On 26 April 2025, the cryptocurrency market experienced a notable disruption following a high-profile tweet from Tetranode, a widely recognised influencer within the crypto community. Posted at 10:15 AM UTC, the tweet featured the phrase "STRAIGHT TO JAIL" accompanied by undisclosed linked content. This cryptic message sparked immediate market reactions, particularly affecting Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH), two of the leading digital assets.
Within an hour of the tweet, Bitcoin’s price saw a sharp decline of 3.2%, dropping from $68,500 to $66,305 by 11:15 AM UTC, as documented by CoinGecko data. Ethereum followed a similar trajectory, falling 2.8% from $3,250 to $3,159 during the same period. This sudden drop reflects significant sensitivity in the market to regulatory or legal concerns, even when details remain vague.
The trading landscape responded vigorously. Spot trading volumes for BTC on Binance surged by 47%, reaching $1.8 billion within two hours of the tweet, recorded at 12:15 PM UTC. Ethereum’s trading volume on the same exchange increased by 38% to $980 million by the same time. On-chain activity echoed these trends, with Bitcoin transactions rising 22% to 450,000 in the 24-hour period ending at 2:00 PM UTC, according to Blockchain.com metrics. Ethereum’s network also saw heightened activity, with gas fees spiking 15% to an average of 25 Gwei by 1:00 PM UTC, signalling increased demand on the blockchain.
The event triggered considerable volatility not only in prices but also in trader behaviour. Bitcoin attempted a modest recovery following the initial sell-off, climbing back to $67,100 by 3:00 PM UTC, though resistance at $67,500 limited further gains. Ethereum exhibited a similar rebound, rising to $3,200 but facing resistance near $3,220. Technical analysis indicated oversold conditions during this period, with Bitcoin’s Relative Strength Index (RSI) dropping to 42 and the MACD showing a bearish crossover shortly after the tweet. Ethereum’s RSI also declined to 44, suggesting potential for a price reversal.
Market participants also demonstrated caution through asset movements, with significant withdrawals from exchanges. Between 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM UTC, whale activity reflected a net outflow of 12,000 BTC from major platforms such as Binance and Coinbase. Ethereum saw 35,000 ETH removed from exchanges during the same timeframe, which may indicate profit-taking or a shift toward holding assets in private wallets.
The ripple effects extended beyond the primary cryptocurrencies. AI-related tokens, which often mirror broader crypto sentiment, experienced declines. Render Token (RNDR) fell 1.5% to $7.80 by 2:00 PM UTC, while Fetch.ai (FET) dropped 2.1% to $1.45, accompanied by an 18% rise in trading volume to $120 million. Despite no direct AI news linked to the event, these tokens’ price movements highlight their vulnerability to overall market fluctuations.
This episode underscores the powerful influence of social media commentary within the cryptocurrency sector. The high-profile Tetranode tweet induced rapid price movements and substantial trading volume spikes, particularly for BTC/USD and ETH/USD pairs, driving a short-term consolidation phase observed in key support levels at $66,000 for Bitcoin and $3,100 for Ethereum.
Trading volume data further substantiated the market’s vigorous response, with Bitcoin’s 24-hour volume hitting $28 billion by 5:00 PM UTC—an increase of 30% from the previous day—and Ethereum reaching $15 billion, up 25%. The event provided extensive data points for traders assessing crypto market volatility, regulatory sentiment, and technical indicators amid a complex and fast-evolving investment environment.
In summary, the market movement on 26 April demonstrated the sector’s acute sensitivity to regulatory hints and influencer input. While the specifics behind Tetranode’s message remain undisclosed, the incident reveals how quickly market dynamics can shift in response to perceived legal or regulatory risks, impacting not only major cryptocurrencies but also assets linked through market sentiment such as AI tokens.
Source: Noah Wire Services