In a turbulent second quarter (Q2) for the cryptocurrency market, Avalanche (AVAX), a layer-1 blockchain platform frequently considered a competitor to Ethereum (ETH), reported a mixed bag of financial metrics.  Avalanche Price Declines But User Engagement Soars A recent analysis from data firm Messari revealed that AVAX’s price fell 4.2% quarter-over-quarter, dropping from $18.77 to $17.99. This decline came alongside a 2.6% decrease in its circulating market cap, which fell from $7.8 billion to $7.6 billion.  The impact of this price drop was also reflected in AVAX’s market ranking, which fell from 15th to 16th among all cryptocurrencies. However, not all metrics were negative.  Transaction fees for AVAX surged by nearly 29% during the quarter, increasing from 58,300 to 75,170. In terms of revenue, transaction fees in USD also rose slightly, going from $1.50 million to $1.54 million, indicating a growing user base and increased activity on the platform. Related Reading: Is $1 Dogecoin ‚Inevitable‘? Analyst Cites Perfect Storm Of Factors A particularly bright spot for Avalanche in Q2 2025 was the significant growth in daily transactions across its C-Chain and other layer-1s. Average daily transactions skyrocketed by 169.91%, reaching 10.1 million compared to 3.7 million in the previous quarter.  This was complemented by a dramatic increase in daily active addresses, which surged by 210.45% to 519,954, suggesting a robust uptick in user engagement. In line with this growth, Avalanche also reduced its average transaction fees by 42.7%, from $0.05 to $0.03. This reduction is largely attributed to the Octane upgrade, which introduced a dynamic fee mechanism on Avalanche’s C-Chain, allowing for real-time fee adjustments to enhance user experience and reduce costs. C-Chain Transactions And DeFi TVL Soar The C-Chain in particular saw impressive usage growth, with average daily transactions jumping 493.4% from 244,995 at the end of Q1 to 1.4 million by the end of Q2.  Daily active addresses also experienced a healthy increase of 57% quarter-over-quarter, rising from 29,554 to 46,397. Notably, there was a spike to 419,619 daily active addresses on May 11. As seen in the chart above, Avalanche’s total value locked (TVL) in decentralized finance (DeFi) rose 37.1%, climbing from $1.1 billion to $1.5 billion. However, the stablecoin market cap on Avalanche saw a significant decline of 23.8%, dropping from $1.9 billion to $1.5 billion.  Related Reading: Crypto Founder Reveals What Will Drive Ethereum Price To $10,000 The rise in daily active addresses across Avalanche’s layer-1 platforms was particularly noteworthy. The average daily active addresses surged by 444.8% quarter-over-quarter, from 68,723 to 374,402.  As of this writing, AVAX’s price has recovered from Q2 lows toward the $23 zone, rising 35% in the past thirty days due to the recent bullish sentiment that led Bitcoin (BTC), the market’s leading crypto, to reach a new all-time high above $123,000. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com  Source: newsbtc.com (Read Full Article)

Changpeng Zhao (CZ), the co-founder of Binance and former CEO of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, is reportedly aligning himself with President Donald Trump’s policy initiatives following his recent release from a four-month jail sentence.  This shift comes as Zhao seeks to navigate the complexities of his situation in the US in light of his legal challenges, including a formal application for a presidential pardon after serving time for violations related to anti-money laundering laws (AML). Will CZ’s Strategy Result? As reported by Crypto in America, Zhao’s foundation, Giggle Academy, has partnered with American Legion Charities to donate $2 million to create a permanent scholarship for the children of fallen and disabled US service members.  Per the report, this initiative is particularly timely, coinciding with Trump’s renewed focus on artificial intelligence (AI) and blockchain technology.  Related Reading: Is $1 Dogecoin ‚Inevitable‘? Analyst Cites Perfect Storm Of Factors Zhaos’ scholarship program aims to empower students by providing grants of up to $20,000 and features an annual competition that encourages participants to address pressing societal issues with innovative solutions. This aligns with the Trump administration’s broader objectives, which include bolstering America’s position as a global leader in technology and cryptocurrency while supporting veterans and their families.  Recently, the president’s administration approved an $832 billion defense funding bill that includes pay raises and enhanced benefits for service members, further underscoring this commitment. Former Binance CEO’s Pardon Application Gains Traction  Industry insiders view Zhao’s “philanthropic initiative” as potentially strategic, suggesting that it could be an attempt to gain favor with the president. “CZ knows what he’s doing,” remarked a crypto executive familiar with the landscape. The executive, who chose to remain anonymous when responding to Crypto in America’s inquiries, further stated: For the US to maintain its status as the crypto capital of the world, it needs strong leadership from its top exchanges and entrepreneurs. Moreover, we need a skilled workforce to drive the future economy. Related Reading: Crypto Founder Reveals What Will Drive Ethereum Price To $10,000 Adding to Binance’s former CEO complex situation in the country, recent speculation has emerged regarding his chances of receiving a presidential pardon.  CZ has topped crypto-betting platform Polymarket’s leaderboard as the individual most likely to be pardoned by President Donald Trump in 2025, according to recent polls. This narrative gained momentum after Zhao confirmed on a podcast that he had formally applied for a pardon. This came after a tumultuous year in which he faced significant legal hurdles, leading him to leave Binance and relinquish any role in its operations. When writing, the exchange’s native token Binance Coin (BNB) trades at $782, a gap of over 3% from its current record high of $809 reached two days ago.  Featured image from CNBC, chart from TradingView.com  Source: newsbtc.com (Read Full Article)