Ripple has revealed the agenda for Swell 2026, highlighting “the first year of a spot XRP ETF” as a key topic for its Institutional track. Other main themes include bank-grade digital asset infrastructure and the integration of artificial intelligence in payments. The annual conference, set for New York, will gather about 1,500 participants and for the first time merge Swell with two other major events, Apex and UBRI Connect, which focus on the XRP Ledger and academic blockchain research, respectively.
XRP ETFs build institutional momentumSpot XRP exchange-traded funds only recently received regulatory approval in the US, marking a significant shift in the asset’s accessibility for institutional investors. Earlier this year, Ripple stated that the availability of spot ETFs has helped move XRP from over-the-counter desks and private placements into broader institutional portfolios.
Coinpaper reported that cumulative inflows to XRP ETFs reached approximately $1.7 billion by mid-September, despite XRP trading well below its record high. This influx of institutional capital has made ETF demand a central theme for the asset, driving dialogue about its evolving role in professional markets.
MetricValueXRP ETF inflows (mid-September 2026)$1.7 billionStrongest weekly inflows (late August 2026)$110.49 millionParticipants at Swell 20261,500SEC oversight and evolving ETF productsThe US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) recently disclosed that a post-effective amendment for the Bitwise XRP ETF became effective on September 28, indicating continued development in the regulated ETF product landscape. This regulatory attention points to an industry still refining its offerings instead of plateauing after the first launches.
Mini dictionary: Apex is an annual summit dedicated to the XRP Ledger ecosystem, bringing together developers, enterprises, and the broader community to discuss protocol advancements and use cases.
Speakers announced by Ripple include executives from Intercontinental Exchange, major banks, asset managers, fintech firms, and digital asset infrastructure providers. These participants will discuss XRP ETFs alongside topics like tokenized collateral and advanced market plumbing, positioning XRP ETFs as a key component within institutional investment frameworks rather than as isolated crypto products.
Institutional demand and price actionInstitutional interest in XRP ETFs has become increasingly important, as noted by the divergence between regulated ETF flow and XRP’s spot price performance. In late August, XRP ETFs saw record weekly inflows of $110.49 million even while XRP’s market price was declining.
Despite a strong wave of inflows into XRP ETFs during their top week of 2026, the asset’s price continued to fall, highlighting that institutional investment does not always result in short-term price gains.
This separation between ETF inflows and price action suggests that regulated capital, while significant, does not unilaterally dictate price trends in the short term. The theme is expected to feature heavily as institutional audiences review the asset’s first year in the spot ETF format at Swell 2026.
XRP could potentially rise to $4 before advancing as high as $8, based on the latest technical research from analyst Carolina. Her analysis, presented through a weekly price chart spanning 2018 to 2026, uses the Elliott Wave approach to outline possible long-term market developments for XRP. This projection outlines critical stages and suggests that the asset may be entering a significant new upward cycle following an extended period of corrective action.
Carolina highlights $4 as a primary targetCarolina’s chart indicates that XRP faces a significant technical milestone at the $4 level. She identifies this as the first major price target if the projected Elliott Wave structure continues to unfold.
Her analysis suggests an initial impulse move toward approximately $4 as part of a new Wave 1, followed by a corrective pullback, and later, the possibility of a further rally.
Beyond the $4 mark, Carolina highlights $8 as a secondary, more ambitious target. This level would depend on stronger upside momentum and is mapped within the structure of a projected Wave 3 advance, according to her chart.
She also notes that after another corrective phase, the technical analysis extends the final projection toward the $20 region. However, Carolina’s written commentary specifically focuses on the nearer-term $4 and $8 objectives.
If the Elliott Wave structure plays out as mapped, the chart envisions XRP first reaching $4, while a more aggressive Wave 5 could push prices toward $8. This represents a projection based on technical analysis and is not a guaranteed outcome. The focus remains on the long-term market structure unfolding.
Carolina cautions that her forecast is speculative, describing it as a technical prediction rather than certitude, but maintains that the long-term structure remains particularly interesting for market observers.
Elliott Wave analysis shapes outlookCarolina’s approach relies on Elliott Wave theory, which interprets financial markets as cycles of five impulse waves in the direction of the trend, followed by three corrective waves. Her chart divides XRP’s historical market activity into these phases, identifying both past corrections and potential future advances.
The analysis connects earlier cycles in XRP, documenting key turning points between 2018 and 2024, and transitions to a prospective wave sequence that may have started in 2024 or 2025.
Carolina’s projections do not focus on short-term fluctuations. Instead, they emphasize XRP’s long-term price cycles and require the asset to follow a pattern of advances and corrections on the weekly chart.
One community member responded humorously to Carolina’s analysis, admitting only a basic understanding of Elliott Wave but showing optimism because the chart’s trajectory pointed higher. Other followers pointed to the progression toward the highlighted $4 and $8 levels as significant checkpoints for the token’s longer-term market movement.
While monitoring wave patterns and resistance levels is a staple of technical analysis, investors are also closely tracking real-time trends among trending tokens. In the meme token sector, for example, viral internet trends can rapidly drive millions of dollars in trading volume. Data from Fomo App recently revealed an investor who turned a $99 play in “Niu Lai” into an approximate $370,000 gain, underscoring the potential for outsized returns. Observers stress the importance of not only following price movements but also studying the timing and individual token strategies of active market participants. Fomo App aggregates social feeds, investor rankings, and trade alerts on a single platform, offering tools for discovery and tracking across the evolving meme token landscape.
Carolina’s projection hinges on XRP advancing through the forecasted Elliott Wave sequence, with principal attention on the progression toward $4 and potentially $8 as pivotal technical targets.
TLDR: The Bitget hack is linked to North Korean hackers. Chainalysis says the theft lifts their 2026 crypto total above $1 billion. Investigators traced stolen XRP through a cross-chain protocol into Bitcoin. The swaps bypassed an exchange but still left blockchain records. Drift and KelpDAO lost a combined $577 million in April. TRM said those attacks represented 76% of crypto hack losses through that month. Chainalysis estimates automation cut over 20 hours of bridge reconciliation to under 10 minutes. Investigators defined logic and reviewed results. The Bitget hack involved North Korean hackers, Chainalysis said, attributing the $387 million theft to DPRK-linked actors. The firm said the September 24 breach pushed crypto stolen by North Korea-linked groups above $1 billion in 2026. Investigators followed stolen XRP through a cross-chain protocol into Bitcoin addresses controlled by the attackers.
The October 1 report details how the funds moved between blockchains without passing through an exchange. Bitget separately confirmed losses of approximately $387.5 million after revising its initial estimate. The updated attribution follows earlier suspicions raised by CEO Gracy Chen and provides further evidence for the ongoing security investigation.
Bitget Hack Expands North Korean Theft Total Beyond $1 Billion Bitget joins Drift Protocol and KelpDAO, among major platforms hit by attacks linked to North Korea this year. The Bitget hack follows two April incidents that together cost approximately $577 million.
On April 1, attackers drained $285 million from Drift Protocol. TRM described months of social engineering, including meetings with staff, before attackers compromised the approval process. Attackers obtained approvals before executing the unauthorized withdrawals.
KelpDAO suffered a separate $292 million bridge exploit on April 18. LayerZero linked that operation to TraderTraitor, a North Korean threat group associated with Lazarus.
TRM said those two attacks represented 76% of crypto hack losses through April. That figure covers an earlier reporting period, rather than the latest annual total following the Bitget hack.
Chainalysis estimated that North Korean hackers stole more than $2 billion during 2025. The latest attribution places another major exchange breach within that continuing pattern.
Chen had pointed to North Korea shortly after the theft. She cited suspicious IP addresses connected to VPN services previously used by a DPRK-linked hacking group.
September losses also rose sharply across the industry. PeckShield recorded $766.49 million across 55 major hacks, approximately 462% above August, with Bitget the largest incident.
Bitget said its higher loss estimate included previously uncounted Zcash and Tron transfers. The exchange said the revision reflected fuller accounting rather than another wave of unauthorized withdrawals.
Bitget said investigators had identified and fixed the underlying vulnerability. The exchange published attacker addresses to help other platforms monitor affected assets.
How Stolen XRP Became Bitcoin Through a Cross-chain Protocol Chainalysis identified 23 outbound transfers during the first three hours after the Bitget hack. It grouped their destinations into Ethereum, XRP Ledger, Zcash, and Tron.
Ethereum accounted for 49.7% of the outflows, followed by XRP Ledger at 40.8%. Zcash received 7.6%, while Tron represented 1.8% of the traced transfers.
The attackers moved XRP into a cross-chain liquidity protocol and received Bitcoin on another network. This route bypassed a centralized exchange account while leaving transaction records for investigators to examine.
Chainalysis matched deposits with corresponding payouts and followed tens of millions of dollars over roughly 36 hours. Its investigators tracked subsequent transfers until the trail reached attacker-controlled Bitcoin addresses.
Independent analysis from Bitquery identified THORChain as a route used to convert stolen XRP. Its September 29 accounting found that 90.5% of the stolen XRP had become Bitcoin.
That analysis adds detail to the Bitget hack money trail. Swap records named destination assets and recipient addresses, helping connect payments across otherwise separate networks.
The Bitget hack investigation includes cybersecurity firms Mandiant and SlowMist. Bitget said industry coordination had already frozen some affected assets. Its recovery program offers eligible contributors bounties worth 5% of successfully frozen funds and 5% of recovered funds.
Chainalysis said its team used in-house AI to build custom tracing tools. It estimated that over 20 hours of manual bridge reconciliation took under 10 minutes with automation.
Investigators continued to define the tracing logic and review the results. Chainalysis is monitoring linked Bitcoin addresses and sharing intelligence with exchanges, issuers, and law enforcement partners.
On October 2, American XRP ETFs recorded net outflows of 3.28 million dollars, exclusively concentrated on the Bitwise fund. However, their assets experienced a decline of 37 million dollars during the session, a gap notably triggered by the drop in the price of Ripple’s cryptocurrency.
In brief XRP ETFs recorded net outflows of $3.28 million on October 2. Bitwise alone concentrates all outflows observed during the session. The combined assets of XRP ETFs fell by $37 million in one day. The gap is mainly explained by the drop in XRP price, not by massive sales. Despite this negative session, the cumulative collection of XRP ETFs remains largely positive. ETFs lose $37M, but only $3.28M goes out The cumulative net assets of XRP ETFs went from $1.695 billion on October 1 to $1.658 billion the next day. This 37 million decrease does not mean investors withdrew an equivalent amount.
Actual redemptions are limited to 3.28 million dollars. The difference, close to 33.7 million dollars, mainly comes from the depreciation of XRP held by the funds. The key figures allow us to distinguish these two phenomena :
3.28 million dollars actually left the ETFs ; The Bitwise XRP fund concentrates all withdrawals ; The other listed products recorded no net flow ; Combined assets fell to $1.658 billion ; Historic net inflows remain close to $1.79 billion. A net outflow corresponds to investors reselling their shares, possibly forcing the manager to reduce reserves. Conversely, a decrease in assets can simply reflect the XRP variation, without any holder leaving the fund.
The XRP drop explains most of the decline XRP rose up to about $1.55 on October 2 before falling to around $1.44 at the end of the US session. It then traded around $1.49, representing a daily drop of more than 3%.
This correction automatically reduces the net asset value of XRP ETFs. These products hold tokens to mirror their price: when XRP loses value, their assets under management decrease even if investors keep all their shares.
The movement is also part of a broader market pullback. Bitcoin dropped from around $87,220 to below $85,000, dragging several altcoins along with it. The contraction of XRP fund assets therefore does not necessarily reflect distrust unique to Ripple.
The gap between $1.79 billion in cumulative inflows and current assets of $1.658 billion reaches about $133 million. However, this amount does not represent a realized loss for all investors. It notably reflects the variation in token value, while the individual result depends on the price at which each holder bought or sold their shares.
Bitwise alone concentrates ETF outflows The Bitwise fund recorded all $3.28 million of outflows observed on October 2. Yet it remains the leading product in the category in terms of collection, with about $677 million in cumulative net inflows.
Franklin Templeton follows with nearly $505 million, ahead of the Canary Capital fund, which totals about $490 million. None of these competing products showed net movement during the session.
This is not the first time Bitwise has concentrated a negative day. On September 2, XRP ETFs had $7.2 million in outflows, already entirely attributable to its fund. Its size and liquidity can make it the preferred vehicle for investors wishing to quickly adjust their exposure.
One day alone is therefore not enough to identify a lasting trend. The concentration of outflows on a specific product offers a different perspective than a movement that would have simultaneously affected all managers.
ETFs maintain a largely positive collection Outflows come after a favorable period. Between September 22 and 25, XRP funds attracted about $75.6 million. Their net collection over the entire month reached 121.4 million.
October had also started with $4.07 million in inflows before the reversal the next day. The $3.28 million withdrawn therefore do not erase either this first positive session or the amounts accumulated since the launch of the products.
XRP ETFs now represent about 1.79% of the token’s total capitalization. However, their $1.658 billion in assets remain lower than the $1.91 billion held by Solana ETFs.
The next sessions will determine if Bitwise’s withdrawal remains isolated. It will be especially important to observe both net flows and the XRP price: without this distinction, another drop in assets could be mistakenly interpreted as a wave of investor sales.
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Luc Jose A.
Diplômé de Sciences Po Toulouse et titulaire d'une certification consultant blockchain délivrée par Alyra, j'ai rejoint l'aventure Cointribune en 2019. Convaincu du potentiel de la blockchain pour transformer de nombreux secteurs de l'économie, j'ai pris l'engagement de sensibiliser et d'informer le grand public sur cet écosystème en constante évolution. Mon objectif est de permettre à chacun de mieux comprendre la blockchain et de saisir les opportunités qu'elle offre. Je m'efforce chaque jour de fournir une analyse objective de l'actualité, de décrypter les tendances du marché, de relayer les dernières innovations technologiques et de mettre en perspective les enjeux économiques et sociétaux de cette révolution en marche.
DISCLAIMER
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.
XRP remains well below its peak value, currently trading at $1.49, which is approximately 59% under its record of $3.65 set in July 2025. Projections from several market analysts suggest significant potential gains for the token, but reaching past highs is still a challenge for holders who bought at previous peaks.
XRP’s current position and market trendsXRP maintains a market capitalization of $93.71 billion as of now. While the token has climbed 46% over the last 90 days, it is down about 18% in 2026 and has lost 47% over the past year. Investors who purchased the asset around its all-time high remain in negative territory, with XRP needing a gain of about 145% to reclaim its highest valuation.
Ripple, the US fintech company behind XRP, continues to promote the token’s utility in cross-border transactions. At the World Economic Forum in Davos this January, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse expressed optimism for the digital asset sector, stating,
XRP is likely to reach an all-time high, and the broader crypto market has grounds for bullish sentiment.
Despite such optimism, XRP has yet to surpass its 2025 high.
Forecasts for 2030: Analyst predictions and targetsMarket analysts remain divided on XRP’s long-term trajectory. CoinCodex forecasts a range between $4.17 and $6.29 for the token by the end of 2030, with its December 2030 projection at $6.23—approximately 318% above the current price. Every monthly estimate in the CoinCodex 2030 model is higher than the previous all-time high.
YearLow PredictionHigh PredictionYear-End Prediction2030 (CoinCodex)$4.17 (August)$6.29 (October)$6.23 (December)2030 (Standard Chartered)$28.00$28.00Standard Chartered, a multinational banking group, has set an even higher 2030 target for XRP, placing its price projection at $28. Geoffrey Kendrick, who leads digital assets research at Standard Chartered, previously reduced the bank’s 2026 forecast from $8 to $2.80 but maintained his long-term outlook for 2030. He emphasized XRP’s position, stating,
XRP is uniquely positioned at the heart of one of the fastest-growing use cases for digital assets: the facilitation of cross-border and cross-currency payments.
Additionally, Dom Kwok, a former Goldman Sachs analyst, has predicted that XRP could surpass $1,000 within four to five years—an outlook that is viewed as extremely ambitious within the industry.
Mini dictionary: Standard Chartered, a major international banking group headquartered in London, is known for its research on digital assets and involvement in global financial services, including cryptocurrency-related analysis.
Path to $25: Market dynamics and supply factorsIf XRP were to reach $25 by 2030, its price would need to surge roughly 1,578% from current levels. Achieving this milestone would bring the token’s market capitalization to about $1.58 trillion, nearly equaling Bitcoin’s present market value.
For such growth to occur, the entire cryptocurrency market would also need to experience a substantial expansion. In addition, XRP faces supply-side pressures because Ripple regularly releases tokens from its reserves. If the total supply of 100 billion XRP enters circulation, the token would require a $2.5 trillion market cap to reach the $25 goal, making each subsequent token release another hurdle for price appreciation.
After a challenging year, reclaiming the $3.65 all-time high is regarded by analysts as an important initial test. Should XRP surpass this benchmark while also capturing a larger share of the crypto market, more bullish long-term forecasts might begin to seem attainable. However, in a stagnant market environment, projections such as those from CoinCodex may be more realistic for the near future.
XRP entered October trading near $1.50, drawing close attention from traders as the token approached a key resistance zone that has shaped recent price movements.
Technical factors and trader focusThe cryptocurrency hovered around $1.51 as October began, with the $1.50 region marking the center of short-term market focus. Analysts highlighted that XRP needs to break through resistance between $1.52 and $1.58 to clear the way for further gains. Buyers are also monitoring the downside, with support at $1.28 to $1.30 acting as a buffer against deeper declines.
After several weeks of range-bound trading, investors are watching whether October could trigger a sustained breakout above resistance. The market’s direction will likely hinge on the ability to maintain the current support structure or overcome upper resistance levels.
Google Gemini, an AI-powered platform developed by Alphabet, released a specific price forecast for XRP at the end of October 2026. The service expects XRP to reach approximately $1.66 on October 31, projecting around a 10% increase based on the previous trading price of $1.48. This outlook suggests a moderate gain instead of an aggressive rally within the month.
For XRP to meet the $1.66 target, it must move above both the $1.52–$1.58 resistance band and sustain momentum through $1.60. Reaching $1.66 would bring XRP near a technical zone where selling could intensify. Gemini’s estimate underscores the importance of upward momentum over the coming weeks.
Mini dictionary: Google Gemini is an artificial intelligence chatbot and generative AI platform created by Alphabet, used for tasks including market forecasting and natural language processing.
Gemini’s forecast for October 31 requires XRP to establish stronger momentum above its current range. The move beyond $1.52–$1.58 is critical for targeting higher levels, with $1.60 and $1.66 seen as key milestones.
Date/LevelSupportResistanceTargetOctober start$1.28–$1.30$1.52–$1.58$1.66ETF inflows and on-chain activityInstitutional demand has been a driver of market sentiment, as spot XRP exchange-traded funds attracted fresh inflows in recent weeks. Combined cumulative inflows into US-based spot XRP ETFs have reportedly reached $1.8 billion since their launch in late 2025, reflecting growing interest from professional investors.
Meanwhile, the XRP Ledger ecosystem has seen notable growth. The network, known for supporting payment-focused decentralized applications and automated market makers, continues to expand its utility beyond simple transfers.
Mini dictionary: XRP Ledger (XRPL) is a decentralized blockchain designed to facilitate fast, low-cost international payments and support financial applications such as decentralized exchanges and automated market makers.
Risks and outlook for OctoberThere are several factors that could challenge Gemini’s price goal for XRP. A rejection from resistance between $1.52 and $1.58 could send the price back toward $1.40 or below, putting the $1.28–$1.30 support region to the test. A breakdown below this zone could intensify downside pressure and delay a move toward higher price targets.
XRP’s performance may also be influenced by shifts in macroeconomic conditions, including global interest-rate trends, liquidity changes, and the overall direction of Bitcoin and the broader crypto market. Seasonal expectations for an autumn rally add to market speculation, but do not guarantee a price outcome.
A sustained breakout will require additional buying momentum, as technical, fundamental, and macroeconomic factors all converge to determine XRP’s path for October.
For the immediate future, Google Gemini’s $1.66 target keeps investor focus on whether XRP can break free from its resistance band and build momentum through October.
Cover image via U.Today Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.
XRP makes history as it lights up the iconic Namsan Seoul Tower in a visual display in support of the XRP SEOUL 2026 event.
This milestone is a high-profile display of XRP at one of South Korea's most recognizable landmarks. For context, the Namsan Seoul Tower stands 236.7 meters, or about 777 feet, tall and is officially recognized as one of Seoul's representative landmarks.
XRP takes its presence in Seoul beyond the conference stage, with the iconic Namsan Seoul Tower lighting up in a striking display for the cryptocurrency community. Images shared by the XRP SEOUL 2026 X account captured the moments when XRP SEOUL 2026, XRP and K-Weather logos appeared on the Seoul skyline.
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Seoul is lit up for @XRPSEOUL 2026 🗼
Tonight, Namsan Seoul Tower is shining with XRP SEOUL, presented with our Platinum Sponsor K-Weather (@wellbianlabs) to celebrate a record day for the XRP community in Korea.
From a packed Grand Ballroom to the Seoul skyline, thank you to… pic.twitter.com/aO6ILKVYOY
— XRP SEOUL 2026 🇰🇷 (@XRPSEOUL) October 3, 2026 Namsan Seoul Tower also brought the XRP ecosystem to the Seoul skyline as it lit up with XRPL participants, including Doppler Finance and Evernorth.
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According to the XRP SEOUL 2026 X account, Namsan Seoul Tower was illuminated on the evening of the event to celebrate what organizers described as a record day for the XRP community in Korea. The display formed part of the broader XRP SEOUL 2026 celebrations and would remain visible until 11 p.m. KST.
As reported, the XRP Seoul event drew over 5,000 attendees from the XRP Korean community, highlighting the growing activity surrounding the XRP Ledger ecosystem in Asia.
Ripple launches XRP AsiaAt the XRP Seoul event, a special announcement was made about what's coming next for the XRP ecosystem in Asia: XRP Asia.
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Jointly founded by Ripple and the XRP Ledger Foundation, XRP Asia is led by Sabrina Tachdjian and focuses on strengthening the connections, resources and pathways that can help the ecosystem grow.
XRP Asia is a new organization focused on growing the ecosystem across Asia-Pacific, supporting builders, startups and communities through dedicated programs, resources and events.
The vision is to make XRPL the go-to blockchain for builders across Asia and for the region to become a major engine of growth and adoption for the broader XRP ecosystem. The creation of XRP Asia comes as XRPL is gaining significant momentum globally and ecosystem support needs are growing.
Ripple has announced that the Swell 2026 event in New York will bring together senior leaders from major financial institutions, including BNY, Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), TD Securities, and Robinhood. The conference, set to attract approximately 1,500 participants, will for the first time integrate Swell, the Apex summit focused on XRP Ledger technology, and UBRI Connect, an academic blockchain initiative, into a single event.
Prominent Financial Leaders to Discuss Industry TransformationThe event’s guest list reflects Ripple’s ambition to strengthen connections across various areas of traditional and digital finance. Each institution is positioned to address distinct elements such as custody, trading, liquidity, stablecoins, tokenized securities, and broad consumer access.
Representing Bank of New York Mellon (BNY), Laide Majiyagbe is scheduled to lead a discussion on how tokenized money-market funds, stablecoins, liquidity, and settlement innovations are influencing institutional markets. This collaboration between Ripple and BNY has moved beyond discussion; BNY was chosen as the primary custodian for RLUSD reserves, with this arrangement beginning in 2025.
Ripple’s RLUSD reserves have recently grown to about $2.53 billion, with a circulating supply now over $2.4 billion, enhancing the importance of BNY’s custodial role.
Ripple aims to connect diverse sectors of finance, from custody and stablecoins to trading, onchain securities, and consumer access, by assembling industry leaders from global banks, exchanges, and fintech platforms.
ICE, a global operator of financial exchanges and clearing houses and parent company of the New York Stock Exchange, adds perspective on market infrastructure. Michael Blaugrund, ICE’s Vice President of Strategic Initiatives and a former NYSE Chief Operating Officer, will speak on institutional adoption of tokenized equities, digital funds, and collateral management.
Mini dictionary: RLUSD, acronym for Ripple Liquidity USD, is Ripple’s institutional-grade stablecoin designed for settlement and liquidity purposes in digital asset markets.
TD Securities and Robinhood Extend the ConversationTD Securities, a Canadian investment bank and capital markets firm, will also participate through Elizabeth St-Onge, who is set to join a panel exploring the future of digital currency models. The discussion will consider whether market dominance will rest with single-issuer stablecoins or consortium-driven approaches.
Ripple’s RLUSD has become increasingly embedded in institutional liquidity solutions, including payments, tokenized assets, and prospective lending structures on the XRP Ledger (XRPL).
Robinhood, a US-based trading platform known for providing retail access to stocks and cryptocurrencies, will be represented by its Head of Crypto, Johann Kerbrat. He and Ripple President Monica Long will examine the growing convergence between retail and institutional participation in the digital asset ecosystem.
Industry experts from major banks, trading houses, and platforms will address how stablecoins and tokenized assets are reshaping liquidity, access, and market structure.
TLDR: XRP Asia launches in Singapore as Ripple prepares to route more customer payment volume onto XRPL in 2027. Ripple’s 1 billion XRP developer commitment supports Asia expansion, including Japan and Korea funding. Ripple plans to expand an XRPL DEX payments pilot while linking payment customers with lending infrastructure. XLS-66 would enable fixed-term uncollateralized XRPL loans, but validator approval is still required. XRP Asia has launched as a Singapore-based regional organization while Ripple prepares a broader 2027 push to move more customer activity onto the XRP Ledger. The October 3 debut links regional ecosystem development with a company-wide payments strategy centered on routing more transaction volume, liquidity, and credit activity through XRPL.
The XRP Ledger Foundation said the group will support builders, startups, and regional communities. Jointly founded by Ripple and the foundation, it is led by Sabrina Tachdjian.
XRP Asia Launch Supports Ripple’s 2027 XRPL Payments Push The organization plans to build from established communities in Korea and Japan while extending its programs into additional technology hubs across the region. Its developer programs will include learning resources, system-integrator training, hackathons, office hours, and ship-it clinics designed to help teams move projects toward deployment.
Startup support will extend beyond engineering through go-to-market assistance, partner introductions, incubation, grant connections, joint events, and introductions to relevant investors. That approach follows earlier ecosystem investment.
Ripple created an XRPL Japan and Korea Fund under its 1 billion XRP developer-support commitment. Tens of millions of dollars were targeted toward opportunities in those markets. The company also expanded university blockchain research across South Korea, Japan, Singapore, Taiwan, and Australia.
XRP Asia debuted alongside XRP Seoul 2026, where sessions covered payments, tokenized deposits, and on-chain finance involving banks and securities firms. The agenda also featured Tachdjian and Ripple executive Tatsuya Kohrogi discussing what comes next for the XRP ecosystem across the region.
Ripple Connects 2027 Payments Plans With XRPL Credit At the Seoul event, Ripple President Monica Long said the company is discussing a 2027 objective to route more customer transaction volume directly onto XRPL. The strategy includes infrastructure already built for payments and an expanded pilot using the ledger’s decentralized exchange within the company’s payments operations.
Beyond transaction routing, the company plans to deepen its credit business by connecting payment customers with XRPL lending infrastructure. Long said XRP deposited into lending pools could provide funding for payment customers, linking pooled liquidity with credit used within the payments business.
One component is XLS-66, an XRPL-native proposal for fixed-term, uncollateralized loans funded through pooled assets held in Single Asset Vaults. Under the specification, credit assessment and risk management remain off-chain.
The ledger would handle loan creation, repayments, and defaults. However, XLS-66 remains a draft amendment and requires validator approval before mainnet activation, meaning the proposed lending structure is not yet live.
That makes regional ecosystem expansion relevant to the same ledger infrastructure targeted for payments and lending. Together, the regional builder network and 2027 payments plan connect developer growth with potential institutional transaction, liquidity, and credit activity on XRPL.
XRP made a prominent mark in South Korea by illuminating Seoul’s Namsan Seoul Tower with its logo as part of the XRP SEOUL 2026 event. The lighting spectacle brought the cryptocurrency into the city’s skyline, drawing attention from both the local community and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
Landmark celebration for XRPThe Namsan Seoul Tower, one of the most recognized landmarks in Seoul at 236.7 meters tall, showcased a vibrant visual display featuring the XRP, XRP SEOUL 2026, and K-Weather logos. Organizers utilized the iconic structure, which is widely considered a symbol of Seoul, to emphasize XRP’s growing presence in Asia.
Images circulated on the official XRP SEOUL 2026 X account showed the moment when the tower lit up with XRPL participants’ logos, including those of Doppler Finance and Evernorth. Event organizers stated that the visual display marked a ‘record day’ for the Korean XRP community and would remain visible until 11 p.m. KST on the evening of the celebrations.
During the event, Namsan Seoul Tower illuminated with XRP and XRPL ecosystem partners’ logos, capturing a milestone for the community and reinforcing XRP’s regional ambitions.
The initiative demonstrated XRP’s growing footprint in South Korea and underscored the digital asset’s aim to engage more deeply with the enthusiast community in the region.
XRP SEOUL 2026 event draws major turnoutThe XRP SEOUL 2026 conference attracted more than 5,000 attendees from the Korean XRP community, reflecting increased activity and adoption of the XRP Ledger (XRPL) in Asia. The event brought together crypto builders, investors, and ecosystem participants for a wide range of discussions and announcements.
Alongside the visual display at Namsan Seoul Tower, the event created momentum for projects built on XRPL, including well-known developers and local contributors.
The XRP Ledger is an open-source decentralized blockchain developed to facilitate fast, low-cost international payments and a variety of decentralized applications.
Mini dictionary: Namsan Seoul Tower, also known as N Seoul Tower, is a major tourist attraction and broadcast tower offering panoramic city views. It plays a symbolic role in South Korea’s capital and frequently hosts cultural or promotional illuminations.
XRP Asia officially launchedA key announcement at the XRP SEOUL 2026 gathering was the unveiling of XRP Asia, a dedicated organization aimed at advancing the XRP ecosystem throughout the Asia-Pacific region. XRP Asia is driven by Ripple, the blockchain company, in partnership with the XRP Ledger Foundation, and is led by Sabrina Tachdjian, a recognized leader in blockchain innovation.
XRP Asia is set to bolster resources for builders, startups, and communities, supporting growth through targeted programs and events across the region. Organizers view XRP Asia as a strategic step to make the XRPL the preferred blockchain for development within the Asia-Pacific area.
XRP Asia, with Sabrina Tachdjian at the helm, aims to enhance connections, pathways, and resources to help the ecosystem expand and thrive throughout the region.
This move comes at a time when XRPL is seeing strong global momentum and increased demand for ecosystem support, according to those leading the initiative.
Crypto Michael (@MichaelXBT), a well-known figure in the crypto community, posted a confident message to his followers on X, declaring that XRP holders are set for the next significant upward move. His brief post quickly drew substantial engagement from the XRP community, sparking widespread debate over XRP’s potential trajectory.
Community reactions: optimism and doubtReactions to Crypto Michael’s post ranged from enthusiastic support to notable skepticism. Some users asked for more details and requested a technical breakdown behind the bullish call, while others set price targets of $2 or $2.3 for XRP’s next move.
Several community members questioned whether XRP could outperform ETH in the short term, while others suggested that anticipated rally levels had already been reached, referring to previous price points near $0.03. Another voice cautioned that similar predictions had come and gone in the past with limited price movement for XRP.
Crypto Michael is recognized for consistently positive views on XRP. Some commenters questioned this ongoing optimism, pointing out that similar predictions have been shared multiple times before. One user noted that if XRP’s price were to rise, Crypto Michael would claim credit for the call, while another remarked that despite years of predictions, a major breakthrough remains elusive.
Enthusiasm and skepticism both surfaced in community discussions, with some users demanding technical explanations and others reflecting on the frequency of such upbeat predictions amid XRP’s recent trading history.
Regulatory and institutional developments support sentimentThe backdrop for this renewed optimism includes several major developments. In March 2026, the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) jointly classified XRP as a digital commodity, a move that provided vital regulatory clarity. This development is considered a turning point for institutional interest in the asset.
The SEC has since taken further steps to expand on its approach, adding momentum to sentiment among professional and retail investors alike. On the business front, Ripple secured a cross-border payments partnership with Jeonbuk Bank in August. This was followed by a strategic partnership between Ripple and SettleMint, involving regulated financial institutions to create solutions for digital asset custody and issuance across the Asian market.
Additionally, technical analysts highlight the importance of monitoring investor behavior and timing in volatile market conditions. In the meme token space, a viral internet trend can rapidly generate millions of dollars in trading activity. Recent data from Fomo App underscores this phenomenon, citing one instance in which a “Niu Lai” trade turned a $99 investment into about $370,000. Experts note that tracking which tokens are attracting investor interest, as well as the timing of major trades, is essential in this segment. Fomo App integrates live token discovery and trading, offering social feeds, investor rankings, and real-time trade notifications for those aiming to stay closely informed about meme token dynamics.
XRP market milestones and outlookEarlier in the year, the XRP Ledger surpassed $3 billion in tokenized real-world assets, underscoring its role in the digital assets ecosystem. Rakuten Wallet integrated XRP for its 44 million users in Japan, further expanding the coin’s reach, while RLUSD officially launched through SBI Holdings in June, targeting Japanese markets.
Institutional activity on the XRP Ledger has shown steady growth in 2026, and ongoing regulatory developments continue to shape the outlook. While Crypto Michael’s forecast for an imminent upswing has stirred debate, the foundation for renewed optimism appears strengthened by both technical and regulatory advances.
Regulatory clarity and strategic partnerships have solidified the case for increased institutional participation in XRP, leading many industry observers to keep a close watch on its market movement.
Ripple recently returned 700 million XRP, valued at more than $1 billion, to escrow accounts following the scheduled October token release. This move has put renewed focus on both XRP’s available supply and its short-term price trend.
XRP price hovers near key resistanceXRP traded at approximately $1.49 in early October, with the price repeatedly testing the $1.55 range but struggling to hold above it. Technical analysts have highlighted the $1.54 to $1.59 zone as an area of significant selling pressure. Analysts such as Xaif Crypto have identified resistance in this band and see support between $1.44 and $1.47.
According to Xaif Crypto, a decisive move above $1.54 to $1.56 could signal a stronger short-term recovery for XRP, while a drop below support could trigger a deeper decline. On the upside, a sustained breakthrough above the resistance zone may attract further buying interest.
XRP’s near-term outlook depends on how it handles the $1.59 barrier, which several analysts see as defining the next momentum shift.
Another chart review by TheaG_eii singles out $1.59 as a trigger for a potential momentum change, defining the $1.54 to $1.59 region as a supply zone. The analysis also points to $1.39 and $1.29 as areas of interest if XRP faces rejection at resistance.
In recent weeks, XRP’s price climbed as high as $1.65 on September 23 and $1.62 on September 25 but retreated to around $1.50, demonstrating the difficulty of holding gains above resistance levels.
A daily or weekly close above $1.59 would be a clear technical signal, while the market remains confined by established overhead resistance and the $1.44 to $1.47 support band for now.
LevelSupportResistanceCurrent$1.44–$1.47$1.54–$1.59Potential breakout$1.39, $1.29$1.70, $1.75Ripple returns 700 million XRP to escrowRipple, a financial technology company known for its global payments network, conducted its monthly scheduled XRP escrow transactions at the start of October. The company initially unlocked 1 billion XRP in four separate transactions: 400 million, 200 million, 300 million, and 100 million tokens. Shortly after, Ripple returned 700 million tokens—valued at $1.05 billion based on market prices—to new escrow contracts, executed in two large tranches of 400 million and 300 million tokens.
This activity forms part of Ripple’s long-standing escrow system, initiated in 2017, which unlocks up to 1 billion XRP at the start of each month. Historically, the company returns a substantial portion of these tokens to escrow, smoothing out the impact on circulating supply.
Following the October activity, about 31.845 billion XRP remained in escrow, according to estimates by TheStreet. Out of the 1 billion tokens released, 300 million were left outside escrow contracts. As a result, the latest monthly release did not directly inject the entire $1 billion amount into the market.
Ripple’s predictable monthly transactions are closely watched by traders, who see the net change in circulating supply as more significant than the gross tokens unlocked each month.
Mini dictionary: Ripple, a US-based technology company, is best known for its XRP Ledger and software solutions aimed at simplifying cross-border payments for financial institutions.
XRP price scenarios in focusWith XRP trading near $1.49, the market is closely monitoring whether buyers can push the token above the $1.59 technical barrier, as recent attempts around $1.55 have not held. Xaif Crypto suggests that a move above resistance could send the price toward $1.75, while CarolinaTCWNL outlines a sequence of targets at $1.43, $1.50, $1.58, $1.62, and $1.75 following the market’s rejection near $1.70.
If XRP closes above $1.59 on a daily or weekly basis, analysts argue it would mark a significant shift, confirming support at previous resistance and opening the door for further upside.
However, until such a breakout is confirmed, the $1.44 to $1.47 range will remain a critical support area. A decline below this band could prompt a shift toward lower support zones, as identified by technical observers.
Ripple’s escrow transaction lowers the immediate impact of October’s token release on circulating supply, though 300 million tokens remain outside of escrow and could affect short-term liquidity. Market participants are therefore focused primarily on price chart patterns and whether the $1.59 level will act as a ceiling or give way to renewed buying momentum.
The crypto market is down today, October 3, as Bitcoin retreats from resistance and leveraged liquidations pressure other major tokens.
Total market capitalization fell about 1.8% to $2.88 trillion over 24 hours, as Ethereum and XRP extended their daily losses. The pullback follows a brief rally after weak US employment data, while earlier ETF withdrawals show uneven demand for funds.
Crypto Market Falls as BTC, ETH and XRP Extend Losses Bitcoin price traded near $84,627, down 1.92% over 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap’s October 3 market. Ethereum price fell 2.14% to approximately $2,684, while XRP lost 3.65% to $1.48 during the same period.
Coin 360 data Bitcoin price briefly cleared $87,000 on Friday before reversing, leaving the initial crypto market rebound unable to hold. Its recent low near $83,898 provides a downside reference, while the failed rally highlights resistance around $87,000.
Solana and Dogecoin also declined, extending losses across other leading cryptocurrencies.
Weak US Jobs Data Shifts Federal Reserve Expectations US employers added 29,000 jobs in September, compared with a 90,000 forecast. Unemployment increased to 4.2% from 4.1%, while revisions reduced July and August employment totals by 60,000.
U.S. September Payrolls Miss Sharply at 29K as Unemployment Rises to 4.2%
U.S. nonfarm payrolls increased by just 29,000 in September, well below the 90,000 market forecast, while the unemployment rate rose to 4.2% versus 4.1% expected. August payroll growth was revised down to… pic.twitter.com/9YePiVAEiY
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) October 2, 2026
August’s increase was revised to 133,000 jobs, while July’s updated reading showed a decline of 10,000. Average hourly earnings rose 0.1% monthly, bringing annual wage growth to 3.0%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Reported market pricing placed an October rate hike at 17%, strengthening expectations that the Federal Reserve could pause. Bitcoin initially advanced after the employment release, but that improvement failed to sustain the crypto market rally.
Leveraged Liquidations Deepen Losses Across Major Cryptocurrencies At 06:02 UTC, CoinGlass figures showed $433.57 million in liquidations over 24 hours. Long positions added $321.77 million or about 74% of the total, while short liquidations totaled $111.80 million.
Liquidations will take place when losses reduce an account’s collateral to an amount lower than its leveraged position. Exchanges then forcibly close positions, potentially intensifying declines and exposing other leveraged accounts to further losses.
Crypto ETF Outflows Reach Bitcoin and Ethereum Funds US spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded $149 million in net outflows on September 30, according to SoSoValue data. None of the 12 tracked Bitcoin funds registered net inflows during that session.
Ethereum spot ETFs recorded another $59.58 million in net outflows on the same date. None of the 10 tracked Ethereum funds posted inflows, bringing combined withdrawals to approximately $208.58 million.
According to SoSoValue, US Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded a total net outflow of $149 million on September 30 (Eastern Time), with none of the 12 ETFs logging net inflows. Concurrently, US Ethereum spot ETFs posted a total net outflow of $59.58 million yesterday, with zero net… pic.twitter.com/B7JPrgirAh
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) October 1, 2026
Bitcoin’s withdrawals ended a nine-day ETF inflow streak, interrupting the stronger demand recorded earlier in September. Across the full month, Bitcoin funds attracted $2.65 billion, while Ethereum ETFs received $832.43 million.
Crypto entered October after a strong third quarter, although the final weeks of September were more uneven.
Bitcoin gained about 7% in September, while Ethereum rose around 7%. Solana also outperformed Bitcoin, while several large-cap altcoins gained as Bitcoin dominance slipped below 60%.
Here’s what happened in crypto in September and what to expect in October.
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What happened in SeptemberBitcoin ended September around $83,000-$84,000 after briefly approaching $87,000. Institutional demand provided support, with U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs attracting about $2.4 billion during the week ending Sept. 25, their strongest weekly inflow since October 2025.
At the same time, rising bond yields and profit-taking have kept the market from moving decisively higher.
Ethereum finished September around $2,650-$2,700, gaining roughly 7% for the month and extending its relative strength against Bitcoin. The next major catalyst is Ethereum's Glamsterdam upgrade testing, with the first public testnet scheduled for Oct. 6.
Solana has remained one of the stronger major altcoins, roughly doubling from its June low. Chainlink also gained more than 20% since the start of September, while the broader altcoin market showed signs of increased participation as Bitcoin's market share fell below 60%.
However, recent historical examples show that a decline in Bitcoin dominance alone is not sufficient to establish a sustained altcoin season.
XRP also benefited from the late-September altcoin rebound. It traded mostly around $1.48-$1.55 toward the end of the month, after reaching about $1.66 on Sept. 23.
XRP gained 10.4% during the week ending Sept. 26, according to market data cited by 24/7 Wall St. Institutional demand has remained notable, with U.S. spot XRP ETFs recording 11 consecutive weeks of inflows and about $1.79 billion in cumulative inflows by Sept. 25.
Uptober: Will there be another bull run in 2026?For October, sentiment is cautiously optimistic and increasingly centered on the “Uptober” narrative. Bitcoin has historically performed strongly in October, but 2025 broke the previous six-year winning streak, highlighting the limits of seasonal patterns.
This year's market also enters October with several potential catalysts, including continued ETF flows, the Oct. 6 Ethereum testnet and developments around XRP Ledger upgrades.
The main counterweights are elevated bond yields, monetary-policy uncertainty and the possibility that investors take profits after the strong Q3 rally.
BitcoinBitcoin ended September around $83,000 to $84,000 after reaching above $87,000. Institutional demand provided support throughout the month, with U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs attracting approximately $2.4 billion during the week ending Sept. 25, their strongest weekly inflow since October 2025.
Source: CoinMarketCapMore broadly, Bitcoin ETF products have attracted approximately $4.9 billion since Aug. 19, according to the data cited.
At the same time, rising bond yields and profit-taking have limited Bitcoin's ability to establish a sustained move higher.
JPMorgan analysts have identified approximately $85,000 as a reference point for Bitcoin's average production cost. Bitcoin recently moved above that level after reportedly spending about 280 days below the estimated production cost. The cryptocurrency subsequently fell back below the threshold and was trading near $84,000 at the end of September.
The relationship between Bitcoin's market price and production costs is particularly relevant to miners, although the estimate can change with factors including network difficulty, electricity prices and hardware efficiency.
Technical analysts are also divided over how Bitcoin's recent structure could develop in the fourth quarter.
Benjamin Cowen has argued that investors should focus on Bitcoin's current chart structure rather than relying on traditional four-year cycle expectations. His analysis came after Bitcoin moved above its May high on the weekly timeframe, potentially challenging the historical cycle pattern. Cowen has pointed to the weekly close as an important signal for determining the market's next phase.
Fidelity Investments' global macro director Jurrien Timmer has presented a longer-term scenario in which Bitcoin could reach $300,000 by 2029. His analysis is based on a Power Law model and assumes that Bitcoin maintains key long-term support around $60,000. The target is Timmer's own model-based scenario, rather than a consensus market forecast.
October's historical performance is one reason behind the “Uptober” narrative. Bitcoin finished October higher in 10 of the 13 years between 2013 and 2025, with an average monthly return of roughly 19%. However, Bitcoin's six-year October winning streak ended in 2025, illustrating why seasonal patterns cannot be treated as a reliable indicator for the current month.
The market therefore enters October with several potential sources of support, including continued ETF demand, improving liquidity and the possibility of further short covering. Bitcoin's ability to hold above the low-$80,000 area while testing the $85,000 to $87,000 region will remain closely watched.
Ethereum Ethereum entered October after an especially strong August, when ETH gained approximately 32.6%, rising from around $1,860 to a monthly high near $2,556 before closing around $2,466.
ETH then gained roughly 7% in September and finished the month around $2,650 to $2,700.
Source: CoinMarketCapInstitutional demand has remained an important factor. Data from Arkham Intelligence shows that BlackRock's spot Ethereum ETF products purchased more than $1.5 billion worth of ETH over a 20-day period. The purchases included approximately $1.27 billion through ETHA and about $296.5 million through the newer ETHB product.
Ethereum's technical structure has also improved substantially since its June lows. ETH has moved above its previous $2,400 to $2,550 consolidation range, while shorter-term moving averages remain below the market.
The $2,700 to $2,800 region represents the next major resistance zone. A sustained move above it could provide a stronger technical basis for extending the September recovery, although profit-taking by large holders remains a potential source of selling pressure.
Ethereum also has a fundamental catalyst approaching. Testing for the network's Glamsterdam upgrade is scheduled to begin with the first public testnet on Oct. 6.
Technical analyst Ali Martinez has identified a previous breakout from a similar formation that was followed by a 31% gain over three days. In his analysis, a move above $2,474 could create a path toward $3,000. That remains a technical scenario rather than a guaranteed target.
XRPXRP also enters October in a stronger position than at the beginning of September. The token briefly reached approximately $1.66 on Sept. 23 before retreating toward the $1.50 area. XRP gained 10.4% during the week ending Sept. 26.
Source: CoinMarketCapInstitutional demand has remained notable, with U.S. spot XRP ETFs recording 11 consecutive weeks of inflows and approximately $1.79 billion in cumulative inflows as of Sept. 25.
XRP is currently trading above its major moving averages, with the 200-day average around $1.36. This creates a support area around $1.35 to $1.40 if the current recovery comes under pressure.
Seasonality provides a less consistent signal for XRP than for Bitcoin. Although XRP has recorded substantial October rallies in the past, its historical monthly performance has not consistently followed the broader crypto market.
Market sentiment is another factor to watch. Santiment data recently showed XRP's positive-to-negative comment ratio falling to 0.67, its lowest level in roughly a month.
The U.S. regulatory environment could also remain relevant. The Senate's failure to advance the CLARITY Act in a procedural vote on Sept. 16 removed one potential near-term catalyst for the broader U.S. crypto market.
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Several XRP-specific developments could nevertheless attract attention in October. Evernorth has completed a shareholder vote and filed additional documents with the SEC as it moves forward with its plan to become a publicly traded XRP treasury company. The company expects to hold as much as 473 million XRP following the completion of the transaction, according to its own projections.
For the broader crypto market, October therefore begins with a combination of strong third-quarter performance, substantial institutional flows and several upcoming catalysts.
Bitcoin's ability to hold its recent range, Ethereum's response to the Glamsterdam testnet and XRP's ability to maintain its September recovery will be among the key developments to watch.
The “Uptober” narrative provides a useful description of historical market behavior, but the outcome in October will ultimately depend on current liquidity, institutional flows, macroeconomic conditions and asset-specific catalysts rather than seasonality alone.
Social sentiment for Ethereum ($ETH) and XRP ($XRP) has turned sharply negative at the start of October, according to data from on-chain analytics firm @SantimentData. Bearish comments are now outpacing bullish ones for both tokens across major platforms including X, Reddit, and Telegram, marking some of the lowest optimism readings in months.
The Numbers Behind the Gloom Santiment tracks the ratio of positive to negative commentary across social platforms. A reading below 1.0 signals that bearish posts are in the majority. According to its latest data, $ETH's bullish-to-bearish ratio has fallen to 0.89, its lowest level since June 7. $XRP is weaker still, sitting at just 0.67, a level not seen since August 17. That translates to roughly 67 bullish comments for every 100 bearish ones for @Ripple's token.
The sour mood arrives at the start of a month traders often call "Uptober," a nod to October's historically positive seasonal performance for crypto. Adding to the pressure on $ETH, Ethereum spot ETFs recorded three consecutive days of net outflows totalling around $117.8 million through October 1. $XRP funds have remained relatively more stable, though the token is not immune to the broader negative sentiment sweep.
Notably, Bitcoin ($BTC) sentiment stands in contrast, with its ratio sitting at 1.37, meaning the pessimism is concentrated squarely on the two altcoins rather than the broader market.
A Contrarian Signal Worth Watching @SantimentData is not sounding the alarm just yet. The firm has long argued that extreme crowd pessimism can set up a contrarian opportunity, noting that when traders become convinced prices are heading lower, much of the panic selling may already have happened. The underlying logic, widely observed in behavioral finance, is that the crowd tends to be most wrong at market turning points.
That said, @SantimentData cautioned that bearish sentiment alone does not guarantee a price recovery. Investors would still need to weigh market structure, technical support levels, and broader macro conditions before acting on any contrarian view. Upcoming catalysts for $XRP include Ripple's Swell conference and a Federal Reserve meeting later in October, either of which could shift the mood quickly.
Whether $ETH and $XRP can reclaim bullish momentum and challenge new all-time highs before year-end remains an open question. For now, the crowd is firmly in the bearish camp.
Sources:
BeInCrypto: Welcome to Uptober: ETH and XRP Sentiment Just Hit Multi-Month Lows
Bitcoin.com News: XRP Sentiment Turns Bearish as Bullish-to-Bearish Ratio Hits 0.67
Coin Edition: Ethereum and XRP Sentiment Has Suddenly Turned Very Negative
President Trump is weighing Jay Clayton, the former SEC chairman who sued Ripple, for the role of White House AI czar.
That possibility has unsettled parts of the crypto community, which is still watching Clayton’s regulatory legacy closely.
What Do Reports Say About Clayton as AI Czar?CNN reported that Trump is actively seeking to fill the AI czar position within days. Clayton currently serves as Director of National Intelligence, overseeing the 18-agency intelligence community.
Asked about the role, Trump called Clayton “a good man” and said having him take it “is a good idea.”
President Trump is expected to name his intelligence chief, Jay Clayton, as the White House's new AI czar.
Clayton already oversees 18 intelligence agencies and is expected to keep that post, folding AI policy into the spy portfolio.
The choice breaks with David Sacks, the… pic.twitter.com/tANpxHcWjy
— Rohan Paul (@rohanpaul_ai) October 2, 2026
Clayton signaled his approach to AI oversight during his July confirmation hearing for the intelligence post. He argued that AI requires careful handling because it represents both opportunity and risk.
Former AI czar David Sacks left the position in March. His government employee status had expired, leaving the role vacant for months while Trump searched for a replacement.
No formal timeline for naming a successor has been announced publicly.
Why Does Clayton’s Ripple Lawsuit Still Matter?Clayton led the SEC when it sued Ripple in December 2020. The agency alleged Ripple raised $1.3 billion through unregistered securities sales dating back to 2013.
A judge later found that $728.9 million in direct institutional sales qualified as unregistered offerings.
Other XRP sales, including programmatic trading, fell outside that classification.
The case closed in August 2025 with a $125 million penalty. That figure sat well under the roughly $2 billion the SEC originally sought from Ripple.
A permanent injunction still restricts how Ripple sells XRP to US institutions, even though the litigation has ended.
The lawsuit also triggered a two-and-a-half-year delisting from major exchanges. It later delayed XRP’s path to spot ETFs until November 2025, well after Bitcoin and Ethereum had already captured that institutional demand.
Crypto advocates fear Clayton could bring that same strict posture to his next role with AI regulation. Whether that caution extends to AI policy is unclear right now. No evidence suggests crypto rules would tighten under his watch.
The cryptocurrency market is showing clear signs of moving beyond a Bitcoin-centric phase, with altcoins such as XRP, Cardano, and Solana becoming increasingly prominent as capital flows begin to favor alternative digital assets. Recent moves across dominance metrics, exchange activity, and the Altcoin Season Index point to renewed interest in non-Bitcoin cryptocurrencies.
Altcoin season indicators gain momentumCoinMarketCap’s Altcoin Season Index (ASI) has climbed to 61, a significant rise from the lower readings seen during Bitcoin’s dominant run this past summer. While the classic threshold for a full-fledged “altcoin season” is an ASI above 75, the current level signals a notable rotation toward altcoins, though not at a euphoric pace.
Glassnode’s data confirms this shift. The ratio of total spot trading volume to Bitcoin spot volume has returned to the 3x to 4x range, indicating that traders are deploying more capital into alternative cryptocurrencies rather than concentrating solely on Bitcoin. Higher ratios have historically aligned with periods of altcoin outperformance.
On the derivatives side, Coinalyze’s open-interest dominance chart demonstrates Bitcoin’s share is declining as the collective altcoin share climbs toward the 40% level. This expansion suggests greater derivatives-based engagement in the altcoin market, going beyond simple speculative spikes seen during retail surges.
CryptoQuant reported an uptick in the seven-day cumulative transaction count for altcoin inflows, particularly through Binance, as Bitcoin’s price remained stable at higher levels. Rising inflows often signal increased trading activity and greater liquidity within the altcoin space.
Liquidity is returning to altcoins, and analysts view the shift as a sign that the market’s focus is broadening beyond Bitcoin, especially as inflows rise on major exchanges like Binance.
While increased altcoin exchange inflows can precede selling pressure, in the context of a rising ASI, these movements often indicate renewed market participation and optimism among altcoin traders.
XRP regains technical momentumXRP, a large-cap digital asset developed by Ripple Labs for efficient cross-border payments, is displaying notable technical resilience during this period of rotation. Its price is currently stable around $1.53 and has reclaimed key moving averages, including the 50-, 100-, and 200-day exponential moving averages, following a mid-year decline. The relative strength index (RSI) stands at approximately 59.5, reflecting constructive momentum without entering an overbought zone.
Overhead resistance levels for XRP are identified at $1.54 and $1.82, with additional supply zones at $2.42 and $2.70. Despite not yet breaking through these upper barriers, XRP’s recent structural shift positions it as a key beneficiary of capital rotation into large, liquid alternative coins with strong user communities.
Cardano and Solana benefit from capital flowsSolana and Cardano, two well-established layer-1 blockchain platforms, are also positioned to attract renewed capital amid the ongoing rotation. Solana, with its deep liquidity, institutional attention, and ETF speculation, typically experiences inflows early in such cycles. Cardano tends to follow, attracting traders seeking exposure to major blockchain ecosystems beyond the largest names.
Spot share expansion patterns from Glassnode support this perspective. Chains with active development, engaged communities, and substantial exchange coverage are often among the first to benefit as the ASI rises into the 60s and beyond.
Recent trends highlight that this period is an early-stage altcoin season where major projects regain importance, rather than a late-stage speculative rally dominated by less established tokens.
If the Altcoin Season Index continues to approach the 75 mark, large-cap projects such as Solana and Cardano are widely expected to see further inflows, reinforcing this new market dynamic.
For now, selective strength among established altcoins is evident, with XRP repairing its daily technical structure and Solana and Cardano emerging as primary destinations for the latest wave of liquidity.
Mini dictionary: Altcoin Season Index (ASI), a gauge that measures whether capital is rotating from Bitcoin into alternative cryptocurrencies, with values above 75 typically marking a robust “altcoin season.”
Index / MetricRecent ValueImplicationAltcoin Season Index61Altcoin rotation underway, but not yet a full seasonXRP Price$1.53Above key EMAs, constructive trendBTC to Total Spot Volume Ratio3x-4xIncreased altcoin trading activity
Crypto market analyst Ali Charts has outlined ambitious bull market targets for Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Solana, contingent on confirmed technical breakouts across their monthly charts. His projections, based on established chart patterns, suggest potential highs for each of the four major assets if current resistance levels are surpassed.
Bitcoin must clear $125,000 to target $190,000According to Ali Charts, Bitcoin has traded within a rising channel for the past two years. He has identified $125,000 as the key resistance level that Bitcoin needs to break in order to initiate a stronger upward move. Should Bitcoin achieve a decisive breakout above this level, it could potentially reach the channel’s upper boundary near $190,000. The analyst highlighted that this price is not guaranteed, emphasizing that the target depends entirely on Bitcoin maintaining momentum after clearing $125,000.
“Bitcoin has consistently respected the rising channel, with $125,000 as the critical threshold. Only a decisive move above this mark would bring the $190,000 cycle target into focus.”
Ethereum faces $5,000 resistance, eyes $8,800Turning to Ethereum, Ali Charts located a long-term channel on the monthly timeframe, with the upper boundary standing at $5,000. The analyst stated that Ethereum must first break this resistance before any higher target can be considered. If the breakout is confirmed, Ethereum could move toward $8,800, based on the measured move of the channel formation. Ali Charts framed this as a cycle target, not a guaranteed outcome, and pointed out that the projection remains conditional until Ethereum closes above that crucial $5,000 level.
XRP’s ascending triangle signals $31.87For XRP, analysis centers on an ascending triangle pattern, with resistance mapped near $3.66. Ali Charts signaled that a monthly close above $3.66 would confirm the bullish setup for a substantial price move. Should that breakout occur, the projection targets a level near $31.87, directly derived from the ascending triangle’s measured move. Until XRP solidifies a close above $3.66, the higher target remains speculative.
Mini dictionary: Ascending triangle, a chart pattern that forms when price follows a horizontal resistance line and a rising trendline, suggesting potential for a strong breakout if the resistance is crossed.
Solana could surge to $2,744 if neckline is brokenRegarding Solana, Ali Charts identified a cup-and-handle pattern on the monthly chart, highlighting the neckline at $295. The analyst insisted that a solid monthly close above this level would activate the bullish scenario. With the neckline crossed, Solana could aim for approximately $2,744, determined by the height of the pattern added to the breakout point. As with the other assets, this projection is tied to the confirmation of the technical setup.
Mini dictionary: Cup-and-handle formation, a bullish continuation pattern where price forms a ‘cup’ shape followed by a smaller consolidation forming the ‘handle,’ often preceding further upward movement if resistance is cleared.
Ali Charts summarized that the bullish projections for all four assets are contingent on overcoming these major resistance levels. The long-term targets are only considered actionable if clear breakouts are confirmed on monthly charts.
AssetKey ResistanceBull Market TargetPatternBitcoin (BTC)$125,000$190,000Rising channelEthereum (ETH)$5,000$8,800Long-term channelXRP$3.66$31.87Ascending triangleSolana (SOL)$295$2,744Cup-and-handle“Each of these targets depends on a confirmed breakout above the respective resistance. Until then, they remain potential cycle projections rather than guaranteed price points.”
Ali Charts is a widely followed cryptocurrency analyst known for technical analysis and market commentary across major digital assets. The technical patterns discussed, such as ascending triangles and cup-and-handle formations, are commonly used tools among traders to predict potential breakout directions in price charts.
No timeframe was suggested for the targets, and all were described as conditional upon the assets achieving breakout confirmation. Traders and investors are advised to monitor these resistance levels closely as the market develops.
XRP price is facing selling pressure after a failed breakout left buyers struggling to hold the $1.46 support level.
Analyst ChartNerd believes a break below this level puts XRP on track for further losses before the end of 2026.
In a recent post on X, ChartNerd said XRP’s bullish breakout had failed after the price dropped below key Fibonacci levels. Now, buyers need to defend the $1.45–$1.46 area for XRP to recover and move back above the 50-week exponential moving average (EMA).
This is the same support zone he highlighted earlier. His latest warning puts XRP at a key turning point: holding this level supports a recovery, while losing it opens the door to further declines.
At press time, XRP is hovering around $1.48, dipping by 3.5% over the past day. The coin reached $1.55 during this period but quickly retraced to lower levels.
XRP Price Faces Resistance Below ChartNerd’s chart shows XRP trading in a narrow range, with a downward-sloping resistance line preventing a recovery. Support sits around $1.46.
The pattern resembles a descending triangle. Sellers are pushing the price lower, while buyers are defending the same support level. For XRP to improve its outlook, the price needs to break above the downward trendline and hold there.
The bigger concern is the downside. A break below $1.46 would weaken the current support structure and send the price lower. Meanwhile, holding above it gives buyers another opportunity to push higher, while breaking below it signals further downside.
XRP price | ChartNerd $1.52 EMA Rejection Keeps Lower Prices in Focus In another post, ChartNerd described two paths for XRP by the end of the year. Both depend on whether XRP moves back above the 50-week EMA, which sits around $1.52.
If XRP continues getting rejected at $1.52 and fails to hold above it on weekly closes, ChartNerd says the price heads toward the lower-$1 range by year-end.
This would extend the damage from XRP’s failed breakout. Instead of recovering, the token would continue forming lower highs as sellers maintain control. A brief move above $1.52 is not enough. XRP needs to remain above this level to confirm that the downtrend is weakening.
Meanwhile, ChartNerd does not say XRP price will definitely fall to the lower-$1 range. He identifies it as an outcome tied to continued weakness below the 50-week EMA.
BITSTAMP XRP/USD Chart Showing 50-EMA Rejection What Improves XRP Year-End Outlook? Despite the bearish warning, ChartNerd also sees a recovery path for XRP. If XRP moves above the 50-week EMA and then rises toward $1.80, the token would form a higher low before the end of 2026.
A higher low means the price finds support above its previous major low. This signals weakening selling pressure and strengthening demand. For XRP, that setup would suggest the recent decline is part of a recovery.
But XRP first needs to hold the $1.45–$1.46 support zone, reclaim $1.52, and then advance toward $1.80. Until it reclaims those levels, downside pressure remains intact.
Cover image via depositphotos.com Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.
Next Thursday, October 8, 2026, trading in Evernorth shares under the ticker XRPN will begin on Nasdaq. The market is getting a new kind of player. This is not a passive ETF, but a fully fledged treasury ready to work directly with the Ripple and XRP Ledger ecosystem.
Evernorth's financial foundation is 473 million XRP on its balance sheet. This is the largest legally held XRP pool among publicly traded companies worldwide. The merger with SPAC Armada II, approved by shareholders on September 30, attracted more than $1 billion in combined investments. Its anchor investors include Ripple, SBI Group, Pantera Capital, and the Kraken exchange.
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Instead of freezing the assets, Evernorth will deploy the coins in DeFi protocols and arbitrage trades on the XRP Ledger.
The goal is to continuously increase the amount of net XRP held per XRPN share. For the token's spot market, this means a large-scale withdrawal of liquidity from circulation. When large volumes move into a publicly traded company's treasury, a supply crunch emerges. If current demand holds, this becomes the main fundamental driver toward $2.
A coiled spring and a green October: What is happening with the price right nowThe Nasdaq launch coincides with maximum tension on the price charts. On the weekly timeframe, the asset is holding in consolidation around $1.50, where moving averages (MAs) have formed a dense support zone between $1.26 and $1.45. On the daily chart, prices are pressing against the upper Bollinger Band near $1.63, signaling readiness for an impulse move.
XRP price analysis chart under the $2 roadmap narrative within Bollinger Bands, Source: TradingViewThis technical squeeze comes against an exceptionally strong historical backdrop. October 2026 began in the green (+0.93%), following strong gains in August (+30%) and September (+7.95%). Historically, the fourth quarter is the asset's strongest period. XRP's average historical return in November is +80.2%, and in December, +63.1%. The Nasdaq listing just as the strong season begins creates a cumulative effect.
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Two clear market risks should be factored into the path to $2:
Speculative pattern: The classic "buy the rumor, sell the news" pattern could prompt traders to take quick profits and trigger sharp volatility in the first days of XRPN trading.Equity-market anchor: A Nasdaq listing means direct exposure to the health of the U.S. market. Any broad correction in U.S. indexes could slow the fund's performance, even if the crypto market remains stable.Evernorth's launch is a regulated gateway that removes legal risks for U.S. funds buying XRP. Wall Street is opening a new form of exposure to altcoins, accelerating the asset's repricing.
The XRP Ledger now has a dedicated regional cheerleader. XRP Asia has officially launched with a mission to promote growth and adoption of the XRP Ledger, or XRPL, across Asia.
XRP Asia is led by President Sabrina Tachdjian. She joins from the Hedera Foundation, where she served as VP of Fintech & Payments.
Seoul gets the first big stage XRP Asia’s first major public moment is already scheduled. Tachdjian is set to speak at an event titled “Special Announcement: What’s Coming Next for the XRP Ecosystem in Asia.”
The session is slated for October 3, 2026, at the Grand Hyatt Seoul during Korea Blockchain Week. It will be co-presented with Tatsuya Kohrogi of Ripple.
South Korean institutions including Woori Bank and Kakao Bank are slated to participate in the XRP Seoul event.
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Discussion topics are expected to cover cross-border payments and tokenized deposits. Think of a tokenized deposit as an ordinary bank balance that has been given a digital twin on a blockchain. The money is still a bank deposit, but it can move with the speed and programmability of a crypto token.
Japan already has a head start Ripple already has a notable regional foothold through SBI Ripple Asia, a joint venture between SBI Holdings and Ripple.
SBI Ripple Asia’s token issuance platform was registered under Japan’s Fund Settlement Act on March 26, 2026. Registration under it gives the platform an official stamp to operate.
The regulatory green light was followed by an announcement in early April 2026 that development of the full platform was complete.
Daily XRP trading on leading South Korean exchanges such as Upbit has surpassed the volumes recorded on several major global platforms.
Upgrades on the technical side The XRPL itself is also due for changes around the same window. Upcoming protocol upgrades named Batch and Permission Delegation are planned for early October 2026.
What this means A dedicated body, a Ripple executive on stage, and two Korean banks in attendance form a clearer institutional narrative than XRP has historically had in Asia.
Tachdjian’s move from the Hedera Foundation to XRP Asia illustrates how competitive the race for institutional blockchain business has become.
Japan’s Fund Settlement Act registration for SBI Ripple Asia shows that a compliant path exists in at least one major Asian market.
The key dates to circle are early October 2026, when the Batch and Permission Delegation upgrades are planned, and October 3, 2026, when the Seoul announcement is set to take place.
Disclosure: This article was edited by John Chen. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Trading for Evernorth shares under the ticker XRPN will begin on Nasdaq on Thursday, October 8, 2026, introducing a new type of player to the market. Unlike traditional passive ETFs, Evernorth operates as a treasury actively engaging with Ripple and the XRP Ledger ecosystem, marking a significant entry point for institutional involvement in XRP.
Largest public XRP holding and key backersEvernorth’s financial structure is underpinned by a sizable balance sheet holding 473 million XRP, which represents the largest legally held XRP reserve among publicly listed companies globally. This large-scale holding has become possible following Evernorth’s merger with Armada II, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). Shareholders approved the merger on September 30, resulting in over $1 billion of combined investments into the new entity.
Anchor investors in the Evernorth offering include Ripple, the blockchain-focused technology company behind XRP; SBI Group, a major Japanese financial services firm; Pantera Capital, a prominent crypto investment fund; and Kraken, a leading US-based cryptocurrency exchange.
Evernorth takes a different approach from passive strategies by planning to utilize its XRP holdings in decentralized finance (DeFi) protocols and to conduct arbitrage trading directly on the XRP Ledger. This strategy positions the company to generate yield while remaining fully engaged with the network’s ecosystem.
Mini dictionary: SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company) — A corporate structure that raises capital through an initial public offering (IPO) with the aim of merging with or acquiring an existing company, enabling that company to go public without a traditional IPO process.
Potential supply squeeze and price implicationsEvernorth’s stated goal is to steadily increase the amount of net XRP backing each XRPN share. For the broader market, consolidating a large volume of XRP within a publicly traded company’s balance sheet could reduce available liquidity, creating conditions for a supply crunch. If investor demand remains consistent, this tightening of supply is likely to become a central fundamental factor driving the price toward the $2 mark.
The XRPN debut occurs at a technically significant time for XRP. The asset recently consolidated around $1.50, with weekly moving averages forming a dense support band between $1.26 and $1.45. On the daily chart, prices approaching the upper Bollinger Band at $1.63 suggest the possibility of an imminent breakout.
PeriodXRP Average ReturnAugust 2026+30%September 2026+7.95%October 2026 (to date)+0.93%November (average)+80.2%December (average)+63.1%Historically, XRP’s strongest period has been the fourth quarter, with November and December showing average double-digit returns. The XRPN listing coinciding with the seasonal trend could amplify price momentum if these patterns hold.
Risks and broader market impactDespite bullish technical and seasonal signals, analysts have highlighted two key risks for the XRPN launch. Markets may see a “buy the rumor, sell the news” reaction, where early traders take profits shortly after trading begins, likely contributing to higher volatility during the opening sessions. In addition, exposure to Nasdaq means Evernorth’s performance could be affected by broader trends in US equities, with any sharp corrections in the indexes potentially slowing XRPN’s short-term growth, irrespective of the crypto market’s direction.
With a regulatory structure designed to address compliance concerns, Evernorth’s launch opens a direct pathway for US funds to obtain legal exposure to XRP. Market observers view this as a milestone for Wall Street’s evolving relationship with altcoins, accelerating the pace of institutional adoption into the ecosystem.
By securing the largest legally held pool of XRP among public companies, Evernorth aims to actively grow its reserves, signaling a fundamental shift in how large institutions can participate in the $XRP economy.
A sharp divergence has emerged in the crypto market between Evernorth’s new treasury stock, XRPN, and the underlying XRP token. On October 2, crypto commentator Nate observed that XRPN, the stock associated with Evernorth’s XRP holdings, soared by 68.25% in a single day and posted a 272.6% increase on the week.
XRPN listing triggers market disconnectEvernorth Holdings, a digital asset treasury company focused on XRP, recently completed a merger with Armada Acquisition Corp. II, a special purpose acquisition company (SPAC). Armada shareholders voted to approve the business combination on September 30, and the announcement followed on October 1. XRPN, now listed on Nasdaq, is scheduled to officially begin trading on October 8.
Evernorth holds the position as the largest XRP treasury among public companies, managing approximately 473 million XRP. The firm’s backers include Ripple, Arrington Capital, SBI Group, Pantera Capital, Kraken, and GSR. The deal raised over $1 billion in new funds for Evernorth’s operations.
Unlike passive crypto funds, Evernorth aims to actively manage its substantial XRP assets through lending, liquidity provision, and participation in on-chain projects. The management’s objective is to grow the amount of XRP per share with an active strategy rather than simple holding.
Mini dictionary: SPAC (Special Purpose Acquisition Company), a publicly traded company created to merge with or acquire a private company, enabling the target to be publicly listed more quickly than through a traditional IPO.
XRP price drops despite positive newsWhile news of Evernorth’s public listing would be expected to bolster XRP’s price, the token declined by 2.67% to $1.46, trading on $4 billion in 24-hour volume. Market participants voiced their frustration at this counterintuitive move, as Evernorth’s concentrated XRP holdings and institutional backing were considered positive drivers.
XRPN’s stock soared before trading had even officially begun, while XRP slipped in value despite news that could have increased institutional demand.
Evernorth’s listing theoretically simplifies institutional access to XRP by enabling traditional investors to gain exposure through regulated stock markets, without needing to hold the token directly. This increased visibility was anticipated to generate additional demand and price support for XRP.
AssetOne-day changeHeld by EvernorthCurrent statusXRPN (Nasdaq)+68.25%N/A (Stock represents XRP holding)Will begin trading Oct 8XRP (token)-2.67%473 million (held by Evernorth)Actively tradingCommunity reaction and skepticismThe sudden rise in XRPN prompted confusion among market observers. Several community members noted that XRPN’s stock price had jumped ahead of its formal launch. Some commenters expressed concern that early investors and insiders might be benefiting disproportionately, raising questions about exit liquidity for long-held XRP positions.
Skepticism persists within parts of the XRP investor base, with some individuals repeating long-standing criticisms about the token’s inability to capitalize on ostensibly favorable developments. Uncertainty remains around whether XRPN’s trading debut will meaningfully affect the price of XRP itself.
Many community members questioned how XRPN could rally while the underlying XRP asset slipped, underscoring persistent doubts about market dynamics and fairness.
Outlook for XRPN and XRPAs XRP’s price dipped and XRPN’s valuation rose dramatically, attention turned to whether this gap will close once XRPN begins formal trading on Nasdaq. The relationship between public XRP treasuries like Evernorth and the token’s market value remains the subject of intense debate.
XRP Asia officially launched on October 3, 2026, and it did not start quietly. The newly formed regional body debuted with a live session at the Grand Hyatt Seoul during Korea Blockchain Week.
Its mandate: accelerate XRP Asia Ledger adoption across the region, support builders, and bring banks onto the rails.
Woori Bank and Kakao Bank were among the institutions on stage alongside Ripple’s Tatsuya Kohrogi, signalling that this is not a community-only play.
Korean Banks Are Already Moving, XRP Asia Arrives as Rails Go Live Leading the entity is President Sabrina Tachdjian, who previously served as VP of Fintech and Payments at the Hedera Foundation.
That background matters. Tachdjian brings regulated-finance experience at a moment when XRP Asia is trying to move Korean and broader Asian institutions past pilots and into production.
The launch lands on a foundation of real deployments, not promises.
South Korea’s Jeonbuk Bank already replaced multi-day SWIFT windows with real-time Ripple Payments, a shift that showed cross-border rails can run inside a regulated Korean bank.
Shortly after, SBI and Kyobo completed a direct yen-to-won stablecoin transfer, a pilot that skipped the dollar leg entirely for the first time in the Japan-Korea corridor.
Retail appetite in Korea is equally visible. XRP has repeatedly led volume on Upbit, including stretches where weekly exchange volume hit roughly $8 billion on South Korea’s top exchange.
That kind of retail flow gives institutions a liquid market to build around.
In Japan, SBI Ripple Asia went further. The joint venture registered a regulated token issuance platform under Japan’s Fund Settlement Act in March 2026, completing an institutional-grade bridge between XRPL and Japanese financial law.
SBI Holdings has also moved to deepen that position, signing a deal to acquire Bitbank, a timeline that tightens Japan’s XRP banking stack.
Protocol Upgrades Add Institutional Tooling at the Right Moment The timing of XRP Asia’s launch aligns with two protocol changes that matter for banks.
Permission Delegation and Batch amendments are inside the early-October activation window on XRPL.
Permission Delegation lets one account grant another narrowly scoped rights, payments, compliance approvals, without sharing master keys.
That is built for bank-style separation of duties. Batch allows grouped transactions to settle or fail together, enabling atomic multi-party flows.
RippleX shipped an audited Batch V1.1, and the amendment has now entered its validator vote, a step that moves atomic settlement from proposal to near-activation.
For the institutions at Seoul discussing tokenized deposits and cross-border payments, these are not background upgrades. They are infrastructure the use cases depend on.
The ledger’s credibility with institutions also stretches beyond Asia.
South Africa’s Absa became the first African bank to offer XRPL-based custody, a data point that frames the ledger as a global bank stack, not a regional experiment.
The Bank for International Settlements has also used XRPL to anchor official statistics, making data tamper-proof, a use case that adds regulatory legitimacy to what the Seoul sessions are pitching.
The XRP Ledger Foundation welcomed the new entity, noting that APAC is already one of the most active parts of the XRPL ecosystem. BankXRP framed it more directly.
Asia is deploying financial rails while Western regulatory debate continues. Ripple eyes the $155 trillion cross-border payments market, and the Seoul event suggests Korean banks are now a named part of that plan.
TLDR Crypto analyst Ali Martinez identifies an ascending triangle formation on XRP’s monthly timeframe, with a critical resistance zone around $3.66. Should XRP successfully breach $3.66 with a monthly close, the technical pattern suggests a measured move toward $31.87. Martinez has also outlined ambitious long-term price targets for Bitcoin ($190,000), Ethereum ($8,800), and Solana ($2,744) using comparable chart structures. An alternative two-week fractal pattern indicates XRP could deliver a 125% surge to the $3.40-$3.50 zone if historical cycles continue. Data from major exchanges reveals that large XRP transactions are representing an increasingly dominant portion of total outflows. XRP changed hands near $1.48 on October 3, experiencing modest declines in the previous 24-hour period.
XRP Price Despite the recent pullback, the digital asset has appreciated more than 50% from its August bottom, mirroring the broader cryptocurrency market’s positive momentum.
Technical strategist Ali Martinez has been examining XRP’s behavior on the monthly chart. His analysis reveals the development of an ascending triangle configuration.
4/6 $XRP appears to be forming an ascending triangle on its monthly chart, with resistance near $3.66.
A monthly close above that level would confirm the breakout and bring the pattern’s projected target near $31.87 into view. pic.twitter.com/26cqEieeUo
— Ali Charts (@alicharts) October 2, 2026
This technical structure features a horizontal resistance barrier positioned near $3.66. XRP has approached this threshold multiple times but has yet to secure a monthly close beyond it.
According to Martinez, a decisive monthly candle close above $3.66 would validate the breakout. The analyst notes that applying the pattern’s measurement technique yields a price objective of $31.87.
Such an advance from present pricing to $31.87 would represent an approximate 2,000% increase. Martinez emphasizes this represents a technical projection rather than a certainty.
Cross-Asset Analysis: Bitcoin, Ethereum, And Solana Targets Martinez extended his technical framework to several other prominent digital assets.
His Bitcoin assessment identifies a two-year rising channel formation. Should the cryptocurrency break through the upper boundary of this channel, Martinez projects a potential advance toward $190,000—approximately 125% higher than current trading levels.
Ethereum’s monthly chart displays a channel pattern that has developed over five years. If the asset rebounds from the $5,000 level, Martinez calculates a target of $8,800, representing a 231% gain.
Solana’s chart structure resembles a cup-and-handle formation with a neckline situated around $295. A confirmed breakout from this level could theoretically drive prices toward $2,744—a substantial 2,186% appreciation.
Market participant MikybullCrypto offered additional perspective on XRP’s technical positioning. The trader stated that “$XRP is one of the most bullish charts out there,” identifying a potential target window between $5 and $7 should the breakout scenario materialize.
This assessment aligns directionally with Martinez’s ascending triangle observation, though the specific price objectives differ between the two analysts.
Shorter-Timeframe Fractal Suggests Nearer-Term Rally Potential A different technical approach from FXEmpire focuses on a recurring two-week chart fractal in XRP’s price history.
Source: FXEmpire Historical data shows XRP has repeatedly developed a descending resistance trendline following major tops, while maintaining a long-duration ascending support line below.
This configuration emerged after XRP’s 2018 high, ultimately producing a 900% rally into 2021. The same structure appeared following 2021’s peak, generating a 150% advance into 2025.
The technical setup now appears to be developing for a third iteration. XRP is bouncing from the intersection where its descending resistance converges with the multi-year ascending support.
The two-week Relative Strength Index has recovered toward the 50 level. The token currently trades above both its 20-period and 100-period exponential moving averages, though a successful recapture of the 50-period EMA near $1.59 would provide additional technical confirmation.
Should this fractal pattern continue its historical behavior, XRP could reach the $3.40-$3.50 range—representing approximately 125% upside from current prices.
On-chain metrics provide supporting evidence. Binance data shows that XRP transfers exceeding 1 million tokens accounted for 60.8% of daily outflow value on September 30, climbing from approximately 45% in mid-August.
Coinbase exhibited comparable trends, with transfers above the million-token threshold reaching 48.7% of outflow value by September’s end, up from roughly 30% in early July.
XRP traded near $1.48 on October 3, reflecting slight declines over the previous 24 hours. Despite the recent dip, the digital asset remains up more than 50% from its August low, following the broader upbeat momentum across cryptocurrencies.
Ascending triangle sets $31.87 technical targetTechnical analyst Ali Martinez has identified an ascending triangle formation in XRP’s monthly chart. This key technical pattern typically signals a period of consolidation, marked by rising lows converging with a horizontal resistance line.
In this case, XRP’s resistance sits at $3.66, a level tested multiple times but not yet surpassed on a monthly closing basis. Martinez stated that a close above this barrier would confirm the breakout and calculate a price objective at $31.87.
A decisive monthly close above $3.66 would validate a breakout from the ascending triangle and translate—according to pattern measurement technique—to a target near $31.87. This is a technical projection, not a guaranteed result.
Such a move from XRP’s current price would represent a gain of around 2,000%. Martinez underlined that while the technical structure provides an ambitious target, it does not ensure the price will achieve this level.
Broader technical outlook: Bitcoin, Ethereum, SolanaMartinez’s approach extended beyond XRP, including leading cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. He observed a two-year rising channel in Bitcoin, with a potential upward break pointing to $190,000, or about 125% higher from prevailing market rates.
For Ethereum, Martinez highlighted a five-year channel and identified an $8,800 target if the asset rebounds from the $5,000 zone, implying a potential 231% increase. Solana’s technical profile features a cup-and-handle structure. With the neckline at $295, a confirmed breakout might bring about a surge to $2,744—representing a 2,186% rally from current levels.
Trader MikybullCrypto added that $XRP remains one of the most bullish setups in the crypto market, proposing a target between $5 and $7 under a breakout scenario. This view partially aligns with Martinez’s, though MikybullCrypto’s range is more conservative than the $31.87 projection.
$XRP is considered one of the most bullish charts, with potential for a valid target in the $5-$7 area if the breakout takes shape.
Shorter-term fractal and on-chain signalsA different technical lens comes from FXEmpire, which tracks a recurring two-week fractal accompanied by a descending resistance and a long-term rising support line on the XRP chart. This pattern previously led to a 900% rally following the 2018 high and a 150% rise after the 2021 peak.
Currently, XRP is bouncing from the intersection of descending resistance and ascending support. The two-week Relative Strength Index has approached 50, and prices are positioned above both 20-period and 100-period exponential moving averages. However, recapturing the 50-period EMA near $1.59 would further strengthen the technical case for a breakout.
If this fractal sequence continues, analysts note XRP could climb to the $3.40-$3.50 range, signaling about 125% upside from current levels.
Supporting on-chain data from Binance showed that XRP transfers exceeding 1 million tokens made up 60.8% of daily outflow value on September 30, up from roughly 45% in August. Coinbase reflected similar activity, with outflows above one million tokens rising from 30% in early July to 48.7% by the end of September.
For traders monitoring volatile scenarios hinging on breakout confirmations, consolidating resources and reacting efficiently becomes critical. In a market where a single Fed decision or a sudden altcoin listing can change everything in seconds, jumping between different apps for charts, news, and portfolio tracking is costing investors money. Smart traders are now utilizing privacy-first tools like CryptoAppsy to consolidate everything. Without even the hassle of creating an account, you get real-time charts, smart price alerts, coin-specific news, and critical macro data all on one screen.
XRP Asia has officially launched at XRP Seoul 2026, with a focus on growing the XRP Ledger (XRPL) across the Asia Pacific region. The new group aims to bring more businesses, developers, and financial institutions onto the network.
The launch comes just before two major XRPL upgrades, Batch and Permission Delegation, planned for early October 2026.
XRP Asia is led by Sabrina Tachdjian, former vice president of the Hedera Foundation. She is set to speak on 3 Oct, at the Grand Hyatt Seoul during Korea Blockchain Week at an event titled “Special Announcement: What’s Coming Next for the XRP Ecosystem in Asia.”
The event also featured representatives from Woori Bank, K Bank and JB Bank in a panel on cross-border payments and tokenized deposits.
Its strategy covers four areas, technology, startup success, community, and marketing.
The group plans to support developers through training, micro-grants, early stage investments, and go-to-market support. Its focus also extends beyond DeFi to retail applications, AI-based payments and non-financial enterprise use cases.
XRP Moves From Payments Toward CreditThe next phase will move beyond ecosystem building. At XRP Seoul 2026, Ripple President Monica Long said the company plans to connect the XRP Ledger (XRPL) with payment infrastructure.
She further said,
“We are running credit-related pilots with the goal of activation next year.
The plan includes using pooled XRP as collateral to help fund customer payments
The plan follows SBI Ripple Asia approval under Japan’s Payment Services Act as a Third-Party Prepaid Payment Instrument Issuer, supporting regulated prepaid token activity on the XRPL
October Core Protocol UpgradesThe regional rollout is also arriving alongside two planned protocol upgrades, including Permission Delegation Infrastructure and Batch Amendment.
First, the Permission Delegation Infrastructure update is set for 8 Oct. It will allow companies to delegate transaction signing without giving up control of their main wallets.
Second, the Batch Amendment is set for 9 Oct. It will allow multiple transactions to be grouped and processed in a single ledger entry, helping improve speed and efficiency for high-volume activity.
Both upgrades will need more than 80% validator support during the activation period.
Story Ends Here
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Evernorth may be just a few days away from officially listing on Nasdaq, as it has nearly completed all steps necessary for the major event.
While the leading XRP treasury firm has officially secured approval from the U.S. SEC just after Armada shareholders embraced its business combination proposal, latest reports show that a listing date is now in view for Evernorth's upcoming Nasdaq debut.
Evernorth's XRPN expected to list on October 8Following its relentless pursuit to become a publicly traded XRP treasury company, Evernorth has successfully completed a key shareholder vote and filed additional documents with the SEC.
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A few months ago, Evernorth had initially filed its Form S-4 registration statement with the SEC, leaving shareholder approval and other closing requirements among the final steps toward the public listing.
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With the recent shareholder approval, the Evernorth–Armada business combination represents a stepping stone to its Nasdaq debut, as the transaction is expected to close on October 7.
Upon the close of the transaction, shares of the combined company are expected to begin trading on Nasdaq on October 8. Nonetheless, it is important to note that the shares, which will be listed under the XRPN ticker, are subject to the completion of the remaining closing conditions.
Evernorth to top its balance sheet with 473 million XRPFurthermore, Evernorth has declared that it expects to hold up to 473 million XRP on its balance sheet following the close of the transaction.
If this happens, the company believes it would emerge as the largest publicly traded XRP treasury company, fortifying its presence in the crypto ecosystem.
While investors have also contributed their XRP holdings to the transaction, the transaction is expected to provide Evernorth with about $300 million in gross cash proceeds.
XRP Ledger (XRPL) network activity recorded a strong surge, with one of its key throughput metrics rising 60% over a recent 24-hour period. This uptick highlights continued elevated use of the network compared to its performance throughout much of the past year.
Transactions per ledger surges past baselineXRPScan data shows that transactions per ledger, a core measure of XRPL operations, recently climbed to about 128.4. For comparison, the 30-day average stands at 109.88 transactions per ledger. The metric also previously hit 142.43 on September 29, signaling that activity remains well above its longer-term average.
This indicator tracks the average number of transactions included in each validated XRPL ledger. Unlike simply tallying total daily transactions, this metric offers a better picture of how densely ledgers are being packed as the network processes activity.
A sustained climb in transactions per ledger indicates intensified network demand. Since August, XRPL has shown repeated bursts reaching 150 to 200 transactions per ledger, which is a clear contrast to June and July, when values typically held between 60 and 100.
A reading 17% above the 30-day moving average, even after retreating from September highs, indicates a lasting shift in demand, rather than an isolated daily anomaly.
Interpretation and contextIt is important to note a higher throughput does not necessarily translate to increased demand for XRP tokens or immediately influence the price. Transactions on XRPL remain inexpensive, and volume can originate from a range of sources including payments, decentralized exchange activity, token transfers, or automated tasks. For market observers, a persistent rise in activity over several days carries much greater importance than a brief single-day surge.
Fundamentally, network expansion supports the broader case for XRP when these metrics hold above their historical baselines for extended periods. The most notable confirmation would be transactions per ledger consistently trending above the 30-day average, rather than quickly falling back to previous levels.
Despite the latest 60% daily increase, the all-time high for this metric remains at 329.29 transactions per ledger, according to XRPScan. This indicates that current network utilization, while elevated, is far from previous records, suggesting there is substantial remaining capacity before congestion becomes an issue.
Trends in meme token tradingSimilar patterns of rapid increases in network activity have been observed across other digital asset markets, especially in the meme token sector. As technical indicators such as transaction density or sudden bursts are monitored, both investors and platforms have emphasized the importance of tracking timing and token choices for optimal outcomes.
In the meme token market, an internet trend can transform into millions of dollars of interest within days. According to data shared by Fomo App, a trade involving “Niu Lai”—which turned an initial $99 investment into approximately $370,000—stands out as a striking example of this activity. In this market, tracking not only prices but also the timing and token choices of investors is crucial. Fomo App brings token discovery and trading together on a single platform, featuring social feeds, investor rankings, and trade notifications. Discover Fomo App to follow the world of meme tokens alongside investor activity.
Ultimately, while the recent surge in XRPL network activity reveals increased interest and usage, its long-term significance will depend on whether this elevated performance can be sustained over time and what impact it has on the broader market landscape.
In This Article Can XRP Price Hold $1.47 Support This Week?XRP News Today: Does the Escrow Unlock Change the Picture?Maxi Doge Targets Early-Mover Interest as XRP Tests Resistance In XRP news today, the token trades near $1.53, up about 4% over 24 hours, as traders look ahead to Ripple’s conference in Seoul. A scheduled “Special Announcement” has revived $100 price targets, but the agenda does not say what Ripple plans to reveal.
The session runs from 2:15 p.m. to 2:35 p.m. on October 3. It features Tatsuya Kohrogi, Ripple’s ecosystem growth manager, and Sabrina Tachdjian, president of XRP Asia.
It follows a panel on cross-border payments and tokenized deposits with Ripple, K Bank, Kyobo Securities, Woori Bank and JB Bank. Ripple president Monica Long will also speak about XRP in institutional finance.
The program confirms the time slot only. It names no partnership, product or deployment. Korea’s blockchain event calendar explains why Seoul is drawing institutional attention, and Ripple already has local payments ties, as covered in this report on Ripple and Jeonbuk Bank.
Software engineer Vincent Van Code and commentator Pumpius have fueled the $100 talk. Those targets would require massive adoption and a far larger market. For now, they are long-term speculation, not chart targets.
I've been hearing a lot of people say "if there was a chance XRP would go to $100 everyone would buy it up to $20 already".
Surely you all know about Bitcoin or ETH.
Once full confidence kicks in, XRP will rise in a saw tooth manner for the next 3 years, up to $100 or more
— Vincent Van Code (@vincent_vancode) September 27, 2026
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Can XRP Price Hold $1.47 Support This Week? XRPUSDT Chart 1D TradingView XRP’s market cap stands near $97.1 billion, with daily volume up about 19% to $3.67 billion.
The four-hour chart shows XRP stuck between $1.47 and $1.56 since late September, after failing near $1.65 on September 23. Analysts see a symmetrical triangle with trendlines meeting around October 3. That makes the conference a likely volatility trigger, though not a signal of direction.
Resistance: $1.54–$1.56, then $1.59, and the $1.61 range ceiling Support: $1.47–$1.48, then $1.38 and $1.25 Bull case: XRP clears $1.59 and breaks its eight-month ceiling near $1.61. Base case: XRP consolidates between $1.47 and $1.59 until Ripple reveals details. Bear case: A daily close below $1.47 puts $1.38 at risk, with $1.25 as the floor of the broader range. DISCOVER: Best New Cryptocurrencies to Invest in 2026
XRP News Today: Does the Escrow Unlock Change the Picture? RIPPLE’S $XRP ESCROW IS IN MOTION. 🔓
1 BILLION XRP has been unlocked across four transactions.
400M ➝ 200M ➝ 300M ➝ 100M
THE MONTHLY ESCROW CYCLE HAS BEGUN. pic.twitter.com/TklHetwmhz
— XRP Update (@XrpUdate) October 1, 2026
Ripple released 1 billion XRP from escrow on October 1 across four transactions. The Daily XRP Briefing noted that Ripple usually returns unused tokens to escrow, so the full amount is unlikely to reach the market.
ETF demand is holding up. U.S. spot XRP ETFs took in about $4.07 million on October 1, after two days of zero flows. That compares with $102.7 million into Bitcoin funds, while Ethereum and Solana ETFs saw outflows of $55.4 million and $5.9 million.
The XRP Ledger also faces upcoming upgrades, with server operators preparing for the Batch amendment. For XRP news today, the escrow unlock, ETF flows, and network upgrades all set the stage.
Ripple’s October 1 escrow release totaled 1 billion XRP across four transactions; unused tokens are typically returned to escrow. Ripple’s local payments activity is part of the broader backdrop, as covered in this report on Ripple and Jeonbuk Bank. What matters next is evidence of usage, not the size of the headline.
For more regional context, Korea’s blockchain event calendar helps explain the institutional attention around Seoul.
Maxi Doge Targets Early-Mover Interest as XRP Tests Resistance
XRP’s 24-hour rise gives bulls a reason to watch the Seoul announcement, but resistance remains close, and the event’s details are still withheld. If XRP stalls below $1.59, traders looking for a different risk profile may consider early-stage tokens, where uncertainty is higher, not lower.
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Jay Clayton, the former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman whose agency brought the landmark lawsuit against XRP-linked company Ripple, is expected to be named the White House’s new artificial intelligence czar.
Clayton currently serves as director of national intelligence. According to reports on Friday, he is expected to keep that job despite the new appointment.
He has gone from running Wall Street’s main regulator to advising crypto companies, serving as Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor, and eventually being the country's intelligence chief and likely spearheading America's AI developments.
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The Senate confirmed Clayton as director of national intelligence on July 28. Artificial intelligence was already part of the discussion. During his July confirmation hearing, Clayton called AI a "game changer."
Clayton remains best remembered for suing Ripple, which happened on his way out of the SEC.
Clayton's crypto history Clayton took over the SEC in May 2017. The start of his tenure coincided with the initial coin offering mania.
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In December 2017, Clayton said many of the token offerings he had seen looked like securities offerings.
According to SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce, Clayton told lawmakers that he believed every ICO he had seen was a security.
Clayton also refrained from approving Bitcoin ETFs despite viewing the leading cryptocurrency as a commodity.
Still, he is primarily known for suing Ripple. The SEC claimed that XRP sales amounted to unregistered securities, and Clayton's battle was later picked up by Gary Gensler. The SEC ended up losing.
After leaving the SEC, Clayton became involved with several crypto-focused companies. In early 2021, Clayton also joined One River Digital Asset Management’s Academic and Regulatory Advisory Council. Coinbase acquired the latter in March 2023.
Back then, Clayton also said that the approval of a U.S. spot Bitcoin ETF was "inevitable."
Chainalysis attributed the September 24 theft of $387 million from Bitget to North Korean actors, according to its October 1 investigation report.
The firm said the attack brought crypto thefts linked to North Korea above $1 billion in 2026.
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Within three hours, the stolen funds moved in 23 transfers across Ethereum, XRP, Zcash and Tron. Chainalysis put their shares at 49.7%, 40.8%, 7.6% and 1.8%, respectively.
Attackers converted stolen XRP into Bitcoin through a cross-chain liquidity protocol. Investigators matched deposits with payouts and followed tens of millions of dollars to attacker-controlled Bitcoin addresses.
Chainalysis said AI-built automation reduced one bridge-reconciliation task from more than 20 hours to under 10 minutes. Human investigators reviewed outputs and directed the work.
The firm said it would continue monitoring destination addresses and sharing information with exchanges and law enforcement.
Disclosure: This article was edited by John Chen. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Crypto analyst CrediBULL Crypto and influencer Digital Asset Investor have brought renewed attention to XRP by sharing bullish price forecasts and emphasizing a significant move could be forthcoming. Their commentary highlights growing optimism among technical traders.
Growing optimism among technical analystsDigital Asset Investor spotlighted CrediBULL Crypto’s perspective, noting that several chart-focused analysts are turning increasingly bullish on XRP’s prospects this cycle. CrediBULL Crypto stated that XRP could be “set for one of the greatest runs of the cycle, even greater than Ethereum in terms of ROI from the lows.”
According to CrediBULL, the personal price target for XRP stands between $20 and $30, a level he considers achievable in the next major phase. Digital Asset Investor, for his part, mentioned a $15 target and called it a starting point, suggesting the possibility of further upside.
Digital Asset Investor highlighted the alignment among several analysts, pointing to synchronized expectations for a substantial XRP surge in the coming cycle.
Anticipating the timing of XRP’s next moveWhile optimism is high, CrediBULL Crypto remarked that the major upward move has yet to begin for XRP. He believes the token is “not quite ready for that next major leg yet” and advises patience, encouraging investors to hold their positions until the technical structure matures.
Digital Asset Investor echoed this measured stance, relaying to followers that the setup for a rally is still developing. Both analysts share the view that, when it materializes, the anticipated XRP rally could be significant.
Traders monitoring contracting price patterns and resistance levels remain alert for technical confirmation of a breakout. In the rapidly evolving meme token sector, strategic timing and the choice of tokens can make a critical difference, as demonstrated by Fomo App‘s data. One high-profile trade involving the meme token “Niu Lai” turned a $99 investment into approximately $370,000 in a matter of days. Fomo App integrates token discovery, trading, social feeds, investor rankings, and trade notifications, providing users with a comprehensive platform to track market trends and investment activity in the world of meme tokens.
Stablecoin growth in the XRP ecosystemRecent figures indicate robust expansion within XRP’s ecosystem, particularly involving RLUSD, a stablecoin on the XRP Ledger. RLUSD’s supply has climbed to $2.49 billion, up 86% since the start of 2026, according to data cited by CrediBULL Crypto and Digital Asset Investor.
RLUSD is now only $248 million behind PayPal’s PYUSD in total supply. As PYUSD experienced a 35% decline from its peak, RLUSD has continued to gain ground. Over a 24-hour period, RLUSD added $82.1 million to its market capitalization, making it the second-largest stablecoin gainer during that time frame.
Strong conviction behind price targetsDigital Asset Investor presented CrediBULL’s $20 to $30 target range as a reflection of strong confidence among technical analysts following recent on-chain growth. Within this context, several traders continue to accumulate XRP, viewing the current price range as an opportunity before any major leg upward begins.
The $20 to $30 range stems from directional conviction amid clear growth in the XRP ecosystem, according to coverage from Digital Asset Investor, who suggests the present period may be optimal for accumulation ahead of a potential breakout event.
Ahmed Barakat is a journalist and copywriter based in Georgia with a growing focus on blockchain technology, DeFi, AI, privacy, digital assets, and fintech innovation.
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XRP price rose more than 45% in Q3 as U.S. spot XRP ETFs attracted about $307.9 million, yet the token entered October near $1.50 after repeated failures around $1.70. Cumulative ETF inflows approached $1.8 billion, but that buying has not established a higher clearing price.
The price response shows that fund demand has not yet been strong enough to clear the supply available as XRP rallies. Buyers can support the market while sellers continue to meet bids, leaving the price near $1.50 rather than forcing a break through resistance.
Seven-day altcoin inflow transactions to exchanges reportedly reached their highest level since October 2025, while CryptoQuant described the increase in deposits as broad rather than concentrated among a few large wallets.
Exchange transfers are not proof of a sale. They do, however, increase the amount of tokens that could become sell-side liquidity, and this matters when traders assess crypto market supply. After a gain above 45% in a quarter, some holders may have an incentive to realize profits near previous highs, even as ETF buyers continue accumulating.
That dynamic can absorb fresh demand without immediately pushing price lower. It can also prevent demand from producing the breakout bulls want until willing sellers become less plentiful. Broader XRP exchange inventory and supply signals provide useful context, but they do not establish who sold into any specific rally.
XRP ETF Flows, CoinglassXRP ETFs recorded no net flow on September 29 and 30 after stronger buying earlier in the month. One flat session does not overturn the quarterly inflow picture, but it is a reminder that marginal demand can vary. Cumulative flows alone cannot show whether buyers are currently strong enough to absorb each new wave of supply.
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The $1.54–$1.70 Zone Is the Test for BullsThe first technical hurdle is an hourly close above $1.54, identified in the primary report as an initial breakout confirmation. A move through that level could open a roughly 10% advance toward $1.70, but it would not by itself confirm that the wider supply overhang has cleared.
XRP has struggled to sustain advances through the mid-$1.50s, and late-September attempts above $1.60 faded. The late-August swing high near $1.70 is the more consequential resistance zone: a sustained move beyond it would suggest that demand is absorbing enough available supply to alter the market structure, rather than merely producing another short-lived rally.
The first support to watch sits around $1.48–$1.50, close to where XRP entered October. A failure to hold that area after another rejection would put the recent base under pressure. Derivatives positioning and leverage can also shape how a move develops, although they do not identify the spot seller; XRP derivatives positioning and funding are part of that market context.
The levels frame the current XRP price analysis without requiring a forecast:
LevelMarket significanceWhat it would indicate$1.48–$1.50Near-term supportHolding preserves the current base; losing it strengthens the supply-overhang reading.$1.54Initial breakout triggerAn hourly close above it could reopen momentum through the mid-$1.50s.Near $1.70Late-August swing highA sustained reclaim would show demand overcoming a larger supply zone.Discover: The Best Token Presales
What Does XRP Need for a Price Break?If XRP closes above $1.54 on an hourly basis and sustains momentum through the mid-$1.50s, the late-August high near $1.70 becomes the next test. Reclaiming and holding above that zone would support the view that ETF and spot demand are finally overwhelming the supply meeting rallies.
If price rejects again and loses $1.48–$1.50, the alternative interpretation gains weight: sellers remain willing to supply XRP even with fund demand in the background. That would not prove ETF buyers have left or identify the sellers. It would show that the available bid has not yet cleared the market at higher prices.
Ripple’s association with XRP does not change the immediate chart question. The relevant evidence is whether buying can absorb the supply at the levels where previous attempts stalled. Until XRP establishes itself above $1.70, cumulative inflows remain a demand signal, not confirmation that a breakout is imminent.
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Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) has pared gains from Friday morning trading, selling off $84,600 after a rally to $86,500 into a weaker-than-expected jobs numbers report.
Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH) and XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) followed the reversal, with social sentiment flipping sharply negative, according to data provider Santiment.
How Negative Sentiment Has GottenSantiment flagged on X that ETH is down to 0.89 bullish comments per bearish comment across X, Telegram, Reddit, and other platforms, its lowest ratio since June 7.
XRP sits even lower at 0.67, its weakest reading since Aug. 17. A ratio below 1.0 means bearish commentary now dominates the conversation across crypto communities.
Santiment argues heavy pessimism like this can create a useful contrarian setup. When most traders already expect prices to fall, much of the panic selling may have already happened.
The firm’s social analysis has repeatedly shown that quiet fear tends to produce better entry conditions than obvious buy-the-dip excitement. This doesn’t guarantee a bounce, but the current mood sits far from the euphoria typically seen near local tops.
Why Dormant ETH Just Woke UpSantiment also flagged that long-dormant ETH moved on Sept. 30 at a scale not seen since early June, even as exchange balances barely budged.
Age consumed, a metric tracking how long moved coins sat untouched, hit 580 million token-days that day, roughly 9x the September weekday average and the highest since June 2.
Exchange supply rose about 18,000 ETH that day before falling roughly 21,000 the next, against the 5.9 million ETH currently held on exchanges.
For comparison, the last comparable spike on June 2 saw balances jump more than 140,000 ETH. Santiment notes it can’t yet confirm who moved these coins, since past spikes this size have often reflected wallet reshuffling rather than holders cashing out.
What the ETF Flows ShowXRP spot ETFs pulled in $4.07 million on Oct. 1, ending two sessions of zero net flows and pushing this week’s total inflows to $8.03 million according to SoSoValue.
Franklin led with $4.06 million, while Bitwise’s $3.18 million nearly offset outflows from Canary.
Ethereum ETFs told the opposite story, losing $55.37 million on Oct. 1 in a third straight outflow session, bringing combined withdrawals to $117.76 million.
That reversal followed six consecutive days of inflows, with Fidelity and Grayscale’s (NASDAQ:ETHE) leading the latest exits.
Where ETH and XRP Stand TechnicallyXRP is coiling inside a broadening wedge with price holding above every EMA. RSI at 57.53 shows steady, non-extended momentum.
Resistance: $1.60 (upper trendline) Support: $1.4671 (20-day EMA) Ethereum consolidates just below its recent breakout high, down slightly to $2,685, riding a multi-month ascending trendline near $2,634. RSI at 62.85 confirms healthy bullish momentum.
Resistance: $2,774 Support: $2,634 (20-day EMA and trendline) Photo via Shutterstock
Jay Clayton, who served as the US Securities and Exchange Commission chairman during the Trump administration, is reportedly set for a return to government as the new head of artificial intelligence policy. Clayton’s possible appointment as the White House’s AI czar would represent a shift in the role’s focus, with crypto no longer at the forefront.
Clayton’s evolving role in tech regulationAs SEC chairman from 2017 to 2020, Clayton was closely involved in regulating emerging technologies and shaping the agency’s initial approach to digital assets. His leadership saw the creation of the SEC’s “Cyber Unit,” designed to monitor the fast-growing blockchain sector and oversee the proliferation of initial coin offerings.
Under his tenure, the SEC launched a series of enforcement actions, including the high-profile case against Ripple Labs. The commission accused Ripple of failing to register approximately $1.3 billion in XRP token sales as securities. SEC data shows that during Clayton’s leadership, 57 enforcement actions targeted digital asset companies, blockchain businesses, and ICOs.
Clayton’s actions established a framework for digital asset enforcement that his successor, Gary Gensler, would later intensify. The crypto industry has repeatedly criticized the “regulation by enforcement” strategy that began under Clayton and expanded under Gensler, a Biden appointee.
A shift to AI without cryptoIf confirmed, Clayton would head the administration’s AI Force, tasked with overseeing developments in the rapidly advancing domestic artificial intelligence sector. Unlike David Sacks, the first person to serve in the combined role as crypto and AI czar, Clayton’s position is expected to focus exclusively on AI.
With Sacks departing the White House in March, responsibility for crypto policy has transferred to adviser Patrick Witt. The current scope of the AI czar position does not include digital assets, despite the overlapping influence of blockchain technology and artificial intelligence.
The shift parallels wider developments in the White House’s tech policy. After a period of pronounced skepticism toward cryptocurrencies during Trump’s earlier term, the administration pivoted, moving from strong regulatory comments—such as Trump’s 2021 assertion, “I think they should regulate them very, very high”—to active involvement in the digital asset space. Trump has since endorsed initiatives related to NFTs and self-branded memecoins while staking positions in major industry projects.
Experience in the private sector and new prioritiesPrior to his potential AI leadership, Clayton served on the board of Apollo Global Management, directing billions of dollars toward AI and digital infrastructure across the private sector. After a stint as US attorney for the Southern District of New York, he was reappointed to government this year as Trump’s director of national intelligence.
In a recent CNBC interview, Clayton framed AI as a matter of national security and dismissed the idea of pausing technological advancement. He stated,
“I don’t think any American should think that that’s a good strategy,” he remarked, referring to calls for a development pause in artificial intelligence.
Clayton’s regulatory legacy in both finance and tech highlights his experience with emerging industries that often outpace traditional legal frameworks. His previous actions are likely to draw attention as he potentially transitions into a leadership role in overseeing artificial intelligence nationwide.
In markets that quickly pivot with a single Federal Reserve announcement or a new digital asset listing, investors are increasingly seeking unified analytics platforms. Smart traders now rely on privacy-first solutions such as CryptoAppsy to consolidate key functionalities. The app delivers live-market charts, real-time price alerts, curated news, and macroeconomic data in one interface—without any account setup—helping traders keep pace with events in sectors like AI, crypto, and beyond.
Evernorth Holdings has cleared a decisive shareholder hurdle on the way to a planned Nasdaq listing, after investors in its blank-check merger partner backed the deal that would turn the firm into a publicly traded vehicle centered on XRP.
Evernorth and Armada Acquisition Corp. II said on October 1, 2026, that Armada’s shareholders approved the proposed combination at an extraordinary general meeting held the day before.
The vote removes one of the last formal obstacles before closing.
The parties still expect the transaction to finish on October 7, provided the remaining customary conditions are satisfied or waived.
Class A common stock of the combined company, which will continue under the Evernorth Holdings name, is then scheduled to start trading on Nasdaq on October 8 under the ticker XRPN.
The financing picture is large relative to most single-token treasury listings.
Together, the business combination and related private placements have brought in more than $1 billion.
Cash expected from the deal is more modest: roughly $300 million in gross proceeds before expenses, made up of about $225 million from associated private placements, $30 million of additional convertible-note financing, and approximately $48 million left in the SPAC trust.
Backers have also put XRP into the transaction directly.
On that basis, Evernorth expects to hold about 473 million XRP when the deal closes, a balance the company says would make it the largest pure-play XRP treasury listed on a public exchange.Support from committed capital looks intact.
The companies said every advanced and delayed funder is still participating.
The investor roster includes Arrington Capital, SBI Group, Ripple, Pantera Capital, Kraken, and GSR, among others.
Founder and chief executive Asheesh Birla framed the listing as a regulated, transparent route for investors who want XRP exposure and a stake in the broader blockchain economy, and he thanked shareholders for backing the final stretch of the deal.
Armada itself is a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by Arrington XRP Capital Fund, LP.
It was formed on October 3, 2024, and is led by chief executive Taryn Naidu, with Michael Arrington as chairman and Kyle Horton as chief financial officer.
Once public, Evernorth intends to operate as a digital asset treasury that gives holders liquid exposure to XRP, rather than simply parking tokens.
Management has said it will try to increase XRP per share over time through yield approaches, participation in the token’s ecosystem, and capital-markets activity.
The path to the vote ran through US securities disclosure.
A registration statement on Form S-4 covering the combination and related placements was declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 27, 2026, after which the definitive proxy materials went to Armada holders.
An SEC filing on the meeting shows a quorum: 21,877,045 common shares, about 69 percent of those entitled to vote, were represented in person or by proxy.
The business-combination proposal passed with 20,514,034 votes in favor, 1,362,081 against, and 930 abstentions.
A related merger resolution passed on a similar margin.
Approval does not by itself complete the listing.
Closing still depends on leftover conditions, and the share price will remain tied to a volatile token, redemption levels in the SPAC trust, and whether the company can meet and keep Nasdaq standards. Even so, the September 30 vote moves Evernorth from a pending SPAC merger to a near-term public debut as one of the more closely watched XRP treasury structures in US markets.
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Seoul is set to become a focal point for the global cryptocurrency industry on October 3, 2026, as it hosts a major annual crypto event. Leading figures from across the sector are scheduled to converge in South Korea, reflecting the nation’s growing significance in digital asset markets.
Ripple leadership headlines Seoul eventThe event’s opening keynote, “Special Announcement: What’s Coming Next for the XRP Ecosystem in Asia,” will feature Ripple’s ecosystem growth manager, Tatsuya Kohrogi, alongside Sabrina Tachdjian, Asia President for XRP. Organizers have signaled that the session will cover forthcoming developments targeted at the Asian market, with a particular emphasis on South Korea’s dynamic digital payments landscape.
Following the keynote, Ripple representatives will join South Korean business leaders for a panel discussion centered on cross-border payments and the rapid rise of tokenized deposit models. This debate is expected to explore both the opportunities and challenges facing regional financial institutions as digital assets become increasingly integrated with traditional banking.
Monica Long, President of Ripple, is also slated to deliver a keynote focused on institutional finance in Asia. Ripple’s continued engagement with the institutional sector may point to potential partnerships or product rollouts tailored for South Korea, where XRP has seen exceptional trading volumes.
Monica Long will address the growing demand for institutional finance solutions powered by blockchain and is expected to outline Ripple’s vision for advancing financial sector adoption in Asian markets.
South Korea’s critical role in XRP’s growthXRP enjoys significant popularity among South Korean retail investors, especially as trading in derivatives such as futures is prohibited in the country. Market data from May shows that local crypto exchanges surpassed global peers in XRP transaction volume, underscoring Korea’s leading role in digital asset trading.
Ripple’s technology has gained traction with key South Korean institutions. One such example is a partnership with Kyobo Life Insurance, aiming to accelerate traditional T+2 bond settlements to nearly real-time, on-chain transactions. This effort is expected to foster greater efficiency and transparency in the country’s financial markets.
Mini dictionary: T+2 bond settlement refers to the standard industry practice where the buyer receives their securities and the seller receives payment two business days after the trade date. Moving to real-time on-chain settlement eliminates this delay, leveraging blockchain to process and finalize trades instantly.
Other prominent financial names, such as Kakao Bank and KBank, have featured in Ripple’s Korean programming. Woori Bank, the nation’s largest bank, is actively exploring Ripple’s XRP-based payment rails for potential adoption.
InstitutionRipple PartnershipFocus AreaKyobo Life InsuranceActiveReal-time bond settlementKakao BankExploringDigital paymentsKBankExploringDigital paymentsWoori BankUnder evaluationXRP payment railsRipple’s direct market exposure in South Korea is largely realized through alliances with licensed banks and insurers. The company currently operates via local partners, as it does not hold its own Virtual Asset Service Provider (VASP) license in the country.
Market expectations and industry outlookDespite the anticipation around the “special announcement” at the Seoul event, analysts remain cautious about predicting immediate and dramatic market shifts. While industry coverage points to evolving tokenization strategies and XRP Ledger (XRPL) developments, many observers suggest that a new strategic partnership or a high-impact use case requiring XRP could prompt major momentum in the region.
The continued expansion of Ripple’s relationships with local banks and insurers emphasizes its confidence in the South Korean market as a catalyst for broader digital asset adoption in Asia. Any concrete announcements may further reinforce South Korea’s role as a hub for XRP innovation and usage.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
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Coinbase stock fell 3.32% to $183.00 on Friday, October 2, after an early rally approached $200. Shares were down $6.29 at 1:33 p.m. EDT, with trading still underway near the session’s lowest levels.
Bitcoin price traded near $85,709, Ethereum around $2,704, and XRP at $1.51 as the crypto market surged 1% over the past 24 hours.
US payrolls add just 29,000 jobs in September American employers added 29,000 positions in September, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, falling well below expectations. Anticipated 90,000 additional jobs, highlighting the gap between forecasts and reported hiring.
Unemployment increased to 4.2% from 4.1%, while revisions removed 60,000 jobs from July and August estimates. September’s average hourly earnings increased 0.1%, bringing annual wage growth to 3.0%. More people entering the workforce also contributed to the increase in the unemployment rate.
BREAKING: Market expectations for an October rate hike fall to a new low 17% chance after the weaker than expected September jobs report.
Just days ago, markets saw a near 75% chance of an October rate hike.
We are seeing some insane volatility in the bond market. pic.twitter.com/TlenzaBFMD
— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) October 2, 2026
Healthcare added 17,000 positions, while construction employment increased by 11,000 and manufacturing gained 9,000 jobs. The figures suggested modest hiring across several sectors rather than a broad employment expansion.
The weaker release reduced expectations for another October interest rate increase, although inflation remained central to the policy debate. A pause would leave borrowing costs unchanged rather than provide the stimulus associated with an interest rate cut.
Coinbase stock faces shifting Fed rate expectations October hike odds of 16% on Polymarket by 17% according to CME FedWatch. Polymarket’s probability had stood near 69% on Monday.
The repricing had already started before Friday, following softer inflation readings and cautious comments from Federal Reserve officials. Treasury yields initially declined before reversing higher, underscoring uncertainty over the next policy decision.
BREAKING: 🇺🇸 Fed rate hike odds just crashed to 16% after US unemployment rose and job growth badly missed expectations. pic.twitter.com/2M47401e0v
— Bull Theory (@BullTheoryio) October 2, 2026
For Coinbase stock, lower yields could improve appetite for companies exposed to speculative trading and digital assets.
Those competing influences leave the immediate outlook dependent on both market sentiment and the stock’s ability to stabilize. Coinbase stock lost ground even as traders reduced their expectations for another Federal Reserve rate increase.
Coinbase stock Prediction: Will COIN Reclaim $185? Based on Friday’s intraday trading, $185 represents the first potential recovery barrier after the sharp reversal erased gains. A sustained rebound above that area could bring the previous close of $189.29 back into consideration.
Coinbase stock Clearing the previous close would strengthen the case for a move toward $195, followed by the morning peak near $200.
COIN stock has potential support around $182, where the visible session lows formed. Holding that area could allow another recovery attempt, while a break would expose $180 as a psychological downside level.
Continued trading below $185 would leave the rebound vulnerable to further setbacks during the remaining session.
Social sentiment across cryptocurrency markets has entered a new bearish phase, according to analytics firm Santiment. The latest data highlights that both Ethereum and XRP have reached their most negative social sentiment levels in months, as negative comments dominate online discussions.
Sharp downturns in ETH and XRP sentimentData from Santiment, a well-known blockchain analytics provider, tracks the ratio of positive to negative mentions for leading cryptocurrencies. As of early October, sentiment for XRP has dropped to 0.67 positive comments per negative comment, marking the lowest point since August 17. This shift occurred just before XRP saw a price surge of more than 50%.
Meanwhile, sentiment surrounding Ethereum has hit its most bearish level since June 7. Santiment’s chart displays these trends across several months, overlaying commentary ratios with Bitcoin’s price movement for context.
Sentiment oscillated throughout the period, with sharp increases in positive comments during price rallies and steep declines during market consolidations. The most recent drop now places both ETH and XRP at the lower end of their historical sentiment ranges for this cycle.
During the same period, Bitcoin’s price rose steadily through August and September, reaching nearly $84,700 before experiencing a slight pullback in October.
AssetSentiment Ratio (Positive/Negative)Last Lowest PointRecent Price ActionEthereum (ETH)Lowest since June 7June 7Bounced with market activityXRP0.67August 17Over 50% surge after August lowBitcoin (BTC)N/AN/APeaked near $84,700 in SeptemberSentiment and market signalsHistorically, sharp downturns in social sentiment have drawn interest as possible contrarian indicators. During previous market cycles, periods of peak retail pessimism sometimes preceded rebounds in price, according to several market observers. These references point out that negativity often coincides with local market bottoms.
However, some community voices urge caution, noting that negative social fundamentals are not equivalent to fundamental weaknesses in the assets themselves. One user commented that a low sentiment reading does not alone constitute a definitive buy opportunity.
Santiment is known for its on-chain and social analytics reports, used by a wide spectrum of investors and researchers in the cryptocurrency sector.
Mini dictionary: Santiment, a blockchain analytics platform that provides data-driven insights into social sentiment, on-chain activity, and major market trends across cryptocurrencies.
Community responses and perspectivesCrypto community members offered a range of reactions. One commentator suggested that sentiment extremes reveal emotional trader positions and can be relevant for tracking shifts in on-chain activity. Another voice highlighted that instances of extreme sentiment often coincide with changes in market positioning and momentum.
Other community members urged a more balanced view, noting that bearish sentiment can reverse unexpectedly fast. Several participants expressed confidence that the current low mood is temporary, with some stating the market bottom is already in. Another observer remarked that when social sentiment is low, it frequently indicates that retail traders have already exited their positions.
One observer argued that extremes in sentiment are significant mainly because they show where traders stand psychologically, noting that shifts in mood can precede changes in on-chain data and market trends.
The RWA Foundation reported that the total stablecoin market capitalization reached $300.9 billion as of October 1, 2026. This figure covers 195 stablecoin assets, 152 issuers, and 47 different blockchains. The number of holder addresses climbed to 308.4 million by the end of the third quarter.
Issuer performance and market growthThroughout the third quarter, the most significant activity involved transfers of stablecoins across chains, but many issuers also saw strong growth. Among the leading stablecoin issuers, Circle recorded the highest increase, expanding its market cap by $915 million in the 90-day period. Ripple followed, raising its stablecoin market cap by $765.3 million, while United Stables took third place with an increase of $474.2 million.
Despite being one of the largest stablecoin issuers by overall share, Tether faced a contraction during the quarter, with its market cap decreasing by $207.7 million. Circle and Ripple stood out as the most prominent issuers in terms of growth, with Ripple now trailing only Circle by market cap growth among stablecoin providers.
The fastest-growing stablecoins were not always the largest, as Ripple’s RLUSD reached only 0.8% of the total stablecoin supply, and U stablecoin made up 0.5%. However, both products ranked second and third for market cap expansion this quarter. Tether’s USDT, which holds 61% of the overall supply, did not feature among the top ten for growth. Meanwhile, Ripple’s RLUSD also finished in the top ten for address growth, gaining 23,600 holders in Q3 2026.
Ripple’s RLUSD and ecosystem developmentsRipple SVP of Stablecoins Jack McDonald shared results from RLUSD’s independent attestation for August, noting continued progress. RLUSD’s market capitalization surpassed $2.4 billion, reflecting a monthly increase of more than 50%. Average daily activity for RLUSD has more than tripled since the start of 2026, highlighting increased utility and adoption.
Ripple SVP of Stablecoins Jack McDonald pointed to RLUSD’s ongoing growth, as its market cap exceeded $2.4 billion in August and daily transactions strengthened significantly since the beginning of the year.
Ripple also upgraded its XRP Ledger AI Starter Kit by integrating support for the Machine Payments Protocol (MPP), co-developed with Stripe and Tempo. This addition allows developers to enable artificial intelligence agents to make one-time payments on XRP Ledger using both XRP and issued assets, including RLUSD.
Liquidity for RLUSD expanded further through Spark Finance’s Stablecoin FX Layer on Uniswap v4, where RLUSD/USDS pairs exceeded $600 million in processed volumes during their first week of trading.
Trends in meme token activityMonitoring market dynamics is increasingly essential not just for stablecoins, but for other sectors such as meme tokens. In this market segment, viral internet trends can drive massive investment flows within days. Data shared by Fomo App highlighted a standout trade in which an initial $99 investment in the meme token “Niu Lai” soared to approximately $370,000. Keeping track of prices, timing, and token choices has become critical for participants navigating these rapid shifts. Fomo App facilitates this process by combining token discovery and trading on one platform, with features such as social feeds, investor rankings, and trade notifications.
The continued evolution of stablecoins and ecosystem tools underscores how blockchain innovation is influencing both the traditional and emerging digital asset landscapes.
The firm says the theft pushes North Korea-linked crypto thefts above $1 billion in 2026, while onchain records show stolen XRP being swapped through THORChain.
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Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC), Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH), and XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) are climbing together Friday as derivatives traders pile back into bullish positions ahead of the U.S. jobs report.
Why Traders Are Paying More for Bullish BetsCoinDesk reported Friday that Bitcoin open interest rose to roughly 653,000 BTC, worth $56.2 billion, up from 626,000 BTC on Sept. 30, a gain of about 4.3%.
Open interest tracks the total value of outstanding futures and perpetual contracts still open, and rising open interest alongside Bitcoin’s climb from $83,500 to $86,500 points to fresh positions helping fuel the move.
The perpetual funding rate jumped from roughly 3% to 10% over the same stretch, meaning traders holding long positions are now paying significantly more to stay long heading into Friday’s jobs data.
Two things are worth flagging:
Starting point matters: open interest sat near its lowest level in 12 months at the end of September, so this pickup starts from a low base Higher cost, higher risk: rising funding signals stronger bullish demand, but it also raises the cost of holding long positions and leaves leveraged traders more exposed if price reverses suddenly Crypto-linked stocks moved higher alongside the rally with Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) and Strive (NASDAQ:ASST) each gaining around 3% in premarket trading, while Coinbase (NASDAQ:COIN) and Robinhood (NASDAQ:HOOD) rose roughly 2%.
What the Long-Term Chart Targets Look LikeWidely-followed crypto analyst Ali Martinez posted a thread on X laying out potential cycle targets if each asset clears key resistance levels on its monthly chart:
Bitcoin — a break above its prior high near $125,000 could open the door toward $190,000 Ethereum — clearing resistance near $5,000 points toward a potential $8,800 target XRP — a monthly close above $3.66 would confirm an ascending triangle breakout with a projected target near $31.87 Solana (CRYPTO: SOL) — a close above the $295 neckline on a cup-and-handle pattern projects toward $2,744 Martinez was careful to frame these as potential targets contingent on confirmed breakouts, not guaranteed outcomes.
Why Falling Rate-Hike Odds Are Helping TooAs Benzinga reported, the 10-year Treasury yield pulled back to 5.25% after touching an intraday high of 5.34%, its highest level since April 2002.
Meanwhile, the probability of a Fed rate hike cooled to 24.9% from 37.6% the day before, according to CME FedWatch, giving risk assets more room to run.
Where BTC, ETH, and XRP Stand TechnicallyBTC is up 1.5% and holding above all EMAs with RSI at 68.50 nearing overbought. Resistance sits at $87,600, with support at $82,620.
ETH also climbs 1.5%, breaking out of its multi-month base with RSI at 66.83. Resistance sits at $2,774, with support at $2,637.
Meanwhile, XRP gains 3%, consolidating inside a broadening wedge with RSI at 60.41. Resistance sits at $1.60, with support at $1.47.
