Tag: Positive

XRP Price Eyes $2 Amidst Surge in Network Activity and Stablecoin Volume

XRP is currently in a consolidation phase following a strong August performance. While the ambitious $2 price target appears challenging on current charts, a fundamental metric is providing a glimmer of hope for bullish investors.

Despite a recent 5% dip over the past week, XRP remains up approximately 31% for August. This pullback occurred after a period of volatility, with the cryptocurrency trading between $1.35 and $1.55 for much of the month. Concurrently, the volume of the RLUSD stablecoin on the XRP Ledger surpassed $1 billion on August 30.

XRPL Activity Surges

The XRP Ledger (XRPL) has witnessed a significant uptick in activity. The number of receiving addresses briefly surged to 926,000, while the transaction rate climbed by an impressive 151%. The expansion of tokenized assets, including stocks, metals, and real estate in Dubai, on the XRPL is contributing to this growth. While the burgeoning real-world asset (RWA) sector is expanding, it remains unclear if it is the sole driver of this activity spike.

Network Participation Skyrockets

Beyond just volume, active addresses on the XRPL have also seen a dramatic increase, soaring over 650%. In just two weeks, this figure jumped from 47,180 to 356,070. This sharp rise in network engagement coincided with XRP’s recent rally, suggesting that the price movement was underpinned by robust blockchain activity. Should this momentum persist and XRP successfully reclaim the resistance zone between $1.55 and $1.60, it could pave the way for further gains, targeting $1.70, $1.80, and ultimately the psychologically significant $2 mark.

Bitcoin traded just below $78,000 on Monday morning, showing little movement for the day, as the broader market experienced a significant divergence. Current market sentiment indicates uneven risk appetite, and XRP’s next directional move will likely depend on its ability to break free from this market choppiness.

Technical Outlook and Support Levels

Short-term support for XRP is identified in the $1.30–$1.36 range, with a daily pivot point near $1.36 and deeper structural support around $1.28. Immediate resistance lies at $1.41–$1.45, a zone XRP must reclaim to sustain any serious upward momentum. The current pullback from the upper Bollinger Band, which hovers near $1.40, appears to be a cooling-off period rather than a breakdown, as momentum gradually eases.

Investor attention will remain focused on whale flows in contrast to demand from exchange-traded funds (ETFs).

Holding XRP through this period of market fluctuation requires conviction. While the RLUSD volume surge is a positive development, a move from $1.37 to $2 represents a gain of “only” 46%. This may be sufficient for a strategic position, but it is unlikely to generate outsized returns at this stage of the market cycle. Consequently, more traders are reportedly shifting their focus to infrastructure projects in their presale stages, where the potential for higher upside is perceived to be greater.

One such project, Bitcoin Hyper ($HYPER), is developing the first Bitcoin Layer 2 solution with native SVM integration, promising smart contract execution faster than Solana, all built upon Bitcoin’s foundational security. The presale has already raised $33 million, with the current token price at $0.0136855. Early participants can benefit from an attractive 35% APY staking reward. The project’s Decentralized Canonical Bridge aims to address Bitcoin’s long-standing programmability limitations without compromising trust assumptions. Investors are encouraged to research Bitcoin Hyper before the presale window closes.

XRP Sees Strongest Risk-Adjusted Returns in a Year

XRP has demonstrated a significant improvement in its risk-adjusted returns, with its Sharpe Ratio on Binance reaching its highest point since August 2025. The metric is currently hovering around 0.207, according to data from CryptoQuant, as the token’s price approaches $1.40.

Improved Volatility-Adjusted Performance

In recent months, XRP’s Sharpe Ratio had largely remained in negative or neutral territory, experiencing a notable decline during broader market downturns. The current uptick suggests that investor returns have strengthened relative to the level of volatility they are encountering. This rise in the Sharpe Ratio coincides with XRP’s price recovery, which has seen a nearly 30% increase over the past month. CryptoQuant noted that this suggests the recent price movement is underpinned by stronger risk-adjusted performance, rather than being solely an isolated price surge.

Institutional Demand Fuels Inflows

However, the indicator’s ascent to its yearly high does not definitively signal a sustained uptrend for XRP. The Sharpe Ratio could potentially reverse if market volatility escalates or if the token experiences a substantial correction.

Meanwhile, institutional interest in XRP-linked investment products has been robust. Last week, U.S.-based spot ETFs attracted $110.49 million in inflows over five days. CryptoPotato reported this as the first weekly inflow exceeding $110 million since early December 2025. Each trading session concluded with positive inflows, with every day seeing more than $10 million invested. Monday recorded $13.82 million, followed by $23.87 million on Tuesday. Wednesday saw the highest daily inflow of $28.14 million, marking the strongest single-day performance for these funds since January 5. Thursday added another $18.47 million, and Friday brought in $26.2 million. These latest figures have propelled the total net inflows across the five ETFs to a record $1.66 billion. Bitwise continues to lead other issuers, with its ETF now holding cumulative inflows exceeding $600 million.

Key Resistance Levels to Watch

Despite the positive outlook, crypto analyst ChartNerd suggests that a move towards $1.80 or $2 for XRP may be contingent on the token reclaiming the $1.54 level. This price point represents a six-month resistance barrier as well as the weekly 50 Exponential Moving Average (EMA). ChartNerd clarified, “Just to be clear, and to reaffirm. I am not suggesting XRP can’t push up towards $1.80/$2. I am suggesting we are under resistance, and if we do get the follow through, it will likely open up an even deeper retrace than what we would witness rejecting the weekly 50 EMA at $1.54.”

BitGo has acquired the institutional trading business of NYDIG, a transaction that includes approximately 30 employees and around 250 institutional client relationships. This acquisition marks a strategic expansion for BitGo within the institutional digital asset services sector, while enabling NYDIG to concentrate on its power generation, Bitcoin mining, and high-performance computing data center operations.

The deal, which was signed and completed on Thursday and reported on Friday, integrates NYDIG’s derivatives, structured products, financing, and capital markets operations into BitGo’s portfolio. The financial terms of the acquisition comprise $7 million in cash and approximately $35.5 million in BitGo stock at closing. An additional $15 million in cash is contingent upon the achievement of two specified revenue milestones.

BitGo CEO and Co-founder Mike Belshe commented that institutions are increasingly seeking trusted partners capable of supporting the full lifecycle of digital assets. BitGo, having gone public on the NYSE at the start of the year, is positioned to enhance its institutional offerings through this acquisition. The company also provides infrastructure for USD1, the stablecoin associated with World Liberty Financial, and has recently secured a license in South Korea.

NYDIG, an affiliate of Stone Ridge Holdings Group, is refining its strategic focus on energy infrastructure ventures. The company possesses a development pipeline of 3 gigawatts and anticipates over 1 gigawatt of its deliverable pipeline to be available in 2027 and 2028. NYDIG CEO Tejas Shah has indicated that the data center business presents a significant opportunity for future growth.

In separate commentary provided on Friday, Belshe addressed broader industry topics. He observed that despite recent volatility in Bitcoin markets, the underlying thesis for the cryptocurrency continues to strengthen. Belshe also discussed the upcoming CLARITY Act, which is scheduled for a Senate cloture vote on September 15. He expressed support for the bill, suggesting it could establish a legislative framework to help prevent future events similar to the FTX collapse, estimating a 12 to 18-month rulemaking period following its passage. Belshe also noted his recent visit to the White House with President Trump last week and shared a perspective that America may be lagging in certain aspects of the digital asset space.

The acquisition encompasses the transfer of approximately 30 employees and around 250 institutional client relationships. BitGo’s market value was reported as being below $1 billion as of Thursday. Staff retention awards are also planned, with targets of $5 million each in stock and cash, although specific details remain uncertain.

NYDIG’s strategic shift allows for a concentrated focus on power generation, Bitcoin mining, and high-performance computing data centers, aligning with a stated view that the data center business offers substantial future opportunities. The company’s development pipeline includes 3 gigawatts, with over 1 gigawatt expected to be deliverable in 2027 and 2028.

Belshe’s remarks regarding the CLARITY Act suggest its potential to establish clearer regulatory frameworks for digital assets, possibly mitigating systemic risks. His presence at the White House and comments on America’s position in the digital asset landscape underscore ongoing engagement with policymakers and a perceived need for advancement within the sector.

Why This Matters

The materials describe a narrow update: BitGo acquired NYDIG’s institutional trading business, including derivatives, structured products, financing, and capital markets operations, along with approximately 30 employees and around 250 institutional client relationships. The exact value of the earn-out shares for NYDIG IHC LLC on the second milestone.

Broader Context

Source materials place the factual news in this context: The article is a factual news report about a business acquisition in the cryptocurrency sector.

Bitcoin ETFs See Strong Inflows Despite Hawkish Fed Speech

Spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds experienced another robust week, attracting over $900 million in net inflows. However, sentiment shifted on Friday following a hawkish speech by former Federal Reserve Governor Kevin Warsh at the Jackson Hole Economic Symposium.

Ethereum ETFs Continue Uninterrupted Gains

Meanwhile, exchange-traded funds tracking the largest altcoin have maintained a consistent upward trend, with their actual inflows closely mirroring those of their Bitcoin counterparts.

CryptoPotato previously reported a significant shift in investor behavior toward spot Bitcoin ETFs, with nearly $2 billion flowing in, marking the highest inflow since the October 2025 market downturn. This surge followed a pivot in U.S. Treasury Department monetary policy, which contributed to a substantial uptick across the entire cryptocurrency market.

This trend continued into the new business week, with Bitcoin’s price challenging the $80,000 resistance level on multiple occasions. Investors injected $337.56 million on Monday, followed by $314.37 million on Tuesday, $232.12 million on Wednesday, and $242.24 million on Thursday. This sustained activity resulted in nine consecutive days of net inflows for Bitcoin ETFs.

Friday Outflows Snap Inflow Streak

The streak of positive inflows was broken on Friday, potentially influenced by the hawkish stance articulated by former Federal Reserve Chairman Kevin Warsh. The funds experienced net outflows totaling $201.81 million.

Despite Friday’s reversal, the week concluded with a net inflow of $924.48 million. In the past two weeks alone, these funds have attracted nearly $3 billion. Cumulative net inflows have climbed from under $52.8 billion on August 14 to $54.63 billion by August 28.

Ethereum ETFs Maintain Momentum

In contrast to the spot Bitcoin ETFs, which ended Friday with net outflows, their Ethereum counterparts attracted just over $102 million on the same day, extending their impressive streak of positive inflows. These funds have not recorded a single day of net outflows since August 11. Overall, the week closed with more than $824 million in net inflows for Ethereum ETFs.

Thursday proved to be the most significant day for Ethereum ETFs, with $234.51 million entering the funds. Wednesday saw an inflow of $192.35 million, followed by $179.80 million on Thursday, and $115.57 million on Friday. Cumulative net inflows have risen from $11.44 billion on August 11 to nearly $13 billion by August 28.

The price of the underlying asset, Ether, surged from $1,900 to over $2,500 within the same period, before facing resistance and currently trading just below that mark.

Bitcoin Rebounds Sharply Fueled by Short Squeeze and Robust ETF Demand

Bitcoin (BTC) has surged approximately 26% from its mid-August low, a rebound significantly accelerated by a powerful short-liquidation event. Data from Glassnode indicates that the price action on August 19th triggered the largest single-day liquidation event since 2019.

The majority of these liquidations occurred on major centralized exchanges, primarily impacting short positions. Analysts believe the actual total volume of liquidations may be even higher, as the available data excludes certain platforms like Hyperliquid. This significant squeeze has effectively cleared much of the liquidation liquidity that was positioned above the Bitcoin market. Consequently, Glassnode now observes short-liquidation levels situated above the current market price, with a comparatively smaller pool of long-liquidation levels remaining below.

However, the recent price recovery has not been solely driven by forced closures. Spot demand has also played a crucial role. U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs experienced a substantial net inflow of $2.23 billion over a seven-day period, marked by consistent inflows and no days of outflows. This represents their strongest weekly intake of 2026, and the period included the largest ETF creation session observed since mid-January.

Concurrently, Bitcoin has continued to move away from exchanges as various wallet groups have adjusted their holdings. Notably, entities holding between 1,000 and 10,000 BTC have reduced their balances by a significant 50,500 BTC since June 30th. In contrast, larger entities, those holding over 100,000 BTC, have been net accumulators, adding 59,100 BTC to their reserves. This latter group includes exchanges, custodians, and wallets associated with ETF activity.

During the week of the short squeeze, the custody group alone added 31,500 BTC. While Glassnode noted this amount was comparable in scale to weekly ETF creations, the data does not confirm that these specific coins were directly transferred into ETFs.

Furthermore, every wallet-size cohort has shifted towards net accumulation, as indicated by Glassnode’s 30-day trend score. The firm described this as the most persistent all-cohort buying activity observed since late 2024.

Leverage has not returned to the market at the same pace as Bitcoin’s price recovery. Futures open interest has declined by 11% in BTC terms. Perpetual funding rates have remained near neutral and have recently turned negative, suggesting limited upward pressure from new leveraged long positions.

Beyond accumulation trends and leverage dynamics, on-chain data indicates that recent buyers are currently positioned below the prevailing price, while long-term holders represent the primary supply zone overhead. Bitcoin is now trading within this critical range, presenting a key market test for demand.

Several indicators point to a similar supply area above the current price, including cost-basis levels, ask liquidity, options positioning, and remaining liquidation clusters. A sustained move above this zone will be crucial in determining whether buyers can effectively absorb the available supply.

XRP’s Volatile August Nears End, September Outlook Brightens

As the eighth month of the year draws to a close, August has proven to be one of the most eventful periods, particularly concerning significant price surges. Ripple’s XRP was no exception, experiencing a dramatic mid-month rally that saw its value climb from $1.00 to $1.70 within days before encountering resistance. While this surge may have caught some by surprise, historical data offers insights into what September might hold for the cryptocurrency.

A Sluggish Start to August

Earlier in the month, reports indicated that August was not shaping up to be an optimistic period for XRP. Following a generally bullish July, the token entered August having closed the previous four months in negative territory, with some losses in 2022 and 2023 being in the double digits. Consequently, expectations for the 2026 edition were not high, and its initial performance was sluggish. XRP continued to shed value, dipping below the psychologically significant $1.00 mark on several occasions for the first time in nearly two years.

Bulls Reassert Control

However, XRP’s bulls staged a remarkable comeback. Bolstered by a broader market resurgence, renewed exchange-traded fund (ETF) inflows, and accumulating whale activity, XRP rebounded sharply from its key support level. The cryptocurrency skyrocketed by approximately 70% in less than 72 hours between August 19 and August 22, reaching a multi-month peak of $1.70. Although this ascent was halted, XRP remains up by roughly 33% for August, according to data from CryptoRank. Barring any unforeseen major market disruptions in the coming days, XRP is poised to enter September from a considerably stronger position than it began August.

Historical September Performance

In contrast to August’s initial downturn, XRP has historically performed well in September. The past four Septembers have all seen positive returns for the asset. While the increase in September 2023 was a modest 0.42%, and last year saw a 2.5% jump, previous years have been significantly more bullish. September 2018, 2016, and 2013 recorded gains of 73%, 47%, and 94.4%, respectively. The year 2022 also delivered an impressive surge of over 46%.

Analyst Insights and Key Legislation

Popular analyst EGRAG CRYPTO has noted that Septembers in even-numbered years have historically been more bullish for XRP. Furthermore, the analyst observed that when August closes in the green, September has followed suit approximately 66.7% of the time. Conversely, nearly 86% of subsequent Septembers have been in the red following a bearish August.

With the August recess in the U.S. Senate nearing its end, attention is expected to shift back to the CLARITY Act in September. Following its failure to advance key cryptocurrency legislation, the Senate is anticipated to revisit the bill around September 15. XRP’s price action has been significantly influenced by developments surrounding this legislation, and a positive outcome could potentially trigger another upward price movement, while a negative turn could have the opposite effect.

BitGo has acquired the institutional trading business of NYDIG, a strategic move designed to enhance its comprehensive suite of services for professional clients. This integration brings derivatives, financing, and capital-markets solutions under the BitGo umbrella, complementing its existing custody, settlement, and wallet infrastructure.

The transaction, reported on Wednesday, aligns with BitGo’s strategy to provide a unified platform for institutional digital asset needs. “Institutions increasingly want custody, trading, financing and settlement under one roof,” the company stated, indicating this acquisition is a key step toward meeting that demand.

NYDIG’s former institutional trading division offers services such as derivatives, structured products, financing, and capital-markets solutions to asset managers, hedge funds, corporations, and family offices. BitGo said the addition strengthens its trading platform and enhances its regulated custody, settlement, and wallet infrastructure.

Structured as a two-step merger, the total consideration for the acquisition was approximately $42.5 million. This includes $7 million in cash and roughly $35.5 million in BitGo stock, with additional earnout provisions included in the deal.

For NYDIG, the divestiture enables a strategic refocus on its core operations in power generation, Bitcoin mining, and high-performance computing data centers. NYDIG CEO Tejas Shah highlighted the company’s significant development pipeline of 3 gigawatts, emphasizing its focus on the HPC opportunity.

The acquisition reflects a broader trend of consolidation within the digital asset infrastructure sector. BitGo, which recently completed an initial public offering on the NYSE valuing it around $2 billion, has been expanding its services beyond custody. The company has also launched its USDS token, aiming to compete with established stablecoin providers like Circle and Tether.

In parallel, BitGo recently reduced its staff by approximately 15%, a move consistent with industry-wide workforce adjustments. CEO and co-founder Mike Belshe underscored the strategic importance of integrating trading capabilities to address institutional demand for end-to-end digital asset solutions.

While the core acquisition details are reported, certain aspects, such as the precise value of a second earnout provision tied to additional shares and the value of retention awards for transferred staff, remain subject to earnout provisions and are considered uncertainties.

Why This Matters

The materials describe a narrow update: BitGo acquired NYDIG’s institutional trading business, which offers derivatives, financing, and capital-markets solutions. The exact value of the second earnout provision tied to additional shares.

Broader Context

Source materials place the factual news in this context: BitGo is a digital-asset infrastructure firm.

Solana’s native token has emerged as a recent standout performer in the cryptocurrency market, climbing to a seven-month high above $105 before experiencing a slight pullback.

This significant rally, which saw the token surge from below $75, coincided with several key developments within the broader Solana ecosystem. Foremost among these was a crucial decision regarding the network’s future SOL issuance.

Validators ultimately approved SGP-0002, a proposal that doubles Solana’s annual disinflation rate from 15% to 30%. The vote was exceptionally close, with the measure passing with approximately 67% of the vote, just clearing the two-thirds supermajority required for approval.

Mert Mumtaz, CEO of Helius and a vocal proponent of the proposal, described the nail-biting conclusion, stating that his team made hundreds of calls in the final hours to secure the measure’s passage by a “literal hair.”

It is important to clarify that this proposal does not eliminate inflation entirely. Instead, it accelerates the annual decline of SOL’s existing inflation rate from 15% to 30%, while maintaining the network’s terminal inflation rate at 1.5%. Under the previous schedule, Solana was projected to reach this floor in the first half of 2032. The revised schedule halves this timeline, bringing the projected completion to the first half of 2029.

The trade-off for this accelerated disinflation is a projected faster decline in normal staking yields, as fewer new tokens will be distributed. This aspect was a primary point of contention for those who opposed the proposal.

ETF Milestone

In parallel, the Bitwise Solana Staking ETF (BSOL) achieved a significant milestone, becoming the first exchange-traded fund tracking the altcoin to surpass $1 billion in assets under management on Friday. Launched in October of last year, the ETF reached this target in approximately 10 months.

This achievement is particularly noteworthy given Solana’s overall price performance. As Bitwise President Teddy Fusaro highlighted, BSOL shares are currently trading about 40% below their listing price, and SOL itself remains 60% shy of its all-time high.

At the time of crossing the $1 billion threshold, BSOL held over 9.3 million SOL. The ETF aims to stake 100% of its holdings, with the current net staking reward rate standing at approximately 5.8%.

Whale Accumulation Continues

Data from Lookonchain earlier today indicated that two major Solana “whales” have continued to withdraw substantial holdings from exchanges following significant accumulation phases. One wallet, identified by the ending 3WzfuP, withdrew nearly $3.9 million in SOL from Kraken. Concurrently, another wallet, ending in 5p6zPz, transferred close to $30 million worth of the asset from Binance.

SOL’s price has seen considerable upward momentum recently, reaching a six-month peak above $105 on Friday before a broader market correction led to a slight dip. Despite this, the token remains comfortably above $100, having experienced a 42% surge over the past month. Some analysts are optimistic about further gains, with price predictions ranging from $150 to $300.

Changpeng Zhao, the former CEO of Binance, has predicted that Bitcoin will reach $1 million, and significantly sooner than the 25-year timeline often discussed. Zhao made these remarks during “The Bitcoin Century” session at The Bitcoin Conference in Hong Kong.

Bitcoin’s Ascent to $1 Million

Speaking on the Nakamoto Stage, Zhao expressed his optimism about Bitcoin’s future valuation. “I think for Bitcoin to hit $1,000,000 would be a good thing. And it’ll happen,” he stated, as captured in a video clip shared by Bitcoin Magazine. He further elaborated, “I don’t think we need 25 years. I think it’s gonna happen much quicker.”

The session, held on the opening day of the two-day event at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, was moderated by Kevin Follonier, host of “When Shift Happens.”

Bitcoin’s Supremacy Over Gold

Zhao also asserted that Bitcoin is poised to surpass gold in importance. “For sure, I think Bitcoin will become more important than gold. It will take some time, but it will happen,” he declared. He highlighted the significant difference in market capitalization between gold and Bitcoin, estimating gold’s to be roughly ten times larger. Zhao anticipates a future where sovereign reserves shift towards digital assets, with Bitcoin comprising over 50% of strategic crypto holdings, alongside Ethereum and BNB.

A tweet from The Bitcoin Conference account, featuring a graphic with Zhao’s quote “I THINK #BITCOIN WILL TAKE OVER GOLD PRETTY SOON,” underscored this sentiment.

Market Context and Bullish Indicators

While Bitcoin’s price has fluctuated, closing below $65,000 on August 18 and $79,000 on August 28, according to Coin Metrics data, it remains considerably below its October 2025 peak of over $126,000. However, a report from CryptoQuant on August 25 suggested that Bitcoin might be entering a new bull market phase. The firm’s Bull Score index reportedly climbed from 30 to 80, with confirmation expected upon a daily close above the 365-day moving average, which was near $83,000.

Regulatory Environment and Zhao’s Advocacy

The South China Morning Post reported that Zhao’s comments were met with applause from a large audience, despite a prevailing crypto slump where capital and talent are reportedly gravitating towards artificial intelligence.

Zhao also commented on the regulatory landscape, describing the United Arab Emirates’ crypto rules as “the most progressive” and noting that Hong Kong is “moving pretty quickly.” He indicated that his own “tiny bit of advocacy” contributed to the UAE’s recognition of Bitcoin as a store of value.

Zhao’s past legal entanglements include a guilty plea to a U.S. anti-money-laundering charge in 2023, a four-month prison sentence served in 2024, and a presidential pardon from Donald Trump in October 2025. He returned to the U.S. in February for a crypto event at Mar-a-Lago, hosted by World Liberty Financial, an entity backed by the Trump family.