HashKey Unveils XRP Tracker Fund Backed by Ripple—Is an ETF Around the Corner?
Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure HashKey Capital, a digital asset management firm based in Hong Kong, has announced the launch of a new investment product focused on XRP, marking a strategic step toward increasing institutional exposure to the third largest crypto asset by market cap in Asia. The product, called the HashKey XRP Tracker Fund, is positioned as the region’s first investment vehicle specifically designed to mirror XRP’s market performance. The firm also stated that there are plans to evolve the fund into an exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the future. The Aim Behind Asia’s First XRP Tracker Fund According to an April 18 announcement, Ripple will act as the anchor investor in the Tracker Fund, reinforcing the partnership between the blockchain firm and HashKey. HashKey Capital is launching Asia’s first XRP Tracker Fund—with @Ripple as an early investor. This marks a major step in expanding institutional access to XRP, the third-largest token by market cap. 🧵👇 — HashKey Capital (@HashKey_Capital) April 18, 2025 The initiative aims to attract regulated institutional capital into the altcoin’s ecosystem and to expand accessibility for digital asset investors across the region. HashKey has indicated that the new fund aligns with its ongoing efforts to create compliant, crypto-native financial instruments within regulated markets. In addition to launching the Tracker fund, HashKey Capital disclosed that the firm and Ripple are deepening their collaborative relationship. The companies are currently exploring the development of additional investment products and financial infrastructure that leverage the XRP Ledger. These discussions include the potential launch of a money market fund (MMF) using tokenization on the XRP blockchain, as well as the creation of cross-border decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions. Collaboration With Ripple and Future Product Expansion Vivien Wong, a partner at HashKey Capital, noted that the collaboration extends beyond financial investment. She said the firm will contribute its network of financial institutions, regulatory bodies, and investors in the region to assist Ripple’s broader objectives. Wong emphasized that the collaboration supports Ripple’s initiatives in decentralized finance and enterprise blockchain adoption. The XRP Tracker Fund becomes the third tracker fund in HashKey’s portfolio, following similar products for Bitcoin and Ethereum. 3/ A first in Asia, but not the last The XRP Tracker Fund is HashKey Capital’s third tracker fund, following its Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs. With regulatory approval, it could evolve into an ETF in the next 1-2 years, further broadening institutional access. — HashKey Capital (@HashKey_Capital) April 18, 2025 These offerings reflect the firm’s strategy to provide institutional-grade access to key digital assets. Although not an ETF at this stage, HashKey has indicated the XRP fund may transition to an ETF structure, pending regulatory developments and investor demand. The introduction of a region-specific XRP fund supported by Ripple adds to the growing interest in bringing traditional financial frameworks to crypto markets in Asia. Interestingly, XRP’s price was ignorant to the news with the asset seeing no uptick but instead trading at $2.08 marking a 1.2% decrease in the past day. XRP price is moving upwards on the 2-hour chart. Source: XRP/USDT on TradingView.com Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.
$400M Web3 investment fund ABCDE halts new investments, fundraising
Web3 and blockchain-focused investment fund ABCDE is halting new investments, but the $400 million fund remains committed to supporting its existing projects. In an April 19 X post, ABCDE co-founder and Huobi exchange founder Du Jun said the $400 million fund will no longer invest in new projects or raise capital for the second phase of the fund. However, Jun said the fund will continue to “post-investment support and exit arrangements of existing projects” to ensure the firm’s commitment to entrepreneurs and liquidity providers (LPs). “My personal work focus will also gradually shift from financial investment in the primary market to strategic investment-led and deep incubation-based, focusing more on industrial synergy and long-term value creation,” Jun added. Source: Du Jun The announcement comes nearly three months after ABCDE’s last investment into an Ethereum layer-2 (L2) solution, Soon (Solana Optimistic Network), which raised $22 million through a non-fungible token sale to mark the launch of its mainnet, Cointelegraph reported on Jan. 22. SOON block times, compared to other blockchains. Source: SOON The Soon mainnet claims to outperform Solana in speed and efficiency, delivering average block times of 50 milliseconds compared to Solana’s 400 milliseconds. ABCDE is a $400 million fund, with 28% of its investments in Bitcoin (BTC) scaling technology, 16% in Ethereum liquid staking derivatives finance (LSDFi) infrastructure, and an additional 12% invested in L2s, restaking and smart contract platforms, Cryptorank data shows. ABCDE investments focus area, average round size. Source: Cryptorank ABCDE has invested over $40 million worth of capital into over 30 projects over the past three years, with an internal rate of return (IRR) “still at the global leading level,” despite the current market environment, Jun said. Related: Trump family memecoins may trigger increased SEC scrutiny on crypto New incubator brand Vernal announced ABCDE’s suspension of fundraising efforts was announced a month after the fund’s co-founder launched a new incubator brand, Vernal. Source: Du Jun The new incubator is set to announce its shareholders and incubation rules for the first batch of projects in May, along with its first investments. Jun said that the decision to halt ABCDE’s fundraising efforts was not made due to financial constraints or lack of funds but because of a fundamental concern for the current development trajectory of the crypto industry. Related: Crypto, stocks enter ‘new phase of trade war’ as US-China tensions rise. “Frankly speaking, I am increasingly unable to agree with the current ecological atmosphere of the primary market,” Jun said in an April 19 X post, adding: “Many projects are extremely short-sighted and only think about how to get listed on the exchange as soon as possible, and what is left behind is often a mess.” “What is more worrying is that some primary funds not only have no reflection on this, but also hype up their ‘listed projects’ and short-term market value performance, but never mention the value creation of the projects themselves,” he added. Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has urged fourth-generation cryptocurrency projects to embrace more collaborative tokenomics to compete with major centralized tech companies entering the crypto industry. Charles Hoskinson. Source: Cointelegraph “The problem right now, with the way we’ve done things in the cryptocurrency space, is the tokenomics and the market structure are intrinsically adversarial. It’s sum 0,” Hoskinson said at Paris Blockchain Week on April 9. “Instead of picking a fight, what you have to do is you have to find tokenomics and market structure that allows you to be in a cooperative equilibrium.” “You can’t build a global ecosystem this way, and you can’t win this way,” he added. “Because here’s the thing. The incumbents are much larger.” Magazine: Your AI ‘digital twin’ can take meetings and comfort your loved ones
AI flattens creativity. Blockchain is how we save it
Disclosure: The views and opinions expressed here belong solely to the author and do not represent the views and opinions of crypto.news’ editorial. Our timelines were just filled with a bunch of pastel Miyazaki’s ghosts. Studio Ghibli-style AI generations have become the internet’s new favorite aesthetic. PFPs and marketing campaigns were reborn overnight in the watercolor warmth of Spirited Away. Selfies rendered as soot sprites. The results are charming yet deeply unsettling. Why? Because Hayao Miyazaki didn’t draw them––and no one asked permission. This isn’t just a copyright problem. It’s an authenticity problem where there is a growing inability to see, trace, or understand the origins of the content that shapes our culture. In the chaos of AI-generated images and memecoins, we’re watching creativity get flattened, authorship obscured, and ownership erased. If that feels like a plague, it’s because it is. The unfettered mess unleashed by generative AI has caused a powerful use case for blockchain to emerge: proof of provenance and onchain verifiability for agentic creation. By anchoring content to public, immutable ledgers, blockchain enables creators to prove authorship, timestamp originality, license works programmatically, and track derivatives across the network—without relying on centralized gatekeepers. With the tools of blockchain, creators can participate in fairer, more transparent ecosystems that reward origin and empower open-source and composable content systems. The collapse of creative clarity Studio Ghibli has not been the only target. In late 2024, Philip Banks created Chill Guy, a laid-back dog meme that exploded into a half-billion-dollar meme token on Solana. But Banks never gave permission. His accounts were hacked. A false licensing deal was forged. When the truth surfaced, the token crashed 45% in 30 minutes. Now imagine that story playing out across every medium, on a global scale. That’s exactly what’s happening with OpenAI’s recent co-option of Studio Ghibli’s IP. Now, AI’s tools can mimic any voice, style, or aesthetic—trained on unlicensed data scraped from the internet and any medium it can consume. Amazon is replacing voice actors with AI. Manga localization is being outsourced to machines. Lawsuits from The New York Times, Getty, and independent artists are piling up. A major problem is that enforcement can’t keep pace with reproduction. The systems we rely on to manage content—from cloud drives to social platforms—cannot tell you where something came from. They fail at proving provenance and, in turn, fail the creators whose livelihoods depend on IP rights. We’re building the next generation of digital culture on a foundation of guesses, not guarantees. Creative authenticity requires new blockchain infrastructure We don’t need more IP lawsuits. We need new rails. Authenticity, or even lucidity—the ability to see clearly and act truthfully—is not just a philosophical idea. In a generative world, it’s a technical requirement. If we want to preserve creative integrity in the age of AI, we need infrastructure that makes origin, attribution, and authorship cryptographically native to every digital asset. Using content-addressable storage and Merkle tree structures, creators can hash their work and register it to a public chain. This hash becomes a permanent fingerprint of the original content. Smart contracts can define licensing conditions, automate royalties, and even govern remix rights. Each derivative, usage event, or ownership change is logged immutably—creating a verifiable timeline of creation, modification, and transaction. This doesn’t just protect artists. It improves the machines, too. With blockchain, creators can cryptographically register their work at the moment of creation. Every change, license, or remix becomes part of a transparent, tamper-proof timeline. Smart contracts can automate royalties. Attribution becomes verifiable. And usage becomes traceable—whether that’s a social post, a dataset, or an AI-generated derivative. This isn’t just hype. It’s a structural shift from guesswork to guarantees, from hearsay to hashes. Without it, artists will keep getting erased. Investors will keep getting rugged. And trust in the creative economy will continue to corrode. Building a truthful internet Freedom of communication and property rights are foundational principles in the canon of Western philosophy. We know that open communication channels and the rule of law to protect private property are the frameworks for building a free society. However, today, our creative systems are plagued with black-box models, closed-source platforms, and training systems on data without audit trails. We have mistaken this flood of content for an abundance of creativity when, in fact, it’s a hollow kind of plenty—one that undermines the creative people it imitates. If we want a future where new Miyazakis, Picassos, and myriad creators are possible––where artists can take risks without getting scraped into the next proprietary model––we must build systems that protect them by design. Blockchain is how we embed authorship into content, how we stop laundering aesthetics, and how we let creativity thrive without erasure. This is not just about bad actors. It’s bad architecture. And the cure isn’t outrage—it’s about provenance. Authenticity isn’t a luxury anymore. It’s a blockchain. Nirav Murthy Nirav Murthy is a co-founder at Camp Network and has previous experience as an Investment Banking & Growth Equity Associate at The Raine Group. Prior to that, Nirav worked as a Brand Ambassador at CRV. Nirav holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of California, Berkeley.
BNB Weathers The Storm Better Than Altcoins, Stats Show
Reason to trust Strict editorial policy that focuses on accuracy, relevance, and impartiality Created by industry experts and meticulously reviewed The highest standards in reporting and publishing Strict editorial policy that focuses on accuracy, relevance, and impartiality Morbi pretium leo et nisl aliquam mollis. Quisque arcu lorem, ultricies quis pellentesque nec, ullamcorper eu odio. Este artículo también está disponible en español. Binance Coin (BNB) has continued to show excellent market performance, going up between $575 and $591 over the last week. The cryptocurrency trended upwards between April 13 and April 19, 2025, with significant price leaps on April 17 and 18. As per latest figures, BNB registered a moderate 1.0% gain in the previous 24 hours. Related Reading BNB One Of Least Impacted By Market Declines While most cryptocurrencies have taken huge losses from their highs, BNB is among the only coins that has exhibited remarkable stability. According to on-chain statistics provider CryptoQuant, BNB, along with Bitcoin, has witnessed little declines compared to other altcoins that dropped as much as 90% from their highs. BNB: The Most Resilient Altcoin in the Crypto Market “While most altcoins have suffered drops of up to -98.5% from their all-time highs, BNB stands out alongside Bitcoin (BTC) as one of the least affected cryptocurrencies” – By @joao_wedson Link ⤵️https://t.co/QLQwJOkfF7 pic.twitter.com/T7Wa6sK6jQ — CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) April 17, 2025 The cryptocurrency managed to hit a new all-time high in the recent market cycle, a feat few other digital currencies have achieved. CryptoQuant’s charts reveal BNB appearing in pale red on their charts, which is a much lesser decline compared to other cryptocurrencies that appear in darker shades of red. Common coins such as Dogecoin (DOGE), Cardano (ADA), and Polygon (MATIC) have experienced dramatic highs and lows with long stretches of lowering value before a rebound. Lesser-known cryptocurrencies such as COMP, DASH, and CAKE were hit the hardest when the market changed. Strong Ecosystem Supports BNB Value The good performance of BNB is not all about price action. CryptoQuant explains that BNB’s stability is due to its real-world applications within the Binance ecosystem. The coin has various roles on the Binance platform, such as being used to pay for transaction fees, trading fees, and running applications on the Binance Smart Chain. BNB price up in the last seven days. A lot of traders like to swap their altcoins for BNB, which keeps people wanting it. BNB has stayed useful over time, helping more people use it and making it one of the best-performing cryptocurrencies today. Market analyst Master of Crypto noted how real-life utilities of BNB put it several steps ahead of other cryptocurrencies without real-world applications. The utility of the coin to sustain the whole ecosystem of Binance will continue to reinforce its market value. Related Reading Master of Crypto analysis on X. Technical Signs Point To Neutral Outlook Despite the overall stability of BNB itself, the technical prediction at the moment would indicate a neutral outlook in the broader market. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 48.57 puts it in the middle ground with no strong push in any direction. BNB is currently trading at $591. Chart: TradingView This RSI reading just tells us that the market is in consolidation and that neither buyers nor sellers are gaining an edge. If the RSI crosses above 50, it would tell us that momentum is steadily building in the direction of the bulls. Conversely, if it drops below 45, what it could indicate is a deterioration of price strength. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from TradingView
Solana Inflation Reform Gets Second Try From Galaxy Research
Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure Galaxy Research has returned to the Solana governance arena with a fresh proposal that seeks to sidestep the deadlock that stymied last month’s SIMD‑228 vote on inflation. Published on GitHub on April 17 and titled “Multiple Election Stake‑Weight Aggregation (MESA) Vote for Reducing Inflation,” the document lays out a procedure that would let validators express a full spectrum of preferences instead of the blunt YES / NO / ABSTAIN triad that governs Solana referenda today. New Solana Inflation Proposal Follows First Failure Solana’s monetary schedule is presently hard‑coded: annual issuance starts at 8 %, declines by 15 % each year, and plateaus at a 1.5 % “terminal” inflation rate. According to dashboard provider Solana Compass, the network’s effective inflation stands at 4.591 %. While SIMD‑228 revealed broad agreement that those figures amount to “security overpayment,” the binary ballot failed to gather the two‑thirds super‑majority needed to tighten the curve. Galaxy’s new plan keeps the familiar fixed, time‑dependent decline toward 1.5 % but replaces single‑outcome votes with what it calls a market‑driven aggregation. “Instead of throwing darts until the community is happy with an individual proposal,” the authors write, “it is more efficient to simply ask each person what they want and settle on the aggregate.” Under MESA, validators would send stake to multiple YES accounts representing discrete disinflation rates—15 %, 17.5 %, 20 % and so on—while NO and ABSTAIN remain unchanged. The weighted average of those YES buckets would set the new curve. A worked example in the post shows how 5 % of YES stake for “unchanged,” 50 % for 30 % deflation and 45 % for 33 % would yield a composite 30.6 % rate. Galaxy stresses that the scheme is “not to be confused with a market‑driven curve as detailed in SIMD‑228,” because the underlying schedule would still be deterministic once chosen. Yet, the firm argues, the method is “democratic and progressive” and could “eliminate the need to repeatedly take the idea to single‑outcome vote until a universally acceptable number is proposed.” The pitch has already drawn scrutiny from core developers. Max Resnick of Anza responded on GitHub that the arithmetic of averaging creates a perverse incentive to vote tactically rather than truthfully: “Suppose I believe the best policy is 25 % a year. … With the average aggregation rule the best thing to do is try to forecast where the final outcome will be and set the most extreme policy in whichever direction you want to pull the policy from there.” Resnick argues that selecting the median of submitted preferences would be “a truthful aggregation rule” and reiterates his preference for “a dynamic market‑based approach to issuance” over any static curve, adding, “I have faith that the Solana community is intelligent enough to understand a dynamic inflation policy.” Galaxy’s authors acknowledge that critical implementation details remain open. They invite debate on how many YES buckets to include, whether SIMD‑228’s 33 % quorum and two‑thirds super‑majority thresholds should carry over, and whether a weighted average is in fact the fairest way to collapse the vote. At press time, SOL traded at $133.83. Solana broke the downtrend, 1-week chart | Source: SOLUSDT on TradingView.com Featured image created with DALL.E, chart from TradingView.com Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.
XRP Consolidation About To Reach A Bottom, Wave 5 Says $5.85 Is Coming
Reason to trust Strict editorial policy that focuses on accuracy, relevance, and impartiality Created by industry experts and meticulously reviewed The highest standards in reporting and publishing Strict editorial policy that focuses on accuracy, relevance, and impartiality Morbi pretium leo et nisl aliquam mollis. Quisque arcu lorem, ultricies quis pellentesque nec, ullamcorper eu odio. Este artículo también está disponible en español. XRP is still in consolidation mode after hitting a new seven-year high in January 2025. This consolidation has seen the price drop slowly, but steadily, losing around 40% of its value since then. Currently, bulls seem to have created support for the altcoin at $2, as this level continues to hold even through crashes. Thus, it has created the expectation that the bottom could be close for the XRP price, and this could serve as a bounce-off point. XRP Price Consolidation Could Be Over Soon Taking to X (formerly Twitter), crypto analyst Dark Defender revealed that the consolidation that the XRP Price has been stuck in for months now is coming to an end. The analyst used the monthly chart for the analysis, calling out an end and a bottom for the XRP price. According to him, this is actually the “Final Consolidation” for XRP, suggesting that this is where a breakout would start from. Related Reading With the consolidation expected to come to an end soon, the crypto analyst highlights what could be next for the altcoin using the 5-Wave analysis. Now, in total, these five waves are still very bullish for the price and could end up marking a new all-time high. For the first wave, Dark Defender calls it the Impulsive Wave 1, which is expected to begin the uptrend. This first wave is expected to push the price back to $3 before the second wave starts, and this second wave is bearish. The second wave would trigger a crash from $3 back toward $2.2, providing the setup for the third wave. Once the third wave begins, this is where the crypto analyst expects the XRP price to hit a new all-time high. The target for Wave 3 puts the XRP price as high as $5, clearing the 2017 all-time high of $3.8. Source: TradingView Next in line is the fourth wave, which is another bearish wave. This wave will cause at least a 30% crash, according to the chart shared by the crypto analyst, taking it back toward the $3 territory once again. However, just like the second bearish wave, the fourth bearish wave is expected to set up the price for a final and more explosive Wave 5. Related Reading Once the fifth wave is in action, a brand-new all-time high is expected to happen, with the price rising over 100% from the bottom of the fourth wave. The target for this, as shown in the chart, is over $6. As for the crypto analyst, the major targets highlighted during this wave action are $3.75 and $58.85. Then, for major supports and resistances, supports are $1.88 and $1.63, while resistances lie at $2.22 and $2.30. Price moves toward next resistance level | Source: XRPUSDT on TradingView.com Featured image from Dall.E, chart from TradingView.com
Bitcoin Whales Keep Strong Accumulation Trend As Mid-Sized Holders Hint At Sentiment Shift – Details | Bitcoinist.com
Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure Bitcoin is currently in a consolidation phase after enduring weeks of selling pressure and heightened volatility. Despite struggling to break above the $90K level, BTC continues to hold strong above the $80K–$81K zone—a crucial support range that has kept the broader market from slipping into deeper losses. However, macroeconomic tensions persist, with the ongoing trade conflict between the United States and China fueling global uncertainty. The threat of further tariffs and an impending recession continues to weigh on risk-on assets like Bitcoin. Still, on-chain metrics suggest that larger players remain confident. According to data from Glassnode, wallets holding more than 10,000 BTC continue to accumulate, with their trend score hovering near 0.7—indicating sustained bullish activity from long-term holders. Meanwhile, smaller cohorts—ranging from less than 1 BTC to 100 BTC—have started easing their distribution, with the 10–100 BTC group now approaching a 0.5 trend score. With whales leading the charge and smaller holders beginning to follow, Bitcoin’s consolidation may set the stage for the next major move once macro conditions stabilize. Bitcoin Whales Lead Accumulation Amid Global Uncertainty Bitcoin is at a pivotal moment as global tensions and economic instability continue to drive volatility across markets. The escalating trade war between the United States and China has triggered waves of investor uncertainty, especially after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 90-day tariff pause for all countries except China. With trade relations between the world’s largest economies hanging in the balance, market participants remain cautious, and Bitcoin—often viewed as a high-risk asset—continues to trade below key moving averages. Despite the bearish overhang, on-chain data from Glassnode reveals a more nuanced picture. Wallets holding over 10,000 BTC maintain a strong accumulation trend, with the trend score hovering around 0.7. This sustained activity suggests that long-term, deep-pocketed investors are undeterred by short-term price swings and continue to build positions. Bitcoin Trend Accumulation Score by Cohort | Source: Glassnode on X More notably, smaller investor groups—from wallets holding less than 1 BTC to those holding up to 100 BTC—are easing off their distribution. In particular, the 10–100 BTC group now hovers near a 0.5 trend score, a sign that this mid-sized cohort could be pivoting from selling to accumulating. This potential shift in sentiment among smaller holders could mark a turning point for the market. If macroeconomic conditions begin to stabilize and momentum follows, Bitcoin’s next breakout could be shaped by this growing alignment between whales and mid-sized investors. BTC Price Tests Liquidity Bands As Bulls Eye $90K Breakout Bitcoin is currently trading around critical liquidity levels, caught in a tight range as the market lacks clear direction. After weeks of volatility, BTC now sits in a consolidation phase, where both buyers and sellers hesitate to take control. The key challenge for bulls is to reclaim the $90K mark, which would set the stage for a recovery rally and potentially open the door for a breakout above the $95K level—a crucial threshold for re-establishing a strong bullish structure. BTC trading below key averages | Source: BTCUSDT chart on TradingView However, before bulls can think about $90K, they must first overcome two important moving averages. The 200-day EMA, located around $85K, and the 200-day MA, near $88K, are acting as firm resistance levels. These technical indicators have historically played a key role in determining trend direction and sentiment. A sustained move above both would confirm strength and increase the likelihood of further upside. On the flip side, failure to reclaim these levels could expose BTC to renewed selling pressure. A breakdown below the $82K support zone could trigger a deeper retrace, possibly dragging price back toward the $75K region. For now, Bitcoin remains in limbo, awaiting a decisive move. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.
Base creator admits sharing ‘Base is for pimping’ art was a mistake
The creator of Ethereum layer 2 blockchain Base, Jesse Pollak, has apologized following backlash over posting digital artwork that controversially played on Base’s tagline, “Base is for everyone.” Several social media users found the artwork offensive and inappropriate. “It was a single phrase among many, but I’ll own this was a mistake and apologize,” Pollak said in an April 18 X post referring to his decision to reshare a GIF image that featured the phrase “Base is for…” followed by a rotating sequence of words, including both controversial terms like “pimping” and “squirting,” as well as more neutral ones like “art,” “minting,” and “ideas.” Pollak says he appreciates “provocative art” Pollak emphasized that the artwork was made by a creator, not him, and specifically apologized for the image featuring the phrase “Base is for pimping.” Pollak said that while he wants to support artists building on Base and admits he appreciates “provocative art,” he recognizes the need to be mindful of his shared messages, especially when they appear to come directly from him. Source: Jesse Pollak It comes after criticism from several crypto industry participants who took to social media to voice their disappointment over Pollak’s endorsement of the image, calling out the use of the word “pimping.” Crypto commentator “Kristel” said in an April 18 X post, “so we’re just casually platforming pimping now?” “I get pushing boundaries, but this isn’t it,” she said. “This isn’t provocative and ‘edgy,” she added. Kanto Labs founder said it is an “absolute PR nightmare.” Meanwhile, crypto commentator David Z. Morris said this “doesn’t just hurt Base, it hurts crypto.” Morris added: “The specific allusion to sex trafficking (not “sex work,” pimping is pretty fundamentally exploitation) is specifically bad for a sector that needs to advance the narrative that open finance is a net social positive.” However, many praised Pollak for the apology and his continued efforts to push boundaries in the crypto industry. “Love the honesty. We all make mistakes, but it’s about how we grow from them,” crypto commentator Zuri said. Bankless co-founder David Hoffman said, “I respect the leadership here.” Milk Road co-founder Kyle Reidhead said, “Do and share whatever you want without apology.” Base was at the center of controversy only days ago when the official X account shared a post promoting a memecoin with its marketing tagline, “Base is for everyone.” Related: Base creator Jesse Pollak to join Coinbase exec team and lead wallet charge It also shared a link to a token of the same name on Zora, a social network where users can make posts into tokens for others to speculate on. In just over an hour after it was created, the Base is for everyone token hit a peak market capitalization of $17.1 million — then dropped by nearly 90% over the next 20 minutes to a market value of $1.9 million, according to DEX Screener data. A Coinbase spokeswoman distanced Base from the token, telling Cointelegraph on April 17, “Base did not launch a token.” “This is not an official Base token, and Base did not sell this token. Base posted on Zora, which automatically tokenizes content,” the spokeswoman said. Magazine: Make Ethereum feel like Ethereum again: Based rollups explained
Bitcoin Ready To Reclaim $90,000? BTC’s ‘Next Big Move’ Could Come Next Week
Reason to trust Strict editorial policy that focuses on accuracy, relevance, and impartiality Created by industry experts and meticulously reviewed The highest standards in reporting and publishing Strict editorial policy that focuses on accuracy, relevance, and impartiality Morbi pretium leo et nisl aliquam mollis. Quisque arcu lorem, ultricies quis pellentesque nec, ullamcorper eu odio. Este artículo también está disponible en español. Amid the market volatility, Bitcoin (BTC) has been unable to reclaim the $85,000-$86,000 zone despite its weekly performance. However, some analysts suggest that a breakout from the key resistance level might be around the corner. Related Reading Bitcoin To Resume Its Bullish Rally? Over the past week, Bitcoin has traded between the $83,000-$86,000 price range, recovering from the sub-$80,000 correction at the start of the month. Notably, the flagship crypto experienced significant volatility last week due to the ongoing trade tariff war between the US and dozens of countries. BTC’s recent recovery began after the US President Donald Trump paused the tariff on over 75 countries for 90 days, which sent BTC’s price back above the $80,000 mark. Amid the volatility, Bitcoin retested the key $78,500 as support and its four-month downtrend resistance, compressing between these two levels. According to market watcher Daan Crypto Trades, Bitcoin has been moving within a significant area, as it was retesting its downtrend line as well as the Daily 200 Exponential Moving Average (EMA) and Moving Average (MA), which “has been a tough price region to crack in recent weeks.” BTC retests its four-month downtrend line. Source: Daan Crypto Trades on X Amid Thursday’s pump, BTC is finally breaking out of its downtrend, which could lead to a surge toward the “ultimate level to break for the bulls,” the $90,000-$91,000 barrier, as he suggested that the sideways move in the mid-$80,000 region won’t continue for much longer. Nonetheless, the trader considers that the coming days might not have significant swings due to the Easter weekend, with low volumes and liquidity expected. “Likely going to be quite boring absent any major new headlines,” he asserted, adding that “we’ll see where this wants to go next week.” BTC’s Key Levels To Reclaim Analyst Sjuul from AltCryptoGems pointed out that Bitcoin is trapped below the 50-day EMA, which is “what separated us from a bull run resumption.” He explained that the cryptocurrency has been moving between $78,000-$95,000 since March, with the 50 EMA coinciding with the price range’s mid-zone and seemingly acting as resistance for the past week. Breaking out of the mid-range, between $85,000-$86,000 levels, could send BTC’s price above the $90,000 mark and toward the range’s high. Related Reading According to the post, Bitcoin’s current price action resembles May 2021’s performance, before the bull run resumed. At the time, BTC reclaimed the 50 EMA on the daily chart, which “right now, just as back then, (…) has been the line in the sand between the bull and bear markets.” The analyst explained that strong spot buying pressure is necessary to break this resistance and resume BTC’s rally. “Should we finally have this spot buying pressure, and should we finally see the EMA 50 Daily being flipped, all you want next is for that liquidity wall at $87K to be properly broken,” he concluded. As of this writing, Bitcoin trades at $84,521, a 1.2% increase in the weekly timeframe. Bitcoin’s performance in the one-week chart. Source: BTCUSDT on TradingView Featured Image from Unsplash.com, Chart from TradingView.com
Dogecoin Price Targets In The Short-Term Revealed Amid Bearish Wave | Bitcoinist.com
Trusted Editorial content, reviewed by leading industry experts and seasoned editors. Ad Disclosure Dogecoin’s price action on the 1-hour candlestick timeframe chart has been defined by a sharp decline since April 14, with the meme coin slipping into a falling wedge formation. This three-day downtrend, however, is now showing signs of reversal. According to an analysis by crypto analyst KledjiCuni on the TradingView platform, the correction phase may have come to an end, and Dogecoin could be gearing up for a short rally. Dogecoin Short-Term Correction May Come Before Upside Resumes The analysis of Dogecoin’s bullish potential reveals that the meme coin recently broke out of a falling wedge, a pattern often considered a precursor to bullish momentum. Notably, this falling wedge formation, which saw the Dogecoin price fall from $0.17 to $0.15 over three days, is part of an extended bearish sentiment that has persisted for almost two months. However, Dogecoin is starting to break out of this falling wedge, a move that marks a shift in short-term sentiment as price begins to reclaim upward momentum despite lingering bearish pressure in the broader crypto market. Source: KledjiCuni on Tradingview Currently, Dogecoin appears poised to embark on an upward trend. The breakout has occurred, but the analyst cautions that a pullback to the $0.1550 zone is still likely in the immediate term. Such a correction would serve as a retest of the breakout structure and could help confirm support before the next leg upward. This short-term dip does not invalidate the bullish setup. Instead, it could offer an entry point for traders anticipating further upside. Upside Price Targets Identified At $0.1607 And $0.1670 Once Dogecoin completes its expected pullback toward the $0.1550 zone, the next projected move is a continuation of the bullish reversal, with price action that cancels out the entire correction that began on April 14. Interestingly, analyst KledjiCuni identified two key resistance levels to watch in the short-term rally phase. The first resistance level is at $0.1607, a level that formed a lower high in the falling wedge formation. If Dogecoin manages to clear $0.1607 with strong volume, this will push the price towards the second key resistance at $0.1670. This price level aligns with the apex of the falling wedge and is the technical origin of the downtrend in this wedge. Reaching this point would effectively complete the recovery from the bearish wave. These targets represent realistic bullish objectives that traders can capitalize on in the short term, provided the market holds above the recent breakout zone and avoids slipping back below the wedge. At the time of writing, Dogecoin is trading around $0.1560, still hovering slightly above the $0.155 support zone highlighted. The meme coin has declined by 0.34% in the past 24 hours. Nevertheless, there is still a possibility of a bounce back to $0.17 before the end of the week. DOGE trading at $0.15 on the 1D chart | Source: DOGEUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview.com Editorial Process for bitcoinist is centered on delivering thoroughly researched, accurate, and unbiased content. We uphold strict sourcing standards, and each page undergoes diligent review by our team of top technology experts and seasoned editors. This process ensures the integrity, relevance, and value of our content for our readers.
Trump firing Powell would be a ‘very bad precedent to set’ — Pompliano
Crypto entrepreneur Anthony Pompliano says that US President Donald Trump shouldn’t follow through on his recent threat to fire the head of the US Federal Reserve, saying it would set a dangerous precedent — especially considering the true motive behind it. “I do not believe that the President of the United States should come in and unilaterally fire the Fed President,” Pompliano said in a video posted on X on April 18. Firing over disagreement is a slippery slope, says Pompliano Pompliano said, “Where you have a disagreement and then the firing, I think that’s not really the area that we want to go into.” “The idea of firing the Fed chairman is a very bad precedent to set this way.” It comes after Trump took to his social media platform Truth Social to accuse Fed chair Jerome Powell of being too slow to cut interest rates. “Powell’s termination cannot come fast enough!” Trump said on April 17. Anthony Pompliano made the remarks on his online show “From The Desk of Anthony Pompliano.” Source: Anthony Pompliano Pompliano explained that while the Fed is meant to operate independently, he agrees with critics who argue it’s not truly independent. “The Fed, I think, is highly politicized, even though they pretend not to be,” he said. Pompliano acknowledged his own criticism of the Fed, saying he’s not exactly a fan, but emphasized that even if the Fed has made mistakes, responding in kind isn’t the right approach. “I still think that just because somebody else is doing something wrong doesn’t mean that you should do something wrong,” Pompliano said. US Senator Elizabeth Warren recently warned that if Trump eventually moves to fire Powell, it could undermine investor confidence in the integrity of US capital markets and trigger a financial crash. “A big part of our economy strong, and a big part of the world economy strong, is the idea that the big pieces move independently of politics,” Warren said during an appearance on CNBC. Related: Fed’s Powell reasserts support for stablecoin legislation Lower interest rates often lead to increased liquidity, which has historically led to higher prices of perceived riskier assets like Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. It comes not long after Powell said establishing a stablecoins legal framework was a “good idea.” In an April 16 panel at the Economic Club of Chicago, Powell said, “The climate is changing, and you’re moving into more mainstreaming of that whole sector, so Congress is again looking […] at a legal framework for stablecoins.” Magazine: Your AI’ digital twin’ can take meetings and comfort your loved ones
Despite an 18% Drop, XRP’s Exchange Supply Hits Lows—Bullish Setup Ahead?
Reason to trust Strict editorial policy that focuses on accuracy, relevance, and impartiality Created by industry experts and meticulously reviewed The highest standards in reporting and publishing Strict editorial policy that focuses on accuracy, relevance, and impartiality Morbi pretium leo et nisl aliquam mollis. Quisque arcu lorem, ultricies quis pellentesque nec, ullamcorper eu odio. Este artículo también está disponible en español. XRP has been trading under pressure in recent weeks, losing much of the momentum it built during its late 2024 to early 2025 rally. After reaching highs above $3.40, the asset has experienced an 18.3% decline over the past month, reflecting broader market softness. At the time of writing, XRP trades significantly below its peak at a price of $2.06, with subdued investor activity and falling market participation across both spot and derivatives markets. Related Reading XRP On-Chain Activity Slows, But Price Remains Relatively Stable Amid XRP’s decline, a CryptoQuant analyst known as EgyHash has recently shared his analysis on the altcoin in a post titled, “XRP’s Market Paradox: With Ledger Activity Dipping 80%, Is a Rebound on the Horizon?” According to EgyHash, XRP’s on-chain and futures market data presents a mixed picture—declining activity but resilience in price. EgyHash noted that XRP Ledger activity has fallen sharply since December, with the percentage of active addresses down by 80%. Similar declines have been observed in the futures market, where open interest has dropped roughly 70% from its highs, and funding rates have occasionally turned negative. XRP ledger open interest on all exchanges. | Source: CryptoQuant He added that the Estimated Leverage Ratio, which gauges average user leverage by comparing open interest to coin reserves, has also dropped significantly. Despite these indicators pointing to weakening momentum, the altcoin’s price has only declined about 35% from its peak. This is a milder correction compared to other assets such as Ethereum, which has fallen roughly 60% over the same period. Additionally, the altcoin’s Exchange Reserve has continued to decline, reaching levels last observed in July 2023. Lower reserves typically suggest that fewer tokens are available for immediate sale, a factor that can help support prices during market downturns. XRP Ledger Exchange Reserve on Binance. | Source: CryptoQuant According to EgyHash, this trend, along with relatively stable pricing, could indicate growing long-term confidence in the asset. Institutional Developments Could Strengthen Market Sentiment While on-chain metrics remain a focus, institutional developments may also play a role in shaping XRP’s future trajectory. Hong Kong-based investment firm HashKey Capital recently announced the launch of the HashKey XRP Tracker Fund—the first XRP-focused investment vehicle in Asia. Backed by Ripple as the anchor investor, the fund is expected to transition into an exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the future. The initiative is designed to attract more institutional capital into the XRP ecosystem. HashKey Capital is launching Asia’s first XRP Tracker Fund—with @Ripple as an early investor. This marks a major step in expanding institutional access to XRP, the third-largest token by market cap. 🧵👇 — HashKey Capital (@HashKey_Capital) April 18, 2025 HashKey Capital has also indicated that this collaboration with Ripple could lead to further projects, including tokenized investment products and decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions. Related Reading Vivien Wong, a partner at HashKey, emphasized the strategic value of integrating Ripple’s network with regulated investment infrastructure across Asia. Although the altcoin faces near-term pressure, long-term developments, including decreasing exchange reserves and rising institutional interest, may support its recovery as the broader market stabilizes. XRP price is moving upwards on the 2-hour chart. Source: XRP/USDT on TradingView.com Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart from TradingView