Cardano and IOTA, two of the best-known players in the crypto industry, have underperformed the market over time as they evolved into ghost chains. A ghost chain is a blockchain whose coin is popular, but one that lacks a supportive ecosystem. 

Cardano and IOTA are ghost chains

Cardano is a layer-1 blockchain that became popular in 2021 as a good alternative to Ethereum, which was a proof-of-work network at the time. Its popularity was partly because it was promoted as a peer-reviewed chain that would become a disruptive force in the industry.

Years later, Cardano has no major developers working in its blockchain. For example, there are no popular decentralized exchanges (DEXes) and lending protocols. It has a total value locked (TVL) of less than $350 million. In contrast, newer blockchain networks like Base and Sui have attracted over $1 billion in assets. 

IOTA, on the other hand, became popular for its insistence that it was not a blockchain network. Instead, it is a distributed ledger technology that uses a technology known as tangle. 

IOTA launched Shimmer, its EVM-enabled blockchain network in 2023 with a lot of hype. Many months later, it has also not attracted major developers. 

Therefore, many investors have abandoned ADA and IOTA as their prices have continued to underperform the market. Cardano price has crashed by 60% from its highest level this year, while IOTA has plunged by 75%.

Traders flock to Vantard

At the same time, traders are flocking to Vantard, an upcoming meme coin fund token that is in its presale stage.

Data on its website shows that the developers have now raised $808,240 tokens in less than three weeks. This trend makes it one of the best performing token sales this year. 

The idea of a meme coin index fund is inspired by Vanguard’s success. For over three decades, Vanguard has become a financial juggernaut with over $8 trillion in assets. Most of these funds are made up of mutual funds and exchange-traded funds that track either stocks or bonds.

Vantard hopes to create a fund made up of the top-performing meme coins in the industry. It is based on the view that meme coins do better than other traditional cryptocurrencies, especially during bull markets.

Some of the most notable performers were cryptocurrencies like Popcat, MICHI, Fwog, Gigachad, and Moo Deng. 

Vantard’s performance will also be influenced by the ongoing interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve. Analysts expect the Fed to slash interest rates by 0.25% on Wednesday this week. It will also hint that it will deliver more cuts in the coming meetingss.

Bitcoin and meme coins like Vantard thrive when the Fed is cutting rates. You can learn more about Vantard and buy the VTARD token here.

US Senator Elizabeth Warren secured her third term in Massachusetts. She defeated Republican challenger John Deaton, a high-profile attorney and advocate for cryptocurrency.

The Associated Press announced the victory on Tuesday night at around 8 p.m. as Warren claimed 73% of the vote compared to Deaton’s 26%.

Deaton faced an uphill battle in his first political campaign despite his popularity within the crypto community as an outspoken XRP advocate and broader calls for friendly regulation. He emerged as a Republican Senate nominee by defeating rivals Robert Antonellis and Ian Cain in a three-way primary.

His campaign received significant support from prominent figures in the crypto industry, including billionaire Mark Cuban. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse also endorsed Deaton, commending his commitment to advocating for the digital asset sector. This backing raised Deaton’s profile and highlighted the contrast between him and Warren, particularly in their differing views on cryptocurrency regulation.

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

Throughout his campaign, Deaton focused on his vision for a balanced regulatory approach to crypto. In an interview with BeInCrypto, he previously expressed his belief that “overregulation” would stifle innovation and harm American competitiveness.

This stance resonated with crypto advocates. Nevertheless, it struggled to capture a broad base of support among traditional voters in Massachusetts. Warren’s record as a seasoned legislator held strong appeal.

Meanwhile, Senator Warren, a powerful figure known for her prior stance against the crypto industry, softened her tone in recent weeks.

“I’m all for having a cryptosystem if people want to buy and sell crypto. All I want is for them to follow the same rules as everyone else,” Warren said.

Previously, she had called for strict measures to rein in crypto, often framing it as a risk to consumers and a tool for financial crime. Tyler Winklevoss, co-founder of the Gemini cryptocurrency exchange, has been a vocal critic of Warren’s approach to digital assets, often labeling her perspective as “outdated” and “overly restrictive.”

Warren’s victory likely ensures that regulatory scrutiny of digital assets will remain on the agenda in Washington. However, her recent shift from harsh critique to a more balanced tone could signal a new phase in the crypto-regulation debate.

Although Deaton lost by a large margin, his campaign showcased the increasing prominence of cryptocurrency issues in US politics. His platform resonated with crypto-friendly voters and industry advocates who view the sector as the future of finance.

Despite his defeat, Deaton struck a conciliatory tone in his concession speech. He extended an offer to collaborate on areas of mutual interest, suggesting potential bipartisan efforts even on contentious topics.

“I just called Senator Warren and congratulated her on her victory. If there was something that you think I could be helpful with, for example, women’s reproductive rights or issues we agree upon… I wouldn’t hesitate to offer my assistance,” Deaton said.

Read more: Everything You Need To Know About Ripple vs. SEC.

Moving forward, Deaton said he would continue advocating for clear and reasonable crypto policies. Specifically, he would remain involved in the Ripple versus SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) case regarding XRP’s status.