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Software Engineer Admits He Was Wrong About His 2025 XRP Price Prediction, Says “I Am Not a Fortune Teller”

Abdulkarim Abdulwahab
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Software Engineer Admits He Was Wrong About His 2025 XRP Price Prediction, Says “I Am Not a Fortune Teller”

Vincent Van Code, a widely followed software engineer in the XRP community, has openly acknowledged his failed year-end XRP price outlook.

In a tweet, he said he expected XRP’s price to be higher by now than its current level. Notably, the software engineer previously predicted a $30 to $50 price range for XRP. Meanwhile, the coin is still trading below $2 today.

“I Thought XRP Would Be Much Higher by Now”

Van Code explained that the Ripple and XRP Ledger roadmap was meant to begin earlier, but legal delays, including the appeal process and a late ruling, pushed the timeline back.

According to him, the plan itself has not changed, only the start date. From his perspective, progress remains intact, just delayed.

Failed Year-End XRP Price Prediction

Back in July, Van Code predicted that XRP could eventually reach $30–$50. He shared the estimate after repeated community requests, stressing that it was his personal conviction rather than hype. While he set no specific timeline for the price target, he viewed it as a future possibility.

Meanwhile, other XRP community figures, such as Dustin Layton, boldly asserted that the price would be “at least” $50 by the end of this year. This outlook required a 25x increase and a $3 trillion valuation. Influencer Alex Cobb also projected a $22 price by December 2025.

Now, reflecting on these expectations, Van Code admitted the prediction had failed. At the time of his $50 outlook, XRP was trading above $2. Today, it stands at around $1.83.

He stressed, however, that market participation is not about predicting the future with certainty. “I am not a fortune teller,” he wrote. Instead, it is about research, evaluating facts, and making informed decisions.

What Has Really Changed for XRP?

Regarding why the bullish outlook failed to materialize, Van Code urged the community to reassess what has actually changed over the past year.

In his view, there has been no major negative development involving Ripple or XRP that would justify the price weakness.

As a result, he pointed to macroeconomic conditions and the overall market environment as possible reasons for XRP’s underperformance. Specifically, he highlighted Bitcoin whale activity, low trading volumes, and heavy derivatives trading as factors that can distort prices across the crypto market.

According to him, pump-and-dump behavior, combined with aggressive short and long positioning, often impacts altcoins like XRP regardless of their fundamentals.

“Do Your Own Research”

Beyond market commentary, Van Code stressed the importance of discipline and education. He advised holders to avoid gambling, study crypto fundamentals, read project documentation, and understand how financial systems work. He also warned against blindly following influencers or hype, noting that shortcuts in crypto often lead to losses.

Ultimately, while 2025 is not ending the way most XRP holders had hoped, attention is now turning to 2026 as a potential turnaround year for XRP.

Pundit Says Stop Thinking About XRP in Candles and Start Thinking in Flows

Mark Brennan
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Pundit Says Stop Thinking About XRP in Candles and Start Thinking in Flows

As XRP price struggles despite bullish ecosystem developments, a market pundit has urged investors to stop thinking about the token “in candles.”

For context, XRP’s price has continued to lag behind major progress within its ecosystem. Multiple bullish developments, such as the launch of XRP ETFs and Ripple’s conditional approval to move toward a banking charter, have emerged over the past two months. 

XRP Down Despite Bullish Developments

However, XRP has not reflected these gains amid a broader market decline. Since October 2025, XRP has fallen by 39%, dropping below the $2 level to now trade around $1.87. This gap between ecosystem growth and price performance has led to concerns across the community.

Some community members believe the market has overlooked what is happening behind the scenes. Notably, they argue that recent developments may currently be setting up the foundation for XRP to witness long-term growth even if the price has not reacted yet. 

XFinanceBul, one of the individuals who holds this sentiment, has encouraged investors to stop focusing on short-term price charts and start paying attention to how XRP moves through the financial system.

XRP at the Center of the US Financial Shift

In his latest commentary, XFinanceBull said the United States has begun integrating crypto into its financial system, and XRP is in a position to benefit. 

Interestingly, he called attention to Caroline D. Pham, the acting Chair of the U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission, as a major figure in this change. The pundit believes her leadership supports a push to improve U.S. markets and bolster the country’s position in crypto and blockchain finance.

XFinanceBul highlighted regulatory changes from Pham that brought major updates to the U.S. market structure. These include support for spot crypto trading, the use of tokenized Treasuries, bonds, and money market funds as margin, and broader acceptance of crypto in derivatives markets. According to him, these steps move crypto into major financial systems rather than keeping it on the sidelines.

Notably, he centered his argument around collateral efficiency. He noted that Pham has described collateral as a major driver of financial improvement, with smoother settlement processes capable of saving trillions of dollars. 

XFinanceBull believes XRP could assume a role in this setup because it was designed to move liquidity quickly and at low cost. He suggested that the U.S. financial system now needs a reliable liquidity layer, and XRP meets that need.

The US Regulatory Environment Has Improved

Speaking further, he also called attention to regulatory clarity that removed long-standing obstacles for XRP. Notably, regulators have reduced uncertainty that kept institutions away by stepping away from outdated crypto rules and updating guidance to better support the industry. XFinanceBull believes these changes allow ETFs, banks, and brokers to engage with XRP more freely.

As regulations improved, Ripple continued building its infrastructure. XFinanceBull spotlighted developments surrounding the firm, including the acquisition of GTreasury, the launch of Ripple Prime, Palisade, and the RLUSD stablecoin. 

He said these products support institutional use cases like tokenized collateral, foreign exchange, and settlement. To him, the market has finally caught up with what Ripple built years ago.

He stressed that XRP demand should focus on real use, not speculation. In essence, institutions can use XRP as margin, lock it as collateral, and rely on it to bridge currencies and stablecoins. He believes these repeated uses would create a steady demand that goes beyond price trading.

Stop Thinking About XRP in Candles

XFinanceBull also looked at the retail angle. Notably, reports confirm that Caroline Pham plans to join MoonPay as Chief Legal Officer. Interestingly, MoonPay already supports XRP and RLUSD worldwide, and XFinanceBull believes her experience could help connect retail access with institutional liquidity on the XRP Ledger.

In conclusion, the pundit insists that major market conditions now favor XRP. Specifically, XRP has legal clarity in secondary markets, Ripple continues to expand its infrastructure and stablecoin efforts, U.S. regulators have opened doors to crypto use, and retail platforms are ready to scale. 

Considering these bullish developments, he urged investors to stop watching price candles and start watching flows, suggesting that they are already laying the rails. “Stop thinking about XRP in price candles. Start thinking in flows,” he said.

Fed Rescinds 2023 Guidance That Limited Banks’ Crypto Services

Mark Brennan
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Fed Rescinds 2023 Guidance That Limited Banks’ Crypto Services

The US Fed has withdrawn a 2023 policy that limited how banks under its supervision could engage with cryptocurrencies.

The now-rescinded guidance applied to both insured and uninsured banks supervised by the Fed. Specifically, it required uninsured institutions to comply with the same restrictions imposed on federally insured banks, reflecting a regulatory principle that similar financial activities should be subject to the same standards.

In practice, however, the policy had far-reaching consequences. Because national banks were prohibited from offering certain crypto-related services, uninsured banks were bound by similar limitations. This left some institutions unable to provide digital asset services altogether.

As a result, banks whose core business involved crypto activities were deemed ineligible for Federal Reserve membership, cutting them off from key central banking services.

Why the Federal Reserve Reversed Course

The Federal Reserve said conditions have changed since the guidance was introduced. In an official statement released Wednesday, the central bank stated that the financial system and its understanding of innovation have changed over time.

Given these developments, the Board concluded that the 2023 framework no longer reflected current realities and was no longer appropriate.

Custodia Bank Welcomes the Move

The reversal drew swift responses from affected institutions. Caitlin Long, chief executive of Custodia Bank, publicly welcomed the decision.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Long said the guidance played a central role in the Fed’s rejection of Custodia’s application for a master account. She noted that the policy was cited even before it formally took effect in February 2023, a factor she said contributed to the bank’s denial.

For the uninitiated, a Federal Reserve master account allows banks to hold funds directly with the central bank. Moreover, it provides access to core payment systems without relying on intermediary institutions.

Long also noted that several officials involved in the earlier decision no longer hold the same influence. Specifically, she thanked Vice Chair Michelle Bowman and Governor Christopher Waller for their roles in the policy shift.

A New Framework for Bank Innovation

Alongside withdrawing the old guidance, the Fed introduced a new supervisory framework for bank innovation. The updated guidance applies to both insured and uninsured Fed-supervised state member banks. 

Under the new framework, banks may pursue innovative activities, including crypto-related services, provided they meet established risk management standards. The Fed stressed that innovation must remain consistent with safety and soundness standards.

Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman endorsed the updated approach, stating that it enables banks to adopt modern services without compromising financial stability. She added that responsible innovation can improve efficiency across the banking sector.

Internal Dissent at the Fed

Despite the policy shift, consensus was not universal. Federal Reserve Governor Michael Barr dissented from the decision.

Barr argued that treating banks equally helps prevent regulatory loopholes. He warned that rolling back the guidance could encourage regulatory arbitrage.

In his dissent, Barr said the change could weaken fair competition. He also expressed concern about potential risks to financial stability.

Barr has previously drawn criticism over alleged efforts to limit banking access for crypto firms. Those claims are often referred to as “Operation Chokepoint 2.0.” 

At the same time, Barr has professional ties to the crypto industry. He has previously advised Ripple and has expressed support for the development of structured regulation for stablecoins.

Shiba Inu Price Prediction for Dec 18: Here Are Next Levels for SHIB to Breach

Mark Brennan
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Shiba Inu Price Prediction for Dec 18: Here Are Next Levels for SHIB to Breach

Shiba Inu exhibits bearish pressure, marked by a decline in price, as it faces key support levels and a significant liquidation of long positions.

Shiba Inu has seen a notable decline in recent hours, with the price dropping to $0.000007523, a 3.0% decrease over the past 24 hours. The meme coin’s daily trading range has fluctuated between $0.000007425 and $0.000008011, signaling the market’s current volatility.

With a market cap of $4.43 billion and a 24-hour trading volume of approximately $130.38 million, Shiba Inu continues to maintain a substantial presence in the market despite these short-term challenges. Over the past seven days, the price has experienced a 9.3% drop, marking a period of continued consolidation.

Looking at the broader picture, Shiba Inu has faced a 14-day decline of 14.8%, underscoring the asset’s struggle during this market cycle. Traders are wondering whether the token will regain upward momentum or continue its downward trajectory based on its current price action and market sentiment.

Shiba Inu Price Prediction

Notably, Shiba Inu is showing clear technical signs of bearish pressure as indicated by its Fibonacci retracement levels. SHIB has recently dropped to the Fib 1 level, considered a critical support zone. If the price continues to fall below this level, the next target may be the 1.618 extension level, located near $0.00000635, which could further fuel the downward movement. 

Shiba Inu 1-Day Price Chart
Shiba Inu 1-Day Price Chart

Additionally, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is currently sitting at 34.48, suggesting that the market is leaning towards oversold conditions. Hence, it indicates a potential for price stabilization or reversal if buyers step in at these levels.

If the trend flips upward, the immediate resistance for Shiba Inu sits around the 0.786 Fibonacci level near $0.00000797, where the price has previously faced rejection. A strong move above this resistance could signal a potential recovery toward the higher retracement levels, such as 0.618 at $0.00000830. 

Shiba Inu Liquidation Data

Meanwhile, the liquidation data for Shiba Inu reveals significant volatility in the market, with various time frames showing varying levels of liquidation. Over the past 24 hours, Shiba Inu has seen a total liquidation of $181.32K.

Shiba Inu Liquidation
Shiba Inu Liquidation

Traders betting on the price rise were forced out of their positions, with a substantial $171.94K coming from long positions as the price fell. Short positions, however, have seen a much lower liquidation value of $9.37K, suggesting a much smaller amount of forced liquidation from those betting on further downside.

Looking at the shorter time frames, the 1-hour and 4-hour liquidations show smaller amounts. Notably, $11.30 was liquidated from shorts in the last hour. This indicates that while short-term volatility has caused some liquidation, it hasn’t been as severe as in the longer time frames.

The 12-hour liquidation data shows $26.60K in total, with $24.46K from long positions and $2.14K from shorts, further emphasizing the dominance of liquidations from long positions in this recent period.

SHIB Ecosystem Project Says ‘Shiba Inu Has Completely Lost Its Way’

Lele Jima
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SHIB Ecosystem Project Says ‘Shiba Inu Has Completely Lost Its Way’

A Shiba Inu ecosystem project has criticized the @shibtoken X account after it recently promoted a separate token.

According to a post on X today, @shibtoken, widely regarded as the official Shiba Inu X account, amplified a November 2 tweet from Hachiko (HACHI), a Solana-based token. In that tweet, HACHI announced the launch of a new smart contract address, x95HN…bWKyp.

Through the promotion, the Shiba Inu account placed HACHI alongside SHIB by highlighting a visual similarity in their contract identifiers. Specifically, HACHI’s new contract begins with x95, while Shiba Inu’s contract address also starts with 0x95, a parallel that quickly drew attention. Additionally, the post featured an image of two dogs, Hachiko and Shiba Inu, further suggesting a relationship between the two tokens. 

Ecosystem Project Criticizes @Shibtoken Recent Activity  

However, the promotion immediately triggered backlash from ecosystem participants. The Shiba Inu ecosystem project Oscar Token joined other community members in voicing their concerns.

In a tweet, the Oscar Token team expressed disappointment with the Shiba Inu account’s activity, suggesting that it no longer reflects the original values and focus of the SHIB ecosystem. 

“This isn’t Shib anymore; it’s completely lost its way,” Oscar wrote in reaction to the Shiba Inu promotion.

Not New 

Meanwhile, this is not the first time @Shibtoken has promoted tokens outside the official Shiba Inu ecosystem. In November 2024, the account teased a partnership with Shiro Neko, a cat-themed token, after the project burned more than 5 billion SHIB. By December 2024, @Shibtoken further promoted a dual-staking initiative from Shiro Neko that allows users to stake SHIRO in exchange for SHIB rewards.

As a result, many community members began to view Shiro Neko as an official Shiba Inu ecosystem project. However, the community fraud alert channel Susbarium pushed back against that narrative, stressing that it has no affiliation with Shiro Neko.

Moreover, Susbarium clarified that @Shibtoken is not the official X handle of the Shiba Inu ecosystem, urging users to avoid treating any promotion from the account as an official ecosystem endorsement. 

Too Late?

Despite repeated warnings, @shibtoken’s tweets continue to have a significant influence. Launched in February 2021, @shibtoken has positioned itself as the official X account for the Shiba Inu ecosystem, amassing a substantial following of 3.9 million users. 

The majority of its followers are active members of the Shiba Inu community. Initially, the account served as the primary source for ecosystem announcements, leading many to interpret its promotions as implicit endorsements.

Now, some are seeing it as a liability. Whenever the account promotes separate tokens, it often diverts attention from Shiba Inu, potentially weakening the community’s focus on the core asset. 

As a result, Oscar Token believes there is a need to save the account from consistently promoting other tokens. 

Coinbase Unveils Sweeping Expansion to Build an “Everything Exchange”

Zabi
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Coinbase Unveils Sweeping Expansion to Build an “Everything Exchange”

Coinbase has unveiled a sweeping expansion that significantly broadens its role beyond crypto trading.

During its System Update livestream on Wednesday, the exchange introduced a wide slate of new products designed to bring multiple asset classes together on a single platform.

The announcement represents one of the most ambitious transformations in Coinbase’s 13-year history, as competition intensifies from decentralized protocols, fintech apps, and global exchanges that already offer a broader range of trading options.

Stock Trading Becomes a Core Offering

At the heart of the expansion is Coinbase’s entry into stock trading. The company has begun rolling out access to U.S. equities and exchange-traded funds through its regulated subsidiary, Coinbase Capital Markets Corp.

With this addition, customers can manage stocks and crypto side by side in one account. Trades can be funded using U.S. dollars or USDC, allowing for a unified balance across asset types. Coinbase confirmed that stock trades will carry no commissions.

To further differentiate the offering, select stocks will be available during extended trading hours, enabling activity for up to 24 hours a day, five days a week. A Coinbase spokesperson said the zero-commission structure will be permanent, with thousands of additional stocks to be added over time.

Building Toward Tokenized Equities

While traditional stock trading is now live, Coinbase positioned the launch as a stepping stone rather than an endpoint. The company reiterated that tokenized equities remain a key part of its long-term vision, though they are not yet available.

To support that direction, Coinbase plans to introduce an institutional platform called Coinbase Tokenize. The service is designed to help institutions issue and manage tokenized real-world assets, including equities, in a compliant and scalable manner. The company stated that more details about the platform are expected sometime in 2026.

Stock-Linked Perpetual Futures for Global Users

In parallel with spot equities, Coinbase is preparing to launch stock-linked perpetual futures for users outside the United States. The company stated that the products are designed to provide continuous exposure to U.S. equities while simultaneously utilizing capital more efficiently.

Unlike traditional equity positions, the contracts would not have fixed expiration dates. Coinbase said broader access to these stock-based perpetual futures is planned for early next year, although it did not specify which markets will be eligible.

Expanding Into Prediction Markets

As part of its broader push to diversify tradable assets, Coinbase is also entering prediction markets through a partnership with regulated platform Kalshi. At launch, Kalshi will provide all the liquidity for prediction markets on Coinbase.

Users will be able to trade event-based contracts starting at one dollar, using either U.S. dollars or USDC. Within the Coinbase app, these positions will be shown alongside the user’s cryptocurrency, stock, and cash holdings. Over time, the company plans to integrate additional prediction market platforms.

Solana DEX Trading Comes In-App

Coinbase is also expanding its decentralized trading capabilities by adding in-app support for Solana-based tokens. Specifically, the company integrated Jupiter, the leading DEX aggregator on Solana, directly within the Coinbase app.

The setup allows users to trade newly launched Solana tokens immediately without leaving the platform. Jupiter handles price discovery and routing, while Coinbase manages wallet interactions and the overall user experience.

According to the company, millions of assets across Solana and Coinbase’s Base network are now accessible by default, with further network integrations planned.

Stablecoins Take Center Stage in Payments Strategy

Stablecoins underpin much of Coinbase’s broader payments strategy. For instance, the company introduced Custom Stablecoins, which allow businesses to issue branded stablecoins backed one-to-one by a flexible mix of USDC and other dollar-pegged stablecoins.

However, the backing does not include fiat currency, a Coinbase spokesperson said. Early partners exploring the product include Flipcash, Solflare, and R2.

Additionally, as part of its longer-term financial infrastructure ambitions, Coinbase has also applied for a National Trust Company charter with the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. The application remains under review, the company confirmed.

Developer APIs and the x402 Payments Standard

Coinbase is simultaneously expanding its developer platform. Specifically, new APIs now span custody, payments, trading, and stablecoins, the company said.

Several businesses, including Deel, Papaya, Routable, and dLocal, are already using Coinbase’s payment tools.

Furthermore, the company emphasized x402, an open payments protocol that enables stablecoin transactions to be integrated directly into web requests. Coinbase said the protocol has processed more than $200 million in annualized transaction volume over the past 30 days.

To support further adoption, the company plans to help establish an x402 Foundation in partnership with Cloudflare.

Simplifying Access to Futures and Perpetuals

Derivatives trading is also being reworked as part of the expansion. Specifically, Coinbase plans to integrate futures and perpetual futures trading into its main retail app, thereby providing a simplified interface.

Previously, these products were largely confined to Coinbase Advanced. The redesigned experience aims to simplify the process and facilitate leveraged trading with lower upfront capital. A Coinbase spokesperson said all U.S. users can now trade perpetual futures directly from the primary Coinbase app.

AI Tools, Base App, and Business Services

Beyond trading, Coinbase is introducing tools designed to support everyday financial decision-making. The company launched Coinbase Advisor, an AI-powered assistant embedded in the app that helps users ask questions, build portfolios, and receive personalized recommendations. Beta access is now rolling out to early users.

Separately, the Base App is now available in more than 140 countries. Coinbase describes it as an on-chain “everything app” that combines social features, trading, payments, and app discovery, with content tokenized and tradeable by default.

For businesses, Coinbase Business is now generally available in the United States and Singapore. The service targets startups and small companies, offering global payments, crypto asset management, USDC rewards, and automated financial workflows. Expanded trading access is expected to follow.

Ultimately, Coinbase characterized the expansion as a defining moment in its evolution, framing the new offerings as the next phase in building a unified financial platform that extends well beyond crypto trading.

Here’s Why Cardano Is About to Evolve Into Something Bigger in 2026

Elendu Benedict
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Here’s Why Cardano Is About to Evolve Into Something Bigger in 2026

Cardano could build on its impressive year with a stellar 2026, as fundamentals such as upgrades and other planned rollouts spark bullish momentum.

With the year slowly winding down, attention is shifting towards how 2026 will pan out for Cardano. A recent analysis has highlighted several reasons why the next year could be big for the ADA ecosystem.

2025 In a Wrap

No doubt, Cardano achieved considerable success in 2025, with a focus on decentralized governance and scalability.

For context, the network became fully decentralized after the September 1 Chang hard fork ushered in the Voltaire Era. The upgrade introduced a new governance mechanism, giving ADA holders power to elect decentralized representatives (DReps) and decide Cardano’s future trajectory.

In October, the Hydra v1.0 launched on mainnet, enhancing the network’s scalability. Notably, Hydra surpassed 1 million transactions per second (TPS) on testnet during the Doom gaming challenge a year ago. The layer 2 scaling solution is designed to improve the transactional speed and efficiency of Cardano.

Finally, Cardano sidechain Midnight launched its native token NIGHT. Interestingly, the token became a billion-dollar initiative, bringing the network back into the limelight of the crypto scene.

Cardano to Become “Something Bigger” in 2026

Meanwhile, Cardano-focused educational outlet Cardanians recently shared that 2026 could be much better. Notably, it identified a few propellants that could help Cardano scale.

The first is the Ouroboros Leios, aimed at improving scalability and throughput without disrupting the network’s core values on security and decentralization. Cardanians noted that Leios, planned for mainnet rollout 2026, could scale Cardano to 1,000 TPS. Meanwhile, most reports suggest Leios targets 10,000 TPS.

Further, the Bitcoin DeFi integration on Cardano could be another major milestone for the network in 2026. Founder Charles Hoskinson has repeatedly emphasized its importance, tipping it to boost TVL and user engagement. While Cardano has made substantial progress in unlocking this trillion-dollar sector, Cardanians suggest that the full integration and benefits will come next year.

Midnight and Stablecoin Boosts

Additionally, the Midnight mainnet launch is coming in early 2026. Market observers believe its privacy-focused and selective disclosure features would boost cross-chain adoption. Institutions skeptical of blockchain’s full-disclosure clause would turn to Midnight and, consequently, boost the Cardano network.

Another event that Cardanians highlighted as likely to influence Cardano’s adoption in 2026 is its recent stablecoin and oracle integrations. The community approved a 70 million ADA treasury withdrawal to support the integration of top-tier stablecoins like USDT and USDC on Cardano. There was also a recent collaboration to bring Pyth Lazer, the Pyth Network’s oracle, to the network by early 2026.

Other factors mentioned include the tier-1 integrations from the Pentad, comprising IOG, EMURGO, the Cardano Foundation, Intersect, and Midnight, which would go live in 2026.

Remarkably, Cardanians paid little attention to ADA’s price, calling it a secondary factor. However, if these upgrades and integrations bring the projected adoption, the coin would likely react positively by next year.

Expert Says He’ll Keep Buying XRP At Low Prices as Market Makers Keep Playing Games

Albert Brown
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Expert Says He’ll Keep Buying XRP At Low Prices as Market Makers Keep Playing Games

An XRP community figure has spotlighted what he feels is a sign of market manipulation, noting that it would allow him to scoop up XRP cheaply.

 

Notably, the global crypto market has continued to face bearish pressure amid macroeconomic uncertainties, with the price of XRP facing its own unique bearish conditions. However, amid the downward trend, market observers have called attention to what they believe may be ongoing market manipulation.

Signs of Broader Market Manipulation

Specifically, the Kobeissi Letter, a global capital market commentary platform, pointed out that the Bitcoin (BTC) price suddenly spiked by $3,000 within just an hour on Dec. 17. Notably, the premier crypto asset’s value soared from $87,000 to cross the $90,000 during this sudden spike.

As a result, leveraged traders holding short positions witnessed liquidations worth $120 million due to the sudden sharp surge. Interestingly, shortly after the rise above $90,000 and the subsequent liquidations, the Bitcoin price again collapsed to the $86,000 region.

“You can’t make this up,” the Kobeissi Letter remarked. The market resource stressed that this entire event resulted in a massive $140 billion swing in Bitcoin’s market cap within just two hours. 

For perspective, this is comparable to XRP dropping to essentially $0 and then bouncing back, considering XRP’s market cap stands at $111 billion, lower than the $140 billion figure from the Bitcoin price swing.

XRP Suffers the Spillover

Expectedly, the sharp Bitcoin price fluctuation also impacted XRP, but at a lower rate due to XRP’s smaller market cap. Specifically, XRP, which traded for $1.90 at 13:30 UTC on Dec. 17, suddenly spiked 4% to a peak of $1.98 at 15:30 before collapsing 5.5% to $1.87 about 30 minutes later. 

XRP Sharp Price Swings on Dec 17
XRP Sharp Price Swings on Dec 17

As a result of this price swing, XRP gained $5 billion in market cap within an hour, and then lost $7 billion just 30 minutes later. This aligns with allegations of market manipulation supposedly perpetrated by market makers for higher profits. Most ascribed the Oct. 10 market crash to these manipulative techniques.

However, XRP community commentators like Digital Asset Investor (DAI) see this as an opportunity to procure more XRP tokens at discounted prices. According to DAI, institutions appear to be playing a lot of games in the crypto scene in recent times. Nonetheless, he charged them to keep on playing. “I’ll keep scooping up XRP on the cheap,” he said.

DAI’s comments align with sentiments held by most XRP community figures, who have urged investors to see these downturns as opportunities to buy XRP cheaply. For instance, when XRP traded for $2.25 last month, analyst Income Sharks suggested that investors who failed to buy XRP below $2 may again have the chance to do so. 

Moreover, as the bearish pressure emerged in early November, with XRP trading at the lower end of the $2 mark, finance expert Coach JV insisted that seeing XRP below $2 would be a blessing. Today, XRP trades for $1.83, providing the sort of “buy-the-dip” opportunity teased by these pundits. However, investors should not see this as investment advice.

Trident Podcast Host Loses Entire XRP Balance: Details

Albert Brown
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Trident Podcast Host Loses Entire XRP Balance: Details

An XRP community member has reported losing his entire XRP balance following a compromise of a Ledger cold wallet.

The claim was made by Jaime, host of the Trident podcast, who disclosed the incident publicly on X. According to Jaime, his Ledger hardware wallet was somehow compromised, resulting in the complete loss of the XRP it contained.

In response to immediate skepticism, Jaime addressed several potential points of failure. He stated that he never shared his 24-word recovery phrase, nor did he photograph or store it digitally. He also emphasized that the Ledger device itself had remained physically secure and had not been accessed by anyone else.

As questions continued to surface, Jaime publicly appealed to Ledger for clarification. Tagging the company’s official support account on X, he asked how such a loss could occur under those circumstances. The appeal prompted a response from the wallet manufacturer.

Ledger Responds

Ledger, the French company behind the hardware wallet, issued a response shortly thereafter. However, it did not confirm any security breach affecting its devices. Instead, the company directed users to its official support documentation.

According to Ledger’s guidance, the first step is to confirm whether funds are truly missing. Users are advised to update their Ledger Wallet software and clear the application cache before reviewing balances again.

If discrepancies persist, Ledger recommends verifying holdings through blockchain explorers. Third-party tools, such as Zerion, accessible within Ledger Wallet, can also be used to cross-check balances.

If losses are confirmed, users are instructed to examine outgoing transactions in detail. Any transfer not personally authorized would indicate a possible compromise. Ledger notes that this review is critical for determining whether external interference may have occurred.

Ledger Explains Why Funds Cannot Be Recovered Directly

From there, Ledger highlights the structural limitations of blockchain systems. The company states that crypto transactions cannot be reversed once confirmed. Public blockchains do not allow accounts to be frozen or assets retrieved.

As a result, Ledger notes that recovery depends on identifying the attacker. Only law enforcement or the legal system can compel a return of stolen funds. Ledger, therefore, recommends filing a police report when theft is suspected.

While Ledger maintains that its hardware wallets are engineered to withstand known technical attacks, the company stresses that most losses arise from human vulnerabilities rather than device flaws. Phishing, social engineering, and other forms of fraud constitute the most common attack vectors.

Ledger emphasizes that even robust security tools cannot fully protect users from deception or operational mistakes.

Prior Ledger Incidents Add Context

The incident comes against the backdrop of a notable Ledger-related event in December 2023, when the company disclosed a breach affecting its Connect Kit tool.

That breach originated after a former employee’s NPMJS account was compromised through phishing, allowing a malicious version of the tool to be uploaded.

The exploit affected several decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms, including MetaMask, Lido, and Sushi, causing users to unknowingly and unintentionally transfer funds to the attacker.

Ledger CEO Pascal Gauthier later stated that assets stored directly on Ledger devices were not compromised and advised users to avoid decentralized applications during the incident.

Earlier Warning Issued to XRP Holders

Separately, Ledger issued a security alert to XRP holders in November 2023 following a surge in scam activity targeting the XRP community. Fraudsters used imagery associated with Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, along with deceptive XRP-themed airdrops, to lure users into surrendering their assets.

Collectively, these events highlight enduring risks associated with crypto self-custody. Ledger continues to stress the importance of verification, caution, and user awareness, urging crypto holders to remain vigilant as scam tactics continue to evolve.

Cardano Stuns Bloomberg Expert With This ETF Milestone

Lele Jima
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Cardano Stuns Bloomberg Expert With This ETF Milestone

Bloomberg ETF analyst James Seyffart has identified Cardano as an unexpected standout in the rapidly evolving crypto index exchange-traded product (ETP) market.

Since January 2024, the crypto ETF landscape has continued to gain momentum, as issuers roll out both single-asset funds and diversified basket ETPs. 

Although single-asset ETPs have attracted the most capital so far, Seyffart, in his recent X post, said he expects crypto index ETPs to draw substantial inflows in the future. Notably, he described the category as one that will emerge “in many shapes and sizes.” 

As part of this broader trend, Seyffart highlighted the 21Shares FTSE Crypto 10 Ex-BTC ETF (TXBC) as one to watch in 2026, noting that it signals the direction institutional crypto exposure is likely to take. 

Cardano Features in Six Crypto ETPs Analyzed by Seyffart 

Interestingly, Seyffart expressed surprise following Cardano’s consistent inclusion across every major crypto index product he reviewed. He stressed that Cardano was the only digital asset to appear in all six crypto ETPs under his analysis, highlighting its deeply entrenched role in institutional index construction. 

According to the accompanying data, the six crypto index ETPs that include Cardano are the CoinShares Altcoins ETF (DIME), Bitwise 10 Crypto Index Fund (BITW), Grayscale Digital Large Cap Fund (GDLC), Hashdex Nasdaq Crypto Index ETF (NCIQ), 21Shares FTSE Crypto 10 ETF (TTOP), and the 21Shares FTSE Crypto 10 Ex-BTC ETF (TXBC).

Notably, Cardano’s weighting varies across these products. In more conservative, large-cap funds such as GDLC, BITW, and TTOP, Cardano carries a modest 0.6% allocation. Its weighting increased to 0.8% in Hashdex’s NCIQ and 10% in CoinShares’ altcoin-focused DIME. Meanwhile, in TXBC, which excludes Bitcoin to promote diversified crypto exposure, Cardano accounts for a 2% allocation.

At the time of Seyffart’s post, BITW ranked as the largest crypto index ETP, managing $1.08 billion in total assets. Notably, GDLC held $536.5 million, NCIQ managed $123.8 million, DIME had $1.8 million, while TTOP and TXBC recorded net assets of approximately $900,000 and $800,000, respectively. 

Cardano inclusion in multiple crypto index ETP
Cardano inclusion in multiple crypto index ETP

Still No Exclusive Cardano Spot ETF 

Meanwhile, Cardano has yet to secure a spot ETF that tracks its performance. In October, Seyffart’s colleague, Eric Balchunas, revealed that three Cardano ETF applications remain under review by the U.S. SEC. Grayscale is among the issuers seeking approval to launch a Cardano-linked ETF. 

Although the SEC acknowledged Grayscale’s Cardano 19b-4 filing in February, pushing the market approval odds to surge to 85% in August, those expectations have since faded sharply. Current estimates place the probability of approval at just 3%, suggesting that an exclusive ADA spot ETF is unlikely to reach the market in the near term. 

Despite this, ADA has featured prominently across six major crypto index ETPs, as Seyffart highlighted. 

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