Highlights

• The Bitcoin ETF outflows of $74.19 Million reported amid bearish sentiment.
• Ethereum, Cardano, and Solana see significant losses post-rally.
• The market awaits new catalysts to reverse Bitcoin’s current trend.

In the most recent development, the Bitcoin price gains faded away in just 24 hours, leaving many investors in shock.

As evident, in late February 2025, the Bitcoin price shattered a key $90,000 support level to a low of $78,200.

This represented a steep 28% drop from its previous high of $109,000. However, on February 28th, the market experienced a dramatic liquidity grab.

Shortly after this liquidity event, a powerful momentum candle emerged, coinciding with President Donald Trump’s announcement of a U.S. Crypto Reserve.

This news ignited excitement in the market, leading to a positive price reaction across the crypto sector following Trump’s tweet.

As a result, Bitcoin price surged by an impressive 21%, climbing to $95,000 after breaking through the $90,000 resistance level. This rally brought a sense of relief to many investors and analysts alike.

Yet, the euphoria was short-lived. As of the latest update, Bitcoin price has retraced to $83,448, giving back much of its earlier gains.

ETF outflows continued during the first ETF session of March, reflecting ongoing economic uncertainties.

The broader economic climate, marked by tariff concerns and geopolitical tensions, weighed heavily on the crypto market.

Also, negative sentiment from the community contributed to the swift decline of the gains made on March 2.

As the situation unfolds, many are left wondering what lies ahead for Bitcoin price and the broader cryptocurrency market. Keep reading to know more.

Bitcoin ETF Saw Outflow Amid Bitcoin Price Decline

According to SoSoValue, February largely reflected pessimism in Bitcoin ETF data, influenced by multiple market factors.

As March began, marking the final month of Q1 2025, the first Bitcoin ETF trading session on March 3, 2024, revealed significant outflows totaling $74.19 Million. BlackRock and Grayscale largely drove these outflows.

In contrast, other asset management firms, such as Fidelity, reported no trading activity that Monday, despite the recent announcement of a Crypto Reserve by President Donald Trump.

This lack of movement highlights the cautious sentiment prevailing in the market, even in the wake of potentially bullish news.

Bitcoin Price Turns Bearish, Altcoins Feel the Heat

The crypto market initially reacted swiftly to Donald Trump’s tweet about the U.S. Crypto Reserve, but a prevailing bearish sentiment has since taken hold.

As the Bitcoin price has declined, it has adversely affected other altcoins, underscoring BTC’s significant influence on the broader market. Continued fluctuations in its price could further hinder the performance of these altcoins if a reversal does not occur.

Ethereum, for example, experienced a notable uptick following Trump’s announcement, rising 23% in just three days. Prior to the tweet, ETH was in oversold territory, grappling with low demand.

However, with Bitcoin’s subsequent fall, the Ethereum price has plummeted back to $2,002, erasing all its recent gains.

Cardano’s ADA mirrored this trend, initially responding remarkably to the news with a staggering 105% surge, allowing it to reclaim the $1 mark and reach as high as $1.19. Yet, as the dominant cryptocurrencies fell, ADA lost more than half of its gains.

Similarly, Solana’s native token, SOL, rallied by 43%, climbing to $180.61 after the announcement. SOL was in its oversold zone last week, dipping to as low as $125.36.

However, with the prevailing bearish sentiment, it has since dropped back to $137.70, losing more than half of its gains, too.

XRP also saw bullish activity before, with its price increasing by over 51% during that period. Still, alongside the Bitcoin price decline and the downturn in other altcoins, significant profit-taking had occurred, bringing XRP price back to its key support level of $2.35.

With Bitcoin price and other altcoins failing to maintain their gains, pessimism has taken root in the market.

Experts suggest that a new external catalyst is needed to propel the market forward; otherwise, it may face further corrections or a consolidation phase.

If Bitcoin price can reverse its trend and sustain a position above the $90,000 mark, it could ignite a new wave of optimism. Otherwise, the market may remain in a state of consolidation.

Disclaimer

In this article, the views, and opinions stated by the author, or any people named are for informational purposes only, and they don’t establish the investment, financial, or any other advice. Trading or investing in cryptocurrency assets comes with a risk of financial loss.

Key Insights

• Binance coin price has advanced by 28% in a week.
• Cardano price has surpassed the 200-day EMA and reached the 20-day EMA.

Bitcoin is a leading coin, and almost all the altcoins follow its footsteps. The BTC price has been consolidating in a narrow range for the past ten days.

However, the Binance (BNB) price has displayed a V-shape recovery and has outperformed other cryptocurrencies. It has gained over 28% in a week and has exceeded the previous selling zone of $680.

Cardano (ADA) has survived a massive dip and has grabbed the liquidity below the previous support zone of $0.57.

Cardano price has witnessed a V-shape recovery and has surpassed the 200-day EMA. Amid this bullish move, the price has surpassed the 20-day EMA.

Binance Price Chart Reflects Selling Pressure

Based on the chart structure, BNB price experienced strong selling pressure at the beginning of February.

However, buyers have bounced back and have managed to form a base near the $570 level. The price has witnessed a V-shape recovery and displayed a massive rally.

BNB has smashed the key moving averages and has surpassed the previous selling zone. Amid this bull run, the price has touched the precious resistance zone of $530.

However, the price received strong selling pressure in this territory and has dropped by 9% in a day.

The technical chart suggests that sellers have been strong in this zone and every time BNB is receiving selling pressure.

Binance price is expected to remain bearish below the resistance zone of $570. Once the price exceeds this zone with increased trading volume, a bullish rally can be anticipated.

ADA Price Chart Correlation with Binance Chart

Based on the technical chart, the ADA price chart has been following the footprint of Binance price. Through this chart scenario, the Binance price has performed a strong bullish rally.

Cardano price has been gearing up as Binance did in its earlier phase of bullish rally. Looking at this chart, the ADA price is expected to perform like the Binance price.

Furthermore, current market data shows that Cardano and BNB have resumed price synchronization.

The Cardano price chart showed a direct response to changes in the price of BNB on February 9. Two days after the BNB pattern’s higher low formation, ADA followed suit, leading to market forecasts regarding a potential surge in Cardano’s price.

Can ADA Price Replicate BNB Price Chart Behavior? Analysts Weigh in

Key market analysts have examined Cardano’s price trajectory in light of BNB Coin’s recent expansion.

Market analyst Ali Martinez believes Cardano could see a price increase comparable to the 20%–30% increase seen in BNB.

The token might surpass $1 and grow by 27.7% from its present value if ADA continues on the same upward trajectory.

Cardano’s price would rise significantly because it has been trading below $1 for the past few weeks.

Cardano would benefit greatly from a price increase to $1, which would also boost investor confidence and attract more capital to the asset.

Despite the volatility of the cryptocurrency market, Cardano’s ongoing correlation with BNB price trends suggests that ADA prices will soon rise in tandem.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and provides no financial, investment, or other advice. The author or any people mentioned in this article are not responsible for any financial loss that may occur from investing in or trading. Please do your research before making any financial decisions.

1. South Korea’s FSC lifts a seven-year ban on institutional crypto investments.
2. Initial phase permits law enforcement and educational institutions to sell crypto.
3. Analysts predict that most of 2025 will be characterized by increased liquidity and significant price movements.

For years, South Korea’s Financial Services Commission (FSC), the country’s primary financial regulator, imposed strict restrictions on corporations and banks regarding virtual asset trading.

This ban, enacted in 2017, aimed to restrain “overheated speculation” amid concerns over market volatility and money laundering. However, after a lengthy seven-year halt, the stance is shifting.

On Thursday, February 13th, the South Korea’s government announced a significant policy change. They announced that they will start allowing corporate institutions to engage in the cryptocurrency market once again.

While responding to the growing global interest in the sector. The FSC has unveiled the results of a month-long consultation and provided the “Roadmap for Corporate Participation in the Virtual Asset Market.” This outlines a long process of 2025 to lift the ban on institutional trading of cryptos.

Moreover, the initiative seeks to facilitate the gradual integration of corporate entities into the crypto market while prioritizing user safety and financial stability.

The FSC confirmed a phased method to institutional adoption, ensuring that financial stability and investor safeguards remain at the forefront.

This strategic move positions South Korea alongside global markets that are already welcoming institutional crypto trading. Keep reading to know more.

South Korea Rolls Out Phased Crypto Access After 7-Year Ban

South Korea’s financial regulator has officially lifted the seven-year ban on institutional investors. This likely comes as a response to the increasing global demand for crypto investment products.

Under the new regulations, South Korea will allow companies listed on the local stock exchange to trade digital assets, including popular cryptocurrencies.

The FSC has outlined a step-by-step roadmap in its press release to facilitate business’s access to crypto markets.

As per their roadmap, in 2025’s initial phase, law enforcement agencies, non-profits, and educational organizations will be permitted to sell cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.

This framework aims to provide institutions with access to crypto assets while ensuring regulatory oversight.

Under this development, the Law enforcement agencies will be the first to utilize this system, particularly when selling confiscated cryptocurrency assets.

Also, the National Tax Service and the Korea Customs Service will also be involved. Which will be creating a structured approach to managing various crypto-related law enforcement matters.

Moreover, in the second quarter of this year, universities and charitable organizations will receive approval to convert their crypto donations into standard currency.

For that to rollout smoothly, the government has established internal control guidelines to ensure efficient management of cryptos within these institutions. Which by introducing a systematic method for handling crypto-based donations.

Looking ahead, South Korea also plans to launch a pilot program for institutional investors in the other half of 2025.

Where, in H2 of 2025, the selected corporations will be able to open real-name trading accounts for investment purposes. The FSC has partnered with over 3,500 authorized companies to facilitate this transition.

Also, the authorities will prioritize established businesses with experience in high-risk financial products.

Meanwhile, firms that the Capital Market Act governs are seen as competent risk managers, that could help mitigate financial market fluxes while nurturing responsible crypto usage.

Notably, this initiative does not include financial institutions, as regulators believe that involving banks could endanger the stability of the entire banking sector.

Authorities intend to monitor developments closely before considering any future expansions of the program.

Analysts Views on South Korea’s Regulator Changed Stance

Furthermore, analysts like Ashcryptoreal have expressed optimism about the recent developments in the cryptocurrency sector, witnessed by the lifting of the ban from South Korea.

SInce it is evident that the current $3.17 Trillion crypto market is poised to experience increased liquidity and trading volume.

This surge could potentially drive prices higher for many altcoins as well as top cryptocurrencies.

Moreover, few months ago, in a previous statement on X, the CEO of CryptoQuant pointed out that South Korea is the second-largest crypto market globally, with an impressive 93% of trades occurring in altcoins and only 4% in Bitcoin.

Through this observation, Ju hinted at the impending lift of the ban, suggesting that we are entering an “altseason.”

Now that the ban has been lifted, Ashcryptoreal believes that the volume of market participation in 2025 will be substantial. Which could be paving the way for significant price movements across the board.

Disclaimer

In this article, the views, and opinions stated by the author, or any people named are for informational purposes only, and they don’t establish the investment, financial, or any other advice. Trading or investing in cryptocurrency assets comes with a risk of financial loss.

Key Insights

• LINK’s TD Sequential indicator flashes a buy signal with potential rebound toward $21 or even $23.
• 78% of holders are in profit, with key resistance at $20 and strong support at $15.
• Technical indicators and on-chain metrics signal a major move ahead.

The crypto market exhibited mixed trends over the past two weeks as sentiment shifted from bullish to bearish warnings. As Bitcoin price continues to struggle around the $96k mark, major altcoins faced volatile swings and stayed in a narrow range.

Despite the market uncertainty, Chainlink price has the potential to rebound and could see a major upswing as evidenced by the buy signal emerging from the TD Sequential indicator.

At press time, LINK price was trading at $18.64, witnessing a rise over 1.20% in the past 24 hours. Its market cap stood at $11.89 Billion, ranked 11th in the overall crypto market.

The trading volume soared over 51% to $417 Million and the total supply stands at 1 Billion.

Buy Signal from TD Sequential: Price Surge Incoming?

A recent post on X by Ali Charts revealed that the technical analysis tool TD Sequential indicator signaled a buy signal on the daily chart.

According to the analyst, Chainlink crypto looks poised for a rebound toward $21 followed by $23. Such signals in the past have often preceded upward price movements, making it a focal point for traders anticipating a rebound.

While its price range fluctuated between $15-$20 in the past week, traders are closely watching a move beyond the $20, where Bollinger band is also squeezing and signals a major move ahead.

On-Chain Data Highlights Key Price Levels

Data from IntotheBlock showed that 78% of PEPE holders are profitable, with strong support established between $14 and $16, where most holders accumulated the token around the 200-day EMA mark.

However, approximately 22% of holders remain unprofitable with potential resistance expected between $20-$22, as these holders may sell to recoup losses.

Furthermore, the daily active addresses have surged over 1.18% to 3900, replicating rising investors interest and broader usage of the network.

As the market sentiment stabilizes, the combination of TD sequential buy signal coupled with holders’ bullish sentiment, could fuel a bullish rally.

Chainlink Price Prediction: Factoring in Indicator Signals

LINK is consolidating around the $20 mark. This signals mixed sentiments regarding its next move. While the TD Sequential indicator pointed toward a buy signal, the ongoing sentiment in the market still revealed uncertainty among the investors.

Until the Chainlink price breaks past the $22 mark, the token may continue to hover around its 200-day EMA support zone.

The next LINK price movement may result from whale participation because these whales control 67% of all LINK units in circulation.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) line was at 38, representing oversold signals. It showed that bears continue to dominate, while bulls are trying hard for a potential reversal.

Key Insights

• Litecoin price has surged by 25% in a week.
• RSI has displayed a golden crossover which signals a bullish forecast
• Despite the recent general market correction, nearly three-quarters of LTC holders are still profitable.

Litecoin (LTC) price has undergone a correction phase after a bullish rally. It has been struggling in a parallel channel and nearing a support zone of $140.

Litecoin price has overtaken the 20-day EMA during this bullish trend, indicating the strength of the buyers. The price has risen 20% over the last few days, forming two powerful marubozu candlesticks.

The price of Litecoin has been strongly rejected from the $140 range since December. The price was getting close to this zone once more, although sellers had dominated three times.

Litecoin Price Gains Momentum: Analysts Weigh In

@ali_charts is a crypto analysis page on X that has shared an analysis of the Litecoin price forecast. This news indicates that the LTC price has the potential for a bullish rally. The significant increase that occurred at the session’s close of $127.98 indicated that buyers were actively driving Litecoin higher. But if LTC can maintain a close above the crucial $141 mark, that will be the key to a stronger rally.

Crossing this level, which has historically served as a strong resistance, could greatly increase bullish sentiment and possibly push the price toward the next resistance levels, which are located around $152 and, eventually, the $170–$200 range.

On the other hand, Litecoin’s price could retrace if it is unable to sustain its upward trend and close convincingly above $141. Levels of immediate support could be between $120.50 and $114.50.

LTC may test additional supports down to $108.50 or even lower if these levels are broken, wiping out recent gains.

Although the uptrend is present, the movement isn’t yet verified as a distinct breakout, according to the market dynamics as of right now.

If resistance remains strong, traders should be cautious of a possible fallback or wait for a sustained close above $141 for a bullish confirmation.

Can Litecoin Price Flip Resistance Zone to Support Zone?

When writing, Litecoin crypto was trading at $121.72 which has remained neutral over the past 24 hours. The market capitalization was $9.28 billion and the 24-hour trading volume was around $1.51 billion.

Litecoin price prediction indicates that the price is approaching the $140 resistance zone after leaving the support zone. Because of the bullish market sentiment at the moment, the likelihood of a breakout rises.

It might be a bullish indication if the price breaks out of the $140 resistance level. Strong buying momentum is expected once the price is maintained above the $140 range. RSI has triggered a golden crossover with the RSI-based moving average which showcases the bullish forecast.

The top coin with bullish momentum in the support zone is Bitcoin. It could have a bullish effect on the altcoins if it starts a bullish momentum.

It is anticipated that the price of LTC will hit $200 in the coming weeks following a successful breakout. The bullish forecast is demonstrated by the golden crossover that the RSI-based moving average has produced.

On the other hand, sellers might take the lead if the price encounters resistance from the $140 resistance area.

Sellers may push the price down to the $95, support zone if the price of Litecoin creates any bearish candlesticks in this range.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and provides no financial, investment, or other advice. The author or any people mentioned in this article are not responsible for any financial loss that may occur from investing in or trading. Please do your research before making any financial decisions.

• Nasdaq filed to list XRP and Litecoin ETFs, boosting crypto adoption.
• Experts note that XRP ETF has 65% chances of approval this year.

The ongoing market speculation regarding the potential approval of XRP ETF has boosted market optimism about the upcoming price rally.

Ripple (XRP) price saw an intraday price surge of over 2.66% as Nasdaq is seeking SEC approval to list the XRP ETF.

Amidst the current market positioning of XRP crypto, the market has remained hopeful that the upcoming ETF approval could kickoff a significant price rally.

Nasdaq Seeks to List XRP ETF: SEC Decision Looms

The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC presented its proposal to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for listing and trading Coinshares XRP ETF shares following Nasdaq Rule 5711(d).

The exchange-traded fund (ETF) operates as a Delaware Statutory Trust to present XRP investment opportunities to investors while eliminating the need for asset ownership or custody.

Bloomberg analysts Eric Balchunas along with James Seyffart indicated the positive prospects for regulatory approval of upcoming crypto ETF filings covering Litecoin, Dogecoin and XRP and Solana.

In a recent X post, the ETF analysts detailed that XRP ETFs could achieve approval with a 65% likelihood rate while the other three cryptocurrencies followed with different approval percentages.

However, the SEC’s ongoing non classification of Ripple-affiliated cryptocurrency causes significant hurdle for its approval.

Ripple Strengthens Ties with CFTC: What it Means for XRP

XRP faces regulatory changes in the crypto market which brings this critical update with it. The U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission engaged in discussions with Ripple regarding XRP’s regulatory status.

The CFTC functions differently than the SEC by accepting selected digital assets as commodity registrations.

The CFTC launched a pilot program to examine digital assets backed by stablecoins as financial market collateral.

An essential court ruling favored Ripple when it proved certain XRP trade deals failed to fulfill securities definition regulations.

Expert analysts expect this court decision to develop new regulations that will define US cryptocurrency laws. XRP maintains backing from big institutions despite the ongoing legal battles.

XRP Price Prediction: Is a Bullish Rally Incoming?

Amidst the recent XRP ETF filing, XRP price reflected bullish momentum and saw accumulation on the charts.

Despite a sharp shock in the first week of February, XRP held its ground and saw a quick bounceback.

Afterward, a significant price consolidation was observed and XRP price was aiming to break the 20 day EMA mark for further upward push toward the $3 mark.

In case of further selloff, the immediate support zones were $2.20 and $1.80, whereas if XRP price moved past the $3 mark, it could see an upsurge toward the $3.20 and $3.60 mark in the coming sessions.

Key Insights

• US President Donald Trump continues to foray deeper and deeper into the AI and crypto space.
• Trump is doing so with the launch of his crypto venture, World Liberty Financial.
• Before his inauguration and even after, this platform continues to buy massive amounts of cryptocurrency.
• WLFI is now one of the top holders of staked Ethereum.
• Industry leaders predict an incoming era of better crypto regulation for the United States, under Donald Trump.

The foray of Donald Trump into the world of crypto has made headlines for the past two weeks, especially with World Liberty Financial (WLFI), his defi platform

This platform has rapidly ascended through the crypto ranks with massive investments in staked Ethereum and other cryptocurrencies so far, and here are the latest updates.

WLFI Joins the Elite 0.1% of stETH Holders

According to  recent data from Arkham, WLFI has become a top 0.1% holder of staked Ethereum.

The blockchain analytics platform noted that this happened after WLFI amassed $33 million worth of the asset, showing its commitment to Ethereum as the leading smart contract platform.

However, stETH isn’t the only asset in the WLFI portfolio. Data from Arkham further shows that the platform holds around $182 million in ETH, $55.6 million in USDC, $48 million in Wrapped Bitcoin (WBTC), $6.9 million in Aave (AAVE)  and $6.2 million in Chainlink (LINK).

Celebrating with Crypto

WLFI also made moves on 20 January, the day of Donald Trump’s inauguration as the president of the United States.

The platform purchased an additional $47 million worth of ETH and WBTC to commemorate the occasion.

Said celebration also extended towards buying extra $4.7 million each in AAVE, LINK, Justin Sun’s Tron (TRX), and $ENA stablecoin.

The launch of the $TRUMP memecoin also added more fuel to the fire.

This token, which was deployed on the Solana network on 17 January, quickly became one of the best performing memecoins within 48 hours of launch.

At its peak, it had ammassed billions of dollars in market cap with a price of $73 before dropping below $40.

The memecoin’s launch also caused a surge in new Solana wallets.

Even though Trump himself expressed limited knowledge about the project, he acknowledged that it was a huge success.

Soon after the $TRUMP launch, first lady Melania Trump also launched her own memecoin ($MELANIA), which drew in 500,000 users and billions of dollars in market cap.

Trump’s Broader Vision Of Cryptocurrency and Beyond

While the WLFI crypto purchases dominated headlines, the Trump administration also had further impact on the crypto sector.

For example, industry leaders like Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong now predict that the administration could push for more sensible regulations for Stablecoins and other assets.

Meanwhile, the CEO of the Bank of America, Brian Moynihan noted that there has been an increased interest in crypto payments among financial institutions.

Trump also announced the launch of a $500 billion AI infrastructure initiative called Stargate in addition to his crypto ventures.

The project is aimed at constructing advanced AI data centers across the United States, which will be funded by private equity players like OpenAI and Oracle, among others.

The project now has around $100 billion earmarked for immediate investment and is set to create jobs while improving the US’ competitiveness in the AI space.

Key Insights

• Bitcoin has been steadily outperforming Ethereum for months, in terms of price and institutional interest.
• The ETH/BTC ratio has also crashed to new lows across the market.
• The speculation about the strategic Bitcoin reserve might have waned. However, Ethereum remains unable to beat Bitcoin.
• Unless Ethereum can change the tide with a new bullish move, Bitcoin’s dominance is expected to continue.

Ethereum has been steadily losing ground compared to Bitcoin, especially with the ETH/BTC trading pair dropping to a fresh new low of 0.031 as of today—its lowest in four years.

This decline shows the growing dominance of Bitcoin In the crypto market, especially with Ethereum struggling to keep up.

Here’s what’s been happening between these two.

Bitcoin’s Rise vs. Ethereum’s Modest Gains

The last year has seen Bitcoin soar by 158%, after climbing from a low of $41,000 at the start of last year, to an impressive $107,608 at the time of writing.

This performance has solidified Bitcoin’s position as the largest and better performing asset, after reaching consistent new all time highs through out the year.

On the flip side, Ethereum has only managed to post a 35% price increase during the same period.

Not only this, the cryptocurrency is also about 32% lower than its $4,878 all time high from November 2021—despite the bull run being in full-gear.

This stark difference between the two has also been mirrored by the ETH/BTC ratio, which has erased all the gains it made over the last four years.

The ETH/BTC Ratio

The ETH/BTC ratio is often used as an indicator that shows the relative strength between Ethereum and Bitcoin.

This ratio peaked at 0.087 in the fact altcoin season, as Ethereum led the market and targeted the $5,000 mark.

However, with the start of the new bear market, this ratio has declined after falling below the critical 0.054 support (a level that had previously held firm in June during the last bull run).

The ongoing decline has also sparked concerns about Ethereum’s ability to spearhead another altcoin season, especially as the market’s preference for Bitcoin remains unchallenged.

Speculation on a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve

Before 20 January, there were widespread rumors that President Donald Trump might announce a strategic Bitcoin reserve during his inaugural address.

However, his speech on Monday this week made no mention of Bitcoin or even crypto in general.

This dampened most of the bullish sentiment held by investors.

Additionally, the GOP congressional priorities report also showed no mention of Bitcoin or even crypto-related initiatives.

This further caused market confusion, with the probability of Donald Trump establishing a national Bitcoin reserve within his first 100 days in office dropping from around 50% to 38% on PolyMarket.

Can Ethereum Turn the Tide in 2025?

Despite its struggles, there might still be some hope for the cryptocurrency.

Analysts believe that a surge is coming for Ethereum, with many forecasting prices as high as $8,000.

The renewed interest in the spot Bitcoin ETFs could also lead to more capital inflows that improve its market standing.

However, to accomplish all of this, the cryptocurrency must first break above the psychological $4,000 zone to regain investor confidence.

Unless Ethereum can address its ongoing challenges and show investors a compelling narrative, the current outperformance of Bitcoin compared to Ethereum is likely to continue.

Whether this year will mark a new turning point for Ethereum remains to be seen. However, Bitcoin continues to dominate the market in the meantime.

Key Insights

• US President Donald Trump has just pardoned Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road marketplace.
• This marketplace was infamous for accommodating drug traffickers and illegal traders of all kinds.
• Ulbricht was prosecuted and sentenced to two life terms, a move supporters have criticized as highly unfair.
• Ulbricht has reacted to this move, calling it an “amazing blessing” after spending more than 10 years in jail.
• Critics have called the move a “slap in the face” for families who were affected by the silk road activities.

This week, president of the United States, Donald Trump has issued a full and unconditional pardon for one of the most high profile cases within the country.

Ross Ulbricht, the founder of the Silk Road dark web marketplace is now set to walk free, on Trump’s orders—a move that has drawn both praise and criticism from concerned citizens.

Critics have drawn attention to the broader implications for Donald Trump’s move and what it means for both justice and drug-related crimes.

Libertarian circles on the other hand, have praised the president for his first presidential pardon.

Here are all the details of the ongoing case.

Who is Ross Ulbricht?

Ross Ulbricht, who is now 40 years old, was the creator of Silk Road.

The Silk Road was an infamous online market place on the dark web, right before it was shut down.

Ulbricht established this platform under the pseudonym “Dread Pirate Roberts,” in 2011 as the platform grew to accommodate users who wished to trade everything from illegal goods like drugs to hacking tools, or even child pornography and stolen passports using Bitcoin.

The users of this illegal platform favoured its ability to handle transactions with a high degree of anonymity.

However, the FBI shut down the site in 2013 and Ulbricht was arrested in a San Francisco public library during an elaborate sting operation.

He was then convicted two years after this on charges related to drug trafficking conspiracy, money laundering and computer hacking.

Ulbriche eventually got sentenced to two life terms plus 40 years, without the possibility of parole.

The case’s Divided Opinions

Right from the start of  the case, Ulbricht’s involvement drew mixed reactions.

The prosecutors for example, portrayed Ulbricht as a criminal mastermind who prioritized the profits from the Silk Road platform over human lives.

They alleged that the platform helped move over $200 million in drug-related proceeds and was directly involved in multiple drug-related deaths.

They even claimed that Ulbricht solicited murder-for-hire services to protect his operation, even without concrete evidence of any such killings.

The supporters, however, argued that Ulbricht was being unjustly punished for the actions of other people who merely used his platform.

They viewed his two life sentences as a prime example of government overreach, with Ulbricht himself stating that his intentions were merely to protect privacy and individual choice.

Trump’s Involvement

Interestingly, the president’s decision to pardon Ulbricht was not entirely unexpected.

Last year, Trump hinted at the possibility of pardoning the accused during a Libertarian National Convention speech while courting votes.

Many Libertarians had also lobbied for Ulbricht’s release, especially with the “disproportionate” nature of his punishment, when compared to his alleged crimes.

On announcing the pardon, Trump called Ulbricht’s sentence “ridiculous” and criticized those involved in his prosecution.

“The scum that worked to convict him were some of the same lunatics who weaponized government against me,” he said in a post on Truth Social.

Ulbricht reacted to this pardon in a video message he shared on X, expressing his gratitude to Donald Trump and calling the move an “amazing blessing.”

He also reflected on his time in prison and celebrated his newfound fredon, after spending more than 11 years behind bars.

“This is a victory for freedom and second chances,” he said.

He also added that he planned to spend time with his family and share some more of his future plans in the coming days.

Political and Public Backlash

While many praised Trump for this move, it drew sharp attacks from critics, with Senator Catherine Cortez Masto calling pardon a “slap in the face” to families who had lost loved ones to drug-related crimes linked to Silk Road.

She also argued that Trump undermined justice and public safety with his actions.

Critics like Masto also believe that Trump is inadvertently sending a broader message to the world about accountability for large-scale criminal operations.

“Pardoning drug trafficking kingpins is an outrage,” she added.

Key Insights

• The crypto market is now recovering after the post-inauguration slump from earlier this week.
• Bitcoin is making its way up from the $100,000 zone and is attempting to finalize its break above the $104,000 zone.
• A break above the $109,000 zone could lead to a high of $128,000 for Bitcoin.
• Ethereum is currently trending higher from the $3,125 zone and could be ready to hit the psychological $3,500 zone soon.
• XRP is attempting a break above $3.19, but also needs to clear the $3.47 price level to be considered fully bullish.

The price of Bitcoin hit a new high this week, just as US President Donald Trump took office as the 47th leader of the country.

The cryptocurrency took a step backwards towards the $100,000 mark soon after this event, and is now attempting to make its way upwards once again.

Bitcoin’s performance affected the general crypto market as expected, causing a decline late across the altcoin market  as well on Monday.

As it stands, the crypto market is struggling to get back on its feet, and here’s what’s been going on with the three largest cryptocurrencies on the market:

Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP in terms of price action.

Bitcoin Reattempts The $110,000 zone

According to Bitcoin’s price history, the cryptocurrency reacted to the Trump inauguration on Monday and hit a new all time high of $109,000.

Despite its decline towards the $101,000 zone soon after, trends in on-chain data show that the institutional investors jumped in on the dip, and have taken the opportunity to buy so close to the psychological $100,000 mark.

As indicated by the chart above, Bitcoin’s price explosion was brought on by its break out from the falling wedge as shown.

Its subsequent decline towards the $100,000 mark was a retest move after the breakout, and was a completely normal reaction.

The RSI on the daily chart show that the bulls are in control of prices, and that Bitcoin still has a lot of upside potential.

The cryptocurrency is also attempting to stabilize above the $104,000 price level and the Fibonacci extension tool shows that the major resistance to be aware of is the $109,000 price level that Bitcoin declined from this week.

The indicator also shows that a confirmed break above the $109,000 zone could lead to a push further upwards to $128,355.

Ethereum Is In Good Hands

According to data from CoinMarketCap, Ethereum trades at around $3,320.

This is encouraging, because It means that the cryptocurrency is far up from the immediate supports around $3,125 and the psychological $3,000 level.

As shown by the charts, the 200-day EMA (red line) has been incredibly strong over the last few months, holding Ethereum up since November of last year.

Ethereum is now resting on top of this moving average (which sits at $3,125) and is leveraging it as a dynamic support.

With this in mind, Ethereum must keep from breaking below this price level, considering how steep drops have historically resulted from Ethereum breaking below the 200-day EMA.

As long as Ethereum keeps from breaking below this $3,125 price level, it is bound to continue further upwards and hit the psychological $3,500 zone—which could pave the way towards $4,000 and beyond.

Strong Upside Potential For XRP

So far, XRP has been particularly strong, especially with its ongoing recovery around the $3 mark.

The RSI on the daily chart shows that the cryptocurrency is trading in bullish territory, which is encouraging.

On the 4-hour chart, XRP is also making strong attempts to push further up from the $2.9 price level.

It is currently attempting to break above the $3.19 price level as marked out by the Fibonacci retracement tool, and could be looking at retests or even possible breakouts from the next resistances around $3.47, and $3.82.

With all of this said, XRP can only be considered fully back in bullish action if a break above the $3.47 zone occurs.

Bullish predictions for the cryptocurrency include targets anywhere between the $5 mark to $10.

Key Insights

• The crypto market is bracing for volatility this week, with three of the largest cryptocurrencies showing signs of incoming volatility.
• Bitcoin must keep from breaking below the $100,000 zone to push forward to $125,000.
• Ethereum must keep from breaking below the $3,125 price level to continue forward to the $3,700 zone.
• XRP has to stay above $2.9 to continue further upwards to $5.

The crypto market continues to make waves in the financial space, with juggernauts like Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP taking the center stage.

Bitcoin and Ethereum on the one hand, are retesting critical support levels.

XRP on the other, is managing to sustain its bullish momentum and could be looking towards a breakout from an interesting pattern.

Here’s a closer look at the performances of each of these cryptocurrencies, and what could be next for them.

Bitcoin Eyes Stability at $100K Support

According to the daily charts, Bitcoin rebounded strongly last week, especially after the release of the CPI data on Wednesday.

The cryptocurrency soared by more than 10% after an initial crash to the $90,000 zone between Monday and Tuesday, eventually ending up above the $100,000 zone.

However, this rally was somewhat shortlived, considering the cryptocurrency’s behavior after hitting the $106,000 resistance.

Monday has brought Bitcoin into a new phase of bullishness as shown above, with its rebound after retesting the falling wedge.

The cryptocurrency has so far risen by around 3% over the last 24 hours, with a current price of $108,000.

Going forward, the cryptocurrency’s $100,000 price level serves as the strongest psychological support.

Holding above this level is an encouraging signal for a continuation to the upside.

However, if a break below occurs for any reason, Bitcoin could crash further down to the next psychological level around $90,000.

If this $100,000 price level holds, Bitcoin could be hitting the $125,000 zone in no time.

Ethereum Targets Recovery Above $3,125

Ethereum is also performing well on all timeframes, even though it remains trapped underneath the $3,500 price level.

On Monday this week, the cryptocurrency is showing signs of a recovery after retesting its 200-day EMA at $3,125. 

The cryptocurrency now has a current price of $3,392 with an incoming break above $3,500.

According to the charts, if Ethereum successfully holds above its 200-day EMA (red line) as shown, it could be on its way towards challenging the $3,730 resistance level.

The charts show the RSI reading currently at 46—which is below neutral and indicates that the bears are slightly stronger than the bulls.

In more positive news, the MACD on this timeframe is on the verge of a bullish crossover.

This indicates that the bulls might be ready to retake the baton from the bears.

Ethereum needs to avoid a drop towards the $3,125 support to avoid a correction further down to the psychological $3,000 level.

Ripple Extends Bullish Momentum Toward $3.63

According to the charts, XRP;s price action has been incredible.

The cryptocurrency rallied by 30% last week, after breaking above a symmetric triangle and above the $3 mark.

The cryptocurrency struggled around the $3.3 price level over the weekend, but and is still attempting to continue above this price level.

According to the charts, XRP is targeting a push towards the $3.63 price level.

The RSI reading of 65 on the daily chart supports this outlook, and the dominance of the bulls.

The Fibonacci retracement tool shows that XRP is at risk of becoming bearish if it breaks below the $2.9 price level, where it might fall further down to the $2.5 zone.

Overall, the top three cryptocurrencies are navigating important price levels, and are setting the stage for massive price movements. 

Traders should closely monitor what happens around the $100,000 mark for Ethereum, the $3,125 zone for Ethereum and the $2.9 price level for XRP.

Key Insights

• India’s largest telecom operator, Reliance Jio has launched a new cryptocurrency.
• This cryptocurrency is known as JioCoin and is launched on the polygon chain.
• JioCoin has no officially announced price as of yet, but could launch at $0.5 (₹43.30) and $0.8 (₹70.2) per initial estimates.
• This token has garnered significant interest and skepticism from prominent commentators.
• JioCoin stands as one of the most popular combinations of crypto and a real-world use case in India.

In recent news, Reliance Jio has officially entered the blockchain arena after launching a new cryptocurrecy called JioCoin.

For context, this company is the largest telecom operator in India and is a subsidiary of billionaire Mukesh Ambani’s Jio Platforms. 

The launch of this new token on the Polygon network may just be the start of anew wave of innovation in India’s digital economy.

It has also sparked debates above the coin’s purpose and what it means for the crypto industry as a whole.

What Is JioCoin?

Put simply, JioCoin is a reward-based token.

It was designed to integrate blockchain technology into Jio’s digital ecosystem, among other features.

Users can also earn this cryptocurrency by browsing the internet via JioSphere, the company’s proprietary browser.

 As mentioned, these tokens operate fully on the Polygon chain and are therefore ERC-20 based.

The JioCoin launch is still in its beta phase. However, it has garnered attention for its possible use cases—some of which include redeeming mobile recharge rewards or shopping at Reliance Outlets.

Interestingly, despite the buzz, Reliance Jio hasn’t yet released a full statement about the coin’s complete roadmap.

Partnership with Polygon Labs

Jio is also collaborating with Polygon Labs, in its commitment to top-tier blockchain technology for its 450 million users.

The launch of this new cryptocurrency has also sparked speculation within the crypto community.

For example, Kashif Raza, the CEO of Bitinning stated in a recent tweet JioCoin might serve as a digital currency within Reliance itself.

He speculated about a future where users could redeem tokens for services like mobile recharge or fuel at Reliance petrol stations.

Raza even went as far as describing JioCoin as “the most significant reward program in the world.”

However, as with any new project within the space, there has been some speculation.

According to Sunil Aggarwal, the author of Bitcoin Magnet, there might be a few transparency issues with JioCoin. 

He pointed out the token’s lack of a block explorer, max supply, tokenomics and even verified smart contracts.

Regulatory Challenges

Interestingly, JioCoin’s launch comes right in the middle of strict regulations on crypto in India.

The country has a flat 30% tax on crypto profits, along with a 1% tax deduction at the source.

This presents significant issues for mass adoption and could be a major hurdle o cross.

On the flip side, other analysts have pointed out  JioCoin’s non-tradable reward structure and how it could bypass these issues and become more compliant with regulation.

What Could Be The Market Impact?

There is no official pricing range for the JioCoin token. However, initial estimates point towards a launch price between $0.5 (₹43.30) and $0.8 (₹70) per token. 

However, as the cryptocurrency continues its integration into real-world use cases, its market appeal could bring in some serious traction.

The introduction of this cryptocurrency is also one of the most important combinations of blockchain and real world use cases—especially in a populous country like India.

Overall, whether this cryptocurrency gains traction or not, will depend on its ability to deliver exactly what it promises.

Key Insights

• President-elect Donald Trump has just launched a new memecoin collection in the market, amid speculation and critique.
• This memecoin has exploded in value over the last two days, adding billions to Donald Trump’s net worth.
• Skeptics have pointed out the supply concentration, where Trump-affiliated companies control a large amount of this memecoin.
• Only time will tell what comes next for this memecoin, after hitting billions of dollars in market cap.

The crypto industry never runs out of surprises.

However, the launch of the new $TRUMP memecoin by president-elect Donald Trump on Friday has redefined what “unexpected” means.

This new cryptocurrency was deployed on the Solana network and experienced a staggering 500% increase in price within the first 24 hours of launch.

However, beyond this rise in price and the opportunities it has presented for investors, this move has several implications for the crypto market.

Let’s go over the latest developments.

The TRUMP Token’s Record-Breaking Debut

The launch of the official $TRUMP memecoin came with a wave of announcements from Trump’s social media handles, including X and Truth Social.

Within hours of its launch, this token had hit a market cap of around $8 billion, and was already one of the top 30 cryptocurrencies.

This rapid jump in price was also fueled by nearly $12 billion in trading volumes within a single day.

The token’s deployment on the Solana network might have had much to do with its growth, because $SOL itself surged to a new all time high of $274 on Saturday.

Solana-based defi products also saw a noticeable increase in liquidity and TVL according to DefiLlama.

All of this happened at the expense of Ethereum, where many ERC-based memecoins dipped in comparison.

Ownership Concentration Sparks Skepticism

Despite this token’s success, critics have attacked its legitimacy all weekend.

For example, data from Arkham Intelligence shows that 80% of this new token’s supply is controlled by two Trump-affiliated entities: CIC Digital LLC and Fight Fight Fight LLC. 

This concentration of ownership has been a source of concern about centralization, considering how concentrated supplies have historically been one of the ingredients of crypto rug pulls.

Critics have also pointed out inconsistencies in the token’s message.

For example, while the announcement tweets tout the cryptocurrency as a “celebration” of his presidential victory, the official website clearly states that $TRUMP is non-political, and “has no ties” to Donald Trump’s campaign.

Critics have also pointed out inconsistencies in the messaging around the token. While Trump’s social media accounts described $TRUMP as a celebration of his presidential victory, the token’s website explicitly states that it is a “non-political digital asset” with no ties to his campaign or government activities.

Is the TRUMP Token Legitimate?

The token’s legitimacy has also been questioned by industry experts so far.

In the first few hours of the token launch, there were initial concerns about the Trump social accounts being hacked.

Even after subsequent posts reaffirmed that the token was legitimate, several experts remained skeptical.

One example is JRNY Crypto, who noted the absence of official confirmation from Trump’s advisors.

Prominent trader Edward Morra also warned that high-profile memecoins could take over the market and lead to harsher volatility in case of a sell off.

Interestingly, $TRUMP isn’t Donald Trump’s first foray into the world of digital assets.

In recent years, the Trump brand has been linked to several other ventures, including three NFT trading card collections, which allegedly generated nearly $10 million in licensing fees.

Trump has also sold several other branded items including $100,000 luxury watches and branded sneakers.

This memecoin, however, is a new frontier and only time can tell what comes next.