Altcoins

XRP (XRP) price versus Ether (ETH) reached its highest level in five years over the weekend, extending its recovery.

On March 15, the XRP/ETH pair touched 0.00128 ETH for the first time since April 2020. That amounts to a 925% rebound when measured from its all-time low of 0.00013 ETH established in June 2024 and approximately 620% gains since November 2024, when Donald Trump won the US presidential election.

XRP potential breakout versus ETH

The XRP/ETH rally is fueling speculation among market watchers that XRP could flip Ether to become the second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization.

For instance, analyst Dom highlights 0.0012 ETH as a historically significant resistance level, a threshold that has consistently preceded explosive rallies in past cycles. He notes that XRP has gone parabolic after breaking this resistance, delivering gains of at least 160% in previous instances.

He illustrated the same with three key breakout points—in early 2017, late 2017, and 2018 when XRP’s surged against Ether following a confirmed breach of the 0.0012 ETH resistance.

As of March 16, XRP was once again testing this critical level. If history repeats itself, even a partial rally of 80% would be enough for XRP to flip ETH in market capitalization, DOM suggests, especially as Ether’s price risks more downside in 2025.

Related: XRP price poised for 46% gains after Ripple secures first Dubai license

At $138 billion, XRP’s market cap is less than $100 billion short of hitting Ethereum’s. Moreover, XRP’s fully diluted valuation (FDV) briefly surpassed Ethereum’s earlier this week.

For context, FDV represents the total theoretical value of all tokens, including those not yet in circulation, whereas market capitalization only accounts for tokens currently in circulation.

Why is Ethereum underperforming XRP?

XRP’s market dominance has grown by over 300% since Trump’s reelection on Nov. 5.

The same period has witnessed Ethereum losing its market share by over 35.50%, showing a clear lack of interest among traders for Ether compared to other top-ranking crypto assets.

A key factor in this divergence is regulatory sentiment. Trump has positioned the US as the future “world’s crypto capital,” appointing pro-crypto regulators and pledging to foster a more favorable environment.

This shift has especially benefited XRP, which caters to enterprise users, particularly as Ripple unveiled an institutional DeFi roadmap in February.

Meanwhile, Ethereum has slumped due to rising competition from rival layer-1 blockchains, particularly Solana (SOL).

The Dencun upgrade in March 2024, which slashed Ethereum’s transaction fees by 95%, was intended to improve scalability. However, it has also reduced ETH burn rates, increasing supply and weakening its deflationary appeal and “ultrasound money” narrative.

At the same time, Solana’s dominance has risen, with its trading volume now rivaling Ethereum and all its layer-2 chains combined.

The network’s faster and cheaper transactions have made it the go-to platform for DeFi activity, memecoin trading, and NFT markets, which Ethereum previously dominated. This shift has eroded Ethereum’s market share, particularly among traders and developers seeking high-speed, low-cost transactions.

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.

Toncoin (TON) has surged by over 50% in the past week, fueled by news that Telegram founder Pavel Durov has been granted permission to leave France for Dubai.

TON’s bullish reversal, especially after falling to $2.35, its lowest level in a year, has traders eyeing key price levels, with crypto analyst Crypto Patel highlighting a “great entry zone” for long-term investors.

TON is eyeing a 100% rally in 2025

As Crypto Patel notes, TON’s price has “perfectly bounced” from its support level of around $2.50.

Furthermore, the support falls inside the $2.40-3.00 area that served as resistance in December 2022-April 2023 and September 2023-April 2024 periods. The analyst argues that the area now served as a “great entry zone,” citing TON’s ongoing rebound from the same range.

A decisive rebound from the $2.40-3.00 zone could have TON target its prevailing descending trendline resistance in the coming weeks, which may push its price toward $5 by June or July.

Related: Wallet in Telegram to list 50 tokens and launch yield program

The upside outlook aligns with analyst Profit Mind’s falling wedge setup, which anticipates the Toncoin price to grow toward the $6 upside target if it breaks above the wedge’s upper trendline.

Falling wedges typically resolve when the price breaks above the upper trendline and rises by as much as the pattern’s maximum height.

Analyst Crypto Billion further anticipates a bullish reversal in TON markets, citing its oversold relative strength index (RSI) as a primary catalyst for potential long-term accumulation.

Toncoin’s Sharpe ratio, a financial metric used to measure an asset’s risk-adjusted returns, further indicates oversold conditions in the TON market.

As of March 16, the 180-day average ratio had dropped below -25, as denoted in blue. In the past, TON has undergone bullish reversals largely when its Sharpe ratio turned blue, as seen in late 2022 and mid-2023.

TON shorts remain dominant

In the derivatives market, Toncoin is witnessing a resurgence in its open interest (OI) — a metric tracking the total number of unsettled TON contracts such as options and futures.

As of March 16, TON’s OI was around $169.12 million, compared to $80.75 million just five days prior.

On the flip side, TON’s weekly funding rates are treading around negative territory — they marginally rose into positive territory after plunging to -0.678% earlier on March 16.

When funding rates turn negative as OI rises, it often reflects bearish sentiment with aggressive shorting. The 30-day liquidation map tracking TON/USDT on Bybit risks nearly $10 million in long liquidations if the Toncoin price falls toward $2.54.

Conversely, the same liquidation map reveals that approximately $12 million worth of short positions could be at risk if TON surpasses the $4 mark.

If this scenario plays out, the cascading effect of forced buybacks could accelerate Toncoin’s upward momentum, sending the price to the aforementioned levels.

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.

The creator of the Libra (LIBRA) token has launched another memecoin with some of the same concerning onchain patterns that pointed to significant insider trading activity ahead of the coin’s 99% collapse.

Hayden Davis, the co-creator of the Official Melania Meme (MELANIA) and the Libra token, has launched a new Solana-based memecoin, with an over 80% insider supply.

Davis launched the Wolf (WOLF) memecoin on March 8, banking on rumors of Jordan Belfort, known as the Wolf of Wall Street, launching his own token.

The token reached a peak $42 million market cap, however, 82% of the WOLF token’s supply was bundled under the same entity, according to a March 15 X post by Bubblemaps, which wrote:

“The bubble map revealed something strange — $WOLF had the same pattern as $HOOD, a token launched by Hayden Davis. Was he behind this one too?”

The blockchain analytics platform revealed transfers across 17 different addresses stemming back to address ‘OxcEAe’ owned by Davis.

“He funded these wallets months before $LIBRA and $WOLF launched, moving money through 17 addresses and 2 chains,” Bubblemaps added.

The Wolf memecoin lost over 99% of its value within two days, from the peak $42.9 million market capitalization on March 8 at 4:00 a.m. UTC, to just $570,000 at press time, Dexscreener data shows.

Davies’ latest token launch comes weeks after the Libra token’s collapse where eight insider wallets cashed out $107 million in liquidity, leading to a $4 billion market cap wipeout within hours.

The Libra token turned into a political issue, with Argentinian President Javier Milei risking impeachment after his endorsement of the Libra coin.

Argentine lawyer Gregorio Dalbon has asked for an Interpol Red Notice to be issued for Davis citing a “procedural risk” if Davis remained free as he could have access to vast amounts of money that would allow him to either flee the US or go into hiding.

Related: Milei-endorsed Libra token was ‘open secret’ in memecoin circles — Jupiter

Memecoins are turning into “retail value extraction tools”

Memecoins are turning against crypto’s fundamental ethos of decentralization, becoming increasingly used to exploit retail investors amid the growing number of rug pulls, according to Anastasija Plotnikova, co-founder and CEO of blockchain regulatory firm Fideum.

“Memecoins have evolved from community-driven social experiments into a chaotic landscape dominated by value extraction from retail investors,” Plotnikova told Cointelegraph, adding:

“Insider rings, pump-and-dump schemes, and sniper groups have replaced the organic, collectible nature of original memecoins, creating an unhealthy playing field.”

Related: TRUMP, DOGE, BONK ETF approvals ‘more likely’ under new SEC leadership

Investors will also need to distinguish between memecoins that can be seen as genuine “collectibles” and “outright fraudulent activities” like rug pulls which are “not only unethical but also clearly illegal, with case law to support enforcement.”

“In my view, these activities should fall firmly within the jurisdiction of law enforcement agencies,” she added.

United States regulators are becoming increasingly aware of the growing memecoin scams.

A New York lawmaker introduced a bill that would establish criminal penalties specifically aimed at preventing cryptocurrency fraud and protecting investors from rug pulls, Cointelegraph reported on March 6.

Under the proposal, new criminal charges would be created for offenses involving “virtual token fraud,” explicitly targeting deceptive practices associated with cryptocurrencies.

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Bitcoin’s historic bull cycle is still intact, despite widespread investor fear over the current correction, which may only be a temporary “shakeout” ahead of the next leg up, according to crypto market analysts.

Bitcoin’s (BTC) price is currently down 22% from its all-time high of over $109,000 recorded on Jan. 20, on the day of US President Donald Trump’s inauguration, Cointelegraph Markets Pro data shows.

Despite investor sentiment dropping into “Extreme Fear” multiple times, historic chart patterns suggest that this may just be a price shakeout — a sudden price drop caused by multiple investors exiting their positions, preceded by a sudden price recovery.

“Several key technical indicators have turned bearish, leading to speculation that the bull cycle may be ending prematurely,” Bitfinex analysts told Cointelegraph.

“Despite this, Bitcoin’s 4-year cycle remains an important factor, historically shaping price movements,” said the analysts, adding:

“Corrections within bull cycles are normal, and past trends suggest that this may be a shakeout rather than the start of a prolonged bear market.”

However, the launch of the US spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which temporarily surpassed $125 billion in cumulative holdings, along with the growing institutional crypto investments make it “clear that the conventional cycle ceases to exist,” the analysts added.

Related: Bitcoin needs weekly close above $81K to avoid downside ahead of FOMC

In an optimistic sign for price action, Bitcoin staged a daily close above $84,000 on March 15, for the first time in over a week since March 8, TradingView data shows.

However, due to Bitcoin’s correlation with traditional financial markets, BTC may only find a bottom along with equity markets, particularly the S&P 500, said Bitfinex analysts, adding:

“While $72,000–$73,000 remains a key support range, the broader market narrative, especially global treasury yields and equity trends, will dictate Bitcoin’s next major move.”

“Trade wars have already been priced in, to some extent, but prolonged economic strain could weigh on sentiment,” the analysts added.

Related: Rising $219B stablecoin supply signals mid-bull cycle, not market top

Bitcoin halving and four-year cycle still crucial for price action: Nexo analyst

Despite fears over a disrupted Bitcoin bull market, the four-year cycle, along with the Bitcoin halving event, remain crucial for Bitcoin’s price action, according to Iliya Kalchev, dispatch analyst at Nexo digital asset investment platform.

“Bitcoin’s four-year compound annual growth rate (CAGR) has declined to a record low of 8%, posing questions about whether its traditional four-year cycle remains valid,” Kalchev told Cointelegraph, adding:

“Although strong institutional adoption over the past year has served as a significant tailwind for Bitcoin, its halving events are still expected to exert long-term influence.”

The 2024 Bitcoin halving reduced the Bitcoin network’s block reward to 3.125 BTC per block.

Bitcoin price is up over 31% since the last halving occurred on April 20, 2024, which was coined the “most bullish” setup for Bitcoin price, partly because of the growing institutional interest in the world’s first cryptocurrency.

Magazine: SEC’s U-turn on crypto leaves key questions unanswered

Toncoin Open Interest (OI) has jumped 67% over the past 24 hours amid reports of Telegram founder Pavel Durov’s departure from France, where he had been required to stay since his arrest seven months ago.

On March 15, Toncoin (TON) OI  — a metric tracking the total number of unsettled Toncoin derivative contracts such as options and futures —  reached $169 million, representing a 67% increase from the previous day when the reports of Durov’s departure first surfaced, according to CoinGlass data.

Toncoin open interest reaches highest level in 42 days

It is the highest level of OI in Toncoin since Feb. 1, when it was sitting at $171.49 million.

TON is The Open Network’s native cryptocurrency and is the exclusive blockchain infrastructure for Telegram’s Mini App ecosystem.

TON’s price jumped 17% over the same 24-hour period, trading at $3.45 at the time of publication, according to CoinMarketCap data.

Trading resource account Crypto Billion said in a March 15 X post that Toncoin is “showing signs of a potential long-term accumulation phase as it stabilizes near key support levels.”

However, if this rally is short-lived, around $18.8 million in long positions could be liquidated if TON’s price falls back toward the $3 level it was trading at on March 14.

Toncoin open interest also surged after arrest in 2024

The court reportedly allowed Durov to travel to Dubai, a city with no extradition agreements with many countries.

The market’s reaction hints at the potential significance of this case for the crypto industry. Many are worried that Durov’s arrest in August 2024 in France could set a precedent for cracking down on other privacy-focused services. He was accused of running a platform that enables illicit transactions.

Related: Bitget predicts TON ‘de-Telegramization’ in the next 2 year

Similarly, when Durov was arrested in August 2024, TON’s OI also surged. 

Following the news of Durov’s arrest on Aug. 24, 2024, TON’s OI spiked 32% over the following 24 hours, alongside its price falling almost 12%.

On Jan. 21, Telegram announced it would cease support for all blockchains other than The Open Network for its messenger services.

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Kaito AI, an artificial intelligence-powered platform that aggregates crypto data to provide market analysis for users, and its founder Yu Hu, were the victims of an X social media hack on March 15.

In several now-deleted posts, hackers claimed that the Kaito wallets were compromised and advised users that their funds were not safe.

According to DeFi Warhol, the hackers opened up a short position on KAITO tokens before posting the messages in the hopes that users would sell or pull their funds, which would have crashed the price and created profits for the threat actors.

The Kaito AI team regained access to the accounts and reassured users that Kaito token wallets were not compromised in the social media exploit.

“We had high-standard security measures in place to prevent [the hack] — so it seems to be similar or the same as other recent Twitter account hacks,” the Kaito AI team added.

This recent exploit is the latest in a growing list of social media hacks, social engineering scams, and cybersecurity incidents plaguing the crypto industry.

Related: Kaito AI token defies influencer selling pressure with 50% price rally

Vigilance is key: some of the latest scams and exploits to impact crypto

Pump.fun’s X account was hacked on Feb. 26 by a threat actor promoting several fake tokens, including a fraudulent governance token for the fair launch platform called “Pump.”

According to onchain sleuth ZackXBT, the Pump.fun incident was directly connected to the Jupiter DAO account hack and the DogWifCoin X account compromise.

On March 7, The Alberta Securities Commission, a Canadian financial regulator, warned the public that malicious actors were using fake news articles and fake endorsements featuring the likeness of Canadian politicians to promote a crypto scam.

The scam, known as CanCap, played on fears of a trade war between Canada and the US to lure unsuspecting victims into investing in the project, which the scammers claimed had the support of Canadian leader Justin Trudeau.

Crypto executives are also sounding the alarm on a new scam from the state-sponsored Lazarus hacker group, where the hackers pose as venture capitalists in a Zoom meeting.

Once the target is in the meeting room, the hackers would claim they were experiencing audio-visual issues and redirect the victim to a malicious chat room where the user is encouraged to download a patch.

The patch contains malicious software designed to steal crypto private keys and other sensitive information from the victim’s computer.

Magazine: Lazarus Group’s favorite exploit revealed — Crypto hacks analysis

The price of Toncoin (TON) jumped over 6% following the release of Telegram founder Pavel Durov from France, where he had been compelled to remain since his arrest in August 2024.

According to CoinMarketCap, the price of TON has rallied by roughly 18% in the last 24 hours and over 13% in the last seven days.

Following the news of the Telegram founder’s arrest in France on Aug. 24, 2024, the price of TON plummeted by over 35%, from roughly $6.88 to $4.44 by September 2024.

The digital asset reached a high of $7.20 on December 4, 2024, amid a historic rally in the crypto markets in response to the re-election of President Donald Trump in the United States.

However, TON’s price collapsed by roughly 67% after the post-election rally, reaching a low of $2.36 on March 11, 2025.

Toncoin is the cryptocurrency of The Open Network, which is separate from the Telegram platform, but has become a staple for users of the messaging application.

French prosecutors accused Durov of running a platform that allegedly enables illegal activities, according to charges announced on Aug. 28, 2024.

Durov being granted approval to leave France was applauded by Telegram and TON users as a win for freedom of speech, while the debate between online security and freedom of expression continues to foment.

Related: Wallet in Telegram to list 50 tokens and launch yield program

Pavel Durov finally allowed to leave France after months

The Telegram founder reportedly secured permission to leave France on March 13 to travel to Dubai.

According to the AFP news agency, unnamed sources confirmed Durov’s departure from the European country this morning, and other sources claimed that the Telegram founder was allowed to leave France for “several weeks.”

At this point, it is unclear whether the case has been settled in French courts or if Durov has only been granted temporary travel time while the case is arbitrated in the legal system.

French law enforcement officials have accused Telegram of facilitating illegal activities by failing to censor the messaging platform and also pressed charges against Durov — forcing him to remain in France as part of a bail agreement.

The Telegram founder later characterized the arrest as unnecessary and said that the company maintains a representative in the European Union to handle legal requests.

Durov emphasized that he and the company would have gladly cooperated with French authorities if an appropriate legal request for help was submitted.

Magazine: Did Telegram’s Pavel Durov commit a crime? Crypto lawyers weigh in

The Open Network (TON) Society released a statement on March 15 celebrating the return of Pavel Durov’s passport as a win for freedom of speech, online privacy, and innovation.

According to the AFP news agency, Durov left France and headed to Dubai on the morning of March 15 after gaining permission from French officials to depart the European country.

“We have stood behind Pavel since his arrest on August 24, 2024,” the TON Society wrote. The group added:

“Pavel’s unwavering commitment to freedom of speech and transparency, despite facing the most challenging of circumstances, is a powerful reminder of the importance of standing by your principles, even when it is politically and personally detrimental to do so.”

The TON Society previously penned a letter condemning the French government for detaining Durov and urging the country to release the Telegram founder.

“The arrest of the Telegram founder, Pavel Durov, is a direct assault on a basic human right — the freedom of expression of everyone,” the TON Society’s Aug. 27 letter read.

At the time, the organization also called on the United Nations, the Council of Europe (CoE), the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the European Union (EU) to intervene and push for Durov’s release.

Free speech advocates in the crypto industry sounded the alarm over Pavel Durov’s arrest, citing the troubling implications for privacy and decentralized technologies in the face of state pressure to censor the internet and the potential for regulatory capture.

Emmanuel Macron denies political motivation for Durov’s arrest

Shortly after French law enforcement officials detained the Telegram founder, President Emmanuel Macron denied the arrest was politically motivated and claimed that France was committed to free speech.

In a subsequent press conference, Macron also denied inviting Durov to France amid a torrent of backlash from the crypto community and free speech advocates.

Chris Pavlovski, the CEO of the free-speech video platform Rumble, announced that he safely departed Europe shortly following the detention of Pavel Durov.

In an Aug. 25 X post, the CEO said that the French government threatened Rumble and condemned state authorities for the crackdown on free speech.

Magazine: Did Telegram’s Pavel Durov commit a crime? Crypto lawyers weigh in

The current crypto market correction is merely the middle of the bull cycle, not the top, based on the steadily growing stablecoin supply, which may signal more incoming investment according to analysts.

The cumulative stablecoin supply has surpassed $219 billion, suggesting that the current cycle is still far from its top.

Historically, stablecoin supply peaks have aligned with crypto cycle tops, according to a March 14 X post by crypto intelligence platform IntoTheBlock, which wrote:

“In April 2022, supply hit $187B—just as the bear market started. Now it’s at $219B and still rising, suggesting we’re likely still mid-cycle.”

Increasing stablecoin inflows to crypto exchanges can signal incoming buying pressure and growing investor appetite, as stablecoins are the main investor on-ramp from fiat to the crypto world. 

Still, Ether (ETH) price is down over 52% over the past three months, after it peaked above $4,100 on Dec. 16, 2024, and analysts are eying another decline below $1,900, a “robust” demand zone that may bring more investment into the world’s largest cryptocurrency.

Related: Bitcoin needs weekly close above $81K to avoid downside ahead of FOMC

Crypto market will likely lack direction ahead of FOMC meeting: analyst

Despite the rising stablecoin supply, the crypto market may continue to lack direction ahead of next week’s Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting.

Next week’s FOMC meeting may be decisive for crypto markets, which remain influenced by macroeconomic developments, according to Stella Zlatareva, dispatch editor at Nexo digital asset investment platform.

Zlatareva told Cointelegraph:

“Bitcoin’s movement below key technical levels, mirroring the S&P 500’s trajectory, highlights the market’s cautious tone as traders await key economic data for direction, including U.S. retail sales and the FOMC meeting.”

“All eyes are set on next Wednesday’s FOMC meeting, anticipating insights into U.S. monetary policy and potential interest rate adjustments, especially given the recent declines in U.S. PPI and initial jobless claims figures, which point towards a slowing economy,” she added.

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The predictions come days ahead of the next FOMC meeting scheduled for March 19. Markets are currently pricing in a 98% chance that the Fed will keep interest rates steady, according to the latest estimates of the CME Group’s FedWatch tool.

Despite the potential for short-term volatility, investors remain optimistic for the rest of 2025, VanEck predicted a $6,000 cycle top for Ether’s price and a $180,000 Bitcoin price during 2025.

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Ether risks another decline below $1,900, which may open up a significant amount of investor demand, which may catalyze Ether’s recovery from its three-month downtrend

Ether (ETH) price fell over 52% during its three-month downtrend after it peaked above $4,100 on Dec. 16, 2024, TradingView data shows.

While another correction below $1,900 is on the horizon, this may unleash significant buying pressure, according to Juan Pellicer, senior research analyst at IntoTheBlock.

“Onchain metrics reveal a robust demand zone for ETH just below $1,900,” the analyst told Cointelegraph, adding:

“Historically, around 4.3 million ETH were bought in the $1,848–$1,905 range, signaling substantial support. If ETH drops below this level, capitulation risks rise, as demand beyond this zone appears much thinner.”

In financial markets, capitulation refers to investors selling their positions in a panic, leading to a significant price decline and signaling an imminent market bottom before the start of the next uptrend.

Related: Bitcoin needs weekly close above $81K to avoid downside ahead of FOMC

Ether unlikely to see more downside below $1.9k amid growing whale accumulation: analyst

While Ether may see a temporary correction below $1,900, it is unlikely to fall much lower due to the growing whale accumulation, according to Nicolai Sondergaard, research analyst at Nansen.

“It does seem likely that if ETH is unable to hold the $1,900 level that we’d see further downside,” the analyst told Cointelegraph, adding:

“Supposedly whales have been accumulating, and WLFI also holds substantial amounts of ETH, and regardless, price action has not been favorable.”

This behavior was also seen in recent options data where larger players/institutions were positioning themselves for moves in either direction, which shows how uncertain the market is about where ETH is going,” added the analyst.

Related: FTX liquidated $1.5B in 3AC assets 2 weeks before hedge fund’s collapse

Whale addresses count on Ethereum started staging a recovery since the beginning of 2025.

Whale addresses with at least 1,000 ETH or $1.92 million, rose over 4% year-to-date, from 4,652 addresses on Jan. 1 to over 4,843 addresses on March 14, Glassnode data shows.

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