DeFi Development SOL Milestone, Korea Stablecoin Push and More

According to a recent survey by Brown Brothers Harriman, 71% of ETF investors wish to invest more in crypto this year. This bullish signal comes as the crypto ETF market is beginning to recover from recent volatility.

The firm is one of the oldest and most prestigious investment banks in the US, adding credibility to its claims. This data also aligns with other surveys that suggest wealthy investors are interested in Bitcoin.

Crypto ETFs Are Becoming Popular Among TradFi Investors

Since the Bitcoin ETFs were first approved in 2024, they’ve ushered in a profound transformation of the crypto market. BlackRock’s IBIT was so popular that some experts declared it the greatest ETF launch ever.

According to a new survey from Brown Brothers Harriman, 71% of ETF investors are planning to further their allocations into crypto.

“Good news for the crypto crowd, 71% [of surveyed investors] said they aim to increase their allocation to crypto ETFs in the next 12 months.. That’s higher than I would have thought, I’d have guessed 40-50% and i’m pretty bullish on this space, relatively speaking,” claimed Eric Balchunas, a prominent ETF analyst.

This survey comes at a fortuitous time for the ETF space and crypto markets in general. Bearish fears have been dominating the space, and US spot Bitcoin ETFs recently took a serious beating.

However, the market is already starting to recover, and issuers have resumed large BTC purchases. This survey shows that more investors are willing to pour liquidity into the crypto market through ETFs.

Brown Brothers Harriman is one of the oldest and most prestigious investment banks in the US, and its survey is a credible indicator of ETF sentiment. Additionally, other recent surveys have drawn similar conclusions.

For example, earlier this month, a poll of wealthy US investors showed high interest in Bitcoin and other major altcoins.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin ETFs have largely recovered this week after seeing net outflow for five consecutive weeks. At the same time, more asset managers are filing diverse ETF applications with the SEC. Given the current positive sentiment among institutional investors, the long-term outlook is likely to be bullish for such funds.

The post Survey Claims 71% of TradFi ETF Investors Want Crypto Exposure appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Pi Network introduced two significant updates on the annual Pi2Day 2025: the Pi App Studio and Ecosystem Directory Staking. 

While the Pi App Studio has been welcomed as a tool for developers to build applications, the Ecosystem Directory Staking feature has ignited confusion and controversy among its user base, particularly due to the absence of profit for participants.

What is Pi Network’s New Staking Feature? 

The Ecosystem Directory Staking mechanism allows users to stake Pi Coin on the mainnet blockchain to enhance the ranking of selected apps within the Pi ecosystem. This voluntary system increases visibility for quality apps and community engagement. 

This is quite different from traditional staking models in the cryptocurrency space. In traditional staking, participants typically lock up a cryptocurrency in a network to support its operations (like securing the network or validating transactions) in exchange for rewards, such as more of the cryptocurrency. This departure from conventional staking practices left Pioneers confused.

“Pioneers! There is another misunderstanding about this new staking feature. You WILL NOT get Pi rewards for staking for ranking apps! Please read carefully, as always! When staking ends, you get your Pi back minus transaction fee,” a user posted.

Moreover, the lack of clear communication from Pi Network’s Core Team has exacerbated the confusion. Many users pointed out that the no-reward aspect was not clarified at the time of the announcement.

“A new paragraph has been added to the Pi Blog, clearly stating that there are no rewards for Pi staking. If this point had been emphasized multiple times from the beginning, many people would have understood it more easily,” another Pioneer added.

While staking doesn’t provide Pi rewards at the protocol level, there are provisions for incentives from the developer side. Developers can motivate users by offering incentives like app enhancements, in-app rewards, or promotions. Moreover, the team noted that users would receive their original staked amount back once the staking period had concluded. 

“When you stake, your Pi is locked (can’t be used for purchases). Example: You stake 200 Pi for 60 days. After 60 days, you’ll get back exactly 200 Pi—no bonus, no interest. The 212 Pi is only used to help boost the app’s ranking in the ecosystem. Staking is a way to support the ecosystem, not to earn. Make your choices consciously,” a user explained.

Despite the disappointment, Pioneers have highlighted that the new staking mechanism could benefit the network. According to a user, this incentivizes meaningful engagement and prioritizes apps that users value enough to support financially.

Moreover, the system also reduces the overall circulating supply of Pi, potentially impacting its availability and price.

“Circulating Supply is decreasing – because all the Pioneers who are staking Pi are locking it, so it will not be available in the market,” the post read.

The decrease in supply, combined with the potential increase in demand, could theoretically drive up the price. Given PI’s recent performance, it could use any catalyst that helps boost its value or visibility. BeInCrypto reported previously that despite major updates, the price performance has been quite underwhelming.

Pi Coin’s value has declined 3.57% over the past day. At the time of writing, it traded at $0.48, just 20.5% away from its all-time low.

Thus, while Pi Network’s approach to app development and ecosystem engagement is notable, the staking feature highlights the need for transparent communication to maintain user trust. For now, the long-term impact on Pi Coin’s value, if any, and user participation remain uncertain.

The post Pi Network Staking Leaves Users Confused Over Lack of Rewards appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Over the past weeks, meme coins centered around US politics have consistently trended on decentralized exchanges. Recurring topics include the Trump/Musk split and the latest anti-ICE protests in Los Angeles.

A few prominent examples include Grand Theft America, Kill (the) Bill, Rent Only Goes Up, The America Party, and more. Although speculative, these community-led tokens show more of a decentralized character than coins like TRUMP.

Political Meme Coins On The Rise

Many strange or esoteric events can spawn related meme coins, but politics-related topics have been gaining prominence over the last few months.

President Trump’s eponymous meme coin kicked off this trend in January, and it’s been growing to new levels ever since. Over the last few days, a cadre of political meme coins has consistently trended on DEXs.

Over the last 24 hours, several key examples of political meme coins have trended. Grand Theft America, for example, a riff on the Los Angeles ICE protests and GTA video game series, racked up $600,000 in the last few hours.

Last week, a feud between President Trump and Elon Musk inspired dozens of meme coins, many of which trended.

And yet, this wave of political meme coins is more decentralized than assets like TRUMP. Vitalik Buterin cautioned against political figures launching their own tokens, and House Democrats attempted to ban such assets.

However, this current crop only gestures at events in the zeitgeist or famous quotes, not seeming to endorse any movement or figure.

In a way, this contradicts Arthur Hayes’ proposal that meme coins can become an effective method of political advertising. It’s difficult to find any clear message out of these trendy tokens.

After all, TRUMP is currently in a price slump despite the President’s heavy involvement in the LA ICE protests.

So, what’s the lesson here? The crypto industry is getting involved in the political sphere, but meme coin traders are focused on their gains.

If public spectacles capture the community’s imagination, it can lead to potentially lucrative opportunities. As far as the content goes, these tokens’ political message remains surface-level.

As of now, the US political and social unrest is on live display over social media, and the meme coin community is taking full advantage of it.

The post Meme Coins Take Advantage of the LA Protest and American Politics Drama appeared first on BeInCrypto.