US Senator Bill Hagerty has introduced the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for US Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act to the Senate. 

This follows the release of a discussion draft in October, marking a significant step toward creating a regulatory framework for stablecoins payment.

Senator Hagerty Pushes the Stablecoin Bill in the Senate

The GENIUS Act defines a payment stablecoin as a digital asset used for payments or settlements, pegged to a fixed monetary value. Under the legislation, stablecoin payments must be backed by US currency, demand deposits at insured institutions, Treasury bills, and other assets. 

Furthermore, it mandates Federal Reserve oversight on stablecoin issuers with a market value exceeding $10 billion, following bank regulations. In contrast, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency regulates nonbank issuers. 

Issuers with a market value below $10 billion are subject to state regulation. However, those above the threshold may apply for state-regulation exemption. 

For now, Tether (USDT) and USD Coin (USDC) are the only stablecoins exceeding the $10 billion market capitalization threshold.

The Act also requires monthly audited reports on stablecoin reserves, with penalties for false reporting. It outlines clear procedures for institutions seeking licenses to issue stablecoins. 

Moreover, it establishes reserve requirements, tailored regulatory standards, and supervisory, examination, and enforcement mechanisms with defined limitations.

In the latest statement, Senator Hagerty emphasized the potential benefits of stablecoin innovation, highlighting how it could enhance transaction efficiency and drive demand for US Treasuries. He noted that the advantages of strong stablecoin development are vast and far-reaching.

“My legislation establishes a safe and pro-growth regulatory framework that will unleash innovation and advance the President’s mission to make America the world capital of crypto,” he stated.

Notably, the bill is co-sponsored by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand, Tim Scott, and Cynthia Lummis. 

In a social media post, Lummis stressed that 2025 is a pivotal year for digital assets. She warned that the US must take action and not allow other countries to lead in establishing regulations for stablecoins.

“Creating a bipartisan regulatory framework for stablecoins is critical to maintaining the U.S.’s dollar dominance and promoting responsible financial innovation,” Lummis added.

Meanwhile, Fox Business reporter Eleanor Terrett reported that there are expectations for the bill to advance swiftly.

“Senate staffers tell me they expect the bill to move quickly through committees in Congress,” Terrett wrote on X.

This comes after a press conference on February 4, where David Sacks, the White House’s AI and crypto czar, voiced his support for stablecoin legislation in the near future. Sacks, along with other House leaders, stated that stablecoin regulation will be a top priority.

Ethereum price started a recovery wave above the $2,550 zone. ETH is showing positive signs but faces many hurdles near the $2,880 level.

• Ethereum started a decent upward move above the $2,550 zone.
• The price is trading below $2,880 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average.
• There is a short-term declining channel forming with resistance at $2,800 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken).
• The pair could start a fresh decline if it stays below the $2,880 level.

Ethereum Price Recovery Faces Hurdles

Ethereum price started a recovery wave after it dropped heavily below $2,500, underperforming Bitcoin. ETH tested the $2,120 zone and recently started a recovery wave.

The price was able to surpass the $2,500 and $2,550 resistance levels. It even climbed above the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $3,402 swing high to the $2,127 swing low. However, the bears are now active near the $2,900 zone.

The price failed to clear the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $3,402 swing high to the $2,127 swing low. There is also a short-term declining channel forming with resistance at $2,800 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD.

Ethereum price is now trading below $2,880 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. On the upside, the price seems to be facing hurdles near the $2,800 level.

The first major resistance is near the $2,880 level. The main resistance is now forming near $2,920. A clear move above the $2,920 resistance might send the price toward the $3,000 resistance. An upside break above the $3,000 resistance might call for more gains in the coming sessions. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $3,120 resistance zone or even $3,250 in the near term.

Another Drop In ETH?

If Ethereum fails to clear the $2,880 resistance, it could start another decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $2,640 level. The first major support sits near the $2,550.

A clear move below the $2,550 support might push the price toward the $2,500 support. Any more losses might send the price toward the $2,420 support level in the near term. The next key support sits at $2,350.

Technical Indicators

Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is losing momentum in the bullish zone.

Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now below the 50 zone.

Major Support Level – $2,550

Major Resistance Level – $2,880

Crypto analysts are abuzz amid individual and joint attempts to dissect the impact of the Solana-based token-launching platform, Pump.fun, on the altcoin market.

Analysts and traders are divided over whether the platform has single-handedly derailed the much-anticipated altcoin season by diverting liquidity away from traditional crypto assets.

Analysts Make A Case Against Pump.fun

Miles Deutscher pointed to the Solana-based token generator as a major reason behind the delayed altcoin season. The renowned crypto analyst observes that the current market dynamic differs from previous cycles, where speculative capital flowed into altcoins with solid liquidity.

“The launch of Pump Fun is directly correlated to the destruction of the altcoin market vs. BTC. The reason we’ve seen no major ‘alt season’ across majors is because the speculative capital that would’ve once poured into top 200 assets instead flooded into on-chain low caps,” Deutscher articulated.

Instead, retail investors have been lured into illiquid on-chain meme coins, many of which have retraced 70-80% from their peaks. This aligns with a recent survey, which established that more than 60% of Pump.fun traders have lost money.

The shift led to significant losses for latecomers, exacerbating bearish sentiment in the market and postponing the colloquial altcoin season.

Historically, altcoin seasons follow Bitcoin’s price surges as capital rotates to projects with strong fundamentals. Ideally, the altcoin season was due a few months after Bitcoin’s then all-time high of $73,000 in January 2024. This was following the approval of BTC ETFs (exchange-traded funds) in the US.

Master of Crypto, a veteran trader, highlighted the staggering scale of Pump.fun’s impact. He notes that since April 2024, over 5.1 million tokens have been launched on the platform. This has generated $471 million in revenue.

As traders attempt to profit by chasing the platform’s products, this has created a fragmented market in which no single altcoin can gain traction.

Pump.fun As A Liquidity Blackhole

Pump.fun launched in April 2024, coinciding with the altcoin season, which contravened expected patterns. According to analysts, its meme coin mania progressively dominated speculative interest, causing traditional altcoins to struggle to attract liquidity.

“Pump Fun launched in April 2024 exactly when this Altcoin run deviated from past cycles,” EllioTrades stated.

Pump.fun, which allows users to launch tokens instantly with minimal effort, has surged in popularity. The platform began 2025 with a record $14 million in daily revenue. Nevertheless, critics argue that this success has been a liquidity black hole. Web3 researcher Mercek called the platform an insider-engineered liquidity heist.

“Stealing liquidity from the altcoin market? Pump.fun know how to do it. Meme mania or retail gambling are terms used just to avoid seeing the hard truth…Pump fun was never about decentralization or fun… but an insider-engineered liquidity heist,” the trader explained.

In their opinion, since its inception, Pump.fun has processed over $4.16 billion in transactions. It has also funneled the proceeds into centralized exchanges (CEXs), further draining the altcoin ecosystem.

Counterargument To Shifting Speculative Capital

Not everyone is convinced that Pump.fun is to blame for the sluggish altcoin market. Blockchain researcher Rasrm questioned the narrative. He argues that the market cap of Pump.fun tokens are insufficient to significantly affect broader altcoin liquidity.

“Total pumpfun coin MC is not nearly high enough to have affected this, surely?” he posted.

Others have emphasized that speculative capital does not always stay within the ecosystem. This means that not every winning trade repositions itself on another trade. It could exit the ecosystem entirely.

It appears establishing how much went into the Pump.fun’s ecosystem would be a more accurate metric.

Regardless of the cause for the delayed altcoin season, Pump.fun has fundamentally altered how capital moves in the crypto market. With Solana founders reportedly disliking the platform, according to a recent survey, Pump.fun’s long-term viability remains uncertain.

Meanwhile, Deutscher also associates Pump.fun’s rise to the stringent crypto regulations that have made fair project launches increasingly difficult. The US SEC’s (Securities and Exchange Commission) crackdown on CEXs and token offerings has forced market participants to explore decentralized alternatives.

This regulatory playing field has created an environment where meme tokens and gambling-style speculation thrive, turning crypto into a casino. Some see this as detrimental to the industry’s long-term growth. Meanwhile, others argue it serves as a powerful onboarding tool for new users.