Market
AntPool’s 7-Block Streak Fuels Bitcoin Mining Centralization Fears
Concerns about Bitcoin mining centralization have resurfaced following a notable event involving AntPool, the second-largest BTC mining pool
On May 17, AntPool mined seven consecutive blocks between block heights 843,893 and 843,904 in one hour and thirty-eight minutes.
AntPool Mines 7 Consecutive Blocks
During this period, the mining pool confirmed over 20,000 transactions and earned 23 BTC—21.875 BTC in mining rewards and 1.283 BTC in fees.
This impressive streak caught the crypto community’s attention, highlighting the prevalence of dominant pools like AntPool and Foundry USA. These two mining pools control over 50% of Bitcoin’s hashrate, raising centralization concerns. For context, Foundry USA mined the block before AntPool’s streak and the two blocks immediately after, resulting in ten consecutive blocks mined by these two pools in one day.
Read more: Top Cryptocurrency Mining Pools To Join 2024
Bitcoin developer Luke Dashjr has previously warned about the risks posed by the dominance of large mining pools. He argues that such centralization threatens Bitcoin’s decentralized nature, potentially leading to censorship and control issues. Crypto analyst TOBTC also shared similar concerns.
“This centralization trend, driven by economies of scale, allows these pools to censor transactions, as seen with F2Pool’s compliance with OFAC sanctions. Such power concentration poses an existential threat to Bitcoin’s decentralized nature and its foundational principle of trustlessness,” TOBTC remarked.
Meanwhile, these pools’ dominance is considerably unsurprising, as the current economic realities make it challenging for smaller miners to compete. Banking giant JPMorgan reportedly stated that the current hashrate and power consumption on the BTC network had pushed the average mining cost to about $45,000.
Moreover, the recent regulatory scrutiny will likely intensify the pressure on Bitcoin miners. Bitcoin mining is now viewed as a national security issue in the US. President Joe Biden recently ordered Chinese-backed MineOne Partners Ltd. to halt construction of a crypto mine in Wyoming and sell the property.
Read more: Making Passive Income From Crypto Mining: How to Get Started
Meanwhile, other countries are concerned about energy consumption. Venezuelan authorities recently announced plans to disconnect all crypto mining farms from their energy grid. Similarly, The Norwegian government is also focused on regulating data centers and curbing its energy use for Bitcoin mining.
Disclaimer
In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
Market
Dogecoin (DOGE) Shows Renewed Energy: Rally Incoming?
Dogecoin is consolidating gains above the $0.380 resistance against the US Dollar. DOGE is holding gains and eyeing more upsides above $0.400.
- DOGE price started a fresh increase above the $0.3750 resistance level.
- The price is trading above the $0.3800 level and the 100-hourly simple moving average.
- There was a break above a short-term contracting triangle with resistance at $0.390 on the hourly chart of the DOGE/USD pair (data source from Kraken).
- The price could continue to rally if it clears the $0.400 and $0.4080 resistance levels.
Dogecoin Price Eyes More Upsides
Dogecoin price remained supported above the $0.350 level and recently started a fresh increase like Bitcoin and Ethereum. DOGE was able to clear the $0.3650 and $0.3750 resistance levels.
The price climbed above the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $0.4208 swing high to the $0.3652 low. Besides, there was a break above a short-term contracting triangle with resistance at $0.390 on the hourly chart of the DOGE/USD pair.
Dogecoin price is now trading above the $0.3750 level and the 100-hourly simple moving average. Immediate resistance on the upside is near the $0.3950 level or the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $0.4208 swing high to the $0.3652 low.
The first major resistance for the bulls could be near the $0.400 level. The next major resistance is near the $0.4080 level. A close above the $0.4080 resistance might send the price toward the $0.4200 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $0.4500 level. The next major stop for the bulls might be $0.500.
Are Dips Supported In DOGE?
If DOGE’s price fails to climb above the $0.400 level, it could start a downside correction. Initial support on the downside is near the $0.3850 level. The next major support is near the $0.3750 level.
The main support sits at $0.3550. If there is a downside break below the $0.3550 support, the price could decline further. In the stated case, the price might decline toward the $0.3200 level or even $0.300 in the near term.
Technical Indicators
Hourly MACD – The MACD for DOGE/USD is now gaining momentum in the bullish zone.
Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for DOGE/USD is now above the 50 level.
Major Support Levels – $0.3850 and $0.3750.
Major Resistance Levels – $0.4000 and $0.4200.
Market
Solana Hits New All-Time High After 3 Years
On Friday, Solana (SOL) soared to a new all-time high (ATH), now trading at approximately $261. This breakthrough surpasses its previous peak set in November 2021.
Solana’s rise to a new ATH marks an increase of over 32 times from its lows recorded in December 2022.
Solana Hits All-Time High as Gary Gensler Plans Resignation
Solana’s path to this new high has been anything but smooth. After reaching its previous high in 2021, the platform faced a downturn in 2022 amid a broader crypto bear market, further exacerbated by technical issues and network downtimes.
The collapse of FTX in November 2022 pushed Solana’s price down to around $8.
However, Solana has since made a remarkable recovery, increasing more than 32-fold from its low. Now, Solana enthusiasts believe that SOL could eventually outpace Ethereum (ETH) in market capitalization.
“Solana has been at an all-time high by market cap for a while actually. Now, we’re finally in price discovery. The flippening is coming,” Birch, the founder of PathCrypto, said.
The surge in Solana’s market value coincides with the news of SEC Chairman Gary Gensler’s planned resignation, slated for January 20, 2025, as Donald Trump assumes office.
Known for his strict regulatory stance on cryptocurrencies, Gensler’s departure signals a potential shift toward a more crypto-friendly administration. Consequently, this political change is stoking speculations about the approval of a Solana exchange-traded fund (ETF). According to Fox Business journalist Eleanor Terrett, the SEC has begun engaging with issuers to explore the possibility of a Solana ETF.
“Talks between SEC staff and issuers looking to launch a Solana spot ETF are “progressing” with the SEC now engaging on S-1 applications. Recent engagement from staff, coupled with the incoming pro-crypto administration, is sparking a renewed sense of optimism that a Solana ETF could be approved sometime in 2025,” Terrett claimed.
Previous efforts to launch a Solana ETF were stalled by regulatory roadblocks, often stopping early in the process. However, the changing political environment and the SEC’s increased openness have reignited hopes within the crypto community. Recent filings for a Solana ETF by Canary Capital and BitWise reflect a growing interest and anticipation for regulatory approval.
Despite these encouraging developments, the odds of a Solana ETF approval in 2024 remain low, with Polymarket estimates placing it at around 4%.
Meanwhile, the crypto community is also closely watching Bitcoin as it approaches the highly anticipated $100,000 mark. On Friday, Bitcoin recorded a new high of about $99,300. This milestone is viewed as a pivotal moment for Bitcoin and could impact other cryptocurrencies, including Solana.
Disclaimer
In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
Market
XRP Price 25% Rally: Breaking Barriers and Surpassing Odds
XRP price rallied above the $1.15 and $1.20 resistance levels. The price is up over 25% and might rise further above the $1.420 resistance.
- XRP price started a fresh surge above the $1.20 resistance level.
- The price is now trading above $1.250 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average.
- There was a break above a key bearish trend line with resistance at $1.1400 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair (data source from Kraken).
- The pair is up over 25% and it seems like the bulls are not done yet.
XRP Price Eyes Steady Increase
XRP price formed a base above $1.050 and started a fresh increase. There was a move above the $1.150 and $1.20 resistance levels. It even pumped above the $1.25 level, beating Ethereum and Bitcoin in the past two sessions.
There was also a break above a key bearish trend line with resistance at $1.1400 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair. A high was formed at $1.4161 and the price is now consolidating gains. It is trading above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $1.0649 swing low to the $1.4161 high.
The price is now trading above $1.30 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. On the upside, the price might face resistance near the $1.400 level. The first major resistance is near the $1.420 level. The next key resistance could be $1.450.
A clear move above the $1.450 resistance might send the price toward the $1.50 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $1.550 resistance or even $1.620 in the near term. The next major hurdle for the bulls might be $1.750 or $1.80.
Are Dips Supported?
If XRP fails to clear the $1.420 resistance zone, it could start a downside correction. Initial support on the downside is near the $1.3350 level. The next major support is near the $1.2850 level.
If there is a downside break and a close below the $1.2850 level, the price might continue to decline toward the $1.240 support or the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $1.0649 swing low to the $1.4161 high in the near term. The next major support sits near the $1.20 zone.
Technical Indicators
Hourly MACD – The MACD for XRP/USD is now gaining pace in the bearish zone.
Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for XRP/USD is now above the 50 level.
Major Support Levels – $1.3350 and $1.2850.
Major Resistance Levels – $1.4000 and $1.4200.
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