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Elliott Wave Specialist Reveals Why an XRP Run to $20 Remains Possible

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Amid the ongoing recovery effort from XRP, a prominent market analyst and Elliott Wave specialist has revealed why he believes a rally to $20 remains possible.

For context, XRP opened 2026 with an impressive comeback, having surged 22.59% during the first seven days of the year. This comes after the downtrend in Q4 2025 resulted in a 35% collapse, pushing XRP below the pivotal $2 level.

The latest bullish flip, which recovered the $2 mark, has revived discussions about how high XRP could climb in this cycle. Amid the discussions, XForceGlobal, a South Korean Elliott Wave specialist, recently shared his opinion. 

XRP Has Held Near ATHs for First Time in History

He asked investors not to dismiss the idea of $5 or even $20 during this cycle. The market analyst said his outlook comes from studying price movement daily and linking each move to the larger Elliott Wave map. According to him, the broader picture shows that XRP now trades in an unusually tight range that goes against what traders have seen throughout its price history. 

He explained that this range helped the market set a new price floor that currently holds firm. Specifically, this floor rests around the $2 level. XForceGlobal believes this floor is now undergoing a test phase that should either confirm or reject it. 

He then mentioned earlier cycle peaks in 2018 and 2022, where XRP rallied and then quickly lost ground. According to him, the token did not repeat this pattern after its late-2024 surge. Notably, XRP held strong levels after the November 2024 run for a full year and did so fairly close to previous all-time highs. XForceGlobal believes this is a sign of strength in the market.

What Corrective Structure is XRP Currently Witnessing?

Speaking further, the analyst then highlighted the main corrective structures in Elliott Wave theory. Notably, he said markets usually move through zigzags, flats, or triangles when they pause before the next trend.

Corrective Wave Structures
Corrective Wave Structures

For context, zigzags slope against momentum, triangles compress inside narrowing levels, and flats hold inside a steady zone. Considering this, XForceGlobal ruled out the possibility that XRP’s current corrective structure is a triangle, suggesting that it instead resembles a flat pattern.

According to him, flat structures themselves come in different forms. The standard version looks straightforward, but expanded and running flats create fake swings that trick traders. 

He said XRP already pushed above a previous high, which leaves two choices: expanded flat or running flat. To him, the more likely option is the running flat, which keeps the previous low intact without breaking support. He called this trend a fake-out inside another fake-out that usually ends with a strong breakout in the direction of the main trend.

XRP 1W Chart XForceGlobal
XRP 1W Chart | XForceGlobal

Possible Targets as XRP Nearly Done with Current Correction

The analyst explained that the flat pattern includes three moves down, three moves up, and a final five-wave leg. He believes XRP already completed that five-wave decline during the 35% collapse in Q4 2025, which would mean the correction ended. 

However, XForceGlobal admitted that one last dip could still happen, and a drop to the $1.30 to $1.50 area remains on the table. Despite this, evidence seems to suggest the correction may have run its course. He said the market’s latest leg higher looks like an impulsive move, not a corrective bounce, which usually marks the start of a new upward trend.

XRP 4h Chart XForceGlobal
XRP 4h Chart | XForceGlobal

With that context, he believes XRP already sits inside the opening stages of a fresh five-wave push to the upside. He expects more nested impulse moves to build on top of each other and send prices higher as buyers take control. 

Considering this, XForceGlobal set $5 as a reasonable low-end target for the cycle. He also said XRP could reach $10, $20, and possibly even push toward $30 if momentum accelerates during the peak of the cycle.

XRPL Developer Shares How to Make 10,000 XRP If You Are Priced Out of Buying 10,000 XRP

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Bird, a developer behind the XRPL-based memecoin Drop, recently sparked discussion about the benefits of holding 10,000 XRP.

According to him, holding 10,000 XRP could be worth $100,000 if XRP reaches $10. He described the outlook as a straightforward and long-term approach, not a complicated strategy.

This outlook comes as XRP reclaimed the $2 level this week, with high hopes for the coin to surge further toward new all-time highs.

How to Mint 10,000 XRP

In a follow-up post, Bird acknowledged that not everyone can afford to accumulate 10,000 XRP at current prices. For context, 10,000 XRP now costs about $22,000, whereas in 2024, one could buy the same amount for $5,000 or less.

 

Given this barrier to entry, Bird suggested XRPL memecoins as an alternative route. He suggests allocating around 2,000 XRP to select XRPL meme tokens, which could, during a strong meme cycle, grow to the equivalent of 10,000 XRP.

According to him, this approach offers similar exposure to XRP’s upside but via a different path. He cited tokens such as $DROP, $ARMY, $FUZZY, and $PHNIX as examples frequently discussed within the XRPL meme ecosystem.

XRP Price Action Adds Context

These comments come as XRP has been gaining renewed attention in 2026. XRP is currently trading around $2.24, up nearly 20% over the past week, even after a 5% pullback in the last 24 hours following a run to $2.43 earlier this week.

The recent surge has pushed XRP back into mainstream conversation. For instance, CNBC recently called it one of the hottest cryptocurrencies in the market. Moreover, XRP has overtaken BNB again, becoming the third-largest cryptocurrency after Bitcoin and Ethereum.

Community, Tools, and Research

Notably, Bird emphasized the importance of understanding how the XRP Ledger works before making any moves. He encouraged users to study charts, liquidity, project teams, branding, and on-chain activity. He also mentioned using tools like First Ledger to better analyze XRPL activity.

Bird highlighted that XRPL meme communities on X and Telegram are particularly open to questions and often help newcomers learn the ecosystem.

XRP Road to $10

Bird’s views reflect optimism that XRP could finally break the $10 price point. This week, technical analyst Charting Guy said XRP is “following perfectly” toward $8.

He noted that after months of sideways, patience-testing price action and multiple shakeouts, XRP is on a breakout run that could deliver a 4X surge to $8. Other analysts, including Matt Hughes, also believe XRP remains on track for $8.

Separately, YouTuber Mason Versluis argued that XRP could reach $30 based on market-cap calculations rather than hype. To reach this level, XRP would need a 12X increase, bringing its market cap to $1.9 trillion.

Versluis suggested that if Bitcoin can reach a $5–10 trillion market cap, XRP could follow over time, potentially achieving a $1–2 trillion market cap, making $30 plausible.

Cardano’s NIGHT Token Welcomes 3,000 New Wallets in a Week as Midnight Adoption Surges

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The Midnight network’s native token, NIGHT, is experiencing steady adoption growth, with on-chain data showing a strong increase in holders.

According to Cardano-focused block explorer Cexplorer.io, NIGHT has now surpassed 20,700 unique holders. Notably, this represents an increase of roughly 3,000 wallets in just one epoch. The update highlights surging interest in Midnight as the project approaches major network milestones.

NIGHT Holder Growth Accelerates Across Epochs

This latest milestone continues a clear upward trend. On January 2, Cexplorer reported that NIGHT had crossed 17,700 holders, just one epoch after reaching 14,000. The consistent rise in wallet count suggests expanding participation beyond early adopters.

The steady increase comes despite NIGHT correcting from its late December highs. It indicates that user interest is being driven more by ecosystem development than short-term price movements.

chart showing NIGHT Holder Count
A chart showing NIGHT Holder Count

Hoskinson: 2026 Will Be a Strong Year for Cardano and Midnight

Midnight’s adoption aligns with recent comments from Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson, who has repeatedly expressed confidence in both Cardano and Midnight for 2026.

In a January podcast, Hoskinson described 2026 as a “great year” for the ecosystem, citing a more mature crypto market and the rollout of major innovations. He specifically highlighted Midnight as a key contributor, noting that the privacy-focused sidechain will launch soon.

Notably, NIGHT debuted with a market valuation above $1 billion before pulling back. However, Hoskinson has emphasized that price action does not fully reflect the project’s long-term significance within Cardano’s roadmap.

At press time, NIGHT is trading at $0.07952, representing a steep 82% drop from the $0.45 price it traded at in December.

Cardano Night Token CoinMarket Cap
Cardano Night Token CoinMarket Cap

NIGHT and ADA to Work Together

Hoskinson has also addressed speculation about whether ADA holders should sell their tokens to buy NIGHT. He pushed back on the idea, stressing that NIGHT seeks to extend Cardano’s capabilities, not replace ADA.

Midnight’s role is to provide privacy infrastructure for decentralized applications, allowing developers to build confidential smart contracts while still leveraging Cardano’s security and settlement layer. In Hoskinson’s words, Midnight acts as a privacy engine for the broader ecosystem.

He also highlighted Cardano’s first-mover advantage, noting that Cardano dApps will be the earliest beneficiaries of Midnight’s features. This priority was reflected in the NIGHT distribution, where 50% of the total 24 billion supply was allocated to ADA holders.

With the Midnight sidechain nearing launch and Cardano preparing multiple upgrades in 2026, NIGHT’s rising holder count confirms early positioning.

Rumble Collabs with Tether to Launch Native Crypto Wallet for Creators

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Video-sharing outlet Rumble has announced the launch of a platform-native crypto wallet designed to reward creators directly.

A Wednesday press release confirmed the debut of the “Rumble Wallet” in collaboration with Tether, the largest stablecoin issuer. The new wallet would allow users to tip creators directly on Rumble using cryptocurrencies.

Rumble Launches Crypto Wallet

The Rumble Wallet is a non-custodial wallet fused directly into the Rumble platform. It enables platform users to buy, sell, and transfer digital assets without relying on third-party systems such as banks or payment processors.

Most importantly, the audience can now appreciate creators on Rumble directly. This gives creators access to swift, borderless, and direct payments through the newly embedded crypto wallet. For now, the Rumble Wallet only supports USDT, Tether gold (XAUT), and Bitcoin.

Meanwhile, supporting this innovation is Tether. Rumble built the wallet using the Tether Wallet Development Kit (WDK), marking the first time Tether has deployed the technology for real-world application. Notably, the Tether WDK allows platforms to create crypto wallets without the need for centralized custodians.

Interestingly, Rumble also tapped payment giant MoonPay to power transactions on the wallet. The firm would process on-ramp and off-ramp transactions, which entail converting fiat to crypto and vice versa. The platform will support traditional credit cards, Apple Pay, and Venmo, the press release highlighted.

Rumble Dabbles Deeper into Crypto

Notably, the video-sharing platform claims it is a “freedom-first technology” outlet, and the Rumble Wallets aim to give users and creators control. While legacy financial systems impose restrictions such as account suspensions and asset freezes, Rumble’s native crypto wallet offers decentralization and digital freedom.

Notably, Rumble CEO Chris Pavlovski said the Rumble Wallet is “putting more power into the hands of users and creators,” allowing them to engage with and financially support content on the platform.

“That’s another parallel to free expression, and it’s all unique to Rumble,” Pavlovski added.

Recall that Rumble had continued to tease the launch of the crypto wallet since 2024, with the CEO claiming it will reward creators more than some advertisers. Meanwhile, this adds to Rumble’s latest efforts to embrace crypto and blockchain technology.

In 2024, Rumble adopted a Bitcoin treasury strategy, committing $20 million from its cash reserve to purchase the premier asset. Per BitcoinTreasuries, Rumble holds 211 BTC worth $19.3 million at the current market price.

Ethereum Joins Morgan Stanley’s Suite of Proposed Spot Crypto ETFs

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Morgan Stanley is seeking U.S. regulatory approval for a spot Ethereum exchange-traded fund (ETF).

According to a filing submitted Tuesday, the firm registered an S-1 for the proposed Morgan Stanley Ethereum Trust with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Specifically, the vehicle is a spot Ethereum ETF to provide investors with direct exposure to the asset.

The filing states that the fund would hold Ethereum directly and track its market price, without engaging in active trading or speculative sales. Notably, the filing also introduces the possibility of generating yield.

For instance, a portion of the fund’s Ethereum holdings may be directed to third-party staking providers. This approach enables the ETF to earn passive returns. The inclusion of staking aligns with broader industry efforts to incorporate yield-bearing features into crypto investment products.

From an operational standpoint, Morgan Stanley Investment Management is the sponsor. Meanwhile, CSC Delaware Trust Company is designated as the Delaware Trustee.

Meanwhile, several key details remain pending. The filing does not yet identify a custodian or specify the exchange on which the ETF would trade, indicating that additional disclosures are likely.

Part of a Broader Wave of Crypto ETF Filings

The Ethereum proposal is part of a wider push into digital assets. Earlier the same day, Morgan Stanley also submitted applications for spot Bitcoin and Solana ETFs.

Taken together, the filings suggest a coordinated strategy to expand exposure across multiple crypto assets within a regulated framework.

Moreover, the ETF push builds on earlier policy changes at the firm. For context, in October 2024, Morgan Stanley began allowing its financial advisors to recommend certain crypto funds.

However, those recommendations were limited to eligible clients and applied to select account types, including IRAs and 401(k)s.

Ethereum ETFs Hold Ground Amid Market Turmoil

The filing arrives amid continued volatility in crypto markets. Despite a roughly $19 billion market correction in October, spot Ethereum ETFs have demonstrated relative resilience.

Bloomberg analyst James Seyffart noted that these products retained the majority of their inflows, with only about 18% of assets exiting from peak levels. Specifically, spot Ethereum ETFs reached approximately $15 billion in cumulative inflows before seeing about $2.8 billion in outflows.

On-Chain Data Reveals Diverging Investor Behavior

Meanwhile, blockchain data points to mixed sentiment among market participants. For instance, Nansen reported that large Ethereum holders increased their exposure over the past week, with whales acquiring approximately $4.83 million worth of ETH across 32 wallets.

In contrast, “smart money” traders reduced their positions, selling roughly $8.9 million in Ethereum across 63 wallets during the same period.

Additionally, new wallet activity suggested continued underlying demand. Wallets created over the past 14 days have accumulated approximately $2.34 billion in spot Ethereum.

According to Nansen, this represents more than a threefold increase in demand among new entrants compared to the previous week. Overall, the trend indicates sustained interest in Ethereum despite broader market uncertainty.

Awaiting SEC Approval 

Finally, the proposed Morgan Stanley Ethereum ETF now awaits review by the SEC. If approved, it would provide another institutional on-ramp for Ethereum exposure in the U.S. market.

Bloomberg Warns Bitcoin Could Revisit the $50,000 Pivot in 2026, but Shares What May Stop It

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A recent Bloomberg analysis warns that Bitcoin could crash to its yearly pivot of $50,000 in 2026 under certain macro conditions.

Currently, Bitcoin (BTC) changes hands at $91,525 after rebounding early in the year. However, this recovery has since lost momentum after Bitcoin surged to $94,741 on Jan. 5 and failed to hold that level.

While firms like Bernstein expect 2026 to mark a recovery year for Bitcoin after the turbulent close to 2025, Bloomberg Senior Strategist Mike McGlone has presented a reason to be cautious. His latest commentary suggests Bitcoin could still face downside pressure this year under certain macro conditions.

Bitcoin’s Historical Reactions to Stock Volatility

McGlone based his recent analysis on a long-term chart tracking Bitcoin’s yearly candle from 2014 through early 2026, alongside the S&P 500 Index and its 120-day volatility measure. 

Interestingly, the chart indicates that Bitcoin has historically delivered its strongest rallies during periods of low and stable equity market volatility. However, when stock volatility rises, Bitcoin tends to retrace toward long-term support levels.

Specifically, from 2014 through 2016, Bitcoin traded mostly between $200 and $600, forming an early base as equity volatility remained uneven. 

Bitcoin 12M Chart and SPX 120D Volatility Bloomberg Intelligence
Bitcoin 12M Chart and SPX 120D Volatility | Bloomberg Intelligence

In 2017, Bitcoin broke out sharply, climbing close to $20,000 by December 2017 as stock market volatility declined. However, this relationship reversed in 2018, when a spike in volatility coincided with Bitcoin’s drop to roughly $3,336 by January 2019. 

Interestingly, the pattern repeated in the next cycle. For context, Bitcoin rose to a peak near $69,000 in November 2021 during calm market conditions, then fell to around $16,273 in December 2022 as volatility returned and risk appetite faded.

Bitcoin Could Revisit the $50,000 Yearly Pivot

Notably, Bitcoin recovered through 2023 and 2024, reclaiming the $50,000 level, which now stands out as a major structural pivot. By 2025, Bitcoin pushed above the $100,000 level, hitting a peak of $126,000 in October 2025, but Q4 2025 brought it back below $100,000.

At the same time, the S&P 500 volatility index dropped toward the 11 to 12 range, one of the lowest readings in decades. While volatility dropped, gold delivered its strongest relative performance in 2025 at the fastest pace since 1979, a move that often precedes broader market stress. 

McGlone argues that this setup carries historical risk. According to him, gold has never sustained such high prices while equity volatility remained this suppressed. McGlone sees this as a sign that markets may underestimate the risk involved heading into 2026. 

Considering these conditions, McGlone suggested that if volatility returns this year, BTC may correct further to revisit the $50,000 pivot. However, he noted that Bitcoin can avoid revisiting this level only if stock market volatility stays unusually low. It bears mentioning that McGlone also suggested BTC could revisit $50,000 last year.

Analysts Bullish Short-Term

Meanwhile, crypto analysts remain bullish on Bitcoin’s short-term prospects. For instance, Lark Davis pointed out today that Bitcoin recently rejected resistance near $94,000, printing the first red daily candle of the year. He highlighted a 3% drop during the New York market open, when BTC fell from $94,300 to $91,200 in just three hours. 

Bitcoin 1D Chart Lark Davis
Bitcoin 1D Chart Lark Davis

The analyst also called attention to a quick 2% rebound after news that MSCI kept Strategy in its index, which pushed Bitcoin back toward $92,000. Davis said the market now watches whether Bitcoin can finally break above $94,000 or face another rejection during U.S. trading hours.

Emperor, another analyst, identified $94,000 to $95,000 as the most important resistance zone and expects a pullback toward $90,700–$91,000, where a high-volume node and the VWAP from the yearly open align. He stressed that Bitcoin must hold this level to keep short-term momentum intact.

Ripple-Owned GTreasury Acquires Solvexia to Strengthen Automated Reconciliation and Regulatory Reporting

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Ripple-owned GTreasury has announced the acquisition of financial automation provider Solvexia to strengthen its reconciliation and regulatory reporting capabilities.

The recently disclosed acquisition marks a significant step in GTreasury’s push to eliminate manual, spreadsheet-driven workflows that often expose finance teams to operational risks, fraud, and audit failures.

Notably, the deal expands GTreasury’s existing treasury management and digital asset infrastructure by integrating Solvexia’s automation technology directly into its platform. As a result, organizations can now automate reconciliation and regulatory reporting across treasury, finance, and compliance functions. 

For context, these areas have traditionally remained fragmented and heavily reliant on manual processes before now. 

Addressing Persistent Challenges in Finance 

Despite advances in financial technology, many enterprises still rely on spreadsheets to reconcile transactions and prepare regulatory disclosures. 

These processes are not only time-consuming, but error-prone and difficult to audit, particularly as organizations manage both fiat and digital asset transactions across multiple jurisdictions. 

With the acquisition of Solvexia, GTreasury can now embed the firm’s reconciliation and reporting automation directly into its platform, enabling it to deliver a unified solution that reduces operational and compliance risks.

Hence, the combined platform allows finance teams to improve accuracy, strengthen governance, and respond more quickly to rising regulatory demands. Key features of the combined platform include enterprise-grade regulatory reporting, embedded governance and controls, built-in audit readiness, and end-to-end reconciliation automation.

Company Execs React 

In a statement, GTreasury CEO Renaat Ver Eecke confirmed that the acquisition will help break down long-standing barriers between compliance reporting and treasury management.

He further stressed that manual processes are no longer sustainable, as they introduce fraud risks and disclosure weaknesses, primarily when automation can provide end-to-end transparency.

Adem Turgut, CEO of Solvexia, also weighed in on the development. He highlighted a major challenge facing most organizations: balancing traditional banking relationships with emerging digital asset infrastructures while operating under intense regulatory scrutiny.

However, Turgut noted that combining Solvexia’s automation capabilities with GTreasury’s infrastructure positions the platform to meet not only today’s requirements but also the future demands of finance. 

Ripple-GTreasury Relationship 

Founded in 1986, GTreasury has built a strong reputation as a leading provider of treasury management systems and solutions for finance teams, serving more than 1,000 customers across 160 countries. 

In October 2025, Ripple acquired GTreasury for $1 billion and outlined plans to merge GTreasury’s expertise in liquidity and financial risk management with Ripple’s blockchain-based payment solutions.

A few months after the acquisition, GTreasury has now moved to acquire Solvexia, further advancing its vision of delivering a unified platform for automated reconciliation while strengthening regulatory compliance. 

Shiba Inu Price Analysis for Jan 7: Here’s Where SHIB is Headed After It Finds a Floor

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The Shiba Inu price has retraced, but the Supertrend indicator remains bullish. Can SHIB find a floor?

The Shiba Inu (SHIB) chart for January 7 shows a 2.9% decline in the last 24 hours, with a price range of $0.00000887 to around $0.00000948. Despite the drop, SHIB has had a strong performance over the past week, increasing by 28.1%, and by 27.9% in the last 14 days, indicating strong bullish momentum over a longer period. The 24-hour trading volume stands at $239 million, down over 48% in the past 24 hours.

The recent price action exhibits a sharp rise followed by a decline, indicating market volatility. Given the 28.1% weekly rise, SHIB could potentially find support near the current price level. 

Shiba Inu Price Prediction

The Shiba Inu chart from TradingView shows a recent surge, with the price breaking above its previous resistance levels before retracing slightly. Despite the latest retracement, the Supertrend indicator is currently in a buy signal, turning green, and indicating bullish momentum.

Shiba Inu Prediction
Shiba Inu Prediction

This suggests that the price could continue to push higher if SHIB finds a floor, and the current momentum holds. The immediate resistance level is around the $0.00001007 mark, where the price recently peaked. If SHIB breaks above this resistance and holds above it, the next potential target could be around $0.00001071, which aligns with the upper range of the Supertrend indicator.

On the downside, $0.000007540 is a key support level, where the Supertrend line is acting as a potential floor. A drop below this level would shift the market sentiment to bearish, potentially targeting the next support around $0.000006825.

Elsewhere, the MACD is still showing bullish momentum, with the histogram printing green bars, indicating continued buying pressure. However, if the MACD crosses below the signal line and green candles start to fade, it could signal a potential reversal or weakening of the upward trend. 

Shiba Inu Burn Rate Data

The Shiba Inu burn data shows a significant decline in the burn rate, down by 90.15% over the past 24 hours. This sharp drop is reflected in the relatively low burn transactions, with only 1.5 million SHIB burned in the last 24 hours.

Shiba Inu Burn Rate
Shiba Inu Burn Rate

Previous transactions show larger burns, such as 1 million SHIB, 3.6 million SHIB, and 10 million SHIB in earlier periods. The current level of burn activity is not substantial enough to make a significant dent in the total supply, and the burn rate needs to surge in order to see a more noticeable reduction in circulating supply.

Expert Says You’re Still Early as XRP Rich List Shows Only 330K Accounts Hold 10,000+ XRP

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Recent data from the XRP rich list indicates that the number of accounts holding more than 10,000 XRP tokens remains incredibly low.

Having launched over 13 years ago, XRP remains one of the oldest crypto assets that has still continued to command relevance in the market, maintaining a top 5 position. At its current price of $2.24, CoinMarketCap data indicates that XRP has seen an impressive 38,190% increase since it started trading in the public market.

XRP Market Still Early?

For context, a 38,000% increase would turn a $10,000 investment into a $3.81 million fortune, enough for some investors to retire. As a result of this historical performance, several investors who entered the market recently have continued to expect similar gains, especially with analysts insisting that the market is still early.

Interestingly, recent data spotlighted by pseudonymous market watcher Cryptobilbuwoo bolsters this narration. The market pundit pointed out data from the XRP Rich List, which indicates that only 330,000 accounts hold more than 10,000 XRP tokens.

This was the latest iteration of consistent disclosures the analyst has made regarding wallet balances. In previous commentaries, Cryptobilbuwoo insisted, “they want you out of the game,” referencing widespread speculations within the XRP community that large institutions may be looking to take out retail holdings to hoard the remaining XRP supply.

Notably, while these speculations remain unproven at press time, the commentary from Cryptobilbuwoo indicates that retail investors have continued to reduce their holdings, while whale balances increase. “People’s XRP holdings are getting less and less,” the analyst remarked.

Only 330K Wallets Hold 10,000+ XRP

Now, he’s calling attention to the fact that those holding more than 10,000 XRP, currently worth $22,400, remain few. At press time, there are exactly 329,176 accounts holding 10,000 XRP and more. 

XRP Rich List
XRP Rich List

For perspective, this represents only 4.39% of the total existing XRP wallets, which currently stand at 7,488,982. However, Cryptobilbuwoo pointed out that, with some investors having more than one account, the actual number of people who hold more than 10,000 XRP may be much lower than 329,000.

Meanwhile, of the 329,000 wallets with 10,000 XRP and above, only 1,980 hold at least 1 million XRP, representing just 0.026% of the total wallets on the ledger. Further, accounts with at least 10 million XRP ($24 million) add up to just 508 globally.

Notably, as BTC currently trades for $92,000, the equivalent of 10,000 XRP ($22,400) is about 0.25 BTC. Meanwhile, on-chain data shows that a whopping 4.456 million wallets hold at least 0.1 BTC, with 975,675 holding more than 1 BTC. 

With the large disparity between the number of Bitcoin and XRP addresses, as well as their balances, XRP community commentators have continued to argue that the XRP market is still very much early, urging investors to get in while they still can. However, it is important to note that there is no guarantee that XRP will yield as much ROI as investors envision.

Ethereum and Solana 2025 Roundup: $18.8T in Stablecoin Transfers, $99B in DeFi, 244M Wallets

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Ethereum and Solana have each released annual reviews framing 2025 as a pivotal year in their development.

Though their strategies diverge, both networks portrayed the past year as laying essential groundwork for a shared ambition: becoming the dominant blockchain platform for users and institutions.

The reports, published Tuesday by the Ethereum Foundation and the Solana Foundation, detailed gains in usage, revenue, and infrastructure. Together, they offer a snapshot of two distinct visions competing to shape the future of the blockchain ecosystem.

Ethereum Emphasizes Stability, Scale, and Institutional Trust

Ethereum’s year-end review underscored its focus on reliability and long-term resilience. Instead of pushing experimental features, the Ethereum Foundation characterized 2025 as a year of consolidation.

Development followed 12 guiding themes to strengthen institutional participation and improve interoperability with other blockchain networks. According to the foundation, this approach reinforced Ethereum’s role as the industry’s most established settlement layer.

Consequently, Ethereum maintained its lead in decentralized finance (DeFi). By the end of the year, more than $99 billion remained locked across its DeFi protocols, far exceeding totals on other Layer 1 networks.

Ethereum also continued to dominate prediction markets. Activity across the main chain and its Layer 2 networks generated roughly $20 billion in total betting volume during the year.

Network Upgrades Support Ethereum’s Long-Term Vision

Infrastructure improvements played a central role in Ethereum’s progress. For instance, in 2025, the network processed $18.8 trillion in stablecoin settlements.

Moreover, two major upgrades, Pectra and Fusaka, were rolled out during the year. These upgrades increased throughput, improved data availability, and streamlined cross-network communication.

The Ethereum Foundation stated that the upgrades also simplified wallet architecture, reducing friction for both everyday users and institutional participants. Specifically, Fusaka was described as laying the groundwork for mobile-first applications, which Ethereum expects to support broader consumer adoption in 2026.

Solana Highlights Rapid Expansion and User Activity

While Ethereum leaned into stability, Solana emphasized speed and momentum. The Solana Foundation described 2025 as a year of record-breaking engagement across its ecosystem.

Application revenue reached $2.39 billion, up 46% from the prior year, driven by a wide range of platforms. Notably, seven applications generated more than $100 million each, including trading venues such as Jupiter and Raydium, as well as memecoin platform Pump.fun.

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Additionally, stablecoin activity surged. The total supply issued on Solana doubled year-over-year to $14.8 billion, facilitating $11.7 trillion in stablecoin transfers.

However, despite these gains, the foundation noted a decline in memecoin trading. Volumes in that segment dropped by about 10% during the year.

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Trading and Token Creation Drive Solana’s Momentum

Solana’s trading infrastructure remained a key engine of growth. For instance, decentralized exchange aggregators processed a combined $922 billion in volume, according to the foundation.

Meanwhile, token launch activity expanded sharply. Revenue from launchpad platforms doubled to $762 million, while roughly 11.6 million tokens were created during the year. Of these, approximately 105,000 advanced beyond early bonding stages, indicating sustained developer and user engagement.

Usage Metrics Reflect Divergent Architectures

User activity continued to rise across both ecosystems, though comparisons remain complex. Solana averaged 3.2 million daily active wallets in 2025, with approximately 725 million new wallets executing at least one transaction.

Ethereum reported activity on a different scale. Base-layer applications recorded more than 244 million unique active wallets over the year.

Throughput figures further highlight architectural differences. Ethereum’s rollups averaged roughly 5,600 transactions per second combined, while Solana averaged about 1,054 non-vote transactions per second. Both foundations cautioned that the metrics are not directly comparable.

Falling Transaction Costs Support Broader Adoption

Despite their contrasting designs, both networks shared a common priority in 2025, which was reducing transaction costs. Solana lowered its average transaction fee to $0.017, down from the previous year. Similarly, Ethereum also saw significant fee reductions. Base-layer costs reached five-year lows, while Layer 2 fees dropped below one cent.

Both foundations argued that declining fees improve accessibility and usability, even as they questioned the relevance of traditional revenue metrics for evaluating blockchain networks.

As they enter 2026, Ethereum and Solana present contrasting strengths. Ethereum is focusing on security, decentralization, and institutional trust. In contrast, Solana is highlighting speed, scale, and consumer-facing growth.

Through their 2025 retrospectives, both networks position themselves as central players in the next phase of blockchain adoption — each advancing a different vision of how decentralized technology should evolve.