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Why Paradigm’s VP Calls SEC Crypto Policy Flawed

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Alexander Grieve, Paradigm’s VP of Government Affairs, detailed what is wrong with the US Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) policies.

It marks the second dissection that Paradigm, an investment firm known for throwing money behind many of the crypto industry’s mainstays, has made of the infamous securities regulator.

US SEC’s Hand Always Ready To Hit Wells Notice Buzzer

Grieve slams the US SEC for “carpet-bombing” the crypto industry in the name of “investor protection.” This includes issuing Wells Notices against anything value-adding that sprouts in the crypto market.

“Under this Chair, and this Enforcement Director — if you have built anything of value in crypto, you’ve found yourself on the receiving end of a subpoena, a Wells Notice, or an enforcement action/lawsuit, or all three,” Grieve wrote.

Coinbase was one of the victims of regulatory action, receiving a Wells Notice in September 2021 regarding its proposed Lend product, just five months after the SEC approved its business model, products, and IPO. In March 2023, Coinbase received another Wells Notice.

Read more: What Does It Mean To Receive a Wells Notice From the SEC?

Similarly, the SEC sued Kraken over its staking activities, forcing the exchange to relocate those services outside the US and pay a $30 million fine. This occurred despite Kraken settling with the regulator earlier that February.

Binance, the largest crypto exchange by trading volume, has also faced regulatory scrutiny across its operations. Other cases include actions against Robinhood, Uniswap, ConsenSys, OpenSea, and D.E.B.T. Box.

Regulator Forum Shops and Uses Barbell Approach

Highlighting that the cases against Kraken, Coinbase, and Binance were each filed in different jurisdictions, Paradigm’s Vice President accused the SEC of “forum shopping.” This legal term refers to choosing the most favorable court for a claim. It’s a strategy used by litigants to increase their chances of a favorable outcome.

The Paradigm executive also criticized the SEC’s “barbell” approach to crypto regulation. According to the VP, the SEC targets smaller entities that opt for settlements over legal battles due to limited resources. The regulator then uses these precedents to pursue larger companies, leveraging the initial settlements in subsequent cases.

“This is part of the SEC’s strategy: instead of just focusing on just one single company, they sue a company and allege that all sorts of other companies/projects/tokens/protocols (who may not be able to defend themselves) are securities as part of the case,” Grieve added.

This is not the first time Paradigm has criticized the SEC. BeInCrypto recently reported the venture capitalist’s dissection of Gary Gensler’s tenure chairing the commission. The dissection came after the SEC’s joint testimony revealed 784 enforcement actions in 2023, resulting in $4.9 billion in penalties and disgorgement.

In the research, Paradigm policy manager Brendan Malone detailed that the SEC has taken 171 enforcement actions against the crypto space since 2021. The pace of enforcement escalated since Gensler started leading the commission.

Read more: Crypto Regulation: What Are the Benefits and Drawbacks?

Malone criticized the SEC for using litigation to address policy matters instead of establishing clear regulations. He further condemned the agency for targeting individuals with limited resources, aiming to set precedents on token issuance cases by pressuring them into settlements.

On the same note, Hester Peirce recently admitted to the flaws in SEC crypto policy enforcement, as the agency’s handling of cryptocurrency regulations came under scrutiny before Congress and the Senate Banking Committees last week.

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 ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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Trump’s $500 Billion Stargate Venture Sparks AI Crypto Boom

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AI tokens surged on Wednesday after President Donald Trump unveiled a new joint venture to invest up to $500 billion in artificial intelligence infrastructure. 

The partnership involves major players such as OpenAI, Oracle, and SoftBank and will form a new entity called Stargate.

Market Focuses on AI Coins as Trump’s Stargate Initiative Gains Traction

The Stargate Project will invest $500 billion over the next four years, building new AI infrastructure in the US. The venture will focus on developing crucial data centers and the electricity generation required to power the AI sector.

The announcement has already had a noticeable impact on the broader market, particularly in AI-related cryptocurrencies. Following the news, the market capitalization of AI tokens surged by 9%, reaching $45.83 billion at press time, according to CoinGecko.

In fact, the market cap of AI agent tokens alone rose by 13% to hit $14.9 billion.

AI agent tokens, such as Virtuals Protocol, AIXBT, and AI16Z, saw impressive gains. Virtuals Protocol rose by over 13% in the past 24 hours, while AI16Z experienced a remarkable 36% increase. AIXBT token rose by 27% over the same period.

AI tokens
Price Performance of AI Agent Tokens. Source: CoinGecko

The surge in AI tokens reflects a broader shift in market interest as investors move capital towards more “sentient” tokens.

“Capital is rotating back from static memes to sentient coins,” AI researcher S4mmy commented on Twitter.

The analyst added that Fartcoin and AIXBT are sustaining their “mindshare dominance,” but face declining market caps after a heated run. Commenting on Virtuals Protocol, he said it continues to solidify its position as a backbone of the Agentic infrastructure.

Moreover, analyst CyrilXBT said he believes “AI will create generational wealth in 2025.”

“People said Bitcoin was a joke. People said AI agents are a gimmick. Guess what else they’ll say? ‘Why didn’t I listen when generational wealth was staring me in the face?,” CyrilXBT commented.

The shift towards AI is particularly interesting, given the trend of investments a few days back. Capital was flowing into Donald Trump-related tokens, such as TRUMP and MELANIA, which have seen significant volatility

However, BeInCrypto reported that smart money traders are now focusing on AI tokens after the hype around TRUMP faded. According to data from Nansen, a substantial amount of VIRTUAL, FARTCOIN, and AIXBT tokens are held by smart money.

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 ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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Will an Upside Break Spark a Surge?

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Este artículo también está disponible en español.

Ethereum price is struggling below the $3,500 resistance while Bitcoin gains. ETH is consolidating above $3,150 and might aim for an upside break.

  • Ethereum failed to gain pace for a close above $3,400 and $3,450.
  • The price is trading above $3,300 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average.
  • There is a key contracting triangle forming with resistance at $3,355 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken).
  • The pair could start another increase if it clears the $3,400 resistance level.

Ethereum Price Aims Key Upside Break

Ethereum price started a decent upward move from the $3,200 level but upsides were limited compared to Bitcoin. ETH cleared the $3,250 resistance to move into a short-term bullish zone.

The bulls were able to push the price above the $3,300 resistance zone. Besides, there was a clear move above the 50% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $3,445 swing high to the $3,203 low. However, the bears are still active below $3,400.

Ethereum price is now trading above $3,300 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. On the upside, the price seems to be facing hurdles near the $3,350 level or the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the downward move from the $3,445 swing high to the $3,203 low.

There is also a key contracting triangle forming with resistance at $3,355 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD. The first major resistance is near the $3,400 level. The main resistance is now forming near $3,445.

Ethereum Price
Source: ETHUSD on TradingView.com

A clear move above the $3,445 resistance might send the price toward the $3,550 resistance. An upside break above the $3,550 resistance might call for more gains in the coming sessions. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $3,650 resistance zone or even $3,720 in the near term.

Another Decline In ETH?

If Ethereum fails to clear the $3,400 resistance, it could start another decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $3,300 level. The first major support sits near the $3,250.

A clear move below the $3,250 support might push the price toward the $3,200 support. Any more losses might send the price toward the $3,120 support level in the near term. The next key support sits at $3,050.

Technical Indicators

Hourly MACDThe MACD for ETH/USD is losing momentum in the bullish zone.

Hourly RSIThe RSI for ETH/USD is now above the 50 zone.

Major Support Level – $3,200

Major Resistance Level – $3,400



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What Fueled Its New High

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Bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency, has once again captured the spotlight after rallying to a new all-time high of $109,699. 

With the $110,000 milestone in sight, Bitcoin’s recent price action is being closely monitored by investors. A combination of sustained market conditions and renewed institutional interest has positioned the crypto king for potentially historic gains. 

Bitcoin Investors Are Bullish

Market sentiment has shown a significant shift in recent weeks, particularly through the lens of Coin Days Destroyed (CDD). Late 2024 saw a period of elevated CDD, signaling heavy activity among Bitcoin long-term holders (LTHs) cashing out during the rally. 

However, January has brought a notable cooldown in CDD, indicating reduced selling pressure from these key investors. This trend suggests that most profit-taking among LTHs is complete, paving the way for a more stable price trajectory.

Low CDD is often interpreted as a positive sign for Bitcoin’s recovery. It reflects conviction among long-term investors, who are holding onto their coins rather than selling into the market. Such investor behavior typically builds confidence and supports upward price momentum, providing a favorable backdrop for Bitcoin’s push to $110,000 and beyond.

Bitcoin MVRV Ratio
Bitcoin MVRV Ratio. Source: Glassnode

Bitcoin’s macro momentum has also gained strength, supported by the accumulation activity of smaller investors, often referred to as “Shrimps” and “Crabs.” These holders, who possess less than 10 BTC, collectively added over 25,600 BTC worth approximately $2.71 billion. This surge in accumulation is proof of growing confidence among retail investors.

The Shrimp-to-Crab balance spike indicates a broad base of support for Bitcoin’s price. This demographic’s increasing participation reflects long-term bullish sentiment. Their buying activity often stabilizes the market, acting as a cushion during corrections and amplifying price rallies during bullish phases.

Bitcoin Shrimp To Crab Balance
Bitcoin Shrimp To Crab Balance. Source: Glassnode

BTC Price Prediction: Onto New High

Bitcoin’s recent all-time high of $109,699 was fueled by strong market fundamentals and strong investor sentiment. If momentum continues, the cryptocurrency could breach the $110,000 mark, cementing its position as a high-performing asset in 2025. This milestone would likely attract additional buying interest, reinforcing Bitcoin’s bullish outlook.

To secure its ascent, Bitcoin must establish $105,000 as a strong support level. Currently trading around $105,562, the crypto king appears well-positioned to achieve this. A successful defense of this support zone could propel Bitcoin to new highs, unlocking further upside potential.

Bitcoin Price Analysis
Bitcoin Price Analysis. Source: TradingView

However, failure to maintain $105,000 as support could lead to a retracement toward $100,000. Such a decline would negate Bitcoin’s recent gains and dampen short-term bullish sentiment, raising the risk of prolonged consolidation before a renewed rally.

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 ConditionsPrivacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.



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