Jupiter has welcomed the DRiP team, known for their expertise in growing Solana's leading NFT platform, DRiP.

The S&P 500 futures fell 3% as Trump’s tariffs sparked trade war fears, hitting tech and retail stocks. Gold stays above $3,130, up 23% since November, as tariffs fuel safe-haven demand despite rising US yields. The Coindesk Indices, which tracks the broader crypto market, are down by 1.88%, with Bitcoin up 2.34% and Ether down 1.86% in the past 24 hours. Trade these markets and more with up to 500x leverage on Bybit MT5 using this 

Today's top performer is EOS, up 4.1%, as Vaulta bridges CeFi and DeFi for secure wealth management, payments, and investments.

Vaulta (EOS), launched in June 2018, formerly EOS Network, is a decentralized blockchain network for building and running commercial-scale dApps, offering security, authentication, data hosting, and app communication—similar to Google Play or the App Store. Vaulta 

 CeFi and DeFi for wealth management, crypto payments, and portfolio investments, offering secure, real-time transactions and fractional RWA ownership, while ensuring digital asset security through crypto-native insurance and custody solutions.

Check out the latest prices, charts, and data of 

, known for their expertise in growing Solana's leading NFT platform, DRiP. As part of their vision to build a comprehensive crypto superapp, Jupiter aims to integrate NFTs into its Swaps, Mobile, and Portfolio features. This partnership will leverage DRiP’s strengths in NFT marketing, token launches, and creator-driven growth. The collaboration is funded by Jupiter's treasury without selling JUP tokens, and DRiP will continue to operate with added resources, contributing to community-driven growth.

Yesterday, Bitcoin spot ETFs saw $334M in total inflows, all from non-GBTC funds, while GBTC recorded no flows.

, reaching nearly $33M TVL in 21 hours. Users can deposit in featured vaults to earn rewards like TURTLE and TAC. More partner vaults launch on April 12. TAC is a Layer 1 blockchain bridging Ethereum dApps to Telegram's 950M users.

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Jupiter partners with DRiP to integrate NFTs into crypto superapp

The PENGU Spot ETF is the first NFT-based crypto ETF application, as Canary Capital aims to merge NFTs and DeFi—will the SEC approve this groundbreaking move

January 2024 marked a pivotal point in the crypto industry: the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved a bunch of 

 (ETFs) after a decade of resisting it. Later that year, several Ethereum (ETH) Spot ETFs were also approved. These early successes encouraged investment funds focused on digital assets to seek approvals for other 

 (AVAX) and other high-cap cryptos have ended up on the SEC's desk in recent months.

Until Mar 20, 2025, one thing had never occurred: an 

-based crypto ETF application. Such a move was thought to border on impossibility, given how stringently and at length the SEC evaluated ETF applications even for established fungible cryptos. And yet, the Canary Capital investment manager submitted an application to the SEC for approval of the first NFT-focused crypto ETF product, the PENGU Spot ETF, triggering a mini-revolution in the emerging space at the junction of crypto and traditional finance.

If approved, this ETF will be the first of its kind in the industry, based on a mix of 

. Many observers expect Canary Capital to struggle mightily for SEC endorsement of its revolutionary product. Nevertheless, the SEC now has a track record of approving crypto ETFs — which raises hopes for both the altcoin ETFs mentioned above and the PENGU Spot ETF application.

The PENGU Spot ETF is a proposed exchange-traded fund (ETF) product introduced by the Canary Capital investment management firm, and is currently awaiting approval by the SEC. 

 on Mar 20, 2025, making this the first crypto ETF product with an NFT component that’s vying for the approval of America's primary financial regulator. The ETF has been registered in the US state of Delaware.

The Pengu Spot ETF's portfolio is envisioned as consisting primarily of PENGU tokens that will make up anywhere between 80% and 95% of total assets held, with the rest allocated to Pudgy Penguins NFTs. Small portions of Solana's SOL coins and Ethereum's ETH tokens will also be included in order to facilitate transactions and liquidity support, as PENGU tokens are mainly issued on the Solana blockchain, and Pudgy Penguins NFTs are an Ethereum-based collection. 

Since Canary Capital will hold these assets and periodically rebalance the portfolio, gas fee payments on Solana and Ethereum will apply, with fees paid in SOL and ETH, respectively.

Launched in 2021 on Solana, the Pudgy Penguins NFT collection consists of 8,888 items, each depicting a cute penguin with a distinct combination of five different traits. In December 2024, the project introduced a related fungible cryptocurrency, the Ethereum-based PENGU token. As of Apr 2, 2025, PENGU is a smaller-cap asset, ranked 191st in the crypto market, with a total 

 of $319 million. In contrast, Pudgy Penguins are among the leading projects in the NFT space, ranked second among all NFT collections, with a market cap of $155 million.

Canary Capital's application to the SEC is unique in two ways: it’s the first ETF with an NFT component, and it marks the first time ETF approval has been sought for a relatively smaller-cap cryptocurrency, PENGU, which isn’t even among the top 100 crypto assets by market cap. All of the other crypto ETF applications approved by the SEC (or currently vying for approval) are based on high-cap, leading assets that are typically ranked within the top 30.

As of Apr 2, 2025, the SEC has had the application for the PENGU Spot ETF application for just two weeks. The regulator has up to 240 days to review such applications, although historically, the SEC has pondered over crypto ETF applications for years. Now, however, the string of Bitcoin and Ethereum Spot ETF approvals in 2024 raises hopes that newer submissions may be subject to an already established evaluation framework — and thus greenlighted much faster.

At the moment, the SEC is also considering spot ETF applications for several high-cap cryptocurrencies, including Dogecoin, Solana, Polkadot, 

 (XRP). If the regulator decides to approve the applications in batch mode — all or several at once — Canary Capital will have reason to hope that its ETF is included.

However, there's been skepticism regarding the PENGU Spot ETF application, with some analysts believing that its chances might differ from those of the larger, more established altcoin ETFs. This isn't surprising, as a PENGU Spot ETF would be a distinct product, being the first NFT-focused ETF. In addition, NFTs have more limited liquidity than fungible cryptocurrencies. 

NFTs may also be harder to valuate objectively. The prices of fungible cryptos are easily sourced from the crypto market, where supply and demand establish their value. In contrast, the limited liquidity and uniqueness of NFTs makes it much harder to price them efficiently.

Moreover, the PENGU token — which will make up most of the proposed ETF — isn't among the most traded assets in the crypto market. Because PENGU has a modest position in the crypto space (along with its origins as a 

), the SEC could view it with more skepticism than it does the leading altcoins.

Naturally, all these factors are just speculation at this point, and we’ll need to wait on the SEC’s initial comments regarding the first NFT-based ETF under their consideration in order to form a more defined view of the product's prospects for approval.

Current impact of the PENGU Spot ETF application on the crypto market

The news of the PENGU Spot ETF application has so far had no appreciable impact on the price of the PENGU token itself. On the day of the application (Mar 20, 2025), the token was trading at around $0.007. Two weeks later, it's still hovering around the same price. 

On the other hand, there's been a modest increase in the average price of Pudgy Penguins NFTs traded on the market: between March 20 and 28, the average price rose by 16% from around $16,450 to $19,120, though it has since retraced slightly to $17,490 as of Apr 2.

Given the modest price effect, investors are likely still cautious about the chances for the PENGU Spot ETF's approval.

However, if it is approved, the broader impact on the crypto market could be far-reaching, as such a step would signify the SEC's openness to both NFT-based ETFs, and ETFs made up of smaller-cap cryptocurrencies, including meme coins. The number of tokenized asset funds that offer NFT-based products would then be likely to increase significantly, facilitating mainstream NFT adoption within traditional financial markets.

An SEC approval of the PENGU Spot ETF may lead to a flurry of further ETF applications based on NFTs in some form. This could even include the first ETFs composed entirely of NFTs. Other crypto asset types — e.g., 

 (RWAs) — may also become candidates for the SEC’s consideration. Furthermore, in the unlikely event that Canary Capital’s PENGU Spot ETF were to be approved ahead of the altcoin spot ETFs currently in the SEC’s pipeline, it would send a very strong signal that those ETF applications are also a sure bet.

The current PENGU Spot ETF application is a pioneering event that may open up opportunities for NFT ETFs and other crypto ETFs based on partial NFT holdings. Although the SEC approved multiple Bitcoin Spot ETFs in early 2024, few people expected an NFT-based ETF to emerge so soon afterward. Probably even fewer expected a meme coin–based ETF to be taken seriously by the SEC. Unique in so many ways, the PENGU ETF flips the entire concept of traditional ETFs on its head.

Canary Capital's attempt to get approval for an NFT-backed ETF is truly a bold undertaking, though observers said the same thing about 

 just a few years ago. Someone needed to become a trailblazer in this area — and Canary Capital has taken up the noble role without hesitation. Now, all eyes are on the SEC as it prepares to weigh in on a product it has never before encountered.

Intermediate

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PENGU Spot ETF: A bold move for NFT investing — or just hype?

In this article, we break down what to expect from Liberation Day and how it could shape the outlook for equities, the US economy and crypto markets.

 April 2, 2025 as "Liberation Day" — a moment he claims will restore America's trade fairness through sweeping reciprocal tariffs. With few concrete details confirmed, global markets remain on edge. Investors are bracing for the economic fallout of a potential trade war, and crypto traders are watching closely to assess the impact on digital assets. In this article, we break down what to expect from “Liberation Day” and how it could shape the outlook for equities, the US economy and crypto markets.

Since returning to the White House in January 2025, President Trump has prioritized reshaping US trade policy with a renewed focus on tariffs. His administration has already announced 

 on all steel and aluminum imports. Many of these actions take effect this week, coinciding with his so-called Liberation Day.

Trump argues that tariffs are a necessary tool to reduce the US trade deficit and force foreign nations to stop what he calls "economic warfare" against the American worker. Treasury secretary Scott Bessent 

 countries with persistent trade surpluses — dubbed the 

 — as primary targets for reciprocal tariffs. These include China, the EU, Canada and Mexico.

However, critics point to the growing risk of a global trade war, with multiple partners already threatening or initiating retaliatory measures. Goldman Sachs recently 

, citing declining business confidence and mounting economic uncertainty. The tariffs, designed to protect US industries, could instead raise prices and weigh on consumer spending.

What to expect from Trump's ‘Liberation Day’ announcement

Trump is expected to reveal his tariff plans in a Rose Garden press conference on April 2. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt 

 that the president would impose tariffs on "any country that has treated the American people unfairly" — though no nation-specific exemptions have been confirmed. Trump has promised these reciprocal tariffs will be 

While final details remain under wraps, proposals have included both country-wide and sector-specific tariffs. These could range from uniform, percentage-based levies to targeted charges on industries like pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and autos. Trump's advisers, including Trump trade adviser Peter Navarro and commerce secretary Howard Lutnick, claim the new tariffs could generate over $600 billion annually — though many economists dispute this figure.

Delayed tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, 

 in early March, are also set to take effect this week. These include taxes on agricultural products, energy goods and automotive components. Trump has also 

 a 25% tariff on imports from countries that purchase oil or gas from Venezuela.

Given the administration's conflicting signals in recent weeks, there's a wide range of potential outcomes. Whether “Liberation Day” ushers in immediate enforcement, additional delays or future negotiation rounds remains to be seen. For now, uncertainty reigns.

Potential impact on the US economy and global markets

Economists warn that broad-based tariffs could lead to slower US growth, higher consumer prices and widening inequality. Goldman Sachs now 

 Trump's trade policies to reduce annual GDP growth to 1.5% from 2%, while the odds of a recession are being raised from 20% to 35%.

Global equity markets have already shown signs of stress. European and Asian indices dipped ahead of “Liberation Day,” while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq-100 

 in March (respectively). Auto manufacturers, tech firms and retailers could be especially vulnerable if tariffs disrupt global supply chains.

There's also the question of the Federal Reserve's response. With inflation risks rising, policymakers may hold off on anticipated rate cuts, further complicating the economic outlook heading into Q2.

How will ‘Liberation Day’ affect the crypto industry?

Crypto markets have mirrored broader risk sentiment over the past quarter, with investors reducing exposure amid macroeconomic turbulence. As of April 1, the 

 is down 16.9% year-to-date. Bitcoin has fallen 10.48%, Ethereum 44.2% and Solana 33% — despite reaching new highs in January on hopes for pro-crypto policies from the Trump administration.

Investor optimism has since cooled as recession risks, inflation concerns and policy unpredictability drive a risk-off mood. Bitcoin dipped to $81,656 over the weekend, marking its weakest Q1 since 2018. Traders remain cautious ahead of “Liberation Day,” awaiting clarity before opening new positions.

“Liberation Day” could further weigh on crypto prices if market volatility increases and capital rotates out of risk assets. However, some analysts believe any resulting sell-off may offer an opportunity to 

 — especially if Trump follows through on crypto-friendly regulation later this year. For now, though, many eyes are on April 2.

With details still unknown, the crypto market remains in a "wait-and-see" phase. “Liberation Day” could mark a turning point — for better or worse — depending upon the scope and execution of Trump's tariff agenda.

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Trump's 'Liberation Day': What it means for crypto markets

Grayscale has filed to convert its private Digital Large Cap Fund, which includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Cardano, into a publicly available exchange-traded fund (ETF). 

Daily top performer — Compound Finance (COMP)

The S&P 500 rose 0.38% as investors awaited new tariffs amid weak factory data and declining job openings. Gold eased to $3,113 after hitting a record high, driven by profit-taking ahead of Trump's tariff announcement, but remains strong due to safe-haven demand and economic uncertainties. The Coindesk Indices, which tracks the broader crypto market, are up by 1.30%, with Bitcoin and Ether are up 3.10% and 5.19%, respectively, in the past 24 hours. Trade these markets and more with up to 500x leverage on Bybit MT5 using this 

Today's top performer is COMP, up 14.3%, following the proposal for the creation of a foundation to ensure consistent leadership and coordination by Compound.

Compound Finance (COMP), launched in September 2018, is a DeFi lending platform that allows users to earn interest on crypto assets. Built on smart contracts, it adjusts interest rates based on supply and demand, connecting lenders and borrowers without intermediaries. In June 2020, Compound decentralized with the launch of COMP and full governance transfer. However, it lacks a core operational pillar. With Compound v4 development and increased community engagement, the need for consistent leadership has grown. To address this, Compound Labs 

 creating a Compound Foundation for structure, clarity, and coordination, similar to other ecosystems like Uniswap.

 to convert its private Digital Large Cap Fund, which includes Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Cardano, into a publicly available exchange-traded fund (ETF). The fund, which currently holds 79.4% Bitcoin and 10.69% Ethereum, has grown by 478.83% since its launch in 2018. The conversion would allow everyday investors to access the crypto market, covering about 75% of the digital asset market cap. If successful, it would eliminate the current barrier that restricts access to accredited investors. The filing is still in progress, with management fees and other details pending.

Yesterday, BTC spot ETF had a total outflow of $157.8 million, with GBTC seeing a loss of $10.1 million and non-GBTC products losing $147.7 million.

 that its airdrop might be approaching, with a claim page now live. Registration for the airdrop runs from April 2 to April 17, and claims are expected to open on April 22. However, nothing has been officially confirmed yet. Stay tuned for updates.

Grayscale files to convert digital large cap fund into publicly accessible crypto ETF

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Stablecoin

Looking to find out more about USDT vs. USDC? Explore our detailed guide to find out the differences and similarities between USDT and USDC.

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Cryptocurrencies have a reputation for being highly volatile, but not all blockchain tokens vary in value. There's a whole class of cryptos, called stablecoins, that prioritize keeping their price as regular as possible. Many of these 

, such as USDT and USDC, maintain their price by pegging their value to the United States dollar. However, even if their prices seem similar at a glance, USD-pegged stablecoins aren't identical. If you're interested in learning more about stablecoins, explore this guide to find out the differences between USDT and USDC.

 is the largest stablecoin in the cryptocurrency market. Also called Tether, it's been operated by the Tether Limited company since 2014. Tether is pegged to the U.S. dollar, and is backed by a blend of gold and fiat currency.

 is a stablecoin that was introduced in 2018. Previously called USD Coin, this crypto is issued by the Centre Consortium, a joint venture between Coinbase and Circle. USDC is backed by the U.S. dollar and U.S. Treasury securities. Its value is pegged to that of the U.S. dollar.

USDT vs. USDC: Differences and Similarities

A single USDT or USDC token might have roughly equivalent values, but this doesn't mean they're interchangeable. There are many different factors to consider if you're looking for the differences between USDC and USDT.

Both USDT and USDC are fiat-backed stablecoins pegged to the U.S. dollar. This means that they're set up to always have the same value as the American dollar. To help with this goal, their parent companies hold a reserve of dollars to guarantee the value of their coins. 

However, USDC has some additional backing that USDT doesn’t have. In addition to its reserve of dollars, it also holds some 

. These cash-equivalent assets provide an extra level of security for USDC.

USDT is significantly older than USDC. It was launched in 2014, whereas USDC didn’t exist until four years later. USDT also happens to be the first fiat-backed stablecoin in existence. By the time USDC arrived, USDT was already an industry leader with years of brand recognition. 

USDT and USDC are both leaders in the stablecoin markets. For many years, they've routinely outranked their competitors. However, USDT still leads USDC by 

, with an approximate market capitalization of $110 billion as compared to USDC's $33 billion. 

Keep in mind that while USDT is traded more by investors, USDC might be used more for 

 transactions. Data from Visa suggests that in 2024, USDC began to outpace USDT as the preferred choice for stablecoin crypto payments.

Both USDT and USDC offer the option to redeem stablecoins. As part of their mission to demonstrate that stablecoins are just as reliable as fiat currency, their users can trade their stablecoins for U.S. dollars. However, USDT’s redemption capabilities are somewhat more limited. Users can only redeem funds when they hold at least 100,000 USDT, while USDC users can redeem funds as soon as they hold 100 USDC. In addition, users report that USDC's redemption process is simpler and faster.

When it comes to transparency, USDT and USDC have drastically different outlooks. Over the years, USDT has faced many claims about misleading investors. There have been rumors of price manipulation, as well as assertions that Tether doesn’t actually hold the amount of reserves it claims to possess. These concerns regarding transparency have been partially proven in investigations. At one point, Tether was fined by regulatory bodies for holding the reserves that it claimed to have in place 

. Additionally, concerns were raised as to the specifics and integrity of its holdings.

Meanwhile, USDC has been fairly committed to transparency. It uses an independent company that audits its reserves and releases reports to the public on a monthly basis. Compared to Tether's quarterly audits, USDC's audits are more frequent, and provide a more detailed breakdown of its asset reserves.

When it comes to reputation, each of these stablecoins has its pros and cons. USDT is usually seen as an icon within the stablecoin industry, being one of the first and also most recognizable. When users are discussing stablecoins, Tether invariably comes up. Unfortunately, USDT has also had some prominent public relations failures that make investors more wary of its brand.

USDC doesn't have quite as many fans as USDT, and it's viewed as less of a trailblazer. However, its many fans point out that it's much more reliable than Tether. USDC was created partially in reaction to Tether's transparency issues, so investors often speak of it as the safer, more secure option.

As stablecoins, USDC and USDT are both generally valued around $1. However, stablecoins don't generally maintain a value of precisely $1 all of the time. Not only are there occasional fluctuations, such as a coin's price dropping to (for example) $0.9996, but situations can also arise in which prices become drastically altered. These incidents, called depegs, can greatly destabilize the market.

Both USDC and USDT have experienced infamous depegging incidents. While USDT has dropped as low as $0.99, USDC has gone all the way down to $0.87. Although both coins have managed to easily recover in value, any fluctuation can cause problems for investors. Analysis suggests that USDC has had 

Both USDT and USDC claim to follow international financial compliance measures. This means they follow industry best practices for protecting both their funds and their consumers. However, USDT's claims are a little more difficult to verify as compared to those of USDC, whose audits show that its reserves are held within regulated financial organizations so that it can prove it follows laws and recommendations for protecting its investors.

USDC and USDT are both known for their flexibility. They run on multiple blockchains and are used as currency at a variety of traditional and web3 businesses. Though USDT has greater liquidity and supply than USDC, both coins have liquidity large enough to easily support vast amounts of trading. 

There are some differences in where these coins are available. USDT operates on 12 chains, including 

. Meanwhile, USDC is natively supported on 16 chains, including Ethereum, 

 and others. Regardless, even if USDC is on more chains, USDT is accepted by almost twice as many businesses.

As you can see, USDT and USDC both have their own pros and cons. When it comes to USDC vs. USDT, the right choice for you will simply depend upon your priorities and how you plan to use the coin. 

USDT or USDC — Which Is a Better Investment?

Stablecoins don't shift a lot in price, so neither USDT nor USDC will avail you of the potentially wild profit increases of some other types of cryptocurrencies. However, they still have a lot of uses in the 

 investment world. Both USDT and USDC are popular choices for investors who choose to participate in 

When it comes to investing, USDT has a slight edge over USDC. Either one can work well, but USDT simply has a much larger market share. Its larger supply and trading volume and higher market cap all lead to more opportunities for investors. Furthermore, USDT's popularity means it's used in more web3 projects. This all contributes to making USDT more available when you want to use DeFi investing to earn passive income on your tokens. 

Meanwhile, although USDC's slightly more frequent rates of depegging might make it seem scary for an investor, depegging also comes with some opportunities for profit. Not only can you try to use options to 

 the coin, but you can participate in various token 

 in stablecoin prices. However, even if USDC is useful for these sorts of techniques, keep in mind that arbitrage bots, options and other similar investment strategies can be especially risky. Often, only advanced traders who invest at optimal moments end up profiting. 

Which Should You Pay With — USDT or USDC?

If you plan on using either of these stablecoins to buy more crypto or make other purchases, USDC is often the better choice. The coin has a better track record for transparency and regulatory compliance. Furthermore, it's easier to convert your USDC back into U.S. dollars, which makes it a flexible payment choice. 

The other primary consideration is USDT's widespread adoption. Even if USDC makes more sense as a payment method, some businesses only accept USDT. Therefore, if you can only choose one stablecoin and want to be able to spend it in many locations, USDT might be the better pick for you.

If you prefer long-term planning, it's essential to consider the futures of both USDC and USDT. Right now, USDT's popularity makes it the go-to option for many activities. However, more and more crypto enthusiasts are becoming wary of Tether. USDC’s reputation as the safer option might serve it well in the future. 

Industry data paints an intriguing picture of which coin is on the rise. Not only has USDC been 

 in the past year, but the summer of 2024 has led to big changes for this token. When Circle became the first stablecoin to receive approval from European regulators, traders took note, and tremendous growth in trading volume took place for USDC. By the end of July, volume was 

This has led to a lot of speculation about Tether finally being outpaced by USDC. Crypto trends suggest that regulation will become even more common in the future — and USDC is already doing a great job of satisfying regulations. Unless USDT is able to greatly improve its security and transparency, it may struggle to keep up.

Ultimately, both USDT and USDC have many reasons to hold their positions at the top of the stablecoin market. While USDT is an industry icon that holds large market shares, USDC has managed to become one of the most reliable and transparent choices. Currently, there's no definitive decision on which one is better, but rising interest in USDC suggests it might be the stablecoin of the future.

USDT vs. USDC: The Battle for Stablecoin Supremacy

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