“LTC is now in Solana,” the hacker wrote in a now-deleted and grammatically incorrect post, which featured a contract address and a Pump.fun link to the scam token.

In an update, the Litecoin team announced that it regained control of the account and said the hack was due to a compromised delegated account that has since been removed.

There has been a string of account hacks on X in recent months, resulting in the promotion of fake tokens or phishing links designed to steal funds and sensitive data.

Related: Hacker breaches 15 X accounts, nets $500K boosting bogus memecoins: ZachXBT

X account hacks on the rise

Restaking protocol EigenLayer’s X account was hacked on Oct. 18 to promote a fake airdrop campaign.

The hacker posted several malicious links from the account promoting the “Season 2 Stakedrop” — which the scammer claimed was sourced from reallocated EIGEN tokens — before the EigenLayer team regained control of the account.

On Nov. 3, rapper Wiz Khalifa’s account was compromised. The hacker used the account to advertise a fake celebrity memecoin called WIZ, claiming that the memecoin was associated with the musical artist.

The Cardano Foundation’s X account suffered a similar breach on Dec. 8, when a hacker took control of the social media page to promote a fake token called “ADAsol.”

During the incident, the threat actor falsely claimed that the Cardano Foundation would cease supporting its native asset, ADA (ADA), due to a lawsuit from the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The fake token generated approximately $500,000 in trading volume before the scam was exposed and the price of “ADAsol” plummeted by over 99%.

Yat Siu, co-founder of Web3 company Animoca Brands, was the victim of an X account hack on Dec. 26.

Like the other cases, the scammer used the account to advertise a fraudulent token — a fake memecoin on the Solana network called “Animoca Brands” that has no connection to the well-known Web3 company.

Magazine: Influencers shilling memecoin scams face severe legal consequences

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According to analysts from Bloomberg, the filing from Canary Capital on Jan. 15 seemingly confirmed industry “chatter” that Litecoin applications are being reviewed by the securities regulator.

“[This] bodes well for our prediction that Litecoin is most likely to be the next coin approved,” Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said on X — though he added that looming leadership change at the Securities and Exchange Commission remains a “huge variable.”

Amended S-1 registration statements like Canary’s filing are often made after the prospective ETF issuer has received feedback from the SEC.

However, Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart noted that Canary’s S-1 must be accompanied by a 19b-4 filing to start the potential approval or denial “clock.”

Solana is further ahead on this front, as ETF issuers Bitwise, VanEck, 21Shares and Canary filed 19b-4s for a spot Solana (SOL) ETF in November.

Canary amended provisions in its S-1 form related to its proposed agreements with crypto custodians Coinbase and BitGo in addition to various accounting, marketing, legal and tax matters.

If approved, Litecoin (LTC) would become the third spot crypto ETF approved in the United States after Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH).

It comes as Litecoin rallied over 15% across Jan. 15-16 — outperforming all cryptocurrencies with a market cap of over $8 billion in that timeframe, CoinGecko data shows.

Blockchain analytics firm Santiment attributed the rise to Litecoin whales and “sharks” scooping up a combined 250,000 Litecoin worth around $29 million since Jan. 9.

The amendment also comes days ahead of the inauguration of US President-elect Donald Trump, who has assembled the most pro-crypto administration to date. 

The SEC’s current chair, Gary Gensler, will be replaced on the same day by Paul Atkins, who previously served as an SEC commissioner between 2002 and 2008 —  and many expect he will provide a friendlier crypto regulatory environment.

Related: BlackRock launches new Bitcoin ETF on Cboe Canada

XRP (XRP) is also in the running to be approved in spot ETF form by the SEC.

Analysts at JPMorgan predicted an SEC-approved spot Solana and XRP ETFs would attract between $3 billion to $6 billion and $4 billion to $8 billion in net assets over the first year.

Balchunas said spot Solana and XRP ETFs raking up a combined $14 billion in that time was a fairly “reasonable guess.”

Magazine: How crypto laws are changing across the world in 2025

The post Canary’s amended S-1 has analysts more confident a Litecoin ETF is next appeared first on Cyber Cryptonomics.

“This is actually newsworthy because the SEC had refused to do this in recent filing attempts for SOL,” Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart said of Grayscale’s Feb. 6 amended 19b-4 filing for a spot Solana (SOL) ETF.

Fellow Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas said it was a “notable” development, adding: “We are now in new territory, albeit just a baby step, but seemingly the direct result of leadership change.”

The SEC reportedly refused these spot Solana ETFs under Gensler’s watch because they believed they were incorrectly filed as commodity trust shares, finance lawyer Scott Johnsson explained.

In January, Seyffart said it may take until 2026 for the SEC to approve a spot Solana ETF, and that the review process was further complicated by ongoing lawsuits against the likes of Binance and Coinbase, which alleges SOL constitutes an unregistered security. 

“The SEC’s Division of Enforcement is calling Solana a security, which prevents other SEC divisions from analyzing it for a commodities ETF wrapper,” Seyffart said at the time. 

The final deadline for Grayscale’s spot Solana ETF application is now around Oct. 11, Seyffart said. 

A spree of crypto ETF filings has hit the SEC’s desk over the last few weeks as ETF issuers test which products could be approved under the Mark Uyeda-led SEC.

21Shares, Bitwise, VanEck and Canary Capital are also in the running to list spot Solana ETF after Cboe BZX Exchange refiled 19b-4s on their behalf on Jan. 28, while Bitwise even proposed to list a spot Dogecoin (DOGE) ETF on the same day.

Cboe BZX also filed forms for Canary Capital, WisdomTree, 21Shares and Bitwise to list a spot XRP (XRP) ETF in the US on Feb. 6.

Litecoin still looks like it’s next in line

The SEC on Feb. 6 acknowledged Grayscale’s 19b-4 filing to list a spot Litecoin (LTC) ETF, which Seyffart believes is next in line to win SEC approval, following Bitcoin and Ethereum.

The Bloomberg ETF analysts hold this view because Canary’s S-1 filing for a spot Litecoin ETF is already being actively reviewed by the regulator, while applicants for other crypto ETFs have been slower to submit their S-1s.

Related: Inside Trump’s crypto agenda: Memecoins, SEC task force and Bitcoin reserve plans

Financial services firm JPMorgan estimated an approved spot Solana ETF could attract between $3 billion and $6 billion in net assets over the first year — a prediction Balchunas said was a fairly “reasonable guess.”

Predictions market platform Polymarket estimates there’s a 39% chance that a spot Solana ETF will be approved by the SEC before July 31.

Magazine: Trump’s crypto ventures raise conflict of interest, insider trading questions

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Bloomberg’s James Seyffart and Eric Balchunas see its chances of being approved in 2025 as higher than other ETFs currently proposed, including a spot XRP (XRP), Solana (SOL) and Dogecoin (DOGE) ETF — which they see as having a 65%, 70% and 75% chance respectively. 

Litecoin (LTC), which was created as a faster alternative to Bitcoin (BTC) in 2011, shares a similar proof-of-work consensus mechanism to Bitcoin.

Posting on X, the pair said that Litecoin’s path toward SEC approval may be the most straightforward as S-1 and 19b-4 forms have already been filed and acknowledged, while the SEC also likely views it as a commodity.

The race for more crypto ETFs follows strong demand from the spot Bitcoin and Ether (ETH) ETFs, which have chalked up $40.7 billion and $3.18 billion worth of net inflows since launching in January and July 2024, respectively, Farside Investors data shows.

While Seyffart doesn’t think a Litecoin ETF would attract that much demand, he said it could still be worthwhile for fund companies with as little as $50 million in some cases.

“They don’t have to hit it out of the park on a flows basis to be worthwhile from an issuer perspective,” Seyffart told Cointelegraph.

Related: Crypto markets tried to stay calm… then Trump happened

The final deadline for the SEC to decide on the Litecoin, Solana, XRP and Dogecoin ETFs is between Oct. 2 and Oct. 18, Seyffart’s chart shows. A Litecoin ETF could launch before then, Seyffart said.

Seyffart and Balchunas also acknowledged that ETFs for Hedera (HBAR) and Polkadot (DOT) had been filed by Canary Capital and 21Shares but have not yet placed any approval odds at the time of writing.

Expect to see more crypto ETF filings

Seyffart said more crypto ETFs could be proposed, too, predicting US-based ETF issuers to follow a “spaghetti cannon approach.”

“Issuers will try to launch many many different things and see what sticks,” Seyffart said.

“You will probably see a long tail of ETFs holding digital assets in the long run and the ones that don’t garner interest or flows will simply liquidate.”

Balchunas noted that the odds for all of these crypto ETFs — except Litecoin — were below 5% before US President Donald Trump won the US election on Nov. 5, 2024.

Regulatory work still needs to be done with XRP, Solana

Meanwhile, questions remain over Solana and XRP’s security status, with Seyffart predicting that an XRP ETF wouldn’t be approved until the SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple is fully resolved.

Ripple scored a partial victory in August 2023, when it was ruled that XRP isn’t a security when sold on secondary markets — however, the SEC appealed this court decision, claiming that Ripple breached securities laws when it sold XRP to retail investors.

However, these actions were taken under the Gary Gensler-led SEC, and Ripple is now hoping that the new SEC leadership, currently led by acting chair Mark Uyeda, will withdraw the enforcement case.

The security status of Solana will also need to be resolved before the SEC can analyze Solana under a “commodities ETF wrapper,” Seyffart said last month.

Magazine: How crypto laws are changing across the world in 2025

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Market analyst Gert van Lagen highlighted that Bitcoin has broken out of a megaphone pattern, which could start a parabolic rise toward the $270,000-$300,000 range by 2025. Separately, analyst apsk32 expects Bitcoin to follow gold’s rally and reach $400,000.

While analysts anticipate a large upward move in Bitcoin, they remain divided on the arrival of an altcoin season. One of the issues with altcoins is the rapid pace of new launches, which distributes traders’ liquidity thinly among tokens. CoinGecko co-founder and chief operating officer Bobby Ong said that 600,000 new tokens were created in January, a sharp rise from the roughly 50,000 new tokens minted every month in 2022-2023. 

Could Bitcoin break above the tight range it has been stuck in for the past few days? Let’s look at the top cryptocurrencies that may move higher if that happens.

Bitcoin price analysis

Bitcoin is facing resistance at the moving averages, but a positive sign is that the bulls have not ceded much ground to the bears.

That increases the likelihood of a break above the moving averages. The $100,000 level is likely to act as a hurdle, but it is expected to be crossed. The BTC/USDT pair could rise to $102,500 and subsequently to $106,500.

If bears want to prevent the upside, they will have to drag the price below the immediate support at $94,000. That could sink the pair to the solid support at $90,000. Buyers are expected to fiercely the $94,000 level because a break below it will complete a bearish double-top pattern. The next support on the downside is $85,000.

The pair has been trading inside a tight range between $98,500 and $94,800. The moving averages have flattened out, and the relative strength index (RSI) is just below the midpoint, indicating a balance between supply and demand. Buyers will have to push the price above $98,500 to open the doors for a rally to $102,200. 

Instead, if the price continues lower and breaks below the moving averages, it will suggest that the pair may remain inside the tight range for some more time. The short-term trend will shift in favor of the bears on a break below $94,000.

XRP price analysis

XRP (XRP) has formed a symmetrical triangle pattern, indicating indecision between the bulls and the bears.

The 20-day exponential moving average ($2.64) has started to turn up gradually, and the RSI is in the positive zone, indicating a minor advantage for the bulls. The XRP/USDT pair could rise to the downtrend line, which is likely to act as a stiff resistance. Buyers will have to drive and maintain the price above the triangle to seize control.

Contrary to this assumption, if the price turns down and breaks below the moving averages, it will signal that the pair may remain inside the triangle for some more time.

Both moving averages are sloping up on the 4-hour chart, and the RSI is in the positive territory, indicating an advantage to the bulls. A break and close above $2.84 could clear the path for a rally to the downtrend line.

Conversely, a break and close below the 20-EMA could pull the pair to the 50-simple moving average. That suggests the pair may remain inside the triangle for a while longer. The bears will be back in the driver’s seat on a break below the support line.

Litecoin Token price analysis

Litecoin (LTC) has been trading inside a symmetrical triangle pattern for several days, indicating buying near the support line and selling at the resistance line.

The upsloping 20-day EMA ($118) and the RSI above 57 suggest that buyers have a slight edge. If the price turns up from the current level or the 20-day EMA, it will signal buying on dips. The bulls will then try to propel the LTC/USDT pair above the triangle. If they succeed, the pair could rise to $141 and then $147.

On the other hand, a break and close below the 20-day EMA will indicate that the pair may oscillate inside the triangle for a few more days. The trend will favor the bears on a close below the support line.

The pair turned down from the resistance line and broke below the 20-EMA, suggesting profit booking by short-term traders. The bears will try to sink the price to the 50-SMA, which is a critical level for the bulls to defend. If the 50-SMA gives way, the pair could slump to $112.

This negative view will be invalidated if the price turns up from the current level or the 50-SMA and breaks above the resistance line. The pair could climb to $147, where the bears are likely to pose a substantial challenge.

Related: Here’s what happened in crypto today

MANTRA price analysis

MANTRA (OM) has been in a strong uptrend, but the long wick on the Feb. 15 candlestick shows profit booking above $8.

The OM/USDT pair is likely to find support at the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level of $7.08 and then at the 50% retracement level of $6.73. A shallow pullback will increase the likelihood of the continuation of the uptrend. If the price breaks above $8.20, the pair could surge to $10.

Alternatively, a deeper pullback suggests that traders are rushing to the exit. The pair may slump to the 20-day EMA ($5.92), which is an important support to watch out for because a break below it could pull the pair to $5.27.

The 4-hour chart shows that the pair has been trading inside a tight range between $7.35 and $7.82. If the price turns up from the current level and rises above $7.82, the pair could rally to $8.20.

Contrarily, if the price breaks below $7.35, the pair could drop to $7.08 and, after that, to the 20-EMA. If the price rebounds off the 20-EMA, the pair will again try to resume the uptrend. Sellers will have to yank the price below the 20-EMA to start a deeper correction.

Gate Token price analysis

Gate Token (GT) closed above the downtrend line on Feb. 14, indicating that the bulls are trying to make a comeback.

However, sellers are unlikely to give up easily. They will try to pull the price back below the downtrend line. If the price rebounds off the 20-day EMA ($22.22), it will signal that the bulls are buying on minor dips. That will improve the prospects of a rally to $26.

Instead, if the 20-day EMA cracks, the GT/USDT pair could skid to the 50-day SMA ($20.67). This is a crucial support to watch out for because a break below it may open the gates for a fall to $17.43.

The pair is trying to take support at the 20-EMA on the 4-hour chart. If the price bounces off the 20-EMA and clears the $24 resistance, the pair could climb to $25 and subsequently to $26.

On the contrary, a break and close below the 20-EMA suggests the start of a deeper correction to the 50-SMA. Buyers will have to vigorously defend the 50-SMA because a break below it may sink the pair to $21 and later to $20.

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.

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CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju said in a post on X that Bitcoin would remain in a bull phase even with a 30% drop to $77,000, based on historical cyclical patterns. In a separate “Quicktake” blog post, CryptoQuant contributing analyst Timo Oinonen said that a sharp correction in Bitcoin “could be multiple months or even a year away.” 

Even as Bitcoin consolidates, some analysts are turning positive on Ether (ETH). Santiment analysts said in a post on X that only 6.38% of Ether’s available supply remains on the exchanges as investors continue moving it to cold wallets. That reduces the possibility of a significant sell-off, but the analysts added that the data should be considered a long-term metric rather than used for swing trading.

Could Bitcoin break above the critical $100,000 resistance and pull altcoins higher? Let’s analyze the charts of the top 10 cryptocurrencies to find out.

Bitcoin price analysis

Sellers pulled Bitcoin below the $94,000 support on Feb. 18, but the long tail on the candlestick shows solid buying at lower levels. 

The 20-day exponential moving average ($97,539) has started to turn down, and the relative strength index (RSI) is in the negative territory, indicating a slight edge to the bears. If the price turns down from the 20-day EMA, the BTC/USDT pair could plunge to the $90,000 support. This remains the key level for the bulls to defend because a break below $90,000 will complete a double-top pattern.

If buyers want to make a comeback, they will have to push the price above the 50-day simple moving average ($98,954). If they do that, the pair could ascend to $102,500 and subsequently to $106,500.

Ether price analysis

Ether has been trading below the breakdown level of $2,850 for the past few days, but the bears have failed to sink the price below $2,500. This suggests that selling dries up at lower levels.

Buyers will try to push the price to the downtrend line, a crucial level for the bears to defend. If the price turns down from the downtrend line but finds support at the 20-day EMA ($2,789), it will signal buying on dips. That increases the possibility of a break above the downtrend line. The ETH/USDT pair may then climb to $3,400.

Contrary to this assumption, if the price turns down and breaks below $2,500, the pair could decline to $2,400 and, after that, to $2,300.

XRP price analysis

XRP (XRP) is witnessing a tough battle between the bulls and the bears near the moving averages.

If the price turns down from the moving averages, the bears will try to sink the XRP/USDT pair below the support line of the symmetrical triangle. If they succeed, the pair could collapse to the solid support at $1.77.

This negative view will be invalidated in the near term if the price rises and breaks above the moving averages. The pair could rally to the downtrend line, where the bears are expected to mount a strong defense.

Solana price analysis

Solana (SOL) plunged and closed below the $175 support on Feb. 18, indicating the start of a deeper correction.

However, the buyers are unlikely to give up easily. They will try to push the price back above $175. If they succeed, it will suggest that the breakdown below $175 may have been a bear trap. The SOL/USDT pair could rise to the 20-day EMA ($195) and later to the 50-day SMA ($211).

On the contrary, if the price turns down from $175, it will suggest that the bears have flipped the level into support. The pair may slump to $155 and subsequently to $133.

BNB price analysis

BNB (BNB) is attempting to rebound off the $635 support, signaling solid demand at lower levels.

The relief rally is expected to face selling at the 50-day SMA ($670). If buyers push and maintain the price above the 50-day SMA, it will indicate that the BNB/USDT pair could swing between $745 and $635 for a few days.

Contrarily, if the price turns down from the moving averages, it will indicate selling on minor rallies. That increases the likelihood of a break below $635. If that happens, the pair may slide to $596 and then to $557.

Dogecoin price analysis

Dogecoin (DOGE) has been gradually dropping toward the support line of the descending channel pattern, indicating that the bears are in charge.

Buyers are expected to defend the support line, but if the bears prevail, the DOGE/USDT pair could retest the Feb. 3 intraday low of $0.20. If this level also cracks, the pair could plunge to $0.15.

The first sign of strength will be a break and close above the 20-day EMA ($0.27). The pair could then rise to the 50-day SMA ($0.31), which is expected to attract strong selling by the bears.

Cardano price analysis

Cardano (ADA) turned down from the 20-day EMA ($0.79) on Feb. 18, indicating that the sentiment remains negative, and traders are selling on rallies.

The bears will try to pull the price to the support line of the descending channel pattern, which is a critical level to watch out for. A break and close below the support line could sink the ADA/USDT pair to $0.50.

On the upside, the bulls will have to push and sustain the price above the 20-day EMA to start a move to the 50-day SMA ($0.90). Such a move suggests that the pair may extend its stay inside the channel.

Related: How long will Bitcoin’s price consolidation last?

Chainlink price analysis

Chainlink (LINK) turned down sharply from $19.25 on Feb. 18, indicating that the bears are trying to flip the level into resistance.

If the price closes below $17, it will signal the start of a deeper correction. The LINK/USDT pair could drop to the Feb. 3 low of $15.40. Buyers are expected to defend this level as a break below it may sink the pair to $13.

Time is running out for the bulls. If they want to make a comeback, they will have to push and sustain the price above the 20-day EMA ($19.61). The pair may then rally to $22, suggesting that the markets rejected the breakdown below $19.25.

Stellar price analysis

Stellar (XLM) has formed a large descending triangle pattern, which will complete on a break and close below $0.31.

The downsloping 20-day EMA ($0.34) and the RSI in the negative territory indicate advantage to sellers. If the $0.31 support cracks, the selling could intensify, and the XLM/USDT pair could drop to $0.26 and thereafter to $0.20.

Instead, if the price breaks above the 20-day EMA, it will open the doors for a possible rally to the downtrend line. Buyers will have to pierce the downtrend line to indicate that the correction may be over.

Litecoin price analysis

Litecoin (LTC) broke above the symmetrical triangle pattern on Feb. 19, indicating that the indecision resolved in favor of the bulls.

The upsloping 20-day EMA ($121) and the RSI in the positive zone suggest the path of least resistance is to the upside. If buyers maintain the price above the resistance line, the LTC/USDT pair could surge to $147. The pattern target from the breakout of the triangle is $197.

Contrary to this assumption, if the price fails to sustain above the resistance line, it will signal a lack of demand at higher levels. The pair may then drop to the 20-day EMA, which is expected to act as a strong support.

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 post Price analysis 2/19: BTC, ETH, XRP, SOL, BNB, DOGE, ADA, LINK, XLM, LTC appeared first on Cyber Cryptonomics.

Litecoin’s (LTC) market capitalization surged by 46% from Feb. 2 to 19, showing increased investor interest, reported Santiment on Feb. 21. It added that part of this growth comes from “its strong rise in network utility, which has been processing $9.6 billion in daily transaction volume over the past 7 days.”

Litecoin had around $2.8 billion in daily transaction volume in late August so current levels represent a surge of 243% in five months. Additionally, LTC prices have doubled since early November, outpacing the broader crypto market, which has seen gains of 42% over the same period.

“There is clear growing excitement around a potential Litecoin ETF, 13 months after Bitcoin’s first ETFs were approved by the SEC,” said Santiment. 

The Securities and Exchange Commission posted an acknowledgment for a rule change to list the CoinShares spot Litecoin ETF on the Nasdaq on Feb. 19.  

Meanwhile, a listing of Canary Capital’s Litecoin ETF was spotted on the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC) system under the ticker LTCC on Feb. 20. 

The DTCC is a key part of global financial markets and processes trillions of dollars in securities transactions each day, explained the Litecoin Foundation, which added, “It’s a key preparatory step for the fund’s potential launch.”

Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas cautioned that it doesn’t mean the product is approved or ready to start trading, “but it does show the issuer is making preparations for when it is.” He added that the analysts’ odds for approval this year were still at 90%. 

Related: Analyst says spot Bitcoin ETFs used for ‘massive market manipulation’ — Is he right?

LTC prices spiked around 8.5% in response to the DTCC listing, climbing from an intraday low of $127 to $138 before a slight pullback on Feb. 21.

The asset has risen almost 30% over the past fortnight, outperforming Bitcoin (BTC), which has remained tightly range-bound since it fell back into five figures in early February.

Magazine: ETH whale’s wild $6.8M ‘mind control’ claims, Bitcoin power thefts: Asia Express

The post Litecoin txs surge 243% in 5 months amid ETF hype: Santiment appeared first on Cyber Cryptonomics.

The filing adds to the litany of applications with the US Securities and Exchange Commission by exchanges and asset managers seeking to list ETFs tied to alternative cryptocurrencies, or altcoins.

The SEC must review and approve the filings before trading can commence.

Related: Grayscale launches Pyth investment fund

Grayscale’s ETF expansion

Grayscale already lists two spot Bitcoin (BTC) ETFs and a spot Ether (ETH) ETF. It is also seeking to list ETFs holding Solana (SOL), Litecoin (LTC), XRP (XRP), Dogecoin (DOGE) and Cardano (ADA). 

Additionally, the asset manager is seeking permission to list an ETF holding a diversified basket of cryptocurrencies, including several altcoins. 

Grayscale operates dozens of single-asset crypto funds that are not traded on public exchanges. 

In February, the company launched an investment fund for the Pyth Network’s native token. In January, it launched a non-listed investment fund for Dogecoin, the most popular memecoin by market capitalization. 

In December, Grayscale launched two new investment funds for Lido and Optimism’s governance tokens — LDO (LDO) and OP (OP), respectively.

Related: SEC acknowledges filing for Grayscale’s spot Cardano ETF

Crypto ETF filings proliferate

Grayscale is among upward of half a dozen asset managers seeking the SEC’s approval to list altcoin ETFs. Other issuers have proposed ETFs for altcoins, including Hedera (HBAR) and Official Trump (TRUMP). 

Asset manager 21Shares is also seeking to list a Polkadot ETF.

Issuers are also waiting on SEC approval for proposed changes to existing ETFs, including allowances for staking, options and in-kind redemptions. 

The SEC softened its stance on cryptocurrency after US President Donald Trump started his second term.

Under former President Joe Biden, the federal agency brought upward of 100 lawsuits against crypto firms, alleging various securities law violations. In 2024, the SEC approved spot Bitcoin and Ether ETFs but stymied proposed ETFs tied to other cryptocurrencies. 

Bloomberg Intelligence has set the odds of an XRP ETF approval in the US at 65%. Its estimates for Litecoin and Solana ETF approval odds are even higher, at 90% and 70%, respectively.

Magazine: Unstablecoins: Depegging, bank runs and other risks loom

The post Nasdaq files to list Grayscale Polkadot ETF appeared first on Cyber Cryptonomics.

Set to return to the White House after departing in January 2021, Trump now appears to be bringing a pro-crypto stance with him. His campaign made several pledges in support of the cryptocurrency sector, marking a difference with the previous administration.

As Trump prepares to resume office, Cointelegraph looks back on how the cryptocurrency landscape appeared during his last term. The industry has seen major shifts since then — half of the top 10 coins from his previous term have fallen out of the rankings.

Here’s a look at how the top 10 cryptocurrencies from Trump’s last presidency are faring today.

Bitcoin

Bitcoin price Jan. 20, 2021: $35,302.18

Bitcoin price Nov. 11, 2024: $82,379.60

Since Trump’s last White House stint, Bitcoin has gone through more twists than the president-elect’s path to election victory. First, there was an all-time high of about $67,000 in November 2021. Then came FTX — the seismic crash of November 2022 that took Bitcoin down to $17,000 and left everyone wondering if the ride was over

Fast forward through a bear market for both Bitcoin (BTC) and the global economy, with BTC dragging its feet through most of it. 

Still, like any good comeback story, Bitcoin rebounded in 2024 as it became accessible to institutions on the US stock market through those shiny new spot exchange-traded funds (ETFs). 

With analysts’ eyes glued to the $100,000 mark as Trump’s victory signals the beginning of the end for crypto’s supervillain, Gary Gensler at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the asset has already smashed past the $82,000 mark.

In addition, Bitcoin now hosts digital trinkets like Ordinals (an iteration of non-fungible tokens) and some of the internet’s favorite memecoins through Runes. So while Bitcoin remains the gold-standard crypto in the age of Trump 2.0, it’s also found some new ways to keep itself interesting along the way.

From undisputed king to layer-2 lab rat

Ether price Jan. 20, 2021: $1,361.05

Ether price Nov. 11, 2024: $3,175.47

Ether (ETH) was the undisputed monarch of smart contracts, reigning over a kingdom of decentralized applications. Now the crown isn’t quite as secure and the network has some serious competition.

Solana, the fast, flashy upstart is now ranked fourth by market cap, taking the lead among the “Ethereum killer” blockchains. 

Ethereum, however, has chosen a different route to stay relevant. Rather than battling it out for raw speed, it opted to expand with layer-2 solutions. This has helped ease the infamous congestion and sky-high fees, but there’s a cost. 

These layer-2 networks have drained liquidity and fragmented Ethereum’s ecosystem, transforming its once-unified realm into a sprawling collection of mini-kingdoms.

In its quest to evolve, Ethereum also went green with The Merge in September 2022, swapping out proof-of-work for a more eco-friendly proof-of-stake consensus mechanism. 

The upgrade slashed Ethereum’s energy use by 99% and set the stage for future scalability tweaks like sharding. The crypto world applauded, and it was a big step for Ethereum’s sustainability, though it didn’t come with the explosive price surge some investors anticipated.

And while Bitcoin has been busy breaking records, Ethereum was left in the dust despite listing spot ETFs of its own. For now, Ethereum is still hanging on to its No. 2 spot, but simply being a legacy brand might not be enough to keep the crown.

Ignoring the haters

In the wake of the Terra-Luna collapse—an implosion that rattled faith in algorithmic stablecoins everywhere—Tether’s USDT has not only weathered the storm but emerged stronger than ever. Now the third-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, USDT’s valuation has ballooned to about $120 billion.

Despite raking in a net profit of $2.5 billion in the third quarter, bringing 2024’s total to $7.7 billion, the company still hasn’t undergone a full, comprehensive audit. Instead, Tether provides regular attestations.

Related: Tether posts $2.5B in Q3 profits, with 2024 earnings reaching $7.7B

So, what’s driving this profit parade? US Treasury Bills, mostly. Tether’s reserves now claim a comfortable $6 billion buffer, with $102.5 billion in Treasury Bills, making Uncle Sam’s debt Tether’s golden goose.

But with great profits come great questions. Without a formal audit, many are left wondering if Tether’s vaults are as solid as they claim. Tether may be the titan, but trust is still the currency that matters most.

From contender to rebuilder

Polkadot price Jan. 20, 2021: $15.94

Polkadot price Nov. 11, 2024: $5.13

Back in Trump’s last term, Polkadot (DOT) was riding high. With a market value of $17 per token and the fourth spot in the crypto rankings, it looked poised to become the bridge across blockchain ecosystems, promising a future of seamless crosschain communication. In 2024, though, Polkadot’s shine has dulled — a $4.10 price tag and a drop to the 21st spot by market cap.

Still, Polkadot is not waving a white flag. This year, it rolled out Agile Coretime, a new system letting developers buy processing time directly on its core layer. It’s part of the Polkadot 2.0 upgrade, a major pivot from the old auction model. 

With the introduction of “inscriptions” — a playful nod to Bitcoin’s Ordinals — Polkadot smashed transaction records in December 2023, clocking in over 17 million transactions. 

Still, Polkadot’s got a tough crowd to impress. Ethereum and Solana have cemented themselves as powerhouses in decentralized finance (DeFi), with other advanced chains nipping at their heels.

Clear skies ahead for XRP

XRP price Jan. 20, 2021: $0.285924

XRP price Nov. 11, 2024: $0.581592

XRP held the fifth spot in crypto rankings in January 2021. It has dropped a bit to seventh, but growth has been mostly positive. Its price has jumped from $0.2958 to $0.5355, and its market cap has more than doubled to a cool $30.5 billion. Not bad for a cryptocurrency that’s been through a legal saga intense enough for a courtroom drama series.

Ripple Labs, the San Francisco company that developed technology around the XRP Ledger and advocates for its use in cross-border transactions, scored a partial win in court in 2023. 

After years of back-and-forth, the judge ruled that while some private sales of XRP did cross into unregistered securities territory, XRP itself doesn’t qualify as a security. It’s a half-victory for Ripple and a full game-changer for the XRP ecosystem, which has long operated under a regulatory cloud.

Related: SEC’s Ripple appeal doesn’t challenge XRP non-security status

Now, with legal uncertainty clearing up, XRP is even being discussed as a candidate for an ETF — alongside up-and-comers like Solana. An XRP ETF could open doors to a more mainstream audience, sparking fresh excitement among investors who’ve weathered the ups and downs. So, while XRP might have slipped a couple of notches in the rankings, its resilience, steady growth and newfound legal clarity hint at the start of an unlikely comeback. 

The ’90s band of crypto fighting for a comeback

ADA price Jan. 20, 2021: $0.358738

ADA price Nov. 11, 2024: $0.592937

Back in the last election cycle, Cardano (ADA) was cruising comfortably in the top 10, with a reputation as an “Ethereum killer” and its roots tracing back to an Ethereum co-founder. Today, Cardano is a bit like that band from the ’90s that’s still hanging around the charts, occasionally slipping in and out of the top 10. 

Critics love to call it a “ghost chain,” claiming there’s not much building going on and even fewer users to show up. And the numbers do raise an eyebrow: Cardano’s core developer and active user count have dropped.

Yet Cardano isn’t sitting back and letting the doubters have their say. The Chang hard fork, completed in September 2024, ushered in fresh features and scalability upgrades, signaling it’s still got some tricks up its sleeve. The network has also entered the Voltaire phase, aiming for a decentralized governance model where users can participate directly in decision-making.

Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash: The original rebels fighting for relevance

Litecoin price Jan. 20, 2021: $149.80

Litecoin price Nov. 11, 2024: $77.38

Bitcoin Cash price Jan. 20, 2021: $501.72

Bitcoin Cash price Nov. 11, 2021: $438.73

In the early days of crypto, Litecoin (LTC) and Bitcoin Cash (BCH) were the champions of “spendable” cryptocurrency — two coins vying to be digital cash for everyday use. 

Litecoin, the “lite” version of Bitcoin, offered faster transactions and lower fees, while Bitcoin Cash split off from Bitcoin with a bold promise: to fulfill the original peer-to-peer cash vision of Satoshi Nakamoto by boosting block sizes and reducing fees. 

Both coins gained loyal followings and even some merchants, but their paths feel more like nostalgia trips than the revolution they aimed to spark.

In a world where Bitcoin has solidified itself as “digital gold” and newer cryptos offer advanced features like smart contracts and decentralized applications, Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash struggle to stand out. 

Countries banning crypto payments and regulatory red tape haven’t helped, either. While some small pockets of adoption persist — think cafes in Townsville, Ljubljana, and parts of Buenos Aires — the broad use case for everyday transactions hasn’t materialized.

Litecoin and Bitcoin Cash have both dropped out of the top 10 cryptocurrencies by market cap, sitting at the 25th and 19th spots respectively.

Behind the scenes of DeFi

LINK price Jan. 20, 2021: $20.51

LINK price Nov. 11, 2024: $13.99

Chainlink (LINK) isn’t here to be “digital cash” or a “smart contract superstar,” but rather the backbone of the crypto world, quietly holding the DeFi universe together. 

While other cryptocurrencies chase headlines and retail hype, Chainlink is hard at work feeding price data, weather forecasts and other real-world information to blockchains that need them. Since Trump’s last term, Chainlink’s role as the go-to oracle service has only solidified, making it the ultimate backstage hero of decentralized finance.

The recent rollout of Chainlink 2.0 added even more muscle to its oracle network. This upgrade introduced decentralized oracle networks, enabling dynamic non-fungible tokens, automated blockchain functions and all kinds of new DeFi magic. 

With staking finally available, LINK holders can now secure the network and earn rewards — a long-awaited perk that gives a boost to this data-driven ecosystem. Chainlink is now better equipped for complex tasks, proving that it’s not just reliable but versatile too.

LINK’s price hasn’t enjoyed the same steady rise as its reputation. The token has been buffeted by volatility and competition. New oracle providers have entered the scene, and some DeFi projects are building their own oracles. 

Not so stellar

XLM price Jan. 20, 2021: $0.291680

XLM price Nov. 11, 2024: $0.109166

Launched by Ripple co-founder Jed McCaleb in 2014, Stellar set out to offer quick, low-cost international transactions, connecting everyone from financial institutions to the unbanked. 

Since Trump’s last term, Stellar has made strides in the central bank digital currency (CBDC) arena, particularly with its pilot project in Ukraine to test a digital version of the hryvnia. 

Magazine: Real life yield farming: How tokenization is transforming lives in Africa

But Stellar’s journey hasn’t been all, well, stellar. The competition in cross-border payments has only ramped up. Governments exploring CBDCs often look toward centralized solutions or established platforms like Ethereum. 

Stellar’s XLM token has suffered as the market increasingly tilts toward DeFi-focused chains with high-profile use cases. It’s dropped from the 10th spot to the 35th spot, as of Nov. 8, 2024.

The post What happened to the top 10 cryptos from when Trump was last president? appeared first on Cyber Cryptonomics.