Ethereum price eyes a 250% rally as China’s 34% tariffs on U.S. goods fuel macro uncertainty, driving capital into crypto markets.
Why China’s 34% Tariffs on U.S. Goods Could Propel ETH 250%
Ethereum price traded near $1,820 on Friday, rising 1.6% in a muted performance compared to broader market leaders. While Bitcoin (BTC), Solana (SOL), and XRP all rallied over 3%, ETH lagged behind.
However, China’s 34% tariffs on U.S. imports introduce fresh volatility triggers that could accelerate ETH’s upside momentum.
BTC/Nasdaq Correlation Hits 37-Day Low Amid Trade War Tensions
Markets reacted sharply to China’s unexpected decision to impose 34% tariffs on a broad range of U.S. imports.
Equities dipped in early trading, but crypto assets remained largely resilient.
According to TradingView data, Bitcoin’s correlation with the Nasdaq 100 fell to 0.42, its lowest level since February 25.
Bitcoin Price Correlation to NASDAQ 100 | BTCUSD
Historically, such divergence signals capital rotation. When equities experience trade-related instability, investors often seek alternative hedges, initially favouring Bitcoin.
If momentum continues, ETH price typically follows with steeper gains.
Reallocation Accelerates as Macro Risks Intensify
The current geopolitical backdrop mirrors 2019, when market turbulence from COVID-19 lockdowns led to increased capital inflows into crypto.
With global retaliation measures now escalating following Trump’s tariff rollout, ETH price could soon surpass the $1,900 resistance level and sustain a broader uptrend.
US Fed Rate Pause Could Boost Ethereum’s DeFi Ecosystem
Following the Federal Reserve’s latest policy meeting, another rate pause now seems likely. If traditional savings and treasury yields remain low, investors may shift capital into DeFi for higher returns.
As the leading smart contract platform, Ethereum’s DeFi sector could see rising demand, increasing ETH accumulation.
If additional retaliatory trade measures emerge, alternative assets like ETH may gain further traction.
ETH Price Forecast: Falling Wedge Pattern Hints at a 250% Rally
Ethereum price is forming a falling wedge, a historically bullish pattern suggesting a potential 250% breakout toward $3,200. ETH is testing the wedge’s upper boundary near $1,900, with confirmation requiring a sustained close above this level.
The MACD indicator signals early bullish momentum, with an imminent MACD line crossover. If buyers sustain pressure above VWAP at $1,804, ETH could confirm the wedge breakout and accelerate higher.
ETH Price Forecast
However, rejection at $1,900 could invalidate the bullish outlook, exposing ETH to $1,600 support. A breakdown below this level might send prices toward $1,400, aligning with historical support zones.
Ethereum next move depends on Bitcoin’s strength and macroeconomic trends. If ETH breaks out, it could mirror past parabolic rallies, but failure to breach resistance may lead to deeper corrections before a true recovery. Traders should monitor volume and momentum for confirmation.
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.
Solana price has been one of the top performers this week after bouncing from $134 to trade at $151 at press time. This rally has coincided with a surge in SOL meme coin prices, as their market cap surged by 23% in the last 24 hours to $8.7 billion. These meme coins are gaining after several investors filed a class-action lawsuit against Solana-based DEX Meteora for allegedly orchestrating a $69M pump and dump scheme.
Solana Price in Focus as Meteora DEX Lawsuit Fuels SOL Meme Coins Rally
Solana price tends to rally whenever meme coins created on the blockchain are recording gains, and this is currently the case. At press time, most of the top meme coins on Solana had registered double-digit gains, with popular ones such as BONK and dogwifhat (WIF) surging by more than 20%.
Top 10 Solana Meme Coins
These gains come amid a lawsuit filed on April 21 that accuses Meteora DEX of giving misleading information about a SOL-based meme token known as M3M3, which launched in 2024. Data from CoinGecko shows that the M3M3 meme coin is trading at 98% below its December all-time high.
The plaintiffs claim to have lost more than $69 million within three months of investing in this token. They also accuse the developers of insider trading, fraud, and violating the US securities laws.
This development is fuelling interest in Solana meme coins, which are leading the ongoing price recovery across the crypto market. The rising demand for these meme coins is also driving gains for the SOL value today and causing a spike in blockchain activity.
Meme Coin Frenzy Boosts SOL Network Activity
The meme coin frenzy on Solana has not only caused a spike in price but also network activity. Data from DeFiLlama shows that SOL’s TVL has increased by more than $500M in the last two days alone, and it is approaching a two-month high. Meanwhile, DeX volumes have soared to $2.94 billion, which is the highest since early March.
DeFiLlama
The spike in meme coin trading activity is likely behind these rising volumes, suggesting that as long as SOL-based meme coins record an uptick in demand, the Solana price is poised to continue with its upward trajectory.
Solana price has confirmed a double bottom pattern on its daily price chart and broken past resistance at the neckline, hinting towards a continuation of the current uptrend. SOL confirmed this pattern when it moved above the resistance level of $147. If it can flip this resistance level into support, it will confirm this bullish thesis.
The first target price in this double-bottom pattern is $180, which SOL will attain if it rallies by 20% from its current price. Once it flips the $180 resistance, it will kickstart a strong uptrend towards record highs. The MACD line has crossed above the zero line, confirming the bullish Solana price forecast.
SOL/USDT: 1-day Chart
To sum up, Solana price is surrounded by a myriad of bullish catalysts, including surging meme coin activity, network growth, and a strong technical outlook. As long as these catalysts are present, SOL can hit resistance at $180 before continuing with its rally.
Crypto market has staged a strong upside today with Bitcoin (BTC) price shooting 4% to $109,500 levels, and preparing for new all-time highs and price discovery soon. Latest data shows that BTC has been closely following the M2 Money supply, and its next stop could be to $125,000. Altcoins, too, have joined the party as
