Tag: Market

  • Why is ZK proof altcoin Lagrange (LA) dropping amid a rally in crypto market

    Why is ZK proof altcoin Lagrange (LA) dropping amid a rally in crypto market

    Lagrange (LA) dropping as the crypto market rally

    • Lagrange (LA) drops 22% despite Binance listing and market rally.
    • LA price currently hovers near key support at $0.3902 after a sharp correction.
    • The recent price drop follows June’s 216% surge after Coinbase listing.

    Lagrange (LA), a zero-knowledge proof altcoin designed to power advanced blockchain computations, is experiencing a sharp price decline even as broader crypto markets enjoy a bullish momentum.

    The downturn comes at a time when major coins like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) are climbing, leaving investors wondering why Lagrange is bucking the trend so dramatically.

    Although the project has been praised for its cutting-edge infrastructure, recent events seem to be reshaping market sentiment around the LA token.

    Binance listing triggered unexpected sell-off

    Just days ago, Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange, announced its official support for Lagrange (LA), listing the token on several of its services, including Binance Simple Earn, Convert, Margin, and Buy Crypto.

    Contrary to expectations, the news did not boost LA’s price; instead, it marked the beginning of a rapid downturn, with the asset plummeting from a seven-day high of $0.676 on July 9 to $0.416 within 24 hours.

    This decline continued into July 11, as Lagrange (LA) shed an additional 12.2% in daily trading, settling at $0.3996 despite the high trading volume of over $164 million.

    While exchange listings typically trigger price surges, some analysts suggest that the Binance announcement may have encouraged profit-taking from traders who had anticipated the news.

    A brutal 7-day correction

    The recent 7-day trend has not been kind to Lagrange, with its price tumbling by over 22%, placing it near a key support zone between $0.3902 and $0.4554.

    Lagrange price chart

    With broader market sentiment remaining positive, LA’s decline is unusual and hints at token-specific dynamics at play rather than market-wide weakness.

    Currently, the altcoin is hovering just above a crucial technical level at $0.3902, and failure to hold this support could lead to further downside.

    However, if buyers manage to regain control, analysts say a short-term rebound toward $0.4800 or even $0.5000 remains within reach.

    Notably, the decline follows a recent rally in June, when LA surged by over 216% after being listed on Coinbase, rising from $0.253 to $1.50 in just a day.

    That spike, while impressive, may have set the stage for a correction, especially with the token hitting an all-time high of $1.72 on June 6 before reversing course.

    Since then, LA has dropped nearly 77% from its peak, creating growing concerns among traders about the sustainability of its gains.

    This rapid boom-and-bust cycle has made LA a volatile token to watch, particularly for short-term traders navigating resistance and support zones.

    Where does Lagrange (LA) go from here?

    While Lagrange’s recent price trajectory is troubling for holders, the asset is approaching technical levels that could invite fresh buying interest.

    Should Lagrange (LA) maintain support above $0.3900, there is potential for a modest rebound in the short term, particularly if positive momentum from the broader market spills over.

    On the other hand, a breakdown below this level could lead to increased selling pressure, potentially pushing the token toward new lows.

    For now, investors are advised to watch market signals closely and weigh the risks of volatility against the project’s strong technological foundation.

    Source link

  • Bitcoin options market signals ‘summer slowdown’: Glassnode

    Bitcoin options market signals ‘summer slowdown’: Glassnode

    Bitcoin Price Outlook

    • Bitcoin has experienced a significant drop in spot and futures volumes, which signals a potential summer lull.
    • Low volatility and thinning liquidity could see a consolidation phase with a potential pullback to $100,000.
    • A resurgence in trading volume could push BTC above $110k and its ATH.

    Bitcoin (BTC) continues to hover near the psychological $110,000 level as well as its all-time high, but market analysts are pointing to a potential summer slowdown.

    According to blockchain data provider Glassnode, trading volumes are experiencing a significant decline, raising questions about the cryptocurrency’s short-term trajectory.

    With spot volume dropping to $5.02 billion and futures volume falling to $31.2 billion, both the lowest in over a year, the stage appears set for a period of reduced market activity.

    BTC options markets suggest a slowdown

    Glassnode’s recent market outlook highlights a trend in the Bitcoin options market where implied volatility across all expiries (ranging from one week to six months) is approaching all-time lows.

    The analytics platform says the levels seen today are back to those seen in mid-2023.

    Reduced volatility suggests that traders are anticipating less price movement in the near term, a common occurrence during the summer months when market participants often take holidays and trading activity wanes.

    Notably, data shows a contrast between Bitcoin’s price, which has steadily climbed toward $110,000, and the diminishing spot and futures volumes.

    The volumes appear to have peaked and point to a downturn, with the divergence indicating thinning liquidity.

    The options market’s low volatility pricing reflects a cautious outlook, potentially signaling a consolidation phase as the market digests recent gains.

    Bitcoin price prediction

    A lull is further contextualized by historical patterns, and traders could be looking for profits after significant rallies.

    However, the low-volume environment also heightens the risk of sharp price swings, as even modest orders could trigger outsized reactions in a thinly traded market.

    On the bullish side, Bitcoin’s ability to hold above key support levels and near $110k despite declining volumes suggests underlying strength.

    Potentially, this strengthens long-term optimism amid institutional adoption, including likely moves by Elon Musk.

    Notably, CoinShares has shared details showing digital asset investment products saw over $1 billion in inflows last week.

    This marked the 12th consecutive week of inflows, with Bitcoin recording $790 million in inflows over the week.

    Other assets such as Ethereum saw $226 million.

    Amid this, analysts at CryptoQuant say the BTC bull run remains intact.

    However, the low implied volatility and reduced trading activity point to a consolidation range.

    BTC could thus break to a new ATH above $112k or see a short-term pullback to support.

    In this case, the psychological level of $100k will be key.



    Source link

  • BTC trades near $107,500 as market awaits $15B+ options expiry

    BTC trades near $107,500 as market awaits $15B+ options expiry

    Bitcoin holds above $107K ahead of major quarterly options expiry

    • Bitcoin (BTC) held steady above $107,500 ahead of a major options expiry on Friday.
    • 38% of Deribit’s $40B in BTC options open interest will expire, with a “max pain” price of $102,000.
    • Bitcoin’s implied volatility has dropped from 50% in April to 38%, signaling increased market confidence.

    Bitcoin traded within a narrow range during US hours on Thursday, holding steady above the $107,000 mark as traders positioned themselves ahead of a significant quarterly options expiry scheduled for Friday.

    While the broader crypto market saw slight declines, Bitcoin’s stability belied the underlying tension of a massive volume of derivatives contracts nearing their conclusion.

    The top cryptocurrency was last changing hands around $107,500, down a negligible 0.2% over the past 24 hours.

    In contrast, the CoinDesk 20—an index tracking the top 20 digital assets excluding stablecoins, exchange coins, and some memecoins—lost 0.9% during the same period, indicating some weakness in the altcoin market.

    Market participants are keenly focused on Friday’s event, which is set to be one of the largest options expiries of the year.

    “This Friday marks one of the largest option expiries of the year on Deribit,” Jean-David Péquignot, chief commercial officer at the popular derivatives exchange Deribit, told CoinDesk.

    He noted that the total open interest for Bitcoin options currently stands at a staggering $40 billion, and a substantial 38% of these contracts are set to expire on Friday.

    A key metric that traders are watching is the “max pain” price, which is the strike price at which the largest number of options (both puts and calls) would expire worthless, theoretically causing the maximum financial loss for option holders.

    “Max pain price for Friday is at $102,000, with a put/call ratio of 0.73,” Péquignot said. This suggests a potential gravitational pull towards the $102,000 level as the expiry approaches.

    Volatility eases, but caution remains

    Despite the looming expiry, market volatility has shown signs of calming down.

    Bitcoin’s implied volatility, as measured by the Deribit DVOL index, has dropped to 38% from the 50% levels seen during a wild April.

    According to Péquignot, this could signal that “the market is increasingly confident in the cryptocurrency’s macro-hedge role.”

    However, an analysis of put-call skews reveals no clear directional bias among traders in the short term, indicating a state of market neutrality.

    Péquignot emphasized that the $105,000 level for Bitcoin is pivotal from a technical standpoint, suggesting that “technicals suggest caution if support fails.”

    He also noted that “low open interest in perps [perpetual futures] and fairly depressed Bitcoin implied volatility and skew are indicative of limited expectations for sharp price movements going into Friday’s expiry.”

    Crypto stocks show divergent performance

    In the equity markets, several crypto-related stocks managed to post gains on Thursday.

    Core Scientific (CORZ) was a standout performer, surging more than 33% following a report from The Wall Street Journal suggesting that the Bitcoin miner may soon be acquired by AI Hyperscaler CoreWeave (CRWV).

    Other notable gainers included Circle (CRCL), Coinbase (COIN), Riot Platforms (RIOT), and Hut 8 (HUT), which were all higher by 5%-7%. In contrast, Strategy (MSTR) was down nearly 1%.

    While stablecoins like USDT and USDC have been dominating US headlines recently, thanks to the GENIUS Act and Circle’s (CRCL) blockbuster IPO, a quieter but equally significant strategic adoption of these assets is reshaping cross-border finance in Asia.

    Behind the scenes, stablecoins are already playing an important role in the region’s financial plumbing.

    Asian banks are increasingly viewing stablecoins not just as a speculative asset class, but as a defensive tool to guard against potential deposit flight and to protect against lost transaction revenue.

    Amy Zhang, Head of Asia at Fireblocks, explained in a recent interview with CoinDesk that major banks across Korea, Japan, and Hong Kong are proactively exploring the creation of their own local-currency stablecoins to mitigate these emerging threats.

    “If I’m not one of the banks banking Circle or banking Tether, am I going to lose deposits?” Zhang told CoinDesk, articulating the core concern driving this exploration.

    “That’s a huge risk for banks.”

    This strategic consideration highlights a deeper, more utility-focused integration of digital assets that is unfolding in the East, often away from the glare of Western market speculation.

    Source link

  • Sonic, Four, SPX6900 surge amid market volatility

    Sonic, Four, SPX6900 surge amid market volatility

    • Sonic price rose, and Four, SPX6900, led crypto gains despite market turbulence.
    • Top coins rebound as equities stabilise, signalling renewed investor confidence.
    • SPX6900’s meme coin momentum underscores its volatile yet captivating market presence.

    The cryptocurrency market suffered massive selling over the weekend as Bitcoin dropped amid the US bombing of Iran’s nuclear sites.

    But as BTC looks to bounce, the top gainers among the 100 largest coins by market cap are Sonic, Four, and SPX6900.

    Despite a turbulent weekend marked by sell-offs, broader crypto declines, these tokens are leading the rebound with double-digit gains.

    Sonic trades at $0.28, Four is at $2.57, and SPX at $1.07.

    Crypto investors eye uptick

    Crypto investors are cautiously optimistic as top cryptocurrencies stage a recovery following a weekend sell-off that saw Bitcoin dip below $100,000.

    According to market data, Bitcoin rebounded from $98,286 to $102,852, while Ethereum and Solana also moved above key levels.

    This bounce aligns with equities shrugging off losses, as global markets looked to stabilize despite ongoing geopolitical tensions.

    However, the Fear & Greed Index, which has fallen to 37, suggests a shift from neutral sentiment towards fear.

    Investors are now eyeing whether the uptick in crypto prices can sustain momentum, with altcoins like Sonic, Four, and SPX6900 fueling speculation due to their outsized gains.

    Four, Sonic, SPX6900, trend among top gainers

    Among the top gainers, Four (FORM) posted a modest yet steady 10% increase, reaching $2.57 with a robust 24-hour trading volume of $35.9 million.

    Elsewhere, Sonic (S) traded at approximately $0.27, with the price slightly off the $0.29 seen earlier in the day.

    Sonic price edged 9% surge, bolstered by a 41% rise in trading volume.

    This activity suggests a bullish reversal from its $0.25 support level, with analysts predicting further upside if DEX participation grows.

    Sonic price chart by CoinMarketCap

    SPX6900, a Solana-based meme coin, stole the spotlight with a 10x rally in the past year.

    However, profit taking has it around $1.07 from its all-time peak of $1.77  after a recent 37% plunge in the past week.

    Despite its declines, SPX6900’s $985 million market cap sees it rank in the top 100 and is likely to bounce.

    The coin is up around 6% in the past 24 hours to trade at $1.06.

    If bulls go higher, SPX could break to $2. However, a potential drop to $0.90 and lower remains if support falters.

    Overall, the S, FORM, and SPX tokens’ performances underscore the dynamic interplay of technical strength and speculative fervor driving the crypto market today.

    As markets navigate ongoing uncertainty, Sonic, Four, and SPX6900 exemplify the high-risk, high-reward nature of cryptocurrencies.

    Source link

  • Best crypto to buy now as the crypto market reacts to the Trump-Musk feud

    Best crypto to buy now as the crypto market reacts to the Trump-Musk feud

    Best crypto to buy now as the crypto market reacts to the Trump-Musk feud

    • The Trump-Musk feud has triggered massive Bitcoin ETF outflows as the crypto market tumbles.
    • Ethereum ETFs remain strong despite the broader crypto fear.
    • With the Bitcoin Pepe presale ending soon, it could be the best crypto to buy now for high returns, especially once it gets listed.

    The crypto market is currently navigating a wave of uncertainty triggered by the escalating feud between US President Donald Trump and billionaire Elon Musk.

    As the tension between these two influential figures intensifies, investors are closely watching how their clash impacts cryptocurrency sentiment and capital flows.

    This discord has already sent ripples through Bitcoin ETFs, sparking outflows and shifting investor behaviour, while other crypto assets like Bitcoin Pepe, which is currently in the final stages of its token presale, are showing surprising resilience.

    Impact of the Trump-Musk feud on the crypto market

    The fallout from the Trump-Musk feud has significantly influenced market sentiment, pushing the Cryptocurrency Fear & Greed Index from “Greed” to “Neutral.”

    As a result, the global cryptocurrency market cap has dropped by 4% to around $3.35 trillion, as per Coingecko data.

    Notably, major coins including Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), XRP, Binance Coin (BNB), Solana (SOL), and Cardano (ADA), among others, have registered significant drops.

    Amid the worsening investor confidence, Bitcoin ETFs in the United States experienced a sharp reversal, with outflows reaching $278 million on June 5, according to Coinglass data.

    Meanwhile, Ethereum ETFs have bucked this trend, continuing a 14-day streak of inflows despite the overall market jitters.

    The feud itself has drawn widespread political and business attention, fracturing previously supportive alliances and raising questions about future government contracts and national programs linked to Musk’s SpaceX.

    Musk’s claims of credit for Trump’s 2024 election victory, coupled with serious accusations and policy threats exchanged between the two, have intensified market nervousness.

    This high-profile clash has spilled over into public discourse, stirring economic fears and influencing investor decisions across multiple asset classes, including cryptocurrencies.

    Consequently, Bitcoin ETFs have borne the brunt of the sentiment shift, while Ethereum’s improving network fundamentals and strong institutional support have sustained investor interest.

    The best crypto to buy as the broader market drops

    Despite this turbulent backdrop, Bitcoin Pepe has emerged as the standout crypto investment amid market volatility and uncertainty.

    Bitcoin Pepe is a revolutionary meme-centric Layer 2 project built on the Bitcoin blockchain, combining Solana-style scalability with Bitcoin’s unparalleled security.

    Currently, Bitcoin Pepe is in its final presale stage, with just 11 days remaining before the much-anticipated listing announcement expected on June 17..

    What sets Bitcoin Pepe apart is its unique PEP-20 token standard.

    The project also boasts a high-growth roadmap with staking rewards and strategic partnerships.

    In a market shaken by political drama and ETF outflows, Bitcoin Pepe’s blend of cutting-edge technology and strong community appeal makes it a haven for forward-looking investors.

    As established cryptocurrencies struggle to maintain a bullish trend amid the Trump-Musk fallout, Bitcoin Pepe is among the fastest-growing cryptocurrencies, offering fresh excitement and genuine potential for exponential gains.

    Investors seeking a crypto that merges security, usability, and meme culture should consider Bitcoin Pepe’s presale opportunity before it closes.

    With the listing announcement just days away, buying now positions investors to capitalise on early adoption advantages and long-term growth prospects.

    To learn more and to buy Bitcoin Pepe, check out the official website.

    Source link

  • Crypto market braces for impact amid Trump’s tense global tariff negotiations

    Crypto market braces for impact amid Trump’s tense global tariff negotiations

    Bitcoin, Ethereum, Crypto

    • Cryptocurrencies have seen a sudden dip as Trump proposes a 50% tariff on EU goods.
    • Bitcoin (BTC) has dropped by 4% while Ethereum (ETH) has dropped by over 3%.
    • As the market braces for tariffs’ impact, the recently held TRUMP memecoin gala dinner has stirred controversy and market volatility.

    The cryptocurrency market, known for its volatility, is now facing fresh uncertainty as US President Donald Trump intensifies global tariff negotiations, sending shockwaves through both traditional and digital financial systems.

    Bitcoin (BTC), which recently hit an all-time high of $111,814, has become increasingly sensitive to geopolitical developments, with its price movements closely tracking Trump’s latest trade threats.

    Notably, BTC has today experienced a sharp 4% decline, with Ethereum following closely with a 3.2% drop following Trump’s Truth Social post declaring that negotiations with the European Union were “going nowhere,” a statement that immediately rattled markets.

    As panic spread, over $300 million in leveraged positions were liquidated, showcasing how digital assets, often viewed as uncorrelated, are becoming more reactive to global policy decisions.

    90-day tariff pause almost coming to an end

    As the 90-day tariff pause nears its expiry, Trump has proposed a 50% tariff on EU imports, alongside a 25% tariff specifically targeting iPhones manufactured abroad, raising alarms about broader economic implications.

    Trump proposes 50% tarrof on EU imports

    Investors now fear that these tariffs could not only escalate trade tensions but also lead to retaliatory actions from the EU, further complicating global market conditions.

    Even though the EU has so far refrained from escalating the situation, the clock is ticking, with a 90-day tariff pause set to expire in July, placing immense pressure on ongoing negotiations.

    Only the United Kingdom has finalised a trade agreement so far, and while India is expected to sign within days, other major players remain in a tense waiting game.

    Market downturn amid fears of resumption of tariffs

    With July just a month away, market watchers like Crypto Caesar now see Bitcoin’s $110,000 level as a key resistance point, with traders emphasising the need for BTC to hold above $109,000 to preserve the current bullish structure.

    Ethereum (ETH) has not been spared from the volatility, holding a support level at $2,500 but struggling to breach the persistent resistance at $2,700, even as daily losses extend to 4%.

    Notably, the ETHBTC pair continues to drift downward, suggesting weakening momentum in altcoins unless the broader market stabilises or Ethereum regains relative strength.

    Pi Coin, another asset under scrutiny, showed signs of upward movement earlier this month but failed to maintain gains above $1.23 due to aggressive short-term selling and long-term investor scepticism.

    US tech stocks have mirrored the downturn in crypto, with Apple shares falling amid fears that higher costs could be passed on to consumers, hurting demand and corporate profits alike.

    Trump’s involvement in crypto stirs controversy

    Amid all this, Trump’s personal involvement in crypto has added an unexpected layer of controversy, culminating in a high-profile gala for top holders of the TRUMP memecoin.

    The event, attended by major figures like TRON founder Justin Sun, drew widespread criticism and accusations of corruption, especially as federal lawmakers call for investigations into presidential conflicts of interest in cryptocurrency ventures.

    Following the gala, the TRUMP token spiked to $16 before dropping to $13.81, reflecting how quickly sentiment can shift amid political spectacle and regulatory uncertainty.

    While Trump’s supporters argue that his aggressive trade stance is a strategic play to bring manufacturing back to the US, economists warn of rising consumer prices and slower economic growth.

    Crypto traders, already bracing for volatility, now find themselves navigating a complex intersection of policy, politics, and profit, where even a single headline can trigger billions in liquidations.

    As July approaches and the tariff deadline looms, the crypto market remains on edge, anticipating either a breakthrough in trade talks or another wave of volatility that could reshape investor confidence once again.



    Source link

  • Bitcoin steady near $95K, but is market ‘blind’ to economic headwinds?

    Bitcoin steady near $95K, but is market ‘blind’ to economic headwinds?

    Crypto news today: Bitcoin holds $94K despite volatility; analyst warns market ignores risks

    • Bitcoin recovered from an intraday dip to trade near $94,700, down slightly over 24 hours.
    • US stocks also recovered late after falling over 2% early on weak economic data.
    • Altcoins generally underperformed Bitcoin, with the CoinDesk 20 index down 2%.

    Cryptocurrency markets navigated a choppy session on Wednesday, ultimately demonstrating resilience alongside traditional US equities as both asset classes clawed back from earlier declines.

    Despite this recovery, underlying economic concerns and persistent uncertainty surrounding US trade policy kept investors watchful, with some analysts questioning the market’s apparent disregard for potential headwinds.

    Crypto recovers from dip, altcoins lag

    While characterized by volatility, the overall trend for crypto on Wednesday remained one of range-bound trading.

    Shortly after the close of US equity trading, Bitcoin (BTC) was holding steady around $94,700, marking only a marginal 0.4% decline over the preceding 24 hours.

    This modest change, however, belied earlier volatility where the leading cryptocurrency had dipped nearly 2%, mirroring weakness seen in stocks during the initial part of the session.

    While Bitcoin recovered most of its lost ground, many alternative cryptocurrencies (altcoins) failed to keep pace, suggesting a degree of risk aversion within the digital asset space.

    The broader CoinDesk 20 index, which tracks leading cryptocurrencies excluding stablecoins and certain other tokens, slumped 2% over the 24-hour period.

    Notable decliners included litecoin (LTC), Ripple’s XRP, Avalanche (AVAX), and Chainlink (LINK), each shedding roughly 4%.

    Wall Street stages late-day comeback

    This pattern of early weakness followed by a late recovery closely mirrored the action on Wall Street.

    Major US stock indices initially tumbled by 2% or more following the release of less-than-stellar economic news, only to regain substantial ground throughout the trading day.

    The S&P 500 managed to close slightly in positive territory, while the Nasdaq Composite finished with a minor dip of just 0.1%.

    Economic jitters, tariff talk persist

    Despite this market resilience, the underlying economic picture presented cause for concern, contributing to the earlier sell-off.

    Data releases pointed towards potential slowing in the US economy.

    Consumer confidence readings hit multi-year lows, and job opening figures came in below expectations, potentially reflecting the impact of ongoing trade tensions and tariff policies.

    The continuing string of lackluster economic data, however, has not appeared to sway US President Trump from his assertive tariff policies.

    Dismissing potential negative consequences for consumers, Trump remarked early Wednesday: “Somebody said all the shelves are going to be open… Well, maybe the children will have two dolls instead of 30 dolls, and maybe the two dolls will cost a couple of bucks more than they would normally. … They have ships that are loaded up with stuff, much of which we don’t need.”

    These comments underscore the ongoing policy uncertainty contributing to market volatility.

    Analyst flags market ‘blindness’ to deeper risks

    This apparent disconnect between weakening economic signals and relatively buoyant market performance drew sharp commentary from some analysts.

    Jeff Park, head of Alpha Strategies at digital asset investment firm Bitwise, expressed concern about the market’s focus.

    “Hard to fathom how blind the market really is,” Park posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

    He argued that the market’s fixation on potential near-term Federal Reserve interest rate cuts overlooks more significant fundamental risks related to US economic policy and its global standing.

    “A Fed cut means nothing if U.S. creditworthiness is permanently impaired by the global community as resulted by dollar weaponization,” Park stated, suggesting aggressive policies could undermine trust in the US dollar and, by extension, the notion of a “risk-free” US Treasury asset.

    “That’s the mispricing we are talking about here,” he continued.

    “The myopic focus on whether [we] are getting a fed cut in May/June is completely irrelevant if the notion of the risk-free as we know it is fundamentally challenged forever, which means cost of capital globally is going higher.”

    Mixed fortunes for crypto stocks

    Reflecting the somewhat mixed day, crypto-related equities saw modest movements overall.

    Coinbase (COIN) and MicroStrategy (MSTR) posted slight gains, while Bitcoin miner Hut 8 (HUT) stood out as a notable underperformer, declining 5.7%.

    The day’s trading ultimately highlighted a market grappling with conflicting signals – resilience in price action against a backdrop of concerning economic data and persistent policy uncertainty.

    Source link

  • Crypto market decline accelerates in Q1 with $633.5B in losses

    Crypto market decline accelerates in Q1 with $633.5B in losses

    • Bitcoin’s market share rose to 59.1% despite falling 11.8%.
    • Ethereum’s 2024 gains wiped out in Q1 2025.
    • DeFi TVL fell 27.5% across multichain platforms.

    The global cryptocurrency market started 2025 with optimism, fuelled by expectations of favourable policy shifts under Donald Trump’s presidency and a strong rally across meme coins.

    But those hopes have since been dashed. According to CoinGecko’s latest quarterly report, crypto’s total market capitalisation fell 18.6% in Q1 2025, wiping out $633.5 billion in value.

    Trading volumes also took a hit. The report shows that average daily trading volume fell 27.3% compared to the previous quarter. Spot trading on centralised exchanges declined 16.3%, a drop that was partly attributed to the Bybit hack earlier this year.

    Despite signs of strength in early January, recession concerns and fragmented investor interest led to a broad sell-off across digital assets.

    Bitcoin outperforms altcoins but still falls 11.8%

    Bitcoin retained its dominance over the broader market in Q1, accounting for 59.1% of the total crypto market cap — its highest level since 2021.

    This shift highlights how investors have treated Bitcoin as a relatively more stable asset compared to altcoins during uncertain periods.

    However, Bitcoin itself was not immune to losses. It declined 11.8% during the quarter and underperformed traditional safe havens like gold and US Treasury bonds.

    The report also noted that Trump’s newly imposed tariffs triggered volatility in the bond market, impacting yields — a key metric closely linked to digital asset flows.

    Ethereum saw an even sharper reversal. It gave up all of its 2024 gains, returning to levels last seen before its Shanghai upgrade. The report attributed this trend to declining decentralised finance (DeFi) activity and persistent concerns around gas fees and scalability.

    DeFi TVL and Solana activity decline sharply

    Multichain DeFi protocols suffered significantly, with total value locked (TVL) falling 27.5% over the three-month period.

    Solana, which led the decentralised exchange (DEX) trading space during the meme coin frenzy in January, saw its own TVL drop by more than 20%.

    CoinGecko’s data indicates that market excitement around Trump-themed tokens, particularly the TRUMP coin on Solana, sparked a temporary spike in transaction volumes. However, this activity failed to sustain investor interest beyond January.

    The LIBRA scandal, which emerged shortly after, added further pressure on altcoin sentiment and liquidity.

    Despite these setbacks, Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded $1 billion in fresh inflows in Q1.

    But the total assets under management (AUM) across these ETFs still fell by nearly $9 billion due to declining prices, highlighting the gap between investment inflows and market returns.

    Structural concerns deepen

    While some data points suggested limited resilience, nearly every positive trend in the report was accompanied by a downside risk.

    The report shows that centralised exchanges, stablecoin volumes, and DeFi applications all registered lower activity in February and March. Many projects lost traction as macroeconomic concerns mounted and investor caution grew.

    CoinGecko noted that the first quarter of 2025 represents one of the most challenging periods for crypto since the FTX collapse in late 2022.

    The report reflects broader market concerns that the crypto sector, despite structural improvements in infrastructure and compliance, remains deeply vulnerable to global economic shocks.

    As recession fears take hold and regulatory uncertainties continue to loom in major markets, the path forward for crypto in the coming months remains highly uncertain.

    Although Bitcoin’s rising market share signals a flight to perceived safety, the broader market may need more than optimism and meme coin rallies to recover from this quarter’s losses.

    Source link

  • Altcoin market cap drops 41% amid crypto winter fears

    Altcoin market cap drops 41% amid crypto winter fears

    • Bitcoin and COIN50 fall below 200-day moving averages.
    • Venture capital remains 60% below 2021 levels despite mild rebound.
    • Market may stabilise between mid and late Q2 2025, says Coinbase.

    The risk of a renewed crypto winter is rising, Coinbase Research warned this week, as key technical and macroeconomic indicators suggest the digital asset market may be entering another prolonged downturn.

    In a note published yesterday, Coinbase said Bitcoin has slipped below its 200-day moving average—a level widely seen as a bearish signal.

    The COIN50 index, which tracks the top non-Bitcoin assets on the platform, has also fallen beneath its long-term support.

    Adding to the market stress are surging global tariffs and prolonged fiscal tightening, both of which are weighing on investor sentiment and curbing inflows into crypto.

    The situation echoes the 2022 crash, when over $2 trillion in market value was wiped out within 18 months.

    Altcoins have been hit the hardest. Excluding Bitcoin, the total crypto market cap has dropped 41% since its December 2024 peak, falling to $950 billion.

    That figure is lower than any level recorded between August 2021 and April 2022, a time when market turbulence was already high.

    Altcoins fall 41%

    According to Coinbase, the sustained drawdown in altcoins highlights the weakening appetite for riskier crypto investments.

    Tokens outside the Bitcoin ecosystem have seen sharp sell-offs amid thin liquidity and a lack of new capital.

    The COIN50 index now trades well below its 200-day average, signalling broad technical weakness across the sector.

    Retail interest has also declined, while institutional flows remain limited. This suggests that the bullish momentum seen in late 2024 has largely dissipated.

    Many smaller projects are underperforming, particularly those in niche segments such as decentralised AI, Web3 gaming, and tokenised real-world assets.

    Funding stays low

    Coinbase’s report also points to stagnation in venture capital. Although investment volumes have picked up modestly since late 2024, they remain 50% to 60% below the highs recorded during the 2021–2022 cycle.

    This has left many early-stage startups without the runway to scale, pushing some to pause development or downsize operations.

    The absence of fresh capital has slowed innovation across key verticals.

    Many in the industry had expected decentralised finance, metaverse applications, and crypto crowdfunding models to lead the next bull cycle. Instead, these areas have stalled.

    Macro weighs on sentiment

    Coinbase cited external economic pressures as a major reason for the recent slump.

    Tighter monetary policy, high interest rates, and the escalation of global tariffs have all eroded investor confidence.

    David Duong, head of institutional research, said the investment environment has become “paralysed” as both traditional and crypto markets face liquidity stress.

    These macro headwinds have discouraged speculation and limited the flow of capital into digital assets.

    Traders have pulled back, focusing instead on safe-haven assets as geopolitical risk and inflation remain elevated.

    Recovery may follow

    Despite the gloom, Coinbase believes the market may find a bottom between mid and late Q2 of 2025.

    A stabilisation in macro conditions—particularly a slowdown in inflation or an easing of interest rates—could help revive capital flows.

    Coinbase warns of a potential crypto winter as altcoins drop 41% and Bitcoin breaks key support. Market cap falls to $950b, mirroring 2022’s downturn.

    According to Duong, sentiment may reset quickly once market stress subsides, opening the door to a recovery in the second half of the year.

    The report stops short of making bullish predictions but says tactical positioning may be useful in the current environment. Analysts suggest keeping a close eye on liquidity trends and macro data as potential signals of a shift in momentum.

    Source link

  • Crypto market sees over $230 million in liquidations

    Crypto market sees over $230 million in liquidations

    Buy the dip

    The crypto market continues to struggle with downward pressure, with over $230 million in liquidations recorded in a single day.

    Per data from Coinglass, total liquidations were up 157% in the past 24 hours. Over this period, more than 95,478 traders had been liquidated.

    At the time of writing, the total liquidations stood at $232 million. Data showed the largest single liquidation order coming in on Binance for an ETH/USDT position valued at $5.59 million.

    ETH, XRP and SOL liquidations

    The crypto market’s total capitalization stands at $2.8 trillion, with Bitcoin’s dominance at 58.9%.

    However, the latest wave of liquidations has hit traders hard, particularly those convinced the price was on the upward mend.

    With leveraged positions largely longs, most of the rekt positions were bullish bets. Coinglass data shows over $73 million and nearly $44 million are for Bitcoin and Ethereum.

    XRP and Solana also witnessed huge liquidation.

    Crypto price outlook

    As noted, Bitcoin (BTC) saw over $73 million in liquidations.  This followed another massive short position for BTC, with a whale taking a 40x leverage. The whale’s liquidation is above $86,000. BTC price currently hovers around $83,316. What happens to the whale?

    Crypto trader and analyst Ash Crypto notes an announcement from Strategy founder Michael Saylor buying more BTC could see the $380 million whale record substantial losses.

    “If Saylor announces that he is buying $2 billion Bitcoin soon or even hints it, $380 million 40x short whale will get liquidated in a single candle,” the analyst posted on X.

    Another analyst shared:

    Currently, Bybit, Binance and OKX lead the total liquidations mark.

    As bulls plot to fell the bears, the rising liquidations underscore the risks of leverage. In a volatile market, millions or even billions could get wiped out in hours.



    Source link