cointelegraph.com

Stablecoins are powering deobanks

Opinion by: Maksym Sakharov, co-founder and group CEO of WeFi 

The current markets are experiencing tailwinds as a result of the tariffs imposed by the US administration and retaliatory measures from trading partners. So far, however, market proponents say that Trump’s tariffs are primarily a negotiation strategy, and their effect on businesses and consumers will remain manageable.

Market uncertainty drives institutional interest 

Adding to the uncertainty are the inflationary pressures that could challenge the US Federal Reserve’s rate-cutting outlook. Besides that, an impending fiscal debate in Washington over the federal budget is also causing jitters in the market. 

Resolving the debt ceiling remains a pressing issue, as the Treasury currently relies upon “extraordinary measures” to meet US financial obligations. The exact timeline for when these measures will be exhausted is unclear, but analysts anticipate they may run out after the first quarter. 

While the administration has proposed eliminating the debt ceiling, this could face resistance from fiscal conservatives in Congress. According to a recent report, one sector experiencing steady growth is stablecoins despite this macroeconomic uncertainty. Much of the volume is driven by flows in Tether’s USDt (USDT) and USDC (USDC). 

Dollar-pegged stablecoins dominate the market 

Stablecoins started as an experiment — a programmable digital currency that would make it easier for users to enter the crypto market and trade different digital assets. A decade later, they are a critical part of the broader digital financial infrastructure.

The stablecoin market cap currently stands at a record $226 billion and continues to expand. Demand in emerging markets drives this growth. A recent ARK Invest report states that dollar-pegged stablecoins dominate the market. They account for over 98% of the stablecoin supply, with gold- and euro-backed stablecoins only sharing a small portion of the market.

In addition to this, Tether’s USDt accounts for over 60% of the total market. ARK’s research suggests that the market will expand and include Asian currency-backed stablecoins.

Recent: US will use stablecoins to ensure dollar hegemony — Scott Bessent

Besides that, digital assets are going through a shift marked by “stablecoinization” and “dollarization.” Asian nations like China and Japan have offloaded record amounts of US Treasurys. Saudi Arabia has ended its 45-year petrodollar agreement, and BRICS nations are increasingly bypassing the SWIFT network to reduce reliance on the US dollar. 

Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) were traditionally the primary entry points into the digital asset ecosystem. Stablecoins have, however, taken the lead over the past two years, now representing 35%–50% of onchain transaction volumes.

Despite global regulatory headwinds, emerging markets have been adopting stablecoins. In Brazil, 90% of crypto transactions are undertaken via stablecoins, primarily used for international purchases.

A Visa report ranks Nigeria, India, Indonesia, Turkey and Brazil as the most active stablecoin markets, and Argentina ranks second in stablecoin holdings. Additionally, six out of every 10 purchases in the country were made using stablecoins pegged to the dollar, with near parity between USDC and USDT.

This shift toward stablecoins in Argentina is driven by high inflation and the need to protect against the devaluation of the Argentine peso. People in countries with unstable currencies turn to stablecoins, like USDT, to safeguard their wealth. 

Deobanks and their role in high-risk areas

Stablecoins have paved the way for a new generation of financial services. For example, stablecoins have provided the foundation for decentralized onchain banks, or deobanks, that embrace stablecoins as their native currency.

Deobanks make digital banking and financial services accessible to everyone, even people who do not meet strict account opening criteria. They also attract people who do not trust traditional institutions with their money. Users keep complete control of their funds through non-custodial accounts and enjoy real-time transaction transparency.

Deobanks’ decentralized nature replaces intermediaries with smart contracts that connect personal wallets directly to digital bank accounts. This approach cuts costs and speeds up transactions. Onchain data transparently preserves every transaction detail. The result is a financial model that is both efficient and inclusive. 

What lies ahead

Analysts predict the stablecoin market cap will surpass $400 billion in 2025. Deobanks bring a new edge to this growth, using stablecoins to drive economic growth and expand digital payment networks. They open fresh avenues for cross-border commerce and new opportunities for financial inclusion. In the next few years, the combined rise of stablecoins and next-generation onchain banks will transform how money moves across borders and transactions are processed. The blockchain integration at the back end and stablecoin foundation will promote lower fees, faster payments and broader access to financial services. The trend represents a shift away from outdated systems and signals a more resilient financial ecosystem.

Opinion by: Maksym Sakharov, co-founder and group CEO of WeFi .

This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.

Read more at cointelegraph.com

Trump’s trade war pressures crypto market as April 2 tariffs loom

Concerns over a global trade war continue to pressure traditional and cryptocurrency markets as investors brace for a potential tariff announcement from US President Donald Trump on April 2 — a move that could set the tone for Bitcoin’s price trajectory throughout the month.

Trump first announced import tariffs on Chinese goods on Jan. 20, the day of his inauguration as president.

Global tariff fears have led to heightened inflation concerns, limiting appetite for risk assets among investors. Bitcoin (BTC) has fallen 18%, and the S&P 500 (SPX) index has fallen more than 7% in the two months following the initial tariff announcement, according to TradingView data, TradingView data shows.

“Going forward, April 2 is drawing increased attention as a potential flashpoint for fresh US tariff announcements,” Stella Zlatareva, dispatch editor at digital asset investment platform Nexo, told Cointelegraph.

Trump’s trade war pressures crypto market as April 2 tariffs loom

S&P 500, BTC/USD, 1-day chart. Source: TradingView 

Investor sentiment took another hit on March 29 after Trump pressed his senior advisers to take a more aggressive stance on import tariffs, which may be seen as a potential escalation of the trade war, the Washington Post reported, citing four unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

The April 2 announcement is expected to detail reciprocal trade tariffs targeting top US trading partners. The measures aim to reduce the country’s estimated $1.2 trillion goods trade deficit and boost domestic manufacturing.

Related: Bitcoin ‘more likely’ to hit $110K before $76.5K — Arthur Hayes

Bitcoin ETFs, whales continue accumulating

Despite mounting uncertainty, large Bitcoin holders — known as “whales,” with between 1,000 BTC and 10,000 BTC — have continued to accumulate.

Addresses in this category have remained steady since the beginning of 2025, from 1,956 addresses on Jan. 1 to over 1,990 addresses on March 27 — still below the previous cycle’s peak of 2,370 addresses recorded in February 2024, Glassnode data shows.

Trump’s trade war pressures crypto market as April 2 tariffs loom

Whale address count. Source: Glassnode

“Risk appetite remains muted amid tariff threats from President Trump and ongoing macro uncertainty,” according to Iliya Kalchev, dispatch analyst at Nexo, who told Cointelegraph:

“Still, BTC accumulation by whales and a 10-day ETF inflow streak point to steady institutional demand. But hawkish surprises — from inflation or trade — may keep crypto rangebound into April.”

Related: $1T stablecoin supply could drive next crypto rally — CoinFund’s Pakman

The US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds halted their 10-day accumulation streak on March 28 when Fidelity’s ETF recorded over $93 million worth of outflows, while the other ETF issuers registered no inflows or outflows, Farside Investors data shows.

Trump’s trade war pressures crypto market as April 2 tariffs loom

Bitcoin ETF Flows. Source: Farside Investors

Despite short-term volatility concerns, analysts remained optimistic about Bitcoin’s price trajectory for late 2025, with price predictions ranging from $160,000 to above $180,000.

Magazine: SCB tips $500K BTC, SEC delays Ether ETF options, and more: Hodler’s Digest, Feb. 23 – March 1

Read more at cointelegraph.com

$65K Bitcoin price targets pile up as 'Spoofy the Whale' buys the dip

Bitcoin (BTC) circled $83,000 on March 30 after weekend volatility brought new ten-day lows.$65K Bitcoin price targets pile up as 'Spoofy the Whale' buys the dip

BTC/USD 4-hour chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

BTC price action deals snap weekend downside

Data from Cointelegraph Markets Pro and TradingView showed BTC/USD gradually recovering after a trip to $81,600 the day prior.

With no added selling pressure from the ongoing rout in US stock markets, Bitcoin managed to erase most of the downside to come full circle versus the last Wall Street close.

“Quite the volatility for a weekend indeed,” popular trader Daan Crypto Trades summarized in part of his latest content on X. 

“Looking like it might end up opening on Monday where it closed on Friday as most of the dump has been retraced now.”$65K Bitcoin price targets pile up as 'Spoofy the Whale' buys the dip

BTC/USDT 15-minute chart with CME futures data. Source: Daan Crypto Trades/X

Daan Crypto Trades eyed the potential for a new gap in CME Group’s Bitcoin futures markets to be created thanks to the erratic market moves.

“Would be nice to not open with a gap for once so we can focus on everything else instead,” he argued, adding that a “big week” lay ahead.

Others had little hope for a short-term turnaround in Bitcoin’s fortunes. Veteran trader Peter Brandt even doubted the stability of the multimonth lows seen earlier this month.

I am not a big fan of inverted H&S patterns with downward slanting necklines. H&S patterns with horizontal necklines are far more reliable $BTC pic.twitter.com/GKGUZbrab8

— Peter Brandt (@PeterLBrandt) March 29, 2025

“Don’t shoot the messenger. Just reporting on what the chart says until it says something different,” he told X followers this week, giving a new lower BTC price target. 

“Bear wedge completed with 2X target from the double top at 65,635.”$65K Bitcoin price targets pile up as 'Spoofy the Whale' buys the dip

BTC/USD 1-day chart. Source: Peter Brandt/X

Brandt’s is not the only $65,000 BTC price prediction currently in force.

Can “spoofy” $78,000 Bitcoin bids be trusted?

Updating his market observations, meanwhile, Keith Alan, co-founder of trading resource Material Indicators, doubled down on his suspicions that a large-volume entity had been manipulating BTC price action lower in recent weeks.

Related: ‘Bitcoin Macro Index’ bear signal puts $110K BTC price return in doubt

As Cointelegraph reported, the entity, which Alan dubbed “Spoofy, The Whale,” had used overhead liquidity to pressure the price lower and stop it from gaining traction above $87,500.

This form of order book manipulation, known as “spoofing,” is a common feature in crypto and can involve both bid and ask liquidity.

“While I have no real way of confirming that it is the same entity using ask liquidity to herd price into their own bids, it certainly appears that Spoofy has been buying this dip and has bids laddered down to $78k,” he concluded on the day.

An annotated chart showed all key liquidity clusters thought to be of dubious origin, with Alan now giving reason for optimism.

He concluded: 

“In the grand scheme of things, none of this means BTC price can’t go lower, but it does mean that the whale that has been suppressing BTC price for the last 3 weeks is using a DCA strategy to buy this dip…and so am I.”$65K Bitcoin price targets pile up as 'Spoofy the Whale' buys the dip

BTC/USDT order book data for Binance. Source: Keith Alan/X

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

Read more at cointelegraph.com

Crypto trader turns $2K PEPE into $43M, sells for $10M profit

A savvy cryptocurrency trader reportedly turned $2,000 into more than $43 million by investing in the memecoin Pepe at its peak valuation, despite the token’s extreme volatility and lack of underlying technical value.

The trader made an over 4,700-fold return on investment on the popular frog-themed Pepe (PEPE) cryptocurrency, according to blockchain intelligence platform Lookonchain.

“This OG spent only $2,184 to buy 1.5T $PEPE($43M at the peak) in the early stage. He sold 1.02T $PEPE for $6.66M, leaving 493B $PEPE($3.64M), with a total profit of $10.3M(4,718x), Lookonchain wrote in a March 29 X post.

Crypto trader turns $2K PEPE into $43M, sells for $10M profit

Source: Lookonchain

The trader realized over $10 million in profit despite Pepe’s price falling over 74% from its all-time high of $0.00002825, which it reached on Dec. 9, 2024, Cointelegraph Markets Pro data shows.

Crypto trader turns $2K PEPE into $43M, sells for $10M profit

PEPE/USD, all-time chart. Source: Cointelegraph Markets Pro

Memecoins are considered some of the most speculative and volatile digital assets, with price action driven largely by online enthusiasm and social sentiment rather than fundamental utility or innovation.

Still, they’ve proven capable of generating life-changing returns. In May 2024, another early Pepe investor turned $27 into $52 million — a 1.9 million-fold return — according to onchain data.

Related: $1T stablecoin supply could drive next crypto rally — CoinFund’s Pakman

Memecoins are stealing the spotlight from altcoins

Despite their intrinsic lack of utility, memecoins continued to steal the spotlight from more established cryptocurrencies, Stella Zlatareva, dispatch editor at digital asset investment platform Nexo, told Cointelegraph:

“High-beta, i.e., volatile tokens, are stealing the spotlight. Case in point, memecoins surged 5.6% on average, with DOGE, PEPE, and FLOKI responding to rate cut optimism and broader crypto strength.”Crypto trader turns $2K PEPE into $43M, sells for $10M profit

Top 100 cryptocurrencies, weekly performance. Source: Cryptobubbles

While investor demand for memecoins has surged, it may also be siphoning capital from more established assets. For example, Solana (SOL) has fallen more than 51% since the launch of the Official Trump (TRUMP) token in January, according to Cointelegraph data.

Related: Friday’s US inflation report may catalyze a Bitcoin April rally

Memecoins “don’t tend to draw in much external capital flow; instead existing eco-system capital ‘round-robins’ from one meme to the next,” Dan Hughes, founder of the decentralized finance platform Radix, told Cointelegraph, adding:

“Even in the case of TRUMP, most of the inbound liquidity was outflow from other crypto assets, people selling their crypto portfolio to buy TRUMP in extreme FOMO [fear of missing out].”Crypto trader turns $2K PEPE into $43M, sells for $10M profit

SOL/USDT, 1-day chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Insider scams and fraudulent activity have plagued the memecoin industry, and US regulators are taking note. On March 5, New York lawmakers introduced a bill aimed at protecting crypto investors from rug pulls and similar insider scams shortly after the scandal around the Libra (LIBRA) token, which was endorsed by Argentine President Javier Milei.

Magazine: Memecoins are ded — But Solana ‘100x better’ despite revenue plunge

Read more at cointelegraph.com

What are crypto-backed mortgages, and how do they work?

What are crypto-based mortgages?

Crypto-backed mortgages are a kind of loan where borrowers use their cryptocurrency holdings, such as Bitcoin (BTC) or Ether (ETH), as collateral to secure financing for real estate purchases. This approach allows you to access funds without selling your digital assets. By retaining crypto ownership, borrowers can still benefit from future price increases.

There are various types of crypto-backed mortgages: purchase mortgages, cash-out refinancing and bridge loans. 

Purchase mortgages: These help you finance real estate using crypto as collateral. Cash-out refinancing: It allows you to refinance your existing mortgages by leveraging your crypto assets to access additional funds. Bridge loans: These loans provide short-term financing, helping you cover the period between purchasing a new property and selling an existing one.

Crypto mortgages are particularly appealing if you want to preserve your holdings while securing real-world assets. However, you need to consider the volatility of cryptocurrencies and carefully assess the risks before opting for a crypto-backed mortgage.

Lenders usually accept stablecoins such as Tether (USDt) and USDC (USDC) or major cryptocurrencies like BTC and ETH. Some lenders may accept a diversified portfolio of cryptocurrencies as collateral, which is known as cross-collateralization.

Did you know? With traditional mortgages becoming increasingly difficult to obtain, particularly for younger individuals, alternative solutions are gaining traction. Fintech startups are addressing this demand by offering adjustable or fixed-rate mortgages secured by substantial cryptocurrency holdings.

Crypto-based mortgages vs traditional mortgages

Crypto-backed and traditional mortgages differ from eligibility requirements to risk factors. Traditional mortgages rely on credit history, income verification and down payments, while crypto-backed mortgages use digital assets as collateral. 

The approval process for crypto mortgages is often faster, but they come with higher interest rates and volatility risks. Additionally, regulatory uncertainties make crypto-backed loans less widely accepted in real estate markets. A comparison of the two mortgage types is given below:

Crypto-backed vs. traditional mortgages

How do crypto-backed mortgages work?

The basic mechanism of crypto-backed mortgages is that depositors calculate the value of the crypto the borrower proposes to collateralize and release a loan against the amount

To assess the value of the crypto assets, the lenders may apply a loan-to-value (LTV) ratio, which indicates the percentage of the collateral value you can borrow. 

For example, if the LTV ratio is 50%, you can secure a loan of $25,000 for collateralized crypto assets worth $50,000. Overcollateralization helps to create a buffer, which helps the lender if the value of the collateral goes down. Smart contracts are used to automate the execution of loan terms. 

How buffer works

Here is a step-by-step look at the functioning of crypto-backed mortgages: 

Step 1: Find a lender – Look for a financial institution or decentralized finance (DeFi) platform that offers crypto-backed mortgages. Compare different lenders based on their interest rates, fees and supported cryptocurrencies.Step 2: Apply and submit proof of ownership – Submit an application for getting a loan against the crypto you hold. You also need to provide proof of ownership of your digital assets. The lender will assess the worth of your crypto holdings to determine your borrowing limit. Some lenders may consider other financial factors, such as credit history.Step 3: Move crypto to escrow account – Once approved, you need to pledge the required amount of crypto by transferring it into an escrow account. This crypto acts as security for the mortgage loan. Step 4: Prep the loan – Complete the loan agreement, which outlines key terms like repayment schedules, interest rates and what happens if your collateral’s value drops. Usually, if the value of the crypto drops, you will need to deposit more crypto in the escrow account so that the loan remains overcollateralized. If you fail to deposit additional crypto, the lender may liquidate your crypto deposits.Step 5: Disbursal of loan – The loan funds are typically disbursed in fiat currency for purchasing the property.Step 6: Make mortgage payments – Repay the loan according to the agreed terms. The interest rate may differ in line with the market value of the collateralized crypto.Step 7: Recover your collateral – If you complete all payments as per the loan agreement, you will get back your cryptocurrency from escrow. If you fail to repay it, the lender may liquidate your collateral to cover the outstanding amount.

Did you know? Freddie Mac data shows that when fixed-rate mortgages were introduced in 1971, interest rates were about 7.5%. However, by 1980, they had dramatically increased to almost 20%.

Benefits of crypto-backed mortgages

Thanks to crypto-backed mortgages, you can access funds to invest in real estate without selling digital assets. You can leverage your crypto assets to take advantage of real estate market growth. 

Here are some key benefits of using a crypto-backed mortgage:

Faster and simpler process: Compared to traditional mortgages, crypto-backed loans generally have a quicker and more streamlined approval process. Lenders use smart contracts to execute loan terms, making the whole process efficient and without prejudice.Liquidity without selling: You can access funds to invest in real estate without liquidating your crypto holdings. This is particularly beneficial during a real estate market upswing as you can retain your crypto assets while securing finances for real estate investment.Investment growth potential: Crypto-backed mortgages enable you to enjoy double growth. You benefit from appreciation in the prices of the real estate and the growth of your crypto assets.Broader accessibility: Crypto-backed mortgages provide financing opportunities for anyone who lacks traditional credit histories. If you have just settled in a country and don’t have financial records there, crypto-backed loans become a viable option. Tax benefits: Since no assets are sold, you can avoid immediate capital gains tax. This allows you to access value without triggering taxable events.

Challenges in crypto-backed mortgages

While crypto-backed mortgages offer some unique advantages, they also come with several challenges you must consider. From price volatility to regulatory uncertainties, these factors can impact the feasibility and cost of securing a mortgage with cryptocurrency. 

Here are some key challenges in crypto mortgaging:

Higher costs: Compared to conventional mortgages, crypto-backed loans often have steeper interest rates. Since lenders consider these loans riskier, they set higher costs to protect themselves from potential losses.Price volatility: Cryptocurrencies are highly volatile, meaning their value can fluctuate significantly. If the value of the pledged crypto collateral drops, you may need to add more assets or partially repay the loan to prevent liquidation.Limited market adoption: Many sellers may not be willing to deal with a prospective buyer who has arranged their loan using cryptocurrencies. This might limit your property purchase options.Regulatory uncertainty: The legal framework for crypto-backed mortgages is still evolving. Shifting regulations could impact the availability, terms or tax treatment of these loans, creating uncertainty for borrowers.

Did you know? With $12.1 trillion in outstanding mortgage debt spread across 84 million loans, the average American mortgage holder owes $144,593. These home loans represent a massive 70.2% of all consumer debt in the US, highlighting their crucial importance to the nation’s financial health.

How to decide on a crypto-backed mortgage?

Before deciding on your cryptocurrency-backed mortgage, you need to make a thorough assessment of your financial status and risk tolerance. 

Begin by analyzing your cryptocurrency portfolio. Determine how much of your holdings you could pledge and consider how these assets may perform in the future. 

Given the volatility of cryptocurrencies, collateralizing a single asset may be risky. Diversifying your collateral across various cryptocurrencies may help avoid potential losses if prices fluctuate. 

You also need to carefully analyze the loan terms. Understanding the interest rates, payback plan and any other expenses related to the mortgage is essential. Consider the risks, such as asset liquidation if their value falls dramatically or if you fail to meet repayment terms.

As crypto-backed mortgages are a relatively new financial instrument, seeking professional guidance may help if you feel unsure about it. Consulting with financial and real estate experts specializing in crypto lending can assist you in navigating the process, structuring your loan and aligning your mortgage decision with your long-term investment and financial objectives.

Read more at cointelegraph.com

Vitalik Buterin meows at a robot, and the crypto world loses it

A video of Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin kneeling in front of a robot and seemingly letting out a “meow” sound has gone viral — and, as usual, the crypto industry is already speculating what it might mean for Ether’s future.

“The future of Ethereum is in this man’s hands… Meow,” crypto influencer Wendy O said in a March 29 X post. Cork Protocol co-founder Phil Fogel shared the video and commented that “so much” of his professional life and net worth depend on Buterin but reiterated that the entertaining interaction makes him “bullish.”

Community links video to Ether price speculation

Pseudonymous crypto trader Scott Crypto Warrior shared the video with his 514,300 X followers and said, “Pray for our ETH bags.”

The short clip shows Buterin on his knees, gesturing at a four-legged robot and letting out what sounds like a “meow” before patting it on the head. At the time of publication, Buterin has yet to address the video on social media himself.

Cryptocurrencies, Vitalik Buterin

Source: Rinor

Many of those commenting on the video allude to having Ether (ETH) in their portfolio, while its relative strength against Bitcoin (BTC) is at its lowest value in almost five years.

Crypto commentator, The Count of Monte Crypto said in a March 29 X post,” Sure, the man is free to do whatever he wants, why should we care, why should we care, however, the fact that a vast majority of my investment relies on this guy is making me a bit stressed.”

Pseudonymous crypto trader “sgp” said, “while Ethereum is doing -5% 1-minute candles, Vitalik is busy meowing at a robot.”

Cryptocurrencies, Vitalik Buterin

Source: Ali Bryant

Buterin’s quirky antics have always entertained the crypto industry. At Token2049 Singapore in September 2024, Buterin called out some “cringe” anthems for crypto projects and even started singing on stage, receiving a positive reaction from both the live audience and those on social media.

Meanwhile, since Ether reclaimed the $4,000 price level in December 2024, it has dropped nearly 55%.

At the time of publication, Ether is trading at $1,841, down 13.34% over the past month, according to CoinMarketCap data.

Cryptocurrencies, Vitalik Buterin

Ether is trading at $1,841 at the time of publication. Source: CoinMarketCap

Ether sitting below $2,000 has crypto trader Alex Becker convinced it is a prime long-term buying opportunity.

Related: Vitalik outlines strategy for scaling Ethereum and strengthening ETH

“I can’t fathom looking at a sub $2k ETH and thinking you’re not going to be in big profit sometime in the next 2 years. Easiest asset trade in biblical history right now,” Becker said in a March 29 X post.

Meanwhile, Castle Island Ventures’ Nic Carter recently said that Ether’s declining appeal as an investment comes from layer-2s draining value from the main network and a lack of community pushback on excessive token creation.

Magazine: Bitcoin ATH sooner than expected? XRP may drop 40%, and more: Hodler’s Digest, March 23 – 29

Read more at cointelegraph.com

Listing an altcoin traps exchanges on ‘forever hamster wheel’ — River CEO

When a cryptocurrency exchange lists its first altcoin, it sets itself up for an endless cycle of launching memecoins, warns a Bitcoin-only institution executive.

“The minute an exchange adds one non-Bitcoin token, they are signing up to be on the forever hamster wheel of memecoins,” River Financial CEO Alex Leishman said in a March 29 X post. “It makes no sense to list ETH if you don’t list the tokens issued on ETH, and the same goes for Solana,” Leishman said.

River has no interest in building a “successful crypto casino”

Leishman said while there are many “successful crypto casinos,” he has no interest in building one. River Financial is a Bitcoin-only financial institution focusing on buying and selling Bitcoin (BTC). Several companies have opted for the Bitcoin-only approach, including Swan Bitcoin, Bull Bitcoin, and decentralized exchange Bisq.

Leishman claimed that multi-asset trading platforms prioritize short-term speculation over wealth accumulation:

“The casino business model is built around maximal extraction from customers, and the Bitcoin-only model is focused on helping people build long-term wealth.” 

Critics have voiced this point before, even during the memecoin uptrend in early 2024. In April 2024, a16z chief technology officer Eddy Lazzarin said that memecoins hamper the long-term vision of crypto that has kept so many of the original builders in the space.

“At best, it looks like a risky casino,” Lazzarin said.

Cryptocurrencies, Cryptocurrency Exchange

The memecoin market cap is down 27.94% over the past 12 months. Source: CoinMarketCap

The overall memecoin market cap has taken a significant downturn since the beginning of 2025. Since Jan. 1, the memecoin market cap has slumped almost 49% to $48.49 billion at the time of publication, according to CoinMarketCap data.

However, while altcoins have historically been more volatile than Bitcoin, offering them alongside Bitcoin has been a lucrative move for crypto exchanges and brokers. 

Related: Waiting for altcoin season? Data suggests it’s already here

On Feb. 12, Robinhood, which offers several cryptocurrencies to its customers, reported a 700% year-over-year surge in Q4 2024 cryptocurrency revenue.

Some traders seem to interpret a memecoin listing on an exchange as validation of its credibility. Among the 15 memecoins listed by crypto exchange Binance in 2024, 12 saw significant increases in value after going live on the exchange, pseudonymous onchain analyst Ai_9684xtpa said in November.

CoinGecko founder Bobby Ong recently speculated that the memecoin market might be headed toward an “extreme case of power law,” where 99.99% fail and a few rise to the top and endure.

Magazine: Arbitrum co-founder skeptical of move to based and native rollups: Steven Goldfeder

Read more at cointelegraph.com

Listing an altcoin traps exchanges on 'forever hamster wheel' — River CEO

When a cryptocurrency exchange lists its first altcoin, it sets itself up for an endless cycle of launching memecoins, warns a Bitcoin-only institution executive.

“The minute an exchange adds one non-Bitcoin token, they are signing up to be on the forever hamster wheel of memecoins,” River Financial CEO Alex Leishman said in a March 29 X post. “It makes no sense to list ETH if you don’t list the tokens issued on ETH, and the same goes for Solana,” Leishman said.

River has no interest in building a “successful crypto casino”

Leishman said while there are many “successful crypto casinos,” he has no interest in building one. River Financial is a Bitcoin-only financial institution focusing on buying and selling Bitcoin (BTC).  Several companies have opted for the Bitcoin-only approach, including Swan Bitcoin, Bull Bitcoin, and decentralized exchange Bisq.

Leishman claimed that multi-asset trading platforms prioritize short-term speculation over wealth accumulation:

“The casino business model is built around maximal extraction from customers, and the Bitcoin-only model is focused on helping people build long-term wealth.” 

Critics have voiced this point before, even during the memecoin uptrend in early 2024. In April 2024, A16z chief technology officer Eddy Lazzarin said that memecoins hamper the long-term vision of crypto that has kept so many of the original builders in the space.

“At best, it looks like a risky casino,” Lazzarin said.

Cryptocurrencies, Cryptocurrency Exchange

The memecoin market cap is down 27.94% over the past 12 months. Source: CoinMarketCap

The overall memecoin market cap has taken a significant downturn since the beginning of 2025. Since Jan. 1, the memecoin market cap has slumped almost 49% to $48.49 billion at the time of publication, according to CoinMarketCap data.

However, while altcoins have historically been more volatile than Bitcoin, offering them alongside Bitcoin has been a lucrative move for crypto exchanges and brokers. 

Related: Waiting for altcoin season? Data suggests it’s already here

On Feb. 12, Robinhood, which offers several cryptocurrencies to its customers, reported a 700% year-over-year surge in Q4 2024 cryptocurrency revenue.

Some traders seem to interpret a memecoin listing on an exchange as validation of its credibility. Among the 15 memecoins listed by crypto exchange Binance in 2024, 12 saw significant increases in value after going live on the exchange, pseudonymous onchain analyst Ai_9684xtpa said in November.

CoinGecko founder Bobby Ong recently speculated that the memecoin market might be headed toward an “extreme case of power law,” where 99.99% fail and a few rise to the top and endure.

Magazine: Arbitrum co-founder skeptical of move to based and native rollups: Steven Goldfeder

Read more at cointelegraph.com

Why institutions are hesitant about decentralized finance — Shibtoshi

Shibtoshi, the founder of the SilentSwap privacy-preserving trading platform, outlined several concerns that make institutions hesitant to adopt decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions, including privacy, a lack of standardized compliance regulations, and legal accountability.

The DeFi founder told Cointelegraph that the high transparency of onchain transactions presents a problem for companies that must conceal sensitive information, including trading strategies, payroll information, and business-to-business agreements. Shibtoshi said:

“The main concerns — regulatory uncertainty, privacy limitations, and complex user experience — are real, but solvable. Innovations in privacy-preserving protocols are making DeFi increasingly compatible with enterprise needs. Platforms like SilentSwap are a step in that direction.”

Regulatory uncertainty continues to be one of the biggest problems for DeFi and is compounded by a fragmented approach across legal jurisdictions, which prevents institutional adoption, Shibtoshi added.

“Are DeFi tokens securities? What happens if a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) messes up — and who is responsible when it does? It is all still pretty unclear,” the SilentSwap founder told Cointelegraph.

Shibtoshi urged common sense regulations that encourage innovation and preserve the value propositions of decentralized finance, including self-custody, speed, and cost-effective transactions.

Decentralization, Finance

The total value locked across the DeFi ecosystem has not yet returned to peak levels witnessed in 2021 and 2022. Source: DeFiLlama

Related: Specialized purpose DEXs poised for growth in 2025 — Curve founder

US Congress overturns archaic DeFi rule, but DeFi still in danger

Both chambers of the United States Congress recently voted to overturn the highly unpopular DeFi broker rule requiring decentralized finance protocols and platforms to report customer transactions to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

The US Senate repealed the IRS broker rule in a 70 to 27 vote on March 4, followed by members of the US House of Representatives voting to repeal the IRS rule on March 11.

Despite the repeal of the archaic rule, overregulation may end up killing a sector that was born as a decentralized, more accessible, and pseudonymous alternative to traditional finance.

According to crypto entrepreneur and investor Artem Tolkachev, regulatory compliance is undermining decentralization in DeFi and destroying the value proposition of the nascent sector.

The emphasis on regulatory compliance measures increases the potential for censorship and shifts control from the users to third-party intermediaries and large institutions, Tolkachev wrote.

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US recession 40% likely in 2025, what it means for crypto — Analyst

The United States has a 40% chance of a recession in 2025 amid the potential for a protracted trade war and macroeconomic uncertainty, according to market analyst and Coin Bureau founder Nic Puckrin.

In an interview with Cointelegraph, the analyst said that while a recession is not probable, a recession and the current macroeconomic uncertainty will create an environment where risk-on assets like cryptocurrencies suffer. Puckrin said:

“Trump and his advisors have said they have not completely dismissed the recession, which means it is definitely possible, but right now, I would not say it is probable, but the odds have climbed a lot.”

The analyst noted that while US President Donald Trump is not deliberately trying to trigger a recession, certain actions by his administration — such as cutting federal jobs and reducing spending to balance the budget — could unintentionally lead to one.

Macroeconomic uncertainty is the primary cause of the recent decline in the US Dollar Index (DXY), as investors shift capital to better opportunities in European capital markets and seek an escape from the economic uncertainty currently plaguing US markets, Puckrin told Cointelegraph.

Economics, US Government, United States

The DXY, which tracks the strength of the US dollar, took a nosedive in March 2025. Source: TradingView

Related: Timeline: How Trump tariffs dragged Bitcoin below $80K

Trade war fears drag the price of Bitcoin down

President Trump’s tariffs on US trading partners sent a shockwave through the crypto markets, leading to a steep decline in altcoin prices and a 24% correction in Bitcoin’s (BTC) price from the Jan. 20 high of over $109,000.

The tariffs and fears of a prolonged trade war also reoriented market sentiment toward extreme fear — a sharp contrast from the euphoric highs felt after the re-election of Donald Trump in the United States in November 2025 and the Jan. 20 inauguration.

Economics, US Government, United States

The price of Bitcoin has been struggling amid the trade war headlines and is currently trading below its 200-day exponential moving average (EMA). Source: TradingView

According to Nansen research analyst Nicolai Sondergaard, crypto markets will feel the pressure of tariffs until April 2025.

If countries can successfully negotiate an end to the tariffs or the Trump administration softens its stance, then markets will recover, the analyst added.

10x Research founder Markus Thielen recently said that BTC formed a price bottom in March 2025, as US President Donald Trump softened the rhetoric around trade tariffs — signaling a potential price reversal.

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