POL token flashes recovery signals as Polygon NFTs sales hit $2B

  • Polygon (POL) shows signs of recovery amid the broader crypto market bloodbath.
  • Polygon NFT sales have surpassed $2 billion, led by Courtyard’s RWA surge.
  • Monthly Polygon NFT transactions and average sale values continue to rise.

Polygon’s native token, POL, is showing signs of a potential rebound just as the network’s NFT ecosystem reaches a major milestone with over $2 billion in all-time sales.

The price of POL, formerly MATIC, has hovered around $0.2146, with modest 24-hour gains of 1.1%, offering a glimmer of hope amid a broader slump that has plagued crypto assets in recent months.

Despite POL being down over 69% year-on-year, its recent stabilisation hints at a possible turning point, especially as network usage gains traction through real-world utility and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Polygon’s surging NFT market, largely driven by tokenised real-world assets (RWAs), is reinforcing investor confidence and suggesting that the network’s fundamentals remain strong.

Polygon’s NFT market is on the rise

In 2025, NFT activity on Polygon has been notably resilient, with monthly sales climbing consistently from $16.3 million in November 2024 to $74.7 million in May 2025.

This sustained growth not only highlights increased adoption but also sets Polygon apart as one of the few networks defying the prevailing NFT market downturn.

According to CryptoSlam data, the broader NFT sector saw a sharp decline after peaking at $900 million in December 2024, eventually falling to $373 million in April 2025.

However, Polygon bucked this trend, with May marking another record month as sales surged while average transaction values hit nearly $89, up 242% from six months earlier.

This momentum has been fueled by Courtyard, a real-world asset marketplace that has rapidly emerged as a major player in Polygon’s NFT ecosystem.

Courtyard now boasts $277 million in all-time sales, narrowly trailing DraftKings at $287 million, and could soon become the leading NFT collection on the network.

The significance of Courtyard’s rise lies not only in sales numbers but in its role in bridging digital assets with tangible value, a development that appeals to both collectors and traditional investors.

Transaction volumes have also remained robust, with over 800,000 monthly NFT transactions recorded from March to May 2025, further emphasising the depth of engagement across the ecosystem.

Moreover, user activity has held strong, with February peaking at 134,000 unique buyers, illustrating consistent demand for tokenised assets even during turbulent market conditions.

POL price outlook

These trends indicate that while POL’s price remains far below its previous highs, the network itself is seeing foundational growth that could eventually reflect in the token’s valuation.

Analysts believe that as user adoption expands and Courtyard continues to innovate, the demand for POL could rise, especially as it becomes more integrated into network functionalities.

Although it is too early to declare a full recovery, the convergence of NFT momentum and token stability signals a cautiously optimistic outlook for Polygon.

If the trend of real-world asset tokenisation continues to gain popularity, POL may find itself supported by real demand rather than speculative hype.

Looking ahead, the key factors to watch will include the pace of Courtyard’s growth, the completion of the MATIC to POL migration, and overall sentiment across the NFT sector.

With Polygon proving it can thrive even as the broader market falters, POL might be poised to benefit from renewed interest and utility-driven adoption.

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Solana price falls 18% in May as SEC scrutiny cuts open interest by $330M

  • Open interest in SOL derivatives falls from $3.20B to $2.87B.
  • Price faces resistance at 50-day EMA, $150 is key support.
  • Polymarket shows 80% odds of Solana ETF approval.

Solana is under pressure as June begins, with its price down 18% over the past three weeks.

The latest trigger came on 30 May, when the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) raised concerns over two proposed staking exchange-traded funds (ETFs) involving Solana and Ethereum.

The agency’s reaction sent a chill through the derivatives market, with total open interest (OI) in Solana futures dropping from $3.20 billion to $2.87 billion.

The funding rate also slipped into negative territory, indicating declining confidence among perpetual traders.

The ETFs in question were proposed by REX Shares and Osprey Funds.

While details of their structures were not fully disclosed, they aimed to provide exposure to staking-based returns through a regulated vehicle.

However, the SEC flagged “unresolved questions” around whether these funds qualify as legitimate investment companies under the Investment Company Act of 1940. The comment came via a filing attributed to Brent J. Fields, Associate Director at the SEC.

Solana faces resistance as bearish momentum builds

Solana was already showing signs of weakness before the SEC announcement.

The token faced consistent resistance near the 50-day exponential moving average (EMA), with prices unable to break past the $160–$170 range throughout the second half of May.

After hitting a high of $187.19 on 20 May, Solana reversed course and fell to $152.83 by the start of June.

On the intraday chart, SOL dropped by 3% as bears gained momentum.

Solana price
Source: CoinMarketCap

Technical indicators point to further downside risk. The rejection from the 50-day EMA band has confirmed bearish control, with traders eyeing key support zones at $150, $140, and $120.

A sustained break below $150 could see SOL testing its multi-month support levels last seen in Q1 2024.

The derivatives data mirrors this sentiment. Funding rates, which reflect the cost of holding long positions in perpetual futures, turned negative at -0.0044%, down from +0.0033%.

Meanwhile, open interest—a measure of market activity—fell by over 10% within a week.

These changes show that leverage traders are unwinding their long positions amid increased regulatory uncertainty.

SEC staking ETF probe deepens regulatory uncertainty

The SEC’s concerns surrounding staking-based ETFs reflect a broader unease with crypto-native financial instruments entering traditional markets.

Although Ethereum futures ETFs have been approved in the past, no product has yet offered returns tied to staking rewards.

Solana, in particular, poses additional risks due to its more centralised validator set and history of network outages.

By raising objections now, the SEC may be signalling a tougher stance on newer ETF proposals, especially those involving yield-generating protocols.

For Solana, this creates additional headwinds, as any delay or rejection of staking ETFs could limit mainstream adoption and capital inflow.

Traders and analysts have also pointed to the lack of clarity on whether Solana is a security or commodity, a debate that has lingered since 2022.

Despite these short-term roadblocks, the longer-term sentiment appears more positive.

On prediction market platform Polymarket, odds of a Solana ETF approval have climbed to over 80%, suggesting that investors still see eventual regulatory clearance as likely.

However, the timing and scope of such an approval remain uncertain.

Solana’s June outlook hinges on key support levels

With SOL trading below its 50-day EMA and investor appetite dwindling in the derivatives space, much now depends on how the market reacts at key support levels.

A firm defence of the $150 mark could set the stage for a rebound later in the month, especially if broader crypto sentiment improves.

Conversely, failure to hold $150 may lead to further capitulation towards $140 or even $120.

While some on-chain data shows consistent activity within the Solana ecosystem, including growth in decentralised applications and daily transaction counts, price action remains largely dictated by macro and regulatory forces.

The SEC’s latest comments have injected a fresh dose of uncertainty, and for now, market participants appear to be de-risking.

As Solana enters June on a cautious note, its short-term trajectory will likely depend on two fronts—clarity from regulators and a return of speculative interest in high-beta altcoins. Until then, the path of least resistance appears to be downward.

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Tron hits $121.2B in monthly transfers as TRX overtakes Cardano

  • 490.3 billion TRX moved, up 34% from April.
  • Yearly volume surged nearly 10x from May 2024.
  • Dominates stablecoin flows across multiple regions.

The Tron blockchain has hit a new peak in transaction activity, with its native token TRX recording an all-time high monthly transfer volume of 490.3 billion tokens in May 2025.

This translates to approximately $121.2 billion at the current market price of $0.247 per token, marking a 34% jump from April and a 990% surge compared to the same month last year.

The explosive rise in volume highlights Tron’s increasing role in global payments, especially in stablecoin transactions.

Beyond raw transaction figures, Tron has now overtaken Cardano to become the world’s ninth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation.

At the time of writing, TRX holds a market cap of $25.6 billion, surpassing Cardano’s $24.1 billion.

The network’s expanding dominance has drawn renewed attention to TRX’s role in stablecoin flows, outpacing Ethereum and other Layer 1 and Layer 2 chains in Tether usage across various global regions.

Tron leads global stablecoin flows, surpassing Ethereum

A growing portion of the transfer volume is tied to Tron’s strength in stablecoin settlement, particularly in Tether (USDT).

Recent industry reports show that Tron has consistently outperformed Ethereum as the preferred network for Tether transfers since mid-2022.

This trend has continued into 2025, with Tron now dominating stablecoin transaction volumes across multiple continents, including Latin America, Africa, Asia, North America, and Europe.

According to data published by Artemis, Tron remains the most commonly used blockchain for settling customer flows by value. It is followed by Ethereum, Polygon, and Binance Smart Chain.

Tron’s low transaction fees and consistent throughput have positioned it as the blockchain of choice for large-scale stablecoin movement, especially in emerging markets where cost efficiency is crucial.

May transfer volume up 34% from April, nearly 10x YoY

In April 2025, total TRX transfers stood at 362.92 billion, meaning May’s figure represents a 34% month-on-month jump.

The yearly change is even more striking, with volume rising from just 45 billion TRX in May 2024 to 490.3 billion this year—a near tenfold increase.

This growth has been facilitated by rising user adoption and increased integration with major decentralised applications and payment systems.

The network’s architecture continues to support consistent throughput for micropayments and remittance services, particularly those requiring stablecoin functionality.

Analysts eye breakout as price holds near $0.26

TRX has not only gained in transaction metrics but also in market performance. Recent data shows that the token’s price has risen 8.8% over the past month. However, in the past 24 hours, TRX is down 0.26% and is currently trading at $0.26.

Tron price
Source: CoinMarketCap

Technical analysts monitoring the market have identified a monthly ascending triangle pattern on the charts, a formation that historically signals potential breakouts.

Based on current levels, TRX would need to rise by approximately 270.3% to reach the $1 mark.

While this scenario is not guaranteed, growing network activity and rising adoption support the possibility of continued upward movement in the near to medium term.

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Best crypto to buy as analysts think FTX repayments could act as a tailwind for the broader market

  • In search of speculative momentum, traders are increasingly drawn to early-stage tokens like Bitcoin Pepe.
  • The upcoming $5 billion payout from the FTX Recovery Trust could be a shot in the arm not just for major cryptocurrencies but also for speculative plays like Bitcoin Pepe.
  • So far, the project has raised more than $12.7 million, with its token, BPEP, currently priced at $0.0396.

Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) dropped 2.5% and 5%, respectively, on Saturday after US President Donald Trump accused China of breaching its trade deal with the United States, reigniting concerns over escalating trade disputes.

The market was initially steady following the release of the latest US Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) data, which met expectations.

However, sentiment soured after Trump took to Truth Social, asserting that China had backed out of commitments made in a prior agreement.

This latest development adds another layer of uncertainty to markets already rattled by tariff-related tensions that began surfacing in February, particularly involving Canada and Mexico.

As Bitcoin faces another bout of volatility, retail traders appear to be shifting focus toward riskier, high-reward assets such as Bitcoin Pepe, which is now in the final stage of its presale.

In search of speculative momentum, traders are increasingly drawn to early-stage tokens like Bitcoin Pepe.

These assets offer the prospect of significant returns due to a combination of low initial pricing, strong viral marketing, and the potential for sharp gains once exchange listings commence.

Can FTX repayments help the crypto market?

The FTX Recovery Trust is set to distribute more than $5 billion in cash and stablecoins to creditors starting Friday, with recipients expected to receive funds within the next three business days via BitGo and Kraken.

This marks the second major tranche of repayments since the collapse of the crypto exchange.

The first round, launched on February 18, returned approximately $7 billion to creditors with smaller claims, primarily those under $50,000.

That earlier wave had limited market impact, as it coincided with a broader risk-off environment and ongoing macroeconomic headwinds.

This time, however, conditions are different. Analysts at Coinbase noted in a report on Friday that crypto market sentiment has improved significantly, raising the possibility that the latest round of repayments could act as a tailwind.

The key difference lies in how the funds are being delivered: stablecoins rather than fiat or mixed assets.

That shift provides immediate on-chain liquidity, increasing the likelihood that some of the capital will be reinvested into crypto markets rather than withdrawn or parked in traditional accounts.

Coinbase analysts also pointed to a more favorable macro and regulatory backdrop.

With Bitcoin and other major digital assets staging a rebound and US lawmakers making tangible progress toward regulatory clarity, institutional players may feel more confident deploying new capital.

If reinvestment flows materialize, this could add fuel to an already recovering market, though the ultimate impact will hinge on how recipients choose to deploy their reclaimed assets.

Can Bitcoin Pepe also benefit?

The upcoming $5 billion payout from the FTX Recovery Trust could be a shot in the arm not just for major cryptocurrencies but also for speculative plays like Bitcoin Pepe.

With repayments being made in stablecoins, offering immediate on-chain liquidity, and crypto market sentiment on the upswing, traders flush with fresh capital may look to redeploy funds into high-risk, high-reward tokens.

That dynamic could work in favor of early-stage assets riding viral momentum.

Bitcoin Pepe, a meme-centric Layer 2 built on the Bitcoin network, is gaining momentum as it nears the close of its ongoing presale.

The project aims to blend the security of Bitcoin with Solana-like scalability—a technical advantage that sets it apart from typical meme tokens, which often lack functional infrastructure.

Its ecosystem ambitions are backed by a series of strategic partnerships, including Super Meme, Catamoto, and Plena Finance.

A collaboration with GETE Network is also in place to expand its footprint in cross-chain Web3 gaming.

The hybrid approach—pairing blockchain utility with viral meme appeal—has resonated with retail investors.

So far, the project has raised more than $12.7 million, with its token, BPEP, currently priced at $0.0396.

The presale ends on May 31, and a listing on centralized exchanges is expected shortly thereafter, which could act as a near-term catalyst for price action.

With sentiment across crypto markets turning more constructive and retail capital rotating into speculative plays, Bitcoin Pepe is positioning itself to ride both technical and cultural tailwinds.

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Livepeer (LPT) price surges 150% as it defies market downturn

  • Livepeer price rose 150% to hit $14.15 on Friday, May 30, 2025.
  • LPT defied downtrend for top coins such as Bitcoin that dipped to $105k.
  • Other tokens such as Pocket Network, White Rock, and Numeraire also soared.

Livepeer is among the few altcoins to rip on Friday as the market witnessed another bout of sell-off trades that pushed Bitcoin to $105k.

The LPT token, native to the decentralized AI protocol Livepeer, spiked an impressive 150% to rank alongside the likes of Pocket Network, White Rock, and Numeraire as leading performers in the past 24 hours.

Why did Livepeer’s price skyrocket today?

Livepeer’s token had not crossed above $10 since dipping from above $15 in mid-May.

However, buoyed by a series of positive news, including the surge in Nvidia stock after positive earnings reports, it surged more than 150% to hit $14.15.

The level marked Livepeer’s highest price since January.

Part of the rally ensued and gathered pace as the LPT community exploded in optimism on an announcement from Upbit, South Korea’s largest crypto exchange.

Listings on the Upbit exchange often catapult trading volumes upon listing of trading pairs. Livepeer experienced just that.

Upbit added KRW and USDT pairs.

According to data from CoinMarketCap, the daily volume for Livepeer rose a staggering 10,900% to hit $2.9 billion.

On May 27, 2025, crypto asset manager Grayscale introduced the Artificial Intelligence Crypto Sector, noting tokens in the segment had seen massive growth since the third quarter of 2023.

20 tokens in the sector have seen their combined market cap jump to $20 billion, up from a low of $4.5 billion in Q1, 2023.

Livepeer is one of the tokens to see such growth in the past year.

Bulls gain, but what’s next for LPT price?

The surge saw LPT rank among the biggest movers on the day. As noted, these numbers largely defied the trend across the crypto market, with trader James Wynn experiencing a liquidation of around $100 million, as BTC dropped more than 2% to lows of $105k.

LPT price chart on CoinMarketCap

If bulls break above $15, bullish continuation could see the price target of $20.

The next major resistance level could be the June 2024 supply wall around $25.

However, traders might want to be cautious as potential profit taking and broader market weakness could shift sentiment first.

Crypto analysts at CryptoQuant have noted as much, saying continued liquidations in the altcoin market are likely to continue outpacing Bitcoin.

“Altcoin liquidations have consistently surpassed Bitcoin’s, suggesting that excessive leverage in altcoins has been aggressively punished as prices continued to trend lower,” CryptoQuant posted on X.

If LPT price flips lower, key support levels will be $9.5 and then $5.3.

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