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Coinbase CEO Says Bitcoin Is More Decentralized and Independent than Central Banks

Elendu Benedict
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Coinbase CEO Says Bitcoin Is More Decentralized and Independent than Central Banks

Brian Armstrong, the CEO of Coinbase, didn’t hesitate to correct the French Central Bank governor, Francois Villeroy de Galhau, on his Bitcoin misconception.

During the ongoing World Economic Forum, where key global financial leaders discussed tokenization and its future, Armstrong emphasized that Bitcoin remains a decentralized protocol more independent than central banks.

Key Points

  • Brian Armstrong, the CEO of Coinbase, has emphasized that Bitcoin is a decentralized protocol more independent than central banks.
  • Armstrong said this during the ongoing World Economic Forum, where key global financial leaders discussed tokenization and its future.
  • The Coinbase CEO also mentioned Bitcoin has no private issuer, unlike fiat currencies that suffer from control by central banks and government policies.
  • However, he called the fiat-crypto competition “healthy” as it leaves the choice in the hands of individuals.

Coinbase CEO Lauds Bitcoin’s Decentralized Nature

For context, Armstrong discussed Bitcoin and its role in curbing the debasement of value. He noted that fiat currencies often suffer from devaluation due to central bank money printing. If this continues, the Coinbase CEO noted that citizens would eventually lose trust in fiat and move to assets that store value.

However, he highlighted that Bitcoin has a fixed supply, which protects it from inflation. He also suggested that Bitcoin ranks alongside gold as an asset that investors run to during times of uncertainty.

However, the French Central Bank governor highlighted the trust thesis, noting that central banks have the trust of individuals. Furthermore, Galhau stated that he trusted “independent central banks” with a democratic mandate more than Bitcoin, which he believes is issued by private entities.

Bitcoin More Independent

Armstrong quickly corrected this impression, arguing that Bitcoin remains a decentralized protocol. He insisted that the apex cryptocurrency is more decentralized than central banks, citing its complete sovereignty from individual or institutional control.

He also mentioned that Bitcoin has no private issuer, unlike fiat currencies that suffer from control by central banks and government policies.

However, he called the fiat-crypto competition “healthy,” as it leaves the choice in the hands of individuals. Armstrong insinuated that the one with the highest trust and adoption wins.

“I think it (Bitcoin) is actually the greatest accountability mechanism on deficit spending,” the Coinbase CEO concluded.

Why The Clarity Matters

Notably, several misconceptions around Bitcoin and the broader crypto ecosystem have emerged within the traditional finance scene. As a result, correcting such misconceptions on a global stage, such as the World Economic Forum, helps large investors better understand its technology and benefits.

Remarkably, Bitcoin went from being seen as the currency used by bad actors for fraudulent activities to attaining recognition as a store of value and a hedge against inflation. Changing this narrative required significant publicity from industry leaders and BTC’s exceptional performance.

With more misconceptions like Galhau’s still lying around, especially among influential global figures, Armstrong’s quick explanation brings clarity and, consequently, adoption.

Those Claiming XRP Will “Never Moon” Won’t Make It: Top XRP Validator

Abdulkarim Abdulwahab
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Those Claiming XRP Will “Never Moon” Won’t Make It: Top XRP Validator

An XRPL validator has criticized recurring claims that XRP is “dead” or will never deliver major gains.

The narratives frequently circulate within the crypto community during long periods of consolidation that test investors’ patience. Meanwhile, XRP supporters argue that those holding such negative views about XRP “are not going to make it.”

Key Points

  • An XRPL validator criticized claims that XRP is “dead” or will never deliver major gains.

  • He argued critics repeat the same mistakes in past XRP market cycles.

  • Community members compared XRP skepticism to early doubts about Bitcoin and the internet.

  • Analysts note XRP breakouts often arrive suddenly after long periods of consolidation.

“XRP Is Dead” Narratives

In a tweet, Vet, a well-known XRPL validator, questioned what he described as “collective amnesia” among critics who repeatedly dismiss XRP during quiet market phases. He noted that the same arguments—“this coin is dead” and “XRP will never moon”—were made years ago, only to be proven wrong later.

Vet’s statement suggests that those who fail to learn from previous market cycles often exit too early, missing the very moves they were waiting for. His message emphasized that long-term markets tend to reward conviction, not constant doubt.

Indeed, when XRP traded around $1 for several years between 2022 and 2024, many labeled the coin dead. It later broke out in 2024 and delivered a 7x surge. Now, with XRP trading around $2 for about a year, skepticism is once again returning.

XRP’s Journey Compared to Bitcoin and the Internet

X user Lourenço Matalonga added historical context, arguing that skepticism is not unique to XRP. He pointed out that similar criticism once followed Bitcoin, email technology, and even the early internet.

In his view, fear often stems from misunderstanding, and dismissive labels such as “bubble” or “scam” tend to repeat until adoption proves otherwise. He claimed that patience across multiple cycles has consistently paid off.

Others echoed this sentiment. One user remarked that markets do not reward everyone, while another noted that emotional resilience matters just as much as technical knowledge when navigating long consolidation phases.

Patience, Perseverance, and Market Psychology

Several XRP holders emphasized that rewards in crypto are not accidental. One commenter stated that patience and perseverance are effectively “coded into” long-term outcomes, suggesting that those lacking these traits naturally fall behind.

Another community member observed that many investors unintentionally hinder their own progress by focusing on short-term frustration rather than long-term market structure.

XRP Breakouts Rarely Give Warnings

The debate also overlapped with recent technical commentary. Analyst ChartNerd reiterated that XRP breakouts tend to arrive unexpectedly, catching most participants off guard.

XRP YouTuber Moon Lambo reinforced this view, noting that investors either have exposure before the move or end up chasing price afterward.

The overall message is that XRP continues to test conviction rather than excitement. Long periods of silence, followed by sudden volatility, remain a defining feature of its market behavior.

Meanwhile, not everyone was bullish. Scruffy Farmer raised concerns about valuing XRP against a depreciating U.S. dollar. He questioned what “moon” even means in a system where most assets are priced against fiat currency, suggesting that price surges may reflect fiat depreciation rather than genuine value appreciation.

XRP Upside Scenarios if Ripple Becomes Threat to Major Banks

Mark Brennan
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XRP Upside Scenarios if Ripple Becomes Threat to Major Banks

Ripple’s expansion through acquisitions and regulatory progress has changed how most XRP community members see the company. 

Instead of seeing Ripple as only a blockchain payments firm, several commentators now call it an emerging competitor to traditional banks, especially in treasury services, cross-border payments, and custody.

Key Points

  • Ripple’s Expanding Business Strategy Alters Community Perception: Ripple is increasingly seen not just as a blockchain payments firm, but as a potential challenger to traditional banks in treasury, cross-border payments, and custody services, due to its acquisitions and regulatory progress.
  • Major Acquisitions in 2025 Boost Ripple’s Scope: Throughout 2025, Ripple acquired Hidden Road for $1.25 billion, Rail for $200 million, GTreasury for $1 billion, and Palisade, while gaining conditional approval for a bank charter, significantly expanding its financial infrastructure.
  • Ripple’s Regulatory Moves Signal a Potential Threat to Banks: By securing a bank charter and expanding its services, Ripple is seen as positioning itself to challenge established banks’ revenue streams from treasury operations, remittances, and custody, raising concerns within the banking industry.
  • Community and Market Views on Ripple as a Bank Competitor: Some XRP community members believe Ripple threatens traditional banking revenues and could become a major financial player, especially if it gains a strong banking position amid industry resistance.
  • XRP Price Outlook if Ripple Disrupts Banking Systems: Google Gemini predicts XRP could reach $12.50 to $18 in a moderate scenario, and potentially $25 to $50 or even over $100 in more bullish cases if Ripple successfully captures a significant share of global settlement volume and replaces legacy payment systems.

Ripple Pushes Ahead in 2025

Throughout 2025, Ripple moved to broaden its scope. In April, the company agreed to acquire Hidden Road for $1.25 billion, completing the deal in October. Hidden Road operates as a multi-asset prime brokerage that processes roughly $3 trillion in transactions each year. Ripple later rebranded the business as Ripple Prime.

In August, Ripple announced the $200 million acquisition of Rail, a Toronto-based stablecoin payments platform. Two months later, Ripple acquired GTreasury for $1 billion. In November, Ripple then added Palisade to its portfolio for an undisclosed amount.

Ripple also made a major regulatory move in December by securing conditional approval to operate under a bank charter. This move, alongside the company’s acquisition strategy, led to discussions within the XRP community about Ripple becoming a serious challenge to established banks.

Could Ripple Pose a Threat to Major Banks?

For instance, earlier this month, XRP community figure Vincent Van Code said Ripple now threatens the multi-trillion-dollar revenue banks earn from treasury operations, remittances, and custody services. According to him, Ripple faced delays for years but has now aligned the necessary elements to compete at scale. 

Meanwhile, in July, when a group of banks attempted to block Ripple’s effort to secure a banking charter, XRP community member Pumpius claimed major U.S. banking associations felt alarmed by Ripple’s move toward becoming a national trust bank. 

If Ripple does enter a solid position where it could pose a major threat to traditional banks, the XRP price could feel the impact. Now, while most believe Ripple’s expansion could support higher valuations for XRP, the market response remains uncertain. As a result, we asked Google Gemini for its assessment.

XRP Price if Ripple Threatens Traditional Banks

Responding, Google Gemini based XRP’s valuation on global liquidity rather than short-term speculation. Considering XRP’s price of $1.91, the chatbot presented a hypothetical five-year outlook that assumes Ripple successfully disrupts parts of the traditional banking system.

Notably, in a moderately bullish scenario, Gemini believes XRP could trade between $12.50 and $18.00, aligning with Standard Chartered’s $12.50 forecast for 2028 and assuming a market cap of about $1.1 trillion as XRP gains adoption among large corporations. 

XRP Price Prediction Google Gemini
XRP Price Prediction | Google Gemini

In a more bullish case, where Ripple captures around 10% of global daily settlement volume, Gemini suggested XRP could reach $25 to $50, placing its valuation near Bitcoin’s historical peak. A more speculative scenario places XRP above $100 if it replaces legacy payment rails worldwide.

Gemini also called attention to the importance of liquidity. According to the chatbot, higher XRP prices would reduce volatility when settling large transaction volumes. 

However, it cautioned that growth could face limits from competition with stablecoins such as Ripple’s own RLUSD, resistance from central banks that favor private ledgers, and new U.S. stablecoin rules under the GENIUS Act passed in July 2025, which would allow banks to issue their own digital tokens.

XRP Trades Within Wedge Pattern for a Year: What Needs to Happen for a Breakout?

Mark Brennan
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XRP Trades Within Wedge Pattern for a Year: What Needs to Happen for a Breakout?

XRP has continued to trade within a wedge pattern over the past year, and a possible breakout could emerge when the Bitcoin dominance collapses.

The broader crypto market has faced bearish pressure since Q4 2025, losing over $880 billion within this period. Amid the downtrend, XRP has witnessed one of the largest impacts, down 48% from its all-time high of $3.66 attained during the upward surge in July 2025.

While XRP engineered a recovery push to $2.41 earlier this month, geopolitical tensions and market uncertainty have since led to a pullback, as the altcoin loses the $2 mark. Despite this, XRP remains within a wedge pattern on the daily XRP/BTC chart, with an upward breakout possibly leading to higher gains.

Key Points

  • XRP has been one of the victims of the latest market-wide uncertainties, down 48% from its July 2025 all-time high of $3.66.
  • Despite the ongoing downtrend, XRP has held within a wedge pattern against Bitcoin on the daily chart, with the XRPBTC pair now at 0.00002135.
  • As a result, the Bitcoin dominance would need to record a downward push for XRP to record a bullish breakout above the wedge.
  • Should this occur, the XRP price could leverage the opportunity for a recovery campaign to greater heights.

XRP Wedge Pattern Against Bitcoin

CryptoWZRD, a well-known analyst, discussed this structure in a recent market exposition. According to him, the ongoing cycle could reward XRP investors who exercise patience instead of panic-selling their bag. Such comments have become necessary amid the persistent downtrend that has continued to test investor resolve.

The analyst’s optimism comes from the current wedge pattern formed by the XRP/BTC pair on the 1-day timeframe. Data from an accompanying chart shows that the wedge pattern formed after XRP’s explosive run in November 2024 led to the formation of a pole. 

How The Wedge Formed

Specifically, XRP began November 2024 with a price of 0.00000725 BTC and continued to see range-bound movements at the start of the month. However, things took a bullish turn when XRP exploded on Nov. 12, rising from 0.00000700 BTC to a peak of 0.00003062 BTC by Dec. 3, 2024. This marked a 337% rise against Bitcoin in less than a month, forming the pole.

XRPBTC 1D Chart CryptoWZRD
XRPBTC 1D Chart | CryptoWZRD

However, after the 0.00003062 peak, the XRPBTC pair met resistance as Bitcoin gained ground. The consolidation that followed resulted in the formation of the wedge pattern. Data from the chart indicates that this wedge has held for over a year, with XRP now trading around the lower trendline at the current price of 0.00002135 BTC.

What Would an XRP Breakout Mean?

CryptoWZRD believes a breakout could lead to a “parabolic” rise for XRP. Data from his chart indicates that he expects such a parabolic rally to push the XRPBTC pair to 0.000048, a 116% increase from current levels. For context, the last time the pair reached this level was in June 2019.

Should the rally play out and Bitcoin maintain a price around $90,000, it would take XRP to $4.32, representing a new all-time high. CryptoWZRD noted that the breakout could ensue once the Bitcoin dominance, which currently stands at 59.83%, starts declining.

XRP Is Quietly Accumulating Across Macro and Micro Timeframes

Abdulkarim Abdulwahab
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0
XRP Is Quietly Accumulating Across Macro and Micro Timeframes

A recent technical analysis suggests that XRP long-term price pattern continues to show steady accumulation rather than selling pressure.

It argues that XRP’s extended period of sideways movement is not a sign of weakness but a defining feature of a larger bullish setup.

Notably, the XRP price dipped below $1.90 over the past day, almost completely wiping out all of its 2026 gains. XRP originally started the year on strong footing, reaching $2.40, but faced massive resistance that forced it to lose the $2 level. Now, it has also lost another psychological level at $1.90.

Meanwhile, some market watchers believe there is no cause for alarm yet, maintaining a promising outlook.

Key Points

  • XRP’s long-term structure shows steady accumulation, not weakness, despite recent price dips.
  • Analysts say years of consolidation often precede strong breakouts when support holds.
  • Elliott Wave data suggests XRP’s multi-year triangle breakout remains structurally intact.
  • Analysts still view $6 as a conservative target, citing Fibonacci extensions.

XRP Has Been Ranging for Years, and That Matters

Notably, this bullish perspective comes from Elliott Wave analyst XForceGlobal. He says investors should ignore short-term noise and instead focus on assets quietly building strength across multiple timeframes—a category he believes XRP fits into well.

XForceGlobal notes that XRP has been ranging for over a year within the current structure and for more than eight years when viewed from a broader cycle perspective. While this prolonged consolidation has tested investor patience, it has also allowed prices to compress into a tight structure.

In Elliott Wave theory, extended ranges like this precede strong breakout moves when key support levels hold. Rather than stagnation, the analyst views this pattern as a steady accumulation of XRP.

Triangle Breakout

Notably, the accompanying chart shows a confirmed multi-year triangle breakout with trend continuation, not exhaustion. In other words, XRP has held its broader structure, suggesting recent pullbacks are normal market noise rather than a breakdown.

XForceGlobal believes focusing too heavily on short-term candlesticks can be misleading during accumulation phases.

XForceGlobal's XRP chart
XForceGlobal’s XRP chart

$6 Still a Conservative XRP Target

Despite rising market skepticism, XForceGlobal says $6 is a conservative price target for XRP based on wave extensions. XRP would need to expand by more than 3x to reach this target.

Notably, this level aligns with a minimum Fibonacci extension from past impulsive moves, while higher targets sit well above current prices. He adds that long consolidation phases often cause investors to underestimate how large the next move could be.

“Boredom Is a Feature of Accumulation”

A key takeaway from the analysis is that boredom is part of market cycles. “Boredom isn’t a flaw, but a feature of accumulation,” he noted. XForceGlobal stressed that the biggest gains usually come only after investors’ patience has been tested over an extended period.

With XRP still trading in a tight range, the analyst believes the foundation is being set for a much larger move that could surprise many once accumulation turns into expansion.

Numerous other market commentators share a similar view. For instance, a CryptoQuant analyst recently said an XRP breakout could happen as early as next week.

Others, such as YouTuber Moon Lambo, argue that no one can precisely predict an XRP breakout but encourage investors to use current market conditions to position ahead of a potential uptrend.

Cardano Partner Chain Midnight to Power Privacy-Preserving AI for Telegram’s 1 Billion Users

Lele Jima
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Cardano Partner Chain Midnight to Power Privacy-Preserving AI for Telegram’s 1 Billion Users

The Midnight Foundation has partnered with AlphaTON Capital to bring its privacy-focused Cardano sidechain, Midnight, into the TON ecosystem to power Telegram’s super app.

This strategic agreement allows Telegram’s Cocoon AI to deploy privacy-preserving AI agents at scale. It enables users to access advanced AI services while maintaining complete control over their data and confidentiality.

Key Points

  • The agreement will enable the integration of Midnight’s zero-knowledge, privacy blockchain into the TON ecosystem.
  • AlphaTON will operate one of Midnight’s ten federated nodes.
  • Midnight is now the first zero-knowledge blockchain integrated with the TON ecosystem.
  • Telegram users retain full ownership of their data, ensuring confidentiality while using advanced AI services.

Collaboration Between Midnight and AlphaTON

On Tuesday, the Midnight Foundation announced that it had signed a legally binding Federated Node Agreement with AlphaTON Capital. Under the agreement, AlphaTON will operate one out of Midnight’s ten federated nodes.

The move generates immediate revenue for Midnight while positioning AlphaTON as a core infrastructure provider for decentralized, privacy-first AI on a global super app.

The partnership combines Telegram’s Cocoon AI confidential compute stack with Midnight’s programmable privacy to create fully private AI agents for Telegram’s nearly one billion users.

What This Means for Telegram Users

The deal makes Midnight the first privacy-focused blockchain connected to the TON ecosystem. It gives Telegram stronger privacy tools as concerns over data misuse grow.

By integrating Cocoon AI with Midnight’s privacy blockchain, Telegram can offer AI features without relying on centralized data collection.

This means users can use AI agents for things like managing finances, shopping, or customer support without sharing personal data. Importantly, no party involved—Telegram, Cocoon AI, AlphaTON, or Midnight—can see or store user information.

Growing Adoption for Midnight

The development underscores the growing adoption of Midnight, introduced in November 2022. Since then, the network has secured more than 100 partnerships, according to Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson, including collaborations with Google Cloud, Brave, Bitcoin.com, and, most recently, AlphaTON Capital.

Meanwhile, the mainnet launch is scheduled for this year and will roll out in phases, with Hoskinson promising new “goodies” to be introduced each quarter. At each stage, he expects the project to attract additional partners.

Currently, Midnight is in the Kūkolu phase, which allows developers to deploy privacy-centric dApps. Next, the Mōhalu and Hua phases are set for Q2 and Q3 2026, respectively, laying the groundwork for the network’s full mainnet infrastructure.

What Could Happen as Cardano Retests Key Descending Trendline

Elendu Benedict
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What Could Happen as Cardano Retests Key Descending Trendline

The current consolidatory momentum has seen Cardano retest a key descending trendline, creating two possible price scenarios.

Notably, the recent leg down has pushed Cardano to the neckline resistance from which it broke out, following its early January rally to $0.43. While this opens up an optimistic possibility, failure to hold this level could mark a notable price turnaround.

Key Points

  • Cardano previously broke above a descending trendline that had suppressed its price since October 2025, following its over 30% rally in the first six days of 2026.
  • However, the current pullback has seen Cardano retest the descending trendline, creating two possible price scenarios.
  • If the retest level holds, then another wave of bullish price action could follow for Cardano.
  • The key levels to watch if the current downside pressure persists are the demand zones at $0.329 and $0.278.

Cardano Retests Breakout Point

Notably, Cardano broke out from a descending trendline that had suppressed its price since October 2025, following its over 30% rally in the first six days of 2026. However, as is typical of most breakouts, a retest has ensued.

A mixture of a broader market bearish trend and a structured technical move has drawn ADA back to the breakout area. Specifically, the Monday dump to $0.34 saw the coin retreat to the former neckline resistance and rebound.

Cardano Descending Trendline Breakout
Cardano Descending Trendline Breakout

If this level holds, another wave of bullish price action could follow. However, this remains subject to the broader market trend, which is difficult to predict.

Interestingly, the breakout also marked the first wave of a five-wave Elliot Wave pattern. If Cardano gains momentum above this breakout point, the January 19 drop would mark the end of the corrective wave 2.

Key Areas ADA Could Retest

Currently, momentum looks weak, and prices may trend lower. The key levels to watch if the downside pressure persists are the demand zones at $0.329 and $0.278.

On the upside, a successful retest could see Cardano retest the early January high and its former lower highs within the descending trendline. The levels include $0.43, the November 11 high of $0.60, and the October 13 peak price of $0.73.

A separate 1D chart analysis also confirms this. If ADA breaks the $0.33 support, it will retest $0.27. However, a bounce from the support could take the asset towards the $0.50 price level.

Cardano Analysis
Cardano Analysis

It is worth noting that this is an analytical exposition, not financial advice.

XRP Dominance Telling a Much Bigger Story, as It Holds Historical Support for 14 Months

Mark Brennan
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XRP Dominance Telling a Much Bigger Story, as It Holds Historical Support for 14 Months

The XRP dominance may be telling a much bigger story than people realize, as it has held above a historically important support trendline for over a year.

While XRP’s price has continued to fluctuate between highs and lows across multiple cycles, the XRP dominance has always gravitated toward a historically important horizontal support trendline over the past 10 years. Market data shows that this trendline sits at the 3.855% dominance.

Today, XRP’s dominance holds above this trendline, maintaining a value of 3.889% at press time. However, a more interesting achievement is how the XRP dominance has maintained a position above this support trendline for over 12 months despite the price struggles within this period.

Key Points

  • The XRP dominance has continued to gravitate toward a horizontal support trendline at 3.855% for over a decade.
  • The dominance remained below this trendline for four years until XRP’s price surged above the $2 mark in November 2024, pushing dominance above the trendline.
  • XRP’s dominance has continued to hold above the trendline on the weekly chart since then, maintaining this position for 14 months now.
  • While the XRP price has struggled within this period, the position of the asset’s dominance shows momentum may be building.

XRP Dominance Telling a Much Bigger Story 

Bird, an XRP community pundit, called attention to this positioning, insisting that the XRP dominance is telling a much bigger story than most investors realize. Notably, this comes as XRP continues to struggle around the $2 price mark, recently dropping below it in what appears to be renewed bearish pressure.

While the prevailing price action has dampened investor sentiment, Bird believes the XRP dominance chart tells a different story. Confirming that the XRP dominance has remained above the historically important support since November 2024, the analyst suggested that XRP is not showing weakness but is building a base at that level.

Historical Context

Notably, historical data suggests that XRP’s price action around this support trendline has determined its direction over the years. Specifically, Bird stressed that each time the XRP dominance defended this zone or pushed through it, the ensuing price surge has always been explosive.

This pattern first played out in November 2014, when the XRP dominance soared from 2.813% through the trendline at 3.855%. The breakout coincided with a price surge from $0.00518 to $0.028 by December 2014. Another occurrence emerged in March 2017, and the XRP price rallied 4,156% from $0.00937 to $0.3988.

Historical Context on XRP Market Dominance Bird
Historical Context on XRP Market Dominance | Bird

Moreover, when the XRP dominance rose from 2.309% in December 2017, and pushed through the support trendline to a high of 17.983%, XRP’s price soared from $0.2259 to $3.31 by January 2018. In the most recent occurrence, the XRP price rallied from $0.5 to $3.4 from November 2024 to January 2025 after the dominance breached the support trendline.

XRP Dominance Has Maintained Structure 

Bird’s chart indicates that since XRP’s dominance broke above the trendline in November 2024, it has not closed below it. As a result, the analyst stressed that XRP has maintained its structure with no breakdown. Instead, the asset has only recorded “repeated defense” of the support over the last 14 months.

XRP Dominance 1D Chart Bird
XRP Dominance 1D Chart | Bird

Bird argued that when dominance holds above such historically important support for too long, the asset involved is not on the verge of drifting lower. The analyst believes XRP could be setting up for an expansion through what he calls the XRP launchpad. However, this remains highly speculative, as there’s no guarantee XRP could surge from here.

Fresh Data Highlights 90% Decline in Shiba Inu Burn Activity

Lele Jima
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0
Fresh Data Highlights 90% Decline in Shiba Inu Burn Activity

Recent data shows Shiba Inu burn activity has dropped sharply, with just 3.24 million SHIB removed from circulation across two transactions. 

This represents a significant drop from January 20, when over 20 million SHIB were permanently burned, indicating that the burn momentum is fading.

Key Points

  • Shiba Inu’s burn activity declined by 88% over the past day, with only 3.24 million SHIB removed from circulation.
  • Daily burns have fallen sharply since January 20, when 28.86 million SHIB were incinerated.
  • SHIB has slipped to 25th place by market cap, losing the 24th spot to Hedera.
  • Shiba Inu’s price underperformance mirrors the broader market.

Shiba Inu Burn Activity Declines Sharply

According to fresh data from Shibburn, the Shiba Inu community burned 3.24 million SHIB over the past 24 hours. These burns occurred across only two transactions, with individual transactions destroying 1 million and 2.24 million SHIB, respectively.

Meanwhile, this figure represents only a small fraction of the activity recorded on January 20. On that day, total daily burn reached 28.86 million SHIB, driven by a single address that burned 28 million tokens in a single transaction.

With daily burns now down to roughly 3.24 million SHIB, Shiba Inu’s burn momentum has faded. This slowdown is further reflected in the burn rate, which has plunged by 88.7% over the past 24 hours.

Shiba Inu Burn
Shiba Inu Burn

Significance of Burns to SHIB

Token burns play a central role in Shiba Inu’s deflationary strategy, as the project uses them to gradually reduce supply and potentially support long-term value. However, as burn activity slows sharply, the likelihood of generating meaningful price appreciation through token destruction continues to diminish.

Despite steady efforts toward reducing supply, Shiba Inu still has a massive supply. From its original 1 quadrillion SHIB launch supply, the community, alongside Ethereum’s Vitalik Buterin, has burned approximately 410.75 trillion tokens, leaving a remaining supply of about 589.25 trillion SHIB.

As a result, critics continue to cite SHIB’s enormous supply as a key factor behind its recent underperformance. This dynamic has also played out in market rankings.

SHIB Drops to 25th Spot in Global Crypto Ranking

Shiba Inu has slipped to the 25th-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, losing the 24th position it held for weeks to Hedera (HBAR). However, the gap remains narrow, with HBAR at $4.72 billion and SHIB at $4.68 billion, a difference of less than $50 million.

Hedera Overtakes Shiba Inu in Global Crypto Ranking
Hedera Overtakes Shiba Inu in Global Crypto Ranking

Shiba Inu Mirrors Broader Market Performance

Meanwhile, SHIB’s price action has largely mirrored broader market trends. At its current price of $0.000007943, the token is down 0.41% over the past 24 hours, extending its seven-day decline to 10.10%.

For context, other major cryptocurrencies, including Ethereum, XRP, Cardano, and Hedera, have also posted double-digit weekly losses. These trends suggest that while Shiba Inu’s large supply continues to weigh on price performance, broader market conditions remain a decisive factor in shaping the token’s short-term trajectory.

XRP Has Almost Erased Its 2026 Gains After Rising to $2.41

Elendu Benedict
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0
XRP Has Almost Erased Its 2026 Gains After Rising to $2.41

Despite a strong start to the year, XRP has relinquished most of its gains amid market instability and macroeconomic uncertainty.

XRP took off in the first week of the year on the back of renewed momentum from a fresh start and capital shift into the regulated products tracking the asset. However, this buzz has since stalled, and growing skepticism among market participants has weighed on the coin’s trajectory.

Key Points

  • Despite a strong start to the year, XRP has relinquished most of its gains.
  • XRP started the year bullishly, soaring roughly 31% in six days to reach a high of $2.41.
  • At the time of writing, the coin is trading at $1.91, down 20.7% from its January 6 high.
  • The early January rally came amid strong inflows from crypto ETPs, suggesting renewed investor traction.
  • However, macroeconomic uncertainties have reshaped XRP and the entire crypto ecosystem’s trajectory.
  • Standard Chartered expects XRP to reach $8 by the end of the year, suggesting a turnaround from current consolidation.

XRP Cuts Back Earlier 31% Gains

TradingView data shows XRP started the year at $1.84. Notably, this marked a steep decline for an asset that started 2025 brightly and even reached a multi-year high of $3.67 six months back.

However, after ending 2025 bearish, XRP started 2026 on a bullish note, soaring roughly 31% in six days to reach a high of $2.41. This resurgence sparked optimism among enthusiasts, who lauded its outperformance over Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana. During this run, XRP reclaimed the third spot in the cryptocurrency standings by market cap (excluding stablecoins), flipping BNB.

However, like most other cryptocurrencies, XRP has given back a chunk of its gains. At the time of writing, the coin is trading at $1.91, down 20.7% from its January 6 high. When it dropped to $1.84 on January 19, the entire yearly gains disappeared before a rebound took its YTD increase to just 3.8%.

Major Events That Shaped Prices

Notably, the rally came amid strong inflows from crypto ETPs, suggesting renewed investor traction. Digital asset investment vehicles attracted over $1 billion in the first few trading days of the year, as retail and institutions seek exposure to the sector.

XPR spot ETFs saw inflows of $78.81 million in the first three trading days, building on their exploits last year. This influx, coupled with a broader market rebound, spurred the run to $2.41 early enough this month.

However, macroeconomic uncertainties have reshaped XRP and the entire crypto ecosystem’s trajectory. The chances of an interest rate cut dimmed as key data showed little progress, and delays to the CLARITY bill started to weigh on investor sentiment. While XRP weathered that uncertainty, Donald Trump played the tariff-hike card again, pushing the token below the psychological $2 price level.

What Comes Next for XRP?

Usually, macroeconomic setbacks of this nature are temporary, and analysts expect a rebound. Still, the four-year crypto cycle narrative would play a crucial role in steadying the market sentiments. If Bitcoin starts a supercycle as industry leaders have predicted, XRP could follow suit.

The market structure bill will also help sentiment. While prominent leaders are split on the potency of the current draft to deliver the regulatory clarity clamored for, many still believe it would have a significant impact on the sector’s adoption.

Additionally, XRP has received several recognitions as a payment alternative to legacy systems. If this narrative gains traction and drives further adoption, XRP could react positively.

For price outlooks, Standard Chartered has suggested that XRP would reach $8 by the end of the year, projecting a turnaround from current consolidation. Remarkably, this remains speculative, and nothing is certain in the crypto market, which is highly volatile.

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