Gold is projected to surpass $3,000 per ounce in 2025, driven by strong macroeconomic and geopolitical factors.

At the heart of gold's potential surge is the current macroeconomic landscape that’s characterized by persistent inflation and anticipated monetary policy shifts. Inflation rates in the U.S. are expected to remain above the Federal Reserve's target of 2%, creating an environment in which gold is expected to serve as a crucial hedge against currency devaluation. When inflation erodes purchasing power, investors often turn to gold to preserve their wealth.

Moreover, the Federal Reserve has signaled a shift toward monetary easing, with market expectations indicating potential interest rate cuts in the coming months. Lower interest rates decrease the opportunity cost of holding gold, making it a more attractive investment as compared to interest-bearing assets, such as bonds and savings accounts. With real interest rates projected to remain low or even go negative, gold could experience renewed demand as a safe store of value.

Geopolitical tensions further bolster gold’s appeal. Ongoing conflicts, particularly the strained U.S.-China relationship and the Russia-Ukraine war, create an atmosphere of uncertainty that drives investors toward safe-haven assets. During times of geopolitical instability, gold has historically seen increased demand as investors seek to mitigate risks associated with market volatility.

As global tensions escalate, the demand for gold is likely to rise, reinforcing its status as a reliable hedge against financial instability. Investors tend to flock to gold during crises, viewing it as a secure asset that retains its intrinsic value, especially when other markets are under pressure.

Another significant factor contributing to the bullish outlook for gold is the unprecedented demand from central banks around the world. In 2024, central banks collectively purchased over 1,000 metric tons of gold, marking one of the highest levels of accumulation in recent history. This trend is expected to continue into 2025, particularly among countries like China and Russia that are actively reducing their reliance on U.S. dollar reserves as part of a broader de-dollarization strategy.

This central bank buying provides a strong structural support for gold prices, minimizing downside risks. As these institutions accumulate more gold, the resulting scarcity in the market could lead to higher prices. The growing demand from central banks underscores the renewed confidence in gold as a strategic reserve asset, especially amidst economic volatility and geopolitical tensions.

From a technical perspective, gold is currently in a robust uptrend, trading above key moving averages and nearing critical resistance levels. If gold successfully breaks through the psychological barrier of $3,000 per ounce, momentum could carry it toward higher price targets, potentially reaching $3,200 or even $3,500. 

, such as relative strength index (RSI) and moving average convergence divergence (MACD), suggest that gold remains in a bullish phase, indicating further upside potential.

As gold approaches these key resistance points, technical traders will closely monitor its price movements. A successful breach of the $3,000 level could trigger momentum buying, propelling prices higher as investor confidence grows.

Finally, rising investor sentiment plays a crucial role in gold’s potential price surge. Increased inflows into gold-backed 

 (ETFs), in addition to speculative positioning in futures markets, reflect strong confidence among both retail and institutional investors. As ETF holdings rise, it signals renewed interest in gold as a safe-haven investment.

This optimism is bolstered by a general shift in market sentiment as investors are increasingly turning to gold amid concerns over economic stability and inflation. The combination of robust technical indicators, macroeconomic pressures and favorable investor sentiment positions gold favorably for a significant price increase in 2025.

In summary, gold is well-positioned to reach $3,000 per ounce in 2025, driven by a combination of persistent inflation, geopolitical uncertainty, strong central bank demand and positive technical indicators. As investors seek refuge in safe-haven assets, gold’s intrinsic value and historical performance during times of crisis will make it an attractive option for preserving wealth. The confluence of these factors suggests that gold's upward trajectory could continue, making 2025 a pivotal year for this precious metal.

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Bybit Commodity Insight Report: Why Gold Is Poised to Reach $3,000 in 2025

Our weekly crypto derivatives analytics report delves into macro events, the current state of crypto and trading signals from spot trading volume, as well as futures, options and perpetual contracts.

Macro headwinds are impacting the crypto market, with a sell-off that began over the weekend deepening this week. BTC, ETH and most altcoins are declining alongside equities, gold and treasury yields, though derivatives markets are showing little bearish sentiment or increased volatility expectations. Among perpetuals, there are record consistent positive rates across most markets, indicating a reset in positioning. Meanwhile, ETH retains a volatility premium over BTC, but its term structure hasn’t inverted as sharply as in earlier sell-offs this month.

Please check out the report’s highlights.

Funding Rates Largely Positive Amid Sell-Off

Despite risk-off sentiment across asset classes this weekend and early this past week, USDT-denominated perpetual contracts have shown their most consistently positive funding rates within the past month. While these rates haven't reached the bullish levels of early December 2024, most have returned to a neutral level of 0.01%, signaling a reset in positioning due to recent market movements.

Tuesday's intensified risk-off sell-off led to a significant spike in BTC put trade volume as traders hedged against further declines. Unlike ETH, which leans bullish on calls, BTC's open interest is balanced between upside and downside protection. The volatility term structure is flat again, typical during sharp market moves, but this reflects a decline in longer-dated options, rather than a rise in short-term expectations.

As the sell-off in risk-on assets deepened this past week, ETH outperformed BTC. ETH derivatives markets are showing stronger sentiment, with higher call trade volumes indicating greater demand for upside positioning as compared to puts. However, ETH's volatility term structure has inverted more sharply than BTC's, as seen in previous significant market moves since last November (2024), with front-end volatility levels 15 points above those of BTC options with a similar tenor.

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Bybit X Block Scholes Crypto Derivatives Analytics Report (Feb 26, 2025): Reset in Sentiment Brewing as Fund Rates Turn Positive

Explore four essential tips to help you accumulate more points, optimize your strategy and claim the best rewards in EcoGalaxy: Mantle Surge.

With the rise of gamified crypto events, EcoGalaxy: Mantle Surge stands out as one of the most exciting opportunities for users to earn rewards while engaging with both Bybit and Mantle Network. This limited-time event offers participants a shot at a 1,000,000 MNT prize pool when they complete on-chain and trading-related tasks. 

To help you maximize your rewards and ensure you get the most out of this event, in this guide we’ll break down four essential tips to help you accumulate more points, optimize your strategy and claim the best rewards in EcoGalaxy: Mantle Surge.

EcoGalaxy: Mantle Surge is a limited-time campaign that rewards participants with a share of a 1,000,000 MNT prize pool when they complete both Bybit and on-chain tasks. Players earn "wishes" that can be used to enter Lucky Draws or climb the leaderboard for greater rewards.

This campaign, hosted by Bybit in collaboration with Mantle, blends gamification with 

 engagement, offering users multiple ways to win. Participants can choose to rely on chance via the Lucky Draw or strategically allocate their wishes to compete on the leaderboard. The event runs from Mar 6, 2025 to Mar 27, 2025, making it a limited-time opportunity to accumulate rewards while exploring the Mantle ecosystem.

4 Tips to Maximize Your Wishes and Rewards in EcoGalaxy: Mantle Surge

To make the most out of EcoGalaxy: Mantle Surge, you need to strategize your wish allocation, complete as many tasks as possible and take advantage of all available earning mechanisms. Here are four essential tips to maximize your rewards:

One of the best ways to earn high-value rewards in EcoGalaxy: Mantle Surge is by competing on the leaderboard. There are a total of five rounds, and the rewards are higher with each passing round. 

The more wishes you allocate toward leaderboard rankings, the higher your position and the larger your rewards. However, since the leaderboard is dynamic, your rank can change based on the activity of other participants.

Since leaderboard positions fluctuate, it’s recommended that you monitor your ranking regularly and adjust your strategy accordingly. Players who accumulate the most wishes by the end of each leaderboard round will receive the greatest rewards.

 that each round’s rewards and wishes are calculated independently, and any wishes spent in a round won’t carry over to the next round.

If you prefer an element of surprise, the Lucky Draw is your best bet. By spending wishes on Lucky Draw attempts, you earn the chance to win instant prizes. The Lucky Draw operates on a first-come, first-served basis, so the earlier you participate, the better your chances of securing top-tier rewards.

Since rewards are limited, it's advisable to use your wishes early before the top prizes run out.

An easy way to earn free points in this campaign is by holding Mantle (MNT) and/or Mantle Restaked ETH (cmETH) in your Bybit account. By simply keeping these assets in your wallet, you’ll receive additional wishes, increasing your chances of winning more rewards.

This passive method of earning wishes ensures that you accumulate extra points without actively completing tasks, making it one of the simplest ways to boost your rewards.

Another hidden gem for doubling your rewards in EcoGalaxy: Mantle Surge is through Layer 3. Participants who complete specific Layer 3 quests will receive extra bonuses, including double rewards on certain tasks.

By leveraging Layer 3 bonuses, you can significantly boost your total wish count, increasing your chances of securing leaderboard positions or hitting big wins in the Lucky Draw.

If you’re looking for a fun and rewarding way to engage with the Mantle ecosystem, EcoGalaxy: Mantle Surge is definitely an event worth joining. With 1,000,000 MNT up for grabs, both casual users and seasoned traders can benefit from this campaign.

The event's dual-reward system allows participants to tailor their strategy based on their preferences. Whether you enjoy the thrill of luck-based rewards or prefer the competitive edge of leaderboard climbing, this campaign offers something for everyone.

Additionally, holding MNT and cmETH provides passive earnings, while Layer 3 integration presents an opportunity for double rewards — making the experience even more lucrative for active participants.

EcoGalaxy: Mantle Surge is a limited-time, gamified rewards campaign that blends trading, staking and on-chain interactions. By completing tasks, holding Mantle assets and strategically using your wishes, you can maximize your rewards and secure your share of the 1,000,000 MNT prize pool.

This event runs from Mar 6, 2025 to 27, 2025, so now is the best time to get started. Are you ready to explore the Mantle ecosystem and claim your rewards? Join EcoGalaxy: Mantle Surge today!

Beginner

how to participate in ecogalaxy mantle surge

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Join Bybit’s AI-DOL SUPERSTAR Trading Battle, vote for top AI projects and compete for a share of a $1M prize pool. Earn rewards while shaping the future of AI in crypto.

The Bybit AI-DOL SUPERSTAR Trading Battle is an exciting and innovative trading and voting event that aims to identify and support high-potential AI projects within the cryptocurrency space.

As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to revolutionize blockchain technology, this competition offers users a unique opportunity to engage with emerging AI-driven crypto projects while earning substantial rewards of up to $1 million.

 (AI) and cryptocurrency is reshaping blockchain and 

 — autonomous programs powered by machine learning — are revolutionizing the sector by automating trading strategies, optimizing portfolio management and executing on-chain decisions with minimal human input.

These intelligent agents analyze vast datasets, identify market trends and execute trades in real time, significantly enhancing efficiency and reducing risks in the volatile crypto market. Their role extends beyond trading, influencing DeFi protocols, NFT markets and blockchain governance.

Bybit is at the forefront of this AI-driven transformation, launching the 

 to spotlight high-potential AI projects. This event provides a launchpad for groundbreaking AI applications, connecting innovators with a global crypto audience.

What Is the Bybit AI-DOL SUPERSTAR Trading Battle?

Bybit is launching a unique AI trading event designed to highlight the most promising AI-driven crypto projects.

AI is revolutionizing crypto markets, with automated trading bots now executing over 60% of all crypto transactions. The integration of AI and blockchain is unlocking new trading strategies, DeFi innovations and web3 applications, making the AI sector one of the most promising in crypto.

Bybit’s AI-DOL SUPERSTAR Trading Battle bridges AI and blockchain, providing a global stage for emerging projects to gain exposure to a global audience. Participants play an active role in shaping the future of AI in crypto while earning rewards.

How to Participate in the AI-DOL SUPERSTAR Trading Battle

Campaign Period: Feb 28, 2025, 10AM UTC – Mar 27, 2025, 10AM UTC

Bybit users can support AI projects and earn rewards by participating in this AI-powered trading competition. Here's a step-by-step guide to joining:

Projects earn voting points from the following ways:

By actively trading and voting, participants not only have a chance to earn from the $1 million prize pool, but will also play a crucial role in shaping the future of AI in the crypto industry.

Bybit's AI-DOL SUPERSTAR Trading Battle offers an exciting $1 million prize pool, with multiple ways for participants to win rewards.

*Note that to win the prizes, there is a minimum number of voting points required. For example, to win the largest prize of $50,000, 600,000 voting points are required. Refer to the event page for more details. 

The breakdown of how votes are allocated for Bybit Spot is as follows:

The breakdown of how votes are allocated for Bybit Web3 is as follows:

The maximum number of daily votes that a user can receive is 100,400 (50,200 for Bybit Spot and Web3 respectively).

By trading, voting and engaging in the competition, participants not only support innovative AI projects but also receive a chance to maximize their earnings in this high-stakes trading battle.

Bybit's AI-DOL SUPERSTAR Trading Battle offers a distinctive platform that connects cryptocurrency traders with AI innovators. Participants are invited to support leading AI projects, earn attractive rewards and contribute to shaping the future of AI within the crypto ecosystem. 

 and be part of the AI-driven revolution on Bybit!

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How to Participate in Bybit’s AI-DOL SUPERSTAR Trading Battle

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Blockchain

Dogechain is a recently launched Layer 2 network for popular meme coin Dogecoin. Find out how it works and how it relates to Dogecoin in this article.

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If you’re active on Twitter, you’ve probably seen news about a project called 

 that was recently launched. Its name bears an uncanny resemblance to the official 

 is a leading meme coin created by two software engineers as a joke. However, contrary to popular belief, Dogechain is not a project launched by the same software engineers. Curious to find out more? Read this article to understand what Dogechain is — and why it was created.

As mentioned above, Dogechain isn’t affiliated with Dogecoin. Instead, it's a separate community-first blockchain that aims to empower Dogecoin holders. Using the bridge, Dogecoin holders can access blockchain games, 

 and various types of DeFi apps. They need some kind of a bridge, because Dogecoin is mainly used for payments and purchases only. Since Dogecoin has limited benefits, the founders of the Dogechain project aim to complement the original Dogecoin cryptocurrency so it can be used for other purposes beyond its initial use.

In other words, this new project seeks to bring scalability, security, robustness and utility to the Dogecoin network.

The idea of launching Dogechain may be puzzling for anyone who’s seen Dogecoin surge to new heights. Why would anyone need to improve a popular project like Dogecoin, which has already proven immensely successful?

In hindsight, the popular Dogecoin has its limitations that need to be solved. Let's talk about these limitations first.

When it launched in 2014, Dogecoin gained tremendous popularity due to 

 that most people could identify with. At the time, the project looked very promising because it tried to replace typical cash with crypto cash. Moreover, the internet meme, Doge, was already a huge hit among early crypto users.

As a result, Dogecoin became an instant success. In the following years, the value of the coin grew tremendously with the backing of global influencers like Elon Musk and Snoop Dogg. To this day, the popularity of Dogecoin remains intact. Dogecoin is popular because it has achieved its initial aim to transform itself into a popular crypto used for online transactions.

Despite the overwhelming success of Dogecoin, its age is starting to catch up with it. It needs an overhaul because Dogecoin is mainly used as a means of online payment. These days, almost all of the major coins offer this function. Therefore, Dogecoin won’t evolve simply because its followers love participating in the meme culture with which it’s associated.

Dogecoin’s Limitations & Dogechain’s Strengths

This is where the Dogechain project comes into play. Dogechain is an EVM-compatible blockchain that runs on the Polygon Network. The Dogechain team created this blockchain to bridge over Dogecoin, allowing Dogecoin users to access the growing DeFi ecosystem.

Dogechain isn’t a Layer 2 network, nor is it associated with Dogecoin. Instead, it’s a kind of bridge that will let Dogecoin holders transfer their tokens to the Dogechain so they can buy NFTs, develop 

 apps and participate in various types of DeFi projects.

, the project aims to expand the use cases for Dogecoin by improving its utility. Consequently, Dogecoin users can participate in various types of DeFi projects by wrapping their DOGE tokens into Dogechain smart contracts to receive wrapped Dogecoin (wDOGE) 

 (PoS) tokens. These wDOGE PoS tokens live on the Dogechain network. If required, the wDOGE PoS tokens can be converted back to Dogecoin.

Here are typical use cases of wDOGE PoS tokens:

Besides these benefits, there are many other reasons why you may want to take a closer look at Dogechain. For instance, it offers a superior alternative to Dogecoin's proof of work (PoW) Scrypt mining algorithm. Dogecoin's algorithm is difficult to scale for mass usage, so the Dogechain bridge can solve such constraints.

Similarly, the existing setup of Dogecoin is extremely resource-intensive. It’s believed to consume 6.54 TWh to operate, which is equal to the energy consumed by a small country. The growth of Dogecoin means that it will leave a heavy carbon footprint. Dogechain deals with this dilemma by offering a less energy-intensive alternative.

Finally, the Dogecoin PoW consensus mechanism cannot scale fast enough to meet the demands of millions of simultaneous transactions. Therefore, it's the right time for a complementary blockchain that can perform quick transactions and enable 

Dogechain is a standalone EVM-compatible blockchain that relies on the 

 framework, which is specifically designed for building scalable Ethereum-compatible blockchain networks. Since the Dogechain is built with Polygon Edge, it retains some of the properties of its parent protocol.

Using the protocol has certain advantages. For instance, Polygon Edge is EVM-compatible. This means that developers can create tokens on the blockchain using the popular 

 protocol. Likewise, the framework enables Dogechain to use the PoS mechanism, which is faster, scalable and more 

 than the PoW used by Dogecoin. Above all, the framework boasts smart contract capability, allowing token holders to pay for gas with DOGE.

Dogechain also uses EVM, the Ethereum virtual machine, which is at the core of its operations. Using EVM, developers can quickly build and deploy solutions since they don't need to do everything from scratch.

Overall, the combination of the Polygon Edge framework and EVM helps Dogechain enhance Dogecoin to a level that isn't possible without integrating such high-end technologies.

It's also worth noting that Dogechain’s architecture is distinct from that of all other blockchains. While it's built using Polygon Edge, the blockchain doesn’t use Polygon's "security as a feature" function. Instead, it relies on its own sets of validators to achieve security. Similarly, the checkpoint mechanism and mainchain contracts features of Polygon are also disabled.

The cross-chain protocol is another important component worth discussing. It links the original Dogecoin blockchain to the Dogechain.

You can use the protocol to exchange DOGE with a wDOGE token. The protocol requires a ratio of 1:1 to achieve compatibility across cross-chain transactions. Whenever you peg a DOGE token, the Dogechain will mint a wDOGE token. Conversely, if you destroy a wDOGE token, you can withdraw a DOGE token to the Dogecoin blockchain.

Following are some of the primary features of the cross-chain protocol:

Dogechain is not in any way affiliated with Dogecoin. Instead, it's a separate project which aims to enhance the capabilities of Dogecoin by offering greater utility for Dogecoin. 

Since the relationship between the two different blockchains is often confusing, the founders of Dogecoin, 

, had to clarify the ambiguity caused by the launch of Dogechain.

The buzz surrounding the launch also forced the Dogecoin Foundation to 

 to their followers. For instance, a tweet on August 16, 2022, 

 "Claims in paid media that Dogecoin launched a ‘Dogechain’ test network are false. Neither @Dogecoin /@dogecoin_devs , nor @BillyM2k, @ummjackson or others associated with @DogecoinFdn are in any way affiliated with the token."

On August 26, 2022, a Twitter user named 

 Dogecoin developer and founder Markus has rejected an offer of 10 billion DOGE tokens to promote Dogechain, much to the happiness of the Dogecoin community. This amount is currently worth approximately $14 million.

While the two projects aren’t related to each other, the future impact of Dogechain on the Dogecoin token is fairly inevitable. Even before the launch of its official token, errant rumors that Dogechain is a Layer 2 network of Dogecoin pumped up the price of DOGE by nearly 11% in a single day. Since then, DOGE’s price has retraced its original trajectory.

While Dogechain has been confirmed to not be an official Layer 2 network of Dogecoin, it doesn't mean that investors have stopped taking notice of Dogechain — because the value of the project’s own native crypto, the DC token, has multiplied six times in the initial five days of its launch, from $0.0007294 to $0.004501. This clearly shows that investors are keenly watching the development, irrespective of the ownership.

Here are four important features of Dogechain to help explain how it plans to evolve:

 consensus allows everyone in the community to participate in the network without strict terms and restrictions, thus giving rise to a permissionless and decentralized blockchain. IBFT is one of the many flavors of 

, the proof of authority algorithm. In simple terms, it tries to overcome shortcomings of both PoW and PoS. Benefits of IBFT include immediate block finality, reduced time between blocks, high data integrity, fault tolerance and operational flexibility.

The main advantage of EVM compatibility is the ease of achieving 

 with the Ethereum ecosystem. Dogechain is EVM-compatible, which means that any existing Ethereum smart contracts are easily migrated to Dogechain without modification. Without EVM compatibility, it would be difficult for new users to build new 

Just like other decentralized protocols, the Dogechain framework is built around decentralization. This means that token holders can propose new projects, voice their opinions, influence decision-makers and vote on blockchain parameters.

The cross-chain compatibility between Dogechain and the Dogecoin blockchain is perhaps its most defining feature. When needed, you can easily wrap Dogecoin tokens via the Dogechain bridge, and use it to buy NFTs, participate in GameFi or create DApps. This cross-chain compatibility also ensures that you can convert DC tokens to DOGE, and send them back to the Dogecoin blockchain.

Dogechain is specifically designed for Dogecoin holders so they can easily gain access to NFTs, games and DeFi protocols and apps without abandoning Dogecoin. Let’s take a look at some of the following use cases.

 protocol allows Dogechain users to publish their own NFTs. You can think of ERC-721 as a more advanced version of ERC-20. It lets you integrate your NFTs into the existing NFT landscape.

Dogechain is an EVM-compatible blockchain, which means that it’s compatible with a wide variety of popular crypto initiatives. For instance, you can seamlessly integrate DeFi protocols such as 

 with Dogechain. Similarly, you can lock the native currencies, DC and wDOGE, in various liquidity pools.

You can also build an entire DeFi universe on the Dogecoin platform. In addition, Dogecoin holders can use wDOGE and DC cryptocurrencies to participate in virtual gaming events, or to share digital resources.

DC is the primary governance token for the Dogechain blockchain. Besides serving community initiatives, it will act as the "go-to-token" for fueling transactions, smart contracts and DApps in the wider DeFi ecosystem.

Unlike other crypto tokens, the DC token was pre-mined entirely upon the release of the Dogechain mainnet. In the first phase, 1,000 wDOGE tokens minted by the protocol were used to pay for the initial gas fee. Any additional wDOGE will be used to pay for transaction fees on the Dogechain blockchain.

After the first phase, DC will take over as the main token on the platform. The launch of DC occurred on August 24, 2022. According to the Dogechain website, three percent of $1 trillion, the total supply — or 30 billion tokens — will be 

 to early users. Fifteen percent of these (or 4.5 billion tokens) will be released immediately on September 1, 2022, while the remaining 85% will be unlocked monthly over the next 12 months.

 also mentioned that there will be future airdrops for Dogecoin holders to receive free DC tokens later this year, so you can certainly stay tuned to their 

Dogechain’s blockchain mainly uses the slashing protocol to safeguard itself from threats and malicious activities. The slashing mechanism not only protects the blockchain, but also penalizes dishonest behavior via disciplinary actions. Anyone can submit evidence of slashing. However, the evidence must be accompanied by proof, and is subject to fees.

While there are plenty of safety procedures in place, it's reasonable to suggest that Dogechain is still a relatively new infrastructure that’s prone to instability. Furthermore, since it's not a Layer 2 network of Dogecoin — and the founders of Dogecoin have explicitly said that they aren’t affiliated with this project — you must use necessary precautions when bridging to transfer assets.

Some of the original blockchains that focused primarily on payment processing are now looking for additional ways to scale. To solve the scalability issue, many of them have turned to Layer 2 networks.

Since Dogecoin also needs a solution in order to scale, the Dogechain project may be a blessing in disguise. In fact, Dogechain may be a better solution than a Layer 2 network, because it lets the Dogecoin ecosystem expand without using native resources. If you decide to invest in Dogechain, do so at your own discretion, and as always, do your own research.

What Is Dogechain — And How Does It Relate to Dogecoin?

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