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Forbes Unveils 20 Crypto ‘Zombies,’ Declares Ripple And XRP Among The Undead

In a controversial report, Forbes unveiled a list of 20 “crypto billion-dollar zombies,” Layer 1 (L1) tokens, which the news outlet defines as crypto assets with substantial valuations but “limited utility beyond speculative trading.” 

These cryptocurrencies and projects include Ripple, XRP, Ethereum Classic (ETC), Tezos (XTZ), Algorand (ALGO), and Cardano (ADA), among others. 

XRP And Ethereum Classic In The Spotlight

Ripple Labs, the company behind XRP, was highlighted as a prominent crypto zombie. Despite XRP’s active trading volume of around $2 billion daily, Forbes asserts that the token’s primary purpose remains “speculative” and “lacking meaningful utility.” 

However, Ripple Labs and XRP are not alone in this regard. Forbes reveals that 50 blockchains, excluding Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), currently trade at values surpassing $1 billion, with at least 20 of them classified as “functional zombies.” Collectively, these 20 blockchains hold a market value of $116 billion, despite having “limited user bases.”

Crypto

According to Forbes, an example of a “functional zombie” is Ethereum Classic, which maintains the distinction of being the original Ethereum chain. 

While ETC has a market value of $4.6 billion, its fee generation in 2023 was less than $41,000, raising questions about the blockchain’s viability for the news organization.

Another crypto project in Forbes’ report is Tezos, which raised $230 million through an initial coin offering (ICO) in 2017. 

Tezos’ XTZ token currently holds a market capitalization of $1.2 billion. However, the blockchain’s fee earnings were meager, with $5,640 in February 2024 and a total of $177,653 for all of 2023. 

Algorand, once hailed as an “Ethereum killer” due to its capability of processing 7,500 transactions per second, faces similar challenges. 

Despite a market cap of $2 billion and a treasury holding of $500 million, Algorand earned $63,000 in blockchain transaction fees throughout 2023. For Forbes, this casts doubt on its actual adoption and utility.

Crypto ‘Zombie’ Blockchains

The zombie blockchains are categorized into two groups by Forbes: spin-offs and direct competitors to established blockchains like Bitcoin and Ethereum. 

Spin-off zombies include Bitcoin Cash (BCH), Litecoin (LTC), Monero (XMR), Bitcoin SV (BSV), and Ethereum Classic. 

These blockchains, collectively valued at $23 billion, reportedly emerged from “disagreements” among programmers regarding the governance and direction of the original chains. 

Forbes notes that when such conflicts arise, hard forks occur, resulting in new networks that share the same transaction history as their predecessors. The agency claims that their market value “often exceeds” their real-world usage.

Overall, The report highlights a growing disparity between the valuations of certain projects in the cryptocurrency industry and their actual utility and usage. Consequently, Forbes refers to these projects as “zombies.”

Crypto

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com 

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Crypto Bull Run Set To Return Next Week, Predicts Arthur Hayes

Arthur Hayes, co-founder and former CEO of the cryptocurrency exchange BitMEX, took to X to provide a detailed analysis of the US economic landscape and its potential effects on the crypto market. With a reputation for incisive commentary and a deep understanding of both traditional and digital finance, Hayes’s insights are closely watched by industry participants.

Why The Crypto Bull Run Will Return As Soon As Monday

In a post, Hayes noted a significant increase in the Treasury General Account (TGA), which he attributed to an influx of approximately $200 billion from tax receipts. “As expected tax receipts added roughly $200bn to TGA,” Hayes stated, setting the stage for a broader discussion on potential implications for financial markets.

Hayes then shifted focus to upcoming decisions by US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen concerning the management of the TGA. With a tone mixing respect and sternness, he outlined several potential scenarios, each with profound implications for market liquidity. “Forget about the May Fed meeting. The 2Q24 refunding announcement comes out next week. What games will [Janet] Yellen play, here are some options,” Hayes remarked.

Firstly, he suggested that by “stopping issuing treasuries by running down the TGA to zero,” Yellen could unleash a $1 trillion liquidity injection into the economy. This strategy would involve using the accumulated funds in the TGA for federal spending without issuing new debt, thus directly boosting the money supply.

Secondly, Hayes speculated about “shifting more borrowing to T-bills, which removes money from RRP,” resulting in a $400 billion liquidity boost. This maneuver would involve the Treasury opting for shorter-duration debt instruments, which typically carry lower interest rates but increase the turnover of government securities. This could potentially draw funds away from the overnight reverse repo market, where financial institutions temporarily park their excess cash.

Combining these two approaches, according to Hayes, could lead to “a $1.4 trillion injection of liquidity” if Yellen decides to both cease long-term bond issuance and ramp up the issuance of bills while depleting both TGA and RRP accounts. Hayes emphatically noted, “The Fed is irrelevant, Yellen is a bad bitch, you best respect her.” This statement underscores his belief in the significant impact of Treasury actions over Federal Reserve policies in the current economic setup.

Hayes predicted that these actions could lead to a bullish response in the stock market and, more crucially, a rapid acceleration in the crypto market. “If any of these three options happen, expect a rally in stonks and most importantly a re-acceleration of the crypto bull market,” he explained.

The implications of such fiscal strategies are significant. Increased liquidity typically diminishes the appeal of low-yield investments like bonds and encourages the pursuit of higher returns in riskier assets, including equities and cryptocurrencies. Moreover, a shift in market sentiment toward ‘risk-on’ could see substantial capital flows into the crypto space, perceived as a high-growth, albeit volatile, investment frontier.

In conclusion, Hayes’ analysis suggests that the coming week – the refunding announcement comes on Monday, April 29 – could be critical for market watchers. His perspective, drawing from deep financial expertise, points to a possible pivotal shift in US fiscal policy that could ripple through global markets. For crypto investors, these developments could signal important movements, underlining the need for vigilance and readiness to respond to new economic signals.

At press time, BTC traded at $64,483.

Bitcoin price

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85% Of Altcoins In “Opportunity Zone,” Santiment Reveals

The on-chain analytics firm Santiment has revealed that over 85% of all altcoins in the sector are currently in the historical “opportunity zone.”

MVRV Would Suggest Most Altcoins Are Ready For A Bounce

In a new post on X, Santiment discussed how the altcoin market looks based on their MVRV ratio model. The “Market Value to Realized Value (MVRV) ratio” is a popular on-chain indicator that compares the market cap of Bitcoin against its realized cap.

The market cap here is the usual total valuation of the asset’s circulating supply based on the current spot price. At the same time, the latter is an on-chain capitalization model that calculates the asset’s value by assuming the “true” value of any coin in circulation is the last price at which it is transferred on the blockchain.

Given that the last transaction of any coin would have likely been the last time it changed hands, the price at its time would act as its current cost basis. As such, the realized cap essentially sums up the cost basis of every token in the circulating supply.

Therefore, one way to view the model is as a measure of the total amount of capital the investors have put into the asset. In contrast, the market cap measures the value holders are carrying.

Since the MVRV ratio compares these two models, its value can tell whether Bitcoin investors hold more or less than their total initial investment.

Historically, when investors have been in high profits, tops have become probable to form, as the risk of profit-taking can spike in such periods. On the other hand, a dominance of losses could lead to bottom formations as selling pressure runs out in the market.

Based on these facts, Santiment has defined an “opportunity” and “danger” zone model for altcoins. The chart below shows how the market currently looks from the perspective of this MVRV model.

Bitcoin MVRV Ratio

Under this model, when the MVRV divergence for any asset on some timeframe is higher than 1, the coin is considered to be inside the bullish opportunity zone. Similarly, if it is less than -1, it suggests it’s in the bearish danger zone.

The chart shows that MVRV divergence for a large part of the market is in the opportunity zone right now. As the analytics firm explains,

Over 85% of assets we track are in a historic opportunity zone when calculating the market value to realized value (MVRV) of wallets’ collective returns over 1-month, 3-month, and 6-month cycles.

Thus, if the model is to go by, now may be the time to go around altcoin shopping.

ETH Price

Ethereum, the largest among the altcoins, has observed a 3% surge over the past week, which has taken its price to $3,150.

BNB Price Chart

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Vertex AI Price Forecast: Bitcoin Has 60% Chance Of Hitting $100,000, Key Predictions Unveiled

On-chain analytics firm Spot On Chain’s team of analysts, using Google Cloud’s Vertex artificial intelligence (AI), has conducted an in-depth analysis to forecast the future price of Bitcoin (BTC). 

Their latest report provides valuable insights into the leading cryptocurrency’s short-, medium-, and long-term outlook.

Bitcoin Price Forecasts

According to Spot On Chain’s report, Bitcoin prices are expected to fluctuate between $56,000 and $70,000 during May, June, and July 2024. 

This projected range indicates the potential for market volatility, with a 48% probability assigned to the scenario where BTC prices may dip below $60,000. Moreover, the report advises a cautious approach, acknowledging the possibility of short-term fluctuations or corrections in the price.

Spot On Chain’s analysis reveals a significant movement in the latter half of 2024, with a compelling 63% probability of Bitcoin reaching $100,000. 

This mid-term projection reflects a prevailing bullish sentiment in the market, further fueled by anticipated rate cuts after the Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) December 2023 meeting. 

These rate cuts aim to bring the federal funds rate down to 4.6% and are expected to boost demand for risk-on assets such as stocks and Bitcoin.

Looking ahead to the first half of 2025, Spot On Chain’s modeling indicates a strong probability that Bitcoin will cross the $150,000 threshold. Specifically, a 42% probability is assigned to this scenario, indicating a bullish outlook for Bitcoin’s price trajectory.

What’s more, looking at the entire year of 2025, the probability of Bitcoin exceeding $150,000 rises to an eye-popping 70%. Based on historical data and patterns in previous cycles, Bitcoin reached a new all-time high approximately 6 to 12 months after the Halving event. 

Price Consolidation On The Horizon?

Crypto analyst Retk Capital has also provided insights into the current Bitcoin price action, shedding light on key resistance levels and the potential for a consolidation phase before an anticipated parabolic upside.

According to Retk Capital’s analysis, Bitcoin has consistently been rejected from the $65,600 resistance level, failing to regain it as a support level. 

This resistance zone has significantly impeded Bitcoin’s upward movement in recent days, as seen on the cryptocurrency’s daily BTC/USD chart below. 

Bitcoin

Retk Capital further highlights that Bitcoin has been witnessing downside wicks into a pool of liquidity at approximately $60,600. This occurrence has been observed over multiple weeks, indicating the presence of buyers in that price range. 

If Bitcoin experiences further downward movement, the analyst believes that there is a possibility that it may approach this area once again. The analyst further notes:

Price dropping without context can be emotionally challenging. However, understanding that this downside is part of the consolation within a technical range-bound structure that will precede Parabolic Upside makes this experience much more comforting.

As of this writing, BTC is trading at $63,900, down nearly 8% over the past two weeks and the same percentage over the past 30 days.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

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BNB Smart Chain Shines In Q1: Triple-Digit Surges In Key Metrics

The Binance Smart Chain (BNB Chain), developed by the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, Binance, experienced significant growth and performance in the first quarter (Q1) of 2024. 

As highlighted in a recent report by Messari, Binance Smart Chain has surged in market cap, revenue, average daily active addresses, decentralized finance (DeFi), total value locked (TVL), and average daily decentralized exchange (DEX) volume. 

BNB Outperforms Bitcoin In Q1 2024

During Q1 2024, BNB Smart Chain demonstrated notable market cap growth, soaring by 89% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ). It reached a market cap of $92.5 billion, securing the third position among all tokens, excluding stablecoins. Only Ethereum (ETH) and Bitcoin (BTC) surpassed BNB in market cap. 

Interestingly, the report notes that BNB’s performance surpassed that of Bitcoin, which saw a 65% increase in outstanding market capitalization over the same period.

BNB

Revenue generated by the Binance Smart Chain experienced a substantial boost in Q1. The network collected $66.8 million in revenue, marking a 70% QoQ increase. 

According to Messari, this surge in revenue was primarily driven by the appreciation of BNB’s price. Notably, Q1’s revenue exceeded that of any quarter in 2023. DeFi transactions, particularly gas fees, were significant in revenue contributions, accounting for 46% of the total.

Despite a slight decrease in average daily transactions, BNB Smart Chain experienced a 27% year-over-year (YoY) increase, demonstrating sustained growth in network activity. 

Average daily active addresses surged by 26% QoQ, reaching 1.3 million. Several protocols on the BNB Smart Chain witnessed increased transaction volumes and active addresses, with Tether’s USDT and decentralized exchange (DEX) PancakeSwap leading the way.

DEX Trading Volume Explodes

BNB Smart Chain’s DeFi TVL, denominated in USD, experienced a 67% QoQ surge, reaching $7.2 billion. This growth positioned the Binance Smart Chain as the third-highest chain regarding DeFi TVL, denominated in USD. 

However, when denominated in BNB, TVL decreased slightly by 12%. This indicates that the surge in USD value was primarily driven by BNB price appreciation and capital inflows.

BNB

Decentralized exchanges on the Binance Smart Chain witnessed a staggering 193% QoQ increase in average daily trading volume. The total DEX volume for Q1 reached $1.1 billion, with PancakeSwap emerging as the dominant DEX on the platform. 

PancakeSwap’s average daily DEX volume surged by 140% QoQ, surpassing other competitors and solidifying its position as the preferred DEX on the BNB Smart Chain.

Overall, Binance Smart Chain’s performance in the first quarter of 2024 showed significant growth across various parameters, reinforcing its position as an important blockchain platform. 

BNB

The exchange’s native token, Binance Coin, is currently trading at $607, reflecting a 2% price increase over the past 24 hours and a 10% increase over the past 7 days. 

These positive price movements bring the token closer to its all-time high of $686, reached in May 2021.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

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SEC Anticipated To Reject Spot Ethereum ETFs In Upcoming Decision, ETH Price Takes 5% Hit

Over the past 24 hours, Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, has experienced a significant 5% price drop. This drop comes amid growing speculation that the highly anticipated Ethereum ETFs will likely be rejected by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the upcoming May deadline.

US Bitcoin ETF Issuers Brace For SEC’s Expected Denial

According to a recent Reuters report, various US Bitcoin ETF issuers and firms anticipate the SEC’s denial of their applications to launch ETFs tied to the price of ETH. 

These expectations have been fueled by “discouraging meetings” between the applicants and the regulatory agency in recent weeks, as disclosed by four individuals familiar with the matter.

Prominent investment firms such as VanEck, ARK Investment Management, and seven other issuers have submitted filings with the SEC to list ETFs that would track the spot price of Ethereum. 

As the first in line, VanEck’s and ARK’s applications are subject to the SEC’s decisions by May 23 and May 24, respectively.

The sources involved in the meetings between Bitcoin ETF issuers and the SEC have reported that the discussions have been primarily “one-sided,” with agency staff not engaging in substantive details about the proposed products. 

This starkly contrasts the intensive and detailed discussions between issuers and the agency before the SEC’s landmark approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in January. 

The issuers argued during the meetings that the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs and Ethereum futures-based ETFs by the SEC in October set a precedent for the spot ETH products. They also made efforts to address potential regulatory concerns. 

Despite their arguments, the report notes that the SEC staff did not clarify specific concerns or engage in meaningful dialogue, further indicating a possible denial of the requests.

Setback For Crypto Industry

If these expectations materialize, it would be a setback for the cryptocurrency industry, which had hoped that the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs would pave the way for similar products and contribute to the mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies. 

According to Todd Rosenbluth, head of ETF analysis at data firm VettaFi, the likely delay in approval or rejection until later in 2024 or beyond has left the regulatory landscape uncertain.

While some issuers have expressed their intention to submit additional disclosure paperwork to continue the conversation with the SEC, the overall sentiment indicates a growing belief that the applications will be rejected.

VanEck CEO Jan van Eck has already stated that the company’s application will likely be rejected, while ARK Investment Management has yet to comment.

Rejected Ethereum ETFs Could Spark Potential Court Battles

Several applicants expect the SEC to cite broader issues, such as the nature and depth of statistical data on the underlying ETH market, as reasons for their decision in the event of ETF rejections. 

Matt Hougan, chief investment officer at Bitwise Asset Management, which has filed for a spot in Ethereum ETF, believes that the SEC may require more time to observe Ethereum futures and gather additional data.

Industry insiders further speculate that rejecting Ethereum ETFs could potentially lead to legal action, with one source suggesting that the courts may get involved before Ethereum ETFs eventually become a reality.

The anticipated rejection has already influenced the price of Ethereum, with Hong Fang, president of the crypto exchange OKX, stating that the cryptocurrency is experiencing downward pressure as market participants factor in the likelihood of a negative outcome.

Ethereum ETFs

Currently, ETH is trading at $3,100, further highlighting the cryptocurrency’s persistent downtrend over broader time frames. Over the past fourteen and thirty days, the token has experienced significant declines of 12% and 14%, respectively.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

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Why Is The Crypto Market Down Today? Key Reasons Explained

The crypto market is in the red today, with a majority of the top-100 cryptocurrencies reflecting losses over the last 24 hours. Notably, only six altcoins, including two stablecoins, have managed to maintain a positive performance amidst a broader market sell-off.

Several complex and intertwined factors have contributed to the day’s negative market sentiment, affecting major cryptocurrencies. Over the last 24 hours, the price of Bitcoin has decreased by 4.2%, Ethereum has fallen by 5.0%, Solana has dropped by 8.7%, XRP has declined by 4.7%, and Dogecoin has decreased by 8.3%.

#1 Persistent Macroeconomic Uncertainty

A primary factor influencing today’s market movements is the evolving macroeconomic landscape, particularly concerning US interest rates and inflation expectations. At the beginning of the year, the market anticipated aggressive monetary easing by the Federal Reserve. However, the sentiment has shifted considerably based on recent data and Federal Reserve signals.

“Markets are pricing in fewer rate cuts for this year compared to the Fed’s dot plot projection of 3 rate cuts by year end. The implied fed funds rate for December has risen to 5.0%, indicating that the futures market is pricing in only 1 to 2 rate cuts,” Cetera Investment Management stated via X (formerly Twitter).

This week, all eyes are on the release of the Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index for March—the Fed’s favored inflation measure on Friday, April 26 at 8:30 am EDT. Until then, the market could be in a derisk mode.

The PCE is anticipated to present a varied view of inflation trends, which could strengthen the Federal Reserve’s inclination to delay any increases in interest rates. Analysts predict a slight increase in the overall PCE Price Index, rising to 2.6% year-over-year from 2.5% in February. Additionally, they expect a decrease in the index’s month-over-month change, dropping to 0.30% from 0.33%.

#2 Crypto Market In Shock Over Legal Action Against Samourai Wallet

The crypto market has also been rocked by yesterday’s legal developments involving the Samourai Wallet. The US Federal prosecutors’ decision to charge the founders Keonne Rodriguez and William Lonergan Hill with money laundering and operating an unlicensed money transmitting business has sent ripples through the crypto community. This action underscores the ongoing regulatory scrutiny within the crypto space.

The prosecution of Samourai Wallet’s founders not only raises questions about the future of cryptographic privacy but also significantly impacts market sentiment as it underscores the legal risks inherent in the crypto sector. The implications of this case extend beyond the immediate legal concerns, influencing broader market perceptions and investor confidence.

#3 Bitcoin And Crypto Are “Just Ranging”

Further insights into market dynamics come from prominent crypto analysts who have commented on the state of market liquidity and trader behavior. “The market has gifted us with a beautiful reset in trader positioning for Bitcoin. OI weighted funding turned negative for the first time since October 2023. That was before Bitcoin ran from 27k to 46k without any meaningful dip,” said Ted, a crypto analyst on X.

This reset refers to a reduction in the overheated futures market, which could allow the market to consolidate and potentially build a base for future upward movements.

Emperor, another crypto analyst, described the current market state through a series of tweets, highlighting the ongoing consolidation phase post-highs: “Too much panic still on the timeline but we’ve been ranging since the ATH, that’s all.”

He added, “The bear/bull line is an important resistance + Point of Control (PoC) of our range. Expecting VaL (Value Area Low) to hold on pullbacks and VaH (Value area High) to be the next target on longs if we reclaim level 1.”

#4 Bitcoin ETFs Remain Muted

Yesterday’s ETF flows were negative again. Only Fidelity’s FBTC and Ark Invest’s ARKB had minimal inflows. GBTC sold more again at -$130.4m and BlackRock had zero inflows for the first time ever since inception on January 11. Thus, BlackRock’s (IBIT) inflow streak ended at 70 days. Prior to this, IBIT entered into the top 10 all time after passing the ETFs like JETS, BND and VEA.

Notably, the momentum for spot Bitcoin ETFs has waned significantly in the past two weeks. The last notable day of inflows was on March 26, when they surpassed $400 million—nearly a month ago. On the bright side, despite this slowdown, there have been no outflows from either BlackRock or Fidelity. Grayscale’s GBTC remains the primary negative factor driving outflows.

Furthermore, there seems to be a decrease in investment willingness among traditional sector investors; the total inflows through ETFs have been stagnant for more than 30 days, coinciding with a flat trend in Bitcoin prices.

At press time, BTC traded at $64,034.

Bitcoin price

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BlackRock’s Tokenized Fund News Sends Hedera (HBAR) Soaring 100%, The Reason May Surprise You

In a surprising turn of events, the native token of the decentralized ledger platform Hedera, HBAR, experienced a significant price surge of over 100% during the early hours of Tuesday. Starting from a low of $0.0875, HBAR skyrocketed to reach the $0.1821 mark by Wednesday. 

The sudden surge was triggered by the news of BlackRock’s tokenized fund, BUIDL, which generated high expectations among HBAR investors regarding a potential collaboration between the prominent asset manager and the Hedera protocol.

Not Directly Connected To Hedera?

Launched by BlackRock in March 2024, BUIDL operates as a tokenized fund on the Ethereum blockchain, providing US dollar yields through tokenization. 

Initially, an announcement led to confusion among investors, who mistakenly believed that BlackRock would directly tokenize the fund on the Hedera network. This misunderstanding triggered a significant surge in the HBAR price.

Upon closer examination of the announcement, it became clear that BlackRock and Hedera had no direct connection, although the initial reaction to the news was noteworthy. 

Crypto analysts, who use the pseudonym “CrediBull” on social media site X (formerly Twitter), shed light on the situation, emphasizing that explicit permission from BlackRock was unnecessary to list tokenized versions of their funds. 

It was not a deliberate decision by BlackRock to tokenize on Hedera; rather, an existing platform on the network took the liberty of tokenizing one of BlackRock’s funds. However, for the analyst, the fact that a platform on Hedera was among the first to tokenize a BlackRock fund reflects the platform’s leadership in the space.

Analyst Clarifies Misconception

Further examination reveals that Archax, the company behind the tokenized BlackRock fund on Hedera, is a portfolio company of ABRDN Investments, the largest asset manager in the UK, with approximately $500 billion in assets under management (AUM). 

Additionally, CrediBull emphasizes that BlackRock happens to be the fourth-largest shareholder of ABRDN. Notably, around ten months ago, Archax tokenized one of ABRDN’s money market funds, preceding their launch of the BlackRock fund.

An interview by the Head of Digital Assets at ABRDN clarifies their involvement in the tokenization process on Archax. A “distribution agreement” was signed permitting the tokenization to proceed. If a similar agreement were reached with BlackRock, it would imply the asset manager’s endorsement of the product.

Ultimately, the interview with the head of digital assets at ABRDN underscores the fact that significant players are utilizing and contributing to the growth of Hedera behind the scenes.

Hedera

Following the clarification of the situation, the price of HBAR has retraced to $0.1199. Nevertheless, it remains up 8% over the past 24 hours and has recorded an impressive gain of nearly 60% in the past seven days. 

CoinGecko data highlights a substantial surge in HBAR’s trading volume, which has increased by over 1,100% in the past few days. This surge in trading volume indicates the widespread confusion sparked by the initial news announcement.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

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Bitwise CIO Unveils 5 Major Forecasts For Bitcoin 2028 Halving, Anticipates A 280% Price Surge

Bitwise Chief Information Officer (CIO) Matt Hougan recently shared five interesting predictions for the next Halving of the Bitcoin (BTC) network, scheduled for 2028. In a comprehensive report, Hougan sheds light on the potential transformations for the world’s leading cryptocurrency.

New Investors And ETFs As Catalysts

One of Hougan’s key predictions is that Bitcoin’s volatility will significantly decline by 50%. He argues that the entry of new investors through the spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) market will drive this decline. 

Hougan said that as financial advisors, family offices, and institutions enter the Bitcoin market, their different investment behaviors – such as portfolio rebalancing and steady drip investments – could introduce counter-cyclical flows, ultimately dampening Bitcoin’s volatility.

Hougan’s second prediction revolves around the allocation of Bitcoin in portfolios. He believes that 5% allocations to Bitcoin will become commonplace in target-date portfolios. As BTC’s volatility decreases and becomes more attractive to institutional investors, Hougan expects a rise in typical portfolio allocations. 

The Bitwise CIO predicts that Bitcoin ETFs will attract over $200 billion in inflows. He highlights their impressive growth and cites their status as the fastest-growing new ETF category of all time. 

Hougan suggests that the ETF market is still in its early stages, with national wirehouses and institutions just beginning their due diligence. Drawing parallels with the rise of gold ETFs, which experienced year-after-year growth in net flows, he anticipates a similar trend for Bitcoin ETFs.

Bitcoin Price Path Toward $250,000

In an intriguing projection, Hougan suggests that central banks will allocate funds to Bitcoin before the next Halving event. He notes that central banks have historically been significant investors in gold, accumulating substantial amounts of the metal. 

However, with Bitcoin’s characteristics as non-debt money and its functional advantages over gold regarding payments and settlement, Hougan believes central banks will be increasingly drawn to Bitcoin. Hougan further noted on this matter:

There is also an element of game theory here. A major central bank adopting Bitcoin as a reserve asset would be a game-changer for Bitcoin and, I believe, would contribute to a dramatic increase in prices. Will one central bank try to front-run the others? 

Hougan’s final prediction revolves around Bitcoin’s price. He forecasts that Bitcoin will trade above $250,000 by 2028, an increase of nearly 280% from current levels. 

The Bitwise CIO attributes Bitcoin’s previous exponential growth to its transition from a speculative asset to one with real-world utility. 

Factors such as declining volatility, improved custody options, low correlations to traditional stocks, enhanced accessibility through ETFs, and growing institutional adoption all contribute to Hougan’s optimism regarding Bitcoin’s future progress. Hougan concluded by stating:

With the ETFs launched and gathering assets—and major Wall Street firms lining up behind bitcoin—I suspect the asset will continue to move further into the mainstream. At $250,000, bitcoin would be a $5 trillion asset. Could it go higher? Of course. But $250,000 would represent solid progress between halvings, and I think we’ll see at least that.

Bitcoin

Currently trading at $64,500, BTC is down nearly 3% in the past 24 hours after retesting the $67,000 mark on Tuesday and failing to consolidate above that level.  

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

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Hedge Funds Fall For The Memecoin Frenzy: “Mind-Boggling” Returns Tempt Financial Giants

In a recent Bloomberg report, it has come to light that the hedge fund industry is increasingly drawn to the allure of the memecoin sector, given the recent price increases and substantial profits that surpass those of Bitcoin (BTC) or the largest altcoins in the market.

Memecoin Mania

One example of the appeal of memecoins to traditional finance institutions is Newport Beach-based Stratos, which launched a liquid fund with the Dogwifhat token in December. 

The Solana-based memecoin Dogwifhat, known for its mascot – a beanie-wearing dog – became a major player in the crypto world, with its price increasing more than 300 times. 

This substantial spike reportedly helped Stratos achieve a staggering 137% return in the first quarter of 2024, outperforming gains in the broader crypto market. However, Dogwifhat has since retraced more than 35% from its March 31 all-time high (ATH) of $4.83 and is currently trading at $3.09.

Interestingly, Stratos is not alone in venturing into memecoins; other hedge funds are also doing so. 

Asset manager Brevan Howard, for instance, has reportedly made a “tiny” investment in memecoins. Pantera Capital, a crypto fund, recently emphasized the staying power of memecoins and the “enormous” trading opportunities they present. 

Is It Just Gambling?

Despite the enthusiasm from some hedge funds, the report notes that many crypto participants remain skeptical of memecoins. 

Quinn Thompson, the founder of Lekker Capital, a hedge fund experimenting with trading memecoins, likened the current frenzy to the speculative fervor seen in traditional markets with stocks like GameStop. 

In addition, Thompson described memecoins as the “tip of the spear for speculation” and emphasized the “gambling-like” nature of their trading.

Still, Cosmo Jiang, a portfolio manager at Pantera Capital, noted the evolution of memecoins beyond mere jokes, calling some “culture coins” that symbolize membership in a particular group or belief system. 

The report notes that the ease of creating and launching memecoins has increased with the availability of apps like Pump.fun, which allow users to mint coins in minutes. Blockchains like Solana and Coinbase’s Base, which offer low trading fees, have been flooded with these tokens. 

In light of these developments, Josh de Vos, research lead at CCData, highlighted the improved infrastructure supporting memecoins, including increased liquidity and the development of advanced futures markets on centralized exchanges (CEX). 

As more hedge funds take memecoins seriously, Rennick Palley of Stratos anticipates a growing focus on these crypto assets. 

Drawing parallels to the initial skepticism surrounding cryptocurrencies, Palley suggests that meme-only funds may emerge, mirroring the creation of non-fungible token (NFT) funds.

To further demonstrate the interest and adoption of these emerging tokens, in the first quarter of 2024, memecoins emerged as the most profitable crypto narrative, delivering massive average returns of 1312.6% across its top tokens, according to a recent study conducted by CoinGecko.

Memecoin

Currently, the largest memecoin on the market, Dogecoin (DOGE), is trading at $0.1616, up 5% in the last seven days. It has a market cap of $23 billion. 

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

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XRP Surges 12% As Bulls Take Charge, Expert Raises Target To $1.4

XRP has shown notable signs of renewed bullish momentum in the market. It bounced back from a significant 11% price drop on April 12th, which took the token to its lowest level of the year at $0.4230. 

However, last week saw a solid 12% price recovery, with XRP outperforming the other top 10 altcoins in the market, behind only Solana (SOL) and Binance Coin (BNB). 

Signs Of A Strong Bullish Trend Ahead For XRP? 

On Tuesday, XRP hit a high of $0.5571, demonstrating its bullishness and outperforming its peers. This resurgence was paired with a spike in wallet activity, a positive sign for the token’s overall market sentiment. 

According to the network intelligence platform Santiment, the number of wallets holding at least 1 million XRP has steadily increased over the past six weeks, rising by 3.1%. It is now just one wallet away from reaching an all-time high (ATH).

XRP

In addition, crypto analyst Ali Martinez reported a notable buying spree among XRP whales, who purchased over 31 million tokens in the past week alone. This has contributed to the cryptocurrency’s price recovery, emphasizing renewed confidence in its uptrend prospects.

Regarding price action, market analyst Egrag Crypto points out that XRP has formed a double bottom pattern, considered a strong bullish signal. This pattern, combined with the transition of the consolidation zone into a supply zone and the wicking area into a demand and accumulation zone, indicates a promising outlook for the token, according to the analyst. 

Egrag Crypto is confident that a significant price spike or “thrust” is imminent, and the analyst has updated his target to $1.4 for XRP. 

Critical Resistance Levels To Watch 

Despite initial bullish outlooks for XRP, the token has retraced to the $0.5474 price level as of the time of writing, accompanied by a 14% decrease in market capitalization over the past 30 days.

Moreover, as XRP aims to reach higher levels, potential resistance barriers may impede the token’s recovery and the bullish trend. Analyzing the XRP/USD chart below reveals the immediate resistance at $0.5644, which has prevented consolidation above current levels for the past week.

XRP

After that, the final obstacle before a retest of the $0.600 zone lies at the $0.5884 level. This level previously served as a support floor for the token, leading to a rebound during the uptrend seen in March, which took XRP to its yearly high of $0.745.

Conversely, monitoring the support levels at $0.52910, $0.5184, and $0.5044 is crucial. If a bearish scenario develops in the coming days, these levels may prevent XRP from falling below $0.500.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

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Market Expert Predicts New Paradigm For Bitcoin: ‘Days Under $100,000 Numbered’

As the Bitcoin (BTC) Halving event concluded for the fourth time, the cryptocurrency market witnessed notable changes in key metrics. 

These developments have led Charles Edwards, a market expert and founder of Capriole Invest, to issue bold predictions that hint at a paradigm shift in the BTC market. 

Bitcoin Trading At ‘Deep Discount’

One of the key metrics highlighted by Edwards is the staggering electrical cost associated with mining a single Bitcoin. Edwards reveals that this cost has now reached an astonishing $77,4000. This figure represents the raw electricity expenses required to power the Bitcoin network for every newly mined BTC.

Another significant metric that Edwards draws attention to is the Bitcoin Miner Price, which soared to $244,000 on Saturday. This metric encompasses the block reward and fees miners receive for every Bitcoin they successfully mine. 

Notably, this surge in miner price coincided with transaction fees skyrocketing to $230, marking a four-fold increase compared to the previous all-time high of $68 set in 2021.

Bitcoin

Considering the metrics above, Edwards suggests that BTC currently trades at a “deep discount.”  This is because BTC’s price is lower than the electrical costs of mining it.

Typically, this situation only lasts for a few days every four years, suggesting that the price will only take a short time to catch up and surpass this price level, which is slightly below BTC’s all-time high (ATH) of $73,7000, reached on March 14th. 

Edwards outlines three possible outcomes in the wake of these developments. First, he anticipates a scenario in which the price of Bitcoin experiences a significant surge. 

Secondly, there is a likelihood that approximately 15% of miners may be forced to shut down due to unfavorable economics. Finally, Edwards suggests that average transaction fees are expected to remain substantially higher.

Based on the analysis of these metrics and the potential scenarios, Edwards boldly predicts that Bitcoin’s days under the $100,000 mark are “numbered.” While it remains to be seen which of the three outcomes will prevail, Edwards expects a combination of all three factors to contribute to Bitcoin’s price appreciation.

Optimal Buying Opportunity? 

Bitcoin has demonstrated significant price consolidation above the $60,000 mark since Friday, following temporary drops below this threshold amid mounting anticipation for the Halving event. 

Crypto analyst Ali Martinez recently analyzed Bitcoin’s current price state, suggesting that a potential bottom may have formed above these levels, increasing the likelihood of surpassing upper resistance levels shortly.

According to Ali Martinez’s analysis, Bitcoin strives to establish the $66,000 price level as a crucial support zone. Data reveals that approximately 1.54 million addresses collectively purchased 747,000 BTC at this level. If Bitcoin successfully secures this support, it may pave the way for further upward movement.

Martinez identifies Bitcoin’s next critical resistance levels, between $69,900 and $71,200. These levels represent significant price barriers for BTC bulls, and Bitcoin may encounter selling pressure at these levels. 

In addition, the analyst points out that the Bitcoin MVRV ratio, a metric that compares the market value of Bitcoin to its realized value, has shown a promising pattern, as seen in the chart below. 

Bitcoin

Martinez highlights that whenever the MVRV ratio falls below its 90-day average since November 2022, it historically indicates an optimal buying opportunity for Bitcoin. Interestingly, such buying opportunities have resulted in average gains of approximately 67%.

According to Martinez, based on current market conditions and an analysis of the MVRV ratio, now may be an opportune time to consider buying Bitcoin. The historical data and the potential for significant price appreciation support this view. 

Bitcoin

BTC is trading at $66,100, up 1.6% in the past 24 hours. 

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

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Polkadot Unveils Major Upgrade Plan: Relay Chain Replacement And 10M DOT Prize Incentive

Gavin Wood, the founder of the Polkadot protocol, has unveiled a new Gray Paper outlining the forthcoming Join-Accumulate Machine (JAM) upgrade for the network. This announcement occurred during Wood’s presentation on Polkadot’s future at the Token2049 crypto conference in Dubai. 

Wood introduced the JAM Implementer’s Prize, a 10 Million DOT prize pool, to encourage diverse development of the JAM protocol. 

Polkadot Unveils JAM Upgrade

According to the announcement, the JAM upgrade aims to replace the relay chain, which acts as the central data chain in the Polkadot network, with a “more modular and minimalist design” that will allow Polkadot to run generic services and increase network stability. 

The parachains service within JAM will support existing Substrate-based parachains, enabling developers to continue using Substrate to develop and deploy their blockchains. 

Notably, these services will have no predefined limits on code, data, or state capacity and can accommodate additional DOT deposits for increased capacity.

JAM’s design includes several technical improvements. It replaces WebAssembly with the Polkadot Virtual Machine based on the RISC-V ISA, an open-source instruction set architecture (ISA) used to develop custom processors.

It also introduces SAFROLE, a SNARK-based block production algorithm. These upgrades are reportedly designed to optimize performance and scalability within the Polkadot network.

On The Path To Decentralization?

To realize the vision of “a truly decentralized protocol,” Polkadot aims to support multiple client implementations. Furthermore, the JAM Implementer’s prize has been established to incentivize and fund projects contributing to the development of JAM implementations. The announcement further reads on the matter:

We believe that supporting a range of implementations in various programming languages will strengthen the ecosystem’s foundation. It distributes the power of protocol implementers more widely and reduces the risk of a bug in one implementation taking down the entire network.

The JAM Implementer’s Prize will collaborate with existing and future funding initiatives that support Polkadot’s ecosystem and technology stack. These initiatives include Decentralized Futures, Grants, and Polkadot’s on-chain treasury. 

The prize will be activated when JAM is ratified as a Polkadot technology through the network’s on-chain governance mechanism.

Overall, Gavin Wood’s introduction of the JAM upgrade and the associated 10 Million DOT prize reflects Polkadot’s intention to increase the protocol’s use and adoption. JAM’s modular design and incentives for multi-client implementations are also expected to contribute to ongoing efforts to decentralize the Polkadot network. 

As JAM development continues, the Polkadot ecosystem welcomes proposals from teams interested in implementing it in various programming environments.

Polkadot

Despite the recent announcement, the network’s native token, DOT, has been unable to break the downtrend witnessed over the past month. Currently trading at $6.75, it reflects a significant 24% decline in price over the last 30 days.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com 

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Bitcoin Halving: Anticipating Price Impact, Miner Challenges, And Long-Term Outlook

The highly anticipated Bitcoin Halving event is close, bringing with it heightened expectations regarding the long-term impact on the Bitcoin price. 

There are concerns, however, that this quadrennial event may already be priced in, as Bitcoin recently reached an unprecedented all-time high of $73,700 on March 14.

This surge broke the pattern of previous Halvings, where Bitcoin had never surpassed its previous ATH before the event. However, historical data reveals significant price increases in the year following previous Halvings.

Experts Predict Delayed Bitcoin Halving Price Impact

Analysts argue that the compounding impact of reduced issuance takes several months to materialize, suggesting that the Halving itself may not prompt a significant rally before or immediately after the event. 

Deutsche Bank analysts share this sentiment, highlighting that substantial price increases have typically occurred in the run-up to previous Halvings rather than immediately after them.

Another factor to consider is the increased production costs for Bitcoin miners resulting from the Halving. As the mining reward decreases, participating in the mining process becomes less profitable. 

This has historically led to a decline in the hashrate, the total computational power used for Bitcoin mining. JPMorgan analysts predict that production costs could rise to an average of $42,000 after the Halving.

One JPMorgan analyst wrote, “This estimate is also the level we envisage Bitcoin prices drifting towards once Bitcoin-Halving-induced euphoria subsides after April.”

While these factors may influence short-term price movement, historical data reveals that the price of Bitcoin has experienced significant increases in the year following previous Halvings. 

The respective price gains for the three previous halvings were 8,760%, 2,570%, and 594%. However, it’s important to note that each successive halving has a diminishing impact on the new supply of Bitcoin.

Mining Industry Shake-Up

In the mining sector, Halving could lead to significant revenue losses, estimated to be around $10 billion annually. 

According to Fortune, publicly traded miners have taken measures to increase their resilience, diversify their offerings, and optimize their operations. However, mining stocks have faced challenges, with some experiencing significant declines.

While larger miners may undergo a period of adjustment, smaller miners and pools may be pushed offline. This could result in a wider market share for the surviving miners. 

Experts at private asset management firm Bernstein expect the mining industry to consolidate, with “smaller and less efficient players” potentially selling assets to raise capital and shore up their balance sheets. 

The increased market dominance of the surviving miners is expected to be profitable over the long term, especially with the continued structural demand for Bitcoin from ETFs.

Timing The Bitcoin Bull Market Peak

Cryptocurrency analyst Rekt Capital has provided insights into the potential timing of Bitcoin’s bull market peak based on historical Halving cycles and the current acceleration seen in the market. 

According to Rekt Capital, Bitcoin has traditionally reached its peak in the bull market approximately 518-546 days after the Halving event.

However, the current cycle has shown signs of unprecedented acceleration, with Bitcoin surpassing previous all-time highs roughly 260 days ahead of historical norms. Nonetheless, the recent “pre-Halving retrace” has slowed down the cycle by around 30 days and counting.

Taking into account this accelerated perspective, if Bitcoin’s bull market peak is measured from the moment it breaks its old all-time high, it may occur 266-315 days later. As Bitcoin achieved new all-time highs in March, this suggests a potential bull market peak in December 2024 or February 2025, according to Rekt’s analysis.

Both perspectives carry significance throughout the cycle, especially if the acceleration trend persists. However, prolonged retracements or consolidation periods can slow down the cycle, potentially pushing the anticipated bull market peak further into the future.

Bitcoin Halving

At the time of writing, BTC was trading at $64,300, up from the $59,000 mark reached in the early hours of Friday.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com 

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Ripple CEO Walks Back $5 Trillion Crypto Marker Prediction, Unveils New Target

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Ripple, Brad Garlinghouse, has revised his earlier ambitious prediction on the crypto industry’s future market capitalization, acknowledging that he had underestimated the market’s potential surge. 

Ripple CEO Underpredicts Crypto Market Cap

Appearing in a recent interview with Fox Business, Garlinghouse shed light on the growth potential of the cryptocurrency market as well as its performance since the beginning of the year. 

The Ripple CEO was questioned about his previous optimistic forecast for the crypto industry’s market capitalization, in which he projected that the market cap would double to approximately $5 trillion by the end of the year. According to CoinMarketCap, the current global cryptocurrency market capitalization stands at roughly around $2.25 trillion. 

In response to the inquiry, Garlinghouse expressed his belief that his previous predictions were not overly ambitious, emphasizing the market’s potential for further growth. He admitted to underpredicting the industry’s potential market capitalization by the end of 2024, citing factors such as the current supply and demand dynamics driving additional increases. 

Garlinghouse noted that the current market conditions are characterized by increased demand and reduced supply, with these dynamics playing a significant role in the performance of cryptocurrencies. 

He disclosed that the Spot Bitcoin ETF market and the overall sentiment regarding Bitcoin’s value have significantly boosted demand for the cryptocurrency. Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s supply is diminishing due to the increasing number of large-scale investors purchasing the cryptocurrency rapidly. Additionally, the impending Bitcoin halving event is expected to further decrease the cryptocurrency’s supply. 

Assessing the current state of the crypto market, Garlinghouse stated that since the last six months, Bitcoin has been up by more than 250%, with further increases anticipated. He also asserted that this overperformance was largely driven by the approval and launch of Spot Bitcoin ETFs as well as the upcoming Bitcoin halving. 

Regulations Are Vital For Market Development

Garlinghouse has disclosed that establishing proper regulatory frameworks for the cryptocurrency market would yield positive outcomes for the market in the future. 

He explained that one of the primary factors hindering the growth of this evolving market was the United State’s prevailing anti-crypto stance, suggesting that the country’s enforcement actions on the developing industry were “problematic.”

The Ripple CEO highlighted several countries, including Dubai, Singapore and the United Kingdom, which have been proactively embracing cryptocurrencies and implementing proper regulatory systems to foster further growth in the market. 

Garlinghouse has asserted that the US has significantly lagged in recognizing the transformative and innovative impact of the cryptocurrency market, attributing this setback to the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and its current Chair, Gary Gensler.

Crypto total market cap from Tradingview.com (Ripple CEO)

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Toncoin Price Jumps 17% As Tether Widens Payment Choices On Telegram’s TON Network

Tether, the company behind the largest stablecoin in the market, USDT, has made a significant expansion move that has propelled the Toncoin price, the native token of The Open Network (TON), by 17% in the past 24 hours. 

Tether Expands Reach To 15 Blockchains

On Friday, Tether announced the launch of its USDT dollar-pegged token and Tether Gold (XAUT), a gold-backed digital token, on The Open Network. This development marks a significant move for Tether, expanding its presence to 15 blockchains. 

The integration of TON with Telegram, which boasts over 900 million global users, is expected to provide a “seamless and borderless” experience for peer-to-peer (P2P) payments within Telegram’s user base.

With the introduction of USDT and XAUT on TON, Tether aims to facilitate the easy transfer of value between users in the TON ecosystem and other blockchain networks while increasing the transfer speed and reducing costs. 

Paolo Ardoino, CEO at Tether, expressed excitement about the launch, emphasizing their support for The Open Network’s vision of an open and “decentralized internet.” Ardoino stated:

We’re excited to bring USD₮ and XAU₮ to The Open Network because we support its vision of an open and decentralized internet and a borderless financial system. The launch of USD₮ and XAU₮ on TON will allow seamless value transfer, increasing activity and liquidity while offering users a financial experience that can match those found in the traditional financial system. This furthers our mission of powering open financial infrastructure across the blockchain space.

11 Million TON Tokens To Drive Adoption Of USDT, XAUT

Meanwhile, The Open Network claims to “revolutionize” global peer-to-peer payments, allowing Telegram users to send money instantly without needing a blockchain address or downloading a new app. 

Notably, USDT on TON will be complemented by fully integrated on-ramps supporting most fiat currencies globally. Additionally, integrated global off-ramps will facilitate users’ withdrawal of supported fiat currencies directly to their bank accounts or cards.

The TON Foundation has allocated 11 million TON tokens as incentives to drive adoption. Five million TON will be utilized to boost rewards in USDT/TON liquidity pools across TON decentralized exchanges (DEXes) like StonFi and Dedust. 

Another 5 million TON will be distributed to users who deposit USDT to the Earn campaign of Telegram’s wallet. Furthermore, withdrawals to TON from supporting exchanges such as OKEx, Bybit, and KuCoin will be free for all users until the end of June 2024.

Ultimately, the introduction of USDT and XAUT on TON, coupled with the incentives provided, is expected to accelerate the adoption of TON and establish it as a “faster, easier and more cost-effective” cross-border payment system compared to traditional financial services, according to The Open Network’s announcement.  

Toncoin Price Rallies

Following the disclosure of the partnership, the Toncoin price surged, reaching a high of $8.02 on Friday. This marked the end of a sharp decline over the past week since the token achieved its all-time high (ATH) of $8.79 on April 11. After reaching the new ATH, the Toncoin price dropped to a low of $5.42 on Saturday, April 13.

However, with the recent partnership announcement, the Toncoin price has regained its bullish momentum and is currently trading at $6.59. 

It aims to surpass the price resistance level of $7.70, which will pave the way for reaching and surpassing the $8 mark. This would provide a favorable trajectory for the Toncoin price to conquer and exceed its current ATH.

Toncoin price

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

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Ethereum Blockchain’s Q1 2024 Success: Unveiling The Factors Behind The $370M Profit Surge

Not only has Ethereum (ETH) seen an impressive rise of nearly 100% in the first quarter of 2024 in terms of price action, but the Ethereum blockchain has also generated substantial profits of up to $369 million during this period. This unexpected profitability has raised questions about how a blockchain like Ethereum can be profitable. 

Ethereum Revenue Potential

As noted in a recent analysis by the on-chain data platform Token Termina, the collection of transaction fees is a critical aspect of Ethereum’s business model. 

All network users are required to pay fees in ETH when interacting with applications on the blockchain, which serves as an important source of revenue for Ethereum.

Once transaction fees are paid, a portion of the ETH is burned and permanently removed from circulation. This process, commonly referred to as “ETH buyback,” benefits existing ETH holders, as the reduction in supply increases the scarcity and value of the remaining ETH tokens. Thus, the daily burning of ETH contributes to the economic benefit of those holding Ethereum.

In contrast to the burning of ETH, Ethereum also issues new ETH tokens as rewards to the network’s validators for each new block added to the blockchain. 

These rewards are similar to traditional stock-based compensation and are designed to incentivize validators to secure and maintain the network’s integrity. 

Nonetheless, it’s important to note that the issuance of new ETH tokens dilutes the holdings of existing ETH holders.

According to Token Terminal, the difference between the daily USD value of the burned ETH (revenue) and the newly issued ETH (expenses) represents the daily earnings for existing ETH holders, essentially the Ethereum blockchain owners. This calculation allows for the determination of Ethereum’s profitability on a day-to-day basis.

Reduced Transaction Costs Drive $3.3 Billion Growth

In addition to the overhauled revenue model implemented by the Ethereum blockchain, the launch of the much-anticipated Dencun upgrade to the Ethereum ecosystem at the end of the first quarter of 2024 brought significant changes, including the introduction of a revolutionary data storage system called blobs. 

This upgrade has reduced congestion on the Ethereum network and significantly reduced transaction costs on Layer 2 networks such as Arbitrum (ABR), Polygon (MATIC), and Coinbase’s Base. 

Implementing the Dencun upgrade, alongside the adoption of blobs and Layer 2 networks, has significantly impacted Ethereum’s revenue. 

According to Token Terminal data, the blockchain’s revenue has witnessed an 18% annualized increase, amounting to an impressive $3.3 billion. These revenue gains can be attributed to reduced transaction costs, making Ethereum a more attractive platform for users and developers.

Ethereum

Despite the positive revenue growth, it is essential to acknowledge the impact of market corrections and dampened investor interest in the second quarter of 2024. 

Over the past 30 days, Ethereum’s revenue has declined by over 52%. This downturn can be attributed to the broader market dynamics and the temporary decrease in investor enthusiasm. 

Examining the data over the past 30 days, Ethereum’s market cap (fully diluted) has decreased by 15.2% to $358.47 billion. Similarly, the circulating market cap has declined by 15.2% to reach the same value. 

Additionally, the token trading volume over the past 30 days has declined 18.6%, totaling $586.14 billion. 

Ethereum

ETH is trading at $3,042, up 0.4% in the last 24 hours. It remains to be seen whether these changes and the reduction in fees will have the same effect in the second quarter of the year, and how this, coupled with a potential increase in trading volume, can push the ETH price to higher levels. 

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com 

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Aptos Labs Teams Up With Microsoft, SK Telecom For New Institutional Platform, APT Soars 3%

In a notable collaboration, Aptos Labs, the developer of the Aptos (APT) Layer-1 (L1) blockchain, announced a partnership with tech giants Microsoft, Brevan Howard, and South Korean telecommunications company SK Telecom for a new decentralized finance (DeFi) platform.

Aptos Labs Unveils Aptos Ascend

The announcement, made on Thursday, revealed that Aptos Labs is launching Aptos Ascend, which will leverage the technologies of cloud computing platform Microsoft Azure, Azure OpenAI service, and SK Telecom while benefiting from the expertise of Brevan Howard and Boston Consulting Group (BCG) to provide digital currency and asset management services to its user base. 

This partnership effort aims to set new benchmarks for secure and scalable financial solutions built on the Aptos blockchain, specifically through the launch of Aptos Ascend.

Aptos Ascend introduces advanced Digital Asset Controls designed to provide precision and adaptability in asset management.

Key features include customizable tokens tailored to specific financial requirements, access control limited to approved transactions and participants, and increased confidentiality through Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKP) that ensure compliant transaction details remain secure.

Furthermore, Aptos Ascend’s Network Controls empower financial institutions to upgrade their infrastructure and address future financial challenges.

This is achieved through customizable solutions that allow adaptation of network settings to meet regulatory requirements, implementation of multi-signature protocols for improved security, and maintenance of transparency through comprehensive audit trails.

Convergence Of AI And Blockchain

Mo Shaikh, Co-founder and CEO of Aptos Labs, believes the project will “unlock the on-chain potential that financial institutions have been eagerly awaiting.” 

Shaikh emphasized that this collaboration signifies the beginning of a ‘financial revolution” and expressed excitement about the future pioneers who will leverage the capabilities of the Aptos Ascend suite.

In August 2023, Aptos Labs had already announced their utilization of Microsoft’s infrastructure to deploy new offerings that combine artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology.

Among these offerings was Aptos Assistant, a chatbot that provides increased user experiences. Shaikh highlighted the convergence of AI and blockchain as “transformative forces” that shape the internet and society and emphasized the shared vision of Aptos Labs and Microsoft to make this technology accessible to a wider audience.

APT Breaks Month-Long Downtrend

Following the collaboration and the introduction of the new platform, APT has experienced a significant breakthrough in its month-long downtrend, which amounted to a decline of over 40%. The unlock event of a substantial portion of APT tokens primarily drove this decline.

Before the unlock event on April 12, APT had already witnessed a price drop of nearly 16%. In this event, $141 million worth of tokens were distributed, with $100 million allocated to investors, $38 million among community members, and $16 million earmarked for the ecosystem development foundation. The released APT tokens account for 6% of the current circulating supply.

Aptos

Currently, APT is trading at $9.54, recording a surge of 6% concurrent with the collaboration unveiling.  Moreover, according to data from CoinGecko, the token’s trading volume has experienced a remarkable increase, reaching $238 million, reflecting a 46% surge compared to the trading volume on Wednesday.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

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Pre-Halving Jitters: Bitcoin Price Briefly Slips Below $60,000

The Bitcoin price has recently experienced heightened volatility, causing the largest cryptocurrency in the market to briefly drop below the significant threshold of $60,000 for the first time since March 5. 

This price decrease comes just days before the highly anticipated Halving event scheduled for Friday. This event has traditionally been viewed as a positive catalyst for Bitcoin’s value due to its impact on token supply. 

However, market participants are questioning whether the Halving’s effects are already factored into the current market conditions, leading to extended bearish sentiment.

Long-Term Bullish Outlook Prevails

Bitcoin’s decline saw it plummet by 5% to $59,890, though it recovered some losses shortly afterward. Since reaching an all-time high (ATH) of $73,700 on March 14, the Bitcoin price has now retraced by approximately 18%. 

The downward trend extended to other major cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and Dogecoin (DOGE), which also experienced slumps on Wednesday.

The impending Halving, a quadrennial code update in Bitcoin, has raised concerns among investors as to whether it will be a significant market-moving event or a non-event overshadowed by other factors, such as the ongoing discussions surrounding the Bitcoin ETF market, which has seen a significant decrease in terms of outflows.  

Nathanaël Cohen, co-founder of INDIGO Fund, noted that market participants are de-risking due to this uncertainty and the additional macro factor of tensions in the Middle East involving Israel and Iran, putting further pressure on risk assets.

The recent decline in Bitcoin’s price was further exacerbated by a wave of liquidations in long positions for digital assets. Last Friday alone, approximately $780 million worth of bullish crypto wagers were liquidated within 24 hours. 

Despite the recent market turbulence, some participants maintain a bullish long-term outlook for Bitcoin. Some see the recent liquidations and subsequent flushing out of leverage in the crypto market as a positive development. 

Ravi Doshi, head of markets at FalconX, reported increased buying of longer-dated call options on their derivatives desk, suggesting that clients anticipate higher prices in the latter half of the year.

Bitcoin Price Rebounds Above $61,000

Following the brief dip below the $60,000 mark, the Bitcoin price has rebounded, currently trading at $61,600. This recovery is viewed as a bullish sign, with the cryptocurrency’s macro uptrend structure remaining intact as long as price levels of $51,000 and $42,000 are maintained. 

Bitcoin price

The market is closely watching whether the theory suggesting that the Halving price catalyst is already factored into the current market conditions holds. Additionally, the performance of Bitcoin ETFs in the United States and their potential impact on driving the cryptocurrency’s price back to previous highs are of significant interest.

Furthermore, the recent approval of the spot Bitcoin ETF market in Hong Kong is expected to contribute to increased adoption of the leading cryptocurrency. Although some experts do not consider it as significant as the US ETF market, it is anticipated to generate a surge in price and further strengthen Bitcoin’s position.

Ultimately, the outcome of the Halving event, combined with the developments in both the US and Hong Kong ETF markets, remains uncertain. The ability of Bitcoin to regain its bullish momentum and drive increased demand will be closely monitored.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

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DeFi And Web3 Gaming Dominate Q1: Record Transactions Leave Stablecoins In The Dust, Report

In a recent report published by QuickNode, the first quarter of 2024 showed the dominance of decentralized finance (DeFi) and the notable growth of Web3 gaming in the crypto industry, which outperformed the stablecoin sector in key metrics, indicating investor preference and market sentiment during this period. 

Hopes For Second ‘DeFi Summer’ 

Per the report, DeFi experienced a significant resurgence in Q1’24, fueled by a surge in developer and user activity, particularly on chains like Solana (SOL) and Base. 

This resurgence has sparked growing hopes of a second ‘DeFi Summer,’ as DeFi projects embrace new concepts such as staking, liquid staking, restaking, and liquid restaking, which have been catalysts for its growth. Notably, staking now represents a substantial portion of DeFi’s Total Value Locked (TVL).

While stablecoins remain the top spot for address activity, DeFi surpassed stablecoins in an essential metric: transaction counts. 

DeFi

DeFi emerged as the leader in transactions for Q1’24, averaging nearly 7 million daily transactions. Furthermore, DeFi led in fees spent, gas usage, and the overall number of projects despite comprising only approximately 4% of the total crypto market cap.

The TVL for yield-generating protocols within DeFi witnessed steady growth, climbing from $26.5 billion in Q3’23 to $59.7 billion in Q1’24. According to QuickNode, this rally signifies a return of confidence and liquidity to the DeFi markets as investors seek opportunities for yield generation.

Players Take Control With Web3 Gaming

In parallel, Web3-based gaming has emerged as a significant departure from conventional gaming platforms. By leveraging cryptocurrencies and non-fungible tokens (NFTs), Web3 gaming offers players new and decentralized gaming. 

Players now have the opportunity to actively participate in games and earn rewards, shifting control away from centralized entities within the gaming ecosystem.

The report highlights the growth of Web3 gaming, surpassing stablecoins in transaction volume and achieving the highest year-over-year (YoY) active address growth across all categories, with a 155% increase in active addresses during Q1 ’24. 

This surge in player engagement and participation is evident through the exponential growth of transactions within Web3 gaming, which experienced a staggering 370% YoY increase.

The Appeal Of Stablecoins

Although stablecoins continue to lead in daily active users, representing over 41% of all Web3 user activity, other categories have shown higher quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) activity growth, indicating potential catch-up. 

Tether’s USDT remains the dominant stablecoin, controlling approximately 75% of the market cap. Notably, Circle’s USDC has taken the lead in volume and average transaction size, partly due to Coinbase’s efforts to integrate USDC on its platform and promote its use on its Layer 2 network, Base.

DeFi

In addition, the report notes that stablecoins have proven attractive to both new and experienced users, offering stability and value predictability, especially during periods of market uncertainty.

QuickNode attributes the surge in stablecoin user activity in Q1’24 to several factors, including the approval and listing of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US, the anticipation of Bitcoin’s next Halving event, the devaluation of fiat currencies, the popularity of low-volatility assets, and the strength of the USD, to which over 90% of stablecoin transactions are anchored.

DeFi

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com