This week, several institutions and venture capital firms announced purchases or investments in Solana totaling $1 billion, highlighting the token’s relevance for the wider crypto industry. GSR, Galaxy Digital, SOL Strategies, Astra Fintech, and RockawayX are behind these moves to grow the Solana ecosystem. Solana Ecosystem Gets Attention: Close to $1 Billion Captured in a […]

Institutions Go All-in on Solana: Nearly $1 Billion Secured This Week

Solana is trading at critical levels after a volatile week that saw major 
surges across the crypto market. While the rally has sparked optimism, 
analysts remain sharply divided. Some believe this is just a healthy 
correction within a broader bull cycle, while others warn that the crypto 
market may have already entered a new bear phase. Related Reading: Ethereum 
Flips Key Resistance Into Support – Can Bulls Reclaim $2,000 Level? For 
Solana, the next few weeks are expected to be decisive. Top analyst Inmortal 
shared insights on X, highlighting that within the next 30 days, the market 
will likely reveal whether Solana’s latest recovery attempt is a simple bear 
market bounce or the beginning of a bull market dip and new expansion. As 
Solana holds above key technical levels, price action will be critical to 
determine sentiment. The stakes are high, especially as macroeconomic 
uncertainty, driven by global trade tensions and monetary policy shifts, 
continues to cloud the broader financial landscape. Investors should stay 
cautious, but alert. Solana&#8217;s next move could set the tone not just for its 
own trajectory, but for the altcoin sector as a whole heading into the summer 
months. The clock is ticking on this crucial phase. Solana Approaches Critical 
Level Amid Sharp Recovery Solana has rebounded sharply from its April 7 local 
low around $95, gaining an impressive 54% in just a few weeks. Bulls have 
regained momentum as Solana trades near critical resistance levels, with 
analysts calling for a potential push above $160 in the short term. However, 
despite this strong recovery, risks of a downside reversal remain high. Since 
January, Solana has been one of the hardest-hit major cryptocurrencies. It 
lost over 65% of its value during the most recent downtrend, highlighting the 
intense selling pressure and increased speculation across the broader market. 
While the recent rally is encouraging, many are questioning whether it marks 
the start of a new bullish phase or just a temporary rebound within a larger 
bearish trend. Inmortal&#8217;s insights emphasize that May will be a decisive month 
for Solana. According to him, “you can&#8217;t imagine how vital May is.” Over the 
next 30 days, the market is expected to reveal whether Solana’s recent 
strength represents a simple bear-market bounce or the beginning of a true 
bull-market dip that could lead to further gains. The coming weeks will be 
critical, and Solana&#8217;s price action will likely set the tone for the entire 
altcoin market this summer. Related Reading: SUI Shows Relative Strength 
Against Bitcoin – New Uptrend In Play? Price Action Details: Key Levels To 
Watch Solana (SOL) is trading at $146 after losing around 6% of its value 
since Friday. Despite the strong rally earlier this month, bulls are now 
facing increasing pressure to defend current levels. SOL must reclaim the $180 
level, which aligns closely with the 200-day moving average (MA), to resume 
the bullish trend and regain market confidence. The $180 mark is critical 
because a decisive move above it would signal strength and open the door for a 
push toward higher resistance zones. Without this breakout, however, the 
current rally risks fading into another lower high, further weakening Solana’s 
structure. On the downside, losing the $140 level would be a major red flag 
for bulls. A sustained breakdown below this support could trigger a deeper 
correction, with price potentially dropping below the psychological $100 mark. 
Such a move would likely accelerate bearish sentiment and invite further 
selling pressure, especially as macroeconomic risks and global uncertainty 
continue to weigh on the crypto market. Related Reading: Ethereum Attempts 
First Major Horizontal Reclaim In Months – Can Bulls Hold the Line? The next 
few days will be key for SOL. Bulls must act quickly to defend, support, and 
attempt a recovery, or risk opening the door to another major leg down. 
Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

Solana Will Face A Pivotal Moment In May – Bear Market Bounce Or Bull Market Dip?

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U.S. President Donald Trump is reaffirming his commitment to tariffs, 
emphasizing that this approach could lead Americans who pay income tax to 
witness their taxes “substantially reduced, maybe even completely eliminated.” 
‘External Revenue Service’ Incoming: Trump Eyes Elimination of Income Taxes 
Trump maintains that as tariff revenues accumulate, income taxes for American 
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Trump Vows Tariff Windfall Will Wipe out Income Taxes for Millions

## What is crypto price manipulation?
_When a coin moons out of nowhere and then crashes just as fast &#8212; it is 
rarely pure market magic._
Cryptocurrency price manipulation is the dark art of bending the market to 
your will. It is when insiders or coordinated groups inflate or crash a coin&#8217;s 
price, not through real demand, but through smoke and mirrors. They might fake 
volume, spread hype, trigger fear, or pull sudden sell-offs &#8212; all to trap 
unsuspecting traders and walk away with the profits.
In traditional finance, this kind of behavior gets you fined or jailed. But 
what about in the world of crypto? It often flies under the radar. With light 
regulations and heavy emotions in play, the digital asset market has become a 
playground for manipulators, especially where liquidity is low and oversight 
is weaker.
Here&#8217;s the classic playbook:
 * Manipulators create fake demand or fear 
 * The price spikes or crashes based on emotional reactions from other traders 
 * The manipulators sell or buy at the right moment 
 * The rest of the market suffers the consequences.
## The most common crypto market manipulation tactics
_Scammers don &#8216;t need magic &#8212; they just need market psychology and a few 
tricks._
As the digital asset landscape expands, criminals have honed various crypto 
price manipulation tactics. Each tactic capitalizes on the market&#8217;s volatility 
and traders&#8217; fear of missing out (FOMO). Let&#8217;s break down the most used:
 * **Pump-and-dump:** This scheme starts with a coordinated group quietly buying a low-cap token. They then ignite hype through influencers, fake news or viral posts to drive the price up rapidly. As retail investors rush in, the group sells at the top &#8212; causing the price to crash. Latecomers are left holding devalued tokens, having bought into the illusion of explosive growth.
 * **Whale moves:** Whales &#8212; wallets holding large amounts of crypto &#8211; can shift market trends with a single trade. Their massive buy or sell orders influence price direction and trigger emotional responses from smaller traders. Many follow the whale&#8217;s lead, thinking they know something others don&#8217;t, which compounds the volatility. Some whales use this effect strategically to buy low and sell high. 
 * **Wash trading:** This usually involves a single user who buys and sells the same token to themselves to artificially inflate trading volume. This creates a false sense of activity and demand, misleading investors into thinking the project is more legitimate or liquid than it really is. It&#8217;s especially common on unregulated exchanges and can help tokens climb rankings on tracking platforms. 
 * **Spoofing and layering:** In spoofing, manipulators place large fake orders to buy or sell without intending to execute them. This gives the illusion of strong market interest and influences price action. Layering uses multiple fake orders at different price levels to amplify the effect. Once real traders react, the fake orders are removed and the manipulator takes profit, leaving others chasing phantom momentum.
_**Did you know?** According to a 2022 study, 70% of transactions on 
unregulated crypto exchanges are wash trades &#8212; with some platforms seeing 
volumes as high as 80%._
## Behind the scenes: Advanced crypto price manipulation tactics
_Not all crypto price manipulation is obvious. Some of it is deeply technical 
&#8212; or done in silence._
Beyond basic scams, cybercriminals use more complex tactics to manipulate and 
sway the market.
 * **Bots manipulating crypto prices:** High-frequency trading bots can front-run trades, spoof orders, or simulate volume &#8212; all faster than any human. 
 * **Insider trading in crypto:** When someone trades on non-public info (like a token listing or partnership), it gives them an unfair edge. And yes &#8212; it happens. 
 * **Oracle manipulation:** Hackers sometimes exploit oracles &#8212; the tools that feed price data into decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms. Faking a price feed can drain liquidity pools or trick smart contracts.
_**Did you know?** In 2020, a hacker used a flash loan to manipulate an oracle 
on bZx, stealing millions in seconds. It was one of the first examples of 
oracle-based fraud._
## Why manipulation works: Psychology over logic
_In crypto, emotion moves faster than reason &#8212; and scammers know it._
Even experienced traders fall for manipulation because it plays on powerful 
instincts. Because the market moves fast, decisions are often made in the heat 
of the moment &#8212; on gut feeling, not deep analysis. And manipulators are 
experts at pressing the right emotional buttons.
Greed is the oldest trick in the book. Everyone wants to catch the next 100x 
gem, and scammers know how to dress up trash as treasure. A few flashy tweets, 
a celebrity shoutout and, suddenly, a random coin looks like the ticket to 
financial freedom.
Fear is just as powerful. One big red candle can trigger a chain reaction of 
panic selling. Manipulators use this to buy back cheap, while everyone else 
scrambles to exit.
FOMO is the final piece. When traders see others making big gains, logic goes 
out the window. Instead of researching, they ape in, hoping not to be left 
behind.
These emotions are hardwired. They&#8217;re faster than logic, and in crypto, speed 
is everything. Manipulators don&#8217;t need to hack wallets or break code &#8212; they 
just hack human behavior. Stir up just the right storm of excitement or dread, 
and the market plays right into their hands.
_**Did you know?** The infamous Squid Game Token soared tens of thousands of 
percent before crashing to zero. It was a textbook rug pull &#8212; but the hype 
was too loud for many to resist._
## What crypto price manipulation does to the market
_One scam doesn &#8216;t just hurt victims &#8212; it damages the entire ecosystem._
Crypto price manipulation doesn&#8217;t happen in a vacuum. Every fake pump, every 
engineered crash, every orchestrated scam chips away at the foundation of the 
entire crypto ecosystem: trust.
When retail traders &#8212; especially newcomers &#8212; get caught in a pump-and-dump 
or a whale-induced panic, the damage runs deeper than a single bad trade. Many 
walk away for good, disillusioned and angry, taking their money and optimism 
with them. The promise of open, decentralized finance starts to look like just 
another casino &#8212; rigged and unforgiving.
And it doesn&#8217;t stop there. High-profile cryptocurrency frauds and price 
manipulation scandals light up the radar of regulators worldwide. Each 
incident becomes a case study in why crypto &#8220;needs to be tamed.&#8221; That means 
stricter rules, more compliance hoops and an overall slowdown in innovation. 
The free-spirited, experimental energy that drives crypto forward starts to 
feel boxed in.
Meanwhile, legit projects &#8212; those building real utility, transparency and 
long-term value &#8212; struggle to rise above the noise. Scam tokens dominate the 
charts. Shady influencers flood timelines. The signal gets buried under waves 
of hype and deception.
In the end, crypto price manipulation doesn&#8217;t just hurt individual investors. 
It poisons the well for everyone &#8212; developers, communities and the future of 
the space itself.
_**Did you know?** The memecoin craze has pulled in not just investors &#8212; but 
celebrities, too. From hyped tokens to sudden rug pulls, in 2024, several 
celeb-backed crypto projects have gone off the rails, blurring the line 
between fame and fraud._
## How to protect yourself from crypto manipulation
_You can &#8216;t control the market &#8212; but you can avoid its traps._
Here are practical steps to avoid falling for crypto scams and manipulation:
 * **DYOR (Do Your Own Research):** Don&#8217;t rely on TikTok tips or Telegram groups. Look into the token&#8217;s team, roadmap, use case and trading history. 
 * **Watch trading volume:** Sudden spikes or weirdly low volume can signal wash trading or a setup for manipulation. 
 * **Monitor whale activity:** Use tools like Whale Alert or blockchain explorers to spot big wallet movements. 
 * **Use trusted platforms:** Stick to exchanges that actively monitor for illegal crypto trading tactics like spoofing and wash trading. 
 * **Keep learning:** Stay up to date on the latest tactics and red flags. Knowledge is your best defense.
## The push for safer crypto markets
_The good news? The crypto world is fighting back._
The crypto universe might still feel like the digital frontier, but it is no 
longer a lawless land. Across the ecosystem, the good guys &#8212; builders, 
platforms and policymakers &#8212; are stepping in to make the space more 
transparent, resilient and secure for users.
Crypto exchanges are starting to unleash AI-powered surveillance tools 
designed to spot shady behavior in real time. Wash trading? Spoofing? Pump- 
and-dump groups? These algorithms are already trained to catch the tricks 
before they catch you.
On the DeFi side, protocols are stepping up with on-chain governance and 
transparency upgrades. Communities can now vote on key actions, track wallet 
movements, and call out suspicious patterns &#8212; all out in the open.
And regulators? They are finally moving from the sidelines to the rulebook. 
New legislation is targeting insider trading, fake promotions and market 
abuse, bringing long-overdue accountability to crypto&#8217;s fast lanes.
Is the system foolproof yet? Far from it. But every smart contract, policy 
update and AI model pushing back against manipulation is a win for the space.
So, if crypto scams thrive in the dark, knowledge is your flashlight. If a 
token&#8217;s mooning with no clear reason, pause. If something does not feel right, 
it probably is not. Trust your gut, not the hype. Because in the end, staying 
informed is your best defense &#8212; and your smartest investment.

Crypto price manipulation explained: How cybercriminals influence the market

Bitcoin has entered an important zone in recent days, with the $94,500 price 
area standing out as an increasingly important battleground for its short-term 
trajectory. Although the leading cryptocurrency has made several attempts to 
clear this region during its latest rally, it has faced repeated rejections, 
highlighting the presence of strong resistance. Despite these setbacks, on- 
chain data indicates significant whale accumulation noted on crypto exchanges, 
hinting that the bullish undercurrent is still strong as Bitcoin looks to end 
April 2025 on a postive close. Heavy Resistance Cluster Between $94,125 And 
$99,150 According to crypto analyst Ali Martinez, who shared insights from on- 
chain analytics platform IntoTheBlock, Bitcoin is encountering heavy 
resistance between the $94,125 and $99,150 price range. Related Reading: 
Ethereum To Hit $5k Before Its 10th Birthday, Justin Sun Says Notably, his 
post on social media platform X shows that approximately 2.61 million wallet 
addresses have accumulated about 1.76 million BTC within this zone, making it 
one of the densest supply barriers Bitcoin has faced in its current market 
cycle. As shown in the chart below, about 1.26 million addresses hold close to 
843,000 BTC between $94,125 and $96,582, while another 1.35 million addresses 
are clustered between $96,582 and $99,146, holding roughly 917,000 BTC. This 
concentration of holders creates a formidable wall that Bitcoin must breach 
decisively if it is to continue its upward march into the next month. A strong 
and decisive daily or weekly close above $96,600 could invalidate the overhead 
resistance here, placing the next target zone at $99,150. Ultimately, the 
buying momentum here would clear the path for the Bitcoin price to finally 
target $100,000 and beyond again. Conversely, repeated failures at this zone 
could cause a retest of lower support levels around $93,000 and $84,000, which 
also have significant volumes of 678,000 BTC and 759,150 BTC, respectively. 
Image From X: ali_charts Bitcoin&#8217;s Bullish Structure Still Intact Even as the 
$94,000 to $99,000 resistance zone poses a near-term challenge, technical 
patterns suggest that Bitcoin’s rally is just beginning. Another prominent 
crypto analyst, known as Titan of Crypto, reaffirmed that Bitcoin’s long-term 
price target of around $125,000 is still valid. This target is derived from a 
massive Inverse Head and Shoulders (H&amp;S) pattern identified on the Bitcoin 
monthly candlestick chart. Image From X: Titan of Crypto The chart shows a 
clear breakout above the neckline of the Inverse H&amp;S formation earlier this 
year when Bitcoin pushed to its current all-time high around $108,790. Since 
then, the price action has been followed by a retest that is holding firm 
above a support trendline on the monthly timeframe. Related Reading: XRP 
Nearing Explosive Breakout—$10 Target In Sight, Expert Says According to the 
analyst, this technical structure shows that Bitcoin is well-positioned to 
rebound and reach a new all-time high of $125,000 very soon. Of course, this 
timeline will also depend on whether the current support zone around $85,000 
to $87,000 holds steady. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $94,147 
Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView