Cryptocurrency markets are trading higher as whales continue an accumulation spree to fuel bullish momentum.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Gains +/-</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>)</td><td>$95,277.12</td><td>+2%</td></tr><tr><td>Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>)</td><td>$1,799.22</td><td>+2.2%</td></tr><tr><td>Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>)</td><td>$151.53</td><td>-0.2%</td></tr><tr><td>XRP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>)</td><td>$2.19</td><td>-0.4%</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td><td>$0.1815</td><td>+0.6%</td></tr><tr><td>Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>)</td><td>$0.00001387</td><td>+2.7%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Notable Statistics:



<ul>
<li>IntoTheBlock data shows large transaction volume decreasing by 22.1% and daily active addresses growing by 7.8%. Transactions greater than $100,000 are down from 11,905 to 10,849 in a single day. Exchanges netflows are down by 5,813.9%.</li>



<li>Coinglass data reports 131,279 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours for $291.56 million.</li>



<li>Crypto chart analyst Ali Martinez <a href="https://x.com/ali_charts/status/1915542519724511667">noted</a> that Bitcoin miners have earned more than $18.57 million in profits as prices raced ahead above $93,000.</li>
</ul>



Notable Developments:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/45007049/bitcoin-etfs-see-442m-daily-inflow-as-btc-hovers-around-94000">Bitcoin ETFs See $442M Daily Inflow As BTC Hovers Around $94,000</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/45008113/bitcoin-fundamentally-decoupled-from-us-tech-stocks-blackrocks-jay-jacobs-says">Bitcoin Fundamentally Decoupled From US Tech Stocks, BlackRock&#8217;s Jay Jacobs Says</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/personal-finance/25/04/45014801/heres-why-bitcoin-has-decoupled-from-stocks-according-to-standard-chartered">Here&#8217;s Why Bitcoin Has Decoupled From Stocks According To Standard Chartered</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/45001061/shaq-agrees-to-amicable-proposed-resolution-with-ftx-investors-terms-to-remain-confidential">Shaq Agrees To &#8216;Amicable Proposed Resolution&#8217; With FTX Investors, Terms To Remain Confidential</a></li>



<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/45012922/trump-meme-coin-surges-15-as-organizers-clarify-participation-rules-for-gala-dinner">TRUMP Meme Coin Surges 15% As Organizers Clarify Participation Rules For Gala Dinner</a></li>
</ul>



Top Gainers:



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Gains +/-</td></tr><tr><td>Bitcoin SV (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">BSV</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$45.31</td><td>+47.7%</td></tr><tr><td>Virtuals Protocol (CRYPTO: VIRTUAL)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.9258</td><td>+24.8%</td></tr><tr><td>Dogwifhat (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">WIF</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.6327</td><td>+16.3%</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Trader Notes: Crypto chart trader Jelle observed that Bitcoin surged straight into the $90,000–$94,000 range with no real pause. 



If BTC manages to hold this zone through the end of the day, he expects weekend volatility, but believes the uptrend could carry into next week, citing strong bullish momentum.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Bitcoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Bitcoin</a> just chadded straight to the $90-94k area without stopping &#x1f440; Hold it above there until end of business today, let the weekend be choppy and we can resume pushing higher next week. Good stuff, happy weekend! <a href="https://t.co/EpYnVe81CT">https://t.co/EpYnVe81CT</a> <a href="https://t.co/6eSZnQjlBI">pic.twitter.com/6eSZnQjlBI</a>&mdash; Jelle (@CryptoJelleNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoJelleNL/status/1915780726542229602?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Trader Degen Hardy is <a href="https://x.com/Degen_Hardy/status/1915770342267846735">watching</a> the $86,000–$88,000 zone as a possible long entry, noting it likely aligns with previous structural support or a key moving average. 



He warns that a weekend dip to shake out weak hands is possible given thinner liquidity. 



That said, if bulls maintain control, Bitcoin might either front-run the dip or simply continue grinding higher.



Elsewhere, Titan of Crypto <a href="https://x.com/Washigorira/status/1915793345852457242">noted</a> that Bitcoin has hit the $95,000 target and now eyes $99,000 as the next key resistance. 



However, he emphasizes the importance of holding above the prior monthly high, which BTC has just tapped, to confirm continued strength.



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/45017648/bitcoin-climbs-12-on-the-week-as-traders-eye-run-to-100000">Bitcoin Climbs 12% On The Week As Traders Eye Run To $100,000</a></li>
</ul>

Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Dogecoin Surging, But 'Choppy' Weekend Could Precede The Next Push

A senator <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/03/44194484/congressman-on-digital-assets-subcommittee-buys-bitcoin-etf-before-trumps-strategic-reserve-announcement">who bought shares</a> of a Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) ETF before President Donald Trump announced an Executive Order to establish Strategic Bitcoin Reserves has added more shares to his portfolio, bringing his total bet on Bitcoin up to the $375,000 to the $850,000 range since February.



 What Happened: Senator David McCormick (R-PA) has been actively buying shares of the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BITB#NYSE">BITB</a>) and may have taken advantage of a dip in Bitcoin&#8217;s price during March before the recent rally back <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/45007049/bitcoin-etfs-see-442m-daily-inflow-as-btc-hovers-around-94000">to the $95,000 level.</a>



According to <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/members/david-mccormick">Benzinga's Government Trades page</a>, McCormick recently made the following trades:



<ul>
<li>March 24: Bought $15,000 to $50,000 BITB shares</li>



<li>March 25: Bought $50,000 to $100,000 BITB shares</li>



<li>March 27: Bought $50,000 to $100,000 BITB shares</li>
</ul>



BITB traded as high as $ 483.40 during those three days and trades at $51.79 at the time of writing, making these trades already profitable a month later for the senator.



McCormick's involvement in the Subcommittee on Digital Assets and his heavy trading in a Bitcoin ETF in 2025 could continue to raise red flags as the pro-crypto White House administration may look to establish a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve and buy Bitcoin.



"Senator McCormick is trading alongside his Subcommittee's mission – he just reported buying a quarter million dollars of Bitwise Bitcoin ETF $BITB," CongressTrading <a href="https://x.com/congresstrading/status/1915428824344314000">tweeted </a>after the latest filing.



Here are the<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/25/04/44592137/congressman-buys-up-to-600k-in-bitcoin-etf-after-selling-1-million-in-goldman-sachs-stock-committee"> other trades disclosed</a> by McCormick in BITB since Feb. 27:



<ul>
<li>Feb. 27: Bought $50,000 to $100,000</li>



<li>Feb. 28: Bought $15,000 to $50,000</li>



<li>March 3: Bought $50,000 to $100,000</li>



<li>March 5: Bought $15,000 to $50,000</li>



<li>March 10: Bought $50,000 to $100,000</li>



<li>March 11: Bought $15,000 to $50,000</li>



<li>March 13: Bought $15,000 to $50,000</li>



<li>March 20: Bought $50,000 to $100,000</li>
</ul>



Since February 27, McCormick has bought a total of between $375,000 and $850,000 in shares of the Bitwise Bitcoin ETF.



Read Also: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/01/42860759/10-best-stock-traders-in-congress-in-2024-where-do-nancy-pelosi-pete-sessions-susan-collins-marjorie-taylor-greene-rank">Top 10 Stock Traders In Congress For 2024: How Nancy Pelosi, Pete Sessions, Susan Collins, Marjorie Taylor Greene Rank</a>



Why It's Important: McCormick is a member's committee assignment that could draw red flags to the purchase and the timing of the trades.



On the day of McCormick's earlier ETF purchase (Feb. 26), he was part of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Digital Assets's first hearing.



"2025 is the year for digital assets. Blockchain and digital assets offer Pennsylvania and America a chance to lead the next wave of innovation, enhancing our national security and our economy. Proud to be a member of the inaugural Senate Banking Subcommittee on Digital Assets," McCormick&nbsp;<a href="https://x.com/SenMcCormickPA/status/1894897925907448082">tweeted</a>.



The Senator has been perceived as being friendly to the cryptocurrency sector, which prompted an endorsement from a key crypto figure in his 2024 Senate race.



McCormick, the former CEO of Bridgewater Associates, a hedge fund, narrowly won a Senate seat in the 2024 election. During his Senate campaign, McCormick<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/24/10/41420792/coinbase-ceo-brian-armstrong-supports-republican-dave-mccormick-for-pennsylvania-senate-se"> was endorsed by </a>Coinbase Global CEO Brian Armstrong for his support of crypto.



"If you live in Pennsylvania, you should vote for Dave McCormick. He is the better candidate on crypto (among many other credentials," Armstrong said at the time.



A Senator buying Bitcoin ETFs could signal support for the leading cryptocurrency. The purchase and timing could also raise red flags and continue the ongoing debate over whether members of Congress should be able to profit from buying and selling stocks, options, and cryptocurrencies.



BTC Price Action: Bitcoin trades at $94,955.59 Friday versus a 52-week trading range of $49,121.24 to $109,114.88.



Did You Know?



<ul>
<li>Congress Is Making Huge Investments. <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent042525">Get Tips On What They Bought And Sold With Our Easy-to-Use Tool</a></li>
</ul>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/gov-trades/?utm_source=BZprocontent042525"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="330" src="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25122918/Picture1-2-1024x330.png" alt="" class="wp-image-889317" srcset="https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25122918/Picture1-2-1024x330.png 1024w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25122918/Picture1-2-300x97.png 300w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25122918/Picture1-2-768x248.png 768w,https://editorial-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25122918/Picture1-2.png 1430w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></a></figure>



Photo: Shutterstock

Senator On Digital Assets Committee Buys More Bitcoin ETF Shares: '2025 Is The Year For Digital Assets'

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) is up 12% on the week, following a familiar crypto cycle pattern of improving sentiment and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/45008113/bitcoin-fundamentally-decoupled-from-us-tech-stocks-blackrocks-jay-jacobs-says">shifting macro signals.</a>



What Happened: Crypto analyst Alex Wacy <a href="https://x.com/wacy_time1/status/1915442003564728696">noted</a> on Friday the cyclical nature of the market, which often takes just a few bullish headlines and a green daily candle to reignite momentum. 



Despite many altcoins still trading 70–80% below their January highs, Bitcoin has regained strength.



Wacy points out that while macro uncertainty persists, crypto-specific catalysts are driving renewed optimism. 



This includes speculation around Paul Atkins taking over as SEC Chair, altcoin ETFs and rate cuts on the horizon.



Also Read: <a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44992375/if-bitcoin-breaks-100k-this-ceo-will-gladly-admit-being-wrong-about-a-bear-market">If Bitcoin Breaks $100K, This CEO Will &#8216;Gladly Admit&#8217; Being Wrong About A Bear Market</a>



What's Next: Crypto trader CJ <a href="https://x.com/CJ900X/status/1915700955141620143">highlighted</a> that Bitcoin is still trading within a high time frame resistance zone between $95,000 and $100,000, highlighting a potential fakeout setup:



<ul>
<li>Ideal scenario: a push toward $95,000–$96,400, followed by a rejection and reversal back into the range, which could open short opportunities targeting $90,000 and $87,200.</li>



<li>Alternative scenario: if BTC breaks and consolidates above $100,000, it may trigger a fresh breakout, but the trader plans to wait for confirmation rather than pre-emptively trade into resistance.</li>
</ul>



Heading into the weekend, the expected trading range is between $91,000 and $94,000.



Read Next:



<ul>
<li><a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44922586/bitcoins-dual-role-could-propel-it-to-200000-standard-chartered">Bitcoin&#8217;s Dual Role Could Propel It To $200,000: Standard Chartered</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Bitcoin Climbs 12% On The Week As Traders Eye Run To $100,000

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) mining expenses rose sharply in the final quarter of 2024, with CoinShares reporting that the total average cost to produce one Bitcoin, including non-cash items, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/how-to-mine-bitcoin">climbed to $137,018</a>.



This figure includes depreciation and stock-based compensation, offering a more comprehensive look at the financial stress facing miners despite the strength in Bitcoin's market price.



What Happened: <a href="https://blog.coinshares.com/coinshares-q4-2024-mining-report-cf65cbb7610b">According</a> to CoinShares&#8217; Q4 2024 Mining Report, the weighted average cash cost to produce a Bitcoin among publicly listed miners jumped 47% quarter-over-quarter, from $55,950 in Q3 to $82,162 in Q4.



Excluding outliers like Hut 8 (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/HUT#NASDAQ">HUT</a>), which saw costs skewed by a large deferred tax expense, the cash cost averaged $75,767.



Despite the rising cost base, most miners remained marginally profitable, with Bitcoin trading around $82,000 throughout Q4. 



However, the inclusion of non-cash expenses, such as accelerated depreciation of mining equipment and stock compensation, paints a more complex and potentially concerning picture for the industry. 



The $137,018 total average cost represents a significant gap between headline profitability and actual financial sustainability when all expenses are factored in.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">ASIC Depreciation And Competitive Pressures</h3>



A major driver of these costs is the fast-paced depreciation cycle of ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit) hardware, which must be frequently upgraded to remain competitive. 



Unlike gold mining equipment, which maintains utility over long periods, Bitcoin mining hardware quickly becomes obsolete, forcing firms into continuous reinvestment.



"This dynamic results in a unique financial strain," the CoinShares report noted. "Miners are trapped in an ‘ASIC hamster wheel'—a constant need to replace hardware driven not by wear and tear, but by technological obsolescence."



The report adds that Bitcoin mining economics differ materially from gold mining, which typically features more stable production forecasts and longer depreciation timelines. 



In contrast, Bitcoin mining outcomes are strongly influenced by the actions of competitors: if one miner increases capacity, others&#8217; relative output can decline, even without changes to their operations.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Hashrate Acceleration And Forward Guidance</h3>



Despite these mounting expenses, Bitcoin's network hashrate reached a record 900 exahashes per second (Eh/s) at the end of 2024, slightly ahead of CoinShares' previous projections. 



The firm now expects the network to breach the 1 zettahash per second (Zh/s) mark by July 2025, with hashrate forecast to reach 2.0 Zh/s by early 2027.



CoinShares attributes the increase to strong price action and favorable policy developments, which motivated miners to accelerate infrastructure deployments despite rising capital and operational costs.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/45012922/trump-meme-coin-surges-15-as-organizers-clarify-participation-rules-for-gala-dinner">TRUMP Meme Coin Surges 15% As Organizers Clarify Participation Rules For Gala Dinner</a>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Structural Challenges And Industry Shifts</h3>



CoinShares notes that the mining sector is becoming increasingly saturated, with valuation multiples compressing across publicly listed firms. 



This reflects growing consensus that Bitcoin mining is now a zero-sum game, where gains in hashrate by one miner come at the direct expense of another's market share.



In response, several miners, including Core Scientific (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CORZ#NASDAQ">CORZ</a>) and Cipher Mining (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CIFR#NASDAQ">CIFR</a>), have begun diversifying into AI infrastructure and high-performance computing (HPC) services, attempting to build more stable and scalable revenue streams. 



CORZ has already committed 43% of its energy capacity to AI-related operations, with CIFR planning to allocate 35% of its future buildout in that direction.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Miners With Cost Reductions</h3>



While most miners saw higher costs in Q4, CleanSpark (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/CORZ#NASDAQ">CORZ</a>), Iren (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IREN#NASDAQ">IREN</a>) and Cormint were exceptions.



They managed to reduce their cost of revenue per Bitcoin mined by 8%, 39%, and 44%, respectively, through fleet efficiency improvements, increased uptime, and lower energy prices.



<ul>
<li>CleanSpark reduced costs by boosting uptime from 94% to 98%, and improving efficiency from 22 J/TH to 18 J/TH.</li>



<li>Cormint benefited from lower power prices, dropping to 1.8¢/kWh, and operating discipline that allowed scale benefits to flow to the bottom line.</li>



<li>Iren significantly expanded its Childress facility, boosting hashrate and cutting net electricity cost per BTC by 39%.</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Economic Context And Geopolitical Trends</h3>



CoinShares also contextualized the mining landscape within broader macroeconomic and geopolitical trends. 



Several U.S. states, including Arizona, Oklahoma, and Texas, are actively exploring state-level <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/45002836/michael-saylor-says-banks-free-to-support-bitcoin-as-federal-reserve-withdraws-crypto-guidance">strategic Bitcoin reserves</a>, potentially contributing over $10 billion in cumulative buying pressure at current prices.



Meanwhile, tariff policies on imported mining rigs, ranging from 24% to 54%, may weigh on miner profitability in Q2 2025, particularly for those dependent on older or less efficient hardware.



Despite macro uncertainty and tighter margins, CoinShares maintains that Bitcoin's store-of-value narrative remains intact, especially as U.S. trade partners adopt more accommodative policies in the face of inflationary pressures. 



The report concludes that while mining is becoming more capital-intensive and competitive, its unique positioning across energy, compute, and financial infrastructure makes it an asset class to watch.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/45008113/bitcoin-fundamentally-decoupled-from-us-tech-stocks-blackrocks-jay-jacobs-says">Bitcoin Fundamentally Decoupled From US Tech Stocks, BlackRock&#8217;s Jay Jacobs Says</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Bitcoin Mining Costs Jump To $137,000 Per Coin When Accounting For Non-Cash Expenses: CoinShares

<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="683" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25152608/aedrian-salazar-MTxseYMqYzk-unsplash-1024x683.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-11626" srcset="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25152608/aedrian-salazar-MTxseYMqYzk-unsplash-1024x683.jpg 1024w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25152608/aedrian-salazar-MTxseYMqYzk-unsplash-300x200.jpg 300w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25152608/aedrian-salazar-MTxseYMqYzk-unsplash-768x512.jpg 768w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25152608/aedrian-salazar-MTxseYMqYzk-unsplash.jpg 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /></figure>



The way we build and protect wealth is changing fast. For decades, financial security meant navigating traditional systems: banks, brokerage accounts, pension funds, and maybe a few real estate plays. That was Wealth 1.0. Then came Wealth 2.0—the digital layer. Robo-advisors, fintech apps, ETFs at your fingertips. Access improved. Friction dropped.



But now, a third evolution is underway. Wealth 3.0 isn't just digital. It's decentralized.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What Is Wealth 3.0?</h3>



Wealth 3.0 is the new paradigm where individuals build, manage, and protect wealth through decentralized infrastructure. It leans on blockchain, tokenization, smart contracts, and non-custodial tools to reduce dependence on legacy systems.



This isn't about abandoning banks. It's about owning your wealth more directly, with fewer intermediaries and greater flexibility.



Wealth 3.0 is:



<ul>
<li>Global by design</li>



<li>Accessible to anyone with an internet connection</li>



<li>Transparent, programmable, and customizable</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Why This Matters in 2025</h3>



We're in a year marked by volatility: interest rate shifts, renewed inflation concerns, geopolitical tensions, and weakening trust in centralized institutions. At the same time, decentralized tools are maturing.



What was once experimental is now usable:



<ul>
<li>Wallet-based asset management</li>



<li>Tokenized real estate and private equity</li>



<li>Smart contract–based income tools (like automated yield protocols)</li>



<li>On-chain identity and credit scoring</li>
</ul>



In short, decentralization is becoming more practical—and it's reshaping wealth-building strategy.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Key Pillars of Wealth 3.0</h3>



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">1. Self-Custody and Control</h4>



With decentralized wallets, individuals can hold assets without relying on banks or custodians. This isn't just about cryptocurrency—it includes tokenized real-world assets, stablecoins, and even regulated digital securities.



It means fewer third parties, lower fees, and greater autonomy.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">2. Passive Yield Without the Middlemen</h4>



Decentralized finance (DeFi) enables users to earn yield directly from lending, liquidity provision, or staking—all governed by smart contracts. No banks taking a cut. No waiting on monthly interest.



With proper risk management, these tools can supplement traditional fixed-income strategies.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">3. Global Financial Access</h4>



In emerging markets, where banking is often limited or unreliable, Wealth 3.0 tools allow users to invest, transact, and build credit without ever visiting a bank.



That's not just empowering. It's revolutionary.



<h4 class="wp-block-heading">4. Programmable Wealth Management</h4>



Wealth 3.0 tools are customizable. Investors can set rules for automatic rebalancing, trigger-based asset swaps, or automated charitable giving—all executed by smart contracts.



This reduces reliance on advisors while increasing precision.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">What It's Not</h3>



Wealth 3.0 isn't about ditching financial advisors or betting everything on crypto. It's not about replacing traditional markets.



It's about giving individuals more tools to build and protect wealth on their own terms.



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Where to Start</h3>



If you&#8217;re looking to engage with Wealth 3.0:



<ul>
<li>Set up a non-custodial wallet (e.g., MetaMask or Ledger Live)</li>



<li>Explore tokenized investments on regulated platforms</li>



<li>Learn about yield protocols with a conservative allocation</li>



<li>Stay informed on regulations and custody rules in your jurisdiction</li>
</ul>



<h3 class="wp-block-heading">Final Thought: Wealth, Rewritten</h3>



The old model said: trust the system, play the long game, and hope for stability.



The new model says: own your assets, use smart tools, and adapt with agility.



Wealth 3.0 is here—not as a trend, but as a toolkit. And in a decentralized economy, the people who understand these tools won't just protect their financial future.



They'll help shape it.

Wealth 3.0: Building Financial Security In A Decentralized Economy

The team behind the Official Trump (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">TRUMP</a>) meme coin has updated its terms and conditions to clarify that President Donald Trump may not attend <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44990619/are-whales-buying-the-trump-meme-coin-to-secure-a-dinner-with-potus">the upcoming $TRUMP Gala Dinner</a>, which is scheduled for May 22, at the Trump National Golf Club in Washington D.C.



What Happened: According to a legal disclaimer <a href="https://gettrumpmemes.com/terms">published</a> on the project's website and dated April 23, organizers reserve the right to cancel or reschedule the event at their discretion. The notice states:



"President Trump may not be able to attend the $TRUMP Gala Dinner, and the $TRUMP Gala Dinner may be cancelled for any reason (including, but not limited to, a force majeure event)."



In such cases, the event may be rescheduled, or qualified token holders will instead receive a limited-edition TRUMP NFT. 



The update comes amid heightened interest in the competition, which promises dinner with Trump for the top 220 holders of the $TRUMP meme coin.



The TrumpMeme team also took to X (formerly Twitter) to <a href="https://x.com/GetTrumpMemes/status/1915529244895305846">directly</a> address what it called "confusion" over the eligibility criteria.



A number of users had speculated that a minimum of $300,000 worth of tokens was required to qualify for the event.



The team denied those claims, writing:



"You need $300K+ to participate (You Don't)&#8230; People have been incorrectly quoting #220 on the block explorer as the cutoff. That's wrong because it includes things like locked tokens, exchanges, market makers, and those who are not participating."



They emphasized that the actual eligibility is based on a leaderboard that tracks time-weighted holdings of $TRUMP during the competition period.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/45008113/bitcoin-fundamentally-decoupled-from-us-tech-stocks-blackrocks-jay-jacobs-says">Bitcoin Fundamentally Decoupled From US Tech Stocks, BlackRock&#8217;s Jay Jacobs Says</a>



As of the latest available data, the 220th qualifying wallet holds just 35.3 TRUMP tokens, worth approximately $420.



The TrumpMeme team added that participation in the competition requires explicit registration on the leaderboard and that the token unlocks initially scheduled during this period will be extended by 90 days to ensure fairness.



"The field is wide open and it's anyone's opportunity to have Dinner with President Trump!" the project stated in its tweet.



No additional details were provided regarding the final list of attendees, the registration cutoff, or whether a new date or location might be announced. 



The team concluded its post by teasing that more competition-related updates would be announced in the coming days.



Price Action: TRUMP is up 15% in the last 24 hours and 83% over the past week.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/45007049/bitcoin-etfs-see-442m-daily-inflow-as-btc-hovers-around-94000">Bitcoin ETFs See $442M Daily Inflow As BTC Hovers Around $94,000</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

TRUMP Meme Coin Surges 15% As Organizers Clarify Participation Rules For Gala Dinner

Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) is up 17% on the week and several analysts are eyeing a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/dogecoin-doge-price-prediction">continuation of the rally</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Market Cap</td><td>24-Hour Trend</td><td>7-Day Trend</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.1830</td><td>$27.3 billion</td><td>+3.5%&nbsp;</td><td>+17.3%&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.00001405</td><td>$8.3 billion</td><td>+4.9%&nbsp;</td><td>+16.6%&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Pepe (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">PEPE</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.058905</td><td>$3.7 billion</td><td>&nbsp;+3.4%</td><td>+24.3%&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Trader Notes: Crypto trader DegenHardy <a href="https://x.com/Degen_Hardy/status/1915715417366290466">highlights </a>a bullish divergence at key support levels on the daily chart, signaling a potential swing long opportunity. TheCryptoBasic <a href="https://x.com/thecryptobasic/status/1915755006986174896">notes</a> a breakout from a falling wedge, targeting a move to $0.46 in the near term.



Trader Tardigrade points out that DOGE has broken a multi-month resistance trendline with no signs of a fakeout. He compares the current setup to February 2024, when a similar structure led to a powerful rally. If history repeats, he believes DOGE could surpass $1 in May.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">&#x1f6a8; Look out!!! &#x1f6a8;<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dogecoin?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dogecoin</a> has broken out of a mid-term (months) resistance trendline. Note that there is no sign of a false break. The moves are very similar to those in Feb 2024, when there was a massive surge after a period of momentum buildup. If <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24DOGE&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$DOGE</a> performs a similar… <a href="https://t.co/BmDbHNFFjt">pic.twitter.com/BmDbHNFFjt</a>&mdash; Trader Tardigrade (@TATrader_Alan) <a href="https://twitter.com/TATrader_Alan/status/1915691267956371510?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Statistics: TradingView <a href="https://in.tradingview.com/markets/cryptocurrencies/prices-most-addresses-active/">data</a> shows 61,900 daily active addresses for Dogecoin, significantly higher than XRP's 48,350, suggesting rising on-chain engagement.



Coinglass data shows Dogecoin's open interest up 7%, while derivatives trading volume expanded by 8.3% in a single day. In the past 24 hours, $7.01 million of positions were liquidated, $4.22 million of that being short positions. 



News: 21Shares <a href="https://x.com/21Shares/status/1915647162924306687">declared</a> that Dogecoin is &#8220;not just riding the meme wave&#8221; but building a legacy, citing structural resilience, long-term outperformance and low correlation to major assets. This positions DOGE as a wildcard asset with real diversification value.



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44919277/xrp-solana-dogecoin-among-72-crypto-related-etfs-awaiting-sec-approval">XRP, Solana, Dogecoin Among 72 Crypto-Related ETFs Awaiting SEC Approval</a></li>
</ul>

Dogecoin Surges 17% On The Week: What Is Going On?

Shiba Inu's (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>) significant rally over the past seven days and a new Shibarium DappStore launch could lead to a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/shiba-inu-price-prediction">bullish run for the meme coin</a>, traders are speculating.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Market Cap</td><td>24-Hour Trend</td><td>7-Day Trend</td></tr><tr><td>Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.00001399</td><td>$8.2 billion</td><td>+6.1%</td><td>+16%&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.1812</td><td>$27 billion</td><td>+4%&nbsp;</td><td>+16.2%&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Pepe (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">PEPE</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.058775</td><td>$3.7 billion</td><td>+2.2%</td><td>+22.6%&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Trader Notes: Crypto trader InvestingHaven points to a W-pattern forming on SHIB's chart, a classic bullish reversal signal. 



With strong support at $0.000012345 holding firm, the long-term setup is looking increasingly favorable. If the pattern confirms, it could unlock a significant breakout.



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"><a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24SHIB&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$SHIB</a> W Pattern in Play? SHIB chart hints at a potential W-reversal. A classic bullish signal. With $0.000012345 holding as strong support, the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SHIB?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SHIB</a> long-term setup strengthens. A confirmed W-pattern could unlock significant upside. <a href="https://t.co/eJ2JvYl57i">pic.twitter.com/eJ2JvYl57i</a>&mdash; InvestingHaven (@InvestingHaven) <a href="https://twitter.com/InvestingHaven/status/1915407492856865169?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 24, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Statistics: IntoTheBlock data shows Shiba Inu large transaction volume and daily active addresses down by 32.1% and 20.5%, respectively, in a single day. Transactions greater than $100,000 dropped from 84 to 57.



Shibariumscan data shows daily transactions moved higher from 4.61 million to 4.65 million in a single day.



Coinglass data shows Shiba Inu open interest increased by 22.9% to $195.8 million, a six-week high.



Derivatives trading volume expanded by 5.6% in a single day.



Community News: Shiba Inu's marketing lead Lucie <a href="https://x.com/LucieSHIB/status/1915705632973300138">announced</a> the official launch of the Shibarium DappStore, calling it a critical infrastructure layer that boosts both usability and credibility across the ecosystem.



The platform helps users discover verified dApps while providing developers with exposure to the engaged Shibarium community. 



Importantly, while it's a curated experience, it doesn't limit permissionless development—instead, it amplifies quality projects and fosters growth through accessibility.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44951781/shiba-inu-surges-6-burn-rate-explodes-731-whats-going-on">Shiba Inu Surges 6%, Burn Rate Explodes 731%: What&#8217;s Going On?</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

'Dogecoin Killer' Shiba Inu Jumps 6%: What Is Going On?

Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) should be viewed as an asset <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44985399/bitcoins-bull-case-strengthens-as-it-trades-more-like-gold-less-like-nasdaq-commentator-says">uncorrelated to U.S. tech assets</a> over the long term, according to Jay Jacobs, U.S. Head of Equity ETFs at BlackRock (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/BLK#NYSE">BLK</a>).



What Happened: Speaking in an <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLSEVOQZSsk">interview</a> with CNBC on Thursday, Jacobs emphasized that Bitcoin's performance is being driven by different macroeconomic forces than traditional equities.



"The long-term correlation between U.S. stocks and Bitcoin is more like 0.2 or 0.3," he said. "It's a lowly correlated asset."



Jacobs explained that while short-term volatility may cause different assets to move in sync, Bitcoin has shown a tendency to behave differently over time, particularly during periods of global instability. 



"Bitcoin thrives when you have more uncertainty and are looking for something that's going to behave differently," he said.



He added that prolonged macro uncertainty, including unresolved tariff disputes and shifting global trade policies, could weaken traditional assets like stocks, bonds and the U.S. dollar.



"If this is the trajectory of greater uncertainty around the world, things like gold and Bitcoin should continue to go up," Jacobs said. "People are looking for those assets that will behave differently."



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/45003759/arks-bitcoin-bear-case-is-300000-by-2030-whats-the-bull-case">ARK&#8217;s Bitcoin &#8216;Bear Case&#8217; Is $300,000 By 2030—What&#8217;s The Bull Case?</a>



Why It Matters: Jacobs linked this movement to what BlackRock describes as "mega forces" reshaping global markets—including geopolitical fragmentation.



"That was the first time we really identified geopolitical fragmentation as a mega force driving the world forward over the next several decades," he said, referencing BlackRock's 2023 thematic investing framework.



Jacobs also noted the long-standing shift by central banks and sovereign players away from dollar reserves toward gold—and increasingly toward Bitcoin, as a trend years in the making. 



"This switch from just holding dollars to holding gold to looking at other types of assets like Bitcoin is a trend that's been years in the making," he said.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44992375/if-bitcoin-breaks-100k-this-ceo-will-gladly-admit-being-wrong-about-a-bear-market">If Bitcoin Breaks $100K, This CEO Will &#8216;Gladly Admit&#8217; Being Wrong About A Bear Market</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Bitcoin Fundamentally Decoupled From US Tech Stocks, BlackRock's Jay Jacobs Says

When gold hit a new all-time-high of $3,500 on Tuesday it put the spotlight on gold-backed tokens — a discrete class of cryptocurrencies that's quickly capturing interest.



Last week the total market cap of gold-backed cryptocurrencies reached $2 billion, up from about $12.85 million in 2020. With Goldman Sachs predicting gold will hit $4,000 by the middle of next year, should investors make gold-backed tokens a staple in crypto portfolios?



The potential benefits are persuasive but limited utility in decentralized finance (DeFi) is a serious drawback. That could be about to change.



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">What are gold-backed cryptocurrencies?</h1>



Gold-backed cryptocurrencies are blockchain-based tokens redeemable for a specific measure of gold, typically 1 token for 1 troy ounce (31.3g) of gold. 



They differ from mainstream assets like Bitcoin in that they are less subject to volatility, while their divisibility, transportability, and interoperability give them advantages over paper and physical gold.



Gold-backed cryptocurrencies offer a unique blend of stability and innovation by bridging the gap between gold — the original safe haven –and the dynamic world of crypto and blockchain. They offer investors an alternative inflation hedge and a shield from market volatility.



However, their integration into the broader crypto ecosystem remains a work in progress, with three core challenges yet to be overcome: regulatory uncertainties, liquidity constraints, and limited DeFi use cases.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="717" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25051700/Ledn-Bitcoin_v_-Gold_210-24-1024x717.png" alt="" class="wp-image-11553" srcset="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25051700/Ledn-Bitcoin_v_-Gold_210-24-1024x717.png 1024w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25051700/Ledn-Bitcoin_v_-Gold_210-24-300x210.png 300w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25051700/Ledn-Bitcoin_v_-Gold_210-24-768x538.png 768w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25051700/Ledn-Bitcoin_v_-Gold_210-24.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Divergent paths: Gold vs Bitcoin since 2010 &#x7C; Source: Ledn</figcaption></figure>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Where tradition and innovation intersect</h1>



Crypto purists often say Bitcoin makes gold redundant since BTC shares similarities with the precious metal like capped supply and decentralized control. In unsettled times, however, gold's ancient trading history and global acceptability have only strengthened its reputation as the world&#8217;s go-to safe haven.



Bitcoin's reliability as an inflation hedge is still up for debate while gold&#8217;s safe-haven status has been tested again and again. Through times of systemic risk – war, recession, high inflation, and other economic upheavals –&nbsp;its helped investors mitigate losses.



Since Donald Trump assumed office in January 2025, the market trajectories of gold and Bitcoin have diverged. Between January 20 and February 7, 2025, risk assets saw a sharp correction as the risk of a global tariff war stoked investor fear about rising inflation and slowing economic growth.



Bitcoin prices have fallen from their all-time high of $109,356 on January 20, 2025, to around $85,894 on March 20. During this period, the broader cryptocurrency market lost roughly $500 billion in market capitalization.



In contrast, demand for safe-haven assets has driven gold prices to multiple record highs since President Trump took office. The precious metal has surged as much as 6.6%, rising from $2,700 per ounce to a recent peak of $3,030 per ounce.



A <a href="https://www.rwa.xyz/blog/tokenizing-precious-metals-report">recent report</a> from rwa.xyz notes that gold and Bitcoin remain fundamentally different.



"Prevailing narratives that call Bitcoin "digital gold" overlook the unique qualities of each asset," the firms' analysts wrote. "Investing into gold is exposure to gold's longstanding use case as a status symbol, inflation-hedge, and store of value. Investing into Bitcoin is exposure to a new technology, characterized by decentralized consensus, near-instant settlement, and arbitrary, programmable transactions."



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Gold as a tokenized asset</h1>



For crypto investors, gold-backed tokens can offer the best of both worlds, combining gold's low-risk, safe-haven properties with blockchain advantages like global accessibility, instant settlement, low fees, and 24/7 trading.



Unsurprisingly, gold-collateralized tokens like Tether's XAUT and Paxos' PAXG have <a href="https://app.rwa.xyz/commodities">surged in popularity</a> in 2025 as investors seek ways to protect their portfolios against global uncertainties.



In its report, rwa.xyz noted that investors are taking advantage of 24/7 crypto markets and tokenized products to gain instant exposure to gold during risk events, particularly on weekends (when traditional markets are closed).



However, trading data suggests that investors tend to return to traditional markets once they reopen. The firm cautions investors that the premium for XAUT and PAXG ‘almost always retreats once traditional markets reopen after the weekend'.



Analyzing the volume data for tokenized gold products across crypto exchanges, rwa.xyz says volumes tend to spike according to Saturday-Sunday market catalysts.



"This implies that traders are utilizing tokenized gold markets as a way to gain short-term gold exposure when traditional markets are closed. When traditional markets reopen, some traders return to traditional gold markets, the premium is arbitraged away, and volumes in tokenized gold markets tend to revert to normal."



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">Limited DeFi appeal</h1>



This suggests that decentralized finance (DeFi) users may be reluctant to hold onto gold-backed tokens due to their limited on-chain use cases.



For instance, at the time of writing, neither Paxos' PAXG nor Tether's XAUT — the two largest tokenized gold products by market capitalization — can be used as loan collateral on Aave's lending platform.



On decentralized exchanges (DEXs) like Uniswap, while PAXG and XAUT can be swapped for other tokens, users may be hesitant to trade them due to liquidity constraints and slippage concerns. For now, highly liquid and versatile U.S. dollar-pegged stablecoins — such as Tether's USDTand Circle's USDC — remain the preferred means for DeFi users to safeguard against market volatility.



That said, gold-pegged tokens still have a key advantage over fiat-backed stablecoins: gold's historical negative correlation with the U.S. dollar and its limited exposure to monetary policy risks:



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large is-resized"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="565" src="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25051651/World_Gold_CCL_Gold_systemic_risk-1024x565.png" alt="" class="wp-image-11552" style="width:920px;height:auto" srcset="https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25051651/World_Gold_CCL_Gold_systemic_risk-1024x565.png 1024w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25051651/World_Gold_CCL_Gold_systemic_risk-300x166.png 300w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25051651/World_Gold_CCL_Gold_systemic_risk-768x424.png 768w,https://contributor-assets.benzinga.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/25051651/World_Gold_CCL_Gold_systemic_risk.png 1200w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Gold vs traditional assets during times of crisis &#x7C; Source: World Gold Council</figcaption></figure>



<h1 class="wp-block-heading">The takeaway</h1>



Spot gold is on the march, gaining 29% for the year to date while hitting 28 record highs in a row. Gold-backed cryptocurrencies offer a bridge between traditional precious metals markets and the on-chain world, but their integration into the crypto ecosystem is a work in progress. Key areas barriers include regulatory risk, transparency concerns, and limited DeFi use cases.



Whether gold-backed tokens become a staple of investors' portfolios will ultimately depend on their ability to provide security and practical utility to both crypto enthusiasts and mainstream investors.

With Gold-backed Tokens Crossing $2B, Has Crypto's Elusive Safe Haven Arrived?

<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-spot-bitcoin-etfs">Spot Bitcoin ETFs</a> registered $442 million in net inflows on April 24, marking five consecutive trading days of positive flows and pushing the cumulative inflow above $2.5 billion for the week.



What Happened: Blackrock&#8216;s (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IBIT#NASDAQ">IBIT</a>) led the inflows with $327.2 million, followed by Ark &amp; 21Shares (CBOE: ARKB) at 97 million.



Ethereum ETFs also saw a net inflow of $63.4 million, although Grayscale's (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/ETH#NYSE">ETH</a>) recorded an outflow, according to <a href="https://sosovalue.com/assets/etf/us-btc-spot">data</a> from SoSo Value.



Speaking with Benzinga, Matteo Greco, Senior Associate &amp; Digital Asset Analyst at Fineqia, attributes the surge to both long- and short-term investor interest but emphasizes the structural tilt of ETFs toward long-term capital. 



"Even during the recent 30% drawdown from Bitcoin's all-time high, ETF outflows represented only about 15% of total inflows since inception," Greco said. "This suggests strong long-term conviction among ETF investors."



The expiry of over $15 billion in Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/eth/usd">ETH</a>) options on Thursday appears to have cleared a major overhang in derivatives markets. 



Bitfinex analysts noted that the put-to-call ratio of 0.73 and a maximum pain point at $86,000 suggested bullish sentiment. 



The clearing of open interest above $90,000 reset market gamma pressure, and the lack of sharp selling afterward indicates bulls retained control.



Funding rates remain moderately positive, averaging between 0.01% and 0.03% across major exchanges, implying continued long bias without excessive leverage. 



Despite a slight drop post-expiry, open interest remains elevated at over $32 billion, with most positions rolled forward rather than unwound.



Even during minor price pullbacks, funding rates briefly turned negative, suggesting traders were overly eager to short. 



This likely contributed to the short squeezes witnessed throughout the week.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44992375/if-bitcoin-breaks-100k-this-ceo-will-gladly-admit-being-wrong-about-a-bear-market">If Bitcoin Breaks $100K, This CEO Will &#8216;Gladly Admit&#8217; Being Wrong About A Bear Market</a>



Why It Matters: Bitfinex analysts say the market is "cautiously bullish" with the $90,000 options cluster cleared.



New call positions are forming at $95,000 and $100,000 for end-of-April and May expiries, indicating traders expect a continued but potentially choppy move higher.



Bitcoin was trading at $94,250 on Friday morning in Europe, up 2% on the day. 



Ethereum rose 2.5% to $1,785. 



Major altcoins also advanced, with Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>) and Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>) each up over 5% in the last 24 hours. 



Meanwhile XRP (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/xrp/usd">XRP</a>) and BNB (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/bnb/usd">BNB</a>) are each trading up around 1% in trade.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44987075/why-bitcoin-reclaiming-92900-could-be-a-pivotal-moment-glassnode">Why Bitcoin Reclaiming $92,900 Could Be A Pivotal Moment: Glassnode</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Bitcoin ETFs See $442M Daily Inflow As BTC Hovers Around $94,000

Floki (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">FLOKI</a>) has rallied 16% in the last 24 hours for a 39% gain over the past week. Growing hype around the upcoming launch of the Floki ETP is prompting <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/floki-price-prediction">traders to flip bullish</a>.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>Price&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</td><td>Market Cap</td><td>24-Hour Trend</td><td>7-Day Trend</td></tr><tr><td>Floki (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">FLOKI</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.00007815</td><td>$752.3 million</td><td>+16.6%&nbsp;</td><td>+39.8%&nbsp;</td></tr><tr><td>Dogecoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/doge/usd">DOGE</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.1819</td><td>$27.1 billion</td><td>+5.3%</td><td>+17.4%</td></tr><tr><td>Shiba Inu (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/shib/usd">SHIB</a>)</td><td>&nbsp;$0.00001410</td><td>$8.3 billion</td><td>+7.8%&nbsp;</td><td>+17.6%&nbsp;</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Trader Notes: Crypto trader Jelle says Floki has cleared its first target, noting that once it breaks through the current resistance "the real fun starts."



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Target 1 got smashed, and <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%24FLOKI&amp;src=ctag&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">$FLOKI</a> is heading straight for target 2. Break that grey zone too &#8211; and the real fun can start &#x1f440; <a href="https://t.co/GbtjLRJQfz">https://t.co/GbtjLRJQfz</a> <a href="https://t.co/eW85Qgwr9f">pic.twitter.com/eW85Qgwr9f</a>&mdash; Jelle (@CryptoJelleNL) <a href="https://twitter.com/CryptoJelleNL/status/1915701527173308881?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 25, 2025</a></blockquote><script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



Cold Blooded Shiller is <a href="https://x.com/ColdBloodShill/status/1915527636949873135">eyeing</a> high time-frame bullish divergences, calling the current setup near lows "promising" despite needing more effort for a full recovery. 



CRG <a href="https://x.com/MacroCRG/status/1915700004036952367">confirmed</a> a bullish trend reversal, with Floki putting in a higher high on the daily chart.



Unipcs <a href="https://x.com/theunipcs/status/1915689067548749893">highlighted</a> that Floki remains one of the few meme coins to survive multiple cycles, alongside Dogecoin and Shiba Inu. 



With recent all-time highs and listings on Binance, Coinbase, Robinhood EU, Bithumb, Revolut, and others, he says it is well-positioned for further upside.



Statistics: According to IntoTheBlock, large transaction volumes and daily active addresses dropped 33.6% and 32.4%, respectively, suggesting short-term cooling even as price climbs.



Coinglass data shows FLOKI's open interest is up 20%, with derivatives volume rising 5.6% in a day — a sign of growing trader engagement.



Community News: The SIX Swiss Exchange, Switzerland's largest and Europe's third-largest, is expected to list the Floki ETP in early 2025. 



The Floki team <a href="https://snapshot.box/#/s:floki-inu.eth/proposal/0x50aa497ab85e56c5ec16cff70acd4e5146b333db06e5528496c931db4c62cbe6">revealed</a> months ago that they've been working with an undisclosed asset manager to make this happen, a potential game-changer for institutional exposure to meme coins.



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://in.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44962519/floki-surges-32-in-7-days-outpaces-dogecoin-shiba-inu-what-is-going-on">Floki Surges 32% In 7 Days, Outpaces Dogecoin &amp; Shiba Inu: What Is Going On?</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

Floki Rallies 16% Outperforming Dogecoin, Shiba Inu: How High Can It Go?

Fartcoin&#8216;s impressive price surge has become one of the most discussed topics in the cryptocurrency world, as many are still adjusting to its unconventional branding and strong performance despite macroeconomic challenges.



What happened: The Solana (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/sol/usd">SOL</a>)-based memecoin has surged by 77.61% over the past month, making it the second-best-performing cryptocurrency during this time. It has also gained over $450 million in market capitalization, now ranking as the sixth-largest memecoin.



These gains have come at a time when trade tensions dominated headlines. Fartcoin withstood President Donald Trump&#8217;s <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/25/04/44893608/trumps-tariffs-add-financial-strain-for-new-parents-amid-rising-baby-gear-costs">sweeping tariff measures</a> against key partners, which sent stock and cryptocurrency heavyweights like Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) plunging.



See Also:<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44621245/gold-backed-cryptos-match-yellow-metals-highs-following-trumps-liberation-day-shock"> </a><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/04/44971891/sec-teams-up-with-nayib-bukele-led-el-salvador-for-a-crypto-regulatory-sandbox">SEC Zooms In On Nayib Bukele-Led El Salvador&#8217;s Crypto Regulation Model</a>



FARTCOIN topped out at $2.61 in January and then crashed by over 90% over the next two months before beginning a bullish rebound. Its year-to-date gains stood at 18%.



On the other hand, cryptocurrency derivatives of gold have netted higher returns.&nbsp;



Tether Gold and PAX Gold, both backed by physical gold, were among the safest cryptocurrency bets this year, yielding over 26%.



Their rise has followed the increasing demand for gold as a haven, as spot gold itself has risen 25.77% year-to-date.



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table style="overflow:auto; height: 90px; display: block;"><tbody><tr><td>Cryptocurrency</td><td>YTD Gains +/-</td><td>Price (Recorded at 6:30 a.m. ET)</td></tr><tr><td>Tether Gold (CRYPTO: XAUT)</td><td>+26.31%</td><td>$3,312.35</td></tr><tr><td>Pax Gold (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/paxg/usd">PAXG</a>)</td><td>+26.24%</td><td>$3,317.17</td></tr><tr><td>Fartcoin (FARTCOIN)</td><td>+18.05%</td><td>$1.10</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



Benzinga Note: Investing in meme coins is highly speculative and involves significant risk. Meme coins often lack intrinsic value and are driven by market sentiment, social media trends, and speculative trading. 



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44971214/solana-staking-etf-surges-18-in-debut-week-heres-how-much-cathie-woods-ark-invest-has-parked-in-it">Solana Staking ETF Surges 18% In Debut Week—Here&#8217;s How Much Cathie Wood&#8217;s Ark Invest Has Parked In It</a></li>
</ul>



Image Via Shutterstock

Fartcoin Might Capture The Meme Coin Spotlight In 2025, But These Gold-Backed Cryptocurrencies Have Outpaced Its Growth In Recent Trends

ARK Invest on Friday outlined a conservative price target of approximately $300,000 for Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) by 2030, according to its report published this week. 



The projection represents the firm's bear case scenario and is based on Bitcoin achieving moderate levels of institutional adoption and a partial displacement of <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44926052/bitcoin-reclaims-90000-is-digital-gold-heading-to-100000-next">gold's role as a store of value</a>.



What Happened: In the <a href="https://www.ark-invest.com/articles/valuation-models/arks-bitcoin-price-target-2030">report</a>, ARK presents three scenarios for Bitcoin's future price trajectory: a bear case of ~$300,000, a base case of ~$710,000, and a bull case of ~$1.5 million per coin.



The bear case reflects restrained optimism, with relatively low market penetration assumptions across several key addressable markets.



According to ARK's modeling, the primary contributor to Bitcoin's value in the bear case is its positioning as &#8220;digital gold.&#8221; 



The firm assumes Bitcoin will capture 20% of the current $18 trillion gold market by 2030. 



This shift alone would account for nearly 58% of the $300,000 price target.



Institutional investment is projected to contribute meaningfully even in a conservative scenario. 



ARK assumes that by 2030, 1% of the global market portfolio, estimated to reach $200 trillion excluding gold, will be allocated to Bitcoin. 



This allocation would add another 32.7% to Bitcoin's total price accrual in the bear case.



Also Read: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44992375/if-bitcoin-breaks-100k-this-ceo-will-gladly-admit-being-wrong-about-a-bear-market">If Bitcoin Breaks $100K, This CEO Will &#8216;Gladly Admit&#8217; Being Wrong About A Bear Market</a>



Why It Matters: Emerging markets are anticipated to play a smaller, yet notable role.



The report estimates that Bitcoin could capture 0.5% of the ~$68 trillion monetary base of emerging economies by 2030, as individuals seek protection against inflation and currency devaluation. 



This would account for roughly 5.5% of Bitcoin's price in the bear case.



Contributions from nation-state reserves and corporate treasuries are expected to remain limited. 



The forecast assumes a 0.5% penetration of the $15 trillion global treasury reserve market and a 1% penetration of the $7 trillion global corporate cash market by 2030.



Bitcoin's on-chain financial services sector, including Layer-2 solutions like the Lightning Network and tokenized assets such as Wrapped Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/">WBTC</a>), are projected to contribute only marginally to the price in this scenario.



ARK models a conservative compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 20% for this sector over the next six years, resulting in a 1.7% contribution.



Importantly, ARK's $300,000 bear case does not incorporate adjustments for Bitcoin's active supply. However, the firm notes that if "liveliness" metrics, which estimate active circulating supply are considered, price targets could increase by approximately 40%.



The report emphasizes that all price projections are subject to significant uncertainties, including regulatory developments, adoption rates, macroeconomic factors, and investor sentiment. 



ARK acknowledges that Bitcoin's market behavior remains unpredictable and that forecasts should be viewed with caution.



Read Next: 



<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44987075/why-bitcoin-reclaiming-92900-could-be-a-pivotal-moment-glassnode">Why Bitcoin Reclaiming $92,900 Could Be A Pivotal Moment: Glassnode</a></li>
</ul>



Image: Shutterstock

ARK's Bitcoin 'Bear Case' Is $300,000 By 2030—What's The Bull Case?

The&nbsp;Federal Reserve&nbsp;revoked its guidance for banks that required them to inform the regulator before engaging in any cryptocurrency-related activity on Thursday.



What Happened: The Fed retracted its 2022 supervisory letter that mandated banks to notify in advance about their&nbsp;cryptocurrency endeavors, among other risk management practices and compliance controls, according to a press release.



The central bank said it no longer&nbsp;expects such notifications and will instead monitor banks&#8217; cryptocurrency activities through the regular supervisory process.



See Also:&nbsp;<a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44943572/peanut-the-squirrels-death-triggered-outcry-and-spawned-a-2-bllion-memecoin-but-was-it-a-planned-outcome" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Peanut The Squirrel&#8217;s Death Triggered Outcry And Spawned A $2 Bllion Memecoin, But Was It A Planned Outcome?</a>



The Fed also pulled back its 2023 supervisory letter related to the banks&#8217; engagement with <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/23/08/33669212/fed-cracks-down-on-banks-crypto-activities-signaling-wider-regulatory-war-on-digital-asset">dollar-backed stablecoins</a>. 



&#8220;The Board intends to&nbsp;work with the agencies to&nbsp;evaluate if there is a need for additional guidance to promote innovation, including crypto-asset activities,&#8221; a statement read.



Cryptocurrency mogul and Strategy (NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/MSTR#NASDAQ">MSTR</a>) co-founder Michael Saylor cheered the announcement, stating, &#8220;Banks are now free to begin supporting Bitcoin.&#8221;



Why It Matters: This decision comes on the heels of Fed Chair Jerome Powell&#8217;s statement earlier this month indicating a potential <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44850021/fed-chair-powell-says-crypto-and-banking-rules-will-loosen-as-sector-matures">relaxation of certain cryptocurrency and banking regulations</a>. 



Powell acknowledged the increasing mainstream acceptance of cryptocurrencies and emphasized the need for a clear regulatory framework, especially around stablecoins. 



The Trump administration has been vocal about its support for the cryptocurrency industry, instituting a <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/top-stories/25/01/43110946/sec-launches-crypto-task-force-to-establish-clear-regulatory-framework">dedicated SEC crypto task force</a>, repealing an accounting directive that prohibited banking institutions f<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/01/43181875/sec-repeals-sab-121-policy-that-restricted-banks-from-providing-custody-services-for-bitcoin-crypto-mom-says-bye-bye">rom providing custodial services for digital assets</a>, and <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/25/03/44183572/trump-establishes-strategic-bitcoin-reserve-funded-by-forfeited-assets-i-made-the-promise">establishing </a>a Strategic Bitcoin (CRYPTO: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/btc/usd">BTC</a>) Reserve.



Read Next:&nbsp;



<ul>
<li><a href="https://benzinga.com/markets/cryptocurrency/25/04/44992375/if-bitcoin-breaks-100k-this-ceo-will-gladly-admit-being-wrong-about-a-bear-market" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">If Bitcoin Breaks $100K, This CEO Will &#8216;Gladly Admit&#8217; Being Wrong About A Bear Market</a></li>
</ul>



Disclaimer:&nbsp;This content was partially produced with the help of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/author/benzinga-neuro" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Benzinga Neuro</a>&nbsp;and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.<a href="https://www.benzinga.com/apis?utm_source=benzinga.com&amp;utm_campaign=article-bottom" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank"></a>



Photo Courtesy: Bukhta Yurii on Shutterstock.com

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