New filings from the Federal Election Commission (FEC) reveal that several cryptocurrency firms and their executives made significant contributions to US President Donald Trump’s inauguration fund after the results of the 2024 election. 

According to FEC filings made public on April 20 by the Trump-Vance Inaugural Committee, Uniswap CEO Hayden Adams donated more than $245,000, Solana Labs donated $1 million, and software firm Consensys sent $100,000 in January 2025 to support the then-president-elect’s inauguration. Many major crypto firms had previously announced their support of Trump through donations to the inaugural fund, including Coinbase, Ripple Labs, Kraken, Ondo Finance, and Robinhood.

Jan. 9 contribution from Uniswap CEO Hayden Adams to Trump-Vance inauguration fund. Source: FEC

Altogether, the fund reported more than $239 million in net donations between Nov. 15 and April 20 from companies and individuals. These included $1 million from McDonald’s, $1 million from Apple CEO Tim Cook, $1 million from OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and various contributions from Delta Air Lines, ExxonMobil, FedEx, Nvidia, PayPal, Target, and Coca-Cola. 

Since Trump took office on Jan. 20 and appointed Mark Uyeda as acting chair of the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the agency has dropped multiple investigations and enforcement actions against crypto firms, including those that donated to the president’s 2024 campaign or inauguration fund. In February, Uniswap reported that the SEC had dropped its probe into the firm, and Consensys founder Joseph Lubin said the agency had agreed to end a separate lawsuit. 

This is a developing story, and further information will be added as it becomes available.

The US Dollar Index (DXY) plunged below the 98 level on April 21, falling to a three-year low. That catapulted gold to a new all-time high, and Bitcoin (BTC) also showed strength, rising above $88,000. 

BitMEX co-founder and Maelstrom chief investment officer Arthur Hayes believes it may be the “last chance” to buy Bitcoin below $100,000. Hayes expects the Federal Reserve to announce US Treasury buybacks, which will act as a “Bazooka” for Bitcoin’s price trajectory.

Daily cryptocurrency market performance. Source: Coin360

The whales seem ready for the move higher, as they have been accumulating in March and April. According to Glassnode data, the number of wallets holding more than 1,000 Bitcoin increased from 2,037 in late February to 2,107 on April 15.

Could Bitcoin bulls sustain the higher levels, triggering a rally toward $100,000? Will the altcoins follow? Let’s analyze the charts to find out.

S&P 500 Index price analysis

The S&P 500 Index (SPX) recovery hit a wall at the 20-day exponential moving average (5,399) on April 14.

SPX daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The 5,119 level is the critical support to watch out for on the downside. If this level gets taken out, the index could plummet to 4,950. The bulls are expected to vigorously defend the zone between 4,950 and 4,835.

Instead, if the price rebounds off 5,119, it signals that the bulls are trying to form a higher low. The index could then oscillate between 5,119 and 5,500 for a while. Buyers will have to drive the price above 5,500 to signal that the correction may be over.

US Dollar Index price analysis

The US Dollar Index resumed its downtrend on April 21, indicating that the bears remain in charge.

DXY daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The index could collapse to 97.50, which could act as strong support. The oversold level on the relative strength index (RSI) signals a possible relief rally in the near term. Sellers are expected to aggressively defend the zone between 99 and 100.27 on any recovery attempt. If the price turns down from the overhead zone, the index risks a fall to 95.

The first sign of strength will be a break and close above the 100.27 resistance. That indicates solid buying at lower levels. A short-term trend change is likely if buyers propel the price above the 20-day EMA (101.64).

Bitcoin price analysis

Bitcoin made a decisive move higher after days of narrow-range trading, and the price has reached a critical resistance at the 200-day SMA ($88,238). 

BTC/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The moving averages are about to complete a bullish crossover, and the RSI has risen into positive territory, indicating an advantage to buyers. If the 200-day SMA is scaled, it suggests that the BTC/USDT pair may have bottomed out in the near term. The pair could rally to $95,000 and subsequently to the psychologically vital level of $100,000.

The 20-day EMA ($84,176) is likely to act as strong support during any pullback. A break and close below the 20-day EMA signals that the bears are back in the game. The pair may then tumble to $78,500.

Ether price analysis

Ether (ETH) remains in a downtrend, but the bulls are trying to start a relief rally by pushing the price above the 20-day EMA ($1,659).

ETH/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The recovery is expected to face selling in the zone between $1,754 and the 50-day SMA ($1,846). If the price turns down from the overhead zone, it heightens the risk of a break below $1,368.

Contrarily, a break and close above the 50-day SMA clears the path for a rally to the breakdown level of $2,111. Sellers are expected to defend the level with all their might because a break above it suggests that the ETH/USDT pair may have bottomed out. The pair may then rise to $2,600.

XRP price analysis

XRP (XRP) has risen above the 20-day EMA ($2.09), indicating that the bearish momentum has weakened.

XRP/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

There is resistance at the 50-day SMA ($2.21), but if the level is crossed, the XRP/USDT pair could march toward the resistance line. Sellers are expected to fiercely defend the resistance line because a rally above it signals a potential trend change.

The $2 level is the crucial support on the downside. A break and close below $2 indicates that the bears remain in command. The pair may then tumble to $1.72 and eventually to $1.61.

BNB price analysis

BNB (BNB) broke out of the downtrend line on April 21, indicating that the bulls are trying to seize control.

BNB/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

A close above the downtrend line opens the doors for a rally to $645. Sellers will try to halt the up move at $645, but if the bulls do not give up much ground, the BNB/USDT pair may rise to $680.

Time is running out for the bears. If they want to make a comeback, they will have to quickly pull the price below $566. Such a move indicates that the markets have rejected the breakout above the downtrend line. The pair could then spend some more time inside the triangle.

Solana price analysis

Solana (SOL) has been gradually climbing toward the $148 to $153 overhead resistance zone, indicating that the bears are losing their grip.

SOL/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The moving averages are on the verge of completing a bullish crossover, and the RSI is in the positive zone, indicating that the path of least resistance is to the upside. The SOL/USDT pair could rally to $180 if buyers pierce the overhead zone.

Related: Bitcoin longs cut $106M — Are Bitfinex BTC whales turning bearish above $86K?

On the contrary, if the price turns down sharply from the overhead zone, it suggests that the bears are selling on rallies. That could keep the pair range-bound between $153 and $120 for some time.

Dogecoin price analysis

Dogecoin (DOGE) has been clinging to the 20-day EMA ($0.16), indicating that the selling pressure is reducing.

DOGE/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The flattening 20-day EMA and the RSI near the midpoint suggest a balance between supply and demand. A break and close above the 50-day SMA ($0.17) tilts the advantage in favor of the bulls. The DOGE/USDT pair could then rally to $0.21.

The $0.14 level remains the key support to watch out for on the downside. Sellers will have to yank the price below $0.14 to signal the resumption of the downtrend. The pair could drop to $0.13 and later to $0.10.

Cardano price analysis

The bulls are trying to maintain Cardano (ADA) above the 20-day EMA ($0.63), signaling a comeback.

ADA/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

The ADA/USDT pair could rise to the 50-day SMA ($0.69), which is a crucial near-term resistance to watch out for. If buyers kick the price above the 50-day SMA, it suggests that the corrective phase may be over. The pair could climb to $0.83 and thereafter to $1.03.

If the price turns down from the 50-day SMA, the bulls will try to halt the pullback at the 20-day EMA. If that happens, it increases the possibility of a rise above the 50-day SMA. The advantage will tilt in favor of the bears on a break below $0.58. 

Chainlink price analysis

Chainlink (LINK) closed above the 20-day EMA ($12.90) on April 19 and has reached the 50-day SMA ($13.63).

LINK/USDT daily chart. Source: Cointelegraph/TradingView

Sellers will try to defend the 50-day SMA, but if the bulls overcome the barrier, the LINK/USDT pair could pick up momentum and rally toward the resistance line of the descending channel pattern. The $16 level may act as a hurdle, but it is likely to be crossed.

The first support on the downside is the 20-day EMA and then $11.68. A break and close below $11.68 suggests that bears remain in control. The pair may then slump to the support line, where buyers are expected to step in.

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.

Pseudonymous Bitcoin stock-to-flow (S2F) model creator PlanB attacked Ethereum and mocked the project’s co-founder, Vitalik Buterin.

PlanB mockingly reposted a June 2022 X post by Buterin in which the Ethereum co-founder said S2F “is really not looking good now.” PlanB responded with a new posting stating, “Ethereum is really not looking good now.”

Source: PlanB

In his response to Buterin’s criticism from years ago, PlanB claimed Ethereum and the network’s coin, Ether (ETH), are centralized and premined, pointing to its shift to proof-of-stake (PoS) and changes in its issuance rate. He said that those features “are harmful and deserve all the mockery they get,” echoing Buterin’s old comment about S2F.

Related: Bitcoin analyst PlanB transfers Bitcoin to ETFs to avoid ‘hassle with keys’

PlanB’s criticism of Ethereum

In a separate X post, PlanB explained that an Ethereum full node requires nine terabytes of disk space, meaning he “can not run it” on his hardware. The kind of node in question is probably an Ethereum archival node, which, according to Etherscan data, requires over 21.8 terabytes (TB) with the Geth client.

An Ethereum full node running the Geth client that prunes older states with the default settings requires 1.28 TB, according to Etherscan data. The Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum communities have long debated what constitutes a full node.

This type of pruned node cannot access the full historical data or generate Merkle proofs for old blocks, which limits its research and bug-finding applications. Still, such nodes can engage in full trustless block and transaction validation.

Bitcoin’s full nodes require under 700 gigabytes (0.7 terabytes), according to Statista data, and also require much less computing power. This means that users can run Bitcoin full nodes much more easily, leading to a higher node count and higher network decentralization.

Not everyone views the criticism as founded. Jeremiah O’Connor, chief technology officer and co-founder at crypto cybersecurity firm Trugard, told Cointelegraph:

“PlanB’s take is classic Bitcoin maxi energy — loud, confident and missing half the picture.“

O’Connor explained that Ethereum and Bitcoin serve two different purposes. He said that “Ethereum nodes are bigger and more complex” since Ether “isn’t just digital gold — it’s a full-on global computer.”

“Of course it’s heavier.“

He conceded that users relying on centralized data providers like Infura is a problem. Still, he claimed that every ecosystem engages in centralization tradeoffs and that Ethereum developers are working to address the issue, and “it’s evolving fast.”

“Calling ETH a “shitcoin” because it’s not Bitcoin is like calling smartphones a scam because they aren’t landlines,“ he said.

He added that the two are different tools with differing purposes. He views Bitcoin as a “rock-solid value storage” and Ethereum as “where the builders are,” and said that “both matter” and “complement each other.”

Related: Can the Ethereum blockchain roll back transactions? Understanding the limits and risks

Buterin as a “single point of failure”

PlanB also questioned Buterin’s influence on Ethereum’s development, calling him a “single point of failure.” However, Ethereum Foundation co-executive director Tomasz Stańczak recently announced that Buterin is stepping back from day-to-day operations to focus on research.

PlanB also raised an issue with Ethereum rolling back transactions following the 2016 DAO hack:

“The fact that this is even possible should worry you.“

Bybit CEO Ben Zhou suggested an Ethereum rollback following the exchange’s $1.4 billion hack. Still, many in the community argued that a rollback happening now, with Ethereum being a more mature network, would be next to impossible.

Bitcoin itself had a comparable incident in its early history as well. On Aug. 15, 2010, an exploit resulted in a transaction that minted 184 BTC on the network in block 74638.

Satoshi Nakamoto (still involved in development at the time) and other core developers released an update that rolled back the network to block 74637 and patched the vulnerability. In other words, Bitcoin saw its own blockchain rollback in its early days.

Other points raised by PlanB include Ethereum switching to PoS, which he claims has consequences for the price. He suggested that changes to issuance and governance undermine Ethereum’s value proposition compared to Bitcoin’s fixed and predictable supply.

Magazine: Crypto ‘more taboo than OnlyFans,’ says Violetta Zironi, who sold song for 1 BTC