Solana (SOL) has increased by 2% in the last 24 hours, riding the broader market’s optimism ahead of the upcoming FOMC meeting. The Layer-1 (L1) coin currently trades at $147.83.
On-chain data shows a spike in demand for long positions, indicating that a growing number of traders are positioning for a price rally.
Solana Futures Show Strength Ahead of FOMC
The slight uptick in trading activity across the crypto market over the past 24 hours has pushed SOL’s price up by 2%. This modest gain reflects growing investor optimism as markets gear up for today’s FOMC meeting.
SOL’s futures traders have expressed optimism by upping their demand for long positions. According to Coinglass, the coin’s long/short ratio is at a monthly high of 1.04, signaling a preference for long positions among its futures market participants.
The long/short ratio measures the proportion of bullish (long) positions to bearish (short) positions in the market. When its value is below one, more traders are betting on an asset’s price dip than on its rally.
Conversely, as with SOL, a ratio above one means more long positions than short ones. This suggests bullish sentiment, with most SOL futures traders expecting its value to rise.
Further, on the daily chart, SOL’s rising Relative Strength Index (RSI) confirms the spike in demand for the altcoin. At press time, this momentum indicator is at 57.54.
The RSI indicator measures an asset’s overbought and oversold market conditions, ranging from 0 to 100. Values above 70 typically signal an asset is overbought, while an RSI below 30 indicates oversold.
SOL’s current RSI reading signals growing bullish momentum and leaves room for further upward movement before entering overbought territory.
SOL Price Balances on Support Line
As of this writing, SOL trades at $147.69, bouncing off the support at $142.59. If demand soars and market conditions remain favorable post-FOMC meeting, SOL could extend its rally and climb toward $171.88, a high it last reached on March 3.
However, if the upcoming FOMC meeting sparks a resurgence in bearish pressure, SOL could face renewed selling momentum. In such a scenario, the coin may break below the support level at $142.59, paving the way for a deeper decline toward $120.81.
Coinbase, the largest US-based crypto exchange, received regulatory approval from the CFTC (Commodity Futures Trading Commission) to launch XRP futures contracts through its derivatives arm.
This development marks a pivotal moment for institutional access to XRP altcoin, amid a broader derivatives market shakeup.
XRP Futures Now Live on Coinbase
Earlier in the month, Coinbase revealed its intention to bring regulated XRP futures to market, showing that it had filed for the offering with the CFTC. BeInCrypto reported that the US-based exchange filed to self-certify the product.
“We’re excited to announce that Coinbase Derivatives has filed with the CFTC to self-certify XRP futures—bringing a regulated, capital-efficient way to gain exposure to one of the most liquid digital assets,” read the announcement.
The firm anticipated the contract going live on April 21. During the late hours of the US session on Monday, Coinbase confirmed in a follow-up post that the product was live.
“Coinbase Derivatives, LLC now offers CFTC-regulated futures for XRP,” the exchange stated.
This approval suggests a fast-track endorsement by the CFTC, potentially opening the door to broader crypto derivatives activity in the US.
It is unsurprising that the agency has recently pivoted toward easing entry into the crypto derivatives sector. As BeInCrypto reported earlier this month, the CFTC rolled back several regulatory hurdles that had previously deterred traditional and crypto-native firms.
“As stated in today’s withdrawal letter, DCR [Division of Clearing and Risk] determined to withdraw the advisory to ensure that it does not suggest that its regulatory treatment of digital asset derivatives will vary from its treatment of other products,” the CFTC explained.
The changes simplify registration requirements and lower operational barriers for launching crypto derivatives products.
XRP Network Activity Soars 67.5%
With XRP historically maintaining high liquidity and a global user base, it represents a strong candidate for derivatives trading, especially in a newly liberalized environment.
Unlike more volatile mid-cap tokens, XRP benefits from a combination of legal clarity following the Ripple lawsuit outcome, broad exchange availability, and a sizable market cap. These elements make it attractive to institutional traders seeking capital-efficient exposure.
Recent on-chain data reveals a sharp uptick in network activity, further bolstering the case for XRP futures. Data shows XRP active addresses surged by 67.5% between April 19 and 20, ahead of Coinbase Derivatives’ XRP futures debut, climbing from 27,352 to 40,366.
The spike suggests growing engagement from retail and institutional participants, possibly in anticipation of expanded market access through derivatives.
Still, market sentiment around XRP remains mixed. Despite the regulatory milestone, XRP’s spot price has declined 1.26% in the past 24 hours, reflecting broader market consolidation and investor caution.
This suggests that while futures listings can enhance liquidity and price discovery over time, short-term price action often diverges from structural developments.
Coinbase’s move aligns with its broader strategy to position itself as a regulated gateway to crypto derivatives in the US. With the futures of Ethereum and Bitcoin already live, XRP has joined the lineup. This signals Coinbase’s confidence in XRP’s long-term viability despite lingering skepticism in parts of the US regulatory arena.
Paris Blockchain Week 2025, Europe’s flagship blockchain and Web3 event, wrapped up its sixth edition at the iconic Carrousel du Louvre, once again raising the bar for global industry gatherings. With over 9,600 attendees from 95 countries, including 67% C-suite executives, this year’s event underscored the growing influence of blockchain across the broader tech and financial sectors.
More than 500 speakers took the stage, including major names like Charles Hoskinson (IOHK), Monica Long (Ripple), Adam Back (Blockstream), and Clara Chappaz (France’s Minister Delegate for AI & Digital Affairs), reflecting the event’s global reach.
Spotlight: PSG × Matchain Side Event – A Landmark Moment in Sports & Web3
One of the standout moments of the week took place outside the main conference venue at the iconic Parc des Princes, where Paris Saint-Germain and Matchain hosted a special side event announcing the launch of their Joint Innovation Studio.
BeInCrypto joined as the official media partner for this exclusive gathering, which brought together sports executives, blockchain leaders, and technologists to explore the future of decentralized identity, fan engagement, and Web3 innovation in sports.
Petrix Barbosa, CEO of Matchain, announced the initiative and celebrated Matchain’s award for Innovation of the Year, spotlighting their pioneering work in tokenized identity solutions.
Pär Helgosson, Head of PSG Labs, emphasized PSG’s continued push to integrate Web3 technologies into fan experiences and digital strategy.
The atmosphere at the stadium matched the ambition of the project, merging cutting-edge blockchain use cases with the passion and scale of global sports. As media partner, BeInCrypto provided exclusive coverage, interviews, and behind-the-scenes insights from this milestone event.
Exclusive Interviews with Web3 Leaders at Paris Blockchain Week
Throughout the week, the BeInCrypto team conducted high-level interviews with thought leaders and executives shaping the future of blockchain:
Aimann Faizz, Head of Business Development at CoinGecko
Andrey Fedorov, Chief Marketing Officer and acting Chief Business Development Officer at STON.fi
Pierre Samaties, CEO of Dfinity Foundation
Alexis Yellow, Founder and Executive Chairman, Yellow
Robby Yung, CEO, Animoca Brands
Javier Rodriguez-Alarcon, COO, XBTO
David Prinçay, director, Binance France
Their insights touched on everything from decentralized finance and tokenized data to semantic identity and sports monetization via blockchain.
Industry Themes and Investor Highlights
A recurring message across the conference was the resilience of blockchain technologies amid economic uncertainty and regulatory transformation. Speakers like Charles Hoskinson and Monica Long emphasized blockchain’s foundational role in shaping future financial systems.
Regulatory spats between the USA and EU have sparked lively debates, with many nodding in agreement that MICA stands as a cornerstone for clearing up the crypto circus on one side of the Atlantic. Meanwhile, the tokenization of real-world assets has become the hot new trend on the block. Following the ETF bandwagon, it appears even the old-school financial giants are seeing tokenization as their golden ticket into the crypto world.
Meme coins, those oddballs of the crypto market, continue to hold their ground as a quirky yet surprisingly significant sector, even though the recent market dip has widened the rift between the staunchly “serious” Bitcoin advocates and the more colorful meme coin enthusiasts.
Beyond the buzz of tokenization, utility coins are tiptoeing back into the spotlight, though hitting a critical mass of users is proving to be a bit like herding cats – a major roadblock on their path to stardom.
As for the tech vanguards, security and scalability remain their pet peeves, with fresh solutions popping up left and right. The ongoing tug-of-war between achieving robust decentralization and actually making these solutions user-friendly continues to fuel fiery debates among the most tech-obsessed attendees at the event.
On the investor side, the “Start in Block” pitch competition attracted 1,000+ startups and 400+ investors, with €10 million in funding up for grabs. Meanwhile, side events like AgentX, Bitcoin Investors Day, and an exclusive VIP dinner under the Louvre Pyramid kept the conversations and deal-making going beyond the conference floor.
Global Coverage & Media Reach
With more than 400 journalists attending from top global outlets, media coverage of PBW 2025 reached unprecedented levels, reinforcing its role as a platform where narratives around innovation and regulation are actively shaped.
About Paris Blockchain Week
Held annually in Paris, PBW is one of the largest and most respected events in the blockchain calendar. The 2025 edition took place April 8–10 at Carrousel du Louvre, hosting over 400 speakers and creating more than 36,000 in-app meetings, making it a global epicenter for Web3 dialogue and partnerships.
Coinbase, the largest US crypto exchange, has recorded its worst quarter since the dramatic collapse of FTX in late 2022.
Coinbase’s stock (COIN) plummeted by 30% in Q1 2025, mirroring the steep losses seen across the broader crypto market.
Crypto Stocks and Assets Bleed Red in Q1
According to Bloomberg, the sharp decline has hit several other major crypto-related stocks as well. This includes Galaxy Digital, Riot Blockchain, and Core Scientific, all of which have experienced significant downturns.
Crypto Stocks in the Red Since Election Day. Source: Bloomberg
Analysts point to the global uncertainty surrounding the US economy, including concerns over Trump’s tariffs and recession fears. This has resulted in a general “risk-off” mood among investors.
“In a risk-off mood, no asset is safe stocks, crypto, all get hit. It’s more about sentiment than fundamentals in those moments,” an investor commented on X.
While some point to these macroeconomic pressures as the primary cause, others argue that the market’s underperformance is more due to lingering fears of trade wars and broader geopolitical instability.
“Trump’s trade wars are driving markets into a panic. As much as he is doing for crypto, the macro market conditions are speaking louder – as bullish as the news is from the white house – His trash trade war is squelching any price surge,” another X user remarked.
Coinbase has been hit especially hard in this downturn. Coinbase’s revenue model is heavily reliant on altcoins and transaction volumes beyond Bitcoin. Hence, the overall market drop could have made a mark on the exchange’s stock prices. Moreover, the news comes as Coinbase users have collectively lost more than $46 million to scams in March.
While crypto has been in a freefall, other assets have fared much better. Gold, for example, has surged, posting its best quarter since 1986 as investors flock to safer assets amid the market turmoil. The shift toward traditional assets is particularly noticeable as the post-election crypto hype, which briefly boosted Bitcoin’s value to $109,000, begins to fade.
Despite the overall market challenges, some crypto-related firms have shown resilience. MicroStrategy, led by CEO Michael Saylor, remains in the green year-to-date, bolstered by its substantial Bitcoin holdings.
For now, the crypto market is left to weather the storm, with analysts continuing to scrutinize the interplay of macroeconomic factors and its impact on digital assets.
