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XRP News: Flare Founder Addresses FXRP-on-Cardano Speculation, Says Team Is Exploring LayerZero DVN

Cross-chain discussions involving XRP, Flare, and Cardano are gaining momentum.

In a post on X, Flare co-founder Hugo Philion revealed that the team is actively exploring a LayerZero Decentralized Verifier Network (DVN) to strengthen interoperability between major blockchain ecosystems.

FXRP on Cardano?

Philion made the comment in response to XRP community member @xrpen15, who suggested that Flare launch an official LayerZero (LZ) DVN. According to the proposal, such infrastructure could help Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson safely bring FXRP into the Cardano ecosystem.

Responding on X, Philion said:

“Can’t comment on whether FXRP will go to Cardano, but funny you say that re the DVN. It’s certainly something we are actively exploring.”

While Philion did not confirm any plans involving FXRP on Cardano, his remarks suggest that Flare is evaluating LayerZero DVN infrastructure. DVNs are designed to verify and secure cross-chain messages between blockchain networks.

Why the Discussion Matters for XRP

FXRP is Flare’s representation of XRP. It allows XRP holders to access decentralized finance (DeFi) applications beyond the XRP Ledger.

A LayerZero DVN could make cross-chain transfers more secure and efficient. It could also simplify the movement of assets such as FXRP between different blockchain ecosystems.

The proposal from @xrpen15 focused on creating a Flare-operated verifier network. Such a system could serve as a trusted bridge layer for transferring FXRP into Cardano-based applications.

The discussion highlights the potential benefits of shared infrastructure that connects multiple ecosystems rather than relying on separate interoperability solutions.

Philion Pushes for Greater Collaboration

Philion’s latest comments follow remarks he made a day earlier about Cardano and its founder. In a post on X, he welcomed Hoskinson’s renewed activity in the crypto industry despite their past disagreements over interoperability strategies.

“It’s nice to see Charles Hoskinson back in the saddle,” Philion wrote.

Philion said he previously disagreed with Hoskinson over what he viewed as duplicated efforts in XRP and Bitcoin interoperability. Instead, he argued that networks could use existing assets such as FXRP and FBTC through LayerZero rather than creating separate bridging systems.

According to Philion, greater cooperation would benefit the industry as a whole. He added that the crypto ecosystem would be worse off without Hoskinson, Cardano, and Cardano’s privacy-focused sidechain project, Midnight.

In sum, cross-chain connectivity remains a major focus as blockchain projects work to connect different networks. While Flare has not announced any plans to bring FXRP to Cardano, its exploration of LayerZero DVN technology shows ongoing interest in improving interoperability across blockchain ecosystems.

Investigation Finds Onchain Links to Claims Cardano Founder Sold 1.5B ADA During 2021 Bull Run

NFT artist Masato Alexander has shared the findings of an on-chain investigation into allegations that the Cardano founder sold 1.5 billion ADA during the 2021 bull market. 

According to Alexander, blockchain records show that transactions matching major parts of the claim did occur during that period. However, the available data does not prove whether those tokens were actually sold.

Origin of the Allegations

The allegations first surfaced in May 2025 when crypto community member Slimelife claimed he sold about 1.5 billion ADA on Hoskinson’s behalf during 2021 while the token traded between $1 and $3. 

Allegations Surrounding Cardano founder
Allegations Surrounding Cardano founder

Slimelife also alleged that Hoskinson owed Ethereum co-founder Gavin Wood 20 million ADA per month for 10 months. He claimed to have been instructed to sell ADA and pay the amount in cash instead of making those payments directly in ADA.

On-Chain Data Shows Series of Large Cardano Transfers

More than a year after the claims emerged, Alexander decided to review the blockchain activity himself. The NFT artist noted that he focused on tracking verifiable transactions on-chain instead of relying on the allegations alone.

Alexander started with the reported monthly 20 million ADA payments, which, to him, represented one of the most measurable parts of the claim.

According to him, blockchain records reveal nine payments of roughly 20.2 million ADA each. These transfers took place once a month between April 2 and Nov. 22, 2021. Every payment went to the same receiving address, which appeared only during that year.

Together, the transfers amounted to approximately 185 million ADA and followed a schedule of about 28 days between payments. Alexander identified the receiving wallet as an address ending in “px4u.”

He then followed the largest input linked to each transaction to trace the source of the funds. His analysis showed that all nine payment chains eventually led back, after roughly 40 transaction hops, to a single Byron genesis output containing 2,463,071,701 ADA.

Alexander said this amount matches Input Output Global’s published genesis allocation involving the Lovelace distribution. 

He also noted that the transfers did not come from a single wallet, as four different wallets took turns making the payments. Interestingly, the receiving address did not keep the funds but forwarded everything to a single consolidation address.

Additional Billion-ADA Movements

Alexander found that the consolidation address received around 1.21 billion ADA from 37 separate depositors. He decided to look further into where the additional funds originated since that figure was larger than the roughly 184 million ADA involved in the monthly transfers.

His investigation revealed another major movement of ADA that occurred shortly before the monthly payment pattern began. Specifically, between February and March 2021, about 925 million ADA moved through 33 separate transactions ranging from 10 million to 50 million ADA each over a six-week period.

According to Alexander, these funds also traced back to Input Output Global’s genesis UTxO. He further noted that the transfers began during the same week that rumors involving “birds” started circulating and that the monthly payments continued throughout the rest of 2021.

Alexander concluded that the transaction pattern matched several details of the claim. The data showed similar amounts, timing, frequency, and origins, including the reported monthly transfers of about 20 million ADA throughout 2021 from Input Output Global’s genesis allocation.

Blockchain Data Cannot Confirm Sales

Despite those findings, the NFT artist admitted that blockchain records cannot show whether any of the transferred Cardano was actually sold. While the blockchain can reveal movements between wallets, it cannot directly prove what happened off-chain.

He also pointed out the limits of his research. Alexander called dominant-input tracing a useful indicator of where funds originated, but not definitive proof. He added that wallet addresses remain pseudonymous, as the blockchain data does not identify any specific individual behind the transactions.

Alexander further noted that Input Output Global maintained a larger on-chain presence besides its genesis UTxO through a number of stake pools. 

His findings showed that both the roughly 925 million ADA transfer burst and the nine monthly payments of around 20 million ADA shared a closer common source than the original genesis allocation. 

As a result, the number of transaction hops linking IOG to those transfers dropped from roughly 40 to between one and seven transactions. He also found that the funds were connected to about 21 of the 64 million ADA pledges associated with IOG’s private stake pools.

Alexander’s latest comments arrived only days after Hoskinson announced that he would step away temporarily amid ongoing challenges within the Cardano ecosystem and continued price weakness. However, he returned just a few days later and reiterated his conviction that Cardano is the only blockchain capable of running the world.

Hoskinson Reappears on X With Bold Claims About Cardano

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Charles Hoskinson has returned to X just days after announcing a temporary break, using the opportunity to promote Cardano as the only blockchain ecosystem capable of running the world.

During a one-hour broadcast on X, Hoskinson argued that Cardano’s long-term mission is to reduce the global cost of trust. To achieve this, he said the network seeks to replace expensive intermediaries with transparent and verifiable blockchain-based systems.

Cardano Equipped to Mitigate Global Cost of Trust: Hoskinson  

According to Hoskinson, trust remains one of the most expensive elements of modern financial markets, costing billions of dollars in compliance, auditing, and oversight. 

However, he believes decentralized networks can dramatically reduce these expenses by allowing participants to verify rules and transactions without depending on centralized authorities.

Notably, Hoskinson argued that Cardano is uniquely positioned to deliver this vision on a global scale. He highlighted four core pillars that, in his view, distinguish Cardano from every other blockchain network: the extended UTXO accounting model, the Ouroboros proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, decentralized on-chain governance, and the modular architecture that supports partner chains such as Midnight.

Hoskinson Says Cardano Is Different From Rivals 

Furthermore, Hoskinson claimed that no competing blockchain currently combines all four features within a single ecosystem. Consequently, he believes Cardano possesses a unique advantage in building global-scale digital infrastructure.

Hoskinson also stressed that Cardano is pursuing a different objective from its rivals. While many competing networks prioritize speed, rapid product launches, and constant announcements, he argued that Cardano focuses on decentralization, formal verification, governance, and long-term resilience.

In contrast to short-term growth strategies, Hoskinson said Cardano aims to create systems that can improve how societies, institutions, and governments establish trust. He maintained that these foundational principles are essential for supporting billions of users and powering critical global infrastructure. 

Can Cardano Run the World Despite Ecosystem Challenges? 

Meanwhile, this ambitious vision comes at a difficult time for the Cardano ecosystem. The network has faced internal tensions, declining total value locked, and weak market performance. Adding to the challenges, prominent community analytics platform TapTools recently ceased operations after four years, citing unfavorable conditions. 

Notably, Hoskinson announced a temporary break from X amid growing tensions within the ecosystem, although he later clarified that he was not leaving Cardano. He returned just days later with an hour-long presentation, even as ADA had fallen below $0.15 during the broader market downturn.

These developments underscore the contrast between the ecosystem’s realities and Hoskinson’s vision of Cardano as a global operating system. While Cardano continues to build its infrastructure and governance framework, whether it can convert that trust-focused strategy into sustained adoption and stronger on-chain activity remains an open question.

Venture Capital Firm Launches XRP-Powered Hong Kong Innovation Program in Partnership with Ripple

Brinc, a Hong Kong-based venture capital firm, has launched a new XRP Ledger-based innovation program in partnership with Ripple. 

The company announced that applications for the Hong Kong Financial Innovation Program (HFIP) opened on June 8, 2026. 

Through this initiative, Brinc and Ripple plan to support startups developing the next generation of payment systems and financial infrastructure, focusing on Hong Kong and the broader Asian market.

The XRPL-Powered Hong Kong Financial Innovation Program

Notably, the accelerator brings together Brinc and Ripple to help early-stage companies grow. The program uses the XRP Ledger as its core technology and targets startups ranging from pre-seed to Series A stages.

XRP Powered Hong Kong Innovation Program
XRP Powered Hong Kong Innovation Program

HFIP seeks to attract founders working on solutions for cross-border payments, settlement networks, stablecoin infrastructure, and other technologies related to the payments sector. 

According to the disclosure, the goal is to help startups build practical financial tools that can serve businesses and institutions across Asia.

Startups selected for the program will receive guidance from experienced operators and investors. Participants will also gain access to global corporations and institutional partners, which should give them opportunities to build valuable business relationships.

The accelerator also allows participants to apply for non-dilutive grant funding, which enables them to secure financial support without giving up equity in their companies.

Brinc and Ripple called HFIP a first-of-its-kind accelerator designed to help grow the future of finance in Asia. The program builds on XRPL’s ability to process fast and low-cost cross-border transactions. Applications are currently open through a link shared in the official announcement.

Brinc Expands into the XRPL Ecosystem

Brinc is a global venture capital and accelerator firm headquartered in Hong Kong. The firm operates in several regions, including Hong Kong, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, India, Japan, and the broader Middle East and North Africa region. It manages a range of accelerators, corporate innovation programs, and investment initiatives.

Before launching HFIP, Brinc introduced a Hong Kong-based Web3 accelerator in 2025 alongside Octopus, XDC Network, and IDA. This initiative focused on payment and loyalty solutions.

Meanwhile, the new accelerator adds to Ripple’s efforts to support developers and businesses building on XRPL. The company already supports ecosystem growth through programs such as XRPL Grants and the XRPL Accelerator.

Ripple has previously worked with Tenity in Singapore and the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) on accelerator programs that provide funding and mentorship. The company also supports regional funds in Japan and South Korea while continuing to work on pilot projects with financial institutions.

XRP Penetrating Hong Kong

HFIP launches as Hong Kong strengthens its position as a center for fintech and Web3 innovation. Supportive policies from the Hong Kong Monetary Authority (HKMA) and the Securities and Futures Commission (SFC) have helped create a favorable environment for financial technology and digital asset development.

Ripple already has experience working within Hong Kong’s financial innovation ecosystem. In 2023, the company participated in the HKMA’s e-HKD central bank digital currency pilot, where it explored tokenized real estate and home equity line of credit use cases alongside Fubon Bank.

The Hong Kong Financial Innovation Program builds on those efforts by encouraging the use of XRPL for real-world payments, stablecoin infrastructure, and settlement solutions throughout Asia’s leading financial center.

Japan’s SBI Shinsei Bank to Reward Customers in XRP, Bitcoin, and Ethereum

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Japan’s SBI Shinsei Bank is taking another step toward crypto adoption as it is set to launch rewards in XRP, Bitcoin, and Ethereum.

SBI Shinsei Bank will begin a three-month pilot program that integrates digital assets into everyday banking services. From June 10, it will allow eligible depositors to receive crypto rewards alongside the interest generated from traditional savings products.

The initiative covers ordinary savings accounts as well as time deposits with maturities ranging from three months to five years. If the trial proceeds as planned, SBI Shinsei intends to make the feature a permanent part of selected deposit products later this year.

SBI to Offer Digital Asset Rewards to Depositors

According to a report from Nikkei, customers will continue receiving standard interest payments in Japanese yen under the pilot program. In addition, they will receive exchange vouchers valued at 20% of the interest earned on their deposits.

Customers can redeem those vouchers through SBI VC Trade, the group’s regulated digital asset platform. Customers will have the option to convert the vouchers into XRP, Ethereum (ETH), or Bitcoin (BTC) based on the market price at the time of redemption.

Participation requires an SBI VC Trade account, meaning customers must complete the platform’s identity verification process before claiming rewards. The vouchers will also be subject to a designated redemption period after issuance.

Notably, the report noted that the rewards are relatively modest for smaller account balances. A ¥300,000 deposit will get a ¥500 reward. It gets better for a larger deposit. For instance, a ¥30 million deposit will yield around ¥20,000 redeemable in XRP, BTC, and ETH.

The aim of the program is simply to offer exposure to digital assets without requiring customers to purchase them directly. For more conservative savers, this approach may provide a lower-friction introduction to the sector while allowing them to maintain traditional deposit accounts.

Part of a Much Larger Crypto Strategy

Interestingly, this is one of many initiatives from SBI Holdings to push crypto adoption in Japan. The prominent firm has spent years building one of the most comprehensive digital asset ecosystems in the country.

Beyond operating SBI VC Trade, the company has expanded into investment products, custody services, stablecoin initiatives, and tokenized asset projects. In May, the group also introduced a crypto-linked Visa card that automatically converts accumulated reward points into digital assets such as XRP, Ether, or Bitcoin.

Its flagship deposit product, SBI Hyper Deposit, had already accumulated more than ¥1.3 trillion in balances by March 2026, underscoring the scale of the banking operation supporting these initiatives.

SBI has previously used promotional campaigns tied to deposits and account openings to distribute digital asset rewards. The latest program differs because it incorporates crypto benefits directly into recurring interest payments rather than limiting them to short-term marketing offers. 

Beyond just products, SBI has also made notable moves in the crypto space. In May, SBI CEO Yoshitaka Kitao revealed preliminary talks to acquire the largest crypto exchange in Japan, Bitbank.

Dogecoin Set for Strong Bullish Wave as Price Drops to Extreme Opportunity Buy Zone

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Dogecoin has spent months moving through a difficult corrective phase, but analysis suggests it may be approaching another important turning point.

This assessment comes from MasterAnanda. In a recent TradingView analysis, he noted that the current consolidation might be a blessing, not the negativity that many see. The analyst highlighted that Dogecoin (DOGE) has entered an “opportunity buy zone,” a rare chance to buy the leading meme coin cheaply before the next explosive move begins.

Dogecoin Is Testing a Proven Support Zone

A featured DOGE/USDT weekly chart shows that the DOGE price is once again testing a support zone that has repeatedly acted as a foundation for previous major moves. It highlights the consistency of the “critical extreme support” around $0.085–$0.075 in cushioning weak price momentum and starting a new wave of an uptrend since early 2024.

Dogecoin Weekly Chart Analysis/MasterAnanda
Dogecoin Weekly Chart Analysis/MasterAnanda

Dogecoin revisited this support in January and August 2024, when it reached lows of $0.074 and $0.080, respectively. It was also at this demand zone that the February crash bottomed. The token dipped to $0.080, and bulls once again stepped in to prevent further downside.

MasterAnanda noted that the area has been activated as a double bottom, a pattern that occurs when prices visit a level twice, each preceding a sharp rebound. This means that as long as DOGE does not break this support amid persisting price weakness, it could turn out to be a final retest before a price expansion.

Declining Volume Suggests Bearish Momentum Is Fading

The Dogecoin price analysis also highlighted the behavior of volume during the ongoing correction as a signal of trend reversal. It shared that several major pullbacks have occurred between 2024 and now. Yet the volume chart does not show increasing selling pressure.

Instead, bear volume appears to be gradually declining as the correction progresses. This behavior matters for DOGE because strong downtrends are typically accompanied by expanding volume as sellers become increasingly aggressive. 

Here, the opposite pattern is occurring. The token continues to drift lower, but the selling momentum behind those moves appears weaker than during the early stages of the correction.

According to the analyst, this suggests that the market appears to be moving through a period of exhaustion where bearish momentum is gradually losing strength. He added that the fact that the market is taking this long to reverse the bearish price action suggests that a change of trend is occurring rather than a short-lived rebound. 

The longer Dogecoin consolidates near support while volume contracts, the stronger the next bullish wave.

Dogecoin Bullish Wave Targets

The shared chart highlights possible targets if DOGE manages to establish a lasting base at current levels and starts the next bullish wave. The first notable area is $0.11, which aligns with the 0.148 Fibonacci retracement level. The token would have to grow by 29% to reach this level.

Beyond that, the next major zone sits at the 0.618 retracement level near $0.22, representing a 159% growth. Above are the 1.618 and 2.618 Fibonacci extension levels at $0.44 and $0.67, respectively. From here, this represents an increase of 417% to 688%.

Bitcoin Demand Crashes to Lowest Level in 4 Years

Bitcoin demand crashes to its lowest level in more than four years, but this may mark the start of a more difficult phase rather than an imminent reversal.

Bitcoin has faced fresh selling pressure, with its price falling to around $61,000 during the latest market downturn. The premier crypto asset has dropped 3.41% this week after a massive 13.94% decline last week, bringing the monthly loss to 16.77%.

As the decline continues, verified CryptoQuant analyst Moreno has called attention to a sharp drop in demand, warning that the market has entered one of its weakest demand phases in years.

Bitcoin Demand Slumps to Level Last Seen 3 Times Since 2019

Moreno noted in his recent analysis that Bitcoin demand has now fallen into a contraction zone that has appeared only three times since 2019. He based this on the 30-day growth of combined spot and perpetual futures demand, which has dropped toward -650,000 BTC. 

According to him, readings at this level are extremely uncommon and show that demand has weakened way beyond what is normally seen during a routine market slowdown.

The analyst stressed that the current situation is important because both spot demand and perpetual futures demand are declining at the same time. 

In other words, the weakness is not limited to leveraged traders. Specifically, regular buying activity and derivatives exposure are both falling together, leaving Bitcoin with fewer buyers available to absorb additional selling pressure.

Bitcoin’s Historical Data

While the -650,000 BTC level remains important, Moreno argued that history suggests it does not usually indicate an immediate market bottom. Notably, previous moves into this zone often marked the beginning of a difficult phase before Bitcoin eventually reached its lowest point.

The first example came ahead of the COVID-19 market crash. Specifically, Bitcoin fell to around $6,400 in December 2019 as demand conditions continued to deteriorate. During this period, the demand indicator reached extreme contraction levels before the broader liquidity shock arrived. 

Bitcoin Demand 30D Sum CryptoQuant
Bitcoin Demand Growth 30D Sum | CryptoQuant

Later, as the March 2020 market collapse occurred, the metric recovered toward a higher support area while Bitcoin dropped to its cycle low of about $3,800. This ultimately aligned with the formation of the COVID-era bottom.

A similar pattern appeared during the 2022 bear market. Moreno said the extreme decline in demand reflected deep structural weakness across the market. 

Notably, the indicator reached the -650,000 BTC mark around January 2022, when Bitcoin dropped from its then-record high of $69,000 to roughly $32,951. As the demand metric improved, Bitcoin recovered into March 2022.

However, the rebound did not mark the end of the downturn. Bitcoin resumed its decline from April 2022 and continued falling for several months. The asset eventually reached a bear-market low of around $15,500 in November 2022, months after the demand indicator had touched the -650,000 BTC level.

Why More Turbulence Lies Ahead

Based on these historical instances, Moreno believes the current market situation looks less like a confirmed recovery and more like the start of a final cleansing phase. 

He expects the market could first experience a rise in volatility before moving into a longer period of weak momentum and reduced activity.

According to Moreno, Bitcoin may enter an extended stretch of sideways trading marked by low participation and limited price movement. He believes this phase could prove more challenging for many investors than the selloff itself, as long periods of stagnation often test market participants’ patience and confidence.

Bitcoin Needs to Recover $65K

Meanwhile, market veteran Michaël van de Poppe focuses on a specific price level amid the decline. He noted that Bitcoin continues to trade below $65,000 and said a move above that level could open the door for a strong rally toward the $72,000 to $74,000 range.

Van de Poppe explained that the $65,000 area previously acted as support after the market crash in early February but has now become a major resistance level. He believes that if Bitcoin breaks above this barrier, the price could move toward the upper end of its current range. 

The market analyst also argued that such a move may not be far away, as he considers the recent selloff largely irrational despite the broader market weakness.

Here’s XRP Worst-Case Bottom Price for June Based on Historical Midterm Year Patterns

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EGRAG Crypto, one of the most prominent analysts on crypto Twitter, has identified the bottom price for XRP this June in its worst-case-scenario crash.

According to EGRAG, the ongoing market downtrend has still not reached its lowest level for this month. He believes market data puts XRP’s average June slump in midterm years at 29.3%, representing a drop to $0.94. However, in a worst-case scenario, he sees XRP hitting $0.81.

The market expert made this assessment using historical data surrounding XRP’s June performances across midterm years. He presented his formula at the beginning of June, projecting a downtrend this month despite XRP seeing a mild rebound push toward the end of May.

XRP’s Downward Price Action

XRP has been a victim of a broader market downtrend momentum that picked up at the start of this month. Notably, from May 28 to 30, XRP saw three consecutive intraday gains, reaching $1.34. However, as June emerged, a pullback ensued.

This came as Bitcoin (BTC) collapsed in response to Strategy’s 32 BTC sale and U.S. job reports. XRP crashed from $1.3 to $1.05, representing a 19% decline within six days. XRP has recovered slightly to $1.16 at press time, but its price action remains weak, with traders expecting steeper declines.

EGRAG’s analysis comes amid this bearish expectation. While the market analyst remains bullish on XRP, presenting a possible pathway to higher targets such as $27, he admits that June has always been a bearish month for the asset, especially in midterm years.

XRP’s Bearish June Pattern

Specifically, EGRAG called attention to historical data confirming that XRP has greatly underperformed in June during midterm years. This pattern has consistently played out since 2014, a year after XRP began trading in the public market.

XRP has gone through three midterm years since then, and in each of them, June saw a drastic price drop. For instance, in June 2014, EGRAG suggests that XRP saw a 17% drop. The next midterm year, 2018, also brought another crash in June, with EGRAG claiming that XRP slumped 39% then.

XRP 1M Chart EGRAG Crypto
XRP 1M Chart | EGRAG Crypto

As for 2022, the analyst said XRP saw a 32% price drop in June, and this coincided with the Terra implosion the month before. Although chart data suggests XRP’s declines in each of these years were not as severe as EGRAG mentioned, the bottom line is that the asset always struggled in June during midterm years.

Worst-Case Scenario for XRP This June

According to EGRAG, the average decline rate across these three years he assessed is 29.33%. He suggested that XRP is already down 21% this June. If it follows the pattern to the letter, the average decline across the years assessed could take the price to $0.94.

However, the analyst stressed that the worst-case scenario for XRP would see the crypto asset decline further to $0.81, representing a 39% crash in June 2026. Interestingly, analysts such as Casi and Chart Nerd have continued to project a possible XRP drop to $0.81.

Pundit Accuses “XRP Team” of Causing Massive Losses Among Korean Traders

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Amid the recent XRP price decline, a crypto trader and commentator has called attention to losses suffered by traders in South Korea.

Notably, market pundit Ryker accused the “XRP team” of contributing to major losses among South Korean investors through promotional efforts. 

However, his commentary failed to provide any evidence to support the claims. In addition, XRP’s decline comes as part of a broader downturn affecting the entire crypto market, not just an issue specific to the token.

Ryker Claims the “XRP Team” Promoted XRP in South Korea

In comments shared on X, Ryker alleged that several South Korean celebrities received payments from the “XRP team” to promote XRP when the asset traded between $2 and $3.

He called attention to trading activity on Upbit, South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, noting that XRP’s trading volume occasionally exceeded that of Binance. 

Considering this, Ryker claimed that many South Korean investors bought XRP and later suffered heavy losses when prices fell. He also stated that he plans to reveal what he described as the people behind these alleged activities in the future.

Allegations Around Influencers and Media Organizations

In a follow-up post, Ryker doubled down on his accusations, claiming that a large number of South Koreans lost money because of the XRP project.

According to him, South Korea has one of the largest cryptocurrency investor bases, which allegedly led the “XRP team” to work with numerous key opinion leaders (KOLs) and media outlets to promote XRP throughout the country.

Ryker further alleged that the project’s popularity came largely from strong relationships with influencers around the world and extensive media exposure, not from actual achievements. 

He also claimed that the “XRP team” spent massive amounts of money on marketing and liquidity efforts, which he alleged allowed them to sell tokens for profit. According to Ryker, the money allegedly generated from XRP holders was substantial.

XRP’s Popularity in South Korea Predates These Claims

While Ryker suggested that XRP’s popularity in South Korea came from alleged promotional efforts, available market data shows that the country has been one of XRP’s biggest trading markets for years.

South Korea has consistently ranked among the most active regions for XRP trading, sometimes even recording higher trading activity than the United States. Strong interest from Korean investors has helped maintain XRP’s position in the market over a long period.

As a result, XRP has frequently become the most traded cryptocurrency in South Korea, often surpassing both Bitcoin and Ethereum in trading volume. This trend has been especially visible on Upbit, the country’s largest crypto exchange.

Importantly, this pattern is not new. XRP has enjoyed strong support in South Korea for years, especially alongside the presence of SBI Group, a long-term Ripple partner. The trend did not suddenly appear as a result of a recent campaign linked to efforts from an “XRP team.”

Meanwhile, XRP has long attracted positive commentary from crypto analysts, market commentators, and members of the community. However, there is currently no evidence showing that Ripple funds or coordinates campaigns behind these commentaries.

XRP Following Broader Market Decline

Ryker’s comments come at a time when XRP trades around $1.50, representing a 56% decline from its all-time high of $3.60 reached in July 2025.

However, XRP is not the only major cryptocurrency that has experienced a significant pullback. The broader crypto market has faced considerable pressure, leading to sharp declines across many leading digital assets.

Bitcoin currently trades at $62,609, down 50% from its all-time high. Ethereum, the largest altcoin by market capitalization, has fallen even further, dropping 66% from its peak and underperforming XRP during the same period.

Meanwhile, Solana has seen one of the steepest declines among major cryptocurrencies. The asset now trades at $66, down 77% from its all-time high of $295 recorded in January 2025.

Wyckoff Analyst Calls XRP HTF Structure Disruptive, Warns of a Possible Path to $0.1

A skilled Wyckoff analyst has called the XRP higher-timeframe structure disruptive, warning of a possible price crash to the 2020 lows.

XRP has slipped into a much larger corrective phase amid renewed selling pressure across the market. After ending May with a mildly positive run, the asset collapsed into June, dropping to $1.04 on June 6 before recovering to the current price of $1.17.

Despite XRP’s recent rebound effort, “The Wyckoff Architect,” a pseudonymous yet prominent market analyst who leverages the popular Wyckoff Method for market expositions, believes XRP remains in a danger zone, arguing that it could see a possible deeper crash to the 2020 lows around $0.1.

XRP HTF Structure Disruptive 

According to the analyst, while XRP has recovered nearly 12.5% after dropping to the yearly low around $1.04 days back, the token’s higher timeframe structure remains “disruptive,” indicating that the price action is still weak.

Notably, external chart data confirms that XRP remains under bearish pressure on the weekly timeframe. Specifically, after a 13.24% crash last week, the Directional Moving Index (DMI) indicates that sellers have maintained control of the market.

XRP HTF Still Weak
XRP HTF Still Weak

Data shows the +DI has continued to slope lower, currently sitting around 13.9, while the -DI trends higher, now holding way above at 31.7. This confirms that the market remains in a predominant bearish momentum. 

In addition, the ADX sits at 34, indicating that this bearish momentum is rather strong. Meanwhile, XRP also continues to trade firmly below the weekly Ichimoku Cloud, solidifying its bearish position.

Possible XRP Crash to “Blue Box”

Speaking on this apparent weakness, the Wyckoff Architect suggested that the downtrend could continue despite the recent recovery effort, potentially pushing XRP to a region he calls the “Blue Box.” The market watcher leveraged the Wyckoff Method for this assessment.

For the uninitiated, the Wyckoff Method studies price and volume to understand the behavior of large investors or “smart money.” 

It helps traders recognize important phases and anticipate potential trend changes to improve entry and exit decisions. The trading method proposes that the market has four phases: accumulation, markup, distribution, and markdown. 

XRP’s accumulation phase played out when it ranged between $0.4 and $0.6 throughout 2024. The markup occurred as it surged from November 2024 to the high of $3.4 by January 2025. Distribution followed in February 2025, and markdown started when prices began dropping in October 2025.

XRP Wyckoff Structure
XRP Wyckoff Structure

The analyst suggests that this markdown phase has not yet concluded. His chart projects XRP to continue declining until it hits the “Blue Box” area, which sits within a range of $0.10 and $0.1450, representing lows last seen during the 2020 bear market.

However, it remains to be seen if XRP’s downward trend would lead to this area, which would mark a further 91% decline from current levels. Other analysts believe XRP could find its bottom around the $0.70 to $0.90 range, not below.