The crypto market has shown limited favorability to bulls over the past week. However, certain altcoins continue to register gains driven by external developments. Others are sustaining their uptrend, edging closer to all-time highs.  

BeInCrypto has identified three key altcoins poised for significant movement in the next seven days.

Avalanche (AVAX)

AVAX is poised for significant volatility this week as 1.67 million AVAX tokens, valued at over $42.5 million, are set to be unlocked. Token unlock events often influence price movement as they introduce additional liquidity.

Historically, AVAX has seen bullish momentum before major unlock events as traders anticipate increased activity. Currently trading at $25.44, the altcoin is only 5% away from surpassing the $26.95 resistance. If this level is reclaimed as support, AVAX could rally toward the critical barrier of $31.15, reinforcing investor confidence.

However, failure to break through $26.95 could trigger a bearish reaction. If the token unlock does not generate sufficient buying pressure, AVAX may decline to $22.70. A further drop below this support could extend losses, shifting sentiment toward caution and delaying any potential recovery in the short term.

Mantra (OM)

OM has remained resilient amid bearish market conditions, avoiding sharp corrections. Currently trading at $6.15, the altcoin has shown strong price stability. This performance sets OM apart from other cryptocurrencies struggling to hold key support levels.

With OM maintaining support at $5.65, it is now less than 5% away from its all-time high (ATH) of $6.48. The altcoin appears poised to break this barrier, potentially forming a new ATH this week. Strong buying pressure and favorable market conditions could drive further gains, attracting more investors.

However, a decline below $5.65 could invalidate the bullish outlook. If selling pressure increases, OM may drop below $5.00, signaling a shift in momentum. Such a move could weaken investor confidence, delaying any potential recovery in the short term and pushing the price into a bearish phase.

THORChain (RUNE)

RUNE is set to experience bullish momentum this week, driven by the upcoming V3.20 release. This update will permanently retire the “mimir” key, which has long been a point of contention within the THORChain community.

With strong community support for the update, RUNE’s price could capitalize on the bullish sentiment. If buying pressure increases, the cryptocurrency could break through the $1.39 resistance and rally toward $1.70. This move would mark a 30% increase, reinforcing confidence in THORChain’s long-term development and governance improvements.

However, failure to breach the $1.39 resistance could dampen bullish momentum, leading to a potential price drop. If selling pressure increases, RUNE may decline to $1.11, delaying recovery efforts. This scenario could shift market sentiment, prompting cautious trading behavior among investors in the short term.

• The crypto market trended lower last week as US tariffs rocked the market, causing investors to flee to safe-haven assets like Gold.
• Crypto prices which recovered slightly on Monday and Tuesday continued trending downward as uncertainty looms.
• Meanwhile, spot ETF inflows remained positive despite some days of outflows.

Bitcoin

Bitcoin’s price trended lower over the last week following President Trump’s announcement of tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China. Investors fled to safe-haven assets like Gold while risky assets, like crypto, trended lower.

However, the tariffs are a catalyst for faster price declines as price action shows that BTC was already on a decline in its substructure after failing to swing higher than the $108,000 level three weeks ago.

BTC made two consecutive lower lows on the substructure over the last two weeks and traded into the daily demand zone early last week, logging a weekly low of $91,176.94.

After buying from the demand zone, the price rose to an internal supply zone at $102,000, validated by the 50% Fibonacci level, and sold off that zone to end the week at $96,475.03.

On the CME, where Bitcoin Futures are traded the most, open interest fell last week as traders closed contracts due to uncertainty caused by Trump’s tariffs.

Meanwhile, spot BTC ETFs logged a positive week as net flows printed $208.30Mn despite two days of major outflows.

Price Outlook

Provided the price remains above the demand zone on the daily time frame, then Bitcoin’s overall structure should remain bullish despite price declines on the substructure.

However, a daily close below the demand zone, i.e., below the $90,000 level, may trigger a sell-off to support levels around $84,000 or lower.

BTC trades at $97,624.73 as of publishing.

Ethereum

After failing to break above March 2024 highs, Ethereum’s price has been on a downtrend on its substructure since mid-December 2024.

On the 4-hour time frame, the price logged consecutive lower lows with the most recent low of $2,148.00 reached early last week. Price has improved since then, closing last week at $2,632.16.

Open interest on Binance, where Ethereum Futures are traded the most, shows a decline in the number of open contracts, which could be another catalyst for price declines.

Meanwhile, spot ETH ETFs logged positive inflows on all days last week, aside from Friday when it logged no inflows (or outflows), totalling $420.20Mn for the week.

Price Outlook

The next probable zone for ETH’s price to fall is a major support zone around $2,200. With Trump planning to impose a 25% tariff on steel and Aluminum as well as a fresh round of retaliatory tariffs against trade partners, more uncertainty could push ETH’s price there soon.

ETH trades at $2,640.05 as of publishing.

James Howells, a computer engineer from Newport, is considering purchasing an entire landfill in the latest attempt to recover a hard drive containing 8,000 Bitcoin (BTC). 

The cryptocurrency stash was accidentally discarded in 2013 when Howells’ ex-girlfriend mistakenly threw away the drive.

James Howells’ Bid to Save Bitcoin Fortune

Howells has spent the past 12 years attempting to secure permission to search the Newport landfill on Docks Way. He is convinced that his lost cryptocurrency fortune is buried there.

The landfill is expected to close during the 2025-26 financial year.

“The council planning on closing the landfill so soon is quite a surprise, especially since it claimed at the High Court that closing the landfill to allow me to search would have a huge detrimental impact on the people of Newport, whilst at the same time they were planning to close the landfill anyway,” Howells said in an interview.

The landfill site contains over 1.4 million tonnes of waste. According to Howells’ estimates, his hard drive is buried within an area of approximately 100,000 tonnes. With its impending closure, he sees an opportunity to gain ownership of the land.

“I would be potentially interested in purchasing the landfill site,” he stated.

He also confirmed that he recently discussed this option with his investment partners and that it remains a viable possibility.

Acquiring the site could provide Howells the legal leverage to excavate and search for his lost Bitcoin. His previous repeated appeals to Newport City Council have been consistently denied due to environmental concerns.

Moreover, in a recent legal dispute, Howells pursued either the right to excavate the site or a compensation payout of £495 million. 

However, the city council challenged his claim and urged the High Court to dismiss the case. Judge Keyser KC ruled against Howells, determining that his case had “no realistic prospect” of succeeding in a full trial. Nonetheless, owning the landfill could remove some of the bureaucratic hurdles.

In addition to considering a purchase, Howells plans to appeal Judge Keyser’s decision to strike down his case.

“I lost, they won. Might appeal. See what happens,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

Since 2013, Bitcoin has experienced tremendous growth. Furthermore, based on estimates, the largest cryptocurrency is on track for further highs. At current market prices, Howells’ lost Bitcoin would be worth over £630 million ($782 million).

“James Howells is destined to live with a nightmare that repeats itself every day: watching the value of his wallet grow exponentially, without ever being able to reclaim it. A fortune that could have been his, but was buried forever because of one fatal mistake,” a user wrote on X.

For Howells, the fight continues. Whether purchasing the landfill will finally give him the chance to retrieve his lost Bitcoin remains to be seen.