Kategorie: Crypto Markets

• The US SEC has delayed its decision to approve or disapprove Franklin Templeton’s application for a spot XRP ETF.
• SEC has extended the period of review for the XRP ETF to June 17, 2025.
• ETF expert James Seyffart says most of the final verdicts for most ETF proposals are made in October or later.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has postponed its decision on Franklin Templeton’s proposed spot XRP exchange-traded fund.

SEC’s announcement on April 29, 2025, states that the regulator will now have until June 17, 2025.

This is the date by which it will have to make a decision on whether to approve or reject the XRP spot ETF.

A fresh delay allows the agency more time to evaluate the Franklin Templeton proposal.

SEC postpones decision on Franklin Templeton’s XRP ETF

According to the SEC’s filing, the agency requires a longer period to assess Franklin Templeton’s application, which was initially filed on March 19, 2025.

The proposal aims to list and trade shares of the Franklin XRP Fund under NYSE Arca Rule 8.201-E.

SEC noted that the extended review period, now set at 45 days, may be further prolonged up to 240 days from the initial publication in the Federal Register, potentially delaying a final decision until mid-October 2025.

Per the SEC’s filing, the delay is within the law and offers it time to thoroughly examine the proposed rule change and its alignment with self-regulatory organization requirements.

Not entirely new, the move aligns with a pattern of cautious deliberation the SEC has adopted regarding crypto-related financial products, having taken years to approve spot Bitcoin ETFs and Ether spot ETFs.

ETF analyst on what’s next?

Despite delays, investor demand for such crypto ETFs continues to surge.

Over the past few months, issuers have filed over 70 proposals seeking a green light to list exchange-traded funds on top altcoins. XRP, Solana, Litecoin, Hedera, and Dogecoin are among the most highly anticipated.

Commenting on the delay, Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart said he expects more of these SEC delays this week and in the coming days.

Notably, the regulator has also deferred its rulings on Ethereum staking and Dogecoin ETFs.

Seyffart anticipates that final deadlines for most of the ETF filings will be in October 2025 or later.

“I am expecting more delays today or at least this week on some Solana and Hedera/HBAR ETF filings. This is expected IMO. Final deadlines for most of this stuff is in October 2025 or later,” Seyffart noted.

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• Asset manager 21Shares has submitted a proposal to list a spot Dogecoin exchange-traded fund (ETF).
• Other firms, including Grayscale, Bitwise, and REX Shares, have also submitted applications for similar Dogecoin ETFs.
• The SEC is currently said to be reviewing over 70 crypto ETF applications,

Asset manager 21Shares has submitted a proposal to list a spot Dogecoin exchange-traded fund (ETF), marking the latest in a series of filings aimed at bringing crypto-related investment products to the mainstream.

The Nasdaq Stock Market filed the necessary 19b-4 document on Tuesday, a required step in the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) ETF approval process.

The 19b-4 filing follows 21Shares’ initial S-1 registration submitted on April 9.

In the earlier filing, the firm disclosed an exclusive partnership with the House of Doge to create funds backed by the Dogecoin Foundation.

Once the SEC acknowledges the 19b-4, it will be published in the Federal Register, beginning the formal review period.

Other firms, including Grayscale, Bitwise, and REX Shares, have also submitted applications for similar Dogecoin ETFs.

The filings come as the SEC signals a departure from its previous approach to digital assets.

Leadership change at the SEC

The regulatory shift follows the appointment of Paul Atkins as SEC Chairman on April 21.

Nominated by President Donald Trump, Atkins has taken a critical view of the agency’s prior policies under the Biden administration and former Chairman Gary Gensler.

“Innovation, unfortunately, has been stifled for the last several years due to market and regulatory uncertainty that unfortunately the SEC has fostered,” Atkins said last week.

Atkins’ confirmation, following a contentious Senate vote, is expected to accelerate decisions on a growing number of crypto-related proposals.

Acting Chair Mark Uyeda had previously delayed major rulings, and insiders attribute this to the lack of permanent leadership.

Crypto ETF backlog grows

The SEC is currently said to be reviewing over 70 crypto ETF applications, including products tied to major altcoins such as XRP, Solana, and Litecoin, as well as meme-themed and leveraged offerings.

Analyst Eric Balchunas called the ETF queue “wild,” noting the inclusion of everything from “Penguins, Doge, and 2x Melania.”

Bloomberg analysts in February estimated the highest probability of approval for Litecoin ETFs at 90%, followed by Dogecoin at 75%.

This recent push follows the agency’s approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in January 2024 and spot Ethereum ETFs in July, both of which were seen as watershed moments for the crypto investment landscape.

As of the time of writing on Tuesday, the price of Dogecoin was up 0.4% to $0.1789.

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• Flare price surged significantly on Monday, rising 14% amid a 320% spike in trading volume.
• The FLR token gained amid broader market upside, with Bitcoin above $95k
• Notably, FLR traded to highs of $0.019 amid a key integration of USDT0.

Flare (FLR), a blockchain protocol focused on interoperability, has seen its price surge significantly today.

According to data from CoinMarketCap, the FLR token soared more than 15% to highs of $0.019, climbing alongside a staggering 320% spike in its 24-hour trading volume.

FLR traded near $0.018 at the time of writing, still an impressive 14% up in 24 hours and with a daily trading volume of over $31.2 million.

Flare chart by CoinMarketCap

Why is Flare price up?

One of the factors likely to have driven Flare’s impressive price movement in the past day and recent weeks is the broader cryptocurrency market’s upside.

Most tokens rose as Bitcoin broke past $90k – currently above $95k and eyeing $100k – to flip bullish after early sell-off pressure.

Rising optimism in global financial markets has helped, with stocks gaining as investors anticipate strong corporate earnings, trade deals, and economic recovery.

The crypto market, often correlated with risk-on sentiment, has benefited from this wave of optimism. However, Flare’s rally isn’t just a byproduct of market-wide trends.

A significant development for the protocol is its recent integration of Tether’s USDT stablecoin.

On Monday, Flare announced that USDT0 is now live on its platform, offering fast, secure, and gasless transfers with deep liquidity.

Why is USDT0 integration key?

This integration, powered by LayerZero’s Omnichain Fungible Token (OFT) standard, unlocks over $140 billion in liquidity for Flare’s ecosystem, particularly for XRPFi (XRP-based decentralized finance).

Backed 1:1 by Tether’s USDT, this move positions Flare as a key player in the stablecoin and DeFi space, attracting investors and developers alike.

“USD₮0 helps accelerate real-world stablecoin adoption on Flare by solving one of the industry’s biggest challenges: fragmented utility. By enabling native, cross-chain liquidity, USD₮0 brings seamless interoperability to Flare’s ecosystem. Paired with Flare’s gasless transaction model, this integration creates a frictionless user experience that lowers the barrier for everyday stablecoin usage,” USDT0 co-founder  Lorenzo R said.

FLR price prediction:

Flare’s price has spiked more than 38% in the past month.

However, FLR remains more than 75% down from its all-time high near $0.08 reached in January 2023.

Despite a slight dip from intraday highs amid possible profit taking, the volume spike and price rally suggest the Flare price could see another leg up.

The cryptocurrency is trending alongside top altcoin gainers Virtual Protocol, DeepBook, and Monero, all with double-digit gains in the past 24 hours. Nexo price also surged on Monday as the crypto lender announced its relaunch in the US.

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• Tether’s XAUT token has appreciated alongside the rising price of gold amid increasing global economic uncertainty.
• Tether noted that XAUT hit a record high price of $3,423 last week, driven by the rally in gold prices.
• Gold prices have surged to historic highs in 2025, fueled by a combination of factors.

Tether, issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin, reported holding 7.7 tons, or 246,523 ounces, of gold backing its gold-pegged token XAUT at the end of the first quarter, according to a statement released Monday.

The company said this marks the first official attestation specific to XAUT, which launched in 2020.

Tether, which regularly issues attestations for its USDT dollar stablecoin, said XAUT had a market capitalization of $770 million at the end of the quarter.

“Tether Gold maintains its position as the highest market-cap, most secure, and compliant tokenized gold product in the market,” the company said.

XAUT’s performance in Q1

Tether’s XAUT token, though far less popular than USDT, has appreciated alongside the rising price of gold amid increasing global economic uncertainty.

Volatility has surged in recent weeks, largely due to President Donald Trump’s tariff policies.

Gold, traditionally viewed as a stable store of value, has gained about 8% over the past 30 days. Bitcoin, meanwhile, has climbed over 14% in the same period.

Tether noted that XAUT hit a record high price of $3,423 last week, driven by the rally in gold prices.

The company, in a press release, stated:

The growth of Tether Gold during Q1 was driven by escalating global economic uncertainty, heightened geopolitical tensions, and a rising demand for inflation-resistant stores of value.

Each XAUT token is backed 1:1 by one troy ounce of physical gold, stored in dedicated vaults within facilities in Switzerland, the company said.

Gold’s performance over the past two years

Gold has staged a major rally over the past two years, driven largely by sustained central bank accumulation, particularly among BRICS nations aiming to reduce dependence on the US dollar.

According to the World Gold Council’s Gold Demand Trends: Full Year 2024 report, global gold reserves stood at 37,755 metric tons at the end of 2024.

Central banks added a net 1,044.6 metric tons to their holdings over the year, with 332.9 metric tons purchased in the fourth quarter alone.

This consistent accumulation underscores gold’s strategic role as a store of value, especially for emerging and developing economies seeking to bolster financial resilience.

Gold prices have surged to historic highs in 2025, fueled by a combination of central bank buying, lingering inflation fears, and mounting geopolitical tensions.

The precious metal briefly touched $3,500 per ounce last week, delivering a remarkable year-to-date gain of 32%, before retreating slightly to reflect a 26% gain as of today.

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• NEXO token’s price jumped nearly 9% on Monday, April 28, 2025.
• Gains came amid news that Nexo is relaunching in the United States market.
• The crypto lender exited in 2022.

Nexo’s native token, NEXO, has seen a notable price surge following the company’s announcement of its return to the United States market.

According to CoinMarketCap, NEXO rose to highs of $1.31 on Monday, gaining more than 9% as the market reacted to the news.

The token was trading near $1.24 at the time of writing, indicating some profit-taking after the surge.

Nexo announces US comeback

Nexo’s market capitalization stood at $777 million, ranking among the top 100 cryptocurrencies by market cap.

Its 24-hour trading volume of $26 million was up 150%, a scenario that underscores market activity amid the surge in investor confidence.

In its official announcement, Nexo highlighted its commitment to driving digital asset adoption.

“America is back — and so is Nexo,” said Nexo co-founder Antoni Trenchev.

“Thanks to the vision and leadership of President Donald J. Trump, his administration, and his family, the United States is once again a place where innovation is championed, not stifled. A place where pioneers are celebrated. Nexo is returning to America — stronger, smarter, and determined to win,” he added.

Why does this matter?

The crypto lender’s re-entry comes after a strategic exit in 2022, driven by a renewed sense of optimism and a more favorable regulatory environment.

Nexo is coming back to the USA, where the growing importance of digital assets nurtures bold innovation and leadership.

Proud to be part of the momentum as we deliver our pioneering suite of products to U.S. clients.

Full story below.https://t.co/wQUFjKRzUl

— Nexo (@Nexo) April 28, 2025

In returning to the US, the crypto lender joins other firms, including crypto exchange OKX, in making a comeback as industry players eye the country’s potential to become the crypto capital of the world.

Nexo’s return to the US market will mark a significant milestone for the digital asset platform.

With this milestone, the company plans to roll out a comprehensive suite of services tailored for both retail and institutional clients.

These include high-yield crypto savings accounts, offering up to 14% annual interest with daily payouts, and asset-backed credit lines that allow users to borrow against their crypto holdings without selling them.

Nexo also plans to provide advanced trading tools and institutional-grade liquidity solutions, including the pioneering Nexo Card, a crypto-backed debit/credit card.

The platform’s reentry is supported by its robust infrastructure, global licensing, and stringent security measures, such as storage with BitGo and a $100 million insurance policy.

Nexo’s focus on compliance and client-centric innovation positions it to meet the growing demand for crypto financial services in the United States.

NEXO’s price reached an all-time high of $4.63 in November 2021 before plummeting amid the crypto bear market of 2022.

The company’s woes in the US amid broader market turbulence added to the downtrend.

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