Tether is deploying its existing and future hashrate on OCEAN, a decentralized Bitcoin mining protocol. It will focus on delivering high-performance operations to undeveloped areas, particularly in Africa.

Tether is showing increased commitment to keeping the Bitcoin ecosystem sustainable. This initiative also builds on the company’s previous investments in Africa.

Tether and OCEAN Team Up

Tether, the world’s leading stablecoin issuer, has been diversifying its interests lately. It’s preparing to make major internal changes, investing in a few different sectors, and considering a major stablecoin launch.

Today, Tether is working to advance decentralized mining infrastructure by deploying both its existing and future hashrate on OCEAN.

“As a company committed to financial freedom and open access, we see supporting decentralization in Bitcoin mining as essential to the network’s long-term integrity. Deploying hashrate to OCEAN aligns with both our mining investments and our broader mission to fortify Bitcoin against centralizing forces,” said Paolo Ardoino, CEO of Tether.

OCEAN is a decentralized Bitcoin mining pool, and despite the naming similarities, it’s not related to the popular AI token. It was founded by Bitcoin Core developer Luke Dashjr in response to centralization fears in BTC mining.

Tether’s hashrate will be able to help OCEAN in a few key ways. Critically, it highlights Tether’s commitment to the long-term viability of Bitcoin, as it is a major holder.

The company will deploy this hashrate through OCEAN’s DATUM Gateway service, which helps miners create high-performance operations in low-bandwidth areas.

Most notably, Tether will prioritize rolling out these services in rural and underdeveloped regions, particularly in Africa. This reflects Tether’s growing business commitments in the continent.

Tether obviously has self-interested reasons to deploy its hashrate on OCEAN, as it benefits from potential stablecoin users in new regions.

Moreover, the firm cast Bitcoin’s independence as a key motivator in itself. Tether is a major component of the global crypto economy, and it recognizes the importance of BTC beyond its desire to custody the asset.

In short, this operation gives a few insights into Tether’s plans for the future. By deploying hashrate on OCEAN, Tether is working to strengthen Bitcoin’s network and put more of the world on the blockchain.

Eventually, both of these aims can directly benefit the company.

Meme coins have garnered investors’ interest today more than any other category of crypto assets. Leading the joke tokens was Maneki, who continued the momentum from the previous week.

BeInCrypto has analyzed two other meme coins for investors to watch and the direction in which they are taking.

Maneki (MANEKI)

• Launch Date – April 2024
• Total Circulating Supply – 8.85 Billion MANEKI
• Maximum Supply – 8.85 Billion MANEKI
• Fully Diluted Valuation (FDV) – $25.32 Million

MANEKI price surged by nearly 28% over the last 24 hours, reaching $0.0028. This significant rise marks a continuation of the altcoin’s rally from the previous week.

The meme coin is expected to maintain its upward trajectory, aiming to breach the $0.0036 barrier in the coming days. A successful breach could attract more investors, sparking inflows and potentially propelling the price even higher. This would enhance the altcoin’s visibility and fuel its growing popularity.

However, if MANEKI fails to hold its support at $0.0022, it could fall to $0.0017. A drop to this level would invalidate the bullish outlook and extend the recent losses, halting its upward momentum.

Keyboard Cat (KEYCAT)

• Launch Date – January 2024
• Total Circulating Supply – 10 Billion KEYCAT
• Maximum Supply – 10 Billion KEYCAT
• Fully Diluted Valuation (FDV) – $35.39 Million

KEYCAT’s price saw a modest 11% increase today, reaching $0.0035, continuing its rally from the previous week, which now totals 64%. Despite not performing as well as MANEKI, this consistent upward trend could attract investors’ attention.

The next resistance level for KEYCAT is at $0.0040, and to breach this level, the altcoin will likely need broader market support. If successful, this could propel the meme coin toward $0.0053, solidify the current bullish outlook, and fuel further price action, drawing in more investors.

However, if KEYCAT fails to break through $0.0040, it may drop to $0.0030, with further declines possible if this support is lost. Such a fall would invalidate the bullish thesis and signal a potential reversal in price.

Popcat (SOL) (POPCAT)

• Launch Date – December 2023
• Total Circulating Supply – 979.97 Million POPCAT
• Maximum Supply – 979.97 Million POPCAT
• Fully Diluted Valuation (FDV) – $262.19 Million

POPCAT saw an impressive 115% rise over the past week, positioning it as one of the best-performing tokens. However, despite this surge, the meme coin faced a slight decline in the last 24 hours. The volatility signals a possible shift, though the outlook remains generally positive.

While the recent decline has almost been recovered, POPCAT’s momentum seems to be waning. Currently holding above the $0.244 support, the coin looks poised to bounce back and potentially rise to $0.342. Continued support from the market could allow for a more sustained recovery in price.

However, if POPCAT fails to maintain support at $0.244, the price could fall to $0.205, significantly invalidating the bullish outlook. A break below this support would suggest further price erosion, reversing the recent gains and potentially setting the coin on a downward trajectory.

Despite recent chaos and fears of a recession, public companies Strategy and Metaplanet are doubling down on new Bitcoin purchases. Strategy purchased BTC worth $285 million, while Metaplanet spent $26.3 million.

Metaplanet’s activity is particularly noteworthy because Japan’s 30-year treasury yields are soaring. For public companies in Japan, conventional economic practice is to pull back from the dollar, but committing to Bitcoin is a bold strategy.

Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) is one of the world’s largest Bitcoin holders, and it’s been going through a chaotic period. In recent weeks, it has alternated between massive BTC purchases and abrupt acquisition pauses, prompting a great deal of speculation.

Today, however, its Chair, Michael Saylor, announced a major new Bitcoin buy at $285 million:

“Strategy has acquired 3,459 BTC for ~$285.8 million at ~$82,618 per bitcoin and has achieved BTC Yield of 11.4% YTD 2025. As of 4/13/2025, Strategy holds 531,644 BTC acquired for ~$35.92 billion at ~$67,556 per bitcoin,” Saylor claimed via social media.

A lot of this chaos is due to fears of a US recession, which has made the price of Bitcoin swing wildly. When Bitcoin was down, it prompted speculation that MicroStrategy may have to dump its assets.

However, since BTC has started to recover, Michael Saylor’s firm is back on the market.

Critically, Strategy isn’t alone in its Bitcoin acquisitions. Metaplanet is a Japanese firm with substantial BTC holdings and ambitions to acquire even more.

Two days before Strategy made its own major purchase, Metaplanet CEO Simon Gerovich announced a similar investment:

“Metaplanet has acquired 319 BTC for ~$26.3 million at ~$82,549 per bitcoin and has achieved BTC Yield of 108.3% YTD 2025. As of 4/14/2025, we hold 4525 BTC acquired for ~$386.3 million at ~$85,366 per bitcoin,” Gerovich claimed.

Metaplanet’s commitment here is particularly noteworthy because it contradicts near-term macroeconomic headwinds. The global market is filled with risk-averse behavior right now, and Japan’s 30-year bond yields surged to the highest level in over two decades.

Despite this clear signal, the Japanese Metaplanet is continuing to make major Bitcoin investments. The latest purchases also had a positive impact on the company’s stock market. It’s currently up by 3% today, after suffering notable losses the past month.

In short, major corporate Bitcoin holders like Strategy and Metaplanet aren’t interested in tapering off yet. Despite the recent chaos, there is serious confidence that BTC will either gain in price or represent a stable store of value.

Either way, when public firms like this publicly take a bullish stance, it can shore up confidence across the entire market.