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Morgan Stanley Files SEC Paperwork for Bitcoin and Solana ETFs

Zabi
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Morgan Stanley Files SEC Paperwork for Bitcoin and Solana ETFs

Morgan Stanley has formally submitted registration documents to the U.S. SEC to launch two cryptocurrency exchange-traded funds. 

The filings, made public Tuesday, cover funds tied to Bitcoin and Solana, marking a significant expansion of the firm’s crypto offerings.

Regulatory Filings Outline Two Distinct Crypto Products

According to SEC disclosures, Morgan Stanley filed separate S-1 forms for a Bitcoin Trust and a Solana Trust. Notably, the Solana fund stands out for including a staking feature, which sets it apart from standard spot ETFs.

The filings position Morgan Stanley alongside established crypto ETF issuers such as BlackRock and Fidelity. The move would heighten competition in the expanding market for regulated digital asset products.

Notably, in January 2024, the U.S. SEC approved spot Bitcoin ETFs, opening the door to institutional and retail participation. Since that decision, trading activity has accelerated sharply.

In fact, cumulative trading volume across U.S. spot crypto ETFs has now surpassed $2 trillion. While it took more than a year for the market to reach its first trillion dollars in volume, the second trillion was added in roughly eight months.

Bitcoin ETF Holdings Grow Despite Price Consolidation

Rising activity has been accompanied by steady growth in assets held by spot Bitcoin ETFs. Total holdings now exceed $123.5 billion, accounting for approximately 6.6% of Bitcoin’s total market capitalization.

Notably, this growth has continued even as Bitcoin’s price has struggled to reclaim the $100,000 level in recent sessions. This divergence highlights sustained ETF demand despite a period of price consolidation in the underlying asset.

Policy Changes Accelerate Product Launch Timelines

Meanwhile, the regulatory environment has also become more accommodating. Following President Donald Trump’s return to office, the SEC has adopted a more flexible stance toward crypto investment products.

In September 2025, the agency approved new generic listing standards for cryptocurrency exchange-traded products. Under the updated framework, qualifying funds can launch without filing individual rule-change requests, a process that previously could delay approvals by up to 240 days.

ETF Filings Build on Morgan Stanley’s Crypto Expansion

Morgan Stanley’s ETF applications reflect a broader digital asset strategy already underway at the firm. For context, last year, it introduced a 4% allocation cap for portfolios designated as “opportunistic,” aligning its guidance with that of industry peers.

The wealth manager has also expanded crypto access across its client base, including within retirement accounts. Taken together, the Bitcoin and Solana ETF filings signal Morgan Stanley’s readiness to meet clients’ ongoing demand for regulated cryptocurrency exposure. 

Cardano Founder Says 2026 Will Be a Great Year for ADA and Midnight

Elendu Benedict
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Cardano Founder Says 2026 Will Be a Great Year for ADA and Midnight

Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, has predicted that this year will be a remarkable one for Cardano and Midnight.

Hoskinson highlighted this in his “Happy New Year and Farewell” podcast on January 1, where he shared his outlook for 2026. He believes that Cardano and the broader crypto industry will grow past the flaws of 2025 and perform better this year.

What a Year 2025 Was: Hoskinson

Notably, the Cardano founder elaborated on what a rollercoaster the year 2025 was. While he had some fun, he noted that he and many enthusiasts had their expectations dashed as the market struggled.

Specifically, Cardano recorded an over 60% correction last year, in line with broader market trends. The correction came despite a strong start to the year, which saw it reach a yearly high of $1.16 in January 2025.

Hoskinson also highlighted that the digital asset industry did not receive the regulatory clarity it deserved. The GENIUS Act was signed into law in mid-2025, creating clear regulations for stablecoins. While this was a notable milestone, the CLARITY Act, which would create a regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies in the United States, did not pass, though there is strong optimism it will be signed into law this year.

Notably, the Cardano founder blamed these 2025 woes on a deviation from the core purpose of the space. Hence, he emphasized the need to go to the first principles.

“Crypto exists because it’s supposed to change the economic, political, and social systems of the world,” he stated, identifying that “somewhere along the way we lost our way.”

2026 Would Be Great for Cardano, Midnight

However, Hoskinson remains upbeat about this year. He predicted that it will be great, citing the entrance of innovations and the maturing crypto landscape. Specifically, he stated that he sees a 2026 where Cardano replicates the success of its best years and Midnight performs remarkably well.

Notably, Midnight’s native token, NIGHT, had a strong market debut, reaching a market valuation of over $1 billion upon launch. While it has since corrected from its December 30 highs of $0.10 to $0.0079, Hoskinson predicts a better 2026, especially as the Midnight sidechain is set to launch in the coming days.

For Cardano, several factors could spur its evolution this year. Analysts have tipped the Bitcoin DeFi, Midnight launch, Ouroboros Leios upgrade, and several other rollouts to catalyze the growth.

Meanwhile, Hoskinson emphasized that those focusing on the price of Cardano in 2026 “have already lost.” While its price would rally to unprecedented levels, he suggested that it does not fully reflect the progress the ecosystem has made.

Senator Lummis Warns DOJ Sale of 57 BTC Threatens U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve

Lele Jima
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Senator Lummis Warns DOJ Sale of 57 BTC Threatens U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve

Pro-crypto Senator Cynthia Lummis has raised fresh concerns over how the U.S. government is handling forfeited Bitcoin.

On Tuesday, Bitcoin Magazine reported that the Department of Justice (DOJ) may have sold Bitcoins linked to the Samourai Wallet case. According to the report, the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) offloaded roughly $6.3 million worth of Bitcoin on behalf of the DOJ.

For context, Samourai Wallet developers William Lonergan Hill and Keonne Rodriguez forfeited approximately 57.55 BTC to the government as part of a plea agreement reached in November 2025. Rather than holding the assets in government custody, authorities routed the Bitcoin directly to a Coinbase Prime address.

Typically, transfers to exchange-linked addresses signal an imminent sale. In line with this assumption, on-chain data from Arkham shows that the Coinbase Prime address currently holds a zero balance, indicating that the Bitcoin was sold almost immediately after the transfer.

Senator Lummis Questions Recent Government Bitcoin Sale 

The development sparked concerns among Bitcoin proponents, with Senator Lummis questioning why federal agencies continue to sell BTC in violation of President Donald Trump’s directive. 

Notably, the U.S. President signed an executive order last year directing that forfeited BTC be retained as part of the U.S. Strategic Bitcoin Reserve (SBR). Following reports of sales, Senator Lummis warned that the U.S. risks undermining its long-term strategic position by squandering its forfeited Bitcoins, while other countries are actively accumulating the asset.

US’ SBR Initiative 

Before the election, Trump disclosed plans to create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve for the United States. Notably, Lummis also supported this plan by drafting a bill that requires the government to hold 1 million BTC for at least 20 years. 

Following Trump’s inauguration, he signed an executive order to set up a Bitcoin reserve that will not cost taxpayers a dime. The directive stipulated that the reserve will be funded with assets forfeited via criminal or civil proceedings. 

A Violation of Trump’s Executive Order? 

However, the reported sale of Samourai Wallet’s forfeited BTC may have violated the executive order. The report cited comments from a legal analyst who emphasized that neither the forfeiture statutes under 18 U.S.C. § 982 nor related provisions require forfeited assets to be converted into cash. Instead, the law permits the government to hold assets in kind, aligning with the executive order’s intent to treat Bitcoin as a strategic reserve asset rather than a liability to be disposed of. 

Meanwhile, despite the DOJ’s reported sale, the U.S. government still holds a substantial amount of BTC. According to Arkham, the government has around 328,372 BTC, valued at roughly $30.8 billion. 

US government Bitcoin Holdings
US government Bitcoin Holdings

Bernstein Reveals Its Top Picks of Crypto Stocks to Buy in 2026, Says Bitcoin Has Likely Bottomed

Sam Wisdom Raphael
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Bernstein Reveals Its Top Picks of Crypto Stocks to Buy in 2026, Says Bitcoin Has Likely Bottomed

Bernstein has named several crypto-related stocks it believes could perform well in 2026, suggesting that Bitcoin has likely reached its bottom. 

The global equity research firm shared this view in a note published on Jan. 6, 2026, as the crypto market shows early signs of recovery after the steep losses recorded in late 2025.

Bernstein Believes Bitcoin Has Bottomed

Notably, while the broader crypto market and Bitcoin have started to rebound this year, prices have not fully recovered. Specifically, Bitcoin has risen about 7.6% so far in 2026, yet it still trades below $100,000. Currently at $94,122, Bitcoin remains more than 25% below its 2025 all-time high of $126,272. 

Despite the current position, Bernstein, in its latest note, urged investors to buy crypto stocks during the 2026 pullback. Analyst Gautam Chhugani said the firm continues to feel confident about Bitcoin despite the negative sentiment that dominated the market in the fourth quarter of 2025. 

Interestingly, the market commentator added that Bernstein believes, with reasonable confidence, that Bitcoin and the wider digital asset market have already formed a bottom.

Highlighting performance data, the firm stressed that Bitcoin ended 2025 down roughly 6%. In contrast, crypto-related equities delivered average gains of about 59%, even after cooling toward year-end. This shows the strength of crypto-focused companies compared with the underlying assets during periods of volatility.

Trends to Watch and Stocks to Buy

Meanwhile, Bernstein expects 2026 to center on what it calls a tokenization supercycle. The firm believes blockchain-based finance will expand across stablecoins, tokenized capital markets, and prediction markets. 

It expects the total value locked in tokenized assets to rise from about $37 billion in 2025 to nearly $80 billion in 2026. Bernstein also sees equity tokenization taking up a larger share of on-chain activity as traditional financial assets move onto blockchains.

The research firm also spotlighted stablecoins. Chhugani projects total stablecoin supply will grow 56% year over year to roughly $420 billion. He expects demand to come from renewed activity in crypto markets, increased use in cross-border business-to-business payments, and the adoption of automated, agent-based payment systems.

Speaking further, Bernstein highlighted a strong growth potential in prediction markets. The firm believes this sector will double in size to about $70 billion in 2026. It suggested that clearer regulatory guidance from U.S. federal agencies would help legitimize these platforms and attract more users and capital.

Considering these trends, Bernstein identified Robinhood (HOOD), Coinbase (COIN), FIGR, and Circle (CRCL) as its top crypto stock picks, calling them the strongest proxies for the tokenization theme. The firm also expects Strategy (MSTR) to deliver outsized returns as Bitcoin recovers, given the company’s Bitcoin exposure.

Bernstein Has Always Maintained a Bullish Tone

Bernstein’s current stance builds on years of bullish calls on Bitcoin. In October 2023, Chhugani forecasted that Bitcoin could reach $150,000 by mid-2025, citing expected approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. and the April 2024 halving. At the time, Bitcoin traded near $35,000.

In June 2024, Bernstein raised its long-term expectations, projecting Bitcoin at $200,000 by 2025, $500,000 by 2029, and $1 million by 2033. However, when Bitcoin dropped about 25% in Q4 2025, Bernstein argued in November that fear around a typical four-year cycle peak drove the sell-off, not weakening fundamentals. 

By December 2025, after a deeper 30% correction, the firm said the traditional cycle no longer applied. Bernstein said the market is entering a longer bull phase due to institutional buying that offset retail selling and ETF outflows below 5%. It then adjusted its timeline, targeting $150,000 in 2026, a peak of $200,000 in 2027, and maintaining its $1 million projection for 2033.

Expert Explains Why XRP Hitting $30 Is Realistic

Abdulkarim Abdulwahab
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Expert Explains Why XRP Hitting $30 Is Realistic

Popular crypto YouTuber Mason Versluis has outlined a straightforward argument for why XRP price could reach $30.

He frames the outlook around market structure rather than hype, partnerships, or speculative timelines.

Market Cap-Based Case for $30 XRP

In a recent video, Versluis argued that XRP’s long-term upside becomes clearer when viewed through a simple market-cap comparison. At current prices around $2.30, XRP would need roughly a 12x move to trade near $30. 

That scenario becomes possible if XRP were ever valued at a market cap similar to Bitcoin’s current level, which sits near $1.9 trillion. Using XRP’s circulating supply of roughly 60 billion tokens, a Bitcoin-sized market cap would mathematically place XRP above $30 per token. 

Versluis emphasized that this calculation does not rely on short-term catalysts but instead reflects how prices adjust when large-cap assets enter new valuation ranges.

Timeframes Matter Less

Notably, the analysis avoids providing specific timelines but insists that a $30 price for XRP is realistic. According to Versluis, past market cycles show that once the crypto market absorbs higher valuations, high price levels eventually feel normal. 

For instance, he cited Bitcoin’s rise from sub-$1 trillion to multi-trillion-dollar valuations. Ten years ago, many argued that a $1 trillion valuation for BTC was unrealistic, but today, many are even discussing $10 trillion.

From this perspective, XRP reaching a trillion-dollar market cap would not require a unique event, but rather participation in a market expansion led by Bitcoin and institutional capital.

Market Cap Is a Side Effect, Not the Driver

Furthermore, Versluis explained that market cap does not represent how much money has been invested into an asset. Instead, it is simply a calculation based on price multiplied by circulating supply.

Price movement, driven by buying and selling, is what actually matters. Market cap only adjusts afterward. Because of this, he argued that concerns around XRP’s large supply and the resulting cap from high price jumps are overstated.

Bitcoin’s Growth as the Key Catalyst

The bullish thesis ultimately ties XRP’s potential to Bitcoin’s trajectory. If Bitcoin were to rise toward $5 trillion or even $10 trillion in market cap, it would pull major altcoins higher as capital rotates across the market. 

In that environment, XRP reaching the $1–$2 trillion range would no longer appear extreme, placing a $30 price level within reach.

While acknowledging volatility and uncertainty, the analysis calls XRP a fundamentally established asset that could benefit from Bitcoin’s momentum over time.

Ultimately, Versluis presents $30 XRP as a possible outcome under specific market conditions, particularly sustained growth in Bitcoin’s valuation and continued relevance of large-cap altcoins.

The message is less about exact price targets and more about understanding how market cycles and capital flows can redefine what seems “impossible” in crypto markets.

Grok AI Predicts Maximum XRP Price by End of 2026 in Social Media Reply

Abdulkarim Abdulwahab
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0
Grok AI Predicts Maximum XRP Price by End of 2026 in Social Media Reply

A playful interaction with Elon Musk’s Grok AI has stirred debate in the XRP community about how high the coin could reach by 2026.

In particular, Grok suggested that XRP could hit $10 by the end of 2026. The exchange began when XRPL DEX First Ledger asked Grok to edit an image showing XRP trading at about $2.12 and illustrate the highest price it could reach in 2026. Grok responded with an image showing XRP at $10.

The reply went viral, sparking discussions about whether XRP could realistically reach that price.

XRP Pumping Hard Already

For context, XRP is trading at $2.38 at press time, up 13% over the last 24 hours. Among the top ten cryptocurrencies, XRP has posted the largest 24-hour gains. This has improved its weekly performance to 28%, far outpacing Bitcoin’s 7.41% gains and Ethereum’s 10.3% surge.

Since the start of the year, XRP’s price has surged by over 30%. Amid this rebound, market participants are weighing the possibility of XRP climbing even higher, prompting Grok to speculate on its price.

Meanwhile, Grok’s $10 prediction has raised eyebrows among critics, especially considering the AI’s unintended outlook for Bitcoin.

Bitcoin Comparison Raises Eyebrows

For instance, well-known X user OG_Agorilla questioned the logic behind the valuation. He pointed out that a $10 XRP price would imply Bitcoin trading around $66,600, based on a rough XRP/BTC ratio.

At the $2.12 price, the XRP/BTC ratio is 0.00002284 BTC. At the projected $10 price, Grok used an XRP/BTC ratio of 0.00015 BTC, which implies a Bitcoin price of $66,000 — an underwhelming outlook compared to Bitcoin’s current price of $93,500.

Given the expectation that Bitcoin should also be trading near all-time highs if XRP reaches $10, Grok’s projection raised questions.

In response, Grok explained that the number was chosen as a “fun hypothetical,” even admitting the math referenced 666 in a cheeky way. The AI emphasized that the figure was not a prediction, but a speculative illustration meant to spark discussion.

“XRP Will Not Hit $10 in 2026”

On the other hand, ScamDetective, a widely followed X user, challenged Grok’s $10 XRP prediction. He proposed a wager, betting that XRP would not reach $10 by the end of 2026.

Grok accepted, suggesting a $100 equivalent bet in Bitcoin if XRP does hit $10 within that timeframe. ScamDetective agreed, confirming the terms publicly.

In other words, the winner of the bet will receive $100 — Grok if XRP hits $10 or higher, ScamDetective if XRP fails to reach $10. The exchange ended with both sides acknowledging the bet.

Why the XRP Army Is Paying Attention

Even though Grok’s $10-by-2026 prediction is debated, it comes as ETFs, adoption, and regulation continue to shape long-term expectations.

Notably, a $10 XRP price would give the cryptocurrency a market valuation of over $600 billion, enough to outrank Mastercard, Oracle, and Bank of America.

Cardano Founder Predicts From Where the Growth of ADA Will Come

Elendu Benedict
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Cardano Founder Predicts From Where the Growth of ADA Will Come

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has shared his thoughts on where the next catalyst for the growth of the ADA ecosystem would come from.

Notably, the crypto industry leader highlighted this in a recent interview with the Altcoin Daily co-owner Aaron Arnold. He pegged the next wave of Cardano adoption on the expansion of its decentralized finance (DeFi) ecosystem.

More Bullish on Cardano or Midnight?

Arnold asked Hoskinson if he is more bullish on Cardano or its sidechain, Midnight. In response, he reiterated his commitment to both projects but highlighted that a closer collaboration between them would spur widespread adoption for the entire ADA ecosystem.

He further noted that Cardano has peaked as a layer 1 network. Hence, the founder claimed that for Cardano to get to the next level, it needs to embrace the DeFi ecosystem.

“We’ve got to start putting up the numbers,” Hoskinson noted, emphasizing the need to grow in key DeFi metrics.

Hoskinson stressed that the Cardano ecosystem’s monthly active users (MAU), total value locked (TVL), and stablecoin issuance must increase by 10 to 100 times from their current levels. According to him, this is necessary to unlock the next wave of growth for Cardano.

Meanwhile, the network has made several efforts to boost its DeFi ecosystem, which currently lags behind other major chains like Ethereum and Solana. Recently, the Cardano Foundation committed eight-figure ADA to enhance stablecoin DeFi liquidity. Hoskinson also revealed that the ecosystem is working to bring USDC and USDT to Cardano this year, aiming to improve user traction.

Midnight to Enhance Cardano Adoption

Further, Hoskinson called Midnight the first of the fourth generation of cryptocurrencies, stating that it brings something different to the entire digital asset industry. He noted that if Midnight moves faster in its emerging privacy niche, it could capture a large share of the crypto market.

Again, he stressed that if decentralized applications (DApps) on Cardano work closely with Midnight by upgrading to a hybrid platform and adding privacy to their systems, they could gain the next million users. He highlighted that this would happen as they would gain a large number of users from Bitcoin, XRP, and other chains. Consequently, this would affect Cardano’s DeFi metrics and trigger the next bull season for the network.

Notably, Hoskinson had previously highlighted the role Midnight would play in boosting Cardano DeFi, citing its multi-chain compatibility and privacy advantages. In the interview, he added that Midnight would attract even the legacy financial system, seeking RWA tokenization and global remittance.

Ultimately, the aim of the close collaboration between Cardano and Midnight is to create a new experience for retail and institutional users better than those seen in Ethereum and Solana. Hoskinson stated that it would be a “bull year” for Cardano if this happens.

Grok Forecasts Cardano New All-Time High Price For 2026

Lele Jima
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Grok Forecasts Cardano New All-Time High Price For 2026

xAI’s chatbot, Grok, has projected that Cardano (ADA) could reach a new all-time high as early as this year.

The chatbot made this projection in response to a query from a popular Cardano content creator known as “Big Pey.”

In a post shared yesterday on X, Big Pey shared a screenshot of ADA’s recent price action, showing the token trading at $0.4184. The community figure asked Grok to edit the screenshot and replace ADA’s current price with the token’s maximum level this year. 

Cardano to Hit $3.5 by 2026 

In response, Grok returned an edited image that displayed $3.50 as Cardano’s projected peak price for the year. Notably, the image also showed ADA surging by 850%. However, the projection suggested that Cardano would still rank as the 10th-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, even after reaching $3.50. 

Grok predicts Cardano 2026 price
Grok predicts Cardano 2026 price

Potential Catalysts

Indeed, a rally from $0.41 to $3.50 would represent a 753% gain, which closely aligns with Grok’s estimate. The $3.5 target would represent a new all-time high for Cardano, surpassing the previous level of $3.10, recorded in September 2021. 

Reaching the $3.50 target would require several factors to align, including clearer regulatory frameworks, capital inflows into large-cap altcoins, positive ecosystem developments, and supportive macroeconomic conditions.

In the meantime, this year is shaping up to be a pivotal one for Cardano. Notably, ADA could benefit from a broader market rally driven by the potential passage of the CLARITY Act. Analysts believe that the legislation could attract more investors into the crypto market and channel additional capital into significant assets like ADA.

Beyond regulatory tailwinds, Cardano also has key ecosystem catalysts lined up. Founder Charles Hoskinson has unveiled several initiatives slated for launch this year, including the Leios scalability solution and the mainnet debut of the privacy-focused sidechain Midnight, whose native token began trading last month. 

In addition, Hoskinson believes this year could mark a breakout period for Cardano’s DeFi ecosystem, further strengthening the bullish case for ADA. 

While Grok projects that Cardano could surge to an all-time high of $3.50 this year, Changelly offers a far more conservative outlook. According to Changelly’s forecast, Cardano is expected to reach a maximum target of just $0.582 within the same period.

Solana Price Analysis for Jan 6: Can SOL Break Through These Crucial Resistance Levels?

Mark Brennan
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Solana Price Analysis for Jan 6: Can SOL Break Through These Crucial Resistance Levels?

Solana shows strong bullish momentum, with rising development activity and key resistance levels ahead. Will SOL test further resistance?

Solana (SOL) and other leading altcoins have started the new year on a positive note, with Solana’s price reclaiming the critical $130 level. Over the past 24 hours, Solana has fluctuated between $133.42 and $139.58, currently trading at $137.66. 

In the last week, Solana has posted an impressive 11.1% gain, and its 14-day performance shows a 10.9% increase, signaling ongoing bullish sentiment.

Despite these recent milestones, the price action suggests room for growth, especially with Solana now holding above the $130 level. Traders should watch for $139.58 as the next significant resistance, with support at $133.42.

Solana Technical Analysis

On the technical end, the Ichimoku Cloud indicator suggests that the price has broken into a crucial resistance zone. Specifically, the upper boundary of the cloud, from $144, could act as a tough resistance point if the price continues to push higher.

Solana Prediction
Solana Prediction

This level is critical for any continuation of the bullish momentum. If Solana successfully breaks through this resistance, the next major roadblock is likely above $163. On the downside, the lower boundary of the cloud at $129.85 acts as a strong support zone. The conversion line has also crossed above the base, another bullish signal for Solana.

Additionally, the Directional Movement Index shows that the blue +DI line is currently above the orange -DI line, signaling that the bullish trend is intact. Furthermore, the ADX at 22.35 is surging upwards, showing that the strength of the current trend is increasing.

Solana Development Activity

Looking elsewhere, Solana’s development activity is surging, as shown by data from Santiment, a market intelligence platform. The chart reveals a sharp increase in development activity after declining around January 3. 

Solana Development Activity
Solana Development Activity

The red line represents the growth in contributions and improvements to the network. As development activity intensifies, it often correlates with long-term confidence in the project, and the rising trend in development is typically a bullish sign.

Ripple Exec Explains Why XRP Price Is Pumping Hard Today

Abdulkarim Abdulwahab
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0
Ripple Exec Explains Why XRP Price Is Pumping Hard Today

XRP has emerged as one of the strongest performers in the crypto market today, posting the largest 24-hour gain among the top ten cryptocurrencies. 

As traders search for a catalyst behind the sudden surge, Ripple’s former CTO has joined the conversation with light-hearted remarks.

XRP Outperforms the Market as Prices Surge

Today, XRP price touched the $2.40 region following a roughly 20% surge in the last 24 hours. The last time XRP traded at this level was in November 2025.

With this impressive rebound, XRP’s weekly gains improved by about 28%, significantly outpacing Bitcoin’s 7% advance over the same period.

Since the start of the year, XRP has climbed more than 30%, rebounding from December lows of $1.70. The token began the year near $1.84 and has since pushed as high as $2.41.

What’s Pumping XRP? David Schwartz Explains

As XRP accelerated, software engineer Vincent Van Code took to X to ask what was driving the move. He questioned whether the rally was news-driven or truly organic, noting that a non-news-based surge could signal a larger breakout phase for XRP.

Former Ripple CTO David Schwartz, now serving as CTO Emeritus, responded with humor. He jokingly suggested the XRP pump happened because he retired. Meanwhile, he added that cutting his hair might be his next market-moving move.

Van Code replied in the same playful tone, joking that perhaps Schwartz retired because he already knew XRP was about to surge. He later clarified that the exchange was all in good fun.

Schwartz’s Transition at Ripple

Back in October, Schwartz announced he would step down from his day-to-day role at Ripple after more than 13 years with the company. He reflected on his long career in blockchain, including co-creating the XRP Ledger and helping define Ripple’s technical direction.

While retiring from daily responsibilities, Schwartz noted he is not leaving XRP behind. He transitioned into Ripple’s Board of Directors as CTO Emeritus and will be working on XRP-based initiatives.

He has also expressed interest in returning to hands-on development, exploring new XRPL use cases, experimenting with code, and potentially launching new projects beyond Ripple’s current focus.

What Comes Next for XRP

With XRP now outperforming much of the market, traders are projecting a price rally to its all-time high. For instance, community figure Zach Rector has said XRP is on track to repeat its July 2025 run, which saw its price reach $3.66.

At the same time, prominent crypto podcaster Mario Nawfal argued that $4 is a realistic target for XRP. Others, like Charting Guy, are even calling for an $8 XRP, a nearly 4x price increase from current levels.

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