XLM defends major moving averages as buying pressure builds

Key takeaways

  • XLM remains above important moving-average support zones, preserving its broader bullish structures.
  • Its long-to-short ratios rose to 1.15, approaching one-month highs.
  • XLM faces immediate resistance at $0.20, followed by targets at $0.218 and $0.237.

Stellar’s XLM is trading above important support zones on Tuesday, maintaining the possibility of further gains despite mixed momentum signals.

Derivatives data also showed an increasingly bullish tilt toward the cryptocurrency. Positive funding rates and rising long-to-short ratios indicate that more traders are positioning for an upward price move.

Derivatives traders increase long positions

CoinGlass data showed that the long-to-short ratio for XLM stood at 1.15 on Tuesday, approaching its highest level in a month.

A ratio above one means that more traders hold long positions than short positions. The latest increase therefore suggests that derivatives market participants expect XLM prices to rise.

Funding rates provide further evidence of bullish positioning. XLM’s rate became positive on September 2 and subsequently climbed to 0.0147%.

Positive funding means traders holding long positions are paying those with short exposure to maintain market balance. 

While this generally reflects bullish sentiment, an excessively high rate can eventually increase the risk of long liquidations if prices suddenly decline.

Current readings support a constructive outlook without necessarily indicating that positioning has reached extreme levels.

XLM recovery extends above EMA support

XLM traded around $0.193 on Tuesday after climbing above its major exponential moving averages.

The 50-day, 100-day and 200-day EMAs are concentrated between approximately $0.179 and $0.188. This cluster now forms a potential demand zone that could attract buyers during short-term pullbacks.

XLM’s RSI stands near 60, keeping the indicator within bullish territory without showing overbought conditions.

The MACD also maintains a mildly positive reading, with its main line above the signal line and the histogram remaining above zero. The setup suggests that upward momentum remains constructive, although buyers have not yet established a decisive breakout.

XLM faces its first significant resistance at the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement level near $0.200.

A sustained break above that psychological and technical barrier could allow the price to challenge the 50% retracement at approximately $0.218. The next resistance sits at the 38.2% Fibonacci level near $0.237.

Clearing those barriers could open a path toward the descending trendline and the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement around $0.260.

On the downside, the 200-day EMA at $0.188 offers immediate support. The 100-day and 50-day EMAs provide additional protection near $0.180 and $0.179, respectively.

XLM/USD 4H Chart

If sellers push XLM below this moving-average cluster, the horizontal support at $0.177 and the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement at $0.173 would come into focus.

Buyers would need to defend this area to maintain the broader recovery. A decisive breakdown could expose deeper support levels at $0.142 and $0.139.

Overall, derivatives positioning and technical support favor further gains for XRP and XLM. However, confirmation will require XRP to overcome $1.90 and XLM to secure a sustained breakout above $0.20.

 

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KuCoin launches KCUSD with up to 4% base APR on Stablecoins

  • KuCoin launches KCUSD with a base APR of up to 4%.
  • KCUSD offers daily returns on eligible stablecoin balances.
  • KuCoin plans to expand KCUSD into collateral and trading utility.

KuCoin has launched KCUSD, a new Earn product designed to help stablecoin holders generate returns on otherwise idle balances.

The product will be available to eligible retail, high-net-worth, and institutional users, with subscriptions initially starting from as little as 1 USDT, USDC, or USDG.

KCUSD will offer a dynamic base annual percentage rate (APR) of up to 4%, with users able to earn returns simply by holding the asset.

KuCoin said there will be no subscription fee, while redemptions will be available in the same asset used for subscriptions.

Returns will be credited daily and automatically added to users’ KCUSD balances.

This structure allows returns to compound daily without requiring users to manually reinvest their earnings.

During the initial launch period, eligible users who participate with qualifying new funds may receive a promotional APR of up to 6%, according to the company.

Product targets idle stablecoin balances

KuCoin said stablecoins play a central role in digital asset market liquidity, but significant balances can remain idle in trading accounts.

Users may keep stablecoins available for margin requirements or time-sensitive trading opportunities, potentially leaving those assets without a yield.

The exchange said moving such balances into traditional staking or standalone Earn products can reduce their immediate trading utility.

The trade-off is particularly relevant for institutions, market makers, professional trading firms, and high-net-worth users that maintain large stablecoin balances for extended periods.

KCUSD initially addresses this issue through a hold-to-earn model, allowing users to generate returns while holding the product.

KuCoin also plans to expand KCUSD’s utility in the future by integrating it as collateral or margin.

The company said this planned functionality is intended to reduce the trade-off between earning returns and maintaining access to capital for trading activities.

KuCoin plans broader utility for KCUSD

KuCoin CEO BC Wong said the launch reflects the company’s view that digital asset infrastructure needs to focus not only on access and liquidity but also on how efficiently capital can be deployed.

“Our long-term view is that yield, liquidity and risk utility should not remain in separate silos,” Wong said.

KuCoin described KCUSD as an infrastructure layer that could connect liquidity, asset productivity and risk management across its ecosystem. The product is expected to begin with yield generation before progressively expanding toward collateral and trading utility.

The company said the development reflects a broader shift in digital finance, with stablecoins increasingly being positioned as productive capital rather than solely as settlement assets or reserves.

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Bittensor targets $300 as TAO extends five-day rally

Key takeaways

  • Bittensor trades higher on Monday, extending its five-day gain to approximately 25%.
  • TAO’s social dominance has increased amid renewed interest in AI tokens and the launch of the Buttensor meme coin on Solana.
  • TAO open interest reached a three-month high of $428.57 million, indicating growing derivatives activity.

Bittensor (TAO) trades in positive territory on Monday, extending its steady five-day rally to approximately 25%.

The artificial intelligence-focused token gained 16% last week before rising another 12% on Sunday. TAO has now reached a two-month high as buyers target a breakout above the psychological resistance at $300.

Social activity surrounding Bittensor is also increasing, supported by renewed interest in AI-related cryptocurrencies and the launch of a similarly named meme coin on Solana.

Bittensor meme coin drives attention toward TAO

A Bittensor parody token named Buttensor (BUTT) launched on Raydium, a Solana-based decentralized exchange, on Monday.

The meme coin’s debut followed Raydium’s official launch of TAO trading on the platform a day earlier. BUTT was subsequently paired with TAO.

The meme coin’s tokenomics direct transaction fees toward automatically purchasing TAO and distributing the acquired tokens to BUTT holders. The arrangement connects speculative activity around the meme coin with demand for Bittensor’s native token.

However, the sustainability of this buying pressure will depend on continued trading activity and retail interest in BUTT.

The release of ChatGPT-6 Astra has also coincided with renewed demand for AI-focused cryptocurrencies.

Santiment data shows that TAO’s social dominance climbed to 0.05% on Thursday following Astra’s release. The metric has since risen to 0.12%, with the launch of Buttensor contributing to the increase in online discussion.

Social dominance measures an asset’s share of cryptocurrency-related conversations. A rising reading can indicate growing investor interest, although elevated social activity can also accompany speculative price movements.

Activity in Bittensor’s derivatives market has strengthened alongside the price rally. CoinGlass data shows that TAO open interest reached a three-month high of $428.57 million on Monday. 

The increase indicates that traders are adding positions rather than simply closing existing contracts during the rally.

Rising open interest alongside an advancing price generally supports a bullish outlook. However, a large buildup in leveraged positions could increase volatility and liquidation risk if TAO suddenly reverses.

TAO momentum strengthens near $300

Bittensor trades comfortably above its 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day exponential moving averages, which are clustered between approximately $220 and $236.

Its position above these major indicators confirms the strength of the current uptrend and provides several potential support levels during a correction.

The Moving Average Convergence Divergence indicator remains above its signal line in positive territory, suggesting upside momentum is intact.

However, the Relative Strength Index has reached 70 on the daily chart. This reading places TAO at the threshold of overbought conditions and warns that the rally could temporarily cool as traders take profits.

TAO/USD 4H Chart

The psychological $300 level represents TAO’s immediate resistance. A confirmed daily close above $300 would reinforce the bullish outlook and could open the path toward $369, a high recorded on Sept. 13, 2025.

Conversely, rejection from $300 could trigger a pullback toward the 200-day EMA near $236. If that support fails, the 100-day EMA at $222 and the 50-day EMA around $220 form a deeper demand zone.

TAO’s outlook remains bullish while it trades above the moving-average cluster, but overbought conditions leave the token vulnerable to a short-term correction before another breakout attempt.

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Cardano price forecast: Can ADA extend its recovery toward $0.245?

Key takeaways

  • Cardano trades near $0.222 on Monday after rallying more than 15% last week.
  • ADA’s long-to-short ratio of 0.94 shows slightly more bearish than bullish positioning.
  • Positive funding rates and large whale orders provide mildly bullish signals.
  • The RSI and MACD indicate strengthening upside momentum.

Cardano holds gains following 15% weekly rally

Cardano (ADA) trades around $0.222 on Monday after gaining more than 15% last week.

Mixed derivatives data and mildly positive on-chain indicators reflect cautious sentiment among traders. However, strengthening technical momentum suggests ADA could extend its recovery if buyers overcome a cluster of resistance levels between $0.231 and $0.245.

The token currently trades above its 50-day and 100-day exponential moving averages, reinforcing its improving short-term outlook.

Cardano’s derivatives market presents a divided picture on Monday. CoinGlass data shows ADA’s long-to-short ratio at 0.94. A reading below 1 means short positions outnumber long positions, indicating that slightly more traders are betting on a price decline than an advance.

However, the difference between bullish and bearish positioning remains relatively narrow, suggesting traders are cautious rather than strongly bearish.

Funding rates offer a more encouraging signal. Cardano’s open interest-weighted funding rate turned positive on Saturday and stood at 0.0097% on Monday.

A positive funding rate means traders holding long positions are paying those holding shorts, typically reflecting increased demand for bullish exposure. The shift suggests sentiment has improved following ADA’s double-digit weekly rally.

CryptoQuant’s summary data also points to cautiously optimistic sentiment around Cardano.

Large whale orders have appeared in ADA’s futures market, indicating increased activity among well-capitalized traders. Most other tracked metrics remain neutral, limiting the strength of the bullish signal.

The combination of large orders and neutral broader indicators suggests institutional or whale interest may be increasing, but the market has not yet established overwhelmingly bullish positioning.

Continued buying from large traders could support ADA’s recovery, while a decline in whale activity could leave the token vulnerable to profit-taking.

Cardano momentum indicators strengthen

ADA’s price remains above the 50-day and 100-day EMAs, both clustered around the psychologically important $0.200 level.

The Relative Strength Index stands near 61 on the daily chart. This reading reflects solid bullish momentum while remaining below the overbought threshold of 70, suggesting ADA may have room to rise before the rally becomes overstretched.

The Moving Average Convergence Divergence indicator has also turned marginally positive. This shift signals that buyers are gradually gaining control, although a descending trendline continues to act as dynamic resistance.

Together, the RSI and MACD support a constructive short-term outlook, but ADA must clear several overhead barriers to confirm an extended recovery.

Cardano faces immediate resistance at the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement near $0.231. A move above that level would bring the horizontal resistance at $0.236 into focus.

The 200-day EMA sits around $0.243, just below another key resistance level at $0.245. This concentration of technical barriers could attract profit-taking and slow ADA’s advance.

A sustained break above $0.245 and the descending trendline would strengthen the bullish case and potentially open the door to a more substantial recovery.

ADA/USD 4H Chart

Conversely, failure to clear $0.231 could trigger a pullback toward the 50% Fibonacci retracement at $0.213.

Below that level, the 100-day EMA around $0.200 and the 50-day EMA near the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement at $0.195 form a broader support zone. Deeper support levels sit at $0.173 and $0.150.

ADA’s outlook remains cautiously bullish while the price stays above $0.200, but overcoming the $0.231–$0.245 resistance region will be crucial for extending the rally.

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Bitcoin holds above $80,800 as bulls target $85k ahead of NFP

Key takeaways

  • Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP extended their weekly gains on Friday ahead of the U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls report.
  • BTC remains above its 50-day, 100-day and 200-day exponential moving averages.
  • Bitcoin faces resistance at $85,000, while the first major support zone lies between $69,696 and $72,539.

Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP extended their weekly gains on Friday as traders awaited the U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls report for the market’s next directional catalyst.

Bitcoin traded above $80,800 after gaining more than 4% during the week. Ethereum also strengthened after breaking and closing above the important $2,500 resistance level.

XRP maintained a cautiously bullish near-term outlook after rebounding from a key support level earlier in the week.

US jobs report could drive crypto volatility

The U.S. Nonfarm Payrolls report could influence expectations for the Federal Reserve’s next monetary policy decision.

A stronger-than-expected employment report may reinforce expectations that interest rates will remain elevated or rise further, potentially weighing on cryptocurrencies and other risk assets.

Conversely, weaker employment data could reduce pressure on the Federal Reserve to maintain a hawkish position and provide additional support for Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP.

Traders should therefore prepare for increased volatility as markets adjust their interest-rate expectations following the release.

Bitcoin maintains bullish structure above key EMAs

Bitcoin traded at approximately $80,856 on Friday and maintained a firmly bullish technical structure.

BTC remains comfortably above its major exponential moving averages:

  • The 50-day EMA at $71,126
  • The 100-day EMA at $69,696
  • The 200-day EMA at $72,539

The separation between Bitcoin’s current price and these moving averages indicates that the broader uptrend remains well supported.

However, the wide gap also leaves room for a correction if traders begin taking profits following the recent advance.

Bitcoin’s Relative Strength Index stands near 71 on the daily chart. An RSI reading above 70 typically indicates that an asset has entered overbought territory. This does not guarantee an immediate reversal, but it suggests that the rally may be becoming extended.

The Moving Average Convergence Divergence indicator remains in positive territory, signaling that bullish momentum continues.

However, momentum appears less aggressive than during the earlier stage of the rally, which suggests that buyers may be losing some strength as Bitcoin approaches resistance.

The horizontal resistance near $85,000 represents Bitcoin’s next major upside target. Fresh selling pressure could emerge around this level as traders take profits and previously sidelined sellers enter the market.

A decisive daily close above $85,000 would signal that buyers remain in control and could open the door to further gains.

Failure to clear the level may lead to consolidation or a short-term pullback as the market absorbs Bitcoin’s rapid advance.

BTC/USD 4H Chart

Bitcoin’s first major demand area is formed by its three key moving averages. The 200-day EMA at $72,539 provides the highest level of dynamic support, followed by the 50-day EMA at $71,126 and the 100-day EMA at $69,696.

This creates a broad support zone between approximately $69,700 and $72,500. If Bitcoin falls below all three averages, the next horizontal support levels sit at $66,500 and $62,300.

A breakdown beneath those deeper levels would significantly weaken the broader bullish structure. For now, Bitcoin remains firmly positioned above support as traders focus on a potential test of $85,000.

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