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2026 Is the Year of XRP Ledger DEX, Says Top XRP Validator

Abdulkarim Abdulwahab
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2026 Is the Year of XRP Ledger DEX, Says Top XRP Validator

Confidence is building across the XRP community that 2026 could mark a turning point for the XRP Ledger’s decentralized exchange (DEX).

Developers, validators, and Ripple executives are highlighting the network’s accelerating progress in DeFi. In a tweet, XRPL validator Vet stirred fresh discussion about XRP DeFi, stating, “2026 is the year of the XRP Ledger DEX.”

Key Data Points

  • XRP Ledger insiders say 2026 could be the breakout year for the network’s built-in DEX
  • Validators and influencers argue XRPL’s native DEX is fast, cheap, and still underestimated
  • XRPL’s Layer-1 DeFi design avoids smart contract risks seen on many newer chains
  • Native lending, cross-chain XRP liquidity, and exec support fuel 2026 DeFi optimism

Top XRPL Validator: “Better Know This Now”

Vet’s comment highlights a prevailing belief among core contributors that years of foundational design are aligning with market demand. “Better know this now,” he remarked.

The statement drew agreement from prominent voices across the ecosystem, supporting the idea that XRPL’s built-in DEX is still widely underestimated.

Community Voices Highlight XRPL’s Built-In Advantage

XRP influencer BankXRP described the XRPL DEX as the ledger’s most powerful feature, pointing to its speed, low cost, and long operational history. Vet responded by noting that the DEX is also his favorite XRPL feature.

Unlike many DeFi platforms that rely on external smart contracts, the XRPL DEX is sits directly in the base layer and has remained operational since 2012.

Meanwhile, commentator Zach Rector argued that much of the crypto market is “sleeping” on the XRPL DEX. He suggested that DeFi expansion on the XRP Ledger could accelerate as new protocols come online.

XRPL as the “OG” DeFi Chain

Panos Mekras, co-founder of Anodos Finance, added historical context, noting that the XRP Ledger was the original DeFi chain. He emphasized that many features now considered standard across crypto, such as deflationary mechanics, tokenization, decentralized exchange, and payments, were pioneered on XRPL and built directly into Layer 1.

According to Mekras, XRPL’s architecture avoids many of the risks seen elsewhere, including smart contract exploits and wallet drain attacks. This positions the ledger for serious financial and institutional use.

Ripple CTO Supports Expanding XRP DeFi

Momentum has also been reinforced at the executive level. In December 2025, Ex-Ripple CTO David Schwartz publicly supported Hex Trust’s launch of wrapped XRP (wXRP), calling the expansion of XRP into broader DeFi environments a positive development.

wXRP is fully backed 1:1 by XRP held in regulated custody and allows XRP to be used across multiple DeFi ecosystems, including Solana, Ethereum, Optimism, and HyperEVM. The asset launched with over $100 million in TVL, providing immediate liquidity and practical utility.

RippleX SVP Markus Infanger echoed this view, highlighting rising demand for regulated access to DeFi using XRP and noting that interoperability is becoming important to institutional users.

Native XRPL Lending Moves Closer to Reality

At the same time, native DeFi on XRPL is advancing internally. Recent development progress on XLS-66, a proposal for fixed-term, native lending on the XRP Ledger, has drawn strong reactions.

Zach Rector described the update as “massive for XRP” after Vet highlighted a newly merged GitHub pull request by Ripple engineer Ed Hennis. The update improves code efficiency, simplifies lending logic, and strengthens the foundation for production-ready lending.

XLS-66 aims to introduce predictable, fixed-rate lending without overcollateralization, using on-chain vaults and protocol-level enforcement rather than smart contracts.

Why 2026 Is Gaining Attention

For much of its history, the XRP Ledger focused almost entirely on payments. That strategy delivered speed, reliability, and low costs but limited DeFi experimentation.

Now, with a mature DEX, expanding cross-chain liquidity through FXRP, wXRP, and native lending nearing readiness, the XRPL is set to enter a new phase.

Ultimately, this convergence of infrastructure, liquidity, and institutional support explains why validators and developers are confident that 2026 could be a breakout year for the XRP Ledger.

Zach Rector Highlights Critical Warning to XRP Holders

Lele Jima
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Zach Rector Highlights Critical Warning to XRP Holders

Analyst Zach Rector has warned that XRP is approaching major resistance levels that could either support a brief move higher or trigger a near-term correction. 

Rector framed his commentary as a “critical warning” for short-term traders navigating XRP’s current price zone. While noting that XRP could still extend its rally toward $2.40, he argued that a rejection at nearby resistance could spark a pullback.

His analysis comes as U.S. crypto legislation faces delays. He urges traders to watch both price signals and policy developments as XRP’s price nears a key move.

Key Takeaways

  • Rector alerts the XRP community to potential short-term price risks.
  • The analysis focuses on XRP’s reaction to Fibonacci levels, with the 0.236 FIB acting as a critical decision point.
  • XRP could still climb toward the $2.40 region, where a potential double-top formation may emerge.
  • Regulatory and political developments may act as catalysts for increased volatility.

XRP Approaching Key Fibonacci Levels

In a tweet, Rector explained that XRP has closely respected Fibonacci levels during its recent advance. He noted that the token climbed to about $2.17 on January 14, bringing it closer to an important decision zone.

Rector pointed to the 0.236 Fibonacci level near $2.27 as the next key area, where XRP could either face rejection or briefly move higher before selling pressure increases.

According to him, a rejection at this level would signal weakening momentum, while a move toward $2.40 could mark a final push higher. Rector also warned that $2.40 could form a double top —a bearish pattern that occurs when prices fail to break a resistance level twice.

For context, after XRP surged to $2.40 on January 6, the token declined sharply and eventually fell to near $2.00.

Since then, XRP has rebounded above $2.10 and is currently trading around $2.11, slightly below the previous day’s peak. If the price revisits the $2.40 region and stalls, it could strengthen the case for a short-term correction.

Regulatory Uncertainty Adds to Volatility Risk

Beyond technical factors, Rector highlighted political and regulatory uncertainty in the United States as a key source of potential volatility. He specifically referenced delays related to the CLARITY Act, upcoming markup votes, and political developments in Washington, D.C., which could weigh on sentiment and prompt profit-taking.

Notably, the U.S. Senate Banking Committee has canceled the markup of the CLARITY Act, initially scheduled for today, after Coinbase publicly withdrew its support for the bill.

XRP Historical Reaction to Delayed Regulation

Historically, XRP has been highly sensitive to regulatory news. Periods of optimism around legal clarity have often fueled strong rallies, while delays or ambiguity have triggered volatility or consolidation.

For example, XRP surged to $3.34 in January 2025 as investors anticipated a swift resolution to Ripple’s long-running legal battle. However, following delays in that resolution and broader macroeconomic pressures, the price fell below $2.00.

Later, in July 2025, XRP rebounded to $3.65 after signs emerged that a resolution was approaching. This reinforces the asset’s strong correlation with regulatory developments.

At press time, XRP is trading at $2.11, down 1.52% over the past 24 hours.

Ethereum Price Analysis for Jan 15: Where Next as ETH’s 50-Day MA Flips to Support?

Mark Brennan
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Ethereum Price Analysis for Jan 15: Where Next as ETH’s 50-Day MA Flips to Support?

Ethereum shows improving momentum, holding above key support levels, with traders eyeing potential upside.

Ethereum (ETH) has seen a 1.1% pump in the past 24 hours, trading between $3,281 and $3,386, a somewhat healthy price action. The token is currently showing positive momentum, as the price has recently surged after testing lower levels, and is now consolidating around the higher end of its 24-hour range.

Notably, over the past 7 days, Ethereum has gained 8.1%, showing sustained upward momentum. Looking at the 30-day performance, ETH is up 15.0%, signaling strong investor confidence.

The price action shows Ethereum’s v-shaped rebound, with the price testing and holding above key levels. Will Ethereum surge to break further resistance?

Can Ethereum Break Further Resistance?

The daily chart for Ethereum shows price continuing its recovery phase after a correction, with ETH now trading back above several key dynamic levels. The price has reclaimed the mid-range of the Fibonacci ribbon and is holding above the 50-day moving average near $3,289, which is now acting as short-term support.

Ethereum Price Analysis
Ethereum Price Analysis

This shift suggests improving structure, as buyers are defending higher lows rather than allowing deeper pullbacks. However, ETH still faces layered resistance from the upper Fibonacci bands clustered between the $3,465–$3,859 zone, which may cap upside attempts in the near term.

From a trend strength perspective, the ADX Average Directional Index is currently reading around 26, indicating a moderately improving trend. While this is not an extreme reading, it confirms that momentum is rebuilding rather than fading.

Ethereum’s Turn Now?

An analyst on X, Ted, suggests that it is now Ethereum’s turn, pointing to a developing technical setup on the daily chart. The chart shows ETH trading within an ascending triangle structure, marked by a horizontal upper trendline which shows flat resistance and an upward-facing lower trendline with indicates higher lows. 

ETHUSDT 1-Day
ETHUSDT 1-Day

This pattern is typically viewed as a potential bullish reversal formation, especially when the price begins to press against the upper boundary, as ETH is currently doing. Ted’s diagram implies that Ethereum may be nearing a key inflection point where momentum could shift in favor of buyers if the triangle breaks to the upside.

XRP ETFs Record Largest Volume in Five Trading Days Amid $10.63M Inflow

Elendu Benedict
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XRP ETFs Record Largest Volume in Five Trading Days Amid $10.63M Inflow

XRP ETFs extend the current inflow streak with $10.63 million in daily net flow, as their total traded value reaches a five-day high.

Specifically, data from SosoValue shows that the five US XRP spot ETFs recorded a daily trading volume of $44.11 million on January 14. Notably, this was the highest level of market participation in the last five market days. Such volume was last seen on January 6, when the funds brought in $19.12 million.

The increasing volume matters, as it shows strong interest among institutional and retail investors. As volume grows, liquidity rises too.

Key Data Points

  • Data from SosoValue shows that the five US XRP spot ETFs recorded a daily trading volume of $44.11 million on January 14, the highest in the past five trading days.
  • The US investment vehicle attracted a net inflow of $10.63 million on Wednesday and is currently on a five-day streak of inflows.
  • The Grayscale XRP Trust ETF (GXRP) led the inflows, pulling in $7.09 million.
  • The XRP spot ETFs’ cumulative total net inflows stand at $1.2 billion, and the total net assets at $1.56 billion.
  • As ETF inflows increase, XRP becomes scarcer in the open market.

XRP ETFs Extend Inflow Streak to Five Days

The notable volume spike ticked in favor of accumulation rather than distribution, as market users bought more XRP ETFs than they sold on Wednesday. Data shows the investment vehicles attracted a net inflow of $10.63 million.

Leading these inflows was the Grayscale XRP Trust ETF (GXRP). The fund brought in $7.09 million yesterday, translating to an accumulation of 3.3 million XRP tokens.

Two other ETFs, the Franklin XRP ETF (XRPZ) and the Bitwise XRP ETF (XRP), recorded net inflows of $7.09 million and $1.20 million, respectively. This resulted in the funds purchasing 1.09 million XRP and 559,690 XRP, respectively. Canary XRP ETF and 21Shares XRP ETF saw zero flows.

The Wednesday inflows extended the funds’ daily net inflow streak to five days, attracting $52.3 million in the process.  Their cumulative total net inflows stand at $1.2 billion, and the total net assets at $1.56 billion.

XRP ETFs Inflow/SosoValue
XRP ETFs Inflow/SosoValue

Market Implications for XRP

Remarkably, inflows into an ETF show strong traction for its underlying asset. Here, it suggests that XRP is an asset of interest to investors looking to meddle with cryptocurrencies.

Remarkably, these funds actually hold XRP, implying that they are consistently accumulating the token, impacting supply. Currently, they hold 1.19% of XRP’s market cap, adding pressure to the asset’s supply. If this trend persists, then XRP may eventually react to the tightening supply. 

Important Caveat

However, while these inflows have shown consistency, there is no guarantee that this trend will persist. As a result, the concept of supply shock as demand increases remains speculative.

Moreover, inflows into ETFs do not directly imply a price increase. Unless the conditions that drive price increase, which are demand outpacing supply, are met, these inflows would not impact the price of XRP. 

Also, XRP has barely reacted to these inflows, falling short of the price surge several enthusiasts predicted would occur once ETFs debut. There are no guarantees this will change soon, either.

XRP Volume Spikes 156% on Upbit and 69% on Binance as Both Exchanges Battle for Top Spot

Mark Brennan
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XRP Volume Spikes 156% on Upbit and 69% on Binance as Both Exchanges Battle for Top Spot

Spot XRP trade volumes on Upbit and Binance have spiked over the last 1 hour, as both exchanges battle to secure the top spot. 

Coinglass data confirms this trend. Specifically, the XRP/KRW on Upbit, Korea’s largest exchange, has surged 156% in the past 1 hour to reach $8.78 million at press time. Meanwhile, the XRP/USDT pair on Binance, the world’s largest exchange by trade volume, has increased 69% to $8.7 million.

XRP Volume Spikes on Binance and Upbit Coinglass
XRP Volume Spikes on Binance and Upbit | Coinglass

Notably, with these figures, Upbit boasts the largest XRP spot volume in the last 1 hour, while Binance takes second place in what appears to be a narrow race. Such a spike in trade volume indicates increased market participation, which could support the market amid a recovery push.

Key Data Points

  • Binance and Upbit are in a race to claim the top spot for the largest XRP spot trading volume.
  • Upbit has recorded a 156.43% increase in its XRP spot volume to $8.78 million in the last hour.
  • Binance has seen a milder 69.56% spike within the same period, but boasts an $8.7 million volume.
  • Other exchanges, such as Gate.io, Coinbase, and Bybit, have also seen spikes in their XRP volumes.
  • This sustained volume increase comes as XRP breaks above $2.1 in an ongoing recovery effort.

XRP Seeing Increased Interest

Market data shows interest may be returning to the XRP market after a period of general apathy. Notably, following the 24-hour volume peak of $7.8 billion on Jan. 6, which coincided with XRP’s two-month high of $2.41, the altcoin witnessed a gradual drop in trade interest.

The 24-hour volume declined to $4 billion in the following two days, and then dropped further to $3.5 billion by Jan. 9 and then hit the $1 billion level on Jan. 10 and 11. However, it seems investor interest has returned, with volume recovering to $3.6 billion on Jan. 12, $3.8 billion on Jan. 13, and $4.297 billion yesterday.

XRP Historical Data CMC
XRP Historical Data | CMC

This aligns with the observable increase in volume on Binance and Upbit over a short timeframe today. Besides these two exchanges, Coinbase, Gate, Bybit, Crypto.com, and OKX have all seen volume spikes, with their 1-hour volumes ranging from $1.4 million to $3.12 million. Only Bitstamp is witnessing a drop within this period.

A Volume Spike is Not Always Positive

A surge in trading volume during a rebound often gives XRP the fuel it needs to sustain the recovery. Higher volume shows stronger market participation, which indicates that traders find the current price attractive enough to buy. 

However, such spikes in trading volume do not always translate to increased purchases, as a rise in selloffs could also lead to a surge in volume. For instance, despite the recent volume spike, XRP has failed to hold the $2.2 price mark from Jan. 14, now changing hands at $2.12.

Shiba Inu Analysis for Jan 15: Shiba Inu Must Hold Above This Bollinger Band Support: What’s Next?

Mark Brennan
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Shiba Inu Analysis for Jan 15: Shiba Inu Must Hold Above This Bollinger Band Support: What’s Next?

Shiba Inu must hold above the middle Bollinger Band support to reverse the current price action.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) has experienced a 2.3% decline in the last 24 hours, with the price fluctuating between $0.000008497 and $0.00000899, reflecting moderate volatility during this period. The price has shown some retracement from the recent peak of $0.0000091 seen on Jan 13. Despite the decline, SHIB is holding just below the mid-range, suggesting potential support around current levels.

In terms of broader performance, SHIB has underperformed compared to both Bitcoin and Ethereum. Specifically, Shiba Inu has fallen 3.6% against BTC and 2.1% against ETH over the past 24 hours. Despite the recent underperformance, Shiba Inu remains closely watched by traders, as its next move could determine whether it finds support.

Can Shiba Inu Hold Above Key Support?

The daily chart for Shiba Inu shows the price attempting to stabilize after a prolonged downtrend. SHIB is currently trading above the middle Bollinger Band, the 20-day SMA, which often acts as a short-term equilibrium zone.

Shiba Inu Price Analysis
Shiba Inu Price Analysis

This level, placed at $0.00000825 could offer support for a potential bounce. Shiba Inu needs to hold above it to maintain its bullish structure and potentially push higher, which could lead to it testing the upper Bollinger Band. For context, SHIB remains capped below the upper Bollinger Band at $0.00000971. 

Elsewhere, volatility conditions remain moderate. The Bollinger Bands had widened during the prior surge that pushed SHIB to $0.000010, reflecting increased volatility, but are now beginning to compress, which may indicate a period of consolidation. 

Meanwhile, the Average True Range has recently declined, showing that daily price swings are narrowing. This supports the view that SHIB is entering a cooling phase after heightened volatility, with traders waiting for SHIB to find support.

Shiba Inu Open Interest is Declining 

CoinGlass’ Open Interest chart shows a decline in the recent trading sessions. Notably, over the past several months, open interest has fluctuated in tandem with SHIB’s price movements, suggesting a relationship between speculative positioning and price action.

Shiba Inu Open Interest
Shiba Inu Open Interest

As seen on the chart, open interest peaked earlier this month, reaching over $145 million, but has since fallen back to $104.29 million. Ultimately, the drop in open interest in tandem with the price decline could signal reduced speculative activity and less confidence in the continuation of the uptrend.

Robinhood CEO Urges Lawmakers to Fast-Track Crypto Regulation to Bring Staking to U.S. Customers

Zabi
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Robinhood CEO Urges Lawmakers to Fast-Track Crypto Regulation to Bring Staking to U.S. Customers

Robinhood CEO Vlad Tenev has once again called on US lawmakers to accelerate crypto regulation.

He stressed that prolonged uncertainty is stifling innovation and limiting customer access to popular products. His remarks come as Congress debates a bill on crypto market structure, which has exposed growing divisions within the industry.

Key Data Points

  • Robinhood offers stock tokens to European users but not to US customers.
  • Vlad Tenev said crypto staking remains unavailable in four US states: California, New Jersey, Maryland, and Wisconsin, due to regulatory barriers.
  • On Wednesday, the Senate Banking Committee postponed the markup of major legislation addressing the cryptocurrency market structure.
  • CEO Brian Armstrong withdrew support for the legislation, citing unresolved policy concerns.

High User Demand Meets Regulatory Barriers

In a post on X, Tenev said crypto staking remains among the most requested features from Robinhood users. Despite that demand, access remains restricted in several parts of the country.

He explained that the limitations stem from regulatory uncertainty rather than platform readiness. Robinhood’s website lists California, New Jersey, Maryland, and Wisconsin as states where staking is currently unavailable.

Consequently, users face uneven access to cryptocurrency products depending on their geographic location. Tenev argued that this fragmented landscape highlights shortcomings in the US approach to crypto oversight.

To illustrate the contrast, Tenev pointed to Europe’s more developed regulatory framework. Robinhood already offers stock tokens to customers across the European Union, products that remain unavailable to US users.

He added that the disparity highlights how slow policy development in the United States can hinder domestic innovation while pushing advanced financial products offshore.

Robinhood Signals Support for Legislative Progress

Against this backdrop, Tenev stated that Robinhood supports congressional efforts to establish a clear crypto market structure. He stressed that well-defined rules should both protect consumers and encourage responsible growth.

Moreover, he added that Robinhood is prepared to work with lawmakers from both parties, including members of the Senate Banking and Housing committees, to refine the legislation. Although he acknowledged recent progress, he said further revisions are necessary before the bill can move forward.

Industry Pushback Delays Senate Action

Nevertheless, momentum slowed this week when the Senate Banking Committee postponed its scheduled markup of the bill.

The delay followed Coinbase’s decision to withdraw its support. CEO Brian Armstrong raised concerns about the latest draft, including proposed restrictions on tokenized equities, potential constraints on decentralized finance, and changes to stablecoin reward structures.

“It’s Time to Send” Shiba Inu, Analyst Confirms Clean Breakout on SHIB Chart

Lele Jima
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“It’s Time to Send” Shiba Inu, Analyst Confirms Clean Breakout on SHIB Chart

Shiba Inu community analyst SHIB KNIGHT recently identified what he describes as early signs of a clean breakout on the SHIB/USDT chart.

In his latest analysis, the Shiba Inu commentator highlighted a move above a descending resistance line that had capped price action for days. Although SHIB still needs sustained trading above this level to confirm the move, the breakout marks a shift in short-term momentum.

Key Takeaways

  • SHIB has broken above a descending resistance line.
  • The breakout followed a consolidation phase, suggesting that selling pressure is fading.
  • The move invalidates the short-term bearish trend, shifting momentum toward bulls.
  • If follow-through holds, higher psychological resistance levels could come into focus.
  • Meanwhile, the price of Shiba Inu has dropped by 2% since the analyst’s announcement.

Analyst Anticipates a Clean Breakout for Shiba Inu

According to SHIB KNIGHT, the leading canine-themed token is positioning for a clean breakout that could drive prices higher in the near term. His thesis centers on a visible technical pattern in which SHIB breaks above a descending trendline after an extended period of consolidation.

Specifically, the analysis points to a classic descending triangle formation on Shiba Inu’s daily chart. After surging to the $0.000010 level on January 5, SHIB began forming lower highs, creating a downward-sloping resistance line.

At the time of the chart snapshot, SHIB was trading at $0.00000881, up roughly 5.13% on the day. The significance of the move lies in how the price reacted at the resistance. Once SHIB pushed decisively above the trendline near $0.0000088, buyers absorbed selling pressure from traders who had previously defended that level.

Shiba Inu breaks above the descending triangle
Shiba Inu breaks above the descending triangle

Moreover, the breakout followed a period of price compression, during which volatility narrowed. Historically, such conditions often precede stronger directional moves.

As a result, SHIB KNIGHT characterized the move as a clean breakout rather than a temporary wick. “It is time to send,” he wrote, signaling expectations for higher prices.

Why SHIB Must Maintain This Breakout to Fuel a Rally

By reclaiming the $0.0000088–$0.0000090 zone, an area where prior rallies stalled, SHIB has re-entered a critical technical region. If the token can maintain support above this range, short-term traders may re-enter, potentially reinforcing bullish momentum and opening the door to further upside.

However, breakouts do not guarantee sustained rallies. While SHIB KNIGHT’s analysis suggests upside potential, Shiba Inu may still face pullbacks, as previous breakouts from descending triangle patterns have sometimes led to retracements.

Indeed, SHIB has slipped from the $0.00000881 level shown in the snapshot to approximately $0.000008596, reflecting a modest 2.42% pullback.

XRP Has Now Completed the Backtest of Its 2W Ichimoku Cloud Breakout

Mark Brennan
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XRP Has Now Completed the Backtest of Its 2W Ichimoku Cloud Breakout

XRP has now completed a backtest of its Ichimoku Cloud breakout on the 2-week timeframe, according to market analyst Cantonese Cat.

The market pundit highlighted this development in one of his latest commentaries on X. Data from his accompanying chart confirms that XRP broke above the Ichimoku Cloud during the November 2024 rally, but consolidated above it throughout 2024 and has now backtested the breakout.

Interestingly, this pattern emerged on the 2-week chart. Because it highlights the broader market structure rather than short-term volatility, analysts tend to place greater weight on signals drawn from such longer-term timeframes.

Key Data Points

  • XRP broke above the Ichimoku Cloud in November 2024 when prices soared above the $0.6 resistance.
  • After this breakout, XRP hit a new peak above $3 in July and then pulled back to consolidate throughout 2024.
  • The consolidation ended when XRP collapsed in Q4 2024, leading to a backtest of the Ichimoku Cloud breakout.
  • With January 2026 providing a relief rally, XRP has now held support above the cloud, completing the backtest.

Historical Context Leading into the Breakout

For most of 2024, XRP changed hands below the Ichimoku Cloud, with price largely trading under $0.60. This period coincided with a red (bearish) cloud overhead, indicating persistent downside pressure and resistance. However, the structure changed in November 2024.

In early November 2024, XRP printed two large bullish 2-week candles that surged from roughly $0.50 to above $2.9. These candles broke through long-standing horizontal resistance and cleared the entire Ichimoku Cloud. 

The breakout also coincided with a change in the forward-projected cloud from red to green, indicating a transition from bearish to bullish market structure. Notably, this marked XRP’s first confirmed 2-week Ichimoku Cloud breakout in years.

XRP’s Post-Breakout Expansion and Consolidation

Following the breakout, XRP continued higher into December 2024 and January 2025, reaching a peak of $3.4. During this phase, several Ichimoku components moved in favor of trend continuation. 

XRP 2W Chart Cantonese Cat
XRP 2W Chart | Cantonese Cat

Specifically, the Tenkan-sen (conversion line) pushed above the Kijun-sen (base line), signaling improving short- and medium-term momentum, while the Chikou Span (lagging line) cleared both price and the cloud and confirmed the trend strength.

However, between February and July 2025, XRP entered a consolidation range, as its price fluctuated between $1.6 and $2 on the downside and a range of $3 to $3.60 on the upside. Despite heightened volatility and long wicks on several candles, XRP did not post a 2-week close back inside the cloud.

The Backtest Phase

Meanwhile, the most important phase occurred during late October to early November 2025. After rolling over from the mid-$3 range, XRP retraced toward the top of the green Ichimoku Cloud. The price fell into the $1.90 to $2.00 area, directly interacting with Senkou Span A and the rising Kijun-sen.

This move represented an Ichimoku backtest, where price returns to the cloud after a breakout to confirm whether former resistance has flipped into support. Importantly, XRP held this zone. Notably, no 2-week candle closed below the cloud, and the cloud itself remained green and upward-sloping.

Backtest Completion and Current Structure

In the weeks following the pullback, XRP began stabilizing above the cloud. By January 2026, price had reclaimed the Tenkan-sen and was trading above $2, with the Kijun-sen stationed just below price. The forward cloud remains green, indicating that bullish structural conditions are still in place.

This sequence, which involves a breakout above the cloud, prolonged consolidation above it, a pullback into the cloud, and a successful hold, prompted Cantonese Cat to conclude that XRP has now completed the backtest of its 2-week Ichimoku Cloud breakout. Such a backtest is mostly bullish for future price action.

Binance CZ: Bitcoin Reaching $200,000 “Is the Most Obvious Thing in the World”

Zabi
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Binance CZ: Bitcoin Reaching $200,000 “Is the Most Obvious Thing in the World”

Bitcoin could climb to $200,000 as regulatory pressure eases and BTC becomes more embedded in global financial markets, according to Binance founder Changpeng Zhao.

Zhao linked Bitcoin’s long-term prospects to developments in the political and regulatory landscape. He observed that the industry has benefited from a more accommodating policy stance since President Donald Trump’s re-election. Moreover, Zhao added that the easing of regulatory pressures has helped restore confidence across the broader crypto sector.

That renewed confidence has coincided with strength in U.S. equity markets. Historically, strong stock market performance has supported Bitcoin prices, creating a more constructive environment for risk assets overall.

CZ believes Bitcoin reaching $200,000 price “is the most obvious thing in the world” to him.

Key Data Points

  • Speaking during a voice AMA on Binance Square on Wednesday, Zhao said a $200,000 Bitcoin price is “a matter of time.”
  • His outlook mirrors that of Fundstrat’s Tom Lee, who set the same target during a CNBC interview.
  • At press time, Bitcoin was trading at $96,279, up 1.37% over the past 24 hours and 7.25% over the past week.

Market Integration Challenges the Halving Model

As Bitcoin’s role in global markets expands, Zhao suggested that its historical price behavior may also change. For much of its history, Bitcoin followed a four-year halving cycle, with bull markets often emerging after each event.

However, Zhao argued that this pattern may become less relevant as Bitcoin becomes more closely tied to Wall Street and broader macroeconomic trends. In addition, increased institutional participation could cause Bitcoin to trade more like a global risk asset rather than a retail-driven, cyclical one.

This perspective reflects a broader shift in market thinking. Analysts such as QuintenFrancois have also questioned the relevance of the four-year cycle. He encouraged investors to move away from relying on it as a core framework.

Meanwhile, other commentators like Willy Woo believe the four-year cycle remains relevant.

Tom Lee Reinforces the Bullish Case

Zhao’s remarks align with long-standing projections from Fundstrat’s Tom Lee. Lee publicly outlined a $200,000 Bitcoin target during a CNBC interview in October 2025, when Bitcoin was trading near $111,000.

At that time, Lee identified anticipated Federal Reserve rate cuts and improving liquidity conditions as primary drivers. He further noted that, when combined with rising institutional adoption, these factors could underpin substantially higher valuations over time. Lee has since revised his outlook to 2026.

Meanwhile, skepticism remains among some market veterans. Trader Peter Brandt publicly pushed back on Lee’s projection, saying he places little value on fixed price targets and warning against conviction-driven forecasts.

Taken together, these views illustrate a market in transition. Ultimately, Bitcoin’s future is increasingly shaped by macro forces and institutional capital, even as debate continues over how high prices can ultimately go.

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