The U.S. Secret Service teamed up with Canadian authorities in a cross-border crackdown on a sophisticated crypto scam that drained $4.3 million from victims’ Ethereum wallets. The operation, dubbed “Operation Avalanche,” involved regulators, law enforcement, and crypto platforms working to…

U.S. and Canadian authorities disrupt $4.3m crypto phishing scam

Despite broader market interest, Bitcoin continues to hover near the $84,000 
mark, showing limited upward momentum. At the time of writing, the asset is 
trading at $84,596, down 0.1% in the last 24 hours. This places BTC 
approximately 22% below its all-time high of over $109,000 set earlier this 
year. The price action follows a recovery from earlier lows but remains range- 
bound, suggesting hesitancy among investors as macroeconomic uncertainties 
persist. One of the emerging observations comes from CryptoQuant analyst 
Crypto Dan, who compared Bitcoin’s current behavior to past correction cycles. 
Related Reading: Bitcoin Sentiment Still Close To Extreme Fear—Green Sign For 
Recovery? Speculation Eases, Setting the Stage for Potential Recovery In Dan&#8217;s 
recent QuickTake post titled &#8220;Cryptocurrency Market, Similar to the 2024 
Correction Period,&#8221; Dan assessed the speculative dynamics of the market 
through the lens of short-term holder activity. His analysis suggests that the 
recent cooling-off period might mirror patterns observed during last year’s 
correction phase. According to Dan, one reliable gauge of market overheating 
is the percentage of Bitcoin supply held for one week to one month. When this 
metric rises, it often signals speculative enthusiasm, which can precede 
corrections. During previous bullish phases, such increases in short-term 
holdings were followed by pullbacks, marking peaks in investor exuberance. In 
the current cycle, Dan notes that this metric has once again reached a region 
previously associated with market bottoms—the same yellow box (on the chart 
shared) that aligned with the 2024 correction low. Based on this, he posits 
that speculative excesses have largely subsided, opening the door to renewed 
price growth if macroeconomic conditions continue to improve. However, he also 
emphasized that further consolidation may still occur before a broader trend 
shift materializes. Crypto Market, Similar to the 2024 Correction “Given that 
this ratio has now reached the yellow-box region, which was the bottom of the 
2024 correction period, it seems likely that the current market will follow a 
similar path as the 2024 correction.” – By @DanCoinInvestor 
pic.twitter.com/YGNZxQnUXj — CryptoQuant.com (@cryptoquant_com) April 18, 2025 
Bitcoin Whale Activity Suggests Imminent Volatility Complementing this 
analysis, CryptoQuant contributor Mignolet pointed out a notable shift in coin 
movement behavior. In a separate post, he observed that around 170,000 BTC 
recently moved from the 3–6 month holding cohort. This group typically 
includes mid-term holders, and substantial activity from them has historically 
preceded increased price volatility. Related Reading: Bitcoin’s Futures 
Sentiment Weakens, Is The Ongoing Recovery Running Out of Steam? Mignolet 
illustrated his findings with data, noting that such movements have often 
signaled major price action, both upward and downward. Green box indicators on 
his chart marked rallies, while red boxes highlighted periods of decline. 
While the direction remains uncertain, he highlighted that the increased 
activity is an early warning sign that traders should be alert for a breakout 
or breakdown in the near future. Featured image created with DALL-E, Chart 
from TradingView

Bitcoin Stalls at $84K, But Analyst Says 2025 Could Mirror Last Year’s Breakout

The Cardano price may be preparing for a powerful rally toward $1.7, as new 
indicators suggest a potential recovery. A leading crypto analyst has 
identified multiple bullish catalysts that could drive ADA’s momentum and help 
propel the cryptocurrency to this bullish target. Institutional Interest To 
Fuel Cardano Price Recovery According to a recent technical analysis by a 
pseudonymous TradingView analyst, ‘Risk_Adj_Return,’ the Cardano price is 
suddenly showing signs of recovery after a period of sluggish performance. 
This seemingly bullish turnaround has sparked predictions of a potential surge 
to $1.7. Related Reading: Cardano Price Prediction: ADA Set To Crash To $0.4 
After Correction To Liquidity Zone According to the analyst’s report, several 
factors have been fueling ADA’s recovery. Despite its downtrend, large spot 
purchases have been observed, hinting at growing interest from institutional 
investors. The analyst also mentioned that political developments from key 
figures, such as US President Donald Trump, could spark further bullish 
sentiment for Cardano. Although many of the present institutional buy-ins for 
Cardano have been followed by sell-offs, possibly from short-term traders, the 
sheer volume suggests that major players are closely watching the market. Part 
of this renewed institutional interest is attributed to the US Federal Reserve 
(FED) and broader macroeconomic signals. Investors may be hoping for a shift 
in monetary policy or clear signs of easing inflation in the upcoming FOMC 
meeting, as this could boost risk assets like ADA. Any alignment between the 
Cardano price action and the FED decision could become a significant catalyst 
for upside momentum. In his Cardano price chart, the TradingView analyst 
highlighted a bullish long trade setup on the 4-hour timeframe, utilizing the 
Heikin-Ashi candles. The trading strategy is supported by multiple take-profit 
levels, with the entry point marked near Cardano’s current price range. A 
clear stop loss has also been placed just below the local support to manage 
downside risks. The trade plan involves three key take-profit levels: $0.73, 
$0.96, and $1.21. These targets align with previous resistance zones, allowing 
traders to potentially lock in gains before ADA reaches its ultimate upside 
target of $1.74. ADA Breakout Unlikely Amid US Trade Tensions The Cardano 
price is showing signs of strength, according to a market expert, ‘AMCrypto’, 
who notes that it is holding firm at a critical ascending support trendline on 
the 4-hour chart. After a recent decline, ADA bounced off the trendline, 
maintaining the bullish structure of an Ascending Triangle. Related Reading: 
Cardano Price Could Be Set For 100% Rally As This Bullish Triangle Has Formed 
On The Daily Timeframe Currently trading around $0.61, Cardano still faces 
resistance at $0.67. A confirmed close above this threshold could signal a 
breakout, potentially propelling its price toward the $0.73 &#8211; $0.75 range. 
However, despite these bullish technicals, macroeconomic uncertainty remains a 
key obstacle to ADA’s breakout potential. The ongoing US-China trade war 
tensions continue to fuel market volatility, creating headwinds for a 
sustained rally. The current market decline and instability fueled by this 
trade war have also kept many investors on the sidelines as they await 
stability. Featured image from Pixabay, chart from Tradingview.com

Cardano Price Surge To $1.7: Here Are The Factors To Drive The Recovery

Ripple just unlocked a game-changing foothold in traditional finance as its 
$1.25 billion acquisition scores FINRA approval, supercharging institutional 
access to fixed income markets. Ripple’s Hidden Road Gets FINRA Go-Ahead to 
Expand Prime Brokerage Services Hidden Road, a global prime brokerage firm 
recently acquired by Ripple for $1.25 billion, announced a regulatory 
milestone Thursday. Its […]

Ripple Enters Broker-Dealer Arena as Hidden Road Gains FINRA Authorization

According to a recent CryptoQuant Quicktake post, Bitcoin (BTC) may be close 
to completing its price correction for the current market cycle. The premier 
cryptocurrency appears primed for positive movement in 2025, despite lingering 
macroeconomic uncertainty. Bitcoin Looks Ready To Reverse Trend In a Quicktake 
post, CryptoQuant contributor Crypto Dan highlighted that BTC is currently 
undergoing a correction phase similar to the one observed in 2024. The analyst 
noted that the amount of BTC held for less than one week to one month can 
serve as an indicator of how “overheated” the crypto market is. Related 
Reading: Bitcoin Following Gold’s Footsteps? Analyst Sets Mid-Term Target At 
$155,000 For context, in markets with high speculative activity &#8211; such as 
crypto &#8211; price pullbacks tend to be significant. In contrast, markets with 
lower speculation, like gold, typically experience shallower corrections. 
Crypto Dan shared the following chart showing three major phases of the crypto 
market &#8211; a market rally (red arrow), an increase in the ratio of BTC held for 
less than one week to one month (green pattern), and a subsequent correction 
(yellow arrow). He explained that this pattern has played out twice during the 
current bull market, with both instances showing similarly elevated levels of 
short-term BTC holdings, suggesting a comparable degree of market overheating. 
This ratio has now reached a cycle low, highlighted in the yellow-box region 
of the chart. Notably, this same region also marked the bottom of the 2024 
market cycle. If the pattern mirrors its behaviour from 2024, it could 
indicate that the current cycle has also bottomed out. Crypto Dan explained: 
In other words, the overheating is now resolved, and although we may need to 
wait a little longer, with the progress of macroeconomic issues, 2025 is 
likely to show a positive movement. Adding to the optimism, a separate post on 
X by crypto analyst Titan of Crypto also points to a possible shift in 
momentum. The analyst noted that BTC recently formed a golden cross on the 
daily chart &#8211; a bullish signal that often suggests a trend reversal is 
underway. For the uninitiated, a golden cross occurs when Bitcoin’s 50-day 
moving average crosses above its 200-day moving average, signalling a 
potential long-term bullish trend. It’s widely seen as a buy signal by 
traders, indicating growing upward momentum. BTC Futures Sentiment Index 
Signals Caution Despite these bullish signals, not all analysts are convinced. 
Fellow CryptoQuant contributor abramchart recently observed that BTC’s futures 
sentiment index has continued to decline since February, suggesting a more 
cautious outlook among derivatives traders. Related Reading: Bitcoin Flashes 
‘Death Cross’ Amid Tariff-Induced Market Turmoil – Is Further Decline 
Inevitable? Adding to the leading digital asset’s woes, a recent report 
suggested that China may be preparing to sell a large amount of confiscated 
BTC, which may increase selling pressure and potentially suppress prices in 
the short term. At press time, BTC trades at $84,766, down 0.1% in the past 24 
hours. Featured image created with Unsplash, charts from CryptoQuant, X, and 
TradingView.com

Bitcoin Enters New Phase: Analyst Predicts Positive Movement In 2025

A swirl of bullish proclamations is ricocheting across X as macro‑minded 
influencers argue that a fresh expansion in “Global M2” money supply will 
trigger a near‑instant rally in Bitcoin—yet a veteran market analyst is 
warning that the data underpinning those calls is little more than a mirage. 
The latest wave of optimism was set in motion when Real Vision co‑founder 
Raoul Pal published an updated overlay of Bitcoin versus Global M2—an 
aggregate of every major country’s broad money supply converted to US‑dollar 
terms—and told followers, “It is time, give or take a few days.” Other 
accounts also shared similar charts. One asserted that Bitcoin “continues to 
mirror Global M2 with its classic 12‑week lag,” predicting “aggressive upside 
likely kicks off next week… $74.5 K looks like it was the bottom,” while other 
self-proclaimed crypto guru promised a new all‑time high “within weeks.” 
Bitcoin Vs. M2: Is A Price Explosion Really Coming? The viral charts drew 
immediate fire from TXMC (@TXMCtrades). In a lengthy thread he argued that 
computing a daily or even weekly Global M2 series is “goofy and frankly a 
scam” because “the United States is only updating M2 on a weekly basis and all 
others are monthly.” He continued: Related Reading: This Bitcoin Bear 
Confirmation Is Yet To Appear, Glassnode Reveals “You are looking at basically 
30 out of 31 days of FX fluctuations with a static once‑monthly global 
aggregate multiplied behind it… China, USA, and Japan have even updated into 
March. The rest are still on February values during a time when the dollar has 
been tanking hard… You’re looking at an M2‑weighted inverse dollar exchange 
rate 95% of the time. Be better at math!” TXMC noted that China now accounts 
for roughly 46 percent of the putative Global M2 and is “the ONLY major 
country whose broad money supply is above its post‑covid peak in dollar 
terms,” a dynamic that “goes straight up” because Beijing is “trying to ease 
out of an ongoing multi‑year debt deflation.” By contrast, US M2 “is below its 
2022 peak… and growing at the slowest pace since Bitcoin’s birth excluding 
2022‑24 when it was negative y/y.” Related Reading: Bitcoin Faces Pressure As 
Report Flags Chinese Sell-Off Plans Beyond the cadence mismatch, he blasted 
the practice of applying “random #‑week offsets” to force a visual correlation 
between Global M2 and Bitcoin. “These charts are over‑fitted junk using 
extremely recent history as a thesis for why they should correlate,” he said, 
adding that while assets can be “directionally sympathetic on a monthly basis… 
the main critiques relate to presenting a daily/weekly metric using monthly 
data… AND using over‑fitted offsets of that data to try to forecast the future 
for a content audience.” The broadside prompted a rebuttal from YouTuber Colin 
Talks Crypto (@ColinTCrypto), who claimed that key central banks do in fact 
provide higher‑frequency figures. “China M2 updates daily—not monthly,” he 
wrote, attaching what he said were current charts through April 17 2025. 
“Japan’s M2 also updates daily… Since about half of your post relies on ‘China 
data being slow and outdated’… your post’s main argument weakens greatly at 
this point.” TXMC swiftly countered that assertion, insisting “there is no 
daily M2” and that any high‑frequency series is merely “a projection of a 1‑2 
month old value using real‑time FX values.” The sudden April “pop” in Global 
M2, he maintained, is nothing more than the dollar’s sharp slide translated 
mechanically into larger dollar‑denominated money stocks. “Because Global M2 
doesn’t actually exist, it is an abstraction of money that lives solely in a 
chart formula,” he wrote. “It treats all broad aggregates around the world as 
the same pool of eligible capital and introduces a heap of noise via foreign 
exchange rates… this is how the sausage is actually made and it’s not sexy.” 
At press time, BTC traded at $84,750. Featured image created with DALL.E, 
chart from TradingView.com