XRP may be on the verge of a significant upside move following a challenging start to the year. The token lost 27.1% in the first quarter and an additional 22.4% in the second quarter. Now, a rare alignment of technical patterns alongside strong seasonality data is drawing attention to a potential breakout.
Technical indicators suggest a turning pointThe daily chart on TradingView shows XRP confined within a descending broadening wedge, recognized as a classic late-stage accumulation pattern in technical analysis. This setup often signals an emerging end to prolonged selling and the possibility of a reversal.
Supporting this outlook, the relative strength index (RSI) has formed a bullish divergence, suggesting selling pressure is losing momentum. Simultaneously, buyers are managing to defend a local bottom near $1.05, further strengthening the bullish case.
Mini dictionary: Descending broadening wedge, a technical chart pattern where two converging downward-sloping trendlines diverge, often pointing to a possible bullish reversal after prolonged declines.
Seasonality and historical performanceData from CryptoRank, a cryptocurrency analytics platform, shows that the third quarter is traditionally XRP’s most stable growth period. Over the past seven years, XRP has not posted a negative return in Q3.
So far in July, the token’s return stands at 4.19%. Historically, the middle of summer has been a reliable period for recovery after sharp losses in June. XRP slumped 22.1% in June 2026. Following similar dips in previous years, the cryptocurrency rebounded by 47.6% in July 2023 and 35% in July 2025, illustrating strong seasonal recovery pulses.
Period202320252026June Return-18.5%-22.9%-22.1%July Return+47.6%+35%+4.19%The median Q3 return for XRP sits at 25.8%. After six months of continuous price compression, analysts believe this creates notable upside potential for the coming months.
Key resistance zones and potential targetsXRP currently trades near $1.08. To confirm a breakout from the wedge and start a fresh rally, buyers would need to push the price above the $1.12 to $1.18 resistance range. Clearing this level could pave the way for medium-term gains, with targets set between $1.45 and $1.60. These projections represent an approximate 50% rise from current prices.
Broader market stagnation and temporary slowdowns in spot XRP ETF inflows may limit a swift upward move. However, market observers note that the ongoing consolidation within the wedge is establishing a robust foundation ahead of the fourth quarter. Historically, XRP’s average return in Q4 has reached as high as 133.3%.
XRP has never closed Q3 in negative territory in the past seven years, and technical signals are now lining up with this seasonal trend to indicate a potential recovery.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
A screenshot shared by crypto commentator Pumpius stirred the XRP investor community after it appeared to show the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) Learning Center addressing the treatment of XRP as collateral in institutional settings. The DTCC, a major US post-trade financial services provider, handles clearing, settlement, and information services for financial markets.
AI-generated answer draws attentionThe screenshot, posted on X, displayed the DTCC Learning Center’s search interface with “XRP” entered as the query. The resulting page included an AI-generated answer titled “XRP Haircut and Classification,” which explained that the level of collateral haircut for XRP would be determined by its price.
According to the AI’s response, XRP priced at $5 or lower could receive a haircut of up to 100% due to concerns about volatility and liquidity, rendering it nearly worthless as collateral. On the other hand, if XRP traded above $5, the haircut could be reduced, typically to around 35% or based on a Value-at-Risk model, potentially allowing financial institutions to utilize a greater portion of its value for collateral purposes.
Here’s how the DTCC Learning Center AI summarized collateral requirements: XRP at $5 or below could be assigned up to a 100% haircut due to its perceived risk, while at prices above $5, the haircut may decrease to 35% or follow a Value-at-Risk calculation, making institutional collateral use more feasible.
Pumpius interpreted this as support for the notion that XRP would need to sustain a higher price, specifically above $5, to serve as meaningful collateral in institutional finance. He argued that the generated answer demonstrated that a “dirt cheap” XRP would be impractical for large-scale financial operations.
Mini dictionary: Collateral haircut, a financial term referring to the percentage discount applied to the value of an asset when used as loan collateral, typically reflecting the asset’s risk or price volatility.
XRP PriceEstimated Collateral HaircutCollateral Value$5 or lessUp to 100%Near zeroAbove $5Typically around 35% or Value-at-RiskSubstantialExpanding on this view, Pumpius drew connections between the AI-generated guidance and the positions held by key voices in the XRP community. He cited David Schwartz, Chief Technology Officer at Ripple, the technology company behind the XRP Ledger, who has consistently maintained that XRP must have a meaningful market value for efficient support of high-volume payments.
He also referenced Yoshitaka Kitao, CEO of SBI Holdings, a Japanese financial conglomerate and one of Ripple’s prominent partners. Kitao has previously signaled long-term confidence in XRP’s institutional adoption, particularly among Japanese banks, with the expectation that broader use could underpin a much higher price.
In referencing these leaders, Pumpius claimed that the DTCC Learning Center’s response supported earlier arguments that a higher XRP value is essential for serving institutional use cases.
Opposing perspectives quickly emerged among other members of the XRP community. Amanda, an active participant in the discussion, emphasized that the screenshot only showed an AI-generated answer and did not reflect an official DTCC policy or guidance on XRP collateralization. She urged caution, stating that the result simply filled the absence of direct XRP documentation.
XRPL validator Vet took a similar stance, explaining that the AI-generated answer referenced the National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC) Risk Margin Guide, not a specific DTCC policy regarding XRP. Vet highlighted that the underlying document does not mention XRP and that the system generated a tailored response because of increased search interest in XRP.
The AI response was formed from general guidelines and recent user queries, not any dedicated DTCC communication or regulatory position on XRP.
As feedback spread, many community members noted that, while Pumpius viewed the response as evidence of long-term institutional potential, it remains an unofficial AI-generated example with limited authority in defining DTCC’s risk policies.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Crypto market analyst Josiah Gallegos stated that XRP is approaching a key junction, as technical signals and potential regulatory developments converge to set the stage for a substantial move.
Technical pattern suggests bullish momentumGallegos highlighted a developing inverse head and shoulders formation on XRP’s daily chart. The structure features three distinct lows: the middle trough acts as the head, with the two flanking dips forming the shoulders.
A horizontal neckline currently sits just above XRP’s trading range. Gallegos noted that the asset must close above this level to confirm the pattern, a milestone that often signals the end of a market downtrend and the potential start of an upward reversal.
He explained that XRP has already begun to break out from a longstanding descending trendline that had capped its price for several months, indicating that early momentum may be building ahead of any decisive chart breakout.
XRP is quietly forming an inverse head and shoulders—one of the strongest bullish reversal patterns. If the structure holds, a major breakout is coming, with timing closely aligned to regulatory developments, Gallegos stated in a recent market update.
Mini dictionary: Inverse head and shoulders, a chart pattern commonly viewed as signaling the end of a downtrend and suggesting a potential move higher if confirmed with a break above the neckline.
Key moving averages hold importanceIn addition to chart patterns, Gallegos emphasized XRP’s positioning relative to its moving averages. He reported that the cryptocurrency is trading above its 50-day exponential moving average, a short- to mid-term indicator that typically signals recovery momentum in technical analysis.
The 200-day exponential moving average remains above the current price, acting as the next significant resistance. Gallegos described reclaiming this level as an important goal for bulls and observed that this longer-term moving average is nearly aligned with the broader descending trendline, making it a focal point for traders seeking confirmation of a sustained reversal.
He suggested that closing above both the neckline and the 200-day EMA could confirm a shift in sentiment and strengthen the argument for a new bullish phase.
IndicatorCurrent StatusTechnical Implication50-day EMAAbove price, reclaimedShort-term bullish signal200-day EMAAbove current priceMajor resistance, confirmation if brokenRegulatory developments may act as catalystsGallegos drew attention to the proposed CLARITY Act in the US Senate, which could impact XRP’s regulatory outlook. The CLARITY Act aims to provide clearer guidelines on digital asset classifications and is currently under Senate discussion. Gallegos said the alignment of this potential legislative milestone with technical developments on XRP could amplify any breakout, particularly if the bill is approved before the Senate recess in August.
He clarified that legislation alone is unlikely to determine XRP’s direction, but added that positive regulatory momentum could coincide with technical signals and boost investor sentiment around the asset.
Mini dictionary: CLARITY Act, a legislative proposal in the United States Senate intended to bring regulatory clarity on how digital assets are classified and overseen in the US financial system.
Gallegos maintained that a combination of technical breakout and favorable regulatory action could bring about a pivotal phase for XRP, urging traders to monitor unfolding developments closely in the coming weeks.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
The CLARITY Act has again drawn focus in Washington after crypto influencer Vivek Sen posted a Fox Business interview clip featuring Representative Bryan Steil, fueling speculation about imminent progress in US digital assets legislation.
The CLARITY Act’s progress in CongressRepresentative Bryan Steil discussed the current status of the bill on Fox Business, highlighting his optimism that the United States Senate would soon consider the legislation. “It’s absolutely essential that the United States sets the gold standard for regulations in the digital assets space,” Steil said, underscoring the significance of clear regulatory standards.
He emphasized that the House had already completed its role and expressed urgency for the Senate to act to “unlock so much capital, human capital and financial capital” for American markets.
The bill’s supporters argue that clear federal regulation could drive significant new investment in US digital assets, potentially opening the door to large inflows of capital in assets like Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies.
The CLARITY Act was first approved by the House on July 17, 2025, with lawmakers voting 294 in favor and 134 against. However, the bill has yet to reach a full floor vote in the Senate.
Current status and political barriersThe legislation advanced through the Senate Banking Committee on May 14, 2026, by a margin of 15 to 9, before moving to the Senate Legislative Calendar on June 1. Despite initial timelines, the Senate missed its July 4 signing goal, and no firm date for a full Senate vote has been set.
With 53 Republican-held seats in the upper chamber, the bill requires 60 votes to pass. At least two Republicans are reportedly expected to oppose the measure.
StepDateVote ResultHouse ApprovalJuly 17, 2025294-134Senate Banking CommitteeMay 14, 202615-9Senate Floor ScheduledAs of June 1, 2026Not scheduledThe main source of contention is a provision proposed by Senate Democrats, who want to prevent US President Donald Trump, his family, and executive branch officials from holding or engaging with cryptocurrencies. The push came after Trump’s financial disclosures showed that he had earned $1.4 billion from crypto since returning to office.
The Senate must resolve these internal divisions before the upcoming recess on August 7, leaving the act’s future uncertain.
Mini dictionary: Vivek Sen is a widely followed cryptocurrency commentator and social media influencer who frequently shares updates and opinions on digital asset legislation and market trends in the United States.
Potential impact of the bill on the crypto marketThe CLARITY Act seeks to provide definitive federal classification for several well-known cryptocurrencies as commodities rather than securities. The bill specifically references assets like XRP, which already has a judicial ruling affirming its commodity status, and would consolidate this protection into federal law, making reversals by future administrations more difficult.
Several market analysts believe the CLARITY Act represents a major potential catalyst for XRP by removing lingering uncertainty and enabling increased institutional involvement. If enacted, the law is expected to benefit both XRP and the wider digital assets sector by clarifying regulatory boundaries.
With the CLARITY Act expected to move forward, some market participants anticipate large-scale capital inflows into digital assets, as clearer regulations may encourage institutional adoption.
The momentum surrounding the bill has grown amid ongoing debates in Congress and strong calls from advocates urging legislators to act before the August recess.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
The crypto industry has spent years debating whether the CLARITY Act will pass. Colin McCune, Head of Government Affairs at Andreessen Horowitz, wants to shift the conversation to a different question: what actually happens the moment it does?
The GENIUS Act Already Showed the Playbook
McCune did not have to speculate. He pointed to the GENIUS Act stablecoin legislation as a live case study of what regulatory clarity does to a market.
“There has been an absolute explosion of activity in the stablecoin space,” he said. “A lot of the new entrepreneurial talent coming in, the deal flow we see from a crypto fund perspective, is involved in stablecoins. All the big institutional money, all of the traditional financial players, are entering the space because it’s green light.”
Regulatory ambiguity keeps institutional capital on the sideline. The moment legislation signals a long-term commitment from Washington, that capital moves. According to McCune, the same dynamic would play out across the broader digital asset market the moment CLARITY passes.
The Part Most People Miss
McCune was emphatic about what he believes the market consistently underestimates when thinking about CLARITY’s impact.
The law itself matters less than what it signals. “It is a signal. It’s a signal that America is here and they’ve made a long-term decision and you can’t just go and undo it. That is the biggest thing people miss.”
His argument is that crypto’s deepest institutional capital problem is not about specific rules. It is about certainty. A framework that can be reversed by the next administration, the next regulator, or the next enforcement priority is not a framework that large institutions can build long-term businesses around. Passed legislation is different. It represents a durable commitment that allows companies, investors, and developers to make multi-year bets.
What Day One Actually Looks Like
McCune was open and said passing the bill is not the finish line. It is the starting gun for what he described as an equally important two-year window.
“Passing the bill is passing a framework. Then the regulators have to go and write the very specific rules and issue them. The next two years will also be a very productive and very important time while we watch the bill be implemented across the agencies.”
His expectation is that all of the pent-up talent and capital sitting on the sideline during the years of legislative uncertainty will be ready to move immediately. Developers who held back from launching products in the US, institutions that waited for legal clarity, and international capital that has been watching from a distance will all have their trigger pulled at roughly the same moment.
“In that period, things rip,” he said.
The AI Comparison
McCune also drew a direct comparison between what he expects from CLARITY and what has already happened in AI. As AI stocks and venture activity have surged following the emergence of clear commercial pathways, he believes crypto is positioned to experience an equivalent moment once its regulatory framework is settled. He described CLARITY as the thing that could yin and yang off the AI sector, creating a second major wave of institutional and entrepreneurial activity running in parallel to the AI buildout.
Where the Bill Stands
McCune remained firmly in the bullish camp on CLARITY’s passage despite the back and forth over ethics provisions, developer protections, and illicit finance language that has dominated recent headlines.
“I would be a very wealthy man if I had a nickel for every time someone told me the bill was dead,” he said. “It has died and been brought back to life a million times.”
He said behind-the-scenes conversations over the past month have been extremely positive and that a landing zone exists that works for both parties and for the industry. With the August recess as the deadline and a White House meeting with senators already scheduled, the next two weeks are the most consequential the bill has faced.
Story Ends Here
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Finance educator Coach JV has cautioned XRP investors against letting social media debates and speculative narratives guide their investment decisions. In a recent video shared on X, Coach JV addressed the surge in conflicting opinions about XRP, noting that emotionally charged investing often leads to poor financial outcomes compared to any single market event.
Conflicting claims over DTCC and SWIFT tiesCoach JV highlighted the controversy within the XRP community regarding potential connections between XRP and two major financial institutions: the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) and the SWIFT payment network. While some members argue that XRP has significant links to these organizations, others refute those claims entirely.
He stated that the growing influence of these debates can misguide investors, who may act on claims that lack verification. Fabricated documents that appear authentic but are generated by artificial intelligence have further added to the confusion in the community.
Coach JV admitted to previously sharing an AI-generated document he later found to be inaccurate. He said the incident prompted him to slow down, verify sources, and prioritize independent research when evaluating information circulated online.
He stressed that many documents currently influencing public opinion lack credibility and warned that acting on unverified information can negatively affect portfolios.
Mini dictionary: Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) is a major US-based post-trade financial services company responsible for clearing and settlement of securities transactions. SWIFT is a global messaging system for financial transactions between banks worldwide.
XRP investors are facing an environment filled with speculation, AI-generated misinformation, and conflicting reports about ties to major institutions. Reacting hastily to these narratives can often be more damaging than any isolated market move.
Personal conviction above market rumorsCoach JV revealed that XRP comprises roughly 43% of his cryptocurrency holdings, with Bitcoin representing about 40% and Solana rounding out his top three positions. He continues to accumulate only these assets due to alignment with his long-term investment strategy.
His confidence, he explained, is rooted not in rumors regarding relationships with DTCC, SWIFT, or alleged insider information, but in personal conviction formed through extensive study of successful investors and systematic portfolio management. Coach JV advised others to avoid short-term trading based on internet trends and emphasized thorough research and discipline.
He also pointed out that influencers do not have inside access to confidential developments and rely on information available to the broader public. Reassuring his audience, he warned against placing undue trust in claims of exclusive knowledge from content creators.
Disciplined investors build conviction through research and structure, not by chasing rumors or looking for secretive tips from influencers. Remaining focused on long-term strategy prevents emotional reactions from undermining financial goals.
Approach to market uncertainty and tokenizationReflecting on periods of challenging market conditions, Coach JV noted that he continued buying XRP during the US Securities and Exchange Commission lawsuit and through subsequent crypto market downturns. He later sold a portion after realizing gains, but maintains regular accumulation of XRP, Bitcoin, and Solana.
Addressing recent developments like DTCC’s exploration of tokenization, he acknowledged their importance in the broader digital asset landscape. However, he discouraged viewing industry advances as binary outcomes for specific cryptocurrencies, instead supporting the idea that multiple assets and technologies can coexist as adoption accelerates.
AssetCoach JV’s Portfolio AllocationXRP43%Bitcoin40%SolanaThird-largestCoach JV concluded by urging investors to focus on their own reasons for participating in the market, develop conviction in chosen assets, and follow sources that prioritize careful analysis over emotional responses. He acknowledged future uncertainty regarding direct cooperation between DTCC, SWIFT, and XRP, but affirmed that such unknowns do not shake his confidence in Ripple’s significance or his disciplined investment approach.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
With XRP trading around $1.08 and the broader crypto market sitting at $2.19 trillion, one analyst has laid out three distinct price scenarios for XRP by the end of 2026, ranging from a mild recovery to a figure that would turn a modest holding into a life-changing return.
Five hundred XRP coins are currently worth approximately $540. The question is how much that stack could be worth if the market moves in any of three directions between now and December.
The Conservative Case: $2.71 Per XRP
In the most cautious scenario, the total crypto market recovers to $4.2 trillion, which was the all-time high set in 2025. XRP maintains its current market dominance of roughly 4%, unchanged from where it sits today.
At those numbers, XRP would reach approximately $2.71 per coin. Five hundred XRP would be worth around $1,355 by year-end. That represents a meaningful gain from current levels but is the floor of what the analyst considers plausible rather than a base case.
The Realistic Case: $7.90 Per XRP
The middle scenario assumes the crypto market reaches a new all-time high of $7 trillion, nearly double the previous peak. XRP’s dominance grows from 4% to 7%, which the analyst says is a level XRP has reached before given its utility profile among major cryptocurrencies.
Under those conditions, XRP would trade at approximately $7.90. Five hundred coins would grow from $540 today to roughly $3,950 by the end of 2026. The analyst describes this as his base expectation if broader market conditions cooperate, adding that 7% dominance for XRP would still represent a small slice of the overall crypto pie.
The Bull Case: $23 Per XRP
The aggressive scenario assumes everything goes right. The total crypto market cap climbs to $12 trillion, which would be an extraordinary expansion from current levels. XRP dominance rises to 12%, again a level it has previously achieved during major market cycles.
In this scenario, XRP would reach approximately $23 per coin. Five hundred XRP would be worth approximately $11,615, turning a sub-$600 holding into five figures. The analyst frames this as an ambitious but not impossible outcome given the right combination of institutional adoption, regulatory clarity, and broader market momentum.
What Would Need to Happen
None of these scenarios exist in isolation. The realistic and bull cases both require a significant expansion in total crypto market capitalisation driven by new institutional capital, positive regulatory developments, and renewed retail participation. The analyst also said that retail participation is currently very low by historical standards, which could be read either as a warning sign or as evidence that the biggest inflows are still ahead.
Story Ends Here
Trust with CoinPedia:CoinPedia has been delivering accurate and timely cryptocurrency and blockchain updates since 2017. All content is created by our expert panel of analysts and journalists, following strict Editorial Guidelines based on E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness). Every article is fact-checked against reputable sources to ensure accuracy, transparency, and reliability. Our review policy guarantees unbiased evaluations when recommending exchanges, platforms, or tools. We strive to provide timely updates about everything crypto & blockchain, right from startups to industry majors.
Investment Disclaimer:All opinions and insights shared represent the author's own views on current market conditions. Please do your own research before making investment decisions. Neither the writer nor the publication assumes responsibility for your financial choices.
Sponsored and Advertisements:Sponsored content and affiliate links may appear on our site. Advertisements are marked clearly, and our editorial content remains entirely independent from our ad partners.
Japan has taken a decisive step in cryptocurrency regulation by approving a new framework that reclassifies XRP and other digital assets as financial instruments. This move contrasts with ongoing debates in the United States over the proposed CLARITY Act, which aims to provide regulatory clarity for digital assets.
Japan’s new crypto classification sets stage for XRP ETFX Finance Bull, a well-known cryptocurrency commentator active on social media, described the development as a meaningful shift for XRP and the wider crypto market. He stated that Japan’s action illustrates progress beyond mere legislative debate and demonstrates a concrete commitment to integrating cryptocurrencies within the nation’s financial system.
According to X Finance Bull, the updated regulatory treatment of digital assets creates a legal foundation for the launch of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tied to XRP and potentially other cryptocurrencies. He described this milestone as a transition from long-discussed ambitions to tangible implementation, especially given Japan’s status as the world’s third-largest economy.
Japan has approved its own framework reclassifying $XRP and other digital assets as financial instruments, marking a clear shift from theory to action. An XRP ETF now moves from an aspiration to an imminent reality in Asia’s leading market.
This shift stands in contrast to the United States, where policymakers continue to debate digital asset legislation. While the CLARITY Act remains under discussion in Congress, Japan’s financial authorities have moved forward with a completed and actionable regulatory model.
ETF filings progressing with support from SBI GroupOne of the central points in X Finance Bull’s analysis concerns the preparations underway for cryptocurrency ETFs in Japan. He pointed to SBI Group, one of the country’s largest financial conglomerates and a longstanding partner of Ripple, as the organization leading these efforts.
SBI Group’s early preparations for an XRP ETF reportedly began well before the latest government approval. The commentator noted that this indicates strategic, long-term planning and confidence in the regulatory trajectory. SBI Group’s collaboration with Ripple over several years may have given it the head start needed to introduce new investment products as soon as policy allowed.
This approach sets the current situation apart from prior announcements or speculative headlines, as institutions like SBI appear positioned to capitalize on regulatory changes swiftly.
Mini dictionary: SBI Group, headquartered in Tokyo, is a major Japanese financial services company engaged in banking, asset management, and fintech, and has been a key partner of Ripple in promoting blockchain adoption throughout Japan and Asia.
Potential impact on XRP adoptionX Finance Bull also emphasized the potential advantages of an XRP ETF for Japanese investors. He explained that by offering regulated financial products, such as ETFs, investors could gain exposure to XRP using familiar brokerage accounts or retirement plans.
Citing the experience of spot cryptocurrency ETFs in the United States, he claimed that XRP funds there have attracted approximately $1.48 billion in investments, even during challenging market periods. This, according to the commentator, demonstrates how structured ETF offerings can broaden participation in the cryptocurrency sector.
Japan’s tax structure may further support market growth. The current flat 20% tax rate on crypto gains stands out as a more straightforward regime compared to other jurisdictions, simplifying the process for investors.
CountryCrypto Tax RateStatus of XRP ETFJapan20% flat ratePreparations underwayUnited StatesVaries (up to 37% for capital gains)No XRP ETF approvedRipple’s close ties with Japanese institutionsThe commentator underscored the significance of Ripple’s relationship with SBI Group. He mentioned that RLUSD, a stablecoin, is already available via SBI VC Trade, and SBI Ripple Asia operates technical infrastructure on the XRP Ledger. These initiatives reflect ongoing efforts to support token issuance and digital asset integration in Japan.
Overall, these developments suggest Japan is prioritizing infrastructure for institutional-grade digital asset products, rather than simply adjusting existing regulations. Analysts suggest the combination of governmental support, ETF readiness, and established partnerships positions Japan as a notable environment for crypto adoption, with XRP poised to benefit from the country’s proactive approach.
SBI has been working with Ripple to build digital finance platforms in Japan for years, providing a robust foundation as the country moves toward institutional crypto adoption.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
As Ripple continues to emerge as one of the top names in the crypto industry, its President, Monica Long, has also made the list of the top leaders in the stablecoin market this year, curated by Stablecon.
Following the recent release of its annual leadership recognition list, Stablecon has named Monica Long among the honorees on Stablecon's Most Influential 2026 list.
Monica Long as a Top Woman in Stablecoins Following Long's addition to Stablecon's Most Influential list this year, the Ripple president has earned recognition in two categories, which include Issuer & Protocol Leaders and Top Women in Stablecoins.
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The list is curated every year to recognize leaders across multiple crypto sectors such as stablecoin issuance, blockchain infrastructure, investing, regulation, and ecosystem development.
Stablecon explained that honorees who make it to the list are evaluated based on five criteria, which include ecosystem influence, impact and reach, innovation, momentum, and peer recognition.
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Notably, Monica Long was listed alongside executives from several major stablecoin and digital asset firms, including Paxos, Ondo Finance, Frax Finance, Custodia Bank, Anchorage Digital, and Monerium in the Issuer & Protocol Leaders category.
Also, Long made the list in the Top Women in Stablecoins category, being one of only two Ripple-associated executives celebrated as female leaders making major contributions to the stablecoin industry.
RLUSD in spotlight as Ripple pushes for wider adoption It is not surprising that Monica Long has been recognized as a top leader in the stablecoin sector, as Ripple continues to advance its native stablecoin, RLUSD, while expanding its use cases.
Apparently, Monica Long's recognition as a Top Woman in Stablecoins comes following Ripple's consistent developments targeted at expanding its presence in the stablecoin market through RLUSD.
As Ripple's president, Long has played a key role in bringing RLUSD to the global market and driving its adoption for real-world payments and financial applications.
비댁스, 리플 커스터디 활용해 XRP, RLUSD 및 디지털 자산 커스터디 인프라 제공 XRPL(XRP 레저) 개발자 및 생태계 성장 지원RLUSD 스테이블코인 활성화를 위한 인프라 구축 및 협력
디지털 자산 커스터디 선도기업 비댁스(BDACS)가 26일 기관급 디지털 자산 인프라 선도 기업 리플(Ripple)과 전략적 파트너십을 맺었다고 밝혔다.
이번 파트너십은 금융위원회가 최근 발표한 법인의 가상자산 시장 진입 단계적 허용 기조에 맞추어 ▲기관 투자자들을 위해 안전한 XRP 및 RLUSD 커스터디를 제공할 뿐만 아니라 ▲XRPL(XRP 레저) 개발자 및 생태계 성장 지원 ▲스테이블코인(RLUSD)의 사용성 확대 ▲블록체인 규제 특구인 부산과의 시너지 효과 등 기관급(Institution Level) 커스터디 시장을 고도화하고 국내 기술적, 사업적 기회 확대를 목표로 한다.
비댁스의 류홍열 대표는 이번 파트너십 체결에 대해 "비댁스는 리플이 선도하는 블록체인 이니셔티브를 뒷받침하는 안전하고 신뢰할 수 있는 커스터디 서비스를 제공하고, 궁극적으로 양사가 디지털 자산 생태계를 고도화 및 확장하는 계기가 될 것이다"라고 밝혔다.
비댁스는 기관급 보안을 유지하면서 디지털 자산을 안전하게 보관, 관리 및 접근할 수 있도록 암호화폐 관리자, 거래소, 장외거래 등에 인프라를 제공하는 리플 커스터디를 활용할 계획이다. 2030년까지 보관되는 디지털 자산의 규모는 16조 달러에 달할 것으로 예상되며, 2030년까지 전 세계 GDP의 10%가 토큰화될 것으로 예측된다. 커스터디는 모든 디지털 자산 비즈니스의 기반이 되며, 토큰화, 자산 관리, 스테이블코인 발행 등 다양한 분야에서 새로운 유스케이스를 도모한다.
비댁스는 이번 파트너십을 통해 XRP 와 RLUSD를 모두 지원하게 된다. XRP는 결제 목적으로 설계된 디지털 자산으로, 크립토 네이티브 및 실제 자산의 토큰화 및 거래에 있어 10년간의 신뢰성과 안정성을 증명해온 탈중앙화 레이어 1 블록체인 XRP 레저의 네이티브 토큰이다. RLUSD는 엔터프라이즈급 미국 달러 기반 스테이블코인으로 그간 크립토 및 기존 금융 시스템 업계에서 쌓아온 리플의 전문성을 바탕으로 신뢰성과 유연성 및 컴플라이언스에 중점을 맞춰 개발되었다.
피오나 머레이(Fiona Murray) 리플 아시아태평양 지역 총괄은 “비댁스와의 파트너십을 통해 한국의 기관 투자자들에게 리플의 커스터디 솔루션을 제공할 수 있게 되어 기쁘다”며, “금융위원회의 규제 로드맵에 따라 암호화폐 시장이 급성장하고 새로운 기회가 생겨나고 있는 상황에서 이번 파트너십은 디지털 자산 생태계를 확장하는 데 중요한 발걸음이 될 것”이라고 말했다.
최근 발표된 법인 거래의 단계적 허용, 스테이블코인 규율 체계 마련 등 가상자산 관련 규제 흐름이 긍정적으로 변화하고 있는 만큼, 디지털 자산 커스터디 전문 기업의 수요가 폭발적으로 증가할 것으로 예상된다. 이러한 상황에서 비댁스는 국내 최초의 기관급 커스터디 기업 중 하나로 투자자들이 국내 규제 환경 내에서 XRP 및 RLUSD를 비롯한 디지털 자산을 안전하게 거래할 수 있도록 시장 접근성 솔루션을 제공할 계획이다.
리플은 안전하고, 컴플라이언스를 준수하는 간편한 디지털 자산 인프라로 금융 기관들이 디지털 자산을 토큰화, 수탁, 거래 및 운용에 필요로 하는 핵심 서비스를 제공한다. 특히, 디지털 자산 업계 내 10년 이상의 경험과 여러 관할권에 거쳐 60개 이상의 규제 라이선스를 보유하고 있다.
한편, 비댁스는 아발란체(Avalanche),폴리매쉬(Polymesh) 등 주요 메인넷과의 파트너십을 통해 토큰 증권(STO), 실물자산 토큰화(RWA) 등 글로벌 디지털 자산 시장에서 빠르게 입지를 넓히고 있다. 특히 비댁스는 지난 해 12월 국내 최고 시중은행인 우리은행과 협력하여 디지털 자산 커스터디 비즈니스 관련 중요한 파트너십을 구축한 바 있다.
비댁스 소개
비댁스는 국내 기관을 위한 선도적인 디지털 자산 관리인으로, 변화하는 디지털 자산 환경을 고객이 자신 있게 탐색할 수 있도록 안전하고 규제를 준수하며 혁신적인 관리 솔루션을 제공한다. 국내 최고 수준의 은행과 전략적 파트너십을 맺고 있으며, 국내외 컴플라이언스와 규제를 준수하고 있는 BDACS는 기관급 디지털 자산 관리의 기준을 설정하고 있다. 비댁스의 종합적인 서비스 제품군은 기관 고객의 복잡한 요구를 충족하도록 설계되어 맞춤형 관리 솔루션, 원활한 거래 결제, 광범위한 시장 접근성을 제공한다. 업계에서 가장 광범위하고 미래지향적인 역량을 갖춘 BDACS는 기관이 국내는 물론 전 세계에서 디지털 자산 전략을 추진하는 데 필요한 신뢰, 보안, 운영 효율성을 제공하는 디지털 자산 관리의 미래를 형성하고 있다.
리플 소개
리플은 금융기관을 위한 디지털 자산 인프라 선도 기업이다. 리플은 단순하면서도 규제를 준수하는, 신뢰도 높은 소프트웨어를 제공해 비효율성을 해결하며 글로벌 금융 혁신을 불러일으키고 있다. 리플 솔루션은 개발자 및 금융 유스케이스 전반에서 빠르고 저렴하며 확장성이 뛰어난 거래를 위해 설계된 XRP 레저(XRP Ledger, XRPL)와 네이티브 디지털 자산인 XRP를 활용한다. 리플의 결제, 커스터디 및 스테이블코인 솔루션은 전 세계 규제 당국 및 정책 입안자들로부터 검증된 실적을 바탕으로 디지털 자산 경제를 선도하며 기업 블록체인에 대한 신뢰와 믿음을 쌓아가고 있다. 리플은 고객, 파트너, 개발자 커뮤니티와 함께 전 세계가 가치를 창출, 저장, 관리, 이동하는 방식을 혁신하고 있다.
Key Takeaways The moderate scenario projects XRP between $5 and $8 by 2031, driven by growing institutional integration In an optimistic scenario, XRP could climb to $15–$25 if it captures significant global settlement market share A pessimistic outlook places XRP at $1–$2 should adoption stall or competitive pressures mount Exchange-traded fund flows may constrain circulating supply while boosting retail and institutional accessibility Across weighted probability scenarios, XRP’s 2031 target centers around $7.90 For years, XRP has maintained its position as one of the cryptocurrency sector’s most debated digital assets. Its specialized focus on facilitating international payments and serving institutional clients distinguishes it from broader platforms like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
XRP Price Following an extended period dominated by regulatory challenges, XRP has transitioned into a more promising chapter. Enhanced legal clarity, the introduction of regulated spot ETF products, and Ripple’s aggressive global partnership strategy have reignited attention from the investment community.
The central question facing investors today is straightforward: what price level could XRP realistically achieve by 2031?
For several years, Ripple has systematically developed relationships with financial institutions and payment service providers worldwide. Meanwhile, the XRP Ledger continues broadening its use cases beyond payments—venturing into tokenization of tangible assets, DeFi applications, and supporting the RLUSD stablecoin infrastructure.
Under moderate assumptions, XRP is projected to trade between $5 and $8 by the end of the decade. Such valuations would correspond to a total market capitalization spanning approximately $325 billion to $520 billion.
Optimistic Projection The bullish forecast operates under the premise that XRP establishes itself as a dominant infrastructure layer for institutional transaction settlement and international money transfers.
The launch of XRP-based ETF products represents a critical growth driver in this scenario. These regulated investment vehicles have dramatically lowered barriers for traditional investors seeking exposure to the asset. Sustained inflows into these products could create supply constraints while simultaneously expanding demand channels.
Should the tokenized asset sector evolve into a multi-trillion-dollar market—and the XRP Ledger successfully captures a substantial portion of that activity—XRP’s total value could approach the $1 trillion threshold. Under these conditions, individual token prices would fall within the $15 to $25 range.
While this represents an aggressive projection, a growing number of long-term holders no longer consider it entirely implausible.
Pessimistic Projection The primary vulnerability facing XRP centers on implementation challenges. Ripple’s payment infrastructure could achieve commercial success without necessarily translating into proportionate demand for the underlying XRP token.
Meanwhile, competitive pressure continues intensifying. Ethereum Layer 2 solutions, Solana’s payment rails, fiat-backed stablecoins, and emerging central bank digital currencies all represent viable alternatives for institutional payment settlement.
Under this less favorable scenario, XRP’s trading range could remain confined between $1 and $2 throughout the next half-decade.
XRP’s distinguishing characteristic remains its institutional orientation. Rather than positioning itself as a multipurpose blockchain platform, it’s strategically aligned as foundational infrastructure supporting the global financial system.
When factoring probability weights across bear, base, and bull scenarios, the blended price expectation for XRP by 2031 lands at approximately $7.90.
Monica Long, President of Ripple, has received a place on the Stablecon’s Most Influential 2026 list, showcasing her growing prominence in the stablecoin sector. Ripple, known for providing blockchain solutions for payments and enterprise finance, has continued to solidify its role as a major player in digital assets and stablecoins under Long’s leadership.
Stablecon’s annual recognitionStablecon, an organization specializing in stablecoin research and industry analysis, compiles its annual list to highlight the year’s most prominent leaders across the stablecoin ecosystem. The Most Influential 2026 list focuses on various categories, including Issuer & Protocol Leaders and Top Women in Stablecoins, acknowledging contributions from founders, executives, and key decision-makers.
This year, Stablecon selected honorees based on ecosystem influence, broad impact, innovation, market momentum, and peer recognition. The organization recognized Monica Long for making significant strides both as an issuer and protocol leader, and as a female executive shaping the stablecoin landscape.
In the Issuer & Protocol Leaders category, Long appeared alongside senior executives from firms such as Paxos, Ondo Finance, Frax Finance, Custodia Bank, Anchorage Digital, and Monerium. These companies play central roles in stablecoin development, issuance, and digital asset infrastructure.
Long was also included in the Top Women in Stablecoins category. She was one of only two Ripple-associated executives to receive this recognition as a standout female leader in the industry.
Stablecon evaluates candidates for their annual list using five main criteria: ecosystem influence, measurable impact and reach, innovation in products and markets, recent momentum, and the degree of recognition from peers within the industry.
CategoryHonoreeAffiliationIssuer & Protocol LeadersMonica LongRippleIssuer & Protocol LeadersExecutivesPaxos, Ondo Finance, Frax Finance, Custodia Bank, Anchorage Digital, MoneriumTop Women in StablecoinsMonica LongRippleRLUSD in spotlight as Ripple expands adoptionRipple has placed particular emphasis on RLUSD, its native stablecoin, as a strategic pillar in the company’s growth and technology stack. The company has aimed to position RLUSD as a reliable digital currency for global payments and enterprise transactions.
Monica Long has been central to Ripple’s efforts to expand RLUSD’s use cases and market reach. As president, she has led initiatives focused on adoption for real-world payments, aiming to strengthen Ripple’s foothold in the competitive stablecoin environment.
Stablecoins, like RLUSD, offer value stability by pegging their worth to traditional assets, typically fiat currencies such as the US dollar. This stability differentiates them from other cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, whose prices can fluctuate widely.
Mini dictionary: RLUSD, also known as Ripple USD, is Ripple’s own stablecoin pegged to the US dollar, developed to facilitate fast and secure cross-border transactions.
Ripple’s push for broader RLUSD adoption reflects the company’s long-term vision of integrating stablecoins into mainstream financial systems. Industry observers have noted Ripple’s focus on developing blockchain-powered financial solutions, driven by its leadership team’s commitment to innovation and market growth.
Monica Long’s dual recognition in Issuer & Protocol Leaders and Top Women in Stablecoins comes as Ripple intensifies its efforts to advance digital finance through RLUSD and collaborative industry partnerships.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
XRP withdrawal activity on Binance has climbed to its highest level in at least two years.
According to a new on-chain analysis by CryptoQuant contributor Amr Taha, the exchange is now recording a significantly larger share of withdrawal transactions than of deposits.
Taha said Binance’s share of XRP withdrawal transactions reached 54.5% on July 17, the highest level since July 2024. Meanwhile, deposit transactions fell to 45.4%, the lowest reading since the same period and below the previous low of 46.7% recorded on June 20, 2025.
XRP Deposit/Withdrawal chart The widening gap between withdrawals and deposits has expanded to 9.1 percentage points, up from 6.5 points on June 20, 2025. According to Taha, this makes the current imbalance roughly 40% wider than the previous comparison.
Binance Outpaces Broader Exchange Trend The broader centralized exchange market is showing a similar pattern, though Binance’s shift is more pronounced.
Across all centralized exchanges, withdrawal transactions accounted for 53.01%, nearly matching the 53.09% recorded on June 20, 2025, while deposit transactions stood at approximately 46.9%.
Binance’s withdrawal share is now 1.49 percentage points higher than the all-exchange average. Its 9.1-point withdrawal-deposit gap is also nearly 49% wider than the roughly 6.1-point gap observed across all centralized exchanges.
The figures suggest Binance users are moving XRP off the exchange at a faster rate than the broader market, although the data reflects the number of transactions rather than the size or value of transferred funds.
Previous Pattern Preceded 66% XRP Rally Taha pointed to a historical parallel that has drawn attention from market participants.
After similar transaction levels were recorded on June 20, 2025, XRP’s price climbed from approximately $2.11 to $3.50 by July 21, delivering a gain of nearly 66% in about one month.
At the time of the analysis, XRP was trading near $1.09, around 48% below its June 2025 comparison price and nearly 69% below the subsequent $3.50 peak.
However, Taha cautioned against interpreting the data as a direct bullish signal. The metrics track the proportion of deposit and withdrawal transactions, not the volume of XRP being transferred or net exchange flows.
As a result, the shift reflects a change in transaction composition rather than definitive evidence of capital leaving exchanges or a guarantee that price will follow the same trajectory.
DisClamier: This content is informational and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author's personal opinions and do not reflect The Crypto Basic opinion. Readers are encouraged to do thorough research before making any investment decisions. The Crypto Basic is not responsible for any financial losses.
Robinhood addresses controversy: Its support for Trump’s account is aimed at inclusive finance, not to encourage gambling-style trading.
According to The New York Times, as Robinhood integrates prediction markets into its app, external concerns have grown over the platform’s potential to exploit young, inexperienced investors. Additionally, many still associate Robinhood with the meme stock craze that swept markets years ago, and the firm was a key driver of that phenomenon. Today, Robinhood aims to be seen as more than those labels. The company has become one of the entities operating the Trump Accounts program, which gives Robinhood the chance to build closer ties with the next generation of investors while further strengthening its relationship with Washington’s political establishment. Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev responded that the move is not to encourage speculation, but to expand financial inclusion and help more U.S. households participate in long-term investing. Currently, Robinhood has adjusted some product designs and is working to transition from a “speculative trading platform” to a broader financial services firm.
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Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister: Iran has ceased implementing the Iran-US Memorandum of Understanding
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BONK treasury attacker transfers approximately $1.19 million worth of tokens to Binance.
According to Yu Jian Monitoring, the address that previously drained the BONK treasury via a governance attack transferred 400 billion BONK tokens (valued at roughly $1.19 million) to Binance 20 minutes ago. The address spent approximately $4.4 million 10 days ago to purchase enough BONK tokens to meet the governance voting threshold, then submitted a governance proposal that was forcibly passed, siphoning 4.426 trillion BONK tokens from the BONK treasury, worth around $21.2 million.
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Consensys unwittingly hired North Korean developers for software development work, and has launched a full investigation.
Blockchain firm Consensys unknowingly granted a North Korea-linked software developer access to some of its internal systems for roughly a month. Earlier this year, Consensys hired a software consultant operating under the alias Tyler Knapp, who was later found to have ties to North Korea. The incident prompted Consensys to temporarily pause product releases and launch an internal investigation. Consensys General Counsel Matt Corva stated: "'Knapp' was introduced to the company via its partnership with a reputable third-party service provider, serving as a consultant (he was never a full-time Consensys employee). We detected this security threat shortly after his onboarding, immediately terminated all his access permissions in line with security protocols, and initiated a full investigation. The probe confirmed no assets or data were misappropriated, no malicious code was deployed, and there was no impact on user security or assets."
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Kevin Kelly: If Token costs become critical in the future, China’s open-source models will hold a significant advantage.
Famous futurist and "Father of Silicon Valley Spirit" Kevin Kelly told media in an interview at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference that if the day comes when everyone starts paying attention to token costs, China’s AI will hold an advantage thanks to the existence of open-source models. Kelly noted that token consumption costs are growing increasingly important, though currently the industry seems not to prioritize them. “But I think when we are consuming such massive amounts of tokens all the time, people will start caring about [costs]. If you can offer costs that are one-tenth of Anthropic’s, that will disrupt the entire landscape.” However, Kelly also warned that open-source models require sufficient funding to sustain operations, as they are not as profitable as closed-source models. “Building these large models requires massive capital.”
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A trader bought BRIAN at its peak yesterday, now facing an unrealized loss of nearly 90%.
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Consensys has temporarily halted product releases after a North Korea-linked consultant gained access to its systems for about one month.
Summary
Consensys halted product releases after a North Korea-linked consultant accessed its systems for one month. An internal investigation found no stolen assets, exposed data, malicious code, or user harm. Consensys will review contractor screening as North Korean operatives increasingly target crypto firms. Drop Site News reported that the developer joined the Ethereum software company under the alias “Tyler Knapp” and used the GitHub handle “imyugioh.” Public GitHub records reviewed by the outlet showed that the consultant began contributing code on March 9 before his access ended in April.
Internal messages obtained by Drop Site showed that Knapp worked on core MetaMask platform code, including sections used to connect crypto users with third-party fiat payment providers. Consensys suspended product releases during its investigation and instructed staff to avoid contact with the consultant, according to the report.
Consensys general counsel Matt Corva told Drop Site that an established third-party service provider introduced Knapp to the company. Corva stressed that Consensys treated him as a consultant rather than a direct employee.
“Very quickly after being introduced, we discovered the threat, followed our security protocols, immediately terminated any access and launched a comprehensive investigation that confirmed there was no misappropriation of assets or data, no malicious code deployed, and no impact to user safety and security.”
Although Consensys disclosed no financial losses, Corva said in a statement that the company would reassess how it outsources engineering and development work. The firm also notified law enforcement and provided information about the incident, according to internal communications reviewed by Drop Site.
Consensys found no loss of user assets Consensys’ investigation found no evidence that the consultant stole company data or digital assets, inserted harmful code, or compromised users, according to Corva. The company did not publicly explain how it established the developer’s alleged ties to the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea.
Even without a confirmed loss, developer access can expose sensitive infrastructure. According to TRM Labs, developer environments have become one of the quickest paths for attackers seeking access to systems that hold private keys or approve crypto withdrawals.
A six-month investigation supported by the Ethereum Foundation’s ETH Rangers Program shows that the hiring threat extends beyond Consensys. The Ketman Project identified about 100 suspected North Korean IT workers using false identities across 53 crypto and Web3 projects, according to an ETH Rangers recap published in April.
Ketman investigators also traced at least three suspected groups across 11 code repositories, where projects had merged 62 pull requests before detecting the activity. The project reported that some applicants used generated profile pictures, forged identity documents and false Japanese identities to pass screening checks.
North Korea remains crypto’s largest hacking threat North Korea-linked groups have repeatedly used fake identities and remote engineering jobs to gain entry to technology companies. As crypto.news reported in November, Opsek founder and Security Alliance member Pablo Sabbatella warned at Devconnect Buenos Aires that North Korean workers could be embedded in as many as one-fifth of crypto companies.
Sabbatella also estimated that North Korean applicants account for roughly 30% to 40% of job applications received by crypto firms, suggesting that employment fraud is not limited to isolated cases.
Crypto companies face added risk because employees and contractors can receive access to code, wallets and transaction systems. TRM Labs estimated that North Korea was responsible for 64% of the value stolen in crypto hacks during 2025, when total losses exceeded $2.7 billion. TRM Labs
One attack accounted for much of the damage. The FBI attributed the February 2025 theft of about $1.5 billion from Bybit to North Korea’s TraderTraitor group, which dispersed the assets across thousands of blockchain addresses. FBI
TRM Labs reported that more than 30 exchanges and decentralized finance protocols now share rapid alerts through its Beacon Network when North Korea-linked funds reach participating platforms. For Consensys, the consultant’s removal prevented any known user loss, but the incident has prompted a review of the company’s third-party hiring controls.
A TrustedVolumes attacker has returned 1,122 ETH worth about $2 million while keeping another $2 million as a self-declared bounty.
Summary
The TrustedVolumes attacker returned 1,122 ETH worth about $2 million. The exploiter retained another $2 million as a self-declared bounty. Blockaid traced the May attack to TrustedVolumes’ custom RFQ swap proxy. According to Com Feed monitoring, the Ethereum transfer represents a partial recovery from the May exploit, which initially drained about $5.87 million from a contract controlled by the liquidity provider. The attacker has retained roughly the same dollar amount as the returned funds, labeling it a bounty.
⚠️ JUST IN: The TrustedVolumes exploiter has returned 1,122 ETH ($2M+
The original exploit resulted in more than $5.8M being stolen. The exploiter has now returned around $2M while retaining another $2M as a “bounty" pic.twitter.com/HJSdx4i4Or
— Com Feed (@thecomfeed) July 18, 2026 At the time of writing, TrustedVolumes had not formally confirmed that it had accepted the attacker’s bounty terms.
Partial repayment recovers only part of the stolen funds TrustedVolumes disclosed in May that the total loss had reached roughly $6.7 million, exceeding the initial estimate reported by security researchers. The company said at that time the stolen assets were held across three addresses containing approximately $3 million, $3 million, and $700,000.
Seeking to recover the assets, TrustedVolumes offered to discuss a vulnerability bounty and what it called a mutually acceptable solution. The liquidity provider also invited the attacker to begin constructive communication, though its statement did not specify a proposed bounty rate.
Before the stolen tokens were consolidated, Blockaid identified 1,291.16 WETH, 206,282 USDT, 16.939 WBTC, and 1.27 million USDC among the drained assets. PeckShield later reported that the attacker exchanged the tokens and gathered the proceeds into about 2,513 ETH.
The returned 1,122 ETH was worth about $2 million at the time of writing, while Com Feed valued the attacker’s retained bounty at a similar amount. The combined dollar value is lower than the original loss because ETH has fallen since the May exploit, when the stolen assets were converted into the cryptocurrency.
Custom TrustedVolumes proxy caused the security breach As previously reported by crypto.news, Blockaid traced the May 7 attack to a custom request-for-quote swap proxy operated by TrustedVolumes. According to the security firm, the attacker targeted the company’s Ethereum resolver setup rather than a regular 1inch swap route.
TrustedVolumes used the RFQ system to quote token prices and complete signed trades from its inventory. Verichains found that a public function lacked access controls, allowing the attacker to register an address as an approved order signer and create transactions that appeared valid to the proxy.
During the same transaction, the attacker directed the proxy to pull WETH, WBTC, USDT, and USDC from the TrustedVolumes inventory vault. Verichains also identified a mismatch between the address checked for authorization and the address supplying the tokens, while faulty replay protection failed to record orders correctly.
Although the affected market maker supplied liquidity through 1inch, the attack did not compromise 1inch’s core aggregation contracts or standard user routes, according to 1inch’s account of the incident. Blockaid linked the wallet to the March 2025 Fusion V1 exploit but reported that the May attack used a different flaw tied to TrustedVolumes’ custom proxy.
Ethereum (ETH) price is up slightly by 1.82% today, July 18, after the Chair of the US House Administration Committee, Bryan Steil, opined that the CLARITY Act bill could pass in the coming week. The bill’s passage will see ETH being classified as a digital commodity, a move that could bolster retail and institutional demand for the biggest altcoin.
ETH price traded at $1,845 at the time of writing. It is currently testing the support at the 50-day EMA, but bulls remain in control as this support holds.
US House Chair Eyes CLARITY Act Passage Next Week While speaking in an interview with FOX Business, U.S. Representative Steil has said that the Senate could pass the CLARITY Act bill in the week between June 20 and June 24.
Steil says that this will be the week when the bill will go to the Senate floor for voting, and if senators vote in favor of it, the US might “set the gold standard” for regulating crypto assets like Ethereum and potentially drive price gains.
Steil’s remarks come shortly after reports that the final text for the CLARITY bill will also be released next week. This new text might include changes on ethics and stablecoin yields.
Steil’s remarks have increased the likelihood of the bill passing. Data from Polymarket shows that the odds that the CLARITY Act will pass in 2026 have increased from 30% on July 17 to 42% at the time of writing.
Ethereum Price Prediction as Bears Test Key Support Level Ethereum price is testing the 50-day EMA support of $1,812 ahead of the crucial vote on the CLARITY Act bill that could officially classify ETH as a digital commodity if it passes.
If ETH price remains above this support, it could draw buyers that might push it to the 100-day EMA of $1,939. The buying pressure might come from the Senate passing the CLARITY Act.
The RSI reading of 57 also supports a bullish long-term Ethereum price prediction. This RSI is also making higher highs, suggesting that bulls are tightening their grip.
This bullish momentum might not only push ETH to the 100-day EMA of $1,939, but it could also trigger a move to $2,244. This is according to a previous Coingape Ethereum price analysis that detected a bullish double-bottom pattern forming on ETH’s daily chart.
ETH/USDT: 1-day chart (Source: TradingView) But if ETH closes below this support of $1,812, the price might drop to the 20-day EMA of $1,791. That drop might be caused by the US Senate failing to get enough votes to push the CLARITY Act forward, a move that may trigger a bearish Ethereum price prediction.
Ethereum ETFs Post Highest Weekly Inflows Since April Data from SoSovalue shows that there were $105 million inflows to spot Ethereum ETFs in the week between July 13 and July 17. This $105 million is the highest inflow that the ETFs have seen since April 2026.
Ethereum ETF Flow Data (Source: SoSoValue) The inflows suggest that institutions are getting more exposure to Ethereum price ahead of the CLARITY Act vote that would increase the regulatory clarity around ETH.
If the CLARITY Act passes, these spot ETF inflows could increase as institutions that were shying away because of regulatory uncertainty start buying ETH.
The institutional demand also comes amid an increase in Ethereum’s DeFi TVL that has increased from $36 billion on July 1 to $40 billion on July 17, per DeFiLlama.
This marks the first time that the TVL on Ethereum has gone above $40 billion since May 2026.
Ethereum is once again testing a critical breakout level after losing steam in its initial attempt to rally, raising uncertainty over the cryptocurrency’s immediate price direction.
Testing the breakout: Cup-and-handle pattern in focusAfter briefly moving above the neckline of a classic cup-and-handle formation, Ethereum has pulled back to retest this crucial price point. This neckline, between $1,825 and $1,850, has served as a significant resistance level several times in the recent past.
Ethereum climbed as high as $1,930 following the breakout but failed to hold those gains, bringing its price back to the edge of the previous resistance zone. Market analysts view a rebound at these levels as a potential sign that former resistance has turned into new support, keeping Ethereum’s bullish structure intact.
If buying demand returns and the price holds firm above the neckline, attention could quickly shift toward resistance at $1,900 and $1,950, with the psychologically significant $2,000 level also acting as a key target for traders in the short term.
A decisive loss of momentum at the neckline would weaken the technical pattern and may signal another failed breakout, increasing the risk of a larger correction. In such a scenario, Ethereum may first revisit $1,775, with substantial support expected near $1,700 if the decline continues.
Long-term outlook: Multi-year channel supports $10,000 projectionOn a broader timeframe, Ethereum remains near the bottom edge of a long-term ascending price channel, having recently defended support within the $1,537 to $1,683 weekly demand zone. Technical strategists suggest that as long as this area holds, the overarching upward trend remains intact, offering a path to much higher price levels.
Chart analysis indicates that Ethereum briefly dipped below its long-standing trendline before buyers lifted it back above, producing a strong bullish candle on the weekly chart. However, for confidence to build, Ethereum needs to maintain support around $1,700 to $1,800 and regain control of the high-volume trading zone above $2,000.
The journey toward the upper boundary of the channel, projected at $10,000 to $12,000, faces several obstacles. Ethereum would first need to overcome sellers in the $3,000 to $3,400 range and revisit last cycle’s highs near $4,800. Further momentum could challenge resistance at $6,400 before any approach to five-figure price territory.
A breakdown below the $1,537 to $1,683 order block could threaten the recovery, potentially leading Ethereum to test liquidity near $1,200 before any substantial reversal emerges. Overall, the five-figure target remains a long-term possibility, contingent on Ethereum’s ability to hold key support levels and reclaim former areas of high trading activity.
Mini dictionary: Cup-and-handle pattern – A technical analysis chart pattern that signals potential for a bullish breakout, consisting of a rounded “cup” base followed by a smaller consolidation or “handle” before an upward move.
Level / AreaTypePrice RangeCup-and-handle necklineSupport/Resistance$1,825–$1,850Immediate TargetResistance$1,900–$1,950Key Psychological LevelResistance$2,000Major ResistanceResistance$3,000–$3,400Cycle HighResistance$4,800Channel Top ProjectionResistance$10,000–$12,000Order BlockSupport$1,537–$1,683Deeper SupportSupport$1,700, $1,200Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
BitMine Immersion Technologies has added a major Ethereum position to its balance sheet, but the market reaction shows investors are not automatically rewarding every corporate crypto treasury move.
The company disclosed the purchase of 42,197 ETH, valued at roughly $73 million, in a July 16 SEC filing. The acquisition expands BitMine’s Ethereum treasury strategy at a time when public companies are still experimenting with how far they can push crypto exposure as part of corporate balance-sheet management.
The headline sounds bullish for Ethereum. A public company buying tens of thousands of ETH is not a small move. But BitMine’s stock slid in the following session, suggesting equity investors may be looking at the strategy with more caution than enthusiasm.
That contrast is the story. Crypto investors may see treasury accumulation as conviction. Stock investors may see concentration risk.
Reference: SEC
TL;DR BitMine disclosed a 42,197 ETH purchase worth about $73 million. The acquisition expands the company’s Ethereum treasury strategy. BMNR stock fell after the disclosure, suggesting investors are questioning the risk/reward of the move. Ethereum Treasury Strategies Are Getting Bigger Corporate crypto treasury strategies are no longer limited to Bitcoin.
Bitcoin remains the cleanest and most established balance-sheet asset in the sector, largely because it is easier to explain as digital scarcity or a macro hedge. Ethereum is more complicated. ETH has a broader utility story, but that also means investors have to understand staking, smart contracts, DeFi, network fees, regulation, and ecosystem risk.
That makes BitMine’s move interesting.
A $73 million ETH purchase is not just a symbolic allocation. It is a serious commitment to Ethereum as a treasury asset. According to the available filing and market data, the filing details the acquisition of 42,197 ETH and places it inside a much larger Ethereum-focused balance sheet.
For crypto-native readers, that may look like an aggressive bet on Ethereum’s long-term role. For equity investors, it may raise a different question: is BitMine still being valued as an operating company, or is it becoming a leveraged public-market proxy for ETH?
That distinction is important because the stock market does not always treat crypto treasury exposure the way crypto traders expect.
Why The Stock Reaction Matters When a company announces a large crypto purchase and the stock falls, the market is sending a message.
It does not necessarily mean investors think Ethereum is weak. It may mean they are unsure whether the company’s treasury strategy improves shareholder value. Public-market investors care about dilution, financing terms, execution risk, custody, accounting treatment, and whether management is using capital efficiently.
If a company’s core business is already tied to crypto, adding more ETH can intensify the same risk rather than diversify it.
That is why BitMine’s stock move matters. It suggests the equity market may be less impressed by headline accumulation than the crypto market might be. Investors could be asking whether the company has enough operating strength to support the strategy, or whether the stock is now mostly a bet on ETH price performance.
This is the challenge every public crypto treasury company faces.
A rising crypto market can make the strategy look brilliant. A drawdown can make it look reckless. The difference often depends on timing, leverage, investor expectations, and whether the company can explain why holding the asset strengthens the business.
What It Says About Ethereum Demand For Ethereum itself, corporate buying remains a constructive signal.
The more entities that treat ETH as a treasury asset, the stronger the argument that Ethereum is maturing beyond a trading token. ETFs, staking infrastructure, tokenization, and DeFi already support the institutional case. Treasury accumulation adds another layer.
But the BitMine reaction also shows that Ethereum treasury demand is not a one-way narrative.
Investors may support ETH exposure in some structures and reject it in others. A spot ETF may be easier for institutions to understand than a company stock with operational risks attached. A clean fund product may be preferable to a public miner or infrastructure company using its balance sheet to accumulate tokens.
That does not make BitMine’s strategy wrong. It simply means the market will judge it through more than the ETH price.
The next thing to watch is whether BitMine can show a clear reason for holding such a large Ethereum treasury. If the strategy is backed by a coherent capital plan, custody framework, and operating model, investors may become more comfortable. If it looks like a pure price bet, the stock may remain volatile.
For crypto markets, the purchase still matters. It is another example of ETH moving into corporate treasury discussions. For equity markets, the message is more cautious: buying Ethereum is not enough by itself. Public companies still have to prove the allocation makes sense for shareholders.
This article is based on BitMine’s SEC filing and BMNR market data.
This article was written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.
Ethereum has risen 1.8% to $1,845 after Rep. Bryan Steil raised hopes for a Senate vote on the CLARITY Act next week, while ETF inflows and firm chart support kept traders cautiously bullish.
Summary
Ethereum rose 1.8% as Bryan Steil raised hopes for a CLARITY Act vote next week. Spot Ethereum ETFs recorded $105 million in weekly inflows, their highest since April. ETH must defend $1,830 and break $1,854 to target the $1,947 resistance zone. Steil, who chairs the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Digital Assets, told FOX Business that the bill could reach the Senate floor in the coming week. Passage could place ETH under a digital commodity framework and establish federal rules for its trading and oversight.
During a July 17 hearing, Steil urged lawmakers to complete the legislation as the Senate prepares to consider it. “Let’s pass CLARITY,” he stated in remarks published by the House Financial Services Committee.
Polymarket traders raised the probability of the bill becoming law in 2026 to 39% from 30% on July 17. However, unresolved disputes over ethics rules and stablecoin yields have kept the odds below 50%.
Source: Polymarket Institutional flows have also improved. SoSoValue data showed that spot Ethereum ETFs attracted $105 million between July 13 and July 17, their strongest weekly inflow since April.
Ethereum’s decentralized finance activity has grown alongside the ETF demand. DeFiLlama placed the network’s total value locked at about $40.5 billion, up from roughly $36 billion at the start of July. The network also processed $978.9 million in decentralized exchange volume and 2.46 million transactions over the past 24 hours.
Ethereum must clear $1,854 to reopen the path toward $1,947 Ethereum’s daily chart shows a double-bottom structure formed around $1,511, with the neckline near $1,847. ETH briefly climbed to $1,947 before returning to test the neckline, which now overlaps with the 0.786 Fibonacci retracement at $1,853.82.
Ethereum daily price chart — July 18 | Source: crypto.news A daily close above $1,854 would place the recent $1,947 high and the 100-day exponential moving average near $1,939 back in play. The double-bottom structure has a measured target near $2,180, while crypto analyst Michaël van de Poppe expects $2,200 to $2,400 if the $1,780 support remains intact.
It's incredibly more likely that we'll start to see $ETH at $2,000+ in the near future.
The asset is running a new upwards trend and flipping previous resistance levels for support.
I don't think things should be overcomplicated, and on the lower timeframe levels, it's clearly… pic.twitter.com/h7OAoppiec
— Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) July 18, 2026 Daily momentum still favors buyers, although the pace has slowed. The MACD line stands at 35.57, above the 21.69 signal line, while the positive histogram has contracted to 13.88. The relative strength index sits at 57.15, leaving ETH below overbought territory.
On the 4-hour chart, Ethereum (ETH) remains inside an ascending channel that has guided the recovery since late June. Its lower boundary and the previous Supertrend support meet around $1,830, while the upper boundary extends toward $2,040. Chaikin Money Flow remains positive at 0.07, but the active Supertrend resistance at $1,908 must fall before buyers can retest the July high.
Ethereum 4-hour price chart — July 18 | Source: crypto.news CoinGlass’ 48-hour liquidation heatmap places the nearest dense leverage cluster between $1,860 and $1,870. More positions sit around $1,900, while downside liquidity has accumulated near $1,810 and $1,790.
Ethereum liquidation heatmap | Source: CoinGlass According to analyst Ted Pillows, the $1,820–$1,850 region will decide ETH’s next move.
“If Ethereum holds above it, expect another uptrend towards $1,950–$2,000.”
A break below $1,780 would weaken Ethereum’s recovery Ethereum would lose its 4-hour channel if sellers force a close below $1,830. Such a move would expose the 50-day EMA near $1,812 and could trigger leveraged long liquidations around $1,810.
A deeper decline below the 61.8% Fibonacci level at $1,780.64 would weaken the double-bottom setup and open the 50% retracement at $1,729.24. Pillows also cited the escalating U.S.-Iran situation as a risk to the $1,820–$1,850 support zone.
Political uncertainty remains another invalidation risk. Failure to resolve the CLARITY Act’s ethics and stablecoin provisions could delay a Senate vote, remove the immediate catalyst behind ETH’s rebound, and place the $1,780 support under renewed pressure.
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
The mood across crypto markets has turned cautious following a leverage-driven reset, but one Wall Street strategist is telling Ethereum holders to step back from the noise. Speaking on the New Era Finance Podcast, Fundstrat’s Tom Lee argued that the current choppiness punishes those who cannot stomach a drawdown. According to the original report covering the commentary, Lee pointed to a familiar pattern: capital exiting risk-on positions after a shock and chasing safer yield, only to miss the eventual snapback.
The Deleveraging Hangover and Yield Shift Lee framed the latest market limp as a direct consequence of a broad deleveraging event. When leverage unwinds, margin calls force liquidations, and prices overshoot to the downside. In that vacuum, opportunistic capital migrates toward yield-bearing instruments—treasuries, stablecoin staking, and tokenized real-world assets—rather than sitting in spot ETH. That rotation explains part of Ethereum’s underperformance even as its network fundamentals stay intact. The same dynamic has played out in equities before, most notably with Nvidia, which consolidated near $160 for months before a $2 trillion surge. Lee used that comparison to underscore how crypto markets also punish those who let short-term price action override the underlying thesis.
Fundamentals Haven’t Shifted While the price chart has looked grim for Ethereum bulls, the protocol’s structural story remains largely unblemished. Developer activity continues to cluster around Ethereum and its layer-2 ecosystems, with the network holding a dominant position in decentralized finance and tokenized asset issuance. A recent snapshot of Top 10 Blockchains by Developer Activity This Week showed Ethereum leading the pack, alongside BNB Chain and Polygon. On the institutional front, the tokenization of real-world assets crossed a landmark $20 billion on-chain, as covered in a Weekly Tokenization Roundup that noted activity from Bullish, Ondo, and JPMorgan. Those trends depend on Ethereum’s settlement layer, not on weekly price candles.
Impatience as the Real Risk Lee’s core message is not a price target but a behavioral warning. The investors who lose are the ones who sell during the long consolidation, convinced the trade is broken, only to miss the re-rating. That psychology is well-documented in crypto’s boom-and-bust cycles, but it hits harder when leverage unwinds and liquidations amplify the fear. What remains uncertain is the timeline. Macro factors—rate expectations from the Federal Reserve, liquidity conditions in global markets, and regulatory developments—could extend the consolidation phase. A pending crypto bill in the US Senate that faces heavy bank lobbying also creates a fog of uncertainty that suppresses risk appetite. For Ethereum specifically, the launch of spot ETF products has not yet translated into the sustained institutional bid that many expected, partly because the same deleveraging cycle hit equities and credit markets simultaneously.
The argument is straightforward: fundamentals and patience have historically won out, but only for those willing to endure the long stretches where nothing seems to work. Lee’s Nvidia analogy may be selective, but it resonates because crypto equities and tokens both suffer from what he calls a penalty on impatience. For an asset like Ethereum, which underpins a growing share of on-chain economic activity, that dynamic could look clearer in hindsight than it does right now.
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A hacker linked to the May attack on TrustedVolumes, a liquidity resolver integrated with 1inch Fusion, has returned 1,122.12 ETH, valued at approximately $2.07 million. The settlement took place over two months after the exploit, reflecting an increasingly common trend toward direct negotiations between DeFi projects and attackers.
Settlement returns half of stolen ETHThe transferred funds represent about half of the stolen assets from the initial breach. As part of the negotiated bug bounty, the attacker reportedly retained a similar amount of ETH, according to Defimon Alerts. At the time of the return, Ether was priced around $1,843.
Both TrustedVolumes and the hacker confirmed the agreement through an on-chain message. The communication stated that negotiations were finalized and encouraged any remaining attackers involved in the incident to make contact with the company for potential further settlements.
More than two months after the $5.8 million exploit, one of the attackers returned 1,122 ETH, valued at $2 million. The parties confirmed that the funds were returned and the hacker accepted their bug bounty, with an open invitation for other participants in the incident to reach out.
TrustedVolumes indicated a willingness to engage constructively on bug bounties immediately following the exploit and maintained this offer in recent communications.
Details of the TrustedVolumes exploitTrustedVolumes operates as a resolver in the 1inch Fusion Request-For-Quote (RFQ) marketplace, facilitating liquidity provision for token exchanges. On May 7, the system was compromised, resulting in withdrawals worth approximately $5.87 million, later estimated at up to $6.7 million when including all asset values and related losses.
According to cybersecurity firm Blockaid, the attacker stole several assets including 1,291 WETH, 1.26 million USDC, 206,282 USDT, and 16.93 WBTC. The breach was traced to specific resolver contract and RFQ proxy addresses on Ethereum. Etherscan classified the main attacker wallet as a TrustedVolumes exploit address.
Investigations showed that the exploit was not the result of stolen keys or undisclosed vulnerabilities, but rather an access-control flaw. Halborn, a blockchain security company, discovered that a public function allowed anyone to register as an authorized order signer, permitting attackers to process unauthorized transfers from approved funds. Blockaid detected the exploit in real time, confirming that neither the broader 1inch infrastructure nor end-user funds were impacted.
Mini dictionary: TrustedVolumes — A protocol serving as a liquidity resolver for 1inch Fusion, enabling efficient token swaps via its RFQ market mechanism.
AssetAmount StolenWETH1,291USDC1,260,000USDT206,282WBTC16.93Growing reliance on negotiation in DeFi attacksThe rapid settlement in the TrustedVolumes case illustrates a broader change in strategy across the decentralized finance sector. More projects are opting for negotiated recoveries in response to hacks, rather than depending solely on law enforcement or extended legal proceedings.
Analysts have observed that this practice can offer speedy resolutions but may unintentionally encourage more attacks if cybercriminals see negotiations as a predictable outcome. TRM Labs reported that crypto scams led to $2.87 billion in losses from roughly 150 incidents in 2025, but advances in forensic tracking have increased recovery rates. Notably, firms like Blockaid, CertiK, and SlowMist rapidly identified and followed the movement of stolen assets in the TrustedVolumes incident, giving security teams leverage in subsequent negotiations.
The settlement resolved only part of the theft. The attacker who returned 1,122.12 ETH kept the remaining sum as a bug bounty, while the status of the other stolen assets remains open. Progress in future recoveries may depend on whether additional attackers opt to negotiate or choose to move the funds further, testing the evolving balance between blockchain transparency and the incentive to settle.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Key Highlights Major whale acquired 89,396 ETH valued at approximately $164.88 million across three days Ethereum declined 3.6% in the last 24 hours, currently hovering around $1,823 US market sentiment stays bearish even with $68M in ETH ETF inflows recorded this week Network active addresses dropped to December lows while transaction volume surged to record highs Crypto analyst Michaël van de Poppe projects ETH could reach $2,200–$2,400 with $1,780 support intact Ethereum currently trades around $1,823 following a 3.6% decline in the past day. The cryptocurrency pushed toward $1,944 three days earlier but faced resistance, retreating to $1,819 before staging a modest bounce.
Ethereum (ETH) Price While prices declined, significant whale movements emerged. Blockchain monitoring service Lookonchain identified two freshly established wallets that pulled 20,000 ETH from Coinbase Prime across two separate 10,000 ETH transactions totaling $37.72 million. This same whale entity had previously acquired 30,000 ETH valued at $57.6 million on July 16, pushing its three-day accumulation to 89,396 ETH worth roughly $164.88 million.
Data from CryptoQuant’s Spot Average Order Size indicator revealed substantial whale-sized orders occurring for seven straight days. That said, the metric captures both buy and sell orders, confirming heightened whale activity without indicating directional bias.
According to CoinGlass analytics, Ethereum’s Spot Netflow stayed negative for the second consecutive day at -$23.6 million compared to -$49 million previously. This indicates ongoing but decelerating net outflows from exchanges.
Source: Coinglass Mixed Network Fundamentals US-based spot Ethereum ETFs are poised to finish the week with $68 million in combined net inflows spanning Monday through Thursday. Exchange reserves have simultaneously decreased by 253,000 ETH since July 5, indicating investors are transferring holdings to personal wallets.
ETF FLOWS: US SPOT CRYPTO ETFs FLOWS DATA UPDATE (17-07-2026) YESTERDAY
TOTAL US… https://t.co/OJCQThZG56 pic.twitter.com/cvNBFllZkp
— Crypto Patel (@CryptoPatel) July 18, 2026
Despite these positive signals, the Coinbase Premium Index—which measures US institutional demand—continues trading in negative territory. Ethereum network active addresses have contracted to a 14-day simple moving average of 397,000, marking the lowest reading since December, even while daily transactions climbed to an all-time high of 2.65 million.
The amount of staked ETH has climbed to an unprecedented 40.93 million ETH. Much of this increase, however, stems from a single participant: treasury management firm BitMine Immersion, which has staked 4.9 million ETH since December.
Technical Outlook and Key Levels The Balance of Power indicator shifted dramatically from 0.93 to -0.61, signaling that sellers currently dominate near-term price momentum.
Looking at the daily timeframe, Ethereum maintains its position above the 20- and 50-day exponential moving averages positioned at $1,791 and $1,812 respectively. Immediate resistance appears at $1,909, followed by $1,942 and $2,018. Downside support levels include $1,806, with stronger zones at $1,741 and $1,524.
Prominent crypto trader Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) stated on X that Ethereum hitting $2,000 soon is “incredibly more likely,” pointing to an emerging uptrend and solid support maintaining at $1,780. He outlined subsequent price targets between $2,200 and $2,400, emphasizing that the market structure “shouldn’t be overcomplicated.”
It's incredibly more likely that we'll start to see $ETH at $2,000+ in the near future.
The asset is running a new upwards trend and flipping previous resistance levels for support.
I don't think things should be overcomplicated, and on the lower timeframe levels, it's clearly… pic.twitter.com/h7OAoppiec
— Michaël van de Poppe (@CryptoMichNL) July 18, 2026
Over the past 24 hours, ETH saw $91.4 million in total liquidations, with long positions accounting for $61 million of that figure.
As conversations around central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) continue in government and financial circles, an older document referencing Ripple and XRP has resurfaced in the debate regarding potential platforms for a European digital currency.
CPA Australia cites Ripple and XRP as a CBDC optionCrypto researcher SMQKE drew attention on X to a report by CPA Australia, which mentions that France has openly discussed utilizing Ripple and XRP as possible foundations for Europe’s central digital currency. The report highlights specific features of Ripple’s technology that were considered advantageous compared to other blockchain platforms.
The document refers to Ripple’s proposal to offer a private variant of the XRP Ledger designed for use by central banks. This initiative aims to deliver a solution where digital currencies can be issued and managed with enhanced security, control, and flexibility.
The CPA Australia report notes that “France has openly discussed Ripple/XRP as a possible platform to Europe’s central digital currency,” underlining favorable features including strong trust among banking institutions.
Comparison with Bitcoin and EthereumIn comparing various technologies, the CPA Australia document observes that central banks may require permissioned blockchain networks to meet their privacy, transaction speed, and scalability demands, which public systems like Bitcoin might not fulfill. The report argues that permissionless networks often struggle to meet transaction volume and confidentiality standards required for CBDCs.
According to CPA Australia, Ripple and XRP received support from banks due to their operation on a permissioned model, where only selected nodes validate transactions, in contrast to the decentralized and permissionless approach of Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Building on these points, SMQKE asserted that XRP demonstrates superiority over Bitcoin and Ethereum when assessing suitability for projects such as the digital euro.
Mini dictionary: CPA Australia – An established accounting professional body in Australia, CPA Australia publishes research on financial standards, regulatory developments, and technology in the finance sector, including digital currencies.
PlatformModelBanking SuitabilityTransaction SpeedPrivacyRipple/XRPPermissioned / PrivateTrusted by many banksHighStrongBitcoinPermissionless / PublicLowSlowerLowEthereumPermissionless / PublicLowModerateLowThe report also acknowledges that some aspects of public blockchain architectures can conflict with central bank requirements. It notes, however, that by altering existing blockchain systems to increase control, security, and speed, central banks could meet the technical demands of CBDC initiatives.
Community reactions and regulatory contextResponses to SMQKE’s post emerged from within the XRP community. One prominent member, XRP Army Grunt, accepted that recent developments, such as the involvement of Ripple Prime in the DTCC’s tokenization launch, demonstrate real-world advancements, but emphasized that there is no confirmation of XRP being used by the DTCC or being officially chosen for the digital euro.
Another community contributor, Karla Milenia, shifted attention toward the regulatory environment in the United States. She stated that in the absence of CLARITY Act approval by U.S. lawmakers, crypto adoption could remain slow in the country while other regions continue advancing their digital asset regulations and CBDC developments more rapidly.
Community participants noted that, while Ripple and XRP are referenced in reports and several projects, no official decision has identified XRP as the chosen platform for the digital euro.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Ethereum whales remain comfortably in profit, but rising exchange deposits and ample liquidity could keep selling pressure elevated.
CryptoQuant contributor PelinayPA said Ethereum’s Whale Net Unrealized Profit/Loss (NUPL) remains above zero. This means large holders are still sitting on unrealized gains.
However, the metric has not yet reached the extreme levels seen at previous market tops. That suggests whales have not entered the profit zone that typically leads to heavy selling.
“Whales are not yet at the psychological threshold that typically triggers heavy profit-taking,” the analyst said. Although their unrealized profits are gradually shrinking, the current trend does not resemble the conditions seen at past market cycle peaks.
Binance Deposits Keep Selling Pressure Elevated Despite the lack of peak-profit conditions, Ethereum deposits to Binance remain unusually high. According to CryptoQuant, ETH deposits into Binance have increased sharply since late 2024 and remain elevated.
However, moving ETH to an exchange does not always mean investors plan to sell immediately. Still, it puts more ETH on the market, increasing the risk of selling pressure.
CryptoQuant’s chart shows the Binance User Deposit Address metric standing at 1.12 billion on July 15, remaining close to its highest levels in recent years. This suggests a large amount of ETH remains on the exchange and is available for trading.
Ethereum Whale NUPL chart | CryptoQuant Stablecoin Reserves Give Ethereum Whales More Buying Power The report also points to growing stablecoin reserves among large investors. CryptoQuant’s USDT and USDC Whale metric has climbed to 2.7958 billion, indicating that large investors collectively control nearly $2.8 billion in stablecoin liquidity that could be deployed into Ethereum or kept on the sidelines. These holdings give them additional buying power alongside their existing Ethereum positions.
This allows whales to buy more ETH if they see an opportunity. However, they could also shift their capital out of Ethereum if market conditions worsen.
Meanwhile, Ethereum’s Realized Price has climbed to approximately $2,305. This means the average price investors paid for ETH is increasing.
The analyst said this reflects stronger long-term capital inflows than in previous market cycles. It also suggests new investors are still buying Ethereum, even at higher prices.
As The Crypto Basic reported yesterday, large investors, including Bitmine, Abraxas Capital, and unknown whales, accumulated 82,898 ETH over three days. Industry leaders such as Bitmine Chairman Tom Lee have also continued to issue bullish outlooks for ETH, including a 100x price prediction, even amid the bear market.
Whale Capital Flows Could Decide ETH Next Move PelinayPA concluded that Ethereum whales are holding large amounts of both ETH and stablecoins, giving them ample liquidity on either side of the market.
This means Ethereum’s next major price move could depend on what whales do next. If they use their stablecoin reserves to buy more ETH, prices could rise. If they start selling their ETH for cash, prices could come under pressure.
At the time of writing, Ethereum was trading at $1,846. It was up 1% over the past 24 hours, 2.6% over the past week, and 5.5% over the past month. However, it remained 49% below its price from a year ago.
DisClamier: This content is informational and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author's personal opinions and do not reflect The Crypto Basic opinion. Readers are encouraged to do thorough research before making any investment decisions. The Crypto Basic is not responsible for any financial losses.
The Crypto Market gained 0.95% to reach $2.19 trillion on July 18, supported by improving regulatory expectations.
Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP registered slight improvements as institutional buying came back in exchange-traded funds. Traders also monitored developments around the CLARITY Act. It’s possible that Senate progress has encouraged hopes for clearer rules. It can also enhance the involvement of big investors around the world this week.
CLARITY Act Optimism Fuels Crypto Market Recovery The latest Crypto Market rebound was driven by regulatory optimism the most. Investors are increasingly pushing legislators to develop the CLARITY Act in the next week.
The bill would split the oversight duties between the key financial regulators in the United States. It can also designate Ethereum and some already established tokens as digital commodities.
The framework would help minimize uncertainty among the exchanges, developers, custodians, and institutional investors. Closer legal treatment will have the effect of making companies extend services without the fear of non-uniform enforcement.
In an interview on July 17, Representative Bryan Steil was optimistic about the progress in the Senate. The market participants then concentrated around potential vote between July 20 and July 24.
The odds of the Clarity Act becoming law in 2026 have dropped to 37%.
Do you guys think the Clarity Act will pass this year? pic.twitter.com/XnUG16KhNs
— Ted (@TedPillows) July 18, 2026
The confidence in the legislation was also improving with the predictions market estimates. On July 17, reported passage odds rose to 42% as compared to 30% on 2026. But Senate leaders have not ratified an official floor schedule. The odds of the Clarity Act becoming law in 2026 have dropped to 37%. Any respite would hasten to undermine feeling and strain new acquisitions.
Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs Attract $168.73M in Inflows Institutional inflows provided another important boost for the Crypto Market. Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds reported an inflow of $132 million in net inflows on July 17.
Spot Ethereum funds attracted another $36.73 million during the same trading session. Total inflows as such amounted to 168.73 million, according to SoSoValue.
Spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs Record $132M and $36.73M in Net Inflows
According to SoSoValue data, on July 17 (ET), spot Bitcoin ETFs recorded total net inflows of $132 million, while spot Ethereum ETFs recorded total net inflows of $36.73 million. pic.twitter.com/LU7M0RQzbG
— Wu Blockchain (@WuBlockchain) July 18, 2026
Bitcoin products also received $79.15 million on July 16. The fresh surge of demand came after a tough spell of withdrawals. The Bitcoins funds recorded a thirteen days outflow streak in June. The larger group also experienced eight weeks of consecutive negative flows.
Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP Price Outlook Bitcoin price increased by 1.45% to trade around $64,095 in the latest session. The BTC price must hold support between $63,500 and $63,880.
Any stability above that level might prompt another challenge between the resistance of $65,000 and $65,500. A strong breakout may extend the wider Crypto Market rally. However, losing $63,500 could expose Bitcoin to the $62,500 support level.
Ethereum price gained 0.61% and traded around $1,845. Buyers are still interested in support that is near $1,810.
Coin360 The positioning of that level would lead to a potential move to the 100-day exponential moving average at around $1,940. A breakout is possible to award $2,000. Any weakness less than $1,810 may take Ethereum to the level of $1,790.
XRP price rose by 0.60% and traded at close to $1.09. The token should stay above $1.08. The resistance between $1.10 and $1.12 could then be targeted by the buyers. A decline to less than $1.08 can lead to losses to $1.05.
The flow of ETFs and the formal Senate planning of the forthcoming market direction will be closely monitored by traders. Still, momentum is weak, though.
Long supported by the enthusiasm of social networks and Elon Musk’s statements, Dogecoin (DOGE) is going through a decisive phase. While the crypto market experiences a resurgence of volatility and investors reduce their exposure to the riskiest assets, the famous memecoin once again sees its model put to the test. Between loss of visibility, selling pressure, and waiting for a new catalyst, DOGE illustrates the limits of an asset whose value largely depends on the attention it manages to capture.
In brief Dogecoin is going through an unprecedented chart consolidation phase, marked by a clear cooling of retail investor interest. Without the usual buyers’ urgency, the price freezes at key support levels and risks a prolonged sideways drift. Unlike Bitcoin or Ethereum driven by macroeconomic flows or ETFs, DOGE relies exclusively on media visibility cycles. The fate of the token now depends on Bitcoin’s stabilization, as the memecoin market can shift from inertia to euphoria within hours when volumes return. A consolidation marked by drying up of volumes Dogecoin’s technical setup reflects a major drop in intensity which contrasts with its historical volatility. According to the latest market analyses, the asset is going through a stabilization phase where lack of a dominant impulse dictates the price behavior. Specialists note that “Dogecoin holds key levels, but the energy around the crypto has clearly cooled”.
This compression phenomenon is depicted graphically by an absence of aggressive directional movements, indicating the token has moved from a rapid expansion phase to a neutrality regime. Observers closely watch buyers’ behavior around critical support zones to determine if the asset is building a solid base or yielding under general disinterest.
This slowdown is mainly explained by a change in market actor behavior, characterized by a notable decline in buying urgency. The cyclical nature of memetic assets involves a clear succession of stages as enthusiasm arises :
The return of attention : retail investors’ interest suddenly reactivates on social networks ; Volume expansion : capital flows accelerate exponentially within hours ; Explosion of social activity : discussions and speculative sentiment saturate exchange platforms ; Price takeoff : tokens like DOGE progress sharply before the broader market has time to integrate the change. However, the current context shows the exact opposite of this effervescence. Without collapsing, Dogecoin suffers a drying up of its liquidity, preventing the formation of increasingly higher lows necessary to validate a lasting bullish reversal. In the absence of this volume catalyst, the current stagnation risks a prolonged sideways drift.
DOGE’s structural duality compared to crypto market drivers To understand Dogecoin’s future trajectory, one must analyze its intrinsic dependence on valuation factors radically different from those of competing protocols. DOGE’s market structure differs from other large caps by its exclusive link to attention flows.
By comparison, Bitcoin primarily reacts to global macroeconomic flows, Ethereum evolves according to ETF flows, decentralized finance (DeFi), and staking, while Solana relies on practical usage of its application ecosystem. Dogecoin, on the other hand, lacks these structural levers and depends on capital rotations driven by the search for high returns, often catalyzed by narratives linked to celebrities or viral social media campaigns. Once these narratives fade, the asset loses its main growth engine.
This vulnerability to declines in public interest calls into question its traditional role as a barometer of global speculative sentiment. Historically, a massive DOGE rise signals retail traders’ willingness to expose themselves to the riskiest market segments. Currently, the observed decline indicates a transition to a much more cautious overall environment, exacerbated by Bitcoin and Ethereum themselves facing technical pressure. Short-term capitals, often impatient, tend to abandon neutral setups for assets with clearer fundamental catalysts, keeping Dogecoin within its current fluctuation zone.
Dogecoin as the ultimate barometer of speculative risk appetite Dogecoin’s current stagnation state goes beyond its own financial performance. When this asset falls asleep, it reveals the risk tolerance level of the sector’s most speculative players. Available data highlights that “Dogecoin remains useful as a sentiment gauge”.
Accordingly, violent moves on DOGE usually indicate retail investors are quite willing to take risks. Conversely, the current cooling indicates a generalized defensive posture, where traders prefer to watch charts rather than actively deploy new liquidity.
This momentum dynamic characteristic of assets in this category explains why the market is currently going through an especially tense waiting phase. Investors know that memecoin markets react exponentially once capital flows reactivate.
Moreover, experience shows “that once traders see volume return, they tend to get involved in the move rather than wait for a perfect confirmation”. It is precisely this asymmetry that keeps Dogecoin at the center of all attention, as the shift from total apathy to buying frenzy can happen within a few hours only.
The outcome of this transition phase will depend on Dogecoin’s ability to defend current supports until a general market condition improvement materializes. If Bitcoin manages to stabilize and a general liquidity return flows again into altcoins, DOGE could benefit from a sudden resurgence of interest.
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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.
Dogecoin is trading at a critical support level against both Bitcoin and the US dollar, marking a pivotal moment for the popular meme-inspired cryptocurrency. The outcome of this test may set the tone for DOGE’s price direction in the coming weeks.
Dogecoin faces a crucial monthly close versus BitcoinAgainst Bitcoin, Dogecoin is hovering near 0.00000114 BTC, a zone that has acted as a major support across several market cycles. This price area previously served as a base ahead of significant rallies, signaling its historical importance for DOGE traders.
Despite its role as a support, the DOGE/BTC pair has continued to post lower highs since its peak in 2021. This pattern highlights Bitcoin’s ongoing strength in the long-term trend, while suggesting that Dogecoin has struggled to regain its former momentum.
If the monthly close holds above this region, DOGE/BTC could attempt to establish a foundation for broader consolidation. However, analysts note that a bullish reversal would require DOGE to set a higher monthly low and reclaim nearby resistance zones, rather than simply stabilizing at current prices.
Should Dogecoin close below the established support, it would signal growing weakness in comparison to Bitcoin and could delay any sustained recovery. Until strength is confirmed, the DOGE/BTC chart remains at a crossroads, with traders watching for clearer direction.
Mini dictionary: DOGE/BTC – This trading pair measures the value of Dogecoin relative to Bitcoin, helping investors gauge each asset’s price strength in comparison to the other rather than the US dollar.
PairSupport LevelResistance LevelTrend since 2021 peakDOGE/BTC0.00000114 BTCVaries (nearby)Lower highsDOGE/USD$0.07$0.075–$0.081Descending trendlineDogecoin is approaching a long-term support zone against Bitcoin that has defined previous market cycles. Losing this level on a monthly closing basis could indicate ongoing weakness against Bitcoin and set back any attempt at a rebound.
DOGE price tests $0.07 as downtrend persistsDogecoin is also challenging a significant support area around $0.07 while trading just beneath a descending trendline that has capped its price for several months. Market participants see this confluence as a major decision point for the short-term outlook.
The descending trendline has consistently rejected attempts by DOGE to rally, placing downward pressure on its price action. Breaking above this line on strong volume would be a key signal that sellers are losing control and could draw renewed interest from buyers.
If Dogecoin manages a clear breakout and holds above the trendline, attention may shift to resistance zones near $0.075–$0.078 and, in a more optimistic scenario, up to $0.081. Conversely, failing to maintain support near $0.07 would leave DOGE exposed to potential declines towards $0.067 or $0.065.
Support at $0.07 is holding for now, but confirmation of a short-term reversal requires Dogecoin to close above the trendline that has defined its recent bearish structure.
With traders awaiting a decisive move, Dogecoin’s near-term prospects depend on whether buyers can defend this crucial level and trigger a sustained recovery.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Cardano (ADA) is currently trading in the $0.16 range. A decisive break above wedge resistance confirms bullish control. Cardano (ADA) is presently trading at $0.1672, up 4.79% on the day, with the trading volume climbing to $413.85M, after a 68% surge. Aggressive distribution at this price floor has yet to achieve a clean technical breakdown, signalling substantial demand absorption rather than systemic weakness.
Consequently, every failed downside expansion provides further validation for a bullish defence of this zone. What was once a decisive downtrend has transitioned into a prolonged consolidation range.
ADA is compressing inside a falling wedge, with sellers losing momentum while buyers defend support with increasing aggression. A decisive break above wedge resistance would confirm that bulls are reclaiming control and could open the door to a new leg higher.
The initial major overhead resistance serves as the key pivotal zone. Establishing structural acceptance above this level elevates the current price floor from a corrective bounce into the definitive framework for the next macro trending phase.
Where is Cardano Momentum Headed Next? The 4-hour trading pattern of ADA shows a moderately bullish outlook. If the momentum strengthens, the price might climb and test the nearest resistance at $0.1694. Continued bullish gains could trigger the golden cross to take place and send the asset’s price above $0.1716.
On the flip side, assuming Cardano’s bearish reversal along with the formation of a death cross, the price might slip toward the $0.1648 support range. With a steady downside correction, the bears could likely push the price toward its former lows below the $0.1624 level.
Moreover, RSI is stabilising after an extended decline, and MACD momentum is flattening as bearish pressure fades. These are not explosive signals; they are subtle shifts that tend to precede serious structural changes.
ADA is in a mildly bullish zone, as the daily Relative Strength Index (RSI) is at 55.73. As it is sitting above the 50 midline, it confirms that the buyers currently hold the upper hand, and short-term price momentum is positive.
Also, it has ample room to continue climbing before facing momentum exhaustion. This is a healthy breakout zone, with steady buying pressure, making it a favourable environment for trend followers.
Cardano’s Moving Average Convergence Divergence line above the zero line indicates that the structural momentum is firmly in control of the buyers. The signal line lags briefly below zero, showing the aggressive previous downward correction.
It is a lagging technical irregularity that occurs right as a severe corrective dip ends and aggressive buying instantly resumes, dragging the MACD back into positive territory before the signal line can catch up.
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All eyes are on Cardano, as its much-awaited intra-era hard fork is set to go live in the next few hours.
The van Rossem hard fork governance action met the required ratification thresholds across all voting groups on July 13 and was subsequently ratified at the epoch boundary of Epoch 643. According to protocol, the hard fork will automatically be enacted on the next epoch boundary on July 18, 2026 at 21:44:51 UTC (slot height: 192,844,800).
As well as Plutus improvements and Plutus Cost Model enhancements, the van Rossem hard fork lays the foundation for the next upgrade, the Dijkstra era hard fork, which will introduce Ouroboros Leios to Cardano.
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The ledger gave priority to the hard fork ratification over all other actions, with the potential to delay any other governance actions that would ratify simultaneously. However, no other governance actions were directly impacted, delayed, or expired as a result of the hard fork governance action reaching ratification.
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Intersect, a member-based entity in the Cardano ecosystem, has highlighted an ongoing countdown to the van Rossem hard fork enactment, with members of the community urged to join a public call to watch it happen.
Countdown to the van Rossem hard fork enactment 🍴
Join the Technical Steering Committee and the Hard Fork Working Group in 24 hours time and follow the hard fork enactment LIVE 👇️
Meet: June 18, 2026 from 21:15 UTC
Enactment: 21:44:51 UTC https://t.co/3ZEV5pVlJo
— Intersect (@IntersectMBO) July 17, 2026 van Rossem represents an intra-era hard fork to Protocol Version 11 and will boost Plutus performance, improve ledger consistency as well as the security of nodes. This upgrade also introduces enhanced primitives, VRF key uniqueness, and updated reference input rules.
Cardano ecosystem sees progressWork continues on the Leios testnet, with the release of two prototype builds — prototype-2026w27a and prototype-2026w28 — with the team fixing several bugs identified during testnet runs. The team also implemented a voting dashboard to improve Leios's observability, showing how endorser blocks are voted on and certified.
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The Cardano Foundation has joined x402 as an Associate Member under the Linux Foundation. x402 is an open payment standard that revives the HTTP 402 status code so that applications and AI agents can pay per request in stablecoins without accounts, API keys, or a checkout page. Its open standards enable machine-to-machine commerce without traditional intermediaries.
The Clarity Act remains a major focus as the crypto market gains 1.27% to reach $2.19 trillion. Bitcoin price hovered above $64,000, supported by renewed institutional demand. Ethereum price was above $1,800, and XRP was close to $1.08. The Solana price was at hovering of 74, and the Cardano price was rising to $0.166.
Clarity Act Could Reshape Altcoin Regulation The Clarity Act prediction would divide digital asset oversight between the SEC and CFTC. The CFTC would supervise digital commodity spot markets. In the meantime, securities and fundraising would be under the jurisdiction of the SEC.
Proponents are hopeful that the framework will help in minimizing regulatory confusion within the United States. More definite regulations can enhance the trustworthiness of institutions and service providers.
However, the legislation has not passed the full Senate. President Donald Trump had a meeting with Senate Republicans, although the new text never came out. Polymarket traders later reduced the bill’s 2026 passage odds to 39%.
Source: Polymarketcap Representative Bryan Steil remained optimistic during a July 17 Fox News interview. He added that Senate approval would come the next week. Steil stressed the need for American regulatory standards.
XRP XRP price traded near $1.08 on Saturday amid cautious sentiment. Greater regulation may decrease the uncertainty around XRP transactions, exchange services, and institutional adoption. It may encourage banks and payment companies to explore XRP Ledger products.
Demand for spot XRP exchange-traded funds returned on Thursday. According to SoSoValue, the products drew in close to 7 million inflows each day. Cumulative inflows went up to approximately $1.49 billion.
The average net assets in listed funds were approximately 997 million. Further demand in ETFs may absorb the selling pressure and aid in a more stable recovery.
Source: Sososvalue data The first resistance is around 1.10, then 1.15 and 1.16. XRP price must reclaim $1.25 to weaken its broader bearish structure.
Immediate support is close to $1.03. A firm downward break below that may open XRP to a further fall.
Solana (SOL) Solana price rose 0.52% to $74 during the past day. Its performance trailed Bitcoin’s 1.69% gain.
SOL could benefit because it faced previous security-related allegations. Solana was the subject of enforcement cases accepted by the SEC against multiple cryptocurrency exchanges.
A distinct digital commodity structure would reduce compliance issues among exchanges, custodians, and investment managers. The change can facilitate greater institutional involvement.
Solana already has staking, payments, decentralized applications and tokenized assets. The increased confidence would speed up operations in these regions.
SOL price The future SOL outlook must hold support near $74 to protect its recovery attempt. An effective defense might result in resistance around $76.50.
Nevertheless, the possibility of losing $74 may lead to increased selling pressure. The second significant negative target would be around $69.60.
Cardano (ADA) Cardano price gained 3.82% to $0.166 during the past day. It increased at a greater rate than the overall market, which grew by about 1.24%.
ADA may receive the largest proportional benefit from the Clarity Act. This was not the first time that Cardano was experiencing uncertainty following past SEC security claims.
The agency was previously called ADA when it dealt with Coinbase, Binance, and Kraken. These allegations raised eyebrows among trade and institutional service providers.
Source: ADA/USD 4-hour chart: Tradingview The Cardano price should not be below $0.16 to safeguard its near-term structure. Holding that level could support another test of the $0.169 pivot.
Loss of momentum can undermine the recovery. A clear negative trend might drive ADA down to around the mark of support at $0.152.
OKX crypto exchange has launched a new airdrop campaign for Midnight, Cardano’s partner chain, offering eligible users across Europe a total reward pool of 5 million NIGHT tokens.
The seven-day campaign adopts a Trade-to-Earn model, rewarding users based on both their crypto holdings and trading activity. According to the campaign countdown, participants have five days remaining to register and qualify for the promotion.
Eligible users who complete the registration and satisfy the campaign requirements will automatically receive daily NIGHT token distributions throughout the promotional period.
OKX Combines Asset Holdings With Trading Activity Unlike traditional cryptocurrency airdrops that primarily reward wallet holders, OKX’s latest X Drops campaign requires participants to maintain eligible crypto assets while actively trading on the platform.
To qualify for the promotion, users must:
Hold at least €500 ($571.85) worth of eligible cryptocurrency assets in their OKX account. Nearly all non-stablecoin cryptocurrencies qualify. Trade eligible cryptocurrency pairs during the campaign period. Register for the X Drops campaign before the registration deadline. Once users meet these conditions, they automatically become eligible to receive daily allocations from the 5 million NIGHT token reward pool without submitting additional claims.
Trade-to-Earn Model Rewards Active Participants A key feature of the campaign is its Trade-to-Earn mechanism, which determines rewards based on each participant’s trading volume rather than distributing equal amounts to everyone.
OKX calculates each user’s share using a rolling seven-day trading volume. As a result, participants who generate higher qualifying trading volumes receive a larger portion of the daily NIGHT token rewards.
The exchange also offers an additional incentive for trading the Midnight token itself. Specifically, all qualifying NIGHT trades receive a 5x weighting when calculating rewards, allowing active NIGHT traders to increase their share of the daily distribution.
Once calculated, rewards are credited automatically to eligible users’ accounts each day without requiring any manual redemption.
Midnight’s First Airdrop The current OKX campaign is not Midnight’s first large-scale token distribution.
The NIGHT token officially debuted through a multi-chain airdrop that rewarded holders across eight blockchain networks, including XRP Ledger, Cardano, Solana, Ethereum, and Bitcoin. Users who held at least $100 worth of the native assets on eligible blockchains qualified to receive NIGHT allocations.
The Midnight Foundation adopted a phased redemption schedule. Allocated tokens unlock gradually over four quarterly periods, with 25% becoming redeemable during each phase.
The third redemption window is currently active and runs from June 8 through September 5, 2026. The final redemption period is scheduled to take place between September 6 and December 4, 2026, allowing eligible recipients to claim the remainder of their allocated NIGHT tokens.
In the meantime, NIGHT was trading at $0.027, down 11.22% over the past week, and 8.81% over the past month. With a market cap of $459.97 million, NIGHT ranks as the 81st-biggest token on CoinMarketCap.
DisClamier: This content is informational and should not be considered financial advice. The views expressed in this article may include the author's personal opinions and do not reflect The Crypto Basic opinion. Readers are encouraged to do thorough research before making any investment decisions. The Crypto Basic is not responsible for any financial losses.
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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BNB has maintained a relatively stable trading range in recent weeks, even as institutional interest in the BNB Chain ecosystem grows. The token is currently priced at $566.48, reflecting a decline of 1.04% over the past 24 hours. So far in July, BNB has moved mainly between $560 and $575, with buyers continuing to defend this support zone.
Franklin Templeton expands on BNB ChainFranklin Templeton, a global investment management firm with significant influence in asset management, has reached a new milestone with its Benji Investments division on BNB Chain. The company now manages $1.5 billion in tokenized assets on the network, placing BNB Chain at the forefront of institutional adoption among leading blockchain ecosystems.
“This establishes BNB Chain as the leading blockchain ecosystem for tokenized products of one of the world’s largest asset managers.”
Tokenized real-world assets are becoming a central focus in digital finance, offering a bridge between traditional financial markets and blockchain technology. As institutions like Franklin Templeton increasingly move assets onto blockchain networks, BNB Chain continues to expand its use cases beyond retail trading, positioning itself as a preferred platform for large-scale institutional offerings.
Mini dictionary: Franklin Templeton is a global asset management firm, established in 1947, managing trillions in assets across mutual funds, ETFs, and alternative investments.
Technical indicators show limited momentumAnalysis from TradingView shows BNB currently trading below its 20, 50, 100, and 200-day exponential moving averages (EMAs). These technical signals suggest sellers have an advantage, and buyers may need greater strength for a decisive move higher. The immediate resistance stands at the 20-day EMA near $575, with additional hurdles at the 50-day EMA ($589) and 100-day EMA ($614).
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) for BNB is at 44.18, signalling weak momentum. This figure indicates that while selling pressure has eased, there has not been a clear indication of a bullish reversal. The RSI remains above oversold conditions but below the neutral 50 mark, keeping market participants cautious in the near term.
IndicatorValueInterpretationPrice range$560–$575Sideways movement20-day EMA$575Immediate resistanceRSI44.18Weak momentumOpen Interest$850–$900 millionStable, waiting for catalystOpen interest signals cautious derivatives marketData from derivatives analytics provider CoinGlass reveals that BNB’s open interest has remained stable, ranging from $850 million to $900 million during July. This suggests that traders in the futures and options markets are holding their positions steady, with few new entries or exits despite intraday price swings.
Market observers suggest this neutral sentiment in the derivatives segment is consistent with the current technical landscape, where BNB continues to consolidate rather than establish a directional trend. Both spot and derivatives traders appear to be waiting for a major development to either push the token out of its range or trigger a sustained move.
The stable open interest and tight price range in $BNB indicate that traders are in a wait-and-see mode, looking for a stronger catalyst to drive the next major move.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
BNB Chain has reached a new high in tokenized real-world assets, with RWA.xyz data showing roughly $5.2 billion in tokenized assets on the network.
That is a significant figure because real-world asset tokenization is no longer just an Ethereum story. Ethereum still leads the sector by a wide margin, but the growth of BNB Chain as a major RWA venue shows that tokenized finance is beginning to spread across multiple networks.
The available source material points to a 32.26% monthly increase for BNB Chain, making it the second-largest network for tokenized RWAs behind Ethereum. The tracker also shows hundreds of tokenized assets across categories including U.S. Treasuries, real estate, commodities, and equities.
That mix matters. RWA is not only about one product class. It is becoming a broader market for putting traditional financial exposure on-chain.
Reference: RWA.xyz
TL;DR BNB Chain RWA TVL has reached about $5.2 billion, according to RWA.xyz. The network is now one of the largest venues for tokenized real-world assets. The growth shows that RWA activity is expanding beyond Ethereum into other major chains. Tokenization Is Becoming A Multi-Chain Market Ethereum has been the natural home for much of the RWA market.
It has deep liquidity, institutional familiarity, large stablecoin markets, and a long history of DeFi infrastructure. Many of the biggest tokenized Treasury and credit products either launched on Ethereum or stayed closely tied to its ecosystem.
But tokenization does not have to remain Ethereum-only.
If issuers, users, and applications want lower fees, different distribution, or access to a specific community, other networks can compete. BNB Chain has the advantage of a large retail footprint, exchange-linked liquidity, and a broad base of users already familiar with on-chain assets.
That makes its RWA growth notable.
A $5.2 billion figure is large enough to put the network into the serious part of the conversation. It suggests tokenized assets are not only living in institutional Ethereum environments but also finding traction on chains with wider retail and exchange ecosystem ties.
For BNB Chain, this is a credibility boost. RWA growth gives the network a more mature narrative than pure DeFi farming or exchange-linked activity.
Why RWA Growth Matters Real-world assets are one of the strongest long-term crypto narratives because they connect blockchain rails to familiar financial products.
Tokenized Treasuries, credit, commodities, real estate, and equities all point toward the same idea: traditional assets can move, settle, and interact with DeFi infrastructure more efficiently if they exist on-chain.
That does not mean every RWA product is useful. Some are thin, experimental, or heavily permissioned. But the category itself has become difficult to ignore because it speaks directly to institutional adoption.
A bank, asset manager, or fintech company may not care about meme coins. It may care a lot about tokenized cash, collateral, settlement, and access to Treasury-like products.
BNB Chain’s growth in this area therefore matters because it shows RWA demand can move outside the most obvious institutional lanes. If tokenized assets can grow on a network with BNB Chain’s user base, the addressable market may be broader than expected.
The question is whether that growth is sticky.
The Next Test Is Quality, Not Just Size TVL is useful, but it does not tell the whole story.
A network can attract assets quickly through incentives, partnerships, or a handful of large deployments. The more important test is whether those assets remain, generate real usage, and become part of broader on-chain financial activity.
For BNB Chain, the quality of the RWA base will matter. Are users actually interacting with these products? Are they being used as collateral? Are they integrated into DeFi? Are issuers credible? Are the assets transparent and properly structured?
Those questions become more important as the headline number grows.
There is also the regulatory side. Tokenized real-world assets can involve securities, commodities, fund interests, and regulated financial products. Networks may provide the rails, but issuers still need to operate inside legal frameworks.
That makes RWA one of the more serious sectors in crypto. It has huge potential, but it also carries heavier compliance expectations than many purely crypto-native categories.
For now, the signal is positive for BNB Chain. Reaching $5.2 billion in tokenized assets gives it a stronger claim in a market that is attracting serious institutional attention.
Ethereum remains the leader, but BNB Chain is now harder to ignore. If tokenization keeps expanding across chains, the next phase of RWA growth may be less about one dominant network and more about where issuers can find the right combination of liquidity, users, cost, and compliance.
This article is based on RWA.xyz and DeFiLlama data.
This article was written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.
OKX Europe has opened a one-way conversion route across 30 EU and EEA countries, allowing customers to deposit USDT and exchange it for MiCA-compliant USDC.
Summary
OKX Europe now lets users deposit USDT and convert it into MiCA-compliant USDC. Tether continues to reject MiCA approval over concerns about the framework’s reserve requirements. Binance’s European retreat has left licensed exchanges competing for users affected by MiCA restrictions. According to an OKX announcement, eligible customers can send Tether’s USDT to their OKX Europe accounts before converting the tokens into Circle-issued USDC. OKX also promoted an 8% deposit bonus for customers moving funds to the platform.
Unlike automatic conversion programs introduced by some platforms, OKX said its service allows users to decide when to exchange their holdings. The company positioned the feature as an option for customers whose current platforms have stopped accepting USDT or plan to convert remaining balances after a deadline.
Operating under a Markets in Crypto-Assets license, OKX Europe currently serves customers across 30 countries in the European Union and European Economic Area. The authorization allows the exchange to offer regulated crypto services throughout those markets under the EU framework.
MiCA restrictions push USDT holders toward USDC European platforms have reduced support for USDT because Tether has not secured authorization to issue the stablecoin under MiCA. Since the regulation’s final transition period ended on July 1, exchanges have restricted deposits, removed trading pairs and directed customers toward approved alternatives.
Circle’s USDC has become one of the main options available to those users because it operates under the EU framework. OKX’s new tool supports deposits only in USDT and conversions only into USDC, meaning customers cannot use the feature to exchange USDC back into USDT.
Despite the European restrictions, DefiLlama data shows that USDT remains the world’s largest stablecoin. Tether controls about 59% of the nearly $310 billion stablecoin market, with USDT holding roughly $184 billion in market value, compared with around $73 billion for USDC.
Source: DeFiLlama Revolut has also announced plans to stop supporting USDT for customers in the EEA and Switzerland. According to the digital banking platform, users have until Aug. 31 to sell or withdraw their holdings before Revolut converts any remaining tokens into each customer’s base currency.
Tether holds its ground as Binance retreats Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino has repeatedly defended the company’s decision not to seek MiCA approval, arguing that the framework’s reserve rules could expose stablecoin issuers to additional risks. MiCA requires issuers to hold part of their reserves with European credit institutions.
During an earlier interview, Ardoino described the rules as “very dangerous when it comes to stablecoins,” while acknowledging that refusing authorization could reduce USDT’s availability on European exchanges.
Tether maintained the same position in July 2025, when Ardoino wrote on X that the company would reconsider an application only “when MiCA becomes safer for consumers and stablecoin issuers.”
When MiCA becomes safer for consumers and stablecoin issuers, then we might reconsider.
— Paolo Ardoino 🤖 (@paoloardoino) July 23, 2025 Tether was not the only major crypto company affected by the EU framework. Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange by trading volume, withdrew its MiCA license application in Greece after failing to secure approval and began suspending services in several EU countries when the 18-month transition period ended.
Binance’s retreat has left Coinbase, OKX and other MiCA-licensed exchanges competing for European customers as regulated platforms take a larger role in the region. For OKX, the USDT-to-USDC route gives affected holders a voluntary conversion option while European support for Tether’s stablecoin continues to decline.
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.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
Meanwhile, FTX's ex-CEO requested a pardon but it was unanimously rejected by the US Senate.
The former cryptocurrency exchange giant announced yesterday that it will begin its fifth creditor distribution at the end of the month, pushing the total announced repayments beyond $10 billion almost four years after it went bust.
The next batch of repayments will be for $900 million, which works in alignment with the company’s Chapter 11 reorganization plan.
FTX to Begin New Repayments The firm’s press release outlined July 31 as the start date, after which eligible creditors are expected to receive their funds via BitGo, Kraken, or Payoneer within 3 business days. It’s worth noting that this repayment applies to creditors holding allowed claims in FTX’s Convenience and Non-Convenience Classes who had completed the required procedures by June 16.
The size of the actual payment will depend on the creditor class. Users of the global and the US exchanges (ftx.com and FTX US) will receive an additional 9% under Class 5a, taking their cumulative recovery to 105% of the value of their approved claims.
General unsecured creditors and holders of crypto loan claims will each receive an incremental 3%, and their total is expected to reach 103%. Convenience-class creditors, generally representing smaller customer claims, will get a cumulative 120% of their approved claims after the latest repayment.
The failed exchange also plans to distribute $18 million to eligible preferred shareholders on July 31, bringing the total payments from the separate Preferred Shareholder Remission Fund Trust to $95 million.
These repayment figures do not necessarily mean that customers have been made whole in crypto terms. Claims were considered in US dollar terms on crypto prices around FTX’s bankruptcy in November 2022, before the major price rallies for almost all involved assets.
You may also like: FTT Skyrockets as SBF Seeks Presidential Pardon While Serving 25-Year Sentence: Report Consequently, receiving 105% or 120% of its initial claims in USD may still be significantly less than the present-day value of the crypto assets held on the platform at the time. For instance, recall that BTC traded around $20,000 when FTX collapsed, and despite its correction since the October 2025 ATH, it’s still over 200% higher.
SBF Pardon Rejected FTX’s former CEO and the person considered the main culprit of its rapid decline, Sam Bankman-Fried, was convicted in 2023 on seven counts of fraud and conspiracy following the misallocation of over $8 billion worth of customer funds.
He remains in prison to this day but tried to lobby for clemency, especially since US President Donald Trump issued pardons to Changpeng Zhao and Arthur Hayes. However, in a unanimous vote earlier this week, the Senate ruled that “under no circumstances should Samuel Bankman-Fried receive executive clemency, including a pardon, or commutation.”
The bankrupt cryptocurrency exchange FTX has announced it will launch its fifth round of creditor payments on July 31, 2026, as part of its restructuring plan. This distribution is expected to amount to approximately $900 million in total.
According to a statement by FTX Trading Ltd. and FTX Recovery Trust, payments will cover creditors with approved receivables in the Convenience and Non-Convenience classes under the restructuring plan who completed the necessary pre-distribution processes by the June 16 registration deadline.
Creditors who are entitled to receive payments are expected to collect the funds through their previously chosen service providers: BitGo, Kraken, or Payoneer. The distribution service providers are scheduled to transfer payments to accounts within one to three business days after July 31.
FTX also informed eligible preferred shareholders that a second payment round would be made on the same date.
As part of the fifth distribution, Class 5A credit holders representing Dotcom customer receivables will receive an additional 9% payment. This will bring the cumulative distribution rate for this class to 105%.
Class 5B, which covers US customer receivables, will receive a 5% payout, resulting in a total payout rate of 105%. Class 6A, which includes general unsecured receivables, and Class 6B, which includes digital asset loan receivables, will each receive a 3% payout. The total payout rate across these classes will reach 103%.
The cumulative distribution to claimants in the Class 7 Convenience Claims group, which includes smaller claims, will reach 120 percent.
FTX stated that customers and other payees who wish to participate in the distribution on future payment dates must complete the identity verification process, submit the necessary tax forms, and register with one of the BitGo, Kraken, or Payoneer platforms before the registration date.
The company stated that subsequent registration and payment dates will be announced at a later date.
*This is not investment advice.
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Key Highlights The FTX Recovery Trust plans to release approximately $900 million to creditors beginning July 31 This represents the fifth distribution since the platform’s collapse in late 2022 Cumulative distributions have approached $10 billion since the repayment process launched in 2025 Smaller claims under $50,000 are receiving 120% repayment; larger claims receive 103–105% Former CEO Sam Bankman-Fried serves a 25-year sentence; bipartisan Senate resolution opposes pardon The FTX Recovery Trust revealed on Friday plans to commence distribution of approximately $900 million to affected creditors starting July 31. This represents the fifth major repayment installment since the cryptocurrency platform’s dramatic collapse in November 2022.
LATEST: ⚡ FTX plans to distribute roughly $900M to creditors in its fifth payout round, with eligible recipients set to receive funds within three business days starting July 31. pic.twitter.com/7iSI7R4kRa
— CoinMarketCap (@CoinMarketCap) July 18, 2026
Qualifying creditors will have access to their funds via BitGo, Kraken, or Payoneer platforms. The Recovery Trust anticipates payments will reach recipients within a one to three business day window following the July 31 start date.
Breakdown of Payment Allocations The FTX distribution structure divides creditors into two distinct categories: convenience class and non-convenience class. Those with convenience class claims — defined as claims valued below $50,000 — are entitled to receive 120% of their original claim value.
Non-convenience class claims, which encompass larger or more intricate cases, will see recovery rates ranging from 103% to 105% of their filed claim amounts. The bankruptcy proceedings have typically compensated retail investors between 118% and 142% beyond their asset valuations recorded during the collapse.
An important caveat: these percentages are calculated based on the U.S. dollar valuation of assets when FTX filed for bankruptcy, rather than current cryptocurrency market prices — a methodology that has generated pushback from certain creditors who preferred in-kind asset restitution.
Total Distribution Amounts to Date In March 2026, FTX released $2.2 billion to its creditor base. Following this upcoming distribution, aggregate repayments will reach nearly $10 billion since systematic disbursements commenced in 2025.
The FTX bankruptcy estate initiated Chapter 11 proceedings in November 2022, stranding customers without access to their holdings amid a widespread cryptocurrency market crisis that claimed multiple trading platforms.
In May 2026, legal firm Fenwick & West reached a $54 million settlement agreement in a class action case. The firm had acted as FTX’s primary external legal advisor prior to the platform’s downfall. A coalition of 20 platform users had filed suit seeking $525 million mere days before the settlement was finalized.
Current Status of Sam Bankman-Fried Former FTX chief executive Sam Bankman-Fried received a 25-year prison term in 2024 following his conviction for the misappropriation of customer assets. His appellate challenge was rejected last month when federal courts affirmed the initial verdict.
Bankman-Fried submitted a request for presidential clemency to Donald Trump. Trump indicated in January that he had no intention of granting such relief.
Earlier this week, the United States Senate approved by unanimous consent a resolution expressing opposition to any clemency consideration for Bankman-Fried. While this resolution carries no binding legal authority to prevent a presidential pardon, it demonstrates unified bipartisan resistance to the concept.
Congressional members have additionally voiced apprehension regarding Trump’s pardon of former Binance chief executive Changpeng Zhao, particularly following a $2 billion capital injection into Binance from a United Arab Emirates entity utilizing a stablecoin developed by the Trump family’s venture, World Liberty Financial.
FTX creditors should anticipate receiving payment verification from their selected distribution platform following the July 31 commencement date.
Nearly four years after the collapse of the platform, the creditor repayment process continues to reach new milestones. FTX has confirmed the launch of a fifth wave of distributions, set to begin at the end of the month. This new operation represents about 900 million dollars and is part of the judicial recovery procedure initiated after the 2022 bankruptcy. Since the start of repayments in 2025, cumulative payments now approach 10 billion dollars in favor of creditors and other stakeholders.
In Brief FTX will launch a fifth round of repayments worth approximately $900 million starting at the end of the month. Since the repayment plan began in 2025, nearly $10 billion has already been distributed to creditors and other stakeholders. Eligible creditors will receive their funds within three business days through BitGo, Kraken, or Payoneer. The repayments cover the “Convenience” and “Non-Convenience” categories, which include both retail creditors and larger, more complex claims. FTX Launches a Fifth $900 Million Distribution On Friday, the crypto exchange FTX announced that it would start distributing approximately 900 million dollars to its creditors starting at the end of the month. This operation constitutes the fifth wave of repayments planned as part of the bankruptcy procedure conducted under chapter 11. Last March, the platform had already paid 2.2 billion dollars to the concerned beneficiaries. Now, the total amount distributed since the start of the program in 2025 reaches nearly 10 billion dollars.
As with the previous distribution, FTX plans a rapid processing of payments for eligible creditors. Beneficiaries belonging to the “Convenience” and “Non-Convenience” categories should receive their funds within three business days. Payments will be made by providers BitGo, Kraken, or Payoneer. This organization adopts the same procedure used during previous repayment waves.
Creditors Continue to Receive Their Repayments The “Convenience” category mainly includes retail traders as well as small creditors, who represent the majority of people affected by the FTX bankruptcy. Conversely, the “Non-Convenience” category concerns larger claims or those with a more complex structure. This distinction determines the processing of claims within the repayment plan. Eligible beneficiaries thus continue to receive their payments according to the provided modalities.
Since the program launched, FTX has aimed to compensate retail creditors between 118% and 142% of the value of their holdings at the time of the platform’s collapse in 2022. However, some have criticized this approach, arguing that repayments should have been made in assets rather than cash value.
Moreover, in May, the law firm Fenwick & West, the former main external advisor of FTX US, agreed to pay 54 million dollars to settle accusations related to its role before the bankruptcy and the fraud attributed to Sam Bankman-Fried.
With this fifth distribution, FTX thus continues executing its repayment schedule. The next steps will assess the progress of the recovery plan and continue payments aimed at the various creditor categories.
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Ghiles A.
Journaliste et rédacteur web passionné par l’univers des cryptomonnaies et des technologies Web3. J’y traite les dernières tendances et actualités afin de proposer un contenu de haute qualité à un large public du secteur.
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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.
Uniswap (UNI), one of the largest decentralized exchanges in the crypto sector, is showing potential signs of recovery after a period of sustained declines. Buyers have managed to hold key support levels, while resistance zones remain a focus for any further upside movement.
Key support and resistance zones in focusAt the current valuation, UNI trades at $3.53, recording a 24-hour trading volume of $164.98 million. The platform’s total market capitalization stands at $2.21 billion. Despite a 2.38% decline within the last day, analysts point to encouraging signals in both price structure and total value locked (TVL) growth, which could pave the way for a bullish reversal if momentum strengthens.
Technical analysis shows UNI’s price hovering near $3.567 on the weekly chart. Buyers are actively defending the long-term support zone between $3.20 and $3.50. Although the token has stabilized after an extended downtrend, analysts stress the importance of stronger buying volume to confirm any reversal in trend.
Crypto analyst The Boss emphasized significant resistance markers at $5.034, $7.240, $8.928, and $11.881. He suggested that a sustained breakout above $5.034 on the weekly chart could drive improved sentiment and potentially lead UNI to target higher resistance levels.
Resistance at $5.034 is a critical threshold; a breakout could send UNI toward the $7.240 level, with further gains possible if buying pressure increases.
Should support at $3.20 fail to hold, analysts warn of a possible continued sell-off, with prices potentially dropping toward the $2.50-$2.00 range. Maintaining this support could establish a base for potential recovery.
Robinhood Chain boosts Uniswap’s DeFi activityUniswap’s ecosystem adoption has received a significant boost thanks to increased activity and liquidity on Robinhood Chain, a blockchain network closely integrated with the Robinhood trading platform.
Recent data from Token Terminal reveals that Uniswap’s TVL on the Robinhood Chain has doubled within the past week, now totaling approximately $60 million. This sharp rise indicates surging liquidity and user engagement within the decentralized finance (DeFi) network.
Mini dictionary: Robinhood Chain, a blockchain network developed to support decentralized applications and cryptocurrency trading, is connected with the Robinhood retail trading app and facilitates direct DeFi integration for users.
Uniswap’s monthly active users on Robinhood Chain have approached one million, with the figure recently reaching around 880,000. This rapid increase signals growing adoption and demand for Uniswap’s services within new blockchain environments.
MetricCurrent ValueChange (Last Week)UNI Price$3.53-2.38%Robinhood Chain TVL$60 million+100%Weekly Resistance$5.034N/AMonthly Active Users~880,000Significant growthMacro sentiment remains cautiousAlthough Uniswap’s DeFi activity is expanding, UNI’s price remains under downward pressure. This persistent weakness is partly attributed to a cautious mood across the broader crypto market, as Bitcoin also trades lower, influencing sentiment throughout cryptocurrencies.
Analysts suggest market recovery could accelerate if broader buying pressure returns and Uniswap breaks through noted resistance levels. Until then, technical factors and ecosystem adoption will remain key variables influencing short-term price movements.
Uniswap’s rapid TVL and user growth on Robinhood Chain highlight expanding user interest, but a decisive market reversal may depend on sustained buying volume and improvements in the overall crypto environment.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article does not constitute investment advice. Investors should be aware that cryptocurrencies carry high volatility and therefore risk, and should conduct their own research.
Uniswap has officially submitted three governance proposals for protocol fee activation across several chains and different versions of the DEX.
The first fee proposal will be for versions 2 (V2) and 3 (V3) on the Robinhood chain. The new Ethereum L2 debuted this month, attracting several DEXes, including Uniswap. About 10 days after launch, Uniswap crossed $1B in trading volume – ultimately showing its growing traction.
Similarly, the project seeks to activate fees on V4 across Ethereum, Base, Arbitrum, Robinhood, BNB Chain, Polygon and Optimism. Hayden Adams, Uniswap’s CEO, added that a third fee proposal for remaining V4 chains will also be submitted soon.
Adams said,
Both direct all new protocol fees into the existing UNI burn mechanism. Based on current volumes, especially Robinhood, we expect the impact on UNI burn to be substantial.
Mixed reactions to Uniswap’s fee proposal For clarity, fees are what users pay for each swap on the DEX, and they mostly go to liquidity providers (LPs). Protocol revenue (which is partly directed for UNI burn) is a percentage of the swap fees that goes to the project after a governance vote.
In other words, such proposals would directly reduce fees collected by LPs. As such, it was not surprising that some LP providers like Gamma Strategies opposed V4 fee proposals because they would affect their lifeline.
Still, Gamma Strategies made a sound argument for their opposition, noting that Uniswap V4 was still not competitive enough and the fees would make it lose to rivals.
It (V4) still lags Uniswap V3 in terms of volumes, and there’s evermore increasing competition from AMMs, propAMMs, RFQ’s, and spot limit order book DEX’s such as Lighter/Hyperliquid.
Source: Uniswap governance That said, Uniswap has only activated fees across a few chains and versions. However, most of the fees collected go to LPs.
In fact, LPs have made a whopping +$5B in cumulative fees since 2018. Yet, the protocol has made only $25M in cumulative revenue.
Source: DeFiLlama If the proposal goes through and is balanced with competition, more protocol revenue would translate to more UNI burn rates, as Adams projected.
That said, the project has now burned a total of 107.49M UNI tokens. UNI burn rate surged 3x from $51K to over $160K in the past week.
Can UNI extend its July rally? The Robinhood traction was front-run by traders as the Uniswap [UNI] price surged. In July, UNI price surged 41% from $2.7 to $3.8.
But the bullish strength has eased as the price stalled below the 200-day Moving Average (blue line). As such, price could remain sideways above $3.5 or slip to $3 if Robinhood momentum stabilizes.
Source: UNI/USDT, TradingView But the next move higher could be triggered by renewed Robinhood momentum and if the fee proposals drive more UNI burn.
Final Summary Uniswap pushes three fee protocol fee proposals to accelerate UNI burn. Currently, Uniswap LPs have accrued over $5B while the protocol makes relatively little revenue
Uniswap founder Hayden Adams has proposed expanding protocol fees across Uniswap v4 and several network deployments, putting one of DeFi’s longest-running governance debates back at the centre of the market.
Protocol fees are a sensitive topic for Uniswap because the exchange is one of DeFi’s most important pieces of infrastructure. It processes huge volumes, sits across multiple chains, and remains a core liquidity venue for tokens. But for years, the question has been whether that usage should translate into direct economic value for the protocol and UNI governance.
The new proposal, published through Uniswap governance, targets protocol-level fee activation across multiple deployments, including v4 pools and the newly launched Robinhood Chain.
For UNI holders and DeFi users, this is not just a technical governance item. It goes to the heart of how DeFi protocols should capture value.
Reference: Uniswap Governance Forum
TL;DR Hayden Adams has proposed expanding Uniswap protocol fees across several network deployments. The proposal includes v4 pools and Robinhood Chain activity. The debate matters because it could reshape how Uniswap captures value from its own trading infrastructure. Why Protocol Fees Matter For Uniswap Uniswap is widely used, but usage and token value have not always moved together.
That has been one of the biggest debates around UNI. The protocol is critical to DeFi, but the token has often struggled with the question of direct value capture. Governance rights matter, but investors also want to know whether protocol activity can translate into a stronger economic model.
Protocol fees are one possible answer.
If activated, a portion of trading fees can be routed to protocol-controlled mechanisms rather than flowing only to liquidity providers. That can create a clearer link between exchange activity and the protocol’s treasury, buyback/burn mechanics, or other governance-directed uses.
The details matter. Fee rates, affected pools, chain selection, and how collections are handled can all change how traders, liquidity providers, and token holders respond.
For Uniswap, the challenge is balancing value capture with liquidity competitiveness. If fees are too aggressive, liquidity may migrate. If fees are too light, token holders may see little impact.
Multi-Chain DeFi Makes The Debate Harder Uniswap is no longer just an Ethereum mainnet protocol.
It exists across multiple networks, and v4 is designed to make liquidity architecture more flexible. That multi-chain footprint creates opportunity, but it also makes governance more complicated.
Different chains have different users, fee environments, liquidity profiles, and competitive pressures. A fee model that works on Ethereum may not work the same way on Base, Arbitrum, Optimism, BNB Chain, Robinhood Chain, or Polygon.
That is why this proposal matters. It is not only about turning on a switch. It is about deciding how Uniswap should operate as a cross-chain liquidity protocol.
The governance materials note that fee collections would be routed into TokenJars and claimed for burning through UNI bridging to mainnet. That kind of structure shows how much DeFi governance has evolved. Fee activation now involves not just a governance vote, but cross-chain accounting, collection mechanisms, and execution details.
The more networks Uniswap supports, the more important those mechanics become.
What UNI Holders Will Be Watching UNI holders will likely focus on whether the proposal creates a clearer path for token value.
That does not mean the market will instantly reprice UNI. Governance proposals can take time, and implementation matters more than the headline. But the direction is important. If Uniswap can show a credible method for turning protocol volume into economic value, the token’s investment case becomes easier to explain.
Liquidity providers will be watching from another angle.
They want to know whether protocol fees reduce their share of trading economics and whether any fee changes make certain pools less attractive. DeFi liquidity is mobile. If LPs believe another venue offers better returns, they can move.
Users care about execution quality. If fee activation damages liquidity or worsens pricing, traders may notice. If the change is small enough to preserve competitiveness, users may barely feel it.
That is the balance Uniswap governance has to strike.
DeFi Is Moving From Growth To Value Capture The proposal also says something bigger about DeFi’s maturity.
Early DeFi was mostly about growth: liquidity, volume, users, integrations, and TVL. Mature protocols eventually face a different question: how does that activity support long-term economics?
Uniswap is one of the clearest examples because it is both widely used and heavily scrutinised. If a protocol of its size cannot find a sustainable value-capture model, investors will keep asking difficult questions about governance tokens across the sector.
That is why this debate reaches beyond Uniswap.
Other DeFi protocols are watching the same issue. They need to reward users, keep liquidity, satisfy governance, and avoid creating regulatory problems. Protocol fees sit right at the intersection of those pressures.
For now, the proposal gives the market a fresh reason to pay attention to UNI governance. It may not settle the value-capture debate immediately, but it moves the discussion into a more concrete phase.
If approved and implemented cleanly, it could become one of the more important DeFi governance developments of the year.
This article is based on the Uniswap governance forum.
This article was written by the News Desk and edited by Samuel Rae.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino stood inside Trump Tower on July 18 and called the 2026 World Cup the greatest in history. He praised the Trump administration for delivering a “safe, secure, and joyful environment” for a tournament that drew 7 million fans into stadiums and billions more to screens worldwide.
Fan tokens heat up as the World Cup draws billions of eyeballs Chiliz (CHZ), the blockchain network powering fan tokens for major sports organizations, saw its token surge approximately 28% around the tournament’s opening.
Fan tokens let holders vote on minor club decisions, access exclusive content, and unlock digital collectibles. When the biggest event in global sports kicks off, demand for that kind of engagement spikes.
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The 2026 World Cup is the first co-hosted by three nations: the US, Canada, and Mexico. It’s the largest tournament FIFA has ever staged. FIFA’s own collectibles platform has migrated to an Avalanche-based blockchain, offering low transaction fees and high throughput.
Kraken steps into the spotlight as FIFA’s official crypto partner Kraken, one of the oldest US-based crypto exchanges, is the Official Crypto Exchange Supporter of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Kraken’s deal positions it alongside traditional blue-chip sponsors, functioning as a customer acquisition play aimed at the global mainstream audience that follows soccer but has never opened a crypto wallet.
The Trump factor and what it means for crypto-friendly policy Infantino’s praise for Trump isn’t just diplomatic theater. Trump is expected to present the World Cup trophy at the final on July 19. Financial disclosures revealed that Trump received $15,000 worth of FIFA tickets from Infantino.
The tournament hasn’t been without controversy. Reports surfaced of Trump intervening in a red-card review involving a US player, and a complaint was filed with the IOC regarding breaches of political neutrality by Infantino.
What this means for investors watching sports tokens The 28% CHZ rally around the World Cup opening is instructive, but context matters. Fan tokens have historically been volatile around major tournaments, with sharp run-ups followed by equally sharp corrections once the event ends. The 2022 World Cup in Qatar produced a similar pattern.
FIFA chose Avalanche for its collectibles backbone. Kraken is spending real marketing dollars on stadium signage and broadcast placements. Fan token trading volumes correlate with match schedules. The specific tokens may be cyclical, but the trend of blockchain embedding itself into sports commerce looks increasingly permanent.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
France and England will meet in the third-place playoff at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in Miami on July 18. For football fans, it’s a consolation match with serious national pride on the line. For crypto markets, it’s one more high-visibility moment in what has quietly become the most blockchain-integrated World Cup in the tournament’s history.
What FIFA actually built on Avalanche The centerpiece is FIFA Collect, FIFA’s official digital collectibles platform, built on the Avalanche blockchain, handling everything from digital collectibles to ticketing and fan engagement mechanics.
By mid-June 2026, the platform had logged over 85,000 unique registered wallet addresses. One early NFT drop sold out in 24 minutes and generated roughly $115,000 in sales.
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FIFA has also signaled that NFTs linked to specific match moments will be dynamically created during the tournament, meaning a goal scored in the France-England match could trigger a new collectible drop in near real-time.
The sponsors betting on the World Cup crypto wave Kraken landed an official crypto exchange sponsorship for the tournament. Chiliz, the blockchain platform behind fan tokens for major football clubs, saw a 13% price surge in April 2026 ahead of the tournament. No specific Chiliz tokens are tied exclusively to the French or English national teams.
The 2022 Qatar World Cup produced a wave of fan token excitement that crested well before the final whistle and spent the following months unwinding. The 2026 cycle looks structurally similar, with Chiliz’s April price move already in the rearview mirror heading into the knockout rounds.
What this means for investors watching the match For investors already positioned in Avalanche’s ecosystem, the FIFA Collect integration is a real-world stress test for the network’s ability to handle consumer-grade NFT activity at scale. Avalanche was selected partly for its throughput capabilities and low transaction costs, both of which matter enormously when you’re trying to onboard someone who has never bought crypto before and definitely doesn’t want to pay a $40 gas fee for a $10 collectible.
FIFA’s 2026 tournament expanded to 48 teams, which means more matches, more moments, and more potential NFT drop events than any previous World Cup.
Kraken’s sponsorship carries a signal for institutional observers. The exchange operates under relatively strict regulatory scrutiny in multiple jurisdictions, and its willingness to take on an official FIFA partnership suggests the compliance posture required to sit inside a major governing body’s commercial structure is achievable.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister: Iran has ceased implementing the Iran-US Memorandum of Understanding
According to Iranian media reports on the 18th, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Garibabadi stated that Iran has ceased implementing the Iran-US Memorandum of Understanding after the United States violated its commitments.
3 minutes ago
BONK treasury attacker transfers approximately $1.19 million worth of tokens to Binance.
According to Yu Jian Monitoring, the address that previously drained the BONK treasury via a governance attack transferred 400 billion BONK tokens (valued at roughly $1.19 million) to Binance 20 minutes ago. The address spent approximately $4.4 million 10 days ago to purchase enough BONK tokens to meet the governance voting threshold, then submitted a governance proposal that was forcibly passed, siphoning 4.426 trillion BONK tokens from the BONK treasury, worth around $21.2 million.
3 minutes ago
Consensys unwittingly hired North Korean developers for software development work, and has launched a full investigation.
Blockchain firm Consensys unknowingly granted a North Korea-linked software developer access to some of its internal systems for roughly a month. Earlier this year, Consensys hired a software consultant operating under the alias Tyler Knapp, who was later found to have ties to North Korea. The incident prompted Consensys to temporarily pause product releases and launch an internal investigation. Consensys General Counsel Matt Corva stated: "'Knapp' was introduced to the company via its partnership with a reputable third-party service provider, serving as a consultant (he was never a full-time Consensys employee). We detected this security threat shortly after his onboarding, immediately terminated all his access permissions in line with security protocols, and initiated a full investigation. The probe confirmed no assets or data were misappropriated, no malicious code was deployed, and there was no impact on user security or assets."
3 minutes ago
Kevin Kelly: If Token costs become critical in the future, China’s open-source models will hold a significant advantage.
Famous futurist and "Father of Silicon Valley Spirit" Kevin Kelly told media in an interview at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference that if the day comes when everyone starts paying attention to token costs, China’s AI will hold an advantage thanks to the existence of open-source models. Kelly noted that token consumption costs are growing increasingly important, though currently the industry seems not to prioritize them. “But I think when we are consuming such massive amounts of tokens all the time, people will start caring about [costs]. If you can offer costs that are one-tenth of Anthropic’s, that will disrupt the entire landscape.” However, Kelly also warned that open-source models require sufficient funding to sustain operations, as they are not as profitable as closed-source models. “Building these large models requires massive capital.”
3 minutes ago
A trader bought BRIAN at its peak yesterday, now facing an unrealized loss of nearly 90%.
On-chain analyst Ai Yi (handle @ai_9684xtpa) reports that a trader purchased $179,000 worth of BRIAN at an average price of $0.01311 at yesterday’s peak, and is now facing an unrealized loss of $159,000, with their assets having shrunk by 88.7%.
3 minutes ago
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation says key oil facilities were attacked by Iran.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation stated that key oil facilities were attacked by Iran, resulting in multiple injuries and heavy losses.
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister: Iran has ceased implementing the Iran-US Memorandum of Understanding
According to Iranian media reports on the 18th, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Garibabadi stated that Iran has ceased implementing the Iran-US Memorandum of Understanding after the United States violated its commitments.
3 minutes ago
BONK treasury attacker transfers approximately $1.19 million worth of tokens to Binance.
According to Yu Jian Monitoring, the address that previously drained the BONK treasury via a governance attack transferred 400 billion BONK tokens (valued at roughly $1.19 million) to Binance 20 minutes ago. The address spent approximately $4.4 million 10 days ago to purchase enough BONK tokens to meet the governance voting threshold, then submitted a governance proposal that was forcibly passed, siphoning 4.426 trillion BONK tokens from the BONK treasury, worth around $21.2 million.
3 minutes ago
Consensys unwittingly hired North Korean developers for software development work, and has launched a full investigation.
Blockchain firm Consensys unknowingly granted a North Korea-linked software developer access to some of its internal systems for roughly a month. Earlier this year, Consensys hired a software consultant operating under the alias Tyler Knapp, who was later found to have ties to North Korea. The incident prompted Consensys to temporarily pause product releases and launch an internal investigation. Consensys General Counsel Matt Corva stated: "'Knapp' was introduced to the company via its partnership with a reputable third-party service provider, serving as a consultant (he was never a full-time Consensys employee). We detected this security threat shortly after his onboarding, immediately terminated all his access permissions in line with security protocols, and initiated a full investigation. The probe confirmed no assets or data were misappropriated, no malicious code was deployed, and there was no impact on user security or assets."
3 minutes ago
Kevin Kelly: If Token costs become critical in the future, China’s open-source models will hold a significant advantage.
Famous futurist and "Father of Silicon Valley Spirit" Kevin Kelly told media in an interview at the 2026 World Artificial Intelligence Conference that if the day comes when everyone starts paying attention to token costs, China’s AI will hold an advantage thanks to the existence of open-source models. Kelly noted that token consumption costs are growing increasingly important, though currently the industry seems not to prioritize them. “But I think when we are consuming such massive amounts of tokens all the time, people will start caring about [costs]. If you can offer costs that are one-tenth of Anthropic’s, that will disrupt the entire landscape.” However, Kelly also warned that open-source models require sufficient funding to sustain operations, as they are not as profitable as closed-source models. “Building these large models requires massive capital.”
3 minutes ago
A trader bought BRIAN at its peak yesterday, now facing an unrealized loss of nearly 90%.
On-chain analyst Ai Yi (handle @ai_9684xtpa) reports that a trader purchased $179,000 worth of BRIAN at an average price of $0.01311 at yesterday’s peak, and is now facing an unrealized loss of $159,000, with their assets having shrunk by 88.7%.
3 minutes ago
Kuwait Petroleum Corporation says key oil facilities were attacked by Iran.
According to Kuwait News Agency, Kuwait Petroleum Corporation stated that key oil facilities were attacked by Iran, resulting in multiple injuries and heavy losses.
