Crypto trader turns $2K PEPE into $43M, sells for $10M profit

A savvy cryptocurrency trader reportedly turned $2,000 into more than $43 million by investing in the memecoin Pepe at its peak valuation, despite the token’s extreme volatility and lack of underlying technical value.

The trader made an over 4,700-fold return on investment on the popular frog-themed Pepe (PEPE) cryptocurrency, according to blockchain intelligence platform Lookonchain.

“This OG spent only $2,184 to buy 1.5T $PEPE($43M at the peak) in the early stage. He sold 1.02T $PEPE for $6.66M, leaving 493B $PEPE($3.64M), with a total profit of $10.3M(4,718x), Lookonchain wrote in a March 29 X post.

Source: Lookonchain

The trader realized over $10 million in profit despite Pepe’s price falling over 74% from its all-time high of $0.00002825, which it reached on Dec. 9, 2024, Cointelegraph Markets Pro data shows.

PEPE/USD, all-time chart. Source: Cointelegraph Markets Pro

Memecoins are considered some of the

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Is XRP price around $2 an opportunity or the bull market's end? Analysts weigh in

XRP (XRP) has dropped nearly 40% to around $2.19, two months after hitting a multi-year high of $3.40. The cryptocurrency is tracking a broader market sell-off driven by President Donald Trump’s trade war despite bullish news like the SEC dropping its case against Ripple.

XRP/USD daily price chart. Source: TradingView

However, XRP is still up 350% from its November 2024 low of $0.50, suggesting a consolidation phase after a strong rally. This sideways action has sparked discussions over whether it’s the end of the bull run or a prime buying opportunity.

No buying opportunity until XRP falls further

XRP has been consolidating between $1.77 (support) and $3.21 (resistance) since January, with repeated rejections near the top of the range and fading bullish momentum.

According to analyst CrediBULL Crypto, XRP’s recent bounce attempt stalled below $2.20, reinforcing bearish control.

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Stablecoin rules needed in US before crypto tax reform, experts say

United States cryptocurrency regulations need more clarity on stablecoins and banking relationships before lawmakers prioritize tax reform, according to industry leaders and legal experts.

“In my view, tax isn’t necessarily the priority for upgrading US crypto regulation,” according to Mattan Erder, general counsel at layer-3 decentralized blockchain network Orbs.

A “tailored regulatory approach” for areas including securities laws and removing “obstacles in banking” is a priority for US lawmakers with “more upside” for the industry, Erder told Cointelegraph.

“The new Trump administration is clearly all in on crypto and is taking steps that we could have only dreamed about a few years ago (including during his first term),” he said. “It seems likely that crypto regulation will be able to have it all and get much more clear and rational regulation in all areas, including tax.”

Still, Erder noted there are limits to what President Donald Trump can accomplish through executive orders and regulatory

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What are crypto-backed mortgages, and how do they work?

What are crypto-based mortgages?

Crypto-backed mortgages are a kind of loan where borrowers use their cryptocurrency holdings, such as Bitcoin (BTC) or Ether (ETH), as collateral to secure financing for real estate purchases. This approach allows you to access funds without selling your digital assets. By retaining crypto ownership, borrowers can still benefit from future price increases.

There are various types of crypto-backed mortgages: purchase mortgages, cash-out refinancing and bridge loans. 

Purchase mortgages: These help you finance real estate using crypto as collateral. Cash-out refinancing: It allows you to refinance your existing mortgages by leveraging your crypto assets to access additional funds. Bridge loans: These loans provide short-term financing, helping you cover the period between purchasing a new property and selling an existing one.

Crypto mortgages are particularly appealing if you want to preserve your holdings while securing real-world assets. However, you need to consider the volatility

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Vitalik Buterin meows at a robot, and the crypto world loses it

A video of Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin kneeling in front of a robot and seemingly letting out a “meow” sound has gone viral — and, as usual, the crypto industry is already speculating what it might mean for Ether’s future.

“The future of Ethereum is in this man’s hands… Meow,” crypto influencer Wendy O said in a March 29 X post. Cork Protocol co-founder Phil Fogel shared the video and commented that “so much” of his professional life and net worth depend on Buterin but reiterated that the entertaining interaction makes him “bullish.”

Community links video to Ether price speculation

Pseudonymous crypto trader Scott Crypto Warrior shared the video with his 514,300 X followers and said, “Pray for our ETH bags.”

The short clip shows Buterin on his knees, gesturing at a four-legged robot and letting out what

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Listing an altcoin traps exchanges on 'forever hamster wheel' — River CEO

When a cryptocurrency exchange lists its first altcoin, it sets itself up for an endless cycle of launching memecoins, warns a Bitcoin-only institution executive.

“The minute an exchange adds one non-Bitcoin token, they are signing up to be on the forever hamster wheel of memecoins,” River Financial CEO Alex Leishman said in a March 29 X post. “It makes no sense to list ETH if you don’t list the tokens issued on ETH, and the same goes for Solana,” Leishman said.

River has no interest in building a “successful crypto casino”

Leishman said while there are many “successful crypto casinos,” he has no interest in building one. River Financial is a Bitcoin-only financial institution focusing on buying and selling Bitcoin (BTC).  Several companies have opted for the Bitcoin-only approach, including Swan Bitcoin, Bull Bitcoin, and decentralized exchange Bisq.

Leishman claimed that multi-asset trading

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Why institutions are hesitant about decentralized finance — Shibtoshi

Shibtoshi, the founder of the SilentSwap privacy-preserving trading platform, outlined several concerns that make institutions hesitant to adopt decentralized finance (DeFi) solutions, including privacy, a lack of standardized compliance regulations, and legal accountability.

The DeFi founder told Cointelegraph that the high transparency of onchain transactions presents a problem for companies that must conceal sensitive information, including trading strategies, payroll information, and business-to-business agreements. Shibtoshi said:

“The main concerns — regulatory uncertainty, privacy limitations, and complex user experience — are real, but solvable. Innovations in privacy-preserving protocols are making DeFi increasingly compatible with enterprise needs. Platforms like SilentSwap are a step in that direction.”

Regulatory uncertainty continues to be one of the biggest problems for DeFi and is compounded by a fragmented approach across legal jurisdictions, which prevents institutional adoption, Shibtoshi added.

“Are DeFi tokens securities? What happens if a decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) messes

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US recession 40% likely in 2025, what it means for crypto — Analyst

The United States has a 40% chance of a recession in 2025 amid the potential for a protracted trade war and macroeconomic uncertainty, according to market analyst and Coin Bureau founder Nic Puckrin.

In an interview with Cointelegraph, the analyst said that while a recession is not probable, a recession and the current macroeconomic uncertainty will create an environment where risk-on assets like cryptocurrencies suffer. Puckrin said:

“Trump and his advisors have said they have not completely dismissed the recession, which means it is definitely possible, but right now, I would not say it is probable, but the odds have climbed a lot.”

The analyst added that US President Donald Trump is not actively attempting to engineer a recession, but that the things the Trump administration is doing, including cutting federal jobs and spending to balance the budget can lead to recessions as a side effect.

Macroeconomic uncertainty is

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Potential Bitcoin price fall to $65K ‘irrelevant’ since central bank liquidity is coming — Analyst

Bitcoin’s (BTC) 7% decline saw the price drop from $88,060 on March 26 to $82,036 on March 29 and led to $158 million in long liquidations. This drop was particularly concerning for bulls, as gold surged to a record high at the same time, undermining Bitcoin’s “digital gold” narrative. However, many experts argue that a Bitcoin rally is imminent as multiple governments take steps to avert an economic crisis.

The ongoing global trade war and spending cuts by the US government are considered temporary setbacks. An apparent silver lining is the expectation that additional liquidity is expected to flow into the markets, which could boost risk-on assets. Analysts believe Bitcoin is well-positioned to benefit from this broader macroeconomic shift.

Source: Mihaimihale

Take, for example, Mihaimihale, an X social platform user who argued that tax cuts and lower interest

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Kalshi sues Nevada and New Jersey gaming regulators

Prediction market Kalshi filed a lawsuit against the Nevada Gaming Control Board and the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement after both state regulators sent cease and desist orders for the firm to pause all sports-related contracts in the states.

Kalshi’s legal team argued that the contracts fall under the jurisdiction of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and, therefore, cannot be regulated by state-level authorities.

The team also contends that the cease and desist orders fail to recognize that Kalshi’s event contracts are two-sided markets that trade as swaps as opposed to the sports-betting book model where the house controls the market. Kalshi co-founder Tarek Mansour said:

“Prediction markets are a critical innovation of the 21st century, and like all innovations, they are initially misunderstood. We are proud to be the company that has pioneered this technology and stand ready to defend it once again in a court of law.”

Additionally, the Nevada

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