Author: Monicah W

At the beginning of 2025, Layer-1 (L1) blockchain network Solana found itself in the spotlight, thanks to meme coins. 

Donald Trump’s Official Trump (TRUMP) meme coin launch on January 17 ignited a flurry of activity across the network, driving demand to levels unseen since the 2021 bull cycle. 

While these volatile assets boosted Solana’s network activity and pushed up SOL’s price, they also present a paradox. They have brought in liquidity, users, and attention—but at what cost?

Presidential Memes Pump Solana Into Overdrive

Solana’s cheap, lightning-fast transactions and highly composable DeFi infrastructure make it one of the most preferred blockchains for launching meme coins. So when newly elected Donald Trump launched his TRUMP meme coin on the network in January, it came as no surprise to many.

Following TRUMP’s launch on January 17, demand for Solana skyrocketed, driven on the one hand by developers eager to launch their own meme coins and on the other by the frenzy of trading activity surrounding them.

Melania Trump followed her husband’s lead by launching her MELANIA meme coin on the same chain two days later. This move exacerbated the meme hype and drove significant trade volumes across multiple meme coins, both existing and newly created.

For example, within a day of launch, MELANIA’s trading volume soared 396%, jumping from $1.33 billion to $6.6 billion, according to CoinGecko data. 

Solana Memes Took It to the Moon, Then Back Down

This development drove significant user engagement on Solana.  According to Glassnode, by January 24, the network was processing 832,000 active addresses per hour, over 26 times more than Ethereum, which recorded just 31,000 per hour.

Due to the huge influx of new users on the network, transaction fees rocketed. Per Glassnode, Solana’s total transaction fees climbed to an all-time high of $32.43 million on January 19 after MELANIA launched. On the same day, SOL climbed to an all-time high of $293. 

However, market exhaustion set in shortly after this price peak was reached. The meme coin mania began to fade, taking Solana users with it. Daily active addresses and new demand for the L1 plunged, dragging down DEX volume, SOL’s price, and DeFi TVL.

For example, SOL’s DEX volume hit an all-time high of $36 billion on January 19. But as the meme coin hype cooled off, by January 31, it had plummeted to just $3.8 billion, dropping nearly 90%. As of April 15, this totaled $1.5 billion.

Solana’s network revenue was not spared. Daily revenue, which rose to an all-time high of $16 million on January 19, plummeted to under $5 million by the end of January. Yesterday, the network’s total revenue from all transactions completed was under $115,000. 

Solana Has Bigger Plans, Analyst Says

While TRUMP, MELANIA, and the slew of other meme coins that launched on Solana in the first few weeks of the year drove unprecedented network activity and boosted SOL’s value, the drop in their values and overall trading volumes has impacted the network’s performance. 

It then raises the question of whether Solana’s actual value is now tied to this highly volatile, borderline chaotic asset class.

In an exclusive interview with BeInCrypto, Binance Research spokesperson Marina Zibareva noted that while these meme assets contributed to the network’s growth at the beginning of the year, Solana’s performance remains “increasingly driven by broader ecosystem fundamentals.”

According to Zibareva:

“We’ve seen DeFi TVL grow nearly 4x in SOL terms since January, and stablecoin supply has increased over 6x – pointing to lasting interest in real utility. Developer activity is also accelerating, with smart contract deployments rising almost 6x, suggesting strong long-term potential beyond the speculative wave.”

Although Solana’s inherent features make it a go-to destination for launching meme coins via platforms like Pump.fun, Jupiter, and Meteora, Zibareva sees a future for the network that stretches beyond meme coins. 

“Meme coins have brought attention and users, but the long-term trajectory likely points toward use cases like DeFi, DePIN, Gaming, and SocialFi. Solana’s daily active addresses have increased nearly 6x year-to-date, and with its infrastructure battle-tested, we expect to see more developer activity focused on sustainable value creation,” she added. 

The post Beyond the Meme Coin Frenzy: What’s Next for Solana After the Hype? appeared first on BeInCrypto.

A senior official from Russia’s Finance Ministry has called for the development of stablecoins linked to foreign currencies after wallets connected to Russian users and holding USDT were frozen last month.

The move comes as US-backed stablecoins dominate global liquidity and Washington moves closer to introducing new regulations for the sector. 

Russia Might Enter the Stablecoin Market

The ongoing pro-regulatory shift is drawing in new projects targeting the US market. Russia, facing growing financial restrictions, sees a digital alternative as increasingly necessary.

For Russia, this would be the perfect time to enter the stablecoin competition. Due to the US’ ongoing tariffs and worsening trade relations with China, the USD faces global pressure. Heavily tariffed countries are already considering de-dollarization.

A ruble-backed token could reduce the region’s reliance on USDT and USDC, which both track the US dollar. Such a shift would support Russia’s long-term effort to move away from dollar-based trade.

Elvira Nabiullina, head of Russia’s central bank, remains against using crypto for domestic payments. However, she confirmed that several Russian firms are testing international crypto transfers as part of a government-led trial.

Russia has explored stablecoin initiatives before. In 2023, its central bank reportedly discussed a gold-backed digital currency with Iran, intended for cross-border use and positioned as an alternative to the dollar. 

As BeInCrypto previously reported, Russian businesses are already using Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies for international transactions.

The urgency of Russia’s stablecoin push increased after Tether blocked wallets on the Garantex exchange, freezing assets worth more than 2.5 billion rubles ($30 million). The incident occurred shortly after Garantex was hit with European Union sanctions.

At the same time, Kyrgyzstan is making moves of its own. The country has announced plans to build a crypto hub, supported by Binance founder Changpeng Zhao. 

A central part of the initiative is A7A5, a stablecoin tied to the ruble that aims to serve emerging markets.

The post Russia to Consider Ruble-Pegged Stablecoin to Challenge US Dollar Dominance appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Raydium is releasing LaunchLab, a new token launchpad to compete with Pump.fun. The exchange announced this platform last month, and its full release has sparked community enthusiasm.

Pump.fun and Raydium have been locked in an intense competition in the Solana ecosystem. Last month, Pump.fun launched its own decentralized exchange, and now Raydium has introduced its own launchpad.

Raydium Increases Solana Dominance with new Launchpad

Raydium, Solana’s largest decentralized exchange, has the opportunity to make some serious gains in the near future. Solana meme coins are eyeing a comeback with heightened trade volumes and rising token prices, and the firm is releasing a long-awaited project.

Although it will compete with Pump.fun, Raydium’s launchpad services look more extensive. They will allow all kinds of tokens to be launched, not just meme coins, and these tokens can be directly traded on the exchange.

“Introducing LaunchLab, Raydium’s all-in-one token launchpad. Built for creators, developers, and the community. Get started with JustSendIt mode: launch a token, hit 85 SOL, [and] liquidity migrates to Raydium’s AMM INSTANTLY. Seamless, on-chain token creation. No migration fee. No gatekeepers,” the firm claimed in its launch announcement.

Pump.fun is the most popular meme coin launchpad on Solana, and its business has been intertwined with Raydium in a few ways. Since it launched Pumpswap, its own DEX, both exchanges have fueled a meme coin frenzy.

A month and a half ago, rumors that it was testing an AMM made Raydium’s RAY token drop significantly.

Last month, however, this same asset soared when Raydium first announced Launchpad. Pump.fun entered the DEX sector, and Raydium is enabling users to launch their own meme coins.

Since this launch announcement took place, RAY spiked around 10%, signifying the community’s enthusiasm.

There may be another explanation for this token rally in addition to community hype. Raydium also mentioned that all of Launchpad’s trading fees will go towards ecosystem development.

More specifically, 25% of these fees will directly fund buybacks of RAY tokens, while the other 75% go towards a Community Pool and Program fee.

These other funds can enable a few generous user incentives. Raydium claimed that Launchpad token creators can earn up to 10% of trading fees from the AMM pool post-graduation, and users can also receive SOL tokens from referring new clients. Token creators will also enjoy several other quality-of-life features.

The post Raydium’s New Token Launchpad to Compete with Pump.Fun appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Pi Network (PI) is down nearly 10% in the last 24 hours, as multiple indicators point to growing bearish momentum. The DMI shows a clear shift from an uptrend to a downtrend, while CMF data confirms increasing outflows.

EMA lines are also warning of a potential death cross, which could trigger further losses. Here’s a breakdown of what the charts are signaling for PI in the near term.

Bearish Momentum Builds as PI Network’s DMI Flips to Downtrend

Pi Network’s (PI) DMI chart reveals a clear shift in momentum, with the ADX dropping from 43.68 to 39.17 over the past two days.

The ADX, or Average Directional Index, measures the strength of a trend, with values above 25 generally indicating a strong trend.

Although the current reading still suggests solid momentum, the recent decline in ADX combined with the trend reversal from uptrend to downtrend signals that bullish strength is fading and bearish pressure is taking control.

Supporting this shift, the +DI (Directional Indicator) has dropped sharply from 22.11 to 13.29, while the -DI has surged from 11.32 to 30.95.

The +DI represents bullish strength, and the -DI represents bearish strength—so this crossover and widening gap confirm that sellers are now in control. This setup typically points to continued downside, especially if the -DI remains dominant and the ADX stabilizes or rises again, signaling a strengthening bearish trend.

Unless there’s a sharp reversal in these indicators, PI could remain under pressure in the near term.

Selling Pressure Intensifies as Outflows Accelerate on PI Network

Pi Network’s Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) has dropped sharply to -0.13, down from 0.07 just a day ago. The CMF is a volume-based indicator that measures the flow of money in and out of an asset over a set period.

It ranges from -1 to +1, with positive values indicating buying pressure and negative values suggesting selling pressure.

A sudden shift from positive to negative typically signals a change in sentiment and potential weakness ahead.

With the CMF now at -0.13, it suggests that outflows are picking up and sellers are becoming more active.

This kind of drop often reflects reduced demand and a lack of confidence from buyers, especially if it comes alongside declining prices or weakening momentum indicators.

If the CMF remains in negative territory, it could point to sustained bearish pressure and a risk of further downside for PI unless strong inflows return soon.

Will PI Fall Below $0.50?

Pi Network’s EMA lines are signaling a potential death cross, where the short-term moving average crosses below the long-term moving average.

This is typically seen as a bearish sign, often preceding further downside. If confirmed, it could lead PI to retest the support level at $0.54.

A break below that level may open the door for a move under $0.50, especially if overall momentum continues to weaken, as analysts warn about Pi Network transparency after Mantra’s OM token collapse.

However, if the trend reverses and buyers step back in, PI price could regain strength and push toward the resistance at $0.66.

A breakout above that level would be an early sign of renewed bullish momentum.

If that move holds and gains traction, the next key target would be $0.789, which could be a major test of the strength of the recovery.

The post Pi Network (PI) Drops 10% as Outflows Surge and Death Cross Emerges appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Starknet (STRK) remains under pressure, but signs of stabilization are beginning to emerge. Despite releasing 127.6 million tokens into circulation in its next unlock, the project is pushing forward with adoption efforts, including enabling STRK payments in 15,000 shops worldwide.

Technically, the RSI is in neutral territory, and the CMF is showing reduced selling pressure, hinting at a potential shift in momentum. However, the EMA lines still reflect a downtrend, keeping the outlook cautious for now.

Starknet RSI Is Still Neutral

Starknet was one of the most anticipated token unlocks of the third week of April, releasing 127.6 million STRK tokens worth approximately $15.71 million into circulation.

Despite this major supply event, the project is trying to build long-term utility.

Recently, it announced that STRK can now be used for payments in 15,000 shops worldwide—a move aimed at boosting adoption and real-world use cases.

From a technical perspective, STRK’s RSI is currently at 42.92, recovering from 37.29 yesterday but slightly down from 44.76 earlier today.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) measures momentum on a scale from 0 to 100, with readings above 70 typically indicating overbought conditions and below 30 signaling oversold territory.

An RSI around 43 suggests neutral-to-bearish momentum, with sellers still maintaining some control. If RSI continues to climb, it could signal a shift toward a recovery, but for now, STRK remains in a cautious zone.

STRK CMF Shows Buyers Are Returning

StarkNet’s Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) has improved to -0.10, up from -0.32 yesterday, signaling a reduction in selling pressure.

The CMF is a volume-based indicator that measures the flow of money into or out of an asset over time. It ranges from -1 to +1, with values above 0 indicating buying (accumulation) and below 0 indicating selling (distribution).

Although still in negative territory, the rise toward the neutral line suggests that bearish momentum is weakening. A CMF reading of -0.10 points to moderate outflows, but the upward shift could hint at growing interest from buyers.

If this trend continues and CMF crosses into positive territory, it may support a short-term recovery in STRK’s price.

Will Starknet Fall Below $0.11?

Starknet’s EMA lines continue to reflect a downtrend, with short-term averages positioned below long-term ones—a classic bearish setup.

If this pattern holds and selling pressure increases, STRK could decline further to test the support level near $0.109.

However, if momentum shifts and STRK manages to reverse the current trend, it could begin retesting key resistance levels at $0.137 and $0.142.

A breakout above these zones may open the path toward $0.158, signaling a stronger recovery.

The post Starknet (STRK) Eyes Recovery With Improving Indicators appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Solana (SOL) is up 20% over the past seven days, supported by strong technical indicators and rising on-chain activity. Its Ichimoku Cloud and BBTrend charts both point to bullish momentum, with trend strength and volatility on the rise.

At the same time, Solana is reclaiming the top spot in DEX volume and dominating protocol fee rankings across major DeFi apps. With a recent golden cross on the EMA lines, SOL now looks set to test key resistance levels if momentum holds.

Solana Indicators Paint A Bullish Picture

Solana Ichimoku Cloud chart shows a clear bullish structure, with price trading above both the Tenkan-sen and Kijun-sen. This alignment indicates strong short- and medium-term momentum, with buyers maintaining control.

The Kumo ahead is green and steadily expanding, which supports the continuation of the current uptrend. The distance between the price and the cloud also gives the trend some room before any potential weakness sets in.

The Chikou Span is positioned above the cloud and candles, confirming bullish confirmation from past price action. As long as Solana stays above the Kijun-sen and the cloud remains supportive, the trend bias remains upward.

Solana’s BBTrend is currently at 16.89, showing a strong increase from 1.88 two days ago, though slightly down from 17.54 yesterday. This sharp rise indicates that volatility and trend strength have recently expanded significantly.

The BBTrend, or Bollinger Band Trend indicator, measures the strength of a trend based on how far price moves away from its average range. Readings above 10 generally signal a strong trend in motion, while lower values reflect a range-bound or weak market.

With SOL’s BBTrend holding near elevated levels, it suggests the asset is still in a strong trending phase. If it remains high or rises again, it could support further upward movement—but a steady decline might hint at a slowing trend or consolidation ahead.

SOL Volumes and Apps Are On The Rise

Solana is firmly reestablishing its dominance in the decentralized exchange (DEX) space, pulling ahead of Ethereum and BNB in daily volume.

Over the past 24 hours, Solana recorded $2.5 billion in DEX activity, marking a 14% increase over the last seven days. That growth outpaces Base’s 10% and contrasts sharply with the declines seen on Ethereum (-3%) and BNB (-9%).

More impressively, Solana’s seven-day DEX volume has surpassed the combined volume of Base, BNB, and Arbitrum.

Beyond trading volume, Solana is also leading in protocol revenue generation. Among the top eight non-stablecoin protocols ranked by fees, five are directly built on Solana: Pump, Axiom, Jupiter, Jito, and Meteora.

Pump stands out in particular, generating $2.73 million in fees in just the past 24 hours and $15 million across the past week.

Can Solana Break Above $150 In The Next Weeks?

Solana’s EMA lines recently formed a golden cross, a bullish signal that often marks the start of a new uptrend.

This crossover suggests momentum is shifting in favor of buyers, with the potential for Solana price to soon test key resistance levels.

If the current trend holds, Solana could challenge resistance around the $136 zone. A breakout there may open the path toward higher levels such as $147, $160, and even $180 if bullish pressure intensifies.

However, if momentum fades, Solana may face a pullback toward the $124 support zone. A break below that could trigger deeper downside moves, potentially revisiting $112 or even $95 if selling pressure accelerates.

The post Solana (SOL) Jumps 20% In a Week With DEX Volume and Protocol Fees Soaring appeared first on BeInCrypto.