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Shiba Inu Price Prediction for Dec 22: Here are Key Support and Resistance as Long Positions Suffer

Shiba Inu faces bearish momentum with long positions mostly liquidated, and testing key support and resistance.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) has been facing some downward pressure, with a 1.7% decrease in the last 24 hours, trading at $0.000007251. SHIB fluctuated between $0.00000719 and $0.00000739 during the day, reflecting a bearish sentiment as the price moved toward the lower range.

This decline suggests that selling pressure is dominating in the short term, as the market struggles to maintain momentum above the $0.0000073 resistance level.

Looking at the longer-term performance, Shiba Inu has lost 11.3% in the past week and 14.6% in the last 14 days, highlighting a broader downtrend in recent weeks. Despite active market participation, with a 24-hour trading volume of $97 million, Shiba Inu has failed to gain significant support above key levels. Traders will be watching for potential support at $0.715 to prevent further declines.

Can Shiba Inu Break its Key Resistance?

A chart from TradingView shows Shiba Inu with key Fibonacci retracement levels, indicating possible support and resistance areas. Currently, the Fibonacci retracement levels suggest key support at 1.618 ($0.00000635) and next potential resistance at 1 level ($0.00000756).

Shiba Inu Price Chart
Shiba Inu Price Chart

Looking at the Chande Momentum Oscillator (ChandeMO), which is currently at -53.79, there is a clear bearish momentum in the market. This negative reading suggests that downward pressure is present, and if Shiba Inu breaks below the $0.00000635 support, it could lead to further declines, potentially targeting the $0.0000044 region.

On the other hand, if the price successfully breaks above the $0.00000756 resistance, it could indicate a potential bullish reversal, aiming for higher levels around $0.00000797 and beyond.

Long SHIB Positions Suffer the Most

Elsewhere, on the futures side, the liquidation data for SHIB shows more pressure on long positions across various timeframes.

The 4-hour data reveals such a trend, with $695.30 in long positions liquidated and $98.20 in short positions, showing that the short-term market fluctuations have resulted in more liquidations for buyers than sellers although at a low level. This pattern continues over the 12-hour period, where a substantial $13.71K in liquidations occurred, with $12.42K coming from long positions.

Shiba Inu Liquidation
Shiba Inu Liquidation

Looking at the 24-hour liquidation data, the figures further highlight the market’s struggle for long traders, with a total of $74.36K liquidated, and $71.34K from long positions compared to $3.02K from short positions.

This indicates a persistent downward trend in Shiba Inu’s market, as long positions are consistently being squeezed out while short positions face less liquidation pressure.

Pundit Says Focus on the XRP Facts or Get Left Behind

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Versan Aljarrah, founder of the Black Swan Capitalist, has urged investors to neglect distractions and focus on the facts surrounding XRP.

Aljarrah made the recent comments on the back of the ongoing crypto market downturn that has dealt a blow to XRP’s price outlook. Specifically, XRP has collapsed 32% over the last three months, currently changing hands at $1.92. This places it on track to record its first annual loss since 2022, down 7.36% in 2025.

People Getting Lost in “What Ifs”

Amid this disappointing price performance, negative sentiments have dominated the scene. As far back as October 2025, data from Santiment confirmed that XRP’s sentiments had dropped to their most bearish level in six months. Meanwhile, discussions around uncertain developments have also taken stage, leading to distractions.

Aljarrah has advised against focusing on these distractions. In his latest commentary, the market pundit pointed out that too many investors have chosen to spend their time focusing on what he calls “what ifs” and never-ending nuances. According to him, these individuals often engage in arguments about any tiny detail.

Versan Aljarrah on X
Versan Aljarrah on X

Meanwhile, Aljarrah emphasized that while they focus on what-ifs and continue to argue these tiny details, the XRP ecosystem progresses. In addition, XRP sees increased adoption, and the reality around improved ecosystem flows and greater valuation gradually kicks in.

Bullish Developments Around XRP and Ripple

For context, Ripple has been making impressive moves throughout this year, bringing RLUSD, XRPL, and XRP adoption to institutions. Most recently, Ripple expanded its partnership with TJM Investments to bolster the execution of institutional trade and collateral efficiency through Ripple Prime.

Moreover, Ripple formed a partnership with Mastercard, Gemini, and WebBank last month to allow settlements with RLUSD. The firm also collaborated with RedotPay, a partnership that would enable quick settlement and conversion of digital assets to Nigerian Naira.

Amid these moves from Ripple, XRP itself has continued to record bullish developments that point to its growing ecosystem and institutional appeal. Notably, after the first XRP ETF launched on Nov. 13, four more products emerged. Together, these funds crossed $1 billion in net inflows after 21 days of trading.

Focus on the Facts or Get Left Behind

Market pundits like Aljarrah see these developments surrounding XRP and Ripple as proof that the market is growing steadily. “Reality doesn’t wait,” he said. According to him, investors can either focus on the facts surrounding XRP or get left behind while the market progresses.

The recent comments represent Aljarrah’s latest disclosure surrounding XRP’s bullish future outlook. Recently, he called attention to the fact that tokenization would change everything, but it would require a neutral bridge that everyone would trust. Aljarrah suggested that XRP remains the perfect choice.

Uphold Partner Says XRP Will Be the Opportunity Most People Only Recognize When It’s Too Late

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John Squire, an XRP community figure and Uphold affiliate partner, believes that XRP may become an opportunity many investors only appreciate after it has already passed them by.

He shared this view in a recent tweet. It joins a growing chorus of XRP advocates who believe the market is underestimating.

XRP Price Lags Despite Major Developments

Today, XRP continues to trade below key psychological levels. It has been hovering around the $2 mark amid weeks of subdued performance. The token remains 45% below its previous highs, even as Ripple records regulatory and institutional milestones that did not exist during XRP’s last major bull cycle.

For critics, this lack of immediate price reaction signals weak demand. For supporters like Squire, it highlights a market focusing on short-term price movement rather than the long term.

This same argument has been echoed by longtime XRP commentator Coach JV, who has repeatedly said XRP could become “the greatest missed opportunity of our lifetime” if investors fail to recognize what is changing beneath the surface.

Regulatory Progress Reshaping Ripple’s Position

A key pillar of the bullish thesis centers on Ripple’s expanding regulatory footprint in the United States.

Ripple has received provisional clearance from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to charter a national trust bank, placing it among a small group of crypto firms with that status. The move brings Ripple’s RLUSD under direct federal oversight. At the same time, it maintains state-level regulation in New York.

XRP analyst Alex Cobb has argued that these developments are not being priced into XRP. He noted that Ripple is moving deeper into the U.S. financial system while XRP continues to trade as if little has changed.

Ripple is also pursuing a Federal Reserve master account. Although approval is not guaranteed, policymakers are now discussing limited access for non-bank entities. XRP supporters believe this step could strengthen Ripple’s role in real-time settlement and liquidity management.

Institutional Expansion Adds to the Long-Term Case

Furthermore, Ripple’s $1 billion investment in GTreasury confirms a move into the global corporate treasury market worth over $100 trillion.

Some analysts, including Vincent Van Code, argue that XRP doesn’t need to be directly sold to corporations to benefit. Instead, it could work quietly in the background, helping with liquidity and payments as Ripple grows its institutional presence.

This supports the idea that XRP’s value may develop slowly and steadily, outside of hype-driven market cycles, and that retail investors may not notice it until much later.

From Missed Opportunity to Late Realization?

Meanwhile, many are now discussing whether XRP could create life-changing results for long-term holders. Some figures, like NFT founder Bark, believe XRP could help investors retire, which requires prices of $100 to $ 1,000 and above.

While triple-digit price predictions remain uncertain, holding larger amounts over a long period could still make a meaningful difference for patient investors, analysts have noted.

Jake Claver, CEO of Digital Ascension Group, also warns that price alone isn’t enough. He stressed that proper tax planning and legal setup are crucial to protect wealth.

Ultimately, John Squire’s warning fits a familiar message in the XRP community. Past major rallies happened when regulations were much less clear. Today, rules are becoming clearer, and institutional involvement is increasing. 

Accordingly, proponents argue, this could lead the market to reassess XRP’s value faster than critics would realize.

Yet no one knows when that shift might happen — if ever. But voices like Squire, Coach JV, and Alex Cobb believe the real risk isn’t short-term price swings, but realizing XRP’s potential too late.

Hong Kong Plans Framework to Let Insurers Invest in Crypto Assets

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Hong Kong is laying the groundwork for a major regulatory shift that could significantly expand institutional participation in digital assets. 

Specifically, authorities are considering new rules that would allow insurance companies to invest in cryptocurrencies, while also requiring them to maintain strict capital safeguards to manage risk.

If adopted, the proposal could channel billions of dollars into the digital asset ecosystem. At the same time, it underscores Hong Kong’s cautious approach, i.e., seeking to foster innovation without undermining financial stability.

Insurance Regulator Moves Toward Controlled Crypto Exposure

Notably, the initiative is led by the Hong Kong Insurance Authority, which oversees the city’s insurance sector. According to Bloomberg, the regulator has outlined a framework that would, for the first time, permit insurers to invest in crypto assets.

The proposal applies to all 158 insurers authorized in Hong Kong and was detailed in a presentation dated December 4. 

Through this move, insurers would gain regulated access to cryptocurrencies and related assets, marking a notable shift in institutional policy.

High Capital Charges Address Market Volatility

However, broader access does not mean relaxed oversight. Instead, the regulator is pairing this opening with strict capital requirements designed to manage risk.

Under the framework, direct cryptocurrency investments would incur a 100% capital charge. Consequently, insurers would be required to hold $1 in reserves for every $1 invested.

Stablecoins Subject to Separate Treatment

Meanwhile, stablecoins would fall under a different risk regime. Rather than facing a full capital charge, their requirements would be tied to the fiat currencies they are pegged to.

However, this approach would be limited to stablecoins regulated in Hong Kong, a distinction Bloomberg describes as a key element of the proposal.

Looking ahead, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority will issue its first stablecoin licenses in early 2026, further shaping the regulatory landscape.

Public Consultation Marks the Next Step

Before the rules can be implemented, the proposal will undergo additional review. Regulators plan to launch a public consultation to collect feedback from insurers and other stakeholders.

The consultation period will run from February through April, after which the measures will move to legislative consideration. The process provides industry participants with a mechanism to influence the framework’s final development.

Review Tied to Broader Economic Goals

The Insurance Authority has framed the review as part of a broader policy effort. In a media statement, the regulator said it began reassessing capital rules earlier this year. The goal, it said, is to support both the insurance sector and wider economic growth. 

A spokesperson confirmed the review includes new regulatory developments related to crypto assets and stablecoins. Industry feedback is currently being assessed, with formal public consultation set to follow.

Notably, the proposed insurance reforms are part of Hong Kong’s broader push to establish itself as a regional crypto hub. Authorities have already rolled out licensing regimes for stablecoin issuers and virtual asset trading platforms.

Building on those efforts, the Securities and Futures Commission introduced new guidance in November to boost liquidity and diversify product offerings on domestic exchanges. The update allows exchanges to integrate with global order books, connecting them to broader market flows.

Will Shiba Inu Deliver Another Rags-to-Riches Rally, or Has the Opportunity Already Passed?

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One narrative that continues to circulate within the Shiba Inu community, despite SHIB’s struggles, is the belief that the token could still create overnight millionaires.

This belief traces back to the 2021 bull run, when SHIB surged from about $0.000000000056 to an all-time high of $0.00008845. During the rally, stories emerged of early investors attaining wealth, including a truck driver who reportedly turned a $650 investment into millions of dollars.

Shiba Inu Rag-to-Riches Narrative Resurfaces

In recent times, supporters have revived these stories, citing them as motivation for new investors to buy SHIB in hopes of replicating similar rags-to-riches outcomes.

While Shiba Inu ranked among the standout performers of the 2021 bull market after reaching its record high, the token has since fallen 91.78% from that peak and now trades around $0.000007269.

This steep decline has disappointed many holders, but some investors see it as a potential entry point ahead of what they hope could be Shiba Inu’s next major rally.

Is Another SHIB Rags-to-Riches Story Possible?

Notably, current market conditions suggest that Shiba Inu is unlikely to replicate the rags-to-riches scenario that once turned average investors into overnight millionaires.

No Repeat of the Buterin-Style Burn

A major catalyst behind Shiba Inu’s historic 2021 rally was the massive token burn by Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin. After receiving roughly half of SHIB’s total supply, about 500 trillion tokens, Buterin burned 410 trillion SHIB and donated the remainder to charitable organizations. That move drew global attention to the project and laid the foundation for SHIB’s explosive rally in the months that followed.

Today, however, Shiba Inu is unlikely to witness another burn of that magnitude. Most of SHIB’s vast supply now sits in the hands of individual holders, who have little incentive to destroy their own assets.

Although daily burn reports continue to appear, they remain too small to meaningfully reduce the circulating supply. In fact, since Buterin’s burn, the number of tokens in the dead wallet has only risen marginally to about 410.75 trillion. This implies the SHIB community has been unable to burn even 1 trillion since Buterin’s 2021 action.

Without another large-scale burn, the likelihood of a dramatic price surge capable of creating new millionaires remains low.

Low Adoption of Shiba Inu’s Ecosystem Projects

Meanwhile, Shiba Inu’s developers have repeatedly emphasized that token burns are not the sole driver of long-term growth. They argue that real utility and ecosystem expansion could fuel future rallies. Over time, SHIB has evolved from a simple meme token into an ecosystem featuring projects such as Shibarium and ShibaSwap.

Despite this progress, adoption has fallen short of expectations. Shibarium, for instance, once processed up to four million daily transactions in its early days but now handles only a few thousand. This sharp decline undermines the narrative that widespread use of Shiba Inu’s products will naturally translate into a strong and sustained rally.

Unfinished and Delayed Initiatives

In addition, several high-profile initiatives remain incomplete. The team has provided little to no updates on the privacy Layer-3 blockchain announced in April 2024. Similarly, the much-hyped metaverse project, once described as a potential game-changer, has yet to fully launch.

These delays weaken confidence in the project’s execution and may discourage large investors whose capital could otherwise drive renewed momentum in SHIB.

Growing Attention on Other Tokens

Moreover, focus within the Shiba Inu community appears increasingly divided. During SHIB’s early rise, developers and prominent community figures focused almost entirely on the token.

In recent times, several well-known figures have begun promoting other tokens outside SHIB. Notably, the @Shibtoken X account, widely perceived by users as the project’s official channel, recently promoted external projects such as Hachi Token.

Even though some developers dispute the account’s official status, its reputation alone gives such promotions the appearance of an endorsement, potentially diverting investor attention from SHIB and reducing the chances of a strong rally.

Signs of Disunity Within the Ecosystem

Internal tensions have further clouded Shiba Inu’s outlook. The September hack of the Shibarium Bridge intensified reports of discord among core contributors.

In the aftermath, developer Kaal Dhairya publicly criticized former team members for abandoning the project. At the same time, K9 Finance hinted it could move its liquid staking platform away from Shibarium if victims were not compensated.

In addition, Shiba Inu’s engineering manager announced his departure to pursue a new venture, fueling further speculation about internal fractures.

These developments present significant challenges for Shiba Inu. While the project retains a strong community and name recognition, the lack of major catalysts, uneven adoption, unfinished products, and internal tensions make it difficult to envision another rags-to-riches chapter unfolding anytime soon.

Ethereum Forecast for Dec 22: Momentum is Neutral but Analyst Says $4,220 by January 2026

Ethereum shows neutral momentum, but prominent market analyst Captain Faibik predicts a breakout by January.

Ethereum (ETH) has recently crossed the $3,000 mark again, currently trading at $3,032.64 amid a 1% increase in the last 24 hours. The price has been fluctuating between $2,945.80 and $3,050.84.

Notably, the steady upward trend towards the higher end of its 24-hour range suggests that Ethereum is finding solid support above the $3,000 level, as buyers are stepping in to maintain upward pressure.

However, Ethereum’s performance over the past week and two weeks tells a different story, with a 3.9% decline in the last 7 days and a 3.4% drop over the past 14 days. These figures highlight a short-term consolidation or mild bearish sentiment, possibly due to market-wide corrections. 

Despite these recent pullbacks, Ethereum is still holding above key psychological levels, with strong momentum in the short term. Can Ethereum test higher resistance levels?

Can Ethereum Test Higher Resistance?

Looking at the momentum side, the Ethereum price is in a slight upward trend, finding immediate support around $2,950, which aligns with the lower wick of the recent candle.

The Relative Strength Index indicator is at 48.80, indicating that Ethereum is neither in overbought nor oversold territory, suggesting a neutral market. The ChandeMO is at -15.91, which implies a lack of strong bullish or bearish momentum at the moment.

Ethereum 1-day Price Chart
Ethereum 1-day Price Chart

The RSI hovering just below 50 suggests that the momentum could shift either way depending on the buying or selling pressure.

If Ethereum surpasses the resistance at $3,170 and moves above $3,200, it could signal further upside potential. However, if the price struggles to maintain levels above $3,000 and fails to break resistance, a pullback toward support near $2,950 could occur. 

Can Ethereum Reach $4,220?

Further, Captain Faibik’s analysis on Ethereum price action highlights an exciting potential breakout as ETH approaches a key multi-month trendline. The chart shows Ethereum testing the trendline after a series of lower highs and a decline in price.

Ethereum Prediction
Ethereum Prediction

The suggestion is that ETH could soon break this resistance, which could set it up for a significant bullish move. Captain Faibik points out that if the price breaks above this trendline, it could target $4,220 by January, signaling a strong potential for price growth in the coming month.

Cardano Founder Says Can’t Wait to Build on Solana and XRP

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Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, has teased a significant partnership between Cardano and the XRP and Solana ecosystems.

Notably, this follows a heated argument between him and Mert Mumtaz, the CEO and co-founder of Solana-focused development platform Helius. The two prominent crypto figures exchanged words on X before an intervention from Solana Labs co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko sparked discussions of a possible collaboration between Cardano and Solana.

How it Happened

It all started when the Angry Crypto Show shared a clip from Hoskinson’s recent podcast where he explained why Cardano is not as fast as Solana. Notably, Solana is one of the fastest blockchains in the entire crypto industry, with a throughput of over 100,000 TPS.

Hoskinson deemed this easy, arguing that it is not difficult to be as fast as Solana. What is hard, according to him, is to be as decentralized and secure as Cardano and still be that fast.

“It’s hard to do that and have 50% Byzantine resistance, Nakamoto-style recovery, and full decentralization,” he concluded.

However, Mert disagrees with this. He called Hoskinson a “scammer,” further disputing Cardano’s security. He noted that a “vibe coder,” which referred to the developer who caused a Cardano chain split in November, took down Cardano, and all Hoskinson could do was call the FBI.

In response, Hoskinson suggested that his claims were wrong and that he was open to an honest conversation about what actually happened during the chain split last month.

Meanwhile, Mert attacked again, stating that Hoskinson should use his “gigantic ego” to deploy something functional on Cardano rather than hosting his incessant podcasts on X. He added that Cardano was doing 0.4 TPS after 8 years of launch, yet Hoskinson claimed that being as fast as Solana was easy.

Solana Fighting Cardano or XRP Is Bearish

However, Yakovenko does not see the need for banter between the two chains. He joined the conversation with a response to Mert that there was no need for the comparison. According to him, Solana fighting Cardano or XRP is “incredibly bearish.”

Hoskinson used the opportunity to thank Yakovenko for the response while teasing a partnership. He noted that he can’t wait to build on Solana and XRP, a statement that has sparked speculations of a possible collaboration between the three chains.

Recall that a similar event happened between a top Solana Foundation executive and the XRP community a few weeks back, and subsequently, XRP came to Solana. For context, weeks after Vibhu Norby questioned the utility and adoption of XRP, Hex Trust announced during the BreakPoint event that it would build a bridge to bring XRP to Solana.

Moreover, Hoskinson has long teased a partnership between XRP and Cardano. If this collaboration materializes, it will mark a shift from the earlier zero-sum sentiment in the crypto space to a collaborative industry.

Bitcoin Price Prediction for Dec 22: Here Are Case Scenarios for BTC Price

The recent Bitcoin surge shows strong short-term inflows, but longer-term data hints at recovering momentum.

Bitcoin has recently surged above the $89,000-mark, trading at $89,042.27 with a 1.1% increase in the last 24 hours. This price action comes after a volatile period where Bitcoin’s value fluctuated between $87,655 and $89,542. The positive momentum is clear as the price continues to climb, notably showing a significant rise after 02:00 UTC, with steady growth towards the 10:00 mark.

Over the past seven days, Bitcoin has experienced a solid 5.8% increase. In addition to the daily gains, BTC has also shown consistent performance over the longer term, with a 2.4% increase in the past two weeks.

Bitcoin Price Prediction

Notably, a chart from TradingView shows Bitcoin’s recent price movements with key indicators, including the Bollinger Bands and the MACD. Specifically, the Bollinger Bands are widening, suggesting increased volatility and a possible surge.

Bitcoin Prediction
Bitcoin Prediction

This implies that Bitcoin is in a consolidation phase, with the potential for a breakout either above the upper band (around $94,000) or a retracement to the lower band (around $85,000), both serving as important support and resistance levels. The price action indicates that Bitcoin is testing the support zone near $89,000, where the 20-SMA aligns, which could offer short-term support in the face of selling pressure.

The MACD (Moving Average Convergence Divergence) also supports the analysis of momentum. Currently, the MACD line is positioned above the signal line, suggesting a bullish trend, albeit with some weakening momentum, as the histogram shows reduced buying pressure.

If Bitcoin continues to maintain price levels above the $89,000 mark and breaks through resistance around $90,000–$95,000, we could see further upward movement. 

However, if it fails to hold the support at $85,000, a deeper pullback towards lower support levels could occur, testing the market’s strength in the short term.

Bitcoin Futures Data  

Further, futures data shows a strong inflow of capital into Bitcoin, particularly in the short to medium term, indicating a bullish sentiment. Over the past 8 and 12 hours, Bitcoin saw notable net inflows of $415.29 million and $540.04 million, respectively, with dramatic percentage increases of 202.53% and 380.92%.

Bitcoin Futures Flows
Bitcoin Futures Flows

This surge suggests heightened market interest and growing investor confidence. Even over the 24-hour period, Bitcoin experienced a robust net inflow of $347.80 million, marking a massive increase of 1101.33%, further confirming that buying pressure has been dominant in the market recently.

However, the longer-term data reveal a shift in sentiment. In the 3-day and 5-day periods, Bitcoin’s net inflows of $314.99 million and $884.68 million show continued positive sentiment but with a reduction in the rate of increase, especially in the 3-day period where the net change dropped by 44.14%.

The 7-day data reflects a slowing in inflows, with net inflows of $621.83 million, and the 10-day data shows a negative shift, with a net outflow of $1.81 billion.

Pundit Explains Why This Is the Worst Period for XRP Holders

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Vincent Scott, a long-standing XRP community voice, believes that the current market environment may be the most challenging period XRP holders have faced. 

His comments focus less on price charts and more on structural issues he believes are working against retail investors.

Why XRP Holders Are Under Pressure

According to Scott, the current phase of the crypto market is full of intense pressure from large investment firms trying to recover from a weak fourth quarter. 

He argues that after a difficult year, some institutions are now targeting retail investors as a source of liquidity, squeezing them to cover losses rather than allowing organic price discovery.

In his view, this explains the surge in aggressive narratives and market messaging around XRP and other digital assets.

Propaganda, Predictions, and Retail Psychology

Scott believes much of the bullish end-of-year price speculation circulating online is not based on fundamentals. Instead, he points to overly confident chart-based predictions being applied to what he calls a heavily manipulated market.

He argues that advanced technology like blockchain is still operating in an environment where clear laws and enforcement are lacking, especially as consistent rules do not bind institutions that influence value. To him, this allows misleading forecasts to spread with little accountability when they fail to materialize.

When Predictions Fail, the Cycle Repeats

One of Scott’s central criticisms is what happens after bold price targets fall apart. He suggests that instead of accountability, failed forecasts are often followed by apologies and reassurance content to keep audiences engaged and hopeful.

According to Scott, this cycle works because many retail investors still aspire to emulate market influencers, making them more likely to overlook repeated inaccuracies.

Furthermore, Scott argues that the real issue is not volatility itself, but the monetization of investor desperation. He believes this behavior fuels the very system many crypto participants claim to oppose, turning frustration and hope into revenue streams.

In his assessment, honest conversations about market realities are often discouraged because they threaten this business model.

Why Regulation Still Matters for XRP

Ultimately, Scott points to regulation as the key missing piece. He argues that nothing fundamentally changes for XRP or the crypto market until enforceable laws are in place and applied evenly.

Until then, he believes that the market will continue to reward manipulation over transparency, leaving retail investors exposed during periods of uncertainty. Notably, the U.S. Senate is working towards passing the Clarity Act in early 2026. Many believe it will bring the regulatory clarity the industry needs.

Community Reactions

Scott’s comments have stirred mixed reactions in the XRP community. Some shared similar sentiments, saying they have invested their time elsewhere and avoid news about crypto. To Scott, this is even a wise decision.

Meanwhile, X user Jeff H remarked that those relying solely on XRP for survival have themselves to blame. He noted that a basic investment principle is to hold positions without fear, diversify, and avoid putting all assets in one basket. Others simply advised: “Ignore the noise.”

Hoskinson Says Midnight Won’t Kill Cardano, But Will Expand Its DeFi Ecosystem by 10x

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Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has voiced optimism that Midnight will significantly strengthen the network and expand its DeFi ecosystem tenfold.

He made the statement during a recent livestream, addressing concerns that Midnight could weaken Cardano’s core blockchain. In response, Hoskinson argued that simply making Cardano faster, cheaper, and more scalable will not drive mass adoption of the network. 

He suggested that competing with networks like Ethereum and Solana requires more than incremental technical improvements. Moreover, Hoskinson stressed that even major upgrades such as Leios and Hydra may deliver only marginal user incentives, such as lower transaction fees and dramatic improvements in throughput. 

However, he pointed out that these features alone are insufficient to convince users to leave established ecosystems like Ethereum and Solana to join Cardano. 

In his view, users only migrate to a new platform when it offers something fundamentally different. This is where Midnight comes in for Cardano.

Midnight, a privacy sidechain on Cardano, offers programmable privacy, which is largely absent from mainstream DeFi today. 

Midnight to Boost Cardano DeFi by 10x 

Hoskinson believes that, rather than users leaving their existing ecosystems entirely, Midnight allows them to continue interacting with those ecosystems while gaining access to privacy-preserving features that Ethereum and Solana do not natively offer. 

This privacy capability from Midnight could help create a new value proposition for Cardano DeFi, potentially boosting it by up to tenfold.

Notably, while Cardano has achieved significant breakthroughs in security and decentralization, the network still lags in DeFi activity.  According to data from DeFiLlama, Cardano’s total value locked (TVL) is $178.98 million. This is significantly lower compared to Ethereum and Solana, which have around $70.09 billion and $8.57 billion, respectively.  

With optimism that Midnight could boost Cardano’s DeFi activity by as much as tenfold, the network’s total value locked (TVL) could climb to around $1.78 billion. While significantly, the figure would still trail the levels currently recorded on Solana and Ethereum. 

Tier-1 Stablecoin to Enhance DeFi Activity on Cardano 

Meanwhile, Hoskinson expects Cardano’s DeFi activity to gain momentum next year, aligning with Midnight’s mainnet launch. 

Beyond Midnight, he also believes that introducing a Tier-1 stablecoin to the Cardano ecosystem could further accelerate DeFi growth. Notably, he has confirmed ongoing discussions with Ripple about bringing its RLUSD stablecoin to Cardano. 

Similarly, the Midnight Foundation recently revealed that it is finalizing a partnership to launch a privacy stablecoin on its platform, adding another potential catalyst for DeFi expansion.