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Pundit Says XRP is the Only Project Satoshi Ever Called Interesting

Sam Wisdom Raphael
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Pundit Says XRP is the Only Project Satoshi Ever Called Interesting

A notable XRP community pundit has pushed back at XRP critics, claiming that even the Bitcoin creator, Satoshi Nakamoto, called the project interesting.

The latest commentary came from Mickle, who recently challenged what he sees as contradictions in how some parts of the crypto space treat XRP. The market commentator highlighted several areas that point to this contradiction, especially when considering the criticisms from Bitcoin maximalists.

Did Satoshi Call XRP “Interesting”?

One of these areas was how he claimed Satoshi viewed XRP. According to Mickle, XRP is the only other crypto project Satoshi Nakamoto ever mentioned besides Bitcoin. He also suggested that the Bitcoin creator revealed he found XRP “interesting.”

While this is technically true, there is a need for further context. Notably, in 2009, Satoshi, responding to a question from software developer Mike Hearn, referred to “Ripple” as an interesting idea. He praised the project for its focus on decentralization.

Satoshi Calls Ripple "Interesting"
Satoshi Calls Ripple “Interesting”

However, during this conversation, neither XRP nor Ripple as a company existed. Specifically, Satoshi wasn’t talking about either of them. Instead, he referred to RipplePay, an early peer-to-peer credit system developed by Ryan Fugger in 2004. 

Notably, the system let users issue IOUs without going through banks. While it came years before XRP and helped shape later developments, Satoshi’s interest was in the concept, not the current version of Ripple. 

Interestingly, the original XRPL architects built the XRPL on this concept. As a result of this, some have suggested XRP is the crypto asset that comes closest to the original idea Satoshi had when he created Bitcoin.

“Banker’s Coin”

Mickle also took aim at the common label many use against XRP, calling it a “banker’s coin” in an effort to criticize its ties to banks. According to Mickle, this criticism is hypocritical once you look at how aggressively Bitcoin advocates also chase bank adoption. 

Notably, banks in the U.S. and abroad are already entering the Bitcoin market, and Bitcoin proponents have championed these developments. For one, BNY now provides a platform that lets clients hold Bitcoin alongside traditional investments. 

Moreover, State Street and JPMorgan are also offering custody, blockchain-based settlement, and crypto payment services. Even Citibank has partnered with blockchain firms to expand its crypto capabilities. 

Internationally, SEBA Bank and Julius Baer in Switzerland, along with the UK’s BCB Group, now deliver full crypto support, including Bitcoin storage, trading, and settlement. These moves prove that traditional finance has embraced Bitcoin more than ever, yet somehow, Bitcoin maxis single XRP out for similar ties to the banking sector.

Corporate Control

Mickle also discussed claims that XRP suffers from too much corporate control. He called out the irony here too, noting that some Bitcoin proponents have encouraged users to rely on banks for Bitcoin custody rather than hold their own keys. 

For context, at one point, Bitcoin advocate and Strategy Chairman Michael Saylor discouraged self-custody and said users should trust major banks instead. He brushed off concerns about government control and even compared them to fears during past gold confiscations. Saylor eventually changed his position after much backlash.

Moreover, corporate entities have continued to enter the Bitcoin market. Specifically, around 218 private and public firms now hold more than 1.25 million BTC, valued at close to $143 billion. 

Mickle pointed out how XRP constantly gets picked apart while thousands of other crypto projects go unchallenged. According to him, the reason is that XRP threatens the status quo.

Here’s How XRP Turned Early $5,000 in $5 Million

Sam Wisdom Raphael
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Here’s How XRP Turned Early $5,000 in $5 Million

Investors who got into XRP with modest capital right before its explosive run during the 2017 market rally are still sitting on millions.

Notably, XRP has often received criticism for not making meaningful progress since the 2017/2018 bull run. However, when considering how well it has performed since its 2017 lows, XRP has witnessed some impressive gains that have helped investors make millions out of modest investments.

How XRP Turned $5,000 Into $5M

Specifically, XRP traded at a low of $0.003 in January 2017, underperforming while the rest of the market was in a bull run. During this period, if an investor had committed $5,000 into the market, they would have procured 1.66 million XRP tokens. 

Interestingly, in March 2017, XRP exploded, soaring to a high of $0.3988 by May before eventually correcting. After a brief pullback, XRP soared again to a new all-time high around $3.31 in January 2018. 

At the $3.31 all-time high, these 1.66 million XRP tokens, procured with $5,000 just a year ago, were worth $5.5 million. However, supposing the investor had held onto the tokens until now, they would still be worth a whopping $4.95 million despite XRP’s underperformance over the years.

This reality check confirms that while XRP has underperformed since its peak in 2017/2018, it has performed much better than other assets since its low. Specifically, in January 2018, XRP traded at a peak of $3.31. Today, it currently trades for $2.97, representing a 10% decline, after just recovering the 2018 peak this year.

In contrast, assets such as Bitcoin and Ethereum are miles ahead of their 2017/2018 peak. In particular, ETH, currently trading for $3,661, has risen 157% from its 2018 top of $1,420. Meanwhile, BTC, which now changes hands at $114,627, is up 482% from the 2018 peak of $19,666.

XRP Still Early Despite Outperforming BTC and ETH Since 2017

However, most community analysts have attributed XRP’s underperformance to the price suppression from the SEC lawsuit, which began in December 2020 and stopped XRP from reaching a new ATH in 2021. Nonetheless, while XRP has not made substantial progress since 2018, its overall ROI for those who got in early enough has been impressive. 

For context, when we compare how much most assets have grown from their 2017 lows, XRP stands out as the clear winner. Specifically, ETH is up 45,737% from its 2017 low of $8, while BTC has gained 15,164%. Interestingly, XRP is currently up 98,900% from the $0.003 bottom, making it the best investment since 2017.

However, despite this impressive ROI, some analysts believe XRP still has a long way to go, offering some hope to investors who think they might have missed the train. Market commentator JackTheRippler suggested in July that it is never too late to buy XRP. Also, Edoardo Farina claimed current investors are still early. 

Unich Is One Of The Altcoins Under $1 With Strong Pre-Market Performance

Esra Zuhal
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Unich Is One Of The Altcoins Under $1 With Strong Pre-Market Performance

Several sub-$1 tokens are gaining attention as the market heads toward Altcoin Season 2025. Among them is Unich (UN), a project within Solana’s OTC pre-market ecosystem that has shown notable activity ahead of its expected centralized exchange listing. Kadena (KDA) and Dogecoin (DOGE) are also seeing renewed market interest.

Unich (UN) – The Exchange Token Breaking All the Rules

As the 2025 altcoin season approaches, Unich is quickly becoming a standout name thanks to its pioneering approach to OTC trading.

Unich Pre-Market allows users to securely buy pre-TGE tokens without relying on intermediaries. In just six months since the mainnet launch, Unich has already processed over $1.2 billion in OTC volume, onboarded 5 million users across more than 100 countries, and generated $20 million in revenue, all without a token being listed on a centralized exchange.

Unich Tweet
Unich Tweet

The Unich IDO is underway, aiming to raise $15 million by selling 100 million $UN tokens. The starting price is $0.15, with the initial two-round structure simplified to a single round.

What is notable is the significant gap between the IDO price and the current Unich Pre-Market value, where $UN recently hit an all-time high of $0.98 last week before stabilizing in a sideways range between $0.75 and $0.80.

Even at the lower end of this range, it represents a 400%–550% premium over the IDO price. Trading volume has exceeded $14 million, underscoring strong and sustained market interest.

UNICH performance on Unich Pre Market
UNICH performance on Unich Pre Market

With a total supply of 1 billion $UN tokens, Unich’s FDV is $150 million – a modest starting point compared to major competitors.

For perspective, Whales Market reached a $435 million FDV, while AEVO hit nearly $3.8–$3.9 billion FDV. This puts Unich’s present valuation well below AEVO’s peak and still within striking distance of Whales Market’s all-time high, leaving significant upside potential, especially for early participants entering at the IDO price.

Coupled with Unich’s innovative platform and confirmed post-IDO listings on top-tier CEXs and leading Solana-based DEXs, the project’s robust tokenomics and momentum could translate into 10x–100x growth potential.

To further accelerate adoption, Unich IDO has introduced a referral program offering 11% rewards (8% in USDT and 3% in $UN), reinforcing community growth and incentivizing participation in the ongoing Unich token sale.

As interest continues to build, Unich is now widely seen as one of the most promising low-cap tokens heading into the next market cycle.

Kadena & Dogecoin: Serious Tech & Meme Magic

Kadena is a scalable Layer-1 that combines Proof-of-Work security with a multi-chain architecture, enabling thousands of transactions per second without losing decentralization. Its human-readable, verifiable smart contract language, Pact, and “gas station” feature make it developer- and user-friendly. Trading under $1, Kadena is a solid pick for those seeking a secure, enterprise-ready blockchain.

Dogecoin, meanwhile, is the original meme coin – born as a joke, now a recognized digital asset backed by Elon Musk and integrated into X (formerly Twitter). Despite lacking advanced tech, its liquidity, brand strength, and active community make it a go-to for micropayments and tipping. Under $0.10, DOGE continues to shine in high-sentiment markets, proving its staying power across bull cycles.

All in all, among under $1 altcoins, $KDA and $DOGE remain strong performers with steady growth potential. However, when it comes to spotting the next breakout gem, $UN leads the pack.

After a 500% gainer, it now gears up for listings on major exchanges, where early investors could see 10x–20x returns. That makes Unich one of the top tokens to watch in altcoin season 2025.

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Please note that The Crypto Basic does not endorse or support any content or product on this page. We strongly advise readers to conduct their own research before acting on any information presented here and assume full responsibility for their decisions. This article should not be considered investment advice.

Finding The Best Crypto Exchange In Vancouver: 2025 Real Talk

Andrew MacGill
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Finding The Best Crypto Exchange In Vancouver: 2025 Real Talk

Look, I’ve been trading crypto in Vancouver for years. And I’m tired of seeing the same generic “top 10” lists that don’t actually help anyone.

So I spent way too much time comparing every crypto platform available to us Canadian crypto investors.

Here’s what I found about the best crypto exchange in Vancouver.

ChicksX Takes the Top Spot Among Canadian Crypto Exchanges

After testing pretty much every cryptocurrency exchange out there, ChicksX comes out as the best crypto exchange in Vancouver for most people. This platform offers over 200 cryptos, claims the lowest trading fees, and actually has physical locations.

I’ll give you the full breakdown of this crypto exchange in Vancouver so you can decide for yourself.

Quick Comparison: Best Canadian Crypto Exchange Options

Exchange Cryptos Trading Fees Security Support Physical Location
ChicksX 200+ 0.1% flat High 24/7 Yes (West Vancouver)
Newton 30+ Very Low Medium 24/7 No
Bitbuy 20+ 0.5-1.85% High 24/7 No
Coinsquare 50+ Medium High 24/7 No
Kraken 185+ Medium Very High 24/7 No
Ndax 40+ Low fees High 24/7 No

Customer Support: The Real Story About Canadian Exchanges

Let me save you some pain. Customer support makes or breaks your crypto trading experience.

I’ve tested support for every major cryptocurrency exchange in Vancouver. Here’s what actually happens when things go wrong on these platforms.

ChicksX Support – Mixed Bag for This Exchange in Vancouver

ChicksX claims 24/7 support. True. But quality on this crypto platform? That’s where it gets interesting.

The good news is their live chat actually connects you to humans, they offer multiple channels including chat, email, and phone, and having a physical location means you can show up if this exchange in Vancouver screws up.

What Reviews Really Say About Canadian Crypto Exchanges

I read through hundreds. Here’s the pattern for this crypto exchange in Vancouver.

Happy crypto investors mention quick verification when the platform works, how easy it is to buy and sell cryptocurrencies, and helpful staff at the Vancouver location. But angry users complain about withdrawal delays, support tickets ignored for days, and account freezes with no explanation from the exchange.

Support Quality: Comparing Canadian Crypto Exchanges

Platform Response Time Knowledge Channels Real Talk
ChicksX 1 – 24 hours Expert Chat, email, phone, in-person Good for simple crypto trading
Newton 2-24 hours Basic Chat, email Quick but this platform can’t handle hard questions
Kraken 24-48 hours Expert Chat, email, ticket Slow but they know advanced trading
Coinbase Good luck Varies Email, sometimes chat Might as well talk to a wall
Bitbuy 4-24 hours Good Chat, email, phone Solid Canadian crypto exchange
Ndax 6-24 hours Good Chat, email Another decent platform

The KYC Nightmare on Every Crypto Exchange in Vancouver

Let’s talk about account verification on these platforms.

Every legit cryptocurrency exchange in Vancouver needs to follow FINTRAC rules. The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada requires KYC verification. No way around it.

ChicksX actually makes this less painful than other Canadian crypto exchanges with automated verification that works most of the time, biometric options that are faster than other platforms, and standard proof of ID for crypto trading.

But some Canadian exchanges take forever. I’ve waited 2 weeks with Coinsquare. ChicksX usually gets it done in 24-48 hours.

Trading Fees That Actually Make Sense

I hate hidden fees on crypto platforms. So let’s break down what this exchange in Vancouver charges.

ChicksX offers a 0.1% flat trading fee. That’s it. No tiers, no confusion. For Canadian crypto traders, this is actually pretty solid.

Newton might have lower fees on paper for small trades. But ChicksX’s flat rate means you know exactly what you’re paying, plus they have more cryptos and that Vancouver location.

Most platforms charge 0-2.5% for deposits, 0.1-1% in trading fees to trade crypto (ChicksX sits at the low end here), and $5-25 per crypto asset for withdrawals.

Crypto Tax Hell Nobody Warns Beginners About

Here’s what ruins every Canadian crypto investor’s day: crypto tax.

The CRA treats crypto as a commodity on every platform. Not money. That means every trade on your exchange is taxable.

I learned this the hard way trading Bitcoin.

What Canadian Crypto Investors Actually Owe

Only 50% of capital gains get taxed when you trade crypto. Sounds good?

Here’s the catch: if you’re day trading on any platform, the CRA might call it business income. Then it’s 100% taxable.

Example from my crypto trading:

  • Buy Bitcoin at $40,000
  • Sell Bitcoin at $50,000
  • Profit: $10,000
  • Capital gain: $5,000 taxable
  • Business income: $10,000 taxable

Every Crypto Transaction Is Taxable

The CRA counts these as taxable events:

  • Sell crypto for fiat currencies
  • Trade crypto (like Bitcoin to Ethereum)
  • Buy stuff with crypto assets
  • Gift crypto from your platform

Not taxable:

  • Buy crypto with fiat currencies
  • Move between wallets
  • HODL on the exchange

Centralized Exchange vs Decentralized Exchanges

ChicksX is a centralized exchange. So are all major Canadian crypto exchanges.

Why this matters for crypto investors:

  • Centralized exchange: They hold your crypto
  • Decentralized exchanges: You hold your crypto

But decentralized exchanges have problems. They offer lower trading volume, they’re harder for beginners, there’s no fiat currencies support, and you can’t easily buy and sell cryptocurrencies.

For most Vancouver crypto traders, a centralized exchange makes sense. Just don’t leave everything on the platform.

Choosing a Crypto Exchange: My Process

Here’s how I pick between Canadian crypto exchanges:

  1. What do you need?
    • Just Bitcoin? Newton’s platform
    • 200+ cryptos? ChicksX
    • Advanced trading features? Kraken
  2. Trading volume matters:
    • Under $1,000/month? Any exchange works
    • Over $10,000? Every fee counts
  3. Are you a beginner?
    • New to crypto? User-friendly platform matters
    • Advanced? You want trading features
  4. Location preference:
    • Need help in person? ChicksX Vancouver location
    • Online only? More Canadian exchanges available

Best Practices I’ve Learned Trading Crypto

After years on these platforms:

  • Start small to get started
  • Test withdrawals early on any exchange
  • Document everything for crypto tax
  • Keep records of every crypto transaction
  • Check trading volume before buying obscure crypto

Bottom Line on Vancouver Crypto Exchanges

There’s no perfect cryptocurrency exchange in Vancouver. I use three different platforms.

But for the best crypto exchange in Vancouver overall? ChicksX gets my vote. The physical location helps. The crypto selection beats most Canadian exchanges. They’re actually registered with Canadian regulators.

Questions about crypto trading in Vancouver? Hit up local meetups. The community here actually helps beginners get started.

Stay safe out there in the crypto space.

Tom Lee Picks Ethereum Over Bitcoin, Says Ether Is the Biggest Macro Trade for the Next Decade

Elendu Benedict
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Tom Lee Picks Ethereum Over Bitcoin, Says Ether Is the Biggest Macro Trade for the Next Decade

Tom Lee, the co-founder and CIO of Fundstrat, has doubled down on Ethereum, picking the altcoin as his best bet over Bitcoin in the next decade.

Lee was put in the spotlight when “Coin Stories” host Natalie Brunell asked if he would put all his money on either Ethereum or Bitcoin in the next 10 years. In response, he noted that he would pick Ethereum.

The Fundstrat CEO shared that Ethereum is the next big thing and is currently having its 2017 momentum. He further noted that widespread adoption would hit the Ethereum market as Wall Street converges after the stablecoin ChatGPT moment in crypto.

Ethereum: The Biggest Macro Trade Of The Next Decade

Meanwhile, Lee called Ethereum the “biggest macro trade” of the next decade. This suggests an explosive traction and parabolic expansion for Ether owing to its growing use case in the hot stablecoin market.

Furthermore, he highlighted that Wall Street would now take tokenization seriously, and Ethereum is at the center of this push. Notably, BlackRock believes that every asset will be tokenized in the future, making a first-mover push with its launch of the BUIDL on Ethereum and Solana, among others.

Recently, Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan identified that XRP and Ethereum are the cleanest forms of exposure to tokenization. As a result, Ether could record massive upside if the expected tokenization impact comes to fruition.

Interestingly, this aligns with Lee’s earlier outlook for Ethereum, where he projected a rally to $15,000 before the end of the year. His recent chairman’s report as the Bitmine head further raises the bar for Ethereum, predicting that Ethereum would reach an ambitious $60,000 price.

Ethereum Superior to Existing Financial System

Nonetheless, Brunell highlighted a few risks closely tied to Ethereum. Some of which include centralization claims due to the consensus model and attack vulnerability on Ethereum bridges and layer 2.

She also mentioned the competition for Ethereum over the possible DeFi debut on Bitcoin and classification uncertainties. In response to that, Lee noted that these downsides are smaller risks compared to the fragility of the existing traditional financial system.

The Bitmine chairman insisted that the existing traditional system is more vulnerable to fraudulent activities. He noted that the system cannot prevent infiltration or offer the security that Ethereum could provide.

Ethereum Not a Competition to Bitcoin

Despite his bullish Ethereum stance, Lee emphasized that Ethereum is not competing against Bitcoin. He noted that Bitcoin paved the way for other cryptocurrencies, proving to Wall Street that one does not need tangible assets to create value.

Lee also projected higher prices for Bitcoin, predicting $1 million per coin in the long term. He also noted Bitcoin’s real rival is gold. According to him, BTC would replace gold soon, a sentiment that many industry leaders share.

Here’s How Much XRP Binance Holds in Its Latest Proof-of-Reserves Report

Abdulkarim Abdulwahab
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Here’s How Much XRP Binance Holds in Its Latest Proof-of-Reserves Report

The largest crypto exchange, Binance, has released its latest proof-of-reserves report, detailing increased holdings in Bitcoin and XRP.

The latest report captures the exchange’s holdings as of August 1, 2025. Notably, Binance has been sharing details of the crypto assets under its custody monthly since November 2022 on the back of the FTX implosion.

Binance’s Bitcoin Portfolio

According to the report, Binance holds 591,163 BTC worth about $67 billion in customer deposits, while maintaining a BTC reserve of 608,639 tokens worth approximately $70 billion. This reflects a collateralization ratio of 102.96%.

As of July, the exchange held 573,996 BTC in user deposits and 588,385 BTC in reserve, reflecting a collateralization ratio of 102.51%.

This data shows a notable increase in both user deposits on Binance and its reserve holdings. Historically, more crypto tokens moving into exchanges suggests increased selling pressure. This may explain the recent dip in the market following Bitcoin’s all-time high in July.

USDT and Ethereum on Binance

After Bitcoin, USDT is the second-largest asset deposited by users on Binance. The exchange holds 29.855 billion USDT in user deposits and 30.55 billion USDT in its reserve, reflecting a holding ratio of 102.27%. 

As of July, Binance’s holding ratio for USDT was 101.11%, indicating a slight increase in its stablecoin reserves over the past 30 days.

Next is Ethereum (ETH). Specifically, Binance holds 4,555,013 ETH from users and 4,585,489 ETH in reserve, translating to a 100.67% holding ratio. In July, the Ethereum holding ratio was exactly 100%, suggesting an almost one-to-one match between user deposits and reserves.

BNB and XRP

Another dominant crypto asset on Binance is BNB, a coin closely associated with the exchange. Binance maintains 39.79 million BNB in user deposits and 44.46 million in reserves. This results in a significantly higher 111.74% collateralization ratio.

XRP also ranks among the top crypto assets stored by users on Binance. As of this month, Binance holds 2.675 billion XRP (worth $7.86 billion) in user deposits, while its reserves contain 2.754 billion XRP (worth $8.1 billion), reflecting a holding ratio of 102.96%.

Screenshot of Bitcoin crypto holdings showing Bitcoin, XRP
Screenshot of Bitcoin crypto holdings showing Bitcoin, XRP

In July, users had deposited 2.616 billion XRP, which, at its peak price that month, was valued at over $9.5 billion. 

While user deposits have increased by about 58.96 million XRP since then, the total dollar value has dropped due to XRP’s declining price. At press time, XRP is trading at $2.94, compared to $3.66 on July 18.

USDC: The Most Overcollateralized Asset

Among Binance’s top crypto asset holdings, USDC has the highest collateralization ratio. Specifically, users have deposited 5.22 billion USDC, while Binance holds 8.15 billion USDC in reserves, representing a massive 156% collateralization ratio. In July, the ratio stood at 152.65%, with an even larger volume of user deposits.

Bakkt Acquires 30% of Japan’s MarushoHotta, Plans Bitcoin Pivot

Mark Brennan
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Bakkt Acquires 30% of Japan’s MarushoHotta, Plans Bitcoin Pivot

Bakkt, a crypto infrastructure and service provider company has agreed to acquire a stake in a Japanese company, paving the way for Bitcoin accumulation.

According to a press release, Bakkt Holdings Inc. will acquire a 30% stake in Japanese kimono manufacturer MarushoHotta Co., Ltd. for CNY 1.68 billion. After this purchase, the company will be renamed to bitcoin.jp and shift to a Bitcoin-based treasury model. 

Bakkt Holdings Acquisition Details

Bakkt announced a share purchase agreement with RIZAP Group Inc., selling 16,864,650 shares of MarushoHotta.

The purchase will make Bakkt the largest shareholder in the Tokyo-listed company. Accordingly, a total of CNY 1.68 billion, approximately $235.2 million in cash, will be paid by Bakkt Opco Holdings, LLC, a subsidiary of Bakkt.

Following the acquisition, Phillip Lord, President of Bakkt International, will be appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of MarushoHotta.

This announcement comes a week after Bakkt Holdings completed a $75 million public offering, with the proceeds intended for purchasing Bitcoin and other digital assets, working capital, and general corporate purposes.

MarushoHotta Rebrands to bitcoin.jp

Subject to shareholder approval, MarushoHotta will be renamed bitcoin.jp, reflecting its strategic shift toward cryptocurrency. Bakkt has also secured the domain name www.bitcoin.jp to support the rebrand.

This move will align the company’s brand and operations with its new focus on digital assets. The rebranding signals a broader change in MarushoHotta’s financial direction, away from traditional manufacturing toward digital finance.

Co-CEO of Bakkt, Akshay Naheta, noted that Japan’s well-defined regulatory framework has made it a favorable environment for Bitcoin-focused business expansion. Bakkt sees this as a strategic advantage as it works to integrate Bitcoin into MarushoHotta’s operations and financial structure.

Bitcoin.jp Will Join the List of Companies with a Bitcoin Treasury Strategy

The acquisition marks the beginning of Bakkt’s multinational Bitcoin treasury strategy, which involves integrating Bitcoin and other digital assets into corporate balance sheets. This model mirrors similar strategies from publicly listed companies like Strategy, but it is notable for targeting a traditional Japanese firm in a regulated environment.

Several Japanese companies are increasingly adding Bitcoin to their corporate treasuries. Metaplanet Inc. leads with 17,595 BTC, representing approximately $2 billion in holdings. NEXON Co., Ltd. follows with 1,717 BTC, while Remixpoint holds 1,168 BTC. Anap Holdings owns 831 BTC, and Convano Inc. holds 80 BTC. 

Smaller allocations include SBC Medical Group with 66 BTC, Value Creation Co., Ltd. with 30 BTC, and AI Fusion Capital Group Corp. with 25 BTC. This trend highlights Japan’s growing institutional interest in Bitcoin as a reserve asset.

Notably, six U.S.-based firms lead all the global companies in accumulating Bitcoin as part of their treasury strategies. Leading the list is Strategy with 628,791 BTC, followed by MARA Holdings with 50,000 BTC. XXI holds 43,514 BTC, while Bitcoin Standard Treasury Company owns 30,021 BTC. Riot Platforms has 19,239 BTC in its reserves, and Trump Media & Technology Group holds 18,430 BTC.

Meanwhile, President Donald Trump’s media company, Trump Media and Technology Group (TMTG), was reportedly in advanced talks to acquire Bakkt. The news sent Bakkt shares soaring over 160%, with the stock trading at $33.56. Meanwhile, the stock is trading at $9.64, a 1.21% rise in the past day.

XRP Holders Can Now Check Midnight Glacier Drop Eligibility on XRPScan

Lele Jima
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XRP Holders Can Now Check Midnight Glacier Drop Eligibility on XRPScan

Leading XRPL explorer XRPScan has integrated the Midnight Glacier Drop into its dashboard, allowing XRP holders to check their eligibility for the airdrop. 

In an X post today, XRPScan noted that XRP holders can confirm whether they are eligible for the Glacier Airdrop via its platform. 

How to Check Eligibility 

To confirm eligibility, users are required to visit the XRPScan platform, enter their wallet address in the search box, and click on the “airdrop” tab. 

Upon doing this, users can confirm their eligibility status for the Glacier Drop. Eligible users can then click the “Claim NIGHT” button to be redirected to the Glacier Drop dashboard, where they can claim their free tokens. 

The announcement follows the launch of the Glacier Drop claim portal, which occurred yesterday. The XRP Ledger is among the eight supported blockchains for the airdrop. Users who held at least $100 worth of XRP as of 00:00 (UTC) on June 11 are eligible to claim the NIGHT tokens during the ongoing Glacier Drop event. 

NIGHT Allocations for XRP Holders 

Of the nearly 34 million eligible addresses for the airdrop, roughly 2.21 million of them are XRP holders. These addresses are eligible to claim a total of 2.623 billion NIGHT tokens, representing 10.92% of the overall 24 billion supply. 

For context, Cardano users are the primary beneficiaries, with 50% of NIGHT’s supply, or 12 billion tokens, reserved for them. 

Users will not receive their claimed tokens immediately. The tokens will be distributed to their destination addresses in four batches (25% each) over 12 months. 

After the Glacier Drop ends on October 4, the Midnight Foundation team will immediately roll out the Scavenger Mine, allowing everyone to earn NIGHT by completing computational tasks. The Scavenger Mine will run for 30 days after the Glacier Drop. 

Notably, eligible XRP holders who did not claim their NIGHT tokens in the Glacier Drop can do so in the Lost-and-Found Phase. This event will go live after Midnight launches on the mainnet and will run for four years. 

Safety Tips for XRP Holders

In the meantime, XRPScan shared some safety tips to protect XRP community members from potential scams related to the airdrop. It advised the community to only sign in with supported wallets and warned against sharing seed phrases with anyone. 

Further, the XRPL explorer recommended that XRP users should only claim their NIGHT tokens through the official Midnight portal, which can be accessed through the XRPScan airdrop tab. 

VanEck Says Ethereum Could Become a Better Store of Value Than Bitcoin

Sam Wisdom Raphael
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VanEck Says Ethereum Could Become a Better Store of Value Than Bitcoin

VanEck published its crypto market recap for July, and one section suggested Ethereum has the potential to outshine Bitcoin as a store of value. 

According to the report, published on Aug. 5, while Bitcoin still holds the lead, there are several reasons why Ethereum is closing the gap and may eventually pull ahead.

Ethereum Treasuries Catching up

For one, VanEck explained that companies originally favored Bitcoin for their digital treasuries because of its predictable supply and strict monetary policy. Bitcoin’s capped issuance gave it an edge as a long-term store of value. 

However, things have started to shift. Specifically, more firms are now leaning toward Ethereum, especially those looking to grow their holdings through staking and decentralized finance.

For context, VanEck currently tracks eight major Ethereum-focused digital treasuries. Together, they hold about 1.46 million ETH. Bitmine Immersion Technologies owns the largest share, holding 625,000 ETH worth roughly $2.4 billion, which makes up nearly half of the total. 

Notably, when VanEck added ETH reserves from companies and exchange-traded products (ETPs), total institutional holdings reached 8.2 million ETH. This represents about 6.8% of Ethereum’s circulating supply.

Bitcoin still dominates in this area. In comparison, institutions hold 15.6% of all BTC in circulation. For Ethereum to catch up, VanEck said treasuries would need to grow 4.5 times larger, while ETH-based ETPs would have to expand by 1.4 times. 

Ethereum Offers More Flexible Treasuries

Still, VanEck argued that Ethereum brings more options to the table. Firms can use ETH in more flexible ways than Bitcoin. They can stake it, earn network rewards, and tap into DeFi tools to boost returns. Meanwhile, Bitcoin treasuries mostly rely on lending or options trading.

Interestingly, Joseph Lubin, CEO of SharpLink and co-founder of Ethereum, made a similar argument last month. Lubin claimed that Ethereum is a better asset for company treasuries than Bitcoin due to its additional features like staking.

Ethereum Now Boasts Lower Inflation than Bitcoin

Meanwhile, in the July report, VanEck also focused on how the Ethereum economy has changed. The report noted that Ethereum once had a higher inflation rate than Bitcoin: 14.4% versus 9.3%. 

However, two major upgrades changed that. First, Ethereum introduced EIP-1559 in August 2021, which burns a portion of ETH transaction fees. This move helped lower the overall supply during periods of heavy network activity. 

Then, in September 2022, Ethereum switched from proof of work to proof of stake. This upgrade, known as the Merge, dropped daily ETH issuance from around 13,000 to just 1,700.

By March 2023, ETH’s inflation rate had fallen to just 0.2%, while Bitcoin’s had grown by 3%. VanEck highlighted that Ethereum’s tighter supply and built-in yield give it an edge that Bitcoin can’t match. Nonetheless, it suggested Bitcoin inflation could drop with subsequent halvings.

Ethereum Inflation Dropped Below Bitcoin in March 2023 VanEck
Ethereum Inflation Dropped Below Bitcoin in March 2023 | VanEck

According to the report, Ethereum also hands more influence to its holders. Specifically, ETH owners help shape the network’s direction, while Bitcoin’s governance remains far more limited.

Essentially, VanEck concluded that Ethereum’s flexible economics, expanding institutional presence, and built-in utility could eventually make it a stronger long-term asset than Bitcoin.

High-Profile Figures Backing ETH in Recent Weeks

Several high-profile figures in the crypto space have also favored Ethereum over Bitcoin in recent weeks. For instance, last month, Galaxy Digital CEO Mike Novogratz said he expected ETH to outperform Bitcoin over the next three to six months. 

Meanwhile, this month, Bit Digital CEO Sam Tabar said ETH offers both growth and a 3–4% staking yield. He compared ETH to oil, something with real-world utility, while he described Bitcoin as gold: valuable, but static. 

Anthony Georgiades, General Partner at Innovating Capital, made a similar comment on July 8. He said holding ETH is like owning infrastructure, not just an asset.

Here Is Shiba Inu Price If It Becomes the Meme King of the Next Bull Run

Lele Jima
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Here Is Shiba Inu Price If It Becomes the Meme King of the Next Bull Run

The prospect of Shiba Inu becoming the meme king of the next bull run could significantly impact the price of SHIB. 

With only a few months left before the end of the current cycle, investors are already focused on the next bull run, expected to occur in 2028/2029. Ahead of that bull run, development teams behind tokens like Shiba Inu are already preparing their projects to participate in the upcoming rally. 

In particular, the Shiba Inu team has introduced several utility projects, including Shibarium, ShibaSwap, and the automated burn mechanism ShibTorch, that could elevate SHIB’s price to greater heights. 

What It Entails for SHIB to be the Meme King 

Notably, Shiba Inu aims to become the king of the meme coin market and dominate other tokens in this sector. It achieved this feat in the 2020/2021 bull cycle, when it usurped Dogecoin several times while soaring to an all-time high of $0.00008845. However, Shiba Inu relinquished the title back to Dogecoin almost immediately. 

Despite this, speculation suggests that Shiba Inu could reclaim the meme king title in the next bull run. Achieving this feat implies that Shiba Inu would rank as the largest token by market cap in the meme coin market. 

At the moment, Shiba Inu is ranked as the second-biggest meme coin. It is valued at $8.3 billion, with a token currently trading at $0.00001208. For Shiba Inu to become the meme king, it must usurp Dogecoin, which currently leads that market with a valuation of $35.79 billion. 

SHIB Price If It Becomes Meme King

Surpassing Dogecoin’s market cap and becoming the meme king would require Shiba Inu’s valuation to grow roughly 382%. The rally will eventually push Shiba Inu’s market cap from $8.3 billion to $40 billion, surpassing DOGE’s current $35.7 billion. 

This analysis assumes Dogecoin’s market cap does not exceed $40 billion in the next bull run. Given Shiba Inu’s supply of 589.25 trillion tokens, a market cap of $40 billion translates to a price of $0.00006788 per token. The estimated target is still below Shiba Inu’s previous all-time high of $0.00008845, registered in October 2021. 

Is $0.00006788 Feasible for SHIB?

Whether SHIB can become the meme king of the next cycle and ultimately climb to $0.00006788 remains to be seen. Most crypto analysts believe that $0.00006788 is a realistic target for Shiba Inu. 

In November, the marketing lead of the Shiba Inu ecosystem, Lucie, showcased SHIB’s substantial lifetime gains against Bitcoin and USDT. 

The chart showed that Shiba Inu massively outperformed both Bitcoin and USDT, prompting Lucie to declare that SHIB was doing fine. Following Shiba Inu’s remarkable performance, Lucie predicted a subsequent surge to $0.00006861. However, she did not indicate when the prediction would materialize. 

In the absence of a specific timeline, we turned to Chagelly for an estimate regarding when SHIB will clinch the $0.00006788 target. According to Changelly, SHIB could trade at around $0.00006788 in the next cycle, precisely by July 2028. In that month, Changelly envisions SHIB reaching a maximum target of $0.0000684. 

Meanwhile, investors should not reference this analysis as financial advice due to the volatile nature of cryptos. Moreover, the possibility of SHIB becoming the meme king remains uncertain due to the absence of an ETF tied to the token and the team’s decision to stay anonymous. 

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