| | Hello and welcome to Crypto Intel, the twice-weekly newsletter covering the latest updates, breaking news, and exciting opportunities in the crypto world. If you’re not looking for more emails from us, just click here to unsubscribe! | Today, we're tracking major shifts in the market that could reshape entire ecosystems. A growing controversy is shaking up one of the most popular networks, while a strategic move by a bold investor could set a new trend. Meanwhile, market sentiment is facing challenges, with institutional players adopting a more cautious stance. | Big moves, bold bets, and changing tides—let's get into it! |
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| | Memecoins | 🚨 Solana's Memecoin Market Slows as LIBRA Controversy Hits | | Solana's memecoin market is facing a downturn, with daily token launches on Pump.fun plummeting to 49,779 on Feb. 19 from a peak of 95,578 in January. The slowdown follows increased scrutiny over the speculative nature of memecoins and ties to scams, highlighted by the LIBRA token scandal. LIBRA's creators are accused of insider trading and rug-pulling investors out of $251 million, with 86% of traders reportedly losing at least $1,000. | The fallout is hitting Pump.fun hard, with the platform's new token launches and revenue dropping to their lowest levels since Christmas 2024. As Solana's network metrics, like active addresses and transactions, were largely driven by memecoin activity, the current downturn is raising concerns about the ecosystem's stability. | The controversy has prompted high-profile criticisms, including from Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, who warned of insider trading risks. The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has responded by establishing a Cyber and Emerging Technologies Unit to focus on fraud and misconduct in the blockchain and crypto sectors. |
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| | | | Bitcoin | 🏦 Altvest Capital Embraces Bitcoin as an Inflation Hedge | | South African investment firm Altvest Capital has made its first move into the cryptocurrency market by purchasing Bitcoin (BTC) as a strategic reserve asset. CEO Warren Wheatley emphasized Bitcoin's unique value as a decentralized and globally recognized asset, aligning with the company's investment philosophy of providing a hedge against macroeconomic threats and currency depreciation. | Altvest has no plans to invest in altcoins, citing concerns over centralization, liquidity risks, and regulatory uncertainty. Instead, the firm is focused on Bitcoin's long-term growth potential and its role as a stable asset in an increasingly volatile economic environment. The firm is also applying to regulators to list BTC-linked equity instruments, highlighting its cautious but forward-thinking approach. | This move aligns with a broader trend among institutional investors who see Bitcoin as a reliable store of value. While Altvest remains open to monitoring altcoin market developments, it remains firmly committed to Bitcoin as its primary digital asset holding. |
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| | | | Market Outlook | 📉 JPMorgan Warns of Weak Crypto Market Demand | | JPMorgan has flagged weak demand in the cryptocurrency market, pointing to institutional positioning in CME futures as a sign of declining interest in Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH). The report noted that futures for both cryptocurrencies are nearing backwardation, a bearish market condition where futures prices fall below spot prices, indicating softening price expectations. | Analysts led by Nikolaos Panigirtzoglou highlighted a lack of short-term catalysts, with institutional investors likely taking profits in anticipation of more favorable market conditions later in the year. The bank suggested that new crypto initiatives from the Trump administration might not materialize until the second half of 2025, potentially delaying any market recovery. | Systematic and momentum-driven funds, such as Commodity Trading Advisors (CTAs), are also contributing to reduced demand. As the market awaits regulatory clarity and fresh incentives, the immediate outlook for crypto assets remains muted, with investors adopting a cautious stance. |
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| | 🪙 Coin Leaderboard | | | ⚡ Crypto Pulse | The crypto markets are buzzing with action as several tokens post significant gains in the last 24 hours. From unexpected comebacks to tokens riding newfound momentum, here are the biggest movers making waves on the charts. 📈 | Jelly-My-Jelly (JELLYJELLY) $0.012 (+66%) | Despite its all-time losses still outweighing recent gains, JELLYJELLY nearly jumped in value over the past 24 hours, showing signs of recovery and renewed investor interest. | SynFutures (F) $0.04 (+43%) | SynFutures saw a large increase today after showing signs of life throughout January. | GOOGLES (GOGLZ) $0.30 (+33%) | GOGLZ has surged by 155% in the past 24 hours, kicking off a bull run after days of volatility. The token's strong momentum is drawing attention as it climbs the charts. | | | | ⏩ Future Forward | Exciting developments are on the way in crypto! From blockbuster events to anticipated token launches and airdrops, here's what's coming up. Stay tuned, and don't miss out! 📅 | Crypto Conferences: | 💎 DFW Growth Summit 2025 (Feb 22, 2025) | 💎 SiGMA Eurasia Summit 2025 (Feb 23, 2025 - Feb 25, 2025) | 💎 AIBC Eurasia 2025 (Feb 23, 2025 - Feb 25, 2025) | Upcoming Airdrops: | 🎁 GAMBL Airdrop (Mar 2, 2025) | 🎁 Doodles (DOOD) Airdrop (Q1 2025) | 🎁 SyncVault (SVTS) Airdrop (Q2 2025) | Upcoming Token Launches: | 🚀 State 1 (GBCK) TGE and Distribution (Feb 24, 2025) | 🚀 StrikeBit AI (STRIKE) IDO on Huostarter (Feb 25, 2025) | 🚀 Skald AI (SKALD) TGE and Distribution (Feb 25, 2025) | Which event are you most excited for? Let us know! |
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| | 🧠 Crypto Know-How: Staking | Staking is a way to earn passive income with your cryptocurrency by helping secure a blockchain network. When you stake your coins, you lock them up in a wallet to support the operations of a blockchain, such as validating transactions and maintaining network security. In return, you earn rewards, typically in the form of additional coins. | The amount you earn depends on the number of coins you stake and the network's reward rate. Staking is available on blockchains that use a Proof of Stake (PoS) consensus mechanism, like Ethereum 2.0, Cardano, and Solana. The more coins you stake, the higher your chances of being chosen to validate transactions and receive rewards. | While staking can provide a steady stream of income, it also comes with risks. The value of the staked coins can fluctuate, and in some cases, you may face penalties for network downtime. However, for those willing to hold onto their crypto for the long term, staking offers a way to grow their investment while supporting the blockchain network. |
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| | Everything Else | US President Donald Trump proposed a 20% "dividend" check to taxpayers from savings claimed by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), but doubts persist over the accuracy of DOGE's reported $55 billion in cuts. Ethereum Layer-2 MegaETH is set to launch with unprecedented speed and scalability, but critics are concerned about its trade-offs in decentralization, sparking debates over the future of Ethereum's ecosystem. Catizen, a leading Web3 gaming platform, reported over $34 million in revenue within its first 10 months, signaling the potential breakthrough of blockchain gaming as a sustainable business model. Grayscale's XRP ETF filing has reached the US SEC's Federal Register, initiating a 21-day public comment period, while global demand for XRP surges with Brazil approving the first spot XRP ETF. Strategy, formerly known as MicroStrategy, plans to raise $2 billion through convertible bonds to expand its massive Bitcoin holdings, reaffirming its position as the largest corporate holder of BTC. |
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| | That's our coverage for today; thanks for reading! Reply to this email with feedback or any cryptocurrencies you want me to check out. | Best Regards,
—Noah Zelvis
Crypto Intel | |
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