Latest Crypto News | Bitcoin, Ethereum and Altcoin Updates

A U.S. federal judge has denied requests to compel the Department of Justice (DOJ) to review its records for potentially exculpatory evidence that could aid Tornado Cash developer Roman Storm in his upcoming trial. Storm faces charges linked to conspiracy and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business via the Ethereum-based privacy mixer Tornado Cash, with allegations of transmitting over $1 billion in illicit funds. Defense attorneys argued for additional disclosure, particularly concerning DOJ and FinCEN communications about whether crypto mixers must register as money transmitters. In a 30-minute hearing, the judge ruled there was no evidence of a Brady violation, meaning prosecutors are not obliged to disclose further materials. Prosecutors clarified they will not assert Tornado Cash needed a specific financial license but will focus their case on Storm’s alleged knowledge of facilitating illicit transfers. The decision leaves the case status quo ahead of the July trial. The outcome has significant implications for crypto regulation, particularly regarding privacy tools and developers’ liability, and is being closely monitored by the crypto trading community as a potential precedent for upcoming regulatory actions.

Recent data from CME Group highlights strong global demand for regulated XRP futures. Since their launch, CME’s XRP futures have seen nearly half (46%) of their $86.6 million six-day trading volume occur outside U.S. trading hours. A total of 4,032 contracts were traded, with both standard (50,000 XRP) and micro (2,500 XRP) contract sizes available. The significant international participation underscores XRP’s appeal among global traders seeking regulated derivatives exposure. This surge in XRP futures activity is attributed to rising investor confidence amid growing optimism regarding Ripple’s legal clarity with the SEC and XRP’s expanding role in cross-border payments. Open interest in XRP derivatives has reached $4.67 billion across major exchanges, highlighting its dual function as both a speculative asset and a tool for institutional utility. CME’s expansion into crypto derivatives enhances global market access and appeals to institutional investors. Traders are capitalizing on XRP’s volatility for both short-term trades and long-term holdings, as expectations for a potential crypto bull run increase. The trend demonstrates rising demand for regulated crypto products and positions CME as a leading venue for institutional digital asset trading.

Bitcoin’s correlation with both gold and US 10-Year Treasury futures has recently dropped to historic lows, highlighting a dramatic shift in investor strategy. Market data shows Bitcoin’s 30-day correlation with gold plummeting to -0.54, the lowest since February 2025, while its 60-day correlation with US Treasuries also hit a record low. Historically, such a de-correlation period has coincided with Bitcoin price surges and diminished performance in traditional safe-haven assets. Concurrently, exchange reserves have fallen to new all-time lows, with only 2.43 million BTC held on exchanges, suggesting heightened investor confidence and a strong preference for holding over selling. On-chain data also shows sustained negative exchange netflows and cooling whale activity, indicating long-term accumulation strategies among large holders. Additionally, as US Treasury yields experience volatility and gold underperforms, institutional and retail investors are increasingly considering Bitcoin as an alternative store of value and potential hedge against economic uncertainty. This asset rotation signals growing momentum for Bitcoin, underscoring its emerging role as a distinct asset class. For crypto traders, these developments suggest a market environment primed for increased trading opportunities and continued upward price momentum—particularly as cross-asset correlations break down and capital rotates out of traditional safe-havens and into cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.

The United States has officially disclosed a centralized crypto reserve worth approximately $20.9 billion, with Bitcoin (BTC) comprising 97% of its holdings and Ethereum (ETH) and stablecoins making up most of the rest. Despite earlier public remarks from former President Trump and speculation about including XRP, Solana (SOL), and Cardano (ADA) in the reserve, these coins remain absent. The reserve, established by an executive order and mainly populated through asset seizures, favors widely-held assets like BTC and ETH over those with developer or altcoin community support. The development has sparked debate in the crypto industry: some experts, including Vitalik Buterin, warn that state control over crypto reserves runs counter to decentralization principles. Meanwhile, several US states are initiating their own separate crypto reserves, while others hesitate due to volatility risks. This news reinforces Bitcoin’s status as ‘digital gold’ and is likely to support its continued market dominance in both the short and long term. The exclusion of XRP, SOL, and ADA may shape market sentiment, especially following prior government statements that briefly boosted their prices.

Ripple has reached a final settlement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in March 2025, bringing an end to a multi-year lawsuit that began in 2020. The agreement delivers critical legal clarity: XRP is not classified as a security for general public sales under US law, reducing regulatory uncertainty for the cryptocurrency market. However, Ripple must comply with securities regulations when selling XRP directly to institutional buyers, ensuring such transactions are properly registered or exempted. The settlement requires Ripple to pay a reduced penalty of $50 million, down from the original $125 million, and to enhance compliance through identity verification, increased transparency, and the launch of its RLUSD stablecoin for institutional clients. This resolution, achieved under newly appointed SEC Acting Chair Mark T. Uyeda following President Trump’s return, marks a shift toward more lenient crypto regulation in the US. The outcome is expected to boost institutional adoption of XRP and support further growth of Ripple’s ecosystem. For crypto traders, this development signals a bullish outlook for XRP due to lifted regulatory barriers and the potential for expanded market participation among US financial institutions.

Renowned Bitcoin analysts have issued significant BTC price predictions, offering both bullish and bearish outlooks for crypto traders. Doctor Profit previously highlighted the role of macroeconomic factors and technical support zones, forecasting a rise to $87,000 and the potential for a retracement toward $70,000-$74,000, with critical implications if support levels fail. In an updated and bolder forecast, Josh Mandell, a well-known expert regarded for accurately predicting Bitcoin’s 2025 peak at $84,000, now projects BTC rallying sharply to $444,000 before undergoing a dramatic 81% correction back to $84,000. Both analysts stress the importance of risk management and timing in the face of such predicted volatility, emphasizing that traders should be prepared for both significant gains and deep drawdowns. These forecasts are shaping market sentiment and likely to influence BTC trading strategies, as traders navigate potential record highs and subsequent corrections.

Coinbase’s drive to expand crypto staking and recent hack spotlight regulatory pressures and security risks in the US crypto market. Federal and state scrutiny over crypto staking services and legal issues challenge Coinbase’s business model, impacting trader confidence. MicroStrategy’s ongoing legal battles over its aggressive Bitcoin acquisition strategy have placed corporate crypto holdings under regulatory examination, raising questions about long-term exposure to digital assets. Adding to the dynamic, major Wall Street institutions are showing growing interest in stablecoins, injecting cautious optimism about the integration of digital assets into traditional finance. Traders face increased market volatility and must factor heightened regulatory scrutiny, security, and compliance into their strategies. Developments in staking, security breaches, corporate holdings, and institutional adoption are key market drivers, with risk appetite and platform trust at the forefront.

Hyperliquid (HYPE), a decentralized perpetual contracts exchange, has experienced a remarkable resurgence, overtaking Dogecoin (DOGE) in fully diluted valuation (FDV) and signaling a significant shift in the crypto market landscape. HYPE’s FDV reached $29 billion, placing it among the top 15 crypto assets by market cap. This surge is fueled by strong on-chain anonymity, deep liquidity, and high whale activity, including large leveraged trades that highlight the platform’s attractiveness to high-volume traders. Despite earlier FUD and liquidity concerns triggered by a major squeeze event, Hyperliquid enacted swift protocol adjustments—such as reducing leverage limits and prioritizing capital efficiency—to restore market confidence. The launch of the stablecoin HUSD and robust ecosystem growth further accelerated its recovery. For crypto traders, this milestone emphasizes the growing influence of newly launched tokens, the critical role of FDV as a market indicator, and the importance of monitoring evolving trading dynamics and whale movements, especially as new projects challenge established assets like Dogecoin.

Binance is actively collaborating with global governments to help shape cryptocurrency regulations and advise on creating national Bitcoin reserves. CEO Richard Teng mentions that many nations are seeking Binance’s guidance, although specific countries were not disclosed. This collaboration indicates a shift in how governments view cryptocurrencies, now seen as strategic assets similar to gold. With increasing governmental interest and regulatory clarity, particularly in the US and EU, there’s potential for positive impacts on the crypto market, especially for altcoins. Notably, new projects like $SUBBD, $SOLX, and $TUT are drawing investor attention due to their innovative applications, providing opportunities for significant returns by 2025.

The news revolves around the influence of former President Donald Trump’s economic policies on Canadian inflation, especially with Canada’s upcoming election. His policies are reportedly stabilizing Canadian inflation, which might lead to regional economic stability. This is particularly relevant for crypto traders, as stable national economies can affect Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies’ dynamics. Moreover, geopolitical events often trigger shifts in the crypto market, serving as hedging mechanisms against fiat currency volatility. Traders should be vigilant about these geopolitical and economic trends as they create potential opportunities or risks in the cryptocurrency market.

On April 7, 2025, major European stock indices experienced significant declines at the market opening, with prominent indices such as the Euro Stoxx 50 and Germany’s DAX showing substantial drops. By April 10, 2025, a notable surge in European stock index futures occurred, rebounding from previous lows. The Euro Stoxx 50 futures climbed 9.25%, with the German DAX and UK FTSE 100 futures also displaying impressive gains. These fluctuations in the European markets highlight transitioning investor sentiment, with the early decline potentially spreading risk concerns, while the subsequent surge reflects renewed optimism possibly driven by macroeconomic developments or regional financial policies. Although these changes do not directly impact cryptocurrencies, the shifts in traditional markets may indirectly influence crypto trading by altering the broader economic landscape and affecting market volatility.

Former President Donald Trump’s proposal for a US strategic crypto reserve is gaining momentum as global financial landscapes shift. This move involves major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, aiming to establish the US as a global leader in digital assets. The initiative is seen as critical given the rise of cyber threats, such as phishing attacks and AI-driven scams. Integrating privacy-focused technologies like encrypted communications and decentralized identity could enhance security compliance. Despite these vulnerabilities, the proposal highlights the need for robust security frameworks to prevent unauthorized transactions and security breaches. It also suggests possible investment in AI-driven financial systems that require stringent security measures. The initiative has received backing from pro-crypto lawmakers, emphasizing the need for clear regulations and innovative fraud prevention solutions. This demonstrates an urgent call to action as other nations advance in the digital asset space.

Dominari Holdings, a Nasdaq-listed investment firm, has allocated $2 million to BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust ETF as part of its bitcoin treasury strategy. This move provides regulated exposure to Bitcoin, easing compliance and asset management complexities. The announcement was made alongside the firm’s Q4 2024 earnings report, projecting a significant profit increase to $19 million. The involvement of Eric Trump and Donald Trump Jr. on Dominari’s advisory board highlights the firm’s digital asset focus. Despite the announcement, Dominari’s stock price declined by 8.2%. The firm is expanding through partnerships, including a stake in American Data Centers Inc., and aims to grow its brokerage operations and Bitcoin holdings. The strategy underscores a growing acceptance of cryptocurrency investment among traditional firms, as Dominari plans to further increase its Bitcoin exposure amid a broader market trend.

The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has intensified its focus on crypto fraud under the leadership of Acting Chair Caroline Pham. A recent enforcement action was taken against Rashawn Russell, who allegedly ran a fraudulent digital assets scheme between 2020 and 2022, deceiving investors and misappropriating approximately $1.5 million. The CFTC’s complaint highlights Russell’s misleading promises of no loss and 25% returns. This move reflects a shift in the CFTC’s approach, from a regulation by enforcement strategy to a more proactive stance in tackling retail and complex fraud cases. The CFTC’s actions come alongside similar moves by the SEC, indicating a broader regulatory effort to ensure accountability and transparency in the cryptocurrency market. This shift may significantly impact trading dynamics as regulatory bodies clamp down on fraudulent activities.

Ethereum (ETH), despite recent market challenges, is demonstrating signs of a bullish reversal with the formation of a bullish head and shoulders pattern. This comes alongside a 2.36% weekly gain and a 2% increase in the last 24 hours, driven by Ethereum whales increasing their holdings. Only 40% of ETH addresses are now long-term holders, indicating significant market interest. Simultaneously, the Remittix project is drawing attention for its innovative approach in the $190 trillion cross-border payment sector, which promises faster transactions and lower fees. Its RTX token has already raised over $6.2 million in presale, with expectations of substantial price gains post-launch due to its potential to disrupt traditional financial systems.

Institutional Bitcoin adoption is rapidly growing, with both US and Japanese companies increasingly adding BTC to their balance sheets. MicroStrategy has reaffirmed its leadership by expanding its holdings above 220,000 BTC, while other US firms like Tesla, Block Inc., and Coinbase are also maintaining sizable reserves. Japanese financial giants such as SBI Holdings and Monex Group have begun publicly disclosing their crypto holdings, marking a new era driven by regulatory easing and reforms like Japan’s stablecoin legislation and improved accounting standards. This global corporate shift is being catalyzed by the surge of inflows into spot Bitcoin ETFs, notably BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust surpassing $20 billion in assets under management. Evolving international accounting standards, such as IFRS and FASB, have further lowered barriers for companies considering Bitcoin treasury allocation. Corporates cite inflation hedging, liquidity management, brand positioning, and regulatory optimization as primary drivers. Despite bullish institutional momentum and increased integration with traditional finance, volatility and uneven global regulations pose significant risks—sparking debate over whether these strategies represent true financial innovation or marketing. Overall, this trend underscores Bitcoin’s emergence as a strategic asset, with long-term implications for market liquidity and volatility.

XRP is attracting renewed investor attention after the Nasdaq Crypto Index ETF (NCIQ) proposed adding it to its holdings, following a rule-change proposal by the American Stock Exchange and a filing to the SEC. The move aims to expand ETF exposure beyond Bitcoin by including major altcoins such as Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), and Stellar (XLM). Notably, this development highlights growing institutional interest in integrating top altcoins into mainstream investment products. Crypto analyst Willy Woo raised concerns about classifying Bitcoin alongside tech-focused altcoins, suggesting a need to differentiate between store-of-value assets and programmable platforms. Despite this debate, XRP has maintained price strength above the crucial $2.14 support, supported by bullish technical indicators, including a positive MACD crossover and trading above key EMAs. Immediate resistance lies at $2.50 and $2.94, with potential for a run at the $3 level if positive momentum continues. Increased institutional adoption via ETF inclusion could boost XRP’s liquidity and upward price potential. However, a drop below key support may trigger a retest of lower levels. The ETF proposal’s outcome is likely to shape XRP’s short- and medium-term trajectory and signals renewed institutional confidence in selected altcoins.

Institutional and smart money investors are shifting focus from meme coins like Shiba Inu (SHIB) to emerging utility tokens such as RUVI AI’s RUVI token. RUVI integrates artificial intelligence into blockchain technology, providing advanced trading tools and AI-driven analytics. Market observers note a move away from meme tokens, which, despite early hype, face challenges like high volatility and limited utility. While SHIB retains popularity among retail traders, its future growth is questioned due to market saturation and lack of development. In contrast, RUVI’s tangible technology use-case, lower price, and expanding partnerships attract both newcomers and risk-averse investors. Analysts suggest RUVI could outperform legacy meme coins in adoption and price, marking a broader shift toward utility-driven projects in the crypto space.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) is implementing strict licensing and compliance regulations for Digital Token Service Providers (DTSPs) under the Financial Services and Markets Act (FSMA), marking a significant regulatory shift. By June 30, 2025, any DTSPs offering digital token brokerage, exchange, transmission, custodial, or advisory services linked to Singapore—regardless of business size or physical location—must secure a FSMA license. The new framework requires a non-negotiable application and annual fee of SGD 10,000, and a minimum capital requirement of SGD 250,000. There is no grace period; existing unlicensed providers must cease servicing overseas clients by the deadline, or face fines (up to SGD 250,000) and possible imprisonment. Current licensees under the Payment Services Act (PSA), Securities and Futures Act (SFA), or Financial Advisers Act (FAA), or those with exemptions, are not required to reapply. MAS has also set clear standards covering due diligence for existing clients, cybersecurity, transfer protocols, and documentation. These regulations aim to strengthen consumer protection following incidents like the FTX collapse and to bring local laws in line with global anti-money laundering (AML) and counter-terrorist financing (CFT) standards. Feedback from the industry has highlighted the high compliance costs and tight deadlines, especially for small firms, raising concerns over potential market exit and consolidation. Well-capitalized entities such as BITGO, CIRCLE, COINBASE, GSR, Hashkey, and OKX SG have already secured licenses, while less-resourced firms may consider relocating to more lenient jurisdictions like Hong Kong, Japan, or Dubai. This overhaul marks Singapore’s determination to move from a crypto innovation hub to a tightly regulated and institutionalized market, signaling zero tolerance for regulatory arbitrage.

Speculation is rising that Binance may soon list Hyperliquid’s HYPE token for spot trading, following its launch of HYPE perpetual futures with up to 75x leverage on May 30, 2025. This move, combined with public comments from BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes—who predicted HYPE could reach $100 and questioned Binance CEO CZ about a spot listing—is fueling bullish market sentiment. The anticipation has driven a 5% price increase and a 20% rise in trading volume over the past week. Currently, HYPE is trading near $35 after peaking at $38.16, with strong resistance at $35.91. Analysts note that previous Binance futures listings have sometimes preceded spot listings, though Binance emphasized that a futures listing does not guarantee spot availability. Binance US, Kraken, and Coinbase have also shown interest in listing HYPE, while Hyperliquid has doubled its total value locked, attracting high-volume traders like James Wynn, despite criticism of its referral incentives. Short-term, a breakout above $35.91 could trigger renewed momentum, while a drop below $30.75 may deepen the decline. The combination of potential Binance spot listing, surging demand, and high-profile engagement makes HYPE a critical token for traders to monitor.

Pi Network has shown significant price volatility as it approaches a potential mainnet launch and navigates key ecosystem changes. Earlier forecasts suggested the Pi token could range between $0.54 and $1.78 by 2026, reflecting limited mainnet trading and primarily speculative activity. A recent large-scale transaction on Qubetics, selling 515 million Pi at $0.3370, has raised concerns about actual circulating supply. Speculation remains high due to ongoing debates over ecosystem growth, with liquidity expected to improve as more exchanges evaluate support. The latest developments include the final KYC verification deadline on March 14, 2025, which led to users losing access to unverified tokens, escalating market volatility. Pi reached an all-time high of $2.98 in February 2025 but dropped to a low of $0.4012 in April. As of now, Pi trades around $0.64, with technical signals pointing to cautious sentiment: its MACD is bearish and the RSI indicates near-oversold conditions. An outflow of over 102 million Pi tokens from OKX highlights ongoing selling pressure. Despite these bearish factors, Pi Network has established a $100 million venture fund to drive ecosystem and dApp development, aiming for greater real-world adoption. Price predictions for 2025 place Pi in the $0.44 to $1.42 range, with an average near $1.30. If developer engagement and mainstream acceptance increase, forecasts see potential highs up to $4.84 by 2031. In the short term, Pi Network’s market remains vulnerable to further downside amid supply overhang and subdued demand. Traders should monitor platform announcements, key support levels, and exchange listings, as these could trigger rapid price movements. The Pi team’s focus on security and developer resources offers long-term optimism, but continued volatility is likely until broader adoption accelerates.

Coinbase, the leading US cryptocurrency exchange, is pushing to transfer a lawsuit filed by Oregon’s Attorney General from state court to federal court. The case alleges that Coinbase sold unregistered securities and risky investment products to Oregon residents without adequate oversight. Coinbase argues that the lawsuit closely resembles an earlier case brought by the SEC in 2023, which was later dropped, and insists that federal courts should decide on issues relating to federal securities law—namely, what constitutes an ’investment contract’. Furthermore, Coinbase maintains that the regulation of cryptocurrency trading should be handled federally to ensure regulatory consistency, instead of through a patchwork of conflicting state laws. Oregon’s Attorney General contends that state action is necessary due to perceived inaction by federal regulators, creating an ’enforcement vacuum’ in the crypto sector. This ongoing legal dispute brings renewed attention to the broader debate over whether crypto regulation in the US should be centralized at the federal level or handled by individual states. The outcome could set an important precedent affecting jurisdiction, regulatory clarity, and operational risk for major exchanges like Coinbase. Crypto traders should watch for potential market impact as the case unfolds, since future enforcement trends and compliance costs may hinge on the decision.

Wang Yongli, the former Vice President of Bank of China, has issued a warning about the surging dominance of US dollar-backed stablecoins such as USDT and USDC. These stablecoins now account for more than 99% of all fiat-backed stablecoins, with transaction volumes exceeding $27 trillion last year—surpassing leading payment networks like Visa and Mastercard. Wang notes this trend gives the US dollar significant leverage in digital finance, reinforcing its dominance in global payments and challenging China’s push to internationalize the yuan and expand the digital yuan (e-CNY). He urges Chinese policymakers to accelerate the development of the digital yuan and consider launching offshore yuan stablecoins in Hong Kong to better support global CNY payments and counter USD stablecoin influence. Recent regulatory moves in the US and Hong Kong, including stablecoin licensing and new digital asset frameworks, further solidify the dollar’s position. Wang also advocates for integrating digital identity systems with digital currency infrastructure to enhance China’s competitiveness. While crypto trading and private tokens remain restricted in mainland China, Wang suggests selective enterprise-level applications and the potential participation of e-CNY in multi-CBDC (central bank digital currency) cross-border settlement networks. As USD stablecoins expand rapidly, China faces a strategic policy challenge in maintaining its relevance and influence in the evolving landscape of international digital payments. Crypto traders should monitor regulatory shifts and stablecoin trends in both the US and China, as they may directly affect liquidity, demand, and global flows related to CNY, USD, and leading stablecoins.

Large-scale crypto investors are increasingly shifting focus towards both established altcoins and emerging AI-driven tokens, as reflected by recent developments in SHIB, XRP, and Web3 ai ($WAI). SHIB is showing bullish momentum, forming a triangle pattern, and may rise 43% if it surpasses key resistance at $0.00003. This sentiment is reinforced by rising whale activity and ongoing advancements in its Layer-2 Shibarium network. XRP is also gaining attention as Ripple expands global payment use cases and as its lawsuit with the SEC moves towards resolution, potentially increasing XRP’s value in cross-border payments and tokenization. Meanwhile, Web3 ai ($WAI) stands out for its practical AI-driven tool suite targeting crypto traders, such as a scam detector and portfolio optimizer, making it distinct from meme coins. Its presale has advanced to Stage 07 at $0.000402 per token, raising over $6.6 million and projecting a 1,747% ROI at launch. The combination of bullish price structures in prominent altcoins and innovative offerings from AI crypto projects suggests amplified competition and opportunity for traders, particularly as the market heads into 2025.

Recent analyses from DoubleLine Capital’s Jeffrey Gundlach and Goldman Sachs’s Daan Struyven highlight a significant surge in gold prices, with current levels around $3,275–$3,310 per ounce and projections of gold reaching as high as $4,000 by mid-2026. Gundlach and Struyven both attribute this outlook to escalating global debt, economic uncertainty, and aggressive monetary policies. Struyven further draws attention to the similarities between gold and Bitcoin, notably their limited supply and roles as inflation hedges, though he notes gold is less volatile and has a lower correlation with riskier assets like tech stocks. While Bitcoin has recently outperformed gold in returns, its higher volatility makes gold the preferred hedge during periods of stock market risk. These bullish gold forecasts are influencing broader investor sentiment, encouraging greater diversification between traditional and alternative assets, including cryptocurrencies. For crypto traders, the increasing appeal of gold as a safe haven could affect capital flows, potentially driving comparative interest in digital assets like Bitcoin as part of diversified risk management strategies.

Cetus has released a comprehensive report on its recent smart contract exploit, confirming a critical vulnerability in its CLMM contract caused by a left-shift function misinterpretation in a core math library. The attacker exploited this flaw to drain over $160 million worth of crypto assets. Cetus, in coordination with Sui validators, managed to freeze the majority of the stolen funds and initiated legal proceedings. The incident, which evaded multiple prior audits, highlights persistent DeFi security risks. In response, Cetus launched an expanded security initiative, including new auditor partnerships, additional security reviews, enhanced on-chain monitoring, and a white-hat bounty program. The report calls for collective security efforts across the DeFi ecosystem. Meanwhile, BNB Chain is experiencing a surge in highly liquid projects—such as BUILDon ($B), B² Network, KOGE, Allo ($RWA), Merlin Chain ($MERL), SKYAI, and BANK—spurring increases in user activity and liquidity due to ecosystem incentives and demand for meme tokens, tokenized real-world assets, and AI infrastructure. Venture capital sentiment has shifted, with top firms like ABCDE and Hash Global describing 2024 as one of the toughest years for primary crypto markets, citing extended token lock-ups, poor ROI, oversupply, and liquidity challenges. VCs are allocating more capital to real-world applications and infrastructure, away from speculative token launches. For crypto traders, this combination of timely hack responses, active BNB ecosystem, and evolving VC strategy reflects a maturing market—with enhanced ecosystem credibility, improved security, but also fragmentation and liquidity concerns.

Bitcoin’s short-term holders (STHs) are currently sitting on an average unrealized profit of 27%, according to new data from CryptoQuant. STHs, defined as addresses holding BTC for 1-3 months, have seen significant gains as Bitcoin reached new all-time highs, but have not yet initiated large-scale selling. Historic data shows that major distribution typically occurs when unrealized profits exceed 40% or when the Market Value to Realized Value (MVRV) ratio surpasses 1.2. Currently, the MVRV ratio stands at 1.14, suggesting further upside potential for Bitcoin. Analysts forecast that if current trends and external conditions persist, the 40% profit threshold could be reached by June 11, 2025, potentially driving Bitcoin’s price to $162,000 before a market correction triggered by profit-taking. In the near term, Bitcoin may recover from recent pullbacks and aim for $115,000, with bullish sentiment likely to continue until substantial STH distribution begins. Traders should closely monitor STH profitability metrics, MVRV ratios, and macroeconomic or regulatory changes. A spike in profit-taking by STHs could lead to sharp corrections, so staying alert to these indicators is essential for market positioning. This evolving trend underscores the importance of tracking short-term holder behavior and key technical levels for effective BTC trading strategies.

The US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) has intensified its scrutiny of perpetual contracts—a core derivative product in the cryptocurrency market. In response to mounting regulatory concerns over unauthorized access by US residents, the CFTC called for public comments on 24/7 perpetual swaps in decentralized finance (DeFi) and indicated stricter enforcement against non-compliant platforms. Leading industry players, including Hyperliquid Labs, Coinbase, Uniswap Foundation, and dYdX, submitted formal recommendations advocating for regulatory clarity, improved risk oversight, and parity between centralized and decentralized exchanges. As a result, many crypto exchanges and DeFi projects are tightening access for US users and exploring technical measures to block prohibited trading. While industry leaders acknowledge that clear regulations are crucial for stability, they warn that excessive restrictions may drive innovation and liquidity offshore. The regulatory review, closing May 21, 2025, could reshape the availability of leverage products, trading volumes, and set a precedent for global standards in perpetual derivatives. Crypto traders should closely monitor these developments, as changes in compliance requirements and regulatory policies may significantly impact trading opportunities, user experience, and market liquidity.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has confirmed major forthcoming upgrades to the XRP Ledger (XRPL), marking a significant step forward for the blockchain network and its native token, XRP. While earlier statements highlighted an important yet undisclosed breakthrough that would improve the ledger’s functionality, efficiency, and practical use cases, more recent announcements detail a set of concrete enhancements. Key among them is the integration of RLUSD, an ISO 20022-compliant stablecoin designed to bridge decentralized finance (DeFi) with traditional finance (TradFi) and bolster institutional interoperability. This comes at a crucial time as the global SWIFT system is also migrating to ISO 20022 standards, potentially expanding XRPL and RLUSD’s institutional adoption. XRPL will also gain advanced programmability, allowing for permissionless development, and introduce features such as Smart Escrows. These upgrades will enable complex on-chain financial services, including notary- and credential-based escrows. Development is currently underway on the XRPL Devnet, with community feedback shaping the final release ahead of validator voting. Garlinghouse’s announcement, further amplified by a supportive community, underlines Ripple’s focus on expanding XRP’s ecosystem, increasing its real-world utility, and positioning the network for greater adoption among institutional and retail users alike. For crypto traders, these advancements may signal growing bullish momentum, as expanded network capabilities and institutional traction often correlate with increased demand, price movement, and trading volume for XRP.