Karam Lakshman, CEO of Wifi Dabba, asserts that a country like India, which is the world’s fifth-largest economy, needs enhanced connectivity and innovation. He suggests that Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks could be the solution for the country, which currently trails other major economies in fixed broadband connectivity. Using Blockchain to Establish Transparent Networks Lakshman supports […]

The legal battle between Ripple and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is getting heated and, following recent developments, looks far from over. This is due to the disagreement between both parties on the appropriate remedy for Ripple’s violation of securities laws.  Ripple Proposes $10 Million Fine Instead In opposition to the SEC’s motion for remedies and entry of final judgment, Ripple has proposed that the court should not impose a civil penalty of not more than $10 million. This figure represents a far cry from the SEC’s proposed judgment. The Commission had earlier asked the court to order Ripple to pay the sum of $1,950,768,364 as a pecuniary fine for violations relating to its institutional XRP sales. Related Reading: Crypto Analyst Predicts Cardano Recovery After ABC Wave Completion, Here’s The Target Specifically, the SEC proposed that Ripple pay a civil penalty of $876,308,712 alongside a prejudgment interest of $198,150,940 and disgorgement of $876,308,712, which represents the profits from its violation of the Securities Act. However, Ripple asked the court to deny the requests for disgorgement and pre-judgment interest and only focus on the civil penalty, which shouldn’t be more than $10 million.  Ripple’s lawyers also laid out arguments as to why the civil penalty should not exceed $10 million. Firstly, they stated that the first tier of the statutory maximum penalties is what applies to this case “because the SEC has never alleged fraud, deceit, or manipulation and has failed in its belated attempt to show that Ripple recklessly disregarded the law.” Therefore, Ripple argued that the Commission’s request for a civil penalty of over $876 million isn’t the appropriate remedy for the first-tier structure. They added that the company’s revenue from pre-complaint institutional sales should be the only earnings considered when deciding on a remedy, which makes a civil penalty of not more than $10 million more appropriate.  Accounting Error From The SEC Ripple suggested that the SEC made an error in calculating the company’s earnings while deciding on the right amount for which the crypto firm should be fined. According to the company’s lawyers, the Commission failed to “analyze or even consider any other categories of Ripple’s expenses.” Meanwhile, they allege that the SEC didn’t offer any evidence or explanation “for why cost if revenue is the only category of Ripple’s deductible expenses.” Simply put, Ripple argues that the regulator, while calculating Ripple’s earnings, didn’t consider how much the company expended before deciding that almost $2 billion was an appropriate fine.  Ripple’s lawyers made this argument while stating that the SEC also erred in relying on the declaration of Andrea Fox, an accountant at the agency. They claim that the SEC never disclosed Fox as a fact or expert witness and that she wasn’t deposed during the initial discovery or supplemental remedies discovery. Therefore, they moved to strike her declaration as an “untimely disclosed expert report.” Ripple Also Opposes SEC’s Proposed Injunction As part of its entry for final judgment, the SEC had asked the court to “permanently” restrain and enjoin Ripple from “directly or indirectly conducting an unregistered offering of Institutional Sales.” Understanding how this could affect their ODL transactions, Ripple has asked the court to deny the request for an injunction.  Related Reading: 3 Major Metrics To Watch Out For That Can Impact Ethereum Prices The crypto firm argues that the Commission has failed to show why an injunction is warranted. Injunctions are usually granted when there is a fear of future violations. Ripple claims that the SEC has failed to show a “reasonable likelihood of future violations.”  The crypto firm’s lawyers further revealed that Ripple has “changed the way it sells XRP and changed its contracts to avoid any future violations.” To show good faith, they submitted a declaration by Ripple’s President, Monica Long, which describes the steps the company has taken to avoid future violations.  XRP price recovers above $0.54 | Source: XRPUSDT on Tradingview.com Featured image from Coinpedia, chart from Tradingview.com

Vitalik Buterin, co-founder of Ethereum, reportedly has over $1 million trapped in the Optimism bridge, a situation highlighted in a broader analysis by Arkham, which exposes numerous wallets with significant funds locked on various bridge contracts. Among these, a wallet associated with Bofur Capital has $1.8 million in wrapped Bitcoin stuck on an Arbitrum bridge […]

The Central Bank of Mauritania (CBM) has partnered with Giesecke+Devrient (G+D) to develop and launch a digital version of the national currency. The Germany-based security technology firm is expected to assist the CBM in outlining the prerequisites for a national Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). Outlining Prerequisites for a Central Bank Digital Currency The Central […]

Animoca Brands Japan, a subsidiary of Animoca Brands, has signed an Memorandum of Understanding with Square Enix to assist in the marketing of the upcoming game Symbiogenesis and its related NFT collection. Square Enix, known for high-profile games like Final Fantasy and Kingdom Hearts, will leverage Animoca’s experience in Web3 to facilitate Symbiogenesis’s overseas expansion, […]

The emergence of crypto casinos gave players an efficient and alternative way to enjoy their favorite games of chance. While this was cool at first, the growing popularity of cryptocurrencies has overrun the industry with countless crypto casino sites, many of which can’t be trusted. Now, many players have a hard time choosing the right […]

The Wild West of cryptocurrency just got a little wilder. Solana, the blockchain known for its lightning-fast transactions, recently became a breeding ground for a peculiar phenomenon: the meme coin frenzy. While these dog-themed, cat-inspired, or just plain nonsensical tokens promised moon landings, many investors landed face-first in a crater of lost cash. Related Reading: Bitcoin Miners Strike Gold: $107 Million Profit From Runes-Fueled Minting Spree Solana Stampede: A Frenzy Of Frivolous Finance Fueled by social media hype and the fear of missing out (FOMO), a stampede of investors poured money into meme coin presales. A project with a name like “I Like This Coin” (LIKE) sprouted like weeds, promising outlandish returns. The “I Like This Coin” story, however, turned out to be a classic case of “buyer beware.” Despite an initial market cap of a staggering $577 million, the token’s value plummeted by a disastrous 90% within a mere eight hours of launch. The party didn’t stop there. Blockchain investigator ZachXBT uncovered a particularly galling trend: a dozen meme coin projects vanished into thin air after their presales, taking a combined $26.7 million from investors with them. Only 1 month has passed and 12 of the Solana presale meme coins have been completely abandoned after raising >180,650 SOL ($26.7M). Would avoid any future projects launched by these founders. https://t.co/J0zFldRIa6 pic.twitter.com/K610MAEPMn — ZachXBT (@zachxbt) April 21, 2024 Solana Slowdown: When Meme Mania Clogs The Network The meme coin craze wasn’t without collateral damage. The massive influx of transactions clogged the Solana network, leading to transaction failures and frustrating delays. This highlighted a fundamental issue with meme coins: they often lack real-world applications and contribute little to the underlying blockchain’s development. Solana’s founder, Anatoly Yakovenko, wasn’t shy about expressing his skepticism. He questioned the very concept of meme coin presales, suggesting they were better suited for projects with strong tech foundations. Yakovenko’s comments resonated with many who saw the meme coin frenzy as a speculative bubble fueled by empty promises and social media hype. Solana is currently trading at $155.69. Chart: TradingView Meme Coin Meltdown: A Cautionary Tale For Crypto Curious Investors The rise and fall of Solana’s meme coins serves as a stark reminder of the inherent risks associated with investing in unregulated, highly speculative assets. While the allure of quick riches might be tempting, the potential for scams and rug pulls (where developers abandon a project after raising funds) is significant. Related Reading: Is The Bitcoin Bloodbath Over? Analysts Say $60,000 Is The Cycle’s Bottom The fallout from the meme coin frenzy could have lasting repercussions. Regulatory bodies might take a closer look at this corner of the crypto world, potentially leading to stricter measures to protect investors. For those interested in exploring the exciting world of cryptocurrency, the lesson is clear: conduct thorough research, prioritize projects with real-world use cases, and always remember what the sages mean when they say if it sounds too good to be true… Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

Geoff Kendrick, head of digital assets research at Standard Chartered, recently reiterated the bank’s ambitious Bitcoin price target of $150,000 by the end of this year, despite current market volatility and geopolitical tensions. In a comprehensive interview with BNN Bloomberg, Kendrick highlighted the significant role of ETF inflows and upcoming halving events in driving Bitcoin’s price. Why Bitcoin Is Set For A Rally To $150,000 By Year-End One of the principal drivers identified by Kendrick is the remarkable influx of capital into Bitcoin ETFs within the United States. Since the inception of these ETFs in early 2024, they have witnessed approximately $12 billion in net inflows. Kendrick highlighted the significance of these developments, stating, “The ETF inflows in the US have dominated really the demand supply metrics in 2024 so far. This is huge in terms of how the ETFs have gone so far.” He drew parallels between the current trends in Bitcoin and the historical performance of gold following the introduction of gold ETFs. Kendrick elaborated on the potential scale of this trend by projecting, “From the start of this year to when the ETF market in the US is mature, we’ll get between $50 and $100 billion of inflow.” Related Reading: Conservative Projection Places Bitcoin At $245,000 In 5 Years In addition to the ETF inflows, the Bitcoin halving event was identified as another pivotal factor. This event, which reduces the reward for mining new blocks thereby halving the rate of new Bitcoin entering circulation, is set to reduce the daily production from 900 BTC to 450 BTC. Although Kendrick mentioned that this halving might be “less important than previous ones,” he still considers it significant in the short-term supply dynamics. He stated, “Obviously, once we have the halving […], you have only half as many new coins, so that helps at the margin.” Responding to questions about market skepticism, particularly criticism from figures such as JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon, who described Bitcoin as a “Ponzi scheme,” Kendrick offered a defense of Bitcoin’s underlying technology. He argued, “There’s a lot of people out there that don’t understand the basic methodology behind Bitcoin. And it’s really that blockchain technology, which is where the value is medium term.” Looking Further Ahead Kendrick continued, explaining the transformative potential of blockchain technology not just for financial services but across various industries, “Bitcoin is the first in on that. It’s the largest asset at the moment, makes up for more than 50% of the crypto market, but that opens up the Ethereum and other use cases, which quite frankly, over the next five to 10 years, you can easily see a lot of traditional finance go on chain.” Related Reading: Market Expert Predicts New Paradigm For Bitcoin: ‘Days Under $100,000 Numbered’ Furthermore, he addressed the recent market volatility, noting that Bitcoin had experienced a significant sell-off just prior to the halving, with $260 million in Bitcoin leverage positions being liquidated. The Standard Chartered exec interpreted this as a market correction that might set the stage for a healthier build-up post-halving, saying, “We’ve had a large move lower in Bitcoin. Specifically, on Saturday last weekend, there were $260 million Bitcoin leverage positions that were liquidated. So the market is now looking much more square going into the halving, if you like, in terms of leverage.” Summarizing his perspective on the future trajectory of Bitcoin, Kendrick expressed a confident outlook, projecting not only recovery but a robust increase in Bitcoin’s price, driven by both the maturation of the ETF market and ongoing technological advancements. His vision for Bitcoin by the end of 2025 reaches even beyond the current year’s target, predicting a potential value of $200,000 per coin. At press time, BTC traded at $66,556. Featured image created with DALL·E, chart from TradingView.com

Analysts are pondering the effects of the approval of the Rebuilding Economic Prosperity and Opportunity (REPO) Act by the U.S. House. The execution of seizures for over $6 billion of Russian assets held in U.S. institutions would “supercharge” the de-dollarization efforts of several nations. This is due to the possibility of having their assets seized […]

BNB price is attempting a fresh increase from the $550 zone. The price cleared the $600 resistance and might extend its increase above $630. BNB price started a fresh increase after it cleared the $550 resistance zone. The price is now trading above $580 and the 100 simple moving average (4 hours). There is a key bullish trend line forming with support at $592 on the 4-hour chart of the BNB/USD pair (data source from Binance). The pair could gain bullish momentum if it clears the $608-$610 resistance zone. BNB Price Gains Strength After forming a base above the $520 level, BNB price started a fresh increase. There was a steady increase above the $550 and $565 resistance levels, like Ethereum and Bitcoin. The bulls pushed the price above the $580 pivot level and the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the downward wave from the $630 swing high to the $512 low. More importantly, the price is now trading above $580 and the 100 simple moving average (4 hours). It is consolidating just above the 76.4% Fib retracement level of the downward wave from the $630 swing high to the $512 low. There is also a key bullish trend line forming with support at $592 on the 4-hour chart of the BNB/USD pair. Source: BNBUSD on TradingView.com Immediate resistance is near the $608 level. The next resistance sits near the $630 level. A clear move above the $630 zone could send the price further higher. In the stated case, BNB price could test $650. A close above the $650 resistance might set the pace for a larger increase toward the $680 resistance. Any more gains might call for a test of the $720 level in the coming days. Are Dips Supported? If BNB fails to clear the $608 resistance, it could start a downside correction. Initial support on the downside is near the $592 level and the trend line. The next major support is near the $585 level. The main support sits at $570. If there is a downside break below the $570 support, the price could drop toward the $550 support. Any more losses could initiate a larger decline toward the $532 level. Technical Indicators 4-Hours MACD – The MACD for BNB/USD is gaining pace in the bullish zone. 4-Hours RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BNB/USD is currently above the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $592, $585, and $570. Major Resistance Levels – $608, $630, and $650.

Ethereum price is gaining pace above the $3,120 resistance zone. ETH could continue to move up unless there is a daily close below the $3,030 level. Ethereum extended its increase above the $3,150 resistance zone. The price is trading above $3,150 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a connecting bullish trend line forming with support at $3,160 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken). The pair could continue to move up unless the bears push it below the $3,030 zone. Ethereum Price Extends Increase Ethereum price started a recovery wave and was able to clear the $3,000 resistance, like Bitcoin. ETH even climbed above the $3,050 and $3,120 resistance levels to move into a positive zone. It traded to a new weekly high at $3,234 and is currently consolidating gains. There was a minor decline below the $3,200 level. Ether dipped below the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the recent increase from the $3,120 swing low to the $3,234 high. Ethereum is now trading above $3,150 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is also a connecting bullish trend line forming with support at $3,160 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD. The trend line is close to the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the recent increase from the $3,120 swing low to the $3,234 high. Immediate resistance is near the $3,210 level. The first major resistance is near the $3,235 level. The next key resistance sits at $3,280, above which the price might gain traction and rise toward the $3,350 level. Source: ETHUSD on TradingView.com A close above the $3,350 resistance could send the price toward the $3,500 resistance. If there is a move above the $3,500 resistance, Ethereum could even test the $3,550 resistance. Any more gains could send Ether toward the $3,720 resistance zone in the coming days. Downside Correction In ETH? If Ethereum fails to clear the $3,235 resistance, it could start a downside correction. Initial support on the downside is near the $3,175 level. The first major support is near the $3,160 zone and the trend line. The main support is near the $3,150 level and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. A clear move below the $3,150 support might increase selling pressure and send the price toward $3,030. Any more losses might send the price toward the $2,850 level in the near term. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is losing momentum in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Level – $3,150 Major Resistance Level – $3,235

A recent analysis paints a rosy picture of Bitcoin’s future, even with a conservative growth projection. Taking to X, Michael Sullivan predicts that the world’s most valuable coin could reach a staggering $245,000 within just five years if it maintains a mere 30% compound annual growth rate (CAGR).  Bitcoin Projections: From Conservative To Exponential Growth The analysis explores various growth possibilities for Bitcoin. Assuming the coin’s growth rate significantly contracts in the coming years, growing at just 30% CAGR, Sullivan projects the coin to reach $245,000 by 2029.  A decade later, it will be at $909,000; by 2039, each coin in circulation will be trading at a whopping $3.37 million. If, however, the CAGR rises to 40%, Bitcoin would be worth $10.3 million in 15 years and $1.9 million in 10 years. Related Reading: Market Expert Predicts New Paradigm For Bitcoin: ‘Days Under $100,000 Numbered’ Still, even at these mega valuations, Bitcoin has been soaring at unprecedented rates, outperforming all traditional finance assets since launching. To demonstrate, Bitcoin registered a CAGR of 73.7% over the past four years.  Therefore, if this trend continues, Sullivan says BTC will smash above the $1 million level a year after halving in 2028. However, half a decade later, each coin will change hands at over $16.5 million.  A look back at Bitcoin’s history makes it clear that the coin has been on a tear. Following this historical trend and making projections for the future, BTC could be far more valuable in the next five or ten years. There Are No Guarantees, Crypto Is Dynamic While these projections are undoubtedly exciting for Bitcoin holders, it’s crucial to remember that they are just projections. The crypto market, just like any other tradable asset, doesn’t move in straight lines.  Related Reading: Shiba Inu Whales Move Over 3.19 Trillion SHIB, Where Are They Headed? As an illustration, after peaking at nearly $70,000 in 2021, prices crashed to as low as $15,600 the following year. In 2017, BTC rose to around $20,000 before tanking to below $4,000 a year later in 2018. This volatility and the dynamic market, influenced by new circumstances, don’t guarantee these lofty projections. Nonetheless, analysts remain optimistic of what lies ahead, especially after the historic Halving event on April 20. As traditional finance players join in, finding exposure in BTC through spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs), prices might rise, even breaking above the all-time highs of around $74,000. Feature image from DALLE, chart from TradingView

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov revealed that the BRICS bloc has been considering the use of stablecoins for its common rail payment systems. In an interview with TV BRICS, Ryabkov stated that the use of stablecoins and a connection linking the CBDCs of the participants were studied as part of the integration processes of […]

Bitcoin price extended its increase and climbed above the $66,000 resistance zone. BTC is now showing positive signs and might find bids near $65,500. Bitcoin gained pace for a move above the $65,500 resistance zone. The price is trading above $65,500 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. There is a key bullish trend line forming with support at $65,700 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken). The pair could correct lower, but the bulls might remain active near the $65,500 support. Bitcoin Price Gains Strength Bitcoin price started a fresh increase above the $64,500 and $65,000 resistance levels. BTC bulls even pushed the price above the $66,000 resistance. It traded to a new weekly high at $67,200 and is currently consolidating gains. The price is slowly moving lower toward the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $64,281 swing low to the $67,200 low. Bitcoin price is still trading above $65,500 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. There is also a key bullish trend line forming with support at $65,700 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair. The trend line is near the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $64,281 swing low to the $67,200 low. Immediate resistance is near the $67,000 level. The first major resistance could be $67,200. The next resistance now sits at $68,500. If there is a clear move above the $68,500 resistance zone, the price could continue to move up. In the stated case, the price could rise toward $70,000. Source: BTCUSD on TradingView.com The next major resistance is near the $70,500 zone. Any more gains might send Bitcoin toward the $72,000 resistance zone in the near term. Downside Correction In BTC? If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $67,000 resistance zone, it could start a downside correction. Immediate support on the downside is near the $66,500 level. The first major support is $65,700 or the trend line. If there is a close below $65,500, the price could start to drop toward $65,000. Any more losses might send the price toward the $64,200 support zone in the near term. Technical indicators: Hourly MACD – The MACD is now losing pace in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now above the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $66,500, followed by $65,500. Major Resistance Levels – $67,000, $67,200, and $68,500.

Negentropic, the official X (formerly Twitter) account of Glassnode’s cofounders, has offered its own bullish sentiment for the crypto market. Glassnode Cofounders: There Would Be A Massive Growth Beyond Recent Corrections According to their analysis, the market, excluding the top 10 cryptocurrencies, known as “OTHERS,” is showing signs of a strong uptrend with the potential for “more upside” growth. Related Reading: Analyst Reveals Bitcoin’s Bull Market Breakthrough: Here’s What You Need To Know This observation amidst increased volatility and uncertainty following the recent Bitcoin Halving event on April 20 reduced miners’ block subsidy rewards from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC. The cofounders pointed out an intriguing pattern in the market’s behavior, comparing the current conditions to the “strong correction” seen in early 2021, which they identified as “wave 4” in the market cycle. The #Crypto Bull Market Continues. “OTHERS” follows Crypto excl. the largest 10 Cryptos. Observe that we in early 2021 had a strong correction. We believe that was a wave 4. We now have a similar strong decline. More upside is coming. This index and our Fibonacci levels… pic.twitter.com/qKtIOSXneP — 𝗡𝗲𝗴𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰 (@Negentropic_) April 22, 2024 Using their index and Fibonacci levels, Glassnode’s cofounders anticipate approximately a 350% increase from the current market levels, noting: More upside is coming. This index and our Fibonacci levels gives us, that we may see ~350% upside from current levels. Notably, this bullish projection underscores their confidence in the potential for further market expansion despite recent downturns. Crypto Market Recovery Amid Bitcoin Criticism And Post-Halving Predictions While the Glassnode Co-founders have predicted significant growth for the crypto market, it’s important to note that the overall market sentiment remains bullish. After a notable decline last week, the global crypto market is showing signs of recovery, with nearly a 3% increase in the past 24 hours. This upward movement can be attributed to major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum, which have seen gains of 2.7% and 1.7% over the same period. Bitcoin, the flagship cryptocurrency, has recently faced criticism from prominent figures like Peter Schiff, who criticized its high transaction fees and longer processing times. The cost to complete a #Bitcoin transaction is now $128 and it takes a half hour to process. This is another reason why Bitcoin can’t function as a digital currency. The cost to actually use Bitcoin as a currency is prohibitively high for almost all transactions. It’s a failure. — Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) April 22, 2024 Due to these challenges, Schiff labeled Bitcoin as a “failure” in terms of digital currency. However, it’s worth noting that Bitcoin’s average transaction fee has significantly decreased to $34.86 on April 21, following a record high of $128.45 the day before. Meanwhile, analyst and founder of the Capriole Investment fund Charles Edwards has shared three possible scenarios for Bitcoin after the Halving. Edwards highlighted the increase in Bitcoin’s electrical cost to $77,400 per new BTC coin produced, while the overall miner price, including block rewards and fees, surged to $244,000. Related Reading: 3 Major Metrics To Watch Out For That Can Impact Ethereum Prices He predicts that Bitcoin’s price may skyrocket, approximately 15% of miners may shut down their operations, or transaction fees will remain elevated. Edwards expects a combination of these scenarios to unfold, ultimately leading to Bitcoin’s price surpassing $100,000. Featured image from Unsplash, Chart from TradingView