After the overnight Israeli retaliatory strikes against Iran, gold prices have settled around $2,388 per ounce, having briefly touched the $2,400 mark right after the events. Over the last five days, gold has increased by 1.85%, while bitcoin has declined by 8% since the onset of the conflict last Saturday, April 13. Following last night’s […]

BlockDrop Coin operates as a cutting-edge cryptocurrency that allocates mining rewards to token holders via weekly airdrops, simplifying access to the mining economy. Historically, the entry barriers to profitable Bitcoin mining have steadily increased, pushing individual miners and small operators to the periphery of the Bitcoin mining economy. This centralization of Bitcoin mining power raises […]

The winds of change are swirling around Ethereum (ETH), the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency. While the Ethereum network itself is buzzing with activity, the price of ETH has taken a tumble in recent days, leaving investors scratching their heads. Related Reading: All Quiet On The Bitcoin ETF Front – Should You Be Paranoid? A glimmer of hope emerged with Tether’s (USDT) recent movement. Tether, the issuer of the world’s most popular stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, transferred a whopping $318 million worth of USDT from its treasury wallet directly to exchanges on the Ethereum network. Source: X This outflow suggests potential anticipation of increased demand for USDT, which could, in turn, signal rising investor interest in the broader cryptocurrency market. Historically, Tether has minted large amounts of USDT during periods of heightened crypto activity, and the rumor mill now churns with speculation that another billion USDT might soon be minted specifically on Ethereum. However, analysts caution against blind optimism. While an increase in USDT activity could bode well for Ethereum, it’s not a guaranteed path to prosperity. Other blockchains, like Tron, are also capable of handling USDT transactions, offering investors alternative avenues. Total crypto market cap is currently at $2.289 trillion. Chart: TradingView Price Woes And Investor Sentiment Meanwhile, the price of ETH has stubbornly refused to cooperate. As of today, ETH is trading below the crucial $3,000 mark, having dropped by nearly 3% in the last 24 hours. Ethereum has lost 11% of its value in the last seven days, data from Coingecko shows. Related Reading: Toncoin Unleashes DeFi Monster Growth: TVL Soars 300% In A Month A further price drop below $3,000 could trigger panic selling, exacerbating the downward spiral. The current situation presents a complex picture for Ethereum. While Tether’s recent move and steady network activity offer slivers of optimism, the declining price and NFT market correction paint a contrasting picture. A Hive Of Activity Despite Stress On Price While the price of ETH might be feeling the heat, the Ethereum network itself is humming with activity. Unlike the recent slump in the NFT (Non-Fungible Token) market, overall network usage has remained remarkably consistent. This suggests a shift in focus within the Ethereum ecosystem. While the flamboyant world of NFTs might be experiencing a temporary correction, other sectors within Ethereum are picking up the slack. The rise in DeFi (Decentralized Finance) transactions, stablecoin swaps, and general token activity could be the hidden forces keeping the network busy. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

Tether, the company behind the largest stablecoin in the market, USDT, has made a significant expansion move that has propelled the Toncoin price, the native token of The Open Network (TON), by 17% in the past 24 hours.  Tether Expands Reach To 15 Blockchains On Friday, Tether announced the launch of its USDT dollar-pegged token and Tether Gold (XAUT), a gold-backed digital token, on The Open Network. This development marks a significant move for Tether, expanding its presence to 15 blockchains.  The integration of TON with Telegram, which boasts over 900 million global users, is expected to provide a “seamless and borderless” experience for peer-to-peer (P2P) payments within Telegram’s user base. With the introduction of USDT and XAUT on TON, Tether aims to facilitate the easy transfer of value between users in the TON ecosystem and other blockchain networks while increasing the transfer speed and reducing costs.  Related Reading: Analyst Forecast: Litecoin Poised For $250-$300, But Can It Hold? Paolo Ardoino, CEO at Tether, expressed excitement about the launch, emphasizing their support for The Open Network’s vision of an open and “decentralized internet.” Ardoino stated: We’re excited to bring USD₮ and XAU₮ to The Open Network because we support its vision of an open and decentralized internet and a borderless financial system. The launch of USD₮ and XAU₮ on TON will allow seamless value transfer, increasing activity and liquidity while offering users a financial experience that can match those found in the traditional financial system. This furthers our mission of powering open financial infrastructure across the blockchain space. 11 Million TON Tokens To Drive Adoption Of USDT, XAUT Meanwhile, The Open Network claims to “revolutionize” global peer-to-peer payments, allowing Telegram users to send money instantly without needing a blockchain address or downloading a new app.  Notably, USDT on TON will be complemented by fully integrated on-ramps supporting most fiat currencies globally. Additionally, integrated global off-ramps will facilitate users’ withdrawal of supported fiat currencies directly to their bank accounts or cards. The TON Foundation has allocated 11 million TON tokens as incentives to drive adoption. Five million TON will be utilized to boost rewards in USDT/TON liquidity pools across TON decentralized exchanges (DEXes) like StonFi and Dedust.  Another 5 million TON will be distributed to users who deposit USDT to the Earn campaign of Telegram’s wallet. Furthermore, withdrawals to TON from supporting exchanges such as OKEx, Bybit, and KuCoin will be free for all users until the end of June 2024. Related Reading: Bitcoin Halving Could Catalyzed $100,000 Price Surge: Bitwise CEO Ultimately, the introduction of USDT and XAUT on TON, coupled with the incentives provided, is expected to accelerate the adoption of TON and establish it as a “faster, easier and more cost-effective” cross-border payment system compared to traditional financial services, according to The Open Network’s announcement.   Toncoin Price Rallies Following the disclosure of the partnership, the Toncoin price surged, reaching a high of $8.02 on Friday. This marked the end of a sharp decline over the past week since the token achieved its all-time high (ATH) of $8.79 on April 11. After reaching the new ATH, the Toncoin price dropped to a low of $5.42 on Saturday, April 13. However, with the recent partnership announcement, the Toncoin price has regained its bullish momentum and is currently trading at $6.59.  It aims to surpass the price resistance level of $7.70, which will pave the way for reaching and surpassing the $8 mark. This would provide a favorable trajectory for the Toncoin price to conquer and exceed its current ATH. Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

U.S. spot bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) have seen outflows for the fifth consecutive day since April 12, with a reduction totaling $4.3 million during Wednesday’s trading sessions. ETF Analyst’s Perspective: Recent Bitcoin ETF Outflows Within Expected Norms The newly launched spot bitcoin ETFs have been active on the stock market for 99 days, having commenced […]

Crypto expert Michaël van de Poppe has provided insights into what to expect when the Bitcoin halving occurs on April 19. As part of his analysis, van de Poppe suggested that the attention might shift from Bitcoin once the event occurs.  A Narrative Shift To Occur Post-Halving Van de Poppe mentioned in an X (formerly Twitter) post that narratives will change as the halving event approaches but failed to specify what the new narrative will be when this happens. However, in a previous X post, the crypto expert laid out some of his expectations for the crypto market going forward, which included what he expected the new narrative to be.  Related Reading: XRP Whales Are On The Move Again, But Are They Bullish Or Bearish? According to Van de Poppe, the narrative will shift to Ethereum (ETH) and projects that are focused on Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN) and Real World Assets (RWA). These sectors, along with Artificial Intelligence (AI) and meme coins, have been projected to be among the leading narratives in this bull run.  Meanwhile, the crypto expert, who has so far continued to state that altcoins are greatly undervalued, expects these crypto tokens to bounce “in their Bitcoin pairs” once the hype around the halving is over. Furthermore, Van de Poppe mentioned that altcoins will show bullish strength from this second quarter until the summer after which a correction will come in the third quarter of the year. Before now, the crypto expert listed ten altcoins he believes could make the most price gains when the altcoin season begins in full force. These tokens include Chainlink (LINK), Celestia (TIA), Arbitrum (ARB), Polkadot (DOT), Cosmos (ATOM), DYDX (DYDX), WooNetwork (WOO), Sei (SEI), Skale Network (SKL), and Covalent (CQT).  Expectations For Bitcoin In the short term, Van de Poppe expects Bitcoin to experience a relief bounce to around $70,000. However, he didn’t sound so bullish about the flagship crypto’s long-term trajectory, predicting that Bitcoin will face a period of consolidation that he doesn’t expect to change in the “coming months.” In another X post, he said, “It’s a waiting game on Bitcoin currently, as momentum is relatively gone.” He added that he expects Bitcoin to continue “the retracement and consolidation,” while altcoins will bounce up in their BTC pairs during this period.  Related Reading: Crypto Analyst Predicts Cardano Rally To $3 As Price Reaches ‘Ultimate Support Test’ This predicted consolidation period looks to be the re-accumulation phase in the stages of Bitcoin halving, which crypto analyst Rekt Capital once referred to. Elaborating on what this period is like, Rekt Capital stated back then that many investors get “shaken out in this stage due to boredom, impatience, and disappointment with lack of major results in their BTC investment in the immediate aftermath of the Halving.” Once this period is over, Bitcoin is expected to make its “parabolic uptrend,” a phase that Rekt Capital noted historically lasts just over a year. In line with this, it is worth noting that most of Bitcoin’s price gains usually come between six months to a year after the Bitcoin halving has occurred.  BTC price shows bullish momentum ahead of halving | Source: BTCUSD on Tradingview.com Featured image from Yahoo Finance, chart from Tradingview.com

As the cryptocurrency community excitedly awaits the impending Bitcoin halving, Bitwise Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hunter Horsley has weighed in on its impact on BTC, predicting that the event could potentially propel prices to $100,000 or even higher. Horsley expressed his optimistic outlook toward the upcoming Bitcoin Halving on the X (formerly Twitter) platform. Every four years, the Halving has historically been linked to greater price increases, and Horsley’s upbeat view indicates that this cycle might be no different from the others. Upcoming Bitcoin Halving Is Being Underestimated According to the CEO, the much-anticipated event is presently being significantly underestimated in the crypto space. He claims that the market has never priced in it in the past, and it will not be priced in this time either, expressing his confidence toward the occasion. Related Reading: Bitwise CEO Predicts $11 Billion Drop In Bitcoin Supply Post Halving Horsley highlighted the historical relevance and transformative implications of these occurrences, drawing comparisons with past Halvings and citing the notable profits that investors achieved in 2020, 2016, and 2012. He stated that following months of debate by investors on whether the previous three halvings were priced in, Bitcoin grew by 5.4x, 2.8x, and 88x, respectively. Given the past price developments, the Bitwise CEO anticipates this Halving to serve as a catalyst for the $100,000 target for BTC. Horsley’s prediction seems very reasonable since the figure is just about a 47% increase from the digital asset’s current price. It is worth noting that the opinions of fully deployed current holders are not used to measure the impact of the Halving. Rather, it depends on whether there will be a significant and sustained increase in demand in addition to the daily decrease in the supply of natural sellers.  In all, the Bitwise CEO foresees a steady growth in demand along with the conditions for a substantial Halving event this year. As investors prepare for the possible impact of this historic occasion on Bitcoin’s price trajectory, this audacious prognosis highlights the possibility of massive price increases not only in BTC but the entire cryptocurrency market. BTC Move Into No Man’s Land With the Halving less than 24 hours away, Cold Blooded Shiller, a cryptocurrency analyst, has reported that Bitcoin has entered No Man’s Land. “There are some interesting discussion points on BTC right now, but we have just entered No Man’s Land,” he stated. Related Reading: Bitcoin Miners Always Sell Into Halvings, Is This Time Any Different? According to Shiller, until one of the two green zones highlighted in his chart is contacted, he believes the price action is far more unpredictable. Nonetheless, there are some interesting links here for former price action and Relative Strength Index (RSI). The analyst claimed the RSI is currently resetting on the Higher Time Frame (HTF), and the last time it occurred was back in January, following a similar breakdown from consolidation seen now. While Shiller does not think the results will be the same this time, it’s quite reasonable if no recovery happens due to this degree of loss. Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview.com

Just before the upcoming block reward halving, with only 72 blocks left until reaching block height 840,000, bitcoin miners have significantly boosted their hashrate. As of 8:50 a.m. EDT on April 19, 2024, the hashrate soared to a record 653 exahash per second (EH/s). Bitcoin Hashrate Achieves New High as Halving Approaches Just hours ahead […]

Integration Promises Enhanced Privacy for Bitcoin.com Wallet Users Bitcoin.com, a leading platform for cryptocurrency users, announces its strategic partnership with the Data Ownership Protocol (DOP) to empower users with unprecedented control over their data within the Bitcoin.com ecosystem and beyond. This collaboration marks a significant milestone in the quest for data sovereignty in the crypto […]

Crypto trading sensation Ansem, known on X (formerly Twitter) as @blknoiz06, has directed the market’s gaze towards the Bitcoin Runes ecosystem, labeling it as the nascent grounds for the next 100x crypto opportunity, as NewsBTC reported yesterday. Ansem, whose prowess is well-documented through his previous astronomical gains of 170x on Solana (SOL), 520x on dogwifhat (WIF), and 80x on Bonk (BONK), stirred the crypto community with his recent Dogecoin comparison. On the cusp of Bitcoin’s highly anticipated halving today, Ansem doubled down on his initial assessment, particularly highlighting two tokens within the Bitcoin Runes ecosystem: Bitcoin Wizards (WZRD) and PUPS. He equates WZRD with Dogecoin, suggesting it has the potential to mirror Dogecoin’s viral success. In contrast, he compares PUPS to the lesser-known but highly profitable dogwifhat (WIF). Related Reading: Elon Musk Latest Tweet: How Much Did Dogecoin Gain From It Today? In a tweet that caught the eye of both investors and enthusiasts, Ansem elaborated on his reasoning behind the picks, stating: Great thread, been saying, I believe Runes are next asymmetric 100x opp in crypto. The meme that got DOGE founder interested in Bitcoin & the phrase magic internet money is still used today – representative of bitcoin culture. DOGE equivalent = WZRD, WIF equivalent = PUPS. Ansem references a thread on X by Immutable Edge (@ImmutableSOL), who delved into the historical and cultural significance of the “Magic Internet Money” meme, originally sparked by mavensbot’s viral Reddit ad. The “Magic Internet Money” meme dates back to February 18, 2013, when mavensbot, a digital artist, submitted a hand-drawn depiction of a blue wizard to promote Bitcoin on Reddit. This ad, created during Bitcoin’s early adoption phase, was crucial in cultivating a cultural ethos around Bitcoin. It resonated deeply within the community, encapsulating the whimsical yet revolutionary nature of Bitcoin’s rise. The ad’s simplicity and authenticity resonated with the Reddit community, propelling Bitcoin from a niche internet experiment to a major financial phenomenon. Within weeks of the ad’s debut, Bitcoin’s value surged from $27 to a record high of $1,132 by November 2013. Related Reading: Dogecoin Flashes Weekly Golden Cross: Why This Analyst Believes The Bull Rally Is Far From Over Bitcoin Wizards, one of the highlighted tokens, aims to rekindle this original spirit. The token leverages the iconic imagery and cultural narrative of the “Magic Internet Money” meme to foster a new wave of interest and adoption. The creators of WZRD are not only paying homage to Bitcoin’s roots but are also embedding this storied meme within the mechanics of a modern cryptocurrency, aiming to capture both nostalgia and innovation. The Bitcoin Wizards project is part of the broader Bitcoin Runes ecosystem, which reached a lot of hype prior to its launch. According to Ansem, WZRD’s history and deep roots in memes give it the perfect ingredients to become the next Dogecoin, just on Bitcoin Runes. Moreover, the analyst assessment comes at a critical time for the crypto market, which is often influenced by the narratives that capture the community’s imagination. As the Bitcoin halving event unfolds, many eyes will be on the Bitcoin Runes ecosystem to see if it can indeed replicate the meteoric rises seen in BRC-20 tokens and Ordinals. At press time, WZRD traded at $12.15, up 70% in the last 24 hours. Featured image created with DALL·E, chart from TradingView.com

In the first quarter of 2024, spot trading volumes of the top ten centralized exchanges (cex) topped $4.29 trillion, a 95.3% increase from the previous quarter. Despite facing legal challenges Binance remained the largest cex platform with a market share of 50%. The top crypto asset manager Grayscale’s converted GBTC exchange-traded fund (ETF) was the […]

PRESS RELEASE. April 19th, 2024 — Merlin Chain, the largest Bitcoin Layer 2 protocol by total value locked (TVL), is thrilled to announce the launch of its native token, $MERL. As a significant enhancement to the Bitcoin network, Merlin Chain facilitates the rapid growth of decentralized applications (DApps) across various sectors, including decentralized finance (DeFi), […]

The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has filed an amended lawsuit against Tron founder Justin Sun, claiming he spent a significant amount of time in the U.S., thus granting the SEC jurisdiction over him and his businesses. The SEC alleges that Sun’s extensive travel within the U.S., totaling at least 380 days between […]

Litecoin (LTC) is proving its toughness in the wild world of crypto. Even with recent ups and downs in the market, Litecoin is holding steady, making investors hopeful about its future. While its price dipped a bit, experts and some charts are pointing towards a big comeback for LTC. Related Reading: Toncoin Unleashes DeFi Monster Growth: TVL Soars 300% In A Month Stability In The Midst Of Market Swings Litecoin’s recent performance stands in stark contrast to the broader market trend. While its price did experience a correction, dropping from a peak of $112 to its current value around $81.12, the decline has been relatively muted compared to other cryptocurrencies. Analyst Insights And Bullish Predictions Financial experts are taking note of Litecoin’s recent performance. Matthew Dixon, CEO of Evai.io, has highlighted LTC’s resilience compared to Bitcoin during this period of market volatility. He attributes this stability to the possibility that Litecoin may have already completed a corrective phase, a period of price adjustment often followed by an upward trajectory. This suggests that Litecoin could be poised for significant growth in the near future. $Ltc#Ltc Gave Golden Chance For Those Who Missed Earlier Bouncing From Trendline Still Expecting Move Towards 250-300$ In Coming Months https://t.co/Uyv82IeTpp pic.twitter.com/bYo4cQ9ylx — World Of Charts (@WorldOfCharts1) April 15, 2024 Adding to the optimistic outlook is respected crypto analyst World Of Charts. Their analysis suggests advantageous entry points for investors considering Litecoin. Additionally, they have identified a robust support level, which acts as a price floor and prevents excessive downward movement. Based on these factors, World Of Charts forecasts a target range of $250 to $300 for LTC in the coming months, expressing strong confidence in its potential for substantial growth. LTC market cap nearing the $6 billion level. Chart: TradingView.com Litecoin Starts Q2 With A Dip, But Investors Eye Rebound Litecoin (LTC) has gotten off to a rocky start in Q2, with its price falling 12% from $112 to $96. This decline can be attributed to two main factors. First, a broader market correction is impacting cryptocurrencies across the board. Second, some investors who bought in during Litecoin’s Q1 surge from $72 to $112 may be taking profits, further pressuring the price. Related Reading: All Quiet On The Bitcoin ETF Front – Should You Be Paranoid? Despite the recent slump, there are reasons for Litecoin investors to remain optimistic. Many investors still believe in the long-term potential of LTC, and some experts predict a price rise to $150 by June. The upcoming Bitcoin halving event, which some believe will drive up Bitcoin’s price, could also have a positive spillover effect on Litecoin. LTC price action in the last 24 hours. Source: Coingecko Featured image from Pixabay, chart from TradingView

Nigerian Instagram celebrity, Pascal Okechukwu, has pleaded not guilty to three counts of abusing naira banknotes. The charges against Okechukwu relate to three incidents in which he allegedly tampered with or “sprayed” NGN500 banknotes. Another Nigerian celebrity, Oluwadarasimi Omoseyin, received a six-month prison sentence for the same offence. Nigerian Authorities Clamp Down on Naira ‘Spraying’ […]