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Ethereum Price Forecast for Mar 9: Here’s What to Expect as ETH Tests $2,000 While Channel Support Holds

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Ethereum tests key psychological resistance zone while buyers continue defending channel support.

Ethereum (ETH) trades near $1,985, posting a 2.0% gain over the past 24 hours as the market shows signs of a short-term rebound. The intraday chart illustrates several swings throughout the session, with the price trading between $1,922 and $2,009. After dipping toward the lower end of that band during the early hours, Ethereum gradually recovered and pushed higher, briefly testing the $2,000 level before easing slightly.

The chart reveals a sequence of higher intraday pushes that has lifted the asset from the mid-$1,930 region toward the $2,000 mark, signaling improving short-term sentiment. Even so, the price still fluctuates near this psychological level as traders evaluate whether the recent upward movement can develop into a stronger breakout.

Ethereum Price Analysis

Looking at the technical charts, Ethereum trades at just above $1,970 after stabilizing following a sharp decline earlier in the trend.

Recent candles indicate the asset is forming a sideways consolidation range around the $1,900–$2,050 region, suggesting the market is attempting to establish a short-term base following the downtrend over the weekend. Price movement remains relatively tight compared with the earlier sell-off, indicating that volatility has cooled as buyers and sellers compete for control near current levels.

ETH 1D Price Chart
ETH 1D Price Chart

Momentum indicators provide additional insight into the current structure. The Chande Momentum Oscillator sits slightly above the neutral line near 2, signaling that bullish and bearish pressure are nearly balanced in the market. Meanwhile, the Connors RSI indicator has climbed toward 71, approaching the upper range typically associated with stronger buying activity.

This shift suggests that short-term bullish momentum may be building as Ethereum tests the upper edge of its consolidation zone. If the asset maintains this momentum, it could attempt to challenge resistance near the $2,000–$2,100 area, while a loss of strength may keep the market moving sideways in the near term.

Ethereum Support is Getting Defended

Meanwhile, crypto analyst Jonathan Carter highlights that Ethereum is currently rebounding from the lower boundary of an ascending channel on the weekly chart. This structure has guided price movement for an extended period.

Ethereum Prediction
Ethereum Prediction

According to the analysis, the recent pullback brought ETH into a key support zone near the bottom of the channel, where buyers have stepped in to defend the level. The rebound suggests the broader channel structure remains intact for now, indicating that the market is attempting to stabilize after the recent decline.

The analyst notes that holding above this support keeps the broader bullish framework in place and creates what he describes as a favorable risk-reward setup for a potential recovery move.

If Ethereum continues to defend the lower trendline and momentum strengthens, the chart outlines several possible upside targets along the channel structure. These include $2,350, $2,800, $3,550, $4,700, and $5,700, which align with previous resistance zones within the trend. 

Bitcoin Price Prediction for Mar 9: Can BTC Reclaim $71K as Analyst Points to Historic Accumulation Zone?

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Bitcoin trades near key support as analysts highlight a historic accumulation area. Where’s BTC headed?

Bitcoin (BTC) is lower by about 1.16% over the past 24 hours, with the price trading near $67,973 as the market experiences mild short-term volatility. The intraday chart shows BTC initially moving above the $68,000 region before momentum weakened and the price slipped toward the $66,000 area. 

After touching this lower range, buyers return and push the asset back upward, allowing Bitcoin to recover much of the earlier decline while continuing to fluctuate between roughly $66,000 and $68,000.

Bitcoin posts a 3.42% rise over the last week, suggesting short-term buying pressure is gradually returning. However, the broader trend still reflects weakness, with BTC down 3.64% over 30 days and 25% across 90 days. This leaves traders watching closely to see whether the recent rebound marks the beginning of a stronger recovery.

Will Bitcoin See a Stronger Recovery?

Notably, Bitcoin is moving within the daily Bollinger Bands indicator after a decline from higher levels earlier in the day. The middle band (20-day SMA) around $67,471 is currently acting as a short-term pivot point, with price fluctuating slightly above it. Meanwhile, the upper Bollinger Band near $71,261 forms the nearest resistance zone, while the lower band around $63,681 provides the next key support if selling pressure returns. 

Bitcoin 1D Analysis
Bitcoin 1D Analysis

Meanwhile, momentum indicators provide additional context for the current structure. The Aroon indicator shows Aroon Up above 64% while Aroon Down sits around 7%. This signals that recent upward price activity is strengthening while bearish momentum continues to fade in the current trend. 

If Bitcoin maintains support above the middle Bollinger Band and begins pushing toward the $71,000 resistance region, the asset could attempt a short-term recovery. Failure to hold above the current support zone may expose Bitcoin to another test of the $63,000–$64,000 range, where the lower band aligns with potential demand.

Best Accumulation Zone Yet?

Elsewhere, crypto analyst Trader Tardigrade highlights that Bitcoin is currently approaching a historically important technical level on the monthly chart. According to the analyst, the 20-month exponential moving average (EMA) has repeatedly acted as a key accumulation zone for long-term holders throughout previous market cycles.

In earlier phases of Bitcoin’s trend, price pullbacks toward this moving average often coincided with periods where investors accumulated positions before the market resumed a broader upward trajectory.

Bitcoin 1M Analysis
Bitcoin 1M Analysis

The chart shared by the analyst identifies several historical accumulation areas where Bitcoin retraced toward the 20-month EMA before continuing its long-term rally. The latest pullback places Bitcoin in what the analyst describes as “Accumulation Zone 4,” suggesting the market may again be testing a level that historically attracted long-term buyers. The analyst also notes that such technical setups appear infrequently.

Ripple Execs Reflect on Early Resistance, Say XRP Technology Threatened Established Systems

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Ripple executives Brad Garlinghouse and Monica Long reflected on the hostility the company faced in its early years, suggesting that certain influential figures were afraid of XRP technology. 

Speaking at XRP Australia 2026, they argued that recent disclosures from the Jeffrey Epstein files indicate that certain influential figures from MIT Media Lab feared Ripple’s rise. In their views, early resistance to Ripple’s technology may have gone beyond typical market competition.

Key Points

  • Brad Garlinghouse and Monica Long reflected on the hostility Ripple faced during its early years.
  • They acknowledged that Chris Larsen’s long-standing suspicion that influential figures were working against Ripple gained credibility after the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files.
  • The documents suggest that individuals linked to Jeffrey Epstein monitored Ripple and XRP in their early stages and warned others against investing in the projects.
  • Garlinghouse added that some influential figures likely feared Ripple because its technology was far ahead of its time.

Hostility Against Ripple in Its Early Days 

During a discussion at XRP Australia 2026, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and President Monica Long revisited the intense criticism the company encountered during its early days.

Long explained that while leading Ripple’s communications and marketing efforts, she frequently noticed hostility that seemed unusually intense. She said the backlash against Ripple often felt disproportionate and difficult to explain at the time.

Garlinghouse echoed this view. He noted that Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen had long suspected that certain influential figures were working against the company. In particular, Larsen repeatedly suggested that Joichi Ito, the former head of the MIT Media Lab, held negative views about XRP and Ripple.

Garlinghouse admitted he initially considered Larsen’s concerns somewhat conspiratorial. However, later developments made some of those suspicions appear more credible.

For instance, he pointed out that Gary Gensler, who later became chair of the U.S. SEC, had ties to the MIT Media Lab ecosystem. Furthermore, Garlinghouse said that recent disclosures from the Jeffrey Epstein files reinforced Larsen’s earlier claims. 

Ripple’s Reference in Epstein Files  

Indeed, the files revealed several notable references to Ripple. The Epstein files indicate that Ripple and XRP were monitored during their early development. For example, an unidentified individual reportedly informed Jeffrey Epstein that Ripple co-founder Jed McCaleb was working on a ‘secret Bitcoin-related project,’ which later became the XRP Ledger. 

Another disclosure showed that Austin Hill, co-founder of Blockstream, advised Joichi Ito and Epstein against investing in Ripple and Stellar, describing the projects as threats to the industry. 

In addition, the documents revealed that Epstein made inquiries about Gary Gensler, who later served as SEC chair during most of the Ripple lawsuit from early 2021 to early 2025. 

During that period, critics often questioned the U.S. SEC’s aggressive approach in the case. Notably, Judge Sarah Netburn criticized the agency, stating that it had not shown “faithful allegiance to the law.”

Influential Figures Viewed XRP Tech as a Threat

Looking back at Ripple’s early years, Garlinghouse suggested that the company’s technology, built around XRP Ledger (XRPL), may have appeared threatening to some institutions. In his view, Ripple’s blockchain-based payment infrastructure was far ahead of its time and directly challenged established financial systems.

Nonetheless, despite the alleged hostility, Garlinghouse emphasized that he remains focused on building. His commentary aligns with the company’s focus on advancing its long-term mission to transform global payments by delivering faster, lower-cost settlement solutions.

Meanwhile, the company recently disclosed that Ripple Payments, which has processed more than $100 billion in transactions across over 60 markets, now provides businesses with an integrated platform that includes managed custody and unified collections. 

American Actor Terrence Howard Says Bitcoin ‘is Going to Die’

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Oscar-nominated actor Terrence Howard said he avoids Bitcoin and believes the cryptocurrency could eventually fail.

Key Points

  • Terrence Howard believes Bitcoin could eventually fail because it still relies on fiat-based financial systems.
  • The actor revealed he declined a $25 million Bitcoin trading opportunity despite the potential returns.
  • Howard maintains less than 1% of his investment portfolio in Bitcoin, reflecting his cautious stance on crypto.
  • He cited global economic uncertainty and geopolitical tensions as factors that could threaten digital assets.
  • Bitcoin supporters pushed back, highlighting the network’s decentralization, uninterrupted operation since 2008, and fixed 21 million supply.

Terrence Howard Voices Doubts About Bitcoin

Terrence Howard, best known for his role in Iron Man, has expressed skepticism about Bitcoin’s long-term prospects.

Speaking on episode 753 of the PBD Podcast, Howard discussed his investment philosophy and made it clear that he largely avoids cryptocurrency. According to the actor, he believes Bitcoin could ultimately fail.

Howard explained that his hesitation comes from how he perceives Bitcoin’s relationship with fiat-based financial systems. In his opinion, the cryptocurrency ecosystem still depends on the dynamics of traditional currencies, which he believes could introduce long-term vulnerabilities.

He also pointed to broader economic and geopolitical concerns. The actor referenced the declining value of the U.S. dollar and uncertainty surrounding potential tensions between the United States and Iran. In his view, these pressures contribute to global financial instability, raising the risk that digital assets could become vulnerable to sudden disruptions.

Turning Down a $25 Million Bitcoin Opportunity

Howard’s skepticism recently influenced a significant investment decision. During the podcast conversation, he revealed that a friend recently approached him with a Bitcoin-related trading proposal. The plan involved depositing $25 million into a specialized account designed to generate approximately $75,000 in returns.

Despite the potential gains, Howard said he declined the opportunity. His concerns about Bitcoin’s reliance on fiat currency ultimately made him uncomfortable moving forward with the investment.

Even so, he clarified that he is not completely absent from the market. Howard noted that less than one percent of his portfolio is currently allocated to Bitcoin.

The actor also discussed the cryptocurrency’s historical price volatility. During the interview, he referenced previous price movements from about $18,000 to higher ranges near $40,000, $60,000, and $125,000. 

Howard suggested that such shifts often follow recurring multi-year cycles, though he acknowledged that market behavior can change unexpectedly.

Bitcoin Supporters Respond to the Claims

Howard’s comments quickly drew responses from Bitcoin supporters. Many advocates emphasized the network’s decentralized structure, noting that thousands of independent nodes maintain the system worldwide. Supporters also highlighted Bitcoin’s operational history. Since its launch in 2008, the network has continued running without interruption. 

In addition, Bitcoin’s supply is permanently capped at 21 million coins, a feature that proponents say protects it from inflation. Because of these factors, many in the crypto community disagree with predictions that the asset could disappear.

Bitcoin’s Current Market Position

As of this writing, Bitcoin’s price stood at $67,592, reflecting a 0.6% gain over the previous 24 hours.

Despite the uptick, the cryptocurrency remains well below its historical peak. Bitcoin reached an all-time high of $126,080 on October 6, 2025. The current price, therefore, sits about 47% lower than that record level.

While Howard remains skeptical, many investors continue to view Bitcoin as a long-term store of value.

For his part, the actor said he prefers tangible assets. He indicated that gold and silver remain his favored investments, especially amid ongoing debates about global de-dollarization.

Cardano Branded the “Most Useless Network” In the Crypto Market: Analyst

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Cardano remains one of the largest digital assets by market capitalization, yet questions persist about the rate of its actual network activity.

According to CoinMarketCap, Cardano (ADA) ranks 10th by market cap, with a valuation of $9.18 billion. Despite this, some believe the ecosystem surrounding the blockchain has developed more slowly than many competing platforms, raising questions about whether its market position reflects strong usage or primarily speculative interest.

Key Points

  • Cardano remains one of the largest digital assets by market capitalization, yet questions persist about the extent of actual network activity.
  • Analysis cited the meager amount of capital locked in DeFi applications on the network, compared to major competitors, as a reason Cardano is considered useless.
  • The total value locked across Cardano’s DeFi protocols has historically remained below $1 billion, which is a small fraction of Ethereum and Solana.
  • Another factor is the pace at which the platform introduces new capabilities, as it took it 4 years to integrate smart contract functionalities.
  • Technically, the $0.245 region is an important area to monitor for Cardano, and a break below it paves the way for a steeper decline.

Cardano “Dead Chain” Narrative Remerges

Prominent market analyst Ali Martinez resurrected this argument in an X post over the weekend, where he branded Cardano the “most useless network” in the digital asset market. Notably, one of the indicators he cited for this sentiment is the amount of capital locked within decentralized finance (DeFi) applications on the network. 

According to him, the total value locked across Cardano’s DeFi protocols has historically remained below $1 billion. In contrast, other major platforms have attracted significantly more liquidity and application activity. Even newer blockchains, such as the Sui Network, have already reached higher levels of on-chain activity in a relatively short period.

Cardano TVL/Ali Martinez
Cardano TVL/Ali Martinez

Is ADA Driven by Speculation?

Martinez highlighted that when a blockchain holds a multi-billion-dollar valuation but relatively small amounts of capital circulate within its ecosystem, the price reflects speculative drive rather than widespread adoption. In the case of Cardano, critics argue that the number of active decentralized applications and the overall level of user engagement remain modest compared with some of its competitors.

For context, platforms such as Ethereum have established a strong presence in decentralized finance, while Solana has gained traction through high-speed, consumer-focused applications and large developer communities. These networks have built ecosystems that continually attract developers, liquidity, and users, reinforcing their market position through sustained activity.

By comparison, Cardano has struggled to establish a single dominant sector that consistently drives adoption. Martinez suggested that although the ecosystem is large in valuation and receives support from its community, the overall scale of applications and liquidity across the network remains meager.

Development Pace and Competition Shape the Outlook

Another factor Martinez highlighted is the pace at which the platform introduces new capabilities. Notably, Cardano follows a research-focused development model that emphasizes academic review and formal verification before releasing major updates. 

Proponents argue that this approach can strengthen long-term reliability and security. However, critics note that the process has also slowed the introduction of features compared with other blockchain ecosystems.

Although Cardano launched in 2017, the network did not introduce smart contract functionality until 2021. Prior to the debut, competing platforms had expanded rapidly, establishing detailed DeFi applications, liquidity pools, and developer communities. 

Interestingly, founder Charles Hoskinson has repeatedly mentioned this as one of the mistakes Cardano made in its growth roadmap. Because digital asset platforms often benefit from early network scaling, ecosystems that build first tend to continue attracting new participants. 

Proponents Disagree

Meanwhile, Cardano proponents do not agree with Martinez’s analysis. One notable argument highlighted that ADA has maintained its status quo not because of speculation but for safety reasons.

The user emphasized that the network has never experienced a breach or hack, making it trusted by many. The rewards for staking ADA are also low risk, offering users a stable means of earning passive income. He added that holding the coin in some countries minimizes taxes. In conclusion, each blockchain has its strengths and weaknesses; hence, judging Cardano from a standpoint alone was biased.

Others also highlighted its fixed supply and non-inflationary model as a strength. With the concept of Cardano serving as a DeFi bridge for Bitcoin strengthening, supporters expressed confidence in an impending influx of new users.

Cardano Technical Analysis

From a market perspective, Martinez noted that price behavior remains closely tied to key support levels. He identified the $0.245 region as an important area to monitor for Cardano. If the asset were to fall decisively below that level, it could expose deeper historical zones near $0.112 and potentially $0.051.

For now, that support remains intact, meaning the market has not confirmed a further breakdown. At the time of writing, it trades at $0.256, up 2% in the past 24 hours.

Cardano Holder Dumps ADA for a Massive Loss, Blames ‘Toxic’ Disputes

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Jure Karamarko, founder of SongMarketCap, recounts how a Cardano holder liquidated his entire ADA portfolio for $100,000. 

According to Karamarko, the investor sold ADA at a significant loss, driven not by market fundamentals but by frustration with ongoing community conflicts and ‘toxic discourse’ surrounding the project. The commentary highlights how social dynamics within crypto communities can influence investor sentiment and behavior. 

Key Points 

  • SongMarketCap founder Jure Karamarko’s friend liquidated his entire Cardano holdings worth about $100,000 at a loss. 
  • Karamarko noted that the decision was driven by frustration with internal conflicts and toxic discourse within the Cardano community. 
  • Despite efforts to unite key stakeholders under the Pentad framework, new tensions emerged involving Iagon and its funding arrangements. 
  • Market analyst Dan Gambardello argued that ADA’s recent decline reflects broader market weakness affecting Bitcoin as well.

SongMarketCap Founder’s Friend Sells ADA Over Internal Crisis 

Karamarko shared the story over the weekend, highlighting the emotional toll that community conflicts can have on investors. According to him, one of his friends sold all his ADA holdings, worth about $100,000, despite incurring a substantial loss.

When asked why, the friend pointed to persistent ‘drama’ and hostility within parts of the ecosystem. He argued that certain figures in the community prioritize personal influence, profit, and ego-driven disputes rather than the network’s long-term growth. 

Consequently, he concluded that the environment had become too ‘toxic’ to remain involved in the ecosystem. Despite acknowledging his friend’s frustration, Karamarko emphasized that he plans to remain in the community and hopes conditions improve over time.

Fresh Dispute Rocks Cardano 

Notably, the Cardano ecosystem has experienced several internal disputes in recent years. These range from governance disagreements involving founder Charles Hoskinson and the Cardano Foundation to the controversy surrounding a 350 million ADA voucher.

However, stakeholders have attempted to address these tensions. Five major entities, including Input Output Global, the Midnight Foundation, and the Cardano Foundation, recently aligned under the Pentad framework to coordinate Cardano’s strategic push for the year. 

Nonetheless, new disagreements have surfaced. The latest dispute involves funding issues surrounding Iagon, a cloud computing project built on the network.

Following an update from Hoskinson about the Pentad initiative, Holger Mesiats, CTO of Iagon, publicly challenged him, accusing him of misrepresenting the funding behind Iagon’s integration with Fireblocks.

The integration aims to introduce ADA and Cardano native token support into institutional infrastructure. As a result, the disagreement reignited calls within the community for greater unity among ADA holders. 

ADA Recent Price Action Mirrors Broader Market Performance 

Despite these disputes, some analysts argue that the tensions have little to do with ADA’s recent price performance. Market commentator Dan Gambardello noted that ADA’s decline mirrors a broader market downturn affecting major cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin.

Notably, macroeconomic pressures, including geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, have largely driven the market’s recent weakness. For context, ADA has dropped about 23.4% year-to-date, while Bitcoin has declined roughly 22.8% during the same period.

This reinforces Gambardello’s view that Cardano’s recent slump reflects broader market conditions rather than project-specific issues. 

Hidden XRP/BTC Liquidity Cycle Shows When XRP Could Finally Outperform Bitcoin

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Chart data reveals a hidden XRPBTC liquidity cycle that may provide clues to when XRP could finally outperform Bitcoin.

The XRP/BTC pair has dropped 4.23% in 2025 and currently trades at 0.00002014, with XRP continuing to underperform Bitcoin during the ongoing market-wide downturn that has persisted since Q4 2025. 

However, market data shows XRP currently trades within a repeating liquidity cycle on the XRP/BTC chart that could indicate XRP’s current position in the ongoing downturn and where it may be headed next.

Key Points

  • The XRP/BTC pair has fallen 4.23% in 2025 to 0.00002014 amid XRP’s continued underperformance against Bitcoin since Q4 2025.
  • Data shows an eight-year macro liquidity cycle governing the XRP/BTC pair that may determine when XRP finally gets its breakout against Bitcoin.
  • The cycle features a Green Zone between 0.00009 and 0.0001 BTC, a Red Zone between 0.00000674 and 0.00000817 BTC, and a Gray Area at 0.000017 to 0.0000349 BTC.
  • A break above the upper grey resistance is the key signal to watch, as market data shows this move has historically triggered aggressive capital rotation from Bitcoin into XRP and a rise in XRP’s USD price.

What the XRP/BTC Chart Is Really Telling You

This pattern was recently highlighted by EGRAG Crypto, a well-known market analyst. Speaking on the XRP/BTC pair, EGRAG stressed that most people misread the chart entirely. 

According to him, the pair has nothing to do with XRP’s dollar price. Rather, it shows how XRP is performing against Bitcoin specifically. When this ratio climbs, money moves out of Bitcoin and into XRP, and history shows that is when XRP delivers its biggest gains in dollar terms, too.

EGRAG suggested that this chart was one of the most useful tools for getting ahead of XRP’s next big move. He stressed that the chart features a repeating liquidity cycle that has shown up before every major XRP rally period the market has ever seen.

Two Key XRP Price Zones

The market analyst called attention to two zones on the XRP/BTC monthly chart that determine the cycle. The first is the Green Zone between 0.00009 BTC and 0.0001 BTC. Notably, whenever XRP/BTC pushes into this area, XRP gets dangerously stretched relative to Bitcoin, sellers take control, and a long decline against BTC follows. 

XRPBTC 1M Chart EGRAG Crypto
XRPBTC 1M Chart | EGRAG Crypto

This happened in the 2017 cycle, when the pair closed May 2017 at 0.0001071 BTC before pulling back sharply to 0.000006250 BTC in November 2017, briefly recovering to 0.0002296 BTC, and then crashing again. 

It repeated in the 2019-2021 cycle too, when the pair topped out at 0.00009784 BTC in January 2019 and eventually fell all the way to 0.000000619 BTC by January 2021.

The second is the Red Zone or Capitulation Zone, ranging between 0.00000674 BTC and 0.00000817 BTC. When XRP/BTC falls into this area, XRP gets deeply undervalued against Bitcoin, buyers quietly start building positions, and a strong stretch of outperformance follows.

The pair entered this zone in the 2014 bottom when XRP dropped to 0.00000442 BTC in July 2014, again at the 2020 bottom when it reached 0.00000619 BTC in January 2021, and then once more during the 2024-2025 sweep when it traded between 0.00000662 and 0.00000690 BTC from June through November 2024.

Why the Current Sideways Action Is Actually a Good Sign

After the November 2024 rally, the XRP/BTC pair moved into a tight range that EGRAG highlights with a white box on the right side of the chart. The box runs from the January 2025 high of 0.00003419 BTC down to around 0.000017 BTC. 

At its current price of 0.00002014 BTC, the pair sits in the middle of this range and has been moving within this area since the November 2024 rally. It bounces between a lower grey support band below and an upper grey resistance band above, and EGRAG says this is exactly what a healthy accumulation phase looks like.

According to him, this kind of sideways action happens when volatility dies down, fresh liquidity builds up, and momentum quietly gathers steam ahead of the next big move. EGRAG believes this compression does not indicate weakness but represents a market loading up before it breaks out.

Past XRP Recoveries Tell Us What Comes Next

Every time XRP has bounced from the Capitulation Zone, the same three things have followed: a period of sideways movement, a push above key resistance, and then a sharp outperformance against Bitcoin. 

This happened in 2017, when XRP surged 5,452% from 0.00000442 BTC in March 2017 all the way to 0.0002454 BTC by May 2017, the highest level the XRP/BTC pair has ever traded in its entire history. This also played out in 2021, with the pair climbing from 0.00000619 BTC in January 2021 to 0.00003909 BTC by May 2021.

What both cycles show is that these moves do not build slowly, arrive fast, and catch most people off guard. According to EGRAG, by the time confirmation appears, much of the move has already happened.

The Eight-Year Cycle

EGRAG suggested that an eight-year macro cycle has dictated the XRP/BTC direction, rotating through four stages: Bitcoin dominance, altcoin suppression, liquidity reset, and finally altcoin expansion, with XRP typically making its biggest move at the end. 

Specifically, the first cycle ran from 2014 to 2017, during which XRP bled lower against Bitcoin for years until it exploded without warning in 2017. 

The second cycle ran as a long reset from 2018 to 2024, as the pair collapsed from its 2017 highs, capital flowed back into Bitcoin, and XRP sat in the shadows for years. From the 2017 peak to the most recent capitulation, roughly seven to eight years passed, and this is enough time for a full cycle to complete.

With the reset now behind it, EGRAG expects 2025 and 2026 to bring continued accumulation before XRP starts pulling ahead of Bitcoin and the expansion phase kicks in.

According to him, the signal worth watching is a clean break above the upper grey resistance band on the XRP/BTC chart at the January 2025 high of 0.00003419. Notably, this same move has historically kicked off aggressive money rotation from Bitcoin into XRP and sent the XRP/USD price higher.

Anthropic LLM Claude Shares XRP Price Predictions for End of 2026

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Claude, the AI model from Anthropic, has shared XRP price predictions for the end of 2026 amid the current market conditions.

XRP has dropped 26.61% year-to-date, on track to record its largest yearly decline since the 2022 bear market. The latest crash follows an 11.51% drop from last year, as XRP has failed to engineer the bullish momentum predicted by most analysts for this year.

Amid the ongoing downturn, we recently asked Anthropic’s large language model Claude to share its XRP price predictions for the end of 2026, considering the current bearish market conditions.

Key Points

  • XRP currently trades at $1.35 after shedding 26.61% of its value since the start of 2026 due to a broader market weakness.
  • Amid the extensive downturn, it remains unclear what XRP’s price could be by the end of 2026, prompting predictions from Anthropic’s Claude.
  • Claude said Bitcoin’s performance and overall macro sentiment were the most important variables that could determine XRP’s trajectory for the rest of the year.
  • Its base case, carrying a 50% probability, projects XRP recovering to $2.00-$2.80, due to a stabilizing crypto market, modest ETF inflow growth, and progress on the Clarity Act.
  • The bearish scenario, with a 25% probability, sees XRP falling back to $0.90-$1.20 if the Clarity Act stalls and ETF inflows remain weak.
  • The bullish case, also at 25%, puts XRP between $4.50 and $6.50, requiring the Clarity Act to pass Bitcoin to record a strong second-half rally.

XRP Drops to $0.9 to $1.2 in Bear Case

Despite XRP’s current struggles, Claude stressed that the ecosystem looks bullish amid XRPL upgrades, ETF inflows, discussions around the Clarity Act, and Ripple’s continuous growth. According to the AI, the question is whether overall crypto sentiment turns around in time for these positives to actually move the price before year-end.

For its bearish scenario, Claude expects XRP to slide back into the $0.90 to $1.20 range, with a 25% probability. This would play out if the broader crypto market does not get back on its feet in 2026. 

Bearish XRP Price Prediction for 2026 Claude
Bearish XRP Price Prediction for 2026 | Claude

In this scenario, Bitcoin stays flat or keeps falling, dragging altcoins along with it, while investors stay cautious amid ongoing macroeconomic pressure, tighter global liquidity, or a wider pullback in equities.

On the regulatory front, Claude flagged that the Clarity Act could stall or get watered down in Congress, which would remove one of the key catalysts XRP has been counting on. In addition, ETF inflows, although present, remain small and fail to generate any significant price momentum. Meanwhile, XRPL’s upgrades generate interest but not enough activity on-chain to matter.

XRP Hits $2.00 to $2.80 in Base Case

Meanwhile, Claude’s base case sets a recovery to the $2.00 to $2.80 range. The LLM chatbot presented this as the most likely outcome, giving it a 50% probability. 

Here, the broader crypto market finds its footing and gradually moves higher through the middle of 2026 as macro pressures begin to ease. In addition, Bitcoin steadies itself and lifts the rest of the market with it, and XRP gets a bigger-than-average boost.

Base XRP Price Prediction for 2026 Claude
Base XRP Price Prediction for 2026 | Claude

Claude sees the Clarity Act making progress in this scenario, maybe not a full pass, but enough movement to give institutions the confidence to increase their XRP exposure. 

Also, ETF inflows pick up at a modest pace, and XRPL’s upgrades start attracting actual use cases around tokenized assets and cross-border payments. Claude called this a grounded recovery, not a blowout, but a meaningful rebound that takes XRP back above its current losses.

XRP Hits $4.5 to $6.5 in Bull Case

Claude suggested that XRP could rise to $4.5 to $6.5 in the bullish scenario, which it gave a 25% probability. Notably, in this scenario, the crypto market kicks into a strong rally in the second half of the year, led by Bitcoin momentum, fresh institutional money, and looser global liquidity. 

Bullish XRP Price Prediction for 2026 Claude
Bullish XRP Price Prediction for 2026 | Claude

Also, the Clarity Act will either pass or move far enough forward to trigger a wave of institutional buying. If this happens, Claude noted that XRP would be one of the best-positioned assets to benefit from the opportunity.

Meanwhile, this scenario also would see XRP ETFs pull in serious inflows, XRPL gain real traction in institutional DeFi and tokenization, and a major financial institution announce it is plugging into the network. 

XRP News: Ripple CEO Says Investors Will Be Very Happy in 5 Years

XRP holders are making merry amid comments from Brad Garlinghouse suggesting that patient investors could see meaningful results over the next several years.

Community figure “BankXP” recently shared a video on X in which Garlinghouse indicated that today’s investors could find themselves in a “very happy place” within five years as institutional adoption of blockchain technology continues to accelerate.

The remarks came during discussions at the XRP Australia 2026 conference, where industry leaders highlighted the steady integration of blockchain into global finance.

Key Points

  • Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse says investors could be in a very happy place within five years.

  • The comment points to accelerating institutional adoption of blockchain and tokenization across global finance.

  • Ripple leaders say blockchain adoption happens through many small steps that eventually create exponential impact.

  • Executives argue real financial transformation may take a decade despite slower short-term price growth.

Long-Term Outlook for XRP Investors

BankXP summarized the key takeaway from Garlinghouse’s outlook as a call for investors to “play the long game”. The argument centers on the belief that institutional adoption is no longer a future possibility but a trend already unfolding.

Major financial institutions are exploring tokenization, stablecoins, and blockchain-based settlement systems. For XRP supporters, this shift strengthens the case for XRP’s role in global payments infrastructure.

Garlinghouse has previously pointed to macro factors driving the industry’s expansion. In earlier remarks, he predicted the total cryptocurrency market could surpass $5 trillion as institutional capital continues flowing into digital assets.

With the crypto market currently at $2.40 trillion, the outlook suggests the potential for more than double the current valuations of crypto assets.

Ripple’s Vision for XRP

Garlinghouse has repeatedly stated that XRP remains central to Ripple’s strategy. The company continues to build financial infrastructure to connect traditional banking systems with blockchain networks.

According to Ripple leadership, progress toward that vision happens through many incremental steps rather than a single breakthrough moment. As more institutions experiment with blockchain-based payments, custody solutions, and tokenized assets, Garlinghouse suggests those “switches” will gradually combine into something significantly rewarding over the long term.

In his words:

“There’s not one switch; there are hundreds and thousands of switches. It is all of these little switches until they really have an exponential impact.”

Adoption Metrics Suggest Structural Change

During an interview, Evernorth CEO Asheesh Birla also addressed the disconnect some investors feel between blockchain adoption and token prices. Birla explained that short-term price movements often fail to reflect the technological shift underway.

According to him, the growth of stablecoins, tokenized value, and institutional experimentation with blockchain marks a major transformation in financial infrastructure. Just a few years ago, many questioned whether anyone was actually using the technology. Today, new announcements about financial institutions going on-chain appear almost daily.

This expanding adoption landscape shows that the industry has progressed significantly compared with where it stood three years ago.

Patience Matters

Birla also stressed that innovation cycles in financial technology unfold over longer timeframes than many investors expect.

While some market participants focus on one- or two-year horizons, Birla argued that meaningful structural change typically takes closer to a decade.

Institutions need time to allocate capital, integrate new systems, and adjust regulatory frameworks before large-scale blockchain adoption becomes visible in markets.

For that reason, he described the long-term outlook for blockchain technology as bullish, even if short-term price performance does not always match adoption metrics.

“I Learnt That 10,000 XRP is Not Enough,” Crypto Rumor Mill Owner Says

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The owner of Crypto Rumor Mill recently revealed that he learnt 10,000 XRP may not be enough for investors looking for the big break.

Investors have continued to assess how much XRP they may need to actually retire off their investments, as predictions suggesting XRP could rally to greater heights dominate community discussions despite the ongoing market turbulence.

Amid these assessments, Fox (@AltcoinFoxx), the owner of community-driven crypto platform Crypto Rumor Mill, revealed that he recently learned that 10,000 XRP may not be enough, especially for investors looking to secure that big break.

Key Points

  • As investors assess how much they need to retire from XRP, the Crypto Rumor Mill owner has confirmed hearing that 10,000 tokens may not be enough.
  • If an investor procured 10,000 XRP today, they would spend $13,600, as opposed to $36,000 in July 2025, when XRP traded at the peak of $3.6.
  • If XRP claims the $10 target often discussed by market analysts, the 10,000 tokens would be worth just $100,000, barely enough for retirement in most regions.
  • XRP investors with 10,000 tokens would need the price of the token to reach the ambitious $100 to become millionaires.
  • Those holding 100,000 tokens, currently worth $136,000, would become millionaires once XRP claims the $10, representing a much more achievable dream.

XRP Downturn Offers Accumulation Opportunity

Fox disclosed his latest findings in a post on X, as market participants insist that the ongoing XRP market downturn presents an accumulation opportunity for XRP investors. For context, XRP has dropped 62% from its all-time high of $3.6, currently changing hands around $1.36, after five consecutive months of losses.

While panic has spread across the scene, market commentators believe an opportunity has opened up. For instance, Crypto Patel questioned last month whether the current XRP position was the best buy opportunity for market participants. Analyst CoinsKid also suggested that XRP’s downturn, which marked the C Wave of an ABC correction, was an “opportunity.”

How Much XRP Is Enough?

However, if the current downturn does present an accumulation opportunity, the important question is: how much XRP will be enough for investors looking for that big break? Fox disclosed in his recent post that 10,000 tokens may not be enough, citing rumors.

10000 XRP Not Enough Altcoin Fox
10000 XRP Not Enough | Altcoin Fox

For context, multiple XRP community figures have suggested that investors procure at least 10,000 XRP tokens. For instance, last April, Edoardo Farina, the Alpha Lions Academy founder, claimed that market participants could attain financial freedom in the future by just holding 10,000 XRP.

XRP at $10

Today, some commentaries suggest 10,000 tokens may not be enough. This is largely due to the price targets market analysts regard as feasible for XRP. Notably, the $10 price remains one of the most-discussed targets in the community, but nearly every analyst concedes that it remains highly feasible.

At the $10 price, which represents a 635% increase from the current price of $1.36, those holding 10,000 XRP tokens would see their investments grow from the current $13,600 value to $100,000. While this represents an impressive gain, it may not be sufficient for retirement in most economies.

XRP at $100

Interestingly, a few market pundits have discussed the possibility of an XRP rally to $100, which would represent a much more substantial 7,252% rise from the current price. However, most analysts insist that the $100 target remains too ambitious to materialize in the current market conditions. 

Nonetheless, this marks the target that investors with 10,000 XRP need to hit the millionaire target. Specifically, at the $100 price, those holding 10,000 tokens would sit on investments worth $1 million. But the $100 target may currently be out of reach for XRP, dashing these investors’ millionaire dreams.

For XRP investors to reach the millionaire status at feasible prices, such as $10, they would need to hold more than 10,000 XRP tokens. Specifically, investors holding 100,000 XRP, currently worth $136,000, would see their balance grow to $1 million if XRP just claimed the $10 price.