Hedera (HBAR) has been stuck in a prolonged period of consolidation, leaving traders unsure of its next move. While its stability has prevented significant losses, it has also left market participants waiting for a breakout, with growing impatience in the community. This indecisiveness has caused Hedera traders to closely watch Bitcoin for cues, as the two assets share a growing correlation.
The funding rate for HBAR, which has been fluctuating between positive and negative, mirrors the market’s uncertainty. Traders are positioning themselves to capitalize on either a potential price surge or a further decline, but this tug-of-war of sentiment has resulted in an erratic funding rate. This volatility suggests that participants are unsure whether Hedera is poised for a breakout or if further downside is more likely.
In the midst of this uncertainty, traders’ impatience could lead to abrupt decisions, which could further impact HBAR’s price. With sentiment divided, the altcoin may face additional pressure, continuing its lack of momentum. Currently, HBAR’s macro momentum is closely tied to Bitcoin, which has a correlation of 0.65 with the asset. If Bitcoin manages to reclaim the $100,000 mark and sustains its rally, HBAR could see a similar boost, breaking free from its consolidation phase.
However, Bitcoin’s performance remains pivotal. Should Bitcoin falter, HBAR’s reliance on its correlation with the leading cryptocurrency could put it at risk. As of now, HBAR is trading at $0.27, hovering between the $0.25 and $0.33 range. Without a clear sentiment shift, this sideways movement could persist, leaving traders uncertain about the asset’s trajectory.
For HBAR to break out of its current consolidation, it will need Bitcoin’s momentum. A move above $0.33, supported by broader market positivity, could propel Hedera toward $0.39, invalidating the bearish outlook. Conversely, if market sentiment continues to sour, HBAR may test critical support levels, potentially pushing it lower. The next few weeks could be crucial for Hedera’s fate, with Bitcoin’s performance likely to set the tone for its next major move.
A recent report from Reown reveals that the on-chain ecosystem is maturing, with users expanding their engagement beyond trading activities. Many believe that payments and artificial intelligence (AI) will be crucial in driving the wider adoption of on-chain technology.
Despite optimism about crypto’s future, challenges such as fees, security, and interoperability persist.
The Future of Crypto Adoption
Reown shared its report, “The State of Onchain UX,” with BeInCrypto. It draws from a survey of 1,038 active crypto users in the US and UK, conducted between February 19 and February 26, 2025.
“For crypto payments to truly reach the mainstream, they must match the ease of traditional fintech experiences. Users should be able to transact effortlessly without needing to understand blockchain mechanics,” Reown’s Payments Product Manager Mirna Barca wrote.
AI is seen as another key driver, with 35% of users identifying it as a major catalyst for adoption. Nonetheless, while AI’s potential is acknowledged, there is some skepticism about blockchain’s role in AI development.
Only 29% believe the two technologies will complement each other. Meanwhile, just 18% see crypto as facilitating AI’s progress.
“Despite trading taking the crown when it comes to user activity today, payments and AI dominate as the two themes users feel will play bigger roles on a greater scale, suggesting that the leading services users access today does not reflect what they believe to drive its long-term value,” the report read.
Shortly after President Trump took office, the SEC established a crypto task force to create a clear regulatory framework for digital assets. In fact, new SEC chairman Paul Atkins has also stressed the importance of crypto regulation, calling it a ‘top priority.’
This focus has contributed significantly to industry optimism, and user data exemplifies that. 86% of users believe it will drive mainstream adoption, while 14% think it will slow innovation.
“We’re in the final throes of regulatory uncertainty in the US. In Europe, MiCA is finally taking shape, but a lack of precedent has kept innovators guessing, just like in the US. The industry is on the cusp of regulatory clarity but we aren’t quite there yet,” Marco Santori, Director of WalletConnect Foundation, remarked.
What Are the Top Factors Holding Back Widespread Crypto Adoption?
Confidence in on-chain security has risen significantly, with 69% of users feeling safe, up from 50.5% last year. However, so have phishing attacks. The number of phishing attacks reported by users has grown to 21%, up from 14.4%.
“Phishing attacks are up, and that’s a problem. But security UX still isn’t where it needs to be. If we can make transaction signing clearer and build in fraud protection, we can help users feel more in control,” Reown’s CEO Jess Houlgrave commented.
A notable 44% of users now use multiple wallets for security reasons, up from 32.8% in 2024. In addition, 18% of users cite security concerns, such as hacks and scams, as a barrier to engaging on-chain.
Challenges in Mainstream Crypto Adoption. Source: Reown
Notably, users also emphasized the need for interoperability, with 47% considering it very important. Additionally, 18% cited a lack of interoperability as a barrier. Despite this, only 14% listed it as one of the core issues that need to be resolved.
Therefore, the report draws attention to the need for developers to focus on real-world use cases, ensuring seamless, secure, and cost-effective user experiences. It also highlights a disconnect between user expectations, centered on payments and social apps, and current behavior, which remains heavily trading-focused.
“Understanding and addressing this dynamic will be critical to achieving true mainstream adoption,” the report noted.
With 67% of survey participants optimistic about crypto’s development, the on-chain ecosystem is poised for growth. However, addressing security, fees, and interoperability will be essential to unlocking its full potential and driving the next wave of mainstream engagement.
Traders and investors are gearing up for a big week, with many crypto events in the pipeline. Accordingly, heightened volatility is expected, but crypto airdrops provide a gateway worth considering.
Crypto airdrops offer investors a chance to join promising projects at their early stages with little to no initial investment. The following airdrop opportunities may be worth considering for the first week of May.
Miden
Boasting up to $25 million in funding, Miden presents the first crypto airdrop to consider this week. The project enjoys backing from notable investors such as Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), 1kx, Hack VC, and Symbolic Capital.
“Today, we announce our $25 million seed fundraise and spinout from Polygon,” Miden announced recently.
Miden is a ZK-rollup L2 blockchain built on Ethereum and spun from Polygon Labs. It enables private, scalable smart contracts. The project plans to airdrop 10% of its native tokens to Polygon (POL) stakers.
This initiative aims to reward Polygon’s ecosystem and incentivize participation in Miden’s zero-knowledge-powered network. By shifting execution to client devices, this enhances privacy and scalability.
“…Miden can support potentially infinite TPS by supporting client-side proving. It also supports opt-in privacy,” wrote Polygon executive Sandeep Nailwal.
The airdrop aligns with Miden’s integration into Polygon’s AggLayer, boosting cross-chain liquidity. Snapshots for eligibility began shortly after the announcement on April 29, with the mainnet launch scheduled for Q4 2025.
In the meantime, Miden is already planning a testnet, and airdrop farmers can perform the first activities to get a chance to become early users.
Camp Network
Another crypto airdrop to watch is on the Camp Network, which has raised up to $29 million. Investors such as Blockchain Capital, OKX Ventures, HTX Ventures, 1kx, and Maven 11 Capital, among others, back the project.
Camp Network is a Layer-1 blockchain focused on intellectual property (IP) management and AI agent integration. The project launched an incentivized testnet, allowing airdrop farmers to participate by completing simple social tasks to earn points.
“Freaky incentivized testnet update engage with our big steaming hot network of ecosystem partners to climb the leaderboard and win succulent rewards,” Camp Network shared.
Notably, if a token is launched, these points will be converted into project tokens in the future. The points, referred to as “Acorns,” require users to complete tasks like daily check-ins, social media engagement, and interacting with the ecosystem via the testnet faucet.
Mezo
Mezo is the third crypto airdrop to watch for the first week of May. It has raised up to $28.5 million. Backers include Pantera Capital, Multicoin Capital, Ledger, Mantle Network, GSR, Hack VC, and Bybit Exchange.
It is a Bitcoin Layer-2 network focused on enhancing Bitcoin’s utility through borrowing, spending, and earning without selling BTC. It launched a campaign on Galxe where airdrop farmers can complete quests to earn points.
“Complete quests and claim mats! We’ve joined forces with Galxe, so you can earn mats and more—alongside our partners ZeroLend, Velar, Blend, and Pamp Land,” Mezo Network announced.
After completing all the quests, participants can also grab the Galxe Questooor role, with most quests being free. However, for some, airdrop farmers will need to borrow MUSD.
Notably, after opening Galxe tasks on April 24, the Mezo airdrop will remain open until May 27, 2025. Meanwhile, users can also stake to earn points, a function that remains open without a specific deadline.
