Today, the crypto market is expected to be highly volatile as all eyes turn to the U.S. Federal Reserve’s upcoming policy decision. The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) is holding its scheduled meeting on May 6–7 to assess the economic outlook and understand the future of U.S. interest rates. The FOMC, led by Chair Jerome Powell
Jerome Powell Jerome Hayden “Jay” Powell is an American attorney and investment banker who has served since 2018 as the 16th chair of the Federal Reserve
Finance
will announce its decision at 2 PM Eastern Time on May 7 (11:30 PM IST).
Initially, there were expectations of a full percentage point of cuts due to concerns over Trump tariffs. But now they expect a smaller 0.75% cut for the year. Powell has repeatedly said that the Fed needs to wait for clarity on Trump’s policies before making any decision.
Some analysts also believe the Fed could signal the end of Quantitative Tightening (QT), a policy that has been draining liquidity from markets since 2022. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will meet Chinese officials in Switzerland this weekend to discuss any possible tariff changes.
As the US and China are looking to ease the ongoing trade tensions, Bitcoin has already started climbing again, reaching around $97,000, and many altcoins are turning green as traders prepare for possible positive news. Although Bitcoin dominance remains high—now above 65%, this could shift soon, opening the door for altcoin season.
Bitcoin is showing signs of recovery, and the price is now approaching a resistance zone between $96,100 and $97,400. If Bitcoin can hold above $95,300, the upward trend could continue, possibly forming a stronger move higher.
So far, the current bounce is looking good, but it’s too early to confirm a full trend reversal. A pullback could still happen, and how the price reacts next will help confirm whether this recovery continues or if more downside is coming.
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The United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has postponed its decision on the Grayscale Spot Solana and Litecoin ETFs. The agency said more time is needed to assess whether these filings meet the necessary standards for investor protection and market transparency. This delay affects Grayscale’s efforts to list spot cryptocurrency ETFs that would be traded on the NYSE Arca exchange.
At the same time, the US SEC opened public comment periods for other crypto-related proposals, including BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF redemption model.
US SEC Extends Review Period for Grayscale SOL and LTC ETFs
The US SEC announced that it will extend the review process for the proposed Grayscale Solana Trust. The agency is evaluating whether the fund complies with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. If approved, the ETF would allow public trading of Solana-backed shares through traditional investment accounts.
The same decision applies to the Grayscale Litecoin Trust. The SEC said it needs additional time to determine if the Litecoin ETF filing meets the required legal and market conditions. Grayscale’s filings will now follow an extended timeline, which can include several stages before a final decision is reached.
According to the official filing, the commission has begun “proceedings to determine whether the proposed rule change should be approved or disapproved.” This language is standard for when the agency seeks further information or public input on complex filings.
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XRP is gaining momentum once again, climbing nearly 6% in the past week and pushing its market cap back above $130 billion for the first time since March 27.
The altcoin’s RSI has entered overbought territory for the first time in over a month, its Ichimoku Cloud setup remains bullish, and its EMA lines have formed consecutive golden crosses. With traders eyeing both breakout targets and key support zones, XRP enters a pivotal moment that could define its next major move.
XRP Enters Overbought Zone for First Time Since March
XRP’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) has surged to 76.19, climbing above the 70 threshold for the first time since March 19 — over a month ago.
Just yesterday, its RSI was at 51.4, signaling a sharp increase in buying momentum within a short period.
This jump suggests that XRP is entering an overbought zone, a level where price action often begins to slow or reverse, depending on broader market sentiment.
RSI is a momentum indicator that ranges from 0 to 100 and helps traders assess whether an asset is overbought or oversold. A reading above 70 typically signals overbought conditions, suggesting that the asset may be due for a pullback.
A reading below 30, on the other hand, signals oversold conditions and potential for a bounce. With XRP now at 76.19, traders may begin to watch for signs of weakening momentum or consolidation. Despite that, some analysts claim XRP market cap could soon surpass Ethereum’s.
However, strong upward RSI moves can also signal the start of a breakout if supported by volume and broader bullish sentiment.
Ichimoku Signals Align for XRP as Cloud Turns Bullish
XRP’s Ichimoku Cloud remains in a bullish configuration, with the price clearly positioned above the Kumo (cloud), formed by the Senkou Span A (green line) and Senkou Span B (red line).
This indicates a continuation of upward momentum, though the green cloud ahead is narrower than before, suggesting that bullish conviction may not be as strong as in earlier phases of the trend.
The Tenkan-sen (blue line) is above the Kijun-sen (red line), signaling short-term bullish momentum through a positive crossover.
Meanwhile, the Chikou Span (green lagging line) is well above the cloud, confirming that current momentum is supported by past price strength.
However, the thinner cloud ahead calls for some caution — while the trend remains bullish, a weaker cloud can suggest reduced support if the price turns.
For now, XRP has a positive technical structure, but traders will monitor for any signs of weakness.
XRP Builds Momentum on Golden Crosses—Reversal or Rally?
XRP’s exponential moving average (EMA) lines have formed consecutive golden crosses since yesterday, a strong bullish signal that indicates growing upward momentum.
This pattern suggests that short-term averages are crossing above longer-term ones, often seen as a sign of a trend reversal or the beginning of a new uptrend.
If this momentum continues, XRP price could climb to test $2.50, with further resistance levels at $2.64, $2.74, and $2.83.
Should the broader bullish sentiment return, XRP may even attempt to reclaim the $2.99 level — and possibly break above $3 for the first time in months.
However, if the momentum fades and the trend reverses, XRP could pull back to test support at $2.18. A loss of that level would open the door for a deeper correction toward $2.03.
Continued downside pressure could push XRP below the $2 mark, with the next major support levels at $1.90 and $1.61.
BeInCrypto sat down with members of the LBank team to analyze the possible resurgence of the meme coin market as a leading crypto narrative and what their fusion with artificial intelligence (AI) can have on their reach.
LBank also discussed the impact of the four-month-old Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation on its operations across Europe. They described a fundamental change in investor confidence in light of greater regulatory clarity and simplified accessibility.
Have Meme Coin Highs Given Way to Devastating Lows?
In recent years, the meme coin market has largely been characterized by overwhelming highs and devastating lows. The first few months of 2025 have further confirmed the volatile nature of these tokens, to the point that a vocal part of the crypto community believes that their recent lows have marked the end of the meme coin lifecycle.
These claims are not unfounded, especially now that the US President has become a meme coin player. When Trump launched his meme coin in mid-January, TRUMP reached a market capitalization of nearly $8.8 billion, a number never before seen by a meme coin launch.
When insider traders capitalized on the surge to sell off their holdings and retain millions of dollars in gains, retail investors bore the brunt of the massive sell-off, suffering hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses.
“The decline in meme coin market cap since January can be attributed to a combination of market dynamics and sentiment shifts. A key driver was the rapid rise and subsequent crash of the TRUMP token, which drew significant market capital due to its viral appeal but collapsed sharply, eroding investor confidence and triggering a broader risk-off sentiment,” Eric He, Community Angel Officer and Risk Control Adviser at LBank told BeInCrypto.
After similar experiences with the MELANIA token and the LIBRA launch, some of these retail investors realized that meme coins —as unregulated and unpredictable as they are— may not be the best investments.
Is the Meme Coin Frenzy Coming to a Halt?
Given the devastating effects that these episodes have had on the meme coin market, trading has reduced significantly. The crypto community seems to have become saturated with news of pump-and-dump schemes and rug pulls, likely contributing to a halt in the meme coin frenzy.
The total meme coin market capitalization has been free-falling since January’s peak following the presidential token launches. Now, its levels resemble those of September 2024. The greater economic downturn that traditional and crypto markets experienced over the past several weeks has only worsened prospects.
Yet, despite this downward pressure, the market still experiences a high level of activity. It has a $14.5 billion trading volume and a $57 billion market capitalization.
Total meme coin market capitalization. Source: CoinGecko.
According to the LBank team, the meme coin industry is due for a revival.
LBank’s Belief in the Revival of the Meme Coin Market
Though the decline in meme coin performance has been significant, the LBank team expressed that these circumstances are far from unexpected. Meme coins are inherently tied to community support and social momentum.
The sustained trading volumes and large market capitalization serve as tangible indicators that, even in a downturn, the market is seeing active community engagement and liquidity. Investors still see value in the tokens’ cultural and speculative appeal.
“We see it as a healthy market correction rather than a fundamental shift. Meme coins have always been volatile, but the fact that trading volumes remain high shows continued interest. What’s happening now is not the end of the trend—it’s just a recalibration before the next wave,” Mario Iemma, Head of Spanish Markets at LBank, told BeInCrypto.
In fact, Iemma believes that meme coins will not be dying out anytime soon.
AI agents represented the first significant shift in the evolution of the cryptocurrency industry. These autonomous systems proved that they could make decisions and perform tasks independently. This technology enhances intelligence, adaptability, and fairness in financial mechanisms.
Now, developers have unlocked artificial intelligence’s potential on tokens. Systems like Grok have already made news by using AI to automatically and independently design and launch tokens.
However, with a nascent technology like AI, the LBank team emphasized the need for responsible and thorough deployment for the long-lasting success of AI-generated tokens. This success hinges on two particular factors: accessibility and security.
Security and Accessibility Challenges for AI-Generated Tokens
The concept of security is frequently associated with any emerging technology. Artificial intelligence is no exception, especially in a particularly unregulated industry like crypto.
According to He, AI-generated token projects’ degree of security and transparency will determine their success.
Iemma agreed, adding that if AI-generative tokens become widely accessible, this development will also require additional layers of oversight.
“That same accessibility demands better filters, vetting, and AI-based security audits—areas where exchanges like LBank are already investing resources,” he said.
While reflecting on the security risks associated with artificial intelligence and the breaches in consumer trust that meme coins have had on the crypto community, the LBank team also emphasized the need for greater regulation in the industry.
The development of cryptocurrency regulations varies significantly across the globe. Notably, the European Union implemented comprehensive rules almost five months ago, while key markets such as the United States are still establishing adequate frameworks.
MiCA’s Effect on the European Crypto Market
Last December, with the implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, the European Union became the first jurisdiction to establish a comprehensive and unified regulatory framework for crypto-assets across all its member states, marking a significant milestone.
According to the LBank team, MiCA gives users and institutions a trustworthy framework. This development has proven critical for industry growth across the region.
“MiCA has forced firms to become more transparent and compliant, which is a good thing for long-term trust. We’ve seen exchanges accelerate their legal and operational upgrades. For users, it creates a safer, more predictable environment,” Iemma said, adding, “With clearer rules, banks and investment firms are more willing to explore crypto partnerships, custody solutions, and even tokenized assets. Regulation reduces reputational risk, and MiCA is helping bridge that gap.”
However, this experience can be largely attributed to established firms in the industry and investors with access to substantial resources. Other players, however, have struggled to gather the requirements to apply for a MiCA license.
Future Accommodation for Smaller Crypto Businesses
In discussing the impact of MiCA since its enactment last December, He highlighted how different industry players have responded to the landmark regulation. He noted that startups struggle the most to obtain an operational license.
When evaluating the cost-effectiveness of an operational license, He’s conclusions make sense.
MiCA is an expensive regulation. It mandates minimum capital requirements based on the crypto services offered. These requirements range from €50,000 for advisory and order-related services to €125,000 for exchange and trading platforms and up to €150,000 for custody services. Businesses must maintain this capital as a financial safeguard.
Beyond minimum capital requirements, companies must factor in government and legal fees, local presence costs, bank setups, and ongoing operational costs. But for prominent exchanges like LBank, the benefits outweigh the costs.
Future MiCA updates could address the high compliance costs for smaller businesses. Meanwhile, other regions developing their crypto regulations should consider this aspect to avoid creating similar barriers.
