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Visa Enters Stablecoin Arena as First TradFi Firm to Join Paxos’ USDG Consortium

Mark Brennan
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Visa Enters Stablecoin Arena as First TradFi Firm to Join Paxos’ USDG Consortium

Global payment processor Visa has signaled its entry into the stablecoin market by joining the Global Dollar Network (USDG).

This stablecoin consortium is spearheaded by the regulated blockchain infrastructure firm Paxos. Notably, it marks a significant step for the payments giant as it deepens its commitment to digital assets.

With this latest move, Visa has become the first traditional finance (TradFi) institution to join the stablecoin consortium.

Who’s in the Consortium?

The initial cohort of USDG participants includes several major players from the crypto and fintech sectors. These include crypto exchanges Kraken and Bullish; digital asset service firms Galaxy Digital, Robinhood, and Anchorage Digital; and payments platform Nuvei.

Notably, USDG is Paxos’s new stablecoin initiative that goes beyond simple digital dollar issuance. Unlike Tether’s USDT or Circle’s USDC, which retain all the interest earned from their reserves, USDG takes a different approach. It shares that interest or yield with partner companies that help provide liquidity and build connections across the network.

This model presents an incentive-aligned alternative that is especially attractive to fintech platforms and traditional payment networks.

Notably, USDG operates under the regulatory oversight of the Monetary Authority of Singapore. Additionally, DBS Bank—the largest bank in Southeast Asia—acts as both banking partner and custodian for the stablecoin. It oversees reserve management to ensure full backing and seamless, on-demand redemptions.

Visa’s involvement in USDG follows a broader trend of major card networks entering the crypto ecosystem. The company has previously explored crypto payments and stablecoin settlements and was recently reported to be working with Sam Altman’s Worldcoin project.

Stablecoin Race Heats Up

As regulatory clarity emerges around stablecoins in the U.S., competition among issuers and networks is intensifying. The USDG stablecoin went live last November and currently has a market cap of $245.6 million.

With this valuation, USDG ranks among the top 15 stablecoin projects by market cap, just below Ripple’s RLUSD, which also launched in late 2024.

Despite growing competition, Tether continues to dominate the $232 billion stablecoin market, commanding over 50% of the market with a valuation of $144.34 billion. It leads its closest competitor, USDC, by a landslide margin of more than $80 billion.

Peter Schiff Flags ‘Big Problem’ in Strategy’s Bitcoin Buying Spree After Latest 3,459 BTC Purchase

Mark Brennan
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Peter Schiff Flags ‘Big Problem’ in Strategy’s Bitcoin Buying Spree After Latest 3,459 BTC Purchase

Renowned crypto critic Peter Schiff has criticized Strategy’s Bitcoin accumulation spree and predicted that the company will soon experience losses on its BTC holdings. 

Schiff made the assertion today after Strategy’s chairman, Michael Saylor, announced the company’s latest Bitcoin acquisition. 

Strategy Acquires 3,459 BTC 

In an X post today, Strategy announced that it acquired 3,459 BTC for $285.8 million. This implies that Strategy spent an average of $82,618 per BTC for this acquisition.

Notably, the company purchased all 3,459 BTC in one week, from April 7 to 13, 2025. With the latest move, Strategy further solidified its position as the biggest corporate Bitcoin holder, with a total holding of 531,644 BTC. 

Saylor revealed that the total acquisition cost was $35.82 billion, resulting in an average price of $67,556 per BTC. At the current price of $84,555, Strategy’s Bitcoin portfolio is valued at $44.95 billion, marking a return of $9.13 billion.  

Schiff Predicts Imminent Loss for Strategy 

Meanwhile, Strategy’s latest Bitcoin purchase attracted mixed reactions from financial experts, with Schiff criticizing the move. 

The American stockbroker highlighted what he considers a ’big problem’ regarding Strategy’s continued BTC acquisition. Schiff suggested that as Strategy buys more Bitcoin, its average purchase cost rises as BTC’s price declines. 

At the time of the post, Schiff noted that the Strategy still has a “paper gain” of about 25%. However, he warns that if the price of Bitcoin continues to plunge, Strategy’s overall average BTC cost will surpass the market price. 

If this happens, the Bitcoin critic stated that Strategy’s entire BTC position would be held at a loss as the market value would be less than what the company paid for. 

Schiff’s warnings come as Bitcoin recovers from last week’s collapse, which pushed it downward to around $74,000. Despite the recovery, Bitcoin is still 22.5% below its all-time high (ATH) of $109,114, recorded on January 20, 2025. 

Schiff Calls Saylor the Egg Man 

Meanwhile, Schiff has been a vocal critic of Bitcoin, referring to the asset as a ‘digital risk.’ He has slammed companies like Strategy for their Bitcoin buying spree, which he suggests could end in regret. 

In November, he called Saylor the ‘egg man’ shortly after the Strategy announced plans to raise $42 billion for more BTC purchases. The ‘egg man’ is a cautionary tale about how a client aggressively purchased egg futures contracts, raising the price to a lofty target of $1.75 from an opening price of $0.25. 

Following this hefty surge, the client attempted to sell his egg futures contracts only to learn from his broker that he had been the only one buying the asset, making him the egg man. 

Interestingly, Saylor and Strategy have often ignored Schiff’s criticisms as they continue to acquire more BTC. The Strategy executive chairman remains confident in Bitcoin, predicting that the premier asset will eventually hit a market cap of $500 trillion. 

These Key XRP Price Levels Could Be XRP’s Next Pivot: Analyst

Mark Brennan
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These Key XRP Price Levels Could Be XRP’s Next Pivot: Analyst

Analyst Casi Trades highlights key support zones for XRP, suggesting these levels could determine the next major price movement.

Recently, XRP experienced a notable surge, reaching a high of $2.08 per unit on April 9 after a previous crash. Following this price spike, the crypto asset pulled back but observed a recovery, stabilizing at around $2.24. 

Amid these movements, market experts are monitoring XRP’s key support levels to identify the next possible moves.

Expert Identifies Key Support Zones

Notably, after XRP touched the $2.24 level, it became important.382 Fibonacci retracement, analyst Casi Trades expressed concerns about a potential reversal. She noted that this level triggered bearish Relative Strength Index (RSI) signals across multiple timeframes, suggesting a potential shift in momentum.

XRP Pivot Zones
XRP Pivot Zones

In her analysis, Casi identified two crucial support zones that could act as pivots for XRP’s price. First, the $1.90 level, which aligns with a .5 Fibonacci retracement, is viewed as an essential backtest area for a potential short-term bounce. 

The second key level is $1.55, marking the golden .618 Fibonacci retracement, which also aligns with the Wave 2 target of the Elliott Wave Theory. According to Casi, either of these levels could dictate XRP’s next movement.

Per Casi Trades, at this stage, the focus is not on pinpointing exact tops and bottoms. She stressed that traders should stay grounded in the market structure and prepare for the potential opportunity ahead without reacting out of fear.

Warning on XRP Potential Dip Before Rally

In addition, analyst Egrag Crypto expressed caution, forecasting a possible dip before any significant price increase. Egrag indicated that if XRP fails to close above the $2.30-$2.50 range on the 5-day timeframe, a retrace to $1.85 could occur. Despite this potential pullback, Egrag maintained long-term price targets of $7.50, $13, and $27 for XRP.

XRP Price Prediction
XRP Price Prediction

Egrag further pointed out the likelihood of a market liquidation event, which could lead to sudden price shifts. Still, the analyst remained neutral on trading positions, opting to hold and accumulate more XRP at specific target levels.

Drawing parallels to historical events, such as China’s fluctuating stance on Bitcoin mining in 2023, Egrag stressed that news and macroeconomic factors often drive sudden and unexpected movements in the crypto market. According to him, when China banned Bitcoin mining, the market slumped but recovered following a decision to lift the ban.

Now, he has highlighted how President Trump’s tariffs on respective countries and products took a hit on the market. Consequently, when Trump paused the tariffs for 90 days, the market started recovering, and this push could persist if macro events remain favorable. Ultimately, Egrag notes that he follows charts with a clear understanding that specific events are likely to unfold.

SEC Case Outcome and Future Price Action

In addition to the analyst insights, community sentiment surrounding XRP is divided, particularly regarding the potential price impact following the conclusion of the SEC lawsuit.

A community figure known as “All Things XRP” recently noted that investors expecting an immediate surge once the lawsuit ends might be too late. According to this individual, much of the anticipated price movement from the resolution of the lawsuit has already been priced in, and no explosive rally is expected.

Instead, All Things XRP suggested that the real catalysts for XRP’s future price growth will likely come from Ripple’s actions post-lawsuit. These could include forging new partnerships, increasing XRP’s utility, and taking significant steps to enhance its adoption. Investors are encouraged to focus on these developments rather than waiting for the lawsuit’s conclusion to drive the price higher.

Shiba Inu Team Explains Why SHIB Is Still in a Top 15 Asset Despite Large Supply

Elendu Benedict
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Shiba Inu Team Explains Why SHIB Is Still in a Top 15 Asset Despite Large Supply

The Shiba Inu team has explained why SHIB’s ample circulating supply has not stunted its prominence in the crypto space.

Shiba Inu was launched in August 2022 and has grown to become one of the most prominent cryptocurrencies in the industry despite its meme origin. Notably, the token debuted with a hefty initial supply of 1 quadrillion, 50% of which was sent to Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin, who subsequently burned most of them.

While efforts by the team and enthusiasts have seen a substantial amount of it incinerated, Shiba Inu still has a massive 589 trillion SHIB in circulation. Nonetheless, the doggy-themed meme coin continues to rank among the elite cryptocurrencies in the industry, currently sitting at the 15th position.

Shiba Inu Team Explains Why

In an X post, Shiba Inu’s marketing lead, Lucie, dissected why Shiba Inu’s staggering supply has not impacted its position as a prominent asset. She stated that SHIB is for the people, stressing that the handwork of the fervent Shiba Army has ensured it ranks in the top 15 cryptocurrencies by market cap.

Interestingly, Shiba Inu’s large supply has been a major topic of discussion among both proponents and critics. Particularly, critics have argued that the gigantic circulating token would dilute demands and ensure the token does not make headway.

However, Lucie has highlighted that this has not been the case for Shiba Inu. The lead marketer stated that the token’s community-centric characteristic has endeared it to its proponents, as “thousands own a fraction of it, and they see and feel the spirit.”

In truth, Shiba Inu has outperformed several so-called utility assets, garnering attention among both new and veteran market participants. The never-dying spirit of the Shiba Army, ongoing ecosystem expansion, and SHIB’s historical price performance are major lures to the second-largest meme coin by market cap.

Prominent assets like Hedera, Toncoin, Litecoin, and Aave—with significantly lower total supply—all sit below Shiba Inu in the market cap standings, with the meme token’s valuation at $7.26 trillion. This emphasizes the place of community in cryptocurrency while adding that total supply is not the only premise for adoption in the industry.

A Major Hurdle Still Remains?

While Shiba Inu has fared exceptionally despite a large supply, enthusiasts are still clamoring for a cutback. Notably, a faction of the community believes the incessant burns are insufficient and calls for drastic measures to implement higher burns. They believe this would have bullish implications for SHIB and the broader ecosystem.

However, although Shiba Inu visionary lead Shytoshi Kusama claims it is possible to burn 99% of SHIB in circulation, he maintained that it is not the only avenue to push Shiba Inu prices and mainstream adoption. According to him, creating real-world utility for the asset would generate more natural demand, attracting institutions and retail investors to the network.

Nonetheless, analysis insists that a reduction in Shiba Inu’s circulating supply, among other factors, is necessary for Shiba Inu to attain prices like $0.01 and $1.

Ethereum Targets $2,000 With Triangle Breakout Rally

Albert Brown
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Ethereum Targets $2,000 With Triangle Breakout Rally

Ethereum is approaching a key breakout from a triangle pattern, with bulls eyeing the $2,000 mark.

At $1,623, Ethereum has registered an intraday recovery of 1.60% at the time of writing. This bullish comeback is on the verge of erasing Sunday’s 2.8% drop from the $1,650 mark. Ethereum’s recovery has brought it to the apex of a triangle pattern.

Amid improving broader market sentiment, Ethereum’s chances of a breakout are steadily increasing. Will this push ETH toward the psychological $2,000 level?

Ethereum’s Recovery Rally Nears Key Breakout, Bulls Target $2,000

In the 4-hour price chart, the recent bullish turnaround from the $1,418 level marks a significant recovery for Ethereum. The higher high formation in Ethereum led to a local support trendline. 

The overhead resistance near $1,675, coinciding with the 38.2% Fibonacci level, highlights the top of an ascending triangle pattern. A longstanding resistance trendline also creates a symmetrical triangle pattern on the 4-hour chart.

Ethereum Price Chart
Ethereum Price Chart

Also, technical indicators are showing a bullish trend. The Supertrend indicator suggests an uptrend is in motion, and the 4-hour RSI, remaining above the halfway mark, reflects strong bullish momentum. These indicators maintain an optimistic outlook for Ethereum.

As Ethereum approaches the apex of the triangle, price action traders are expecting a high-momentum move in either direction. According to Fibonacci levels, a bullish breakout could target the 78.6% Fibonacci level at $1,948.

This would increase the chances of Ethereum reaching the $2,000 psychological level. However, a potential breakdown could retest the $1,418 support level.

Balance of Cohorts Holding 10k to 100k ETH Hits New High

As Ethereum trades at relatively low levels, large investors are ramping up accumulation. According to CryptoQuant, the balance distribution of Ethereum by cohort shows significant growth in large holdings.

In the past year, the balance of holdings between 10,000 and 100,000 ETH has increased from 29.64% to 37.42%. The balance of wallets holding more than 100,000 ETH has risen to 11.88%, up from 11% a year ago.

Meanwhile, the retail segment has been reducing its holdings, with the balance of wallets holding 100 to 1,000 ETH falling from 29.47% to 21.48%.

Despite this, the strong support from large investors suggests an extended rally could be on the horizon.

ETH: Balance Distribution by Cohorts
ETH: Balance Distribution by Cohorts

Crypto Traders Go Long on Ethereum

As Ethereum nears a potential breakout rally, bullish sentiment in the derivatives market has significantly increased. Long positions in Ethereum have surged to 51.25%, boosting the long-to-short ratio to 1.0513.

The Ethereum open interest remains steady near $17.94 billion, while the funding rate has jumped to 0.0060%. The positive funding rate and the growing number of long positions signal increasing optimism for Ethereum.

Ethereum Long/Short Ratio Chart
Ethereum Long/Short Ratio Chart

As Tron Price Exits 3-Month Range, Could TRX Reach $0.40?

Albert Brown
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As Tron Price Exits 3-Month Range, Could TRX Reach $0.40?

Tron price is approaching a breakout above $0.25, with on-chain data suggesting a bullish outlook toward $0.40.

As the broader market recovers, Tron is preparing for a significant breakout rally. After months of consolidation, the bullish potential for TRX is substantial. With rising Total Value Locked (TVL) and positive on-chain signals, could this momentum push TRX toward $0.40?

Tron Price Analysis

On the daily chart, Tron’s price trend is showing a bullish comeback, testing the psychological $0.25 level. This level aligns with the top of a consolidation range that has been forming since mid-January, with a floor price at $0.21.

Over the past four days, TRX has surged nearly 9%, and last week, the price jumped around 11% from $0.23 to $0.25. As of now, TRX is trading at $0.2565, registering a 0.83% intraday recovery.

BINANCE:TRXUSD Chart Image by Trojan69420

The continuous bullish candles on the daily chart indicate that a breakout from the consolidation range is increasingly likely. Technical indicators also support a potential strong upward move. The Supertrend indicator has turned positive, with TRX moving above the Supertrend average line. Additionally, the MACD indicator is showing bullish histograms, signaling a trend reversal.

According to trend-based Fibonacci levels, the breakout from the consolidation range could face resistance around the 73.6% retracement level at $0.2664. If this level is cleared, the uptrend could target the 67.8% retracement level near $0.40.

On the downside, support at $0.21 is likely to hold, making a bearish reversal less probable.

Tron TVL Hits $5B, On-Chain Data Targets $0.51

As TRX nears a major breakout, the Total Value Locked (TVL) in Tron’s DeFi ecosystem has surpassed $5.052 billion.

This surge in TVL is accompanied by a rise in decentralized exchange (DEX) volume. The volume has reached $119.66 million, with daily transactions hitting $9 million, according to DeFiLlama.

Meanwhile, the price temperature data from CryptoQuant also reflects the growing bullish sentiment for Tron. TRX is approaching its one-year moving average plus two standard deviations at $0.2927.

A breakout above this level could push the price toward the one-year moving average plus six standard deviations at $0.5172.

On the flip side, the price temperature shows key support for Tron at the one-year moving average of $0.1804, which should hold if a bearish reversal were to occur.

TRON: Price Temperature
TRON: Price Temperature

Dogecoin Big Move: Top Analyst Says Doge Price Could Surge 137% to $0.3983

Mark Brennan
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Dogecoin Big Move: Top Analyst Says Doge Price Could Surge 137% to $0.3983

Dogecoin’s price might repeat its Q4 2024 move, with a prominent market analyst targeting a massive breakout.

Dogecoin (DOGE) has experienced a notable shift in its price action over the past few months, with a 16.6% rise in the last week signaling a positive short-term trend. This is particularly notable despite a slight dip of 0.1% in the past 24 hours.

However, when viewed over a month, the meme coin has seen a 5.3% decline. On a two-week scale, Dogecoin has barely budged, with a 1.1% decrease in value. Despite these fluctuations, analysts are eyeing a potential breakout in the near future.

Dogecoin in a Descending Triangle

According to a recent analysis by World of Charts, Dogecoin’s price has been trapped within a descending triangle, where it fluctuates between two clear trendlines. This triangle has been forming for several months, indicating that the coin has been consolidating after a strong rally in November 2024. 

Note that DOGE saw a strong rally in Q4 2024, where it surged by more than 3x. Based on the chart, during the October surge, DOGE moved from approximately $0.105 to above $0.48. The price then retraced, moving into a consolidation phase within the descending triangle.

Since then, the meme coin has persistently struggled to break out above the triangle but has often faced resistance at the upper trendline. Dogecoin first attempted to breach the triangle in mid-January when it soared to $0.4340, but the resistance at the upper trendline capped its upside run.

Further, the meme coin again engineered a push toward breaching the triangle, reaching $0.2058 on March 26, but the resistance at the upper trendline held strong. This resulted in another failed breakout, pushing DOGE back into the triangle.

Meanwhile, the asset also touched support at the lower trendline at approximately $0.15 around March, with a recent touch just below $0.14, but it has maintained its footing. As per World of Charts, Dogecoin may soon make another breakout with a potential target price of $0.3983. This would represent a 137.85% increase.

Other Patterns Supporting a Breakout

Meanwhile, in a separate observation shared by analyst Javon Marks, Dogecoin’s price action from 2014 to 2025 reveals a consistent pattern of descending triangles followed by breakouts. These descending patterns have historically led to upward price movements. 

Dogecoin Price Prediction Javon Marks
Dogecoin Price Prediction | Javon Marks

Each breakout resulted in Dogecoin reaching a new all-time high, which reinforces the idea that such patterns may lead to future bullish price action. Javon Marks suggests that the meme coin could see an increase of at least 200% to 330%, pushing its price above $0.73.

Dogecoin’s Network Activity is Growing

Further, recent data from IntoTheBlock highlights significant increases in Dogecoin’s key network activity metrics. In the past seven days, new addresses have surged by 102.40%, while active addresses have risen by 111.32%. 

Dogecoin Daily Active Addresses
Dogecoin Daily Active Addresses | IntoTheBlock

These spikes suggest heightened user interest and engagement, which could further fuel positive momentum for Dogecoin. Such network activity is often a precursor to price surges, as growing adoption and more active participants indicate that the market is becoming more engaged with the asset.

Bitcoin Eyes $92K With 200-Day EMA Breakout at $85K

Albert Brown
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Bitcoin Eyes $92K With 200-Day EMA Breakout at $85K

Bitcoin is nearing $85K amid rising long positions and MetaPlanet’s $26M BTC acquisition. Will this push the BTC price to $92K?

Bitcoin is trading at $84,949, recovering from a 1.83% pullback on Sunday. At the time of writing, it had started the week with an intraday gain of 1.49%.

With a 24-hour high of $85,496, Bitcoin is testing key resistance. A successful breakout could fuel momentum toward $92,000.

Bitcoin Nears Critical Resistance at $85K

On the daily chart, Bitcoin shows a strong rebound from the 50% Fibonacci retracement near $75,500, breaking through a long-standing descending resistance trendline. This movement ends the recent short-term pullback and the start of a potential bullish reversal.

Bitcoin Price Chart
Bitcoin Price Chart

After surpassing the 61.8% Fibonacci level around $82,000, Bitcoin is now testing the 200-day Exponential Moving Average (EMA), a key technical barrier. Reclaiming $85,000 convincingly would confirm bullish intent.

However, the 50-day EMA is still trending downward due to the recent correction, hinting at a potential “death cross” if it converges with the 200-day EMA. Despite this, the breakout has triggered a bullish crossover in the MACD and signal lines, supported by growing bullish histogram bars — signaling potential trend reversal.

The ongoing V-shaped recovery may face a retest of the broken resistance trendline near the 61.8% Fib level. A decisive 24-hour candle close above the 200-day EMA would significantly improve the chances of a continued rally.

Rising Long Positions Hint at Breakout Rally

As BTC tests crucial resistance, the derivatives market is seeing a notable rise in long positions. According to Coinglass, the Bitcoin long/short ratio has increased to 1.0704, with long positions accounting for 51.7% in the last 12 hours.

BTC Long/Short Ratio Chart
BTC Long/Short Ratio Chart

This uptick in long positioning has pushed Bitcoin’s open interest to $55.73 billion, indicating strong participation and anticipation of a bullish breakout.

Liquidation Map
Liquidation Map

According to the Binance Bitcoin liquidation map, a price surge to $85,565 will liquidate $91.5 million of short positions. Meanwhile, a pullback to $83,825 could potentially lead to a steeper correction, with $104.64 million worth of long liquidations. 

The next key support lies at $82,925, protecting $286.10 million in long positions.

Long-Term Holders Buy the Dip

Confidence among long-term holders is growing. On April 13, the long-term holder (LTH) net position change was positive for the eighth consecutive day, rising by 266.57K BTC.

Long-Term Holders Net Position Change
Long-Term Holders Net Position Change

While realized profits among LTHs have dropped from a Q1 peak of 341% to 231%, their average cost basis has increased to $ 25.44 K. This suggests strong conviction and continued accumulation, which could support further upside in BTC.

Long-term Holder Profit
Long-term Holder Profit

MetaPlanet Adds 319 BTC, Total Holdings Exceed 4,500 BTC

Amid market uncertainty, Japan-based MetaPlanet has doubled down on Bitcoin. The firm recently acquired 319 BTC for $26 million at an average price of $82,549, bringing its total holdings to over 4,525 BTC.

MetaPlanet has set a goal to accumulate 10,000 BTC by the end of 2025, reinforcing its long-term bullish stance.

Conclusion

Bitcoin is currently at a critical juncture, facing resistance at the $85,000 level, which aligns with the 200-day EMA. A bullish close above this zone could open the door to a rally toward $92,000, near the 78.6% Fibonacci retracement level.

On the downside, key support rests around $82,000, close to the 61.8% Fibonacci level. As long as this support holds and long positions keep building, Bitcoin remains poised for a bullish continuation.

Ripple Europe MD Confirms EURO Stablecoin on XRP Ledger

Abdulkarim Abdulwahab
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Ripple Europe MD Confirms EURO Stablecoin on XRP Ledger

Cassie Craddock, Ripple’s Managing Director for the UK and Europe, has confirmed the issuance of a Euro-backed stablecoin on the XRP Ledger.

The Ripple Europe MD made the announcement during a panel session at Paris Blockchain Week 2025. Notably, Société Générale’s digital asset subsidiary, SocGen Forge, will lead the initiative.

In her commentary, Craddock highlighted Ripple’s growing influence in the European digital asset space. She noted that the stablecoin initiative reflects a broader trend of institutional adoption across Europe. This trend accelerated following the clarity provided by the EU’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation.

Ripple’s collaboration with SocGen Forge began with custody solutions but has since expanded to stablecoin issuance. Craddock noted, “We partnered with SocGen Forge initially around custody, and now more broadly on issuing their Euro-CV stablecoin on the XRP Ledger.”

This move sets the XRP Ledger up as a serious infrastructure provider in the regulated stablecoin arena alongside Ethereum and other enterprise-focused blockchains. The launch of RLUSD, Ripple’s stablecoin, on the XRPL also contributes to the network’s growing prominence in the stablecoin scene.

Bank-Grade Infrastructure for the Future of Finance

Furthermore, Ripple continues to build an end-to-end digital asset infrastructure, supporting everything from payments and custody to tokenization. According to Craddock, Ripple is not only solving cross-border liquidity problems but is also laying the groundwork for broader use cases in tokenized finance.

She stressed that acquiring custody technology in 2023 was critical for Ripple because custody is the entry point to everything in digital assets, whether for tokenization, payments, NFTs, or anything else. “You need to get your custody right, and it needs to be bank-grade,” Craddock said.

Additionally, Craddock noted that this critical piece of infrastructure is now enabling the company to partner with banks and financial institutions so they can tokenize assets and create use cases—even if Ripple doesn’t directly engage in those areas—by using its technology.

Craddock also credited the MiCA regulation for enabling institutions to “lean into the blockchain and digital asset space” with confidence. As a result, Ripple is seeing increasing demand for tokenizing money market funds and other financial products across the region.

Early Signs Things Are Falling into Place

Ultimately, Craddock noted that Ripple is creating ecosystems where developers and institutions can push boundaries and power the future of financial services. She added that a strong user experience depends on robust infrastructure—wallets, custodians, and compliance tools.

“We’re seeing early signs that these components are in place, but there’s still quite a journey ahead to truly bring this to a global scale,” she concluded.

Senator Cynthia Lummis Says Holding 1 Million BTC for 20 Years Could Cut U.S. Debt in Half

Albert Brown
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Senator Cynthia Lummis Says Holding 1 Million BTC for 20 Years Could Cut U.S. Debt in Half

Senator Cynthia Lummis has reiterated the plan for the U.S. to acquire 200,000 Bitcoin annually over the next five years to address the ballooning national debt. 

In a conversation, Lummis discussed the strategy, which would accumulate 1 million Bitcoin—roughly 5% of the total global supply. By holding onto this Bitcoin for 20 years, Lummis envisions that it could contribute to reducing the nation’s debt by 50%.

This strategy is based on sophisticated financial models that highlight Bitcoin’s potential as a significant long-term asset for national fiscal policy.

Strategy Supported by Fiscal Responsibility

Lummis stressed that the success of this Bitcoin-backed approach would hinge on a Congress committed to fiscal responsibility. She underscored the need to align U.S. revenues with expenditures, advocating for policies that focus on long-term economic stability.

According to Lummis, integrating Bitcoin into the country’s financial framework could significantly complement broader efforts to reduce the national debt, making it a critical asset for this goal.

She also reflected on the extreme fiscal decisions made during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the U.S. printed more money in just 22 months than in any previous period of history.

She argued that this unprecedented increase in dollar supply led to the devaluation of the U.S. dollar. This undermined its ability to serve as a reliable store of value. In light of this, Lummis believes that Bitcoin offers a sound alternative for securing long-term financial stability.

Meme Coins: Entertainment, Not Investment

In addition to her discussion on Bitcoin, Lummis addressed the growing popularity of meme coins. She emphasized that these digital assets should be marketed solely as entertainment rather than as investment vehicles.

Highlighting Melania Trump’s meme coin as an example, Lummis praised the proper framing of the asset, which was marketed for entertainment purposes rather than as a serious financial investment. 

She stressed the need for clear distinctions between legitimate investments and assets that are simply created for fun. These distinctions, she believes, are essential for maintaining market integrity and protecting investors.

Advocacy for Bitcoin in the U.S. Financial System

As a long-time advocate for Bitcoin, Lummis has worked tirelessly to integrate the crypto into U.S. financial strategies. In July 2024, she introduced the Boosting Innovation, Technology, and Competitiveness through Optimized Investment Nationwide (BITCOIN) Act. 

This legislation proposed creating a decentralized network of secure Bitcoin vaults managed by the U.S. Department of the Treasury to acquire one million Bitcoin. 

Lummis has also previously showcased her support for the crypto community by adopting the widely recognized laser eye meme. Bitcoin enthusiasts often use this symbol to express their optimistic views and unwavering confidence in BTC’s future potential.

 

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