Price analysis 4/11: BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, DOGE, ADA, LEO, LINK, AVAX
Bitcoin (BTC) is showing strength as buyers have pushed the price above $82,500, but higher levels are likely to attract solid selling from the bears. CryptoQuant analysts said in a recent market report that Bitcoin could face resistance around $84,000, but if the level is surpassed, the next stop may be $96,000.Although trade tensions between the United States and China have flared up, institutional crypto investment firm Bitwise remains bullish on Bitcoin. Bitwise chief investment officer Matt Hougan said in a post on X that the firm’s previously predicted year-end target of $200,000 for Bitcoin remains in play.Crypto market data daily view. Source: Coin360However, market participants remain cautious in the near term. The US-listed spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds continued to witness outflows on April 9 and April 10, according to Farside Investors data. Could Bitcoin break and sustain above the overhead resistance? Will altcoins follow Bitcoin higher? Let’s analyze the charts of the top 10 cryptocurrencies to find out.Bitcoin price analysisBitcoin’s recovery from the $73,777 support has reached near the resistance line, which is a critical level to watch out for in the near term.BTC/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe 20-day exponential moving average ($82,435) is turning down, but the relative strength index (RSI) has risen close to the midpoint, indicating that the bearish momentum is weakening. The BTC/USDT pair is expected to face intense selling at the resistance line, but if the bulls prevail, the rally could reach $89,000 and then $95,000.Sellers are likely to have other plans. They will try to defend the resistance line and pull the price below the immediate support at $78,500. If they manage to do that, the pair could retest the vital support at $73,777.Ether price analysisEther (ETH) rebounded off the $1,368 support on April 9, but the bulls are struggling to sustain the higher levels.ETH/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe downsloping moving averages and the RSI in the negative territory suggest that the bears hold the edge. Sellers will try to sink the ETH/USDT pair below $1,368. If they can pull it off, the selling could accelerate, and the pair may tumble to $1,150.If buyers want to prevent the breakdown, they will have to quickly push the price above $1,754. That clears the path for a rally to the breakdown level of $2,111. This is an essential level for the bears to defend because a break above $2,111 suggests a short-term trend change.XRP price analysisXRP (XRP) rose back above the breakdown level of $2 on April 9, but the recovery is facing selling at the 20-day EMA ($2.09).XRP/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewIf the price turns down from the 20-day EMA, the bears will try to sink the XRP/USDT pair to the critical support at $1.61. Buyers are expected to fiercely defend the $1.61 level because a break below it may clear the path for a decline to $1.27.Alternatively, if the price rises above the 20-day EMA, it suggests that the markets have rejected the breakdown below $2. The pair could rally to the resistance line, where the bears are expected to mount a strong defense.BNB price analysisBNB (BNB) has reached the 20-day EMA ($590), which is an important near-term resistance to watch out for.BNB/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewSellers will try to defend the zone between the 20-day EMA and the downtrend line, but if the bulls do not give up much ground, it improves the prospects of a break above the overhead resistance zone. The BNB/USDT pair could then ascend to $644.Contrary to this assumption, if the price turns down sharply from the overhead resistance, it suggests that the bears have not given up. That could keep the pair stuck inside the triangle for a while longer.Solana price analysisSolana (SOL) rose above the breakdown level of $110 on April 9, but the bulls are facing resistance at the 20-day EMA ($121).SOL/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewA minor advantage in favor of the bulls is that the bears did not allow the price to slip back below $110 on April 10. That shows buying on dips. If the bulls kick the price above the 20-day EMA, the SOL/USDT pair may rally to the 50-day SMA ($133) and then to $153.This positive view will be invalidated in the short term if the price turns down sharply from the 20-day EMA and breaks below $110. The pair could then retest the April 7 intraday low of $95. Dogecoin price analysisBuyers have successfully defended the $0.14 in Dogecoin (DOGE) but are yet to clear the moving averages.DOGE/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewIf the price turns down sharply from the moving averages, it suggests that the sentiment remains negative and traders are selling on rallies. That increases the likelihood of a break below $0.14. The DOGE/USDT pair could then plummet toward the next significant support at $0.10.Conversely, a break and close above the moving averages will be the first sign of strength. There is resistance at $0.20, but if the bulls overcome it, the pair will complete a double-bottom pattern. The pair could march to $0.24 and subsequently to $0.26.Cardano price analysisCardano (ADA) has reached the 20-day EMA ($0.65), which is a strong near-term resistance to watch out for.ADA/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewIf the price breaks above the 20-day EMA, the ADA/USDT pair could reach the 50-day SMA ($0.71). This level may again pose a strong challenge, but if the buyers prevail, the pair could rally to $0.83.On the contrary, if the price turns down sharply from the 20-day EMA, it signals that the bears are selling on every minor rally. That heightens the risk of a break below the $0.50 support. If that happens, the pair could slide to $0.40.Related: Bollinger Bands creator says Bitcoin forming ‘classic’ floor near $80KUNUS SED LEO price analysisUNUS SED LEO (LEO) rose back above the uptrend line on April 9, signaling solid demand at lower levels.LEO/USD daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe 20-day EMA ($9.38) is flattening out, and the RSI is near the midpoint, suggesting a balance between supply and demand. If the price breaks above the 20-day EMA, the LEO/USD pair could reach the overhead resistance at $9.90. If the price turns down from the 20-day EMA, it suggests that the bears continue to sell on rallies. The bears will then make one more attempt to sink the pair below $8.79. If they succeed, the decline could extend to $8.30.Chainlink price analysisChainlink (LINK) has been trading inside a descending channel pattern for several days. The rebound on April 9 shows that the bulls are trying to defend the support line.LINK/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThe moving averages are expected to act as a stiff resistance on the way up. If buyers propel the price above the moving averages, the LINK/USDT pair could pick up momentum and rally to $16 and later to $17.50.Contrarily, if the price turns down from the moving averages, it suggests that the bears are active at higher levels. The bears will then make one more attempt to sink the pair below the support line.Avalanche price analysisAvalanche (AVAX) rebounded sharply off the $15.27 support on April 9, indicating solid buying at lower levels.AVAX/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingViewThere is resistance in the zone between the 50-day SMA ($20) and the downtrend line, but if the buyers overcome it, the AVAX/USDT pair could surge to $23.50.Sellers are expected to aggressively defend the $23.50 level because a break and close above it will complete a double bottom pattern. This reversal setup has a target objective of $31.73.Instead, if the price turns down from the overhead resistance, it suggests that the pair could remain range-bound between $15.27 and $23.50 for some time.This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
Illinois Senate passes crypto bill to fight fraud and rug pulls
The Illinois Senate by a vote of 39 to 17 passed a regulatory bill aimed at curbing cryptocurrency fraud and protecting investors from deceptive practices, including rug pulls and misleading fee structures.On April 10, the chamber passed Senate Bill 1797 (SB1797), also known as the Digital Assets and Consumer Protection Act, which Senator Mark Walker introduced in February.The bill gives the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation authority to oversee digital asset business activity within the state.Under the legislation, any entity engaging in digital asset business with Illinois residents must be registered with the state’s financial regulator. The bill also requires crypto service providers to offer advance full disclosure of user fees and charges.Bill SB1797. Source: Ilga.gov“A person shall not engage in digital asset business activity, or hold itself out as being able to engage in digital asset business activity, with or on behalf of a resident unless the person is registered in this State by the Department under this Article […],” the bill states.Related: Trump family memecoins may trigger increased SEC scrutiny on cryptoWalker has previously highlighted the need to address crypto-related fraud in Illinois. In an April 4 X post, he stated:“The rise of digital assets has opened the door for financial opportunity, but also for bankruptcy, fraud and deceptive practices. We must set standards for those who have evolved in the crypto business to ensure they are credible, honest actors.”Illinois’ push for stronger oversight follows a wave of high-profile memecoin meltdowns and insider-led scams that have left retail investors with substantial losses.In March, New York introduced Bill A06515, aiming to establish criminal penalties to prevent cryptocurrency fraud and protect investors from rug pulls.Related: Trump’s tariff escalation exposes ‘deeper fractures’ in global financial systemMemecoin scams spark regulatory momentumOne of the most notorious recent cases was the collapse of the Libra token, a memecoin reportedly endorsed by Argentine President Javier Milei. In March, the project’s insiders allegedly withdrew over $107 million in liquidity, causing a 94% price crash and wiping out roughly $4 billion in market value.Libra token crash. Source: Kobeissi LetterInsider scams and “outright fraudulent activities” like rug pulls, which are “not only unethical but also clearly illegal, with case law to support enforcement,” should see more thorough regulatory attention, Anastasija Plotnikova, co-founder and CEO of blockchain regulatory firm Fideum, told Cointelegraph, adding:“In my view, these activities should fall firmly within the jurisdiction of law enforcement agencies.”The latest meltdown occurred on March 16, after Hayden Davis, the co-creator of the Official Melania Meme (MELANIA) and the Libra token, launched a Wolf of Wall Street-inspired token (WOLF).Source: BubblemapsOver 82% of the token’s supply was held by the same entity, which led to a 99% price crash after the token peaked at a $42 million market capitalization.Argentine lawyer Gregorio Dalbon has asked for an Interpol Red Notice to be issued for Davis, citing a “procedural risk” if Davis were to remain free as he could access vast amounts of money that would allow him to either flee the US or go into hiding.Magazine: Caitlyn Jenner memecoin ‘mastermind’s’ celebrity price list leaked
Bitcoiners’ ‘bullish impulse’ on recession may be premature: 10x Research
It may be too early for Bitcoiners to start getting bullish over the longer-term impacts of a potential recession on Bitcoin’s price, says 10x Research head of research Markus Thielen.Thielen said in an April 11 markets report that credit spreads continue to widen, indicating that “recessionary concerns may be seeping deeper into the economy.”“Expecting a bullish impulse is too early,” he said.Bitcoin may face short-term headwindsWhile the long-term effects of a recession could be bullish for Bitcoin (BTC) — due to the monetary easing that typically follows US Federal Reserve rate cuts — Thielen warned that Bitcoin may face headwinds before gaining bullish momentum.“Normally, Bitcoin first sells off when China devalues or the Fed cuts, as the first cut might not be so impactful and also confirms economic weakness,” Thielen told Cointelegraph. Bitcoin is trading at $80,620 at the time of publication. Source: CoinMarketCapWhite House crypto and AI czar David Sacks said in an April 10 X post that it is “time for a rate cut” after the core Consumer Price Index increased 2.8% year-by-year for March, the lowest it has been since March 2021.CME Group’s FedWatch Tool shows a 64.8% chance of no rate cut at the Federal Reserve’s May Federal Open Market Committee meeting.Traders typically see interest rate cuts and monetary supply expansions as positively affecting asset prices, especially Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.However, Thielen said that historically, when year-over-year credit spreads “begin to widen,” Bitcoin often faces more downside pressure and takes longer to recover.Related: Bitcoin ‘significantly de-risked here’ as nearly 80% of cyclical price correction is done — Analyst“This pattern suggests that while a longer-term opportunity may emerge, Bitcoin could still face pressure in the near term,” Thielen said. He added that currency devaluations have also historically been bearish for markets in the short term before being bullish in the long term.It comes amid growing concern among market participants over the weakening US dollar.The US Dollar Index (DXY) is sitting at 100.048, down 2.92% over the past five days, according to TradingView data. The DXY is sitting at 100.337 at the time of publication. Source: TradingViewTrading resource account, The Kobeissi Letter, said in an April 10 X post, “The US dollar has exited the room. Once again, something is broken.”Meanwhile, BlackRock’s head of digital assets, Robbie Mitchnick, said in late March that Bitcoin would most likely thrive in a recessionary macro environment. “I don’t know if we’ll have a recession or not, but a recession would be a big catalyst for Bitcoin,” Mitchnick said.Magazine: Memecoin degeneracy is funding groundbreaking anti-aging researchThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
Crypto gaming has mixed Q1 as deals jump, investment totals dip: DappRadar
Blockchain gaming for the first quarter of 2025 has been a “mixed bag,” seeing a greater number of deals while the amount invested significantly dipped, says blockchain analytics platform DappRadar.Web3 gaming projects raised $91 million in Q1 2025, marking a 71% decrease from the fourth quarter of 2024 and a 68% drop compared to the same quarter a year ago, DappRadar said in its April 10 State of Blockchain Gaming report.DappRadar analyst Sara Gherghelas wrote the figures showed “the growing pressure on early-stage startups and hint that 2025 may prove more challenging than previous years — unless broader market conditions improve.”Another factor for the drop in investments in blockchain games is investors are increasingly shifting toward real-world assets and artificial intelligence, according to Gherghelas.Over the same time, the number of blockchain gaming-related deals that closed increased by 35% quarter-over-quarter.Web3 gaming projects raised $91 million for the quarter, marking a 71% decrease from Q4 2024. Source: DappRadarGherghelas said the jump in deals shows that “while investors are writing smaller checks, they’re still actively engaging with a broader range of projects — indicating continued interest, albeit with more cautious allocation.”Web3 gaming investors go big in infrastructureThe lion’s share of funding for Web3 gaming in the first quarter went to infrastructure-focused projects, with most focused on scalable gaming infrastructure, according to the report.Gherghelas said the focus on infrastructure funding signaled that “investor confidence in the long-term potential of Web3 gaming remains intact,” with a few stand-out projects in the quarter, such as those from MARBLEX and The Game Company.MARBLEX, the blockchain gaming division of South Korean game developer Netmarble, has plans for a Semi-Publishing Model to support a wider variety of Web3 games, backed by a joint fund exceeding $20 million with Immutable. Most of the funding for Web3 gaming last quarter went to infrastructure-focused projects. Source: DappRadarMeanwhile, Dubai-based startup The Game Company, a firm focused on blockchain-based cloud gaming, received $10 million in funding on Feb. 6 to help develop a platform that allows users to play any game on any device.Related: Blockchain gaming market is a ‘game of musical chairs’ — Gunzilla execGherghelas said that as the Web gaming industry matures, there is “a clear push toward quality, innovation, and interoperability — whether through upgraded gameplay, new identity layers, or AI-enhanced mechanics.”Magazine: Illegal arcade disguised as … a fake Bitcoin mine? Soldier scams in China: Asia Express
Bitcoin may hit a wall at $84K if bullish conditions don’t pick up: CryptoQuant
Bitcoin could hover in the low $80,000s in the near term if it fails to break through its next resistance level, CryptoQuant says, while other analysts predict the cryptocurrency will hit a fresh all-time high within the next two months.CryptoQuant analysts said in an April 10 markets report that if Bitcoin (BTC) “continues to rally,” it could hit resistance around the $84,000 price level, but if it breaks through, it could soar before its next resistance level of $96,000.Bitcoin’s previous support levels are now resistance“These price levels have acted as price support during this bull cycle but can now act as price resistance if bullish conditions don’t continue to improve,” CryptoQuant said in its report. “This has been the case in past bearish cycles.”Bitcoin was trading at $79,474 at the time of publication, down 3.5% over the past day, according to CoinMarketCap data.Bitcoin is down 2.24% over the past 30 days. Source: CoinMarketCapApril has been a volatile month for Bitcoin. US President Donald Trump ramped up global tariffs on April 2, which triggered fear in financial markets, before later abruptly pausing them for 90 days and softening the bearish momentum. Bitcoin briefly rose above $85,000 on April 1, but it pulled back to around $76,000 by April 8 due to uncertainty surrounding Trump’s tariff plans.CryptoQuant said prices recovered “most of the lost ground” on April 9, after Trump announced the 90-day pause on tariffs to all countries except China, which have now been ramped up to 145%.Bitcoin may first find resistance at $84,000 and then at the $96,000 area. Source: CryptoQuantAfter Trump’s tariff pause announcement on April 9, both the crypto and broader financial markets saw a wider surge.Bitcoin surged by approximately 9%, reversing most of the losses it incurred earlier in the week, to retest $83,000. Meanwhile, the S&P 500, which tracks the 500 largest public US companies, closed 9.52% higher, its third-largest single-day gain since World War II. The Nasdaq 100 posted a 12.02% gain over the trading day.Abra Global CEO Bill Barhydt said in an April 10 X post that it may only be a matter of months before Bitcoin sees its price go almost 29% above its $109,000 all-time high set in January.“Bitcoin is a levered bet on tech stocks, and all of it is going up and to the right,” Barhydt said, adding that Bitcoin may go as high as $130,000 to $140,000 by late June.Related: Bitcoin ‘significantly de-risked here’ as nearly 80% of cyclical price correction is done — AnalystHe pointed to the “very significant increase in global money supply” as the reasoning behind his claim that Bitcoin could reach significantly higher levels by “midsummer at the latest.” It echoes a similar sentiment to Real Vision chief crypto analyst Jamie Coutts, who told Cointelegraph last month that “the market may be underestimating how quickly Bitcoin could surge — potentially hitting new all-time highs before Q2 is out.”However, according to CryptoQuant’s Bull Score Index, Bitcoin has been in one of its least bullish phases since November 2022.CryptoQuant said that of the ten bull signals it tracks in its Bull Score Index, only one is still active, with Bitcoin trading above its 365-day moving average.It said the market needs to wait and see if the bull signals “switch back on” in the coming weeks following Trump’s recent decision to pause his tariffs.Magazine: Memecoin degeneracy is funding groundbreaking anti-aging researchThis article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
SEC staff gives guidance on how securities laws could apply to crypto
US Securities and Exchange Commission staff have given guidance on how federal securities laws could apply to crypto, saying companies issuing or dealing with tokens that could be securities should give better details about their business.The SEC’s Division of Corporation Finance said in a staff statement on April 10 that it was giving its views “to provide greater clarity on the application of the federal securities laws to crypto assets.” The Division said its statement was made of observations of disclosures given in existing disclosure requirements and “addresses our views about certain specific disclosure questions that market participants have presented to the staff.”The guidance, which the Division noted had “no legal force or effect,” said crypto companies who are giving disclosures about their business have typically shared a host of information about their operations, such as what the company specifically does, how any issued tokens work and how the business generates — or intends to generate — revenue.Companies have also disclosed whether they plan to remain engaged in a crypto network or app after they launch it and, if not, whether any other entities will take over.Crypto firms should also explain their technology, such as if their product is a proof-of-work or proof-of-stake blockchain, its block size, transaction speed, reward mechanisms, the measures to ensure network security and whether the protocol is open-source or not.The SEC staff also noted that registration or qualification is not required in connection with crypto offerings that aren’t securities and aren’t part of an investment contract. However, the statement didn’t provide clarity on what digital assets could be securities.Commercial litigator Joe Carlasare told Cointelegraph the statement was “a welcome and refreshing step toward clearer regulatory guidance.”“Adhering to the guidelines will help entities not only position themselves more favorably with regulators but also demonstrate a commitment to transparency and credibility,” he said.Crypto firms should share all risksThe SEC staff statement said that issuers usually clearly disclose risks related to price volatility, network and cybersecurity vulnerabilities, and custody risks, in addition to standard business, operational, legal and regulatory risks.A “materially complete description” of a security is also typically required from an issuer, which includes the mechanism behind paying dividends, distributions, profit-sharing and voting rights, including how those rights are enforced.Related: No crypto project has registered with the SEC and ‘lived to tell the tale’ — House committee hearingIt added a company should share if a protocol’s code can be modified, and if so, who can make such changes and whether the smart contracts involved have been subjected to a third-party security audit.Other disclosures the statement mentioned are whether the token’s supply is fixed and how it was or will be issued along with identifying executives and “significant employees.”The Division said its guidance intended to build on the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, which is planning to host a series of roundtables with the crypto industry to discuss how it should police crypto trading, custody, tokenization and decentralized finance.Magazine: SEC’s U-turn on crypto leaves key questions unanswered
Jack Dorsey's Block fined $40M for alleged crypto compliance, AML failures
Digital payments company Block Inc. has reached a $40 million settlement with New York regulators over alleged compliance misconducts tied to its Cash App platform, Bloomberg reported on April 10.Block was fined by the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) following an investigation into Cash App’s Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and cryptocurrency compliance operations, Bloomberg said after reviewing the government agency’s consent order. NYDFS determined that Block allegedly violated consumer protection laws and didn’t conduct proper due diligence on its customers. The company was allegedly too slow in reporting suspicious transactions to regulators and failed to adequately screen so-called “high-risk” Bitcoin (BTC) transactions. Block confirmed that it had worked with NYDFS to “resolve the matter principally related to Cash App’s past compliance program.” However, it did not admit to any wrongdoing, according to Bloomberg. Block, which was founded by internet entrepreneur and Bitcoin advocate Jack Dorsey in 2009, had been negotiating a settlement with the NYDFS since last year, based on filings submitted with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).Excerpts of Block Inc.’s February Form 10K filing with the SEC. Source: SECThe NYDFS settlement isn’t the first monetary penalty Block has agreed to pay this year. As Cointelegraph reported, the company paid $80 million in fines to several state regulators over alleged violations tied to its AML program.Related: NYDFS chief’s advice for crypto firms: ‘Never surprise your regulator’Block remains in growth modeDespite getting caught in regulatory crosshairs, Block’s underlying business remained strong at the end of 2024. Companywide revenues increased by roughly 4.5% year-over-year to $6.03 billion as per-share earnings climbed 51% to $0.71. The other positive takeaway was that Block’s merchant gross payment volume, or the total amount of money processed through its systems, increased by 10% to $61.95 billion. Cash App continues to be a source of growth, with the unit recording $1.38 billion in gross profit in the fourth quarter. The mobile payment service had more than 57 million monthly transacting users in early 2024. Despite reporting strong growth, Block Inc.’s (XYZ) share price has fallen more than 37% this year as part of a marketwide sell-off. Source: Yahoo FinanceCash App users have been able to buy Bitcoin through the platform since at least 2018. In 2023, Cash App integrated crypto accounting software TaxBit, giving users an easier way to track and report their crypto-related taxes. Magazine: Bitcoin heading to $70K soon? Crypto baller funds SpaceX flight: Hodler’s Digest, March 30 – April 5
Ether ETF staking could come as soon as May — Bloomberg analyst
Ether exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the United States may be able to start staking a portion of their tokens as soon as May, according to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst James Seyffart. On April 9, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) authorized exchanges to begin listing options contracts tied to spot Ether (ETH) ETFs after greenlighting Bitcoin (BTC) ETF options in September. However, issuers are still waiting for the regulator to allow Ether ETFs to offer staking after filing numerous requests for permission earlier this year.Source: James SeyffartThe approval of options contracts could represent a key step toward regulatory approval for staking services in the United States. Bloomberg Intelligence analyst James Seyffart said on April 9 that clearance for staking on ETH funds could come as early as May but would likely take until the end of 2025.“It’s possible they could be approved for staking early, but the final deadline is at the end of October,” Seyffart said in a post on the X platform. “Potential intermediate deadlines before the final approval (or denial) are in late May & late August.”Options are financial derivatives that give investors the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an asset at a predetermined price before a certain date. Staking, on the other hand, involves locking up a cryptocurrency, like ETH, to support network operations — such as validating transactions — in exchange for rewards. In ETH funds, options contracts allow investors to hedge or speculate on the tokens’ prices, while staking offers a way to earn rewards by participating in Ethereum’s proof-of-stake network.Ether ETF inflows. Source: Farside InvestorsRelated: SEC approves options on spot Ether ETFsProgress toward adoptionEther ETFs launched in June 2024 but struggled to attract significant investor interest. According to data from Farside Investors, the funds have seen net inflows of $2.4 billion as of April 10, compared to $35 billion for Bitcoin ETFs introduced in January. Analysts say the SEC’s approval of Ether ETF options could help spur adoption. Asset managers are also waiting on the SEC to greenlight requests to allow in-kind creations and redemptions for Bitcoin and Ether ETFs.The emergence of options markets tied to spot crypto ETFs is a “monumental advancement” in crypto markets and creates “extremely compelling opportunities” for investors,” Jeff Park, Bitwise Invest’s head of alpha strategies, said in a Sept. 20 X post. But staking could be the most significant step forward for Ether funds. In March, Robbie Mitchnick, BlackRock’s head of digital assets, said Ether ETFs are “less perfect” without staking. “A staking yield is a meaningful part of how you can generate investment return in this space.”Magazine: Memecoin degeneracy is funding groundbreaking anti-aging research
AI-generated content needs blockchain before trust in digital media collapses
Opinion by: Roman Cyganov, founder and CEO of AntixIn the fall of 2023, Hollywood writers took a stand against AI’s encroachment on their craft. The fear: AI would churn out scripts and erode authentic storytelling. Fast forward a year later, and a public service ad featuring deepfake versions of celebrities like Taylor Swift and Tom Hanks surfaced, warning against election disinformation. We are a few months into 2025. Still, AI’s intended outcome in democratizing access to the future of entertainment illustrates a rapid evolution — of a broader societal reckoning with distorted reality and massive misinformation.Despite this being the “AI era,” nearly 52% of Americans are more concerned than excited about its growing role in daily life. Add to this the findings of another recent survey that 68% of consumers globally hover between “somewhat” and “very” concerned about online privacy, driven by fears of deceptive media. It’s no longer about memes or deepfakes. AI-generated media fundamentally alters how digital content is produced, distributed and consumed. AI models can now generate hyper-realistic images, videos and voices, raising urgent concerns about ownership, authenticity and ethical use. The ability to create synthetic content with minimal effort has profound implications for industries reliant on media integrity. This indicates that the unchecked spread of deepfakes and unauthorized reproductions without a secure verification method threatens to erode trust in digital content altogether. This, in turn, affects the core base of users: content creators and businesses, who face mounting risks of legal disputes and reputational harm. While blockchain technology has often been touted as a reliable solution for content ownership and decentralized control, it’s only now, with the advent of generative AI, that its prominence as a safeguard has risen, especially in matters of scalability and consumer trust. Consider decentralized verification networks. These enable AI-generated content to be authenticated across multiple platforms without any single authority dictating algorithms related to user behavior.Getting GenAI onchainCurrent intellectual property laws are not designed to address AI-generated media, leaving critical gaps in regulation. If an AI model produces a piece of content, who legally owns it? The person providing the input, the company behind the model or no one at all? Without clear ownership records, disputes over digital assets will continue to escalate. This creates a volatile digital environment where manipulated media can erode trust in journalism, financial markets and even geopolitical stability. The crypto world is not immune from this. Deepfakes and sophisticated AI-built attacks are causing insurmountable losses, with reports highlighting how AI-driven scams targeting crypto wallets have surged in recent months. Blockchain can authenticate digital assets and ensure transparent ownership tracking. Every piece of AI-generated media can be recorded onchain, providing a tamper-proof history of its creation and modification. Akin to a digital fingerprint for AI-generated content, permanently linking it to its source, allowing creators to prove ownership, companies to track content usage, and consumers to validate authenticity. For example, a game developer could register an AI-crafted asset on the blockchain, ensuring its origin is traceable and protected against theft. Studios could use blockchain in film production to certify AI-generated scenes, preventing unauthorized distribution or manipulation. In metaverse applications, users could maintain complete control over their AI-generated avatars and digital identities, with blockchain acting as an immutable ledger for authentication.End-to-end use of blockchain will eventually prevent the unauthorized use of AI-generated avatars and synthetic media by implementing onchain identity verification. This would ensure that digital representations are tied to verified entities, reducing the risk of fraud and impersonation. With the generative AI market projected to reach $1.3 trillion by 2032, securing and verifying digital content, particularly AI-generated media, is more pressing than ever through such decentralized verification frameworks.Recent: AI-powered romance scams: The new frontier in crypto fraudSuch frameworks would further help combat misinformation and content fraud while enabling cross-industry adoption. This open, transparent and secure foundation benefits creative sectors like advertising, media and virtual environments.Aiming for mass adoption amid existing toolsSome argue that centralized platforms should handle AI verification, as they control most content distribution channels. Others believe watermarking techniques or government-led databases provide sufficient oversight. It’s already been proven that watermarks can be easily removed or manipulated, and centralized databases remain vulnerable to hacking, data breaches or control by single entities with conflicting interests.It’s quite visible that AI-generated media is evolving faster than existing safeguards, leaving businesses, content creators and platforms exposed to growing risks of fraud and reputational damage.For AI to be a tool for progress rather than deception, authentication mechanisms must advance simultaneously. The biggest proponent for blockchain’s mass adoption in this sector is that it provides a scalable solution that matches the pace of AI progress with the infrastructural support required to maintain transparency and legitimacy of IP rights. The next phase of the AI revolution will be defined not only by its ability to generate hyper-realistic content but also by the mechanisms to get these systems in place on time, significantly, as crypto-related scams fueled by AI-generated deception are projected to hit an all-time high in 2025. Without a decentralized verification system, it’s only a matter of time before industries relying on AI-generated content lose credibility and face increased regulatory scrutiny. It’s not too late for the industry to consider this aspect of decentralized authentication frameworks more seriously before digital trust crumbles under unchecked deception.Opinion by: Roman Cyganov, founder and CEO of Antix.This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.
Crypto’s growing footprint: UK regulator sounds alarm over stablecoin risks
United Kingdom regulators are increasingly concerned about the impact of stablecoins and the broader crypto industry on the country’s financial system and monetary stability.During Financial Policy Committee meetings held on April 4 and 8, regulators noted that while the current “interconnectedness of unbacked crypto asset markets with the real economy and financial sector is growing but remains relatively limited,” stablecoins and crypto markets have expanded significantly in the past year, drawing heightened regulatory attention.The UK, its central bank and its local regulator, the Financial Conduct Authority, have been developing frameworks for stablecoins to ensure financial resilience. The committee claims to have determined the factors that make a stablecoin resilient:“A key determinant of the resilience of stablecoins was the liquidity, credit and market risks of their backing assets, which were in place to ensure that redemptions can be met in a timely manner at par, even in periods of stress.“The committee raised alarm over the “greater issuance of sterling offshore stablecoins with inappropriate backing assets.” This has implications for UK financial markets and “even with appropriate regulation, greater use of stablecoins denominated in foreign currencies could make some economies vulnerable to currency substitution,” the committee said.Bank of England. Source: WikimediaRelated: Builders beware — The UK’s 2026 crypto regime is comingCurrency substitution risks spark concernCommittee members are worried that if stablecoin use were to move beyond crypto settlements, it could result in “implications for retail and wholesale cross-border payments.” In retail flows, stablecoin use by households and small and medium-sized enterprises could, for cross-border payments, “result in currency substitution,” increasing counterparty risk.The statement followed reports about growing stablecoin adoption not limited to crypto remittances in emerging markets, especially in Africa. A recent report from Chainalysis found that stablecoins now make up nearly half of all transaction volume in Sub-Saharan Africa.Similarly, a late 2024 report suggested that a number of emerging economies across Africa have the potential to become digital asset hubs. Ben Caselin, chief marketing officer of Johannesburg-based crypto exchange VALR, told Cointelegraph at the time:“South Africa is the entryway to the rest of Africa with a good rule of law and independent judiciary. It’s easy to open a company in South Africa.”Still, reports of similar trends in developed economies with easily accessible financial infrastructure are scarce. Experts often point to the unavailability of banking services and unstable local fiat currencies as the reason why developing countries — from Africa in particular — are eager to adopt dollar-based stablecoins and crypto.Related: 3 reasons why stablecoin growth thrives globally — Will US follow under Trump?UK is not alone in worryingThe United Kingdom is in good company in worrying about the impact of stablecoins and the broader crypto industry on monetary stability. The European Securities and Markets Authority (ESMA) recently warned that crypto will increasingly threaten traditional financial markets’ stability as the industry grows and becomes more entwined with conventional finance players. ESMA’s executive director, Natasha Cazenave said:“We cannot rule out that future sharp drops in crypto prices could have knock-on effects on our financial system.”Local regulators are already acting on those concerns. In late March, the European Union’s insurance authority proposed a blanket rule that would mandate insurance firms to maintain capital equal to the value of their crypto holdings as part of a measure to mitigate risks for policyholders.Magazine: Ridiculous ‘Chinese Mint’ crypto scam, Japan dives into stablecoins: Asia Express