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.
On April 20, Dogecoin enthusiasts worldwide united to mark Dogeday, a community-driven holiday celebrating the world’s most recognizable meme coin.
While the festivities showcased the coin’s loyal fanbase and cultural relevance, the celebration failed to spark any meaningful market movement.
Dogeday Fails to Lift Dogecoin Price as Traders Face $2.8 Million in Liquidations
Instead of riding a wave of positive sentiment, Dogecoin was the worst-performing asset among the top 20 cryptocurrencies during the past day.
According to data from BeInCrypto, the token dropped over 2.5% during the reporting period compared to the muted performance of the general market.
This disappointing performance led to roughly $2.8 million in liquidations, with traders betting on an upward price movement losing more than $2 million, per Coinglass figures.
However, even with the lackluster price action, Dogecoin’s relevance in the crypto ecosystem remains undeniable. Launched in 2013 as a parody of Bitcoin, DOGE has grown far beyond its meme origins.
The digital asset is now the ninth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, currently valued at approximately $22.9 billion, according to CoinMarketCap.
On social media, Dogecoin continues to lead the memecoin narrative. According to CryptoRank, it was the most mentioned memecoin ticker on X (formerly Twitter) in the past month. This visibility continues to fuel both community engagement and investor interest.
If granted, these financial investment vehicles could become the first exchange-traded funds centered entirely on a meme coin.
Considering this, crypto bettors on Polymarket put the odds of these products’ approval above 55% this year. This optimism reflects a growing belief that Dogecoin could soon secure a place in mainstream financial markets.
As developers await further testing results from the Hoodi testnet, the highly anticipated Ethereum Pectra mainnet upgrade, initially slated for April 2025, has been delayed.
This decision came during Ethereum’s All Core Developers Consensus Call (ACDC) #153 on March 20. It reflects the development team’s cautious approach to ensuring a smooth and stable upgrade process.
Hoodi Testnet to Determine Pectra Timeline
During the call, Ethereum’s core team reviewed the progress of Pectra.
Instead of confirming a mainnet date, they opted to monitor the upgrade’s performance on Hoodi, a newly launched testnet designed to assess Pectra’s stability. This is unsurprising, as Ethereum Protocol Support Lead Tim Beiko recently hinted as much. He noted the scheduling of Pectra Upgrade at least 30 days after Hoodi forks successfully.
“…Pectra will be scheduled 30+ days after Hoodi forks successfully, pending infra and client testing. Fusaka planning will run in parallel, with a deadline of March 24 to propose EIPs, and a tentative date of April 10 for a scope freeze,” Beiko explained.
Therefore, the delay is not entirely surprising, reflecting developers’ cautious approach to ensuring a smooth transition.
Ethereum Developers’ Consensus Layer Meeting 153 for Pectra Upgrade
The main reason for postponing the upgrade is the need for thorough testing. Developers use Hoodi to simulate real-world conditions and identify potential issues before activating Pectra on the mainnet.
The upgrade will go live on Hoodi on March 26, with developers observing its performance before deciding on the mainnet release.
Another factor influencing the delay is History Expiry, a planned cleanup process set to go live on May 1. This change, linked to Ethereum Improvement Proposal 6110 (EIP 6110), affects the handling of validator deposit history on Ethereum.
Since Pectra plays a key role in this process, the delay also compels the postponing of History Expiry. Developers are now reconsidering the timeline for implementing this change.
For now, the priority is to ensure a successful Pectra test on Hoodi, which is better than the Sepolia testnet. If testing goes smoothly, developers could move forward to set a mainnet launch date. However, they could extend the timeline further if necessary.
“Sepolia’s Pectra upgrade hit a snag because a node didn’t upgrade in time—sounds trivial, but it’s a reminder: Ethereum’s decentralization is only as strong as its weakest operator. If one forgotten node can delay an upgrade, imagine what happens when real money is on the line,” one user quipped.
At the same time, discussions about Ethereum’s next major upgrade, Fusaka, are underway. Developers are considering additional improvements for inclusion in future updates. This would ensure that Ethereum continues to grow and maintain its leadership in the blockchain space.
Although the Pectra delay is temporary, developers emphasize that thorough testing is essential to avoid unexpected issues.
The Ethereum community will have to wait a little longer, but the upgrade remains a top priority. A final decision on the mainnet launch date is due in the coming weeks.
As we enter Q2 of 2025, the global crypto market finds itself steering a complex intersection of macroeconomic and geopolitical pressures.
BeInCrypto spoke with analysts Leena ElDeeb of 21Shares and Max Shannon of CoinShares, who offer distinct but insightful perspectives on the crypto space’s outlook for the new quarter.
Bitcoin’s Future: Bullish or Bearish?
The two analysts share a bullish outlook on Bitcoin, albeit with differing views on its short-term fluctuations. Leena ElDeeb sees the potential for Bitcoin to surpass $90,000, driven by macroeconomic factors such as a possible rate cut by the US Federal Reserve.
“February’s softer-than-expected CPI print boosted rate cut expectations. If rate cuts materialize, a wave of liquidity could reignite bullish momentum, pushing equities and Bitcoin past key resistance levels,” she told BeInCrypto.
In her view, Bitcoin could eventually hit a range between $150,000 and $200,000 by the year’s end, bolstered by growing regulatory clarity and political support, such as President Trump’s proposal for a strategic crypto reserve.
Max Shannon, on the other hand, remains more cautious about Bitcoin’s immediate future. He predicts that Bitcoin will continue to trade within a wide range of $70,000 to $90,000 in Q2, constrained by persistent tariff issues.
“The moment they [tariffs] get lifted will likely be a massive boon for the equities and crypto market,” he notes, indicating that a resolution could pave the way for Bitcoin’s next big move.
Both analysts acknowledge Ethereum’s struggles, particularly its nearly 40% drop in Q1. However, they also highlight key developments that could support a recovery in the next quarter.
ElDeeb points to Ethereum’s upcoming upgrade, the Pectra upgrade, which is expected to improve staking and network scalability.
“Ethereum’s staking is also about to be improved with the launch of Pectra. These changes are expected to boost the appeal of staking-enabled products,” she explained.
Additionally, she sees growing competition from other blockchain platforms like Solana and Sui, which are attracting retail users with faster and cheaper transactions. Despite this, ElDeeb remains optimistic about Ethereum’s long-term potential, particularly as scalability solutions begin to take effect.
Shannon is more skeptical of Ethereum’s future, specifically with its ongoing challenges in both the monetary and smart contract spaces.
“Ethereum is attempting to function both as a monetary asset, where it struggles to compete with Bitcoin, and as a smart contract platform, where it faces strong competition from Solana,” the CoinShares analyst stated.
Shannon also highlights Ethereum’s changing monetary policy and the increasing technical debt as concerns that could limit its growth in the short term.
The rise and fall of celebrity meme coins like TRUMP, MELANIA, and LIBRA were hot topics in Q1 2025. Both analysts agree that the hype around this category of tokens is unlikely to be sustained in the long run.
“The forthcoming cryptocurrency market rally is anticipated to be driven by significant advancements in decentralized finance (DeFi), particularly through innovative mechanisms that enhance token holder engagement,” she notes, citing Aave’s recent proposal to share revenue with AAVE token holders as a prime example of this trend.
On the flip side, Shannon suggests that the decline in meme coins and altcoins could be a sign of broader challenges in the altcoin market.
“The Melei controversy, pump.fun decline, and declining centralized and decentralized exchange volumes show altcoins could have a very hard time this year in my opinion,” he cautions.
As trading volumes continue to drop, Shannon forecasts that altcoins may continue to underperform.
“Even in a BTC bull run altcoins could underperform,” the analyst added.
The Road Ahead
Looking ahead to Q2 2025, both ElDeeb and Shannon anticipate continued market volatility. External macroeconomic conditions like US tariffs, interest rate decisions, and geopolitical factors will largely shape the market.
While ElDeeb maintains a generally optimistic view, predicting a recovery for both Bitcoin and Ethereum, Shannon advises caution, particularly with altcoins.
For investors, diversification remains key. ElDeeb emphasizes the value of Bitcoin’s fixed supply and decentralization, which have historically helped it recover from turbulent periods.
“We consider these market corrections as great market entry points,” she says.
Shannon, meanwhile, stressed the importance of caution in navigating the altcoin space. He added that Bitcoin could be the best bet for those seeking stability.
