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XRP Tops Ethereum in Weekly Flows Amid Market Slowdown

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XRP-linked investment products have returned to positive territory after several weeks of outflows, signaling renewed investor interest.

Key Points

  • XRP funds saw $2.91 million in inflows, ending a three-week outflow streak
  • Ethereum recorded $27.5 million in outflows, reversing prior gains
  • Bitcoin dominated flows with $219 million of the $230 million total inflows
  • Overall crypto inflows have cooled sharply from January’s $2.17 billion peak
  • Federal Reserve policy signals are driving a cautious, risk-off investor stance
  • XRP’s resilience is being supported by strong retail demand despite macro pressure

XRP Attracts Fresh Capital

After three consecutive weeks of withdrawals, XRP investment products recorded $2.91 million in inflows last week, according to CoinShares research head James Butterfill. Notably, this turnaround reflects a shift in sentiment toward the asset.

Moreover, the rebound also positioned XRP ahead of Ethereum in weekly flows. In contrast, Ethereum products saw $27.5 million in outflows, breaking their previous three-week streak of gains.

Taken together, these movements suggest investors are reallocating capital within the crypto market, likely in response to ongoing uncertainty and changing risk dynamics.

Fund Flows By Asset
Fund Flows By Asset

Bitcoin Leads in a Cooling Market

Despite XRP’s recovery, Bitcoin remained the dominant force in crypto investment flows, attracting $219 million out of the $230 million total recorded last week.

However, overall market momentum has slowed significantly. For context, weekly inflows had previously peaked at $2.17 billion in January, underscoring a sharp cooling in activity.

Butterfill attributed this slowdown to shifting macroeconomic conditions, which are weighing on investor appetite.

Federal Reserve Signals Drive Caution

In particular, recent guidance from the U.S. Federal Reserve has shaped investor behavior. At its March 2026 meeting, the central bank held interest rates steady while raising its inflation outlook and signaling fewer rate cuts ahead than markets had anticipated.

Consequently, these developments prompted a more cautious, risk-off approach among investors, triggering selling pressure across both equities and digital assets. Consequently, crypto markets have faced growing headwinds in recent weeks.

Retail Demand Supports XRP Price

Even amid these pressures, XRP has shown relative resilience. Analysts at 10x Research point to strong retail demand as a key source of support

At the same time, the XRP Ledger ecosystem continues to expand its real-world use cases, helping sustain broader interest in the asset.

As of now, XRP was trading at $1.42, up 3.5% over the past 24 hours, though still down 6.1% on the week. Meanwhile, institutional investors remain cautious, reflecting the uncertain macro backdrop.

Global Inflows Remain Positive

Nevertheless, investment activity has not disappeared. In fact, all major regions recorded net inflows last week.

The United States led with $153 million, followed by Germany with $30.2 million and Switzerland with $27.5 million.

This trend indicates that investors are not exiting the market entirely but are instead becoming more selective in how they allocate capital.

Overall, XRP’s return to inflows points to renewed confidence, particularly among retail investors, while Bitcoin continues to lead institutional allocations.

At the same time, the broader deceleration in inflows points to persistent macroeconomic uncertainty. Looking ahead, with Federal Reserve policy still a key driver, shifts in investor positioning are likely to continue as market conditions evolve.

Solana Price Prediction for Mar 24: Bulls Target $93 as SOL Pushes Into Decision Zone

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Solana pushed into a key decision zone as buyers defended support and tried to extend the rebound toward higher resistance levels ahead.

Solana (SOL) has turned an early drop into a strong rebound, with bulls regaining control after SOL bounced from around $86.35 to trade near $91.52, up 6.04% on the day. This move was not just a quick spike. 

After surging out of the lower range, SOL reclaimed the $90 level and then held most of its gains, spending much of the session trading between $90 and $92. 

That kind of structure suggests buyers were not simply reacting to short-term volatility, but were willing to defend the recovery as the session progressed. The broader dashboard also backed that strength. 

For instance, Solana was up 0.99% over four hours and 5.91% in 24 hours, even though it remained down 5.05% over seven days. For now, Solana’s chart points to a market that has regained momentum and is now testing whether this rebound can turn into a cleaner breakout.

Can Solana Break Further Resistance

Solana is pressing into a decision zone, with the daily chart showing buyers trying to turn a rebound into a fuller breakout. SOL is changing hands right around the 0.618 Fibonacci extension level at $91.63. 

That makes this area important because it now acts as the first major test for the latest recovery. Solana has already bounced from the lower part of the recent range and reclaimed ground above the 0.5 Fib level at $89.46. 

Solana 1D Chart
Solana 1D Chart

This move shows that buyers have improved the short-term structure. Still, the push needs a firm close above the 0.618 Fibonacci level to confirm growing strength.

If bulls keep control above that level, the next upside target sits near the 0.786 Fib level at $94.71. Beyond that, the chart points to $98.63 at the 1.0 extension as the next major resistance zone. 

On the downside, $89.46 is now the first support to watch, followed by $87.30 at the 0.382 Fib level. A break back below those zones would weaken the rebound setup and shift focus toward $84.62.

The Bull Bear Power (BBP) indicator also supports a cautiously constructive view. Specifically, the BBP came in at 2.882, which means bulls still held the edge at the time of the reading. The histogram has moved back into positive territory after a brief dip, suggesting buying pressure has returned. 

Even so, the bars remain smaller than the stronger expansion seen earlier in the month, which shows momentum has improved but is not yet explosive.

Why the $87 Level Matters for SOL

Meanwhile, analyst Crypto Tony’s latest Solana setup points to the $87.2 area as the key support to watch. The chart suggests SOL could pull back from the current zone near $89.8 and retest that level before making its next move. 

Solana Prediction
Solana Prediction

If buyers defend $87.2, the structure would still favor continuation higher, with the rebound setup remaining intact.

On the upside, the first area to watch is around $91, where Solana recently faced resistance after its vertical rally. If bulls reclaim that zone, the chart opens the door for a push toward $93, which stands out as the main upside target on this setup. 

Bitcoin Entering Final Discount Phase Before the Next Bull Market

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Bitcoin might be struggling at the moment, but recurring historical price action shows a notable turnaround is on the horizon.

Notably, Bitcoin has corrected considerably from its all-time high of $126,200 in October 2025, marking the end of its cyclical bullish phase. At the current price near $71,000, this represents a 43.7% drop from the peak. Still, the crypto leader is approaching a phase where it bottoms and starts another bullish season.

Key Points

  • Bitcoin is following a price fractal that has defined its bull market phase since 2011, offering insights into periods of correction and expansion.
  • Bitcoin is nearing the completion of the fourth fractal cycle, which began in late 2022, having moved through periods of accumulation, markup, and distribution.
  • If the timeline of the previous fractals continues to align, BTC will reach the final discount phase between October 6 and 16, 2026, with the buy zone around $41,500 and $45,000.
  • In the meantime, Bitcoin is in a “no-trader zone” between $65,636 and $70,685, and the next big move lies outside this range.

Bitcoin Follows 15-Year Pattern

Analyst Ali Martinez highlighted in a recent commentary that Bitcoin is following a 15-year pattern. According to him, a price fractal has defined the asset’s bull market phase since 2011, offering insights into periods of correction and expansion.

An accompanying chart shows that this fractal has followed a 4-year timeframe, marked with periods of accumulation, markup, distribution, and the bear market. The price action has repeated itself for several years, with each push driving BTC to a new all-time high.

Bitcoin 4-Year Fractal/Ali Martinez
Bitcoin 4-Year Fractal/Ali Martinez

Currently, Bitcoin is nearing the completion of the fourth fractal cycle, which began in late 2022. After reaching a bottom in November 2022, following a low of around $15,000, Bitcoin entered an accumulation period, marked by consolidation and strong whale market entry. The momentum escalated to a period of expansion, pushing BTC much higher.

The distribution phase, representing periods when holders begin to take profits near market tops, has also been completed. After the October 2025 top, the bear market has started.

Final Discount Window

However, this period of massive price downturn is also a short phase like others. Martinez highlighted that if history repeats, Bitcoin could be nearing its “final discount” window. This suggests a period where the asset’s price reaches its bottom and starts a fresh four-year cycle.

If the timeline of the previous fractals continues to align, the analyst predicts that BTC will reach this discount phase between October 6 and 16, 2026. Around this time, he sees a golden entry opportunity unraveling itself for whales to start accumulating. According to him, the Bitcoin price could be around $41,500 and $45,000, representing a possible buy zone.

From there, he expects a vertical move in a new cycle to start. If history repeats, this could take the premier asset to unprecedented prices.

Bitcoin at No-Trader Zone

In the meantime, Martinez noted in a parallel analysis that Bitcoin is in a “no-trader zone.” Here, he urges traders to remain patient and wait for a sustained break either above or below an identified price range.

Per the analysis, this range lies between $65,636 and $70,685, where over 1.72 million BTC changed hands. Martinez identified this using the UTXO Realized Price Distribution (URPD). According to him, buyers and sellers are “digging in their heels,” and BTC won’t see a substantial price move until a breakout defines its direction.

The URPD chart shows no areas of interest if BTC breaks higher until its price reaches between $83,307 and $84,569. However, the next significant support lies at $63,111.

Aussie Pension Giant Hostplus Eyes Bitcoin Exposure for Self-Directed Portfolios

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Australia’s major pension fund Hostplus is exploring plans to introduce Bitcoin and other digital assets into its investment offerings.

This development reflects a gradual shift in how retirement funds are approaching alternative investments.

Key Points

  • Hostplus is considering adding crypto exposure via its “Choiceplus” self-directed investment platform.
  • A potential rollout could happen as early as the next financial year, pending approvals.
  • The move is driven by growing member demand, especially from younger investors.
  • The fund is reviewing a broader range of digital assets beyond Bitcoin, including tokenized investments.

Potential Rollout Through Self-Directed Platform

With more than $105 billion under management, Hostplus is assessing how to integrate crypto exposure responsibly. The proposed route is through its “Choiceplus” platform, which allows members to control a portion of their retirement savings.

At present, self-directed investments account for only about 1% of total assets. However, interest in expanding these options appears to be growing. 

Against this backdrop, Chief Investment Officer Sam Sicilia said a rollout could come as early as the next financial year, pending regulatory approval and final product design.

Member Demand Drives Consideration

The initiative is largely being driven by rising member demand. Sicilia noted that some members have directly requested access to cryptocurrency investments, prompting the fund to reconsider its earlier position.

Hostplus serves nearly two million members, many of whom are in their mid-to-late 30s. This relatively young base may explain the growing curiosity about digital assets. 

However, Sicilia emphasized that several aspects still require careful evaluation, including consumer protections and the structure of the investment offering.

Broader Digital Asset Strategy Under Review

In line with this demand, Hostplus is broadening its scope beyond Bitcoin. The fund is reviewing a range of digital asset opportunities. These may include tokenized investments, such as those linked to music rights.

Importantly, this is not the fund’s first encounter with the sector. Hostplus initially examined crypto nearly a decade ago. Since then, the market has evolved considerably. Sicilia pointed out that the asset class now appears more developed, prompting a fresh review.

Industry Context in Australia and Beyond

Despite this renewed interest, the broader Australian pension sector remains cautious. For instance, AMP Ltd. took a limited step in 2024 by gaining indirect exposure through Bitcoin futures.

In contrast, the United States has moved more aggressively. In August, Donald Trump signed an executive order permitting cryptocurrencies within 401(k) retirement plans. Meanwhile, the state of Indiana has approved legislation allowing certain retirement funds to allocate to digital assets.

Taken together, these developments point to a shifting global landscape. While caution persists, institutional interest in digital assets continues to build. For Hostplus, the path forward will depend on striking the right balance between innovation, regulatory compliance, and member protection.

Cardano Price Forecast for Mar 24: Here’s What’s Next After ADA Defends Historic $0.25 Support

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Cardano held a historic support zone as buyers attempted to stabilize price action, though broader momentum remained cautious overall today.

The Cardano (ADA) market may be showing early signs of life after an intraday rebound pushed ADA back above a key short-term level. The crypto traded around $0.2623 at the time of the chart capture, up 5.2% over 24 hours, after climbing from a daily low near $0.2483. 

The move stands out because ADA did not grind higher gradually. Instead, it posted a sharp vertical jump to $0.2659, which signaled a sudden return of buying pressure.

After that breakout, the price moved into a tighter consolidation range between roughly $0.259 and $0.265. That structure suggests buyers managed to defend most of the rally, rather than giving back gains immediately. 

What’s Next for Cardano

Cardano is trying to stabilize, but its indicators still show a market that has not fully shaken off bearish pressure. On the daily chart, ADA trades near $0.2630, just below the 20-day Bollinger Band midline at $0.2647. 

Cardano 1D Chart
Cardano 1D Chart

That level matters because it is now acting as a short-term trend gauge. Cardano has rebounded from the lower part of the range, yet it still has not produced a strong breakout above the middle band. 

This shows buyers are improving their position but have not taken full control. The Bollinger Bands show the upper band near $0.2855 and the lower band near $0.2440. 

The Awesome Oscillator adds to that mixed picture. The indicator remains below the zero line at around -0.00977, which means momentum remained negative overall. More importantly, the histogram has started turning red again after a brief improvement, showing that bullish momentum is fading before it can fully reverse the trend. 

From a market structure view, $0.2440 remains the key downside support from the Bollinger lower band, while $0.2647 is the first resistance to watch. Above that, $0.2855 stands out as the next major upside barrier.

Cardano at a Historic Level

Elsewhere, Cardano is back near a level that previously triggered strong rebounds, according to crypto analyst Ali Martinez. He mentions that ADA’s last two visits to the $0.25 zone led to rallies of 85% and 200%.

Cardano 1W Chart
Cardano 1W Chart

Martinez’s weekly chart shows ADA trading around $0.259, with a nearby support marker at roughly $0.249. That places the token close to a historical demand area that held during earlier corrections before sharp upside moves followed.

A break below that level would weaken the bullish comparison and raise the risk of a deeper decline. On the upside, the next major resistance on the chart sits near $0.547.

That level marks the first big barrier if ADA starts to rebound from current prices. If bulls clear that area, the next broader level on the weekly structure appears near $1.195.

Bitcoin Price Outlook: BTC Eyes Breakout After Rebounding Above $71,000

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Bitcoin rebounded above a key support zone as buyers returned, while momentum and futures demand point to a possible breakout ahead today.

Bitcoin (BTC) snapped back above $71,000 after a sharp intraday surge erased early weakness and put bulls back in control of the short-term trend. At the time of this press, Bitcoin traded at $71,000.3, up 3.82% over 24 hours, after bouncing from an earlier low near $68.33K. 

That intraday structure matters because it shows aggressive buying interest stepped in once Bitcoin cleared the lower range. 

The latest push back toward $71,000 also shows buyers remained active into the final part of the session. From here, the first level to watch is whether Bitcoin can keep holding above $71,000.

Can Bitcoin Hold Above $71,000

Bitcoin is pushing higher again, but its daily indicators show the market is still caught between recovery and a full breakout.

On the daily chart, Bitcoin traded near $71,175, extending its rebound after recovering from the recent pullback. The price is now sitting well above the Chande Kroll Stop long level at $68,433, which suggests bulls have regained short-term control after defending lower support.

Bitcoin Price Analysis
Bitcoin Price Analysis

That said, the move still lacks full confirmation. Bitcoin remains below the Chande Kroll Stop short level at $73,254, which now stands out as the next major upside barrier. In practical terms, that leaves BTC in a transition zone. The structure has improved, but buyers still need a decisive push above $73,254 to strengthen the case for a broader continuation higher.

The second indicator, Connors RSI (CRSI), came in at 70.40. That reading shows momentum has strengthened sharply, now entering elevated territory. A CRSI near or above 70 often signals that buying pressure has accelerated quickly. 

That can support continued upside in a strong trend, but it can also mean the market is getting stretched and may pause before the next move.

Bitcoin Futures Flows

Meanwhile, Coinglass data showed mostly positive futures flows over the latest tracked periods, pointing to stronger derivatives-side demand despite a brief dip in the 30-minute window. 

Bitcoin Futures Flows
Bitcoin Futures Flows

The table showed net inflows of $48.00 million over 5 minutes, $72.97 million over 15 minutes, and $150.23 million over 1 hour. It also showed net inflows of $105.57 million over 4 hours, $143.34 million over 8 hours, and $162.45 million over 12 hours.

The only negative reading appeared in the 30-minute period, where outflows of $408.13 million exceeded inflows of $397.73 million, resulting in a $10.40 million net outflow. Overall, the data suggest that futures traders were adding exposure across most short-term time frames.

XRP Still Defending Multi-Year Triangle Breakout Despite Declines, with $8, $17, and $27 Still in Play

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XRP continues to defend its multi-year triangle breakout despite recent declines, with bullish targets up to $27 still in play.

XRP has shown signs of recovery after months of decline, briefly reaching $1.6 on March 17 before facing renewed selling pressure. Despite the pullback and the ongoing downtrend since October 2025, XRP still holds above a major breakout level, keeping its long-term outlook intact.

Key Points

  • XRP climbed to $1.6 on March 17 before pulling back, continuing a broader downtrend that has persisted since October 2025.
  • Data shows a multi-year ascending triangle formed from the $3.3 peak in January 2018 with higher lows at $0.10, $0.17, $0.28, $0.38, and $0.5.
  • XRP confirmed a breakout in November 2024, rallying from $0.5 to $3.4 in January 2025 and later reaching $3.6 in July 2025.
  • The asset has since declined for five consecutive months, falling to around $1.4, representing a 61% drop from its July 2025 peak.
  • Data indicates the current price action remains above the former resistance level, suggesting the breakout is still intact despite the correction.
  • Long-term projections based on the structure place key targets at $8, $17, and $27, provided the trendline continues to hold.

Multi-Year Ascending Triangle Structure Remains Intact

This came from an analysis presented by EGRAG Crypto amid recent struggles. As the market battles continuous uncertainties, the market watcher called attention to a large multi-year ascending triangle (MYATL) that has developed over several years. 

He noted that the breakout above this triangle has already happened, and the market is now going through a retest phase, which he considers normal. Amid the retest, XRP continues to hold above the MYATL while forming a triangle pattern with rising support and a steady resistance level. 

For the uninitiated, an ascending triangle forms when prices make higher lows while facing a fixed resistance level. This shows that buyers are stepping in earlier each time, while sellers lose strength at the top. Over time, this builds pressure that can lead to a breakout.

XRP’s Triangle Breakout 

Notably, the pattern started forming after XRP reached $3.3 in January 2018 and then declined. The price later dropped to $0.10 in March 2020, which marked a major low. From there, XRP began to recover, forming higher lows even during pullbacks.

These higher lows include $0.17 in December 2020, $0.28 in June 2022, $0.38 in July 2024, and $0.5 in November 2024. Each of these points helped guide the rising support line of the triangle. At the same time, XRP could not move past the $3.3 level between January 2018 and November 2024, which created the flat resistance line.

XRP Ascending Triangle EGRAG Crypto
XRP Ascending Triangle | EGRAG Crypto

The breakout finally came in November 2024, when XRP moved up from $0.5 to $3.4 in January 2025. After a short pullback, it pushed higher again and reached $3.6 in July 2025, confirming strong upward momentum.

Since then, the market has turned lower. XRP has recorded five straight months of decline since October 2025, falling to about $1.4. This marks a 61% drop from the $3.6 peak in July 2025. EGRAG Crypto sees this move as a retest of the breakout level. He pointed out that the price still stays above the old resistance line, which now acts as support, showing that the breakout is still holding.

Long-Term XRP Price Targets

EGRAG Crypto believes the structure remains strong as long as the trendline holds. According to him, the current drop is part of the process, not a sign of weakness. The analyst stressed that markets often pull back after a breakout before moving higher again.

Speaking further, he set key targets at $8, $17, and $27, based on Fibonacci projections. However, he noted that reaching these targets will take time and also depends on the structure continuing to hold. From the current position, XRP would need to rise 471% to hit $8, 1,114% to claim $17, and 1,828% to reach the ultimate $27 target.

Bitcoin Has Outperformed Gold and the SP 500 Since the Iran Conflict Began

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While Bitcoin has come under scrutiny for its performance during periods of geopolitical tension, recent data suggests otherwise.

Recent data from Bitcoin-only brokerage exchange River Financial shows that BTC has actually performed better than most legacy assets, contrary to popular belief. This emphasizes its dual nature as a risk asset and a proper store of value.

Key Points

  • The River Financial data show that as of March 23, Bitcoin has outpaced gold and the S&P 500 (SPX) in price performance since the renewed tensions in the Middle East.
  • Israel and the US launched missiles at multiple cities across Iran on February 28, claiming the life of its Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
  • Since February 28, BTC has increased by 12%, while gold has dropped 16% and the SPX by 4%.
  • Bitcoin has outperformed gold and the S&P 500 in several other periods of adverse market conditions, including the COVID outbreak and the Russia-Ukraine war.
  • This clear outperformance in the face of global market turmoil in compared with these established assets highlights its emerging reputation as a hedge against uncertainty.

Bitcoin and the Middle East Crisis

For perspective, Israel and the US launched missiles at multiple cities across Iran on February 28, claiming the life of its Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.

Since then, Iran and Israel have fired retaliatory and crossfire strikes, with the latest launch being a missile attack on March 21 near Israel’s main nuclear research center. Meanwhile, the prolonged attacks have affected global markets as investors take cautionary steps.

The market uncertainties have also weighed on the crypto market. Bitcoin, the sector’s leader, has come under increased pressure amid the prolonged tension. However, it has weathered this uncertainty, showing admirable resilience and delivering better returns than the so-called safe-haven assets.

BTC Outperforms Gold and the S&P 500

The River Financial data show that as of March 23, Bitcoin has outpaced gold and the S&P 500 (SPX) in price performance since the renewed tensions in the Middle East. Since February 28, BTC has increased by 12%, compared to the negative trends seen in the other aforementioned assets.

In the same timeframe, gold has dropped 16% and the SPX by 4%, reacting adversely to the geopolitical tension.

Bitcoin Performance Compared to Gold and the S&P 500/River Financial
Bitcoin Performance Compared to Gold and the S&P 500/River Financial

Notably, these assets have reputations as established financial vehicles in the global market. Gold comes across as a store of value and hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty, while the S&P 500 is favored for its historical resilience and consistency in performance. 

These qualities make them easier picks during periods of global skepticism. Yet they fall short of the returns on investment that Bitcoin has delivered since the Iran conflict began, underscoring the cryptocurrency’s sheer strength and emerging reputation as a hedge against uncertainty.

Bitcoin Outperformance Extends Beyond Current Tension

Meanwhile, this price action extends beyond the current conflict in Iran. The River Financial data shows that Bitcoin has outperformed gold and the S&P 500 in several other periods of adverse market conditions.

For context, during the first US-Iran conflict, which began on January 3, 2020, BTC recorded a 20% return over 60 days. In the same timeframe, gold recorded a milder 6% growth and the S&P 500 a negative 7% return.

Other notable events, like the COVID-19 outbreak and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, also saw Bitcoin perform better. During the pandemic, BTC grew by 21%, gold by 3%, and the SPX by 2%. Within 60 days of the February 24, 2022, Russian invasion of Ukraine, Bitcoin rose 15%, and the SPX by 3%, while gold dropped 9%.

Interestingly, this obvious outperformance in the face of global market turmoil in comparison to these established assets has shown that it is a better play. It does not mean Bitcoin is immune to these adverse conditions. Rather, it has offered more stability and investment returns than gold and the S&P 500.

Shiba Inu Shares Crucial Shibarium Update Amid Major Backend Overhaul

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A leading Shiba Inu-focused handle has released a fresh update on Shibarium, highlighting major backend upgrades that have shaped its performance over the past month. 

According to the Shiba Inu-focused X account Shibizens, the network recently completed a significant infrastructure overhaul, including a server migration and a full-chain re-index. While some users may notice lower activity or missing data, the update makes it clear that these are temporary visibility gaps due to ongoing indexing. 

Key Points

  • Shibizens confirms that Shibarium has completed a large-scale server migration, strengthening its infrastructure.
  • The network has also initiated full blockchain re-indexing to rebuild the explorer from the ground up.
  • The explorer is catching up, with metrics steadily rising toward actual network figures.
  • Development is shifting toward Layer-3 innovation on Puppynet, including projects like Shib Alpha and ShibClaw. 

Latest Shibarium Update 

In a recent X post, Shibizens outlined the latest developments within Shibarium and emphasized that the network is undergoing a foundational upgrade rather than experiencing any operational decline.

Over the past month, Shibarium completed a major server migration and immediately initiated a full re-indexing of its blockchain data.

This process rebuilds the network’s explorer from scratch, improving efficiency, enhancing data handling, and strengthening scalability for future growth. Amid the upgrade, Shibizens reported a sharp 370% spike in token burn activity on March 21. 

Data Reconstruction

As the upgrade continues, the team notes that current on-screen data reflects only a fraction of the network’s actual activity. At the time of the update, the explorer displayed approximately 2.4 million blocks and 168 million transactions. However, in reality, Shibarium has already processed more than 14 million blocks and over 1.56 billion transactions.

Consequently, this gap between visible and actual data has created the false impression of declining activity, even though the network continues to run smoothly in the background.

Similarly, wallet growth follows the same pattern. While the interface shows around 5 million addresses, the actual number exceeds 270 million. At press time, the explorer has already begun closing the gap, with total blocks, transactions, and wallet addresses rising to approximately 8.65 million, 1.1 billion, and 268.11 million, respectively. 

Shibarium Data
Shibarium Data

Other Key Upgrades as Attention Shifts to L3 Innovation on Puppynet

Beyond data reconstruction, Shibarium has further strengthened its infrastructure. Notably, the migration to high-performance RPC endpoints is now complete, which ensures stable connectivity and faster response times for both developers and users.

Meanwhile, Shibizens confirmed that the cross-chain bridge between Shibarium and Ethereum remains fully operational, with the previously implemented security enhancements still in place.

On the development front, focus is now shifting toward Layer-3 (L3) innovation. Shibarium’s testnet, Puppynet, has begun supporting early-stage L3 initiatives such as privacy blockchain Shib Alpha and ShibClaw.

In line with this shift, a new L3 explorer developed by WoofSwap launched over the weekend to support early testing. Initial results already show increased AI-driven smart contract activity, while block times remain stable at around five seconds. 

Notably, Shibizens reassured users that any missing tokens or NFTs are not lost. Instead, they remain temporarily unindexed and will reappear as the explorer completes synchronization. 

Bitcoin 703 Days Post-Halving: Analyst Predicts When BTC Could Bottom

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Bitcoin could be approaching its next major market bottom in late May 2026 if historical cycle patterns continue, according to an analyst tracking post-halving trends.

That outlook comes from JA Maartun, a community analyst at blockchain data firm CryptoQuant. Writing on X, he noted that Bitcoin is now 703 days past its most recent halving. In earlier cycles, market bottoms began forming around day 777. If that pattern holds, Maartun estimates a potential bottom roughly two months from now.

Key Points

  • A CryptoQuant analyst projects a potential Bitcoin market bottom in late May 2026 based on prior halving-cycle timing.
  • Bitcoin is currently 703 days past its April 2024 halving, while past cycle bottoms began forming around day 777.
  • The present cycle peaked at $126,080 in October 2025 before a correction exceeding 50%.
  • On-chain indicators remain in a Bear Phase, suggesting capitulation may be incomplete.
  • Realized price models suggest $55,000 is the likely final floor of the bear market.
  • Bitcoin’s correlation with gold has dropped to a record −0.9, a level historically associated with market bottoms.

Halving Cycle Provides the Timeline Anchor

To understand the projection, it helps to look at how halving cycles work. Bitcoin halvings reduce mining rewards by 50%, constraining new supply and reinforcing the asset’s scarcity narrative. Consequently, many investors view them as long-term bullish catalysts.

The latest halving took place on April 20, 2024, cutting block rewards from 6.25 BTC to 3.125 BTC. The next halving is expected around March or April 2028, after another 210,000 blocks are mined, with rewards projected to fall to 1.5625 BTC. These supply-shock events typically occur every four years.

Historically, price action follows a recognizable rhythm. Strong rallies often emerge six to twelve months after a halving, while bull market peaks tend to appear within twelve to eighteen months.

Current Cycle Broke the Historical Pattern

However, the ongoing cycle has featured unusual timing. Bitcoin surged to a record $73,777 in March 2024, before the halving, marking the first pre-halving all-time high. Market observers attributed the early breakout largely to demand from U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs.

Despite that anomaly, the cycle structure remained intact. A post-halving rally followed, consistent with prior cycles, and the four-year expansion phase culminated in October 2025 when Bitcoin set a new all-time high of $126,080.

Market Correction Followed the Peak

Soon after the peak, momentum reversed sharply. Bitcoin lost more than half its value during the downturn. The decline pushed prices near $60,000 in February 2026, marking a cycle low.

Prices later stabilized but remained well below the peak. At the time of reporting, Bitcoin traded at $70,296. That level is still 44.3% under its record high.

Such pullbacks are typical in past cycles. Historically, the deepest corrections occur around 30 months after a halving and roughly one year after cycle peaks. Within that framework, Maartun argues that if the four-year structure remains intact, a definitive bottom could form in late May 2026.

On-Chain Signals Suggest Additional Downside Risk

Beyond price action, blockchain analytics provide further context. CryptoQuant reported last month that Bitcoin has not yet reached full capitulation, with on-chain indicators still in a Bear Phase. In previous cycles, major lows formed only after metrics entered an Extreme Bear Phase.

The firm also highlighted realized price support levels, identifying $55,000 as a likely “ultimate” bear-market floor. That threshold has not yet been tested, and CryptoQuant noted that such base-building processes typically take time to develop.

Bitcoin-Gold Correlation Shows Rare Divergence

Meanwhile, cross-asset data points to shifting market dynamics. Michaël van de Poppe, chief investment officer and founder of MN Capital, examined Bitcoin’s relationship with gold and found the correlation had fallen to a record low.

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The reading dropped to -0.9 in March, a level that has historically coincided with market bottoms. At the same time, the BTC-to-gold ratio has declined by roughly 70%, forming trough structures similar to those seen in 2014, 2018, and 2022.

Van de Poppe said the divergence suggests Bitcoin is increasingly moving independently of traditional safe-haven assets, an evolution that may signal changing market behavior.