Layer-2 network ZKsync has announced that it will be sunsetting the Ignite Program, which rewarded users for providing liquidity, due to bearish market conditions. "After careful consideration, the DeFi Steering Committee (DSC) has decided to not renew Ignite for Season 2 and will be sunsetting the program starting March 17th, 2025 by turning off rewards for period 6," ZKsync posted on X . It added that the long-term vision is centered around the Elastic Network, which is composed of multiple chains within the ZKsync ecosystem. "Unfortunately we’re navigating a bearish market right now. In line with many other ecosystems, ZKsync has decided to be more conservative with spend in the short to medium term in response to these evolving conditions," it added. "To stay sustainable, we’re tightening our focus and spending smarter, rather than fighting headwinds." Total value locked (TVL) on ZKsync is down by around 50% since Jan. 30 as the wider crypto market is grappling with a correction that has seen bitcoin and ether lose 13% and 27% of their respective market caps in the past month. ZKsync's native token (ZK) has plunged by 35% in the same period.
2021 is where everyone was talking about NFTs and it seemed like the next big thing. Fast forward to 2025 and people are speculating on whether NFTs can ever reclaim their past glory. There was truly a time when a digital image of a monkey (Bored Apes collection) fetched thousands of dollars in ETH, however, now they are just out of the crypto scene. Read this article to find out what are NFTs, why they became so popular, and how to make them yourself! Ever since it went mainstream in 2021, everyone from digital artists to celebrities to football clubs has hopped on the NFT train. Read on to learn all about NFTs and why they’re so popular! Table of Contents What are NFTs? How do NFTs work? What are NFTs used for? Important platforms in the NFT space How To Create An NFT? Ways To Promote Your NFT Are NFTs dead? FAQs What are NFTs? NFTs stand for “Non-Fungible Tokens”. If an object is fungible, it’s easily traded with another item of the same value. For example, fiat currency is fungible because you can trade a $20 bill with another $20 bill, which will still have the same value. In contrast, you cannot easily exchange non-fungible items. For example, while the Mona Lisa and Starry Night are both paintings, they don’t have the same value and cannot be traded. NFTs are pieces of data attached to a digital asset (e.g., pictures, music, or videos) that act as proof of ownership of that asset. While the asset can be copied and saved by others, you’re the rightful owner of that digital asset. Most NFTs are one-of-a-kind items – the Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC) generative NFT collection is a good example. The collection consists of 10,000 ape pictures, and none of them are exactly the same. The fact that there’s only one copy of each ape in existence is what makes them valuable. While NFTs have been around since 2014, they truly exploded in 2021, thanks to big pushes from celebrities and sports figures. Endorsements from celebrities like Grimes and Matt Damon, as well as the success of NBA Top Shot, propelled NFTs into the mainstream. Since then, more and more people have flocked to NFTs (even making their own) to capitalize on the boom. You might also like: NFT sales surge 19.6% to $152.9m, Doodles dethrones Pudgy Penguins How do NFTs work? NFTs exist on a blockchain, a public digital ledger that records transactions. While most NFTs are recorded on the Ethereum blockchain, some are hosted on alternative blockchains like Solana and Polygon. Creating an NFT is called minting. It involves attaching a digital certificate to the piece of art and registering it on the blockchain. The digital certificate confirms your ownership of the art and records the NFT’s transaction history. If you buy an NFT from someone else, you can see all of its previous owners in the digital certificate. Similar to Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, you “store” NFTs in a digital wallet. Unlike physical wallets that hold money, digital wallets provide access to the NFTs recorded on the blockchain. What are NFTs used for? NFTs are primarily used to signify ownership of digital assets and prevent fraud. But thanks to developments in the field, there are many other ways to use NFTs, like: Certificates of ownership One of the basic uses of NFTs is to verify your ownership of a digital asset. Say you have a CryptoPunks #124 NFT. While anybody on the Internet can save the picture, you’re the rightful owner because you have the digital certificate of ownership. Digital collectibles Some NFTs are designed as digital collectibles, similar to how people collect stamps or baseball cards. Stores like NBA Top Shot and Topps NFTs bring sports collectibles into the 21st century with digital collectibles you can trade with other collectors. Investment vehicles The scarcity of NFTs makes them great mediums for investment and speculation. Many collectors “flip” NFTs by buying them at a low price early on, then selling them for a higher value immediately after. Other collectors prefer to hold onto NFTs in hopes they’ll multiply in value in the future. Real estate documents NFTs are essentially digital records secured on a blockchain, meaning they’re almost impossible to tamper with. The real estate industry can use NFTs as digital land deeds to speed up transactions and track property value changes. Video game items NFT-based gaming is taking the industry by storm. Players collect unique, one-of-a-kind in-game items they can use to power up their characters. Meanwhile, games like Axie Infinity implement a play-to-earn model, where players breed creatures to battle and trade with for real-world money. Important platforms in the NFT space The NFT space is more than just digital artwork and marketplaces. With more industries and players coming in, the NFT space is ever-expanding. Here are some common platforms you’ll find in the NFT space: NFT marketplaces Some of the best NFT marketplaces like OpenSea, Rarible, and Coinbase NFT are like the hubs of the NFT landscape. They host digital collectibles made by a wide range of creators and put them up for sale to the public. Many of these marketplaces also host NFT drops, where new NFT projects are launched. Long-established players in the fine art world like Sotheby’s and Christie’s have also entered the NFT space. Notably, Christie’s hosted the auction where Beeple sold his Everydays: The First 5000 Days NFT for a whopping $69 million in 2021. NFT launchpads Launching an NFT project alone can be challenging for some people – this is where NFT launchpads come in. These companies help artists by providing fundraising and marketing for their NFT collections. Metaverse The easiest way to describe the metaverse is like the virtual world seen in Ready Player One. While we haven’t quite reached that level yet, virtual worlds like Decentraland let players create, mingle, and play in customizable LANDs. How To Create An NFT? Creating NFTs in crypto is a relatively simple process. All you need is your favorite creative software, artistic talent, and crypto in your wallet. Here’s how to make an NFT in six easy steps: Come up with an idea. Depending on your objectives, you can create a piece that appeals to a wide audience or art that only a small niche would appreciate. Work on the art piece. Use your creative software to bring your idea to life. Consider generative art scripts if you’re planning to make large NFT collections like BAYC. Save your work. Ensure you have backups so you won’t have to start over if something happens. Sign up for a cryptocurrency exchange and connect your crypto wallet to the site. Choose the “Mint” option and go through the entire process. Pay the gas fee, and your NFT is officially minted. Ways To Promote Your NFT Now that your NFT is uploaded to the marketplace, you must promote it so people want to buy it. Some of the best NFTs also have the best marketing teams behind them. Here are some of the best marketing methods to promote your NFT: Create dedicated NFT collection social media accounts to post artwork and project updates. Start a Discord community to foster an active fanbase and gain early buyers. Work with NFT influencers to promote your collection. Are NFTs dead? It is true that NFTs experienced explosive growth in 2021, but the hype has truly faded in 2025, where only a handful of crypto bros talk about them. Back then the true meaning of NFTs was more of a status symbol than just trading it on the NFT marketplaces. Digital art collections like Bored Ape Yacht Club, and others were publicly shared on live TV and promises were made of their long-term viability. But referring to NFTs as “dead” would be premature. By 2025, NFTs encompass more than simply digital art and collectibles. The emphasis has switched to real-world uses, with sectors including virtual real estate, gaming, and intellectual property adopting NFTs to generate value outside of the speculative frenzy. With the development of blockchain technology, NFTs are becoming instruments for digital ownership, asset tokenization, and even decentralized identity verification. 2025 decline of NFTs The dominance of CryptoPunks has diminished as newer initiatives have surfaced and pushed the limits of what NFTs may represent, even though they are still largely recognized as the original digital collectible and retain major cultural importance. The next stage of NFTs is now being defined by projects like CloneX, Azuki, and Pudgy Penguins , which go beyond the speculative art scene and include community-driven experiences, metaverse integration, and real-world application. In order to ensure sustained involvement, Pudgy Penguins, for instance, has had success growing its brand through tangible goods and experiences for holders. Creating a community-driven environment with cross-platform connectivity has helped Azuki gain traction, while RTFKT Studios’ CloneX has solidified its position in the digital and physical worlds by using partnerships with well-known companies. Although the original excitement surrounding NFTs has subsided, the fundamental technology is still thriving. NFTs are increasingly regarded as essential elements of a larger, more sustainable digital economy; it’s no longer simply about the fast flip or speculative value. These projects now concentrate on creating distinctive digital experiences, fostering real-world relationships, and enhancing communities in order to bring value. You might also like: NFT sales suffer, Pudgy Penguins plunge: Here’s the latest FAQs How do I buy NFTs? You can buy NFTs by going to NFT exchanges like OpenSea, Rarible, and SuperRare. Register an account, browse the selection, and buy NFT pieces that catch your eye. What content can be made into NFTs? Any type of digital content can be made into NFTs, including images, music, videos, or even funny tweets. However, you need to legally own the content before turning it into an NFT. Where can you mint NFTs? You can mint NFTs on NFT trading platforms by uploading your art and paying gas fees.
AI investments in the US reached $20 billion in early 2025. In comparison, cryptocurrency funding remained at $861 million. Continue Reading: AI Investments Surge While Crypto Funding Stalls The post AI Investments Surge While Crypto Funding Stalls appeared first on COINTURK NEWS .
TRON cryptocurrency is incredibly popular among gamers in the gaming industry, casual games, and online casinos. Just a few months ago, it soared to a new price peak but has since lost half of its value. What is the Tron price prediction for the short and long term? Table of Contents Tron coin price prediction: general outlook Tron price prediction 2025 Tron price prediction 2030 What is Tron? TRON is a first-layer blockchain based on the Delegated Proof-of-Stake consensus algorithm. The network allows developers to deploy smart contracts and decentralized applications within the Tron Virtual Machine environment. You might also like: Pros and Cons of Each Blockchain Consensus TRON’s native cryptocurrency, TRON ( TRX ), is used throughout the ecosystem in various ways, including staking under DPoS and rewarding block producers. In 2017 Chinese entrepreneur Justin Sun founded the non-profit organization TRON Foundation in Singapore. He conducted one of the largest ICOs in history, raising 15 000 bitcoins, and then issued 100 billion TRX ERC-20 tokens. Why ERC-20? Initially, TRX was a token on the Ethereum blockchain. However, in 2018, TRON fully transitioned to its own blockchain, and TRX became a native cryptocurrency. The ERC-20 TRX tokens were destroyed after being exchanged by their holders for the TRON network’s native token.What will the Tron crypto price prediction be for the near future and beyond? Is Tron a good investment? Tron coin price prediction: general outlook In early December 2024, the price of TRX reached a new all-time high of $0.4407 per coin, and TRON entered the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. The surge in TRX’s price was sparked by several posts from Justin Sun, where he made bold claims — first saying that TRX is equivalent to XRP, and then claiming that TRX has outdone the US dollar. After this strong surge, the price of the coin gradually started to decline. As of March 13, 2025, it had lost nearly 50% of its all-time high reached three months ago, trading at around $0.225 with a market cap of over $21.35 billion, according to crypto.news . TRX 1-day price chart, March 2025 | Source: crypto.news What does the future hold for TRON? Will it reach $1 within this year? Let’s take a closer look at the Tron price prediction. Tron price prediction 2025 According to CoinCodex’s Tron price forecast, the token could experience a surge, with an expected increase of over 35%, potentially reaching $0.03 by April 11. The analytical site suggests that TRX could trade between $0.225 and $0.355 throughout the year. As of March 13, the overall Tron price prediction is negative, with 20 technical indicators signaling a bearish trend, while only 9 suggest bullish momentum. According to DigitalCoinPrice’s TRX price prediction for 2025, token’s value could break its ATM and range from $0.46 to $0.49 soon. Wallet Investor anticipates an average price of around $0.32 by the end of 2025, with a potential minimum of $0.292 and a peak of $0.348. Will Tron go up or down in 2030? You might also like: Tether, TRON, TRM Labs freeze $26m in crypto linked to criminal network across Europe Tron price prediction 2030 According to CoinCodex’s expectations, TRX is projected to trade between $0.417 and $0.616 by 2030. Wallet Investor predicts a slightly higher range, with TRX potentially trading between $0.516 and $0.931 in March 2030. Meanwhile, DigitalCoinPrice’s projections indicate a more significant leap in value, estimating the token could trade between $1.06 and $1.23 by the end of the decade. Should I invest in Tron? TRON is one of the largest blockchain platforms in terms of the amount of funds locked in smart contracts for decentralized applications. The project has been around for a while and can be considered reliable. However, the future of the cryptocurrency largely depends on the actions and decisions of its developers. Like any cryptocurrency, TRX is also subject to market fluctuations and other external factors. Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
With Bitcoin on the verge of a breakout (or rejection), the altcoins are starting to stir. The altcoin market cap could already have bottomed. Will Ripple (XRP), Solana (SOL), and Thorchain (RUNE) be among the first to reverse the downtrend? Total2 bounce could be the start of the altcoin trend reversal Source: TradingView Total2 tracks the combined market cap of all the cryptocurrencies, excluding $BTC. In this chart it can be seen that the price went down to touch the 0.786 Fibonacci level, which is the deepest of these levels. A bounce has ensued, and it remains for the altcoin bulls to push the price up above the current strong resistance level in order to complete the next stage towards reversing the downtrend. $XRP approaches breakout TradingView With the proviso that everything is still very much dependent on what Bitcoin does, $XRP is at breakout, or yet another rejection. The very strong support at $1.96 has been holding firm, and the latest rally bounced from this level. Now up against a descending trendline, which started from the all-time high set in mid-January, a breakout is a first step towards a trend reversal. A couple of fake-outs have already occurred so it will be critical for the $XRP bulls to make a new local high above $3. Still on the table is a rejection from here, but one that puts in a higher low. $SOL breaking out, but into strong resistance Source: TradingView The 4-hour chart for $SOL shows that a breakout is taking place. That said, a strong resistance level awaits overhead. Even if the breakout is successful, there may be some choppy sideways price action before the bulls are able to punch through this resistance. The support level at $112 is also a strong one, probably marking an absolute bottom, so it looks likely that the price will continue to rise from here. $RUNE breaks out - up 10% Source: TradingView $RUNE is among the leading gainers so far on Friday. Up more than 10% on the day so far, this surge has enabled the price to break out of the descending trendline. The price is currently at resistance, if this can be overcome, the next targets, according to the Fibonacci levels for this move, are at $1.25, $1.32, $1.40, and $1.52. A reversal of this local downtrend would take place only if the bulls can make a higher high above $1.66. Disclaimer: This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.
After a big surge in price last week, AAVE coin has seen a bit of a drop, but it’s still the leading lending protocol in the crypto industry. Can the AAVE token strengthen its position? When will the coin be able to bounce back and surpass its previous all-time high? Let’s dive into our detailed Aave price prediction to find out. Table of Contents What is Aave? Aave crypto price prediction: general outlook Aave price prediction 2025 Aave price prediction 2030 What is Aave? Aave is a decentralized lending platform that primarily operates on the Ethereum blockchain. It focuses on providing interest, loans, and credit services through a decentralized network to ensure proper functionality. The platform manages multiple smart contracts within its network, with various codes that execute actions specified by the user in their request. Aave requires users to provide collateral worth at least the value of the borrowed assets. The cryptocurrency is then provided as Aave ( AAVE ) tokens (aTokens), which are pegged to the value of the borrowed asset. Users have the flexibility to repay their loan in a different cryptocurrency than the one borrowed, as long as the digital currency is supported by the platform and the value is equivalent to the borrowed asset. You might also like: 3 reasons why AAVE price may surge 200% this year What can we expect from AAVE in the future? Is Aave a good investment? Aave crypto price prediction: general outlook According to crypto.news, AAVE saw a 27% surge, reaching an intraday high of $220 on March 5. However, the coin started to decline after that, falling about 20% over the past week and trading at $166 on March 14. AAVE 1-day chart, March 2025 | Source: crypto.news A large part of last week’s price increase happened after Marc Zeller, the founder of Aave Chan Initiative, asked the community to support a proposal to rethink how Aave allocates its revenue and manages liquidity. This has energized investors looking for improvements on the platform. In addition, AAVE’s recent integration with Sonic, a high-speed EVM blockchain formerly known as Fantom, played a big role in its boost. The partnership helped Sonic’s total value locked (TVL) surge to $33 million in just one day, further expanding Aave’s network with new platforms like Ethereum, Optimism, Arbitrum, and Polygon. Here’s a closer look at the Aave price prediction for 2025 and the years that follow. Aave price prediction 2025 According to CoinCodex’s short-term Aave price forecast, the token might face a decline in the near future, potentially dropping to $165.16 by April 9, 2025. As of March 11, 2025, the Aave price prediction remains mostly bearish, with 24 technical indicators pointing to a downward trend, while only 8 suggest a potential upside. For the long term, CoinCodex predicts that AAVE could trade between $105.64 and $228.30 throughout 2025. On the other hand, DigitalCoinPrice is more optimistic, forecasting that AAVE could surpass its all-time high, with prices ranging from $393.29 to $401.62 by the end of the year. Wallet Investor also sees a positive outlook, with AAVE potentially reaching $383.70 by late 2025. Will Aave go up or down in five years? Let’s take a look at the Aave coin price prediction for 2030. You might also like: Aave launches EURC stablecoin on Base to be used as collateral for lending and borrowing Aave price prediction 2030 CoinCodex forecasts that by 2030, AAVE could trade anywhere between $49.11 and $187.37. On the other hand, DigitalCoinPrice has a much more optimistic AAVE price prediction, suggesting that the token could soar to somewhere between $869.07 and $1003.47 by the end of the decade. WalletInvestor’s expectations indicate a more significant leap in value, estimating the token could reach a maximum price of $1757.68. Should you invest in Aave? With all the different projections out there, AAVE shows a lot of promise for long-term growth, especially with some positive forecasts predicting a great price jump by 2030. That said, there are still short-term ups and downs, and market sentiment isn’t entirely clear right now. If you’re comfortable with some risk and are looking for potential long-term gains, AAVE could be worth considering. Just be sure to do your own research and think about how much risk you’re willing to take on. Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
Summary Despite Trump's pro-Bitcoin stance, I predict a coming bear market for Bitcoin, with a potential final peak at $125K before a significant drop. Bitcoin's recent 30% drop offers a potential buying opportunity, with key support levels between $69K and $83K. My analysis of Bitcoin's price structure suggests a possible final wave up to $125K before a bear market. A break below $69K would put my bullish outlook in question, signaling the bear market's possible early arrival; trade cautiously and watch support levels closely. I used my last article to warn you about a coming bear market in Bitcoin ( BTC-USD ). I took up my keyboard because the crypto market’s sentiment regarding the Trump presidency was reaching new levels of silliness. In essence, many talking heads in the space used Trump’s positive stance on crypto to suggest that the bull cycle was just beginning. Yet Bitcoin has already made a 400% run in price over two years. I don’t mean to be unappreciative regarding Trump’s pro-Bitcoin stance. He has abolished an enforcement regime against the industry that was not based in the rule of law. More particularly frustrating to me was the wanton unbanking of companies in the space, making it hard to do business with companies that I have worked with for years. That unbanking threat has also been extended to me by certain banks when they found out I was in the industry. Crypto climbed in 2022–2023 under a decidedly anti-crypto administration. I suppose the reasoning goes that if Bitcoin printed a 400% return during the Biden administration, surely it will accelerate once Trump is in office. Is that a reasonable expectation? My 25 years in trading markets have taught me that who is in the White House matters little to investment returns. This should much more be the case with Bitcoin returns, an asset purported to be a state-resistant form of money. Further, as stated in my last article, the best news often occurs at tops. I was partially correct in my article. January 20, 2025, the date of Trump’s inauguration, marked the 2025 top, so far. Bitcoin fell 30% from January 20th to the low on March 11th, the morning of the day I am writing this article. I was only partially correct because I wrote that I expected the bear market to start after Bitcoin reaches $125K. So, here I am today to say I still hold to that target, until my key support breaks, which I will share below. That means that this 30% drop provides an opportunity, perhaps the last in 2025. Let’s dive into how price structure looks today. An Unfinished Fifth In my last article, I left you with a chart that showed a fifth wave that was in progress off of Bitcoin’s low in the $50Ks made in August 2024. And in that fifth, the third (circle-iii) had topped and circle-iv was in progress. Four days after the article was posted, Bitcoin formed its 2025 top at ~$109,300. Those with only a basic understanding of the Elliott Wave Theory may perceive that that was a top in circle-v and that the entire bullish cycle missed my target of $125K. That is possible. Sometimes, fifth waves are weak. However, most fifth waves, particularly in Bitcoin, measure at least 61.8% in log of the preceding third. That would have placed the top in the $138K region. It would take a sustained break below $69K to suggest to me that I should consider Bitcoin posted a week fifth. Instead, I find it more probable that that top formed as a B wave in an ongoing circle-iv. B waves in flat corrections that break over the previous high are very common in Bitcoin. Bitcoin 6H Chart (Motivewave software) As you can see in my chart, we are getting very close to a more complete circle-iv in this region. Fibonacci-based support for this fourth is $72K. Fibonacci support levels are less reliable in a diagonal, which is the structure I ascribe to the fifth wave out of $50K. However, $69K marks the bottom of the B wave of circle-iii. Rarely, the fourths in diagonals in Bitcoin break that level. Technically, the fourth isn’t invalid until it breaks the second wave at $52,500, a level I called out in my last article. Bitcoin 12H chart (Motivewave software) In short, I consider the zone where Bitcoin sits as of writing, between $69K and $83K, as the opportunity zone. Ideally, we will see one more low near $75K. However, as of writing, if Bitcoin forms five waves to $88K, I will assume the bottom is in. Trading the Zone In my articles, I discuss how I use price regions determined as support to scale into my trades. If the price is at the higher end of a support region, I keep my position light until a more convincing reversal forms. As price drops deeper into support and closer to my stop, I can size up with lower risk. I will stop out upon a sustained break below $69K. I press the gas once I see five waves out of support and see the first pullback off that five-wave structure. That is because the risk level tightens up with that reversal, making pressing the accelerator panel less risky. To remind you, I shared in January that my overall exposure to the crypto sector is reduced. But this last great opportunity in 2025 is compelling enough to size up again briefly. Conclusion In closing, I remind you that a crypto bear market is coming. Despite fresh positive winds in the political scene toward the industry, the bull market we enjoyed for over two years is coming to a close, ideally when Bitcoin reaches $125K. That said, the correction in Bitcoin that started late last year should provide the basis for a low-risk trade from here to that bull market top. Those who take this trade should keep an eye on $69K, which, if breached, warns that the bear market came sooner rather than later.
Silo , the non-custodial decentralized finance ( DeFi ) lending marketplace, has unveiled its V2 protocol on Sonic (S), as reported to Finbold on Friday, March 14. After a rigorous auditing process, the protocol has left the beta phase and is now expanding its isolated lending markets, with over $400 million already locked into Silo V2. Looking ahead, Silo has announced future deployments on Arbitrum ( ARB ), Base (BASE), and other Ethereum ( ETH ) Virtual Machine (EVM) Layer-2 ( L2 ) and EVM-compatible chains. Silo V2 markets Building upon the foundations laid down by Silo V1, which facilitated hundreds of millions in loans across more than 50 isolated pools on ETH and various L2s, Silo V2 introduces customizable twin-asset lending markets . These markets allow deployers to optimize their solutions for a more diverse range of assets by tweaking parameters such as loan-to-value (LTV) ratios, liquidation thresholds, oracles, and interest rate models. Other key features of Silo V2 are permissionless market deployment and optional hooks that enable inter-market connectivity, yield optimization through idle liquidity deployment on other decentralized apps (dApps), and the creation of fixed-term or permissioned regulated asset markets. Silo V2 security Third-party integration on Silo V2 is ensured by the protocol’s adherence to ERC-4626 standards. A dual-oracle system further improves risk management by calculating LTV and liquidation thresholds to mitigate bad debt. The protocol also offers modular liquidation and interest rate options to accommodate traditional, auction-based, and fixed-rate structures and assets ranging from stablecoins to real-world assets (RWAs). Finally, deployer revenue, an optional fee on interest and incentives that accrues as an ERC-721 token, rewards market creators for the development of customized markets. As such, Silo V2 helps deployers achieve their goals by ensuring that issues in one pool don’t affect the entire ecosystem, while Sonic’s emphasis on speed and developer-friendly tools serves to further enhance its use cases. The post Silo brings its V2 protocol to Sonic appeared first on Finbold .
Ethereum is launching the Hoodi testnet, with Pectra set to go live on the mainnet more than 30 days after Hoodi successfully forks. Ethereum’s Pectra deployment is looming, currently slated for the mainnet deployment for late April. In the run-up to the mainnet deployment, Ethereum ( ETH ) has been running tests to evaluate implementation of its various features on testnets. The two most recent testnet deployments were on Holesky on Feb. 24 and then Sepolia on March 5. On March 17, Ethereum will launch another testnet Hoodi to test validator exists, according to Ethereum developer Tim Beiko . If testing on Hoodi is successful, Pectra can be deployed on the mainnet 30+ days after Hoodi forks. ACDE Recap A new testnet, Hoodi, is going live Monday to wrap up Pectra testing, if you need to test validator exits, be on the lookout for it! Everything else can be tested on Sepolia & Holesky. Pectra will be scheduled 30+ days after Hoodi forks successfully, pending infra… pic.twitter.com/FK05GmtPnk — timbeiko.eth (@TimBeiko) March 13, 2025 You might also like: Interview with Alchemy’s Will Hennessy: Pectra’s EIP-7702, why newbies should wait and what blockchain devs should do Among the key changes in the Pectra upgrade is introduction of account abstraction ( EIP-7702 ), which will allow users to pay transaction fees with coins like USD Coin ( USDC ) instead of ETH. Additionally, the upgrade will roll out Staking Enhancements (EIP – 7251), increasing validator staking limit from 32 to 2048 ETH. Apart from EIP-7702 and EIP-7251, which are the key highlights of the Pectra upgrade , other major EIPs include EIP-7691, EIP-7623, EIP-2537, and EIP-7549. EIP-7691 proposes an update to improve transaction scalability and reduce network congestion. EIP-7623 aims to enhance privacy by allowing users to hide certain transaction details. EIP-2537 focuses on optimizing contract execution, reducing gas costs, and improving the efficiency of smart contract operations. EIP-7549 seeks to improve the interoperability between different Ethereum layer 2 networks. You might also like: Ethereum’s Pectra upgrade on Sepolia encounters issues
The stock market is bleeding, but Michael Hartnett from BofA says it’s just a technical correction, not the start of a bear market. The S&P 500 has dropped 10% since February, and the Nasdaq 100 is down 13%, but Hartnett believes this will force policy intervention before things get worse. He is watching for the S&P 500 to hit 5,300 points, another 4% decline, before calling a bottom. “We say this is a correction, not a bear market in US stocks,” Hartnett wrote . “Since equity bear threatens recession, fresh declines in stock prices will provoke flip in trade and monetary policy.” He wants to see stock outflows accelerate, fund managers holding over 4% cash, and high-yield spreads hitting 400 basis points before he moves in. Until then, he’s keeping an eye on how far the market dips. BofA considers Trump’s trade war threats and market reactions The sell-off started when Donald Trump’s tariff policies raised fears of a global trade war. Investors are worried his economic decisions could push the U.S. into a recession. Inflation is cooling, but Wall Street is watching the Federal Reserve to see if it steps in. Right now, swaps traders aren’t expecting a rate cut until June, but the next Fed meeting could change that. Treasury yields are moving. At 6 a.m. ET on Friday, the 10-year Treasury yield rose 2 basis points to 4.299%, while the 2-year Treasury yield climbed to 3.973%. One basis point is 0.01%, and bond prices move opposite to yields. Investors are waiting for the University of Michigan consumer sentiment index, which will give an outlook on economic confidence and personal finances. Inflation data is mixed. The Producer Price Index (PPI) was flat for February after jumping 0.6% in January. The Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose 0.2% month-over-month and 2.8% annually, softer than expected. This should have eased some concerns, but Trump’s latest comments on tariffs have kept markets on edge. “I’m not going to bend at all,” Trump said during an Oval Office meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. “We’ve been ripped off for years, and we’re not going to be ripped off anymore.” He’s also threatening a 200% tariff on EU alcoholic products in response to Europe lifting its suspension on American whiskey tariffs. This could push up liquor prices and hit U.S. businesses exporting to the EU. Dow Theory signals deeper market trouble A century-old stock market indicator is flashing a warning. Dow Theory says that when transport stocks and industrial stocks fall together, it signals a deeper market downturn. Right now, the Dow Jones Transportation Average has dropped 19% since November, close to bear market levels, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average is down 9.3% from its December peak. “As a risk barometer check, that’s not a great backdrop for the overall market,” said Todd Sohn, managing director at Strategas Securities. The sell-off is hitting homebuilders, chipmakers, and industrial stocks, showing widespread weakness. Big companies are cutting forecasts. Delta Air Lines slashed its profit outlook in half, and American Airlines expects a first-quarter loss twice as big as its previous estimate. Retailers Dick’s Sporting Goods and Kohl’s reported weak sales expectations, signaling that consumers are pulling back on spending. “The animal spirits created after the presidential election appear to have given way to increased pessimism about the impact tariffs could have on inflation and economic activity in the US,” said Lee Klaskow, senior analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence. He warned that a slowing economy hurts freight demand and could drag markets lower. Some analysts say the Dow Theory is outdated because the economy today is driven more by tech and services than manufacturing. But the fact that transport stocks are on track for their worst weekly decline since September 2022 is enough to make investors nervous. Technical analysts are seeing sell signals. Adam Turnquist, chief technical strategist at LPL Financial, said that the Dow Jones Transportation Average has fallen below its 2024 lows, a critical level for market technicians. He also pointed out that the Dow Jones Industrial Average has broken its January pullback lows, confirming that the overall trend is down. “To make matters worse, its Dow Theory cousin — the Dow Jones Industrial Average — has also rolled over and violated the pullback lows from January, checking the box for a sell signal as the averages confirm the primary trend of the market is no longer higher,” Turnquist said. Cryptopolitan Academy: Want to grow your money in 2025? Learn how to do it with DeFi in our upcoming webclass. Save Your Spot