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

Explainers

Altcoins

zkLink leverages zero-knowledge proofs (ZKPs) to address issues of fragmented liquidity and cross-chain interoperability in the DeFi space. Learn more here.

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) space is plagued by fragmented liquidity and complex cross-chain interoperability. These issues hinder the smooth development and deployment of decentralized applications (

Enter zkLink, the first aggregated Layer 3 

 rollup, which aims to unify liquidity and simplify blockchain interactions. This article looks into zkLink's innovative use of 

 to tackle these problems, explores its unique architecture and outlines its road map and tokenomics. 

 infrastructure that uses zero-knowledge technology to unify fragmented liquidity and simplify the development and use of DApps across multiple blockchains. 

zkLink was founded in 2021 by Vincent Yang, an engineer passionate about crypto tech. His 

 journey began with Bitcoin mining in 2019 and gained steam during the "DeFi Summer" of 2020. He witnessed the rapid adoption of blockchain and crypto technologies, particularly on platforms like Uniswap.

However, Yang observed the lack of mature and reliable cross-chain interoperability, a problem that slows DeFi growth due to fragmenting liquidity across different blockchain ecosystems.

Determined to address this challenge, Yang assembled a team of developers and tech experts to work on zero-knowledge bridging technology and distributed computational systems. Their mission with zkLink was clear: Simplify inter-chain communication and make it easier for developers to deploy DeFi apps across multiple blockchains without compromising security.

To realize this vision, zkLink leveraged zero-knowledge proofs, which became the backbone for building the infrastructure powering ZK applications. This approach enabled zkLink to create a seamless environment in which developers could tap into liquidity across various blockchain networks, ultimately advancing the growth and accessibility of DeFi for users worldwide.

zkLink seeks to create a seamless, secure and user-friendly environment for trading and deploying DApps across multiple blockchain networks, leveraging the power of zero-knowledge proofs to ensure privacy and scalability with the following features.

zkLink operates through a multilayered architecture. Each layer serves a distinct function to ensure the system’s efficiency and security, as follows. 

The Sequencing Layer receives user transactions, sequences them and bundles them into batches. These batches are then committed to the Settlement Layer. In cases where an external DA layer is used, the sequencer also transmits transaction data to the DA Layer. Initially, zkLink may start with a centralized sequencer model, but it has plans to transition to decentralized sequencer solutions in order to mitigate risks such as single points of failure and transaction censorship.

The Execution Layer executes transactions that correctly update the state. zkLink uses 

 and prove the correctness of execution using zero-knowledge proofs. This layer ensures only valid transactions are executed, resulting in valid state machine transitions.

The Settlement Layer maintains the security and integrity of off-chain transactions. Classic ZK-rollups typically choose a single chain, such as 

, as the settlement layer to verify proofs and settle transactions. zkLink introduces two Settlement Layer deployment solutions paradigms, 

, which securely aggregate liquidity and native assets across L1s and L2s.

 (DA) Layer makes transaction data available and ensures the capability to reconstruct the rollup states when service halts unexpectedly. zkLink Nexus and zkLink Origin support the primary chain as the DA Layer by default. Additionally, they support Validium, which involves an external DA solution, as zkLink plans to integrate various third-party modular DA solutions to meet diverse developer demands.

 is the first aggregated Layer 3 zkEVM network designed to unify Ethereum and its Layer 2 rollups. It boasts exceptional composability, interoperability and scalability, all while providing top-tier security through zero-knowledge proofs.

The network offers aggregated liquidity, merging all liquidity within the Ethereum ecosystem for a smooth user experience. It also redefines scalability with hyper-scalability and minimal fees, which endears it to both developers and users.

zkLink Nova uses zkLink Nexus and the advanced ZK Stack from Matter Labs to guarantee formidable security. Also, it acts as a yield multiplier, maximizing returns by allowing investments in one place to reap benefits across multiple layers. It supports a diverse ecosystem of DApps, and enhances user earnings through engagement with 

 is an application-specific scaling engine built for high-performance ZK applications. It offers app-specific rollups that enable developers to deploy rollups with highly customizable architecture, which optimizes both cost and performance efficiency. The platform connects to multiple L1 and L2 networks, providing aggregated liquidity and practically unlimited scalability. Zero security compromises are made, as zkLink X leverages zk-SNARK proofs for secure multichain state synchronization. It supports high throughput of over 1,000 

 (TPS) for high performance and efficiency.

ZKL is the native utility and governance token of the zkLink protocol. Designed to empower decentralized trading products, such as order book DEXs, AMMs and NFT marketplaces, ZKL serves several key functions within the zkLink ecosystem. It grants developers access to zkLink's rollup infrastructure service, including ZK-proof markets. As the governance token of the zkLink DAO, ZKL allows holders to participate in the protocol's development. It’s also used to pay for zero-knowledge proof computational resources, and to pay fees related to specific app functions.

ZKL’s total supply is capped at 1 billion tokens, making it a 

 token issued on the Ethereum Mainnet, ZKL will also be available on Ethereum’s connected chains. 

The distribution of ZKL tokens is designed to align with the long-term success and decentralization of the zkLink protocol:

Looking to trade zkLink tokens? Bybit users can trade the ZKL token ahead of the crowd on the exchange’s 

 platform. To get started, you’ll first need to create a Bybit account, then fund it with cryptocurrency and navigate to the 

zkLink is developing innovative zero-knowledge blockchain solutions for the Ethereum ecosystem, including Nexus, its flagship Layer 3 aggregator platform. This move suggests zkLink has strong technical capabilities, and is working on important problems in the space.

However, while ZKL shows promise — given zkLink's technology, team and early traction — it’s still a speculative investment, as the project is in its early stages. Investors should 

, understand the risks and only invest what they can afford to lose. 

zkLink represents a pivotal moment for DeFi, addressing key issues of fragmented liquidity and cross-chain interoperability through innovative zero-knowledge technology. Its robust architecture, ambitious road map and comprehensive tokenomics position zkLink as a game-changer that’s ready to revolutionize the way DApps are developed and used across multiple blockchains.

zkLink (ZKL): The First Aggregated Layer 3 zkEVM Rollup

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards

Grab Up to 5,000 USDT in Rewards