The Solana Foundation has extended its streak of victories with the announcement of a partnership with Kazakhstan to establish a special economic zone. Dubbed the Solana Economic Zone, the collaboration brings Kazakhstan one step closer to its goals of digitization as Solana continues to court institutional interest. Solana Foundation Launches Solana Economic Zone Members of
On April 11, 2025, China’s State Council Tariff Commission issued an official notice announcing an increase in additional tariffs on imported US goods—from 84% to 125%. The new rate takes effect on April 12.
This move directly responds to the United States’ decision, announced on April 10, to impose a “reciprocal” 125% tariff on Chinese exports to the US.
Crypto Market Stays Calm Amid Escalating US-China Trade War
Despite escalating tensions between the world’s two largest economies, the cryptocurrency market has shown remarkable stability. Investors appear unfazed by the intensifying trade conflict.
Crypto market capitalization remains around $2.5 trillion. Bitcoin’s price holds above $81,000 after recovering 10% since April 9, when Trump announced a 90-day tariff pause, excluding tariffs on China.
According to the Chinese statement, the tariff hike follows China’s Customs Law, Tariff Law, and Foreign Trade Law. The government reaffirmed its commitment to international rules. It accused the US of violating global trade norms and called Washington’s policy “unilateral bullying.”
Notably, China warned that it would not respond to further tariff increases from the US, arguing that American goods have already lost their competitiveness in the Chinese market at the current tariff level.
“Given that US exports to China are no longer market-viable under the current tariff rate, China will not respond further if the US continues to raise tariffs on Chinese goods,” the statement said.
The tariff dispute is not new. Since 2018, the US and China have imposed retaliatory tariffs on each other. Key sectors affected include agriculture, tech, and energy.
The latest hike pushes tariffs to a record 125%. Economists warn this could disrupt global supply chains, raise prices, and add pressure to inflation in both nations.
China’s tariff hike sends a strong message about its tough stance in trade negotiations. While the crypto market remains stable for now, analysts urge investors to monitor upcoming developments—especially any potential response from the US.
If no resolution is reached, the ongoing standoff could trigger a broader economic fallout. The world is now watching to see whether the trade war will de-escalate or further entrench the divide between the two economic superpowers.
Ethereum could face big problems if it doesn’t grow fast enough. Dankrad Feist, a researcher at the Ethereum Foundation, warns that the network might become less important in the next 5 to 10 years unless something changes. To solve this, Feist has suggested a bold plan to help Ethereum scale. Let’s see what it is?
The Proposal: A 100x Scaling Plan
Dankrad Feist recently proposed EIP-7938, an upgrade that would increase Ethereum’s gas limit, the part of the system that controls how many transactions can fit in each block.
His goal is to boost Ethereum’s capacity by 100 times over the next four years, which would allow for far more activity on the network. Though the idea is unusual, Feist believes bold steps are necessary to save Ethereum’s future.
Why Scaling Is Urgent?
Feist explains that Ethereum should be the heart of crypto’s economy. But if activity spreads too much across various Layer-2 solutions, blockchains built on top of Ethereum, it could weaken Ethereum’s position and cause it to lose value to other ecosystems.
He warns that without major changes, Ethereum could end up like a background player while other blockchains take the lead.
Others Are Worried Too
Feist isn’t the only one raising concerns. Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson recently said Ethereum could face the same fate as Myspace, a social networking website & Blackberry, the phone company that lost out to Apple and faded away. He blames “parasitic” Layer-2s for weakening Ethereum’s base.
On a more hopeful note, Matt Hougan from Bitwise says Ethereum has at least “stopped digging” itself deeper into trouble. But whether it can climb out of the hole remains a big question.
Can Ethereum Grow Without Losing Its Core Values?
Feist is confident that Ethereum can scale up without compromising important features like security, censorship resistance, and verifiability. In other words, he believes Ethereum can grow without giving up what makes it special.
Ethereum has come a long way, but if it wants to lead the next generation of crypto, it may need to take some bold and risky steps, starting now.
The post Ethereum’s Survival at Risk? Can Ethereum Researcher Dankrad’s 100x Plan Save It? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
Ethereum could face big problems if it doesn’t grow fast enough. Dankrad Feist, a researcher at the Ethereum Foundation, warns that the network might become less important in the next 5 to 10 years unless something changes. To solve this, Feist has suggested a bold plan to help Ethereum scale. Let’s see what it is? …
The price of SUI has seen a significant uptick recently, outshining XRP in terms of growth and demand. However, it’s not just the price action that’s noteworthy. In May, SUI has drawn the attention of institutional investors, marking a shift in demand that could have long-term implications for the crypto market.
As institutional inflows flow more freely into SUI, the focus shifts from its price performance to its potential as a Web3-focused ecosystem.
SUI Sees A Surge In Demand
Institutions are increasingly flocking to SUI, as evidenced by $21 million in inflows month-to-date, making it one of the top-performing altcoins, second only to Ethereum. In comparison, XRP, historically an institutional favorite, has seen inflows of just $8.6 million in the same period.
This shift is concerning for XRP as institutions begin to focus more on SUI’s potential rather than its established presence in the market. SUI’s appeal to institutional investors is based on its scalability and focus on the Web3 space, which aligns well with current trends in decentralized finance (DeFi) and blockchain-based applications.
SUI vs XRP Institutional Flows. Source; CoinShares
SUI’s increasing institutional inflows highlight a growing preference for projects that offer more than just financial transactions. XRP, while still maintaining institutional backing with $263 million in 2025, has not been able to capture as much attention in recent weeks. SUI’s ability to scale decentralized applications (dApps) more effectively than XRP positions it as a better choice for institutions looking to align with long-term trends in blockchain technology.
XRP Makes It To CME
One key factor driving institutions to SUI is its lack of listing on major platforms like CME, unlike XRP Futures, which further solidifies its untapped potential. XRP Futures recently launched on CME, making the token more accessible to a wider range of investors.
However, this development also diminishes XRP’s image as an overlooked asset, giving SUI a unique advantage by remaining relatively underexposed. As more investors seek high-growth opportunities, SUI offers them the chance to get in early before the token is fully accessible on major platforms.
SUI’s decentralized, Web3-focused design also plays a large role in its growing appeal. Unlike XRP, which is predominantly centered around payment and remittance solutions, SUI focuses on scaling dApp ecosystems, a feature highly sought after by institutions entering the Web3 space. This increased focus on scalability and decentralized applications positions SUI as an ideal choice for institutions looking to diversify their blockchain investments.
SUI vs XRP – Which Has A Better ETF Prospect?
XRP has its own advantages, especially regarding the potential for exchange-traded funds (ETFs). XRP’s status as an established digital asset gives it an edge when it comes to ETF approvals. The ongoing Ripple lawsuit also seems close to a resolution, pending court proceedings, likely boosting XRP’s clean image.
The SEC’s settlement with Ripple would increase investor confidence in XRP, giving it a stable footing in the long term. However, for the time being, SUI’s scalability and Web3 ambitions have won the attention of institutional investors, pushing it ahead of XRP in terms of demand. Nevertheless, XRP ETF will likely see the light of day first.
Furthermore, Juan Pellicer, Head of Research at Sentora, discussed with BeInCrypto the major factors that could push XRP for an early ETF.
“XRP’s decade-long trading record and early ETF filings put it first in the regulatory queue, while Sui still needs deeper liquidity and a longer track-record before the SEC is likely comfortable green-lighting a SUI ETF.”
XRP Price Needs A Boost
XRP has risen by 14% over the last 30 days, but it is still fighting against a macro downtrend. The broader market conditions make a breakout rally unlikely, with XRP struggling under resistance levels.
The current price range for XRP is facing challenges, as a lack of bullish momentum continues to hold it back. However, if XRP follows Bitcoin’s rise and leverages its CME debut hype, it could see an increase in price, potentially reaching $2.56 and beyond. A breakout above this level would end the downtrend and allow XRP to surge higher.
But if XRP fails to breach this resistance level, it risks further consolidation. This would likely send it toward a drop to $2.12, falling through $2.27, invalidating any bullish predictions for the short term.
SUI Price Wins This Round
SUI has shown an impressive 82% rise over the past month, trading at $3.85 at the time of writing. Despite encountering resistance at $4.05, SUI has yet to see a significant correction, suggesting continued bullish momentum.
Given the ongoing demand for SUI, its price is expected to stay above $3.59, allowing it to break through the $4.05 resistance. A breach of this level could propel SUI towards $4.35 or higher.
On the other hand, a drop below the support level of $3.59 would suggest that investors are beginning to book profits. In that case, the price could fall to $3.18, invalidating the current bullish outlook for SUI. However, based on institutional demand and SUI’s infrastructure, it appears likely that its price will continue to rise in the short to medium term.