Today, March 20, 2025, Bitcoin (BTC), the world’s largest cryptocurrency, appears to be shifting from its prolonged consolidation to massive upside momentum. The Fed’s decision to hold interest rates steady during the March FOMC meeting has pushed BTC above a crucial level.
Bitcoin (BTC) Technical Analysis and Upcoming Levels
According to expert technical analysis, after the March FOMC, BTC breached its prolonged consolidation and the resistance it faced from the 200 Exponential Moving Average (EMA) on the daily timeframe.
Despite the breakout, it is not yet fully confirmed whether BTC will rally or continue its prolonged consolidation. Based on recent price action and historical patterns, if BTC closes a daily candle above the $85,800 mark, there is a strong possibility it could soar by 8% to reach $92,600 in the coming days.
Source: Trading View
This bullish thesis will remain valid only if BTC holds above the $85,600 mark; otherwise, it may fail.
Current Price Momentum
At press time, Bitcoin is trading near $85,500, having surged over 4.50% in the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, its trading volume has jumped by 40% during the same period, indicating heightened participation from traders and investors compared to the previous day following bullish price action.
Major Liquidation Areas
After bullish price action and impressive upside momentum, traders seem optimistic about the asset, as reported by the on-chain analytics firm CoinGlass.
Source: Coinglass
Data revealed that traders are currently over-leveraged at $83,400, a level where they hold nearly $920 million worth of long positions. On the other hand, $86,300 is another over-leveraged level where traders betting on the short side have held $375 million worth of short positions.
When combining these on-chain metrics with technical analysis, it appears that bulls dominate and push BTC toward reclaiming the $90,000 mark.
Hedera (HBAR) has long held the interest of institutional investors and big-tech firms. With major council members like Google, IBM, and Boeing, Hedera offers a secure hashgraph-based infrastructure that has stood the test of time. Despite recent flat price performance, HBAR remains a respected asset, trading at around $0.19 and boasting strong U.S. backing.
However, even as Hedera looks to expand, new contenders are emerging with sharper ecosystems and faster delivery timelines. One such project is Coldware (COLD), a blockchain platform that is now catching the attention of HBAR whales.
Coldware (COLD): Blockchain Infrastructure With Real Utility
Coldware is a utility-first Layer-1 blockchain designed to onboard 1.3 billion users through accessible, mobile-ready decentralized applications. Its ecosystem includes PayFi—a powerful payment finance layer—and IoT-compatible devices like the Larna 2400® smartphone and ColdBook® laptop. But what’s setting Coldware apart now is its ability to attract strategic capital—particularly from HBAR holders looking to diversify into innovative Web3 utility platforms.
In its recent presale, Coldware (COLD) raised over $2 million, with increased wallet activity from whale investors previously associated with Hedera. The trigger? Coldware’s latest ecosystem update, which enhances the PayFi infrastructure and expands Freeze.Mint functionality for user-created tokenized assets.
Why Whales Are Moving from HBAR to Coldware
HBAR’s steady path and strong partnerships are attractive for conservative growth. But Coldware (COLD) offers something more dynamic: a tech stack that supports decentralized apps, real-time payments, secure messaging, and token creation—all from a single mobile device. For whales accustomed to the permissioned nature of Hedera’s governance, Coldware’s fully open and community-focused architecture is a refreshing change.
The Coldware (COLD) dApp store, ColdChat, Coldware VPN, and decentralized identity tools are more than just ideas—they’re integrated into the roadmap with clear timelines and execution strategies.
Freeze.Mint and the New Era of User-Powered Tokenization
Coldware’s Freeze.Mint service gives developers and communities the power to create Layer-2 tokens on top of Coldware (COLD)’s blockchain. It’s a frictionless process designed for scale and adaptability—something even Hedera’s advanced structure is still working to achieve.
This added flexibility is particularly appealing to HBAR whales who want exposure to a growing DePIN, gaming, and NFT market without abandoning their Web3 values. The shift isn’t about leaving Hedera behind, but about supplementing it with a faster, open, and more modular alternative.
Coldware’s PayFi Ecosystem Sets It Apart
Coldware’s PayFi ecosystem acts as a decentralized layer for payments, lending, borrowing, and staking—all in a privacy-first environment. Combined with Coldware (COLD)’s staking tools and $COLD token utility, investors gain access to a wide range of DeFi features while retaining self-custody and full control over their assets.
As the presale advances and Coldware approaches the launch of its mainnet components, the case for investing grows stronger. Coldware (COLD) isn’t competing with Hedera on hype—it’s offering tangible blockchain products designed for mass adoption.
Hedera has built a solid foundation, but Coldware (COLD) is the new frontier for Web3 infrastructure. HBAR whale investors doubling their Coldware positions isn’t just a trend—it’s a vote of confidence in the power of decentralized utility. Coldware is not a meme coin—it’s a fully-fledged ecosystem redefining what’s possible in decentralized finance, infrastructure, and global access. For smart investors, Coldware offers the best of both worlds: innovation and execution.
For more information on the Coldware (COLD) Presale:
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Hedera (HBAR) has long held the interest of institutional investors and big-tech firms. With major council members like Google, IBM, and Boeing, Hedera offers a secure hashgraph-based infrastructure that has stood the test of time. Despite recent flat price performance, HBAR remains a respected asset, trading at around $0.19 and boasting strong U.S. backing. However, …
Coinbase, a prominent crypto exchange, draws a severe rebuke from XRP lawyers amid the Ripple Vs SEC lawsuit debate. In a recent development, XRP lawyer Bill Morgan questioned Coinbase’s selfish motives, highlighting their deafening silence.
Meanwhile, legal expert Fred Rispoli accused Coinbase of acting out of self-interest. Rispoli asserted that the crypto exchange’s actions are driven by profit rather than community benefits.
XRP Lawyer Slams Coinbase for Selfish Motives
Recently, XRP lawyer Bill Morgan criticized Coinbase and its chief legal officer Paul Grewal for being clearly guided by selfish motives. Morgan shed light on their explicit silence until they found themselves embroiled in a legal dispute with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. In an X post, Bill Morgan stated, “Coinbase and Paul Grewal were silent until the SEC targeted Coinbase.”
Notably, Morgan’s statement underscores the silence of Coinbase and Paul Grewal during Ripple’s prolonged legal battle with the SEC. According to Morgan, Coinbase has remained tight-lipped since 2020 when the SEC filed a lawsuit against Ripple. The XRP lawyer added that the exchange broke its silence only when it was directly impacted by the SEC’s actions.
Lawyer Exposes Coinbase’s Self-Centric Actions
Reinforcing Bill Morgan’s claims, another pro-XRP lawyer Fred Rispoli slammed Coinbase for being influenced by self-centric motives. He asserted that the crypto exchange’s actions are rooted in greed, rather than a genuine desire to serve the crypto community.
Completely agreeing with Morgan’s arguments, Rispoli stated,
Everything this company does is purely out of self-interest. Not saying corps shouldn’t look after the bottom line but don’t pretend you were “for the people” from Day 1 (b/c your ToS with customer restrictions is exactly the opposite of this).
Coinbase, the top crypto exchange, faces this increased backlash following Paul Grewal’s interview with MetaLawMan. During the interview, Grewal acknowledged leading Ripple community members including Stewart Alderoty and John Deaton’s efforts in the XRP case. Grewal stated,
There were many others fighting alongside us and many who are actually fighting even before we got dragged into this…I think people like Stuart Alderoty and John Deaton, folks who really bor the brunt of Mr. Gensler’s early efforts to crack down on crypto and essentially stamp it out before it could become large enough.
However, in response to Grewal’s statements, pro-XRP lawyer MetaLawMan shared an X post, highlighting Ripple’s solo journey in the long-held lawsuit. He stated, “Regardless of which crypto tribe you align with, I think we should acknowledge that Ripple’s lonely fight against the SEC was key to the survival of the crypto industry in the U.S.”
Solana has emerged as a powerful presence in the crypto industry. Since its inception in 2020, the network has dominated the market, demonstrating remarkable levels of user engagement and practical utility, particularly in decentralized finance (DeFi). Many in the industry view it as the next natural contender to receive an ETF approval in the United States.
However, others are more cautious in their evaluations. BeInCrypto spoke with representatives from Gravity, Variant, and OKX to understand the areas where Solana is still lacking. Industry leaders referred to centralization, network reliability, and excessive regulation as points of contention for Solana’s ETF approval.
Bitcoin and Ethereum’s Precedent
The availability of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for prominent cryptocurrencies has grown over the past year. These funds offer investors diversified investment opportunities and act as a bridge between traditional finance and the increasingly mainstream cryptocurrency market.
Meanwhile, the deadline for some filings, including Grayscale’s, was extended until October. Nonetheless, posts on X and some analytical reports suggest yesterday’s deadline as a date of interest for an initial or consolidated SEC response to several applications.
2025 Predictions and Market Expectations
The tentative approval of a Solana ETF has generated much debate across social media platforms. ETF President Nate Geraci formally predicted that 2025 would be the year of crypto ETFs and that Solana would receive its approval this year.
Per previous reports, former Trump White House Secretary Anthony Scaramucci expressed that, with a Trump reelection, Solana ETFs could gain approval during Q1 of 2025. According to his predictions, Solana would receive the SEC’s green light during the next two weeks.
Meanwhile, the prediction market Polymarket estimates an 82% chance that a Solana ETF will get approved in 2025.
According to a Polymarket poll, Solana has an 82% chance of getting an ETF approval in 2025. Source: Polymarket
Several factors make an imminent Solana ETF approval seem plausible. Less than five years after the network launched, Solana quickly became a major player in the crypto industry, attracting users for its high transaction speeds and low gas fees.
“From a network perspective, Solana’s performance has been remarkable, now driving nearly 50% of all global DEX volume– a dominance that fundamentally reshapes the DeFi landscape. The blockchain is not just handling unprecedented transaction volumes… it’s transforming our understanding of blockchain scalability at scale,” Lennix Lai, Global Chief Commercial Officer at OKX told BeInCrypto.
Solana has established itself as a dynamic force in the crypto industry following a successful 2024.
A Messari report detailed particular growth in Solana’s final quarter across DeFi, liquid staking, NFTs, and institutional involvement. The total value locked (TVL) in Solana’s DeFi sector increased substantially, growing by 64% to $8.6 billion, which placed it behind Ethereum as the second-largest network based on TVL.
Solana’s positive performance, coupled with Donald Trump’s reelection to the US presidency, further amplified the crypto industry’s optimism over an ETF approval.
However, some industry experts have expressed more tempered expectations.
Experts Offer Tempered Expectations
A few days before Trump assumed the presidency, Bloomberg Intelligence analyst James Seyffart said Solana ETFs may not be launched in the US until 2026. He cited the SEC’s precedent of taking a lot of time to review filings as the cause for delay.
In another post, Bloomberg Senior ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said that ETF approvals for other cryptocurrencies were more likely to occur before Solana.
“We expect a wave of cryptocurrency ETFs next year, albeit not all at once. First out is likely the BTC + ETH combo ETFs, then prob Litecoin (bc its fork of btc = commodity), then HBAR (bc not labeled security) and then XRP/Solana (which have been labeled securities in pending lawsuits),” Balchunas said.
Balchunas further explained that complex legal issues around Solana, relating to its status as a security, need to be resolved before it can gain ETF approval. Consequently, he deemed the approval of Litecoin or Hedera ETFs more likely.
Uncertainty over whether Solana classifies as a security is a major driver fueling doubts over its ETF approval.
Security Classification Concerns
Martins Benkitis, co-founder and CEO of Gravity, explained that Solana’s regulatory classification complicates its path to approval.
“It’s no secret there’s currently a lack of precedent for Layer-1 blockchains beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum in the ETF space, this suggests cautious optimism but with higher regulatory hurdles. Bitcoin, being a commodity in the SEC’s eyes, and Ethereum’s gradual transition to PoS had different legal considerations. Solana, on the other hand, faces concerns over potential classification as a security due to its token distribution and foundation’s involvement,” Benkitis told BeInCrypto.
The SEC identified Solana as a security in lawsuits against Binance and Coinbase over the past two years, although these lawsuits have since been dropped. The SEC argued that these tokens could be considered investment contracts under the Howey Test.
While some interpreted the SEC’s lawsuit withdrawal as a softening stance on Solana’s security classification, others quickly challenged this assumption.
“There is no reason to think [the] SEC has decided SOL is a non-security. That they don’t want to do discovery on a dozen tokens in the Binance case appears to be a litigation tactic, not a change in policy,” said Jake Chervinsky, Chief Legal Officer at Variant, following the Binance lawsuit withdrawal in July 2024.
Others believe that a pro-crypto administration should be enough to influence the SEC to consider Solana as a non-security. Lai disagrees.
“The changing political landscape, particularly with Trump’s victory and pro-crypto stance, could create a more constructive environment for innovative blockchain platforms like Solana. However, the technical and market structure considerations will remain crucial regardless of administration changes,” he said.
In the meantime, there are several other requirements Solana must meet.
On his part, Lai added other aspects to the list of considerations.
“While Polymarket shows high odds for 2025 approval, several critical factors suggest a more complex pathway: Solana’s technological architecture presents unique challenges with its PoS mechanism; The absence of CME futures raises liquidity and risk management concerns; Historical network downtime incidents need addressing; Centralization questions relative to BTC and ETH remain unresolved; Institutional interest hasn’t matched BTC and ETH levels despite the network driving 48% of global DEX volume; [and] the temporary nature of trending themes suggests caution in using current volumes as primary indicators,” Lai told BeInCrypto.
Concerns about centralization and scalability have long been discussed regarding Solana, even outside of discussions over an ETF approval.
Since 2021, Solana has suffered over a dozen network outages varying in severity. These outages have jeopardized the network’s reputation as stable and reliable– two strongly considered characteristics during the ETF approval process.
“From a market making standpoint, network reliability is crucial as any downtime or congestion can significantly impact trading operations and order execution,” Benkitis affirmed.
However, Solana has successfully curbed the number of outages it has experienced. Once notorious for the frequency of its shutdowns, the last time Solana experienced one was in February 2024.
Meanwhile, developers designed Solana’s upcoming Firedancer validator client to improve network stability and transaction processing. Its distinct codebase offers greater resilience against widespread outages and will enhance Solana’s performance.
Yet, Solana must also mitigate centralization concerns to improve its chances of obtaining ETF approval.
Centralization Concerns
Solana’s validator node requirements, which demand significant hardware investments, can create barriers to entry. These obstacles can potentially concentrate power within the network among those capable of affording the necessary infrastructure.
In turn, the protocol’s limited number of validators compared to other networks raises concerns over centralization. For context, while Solana currently has around 2,000 active validators, Ethereum passed the one million benchmark last year—the largest number recorded by any blockchain network.
Though Solana’s hardware reliance speeds up the network, it also raises decentralization concerns. Benkitis factored this aspect into his evaluation of an ETF approval.
Its currently underdeveloped futures market infrastructure further complicates Solana’s viability as an ETF candidate.
Its filings were unprecedented because the network did not have a previously established futures market. This factor was crucial in determining an ETF approval for Bitcoin and Ethereum.
“The lack of CME futures and institutional frameworks comparable to BTC/ETH could influence [the SEC’s] evaluation,” Lai said.
He added that the proliferation of meme tokens minted on Solana could present themselves as a potential roadblock.
“Market reactions reflect Solana’s emergence as the primary driver of this cycle, with DEX volumes exceeding $100 billion and dominating major aggregators. However, I believe the temporary nature of trending themes suggests continued volatility. While technological advancement and growing institutional adoption may provide stronger foundations, we need to maintain perspective on the cyclical nature of crypto trends,” Lai said.
This more recent development in Solana’s attraction also brings its set of downsides.
Meme Coin Influence and Regulatory Concerns
The expanding meme coin market on Solana partially explains its popularity. Platforms like Pump.fun allow anyone to launch their tokens, and this design has even led to celebrities launching their tokens on the platform.
More recently, political figures like Donald Trump and Argentine president Javier Milei have also launched meme tokens on Solana platforms. Yet, these activities have proven to be high-risk. In many cases, meme coin investments have caused smaller retailers millions of dollars in losses.
Benkitis said that the SEC might frown upon the speculative nature of these trading activities.
“While an ETF approval could unlock liquidity opportunities, the market’s heavy dependence on speculative sentiment calls for a measured and cautious approach,” he said.
With so many considerations, approving a Solana ETF in 2025 is far from guaranteed. The SEC’s eventual decision will be a defining moment for the network and the broader crypto industry.
