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Japan’s government bond market faces its worst liquidity crisis since the 2008 financial meltdown. This has prompted fears of a broader economic contagion that could ripple into global crypto markets.
Analysts are sounding the alarm as bond yields surge and long-standing financial structures unravel.
Japan’s Bond Market Crisis Sparks Global Contagion Fears
In just 45 days, Japan’s 30-year government bond yield has surged 100 basis points (bps) to a record 3.20%. Meanwhile, the 40-year bond, previously seen as a “safe” investment, has shed more than 20% in value, with over $500 billion in market losses.
According to analyst Financelot, liquidity in the bond market has also deteriorated to levels last seen during the Lehman Brothers collapse, suggesting a potential impending financial crisis.
“Japan’s bond market liquidity has dropped to 2008 Lehman crisis levels. Are we about to experience another financial crisis?” wrote Financelot on X (Twitter).
The central bank still holds $4.1 trillion in government bonds, 52% of the total outstanding. With this, its grip on the market has distorted pricing and investor expectations.
Japan’s total debt has ballooned to $7.8 trillion, pushing its debt-to-GDP ratio to a record 260%, more than double that of the US.
The fallout has been swift. Japan’s real GDP contracted 0.7% in Q1 2025, more than double the expected 0.3% drop.
Meanwhile, CPI inflation accelerated to 3.6% in April. Real wages, however, plunged 2.1% year-over-year (YoY), intensifying fears of stagflation.
“Japan needs a major restructuring,” warned The Kobeissi Letter, highlighting the fragility of the nation’s economic model.
Bitcoin Emerges as a Safe Haven Amid Yen Carry Trade Unwind
As global investors digest these warning signs, attention is turning to the crypto markets, specifically Bitcoin. The pioneer crypto is progressively presenting as a potential refuge from bond market volatility.
The yen carry trade, a strategy in which investors borrow low-yielding yen to invest in higher-yielding assets abroad, is now under threat.
According to Wolf Street, surging Japanese yields and a weakening economy are squeezing these highly leveraged positions.
“The huge mess is coming home to roost,” the outlet wrote, noting that the unwind of this trade could trigger a global risk-off event.
That shift is already visible. As yields rise in Japan and the UK, demand for Bitcoin has soared in both regions.
“Is it a coincidence that the UK and Japan are seeing huge demand for bitcoin exposure?” analyst James Van Straten posed.
The analyst referenced the 30-year UK gilt yield nearing a 27-year high.
Meanwhile, Cauê Oliveira, Head of Research at BlockTrendsBR, also noted a growing positive correlation between bond volatility and Bitcoin flows, with Bitwise’s European Head of Research, Andre Dragosche, agreeing.
“A lot of big players [are] rotating from bonds to BTC,” Oliveira noted.
BeInCrypto data shows Bitcoin was trading for $109,632 as of this writing, down 0.17% in the last 24 hours.
Still, Bitcoin’s role comes with its own risk. BeInCrypto reported a recent analysis of the yen carry trade, warning that disorderly unwinds could pressure crypto assets alongside traditional markets. This is especially true if a global flight to safety prompts USD strength and capital outflows from risk assets.
Yet, in the long term, Japan’s debt crisis may strengthen Bitcoin’s case as a hedge against monetary instability. As traditional “safe” assets like long-dated sovereign bonds falter, institutions increasingly consider digital assets viable alternatives.
The Dogecoin price is in focus, having gained over 34% in the last seven days. Crypto analyst Rekt Capital has commented on the meme coin’s current price action and highlighted a critical level it needs to hold above to sustain this bullish momentum and rally to $0.27.
Dogecoin Price Could Rally To $0.27 If It Holds This Level
In an X post, Rekt Capital indicated that the Dogecoin price could soon rally to $0.27. However, he remarked that the meme coin needs to hold the green candle at around $0.22 on the weekly chart for it to reach this price target.
This came as he noted DOGE is now performing that key retest of pre-halving resistance into new support. In an earlier analysis, he also revealed that the top meme coin has successfully enjoyed a weekly close above the pre-halving highs. He added that Dogecoin is now on the brink of reclaiming that old resistance around $0.2 as the new support.
Indeed, the Dogecoin price is currently retesting the old resistance as part of a broader crypto market correction. The Bitcoin price has dropped to as low as $100,800 today, dragging altcoins alongside it. As a result, DOGE had fallen to $0.22 from its intraday high of $0.25.
Meanwhile, the meme coin is also at risk of suffering a correction due to the upcoming $100 million Dogecoin token unlock. Token unlocks typically put selling pressure on an asset, which could lead to a significant price decline.
DOGE To Still Reach $1
Despite the recent correction and upcoming token unlock, crypto analyst Crypto Kaleo has predicted that the Dogecoin price will still reach the psychological $1 level. He stated that it is finally time for market participants to start paying attention again to the “king of memes” as it eyes a rally to this price level.
Interestingly, his accompanying chart showed that DOGE could even surpass the $1 level and rally to as high as $3. Meanwhile, the rally to these price levels is expected to happen in the second quarter of this year.
In the short term, the $0.22 price level is the level to watch out for. A Coingape market analysis also noted that a bearish reversal pattern suggests that DOGE may drop to $0.22 before a sustained rally.
XRP’s interest has surged in the last 24 hours, providing a bullish outlook for the altcoin. Based on this, Ripple’s native crypto is eyeing a rebound, with crypto analyst Ali Martinez predicting that the XRP price could rebound to as high as $2.60 if it holds the $2 support.
XRP’s Open Interest Surges Above $3 Billion
CoinGlass data shows that XRP’s open interest has surged in the last 24 hours, rising to as high as $3.61 billion, indicating huge interest in the altcoin at the moment. This provides a bullish outlook for the altcoin, seeing as traders are heavily betting on it.
Crypto analyst Ali Martinez also suggested that Ripple’s native crypto could rebound soon. In an X post, he stated that if XRP can stay above the key $2 level, a 30% move toward the channel’s upper boundary at $2.60 could be next.
Crypto analyst CasiTrades’s prediction also showed that the altcoin could surge to $2.70 if it breaks above $2.24. This could eventually pave the way for Ripple’s native crypto to rally to a new all-time high (ATH).
However, there is still the possibility that the altcoin could also drop to new lows. A CoinGape market analysis revealed that Ripple’s price is at a crossroads, as a wedge pattern signals a 70% crash or 700% surge.
Crypto analyst Rex also predicted that XRP could soon witness a bullish reversal. He stated that a breakout is coming and that this is the most obvious play of the cycle. His accompanying chart showed that XRP could rally to as high as $2.9.
Two Paths For Ripple’s Native Crypto
Crypto analyst Egrag Crypto stated that the XRP price could drop to $0.65 or rally to $17. This is based on an Ascending Broadening Wedge, which is currently forming for the altcoin. The analyst remarked that XRP first needs to close above $3.50 for a solid start.
He claimed that if the altcoin hits the $5 range but doesn’t close above it convincingly, this formation has a higher chance of playing out. Egrag Crypto asserted that XRP must retest $1.90 after being rejected from the $5 range.
Once that happens, the altcoin will need another attempt to close above $5, ideally hitting $6 and closing above that level. The analyst affirmed that XRP will likely blast to double digits within two to three weeks if that happens.
The target move for this Ascending Broadening Wedge is a potential $17.50. This aligns with another prediction in which he stated that the XRP price could rally to double digits by the July 21 cycle peak.
However, Egrag Crypto warned that there is still a 70% chance that XRP breaks to the downside and only a 30% chance for an upside breakout. If the altcoin breaks down, the analyst claims the measured move would take Ripple’s native crypto back to $0.65.