The recent Bitcoin (BTC) rally has pushed it from $80k to $90k in a few days, flipping crypto market sentiment bullish. However, a closer look at BTC’s energy value suggests a fair Bitcoin price is $130k instead of where it currently trades – $90k, a whopping 40% discount.
Fair Bitcoin Price is $130k, Says Crypto Pundit
According to Charles Edwards, founder of Capriole Investments, Bitcoin’s Energy Value is the “intrinsic value of Bitcoin as calculated by Joules of energy input only.” Based on this indicator, the fair value of Bitcoin price should be around $130k, but BTC’s price today trades at roughly $93k, which is a 40% discount.
“We are one year post Halving and Bitcoin is trading at a whopping 40% discount to its intrinsic value.”
Bitcoin Energy Value is at $130K. We are one year post Halving and Bitcoin is trading at a whopping 40% discount to its intrinsic value. pic.twitter.com/kbqTgTPp5d
While this is an interesting proposition, a better look at fair value is the average cost required to mine a BTC. Based on MicroMacro data, this value stands at $96k, just $3,000 higher the current price of $93k
Bitcoin Price vs. Average Mining Cost per BTC
Regardless of what is fair value, let’s explore Bitcoin technical analysis and what to expect next in the short and mid-term timeframes.
Bitcoin Technical Analysis: What’s next for BTC?
On a daily timeframe, there are three key value areas to note. These zones are where 68% of the volume was traded when Bitcoin price consolidated for long durations.
BTC consolidated for three months in late 2024, creating a value area between $93k to $103k. A breakdown of this balanced area led to an 18% correction.
The 18% correction was followed by another rangebound movement that created the 2nd value area, extending from $81k to $88k.
After the recent 20% rally in Bitcoin price in April, BTC is knocking on the lower limit of the $93k to $103k value area. If bulls manage to flip and hold above $93k, there is a good chance of price rotating back to value area high of $103k.
BTC/USDT 1-day chart
On the other hand a rejection at 93k and reentry into the $81k to $88k zone will likely invalidated of recent created higher lows at $83k and revisit $81k. In a dire case, Bitcoin might look at revisit the eight month consolidation area where value extends from $70k to $60k. This is the third key value area.
The highest traded volume inside this range is around $65k, which many crypto analysts and traders expect to be the bottom should the uptrend fail to manifest.
To conclude, there are two key levels that Bitcoin price prediction notes regardless of where the fair value is – $93k and $88k. Strong buying activity will lead to a push toward $100k and higher. Rejection, on the other hand, could lead to a revisit of $70k or lower.
Tron Founder Justin Sun, who holds a staggering 1,176,803 TRUMP tokens, is rumored to be attending a high-profile dinner with Donald Trump. Trump’s invitation to top TRUMP token holders has sparked speculation, especially after Sun shared a cryptic message on his X account.
This article delves into the details of the exclusive event and the likelihood of Justin Sun making an appearance.
Will Justin Sun Attend Donald Trump’s Dinner?
The US President Donald Trump announced the “most exclusive invitation in the world,” sparking widespread enthusiasm. Last day, Trump announced his plans to launch a private gala dinner with the top 220 TRUMP token holders on May 22.
In addition to the dinner party, the invite promises the top 25 holders an exclusive experience, with a private VIP reception with President Trump, and a special tour.
As the leading holder of TRUMP tokens, Tron Founder Justin Sun is set to receive special attention at the gathering. According to data revealed by Lookonchain, Sun holds a total of 1,176,803 TRUMP tokens, worth $14.32M, “ranking #1 on the leaderboard.”
Justin Sun’s Cryptic Message
Adding fuel to the rumors of the Tron founder attending Trump’s dinner, Sun shared a mysterious post on his official X account. The post read, “All in USA.” This has further strengthened the speculations of his possible presence at the party.
TRUMP Token Faces Potential Risks
Following the President’s critical announcement, investors started accumulating the TRUMP coin, triggering a significant price surge. As of press time, TRUMP is valued at $12,75, marking a marginal surge of 2.9%. However, over the past seven days, the token has seen a staggering increase of 70%.
Despite this positive sentiment, analysts fear a potential downfall, as traders may sell their tokens following the dinner. Besides Justin Sun, Donald Trump is also a top holder of the TRUMP token. If Donald Trump sells his holdings, it could significantly impact the token’s price.
As per CoinGape’s TRUMP Price Prediction, the coin is expected to hit a maximum of $18.05 and a minimum of $11.92 in 2025.
Ripple President Monica Long once again caught the XRP community’s attention with her comments about the latest developments. In a recent interview, Long highlighted the recent acquisition and other key insights about the blockchain firm and its products. Besides, she also predicted 2025 to be the best year for Ripple so far, which has further boosted market sentiment.
Notably, her comments come as CEO Brad Garlinhouse also lauded a recent update, signaling a stronger global push for the firm’s financial infrastructure.
Ripple President Monica Long On Hidden Road Deal
Ripple President Monica Long, in an interview with CNBC’s Arjun Kharpal, discussed the firm’s recent acquisition of Hidden Road. The blockchain firm, known for its prime brokerage services, will now play a vital role in enhancing Ripple’s core offerings—payments, custody, and asset tokenization.
Long emphasized that this move directly supports the blockchain firm’s long-standing goal of building robust financial infrastructure for enterprises. Besides, she noted Ripple’s global presence, saying they’ve built their network “brick by brick” with powerful liquidity tools and real-time settlement capabilities.
Meanwhile, she noted that the company now holds more than 60 regulatory licenses worldwide, giving it a solid advantage in delivering end-to-end financial services. Monica Long expressed particular excitement about integrating Hidden Road’s services with Ripple’s ecosystem.
She highlighted that combining prime brokerage, post-trade settlement via the XRP Ledger (XRPL), and Ripple’s institutional-grade custody can unlock major efficiencies. According to the Ripple President, these developments lay the groundwork for Ripple’s most successful year yet.
Besides, recent Ripple Director Craddock has highlighted the potential of the Hidden Road deal and explained the role of XRP Ledger (XRPL) in it.
Ripple CEO Sparks Optimism With Recent XRP Update
Monica Long underlined that Ripple’s strength lies in handling the full financial flow, from liquidity sourcing to last-mile payouts. XRP and the upcoming RLUSD stablecoin will remain central to this infrastructure. With Ripple’s growing stack of services, digital asset utility is expected to skyrocket. She also stated:
“2025 is shaping up to be the best year yet for Ripple.”
Amid the positive updates from Monica Long, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse welcomed the CME Group’s move to introduce XRP Futures on May 19. He said the launch may be “overdue,” but stressed that it marks a major milestone for XRP’s market maturity. Lauding the update, Ripple CEO Garlinghouse said:
“This is an incredibly important and exciting step in the continued growth of the XRP market!”
A Bitcoin whale just woke up, moving 50 BTC mined over 15 years ago, now worth nearly $4.7 million, showcasing the incredible 93 million percent profit. Meanwhile, whales are piling into Bitcoin again, signaling strong market confidence and pushing prices to new highs.
Bitcoin Whales Break 15-Year Silence with $5M Transaction
A long-dormant Bitcoin whale woke up, drawing attention from across the crypto space. According to The Bitcoin Historian, a wallet holding 50 BTC mined 15 years ago has moved its funds.
These coins, originally mined in 2010 when the price of 1 BTC was below $0.10, have now profited by an astonishing 93,460,500%.
Overall, the value of 50 BTC was less than $5. Today, with Bitcoin trading above $94,000, the same holdings are now worth nearly $4.7 million.
A similar case unfolded in November 2024, a BTC holder earned a massive profit of 150 million percent, when he sold his 2,000 BTC holdings, originally worth just $120, for approximately $179 million.
Are Whales buying Bitcoin Right Now?
Bitcoin’s value has jumped +11.2%, and this has once again coincided with key whales & sharks adding on to their already enormous bags. Wallets holding 10-10K $BTC have added 19,255 more coins in this short stretch, and continue to be one of crypto’s most powerful indicators. pic.twitter.com/b3TiVd71iD
According to Santiment data, Bitcoin whales (wallets holding between 10 to 10,000 BTC) have added 19,255 BTC in just one week. This brings their total holdings to an all-time high of 13.47 million BTC. At the same time, Bitcoin’s price jumped by 11.2%, reaching $94,430.89.
This pattern shows that when these large investors buy more BTC, it often leads to a rise in price. Their buying reduces the supply available in the market, which can push prices higher.
Glassnode’s latest data shows that large Bitcoin holders are buying more during the recent price rise. Wallets with over 10,000 BTC are in heavy buying mode, while those holding 1,000 to 10,000 BTC are not far behind. Even mid-sized wallets with 100 to 1,000 BTC are starting to increase their holdings. This overall buying trend suggests strong confidence in the market and expectations of further growth.
The post Bitcoin Whale Profits $4.7M from 50 BTC Mined 15 Years Ago appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
A Bitcoin whale just woke up, moving 50 BTC mined over 15 years ago, now worth nearly $4.7 million, showcasing the incredible 93 million percent profit. Meanwhile, whales are piling into Bitcoin again, signaling strong market confidence and pushing prices to new highs. Bitcoin Whales Break 15-Year Silence with $5M Transaction A long-dormant Bitcoin whale …
Pi Coin (PI) is currently trading at $0.65, up slightly by more than 1% at the time of writing. While the broader crypto market is showing signs of strength, Pi Coin has remained relatively flat, trading within a narrow range of $0.60 to $0.68 in recent weeks.
Despite the limited price movement, there’s excitement in the Pi Network community with the launch of a new game app, Fruity $PI, now live on the Pi Network Mainnet Ecosystem. The app adds to the growing number of decentralized applications being built on the Pi platform, aimed at improving user engagement and ecosystem activity.
However, some investor frustration is mounting over the coin’s stagnant performance. This sentiment took a humorous turn when a user on social media claimed to have listed 3 PI coins on the OKX exchange for a total of $314,159, stating they were new to using exchanges.
The post quickly went viral, with crypto analyst Dr. Altcoin commenting, “This guy is selling 3 Pi on OKX each for a GCV value of $314,159! Some people have no clue how crypto works.”
This guy is selling 3 Pi on OKX each for a GCV value of $314159! Some people have no clue how crypto works. Dimas @2000Rocker do you care to clarify? https://t.co/uwE9SlhRHB
Another user, @2000Rocker, was tagged in the conversation for clarification, while others chimed in, with one commenter joking, “He’ll have to wait 40 to 50 years to take profit.”
While the post stirred laughs across the community, it also highlighted confusion among some newer users about the coin’s real value versus speculative pricing.
For now, Pi Coin continues to hold steady, with the ecosystem gradually expanding. Whether new apps like Fruity PI$PI can drive more meaningful price action remains to be seen.
The post Pi Network News: Here’s How a New User on OKX is Selling 3 Pi Coins for $314,159 Each appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
Pi Coin (PI) is currently trading at $0.65, up slightly by more than 1% at the time of writing. While the broader crypto market is showing signs of strength, Pi Coin has remained relatively flat, trading within a narrow range of $0.60 to $0.68 in recent weeks. Despite the limited price movement, there’s excitement in …
Bitcoin price is closely correlated with many altcoins that closely follow the trend. These altcoins have been following the BTC price rally and experiencing a similar price action to the star token. Therefore, now that Bitcoin is believed to revive a strong ascending trend soon, these cryptos are expected to follow and probably rise and reach new highs.
The entire market triggered a massive breakout in Q4 2024, which pushed the BTC price to a new ATH close to $109K. This has also elevated the prices of the altcoins like Ethereum, XRP, Litecoin, Solana & Dogecoin. While Ethereum peaked above $4000, XRP above $3.3, Bitcoin almost reached $150, and Dogecoin $0.5. Meanwhile, the winner of the race was Solana, which managed to peak and form a new ATH above $295.
While almost the whole market faced a major rejection, followed by a pullback, these altcoins maintained the same ascending consolidation as Bitcoin. The prices of ETH, XRP, LTC, DOGE & SOL have been consolidating since the start of the month but under bullish influence. All of them are testing the resistance strongly and preparing for the next bullish move by the BTC. Once done, these altcoins are believed to trigger a 30% upswing.
While Bitcoin price is primed to rise back to $100K after securing the resistance at $95,000, Ethereum price is expected to surge above $2000. Besides, the XRP price is expected to surpass the crucial resistance at $2.6. Meanwhile, Solana’s price is expected to make it to $180, and Dogecoin’s price could surge above $0.2 and eventually reach $0.25. However, to do so, the Bitcoin price is required to close the weekly trade above $95,000 and secure the resistance at $96,800 before the end of the month.
The post Top Altcoins to Consider Before Bitcoin Price Revives a Rise Back to $100K appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
Bitcoin price is closely correlated with many altcoins that closely follow the trend. These altcoins have been following the BTC price rally and experiencing a similar price action to the star token. Therefore, now that Bitcoin is believed to revive a strong ascending trend soon, these cryptos are expected to follow and probably rise and …
Roger Ver, once known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” is now facing serious charges, including mail fraud, tax evasion, and filing false returns. But Ver isn’t relying on the courts alone—he’s taking his fight to Capitol Hill.
$600K Lobbying Effort to Influence Congress
According to filings, Ver paid $600,000 to Trump ally Roger Stone to lobby Congress to amend the law he’s accused of breaking. The New York Times reported that Stone was hired in February. Ver denies wrongdoing but admits he struggled to manage his U.S. exit tax, citing Bitcoin market illiquidity at the time. In a January video, Ver made a public appeal to Trump, warning he faces over 100 years in prison for promoting crypto.
Support for Ver is growing. Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht, serving a life sentence, has called for Ver’s pardon, highlighting Ver’s past support. American economist Jeffrey Tucker also defended Ver, calling him a hero being punished for advocating freedom.
Ver’s push coincides with Trump’s growing support for crypto and retreat from tough SEC regulations. Whether Ver’s lobbying will pay off remains uncertain, but the message is clear: crypto’s future now runs through political corridors.
Why did Roger Ver pay $600,000 to Roger Stone?
Roger Ver paid $600,000 to Roger Stone to lobby Congress to amend the law he is accused of breaking and to influence political support for his legal battle.
Is Donald Trump’s pro-crypto stance likely to help Roger Ver’s case?
Trump’s softer stance on crypto could create a more favorable political environment, but it’s unclear if it will directly impact Ver’s legal outcome.
How did Bitcoin’s illiquidity cause Ver’s tax issues?
Ver claims Bitcoin’s market was too illiquid when he renounced his U.S. citizenship, making it difficult to sell enough coins to cover his exit tax obligations.
The post Roger Ver Paid $600K to Donald Trump Ally to Fight Crypto Charges appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
Roger Ver, once known as “Bitcoin Jesus,” is now facing serious charges, including mail fraud, tax evasion, and filing false returns. But Ver isn’t relying on the courts alone—he’s taking his fight to Capitol Hill. $600K Lobbying Effort to Influence Congress According to filings, Ver paid $600,000 to Trump ally Roger Stone to lobby Congress …
Base, a layer-two blockchain developed by Coinbase, has seen a significant surge in Total Value Locked (TVL) over the last 24 hours following a key integration.
It comes amid changing regulatory winds in the US, with President Trump’s pro-crypto stance inspiring bold moves among sector players.
Base TVL Soars 20% As Binance.US Adds Support
According to data on DefiLlama, Base TVL is up by $557 million. It moved from $2.778 billion on Thursday to $3.335 billion as of this writing, a 20% surge in the last 24 hours.
The surge in TVL suggests an increased volume of assets staked, locked, or deposited in the Base blockchain. A higher TVL indicates increased user activity, trust, and adoption, with users committing capital to the protocol.
Meanwhile, this surge follows a notable announcement from Binance.US, the American arm of Binance exchange, the world’s largest crypto trading platform by volume metrics.
According to the announcement, Binance.US now supports Base. It allows Ethereum (ETH) and Circle’s USDC (USD Coin) stablecoin transfers on the Layer-2 network.
“We’re excited to announce that Binance.US now supports Base! Starting today, you can deposit and withdraw Ethereum (ETH) and USDC via Base,” an excerpt in the announcement read.
The exchange highlighted that more assets will join Binance.US on the Base network, indicating interest in developing the integration. Meanwhile, using Base’s blockchain, users can deposit and withdraw ETH and USDC directly to and from Binance.US.
For the exchange, this integration could bolster accessibility. Specifically, Binance.US users can interact with Base’s ecosystem without bridging assets through Ethereum’s mainnet. This is amidst concerns that Ethereum’s mainnet is slow and costly.
As an L2 scaling solution, Base offers faster and lower-cost transactions compared to Ethereum’s mainnet. Data on Etherscan shows Ethereum’s transaction throughput is approximately 13.2 TPS. This could lead to network congestion and high gas fees during peak periods.
On the other hand, Base processes transactions off-chain, bundling them before submitting them to Ethereum. This Method achieves higher throughput and significantly lower fees, making it more cost-effective for users.
Therefore, the integration allows Binance.US users to move ETH and USDC to Base for DeFi activities at a fraction of the cost.
Binance.US suspended its USD deposit and withdrawal services following a high-profile SEC lawsuit and mounting regulatory pressure starting in 2023. However, amid shifted political rhetoric toward crypto, exchanges appear to be taking bold steps.
“Now that we’ve survived, our goal is to help crypto thrive and empower all Americans with freedom of choice,” Binance.US interim CEO Norman Reed said recently.
It aligns with a recent move from the Kraken exchange. As BeInCrypto reported, the US-based exchange listed BNB in a move that marked a strategic shift in US crypto exchanges, potentially signaling broader token adoption in the country.
As the city gears up to host the much-awaited Unchained Summit at the Kempinski Central Avenue on 28th and 29th April, a tide of excitement is rolling over the region’s Web 3.0, Blockchain, and Digital Assets industries.
The summit, hosted by Aeternum, promises more than an average Web 3.0 conference. It’s a high-conviction meeting of founders, investors, policy shapers, and enterprise leaders driving the frontiers of how decentralized infrastructure will transform identity, finance, and trust in the digital world.
Dubai’s Web 3.0 momentum is no longer a whisper, it’s a global signal. As the world tilts toward decentralized infrastructure, Dubai has emerged as the nexus where policy, capital, and innovation come together. With government-backed regulatory clarity, enterprise-grade adoption, and a thriving ecosystem of startups and investors, the emirate is fast becoming the capital of the decentralized ecosystem. Unchained Summit is more than a symptom of this energy; it’s the driving force. The Dubai edition brings global architects of Web 3.0 together in one place, making Dubai a living laboratory for what the internet of value, trust, and autonomy really is.
From builders to billionaires, Unchained Summit’s lineup of speakers include:
Ronghui Gu, Co-Founder, Certik
Ella Zhang, Head, YZi Labs
Kostas Chalkias, Co-Founder and Chief Cryptographer, Mysten Labs
Sreeram Kannan, Founder & CEO, EigenLayer
May Zabaneh, VP of Product – Blockchain, Crypto & Digital Currencies, PayPal
Greg Scanlon, VP Quantitative Blockchain, Franklin Templeton Digital Assets, Franklin Templeton
Keone Hon, Co-Founder, Monad Foundation
Lennix Lai, Global Chief Commercial Officer, OKX
Nils Andersen-Röed, Global Head of FIU, Binance, and more.
“Web 3.0 is a collective movement, and Unchained Summit is where the next wave of builders and thinkers come together. We’re here to drive the conversation. Web 3.0’s growth hinges on infrastructure that can scale — it’s about throughput, cost-efficiency, and long-term sustainability. We’re proud to be at Unchained Summit, pushing the notion on sustainable blockchain designs,” said Abhijit Shukla, Founder of TAN Blockchain.
Richard Ma, CEO & Founder of Quantstamp said, “I’m honored to be speaking at Unchained Summit, a premier event bringing together visionary leaders and innovators in the Web 3.0 ecosystem. At Quantstamp, we’re dedicated to securing the future of blockchain, and I look forward to sharing insights on advancing security, trust, and resilience within this rapidly evolving industry.”
“Markets are moving on-chain—not just assets, but access, distribution, and users. We’re excited to be at Unchained Summit talking about what it takes to put real-world assets in the hands of real people,” said José F. Pereira, Executive Director, Own.
“Web 3.0 moves fast—and the ones who show up shape where it goes. Unchained Summit brings together the doers, not just the talkers. At TBV, we’re here to back the founders turning big ideas into real traction,” said Tobias Bauer, General Partner, TBV.
“Dubai is no longer just participating in Web 3.0, but it’s directing traffic,” says Sharath Kumar, Founder & CEO of Aeternum and organizer of Unchained Summit. “This is the one of the first real moments where we’re seeing decentralized technologies collide with institutional capital, national policy, and entrepreneurial energy—all in one city.”
With increasing interest in industries ranging from AI-driven gaming to tokenized assets, Unchained Summit indicates a wider industry transition: Web 3.0 is increasingly finding its way into mainstream enterprise planning. And as a result of this, after its Dubai edition, Unchained Summit is set to make its India debut on 5th and 6th December 2025, reaffirming its commitment to bridge APAC, Middle Eastern, and European Web 3.0 & Crypto ecosystems.
As the Dubai chapter draws to a close, one thing is certain: the decentralized future is no longer a distant prospect; it is happening already.
Tickets for the Dubai edition are on sale on the official site: unchainedsummit.com
About Aeternum Consulting Ltd
Aeternum organizes business-to-business events in the emerging tech space, provides strategic consulting, and tailored services to a diverse range of clients, from corporations to governments and startups to individuals. Aeternum specializes in crafting impactful B2B platforms that foster meaningful connections, drive business growth, and facilitate knowledge sharing through conferences, exhibitions, and bespoke networking opportunities.For more information visit: aeternuminc.com
Since its launch in late March, World Liberty Financial’s stablecoin USD1 has achieved an impressive market capitalization, reflecting strong investor interest. If the creators want to maximize USD1’s reach by accessing markets abroad, particularly in Europe, they must confront MiCA’s extensive compliance list.
In a BeInCrypto interview, experts from Foresight Ventures, Kaiko, and Brickken stressed the importance of stablecoin issuers having substantial European bank reserves, operational volume caps protecting the euro, and transparent USD1 information to ensure transparency and avoid conflicts of interest.
USD1’s Search for Dollar Dominance
World Liberty Financial (WLF), a decentralized finance (DeFi) project heavily associated with the Trump family, officially launched USD1 a month ago. Through this stablecoin, WLF aims to promote dollar dominance worldwide.
So far, this initiative has been working well for WLF. According to CoinGecko, USD1 has now surpassed a market capitalization of $128 million and reached a 24-hour trading volume of nearly $41.6 million. The project has already released 100% of its total supply of 127,971,165 tokens.
USD1’s market capitalization over the past 24 hours. Source: CoinGecko.
For WLF to seriously establish dollar dominance across the globe, it will have to move fast and efficiently. This urgency stems from the need to surpass its main competitors, USDT and USDC. These rivals currently hold a massive market share advantage.
Additionally, there’s a need to maintain a competitive advantage against established currencies like the euro.
USD1 needs to access foreign markets and stand out from established competitors to achieve this. Should Europe become a primary target, USD1 must prepare to tackle numerous challenges head-on.
The EU’s Stringent Compliance Demands
The European Union (EU) became the first jurisdiction in the world to establish a comprehensive regulatory framework for digital assets across its 27 member states. This regulation, known as Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA), has been in effect for nearly four months. Through this legislation, the EU has confirmed how seriously it takes compliance with a defined regulatory regime.
The regulation is detailed and clear, leaving no room for interpretation. If USD1 wants to operate in this crypto market of 31 million users, it must ensure it meets every demand.
US Senators Flag Risks of Presidential Involvement in USD1
In the letter, the group asked both agencies to clarify how they plan to uphold regulatory integrity following the issuance of USD1.
The Senators cautioned that letting a president personally benefit from a digital currency overseen by federal agencies he has sway over is a big risk to the financial system. They argued that an unprecedented situation like this one could hurt people’s trust in how regulations are made.
“The launch of a stablecoin directly tied to a sitting President who stands to benefit financially from the stablecoin’s success presents unprecedented risks to our financial system,” they argued.
The letter further detailed situations where Trump could directly or indirectly affect decisions regarding USD1.
As things stand, USD1 isn’t well-prepared to follow MiCA’s strict reporting and transparency rules.
How Do Concerns Over USD1 Impact MiCA Acquisition?
According to Ianeva-Aubert, if USD1 doesn’t clear up doubts over potential conflicts of interest, this would affect its ability to apply for an operating license in the European Union.
“MiCA requires strong governance, including independent directors and clear separation between owners and managers. Issuers must have clear rules to handle conflicts of interest. If USD1 has any conflicts, this could make it harder to comply,” she said.
Ianeva-Aubert also highlighted that WLF still hasn’t released enough public information on USD1 to assess the degree of its compliance effectively. In particular, the stablecoin issuer has not disclosed the measures it would take to safeguard against market manipulation.
As of now, USD1 would likely fail MiCA’s transparency tests. However, industry experts pointed out other parts of the framework that might be even larger obstacles for USD1 to operate across the European Union.
Impact of the EU’s Reserve Mandate on USD1
When asked about the biggest regulatory hurdles USD1 would face in securing a MiCA license, experts’ responses were unanimous. The stablecoin would need to store a large portion of its reserves in a European bank.
This mandate has proven difficult for established stablecoin issuers seeking operations across the region.
This regulation aims to ensure seamless accessibility for European crypto users and traders. For Forest Bai, Co-founder of Foresight Ventures, USD1 could capitalize on this opportunity during the early stages of its development. By doing so, it could avoid some of the obstacles its competitors had to endure.
Yet, even as USD1 scales and its demand grows, other mandatory requirements could restrict its scope of success.
MiCA’s Transaction Volume Caps to Preserve Euro Dominance
As part of the MiCA regulation, the European Union has taken specific measures to safeguard the euro’s dominance. If a digital currency not denominated in euros were to become extensively adopted for daily payments within Europe, it could present a potential risk to the European Union’s financial sovereignty and the stability of the euro.
To contain this possibility, MiCA places volume caps on transactions used as a means of exchange within the EU.
In other words, MiCA establishes predefined limits on the transactional volume of such currencies. The EU initiates regulatory measures when these limits are exceeded due to widespread payment usage.
Specifically, USD1 issuers must suspend any further digital currency issuance and provide a remediation plan to the relevant regulator, outlining steps to ensure their usage does not negatively impact the euro.
If USD1 wants to work in places where it can experience uninhibited growth, the European market might not be the best fit for this stablecoin. Other parts of MiCA also suggest this could be the case.
MiCA Limitations to Stablecoins as Investment Vehicles
EU regulators have been clear that stablecoins, or e-money tokens (EMTs), as the regulation refers to them, are payment instruments that should not be confused with investment vehicles. The MiCA framework has a few rules in place to prevent this.
Given the circumstances, experts like Bai think WLF might want to focus on countries with better market conditions for stablecoin issuers.
Should WLF Consider the EU Market for USD1 Operations?
While the European Union has an undeniable crypto market presence, other jurisdictions have an even larger footprint.
”The EU’s crypto market remains comparatively small, with just 31 million users versus Asia’s 263 million and North America’s 38 million users, according to a report from Euronews. This limited market size may not justify MiCA compliance costs for projects, like WLFI,” Bai told BeInCrypto, adding that “Projects ultimately determine their own growth strategy. Given that, currently, the EU represents a secondary market for USD1, the project’s strategic priorities may naturally shift toward regions with less stringent stablecoin regulations to drive its adoption.”
These circumstances alone may prompt USD1 to reconsider its options.
In fact, USD1 could start by gaining a competitive edge right at home.
USD1’s Political Backing at Home
With a crypto-friendly president in office –whose very crypto project officially announced the launch of USD1– the stablecoin has sufficient backing to make its mark.
Looking past the immediate future, Bai underlined that if the US doesn’t keep developing supportive crypto regulations, USD1’s growth in the country could be held back following a government shift.
Given this reality, USD1’s failure to comply with the EU’s regulations, should it ever even consider applying for a MiCA license in the first place, could have negative consequences for the project’s long-term viability.
Regardless of the markets WLF evaluates in its efforts to increase the reach of USD1, compliance with general stipulations concerning transparency, legal architecture, and real-time transaction oversight could be conducive to its eventual success.
Bitcoin’s value has jumped +11.2%, and this has once again coincided with key whales & sharks adding on to their already enormous bags. Wallets holding 10-10K 
