Market
Phillip Gradwell Joins Tether During Legal Battle
Tether, the issuer of the world’s largest stablecoin, has appointed Phillip Gradwell as the new Head of Economics. Gradwell joins the company amid a lawsuit alleging market manipulation involving USDT.
Stablecoins remain a crucial focus for digital asset regulators and the public. Their backing and dollar peg are some of the areas of interest.
Phillip Gradwell To Enhance Tether’s Communication
In a Monday announcement, Tether revealed its intention to leverage Gradwell’s experience engaging regulators, among other skills, to further its mission. He will help the firm advance its understanding of digital asset adoption, focusing on how Tether’s USDT stablecoin supports dollar hegemony.
“As the first and most widely used stablecoin, USDT conveniently and securely brings the US dollar to people globally. This enhances the liquidity and stability of the US financial system. It also reinforces the role of the dollar in global finance thereby supporting dollar hegemony. Philip’s expertise will enable Tether to bring even further understanding to our indispensable role in supporting the dollar,” Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino wrote.
Phillip Gradwell transitioned from a six-year career as chief economist at the blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis. Tether’s interest in his experience measuring digital asset activity and communicating with regulators comes amid an ongoing market manipulation lawsuit.
Read more: What Is a Stablecoin? A Beginner’s Guide
In the long-standing class-action lawsuit, which traces back to 2019, Shawn Dolifka and Matthew Anderson claim Tether and Bitfinex conspired to manipulate cryptocurrency prices using USDT stablecoin. Reportedly, Bitcoin is among the cryptocurrencies whose prices the defendants manipulate.
“[Tether and Bitfinex] executed a sophisticated scheme to fraudulently inflate the price of cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin. They orchestrated massive, carefully timed purchases […] to signal to the market that there was enormous demand. Thus, caused the price of those commodities to spike,” an excerpt in the court documents read.
With this, the plaintiff claims Tether and Bitfinex violated the Commodities Exchange Act (CEA) and the Sherman Antitrust Act. The plaintiff also challenges the stablecoin’s status, that its one-to-one backing by the US dollar is false.
“In reality, Tether issued billions of USDT to itself with no US dollar backing — simply creating the USDT out of thin air. This ultimately resulted in billions of dollars of damage to innocent crypto commodity purchasers.”
Tether and Bitfinex Denounce Manipulation Lawsuit
Since its inception, the lawsuit has suffered multiple delays, amendments, and settlements. In 2021, Tether signed an $18.5 settlement with the New York Attorney General over USDT backing. In October 2021, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) also imposed a $41 million fine against Tether regarding the same matter.
Throughout the ongoing litigation, Tether and Bitfinex assert that the plaintiffs lack evidence to support their market manipulation claims. Nearly three weeks ago, Judge Katherine Failla of the US District Court for the Southern District of New York permitted the plaintiffs to proceed with a proposed Second Amended Complaint. Despite this, Tether remains confident in their defense, believing the plaintiffs’ “conspiracy theories” will ultimately be rejected.
“The decision does not suggest that plaintiffs’ claims have any merit, as leave to amend a complaint is freely granted and the Court must accept plaintiffs’ allegations as true, however baseless they might be in reality. As with the prior complaint, the claims asserted in plaintiffs’ proposed amendment are wholly without merit. Ultimately, it is the facts and evidence that matters, not plaintiffs’ false and misleading allegations,” Tether stated.
Read more: Crypto Regulation: What Are the Benefits and Drawbacks?
This development reflects the ongoing strife between crypto firms and industry regulation. Tether’s onboarding of Gradwell’s knowledge and experience highlights its commitment to defending its position and bringing in personnel with skill sets that could deliver a favorable outcome.
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
Ethereum Price Can Reach $3,500 On The Back Of These Factors
Ethereum, the second-largest cryptocurrency, recently failed to breach $3,524, triggering a sharp price drop. Since then, recovery efforts have remained weak as volatility persists.
However, the current conditions suggest Ethereum may be preparing for a comeback as the market stabilizes.
Ethereum Has Room For Recovery
Ethereum’s Network Value to Transaction (NVT) Ratio is experiencing a decline, recently hitting a monthly low. A low NVT indicates that transaction activity is balanced with network value, reflecting reduced volatility. This creates an environment conducive to price recovery, something Ethereum urgently needs to regain its footing.
With the NVT ratio signaling healthy network activity, Ethereum is positioned to stabilize in the short term. Declining volatility often fosters investor confidence, making it more likely for the cryptocurrency to see renewed buying interest. As speculative activity wanes, Ethereum has an opportunity to chart a path toward meaningful recovery.
Ethereum’s realized profits recently dropped to a six-week low, pointing to a significant reduction in selling pressure from investors. This trend highlights the market’s shifting sentiment, with fewer participants looking to offload their holdings. Such conditions could provide Ethereum with the breathing room required to capitalize on broader bullish cues.
The lack of an uptick in realized profits suggests that the selling lull may persist, allowing Ethereum to focus on building upward momentum. With investors holding onto their coins, market conditions are primed for a gradual recovery, provided external factors remain favorable.
ETH Price Prediction: Breaking The Barrier
Ethereum is currently trading near $3,300, just below the critical resistance level of $3,327. Flipping this into support is essential for ETH to initiate a rally toward $3,524, representing a 6% increase from current levels. This move would mark a partial recovery from recent losses.
Breaking through the $3,524 resistance is crucial for Ethereum’s recovery. Achieving this would erase the recent downturn and also position the altcoin for further gains, potentially targeting $3,711. Such a move would underscore Ethereum’s resilience and align with the broader market’s bullish sentiment.
However, failing to establish $3,327 as a support level could stall Ethereum’s recovery. This scenario would leave the cryptocurrency vulnerable to a retracement toward $3,200, undermining recent progress and potentially delaying its path to $3,500.
Disclaimer
In line with the Trust Project guidelines, this price analysis article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. BeInCrypto is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
Market
Justin Sun, Vitalik Buterin Speak Amid Ethereum Reform Debate
TRON founder Justin Sun has offered a hypothetical plan for Ethereum and the Ethereum Foundation (EF) under his leadership. His remarks come amid controversy over EF’s leadership transformation.
In a series of posts on X (formerly Twitter), Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin outlined the reforms’ goals and progress. He highlighted improvements in technical expertise, ecosystem engagement, and operational efficiency.
Justin Sun Outlines Blueprint for Ethereum Leadership
The TRON executive shared ambitious remarks on how he would lead the Ethereum Foundation if given the opportunity. Sun’s vision, shared on X, outlined a four-point plan to radically restructure EF operations, optimize Ethereum’s economic model, and drive the price of ETH to $10,000.
“If EF and Ethereum were under my leadership, ETH would hit $10,000,” Sun claimed.
Sun proposed an immediate halt to ETH sales for three years to stabilize supply and boost market confidence. He suggested covering EF’s operational costs through DeFi protocols like Aave, staking yields, and stablecoin borrowing, aligning with Ethereum’s deflationary goals.
A key component of his plan involves imposing significant taxes on Layer 2 (L2) solutions, aiming to generate $5 billion annually. The collected taxes would go toward exclusively repurchasing and burning ETH, further enhancing its scarcity and value.
Sun also called for a drastic downsizing of EF staff, retaining only top performers and offering them significant salary increases. This merit-based approach, he argued, would streamline operations and improve efficiency.
Finally, Sun emphasized adjusting node rewards and increasing fee burns to reinforce Ethereum’s deflationary narrative. He proposed redirecting all resources toward Ethereum’s core L1 development, focusing on scalability, security, and adoption. Justin Sun’s plan sparked a mixed response, with some applauding the bold vision.
“These are all very practical suggestions. Please pay attention to them and refer to them, Vitalik Buterin,” core developer 0xSea.eth posed.
Meanwhile, others challenged Sun to focus on TRON and explore bringing decentralized finance (DeFi) to its ecosystem.
“Maybe start with how to make DeFi great on TRON – you should ask your exec team (and yourself), “Why is DeFi nonexistent on TRON despite it being the chain with the most stable coins on it?” If you answer this, maybe TRON can beat eth one day,” ZIGChain co-founder Abdul Rafay Gadit remarked.
Vitalik Buterin Defends Leadership Amid Criticism
Sun’s proposed solution aligns with Vitalik Buterin’s recent post discussing ongoing changes over the past year, some of which have already been implemented. Buterin emphasized goals such as strengthening the EF’s technical leadership and improving collaboration with ecosystem participants. He also addressed concerns, rejecting the notion that the EF might adopt centralized or politically motivated roles.
“…these things aren’t what EF does and this isn’t going to change. People seeking a different vision are welcome to start their orgs,” Buterin articulated.
Aya Miyaguchi, an EF executive, confirmed the ongoing efforts, expressing excitement about forthcoming announcements. She noted that the reforms aim to solidify Ethereum’s position as a global neutral platform while embracing decentralized and privacy-preserving technologies.
The announcement has stirred controversy within the crypto community. Critics argue that the current leadership has failed to manage Ethereum effectively.
“Respectfully, just let new blood take over. You guys can’t even make a simple Twitter account work—how can you be trusted to lead the second biggest blockchain,” Wazz posed.
Another user, Coinmamba, suggested that pressuring Miyaguchi to resign could result in Ethereum reaching new all-time high. Buterin strongly condemned these comments, defending Miyaguchi and calling out the toxicity of such social media rhetoric.
“No. This is not how this game works,” Buterin retorted. “The person deciding the new EF leadership team is me. If you ‘keep the pressure on,’ then you are creating an environment that is actively toxic to top talent. YOU ARE MAKING MY JOB HARDER,” the Ethereum co-founder lamented.
Buterin also refuted specific claims against Miyaguchi, pointing out inaccuracies in translations and misinterpretations of her statements. He reiterated the need for a “proper board” within EF to enhance governance.
Ethereum’s ETH token was trading at $3,305 as of this writing, representing a modest 0.2% surge since Wednesday’s session opened.
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 Holding Time and Whale Activity Spikes
Dogecoin (DOGE), a leading meme coin, is signaling a potential breakout from its narrow trading range.
If this momentum continues, it could reclaim its multi-year high of $0.48, fueled by extended holding periods and increased accumulation by large holders.
Dogecoin Investors Reduce Distribution
The on-chain assessment of DOGE’s performance has revealed a significant spike in the holding time of all its coins transacted in the past seven days. According to IntoTheBlock, this has climbed by 302% during the review period.
The holding time of an asset’s transacted coins represents the average duration tokens are kept in wallets before being sold or transferred.
Longer holding periods like this reduce selling pressure in the DOGE market. This reflects stronger investor conviction, as investors choose to keep their coins rather than sell them.
In addition to reducing selling activity, DOGE whales have increased their holdings over the past week. This is reflected by the 112% uptick in its large holders’ netflow during that period.
An asset’s large holders’ netflow metric tracks the movement of coins into and out of wallets controlled by whales or institutional investors. When this metric spikes, it suggests that these large holders are accumulating more of the asset, signaling increased confidence in its future price movement.
DOGE Price Prediction: Bullish Run Could Continue
If this bullish momentum is maintained, DOGE will extend its weekly 3% spike. As buying pressure strengthens, the meme coin could revisit its four-year high of $0.48.
However, this bullish outlook will be invalidated if accumulation stalls and selling activity recommences. In that scenario, DOGE’s price could slip to $0.29.
Disclaimer
In line with the Trust Project guidelines, this price analysis article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial or investment advice. BeInCrypto is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice. Always conduct your own research and consult with a professional before making any financial decisions. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
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