Will Espresso [ESP] hit $1B valuation? Korean listings spark 80% explosion

ambcryptoPublished on 2026-02-25Last updated on 2026-02-25

Abstract

Espresso (ESP) surged 80% in 24 hours to $0.173, driven by aggressive capital inflows following its listings on major Korean exchanges Upbit and Bithumb. The breakout was supported by explosive volume of $881M and record Open Interest of $56.03M, indicating strong speculative and spot demand. Historically, Korean listings fuel extended rallies, and with support from Binance and Coinbase, the project's infrastructure narrative gained significant momentum. This capital rotation suggests a potential path toward a $1B valuation, though sustainability depends on continued demand and stable liquidity.

On the 24th of February, Espresso dominated headlines with raw momentum. The project operated as a shared sequencing layer for Ethereum Layer-2 rollups. That infrastructure narrative suddenly met aggressive capital inflows.

Notably, Binance and Coinbase had listed ESP on the 12th of February. However, Upbit and Bithumb listings shifted sentiment violently. Korean liquidity poured in fast. Could this wave sustain the breakout?

ESP up 80% in 24 hours, hitting $0.173

The move was sharp and relentless. Espresso [ESP] surged 80% within a single day, trading at $0.173 at press time. It outperformed a sluggish broader market without hesitation, leaving most altcoins behind.

Due to these developments, the price entered clean discovery territory. There was no historical resistance capping momentum.

Therefore, traders chased upside aggressively, fearing a missed opportunity. At the time of writing, the token was in a violent expansion phase, beating nearly every major token across the board.

Volume explodes and Open Interest hits all-time highs

The breakout was backed by undeniable participation. Volume exploded to $881M, according to CoinGlass data.

That number alone reflected intense speculative and spot demand, and it was exactly what investors wanted to see during a breakout of this scale. This was not thin liquidity or random retail noise. It showed real commitment and full conviction flowing into the market.

Meanwhile, Open Interest climbed to $56.03M at press time.

Fresh leverage entered quickly as traders positioned for continuation. These were not just small investors testing the waters. As a result, volatility risk increased alongside conviction, with serious capital now exposed to sharp swings.

Is this the start of a run to a $1B valuation?

Major Korean listings historically fueled extended rallies. In particular, Upbit access often amplified aggressive retail-driven expansion cycles. Also, Binance, the beast of liquidity, thanks to its deep liquidity, provided the structural backbone for sustained trading activity. This suggested the rally carried more than hype.

It carried access, reach, and serious market depth.

Moreover, $881M in Volume signaled undeniable capital rotation.

That level alone reflected intensity approaching billion-dollar territory. Therefore, a $1B valuation no longer seemed distant; it felt increasingly achievable under sustained pressure.

However, failure to sustain leverage could unwind gains sharply and brutally. Looking ahead, continuation required stable demand, disciplined positioning, and consistent liquidity support.


Final Summary

  • Espresso [ESP] surged 80% in 24 hours, trading at $0.173 after aggressive capital inflows.
  • Korean exchange listings on Upbit and Bithumb triggered a sharp sentiment shift and liquidity spike.

Related Questions

QWhat was the main catalyst for Espresso (ESP)'s 80% price surge in 24 hours?

AThe main catalyst was the listing of ESP on major Korean exchanges, Upbit and Bithumb, which triggered a violent shift in sentiment and a massive influx of Korean liquidity.

QWhat key on-chain metrics supported the legitimacy of the ESP breakout?

AThe breakout was supported by an explosion in trading volume to $881 million and Open Interest reaching a record high of $56.03 million, indicating intense speculative demand and serious capital commitment.

QWhy do the article's authors believe a $1 billion valuation for ESP is achievable?

AThe authors believe it's achievable due to the massive $881 million volume signaling intense capital rotation, combined with the deep liquidity and access provided by listings on major global exchanges like Binance and Coinbase, as well as Korean giants Upbit and Bithumb.

QWhat is the primary function of the Espresso project mentioned in the article?

AEspresso operates as a shared sequencing layer for Ethereum Layer-2 rollups, which is a key piece of infrastructure for the Ethereum ecosystem.

QWhat are the potential risks to ESP's price rally mentioned in the article?

AThe primary risk is a failure to sustain leverage, which could lead to gains being unwound sharply and brutally. Continuation of the rally requires stable demand, disciplined positioning, and consistent liquidity support.

Related Reads

In Conversation with Ray Dalio: We Are Currently in an AI Bubble, with 1% of My Portfolio in Bitcoin

Ray Dalio, founder of Bridgewater Associates, warns in an interview that the current AI boom shows classic bubble characteristics, which could lead to significant economic downturns as seen in past cycles like 1929 or 2000. He explains that speculative enthusiasm, fueled by debt and overvaluation, often precedes a crash when rising rates or taxation force asset sales, causing widespread losses and recession. Dalio also outlines his "Big Cycle" theory, describing an approximate 80-year pattern where widening wealth gaps, massive government deficits, and shifting geopolitical power (like China's rise) create internal conflict and global instability. He emphasizes that we are in a late-cycle, transitional phase where traditional powers like the US and UK face decline. For personal wealth protection, Dalio advises diversification beyond cash into assets like stocks, bonds, real estate, and particularly gold, which he prefers over Bitcoin. While he holds about 1% of his portfolio in Bitcoin as a non-printable hard asset, he views gold as more secure from technological or governmental threats. Regarding AI's impact, Dalio believes it will disproportionately benefit capital owners, worsening inequality by replacing both physical and cognitive labor. He suggests that human intuition and emotional intelligence, combined with AI, will be key for future workers. On taxation, Dalio argues that wealth taxes are impractical and risk triggering asset sell-offs, reducing productive investment. He points to the UK as a cautionary example of debt, low productivity, and political strife. Geopolitically, Dalio foresees a more regionalized world, with the US showing weakness in prolonged conflicts like with Iran, akin to past imperial declines. The ideal outcome, he suggests, is coexisting powerful blocs (e.g., Americas, China-Asia Pacific) without major war.

marsbit3h ago

In Conversation with Ray Dalio: We Are Currently in an AI Bubble, with 1% of My Portfolio in Bitcoin

marsbit3h ago

Daily 7.2 Trillion KRW: Foreign Capital's Record Net Buying on Friday! Wall Street Says Headwinds for Korean Stock Fund Flows Have Subsided

South Korean stock market sees a dramatic shift in fund flows. On July 31, foreign investors made a record net purchase of approximately KRW 7.2 trillion in KOSPI stocks, marking a fundamental reversal from the persistent large-scale net outflows seen in previous months. This contributed to a significant narrowing of foreign net selling in July to KRW 9.8 trillion, down sharply from KRW 48.4 trillion in June and KRW 44.5 trillion in May. Simultaneously, domestic institutional pressure eased. South Korean pension funds and asset managers turned to a net buying position in July, purchasing KRW 1.0 trillion worth of KOSPI shares, contrasting with net sales in May and June. Market volatility is expected to be dampened by new financial regulations. Effective July 31, the Financial Services Commission tightened access for retail investors to single-stock leveraged ETFs by raising the minimum cash deposit requirement. Trading volumes for these products subsequently dropped to about 50% of their monthly average. Citigroup Research maintains its year-end KOSPI target of 10,000 points. The firm cites several supportive factors: the substantial easing of headwinds from capital outflows, a robust fundamental outlook for the semiconductor sector, historically low market valuations, strong economic fundamentals, and the potential for policy support from financial authorities if needed.

marsbit3h ago

Daily 7.2 Trillion KRW: Foreign Capital's Record Net Buying on Friday! Wall Street Says Headwinds for Korean Stock Fund Flows Have Subsided

marsbit3h ago

Thanks to Dice Rolls, Bitcoin Keys Are Stored Offline, But Not Everyone Will Do It

The article discusses using dice rolls to generate secure Bitcoin wallet seeds, providing entropy independent of potentially flawed hardware random number generators. It explains that each fair dice roll offers about 2.585 bits of entropy, with around 50 rolls needed for a standard 12-word seed phrase and 99+ recommended for higher security. This method gained attention after a vulnerability was revealed in some Coldcard hardware wallets, where a faulty firmware RNG (dating back to 2021) compromised generated keys. The analysis notes that while a dice-generated main seed was safe from this specific flaw, other Coldcard functions (like creating paper wallets, backup keys, or passwords) could still be vulnerable if they used the defective RNG. The piece argues that while dice-based entropy is technically robust, the manual process is error-prone, tedious, and unrealistic for most new users, who might make mistakes in recording or inputting rolls. It concludes that while manual entropy generation should remain an option for advanced users, the long-term goal is to develop reliable, user-friendly hardware and software that securely generates randomness without requiring specialized knowledge. Coldcard users are advised to check their firmware version and replace any secondary secrets (like paper wallet keys) created with vulnerable devices, while also considering multi-signature setups with devices from different manufacturers for added security.

cryptonews.ru8h ago

Thanks to Dice Rolls, Bitcoin Keys Are Stored Offline, But Not Everyone Will Do It

cryptonews.ru8h ago

Trading

Spot
活动图片