Hedera (HBAR) has recently seen a shift in momentum after enduring a tough seven-week downtrend. The price of the altcoin dropped from $0.265 to as low as $0.130, signaling a significant decline.
However, there is optimism now, as HBAR seems poised to recover its losses. While this may signal a positive turn for investors, some traders could face significant liquidations.
Hedera Investors Are Gunning For Gains
The Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) indicator is showing signs of improvement, recently entering the positive zone above the zero line. This indicates that inflows are significantly outpacing outflows, suggesting a bullish outlook for HBAR.
Investors seem to have regained confidence in the token, entering at lower price levels in anticipation of price gains. The CMF is at its highest since the beginning of 2025, further reinforcing this positive sentiment and signaling that the altcoin’s prospects are improving.
The liquidation map indicates a significant event for short traders. As HBAR price approaches $0.178, shorts are at risk of facing $20 million in liquidations. This resistance level is crucial, and if HBAR breaches it, it could shift traders’ sentiment from bearish to bullish.
The looming liquidations would likely fuel more buying pressure, pushing the price upward. The recent market conditions hint at a potential breakout, which could drive HBAR into new territory, benefiting those who’ve entered the market at a low point.
HBAR is currently trading at $0.171, marking a 3.3% gain today. While this increase may seem modest, the price action is more significant in the context of breaking a seven-week downtrend. This shift is creating optimism among investors, and it suggests that the altcoin is poised for further recovery.
The immediate next resistance lies at $0.177. Given the rising optimism and improving market conditions, there is a strong possibility that HBAR will break through this level. A successful breach could see HBAR pushing towards $0.197 and even reaching $0.200, which would confirm a bullish trend reversal.
However, if HBAR fails to break through $0.177, the altcoin could experience a pullback. This would result in the price falling to $0.154, with further decline potentially bringing HBAR down to $0.143. Any drop below $0.154 would invalidate the bullish outlook and may continue the downtrend.
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is quickly becoming a notable force in the push for global crypto adoption. With growing participation from institutions and enterprises and supportive regulations for Web3 technology, MENA is set to expand its impact.
BeInCrypto interviewed Stephan Apel, CEO of Outlier Ventures, to explore the characteristics of these tech-driven economies and their anticipated innovations.
Web3 Adoption and Market Growth
MENA has emerged as a significant center for Web3 development, facilitated by a combination of demographic, technological, and cultural factors. The region’s entrepreneurial spirit has also fostered an environment conducive to the adoption of decentralized technologies.
“The MENA market has set a standard for adopting next-gen technologies and using them to boost their economic transformation. This is especially true for Web3 technologies— the region recognised their potential early on, offering the resources needed for these projects to scale and thrive on both regional and global levels,” Apel told BeInCrypto.
Consequently, the region is witnessing an increase in startups, investors, and developers exploring Web3 and its diverse applications.
A 2024 Chainalysis report revealed that MENA was the seventh biggest crypto market worldwide. From July 2023 to June 2024, the region saw $338.7 billion in online crypto transactions, representing 7.5% of all crypto transactions globally.
Share of all cryptocurrency transaction value by region. Source: Chainalysis.
Notably, Turkey and Morocco ranked among the top 30 countries globally in crypto adoption. Turkey secured the 11th spot, while Morocco ranked 27th. These nations alone accounted for $137 billion and $12.7 billion in received cryptocurrency value, respectively.
Furthermore, the MENA region’s crypto activity is predominantly driven by institutional and professional players, as a substantial 93% of all value transferred involves transactions exceeding $10,000.
Meanwhile, Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) members have distinguished themselves through their ambitious technological initiatives.
MENA’s Strategic Shift Towards AI
The onset of artificial intelligence (AI) has prompted governments and businesses within the Middle East to acknowledge the global trend towards related advanced technologies. Countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are considering their strategic position concerning this technological transformation.
According to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), AI could contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy in 2030. The consulting firm predicts that the Middle East will bring 2% of the total global benefits, equal to $320 billion.
MENA’s pioneering role in AI development. Source: PwC.
The PwC report also indicates that Saudi Arabia will see the largest absolute gains from AI by 2030, with an estimated US$135.2 billion added to its economy, or 12.4% of GDP. In terms of GDP percentage, however, the UAE is expected to see the greatest impact, approaching 14% of its 2030 GDP. Meanwhile, for GCC states Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar, AI is expected to contribute 8.2% of their GDP.
Given the region’s latest initiatives and investments in AI innovation, these numbers come as no surprise.
Saudi Arabia’s AI Development Initiatives
In 2016, the Saudi Arabian government launched Vision 2030, a program to promote economic, social, and cultural diversification. Integral to this vision is a strategic shift towards artificial intelligence and data-driven innovation, a key component of the nation’s economic diversification efforts.
Saudi Arabia is making notable advancements in AI. The country aims to reduce its reliance on oil by developing advanced technology sectors through targeted investments, infrastructure development, and workforce training.
“Fueled by its Vision 2030 initiative, Saudi Arabia has already created a thriving startup ecosystem, dedicated significant investment in emerging technologies,and designed policies to attract global talent and entrepreneurship,” Apel told BeInCrypto.
The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) spearheads Saudi Arabia’s push into artificial intelligence, shaping and implementing the country’s national data and AI strategy. The National Data Bank is a cornerstone of their efforts. It is designed as a central hub for data access and analysis, facilitating AI applications across public and private sectors.
Last November, Saudi Arabia also unveiled Project Transcendence. The $100 billion investment initiative focuses on accelerating the integration of AI and advanced technologies.
Similar to its neighbor, the UAE has actively pursued AI adoption.
UAE’s AI Strategy and Investments
In 2017, the UAE launched its National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, which aims to make the country a global leader in the field by 2031. The UAE AI and Blockchain Council oversees this strategy, which impacts sectors like education, energy, and tourism.
The UAE is already reaping the benefits of its AI initiatives. In April, Microsoft announced a $1.5 billion investment in G42, an Abu Dhabi-based technology holding company. G42 is known for its data centers and the development of Jais, a leading Arabic-language AI model.
In September, G42 and Nvidia partnered to create AI-driven solutions for improved weather forecasting. The collaboration aims to advance climate-related technologies by using Nvidia’s Earth-2 platform, which enables AI-augmented climate and weather simulations.
Three months later, Abu Dhabi-based global technological ecosystem Hub71 partnered with Google to boost startup growth in the UAE. This collaboration will bring Google’s “Google for Startups” program to Abu Dhabi, including a dedicated accelerator for Hub71 startups in 2025.
He also drew attention to the planned convergence of AI and Web3 technologies in these prominent regions.
Convergence of AI, Web3, and IoT
Integrating the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and AI technologies is gaining traction among businesses in the Middle East. By combining these technologies, organizations can access new avenues for growth, increase efficiency, and create novel user experiences.
In 2018, the Dubai Airport Freezone Authority launched Dubai Blink, a platform that integrates AI, blockchain, and virtual licenses to facilitate global trade. This system enhances supply chain innovation through ‘smart commerce’ by expediting trade with a unified online platform. Furthermore, it addressed the cumbersome process of supplier identification by using AI algorithms to streamline and accelerate the validation process.
Ultimately, MENA’s proactive approach to technological advancement, coupled with its strategic focus on Web3 and AI, signals a future where the region will be a pivotal architect in shaping the digital economy.
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Stellar (XLM) is showing renewed momentum, up 10% in the last 24 hours and over 25% in the past 30 days. Despite the rally, XLM has remained below the $0.30 mark since March 2, struggling to reclaim that key psychological level.
Recent technical signals—including a sharp rise in RSI, a positive CMF shift, and a potential golden cross—are drawing attention from traders. As bullish momentum builds, XLM now faces a critical test at the $0.279 resistance zone.
Stellar RSI Surges—Is XLM Gearing Up for a Breakout?
Such a move often reflects a shift in sentiment, with traders rotating back into the asset after a period of weakness. If this momentum continues, XLM could be setting up for a bullish breakout in the short term.
The RSI is a technical indicator used to measure the speed and change of price movements. It ranges from 0 to 100, with values below 30 generally considered oversold and values above 70 considered overbought.
Readings between 50 and 70 typically indicate growing bullish momentum. With RSI now at 62.21, XLM is gaining strength but still has room to run before hitting overbought conditions.
Stellar CMF Turns Positive, But Buying Pressure Remains Cautious
Stellar’s Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) indicator currently sits at 0.04, rebounding from -0.32 just three days ago.
This return to positive territory signals a short-term shift toward buying pressure, though it has pulled back slightly from 0.08 earlier today.
While the bounce is encouraging, the CMF hasn’t broken above the key 0.10 level since April 28, suggesting that sustained capital inflows remain limited for now.
The CMF measures the volume-weighted flow of money into and out of an asset over a set period. It ranges between -1 and +1, with values above 0 indicating buying pressure and values below 0 signaling selling pressure.
A CMF reading above 0.10 typically confirms strong accumulation, while readings near zero reflect indecision or weak conviction.
With XLM’s CMF at 0.04, the market is showing early signs of accumulation, but not enough to confirm a strong bullish trend. For further upside, XLM would likely need to see CMF push consistently above 0.10.
XLM Eyes Breakout as Golden Cross Nears
Stellar price is currently trading in a narrow range between resistance at $0.279 and support at $0.267.
Its EMA lines are tightening, and a golden cross may be forming soon—a bullish signal that occurs when the short-term EMA crosses above the long-term one.
If XLM breaks above $0.279, it could rally toward $0.30, with further upside targets at $0.349 and $0.375. Should bullish momentum remain strong, a move to $0.443 is also possible.
However, if the breakout fails, XLM could fall back to $0.267 support. A breakdown below that level would expose the token to $0.25, followed by $0.239 and $0.230.
Beyond technicals, concerns about supply concentration remain in focus—data shows the top 10 XLM wallets hold nearly 80% of the circulating supply. Binance’s XLM balance has also grown from 180 million to 1 billion since late 2023, raising the risk of volatility if large holders sell.
Still, adoption is growing. Stellar’s tokenized real-world asset (RWA) market has surged 84% in 2025, with key players like Franklin Templeton and Circle helping drive over $500 million in on-chain value.
