First, the biggest news:

  • The FED is quietly easing pressure on crypto.
    This means that banks in the US may soon be allowed to offer custody services and crypto-related services again.

  • If this comes true, then it's like $BTC, $ETH, $SOL... have been given the green light.

  • In my opinion, market sentiment will change completely – no longer the fear of regulatory crackdown, but a shift to hope.
    Crypto Twitter is also starting to see regulation as a tailwind, rather than a storm anymore.

  • Immediately after, CME also confirmed that $XRP futures contracts will open for trading on May 19.
    Adding to the fact that the ETF for $AVAX was approved earlier.

→ Institutions are really coming back.
$XRP is also starting to see a slight wave, and I think the combo of "utility + ETF" will still thrive.

Next:

$ZORA just launched on Base, with a total supply of 10 billion tokens, and airdropped 10% to existing users.

  • Snapshot from January 2020 to March 2025.

  • Those who have patiently farmed since the past are now starting to get "lucky money".

The atmosphere is quite similar to previous meme coin waves, but this time the community consists of builders on ETH/Base, so it feels a bit more "high-end".

→ I think this might draw attention back to Ethereum L2s, which have been a bit "cold" lately.

On the Solana side:

The ecosystem is still extremely vibrant, but also extremely volatile.
Quarter 1 data:

  • DEX trading exceeds 293 billion USD, accounting for nearly 40% market share.

  • $BONK burned 1 trillion tokens.

  • $TRUMP increased by 65% thanks to the leaderboard farming trend.

  • $LUCE rose 200% and then crashed 60% in just one day.

→ Solana is currently the most "marketplace-like": bustling and lively, but also a place where sharks hunt fiercely.
Play if you must, but don't fall in love!

Additionally:

$MNT and $ZORA have just been added to Coinbase's listing roadmap.
Mantle is also quietly ramping up with a new DeFi fund along with Securitize.

Not causing a storm immediately, but I see the L2 + DeFi narrative is quietly building up again.
It wouldn't be surprising if it exploded stronger from May.

One deal I'm keeping an eye on: $WLFI

  • Referred to as the "Trump stablecoin".

  • Backed by World Liberty Financial.

  • DWF Labs and Justin Sun have gathered 100 million USD.

This is not a long-term safe play, but in terms of short-term momentum, it could "run hot".

→ But remember: If it gets too much attention, you'll definitely attract heat from regulators.
I will consider it a quick play, pull out fast – just for fun, don’t get too deep.

But remember to be careful:

FUD about security is lingering.

  • There is malware targeting $ETH, $XRP, $SOL via npm packages.

  • The Lazarus Group (North Korea) is also believed to be targeting developers.

Currently, there are no major hacks, but it's best not to rush into any airdrops or strange projects.

In summary, what am I seeing?

  • $ETH's ecosystem is warming up again with airdrops like $ZORA, $HYPER.

  • BTC dominance is still high → it's not altseason yet, but the money flow is quietly shifting.

  • Meme coins are running wildly, good for interaction farming but in reality most can only survive 1-2 weeks.

  • Regulation is flipping in a positive direction, and I think the market hasn't fully priced this in yet.

The list I am currently monitoring: $XRP, $ZORA, $MNT, $WLFI.
(Not an investment recommendation, just a watchlist.)

Currently still not in "full send mode", but I feel we are entering the startup phase now.

If you haven't entered a position yet, this may be the last calm moment before the big wave...