Vladimir Smerkis, co-founder of Telegram-based crypto project Blum, has been arrested in Moscow on suspicion of large-scale fraud. The Zamoskvoretsky District Court approved his detention following a request from state investigators, according to reports from the Russian news agency TASS on Sunday. The charges against Vladimir Smerkis are based on Article 159 of Russia’s criminal code, which addresses serious fraud crimes. If convicted, Smerkis could face up to 12 years in prison. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether formal charges have been filed. Past Ventures Under Scrutiny Local media outlet Mash linked Vladimir Smerkis and this investigation to previous crypto ventures, ‘The Token Fund and Tokenbox’. Both platforms were launched in 2017. Combined, those projects allegedly resulted in losses of around $15 million for investors. Although Blum is not connected to these older ventures, the incident has placed the project under intense scrutiny. Notably, Smerkis also once headed operations for… Read More at Coingape.com
Bitcoin price has made a bold uptrend this week as it reclaims $90,000 for the first time in nearly two months. This rally has been attributed to a wide range of factors, including rising inflows to spot BTC ETFs, but one analyst has said that this pump might not last as it is simply driven by leverage. Other analysts have also attributed the gains to macro factors like the declining value of the US dollar.
Why This Bitcoin Price Rally May Be Fake
Bitcoin price is currently approaching its highest level in two months despite growing skepticism among some analysts that this rally might reach exhaustion. Per analyst Maartunn on X, this rally was a “leverage-driven Easter pump” after Bitcoin recently added more than $2 billion in open interest within 24 hours.
Bitcoin Open Interest
The rising open interest is also seen on Coinglass data after this metric hit $60 billion, which is the highest level in two months. Another analyst known as TXMC observed that the rapid surge in OI indicates that the ongoingBTC price rally might fade. He opined,
“If Bitcoin ever breaks away into a bona fide decoupling from other risk assets, it won’t be fueled by over $1.5B worth of leveraged futures longs opening in a 24-hour period.”
Besides therising BTC’s open interest, TXMC added that this rally is also stemming from the weakening value of the US dollar. The US dollar index has plunged to its lowest level in more than three years amid the ongoing tariff war, and this is benefiting the Bitcoin price. He said,
“Bitcoin priced in dollars is about 7-8% higher than Bitcoin priced in other major currencies, relative to the Jan 20 top.”
The third reason behind the risingBTC value today is the rising inflows to spot BTC ETFs, suggesting that institutions are also buying into the ongoing rally. Data from SoSoValue shows that on April 21, inflows to these products reached $381M, marking the highest level since late January.
Will BTC Price Crash to $80,000?
Despite the ongoing concerns about a possible correction in Bitcoin price after the recent rally, the king coin might avoid a crash to $80,000 due to bullish technical indicators and macroeconomic conditions.
Analyst MerlijnTrader on X shared a bullishBitcoin price prediction on X after the coin formed a classic double bottom pattern, which often precedes significant upswings. He noted that BTC might drop to test support at the neckline of $86,900 in the near term before resuming the uptrend and possibly flip $100,000.
BTC Price Chart
At the same time, trader DaanCrypto noted thatBitcoin can extend the rally if it makes a decisive daily close above the psychological price level of $90,000. However, if it fails to flip the 200-day MA and the trend reverses to cause a downtrend below the support at $85,000, it could crash to $80,000.
Meanwhile, BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes noted that as the US dollar weakens, the US bond market will be in a crisis. This will also attract capital inflow to BTC and support the uptrend as investors choose to abandon the greenback for assets such as crypto and gold.
Therefore, amid these factors, it is likely that the Bitcoin price might avoid a crash to $80,000 in the near term. However, if it faces rejection at $90,000, it might drop to test the support level of $85,000 and consolidate within this range if the selling pressure eases.
Mesh, a pioneering global crypto payments network established in 2020, has announced securing $82 million in funding to expand its global crypto payments infrastructure.
Its network, which interconnects prominent exchanges, wallets, and financial services, allows users to transact using various crypto assets such as Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), and Solana (SOL). Notably, merchants receive the equivalent value in stablecoins like PYUSD or USDC, ensuring predictable settlements.
As stablecoins gain prominence in global crypto payments, Mesh disclosed that a significant portion of its $82 million funding was settled in PayPal-backed USD stablecoin (PYUSD). The funding round was led by Paradigm, with participation from ConsenSys, QuantumLight Capital, and Yolo Investments—marking a major milestone in Mesh’s mission to enhance seamless crypto transactions and further integrate stablecoins into global payment networks.
Mesh’s Global Payment Network – ‘Making Crypto as simple as fiat’
Mesh, at the forefront of crypto payments innovation, provides users and merchants a secure, efficient, and user-friendly platform that connects exchanges, wallets, and financial services.
With over 300 supported platforms, including major crypto exchanges like Binance, Coinbase, and MetaMask, Mesh enables users to transact directly from their wallets without requiring traditional intermediaries. This integration simplifies the payment process, eliminating the need for manual address entries or switching between platforms.
By eliminating the need for manual address inputs and reducing transaction friction, Mesh aims to streamline crypto adoption in everyday payments. Notably, last year in November, Mesh, as the U.S. fintech whose investors include PayPal Ventures, joined forces with Reown (formerly WalletConnect) to launch wallet ownership verification for UTXO-based assets, beginning with Bitcoin.
And now Mesh aims to use the newly secured funds to expand Mesh’s payment infrastructure, focusing on integrating more financial institutions and enabling broader stablecoin settlements.
Mesh’s Global Crypto Payments Network
Stablecoins at the Center of VC Funding
As mentioned, one of the most notable aspects of Mesh’s funding round is that a significant portion of the investment was settled using PayPal’s stablecoin (PYUSD). This highlights the growing role of stablecoins in institutional finance, demonstrating their ability to serve as a bridge between crypto and traditional financial ecosystems.
The adoption of stablecoins and the other cryptocurrencies for the global real-world payments has been witnessing accelerating attention with major firms such as Stripe, PayPal, Plume, among others, working towards it.
Stablecoins, such as PYUSD, USDC, and USDT, have gained traction as preferred digital assets for global payments due to their price stability and instant settlement capabilities. Mesh is actively working to enhance its stablecoin-based settlement network, allowing businesses to accept various cryptocurrencies while receiving stable and predictable payouts in USD-pegged digital assets.
In another recent boost to the accelerating stablecoin adoption, the US administration has been witnessing significant momentum in Washington for the passage of new Stablecoin Bill, known as Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act.
The Future of Crypto Payments
As crypto adoption continues to grow, the demand for reliable payment infrastructure is increasing. Mesh’s success in securing $82 million in funding signals a strong market demand for frictionless, stablecoin-based payments.
With an increasing number of companies and merchants embracing crypto transactions, Mesh is well-positioned to become a key player in the Web3 financial ecosystem. As the regulatory landscape evolves and stablecoins gain wider acceptance, platforms like Mesh will play a crucial role in bridging the gap between crypto and traditional finance.
Thus, with the backing of leading investors and a clear roadmap for expansion, Mesh is poised to reshape the future of digital transactions. As the company scales its operations, the impact of stablecoins and crypto payments on mainstream finance is expected to grow, paving the way for a more efficient and interconnected digital economy.
For more updates on Mesh and its global expansion, stay tuned to BrandTalk on our latest reports on advancements by Web3 Brands.
Analysts project Pepe (PEPE) could surge 10x by 2025, fueled by staking programs and exchange listings. Yet, experts agree Rexas Finance (RXS)—a $0.20 presale token—holds potential to outpace PEPE, Dogecoin, and Shiba Inu combined. With RXS poised to bridge real-world assets like real estate and gold to blockchain, its presale has already surged 6.6x, raising over $47 million. As PEPE rides meme-driven hype, Rexas Finance taps into a $16 trillion real-world asset market, positioning itself as the breakthrough crypto of 2025.
Rexas Finance transforms how global investors access high-value assets. By tokenizing real estate, commodities, and art on the blockchain, RXS removes geographical and financial barriers. Imagine a retail investor in Nigeria owning 5% of a Parisian apartment or a student in Brazil earning passive income from fractional ownership of Dubai commercial property. Rexas makes this possible through its ERC-20 token, enabling seamless fractional ownership and trading of physical assets.
The platform’s Token Builder lets users convert any real-world asset into digital tokens within minutes. Coupled with the Rexas Launchpad, startups and asset owners raise funds globally, democratizing access to capital. Tools like QuickMint Bot simplify token creation, while AI Shield and GenAI enhance security and asset management. This ecosystem positions RXS not as a speculative token but as a utility powerhouse reshaping trillion-dollar industries.
The RXS Presale Momentum
Rexas Finance chose public presale over VC funding, reserving 50% of its 1 billion tokens for community access. Stages 1–11 sold out rapidly, raising $41 million. Currently in its final stage, RXS costs $0.20—a 580% jump from its initial $0.03. With 91.2% of presale tokens claimed, the $56 million target nears completion. Post-presale, RXS lists at $0.25 in 2025 on three top-tier exchanges, with analysts forecasting a climb to $10+—a 50x gain from today’s price. A significant transaction involving 1,000,000 RXS ($200,000) was recently recorded on Etherscan.
The funds were transferred to a whale wallet, indicating a major accumulation move. Such large-scale purchases often signal confidence in the asset’s future growth, prompting market participants to take notice. The project’s CertiK audit ensures smart contract reliability, while CoinMarketCap and CoinGecko listings amplify visibility to 100M+ monthly users. A $1M giveaway—distributing $50,000 each to 20 winners—fuels urgency, with entries surpassing 1.2 million. Unlike meme coins reliant on hype, RXS gains traction through tangible use cases and investor trust.
Rexas Finance’s Path to Dominance
RXS’s tokenomics prioritize sustainability: 15% liquidity ensures stable trading, 22.5% staking rewards long-term holders, and 10% treasury funds innovation. Early buyers at $0.20 could see life-changing returns if RXS hits $7–$10 post-launch. For context, a $5,000 investment today might exceed $250,000 within months. While PEPE’s 10x potential excites traders, its lack of real-world utility limits longevity.
Rexas, however, merges blockchain with physical asset markets—offering stability amid crypto volatility. As institutional investors flock to tokenized assets, RXS stands at the forefront of this financial shift. Pepe’s 2025 rally may create millionaires, but Rexas Finance promises far greater upside. By unlocking access to global real estate and commodities, RXS transcends meme coin speculation, offering a concrete bridge between crypto and tangible wealth.
With its presale ending soon and exchange listings imminent, the window to secure RXS at $0.20 is narrowing. Investors eyeing 50x gains must act before June 2025—Rexas Finance isn’t just another token; it’s the key to the next evolution of blockchain adoption.
For more information about Rexas Finance (RXS) visit the links below:
The post Pepe Price Prediction for 2025: PEPE to Create More Millionaires Than DOGE & SHIB Combined, But Fewer Than This $0.20 Coin appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
Analysts project Pepe (PEPE) could surge 10x by 2025, fueled by staking programs and exchange listings. Yet, experts agree Rexas Finance (RXS)—a $0.20 presale token—holds potential to outpace PEPE, Dogecoin, and Shiba Inu combined. With RXS poised to bridge real-world assets like real estate and gold to blockchain, its presale has already surged 6.6x, raising …
Announcing our $82M Series B, led by .webp)
