Many people in the Pi Network community are waiting for the big moment—when Pi finally gets listed on a major exchange like Binance. But for some, it’s not just about any exchange. It’s about Coinbase, the most trusted crypto platform in the U.S.
According to crypto analyst Mr. Spock 𝛑, a listing on Coinbase could unlock Pi’s true value and bring it closer to real-world use.
Coinbase Isn’t Just an Exchange—It’s a Gateway to Utility
Coinbase isn’t just another platform, it’s a fully regulated U.S.-based exchange, trusted by millions and deeply rooted in the American financial system. And when a coin gets listed on Coinbase, it doesn’t just become tradable, it becomes usable.
Coinbase offers real-world tools, like the Coinbase Visa card, which lets users spend their crypto like cash.
Mr. Spock explains his personal experience of how he uses this card to pay for food, shop at stores like Walmart, and even withdraw cash from ATMs, all while earning Bitcoin rewards on every purchase.
He imagines a world where Pi Coin pays for meals, gas, and groceries, and rewards users with crypto benefits, not in theory, but in practice.
Why Coinbase Is Better Than Binance for Pi
Further, Mr. Spock also makes a strong case for why Coinbase matters more than Binance, especially in the U.S. He notes that Binance.com and Binance.US are completely separate, with the U.S. version offering fewer coins and features.
Binance.com is unavailable to American users due to regulatory restrictions, while Binance.US operates under a different company with limited reach.
On the other hand, Coinbase has regulatory clarity and deeper market integration, something Pi would benefit from if it wants to grow in the U.S.
Pi’s Real Goal
To Mr. Spock and many Pi supporters, this isn’t just about price—it’s about purpose. If Pi becomes spendable through Coinbase tools like the Visa card, it could finally blend crypto with daily life. That’s when the real impact begins, not just building wealth, but changing how we use money altogether.
So while many are waiting for any exchange, some believe that waiting for Coinbase is worth it.
Bitcoin (BTC) is up nearly 12% over the past seven days, gaining momentum as it reclaims key technical levels and approaches major resistance zones. The recent price surge has been supported by a slight recovery in the number of Bitcoin whale addresses, hinting at renewed accumulation from large holders.
Technical indicators like the Ichimoku Cloud and EMA lines point to a strong uptrend, with bullish formations suggesting continued buyer control. As BTC flirts with the $100,000 mark again, whale activity and chart signals will determine whether this rally has more room to run.
Subtle Accumulation: What the Rise in BTC Whales Could Mean
The number of Bitcoin whales—wallets holding between 1,000 and 10,000 BTC—has been trying to recover over the past few days, showing subtle but notable movement.
There are 2,006 BTC whale addresses, slightly higher than the 2,000 recorded on April 21. The count briefly rose to 2,005 on April 22 before dipping to 2,002 the next day, and now it’s back above that level.
While these daily fluctuations may seem minor, they often reflect deeper shifts in sentiment and positioning among some of the largest players in the crypto market. The recent stabilization suggests that accumulation might be picking up again after a period of distribution or hesitation.
Tracking whale activity is important because these entities tend to have an outsized influence on market trends. Whether institutional investors, long-term holders, or high-net-worth individuals, whales often act with a level of strategic insight and patience that retail investors can’t always match.
Their behavior can signal confidence or caution in the broader market. The number of whale addresses showing a slight upward trend could indicate renewed interest in accumulating Bitcoin at current levels.
This might not immediately translate to a sharp price move. Still, it does add a layer of underlying support to the market, potentially reducing downside risk and paving the way for more sustained bullish momentum if broader conditions align.
The price trades above the blue conversion line (Tenkan-sen) and the red baseline (Kijun-sen), indicating short-term strength and trend alignment.
These lines have acted as dynamic support levels throughout the recent move, with price bouncing off them multiple times in recent candles. This suggests that buyers remain in control, and any dips have been met with demand.
The green cloud (Kumo) ahead is thick and rising, signaling a strong support zone and a positive trend outlook.
The distance between the red and green boundaries of the cloud also suggests expanding volatility, which tends to support stronger directional moves.
Because the price is well above the cloud and all key Ichimoku components are aligned in bullish formation, the current setup supports the idea of an ongoing uptrend—at least in the short to mid-term—unless price sharply reverses and closes below the blue and red lines.
Will Bitcoin Break Above $100,000 Before May?
Bitcoin recently broke above the $90,000 mark for the first time since early March.
Its EMA lines support the bullish narrative, with all short-term moving averages positioned above the long-term ones and spaced widely apart—often a hallmark of a strong uptrend.
Bitcoin price could challenge key resistance levels at $96,484 and $99,472 if this momentum continues. A break above those could open the door for a push past the psychological $100,000 mark, with the next major target near $102,694—the highest level since early February.
However, there’s still room for caution. It may lose its short-term footing if Bitcoin retests and fails to hold the support level at $92,920.
In that case, price could slide toward $88,839, and if a downtrend takes shape, further losses down to $86,533 become more likely.
Despite political controversies surrounding the Trump Gala Dinner event, the crypto market has recently witnessed a significant accumulation wave of the TRUMP token, a meme coin associated with the Trump family.
These activities reflect strong interest from major investors, often called “whales,” and highlight the TRUMP token’s growth potential amidst a volatile market.
Whales’ accumulation to secure VIP tickets
The accumulation trend for the TRUMP token gained momentum as large investors consistently executed noteworthy transactions.
On April 28, 2025, a whale withdrew 190,987 TRUMP tokens from Binance, increasing its total holdings to 1.389 million tokens, equivalent to $20.59 million. This investor, known by the alias “MeCo,” currently holds the second position among the top holders vying for a spot at the Trump Gala Dinner, trailing only Justin Sun.
On the same day, another whale bolstered its holdings by adding 92,460 TRUMP tokens, belonging to the top 125 holders.
Before that, on April 27, a savvy trader swapped 1.18 million Fartcoins for 78,671 TRUMP tokens. Moving to April 26, a prominent whale reinvested early profits and additional funds, purchasing $5.73 million worth of TRUMP tokens.
These transactions reveal a clear trend: major investors are accumulating TRUMP tokens to secure their spots at the Trump Gala Dinner, an exclusive event reserved for top token holders.
Challenges starting
Despite these activities, TRUMP has shown positive performance signals in the market. According to data from BeInCrypto, the price of TRUMP surged by 84% over the past seven days, outpacing many other cryptocurrencies.
The spot trading volume of TRUMP on Binance also skyrocketed by 202% within nine days. However, despite these positive indicators, the Trump Gala Dinner has sparked intense political controversy.
On April 25, 2025, two US Senators, Adam Schiff and Elizabeth Warren, sent a letter to the U.S. Office of Government Ethics. They called for an investigation into the event because they believed it violated federal ethics regulations.
The Senators expressed concerns that the event could constitute a “pay-to-play” scheme. Investors pay for political access, as Trump promised a private dinner on May 22, 2025, for the top.
Following this announcement, the TRUMP token’s value surged over $100 million. This raised suspicions that the Trump family might leverage their political influence for profit.
Schiff and Warren also questioned whether Trump or his family had received guidance on profiting from digital assets during his tenure. And what safeguards exist to prevent the purchase of political access through TRUMP token investments?
First, Donald Trump launches a memecoin, netting himself billions.
Next, his family gets in on the scheme.
Now his billionaire buddies are getting even richer too.
This controversy has sparked broader questions about the intersection of cryptocurrency and politics, particularly as more public figures engage with the crypto market.
Furthermore, as previously reported by BeInCrypto, there is speculation that Trump might use the Trump Gala Dinner to promote a new NFT project.
In summary, the accumulation wave of TRUMP tokens to attend the Trump Gala Dinner shows this meme coin’s strong financial appeal due to its social and political significance. Positive price and trading volume data reinforce investor confidence in TRUMP’s growth potential.
However, the political controversies surrounding the event also introduce significant risks. Investors should remain vigilant, closely monitoring market developments and related legal factors.
BeInCrypto had the opportunity to sit down with Laura K. Inamedinova, Chief Ecosystem Officer at Gate.io, during the Next Block Expo, The Blockchain Festival of Europe 2025. As one of the leading figures in the Web3 and crypto space, Laura shared her insights on the current state of the venture capital industry, its challenges, and the exciting opportunities emerging in 2025.
In this interview, Laura discusses the factors that are shaping the future of Web3 venture capital, the potential for stablecoins and real-world asset tokenization, and how global regulatory advancements are paving the way for more institutional involvement in the sector. Her expertise offers valuable guidance for anyone looking to understand the next phase of crypto and blockchain development.
The Resurgence of Web3 Venture Capital: Key Drivers for 2025
BeInCrypto (BIC): Given the challenging VC landscape in 2024, what factors do you believe will drive a potential resurgence in Web3 venture capital activity in 2025?
Laura K. Inamedinova (LKI): After a tough 2024, I think we’re finally seeing the pieces fall into place for a strong Web3 VC comeback in 2025. Regulations are becoming clearer; the US is dropping major lawsuits like Ripple, and Trump announced a $17 billion crypto reserve.
That shift alone has already brought results: we saw $861 million in crypto VC deals just in Q1, which is a clear sign of renewed confidence. What’s also fueling the comeback is global capital.
For example, Gate Ventures launched a $100 million fund with UAE last year, and Abu Dhabi invested $2 billion into Binance, positioning the region as a new hotspot for Web3 investment. Overall, Web3 venture capital activity is shifting back to the early stage. In 2024, 85% of VC deals were seed or Series A, backing infrastructure-first projects like modular chains like Celestia and Move-based networks like Movement Labs.
Institutional Involvement and Regulatory Advancements Shaping Investment Strategies
BIC: Last year marked the rise of institutional involvement in Web3 and regulatory advancements for the industry. How do you see these factors influencing your investment strategy in the coming year?
LKI: This has been a cycle of contrasts. Retail chased hype-driven meme coins, while institutions played it safe, focusing on stablecoins and tokenized assets.
Regulatory clarity is now reinforcing that shift: MiCA in Europe and new US frameworks under the Trump administration are making yield-bearing stablecoins and risk-adjusted RWAs like tokenized treasuries more attractive. In a high-interest-rate environment, these assets offer stable returns – a much safer bet for serious investors.
Our investment thesis aligns with this institutional trend, focusing on RWA tokenization platforms and stablecoin ecosystems. By backing the infrastructure that enables compliant, scalable adoption, we position ourselves at the core of crypto’s institutional evolution.
Consumer-Oriented Solutions in Web3
BIC: Which areas of Web3 (e.g., NFTs, DeFi, DAOs, etc.) do you believe will maintain its momentum into 2025, and why?
LKI: To predict the next big narratives, we need to understand what’s holding the market back today. Most projects have been heavily B2B-focused, catering to existing industry players rather than expanding the ecosystem by attracting a fresh audience from Web2. This inward-facing approach has limited mainstream adoption. It created an echo chamber where innovation circulates among the same user base without reaching new consumers.
Put simply, for one project to win, three others need to die. The true winners of this cycle will be those who shift their focus to consumer-oriented solutions, designing products and experiences that resonate with everyday users. By prioritizing accessibility, usability, and real-world value, these projects will finally break the cycle and catalyze the beginning of the bull market.
Apart from the B2C focused apps, I see strong potential in AI, RWA, and payment solutions. It goes without saying, AI is here to stay. But instead of simple ChatGPT-wrapped AI agents, we’ll see more advanced, integrated solutions with real-world applications, including robotics.
This will unlock a ton of new use cases in automated security, AI-driven trading, and on-chain decision-making, to name just a few. I see AI transforming from an external tool into a fundamental layer of Web3. RWA tokenization will continue to gain momentum, especially with the integration of AI-powered RWAs.
Major institutions like State Street are already exploring AI-driven tokenized bonds and money market funds. There’s a growing alignment between traditional finance and blockchain. This isn’t a niche development – it’s an opportunity to unlock liquidity in a $70 trillion+ asset class. With RWA tokenization projected to surpass $50 billion by the end of 2025, the addition of AI will introduce automation, scalability, and transparency – critical elements for mass adoption.
Payments will also be a key driver. Stablecoins are seeing increased adoption for cross-border transactions, remittances, and on-chain settlements. Regulatory clarity and improved UX will accelerate this trend, making stablecoins a core component for the future of global finance.
Bartek Juraszek of BeInCrypto speaks with Laura K. Inamedinova at Next Block Expo
Stablecoins as Core Infrastructure for Venture Capital
BIC: Stablecoin development attracted significant venture capital in the last quarter of 2024. Do you see this trend continuing, and what specific aspects of stablecoin projects are you prioritizing?
LKI: Stablecoins were a major VC focus in late 2024, and I see that trend continuing in 2025. Just in Q4, stablecoin projects pulled in $649 million across nine deals; that’s nearly 18% of all crypto VC funding. We’re also seeing strong signals from traditional finance: Fidelity is testing its own stablecoin, and Trump-linked World Liberty Financial launched USD1.
With over $239 billion in stablecoins already in circulation, this space isn’t just growing, it’s becoming core infrastructure for payments, trading, and settlements across both DeFi and TradFi.
What’s getting the most attention now is the rise of gold-backed stablecoins. Tokens like Tether’s XAUT and Paxos’ PAXG now hold a combined market cap of over $1.4 billion, a massive jump from just $12 million in 2020. These asset-backed models bring real-world value on-chain and offer protection against inflation, which is super attractive in today’s macro environment.
Based on this, we’re prioritizing stablecoin projects that have strong collateral models, clear regulatory paths, and real use cases beyond speculation, especially those bridging into RWAs or global payments.
Innovations in DeFi and Infrastructure
BIC: DeFi and Infrastructure followed closely behind the top categories. What specific innovations within these sectors are you most excited about for potential funding in 2025?
LKI: I think in DeFi, the real momentum is getting toward projects that merge automation with usability and compliance. One standout is DeFi Agents AI ($DEFAI), which raised $1.2 million in January 2025, backed by GameFi.org and eesee.io. It is building an AI trading assistant layered with restaking mechanics. So, you’re not just trading; you’re staking for revenue share and training custom models.
Add to that tools like Griffain, which reduces impermanent loss by 22%, and VaderAI, running 10,000+ on-chain transactions daily, and you start to see a new class of DeFi products built for scale, efficiency, and real usage. As MiCA 2.0 rolls out in Europe, platforms that offer AI-powered compliance and risk tools will stand out in both funding rounds and user adoption.
From an infrastructure perspective, we’re seeing strong capital flow into AI-ready backend systems that support these DeFi layers. CoreWeave, backed by over $1.1 billion from Nvidia and Microsoft, is scaling AI-optimized data centers that can support up to 5 million DeFi agents per site.
On the enterprise side, Cisco’s acquisition of strong intelligence and deeper insights AI shows how serious legacy tech firms are about owning the infrastructure layer. For investors, this is where the edge is. Make sure to check out projects that are building the high-speed, compliant infrastructure that will quietly power the next wave of DeFi and on-chain automation.
Not Just Meme Coins and AI Agents: Is Web3 Maturing?
BIC: The last couple of months suggested a shift away from meme coins and AI agents. What do you attribute this change in investor sentiment to, and what does it suggest about the maturity of the Web3 market?
LKI: The recent shift away from memes and AI agents reflects a growing maturity in the Web3 market. Meme coins, while often popular in speculative cycles, generally lack real utility, making them unsustainable in the long run.
AI agents are still in their infancy – most projects offer similar functionalities, suffer from technical limitations, and remain too buggy for practical use. As the market matures, investors are becoming more discerning, prioritizing projects with tangible value, strong fundamentals, and real-world applications.
This shift suggests a move toward more sustainable narratives, such as payments, RWA tokenization, and infrastructure, signaling that Web3 is evolving beyond hype-driven trends into a phase of real adoption and long-term growth.
BIC: What types of projects and what qualities of projects are you most looking for in 2025?
LKI: We have multiple criteria when evaluating projects with the best fit for our venture arm. First, we’re looking for projects that are led by experienced founders with a proven track record in Web3, ideally with a successful exit in the past.
Second, we prioritize businesses with existing investor backing, whether in the current or previous rounds. We evaluate each project on a case-by-case basis, but our investment thesis generally revolves around stablecoins, payments, new technology, infrastructure, and US-based projects.
Third, we take into consideration the project’s valuation, tokenomics, and burn rate.
Last but not least, we assess the company’s ability to drive real-world adoption, offering solutions with a clear path to mainstream success.
Conclusion: Venture Capital in Web3
BIC: How do you balance the pursuit of emerging trends with the need for sustainable, long-term value creation in your Web3 investments?
LKI: One of the clearest signals this cycle has been the rise of AI agent coins – they hit a $16.6 billion market cap early in 2025. It shows that when you combine a viral narrative with actual user engagement, there’s staying power.
From there, we saw that the bigger trend wasn’t just AI; it was AI fused with tokenization. Projects like Centrifuge, which tokenizes real-world assets like invoices and real estate to unlock liquidity for businesses, are doing exactly that. They’re not hype plays; they’re solving real inefficiencies in traditional finance using on-chain rails.
We’re also seeing strong signals from early-stage modular blockchain ecosystems that are building quietly but with clear scalability goals. We lean into trends but only when the tech underneath has the foundation to last.
Laura K. Inamedinova speaks at NBX
About Laura K. Inamedinova
An award-winning serial entrepreneur, investor, and keynote speaker sharing her insights on Web3 space since 2016. She currently holds a dual role within the Gate ecosystem, managing the global growth of the exchange and attracting new investments to its venture arm – GVC.
In her position as a CGEO at Gate.io, she builds cross-border partnerships and as a Principal at Gate Ventures, Laura oversees investments, partnerships, and development of the fund.
Before joining Gate.io, she founded a Web3 marketing agency, LKI Consulting, which she grew to 8-figures. This led her to be globally acclaimed as one of the “10 Women Entrepreneurs” by Entrepreneur Magazine and among the “Top 10 Women in International Business” by Silicon Valley Times. She was named one of Forbes’ 30 Under 30 Blockchain Visionaries, recognizing her impact on the global crypto ecosystem.
On a personal level, Laura is a successful angel investor with 40+ projects in her portfolio, an ex-Forbes and Huffington Post columnist, and an internationally renowned speaker with a track record of 156+ conferences in 25+ countries.
About Gate.io
Gate.io is a global cryptocurrency exchange platform that facilitates the buying, selling, and trading of over 3,800 digital assets. It offers a variety of products and services, including spot and futures trading, staking, decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions, Web3 wallets, and educational resources.
Additionally, Gate.io provides a range of tools for managing crypto investments, such as exchange wallets, live market data, and token airdrops. The platform also emphasizes security with robust measures like proof of reserves and offers services like Gate Pay for sending and receiving cryptocurrencies.
