Spot Bitcoin ETFs extended their inflow streak by another day on Thursday, marking the fifth consecutive day of net positive flows. The total inflow for the day stood above $440 million.
The continued inflows come amid a modest market rebound over the past 24 hours.
Bitcoin ETF Inflows Hit $2.68 Billion for the Week
Bitcoin ETFs recorded another day of net inflows on Thursday, extending their streak to five consecutive days. The latest addition of $442 million brought the week’s total to $2.68 billion, the highest weekly net inflow since the first week of December 2024.
Total Bitcoin Spot ETF Net Inflow. Source: SosoValue
On Thursday, BlackRock’s ETF IBIT recorded the largest daily net inflow of $327.32 million, bringing its total cumulative net inflows to $40.96 billion.
Ark Invest and 21Shares’ ETF ARKB followed in second place with a net inflow of $97.02 million, pushing its total historical net inflows to $3.09 billion.
BTC Futures Show Uptick in Demand
The crypto market has witnessed a modest rebound over the past 24 hours, pushing BTC’s price up by 1% over the past day. During the same period, open interest in BTC futures has also risen, signaling a slight uptick in investor demand.
At press time, this is at $65.31 billion, up 1% today. The gradual rise in BTC’s price and open interest signals growing market participation and increasing confidence in the ongoing trend.
This simultaneous uptick suggests that new positions are being opened to support the price movement, often interpreted as a bullish indicator.
Moreover, call volumes have outpaced puts in the options market, reflecting a tilt toward bullish sentiment. As of this writing, the coin’s put-to-call ratio is at 0.74.
When an asset’s put-to-call ratio is below 1, more call options are being purchased than puts, reflecting a bullish sentiment among options traders. This suggests that investors are positioning for a sustained upside in BTC’s price.
However, despite these positive indicators, BTC’s funding rate remains negative. At press time, the metric is at -0.0008%.
The funding rate is a periodic payment between long and short positions in perpetual futures contracts. It keeps the contract price in line with the spot market. When the funding rate is negative, it indicates bearish sentiment, as more traders are betting on a price decline.
This suggests that some futures traders are still betting on BTC’s short-term downside, even as ETF demand and market metrics show renewed strength.
BeInCrypto sat down with members of the LBank team to analyze the possible resurgence of the meme coin market as a leading crypto narrative and what their fusion with artificial intelligence (AI) can have on their reach.
LBank also discussed the impact of the four-month-old Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation on its operations across Europe. They described a fundamental change in investor confidence in light of greater regulatory clarity and simplified accessibility.
Have Meme Coin Highs Given Way to Devastating Lows?
In recent years, the meme coin market has largely been characterized by overwhelming highs and devastating lows. The first few months of 2025 have further confirmed the volatile nature of these tokens, to the point that a vocal part of the crypto community believes that their recent lows have marked the end of the meme coin lifecycle.
These claims are not unfounded, especially now that the US President has become a meme coin player. When Trump launched his meme coin in mid-January, TRUMP reached a market capitalization of nearly $8.8 billion, a number never before seen by a meme coin launch.
When insider traders capitalized on the surge to sell off their holdings and retain millions of dollars in gains, retail investors bore the brunt of the massive sell-off, suffering hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses.
“The decline in meme coin market cap since January can be attributed to a combination of market dynamics and sentiment shifts. A key driver was the rapid rise and subsequent crash of the TRUMP token, which drew significant market capital due to its viral appeal but collapsed sharply, eroding investor confidence and triggering a broader risk-off sentiment,” Eric He, Community Angel Officer and Risk Control Adviser at LBank told BeInCrypto.
After similar experiences with the MELANIA token and the LIBRA launch, some of these retail investors realized that meme coins —as unregulated and unpredictable as they are— may not be the best investments.
Is the Meme Coin Frenzy Coming to a Halt?
Given the devastating effects that these episodes have had on the meme coin market, trading has reduced significantly. The crypto community seems to have become saturated with news of pump-and-dump schemes and rug pulls, likely contributing to a halt in the meme coin frenzy.
The total meme coin market capitalization has been free-falling since January’s peak following the presidential token launches. Now, its levels resemble those of September 2024. The greater economic downturn that traditional and crypto markets experienced over the past several weeks has only worsened prospects.
Yet, despite this downward pressure, the market still experiences a high level of activity. It has a $14.5 billion trading volume and a $57 billion market capitalization.
Total meme coin market capitalization. Source: CoinGecko.
According to the LBank team, the meme coin industry is due for a revival.
LBank’s Belief in the Revival of the Meme Coin Market
Though the decline in meme coin performance has been significant, the LBank team expressed that these circumstances are far from unexpected. Meme coins are inherently tied to community support and social momentum.
The sustained trading volumes and large market capitalization serve as tangible indicators that, even in a downturn, the market is seeing active community engagement and liquidity. Investors still see value in the tokens’ cultural and speculative appeal.
“We see it as a healthy market correction rather than a fundamental shift. Meme coins have always been volatile, but the fact that trading volumes remain high shows continued interest. What’s happening now is not the end of the trend—it’s just a recalibration before the next wave,” Mario Iemma, Head of Spanish Markets at LBank, told BeInCrypto.
In fact, Iemma believes that meme coins will not be dying out anytime soon.
AI agents represented the first significant shift in the evolution of the cryptocurrency industry. These autonomous systems proved that they could make decisions and perform tasks independently. This technology enhances intelligence, adaptability, and fairness in financial mechanisms.
Now, developers have unlocked artificial intelligence’s potential on tokens. Systems like Grok have already made news by using AI to automatically and independently design and launch tokens.
However, with a nascent technology like AI, the LBank team emphasized the need for responsible and thorough deployment for the long-lasting success of AI-generated tokens. This success hinges on two particular factors: accessibility and security.
Security and Accessibility Challenges for AI-Generated Tokens
The concept of security is frequently associated with any emerging technology. Artificial intelligence is no exception, especially in a particularly unregulated industry like crypto.
According to He, AI-generated token projects’ degree of security and transparency will determine their success.
Iemma agreed, adding that if AI-generative tokens become widely accessible, this development will also require additional layers of oversight.
“That same accessibility demands better filters, vetting, and AI-based security audits—areas where exchanges like LBank are already investing resources,” he said.
While reflecting on the security risks associated with artificial intelligence and the breaches in consumer trust that meme coins have had on the crypto community, the LBank team also emphasized the need for greater regulation in the industry.
The development of cryptocurrency regulations varies significantly across the globe. Notably, the European Union implemented comprehensive rules almost five months ago, while key markets such as the United States are still establishing adequate frameworks.
MiCA’s Effect on the European Crypto Market
Last December, with the implementation of the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation, the European Union became the first jurisdiction to establish a comprehensive and unified regulatory framework for crypto-assets across all its member states, marking a significant milestone.
According to the LBank team, MiCA gives users and institutions a trustworthy framework. This development has proven critical for industry growth across the region.
“MiCA has forced firms to become more transparent and compliant, which is a good thing for long-term trust. We’ve seen exchanges accelerate their legal and operational upgrades. For users, it creates a safer, more predictable environment,” Iemma said, adding, “With clearer rules, banks and investment firms are more willing to explore crypto partnerships, custody solutions, and even tokenized assets. Regulation reduces reputational risk, and MiCA is helping bridge that gap.”
However, this experience can be largely attributed to established firms in the industry and investors with access to substantial resources. Other players, however, have struggled to gather the requirements to apply for a MiCA license.
Future Accommodation for Smaller Crypto Businesses
In discussing the impact of MiCA since its enactment last December, He highlighted how different industry players have responded to the landmark regulation. He noted that startups struggle the most to obtain an operational license.
When evaluating the cost-effectiveness of an operational license, He’s conclusions make sense.
MiCA is an expensive regulation. It mandates minimum capital requirements based on the crypto services offered. These requirements range from €50,000 for advisory and order-related services to €125,000 for exchange and trading platforms and up to €150,000 for custody services. Businesses must maintain this capital as a financial safeguard.
Beyond minimum capital requirements, companies must factor in government and legal fees, local presence costs, bank setups, and ongoing operational costs. But for prominent exchanges like LBank, the benefits outweigh the costs.
Future MiCA updates could address the high compliance costs for smaller businesses. Meanwhile, other regions developing their crypto regulations should consider this aspect to avoid creating similar barriers.
Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase has listed ZORA, the native token of the Zora platform.
Alongside ZORA, Coinbase included Mantle (MNT) in its listing roadmap. Following the announcements, both tokens saw modest gains.
Coinbase Lists ZORA
Earlier, in an X (formerly Twitter) post, the exchange announced the addition of ZORA to its listing roadmap. However, a few hours later, Coinbase confirmed that the altcoin was officially listed and available for trading.
“ZORA (ZORA) is now live on Coinbase website and in the Coinbase iOS and Android apps with the Experimental label. Coinbase customers can log in to buy, sell, convert, send, receive or store these assets,” the April 25 announcement read.
Due to their lower market activity, these assets are prone to increased price volatility, liquidity issues, and the potential for order cancellations. This labeling system ensures users are aware of these risks, encouraging a more cautious approach to trading these less-established assets.
Notably, ZORA is just two days old. It was launched via an airdrop on April 23 and listed on Binance Alpha on the same day. Moreover, Bybit, Bitget, KuCoin, Gate, MEXC, and Bitrue have also added support for the token.
The Coinbase listing further solidifies its growing presence in the crypto market. According to BeInCrypto data, the token’s price appreciated by 2.3% after the news. At press time, ZORA was trading at $0.02.
The development comes during heightened interest in the platform. Zora allows users to tokenize their content, a trend widely promoted by Base founder Jesse Pollak.
“Most photos posted on social media are just photos, but occasionally something will really take off and become a viral meme. Similarly, with content coins, most of them are just pieces of content that people should post without expectation, but big ones have the potential to turn into memes, and the free market is deciding on the value of each piece of content,” Pollak told BeInCrypto.
“The launch of trading for these assets is contingent on market-making support, and sufficient technical infrastructure. We will announce the launch of trading separately once these conditions have been met,” Coinbase noted.
Like ZORA, MNT’s price also benefited from the news. Over the past day, the token’s value has increased by 6.5%. At the time of writing, it was trading at $0.74.
While the addition marks a positive development, it remains to be seen whether or when the asset will be listed. For now, Coinbase’s latest moves signal a continued effort to bridge innovative blockchain projects with mainstream investors.
A recent study from the Citi Institute, Citigroup’s research organization, claims that the global stablecoin market could reach as high as $3.7 trillion by 2030. This was its most bullish estimate, but the base case was $1.5 trillion.
It acknowledged a few risks that could lead to a bearish scenario of $0.5 trillion, but the report largely remained optimistic. In any event, this sector could tremendously impact global markets.
Citigroup Is Extremely Bullish on Stablecoins
Citigroup’s researchers had one clear reason to be optimistic about stablecoins: friendly regulation worldwide. The Citi Institute’s report was titled “Digital Dollars.” It called special attention to stablecoins’ growing integration with the US dollar. This could serve as the motor for long-term growth:
“Government adoption of blockchain falls into two categories: enabling new financial instruments and system modernization. Stablecoins are now major holders of US Treasuries, starting to influence global financial flows. Their growing adoption reflects sustained demand for US dollar-denominated assets,” claimed Artem Korenyuk, a managing director at Citi.
The organization was particularly interested in mandates that stablecoin issuers hold reserves of US Treasuries. It predicts that non-USD stablecoins, including CBDCs, will ultimately exist on the margins, with 90% of the stablecoin market sticking to the dollar.
These reserve mandates would, therefore, cause the issuers to become major holders of Treasury bonds.
By doing this, regulators will compel stablecoin issuers to substantially change their internal policies. Citigroup predicts that this could better integrate stablecoins with the TradFi ecosystem.
Although stablecoins “pose some threat to traditional banking” for several reasons, these regulations will encourage a cooperative model instead. Public sector blockchain spending will also help this dynamic.
Still, Citigroup acknowledged significant risks in this rosy picture of stablecoins. Although its most bullish estimate is a $3.7 trillion global sector by 2030, its bearish outcome is only half a trillion.
That’s a very significant spread. The largest risks include fraud, contagion from de-pegging events, and confidentiality concerns.
Justin Sun is rumored to be attending President Trump’s exclusive dinner next month. An HTX cold storage wallet registered for the TRUMP holder leaderboard currently occupies the first place.
Sun himself posted a cryptic message on social media, possibly suggesting he wishes to attend. Whether or not the rumor is true, a spot on the leaderboard is well within his means if he wants it.
Rumors have been circulating about many different aspects of the stunt, but a new one is gaining traction. Some users believe that Justin Sun is currently the largest TRUMP holder on the official leaderboard.
Arkham Intelligence first promulgated this claim. Specifically, it noticed that a cold wallet was added to the leaderboard.
Arkham flagged this wallet as belonging to HTX, an exchange associated with Sun, and it now holds more TRUMP than any registered user.
The wallet itself has been transferring TRUMP for the last three months. Its TRUMP holdings only increased once since the announcement, and its portfolio includes hundreds of different cryptoassets.
In other words, it’s quite plausible that this is an exchange’s ordinary cold wallet. After all, registering for the TRUMP leaderboard won’t compromise its actual tokens.
Users quickly began claiming that Sun was behind this wallet, as this would give him a guaranteed spot at the dinner. He and President Trump have a history together, and Sun invested $30 million in WLFI shortly after the last election. Since then, the SEC moved to settle a civil fraud case against him.
The Tron founder himself posted a cryptic message after the rumors began:
This could be interpreted as a sign that Sun indeed plans to attend Trump’s dinner. Regardless of the rumor’s veracity, this goal is quite achievable for a man of Sun’s means.
Yesterday, some users claimed it would require $400,000 worth of TRUMP coins to make the cut, but this was inaccurate.
As the leaderboard clearly shows, users must manually register to be considered. This has dropped the price floor considerably. Still, this plan would guarantee Sun a spot at Trump’s table, and potentially a private White House tour.
Cardano (ADA) has climbed over 15% in the past week, continuing to push higher despite a 27% drop in trading volume over the last 24 hours. While momentum indicators and whale activity still lean bullish, signs of consolidation are emerging as ADA trades near key support and resistance levels.
Whether ADA breaks higher or pulls back may depend on how it reacts to the critical $0.668–$0.709 range in the coming days.
Is Cardano’s Rally Losing Steam or Just Catching Its Breath?
Cardano Average Directional Index (ADX) is currently at 30.17, easing slightly from yesterday’s 32.76 after a sharp surge from 14.90 two days ago.
Despite the minor pullback in ADX, ADA remains firmly in an uptrend, indicating that bullish momentum is still present, though perhaps cooling slightly after an intense acceleration.
The ADX is a trend strength indicator that ranges from 0 to 100. It does not indicate direction—only the strength of a trend. Readings below 20 suggest a weak or non-existent trend, while values above 25 typically confirm a strong trend.
ADA’s current ADX at 30.17 reflects a healthy uptrend still in play, although the slight dip may suggest the trend’s momentum is stabilizing rather than accelerating.
As long as ADA maintains this level, the uptrend remains intact, but traders should watch for any further decline in ADX that could hint at waning strength.
Cardano Whales Return—Is Accumulation Back On?
The number of Cardano whale addresses—wallets holding between 1 million and 10 million ADA—has slightly increased to 2,408, up from 2,405 on April 22.
This follows a brief decline from 2,421 on April 20, suggesting a small but notable return of larger holders after a short distribution period.
While the change may seem minimal, it marks a potential shift in sentiment among high-stake investors, who often play a key role in driving price trends due to the sheer volume of assets they control.
Addresses Holding Between 1 Million and 10 Million ADA. Source: Santiment.
Tracking whale activity is crucial because these large holders can significantly influence the market. When whales accumulate, it’s often viewed as a sign of confidence and can act as a leading indicator of upward price movement.
Conversely, when whales begin to offload their holdings, it may signal weakening conviction or an expectation of short-term price drops.
The recent uptick from 2,405 to 2,408 may indicate a renewed interest among whales in accumulating ADA, hinting at a possible rebound or continued strength in price—especially if this trend continues.
ADA’s Uptrend Holds, But Key Support Must Survive
According to its EMA lines, Cardano price remains in an uptrend, with short-term moving averages still above the long-term ones—a classic sign of sustained bullish momentum.
This alignment suggests the broader trend favors the bulls despite recent price consolidation.
However, ADA is trading within a tight range, facing resistance at $0.709 and supported at $0.668, setting the stage for a potential breakout or breakdown.
If the $0.668 support is tested and fails, ADA could decline toward the next support level at $0.634, and a deeper slide might push it down to $0.59, marking a more significant correction.
Conversely, a clean break above $0.709 resistance would likely trigger renewed bullish momentum, with the next upside target around $0.77.
Onyxcoin (XCN) has been one of April’s standout performers, soaring 132% month-to-date and nearly 10% in the past week. Trading volume has surged as well, climbing over 82% in the past day to reach $208.47 million, reflecting heightened interest and activity.
As the rally matures, key momentum and trend indicators start to shift. RSI has dipped, BBTrend has turned negative, and XCN is now testing a crucial support zone. With price action at a pivotal level, the next move could define whether this breakout continues or fades into a deeper pullback.
The token saw an aggressive momentum shift over the past few sessions, with its RSI climbing from 36 on April 21 to 75 by April 23—reflecting a fast-paced surge in buying pressure.
While the move initially indicated overbought conditions, today’s dip to 63.21 suggests that momentum is easing, although it remains in bullish territory.
The RSI is a popular momentum oscillator that ranges from 0 to 100, often used to assess whether an asset is overbought or oversold.
Readings above 70 typically indicate overbought conditions, signaling that a pullback could be imminent, while levels below 30 suggest oversold territory and a potential buying opportunity. With XCN’s RSI now at 63.21, it implies the recent rally has lost some steam but still holds a bullish bias.
This could mean a brief consolidation or minor pullback is likely before any renewed push higher, especially if buyers step back above key support levels.
Onyxcoin BBTrend has sharply reversed, currently sitting at -5.53 after briefly touching a high of 3 yesterday. This marks a notable shift, considering the indicator had remained in negative territory between April 17 and April 23.
The BBTrend (Bollinger Band Trend) is a volatility-based momentum indicator that helps identify the strength and direction of price trends. Readings above +1 suggest a strong uptrend, while readings below -1 indicate a strong downtrend.
This could mean that XCN’s recent price rebound may face increasing headwinds, with a possible return to support levels unless renewed buying interest reverses the trend again.
XCN Bulls Need to Hold the Line—Or Risk 35% Drop
Onyxcoin price is hovering just above a key support level of $0.020, a critical zone that could determine its next major move.
The EMA lines remain bullish, with short-term averages above long-term ones, suggesting the broader trend still leans upward.
If this support holds firm, XCN could rebound and target the resistance at $0.027. A break above that level could open the path toward $0.030—a price not seen since February 2.
Polymarket’s prediction market for the next Pope crossed $6.4 million in total bets today after a viral hoax falsely claimed the Catholic Church intended to excommunicate gamblers.
The fake announcement, circulated on X by an account with over 240,000 followers, mimicked an official Church statement.
Polymarket Bets on the Next Pope
The viral fake post condemned platforms like Polymarket for turning the sacred papal election into a “speculative exercise” and urged the faithful to treat the Conclave as a spiritual, not financial, matter.
However, the post was quickly debunked. It lacked the Church’s formal tone and formatting, did not capitalize key terms like “Conclave” or “Papal Election,” and unusually named Polymarket directly—something highly improbable from the Vatican.
Although the rumor was fabricated, it inadvertently revealed rare internal data from Polymarket. A screenshot embedded in the hoax suggested that total wagers on the papal successor stood at $2.5 million as of April 21. That figure has since more than doubled.
Polymarket opened the “Next Pope” market in February, well before Pope Francis’ death earlier this week, as speculation around succession grew.
“The Holy See deplores the reduction of the solemn conclave to a mere speculative exercise on platforms such as Polymarket and urges the faithful to uphold the dignity of the papal election as a matter of prayerful discernment rather than profit,” claimed a fake notice published by Yoxic, an X user with over 240,000 followers.
Since the Conclave convened, trading volume has surged. In just three days, bets on the outcome have climbed by nearly 160%
Still, the sudden spike in trading highlights the intersection of global religion and decentralized speculation. As of today, the “Next Pope” market is one of the most active on Polymarket.
While the Catholic Church is unlikely to weigh in on Web3 anytime soon, the spike in interest reveals how digital markets increasingly reflect—and amplify—the intensity of public discourse.
Solana (SOL) is gaining significant momentum again, both on-chain and in price action. The network is nearing a major milestone of 400 billion total transactions. In the last seven days, SOL has surged over 12% and reclaimed the $150 level for the first time since early March.
From its cycle low of $9.98 in January 2023, Solana has soared over 1400%, backed by growing adoption across its ecosystem. With bullish technical signals, thriving apps like PumpFun and Jito, and talk of a potential run toward $500 in 2025, Solana is once again cementing its place as a top performer in the market.
Solana Network Nears 400 Billion Transactions
Solana is nearing a major milestone. It is less than 2 billion transactions from hitting the 400 billion mark.
This comes as SOL’s price gains fresh momentum, rising over 12% in the past week and breaking above $150 for the first time since March 2, with its DEX trading volume reaching almost $16 billion in the last seven days, more than any other chain.
Since bottoming at $9.98 on January 1, 2023, Solana has skyrocketed by an incredible 1412%, becoming one of the top performers of the current cycle.
But it’s not just price action—this cycle has also brought an explosion of real adoption to the Solana ecosystem. Apps like PumpFun, launched just last year, have quickly become among the most profitable in crypto.
Meanwhile, core protocols like Raydium, Meteora, and Jito continue to generate millions in monthly fees, highlighting the network’s growing utility and economic strength.
The RSI is a momentum oscillator ranging from 0 to 100, used to evaluate whether an asset is overbought or oversold. Readings above 70 typically suggest overbought conditions, often preceding a pullback, while values below 30 indicate oversold levels and potential buying opportunities.
With SOL’s RSI now sitting at 64.51, it points to continued bullish sentiment without being overstretched.
This level allows for further upside if momentum builds again, but traders will be watching closely to see if the RSI can climb back toward the overbought zone—or if selling pressure starts to mount.
Will Solana Reach $500 in 2025?
The Solana price is trading within a tight range. It faces resistance at $152 and holds support at $147.60.
Its EMA lines remain bullish, with short-term averages above long-term ones, signaling that the broader uptrend is still intact.
If the $152 resistance is broken, SOL could climb toward $160, and with sustained momentum, even target $180.
Looking further ahead, if Solana regains the momentum it had at the end of 2023 and throughout early 2024, it could retest its all-time high of $256 and potentially push toward $300 in the first half of 2025.
Should the overall crypto market recover in the second half and Solana continue leading in DEX volume and developer activity, the $500 mark becomes a realistic long-term target.
However, on the bearish side, a loss of the $147.60 support could open the door for a correction toward $124 or even $112 if the downtrend accelerates.
The CME is launching futures trading on XRP on May 19, pending regulatory review. It will allow both micro and large contracts, from 2,500 to 50,000 XRP, prioritizing flexibility and precision.
This development could provide several key advantages for the asset. In addition to substantial liquidity, the CME will treat the asset as a commodity like Bitcoin and Ethereum. This could potentially boost the chances of an XRP ETF approval.
CME to Launch XRP Futures
XRP futures are financial contracts that let traders speculate on the future price of XRP without owning the actual XRP coins. It will allow institutional and professional traders to hedge risk or speculate on XRP prices using regulated instruments.
CME’s involvement is significant—it’s the world’s largest derivatives exchange, and adding XRP gives more legitimacy and market depth.
“While overdue in a bunch of ways, this is an incredibly important and exciting step in the continued growth of the XRP market!” Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse claimed via social media.
Meanwhile, futures trading in the institutional market could potentially aid the chances of an XRP ETF. Additionally, it potentially opens a huge window of new liquidity for the token. The recognition of CME’s brand will guarantee product quality in the eyes of institutional investors.
Coinbase added XRP futures trading earlier this week after receiving official CFTC approval. The CME is also a CFTC-regulated institution, but it will take a few weeks to offer its own XRP futures.
Still, it began offering Bitcoin and Ethereum futures this year, and this development suggests it’s treating Ripple’s altcoin like a commodity, too.
The announcement acknowledges that it still requires regulatory approval, possibly explaining the long wait. These futures will be cash-settled and based on the CME’s XRP-Dollar reference rate, which is calculated daily.
XRP’s demand hit a five-month low this week, and the CME won’t offer futures for nearly a month. This news is undoubtedly bullish, but it may take some time to materialize fully in the market.
(@justinsuntron) 
