Track market-moving stories before they get noisy

Gemini Trust Company, a prominent cryptocurrency exchange co-founded by Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, has contributed $10 million in Bitcoin to a super PAC backing US President Donald Trump, according to financial filings released this week.

Major Bitcoin donation tied to CFTC case developmentsThe contribution was disclosed in MAGA Inc. Super PAC’s July report to the Federal Election Commission. The filing reveals that Gemini sent two separate Bitcoin donations, each exceeding $5 million, on June 19. MAGA Inc., a political action committee supporting Trump, can use the funds for independent expenditures during the 2024 presidential campaign.

This significant donation was recorded just weeks after the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) and Gemini jointly requested a federal court to consider reversing a $5 million settlement reached in January 2025. The case centers on allegations that Gemini provided false or misleading statements.

Michael Selig, CFTC Chair and the agency’s only current commissioner, has asserted that previous enforcement actions against Gemini were politically motivated under former President Joe Biden’s administration, targeting the Winklevoss brothers.

The CFTC, led by Selig, claimed that the Biden administration “politically targeted” the Winklevosses through enforcement, highlighting tensions surrounding regulatory action in the crypto sector.

Beyond the $10 million donation, the Winklevoss twins previously contributed $1 million each to Trump’s 2024 campaign and have shown vocal support for his presidency on social media. After Trump’s return to office in January 2025, the brothers appeared at the signing ceremony for the GENIUS Act, a stablecoin payments bill, and backed his sons’ crypto mining venture, American Bitcoin. They have also contributed $21 million in Bitcoin to the Digital Freedom Fund PAC, aimed at advancing crypto-friendly policies.

Ongoing court proceedings and political reactionsNo final decision has been made public regarding the joint CFTC-Gemini request, which was filed with the US District Court for the Southern District of New York in May. The CFTC stated in June that if the court grants reversal, the $5 million penalty will not be returned to Gemini.

Senator Elizabeth Warren sent a letter to CFTC Chair Selig in June, raising concerns that the joint motion and recent actions suggest the agency may be influenced by political pressures and wealthy insiders, warning of risks to market integrity and investor protection.

As of June 30, MAGA Inc. reported total receipts exceeding $397 million.

RecipientAmountAssetDateMAGA Inc. Super PAC$10 millionBitcoin (BTC)June 19, 2025Trump 2024 Campaign$2 millionUSDPrior to June 2025Digital Freedom Fund PAC$21 millionBitcoin (BTC)Prior to June 2025Selig’s unique position and crypto regulationMichael Selig, a Republican who was confirmed as CFTC Chair in December 2025, is currently serving as the sole commissioner on the panel, which is traditionally composed of five bipartisan members. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission is responsible for regulating US derivatives markets, including those related to digital assets.

Lawmakers from both parties have urged President Trump to nominate additional commissioners to restore the commission’s normal composition, especially as Congress debates the Digital Asset Market Clarity (CLARITY) Act. The pending bill would expand the CFTC’s authority over digital asset markets, establishing clearer rules and oversight mechanisms.

As of the latest updates, the White House had not put forward new nominations for the CFTC, meaning Selig continues to manage the agency’s regulatory agenda.

Mini dictionary: Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC), an independent US government agency that regulates derivatives markets, including futures, options, and swaps, and increasingly digital assets. It plays a key role in establishing legal frameworks for crypto-related trading.

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.

Bitcoin [BTC], the largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization at $1.35 trillion, has moved through one of the most unprofitable stretches in its history. Notably, BTC’s slump has now extended across three separate quarters and two calendar years.

That performance has broken away from the equities market over the same window, leaving a wide band of investors holding positions below their entry price. One relationship has held through the divergence, that of the $4.8 trillion technology giant Apple [AAPL].

Bitcoin-AAPL ratio could frame the next cycle A chart from Alphractal plotting Bitcoin against AAPL shares has surfaced a correlation that traders can use to map where both assets sit in their respective cycles. The ratio has traded inside an ascending channel that stretches back to 2017, giving the structure close to a decade of price history to lean on.

Parallel ascending support and resistance lines define that channel, with the lower boundary historically marking undervaluation for Bitcoin and the upper boundary marking overvalued territory.

Source: Alphractal Every long-term Bitcoin cycle over that period has respected those boundaries, and the Alphractal data places the ratio close to the support line once again, with the remaining gap now narrow.

A move into that region, should it play out as it has in previous instances, would put Bitcoin back in the accumulation zone that preceded each of its earlier expansion phases.

Bitcoin-S&P correlation breaks! Bitcoin and the equities market, represented here by the S&P 500, have tracked each other on an annual basis since 2017, with 2025 standing as the single break in an otherwise consistent pattern.

The relationship shows up most clearly in annual returns, where a positive year for Bitcoin has coincided with a positive year for the S&P 500, and the reverse has held as well, with Bitcoin delivering the larger move in either direction.

However, that pattern broke in 2025, when Bitcoin closed the year down 6% against an 18% gain for the S&P 500. Roughly $1 trillion left Bitcoin’s market capitalization between October and December of that year alone.

Source: Curvo The Nasdaq 100 returns the same result, placing the break across the broader equities complex.

Bitcoin’s sharper reaction to a sequence of macro shocks accounts for the gap, including the October 10 liquidation event, the tariff dispute with China, and the U.S.-Israel-Iran conflict. This pushes investors out of risk assets and into safer alternatives.

Those events sit outside the eight years of alignment that came before them, which leaves the longer structure and the channel the Bitcoin-AAPL ratio still trades within intact.

On-chain signal to watch The Bitcoin-AAPL relationship gives traders a way to anticipate a rally, while on-chain data offers the confirmation needed to time one.

Dry powder in the form of stablecoins ranks among the more reliable indicators here, since stablecoin flows onto exchanges signal capital rotating back into the crypto market ahead of an expansion. Moreover, Bitcoin has captured the largest share of those inflows in past cycles.

Notably, DeFiLlama data shows $1.42 billion in stablecoins moving into the market over the last seven days, a figure that sits well below the level associated with previous rallies. It falls short against the more than $10 billion withdrawn across the past thirty days.

Final Summary The Bitcoin-AAPL ratio has traded inside an ascending channel since 2017. Stablecoin inflows of $1.42 billion over seven days sit well under the $10 billion pulled from the market across 30 days.

Cover image via youtu.be Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.

While crypto enthusiasts debate XRP's potential return to its historic highs, Barstool Sports founder Dave Portnoy has set a specific exit target for the asset: $1.40. 

The businessman is thinking in purely practical terms as he urgently needs available cash to participate in the Saratoga Sales and Cleveland thoroughbred horse auctions in August. He simply does not have time to wait for a hypothetical move to $2 per XRP.

Horse money versus Murphy's lawPortnoy is counting on a quick market impulse to finally offset his previous multimillion-dollar losses. According to him, at the lowest point, his crypto portfolio was down between $3 million and $5 million. Shifting his focus from long-term holding to taking profits quickly, he explained that the decision was driven by a practical need:

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"I need this rocket. XRP just went to $1.11 as I said it, but I need XRP at $1.40. All right, I need 30 more cents in XRP. I need Bitcoin at $80,000. I need these things if I'm going to get more horses. I need them; Saratoga Sales are coming up, and Cleveland after that. I'm going to need Bitcoin, crypto, and XRP to do their part," Portnoy said on social media.

The investor also commented ironically on his own timing. According to him, cryptocurrencies regularly surge immediately after he sells at a loss. Portnoy even joked that the community should start paying him to exit his positions in order to stimulate market growth.

Portnoy's XRP target runs into the 200-day moving averageThe technical picture shows that Portnoy's emotional target surprisingly coincides with the market's main obstacle. On the XRP/USD chart, the prolonged downtrend that began after last year's highs remains intact.

Daily XRP price chart with 200 MA attached (red), Source: TradingViewWhere the price stands now: XRP is trading near $1.10, attempting to stabilize after the recent sell-off.The wall at $1.40: The 200-day moving average, shown by the red line, is located directly at Portnoy's target. Throughout the year, the price has repeatedly tested it from below and consistently bounced back down.Ultimately, Portnoy's strategy looks quite logical. Instead of waiting for a reversal of the broader trend, he plans to take the cash at the first major barrier, where medium-term traders typically begin closing their positions.

XRP price action on Thursday, July 23, 2026, focuses on the token’s attempt to sustain a breakout from a multi-year technical pattern. This move has drawn attention from traders and analysts as XRP tests critical support and resistance levels while market activity shifts.

Spot Price and Volume MovementsXRP is currently priced at $1.13, marking a daily decline of 0.13%. Trading volume has fallen sharply by 31.53% in the last 24 hours and now stands at $960.43 million. Despite the daily decrease, the token has climbed 2.54% over the past seven days, based on CoinMarketCap data.

Technical analyst Egrag Crypto, a figure widely followed for his insights on digital asset chart patterns, observed that XRP has confirmed a breakout from a symmetrical triangle that has shaped its price for years. As the asset moves to retest this breakout, the $0.85–$0.88 range has been identified as a significant support zone. Egrag views this action as a broader macro-level test.

XRP’s retest of the $0.85–$0.88 range reflects the lower boundary of its triangle structure. Sustained monthly closes below this level would challenge the bullish case, but occasional dips under the range would not be immediately bearish.

The support range represents the intersection of the triangle’s base and an area identified as the White Bridge pattern. Analysts consider a monthly close below this range to reduce bullish momentum, emphasizing the need for price stability above it.

Price Targets and Technical OutlookEgrag has outlined a step-by-step price roadmap for XRP. The sequence starts with the current support range between $0.85 and $0.88. Above, potential resistance emerges at $1.23 and $1.65. If these levels are surpassed, price targets in the $3.00 to $3.50 zone become relevant, potentially paving the way for further gains.

Egrag’s longer-term measured move points to $6.40 as the initial major upside target, with a stretch forecast of $30 as the macro projection. However, these figures are not set as imminent targets and would require XRP to hold above prior resistance levels.

From a moving average perspective, the 20-day exponential moving average (EMA) is at $1.11130, placing the spot price slightly above short-term support. The 50-day EMA is higher at $1.14479, acting as immediate resistance. The 100-day EMA is at $1.23336, while the 200-day EMA sits at $1.43438, with XRP trading below both longer-term averages.

IndicatorValuePrice Position20-day EMA$1.11130XRP slightly above50-day EMA$1.14479XRP just below100-day EMA$1.23336XRP below200-day EMA$1.43438XRP belowBollinger Bands, a tool for assessing market volatility, set the middle band at $1.11091, with the upper band at $1.16209 and lower band at $1.05974. With XRP positioned between the middle and upper bands, resistance could emerge near $1.16209 if volatility rises.

Derivatives market data from CoinGlass shows that futures volume dropped 25.51% to $1.74 billion, alongside a 1.42% decrease in open interest, which currently stands at $2.50 billion.

The funding rate for open interest-weighted positions is at 0.0041%. This positive number suggests that long traders are making payments to those with short positions, reflecting a leaning toward bullish bets among derivatives participants.

Liquidations over the past 24 hours reached $1.13 million, divided nearly evenly between long positions ($570,500) and short positions ($557,610), showing limited directional conviction. The total difference came to just $12,890.

Mini dictionary: Bollinger Bands are a technical analysis indicator that plots volatility bands above and below a moving average, helping traders identify potential overbought or oversold conditions.

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.

Ripple Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty has renewed calls for lawmakers to advance the Clarity Act, legislation designed to regulate the cryptocurrency and digital asset industries in the United States. The bill, formally known as H.R. 3633, cleared the House of Representatives in July 2025 with a 294-134 vote and now awaits action in the Senate Banking Committee following its executive session in May 2026.

Ripple CLO highlights need for stronger consumer protectionsAlderoty described the Clarity Act as a vital step for consumer protection, specifically noting its anti-money laundering and know-your-customer requirements. He argued these provisions, alongside new enforcement tools for federal authorities and state attorneys general, would provide more robust safeguards for both consumers and legitimate businesses in the digital asset sector.

Stuart Alderoty, the top legal executive at Ripple—a blockchain payments company known for its XRP cryptocurrency—has played a prominent role in shaping internal legal policy amid ongoing regulatory scrutiny from U.S. agencies.

The Clarity Act is a consumer protection bill. It addresses the need for “strong AML/KYC requirements” and “real tools for law enforcement and state AGs,” Alderoty stated, pressing lawmakers not to let perfection delay meaningful reform: “Perfect can’t be the enemy of good. Let’s get this done.”

He warned that continued ambiguity around digital asset standards would leave consumers vulnerable to a lack of clear protections, with regulatory gaps that bad actors could once again exploit.

Industry observers scrutinize self-custody provisionsDespite the consumer focus, some in the crypto community see significant unanswered questions in the current draft of the Clarity Act. XRP enthusiast and XRPL validator Justin Nevins examined Senate revisions, suggesting the bill’s self-custody protections, while expanded from earlier versions, mainly apply to those holding digital assets for buying goods or services, not necessarily investors or savers.

Nevins pointed out that the “Keep Your Coins Act” section would prohibit federal agencies from restricting lawful self-custody of digital assets in self-hosted wallets, but the scope of “covered user” remains ambiguous. This uncertainty could affect those who prefer to hold cryptocurrencies as investments or for savings rather than for direct transactions.

The protections for self-custody would not override financial crime or sanctions laws, so authorities could still bar or restrict certain activities even if asset control stays with the user.

Mini dictionary: Senate Banking Committee, the U.S. Senate panel responsible for reviewing and making recommendations on banking, financial, and monetary policy, including legislation related to securities and digital assets.

Self-custody rights are recognized but must still comply with anti-money laundering and sanctions enforcement, so these provisions do not grant unrestricted crypto use.

Developer and DeFi protections under reviewAnother focus of the bill involves protections for blockchain developers. The Senate draft outlines safeguards for software developers, node operators, transaction validators, and others performing technical functions, ensuring these parties are not automatically classified as money transmitters under federal law.

However, these protections seem to depend on whether someone maintains operational control over a protocol. The question of who holds administrative privileges or upgrade keys is particularly relevant to decentralized finance (DeFi) projects, which often aim to limit centralized oversight.

Protocols that allow administrators to alter operations, censor access, or change functions midstream could lose some of these legal protections, highlighting the importance of true decentralization to qualify under the proposed law.

ProvisionImpacted PartiesConditionsSelf-custody protectionDigital asset usersLawful purposes only; subject to AML/Sanctions lawsDeveloper exemptionSoftware developers, validatorsNo protocol control or administrative privilegesThere are also questions about the legal treatment of front-end interfaces, governance activity, and liquidity pool operations, which may require further regulatory guidance in future rulemaking.

SEC and CFTC roles clarified, but debate continuesA central aim of the Clarity Act is to set statutory definitions that delineate which digital assets fall under the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) or Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) oversight. By clarifying the regulatory divide, the bill seeks to reduce market uncertainty for exchanges, brokers, and innovators.

Supporters argue this approach is preferable to regulation by enforcement, while critics question whether all loopholes and potential conflicts have been resolved in the draft language.

Ripple and XRP community closely monitor developmentsThe debate carries particular weight for Ripple and the wider XRP network, given Ripple’s long-standing regulatory disputes in the United States. The company has highlighted the need for clearer laws rather than piecemeal enforcement, which can deter innovation and market participation.

A federal framework could affect how exchanges, financial firms, and developers interact with the XRP Ledger, though the ultimate impact depends on the final legislative text and subsequent implementation by regulators.

With the bill still under review and subject to amendments, it is uncertain what effect the final law might have on the regulatory status of $XRP or similar digital assets.

Next steps and unresolved issuesThe Clarity Act’s specifics on self-custody and developer protections remain important for various sectors of the digital asset market. The bill’s definition of control, as well as exceptions tied to financial crime enforcement, could significantly influence its reach.

Whether these features ultimately address industry concerns or require further revisions will depend on congressional negotiations and future regulatory interpretation.

For now, the ongoing legislative process will determine if the Clarity Act brings a lasting solution to the call for regulatory certainty in the U.S. crypto sector.

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.

21h05 ▪ 5 min read ▪ by Luc Jose A.

Summarize this article with:

Small holders abandon XRP, whales buy without hesitation. This unprecedented divide within the Ripple ecosystem reveals a massive token transfer between investors with opposite strategies. On-chain data shows that modest wallets capitulate under the effect of volatility, while the largest fortunes methodically strengthen their positions. This shift occurs as XRP has rebounded over 8% in five weeks and regained the $1.16 level. Such a signal could say much more about the market dynamics than just the price evolution.

In Brief XRP climbs over 8% in five weeks and surpasses the $1.16 mark. Small wallets reduce their holdings by 5.2%, succumbing to selling pressure. Large holders (100k to 100M XRP) increase their positions by 2.8% over the same period. This transfer from “weak hands” to “strong hands” historically anticipates a price recovery. A Massive Purge of Small Holders The behavior of individual investors on the XRP network shows marked fatigue in the face of recent market uncertainties. The data published by the on-chain analytics platform Santiment highlights several important factual elements regarding this capitulation :

Abandonment by small holders : the smallest wallets have reduced their overall positions by 5.2% over five weeks ; Liquidation under pressure : this massive disengagement marks a classic phase of retail investor capitulation, characterized by asset sales by actors discouraged by volatility ; Loss of conviction : the selling pressure orchestrated by retail investors shows a willingness to exit the market to limit losses or move to assets perceived as less risky. Analysis of this desertion among small holders reveals the fragility of retail investors facing uncertainty and consolidation movements. By giving up 5.2% of their total holdings in just over a month, they have released a significant volume of tokens on the secondary market. This net purge cleans the records by eliminating short-term speculators and less resilient investors. This capitulation dynamic among the smallest wallets is a major behavioral indicator. It reflects the realization of generalized pessimism among individual investors, a mindset that historically precedes token redistributions toward better-funded financial actors.

The Whales’ Counteroffensive: A Strategic Accumulation of XRP Unlike small holders, institutional investors and large token holders have intensified their purchases. Santiment data reveal that wallets holding between 100,000 and 100 million XRP have increased their balances by 2.8% over the last five weeks. This sustained accumulation phase by these whales has directly influenced the price rebound, allowing XRP to rise from $1 at the end of June to over $1.16. This aggressive buying behavior by the most capitalized wallets shows that major market players take advantage of liquidity offered by retail capitulation to strategically strengthen their positions at these price levels.

Structurally, this absorption of selling supply by large holders validates the existence of a bullish bias supported by on-chain analysis experts. As noted by the Santiment team in a post on X: “historically, XRP price has tended to evolve more in correlation with key stakeholders and inversely to smaller wallets, so this wide gap supports the bullish thesis behind the rebound.” Furthermore, this transfer of ownership from weak hands to strong hands changes the circulating supply distribution, consolidating the price above previous support levels thanks to increased institutional presence.

A Favorable Fundamental Alignment This behavioral divergence does not occur in a speculative vacuum but is supported by a fundamentally changing context for Ripple’s ecosystem. Santiment furthermore specifies that the timing of this accumulation coincides with several favorable developments, including “improved institutional access through potential ETF products and continued use of the XRP Ledger for payments, tokenization, and the RLUSD stablecoin.”

The integration of these financial infrastructures strengthens the thesis of a long-term positioning by whales, who anticipate growing structural demand for the native token of the network.

While the capitulation of small holders may have colored the market with short-term pessimism, the takeover by major players offers a promising maturity signal for XRP. The upcoming implications will depend, however, on the network’s ability to fulfill these fundamental promises, whether it is the final approval of ETFs or the effective adoption of the RLUSD stablecoin in international trade. In a constantly evolving crypto landscape, monitoring this wide gap between retail and institutional investors will remain one of the best barometers to anticipate the next market cycles.

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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.

Crypto commentator Michelle Kirby has spotlighted a recent video by Austin Hilton, a well-known YouTuber and crypto analyst, where he draws a direct parallel between the development of the internet two decades ago and the current evolution of the cryptocurrency sector, specifically XRP.

The early internet storyIn the video, Hilton describes his personal experience from the late 1990s and early 2000s, recounting how his father’s truck accessory company in Charlotte, North Carolina, took an early leap into e-commerce. After investing roughly $30,000 into creating hitchfinder.com, the business initially aimed to sell just a handful of hitches each day.

Hilton said he left a lucrative corporate sales career in Dallas to join the family project. By focusing on the potential of online sales, he helped grow the business to over 1,000 hitch and trailer accessory sales per day before selling the company in 2008.

Hilton reflected that in the early days of the internet, many people did not understand the technology and hesitated to get involved, missing significant opportunities.

Connecting the past with XRP’s presentHilton argues that attitudes towards crypto, and in particular XRP, mirror the fear and skepticism people once held toward the internet. He emphasized that widespread uncertainty, critical media coverage, and resistance from the general public were all hallmarks of the internet’s initial growth phase.

Hilton shares his belief that the prevailing caution and doubt surrounding XRP is not a sign of weakness but rather an indication that the technology remains in its formative stage. He attributes early resistance to a lack of understanding, just as the public misunderstood the internet before its mainstream adoption.

“There is a lot of fear around crypto, just like there was around the internet in its early days. People are fighting crypto, but those who recognize the opportunity now could see significant results in the future,” Hilton remarked.

Mini dictionary: XRP, the native digital asset of the XRP Ledger, is often used for fast and low-cost cross-border payments. Ripple, a fintech company, utilizes XRP in its global payments network.

Hilton stated that feedback from members of his private community encouraged him to revisit and share the story publicly. He believes the message resonates with both newcomers to XRP and those who have held the asset long-term, offering perspective on cyclical resistance to innovation.

For less experienced investors, Hilton’s perspective provides historical context to navigate today’s volatile market. For veteran holders, it serves as a reminder that enduring skepticism and external doubt has been a consistent feature of major technological breakthroughs.

Hilton and other industry voices maintain that XRP’s current environment, marked by unease and pushback, reflects an early-stage opportunity for those willing to hold through uncertainty. They suggest investors who maintain their positions could later view this period as being at the forefront of a significant shift.

Austin Hilton, active as a crypto commentator and content creator, continues to share his analytical views with a wide online audience, often focusing on the relationship between market psychology and technological 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.

Bitcoin fell to $64,000 as a broader risk-off move swept through crypto markets after disappointing technology earnings weighed on equities. The pullback pushed crypto market sentiment back into the Fear zone.

Notable Statistics Coinglass data shows 74,657 traders were liquidated in the past 24 hours for $240.79 million.        SoSoValue data shows net inflows of $68.99 million from spot Bitcoin ETFs on Wednesday. Spot Ethereum ETFs saw net inflows of $72.6 million. In the past 24 hours, top gainers include Audiera, Midnight and World Liberty Financial. Latest DevelopmentsTrader NotesTed Pillows noted Bitcoin trading below its 200-week EMA has historically marked a long-term accumulation zone. If the traditional four-year cycle holds, the market bottom could form in Q4.

However, the analyst notes that major catalysts, such as a potential CLARITY Act approval, could alter the cycle, much like spot Bitcoin ETF approval led to a pre-halving all-time high for the first time.

Analyst and trader Kevin sees Bitcoin’s key support in the $56,000–$44,000 range but questions whether the market will first sweep a major liquidity pocket built over the past two years.

He cautions that seemingly “untouchable” support zones have often been broken before reversals, raising the possibility of one final sharp selloff before Bitcoin’s next major move.

Trader KillaXBT expects Bitcoin to trade in a range for the next one to one-and-a-half months, maintaining that the cycle’s key bottom has already formed around $57,000.

He believes any brief move below that level would likely be bought aggressively. After this consolidation, the outlook calls for a rally toward $80,000, followed by another extended period of sideways trading before the next leg higher.

Image: Shutterstock

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XRP, the digital asset associated with Ripple Labs, appeared to briefly trade at $43,032.32 according to a screenshot shared by crypto analyst Steph Is Crypto on social media. At the time, a standard currency converter on the same screen listed XRP’s actual market value at $0.5721, highlighting a dramatic discrepancy.

Widespread price glitches in cryptoPrice anomalies are not uncommon in the cryptocurrency space, often resulting from system errors, third-party feed disruptions, or situations where trading volumes are unusually low. Cryptocurrency exchanges generally aggregate data from multiple external sources to determine asset prices in real-time.

If an external data provider delivers incorrect or delayed price information, the displayed value on a trading platform can diverge significantly from the actual market price. Such errors are typically brief and do not allow real trades to be executed at those extreme values.

Mini dictionary: Price glitch, a temporary and inaccurate price display on an exchange caused by a data feed error or technical issue, not reflecting actual trading activity.

Steph Is Crypto posted a screenshot showing XRP at $43,032.32 while a currency converter indicated its real-time rate was only $0.5721, underlining just how extreme these pricing errors can appear.

XRP’s loyal following, often referred to as the “XRP Army,” is known for its dedication and enthusiasm regarding the asset’s potential. Glitches displaying astronomical prices regularly fuel community speculation.

Some within the XRP community maintain that technical errors are signs of possible future values. In the aftermath of the $43,032 screenshot, online debates emerged, with some users ridiculing the glitch and others embracing it as a sign that XRP could achieve exceptional valuations.

A number of community figures shared even higher pricing anomalies from past incidents, reinforcing the belief among some supporters that large price moves are inevitable.

Historical XRP price glitchesThis is not the first incident involving unusual XRP price figures displayed by platforms. In March 2026, archived data from Kraken briefly listed XRP at $91.62 during a spike in November 2025. That event revived conversations on social platforms about what such dramatic readings could mean.

In April 2026, XRP was shown at $21,354 during a segment on Real America’s Voice, once again drawing intense reaction from its followers. Each time these events occur, discussion reignites among those who consider these readings to be more than just mistakes.

DateReported Glitch PriceSourceNovember 2025$91.62KrakenApril 2026$21,354Real America’s VoiceJuly 2026$43,032.32Currency converter screenshotLatest glitch draws new attentionThe $43,032 figure displayed this week surpasses all previous XRP price glitches, more than doubling the record set during the April 2026 live TV flash. The screenshot in question also displays the actual price of XRP at $0.5721, which suggests the image may not be entirely current. XRP has not traded near that level since late 2024, before a significant rally took the price over $3.

These recurring pricing irregularities often attract widespread attention but do not reflect genuine market activity. For now, XRP continues to trade around $1 according to the latest market data.

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.

Ripple has made an investment in Notabene, a regulated on-chain transaction network, as the two companies move to expand the use of RLUSD in institutional stablecoin payments.

Under the partnership, RLUSD will be integrated into Notabene Flow, Notabene’s B2B stablecoin payments platform. 

The companies will also explore how Notabene’s transaction authorization and compliance infrastructure can complement Ripple Payments.

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Notabene operates a network focused on regulated digital asset transactions, connecting more than 2,300 institutions across over 100 jurisdictions. The company said its platform supports more than $2 trillion in annualized transaction volume and provides tools for compliance, counterparty verification, and transaction authorization.

Part of mainstream financeThe collaboration comes as financial institutions increasingly explore stablecoins for payments but face challenges around regulatory requirements, risk management, and verifying transaction counterparties. Notabene’s infrastructure is designed to address these requirements before funds are transferred.

Jack McDonald, SVP of Stablecoin at Ripple, has made it clear that the efficiency of settlement rails is not sufficient enough to make sure that stablecoins become fully mainstream. He added that compliance, identity verification, and transaction authorization remain key factors for broader institutional adoption.

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RLUSD, Ripple’s dollar-backed stablecoin, has been expanding across financial and digital asset platforms as the company targets enterprise payment use cases. The partnership with Notabene adds another compliance-focused integration for the stablecoin.

Notabene CEO Pelle Braendgaard said institutions have largely moved beyond evaluating whether to use stablecoins and are now focused on implementing them within existing financial operations while meeting regulatory requirements.

The investment follows broader growth in regulated stablecoin infrastructure, supported by new regulatory frameworks such as the GENIUS Act in the United States and the European Union’s MiCA rules. Ripple and Notabene said they plan to continue expanding Notabene Flow’s availability to financial institutions globally.

XRP wallet activity has shifted decisively toward withdrawals, suggesting investors increasingly prefer self-custody over centralized exchanges.

Over the past week, withdrawals have been greater than deposits across major platforms. As a result, the total number of wallets declined by roughly -13,026. Coinbase accounted for the largest shift with -8,900, while Binance followed at -2,626 and Crypto.com reached -1,500.

Source: CryptoQuant Prior to the current withdrawal trend, large increases in deposits were seen in July and again in October 2025. Both times these trends led to declines of more than 65% for Ripple’s [XRP] price. At press time, XRP traded at $1.14, indicating easing seller pressure on the asset.

Therefore, exchange reserves, netflows, derivatives positioning, and broader market liquidity remain essential for confirming whether shrinking exchange supply can support sustained price strength.

Still, they may merely reflect temporary positioning before sentiment, demand, and capital flows improve across spot and derivatives markets simultaneously.

Can shrinking exchange supply push XRP higher? Despite withdrawals continuing to reduce the supply of XRP, broader markets lack convincing evidence of sustained spot accumulation. At press time, Binance’s balance stood at 2.6 billion XRP and has been declining steadily from above 3.1 billion.

Source: CryptoQuant This trend reduces the immediate supply of sellers. Meanwhile, inflows from whales have remained subdued. Still, transfers bound for exchanges have dropped to roughly 140 XRP after major spikes earlier this year.

Large deposit bands have also muted, suggesting easing distribution pressure. However, the 90-day Spot Taker CVD has returned to neutral after briefly being buyer dominant in May. As a result, aggressive buyers in the spot haven’t regained control yet.

Source: CryptoQuant Until buying pressure strengthens, shrinking exchange supply alone is unlikely to sustain XRP’s recovery.

While spot demand remains subdued, broader market positioning offers additional insight into XRP’s recovery. Recently, AMBCrypto reported that large holders have continued accumulating during recent exchange outflows, while long-term holders remain profitable without accelerating distribution.

In this context, concentrated holdings among top wallets still warrant close monitoring. Derivatives positioning also remains constructive. Open Interest stays steady at $2.5 billion, while funding rates fluctuate between neutral and mildly positive levels.

Together, these data signals suggest a cautious conviction, rather than speculative excess. Therefore, XRP’s recovery depends upon sustained accumulation and healthy participation in futures contracts.

Final Summary XRP withdrawals continue tightening exchange supply, but spot demand remains too weak to confirm a sustained recovery. Whale accumulation supports a constructive outlook, though stronger spot buying is still needed for further upside.

Jul 23, 2026, 3:36 p.m.

2 min read

Brian Armstrong, Coinbase CEO, said the SEC settlement agreement is a huge win for crypto. (Jesse Hamilton/CoinDesk)Summary

The Securities and Exchange Commission agreed to pay $150,000 and produce remaining records to settle a FOIA lawsuit over its investigations into Ethereum.History Associates Inc., working on behalf of Coinbase, had sued in June 2024 after the SEC failed to fully respond to records requests about Ethereum’s shift to proof-of-stake and earlier crypto enforcement actions.The case, which forced the SEC to turn over thousands of documents and revealed the deletion of texts and data from phones of top officials including Gary Gensler, will be dismissed once final production is complete.The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) agreed to pay $150,000 to settle a federal Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit over its investigations into Ethereum, according to a joint status report filed July 22.

History Associates Inc. and the SEC asked the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to dismiss the case after reaching a settlement deal. Under the agreement, the agency will produce the remaining responsive documents and pay the flat fee to cover the plaintiff's legal fees.

History Associates, which provides professional historical research, writing and archival services to government agencies, filed the lawsuit in June 2024. Working on behalf of Coinbase, the firm had submitted three public records requests the year before. Those filings sought documents on SEC investigations into Zachary Coburn and Enigma MPC, along with records on how Ethereum shifted to a proof-of-stake system.

The lawsuit compelled the SEC to hand over thousands of documents, with the court explicitly ordering the agency to prioritize all records and communications sent, received or evaluated by then SEC Chair Gary Gensler concerning Ethereum's migration from a proof-of-work blockchain to a proof-of-stake network.

The document fight stalled in September 2025 as the SEC’s Inspector General reported that the agency accidentally deleted Gary Gensler’s text messages from October 2022 to September 2023. Later court updates showed the agency wiped 21 phones belonging to top officials, of which five belonged to the same staff members targeted in the Coinbase case. The SEC told the National Archives about the deleted phones in July 2025.

Brian Armstrong, Coinbase CEO tied the ruling it to an FDIC case around buried evidence during the 2023 banking crisis.

“The Gensler SEC deleted texts at the height of the anti-crypto campaign, FDIC buried evidence - it was all uncovered after we fought to expose the truth,” he wrote in a post on X. “This is not only for us, but for every American and every American company expecting transparency and accountability from the government.”

The dismissal brings to a close more than two years of litigation over the document requests. Once the SEC completes production of the remaining records, the case will be formally dismissed.

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Crypto Flows, Share and the Selective Rotation

Crypto Flows, Share and the Selective Rotation

Markets repositioned since June, but Binance held share (~55% user funds, ~24% spot) and drew net inflows in early July while the tracked market saw outflows.

Jul 22, 2026

Markets repositioned since June, but Binance held share (~55% user funds, ~24% spot) and drew net inflows in early July while the tracked market saw outflows.

Why it matters:

Markets repositioned since June, but Binance held share (~55% user funds, ~24% spot) and drew net inflows in early July while the tracked market saw outflows.

BitMine Immersion Technologies has gone from staking 0.41 million ETH to over 4.9 million, catapulting its annualized revenue from roughly $34 million to an estimated $244 million. For a company that used to be known primarily as a Bitcoin miner, that’s quite the career change.

The NYSE-listed firm (ticker: BMNR), co-founded by Fundstrat’s Tom Lee, now holds approximately 5.77 million ETH tokens. That’s about 4.8% of Ethereum’s entire circulating supply, making BitMine the largest corporate Ethereum treasury on the planet, valued at roughly $11.1 billion at recent prices.

From pickaxes to proof-of-stake BitMine’s pivot began around June 30, 2025, when the company restructured its operations to focus almost entirely on ETH accumulation and staking.

The vehicle for this transformation is MAVAN, BitMine’s proprietary validator network built to handle large-scale staking operations. Over 85% of the company’s ETH holdings, more than 4.9 million tokens, are now actively staked through this infrastructure.

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In the fiscal quarter ended May 31, 2026, BitMine reported total revenues of $46.5 million, a 22x increase year-over-year. Ethereum staking contributed $45.7 million of that total, representing 98% of all revenue.

Annualized projections for staking revenue land somewhere between $235 million and $284 million, depending on yield assumptions.

The Alchemy of 5% BitMine has branded its accumulation strategy the “Alchemy of 5%,” targeting ownership of 5% of Ethereum’s total supply. At 4.8%, they’re essentially there already.

The institutional backing behind this bet is notable. ARK Invest, Founders Fund, and Pantera are all counted among BitMine’s investors.

BitMine’s approach mirrors what MicroStrategy (now Strategy) did with Bitcoin, but with a critical difference. Staked ETH generates yield. Bitcoin sitting in a corporate treasury does not.

The risks no one wants to talk about Accumulating nearly 5% of any asset’s supply creates concentration risk that cuts both ways. BitMine’s position is large enough to influence staking yields across the Ethereum network, and any forced selling, whether due to regulatory pressure, operational issues, or liquidity needs, could move the market in ways that would hurt the company itself.

One specific concern worth flagging: BitMine has entered a decade-long partnership agreement with Ethereum Tower. The details of that arrangement raise questions about how easily BitMine could exit its staking positions if circumstances required it.

There’s also the yield compression issue. As more capital flows into Ethereum staking, rewards per validator trend downward. The difference between the low and high end of their annualized revenue estimate, $235 million versus $284 million, essentially reflects this uncertainty.

Slashing risk, while statistically rare for well-run validators, also scales with the size of the operation. Running thousands of validators through MAVAN means thousands of opportunities for something to go wrong, and at BitMine’s scale, penalties would translate into millions of dollars in losses.

Disclosure: This article was edited by Editorial Team. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.

Ether is becoming increasingly attractive from a valuation standpoint, particularly relative to Bitcoin, but onchain data suggests the market has yet to reach a definitive cycle bottom, according to CryptoQuant.

In its latest weekly report, the analytics company said Ether (ETH) is trading roughly 17% below its realized price, or the average onchain acquisition cost of all ETH in circulation, of about $2,300. Historically, ETH trading below its realized price has coincided with periods of market undervaluation and long-term bottoms.

Ether is also showing signs of improving relative to Bitcoin (BTC). CryptoQuant said that ETH’s market value-to-realized value (MVRV) ratio has retreated from extreme overvaluation, exchange inflows have declined, exchange-traded fund (ETF) holdings have begun to recover after months of weakness, and ETH/BTC spot trading volumes have fallen into a range historically associated with market bottoms.

CryptoQuant says two of five key ETH bottoming indicators have been confirmed. Source: CryptoQuant

Even so, only two of CryptoQuant’s five bottoming indicators have reached historical reversal levels. The remaining metrics are improving but have yet to reach the extremes that have marked previous cycle lows, suggesting Ethereum’s bottom may still be forming.

The report comes as Ether briefly climbed above $1,950 this week and Bitcoin topped $67,000, buoyed by optimism surrounding the US CLARITY Act. At the same time, some market analysts have pointed to the potential for capital to rotate out of richly valued AI stocks and back into crypto, a shift that could further support Ether if risk appetite broadens.

The ETH/BTC MVRV ratio has fallen from nearly 0.95 in August 2025 to around 0.65, signaling that Ethereum has become significantly cheaper relative to Bitcoin. Source: CryptoQuant

Ethereum supply tightens as exchange outflows and staking climbEthereum has shown several constructive onchain signals over the past month. During the week beginning June 29, withdrawal activity on Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange by trading volume, climbed to its highest level in more than three years.

Analysts generally interpret sustained exchange outflows as a sign that investors are moving assets into self-custody or staking rather than keeping them on exchanges for potential sale, although such flows do not guarantee accumulation.

Meanwhile, a record 34% of Ethereum’s circulating supply is now staked, according to Staking Rewards. As Cointelegraph previously reported, higher staking participation reduces the amount of ETH readily available for trading, potentially easing short-term selling pressure if demand remains resilient.

Tom Lee’s Bitmine Immersion Technologies, the biggest corporate ETH holder, continues to accumulate Ether, boosting its holdings by 325,000 ETH over a one-month period, despite sitting on large unrealized losses. It has set a target to hold 5% of the second-biggest crypto.

Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.

Ether has drawn renewed interest among market observers as valuation metrics suggest it appears increasingly attractive compared with Bitcoin, according to the blockchain analytics firm CryptoQuant.

ETH lags realized price, key metrics signal possible undervaluationCryptoQuant reported that Ether (ETH) is currently trading approximately 17% below its realized price, which stands at around $2,300. The realized price reflects the average onchain acquisition cost for all ETH in circulation. Periods when Ether trades below this price have historically aligned with undervalued markets and long-term cycle lows.

The analytics company noted that key valuation indicators have shifted: ETH’s market value-to-realized value (MVRV) ratio has retreated from overvalued extremes, exchange inflows have declined, holdings by exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are recovering after months of sluggishness, and spot trading volumes for the ETH/BTC pair have settled into a range previously associated with prior market bottoms. These dynamics suggest a market that may be transitioning toward deeper value territory.

ETH’s market value-to-realized value ratio has pulled back from extreme highs, and trading volumes for the ETH/BTC pair have fallen into ranges that have historically marked long-term market bottoms, according to CryptoQuant’s report.

Despite improving fundamentals, only two out of the five ETH bottoming indicators tracked by CryptoQuant have confirmed historical reversal levels. The remaining three indicators, while trending positively, have not yet reached values that have marked previous cycle lows. This leaves open the possibility that Ethereum’s price bottom has not yet been set, according to the firm.

Over the past week, Ether briefly traded above $1,950 while Bitcoin surged to $67,000, fueled in part by market optimism regarding the US CLARITY Act. Market analysts have also speculated that capital could rotate from high-priced artificial intelligence stocks back into crypto assets, potentially favoring Ether if risk-taking increases in coming weeks.

The ETH/BTC MVRV ratio, which measures the relative value between Ethereum and Bitcoin, has declined from a high of nearly 0.95 in August 2025 to about 0.65. This move indicates that Ether has become considerably cheaper compared to Bitcoin in recent months.

Mini dictionary: MVRV ratio — The Market Value to Realized Value ratio is a key blockchain metric that compares the total market capitalization of a cryptocurrency with the value at which coins last moved onchain. It helps identify periods of overvaluation or undervaluation relative to historical trends.

DateETH/BTC MVRV RatioAugust 20250.95Current0.65Ethereum supply tightens as exchange outflows and staking climbOnchain data over the past month has revealed several positive signals for Ethereum, suggesting increasing investor confidence. During the week starting June 29, withdrawals from Binance, the largest global cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, reached their highest point in over three years.

Market analysts interpret sustained outflows from exchanges as an indication that investors are transferring assets into self-custody or staking solutions rather than keeping them ready for sale. However, such trends do not guarantee accumulation but do reduce readily available supply on exchanges.

Staking Rewards, a crypto analytics platform, noted that a record 34% of Ethereum’s circulating supply is now locked in staking. Industry experts have pointed out that higher staking participation means less ETH is available for open market trading, which could limit short-term selling pressure if overall demand for the asset remains strong.

A record 34% of Ethereum’s circulating supply is being staked, limiting the amount available for trading and potentially easing near-term selling pressure if demand persists.

Bitmine Immersion Technologies, the top corporate ETH holder led by Tom Lee, has continued to expand its Ether holdings, despite facing significant unrealized losses. Over the past month, Bitmine increased its reserves by 325,000 ETH and has set a target to eventually hold 5% of the total circulating supply of the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization.

Mini dictionary: Bitmine Immersion Technologies — A company specializing in cryptocurrency mining and digital asset management, known for holding one of the largest corporate ETH portfolios in the sector.

HolderRecent AccumulationTotal TargetBitmine Immersion Technologies+325,000 ETH (Last Month)5% of ETH SupplyDisclaimer: 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.

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev Hacked, Exploiter Makes $1.2 Million Promoting Fake Token

Ethereum held above $1,900 for four consecutive daily closes, a streak last recorded more than one month ago.

At press time, Ethereum [ETH] traded around $1,914 after declining 0.79% over 24 hours. As ETH defended this level, two large buyers added over 30,000 tokens through separate transactions.

Why are Ethereum whales buying? According to Lookonchain, a whale bought 27,000 ETH worth $52.03 million through Galaxy Digital OTC. The transaction followed three months of wallet inactivity, marking a notable return to the market.

However, one purchase cannot confirm that the whale expects Ethereum’s broader downturn to be over.

Lookonchain also reported that Arthur Hayes bought another 644.34 ETH worth $1.25 million. The purchase lifted his eight-day accumulation to 3,270 ETH, acquired for approximately $6.27 million.

Together, both transactions reflected renewed demand from large buyers as Ethereum held above $1,900.

Source: CoinGlass Ethereum’s Spot Netflow turned negative after remaining positive for five consecutive days. At press time, Spot Netflow stood near -$16 million, indicating that more ETH left exchanges than entered.

Exchange withdrawals may reduce immediately available selling supply, although they do not guarantee continued price gains.

Are institutions buying Ethereum too? U.S. Spot Ethereum ETFs also recorded improving demand during the week.

Verified data for the 21st of July showed $37.47 million in Net Inflows, extending the streak to three sessions. BlackRock’s ETHA attracted $52.79 million, while Fidelity’s FETH recorded $15.32 million in Net Outflows.

Source: SoSoValue These flows showed renewed institutional interest, although three positive sessions cannot establish long-term positioning.

Ethereum’s Bulls versus Bears indicator reportedly remained positive for three weeks and reached 62. However, this reading requires the original TradingView chart before publication.

Source: TradingView The Moving Average Convergence Divergence [MACD] reportedly continued rising, suggesting that bullish momentum had improved. This signal also requires chart verification because its timeframe and settings were not provided.

If whale demand and ETF inflows continue, ETH could retest the psychological resistance around $2,000. A sustained move above that level would offer stronger confirmation than wallet activity alone.

Final Summary A whale bought 27,000 ETH, while Arthur Hayes lifted his eight-day accumulation to 3,270 ETH. Ethereum could retest $2,000 if whale demand, ETF inflows, and negative Spot Netflow continue.

Ethereum price today: $1,880Ethereum shaved 3% off its market cap on Thursday following an increase in open interest and brief negative funding rate flip.Four consecutive days of inflows into US spot ETH ETFs indicate continued recovery in institutional demand, but spot sentiment in the region has yet to flip positive.ETH fails to clear the 100-day EMA overhead.Ethereum (ETH) is hovering slightly below the $1,900 level, down 3% on Thursday following a slight expansion in derivatives interest.

The top altcoin's open interest has increased to 14.60 million ETH, marking a 600K ETH increase over the past two days and its highest level since June 7.

Open interest is the total worth of outstanding contracts in a derivatives market. Earlier in July, when ETH began its recovery, OI remained flat before the slight rise this week.

ETH Open Interest. Source: CoinglassA similar trend is noticed in the Estimated Leverage Ratio (ELR), which has largely remained flat before a slight rise over the past week.

The ELR measures an asset's open interest compared to its exchange reserves to give a view of the amount of leverage traders are using relative to spot pressure.

ETH Estimated Leverage Ratio. Source: CryptoQuantFunding rates have also been largely positive throughout the month but have begun to ease this week and briefly flipped negative on Thursday, the first time since June 29. Funding rates are periodic payments between long and short traders in perpetual futures markets to keep a contract's price aligned with its underlying spot counterpart.

Funding Rates. Source: CoinglassThe returning leverage could help expand ETH's recent rise, but emerging signals of a negative flip in funding rates also bring a price squeeze into the picture.

Meanwhile, on the institutional side, US spot ETH exchange-traded funds (ETFs) continued their positive streak, recording $72.64 million in net inflows on Thursday, according to SoSoValue data. The move marks a fourth consecutive day of net inflows for the products.

While US institutional interest is recovering, spot traders' sentiment in the region has yet to flip positive. The Coinbase Premium Index, which tracks sentiment among traders in the region, has remained in negative territory for nearly three months. A sustained move into positive territory could spread bullish sentiment into other regions.

ETH Coinbase Premium Index. Source: CryptoQuantEthereum Price Forecast: ETH falters before 100-day EMA againEthereum recorded $41.55 million in liquidations over the past 24 hours, led by $34.40 million in long liquidations, per Coinglass data.

On the daily chart, ETH is holding a constructive short-term tone as it remains above both the 20- and 50-day Exponential Moving Averages (EMAs) at $1,837 and $1,829. However, the upside remains challenged by a broader downtrend, with the 100-day EMA at $1,937 acting as a key overhead barrier, while momentum gauges remain supportive.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) and Stochastic have eased toward 57 and 66, respectively, both hinting at steady but not extreme buying pressure.

On the topside, initial resistance emerges at the horizontal level of $1,909, ahead of the 100-day EMA at $1,937, with further bullish extension targeting $2,018 and then $2,107, where a denser supply zone begins toward $2,211 and $2,388.

ETH/USDT daily chartOn the downside, immediate support comes from the 20- and 50-day EMAs, followed by a more established floor at $1,806. A deeper pullback would expose $1,741, while only a break below $1,524 would seriously undermine the current constructive bias toward higher levels.

(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool. Know more.)

Whales keep increasing their exposure to the cryptocurrency.

Cardano’s native token is among the best-performing cryptocurrencies (from the top 100 club) over the past week, with its price rising by 8% to around $0.17.

Two key developments suggest the uptrend might be just at its starting point, while another factor hints that an upcoming correction is just as likely.

Bulls vs. Bears Earlier this month, the large ADA investors, known across the crypto space as whales, increased their total holdings to 25.6 billion coins. This represents almost 70% of the token’s circulating supply and is the highest level since February 2023. At the same time, retail investors have reduced their exposure to ADA, with Santiment explaining that this combination could create a healthy setup for the asset.

Just recently, the renowned analyst Ali Martinez revealed that whales have purchased 30 million units (worth over $5 million at current rates) over the last month. The obvious revival of this cohort of investors signals that they are positioning for the next potential price upswing.

There is a common theory in the crypto world that whales have access to inside information about events or news that could impact the valuation of a certain asset and that they rarely jump on the bandwagon out of pure intuition. That said, their efforts may encourage smaller players to join the ecosystem and distribute fresh capital.

The second bullish element is ADA’s Relative Strength Index (RSI). The technical analysis tool measures the latest speed and magnitude of price changes to evaluate whether the token is poised for a trend reversal. Readings below 30 put ADA in oversold territory and due for a possible rally, while anything above 70 serves as a warning for an impending correction. Currently, the RSI stands at around 28.

ADA RSI, Source: RSI Hunter However, there is also a bearish factor to be considered. Lately, exchange inflows have surpassed outflows, meaning that investors have abandoned self-custody and flocked toward centralized platforms: a development that increases immediate selling pressure.

You may also like: Whales Keep Loading Up on Cardano While Retail Dumps ADA Bitcoin (BTC) Starts July Under $60K, Cardano (ADA) Finally Rebounds: Market Watch ADA Faces Heavy Pressure, But Cardano’s On-Chain Data Tells Another Story ADA Exchange Netflow, Source: CoinGlass Recent Predictions Several analysts on X have noted ADA’s rebound, expecting a much more substantial push north in the short term. Master of Crypto claimed that if the positive trend continues, the price could surge to $0.219.

Others like JAVON MARKS are even more bullish, envisioning hard-to-believe explosions (at least from the current perspective). The analyst opined that ADA moves towards “a key convering/breaking point” which could open the door to an increase to as high as $2.90. Celal Kucuker also chipped in lately, predicting a major ascent to $5.

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Snap Inc (NYSE:SNAP) is expected to remain under pressure to demonstrate stronger advertising revenue growth when it reports second-quarter earnings, with Jefferies saying the company's ads business continues to be the key issue despite expectations for improving overall revenue growth.

The brokerage reiterated its ‘Buy’ rating on Snap while lowering its price target to $5.50 from $8, writing that although it remains positive on the company's engagement scale and long-term monetization opportunity, "the core issue remains ad rev growth, which has yet to show meaningful improvement."

Snap shares traded hands at about $4.40 on Thursday afternoon, down about 45% so far this year.

Jefferies expects Snap to report Q2 revenue growth of 14% year over year, in line with Wall Street estimates. The analysts wrote that advertising revenue should reaccelerate from 3% growth in the first quarter, helped by an easier year-over-year comparison and guidance that had already incorporated a full quarter of Middle East-related headwinds.

The firm said revenue from Snap+ subscriptions and Memories products remains more difficult to forecast because of limited visibility, though it remains constructive on the recent momentum in those businesses.

For the third quarter, Jefferies wrote that the Street's forecast for 13% year-over-year revenue growth appears achievable, with potential upside from World Cup-related advertising spending and Memories Storage. The analysts noted that consensus implies quarter-over-quarter revenue growth consistent with seasonal trends over the past three years, while the expiration of the 12-month Memories Storage grace period in September could provide an additional boost.

Jefferies also identified daily active user growth as a swing factor, citing age verification requirements and other regulatory changes. While the firm sees limited revenue risk from those changes, it noted they could weigh on investor sentiment if engagement growth slows further.

On profitability, Jefferies expects Snap to reiterate its full-year cost guidance following its April restructuring, including operating expenses of about $2.75 billion, other cost of goods sold at 16% to 17% of revenue, and infrastructure costs of $1.6 billion to $1.65 billion.

While Jefferies remains constructive on Snap's longer-term monetization opportunity, it wrote that continued investment in Specs following a weak initial reception, along with the collapse of a partnership with Perplexity, has tempered expectations, leaving the company's advertising growth as the primary focus heading into earnings.

Kroger (KR - Free Report) ended the recent trading session at $55.76, demonstrating a -3.09% change from the preceding day's closing price. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.21%. Elsewhere, the Dow saw a downswing of 0.97%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq depreciated by 2.15%.

The supermarket chain's shares have seen a decrease of 1.61% over the last month, not keeping up with the Retail-Wholesale sector's gain of 2.27% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.42%.

The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of Kroger in its forthcoming earnings report. The company is forecasted to report an EPS of $1.05, showcasing a 0.96% upward movement from the corresponding quarter of the prior year. Meanwhile, the Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenue is projecting net sales of $34.78 billion, up 2.47% from the year-ago period.

In terms of the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates predict earnings of $5.21 per share and a revenue of $151.36 billion, indicating changes of +7.42% and +2.52%, respectively, from the former year.

Additionally, investors should keep an eye on any recent revisions to analyst forecasts for Kroger. These recent revisions tend to reflect the evolving nature of short-term business trends. Therefore, positive revisions in estimates convey analysts' confidence in the business performance and profit potential.

Our research suggests that these changes in estimates have a direct relationship with upcoming stock price performance. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.

The Zacks Rank system, spanning from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), boasts an impressive track record of outperformance, audited externally, with #1 ranked stocks yielding an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Within the past 30 days, our consensus EPS projection has moved 0.12% lower. Kroger currently has a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).

With respect to valuation, Kroger is currently being traded at a Forward P/E ratio of 11.04. This represents a discount compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 14.47.

Investors should also note that KR has a PEG ratio of 1.54 right now. The PEG ratio is similar to the widely-used P/E ratio, but this metric also takes the company's expected earnings growth rate into account. The average PEG ratio for the Retail - Supermarkets industry stood at 1.94 at the close of the market yesterday.

The Retail - Supermarkets industry is part of the Retail-Wholesale sector. This industry, currently bearing a Zacks Industry Rank of 219, finds itself in the bottom 11% echelons of all 250+ industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank assesses the vigor of our specific industry groups by computing the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks incorporated in the groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Be sure to follow all of these stock-moving metrics, and many more, on Zacks.com.

Montreal, Quebec--(Newsfile Corp. - July 23, 2026) - Nio Strategic Metals Inc. (TSXV: NIO) (OTCQB: NIOCF) ("Nio" or the "Corporation"), a critical mineral exploration company, is pleased to announce that its common shares will begin trading on the OTCQB® Venture Market ("OTCQB") in the United States (U.S.) under the symbol "NIOCF" starting Friday, July 24, 2026. The Corporation's common shares will also continue to trade on the TSX-V under the symbol "NIO".

The Corporation's President and COO, Bruno Dumais, commented, "This listing on the OTCQB will improve access to Nio for U.S. investors. It is an important step in increasing our presence and visibility in the United States and will contribute to creating long-term shareholder value."

In conjunction with this listing, Nio will be meeting with U.S. investors.

The OTCQB Venture Market is designed for early-stage and developing U.S. and international corporations. Companies are current in their reporting and undergo an annual verification and management certification process. Investors can find real-time quotes and market information for the Corporation at www.otcmarkets.com/stock/NIOCF/quote.

About Nio Strategic Metals

Nio Strategic Metals is an exploration and development company, with a focus on becoming a ferroniobium producer. The Corporation holds niobium and critical metals properties located in Oka and near Mont-Laurier in the Province of Québec.

For more information on the Corporation, please refer to the Corporation's public documents available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) or on the Corporation's website (https://niostratmet.com/) or contact:

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release.

This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy nor shall there be any sale of any of the securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including any of the securities in the United States of America.

Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information
This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together, "forward looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Statements, other than statements of historical facts, may be forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "plans", "expects", "estimates", "intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved", the negative of these terms and similar terminology although not all forward-looking statements contain these terms and phrases. Forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk factors set out in Nio Strategic Metals' annual and/or quarterly management discussion and analysis and in other of its public disclosure documents filed on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, as well as all assumptions regarding the foregoing. Although Nio Strategic Metals believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking statements are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frame or at all. Except where required by applicable law, Nio Strategic Metals disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/306369

Source: Nio Strategic Metals Inc.

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Ares Capital (ARCC - Free Report) closed at $18.61 in the latest trading session, marking a -1.33% move from the prior day. This change lagged the S&P 500's 1.21% loss on the day. On the other hand, the Dow registered a loss of 0.97%, and the technology-centric Nasdaq decreased by 2.15%.

The private equity firm's shares have seen an increase of 5.66% over the last month, surpassing the Finance sector's gain of 2.12% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.42%.

The investment community will be paying close attention to the earnings performance of Ares Capital in its upcoming release. The company is slated to reveal its earnings on July 29, 2026. It is anticipated that the company will report an EPS of $0.47, marking a 6% fall compared to the same quarter of the previous year. Meanwhile, the latest consensus estimate predicts the revenue to be $768.95 million, indicating a 3.22% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

Regarding the entire year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates forecast earnings of $1.9 per share and revenue of $3.12 billion, indicating changes of -5.47% and +2.16%, respectively, compared to the previous year.

Investors should also pay attention to any latest changes in analyst estimates for Ares Capital. These latest adjustments often mirror the shifting dynamics of short-term business patterns. As a result, upbeat changes in estimates indicate analysts' favorable outlook on the business health and profitability.

Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. To capitalize on this, we've crafted the Zacks Rank, a unique model that incorporates these estimate changes and offers a practical rating system.

The Zacks Rank system, which varies between #1 (Strong Buy) and #5 (Strong Sell), carries an impressive track record of exceeding expectations, confirmed by external audits, with stocks at #1 delivering an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has shifted 0.21% downward. Ares Capital presently features a Zacks Rank of #4 (Sell).

Digging into valuation, Ares Capital currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 9.91. Its industry sports an average Forward P/E of 7.99, so one might conclude that Ares Capital is trading at a premium comparatively.

The Financial - SBIC & Commercial Industry industry is part of the Finance sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 204, placing it within the bottom 18% of over 250 industries.

The Zacks Industry Rank is ordered from best to worst in terms of the average Zacks Rank of the individual companies within each of these sectors. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.

Keep in mind to rely on Zacks.com to watch all these stock-impacting metrics, and more, in the succeeding trading sessions.

From a pronunciation joke to a live memecoinIt began with a lighthearted video from Tether Wallet asking whether the stablecoin giant's name is pronounced "Teh-ther" or "Tee-ther." Tether CEO @paoloardoino quote-posted it with a single word: "Fefer" alongside a blue dinosaur meme. Traders took the cue and ran with it, minting $FEFER on @Stable within hours and turning a throwaway gag into the chain's first memecoin moment.

The token's rise was quick. It surpassed an $8.8 million market cap within a day of launch, peaking near $11 million before pulling back. On-chain data from StableScan showed 5,814 holders and more than 54,000 transfers, with the largest single wallet controlling just 3.66% of supply, suggesting a relatively distributed holder base for a token that young.

What the moment reveals about Stable's early tractionThe @Stable network itself is a USDT-gas Layer 1 blockchain backed by Bitfinex and affiliated with Tether. The project is described as a dedicated stablecoin and payments Layer 1 blockchain backed by Bitfinex and powered by USDT. Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino serves as an advisor to Stable, reflecting the close relationship between the companies, which share common ownership through parent company iFinex. The chain is designed primarily for institutional payments and settlement, not retail speculation.

That makes the $FEFER episode a notable data point. A meme that spread from a CEO's social media post generated tens of thousands of on-chain transactions and drew thousands of new wallets to a network that had not yet seen meaningful retail activity. Stable's own account noted over 167,000 transactions in a 24-hour period as Fefer activity grew on the chain.

The pattern is not new to crypto. Culture and community tend to arrive on a chain before the payment infrastructure it was built for catches up. For Stable, a network with serious institutional ambitions, the irony is that its first viral moment came not from a PayPal integration or an Anchorage partnership, but from a CEO's dinosaur meme.

Sources
The Block: Stable launches mainnet and native token
CoinGecko: What Is Stable, Tether's Stablechain

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