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PepeX maintains upside momentum as Bitcoin, Solana dominate the majors

Bitcoin and Solana have emerged as top performers as crypto majors and meme tokens strive to recover. While investors shift to Bitcoin for its stability, Solana has become a key player in DEX trading.

At the same time, investors are on the look out for fresh projects with robust growth potential. PepeX, which has emerged as one of the top meme ICOs to watch out for in 2025, offers its holders an irresistible opportunity to rake in hefty gains during its presale and beyond. Its infrastructure seeks to restore transparency, fairness, and accessibility in the meme crypto space.

Bitcoin heightened dominance paves the way to $90,000

Bitcoin price began the new week on a high; rallying to a three-week high in early Monday session. Since hitting a five-month low two weeks ago, the crypto major has rebounded by about 17%. At the time of writing, it was trading at $87,488. 

Despite the persistent economic uncertainties, bulls are optimistic that Bitcoin price will soon retest the crucial zone of $90,000. CoinGecko’s 2025 Q1 crypto industry report showed that despite the drop in investor activity, Bitcoin’s dominance in the cryptocurrency space hit a level last recorded in early 2021 at 59.1%. 

Having rebounded past the 25 and 50-day EMAs, the bulls have an opportunity to retest the crucial support-turn-resistance zone of $90,000. However, the bulls will need to gather enough momentum to break the immediate-term resistance at $89,075. On the lower side, $82,959 is set to offer steady support to Bitcoin price. 

Bitcoin Price
Bitcoin Price

PepeX maintains upward momentum as it restores integrity in the meme crypto space 

AI-related cryptocurrencies have captured investors’ attention as they look past the majors for projects with robust growth potential. In the past 24 hours, AI meme market cap rose by 6.5% to $2.34 billion.

Notably, most of these fresh projects are moving past meme jokes to offer solutions to existing challenges within the crypto space. PepeX is one such crypto. As the world’s first AI-powered tokenization launchpad, it seeks to solve the persistent issues of security, fairness, and transparency. Indeed, it comes at an opportune time and investors are taking note of it. 

In the recent past, platforms like Pump.fun have allowed pump-and-dump schemes that saw investors lose hefty amounts of money. To solve this issue, PepeX has integrated anti-sniping tools and a bubble map tool to discourage early dumping and any shady launches. Besides, the creators’ holdings are capped at 5% of the total supply, which they could lose to its community should the project fail. 

This one-of-a-kind infrastructure has attracted the attention of meme coin enthusiasts, enabling it to raise over $1.4 million just four weeks into its presale. In addition to its real-world use case and subsequent growth potential, early adopters have an opportunity to rake in huge gains during the 30-stage presale. 

With every three-day stage, the token price increases by 5%. What started at $0.02 is currently at $0.0243 and is set to rally further to $0.0823 before the token hits the public shelves in Q3. Read more on how to buy PepeX.

Solana dominance in DEX trading fuels recovery

Solana Price Chart
Solana Price Chart

In the recent months, altcoins and meme coins have been under selling pressure. However, as the assets find their footing, Solana has emerged as one of the top performers. 

Notably, its dominance in the decentralized exchange (DEX) space has fueled its recovery. As highlighted by CoinGecko, Solana dominated DEX trades at a rate of 39.6% in Q1’25. 

A look at its daily chart shows Solana price trading above the 25 and 50-day EMAs. In the short term, I expect $126.90 to be a steady support zone as the bulls strive to break the resistance at $144.50. If successful, the next target will be at $155. 

The post PepeX maintains upside momentum as Bitcoin, Solana dominate the majors appeared first on CoinJournal.

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Why Bitcoin ETFs are seeing outflows even as BTC price recovers

  • $812M has left Bitcoin ETFs in April despite Bitcoin price recovery post‑tariff pause.
  • Institutions are shifting to bonds and AI/tech funds amid risk‑off sentiment.
  • Regulatory delays and media FUD also fuel cautious ETF positioning.

Bitcoin ETFs have registered significant fund withdrawals even as spot Bitcoin (BTC) price regained ground following President Trump’s 90‑day suspension of reciprocal tariffs.

The temporary tariff relief helped stabilize global markets, fueling a Bitcoin price rebound that saw it climb back toward the mid‑$80,000s.

However, institutional investors have continued to pull money out of spot Bitcoin ETFs, culminating in a dramatic $171.10 million net outflow on April 17, according to Coinglass data.

The most affected ETFs are Fidelity’s FBTC and ARK Invest’s ARKB, each of which has seen over $113 million in outflows.

BlackRock’s IBIT, however, continues to enjoy modest inflows with $30.60 million inflows as of April 17, 2025.

Bitwise’s BITB, VanEck’s HODL, and Grayscale Bitcoin Mini Trust ETF (BTC) have also weathered the storm with $12.8M, $6.7M, $2.4M, and $3.4M inflows respectively.

Month‑to‑date flows show that more than $800 million departed Bitcoin ETFs in early April, following $767 million in March.

This extended streak of weekly outflows eclipses even the heaviest withdrawal phases seen since these products debuted in January 2024.

Why the huge Bitcoin ETFs outflows?

Notably, this trend underscores a broader risk‑off sentiment among professional investors reluctant to reallocate capital into volatile digital assets.

Surging US interest rates have rendered government bonds more appealing, prompting capital rotation out of crypto ventures.

Concurrently, profit‑taking after Bitcoin’s late‑2024 rally motivated holders to crystallize gains, dampening demand for ETF exposure.

Investors are also contending with fractured regulatory signals, as promised crypto‑friendly legislation remains stalled in Congress.

Confusion surrounding token unlock schedules for structured Bitcoin products exacerbates fears of sudden supply surges.

Moreover, strong inflows into AI and tech‑focused exchange‑traded funds have lured momentum‑driven capital away from crypto.

Persistent media rhetoric around a “Bitcoin ETF exodus” further compounds negative sentiment and amplifies withdrawal pressures.

Bitcoin miners have also felt the squeeze, with March profitability down 7.4% as average fees and prices cooled although leading miners like Marathon Digital and CleanSpark maintained robust production and expanding hash rates despite shrinking margins.

Tax‑loss harvesting strategies and quarter‑end portfolio rebalancing have also applied technical selling pressure on ETF shares.

The interplay of these forces paints a nuanced picture: spot Bitcoin prices can recover while ETF flows simultaneously languish.

Investors now face a delicate balancing act between capturing crypto’s upside potential and managing exposure to its inherent volatility.

A weaker US dollar amid shifting Federal Reserve forecasts has provided some tailwind for Bitcoin valuations in recent weeks.

However, the comparative stability and yield of US Treasuries continue to attract institutional allocations away from high‑beta crypto instruments.

As the market digests these divergent signals, the tug of war between price recovery and Bitcoin ETFs fund outflows may define next Bitcoin (BTC) maturation phase.

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Crypto market sheds $633.5B in Q1 2025 as Trump rally momentum fades

  • Bitcoin’s market share rose to 59.1% despite falling 11.8%.
  • Ethereum’s 2024 gains wiped out in Q1 2025.
  • DeFi TVL fell 27.5% across multichain platforms.

The global cryptocurrency market started 2025 with optimism, fuelled by expectations of favourable policy shifts under Donald Trump’s presidency and a strong rally across meme coins.

But those hopes have since been dashed. According to CoinGecko’s latest quarterly report, crypto’s total market capitalisation fell 18.6% in Q1 2025, wiping out $633.5 billion in value.

Trading volumes also took a hit. The report shows that average daily trading volume fell 27.3% compared to the previous quarter. Spot trading on centralised exchanges declined 16.3%, a drop that was partly attributed to the Bybit hack earlier this year.

Despite signs of strength in early January, recession concerns and fragmented investor interest led to a broad sell-off across digital assets.

Bitcoin outperforms altcoins but still falls 11.8%

Bitcoin retained its dominance over the broader market in Q1, accounting for 59.1% of the total crypto market cap — its highest level since 2021.

This shift highlights how investors have treated Bitcoin as a relatively more stable asset compared to altcoins during uncertain periods.

However, Bitcoin itself was not immune to losses. It declined 11.8% during the quarter and underperformed traditional safe havens like gold and US Treasury bonds.

The report also noted that Trump’s newly imposed tariffs triggered volatility in the bond market, impacting yields — a key metric closely linked to digital asset flows.

Ethereum saw an even sharper reversal. It gave up all of its 2024 gains, returning to levels last seen before its Shanghai upgrade. The report attributed this trend to declining decentralised finance (DeFi) activity and persistent concerns around gas fees and scalability.

DeFi TVL and Solana activity decline sharply

Multichain DeFi protocols suffered significantly, with total value locked (TVL) falling 27.5% over the three-month period.

Solana, which led the decentralised exchange (DEX) trading space during the meme coin frenzy in January, saw its own TVL drop by more than 20%.

CoinGecko’s data indicates that market excitement around Trump-themed tokens, particularly the TRUMP coin on Solana, sparked a temporary spike in transaction volumes. However, this activity failed to sustain investor interest beyond January.

The LIBRA scandal, which emerged shortly after, added further pressure on altcoin sentiment and liquidity.

Despite these setbacks, Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) recorded $1 billion in fresh inflows in Q1.

But the total assets under management (AUM) across these ETFs still fell by nearly $9 billion due to declining prices, highlighting the gap between investment inflows and market returns.

Structural concerns deepen

While some data points suggested limited resilience, nearly every positive trend in the report was accompanied by a downside risk.

The report shows that centralised exchanges, stablecoin volumes, and DeFi applications all registered lower activity in February and March. Many projects lost traction as macroeconomic concerns mounted and investor caution grew.

CoinGecko noted that the first quarter of 2025 represents one of the most challenging periods for crypto since the FTX collapse in late 2022.

The report reflects broader market concerns that the crypto sector, despite structural improvements in infrastructure and compliance, remains deeply vulnerable to global economic shocks.

As recession fears take hold and regulatory uncertainties continue to loom in major markets, the path forward for crypto in the coming months remains highly uncertain.

Although Bitcoin’s rising market share signals a flight to perceived safety, the broader market may need more than optimism and meme coin rallies to recover from this quarter’s losses.

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Colorado receives fewer than 80 crypto tax payments in three years

  • PayPal converts crypto into US dollars before funds reach the state.
  • Bitcoin’s rising value discourages users from spending it on taxes.
  • Stablecoins may become the preferred method for future payments.

Since 2022, the State of Colorado has collected over $11 billion in income tax. Yet of that, only $57,211 has come from cryptocurrency payments. That is just 0.0005% of the total.

When Colorado became the first US state to accept crypto tax payments under Governor Jared Polis, the move was presented as a breakthrough for digital finance adoption.

But nearly two years later, figures provided to Colorado Newsline by the Department of Revenue suggest that uptake has remained negligible.

The data shows that while crypto ownership is rising across the United States, its use for tax obligations is far from mainstream.

Colorado residents can use PayPal’s Cryptocurrency Hub to pay in Bitcoin or other digital assets, which are instantly converted into US dollars before reaching the state treasury.

Despite the infrastructure being in place, only a handful of residents have opted in—and their reasons are more financial than technical.

Fewer than 80 payments

In 2022, only eight crypto-based tax payments were made in Colorado, totalling $16,426. That figure rose modestly in 2023 to 22 payments, amounting to $23,241.

In 2024, the number of transactions increased to 48, but the total paid declined to $17,544. Altogether, fewer than 80 payments have been recorded, with total crypto contributions stuck below $60,000.

None of this crypto is held by the state. All payments are instantly converted to fiat via PayPal’s system, meaning the Department of Revenue never touches digital assets directly.

That distinction matters: while Colorado is technically accepting crypto, it is functionally no different from accepting a card payment in dollars.

Store of value

Despite the small number of transactions, crypto ownership in the United States remains high. Around 20% of American voters have held or used crypto at some point.

But for most, coins like Bitcoin are not used to pay for goods or services—they are held as long-term investments.

That investment mindset is reinforced by Bitcoin’s performance. Since the start of Colorado’s crypto tax pilot in September 2022, the price of Bitcoin has surged more than 320%.

In September 2023, it posted a 30% annual gain, followed by another 125% in September 2024. With such returns, many holders are reluctant to spend their coins on tax bills, especially if doing so could trigger capital gains tax.

Stablecoin future

Colorado is not the only place experimenting with crypto-based public payments. Utah also allows tax payments via PayPal’s system. Detroit is planning to introduce the same model later this year.

Louisiana already accepts crypto payments for services and fines through Bead Pay.

Even so, experts remain sceptical about the long-term viability of using major cryptocurrencies for this purpose. Store-of-value assets like Bitcoin and Ethereum are ill-suited to everyday transactions, especially in volatile markets.

Industry voices suggest that stablecoins—digital tokens pegged to fiat currencies—may be the better fit for tax payments going forward.

Adoption remains symbolic

The Colorado example illustrates that offering crypto payments does not guarantee adoption. Many residents are unaware of the option, and even those who are often have little incentive to use it.

For now, crypto tax payment infrastructure may serve more as a political or technological signal than a practical alternative.

Still, the systems put in place could pave the way for broader adoption as the digital asset landscape matures. Whether that shift will be led by stablecoins, central bank digital currencies, or other innovations remains to be seen.

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Panama City joins global move to allow crypto payments in public sector

  • Local law allows payment for taxes, tickets, and permits.
  • City partners with banks to convert crypto to fiat.
  • Panama bypasses national legislation through local ordinance.

Panama City is set to become one of the first Latin American capitals to formally integrate crypto payments into its municipal system, allowing residents to pay for public services in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins.

This move, driven by the city’s administration and not national legislation, marks a notable shift in how governments are embracing digital assets.

Panama City Mayor Mayer Mizrachi confirmed the development via a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday.

He stated that locals will be allowed to settle payments for taxes, permits, traffic tickets, and other municipal fees using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC, and Tether (USDT).

This step was made possible through a council-approved proposal and will be implemented in collaboration with banks that can receive and convert crypto to fiat currency.

Crypto rollout starts with top tokens

The new law gives local residents the option to use select cryptocurrencies instead of fiat money to meet their obligations to city hall.

The digital assets initially accepted include Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDC, and USDT, which have become widely adopted across both retail and institutional ecosystems.

Unlike previous efforts that attempted to implement crypto usage through national-level legislation, Panama City’s government found a way to bypass this hurdle by focusing on local regulation.

Mizrachi explained that earlier governments tried to push similar measures through Panama’s senate, but his administration opted for a simpler legal workaround that avoided introducing entirely new laws.

So far, there has been no official confirmation on whether other cryptocurrencies will be accepted in the future. A city representative did not immediately respond to media enquiries about the possible expansion of the asset list.

Banks to handle conversion

In order to operationalise this system, the city will rely on partnerships with banks that are technically capable of receiving digital assets and converting them to fiat.

This model allows Panama City to remain in line with national financial regulations while also giving residents the freedom to transact in crypto.

By allowing local banks to act as intermediaries, the city is aiming to balance innovation with compliance. The measure is expected to support wider crypto adoption in Panama without putting pressure on the central government to introduce sweeping policy changes.

Global crypto adoption grows

Panama City’s move reflects a broader shift across the region and beyond as governments begin to accommodate digital asset payments.

In 2021, El Salvador became the first country in the world to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender, followed by the Central African Republic the following year. Other countries such as Fiji and Tonga have also considered recognising Bitcoin as an official currency.

In Switzerland, municipalities like Zug and Lugano have already enabled payments for local services using cryptocurrencies. Zug has earned the nickname “Crypto Valley” for its openness to blockchain technology and favourable regulatory environment.

Panama, by contrast, has had a mixed relationship with crypto. In 2022, Panamanian President Laurentino Cortizo partially vetoed a bill that aimed to regulate cryptocurrencies and legalise decentralised autonomous organisations (DAOs).

At the time, the president cited concerns that the bill was not fully aligned with existing financial system norms.

Despite this national-level setback, Panama City’s latest move highlights how local governments can still proceed with adoption in specific areas such as public service payments.

National tensions remain

While Panama City is still in the early stages of implementation, its approach could serve as a model for other urban centres looking to embrace crypto without overhauling national law.

By partnering with compliant financial institutions, the city hopes to provide a secure and legally sound way for citizens to use their digital assets in everyday transactions.

Whether this local strategy can scale remains to be seen. But it underscores the growing influence of cryptocurrencies in mainstream economic infrastructure—not just as speculative assets, but as tools for public finance.

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