Market Signal Briefing

Evernorth, a newly formed XRP treasury firm, has rapidly gained attention in the crypto industry after securing a massive 261 million XRP—valued at over $639 million—as part of its broader plan to establish the world's largest XRP-focused treasury. Founded by former Ripple executive Asheesh Birla and supported by Ripple itself, the company's strategy represents a major milestone for the XRP ecosystem, signaling renewed confidence among institutional players.

The competition seems to be outmatching XRP in DeFi, and its position looks bleak. But that's not the whole story.

XRP (XRP +1.03%) is nowhere near competitors like Solana (SOL +3.49%) and Ethereum (ETH +3.34%) in decentralized finance (DeFi). The recent launch of its new Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) sidechain hasn't made much of a dent, either. It seems to have close to no chance to catch up.

Is that a reason to sell this coin? In fact, the picture is a bit more complicated, so let's take a closer look.

Image source: Getty Images.

The data look unambiguously bad
Today, the XRP Ledger's (XRPL's) total value locked (TVL) in its DeFi ecosystem amounts to just over $82 million. Its new EVM sidechain has just $48,989 in TVL. For context, Ethereum has nearly $83 billion in TVL, and Solana has close to $11 billion. So even as XRP's market cap is bigger than Solana's and roughly 33% of Ethereum's, its DeFi segment is microscopic in comparison.

But let's step back and take a look at what the XRPL was actually designed for before declaring its lack of DeFi value to be a dealbreaker that justifies selling the coin.

The original point of XRP was for making international payments and money transfers, with native features for fast transaction settlement, currency bridging, and regulation-compliant capital flows rather than a sprawling smart contract DeFi ecosystem. XRP itself is the bridge asset the network uses to transfer value efficiently across currencies and venues, and it's in use for that purpose today.

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And that was just the start of what Ripple, XRP's issuer, did with the coin. It's being built out into an entire fintech stack targeted at institutional investors, which now includes RLUSD (RLUSD +0.10%), Ripple's native fiat currency-backed stablecoin.

RLUSD is a key piece of the puzzle because payments, settlement, and on/off-ramps are where XRPL competes; stable, regulated rails for value are essential for banks and fintechs that do not want to assemble a DIY regulatory compliance stack from DeFi parts like they'd need to do on either Ethereum or Solana. Right now, RLUSD has a market cap of $898 million, so it's already big enough for financial institutions to use as a meaningful component of their on-chain fiat value.

In other words, a low DeFi TVL tells you XRPL is not a hotbed of yield farming, bespoke lending services, or staking activity. It isn't trying to be a platform for those things anyway. The more important factor is its toolbox of institution-targeted features, which is big, and growing.

It probably makes more sense to buy this coin
As XRP's value accrues from making the backend of institutional finance more efficient, investors should be looking for signs that banks, payment companies, and other clients are plugging into the XRPL or running pilot programs to test it. And they are.

Ripple's On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) work since 2021 with the SBI Remit bank in Japan is a representative example of cross-border remittances using XRP to reduce the need for pre-funding accounts with multiple currencies and thus unlocking working capital. The XRPL has also been involved in central bank digital currency (CBDC) pilots, such as with Bhutan's recent tests using Ripple's technology. Beyond that, it's also collaborating with banks in Africa and the Middle East as of this year, increasing its global footprint even further.

Therefore, investors should not anchor on the DeFi TVL leaderboard to judge XRP's merits. It's aiming to win in centralized finance, not DeFi. The better things to focus on are is its growing list of new clients, its payments volume, stablecoin adoption on XRPL, and other signs that pilot programs are becoming real traffic. On those metrics, the investment thesis for buying it is strong, so don't sell it -- consider buying it instead.

XRP price continued its strong comeback this weekend as institutional demand for the token and its futures contracts jumped. 

Summary

XRP price has jumped by over 88% from its lowest level this month. 
The recently launched XRP ETF has gained $100 million in assets.
CME XRP futures open interest has continued its strong uptrend this month.

Ripple (XRP) token rose to $2.6197, its highest point since Oct. 11, and 88% from its lowest point this month. 

Ripple ETF inflows and futures demand
XRP price continued its strong rally this month, with data showing robust institutional demand for the coin. 

One sign of this is that the CME Futures products launched in May have already crossed the $66 billion mark in open interest. This makes them among the most actively traded contracts for the company. 

Data on CME’s website shows that open interest has continued rising this month. On Friday, open interest jumped to $9.9 billion, the highest level since Sept. 24. It has been in a strong rebound since bottoming earlier this month. 

As the chart below shows, the volume of XRP futures on CME has been in a strong uptrend over the past few weeks, a sign of institutional and retail demand.

XRP open interest and volume | Source: CME
The XRP price has also jumped as futures open interest in crypto exchanges continues rising. This interest jumped to $4.39 billion on Oct. 26, up from this week’s low of $3.4 billion. 

Meanwhile, institutional investors continue allocating money to the XRP ETF this month. Data shows that the recently launched spot XRP ETF by REX-Ospey has achieved over $100 million in assets within the first month. 

This surge is notable because it occurred during a period when the XRP price plunged to the year-to-date low of $1.3790 earlier this month. 

Similarly, the Teucrium Leveraged XRP ETF has gained over $366 million in assets, a trend that may continue.

This growth happened after some notable XRP news. For example, Ripple Labs launched Ripple Prime after closing the Hidden Road buyout. The Ripple USD (RLUSD) stablecoin is also approaching the $1 billion asset mark, nearly a year after its launch. 

XRP price technical analysis
XRP price chart | Source: crypto.news
The daily timeframe chart shows that the XRP price bottomed at $1.3790 earlier this month. It has now bounced back by about 88% to $2.62, its highest point since Oct. 10.

The coin is now attempting to move above the 200-day moving average, which will confirm the bullish breakout. It has also formed a small inverse head-and-shoulders pattern. 

Therefore, the most likely XRP price forecast is for it to continue rising as bulls target the psychological $3 level, about 14% above the current level. 

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.

Michael Selig has been picked as the 16th chairman of Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), a move that has sparked reactions from the crypto community.

Selig was chief counsel for the CFTC’s crypto task force and has worked with Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Paul Atkins. Both Selig and David Sacks, the White House artificial intelligence and crypto czar, confirmed the selection in separate posts on X.

Selig, in his X post, said he will work tirelessly to facilitate well-functioning commodity markets, promote freedom, competition and innovation and also help make the U.S. the crypto capital of the world.

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In a recent tweet, Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson reacted to the recent nomination of Selig, a known crypto supporter, as CFTC chair.

"Chairman Selig is going to do a great job at the CFTC. I have full confidence in his ability and leadership," Hoskinson wrote.

Bullish for crypto?Selig's pick as CFTC chair comes as the digital assets industry, which had earlier faced regulatory pressures, takes center stage under the new administration with legislation that boosts regulatory clarity.

The GENIUS Act, passed earlier in the year, and the CLARITY Act, which aims to establish a regulatory framework for digital assets, have been received well by investors in the sector.

Under the leadership of SEC Chairman Paul Atkins, the agency has shifted away from enforcement and toward engagement and regulatory rollback. It has held a series of roundtables led by SEC Commissioner Heister Peirce and Chair Paul Atkins.

The SEC has also dismantled key rules that once kept Wall Street on the sidelines, with several high profile lawsuits, including Ripple, Binance, Coinbase, dismissed by the agency.

Solana has been one of the most successful cryptocurrencies since launching in 2020, and its price has just come down from recent highs.

Most of the crypto market has been in the red lately, and Solana (SOL +3.82%) is no exception. In September, it was approaching $250, its best run since hitting an all-time high of $294 at the start of the year. It's now worth about $180 (as of Oct. 22).

Dips can be a good opportunity to buy a quality investment at a discount. With cryptocurrency, it's a little trickier, considering the risk involved. If you're wondering whether to buy Solana while it's under $200, here's how it currently looks as a crypto investment.

Image source: Getty Images.

The fundamentals haven't changed
While Solana's price has changed, its fundamental value hasn't. What makes Solana special is its speed and ultra-low costs. It uses a combination of a proof-of-stake consensus mechanism and its own unique proof-of-history system to validate transactions, delivering efficiency few blockchains can match.

Solana regularly processes about 1,000 transactions per second (tps), according to data from Chainspect, and it has a theoretical maximum of 65,000 tps. It's the second-fastest blockchain in terms of tps, behind only Internet Computer and far ahead of competitors like Ethereum, which processes about 20 tps. Transaction fees on Solana are typically well under $0.01.

Crypto's recent flash crash provided a stress test for Solana, as users scrambled to sell positions. While some other blockchains crashed, Solana showed that it can maintain high performance during periods of high activity. It continued to process thousands of transactions per second without a spike in fees.

Solana is still well behind Ethereum for DeFi
As a smart contract blockchain, Solana provides a platform for decentralized finance (DeFi) services, just like Ethereum. It was even one of several blockchains referred to as an "Ethereum killer." But in more than five years since launching, Solana hasn't come close to catching its biggest rival in this area.

There's $11 billion of total value locked (TVL) in DeFi applications on Solana, according to DeFiLlama. That number is moving in the right direction -- it was about $6 billion a year ago -- but Ethereum has $83 billion of TVL, 63% of the entire DeFi market.

The same is true if you look at the growing stablecoin market. Once again, Ethereum is the clear leader, with $165 million in stablecoin value. Solana has $15 billion.

This doesn't mean Ethereum is the better investment. Solana, as mentioned, is a much more efficient blockchain with faster transactions and lower fees. However, Ethereum has a tremendous first mover advantage. Solana's growth will likely depend on its ability to take a larger chunk of the DeFi market.

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ETF approval should attract institutional investors
Several fund managers have filed applications for the first spot Solana ETFs, and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has already given a provisional approval to one from 21Shares. There's still a final review needed, which can only happen once the government shutdown ends and the SEC reopens. Still, it's looking like Solana ETFs could receive approval before the end of the year.

ETFs provide an alternative way to invest in cryptocurrency, and crucially, an option that's available to institutional investors that can't buy coins directly. Bitcoin and Ethereum, the first two cryptocurrencies that received spot ETF approval, have both seen sizable investments in their ETFs. Bitcoin ETFs have received inflows of $62 billion, and Ethereum ETFs have received $14 billion.

A risky buy with substantial growth potential
There are several things to like about Solana as a cryptocurrency investment. Its method of validating transactions gives it a significant performance edge over most other blockchains. That helps attract more users and developers. In fact, Solana was the top blockchain ecosystem for new developers in 2024.

If Solana ETFs get SEC approval, it will mean more money flowing into this cryptocurrency. Even though Ethereum has much more DeFi TVL, Solana has been making progress in this area.

While Bitcoin and Ethereum seem likely to continue leading the crypto market, I think Solana has plenty of space to grow. The current price is a solid buying opportunity, keeping in mind that this is a volatile asset and could continue to fall in the near future. Cryptocurrency, Solana included, is also high-risk. I wouldn't overcommit, but this could be a good time to pick up a few SOL tokens.

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.

The last day of the week is bullish, according to CoinMarketCap.

Top coins by CoinMarketCapBNB/USDThe rate of Binance Coin (BNB) has risen by 2% over the last day.

Image by TradingViewOn the daily chart, the price of BNB is rising after yesterday's bullish closure. Traders should focus on the interim zone of $1,160.

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If a breakout happens, the accumulated energy might be enough for a test of the $1,200 mark.

BNB is trading at $1,131 at press time.

ADA/USDThe price of Cardano (ADA) has gone up by 3.74% over the last 24 hours.

Image by TradingViewThe rate of ADA is approaching the resistance of $0.6847. If the daily bar closes above that mark, there is a high chance to witness a price blast to the $0.75 area.

ADA is trading at $0.6746 at press time.

SOL/USDThe rate of Solana (SOL) has risen by 3.46% since yesterday.

Image by TradingViewFrom the technical point of view, the price of SOL is going up against the falling volume. As the rate is far from the main levels, one should focus on the interim zone of $200. If the bar fixes above it, the growth is likely to continue to $209.

SOL is trading at $198.85 at press time.

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Bitcoin (BTC) has climbed above $113,000 as optimism grew ahead of President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping. The rally coincided with remarks from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who said the two leaders now have “the framework” for a productive discussion.

Optimism Ahead of Trump–Xi Meeting Fuels Bitcoin Rally
Bessent told NBC’s Meet the Press that the talks will be “fantastic for U.S. citizens, for U.S. farmers, and for our country in general.” His statement came just hours before the meeting, which investors see as a key step toward easing global trade tensions.

.@SecScottBessent on President Trump’s meeting with Xi Jinping: “I believe that we have the framework for the two leaders to have a very productive meeting for both sides — and I think it will be fantastic for U.S. citizens, for U.S. farmers, and for our country in general.” pic.twitter.com/0DpRyk45Js

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 26, 2025

The upbeat tone helped strengthen broader market sentiment, with BTC price gaining 1.62% over the last 24 hours, according to TradingView. The leading cryptocurrency traded around $113,479 after surging from its previous close of $111,668.

Bitcoin rose above $113,000 as optimism surrounding the Trump–Xi talks and easing-rate expectations lifted market sentiment.
Traders Bet on Fed Rate Cuts as Liquidity Expectations Rise
This improving sentiment coincides with rising expectations of monetary easing. According to CME Group’s FedWatch data, markets now assign a 98.3% probability of another Federal Reserve rate cut. The move is expected to take place by the October 2025 meeting.

The information indicates that many now believe that U.S. interest rates will be lowered further than the current 400-425 basis points. This will also indicate that the market has turned towards easing. These expectations are considered a liquidity force for risk assets, especially Bitcoin.

CME Group data reveals near certainty of a rate cut, boosting liquidity hopes support inflows into Bitcoin and other risk assets.
Fresh Trade Momentum Adds to Bitcoin’s Bullish Boost
According to a Bloomberg report, top U.S. and Chinese trade negotiators reached a preliminary consensus on a wide range of economic issues. This clears the way for Presidents Trump and Xi to finalize a sweeping trade deal later this week.

The two sides reportedly agreed on contentious points such as export controls, fentanyl regulation, and shipping levies. The move marks the most significant progress since tensions peaked earlier this month.

Bessent said he expects Trump’s earlier threat of 100% tariffs on Chinese goods was “effectively off the table.” These developments helped stabilize market expectations that had been rattled by the prospect of another tariff escalation.

Chinese trade envoy Li Chenggang also confirmed both sides reached consensus on fentanyl and port service fees. This signals a softening tone from Beijing after weeks of heated exchanges.

Investment disclaimer: The content reflects the author’s personal views and current market conditions. Please conduct your own research before investing in cryptocurrencies, as neither the author nor the publication is responsible for any financial losses.

Ad Disclosure: This site may feature sponsored content and affiliate links. All advertisements are clearly labeled, and ad partners have no influence over our editorial content.

Active Currencies 19344

Market Cap $3,931,044,820,622.00

Bitcoin Share 57.70%

24h Market Cap Change $2.48

AMBCrypto

$10B in crypto deals, powered by record-low rates and Bitcoin frenzy – Details

Key Takeaways
How big was the crypto M&A boom in Q3 2025?
Crypto mergers and acquisitions hit a record $10 billion, nearly matching the combined deal value of the prior three years.

Why are investors turning to gold and Bitcoin now?
Aggressive global easing — 312 rate cuts in 24 months — is driving demand for alternative stores of value.

Crypto mergers and acquisitions went up to a record $10 billion in the third quarter of 2025!

This rise comes as global central banks slash interest rates in one of the most aggressive easing cycles in recent years, with investors increasingly turning to gold and Bitcoin [BTC] as alternative stores of value.

Crypto M&As are back!

Samyukhtha L KM is a Financial Journalist and Market Analyst at AMBCrypto whose work is defined by one central question: Is the latest trend in blockchain hype, or history in the making?
Her expertise is built on a strong academic foundation, with a Master’s in Journalism and Mass Communication from Amity University and a Bachelor’s in Commerce from the University of Madras. This dual qualification equips her with a unique skill set: the financial acumen to dissect market mechanics and the journalistic rigor to investigate and communicate complex subjects with clarity.
Samyukhtha specializes in analyzing the socio-economic impact of blockchain adoption and assessing the viability of new market narratives. This includes a focus on high-velocity, community-driven assets such as memecoins, where she evaluates sentiment and fundamentals. She is dedicated to providing readers with insightful, well-researched commentary that looks beyond immediate market moves to understand the long-term implications of decentralized technology.

Sun, 26/10/2025 - 15:20

Michael Saylor dropped another "Orange Dot Day" on Sunday, teasing that Strategy kept buying Bitcoin last week, even after already sitting on 640,418 BTC worth about $72 billion.

Cover image via U.Today

As usual on Sundays, Michael Saylor has hinted at fresh Bitcoin (BTC) purchases. On Oct. 26, the most vocal cryptocurrency bull from the corporate side posted a chart marking Strategy’s growing stack with a teasing caption, "It’s Orange Dot Day."

Saylor’s chart highlights each purchase as an orange circle plotted against Bitcoin’s price, with the latest dots suggesting that October’s run of smaller weekly allocations is continuing.

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While the size of any new Bitcoin purchases by Strategy remains undisclosed, the post signals the buying campaign for Saylor & Co. has not paused even amid fear, uncertainty and doubts currently reigning the sentiment on the market.

While the market awaits confirmation, the company’s last disclosed buys came between Oct. 13-20, when Strategy added 387 BTC. That lifted its total holdings to 640,418 BTC, acquired at an average price of $74,010.

The allocation was modest compared to September, when the firm absorbed more than 7,000 BTC in several large moves.

Strategy "doing numbers" with BitcoinAt current prices near $114,000, Strategy’s Bitcoin portfolio is valued at around $72 billion, showing a paper profit above $25 billion and a gain of more than 53% with a total cost basis to $47.4 billion since the program began in 2020.

Despite the market uncertainty, Strategy shares (MSTR) are trading above the net asset value, reflecting investor confidence in the company. With 83 separate purchase events now logged, its approach remains predictable: buy on schedule, disclose later and let Bitcoin’s trajectory carry the balance sheet.

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The Chainlink (LINK) market has experienced a significant uplift in the last week as prices grew by 7.64%. In line with the general crypto market, the altcoin produced a modest rebound from the deep correction levels seen in mid-October. Amid this price action, renowned market analyst Ali Martinez has shared a developing bullish pattern that suggests more profits ahead.

Buy The Dip At $15 – Here’s Why
In a recent X post on October 25, Martinez postulated that LINK could be gearing up for a major rally, with technical indicators hinting at an incoming bullish opportunity.  In analyzing the LINKUSDT daily chart, investors may have a chance to notch a 300% gain in the coming months.

Based on the chart analysis presented by Martinez, LINK is trading within a broad ascending parallel channel that has defined its market behavior since mid-2023. Notably, the altcoin last bounced off the lower boundary of this channel in June 2025 to trade as high as $28.00, before descending to current market prices around $18.00.

Source: @ali_charts on X
Martinez anticipates that LINK will complete its ongoing decline by revisiting the channel’s lower boundary, with the $15.00 zone, which aligns with the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement level, serving as the key area of interest. The analyst identifies $15.00  as a strong accumulation zone, advising investors to consider buying at that level. From there, LINK is expected to stage a recovery toward the upper boundary of the channel. 

However, Martinez cautions that the token could face interim resistance around $20.04, corresponding to the 0.786 Fibonacci level, which may trigger a brief pullback to $18.00  before a potential breakout rally. If this setup unfolds as projected, LINK could surge toward the $46.31  mark, matching the 1.272 Fibonacci extension, representing an upside of roughly 300% gain from the expected accumulation point.

LINK Market Overview 
At the time of writing, LINK trades at $18.21, reflecting a slight 2.41% gain in the past day. Meanwhile, the token’s daily trading volume has declined by 43.38% and is valuedat around $366 million. 

Looking at its monthly chart, LINK remains down by 11.05% despite the modest recovery seen in the last week, signaling that the token still needs further upside to fully reverse its recent losses and bring most new investors back into profit. With a market cap of $12.35 billion, LINK continues to hold its position as the twelfth largest cryptocurrency in the market. 

LINK trading at $18.17 on the daily chart | Source: LINKUSDT chart on Tradingview.com
Featured image from iStock, chart from Tradingview

Sun, 26/10/2025 - 15:42

Ripple has made five major acquisitions in recent months, financial strategist Versan Aljarrah weighs in on what this means for financial markets and XRP's role in them.

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.

Ripple recently announced that its acquisition of Hidden Road was complete, with the company now Ripple Prime. This marks an exciting new chapter for Ripple, making it the first crypto company to own and operate a global, multi-asset prime broker.

This is one of five major acquisitions by Ripple in the past two years, including an announcement to acquire treasury management system provider GTreasury last week, stablecoin-powered payment platform Rail in August 2025, the acquisition of Standard Custody in June 2024 and Metaco in May 2023.

Ripple’s digital asset infrastructure across payments, crypto custody and stablecoin, as well as the use of XRP, will complement the services offered within Ripple Prime. In the future, Ripple Prime will seek to leverage blockchain capabilities in its business to streamline operations and optimize costs. Ripple Prime will also significantly enhance the utility and reach of Ripple’s stablecoin, RLUSD, whose primary reserve custodian is The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (BNY).

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@Ripple is gradually consolidating the entire digital asset ecosystem.

Every acquisition, corridor, and off-ramp is part of one plan, to build the Internet for Value.

This is how the financial system is being rewritten, and how XRP will eventually touch everything in it.

— Black Swan Capitalist (@VersanAljarrah) October 25, 2025 In reaction to Ripple's latest milestones, Black Swan Capitalist founder Versan Aljarrah believes Ripple is gradually consolidating the entire digital asset ecosystem. He added that every acquisition, corridor and off-ramp is part of one plan, which is to build the Internet for Value. This is "how the financial system is being rewritten, and how XRP will eventually touch everything in it," Aljarrah said.

XRP getting boost from retail FUDAt the time of writing, XRP was up 2.58% in the last 24 hours to $2.64 and down 11.36% weekly, outperforming the rest of the top 10 in daily and weekly gains.

According to Santiment, XRP is getting a boost from retail FUD despite small wallets selling off.

"XRP is at $2.60 after a 4% day. We've seen some retail FUD across social media, indicating small wallets are selling off. During this $2-$3 price stretch, high crowd predictions of $XRP under $2 is a buy signal and above $3 is a sell signal," Santiment wrote.

XRP has extended its recovery from a low of $2.32 on Oct. 22 into the fourth day, reaching an intraday high of $2.66. The next resistance is $2.77, while support lies at $2.32 and $2.18.

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The proposed Batch amendment for the XRP Ledger introduces atomic transaction capabilities. Oct 26, 2025, 3:50 p.m.

A proposed XRP Ledger amendment, Batch (XLS-56), is generating excitement among developers and validators alike.

One pseudonymous XRP validator, Vet, has shared his experience testing the Batch functionality on the dev net, where multiple transactions, including minting and payments for non-fungible tokens (NFTs), can be bundled and executed automatically.

The amendment, according to Vet, enables creation of a fully peer-to-peer NFT-to-NFT trading platform, allowing users to perform a barter-like NFT swaps in a single transaction.

For instance, one could trade five of their NFTs for two NFTS owned by another party, all processed simultaneously to ensure atomicity and security, Vet said on X, suggesting a game-inspired interface, similar to the classic RuneScape, to make this NFT-to-NFT trading more engaging and intuitive for users.

As of writing, the Batch amendment has achieved 68.57% consensus among validators, with 80% required for activation. XRP Ledger (XRPL) is a decentralized, open-source blockchain used by Ripple to build cross border payments solution.

XRP Validator Vet's X post. (X)

What is the Batch amendment?The Batch amendment introduces atomic transaction capabilities to the XRP Ledger, allowing multiple operations to be grouped and executed simultaneously as a single unified transaction.

It takes the all or nothing approach – either all transactions in the group are completed successfully or none are, thereby eliminating the risk of partial execution failures.

This principle of atomicity has its roots in computer science and database management, where a sequence of operations is treated as a single, indivisible unit of work. Therefore, an atomic process means that the entire set of transactions is either fully executed or entirely rolled back to ensure data integrity.

Atomicity on XRP Ledger could be valuable in complex NFT trades or swaps involving multiple steps, facilitating the development of sophisticated NFT marketplaces.

"This new amendment drastically changes the functionality of the XRP Ledger by allowing the grouping and ordering of up to 8 transactions into a single batched operation. It also introduces atomic execution via ALLORNOTHING as one of its execution modes for batched transactions," Teucrium said in a Substack post.

A total of four batch modes are supported: ALLORNOTHING, ONLYONE, UNTILFAILURE, and INDEPENDENT. The availability of four modes will ensure flexibility in how multiple transactions are executed as a group, helping developers choose the best approach for their use case.

AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.

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Bitcoin Bid, XRP Retakes 200-Day Average as Fed Rate Cut Looms; 'Mag 7' Earnings, Trump-Xi Summit Eyed

Major cryptocurrencies are trading higher ahead of a busy week featuring key Federal Reserve and Bank of Japan rate decisions alongside earnings reports from influential Mag 7 stocks.

What to know:

Major cryptocurrencies trade higher ahead of an expected Fed rate cut on Wednesday. Powell's comments on the Federal Reserve's quantitative tightening program could prove pivotal. BOJ is likely to keep rates unchanged. Mag 7's AI-related spending and Trump-Xi Summit could add to market volatility.Read full story

Bitcoin has seen modest gains recently, moving towards a significant resistance point that could determine its future trajectory. Currently trading between key moving averages, Bitcoin's price action is hinting at a possible breakout that could pave the way for a new all-time high.

Vitalik Buterin warned that Ethereum’s mathematical security breaks down when users depend on off-chain trust.He explained that while validators can’t forge blocks, they can manipulate external systems like bridges or oracles.His remarks reignited debate among developers about how much control validators should hold within a blockchain.Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has cautioned that the blockchain’s cryptographic guarantees stop where external trust begins.

On October 26, Buterin explained that even a 51% attack cannot validate an invalid block. This means that even if a majority of validators collude or experience a software bug, they cannot seize users’ funds or forge transactions.

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Buterin Reignites Debate Over a Blockchain ValidatorsThis is because each blockchain node independently verifies new blocks and automatically rejects any that break the protocol’s rules. This decentralized verification protects Ethereum from false ledger entries, even under majority control.

However, Buterin emphasized that this security guarantee only applies to the blockchain’s protocol.

According to him, the moment users rely on validators for tasks outside that framework—such as bridging assets, verifying real-world data, or confirming off-chain events—they enter a zone where trust replaces math.

In that realm, if 51% of validators agree on a false statement, the network itself offers no recourse.

Regular reminder:

A key property of a blockchain is that even a 51% attack *cannot make an invalid block valid*. This means even 51% of validators colluding (or hit by a software bug) cannot steal your assets.

However, this property does not carry over if you start trusting…

— vitalik.eth (@VitalikButerin) October 26, 2025
Buterin’s remarks have reignited debate within the developer community. Many are now questioning how much control validators should hold as blockchains adopt complex features like bridges, oracles, and off-chain attestations.

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Polygon’s Chief Technology Officer, Mudit Gupta, supported the warning.

However, he explained that while validators can’t alter Ethereum’s state, they can “steal money” through maximal extractable value (MEV) or even enforce censorship.

Meanwhile, others disagreed with Buterin’s position.

Seun Lanlege, co-founder of Polkadot’s Hyperbridge, argued that validator influence runs deeper. He warned that a malicious majority could manipulate block propagation or isolate nodes through eclipse attacks.

This exposes a structural vulnerability that extends beyond MEV or censorship.

Adding another perspective, MultiversX core developer Robert Sasu urged teams to minimize reliance on off-chain components altogether.

“Make and move everything onchain. Directly in a decentralised L1,” he stated.

In his view, any reliance on centralized systems like bridges, oracles, or price feeds invites manipulation. True resilience, he argued, comes from designing decentralized, permissionless, and composable systems that minimize trusted intermediaries.

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Global crypto markets saw a flurry of political and corporate developments last week, underscoring how digital assets continue to intertwine with state policy, finance, and tech.

Peruse this week’s edition of the weekly recap for crypto.news’ coverage of who President Trump picked to be the next Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s chair; Kyrgyzstan’s unveiling of a national stablecoin backed by its local currency; SpaceX and Strategy adding to Bitcoin exposure; and Kraken’s aggressive expansion.

Lastly, WazirX and Bunni marked opposite ends of crypto’s risk spectrum — one rebounding from a historic hack, the other shuttering after an exploit.

Summary

Kyrgyzstan launched the KGST stablecoin after talks with Binance founder CZ.
Trump nominated SEC lawyer Mike Selig to lead the Commodity Futures regulator.
Coinbase’s $375M Echo deal and Kraken’s IPO progress highlighted key headlines.

Trump selects SEC lawyer for CFTC leadership

President Donald Trump formally nominated Securities and Exchange Commission lawyer Mike Selig to lead the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, replacing initial pick Brian Quintenz.
White House Crypto Czar David Sacks confirmed the selection early Saturday and validated long-rumored reports that Selig was the administration’s preferred candidate.

Kyrgyzstan debuts national currency stablecoin

President Sadyr Japarov announced the rollout of KGST, a stablecoin pegged 1:1 to the som following discussions including Binance founder Changpeng Zhao.
This launch follows an April agreement between Zhao and Kyrgyzstan’s National Investment Agency, which pledged cooperation on cryptocurrency and blockchain development.

SpaceX executes major Bitcoin transfers

Elon Musk’s space exploration company moved over $133 million in Bitcoin (BTC) and transferred 1,215 BTC to separate addresses, according to Arkham Intelligence.
The transactions included movements of 300 BTC ($33 million) and 915 BTC ($100.7 million) to new wallets.

Tether projects $15 billion annual profit

The stablecoin issuer anticipates net profits approaching $15 billion in 2025.
CEO Paolo Ardoino shared this outlook during an October 24 interview at the Plan B Forum in Lugano, Switzerland.

JPMorgan enables crypto collateral lending

The banking giant plans to permit institutional clients to pledge Bitcoin and Ethereum holdings as loan collateral by year’s end.
The global program will reportedly use third-party custodians to safeguard pledged assets.

Canada imposes record crypto platform fine

Financial intelligence authorities levied a $126 million ($176.9 million Canadian) penalty against Cryptomus for multiple anti-money laundering violations linked to child exploitation, ransomware, and sanctions evasion.
Vancouver-based Xeltox Enterprises Ltd., operating as Cryptomus, failed to file over 1,000 suspicious transaction reports and more than 1,500 large-value crypto transaction reports in July 2024 alone.

Trump pardons former Binance CEO

Trump pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, the richest man in crypto, who admitted to money-laundering violations that allowed terrorists and other criminals to move money on his platform.
White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated the pardon showed Trump’s exercise of constitutional authority after prosecution by “the Biden administration in their war on cryptocurrency.”
According to the New York Times, lawyers and lobbyists connected to the Trump administration advised Zhao. Meanwhile, Binance has business dealings with World Liberty Financial, the Trump family’s crypto firm.

WazirX resumes operations after major hack

The Indian cryptocurrency exchange will restart trading Oct. 24 with zero fees across all markets.
This is nearly one year after hackers stole $234 million in one of crypto’s largest cyberattacks.
Singapore court approval of the restructuring plan, backed by 95.7% of creditors, allowed reopening for 6.6 million users locked out since the July 2024 North Korea-linked attack.

Bunni shuts down following exploit

The decentralized exchange announced Wednesday that it is ceasing operations due to financial constraints, following an $8.4 million security breach.
Platform developers stated insufficient resources exist for secure relaunch, with necessary audit and monitoring expenses requiring six to seven figures in capital they lack.

Kraken revenue doubles ahead of IPO

The cryptocurrency exchange generated $648 million in third-quarter revenue and represents 114% growth from the previous year’s corresponding period.
This revenue calculation shows gross income under GAAP accounting minus trading costs as the company prepares for an anticipated 2026 public listing.

Coinbase acquires fundraising platform

The exchange purchased Echo, an on-chain fundraising platform, for approximately $375 million.
Coinbase stated the deal addresses challenges where “founders often struggle to raise capital and individual investors don’t have the opportunity to invest in private token sales.”

Strategy continues Bitcoin accumulation

The corporate Bitcoin holder purchased 168 BTC at an average price of $112,051, bringing total holdings to 640,418 BTC valued at $71 billion.
The company’s overall average acquisition price stands at approximately $74,010 per Bitcoin across all purchases.

In a remarkable turn of events, Bitcoin's value has surged past $113,000 on Sunday, reflecting a significant upswing prompted by potential developments in US-China trade relations. This price movement marks the first time since Tuesday that Bitcoin has reached such heights, following hints from US Treasury Secretary Bessent that China may be open to a trade agreement eliminating the 100% tariffs previously proposed by the US.

Teucrium CEO: 'Enormous Interest' in XRP, 'Extraordinary’ Success for Firm's XRP ETFSal Gilbertie says hundreds of millions of dollars arrived in about 16 weeks, credits the XRP Army for fast traction and forecasts a broad crypto ETF wave. Oct 26, 2025, 1:11 p.m.

Investor demand for XRP is “enormous,” Teucrium Trading President and CEO Sal Gilbertie said during an interview on CNBC's "ETF Edge," crediting the “XRP Army” for rapid traction and calling the fund his firm’s most successful launch to date.

Gilbertie said inflows reached “hundreds of millions” in roughly 16 weeks and described the response as “extraordinary.” While he’s an XRP enthusiast, he argued the bigger opportunity for investors may be backing companies that adopt blockchain rather than trying to guess the next winning coin, likening today’s backdrop to the internet’s build-out in the 1990s. Asked whether an ETF boom is coming across the crypto ecosystem, he answered there is “no question.”

Teucrium 2x Long Daily XRP ETF (XXRP), launched on April 8, 2025 and listed on NYSE Arca, is designed to deliver twice the token’s daily move without holding XRP directly. According to fund materials, the strategy primarily uses total return swaps with major financial institutions and may employ cash-settled XRP futures to reach its 2x daily objective before fees and expenses. The design is explicitly daily and not intended to achieve its stated multiple over multi-day periods.

Fund disclosures caution that compounding and volatility can cause multi-day returns to differ — sometimes sharply — from 2x XRP, and the product can lose money even when XRP is flat or rising over longer spans; additional risks include leverage, tracking and correlation slippage, counterparty exposure on swaps, liquidity factors, and typical ETF trading frictions such as premiums, discounts and wider bid-ask spreads.

According to CoinDesk Data, at 12:55 p.m. London time on Oct. 26, 2025, XRP traded at $2.64, up 2.2% over 24 hours and 26% year to date (YTD). Per data from Yahoo Finance, Teucrium 2x Long Daily XRP ETF (XXRP) finished Friday’s regular session at $22.90, up 7.06% on the day, and down 15.03% YTD.

AI Disclaimer: Parts of this article were generated with the assistance from AI tools and reviewed by our editorial team to ensure accuracy and adherence to our standards. For more information, see CoinDesk's full AI Policy.

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Bitcoin Tops $113K, SOL, ADA, ETH Jump as US–China Trade Progress Lifts Risk Appetite

That risk sentiment across global markets. US and Asian equity futures advanced, and gold pulled back slightly from recent highs as traders rotated back into risk assets.

What to know:

Bitcoin surged above $113,000, its highest in nearly two weeks, amid progress in US-China trade talks.Top negotiators reached a preliminary consensus on key issues, easing fears of new tariffs.The broader crypto market cap rose 1.8% as traders welcomed relief from geopolitical tensions.Read full story

Sun, 26/10/2025 - 13:30

Bitcoin at $100,000 and gold at $4,000 sounds like headlines, but Bloomberg's Mike McGlone says they are just signals of what's next — and the surprise contender is U.S. Treasuries.

Cover image via www.freepik.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.

Bloomberg Intelligence strategist Mike McGlone continues his series of analyzing the emerging tendencies in financial markets with a fresh prediction of what may come after Bitcoin at $100,000 and gold at $4,000.

According to him, these milestones do not indicate the end of the cycle but a signal that capital could rotate toward U.S. Treasury bonds after years of weakness dictated by high Fed rates and QT policy.

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Bitcoin’s ascent to six figures in 2024 was followed by gold’s run through $2,500 and up toward $4,000 per ounce. McGlone says this symmetry reflects how assets take turns driving market attention.

In his view, gold’s push to $4,000 may set the stage for bonds to recover, positioning U.S. Treasuries as the next winner while speculative trades begin to cool off.

Source: Mike McGloneHis commodity breakdown underscores the same pattern. Gold’s upside case still points to $5,000, but he warns that a pullback to $3,000 cannot be ruled out if equities reverse, so it is rather a limbo situation.

Next pivot?McGlone has earned himself McDoom and McGrim nicknames in the crypto circles due to his conservative views on the digital asset market, but his newest message is clear: Bitcoin’s parabolic run and gold’s surge both show stretched conditions. Prices are at peaks, not floors, and the next shift may redirect money flow into the most overlooked but stable asset — U.S. government debt.

Bonds, after years of selling, could emerge as the main beneficiary once the speculative momentum in crypto and metals loses steam.

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XRP is above BNB after a substantial weekly surge.

Ripple finally closed the Hidden Road deal, which became big news at the end of the week as the prime broker now goes under a different name.

This and more interesting news from the past week or so will be detailed in the following article.

Hidden Road and Other Big Ripple Deals
Although the Hidden Road purchase, worth $1.25 billion, was initially announced in April, the actual conclusion was highlighted on Friday. In a statement on X, the Brad Garlinghouse-led company noted that the brokerage platform will now be known as Ripple Prime.

This means that the company is now the first in the crypto industry to “own and operate a global, multi-asset prime broker – bringing the promise of digital assets to institutional customers at scale.”

Teuncrium’s CEO weighed in on the matter, indicating that Ripple is “building the new Wall Street with XRP and Hidden Road.”

Garlinghouse took it to X to highlight the company’s five big moves since 2023. Despite the ongoing pressure from the SEC lawsuit at the time, Ripple made two significant purchases in 2023 and 2024: namely, the acquisitions of Metaco (a Swiss-based crypto custody provider) and Standard Custody & Trust Company, an enterprise-grade, regulated platform for cryptocurrencies.

2025 became an even more impactful year for Ripple as, aside from Hidden Road, it also announced deals to acquire Rail for $200 million and GTreasury for $1 billion.

You may also like:

Ripple’s XRP Breaks 2-Week High: Here’s Santiment’s Ideal Buy and Sell Timing

Here Are Ripple’s 5 Big Moves Since 2023 and What They Mean for XRP

Ripple-Backed Evernorth Raises Over $1 Billion for Institutional XRP Exposure

Additionally, Evennorth Holdings, a newly formed Nevada corporation, launched and entered a business combination agreement with Armada Acquisition Corp II to enable institutional adoption of Ripple’s XRP.

XRP Back to 4th
In line with the aforementioned announcements from Ripple, the project’s native token is about to close with a substantial 11.5% weekly surge that has driven its price to a multi-week peak of $2.65. This has helped its market cap soar to almost $159 billion, which makes XRP the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by surpassing BNB.

What’s particularly interesting about this price surge is that it comes at a time when whales have been seemingly taking profits off the table with sizeable sell-offs. In contrast, the popular meme coin and futures trader going by the X handle James Wynn said he was joining the XRP Army with a significant investment. Wynn noted that he went “down the rabbit hole of XRP” and determined it could “revolutionize the banking systems.”

Popular analyst Ali Martinez picked up today’s price move from XRP and outlined the next critical resistance on its way toward $3.00. He also brought up the first line of defense in case this rally is another fakeout.

Two key levels for $XRP:

– Support at $2.15

– Resistance at $2.80 pic.twitter.com/HbfNSNGZFs

— Ali (@ali_charts) October 26, 2025

Key Takeaways
Why is Bitcoin under pressure?
Bitcoin’s Illiquid Supply dropped by about 62,000 BTC in October as long-held coins moved into circulation.

What could support BTC’s price near term?
30-Day Whale Inflows/Outflows showed a 16,300 BTC net accumulation, suggesting whales are quietly absorbing supply despite weaker demand elsewhere.

Bitcoin [BTC] continued to hover around the $111,000 level. Although it closed above this mark for the third consecutive session, selling pressure has kept upside momentum limited.

Market data suggested that an expanding circulating supply and weakening demand continued to weigh on sentiment and near-term price strength.

Illiquid supply weakens Bitcoin’s stamina
There has been a sharp decline in the amount of Bitcoin’s Illiquid Supply circulating in the market. Illiquid Bitcoin refers to coins that have remained unmoved in inactive long-term private wallets.

Since mid-October, this decline has become more pronounced, coinciding with a drop in the broader crypto market capitalization to around $3.45 trillion.

In fact, the metric slipped to 14.303 million BTC on the 23rd of October from 14.38 million earlier in October.

During this period, roughly 62,000 BTC—worth an estimated $6.8 billion—was added back into the market.

Source: Glassnode

Historically, such inflows have triggered price declines on multiple occasions. In January 2024, for instance, a 400,000 BTC increase in illiquid supply produced a similar weakening effect on Bitcoin’s price momentum.

Mid-size wallets drive selling pressure
The sharp rise in liquidity from previously Illiquid Supply was only one of several factors affecting Bitcoin’s bullish structure.

Glassnode data showed that addresses holding between 0.1 and 100 BTC—valued at roughly $10,000 to $7 million—added significant selling pressure to the market.

This selling behavior has remained a consistent trend among this group of investors for about a year.

Source: Glassnode

Buying momentum also slipped. First-time buyer supply contracted toward ~213,000 BTC, signaling lighter new participation.

Additionally, momentum buyers—who typically drive short-term rallies—exited the market, according to chart details.

This suggested that while buyers were retreating, sellers continued to exert pressure, contributing to the broader stagnation in market activity.

Can whales hold the line?
Despite the market thinning out, Bitcoin whale wallets have continued to accumulate the asset. This accumulation trend has persisted even during the market decline throughout October.

In the past 30 days, total whale holdings have risen notably, reflecting a degree of confidence among large holders. However, their overall position in the market remains relatively small—totaling around 16,300 BTC.

Source: Glassnode

When compared to the large volume of Bitcoin re-entering circulation from illiquid wallets, alongside the persistent selling pressure from investors holding between 0.1 and 100 BTC, it appears that downward pressure could remain dominant in the near term.

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Following its blistering performance in the first week of October, the Bitcoin price action has been pretty much tame all month. In fact, the premier cryptocurrency has witnessed moments of bearish action in what is widely regarded as the historically bullish month of “Uptober.”

With the substantial downward pressure in recent weeks, the Bitcoin price looks set to close the month in the red. However, a recent evaluation shows that the market leader might be gearing up for its next major price move in the coming week.

In a recent video on YouTube, crypto analyst Maartunn shared an exciting hypothesis around the Bitcoin price, saying that the coin could make its next big move in the coming week. This evaluation is based on the Bitcoin Crash Price Trace, which monitors BTC’s behavior after a major price downturn.

According to Maartunn’s analysis, the Bitcoin price tends to enter a period of consolidation or sideways movement after a sharp crash for about two to four weeks, before making its next major move. This has been the case for the flagship cryptocurrency since it fell more than 16% on October 10. 

Maartunn noted that the market leader is currently 14 days into this consolidation phase, meaning that the next move could come anytime from now. 

Source: @JA_Maartunn on X
The analyst went further to provide clues in the data, highlighting that market volatility is shrinking for the premier cryptocurrency. Maartunn believes that this decline in volatility signals that investors are waiting on the sidelines for the next significant price move.

As of this writing, Bitcoin is valued at around $111,690, reflecting a mere 0.6% jump in the past 24 hours.

Level To Watch For The Next Move
Maartunn went further by revealing $112,500 as a critical level to watch in case the Bitcoin price makes its next major move. This price level is the short-term holders’ (STHs) realized price, which often acts as a dynamic support and resistance level.

Typically, with BTC’s value beneath this STH realized price, it means that the most reactive set of Bitcoin investors is in the red. These short-term investors are likely going to offload their assets at breakeven price—when the Bitcoin price returns to their cost basis.

Ultimately, this sell-off would put downward pressure on Bitcoin’s price, making the STH realized price (currently at $112,500) a significant resistance level.

The price of BTC on the daily timeframe | Source: BTCUSDT chart on TradingView
Featured image from iStock, chart from TradingView

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Opeyemi Sule is a passionate crypto enthusiast, a proficient content writer, and a journalist at Bitcoinist. Opeyemi creates unique pieces unraveling the complexities of blockchain technology and sharing insights on the latest trends in the world of cryptocurrencies. Opeyemi enjoys reading poetry, chatting about politics, and listening to music, in addition to his strong interest in cryptocurrency.

Welcome to Slate Sunday, CryptoSlate’s weekly feature showcasing in-depth interviews, expert analysis, and thought-provoking op-eds that go beyond the headlines to explore the ideas and voices shaping the future of crypto.

Jeff Booth has been warning the world about how technology and debt don’t mix for over a decade. The Vancouver-born entrepreneur and author of The Price of Tomorrow: Why Deflation is Key to an Abundant Future says the financial system we live under is one giant illusion. It’s a construct that prevents the natural process of progress and innovation from benefiting everyone equally.

“The natural state of the free market is deflation,” Booth reminds me early in our conversation.

“When we compete to provide value to other people, we’re forced to keep providing more for less. And if you use technology, you’d expect the prices to fall really fast. That can’t happen through a debt-based system; they’re opposite systems. A debt-based system must expand forever.”

Booth, who led the tech company BuildDirect for nearly two decades and now runs venture firm Ego Death Capital, was named among Goldman Sachs’ 100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs.

He has spent the past several years speaking and investing around one central idea: the future doesn’t have to be dystopian. But to make it hopeful, we must choose different incentives.

The illusion of stabilityGlobal economic data paints an increasingly unstable picture. The U.S. unemployment rate has ticked up to 4.1%, corporate bankruptcies are at their highest since 2020, and credit card delinquencies have surged past pre-pandemic levels. Meanwhile, real wages have stagnated against a backdrop of record debt: global borrowing surpassed $337 trillion this year, according to the Institute of International Finance.

And yet, prices keep rising. The cost of living in both the U.S. and Europe has forced millions of households to rely on short-term credit. In Booth’s framework, that outcome is baked into the system itself. He says:

“When you go to a bank, the bank doesn’t have the money; it’s lent into existence, and then you pay an interest rate on that debt. So it sets up a system whereby the money has to grow forever. It has to be manipulated forever… If deflation happens from a debt-based system and prices fall, then the debt resets and everything built on that debt collapses.”

We’ve never lived in a true free market, Booth argues, only in various forms of controlled economies dressed in different ideologies.

“Communism, capitalism, socialism, they’re all control constructs… We’ve never actually seen a free market.”

Bitcoin fixes thisFor Booth, Bitcoin represents the first true global free market, one that can’t be manipulated. He reasons:

“If you had an open, permissionless, decentralized, secure protocol bounded by energy that couldn’t be changed by governments, then it would perfectly describe the first free market that has ever existed.”

In his words, Bitcoin “reprices the entire world” because it operates outside a system of debt and compounding credit. All global assets are steadily losing ground to Bitcoin’s scarcity-driven, deflationary model, and real estate is a prime example. While house prices may be rising in fiat terms, they’re becoming vastly cheaper in BTC.

“If my house five years ago was 300 Bitcoin and today it’s 12 Bitcoin, prices are falling forever in Bitcoin terms. It’s not that my house went up in value; it’s that the currency it’s priced in went down.”

That perspective shift explains why Booth tells people not just to buy Bitcoin, but to move their time into it. And what does he say to people who believe it’s too late to start stacking sats? To the contrary, “We’re insanely early,” he smiles.

“Learn Bitcoin and really understand it. Then buy it, spend in it, and move your time to it. You’ll see a reflection of the world you want to see, rather than contributing to the world you’re scared of.”

It’s a worldview that’s counterintuitive in a time defined by anxiety.

Fear and systems of controlBooth believes our collective fear, whether of inflation, artificial intelligence, or geopolitical conflict, is a symptom of being trapped in a rigged game. It’s in the interest of those in power to create a cycle of constant uncertainty and fear.

“The only reason monopolies can exist is through a control system. And monopolies favor regulation. Who wins from having people scared of AI? It’s the big AI companies, because now prices can’t be allowed to fall to their minimal cost of production.”

In a truly competitive market, prices naturally drop until they match the cost to actually make the goods (the minimal cost of production). Anyone who wants to charge more will quickly be undercut until prices settle as low as they can go without producers losing money.

The cost of creating another line of code is zero, Booth remarks, so when AI becomes free, when its cost falls to zero, its abundance flows to all people (if governments can’t manipulate the money).

Under a Bitcoin standard, he argues, technological deflation would finally benefit society rather than a few monopolistic gatekeepers.

“AI, robotics, Bitcoin, they are a perfect symbiosis. They accelerate each other. In that world, you get richer and richer, even if you do nothing.”

The paradox, of course, is that while economic anxiety grows, Booth is radiant with positivity. He laughs:

“I’m crazy optimistic. I’m living in the optimism of builders who are doing this every day, and when you’re in that every day and you’re seeing it expand at the rate it’s expanding, it’s hard not to be extraordinarily optimistic.”

The choice to actBooth’s core message is one of agency. He insists individuals have more power than they realize.

“You personally have agency. Run a node. Spend in it [Bitcoin]. You don’t have to wait for anyone or ask for permission. You can just go.”

In a world where individual freedoms are diminishing by the day, I ask how he feels about the inevitable creep of digital IDs like the one proposed by the UK or Europe’s CBDC. He points to emerging technologies like Nostr, the decentralized social protocol, and Fedi, a privacy-preserving platform that allows anyone to launch their own digital federation.

“That’s why I’m not on Twitter anymore. I’m on Nostr. It can’t be blocked. My voice cannot be turned off on Nostr… And Fedi can’t be blocked. It’s being used in many authoritarian countries because it’s a life-saving technology. And it’s already available.”

Ego Death Capital invested in Fedi three and a half years ago, knowing that everyone would fall into a “trap of a centralized system,” and this technology had to exist before that happened.

The ego deathThe name of his venture firm, Ego Death Capital, reveals much about his philosophy.

“It just seemed to fit what I think Bitcoin is going to do to everybody in time… There’s one rule in Bitcoin: don’t try to cheat it, because you’ll cheat yourself.”

Booth’s own journey toward this understanding was not immediate. And when he realized that all of his work was in the fiat world, even after understanding the virtues of Bitcoin, he felt like a hypocrite.

“I realized 90% of my time was in the system I was making worse. Ego Death Capital was created to solve that paradox for me, so I could move my time into the system I said I wanted.”

He encourages others, entrepreneurs, creators, and educators, to do the same:

“Everybody’s trapped in pain and fear, scrolling on Twitter. But every problem in that system is an opportunity to solve pain for people in the new one. You can create extraordinary wealth by providing value. That’s the free market.”

The abundance aheadBooth’s thesis that technology-driven deflation should be embraced, not feared, has never felt more relevant, nor hopeful. According to the International Labour Organization, global youth unemployment is nearly 13%, and Goldman Sachs warns that automation could displace 300 million full-time jobs by 2030. Yet Booth sees abundance on the other side of that transformation.

“The same AI that people think might destroy us will actually make life unimaginably abundant. If prices fall faster than wages, everyone gets richer. But that can only happen in a system you can’t manipulate; a free market.”

When I ask Booth if he thinks we’ll live to see the world he envisions, if it will really happen in our lifetimes, his answer is instantaneous. He beams:

“I already see it. It’s the world I live in. It’s like that William Gibson quote: “The future is already here. It’s just not widely distributed.” You can live in this world tomorrow. It’s just a choice. The more you do it, the more it will reflect back at you.”

Dogecoin has taken a steep tumble over the past few weeks, losing 36% since its September highs. At the time of writing, the popular cryptocurrency trades around $0.1981, down from $0.3066.

Ethereum price prediction: ETH steadies near $3,984 as a symmetrical triangle hints at a $4,300 breakout — traders brace for volatility ahead.

XRP is gearing up for its final expansion phase this cycle, with the possibility of an imminent surge toward the $7 target.

Brian Njuguna2 min read

26 October 2025, 11:27 AM

Source: ShutterstockXRP’s Target Stands at $7–$15 as Final Expansion Phase ApproachesMarket analyst Mikybull Crypto says XRP is entering its final expansion phase, a historically explosive stage where major assets complete long-term technical structures. With momentum building and the wider crypto market heating up, bullish expectations for XRP are surging.

Source: Mikybull CryptoAccording to Mikybull Crypto’s analysis, XRP is currently consolidating beneath what he identifies as a key resistance “red band,” a zone aligning with the $7 price target. This level has been highlighted as a pivotal breakout zone, one that could trigger steep upward continuation if reclaimed with strong volume. 

The analyst suggests that surpassing $7 would likely signal the start of this final expansion leg, opening the door for an extended rally toward $11 to $15.

These targets are derived from macro technical patterns forming over multiple years, including XRP’s compressed structure and repeatable breakout cycles. 

Historically, long periods of accumulation and contraction in momentum have preceded rapid market repricings for the asset, a trend many traders believe is repeating now.

The bullish narrative is also supported by rising institutional exposure tied to Ripple’s enterprise-level developments. 

As more financial players explore digital asset integrations, XRP’s role as a liquidity and settlement token continues to expand. This evolving utility may reinforce support for the asset during any major price discovery phase.

What is expected? Well, market sentiment around XRP is strengthening as capital rotates back into assets still far below prior all-time highs. Traders increasingly view XRP as a high-upside play, and analyst Mikybull Crypto warns the coming weeks could be decisive, potentially confirming whether XRP is on the verge of its most aggressive growth phase of the cycle.

Still, the road higher won’t be perfectly smooth because XRP must defend key support and deliver a clean breakout above $7 to validate this bullish setup. Falling short of that level could invite fresh profit-taking and stall the anticipated expansion with price presently trading at $2.62.

ConclusionXRP is approaching a critical inflection point. Analysts say a decisive break above the $7 “red-band” resistance could trigger its long-awaited final expansion phase, accelerating price discovery toward $11–$15. 

Despite inherent volatility, strengthening institutional demand, reviving market sentiment, and historically bullish cycle patterns all point to XRP’s most powerful upside potential still ahead.

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Brian Njuguna

Brian Njuguna is a seasoned crypto journalist at Coinpaper, specializing in blockchain innovation, market trends, and regulatory developments. With a background in economics and years of experience covering the digital asset space, Brian delivers sharp, data-driven insights that cut through the hype. His reporting bridges global crypto narratives with emerging market perspectives, making complex topics accessible to a wide audience.

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