Kategorie: Ethereum News

Ethereum news about the ETH blockchain and its crypto ecosystem.

Veröffentlicht am

Over 30% of new crypto users start with meme coins, says Gemini’s 2025 report

  • 94% of meme coin holders also invest in Bitcoin and Ethereum later.
  • US leads in meme coin adoption, with 31% starting their crypto journey with them.
  • Meme coins now have a combined market cap of $74.4 billion.

Meme coins are no longer just a punchline in the crypto world.

A new study by Gemini suggests these internet-born tokens are now the entry point for over 30% of new cryptocurrency users across key markets like the US, UK, and Australia.

According to the State of Crypto 2025 report, meme coins such as Dogecoin and PEPE are not only attracting first-time investors but also acting as stepping stones into more established digital assets like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH).

This finding highlights a broader shift in investor behaviour and growing convergence between retail trends and institutional access.

Gemini report shows meme coins as crypto onboarding tools

The report draws on data from 7,205 respondents across six countries and reveals that meme coins serve as early training tools for new investors.

In the US, 31% of those who own both meme coins and traditional cryptocurrencies said they bought meme tokens first.

The trend is mirrored across other markets, with 30% in Australia, 28% in the UK, 23% in Singapore, 22% in Italy, and 19% in France following a similar pattern.

This shift in entry behaviour reflects meme coins’ growing role in demystifying wallets, decentralised exchanges, and tokenomics.

Gemini’s data shows that 94% of meme coin holders eventually invest in major cryptocurrencies.

This progression underlines the fact that meme tokens act as gateways rather than endpoints in crypto journeys.

Institutional crypto access rises as meme coins gain ground

The increasing legitimacy of meme coins coincides with a significant institutional push into digital assets.

The Gemini report finds that 39% of US investors now hold crypto through exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

These regulated instruments are bringing new credibility to the space and creating overlap with retail-driven segments like meme coins.

Combined market capitalisation for meme coins currently stands at $74.4 billion, according to CoinGecko.

What started as parody has developed into a meaningful vertical within the broader crypto market.

The synergy between viral meme content and professionalised investment vehicles suggests that crypto adoption is maturing in complexity and scale.

Adding further momentum is the political backdrop in the US. President Donald Trump has voiced support for crypto, even proposing the creation of a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve.

His stance aligns with a wider regulatory shift that includes approvals for spot Bitcoin ETFs.

Together, these factors contribute to a climate that supports both the entertainment value of meme coins and the financial rigour of traditional crypto investments.

Community engagement now drives meme coin valuation

The latest sentiment from industry insiders supports the growing seriousness around meme coin investment.

Justin Sun, founder of Tron and an advisor to Huobi Global, also commented on this trend.

He highlighted that success in meme coins requires more than virality—it demands genuine community engagement.

For Sun, this means looking beyond follower counts to actual participation and interest.

He described meme coin projects as requiring the same level of commitment as major crypto platforms to gain traction and achieve long-term viability.

The post Over 30% of new crypto users start with meme coins, says Gemini’s 2025 report appeared first on CoinJournal.

Veröffentlicht am

Ethereum surges 5% as SharpLink eyes $425m ETH treasury

  • Ethereum price climbed 5% to break to highs of $2,680 and rank among the top gainers on the day.
  • The gains came as SharpLink Gaming announced plans to buy $425 million worth of ETH.
  • SharpLink is adopting ETH as its primary treasury strategy.

Ethereum price rose more than 5% on Tuesday as the top altcoin benefited from an upside spark triggered by SharpLink Gaming’s announcement that it would be buying $425 million worth of ETH as part of its treasury strategy.

The price of ETH, which hovered below $2,530 earlier in the day, rose to above $2,680, with the price surging more than 5% amid market reaction.

ETH price chart by CoinMarketCap

Per CoinMarketCap, the uptick also saw Ethereum’s daily volume spike, reaching $23 billion after surging 81%.

ETH price going up also came as Standard Chartered shared insights suggesting the altcoin will outpace Solana (SOL) in 2025.

Notably, SOL price hovered around $177, largely flat on the day and just 6.8% up in the past week.

Comparatively, Ethereum has gained 8% in the week, not up by much as Bitcoin continued to accumulate around the $110k level.

SharpLink Gaming to buy $425 million of ETH

On Tuesday, as Trump Media announced it was raising $2.5 billion to buy Bitcoin, SharpLink Gaming, a Nasdaq-listed company, dropped its own huge announcement.

The company is looking to raise $425 million to buy Ethereum, with its funding coming from the offer of a private investment in public equity (PIPE) round.

The offer, backed by Ethereum development studio Consensys, seeks to offer 69,100,313 shares of its common stock at the price of $6.15 per share.

Aggregate proceeds of the raise, which will close on May 29, subject to closing conditions, will go into ETH as the company’s primary treasury asset.

“Consensys looks forward to partnering with SharpLink to explore and develop an Ethereum Treasury Strategy and to work with them in their core business as a strategic advisor. This is an exciting time for the Ethereum community, and I am delighted to work with Rob and the team to bring the Ethereum opportunity to public markets,” said Joseph Lubin, founder and chief executive officer of Consensys.

Lubin is also a co-founder of Ethereum. Consensys’ involvement in the deal was as a lead investor.

Meanwhile, top crypto venture capital firms and ecosystem players joined the initiative, with participants including Pantera Capital, ParaFi Capital, Electric Capital, Arrington Capital, and Galaxy Digital.

Others are crypto platform Ondo, VCs White Star Capital, GSR, Hivemind Capital, Hypersphere, and Primitive Ventures.

“This is a significant milestone in SharpLink’s journey and marks an expansion beyond our core business. On closing, we look forward to working with Consensys and welcoming Joseph to the Board,” Rob Phythian, founder and CEO of SharpLink, said in a statement.

Ethereum traded around $2,675 at the time of writing, with the price about 45% off its all-time high of $4,891 reached in November 2021.

The post Ethereum surges 5% as SharpLink eyes $425m ETH treasury appeared first on CoinJournal.

Veröffentlicht am

Solana could lag Ethereum as meme coin activity dips, warns Standard Chartered

  • Solana’s current funding rate sits at -0.0002%, signalling short pressure.
  • Solana DEX volumes fell behind Ethereum earlier this year.
  • Accumulation of SOL suggests long-term investor confidence remains.

Standard Chartered has cautioned that Solana (SOL) could underperform Ethereum (ETH) due to fading meme coin activity, a key driver of Solana’s on-chain volume in recent quarters.

While Solana has proven its technical capabilities, particularly during the recent meme coin trading boom—the bank now sees a risk of underutilisation as seasonal trends shift.

According to the bank’s Head of Digital Assets Research, Geoff Kendrick, Ethereum’s broader adoption and institutional partnerships place it in a stronger position for sustained growth.

Ethereum gains from broader use cases

Solana has often been positioned as a faster and cheaper alternative to Ethereum, with the ability to handle high transaction volumes at low cost.

However, Standard Chartered points out that much of this activity has been driven by short-term trading of meme coins, a sector known for its volatility and limited utility.

With meme coin enthusiasm cooling off in 2025, Kendrick projects a possible usage gap for Solana before other applications, such as decentralised finance platforms, gaming projects, or social media integrations, gain critical mass.

The bank says Ethereum’s advantage lies in its diversified user base, which includes enterprise-level applications, financial products, and long-term smart contract development.

Blockchain analytics also supports this view. Earlier this year, Ethereum overtook Solana in decentralised exchange (DEX) trading volumes after a slump in trading on Raydium (RAY) and Pump.fun, two of Solana’s most active meme coin platforms.

That shift underlined Ethereum’s dominance across multiple sub-sectors of the blockchain space.

Market sentiment reflects short-term Solana risks

Investors appear to be reacting to these signals. In February, traders began trimming exposure to Solana-based assets due to uncertainty over the future of meme coin projects and delays in scaling up major Solana-native protocols.

Standard Chartered says these concerns are now being priced into market forecasts, particularly in terms of revenue from transaction fees and new user onboarding.

One key indicator is Solana’s funding rate. According to blockchain data firm Glassnode, Solana currently has a negative funding rate of -0.0002%, the only such figure among the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalisation, excluding stablecoins.

A negative funding rate means short sellers are paying fees to hold bearish positions, which typically indicates mounting downward pressure on price.

However, a negative funding rate can sometimes be a contrarian indicator. Traders may be expecting a short squeeze, where sudden upward price moves force shorts to buy back their positions, potentially creating a sharp rally.

BeInCrypto reports that the accumulation of SOL by institutional players in May suggests that long-term investors may still see value in Solana, even if near-term performance lags Ethereum.

Analysts say Ethereum remains the dominant layer-1

While Solana has demonstrated rapid growth and robust technical infrastructure, analysts from IntoTheBlock believe the network still has significant ground to cover before challenging Ethereum’s dominance.

The research group said that although Solana may continue to grow and target niche applications, surpassing Ethereum remains a long-term goal rather than an imminent milestone.

Ethereum’s integration with traditional finance, widespread developer support, and upgrades like the shift to proof-of-stake have helped entrench its position as the go-to blockchain for decentralised applications.

Until Solana’s next wave of real-world use cases gains momentum, Standard Chartered believes the network’s price and on-chain activity may continue to trail Ethereum.

As the market matures, both blockchains may find space for growth—but in the short term, Ethereum’s ecosystem breadth and investor confidence give it the edge, according to the bank’s latest analysis.

The post Solana could lag Ethereum as meme coin activity dips, warns Standard Chartered appeared first on CoinJournal.

Veröffentlicht am

Last chance to buy Bitcoin Pepe: 4 days left before exchange debut

  • Token price is now $0.0377, with each stage pushing the price 5% higher.
  • It’s the first meme coin ICO ever built on Bitcoin’s Layer 2.
  • PEP-20 token standard allows meme coin trading directly on BTC.

Bitcoin Pepe is rapidly reshaping the meme coin landscape with its revolutionary layer 2 built on the Bitcoin network.

Having raised $11,609,082 during its ongoing presale, this bold new project combines Solana-style speed with Bitcoin’s unmatched security.

With the current token price at $0.0377, the countdown is on before the presale ends and the token lists on major centralised exchanges on 31 May.

As the world’s first Bitcoin meme ICO, Bitcoin Pepe is tapping into the cultural momentum of meme coins while unlocking over $2 trillion in potential capital on the Bitcoin blockchain.

Meme coin mania goes Bitcoin

The rise of Bitcoin Pepe comes at a moment when meme coin trading is surging across all chains. But unlike others, Bitcoin Pepe is not just another token—it’s a fully-fledged infrastructure play, aiming to build a Solana-style meme economy directly on Bitcoin.

Its custom PEP-20 token standard enables meme tokens to be created natively on Bitcoin’s Layer 2, a first for the crypto industry.

This isn’t just about trading dog coins—it’s about transforming Bitcoin from a passive asset into a dynamic ecosystem for memes, NFTs, dApps, and DeFi. While Ethereum and Solana have seen meme coin booms, Bitcoin has lacked the infrastructure—until now.

Bitcoin Pepe is that missing link, delivering fast, low-fee transactions within Bitcoin’s secure environment, ideal for the next generation of meme traders.

In a recent AMA with Binance Smart Chain Daily, the Bitcoin Pepe team outlined the roadmap, staking options, and exchange plans, while engaging in a live giveaway to reward its community.

$2 trillion meme market on BTC

Bitcoin Pepe’s Layer 2 doesn’t just run on hype—it’s designed to unlock the enormous untapped value sitting idle in Bitcoin. With nearly $2 trillion in BTC capital circulating but unused in the meme coin space, this project offers a bridge to bring it into action.

The PEP-20 standard allows for easy token creation and trading, inviting builders and communities to migrate from fragmented chains to one unified Bitcoin meme network.

The project has already inked key partnerships with platforms like Super Meme, Catamoto, Plena Finance, and GETE, expanding its ecosystem beyond speculation into gaming, DeFi, and content creation.

These alliances amplify the vision: Bitcoin Pepe isn’t just a meme coin, but the hub for the entire meme economy on BTC.

Final presale window closing fast

The presale, now in Stage 27, is fast approaching its conclusion. With each stage bringing a 5% price increase, early buyers have already seen more than 300% paper gains compared to Stage 1.

The current price of $0.0377 still offers strong upside before the May 31 exchange launch—but the remaining token allocation is shrinking fast.

Bitcoin Pepe’s listing is expected to trigger significant demand. With multiple exchanges reportedly involved and millions already raised, investors are looking at the next leg of the meme coin cycle.

For those who missed Solana at $0.22 during its ICO, Bitcoin Pepe offers a comparable opportunity—if it follows a similar trajectory, the upside could be substantial.

The post Last chance to buy Bitcoin Pepe: 4 days left before exchange debut appeared first on CoinJournal.

Veröffentlicht am

Crypto market braces for impact amid Trump’s tense global tariff negotiations

  • Cryptocurrencies have seen a sudden dip as Trump proposes a 50% tariff on EU goods.
  • Bitcoin (BTC) has dropped by 4% while Ethereum (ETH) has dropped by over 3%.
  • As the market braces for tariffs’ impact, the recently held TRUMP memecoin gala dinner has stirred controversy and market volatility.

The cryptocurrency market, known for its volatility, is now facing fresh uncertainty as US President Donald Trump intensifies global tariff negotiations, sending shockwaves through both traditional and digital financial systems.

Bitcoin (BTC), which recently hit an all-time high of $111,814, has become increasingly sensitive to geopolitical developments, with its price movements closely tracking Trump’s latest trade threats.

Notably, BTC has today experienced a sharp 4% decline, with Ethereum following closely with a 3.2% drop following Trump’s Truth Social post declaring that negotiations with the European Union were “going nowhere,” a statement that immediately rattled markets.

As panic spread, over $300 million in leveraged positions were liquidated, showcasing how digital assets, often viewed as uncorrelated, are becoming more reactive to global policy decisions.

90-day tariff pause almost coming to an end

As the 90-day tariff pause nears its expiry, Trump has proposed a 50% tariff on EU imports, alongside a 25% tariff specifically targeting iPhones manufactured abroad, raising alarms about broader economic implications.

Trump proposes 50% tarrof on EU imports

Investors now fear that these tariffs could not only escalate trade tensions but also lead to retaliatory actions from the EU, further complicating global market conditions.

Even though the EU has so far refrained from escalating the situation, the clock is ticking, with a 90-day tariff pause set to expire in July, placing immense pressure on ongoing negotiations.

Only the United Kingdom has finalised a trade agreement so far, and while India is expected to sign within days, other major players remain in a tense waiting game.

Market downturn amid fears of resumption of tariffs

With July just a month away, market watchers like Crypto Caesar now see Bitcoin’s $110,000 level as a key resistance point, with traders emphasising the need for BTC to hold above $109,000 to preserve the current bullish structure.

Ethereum (ETH) has not been spared from the volatility, holding a support level at $2,500 but struggling to breach the persistent resistance at $2,700, even as daily losses extend to 4%.

Notably, the ETHBTC pair continues to drift downward, suggesting weakening momentum in altcoins unless the broader market stabilises or Ethereum regains relative strength.

Pi Coin, another asset under scrutiny, showed signs of upward movement earlier this month but failed to maintain gains above $1.23 due to aggressive short-term selling and long-term investor scepticism.

US tech stocks have mirrored the downturn in crypto, with Apple shares falling amid fears that higher costs could be passed on to consumers, hurting demand and corporate profits alike.

Trump’s involvement in crypto stirs controversy

Amid all this, Trump’s personal involvement in crypto has added an unexpected layer of controversy, culminating in a high-profile gala for top holders of the TRUMP memecoin.

The event, attended by major figures like TRON founder Justin Sun, drew widespread criticism and accusations of corruption, especially as federal lawmakers call for investigations into presidential conflicts of interest in cryptocurrency ventures.

Following the gala, the TRUMP token spiked to $16 before dropping to $13.81, reflecting how quickly sentiment can shift amid political spectacle and regulatory uncertainty.

While Trump’s supporters argue that his aggressive trade stance is a strategic play to bring manufacturing back to the US, economists warn of rising consumer prices and slower economic growth.

Crypto traders, already bracing for volatility, now find themselves navigating a complex intersection of policy, politics, and profit, where even a single headline can trigger billions in liquidations.

As July approaches and the tariff deadline looms, the crypto market remains on edge, anticipating either a breakthrough in trade talks or another wave of volatility that could reshape investor confidence once again.

The post Crypto market braces for impact amid Trump’s tense global tariff negotiations appeared first on CoinJournal.