SEC Delays Decision on Grayscale’s Ethereum ETF Staking Proposal

The non-fungible token (NFT) sector experienced explosive growth in 2021. Artists, investors, and collectors were all swept up in the frenzy. Yet, its meteoric rise was followed by a downturn, prompting questions about the sector’s sustainability.

Alexander Salnikov, co-founder of Rarible, believes the market is not facing a collapse but rather a shift. In an exclusive interview with BeInCrypto, Salnikov offered his perspective on the state of NFTs in 2025 and their role moving forward.

Are NFTs Still Relevant in 2025, or Have They Run Their Course?

The rise of NFTs, fueled by excitement and speculation, was inevitable for a market experiencing such rapid innovation. Nonetheless, like many emerging technologies, this early surge was followed by a correction. The hype gave way to the realities of market maturation and sustainability.

According to the latest report by DappRadar, the art NFT market saw an impressive surge in 2021, with trading volumes reaching $2.9 billion. However, by the first quarter of 2025, the trading volume was recorded at just $23.8 million, marking a 93% decline.

Similarly, the number of active traders peaked at a record high of 529,101 in 2022. Yet, this figure sharply declined by 96%, with just 19,575 active traders remaining by Q1 2025. 

A previous industry report from DappRadar revealed that the underwhelming performance wasn’t just a trend in 2025. In fact, 2024 was one of the worst-performing years for the NFT market since 2020. In addition, BeInCrypto also reported on a study that revealed 98% of NFT projects launched in 2024 were essentially “dead.” 

Despite the decline, Rarible’s Salnikov has maintained a positive outlook for the sector. He emphasized the importance of a clear purpose when it comes to NFTs. 

“Once upon a time, after the .com burst, the headlines rang that the internet was only a fad. But as more companies integrated the technology into everyday use cases, it became ingrained as a part of life,” he told BeInCrypto.

Salnikov argued that trust quickly diminishes when NFTs are viewed merely as speculative assets. In contrast, projects rooted in real community engagement or providing tangible utility offer clear value, making their worth easily understood. 

Meanwhile, rather than viewing the sector’s decline as a collapse, the executive sees it as a market recalibration, with the focus shifting away from speculative hype toward projects with more sustainable value. 

“The speculative phase had its moment, but now we’re watching NFTs evolve into actual infrastructure—tools creators use to build communities, products, and new digital economies,” he said.

NFTs Beyond the Hype: Unlocking Real-World Utility 

Salnikov stressed that utility in the NFT space is no longer a distant concept—it is happening right now. Creators are using NFTs for membership, brands for loyalty programs, and games for player identity. 

He pointed to a growing convergence between the digital and physical worlds, with NFTs being tied to merchandise, events, and even real-world assets. Binance Research’s April 2025 report further corroborates this trend. 

The report spotlighted several real-world partnerships, indicating interest in NFTs. Examples include Azuki’s physical-backed NFT with Michael Lau, The Sandbox’s Jurassic World collaboration, EGGRYPTO’s anime characters with Eparida, and Sony’s Soneium platform partnering with LINE to create Web3 mini-apps.

“The next wave of growth isn’t about chasing a trend—it’s about unlocking new types of ownership and access that feel native to the internet generation,” noted Salnikov.

While this perspective offers optimism, the reality for many companies is quite different. Due to low trading volumes, major platforms like Bybit, X2Y2, and Kraken have resorted to discontinuing their NFT services. 

Those that didn’t shut down explored alternative avenues. For instance, Magic Eden expanded beyond NFTs with the acquisition of Slingshot. Nevertheless, Salnikov dismissed this strategy, commenting,

“We’re not trying to bolt on non-NFT features just to stay busy—we’re building NFT commerce that actually fits the communities using it.”

He explained that this approach uses modular, customizable on-chain marketplaces. Creators can tailor them to fit their specific audiences, whether it’s a gaming project, an L3, or a legacy brand.

“NFTs are the feature—they just need the right framing,” the Rarible co-founder stated.

When Fame Fades: The Diminishing Returns of Celebrity-Backed NFTs 

Going back, an interesting trend during the NFT hype era was the involvement of celebrities. High-profile figures like Justin Bieber, Madonna, and Neymar jumped on the bandwagon, attracting substantial attention to the sector. Nonetheless, their investment strategies haven’t fared particularly well.

In January 2022, Bieber spent 500 ETH (approximately $1.3 million at the time) on Bored Ape #3001. This NFT is from Yuga Labs’ Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) collection. 

However, according to the latest data, the NFT is worth only 13.51 WETH (around $24,174), a decline of 98.1%. Although the singer hasn’t sold his NFT, it has received little attention lately, with no promotional efforts or notable discussions around it.

Thus, while celebrities can bring attention to NFTs, this highlights the need for substance beyond the name itself. As Salnikov pointed out, celebrity involvement in the sector is fleeting. 

According to him, a celebrity name alone can’t replace genuine creative direction or a strong community.

“Celebrity drops will come and go—it’s the culture behind them that determines if they stick,” he remarked.

He argued that celebrities treating NFTs as mere merchandise deters audiences. Nevertheless, when an NFT drop is intentional and truly taps into something meaningful like music, fashion, or fandom, that’s where the lasting value is found.

“We’re way more interested in working with creators who are building for the long haul than just chasing headlines,” Salnikov disclosed to BeInCrypto.

The executive also outlined the need for a more accessible and user-friendly approach for attracting interested users. He detailed that onboarding users should not feel “like a tech demo.” Salnikov pointed to Rarible as an example. 

According to him, Rarible focuses on ensuring that each marketplace built on its platform is a product people genuinely want to use. This involves features such as fiat onramps, low-cost mints, a clean user interface, and, most importantly, content that resonates with users. 

“We’re not selling NFTs—we’re powering experiences that just happen to be onchain,” Salnikov concluded.

While the NFT market faces ongoing challenges, it remains to be seen whether the industry is entering a new phase of growth or if further obstacles lie ahead in its evolution.

The post NFT Market Downturn Is a Shift, Not a Collapse, Says Rarible Co-Founder Alexander Salnikov appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Tether just released its Q1 2025 Attestation Report, describing a massive increase in US Treasury bond holdings. The firm purchased over $65 billion in these assets between January 1 and the end of the quarter.

Tether’s report also repeatedly mentioned a potential role in global US dollar flows, calling USDT “the leading digital representation” of this currency. The firm’s treasury holdings now represent more than 80% of its total assets.

Why is Tether Buying US Treasury Bonds?

When Tether, the world’s largest stablecoin issuer, publicized its Q4 2024 Attestation Report, it reported $33 billion in held US Treasury bonds.

An entire quarter has since passed, and the firm’s newest report details a massive pattern of acquisitions. By March 31, it held $98.5 billion in Treasury bonds, with another $21.3 billion in indirect exposure.

The company’s report further claims that its total assets amount to $149.2 billion. In other words, more than 80% of Tether’s assets are directly and indirectly held in US Treasury bonds.

Comparatively, it only holds $7 billion in BTC, which the firm has consistently acquired in the past.

Rumors suggested that the firm would de-prioritize Bitcoin to better align with US stablecoin regulations, and this event may be taking place. If proposed legislation becomes law, the US will require Tether to hold most of its reserve assets in Treasury bonds. Thanks to these acquisitions, that requirement has been fulfilled.

Tether has been reorienting its business in a few key ways to facilitate compliance with US regulations. In late March, President Trump suggested that stablecoins could support dollar dominance, and Tether seems interested in this goal.

The report repeatedly mentioned concepts like “Tether’s growing role in distributing dollar-denominated liquidity” and “supporting the global relevance of the US dollar in a rapidly evolving economy.”

The firm described USDT as “the leading digital representation of the US dollar,” and its CEO, Paolo Ardoino, echoed these sentiments:

“Our mission is clear: to responsibly and compliantly power the digital economy and strengthen the role of the US dollar on the global stage,” he claimed.

If Tether wants to take on this transformative role, its massive US Treasury holdings will substantially help that task. Its holdings are vastly larger than most governments’, to the extent that it could move the global treasury market.

Overall, these purchases will likely drive Tether’s substantial business ventures in the US market soon.

The post Tether Acquired $65 Billion in US Treasury Bonds in Q1 2025 appeared first on BeInCrypto.

Ripple’s XRP has managed a 3% price increase over the past week, in line with the broader crypto market rally that has lifted several major coins. 

However, despite the bullish momentum, a key technical indicator is flashing a warning signal that could undermine XRP’s recent gains.

XRP’s Rally on Thin Ice

XRP’s Chaikin Money Flow (CMF)—an indicator that measures the volume-weighted flow of money into and out of an asset—has been trending downward even as the token’s price has continued to rise. This momentum indicator is currently at 0.03 and trending toward the center line.

The trend forms a bearish divergence between XRP’s price action and CMF, a warning sign of weakening momentum. Typically, the CMF tracks the flow of capital into an asset, so when it declines while prices rise, it suggests that the rally lacks solid support from sustained demand. 

In other words, XRP traders may be buying based on short-term hype rather than long-term conviction. This means its recent gains are vulnerable to being erased, especially if broader market sentiment shifts or profit-taking sets in. 

Further, the altcoin’s negative Balance of Power (BoP) supports this bearish outlook. As of this writing, the indicator is at -0.76, highlighting the weakening demand for XRP. 

When an asset’s BoP is negative like this, sellers exert more influence over price action than buyers. It is a bearish signal that indicates further downside pressure on XRP if the trend continues.

XRP Faces Crucial Test at $2 Support

XRP currently trades at $2.18, holding above support formed at $2.03. If demand weakens further, XRP bulls might be unable to defend this support level, causing the altcoin to fall back below $2, to trade at $1.61.

However, a resurgence in new demand for XRP will invalidate this bearish outlook. In that scenario, its price could rally to $2.29 and charge toward $2.50.

The post XRP Soars Amid Market Hype, But Key Indicator Predicts Trouble appeared first on BeInCrypto.