Dwayne Golden sentenced to nearly eight years for defrauding investors in EmpowerCoin, ECoinPlus, and Jet-Coin schemes totaling over $40 million.

Crypto scammer gets 8 years for $40M eEmpowerCoin, ECoinPlus scams

Vitalik Buterin warns that single digital IDs could erode pseudonymity, 
proposing pluralistic systems to safeguard privacy and fair access.

Vitalik introduces ‘pluralistic’ IDs to protect privacy in digital identity systems

Ethereum is showing signs of renewed strength, trading 75% above its April 
lows as bulls attempt to reclaim lost ground. Despite this impressive 
recovery, ETH still sits roughly 98% below its all-time highs, leaving 
significant room for growth if bullish momentum accelerates. Market sentiment 
is shifting, with many analysts and investors eyeing Ethereum as the leading 
candidate to spark the long-awaited altseason. Related Reading: Bitcoin Forms 
4-Year Inverse H&amp;S Pattern – Neckline Break Could Send It Parabolic Top 
analyst Ted Pillows recently shared a technical view suggesting that Ethereum 
has once again retested its lower channel — a pattern that has historically 
preceded explosive rallies in previous market cycles. In both 2017 and 2021, 
this same setup led to massive gains, and some believe this cycle could be no 
different. With macro conditions still uncertain but risk appetite growing 
across crypto markets, Ethereum’s price action is being closely watched. If 
the pattern holds, ETH could be on the verge of a powerful breakout that pulls 
the broader altcoin market along with it. Whether this becomes a historic 
launchpad or another consolidation phase remains to be seen, but for now, 
Ethereum is clearly at the center of attention. Ethereum Holds Key Support As 
Historic Pattern Signals Bullish Potential Ethereum is trading at a crucial 
technical level after reclaiming the $2,400 mark, where bulls and bears are 
locked in a tug-of-war. Buyers have managed to defend the key support zone, 
but upward momentum remains muted as broader market sentiment remains 
cautious. Geopolitical tensions and tightening macroeconomic conditions 
continue to shape risk appetite, making many investors hesitant to fully 
commit to high-beta assets like Ethereum. Still, the long-term setup is 
attracting attention from seasoned analysts. Pillows points to a recurring 
historical pattern that could define Ethereum’s trajectory in the coming 
months. According to his analysis, ETH has retested its lower trend channel 
once in each major market cycle, and each retest has preceded extraordinary 
rallies. In 2017, Ethereum surged 300x from this setup. In 2021, it delivered 
a 50x return. If history even partially repeats itself, a conservative 6x move 
would send ETH above the $10,000 mark. The setup is technically sound and 
aligns with the broader sentiment that Ethereum could lead the next altcoin 
rally, especially if Bitcoin breaks into price discovery. While uncertainty 
remains, ETH’s current position is a pivotal zone. If bulls manage to maintain 
structure and push toward range highs, the conditions for a breakout may soon 
align. Related Reading: Ethereum Staking Hits Record High: 29.02% Of Supply 
Locked Signals Long-Term Conviction ETH Holds $2,400 Level But Faces 
Resistance Ethereum is consolidating around $2,422 after reclaiming the $2,400 
support zone, but the chart shows that bulls face significant resistance just 
above current levels. On the 12-hour timeframe, ETH has struggled to break 
above the 50- and 100-period simple moving averages, currently sitting at 
$2,518 and $2,536, respectively. This cluster of resistance has capped every 
recent attempt to move higher, reinforcing it as a short-term barrier that 
bulls must overcome to regain momentum. ETH&#8217;s failed breakdown below $2,200 
earlier this week now looks like a bear trap, as buyers stepped in 
aggressively to reclaim lost ground. Still, without a decisive break above 
$2,530, Ethereum remains vulnerable to another retest of the $2,300–$2,200 
support zone. Related Reading: Ethereum Fakes Out Bears – Altcoin Rally 
Depends On Key Level Breakout The 200-period SMA near $2,160 remains a key 
downside level to watch — if price fails to hold above it on future dips, 
bears could regain control. For now, Ethereum appears to be range-bound, 
caught between macro uncertainty and bullish hopes for an altseason. A 
breakout above $2,550 would confirm renewed strength and open the door for a 
push toward $2,800. Featured image from Dall-E, chart from TradingView

Ethereum Holds Critical Long-Term Channel – Next Move Could Be Parabolic

The recent inaugural NYC Digital Asset Summit Roundtable, hosted by Mayor Eric 
Adams, focused on New York City&#8217;s strategy for engaging with the blockchain 
sector. Key participant Joshua Maddox stressed the importance of public- 
private collaboration for scaling Web3 adoption. NYC Reopens Doors to 
Tokenization When New York City, a global financial nerve center, convenes a 
[…]

From Skepticism to Strategy: NYC Embraces Blockchain’s Civic Potential

A well-known crypto voice has stirred the pot by saying XRP could one day 
challenge Bitcoin’s top spot. His name is Charles Shrem, the guy behind the 
Blockchain Backer channel on YouTube. He’s been bullish on XRP for years. Now 
he’s saying outright that the altcoin is a threat to Bitcoin. That claim comes 
at a time when the altcoin is still trailing behind Bitcoin’s recent rally. 
Related Reading: TRUMP Token In Trouble? Over $4 Million Liquidity Exit Sparks 
Crash Fears XRP’s Rise And Fall Against Bitcoin According to charts, XRP 
jumped over 200% against Bitcoin from November 2024 to January 2025. That was 
an eye-popping move. Then things went south. Since February 2025, XRP lost 
about 30% against Bitcoin. Bitcoin, on the other hand, set new all-time highs 
after February. The crypto mostly hovered around $2. That big swing shows how 
fast fortunes can change in crypto markets. If it isn&#8217;t clear yet, XRP 
actually is a threat to Bitcoin. — Blockchain Backer (@BCBacker) June 26, 2025 
Analyst Calls XRP A Serious Challenger Based on reports, Shrem has hinted at 
this view in the past. But he never put it so bluntly until now. He says 
Bitcoin fans feel threatened by XRP’s potential. He even pointed to online 
fights where Bitcoin maximalists blasted XRP and its backers. Shrem argues 
that those attacks prove it has real muscle behind it, at least in the minds 
of some big players. Trump’s Digital Asset Stockpile Debate In January 2025, 
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order asking a team to study a 
“digital asset stockpile.” It didn’t name Bitcoin or XRP. But the move sent 
shockwaves through crypto circles. The funny thing is… XRP was never mentioned 
in the executive order. But, the Bitcoiners have always known it’s the threat 
for the crown. That’s why the attack is on. They know. — Blockchain Backer 
(@BCBacker) January 24, 2025 Some Bitcoin supporters blamed XRP and Ripple’s 
boss, Brad Garlinghouse, for pushing to include the altcoin. That blew up into 
a heated online conflict. Shrem sees that clash as more proof of XRP’s rising 
profile. Bitcoiners are openly advertising that XRP may be a threat to 
overthrow Bitcoin. — Blockchain Backer (@BCBacker) January 24, 2025 Market Cap 
Gap Remains Wide XRP still has a long way to go. It trades at about $2.19 and 
boasts a market cap of $129.4 billion. Ethereum sits second with $295 billion. 
The crypto would need a 135% rise to hit $5. To match Bitcoin’s $2.125 
trillion, the altcoin&#8217;s price must surge about $1,620% to $36. Back in 
October, analyst Dark Defender said XRP could reach $36. That call sounds bold 
today. Related Reading: Stablecoin Skepticism Grows As IMF Official Challenges 
Their Money Role Overcoming A Big Lead In Adoption XRP’s fast moves get people 
talking. Its ties to banks and quick payments give it a story that’s very 
different from Bitcoin’s. But displacing Bitcoin means overcoming a huge lead 
in adoption and mind share. For now, Shrem’s claim makes good headlines. 
Whether XRP can turn that talk into market gains is another question. For 
crypto fans, it’s one of the storylines to watch in the months ahead. Featured 
image from Enjoy Niigata, chart from TradingView

‘Make No Mistake’: XRP Is Bitcoin’s Biggest Rival, Says Pundit

Marc Benioff, CEO and co-founder of San Francisco-based software giant 
Salesforce is on track to have a billion artificial intelligence (AI) agents 
by the end of 2025. “We’re remarkably on track,” Benioff said during an 
interview with Bloomberg. “We now have about 5,000 customers deploying this 
and it&#8217;s amazing how many agents we see getting […]