Crypto News Today : XRP News, Crypto ETFs, Bitcoin Dominance, Paul Atkins

DeepBook Protocol’s DEEP token surged 38% following its listing on South Korea’s top exchange, Upbit, on April 22. Trading against KRW sparked the price to jump from under $0.10 to nearly $0.17, with 24-hour trading volume soaring by 1,500% to over $230 million. DEEP’s market cap now approaches $400 million, ranking #116 globally. The DeFi project, built on Sui, aims to offer CEX-level performance on-chain, with DEEP used for fees, liquidity pools, staking, and governance.

U.S. stock markets suffered a staggering $1.5 trillion loss in market value on April 21, highlighting investor unease amid growing economic and geopolitical tensions. While equities plunged, safe-haven assets surged, with cryptocurrencies gaining $60 billion and gold prices also climbing. The sharp divergence signals a shift in investor sentiment, favoring alternative assets over traditional markets. The move reflects growing concerns over inflation, central bank policy, and global instability, pushing capital into perceived stores of value like Bitcoin and gold.

The Federal Reserve is set to decide on interest rates during its May 6–7, 2025, FOMC meeting, with markets closely watching for any change in the upper bound of the target federal funds rate. Any adjustment will be rounded to the nearest 25 basis points. If no change is announced, the market will resolve to the “No change” bracket. The decision will be detailed in the FOMC’s post-meeting statement and published on the Federal Reserve’s official website.

The European Central Bank (ECB) has raised concerns about potential financial contagion from aggressive U.S. crypto policies, warning that an influx of dollar-backed stablecoins could destabilize the EU market. The ECB is urging revisions to the newly implemented MiCA framework, fearing capital flight and liquidity risks. However, the European Commission dismissed the alarm as premature. With stablecoins valued at $234 billion globally, critics argue MiCA’s strict rules hurt EU competitiveness, while Tether continues to challenge the regulation’s reserve mandates.

Paul Atkins officially assumed the role of SEC Chair on April 21, marking a potential turning point for U.S. crypto policy. Known for his pro-crypto stance, Atkins is expected to revive stalled ETF applications and steer regulatory reforms. His appointment follows acting Chair Mark Uyeda’s crypto-friendly initiatives, including a task force and dropped enforcement cases. With $6 million in crypto investments, Atkins’ alignment with the digital asset space is clear, fueling optimism among industry leaders for more market-friendly regulation.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average is on track for its worst April performance since 1932, during the Great Depression, plunging 3,831 points, or 9.1%, so far this month. The dramatic drop signals deepening investor concerns amid mounting economic and geopolitical uncertainties. The historical comparison underscores the scale of the downturn, with analysts closely watching for signs of stabilization. If the decline continues, April 2025 could mark one of the most significant single-month losses in nearly a century.

Ethereum Foundation transferred 1,000 ETH, worth $1.58 million, to Kraken, likely to sell, sparking concerns over a potential price dip. Historically, EF sales have preceded sharp declines, and analysts warn this move could push ETH down to the $1,504 support level—or even lower if Bitcoin’s recent rally falters. ETH is currently trading at $1,582, up 0.25% today. Despite the recovery, technical analysis shows a downtrend with range-bound movement, suggesting that a volatile breakout may be on the horizon.

Bitcoin price has surged past $88,000, its highest level since late March. The rally came amid political tension after Donald Trump threatened to fire the Federal Reserve Chair, triggering a drop in the U.S. dollar. Over $97 million in Bitcoin short positions were liquidated, per CoinGlass. Investors shifted toward Bitcoin as a safe-haven asset, with optimism rising over U.S. trade developments involving Japan and China following recent tariff and negotiation updates.

Dogecoin faces renewed market scrutiny as Elon Musk prepares to exit his role at the Department of Government Efficiency (D.O.G.E.). The Tesla CEO’s departure, spurred by political setbacks and pressure from federal agencies, has triggered bearish speculation around DOGE’s price. Despite fears of a short-term dip due to Musk’s influence, analysts remain optimistic. Talking about numbers, Dogecoin price is currently at $0.1636, with a change of +1.06% in 24 hours.

Crypto prices today show mixed signals. The global market cap stands at $2.77 trillion, up 0.58%, while 24-hour trading volume surged 32.01% to $89.4 billion. While Bitcoin climbed 1.25% to $88,537.91, Ethereum and XRP slipped. Fear & Greed Index sits at 38, signaling fear. FARTCOIN leads top gainers with a 16.56% spike, followed by Kaspa and POL. On the flip side, FIL, ICP, and Aptos are the day’s biggest losers, each dropping over 6%.