Solana shows mixed signals with RSI neutral at 48.28 and bearish MACD momentum. Technical analysis suggests potential recovery to $94-$102 range if bulls reclaim key levels. SOL Price Prediction S…
Solana shows mixed signals with RSI neutral at 48.28 and bearish MACD momentum. Technical analysis suggests potential recovery to $94-$102 range if bulls reclaim key levels.
While specific analyst predictions are limited for the immediate term, recent analysis from James Ding suggests a bullish long-term outlook for Solana. According to his January 15, 2026 assessment, “Solana shows bullish momentum above key moving averages with analyst targets ranging from $153 to $480 in 2026.”
However, this optimistic Solana forecast contrasts sharply with current price action. At $87.80, SOL trades significantly below these projected ranges, indicating either a major buying opportunity or overly optimistic projections. On-chain data from major analytics platforms suggests mixed momentum, with network activity remaining robust despite price weakness.
SOL Technical Analysis Breakdown
The current technical picture for SOL presents a neutral-to-bearish setup. The RSI at 48.28 sits in neutral territory, neither oversold nor overbought, suggesting indecision among traders. More concerning is the MACD histogram at 0.0000, indicating bearish momentum has stalled but hasn’t yet turned positive.
Solana’s position within the Bollinger Bands at 0.51 shows the price trading slightly above the middle band ($87.61), with room to move toward the upper band at $94.92. The current daily volatility measured by ATR stands at $4.59, providing clear expectations for potential price swings.
Key resistance levels emerge at $90.32 (immediate) and $92.85 (strong), while support holds at $86.36 and $84.93. The 24-hour trading range of $91.41 to $87.45 demonstrates the current consolidation phase.
Solana Price Targets: Bull vs Bear Case
Bullish Scenario
A bullish SOL price prediction scenario requires reclaiming the $90.32 resistance level with volume. Success here would target the upper Bollinger Band at $94.92, followed by the strong resistance at $92.85.
For this Solana forecast to materialize, we need:
– RSI pushing above 55 to confirm momentum
– MACD histogram turning positive
– Volume surge above the recent average of 245 million
Extended targets in a strong bull case could reach $102-$105, aligning with previous support-turned-resistance levels.
Bearish Scenario
The bearish case activates if SOL breaks below the critical support at $84.93. This would expose the lower Bollinger Band at $80.30 and potentially trigger a deeper correction toward $75-$78.
Risk factors include:
– Overall crypto market weakness
– Failed recovery attempts at current resistance
– MACD remaining in bearish territory
Should You Buy SOL? Entry Strategy
For traders considering SOL positions, the current setup offers defined risk-reward opportunities. Conservative entries should wait for a break above $90.32 with confirmation, targeting $94-$96 initially.
Aggressive buyers might consider accumulating in the $86-$88 range, using the strong support at $84.93 as a stop-loss level. This provides a favorable 3:1 risk-reward ratio targeting the $94-$102 range.
Risk management remains crucial given the mixed technical signals. Position sizing should account for the $4.59 daily volatility and potential for extended consolidation.
Conclusion
This SOL price prediction suggests a cautiously optimistic outlook for the next 30 days, with targets of $94-$102 representing realistic upside potential. The neutral RSI provides room for upward movement, while the Bollinger Band positioning supports a test of higher levels.
However, the bearish MACD momentum requires careful monitoring. Traders should wait for clearer technical confirmation before committing significant capital. The longer-term Solana forecast remains positive based on fundamental developments, but near-term price action may remain choppy.
This analysis is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial advice. Cryptocurrency investments carry significant risk, and past performance doesn’t guarantee future results.
ADA trades at $0.26 with neutral RSI at 45.47. Technical analysis suggests potential recovery to $0.29 upper Bollinger Band, though bearish MACD signals caution for Cardano investors.
While specific analyst predictions are limited in recent trading sessions, historical analysis from blockchain.news shows consistent targeting of the $0.43 resistance zone by technical analysts. However, current market conditions suggest more conservative near-term expectations.
According to on-chain data platforms, Cardano’s trading volume of $29.7 million on Binance indicates moderate institutional interest, though well below peak activity levels seen in previous bull cycles.
ADA Technical Analysis Breakdown
Cardano’s current technical setup presents a mixed picture for price prediction purposes. Trading at $0.26, ADA sits below all major moving averages, with the 200-day SMA at $0.49 highlighting the significant distance from longer-term bullish territory.
The RSI reading of 45.47 places Cardano in neutral territory, suggesting neither overbought nor oversold conditions. This positioning typically indicates consolidation phases where directional moves require external catalysts.
MACD indicators show bearish momentum with a histogram reading of 0.0000, indicating minimal momentum in either direction. The convergence of MACD lines suggests potential for trend reversal, though confirmation requires additional technical signals.
Bollinger Bands reveal ADA trading at 0.40 position between bands, with the upper band at $0.29 representing immediate resistance and the lower band at $0.25 marking critical support levels.
Cardano Price Targets: Bull vs Bear Case
Bullish Scenario
The bullish case for ADA price prediction centers on a break above the immediate resistance at $0.27, which aligns with multiple moving averages. Success here opens the path to the upper Bollinger Band at $0.29, representing a 12% upside potential from current levels.
Technical confirmation would require RSI pushing above 50 and MACD histogram turning positive. Volume expansion above the current $29.7 million daily average would strengthen bullish conviction for this Cardano forecast.
A sustained move above $0.29 could target the next major resistance zone around $0.32, though this requires broader cryptocurrency market cooperation.
Bearish Scenario
The bearish scenario for Cardano involves a breakdown below the lower Bollinger Band at $0.25, which represents the most critical support level in the current technical structure.
Below $0.25, ADA could face a deeper correction toward $0.22-$0.20, where historical support levels converge. The significant gap between current price and the 200-day moving average at $0.49 suggests prolonged consolidation risks.
Risk factors include continued bearish MACD readings, potential volume decline, and broader market weakness affecting altcoin sentiment.
Should You Buy ADA? Entry Strategy
For the ADA price prediction strategy, conservative accumulation near the $0.25 lower Bollinger Band offers favorable risk-reward positioning. This level provides natural stop-loss placement just below $0.24.
Aggressive traders might consider entries on breaks above $0.27 with volume confirmation, targeting the $0.29 upper band resistance. Stop-loss levels should be placed below $0.26 to limit downside exposure.
Risk management remains crucial given the 88% distance from the 200-day moving average, suggesting Cardano remains in a longer-term corrective phase despite near-term consolidation patterns.
Conclusion
This ADA price prediction suggests a cautious approach to Cardano’s near-term prospects. While technical indicators show neutral momentum with potential for recovery to $0.29, the bearish MACD and distance from major moving averages limit upside conviction.
The most probable Cardano forecast indicates continued range-bound trading between $0.25-$0.29 over the coming weeks, with directional clarity dependent on broader market catalysts.
Disclaimer: Cryptocurrency price predictions involve significant risk and uncertainty. This analysis is for informational purposes only and should not constitute financial advice. Always conduct your own research and consider your risk tolerance before making investment decisions.
As of Thursday, Polymarket bettors are pricing in about 71% odds of BTC dropping below $55,000 before Dec. 31, a 13% increase from the previous day.
Traders set 59% odds of BTC crossing below the $50,000 psychological level and a 46% chance that it goes as low as $45,000 before the end of the year.
Bitcoin prices target odds before Dec. 31. Source: Polymarket
The lower price target forecasts for BTC mimic those elsewhere. On fellow prediction site Kalshi, traders set 71% odds of Bitcoin dropping below $60,000, with a 65% chance that it drops below $55,000. The lowest price target on Kalshi is $40,000, with a 31% possibility that BTC drops to this level before Dec. 31.
Odds that Strategy sells Bitcoin in 2026. Source: Polymarket.
Polymarket traders still see routine Strategy purchases throughout the year as a high-probability event, with a 96% chance of it holding over 800,000 BTC by Dec. 31.
As Cointelegraph reported, the largest ETF offering from asset manager BlackRock saw $34 million in outflows as investor sentiment returned to “extreme fear.”
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. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.
Apex Group’s Tokeny has tapped Polygon Labs to launch T-REX Ledger, a compliance-focused blockchain designed to help regulated tokenized assets move across networks without repeating investor checks and transfer restrictions.
In a Thursday release shared with Cointelegraph, the project said it targets a key friction point in tokenized markets. ERC-3643 is an Ethereum-based token standard for permissioned tokens representing real-world assets that can support compliant issuance of RWAs, but identity checks, eligibility rules and transfer restrictions often remain fragmented when the same asset is distributed across multiple blockchains.
T-REX Ledger is being pitched as a shared compliance layer that other chains can query, while settlement continues to take place on external networks. Built with Polygon’s Chain Development Kit and connected to Agglayer, the system is intended to act as a common registry for investor eligibility and transfer rules across tokenized securities.
The launch comes as financial and crypto infrastructure groups race to build infrastructure for tokenized markets. The New York Stock Exchange parent company, Intercontinental Exchange, has outlined plans for a new platform for tokenized stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs), while the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC) joined the ERC-3643 Association in 2025 as institutions push deeper into tokenized collateral and securities infrastructure.
Fixing fragmented compliance
In the release, the network was described as a “shared source of truth” for investor eligibility and transfer rules.
The core problem T-REX aims to solve is that ERC-3643 enables compliant issuance but does not maintain a shared compliance state across chains. The same security measures applied to Ethereum and Polygon, for example, still run separate eligibility checks, identity attestations and transfer restrictions.
Joachim Lebrun, co-founder of T-REX Network and chief blockchain officer of Tokeny, told Cointelegraph that T-REX Ledger would support the issuance and lifecycle management of regulated digital securities, including bonds, funds, equities and structured products, with identity, eligibility and transfer rules embedded directly into ERC-3643 tokens.
Apex Group will act as the first onchain transfer agent and plans to adopt T-REX Ledger as its default multi-chain orchestration layer with an initial target of $100 billion in tokenized assets by June 2027.
T-REX Ledger centralizes compliance logic in a dedicated chain that other networks can query, while settlement remains on external chains.
Lebrun said, “The market has grown into a multi-chain world for tokenization” and argued that T-REX Ledger turned other blockchains into “distribution channels,” enabling regulated assets to move to “wherever liquidity exists with speed, compliance, and control.”
T-REX is pitching itself as a neutral registry layer that can sit alongside players in the tokenization race. Lebrun said that a security issued via T-REX Ledger “could ultimately settle at DTCC” because “the compliance validation doesn’t need to live on the same network as the settlement.”
The chain itself will run as a sovereign Polygon CDK network governed by a dedicated steering committee, while ERC-3643 and its compliance framework remain open source under the ERC-3643 Association, not Polygon.
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently. Read our Editorial Policy https://cointelegraph.com/editorial-policy
Ether’s correction is accompanied by significant long liquidations across the crypto market totaling $492.8 million over the last 24 hours. More than $144 million in long ETH positions were liquidated with Ether’s move to $2,100.
Ether’s decline came amid fresh selling in US-based spot ETH exchange-traded funds (ETFs), which recorded more than $55.5 million in net outflows on Wednesday, snapping a six-day inflow streak, according to data from Farside Investors.
Ether’s downward momentum may increase if spot and institutional buyers don’t step back in soon.
Ether’s downside may hinge on the key $2,000 support, as a correction below would trigger over $2.5 billion worth of leveraged long liquidations across all exchanges, CoinGlass data shows.
ETH exchange liquidation map. Source: CoinGlass
This means a significant amount of bullish bets would get wiped out on a move lower, leaving ETH vulnerable to a sharper downside cascade if bearish momentum takes hold.
ETH price stays sensitive to FOMC risks
Ether’s bearishness today follows the decision by the US Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) to leave interest rates unchanged after the March 18 meeting.
The chart below shows that the ETH/USD pair has declined after seven of the last eight FOMC meetings, establishing one of the clearest macro-driven fractals in its history.
ETH has set a consistent pattern as it stabilizes or rallies ahead of the meeting, then corrects sharply once the decision and the accompanying commentary hit news wires.
Typical post-FOMC drawdowns ranged between 16% and 23%, while deeper deleveraging phases pushed ETH price losses to 33%-43%.
From a technical perspective, Ether remains cautiously bullish despite macro risks. The price is retesting a key support zone near $2,100, which aligns with the upper trendline of an ascending triangle and the 50-day simple moving average (SMA).
Bulls are required to hold ETH above this level to regain their footing. It will then open the path toward the next major resistance at $2,575, where the 100-day SMA is.
Higher than that, the price could rise toward the measured target of the triangle at $2,700, 24% above the current price.
Conversely, failure to hold above $2,100 would weaken the setup, pushing ETH/USD back toward the triangle’s support line near $2,000, while putting the broader recovery at risk.
As Cointelegraph reported, a close below the 20-day exponential moving average near $2,000 would suggest that the bears are back in control, risking a deeper correction toward the next major support area around $1,800.
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. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.
Ether staking has grown significantly, with nearly 1 million validators and around 30% of ETH staked. However, operational complexity continues to prevent many institutions from participating directly, despite the potential yield opportunity.
Developers are working toward “one-click staking,” a simplified deployment model that allows institutions to run validators through automated, standardized systems without requiring deep technical expertise.
A key enabler of this shift is DVT-lite, which allows multiple nodes to jointly manage a validator, improving fault tolerance while reducing setup complexity and minimizing risks such as slashing penalties.
If successfully implemented, one-click staking could drive institutional adoption, increase validator diversity, strengthen network resilience and support Ethereum’s next phase of growth.
The Ethereum network’s proof-of-stake (PoS) framework has become a core part of the decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem. Following the landmark transition from proof-of-work (PoW) during the 2022 Merge, a major software upgrade that eliminated energy-intensive mining, validator participation has increased significantly.
However, as Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has suggested, a critical barrier remains. The technical complexity of staking is still prohibitively high for both retail participants and large institutions.
To bridge this gap, engineers are exploring ways to streamline validator setup. In particular, they are moving toward a one-click user experience. This initiative, using “DVT-lite” or simplified distributed validator technology, would allow organizations to manage nodes without needing specialized technical staff.
This article explores why Ethereum developers are pushing for one-click staking to simplify validator setup for institutions, reduce reliance on intermediaries, enhance decentralization and unlock broader validator participation.
Why Ethereum is revisiting the institutional staking user experience
Ethereum is revisiting the staking user experience (UX) for institutions because, despite significant growth in participation, major players remain reluctant to engage directly due to operational hurdles.
Ether (ETH) staking has expanded substantially in recent years. As of early 2026:
Approximately 37 million to 38 million Ether is staked.
This equates to roughly 30% to 32% of the circulating supply.
The network now supports nearly one million active validators.
Typical base staking yields fall in the 2% to 3% annual range.
These figures demonstrate the ecosystem’s increasing maturity. Yet the staking ratio also suggests considerable room for further expansion.
Large organizations such as crypto funds, fintech firms and corporations holding Ether on their balance sheets tend to avoid direct staking. The deterrent lies less in the potential rewards and more in the operational complexities involved.
Direct validator operation typically demands:
Detailed infrastructure setup and planning
Robust key management protocols
Ongoing validator client updates and maintenance
Constant monitoring to ensure uptime
Careful risk assessment and mitigation against slashing penalties
For institutions familiar with the streamlined processes of traditional finance, these technical and ongoing responsibilities often appear overly burdensome and misaligned with their standard operating frameworks.
Did you know? The concept of distributed validator technology has roots similar to multi-signature wallets, in which control is shared across participants. Instead of relying on a single key holder, multiple nodes cooperate, reducing the risks tied to a single point of failure.
What one-click staking means
When Buterin refers to one-click staking, he means simplifying the deployment of native validators, not custodial earn products offered by centralized exchanges.
The approach is designed to make direct validator operation easier for institutions. Under this model, an institution would:
Choose the computers or servers that will run the validator nodes.
Prepare a configuration file containing shared validator details, such as a common key across nodes.
Launch a standardized, containerized setup.
Once initiated, the system would automatically manage:
Buterin has proposed using Docker containers, Nix images or similar standardized formats. This would allow node operators to deploy validators much like modern cloud applications, with a single click or a simple command on each node.
This would turn staking infrastructure into something closer to routine software deployment rather than a niche blockchain operation.
Why today’s validator setup still intimidates institutions
Ethereum’s current validator setup continues to deter many institutions, despite the protocol’s emphasis on security and decentralization, primarily because of its technical complexity.
Operating a validator requires managing several distinct software components:
Consensus clients: Handle the Beacon Chain, proof-of-stake logic, validator duties and network consensus
Institutions must also contend with key operational risks, including:
Slashing penalties: Losses triggered by protocol violations such as double-signing or other forms of misbehavior
Downtime penalties: Reduced rewards or inactivity leaks when validators fail to attest or propose blocks because of outages
Security vulnerabilities: Particularly those involving the exposure or compromise of validator private keys
Even organizations with substantial resources often lack the specialized in-house blockchain expertise needed to manage these requirements efficiently. As a result, they frequently turn to third-party staking providers.
If too many validators are operated by the same large service providers, this reliance can create concentration risks.
Did you know? Some institutional investors already earn yield on idle assets through traditional systems such as repo markets. Ether staking is often compared to this, acting as a crypto-native yield layer for treasury-held Ether.
Why Buterin opposes expert-only staking
Buterin strongly opposes a staking ecosystem limited to specialist or professional operators, viewing it as a direct threat to Ethereum’s core decentralization principles.
He has criticized the idea that validator operation should remain a complex, expert-only task, describing that mindset as harmful and explicitly opposed to decentralization.
If staking infrastructure ends up dominated by a narrow set of professional providers:
Validation power could become excessively concentrated in a few hands.
The network could become more vulnerable to regulatory pressure or coercion directed at those dominant operators, potentially affecting the entire chain.
Overall system resilience could suffer, as failures, attacks or coordinated downtime among large operators could disrupt consensus more severely.
For these reasons, Buterin sees simplifying validator deployment through approaches such as one-click setups and lower operational barriers as a deliberate strategy to preserve decentralization.
This is why simplifying validator deployment is viewed not just as a user experience upgrade but also as a decentralization strategy.
How DVT helps
DVT plays a central role in efforts to make staking more accessible.
Rather than relying on a single machine that controls a validator through one private key, DVT allows multiple nodes to operate a single validator collaboratively.
In this setup:
Signing responsibilities are shared across several machines
No individual node possesses the full validator key
If one node goes offline, the remaining nodes can continue operations
This structure enhances fault tolerance and significantly reduces the risk of slashing penalties caused by downtime or failures.
Various projects in the Ethereum ecosystem have advanced DVT implementations in recent years.
Did you know? Ethereum validators do not compete the way miners once did. Instead of racing to solve puzzles, validators are randomly selected to propose and attest to blocks, making the system more energy efficient and predictable.
What sets DVT-lite apart
Full DVT can deliver significant benefits, but it often involves substantial technical complexity. To accelerate broader adoption, Buterin has advocated a streamlined variant called DVT-lite.
This simplified approach preserves the core advantages while eliminating more burdensome elements:
Shared validator responsibilities distributed across multiple nodes
Automatic network configuration
Built-in distributed key generation
The goal is to minimize unnecessary complexity, allowing institutions to deploy validators rapidly and efficiently.
Instead of building bespoke, highly customized staking setups, organizations can use standardized, automated tools that handle most of the configuration process.
The Ethereum Foundation’s 72,000 Ether experiment
The Ethereum Foundation has already begun testing this simplified approach. According to Buterin, the Foundation is currently staking 72,000 Ether through a DVT-lite system.
This real-world pilot evaluates whether streamlined distributed staking can function reliably at an institutional scale.
A successful outcome could offer a practical template for crypto funds, corporations and digital asset treasuries seeking to stake their Ether directly rather than through intermediaries.
The experiment also underscores that Ethereum developers view improved validator accessibility as a critical priority for the network’s future development.
Why institutions may finally begin staking
If one-click staking materializes, it could fundamentally alter the economics of institutional Ether holdings.
Entities already sitting on substantial Ether reserves would be able to earn staking yield internally without delegating to third parties.
Key potential advantages include:
Significantly lower infrastructure and operational overhead
Reduced reliance on centralized staking providers
Greater operational transparency
Stronger resilience enabled by distributed validator configurations
For organizations managing thousands of Ether, these changes could tip the balance decisively in favor of direct staking participation.
From a protocol standpoint, expanding validator participation strengthens the Ethereum network.
A larger and more diverse set of participants running validators leads to:
Greater geographic distribution of nodes
Reduced concentration of validation power
Greater resistance to censorship
Increased resilience in the face of failures or disruptions
By lowering barriers through easier staking tools, both institutions and individual operators can participate more readily as validators, reinforcing Ethereum’s security model.
This approach is consistent with Ethereum’s longstanding emphasis on broad participation over reliance on centralized infrastructure.
Why the timing is significant in 2026
Several concurrent developments across the network are making direct institutional staking more feasible.
Upcoming Ethereum upgrades focus on improving validator efficiency and scalability. For instance, proposals tied to the Pectra upgrade would raise the maximum effective balance for validators from 32 Ether to 2,048 Ether. This would allow operators to manage larger stakes within a single validator instance and reduce the operational burden of running numerous separate validators.
When paired with simplified DVT deployments, these changes could substantially reduce the technical and managerial hurdles involved.
Meanwhile, the staking ecosystem continues to show momentum:
Validator entry queues occasionally hold millions of Ether awaiting activation
Exit queues remain relatively small
Annual staking rewards now exceed $2 billion
Such indicators reflect sustained, long-term confidence in Ethereum’s staking mechanism.
Did you know? The idea of “one-click deployment” in crypto is inspired by cloud computing platforms such as Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Kubernetes, where complex infrastructure can be launched with minimal manual setup.
Challenges that persist in Ethereum development
Even with the potential of one-click staking, hurdles remain. Among the primary challenges are:
User interface design: Institutions require interfaces that streamline deployment while still surfacing essential security considerations
Regulatory uncertainty: Entities must navigate and comply with evolving cryptocurrency regulations in their respective jurisdictions
Operational oversight: Automated systems still require ongoing monitoring, auditing and adherence to security best practices
Developers must carefully balance ease of use with adequate safeguards to ensure automation does not create unforeseen vulnerabilities.
Could simpler staking introduce new risks?
Overly simplified tools might inadvertently create new centralization risks:
Widespread adoption of the same staking software stack among institutions could reduce infrastructure diversity
Standardized systems could emerge as high-value targets for exploits or attacks
Users could become overly reliant on automation, potentially overlooking underlying operational risks
Ethereum developers must therefore prioritize accessibility while also maintaining a diverse and resilient validator infrastructure.
What success would look like
If the one-click staking vision comes to fruition, it could lead to several changes:
Increased direct staking by institutions holding Ether
Broader distribution of validators across diverse organizations and geographic regions
Reduced dependence on centralized staking services
Greater overall network resilience
In that scenario, running a validator would become a standard infrastructure task rather than a highly specialized technical undertaking.
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Not all voters are sold on crypto, and in Illinois, the crypto industry lobby failed to secure a victory, despite spending millions.
On Tuesday, Illinois Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton won a primary election for a rare open US Senate seat in her state. She is expected to win in the general election and take the seat of retiring Democratic Senator Dick Durbin.
In the primary, she won over two other candidates, Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, who currently represents Illinois’ 8th Congressional district, and Representative Robin Kelly from Illinois’ 2nd.
The crypto lobby spent millions on ads supporting Krishnamoorthi. But ties to the industry may have been more of a liability among progressive voters.
“MAGA-backed crypto bros” finance Krishnamoorthi
In the months leading up to the election, Stratton ran on a progressive platform to oppose US President Donald Trump, and according to the Chicago Sun Times, was the only candidate to openly oppose Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). She also supported a higher minimum wage than Krishnamoorthi or Kelly.
As the primary race got closer, political action committees (PACs), notably Fairshake and Protect Progress, began to pour millions of dollars into the election.
Their motivations were clear. Ensuring that the industry has another crypto-friendly senator could be crucial as the Senate continues to work on the CLARITY Act.
Krishamoorthi was a strong supporter of the GENIUS Act, which provided favorable regulations for stablecoins. He also voted for the CLARITY Act and the Financial Innovation and Technology for the 21st Century Act. This earned him an “A” rating with Stand With Crypto, a cryptocurrency advocacy organization tracking legislative records and attitudes.
Stratton’s campaign drew particular attention to the crypto dollars in the final weeks of the election. The Chicago Sun Times estimated that Fairshake spent over $8 million.
In a March 3 video posted to X, Stratton said that Krishnamoorthi was “relying on his Trump-aligned allies” to tear her down with millions of dollars in attack ads. “His MAGA-backed crypto bros are dumping $7 million into this race to try to stop me. Illinoisans aren’t buying it,” she wrote.
The connection of crypto with Trump and Republicans more broadly is understandable. Marc Andreesen, one of the founders and major donors to Fairshake, has previously expressed his support for Trump, and said he’d be voting for him in 2024. Trump and his family members are themselves part of crypto investment schemes.
And the money doesn’t lie. Fairshake is technically non-partisan, but it has spent more in support of Republican candidates. According to Open Secrets, some 62% of its expenditures support Republicans and oppose Democrats, while 37% of its expenditures support Democrats and oppose Republicans.
This didn’t appear to sit well with voters, nor with other officials representing Illinois. Senator Tammy Duckworth claimed that Krishnamoorthi could be “compromised” by industry interests, an idea the representative denied.
A 2025 poll found that Illinois voters held largely favorable opinions about cryptocurrencies, but many also supported restrictions. Some 47% of Democratic voters would support “policies restricting the growth of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.”
Overall, 36% of Illinois voters “would be more likely to support elected officials who support restrictions on cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.”
Some election observers pointed out that Stratton had taken significant donations from current Illinois Governor JB Pritzker. But one Chicago voter told The Washington Post, “How many billionaires are supporting Raja?” The governor, by contrast, was “supporting his own lieutenant governor. That’s a nonissue for me. He should be doing it.”
Crypto lobby ramps up as midterms approach
The Illinois primary is just one of many races in which the crypto industry will spend money on ads and other support materials this year.
At the end of 2025, Fairshake alone had $190 million in cash on hand, $131 million of which it raised in the last half of the year.
Lawmakers and activists alike are concerned about the undue influence this could have on the midterm election outcomes. Senator Elizabeth Warren, a noted skeptic of the crypto industry, said that the Illinois primary would be “the test case for whether or not they can buy whatever candidate they want for Senate in Illinois and many of the congressional seats.”
Saurav Ghosh, the director of the Campaign Legal Center, previously told Cointelegraph, “This kind of influence buying ultimately undermines the democratic process by marginalizing everyday Americans, ensuring that their voices and interests take a backseat to the crypto industry’s deregulatory desires.”
The increasing association with crypto, MAGA and Trump could also prove problematic for keeping industry interests in Washington. Trump has negative approval ratings in all but 8 of the 50 states. Republicans are also facing predominant disapproval in the polls. If crypto becomes a byword for a Republican economic agenda, it may not work favorably in the midterms.
Political operatives have noted that, for the crypto lobby to retain influence, it needs to remain bipartisan. Democratic Representative Sam Liccardo told Politico last year, “I don’t think anybody in this town would recommend that an industry put their eggs in one party’s basket.”
In Congress, there are still a significant number of Democrats who are pro-crypto, or at the very least, not entirely opposed to the blockchain industry.
Filecoin Foundation chair Marta Belcher said, “Many policymakers on both sides of the aisle support crypto. I don’t think crypto is a partisan issue, just like ‘the internet’ isn’t a partisan issue. I don’t think, in 2025, either party can be ‘anti’ an entire technology if they’re thinking seriously about America’s future.”
Cointelegraph Features publishes long-form journalism, analysis, and narrative reporting produced by Cointelegraph’s in-house editorial team with subject-matter expertise. All articles are edited and reviewed by Cointelegraph editors in line with our editorial standards. Research or perspective in this article does not reflect the views of Cointelegraph as a company unless explicitly stated. Content published in Features does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Readers should conduct their own research and consult qualified professionals where appropriate. Cointelegraph maintains full editorial independence. The selection, commissioning, and publication of Features and Magazine content are not influenced by advertisers, partners, or commercial relationships. This content is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy.
This came in markedly above expectations at 0.7% month-on-month and 3.4% year-on-year, extending a trend from recent months. Markets had foreseen 0.3% and 3%, respectively.
“On an unadjusted basis, the index for final demand rose 3.4 percent for the 12 months ended in February, the largest 12- month advance since increasing 3.4 percent in February 2025,” an official statement from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) confirmed.
US PPI one-month % change. Source: BLS
The timing of the release was pertinent, coming just hours before the Federal Reserve was due to release its decision on interest-rate changes.
While markets saw practically no chance of a rate cut or hike, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting could still spark volatility based on the tone of Chair Jerome Powell’s accompanying statement and press conference.
“Macro remains the dominant driver into what is arguably the most important central bank week of the year,” trading company QCP Capital wrote in its latest “Market Color” analysis on the day.
QCP noted that other major central bank rate moves were scheduled for the day after the Fed.
“Markets have sharply pared easing expectations as higher oil prices complicate the path for rate cuts, even as growth and labour data soften,” it continued.
“For crypto, the implication is straightforward: the rates backdrop is becoming less supportive, not more.”
Fed target rate probabilities for March 18 FOMC meeting (screenshot). Source: CME Group FedWatch Tool
Lower interest rates imply better liquidity prospects for crypto and risk assets, while a hawkish Fed tends to pressure prices.
”Caution pays” for BTC price into FOMC
Going into FOMC, Bitcoin traders were firmly risk-off.
“$BTC hovering below weekly resistance; FOMC later today – I think caution pays here,” trader Jelle wrote in his latest commentary on X.
BTC/USD chart. Source: Jelle/X
An accompanying chart showed the risk of a fresh BTC price support breakdown, with Jelle and others having stated that Bitcoin remains in a bear market.
Crypto analyst Michaël van de Poppe, meanwhile, was more optimistic, still seeing a chance of $80,000 reappearing.
“Very strong move on $BTC this month, and now it’s consolidating. Nothing wrong with that, the opposite actually,” he told X followers.
“It’s very likely that we’ll continue to test higher, as resistances are still above us.”
BTC/USDT one-day chart. Source: Michaël van de Poppe/X
Van de Poppe acknowledged that he also “wouldn’t be surprised” at a test of range lows.
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. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.
Opinion by: Vikram Arun, co-founder and CEO of Superform
Crypto cards aren’t the future of payments. They’re a temporary interface for a world that hasn’t fully accepted cryptocurrencies.
They rely on banks as issuers, Visa or Mastercard as gatekeepers, and compliance rules that look exactly like TradFi.
In most cases, crypto is sold into idle USD, the assets stop earning and every swipe creates a taxable event.
That’s not innovation. That’s a debit card with extra steps.
As digital banks built with blockchain rails scale, crypto cards that behave like debit cards will become obsolete, replaced by systems that treat cards as a thin interface on top of robust onchain credit.
The problem with current crypto cards
To understand why this shift is necessary, consider what happens with current crypto cards. When systems force users to liquidate holdings to spend, they reinforce the paradigm crypto was meant to escape: the false choice between liquidity and ownership.
Debit-style crypto cards recreate this same trade-off because they require assets to become spendable balances, which halts yield and makes the system structurally negative-sum without subsidies.
The IRS treats converting cryptocurrency to fiat currency as a taxable disposal, meaning each coffee purchase triggers capital gains reporting and permanently removes assets from productive use. Card issuers typically earn 1% to 3%, plus a flat fee per transaction, from interchange fees. The infrastructure looks decentralized on the surface, but the dependencies run deep.
Onchain credit fixes these issues
Instead of selling assets to spend, onchain credit enables people to deposit yield-bearing assets, open a credit line and spend against it. When people swipe the card, their debt increases, but their assets keep earning. Nothing is sold unless the person fails to repay. If the position falls below governance-defined parameters, liquidation is deterministic and transparent. This shift toward wallet-native credit shows onchain credit moving from concept to practice.
In this model, spending doesn’t reduce ownership; it increases debt. Collateral continues to compound until the credit line is repaid or liquidated. There are no forced conversions and no idle balances. Yield-bearing stablecoins currently offer about 5% yield, and DeFi protocols range from 5% to 12%, depending on demand and token incentives.
Users holding these assets in credit accounts keep earning while maintaining spending power.
Any earning asset can be collateral
This shift from debit to credit fundamentally changes what’s possible. Once credit becomes the primary primitive, the question stops being “what can I spend?” and becomes “what can safely secure my credit?” Eligibility is no longer about whether an asset can be instantly liquidated into cash. It’s about whether it can be priced continuously, risk bounded and unwound deterministically.
This allows productive assets to compete for inclusion. Vault shares, yield-bearing dollars, US Treasury-backed assets and strategy positions are first-class collateral that don’t need to be converted into idle balances. These assets remain productive until liquidation becomes required. When assets keep earning, users don’t have to choose between liquidity and yield, credit lines become cheaper to maintain and protocols earn from management and performance, not interest spreads.
The card is just an interface
The card is not the product. A card is simply a consumer-facing compatibility layer, a thin authorization surface, and not the source of truth. What actually matters is the credit line itself: the ability to price a user’s onchain balance sheet and decide, in real time, whether a spend should be allowed.
Cards serve merchants and consumers. Once credit is the primitive, however, interfaces become interchangeable. Software and autonomous agents can already request payment programmatically. Whether through cards or APIs, the underlying question is the same: Is this spend authorized against the user’s credit?
If credit logic lives within the card, people remain locked into interchange fee structures, closed payment rails and rigid KYC requirements. If credit lives onchain, cards become optional. Collateral stays in user-controlled accounts, spending is authorized in real time and liquidation is deterministic.
Managing risk through transparency
Of course, this system raises questions about safety. The most immediate objection is volatility. If collateral can fluctuate in value, what protects people from being liquidated while they are buying groceries?
Governance sets conservative loan-to-value ratios in advance, ensuring users can only borrow against a fraction of their collateral. As collateral earns yield, this buffer grows automatically. Pricing happens continuously, not at arbitrary intervals, and liquidation triggers are transparent from the beginning.
Traditional credit obscures risk through adjustable interest rates, surprise fees and terms buried in legal documents. Onchain credit makes risk explicit. Governance-set parameters mean the community decides what’s acceptable, not a bank’s risk committee behind closed doors.
The path forward
The answer to managing this risk lies in how the system is governed. Governance controls which assets can be used as collateral, how they’re priced, acceptable risk levels and when liquidations occur. People opt in by depositing collateral, and from that point on, the protocol enforces the rules without blanket access to funds or quietly changed parameters.
Crypto cards will not disappear because they failed. They will disappear because they succeeded by bridging crypto into a world that still runs on legacy rails. As wallets improve and crypto-native payments become standard, spending won’t require banks, issuers or card networks at all. Interfaces will change. Payment rails will evolve. But onchain credit will remain: the ability to spend without selling, to keep assets productive and to enforce risk transparently.
Cards are an interface. Credit is the system.
Opinion by: Vikram Arun, co-founder and CEO of Superform.
This opinion article presents the author’s expert view, and it may not reflect the views of Cointelegraph.com. This content has undergone editorial review to ensure clarity and relevance. Cointelegraph remains committed to transparent reporting and upholding the highest standards of journalism. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research before taking any actions related to the company.
Bitcoin (BTC) traded at $74,000 on Wednesday, 2.6% below its six-week high of $76,000 reached on Tuesday, as traders brace for volatility following the US interest rate decision.
Key takeaways:
The odds of the US Federal Reserve leaving interest rates unchanged today are 100%.
BTC price may drop as low as $60,000 if support between $72,000 and $65,000 breaks.
With the ongoing Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting on March 17-18, markets could see volatile price swings toward key BTC price levels over the next few days. The interest rate decision will be announced on Wednesday at 2:00 PM ET.
Polymarket bettors price in a 100% chance that the current interest rates will remain between 3.5% and 3.75%, leaving less than 1% probability of a 0.25% rate cut.
Target rate possibilities for the March 18 FOMC meeting. Source: Polymarket
Futures market traders have also locked in a 98.9% chance that the Fed will leave the interest rates unchanged, with virtually no chance of a 25 bps reduction.
However, market participants say that any downside price action from unchanged interest rates is already priced in.
Meanwhile, there are other sources of volatility that traders have to contend with, including the US and Israel-Iran war, US inflation concerns and oil price spikes, along with Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell’s speech after the FOMC meeting.
US President Donald Trump has again pressured Powell to cut interest rates, saying on Truth Social on Thursday that the Fed chair should reduce borrowing rates immediately.
The market will keenly watch Powell’s language at the FOMC news conference to see if there is any shift in tone.
🇺🇸 TODAY: FOMC decision at 2:00 PM ET, followed by Powell’s press conference at 2:30 PM ET.
“The rate decision is fully priced in so low surprise risk,” veteran trader Matthew Dixon said in an X post on Wednesday.
The “real volatility catalyst is Powell’s tone,” whether hawkish or dovish, Dixon added.
“Jerome Powell is going to make things sound as good as he can on his last meeting. This is his legacy,” crypto analyst Sykodelic said, adding:
“I think we see a big unwinding of hedges after the meeting and both equities and Bitcoin continue to juice.”
Crypto trader BitcoinHyper said that the BTC price moved lower after the last six FOMC meetings.
BTC/USD price action after FOMC. Source: BitcoinHyper
Key Bitcoin price levels to watch
Bitcoin must flip the $76,000 resistance level into support to target higher highs above $80,000.
For this to happen, BTC/USD must first hold its position above the 50-day simple moving average (yellow line) on the daily chart. BTC price broke above the 50-day SMA on March 1 for the first time since January 1.
If the bulls can push the price above the $76,000-$80,000 resistance level, the next target is the 200-day SMA at $87,411.
One catalyst for higher prices could be continued demand from spot Bitcoin ETFs. On March 17, Bitcoin ETFs registered $199 million in inflows, marking the seventh consecutive day of net inflows.
The bears, meanwhile, will attempt to keep the $76,000 resistance in place, increasing the likelihood of a drop back into the $72,000-$65,000 range, where the 200-week exponential moving average (EMA) is.
Below $65,000, the next key area of interest remains between $62,500 and $60,000, which would erase all the gains since Feb. 6.
As Cointelegraph reported, a close below the moving averages would tilt the advantage back in favor of the bears, turning the rally over the past week into a bull trap.
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. While we strive to provide accurate and timely information, Cointelegraph does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information in this article. This article may contain forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. Cointelegraph will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from your reliance on this information.
