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Ripple Co-Founder Donates $10M in XRP to Kamala Harris Campaign 

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Chris Larsen, Ripple’s co-founder and chairman, has made another significant donation to support U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential ambitions. 

In a tweet yesterday, the Ripple chairman announced a donation of $10 million worth of XRP to Future Forward USA, a super PAC (Political Action Committee) supporting Harris. 

Explaining the rationale behind the move, Larsen expressed the belief that Harris would ensure American technology maintains global dominance. 

He emphasized that the Democratic Party needs to adopt a new approach toward tech innovation, particularly within the crypto sector. With XRP currently priced at $0.5432 per token, this $10 million is equivalent to 18,409,425 (18.4 million) XRP. 

Larsen Donates Nearly $10M in Cash to Support Harris’ Presidential Ambition

Prior to Larsen’s announcement, FOX Business journalist Eleanor Terrett claimed that the Ripple chairman donated nearly $10 million in three separate donations last month. The accompanying document shows that Larsen donated $9,899,925 ($9.89 million).

Contrary to Larsen’s claim, Terrett disclosed that the Ripple co-founder made all three donations, totaling nearly $10 million, in cash. According to her, Larsen’s $10 million cash donation is in addition to the $1 million worth of XRP he contributed to Harris’ campaign in August. 

Crypto Community Shocked 

The move shocked many, given that Larsen is throwing his weight behind the reelection of an administration that has been hostile toward crypto. Interestingly, Ripple and Larsen have been at the receiving end of this administration’s hostility toward the industry. 

Since December 2020, Larsen and Ripple have endured a multi-year securities lawsuit from the SEC. Although a federal court gave Ripple a partial victory, the SEC is seeking an appellate review to overturn these decisions. 

Following the current administration’s aggressive approach toward crypto, most industry stakeholders have heavily backed Donald Trump’s reelection bid. Trump has promised to embrace crypto and position the United States as the world’s crypto capital.  

Interestingly, Trump has received financial support from top crypto stakeholders, including Ripple’s CLO Stuart Alderoty. 

Garlinghouse Says Ripple Will Engage With Democrats and Republicans 

Reacting to Larsen’s $10 million donation, Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse expressed respect for everyone’s right to support whomever they think is best to lead the United States. 

He emphasized the need to change the current administration’s approach to crypto regulation, which he characterized as a “misguided war.” Notably, Garlinghouse revealed Ripple’s commitment to engage both Democrats and Republicans in the final days of the campaign to advocate for pro-crypto policies. 

Top XRPL DEX Unveils Memepad for Meme Coin Launching on XRP Network, with 70 Meme Coins Launched Already

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Magnetic X, the leading decentralized exchange on XRP Ledger (XRPL), has introduced Memepad, a launchpad for meme coins on the XRP network.

The platform aims to foster innovation in the meme coin sector by allowing users to launch their own tokens on XRPL. Magnetic X’s meme coin launchpad sets a target for total value locked (TVL) and offers a partnership opportunity once the TVL surpasses 50,000 XRP tokens. This collaboration could extend to farming, promotion, and project development assistance.

Creating and launching a token is straightforward, with full guidance available on Memepad’s webpage. Importantly, Magnetic X does not impose fees for token trading or launching, emphasizing accessibility and a user-friendly experience.

VADER Coin Launch and Notable Holdings

Magnetic X has also introduced its meme coin, VADER, to establish a benchmark for meme coin projects on the XRP Ledger. The platform did not retain an initial share of the tokens. Instead, 30% of the issue was bought for farming rewards and airdrops, primarily targeting players of Factors, an associated game.

VADER aims to demonstrate the scalability of meme coins on XRPL, highlighting the potential for growth in both liquidity and market capitalization.

Following the launch of the meme coin platform on the XRP Ledger, 70 meme coins were released on Magnetic X’s memepad. The first meme coin, VADER, has shown promising stats. It boasts a TVL of 190k XRP, 507 holders, and an impressive annual percentage rate (APR) in farming of 668%.

Expanding Meme Coins on XRPL

Notably, Edo Farina, CEO of Alpha Lions Academy, has unveiled a list of other notable meme coins available on XRPL via First Ledger.

These include RIDDLER, which has a market cap of $146K. DROP, supported by a strong community, has a market cap of $27K. CLOWNSER, themed after SEC chair Gary Gensler, has a market cap of $20K. SCHWEPE, inspired by PEPE and David Schwartz, maintains a significant market cap of $1.24 million. Lastly, BRITTO, associated with Ripple’s Arthur Britto, has a market cap of $432K. 

Analyst Foresees 2,500% Solana Rally to $4,500 as SOL Forms Bullish Pattern Near $170

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Amid its bullish comeback, Solana (SOL) has again become the center of attention in the crypto community, with an analysis projecting up to a 2,500% surge.

Today, Solana rallied to a high of $171.43, reclaiming a two-month high amid the expanding bull market. Notably, on August 1, when SOL was last seen in the $170 range, the price subsequently dropped to $110.61 by August 5.

Investors endured a challenging journey back to these high points over the 11 weeks that followed. The current comeback marks an impressive 55% rebound from the August low. Now, an analysis suggests that SOL could witness another 25X surge as the bull run gains momentum.

The analyst pointed out that Solana’s price chart has formed a “cup-and-handle” pattern, a bullish structure. This formation typically signals that the asset has completed a correction phase and is gearing up for its next major upward move.

Solana Set for 2,500% Rally to $4,500?

In Solana’s case, the chart shows a rounded “cup” that began forming in late 2021. After a prolonged period of decline, SOL bottomed out in 2023. Accordingly, it gradually recovered, completing the cup’s formation by the first quarter of 2024.

The “handle” phase, currently ongoing, is represented by a consolidation zone marked by sideways price action since hitting $206 in Q1. According to the analyst, this ranging phase is nearing its conclusion, and a breakout could follow.

Specifically, if Solana breaks through the handle’s resistance level, the cup-and-handle pattern could trigger a price surge, estimating a potential rally to $4,500. From Solana’s current price of around $170, this ambitious threshold amounts to a massive 2,547% growth.

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Solana chart

Other Market Watchers Disagree

However, some market watchers have challenged this lofty price target. For instance, CoinGecko suggested that $450 is more realistic for SOL than $4,500.

Another dissenting voice regarding the $4,500 projection pointed out that at this price point, Solana would have a valuation of over $2.11 trillion, nearly twice that of Bitcoin, suggesting that such an outlook is unrealistic. Some have even argued that the highlighted cup-and-handle pattern does not support the likelihood of a 25X surge for SOL.

Community reaction
Community reaction

30M Metamask Users Can Now Access XRP Ledger

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Blockchain firm Peersyst Technology has launched an XRP Ledger (XRPL) Snap, which will allow over 30 million Metamask users access to the blockchain.

The software firm announced on Monday that Metamask users can now access the XRPL network and harness its properties through the self-custody wallet. Peersyst noted that the latest addition offers users the same functionality available on the XRPL mainnet and testnet.

For context, a Snap application allows non-Ethereum Virtual Machines (EVMs) access to integrate with the Metamask wallet. Notably, Metamask is a cold wallet that interacts only with the Ethereum network by default.

However, certain blockchains could bridge users to other chains such as Ethereum with innovations like Snap, as Peersyst’s XRPL Snap intends to achieve. This latest feature provides easy accessibility to the XRPL network, further expanding the ecosystem’s adoption.

Same Functionality, Different Access Point

Notably, using XRPL through Metamask provides the same functionality as directly accessing the blockchain. Per Peersyst, users can open XRPL wallets using the Metamask Snap.

Given that an XRPL account requires at least 10 XRP to be activated, the Snap feature allows the purchase of the token through Transak, an integrated on-ramp payment method. Subsequently, users can also purchase and hold XRP and non-fungible tokens (NFTs) through the feature.

Furthermore, the Metamask Snap allows users to view transaction details and history, as well as send and receive XRP. Developers can also integrate the feature into their decentralized application for extended visibility.

Integration Boost XRPL Adoption

The latest addition mirrors the growing adoption of the XRPL network. With Metamask’s over 30 million users having access to the blockchain, XRP enthusiasts have tipped the integration to increase user influx and grow liquidity.

Meanwhile, discussions about adding smart contracts to the XRPL network are also underway. Ripple announced in September that it was exploring a dual approach to introduce this feature.

Is Solana Fall Coming as Smart Whale Cashes Out $3.86M During Peak?

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A whale recently sold $3.86 million in Solana at a its latest price peak, sparking speculation of a potential top.

Solana (SOL) has emerged as the standout performer among large-cap altcoins today, demonstrating notable momentum. At the time of reporting, Solana’s price reached $164.68, marking a 4.40% increase within the last 24 hours and a 7.72% rise over the past week.

This upward trajectory aligns with broader market trends, positioning Solana as a favored choice for traders. Notably, smart money has actively influenced recent SOL movements, with a major whale maneuvering his holdings to capitalize on this trend.

Smart Money’s Strategic Pattern

Lookonchain, a smart money tracker, recently reported that a prominent whale sold 22,726 SOL worth $3.86 million. This move aligns with the whale’s typical pattern—buying at low levels and selling during price peaks. The whale currently holds 20,000 SOL, amounting to $3.33 million, while his total profits exceed $2.5 million. 

The whale made purchases during Solana’s early uptrend between November and March, starting with a purchase of 6,187 SOL at lower levels, followed by additional buys of 3,399 SOL and 259 SOL. A smaller acquisition of 155 SOL also took place at a peak.

The mid-year period from May to June saw notable volatility. The whale made a 2,300 SOL purchase when prices dipped below $150. Subsequently, as prices rebounded, the whale initiated selloffs, starting with 2,300 SOL and scaling up to 10,000 SOL.

A significant buy of 24,517 SOL during a dip suggested a renewal of accumulation, followed by an 1,891 SOL purchase as prices rebounded. However, a subsequent sell-off of 26,407 SOL marked further profit-taking as prices climbed higher to reach the peak.

Increased Activity During Summer

The summer months (July to August) saw a surge in trading activity. The whale made a major accumulation of 37,445 SOL at lower levels.

As September and October unfolded, the whale continued to display interest in buying dips, with a smaller purchase of 5,281 SOL during a minor dip. This was followed by the most recent sell-off of 22,726 SOL as prices surged past $166.

Growing Activity on Solana Network

Parallel to the price dynamics, Solana’s network activity has seen major growth. Recent analysis by Miles Deutscher shows a steady rise in daily active addresses over the past three months, peaking at 6.2 million by early October. 

Transaction volumes also saw a corresponding increase, with the daily count reaching 45.2 million in October. This rise in network usage has contributed to a gradual increase in transaction fees, which reached $2.3 million by mid-October.

Bitcoin Massive Decline May be in the Cards as OI Hits New ATH at $40.5B

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The recent surge in Bitcoin futures open interest (OI) to a new all-time high, combined with rising bullish sentiment, has raised concerns about a potential pullback. 

Notably, Open Interest in the Bitcoin futures market recently spiked to a new all-time high of $40.5 billion, according to data from Coinglass. In addition, OI across major crypto exchanges has spiked to a new peak of $20.89 billion, CryptoQuant data confirms.

Bitcoin Open Interest Spikes

This new peak comes days after Open Interest rose to a previous ATH of $20 billion, surpassing the earlier top of $19.75 billion, per CryptoQuant. Meanwhile, this figure climbed to $40.38 billion on Coinglass, and has now hit the latest peak of $40.5 billion.

Bitcoin Open Interest Coinglass
Bitcoin Open Interest | Coinglass

The disparity in Bitcoin futures Open Interest between CryptoQuant and Coinglass stems from the number of exchanges where each platform aggregates its data from. While CryptoQuant focuses on major crypto exchanges, Coinglass gathers data from a much wider source, including CME and others.

Meanwhile, the latest record-setting OI suggests heightened investor participation in the futures market, a trend that could lead to higher volatility. 

Such peaks in OI have coincided with massive price movements and potential corrections as bullish momentum grows. Crypto exchange Uphold’s Research Head, Dr. Martin Hiesboeck, confirmed this in a recent disclosure.

Currently, Bitcoin is trading around $67,889, having gained nearly 5% over the past week. It breached the $68,000 mark before facing resistance just below $69,000. 

FOMO Kicking in

While these price levels indicate a strong recovery, the massive spike in OI could indicate overleveraged positions in the market, which, if liquidated, could lead to a sharp price correction. 

A similar scenario unfolded in March, when Bitcoin’s OI hit $39 billion before a substantial price move followed. For context, OI hit a new peak of $39.03 billion on March 29, with BTC trading for $70,838. Bitcoin faced turbulence shortly after, collapsing to a low of $59K in May, a month later.

Notably, at the current recovery stage, multiple traders might be experiencing FOMO, driving them to take more aggressive positions, often using leverage. 

Such sentiment can fuel price rises, but it also increases the likelihood of a liquidation cascade if Bitcoin fails to hold major support levels. The market’s overextension, as indicated by the OI, could consequently trigger a bearish turn if prices drop below crucial thresholds.

Bitcoin Hashrate Hits New Peak

Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s hashrate recently hit an all-time high of 769.82 million TH/s, according to Bitinfocharts, amid the growing FOMO and the recent price recovery. Typically, an increase in hashrate suggests confidence in the network, as miners are investing more computational power. 

Bitcoin Hashrate Bitinfocharts
Bitcoin Hashrate | Bitinfocharts

However, while this is a positive signal for network security, its direct impact on short-term price movements is less certain. The rising hashrate indicates that miners are confident in Bitcoin’s long-term value, but it could also suggest that mining competition is heating up, potentially impacting miner profitability.

Nonetheless, the Puell Multiple, which stands at 0.94, suggests that miners are currently seeing moderate revenues, implying that they are not under pressure to sell large amounts of Bitcoin. 

Interestingly, the Miners’ Position Index (MPI), sitting at -1.33, confirms this, showing that miners are holding onto their coins and selling less than the annual average. Both metrics indicate that, at least for now, miners are not contributing to selling pressure.

VanEck Enables Staking Options for Solana ETP

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Leading digital asset manager VanEck has enabled staking options for its Solana exchange-traded note (ETN) in the European market. 

Matthew Sigel, VanEck’s Head of Digital Assets Research, announced the development today in a statement shared on X. According to Sigel, the staking rewards for VanEck’s Solana ETN (VSOL) will accrue and be re-invested daily. 

The rewards will automatically reflect in the product’s daily net asset value (NAV). Investors will benefit from the recently launched feature without having to manage the process themselves. Sigel emphasized that the company will manage the Solana ETP’s staking exposure to maintain daily liquidity. 

VanEck Solana ETN 

Incorporated in Liechtenstein, VSOL is a crypto exchange-traded product fully collateralized and stored with a regulated crypto custodian. The ETN officially commenced trading in September 2021 on Europe’s leading stock exchange, Deutsche Börse. 

As of October 18, 2024, VSOL’s total assets under management (AUM) stood at $73.8 million, with its share priced at €8.229 ($8.93). In the same period, the NAV of VanEck’s Solana ETN also stood at $8.21. 

With the recently introduced staking feature, VSOL investors can earn passive rewards without taking extra action on their investments. 

VSOL Staking Features 

The asset manager clarified that its VSOL custodian fully controls the staked SOL, eliminating potential lending risk. Per the announcement, VanEck’s VSOL custodian will only delegate the SOL tokens to a Solana validator. Despite this, the delegated SOL will remain at the custodian’s cold storage, ensuring the funds are safe. 

Notably, staking rewards are included in VSOL’s coin entitlement and distributed equally, irrespective of when an investor purchased the product. 

However, VanEck will deduct a staking fee of 25% before distributing the rewards. Afterward, the reward will be added to VSOL’s end-of-day NAV by 4 p.m. CET. Notably, VanEck’s VSOL staking feature is only available to European users. 

VanEck Crypto Offerings 

VanEck is one of the leading digital asset managers globally, including the United States. It offers exchange-traded funds (ETFs) tied to two of the world’s largest cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin and Ethereum, in the U.S.

The company is also seeking to launch a similar product for Solana. As reported earlier, VanEck was the first asset manager to submit the first-ever Solana ETF application with the SEC.  

The SEC has yet to determine whether to approve VanEck’s ETF application. In the meantime, several experts, including Bloomberg’s ETF analyst Eric Balchunas, believe the SEC will not approve a Solana ETF until there is a change of government. 

Cardano Founder Shares Bold Vision for How ADA Will Surpass $1.35T Bitcoin

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Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has shared his bold outlook for the Cardano network, asserting that ADA would surpass the $1.35 trillion crypto, Bitcoin.

He made this assertion during his keynote presentation at the 4th annual Cardano Community event in Buenos Aires, the capital of Argentina. 

In his talk, Hoskinson looked back on Cardano’s journey. He highlighted significant milestones in its evolution, the growth of its engaged global community, and the technical innovations that set it apart.

Specifically, Hoskinson noted how the network has evolved into an 11-figure platform with millions of users. He also discussed the significance of having the most extensive research group in the world dedicated to Cardano and acknowledged the enthusiasm of the younger generation driving its growth. 

Cardano Founder’s Outlook for the Decades

Amid its notable success over the past seven years, Hoskinson confidently predicted that in a decade, Cardano will surpass Ethereum. He added that in another decade after that, it will exceed Bitcoin, the pioneering cryptocurrency.

However, his vision for Cardano extends beyond just competing with Bitcoin. He expressed his belief that, in another decade after overtaking Bitcoin, many governments worldwide will operate on Cardano’s infrastructure, as they will trust its capabilities.

“That is what thinking in decades gives you,” he said. 

Crypto Community Reacts

Hoskinson’s anticipation of Cardano overtaking Bitcoin has been met with resistance from the broader community. Many see it as an over-ambitious goal, arguing that Cardano may never surpass Bitcoin.

Notably, Bitcoin is approximately 112 times larger than Cardano in terms of market capitalization, with a gap of around $1.337 trillion between them. Essentially, Cardano has an extended journey ahead of its decade-long goal to surpass Bitcoin.

Hoskinson Insists on the Outlook is Possible

Hoskinson stressed the essence of long-term thinking, contrasting it with the short-term mindset often seen in Silicon Valley. He lamented the myopia that could come from focusing solely on short timeframes, citing the majestic cathedrals of Europe, which took centuries to construct, and the ancient monuments of Egypt, built over generations.

Furthermore, the Cardano founder remarked that society seems to have lost its appetite for grand projects. He argued that if the crypto community aspires to create a global society where everyone is equal and has a voice, it should treat this vision as the great project of our time—one that everyone can connect with and feel a sense of ownership over.

Hoskinson hopes that Cardano can inspire the world to remember the lesson that innovation never dies through decentralization. He believes that with good governance, the best ideas can flourish.

Overall, the Cardano founder is confident that by embracing a commitment to long-term, horizontal thinking, Cardano can make major progress and improve with each passing decade.

Expert Predicts Timeline for XRP to Finally Trigger a “Vertical Giga Send Out of the Blue”

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An Ichimoku Cloud analysis of XRP price has led to the identification of a potential rally window, should the sideways movements persist. 

Analyst Dr. Pastet, who employs the Ichimoku Cloud frequently in his reviews, pointed out a period around late December 2024 through early January 2025, where XRP may experience a major price movement if current conditions hold. 

The chart presented important Ichimoku Cloud elements, which include the Kumo cloud, Tenkan-Sen, Kijun-Sen, and Chikou Span (CS). Specifically, Dr. Pastet focused on the Chikou Span tracing as crucial in the XRP’s current price structure.

The Chikou Span and the Kumo Break

According to the analyst, XRP’s price has been consolidating in a choppy manner within a range, with several wicks on the weekly chart indicating indecision in the market. 

Notably, throughout this year, XRP has mainly traded between $0.46 and $0.65, with a few surges above $0.70 and some declines toward $0.40. Amid the ongoing market price action, the analyst called attention to the persistent Chikou Span (CS) tracing.

XRP Ichimoku Cloud Analysis Dr Pastet
XRP Ichimoku Cloud Analysis | Dr Pastet

Dr. Pastet noted that if the Chikou Span continues to follow the current trajectory, XRP might begin a major rally as early as late December 2024, with early January 2025 also being a key time frame to watch. He predicts a “vertical giga send” that could begin “out of the blue.”

The Chikou Span tracing shows past price action, and when it syncs with major support levels and interacts with the Kumo cloud, it can signal potential bullish or bearish breakouts. In this case, Dr. Pastet expects a bullish move. 

He further stressed that the Kumo cloud, which represents support and resistance levels, becomes thin around the first week of January 2025. A thin Kumo indicates that the market is more susceptible to breakouts, as the cloud offers less resistance than during thicker periods. 

Confluence in XRP Ichimoku Signals

Dr. Pastet pointed out that there is a confluence between the Chikou Span tracing and the thinning Kumo cloud. This combination increases the probability of XRP breaking upward if the price can maintain its current levels for the next couple of months. 

If XRP can continue to consolidate around its current range into the week starting on Dec. 30, 2024, and the cloud remains thin, the market might witness a sharp upward movement. However, the analyst also warns that this scenario only plays out if XRP continues its choppy price action.

Although a rally could occur sooner, based on the unpredictable nature of the market, the time frame around the first week of January 2025 is where this particular setup has the highest likelihood of materializing.

XRP Short-Term Outlook

Meanwhile, another market analyst, TraderSZ, recently complemented Dr. Pastet’s bullish analysis with a short-term outlook. 

He recently shared a daily chart confirming that XRP trades within a tighter range, with important levels such as $0.6086 acting as mid-range resistance and $0.4870 marking strong support.

The chart predicts a possible bullish move with XRP hovering near the $0.5480 level, where TraderSZ has initiated a long position.

If XRP breaks above the mid-range at $0.6086, the next major resistance area would be around $0.6889, followed by a possible target near the 2022 high of $0.9260. However, if XRP loses support at $0.5283, it could head towards the lower support zones near $0.4870.

Elon Musk Reveals His Attraction to Dogecoin: A Love for Humor, Dogs, and Memes

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Dogecoin (DOGE) recently surged above $0.15 following a notable statement from entrepreneur Elon Musk.

Although the uptrend quickly waned, with DOGE retracing to the $0.14 range, it is currently trading at $0.1459. This still reflects a 2.03% rise in the last 24 hours and a substantial 29.23% increase over the past seven days.

The recent gains in Dogecoin coincided with Musk’s revelation that his interest in the cryptocurrency stems from its playful and humorous nature. He mentioned that he enjoys making jokes about Dogecoin because it has “the best sense of humor.”

He added that Dogecoin’s combination of dogs and memes aligns with his personal preferences.

Trump-Musk Political Connections Impacting Dogecoin

Musk’s remarks come amid growing ties with Donald Trump. He recently pledged $75 million to Trump’s campaign and other Republican candidates through his America PAC.

Musk’s increasing political involvement and support for cryptocurrency have sparked speculation about potential crypto-friendly reforms if Trump is re-elected. His endorsement of pro-crypto attorney John Deaton, running against Senator Elizabeth Warren in Massachusetts, further underscores this perspective.

In August, when asked about leading a hypothetical government department for public sector efficiency, Musk simply replied, “D.O.G.E.” This followed Trump’s suggestion to appoint him as head of a potential “Department of Government Efficiency.”

The acronym “D.O.G.E.” appeared to boost investor interest in Dogecoin. The link between Musk’s endorsements and DOGE’s price movements has been a recurring theme, with the coin frequently spiking after his public mentions.

Dogecoin has seen significant volatility over the years, driven by Musk’s endorsements. In May 2021, DOGE reached an all-time market cap of $88 billion after Musk’s promotion during an SNL skit where he called himself the “dogefather.” Although it dipped to $0.05 in late 2023, DOGE rebounded to $0.22 in March 2024, fueled by Bitcoin’s rise after the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs.

However, the meme coin experienced a 10% decline in June, linked to concerns about rising interest rates. Since then, DOGE has remained stable, with recent bullish movements indicating renewed investor interest.