Solana price jumps 45% as network activity soars: can SOL breach $160?

  • Solana’s network activity hit a record 15.39 million addresses.
  • SEC fast-tracks SOL ETF filings after SSK ETF launch.
  • SOL nears key $160 resistance amid strong technical setup.

Solana (SOL) has seen an impressive 45.6% surge over the past three months, driven by record-breaking network activity and growing optimism around a potential exchange-traded fund (ETF) approval in the United States.

Notably, the price hike has brought SOL closer to the key resistance zone around $160, raising hopes of a breakout as momentum builds from both technical and fundamental fronts.

Daily activity on the Solana Network hits record highs

Solana’s network has witnessed a sharp increase in usage over the past few weeks, with Daily Active Addresses (DAA) soaring to a historic peak of 15.39 million.

Solana Daily Active Adresses

This surge in on-chain engagement reflects rising demand for the platform’s decentralised applications and staking services, especially at a time when other blockchain networks have shown stagnation.

In the first week of July, activity briefly dropped below 5 million, only to rebound to 14.63 million by July 7, signalling strong underlying user interest and a resilient ecosystem.

Such consistent growth in user activity is often a precursor to sustained price appreciation, particularly when it coincides with positive market sentiment.

Solana ETF speculation adds to bullish momentum

Speculation around the approval of a Solana ETF has intensified after the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) asked fund issuers to update and resubmit their applications by the end of July.

While the SEC has until October 10 to reach a final decision, sources close to the matter have suggested that the timeline could accelerate following the surprise launch of the SSK ETF — the first Solana staking fund to go live in the US.

The SSK ETF, launched by REX Shares and Osprey, drew $12 million in inflows on its first day and recorded $33 million in trading volume, adding urgency to the SEC’s response timeline.

Analysts believe that the existence of a live Solana-based ETF has pressured the SEC to avoid giving one fund a competitive edge, as it did in the case of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF approvals.

This regulatory backdrop has contributed to renewed bullishness in the Solana market, even though approval is not yet guaranteed.

Investor behaviour signals quiet accumulation

Exchange data also supports the bullish setup, with net outflows from centralised platforms increasing steadily in recent weeks.

This trend usually indicates that investors are moving their holdings into cold storage or decentralised wallets, a common signal of accumulation by long-term holders.

Moreover, despite low or negative funding rates, which show a lack of aggressive long positions, the market has remained firm — a setup that could lead to a short squeeze if SOL breaks higher.

With funding rates staying flat and volume holding above $4.5 billion daily, momentum could shift quickly if key resistance levels are cleared.

Technical analysis points to a breakout attempt

On the charts, Solana (SOL) is rounding off a classic cup-and-handle pattern, which is typically a bullish continuation signal when followed by a breakout above the upper handle.

Solana price chart

Currently, SOL is hovering just under the critical resistance zone between $159 and $163.82, levels that align with key moving averages and Fibonacci retracements.

At the time of writing, Solana was trading at $150.76, slightly below the $159 barrier that has capped its rallies for several weeks.

The price stability above $150, despite volatile market conditions, shows strong buying pressure and investor confidence, even as leveraged traders remain on the sidelines.

While the Moving Average Convergence/Divergence (MACD) shows momentum tapering off, it remains near the zero line, indicating a potential trend reversal if upward pressure continues.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) sits close to 50, revealing investor indecision but also suggesting room for a significant move in either direction.

A clean breakout above $159 would likely confirm the cup-and-handle formation and open the door to higher targets, with $194.25 and $215 as the next major price zones to watch.

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Japan’s Remixpoint to pay CEO entirely in Bitcoin, citing shareholder alignment

  • The move makes it the first publicly traded company in Japan to pay its top executive solely in cryptocurrency.
  • The company currently holds a range of digital assets, including 1,051.56 BTC and 901.44 ETH.
  • The development comes amid broader corporate interest in Bitcoin.

Remixpoint, a Tokyo-listed energy consulting and crypto services firm, announced on Tuesday that it will begin compensating its CEO and President Yoshihiko Takahashi entirely in Bitcoin.

The move makes it the first publicly traded company in Japan to pay its top executive solely in cryptocurrency.

The company said the decision is aimed at aligning the leadership’s economic interests more closely with those of its shareholders, particularly in light of restrictions that prevent company executives from holding stock due to Japan’s insider trading regulations.

“By receiving compensation in Bitcoin, the company’s leadership will share the same economic fate as shareholders, fostering a system that aligns economic value with investors,” Remixpoint said in a press release.

Compensation shift tied to regulatory constraints

The firm said its shareholders had requested that executives hold company stock to ensure stronger alignment with long-term investor interests.

However, Remixpoint stated that such a step is not feasible under current Japanese securities laws that restrict insider holdings.

As an alternative, the company said it chose bitcoin as a vehicle to mimic the financial exposure associated with equity ownership.

“My decision to receive my entire compensation in bitcoin is a clear signal that I am ‘in the same boat’ as our shareholders,” Takahashi said in a statement.

“I am fully committed to enhancing corporate value and managing with a shareholder-focused perspective.”

Corporate Bitcoin holdings and Yen hedge strategy

Remixpoint began investing in cryptocurrencies in September 2024, describing the move as part of a broader strategy to hedge against the depreciation of the Japanese yen and to diversify currency risk.

The company currently holds a range of digital assets including 1,051.56 BTC, 901.44 ETH, 13,920 SOL, 1.2 million XRP, and 2.8 million DOGE, according to disclosures on its website.

Data from Bitcoin Treasuries indicates that Remixpoint’s total bitcoin holdings are currently valued at around $114 million, making it one of the more prominent corporate holders of the cryptocurrency in Japan.

Shares Rise After Announcement

Shares of Remixpoint rose 0.71% on Tuesday following the announcement, according to data from Yahoo Finance.

The development comes amid broader corporate interest in bitcoin, with several global firms establishing BTC treasuries through equity offerings and capital raises.

Still, Remixpoint distinguishes itself as one of the few institutions to extend crypto adoption to executive pay.

While some companies have opted to allocate bitcoin as a treasury reserve, paying salaries in digital assets remains rare, especially among publicly listed firms.

The announcement marks a milestone for Japan’s corporate crypto landscape, signaling deeper integration between blockchain assets and traditional corporate governance structures.

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BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF crosses 700,000 BTC, surpasses $75B in assets

  • IBIT now holds over 700,000 BTC, valued at approximately $75.5 billion at current prices.
  • Since launching in January 2024, IBIT has become the dominant US spot Bitcoin ETF.
  • It now accounts for over 55% of total BTC held across all US spot Bitcoin ETFs, according to data from Bitbo.

BlackRock’s iShares Bitcoin Trust (IBIT) has surpassed 700,000 Bitcoin in holdings, marking a significant milestone for the spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund.

According to blockchain data platform Glassnode, IBIT now holds 700,000 BTC, valued at approximately $75.5 billion at current prices.

The asset milestone was reached following a $164.6 million net inflow into the fund on Monday.

Outpaces other Bitcoin ETFs and corporate treasuries

Since launching in January 2024, IBIT has become the dominant US spot Bitcoin ETF.

It now accounts for over 55% of total BTC held across all US spot Bitcoin ETFs, according to data from Bitbo.

Its 18-month growth trajectory places it ahead of other leading funds in the category, including Fidelity’s FBTC, which holds around 203,000 BTC, and Grayscale’s GBTC, which holds approximately 184,000 BTC.

The ETF has also eclipsed the holdings of Michael Saylor’s Strategy (MSTR), which began accumulating Bitcoin in 2020 and currently holds around 600,000 BTC.

Strategy is the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin to date.

Since its inception, IBIT has delivered a total return of 82.67%, according to fund performance data tracked by market analysts.

Revenue surpassing flagship S&P 500 ETF

BlackRock’s Bitcoin ETF is now one of the firm’s top-performing products.

IBIT has become the third-highest revenue-generating ETF across BlackRock’s portfolio, which comprises over 1,100 funds.

It now reportedly generates more revenue for the asset manager than the iShares Core S&P 500 ETF (IVV), BlackRock’s flagship fund tracking the US equity benchmark, and the iShares Russell 2000 ETF (IWM), which tracks small-cap US stocks.

“New milestone, iShares Bitcoin ETF now holds over 700,000 BTC. 700,000. Did this in 18 months. Ridiculous,” Nate Geraci, president of The ETF Store, wrote on X.

Senior Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas also noted the significance of IBIT’s rise in BlackRock’s rankings, underscoring its rapid emergence as a cornerstone product in the firm’s ETF offerings.

IBIT’s rapid growth coincides with strong demand for spot Bitcoin ETFs in the US market, which collectively have attracted over $50 billion in net inflows since launching in January 2024.

These ETFs are considered the most successful ETF introductions in US financial history.

According to research from Galaxy Digital, the combined buying activity of US Bitcoin ETFs and Strategy has consistently outpaced Bitcoin’s net new issuance from miners.

In 2025 alone, these entities have purchased $28.22 billion worth of Bitcoin, compared to $7.85 billion in new Bitcoin generated by miners.

Galaxy noted that this demand-supply imbalance has persisted every month except February, when the group recorded net Bitcoin sales totaling $842 million.

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SUSHI price turns bullish as SushiSwap team teases major reveal

  • SushiSwap has hinted at a massive announcement coming this week.
  • The altcoin shows bullish signals at a crucial support barrier.
  • Traders now target the key resistance zone at $0.79- a 30% surge.

Meme coins dominated financial trends with impressive rallies on Monday as Elon Musk launched a pro-Bitcoin political party for Americans.

Meanwhile, the SushiSwap team supercharged SUSHI’s rebound with a cryptic post on X, hinting at a massive reveal in the next few days.

SushiSwap X post

SushiSwap is a DEX that runs on multiple blockchains as an AMM (automated market maker).

It enables users to swap assets and offer liquidity without traditional order books.

Despite the scarce details, the upcoming announcement stirred the crypto community.

While enthusiasts contemplated what the message was about, analysts and traders shifted to the SUSHI price chart.

The altcoin’s current price of $0.6058 places it within the dependable support zone at $0.57 – $0.60.

Buyers have aggressively joined here to catalyze significant uptrends.

A confirmation might send SUSHI’s price to the crucial resistance zone at $0.79.

That would mean an approximately 30% surge from the meme token’s current price.

What to anticipate from SushiSwap?

While the team didn’t disclose the exact nature of the upcoming announcement, SUSHI’s price reaction triggered various speculations.

Enthusiasts could be bracing for strategic collaborations, protocol upgrades, new product launches, or governance overhaul.

Some suspect the project might introduce a new utility functionality for the native token or more integrations with decentralized finance protocols.

Indeed, the DeFi sector has seen increased traction lately, with topics like RWA tokenization, L2 expansions, and staking gaining traction.

Veteran crypto projects like SushiSwap are likely bracing to leverage this growth.

As the team prepares this week’s key announcement, traders are looking to capitalize on the potential momentum.

Coinglass data confirms the enthusiasm. SushiSwap’s volume has rallied 40% to $36.94 million.

Also, the Open Interest is at $30 after a 6% jump. That signals renewed interest in the project.

How could these developments influence SUSHI’s price actions in the near term?

SUSHI price outlook: recovery impending?

The DEX’s governance token displayed bullishness following the announcement, signaling impending rebounds.

SUSHI hovers at a crucial region. It trades at $0.6058, with a technical setup supporting upside continuation.

The alt trades above the foothold at $057 – $0.60, a crucial region that previously attracted significant buying.

Sushi Price Chart

Source – CoinMarketCap

SUSHI bulls are now targeting the nearest resistance at $0.66.

A decisive close beyond this mark could fuel continued upswings.

Overcoming $0.6925 would open the gates to $0.7470, and a potential extension to $0.7925.

That would mean a 30% gain from SUSHI’s current market price.

However, failure to reclaim $0.66 might delay the possible rally.

A sudden selling pressure that plunges SUSHI beneath $0.57 could trigger significant dips or sideways price actions.

Further, broad market sentiments will be vital in shaping SushiSwap’s trajectory.

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IO, IMX and Aptos outlook ahead of major token unlocks this week

  • Aptos, Immutable, and io.net are among the tokens set to witness notable insider token unlocks totaling over $219 million this week.
  • What do the large cliff unlocks mean for APT, IMX, and IO prices?
  • More than $219 million of tokens will unlock in the next week, including key releases for Solana and Worldcoin among others.

Aptos, Immutable, and io.net are among the top altcoins primed for major token unlocks this coming week, with over $219 million worth of these and other tokens set to enter circulation between July 7 and 13, 2025.

While an overall bullish sentiment surrounds the cryptocurrency market as Bitcoin hovers near $109,000, could the upcoming unlocks introduce selling pressure to APT, IO, and IMX?

Major token unlocks this week: Aptos, IMX, IO

Aptos (APT) is a layer-1 blockchain designed for scalability and high throughput.

Immutable (IMX), a layer-2 solution on Ethereum, focuses on NFT infrastructure with zero gas fees, enhancing user accessibility.

Meanwhile, io.net (IO) is a decentralized AI computing network that enables machine learning engineers to access scalable clusters at reduced costs, positioning it as a leader in DePIN innovation.

According to data from Tokenomist, formerly Token Unlocks, the week of July 7-13, 2025, will see insider unlocks totaling over $219 million.

Notable releases of tokens worth over $5 million include Aptos with $50.78 million, or 1.75% of the circulating supply, and io.net with $9.28 million, or 7.64% of the circulating supply.

Elsewhere, Immutable is also set to see a large cliff unlock, with $10.43 million of IMX, or 1.31% of circulating supply.

Wu Blockchain shared the details below.

Large cliff token unlocks refer to the simultaneous release of a significant portion of tokens after a vesting period, often allocated to founders, teams, or early investors.

This event can increase selling pressure, potentially driving prices down if holders liquidate positions.

However, it may also signal confidence if insiders hold, potentially stabilizing or boosting prices, depending on market sentiment and project fundamentals.

APT, IMX, IO price forecast

The Aptos (APT), io.net (IO), and Immutable (IMX) tokens could see short-term pressure given the fresh supply amid token releases.

Overall market sentiment and broader crypto trends will also likely provide either short-term headwinds or tailwinds.

From a technical perspective, Aptos price could face key support at $3.7, with resistance at $4.9 and $5.2.

A break above $5 could target higher levels with $8 and $10 next.

On the other hand, IMX has a key demand reload zone near $0.32 below which the sell-off will intensify.

However, if bulls take control, a key target could be the psychological $1 area.

io.net (IO) has major support around $0.5, with resistance at $0.75 and then $1.43.

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