TLDR:

• Ethereum 7-day SMA for total transfer count has crossed 1.3M, matching its mid-February ATH.
• ETH price remains near $2,100, creating a bullish divergence from record-high on-chain activity. 
• DeFi protocols, Layer 2 solutions, and smart contracts are driving the surge in transfer volume. 
• Rising gas consumption accelerates ETH burns, tightening supply and adding long-term price support. 

Ethereum network activity has reached a new all-time high, with the 7-day Simple Moving Average for total transfer count surpassing 1.3 million.

This level was last recorded in mid-February. At the same time, ETH’s price continues to trade near $2,100, well below historical highs.

The contrast between record on-chain usage and subdued price action has drawn growing attention from market watchers who see the gap as a meaningful mid-term signal.

On-Chain Data Confirms Robust Network Utility

The return to all-time high transfer counts reflects a network that is expanding in actual use. Data shows that Ethereum is being actively transacted upon, not simply held as a passive asset. This distinction carries weight when assessing the blockchain’s fundamental health.

DeFi protocols, Layer 2 scaling solutions, and broader smart contract activity are largely behind the surge. Each of these categories contributes meaningfully to the daily volume of transfers recorded on the network. Together, they point to an ecosystem that continues to grow in depth and reach.

On-chain analyst CryptoOnchain shared the data publicly, stating that the ATH in transfer count confirms organic, real-world demand.

The analyst noted that the Ethereum blockchain is being utilized at a peak level across multiple verticals. This kind of activity is widely regarded as a core measure of network health.

Ethereum’s built-in fee-burning mechanism adds another layer to this picture. As transfer volumes rise, gas consumption increases, and more ETH is removed from the circulating supply. This process, by design, produces a steady and structural deflationary effect on the asset over time.

Price-Activity Divergence Draws Attention From Analysts

The most closely watched aspect of the current data is the gap between ETH’s price and its on-chain activity. Transfer counts are at an all-time high, yet the price remains well below its previous peaks. Analysts refer to this setup as a bullish divergence, where fundamentals outpace market valuation.

Historically, price and on-chain utility have tended to converge over time. When network usage expands at a faster pace than price, recoveries have followed in subsequent periods. Analysts are monitoring this current divergence closely as ETH holds near the $2,100 range.

CryptoOnchain further noted that the network’s intrinsic utility is growing faster than its current market valuation. The analyst added that if the high-transfer-count trend continues, a price move toward those fundamentals remains likely in the mid-term. This view is grounded entirely in on-chain data, not speculative projections.

The accelerating burn rate tied to high gas consumption also adds a supply-side dynamic worth tracking. As more ETH is burned through increased activity, the circulating supply continues to tighten. Traders and analysts are watching both the transfer data and supply metrics for continued directional signals.

Binance co-founder Changpeng “CZ” Zhao shared a long-range optimism for crypto and blockchain, arguing they will become an invisible layer of everyday infrastructure by 2031. In a recent appearance on Scott Melker’s Wolf of All Streets podcast, Zhao said that while new use cases will continue to emerge, the technology should fade from the conversation as it becomes ubiquitous in daily life. “I’m hoping that we don’t talk about crypto as crypto in five years, just like we don’t talk about the internet anymore,” he said, adding that in five years he expects to be using crypto rather than discussing the technology itself.

Beyond his own timeline, Zhao tied the future of crypto to broader adoption trends, AI-driven acceleration, and national policy choices. The discussion touched on a cascade of forecasts from research firms and industry figures that paint a picture of a rapidly expanding ecosystem where stablecoins, tokenization, and AI-enabled tooling could reshape how finance and data markets operate.

Key takeaways

• Long-run vision: CZ envisions a future where crypto is ubiquitous and no longer discussed as a separate technology, much like the everyday use of the internet.
• Growing adoption and outsized market forecasts: DemandSage cites hundreds of millions of crypto users by the end of the decade, while ARK Invest and others project multi-trillion-dollar outcomes for digital assets in the 2030s.
• Stablecoins and tokenization on the path to scale: Chainalysis and Citi highlight potential surges in stablecoin volumes and cross-border/tokenized post-trade activity amid a broader shift in market infrastructure.
• AI as a catalyst for development: Zhao sees AI accelerating blockchain development and adoption, with crypto playing a key role in AI-enabled ecosystems.
• Policy and geography as competitive levers: Switzerland’s crypto-friendly stance and UAE’s AI-led adoption, alongside US leadership in AI infrastructure, frame a fragmented but converging global landscape.

The optimistic trajectory: 2030 and beyond

The interview sits within a chorus of expectations about crypto’s role in the global economy. DemandSage estimates that 559 million people worldwide will be using crypto in 2026, suggesting a broad base of participants that could fuel further institutional interest and product innovation. Meanwhile, Ark Invest has painted a bold future: a January report argues digital assets could grow into a $28 trillion market by 2030, underscoring a view that the asset class may reach a scale comparable to major financial sectors today.

Other voices add to the optimism. Reeve Collins, co-founder of Tether, has suggested a future where stablecoins become a standard medium of exchange and possibly even a foundation for most currencies by 2030. In parallel, Chainalysis has estimated that stablecoin volumes could reach as much as $1.5 quadrillion by 2035, illustrating a potential trajectory for on-chain liquidity and cross-border settlement. A Citi survey of banks and asset managers last September found that a significant share expect about one-tenth of the global post-trade market turnover to be settled in stablecoins and tokenized securities within five years, signaling a shift in how markets operate at scale.

For investors, these forecasts translate into upside potential across a spectrum of players—from wallet providers and exchanges to tokenization platforms and custodians. Yet they also raise questions about how quickly infrastructure, regulatory clarity, and off-chain data networks can keep pace with a demand signal that is already being built now.

AI as a speed supersonic for blockchain

Beyond macro adoption, Zhao highlighted AI as a key accelerant for blockchain development. He argued that the speed at which developers can write code and deploynew features will accelerate as AI agents become more integrated with crypto tooling. He has previously urged the crypto community to emphasize utility over token incentives, a stance he reiterated as AI-driven capabilities begin to reshape development cycles and product timelines.

The notion that AI could turbocharge blockchain aligns with broader industry observations. A March discussion around AI agent-enabled tokens touched on the tension between rapid innovation and meaningful utility. If AI-assisted approaches can lower friction in building decentralized applications and automating complex on-chain tasks, the resulting productivity gains could help scale networks and improve user experiences at a pace that outstrips traditional software development cycles.

Geopolitics, adoption climates, and who leads the pack

As adoption widens, the geographic and regulatory landscape remains diverse. Signzy ranked Switzerland as the most crypto-friendly country in a January evaluation, while Arkham highlighted Switzerland as a top innovating jurisdiction. The country’s regulatory posture and ecosystem maturity have been cited as favorable for early-stage and mature crypto projects alike, reinforcing the view that policy environments will matter as much as technology in determining which regions become crypto hubs.

Separately, a Microsoft AI report placed the United States at the forefront of AI infrastructure and frontier model development. Yet the study also noted that usage and practical deployment can lag behind in some regions; it singled out the United Arab Emirates as a standout in actual AI usage, underscoring how digitized, resource-rich economies can leapfrog into higher productivity with AI-enabled capabilities. The broader takeaway: national strategy and industrial policy around AI and blockchain will significantly influence who wins in a fast-evolving tech stack.

Industry observers are watching how these dynamics intersect with crypto’s evolution. The United Arab Emirates’ leadership in AI deployment and Switzerland’s crypto-friendly climate illustrate two distinct but complementary paths toward broader adoption: one anchored in public-facing, consumer-ready digital economies and the other in a regulated, institutional-friendly environment that can attract liquidity and innovation. Investors and builders will be looking for policy clarity, interoperability standards, and scalable on-ramp/off-ramp options as barriers to entry continue to shrink in many markets.

As Zhao’s long horizon suggests, the next phase of crypto’s story may be less about headlines and more about the practical integration of crypto rails into everyday infrastructure. With demand signals pointing toward substantial growth and institutional interest likely to intensify, the outcomes will depend on how quickly ecosystems can deliver secure, compliant, and user-friendly experiences at scale.

What remains uncertain, and what readers should watch next, is how quickly policymakers harmonize global standards around stablecoins, tokenized assets, and on-chain data governance; how commercial and technical ecosystems onboard mainstream users; and how AI-enabled tooling will shape the pace and direction of development across different jurisdictions. The coming years will reveal whether the industry can translate these optimistic forecasts into durable, real-world infrastructure that supports real economic activity.

Key Highlights

• SpaceX recorded a deficit approaching $5 billion during 2025, per The Information’s reporting
• Annual sales exceeded $18.5 billion throughout the year
• The deficit encompasses xAI, the AI venture from Elon Musk that SpaceX purchased in February 2025
• The aerospace company submitted confidential IPO documents in March 2026
• SpaceX aims for a public market valuation exceeding $1.75 trillion

Elon Musk’s aerospace venture SpaceX recorded a deficit approaching $5 billion throughout 2025, based on reporting from The Information, which cited individuals with knowledge of the financial data. Reuters was unable to independently confirm these numbers, and SpaceX declined to provide commentary.

The aerospace firm generated sales surpassing $18.5 billion throughout 2025. This represents an increase compared to the $15 billion to $16 billion in sales documented during the previous year, a period when the company logged approximately $8 billion in earnings.

The transition from profitability to deficit marks a dramatic financial shift. During 2024, SpaceX maintained robust earnings performance. The 2025 financial picture presents a contrasting narrative.

A primary driver behind the deficit involves SpaceX’s purchase of xAI, Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company. The transaction concluded in February 2025, and xAI’s financial performance is now consolidated within SpaceX’s comprehensive results.

xAI was established by Musk during 2023. The company develops the Grok AI conversational platform. Integrating a venture of this magnitude into SpaceX’s accounting would inevitably impact profitability metrics.

SpaceX currently ranks as the planet’s most prolific launch services provider. The firm operates both Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy launch vehicles, while advancing development of the Starship platform designed for deep-space exploration.

The organization has articulated objectives to enable interplanetary transportation. Additionally, it has revealed intentions to construct and operate artificial intelligence computing facilities in orbital space.

IPO Plans Target Historic $1.75 Trillion Market Cap

SpaceX submitted confidential paperwork for a U.S. public market debut in March 2026. The company seeks a market capitalization surpassing $1.75 trillion should it move forward with the share offering.

This would position it among the most substantial initial public offerings ever recorded if the listing proceeds at that valuation level. No specific timeline for the public market debut has been announced.

Sales Expansion Continues Despite Financial Loss

Notwithstanding the net deficit, sales figures expanded on an annual basis. The $18.5 billion total for 2025 compares positively against the $15 billion to $16 billion documented during 2024.

This revenue expansion demonstrates the underlying business operations are growing. Starlink, SpaceX’s orbital internet connectivity platform, has served as a significant contributor to that revenue stream.

SpaceX maintains tens of millions of Starlink customers worldwide. The network functions throughout more than 100 nations and persistently expands its user base.

The firm’s launch services division maintains robust activity levels. SpaceX executes more orbital missions than any competing commercial entity or governmental space agency globally.

The 2025 deficit primarily stems from the xAI purchase rather than challenges within the core launch and satellite divisions. The Information’s analysis did not separate xAI’s specific impact on the aggregate loss calculation.

SpaceX submitted its IPO documentation under confidential filing procedures, indicating complete financial disclosures have not yet been released through an official public prospectus.

• XRP price has slipped after failing to hold the $1.38 resistance level.
• Momentum stays weak as volume and buying pressure remain low.
• Price is compressed between $1.32 support and $1.39 resistance.

XRP slipped back after briefly pushing toward $1.38, marking another failed attempt to break higher.

Notably, XRP has spent the past several days moving between roughly $1.32 and the upper resistance zone near $1.35–$1.39.

But each push higher has struggled to attract enough buying pressure to sustain a breakout, and as a result, the market remains stuck in a tight range, with neither bulls nor bears fully in control.

Weak momentum keeps upside in check

One of the biggest issues for XRP right now is the lack of momentum.

Even with the impressive gains, the strength behind those gains is limited. Indicators are hovering around neutral levels, showing that buyers are not stepping in aggressively.

Volume has also been inconsistent, and in some cases, it has even declined during upward moves. That is usually a warning sign that the rally may not last.

This weakness becomes even more noticeable when compared to the broader market.

Bitcoin has been leading recent gains, lifting many altcoins along with it and while XRP has followed this trend, it has not shown much independent strength of its own.

That matters because externally driven rallies tend to be fragile.

If Bitcoin slows down or pulls back, XRP could quickly lose support and fall back into its lower range.

Without a strong internal catalyst, it is difficult for XRP to break away from this pattern.

A market in compression, not in trend

While momentum remains weak, there is another side to the story that cannot be ignored.

XRP’s supply on exchanges appears to be tightening, suggesting that more holders are choosing to keep their tokens rather than sell.

At the same time, there is very little leverage in the market. Traders are not taking large speculative positions, which reduces the chances of sudden, exaggerated moves in either direction.

This combination creates what would be termed a compression phase, since the price is not moving much, volatility is shrinking, and participation is relatively low.

XRP breakout potential vs downside risk

The current setup leaves XRP at a crossroads. On one hand, the tightening supply and improving broader sentiment suggest that a breakout is possible.

On the other hand, the lack of momentum and weak participation make it difficult to trust any move higher without confirmation.

If XRP manages to hold above the $1.28–$1.31 support zone, another attempt at testing the $1.35–$1.39 resistance zone is likely.

And a decisive push above $1.39, supported by stronger trading activity, could shift sentiment and push the price towards the multi-month resistance at $1.43.

However, the downside risk is just as important. A break below the $1.32–$1.33 support zone could lead to a quicker drop, with analysts highlighting $1.28 as the next support level to watch.

If selling pressure increases further, deeper support near $1.13 could come into focus.

For now, the market is not trending but rather preparing for its next move.

The pullback from $1.38 highlights the lack of strength, but it also reinforces how tightly price is coiling, and the longer XRP remains in this range, the more meaningful the eventual breakout or breakdown is likely to be.

Geopolitical tensions in the Middle East had remained the primary macro driver for the gold market over recent weeks; however, on 8 April the situation shifted sharply as the United States and Iran agreed to a temporary two-week ceasefire, including the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a pause in military strikes. The easing of acute tensions triggered a sharp decline in oil prices and a return of risk appetite across global markets, weighing on demand for safe-haven assets. As a result, gold retreated from intraday highs near 4,850.

That said, the durability of the agreement remains uncertain. Reports of localised strikes in the region continue to keep market participants on edge, preventing a full dismissal of Iranian-related risks. Additional influence comes from macroeconomic data—particularly US inflation—whose interpretation in the context of Federal Reserve rate expectations continues to shape dollar dynamics. Structural support from central banks persists, with China continuing to increase its gold reserves, while Malaysia and South Korea have resumed purchases after an extended pause.

Technical Outlook

On the daily chart of XAU/USD, a clear two-phase structure is evident. An uptrend that began in March 2024 drove prices to a record high in the 5,595–5,600 range by late January 2026, followed by a sharp and impulsive decline. Notably, the peak in vertical volume occurred not at the price high, but during the subsequent sell-off in March 2026, indicating a climactic phase of selling rather than buying.

The low of that move was recorded near 4,100, from which price rebounded to current levels around 4,766. The horizontal volume profile reveals a dense cluster in the 4,990–5,050 zone, marking the point of control (POC) where trading activity has been most concentrated. This area acts as a natural resistance to further upside. The next significant level above lies at 5,230.

The ascending trend line originating from autumn 2025 was broken to the downside in March 2026 and no longer serves as support for buyers. It may now act as an additional resistance near the 5,000 level.

The lower boundary of the current range is located around 4,380. The RSI and moving averages stand at 50.54 / 42.10 / 46.93, with the RSI hovering near the neutral 50 level and remaining below both upward-sloping moving averages, signalling a lack of confirmed directional momentum.

Summary

Following the completion of an active corrective phase, gold has stabilised below the POC zone, while the RSI remains near neutral levels without a clear directional bias. The current trading range—4,380 on the downside and 5,230 on the upside—continues to define the market structure, as geopolitical developments and Federal Reserve rhetoric shape short-term price dynamics.

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Key Highlights

• Bittensor’s TAO token plummeted over 18% following Covenant AI’s departure announcement
• Sam Dare, Covenant AI’s founder, leveled accusations of centralized governance against Bittensor co-founder Jacob Steeves
• Claims include suspended emissions, revoked moderation privileges, and deprecated subnet infrastructure
• TAO currently hovers between $263 and $292, trading beneath its 200-day moving average with $250 as critical support
• Derivatives market shows nearly 1% decline in open interest to $392.59 million, with significant liquidations across major exchanges

The Bittensor network experienced a significant blow on April 10, 2026, as its native TAO token shed more than 18% of its value within a single day. This dramatic downturn wiped out gains from a previous rally that had pushed prices up over 100%, with the catalyst being Covenant AI’s decision to withdraw from the ecosystem.

As one of the network’s most prominent participants, Covenant AI managed three distinct subnets: Templar (SN3), Basilica (SN39), and Grail (SN81). Their departure represents a substantial loss for the protocol’s operational infrastructure.

In a scathing public disclosure, Sam Dare, who founded Covenant AI, directly challenged the decentralization claims of Bittensor, specifically targeting co-founder Jacob Steeves for what Dare characterizes as autocratic network management.

“The network functions under a triumvirate framework—three people controlling the multisig for protocol upgrades. This is marketed as distributed governance to the community. That’s misleading. This is decentralization in name only,” Dare stated in his announcement.

According to Dare’s allegations, Steeves halted token emissions to Covenant’s operational subnets, removed their administrative access to community communication platforms, forcibly deprecated their subnet systems, and executed calculated token liquidations designed to create financial strain.

Steeves “wields ultimate authority over the triumvirate, opposes any substantive power-sharing arrangements, and implements protocol modifications at will, bypassing established procedures and collaborative decision-making,” Dare asserted.

Complete Liquidation of TAO Position

Following the announcement, Dare liquidated his entire position in the network. Blockchain analysis from taosats revealed he sold more than 37,000 TAO tokens from his personal wallet, creating immediate downward price pressure on the asset.

While severing ties with the [[LINK_START_2]]Bittensor[[LINK_END_2]] ecosystem, Covenant AI confirmed it would maintain its research division, proprietary models, and ongoing development efforts. The organization indicated forthcoming announcements regarding new initiatives. “Decentralized, permissionless artificial intelligence training isn’t exclusive to Bittensor. It represents a technological frontier our team remains committed to exploring,” the company stated.

At press time, TAO was fluctuating in the $263 to $292 range. Throughout the 24-hour period, the token reached a low of $262.51 and peaked at $341. Transaction volume surged by 156% during this timeframe.

Critical Price Levels Under Watch

Well-known market analyst Cheds Trading observed that TAO has broken below its 200-day moving average and is approaching the 50-day moving average positioned at $250. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) declined to 41, suggesting additional downward momentum could be imminent.

The Covenant-72B model developed by Covenant AI had previously served as a major catalyst for TAO’s bullish performance. When NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang mentioned the model during an appearance on the All-In Podcast, the endorsement contributed to TAO’s subsequent 90% price surge.

Derivatives market data from CoinGlass indicated that Bittensor futures open interest contracted by nearly 1% to $392.59 million in just one hour. The most substantial selling activity occurred on OKX, Gate, Bitget, Hyperliquid, and LBank exchanges. At the time of analysis, neither Binance nor Bybit had reflected comparable adjustments.

Following Covenant AI’s withdrawal, TAO is currently priced around $263 with derivatives open interest standing at $392.59 million.

A new pricing mechanism for the x402 protocol will allow AI agents to pay for compute resources based on actual usage rather than fixed rates.

According to a Thursday announcement on X by the Coinbase Developer Platform, the newly launched “Upto” scheme enables variable-cost services for tasks like data queries and large language model inference. 

This update addresses a long-standing limitation in the protocol that prevented efficient payments for services where costs are not known upfront.

“Until now, x402 only supported exact, fixed-price payments. That works great for deterministic APIs. But it blocked an entire category of services where the cost depends on usage, such as token count, compute time, or query complexity,” the Coinbase Developer Platform stated.

The technical framework operates as an Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) implementation that supports all ERC20 tokens. To further streamline the process, the CDP Facilitator has been integrated to allow for transactions without gas fees.

Under this new arrangement, sellers set a maximum price while buyers authorize a spending limit for a specific task. Once the AI agent completes the request, the server calculates the precise cost and charges only for the resources consumed. 

This prevents the previous issue where users frequently overpaid for simple tasks or underpaid for complex ones because the protocol could not adjust for fluctuating server-side demands.

Industry adoption of the x402 protocol has grown as companies prepare for the rise of agentic commerce, a sector that requires rapid, frictionless payments to handle high network demand. 

While Coinbase originally developed the protocol, the company recently transferred ownership to the nonprofit Linux Foundation. Major technology players, including Google, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services, now hold stakes in the protocol through the x402 Foundation.