Franklin Templeton Highlights DePIN Projects in Growing Crypto Sector

Solana's native token SOL has recently faced challenges in maintaining its bullish momentum after peaking at $134 on April 14. Currently, SOL is trading 57% below its all-time high, primarily due to a notable decline in decentralized application (DApp) activity. However, analysts suggest that the altcoin's rally may not be over yet, citing a significant increase in deposits on the Solana network as a potential catalyst for short-term price recovery. With a total value locked (TVL) of $6.9 billion, Solana has positioned itself as the second-largest blockchain by TVL, outperforming competitors like Tron and Base in recent weeks. In addition to its impressive TVL, Solana has reclaimed the top spot in decentralized exchange (DEX) volumes, surpassing Ethereum layer-2 solutions. In the week ending April 16, trading activity on Solana DApps reached $15.8 billion, exceeding the combined volume of Ethereum scaling solutions by over 50%. This surge was supported by notable increases in trading volumes on platforms such as Pump-fun and Raydium, while major Ethereum DApps like Uniswap and Curve Finance experienced declines. Furthermore, other DApps on Solana, such as Ondo Finance and Exponent, have also shown substantial growth in their total value locked, indicating a broader trend of increasing activity on the network. Looking ahead, analysts are optimistic about the potential approval of a Solana spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the United States by 2025. However, expectations for significant inflows remain tempered due to a general lack of institutional interest and the recent underperformance of similar Ethereum ETF products. As investors await the results of a full audit of US federal agencies' crypto holdings, the future of SOL's price remains uncertain. Without external catalysts to attract new participants to the crypto ecosystem, the increase in TVL and DEX market share alone may not be sufficient to drive SOL's price to previous highs, such as the $180 level seen 45 days ago.

In the latest crypto news, the market is experiencing a downturn, with the global cryptocurrency market capitalization falling by 1.6% to $2.79 trillion. Daily trading volumes have also decreased to $86 billion, indicating a sluggish trading environment. Among the top 100 cryptocurrencies, only a few have seen gains, with Story (IP) leading the way with a 7.1% increase, while XDC Network (XDC) suffered the most significant drop at 6.9%. Bitcoin (BTC) remains relatively stable, appreciating by 0.7%, while Ethereum (ETH) and other major coins like Dogecoin (DOGE) and TRON (TRX) are also down, reflecting the overall bearish sentiment in the market. In a significant development, XYO has announced its migration from the Ethereum L2 ecosystem to its own Layer 1 (L1) blockchain focused on Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks (DePIN). This move comes in response to the need for a blockchain that can efficiently handle large volumes of real-time data. XYO is introducing a new consensus mechanism called Proof of Perfect, which aims to enhance transaction processing efficiency by allowing nodes to focus on recent transactions while archiving older data. Additionally, XYO is launching a new utility token, XL1, which will work alongside the original XYO token to support scalable network operations. Furthermore, Everclear, a cross-chain clearing and settlement protocol, has successfully launched its mainnet, offering zero-fee rebalancing and expanding support to Solana and other chains. The protocol aims to streamline digital asset transactions across multiple chains, similar to how Visa and SWIFT revolutionized traditional banking. In another notable announcement, UFC CEO Dana White has joined blockchain firm VeChain as an advisor, bringing his expertise in brand expansion and fan engagement to help promote blockchain adoption in mainstream markets. This collaboration is expected to enhance VeChain's sustainability initiatives and increase awareness of blockchain technology in sports communities.

In a significant development for Helium and the Decentralized Physical Infrastructure (DePIN) movement, the U.S. SEC has officially dismissed its claims of unregistered securities against Helium with prejudice. This ruling means that the SEC cannot refile these charges, effectively clearing a major regulatory hurdle for Helium. As a result, the Helium Network and its associated tokens—HNT, MOBILE, and IOT—can now operate with renewed confidence. Following this announcement, the price of Helium (HNT) surged over 6%, reaching levels not seen in months, raising questions about its potential for further gains. This regulatory clarity is a pivotal moment not only for HNT holders but also for the broader cryptocurrency landscape. The SEC's acknowledgment that Helium Hotspots and its token distribution do not constitute securities removes a significant barrier to adoption. This development allows Helium to expand its operations globally, attract new partnerships, and pursue integrations without the looming threat of legal complications. The positive sentiment among investors is evident in the price charts, which reflect a bullish trend as Helium prepares for a new phase of growth. From a technical perspective, Helium's daily chart indicates a breakout, with the price climbing to $3.72 after weeks of consolidation. The token has reclaimed key moving averages, suggesting strong bullish momentum. If HNT maintains its position above the 100-day SMA at $3.71, it could target the 200-day SMA at $5.32, representing a potential 40% increase. Additionally, the hourly chart shows a recent parabolic spike followed by healthy consolidation, indicating that while profit-taking is occurring, the overall bullish trend remains intact. With the SEC's decision paving the way for Helium's future, projections for HNT could see it reaching between $5.00 and $6.00 in the near term, solidifying its status as a leader in the DePIN sector.

Last week, the cryptocurrency market experienced a mixed performance, with notable tokens like Onyxcoin, Fartcoin, Jasmy, Hyperliquid, and Helium witnessing significant gains. In contrast, other altcoins such as Tezos, EOS, Movement, Toncoin, and Ethereum faced double-digit declines. Bitcoin remained in a consolidation phase, despite the US dollar index dropping and U.S. equities fluctuating. This article highlights Fartcoin, Solana, and Arbitrum as the top cryptocurrencies to monitor this week due to their recent performances and market dynamics. Solana, a prominent layer-1 network, is gaining attention this week due to a notable increase in transactions. According to Nansen data, Solana's transactions surged by 6.6% over the past week, reaching 355 million, while transaction fees exceeded $6.15 million. Additionally, Solana has surpassed Ethereum in decentralized exchange transactions, processing over $15 billion recently. The SOL price has rebounded to $129 after hitting a low of $94.65 earlier this month, with potential for further gains as it approaches the 38.2% Fibonacci Retracement level at $170. Fartcoin is another cryptocurrency to watch, having surged over 364% from its lowest point this year, marking its highest level since February 1. This surge is attributed to whale accumulation, creating a fear of missing out among investors. Technically, Fartcoin has formed a cup and handle pattern, indicating potential for further upside, with bulls targeting a key resistance level at $1.5. Meanwhile, Arbitrum, despite being in a downtrend, has seen a 40% increase in DEX transaction volume, reaching $4.6 billion. As it approaches a milestone of $500 billion in DEX transactions, the upcoming token unlock worth over $28 million could influence ARB's price, which has formed a bullish divergence pattern, suggesting a possible rebound ahead.

Conor McGregor, the renowned Irish mixed martial artist, has recently ventured into the cryptocurrency space with the launch of his memecoin, "REAL." This digital token aims to revolutionize the crypto landscape by offering staking rewards and governance rights within its ecosystem. However, the fundraising efforts for REAL faced significant challenges, raising only $392,315 out of a targeted $1,008,000 during a 28-hour presale. The auction's failure prompted the Real World Gaming (RWG) decentralized autonomous organization to announce full refunds for all bids, as McGregor continues to promote the project with his characteristic enthusiasm, stating, "Ladies and gentlemen, this is REAL!" The team is now considering a relaunch with a revised fundraising strategy to enhance the token's appeal. Several factors contributed to the unsuccessful fundraising of the REAL memecoin. The launch coincided with a downturn in the cryptocurrency market, where major coins like Ether and Solana experienced significant declines. Additionally, economic uncertainties stemming from global tariff reorganizations and fears of recession made investors more cautious. The memecoin space has also been marred by scams, leading to a general distrust among potential investors. Misinterpretations of REAL's objectives and skepticism towards celebrity-backed tokens further complicated the fundraising efforts, as many viewed it merely as another celebrity-endorsed project. The failure of REAL's fundraising serves as a cautionary tale for investors in the crypto space. It underscores the importance of looking beyond celebrity endorsements and understanding the fundamentals of a project. Investors should conduct thorough research to assess a token's utility, community engagement, and overall credibility. The incident highlights the need for regulatory clarity in celebrity endorsements to protect retail investors and maintain the integrity of the cryptocurrency market. As the crypto landscape continues to evolve, genuine trust and long-term vision will prove more valuable than mere fame in fundraising efforts.

In the ever-evolving cryptocurrency landscape, few tokens have garnered as much attention as Fartcoin, a Solana-based AI memecoin. Despite its nascent status, Fartcoin has established a notable presence on social media platforms, particularly Twitter, where it is perceived as a buy signal by savvy investors. This Belarus-born memecoin has quickly positioned itself as a frontrunner within the Solana ecosystem, outpacing many of its more established competitors. With a market cap of $455.2 million, Fartcoin now commands 32.1% of the total market cap of AI tokens on Solana, which stands at approximately $1.1148 billion across 772 projects. Fartcoin's rise is particularly remarkable given that it lacks the typical utility or technological claims associated with many AI tokens. Instead, it has leveraged the current enthusiasm surrounding artificial intelligence to carve out a significant niche in the market. Its performance has eclipsed that of established tokens like #ai16z, with Fartcoin's market cap exceeding that of its nearest competitor by nearly 250%. This unexpected success raises questions about the future of AI tokens on the Solana blockchain, suggesting a potential shift in investor interest towards lighter, meme-based projects over more traditional tech-heavy solutions. The appeal of Fartcoin among institutional investors, often referred to as "smart money," is a key driver of its success. These investors are drawn to Fartcoin's unique position in the market, where its meme culture and community engagement have proven to be powerful assets. As Fartcoin continues to attract significant investment and attention, its future remains uncertain, but its current trajectory indicates that it has established itself as a formidable player in the AI sector on Solana. Ultimately, Fartcoin exemplifies the unpredictable nature of the cryptocurrency world, where even a memecoin can dominate a market segment traditionally reserved for more serious projects.