The decentralized stablecoin $sUSD, issued by Synthetix, is experiencing a rapidly growing depegging crisis. After a concerning drop, the token is now at $0.8030, a full 5% down in the last 24 hours. This steady slide has resulted in us saying that the stablecoin is fast reaching a market cap of $25.46 million, which in U.S. dollar terms just yesterday was $0.9321. This depegging, of course, has traders and investors concerned, as stablecoins like $sUSD are supposed to maintain a 1:1 peg with the U.S. dollar. So what gives? Why is this happening? And, you know, what’s next? The Mechanics of sUSD and Its Sudden Fall $sUSD is a decentralized stablecoin that is supposed to track the value of the U.S. dollar and maintain a stable 1:1 peg with that currency. It is made using the synthetic asset mechanism of the Synthetix platform, where users put up $SNX or other assets as collateral in order to mint the stablecoin. Generally, a stablecoin like $sUSD should stay quite close to its peg, something which seems to be happening with it as of late. Nevertheless, beginning in mid-March 2025, $sUSD started to move away from its $1 familiar value. On April 9, 2025, the value of the stablecoin plummeted to approximately $0.8388, which signaled a dip of over 16% from where it was theoretically supposed to be. This steep decline was of course concerning and, after 20 days of dropping and not recovering, seemed to be trending steadily downward. The depegging of the stablecoin $sUSD has intensified, currently trading at $0.8030, Why? According to market data, the depegging of $sUSD has worsened, with its current price at $0.803 — a 24-hour drop of 5.0%, bringing its market capitalization down to $25.46 million. $sUSD … pic.twitter.com/h3wC27MWcy — Followin (@followin_io) April 17, 2025 The value of $sUSD keeps decreasing and fell as low as $0.8030, which has a lot of people second-guessing the Synthetix protocol and its synthetic asset mechanism’s current state of stability. Unstable stablecoins create a ripple effect across DeFi, and with that, the $sUSD’s trustworthiness is being called into question — both as a medium of exchange and a store of value. Contributing Factors to the Depegging Crisis The ongoing depegging crisis for $sUSD has many reasons behind it. Kain Warwick, founder of Synthetix, recently spoke about the situation and said that the adjustment mechanism supporting $sUSD is going through growing pains—the kind you would expect from a platform attempting to make a significant change. Stablecoins are supposed to be stable, but Warwick’s comments indicate that Synthetix’s is anything but. Specifically, market fluctuations appear to be linked to wider changes in the collateral backing of $sUSD. Warwick disclosed that Synthetix had divested 90% of its $ETH position and augmented its $SNX holdings. This tweak in the protocol’s collateral composition is probably having some unanticipated effects, since it could lead investors to reassess just how stable $sUSD now is with so much less Ether backing it. Simultaneously, the wider crypto world has been riding a wave of increased volatility, which seems to be adding to the concerns around $sUSD. As the value of big-name tokens like Ethereum and Bitcoin swing in their own directions, the assets that back $sUSD don’t seem to be having their best day either. And that’s causing $sUSD to drift even further from its intended 1:1 peg with the U.S. dollar. Impact on $SNX and Market Sentiment It is interesting to note that, even though $sUSD has been losing its peg, its collateral token, $SNX, has been gaining in value. In the last 24 hours, $SNX has shot up 7.5%, which is a significant contrast to the trend that $sUSD is on right now. So, what’s happening here? Why is the market so conflicted about these two tokens? Clearly, the market is assuming that even if $sUSD is going to have problems in the short term, this won’t affect the Synthetix protocol or its governance mechanisms. It is also worth pointing out that the uptick in $SNX’s value could be correlated with the latest changes made by the Synthetix team. The change in platform collateral strategy, along with an augmented holding of $SNX, could be perceived as a good, positive move for the token. Yet, the lack of stability in $sUSD is castings a pall over investor confidence and the outlook for $SNX, since the Synthetix ecosystem as a whole and the stablecoin are integral to the working-out of $SNX’s success. What’s Next for $sUSD and Synthetix? As the problems with $sUSD keep escalating, the Synthetix team is under ever-growing pressure to solve the fundamental problems causing it. It was recently stated by Warwick that the protocol is in the middle of a transition that’s absolutely critical, making adjustments to its underlying collateral mechanisms. However, with $sUSD still depegged and now several weeks into the free fall, you have to wonder if what we are calling “a solution” is really a solution at all. For now, the risk for users and investors in the Synthetix ecosystem is how volatile $sUSD is. Even though $SNX rising is a positive indicator for the platform, $sUSD’s being an unstable digital asset may keep the market’s sentiment somewhat fragile in the near term. It’s a risk that the Synthetix team is working to resolve, and next steps are sure to be scrutinized closely. The future of $sUSD and Synthetix will hinge on the platform’s capacity to return to a stability, whereby it is re-trusted by the community, while also, in Synthetix’s own words, “growing with the decentralized finance needs of its users.” In the meantime, investors and users will have to deal with the not-so-pleasant reality of some ongoing uncertainty. They’ll have to keep a close eye on the protocol’s every step and misstep. Disclosure: This is not trading or investment advice. Always do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any services. Follow us on Twitter @nulltxnews to stay updated with the latest Crypto, NFT, AI, Cybersecurity, Distributed Computing, and Metaverse news !
The 31st quarterly token burn for $BNB , the native cryptocurrency of the Binance platform, has recently been completed by Binance. A striking 1,579,207 $BNB tokens have been burned in this latest burn, which equals about $916 million at current market prices. Yet again, Binance has proven itself to be very committed to reducing the total supply of $BNB and thereby maintaining the deflationary nature of the token to drive value for its holders. BNB Chain completed its 31st quarterly BNB token burn 10 minutes ago, destroying a total of 1,579,207.716 BNB, worth approximately $916 million. BNB uses an automatic burn mechanism aimed at reducing the total supply to 100 million tokens. The number of tokens burned each quarter… — Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) April 16, 2025 Burning tokens represents part of Binance’s strategic approach to the supply of $BNB, an effort that has been in place since the token’s inception. Each quarter, Binance chooses a set number of tokens that it will burn. This number is determined based on a formula that accounts for the price of $BNB and how many blocks were produced on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC) during that time period. What is the plan for future burns? Binance has stated that it will burn up to half of the total supply—that is, around 100 million $BNB. @Binance has completed their 31st quarterly $BNB token burn Binance has completed their 31st quarterly #BNB burn, permanently removing 1,579,207 BNB, or the equivalent of approximately $916M. The latest quarterly burn includes the actual burning of 1,579,207 BNB and doesn't… pic.twitter.com/QAhNi9kTgA — CryptoDep #StandWithUkraine (@Crypto_Dep) April 16, 2025 Ongoing Commitment to Deflationary Supply Binance’s quarterly token burns are part of a larger undertaking to ensure that increasingly fewer $BNB tokens exist, thus making the remaining tokens more valuable. The exchange has committed to burning tokens until a total of approximately 100 million $BNB tokens are rendered inoperative. This destruction process for $BNB tokens was set in place when they were first introduced and has since become an important part of the value proposition for $BNB. The last burn of more than 1.5 million $BNB takes the total number of tokens burned to a very substantial level, underpinning the long-term deflationary design of $BNB. Since Binance ties the market price of $BNB so closely to the size of each quarterly burn, the crypto exchange is effectively working to establish a cycle where supply reduction translates into an upward price push as demand increases. Although the burn is the main way to reduce the circulating supply, it is essential to understand that this number does not account for the tokens burned under Binance’s Pioneer Burn Program. That is a different kind of burn with a different goal. The tokens reduced by this program, which are supposed to be consumed in a way that doesn’t affect the DeFi tokenomics at play, are also counted separately and contribute additionally to the already reduced circulating supply. BNB Burn Process: How It Works Figuring out how much $BNB gets burned every three months is not done randomly. Two key numbers are used to make the calculation: the price of $BNB and the number of blocks produced on the Binance Smart Chain (BSC) during the prior three months. Together, these metrics make up a balanced, sensible, and transparent way to arrive at the burn amount, which in no way takes a chance. Connecting the burn to BNB’s price makes sense. As BNB grows in price, Binance burns a smaller number of tokens, as what is burned has to be equivalent to a certain amount in USD. Conversely, in a period of low prices, more tokens are burned. Presumably, this is still maintaining the equivalent value in terms of USD. This strategy ensures that the number of BNB tokens burned is somewhat relatively constant; if they were not burned at this rate, the whole idea of maintaining a deflationary currency would be moot. The $BNB community usually looks forward to the quarterly burns. They are commonly perceived as events during which Binance almost certainly is going to announce something positive about the project’s progress. From a trading perspective, he said, these announcements are almost always good for the price because they underscore the long-term scarcity of the token. Burns are seen as a way for Binance to not only regulate the market cap of $BNB, but also to keep the price growing. Again, this is more of a trading narrative than it is a tokenomics narrative. Looking Forward: $BNB’s Long-Term Deflationary Trajectory The 31st quarterly burn underscores Binance’s commitment to reducing the supply of $BNB, but it also calls attention to the growing importance of this model in a broader cryptocurrency ecosystem. When it comes to impact, the quarterly burn might be the most important event for the $BNB token. In the market, it could very well be that the quarterly burn strengthens the position of $BNB because it’s part of a narrative of $BNB being a deflationary token. And Binance sends a clear message when it comes to this element of the tokenomics: “$BNB is built for sustainability and long-term growth.” For investors and holders of $BNB, this burn serves as yet another reminder of the deflationary force at work. As Binance goes on burning tokens each quarter—tokenuities that come with each quarterly report, if you will—that burning and the overall reduction in supply could push $BNB higher as undervalued assets tend to do. In the future, Binance intends to keep carrying out this burning process, and with each burn that occurs on a quarterly basis, the potential for a big effect on $BNB’s market value magnifies. By whittling the number of tokens in circulation down to the bone, Binance hopes to God that whatever’s left is something very few people possess, thereby enhancing $BNB’s potential to be one of the most sought-after and scarce tokens. Disclosure: This is not trading or investment advice. Always do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any services. Follow us on Twitter @nulltxnews to stay updated with the latest Crypto, NFT, AI, Cybersecurity, Distributed Computing, and Metaverse news !
Recent insights suggest that Bitcoin ETF holders are stabilizing the cryptocurrency market, driving down volatility despite macroeconomic challenges. The growing investments into spot Bitcoin ETFs have allowed the market to
On April 18th, COINOTAG News reported that CNN analyst Stephen Collinson highlighted a renewed attack by former President Donald Trump against Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. This confrontation has intensified
Following a short cool-off period, the Virtuals ecosystem has once again become the focus of attention in the markets as sentiment has begun to rebound and the momentum is now building across both the $VIRTUAL token and the smaller, AI-driven projects that reside within the network. Why all the renewed focus? Well, data from SantimentFeed indicates that $VIRTUAL is now starting to show some early signs of a potential turnaround, with the price of the token beginning to tick up, the social volume remaining quite consistent, and a stable base of holders supporting the asset during its recent period of consolidation. As of April 17, 2025, the $VIRTUAL token is trading at $0.5373, down slightly by 0.27% over the past 24 hours. Despite the modest dip, market analysts are still bullish as capital starts rotating into smaller, more speculative plays in the ecosystem. This could be a sign of a shift in risk appetite that might precede a broader market rally. Virtuals Daily Update | April 17th 2025 Catch up on the @virtuals_io updates over the last 24 hours as we anticipate the Genesis launch… pic.twitter.com/hWLIDSVpOy — Graeme (@gkisokay) April 17, 2025 Catalysts Brewing: Genesis Launch and Ecosystem Expansion Several forthcoming catalysts could propel the Virtuals ecosystem to its next big upturn. Number one of these is the long-anticipated Genesis Launch, which is slated to transition the platform from its current state to one that offers a far broader suite of functionalities and economic incentives. Genesis, along with growing support from backers like Virtuals VC, is seen as a linchpin for the next major upturn in the ecosystem’s expansion. Furthermore, a possible listing on Binance could significantly increase liquidity for $VIRTUAL, providing an access point to a much larger retail and institutional investor base. Being available on a Tier-1 exchange could well translate into far greater volumes, and that prospect has already begun to animate discussion on crypto Twitter. Instead of using that space to argue for or against the idea of $VIRTUAL as a tradable asset, I want to take this opportunity to discuss what is becoming a potential outcome for the crypto space at large. Another major effort that’s getting traction is the ACP (Agent Community Program). It aims to create a more profound and engaging network within the Virtuals community—one that’s not just dialogue-driven but is also spurring the kinds of creative activities that, ideally, an AI network should enable. Deployed developers and creators are asked to help co-design and co-optimize the AI agents that reside in the community with an eye towards efficiencies and up-scaling. The halfway house between current Virtuals and future architecture seems to be organic growth via community-led actions. AI Agent Market Sees Uptick Amid Virtuals Recovery The total market capitalization for AI-driven agents shows renewed momentum at $5.85 billion. The past 24 hours showed a 1.38% increase in that momentum. This confidence extends across the space, with Virtuals maintaining a strong foothold at a $752.53 million ecosystem valuation. The ecosystem of Virtuals today possesses approximately 10.04% of the uncalculated whole; the remaining 89.96%, with no fixed apparatus, knowledge, or means of containment, extends into a dark recess of the virtual world. This virtual space has as many nooks and crannies to hide in as the imaginations of the virtual agents—be they good, bad, or evil—that occupy this space. All this is what makes Virtuals such a prominent and active platform in the emergence of AI agents. A few smaller initiatives in the ecosystem have outperformed most projects lately. Some striking upswings were noted in the following particular projects: @DTRXBT trumped most other projects when its price shot up to 40.92% higher, @ribbita2012 followed as a notable winner when its price increased to 21.57%, then @cr0w_agent was next with an impressive up move of around 14.84%, and finally @GigabrainGG notched a price increase that settled around 13.28%. Altogether these moves indicate investor enthusiasm for early projects that seem not fully understood yet. Capital is rotated from the main token into emerging assets in what has become a common dynamic seen in maturing ecosystems. Users start to explore the full depth of opportunity beyond the native currency. Our working hypothesis is that the confidence being expressed in Virtuals as more than just a “speculative asset”—but rather a “dynamic and scalable AI economy”—reflects a more general confidence in the as-yet-unrealized opportunities seen in a burgeoning ecosystem. . @santimentfeed shows #VIRTUAL @virtuals_ sentiment starting to recover — price ticking up, social volume holding steady, and a solid holder base already in place. Catalysts already lined up to power the next leg: • @virtuals_vc funding for eco growth • @binance listing for… pic.twitter.com/EyoH94fZnY — Chyan | chyan.base.eth (@Chyan) April 16, 2025 Looking Forward: Cautious Optimism with Key Triggers Ahead Even though the short-term price action of $VIRTUAL is not impressive, it remains an underappreciated investment. The virtual world has serious potential, and so does this cryptocurrency. Several new launches and developments with $VIRTUAL are on the horizon. The next few months are going to be critical for this company and its product. The Virtuals ecosystem has stood up well to the market chop, and its focus on long-term utility, AI agent infrastructure, and ecosystem rewards continues to set it apart from the more speculative, narrative-driven crypto projects. If the current sentiment revival holds and is met with strong execution, the Virtuals ecosystem may be poised to lead the next wave of growth in the AI and decentralized intelligence sector. Disclosure: This is not trading or investment advice. Always do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any services. Follow us on Twitter @nulltxnews to stay updated with the latest Crypto, NFT, AI, Cybersecurity, Distributed Computing, and Metaverse news !
TRON has started 2025 on a strong note, with its first-quarter report—recently released by Messari—sending yet another clear growth signal. This time, the blockchain known for its stablecoin mission but also getting increasingly known for its partnerships and developer relations signals impressive growth in cohort activity, ecosystem engagement, and financial performance. Of note, TRON’s first-quarter activity signals it as one of the most scalable and active blockchains—let alone Layer 1s—in the crypto space. The report for the first quarter of 2025 takes an intensive look at the expanding TRON ecosystem, the token USDT on TRON (TRC-20), which is rapidly growing to a position of dominance, and an upcoming landmark innovation: stablecoin transfers with no gas fees. @trondao achieved all-time highs in stablecoin issuance and revenue during Q1. What else happened onchain? Let's take a look pic.twitter.com/QONia6dgHr — Jeremy (@ItsFloe) April 15, 2025 TRON’s Strategic Partnerships and Ecosystem Momentum The heart of TRON’s present progress lies in the enlarging portfolio of partnerships with significant figures in the Web3 arena. Tie-ups with names like Wintermute, Kiln, T3 FCU, and the blockchain analytics company Nansen highlight the increasing relevance of, and integration within, the crypto ecosystem, for both TRON and the partners it keeps. These collaborations are not just symbolic of a growing interest from institutions but also practical in terms of helping us foster the liquidity, security, and infrastructure development that we need in the ecosystem. Wintermute is a top-tier liquidity provider, and Nansen a top-tier analytics provider, and both are now in the ecosystem that is TRON. Apart from partnerships, TRON’s promise of innovation keeps on expanding. The report states that the blockchain will shortly introduce gas-free USDT transfers, a step that might greatly affect stablecoin usage and transfer. Should this be rolled out without a hitch, it could establish TRON as one of the platforms most convenient and cost-effective for users who want to do P2P transactions and/or integrate stablecoins into a merchant context. Stablecoin Leadership and Network Growth Metrics TRON’s stablecoin transaction dominance only deepened in Q1 2025. The network saw an average of 19 billion dollars in USDT transfers per day. This was a 3.3 percent increase from the previous quarter and marked a return to stable growth for TRON. Once again, TRON was the leading transfer hub in the crypto world for USDT. The network, founded by Justin Sun and now supported in large part by the Huobi cryptocurrency exchange, has the regulatory flexibility to serve as a transfer hub. It is not as likely to come under the same kinds of legal pressures that exist in the United States (for example) for platforms that transfer US dollars. Currently, 45.9% of the total circulating USDT supply resides on TRON. This means that TRON can’t just be dismissed as a decent network for decentralized apps. With a stablecoin market cap of 65.7 billion dollars, it’s literally one of the largest financial infrastructures in the world. According to the report, TRON’s share of the entire USDT market now stands at 99.3 percent. This 1 percent increase from last year means almost all stablecoin transfers on TRON are carried out using USDT. Of course, one might ask why it matters if USDT is used for transfers, and the next question would have to be about the nature of USDT itself. Strong Financial and On-Chain Performance The first quarter (Q1) was not only about partnerships and token volume; it was also about TRON setting new financial records. The network’s total revenue for Q1 hit an all-time high of $760.2 million, up 2.7 percent from the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2022. Meanwhile, daily active addresses increased by 6.5 percent, indicating both user growth and a more engaged community. State of @trondao Q1 Key Update: TRON announces upcoming gas-free USDT transfers, potentially revolutionizing stablecoin transactions on the network. QoQ Metrics • Total Revenue 2.7% to all-time high • Daily active addresses 6.5% • USDT market share on TRON 1% to… https://t.co/auBkuqz2O0 pic.twitter.com/yd7mStLCKA — Messari (@MessariCrypto) April 15, 2025 The TRX token saw a notable transformation. Its circulating supply soared to 95 billion tokens mainly because of the migration to USDD 2.0. The migration released a substantial amount of TRX that was previously staked to back the now-demised USDD stablecoin. Said amount was then folded into the largely illusionary terms of the tokens coursing through the economy at any given moment. What’s more, this really doesn’t apply by any meaningful stretch to the overall supply of TRX. How is that possible? Because the amount of TRX that was kicked out in the migration was also counted on some other ledger somewhere in the block chain. The overall market has reacted advantageously to TRON’s development. Its market cap rose by 3.5 percent in the year’s first quarter to hit 22.7 billion dollars, showcasing an unmistakable surge in investor confidence and an appreciably growing usefulness and application across the network. Looking Ahead: DeFi Innovation Meets Practical Use TRON’s merger of financial strength, protocol refinements, and user-centered creativity has it on track for a mighty year. The transfer feature it will soon unveil, which allows users to send USDT without incurring gas fees, could be a massive deal, especially in emerging markets and with users who simply want cheap, instant transactions and who do not want to deal in and with instant transactions. As the global dialogue on compliance and the role of institutions increases, TRON seems to be moving from being a chain largely defined by its volume of transactions to serving as a foundational infrastructure layer for digital payments. Although strong fundamentals and bold innovations mean that TRON is not just competing in the fast-evolving world of stablecoins and the digital economy, it looks like TRON is seeking to shape the outcome. Disclosure: This is not trading or investment advice. Always do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any services. Follow us on Twitter @nulltxnews to stay updated with the latest Crypto, NFT, AI, Cybersecurity, Distributed Computing, and Metaverse news !
Bitcoin’s relatively stable price movements despite macroeconomic uncertainty is likely due to resilient spot Bitcoin ETF holders and Michael Saylor’s firm continuing to buy aggressively, according to a Bloomberg analyst. “The ETFs and Saylor have been buying up all ‘dumps’ from the tourists, FTX refugees, GBTC discounters, legal unlocks, govt confiscations and Lord knows who else,” Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said in an April 16 X post. Bitcoin ETF holders hold despite market volatility Balchunas pointed out that spot Bitcoin ( BTC ) ETFs have attracted $131.04 million over the past 30 days and are up $2.4 billion since Jan. 1. Balchunas called this “impressive,” noting it helps explain why Bitcoin has “been relatively stable.” “Its owners are more stable,” Balchunas said. Balchunas said Bitcoin ETF investors have “much stronger hands than most people think.” He said this “should” increase the stability and lower Bitcoin’s volatility and correlation in the long term. As of April 16, Bitcoin ETFs saw a total of $131.04 million in inflows over the past 30 days. Source: Eric Balchunas Saylor’s firm, Strategy, made its latest Bitcoin purchase on April 14, acquiring 3,459 BTC for $285.5 million at an average price of $82,618 per coin. According to Saylor Tracker, Strategy holds 531,644 Bitcoin at the time of publication. The Bitcoin Volatility Index, which measures Bitcoin’s volatility over the previous 30 days, is at 1.80% at the time of publication, according to Bitbo data. At the time of publication, Bitcoin is trading at $84,610, according to CoinMarketCap data. Over the past 30 days, Bitcoin has traded between $75,000 and $88,000 amid macroeconomic uncertainty primarily driven by US President Donald Trump’s imposed tariffs and ongoing questions about the future of US interest rates. Despite this, Bitcoin has remained above its previous all-time high of $73,679, first surpassed in November. Bitcoin is trading at $84,610 at the time of publication. Source: CoinMarketCap Participants in the broader financial market have also expressed surprise at Bitcoin’s relative strength in recent times, particularly in comparison to the S&P 500. Stock market commentator Dividend Hero told his 203,200 X followers on April 5, after Trump’s “Liberation Day,” that he has “hated on Bitcoin in the past, but seeing it not tank while the stock market does is very interesting to me.” Related: When gold price hits new highs, history shows ‘Bitcoin follows’ within 150 days — Analyst This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.
The broader financial ecosystem now has a lane for decentralized finance (DeFi), and DeFi seems to be following a path not just to resilience but to steady, multi-layered growth. We have always known DeFi for its fast-paced innovation, but recent data suggests that DeFi is maturing into a part of both crypto and traditional finance that is more stable and is increasingly well-integrated. The total value locked (TVL) in core DeFi categories is rising. Stablecoins and decentralized exchanges (DEXs) are achieving much stronger revenue performance. All of this points to the protocol layer of DeFi laying a much clearer foundation for the next wave of adoption. And traditional markets moving in our direction—thanks to compliance, clarifying regulation, and emerging use cases—makes it feel rather pivotal. Lending, Bridges, and DEXs Dominate TVL DeFi’s protocol layer comprises a few critical verticals, and the current TVL (Total Value Locked) data illustrates where the most capital is going. Lending protocols are still the leading category, with a TVL that combines to $40.1 billion. These platforms present users with the opportunity to borrow and lend digital assets in what can only be described as a trustless environment. Their ongoing and seemingly unshakeable popularity speaks to an abiding demand for on-chain credit markets. Coming in second is cross-chain bridges, which have captured $26.8 billion in locked value. Bridges have emerged as key infrastructure—enabling the transfer of assets between different blockchain ecosystems—as blockchain interoperability has become more critical. Their TVL reflects more growing confidence in multichain strategies, particularly as Layer 2 scaling solutions and alternative Layer 1 chains are gaining traction. Top-three platforms are decentralized exchanges, with $17.5 billion across various DEX platforms. These are asset trading platforms that let users trade directly, without relying on intermediaries. They proved once again their importance during periods of market volatility, times when trading on DEXs is most critically needed. One more group that is showing swift upward movement is Collateralized Debt Positions (CDPs). In the past month, we have seen a sharp increase in the use of CDPs, which suggests that there is a renewed interest in using our crypto assets to mint decentralized stablecoins or to find capital-efficient ways to access liquidity. Stablecoins and DEXs Lead in Revenue, Outperforming Expectations Although Total Value Locked (TVL) is a solid measure of how much capital is flowing into DeFi, some believe that revenue is an even clearer signal of how much usage a protocol is getting and how sustainable it is over time. Stablecoins have emerged as the top revenue-generating sector in DeFi protocols, pulling in something like $24.75 million in the last 24 hours. Among stablecoin issuers, Tether (USDT) continues to dominate, outperforming Circle’s USDC in both market registration and collateralization within the DeFi ecosystem. DeFi Protocol Layer Shows Steady Growth with Diverse Positive Signals 1. Top 3 DeFi Protocol TVL Categories: Lending: $40.1 billion Cross-Chain Bridges: $26.8 billion DEXs: $17.5 billion Collateralized Debt Positions (CDPs) saw rapid growth over the past month. — OKX Ventures (@OKX_Ventures) April 15, 2025 Tether’s strength comes from its wide adoption and use across all sorts of DeFi platforms. There, it is often employed as collateral and, more generally, in the kinds of settlement and trading activities that require two parties to reach a quick and efficient exchange of value—in this case, trading pairs that are effectively underwritten by the stablecoin. Since DeFi is now and will likely remain interconnected with traditional finance, Tether’s reliability and scalability are important drivers of its growth. Decentralized exchanges also continue to impress, pulling in $5.04 million in revenue during the same span—more than double that of launchpads, which netted $1.86 million. These figures come from The Block, with the DEX revenue number reportedly being calculated from projected trading fees on DEXs. As we’ve mentioned, decentralized exchanges have outpaced their centralized counterparts in trading volumes in the past 24 hours. DeFi’s Next Frontier: TradFi Integration Through Compliance and Infrastructure Maybe the most powerful signal of growth is not even the numbers, but rather the direction in which DeFi is headed. As worldwide regulators finalize compliance standards and digital asset frameworks, the sorts of innovations that are native to DeFi are starting to migrate into traditional finance. The world of traditional finance is slowly being infused with settlement systems based on stablecoins, payment infrastructure based on DeFi, and financial primitives like automated market makers (AMMs) and lending protocols. These integrations are being pushed both by necessity and opportunity: as our banks and financial institutions seek more efficient and transparent infrastructure, the open-source, composable architecture of DeFi becomes ever more appealing. This trend suggests that the next phase of growth for DeFi could come not from speculative upswings, but from structural reworking — a change from in-place innovation to institutional integration. DeFi seems to be on stable footing, poised to expand beyond its early-adopter user base, and yet its next iteration may be less defined by memes or hype cycles and more by its quiet integration into the global financial system. It steadily grows protocol by protocol, layer by layer. Its next growth phase seems likely to be powered not just by surging stablecoin revenue but also by cross-sector use cases that call on its core protocols and let its revenue streams modestly continue to grow. Disclosure: This is not trading or investment advice. Always do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any services. Follow us on Twitter @nulltxnews to stay updated with the latest Crypto, NFT, AI, Cybersecurity, Distributed Computing, and Metaverse news !
In the constantly changing realm of memecoins, one token is demonstrating that it is no laughing matter. Fartcoin , a Solana-based memecoin with the handle @FartCoinOfSOL, is once again making a splash as it approaches a remarkable $1 billion fully diluted valuation (FDV). Once dismissed as just another fleeting crypto joke, Fartcoin is now tops not only in audacity (obviously) but in leading the pack in price performance and getting the most attention from investors. And what kind of investors are giving it attention? Well, the kind that are not exactly stupid with their money. Fartcoin, quite clearly, is winning the confidence game. In the past day, Fartcoin has emerged as the most acquired token by smart money wallets, according to on-chain analytics platforms. This surge in tactical accumulation comes as the Fartcoin price is steadily rising and its visibility is increasing, thanks to an outspoken and exceptionally engaged community across all of crypto Twitter and Telegram. #FARTCOIN @FartCoinOfSOL is the most bought token by smart money in the last 24 hours pic.twitter.com/zMX8wkuCZ2 — Stalkchain (@StalkHQ) April 16, 2025 Whale Activity and Speculation Fuel the Rally The most recent surge in investor interest seems to be driven by a huge buyback from one of the largest holders of the coin. On-chain data reveals that a notorious whale — already known for previous Fartcoin trades — invested around $9.97 million yesterday to buy back 11.21 million Fartcoin tokens. He repurchased the tokens at an average price of about $0.89 per token. A whale spent $9.97M to buy back 11.21M $Fartcoin at ~$0.89 eight hours ago. Previously, the whale spent $8.15M to buy 13.39M $Fartcoin at ~$0.61, then sold at ~$0.86 — making a ~$3.33M profit. https://t.co/QRigNnNgpH pic.twitter.com/gGvkn6A1FT — Lookonchain (@lookonchain) April 16, 2025 This action is particularly significant in light of the same whale’s previous activities. In the weeks prior to this move, they’d dropped $8.15 million to acquire a whopping 13.39 million Fartcoin tokens at a nice entry point of around $0.61. Shortly after this purchase, they sold those tokens at around $0.86, netting them a profit of approximately $3.33 million. The same whale re-entered the market when Fartcoin was trading at around $1.13. Their decision to plow even more money back into the token when it was trading significantly higher than their previous entry point certainly suggests they have strong conviction in the token’s potential. Even more provocative, a brand new wallet has sparked some buzz by boldly entering the Fartcoin market. This wallet acquired 1.06 million tokens for $1 million worth of USDC, essentially divvying up its spent cash at about 94 cents (or one-tenth a dollar) per Fartcoin. If not some kind of sophisticated rib, the purchase may indeed suggest a new line of funding for an asset with little to no track record. Market bleeding red, but $Fartcoin is pumping against the tide. A newly created wallet spent 1M $USDC to buy 1.06M $Fartcoin at $0.944 an hour ago. https://t.co/wcmCXfFvYD pic.twitter.com/MqM7EivyoX — Lookonchain (@lookonchain) April 16, 2025 $1 Billion in Sight? Polymarket Predicts High Odds Fartcoin isn’t, uh, farted on by just the blockchain or trading platforms. No, Polymarket—a site where crypto enthusiasts wager on the likelihood of future events—has a healthy amount of air with which to blow Fartcoin up, and it does so with gusto. NEW: Fartcoin rises, approaches $1b FDV. 78% chance it hits $1b before July. https://t.co/3DQZGbQukE — Polymarket (@Polymarket) April 16, 2025 According to Polymarket, Fartcoin has a 78 percent chance of hitting a $1 billion market cap this summer. And the site is, shall we say, pretty confident in that assessment. What does that mean? A few things, really. For one, it means that Fartcoin might be a little less of a joke than you, or I, or even the developers of Fartcoin, might have thought. Context: Hitting a $1 billion FDV puts Fartcoin in the upper tier of memecoins — up there with BONK and PEPE, and almost on the level of Dogecoin and Shiba Inu. Why? Because it is far outpacing those two inflow and engagement metrics, and traders are beginning to see it as not just a potential but a likely outcome. Is Fartcoin the Face of a New Memecoin Era? Fartcoin may be the start of a new era for memecoins, where the branding is no longer just a lucrative viral punchline. People are actually trading the thing, giving it real value and serious liquidity; there are even signs of tentacles of Fartcoin infiltration into the very heart of the financial underbelly. This is not, however, a chapter that ends with Fartcoin or even sidesteps into a world of pseudo-memecoins. No, Fartcoin is making its way into realms far removed from the laugh factories (or tweet factories) it once called home. Fartcoin, like all memecoins, is a high-risk, high-reward asset. You know you can’t be serious even saying that, right? But that’s the joke, and when it comes to Fartcoin, punching down makes for a particularly ropy kind of humor. After all, this digital fart is a direct rip-off of that other flatulent crypto, Dogecoin, which itself is already a pretty low form of humor. But Fartcoin is succeeding in a pretty remarkable way. The inquiry we are on now is: how far can a fart truly travel? If the past day is any indication, the response might be further than anyone ever anticipated. Disclosure: This is not trading or investment advice. Always do your research before buying any cryptocurrency or investing in any services. Follow us on Twitter @nulltxnews to stay updated with the latest Crypto, NFT, AI, Cybersecurity, Distributed Computing, and Metaverse news !
Privacy-focused exchange eXch will shut down operations on May 1 following rising allegations that it was used to launder funds stolen in the $1.5 billion Bybit hack. In an Apr. 17 notice on the Bitcoin Forum, eXch’s team said the project had become the target of a “transatlantic operation” aiming to shut it down and potentially prosecute key figures for money laundering and terrorism. The Czech-based exchange, known for minimal know-your-customer requirements, stressed that it was created as a privacy experiment with no financial goals. It denied any intent to facilitate illicit activity. While eXch has often been labeled a “mixer,” the team clarified that it is a privacy-focused instant exchange, not a traditional coin mixer. The team claims it received intelligence from contacts in the “state intelligence sector” that confirmed its inclusion in ongoing investigations related to the laundering of crypto assets. The exchange had previously denied accusations of laundering funds from the Bybit hack , initially dismissing reports that it had aided North Korea’s Lazarus Group. However, it later acknowledged processing a “small portion” of the hacked funds. You might also like: Safe cuts 14 team members months after Bybit’s $1.43b theft Blockchain analytics firms like Elliptic and TRM Labs flagged eXch as a key hub in the laundering process. Following the Feb. 21 exploit that drained ~401,000 Ethereum ( ETH ) from Bybit’s cold wallet, the Lazarus Group used a web of decentralized exchanges, cross-chain bridges, and privacy tools, including eXch, to hide the stolen assets’ origin. In its shutdown notice, eXch criticized centralized exchanges for what it called “nonsensical policies” that fail to meaningfully stop money laundering. It reaffirmed its mission of defending user privacy and announced a 50 Bitcoin ( BTC ) fund to support open-source privacy-enhancing projects in the Bitcoin and Ethereum ecosystems. Despite its closure, eXch warned that shutting down its platform would not eliminate illicit activity in crypto. “The goal of stopping eXch under the belief that it may stop all money laundering in the world is ridiculous,” the statement reads. eXch’s API will remain available to partners for a limited time, while an incoming management team determines the platform’s final transition. “Privacy is not a crime,” the announcement concludes. Read more: Bybit doubles post-hack market share thanks to retail liquidity