Bitcoin Price Surge Nears $97K XRP ETF Buzz Sui Pokémon News

Key Points

• Bitcoin Price Surge Nears $97K XRP ETF Buzz Sui Pokémon News
• Sui surges 60% on Pokémon collaboration rumors before cooling off
•  ProShares XRP futures ETFs ignite hopes for a spot XRP ETF
•  SEC delays XRP ETF decision, market eyes October for final ruling

Bitcoin (BTC) made headlines this week as it climbed to $97,000, fueled by growing institutional interest and its role as a hedge against financial uncertainty. Though it pulled back slightly to $96,731, this marked the highest level since February 2025.

BTC’s recent momentum comes despite ongoing volatility caused by U.S. tariffs and global trade tensions. Investors are increasingly viewing Bitcoin as a safer alternative compared to traditional finance (TradFi) assets and U.S. Treasury securities.

Bitcoin (BTC) Price Performance. Source: Techtoken

Institutional appetite for Bitcoin is surging. Spot Bitcoin ETFs have seen steady inflows, while traditional safe-haven assets like Gold ETPs lag behind.

This shift signals a changing narrative where Bitcoin is not just a speculative asset but a growing pillar of modern finance.

(For more on recent institutional strategies, check out how MicroStrategy’s Q1 loss hasn’t slowed down their Bitcoin buying spree: MicroStrategy Q1 Loss.)

The official Sui Foundation blog confirmed (and removed) Pokémon NFTs.
⁰They seem to be developing a cloud infrastructure that uses blockchain technology to address bugs, hacks, and duping while enabling transfers between compatible games—something that is already possible with… pic.twitter.com/pNtWVDB3du

— shotgun (@shotguncaio) April 24, 2025

Sui Pokémon rumors spark surge XRP ETF optimism heats up

The Sui blockchain (SUI) grabbed attention after rumors of a potential collaboration with Pokémon sent the token soaring 60% in just days. The excitement followed updates to Pokémon HOME’s privacy policy, which listed Parasol Technologies—acquired by Sui’s Mysten Labs in March 2025—as a new developer.

SUI Price Performance. Source: Techtoken

Although official updates clarified that no Pokémon NFTs were in development, speculation continues that Parasol may be working on blockchain-powered features for the franchise. Despite a slight 3% price dip to $3.47, investor interest in SUI remains strong.

UPDATE: a lot people posting/reporting that @ProShares will be launching XRP ETFs on April 30th. We’ve confirmed that’s not the case. We don’t have a confirmed launch date yet but we believe they will launch — and likely launch in the short or possibly medium term.

— James Seyffart (@JSeyff) April 28, 2025

Meanwhile, XRP stirred the ETF scene. ProShares launched leveraged and short XRP futures ETFs, sparking false rumors of an approved spot XRP ETF. Though not yet confirmed, the move increased optimism for a spot product in the near future.

ETF analyst James Seyffart clarified the situation but hinted at growing momentum for further ETF approvals. ProShares’ futures-based XRP ETFs are seen as a “first domino,” with the potential for a spot XRP ETF down the line.

The SEC just approved an $XRP Futures ETF — the first major domino to fall.

A Spot XRP ETF could be next, unlocking real demand and sending prices soaring.

$100 billion+ could soon flood into XRP… stay ahead. 🚀 $XRP pic.twitter.com/MVYiS9lTAY

— Armando Pantoja (@_TallGuyTycoon) April 27, 2025

Crypto strategist Armando Pantoja estimated that a spot XRP ETF could unlock over $100 billion in capital inflows, dramatically boosting the altcoin’s price and investor base.

Despite the buzz, the U.S. SEC delayed its decision on a spot XRP ETF until June 17, with many analysts now eyeing mid-October for a final ruling. Market watchers on Polymarket currently give a 79% chance of approval by year-end.

🚨BREAKING: SEC Approves an $XRP ETF — and It’s HUGE

No, it’s not a Spot ETF yet.
It’s a Futures ETF — but don’t underestimate what this means.

Here’s the breakdown:

✅ Wall Street attention: Big players have a way to trade XRP.
✅ Mainstream legitimacy: XRP is officially… pic.twitter.com/AWHTBjijeR

— Armando Pantoja (@_TallGuyTycoon) April 27, 2025

Broader crypto market sees mixed signals

While Bitcoin and Sui grabbed headlines, other parts of the crypto market experienced both gains and caution.

Ethereum Layer-2 chain Base surpassed Arbitrum with a $710 million lead, overcoming scalability warnings issued by Vitalik Buterin: Base surpasses Arbitrum. This marked a significant achievement in the Layer-2 race.

🔥 The SEC just approved an $XRP ETF 🔥

But it’s not what many people think.

It’s not a Spot ETF.
It’s a Futures ETF.

The difference?

A Spot ETF buys and holds real XRP, creating real demand. A Futures ETF only bets on XRP’s price without touching a single real token.

What… pic.twitter.com/EaqCWuOtM4

— John Squire (@TheCryptoSquire) April 27, 2025

However, not all developments were bullish. Alpaca token manipulation triggered a shocking 1,000% price surge, raising fresh concerns about market vulnerabilities: Alpaca market manipulation.

Some more detail after speaking with ETF guru @JSeyff just now:

These dates are all intermediate and we will likely see final decisions on a lot of the crypto ETPs in Q4. For the $XRP spot ETF, James is eyeing mid-October, around the 18th, as a final decision deadline. It’s… https://t.co/6FDIayFpHS

— Eleanor Terrett (@EleanorTerrett) April 29, 2025

In DeFi, MOVE token prices dropped sharply, driven by liquidity shifts and declining user activity: MOVE token price drop. Meanwhile, Sky token holders welcomed a major upgrade, boosting the project’s tech and security posture: Sky token upgrade.

XRP ETF approval odds. Source: Polymarket – Techtoken

These mixed market movements highlight the growing complexity of the crypto landscape, where innovation, speculation, and regulatory changes continue to collide.