Now, everybody’s talking about Solana, hoping to see it shoot to $300 by May. Our friends at WorldOfCharts are looking for a $200 breakout if it can break above $155.28. I've been watching the derivatives data, and frankly, I'm seeing red flags. Forget the moon; we’re in danger of a crash landing ourselves.

Derivatives are a double-edged sword. They do pump up profits absolutely, but losses are what they really pump up. The 411% surge in derivatives trading volume? That’s not exactly an indicator of good, sustainable growth. It's a sign of speculation gone wild. It’s akin to pouring rocket fuel into a rusty go-kart.

Long positions are getting liquidated harder than short positions. Think about what that means. Those market bets are looking worse and worse for Solana, and as such, they’re starting to pay off. That developing narrative I’d argue is the most telltale leading indicator of a continued further price drop.

Those two $200 million whale movements? Nobody really knows for sure if they’re building up or getting ready to unload. I'm leaning towards the latter. Big players often position themselves before the herd, and a massive sell-off could trigger a cascade of liquidations, sending SOL tumbling. It's like watching the first domino fall.

Now, I’m not predicting Solana will go to zero. This blind optimism is dangerous. Don't let FOMO cloud your judgment. Remember the Singapore hawker stalls? We feature some amazing savory and sweet eats. You can never guess which one it will be that makes you sick. 1 Be informed, do your due diligence, know the risks and don’t be the one left holding the bag.

There are other forces to watch as Well’s article suggests Remittix (RTX) may be the next big thing, like early Ripple and Stellar. With promising cross-border payments ahead, a thriving presale and analysts forecasting a top 50 position by 2025. Sounds great, right?

Early-stage projects are inherently risky. A fancy website and big-talking roadmap won’t bring success. Think back to every ICO from 2017 that said they were going to disrupt every industry. Where are they now?

Don't get me wrong. Remittix intends to change global remittances forever. By allowing users to instantly withdraw BTC, ETH, or XRP directly into a bank account or debit card it has become a highly attractive option. If they’re able to do that and make it through the regulatory gauntlet, it would be a game changer. If is the operative word.

Relative to Solana, backing Remittix represents a far larger bet. It’s a chance you should take on a somewhat established (but still volatile) asset. The key there is to judge the team, the tokenomics, and most importantly the real-world adoption. Does it solve a genuine problem? Is there a sustainable business model?

Then there's VIRTUAL, the metaverse play. Collaborations, cutting edge technology, an overhaul to the Genesis Launchpad… the excitement is palpable. The metaverse is still largely vaporware. A cross-platform metaverse for gaming, commerce, and social networking would be amazing, but who’s using it?

An RSI of 86+? That's overbought territory. It would be like having a flashing neon sign on your car telling you “brake failure ahead!” While the Binance.us listing news is sure to bring some short-term excitement, it doesn’t assure them long term success.

VIRTUAL's hybrid economic model, with staking rewards and in-game utility, sounds compelling. The devil's in the details. Can they succeed with their vision and create a superior, virtuous metaverse experience that people choose to live (and invest) in?

Once again, I’m not claiming that VIRTUAL is a scam. Conceptually, we’re still very much at the frothy hyped-out phase of the metaverse craze. Don't get caught up in the frenzy. Do your due diligence, know what you’re getting yourself into and never risk more than you are willing to lose.

In conclusion, the derivatives data paints a concerning picture for Solana. The market is overly leveraged, long positions are being forcefully liquidated, and whale activity just doesn’t pass the smell test. Similarly, Remittix and VIRTUAL are high-risk, high-reward investments that would need to be pursued with in-depth due diligence. Hype and FOMO are toxic, don’t let them push you into decisions. Yet even in such an exciting place as the African fintech scene, evaluation is key. Don’t just be an investor, be a skeptical investor, and as always, do your own research.

VIRTUAL's hybrid economic model, with staking rewards and in-game utility, sounds compelling, but the devil's in the details. Can they actually create a compelling metaverse experience that people want to spend time (and money) in?

Again, I'm not saying VIRTUAL is a scam. But remember, the metaverse is still largely hype. Don't get caught up in the frenzy. Evaluate the fundamentals, understand the risks, and don't invest more than you can afford to lose.

In conclusion: The derivatives data paints a concerning picture for Solana. The market is highly leveraged, long positions are getting liquidated, and whale activity is suspicious. Remittix and VIRTUAL are high-risk, high-reward investments that require careful due diligence. Don't let hype and FOMO drive your decisions. The African fintech scene is exciting, but even there, careful evaluation is paramount. Be a skeptical investor, and always do your own research.