Russia has started using crypto for oil trades with China and India as it seeks to bypass Western sanctions, Reuters reported on March 14, citing sources familiar with the matter. According to the report, some Russian oil companies have settled trades in Bitcoin, Ethereum, and stablecoins like Tether’s USDT. This strategy simplifies the conversion of […]

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Learn MoreRussian oil firms use Bitcoin, Ethereum, USDT for cross-border payments with China and India

The memecoin frenzy on Pump.fun is hitting a wall, with the platform’s “graduation rate” sinking below 1% for a fourth straight week.

“Graduation rate” is the memecoin launchpad’s term for tokens that make it through the incubation phase and become fully tradable on a Solana decentralized exchange (DEX). To graduate, a token must meet specific liquidity and trading requirements.

Over the past four weeks, starting Feb. 17, Pump.fun’s graduation rate has remained below 1% for the first time, Dune Analytics data shows.

Pump.fun’s graduation rate has never been particularly high. The platform’s best-performing week was in November 2024 when 1.67% of memecoins moved on to the open market. However, the sheer volume of tokens launched on the platform at the time made this percentage more significant than it is now. During the week starting Nov. 11, 323,000 tokens were created on Pump.fun, meaning the 1.67% graduation rate translated to roughly 5,400 tokens entering Solana’s DeFi economy in a single week.

Related: Pump.fun’s memecoin freak show may result in criminal charges: Expert

With token creation volume declining on both Pump.fun and Solana, weekly token graduations have plummeted to a four-week average of around 1,500 tokens at the time of writing, according to Dune.

Memecoins are dying, and they’re not responding to positive market signals

Pump.fun’s dropping graduation rate reflects waning investor appetite for memecoins, which have developed a reputation as degenerate lottery tickets or quick cash grabs for their creators.

Several political figures have launched their own memecoins as well, including US President Donald Trump. His token is down 84% from its all-time high set on Jan. 19, according to CoinGecko.

Related: Argentine lawyer requests Interpol red notice for LIBRA creator: Report

Memecoins’ struggles persist despite improving liquidity, according to Matrixport. In February, Matrixport analysts noted that a strengthening US dollar had pressured Bitcoin prices by tightening dollar-denominated liquidity.

Since then, the US dollar has weakened. Over the past month, the US Dollar Index (DXY), which measures the dollar against a basket of major currencies, peaked at 107.61 on Feb. 28 before dropping to 103.95 on March 14.

“The US dollar has recently weakened, leading to a rebound in liquidity indicators and some marginal improvements in inflation data. Despite these positive shifts, memecoins — previously one of the strongest narratives during this bull market — continue to struggle significantly, with no apparent recovery,” Matrixport said in its report.

Bitcoin caught in memecoin aftershocks

The struggling memecoin market has contributed to a $1 trillion wipeout in crypto market capitalization, according to Matrixport.

“This redistribution of wealth may lead investors to remain cautious about deploying further capital, causing rebounds — even those triggered by better-than-expected inflation data — to be limited,” the report noted.

Matrixport analysts warn that this could lead to further Bitcoin declines, with a potential retracement to as low as $73,000 — a level they believe would provide “strong support.”

Magazine: Ridiculous ‘Chinese Mint’ crypto scam, Japan dives into stablecoins: Asia Express

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Learn MorePump.fun memecoins are dying at record rates, less than 1% survive

Some experts think the Ripple v. SEC legal tussle is nearing its end, while analysts set shocking targets for XRP’s price. …

Learn MoreRecent Ripple v. SEC Lawsuit Updates, Interesting XRP Price Predictions, and More: Bits Recap March 14

BlackRock’s USD Institutional Digital Liquidity Fund, known on-chain as BUIDL, reached $1 billion in tokenized assets as of March 2025, per data from rwa.xyz. On March 13, the fund minted over $206 million in new tokens as liquidity continues to flow into the fund. While Bitcoin and the broader crypto market is down over the […]

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Learn MoreBlackRock’s BUIDL fund breaks $1 billion in tokenized RWAs, up 56% in a month

Bitcoin is currently grappling with a crucial support region at the $80K mark, with sellers attempting to breach it. If a breakdown occurs, the asset’s next target will be the critical $75K level. Technical Analysis By Shayan The Daily Chart Bitcoin sellers have been struggling to maintain the significant support at the $80K price range, […] …

Learn MoreBitcoin Price Analysis: BTC Risks Falling to $75K if This Resistance Breaks

XRP (XRP) price is eyeing a breakout from a classic chart pattern in the near future after Ripple acquired its first-ever license in the Middle East.

XRP price chart hints at possible 46% gains

XRP has been consolidating inside a descending triangle pattern since topping out at its seven-year high of $3.40 on Jan. 16. 

After finding support from the triangle’s horizontal line at $2.00, the XRP/USD pair has left behind a sequence of higher lows over the last four days to its upper trendline, as shown in the chart below.

XRP‘s price is now testing the triangle‘s upper trendline at $2.30, raising hopes of a daily candlestick close above this level.

If this happens, XRP could rally toward the $3.00 psychological level, a critical supplier congestion zone that has rejected the price twice in recent times.

A move past this level would push the price toward the next major resistance at $3.27 and later to the multi-year high at $3.40, amounting to a rise between 30% and 46%.

Meanwhile, popular crypto analyst CrediBull Crypto says XRP’s drop to sub-$2.00 levels provided a perfect entry for buyers, targeting profits around $3.40.

Manifest destiny. $XRP https://t.co/Pa2pKSbYHq pic.twitter.com/FyeWfMrw5z

— CrediBULL Crypto (@CredibleCrypto) March 14, 2025

Ripple secures Dubai license

On March 13, Ripple announced that it had secured approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority, allowing it to offer regulated crypto payment services in the UAE.

Ripple has secured regulatory approval from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), making us the first blockchain payments provider licensed in the DIFC. https://t.co/6oHWtnjODr

This milestone unlocks fully regulated cross-border crypto payments in the UAE, bringing…

— Ripple (@Ripple) March 13, 2025

This approval, Ripple’s first in the Middle East, will allow the payments company to tap into the UAE’s $40 billion remittance and $400 billion international trade markets.

Related: Price analysis 3/12: BTC, ETH, XRP, BNB, SOL, ADA, DOGE, PI, LEO, HBAR

Following the announcement, XRP price gained 6% from a low of $2.21 to a high of $2.34 on March 11, reflecting market optimism.

“Ripple’s DFSA license in Dubai’s DIFC marks a game-changer, ” said popular commentator Vincent van Code in a March 13 post on X, adding that it positions the” company as a leader in regulated crypto payments across the UAE’s $40B cross-border market.”

“This could unlock massive potential for XRP, driving adoption and growth as blockchain transforms global finance.”

Ripple’s battle with SEC nears an end

Another potential catalyst for XRP price is the possible end of the SEC’s case against Ripple.

Ripple’s prolonged legal battle with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) since 2020 over allegations of unregistered XRP sales may be nearing a resolution.

The July 2023 ruling by Judge Torres, deeming XRP not a security for retail sales but fining Ripple $125 million for institutional violations, marked a turning point. Recent reports suggest both parties might drop their appeals, with Ripple negotiating better terms amid a perceived shift in SEC priorities under new leadership.

“The SECGov vs. Ripple case is in the process of wrapping up and could be over soon,” said Fox Business’s Eleanor Terret, citing two unmentioned sources.

Terret explained the SEC could be reconsidering its aggressive crypto enforcement, potentially aligning with a more lenient regulatory stance.

“The argument, I’m told, is that the new SEC leadership is wiping the enforcement slate clean for all previously targeted crypto firms because it believes regulatory clarity will resolve the underlying issue.”

As Cointelegraph reported, several cases against several crypto companies were dismissed in recent weeks, including Coinbase, Robinhood and Kraken, by the new SEC administration under acting Chair Mark Uyeda.

This article does not contain investment advice or recommendations. Every investment and trading move involves risk, and readers should conduct their own research when making a decision.

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Learn MoreXRP price poised for 46% gains after Ripple secures first Dubai license

On-chain data shows that the project has raised nearly $590 million between two pre-sales. …

Learn MoreTrump-backed World Liberty Financial (WLFI) Completes $590M Token Sale

Despite the crypto ‘Trump bump’ at the end of 2024, deal flow still favors Artificial Intelligence. But is there a new preference for AI over crypto? …

Learn MoreAI’s Lead Over Crypto for VC Dollars Increased in Q1’25, But Does This Race Really Matter?

The Arkansas Cryptomining Association is suing two Arkansas state officials, arguing that they enforced an unconstitutional and discriminatory state rule prohibiting foreign-born American citizens from engaging in crypto-mining activities, among other things.

The complaint was made against Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin and the director of the Arkansas Oil and Gas Commission, Lawrence Bengal, on March 13 in the US District Court Eastern District of Arkansas. 

It follows a federal court ruling last November that temporarily barred Arkansas from preventing a naturalized US citizen of Chinese descent from operating a crypto mining business.

The Arkansas state rules concerned are “Rule K” and “Act 174,” which prohibits foreign-party controlled businesses in the state.

Director Connor L. Kempton of the Arkansas Cryptomining Association said the vagueness of Rule K and Act 174 gives the defendants arbitrary and discriminatory enforcement powers, enabling them to grant or deny permits at their own discretion.

He said the application of Rule K and Act 174 is unconstitutional and can be discriminatory based on race, alienage and national origin, among other things.

Kempton noted that these rules were enforced against crypto mining firm Jones Eagle LLC, which is run by Qimin “Jimmy” Chen, a naturalized US citizen of Chinese origin.

Kempton specifically pointed to the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution in arguing the illegality of Rule K and Act 174.

Related: Russia bans crypto mining for 6 years in 10 regions

The Equal Protection Clause similarly prohibits the US states from denying any person equal protection of the laws based on the person’s race, alienage or national origin. 

The crypto mining executive also argued that Rule K and Act 174 strip American citizens like Chen of due process rights under the 14th Amendment.

Kempton also said the prohibitions and penalties imposed under Act 174 infringe on the federal government’s authority to investigate, review and take action on foreign investments.

“Act 174 seeks to establish Arkansas’s own foreign policy, thereby intruding upon the federal government’s exclusive power to govern foreign affairs.”

District Court Judge Kristine G. Baker said on Dec. 9 that the Arkansas state officials were barred from enforcing Act 174 against Jones Eagle until further notice.

Magazine: Train AI agents to make better predictions… for token rewards

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Learn MoreAssociation seeks to overturn Arkansas law aimed at foreign crypto miners