As the Bitcoin ETF market is seeing inflows again, the issuers are purchasing BTC in huge volumes. Fidelity and ARK Invest, two of the leading issuers, acquired more than $40 million in Bitcoin since yesterday.

Rumors also suggested that BlackRock, the largest ETF issuer, made similar purchases, yet these remain unverified. Overall, the fresh acquisitions from asset managers could contribute to a much-needed bullish narrative for the market.

Will Bitcoin ETFs Influence a New Bullish Cycle?

After weeks of consistent ETF outflows, the market is starting to pick up again. On Monday, US spot Bitcoin ETFs saw $274 million in net inflow—the largest daily inflow since February 28.

Meanwhile, blockchain analytics platform Arkham claimed that BlackRock is also making large BTC purchases.

“ARKHAM ALERT: BlackRock is buying $40 Million BTC. BlackRock is buying. Fidelity is buying. Ark is buying,” the firm stated via social media.

However, despite these claims, the on-chain data does not match up. Fidelity and ARK Investments both acquired large amounts of BTC today, posting inflow transactions of $41.16 million.

Both ETF issuers had other Bitcoin inflows, but BlackRock’s on-chain data actually shows a net decrease in BTC holdings.

These other leading ETF issuers have indeed been purchasing Bitcoin, as independent verification can clearly show. ETF analyst Shaun Edmondson claimed that they bought 665 BTC last Friday and 3,261 BTC on Monday.

Bitcoin’s price has been highly volatile, which might be adding to confusion regarding the ETF market. Last week, the issuer’s collective holdings fell below Satoshi’s wallet, a milestone they passed three months ago.

However, it looks like institutional investors are regaining the confidence to enter the market, as most Bitcoin ETFs have turned green this week.

Overall, institutional investors have been a key influence on Bitcoin’s market movement for the past year. If net inflow remains positive in the ETF market, it could help create a much-needed bullish narrative in the face of today’s bearish sentiment.

Base meme coins are heating up this week, with DOGINME, DRB, and CLIZA standing out as key tokens to watch. Doginme is leading the charge with explosive gains and growing hype after being added to Coinbase’s listing roadmap.

DRB is attracting attention as the first Grok-backed token but is still battling near all-time lows despite solid volume. Meanwhile, CLIZA is making waves as a launchpad-focused meme coin, building momentum as it competes with other platforms in the Base ecosystem.

doginme

Doginme is one of the most trending Base meme coins, with a market cap of over $84 million and a recent addition to Coinbase’s listing roadmap.

The coin has surged 511% in the last six days, with daily volume hitting $3.2 million as Base gains more traction. Doginme is quickly becoming a standout performer among Base meme coins.

If the uptrend continues, DOGINME could break above $0.00139, with room to push toward $0.0015 and $0.0020. However, if momentum fades, the price could pull back to $0.00097, $0.0007, or even $0.00043.

DebtReliefBot (DRB)

Debt Relief Bot (DRB) is the first token created by Grok in partnership with Bankr, an AI-driven Base project focused on companions. The token was uniquely launched directly through a thread on the X social platform, where Grok suggested both the name and ticker in collaboration with Bankr, making it one of the hottest Base meme coins in the last few days.

Currently, DRB has a market cap of $5.2 million and generates $2.5 million in daily trading volume. Despite this activity, DRB is trading near its all-time lows, showing signs of bearish pressure.

If the trend reverses, DRB could move up to test resistance levels at $0.000082 and $0.00018. A strong breakout could even push the price higher toward $0.000249, marking a significant recovery from its current lows.

CLIZA

CLIZA is a token launchpad specializing in AI agentic crypto, positioning itself as a competitor to platforms like Pumpfun and Clanker.

It aims to stand out by offering features such as Smart Metadata, vested team supply, and a built-in buyback and burn mechanism to enhance token value and sustainability.

The project currently boasts a market cap of $3.1 million, with daily trading volume reaching $2.3 million and a growing community of nearly 60,000 holders.

If CLIZA loses support at $0.00339, the price could drop further toward $0.00071.

However, if bullish momentum returns, the token could challenge resistance at $0.0056, with a potential push toward $0.0071 if buying pressure accelerates and crypto AI agents recover their upward momentum.

Nigeria recently faced one of the most severe economic crises. Inflation surged to record highs towards the end of 2024. Despite some level of easing, citizens still endure inflationary pressures.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government is accelerating efforts to regulate cryptocurrency transactions. Prospects are that interventions could boost revenue for the country.  

Nigeria Faces Inflationary Pressures

Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and largest economy, has long struggled with economic instability. Sources indicate its annual inflation rate soared to 24.48% in January 2025 before dropping to 23.18% in February.

The 1.3% decline suggests the government’s monetary tightening measures may be starting to take effect. However, the country’s naira currency has devalued significantly. It lost 230% of its value against the US dollar over the past year.

“The drop in the inflation rate is mainly due to the rebase of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), not an actual reduction in price levels or inflationary pressure,” highlighted one citizen.

It comes as the country’s import-dependent economy is highly vulnerable to external shocks. Against this backdrop, President Bola Tinubu’s administration implemented bold economic reforms to stabilize the economy.

Among them are the removal of decade-long fuel subsidies and the unification of the country’s multiple exchange rates. However, these measures triggered unintended consequences, such as skyrocketing fuel prices and a severe cost-of-living crisis.

The effects of inflation are particularly devastating in conflict-ridden regions where communities rely on subsistence farming for food.

Crypto as a Hedge With New Regulations on the Horizon

Amid the economic uncertainty, many Nigerians have turned to crypto as a hedge against inflation and currency depreciation. Blockchain analytics firm Chainalysis revealed that between July 2023 and June 2024, Nigerians traded approximately $59 billion in crypto assets.

This surge in crypto adoption reflects a growing distrust in the traditional financial system. It also suggests a desire for more stable and accessible financial alternatives.

Nigerian authorities are finalizing new regulations in response to the rise in crypto adoption. They want to integrate digital asset transactions into the formal economy.

The Nigerian SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) is drafting policies to ensure all eligible transactions on regulated exchanges are incorporated into the country’s tax network.

A proposed bill outlining taxation policies for crypto transactions and other digital assets is under legislative review. The general sentiment is that it will pass within the first quarter (Q1) of 2025.

Meanwhile, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) is stabilizing the currency and restoring investor confidence. Governor Olayemi Cardoso announced that the bank had cleared $2.5 billion of the foreign exchange backlog, with another $2.2 billion expected to be resolved soon.

Nigeria’s President Tinubu has also ordered the release of food reserves and establishing a commodity board to curb hoarding and stabilize prices.

While Nigeria’s economic crisis leaves millions struggling, the government’s intervention efforts involving crypto taxes and signs of easing inflation suggest a potential turnaround. However, much depends on how effectively authorities implement their policies and whether global economic conditions remain favorable.

At the same time, the country’s cryptocurrency adoption presents both opportunities and challenges. If regulated properly, digital assets could provide Nigerians with financial alternatives that help them navigate economic instability.

Notwithstanding, striking a balance between innovation and regulation will ensure that crypto remains a viable solution rather than a source of new financial risks.

“Currently, Nigeria needs massive investment in both formal and professional education; this is essential to increase our skilled labor force and be competent in today’s global digital economy.Special attention should be paid to areas in Blockchain, Digital Assets, Web3,” one user shared on X.