Crypto markets stayed in the spotlight this week as Bitcoin struggled near $80K amid growing trade war fears. Altcoin season is near but is still on hold until Bitcoin breaks higher, which didn’t stop XRP, Kaspa, and meme coins from making moves.
The industry also saw major updates in exchange-traded funds (ETFs), mining, and global adoption — from Ripple’s big acquisition to US miners racing against tariffs. If you missed the action, here’s a quick recap of this week’s biggest crypto news.
Bitcoin Must Hit $85K Before Altcoin Season Kicks Off — Van de Poppe
Crypto analyst Michaël van de Poppe believes the next altcoin season won’t start until Bitcoin breaks above $85,000. He argues that Bitcoin’s strength drives market confidence, and only after Bitcoin clears this level will Ethereum (ETH) and other altcoins follow. Van de Poppe points to global factors like possible Fed rate cuts, QE, and a weaker US dollar as key drivers for Bitcoin’s rise. For now, the Bitcoin price is holding support around $80,000, but a breakout could come fast if macro conditions align.
TRUMP Token Prepares for $320M Unlock as New Meme Coins Gain Traction
The TRUMP token is set to undergo a major unlock on April 18, releasing 40 million tokens valued at $320 million — about 4% of its total supply. With most tokens controlled by Trump-linked corporations, investors are bracing for potential price swings and sell pressure. Meanwhile, the new meme coin CARTFI is gaining attention with its innovative yield-generating model, turning idle meme coins into income-producing assets. Its presale has already raised $600K, positioning it as a potential standout in the next wave of DeFi-meme hybrids.
Kaspa Coin Jumps 13% Ahead of Major Network Upgrade
Kaspa Coin ($KAS) experienced a 13% rise this week, reaching a value of $0.075 as excitement builds for its upcoming Crescendo hard fork on May 5. The upgrade is expected to boost the network’s speed from 1 to 10 blocks per second without sacrificing security or decentralization — a rare feat for proof-of-work blockchains. Traders see this as a bullish catalyst, with the $KAS price breaking key resistance levels. Analysts believe the Kaspa Coin price could target $0.085, $0.10, or even higher in the coming weeks if momentum holds.
FTX Unstakes $21.5M in Solana, Raising Fresh Selling Fears
Defunct crypto exchange FTX and Alameda Research unstaked 186,326 SOL tokens worth $21.5 million, sparking new market jitters. The move is part of their ongoing asset liquidation process following FTX’s 2022 collapse. Solana’s price dropped 3.5% shortly after the unstaking, while trading volume spiked across SOL pairs. Although unstaking doesn’t guarantee an immediate sale, past behavior shows FTX often moves tokens to exchanges like Binance soon after. Market participants are now closely watching for potential selling pressure.
US Bitcoin Miners Scramble for ASICs Before Tariff Deadline
Bitcoin miners in the US are racing to import mining equipment ahead of Trump’s proposed tariff hike on Chinese and Southeast Asian tech. With tariffs reaching up to 36%, companies like Luxor Technology are chartering private flights to rush thousands of ASIC miners into the country. The new tax threat could drive up costs, squeeze profit margins, and push smaller miners out of the market. Industry leaders warn that this scramble may reshape the mining landscape and shift global power dynamics.
Grayscale Eyes Toncoin, TRON, and VeChain for Future Crypto Products
Grayscale is expanding its crypto watchlist, signaling possible new investment products. The firm added Toncoin (TON), TRON (TRX), VeChain (VET), and several others, like Jito (JTO) and Helium (HNT), to its latest assets under consideration list. This move shows Grayscale’s growing interest in emerging sectors like DeFi, real-world assets (RWA), and tokenized IP. While there’s no guarantee of listing, Grayscale’s attention often sparks market buzz and could attract more institutional money to these projects.
VanEck Files for First-Ever Avalanche (AVAX) Spot ETF
Nasdaq filed to list the Avalanche ETF, aimed at providing investors regulated exposure to AVAX, one of crypto’s fastest-growing Layer 1 blockchain networks. If approved by the SEC, it would mark one of the first US spot ETFs for an altcoin beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. VanEck chose Avalanche for its speed, scalability, and strong Web3 presence. The move comes as competition heats up, with Grayscale also filing for Avalanche and other altcoin ETFs, signaling growing demand for regulated crypto products.
XRP Price Jumps 30% After Trump Pauses Tariffs, Bulls Eye $3.40
XRP price bounced back strongly this week, climbing 30% from $1.61 to $2.15 after Donald Trump paused tariffs on most countries — easing fears of a recession. Ripple also dodged another blow as falling inflation may push the Fed to cut interest rates soon, a bullish sign for crypto. Technically, XRP broke above key support, even though it had been constrained by a bearish head and shoulders pattern. If momentum holds, analysts say XRP could retest its $3.40 yearly high — but it needs to clear $2.25 first.
China and Russia Start Using Bitcoin for Energy Trade
VanEck has confirmed that China and Russia are now settling some energy transactions using Bitcoin — a shift away from the US dollar in global trade. The move comes as both nations look to bypass US sanctions and reduce their dependence on the dollar amid rising trade tensions with the Trump administration. While still early, this marks a critical step in Bitcoin’s evolution from a speculative asset to a practical tool for global commerce — especially in energy and cross-border trade.
Bitcoin Price Slips Toward $73K as Trade War Fears Mount
Bitcoin price has dropped 32% from its yearly high, falling to $74,500 as rising US-China trade tensions spark global recession fears. Trump’s latest tariff hikes on all Chinese goods — now up to 104%— have rattled markets, pushing Bitcoin ETFs to see four straight days of outflows. Technical analysis shows that Bitcoin is likely headed to key support at $73,550. If that fails, prices could plunge further toward $62,530. The bulls need a recovery above $87,000 to regain momentum.
Ripple Acquires Hidden Road in $1.25B Deal to Bridge Crypto and TradFi
Ripple has acquired prime brokerage firm Hidden Road for $1.25 billion, marking a bold move to connect traditional finance with blockchain technology. Hidden Road serves over 300 institutional clients and processes $3 trillion in annual trading volume. Ripple plans to use its USD-backed stablecoin (RLUSD) across Hidden Road’s services and shift its post-trade operations onto the XRP Ledger. The deal positions Ripple as the first crypto company to own a multi-asset prime broker — a major step toward institutional blockchain adoption.
NYSE Arca Approves First 2x Daily XRP ETF from Teucrium
Teucrium launched the first-ever 2x leveraged XRP ETF (ticker: XXRP) in the US on April 8, 2025, after approval from NYSE Arca. The fund will offer investors twice the daily performance of XRP futures — a high-risk, high-reward product aimed at active traders and institutions. Teucrium, known for its commodity ETFs, is expanding its expertise into crypto markets. XXRP gives traditional investors regulated access to XRP price action without needing a crypto wallet or exchange account.
Hong Kong Opens Door to Crypto Staking and ETFs
Hong Kong is taking a bold step to cement its place as a global crypto hub. The city’s Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) will now allow licensed crypto exchanges and investment funds to offer staking services to boost blockchain security and investor participation. Platforms must maintain complete control of client assets and disclose staking risks. Alongside this, Hong Kong is expanding crypto ETFs, giving retail and institutional investors easier access to Bitcoin and Ethereum exposure.
