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DOGE, SHIB, PEPE, FLOKI, & Other Meme Coins Risk Falling, Here's Why

The meme coins have noted massive volatile trading lately amid a broader crypto market downturn. Notably, top players in the segment like DOGE, PEPE, SHIB, FLOKI, and others have also gone through a topsy-turvy lately, sparking market concerns. Amid this, a recent report suggests the turbulence may not be over yet, as derivatives data reveals a potential further decline in the assets’ prices, raising concerns among investors.

Derivatives Data Hints At Further Meme Coin Decline

In a recent X post, on-chain analytics firm Glassnode recently highlighted a sharp drop in futures open interest (OI) across the meme coin sector. According to the firm, OI metrics, which indicate the total value of outstanding derivatives contracts, have plummeted since their peaks, signaling a potential bearish trend.

DOGE Futures Open Interest
Source: Glassnode, X

For Dogecoin (DOGE), the 7-day moving average of futures OI experienced a 58.45% drop, sliding from $3.58 billion on December 9, 2024, to $1.49 billion currently. The situation is even more pronounced for other meme coins, with PEPE, BONK, and WIF seeing OI declines of 71.93%, 75.10%, and 69.83%, respectively.

Meme Coins Future Open Interest: PEPE, BONK, WIF
Source: Glassnode, X

The popular Shiba Inu and Floki Inu coins also followed this trend. SHIB’s futures OI decreased by 74.41%, from $323 million to $83 million, while FLOKI recorded a 69.18% drop, falling from $41.7 million to $12.9 million.

Meme Coin Open Interest: SHIB, FLOKI
Source: Glassnode, X

What Does This Mean for Meme Coin Investors?

The sharp decline in futures OI indicates a potential “leverage flush-out,” where traders are closing leveraged positions, possibly due to dwindling confidence. This trend could signal a broader shift in sentiment across the meme coin sector, prompting caution among retail investors.

For investors, the reduced OI might mean lower liquidity and higher volatility in the near term. It also suggests that the speculative hype driving meme coins earlier this year might be fading, leaving prices vulnerable to further corrections.

Broader Market Trends Weighs On The Sector

The meme coin market’s struggles are not happening in isolation. The broader crypto market crash, impacted by macroeconomic pressures, and other factors like reduced trading volumes have weighed on the sentiments.

Amid this, the meme coins, as riskier assets, often become the first to react negatively during broader market corrections. Besides, the recent concerns over the Solana meme coins like LIBRA token, which many deem as a rug pull project, have further dampened market sentiment.

Here we explore how these cryptocurrencies are performing amid the ongoing market volatility.

How DOGE, SHIB, PEPE, & FLOKI Are Performing?

DOGE price today recorded marginal gains and exchanged hands at $0.2545 while recording a weekly plunge of over 1.5%. Notably, the crypto has touched a 30-day high and low of $0.4002 and $0.2117.

Simultaneously, the SHIB price today was down 0.2% to $0.00001538, while its one-day trading volume plummeted 19% to $208.42 million. This leading dog-themed meme coin declined 26% over the last 30 days while noting a slump of 5%.

On the other hand, PEPE Coin price was down 2%, with its trading volume falling 38% to $655.47 million. However, the FLOKI price today recorded some recovery and surged 4% over the last 24 hours to $0.00009840. This recent gain helped FLOKI to witness a weekly gain of 7% but still was down over 33% over the last 30 days.

The post DOGE, SHIB, PEPE, FLOKI, & Other Meme Coins Risk Falling, Here’s Why appeared first on CoinGape.

Solana Price Crashes Below $200 As SOL Founder Calls Meme Coin Rug Pulls a 'Hellscape”

Solana price continues to extend its decline below $200 amid a surge in rug pulls on meme coins created on the blockchain. These rug pulls have drawn the attention of Solana Labs co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko, who has termed the current situation a “hellscape.” 

SOL price trades at $172 today with a slight 2.5% gain. As the crypto community continues to raise concerns about SOL-based meme coins, how will this impact the price? 

Solana Founder Calls for Solutions to Meme Coin “Hellscape”  

In a recent X post, Yakovenko urged developers in the crypto industry to come up with solutions to the problem of meme tokens flooding the market. According to him, this problem has created an opportunity and a ready market for developers. He noted,

“Every problem is an opportunity. Solve permissionless fair and fun token launching at scale and you’ll have a ton of customers.”

Yakovenko’s remarks follow growing concerns over the losses experienced by traders speculating on the price of these Solana meme coins. An earlier report by Coingape revealed how the Libra meme coin promoted by Argentinian President Javier Milei left nearly 100% of holders in losses

On February 19, 2025, Dave Portnoy, the founder of Barstool Sports, was also accused of a rug pull after creating a meme token dubbed “Greed”. Portnoy bought 35% of the meme coin’s supply and sold the tokens two hours later in a single transaction, triggering a 99% crash. 

Solana Price Crashes Below $200 As SOL Founder Calls Meme Coin Rug Pulls a 'Hellscape”
Lookonchain: X

The other popular meme coins launched on Solana include TRUMP and MELANIA, which are down by 77% and 90%, respectively in one month. 

Due to these losses and the growing concerns, Yakovenko noted that one of the ways out of the current “hellscape” was to solve permissionless token launching. 

The meme coin frenzy on the blockchain has also coincided with bearish trends for Solana price, which recently dropped below $170 for the first time since November 2024. 

Bearish Sentiment Pushes Solana Price Below $200 

According to Santiment, the market sentiment on Solana dropped significantly after the SOL dipped to a 3-month low on February 18, 2025. While the number of discussions around SOL have increased, most of these discussions are negative and dampening the long-term Solana price forecast

Additionally, a death cross was looming on Solana’s daily chart. The 50-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA) is tipping south, and approaching the 200-day EMA. For now, traders should watch out for a bearish crossover that could accelerate the downtrend. 

SOL’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) also recently dropped to a multi-month low of 30 indicating an oversold situation. The RSI is recovering and tipping north suggesting that buyers took advantage of the recent dip. The RSI needs to make a higher low to confirm buyer strength. 

Solana Price Crashes Below $200 As SOL Founder Calls Meme Coin Rug Pulls a 'Hellscape”
SOL/USDT 1-day Chart

If a bullish reversal commences, the immediate resistance lies at the 200-day EMA at $189, with a swing above this level set to resume the uptrend. The market sentiment also needs to flip bullish for Solana price to sustain an upside momentum. 

The post Solana Price Crashes Below $200 As SOL Founder Calls Meme Coin Rug Pulls a ‘Hellscape” appeared first on CoinGape.

BONK

Bonk has created history with its mind blowing hold over the world. The financial system was revolutionized when Bonk started climbing the ladder. The coin is expected to show a surge in the coming days, but it would require a technical eye to understand. It is utmost important for any trader to understand the charts and then invest their hard earned money.

In this article, you will learn how Bonk is anticipated to perform in the coming years. Read the technical analysis and everything you need to know about the coin.

The post Bonk (BONK) Price Prediction February 2025, 2026, 2030, 2040 – 2050 appeared first on CoinGape.

Will XRP Price Hit $100 After US President Donald Trump's Ripple Endorsement?

XRP price seems poised for a rally to $100 after US President Donald Trump mentioned Ripple and XRP on Truth Social. Despite pullbacks across the broader crypto market, Trump’s endorsement has fuelled bullish sentiment around the altcoin.

XRP price trades at $2.61 today after gaining slightly by 1.38%. It has also added $4 billion to its market capitalization in under 24 hours.

XRP Price Impact: US President Donald Trump Endorses Ripple 

Trump mentioned Ripple in two consecutive posts on Truth Social on Wednesday acknowledging previous remarks made by Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse about the company securing more deals in the US following Trump’s election. These deals allowed Ripple to increase its US workforce. 

Will XRP Price Hit $100 After US President Donald Trump's Ripple Endorsement?
Donald J. Trump: Truth Social

Garlinghouse made these remarks in early January saying that the “Trump effect” on the crypto industry was promoting innovation and job growth. As Coingape reported, the executive also opined that the “Trump bull market” was more personal for Ripple after an oppressive regulatory framework stifled its US business. 

Ripple has been at the center of discussions since Trump’s election. In early January, Garlinghouse revealed that he had dinner with President Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort, highlighting XRP’s growing presence in Washington. Ripple’s CTO, David Schwartz, has also mentioned that XRP is on the “cusp of mass institutional adoption.”

Additionally, speculation is rife about XRP being included in Trump’s plans for a national crypto reserve. On Polymarket, the odds of this reserve being launched stand at 15%. 

Will XRP Price Hit $100 After US President Donald Trump's Ripple Endorsement?
US National XRP Reserve in 2025: Polymarket

Following Trump’s recent endorsement and Ripple’s growing presence in Washington, it is likely that XRP could rally toward $100. Moreover, the recent acknowledgment of Bitwise’s filing for a spot XRP ETF by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is a bullish catalyst. While the $100 target may not happen in 2025, it could be achieved given a long enough time.

Can XRP Price Realistically Hit $100 With Trump’s Support?

As noted in a previous CoinGape publication, XRP price hitting $100 is not unlikely. If the 2017 bull run fractal repeats, then XRP is on the cusp of an exponential bull run. The 2017 bull rally saw Ripple breach the initial range and extend beyond the 161.8% Fibonacci Extension level to form a local top between 227.2% and 241.4% Fibonacci extension levels.

Considering that XRP price is attempting to break the range high of $2.90, investors are expecting a similar outlook to unfold. If the 2017 history rhymes, Ripple could form a top between $178 and $282, coinciding with the 227.2% and 241.4% Fibonacci extension levels.

Will XRP Price Hit $100?
XRP/USD 1-week chart

With such an exaggerated target, $100 seems likely, especially under these two conditions – an endorsement from US President Donald Trump and the potential launch of a national XRP reserve.

Key Short-term XRP Levels to Watch

XRP price is defending key support at the 61.8% Fibonacci level of $2.39 on the one-day chart. Sellers are active and pushing the XRP value today down as depicted by the four red consecutive candle sticks and volume histogram bars. 

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) remains in bearish territory following a drop to 48. A drop of the RSI line below the signal line will confirm strengthening bearish trends that could push the altcoin toward the $2.11-$2.39 support zone. 

On the other hand, the Money Flow Index (MFI) shows a potential bullish divergence after rising to 65. For now, traders should watch out for the RSI breakout above 50 and an increase in buying volumes to confirm a return of bullish momentum. 

Will XRP Price Hit $100 After US President Donald Trump's Ripple Endorsement?
XRP/USDT 1-day Chart

If buyers resume, XRP faces immediate resistance at the 38.2% Fibonacci level at $2.77. A decisive breakout set to push the price toward the recent high of $3.40. 

While the short-term price outlook shows a slightly bearish outlook, the long-term XRP price forecast suggests a positive outlook due to the continued endorsement by Trump, and a friendly US regulatory framework.

The post Will XRP Price Hit $100 After US President Donald Trump’s Ripple Endorsement? appeared first on CoinGape.

Just In: FTX Announces Next Distribution Date for Customer and Unsecured Claims

FTX Trading Ltd. (FTX.com) and the FTX Recovery Trust have announced the next distribution date for customer and unsecured claims. The company has begun initial distributions to holders of approved claims in FTX’s Convenience Classes under its Chapter 11 Plan of Reorganization.

FTX Next Distribution Date for Customer and Unsecured Claims

FTX has confirmed that the next round of distributions will take place on April 11, 2025. This round will cover Class 5 Customer Entitlement Claims, Class 6 General Unsecured Claims, and newly approved Convenience Claims that have not yet received payments.

This announcement follows the initial payments made to customers holding claims under $50,000. These payments, amounting to approximately $1.2 billion, are being processed through BitGo and Kraken, the designated Distribution Service Providers and analyst projects the payments to boost the struggling Bitcoin price.

The company has stated that the next distribution process is expected to begin on May 30, 2025. Customers and creditors with allowed claims must ensure they meet all necessary pre-distribution requirements, including completing Know Your Customer (KYC) verification, submitting tax forms, and onboarding with either BitGo or Kraken to receive their payments.

Initial Distributions Underway for Convenience Class Holders

FTX has started issuing payments to holders of approved claims in the Convenience Classes. These payments are being facilitated through BitGo and Kraken, which are responsible for distributing the funds to eligible recipients.

Customers who qualify for these distributions should expect to receive funds within one to three business days. However, FTX has emphasized that only those who have completed all pre-distribution steps will receive their payments.

John J. Ray III, the Plan Administrator of the FTX Recovery Trust, acknowledged the progress, stating,

“We are pleased to commence initial distributions today and set the timeline for our next distribution. FTX appreciates our customers and creditors’ patience and collaboration throughout this complicated process. Our work is not over – we intend to continue our recovery efforts and returning funds to additional claim classes.”

Requirements for Claim Holders to Receive Payments

FTX has outlined several key requirements for claim holders to receive their distributions. Customers must complete their KYC verification, submit necessary tax forms, and onboard with one of the designated Distribution Service Providers.

For transferred claims, distributions will only be made to the transferee holder of an allowed claim that has been processed and recorded on the official register of claims. The 21-day notice period must also lapse without any objections before the claim is finalized for distribution.

Customers with any questions regarding fund availability are advised to contact the customer support team of their selected Distribution Service Provider. Once FTX processes the payments, claim holders will be responsible for managing their own funds.

The post Just In: FTX Announces Next Distribution Date for Customer and Unsecured Claims appeared first on CoinGape.

Ripple CTO David Schwartz Shares Insight On XRPL Amid Bitcoin Vs XRP Debate

Ripple CTO David Schwartz has sparked fresh discussions on the evolving role of Bitcoin and XRP in the crypto space. In a recent exchange on X, Schwartz shared insights on XRP Ledger (XRPL) and highlighted the need for scalable and trustless bridging solutions. Besides, he also questioned Bitcoin’s long-term dominance. Notably, the comments come amid an ongoing Bitcoin Vs. XRP debate and the real-world utility of both assets.

Ripple CTO Highlights XRPL’s Early Role In BTC Transaction

In a recent X post, Ripple CTO David Schwartz revealed that one of the first use cases for the XRP Ledger (XRPL) was to facilitate faster and cheaper Bitcoin transactions. Besides, it also comes as the XRP Ledger has noted a new amendment recently, NFTokenMintOffer, on its mainnet.

However, he noted that a major challenge remains—the reliance on custodians to hold Bitcoin in such transactions.

“One of the first use cases for the XRPL was as a faster and cheaper way of moving bitcoin. Of course, someone has to hold the actual Bitcoin, so you need custodians that have sets of people who trust them. We really need to figure out fast, cheap, trustless bridging.” Schwartz emphasized. He acknowledged that while custodial services can enhance Bitcoin’s transaction speed, they introduce trust issues that go against the core ethos of decentralization.

Meanwhile, the Ripple CTO’s remarks received attention from industry figures, including Flare Labs CEO Hugo Philion. Philion suggested that Flare’s next phase of development could align with XRPL’s bridging ambitions. This suggests that Ripple may be eyeing potential collaborations to tackle the bridging challenge.

Bitcoin Vs XRP Debate

Scalability Challenges And Future Uncertainty Of BTC

The Ripple CTO also raised concerns about Bitcoin’s ability to maintain its top position in the crypto market. He pointed out that Bitcoin faces technological limitations since it cannot innovate on-chain as efficiently as newer blockchain projects.

“Bitcoin was first. You’d have to be delusional to argue that no later chain had better tech.” David Schwarz remarked, questioning whether being “good enough” is sufficient for Bitcoin’s long-term survival.

The Bitcoin Vs. XRP debate further gained traction when an XRP enthusiast contrasted the promotional approaches of Ripple and Bitcoin advocate Michael Saylor. They argued that Ripple executives never urge people to buy XRP, unlike Saylor, who consistently promotes Bitcoin as a must-own asset. Notably, Michael Saylor also praises Metaplanet’s increasing focus on BTC.

Ripple CTO On Bitcoin Vs XRP Value Debate

In response to the ongoing discussion, the Ripple CTO asserted that Bitcoin’s value is largely speculative. “Bitcoin gets most of its value from speculators who speculate that more people will speculate on the value of bitcoin in the future than speculate on its value today, resulting in demand increasing over time,” he noted.

He also argued that abundance does not always decrease value, citing land as an example of something highly valuable despite being widespread. Crypto enthusiasts countered his argument by highlighting Bitcoin’s scarcity.

One user pointed out Bitcoin’s 21 million supply cap compared to XRP’s 100 billion total supply. Schwartz, however, dismissed the comparison as misleading, stating that comparing raw numbers without considering units makes no sense.

However, despite his criticism, the Ripple CTO acknowledged Bitcoin’s role in the financial ecosystem. He suggested that while Bitcoin may not be ideal for payments, projects like the Lightning Network and other bridging technologies could enhance its functionality.

The post Ripple CTO Shares Insight On XRPL Amid Bitcoin Vs XRP Debate appeared first on CoinGape.

How Elon Musk's Fort Knox Gold Audit May Help Bitcoin Reach ATH

Elon Musk has shaken the financial world through bold discussions around the US Gold Reserve audit. In a recent X post, he called for a transparent audit of Fort Knox, which is the biggest US Gold reserve. This is highlighted as a must-do event because the authorities last audited in 1974. This means the Gold reserve has been unaudited for the last 50 years, sparking concerns. More importantly, the hype is building simultaneously around Bitcoin, where investors wish to see a Bitcoin reserve instead of Gold. With that, let’s discuss how Bitcoin price will react if any discrepancies are found.

Elon Musk’s Fort Knox Audit Movement

Elon Musk questioned the status of the gold reserve in a tweet after US Senator Mike Lee revealed how Fort Knox had denied his entry. In a tweet, Lee mentioned that he has repeatedly tried to visit this Gold reserve, but they denied it.

To which Musk replied, “Who is confirming that gold wasn’t stolen from Fort Knox? Maybe it’s there, maybe it’s not.” This simple tweet got everyone’s attention, including Senator Rand Paul and others requesting the audit.

Elon Musk Fort Knox audit

What caught everyone’s attention was the Trading Economics claims that more than 8,100 tonnes of gold are in the reserve. The last full audit was conducted in 1953, and a partial one was conducted in 1974. This left everyone amazed at how this topic was neglected, sparking the demand for Elon Musk’s D.O.G.E. to conduct a Fort Knox audit.

The fire was further fueled by the Australian government’s finding of fake gold in the Bank of England reserve. In response, India relocated 102 tonnes of gold from the reserve, triggering the possibility of a gold bank run.

Netizens are concerned about the possibility of a gold bank run in Fort Knox. More importantly, the continuation of such revelations will only decrease people’s confidence.

Bitcoin Reserve

Amidst this buzz and discussion, Bitcoin has been claimed to be a safe alternative, and many have pointed out its superiority over gold.

Bitcoin Reserve Demand Grows Over Gold’s Shortcomings

Many crypto experts and enthusiasts, including Senator Cynthia Lummis, were among the first to respond to Musk’s skepticism with the Bitcoin advocation. The senator argues that Bitcoin fixes Gold’s issues, as it can be audited anywhere with a basic computer.

Bitcoin fixes this. A Bitcoin reserve could be audited anytime, 24/7, with a basic computer. It’s time to upgrade our reserves.

Others added to the advocacy, claiming that Gold Reserve requires external audits and physical verification, but Bitcoin’s blockchain operation could eliminate that work as anyone can verify from home on their computers.

With that question, what will happen if Elon Musk’s audit shows a discrepancy, and how will it impact Bitcoin prices, especially as BTC falls behind Gold?

Bitcoin Price May Hit New ATH With Gold Reserve Audits

Gold and Bitcoin have an inverse relationship, with Gold’s downfall favoring Bitcoin’s growth. A famous crypto analyst, MaxPain, added that the inconsistencies in Musk’s audits could result in people losing trust in gold. Eventually, this would push people toward Bitcoin as the ultimate hard asset.

However, the difficult part is that the entire financial market will panic if Elon Musk audit finds any missing or fake gold. However, once the panic settles, Bitcoin’s demand could rise significantly due to its scarcity, transparency, and decentralized nature. BTC is already at a crucial junction, and its price rally to $100k could introduce further bullish momentum.

An earlier CoinGape blog discussed the Bitcoin Spiral Clock, which predicted the Bitcoin price would hit $270k—$300k by the end of 2025. However, a surge to $100k is the stimulus, which might occur with Gold reserve audit reports.

In contrast, if the Elon Musk audit found gold intact, the Bitcoin price could remain unaffected, currently trading at $95.5k. However, if no audits happen, netizens will wander around the status, which could also affect BTC’s growth.

Bottom Line

Elon Musk has ignited discussion about financial transparency and a Gold reserve audit among netizens. People have sparked concerns and questioned the unaudited gold reserve for 50 years. At the same time, the demand for Bitcoin reserve is increasing due to its transparency and easy access. VenEck has even called Bitcoin reserve the key to US economic supremacy.

Now, the most significant point is whether this audit will happen in the first place, and if it does, its outcome could influence the financial market heavily. A discrepancy could favor the Bitcoin price rally, but more updates and market sentiments could change the outcome.

Investors must move ahead with caution and proper research only.

The post How Elon Musk’s Fort Knox Gold Audit May Help Bitcoin Reach ATH? appeared first on CoinGape.

DOGE, SHIB, PEPE, FLOKI, & Other Meme Coins Risk Falling, Here’s Why

The meme coins have noted massive volatile trading lately amid a broader crypto market downturn. Notably, top players in the segment like DO...

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