Market
Ross Ulbricht Loses $12 Million on Pump.fun
Silk Road founder Ross Ulbricht lost $12 million on Pump.fun while attempting to liquidate donated ROSS tokens. He received only $600,000 for these assets, although he still retains 10% of the supply.
This incident illustrates how much the crypto space has changed since Ulbricht was last active. Compared to the Silk Road, Pump.fun and meme coins are new paradigm of speed and chaos.
Ulbricht’s Rude Awakening on Pump.fun
According to blockchain analysis firm Arkham Intelligence, Ross Ulbricht just lost $12 million on Pump.fun. Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road, became a popular figure among the crypto community due to his passion for Bitcoin and his decade-long imprisonment.
After Donald Trump pardoned him upon taking office, community figures began donating money to support his reintegration into society.
One of these donations illustrates just how much the crypto space has changed in the last ten years. An anonymous developer created a ROSS meme coin on the Pump.fun launchpad and gave Ulbricht half the supply.
However, when trying to liquidate it, he unintentionally cratered its value with disastrous consequences.
“Ross Ulbricht’s Solana donation address received 50% of the supply of ROSS from the developer last week. Ross tried to add single-sided liquidity to sell the coins off passively, but accidentally created a pool with Raydium CPMM (Constant-Product Market Maker) instead of CLMM (Concentrated Liquidity Market Maker),” Arkham claimed.
Ulbricht initialized the ROSS liquidity pool on Pump.fun at the wrong price, causing an MEV bot to take and sell it instantly. At first, this only used 5% of the total token supply, but Ulbricht tried to liquidate 35% shortly afterward.
This caused ROSS tokens to drop by 90%, and he received $600,000 for $12 million worth of assets.
The crypto community’s immediate reaction was sympathetic in nature. Before he was arrested, Bitcoin transactions on the Silk Road were the largest catalyst for the sector. Some would even argue that a large number of users back in 2012 became familiar with crypto just because of the Silk Road.
While most community members do not dispute Ulbricht’s imprisonment, the extent of his sentence felt largely exacerbated. For instance, Ulbricht received a double life sentence, while some of the worst drug dealers on Silk Road saw lighter sentencing.
Overall, the ROSS tokens were meant to help him get back into the real world, but the technicalities of DeFi and meme coins have changed a lot. He still retains one-fifth of his donated ROSS tokens, which are worth substantially less.
This episode illustrates that industry veterans like Ulbricht can still lose out on Pump.fun. Most traders on the platform lose money, and Solana’s founders showed a strong contempt for it in an anonymous survey.
The meme coin launchpad may have record-level incomes in 2025, but it’s also under a great deal of scrutiny. Hopefully, Ulbricht can bounce back from this rude awakening.
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
Fairshake Super PAC Has $116 Million for the US Midterms
Fairshake, the pro-crypto super PAC, currently has $116 million to influence elections in the 2026 US midterms. Several major donors who supported this effort during the 2024 elections have redoubled their donations.
At the moment, it doesn’t seem clear which senates will become the highest-priority targets. Since Kamala Harris endorsed crypto and lost, anti-industry sentiment has been much quieter in Congress, but a few opponents remain in power.
Fairshake Stockpiles for the Midterms
Fairshake, the pro-crypto Super PAC, is stockpiling resources for the midterms in 2026. According to a report from CNBC, the group currently has a war chest of $116 million to compete in these races.
Right after Trump won the Presidential election in November, a16z donated $25 million for this purpose, and other donations brought the total to $103 million.
However, more donations are likely. Elections can be very expensive in the current US political environment. In the 2024 cycle, Fairshake spent around $180 million to influence national races, and the midterms will be just as important.
In addition to electing President Trump, Fairshake’s political contributions also helped down-ballot candidates like Bernie Moreno.
“With the midterms on the horizon, we are poised to continue backing candidates committed to advancing innovation, growing jobs, and enacting thoughtful, responsible regulation,” Fairshake said in a statement.
Previous Fairshake donors, such as Coinbase, doubled down on their support, building new reserves for the midterms. According to CNBC, several additional big-name supporters like Ripple and Uniswap have provided new contributions for this purpose alone.
However, this does beg one question: who are they going to challenge with this money?
Crypto Industry Holds the Cards in US Elections
In the last Presidential election, Kamala Harris was more reluctant to embrace crypto than Donald Trump, but she eventually ran as a pro-crypto candidate.
Indeed, she even received high-level donor support from influential figures in the space, albeit less than Trump. If the Democrats continue their reconciliation with crypto into the midterms, who will Fairshake target?
There are some candidates that come to mind. First of all, a few outspoken crypto opponents like Senator Elizabeth Warren remain in Congress and continue to rail against Trump’s policies.
Since launching the TRUMP meme coin, several Representatives have called for a probe into possible criminal activity. Fairshake could fund races against these figures in the midterms.
However, there is another possible option. The Republicans have generally coalesced around Trump’s pro-crypto messages, but there are complications.
For example, a few elected officials have vocally supported the industry since the election despite opposing it beforehand. The threat of Fairshake spending could keep the half-hearted converts in line.
Ultimately, the midterms are nearly two years away, and Fairshake will have ample time to prepare. Regardless of which races take the highest priority, the super PAC will be ready to influence them.
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
ADA Price Jumps 6% Despite Whale Accumulation Slowdown
Cardano (ADA) price is up 6% in the last 24 hours, bringing its market cap to $34 billion as it attempts to reclaim the $1 level. Despite this short-term gain, ADA’s trend remains uncertain, with technical indicators showing mixed signals.
The ADX suggests weak momentum, while whale accumulation has remained stable, indicating a lack of strong buying pressure. Whether ADA continues its recovery or faces another pullback will depend on key support and resistance levels in the coming days.
Cardano Lacks Clear Trend
Cardano ADX is currently at 15.3, down from 22.2 three days ago after it announced a roadmap of upcoming changes. The ADX (Average Directional Index) measures trend momentum, with values below 20 signaling weak or non-existent trends, while readings above 25 indicate a developing trend.
When ADX rises above 40, it reflects strong momentum in either direction, but the current drop suggests that ADA’s trend has lost strength and is entering a more indecisive phase.
With ADX at 15.3, ADA is in a consolidation period with no clear bullish or bearish momentum. This suggests that price movements may remain range-bound until ADX begins to rise again.
If momentum strengthens and ADX moves back above 25, it could indicate the start of a new trend. However, as long as ADX remains low, ADA price is likely to continue trading sideways without a strong directional move.
ADA Whales Stopped Accumulating
The number of ADA whale addresses – wallets holding between 1 million and 10 million ADA – currently stands at 2,473, remaining within a tight range of 2,465 to 2,476 over the past 15 days.
Tracking these whales is important because large holders can significantly impact market liquidity and price action. An increase in whale addresses often signals accumulation, while a decline may indicate distribution or selling pressure.
The stability in Cardano whale addresses suggests that large holders are neither aggressively accumulating nor offloading their positions. This follows a surge from 2,453 to 2,483 between January 9 and January 14, indicating that whales previously increased their holdings before leveling off.
The current consistency may imply a wait-and-see approach, where whales are positioning themselves for the next major move rather than actively shifting their exposure. If this number starts rising again, it could suggest renewed confidence in ADA’s price potential.
ADA Price Prediction: Will It Surge 20%?
ADA price is currently hovering near its support at $0.95, a critical level that could determine its next move. If this support is tested and fails to hold, selling pressure could increase, pushing ADA down toward $0.87.
A break below this level would signal a continuation of the downtrend, reinforcing bearish momentum.
However, its EMA lines suggest that a golden cross could form soon, which would indicate strengthening bullish momentum. If this crossover happens, ADA price could test the $0.99 resistance, potentially pushing it to $1.03, a potential 20% upside.
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
Grayscale Files for XRP ETF
Grayscale filed a 19b-4 application to create an XRP ETF. The firm has been petitioning the SEC for several new ETF products in recent weeks, and it’s far from alone in doing so.
The SEC has taken tentative steps at approving an altcoin ETF, but it doesn’t seem to be in a hurry. Trump’s nominee for Chair hasn’t been confirmed yet, and the short-staffed Commission may be playing it safe.
Grayscale’s XRP ETF
Grayscale, the leader in the fight for a Bitcoin ETF, has been offering quite a diverse range of ETF products. After its first listing, it followed up with a Mini Bitcoin ETF and options trading, and currently has live applications for several other crypto products. Today, Grayscale is adding onto this roster, with a new filing for an XRP ETF.
The XRP ETF has been a prominent goal in the crypto community for months, and Grayscale is hardly the first firm to pursue it. Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse considers the approval “inevitable,” and Polymarket gives the prospect overwhelming odds of success. Still, this hasn’t actually happened yet.
Since Gary Gensler resigned, a huge inflow of ETF applications has reached the SEC. As of yesterday, the Commission made the first steps towards a Litecoin ETF, but there isn’t much other visible progress. Still, ETF analyst James Seyffart urged the community to show some patience regarding its pro-crypto realignment.
“Potentially Hot take: The SEC doesn’t have much of a reason to rush as quickly as possible on this stuff. I personally think they should handle these situations after Atkins is confirmed and in his seat at the SEC,” Seyffart claimed.
Seyffart did not directly respond to Grayscale’s XRP ETF application, but he made these comments less than 15 minutes after noticing the filing. It’s an important rule of thumb to remember, especially considering that the SEC is currently short-staffed.
Ultimately, the XRP ETF seems very likely, but that doesn’t mean Grayscale’s application will go through in the immediate future. For now, the Commission has made a little progress on one altcoin ETF, and will probably do more soon. The price of XRP has barely budged since this application went through, in any event. The community will just have to wait for updates.
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.
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