MANTRA – one of the most trusted real-world asset tokens – dropped by 95% in just a few hours. The sudden crash has left the crypto world stunned, with billions in value wiped out almost instantly. What went wrong? And could it happen again – with other major projects?
Now, popular crypto analyst Dr. Altcoin is sounding the alarm, urging the Pi Network team to take a hard look at what happened with Mantra and avoid walking the same path. Here’s what unfolded—and why the entire crypto space should be paying close attention.
OM Token Falls Hard
OM is the native token of the Mantra blockchain, which aims to bring real-world assets like houses and land onto the blockchain in digital form. It was considered a reliable project and had even reached the top 25 cryptocurrencies by market cap.
But things changed quickly. In just one hour, OM’s price dropped from $6.10 to $0.38. This crash erased over $6 billion in value, and many investors lost their life savings.
A Warning for Pi Network
Dr. Altcoin called this a serious warning for the entire crypto space. He specifically urged the Pi Core Team (PCT) to pay attention to what happened with Mantra OM and take steps to avoid a similar disaster.
He pointed out that Pi Network is now moving from its Open Network phase to the Open Mainnet—an important milestone that also brings more responsibility.
Dr. Altcoin stressed that before this big transition, the Pi team should speed up the development of safety measures. He also said that the team needs to be more transparent, have clear rules, and communicate openly with their community.
Mixed Reactions From the Pi Community
After Dr. Altcoin shared his views on X, many users responded. Some agreed with his warning, while others defended the Pi Core Team.
One user said Pi Network is not like other projects that pump and dump their coins. They believe the team is focused on building real value and growing the network step by step.
Another user pointed out that the Pi team has been quiet recently, but said this could be part of their plan. They believe the team is working hard behind the scenes and will speak when the time is right.
Do you think pi core team would want anything that will damage their reputation?
Pi coin is not pump and dump. They are still building utility and the network.
If Pi network play a rug game of massive dumping like that it will be removed from here first of: pic.twitter.com/eKjh8OsGF6
Payment giant PayPal has announced the addition of Chainlink (LINK) and Solana (SOL) to its cryptocurrency offerings. As the payment behemoth increases its crypto footprint, PayPal and Venmo users can buy, sell, and hold LINK and SOL in their accounts.
PayPal Expands Crypto Offering With SOL and LINK
According to an official press release, PayPal has announced the expansion of its suite of cryptocurrencies with two new tokens. The payment giant confirmed the addition of Chainlink and Solana to its offerings, signaling increased confidence in Web 3 solutions.
Per the statement, the offering will extend beyond PayPal and include its subsidiary Venmo. Users of Venmo and PayPal in the US will be able to purchase, hold, transfer, and sell both SOL and LINK with their accounts.
May Zabaneh, Paypal’s VP for Digital Currencies revealed that expanding its cryptocurrency offerings was an obvious choice for the company. Zabaneh disclosed that feedback from users confirmed the need to allow consumers to interact with SOL and LINK.
“Offering more tokens on PayPal and Venmo provides users with greater flexibility, choice, and access to digital currencies,” said Zabaneh.
With the addition of SOL and LINK, PayPal supports seven cryptocurrencies on its platform. The firm waded into cryptocurrencies back in 2020 starting with Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) offerings for consumers. Early successes saw it expand to Litecoin (LTC) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH) before launching its stablecoin PayPal USD(PYUSD).
Institutional adoption for SOL is rising with Polymarket integrating Solana by enabling SOL deposits. Chainlink is riding its wave of partnerships and integrations with institutional and enterprise utility at the core.
Why Did The Payment Giant Choose SOL and LINK?
PayPal’s decision to expand to SOL and LINK flows from their inherent capabilities and massive adoption figures. According to the statement, PayPal sees Chainlink as a key player in cross-chain interoperability while describing Solana as a “leading blockchain platform.”
Both SOL and LINK are in the top 11 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization with a combined valuation of over $80 billion. Chainlink’s ADGM partnership to build tokenization frameworks in the UAE is the latest high-profile play for the Web 3 infrastructure platform.
Furthermore, the company says the decision underscores the company’s cryptocurrency-facing ambitions in recent years. PYUSD has its sights on challenging USDT and USDC dominance with PayPal neck-deep in cryptocurrencies.
“The addition of LINK and SOL reflects the company’s dedication to the evolving digital currency landscape and fostering greater accessibility and engagement in the cryptocurrency market,” read the statement.
Apart from PayPal and Polymarket, BlackRock’s BUIDL has launched on Solana in a strong case for institutional adoption. Both SOL and LINK have reacted positively to the announcement, rising 5.42% and 1.37 respectively.
Shiba Inu (SHIB) is showing early signs of recovery, gaining ground from recent lows as its RSI rebounds and key support levels hold. Despite these positive signals, SHIB failed to break above the RSI 51 mark and continues to face pressure from bearish EMA alignments.
At the same time, whale activity has been steadily declining, suggesting reduced confidence from large holders and raising questions about long-term support. With price action stuck between major support and resistance zones, SHIB’s next move will likely depend on whether momentum strengthens—or fades once again.
Shiba Inu Momentum Improves, But RSI Rejection Signals Caution
Shiba Inu has seen a shift in momentum, with its Relative Strength Index (RSI) rising to 47 from 30.18 just three days ago, signaling a recovery from near-oversold conditions.
However, it’s worth noting that SHIB failed to break above the 51 RSI mark yesterday, suggesting that bullish momentum remains fragile for now.
While the recent bounce reflects easing selling pressure, the inability to push into clearly bullish territory indicates ongoing hesitation among buyers.
The RSI, or Relative Strength Index, is a momentum oscillator that gauges the speed and magnitude of price changes, helping identify overbought or oversold conditions.
Readings below 30 point to oversold levels, while values above 70 suggest overbought territory. With SHIB’s RSI now sitting at 47, the asset remains in a neutral zone—neither overextended nor deeply discounted.
This mid-range positioning leaves room for either a breakout or a reversal, depending on how price action develops around current resistance and support levels.
Decline in SHIB Whales Signals Potential Weakness Ahead
The number of Shiba Inu whales—wallets holding at least 1 billion tokens—has been gradually declining since June 11, falling from 10,259 to 10,231.
While the drop may seem modest, it reflects a slow but steady reduction in large holder participation, which could signal weakening confidence among major players.
A consistent downtrend in whale activity often correlates with diminished support during volatile phases, making SHIB more vulnerable to price swings.
Addresses holding at least 1 billion SHIB. Source: Santiment.
Tracking whale behavior is critical because large holders can influence price movements through sudden buys or sells. A rising whale count often suggests accumulation and long-term confidence, while a declining number may imply distribution or exit.
With SHIB whale wallets shrinking, it could indicate that major investors are either taking profits or hedging against further downside.
If this trend continues, it may add pressure on SHIB’s price, especially if retail interest fails to offset the whale outflows.
SHIB Holds Key Support, But Bearish EMAs Keep Bulls in Check
Shiba Inu price recently tested and held the key support level at $0.0000119, offering a temporary floor despite broader bearish signals.
The token’s Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) remain in a bearish alignment, with short-term EMAs positioned below long-term ones—indicating ongoing downward pressure.
If this support is retested and fails to hold, SHIB could slide toward the next critical level at $0.0000114, potentially opening the door for further downside.
A breakout above this level may trigger a rally toward $0.0000136, and if buying pressure continues, even a push to $0.0000146 is possible.
For now, SHIB is trapped between crucial support and resistance zones, and a clear break in either direction will likely define its short-term trajectory.
Bitcoin price consolidates above the $84,600 on Sunday, April 20. Having closed eight consecutive sessions above the $80,000 mark, on-chain data trends suggest BTC market outlook for the week ahead remains bullish despite regulatory pressures on Coinbase.
Oregon State to Sue Coinbase as Bitcoin Price Holds Above $80,000 for Consecutive Days
Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield has filed a securities enforcement action against Coinbase, alleging that the exchange facilitated the sale of unregistered crypto assets, exposing investors to significant risk.
In the lawsuit, Oregon state alleges that Coinbase has encouraged the sale of unregistered cryptocurrencies to people in Oregon exposing residents to risk of pump-and-dump schemes and fraud.
“After building trust with Oregon consumers, Coinbase sold high risk investments without them being properly vetted to protect consumers Oregonians lost money, and we believe Coinbase should be held accountable and take steps to protect consumers.”
The complaint accuses Coinbase of misleading consumers in Oregon by offering high-risk digital assets without sufficient oversight.
In response, Coinbase’s Chief Legal Officer, Paul Grewal, called the suit a “desperate scheme” and “a giant leap backwards” in crypto policy progress.
Despite this legal headwind, Bitcoin has remained resilient. Following a sharp decline to $74,300 on April 9, triggered by China’s new tariffs on U.S. tech, BTC swiftly rebounded after the U.S. Consumer Price Index for March came in lower than expected.
Bitcoin price action, April 20, 2025 | Source: Coingecko
Bitcoin price is trading at $84,500 at press time on April 20, having closed above $83,000 for eight consecutive trading sessions.
This steady uptrend, even in the face of a fresh regulatory attack, suggests that the market sees the lawsuit as isolated to Coinbase—not a major threat to Bitcoin’s near-term price prospects. With continued institutional interest and technical strength holding above key support, BTC price appears poised to maintain positive momentum in the week ahead
BTC Showing Resilience to U.S. Pressures
Bitcoin’s recent price action showcases strength relative to U.S. equities, particularly in the tech sector.
While flagship stocks such as NVIDIA and Microsoft grapple with declining investor sentiment, Bitcoin continues to draw inflows and sustain support.
US Tech Stocks Heatmap, April 20| Source: TradingView
NVIDIA shares dropped over 7% this week following a $5.5 billion charge related to China export compliance. The erasing billions in market capitalization for adjacent US tech stocks including Microsoft, Tesla, and Apple.
Against this backdrop, Bitcoin has appreciated nearly 12% since April 12.
More so, Lower-than-expected jobless claims last week increased pressure on the Fed to maintain a hawkish stance—yet BTC has continued its upward trajectory, bucking the risk-off trend.
This decoupling signals renewed investor conviction in Bitcoin as a long-term macro asset, especially as U.S. fiscal policy and central bank dynamics introduce heightened volatility to traditional markets.
Investors Pull 14,000 BTC from Exchanges in the Last 8 Days as BTC Sets Up Local Bottom
A critical on-chain indicators supporting the current BTC rally is the notable drop in exchange-held Bitcoin.
Data from CryptoQuant shows that more than 14,000 BTC have been withdrawn from centralized exchanges since April 12, aligning with the day Bitcoin reclaimed the $80,000 level.
Bitcoin Price vs. BTC Exchange Reserves, April 2025 | Source: CryptoQuant
These outflows suggest increasing long-term conviction among holders, reducing available supply for trading and heightening the potential for price appreciation. Historically, sustained withdrawal activity often marks local bottoms and preludes major bullish cycles.
The drop in exchange balances comes at a time of increased spot demand—especially with platforms like Charles Schwab signaling intentions to enter direct crypto spot trading.
As regulatory uncertainty begins to decouple from Bitcoin’s price performance, investors appear to be front-running the next wave of institutional participation.
In conclusion, while the Oregon lawsuit against Coinbase may create noise in the short term, Bitcoin’s structural and technical foundation remains intact. A continued consolidation above $83,000—paired with supply contraction and strong macro divergence—puts the $90,000 and $100,000 targets well within reach for Q2.
Bitcoin price is consolidating below a descending trendline resistance near $85,489, with short-term support from the 4-day SMA at $84,632. As see in the Bitcoin price forecast chart below, BTC has formed a coiling pattern with higher lows and marginally lower highs—often a prelude to a decisive breakout.
On April 20, BTC closed at $84,594, holding above the critical $84K level for the eighth consecutive session, suggesting persistent underlying demand.
Bitcoin Technical Analysis Today
The Average Daily Range (ADR) remains muted at 3.06, indicating consolidation but also priming BTC for a potential expansion in volatility.
Meanwhile, the bullish BBP (Buy Balance Power) reading at 1,553.76 reinforces near-term strength, showing that buying momentum is outpacing sell pressure. Volume has declined modestly, but the broader context of consistent closes above $83,000 reflects solid market absorption.
Bitcoin price forecast today leans bullish as the 4-day SMA trends above price, creating a compression zone between it and the 60-SMA. A daily candle close above $85,500 could confirm a breakout, targeting $88,000 short term. Failure to hold $84,000 would re-expose $82,300 as interim support.
︎Norse god π (@ChineduEzeJr) April 14, 2025
