Over $2 Billion Bitcoin and Ethereum Options Expire After FOMC and Digital Asset Summit

After the FOMC (Federal Open Market Committee) minutes and the digital asset summit on Wednesday and Thursday, respectively, approximately $2.09 billion in Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) options expire today.

The expiration may influence market conditions, with investors monitoring potential shifts.

Over $2 Billion in Options Expiry Today

According to Deribit, $1.826 billion in Bitcoin options expire today. The maximum pain point of these contracts stands at $85,000.

Expiring Bitcoin Options
Expiring Bitcoin Options. Source: Deribit

These options include 21,596 contracts, slightly fewer than last week’s 35,176. Despite recent volatility, the put-to-call ratio of 0.83 indicates a general bullish sentiment.

Ethereum has $264.46 million in options expiring, involving 133,447 contracts. This figure is also lower than the previous week’s 223,395 contracts. The maximum pain point for these options is $2,000, and the put-to-call ratio is 0.62.

Expiring Ethereum Options
Expiring Ethereum Options. Source: Deribit

As the options contracts near expiration at 8:00 UTC today, Bitcoin and Ethereum prices are expected to approach their respective maximum pain points. According to BeInCrypto data, BTC traded for $84,414, whereas ETH exchanged hands for $1,977.

This suggests a modest upside for Bitcoin and Ethereum towards the $85,000 and $2,000 strike prices, respectively. This surge is plausible given smart money’s Strategy in options trading, pushing prices toward the “max pain” level. Here, the highest number of contracts, both calls and puts, expire worthless.

“Will we see a volatility squeeze or a slow unwind?” Deribit posed in a post on X (Twitter).

Based on Bitcoin and Ethereum’s put-to-call ratios, both below 1, call options (purchases) have a higher prevalence than put options (sales).

Market Sentiment Ahead of Today’s Options Expiry

Analysts from crypto options trading tool Greeks.live provided insights on the current market sentiment, highlighting a divided trader community. On the one hand, some expect a price drop after the FOMC meeting, as policymakers rejected further interest rate cuts, effectively disappointing the crypto market.

On the other hand, some anticipate a temporary rise before choppy conditions. With this, the analysts note the range between $83,000 and $85,000 as the area of interest, with expected volatility around President Trump-related developments and potential MicroStrategy (now Strategy) purchases.

“Expect chop and drift lower before heading higher again on Monday, despite the current pump not being viewed as sustainable,” Greeks.live analysts observed.

Elsewhere, BeInCrypto reported that Bitget exchange CEO Gracy Chen is confident BTC will hold above the $73,000 to $78,000 range, paving the way for a potential rally to $200,000. She attaches her optimism to the US strategic Bitcoin reserve’s potential to drive institutional legitimacy and long-term price stability.

Even as Bitget’s Chen remains optimistic, traders and investors should brace for short-term volatility. Historically, options expirations tend to cause temporary price movements. However, the market usually stabilizes shortly after.

This calls for vigilance and analysis of technical indicators and market sentiment to manage potential volatility effectively.

The post Over $2 Billion Bitcoin and Ethereum Options Expire After FOMC and Digital Asset Summit appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Can XRP Reach a New All-Time High As the Ripple Lawsuit is Over?

XRP is rallying after the SEC officially dropped its lawsuit against Ripple, triggering a 13% price surge in the past 24 hours. Strong technical signals and growing market participation are supporting the bullish momentum.

XRP’s network activity is also hitting record levels, with active addresses soaring to new highs. As traders digest the legal victory and positive market signals, XRP’s outlook is strengthening, increasing the chances of further upside in the near term.

XRP DMI Shows Buyers Are In Full Control

XRP’s DMI chart reveals a notable shift in momentum, with its ADX (Average Directional Index) rising to 20.4 from 15.64 following the news that the SEC is dropping its lawsuit against Ripple.

This increase signals a strengthening market trend, as the ADX tracks the overall strength of a trend without specifying its direction.

The recent surge suggests that the price action is gaining conviction, especially as the market digests the positive legal developments surrounding Ripple.

XRP DMI.
XRP DMI. Source: TradingView.

The ADX is often used alongside the +DI and -DI indicators, which help identify trend direction. Typically, an ADX above 25 confirms a strong trend, while values below 20 suggest a weak or range-bound market.

In XRP’s case, the +DI has jumped from 18.3 to 39, while the -DI has dropped from 19.63 to 12.97, indicating a clear bullish divergence.

This sharp rise in buying strength (+DI) combined with a weakening bearish signal (-DI) supports the idea that XRP is attempting to maintain and possibly extend its uptrend. If this dynamic continues, it could see further upside in the short term as bullish momentum builds.

XRP Active Addresses Are Reaching New Records

XRP’s network activity has been surging, with the number of 7-day Active Addresses reaching an all-time high of 1.19 million. This is a massive increase from the 237,000 recorded on February 27, marking an almost fivefold rise in just a few weeks.

The spike in active addresses signals that XRP’s blockchain is seeing heightened participation, whether from retail traders, institutional players, or speculative interest.

Such elevated levels of activity are rarely seen and could indicate growing attention and usage of the network.

7-Day XRP Active Addresses.
7-Day XRP Active Addresses. Source: Santiment.

Tracking the number of active addresses is crucial as it offers insight into the level of user engagement and real demand on the blockchain.

Generally, an increase in active addresses can suggest that more participants are transacting or interacting with the network, which often correlates with stronger liquidity and potentially higher price volatility. In XRP’s case, this record-breaking surge in activity could act as a bullish signal, hinting at growing interest and possibly renewed capital inflows.

While it doesn’t guarantee immediate price appreciation, such strong network participation could help support XRP’s price and reduce downside risk, especially if coupled with other bullish technical or fundamental factors.

Can XRP Reach $3 Soon?

Its EMA lines are currently pointing to a potential new golden cross forming soon.

Should this scenario unfold, XRP price may first challenge the resistance at $2.648. If buying momentum strengthens further, the price might push toward $2.99, potentially breaking above the barrier at $3.

XRP Price Analysis.
XRP Price Analysis. Source: TradingView.

Conversely, a renewed downtrend could take shape if the bullish momentum fails to materialize and XRP’s price struggles to hold above its current range.

In this case, the key support level at $2.47 would become clear. A breakdown below this threshold could expose XRP to further downside risk, testing $2.21 and possibly driving it down to as low as $1.90.

The post Can XRP Reach a New All-Time High As the Ripple Lawsuit is Over? appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Pi Network Users Allege Bot Activity on CoinMarketCap Affecting Community Sentiment

Pi Network’s community sentiment poll on CoinMarketCap fell dramatically today, leading to allegations of bot activity. Negative votes swarmed the site’s poll, while other community ratings stayed positive.

However, there is no clear proof either for or against these claims. Pi Network has suffered criticism and price setbacks recently, and its supporters have swayed polls, votes, and ratings on multiple occasions.

Did Bots Sabotage Pi Network’s Community Sentiment?

Since its launch on February 20, Pi Network has seen more than its share of controversies. Critics have attacked its accessibility, governance, transparency, and more, and multiple governments have called it a scam.

Today, however, Pi supporters raised concerns about bot activity on CoinMarketCap after the token’s community sentiment plummeted:

“It looks like somebody is using bots to vote against PI. I am 99% sure this is not an organic poll. Over 1.94 Million votes is even bigger than the BTC vote. 77% of the PI community is bullish on CoinGecko. Why is it so different on CoinMarketCap?” a Pioneer asked on social media.

Specifically, this user noted that Pi’s community sentiment plunged 90% in less than a day and that this poll had more participants than Bitcoin’s.

Other platforms with a similar voting mechanism kept Pi’s rating steady, leading him to conclude that bot activity was involved.

Pi Community Sentiment Plummets
Pi Community Sentiment Plummets. Source: Moon Jeff

It’s very difficult to assess the veracity of these Pi Network bot allegations for several reasons. First of all, the token’s price has suffered dramatically this week.

Many users lost huge sums of Pi tokens after the KYC migration deadline, and massive investor sell-offs have triggered a price rout. Some of this negative sentiment may be genuine.

Additionally, it’s interesting that CoinMarketCap is the only platform involved in the Pi Network bot voting allegations. The firm refused to acknowledge Pi as one of the largest tokens by market cap, but it eventually relented.

Either the platform or its community could bear resentment towards Pi after these setbacks.

Furthermore, the community does have a reputation for vote brigading. Bybit’s CEO has repeatedly criticized Pi, and the token’s supporters review-bombed the Bybit app in response. They did a similar practice with Binance after the exchange delayed a Pi listing.

Ultimately, it seems very unlikely that disgruntled Pi supporters or committed haters spiked this poll without any bot activity. The negative votes came in absurdly fast, were isolated to one platform, and exceeded the votes for even the largest cryptoassets.

As of now, it remains challenging to find definitive proof either way.

The post Pi Network Users Allege Bot Activity on CoinMarketCap Affecting Community Sentiment appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Notcoin (NOT) Launches Not Games Amidst a Sharp Decline in TON Users

Open Builders, the team behind Notcoin, Lost Dogs, and Not Pixel, has announced the launch of Not Games in March. The project aims to revitalize the Notcoin (NOT) ecosystem by introducing games where players can earn tokens for free.

Open Builders revealed this plan at a time when interest in Telegram-based mini-games has dropped significantly, and TON’s user base has fallen to its lowest level in a year.

Notcoin (NOT) Seeks to Renew User Interest Through Not Games

In a press release shared with BeInCrypto, Open Builders clarified that Not Games is not a standalone game on Telegram. Instead, it is an interconnected gaming ecosystem that links multiple titles.

Within this ecosystem, Open Builders will introduce Game Profiles, shared inventories, and an in-game marketplace where players can trade with each other. This system gives the NOT token a broader use case, and it’s expected to transform the token from a simple tap-to-earn reward into a valuable asset within the gaming economy.

“Instead of fragmented tokenomics, Not Games will integrate NOT as the primary currency for purchases, upgrades, and rewards across all games. Every three weeks, the most skilled players will compete for rewards in NOT, ensuring a play-to-win experience, rather than a pay-to-win model.” – the Notcoin team told BeInCrypto.

Currently, Open Builders has already launched a game called VOID and confirmed that at least five more games are in development.

Tap-to-Earn and TON’s Shrinking User Base

Notcoin (NOT) gained massive popularity in 2024, driven by the tap-to-earn trend alongside projects like Hamster Kombat (HMSTR) and Yescoin, TapSwap, and Blum. Within the first six months of 2024, Notcoin attracted 35 million players.

However, Google Trends data indicates that interest in Notcoin has sharply declined and has nearly faded by 2025.

Notcoin Performance on Google Trends. Source: Google Trend.

Additionally, Tgstat data reveals that the Notcoin Community’s Telegram membership has dropped by nearly 2 million since the beginning of the year.

Even after NOT’s listing on Kraken in mid-February, its price only surged briefly on the listing day before continuing its downward trend, hitting new lows in 2025. This suggests that investor interest in NOT has faded.

TON Daily Active Address. Source: Artemis.

Moreover, Artemis data shows that daily active addresses on The Open Network (TON) have dropped from 2.4 million in October 2024 to just 130,000 at the time of writing.

The declining TON user base poses a major challenge for Notcoin (NOT) and its efforts to build a sustainable ecosystem.

The post Notcoin (NOT) Launches Not Games Amidst a Sharp Decline in TON Users appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Hyperliquid (HYPE) Surges 15% as Indicators Signal Further Gains

Hyperliquid (HYPE) is showing strong technical signals across multiple indicators, with the token surging more than 15% in the last 24 hours. The platform continues to demonstrate impressive market performance, generating $47 million in fees over the past 30 days and outperforming major blockchain networks like Ethereum and Solana.

Technical indicators suggest a potential golden cross formation, meaning HYPE could test $21 or even $25.80 in the coming period.

Hyperliquid Revenue Places It Among Top Protocols In Crypto

Hyperliquid is currently one of the most successful protocols in crypto. Over the past 30 days, it has generated an impressive $47 million in fees and recently reached $1 trillion in perps volume.

While this places it behind major players such as Jito, Pumpfun, and PancakeSwap in terms of monthly revenue, Hyperliquid has surpassed significant blockchain apps and chains, including Solana, Ethereum, Raydium, and Phantom.

Selected Protocols and Chains Revenue. Last 24 hours, Last 7 Days, and Last 30 Days.
Selected Protocols and Chains Revenue. Last 24 hours, Last 7 Days, and Last 30 Days. Source: DefiLlama.

What makes Hyperliquid’s success particularly remarkable is that, unlike most other high-performing protocols that operate on established blockchain networks such as BNB, Solana, or Ethereum, Hyperliquid functions as its own independent chain.

With the exception of Tron, virtually all other major protocols rely on parent blockchains, whereas Hyperliquid has achieved its substantial revenue figures as a standalone entity.

Despite this impressive performance and unique positioning, HYPE has experienced considerable downward price pressure recently, trading below the $20 threshold for sixteen consecutive days, creating a notable disconnect between the protocol’s operational success and its market valuation.

HYPE DMI Shows Buyers Are In Control

The HYPE DMI (Directional Movement Index) chart shows promising momentum shifts, with the ADX (Average Directional Index) rising from 15.7 to 19, suggesting a strengthening trend conviction.

More significantly, the +DI (Positive Directional Indicator) has surged from 18 to 29.1, while the -DI (Negative Directional Indicator) has declined from 21.8 to 13.5. This crossover pattern, where +DI rises above -DI, typically signals a potential bullish reversal.

The increasing spread between these indicators and the rising ADX suggests that buying pressure is overcoming selling pressure, potentially setting the stage for HYPE to break above its recent sub-$20 trading range.

HYPE DMI.
HYPE DMI. Source: TradingView.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is a momentum oscillator that measures the speed and change of price movements. Readings above 70 are typically considered overbought, and below 30 are considered oversold.

HYPE’s RSI climbing from 54.5 to 66 indicates growing bullish momentum that hasn’t yet reached extreme levels. This uptick suggests strengthening buyer interest while remaining below the overbought threshold of 70.

HYPE RSI.
HYPE RSI. Source: TradingView.

The fact that HYPE hasn’t reached overbought levels since December 2024 implies there may still be room for price appreciation before any potential pullback.

Together with the DMI indicators, this RSI reading reinforces the possibility of continued upward movement in HYPE’s price in the near term.

Will Hyperliquid Rise Above $20 This Week?

The HYPE Exponential Moving Average (EMA) lines are converging toward a potential golden cross formation, which occurs when a shorter-term moving average crosses above a longer-term one.

This technical pattern typically signals a strong bullish momentum shift that could propel HYPE to test its immediate resistance level at $17. Should buyers successfully break through this threshold, the path would open for HYPE to climb toward the $21 mark.

In scenarios where exceptional buying pressure materializes, Hyperliquid could extend its gains to challenge the significant resistance level at $25.80, representing a substantial recovery from its recent sub-$20 trading range.

HYPE Price Analysis.
HYPE Price Analysis. Source: TradingView.

Conversely, if the anticipated uptrend fails to materialize and bearish sentiment prevails, HYPE could experience renewed downward pressure, forcing it to test the critical support level at $12.43.

The importance of this support cannot be overstated, as a breach below this floor could trigger accelerated selling, potentially pushing HYPE under the psychologically significant $12 level for the first time since December 2024.

The post Hyperliquid (HYPE) Surges 15% as Indicators Signal Further Gains appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Top 3 BNB Meme Coins To Watch For the Last Week of March

BNB meme coins are gaining traction as the BNB ecosystem experiences a surge. PancakeSwap has been leading DEX volumes globally over the past seven days, surpassing both Raydium and Uniswap.

Among the top contenders making waves are Mubarak, Palu, and FairMint, each capturing significant attention in this fast-moving space. Mubarak is leading the pack with explosive early growth, while Palu is emerging as a potential flagship meme coin. Meanwhile, FairMint is positioning itself as a unique launchpad, aiming to become BNB’s version of Pumpfun.

Mubarak

Mubarak has quickly become one of the most talked-about meme coins in the BNB ecosystem over the past few days. Yesterday, its market cap briefly approached the $200 million mark before pulling back to around $112 million today.

The project surged onto the scene with remarkable traction, fueled by growing hype and speculative interest in BNB-based assets.

mubarak Market Info.
mubarak Market Info. Source: Dexscreener.

In just a short period, Mubarak has gained over 20,000 holders, recorded daily volumes of $66 million, and witnessed nearly 35,000 transactions per day. However, despite this initial momentum, the token is now undergoing a sharp correction, down 25% in the past 24 hours.

Even so, with the BNB ecosystem continuing to attract fresh capital and broader market attention, there is still potential for Mubarak to rebound and possibly retest its previous highs near the $200 million market cap level if buying interest returns.

Binance’s Palu (Palu)

As BNB meme coins continue to dominate the spotlight, several projects are competing to become the face of the ecosystem, much like Shiba Inu did with Ethereum and Bonk with Solana.

One of the contenders is Palu, a relatively new token launched just under six days ago. Palu has already attracted nearly 5,000 holders and reached a market cap of $864,000, slightly down from its recent high of almost $900,000.

The project is positioning itself to potentially fill the role of a flagship meme coin within the BNB chain.

Palu Market Info.
Palu Market Info. Source: Dexscreener.

Despite suffering a sharp 75% correction over the past 24 hours – a scenario not uncommon among meme coins across various blockchains – Palu is still maintaining solid activity, with daily trading volumes near $4 million.

If sentiment in the BNB meme coins sector stabilizes and Palu regains its momentum, the project could attempt to climb back toward key psychological milestones, with market cap targets of around $1 million and possibly even $2 million in the near term.

FairMint FAIR (FAIR)

FairMint is a newly launched BNB meme coins launchpad that has been live for less than three days.

Trying to differentiate itself from other platforms such as Pumpfun, FairMint introduces distinctive mechanics.

For example, it enables all users to mint tokens at the same price while also ensuring that 95% of tokens maintain liquidity at the mint price via single-sided liquidity provisioning.

FAIR Market Info.
FAIR Market Info. Source: Dexscreener.

Currently, FairMint has gathered close to 3,500 holders, boasts a daily trading volume of $11.7 million, and records over 24,000 transactions per day.

While Pumpfun has established itself as the leading launchpad on Solana, the BNB chain still lacks a dominant player in this niche.

If FairMint can sustain its strong early momentum and community engagement, FairMint could be poised to push toward market cap milestones of $5 million and potentially even $10 million in the coming days.

The post Top 3 BNB Meme Coins To Watch For the Last Week of March appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Bitnomial To Launch First Regulated XRP Futures in the US, Boosting ETF Odds

Bitnomial announced that it will launch an XRP futures contract tomorrow, the first in the US. The announcement comes after the SEC reportedly dropped its landmark lawsuit against Ripple today.

Bitnomial dropped its own suit against the Commission regarding the regulatory status of this offering. An XRP futures contract could help lay the critical groundwork for spot ETF approval.

XRP Futures Contract For US Institutional Traders

Since the SEC dropped its lawsuit against Ripple this morning, the price of XRP has responded very positively. This landmark case carried a lot of implications for the entire crypto industry, and naturally, it’ll have a knock-on effect on other topics.

Case in point, Bitnomial subsequently announced that it will launch an XRP futures contract tomorrow.

“Bitnomial is launching the first-ever CFTC-regulated XRP futures in the US — physically settled for real market impact. Plus, we’ve voluntarily dismissed our case against the SEC as regulatory clarity improves. Current clients have access to XRP futures on March 20, 2025. Prospective clients can onboard with one of our FCM partners,” the firm claimed.

XRP futures are standardized derivative contracts that allow traders to speculate on or hedge against future price movements of the altcoin with physical settlement. They promote market maturity by enhancing liquidity, improving price discovery, and providing a regulated avenue for risk management.

Bitnomial tried to launch an XRP futures contract in 2024, but the SEC blocked the effort. The Commission claimed that these futures contracts would qualify as securities, and Bitnomial sued it to defend its position.

Now, the firm is dropping its suit and will launch these contracts through Botanical, a CFTC-regulated exchange. No SEC involvement is required.

“Crypto derivatives exchange Bitnomial plans to drop its own lawsuit against Wall Street’s top cop after suing the agency in October over its claim that it had jurisdiction over Bitnomial’s planned XRP futures contract,” wrote Eleanor Terrett.

In other words, this looks like a huge win for the XRP community. The SEC has recently signaled that it might allow the CFTC to regulate more crypto products, and it seems like this is starting.

If the SEC continues passing crypto-related financial products to its sister Commission, it could be a very bullish trend.

Notably, the futures contract might also help XRP ETF approval odds. Recently, the SEC delayed several applications to create one, and its status is in limbo.

However, this would be the first XRP futures contract in the US after months of delays. Solana fans are hoping that its own futures contract will improve ETF chances, as it did with BTC and ETH.

Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, recently spoke in an interview about the SEC case and a few other topics. He explicitly confirmed that Ripple could not overturn a previous ruling against the firm, as it tried to do. He said that Ripple may continue fighting for the right to sell XRP to institutional investors, but he isn’t certain.

Garlinghouse is certain, however, that an XRP ETF will happen soon. He didn’t comment on Bitnomial’s XRP futures contract, but he cited other factors.

“I have immense confidence on the ETF. I think there’s 11 different filings pending with the SEC to launch ETFs. I think those will be live in the second half of this year,” Garlinghouse claimed.

In other words, things are looking good for Ripple supporters overall. The SEC lawsuit is over, and Bitnomial’s new XRP futures contract might help lay the groundwork for an ETF.

The post Bitnomial To Launch First Regulated XRP Futures in the US, Boosting ETF Odds appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Bubblemaps (BMT) Faces Profit-Taking After 147% Rally From Binance Listing

Bubblemaps (BMT) recently saw a surge in price following the Binance Token Generation Event (TGE) and its subsequent listing. This rally sparked investor excitement, pushing the price to a new all-time high. 

However, the momentum was short-lived, as many investors quickly took profits, leading to a 17% decline.

Bubblemaps Notes Selling Pressure

The Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) indicator showed a downtick over the last day, reflecting rising outflows as investors sell off their holdings. This drop in the CMF suggests that the momentum from the initial rally is beginning to fade. 

With the indicator still struggling to move above the zero line, the lack of sustained inflows signals that the rally may lose steam in the coming days. Investors are likely cashing out after the initial excitement, which could keep BMT price from maintaining its upward trajectory.

The absence of fresh capital flowing into the asset further complicates any potential recovery. 

BMT CMF
BMT CMF. Source: TradingView

The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator also points to weakening momentum. After showing positive signals earlier in the rally, the MACD has shifted towards a bearish crossover, suggesting a shift from positive to negative momentum.

The initial bullish trend appears to be losing strength, and the price could follow suit in the near term.

The MACD’s shift to bearish territory confirms that the market sentiment around Bubblemaps is starting to sour. The change in momentum is often an early sign of further declines, and this could lead to more selling as traders react to the negative signals.

BMT MACD
BMT MACD. Source: TradingView

BMT Price Aims For A New High

Bubblemaps has seen a significant 147% price increase over the past 48 hours. However, after the recent 17% drop, the price is now trading at $0.226. Given the current market conditions, BMT could experience further declines, potentially falling to $0.194 or even as low as $0.119 if investor sentiment continues to drop.

Should the outflows continue, Bubblemaps could struggle to recover. The lack of strong inflows and the shift in momentum from bullish to bearish will likely limit any upside.

A drop below $0.194 would solidify a bearish outlook, and the altcoin may need more substantial market support to avoid further losses.

BMT Price Analysis.
BMT Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

However, if inflows pick up and buying pressure strengthens, there is potential for a price rebound. A breach of the $0.274 resistance level could pave the way for a new all-time high above $0.325, invalidating the current bearish trend and signaling renewed investor confidence.

The post Bubblemaps (BMT) Faces Profit-Taking After 147% Rally From Binance Listing appeared first on BeInCrypto.

FOMC Rejects Further Interest Rate Cuts, Disappointing Crypto Market

The FOMC concluded its latest meeting by announcing that it will not cut US interest rates. This decision was largely priced in, and the crypto market hasn’t seriously suffered.

Rate cuts would’ve provided a bullish narrative to juice fresh investment, which the market desperately needs. Bearish signals are growing alongside fears of a US recession.

Federal Reserve Says No to Rate Cuts

The Federal Reserve just finished its Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), which determines much of US financial policy. The crypto industry was waiting with bated breath to see if the FOMC would decide to cut interest rates.

However, the FOMC made its report to the public and claimed that no rate cuts would be taking place.

“The Committee seeks to achieve maximum employment and inflation at the rate of 2 percent over the longer run. Uncertainty around the economic outlook has increased. The Committee is attentive to the risks to both sides of its dual mandate. In support of its goals, the Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 4.25% to 4.5%,” it said. 

This news more or less fits with the industry’s expectations. Fed Chair Jerome Powell already clearly stated that the FOMC doesn’t plan to cut interest rates.

The industry hoped that rate cuts could provide a bullish narrative, especially while the markets are afraid. For now, it seems like it’ll need to find an optimistic signal somewhere else.

Despite uncertainty from tariffs and bold fiscal policies, officials expect interest rates to drop by another half percentage point by 2025. Since the Fed typically adjusts rates in 0.25% steps, that means we’re likely to see two cuts this year.

Federal Reserves Still Project Two Rate Cuts in 2025
Federal Reserves Still Project Two Rate Cuts This Year. Source: CNBC

Rate cuts would be bullish for investors, especially for risk-on assets like cryptoassets. However, this isn’t the Federal Reserve’s only concern. The FOMC alluded to its “dual mandate” when denying rate cuts. In other words, it needs to juggle investor concerns with consumer inflation fears, uncertainty around Trump’s tariffs, and a possible US recession.

If the FOMC were to slash interest rates, it would likely boost US inflation. The most recent CPI report was better than expected, and some in the industry hoped that this would build confidence. Ultimately, the main hopes rested with President Trump, who personally advocated for rate cuts. However, he didn’t make a major intervention.

It’s not all bad, though. The FOMC also announced would slow Quantitative tightening (QT) by reducing the monthly redemption cap on Treasury securities from $25 billion to $5 billion.

Some members of the community were pleased by this news, as slower QT can increase market liquidity. This announcement is at least some consolation for investors.

In any event, this lack of rate cuts was expected and priced in. The FOMC didn’t shock anybody by refusing to cut interest rates, and the market hasn’t been chaotic. A few of the top-performing cryptoassets suffered minor losses, but no substantial drops have materialized.

Crypto Reacts to FOMC Decision
Crypto Reacts to FOMC Decision. Source: BeInCrypto

The crypto industry has been desperate for a bullish narrative, and some major players are visibly cracking at the seams.

The FOMC, however, did not provide this narrative via rate cuts. Hopefully, crypto will find something else to be optimistic about before a full-blown market correction takes hold.

The post FOMC Rejects Further Interest Rate Cuts, Disappointing Crypto Market appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Cardano’s Supply Tightens as Whales Buy 190 Million ADA in 24 Hours – What Next?

Cardano has noted significant whale activity over the past 24 hours, aligning with the broader market recovery. During that period, the total crypto market capitalization has added another $50 billion, signaling renewed bullish momentum.

As bullish pressure strengthens, ADA appears poised to re-commence an upward trend.

Cardano Sees Heavy Whale Accumulation

On-chain data shows that Cardano whales, holding between 100 million and 1 billion coins, have acquired 190 million ADA in the past 24 hours. This cohort of large ADA investors currently holds 3.22 billion coins. 

ADA Supply Distribution
ADA Supply Distribution. Source: Santiment

When whales increase their coin holdings, it signals strong confidence in the asset’s future price potential.

Large-scale accumulation like this would reduce ADA’s available supply in the market, which can drive up its price if demand remains steady. The trend indicates a bullish outlook, as whales typically buy in anticipation of higher prices.

ADA’s Network Realized Profit/Loss (NPL) further supports this bullish outlook. At press time, it stands at -15.87 million. 

ADA NPL.
ADA NPL. Source: Santiment

This metric measures the net profit or loss of all coins moved on the blockchain depending on their acquisition cost. When an asset’s NPL is negative, many investors are holding at a loss. 

This situation is known to reduce the selling pressure in the market, as traders may choose to hold their assets instead of realizing losses, which could support a potential price rebound. 

The steady dip in ADA’s NPL indicates that many holders are sitting on unrealized losses. To avoid selling at a loss, they may choose to hold onto their investments, reducing selling pressure. The increased holding time could, in turn, drive up ADA’s price as supply tightens in the market.

ADA’s Buying Pressure Increases—Will It Fuel a Price Breakout?

At press time, ADA trades at $0.72. On the daily chart, the coin’s Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) is in an uptrend and poised to cross above the zero line, highlighting the rise in buying pressure.

The indicator measures fund flows into and out of an asset. When it attempts to break above the zero line, it signals a potential shift from selling pressure to buying pressure. 

If the breakout is sustained, it would confirm strengthening bullish momentum in the ADA market and hint at a potential price uptrend. In this case, the coin’s price could rally toward $0.82.

ADA Price Analysis.
ADA Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

However, if selloffs intensify, this bullish projection will be invalidated. In that scenario, ADA’s price could fall to $0.60. 

The post Cardano’s Supply Tightens as Whales Buy 190 Million ADA in 24 Hours – What Next? appeared first on BeInCrypto.