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Bitcoin is now trading above the $96,000 mark after multiple days of struggling to break through that resistance zone. The breakout signals renewed strength from bulls, who have regained control following weeks of tight consolidation. However, while this move confirms bullish momentum in the short term, the critical level to reclaim remains the psychological $100,000 threshold. A decisive push above $100K could unlock a wave of market-wide upside and potentially trigger a new phase of the bull cycle.

Top analyst Daan shared a technical analysis on X, noting that BTC has officially broken out of the $93K–$96K range after about a week of compressed price action. He compares the current setup to a previous consolidation phase that also preceded a breakout, emphasizing the need to hold above this new support.

The coming days will be key in determining whether Bitcoin can sustain this momentum and move confidently toward the long-anticipated six-figure milestone.

Bitcoin Breaks Out Again, but Bulls Must Defend Key Levels

After months of selling pressure from the all-time highs, Bitcoin is once again showing signs of strength, attempting to confirm a broader bullish setup that could lift the entire market. The decisive break above the $90K level marked a major shift in momentum, giving bulls the upper hand and fueling optimism about a potential push toward six-figure territory. However, broader market risks remain, including persistent macroeconomic uncertainty and ongoing trade conflicts between global powers that continue to weigh on investor sentiment.

Daan shared insights suggesting that BTC has broken out of the $93K–$96K range after nearly a week of tight consolidation and compressed price action. This pattern mirrors a previous setup seen just days before, where similar compression led to an upside breakout. According to Daan, this breakout is encouraging, but it must be defended. A move back into the $93K–$96K range would undermine the current rally and could signal a mere liquidity grab rather than a sustained breakout.

For now, Bitcoin continues to trade with strength, but the next few sessions will be critical. If bulls can hold above $96K and build momentum, the path toward reclaiming the $100K mark becomes increasingly likely. Otherwise, the risk of a retrace and renewed volatility remains on the table.

Price Analysis: Bulls Aim For $100K As Breakout Extends

Bitcoin is currently trading at $97,015 after pushing through key resistance levels in a strong continuation of the uptrend that began in mid-April. This 4-hour chart shows a clear breakout above the $93K–$96K consolidation range, which had compressed price action for about a week. The breakout has been followed by steady price action above $95K, indicating solid demand and controlled bullish momentum.

Both the 200-period SMA ($86,572) and EMA ($89,048) are far below current levels, showing that Bitcoin is well above its medium-term support zones. This positioning reinforces bullish structure and suggests any retrace into the $90K–$92K zone could serve as a healthy retest rather than a breakdown.

Volume picked up significantly during the breakout on April 23–24 and has remained elevated, which is a strong technical confirmation of the move. Immediate resistance now lies at the psychological $100K level, with a secondary target at $103,600.

Bulls must maintain momentum and avoid a sharp rejection below $95K, which could imply a failed breakout and open the door for profit-taking. Overall, the trend remains bullish with upside potential, but traders should watch for signs of exhaustion near resistance.

Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

With the broader crypto market’s renewed bullish condition, Ethereum is beginning to demonstrate robust upward movements as it hovers near the pivotal $1,900 level. Following the recent bullish performance, investors and traders are choosing to hold onto their coins, as indicated by a sharp drop in ETH’s exchange reserves.

Exchanges Ethereum Reserves Drop Sharply

Ethereum’s price has picked up its pace once again, reclaiming above $1,800 amidst favorable market conditions. During the positive period, investors appear to have been withdrawing ETH from major exchanges, especially Binance, the largest crypto exchange.

Kyle Doops, the host of the Crypto Banter show, revealed the shift in investor sentiment toward ETH after investigating the Ethereum Exchange Supply Ratio metric on the Binance exchange. 

This drop in exchange reserves indicates that investors are increasingly putting ETH into long-term or cold storage, lowering the quantity that is easily accessible for trading. It also reflects investors’ strong conviction in the altcoin‘s long-term prospects as the bull market progresses.

Data shared by Kyle Doops in the X post shows that Ethereum is quietly tightening on exchanges, with its available supply plummeting sharply to the lowest levels in weeks. Over time, these supply reductions have often come before price increases, fueled by the dynamics of growing demand and scarcity.

According to the expert, ETH leaves crypto exchanges, causing selling pressure to drop and tightening supply when this happens, which leads to price squeezes in the near term. As Ethereum’s exchange supply reduces, Kyle Doops claims that the Binance platform is the liquidity hub.

ETH’s Uptrend Unable to Halt Bearish Streak

Since the development often signals potential upward surges, this implies that Ethereum’s price might be gearing up for bullish responses, suggesting a continuation of its current uptrend. However, despite the ongoing upside movements, the altcoin has finished another month in a bearish style. 

Technical expert and investor, Venturefounder delved into the monthly price action, highlighting 5 consecutive months of unhinged selling pressure and bearish performance. He also highlighted that the altcoin has flipped into a bullish outlook as May begins, hinting at a possible end to the negative streak.

The chart shows that April’s bearish close marked the second-largest streak of consecutive red months since 2018, where ETH witnessed 7 straight red months between May and November. By the time the streak ended, Ethereum’s price had dropped significantly to the $91 level.

In the meantime, Crypto Bullet, a market expert, is confident that this mid-term correction has reached its end, mapping out a giant reversal candle from the August to October 2023 lows. While the bottom is in, the analyst anticipates a good bounce in the mid-term.

Crypto Bullet stated that the expected move might be a rally to a new all-time high or a dead cat bounce. However, the expert is leaning toward the dead cat bounce scenario based on ETH’s weakness this cycle and that the cycle is just 7 months away from concluding.

A prominent member of the XRP community, XRP Investing, has commented on the speculations that there is a secret XRP Ledger (XRPL). The community member also addressed theories that the XRP price is trading at $1,000 on this private ledger. 

Insights Into The Secret Ledger

In an X post, XRP Investing stated that the claims that there is a secret version of the XRP Ledger where banks move billions anonymously aren’t a conspiracy. The community remarked confidently that besides the public XRPL, there is a ‘CBDC Private Ledger,’ which he claimed Ripple announced as the private version of the XRPL in 2021.

XRP Investing stated that the crypto firm built this private XRP Ledger specifically for Central Banks. He claimed that it is private because these banks demand privacy, compliance, and control. This Ledger enables them to issue Central Bank Digital Currencies (CBDCs) without exposing their data or using XRP. The community member added that the CBDC Private Ledger is tailored for wholesale and retail digital currency, not public crypto trading. 

Meanwhile, he asserted that Ripple has confirmed that this XRP Ledger is real and isolated from the public XRPL. XRP Investing further remarked that XRP isn’t used on the private Ledger at all. Indeed, Ripple released a blog post in 2021, announcing the pilot phase of a private version of the public, open-source XRP Ledger. 

The crypto firm stated that this private version of the XRP Ledger will provide central banks with a secure, controlled, and flexible solution for the issuance and management of digital currencies. 

Ripple explained that it chose to make this version of the XRPL private because a Central Bank requires more transaction privacy and control over its currency than a public ledger can offer. As such, these banks would most likely opt to create their CBDCs on a private ledger, which they can also operate on a large scale. 

XRP Price Differences On The Two Ledgers?

XRP Investing also addressed speculations that the price on the private XRP ledger is different and trading at $1,000. He noted that these were simply rumors that Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer (CTO), David Schwartz, had shut down. As such, there is officially no double pricing for XRP on both ledgers. The community member reiterated that the private ledger does not use XRP. 

He noted that this development matters because it shows that Ripple’s private XRP Ledger isn’t just a clone but a real use case for XRPL technology. The community member added that this positions the crypto firm at the heart of future CBDC infrastructure, which he claimed is bullish. This could boost XRP’s adoption in the long run if these banks decide to use the native token to facilitate transactions.

After surging into the $97,000 level this week, Bitcoin appears to be entering a fresh bullish phase. Following weeks of heightened volatility and persistent selling pressure, the market is beginning to shift its tone. Bulls are gaining momentum, and the broader crypto space is showing signs of renewed confidence as price action heats up.

Top analyst Axel Adler shared key insights, revealing that the return of the YoY True MVRV (Market Value to Realized Value) to positive territory marks a significant milestone in this cycle. This metric indicates that, on average, coins acquired over the past year are now held at a profit, with the current market price sitting above the average purchase price.

This shift reduces the pressure from panic sellers, many of whom were previously underwater and looking to exit. Now, with realized profits increasing, there is less urgency to sell, which in turn supports price stability and builds momentum. As a result, investor confidence is rising, and a healthier market structure is forming.

If this trend continues, Bitcoin could be on the verge of a sustained move toward new all-time highs, signaling that the next leg of the bull market may have just begun.

Bitcoin Holds Firm As Market Shifts Into Recovery Phase

Bitcoin is currently facing a critical challenge as it struggles to reclaim the psychologically important $100,000 level. Over the past two weeks, bulls have successfully pushed the price above key resistance zones such as $90,000 and $96,000, signaling renewed strength. However, the momentum is being tempered by growing macroeconomic uncertainty, including persistent fears of a global recession and continued conflict between the US and China, two factors that heavily influence investor sentiment across all markets.

Despite these concerns, Bitcoin’s on-chain metrics are flashing signs of a structural shift in market behavior. According to Axel Adler, the Year-over-Year True MVRV (Market Value to Realized Value) has returned to positive territory. This means that, on average, the current market price is now higher than the average price at which coins were acquired over the past year. As a result, most holders are in profit.

This change marks a crucial psychological turning point. The pressure from panic sellers is easing as fewer participants are motivated to lock in losses. Instead, we are seeing rising holder confidence and reduced sell-side activity. Adler notes that this transition often aligns with the start of a recovery phase and paves the way for more sustainable growth.

If this trend continues, the speculative premium will build gradually, setting the stage for a longer-term rally. In essence, the foundation for the next major move appears to be forming, and according to Adler, the most interesting part of this cycle may have just begun.

Technical Details: Price Holds Near $97K

Bitcoin is trading at $96,800 after briefly pushing above the $97,000 level earlier in the session. While bulls have maintained control throughout the past week, they’re now showing signs of exhaustion as demand appears to be stalling around current prices. Still, the price remains elevated, and momentum is building across the broader market as traders anticipate a potential breakout.

To sustain the rally, BTC must hold above the $95,000 level, now acting as a key short-term support. A stable base here could provide the necessary fuel for a continued push toward the $100,000 psychological milestone, which would confirm a fresh bullish leg in this cycle.

However, if Bitcoin fails to hold $95K, short-term sentiment could shift quickly. A break below this level may open the door to a deeper retrace, with the next major support lying in the $88K–$90K zone. Given the high level of macroeconomic uncertainty and mixed signals across global markets, traders are likely to remain cautious heading into the weekend.

For now, the focus remains on whether bulls can build enough momentum to breach $97K again and make a convincing move toward uncharted territory.

 

Over the last few months, the Ethereum price has performed incredibly poorly, dashing the hopes of investors who believed in its potential. While the Bitcoin price has made multiple new highs with expectations that the ETH price could follow, the opposite has been the case. In the last five months, Ethereum has gone from $4,000 to less than $2,000, printing consistent red monthly closes during this period. Now with five consecutive negative monthly closes, we take a look at where the ETH price could be headed next.

Ethereum’s Five Red Monthly Closes

In a recent post on X (formerly Twitter), crypto analyst CryptoBullet pointed out that the Ethereum price had closed its fifth consecutive month in the red. This development has set Ethereum back years, with its price crashing to levels not seen since 2023.

Related Reading: Dogecoin Price Completes Bullish Rounded Bottom, Moves Into Range For This Breakout

However, it may seem that this is not entirely bad news for the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap and could end up being the start of a bullish impulse.

According to the analyst, the month of April was actually pivotal for the Ethereum price despite closing out in the red. This is due to the formation of a giant Hammer/Dragonfly doji candle that CryptoBullet points out happened as the price swept 2023 lows when it fell toward $1,400 earlier in the month. Naturally, this formation is bullish for the cryptocurrency as it could mean that Ethereum has finally found a bottom from here.

Looking back at Ethereum’s history, there has been only one time in the past, where the optics have been this bad for Ethereum, and it was seven years ago. Back in 2018, when the crypto market was coming out of the 2017 bull run, the ETH price suffered multiple crashes, leading to the only time ETH has closed 5 consecutive monthly candles.

However, what followed in 2018 was not a bullish impulse, but rather a bearish continuation. The cryptocurrency would close an additional two months in the negative, leading to seven consecutive red closes on the monthly chart for Ethereum. In the end, it would take almost a year for the altcoin to gather enough momentum for it to get bullish again and start a sustained recovery.

A popular saying in the crypto market is that “history doesn’t repeat, but it often rhymes”. If this is true and plays out in this scenario, that means Ethereum may not follow the bearish continuation to a tee, but it could mean that the pain is far from over for investors.

If 2025 sees a similar trend to 2018, then the month of May, which has already started out in the green for Ethereum, could see the price fall further. In such a case, the ETH price could be looking toward the end of 2025 for a sustained recovery.

Morgan Stanley, one of the world’s largest investment banks, is reportedly set to introduce cryptocurrency trading on its consumer platform, E*Trade.

According to a Bloomberg report citing sources familiar with the matter, the banking giant plans to allow customers to buy and sell cryptocurrencies starting next year, capitalizing on the recent deregulation efforts spearheaded by President Donald Trump.

E*Trade To Allow Direct Crypto Investments

This initiative marks a pivotal moment for Morgan Stanley as it seeks to enhance its offerings in the financial landscape. The firm is reportedly considering partnerships with established digital asset companies to develop the necessary infrastructure for trading virtual assets.

ETrade, which was acquired by Morgan Stanley in 2020 for $13 billion, currently serves over 5 million users. While the platform has provided access to Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) through exchange-traded funds (ETFs), direct investment in these digital currencies has not yet been available. 

The anticipated move to allow direct digital asset trading would position ETrade competitively against popular platforms such as Robinhood and Coinbase, which have already established strong footholds in the market, especially in the US.

Traditional Finance’s Shift Towards Digital Assets

The timing of Morgan Stanley’s announcement is particularly noteworthy, coinciding with a Federal Reserve (Fed) decision to rescind previous guidance that cautioned banks against engaging with cryptocurrencies. 

This shift signals a potential opening for financial institutions to explore innovative avenues in the crypto space, aligning with Trump’s pro-crypto stance. 

The president has made it clear that he aims to position the United States as “the crypto capital of the world,” reversing many of the regulatory measures that were implemented under the Biden Administration.

Donald Trump’s second administration in the White House has also taken steps to establish a national Bitcoin and digital asset reserve and support the development of a clear regulatory framework for the evolving industry.

The momentum in the traditional finance sector towards digital assets is growing. Notably, Fidelity Investments announced in March that it had begun testing its own stablecoin, while Bank of America’s CEO Brian Moynihan expressed interest in entering the stablecoin market pending the establishment of a regulatory framework.

At the time of writing, the total crypto market capitalization is approaching $3 trillion for the first time in nearly two months. As such, the market’s leading crypto, BTC, has once again surged close to the $100,000 mark, currently trading at $96,865.

This demonstrates not only the renewed interest in risk assets from institutions such as Morgan Stanley but also a broader sense of bullishness among retail investors who expect new record highs for the cryptocurrency this quarter.

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson used his 1 May 2025 livestream to unveil the first quantitative performance figures for Ouroboros Leios, the protocol upgrade that—if it performs in production as the prototype already does in simulation—promises what he called “an infinitely scalable protocol, a one-minus-delta protocol.”

Ouroboros Leios: Cardano’s Boldest Upgrade Yet

Speaking from Colorado, Hoskinson described Leios as the most ambitious iteration in the Ouroboros research line: a telescoping design that “extends Prowse” yet can “collapse back down to the current protocol” should any unforeseen fault occur. Unlike stand-alone Byzantine-Fault-Tolerant (BFT) engines, Leios is engineered to stack on Cardano’s existing proof-of-stake ledger without abandoning the original 50% Byzantine resistance or the network’s 24/7 liveness guarantees.

Hoskinson shared a single slide from the prototyping team that captured the community’s attention. The metric in focus was the input-block (IB) rate, a new adjustable parameter that multiplies throughput by inserting many “input blocks” in parallel before each ranking block is elected.

“With just that one input block, you can see that maximum is about 6 TPS,” he said while pointing to the graphic. “You have five input blocks, 10 input blocks, 20, 30—11,000 TPS for your minimum [250 Bytes], maximum 180 [TPS] at 16,000-kilobyte transactions, which are huge.”

Because IB count is a parameter, network governors will be able to raise or lower it each “tick” period, then dedicate a subsequent “tock” period to software and network optimizations before turning the dial again. In Hoskinson’s words, “year-by-year Cardano gets naturally faster and it doesn’t require a brand-new design or protocol for it.”

Leios is the most invasive change to the Haskell node since the 2020 shift from Ouroboros-BFT to Shelley consensus. The upgrade touches virtually every subsystem: ledger logic, block structure, network stack, consensus rules and cryptography. A “follow-the-sun” development schedule—multiple teams handing code off across time zones—will be adopted to compress time-to-market despite higher cost and developer fatigue.

When Will Leios Ship?

Hoskinson cautioned that the rewrite is non-trivial: “It typically takes about nine months to twelve months of implementation effort from a SIP to bring this into the protocol.” The formal specification, simulations and Cardano Improvement Proposal (SIP) are expected to be finished “the second half of this year.” Once those artefacts exist, Input Output Global (IOG) will issue a request for proposals to outside firms to co-implement the code in Haskell—and potentially in Rust and Go if alternative clients mature in time.

Leios arrives alongside a separate roadmap of Layer-2 technologies—Hydra, Mithril, Midgard optimistic roll-ups and the recursive-SNARK initiative—each designed to compound throughput without compromising decentralisation. Hoskinson emphasised that the UTXO model makes Cardano uniquely capable of embedding zero-knowledge proofs: “Every output can be a proof as opposed to a transaction.”

The strategy is to let Leios supply base-layer headroom while Layer-2s add specialised scalability paths, together positioning the network to absorb “the enormous transaction volume that Bitcoin DeFi, XRP DeFi, and us becoming an AVS system” could generate.

Hoskinson closed by reiterating Cardano’s research-driven ethos: “Nobody in the cryptocurrency industry writes a SIP, has dense simulations and prototyping, and a formal specification as the definition of an RFP. Nobody does that.” Leios, he said, is the “crowning achievement of ten-plus years of careful thought, research and engineering… the capstone of the Ouroboros agenda.”

If the delivery timetable holds, Cardano stakeholders could be voting on the Leios SIP in early 2026, bringing live throughput of at least 11,000 transactions per second—without abandoning the platform’s signature security model—before the end of next year.

At press time, ADA traded at $0.71.

A Texas Republican congressman has proposed installing cryptocurrency ATMs in United States federal buildings. Rep. Lance Gooden wrote a May 1 letter to Stephen Ehikian, who is presently acting administrator for the General Services Administration (GSA), news reports said.

Trump Ally Frames Proposal As “Educational Resource”

Gooden, one of the president’s well-known Republican allies, recommended in his letter that installing crypto ATMs in government buildings would be an “educational resource” for the public.

He requested that the GSA start exploring guidelines and regulations necessary for installing such machines on federally owned properties across the country.

Public documents filed with the House of Representatives indicate Gooden has not declared any cryptocurrency investment or ATM firms since being elected in 2019. There are no reported financial disclosures in public records available for the Texas representative as of 2025.

Authority Questions Unanswered

The GSA regulates and manages government-owned properties. Although its website states that it can offer space for federal credit union ATMs, it is not certain if Ehikian can extend these regulations to digital asset ATMs provided by private companies.

Reports suggest Ehikian, who was sworn in by US President Donald Trump, may not have a mandate to introduce these types of ATMs without consent from Congress. Reports also disclose that the finances for such an endeavor may demand an act of Congress.

President’s Crypto Connections Raise Questions

Meanwhile, Trump has extensive engagement with digital coins and asset firms across multiple avenues. These range from his individual investments, presidential campaign accounts, family-backed enterprises, and the TRUMP meme coin.

Trump reportedly hosted a dinner in Washington, DC in April for the leading holders of his meme coin. This link creates questions regarding potential policy influences regarding cryptocurrency infrastructure in government buildings.

Senate Considers Tougher Crypto ATM Regulations

Gooden’s bill comes as legislators in the Senate are considering bills to combat fraud using digital currency ATMs. Last February, Illinois Senator Dick Durbin introduced the Crypto ATM Fraud Prevention Act with the goal of establishing “common sense guardrails” against scams that have hurt many elderly Americans.

The timing provides a telling contrast between Gooden’s initiative to expand access to crypto technology and Durbin’s push for more protection from possible abuse of the same systems.

This brings to the fore the debate surrounding how to achieve a balance between innovation and consumer protection in the world of cryptocurrencies.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

The disclosure of Ripple Labs Inc.’s overture to purchase Circle Internet Financial for a reported $4 billion to $5 billion has ignited a rare public broadside from within the digital-asset industry itself, while simultaneously spotlighting diverging philosophies about how crypto networks should be commercialized.

Simon Dedic, chief executive of the venture firm Moonrock Capital, took direct aim at Ripple’s approach in a post on X, writing that an attempted takeover of Circle would be “the ultimate example of ‘fake it till you make it’ on steroids.” Dedic alleged that “for a decade” Ripple’s business model has been “hyping up [its] community with empty promises and flashy news—all just to pump the XRP token to absurd, centi-billion-dollar valuations.”

He continued: “Then you sell off your tokens, build a massive war chest, and try to use it to buy one of the most legitimate and profitable companies in the industry. If it weren’t so scammy, I’d almost be impressed by the execution and endurance of Brad Garlinghouse and team.”

Ripple declined to comment on Dedic’s characterization. The company’s acquisition proposal, first reported by Bloomberg on Wednesday, was rebuffed by Circle, which is preparing an initial public offering penciled in for early April and believes the numbers put forward “undervalue the franchise,” according to people familiar with the talks. Circle likewise declined public comment on the approach, reiterating that its near-term focus remains on the IPO process and on the growth of its USDC stablecoin.

Ripple, whose XRP Ledger was designed for cross-border payments and settlement, is no stranger to large cheques. Just last month the San Francisco-based firm agreed to acquire prime-brokerage platform Hidden Road for $1.25 billion, one of the largest deals in crypto to date. The attempted Circle takeover, however, would dwarf that transaction and, if consummated, fold the two largest non-algorithmic dollar-backed stablecoins besides Tether under a new roof.

Ripple = A High Agency Creator

The bid has also rekindled a long-running debate about the role that founding teams and their affiliated foundations should play once a network is live. Hunter Horsley, chief executive officer of Bitwise Asset Management, argued on X that the market often overlooks “the role of creators in commercialization.”

Horsley argued that the episode illustrates the “high-agency creator” model increasingly common among Layer-1 protocols. He set up a spectrum with three archetypes. “No agency creator: Bitcoin. Medium agency creator: Ethereum, Bittensor, etc. High agency creator: Solana, Avalanche, Aptos, Sui, Ripple, etc.”

The Bitwise CEO added that projects in the third category “have Labs and foundations alongside them with resources, organized talent, and a desire to foster adoption.” In his view, the capacity of such entities to “bend fate to win” means that “the best product doesn’t always win. Sometimes it’s the best go-to-market. Are you factoring this dimension into your expectations?”

In other words, Horsley sees Ripple’s acquisitive streak as a textbook example of high-agency strategy in action, contrasting with protocols such as Bitcoin that rely almost exclusively on emergent community coordination. Dedic’s critique, by contrast, frames Ripple’s approach as opportunistic asset-flipping financed by treasury XRP sales.

At press time, XRP traded at $2.22.

The SEC is likely to approve SOL, XRP, and DOGE ETFs in the coming months. This, as another $1M Bitcoin prediction could cause new crypto projects to explode.

Bloomberg analysts Erich Balchunas and James Seyffart predicted with 75% certainty that the SEC will approve multiple spot altcoin ETFs by the end of 2025, most likely on July 2.

Combined with Arthur Hayes’ $1M Bitcoin prediction at TOKEN2049 in Dubai, this news could rally some of the best presales today like Solaxy ($SOLX) and BTC Bull Token ($BTCBULL).

Bitcoin Reaches Lowest Historical Volatility

K33 Head of Research, Vetle Lunde, was first to break the news, pointing at a 7-day record low volatility over the past year and a half.

But what does this mean?

According to experts, this could be a sign that Bitcoin is starting to mature as a financial asset, gaining more stability and becoming more reliable long term.

Glassnode made a similar observation back in December, 2024, noting that Bitcoin’s volatility chart looks less dramatic than it did in previous cycles:

This assessment weighs even more heavily if we consider that Bitcoin currently ranks 7th on the list of the top assets ranked by market cap, higher than silver, Saudi Aramco, and Meta (formerly Facebook).

And if you still think Bitcoin’s entrenchment is just a phase, Marion Laboure, analyst at Deutsche Bank, disagrees, stating, ‘I could potentially see Bitcoin to become the 21st century digital gold. Let’s not forget that gold was also volatile historically.’

In light of these statements and analysis, let’s take a look at some new crypto projects that could rally as Bitcoin solidifies its position.

1. Solaxy ($SOLX) – Solana Layer 2 Bringing Improved Speeds and Network Stability

Solaxy ($SOLX) is Solana’s upcoming Layer 2 upgrade that aims to stabilize and improve Solana’s ecosystem.

Solaxy will address Solana’s main problems: subpar transaction speeds and even failed transactions during network congestion.

The project also aims to improve scalability and lower transaction fees, while maintaining Solana’s robust liquidity and multi-chain compatibility.

Solaxy currently runs one of the best presales, having accumulated over $32M so far, with the $SOLX price still at a low $0.001712.

If you’re interested in joining the presale, this might be the time to do it, given that the $SOLX price is guaranteed to increase in stages until its official launch.

Staking $SOLX also sounds great, given the 123% dynamic APY.

Check our ‘how to buy $SOLX’ guide if you need a helping hand, and read our price prediction for an idea of what to expect between now and 2030.

2. Turbo ($TURBO) – The Brainchild of ChatGPT and Aurora Surges in the Charts

Turbo ($TURBO)’s creator, Rhett Mankind, created the project with the help of ChatGPT, Aurora, and a budget of $69. The result is one of the most intriguing meme coins currently surging up the charts.

Following its creation, Turbo evolved from a simple meme coin to an entire ecosystem run by Aurora Labs and supported by the NEAR protocol. This led to the creation of TurboChain, a platform for artists, innovators, and developers worldwide.

$TURBO is peaking on CoinMarketCap, gaining over 200% in the past month to today’s price of $0.005621.

The community sentiment is 91% positive, which signals a strong ‘buy’ vibe.

For a broader perspective, $TURBO has been constantly climbing since April 17 and shows no signs of slowing down.

3. BTC Bull Token ($BTCBULL) – Bitcoin’s Unofficial Meme Coin Offering $BTC Airdrops

BTC Bull Token ($BTCBULL) is a new crypto project that offers $BTC airdrops every time Bitcoin reaches preset price points ($150k, $200k, etc).

Holders will also receive a massive $BTCBULL airdrop when Bitcoin reaches its $250k price mark, which BTC Bull Token devs say is a reachable goal.

The project stems from the idea that Bitcoin’s growth is inevitable and will eventually surpass the $1M price point.

The presale is hot, having accumulated over $5.2M, with $BTCBULL’s price now at $0.00249. Stakers are looking at an APY of 78% with a dynamic reward rate, which is guaranteed to drop as more people join the staking pool.

If you want to join the presale, keep in mind that you need to keep your $BTCBULL in Best Wallet to qualify for the airdrops.

Check our ‘how to buy $BTCBULL’ guide and our price prediction for the token to see what the future may hold.

4. Immutable ($IMX) – Web3 Gaming Platform with Gas-free NFT trading

Immutable ($IMX) is a multi-purpose platform designed with gamers and NFT collectors in mind.

The project identifies a problem: players can’t use their digital items and collectibles from games anywhere else but in the game. The solution? Blockchain gaming and access to ever-growing NFT marketplaces.

The best part is that the protocol offsets the gas fees, allowing you to trade NFTs without worrying about extra costs. This lowers the barriers to entry for NFT buyers and creators.

The token is on a steady, but continuous climb, gaining close to 25% over the past month. Its price is at $0.6346, considerably lower than its release price of $6.03, but on a clear upward trend today.

The 86% positive community sentiment is also visible in the 24h trading volume, up 305%.

Don’t take this as financial advice. While somewhat stable now, the crypto market is always unpredictable and volatile. Do Your Own Research (DYOR) and only invest what you afford to lose.

Is the Crypto Market Entering Bull Mode?

If Bitcoin’s activity over the past months is anything to go by, the bulls are back.

The King coin currently stands at $97k in the charts at the time of writing this article, with a market cap of over $1.92T, and it doesn’t look like it’s stopping anytime soon.

Pair this with Arthur Hayes’ $1M price prediction for $BTC by 2028, and you can understand our optimism.

Until Bitcoin gets there, though, look into some of the best altcoins today like Solaxy ($SOLX) and BTC Bull Token ($BTCBULL), because presales don’t wait for anybody.

With the wider adoption of digital assets as an online payment option, crypto users now have more choices when it comes to shopping without having to deal with exchanges. And that includes mystery box platforms, which offer an exciting way to get your hands on the best loot.

Mystery box platforms – like JemLit – have been around for a while. But now the best loot box websites are jumping on the crypto bandwagon, allowing crypto users to shop up a storm without exchanges getting in the way of their retail experience.

What Exactly is a Mystery Box Website?

Mystery box (also known as loot box or sweepstakes) websites are platforms with an array of boxes for purchase. Each box, which is typically categorised by fashion, tech, gaming, collectibles, and more, contains a set amount of items.

Once you spin the wheel, you take home one of those items – a new MacBook, high-end fashion, or, if you’re unlucky, a keychain. That’s where the mystery element comes in.

That said, the top loot box websites will show you exactly what’s in each box, the value of each item, and the chances of you taking home the top-ticket item.

More importantly, those platforms will have a provably fair system. That means the item you win is entirely up to a cryptographic random number generator (RNG).

No human interference – just a completely fair and transparent experience courtesy of Lady Luck. And some loot box sites, like JemLit, also enable users to verify the results.

If you’re happy with what you’ve won, JemLit will ship it to you, pretty much wherever in the world you are. But if what you’ve won leaves you a little cold, simply trade it in for JemLit credits and take another spin.

Crypto (Not Cash) is Now King

To shop on JemLit – or any of the other leading mystery box websites – you need to set up an account and deposit funds before you can start opening boxes. Traditionally, fiat was the only fund top-up option. That meant topping up your account via credit/debit card, PayPal, or Google Pay.

But now, the best mystery box websites are recognising the vastly growing popularity of crypto. The market has spoken, and these platforms have listened. That’s why JemLit allows crypto users to buy boxes by topping up their account with $BTC or $ETH.

JemLit 101 – What Crypto Users Need To Know

JemLit is emerging as a leading mystery box platform. That’s largely thanks to its impressive range of box types- from crypto and technology, to fashion and collectibles, and pretty much everything in between.

This platform has been around since 2020, boasting an impressive 1.4M users. Since its launch, 1.59M JemLit mystery boxes have been opened, collectively valued at $21.7M. We reckon JemLit’s provably fair system also has something to do with its 4/5 star rating on Trustpilot.

JemLit mystery boxes range from $0.66 to $795, each containing goodies relative to the loot box price. And we’re talking big-brand products here. Samsung, Rolex, Apple, NFL, Pokémon, Prada, Nintendo, and more. And they’re all 100% authentic.

Take the JemLit Crypto Miner box, for instance. It goes for $52.69 and gives you the chance to get your hands on an Intel Core i9-12900KS CPU or a limited edition MNTD Helium Goldspot Miner, among a host of other high-tech products.

Our comprehensive JemLit review delves into the finer details of what makes it one of the top mystery box platforms. We suggest checking it out.

Crypto Dominates the Loot Box Arena

JemLit isn’t the only kid on the crypto block. Take MysteryOpening, for instance. This loot mystery box platform lets you fund your account with $BTC, $ETH, $USDT, or $LTC, but you can also convert your winnings into crypto ($LTC) and withdraw it.

RillaBox is another top loot box platform for crypto users, as it has a crypto-first approach. Like JemLit and MysteryOpening, RillaBox also uses a provably fair system courtesy of blockchain-based RNG. You can also resell your winnings back to the platform in exchange for crypto.

That’s a Wrap, Crypto Users

The best mystery box websites offer real value for money along with the thrill of the unknown. And now that JemLit and co include crypto options on their platforms, they’re even more accessible and fun than ever.

Be sure to check out our reviews of other contenders in the leading mystery box market that are putting crypto first.

As always, be sure to DYOR before spending any of your hard-earned crypto. And remember, never spend more than you can afford to lose.

Michael Saylor is rapidly becoming the patron saint of Bitcoin maximalist, proving all the naysayers wrong.

He was an early promoter of the Bitcoin reserve approach, which argues that the best crypto to buy is always the first one; and that companies should raise funds to purchase as much $BTC as possible.

That strategy is proving successful. Saylor’s flagship company MicroStrategy – now simply Strategy – pioneered the Bitcoin treasury approach. And imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, just about everyone else has jumped on board.

That includes Metaplanet in Asia, and even the US government itself.

In short, Strategy’s strategy is paying off big time.

In 2025 so far, Strategy has seen $5.8B in $BTC dollar gain – the increase in the dollar value of their Bitcoin holdings. Nearly $6B in just over a quarter is incredible and speaks to a resurging crypto narrative.

Tether Reports $1B First Quarter Profit, Strategy Plans To Buy More $BTC

On the back of a booming year-to-date, Strategy is doubling down. It plans to raise a further $21B to buy more Bitcoin.

At the same time, other crypto heavy-hitters are posting their own wins, with Tether posting a staggering $1B in Q1 operating profit with $5.6B in excess reserves. The world’s largest stablecoin is moving from strength to strength.

But not everyone’s cheering: even while Trump plans to jump into the stablecoin game with $USD1, European regulators have warned that overreliance on dollar-pegged stablecoins could have wider financial repercussions.

Still, billion-dollar quarters are hard to argue with. In light of these results, investors looking for the best crypto to buy now should keep these projects on their radar.

1. BTC Bull Token ($BTCBULL) – Double-Down On Bitcoin’s Best-Ever Asset Performance

BTC Bull token ($BTCBULL) blends the meme coin trend with Bitcoin’s strong brand appeal. It’s positioning itself as the leading bull market meme token, offering presale staking rewards and giving investors more ways to profit from Bitcoin’s inevitable rise.

Meme coins remain a strong market segment, accounting for $56.33B in market cap. $BTCBULL takes its place as the first-ever Bitcoin meme coin, combining the explosive potential of the sector with an intriguing use case.

BTC Bull Token is tied closely to Bitcoin itself. Every time $BTC breaks through key price milestones, $BTCBULL responds with either a token burn or an airdrop.

Burning $BTCBULL when $BTC reaches $125K, $175K, and $225K encourages a deflationary model to drive up the $BTCBULL token price over time.

The Bitcoin airdrops – at $150K, $200K, and $250K – complement the token burns. The first two airdrops are available exclusively for investors who hold $BTCBULL in Best Wallet; $BTC will be dropped straight to their accounts in the app.

The final airdrop consists of a massive distribution of $BTCBULL tokens, rewarding token holders for Bitcoin’s most significant breakthrough to $250K.

Learn how to buy BTC Bull with our guide. It’s a good time to get in as we think the token price could climb from its current $0.00249 to $0.006467 by the end of the year.

2. Ethereum ($ETH) – Is the World’s Second-Largest Crypto Overdue for a Big Run?

Despite market ups and downs, Ethereum remains the top blockchain for decentralized applications. Its ongoing upgrades (like Pectra) aim to lower fees and increase scalability, essential for powering the next generation of DeFi, gaming, and social platforms.

That said, the price of $ETH has been slightly inconsistent recently. It’s one of the few major tokens that seems to be moving down while most of the market is moving up.

Is that a sign to stay clear of the second-largest crypto? Not entirely.

There’s still strong institutional staking demand, a robust developer ecosystem, and $ETH’s growing role as collateral in new crypto financial products. $ETH exchange-traded funds are also still in demand, with $63M flowing in over the past week.

Is $ETH’s price set for a rebound? It’s not a flashy new cryptocurrency project, but it’s well below December’s highs, so it could be a good play.

3. SUBBD Token ($SUBBD) – Two Hot Markets, One Hot Platform

SUBBD Token ($SUBBD) blends AI – a $33B market sector in crypto alone – with community-driven Web3 content creation, itself an $85B market.

That’s an over $100B market opportunity well worth tapping into.

$SUBBD provides real-world utility for creators and fans alike. For creators, holding $SUBBD means access to AI-driven automation for content creation processes. That equates to management, without a manager, preserving more profits for content creators.

Fans, on the other hand, can request custom content, get behind-the-scenes access, and tip their favorite creators using the $SUBBD token.

The project rewards early adopters and content curators while driving demand through ecosystem utility. Key features like presale staking rewards will give way to platform-based benefits like reduced subscription fees.

The SUBBD Token presale just passed $300K, and tokens are currently priced at $0.0553. Our analysis shows the token could reach $0.301 by year’s end. Learn how to get in early with our how-to-buy guide.

XRP ($XRP) – #4 Crypto Set to Finally Launch ETF?

XRP continues to lead in cross-border payments and is expanding into new financial sectors, thanks to partnerships and legal wins that have cleared much of its past uncertainty.

Also, it could soon benefit from the same ETF boost that continues to fuel demand for Bitcoin and Ethereum.

With the Ripple team set to meet with new SEC chair Paul Atkins, there’s a chance the long-awaited XRP ETF could finally be approved. That would set the stage for another run for the fourth-largest crypto, which is already up 329% over the past year.

Ripple, the company behind $XRP, is also rumored to be looking to purchase Circle, which provides the $USDC stablecoin. An initial attempt was rejected, but Ripple isn’t giving up so easily.

Ripple’s own stablecoin, $RLUSD has a modest market cap of only $317M, whereas USDC’s market cap of $61B places it behind only Tether’s USDT.

The purchase would make sense as both $XRP and stablecoins are used to move funds across borders reliably and quickly. This utility alone makes $XRP a crypto to watch.

Real Momentum Builds for New and Old Crypto

As institutional players like Strategy and Tether turn huge profits in Q1 on the back of massive Bitcoin investments, it’s a testament to their confidence in crypto. But that doesn’t mean the most significant gains are over.

Indeed, strategic picks like Ethereum and XRP, alongside hot crypto presales like $BTCBULL and $SUBBD, could be some of the best crypto to buy now.

As always, however. do your own research — none of this is financial advice.

A stablecoin launched by Donald Trump’s World Liberty Financial (WLFI) venture is being utilized by an Abu Dhabi investment firm for a substantial $2 billion investment in the crypto exchange Binance. This announcement was made by one of the co-founders of World Liberty during a crypto conference in Dubai.

World Liberty Financial USD1 Emerges As Fastest-Growing Stablecoin

World Liberty Financial aims to democratize access to financial services by eliminating intermediaries like banks. Earlier this year, the company announced the upcoming launch of USD1, a dollar-pegged stablecoin that will be backed by US Treasuries, cash, and other equivalents. 

Zach Witkoff, a co-founder of World Liberty Financial and son of Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, confirmed that USD1 would facilitate the closing of the investment by MGX, the Abu Dhabi-based firm, into Binance.

Witkoff expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, “We are excited to announce today that USD1 has been selected as the official stablecoin to close MGX’s $2 billion investment in Binance.” 

As of recent reports, the circulation of USD1 reached approximately $2.1 billion, marking it as one of the fastest-growing stablecoins in the market. However, the identities of its major holders remain largely undisclosed. 

Notably, an anonymous cryptocurrency wallet reportedly received $2 billion in USD1 between April 16 and April 29, though the owner of this wallet remains unknown.

Adding to the intrigue, Binance founder and former CEO Changpeng Zhao met with Zach Witkoff and his fellow co-founders in Abu Dhabi, sharing a photo on social media that highlighted their connection. 

Zhao, who stepped down from his role at Binance amid a $4.3 billion settlement and four month imprisonment with US authorities over money laundering violations last year, continues to hold a significant stake in the exchange.

Potential Conflicts Of Interest 

In addition to the Binance investment, Witkoff announced that World Liberty Financial’s USD1 stablecoin would soon be integrated into the Tron blockchain, which is associated with Hong Kong-based crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun. 

Sun is known as the largest investor in World Liberty Financial, having invested at least $75 million into the venture. His involvement comes amid ongoing legal challenges, as he faced a US securities fraud lawsuit that was recently paused by the SEC due to public interest considerations.

At the conference, Sun moderated a panel featuring Witkoff and Eric Trump, Donald Trump’s son, further intertwining the Trump family’s interests with the burgeoning world of cryptocurrency. 

President Trump, who has positioned himself as a “crypto president,” has expressed intentions to reform US cryptocurrency regulations, though his business interests, including World Liberty Financial, have attracted scrutiny regarding potential conflicts of interest.

Despite these concerns, Trump’s company has stated that he has relinquished day-to-day management of his assets to his children, ensuring a separation between his political pursuits and business operations.

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

On-chain data shows the Dogecoin whales have gone on a huge accumulation spree during the past week, a sign that can be bullish for DOGE.

Dogecoin Whales Have Expanded Their Holdings In Past Week

In a new post on X, analyst Ali Martinez has discussed about the latest trend in the Dogecoin supply held by some key investors. The indicator of relevance here is the “Supply Distribution” from the on-chain analytics firm Santiment, which tells us about the total number of coins that the investors of a particular wallet group are holding right now.

Holders or addresses are divided into these cohorts based on the number of coins that they are carrying in their balance. The 1 to 10 coins group, for instance, includes all investors who own between 1 and 10 tokens of the memecoin.

In the context of the current topic, the cohort of interest is the 1 million to 10 million coins one. At the current exchange rate, the lower bound of the range converts to $180,000 and the upper one to $1.8 million.

While this group certainly doesn’t cover the largest of the addresses on the network, it still includes whales that could be considered key for the cryptocurrency. As such, the behavior of this cohort can be worth keeping an eye on.

Here is the chart shared by the analyst that shows how the supply held by this Dogecoin investor group has changed during the last couple of months:

As displayed in the above graph, the Dogecoin Supply Distribution of the 1 million to 10 million coins group observed a drop around a week or so back, implying these large investors took part in some selling.

This selling coincided with the recovery rally in DOGE’s price, so it would seem that the motive behind it may have been profit-taking. In the past few days, though, as the memecoin’s surge has stalled, these investors have reversed their trajectory and loaded up their wallets again.

In total, these Dogecoin whales have purchased about 100 million coins ($18 million) over the past week. Following this shopping spree, the supply held by this cohort has already surpassed the level from before the earlier selloff.

The accumulation from the large holders can be a bullish sign for DOGE’s price. The Supply Distribution of the group can be to monitor in the coming days, however, as sometimes it doesn’t take much for sentiment to flip in the sector. In the scenario that the indicator reverses its trend again, the memecoin could face a bearish outcome instead.

DOGE Price

Dogecoin declined under the $0.167 mark yesterday, but it appears the coin has quickly bounced back up as its price is now trading around $0.180.

$USD1, the stablecoin behind Donald Trump’s Web3 venture – World Liberty Financial – is on fire right now.

Abu Dhabi-based AI firm MGX is using $USD1 to wrap up a hefty $2B investment into Binance, the world’s largest exchange. And the excitement doesn’t end there. It’s also gearing up to be integrated into Tron, a blockchain powerhouse for dApps.

In fact, there might not be a better time to buy Best Wallet Token ($BEST) – but what’s the connection?

$USD1 Unites TradFi & DeFi, Boosts Mainstream Crypto Demand Each of $USD1’s developments pulls crypto further into the mainstream spotlight.

MGX’s significant financial backing highlights that TradFi players are taking crypto seriously, which makes it all the more appealing to the broader public.

On the other hand, $USD1’s integration into Tron brings crypto into practical, real-world use cases. It piques investor interest by emphasizing crypto’s role in building  new tech and services, instead of its speculative nature.

Since the news broke out yesterday, these developments have helped boost the $3B crypto industry, as reflected in its 24-hour trading volume jumping by over 8%.

As the sector increasingly appeals to the masses, Best Wallet – the #1 anonymous crypto wallet – is an excellent entry point into crypto. And you can buy $BEST for extra benefits (like extra staking APY and discounted trading fees).

Manage & Grow Your Crypto Riches on Best Wallet

$BEST is the backbone of Best Wallet, a novel crypto wallet that allows you to easily track and manage your assets in one place, plus facilitate cross-chain swaps.

One of $BEST’s standout benefits is the significant reduction in transaction fees. Whether buying, selling, or swapping crypto, holders enjoy lower costs, making it appealing for any trader (HODLer or day-trader).

Another boon is that it grants early access to the best crypto presales. You can join new projects before they officially go live, often at lower prices than those available to the general public.

Moreover, $BEST can be staked at a sizable 125% APY. By doing so, you can increase your earnings hassle-free while stabilizing the Best Wallet ecosystem.

The governance rights also help keep the ecosystem tip-top. When holding $BEST, you can help shape the ecosystem’s future by voting on key decisions influencing its direction and services.

Nevertheless, the expansive Best Wallet ecosystem already shows no signs of slowing down. Per its roadmap, it has many exciting advancements in the pipeline: The support of 60+ networks, an NFT gallery, a rewards hub, market analytics, and Best Card (its own crypto debit card).

Best Wallet isn’t one to be ignored. You’ll soon be able to spend crypto as easily as fiat for everyday purchases. And by holding $BEST, you’ll earn up to 8% cashback on every purchase.

You can also rest easy knowing that Coinsult has audited Best Wallet and found that the project implements robust protection and complies with industry standards to better protect your investments.

Buy the Best Wallet Token to Boost Your Crypto Earnings

As Trump’s $USD1 stablecoin drives significant advancements in the crypto arena, securing a $2B investment with Binance and integrating into Tron, it signals a rosy future for the entire crypto economy.

To fully leverage this opportunity, you might want to consider acquiring $BEST, which is set to capture over 40% of the non-custodial wallet market. The token is currently available for just $0.02495.

Considering its presale has already attracted over $11.9M, and that its price is predicted to reach $0.072 (an 188%+ spike compared to its current value), this presents a fantastic opportunity to capitalize on its growth.

The recent increase in whale activity makes $BEST an even more appealing investment. Some major buyers recently injected an eye-watering $37,529.05 and $35,667.60 into the project.

Still, this isn’t financial advice. Before making investments, research them thoroughly and never risk more than you’re comfortable losing. Even after being listed on the best crypto exchanges, digital assets can tumble as fast as they jump.

As Bitcoin (BTC) continues its climb toward the psychologically important $100,000 level, an increasing number of holders appear to be holding tightly to their coins rather than depositing them on exchanges. However, the top digital asset must still decisively overcome some key resistance levels before launching into a sustained bullish wave.

Bitcoin Depositing Addresses Plummet

In a CryptoQuant Quicktake post published today, on-chain analyst CryptoOnchain highlighted a significant drop in the number of BTC wallet addresses sending funds to centralized crypto exchanges.

According to the analyst, the number of BTC addresses making deposits to trading platforms is now at its lowest level since 2017. This steep decline suggests that fewer spot holders are looking to sell their Bitcoin, possibly anticipating a major price surge in the near term.

Meanwhile, BTC crossed the $97,000 mark earlier today — its highest point since February 20. The flagship cryptocurrency has climbed 4.1% over the past week amid growing speculation around a potential rate cut by the US Federal Reserve.

A rate cut by the Fed is typically seen as bullish for risk-on assets such as Bitcoin, since lower interest rates lead to declining bond yields and prompt investors to seek higher returns through alternative assets like stocks and cryptocurrencies.

Crypto analyst Ali Martinez noted that the next major resistance level for BTC is around $97,530. Although BTC is currently trading slightly above $97,000, it remains to be seen whether this momentum will result in a confirmed breakout or merely a temporary bullish deviation.

A clear move above $97,500 would strengthen the case for a new all-time high (ATH) in the near term. For reference, Bitcoin’s current ATH of $108,786 was reached earlier this year on January 20.

Is The Worst Over For BTC?

In a separate post on X, crypto analyst Titan of Crypto argued that BTC’s local bottom for this cycle may already be in, referring to the price drop to $74,508 on April 6. At the time of writing, BTC is merely 11.3% below its ATH.

The analyst highlighted Bitcoin’s “strong bullish monthly candle” and emphasized that BTC is now trading above several key Ichimoku Cloud indicators – including the Tenkan (red line), Kijun (blue line), and the Kumo Cloud – all of which support a bullish outlook.

In a similar vein, analyst Burak Kesmeci recently projected that Bitcoin may reach $124,000, citing the Golden Ratio Multiplier model as a guiding metric. At press time, BTC trades at $007, up 3.3% in the past 24 hours.

As positive shifts in cryptocurrency regulation unfold under President Donald Trump’s second administration, speculation is mounting regarding the potential approval of spot XRP ETF applications. 

This anticipation is fueled by significant changes at the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), particularly the appointment of Paul Atkins as the new chair. Known for his pro-crypto stance, Atkins represents a departure from the stringent regulatory environment established by former chair Gary Gensler.

Speculation Rises Around XRP ETF Applications

The timing of a possible XRP ETF approval is further ignited by reports of a potential meeting between Ripple Labs’ executive chairman and co-founder Chris Larsen and SEC Chair Paul Atkins. Such discussions could pave the way for expedited decisions on XRP ETF applications. 

Earlier this week, Bitcoinist highlighted that the SEC has set a new deadline of June 17, 2025, for either approving or disapproving the XRP ETF application submitted by asset manager Franklin Templeton or initiating further proceedings to assess the proposal.

Bloomberg ETF expert James Seyffart has indicated that while the June deadline is crucial, market participants should prepare for a series of decisions expected in the fourth quarter of 2025. 

However, Bloomberg’s ETF expert specifically pointed to mid-October—around the 18th of this year—as a pivotal date for a potential spot XRP ETF decision by the regulatory body.

Ripple Labs Sees Renewed Hope 

Adding to the excitement, crypto investor Steph Is Crypto recently shared on social media site X (formerly Twitter), that insiders suggest the meeting between Larsen and Atkins, reportedly scheduled for May 2, could bring the approval of XRP ETF applications closer to reality. However, as of Thursday, no official confirmation or statements have been released by either party, leaving this scenario uncertain.

The ongoing speculation for XRP ETF applications come amid a more favorable environment for Ripple Labs, which has long advocated for regulatory changes in the US. 

The previous administration faced criticism for its enforcement actions and lawsuits targeting major players in the crypto sector, including Ripple Labs itself. 

Since Gensler’s resignation on January 20, 2025, several lawsuits against prominent companies like Coinbase, Robinhood, Uniswap Labs, and Kraken have been dropped, further easing regulatory pressures.

This renewed optimism not only fuels hopes for XRP ETF approval but also raises expectations for other crypto ETFs, including those for Litecoin (LTC), Solana (SOL), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Cardano (ADA), which may also receive approvals later this year. 

At the time of writing, XRP, currently the fifth largest cryptocurrency on the market in terms of capitalization, is trading at $2.21, up 8% in fourteen days amid renewed optimism in the market after a challenging few months.

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com