The crypto market continues to gain traction, adding 0.76% to reach a $3.89 trillion market cap. Despite a 29.61% drop in 24-hour volume, overall sentiment leans bullish with the Fear & Greed Index at a greed-driven score of 64. The Altcoin Season Index sits at 42/100, showing a tilt toward Bitcoin dominance.
The gain in market has been supported by institutional inflows, ongoing FTX creditor repayments, and bullish DeFi developments. Investors are eyeing two major events next week that could reshape sentiment: the FOMC meeting (July 29–30), expected to address rate policies and macroeconomics, and the SEC decision on the Bitwise BITW ETF on July 31.
Join me as I dive into the charts for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP price prediction for next week.
Bitcoin (BTC) Price Prediction
Bitcoin is trading sideways just above its 20-day SMA at $117,176, reflecting a period of consolidation. The Bollinger Bands are narrowing, suggesting a potential breakout soon. RSI sits at 60.62, showing neither extreme overbought nor oversold conditions.
On the upside, BTC faces a tough resistance at $123,680, a level it failed to breach earlier this month. If bulls can push above this, the next leg could test $127,000. Conversely, a break below the support at $111,964 could expose BTC to $108,000.
Next Week Target Range: $115,000 – $123,680
Ethereum (ETH) Price Prediction
Ethereum remains one of the strongest performers. It continues to trade in an uptrend channel with solid support at $3,550. The RSI is elevated at 79.69, hinting at slight overbought conditions but still backed by strong momentum. Price is hovering just below the $4,096 resistance zone.
XRP recently saw a bounce from the $2.8497 support zone after a correction from its $3.49 resistance. The RSI is cooling down from an overbought 76.12 to 62.02, suggesting room for a fresh move upward. Bollinger Bands show XRP attempting to consolidate above the 20-SMA at $3.0589.
If bulls manage to reclaim $3.49, XRP could retest $3.60 next week. However, failure to maintain above $3.05 may drive it back toward $2.85.
Next Week Target Range: $2.85 – $3.49
FAQs
Can Bitcoin hit a new ATH next week?
Bitcoin is consolidating near resistance. A decisive breakout above $123,680 could open the door to $127k, but momentum must pick up.
Will the ETH price hit $4,000 soon?
Yes, ETH is approaching the $4,100 resistance. If buying pressure sustains, $4,250 is achievable next week.
Is XRP still bullish despite the recent drop?
Yes, XRP is showing signs of recovery from $2.85, and a move above $3.49 could confirm bullish continuation.
Coinbase serves US institutional and retail investors. A rising premium often reflects aggressive accumulation by American whales, ETF providers, or corporations.
Bitcoin Coinbase Premium Over the Past Month. Source: CryptoQuant
These movements confirm that US institutions are leading the current cycle, supported by favorable regulation and capital access.
Korean Bitcoin Market Tells a Different Story
In sharp contrast, the Korea Premium Index — often called the “Kimchi Premium” — has dropped below zero.
This index tracks the price difference between Bitcoin on Korean exchanges (e.g., Upbit, Bithumb) and global platforms.
As of mid-July, the premium remains around -1.7%, showing Bitcoin trades cheaper in South Korea. A negative Korea Premium suggests Korean retail demand is weak, with few new investors entering the market.
Bitcoin Coinbase Premium Over the Past Month. Source: CryptoQuant
In previous bull runs (2017, 2021), Korea often saw premiums of +10% or more, driven by speculative retail frenzy. That dynamic is absent today.
Why This Divergence Matters
The split in premium indices reveals Bitcoin’s current bull run is not globally balanced. It is centered in the US, with limited retail enthusiasm from one of Asia’s most active markets.
Historically, broad-based retail participation has sustained and extended bull markets. Without it, there’s a risk the rally becomes too top-heavy, reliant on institutional flows alone.
Social Post From Korean Crypto Influencer. Source: X/Crypto Dan
This may also affect altcoin momentum, which often relies on Korean exchange liquidity and retail-driven narratives.
Overall, the Coinbase Premium should stay positive if US demand remains strong. But if it dips while Korea stays negative, it may signal waning momentum.
A flip in the Korea Premium to positive would suggest a retail re-entry, and could fuel the next leg of Bitcoin’s rise.
Until then, Bitcoin’s price action will likely remain US-centric, led by ETFs, corporates, and wealth managers — not global retail investors.
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.
Virtuals Protocol became the top-performing coin of the month and week, with gains of nearly 195% and 150%, respectively
Virtuals Protocol’s market cap surged 156.29% in April, crossing the $1 billion mark
Daily active wallets on Base Network dropped 84.9% from January highs, & Solana saw a 79.3% decline, showing reduced user activity despite price gains.
The RSI hit 84.75 and MACD shows a bullish crossover, as traders eye $2.00–$2.20 as a key zone for potential correction or breakout.
DEX volume rose 683% in two weeks to $27.6M but remains 89.7% below January’s peak of $267.5M, reflecting low market depth.
Virtual Protocol, $VIRTUAL coin is trading at $1.73, with a market cap of $1.13B and a 24-hour trading volume of $652.85M, reflecting a 32.66% increase in price and a 98.70% surge in volume.
From Hype to Hold: Virtual Agent Creation Hits a Plateau After Early Surge
Looking at the “AI Agents Created (Cumulative)” chart, we can see that demand for creating AI agents in the Virtual Ecosystem has cooled off over time. After a rapid spike from 68 agents in October to 16K agents by mid-January — a rise within just 3 months — the numbers have since plateaued, holding steady between 16K and 17,695 agents for the past 4 months.
This indicates that while there was an initial FOMO-driven rush, possibly fueled by hype or speculation, the market has now settled into a consolidation phase.
Virtual Protocol Sees Sharp Drop in Daily Active Wallets Despite Expansion to Solana
Virtuals Protocol, has seen a steep decline in user engagement, measured by daily active wallets (DAWs), despite expanding from Coinbase’s Base chain to Solana.
On January 2, 2025, the protocol recorded its peak activity with 58,641 DAWs on Base and 2,562 on Solana, totaling 58,641. However, by April 20, DAWs had dropped over 61% to 22,315 on Base and 241 on Solana—totalling 22,556, Making it a two-month high.
The decline continued through April 30, with DAWs falling to just 8,328 on Base and 529 on Solana, amounting to 8,857 users—a sharp 84.9% drop from the January peak.
Virtuals Protocol Sees 200% Price Jump, But DEX Volume Remains Weak
Despite a 200% price rally over the past two weeks, Virtuals Protocol’s trading volume on decentralized exchanges shows only a modest recovery.
On April 16, 2025, total DEX volume was $3.52 million — $3.29M on Base and $229K on Solana. Two weeks later, on April 29, volume rose to $27.6 million, with $26.4M on Base and $1.17M on Solana.
While this marks a 683% jump in volume, it’s still nearly 90% lower than the January peak of $267.5 million — signaling weak market participation despite the price hype.
Parabolic Surge in VIRTUALUSD Nearing Exhaustion: Key Profit Zone Ahead for Crypto Traders
Looking at the VIRTUALUSD chart and its on-chain behaviour, the asset is displaying a classic parabolic curve structure, with three completed bases fueling a sharp vertical rally. This began around April 10, breaking Base 1 ($0.60), Base 2 ($1.10), and Base 3 (~$1.40) to reach a high of $1.97 by May 1. This aggressive upside suggests the market is entering the Final pump, where $2.00–$2.20 is the projected Sell Point.
This Sell Point is a crucial level to watch—not only due to technical exhaustion, but because RSI is now extremely overbought at 84.75, signalling that price may soon reverse or consolidate. Additionally, the MACD continues to show a strong bullish crossover with widening histogram bars, confirming momentum, but the angle is steep, indicating a possible cooldown ahead.
If the parabolic rally sustains, VIRTUALUSD could reach its previous high of $2.60 by MAy 1st week. However, a failure to break $2.20 could trigger a healthy retracement to support levels at $1.40 and $1.10. Traders should monitor volume and momentum closely while managing profit-taking strategies near the peak zone.
The post Virtual Protocol (VIRTUAL) Soars 195% In April: Will The Rally Continue Or Face a Pullback? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
Virtuals Protocol became the top-performing coin of the month and week, with gains of nearly 195% and 150%, respectively Virtuals Protocol’s market cap surged 156.29% in April, crossing the $1 billion mark Daily active wallets on Base Network dropped 84.9% from January highs, & Solana saw a 79.3% decline, showing reduced user activity despite price …
