The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has delayed its decision on allowing staking in Grayscale's spot Ethereum ETFs. The proposal under consideration would permit the Ethereum ($ETH) held by Grayscale's ETFs to earn staking rewards, which could position it as the first U.S. ETF to generate on-chain yield. The SEC's notice indicates a longer period for action on the proposed rule change to amend the Grayscale Ethereum Trust ETF and Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust ETF. The new deadline for the SEC's decision has been set for June 1, 2025. To continue reading this as well as other DeFi and Web3 news, visit us at thedefiant.io
A clean break above THIS threshold would likely validate a full-scale trend reversal.
Chainlink (LINK) is showing renewed promise after a fresh retest of a crucial support level, hinting that the bulls may be gearing up for the next phase of its upward move. The recent bounce off this key support area, previously acting as a barrier, reinforces the idea that the level has now become a strong foundation. This move reinforces the strength of the support and builds the case for a potential upside run. As LINK stabilizes above this key level, eyes are now on the next resistance zones that could define the near-term direction. With momentum gradually rebuilding, the stage might be set for a breakout that could catch the broader market’s attention. Chainlink Holds Strong: Breaking Down The Critical Support Retest According to Jimmy X in a recent post on X, Chainlink has broken out of a falling wedge pattern on the daily chart, a formation often considered a bullish reversal signal. This technical development is catching attention as it hints at a possible shift in momentum after a period of downward consolidation. Related Reading: Chainlink (LINK) Targets Rebound To $19 — But Only If This Key Support Holds Jimmy noted that LINK is currently testing the upper trendline resistance of the wedge, with trading volume steadily increasing, a strong sign that buyers are stepping in with conviction. Rising volume alongside a breakout typically reinforces the validity of the move, suggesting that this isn’t just a short-lived spike but possibly the beginning of a more sustained upward trend. He further emphasizes that a confirmed breakout followed by a successful retest of the previous resistance as support could trigger a parabolic move for Chainlink. This bullish setup, often seen as a launchpad for accelerated rallies, places LINK on track to target multiple upside levels. Key resistance points include $15.40 and $17.50, which have historically served as barriers during past price surges. Beyond these are the $20.00, $23.80, and $26.50 price levels. With technical indicators aligning and sentiment shifting, a sustained move above the breakout zone may set the stage for an extended rally. Downside Potentials While Chainlink’s recent retest of support shows bullish promise, it’s crucial to acknowledge the downside risks in case momentum weakens. If the price fails to maintain its current structure, the first level of support lies around $12.50. This level has previously served as a strong demand area, and a breakdown below it might signal the start of a deeper correction. Related Reading: Support Or Resistance? Chainlink (LINK) Investor Data Suggests Key Price Zones Further down, the $11.10 level becomes the next critical point. This area marks a prior consolidation zone and aligns with the lower trendline of the broader ascending channel, making it a vital structure for bulls to defend. A breach below this could open the door for a retest of the psychological $9.28 level, where the market may once again attempt to establish a firm base. Featured image from YouTube, chart from Tradingview.com
Kraken is expanding its offerings beyond the realm of cryptocurrencies with a significant new move aimed at attracting traditional investors. The company announced the launch of commission-free trading for over 11,000 US-listed stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as it enters the equities market. Kraken Steps Into Equities Market This new service is designed to provide US-based clients, starting in select states, including New Jersey, Connecticut, and Alabama, with the ability to trade both traditional assets and digital currencies within a single platform. The rollout, starting April 14th, is part of a phased plan, Kraken announced in its official blog post. The integration of stocks and ETFs into Kraken’s existing platform gives users the ability to manage a diversified portfolio, including digital assets like cryptocurrencies, stablecoins, and now traditional equities. Key features include fractional trading, which will allow users to purchase portions of high-priced stocks, and the ability to reinvest proceeds into other stocks or crypto instantly. This offering is powered by Kraken Securities, the company’s FINRA-regulated division dedicated to equities trading. Arjun Sethi, Kraken’s co-CEO, weighed in on the development and explained that crypto is not only evolving but is also becoming the “backbone” for trading across asset classes, such as equities, commodities, and currencies. While highlighting the growing demand for 24/7 global access, Sethi added, “Expanding into equities is a natural step for us, and paves the way for the tokenization of assets. The future of trading is borderless, always on and built on crypto rails – and Kraken will continue to lead this shift.” Going forward, Kraken plans to expand stock trading to clients in more US states shortly, followed by several important international markets, including the UK, Europe, as well as Australia. IPO and Acquisition As reported earlier, Kraken plans to go public via an IPO in early 2026. The exchange is also negotiating a $1 billion corporate debt deal with investment banks Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan. To top that, Kraken recently finalized a $1.5 billion acquisition of NinjaTrader, a US retail futures trading platform. The post Kraken Makes First Move into Equities Trading, Adds Over 11,000 US Stocks and ETFs appeared first on CryptoPotato .
Vitalik Buterin, the original creator of the Ethereum blockchain, is one of the most recognizable figures of the cryptocurrency industry. He’s often admired in the ecosystem for being highly technical while also deeply philosophical about technology's role in society. For those that do not follow crypto closely, Buterin starkly contrasts the stereotypical image of a flashy cryptocurrency billionaire with his minimalism in his personal style as well as his geeky and awkward mannerisms. The documentary “Vitalik: An Ethereum Story,” which is set for global release April 15, tries to give us a peek into those aspects of Buterin, following his early life and childhood in Russia followed by immigrating with his family to Toronto, Canada, where his love for computers and technology began in his high school years. At the core of Buterin’s life was the creation of Ethereum, which came after his early involvement in Toronto’s Bitcoin community, where he saw the potential of the asset in giving people some financial freedom. While thinking how he could apply those concepts to other aspects of life, Buterin set out to write a whitepaper on creating the blockchain version of the internet. Toronto has strong ties to Ethereum’s early days. It was home to some of the first Ethereum developer hackathons and meetups organized by Ethereum’s Canadian co-founders in the city. This year, CoinDesk’s Consensus 2025 takes place in Toronto May 14-16, highlighting Canada’s vibrant crypto community. The film walks through the various stages of Ethereum’s lifetime, including the start of the network and the struggles Buterin faced in his new leadership role, the boom of the blockchain during the NFT era, the importance of the Merge in reducing Ethereum’s energy consumption, and Buterin’s urge to help Ukraine in its war with Russia by deploying crypto for resources. CoinDesk sat down with the producers of the documentary, Chris Temple and Zach Ingrasci, to hear about their perspectives on creating the film, ahead of its global release. This interview has been edited for brevity and clarity. CoinDesk: Why did you want to make a documentary about Ethereum? Zach Ingrasci [ZI]: So Chris and I have been making documentaries together for 15 years now. We make character driven documentaries. So I really love those human stories that give us insight into the emotions and motivations of people in really interesting places. We aren't crypto experts. We both studied economics, so we have a bit of understanding of finance. But when we met Vitalik in 2021 I think he immediately clicked something in our brains like: “oh, here's a story that kind of breaks the stereotypes that mainstream audiences have of this space.” Quickly after meeting Vitalik, we did an NFT crowdfund for the film on mirror.xyz, peoplepleaser did the NFT. We raised basically the full budget of the film, and it allowed us to create this independent story and approach to follow Vitalik around the world, as, he lives out of a 40 liter backpack How did you guys decide what parts of Ethereum’s history to include in Vitalik’s story? One noticeable moment I thought was interesting that you left out was not to include the 2016 DAO hack? Why exclude that key moment in Ethereum’s history but leave in other moments? ZI: This is the challenge of making these films. We had a very broad mandate, following the community, not just focused on Vitalik. And then after two years of filming, we realized that the kind of narrative structure would only make sense if you were able to follow one person and then get to meet the community through his eyes. The DAO hack is very confusing to explain, and so there's an element of just what at its essence is important. And I think, you know, the moment for Vitalik to decide whether the Ethereum Foundation would be nonprofit versus for profit is a very understandable concept for a mainstream audience. They get it. As you mentioned, there was the premiere a few months ago, and it was only accessible to people on-chain. If the movie is aimed for a mainstream audience, why first decide to release it on-chain, instead of a streaming platform where more of those folks can access it? ZI: It’s a practical answer. The documentary industry is broken, so to have an independent film premiere on a mainstream platform doesn't even mean anything, unless you have real marketing. And so actually, the on-chain release, the NFT, the trailer release on Zora, building sponsorship for this mainstream release is critical. Chris Temple [CT]: People love the film, and have rallied behind it and been interested and been sharing it with their moms, being like: “Hey, this is what I do for a living.” This isn't just our film, this film belongs to the community. And I think empowering people with it at that first step, and using the technology that the film was all about felt very right to us. How did you convince Vitalik to do the film? He’s not very rerceptive to the media so how did you get him to agree to do it? ZI: I think we got really lucky in some ways. This was before he was on the front page of TIME magazine . I think he was motivated to speak up about what he believed the future of Ethereum should look like, and how to build it, and people should focus on building things that have real world value. So I think we just happened to meet him at the perfect moment when he and the people around him were looking to have access to broader audiences. I think ultimately, that's what makes for us Vitalik the perfect participant of a film, because his reluctance to be in that spotlight, that genuine authenticity. You can tell on the film that he's not trying to hog the spotlight. This is something that he's uncomfortable with, and something that's taken a long journey for him to even find where his voice is and how it should be. CT: It was a very challenging production, more than any film we've ever made, because Vitalik is nomadic, he’s all over the world, and he says, “I'm going to be tomorrow in Montenegro…If you want to come.” We have to immediately try to scramble and get everybody there just to get those moments, even if it's just a couple of hours with Vitalik. Recently, there’s been a bunch of leadership changes at the EF, and Vitalik has been at the core of making the decision on those changes. The movie shows how uncomfortable Vitalik can be in stepping into that leadership role and having to make core decisions like whether the EF should be a non-profit vs for-profit organization and going against some co-founders. Given all the key decisions he’s had to make over the past few months and a key leader in Ethereum, what do you think went through his mind, and has he become more comfortable in his leadership role? ZI: I really can't speak for Vitalik, but I do think that's why this film has never been more relevant. Because if we are looking for insight into how Vitalik thinks and what he cares about, I think the thing he cares most about is that Ethereum will be useful in the world. There's an important quote in the film about “if Ethereum is only used for speculation, that's a huge missed opportunity.” So it's not surprising that Vitalik didn’t go to the White House [to meet with President Trump]. Vitalik cares about how this tool will be used in the long term for real, positive change in the world. He is uncomfortable with conflict, we know that, we see that in the film. So I can't imagine this has been an easy process for him. But you can definitely tell that he's begun to understand how to use his voice in this ecosystem and use his kind of soft power. Read more: Ethereum Foundation Picks New Co-Executive Directors, Following Leadership Reshuffle What was filming in Ukraine during the start of the Russian invasion like? And why does Vitalik feel so connected to that cause? ZI: We have some experience filming on the borders of war zones. Luckily, at that time Kiev was relatively safe. It really was Vitalik's idea, he always wanted to support the hackers there. Vitalik just felt like he could be there to support them, and it's something he cares so deeply about for two reasons: 1) he actually has Ukrainian ancestry, and 2) coming from Russia, I think he regrets having met with Putin. Then there’s also just really one of the first concrete examples of real positive impact in the world, of how crypto is being used when the banking system was in chaos, and so quickly got money to the front lines. There's a deleted scene where he's playing chess with Fedorov, the Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine. But you know, Fedorov was talking about how 1000s of their military were saved because of that $100 million Vitalik raised in crypto was quickly mobilized. What are you hoping that your audience takes away from this film? CT: Documentaries are bad at information, but they're great at provoking questions and getting emotions. If we can inspire an audience to be more savvy and think more critically about technology, not just in these extremes of it's all bad or it's all good, but to understand a bit of that spectrum along the middle there, and look at both the positive and negative consequences of technology. I think that kind of techno optimism is the core of what this film is really about. Helping anybody apply those lessons, whether it's within crypto, within AI, because technology is just going to continue to shift and impact our lives. The movie is about Vitalik as a person but also a bit about Ethereum’s history. So is Vitalik = Ethereum? ZI: I don't think he is, and I think that's what he hoped for at this point. I hope that comes across in the film, and that's why we called it an Ethereum story, because I think it’s one of many that gets told. I think that's where Vitalik has been successful because he is not Ethereum.
XRP (XRP-USD) just ripped higher. It clocked nearly 22% over the past five days. This wasn’t some throwaway pump. A cocktail of bullish technical p...
TL;DR The overall market resurgence, as well as some advancements in the Pi Network ecosystem, have helped PI stage a notable recovery in the past 10 days or so, almost doubling its value within this timeframe. But, the substantial amount of tokens to be unlocked in the next few days could spell trouble for the asset, or at least enhanced volatility. Following the mindblowing volatility and price decline experienced since the end of February when it traded at $3 to the beginning of April when it plunged to an ATL of $0.4, PI’s price actions began to recover in the past 10 days. The asset now trades close to $0.75, which means that it’s up by close to 90% since then. The reasons vary, from market revival to internal updates and developments , but one analyst warned that there could be more substantial price moves in the near future, possibly leading to another correction. This is due to the large number of tokens set to be unlocked this week, starting from today. MOON JEFF, an analyst focused on PI’s price movements, warned that 2.3 million tokens will be unlocked on April 14. However, the number will grow in the following days and is scheduled to near 10 million on April 18. PI Token Unlock Schedule. Source: Piscan Such events typically lead to an increased selling pressure because investors receive access to liquid assets that they can now decide to dispose of. While this doesn’t guarantee that they will indeed sell their newly acquired tokens, it certainly raises a few alarms, as many of them have waited for a long time, given the continuous delays ahead of PI’s launch. Nevertheless, MOON JEFF remains an optimist (despite a previous controversial claim ) and noted that PI’s chart looks ‘nice.’ The on-chain analyst believes “$5 is inevitable,” but it might take weeks or months to get there. $PI chart looks nice. $5 is inevitable It might take weeks or even months but eventually we will be there. The only resistance we have is at $3. #PiNetwork — MOON JEFF (@CRYPTOAD00) April 14, 2025 The post PI Investors Beware: Massive Pi Network Price Volatility Incoming? appeared first on CryptoPotato .
The International Monetary Fund is warning countries about an impending global recession, citing US President Donald Trump’s tariff strategy and geopolitical indifferences as factors that could destabilize global financial markets. In a report released Monday, the IMF cautioned that escalations in geopolitical risk, especially related to trade conflicts, could lead to major and lasting corrections in global asset prices. The global lender noted recent developments, particularly the White House’s tariff agenda, have introduced a “heightened uncertainty” that could disrupt macro-financial stability across economies. The IMF’s assessment follows several weeks of volatility in global financial markets. Since President Trump’s January 20 inauguration for a second term, the S&P 500 index has fallen more than 10%, bond markets have experienced several swings on both sides, and gold prices have surged to record highs. The world lender’s spring meeting is scheduled for April 21, where Trump’s tariff policies are expected to dominate the agenda. Financial institutions caught in market whiplash Per the IMF, price movements were more profound on April 2, the US president dubbed “liberation day,” when a fresh round of tariffs was announced against imports from several countries. The Fund said institutions such as banks, hedge funds, private equity firms, and pension funds face elevated risks from large, unpredictable market moves . According to the report, margin calls, an event that occurs when banks require borrowers to post additional collateral, have seen an uptick that has given hedge funds a run for their money. Earlier this month, following Trump’s tariff announcement, hedge funds experienced several instances of margin calls since the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. “ Major geopolitical risk events can trigger large and persistent corrections in asset prices, generating market volatility that could threaten macro-financial stability ,” the IMF stated. The report also examined geopolitical threats over the past decade and discussed the US-China trade war under Trump’s first term, which it reckoned would add to the recession fears, albeit slightly. Other geopolitical elements, like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, were listed as examples of global market impact events. Still, the Fund reiterated that Trump’s focus on trade in his second term is more aggressive than the POTUS’s first tenure at the White House. Data shows that the United States has raised tariffs to the highest level in a century, while China has responded in kind. The world’s two largest economies are now imposing import levies exceeding 100% on each other’s goods, effectively doubling the price of cross-border products. Such protectionist policies, the IMF warned, are increasing the difficulty for investors in accurately pricing geopolitical risks. This uncertainty could lead to what it described as “sharp market reactions,” compounding the threat of volatility. IMF Chief: Liberation Day is disastrous for the global economy In the statement, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has spoken against “Liberation Day,” stating that the president’s tariff program “clearly represented significant risk” to the global economy. Georgieva, like most analysts worried about Trump tariffs, propounded that the longer-term consequences of the taxes will increase the so-called “market tail risks.” These refer to the likelihood of rare but severe portfolio losses, such as during a financial crash. And if the risks grow, she asserted, so does the possibility of a market collapse. “ Geopolitical tensions and abrupt policy shifts heighten investor anxiety. This can contribute to feedback loops where falling asset prices further erode investor confidence, amplifying downward pressure on markets ,” the director added. She also cautioned nations about the effects of tariffs on sovereign debt markets. Sovereign risk premiums, which is the cost of credit default swaps that protect against government default, are rising. The yield on the US 10-year Treasury note stood at 4.43% on Monday, after rising steeply last week, based on over-the-counter interbank quotes for the government bond’s maturity. This, the Fund said, could spill into other countries through international trade and finance channels, particularly in emerging markets with higher debt burdens. Meanwhile, a recent survey by Reuters shows that consumer confidence in America has dropped because of fears over inflation, which has climbed to its highest point since 1981. That sentiment is evident in several major global investment banks, many of which have recently flagged recession possibilities stemming from Trump’s economic policies. The IMF also released an accompanying blog examining the impact of US-China tariff actions between 2018 and 2024. It found that announcements during that period consistently pushed stock markets lower in both America and the East Asian country. Cryptopolitan Academy: Want to grow your money in 2025? Learn how to do it with DeFi in our upcoming webclass. Save Your Spot
Ethereum's price fluctuations shift focus to technical indicators among market players. Analysts signal potential recovery and long-term growth opportunities for Ethereum. Continue Reading: Ethereum Price Fluctuations Ignite Technical Analysis and Strategic Forecasts The post Ethereum Price Fluctuations Ignite Technical Analysis and Strategic Forecasts appeared first on COINTURK NEWS .
Fartcoin price has become one of the best-performing cryptocurrencies this month. It has surged by over 170% in the last 30 days, outperforming the stock market and top coins like Bitcoin and Ethereum. Fartcoin is still showing bullish signs, a trend that may be boosted if Solana price surges to $200. Fartcoin Price Would Benefit if Solana Surges to $200 The ongoing Fartcoin surge has triggered more upside for some popular Solana meme coins. Dogwifhat has jumped by 37% in the last seven days, while Popcat, Cat in a dogs world, and Gigachad have soared by 20% and 50%, respectively. The rally has also sparked a substantial Solana price comeback. After bottoming at $94.5 earlier this month, SOL has soared by 40% to $135, outperforming comparable tokens like Cronos and Avalanche. This Solana rally has excited some crypto investors, some whom expect it to rebound to $200 eventually. Such a move would signal a 50% surge from the current level. Such a rebound is possible since the coin has a history of dropping and rising over time. For example, Solana price crashed to $168 on January 13 and then recovered by 75% to $295 a few days later. Also, as shown below, Solana plunged to $109 in August last year and then soared by 140% to $265 a few months later. A renewed Solana surge would be highly bullish for meme coins in its ecosystem like Fartcoin, Bonk, and Dogwifhat. Solana Price Chart Fartcoin Technical Analysis and Key Targets Fartcoin price has soared after bottoming at $0.19 in March. It has soared by over 300%, making it the best-performing major coins in the market, and pushing its market cap close to the $1 billion mark. The token moved above the key resistance point at $0.6345 on April 9. This was a notable level since it was the upper side of the cup and handle pattern , a highly accurate continuation sign. This C&H pattern had a depth of 71%. The coin has now moved above the 25-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), which is a bullish sign. Therefore, measuring 71% from the upper side of the cup brings the target price at $1.0730, which also coincides with the 61.8% Fibonacci Retracement level. That target would be a 20% above the current level. A move above that target would point to an increase to the 50% retracement point at $1.3732. A recent CoinGape article quoted an analyst who predicted that Fartcoin would soar to $1.29. Fartcoin Price The bullish Fartcoin price forecast will be canceled if the price drops below the crucial support at $0.6345, the upper side of the cup. It would signal a potential drop to the lower side of the cup at $0.2125. The post How High Can the Fartcoin Price Surge if Solana Soars to $200? appeared first on CoinGape .