Ethereum stalls, Solana rises as Bitcoin Pepe gains steam

Fear remains the key emotion in the cryptocurrency space; an aspect that has been weighing on most majors and meme coins. For instance, coupled with its internal challenges, the risk-off mood has Ethereum price still trading below the short and medium-term MAs. However, steady investor confidence has benefited Bitcoin and Solana.

At the same time, savvy investors are looking for opportunities in new crypto projects. As the first Bitcoin meme ICO, Bitcoin Pepe is one of the new entrants that have captured investors’ attention. It seeks to bring the meme culture home to the stable Bitcoin network; assuring meme lovers of a reliable platform, lower fees, and Solana-style transaction speed. 

Ethereum price stalls as ETH ETFs, OI show reduced investor confidence

Ethereum’s underwhelming performance remains a concern for many crypto enthusiasts. The leading altcoin tends to mirror Bitcoin’s price movements. However, as the leading cryptocurrency strives for recovery, Ethereum price continues to trade below the short and medium-term MAs of 25 and 50 days. 

What’s more, a decline in its Open Interest (OI) and spot Ethereum ETFs’ net inflows point to low investor interest. This is especially since high institutional demand has been a major part of Ether’s appeal in the past. 

Data released by SoSoValue showed zero net inflows in Thursday’s session. Indeed, the top 9 spot ETH ETFs all recorded zero flows. Since the beginning of April, there has been a string of outflows with only one session of inflows and another of zero flows. 

Besides, at the current $18.26 billion, its OI is significantly below its peak of $32.3 billion in late January. As a performance metric, OI tracks an asset’s options and futures contracts to highlight investor participation. 

As seen on its daily price chart, Ethereum price will likely remain range-bound between the support zone of $1,515 and the crucial support-turn-resistance zone of $1,750. Even with further rebounding, the altcoin will likely remain below $1,850 in the short term.

Ethereum price
Ethereum price

Increased interest in Bitcoin Pepe fuels success in the presale’s first 10 weeks 

As the world’s first Bitcoin meme ICO, Bitcoin Pepe has created the much-awaited bridge between the world of meme coins and the stable Bitcoin network. Indeed, it is this one-of-a-kind merge that has fueled the project’s virality even before hitting the public shelves. 

In the first 10 weeks of its presale, the project has raised over $6.8 million. Besides, 8 out of the total 30 stages have been sold out; securing 40.5% in gains for the early adopters. 

By the end of the presale in Q2, long-term holders will have up to 311.4% in cumulative gains. Furthermore, through its mission of “building Solana on Bitcoin”, the project is expected to deliver more gains after its launch. Hurry up and buy Bitcoin Pepe here.

Solana price sustains recovery amid heightened investor confidence

Solana price
Solana price

Solana has grown to be a leading blockchain, playing a significant role in NFT and DeFi ecosystems. Despite the persistent macroeconomic uncertainties, it is one of the top-performing majors as investors remain confident in its potential. 

A look at its daily chart shows the altcoin trading above the 25 and 50-day EMAs as it records steady recovery. In the immediate term, the range between $123.82 and the current resistance zone of $141.88 is worth watching. With the entry of more buyers, the bulls may have an opportunity to break the resistance to the next target at $150.25.

 

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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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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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SEC delays call on Grayscale’s Ethereum ETF staking proposal

  • The SEC said it would defer its decision on the Grayscale ETFs until June 1.
  • A final ruling deadline is set for late October.
  • Ether’s market performance has lagged relative to peers in the current bull market.

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has postponed its decision on whether to permit Ether staking within two of Grayscale’s Ethereum funds, further drawing out a process closely watched by crypto market participants and asset managers.

In a notice dated April 14, the SEC said it would defer its decision on the Grayscale Ethereum Trust ETF and the Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust ETF until June 1.

A final ruling deadline is set for late October. The delay comes two months after the New York Stock Exchange filed a proposed rule change on Grayscale’s behalf.

It would allow Ether ETF investors to stake their holdings, locking up cryptocurrency to support the network’s operations in exchange for yield.

Staking yields have become an important feature for potential Ether ETF investors.

Coinbase currently offers an estimated 2.4% annual yield on staked Ether, while rates on Kraken range between 2% and 7%.

Ether ETFs have seen a comparatively modest uptake since their 2024 debut, with cumulative net inflows of $2.28 billion according to Sosovalue — a sharp contrast to Bitcoin ETFs, which have attracted over $35.4 billion in inflows.

The race for Ethereum staking

Grayscale is not alone in its pursuit. BlackRock’s 21Shares iShares Ethereum Trust also filed for staking permissions in February and awaits SEC approval.

The delay underscores persistent regulatory caution surrounding staking services in publicly traded products, even as other facets of crypto ETFs advance.

On April 9, the SEC approved options trading for multiple spot Ether ETFs, including those from BlackRock, Bitwise, and Grayscale.

The move allows these funds to offer derivatives exposure.

This feature broadens their appeal to institutional players but stops short of addressing the core issue of yield generation through staking.

Ether underperformance 

Ether’s market performance has lagged relative to peers in the current bull market.

As of April 14, the token remains below $2,000, well off its 52-week high of $4,112 and still shy of its November 2021 all-time high of $4,866.

This underperformance stands in contrast to other digital assets like XRP and Solana, both of which have posted stronger gains in the latest rally.

The muted demand for Ether ETFs compared to their Bitcoin counterparts, alongside Ether’s relatively weak price action, reflects investor hesitancy amid regulatory ambiguity and market volatility.

The SEC’s ongoing delays around staking approvals only reinforce that uncertainty for now.

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Why Ethereum price may be on its way up after a disappointing quarter

  • Ethereum (ETH) price is showing recovery after falling to a low of $1,415.
  • Bullish patterns and DEX strength signal a potential ETH price rebound.
  • The upcoming Pectra update may drive ETH to $2,140.

Ethereum (ETH), the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, has endured a tough quarter, with its price recently dipping to $1,415, reflecting a steep 61% drop from its December peak.

This significant decline has cast Ethereum as a notable underperformer in the crypto market, sparking unease among investors and analysts.

However, after hitting a low of $1,415, the price has shown signs of recovery, climbing to around $1,623.42, hinting at a potential shift in momentum.

What caused the ETH price to drop this low?

The downturn in Ethereum’s price stems partly from internal problems, with David Hoffman, co-founder of Bankless, calling out the community’s leadership for alienating users and builders.

Hoffman points to hostile attitudes, like shaming the staking platform Lido Finance and criticizing certain traders, which may have shaken confidence in the ecosystem.

Ethereum Co-founder Vitalik Buterin, in an April 12 post on Warpcast, also emphasized the need for a strong social philosophy in Ethereum’s application layer to guide developers in building decentralized apps that align with its core values, citing projects like Railgun and Farcaster as positive examples.

Ethereum Co-founder Vitalik Buterin emphasizing the need for a strong social philosophy in Ethereum’s application layer

Beyond internal strife, Ethereum’s Layer 1 infrastructure has struggled to keep pace with newer blockchains, adding pressure to its valuation.

External forces, such as market volatility triggered by President Trump’s tariff announcements, have also fueled sell-offs across cryptocurrencies, dragging Ethereum down further.

Technical analysis signals a price rebound for Ethereum (ETH)

Despite the rocky 2025 start, several factors suggest that Ethereum could be gearing up for a rebound, offering hope to those watching its trajectory.

Technical analysis, however, paints a more optimistic picture, as chart patterns signal a possible reversal in Ethereum’s fortunes.

A falling wedge pattern has emerged on both daily and weekly charts, nearing a confluence level that often precedes a bullish breakout.

A falling wedge pattern has formed on the D1 Ethereum chart
Ethereum price chart by TradingView

Should this pattern play out, Ethereum (ETH) could climb to $2,140, a 35% jump from its current price.

An inverse head-and-shoulders pattern, another bullish indicator, is also taking shape on the one-day chart, strengthening the case for an upward move in the near term.

The RSI indicator also recently rebounded from the oversold region, signaling that the token could be on a bullish rebound, which could last for a while.

The Market Value to Realized Value (MVRV) Z-score dipped to -0.832 before rebounding to around 0.98 at press time, indicating Ethereum is trading well below its historical average.

This metric implies that the cryptocurrency may be a bargain for investors, potentially sparking buying interest that could lift its price.

Historically, such undervaluation has often preceded periods of price appreciation, adding weight to the bullish outlook.

Ethereum-based DEXs outpacing rivals

Ethereum’s decentralized exchange (DEX) network continues to demonstrate resilience, providing another reason for optimism.

Despite competition from blockchains like Solana and Arbitrum, Ethereum’s DEXs processed over $17 billion in volume in the past week, outpacing rivals, according to data from DefiLlama.

This sustained activity highlights Ethereum’s ability to retain users and liquidity, even with higher fees, reinforcing its foundational strength.

Such robust performance suggests the network remains a cornerstone of the decentralized finance space, capable of weathering competitive pressures.

Valuation metrics further bolster the argument that Ethereum is primed for a recovery, as its current price appears undervalued.

The upcoming Ethereum Pectra update

Looking forward, the Pectra update, slated for May 7, 2025, promises to enhance Ethereum’s network, potentially reversing some of its recent setbacks.

This upgrade aims to tackle Layer 1 challenges, improving scalability and efficiency, which could restore faith among investors and developers.

A successful rollout might serve as a catalyst, driving Ethereum’s price higher as the market anticipates a more competitive blockchain.

Scheduled improvements like these signal Ethereum’s commitment to evolving, a factor that could reignite enthusiasm.

The combination of bullish technical patterns, a strong DEX ecosystem, undervaluation, and the promise of the Pectra update builds a solid case for recovery.

Investors would do well to keep an eye on resistance levels and sentiment shifts, yet the evidence points to Ethereum potentially rising from its disappointing quarter.

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