PEPE surges 4% as market sentiment improves, eyes Key resistance breakout

Key takeaways

  • Pepe extends gains on Wednesday, stretching its rally from the 50-day EMA.
  • Derivatives data show heightened retail activity as risk-on sentiment returns to the market.

Pepe (PEPE) is experiencing a steady rally on Wednesday, trading in the green for the third consecutive day. The frog-themed meme coin is gaining traction as broader market sentiment improves, lifting retail demand for meme coins.

Market sentiment boosts meme coin demand

The broader market’s upside, despite ongoing geopolitical tensions surrounding the US-Iran blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and faltering peace talks, is boosting retail interest in meme coins. 

According to CoinMarketCap, the Fear and Greed Index is at 62 on Wednesday, showing a consistent rise in risk appetite since the US-Iran ceasefire announcement.

On the derivatives side, the PEPE futures Open Interest (OI) stands at $213.25 million, with a 7% increase in the last 24 hours. 

This surge in futures positions indicates growing participation from traders, aligning with the recovery in the spot price—further supporting a bullish outlook for PEPE.

Pepe tests breakout of key resistance level

The PEPE/USD 4-hour chart is bullish and efficient as Pepe’s short-term recovery remains intact, with a three-day rebound from the 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $0.00000368.

However, PEPE is still trading below the 100-day and 200-day EMAs, which could cap the ongoing rally.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) at 60 is edging higher from the midline, indicating mild positive momentum. Meanwhile, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) remains above its signal line, keeping the histogram bars positive.

At press time, PEPE is trading at $0.00000393. If the rally should continue, PEPE must break above its descending trendline near $0.00000400, close to the 100-day EMA at $0.00000404. 

PEPE/USD 4H Chart

A breakout above this level could pave the way for a rally toward the 200-day EMA around the $0.00000500 psychological resistance. 

On the downside, the 50-day EMA at $0.00000368 provides immediate dynamic support, with further downside protection at the February 6 low of $0.00000311.

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Bitcoin surges above $78k amid ceasefire extension and liquidity boost

Key takeaways

  • Bitcoin price rallies higher, trading above $78,000 on Wednesday after surging nearly 6% so far this week.
  • US-listed spot ETF recorded a mild inflow of $11.84 million on Tuesday amid uncertainty over US-Iran peace talks.

Bitcoin (BTC) extended its gains on Wednesday, trading above $78,000 after a significant 6% surge this week. BTC showed relatively muted institutional demand on Tuesday, with Bitcoin spot Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) adding $11 million in inflows.

Bitcoin’s price was buoyed by both geopolitical developments and the US Treasury’s buyback plan, which could inject additional liquidity into markets and further support Bitcoin’s price momentum.

Ceasefire extension pushes BTC’s price higher

Bitcoin’s positive momentum was fueled by the extension of the two-week ceasefire announced by US President Donald Trump late Tuesday. The ceasefire, which was set to expire on April 22, was extended upon Pakistan’s request until Washington receives a unified proposal from Tehran. 

While Trump emphasized that the US blockade of Iranian seaports would remain in place, the ceasefire extension triggered a broad risk rally, driving Bitcoin to its highest price since February 3, reaching $78,452.

Market liquidity is expected to receive a significant boost this week, as the US Treasury is poised to buy back $15 billion of its own debt—matching the largest buyback in history. This move could provide fresh liquidity to the markets, creating favorable conditions for Bitcoin. As a liquidity-driven asset, Bitcoin could benefit from the influx of excess capital, which often flows into risk assets and alternative stores of value.

However, Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded a modest inflow of $11.84 million on Tuesday, down from $238.37 million the day before.
This cautious approach reflects investor uncertainty surrounding the ongoing US-Iran peace talks. However, if ETF inflows continue to increase, Bitcoin could see further upside potential.

Bitcoin price outlook: Bullish bias remains

The BTC/USD 4-hour chart remains bullish in the near term as Bitcoin is trading above both the 50-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) at $72,345 and $75,368, respectively.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) and Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) remain constructive, suggesting that buyers are in control.

Resistance levels lie at the 50% Fibonacci retracement near $78,962, followed by the psychological $80,000 level and the 200-day EMA at $82,769. 

BTC/USD 4H Chart

On the downside, initial support is expected around the prior channel top at $75,680, with further protection from the 100-day EMA at $75,368 and the 38.2% Fibonacci level at $74,487. The 50-day EMA at $72,345 and the lower channel boundary near $62,950 provide deeper support.

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Arbitrum freezes 30K ETH in KelpDAO hack as attacker routes funds to Bitcoin

  • Arbitrum froze 30,766 ETH before it could be bridged out.
  • Attacker moved 75,701 ETH and began routing funds to Bitcoin.
  • Over $176 million is being laundered through multiple parallel flows.

Arbitrum has frozen a significant portion of funds linked to the KelpDAO exploit, even as the attacker moves to push the remaining assets beyond reach.

The Arbitrum Security Council confirmed it froze 30,766 ETH, valued at over $70 million at the time of action.

The funds were tied to an address associated with the KelpDAO attacker and were secured before they could be bridged out of the network.

The intervention came after coordination with law enforcement, suggesting authorities may already have leads on the exploiter’s identity.

A race against time

Blockchain investigators, including PeckShield, had flagged that the attacker was already attempting to move the funds off Arbitrum using a native bridge.

Had that transfer been completed, the ETH would likely have joined a much larger pool of stolen assets already in circulation across other chains.

By intervening when it did, Arbitrum prevented roughly 29% of the stolen funds from entering the laundering pipeline. However, the remaining assets were not as fortunate.

The KelpDAO exploit itself is estimated at around $290 million, making it one of the largest decentralized finance breaches of 2026.

The attacker moved quickly after the initial exploit, splitting funds across multiple wallets and chains in an effort to reduce traceability.

Laundering shifts to Bitcoin

Following the freeze, the attacker accelerated efforts to move the remaining funds.

Data shows that approximately 75,701 ETH, worth about $175 million, was transferred to Ethereum mainnet.

From there, the funds began moving into Bitcoin through decentralized protocols like THORChain, Chainflip, and Umbra Cash, which allow direct cross-chain swaps without relying on centralized exchanges.

PeckShield analysts observed that the attacker left only about 0.7 ETH in some wallets, just enough to cover transaction fees, while draining the rest into new routes.

This pattern reflects a high level of operational discipline and planning.

Another $176 million portion of the stolen funds has also been actively moved in parallel transactions.

Rather than laundering everything in a single flow, the attacker appears to be running multiple streams at once.

This staggered approach reduces the risk of a single point of failure and makes recovery efforts more difficult.

Is the infamous North Korea’s Lazarus Group linked to the KelpDAO exploit?

The scale and coordination of the operation have led investigators to link the exploit to North Korea’s Lazarus Group, specifically a subgroup known as TraderTraitor.

This attribution is based on transaction patterns and laundering techniques that match previous operations tied to the group.

Lazarus has a long history of targeting crypto platforms and using complex cross-chain strategies to obscure stolen funds.

The use of decentralized bridges and rapid asset conversion seen in the KelpDAO case fits that pattern closely.

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Dogecoin shows renewed strength, eyes $0.10

Key takeaways

  • DOGE is up 1% and is now trading at $0.095.
  • The memecoin could rally towards the $0.10 psychological level in the near term.

Dogecoin (DOGE), Shiba Inu (SHIB), and Pepe (PEPE) are all displaying signs of renewed strength on Tuesday, as bullish technical setups emerge across major meme coins. 

DOGE and SHIB are testing key resistance zones, with a close above these levels potentially signaling further upside. Meanwhile, PEPE continues its recovery, finding support near the crucial 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), setting the stage for a potential rally continuation.

Derivatives data support a bullish outlook for Dogecoin

Dogecoin is up 1% in the last 24 hours and could rally higher in the near term amid a bullish outlook from the broader crypto market.

Bitcoin has reclaimed the $76,000 level, while Ether is now trading above the $2,300 mark once again.

Meanwhile, Dogecoin is looking to embark on a breakout above the $0.10 psychological level if the bullish trend persists.

Dogecoin’s derivatives data suggests that the bulls are currently in control of the market. The futures Open Interest (OI) now reads $1.23 billion, up from the $986 million recorded on Monday. 

The increase in OI suggests that retail traders are opening more positions in anticipation of a bullish move by Dogecoin. 

Dogecoin could extend gains with a close above the 50-Day EMA

Similar to other leading cryptocurrencies, the DOGE/USD 4-hour chart remains bearish and efficient. It has surpassed the 50-day EMA at $0.95 following its 2.4% rally on Monday. 

DOgecoin been consolidating beneath this resistance for over a month and briefly broke above it last week, but struggled to maintain support.

If DOGE closes its daily candle above the $0.095 level and holds, the altcoin could extend its rally toward the 100-day EMA at $0.105. 

DOGE/USD 4H Chart

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the daily chart is at 52, above the neutral level of 50, signaling weakening bearish momentum. Furthermore, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator shows green histogram bars, reinforcing the positive outlook.

On the downside, if DOGE fails to hold above the 50-day EMA, it could face a potential correction, bringing the price back toward the February 6 low of $0.080.

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XLM surges above key resistance level, bullish momentum builds

Key takeaways

  • Stellar is up 7% in the last 24 hours, making it the best performer among the top 20 cryptocurrencies by market cap.
  • On-chain data, derivatives metrics, and momentum indicators collectively support a positive outlook

Stellar (XLM) is showing strong performance above critical resistance levels on Tuesday, as XLM found support around its respective resistance the previous day. 

With growing on-chain activity, positive derivatives data, and bullish momentum indicators, XLM is poised for potential upside.

Bullish sentiment backed by on-chain and derivatives data

CryptoQuant’s latest summary suggests a neutral to bullish outlook for XLM, highlighting large whale orders and favorable conditions in spot markets.

XLM is showing large whale orders with mostly neutral market metrics, reinforcing a bullish outlook.

On the derivatives front, XLM is displaying positive funding rates. XLM’s OI-Weighted Funding Rate flipped positive on Monday, reaching 0.0032% on Tuesday. This positive rate suggests a bullish market sentiment, with longs paying shorts.

XLM is showing promising signs of continued strength as it maintains momentum toward a potential breakout.

XLM technical outlook: Rebounds from key support

The XLM/USD 4-hour chart is bearish and efficient as Stellar is trading at $0.1815 at press time. The coin found support around the 50-day EMA at $0.165 the previous day. 

XLM is holding a constructive near-term bias as it stabilizes above the 50-day EMA and the broken descending trendline that now offers secondary support near $0.153. 

The current momentum indicators suggest that XLM could rally higher in the near term. The RSI on the 4-hour chart reads 71, just below the overbought territory. The MACD line is tracking above zero, suggesting buyers retain control while price stays capped above the 100-day EMA at $0.179.

If the rally persists, immediate resistance would be found at the 4-hour TLQ of $0.194, followed by a more substantive barrier at the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement of the broader downswing at $0.201.

A daily candle close above these levels would expose the 200-day EMA at $0.215, which defines a key medium-term hurdle.

XLM/USD 4H Chart

On the downside, initial support is seen at the 100-day EMA of $0.179, with another major demand zone at the day’s open near $0.173. 

An extended bearish performance would expose the 50-day EMA at $0.165, with deeper protection at the former descending resistance line-turned-support around $0.153.

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