Breaking
Crypto Stability Plan
Archive

April 27, 2025

Browsing
Stock

Zweig Breadth Thrust Dominates the Headlines – But What about an Exit Strategy?

Stock 3 Mins Read

The Zweig Breadth Thrust for the S&P 1500 triggered on Thursday as stocks surged last week. In poker terms, this thrust signals an abrupt participation shift as stocks move from folding to all-in within ten days. A bullish thrust signal is only part of the puzzle. How do we know when this signal fails? Today’s report will look at the ZBT signal in the S&P 1500 and offer an exit strategy. Stick around to the end for an offer to access a fully quantified strategy based on the Zweig Breadth Thrust.

******************************************

TrendInvestorPro subscribers have access to three timely reports. The first report/video explains the mechanics of the original NYSE-based Zweig Breadth Thrust indicator and then shows a modern version using S&P 1500 Advance-Decline Percent. Second, we also presented a trading strategy using ZBT signals for entry and another indicator for exits. The third report/video covers the setups and thrust signals for the percent above SMA indicators. Some of these indicators also triggered this week, but not all. Click here to take a trial and get full access.

*****************************************

ZBT Triggers for S&P 1500, but Not S&P 500

The first chart shows the Zweig Breadth Thrust (ZBT) indicator triggering bullish as it moved from below -20% to above +23% within ten trading days (blue line). This thrust signal means S&P 1500 advance-decline breadth became oversold with strong selling pressure and then recovered in dramatic fashion with a surge in upside participation. Moreover, this shift occurred within a 10 day window. This reversal of fortune was both sudden and sharp.

Note that the Zweig Breadth Thrust triggered an epic signal in November 2023, and we were on it. See this report (11-November-2023) for details on the original NYSE-based Zweig Breadth Thrust. See this report (18-November-2023) for details on using S&P 1500 Advance-Decline Percent to create a Zweig Breadth Thrust indicator.  

S&P 500 ZBT Falls Short

The ZBT indicator for the S&P 500 did not trigger. The indicator was below -20% on April 8th and did not make it back above +23% within the 10 day window. In fact, the indicator did not make it back above +23% this week. This shows less upside participation within the S&P 500, and more upside participation within the S&P 1500. Small and mid cap breadth outperformed large-cap breadth this week.

Where’s the Exit?

The Zweig Breadth Thrust is only used for bullish signals, which means chartists must find another indicator to signal a failed thrust. As its name implies, a thrust is a strong upward move that is powerful enough to foreshadow an extended advance. The Zweig Breadth Thrust in November 2023 provides a classic example as SPY continued higher, never looking back. The blue line shows when both the S&P 1500 and S&P 500 ZBT indicators triggered in early November.

Chartists looking for an exit strategy can consider prior support levels based on reaction lows (troughs). The horizontal blue lines show these support levels, starting with the late October 2023 low. SPY forged a reaction low in January 2025, hit a new high in February and then broke support to trigger an exit. Current support levels are based on the April lows.

Chartists looking for a more dynamic approach can consider a trend-following indicator, which we will explore next (subscribers). This strategy is fully disclosed and quantified with backtest results. Click here to take a trial and get immediate access! 

/////////////////////////////////////////

Keep Reading
Investing

Tech 5: Major Players Release Latest Results, Google’s Antitrust Fight Heats Up

Investing 8 Mins Read

This week brought major developments in the tech space as interest rate speculation impacted the market and Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) saw developments in its high-stakes antitrust battle.

Meanwhile, Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI) made waves with new artificial intelligence (AI) integrations, and earnings reports impacted shares of Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA), IBM (NYSE:IBM) and Intel (NASDAQ:INTC).

Meanwhile, the EU continued its regulatory push against Apple (NASDAQ:APPL) and Meta Platforms (NASDAQ:META).

Read on to dive deeper into this week’s top stories.

1. DOJ pushes for radical remedies in Google’s antitrust trial

This week, federal attorneys presented possible remedies before Judge Amit Mehta in the Google search antitrust case, following his August 2024 ruling that Google is illegally monopolizing the search market.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) recommended that Google be forced to share its user data with rivals and advocated for the sale of Google’s Chrome business, arguing that the divestiture would give other companies a fighting chance in the search engine market. As the week progressed, executives from OpenAI, DuckDuckGo, Perplexity and Yahoo said they would consider acquiring Chrome if Mehta were to force a sale.

“Google can compete, but they simply don’t want to compete on a level playing field,” DOJ attorney David Dahlquist said during his opening remarks on Monday (April 21). He added, “Google is now fearful of competing against rivals who will only get stronger with the proposed remedies in place.” Dahlquist also called for forward-looking remedies that would prevent future monopolization in the burgeoning field of AI-powered search and related AI services, proposing that Google be banned from making deals with phone manufacturers that make Google Search the default search.

Google’s attorney, John Schmidtlein, said the proposal is “fundamentally flawed” and argued that it is a “wishlist” for competitors that would immediately benefit from technology that Google has spent years developing.

In a blog post on Sunday (April 20), Lee-Anne Mulholland, Google’s vice president of regulatory affairs, wrote, “At trial, we will show how DOJ’s unprecedented proposals go miles beyond the Court’s decision, and would hurt America’s consumers, economy, and technological leadership.” Mulholland contends that the DOJ’s antitrust proposals would hinder user access to preferred services, raise costs, slow innovation, jeopardize privacy, impede AI development and undermine the functionality and security of key platforms like Chrome and Android.

Illustrating the challenge that Google’s competitors face, Dmitry Shevelenko, head of product for Perplexity AI, said that on on Android devices, the process of setting Perplexity AI as the default AI assistant over Google’s pre-set Gemini is like navigating a “jungle gym.’ However, he also expressed concern that forcing Google to sell Chrome to a competitor, like OpenAI, could lead to the discontinuation of Chrome’s open-source model, which many developers rely on.

Google presented ongoing arguments that users choose Google Search because of its high-quality results, not as a result of anticompetitive practices. The defense also presented evidence that OpenAI, Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) and Meta have sought deals with Samsung Electronics (KRX:005930) to put their AI chatbots onto Samsung phones.

This week’s proceedings laid bare starkly contrasting visions for the future of the search market. The result of the trial will be a pivotal moment and could lead to a major shake-up in the tech world.

2. Motorola to enhance smartphones with multi-partner AI integration

Motorola announced a strategic move on Thursday (April 24) to enhance its smartphones through key partnership agreements with Google, Meta, Microsoft and Perplexity. The company’s new deal takes a “best-of-breed” approach by integrating specialized technologies from each partner into Moto AI.

The Perplexity app will be pre-installed on the new Razr series, allowing users to access Perplexity’s search and assistant capabilities directly within Moto AI. Other Motorola devices launched after March 3, 2025, will receive this feature via a future update. The deal will make Motorola the first smartphone brand to fully integrate Perplexity.

Besides Perplexity, Motorola’s partnership with Google integrates Gemini and Gemini Live models for on-device AI features. Meta’s Llama model will enhance on-device processing, providing notification summaries and enabling mixed-reality notifications and app viewing. Microsoft’s Copilot serves as another option for a conversational chatbot.

Motorola introduced its newest lineup of Razr phones on Thursday. They are equipped with four new features that leverage the specific strengths of each partner: Next Move for recommendations, Playlist Studio for curated music, Image Studio for text-to-image generation and Look and Talk (exclusive to Razr 60 Ultra) for hands-free AI activation.

3. Tesla, IBM, Intel and Alphabet release results

This week brought Q1 earnings releases from prominent tech firms Tesla, IBM and Intel.

The market’s reaction to these reports often sets the tone for the broader market sentiment and trading activity, underscoring the intense scrutiny these updates now hold.

Tesla released its report after markets closed on Tuesday (April 22), showing lower-than-expected revenue and earnings. Despite that news, the company’s share price moved upward on Wednesday. During an earnings call, CEO Elon Musk said that he will begin reducing his time spent at the White House overseeing the Department of Government Efficiency and spend more time at Tesla, news that likely contributed to this upward momentum.

Musk also highlighted a focused approach to bringing robotaxis to Austin by June, with more cities to follow, alongside piloting automated Cybercab production for next year. While 2025 delivery targets were unspecified, he reaffirmed the affordable vehicle’s development and ongoing Full Self-Driving progress.

Conversely, IBM’s stock price fell by over 6 percent on Thursday after the company reported its results after Wednesday’s closing bell; the decline came even after it beat analysts’ estimates for both revenue and earnings. This negative reaction has been attributed to a slowdown in IBM’s consulting businesses, sparking concerns about the company’s future growth. Cautious language regarding the economic outlook may have also weighed on investor sentiment.

Tesla and IBM performance, April 22 to 25, 2025.

Chart via Google Finance.

Meanwhile, Intel’s Thursday release of its Q1 results revealed flat revenue and lower earnings per share alongside a lower-than-expected outlook for Q2. The report resulted in a decline in Intel’s stock price, erasing earlier gains that followed a Fortune report that the company planned to lay off 20 percent of its workforce.

Intel and Alphabet performance, April 22 to 25, 2025.

Chart via Google Finance.

Finally, Alphabet shares rose in after-hours trading following its earnings release on Thursday, closing higher on Friday (April 25) as investors reacted positively to a strong report that revealed increases across the board.

4. EU hits Apple and Meta with DMA fines

The European Union fined Apple and Meta on Wednesday on the grounds that the companies have breached the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Apple was fined 500 million euros after the European Union found that the company imposed restrictions that prevented app developers from informing users about offers available outside of Apple’s App Store, thereby breaching the DMA’s “anti-steering” obligation. Additionally, the European Commission issued a cease-and-desist order to Apple, giving the iPhone maker 60 days to comply with the DMA.

Meta was fined 200 million euros for allegedly violating the DMA’s rules on user consent for data usage with its “pay or consent” model, which requires either personalized advertising or a subscription for ad-free service.

Both companies have said they plan to appeal.

“We have spent hundreds of thousands of engineering hours and made dozens of changes to comply with this law, none of which our users have asked for. Despite countless meetings, the Commission continues to move the goal posts every step of the way,” a representative for Apple told CNN.

Meanwhile, Meta told the Wall Street Journal that the penalties amount to “a multibillion-dollar tariff on Meta while requiring us to offer an inferior service.”

5. Apple plans iPhone manufacturing shift

Apple is reportedly planning a significant shift in its iPhone manufacturing strategy, aiming to move the assembly of iPhones destined for the US market from China to India as early as next year, according to a Thursday report in the Financial Times. This potential move signals a considerable departure from Apple’s longstanding dependence on China as its primary iPhone production hub. The impetus behind this strategic realignment is largely attributed to the escalating trade tensions between the US and China, which have compelled numerous multinational corporations to re-evaluate and diversify their global supply chains to mitigate risks.

Apple’s efforts to establish a manufacturing footprint in India have been underway for several years, with a gradual increase in iPhone production in the South Asian nation. However, the latest reports suggest a much more ambitious plan. Insiders familiar with the matter have indicated to the Financial Times that Apple’s ultimate objective is to transfer its entire iPhone production capacity for the US market to India by the end of 2026.

This would represent a complete overhaul of Apple’s current manufacturing arrangement and a major boost to India’s aspirations of becoming a global electronics manufacturing center.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Keep reading…Show less
This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Keep Reading
Investing

Crypto Market Recap: $TRUMP Token Soars as President Extends Exclusive Invitation

Investing 7 Mins Read

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Wednesday (April 23) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ethereum and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$93,529.14 as markets closed for the day, up 2.2 percent in 24 hours. The day’s range has seen a low of US$92,078.75 and a high of US$94,122.31.

Bitcoin performance, April 23, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

Fueledby the re-entry of institutional investment, the crypto markets appear to be headed towards a robust recovery; however, the long-term trajectory remains to be seen.

Ethereum (ETH) ended the day at US$1,785.14, a 5.2 percent increase over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached an intraday low of US$1,767.67 and a high of US$1,815.24.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) ended the day valued at US$150.05, up four percent over 24 hours. SOL experienced a low of US$149.31 and peaked at $153.47.
  • XRP traded at US$2.22, reflecting a three percent increase over 24 hours. The cryptocurrency recorded an intraday low of US$2.20 and reached its highest point at US$2.29.
  • Sui (SUI) was priced at US$2.98, showing an increaseof 21 percent over the past 24 hours. It achieved a daily low of US$2.89 and a high of US$3.06.
  • Cardano (ADA) was trading at US$0.6981, up 6.3 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest price on Wednesday was US$0.6873, with a high of US$0.7138.

Today’s crypto news to know

Bitcoin becomes fifth largest global asset, overtakes Google

Bitcoin has climbed to a market capitalization of US$1.86 trillion, overtaking Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOGL) to become the world’s fifth-largest asset by market value. The price of Bitcoin surged past US$94,000, helped by easing trade tensions between the US and China and renewed bullish sentiment across tech and risk-on assets.

This marks a symbolic milestone for the cryptocurrency, which has now outpaced several of the world’s most valuable tech giants. Analysts point to Bitcoin’s increasing correlation with macroeconomic tailwinds — such as falling bond yields and speculative interest in risk assets — as drivers of the recent price action.

Its breakout relative to the Nasdaq also suggests growing investor confidence in crypto as a parallel to tech. If Bitcoin maintains this trajectory, some believe it could soon challenge silver’s position as the fourth-largest global asset.

Brandon Lutnick forms new Bitcoin investment vehicle

Brandon Lutnick, son of Howard Lutnick, US secretary of commerce and former Cantor Fitzgerald chair, will launch a listed Bitcoin investment vehicle through a reverse merger with Cantor Equity Partners, a special purpose acquisition company. This is according to a Tuesday (April 22) report from the Financial Times.

The newly established entity, purportedly named Twenty One Capital, will be led by co-founder Jack Mallers, CEO of Bitcoin-focused payments app Strike, and majority owned by Tether (USDT) and cryptocurrency exchange Bitfinex. SoftBank Group (TSE:9984) will also own a ‘significant minority’ stake.

Financial Times sources said Tether will contribute at least US$1.5 billion worth of Bitcoin.

The company will also raise US$385 million through a convertible bond and US$200 million via a private equity placement, which it will use to acquire more Bitcoin. Eventually, SoftBank, Tether and Bitfinex’s investments will be converted from Bitcoin into shares in Twenty One Capital, with a price of US$13 per share for the private placement and US$10 per share for the convertible bond.

According to the report, Twenty One Capital will launch with 42,000 BTC, making it the world’s third-largest Bitcoin reserve. “With a visionary leader at the helm and backing from two renowned industry leaders, Twenty One is designed to help investors capture value from Bitcoin’s growing global demand and increasing institutional adoption,” Lutnick said in a press release on Wednesday. The deal values the new company at US$3.6 billion based on an approximate US$85,000 Bitcoin valuation. As of writing, Bitcoin is valued at US$93,808.31.

Trump backs crypto regulation, Trump Media eyes retail crypto products

During a public appearance, US President Donald Trump called for regulatory certainty in the crypto industry and vowed to provide ‘clear rules of the road’ for digital asset innovation.

His statement coincided with Trump Media & Technology Group’s announcement that it will partner with Crypto.com and Yorkville America Digital to launch retail investment products, including crypto-focused ETFs aligned with Trump’s “America First” platform. The planned offerings aim to capitalize on the president’s growing presence in the digital asset space following prior ventures like Trump NFTs and crypto-affiliated partnerships.

While no official ETF filings have been submitted yet, the initiative signals Trump’s commitment to making crypto a policy priority as part of his economic strategy.

Trump to host dinner for $TRUMP token holders

Trump will host a dinner for the top 220 holders of his $TRUMP token in Washington, DC, on May 22.

News of the event sent $TRUMP’s valuation up by over 55 percent in under an hour. $TRUMP reached US$14.44 at around midday on Wednesday, its highest valuation since mid-February. As of writing, $TRUMP is valued at US$13.46.

Top token holders are required to link their wallets for holding verification. The top 25 holders will gather for a private reception with the president before dinner.

Around 40 million $TRUMP tokens, or roughly 20 percent of the tokens’ circulating supply, were unlocked on April 17; they were valued at slightly above US$300 million at the time.

$TRUMP reached an all-time high of US$75.35 on January 19, according to data from CoinMarket Cap. This was followed by an abrupt reversal and steady decline in Q1 to valuations between US$9 to US$7 in April.

Tesla reports US$951 million in Bitcoin holdings despite earnings miss

Tesla (NASDAQ:TSLA) revealed it continues to hold $951 million worth of Bitcoin on its balance sheet, despite posting weaker-than-expected quarterly revenue of US$19.34 billion.

The automaker’s Bitcoin holdings, totaling 11,509 BTC, remained unchanged during the quarter, with no buy or sell activity recorded. This comes as Bitcoin’s price dipped from late December highs, impacting Tesla’s valuation of its digital asset portfolio under the new Financial Accounting Standards Board rules.

These rules now require corporations to mark digital assets to market on a quarterly basis, increasing transparency but also exposing earnings to crypto market volatility. Tesla’s crypto exposure, while relatively small compared to its core business, still makes it one of the top public holders of Bitcoin globally.

Riot Platforms secures US$100 million credit facility backed by Bitcoin

Riot Platforms (NASDAQ:RIOT) secured a US$100 million credit facility from Coinbase Global (NASDAQ:COIN) on Wednesday using a massive Bitcoin stockpile as collateral.

Data from Bitcoin Treasuries indicates that Riot holds 19,223 BTC valued at approximately US$1.8 billion, making the company the third-largest corporate Bitcoin treasury behind Michael Saylor’s Strategy and MARA Holdings.

“Riot has entered into its first bitcoin-backed facility, which provides us with non-dilutive funding at an attractive cost of financing,” said Jason Les, CEO of Riot, in a press release. “This credit facility is a key part of our efforts to diversify sources of financing to support our operations and strategic growth initiatives, with a view towards long-term stockholder value creation.”

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Keep reading…Show less
This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Keep Reading
Investing

Crypto Market Recap: ARK Invest Calls for Bitcoin Price of US$2.4 Million by 2030

Investing 7 Mins Read

Here’s a quick recap of the crypto landscape for Friday (April 25) as of 9:00 p.m. UTC.

Get the latest insights on Bitcoin, Ethereum and altcoins, along with a round-up of key cryptocurrency market news.

Bitcoin and Ethereum price update

Bitcoin (BTC) was priced at US$95,030.17 as markets closed for the day, up 1.8 percent in 24 hours. The day’s range has seen a low of US$94,367.25 and a high of US$95,563.75.

Bitcoin performance, April 25, 2025.

Chart via TradingView.

As the crypto market stages its comeback after weeks below its key resistance level, ARK Invest increased its most optimistic Bitcoin price forecast for 2030 from US$1.5 million to US$2.4 million. The firm attributes this upward revision to growing interest from institutional investors and Bitcoin’s expanding role as ‘digital gold.’ Cointelegraph’s market analysis cites five technical indicators pointing to valuations above US$100,000 by May.

Ethereum (ETH) ended the day at US$1,796.65, a two percent increase over the past 24 hours. The cryptocurrency reached an intraday low of US$1,772.18 and a high of US$1,819.79.

Altcoin price update

  • Solana (SOL) ended the day valued at US$151.24, down 0.1 percent over 24 hours. SOL experienced a low of US$150.90 and peaked at $155.18.
  • XRP traded at US$2.19, reflecting a 0.6 percent decrease over 24 hours. The cryptocurrency recorded an intraday low of US$2.19 and reached its highest point at US$2.22.
  • Sui (SUI), this week’s outperformer, was priced at US$3.60, showing an increaseof 8.8 percent over the past 24 hours. It achieved a daily low of US$3.56 and a high of US$3.73. Sui is up by over 67 percent for the week.
  • Cardano (ADA) was trading at US$0.7127, down 1.7 percent over the past 24 hours. Its lowest price on Friday was US$0.7099, with a high of US$0.7268.

Today’s crypto news to know

ARK Invest sees Bitcoin hitting US$2.4 million by 2030

Cathie Wood’s ARK Invest has revised its already-optimistic bitcoin forecast, now projecting the asset could reach as high as US$2.4 million by 2030 in its most bullish scenario.

The firm’s April 24 report outlines three trajectories: a bear case of US$300,000, a base case of US$710,000, and a sky-high scenario that factors in growing institutional allocations and rapid expansion of on-chain financial services.

The US$2.4 million target assumes bitcoin captures 6.5 percent of the US$200 trillion global investable asset pool, with sustained 60 percent annual growth in BTC-driven financial infrastructure. National reserves, corporate treasuries, and rising adoption in emerging markets also play critical roles in the model, but ARK identifies institutional capital as the most transformative force.

While skeptics still cite volatility and regulatory uncertainty, ARK argues that BTC’s asymmetric upside—especially amid global monetary shifts—makes it a once-in-a-generation investment thesis.

Saylor predicts BlackRock ETF will eclipse all ETFs within a decade

MicroStrategy Chairman Michael Saylor declared that BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) will become the largest ETF in the world within 10 years, following a record-breaking week where U.S. bitcoin ETFs drew US$2.8 billion in net inflows.

IBIT led the pack with US$1.3 billion, lifting its total assets to roughly US$54 billion and driving daily trading volumes above US$1.5 billion. For context, the current largest ETF, Vanguard’s VOO, commands a market cap over US$593 billion—nearly ten times IBIT’s current size.

Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas acknowledged Saylor’s claim wasn’t farfetched, but said IBIT would need to consistently attract US$3 billion US$4 billion per day to overtake VOO within a decade.

The bold prediction reflects mounting institutional appetite for BTC exposure, but also underlines the extraordinary capital movement that would be required for such a paradigm shift in ETF rankings.

$ TRUMP meme coin rallies after president offers private dinner

Donald Trump’s $TRUMP meme coin surged over 70 percent after the president promised an exclusive gala dinner for the token’s top 220 holders, including a VIP reception at his Washington DC golf club for the top 25.

Launched just before Trump’s January inauguration, the coin has exploded in both market cap—now estimated around US$2.5 billion—and political intrigue, reflecting the former president’s aggressive expansion into crypto.

This latest move aims to blend campaign optics with digital asset hype, positioning Trump not just as a “crypto president,” but as an active participant in speculative retail culture.

Critics have slammed the dinner-for-holders gimmick as a political stunt and potential conflict of interest, while others say it signals a new model of decentralized donor engagement.

Regardless, the announcement caused a major pump and reignited interest across meme coin forums and pro-Trump financial channels.

Swiss central bank rejects Bitcoin in reserves

Swiss National Bank Chairman Martin Schlegel flatly rejected proposals to include bitcoin in the country’s currency reserves, stating it ‘cannot currently fulfil the requirements’ needed for official holdings.

At the SNB’s annual meeting in Bern, Schlegel cited bitcoin’s extreme volatility and insufficient liquidity as major concerns, making it unsuitable for maintaining the stability and convertibility of the national reserve portfolio.

This comes as activists behind the ‘Bitcoin Initiative’ mount a constitutional referendum campaign that would legally compel the SNB to hold BTC alongside gold. Luzius Meisser, one of the movement’s leaders, argued bitcoin could prove invaluable in a future marked by declining trust in government debt.

The SNB’s resistance, however, signals continued institutional reluctance to enshrine bitcoin as a strategic monetary asset, even in one of the world’s most financially progressive nations.

CME Group to launch XRP futures

The Chicago Mercantile Group (CME) announced plans to launch XRP futures contracts, according to an announcement by the derivatives marketplace on Thursday (April 24).

“As innovation in the digital asset landscape continues to evolve, market participants continue to look to regulated derivatives products to manage risks across a wider range of tokens,” said Giovanni Vicioso, Global Head of Cryptocurrency Products at CME Group. “Interest in XRP and its underlying ledger (XRPL) has steadily increased as institutional and retail adoption for the network grows, and we are pleased to launch these new futures contracts to provide a capital-efficient toolset to support clients’ investment and hedging strategies.”

Pending regulatory approval, participants will be able to trade micro-sized contracts comprising 2,500 XRP and/or large contracts of 50,000 XRP starting on May 19.

Nasdaq calls for consistent digital asset regulation

A letter to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) from the Nasdaq exchange on Friday (April 25) called on regulators to apply the same regulatory standards to digital assets as they do to securities, particularly if these assets function as ‘stocks by any other name.’

Nasdaq asserted that the SEC needs to develop a more distinct classification system for cryptocurrencies, suggesting that some digital assets should be categorized as ‘financial securities.’ The exchange contended that these tokens should continue to be regulated in the same manner as traditional securities, irrespective of their tokenized format.

“Whether it takes the form of a paper share, a digital share, or a token, an instrument’s underlying nature remains the same and it should be traded and regulated in the same ways,” the letter said.

The letter also proposed categorizing some cryptocurrencies as “digital asset investment contracts,” which would still be overseen by the SEC, but subject to “light touch regulation”.

Securities Disclosure: I, Giann Liguid, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Securities Disclosure: I, Meagen Seatter, hold no direct investment interest in any company mentioned in this article.

Keep reading…Show less
This post appeared first on investingnews.com

Keep Reading
Crypto news

El Salvador Pauses Public Sector Bitcoin Purchases To Align With IMF Loan Conditions

Crypto news 3 Mins Read

Fresh reports from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) indicate that El Salvador is complying with loan conditions. One key aspect of the loan conditions revolves around the halting of Bitcoin purchases with public funds, but President Nayib Bukele is keen on sidestepping hurdles.

El Salvador Halts Bitcoin Accumulation To Comply With The IMF

According to details of a press briefing by the IMF’s Western Hemisphere Department, El Salvador has paused its Bitcoin purchases with public sector funds. Rodrigo Valdes, the IMF’s Director of the Western Hemisphere Department, confirmed the changing government stance to achieve compliance with loan conditions.

As part of a $1.4 billion loan deal, the IMF required El Salvador to halt public sector accumulation of Bitcoin. Despite initial pushback from President Nayib Bukele, Valdes confirms that the government is holding its end of the bargain.

Valdes disclosed that El Salvador is in full compliance with its loan obligations, squashing speculation that the country violates its terms.

“In terms of El Salvador, let me say that I can confirm that they continue to comply with their commitment of non-accumulation of bitcoin by the overall fiscal sector, which is the performance criteria that we have,” said Valdes.

Apart from shuttering its public sector BTC accumulation, the IMF notes that the country is also ticking the boxes in fiscal transparency and structural reforms. With the current Bitcoin price close to $100K, the value of El Salvador’s 6,158 BTC stands at $583 million.

Nayib Bukele Continues Daily BTC Accumulation

Despite the requirement against public sector Bitcoin purchases, the Latin American country continues to stack up its BTC holdings. According to data from the National Bitcoin Office, El Salvador is buying one Bitcoin per day in defiance of the IMF.

Rather than limit its BTC accumulation to public sector funds, El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele is exploring alternative sources. Bukele has previously disclosed that the country’s Bitcoin accumulation will continue amid IMF pressure to limit its options.

The National Bitcoin Office has not publicly disclosed its funding sources for the daily BTC purchases, stoking a wave of speculation. The consensus is that the government is tapping non-public sector entities to power its daily Bitcoin accumulation spree.

The country may be funding its daily purchases from the profits of its Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, with the average purchase price sitting at around $44,000. Other countries, keen on mirroring El Salvador’s lead, are eyeing a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve, with Samson Mow making a strong case for Japan.

Apart from financial inclusion and reducing its dollar dependency, President Bukele is eyeing a raft of economic benefits. Cathie Wood’s Ark Invest predicts the Bitcoin price to climb as high as $1.5 million per BTC by 2030, potentially sending the value of El Salvador’s holdings to astronomical levels.

 

 

The post El Salvador Pauses Public Sector Bitcoin Purchases To Align With IMF Loan Conditions appeared first on CoinGape.

Keep Reading
Crypto news

MicroStrategy And Metaplanet See $5.1 Billion Gain From Bitcoin Treasury Operations

Crypto news 3 Mins Read

After an aggressive Bitcoin (BTC) accumulation spree since the start of the year, MicroStrategy and Metaplanet have racked up impressive gains. Recent disclosures indicate that MicroStrategy’s BTC holdings have resulted in US dollar gains of 5.1 billion, while Metaplanet is sitting on a $191 million gain in 2025 alone.

MicroStrategy And Metaplanet Record Impressive BTC $ Gains In 2025

MicroStrategy and Metaplanet are sitting on unrealized gains from their Bitcoin holdings since the start of the year. According to MicroStrategy CEO Michael Saylor in an X post, the software company has racked up over $5.1 billion in BTC $ Gain from its treasury operations in 2025 alone.

On the other hand, Tokyo-based Metaplanet has earned its fair share of BTC $ Gain in the same window. Metaplanet executive Dylan LeClair disclosed on X that the firm’s treasury operations have netted an impressive BTC $ Gain of  $191 million year-to-date.

“Year to date, Metaplanet treasury operations have generated a BTC $ Gain of 191 million,” said Dylan LeClair.

For Metaplanet, a large chunk of the BTC $ Gain came from its Q1 Bitcoin purchases, dwarfing all other previous quarters.

Both firms have adopted an aggressive stance toward Bitcoin purchases in recent months. MicroStrategy’s latest purchase of 6556 BTC brings its holdings to $538,000, while Metaplanet added 145 Bitcoin to reach the 5,000 BTC milestone.

To fund their bitcoin accumulation spree, both firms have turned to stock and bond issuances in recent months. Despite the spike in BTC $ gains, MicroStrategy and Metaplanet will face steep tax liabilities if they decide to cash in their new gains.

A Strong BTC Rally Sends Prices Above $95,000

The spike in Bitcoin dollar gains for MicroStrategy and Metaplanet follows a remarkable price performance for Bitcoin in 2025. Astute treasure operations of stacking BTC across several price corrections saw both firms scoop Bitcoins at a discount in Q1.

Bitcoin price nearing $100K has triggered paper gains for the MicroStrategy and Metaplanet with executives firming their resolve to continue BTC accumulation.

At the moment, Bitcoin is trading at $95,000 after an impressive run over the last week, garnering an 11% increase. Over 24 hours, BTC has gained a modest 1%, but a 48% decline in transaction volume may signal a price correction in the near future.

Several reasons are in play for the Bitcoin price rally, including China increasing its gold holdings by five tonnes. Other factors include multiple tests on lower support levels and wading in of heavy institutional investors to BTC amid macroeconomic uncertainties.

The post MicroStrategy And Metaplanet See $5.1 Billion Gain From Bitcoin Treasury Operations appeared first on CoinGape.

Keep Reading
Crypto news

Crypto Market This Week: BTC & Major Altcoins Show Bullish Signs, What’s Happening?

Crypto news 2 Mins Read

The crypto market this week has primarily propelled an optimistic sentiment among traders and investors globally by showcasing bullish price trajectories. Bitcoin (BTC) price has gained over 10% in the past seven days, nearing $94K. Whereas, major altcoins like Ethereum (ETH), Solana (SOL), and XRP surged 3%-11% weekly. Meanwhile, even the meme coin market saw DOGE, SHIB, and PEPE prices rallying unprecedentedly in the interim.

Mentioned below are some of the top cryptocurrency market highlights reported by CoinGape Media over the past week.

Crypto Market This Week: BTC, ETH, SOL, XRP Price Action Ignites Optimism

As per CoinMarketCap’s data, BTC price closed the week at $93,953, surging slightly over 10% over the past seven days. Primarily, the flagship coin saw a bullish action against the backdrop of a stockpile of optimistic developments this week.

CoinGape Media reported that Japan’s Metaplanet acquired another 330 BTC in one of its latest haul over the week.

On the other hand, Robert Kiyosaki has predicted that Bitcoin price is poised to hit $180,000 to $200,000 in 2025. Particularly, this bullish prediction gained significant traction across the broader crypto market as the flagship coin showcased other bullish signs, hinting that such a feat is possible.

BTC futures OI topped the $64 billion mark as the week came to an end, per Coinglass data. On the other hand, even the U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF products recorded $3 billion worth of inflows this week. Overall, the abovementioned market stats underscore substantially heightened market interest in Bitcoin over the past week.

Altcoin Mirror Bullishness

Simultaneously, major league altcoins have also witnessed a notable bullish movement in the past seven days.

ETH price rose over 11% weekly, closing this week near $1,800. This bullish action comes attributed to massive ETH whale accumulations, with reportedly $100 million worth of coins stacked by large-scale investors this week.

Besides, SOL price surged nearly 4% in the same duration, exchanging hands at $146. Even XRP price has followed the broader market trend, pumping over 4% weekly, reaching $2.16.

For context, Bitcoin and the broader crypto market appear to be witnessing a positive investor sentiment amid Donald Trump’s hint at further delay on certain tariffs. Other tokens like DOGE, SHIB, and PEPE also extended price gains to 12%-21% this week.

The post Crypto Market This Week: BTC & Major Altcoins Show Bullish Signs, What’s Happening? appeared first on CoinGape.

Keep Reading
Crypto news

Why Arbitrum-Nvidia Partnership Collapsed – And What It Means for Web3

Crypto news 3 Mins Read

Arbitrum, the leading Layer-2 network’s much anticipated partnership with Nvidia has collapsed. This has sent ripples through the crypto and tech communities

It was all set for a significant milestone – joining the Ignition AI Accelerator program of Nvidia. With this partnership, the layer-2 network would become the go-to-blockchain for AI projects developing under Nvidia’s program.

The Ignition AI Accelerator program launched in May 2024 provided high-potential AI startups comprehensive support. Arbitrum wanted to rope into these startups to help them build decentralized infrastructure.

However, according to the latest Arbitrum-Nvidia update, the partnership has failed miserably.

The partnership was initially seen as a landmark collaboration between blockchain scalability and AI . And now the termination of the alliance highlights continued divergence between the traditional tech world and the rapidly evolving Web3 ecosystem.

Why did Nvidia-Arbitrum Partnership Failed

BrandTalk alaways aims to provide you factual reporting, So the fact is there was no direct partnership between Nvidia and Arbitrum.
The collaboration was to happen between Nvidia’s The Ignition Accelerator Program and Arbitrum.

In the press release on April 25, the program has issued a statement of clarification. It had revealed that it was Arbitrum Foundation that have requested to pull out from it. It clarified that it was not “Nvidia” or its supported program that snubbed the partnership.

It is important to note that The Ignition AI Accelerator is a cohort-based, four-month program which selects up to 15 high-potential AI startups. Eligible applicants must demonstrate a clear AI-focused product vision and unique technology addressing real-world needs. Applications are open to founders of new AI startups or AI leads of existing ventures.

It clearly mentions in its eligibility criteria that certain kind of projects are excluded from the application.

These are:

  • cryptocurrency/blockchain-only projects,
  • consulting or outsourced development firms,
  • cloud service providers,
  • hardware/software resellers or distributors, and
  • publicly traded companies .

Market Reaction

Arbitrum (ARB) briefly dipped 2.77% to trade at $0.3436, reflecting an initial investor pullback on the partnership fall out news.

Despite that drop, some markets saw ARB rally roughly 5% over the following 24 hours. It is hovering near $0.34 as traders bet on Arbitrum’s pivot to other partnerships and on-chain resilience.

For the broader crypto impact, Ethereum remained steady around $1,810. There is possibility of imminent crash as Ethereum whales dump 63k coins.

In response to the breakup, several smaller AI-focused crypto projects also saw a modest bump in token prices. These include Fetch.ai and Ocean Protocol as investors turn to bet on native Web3 players to fill the vacuum.

Do Web3 Firms Require Tech Giant Partnership

Arbitrum’s reported decision to step out of the partnership is not revealed yet.

However, the Arbitrum-Nvidia breakup underscores the growing pains of the Web3 industry as it seeks to collaborate with established corporate giants.

It serves as a reminder that traditional corporations’ values can be at odds with Web3’s decentralization ethos.

Moreover, the incident reignites an ongoing debate: Can decentralized AI infrastructures scale effectively without reliance on centralized tech giants?

Many in the crypto community argue that decentralized AI must be built independently. It should leverage open-source communities rather than corporate partnerships.

The post Why Arbitrum-Nvidia Partnership Collapsed – And What It Means for Web3 appeared first on CoinGape.

Keep Reading
Crypto news

Expert Predicts Start Date For Pi Network Price Pump, Here’s When

Crypto news 3 Mins Read

While investors are bracing themselves for a Pi Network Price pump, one expert has predicted a start date for the rally. Cryptocurrency analyst Dr Altcoin says Pi Coin price will spike during the upcoming Consensus Summit, with Pi Network founder billed to deliver a keynote address.

Pi Network Price Eyes Massive Rally In May

According to an X post, cryptocurrency analyst Dr Altcoin is forecasting the start of a Pi Coin rally in mid-May. Dr Altcoin notes that investors can expect the start date of the Pi Network price during the Consensus Summit scheduled for May.

Dr Altcoin’s predictions differ from previous projections that tip the start of a Pi Coin rally toward late August. Investors previously hinged their hope for a price rally after the end of the Pi unlocking event, set to release 212 million Pi Coins.

However, Dr Altcoin is predicting the rally to begin much earlier in May, triggered by the momentum around the Consensus event. Dr Altcoin has previously revealed why Consensus 2025 will be pivotal for the Pi Network, given the sheer volume and calibre of attendees.

“I am fairly confident that the price pumping of Pi might start during the Consensus Summit (May 14-16, 2025) rather than at the end of August when Pi unlocking significantly reduces,” said Dr Altcoin.

Several Factors May Delay The Start Date Of The Price Rally

Dr Altcoin’s prediction for the launch of the Pi Network price rally in May faces a raft of challenges. Right out of the bat, the Pi Core Team (PCT) is racing against the clock to approve KYB applications before the start of Consensus 2025.

Furthermore, Dr Altcoin says the launch of decentralized applications (DApps) on the network before Consensus 2025 will support a price rally. While the PCT achieves the milestones before Consensus 2025, other external factors are angling to adversely affect Pi Network prices.

Dr Altcoin has raised alarm over shady activity on Banxa that may trigger artificial volatility for Pi Coin Price. Keen on playing its part to stabilize prices, the PCT has begun purchasing Pi Coins on centralized exchanges, mopping up over 48 million coins.

Currently, Pi Network trades at the $0.6 mark, holding the price level for over a week as investors scan the charts for signals of a seismic rally.

Furthermore, Dr Altcoin is hinging his resolve for a rally on seven Pi Network pros, including accessibility and sustainability perks. The cryptocurrency expert name-checks its security features, low gas fees, and regulatory compliance.

The post Expert Predicts Start Date For Pi Network Price Pump, Here’s When appeared first on CoinGape.

Keep Reading