CryptoPotato

Exploring Cryptocurrency with Venga's CEO Michael Stroev: A Paris Blockchain Week 2025 Interview

During Paris Blockchain Week 2025, Venga CEO Michael Stroev talked about the role his company is playing in the changing landscape of digital finance. Venga, launched in 2024, is driven by accessibility, education, and innovation to face challenges hindering widespread acceptance of cryptocurrencies and decentralized finance (DeFi).

The platform enables users to deposit euros, buy cryptocurrencies, and manage their assets within Venga’s ecosystem or on a decentralized wallet. Though Venga provides basic services like euro deposits and withdrawals, Stroev emphasized that the company's main focus is promoting DeFi and Web3 innovations.

He also highlighted the role of education and discovery in achieving mass crypto adoption and sees Venga as a potential marketplace for trusted Web3 and DeFi projects. Despite market challenges, Stroev remains optimistic about Venga’s long-term growth.

Five Crucial Predictions for Ripple's (XRP) Price in May

Ripple's (XRP) price has surged by over 9% in the past week, hitting around $2.30. As May approaches, five key price predictions emerge. Social media analyst Ameba targets $2.90, a 26% increase.

Joe Swanson sees a bullish wedge breakout, predicting a short-term price of $3. Trading analyst Duo Nine warns of strong selling pressure at the $3 mark, given the level's previous rejections.

Crypto Virtuos forecasts a target of $2.5, a 10% increase from the current price. Lastly, more ambitious predictions include Oscar Ramos' $29 target by 2030, Brett's $33 to $50 range by 2027, and John Squire's potential $100 mark.

These predictions are underpinned by ProShares' recent SEC approval to launch three XRP ETFs, viewed positively by many investors.

Significant Update on Ripple ETF: Keep an Eye on this Date if You Possess XRP

Despite the buzz about the approval of ProShares's futures XRP ETFs, there's no confirmed launch date yet. US investors are still waiting for a spot XRP ETF to be green-lit, with companies like Grayscale, Franklin Templeton, and Bitwise leading the charge.

ProShares has received approval for three XRP ETFs, namely the Ultra XRP ETF, Short XRP ETF, and Ultra Short XRP ETF. Despite initial reports suggesting a launch date of April 30, Bloomberg's James Seyffart clarified that it's not confirmed. Meanwhile, the world's first spot XRP ETF, managed by Hashdex, was approved by the Brazilian Securities and Exchange Commission in February, and is available on the local B3 stock exchange.

TRUMP Coin Experiences Decline As Bitcoin Stabilizes Around $95K (Market Update)

Bitcoin continues to consolidate around the $95,000 mark, alongside most altcoins which also report minimal price movements. However, the TRUMP token has seen significant decreases amid indications that the team behind it is selling off large portions.

Bitcoin's steady performance comes after a week of substantial gains, including a surge past the $90,000 mark for the first time since early March. Despite dropping slightly over the weekend, Bitcoin currently trades at around $95,000 and has a market capitalization just under $1.890 trillion. Meanwhile, TRUMP token dropped by over 7% following news that the team is potentially selling off their holdings.

Among other altcoins, BCH has seen the largest increase, gaining more than 5.5% in value. The total crypto market cap currently stands at just under $3.1 trillion.

BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF Sees Nearly $1B in Inflows, Marking Second-Highest Day on Record

BlackRock's Bitcoin ETF, IBIT, has witnessed a resurgence in demand, recording seven consecutive days of net inflows. Data from Farside Investors revealed that on April 28, IBIT saw $970.9 million in net inflows, the second-highest figure since its inception in January 2020, bringing the fund's total AUM to over $42 billion.

This surge contrasted with most other ETFs, which recorded losses. Eric Balchunas, Bloomberg's ETF expert, described this as a "two steps forward mode after taking one step back." Spot Ethereum ETFs, which also felt the impact of global economic uncertainty due to Trump's tariffs, have shown signs of a trend reversal, registering net inflows of $231.7 million in the past three trading days, with BlackRock’s ETHA leading the way.

Digital Asset Funds Witness $3.4B Inflow: Marks Third Largest Weekly Total Ever

Digital asset investment products experienced an inflow of $3.4 billion last week, marking the largest since December 2024 and ranking as the third highest weekly inflow in history. This shift is reportedly driven by concerns over tariffs affecting corporate profits and the sharp fall of the US dollar, causing investors to see digital assets as a potential haven amidst rising economic instability.

Bitcoin investment funds led the activity, attracting $3.18 billion in inflows, while Ethereum managed to reverse its downtrend with $183 million in inflows. However, Solana was the only altcoin to witness investor pullback. Multi-asset investment products also saw an increase, and positive sentiment was observed globally, with notable inflows in the US, Germany, Switzerland, Australia and Sweden.

ProShares' Triple XRP ETFs Set for Activation: The Details

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has green-lighted ProShares' three XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) for a public offering on April 30, 2025. Unlike a spot ETF, these offerings will expose investors to derivatives. The offerings include the Ultra XRP ETF, the Short XRP ETF, and the Ultra Short XRP ETF.

The approval came after the SEC settled its lawsuit with Ripple Labs, the company behind XRP. ProShares, managing over $60 billion in assets, is not new to crypto-based financial products. The company's entry into the XRP space has been termed a "historic milestone" as it eases access for banks, institutional investors, and retail traders.

The approval of these ETFs is seen to provide regulatory validation and potential for massive capital inflows.

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Bitcoin ETFs Register $3.06B in Weekly Inflows, Achieving Second Largest Record Ever

Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) saw net inflows of $3.06 billion last week, marking the second-largest weekly performance since their approval by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in January 2024. This development is seen as a clear indication of Bitcoin's growing acceptance among institutional investors.

Data from SoSoValue reveals that this amount is second only to the record set in November 2024, where Bitcoin ETFs saw inflows of $3.38 billion within a week. The surge in spot Bitcoin ETFs coincides with the cryptocurrency's price surpassing $94,000, a growth attributed to wealth managers, corporate treasuries, and sovereign entities, rather than retail speculation.

Strategy Adds 15,355 More Bitcoin to Its Reserve in a $1.4 Billion Transaction

The co-founder of Strategy, Michael Saylor, has announced the company's acquisition of 15,355 additional bitcoins for $1.42 billion on April 28. With this recent acquisition, the company's bitcoin reserve has expanded to 553,555 BTC, purchased at $37.9 billion, or an average of $68,459 per unit.

Given the current trading value of bitcoin at above $95,000, the total value of the holdings now stands at $52.7 billion, indicating an unrealized profit of about $15 billion. The company's stock price has also seen a recovery, closing at nearly $370 on Friday, marking a 27.4% monthly rise, after a tariff-induced panic sell-off dropped it to under $240.

Forecasting the Price of Ripple (XRP) for the Current Week

XRP has been on an upward trajectory after successfully testing the $2 support level. With the support at $2 established, XRP could potentially reach the next key target at $2.6. If it surpasses this resistance, a surge towards $3 is expected as more investors might want to capitalize on the current uptrend.

However, reaching $3 will not be easy due to stiff resistance at this level, which has thwarted XRP's progress twice before. The $3 level needs to transform into a support level for the price to continue escalating. Furthermore, the buy momentum is gathering pace, indicated by a bullish cross on the 3-day MACD.

This could mark the beginning of a sustained rally in the forthcoming days and weeks.

Forecasting Cardano (ADA) Value for the Current Week

Cardano (ADA) is on an upward trend and is aiming to reach 90 cents. Despite securing a level of 64 cents as support, the buying volume remains low, reflecting hesitation. Increased buying conviction is required for the cryptocurrency to test the 90 cents resistance. ADA's price action has turned bullish after a higher low reversal, supporting the 64 cents level and hinting at a possible return to a $1 value.

However, sustained momentum is needed to maintain this uptrend. Despite ADA's recent success, the volume continues to decline, creating a bearish divergence when compared to the price. A higher valuation could attract more buyers, potentially reversing this trend and supporting a sustained uptrend.

Three Potential Factors for PENGU's Remarkable 160% Weekly Growth

Pudgy Penguins (PENGU), a Solana-based meme coin, registered a sharp increase of approximately 160% in its valuation over the last week, momentarily securing a place among the top 100 cryptocurrencies with a market cap of over $880 million.

The exact reasons behind this surge remain unclear, but it is speculated that the overall upswing in the cryptocurrency market, a generally positive sentiment among industry participants, and the recent celebration of World Penguin Day, might have contributed to the price rally. Despite other meme coins like Dogecoin (DOGE) and Shiba Inu (SHIB) also posting gains, none matched PENGU's exceptional performance.

The meme coin sector's market cap has now surpassed $61 billion, a significant rise from the sub-$40 billion level at the beginning of the month.

Bitwise CEO Discloses Factors Behind Bitcoin's Climb to $95K

Bitwise CEO, Hunter Horsley, has pointed out that the recent increase in Bitcoin's value to $95,000 is not due to retail investors, but rather the growing involvement of institutions, advisors, corporations, and even nations in the industry. Data from Bitcoin Treasuries shows that public companies own 3.35% of total Bitcoin supply, while nations hold 2.52%.

The US and China hold the largest amounts among countries. Horsley predicts Bitcoin could reach a $50 trillion valuation in the future, as it emerges as a dominant asset for storing value in the digital era. This view is echoed by Charles Edwards, founder of Capriole Investments, who suggests Bitcoin is currently trading at a nearly 40% discount to its fair value.

Is Ethereum Poised to Break $2K Following a 10% Weekly Increase? (A Price Analysis of ETH)

After a significant surge, Ethereum is nearing a crucial resistance zone around $1.8K, suggesting a short-term corrective consolidation might be on the cards before a bullish continuation. The surge was driven by strong buying pressure at the important $1.5K support level, creating a fair value gap and indicating smart money on the buyers' side.

However, the $1.8K region represents a formidable barrier, likely leading to a temporary consolidation phase, possibly followed by a minor correction. If the resistance is breached, the next critical level is likely to be $2.2K. On the lower timeframe, a bearish divergence between the price and the RSI indicator implies a short-term corrective move or extended consolidation before any further bullish breakout.

Market analysis suggests Ethereum’s price action shows growing strength and if momentum continues, it could spark a cascade of short liquidations, propelling Ethereum rapidly towards the next critical resistance zone near $2.5K.

Senior US Citizens Suffer Significant Losses from Cryptocurrency Frauds, FBI's IC3 Notes $2.8 Billion in Damages

The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) 2024 annual report shows a surge in cryptocurrency-related fraud incidents, with over 140,000 complaints leading to $9.3 billion in losses. A significant portion of these losses ($2.8 billion) was borne by older Americans aged 60 and above.

The report shows a 66% year-over-year increase in losses from such scams, mainly investment frauds, sextortion, and crypto ATM fraud. Also, ransomware attacks increased by 9% in 2024. Pig butchering scams, previously targeting older people, are now affecting younger individuals, especially those aged 30-49.

As a response, 'Operation Level Up' was launched in collaboration with the FBI and the US Secret Service to tackle crypto investment fraud, saving an estimated $285.6 million for victims and providing support for those showing suicidal tendencies.

What's Driving the Increase in Ripple's (XRP) Value Today?

XRP, the fourth-largest cryptocurrency, has seen a significant price rise of 5%, despite the overall stagnation of the cryptocurrency market. This increase is largely attributed to the approval of three Ripple Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) in the U.S by ProShares, giving it the go-ahead to launch the Ultra XRP ETF, Short XRP ETF, and Ultra Short XRP ETF.

These funds will track XRP futures prices, offering traders the option for long and short positions. While these are not the anticipated spot Ripple ETFs, it is believed that their approval has contributed to the notable XRP price increase over the weekend and Monday morning.

The eventual approval of spot XRP ETFs is expected to further influence XRP's price significantly, with predictions reaching up to $100.

Four Factors That May Affect Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency Markets This Week

Crypto and stock markets experienced some uplift last week, although analysts remain cautious given remaining uncertainties surrounding US equities. Global trade tensions and persistent inflation continue to influence consumer and investor sentiment. This week's economic data, leading up to the May Federal Reserve meeting, will be crucial.

It includes consumer confidence data, jobs data, March Core Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) report, Q1 GDP Growth Annualized advance estimate, and unemployment reports. A busy week of quarterly earnings is also expected, with Amazon, Apple, Meta, and Microsoft set to release their reports. Crypto markets showed early signs of decline in Asia on Monday, with Bitcoin showing slight volatility, Ethereum remaining at bear market levels, and XRP recording a 3% daily gain.

Latest XRP Update: Key Factors Impacting Ripple's Value

XRP's price saw a 6% increase this week, although it lagged behind other top 10 cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. However, five recent factors may impact its long-term value. Firstly, XRP surpassed Ethereum's fully diluted market cap for the first time in April, making it the second-largest asset of its kind.

Secondly, the appointment of Paul Atkins as the new SEC Chair, a well-versed figure in cryptocurrency, may resolve Ripple Labs' legal issues with the SEC.

Thirdly, Coinbase's launch of a CFTC-regulated XRP futures product could indicate new price support. Fourthly, 'crypto whales' are buying XRP, thus increasing the demand and possibly its price. Finally, Ripple's daily active addresses have surged 67%, a positive sign for the token's market valuation.

Investors Holding Locked Tokens Incur Significant Losses with $40B in Altcoins Poised to Unlock: STIX Study

STIX founder Taran Sabharwal's research reveals that investors with locked tokens have experienced substantial losses in the past year. From May 2024 to April 2025, token values dropped by approximately 50% on average, from over-the-counter (OTC) valuations to present prices.

Notably, projects like Scroll (SCR), Blast (BLAST), and Eigenlayer (EIGEN) recorded drastic declines in value. In comparison to the general crypto market's average 40.7% decline, early-stage token investors with locked positions suffered even higher losses. Additionally, with $40B in locked altcoins set to unlock soon, investors are bracing for another 50% decrease when selling in OTC markets.

This, coupled with the cost of missed opportunities due to liquidity value, has resulted in substantial value losses for locked token holders.