Bitcoin, Ethereum trend amid ‘Extreme Fear’ – But THIS signal warns of caution

ambcryptoPublished on 2026-04-05Last updated on 2026-04-05

Abstract

The global crypto market shows modest improvement after volatility from U.S.-Iran tensions. Santiment highlights trending coins, with Ethereum and Bitcoin leading due to quantum-computing risk discussions, institutional interest like Charles Schwab offering spot trading, and geopolitical impacts. However, active addresses for BTC, ETH, and Chainlink (trending from large on-chain moves and unlocks) show declining retail activity, indicating investor caution. Solana gained attention negatively from a $270M+ exploit, while memecoin Pippin trended on hype, not fundamentals. USDC stablecoin trends despite hack-related transfers, still outpacing USDT in volume. Overall, market signals are conflicting, with Coinbase warning of risks ahead of Trump’s Iran deal deadline.

The global crypto market is showing modest signs of improvement after facing a volatile phase amidst increasing U.S-Iran tensions. Now, as the weekend is about to end, Santiment presented a list of coins trending, which includes top coins and a few altcoins in the space.

Source: Santiment

Ethereum and Bitcoin steal the spotlight

Starting with the largest altcoin, Ethereum [ETH], which was outperforming others. This surge in traction comes as there were various Ethereum accounts that were examined for “quantum‐computing risks to ECDSA signatures”.

Additionally, with the Ethereum Foundation staking thousands in ETH, the community was paying heed to Vitalik Buterin’s creation.

On top of that, Santiment also highlighted:

Charles Schwab’s announcement to offer direct spot trading of Bitcoin and Ethereum to its large client base.

Needless to say, Bitcoin [BTC] was trending, too, thanks to its “Google Quantum AI whitepaper and broad media coverage”, fueling debate about “Bitcoin’s long‐term exposure to quantum attacks”.

On the back of Bitcoin’s long-term health, its current price action due to the Middle East tensions also added to BTC’s growing chatter.

Other altcoins that are trending and why

Adding to the list is Chainlink [LINK], which, due to various large on-chain movements and a recent “quarterly unlock of roughly 19M,” is catching people’s eye.

However, the active address mapping of BTC, LINK, and ETH shows a major drop in retail activity. This shows that despite a rise in trends, the metrics are not in favour, and investors are still cautious.

Source: Santiment

That said, Solana [SOL], too, was trending but somehow for the wrong reasons. The recent Drift Protocol exploit, which drained about $270–286 million and impacted over 20 Solana projects, was the major reason behind the rise in attention.

On the other hand, mentions of Pippin [PIPPIN] are surging, but if looked at deeply, this memecoin is trending only because of “community hype rather than traditional fundamentals”.

Confirming this sentiment was the social volume metric of both tokens, which was on a decline.

Source: Santiment

Who is ruling the stablecoin market?

Lastly, in the stablecoin market, Circle’s USDC was trending, but there, too, the plot twist was that there have been about 15 incidents where large USDC transfers were tied to hacks/exploits.

However, the transaction volume of USDC shows that it’s still outpacing Tether’s USDT and others.

Source: Visa on-chain analytics

All this combined paints a confusing picture of the crypto market where neither sentiments nor metrics are in sync with the other.

In conclusion, adding more tension, Coinbase analysts recently flagged an upcoming risk to the crypto market ahead of U.S President Donald Trump’s April deadline on the Iran deal.


Final Summary

  • A list of coins is trending on Santiment, but still, on-chain metrics are drawing a different conclusion.
  • Some coins are trending because of good reasons, whereas some traction is tied to exploits and hacks.

Related Questions

QWhat are the main reasons why Ethereum (ETH) and Bitcoin (BTC) are trending according to the article?

AEthereum is trending due to accounts being examined for 'quantum-computing risks to ECDSA signatures' and the Ethereum Foundation staking a significant amount of ETH. Bitcoin is trending because of a 'Google Quantum AI whitepaper and broad media coverage' sparking debate about quantum attacks, as well as its price action amid Middle East tensions.

QWhich altcoin is mentioned as trending for negative reasons, and what was the cause?

ASolana (SOL) is trending for negative reasons. The cause was a major exploit on the Drift Protocol that drained $270–286 million and impacted over 20 Solana projects.

QWhat does the active address mapping for BTC, LINK, and ETH indicate about retail investor activity?

AThe active address mapping shows a major drop in retail activity, indicating that despite the rise in trends for these coins, investors remain cautious and the on-chain metrics are not favorable.

QIn the stablecoin market, why was USDC trending and what is the 'plot twist' mentioned?

AUSDC was trending, but the 'plot twist' is that there have been about 15 incidents where large USDC transfers were tied to hacks or exploits.

QWhat overall picture does the article paint about the current state of the crypto market?

AThe article paints a confusing picture where market sentiments and on-chain metrics are not in sync. Some coins are trending for positive fundamental reasons, while others are gaining attention due to exploits, hacks, or mere community hype, with overall investor caution prevailing.

Related Reads

Cook's Curtain Call and Ternus Takes the Helm: The Disruption and Reboot of Apple's 4 Trillion Dollar Empire

Tim Cook has officially announced he will step down as CEO of Apple in September, transitioning to executive chairman after a 15-year tenure during which he grew the company’s market value from around $350 billion to nearly $4 trillion. He will be succeeded by John Ternus, a 50-year-old hardware engineering veteran who has been groomed for the role through increasing public visibility and internal responsibility. Ternus’s appointment signals a strategic shift toward hardware and engineering leadership, with Johny Srouji—head of Apple Silicon—taking on an expanded role as Chief Hardware Officer. This consolidation aims to strengthen Apple’s core technological capabilities. However, Cook’s departure highlights a significant unresolved issue: Apple’s delayed and fragmented approach to artificial intelligence. Despite early efforts, such as hiring John Giannandrea from Google in 2018, Apple’s AI initiatives—particularly around Siri—have struggled with internal restructuring and reliance on external partnerships, including with Google. The transition comes at a critical moment as Apple faces paradigm shifts with the rise of artificial general intelligence (ASI). The company’s closed ecosystem of hardware, software, and services—once a major advantage—now presents challenges in adapting to an AI-centric world where intelligence may matter more than the device itself. Ternus must quickly articulate a clear AI strategy, possibly starting at WWDC, to reassure markets and redefine Apple’s role in a new technological era. His task is not only to maintain Apple’s operational excellence but also to reinvigorate its capacity to innovate and lead in the age of AI.

marsbit11m ago

Cook's Curtain Call and Ternus Takes the Helm: The Disruption and Reboot of Apple's 4 Trillion Dollar Empire

marsbit11m ago

Trading

Spot
Futures

Hot Articles

What is $BITCOIN

DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN): A Comprehensive Analysis Introduction to DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) is a blockchain-based project operating on the Solana network, which aims to combine the characteristics of traditional precious metals with the innovation of decentralized technologies. While it shares a name with Bitcoin, often referred to as “digital gold” due to its perception as a store of value, DIGITAL GOLD is a separate token designed to create a unique ecosystem within the Web3 landscape. Its goal is to position itself as a viable alternative digital asset, although specifics regarding its applications and functionalities are still developing. What is DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN)? DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) is a cryptocurrency token explicitly designed for use on the Solana blockchain. In contrast to Bitcoin, which provides a widely recognized value storage role, this token appears to focus on broader applications and characteristics. Notable aspects include: Blockchain Infrastructure: The token is built on the Solana blockchain, known for its capacity to handle high-speed and low-cost transactions. Supply Dynamics: DIGITAL GOLD has a maximum supply capped at 100 quadrillion tokens (100P $BITCOIN), although details regarding its circulating supply are currently undisclosed. Utility: While precise functionalities are not explicitly outlined, there are indications that the token could be utilized for various applications, potentially involving decentralized applications (dApps) or asset tokenization strategies. Who is the Creator of DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN)? At present, the identity of the creators and development team behind DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) remains unknown. This situation is typical among many innovative projects within the blockchain space, particularly those aligning with decentralized finance and meme coin phenomena. While such anonymity may foster a community-driven culture, it intensifies concerns about governance and accountability. Who are the Investors of DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN)? The available information indicates that DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) does not have any known institutional backers or prominent venture capital investments. The project seems to operate on a peer-to-peer model focused on community support and adoption rather than traditional funding routes. Its activity and liquidity are primarily situated on decentralized exchanges (DEXs), such as PumpSwap, rather than established centralized trading platforms, further highlighting its grassroots approach. How DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) Works The operational mechanics of DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) can be elaborated on based on its blockchain design and network attributes: Consensus Mechanism: By leveraging Solana’s unique proof-of-history (PoH) combined with a proof-of-stake (PoS) model, the project ensures efficient transaction validation contributing to the network's high performance. Tokenomics: While specific deflationary mechanisms have not been extensively detailed, the vast maximum token supply implies that it may cater to microtransactions or niche use cases that are still to be defined. Interoperability: There exists the potential for integration with Solana’s broader ecosystem, including various decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms. However, the details regarding specific integrations remain unspecified. Timeline of Key Events Here is a timeline that highlights significant milestones concerning DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN): 2023: The initial deployment of the token occurs on the Solana blockchain, marked by its contract address. 2024: DIGITAL GOLD gains visibility as it becomes available for trading on decentralized exchanges like PumpSwap, allowing users to trade it against SOL. 2025: The project witnesses sporadic trading activity and potential interest in community-led engagements, although no noteworthy partnerships or technical advancements have been documented as of yet. Critical Analysis Strengths Scalability: The underlying Solana infrastructure supports high transaction volumes, which could enhance the utility of $BITCOIN in various transaction scenarios. Accessibility: The potential low trading price per token could attract retail investors, facilitating wider participation due to fractional ownership opportunities. Risks Lack of Transparency: The absence of publicly known backers, developers, or an audit process may yield skepticism regarding the project's sustainability and trustworthiness. Market Volatility: The trading activity is heavily reliant on speculative behavior, which can result in significant price volatility and uncertainty for investors. Conclusion DIGITAL GOLD ($BITCOIN) emerges as an intriguing yet ambiguous project within the rapidly evolving Solana ecosystem. While it attempts to leverage the “digital gold” narrative, its departure from Bitcoin's established role as a store of value underscores the need for a clearer differentiation of its intended utility and governance structure. Future acceptance and adoption will likely depend on addressing the current opacity and defining its operational and economic strategies more explicitly. Note: This report encompasses synthesised information available as of October 2023, and developments may have transpired beyond the research period.

363 Total ViewsPublished 2025.05.13Updated 2025.05.13

What is $BITCOIN

Discussions

Welcome to the HTX Community. Here, you can stay informed about the latest platform developments and gain access to professional market insights. Users' opinions on the price of BTC (BTC) are presented below.

活动图片