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Here’s Why Even Ethereum-Level Adoption Can’t Push Shiba Inu to $0.01

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Although many Shiba Inu investors envision SHIB reaching $0.01, the milestone remains unrealistic—even under an Ethereum-level adoption scenario. 

The broader Shiba Inu community has seen several ambitious price targets, ranging from $0.0001 to $0.01. One forecast that has stirred debate among Shiba Inu community members is $0.01, popularly referred to as the one-cent dream. 

This target has been circulating within the community since SHIB reached an all-time high of $0.00008845 in 2021. Following this incredible milestone, some community members believe SHIB will continue its upward move and eventually reach $0.01. 

Lucie, Shiba Inu’s marketing specialist, predicted that SHIB could eventually reach the ambitious $0.01 target. However, she emphasized that it will take time for the prediction to materialize. 

Community analysts YourPop and Luis Delgado have also argued that $0.01 is achievable, citing upcoming initiatives from lead developer Shytoshi Kusama as a potential catalyst. 

Why Shiba Inu Can’t Hit $0.001 Even If It Sees Ethereum-Like Adoption 

As optimism continues to build, it is essential to note that reaching the $0.01 milestone remains a highly challenging goal. Even with Ethereum-level adoption, Shiba Inu would still be unable to achieve this target.

Ethereum has been in existence for over a decade, continually growing in strength and reaching a market capitalization of over $543 billion. This incredible feat was achieved through years of development, strong retail demand, increased institutional involvement, and its role as the hub for decentralized finance. 

Based on the widespread adoption of ETH, it has grown to become the second-biggest cryptocurrency globally, with a market cap of $543.7 billion. This puts the price of ETH at $4,504 per token. 

Assuming Shiba Inu were to achieve a similar level of adoption as Ethereum and its market cap grows to $543.7 billion, the math still makes the one-cent dream unrealistic. The obstacle lies in SHIB’s massive circulating supply of about 589.24 trillion tokens. 

At the valuation of $543.7 billion, each SHIB would only be worth roughly $0.000922, which is still 984% below the coveted one-cent mark. 

Growth Path to $0.01 

Reaching the $0.01 target would be an enormous challenge for Shiba Inu, requiring an unprecedented surge of 79,517% from its current price of $0.00001256. 

With a circulating supply of 589.24 trillion tokens, this price level would equate to a staggering $5.89 trillion market capitalization — a milestone many still consider unrealistic. 

Critics argue that Shiba Inu’s massive supply remains a major obstacle to reaching its ambitious price target. Others point to the lack of institutional interest in SHIB as a further barrier to such growth. 

XRP = The Next Amazon? Analyst Predicts $100 Target as Amazon also Faced a SEC Lawsuit

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The XRP community has resurrected an older discussion comparing XRP’s long-term growth path to Amazon’s historic rise. 

The renewed discussion comes from an analysis by Nick Anderson of Bullrunners, who believes XRP could follow a similar pattern to Amazon’s lengthy consolidation before its massive breakout. 

XRP and Amazon Faced Regulatory Pressures

Notably, the conversation picked up momentum again after Brad Kimes, founder of Digital Perspectives, revisited Anderson’s work and pointed out that Amazon, like XRP, also dealt with regulatory hurdles on its way to success.

Kimes claimed that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) had once sued Amazon, but that wasn’t quite accurate. Instead, the SEC only investigated Amazon in 2022 over how the company described its use of third-party seller data to Congress. The investigation ended without any fines or formal charges. 

However, the agency that actually took legal action against Amazon was the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Specifically, the FTC filed a case in June 2023 accusing Amazon of using deceptive design tactics to get millions of users to sign up for Prime during checkout and making it unnecessarily hard to cancel. 

The case ended last month, with a record $2.5 billion settlement. Under the deal, Amazon confirmed it will pay $1 billion in penalties and $1.5 billion as refunds to about 35 million users by December 2025. 

Despite this inaccuracy, Kimes’s major point still stands. Notably, Amazon faced serious government pressure, just as Ripple and XRP have faced from the SEC. Yet both continued to build and grow through those challenges, which strengthens the link Anderson drew between Amazon’s past and XRP’s potential future.

XRP Following Amazon Path 

For context, in his analysis, Anderson explained that Amazon’s stock took nearly 3,800 days, or more than a decade, to finally break through its old highs. Once it did, the stock entered a massive rally that sent prices soaring from around $5 to more than $200. 

He believes XRP is currently in a similar position, forming a “cup and handle” pattern, as it holds near its previous peak before a major move upward. At the time of his analysis, XRP changed hands at around $2.7.

XRP Following Amazon Path Nick Anderson
XRP Following Amazon Path | Nick Anderson

Anderson argued that if it continues to follow Amazon’s path, XRP could eventually reach $100 or more. However, he urged investors to remain patient. 

He compared Amazon’s steady climb from $5 to $200 to what could happen if XRP follows the same route. According to him, at the $100 price level, holding just 10,000 XRP could be enough to reach millionaire status. During his analysis, those holding 10,000 XRP were among the top 4% on the XRP rich list.

Despite his optimism, Anderson admitted that it could take years for XRP to fully mirror Amazon’s run and possibly clinch the $100 mark. He called attention to the fact that Amazon itself also took years to reach its current level.

For the short term, Anderson predicted that XRP could rise to between $5 and $30 in the current cycle before a market correction, followed by stronger gains once true global adoption takes hold. He added that a sharp liquidity surge, similar to what fueled the 2017 crypto rally, could cause prices to spike faster than expected before the year ends.

Expert Says You’re Still Early as New York Street Challenge Reveals Low XRP Awareness

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A recent campaign carried out by Gemini’s social media analyst, Austin Oakes, showed that only a few people could recognize the XRP logo. 

Recently, Oakes hit the streets of New York with a challenge to see how many passersby could identify the XRP logo. Oakes, who held a sign bearing the XRP symbol, asked passersby if they could explain what it represented. He offered a reward of $10 for anyone who answered correctly. 

Low XRP Awareness 

In the one-minute video, only two participants correctly identified the logo, while most admitted they had no idea what it represented. Of the two who got it right, one acknowledged recognizing the symbol as XRP but clarified that he does not hold any of the cryptocurrency.  

The campaign highlights the gaps in the public understanding of XRP, despite its prominence as the third-largest crypto by market capitalization. 

“You’re Still Early” 

Commenting on the video, renowned community member BankXRP argued the outcome implies today’s XRP holders “are still early.”

The footage, which shows that most people could not recognize the XRP logo, highlights the token’s relatively low mainstream awareness and adoption. 

Several proponents of XRP have echoed a similar sentiment in the past. Last month, EGRAG shared that a conversation with a longtime friend revealed how most people’s crypto knowledge remains limited to Bitcoin and Ethereum.

According to him, there was silence when he mentioned XRP, suggesting that his friend was unaware of the asset. 

Similarly, community member Vincent Kennedy noted that offline conversations often expose just how many people are still unfamiliar with XRP. Additionally, following an evaluation of XRPL wallet data, analyst Edoardo Farina claimed that only one in every 5,000 people owns XRP.

Given the low awareness and adoption of XRP, proponents sometimes argue that those who invest in the token now are early adopters and could benefit the most if mainstream adoption occurs. 

For context, data from XRPScan shows there are only 7,053,176 (7.05 million) active XRP accounts. This represents only 0.086% of the global population of 8.14 billion, indicating that adoption is tremendously low. 

Here’s the XRP Price Potential if Daily Volume Hits $100 Billion

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We recently explored how high XRP price could go if its 24-hour trading volume surged by more than 15x to hit the $100 billion mark.

Currently, XRP boasts a 24-hour volume of about $6.65 billion, placing it seventh among the largest assets by trading volume. At this volume, XRP’s price sits at $2.98, as it has continued to struggle around the $3 psychological mark.

Despite its strong market standing, many traders still argue that XRP trades far below its real value. One of the major talking points has been its potential to command greater adoption, leading to higher trading volumes. However, how much of an impact could this have?

To explore how far the price might climb in a very bullish market, we asked Grok, an AI model, to estimate what would happen if XRP’s trading volume exploded to, say, $100 billion in a single day.

Grok Provides a Mathematical Relationship 

In its response, Grok presented the current picture. At $2.98, XRP has a volume-to-market cap ratio of about 3.75%. For context, this shows how much of its total capitalization changes hands daily. If volume jumped to $100 billion, the ratio would increase 15x, indicating more demand, heightened speculation, or rapid adoption.

According to Grok, price changes in crypto rarely follow a straight line. Specifically, volume plays an important role, but sentiment, liquidity, and supply-demand forces often have an even bigger impact. 

Looking at past data, Grok explained that a 10% rise in trading activity might lead to a 2-5% price increase during bullish periods. To account for this non-linear behavior, Grok used a model that combines elasticity with a sentiment multiplier.

Notably, the model works in three parts. First, it considered XRP’s current price of $2.98. Next, it multiplied that price by the new-to-old volume ratio raised to a power that reflects elasticity. Finally, it adjusted the figure with a sentiment multiplier to capture bullish enthusiasm. 

XRP Price with a $100B 24H Volume

In this case, $100 billion divided by $6.65 billion equals about 15.04. Grok assumed an elasticity of 0.5, meaning price would react in a square-root-like fashion. This produced a multiplier of 3.88. When applied to the current price, it raised XRP value to $11.56.

Meanwhile, to factor in a strongly bullish mood, Grok then applied a sentiment multiplier of 2.5. This then pushed the XRP price prediction to $28.90. Grok said that under such conditions, XRP could reach that level if trading activity consistently hit $100 billion a day.

XRP Price at a $100B Volume Grok
XRP Price at a $100B Volume | Grok

At $28.90, XRP’s market capitalization would climb to about $1.71 trillion. Grok argued that this figure would not be out of reach, noting that Bitcoin’s market cap once crossed $1.2 trillion. Today, Bitcoin has a market cap of $2.36 trillion. With XRP’s potential use in global payments, a valuation of this size could make sense if institutional adoption accelerated.

Further, Grok also tested how changes in assumptions might change the outcome. If elasticity dropped to 0.3, XRP could trade near $18.10. If elasticity rose to 0.7, the price might shoot as high as $45.80. However, using a sentiment multiplier of 1.5 with the base elasticity of 0.5, the estimate dropped to $17.34.

PrimeXBT: Which Memecoins Will Survive the Next Cycle?

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Meme coins are some of the most fascinating yet controversial assets in the crypto market. Their explosive rallies and cultural reach often grab headlines, but the real question is whether they represent genuine long-term opportunities or if they are simply speculative bubbles that eventually collapse.

Most meme coins fade shortly after their launch, but a few manage to survive and become part of crypto’s long-term culture. Dogecoin (DOGE) is the most famous example, launched in 2013 as a joke and still actively traded more than a decade later. DOGE’s longevity shows that while some memecoins disappear, many can embed themselves deeply enough into the culture to persist.

In this article, we look at four of the most recognised names in 2025, Pepe, Bonk, Floki, and WIF, to explore whether any of them show signs of breaking the cycle of hype and collapse, or if the risks of speculation remain their defining feature.

With PrimeXBT, a global crypto and CFD broker, recently expanding its Crypto Futures lineup with 101 new coins, traders now have a structured way to position around meme narratives as part of a broader multi-asset ecosystem.

What are meme coins?

Meme coins are tokens born from internet culture, viral memes, or parody. They generally do not provide underlying utility or infrastructure, but instead derive value from branding, community, and speculative trading. Their prices are driven by sentiment and liquidity rather than fundamentals.

This dynamic makes meme coins highly risky. Many projects disappear as quickly as they arrive, but those that manage to capture cultural relevance sometimes carve out a longer life cycle. The question remains, can cultural relevance translate into sustainable value?

Why the hype persists

Meme coins continue to capture attention because they are cheap to access, easy to understand, and spread quickly through social media channels.

Their low entry price per token appeals to retail investors who enjoy the sense of owning large quantities, while their virality ensures that momentum can build rapidly once a community latches onto a narrative. Holding meme coins often becomes more about belonging to a movement or identity than about financial reasoning, with communities driving the hype as much as market mechanics.

Speculative cycles add fuel to this, as traders chase volatility and quick gains, knowing that meme coins can deliver dramatic moves in a short time. Together these factors explain why meme coins reappear in every market cycle despite their limited fundamentals.

Pepe (PEPE)

Launched in April 2023, Pepe became an instant success by tapping into one of the internet’s longest-running memes. Its value proposition was never about utility but about community strength and cultural recognition.

PEPE demonstrates how recognisable branding can sustain a memecoin beyond the initial mania. It has managed to remain a top memecoin by market cap, unlike countless others that vanish. But even here, sustainability rests on sentiment, not fundamentals, raising the question of whether cultural staying power is enough to maintain relevance for years to come.

Technical view

TradingView Oct 03
Trading View Oct 03

Since its explosive rally in February and March 2024, Pepe has managed to hold a higher market structure instead of collapsing into a prolonged downtrend, as many meme coins do. On higher timeframes, this has formed a broad trading range, which suggests a degree of stability and resilience in its price action.

At present, Pepe is testing a support zone while trading below a descending trendline, creating the shape of a descending triangle. A breakout above this trendline could open the way toward the range equilibrium, the middle of the structure. This makes Pepe one of the few meme coins showing signs of potentially breaking away from the typical boom-and-bust pattern.

Bonk (BONK)

Bonk launched in December 2022 as Solana’s first major memecoin, airdropped to users when sentiment around Solana was at its lowest after the FTX collapse.

Bonk shows that timing can be just as important as branding. By launching during Solana’s period of crisis, it became a symbol of revival. BONK benefited from integrations and exchange listings, which gave it more longevity than typical meme launches. The question here is whether that symbolic value can endure once Solana’s recovery narrative matures.

Technical view

BONK Oct 03
BONK Oct 03

Bonk has developed a similar pattern to other surviving meme coins, with price consolidating into a broad range rather than trending lower without recovery. This type of structure shows that buyers continue to defend lower levels, preventing a complete collapse and instead keeping the market in a repeating cycle.

Each time price has moved down toward the range lows, buyers have stepped in, pushing it back toward the range equilibrium or the mean price area. This recurring behaviour is a clear example of the cyclical nature of the meme coin market, where periods of sharp decline are often followed by equally sharp rebounds within well-defined ranges.

Floki (FLOKI)

Floki Inu emerged in 2021, directly tied to Elon Musk’s Shiba Inu named Floki. Unlike some memecoins, the project has tried to add layers of utility through NFTs, DeFi products, and even marketing campaigns such as billboards.

Floki highlights an attempt to escape the pure meme category by layering in utility. But here lies a paradox. Once a meme coin pivots to utility, does it lose the very cultural simplicity that drove its hype in the first place? Floki’s case suggests that hybrid models may struggle to compete with either pure memes or serious infrastructure projects.

Technical view

FLOKI Oct 03
FLOKI Oct 03

Floki has taken on a different structure compared to other meme coins. After breaking below a significant range in January this year, price began forming an upward-trending channel that it has so far managed to stay within.

While this channel shows some underlying strength, the fact that Floki fell out of its earlier range highlights a weaker structure relative to Bonk and Pepe. This suggests that although Floki retains potential within its current channel, its overall position looks less stable than meme coins that have managed to defend long-term ranges.

WIF (dogwifhat)

WIF, a Solana-based token, rose in late 2023 with its simple but highly viral branding, a dog wearing a knitted hat. It quickly became a cultural marker for the Solana community.

WIF proves how quickly culture can be tokenised and monetised. It also shows the limits of meme tokens, its price has been heavily tied to the strength of the Solana narrative, suggesting that without ecosystem momentum, WIF risks fading. Its long-term survival depends less on fundamentals and more on whether it continues to represent a cultural symbol for Solana.

Technical view

WIF Oct 03
WIF Oct 03

WIF established a clear trading range between March 2024 and January 2025, but eventually broke below it. Since then, a new range has formed, with the old structure marked in white and the new one in green. This shift reflects a potential show of weakness compared to its earlier consolidation.

If WIF can break out of its current range and reclaim the 1.5 level, it would indicate that there is still strength in the community supporting it. However, if price continues to trade lower within the new structure, it could point to WIF following the typical meme coin pattern of fading after its initial boom-and-bust cycle.

Trading Crypto with PrimeXBT

Meme coins will likely remain part of every crypto cycle, because speculation, humour, and tribalism are core to online culture. The bigger question is whether any of them can outgrow the pattern of hype and collapse.

With PrimeXBT’s Crypto Futures, traders can access Pepe, Bonk, Floki, WIF, and more than 100 other altcoins, alongside Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other majors — all with institutional-grade liquidity, advanced risk management tools, and competitive fees. New users also receive up to almost 70% off with VIP 2 status for 10 days (T&Cs apply), providing an additional edge on trading costs.

By trading these projects via futures, market participants can go long or short, manage exposure with cross or isolated margin, and incorporate these assets into broader strategies. For traders looking to capture opportunities in fast-moving narratives like memecoins, Crypto Futures provide the structure and flexibility to navigate trending markets.

Start trading Crypto with PrimeXBT

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Web3 Alert Founder Says No FUD Can Change the Fact That XRP Will Do a 10x

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A well-known market analyst has maintained the firm belief that XRP will rally 10x from here, insisting that no amount of FUD will change this.

The recent commentary, which came from Nick, founder of The Web3 Alert, emerges as the XRP market grapples with bearish pressure and persistent attacks from different crypto communities despite being one of the best-performing assets this year.

XRP Facing Increased FUD

These criticisms have historically sprung up from Bitcoin maximalists, but recent developments have seen some directed from altcoin communities like Chainlink. For instance, in August, Zack Rynes, a prominent Chainlink advocate, argued that Chainlink was in a better position to work with SWIFT than XRP. 

More recently, certain crypto commentators insisted that the narrative around XRP replacing or complementing SWIFT for liquidity in cross-border payments had collapsed following reports that SWIFT was on track to develop its own blockchain to speed up payments. Also, Joao Wedson, CEO of Alphractal, urged investors not to buy XRP right now, arguing that its risk/reward ratio is no longer favorable.

“XRP Will Do a 10x”

However, amid this persistent FUD around XRP, Nick has maintained his optimism in the crypto asset. According to his latest disclosure, no amount of criticism will stop what he believes is the “fact” that XRP will grow by at least 10x from the current position. 

Nick on X
Nick on X

With XRP currently trading for $2.98, a 10x surge from this current price would lead to a price of $29.8, closing in on the $30 mark. Interestingly, several analysts have made a case for the XRP to $30 target on multiple occasions. For instance, market analyst Davie Satoshie argued last month that XRP’s Elliott Wave structure could push prices to $30. 

While the $30 price, which would push XRP to a market valuation of around $1.7 trillion, remains highly contested, Nick also implied that even a 100x increase from here is not out of the question. However, the market analyst failed to provide any timeline for his 10x or 100x prediction.

Notably, Armando Pantoja, another XRP community figure, also suggested in March that XRP could spike 10x from its price at the time. However, he dismissed any claims that it could happen overnight despite claiming it could happen “soon.”

Meanwhile, last month, Nick also jumped on the discussion surrounding the XRP supply shock theories. Speaking on a disclosure on the amount of XRP tokens locked up in wallets owned by Ripple executives and Ripple itself, he insisted that an XRP supply shock is inevitable at this point, pointing to growing institutional interest.

Samsung Partners with Coinbase to Bring Crypto Access to 75 Million Galaxy Users

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Samsung has teamed up with Coinbase to bring crypto directly to the fingertips of more than 75 million Galaxy device owners in the U.S. 

This partnership seeks to simplify the process of crypto adoption. Specifically, it enables users to explore and manage crypto assets seamlessly via Samsung’s pre-existing ecosystem.

Exclusive Access to Coinbase One via Samsung Wallet

Starting today, Samsung users in the United States will have exclusive access to Coinbase One directly through the Samsung Wallet app. For context, Coinbase One offers a suite of premium features, including zero trading fees, boosted staking rewards, priority support, and enhanced account protection for lost fund restoration. 

These benefits are now available to users without needing to download a separate app or transfer funds across multiple platforms.

Meanwhile, to further enhance the user experience, the collaboration integrates Coinbase with Samsung Pay. As a result, Galaxy users will be able to make payments and purchases using their crypto holdings, directly linking their Coinbase accounts to Samsung’s payment platform. 

This development puts crypto in the same place where users already store payment cards, IDs, and transit passes. In other words, it makes it more convenient than ever to use digital currencies in everyday transactions.

Global Expansion on the Horizon

While this initial rollout focuses on the U.S., both companies have expressed plans to expand the program globally over the coming months. 

Coinbase aims to bring crypto to more than a billion people worldwide. Now, with Samsung’s immense global scale, this partnership positions them to make significant strides toward that goal.

“We’re pairing Samsung’s global reach with Coinbase’s trusted platform to bring the best for people to access crypto,” said Shan Aggarwal, Chief Business Officer at Coinbase.

Drew Blackard, Samsung’s Mobile Product VP, added:

“We’re continually working to find creative ways to enhance the experience with added functionality, and Coinbase is the ideal partner to help us do that.”

Ultimately, this partnership between Samsung and Coinbase makes it easier for people to use crypto by building it directly into their devices. It removes some of the challenges that have kept users away and could help bring crypto into everyday use as the program grows worldwide.

UK Seized Bitcoin Balance Surpasses $7.35B but There’s a Twist

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The United Kingdom holds a seized Bitcoin stash worth billions of dollars but could face legal action if it decides to use it.

For perspective, the UK was embroiled in what is seen as the most significant Bitcoin confiscation in history. Convicted scam scheme mastermind Zhimin Qian and his gang relinquished 61,000 BTC to the UK authorities, pleading guilty to fraud charges.

Notably, she and her gang ran a false investment scheme in China targeting elderly victims. They realized the funds and converted them to Bitcoin, but the authorities seized them in 2018.

Bitcoin Stash Now Worth Over $7.35 Billion

Meanwhile, CryptoQuant data shows that the authorities moved BTC tokens to the current address on July 27, 2021, at a worth of about $2.4 billion. Since then, the bags have remained idle, appreciating in value alongside the price of Bitcoin over the past four years.

The funds have increased by over 206% from 2021 to their current value of $7.35 billion as Bitcoin crossed $120,000 today. The notable uptick reflects the growth potential of Bitcoin, particularly for long-term holders.

The UK Contemplates Use Case for Growing Bitcoin Stash

Despite the UK seizing the funds, it still does not have a full claim to them. Notably, the UK Metropolitan Police confirmed that the perpetrators stole the substantial Bitcoin stash from 128,000 victims, who actively sought a way to recover their money.

Meanwhile, the UK Crown Prosecution Service is already pursuing a civil resolution to refund victims, with the hearing coming up 2026. However, the agency is torn apart on whether it will pay the victims the current worth of their coins or their value when they invested in 2018.

Nonetheless, the UK Treasury has already shown interest in retaining a considerable amount of the Bitcoin stash. Reports indicate that some officers are already considering the option of using Bitcoin to offset part of their budget deficit.

However, doing so would likely lead to a protracted legal battle for the asset, Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves warned.

Liquidation of the Bitcoin Stash Poses Adverse Implications

Meanwhile, CryptoQuant noted that tracking the funds remains a key focus for on-chain investigators, as their movement can ripple through the Bitcoin market. Remarkably, while the $7.35 billion stash is a minute part of Bitcoin’s over $2.4 trillion ecosystem, its dump could impact market sentiments in the short term.

An example of this was when the German government liquidated 50,000 BTC seized from piracy site Movie2K in January 2024. They sold the entire stash on the open market within a few weeks, starting in June 2024, when Bitcoin was trading at around $60,000.

While Bitcoin dropped considerably during the period, it has since increased to almost double its price then. The recovery saw the German government miss out on billions of dollars of profit by selling too early.

This Event Has Reset Bitcoin OI and Set the Stage for Q4: Glassnode

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Market analytical platform Glassnode has identified a recent important event that reset Bitcoin Open Interest and set the stage for Q4.

Specifically, on Sept. 26, the crypto market faced one of its biggest derivatives events of the year as $17 to $18 billion worth of Bitcoin options expired. Notably, Deribit carried most of this load with about $17 billion, while OKX and CME also saw significant expiries. 

The timing was especially tough for Bitcoin, which was in the middle of a steep downturn that began on Sept. 18. For context, BTC dropped from $117,000 to $109,000 by the time of the expiry. However, once the contracts rolled off, Bitcoin quickly found its footing again. The coin now trades at $120,995.

Options Expiry Reset Bitcoin OI

Speaking on the event, Glassnode explained today that this expiry reset the options market and cleared out excess hedging positions. As open interest has dropped, traders now have room to place more intentional bets on price direction and volatility rather than just rolling positions tied to expiry.

Bitcoin Options Open Interest Glassnode
Bitcoin Options Open Interest | Glassnode

Moreover, volatility data also shows how the market changed. According to Glassnode, short-dated implied volatility dropped. One-week at-the-money implied volatility fell about three points from the peak a week earlier, while the two-week measure eased by roughly two points. 

Meanwhile, longer-term contracts held between 40% and 43%. The firm said this caused the volatility curve to steepen, showing reduced short-term pressure but caution further out.

In addition, the options skew also flipped. Notably, Glassnode said the one-week 25-delta risk reversal swung from an 18.5-volatility put premium to a 4-point call premium. 

This move signals that traders stopped heavily protecting against downside and started leaning toward the upside instead. Even longer-dated contracts flattened out, which points to a more balanced view of risk overall.

Hedging Flows Won’t Return Until Next Major Expiry

According to Glassnode, buyers lifted upside calls with premiums clustering between $136,000 and $145,000 strikes. However, at higher levels, traders sold calls, which shows they want exposure to potential gains but don’t expect extreme prices anytime soon.

Bitcoin Options Net Premium Strike Glassnode
Bitcoin Options Net Premium Strike | Glassnode

Dealer positioning also changed after expiry. Specifically, Gamma exposure turned slightly long on both sides, which helps stabilize the market, though only to a limited extent. Glassnode noted that meaningful hedging flows won’t return until the next major expiry later in the quarter.

Meanwhile, in a separate report, the firm highlighted signs of fresh demand. Its Trend Accumulation Score showed that mid-sized holders are buying strongly, whale selling has slowed, and smaller investors remain neutral. It concluded that this behavior points to new structural demand building.

Bitcoin in a Favorable Position

Interestingly, market analysts have shared their views amid Bitcoin’s recent recovery push. For instance, Ted Pillows said the latest rally stalled at $121,000. If Bitcoin breaks through this resistance, he believes a new all-time high could follow. If not, he expects a pullback to $117,000. 

In another note, he pointed out that Bitcoin often bottoms in September, pointing out it has done so seven times since 2016. He said the recent $107,000 dip, followed by a 12% rebound, could mean the bottom is already in.

Also, Veteran trader Michaël van de Poppe said Bitcoin has already taken out previous highs and now sits within reach of a fresh record. He expects a new all-time high within weeks once Bitcoin consolidates, calling this the signal for the next breakout phase.

Bitcoin 6h Chart Michael van de Poppe
Bitcoin 6h Chart | Michael van de Poppe

Top Trader Says XRP Will Be the Best Fundamental Short in the History

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As XRP recovered to the $3 mark today, widely followed trader Crashius Clay doubled down on his long-standing bearish outlook.

In a post on X, Clay declared that XRP will be one of the easiest and most fundamentally sound short opportunities of this cycle, and possibly in the “history of humanity.”

He argued that this current bull run is XRP’s last and that no future cycles will bring the token back to relevance.

Clay pointed to the growing dominance of stablecoins and central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) in global payments as a major reason for XRP’s fading use case. According to him, every major alternative is being positioned for bank transfers and cross-border settlements, potentially leaving XRP behind.

“No Future Cycle for XRP”

Meanwhile, Clay’s warning went beyond short-term price action. He suggested that XRP’s core narrative of becoming the backbone for cross-border payments is unraveling.

This view is further supported by SWIFT’s announcement of a new blockchain-based shared ledger, backed by major banks such as JPMorgan and HSBC. It aims to modernize cross-border payments with real-time transaction logs and smart contracts.

This move challenges Ripple’s long-held claim that XRP would replace SWIFT, further weakening its position, according to critics.

Clay believes that once the market realizes institutions are favoring other solutions, “all hope will be lost” for the token.

In his words, investors risk “being left holding the bag” if they continue to trust XRP’s long-term vision. Instead, he encouraged traders to pursue more “fundamentally sound and logical plays” elsewhere in the market.

History of XRP Shorts

This is not the first time Clay has bet against XRP. Earlier this year, he disclosed $1 million in short positions that netted him over $800,000 in profit after XRP slumped from multi-year highs.

In April, he went as far as to call XRP “a disguised meme coin,” branding it “one of the most obvious and easiest shorts” of his trading career. Back in March, he also predicted that XRP would “crash harder than any coin in the top 50.”

Should You Short XRP Right Now?

While Clay and other skeptics argue that XRP remains massively overvalued, the XRP Army continues to defend its potential. 

Many retail investors point to Ripple’s partnerships and institutional adoption as reasons to stay bullish, even as critics claim those fundamentals have failed to meaningfully drive value.

As XRP sits around $3, the debate is intensifying between bulls expecting new highs and traders like Clay who believe the coin is on borrowed time.

Notably, in this latest bearish statement, Clay said he is not shorting XRP as the coin is currently on a bullish run. He acknowledged that shorting the coin right now would be a mistake. “The next time I short XRP, I will let you know,” he said.