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SEC Clarifies Why Terra Luna Classic, Polygon & 3 Other Crypto Are Securities

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In a recent litigation filed by the SEC against Consensys, the Securities and Exchange Commission has clarified its stance on the classification of several prominent cryptocurrencies as securities. These include Terra Luna Classic (LUNA), Polygon (MATIC), The Sandbox (SAND), Chiliz (CHZ), and Decentrland (MANA). This legal action underscores the SEC’s contention that these digital assets were initially offered and sold as investment contracts.

Hence, the SEC believes these cryptocurrencies fall under the regulatory purview of securities laws. For context, Consensys, a major player in the crypto space, has been targeted for allegedly facilitating the trading of these assets through its MetaMask Swaps platform.

The US SEC argues that each of these tokens was marketed with promises of future profits derived from the efforts of the issuing entities, Consensys and related third parties. This expectation of profit was cultivated through various means. These include public statements, marketing materials, and the operational strategies outlined by the token issuers.

Agency Explains Why Certain Crypto Are Securities

One of the tokens in question is MATIC, the native token of Polygon, an Ethereum scaling blockchain platform. Moreover, Polygon positions MATIC as essential for network transactions and governance, incentivizing holders through staking mechanisms and other economic activities.

Hence, the SEC contends that since its inception, MATIC has been marketed and sold as an investment vehicle. It mentions that investors expect an increase in MATIC value driven by Polygon’s ongoing development and expansion efforts. They highlighted the details on MATIC’s whitepaper to prove their point.

The whitepaper read, “Matic Tokens are expected to provide economic incentives on the Matic Network [now Polygon]…Without Matic Tokens, there is no incentive for users to expend resources to participate in activities or provide services to the overall ecosystem on the Matic Network.”

Polygon also revealed funding raised from renowned and celebrity investors. In addition, Sandeep Nailwal, co-founder of Polygon, wrote in a November 2022 tweet, “I won’t rest until Polygon gets the ‘top 3’ spot it deserves (alongside BTC and ETH). No other project comes close.” The marketing and statements by the co-founder has also influenced the SEC’s decision.

Similarly, MANA, the digital currency of Decentraland, a virtual reality platform on Ethereum, has been categorized as a security by the SEC. MANA facilitates transactions within the Decentraland ecosystem and grants holders rights to participate in governance and content creation.

The SEC pinpointed the sale of MANA tokens during its ICO and subsequent trading activities on platforms like MetaMask Swaps. Moreover, the agency noted that these activities were conducted with the implicit understanding of potential profit from Decentraland’s platform growth and adoption.

Also Read: Breaking: South Korean Government Mulls 3-Year Delay on Crypto Taxes

Scrutiny On Terra Luna Classic, Chiliz & The Sandbox

Another token under scrutiny is CHZ, the utility token for Chiliz. It is used on the Socios platform for fan engagement in sports and entertainment. CHZ enables fans to purchase and influence decisions in their favorite teams through voting rights and rewards programs.

The SEC alleges that CHZ was promoted as an investment opportunity. It highlighted funds were raised explicitly earmarked for platform development, user acquisition, and marketing efforts. These factors all contributed to potential increases in CHZ’s value.

SAND, the token of The Sandbox, a virtual gaming platform powered by blockchain, is also highlighted in the SEC’s litigation. The SEC argues that SAND’s initial offering portrayed it as an investment vehicle. Hence, it is subject to securities regulations due to the expected returns tied to the platform’s success.

Lastly, Terra Luna Classic (LUNA), the native token of Terra, is included in the SEC’s classification as a security. LUNA facilitates stablecoin transactions and platform governance within Terra’s ecosystem. The SEC asserts that Terra Luna Classic’s issuance and trading involved expectations of profit. These expections were based on Terraform’s development efforts and market adoption of Terra’s stablecoin solutions.

The SEC also highlighted that in 2021, Terraform’s head of business development deemed Terra Luna Classic “equity” in their company. Moreover, Terraform CEO Do Kwon once wrote, “LUNA value is viable in the long run — growing as the ecosystem grows.” A director stated in June 2021 that “owning LUNA is essentially owning a portion of the network.”

Additionally, Terraform’s marketing emphasized their team’s expertise. These factors led the Federal Court for the Southern District of New York to rule on December 28, 2023, that LUNA and wLUNA were sold as investment contracts. Moreover, the SEC seeks to stand by this ruling.

Also Read: Charles Hoskinson Issues Important Safety Warning On Elon Musk

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Kritika boasts over 2 years of experience in the financial news sector. Currently working as a crypto journalist at Coingape, she has consistently shown a knack for blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies. Kritika combines insightful analysis with a deep understanding of market trends. With a keen interest in technical analysis, she brings a nuanced perspective to her reporting, exploring the intersection of finance, technology, and emerging trends in the crypto space.

The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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PumpFun Moves $13M SOL To Kraken as Solana Price Consolidates, What Next?

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PumpFun has transferred 95,934 SOL, worth approximately $13.34 million, to Kraken, further adding to the total 1,818,889 SOL moved to the exchange in 2025, equating to around $324.06 million.

This move marks a continued trend of significant activity surrounding Solana (SOL), reflecting growing investor interest. As SOL consolidates its price following recent bullish trends, this development raises questions about the potential direction of the cryptocurrency.

PumpFun Whale Activity and SOL’s Recent Performance

According to blockchain data provider Lookonchain, PumpFun’s recent deposit adds to a growing list of whale activities. So far, in 2025, the total SOL moved to Kraken by PumpFun alone exceeds 1.8 million, highlighting a considerable volume of transactions. Solana’s price has shown notable strength, especially in light of recent whale movements, which tend to indicate investor confidence.

Solana’s price has recently cleared significant resistance levels, with many analysts suggesting the cryptocurrency is in a strong upward trend. A crypto analyst, Ted, has pointed out that the SOL price is showing bullish signs similar to the Q4 of 2022.

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Ted suggests that SOL could see price levels between $160 to $180 by May 2025, with the potential for an all-time high later in the year. As whale activity continues, these predictions may influence market sentiment further.

Institutional Interest in Solana Surges

Institutional players’ participation is another factor that gives optimism to the SOL’s bullish run. Another player in the game is Galaxy Digital, though it has recently started making major withdrawals, pulling out about $77m worth of SOL from exchanges starting mid-April.

This also involved a substantial $19.5 million sell-off from Binance, showing faith in Solana’s potential. Other market players, such as Janover, also bought over $10m worth of Solana, validating the optimistic forecast for SOL price.

Such actions from institutional investors are usually viewed in the market as strong signs of confidence. Based on Galaxy Digital’s withdrawal, it could be estimated that large investors are preparing for higher SOL gains, which underlines the upbeat sentiment in Solana price. This increase in institutional support could enhance the overall market sentiment and help SOL rise in the short run.

Growing Number of Large Solana Holders

In addition to institutional interest like PumpFun’s, large retail investors are also becoming more active in Solana. Analyst Ali Martinez reported that the number of wallets holding 10,000 or more SOL increased by 1.53% in the past week.

This uptick, which grew from 4,943 wallets to 5,019, suggests that bigger holders are accumulating more Solana quietly. Such accumulation often occurs before broader market recognition, which can lead to price rallies.

This pattern of increasing wallet activity from significant holders further points to confidence in Solana’s potential. If these large investors continue to increase their positions, the demand for SOL could continue to rise, creating upward pressure on its price. The accumulation could be a sign that some are positioning themselves ahead of a potential breakout in price.

SOL Technical Analysis and Price Forecasts

The recent movement in Solana price has caught traders’ attention, with some analysts forecasting a continued rise. Another crypto analyst, Learnernoearner, suggested that an inverse head and shoulders pattern may be forming, indicating a potential long-entry opportunity.

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If Solana price experiences a brief pullback, this could provide an attractive entry point for traders.

Key technical levels for SOL price include support at $125, immediate resistance at $135, and a breakout zone at $178. If SOL price breaches the $178 mark, further targets could include $199, $216, and $238, and some even suggest a rally to $2000.

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Kelvin Munene Murithi

Kelvin is a distinguished writer with expertise in crypto and finance, holding a Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Science. Known for his incisive analysis and insightful content, he possesses a strong command of English and excels in conducting thorough research and delivering timely cryptocurrency market updates.

Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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Ark Invest Gains First Exposure to Solana With 3iQ ETF Bet

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Ark Invest, the asset management firm owned by Cathie Wood, has gained its first exposure to Solana as the broader financial market expands its adoption of cryptocurrencies. The firm has added exposure to two tech investment vehicles via the 3iQ Solana Staking ETF (SOLQ). Market analysts believe this move validates SOL, a front-runner for spot altcoin ETF in the US.

The Ark Invest Solana Exposure

According to the Citywire report, the ARK Next Generation Internet ETF (ARKW) and ARK Fintech Innovation ETF (ARKF) have SOLQ in their respective portfolios. These Cathie Wood’s funds bought 237,500 shares of SOLQ apiece, validating the Solana fundamentals.

Canadian regulators approved the 3iQ SOL ETF for trading earlier this month, alongside other crypto funds from Purpose, Evolve, and CI. These ETF products went live on schedule on April 16, placing them in line for mainstream exposure.

As Ark Invest revealed in its press release, the Solana architecture and its design for speed and efficiency make it ideal for the next generation of the internet. With the bet, the Cathie Wood firm has made history as the first U.S.-based ETF to gain exposure to Solana.

Beyond Ark Invest and Solana: Portfolio Diversification Goes Mainstream

Asset management firms are shifting toward crypto products, a move beyond ARK and SOL. As CoinGape reported earlier, Charles Schwab has revealed plans to launch crypto trading later this year. The firm, with $10 trillion in assets under management, may add more credence to the nascent asset class if it pulls through with its plans.

Under President Donald Trump, the improving crypto regulation landscape has given asset managers like Ark Invest the long-sought leverage to bet on the market. The precedent was set earlier with spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETF approval in 2024.

With key agencies like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Commodity Futures and Trading Commission (CFTC), and Federal Deposit Insurance Commission (FDIC) now aligned to crypto, more firms may soon join the diversification move.

Crypto ETFs and Role In TradFi Embrace

Despite the generally positive regulatory environment, many traditional financial firms are still skeptical of direct exposure to crypto. While many, like Ark Invest, do not mind the volatility, custody remains a major challenge.

More relatable products like Spot XRP ETF have been lodged with the SEC to mitigate this. With asset managers going all out in their bid, Solana, Hedera, Litecoin, and Dogecoin, among other assets, are also awaiting potential approvals from the SEC.

While the market regulator was skeptical of these kinds of products in the past, it now takes a different stance. Market experts expect approval before the end of this year.

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Godfrey Benjamin

Benjamin Godfrey is a blockchain enthusiast and journalists who relish writing about the real life applications of blockchain technology and innovations to drive general acceptance and worldwide integration of the emerging technology. His desires to educate people about cryptocurrencies inspires his contributions to renowned blockchain based media and sites. Benjamin Godfrey is a lover of sports and agriculture.

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Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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Analyst Reveals How High XRP Price Can Go If This Happens

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XRP price seems to be headed for a dramatic turning point, with various analysts citing bullish chart patterns that indicate a probable price spike over the next few months. The fourth-largest crypto is showing a strong technical setup on the 6-month candle chart, with formerly limiting resistance points now eliminated.

XRP Price Displays Eliminated Resistance And Bullish RSI

Technical analyst Dark Defender has posted a tweet that shows a 6-month candle chart indicating these “Eliminated Resistance” levels and a “Bullish RSI” (Relative Strength Index) indicator. The chart indicates that XRP has broken above significant historical resistance levels that previously capped price action.

Several price targets have emerged from analysts tracking the cryptocurrency. The analysts’ projections range from approximately $3.75 to over $18 in the coming months. Despite these bullish technical signals, sentiment indicators remain cautious, and the Fear & Greed Index shows a reading of 39. This places it in the “Fear” category.

The 6-month candle chart for XRP/USD shared by analyst Dark Defender highlights two key technical factors that could support a potential price surge. First, the chart identifies multiple “Eliminated Resistance” levels that XRP has now cleared. This removes previous price ceilings that constrained upward movement in past cycles.

These eliminated resistance zones appear at different points on the historical chart, with the most recent breakthrough occurring in the latest completed candle. According to Dark Defender, this technical development raises an important question for traders: “Is it Bullish or Bearish in the next 6 months?” The analyst indicates that the present candle will close at the end of June 2025, giving the traders a time frame for possible price action.

The second important technical signal highlighted is a “Bullish RSI” reading. The Relative Strength Index, at the lower part of the chart, is shown to be on the rise, moving into bullish levels above the 70 level. This momentum indicator shows increasing buying pressure behind XRP’s recent price action.

XRP Could Soon Hit $5

CryptoBull analyst provides additional technical analysis, labeling the pattern as a massive bullish falling wedge with an even larger bullish triangle encompassing the wicks. The analyst predicts a breakout from the patterns and a target price that could see XRP go as high as $5 before finally landing at a base of $3.85.

There have been suggestions by analysts about specific price targets for XRP in their outlook. Dark Defender shared short-term to medium-term target prices of $3.75, $5.85, and a wildly high target at $18.22.

CryptoBull offered a more detailed price action prediction and indicated that XRP is going to breakout in the near future with price action that can include a wick up to $5 and close around $3.85.

Amidst these modest predictions, certain analysts even predicted the XRP price to reach $280. Another analyst, Captain Faibik, instructed followers to continue purchasing XRP. He further added that the next increase will be “explosive” to the $5 level in the mid-term. Multiple analysts in agreement at the $5 level indicate it might be a key target for traders and investors.

Though analysts are optimistic, the prevailing mood in the market is cautious. CoinCodex indicates their latest forecast predicts that XRP could drop by 8.35% to $1.95 on May 21, 2025. CoinCodex also predicts that XRP had 13 days of gain in the previous 30 days (43%), and price activity has averaged 7.48% in the last 30 days.

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Vignesh Karunanidhi

Vignesh Karunanidhi is a seasoned crypto journalist with nearly 7 years of experience in the cryptocurrency industry. He has contributed to numerous publications, including WatcherGuru, BeInCrypto, Milkroad, and authored over 10,000 articles

Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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