Related Questions

Bitcoin (BTC) remains the foundation of the crypto world. It’s often referred to as  digital gold,  and for good reason. In 2025, Bitcoin’s momentum is being fueled by ETF approvals and the effects of the most recent halving event. While its price range—hovering between $60,000 and $80,000—may feel intimidating for beginners, the beauty of Bitcoin is that you don’t have to buy a whole coin. Fractional ownership allows anyone to invest, no matter their budget. Long-term investors view Bitcoin as a relatively safe bet in an otherwise volatile industry, and strategies like dollar-cost averaging help smooth out the ups and downs.

Ethereum (ETH) is the heartbeat of decentralized finance and smart contracts. With upgrades like sharding making it faster and more energy-efficient, Ethereum continues to power Web3, decentralized apps, and NFTs. While its price—between $2,500 and $4,000—puts it in the mid-range, its ecosystem is unmatched. Gas fees, once a constant complaint, are now mitigated by layer-2 solutions such as Arbitrum and Optimism, making Ethereum more accessible than ever. Investors who believe in the future of decentralized applications see Ethereum as essential to their portfolio.

Solana (SOL) has earned the nickname “the speed king.” Known for processing transactions in fractions of a second at extremely low cost, Solana is becoming the go-to blockchain for decentralized gaming and applications that require scale. In the past, it suffered from outages, but 2025 has brought major stability improvements. Priced between $150 and $300, Solana offers growth potential for those willing to embrace a bit more risk than with Bitcoin or Ethereum. For adventurous investors, Solana-based NFT marketplaces and DeFi projects offer unique earning opportunities.

Cardano (ADA) takes a slower but highly sustainable approach. Designed with academic rigor and a focus on environmental responsibility, Cardano appeals to investors who care about scalability, sustainability, and adoption in developing nations. While priced modestly at $1–$2, its true strength lies in long-term potential. Recent partnerships, particularly across Africa, show that Cardano’s mission of real-world use is steadily moving forward. For patient investors, staking ADA for steady returns provides a way to earn while holding.

Polkadot (DOT) brings something entirely different: interoperability. Its goal is to connect different blockchains, creating a more unified ecosystem. This ability to enable cross-chain communication positions Polkadot as a backbone for the next generation of decentralized finance. With prices ranging from $10 to $20, it’s more affordable than many of its peers but requires investors to understand its complex technology. For those who take the time, early involvement in Polkadot parachain projects can open doors to unique opportunities.

How to Decide Which Crypto Is Right for You

Choosing the best crypto isn’t just about looking at charts—it’s about aligning your choice with your goals. If you’re a beginner, Bitcoin and Ethereum are generally considered safer and more stable. If you’re an experienced trader with a higher tolerance for risk, altcoins like Solana and Polkadot may offer more exciting growth.

Budget also plays a role. Not everyone can afford thousands of dollars per coin, but options like Cardano provide a low-cost entry point without sacrificing potential. And of course, where you live matters too. Exchange availability, local regulations, and even currency strength can shape your strategy.

A practical approach is to diversify—holding a mix of established coins for security and a few high-potential altcoins for growth. Tools like CoinGecko or portfolio trackers make it easier to monitor your assets and react to market shifts.

The Challenges and Risks You Should Expect

Crypto investing isn’t a smooth ride. Volatility is the biggest challenge—prices can swing by double digits in a single day. The best way to manage this is by not putting all your money into a single coin and by only investing what you can afford to lose.

Another concern is security. With scams, phishing attacks, and exchange hacks still common, keeping your assets safe is critical. Hardware wallets like Ledger or Trezor remain the gold standard for storage.

Regulations also vary by country. While places like Singapore and the UAE welcome crypto, others enforce strict rules. Always check what’s legal in your region before investing.

And finally, don’t underestimate trading fees. The difference between using a high-fee exchange and a low-fee one can eat into your profits, especially if you’re an active trader. Comparing platforms like BYDFi, Binance, or Kraken can save you a lot of money in the long run.

How to Get Started with Crypto Investing Today

If you’re ready to take the leap, the process is straightforward. The first step is choosing a reputable exchange. Coinbase is popular for beginners, BYDFi is great for global users, and platforms like Kraken cater to advanced traders. After creating your account, most exchanges will require identity verification (known as KYC).

Next, deposit funds using your preferred method—whether that’s USD, GBP, EUR, or even stablecoins. From there, you can purchase your chosen cryptocurrency. Many investors start small, testing the waters before making larger commitments. Once you’ve made your purchase, transfer your crypto to a personal wallet for safekeeping and always enable two-factor authentication on your accounts.

Why 2025 Could Be the Breakout Year

Many analysts believe that 2025 represents a turning point. After the turbulence of 2024, the market appears to be entering a recovery and potentially the beginning of a new bull run. Adoption is spreading across both developed and emerging markets, and technological innovation is creating use cases that go far beyond speculation. The integration of blockchain with artificial intelligence, gaming, supply chain management, and even national payment systems is reshaping how people view crypto.

For investors, this means that the window of opportunity is wide open—but also competitive. Acting early, with knowledge and caution, is the key to benefiting from what could be one of the most profitable eras in digital finance.

Final Thoughts

So, what is the best crypto to buy right now? The answer depends on you. If you value security and stability, Bitcoin and Ethereum are unmatched. If you’re chasing innovation, Solana and Polkadot are making waves. And if you want a balance of affordability and sustainability, Cardano deserves a spot on your radar.

The most important thing is not just choosing the right coin, but also approaching crypto with the right mindset: diversify, stay informed, protect your assets, and never invest more than you can afford to lose.

Crypto lending is entering a new phase in 2025, and Nexo is positioning itself at the center of this transformation. The company has officially launched a zero-interest crypto lending product for Bitcoin and Ether holders, offering a structured alternative for users seeking liquidity without selling their long-term holdings.

The move reflects a broader shift in the digital asset lending market, where predictability, transparency and risk control are becoming more important than aggressive yields or speculative leverage. By removing interest costs altogether, Nexo aims to attract long-term BTC and ETH holders who want access to capital while maintaining exposure to potential price appreciation.

How Nexo’s Zero-Interest Credit Works

Nexo’s new product, known as Zero-Interest Credit, is built around fixed-term lending rather than open-ended borrowing. Users begin by selecting both the loan size and duration in advance, ensuring that all conditions are clearly defined before the loan is activated.

Once the loan is issued, borrowers are not exposed to liquidation risk during the loan term. This is a key distinction from traditional crypto-backed loans, which often rely on continuous margin monitoring and forced liquidations during periods of market volatility. Instead, Nexo locks in the structure until maturity, allowing users to plan with confidence regardless of short-term price fluctuations.

At the end of the loan term, borrowers can settle their obligations using stablecoins or, if preferred, by allocating part of their pledged collateral. Depending on market conditions, users may also choose to renew the loan under updated terms, extending access to liquidity without disrupting their overall crypto strategy.

Expanding a Proven Structured Lending Model

While the zero-interest offering is new for retail users, the underlying structure is not untested. Nexo previously made this lending model available through its private and OTC channels, where it facilitated more than $140 million in borrowing throughout 2025.

That earlier success demonstrated strong demand from institutional and high-net-worth clients for fixed-term, non-liquidating loan structures. By expanding the product to Bitcoin and Ether holders more broadly, Nexo is bringing institutional-style financial engineering to a wider audience.

This approach aligns with the growing maturity of the crypto market, where users increasingly prioritize capital preservation and long-term planning over short-term speculation.

Nexo’s Strategic Comeback and Global Footprint

Founded in 2018, Nexo has grown into one of the most recognized crypto financial services platforms, offering lending, trading and savings products across more than 150 jurisdictions. Like many centralized lenders, the company faced significant challenges during the crypto market downturn of 2022.

In April 2025, Nexo announced plans to reenter the US market after withdrawing in late 2022. This followed a $45 million settlement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission in early 2023, resolving regulatory disputes related to its previous products. The company’s return to the US signals renewed confidence in its compliance framework and long-term strategy.

The launch of zero-interest crypto loans further reinforces Nexo’s efforts to rebuild trust and position itself as a regulated, transparent and resilient player in the evolving digital finance ecosystem.

The Revival of Crypto Lending in 2025

Crypto lending has undergone a dramatic transformation since the collapse of several major platforms in 2022. Companies such as Celsius and BlockFi were widely criticized for risky lending practices that amplified market contagion during the fallout from the FTX collapse.

In response, both centralized and decentralized lenders have redesigned their models around full collateralization, stricter risk controls and clearer user protections. By 2025, this more conservative approach has helped restore confidence across the sector.

Centralized platforms including Nexo, Ledn, Xapo Bank and Coinbase have expanded their lending offerings while emphasizing transparency and sustainability. At the same time, decentralized finance has experienced a strong resurgence driven by improved protocol design and growing institutional participation.

DeFi Lending Growth and Market Leaders

According to data from DefiLlama, DeFi lending total value locked rose from approximately $48 billion at the start of 2025 to a peak of nearly $92 billion in early October. Although the market experienced a temporary decline following a major liquidation event later that month, activity stabilized in November, with total lending TVL currently standing at around $66 billion.

Aave remains the dominant force in decentralized lending, supporting more than $22 billion in outstanding loans backed by over $55 billion in deposited assets. Morpho ranks as the second-largest protocol, facilitating roughly $3.6 billion in loans with approximately $10 billion in supplied liquidity.

These figures highlight the scale and resilience of crypto lending in its current form, particularly when compared to earlier, more fragile market cycles.

What Zero-Interest Loans Mean for Long-Term Crypto Holders

For Bitcoin and Ether holders, Nexo’s zero-interest lending product offers a compelling alternative to selling assets during periods of market uncertainty. By unlocking liquidity without interest costs or liquidation pressure, users can fund expenses, reinvest capital or diversify portfolios while maintaining long-term exposure to core crypto assets.

As the crypto lending industry continues to mature, products like Zero-Interest Credit may represent the next step toward sustainable, user-centric financial services. Rather than chasing yield, platforms are increasingly focused on stability, structure and real-world usability.

Nexo’s latest move suggests that the future of crypto lending will be defined not by risk-taking, but by disciplined financial design tailored to long-term investors.

Explore Smarter Crypto Lending and Trading with BYDFi

While platforms like Nexo continue to innovate in crypto-backed lending, traders and long-term investors looking for greater flexibility can explore BYDFi as a powerful alternative. BYDFi offers a secure and user-friendly environment for trading Bitcoin, Ethereum and a wide range of digital assets, with advanced tools designed for both beginners and professional traders.

With deep liquidity, competitive fees and support for spot and derivatives trading, BYDFi allows users to manage risk efficiently while taking advantage of market opportunities. The platform also emphasizes transparency and robust security standards, making it an attractive choice for those seeking reliable crypto exposure without unnecessary complexity.

As crypto finance evolves toward more structured and sustainable models, BYDFi stands out as a platform built for long-term growth, strategic trading and responsible capital management.

Solana has recorded one of its most significant liquidity events of the year after its stablecoin market capitalization expanded by nearly $900 million within a single 24-hour period. The sudden increase highlights a broader shift in how capital is moving onchain, with stablecoins increasingly acting as the foundation of digital financial infrastructure.

According to data from DeFiLlama, the total value of stablecoins circulating on the Solana blockchain rose to approximately $15.3 billion. This sharp rise reflects accelerating adoption across decentralized finance, payments, and real-world asset tokenization, positioning Solana as a serious contender in the race to host global onchain capital markets.

What Triggered the Sudden Stablecoin Influx on Solana?

The primary driver behind the surge was the launch of JupUSD, a new stablecoin introduced by decentralized finance platform Jupiter. Developed in partnership with Ethena, a prominent issuer of synthetic dollar assets, JupUSD brought a wave of fresh liquidity into the Solana ecosystem almost immediately after launch.

The release of JupUSD underscores a growing trend: stablecoins are no longer just passive tools for trading. They are becoming active financial instruments designed to power lending, derivatives, payments, and capital-efficient DeFi strategies. Solana’s high throughput and low transaction costs make it an attractive environment for launching such products at scale.

USDC’s Dominance Remains Unchallenged on Solana

Despite the entry of new stablecoins, Circle’s USDC continues to dominate Solana’s stablecoin economy. The dollar-pegged asset accounts for more than 67% of the network’s total stablecoin market capitalization, reinforcing its role as the primary settlement asset across Solana-based applications.

USDC’s dominance reflects institutional trust, regulatory clarity, and deep liquidity, all of which are critical factors as Solana attracts more professional traders, funds, and real-world asset issuers. The continued reliance on USDC also suggests that Solana’s growth is increasingly driven by structured capital rather than purely speculative flows.

Solana’s Shift Toward Internet Capital Markets

The rapid expansion of stablecoin liquidity points to a deeper transformation underway within the Solana ecosystem. Rather than serving only as a hub for NFTs or retail trading, Solana is evolving into a platform where value, risk, and settlement are handled entirely onchain.

In these emerging Internet capital markets, stablecoins act as the base layer for financial activity. They enable instant settlement, programmable payments, and seamless interaction between decentralized protocols and centralized platforms. This convergence is attracting traders who operate across both DeFi and CeFi environments, including users of global exchanges such as BYDFi, where stablecoins play a key role in spot trading, derivatives, and cross-market liquidity management.

Stablecoins Become the Core Infrastructure of Tokenized Assets

The importance of stablecoins extends far beyond blockchain-native use cases. According to Moody’s Investors Service, stablecoin settlement volumes increased by 87% in 2025, driven largely by the rise of tokenized real-world assets.

Tokenized RWAs represent traditional assets such as real estate, commodities, government bonds, and collectibles on blockchain networks. These assets require stablecoins for pricing, liquidity, collateralization, and settlement. Without reliable stablecoins, large-scale tokenization would struggle to function efficiently.

As more capital flows into tokenized markets, traders and investors increasingly rely on stablecoins as a bridge between traditional finance and digital asset platforms. Exchanges like BYDFi benefit from this trend by offering stablecoin-based trading pairs that allow users to move capital quickly between onchain ecosystems and centralized liquidity venues.

A $30 Trillion Opportunity Taking Shape

Several major financial institutions project that the tokenized real-world asset market could reach $30 trillion by 2030. Stablecoins are expected to be among the biggest beneficiaries of this growth, serving as the settlement layer for trillions of dollars in onchain value.

Already, the total market capitalization of overcollateralized stablecoins backed one-to-one by cash and government debt is approaching $300 billion. This growth reflects rising demand for transparent, regulated digital dollars that can operate seamlessly across blockchains and trading platforms.

For traders, this expansion opens new opportunities to access tokenized assets, hedge risk, and deploy capital efficiently using stablecoin pairs available on platforms like BYDFi, which cater to both retail and professional users.

Regulation Reshapes the Stablecoin Landscape

Regulatory clarity is playing a major role in shaping the future of stablecoins. In July 2025, the United States enacted the GENIUS Act, which requires regulated payment stablecoins to be fully backed by high-quality liquid assets. This move effectively excludes algorithmic and under-collateralized stablecoins from being recognized as payment instruments under U.S. law.

The legislation also prevents stablecoin issuers from sharing yield directly with users, a rule that has sparked debate about how digital dollars may compete with traditional banks. While controversial, the framework provides long-term certainty for compliant stablecoins, which could accelerate institutional adoption across networks like Solana.

Solana’s Stablecoin Boom Signals What Comes Next

The $900 million surge in Solana’s stablecoin market cap is more than a short-term spike. It signals growing confidence in onchain finance, deeper liquidity across decentralized protocols, and increasing integration between blockchain networks and centralized trading platforms.

As stablecoins continue to power payments, trading, and tokenized assets, Solana’s role in the global crypto economy is likely to expand further. With platforms such as BYDFi supporting stablecoin-based trading and capital deployment, the line between traditional finance and onchain markets continues to blur, bringing the vision of a fully digital financial system closer to reality.

The best choice depends on your risk tolerance. Or, you can bypass the limitations of traditional finance entirely. Register at BYDFi today to trade both assets 24/7 and access yield opportunities that ETFs can't offer.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q: Do crypto ETFs pay dividends?
A: No. Current US Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs do not pay dividends. Even though Ethereum generates staking yield on-chain, ETF issuers currently do not distribute this to holders.

Q: Is it cheaper to buy the ETF or the real crypto?
A: Buying the real crypto on an exchange is often cheaper in the long run. ETFs charge an annual management fee (Expense Ratio). On an exchange, you pay a one-time trading fee and no ongoing management costs for holding.

Q: Are my assets safe in an ETF?
A: Yes. ETF assets are held by regulated custodians (like Coinbase Custody or Fidelity), offering high security. However, you do not hold the private keys, meaning you cannot use the assets for on-chain activities.

The architecture of digital asset investment has been fundamentally reshaped. In a watershed moment for the United States financial markets, Grayscale Investments has declared its inaugural cash distribution derived from Ethereum staking rewards to shareholders of its Grayscale Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHE). This landmark event marks the first time a U.S.-listed spot crypto exchange-traded product has scheduled a payout directly linked to the foundational, on-chain mechanics of a proof-of-stake blockchain, transforming a cryptographic process into a tangible income stream for the mainstream investment portfolio.

The Mechanics of a Market First

This pioneering distribution, scheduled for payment today, will see shareholders of record receive an estimated $0.08 per share. The genesis of this capital is critical: it does not originate from traditional market trading, fund management fees, or corporate profits. Instead, it flows directly from the process of validating transactions and securing the Ethereum network. Following its activation of staking capabilities on October 6th, Grayscale has been committing a portion of the fund’s Ether holdings through institutional-grade custodians and third-party validator providers. The rewards earned in Ether for this service are systematically sold and converted into U.S. dollars, creating this novel cash distribution.

Bridging Crypto-Economics and Traditional Finance

This structure represents a significant bridge between two financial worlds. For the individual investor, it manifests as a familiar dividend-like payout, deposited directly as cash. Behind the scenes, however, it is powered by the innovative, protocol-level incentives of decentralized blockchain technology. Grayscale’s ability to offer this feature stems from the specific regulatory structure of its trust products, which operate outside the conventional Investment Company Act of 1940 that governs most ETFs. This framework allows for greater flexibility in activities like staking, while also carrying a distinct set of investor protections and considerations compared to traditional exchange-traded funds.

Immediate Market Validation and Grayscale’s Pioneering Role

The market’s response to the announcement was immediately positive, with the ETHE fund experiencing an uptick of approximately 2% in early trading sessions. This investor enthusiasm underscores the demand for products that offer not only exposure to digital asset price appreciation but also to the underlying yield-generating mechanisms native to these ecosystems. Grayscale, a digital asset manager founded in 2013 and now overseeing a formidable $31 billion in assets under management, has consistently positioned itself at the forefront of accessible crypto investment. Its dual offering of the ETHE fund and the more recently launched Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust ETF (ETH) now provides the only U.S.-listed vehicles where investors can gain staking-adjacent exposure to Ethereum.

The Gathering Storm: A Looming Wave of Staking-Enabled ETF Competitors

While Grayscale enjoys the distinction of issuing this historic first payout, its first-mover advantage may be challenged in the near future. The success of the initial batch of spot Ether ETFs has catalyzed intense activity among the world’s largest asset managers, all seeking to enhance their own products with staking functionality. The regulatory pathway is already being paved.

Cboe BZX Exchange took a significant step in March by filing a proposed rule change seeking approval to allow the Fidelity Ethereum Fund to stake a portion of its assets. This filing followed a similar move in February for the 21Shares Core Ethereum ETF. These proposals explicitly outline plans to stake Ether through trusted, third-party providers, mirroring Grayscale’s operational model.

Perhaps the most significant signal of the sector’s direction came in November, when BlackRock, the global asset management behemoth, registered a  Staked Ethereum  exchange-traded fund with the state of Delaware. This is a critical procedural step that strongly indicates BlackRock’s intention to launch a staking-enabled product to sit alongside its existing, massively successful iShares Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHA). With ETHA currently managing over $11.1 billion in assets—making it the largest spot Ether ETF by a wide margin—the potential entry of BlackRock into the staking arena represents a formidable shift in competitive dynamics.

A Transformative Chapter in Crypto Asset Management

The declaration of this staking payout arrives as U.S. spot Ether ETFs conclude their first full calendar year of trading—a year that can only be described as resoundingly successful. Since their debut in July 2024, these funds have collectively attracted a staggering $9.6 billion in net inflows, amassing roughly $18 billion in total assets under management, as tracked by CoinMarketCap.

The leaderboard is clearly defined: BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) leads with ~$11.1B, followed by Grayscale’s ETHE at ~$4.1B, and the Grayscale Ethereum Mini Trust at ~$1.5B. Grayscale’s strategic move to activate and now distribute staking rewards can be seen as a powerful differentiator in this competitive landscape.

Looking Ahead: The Convergence of Capital and Protocol

This development is far more than a simple dividend announcement; it is a tangible indicator of the deepening convergence between traditional capital markets and decentralized crypto-economic systems. It validates a model where the passive ownership of a digital asset through a regulated security can generate a return based on the asset’s utility within its native network.

The question for the market is no longer if staking will become a standard feature of future digital asset ETPs, but when and how quickly the regulatory approvals will cascade for other issuers. Grayscale has lit the fuse. The industry now watches with bated breath to see which financial giant will follow, potentially igniting a new race to offer investors the most efficient and rewarding gateway to the yield-generating potential of the blockchain era. The age of the yield-bearing digital security has officially begun.

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