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Bernstein Maintains $150,000 Bitcoin Forecast Despite Market Pullback

Lele Jima
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Bernstein Maintains $150,000 Bitcoin Forecast Despite Market Pullback

Despite Bitcoin’s recent downturn this month, brokerage firm Bernstein reaffirms its $150,000 price target for Bitcoin by the end of 2026. 

Bernstein’s recent analysis suggests the current downturn is a temporary confidence shock rather than a fundamental breakdown. Its analysts suggested that if liquidity conditions improve, Bitcoin could quickly reassert its growth trajectory toward the $150,000 region by year-end, supported by deeper institutional infrastructure and broader real-world integration. 

Key Points 

  • Bernstein reaffirmed its $150,000 Bitcoin price target for end-2026, despite recent market weakness.
  • Analysts labeled the pullback the weakest bear case in Bitcoin’s history, stressing it reflects a confidence shock rather than a breakdown in fundamentals.
  • Bitcoin’s lag behind gold was expected, as the asset still trades as a liquidity-sensitive risk asset rather than a mature safe haven.
  • Bernstein dismissed claims that AI undermines Bitcoin’s relevance, arguing blockchain infrastructure remains essential for agent-driven digital finance.

Bitcoin to $150K Still in Play 

Bernstein analysts, led by Gautam Chhugani, reaffirmed their bullish long-term outlook for Bitcoin, describing the ongoing correction as the weakest bear case in the asset’s history. In a note to clients today, they argued that the pullback, which pushed BTC down to $60,001, reflects a crisis of confidence rather than any failure of Bitcoin’s underlying system or investment thesis.

Moreover, the firm stressed that none of the traditional triggers behind past Bitcoin crashes, including systemic breakdowns, hidden leverage, or major insolvencies, have emerged this cycle. 

Instead, Bernstein said the market is entering an unprecedented phase of institutional alignment, supported by a pro-Bitcoin U.S. administration, accelerating spot Bitcoin ETF adoption, growing corporate treasury exposure, and sustained engagement from global asset managers.

On this basis, the analysts reaffirmed their $150,000 Bitcoin price target by the end of 2026. From current levels at $69,169, Bitcoin would need to gain roughly 117%, implying a market cap of about $3 trillion. 

Why Bitcoin Lagged Gold

Meanwhile, Bernstein addressed concerns over Bitcoin’s recent underperformance relative to gold, which surged to new highs above $5,600 amid broader market stress. The firm said this divergence was expected, noting that Bitcoin has yet to fully mature into a safe-haven asset and continues to trade primarily as a liquidity-sensitive risk asset. 

However, the analysts added that improving financial conditions could reverse this trend, with ETF inflows and corporate capital channels positioned to drive renewed demand for BTC. 

Moreover, Bernstein dismissed claims that Bitcoin is becoming irrelevant in an AI-driven economy. According to analysts, both programmable wallets and blockchain networks are well-suited for emerging “agentic” digital environments that require global, machine-readable financial rails.

Growing Conviction in Bitcoin Surge to $150K and Beyond 

Beyond Bernstein, Standard Chartered analysts also project Bitcoin could reach $150,000, reinforcing the growing consensus among bullish forecasters. However, Bernstein’s $150,000 target for 2026 appears conservative when compared with more aggressive projections from industry leaders.

For instance, Binance’s former CEO Changpeng Zhao (CZ) has described this year as the start of a Bitcoin “super cycle,” suggesting significantly higher upside to around $200,000. Similarly, Jack Mallers, CEO of Twenty One Capital, expects Bitcoin to surpass its October 2025 peak of $126,198 and climb toward $200,000 before the end of 2026. 

Cardano Is a Great Asset: Top Crypto YouTuber

Elendu Benedict
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Cardano Is a Great Asset: Top Crypto YouTuber

“Great asset,” Cardano has returned to the spotlight as analysis highlights the cryptocurrency might be nearing its bottom.

This comes as Cardano trades near multi-month lows, as bears dominate proceedings in the crypto market. ADA is down 3% in the past 24 hours, extending its year-to-date correction to 21%. Still, bullish sentiments remain among enthusiasts.

Key Points

  • “Great asset” Cardano has returned to the spotlight as analysis highlights the cryptocurrency might be nearing its bottom.
  • An alignment between the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and the historical price base on higher timeframes as an indication of a price bottom.
  • Whenever ADA’s RSI drops into the oversold territory at 30, it has historically marked turning points for the coin.
  • If ADA continues to defend its current support level, there may be room for a massive rebound.

Cardano Is a Great Asset

A recent commentary from well-known crypto analyst and YouTuber Jeeb McAfee, aka Crypto Jebb, described ADA as “a great asset.” He did so while highlighting the asset’s massive potential as prices trade at levels described as good prices.

His remarks framed Cardano as a great buy, with many bullish ecosystem developments imminent. Recall that Midnight mainnet, the Leios Ouruboros upgrade, and so much more could debut on Cardano this year.

Another strong point is that ADA has a fixed supply of 45 billion tokens, a feature it shares with only a few major cryptocurrencies, such as Bitcoin and XRP. According to him, this makes the blue-chip asset great and currently at a “fantastic” price to buy.

Notably, he mentioned this while quoting Charlie Munger, the vice chairman of Berkshire Hathaway. Although Munger took a cautious stance on crypto, his popular quote, “buy great assets at good prices,” may apply to Cardano at the moment.

Momentum Indicators Hint at a Bottom

Beyond fundamentals, Crypto Jebb suggests Cardano may be nearing its bottom. He cited the alignment between the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and the historical price base on higher timeframes as an indication.

Whenever ADA’s RSI drops into the oversold territory at 30, it has historically marked turning points for the coin. Similar occurrences in December 2022 and October 2023 marked price bottoms that preceded strong rallies.

Cardano Rally After RSI Bottom/Crypto Jebb
Cardano Rally After RSI Bottom/Crypto Jebb

Currently, Cardano has an RSI of 28.03 around these historic bottom areas. The analyst noted that whenever this happens, it has been an extremely favorable opportunity to invest in the cryptocurrency.

Recovery Targets if Support Holds

Notably, if ADA continues to defend its current support level, the analyst sees room for a massive rebound. Crypto Jebb expects potential targets to be between $1.50 and $2 over the next 12 to 24 months. 

A move to $1.50 would represent an 8.52x risk-to-reward ratio, reflecting a 337% rise. Meanwhile, a push toward $2 would spur a 466% increase, representing an 11.8x risk-to-reward ratio.

Still, nothing is guaranteed. Broader market conditions remain unstable, and volatility can delay any recovery. For now, Cardano’s combination of low prices, historical signals, and ecosystem developments makes it worth watching.

Major XRP Adoption Update Expected in ‘Big Week Ahead’

Abdulkarim Abdulwahab
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Major XRP Adoption Update Expected in ‘Big Week Ahead’

The XRP community is gearing up for a pivotal week for XRP adoption.

Key developers and Ripple-affiliated teams are preparing to outline the next phase of the XRP Ledger’s evolution. 

In a tweet, XRPL validator Vet shared high expectations ahead of XRP Community Day, describing the coming days as a “big week” focused on strengthening XRP adoption. 

According to Vet, upcoming discussions will center on the key tools needed to expand XRP’s use, particularly for institutions and regulated markets.

Key Points

  • XRP developers signal a major week ahead as adoption-focused upgrades take center stage.

  • Programmability, privacy, and compliance are key pillars of XRPL’s next evolution.

  • RippleX outlines live features and upcoming tools for institutional DeFi growth.

  • XRP Community Day may offer fresh signals for accelerating institutional adoption.

Focus on Programmability, Privacy, and Compliance

At the center of the conversation is programmability on the XRP Ledger. Planned discussions will explore smart extensions and contract functionality designed to expand what developers can build on XRPL without sacrificing efficiency or security.

Privacy and scalability are also taking center stage. In particular, Vet highlighted Zero-Knowledge Proofs (ZKPs) as a key area of development. These tools would enable more private transactions and scalable financial activity, a critical requirement for enterprise and institutional use cases.

Another major theme is compliance. XRPL developers are working on compliance-focused building blocks, including permissioned domains and decentralized exchange (DEX) enhancements. The goal is to allow compliant financial workflows to operate seamlessly behind the scenes without adding friction for end users.

RippleX Outlines What’s Live and What’s Next on the XRP Ledger

Vet’s remarks followed a RippleX update outlining which XRP Ledger features are already live and what is coming next. RippleX plans to explain how improvements in programmability, privacy, and compliance are directly increasing XRP’s real-world utility.

The session will take place during XRP Community Day on X Spaces, scheduled for February 11 at 1:55 PM ET (or February 12 at 2:55 AM SGT). It will cover native lending, DeFi tools, and how these upgrades support real-world financial use cases. The focus remains on expanding XRP’s role in settlement, liquidity, and on-chain financial services.

Planned speakers include Ayo Akinyele, RippleX’s Head of Software Engineering; Mayukha Vadari, Staff Software Engineer at RippleX; and Jazzi Cooper, Head of Product at RippleX. Community voices such as Vet and Krippenreiter will also take part.

Institutional DeFi Roadmap Comes Into Sharper Focus

Earlier updates from RippleX outlined the broader Institutional DeFi roadmap for the XRP Ledger. The roadmap positions XRP at the core of settlement, foreign exchange, collateral management, and on-chain credit.

According to the roadmap, this year’s focus is on lending, privacy, and permissioned on-chain markets. These developments aim to move XRPL closer to everyday institutional use while keeping the user experience simple and compliant.

As XRP Community Day approaches, expectations are building that this “big week ahead” could offer clearer signals on how XRP adoption may accelerate across both decentralized and institutional finance.

Finance Coach Warns: Anyone Claiming “Insider Knowledge” on XRP Is Fake

Mark Brennan
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Finance Coach Warns: Anyone Claiming “Insider Knowledge” on XRP Is Fake

A finance coach has issued a warning to XRP holders to be wary of influencers who claim to have insider knowledge regarding Ripple and XRP.

The XRP community remains one of the largest and most active in the crypto space, and this has subjected it to multiple scam attempts and a surge of influencers seeking to capitalize on impressions. Some of these influencers often purport to have “insider knowledge” as they look to legitimize their claims.

Meanwhile, a financial coach has warned investors against paying attention to these influencers or making financial decisions based on their commentaries, suggesting that most of the “insider information” is really just a series of responses from AI chatbots like Grok AI and ChatGPT.

Key Points

  • The XRP community remains one of the largest and most active communities in crypto, often dominating global industry discussions.
  • While this active community base has its advantages, it has opened up XRP holders to outright scams and shady influencers.
  • Some of these influencers often purport to have insider knowledge as a way to legitimize their claims around XRP and Ripple.
  • A finance coach has come up to discredit these individuals, warning XRP holders to be wary of them.

“Insider Knowledge”

Coach JV, a well-known commentator, presented this warning in a recent post. Notably, claims of insider knowledge have often dominated the XRP community amid a surge in theories that suggest XRP could rise to higher valuations, such as a three-digit price. These insider knowledge claims have bordered on Ripple partnerships, XRP’s institutional adoption, and price action.

For instance, Kendra Hill, an anonymous XRP community member, sprang up in 2018 and made multiple claims, which many noted would only be based on insider knowledge. She propagated rumors of secret partnerships with large global firms and claimed that XRP and XLM were the “chosen” tokens for the future of finance.

Meanwhile, most recently, a community pundit with the pseudonym “TheXRPGuy” claimed to have met with an investment banker. According to him, the banker suggested that the bottom is in and next week would be “huge for XRP.” He argued that most people would regret not following him. 

TheXRPGuy on X
TheXRPGuy on X

A Stern Warning

Coach JV took to X to discredit claims such as these. While the finance coach remains bullish on XRP, often charging investors to remain patient, he argued that influencers who claim to have any sort of insider knowledge on the behind-the-scenes events surrounding XRP are “full of shit.”

According to Coach JV, these individuals often generate responses from AI chatbots such as Grok and ChatGPT and leverage the information from these responses as “insider knowledge.” Coach JV urged investors to “use discernment” in their dealings within the community.

Why Is This Important?

Coach JV’s advice on using discernment is important to the community because false claims of insider knowledge around XRP and its price can mislead investors into chasing fake certainty. 

Notably, when people trust these claims, they often buy or sell based on hype instead of facts, which increases the risk of losses. Such claims also lead to emotional trading, distort market expectations, and erase trust when the promised outcomes fail to happen.

Bullish and Bearish Scenarios as Cardano Descending Triangle Reaches Crucial Zone

Elendu Benedict
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Bullish and Bearish Scenarios as Cardano Descending Triangle Reaches Crucial Zone

Cardano (ADA) is trending near a key area in a descending triangle, and analysis highlights two possible price scenarios.

The recent downtrend has pushed ADA to the lower support trendline of a tightening descending triangle, suggesting an imminent breakout. How it handles this level would be important in its subsequent direction.

Key Points

  • Cardano (ADA) is trending near a key area in a descending triangle, and analysis highlights two possible price trend scenarios.
  • Cardano entered this triangle since the 2021 peak of $3.10, shuffling between the structure’s top and bottom.
  • Cardano dropped to $0.22 last week, aligning with the bottom of a descending triangle on the weekly chart.
  • ADA could still fall below the lower support level, targeting sub-$0.20, and remain there for a while.
  • However, Cardano and the broader crypto market could “break rules and patterns,” with the former targeting a breakout to $2.99.

Price Scenarios for Cardano

Analysis from Cobra Vanguard identified this crucial area in a recent TradingView commentary. Cardano dropped to $0.22 last week, aligning with the bottom of a descending triangle on the weekly chart.

Cardano entered this triangle following the 2021 peak of $3.10, shuffling between the structure’s top and bottom. Earlier attempts to break above have proven abortive, with the lower support successfully cushioning downward momentum so far.

Cardano Descending Triangle/CobraVanguard
Cardano Descending Triangle/CobraVanguard

While the cryptocurrency has rebounded 18% from last week’s low to its current price, the possibility of a downward move remains. Cobra Vanguard highlighted this as one of the likely scenarios for Cardano, noting that it could still lose this support.

If this does happen, the analyst suggested that ADA would drop below $0.20 and could stay there for a while. Notably, the coin has not fallen below this level since breaking above it in January 2021 to reach the current all-time high and the descending triangle’s top around $3.10.

Breaking below this level places Cardano on course to retest lower support levels at $0.077. Further weakness could drive the asset to its historical price lows around $0.017.

ADA Could “Break Rules and Patterns”

However, the analysis also identified that Cardano and the broader crypto market could “break rules and patterns.” In the meantime, the sector is aligning with the four-year cycle, with Bitcoin peaking at $126,200 in October, then dropping almost 50% from there.

Although most indicators point to a bear market, Cobra Vanguard noted that there is still room for a break in the pattern, which could steer a market recovery. In this scenario, he expects ADA to break above the descending triangle and target higher prices.

Specifically, he sees a push above $0.60 as the first possible step to confirm the breakout before a rally to $2.99. From the current market price of $0.266, this represents a 1,024% price increase.

In the meantime, Cardano remains weak with bears on top. The scenario in which ADA and the crypto market regain bullish momentum remains highly contentious, with some analysts predicting it could take months.

Key Message for Shiba Inu Investors on Winning During Market Downturn 

Lele Jima
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Key Message for Shiba Inu Investors on Winning During Market Downturn 

A prominent Shiba Inu community voice, Shibarium Updates, recently shared a motivational message reinforcing patience, discipline, and long-term conviction among SHIB investors. 

The commentary acts as a behavioral reminder amid growing discussions on what it takes to succeed in the crypto market, especially after the recent massive dip that pushed token prices lower.

Key Points 

  • Shibarium Updates issued a motivational reminder to Shiba Inu investors navigating heightened market volatility and uncertainty. 
  • The message frames emotional control and consistency as competitive advantages in crypto investing. 
  • CryptoQuant data shows rising interest in SHIB, with major exchange outflows recorded over the weekend. 
  • Despite Shiba Inu’s latest recovery attempt, its price still sits over 90% below its previous all-time high. 

Key Reminder 

In a brief reminder, Shibarium Updates urged SHIB holders to stay grounded and focused amid ongoing market uncertainty. The post framed discipline, consistency, and long-term thinking as key competitive advantages.  

Notably, the message emphasized mindset and emotional resilience, echoing a familiar theme within the SHIB community that sustained success often depends more on self-control and persistence than short-term market noise.

Such reminders typically gain traction during volatile or consolidating phases, when frustration and impulsive decisions tend to increase. For SHIB investors, the takeaway is clear: maintaining perspective, protecting one’s mindset, and committing to a long-term strategy are as essential to navigating the highs and lows of the market. 

Investor Reactions to SHIB’s Latest Decline 

The message arrived at a critical moment after Shiba Inu and the broader crypto market endured one of their steepest downturns in recent memory. SHIB plunged to $0.000005587 this month, marking a 19.07% drop from its January 1 opening price.

Although Shiba Inu has since rebounded above $0.000006, investor sentiment remains strained, as SHIB is still more than 90% below its all-time high of $0.00008845. 

Amid this persistent frustration, Shibarium Updates is urging investors to stay grounded and focused, emphasizing patience, discipline, and consistency as key traits for long-term success in the space. 

Interest in Shiba Inu Spikes 

Meanwhile, interest in Shiba Inu is strengthening, as reflected in recent CryptoQuant data. On February 7, SHIB recorded a net exchange outflow of about 52.41 billion tokens, indicating that far more coins were withdrawn for holding than deposited for selling. 

Although the exchange netflow has since narrowed to around 1.3 billion SHIB, the trend still points to renewed investor interest and rising optimism as broader market sentiment turns more bullish. 

Robert Kiyosaki Declares Bitcoin Superior to Gold for Long-Term Diversification

Zabi
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Robert Kiyosaki Declares Bitcoin Superior to Gold for Long-Term Diversification

Financial commentator Robert Kiyosaki has reignited debate over alternative investments by publicly favoring Bitcoin over gold, citing structural differences in supply rather than short-term price movements.

In a recent post on X, Kiyosaki said both assets play important roles in portfolio diversification. However, when pressed to choose between the two, he said Bitcoin would be his preference.

His comments come amid heightened volatility across both cryptocurrency and traditional financial markets, as investors grapple with persistent uncertainty.

Key Points

  • Robert Kiyosaki said he prefers Bitcoin over gold, citing its fixed supply.
  • He argued that the supply of gold can expand in response to higher prices, while Bitcoin is capped at 21 million coins.
  • Kiyosaki emphasized that both assets still play roles in portfolio diversification.
  • Despite his long-term conviction, Kiyosaki said he is currently pausing new purchases of Bitcoin, gold, and silver.

Supply Limits Shape the Bitcoin Argument

Kiyosaki framed his comparison through the lens of supply dynamics. Specifically, he argued that gold production can expand in response to rising prices, as higher valuations incentivize additional mining activity. He added that he remains personally involved in gold mining, reinforcing his familiarity with the industry.

By contrast, Bitcoin was described as inherently scarce. Kiyosaki pointed to Bitcoin’s fixed supply cap of 21 million coins, noting that no additional supply can be created once that limit is reached. According to him, this structural constraint distinguishes Bitcoin from traditional commodities and supports its long-term value proposition.

Because Bitcoin’s supply cannot increase, Kiyosaki argued that long-term price pressure should remain upward. He also disclosed that he purchased Bitcoin early and continues to view that decision favorably.

Extreme Fear Grips Crypto Markets

Kiyosaki’s remarks coincided with a period of pronounced pessimism in the cryptocurrency market. For context, the Crypto Fear & Greed Index recently fell to a reading of 5, a level that signals extreme fear and is rarely seen.

This sentiment followed a sharp correction across major digital assets. Bitcoin suffered a rapid sell-off last week, briefly falling to just above $60,000, wiping roughly $10,000 off its price within hours. Subsequently, prices rebounded, with Bitcoin climbing back above $70,000. At the time of publication, it was trading at $70,364, still more than 40% below its October 2025 high of $126,080.

In comparison, gold navigated the same period with comparatively greater stability. The metal was trading at $5,029 per ounce, up 1.28% on the day. Earlier this year, gold reached an all-time high of $5,602 on January 29, 2026, leaving prices near record levels despite broader market turbulence.

Kiyosaki Pauses New Buying Activity

Despite reaffirming his confidence in hard assets, Kiyosaki recently said he is pausing new purchases of Bitcoin, gold, and silver. He attributed the decision to concerns over U.S. government finances rather than asset fundamentals.

According to Kiyosaki, the U.S. national debt stands at $38 trillion. When long-term obligations such as Social Security and Medicare are included, he claimed total liabilities approach $250 trillion. He presented these figures as evidence of mounting systemic financial strain.

Conviction Intact Despite the Pause

Kiyosaki emphasized that stepping back from buying does not reflect a change in his long-term outlook. He cited earlier investments to illustrate his approach, saying he bought silver near $60, Bitcoin around $6,000, and gold near $300.

More recently, he sold portions of his Bitcoin and gold holdings for tax-planning purposes rather than due to a shift in strategy. For now, he prefers to wait for clearer market bottoms before re-entering.

At the same time, Kiyosaki characterized recent market declines as opportunities. He argued that volatility ultimately rewards investors who are prepared to accumulate assets during periods of fear.

Shiba Inu Price Forecast for Feb 9: Here’s Key Overhead Resistance for Any Move Upwards

Mark Brennan
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Shiba Inu Price Forecast for Feb 9: Here’s Key Overhead Resistance for Any Move Upwards

Shiba Inu remains under pressure as resistance cap rebounds, while falling open interest and weak momentum continue to limit upside potential.

The Shiba Inu (SHIB) market is once again testing trader patience, as the latest session shows sellers maintaining control despite brief intraday rebounds. SHIB is trading near $0.000006105, down about 1.26% over the past 24 hours. The price action is confined in a relatively narrow but volatile daily range between roughly $0.00000609 and $0.0000063.

Early in the session, SHIB attempted to hold above the mid-range, but selling pressure steadily increased, dragging the price back toward the lower end of the band. Market activity remains active, with $21.84M in spot volume and $86.42M in futures volume, suggesting that derivatives traders continue to dominate short-term price discovery.

Performance across timeframes reinforces the bearish tone. SHIB is down 1.23% over both the 4-hour and 24-hour windows, while losses deepen to 7.91% over seven days. The drawdown extends further over longer horizons, with SHIB down 29.48% over 30 days, and 39.74% over 90 days. While long-term performance still shows outsized gains on an all-time basis, recent momentum clearly favors sellers. Can bulls shift momentum?

Can SHIB Bulls Shift the Momentum?

On the daily chart, Shiba Inu remains under clear technical pressure, with price sitting below the Bollinger Bands midline. The 20-day SMA (mid-band) sits around $0.00000705, acting as immediate overhead resistance, while the upper band sits near $0.00000847, marking a much higher recovery hurdle.

Shiba Inu Price Analysis
Shiba Inu Price Analysis

On the downside, the lower Bollinger Band is around $0.00000562, which defines the next volatility-based support zone. Price has recently bounced below this band, making it an important support for SHIB to hold.

Momentum indicators continue to support the bearish bias. The True Strength Index remains deeply negative, with readings of 29.85 on the main line and 22.46 on the signal line, both below the zero axis. This configuration typically signals sustained downside momentum, unless the TSI can flip over the signal line.

From a level-based perspective, support is concentrated between $0.00000560 and $0.00000580, while near-term resistance sits at $0.00000630–$0.00000680. A stronger recovery would require a daily close above the $0.00000705 mid-band to neutralize downside pressure, with $0.00000847 remaining the major resistance cap.

Shiba Inu Open Interest Declining?

Shiba Inu’s open interest data points to continued deleveraging alongside price weakness, reinforcing the cautious tone across derivatives markets. Open interest has steadily declined from the $200 million–$250 million range recorded in late September 2025 to approximately $65.75 million as of February 9, 2026, according to CoinGlass.

SHIB Open Interest
SHIB Open Interest

While there was a brief pickup in early January, when open interest rebounded toward the $150M zone alongside a short-lived price bounce, that move failed to sustain, and both price and open interest rolled over again. The current setup suggests traders are reducing leveraged exposure rather than positioning aggressively for a rebound.

The Narrative That XRP Is Going Nowhere Is Designed to Shake You Out of Your Position: Crypto Coach

Abdulkarim Abdulwahab
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0
The Narrative That XRP Is Going Nowhere Is Designed to Shake You Out of Your Position: Crypto Coach

Market commentator Coach JV is pushing back against what he calls a deliberate effort to discourage XRP holders during periods of market stress.

In a recent post on X, JV argued that claims suggesting “Bitcoin is dead” or “XRP is going nowhere” are not organic opinions, but part of a familiar playbook to force retail investors out before larger players fully position themselves.

According to him, doubt and fear are introduced first, conviction is tested next, and only after institutions are ready does the narrative shift.

Key points

  • Coach JV says XRP “going nowhere” claims are meant to shake out retail investors.

  • Negative narratives keep retail sidelined, while institutions quietly build positions.

  • Messaging flips fast from skepticism to optimism once institutions are ready.

  • JV bought XRP during the dip, showing conviction over fear-driven sentiment swings.

“The Playbook Is Always the Same”

Coach JV said that banks and large financial players do not want widespread retail ownership until they have finalized their own exposure. He believes negative sentiment campaigns serve to keep everyday investors on the sidelines while institutional strategies are quietly put in place.

Once those players understand how to profit, he says the messaging changes almost overnight, from skepticism to sudden optimism.

JV described the process as ruthless. He warned that emotional reactions to online commentary often lead investors to abandon long-term positions at the worst possible moments.

Conviction Over Emotion

A recurring theme in JV’s message was discipline. He urged investors to remove emotion from their decision-making, stressing that reacting to fear-driven online posts only benefits those spreading uncertainty.

He added that his confidence is reflected in his own investments, not in shifting opinions based on short-term market noise. For him, staying focused on a clear game plan matters more than responding to daily sentiment swings.

Message Aligns With Recent XRP Dip Buys

JV’s comments follow his public disclosures last week, which showed that he bought XRP multiple times during the recent sell-off, including near the $1.11 level. At the time, XRP was down more than 30% on the week as Bitcoin briefly dipped toward $60,000.

Rather than attempting to time the exact bottom, JV explained that he was dollar-cost averaging into weakness, a strategy he says reduces regret in volatile markets.

His actions reinforced the argument that accumulation happens quietly in the face of fear, not during hype.

Familiar Pattern for Long-Term XRP Holders

The timing of JV’s warning comes as XRP continues to recover from its sharp pullback. After briefly trading near $1.11, the token rebounded strongly, climbing more than 30% from local lows as dip buyers stepped in.

While uncertainty remains, Coach JV’s latest remarks reflect a growing view among long-term holders that negative narratives during downturns are part of a psychological battle, not a definitive judgment on XRP’s future.

Ripple Now Ranks Ninth Among the Largest Private Firms Globally With a $50 Billion Valuation

Sam Wisdom Raphael
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Ripple Now Ranks Ninth Among the Largest Private Firms Globally With a $50 Billion Valuation

Ripple has moved into ninth place among the world’s largest private companies, with its valuation now estimated at $50 billion. 

For context, recent reports indicate that Ripple’s valuation increased by about 25% from its $40 billion post-money valuation in the fourth quarter of 2025. 

While the company has not officially confirmed the new figure, multiple private-market assessments show an increase from Q4 2025 figures. The recent valuation places it among the top 10 largest unicorns globally, a list that includes top American giants such as SpaceX and OpenAI.

Key Points

  • Ripple’s valuation is estimated at $50 billion in early 2026, up about 25% from its $40 billion post-money valuation in Q4 2025.
  • Ripple now ranks ninth globally, standing alongside private leaders like SpaceX at $1.5 trillion and OpenAI at roughly $830 billion.
  • The company raised $500 million in November 2025 at a $40 billion valuation, led by Fortress Investment Group and Citadel Securities.
  • Total historical funding exceeds $800 million, with some estimates nearing $893 million across all funding events.
  • Ripple executives, including President Monica Long, have repeatedly stated there is no plan or timeline for an IPO, citing strong capital access and a preference to remain private.

How Ripple Compares to the Largest Private Firms

Notably, Ripple now sits just below several of the most valuable private companies in the world. SpaceX leads the global rankings with an estimated valuation of about $1.5 trillion, making it the most valuable private company and one of the most anticipated IPO candidates of 2026. 

OpenAI follows with an estimated valuation near $830 billion, due in large part to a $40 billion funding round led by SoftBank and long-standing support from Microsoft and other major investors.

Ripple Ranks Ninth Among Largest Unicorns Globally
Ripple Ranks Ninth Among Largest Unicorns Globally

Meanwhile, ByteDance, which operates TikTok, ranks third at approximately $480 billion. Other companies ahead of Ripple include Anthropic at about $230 billion, Databricks at $160 billion, Stripe at $120 billion, Revolut at $90 billion, and Shein at $55 billion. Canva matches Ripple at around $50 billion. 

Unlike its peers in artificial intelligence, fintech, and e-commerce, Ripple stands out on the list as the only blockchain-based payments infrastructure firm within the global top ten.

Ripple’s Valuation History

Ripple’s current valuation comes from several years of critical capital decisions. For instance, in 2022, the company repurchased shares at an implied valuation of around $15 billion. 

Also, in early 2024, Ripple carried out another share repurchase at an $11.3 billion valuation. Meanwhile, by November 2025, Ripple raised $500 million through a strategic equity investment that valued the company at $40 billion post-money. 

Affiliates of Fortress Investment Group and Citadel Securities led the deal, with Pantera Capital, Galaxy Digital, Brevan Howard, and Marshall Wace also participating. This marked Ripple’s largest capital raise since 2019 and followed the resolution of its legal dispute with U.S. regulators.

Ripple’s total historical funding now exceeds $800 million, with some estimates placing the figure close to $893 million based on aggregated industry data. Recent estimates now suggest that the valuation has increased from $40 billion in Q4 2025 to $50 billion, making Ripple the ninth-largest unicorn globally.

Ripple’s Firm Position on Staying Private

Despite its rising valuation and growing global profile, Ripple executives have consistently ruled out a near-term initial public offering. In November 2025, Ripple President Monica Long stated clearly that the company had no plan and no timeline to go public. She confirmed this again in January 2026.

Long explained that Ripple does not need access to public market capital to support its growth. She called attention to the company’s strong balance sheet and continued backing from existing and new investors as sufficient for long-term expansion. 

Earlier comments from CEO Brad Garlinghouse, suggested Ripple might consider an IPO once regulatory clarity emerged. However, more recent statements have replaced that view. Ripple now treats a public listing as a low priority.

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