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Top Portfolio Manager Calls XRP ‘Diamond in the Rough’

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Portfolio manager Michael Gayed has once again captured the attention of the XRP community, but now in a far more unexpected way. 

In a late-night post, Gayed bid the “XRP Army” goodnight and revealed that he had written a song titled “Diamond in the Rough (XRP Version),” which he dedicated to the community.

The lyrics highlight XRP’s potential in global finance. Lines such as “You’re a diamond in the rough… it’s your time to shine” echo XRP’s narrative of resilience and eventual breakthrough. 

Specifically, the video touches on themes of doubt, self-reflection, and the challenges XRP has faced, including the SEC lawsuit, price crashes, and periods of uncertainty. It ends with a repeated reminder that every “diamond in the rough” eventually shines.

A Follow-Up to His Recent XRP Hint

Gayed’s artistic gesture comes just days after he hinted at a possible move into XRP. Last week, the influential portfolio manager tweeted that he “might do something related to XRP.” 

The comment gained traction because Gayed is widely followed for his ETF research and macro commentary. More importantly, he had never commented on XRP before, despite frequently sharing strong opinions on Bitcoin and gold.

As a result, his earlier tweet triggered welcoming reactions across the XRP community. Influencers like Zach Rector and Tony Edward amplified the post. They describe Gayed’s interest as another sign that traditional finance is steadily warming up to XRP.

Why Gayed’s Interest Matters

Gayed has built a reputation as a sharp market critic, particularly toward Bitcoin ETFs. Last month, he called ETFs “the worst thing to happen to Bitcoin.” 

He has also dismissed gold as unable to “save holders,” suggesting he doesn’t follow the usual safe-haven narratives. When asked about his critical views, Gayed explained that he is not anti-crypto. Instead, he opposes narratives that lack coherence.

Meanwhile, many observers now see his increasing interest in XRP as a sign that traditional finance voices are reassessing XRP’s role in tokenization, real-world asset settlement, and global payments.

Institutional Interest Surges as XRP ETFs Near $1B Inflows

Notably, Gayed’s XRP-themed song also arrives as XRP ETFs approach a major milestone. As of the latest session, XRP ETFs have recorded $954 million in cumulative net inflows. Yesterday alone, the products attracted $10.2 million in fresh investment led by Bitwise’s $7 million and Grayscale’s $3.24 million.

XRP inflow data
XRP inflow data

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse called the inflows “just the beginning,” noting that crypto ETFs still make up only 2% of the global ETF market. 

While the price of XRP has not yet reflected these investments from ETFs, market observers like Jake Claver and Zach Rector believe a supply shock is brewing. They believe XRP could experience a ‘violent’ reprice soon as ETF inflows continue.

Here’s the Level Ethereum Must Break For a Surge to $3,419

Ethereum needs to break an important resistance level to trigger a potential surge as futures outflows take over the market.

Notably, Ethereum (ETH) has seen a 3.7% drop in the last 24 hours, currently trading at $3,202. The price has fluctuated between $3,176.63 and $3,432.93 during this period, indicating some volatility.

Despite the recent decline, Ethereum has experienced a 0.6% increase over the past week and a stronger 6.3% rise in the last 14 days. However, its performance over the last 30 days and 12 months shows significant challenges, with losses of 9.6% and 12.5%, respectively.

Given the current price range and the broader market trend, Ethereum is at a critical juncture. The recent dip raises concerns over whether ETH can maintain its current value or face further declines.

Ethereum Price Analysis

On the technical end, the current Ethereum price on the 4-hour chart shows a slight upward movement. The wide Bollinger Bands indicate volatility, with the price recently breaking above the upper band, but lacking enough strength for higher prices. 

Ethereum 4-Hour Chart
Ethereum 4-Hour Chart

After this break, the price has retraced slightly, currently hovering just below the middle Bollinger Band, now at $3,221. This range between $3,221 and the lower band at $3,022.70 marks the immediate support and resistance levels for the short term. If Ethereum fails to break above the $3,221 resistance, it may face further consolidation or a pullback toward the $3,022 support level.

The RSI (Relative Strength Index) is at 63.40, suggesting that Ethereum is neither overbought nor oversold. However, it indicates that there is room for upward movement, depending on whether the price breaks the current resistance at $3,221. 

If Ethereum breaks this level, the next key resistance zone lies around $3,419.82, the upper band of the Bollinger Bands. Conversely, if Ethereum declines and falls below the $3,022 support level, it may signal a deeper retracement toward lower price levels. 

ETH Futures Flows

Elsewhere, the inflows and outflows data indicate significant market activity across different time frames. In the last hour, there was a notable outflow of $511.47M, outweighing the inflows of $411.35M and resulting in a negative net inflow of $100.12M, a sharp drop of 164.25%.

Ethereum Futures Flows
Ethereum Futures Flows

This suggests a potential bearish sentiment in the short term. The 4-hour data shows a similar imbalance with inflows of $3.70B and outflows of $3.79B, leading to a negative net inflow of $97.61M, although the percentage change in inflow is +85.40%, signaling some market recovery.

Looking at the longer time frames, the 8-hour, 12-hour, and 24-hour data also display mixed results, with inflows showing a slight advantage at certain points but followed by outflows that suggest an ongoing market struggle. The 12-hour data shows a significant net outflow of $1.06B (-463.74%) despite a $15.19B inflow.

However, on the 3-day timescale, the net inflows are positive, with inflows of $51.10B, with a +175.55% increase. This suggests that despite short-term volatility, more capital is entering the futures market.

Cardano Founder Says Midnight Heading to a $10B Ecosystem

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Charles Hoskinson, the founder of Cardano, has continued to express his belief that the Midnight project will be a massive success.

Speaking in a recent podcast, Hoskinson projected that Midnight would expand well beyond its current valuation. He predicted a 10x increase in the ecosystem’s worth, noting it would be “something bigger and beyond” in the near future.

Midnight to 10x In Valuation

Notably, the NIGHT token began trading on December 9, and eligible airdrop participants received their allocation yesterday. CoinMarketCap data shows a circulating supply of 16.6 billion (69.2% of the total supply) and a market cap of $835 million. 

The asset reached different highs on several platforms, but Bybit spot shows it peaked at $0.088 on December 10. With its circulation supply, this culminates in a market cap of $1.46 billion.

This aligns with Hoskinson’s statement about Midnight’s valuation. The Cardano founder noted that the privacy-focused project was once hypothetical but has now become a billion-dollar ecosystem.

Interestingly, he expects more for Midnight, projecting a 10x upscale in valuation. He stated that NIGHT is heading towards a $10 billion valuation and would expand beyond being just a Cardano-native token (CNT) to something much larger.

More Exchanges to List the Cardano Native Token

Further, Hoskinson expects more trading platforms to add support for NIGHT, expanding its global reach. He noted in a separate podcast that several other exchanges will make the token available for its users to trade in the next 60 days.

Specifically, he expects these listings from a few other US-based exchanges before their international counterparts follow suit. Japanese crypto exchanges are among those Hoskinson believes would aggressively add support for NIGHT trading.

Remarkably, he had earlier predicted this exchange rush to list the NIGHT token even before its market debut, arguing that it would become the first CNT to receive this kind of attention. Meanwhile, top-tier platforms like Binance, Bybit, and OKX have already listed NIGHT, attracting substantial liquidity to the Midnight ecosystem’s native token.

Last Chance for Eligible NIGHT Airdrop Participants

Notably, those who missed the distribution event can still receive their NIGHT allocation. This, however, is for those who were eligible for the Glacier Drop but didn’t participate.

In subsequent days, Midnight would begin the Lost-and-Found phase, during which this category of participants has a final chance to receive their allocations. However, they will receive only a fraction of their original allocation.

Bhutan Launches Gold-Backed Digital Token ‘TER’ on Solana Network

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Bhutan has introduced a gold-backed digital asset named TER, marking its latest move toward broader adoption of blockchain technology.

The token, issued by the Gelephu Mindfulness City (GMC) Special Administrative Region, is supported by physical gold and runs on the Solana network.

A Sovereign Token Anchored to Physical Gold

GMC developed TER as part of its broader plan to support regulated digital finance within the new economic zone. Specifically, officials confirmed that each token corresponds to gold held in secure custody.

Musheer Ahmed of Finstep Asia said the token may see limited initial use due to its city-focused design. He noted, however, that the project reflects Bhutan’s wider ambition to participate in stablecoin ecosystems while using gold as a neutral reserve asset.

Distribution and Technology Partners

To streamline the token’s rollout, Bhutan appointed DK Bank, its first regulated digital bank, as both distributor and custodian. Additionally, the institution confirmed that the token’s name draws from the Dzongkha word for “treasure,” emphasizing its asset-backed nature.

GMC has also partnered with Matrixdock, a digital asset platform licensed by the city authority in September, to deliver the tokenization infrastructure.

In a prepared statement, GMC board member Jigdrel Singay said the initiative demonstrates how a crypto-friendly city can support responsible innovation while upholding national principles of transparency and long-term stewardship.

Initially, users will acquire TER directly through DK Bank. Subsequently, the acquired assets will be held in institutional custody to ensure regulatory compliance and security.

Regional Momentum for Gold-Based Digital Assets

Bhutan’s initiative arrives amid growing interest in gold-backed digital currencies across the region. Recently, Kyrgyzstan introduced USDKG, a gold-backed stablecoin valued at over $50 million and secured by the country’s official reserves.

This trend has prompted broader conversations about the next phase of tokenization. Monica Jasuja of the Emerging Payments Association Asia said gold may be only the starting point, suggesting that future digital assets could include other precious materials or culturally significant resources.

She added that Bhutan’s approach remains consistent with its long-standing commitment to protecting natural assets. Simultaneously, it underscores the country’s emphasis on pursuing non-extractive forms of value creation.

A Strategy Years in the Making

The introduction of TER builds on Bhutan’s multi-year pursuit of blockchain technologies. The country began its digital-asset journey in 2019 with Bitcoin mining operations powered by hydroelectricity, a plentiful national resource.

Since then, Bhutan has accumulated 5,984 BTC, according to Arkham Intelligence. This holding places the kingdom among the world’s top sovereign Bitcoin owners. For context, Bitcoin Treasuries lists the United States at the top with more than 328,000 BTC.

Expanding Its Digital Financial Ecosystem

GMC’s broader digital strategy continues to evolve. For instance, in January, the city announced plans to include Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Binance’s BNB in its strategic reserves, selecting them for their high liquidity and strong market presence.

Building on that momentum, Bhutan partnered with Binance Pay in May to enable cryptocurrency payments across its tourism sector. The system supports over 100 digital currencies and is already accepted by more than 100 local merchants, strengthening the country’s digital commerce framework.

Two months before the TER launch, Bhutan integrated its National Digital Identity system with Ethereum. At the time, officials noted that the country became the first to anchor a population-scale identity platform on a public blockchain. 

Ultimately, more than 800,000 citizens are expected to receive verifiable digital credentials by early 2026.

Analyst Predicts $14+ for 1 XRP: Here is Why

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While Bitcoin has outperformed XRP over the past five months, analyst Javon Marks believes XRP could flip the switch, leading to a two-digit price target.

Bitcoin (BTC), XRP, and the rest of the crypto market have maintained a downward trend since October 2025, with the global crypto market cap losing over $800 billion in valuation within this period. However, amid this downtrend, XRP has performed worse than Bitcoin.

Data from the XRP/BTC chart shows that Bitcoin has outperformed XRP since August, with the XRPBTC pair collapsing 14.5% from 0.00002612 in August to the current value of 0.00002231. Despite the prevalent trend, Javon Marks, a well-known chartist, expects XRP to outperform BTC in the long run, leading to a price uptick in dollar terms.

XRP Could Flip the Switch Against Bitcoin

In his latest market analysis, Marks highlighted historical data confirming XRP’s potential to outperform Bitcoin. He shared the XRPBTC 2-week chart to demonstrate this. According to Marks, during XRP’s explosive run on the back of the U.S. elections, it outperformed BTC by up to 243% despite Bitcoin also seeing an impressive upsurge.

Interestingly, this 243% rise above Bitcoin was driven by XRP’s price soaring from $0.49 in November 2024 to around $3.3 in January 2025, representing a massive 570% increase in dollar terms. Marks believes XRP’s price in dollar terms could witness a similar uptick when the altcoin eventually outperforms BTC again.

Notably, data from his chart highlights the reason behind his optimism. Specifically, the XRPBTC pair had remained below a crucial descending trendline since it dropped from the 0.0002404 peak in May 2017. This trendline acted as resistance, capping any upward push from XRP to outperform BTC for eight years.

XRPBTC 2W Chart Javon Marks
XRPBTC 2W Chart | Javon Marks

However, XRP eventually broke above the trendline during its massive surge in November 2024. Despite the momentum that ensued from this upsurge, XRP faced a roadblock at the 0.00003415 peak, a four-year high. Since then, the XRPBTC pair has continued to drop, as BTC gains ground against XRP.

XRP Forming a Solid Base, Targets $14

Nonetheless, with this drop, XRP appears to be establishing a solid base against Bitcoin at the support around the trendline. Such price action often leads to subsequent price upticks, which Marks believes could eventually push the XRPBTC pair up by 600% to 0.0001372.

In this scenario, the market analyst insists that the XRP price in dollar terms could rise to $14, also representing a near 600% rise from the current price of $2.01. This projection suggests that Bitcoin would remain stagnant at its current price of around $90,000 while XRP spikes by 600%. However, this remains highly unlikely.

Meanwhile, for the short term, analyst Casi confirmed that XRP had hit and held above her support target of $2.04. However, she suggested that until XRP breaches the resistance area around $2.41 and soars to the $2.65 level, the market has not yet flipped bullish.

XRP 1h Chart CasiTrades
XRP 1h Chart | CasiTrades

Shiba Inu Shrinks on Exchanges With 8 Trillion SHIB Withdrawn in 24 Hours

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The Shiba Inu reserve is drying up on exchanges, with trillions withdrawn over a 24-hour period, sparking sentiments that a recovery could be imminent.

Recent on-chain data shows that over 8 trillion SHIB tokens left centralized exchanges in just 24 hours, indicating massive wallet activities. The move marked one of the most significant outflows in several months, reducing the asset’s available supply on trading platforms.

Dwindling Shiba Inu Exchange Supply Suggests Accumulation

Notably, such outflows from platforms could suggest that whales are accumulating Shiba Inu in staggering amounts. Specifically, large holders may be moving the token off exchanges into self-custody wallets, which indicates a long-term bullish stance towards the asset. It also removes near-term selling pressure, a move that would stabilize prices amid recent weakness.

However, not all withdrawals are whale accumulation. Some might also be strategic repositioning to other platforms for several purposes, such as OTC deals and participation in DeFi on decentralized platforms.

Remarkably, this trend of Shiba Inu withdrawal from exchanges has been a recurrent theme. Arkham data shows that a different singular wallet, “0x32285,” withdrew 2.2 trillion SHIB ($18.88 million) from Coinbase on December 9.

The whale carried out the withdrawal over six transactions of 570.3 billion, 584.6 billion, 406.7 billion, 11.7 billion, and 48.4 billion SHIB. At the time of writing, the address still holds the tokens.

Mixed Exchange Flows Amid Price Struggles

Remarkably, Shiba Inu has also recorded notable exchange inflows, passing mixed signals to holders. Santiment shared on December 9 that over 1.06 trillion SHIB tokens were added to exchange reserves, as whales move funds for possible sell-offs.

The shift aligned with increased whale activity on Shiba Inu, as transactions exceeding $100,000 reached 406, the largest since June 6th. Notably, the mixed flows to and from centralized exchanges show uncertainty among large holders even as the price struggles.

Meanwhile, SHIB trades at $0.00000833, down 3% over the past 24 hours. While it is down considerably in the last few weeks, it seems to have found support around the $0.0000080 region.

Analysts have highlighted key levels for Shiba Inu in both bullish and bearish cases. Further drops would see the token retest the weekly support at $0.0000060, while a recovery may see it cancel one zero and reclaim the $0.000010 levels.

Crypto Educator Predicts What Will Pump XRP to $100 Within Two Years

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A well-known XRP educator, X Finance Bull, predicts that XRP could reach $100 within two years as global finance moves fully on-chain.

According to him, the coming wave of tokenization will not rely on “hype chains” but on U.S.-built, enterprise-grade technology. Specifically, he highlighted the XRP Ledger (XRPL) in this context.

He argued that XRPL’s compliance track record, reliability, and proven enterprise readiness position it as the natural base layer for trillions of dollars in tokenized financial instruments.

“This will literally pump XRP within two years,” he wrote, adding that “trillions are coming on-chain.”

‘All U.S. Markets Will Be On-Chain,’ Says SEC Chair

The educator’s prediction followed a promising statement from SEC Chair Paul Atkins, who declared that all U.S. markets will be on-chain within a few years. Atkins explained that tokenization offers massive advantages, including full transparency of ownership and instant settlement (T+0) instead of T+1.

Moreover, he highlighted reduced risk through on-chain Delivery vs. Payment (DVP), a more efficient market structure, and improved regulatory clarity.

XRP commentators reacting to the SEC chair’s statement believe tokenization is no longer a question of “if” but “when.”

Meanwhile, Atkins criticized the SEC’s previous stance of standing “athwart the marketplace,” which slowed innovation. But he said that era is over: “It’s a new day now. We want to embrace this new technology.”

XRP Set for the Tokenized Era

XRPL’s enterprise-grade design, combined with the SEC’s new pro-innovation approach, has sparked renewed discussions in XRP communities about the market’s next phase.

In September, researcher SMQKE highlighted reports suggesting XRPL could emerge as a key player in the growing tokenization market, which the World Economic Forum (WEF) estimates could reach $867 trillion.

While the total value of tokenized real-world assets currently stands at $27.85 billion, XRPL holds $308.7 million (1.94%), ranking tenth among blockchains. Despite its modest share, ongoing institutional interest indicates potential for growth.

Many see tokenization as XRP’s long-awaited use case that could transform global settlement and liquidity. With trillions in traditional assets potentially moving on-chain, XRPL could become a key settlement layer, giving XRP the liquidity boost needed to reach new heights.

Can XRP Reach $100 in Two Years?

According to X Finance Bull, this shift could see XRP’s price soar to the triple-digit level and beyond. Meanwhile, as of today, XRP’s price is $2.01, down 3.6% over the past day and 8% over the past week.

To reach $100 from its current price, XRP would need a surge of 4,900%. While X Finance Bull speculates this could happen within two years, other widely cited price projections offer a more conservative outlook.

For instance, Telegaon analysts believe it could take XRP until 2050 to reach $106. For 2040, they suggest a price of $71. Meanwhile, Changelly is more optimistic, projecting XRP could reach $100 between 2035 and 2040. During this period, it expects XRP’s price to fluctuate between $70 and $140.

XRP price predictions by Telegaon
XRP price predictions by Telegaon

Interestingly, while these analyses suggest a multi-decade timeline for XRP to reach triple digits, independent analysts in the community are far more optimistic due to ETFs accumulating XRP now at historic rates.

Shiba Inu Lead Kusama Returns to Social Channels as Whale Activity Hits Historic Levels

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Shiba Inu lead developer Shytoshi Kusama resurfaced on X this week after an 84-day absence.

His return coincided with an increase in large SHIB transactions, which rose to their highest levels since June, according to on-chain data.

Kusama Ends Nearly Three Months of Silence

Kusama’s last public post came on September 16, when he said he was shifting his focus toward AI-related projects aimed at strengthening the Shiba Inu ecosystem. At the time, he stressed that he continued to work closely with developer Kaal Dhairya and others on the project’s next steps.

His renewed activity on December 8 included several interactions with community posts. In these exchanges, he suggested he stepped back to find “silence and peace” and invest in personal development.

Kusama also said it felt like an appropriate moment to speak again, though he hinted at some hesitation.

Updated X Location Draws Community Attention

Adding to the renewed attention, Kusama updated his X location. The shift from “Hawaii USA” to “reemerging” immediately caught the eye of SHIB followers. Although the new tag does not refer to any physical place, it implies a return to the spotlight. 

This subtle change has prompted speculations that more developments may follow within the SHIB ecosystem.

Shiba Inu Whale Transfers Surge to Highest Level Since June

Kusama’s return unfolded alongside an upswing in whale movements. According to Santiment, SHIB logged its highest number of large transactions in six months. The analytics platform recorded 406 transfers exceeding $100,000, a volume last seen on June 6.

Santiment also identified a 1.06 trillion increase in SHIB held on exchanges. The firm suggested that this mix of whale activity and broader market trends could set the stage for heightened volatility in the short term.

These whale movements caught Kusama’s attention, expressing curiosity.

Market Snapshot

At the time of reporting, SHIB traded at $0.000008342. The token was down 3.07% over the previous 24 hours and 5.51% for the week, adding context to the shifts in market behavior.

Pundit Issues Critical Warning to XRP Holders Ahead of the Clarity Act

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An XRP community pundit has issued an important warning to investors who choose to step back from the market in anticipation of the Clarity Act.

For context, as the U.S. Senate continues to work through the Clarity Act, some XRP holders have stepped to the sidelines, choosing to wait for the bill to advance before they buy more or reenter the market. 

However, market commentator Zach Rector believes this approach puts investors at risk. In his latest commentary, he urged the community to stay alert and engage in the market instead of passively waiting for lawmakers to act.

XRP Rallied 650% Without Any Law

Rector explained that he originally considered giving his video commentary a title around XRP’s 650% increase. Nonetheless, he decided against that headline because he felt it might overwhelm viewers, even though the number itself comes from publicly available price data. 

He pointed out that XRP jumped roughly 600% between its pre-election price and its July 2025 high of $3.66. Market data confirms this claim. Specifically, XRP dropped to a low of $0.49 in early November 2024. However, it surged following the U.S. elections, eventually hitting a peak of $3.66 in July 2025. This marked a 647% increase.

With 2025 coming to a close, Rector said the market now has enough distance to look back at how political events, market sentiment, and timing influenced XRP’s movement over the past year, and what these trends may indicate for 2026 as the Clarity Act approaches.

Rector Warns Investors Not to Tune Out

The pundit warned investors not to tune out while they wait for the bill. According to him, XRP’s previous 600% rally occurred without any new laws in place. Rector suggested that the market will likely make another strong move before the Clarity Act becomes law. 

He argued that markets often rally ahead of major announcements and then cool off afterward, and he expects the same pattern here. To him, the market will price in the Clarity Act well before the president signs it, and investors who wait for official confirmation may miss the run-up.

Rector emphasized that this current period presents an entry point for anyone who believes XRP will gain value ahead of the legislation and during the next stage when crypto utility expands, and institutions begin using crypto assets at scale. 

He acknowledged that some people expect extremely high price levels, including predictions of $100 per token, but admitted that he does not expect such numbers before the bill passes. 

He also said another 600% surge seems unlikely before the Clarity Act moves forward because he believes XRP cannot reach its bigger targets until large institutions receive clear rules for using this technology. Despite this, he expects a noticeable upward move before the Act passes.

Rector also called attention to comments he heard at the Ripple Swell conference. Specifically, banks and other firms told attendees that they have studied XRP and run tests with it, but they cannot expand their usage until they understand the regulatory “rules of the road.”

No Meaningful Development Until Next Year

The pundit then highlighted a report from journalist Eleanor Terrett, who spoke with Senator Mark Warner at MoonPay’s New York office. Warner said the Senate may not complete a crypto market structure markup before the Christmas break because lawmakers still need language from the White House on two major sections of the bill: ethics and quorum. 

According to Warren, Republicans eventually must decide whether the bill reflects a White House plan or a congressional push. He also said staff from both sides continue to meet for hours every day and that they will finish the bill, but they want to get every part right.

Meanwhile, Rector believes this delay gives investors more time to accumulate XRP at lower prices instead of staying passive. He remains confident that XRP will rally ahead of the Clarity Act, insisting that such a move is closer than many people think.

EasyA Founder Says Solana Now ‘More Bullish on XRP Than SOL’

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EasyA co-founder Dom Kwok believes Solana is now ‘officially’ more bullish on XRP than on its native token, SOL.

His comment follows a recent wave of XRP-themed posts from Solana, which has caught the attention of both communities. Indeed, Solana continues to promote XRP memes and symbols on social media, fueling speculation and excitement.

The Viral ‘589’ Post That Sparked It All

It all began on December 8, when Solana’s official X account posted the number 589, a figure deeply rooted in XRP culture. Within 24 hours, the post had surged past 2.8 million views. It has since grown to nearly 5 million.

For the XRP community, 589 is more than a number. It’s a long-standing meme and symbol of optimism dating back to 2018. As a result, Solana’s highlighting sparked a frenzy.

XRPL validator Vet pointed out the significance of the moment, noting that Solana’s most-viewed post ever was “about XRP.”

“Solana More Bullish on XRP Than SOL”

Solana took the XRP riddles even further. The day after the 589 post, Solana shared an updated version of the famous 2018 Bearableguy123 “castle illustration,” a symbolic piece from XRP lore.

In the original artwork, XRP stood as the tallest tower, rising above BTC and USD. Solana’s reinterpretation flipped the roles, placing SOL at the tallest tower while XRP was moved to the “USD” position. 

More interestingly, Solana captioned the image with “Time to flip the switch,” echoing language used for years in XRP circles. The modified imagery sparked another round of frenzy and backlash from XRP commentators.

Given the back-to-back XRP-themed posts from Solana, renowned commentators like Dom Kwok have interpreted this to mean Solana is showing more optimism for XRP than for its own SOL token. “What a time to be alive,” he added.

Screenshot 2025 12 11 at 61811 am
XRP Army comments

Notably, XRP currently outranks SOL in the market. It has a market cap of $121 billion, placing it in position four in the market ranking. Meanwhile, Solana’s $73 billion market cap places it at position seven.

Community Reacts: Utility vs. Engagement Farming

XRP Healthcare replied to Kwok’s post, saying that when real utility wins, the narrative naturally changes. On the other hand, Pier Buda questioned Solana’s motives, wondering if they were trolling XRP or simply trying to use the XRP community for attention.

Community member SonOfaRichard added that weak narratives often lead rival projects to “engagement farm” the XRP community. Meanwhile, Keith Omerso called the trend “desperate for XRP Army love,” describing it as pure clickbait.

Despite the mixed reactions, Solana’s posts show a new willingness to lean into XRP culture. Whether it’s marketing or just genuine fun with a rival, the impact confirms that the XRP narrative generates massive engagement across crypto communities.