as high as $1 million—starting, he suggests, as soon as April. At press time, BTC traded at $85,765. Featured image from YouTube, chart from TradingView.com |
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Solana (SOL) is attempting to reclaim a key support level amid the recent market recovery, with bullish sentiment seemingly returning to the Altcoin. Some analysts suggested that its momentum could propel the cryptocurrency to the next crucial resistance. Related Reading: Analyst Says Bitcoin (BTC) Could See A 14% Price Jump If This Level Is Reclaimed Solana Sentiment Hits Positive Levels Again Over the past few days, Solana has seen a bullish recovery from last week’s lows, surging 14% from the $121 support. The market’s recovery has propelled the token above the $145 barrier earlier this week, after printing five consecutive green daily candles. Amid this week’s surge, on-chain analytics platform Santiment highlighted that Solana’s social sentiment has seen a massive surge to historic highs fueled by institutional interest, technological advantages, community support, and influencer engagement. “With news of institutions like GameStop and BlackRock are integrating Bitcoin and launching yield-bearing tokenized treasury funds on Solana, crypto’s #5 market cap asset is seeing an astounding level of bullish sentiment pouring in on social media,” explained Santiment’s Director of Marketing, Brian Quinlivan. Per the post, social media posts reflect optimism for SOL’s price recovery and a bullish outlook on the broader crypto market. Notably, Solana registers a “nearly unheard of positive vs. negative commentary ratio of 18:1 right now.” Just a month ago, the SOL’s sentiment hit its lowest level in a year. According to analyst Miles Deutscher, the sentiment has not been at those levels since Solana reclaimed the $100 barrier in early 2024. It’s worth noting that market sentiment significantly shifted following the collapse of the memecoin frenzy, which fueled SOL’s rally throughout last year. After the TRUMP and MELANIA memecoin launches and the LIBRA token controversy, several community members expressed increasing fatigue from the numerous scams. Subsequently, the cryptocurrency’s price dropped over 50% from its January all-time high (ATH), losing the $200 support zone and hitting a yearly low of $111 earlier this month. SOL Gearing Up For Next Big Resistance Various market watchers noted Solana’s recent performance, underscoring the reclaim of the $136 level on Monday. This level has been a significant resistance for the past two weeks and has also served as a key breakout level during the Q1 and Q4 2024 breakouts. Analyst Jelle considers there’s “a lot of ground to cover” despite the “solid reclaim” of the 2024 range lows. Meanwhile, another market watcher pointed out that Solana broke out an ascending triangle pattern after the price surge. Related Reading: SUI Reclaims Key $2.40 Support Amid Breakout – Is A New High Coming? After attempting to reclaim the $140 mark this morning, SOL is currently retesting the recently recovered support, hovering between the $136-$139 price range. A successful breakout confirmation could impulse Solana’s rally toward the next big barrier, at $180. According to Ether Wizz, SOL is “fully ready for its next B I G move.” Once the next crucial resistance is broken, the “next leg up will take us towards $270. Many people are still not ready for this move,” the analyst concluded. As of this writing, Solana trades at $138, a 2% surge in the weekly timeframe. Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com |
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Dogecoin started a fresh decline from the $0.2050 zone against the US Dollar. DOGE is declining and might test the $0.180 support zone. DOGE price started a fresh decline below the $0.1980 and $0.1920 levels. The price is trading above the $0.180 level and the 100-hourly simple moving average. There was a break below a connecting bullish trend line with support at $0.1950 on the hourly chart of the DOGE/USD pair (data source from Kraken). The price could gain bullish momentum if it clears the $0.1940 and $0.1980 resistance levels. Dogecoin Price Dips Again Dogecoin price started a fresh decline after it failed to clear $0.2050, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. DOGE dipped below the $0.1980 and $0.1920 support levels. The bears were able to push the price below the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $0.1665 swing low to the $0.2057 high. There was also a break below a connecting bullish trend line with support at $0.1950 on the hourly chart of the DOGE/USD pair. Dogecoin price is now trading above the $0.180 level and the 100-hourly simple moving average. Immediate resistance on the upside is near the $0.1920 level. The first major resistance for the bulls could be near the $0.1980 level. The next major resistance is near the $0.2050 level. A close above the $0.2050 resistance might send the price toward the $0.2150 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $0.2220 level. The next major stop for the bulls might be $0.2350. More Losses In DOGE? If DOGE’s price fails to climb above the $0.1920 level, it could start another decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $0.1860 level and the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $0.1665 swing low to the $0.2057 high. The next major support is near the $0.1820 level. The main support sits at $0.1750. If there is a downside break below the $0.1750 support, the price could decline further. In the stated case, the price might decline toward the $0.170 level or even $0.1650 in the near term. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for DOGE/USD is now losing momentum in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for DOGE/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $0.1860 and $0.1820. Major Resistance Levels – $0.1920 and $0.1980. |
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The crypto market continues to evolve as shifts in market capitalization among major digital assets reflect both investor sentiment and fundamental developments. A recent analysis from CryptoQuant provides a closer look at how top crypto have performed in terms of market cap and drawdowns over the past several months. Related Reading: Bitcoin Breaks Daily RSI Downtrend, But Analyst Warns Of Strong Resistance Ahead BNB, XRP, and Ethereum Show Diverging Trends One of the most notable shifts has been Binance Coin (BNB) reclaiming its position as the fifth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. BNB’s market cap rose to approximately $92 billion, surpassing Solana (SOL), which now sits at $74 billion. This shift follows a strong rally in SOL during late 2024, largely fueled by growth in its meme coin ecosystem. However, the attention of speculative activity appears to have transitioned toward the BNB Chain, where similar crypto ecosystem momentum has helped support its recovery. Another significant market cap development involves XRP. According to CryptoQuant, XRP’s market capitalization increased substantially following the 2024 US presidential election. Market Cap Evolution of Top Cryptocurrencies BNB and Bitcoin are currently experiencing the lowest drawdowns among this group, each down approximately 20% from their all-time highs, indicating relatively strong price performance and resilience. pic.twitter.com/dW3tXlvSMG — CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) March 27, 2025 From a valuation of $30 billion in early November, XRP’s market cap climbed to $141 billion by March 2025. The timing of this rise appears to align with the outcome of the US election, which some believe could potentially influence regulatory sentiment around crypto assets. In contrast, Ethereum (ETH) has faced a more challenging trajectory. After peaking in late 2024, ETH’s market capitalization declined by 50% to around $240 billion as of March 2025. This sharp drop highlights the current volatility in the altcoin market and raises questions about Ethereum’s ability to maintain its prior valuation levels amid shifting macro and sector-specific factors. Crypto Price Resilience and Drawdown Metrics CryptoQuant’s report also evaluated drawdowns—the decline from an asset’s all-time high—as a measure of relative performance. Bitcoin (BTC) and BNB emerged as the most resilient assets among the group, each down approximately 20% from their respective all-time highs. BNB’s stability has been linked to its continued utility within the Binance ecosystem, including usage for transaction fees and platform-related activities. Meanwhile, ETH and SOL have struggled to recover from deeper drawdowns. Both assets are currently more than 50% below their previous peaks, highlighting higher levels of volatility and reduced investor momentum. Related Reading: Solana Tags Upper Bollinger Band For First Time Since ATH — Is Momentum Returning? Although XRP has seen a rise in market capitalization, its price still reflects a drawdown of roughly 36%, indicating that much of the new capital inflow has yet to translate into price recovery. Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView |
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XRP price started a fresh decline below the $2.420 zone. The price is now showing a few bearish signs and might decline below the $2.30 level. XRP price started a fresh decline after it failed to clear the $2.420 resistance zone. The price is now trading below $2.40 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a connecting bearish trend line forming with resistance at $2.35 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair (data source from Kraken). The pair might extend losses if it breaks the $2.30 support zone. XRP Price Extends Losses XRP price failed to continue higher above the $2.420 resistance zone and reacted to the downside, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. The price declined below the $2.40 and $2.35 levels. The pair even tested the $2.30 zone. A low was formed at $2.301 and the price is now consolidating losses. The current price action is bearish below the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $2.478 swing high to the $2.301 low. The price is now trading below $2.38 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. On the upside, the price might face resistance near the $2.35 level. There is also a connecting bearish trend line forming with resistance at $2.35 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair. The first major resistance is near the $2.3850 level or the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $2.478 swing high to the $2.301 low. The next resistance is $2.420. A clear move above the $2.420 resistance might send the price toward the $2.450 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $2.50 resistance or even $2.550 in the near term. The next major hurdle for the bulls might be $2.620. More Losses? If XRP fails to clear the $2.40 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $2.30 level. The next major support is near the $2.20 level. If there is a downside break and a close below the $2.20 level, the price might continue to decline toward the $2.120 support. The next major support sits near the $2.050 zone. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for XRP/USD is now gaining pace in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for XRP/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $2.30 and $2.20. Major Resistance Levels – $2.40 and $2.420. |
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Retail sentiment toward Ethereum (ETH) remains weak, but analysts suggest that a significant breakout could be on the horizon. Despite Ethereum’s sluggish price action, multiple on-chain indicators and technical patterns hint at an impending bullish reversal. Ethereum Retail Sentiment At Low Amid Sluggish Price Action According to cryptocurrency analyst Mister Crypto, retail interest in ETH is “extremely low,” as indicated by Google Trends data. Compared to its 2017 and 2021 peaks, Ethereum’s current sentiment ranks significantly lower, suggesting that many retail investors are sitting on the sidelines. Historically, low retail sentiment often signals a prime buying opportunity for institutional investors looking to accumulate assets before the next price surge. While weak sentiment reflects a lack of confidence among small investors, institutions tend to take advantage of such conditions, positioning themselves ahead of the next bullish cycle. Related Reading: Is Ethereum Breaking Free from the Bear Trap? Analysts Weigh In Despite the pessimism, crypto analyst Ted pointed out that the potential approval of an Ethereum exchange-traded fund (ETF) staking and the upcoming Pectra update could serve as key catalysts for a breakout. He suggests that these developments may help Ethereum regain momentum and push its price toward new highs. Fellow analyst Crypto Patel echoed this sentiment, noting that ETH is currently consolidating within an accumulation range. Based on historical price cycles and on-chain data, Patel expects Ethereum to break out after April, with a long-term target of $10,000. Additionally, analyst Titan of Crypto highlighted a bullish crossover on Ethereum’s weekly Stochastic RSI, a signal that has historically marked market bottoms. He suggests that ETH may be nearing the end of its bearish cycle, setting the stage for a strong rally. Further Pain For ETH? Sharing a contrasting viewpoint, noted crypto analyst Ali Martinez emphasized that there has been “no change in the outlook for Ethereum.” The analyst hinted that ETH is still likely to hit the lower-end of its current price range at $1,300. However, some on-chain indicators suggest Ethereum may already be undervalued. An analysis using the Market Value to Realized Value Z-score (MVRV-Z) indicates that ETH is trading at levels historically associated with price rebounds. This metric, which compares Ethereum’s market value to its realized value, suggests that ETH might be primed for accumulation. Related Reading: Ethereum Flashing Bullish Signals, But Rising Exchange Reserves Raise Concerns – Details For Ethereum to confirm a bullish reversal, it must break through strong resistance at $2,300. A successful breakout could push ETH toward $3,000 in the short term. Failure to surpass this level, however, might result in extended consolidation or another price decline. At press time, ETH trades at $2,007, down 0.5% in the last 24 hours. Featured image from Unsplash, charts from X and Tradingview.com |
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Ethereum price remained supported above the $1,980 level. ETH is now consolidating and remains at risk of a downside break. Ethereum struggled to continue higher above the $2,050 resistance level. The price is trading below $2,020 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a connecting bearish trend line forming with resistance at $2,040 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken). The pair must clear the $2,040 and $2,100 resistance levels to start a decent increase. Ethereum Price Dips Again Ethereum price failed to continue higher above $2,100 and corrected some gains, like Bitcoin. ETH declined below the $2,040 and $2,020 support levels. It tested the $1,980 zone. A low was formed at $1,982 and the price recently attempted a fresh upward move. There was a move above the $2,020 level. The price tested the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $2,098 swing high to the $1,982 low. Ethereum price is now trading below $2,020 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is also a connecting bearish trend line forming with resistance at $2,040 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD. On the upside, the price seems to be facing hurdles near the $2,040 level. The next key resistance is near the $2,050 level and the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the recent decline from the $2,098 swing high to the $1,982 low. The first major resistance is near the $2,095 level. A clear move above the $2,095 resistance might send the price toward the $2,150 resistance. An upside break above the $2,150 resistance might call for more gains in the coming sessions. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $2,250 resistance zone or even $2,320 in the near term. Downside Break In ETH? If Ethereum fails to clear the $2,040 resistance, it could start another decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $2,000 level. The first major support sits near the $1,980 zone. A clear move below the $1,980 support might push the price toward the $1,880 support. Any more losses might send the price toward the $1,820 support level in the near term. The next key support sits at $1,750. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is losing momentum in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now below the 50 zone. Major Support Level – $1,980 Major Resistance Level – $2,040 |
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Bitcoin price remained supported above the $86,000 zone. BTC is now consolidating and might aim for a move above the $88,000 resistance zone. Bitcoin started a fresh recovery wave above the $86,800 zone. The price is trading below $87,200 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. There is a key bearish trend line forming with resistance at $88,000 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken). The pair could start another increase if it clears the $88,000 and $88,200 levels. Bitcoin Price Faces Key Resistance Bitcoin price remained stable above the $85,500 level. BTC formed a base and recently started a recovery wave above the $86,500 resistance level. The bulls pushed the price above the $87,200 resistance level. There was even a move above the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $88,260 swing high to the $85,852 swing low. However, the bears seem to be active below the $88,000 level. Bitcoin price is now trading below $87,500 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. On the upside, immediate resistance is near the $87,700 level and the 76.4% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $88,260 swing high to the $85,852 swing low. The first key resistance is near the $88,000 level. There is also a key bearish trend line forming with resistance at $88,000 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair. The next key resistance could be $88,250. A close above the $88,250 resistance might send the price further higher. In the stated case, the price could rise and test the $88,800 resistance level. Any more gains might send the price toward the $90,000 level or even $90,500. Another Decline In BTC? If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $88,000 resistance zone, it could start a fresh decline. Immediate support on the downside is near the $86,800 level. The first major support is near the $86,400 level. The next support is now near the $85,850 zone. Any more losses might send the price toward the $85,000 support in the near term. The main support sits at $84,500. Technical indicators: Hourly MACD – The MACD is now gaining pace in the bearish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $86,400, followed by $85,850. Major Resistance Levels – $88,000 and $88,250. |
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Avalanche (AVAX) has been one of the standout performers in recent weeks, surging more than 53% since March 11 as bulls attempt to kickstart a broader recovery rally. The strong rebound follows a brutal correction in which AVAX lost over 72% of its value since mid-December 2024, triggering widespread capitulation and fear across the market. Now, with price action showing signs of strength, investors are cautiously optimistic — but uncertainty remains. Related Reading: Solana Tags Upper Bollinger Band For First Time Since ATH — Is Momentum Returning? While the recent rally has brought some relief, many analysts believe the market may be entering a consolidation phase. AVAX is currently struggling to hold above the $22 mark, a key resistance level that could determine whether the uptrend continues or stalls. Several technical signals are flashing caution as momentum begins to slow. Top analyst Ali Martinez shared insights on X, pointing out that the TD Sequential indicator is now presenting a fresh sell signal. This suggests that AVAX may be due for a short-term pullback or a period of sideways movement. With the broader market still under pressure, traders are watching closely to see whether Avalanche can maintain its gains or lose momentum. Avalanche Wakes Up But Faces Serious Risks Avalanche is showing signs of life after enduring months of intense selling pressure. Like many altcoins, AVAX has been heavily impacted by macroeconomic volatility, losing over 70% of its value since mid-December 2024. Now, as bullish momentum begins to return across select altcoins, Avalanche is attempting to stage a recovery rally. The recent 53% surge since March 11 has revived hopes that AVAX could be ready to break out — but headwinds still remain. The broader market environment continues to be shaped by uncertainty. Trade war fears and unstable macroeconomic signals have kept pressure on risk assets, including cryptocurrencies. Many investors remain cautious and are still offloading positions near current levels, concerned about the long-term direction of the market. While momentum is returning to some sectors, the path for Avalanche is far from clear. Top analyst Ali Martinez recently highlighted a technical development using the TD Sequential indicator. After accurately calling the recent bottom and a 50% rally in AVAX, the indicator is now flashing a sell signal. This suggests that Avalanche could be due for a short-term retrace or period of consolidation before any further move higher. The $22 level remains a crucial resistance zone for AVAX. A temporary cooldown here may be healthy — giving bulls time to regroup before attempting a breakout. If AVAX can hold key support and reset after the current rally, it could build a stronger foundation for a decisive push above $22 in the weeks ahead. For now, all eyes are on price action as Avalanche balances between correction and continuation in a market still clouded by uncertainty. Related Reading: Ethereum Reclaims Realized Price – Bulls Face Strong Resistance At $2,300 AVAX Struggles Below $22 As Bulls Aim For $30 Breakout Avalanche (AVAX) is currently trading at $21.80 after briefly reaching $23.40 just two days ago. The recent pullback reflects cooling momentum as bulls struggle to maintain pressure near short-term resistance. Still, the trend remains intact — for now. To sustain the recovery rally, bulls must defend current levels and push toward reclaiming the $30 mark, which aligns with the 200-day moving average (MA) and 200-day exponential moving average (EMA). A successful breakout above this zone would be a strong bullish signal and could mark the beginning of a larger uptrend. However, failure to hold above $20 in the coming days would be a warning sign. A breakdown below this level could trigger increased selling pressure and send AVAX back toward the $17 zone — a key support area from previous consolidations. As Avalanche continues to trade within a volatile range, the next few sessions will be crucial in determining short-term direction. Related Reading: Dogecoin Breaks Above Bullish Daily Pattern – Analyst Sees A Surge To $0.43 With the market still under macroeconomic pressure, bulls must act quickly to maintain momentum. A decisive move above $30 remains the target, but holding the $20 level is just as important to avoid a deeper retrace and renewed bearish sentiment. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView |
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Waiting For An Altcoin Season? Analyst Says A Weekly Close Above This Level Would Trigger A Rally The crypto market is still trying to recover from its crash in early March, and sentiment is currently fluctuating. Although the Fear & Greed Index is still in the fear zone, the Bitcoin price is now slowly pushing back toward $90,000, which has been slowly changing the sentiment among altcoins. Rekt Capital, an influential analyst on X, reignited hope for an incoming altcoin season with a key technical signal. According to the post, a breakout in the altcoin market cap could soon take shape if one critical condition is met. The analyst shared a chart and commentary suggesting that the next major rally may already be in motion, provided that the altcoin market cap can secure a weekly close above a particular level. Weekly Close Above $250 Billion Could Be The Game Changer The altcoin market cap reached a multi-month low in the first week of March after the crash that saw many cryptocurrencies shell out weeks of price gains within a short period. This crash briefly pushed the altcoin market cap below $200 billion, although it eventually closed the week above this threshold. However, this market cap has steadily been inching upwards in the last two weeks since the crash. Related Reading: Crypto CEO Calls Start Of The Altcoin Season With A Caveat At the time of writing, the altcoin market cap has risen back to around $249 billion. Technical analysis from crypto analyst Rekt Capital emphasized that a weekly close above the $250 billion mark would mark a significant technical shift for alts. This level, highlighted in blue on the chart below, will be an important resistance level for crypto investors waiting for the altcoin season. The analyst noted that a decisive close above it would likely precede a breakout rally toward the $315 billion level, marked in red. That move wouldn’t just signal short-term bullishness; it would also serve as confirmation that the bottom for altcoins has already been established. However, even if the altcoin market cap were to surge quickly towards $315, there would still be some work to do to return in order to the recent high of $451 billion set in December 2024. Shallow Correction Points To Stronger Momentum Ahead For Altcoin The nature of the current correction from this $451 billion altcoin market cap adds more weight to the possibility of an altcoin rally. According to the analyst, the ongoing correction has only reached a 55% drawdown from its local high, notably shallower than the previous major altcoin bear market retracements of 69% and 85%. Related Reading: Altcoins Season: Recent Crypto Dip Shows Decline May Be Over And Bulls Are Taking Charge The shallower decline in the current retracement is interpreted as a sign of growing market maturity among altcoins. This implies that the selling pressure may be waning and that bulls are preparing for a stronger push. It also means that the $425 billion altcoin market cap resistance is weakening as a point of rejection, which in turn increases the chances of a breakout at the next visit. Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview.com |