Reports of staking TON Token for the UAE Golden Visa offer have gained steam, but CZ is proceeding with cautious optimism. The Binance founder notes that the claim may be “too good to be true,” while scanning the horizon for an official government announcement to back up the claims. CZ Raises Eyebrows Over UAE Golden
A group of pro-crypto Senate Democrats introduced an amendment to the GENIUS Act that is widely expected to fail—on purpose.
The move appears designed to look like opposition while actually helping the stablecoin bill pass. This largely ceremonial opposition will allow Democrats to save face on a potentially unpopular move.
What’s Happening with the GENIUS ACT?
The GENIUS Act, a major bill to regulate stablecoins, has stirred controversy. Critics worry it could enable corruption or destabilize the financial system. Despite those concerns, the bill retains modest bipartisan support and is advancing in the Senate.
Recently, according to multiple reports, Democrats introduced an amendment—the End Crypto Corruption Act—that allows the bill to proceed to a vote, even if the amendment fails.
This unusual strategy prevents Democrats from using a filibuster to block the GENIUS Act, clearing a key legislative hurdle.
In effect, this lets Democrats claim they tried to strengthen the bill without actually stopping it from passing. One source dubbed the move “Schumer 101.”
The reference is based on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s past use of similar procedural tactics to prevent a government shutdown.
“The [GENIUS Act] as it currently stands still has numerous issues that must be addressed. While we are eager to continue working with our colleagues to address these issues, we would be unable to vote for cloture should the current version of the bill come to the floor,” a joint statement from the amendment’s Democratic supporters read.
Why This Matters
The amendment is symbolic. It won’t pass, but it gives cover to pro-crypto Democrats who don’t want to publicly back the GENIUS Act outright.
Also, it neutralizes the filibuster threat. A filibuster is a procedural tactic used in the US Senate to delay or block a vote on a bill or nomination. By introducing this amendment via a cloture vote, Democrats can’t later use the filibuster to block the bill.
Most importantly, it ensures forward momentum. Even with some public opposition, the GENIUS Act can now reach a vote and likely pass.
Recently, Rep. Maxine Waters led a Democratic boycott of a crypto policy hearing.
The vote for the GENIUS Act’s final fate will take place sometime next week, and a few Democrats still vocally oppose it. Nothing is necessarily guaranteed; Republican defectors may get cold feet.
Still, currently, its chances look very good. Stablecoin regulation in the US may be on the verge of major success.
Crypto scams are surging as more people flock to digital currencies, with fraudsters exploiting the industry’s rapid growth to deceive investors.
Recently, numerous crypto users reported receiving fraudulent emails claiming that the Gemini exchange had filed for bankruptcy. Meanwhile, Coinbase Exchange has admitted that an employee illegally accessed user account information.
Gemini Exchange Addresses Bankruptcy Allegations
Multiple accounts highlighted the scam on social media, indicating that an email circulating falsely claims that Gemini has filed for bankruptcy. The email instructed users to withdraw to an Exodus wallet and provided a seed phrase.
These phishing emails, shared on April 1, urged recipients to withdraw their funds into a specified crypto wallet to protect their assets. This was an attempt to deceive users into transferring their cryptocurrencies to wallets controlled by scammers.
“Do not follow these directions. Please retweet to protect those that may have been doxxed and sent this email,” wrote Jason Williams, a contributor to Fox Business.
The deceptive emails alleged a substantial loss of $1.2 billion by Gemini Exchange. Understandably, some novice investors would heed this email and even move their assets to the address. After all, some victims of FTX Exchange contagion continue to pursue their funds even years after the incident.
“I got one also. It is better than your typical ‘Coin Base’ one, but still not quite there. Might fool a boomer though,” one X user remarked.
However, security experts advise users to always verify information through official channels, avoid clicking on unsolicited links, and refrain from sharing personal data. Gemini issued an official warning in response to the scam, acknowledging the threat against its users.
“We recently learned that some Gemini customers are being targeted with scam emails requesting users to transfer their crypto to outside wallets. Please be aware that Gemini will never request that you send crypto to outside wallets,” the exchange articulated.
Coinbase Admits Employee Illegally Accessed User Account Data
Coinbase exchange acknowledged a privacy violation by one of its staff in a somewhat related development. Specifically, a customer service employee accessed user account information without authorization.
This breach has raised concerns about potential scams targeting Coinbase users. Mike Dudas, a crypto investor and co-founder at The Block, shared an email from Coinbase acknowledging the incident.
“That explains the fake Coinbase phishing emails and phone calls today,” he stated.
This breach coincides with reports of phishing attempts, as users have received fake emails and calls purporting to be from Coinbase. These incidents reflect a broader wave of crypto-related fraud.
Blockchain investigator ZachXBT reported that Coinbase users lost over $65 million to social engineering scams between December 2024 and January 2025.
“Coinbase did not detect it; I sent them the intel,” the blockchain investigated noted.
Additionally, crypto analyst Cobie suggested Kraken might be experiencing a similar issue. Per his post, a new attack may be budding, where attackers infiltrate customer service roles to exfiltrate data.
“Kraken also recently hit with this too. Maybe a new scheme from attackers (get a CS agent employee in, exfil data),” the analyst remarked.
Amidst these events, ZachXBT recently explained how to avoid crypto scams. He emphasizes the importance of conducting thorough research before engaging with new DeFi protocols, especially those forked from existing projects on newly launched EVM chains.
XRP is at a turning point, and analysts are split on its next move. Some warn it could drop to $1 if it loses key support at $2, while others believe it could rally to $30 by May 2025, especially with its recent inclusion in strategic reserves.
In parallel, StratoVM ($SVM) had a 347% increase, and as Bitcoin’s DeFi sector grows, StratoVM could help bring smart contracts, AI, and faster transactions to the network.
Here’s a closer look at what’s going on with both projects.
Will XRP Rebound to $30 After a Drop to $1?
XRP’s price could be in for a dramatic swing. Market expert Ali Martinez warns that if XRP falls below the critical $2 support level, it could tumble by 40%, which would drag its value down to $1. Others share this concern and emphasize that holding above $2 is crucial to prevent a deeper sell-off.
Despite the bearish outlook in the short term, some experts are optimistic. EGRAG CRYPTO believes the token could surge to $30 by May 2025 and cites historical trends and technical patterns. He compares the current market setup to 2017, when XRP consolidated before skyrocketing in price.
One of the key reasons behind this bullish prediction is XRP’s recent inclusion in strategic reserves.
Investors now face a crucial period of uncertainty. If XRP loses its key support, it could drop significantly. But if history repeats itself, a major rebound could happen.
As of today, XRP is trading at around $2.48, up 4.5% in the last 24 hours. Trading volume has been strong, reaching approximately $9.84 billion over the same period.
StratoVM ($SVM): The Breakthrough Layer-2 That Could Transform Bitcoin Beyond Just Digital Gold
Bitcoin is the go-to asset for storing value, often compared to digital gold. But when it comes to smart contracts, DeFi, and AI applications, it lags behind faster blockchains like Ethereum and Solana.
That’s where StratoVM ($SVM) could come in—a Layer-2 solution designed to potentially tap into Bitcoin’s potential beyond just being a store of value.
Unlike Ethereum, which powers countless decentralized apps and financial tools, Bitcoin’s functionality has been limited. StratoVM might be able to change that by making Bitcoin transactions faster, integrating DeFi, and enabling AI-powered applications.
SVM’s price has grown over 347% in the last week, hitting $0.2217, according to CoinGecko. Yet, despite this massive jump, its market cap is still at $3.7 million—small compared to projects like CoreDAO ($990 million). This means there’s still a lot of room for growth if more people start using it.
SVM 7-day chart, Source: CoinGecko
Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s DeFi sector (BTCFi) is exploding. In just a year, the total value locked (TVL) in Bitcoin-based DeFi projects has skyrocketed from $307 million to $5.85 billion, according to DefiLlama. With that kind of momentum, demand for Layer-2 solutions like StratoVM could soar.
StratoVM is already gaining traction—it’s listed on Uniswap, and rumors are circling about a centralized exchange (CEX) listing. The project’s testnet is active, with 113,000 wallets and 56,000 daily transactions.
If StratoVM achieves its goal, Bitcoin could break past its traditional role and step into DeFi, smart contracts, and AI.
Final Thoughts
XRP’s next move is uncertain—some expect a drop to $1, while others see a rally to $30. Either way, it’s a crucial time for investors.
Meanwhile, StratoVM ($SVM) seems to be gaining momentum and showing that Bitcoin can do more than just store value. If it keeps growing, it could help Bitcoin compete in DeFi, smart contracts, and AI.
Disclaimer: It’s important to note that participating in presales carries risks, including market volatility and potential project delays. Please conduct thorough research, understand the risks of market volatility, and seek professional advice before engaging with any blockchain project. Future-oriented statements are speculative and may not be modified.
The post XRP News Today: Expert Says XRP Could Drop To 1$ Amid Market Dump And Then Rally to 30$ Ahead of Strategic Reserve appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
XRP is at a turning point, and analysts are split on its next move. Some warn it could drop to $1 if it loses key support at $2, while others believe it could rally to $30 by May 2025, especially with its recent inclusion in strategic reserves. In parallel, StratoVM ($SVM) had a 347% increase, …