Author: Monicah W

The U.S. Federal Reserve Open Market Committee (FOMC) or Fed meeting is a crucial macroeconomic event for worldwide financial markets. Such events influence investors, policymakers, and the crypto market, making it the key event to monitor this week. As investors eye Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech, let’s discuss where and how you can watch this event live and what to expect.

Why Is This Jerome Powell Speech Important?

The Jerome Powell speech will be held after the FOMC meeting, which began on March 18, 20125, and will end on March 19, 2025. This is important because this comes amid the heightened market uncertainty after U.S. President Donald Trump began the trade war by introducing tariffs on Mexico and Canada.

This factor and others led to the recent crypto market crash, wiping nearly a trillion within a few days. As a result, the Fed meeting’s decision on the interest rate is critical. The rate cuts could influence the investors’ sentiments to take risks and trade in cryptocurrencies.

However, analysts anticipate the interest rates to remain steady at 4.25% to 4.50% this March, which has been unchanged since December 2024. Interestingly, it was anticipated that the Fed would implement two quarter-point rate cuts in 2025, but analysts believe the current policy will likely stay maintained in the meeting.

“The Fed would likely prefer to wait until they have policy clarity and a clear line of vision into the economic outlook, suggesting that policy easing will be delayed until late second quarter or even early third quarter,” said Seema Shah (Chief global strategist at Principal Asset Management.)

What Time Is the Fed Meeting and Jerome Powell’s Speech?

The FOMC meeting is a prominent U.S. macroeconomic event, where the officials come together eight or more times yearly to discuss the country’s economic outlook. One such Fed meeting is in progress after it began on Tuesday, March 18.

With the completion of the meeting today, the Fed Chair meeting speech or press conference will be held right after this to discuss the Fed’s economic outlook. Here’s the schedule:

Date: March 19, 2025

Policy Decision Time: 2:00 P.M. ET or 6:00 P.M. UTC

Powell’s Press Conference: 2:30 P.M. ET or 6:30 P.M. UTC

Key Event: Interest rate decision and other FOMC’s economic projections

Where Can You Watch The Jerome Powell’s Speech Live?

The Jerome Powell speech will go live on multiple platforms. It includes their official pages, news sites, and YouTube platforms. The prominent platforms are:

1. Federal Reserve’s Website (www.federalreserve.gov)
2. Fed’s official YouTube Live Stream

Additional Financial News Networks:

1. CNBC
2. Bloomberg TV
3. Fox Business and CNN Business
4. Social Media Live Feeds like Twitter/ X/ Facebook Live via CoinGape, CNBC, Bloomberg, and The Wall Street Journal

What You Can Expect from Powell’s Speech?

Investors and commoners can expect to hear Powell discussing various things, including the Fed’s interest rate policy and changes. In addition, he will provide the inflation outlook and the Fed’s approach toward controlling U.S. price stability.

Powell might also discuss the risks of recession, the economic impact of tariffs and global events, the stock market reaction, and future monetary policies. The FOMC members would also release their updated summary on key economic projects: the GDP growth, inflation, unemployment, and the federal funds rate forecasts to be discussed.

Some experts even believe that the officials may approve the QT pause in this meeting.

Bottom Line

FOMC’s interest rate decision is a key event, eyed by investors worldwide as it could bring uncertainty to the financial markets, including crypto. At the same time, the right decision and discussion would influence investors’ sentiments and financial market recoveries. Traders, investors, and the rest could watch Jerome Powell’s speech live at 2:30 P.M. ET, where he will likely announce the unchanged interest rates. Stay tuned for further updates.

The post Fed Meeting Speech Time: How & Where to Watch Jerome Powell Speech Live Today appeared first on CoinGape.

The ongoing XRP price consolidation will likely end soon due to two catalysts – the recent spike in active addresses and the DC Blockchain Summit. Could these two events trigger a production of higher lows that push the token to bounce and tag the $3 psychological level?

Bitcoin is up nearly 3% in the past 20 hours and trades around $83K with no clear directional bias. However, XRP, Ethereum (ETH), and other altcoins await a bias after the highly anticipated Fed’s Interest Rate decision and FOMC events.

Can XRP Price Scale Higher and Hit $3?

From a purely technical perspective, XRP price is hovering between the $2.057 to $2.724 range. After a deviation of the range low on March 11, the token has bounced 30% to set up a local top at $2.47. For the trend to remain bullish, Ripple’s XRP needs to produce a higher low above $2.057. Such a development will propel the price to revisit the range high of $2.724.

In a highly bullish case, where Bitcoin price remains above $90K, Ripple’s token could flip the range high resistance level at $2.724 into a support level, advancing to $3. This move would constitute a near 40% rally, assuming XRP price produces a higher low at $2.1571.

XRP Active Addresses More Than Triple

As of December 2, 2024, XRP price touched the $2.69 level for the first time in more than five years. This historic level saw Daily Active Addresses (DAA) hit a peak of 165K. Since then, the on-chain metric remained relatively lower, showing a waning of investors’ interest. However, the DAA more than tripled and hit 530K on March 2. This sudden uptick notes that investors are interested in XRP at the current price levels.

Since the DAA spike has been sustained for the past two weeks, it indicates that XRP holders are anticipating something huge in the upcoming days.

This is where the DC Blockchain Summit fits in, where multiple well-known crypto personalities and US government officials are gathered to discuss cryptocurrency. 

Meanwhile, Chainlink’s Sergey Nazarov is set to host a pivotal discussion with Bo Hines, who is the executive director of the President’s Council of Advisers on Digital Assets and all things crypto.

Considering that Ripple is a US-based company, the DC Blockchain Summit could reveal Ripple and other key cryptocurrencies and blockchain’s role in furthering America as crypto capital. Hence, the chances of XRP price rallying to $3 and beyond due to these catalysts are high.

The post Will XRP Price Hit $3 as Active Addresses 3X Ahead of DC Blockchain Summit? appeared first on CoinGape.

A renowned crypto market analyst projected a highly bullish outlook for Polygon this Wednesday, triggering severe market concerns globally. Market expert Ali Martinez hinted that POL price remains primed to crash and hit a $0.04 level ahead. As a result, investor sentiments remain alarmingly negative about the token (formerly MATIC) as it currently sits at the $0.2 price level.

Top Analyst Warns Polygon Dip To $0.04 Ahead: But Why?

In an X post on March 19, Ali Martinez signaled that Polygon is undergoing a ‘macro trend shift.’ Despite the broader market showing resilience and preventing massive downturns, POL price has entered a bear market.

The analyst reveals that the crypto formed a ‘descending triangle’ pattern over the past 4 years. This formation characterized a horizontal support floor at the $0.32 price level. However, the price kept hitting lower highs as it advanced, forming a ‘descending trend line.’

Subsequently, on February 25 this year, the price bearishly broke out of this triangle, losing key support mentioned above. In turn, the “odds for an 86% bear market increase towards a target of $0.04 persist,” per the analyst.

How Is Polygon Performing Now?

As of press time, POL price recorded gains worth 1% intraday and exchanged hands at $0.2123. The coin bottomed and peaked at $0.2035 and $0.2136 over the past day. Besides, it’s noteworthy that monthly and yearly losses totaled 35% and 78%, respectively. The broader bearish action remains poised to bore more heat amid the loss of vital support at $0.32.

Declining OI Signals Waning Market Sentiment

Simultaneously, POL futures OI saw a significant decline since the beginning of this year. Coinglass data indicated that the OI slipped from a $119M level as of late January to reach a $55 million level to date.

The declining derivatives data flags a loss of investor interest in Polygon, adding to market concerns amid bearish predictions.

Market Braces For FOMC Today

On the other hand, the U.S. FOMC set to take place shortly ahead has kept investors on their toes. Currently, CME FedWatch Tool Data shows a 99% chance of unchanged interest rates by the U.S. Fed.

Nevertheless, Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s speech remains much-eyed by market participants. Following the economic turmoil caused by Donald Trump’s tariff saga, a dovish hint towards upcoming monetary policies could significantly relieve crypto prices. In turn, even POL could leverage some macro relief, although bearish investor sentiments persist.

It’s also noteworthy that per CoinMarketCap, “the upgrade from MATIC to POL has been initiated on Ethereum’s mainnet.” The crypto’s community revealed that as a Polygon PoS, zkEVM user, MATIC holder, node operator, or staker, users remain poised to witness an effortless and seamless upgrade process.

The post Analyst Predicts Polygon (POL) Price Drop To $0.04 Looms, Here’s Why appeared first on CoinGape.

The post US Plans Bitcoin Reserves Without Taxpayer Funds – Bo Hines Reveals Bold Move! appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

After U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to create a strategic cryptocurrency reserve, the government is now exploring ways to buy Bitcoin without using taxpayer money. This move marks a big shift in its approach to digital assets and could push Bitcoin’s price to $100K soon.

US Government Eyes To Add More Bitcoin

Bo Hines, executive director of the Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets, confirmed that the US government is working on a plan to build a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. This follows President Trump’s campaign promises and highlights Bitcoin’s growing role in the economy.

The exact size of the reserve is unknown, but officials aim to collect as much Bitcoin as possible without using taxpayer money. To achieve this, the government is working with the Treasury Department and the Secretary of Commerce.

Unlike traditional assets like stocks or bonds, Bitcoin is seen as a unique financial tool. The administration views it as digital gold that could strengthen the nation’s economy.

No Taxpayer Money Involved

A key point of this plan is that taxpayer money will not be used. Instead, officials are exploring alternative ways to fund Bitcoin purchases, though exact details remain unclear.

Hines assured that the government wants to build its Bitcoin holdings without putting any financial pressure on citizens.

Debate Over a National Bitcoin Reserve

The idea of a national Bitcoin reserve has sparked mixed reactions. Supporters believe that Bitcoin’s decentralized nature makes it a great hedge against inflation and currency devaluation. They see it as a way for the US to strengthen its financial position in the global economy. 

On the other hand, critics warn about Bitcoin’s volatility and the regulatory uncertainties surrounding digital assets. Despite these concerns, the administration remains firm in its commitment to increasing Bitcoin holdings.

The post US Plans Bitcoin Reserves Without Taxpayer Funds – Bo Hines Reveals Bold Move! appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
After U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order to create a strategic cryptocurrency reserve, the government is now exploring ways to buy Bitcoin without using taxpayer money. This move marks a big shift in its approach to digital assets and could push Bitcoin’s price to $100K soon. US Government Eyes To Add More Bitcoin …

The post Minnesota Senator Jeremy Miller Introduces Bitcoin Act After Shifting Views appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Minnesota State Senator Jeremy Miller has introduced the Minnesota Bitcoin Act, a proposal he created after a complete shift in his views on Bitcoin.

Minnesota Bitcoin Act Seeks to Modernize State Finances

Minnesota could become one of the first states to use Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for state investments, retirement plans, and tax payments. The Minnesota Bitcoin Act (SF2661), introduced by Senator Jeremy Miller on March 18, aims to expand financial options, modernize payments, and create new opportunities for residents.

“As I do more research on cryptocurrency and hear from more and more constituents, I’ve gone from being highly skeptical to learning more about it, to believing in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies,” Miller noted in a March 18 statement.

Miller believes the bill will help “promote prosperity” for Minnesotans by letting the Minnesota State Board of Investment to invest in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, just like it does with traditional assets.

“I believe global digital currencies are here to stay and it’s inevitable that they become more and more mainstream,” he said. He further added Crypto is a versatile digital asset that can be used in multiple ways, including as investments, global currency, or a hedge against inflation. Besides, 23 other states are also exploring similar Bitcoin reserve bills.

Miller’s bill would allow Minnesota state employees to add Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies to their retirement accounts. It would also give residents the option to pay state taxes and fees with Bitcoin.

States Follow Lummis’ Lead with Bitcoin Reserve Bills

Several states are pushing forward with Bitcoin and crypto measures. Texas lawmakers are advancing a plan for a state-managed Bitcoin reserve, along with nearly two dozen other states. New Hampshire is considering a bill to allow state investment in Bitcoin, and Colorado and Utah accept crypto for tax payments. Louisiana uses crypto for state service payments. The federal government is also exploring proposals for a national Bitcoin reserve.

Under the bill, investment gains from Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies would be exempt from state income taxes. In the U.S., up to $10,000 paid to the state can be deducted from federal taxes, but amounts above that are taxed at both the state and federal levels.

More U.S. states are introducing Bitcoin reserve bills, following Senator Cynthia Lummis’ July proposal for a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve Act, which directs the federal government to buy 200,000 Bitcoin annually for five years, totaling 1 million Bitcoin. On March 12, Lummis reintroduced the BITCOIN Act, allowing the government to hold over 1 million Bitcoin as part of a new reserve.

The post Minnesota Senator Jeremy Miller Introduces Bitcoin Act After Shifting Views appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
Minnesota State Senator Jeremy Miller has introduced the Minnesota Bitcoin Act, a proposal he created after a complete shift in his views on Bitcoin. Minnesota Bitcoin Act Seeks to Modernize State Finances Minnesota could become one of the first states to use Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for state investments, retirement plans, and tax payments. The …

The post Bithumb IPO 2025: Legal Hurdles Cleared, Crypto Exchange Eyes NASDAQ Listing appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

South Korea’s leading crypto exchange, Bithumb, is making big moves toward its long-awaited initial public offering (IPO). After years of legal battles, the company has finally cleared a major hurdle, bringing it one step closer to a stock market debut. 

A major roadblock for Bithumb was the legal case involving its former chairman, Lee Jung-hoon. According to local media reports, he was accused of fraud, which cast a shadow over the exchange’s IPO plans for years. However, South Korea’s Supreme Court has ruled in Lee’s favor, eliminating a key legal risk for the company. With this issue behind them, Bithumb is now focusing on pushing forward with its IPO plans, aiming for a 2025 listing.

New Begining with Clear Rules

Bithumb has been working on its IPO strategy since 2020 but had to put plans on hold due to legal troubles. Now, with a clear path ahead, the exchange is expected to speed up the process. The company has appointed Samsung Securities to manage the offering and is targeting a listing on the NASDAQ, following in the footsteps of Coinbase and Japan’s Coincheck.

One of the biggest factors supporting Bithumb’s IPO is South Korea’s changing stance on crypto regulations. Until now, banks and large companies have been restricted from investing in cryptocurrencies. However, regulators are expected to loosen these rules later this year, allowing institutional investors to enter the market.

A pilot program is set to begin soon, giving select institutional investors limited access to crypto investments. If successful, South Korean firms may be allowed to hold Bitcoin and other digital assets on their balance sheets. This could bring significant new capital into the industry, boosting exchanges like Bithumb.

South Korea ramps up efforts to tame trade, tech concernshttps://t.co/zch7OfKXyt#SouthKorea #US

— The Korea Herald 코리아헤럴드 (@TheKoreaHerald) March 18, 2025

Banking Partnership Adds Strength

Moreover, Bithumb has also strengthened its position by partnering with KB Kookmin Bank, South Korea’s largest banking firm. This deal is expected to help attract more corporate clients and strengthen its IPO case. Meanwhile, its biggest rival, Upbit, has partnered with K Bank, which is also planning an IPO.

The Bank of Korea will begin a pilot program for digital currency (Deposit Tokens) next month, involving 100,000 participants. Participants can convert their bank deposits into digital tokens, with seven banks, including KB Kookmin, Shinhan, Hana, Woori, NongHyup, IBK, and Busan… pic.twitter.com/0v7pUvpbOV

— Sepowergroup (@SepowerGroup) March 19, 2025

Challenges Still Remain

Despite these positive changes, Bithumb still faces challenges. Regulators are currently conducting an anti-money laundering (AML) investigation, and any penalties could impact the company’s IPO timeline. Plus, questions remain about Bithumb’s ownership structure, particularly the involvement of businessman Kang Jong-hyun. As of now, Bithumb is excited for IPO to gain lost investor faith and to bring new investors on board.

The post Bithumb IPO 2025: Legal Hurdles Cleared, Crypto Exchange Eyes NASDAQ Listing appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
South Korea’s leading crypto exchange, Bithumb, is making big moves toward its long-awaited initial public offering (IPO). After years of legal battles, the company has finally cleared a major hurdle, bringing it one step closer to a stock market debut.  A major roadblock for Bithumb was the legal case involving its former chairman, Lee Jung-hoon. …

The post Shiba Inu Price Prediction 2025: Can SHIB Rebound After Recent Downtrend? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

After being trapped in a falling trend in the past two months, Shiba Inu (SHIB), the largest dog-themed memecoin on the Ethereum (ETH) network, has possibly reached its correction bottom. The mid-cap memecoin, with a fully diluted valuation of about $7.4 billion and a 24-hour average trading volume of about $120 million, has rebounded 5 percent in the past seven days to trade about $0.0000126 on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, during the mid-London trading session.

In the past few months, Shiba Inu’s price has suffered heightened bearish sentiment due to low demand for memecoins and the macroeconomic shift triggered by the U.S.-led tariff wars. However, a potential bullish breakout for Bitcoin (BTC) amid the gold price rally, has triggered a surge in Shiba Inu transactions greater than $100k to around 67 on Wednesday according to data from Intotheblock.

Midterm Expectations for Shiba Inu Price

From a technical analysis standpoint, Shiba Inu’s price has been retesting a crucial support range between $0.00001 and $0.000013. Worth noting that Shiba Inu price has depicted a high positive correlation with Ethereum price action, which is expected to rebound in the near future.

However, a consistent close below the established support range will trigger a further market correction toward $0.0000078, thus nullifying a potential parabolic rally in the coming months. 

Favoring Fundamental Outlook

The Shiba Inu movement has grown significantly in the last few years from a speculative reliant memecoin to a utility-based altcoin. The launch of the Shibarium layer two scaling solution and ShibaSwap (BONE), which have a total value locked of about $2 million and $11 million respectively has played a crucial role in its overall growth and burn rate.

However, Shiba Inu has faced intense competition from other memecoin projects with vibrant online communities and developers.

The post Shiba Inu Price Prediction 2025: Can SHIB Rebound After Recent Downtrend? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
After being trapped in a falling trend in the past two months, Shiba Inu (SHIB), the largest dog-themed memecoin on the Ethereum (ETH) network, has possibly reached its correction bottom. The mid-cap memecoin, with a fully diluted valuation of about $7.4 billion and a 24-hour average trading volume of about $120 million, has rebounded 5 …

The post Trojan Malware Hits Crypto Wallets: What MetaMask, Coinbase and Other Users Need to Know appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Microsoft has issued a warning about a new Trojan malware, StilachiRAT, which targets cryptocurrency wallet extensions on the Google Chrome browser. Discovered by Microsoft’s Incident Response team in November 2024, StilachiRAT is capable of stealing sensitive information, such as stored browser credentials, digital wallet data, clipboard content, and system details.

The malware affects 20 different crypto wallet extensions, including  Bitget Wallet, Trust Wallet, TronLink, MetaMask, TokenPocket, BNB Chain Wallet, OKX Wallet, Sui Wallet, Braavos – Starknet Wallet, Coinbase Wallet, Leap Cosmos Wallet, Manta Wallet, Keplr, Phantom, Compass Wallet for Sei, Math Wallet, Fractal Wallet, Station Wallet, ConfluxPortal, and Plug. While the malware has not yet been widely distributed, it poses a serious threat due to its stealthy methods of operation.

What Users Should Do 

If you use crypto wallet extensions on Google Chrome, it’s crucial to be cautious. Microsoft recommends checking your browser plugins, clearing your browser history, and running antivirus scans. Users should also avoid downloading any suspicious files and ensure they are taking the necessary steps to secure their wallets.

How StilachiRAT Works 

StilachiRAT uses various techniques to avoid detection and persist within the target system. One of the malware’s components, WWStartupCtrl64.dll, is responsible for gathering sensitive information, such as credentials stored in browsers and crypto wallets, making it a serious threat for anyone using these wallet extensions.

Microsoft has not yet identified the creators or origin of StilachiRAT, but has shared the findings as part of its ongoing efforts to monitor and address emerging cyber threats.

Protection Measures 

Microsoft is providing mitigation guidance to help reduce the impact of StilachiRAT. The malware can be delivered through various vectors, so it is important to implement security measures to prevent compromise.

The post Trojan Malware Hits Crypto Wallets: What MetaMask, Coinbase and Other Users Need to Know appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
Microsoft has issued a warning about a new Trojan malware, StilachiRAT, which targets cryptocurrency wallet extensions on the Google Chrome browser. Discovered by Microsoft’s Incident Response team in November 2024, StilachiRAT is capable of stealing sensitive information, such as stored browser credentials, digital wallet data, clipboard content, and system details. The malware affects 20 different …