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Jake Claver Losing XRP to $100 Bet as 2025 Closes in 5 Days

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XRP community figure Jake Claver may be on the verge of losing his “XRP to $100” bet as the year 2025 closes in five days.

Ambitious price forecasts have always circulated within the XRP community, but few have drawn as much attention as the call made by Jake Claver, CEO of Digital Ascension Group. 

Claver Promotes His “XRP to $100” Forecast

Claver has consistently claimed that XRP could end 2025 at $100. For most of 2025, XRP has traded around $2, meaning his target implies a rise of about 4,900% from that level. With 2025 ending in just five days, most community members now doubt the practicality of the forecast.

Claver began promoting this outlook publicly this year, stating that XRP could reach $100 in the fourth quarter of the year. He cited growing institutional interest, the launch and expansion of XRP ETFs, and the increasing role of tokenization in global finance. 

Over time, he raised the stakes higher, suggesting that XRP might climb into three- or even four-digit prices. He based these views on his belief that the XRP Ledger would play an important role in modernizing global payment systems.

Rietveld Proposes a Wager

However, most XRP proponents criticized the prediction. They pointed out that XRP remained near $2 while Claver promoted the $100 target, making such a sharp move in a short time frame difficult to justify. 

As Claver maintained his stance, Levi Rietveld, a prominent XRP community member, confronted him on X in early November. Rietveld proposed a $1 million wager tied to the prediction. 

Under his proposal, Rietveld would pay if XRP reached $100 by December 31, 2025, while Claver would pay if it failed to do so. Although Claver never publicly accepted the wager, many community members have since treated it as an implied bet.

Rather than stepping back, Claver maintained his position in late November. According to him, he holds 99.999% confidence that XRP would reach $100. He shared this view across podcasts and social media, pointing to ETF inflows, clearer regulatory conditions, and possible geopolitical disruptions, including oil-related crises, as triggers for a sudden rally. 

Meanwhile, criticism increased on platforms such as YouTube and X, where investors accused him of adjusting timelines and weakening his earlier message as the year-end approached without the predicted surge.

Five Days Left

By December 25, the pressure increased. XRP had fallen below $2, and only six days remained in the year. When asked how confident he still felt about XRP reaching $100 by year-end, Claver said he remains 99.9% certain. However, he said he expects an extraordinary and unexpected move but avoided directly repeating the $100 figure.

Later that day, Claver shared a clip of the Marvel character Thanos snapping his fingers with the words “I am inevitable.” He explained that the post reflected his confidence for anyone still questioning his stance.

Rietveld has since responded, arguing that XRP would not reach $100 in five days or even within the next 365 days. With just five days left in 2025 and XRP still trading far below Claver’s target, the possibility of an over 4,900% surge from here remains highly unlikely.

Mike Novogratz Says Strong Communities Keep XRP and Cardano Relevant

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Galaxy Digital founder and CEO Mike Novogratz has recently drawn attention to the resilience of the XRP and Cardano communities.

Speaking on a recent podcast, Novogratz emphasized that sustained community engagement has emerged as a critical factor in determining long-term survival in the cryptocurrency market.

His remarks suggest that durability, rather than short-term price performance, is increasingly shaping how veteran investors evaluate digital assets.

Community Strength Keeps XRP Relevant

Expanding on this view, Novogratz cited XRP as a prime example of community-driven longevity. He noted that the token has remained prominent through multiple market cycles largely because its supporters stayed engaged even during prolonged downturns.

During the discussion, he drew a comparison between XRP and other long-established networks that have withstood the test of time. He noted that their longevity stemmed not from yield or hype, but from the deep-seated conviction of their communities.

This persistence, he said, stands out in an environment where new platforms, tokens, and tokenized assets constantly compete for attention. Despite this expanding landscape, XRP’s supporter base has remained largely intact.

Earlier Criticism Rooted in Centralization Concerns

However, these comments contrast sharply with Novogratz’s earlier public stance on XRP. For years, he criticized the token over centralization issues, particularly because Ripple controlled roughly 50% of the supply.

As a long-time supporter of Bitcoin and Ethereum, he often dismissed XRP rallies and questioned retail investors’ understanding of XRP.

That skepticism intensified when the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Ripple in December 2020. At that time, Novogratz openly distanced himself from the project.

Legal Battle Prompts Reassessment

Even as XRP surged during the 2021 bull market, Novogratz maintained his critical view. Nevertheless, that position began to change following Ripple’s legal victories against the SEC and the subsequent market response.

In later podcast appearances, Novogratz acknowledged that he had underestimated both the resolve of the XRP community and the leadership of Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse. He explained that the community’s willingness to remain engaged throughout the lengthy legal battle reflected resilience rather than blind loyalty.

A Similar Shift in View on Cardano

In addition, Mike Novogratz extended this reassessment to Cardano as well. Although he previously mocked the project’s following, he now recognizes the role of Input Output Global (IOG) founder Charles Hoskinson in sustaining community cohesion.

He further described this ability to maintain long-term engagement as increasingly rare in today’s fragmented crypto ecosystem.

In Novogratz’s view, sustained belief through adversity has become a meaningful indicator of long-term relevance in the digital asset space.

Crypto Educator Says People Claiming XRP Can’t Go Past $10 Haven’t Done Their Research

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The discussions around XRP double-digit price are heating up again, as crypto educator Jesse, founder of Apex Crypto Academy, weighs in. 

He argues that dismissing XRP’s ability to move beyond $10 ignores how global financial infrastructure actually works. At the time of writing, XRP is trading at $1.85, still far below the levels Jesse believes are possible if adoption unfolds.

Comparing Bitcoin’s Scale With Global Banking Volume

Jesse’s argument centers on transaction volume rather than market hype. He points out that, despite its multi-trillion-dollar valuation, Bitcoin processes relatively modest real-world payment volume compared to traditional finance.

In contrast, major central banks operate at an entirely different scale. According to Jesse, even a single institution like the Bank of England moves more value in a single day than Bitcoin processes in an entire year.

From his perspective, comparing XRP’s price potential to Bitcoin without accounting for this difference misses the bigger picture.

Ripple’s Banking Focus Changes the Equation

Unlike Bitcoin, which is a digital gold, Ripple’s strategy consistently focused on cross-border payments and institutional settlement.

Jesse highlights Ripple’s existing and potential partnerships with banks and central banks as a key reason XRP’s valuation ceiling may be far higher than skeptics assume.

He argues that if XRP becomes a settlement asset within large-scale financial systems tied to central banks, the volume flowing through the network could dwarf that handled by most crypto assets today.

Central Banks and the $10 XRP Debate

Another point Jesse raises is the sheer number of central banks globally. With well over 170 central banks operating worldwide, he believes focusing on just one institution already demonstrates the scale XRP could eventually serve.

From this angle, he said claims that XRP cannot exceed $10 are overly narrow and based on simple market-cap math without factoring in liquidity needs, settlement velocity, or institutional demand. Jesse suggests that these models fail to reflect how value moves in global finance.

Investors May Be Underestimating XRP

Jesse also disagrees with claims that XRP has no real-world use. He says XRP is for practical use, unlike Bitcoin’s current role, and explains that price doesn’t always rise right away with usage. Over time, real adoption can greatly change how an asset is valued.

He believes investors who ignore this may be missing a rare opportunity. With XRP at $1.85, the journey to $10 demands an over 5X price expansion. This would also give XRP a market cap of $600 billion, beyond Ethereum’s current position.

While Jesse’s argument for $10 largely relies on XRP’s role in payments, some commentators believe ongoing accumulation via ETFs further supports the price thesis. At the same time, critics believe that double-digit returns are a stretch for an asset trading under $3.84 for 8 years.

Cardano Founder Denies Dumping ADA at $3 Amid 88% Price Decline

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Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has pushed back against claims that he sold his ADA holdings near the token’s all-time high.

Like many crypto executives, Hoskinson took to X to wish his followers a Merry Christmas. In his post, he reflected on the challenges of 2025, describing it as a “long year”. He encouraged investors not to let the “fire” go out during the holiday season, stressing that better days lie ahead. 

Hoskinson Refutes Claims of Dumping ADA

However, what began as a warm holiday message quickly took a different turn. Shortly after the post, an X user accused Hoskinson of dumping his ADA holdings when the price reached $3. The accuser also claimed Hoskinson is avoiding a repurchase now that the token has significantly declined to the $0.3 mark. 

Hoskinson refuted this claim almost immediately, saying that he never dumped ADA when the price was around $3. He added that repeating claims that he sold ADA at the peak would not make them true, dismissing those spreading the narrative as bots spreading misinformation. 

Notably, rumors that Hoskinson dumped his ADA holdings have resurfaced periodically within the Cardano community, especially during prolonged periods of price weakness. In the past, he largely ignored such claims, a stance that some critics viewed as tacit confirmation.

However, as the accusations continued to circulate, he chose to address them directly, stating unequivocally that he never sold off his ADA.

ADA Slumps Over 88% in Four Years 

At the time of writing, ADA was trading around $0.3532. The token has declined 55% over the past three months and 58.1% year to date. In December alone, it has lost 15.6% of its value. 

At current levels, ADA sits 88.6% below its all-time high of $3.10, set in 2021. Notably, this sharp drawdown is not unique to ADA, as other major cryptocurrencies have also suffered steep declines since their 2021 peaks. For example, Dogecoin is down 83% from its all-time high.

Despite the price weakness, Hoskinson maintains that better days lie ahead for Cardano. In the meantime, the project is preparing to roll out several major upgrades next year, including the launch of the Leios scaling solution, improvements to the network’s DeFi capabilities, and the full mainnet deployment of the privacy-focused sidechain, Midnight. 

Japanese Analyst Says XRP Holders Should Pay Close Attention to This Update from Japan

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Japanese financial commentator Yuto Kanzaki has highlighted a possible major turning point for Ripple and XRP. 

In a tweet, he mentioned that Japan and South Korea are quietly discussing joint blockchain projects. Although these talks aren’t public yet, Kanzaki says they could be important. Accordingly, XRP holders should watch for updates, as this could affect Ripple’s role in Asia.

Japan–South Korea Blockchain Talks

Notably, Kanzaki highlights growing cooperation between Japan and South Korea, two of Asia’s most influential financial markets. Developing joint blockchain infrastructure suggests long-term strategic alignment, not just experimentation. 

This could boost institutional blockchain use in payments, settlements, and enterprise solutions, which are areas where Ripple and the XRP Ledger are already active.

Japan Prepares Regulatory Clarity for Ripple

In a tweet on December 2, Kanzaki stated that Japan plans to announce new regulations affecting Ripple Prime and Ripple Custody. These rules would let both services operate fully under Japan’s digital asset framework. 

Clear regulations could help Ripple expand adoption among banks, asset managers, and enterprises in Japan.

Ripple’s XRPL Japan and Korea Fund Lays the Groundwork

The policy and infrastructure discussions come against the backdrop of Ripple’s earlier strategic moves in the region. In mid-2024, Ripple committed a large portion of its 1 billion XRP pledge to the XRPL Japan and Korea Fund.

The fund focused on four key areas:

  • Expanding partnerships with leading Japanese and Korean companies to integrate XRPL into real-world operations
  • Supporting promising XRPL-based projects across business, finance, and technical development
  • Investing in early-stage startups building new applications on the XRP Ledger
  • Funding education programs, hackathons, and local blockchain events

Ripple indicated that this commitment could amount to tens of millions of dollars over time, highlighting its confidence in both markets.

Growing Validator Presence Strengthens XRPL in Asia

Amid these, institutional involvement in the XRP Ledger is rising in Japan and South Korea. In South Korea, regulated virtual asset provider Infinite Block became an XRPL validator last year, supporting compliant XRP services for corporate clients. 

In Japan, SBI VC Trade also joined as a validator, showing strong support for XRP and the XRPL ecosystem.

These moves make the network more decentralized and credible, especially in Asia’s highly regulated markets.

Why XRP Holders Should Pay Close Attention

Put together, private government talks, Japan’s advancing regulations, Ripple’s XRP investment fund, and growing validator participation all signal deeper institutional use of the XRP Ledger in Asia.

This convergence is why Kanzaki believes XRP holders should pay close attention. In other words, should Japan and South Korea move forward with joint blockchain projects, Ripple’s early involvement could be key in shaping the next wave of adoption in the region.

Expert Says 99% of People May Never Own 1 XRP: Here’s Why

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An XRP community pundit has suggested that 99% of the global population may never be able to own up to 1 full XRP token.

Notably, XRP continues to face sharp market swings, yet some community figures see the current phase as a chance to buy at lower prices. Essentially, they argue that today’s prices may not last and that XRP could soon move beyond the reach of most people. 

XRP community commentator AiMan recently discussed this in a video shared on X. He explained why he believes nearly the entire global population may never own even one XRP, focusing his reasoning on a shrinking supply rather than price forecasts.

What XRP Wallet Numbers Reveal About Ownership

At the time of his commentary, XRP traded around $1.86, which AiMan said was effectively close to $2. While many still see this level as affordable, he warned that other structural factors could change this quickly.

AiMan based his argument on XRP wallet statistics. Notably, he pointed out that about 7.4 million XRP wallets have been created since the network launched. Data from XRPScan confirms this, indicating that the XRPL has seen exactly 7,441,445 activated accounts.

XRP Distribution XRPScan
XRP Distribution | XRPScan

However, AiMan stressed that this number does not reflect the true count of XRP holders. Specifically, several individuals and companies operate multiple wallets, with some controlling 3, 5, or even 10 wallets each.

As a result, AiMan highlighted estimates suggesting that only 3 to 6 million people worldwide may actually own XRP. He also mentioned lower estimates that place the number closer to 1 or 2 million. Based on his own assessment, he believes the 1-2 million range likely reflects reality more accurately.

However, even when using a conservative estimate of 5 million holders, XRP ownership remains extremely limited. With a global population of roughly 8 billion people, only a tiny fraction currently holds the asset.

AiMan also cited an estimate attributed to Grok, which placed the number of XRP holders at about 4.8 million people worldwide. This figure equals roughly 0.06% of the global population. In simple terms, only 1 out of every 1,666 people on Earth currently owns XRP.

Shrinking XRP Supply Amid Growing Demand

AiMan explained that this ownership situation creates a barrier to wider participation. For XRP ownership to reach just 1% of the world’s population, 1 out of every 100 people would need to hold XRP. Today’s ratio is far lower. This reveals how limited access already is.

He also called attention to investor behavior. According to AiMan, most XRP holders do not aim to own just 1 token. Many try to build much larger positions, often holding hundreds, thousands, or even millions of XRP. He mentioned the XRP rich list as evidence of this trend.

Interestingly, the trend coincides with a sharp drop in XRP on exchanges. AiMan stated that exchange balances fell from about 4 billion XRP in October and November to roughly 1.5 billion XRP more recently. The Crypto Basic confirmed this last month. AiMan sees the decline as a sign that the available supply continues to tighten.

Why Most People Could Get Priced Out

He argued that falling exchange balances and concentrated ownership could eventually shut most people out of the market. As major institutions such as Ripple, exchanges, and large financial firms retain massive XRP holdings, fewer tokens remain available for everyday buyers.

Although XRP has a maximum supply of 100 billion tokens, AiMan believes distribution and demand matter more than total supply. He suggests that competition to accumulate XRP will intensify as awareness grows, which could push prices higher and limit access for new entrants.

Essentially, AiMan said that anyone who already owns XRP is ahead of the global majority. He noted that many people still lack basic knowledge of cryptocurrency, let alone the discipline to learn, invest, hold, and accumulate over time.

Shiba Inu Set to Repeat Another Bearish Pattern This Month: Details

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With only a few days remaining in December 2025, Shiba Inu appears set to extend the bearish pattern that has characterized its performance.

The fourth quarter of 2025 has been particularly painful for Shiba Inu holders, amid broader weakness across the crypto market. This downward pressure has persisted into December, the final month of the year, with SHIB losing a significant portion of its value.

Historically, December has proven unfavorable for SHIB, with the asset frequently closing the month in negative territory.

SHIB Negative Performance in December

For context, in December 2021, Shiba Inu ended the month down 29.5%. That decline largely reflected profit-taking by investors who had ridden the 2021 bull run.

The pattern continued in December 2022, when SHIB fell another 13.5%. This decline followed the FTX collapse the previous month, which wiped billions off the crypto market and triggered widespread panic-selling.

In contrast, December 2023 marked a rare exception. Shiba Inu bucked the trend and closed the month with a 24.6% gain, delivering double-digit returns. As a result, many expected the momentum to extend into the following year. Instead, SHIB reversed course in December 2024, posting a 21% decline.

That pullback aligned with expectations, as investors took profits after SHIB rallied to $0.000033 during the post-election surge earlier that month.

Shiba Inu Performance in December
Shiba Inu Performance in December

Shiba Inu Performance in December 2025: Another Dip on the Horizon?

With only a few days left in December 2025, Shiba Inu is on track to close the month in the red. Notably, SHIB opened the month at $0.000008385 and has already declined 14.15%, reinforcing its ongoing bearish trend. At the time of writing, the token trades around $0.000007202 and has yet to show any meaningful signs of recovery.

To reverse this performance and finish December in positive territory, Shiba Inu would need to climb to at least $0.0000084 within the remaining five days. That move would require a sharp rally of roughly 16.64% from current levels.

However, such a rebound appears unlikely given the limited timeframe and the yuletide season. Trading activity typically slows in December as many investors reduce their exposure and step away from the market to focus on the holidays.

Although Shiba Inu’s trading volume has risen 13% over the past 24 hours, the total dollar value remains below $100 million. Meanwhile, SHIB is down 0.46% over the past day and has fallen 2.09% over the past week, further reflecting persistent weakness.

Binance Wallet Projects Achieve 78X Gains, Now Go-To Launch Platform for High-Yield Token Launches

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Binance Wallet has emerged as the clear leader in the public token launch market, delivering the strongest returns over the past year.

According to data compiled by CryptoRank and DeFi Oasis, Binance Wallet outperformed every major IDO, ICO, and IEO platform by a substantial margin. Specifically, over the past year, projects launched through Binance Wallet generated an average current return of 12.69 times invested capital.

Peak performance was even more pronounced. At their highs, these tokens delivered returns exceeding 78 times, highlighting the intensity of early-stage demand.

In total, Binance Wallet supported 44 projects during the period, with the most recent launch on December 17. No rival launchpad approached these record highs, underscoring Binance Wallet’s leadership in initial token offerings.

Rival Platforms Deliver More Modest Outcomes

While Binance Wallet led decisively, performance across rival platforms was notably weaker. MetaDAO ranked second, posting an average current return of 4.15 times. Its projects reached peak gains of 8.73 times across seven launches, with the most recent occurring in mid-November.

MetaDAO’s growing prominence highlights a renewed focus on issuing tokens on Solana, especially as conventional Solana listing platforms tighten their selection criteria.

OKX Wallet followed MetaDAO, resulting in an average current return of 3.22×. Although it launched only three projects during the year, those tokens reached peak gains of nearly 35 times their initial value.

However, researchers caution that small sample sizes can inflate peak-return metrics and therefore may not accurately reflect sustained platform performance.

Echo Gains Visibility Following Coinbase Acquisition

Echo ranked fourth among tracked launchpads, combining steady issuance with moderate returns. Specifically, its projects delivered an average current return of 2.83 times, while peak gains exceeded 17 times across 30 launches.

Founded by crypto investor Cobie, Echo was later acquired by Coinbase for $375 million. Coinbase stated that the acquisition aims to streamline community-based fundraising and enhance transparency in public token sales, signaling renewed institutional interest in compliant launchpad models.

Returns Decline Sharply Beyond the Top Tier

Outside the leading platforms, performance dropped off significantly. For instance, MEXC recorded current returns of 1.98 times, followed closely by Kraken Launch at 1.92 times. Meanwhile, Buildpad posted more modest gains of approximately 1.22 times, despite earlier peaks of up to 10 times across six projects.

At the same time, several platforms, including Cake Pad, Legion, and Bybit, fell below their initial launch prices altogether.

In aggregate, DeFi Oasis data indicate that eight of the twelve major launchpads have delivered returns of less than 2x, with five already trading below break-even.

Launchpad Ranking
Launchpad Ranking

Exit Timing Becomes the Decisive Factor

Analysts tracking these trends identify exit timing as the key differentiator in outcomes. According to DeFi Oasis, participants who sold shortly after launch were far more likely to make a profit.

By contrast, longer-term holders often saw returns deteriorate as post-launch selling pressure intensified and liquidity declined. In this environment, liquidity management consistently outweighed token fundamentals in determining performance.

Broader Market Trends Explain the Shift

Broader market dynamics help explain this pattern. The total value locked (TVL) in decentralized finance (DeFi) declined by approximately 32% between February and April, as capital shifted away from risk assets. Although some funds later returned, the market stabilized at a higher base rather than fully recovering.

Consequently, this backdrop favored short-term trading strategies over extended holding periods.

Indeed, launchpad-related activity peaked on October 1, with volumes surpassing $530 million. By December, total value locked had declined to roughly $344 million. During the same period, seven-day fees reached $7.38 million, while revenue totaled $6.69 million.

Launchpad TVL
Launchpad TVL

High Activity, Limited Holding Power

Despite these headwinds, short-term participation remained robust, particularly across experimental platforms such as four.meme, pump.fun, and Binance Alpha. These projects attracted intense early engagement, but holding conviction weakened once initial momentum subsided.

Consequently, the advantage consistently shifted toward participants who exited early rather than those who maintained longer exposure.

A Market That Rewards Discipline Over Patience

Taken together, the data paints a clear picture of today’s launchpad landscape. Overall, the sector remains active and capable of generating outsized returns, but primarily for disciplined participants with well-timed exits.

However, long-term exposure remains elevated as early momentum fades. Even as compliant platforms such as Buildpad, Sonar, Kaito, and Legion gain traction, the underlying pattern remains intact.

Ultimately, according to DeFi Oasis and CryptoRank, success in modern token launches depends less on patience and more on timing, liquidity, and disciplined exit strategies.

Jake Claver Says, He is 99.99999% Confident XRP Will See an Unbelievable Move This Year

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Digital Ascension Group CEO Jake Claver is insisting on an extremely bullish outlook for XRP in the final days of the year.

The conversation began when XRP community member Xena tagged Claver on X, referencing talk about a bet related to XRP’s price in 2025. She clarified that she was not part of the bet but asked Claver to speak to the community about his confidence in XRP’s outlook.

Jake Claver: “99.99999% Confident”

In response, Claver said he is 99.99999% confident that XRP will make an unbelievable move this year. This level of certainty immediately caught the attention of the crypto community, given that there are just five days left until the end of 2025 and XRP is still trading at $1.87.

Notably, five months ago, XRP traded at $3.66, meaning it is now down about 50%. As a result, many have written off 2025 and are now focusing on 2026 as a year of potential promise for XRP holders. Meanwhile, Claver is not backing down.

Notably, this is not the first time he has expressed such an extreme outlook on XRP.

Jake Claver Says XRP Could Still Rise 100X

Earlier this month, Claver said he still believes XRP can reach a triple-digit price. On the Good Evening Crypto podcast, host Abs pointed to developments in Japan, where a long-standing financial strategy is beginning to unwind. Trillions of dollars in borrowed money are being pulled back, which restructures the market.

Claver said this environment could strongly benefit XRP. He claimed he is “99.99999% sure” XRP can reach three digits, but only if several key catalysts occur.

These include disruptions in the oil market, stronger regulatory involvement from U.S. agencies, the growth of XRP ETFs, and global liquidity changes due to Japan’s financial shift.

Notably, XRP ETFs have already seen $1.14 billion in inflows in just one month, led by firms such as Canary Capital, Grayscale, Bitwise, and Franklin. He also noted that major companies like Vanguard, which manages $9.3 trillion in assets, are now offering XRP products, making him “super bullish” despite the year nearly ending.

XRP etf records
XRP ETF records

He added that a recently filed BlackRock ETF, which has not yet named its underlying asset, could focus on XRP and serve as the main driver of a major price surge — though he acknowledged this is speculative.

Claver Already Facing Heat Over Failed Predictions

Meanwhile, as the year draws to a close with failed predictions, Claver and other XRP influencers are facing criticism on YouTube and social media. Many are accusing them of repeatedly missing short-term targets and damaging their credibility.

Claver, who previously projected XRP at $100–$1,000 by year-end, has been a major focus of this backlash. Even so, he is not backing down, despite the year ending with little hope for a major recovery in the broader crypto market.

One X user remarked:

“The only way someone could be so sure is if he has some insider information. No other way — unless God himself spoke to Jake and gave him a rundown.”

Expert Says XRP Is Now Being Absorbed into the Regulated Derivatives Stack

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Despite the ongoing price struggles, a community commentator believes XRP has begun entering the regulated derivatives stack.

Notably, the XRP price has remained under pressure despite several positive developments across its ecosystem and at Ripple. In Q4 2025, XRP has fallen 34%, now trading for $1.87. This decline has led to frustration, especially as major institutions continue to move closer to XRP.

Specifically, XRP ETFs launched last month, and within 21 days of consistent inflows, the products attracted $1 billion in inflows. During the same period, Ripple received conditional approval to operate under a bank charter and continued to expand through acquisitions and partnerships.

Notably, some XRP community figures believe the weak price does not reflect the real activity around the asset. Instead, they suggest institutions may already be building positions quietly, focusing on structure rather than short-term price movements.

Potential XRP Push into Institutional Systems

Market commentator Richard shared this view after reviewing several regulatory filings released on Christmas Eve. In a recent post on X, he confirmed examining multiple filings, noting that more disclosures appeared likely the same day.

Richard explained that these filings show a change in how institutions view XRP. Specifically, firms now treat XRP as a governed asset rather than an experimental one. Notably, updated ethics policies include crypto assets under covered securities and accounts, while also applying insider-trading rules and personal trading monitoring.

According to Richard, institutions only apply this level of oversight when they expect to manage an asset at scale. He believes XRP has reached that stage and now operates within standard institutional frameworks.

Leverage and Derivatives Indicate Deeper Adoption

Richard also pointed to leveraged XRP ETFs, especially products offering five times leverage. He noted that firms do not launch and maintain a 5x ETF without strong foundations. These include active futures markets, approved counterparties, and internal risk committee approval. Advisors must also follow stricter personal trading rules.

According to him, these compliance measures show that institutions expect close scrutiny and have prepared accordingly. Instead of moving quickly or casually, they have built systems designed to meet regulatory standards.

In addition, Richard stressed that institutions appear to follow a derivatives-first strategy. For context, XRP exposure now centers on futures, swaps, margin structures, and daily reset leveraged products. He explained that this allows institutions to manage risk before expanding into broader exposure.

XRP Being Absorbed Into the Regulated Derivatives Stack

Richard then highlighted why year-end timing is important. Notably, institutions often finalize ethics policies, risk frameworks, and governance structures before closing the year. The timing allows firms to reset accounts and prepare for growth in the new year.

He also called attention to repeated filing amendments, including multiple 485(b) updates. Richard believes these filings indicate that approvals already exist. To him, sponsors now control the timing and release products in stages, moving from lower leverage to higher leverage.

Conclusively, the market pundit suggested that these indicators show XRP becoming part of the regulated derivatives system. “XRP is being absorbed into the regulated derivatives stack,” he said.

Notably, XRP has also made a push into the derivatives market through the launch of regulated CME futures products. In October, reports confirmed that the CME XRP futures product surpassed $26 billion in notional volume. Interestingly, XRP became the fastest asset to reach $1 billion in open interest on CME.