Ripple’s Executive Chairman and Co-founder Chris Larsen is reportedly scheduled to meet with new SEC Chair Paul Atkins on May 2, 2025. The meeting comes amid Ripple’s ongoing legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a case that has dragged on for years and significantly impacted the future of XRP.
What Makes This Meeting Important?
Paul Atkins, the newly appointed SEC Chair, is no stranger to crypto. A former SEC Commissioner, Atkins recently spoke out in favor of clearer crypto regulation and even proposed the idea of a “regulatory sandbox” to allow blockchain innovation to grow safely in the U.S.
Insiders speculate that this meeting might lead to real progress — possibly even a settlement in the Ripple-SEC case or discussions around approving a spot XRP ETF. While nothing has been officially confirmed, the timing and high-profile nature of the meeting are raising hopes across the crypto community.
XRP ETF: Hype or Hope?
Adding to the excitement, Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas recently suggested there’s an 85% chance that an XRP ETF could be approved in 2025. If true, this would mark a significant milestone for Ripple and boost investor confidence.
XRP has been trading strongly around $2.23, gaining more than 1% in the past 24 hours ahead of the meeting. However, the price did briefly slip to $2.12 after the SEC delayed its review of several crypto-related filings.
Will This End the Ripple-SEC Battle?
While many are hopeful this meeting could lead to a breakthrough or settlement, not everyone is convinced. Former SEC attorney Marc Fagel dismissed the idea, saying on social media, “No. That’s not how this works.”
So, while today’s meeting could mark a turning point, expectations should remain grounded. The official agenda remains confidential — but the crypto world will be watching closely.
PancakeSwap, the largest decentralized exchange (DEX) on BNB Chain, has officially announced the implementation of CAKE Tokenomics 3.0. This marks a major shift toward a more sustainable and deflationary ecosystem.
According to the announcement, PancakeSwap will begin rolling out the new tokenomics model on April 23, 2025. The main goals are to curb CAKE inflation, optimize system efficiency, and deliver long-term value to the community. However, the CAKE 3.0 proposal has sparked considerable debate.
What Are the Key Changes in CAKE Tokenomics 3.0?
PancakeSwap has set three primary goals for Tokenomics 3.0: achieve an annual deflation rate of 4%, eliminate complex mechanisms such as veCAKE, and reduce CAKE emissions to improve sustainability.
Retirement of CAKE Staking, veCAKE, Gauges Voting, Revenue Sharing, and Farm Boosting: PancakeSwap will discontinue CAKE staking and the veCAKE mechanism, which required users to lock tokens in exchange for voting rights or benefits. All locked CAKE and veCAKE will be unlocked.
Burn Mechanism to Reduce Circulating Supply: PancakeSwap will burn tokens to reduce supply instead of sharing trading fees with users. The team expects to burn approximately 5.3 million CAKE annually, supporting the deflation target.
Phased Reduction in CAKE Emissions: Daily CAKE emissions will be reduced from 29,000 to 20,000, and later to 14,500 tokens.
Users will have six months from April 23, 2025, to withdraw their previously locked CAKE.
The Debate Around CAKE 3.0
Several developers and community members believe CAKE Tokenomics 3.0 will benefit the project in the long term.
“At its core, CAKE Tokenomics 3.0 defends true value and protects CAKE holders by strengthening long-term fundamentals—such as aggressively cutting emissions to accelerate deflation and sustainably grow value,” Chef Philip said.
However, not everyone agrees. Cakepie DAO—one of the largest veCAKE holders—voiced strong concerns on X. They criticized the decision to eliminate veCAKE, calling it non-transparent and potentially damaging to projects built around that model.
This reveals a divide in the community over how PancakeSwap is balancing deflation and stakeholder interests.
“Sunsetting veCAKE would be devastating for Cakepie and for every project built on long-term alignment with PancakeSwap. Our entire ecosystem is structured around veCAKE, with millions of CAKE locked for four years as a clear show of commitment. Removing veCAKE would erase that commitment overnight and undermine the trust and efforts of all builders who believed in PancakeSwap’s vision,” Cakepie stated.
In response, PancakeSwap proposed a $1.5 million compensation package in CAKE tokens. They offered this to CKP (Cakepie’s token) holders if Cakepie agreed to allow a 1:1 swap from mCAKE (Cakepie’s CAKE derivative) to CAKE.
However, Cakepie is currently voting on whether to accept the offer.
At the time of reporting, CAKE is trading around $1.97, up 17% since April 8, when PancakeSwap first proposed Tokenomics 3.0.
Additionally, data from DeFiLlama shows that PancakeSwap’s 24-hour trading volume has surpassed $1 billion, overtaking Uniswap.
Meanwhile, a report from BeInCrypto reveals that PancakeSwap controls over 90% of the DEX market share on BNB Chain. This highlights the strong relationship between BNB Chain and PancakeSwap.
Ethereum’s price has been going up due to the rising buying pressure following overall market recovery. The easing of tensions in the China-US trade war has also made investors feel more positive about Ethereum. Because of this, crucial on-chain numbers for Ethereum have jumped, and activity in DeFi has also increased. All of this makes it more likely that Ethereum’s price could rise toward $2,000.
Ethereum’s Netflow Turns Negative
Over the last 24 hours, the price of Ethereum has been facing rising volatility from both buyers and sellers. As a result, the liquidation volume has been rising amid a drop in open interest. Data from Coinglass shows that Ethereum witnessed a total liquidation of around $26.7 million in the last 24 hours. Of this, buyers liquidated $10.6 million and sellers closed $16.1 million worth of short positions.
Ethereum’s recent price rebound is being backed by strong on-chain data. According to IntoTheBlock, the netflow of ETH has turned negative, currently sitting at 51,590 ETH. This means that more Ethereum is leaving exchanges than entering them, as holders move their coins to cold wallets. When reserves on exchanges fall like this, it usually signals that investors want to hold their assets rather than sell, reducing selling pressure.
In addition to that, Ethereum exchange-traded funds (ETFs) brought in $64 million in net inflows on April 28. This comes after a strong $151.7 million inflow during the week ending April 25, the highest weekly inflow since February 2025.
Meanwhile, in the DeFi space, Ethereum continues to dominate. Data from DefiLlama shows that the network’s total value locked (TVL) has climbed to over $51.7 billion, up about 15.5% in the past week.
Ethereum’s activity on decentralized exchanges has also surged, with daily trading volumes rising more than 30% over the last week, reaching $1.65 billion. This sharp increase in DEX and on-chain activity points to strong momentum, raising the chances that Ethereum could soon break above the $2,000 mark.
What’s Next for ETH Price?
Ether closed above its 50-day moving average as buying demand surged. However, buyers are struggling to surge above $1,900 as selling pressure intensifies. As of writing, ETH price trades at $1,826, surging over 1.4% in the last 24 hours.
The key level to watch on the downside is the 20-day moving average ($1,802). If the price bounces strongly from there, buyers will likely try to push ETH/USDT back up toward $1,950— the zone where the earlier drop started. However, sellers will probably put up a tough fight here because if the price breaks above that level, it could quickly rally up to $2,100. A strong buying demand might even send the price above $2.5K.
On the flip side, if Ether falls below the 20-day moving average and closes there, it would show that sellers are still in control. In that case, the ETH/USDT pair could drop further, all the way down to $1,560.
The post Ethereum Eyes $2000 Breakout Amid Surging On-Chain Metrics: Is a Bigger Rally Ahead? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
Ethereum’s price has been going up due to the rising buying pressure following overall market recovery. The easing of tensions in the China-US trade war has also made investors feel more positive about Ethereum. Because of this, crucial on-chain numbers for Ethereum have jumped, and activity in DeFi has also increased. All of this makes …
Ethereum reached a notable milestone earlier this month when the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved options trading for several spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The move is expected to increase liquidity, attract interest from institutional investors, and solidify Ethereum’s position as a major cryptocurrency.
Yet Ethereum’s smaller market cap relative to Bitcoin means it is also vulnerable to gamma squeezes, thereby increasing investor risks. BeInCrypto consulted an expert in derivatives trading and representatives from FalconX, BingX, Komodo Platform, and Gravity to analyze the potential impact of this new characteristic.
This week marked the official debut of options trading for spot Ethereum ETFs in the United States. BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) was the first to list options, with trading commencing on the Nasdaq ISE.
Shortly after, a broader availability of options followed, including those for the Grayscale Ethereum Trust (ETHE) and the Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust (ETH), as well as the Bitwise Ethereum ETF (ETHW), all of which began trading on the Cboe BZX exchange.
This move allows a wider range of investors, beyond crypto traders, to benefit from hedging and speculation opportunities on Ethereum’s price through options on familiar investment vehicles like ETFs without direct ownership.
The timing of this news is particularly positive, as Ethereum has been losing some ground in the market lately.
Options Trading to Bolster Ethereum’s Market Position
A significant decline in market confidence surrounded Ethereum this week, with BeInCrypto reporting its price had plummeted to its lowest point since March 2023. This drop coincided with a broader market downturn, worsened by Donald Trump’s Liberation Day.
Meanwhile, large Ethereum holders are increasingly selling off substantial amounts, putting downward pressure on their prices. Ethereum’s value has fallen sharply by 51.3% since the beginning of 2025, and investor confidence has waned, as evidenced by a decrease in addresses holding at least $1 million in ETH.
Holders with at least $1 million worth of ETH. Source: Glassnode.
With options trading now accessible to more traders, experts anticipate that Ethereum’s market position will improve.
“ETH’s been leaking dominance, stuck sub-17%. Options give it institutional gravity. It becomes more programmable for fund strategies. More tools mean more use cases, which then in turn means more capital sticking around,” Martins Benkitis, CEO and Co-Founder of Gravity Team, predicted.
This newfound accessibility of options trading will create additional opportunities for investors and the broader Ethereum ecosystem.
Greater Investor Access and Liquidity
The SEC’s approval of Ethereum ETFs in July 2024 was significant because it allowed traditional investors to enter the crypto market without directly holding the assets. Now, with options trading also available, these benefits are expected to be even greater.
The Ethereum ETF market will naturally become more liquid with increased participation through options trading.
High Trading Volumes and Hedging Demands
The SEC’s fresh approval of options trading for Ethereum ETF investors suggests that the market will likely initially experience a high trading volume. As a result, market makers must be prepared.
An increase in call options will require institutional market makers to hedge by buying more Ethereum to meet demand.
Ethereum will also secure a unique advantage, particularly in institutional trading, enhancing its perceived quality and driving optimism among key market participants.
“ETH just got a serious institutional tailwind. With options now in play, Ether is stepping closer to BTC in terms of tradable instruments. This levels up ETH’s legitimacy and utility in hedging strategies, narrowing the gap on Bitcoin’s dominance narrative,” Benkitis told BeInCrypto.
Yet, rapid surges in options trading could also have unintended consequences on Ethereum’s price, especially in the short run.
Will Investors Suffer a Gamma Squeeze?
As market makers rush to acquire more of the underlying asset in case of a higher volume of options calls, Ethereum’s price will naturally increase. This situation could lead to a pronounced gamma squeeze.
When market makers hedge their positions in this scenario, the resulting buying pressure would create a positive feedback loop. Retail investors will feel more inclined to join in, hoping to profit from Ethereum’s rising price.
The implications of this scenario are especially pronounced for Ethereum, considering its market capitalization is notably smaller than that of Bitcoin.
Retail traders’ aggressive buying of ETHA call options could compel market makers to hedge by acquiring the underlying ETHA shares, potentially leading to a more pronounced effect on the price of ETHA and, by extension, Ethereum.
“We believe option sellers will generally dominate in the long-run but in short bursts we could see retail momentum traders become massive buyers of ETHA calls and create gamma squeeze effects, similar to what we’ve seen on meme coin stocks like GME. ETH will be easier to squeeze than BTC given it is only $190 billion market cap vs BTC’s $1.65 trillion,” Joshua Lim, Global Co-head of Markets at FalconX, told BeInCrypto.
Arbitrage involves exploiting price differences for the same or nearly identical assets across different markets or forms. This is done by buying in the cheaper market and selling in the more expensive one.
According to Grant, traders will increasingly look for and exploit these price differences as the market for ETH options on different platforms develops.
While arbitrage activity is expected to refine pricing and liquidity within the Ethereum options market, the asset continues to operate under the shadow of Bitcoin’s established market leadership.
Will Landmark Options Approval Help Ethereum Close the Gap on Bitcoin?
Though Ethereum achieved a major landmark this week, it faces competition from a major rival: Bitcoin.
In late fall of 2024, options trading started on BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT), becoming the first US spot Bitcoin ETF to offer options. Though not even a year has passed since the original launch, options trading on Bitcoin ETFs experienced strong trading volumes from retail and institutional investors.
According to Kadan Stadelmann, Chief Technology Officer of Komodo Platform, options trading for Ethereum ETFs will be comparatively underwhelming. Bitcoin will still be the cryptocurrency of choice for investors.
“Compared to Bitcoin’s Spot ETF, Ethereum’s ETF has not seen such stalwart demand. While options trading adds institutional capital, Bitcoin remains crypto’s first mover and enjoys a greater overall market cap. It is not going anywhere. It will remain the dominant crypto asset for institutional portfolios,” Stadelmann told BeInCrypto.
Consequently, his outlook does not include Ethereum’s market position surpassing Bitcoin’s in the immediate term.
“The once-promised flippening of Bitcoin’s market capitalization by Ethereum remains unlikely. Conservative and more-monied investors likely prefer Bitcoin due to its perceived safety compared to other crypto assets, including Ethereum. Ethereum, in order to achieve Bitcoin’s prominence, must depend on growing utility in DeFi and stablecoin markets,” he concluded.
While that may be the case, options trading doesn’t harm Ethereum’s prospects; it only strengthens them.
Can Ethereum’s Options Trading Era Capitalize on Opportunities?
Ethereum is now the second cryptocurrency with SEC approval for options trading on its ETFs. This single move will further legitimize digital assets for institutions, increasing their presence in traditional markets and boosting overall visibility.
Despite recent significant blows to Ethereum’s market position, this news is a positive development. Although it might not be sufficient to surpass its primary competitor, it represents a step in the right direction.
As investors get used to this new opportunity, their participation level will reveal how beneficial it will be for Ethereum.
