The post XRP Explosion Ahead? ETFs Hit $1B as Japan Launches New Payment Platform appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The XRP ecosystem is making headlines as institutional interest rises, exchange-traded funds gain traction, and a Japanese fintech firm launches a new payment platform built on the XRP Ledger.

While recent price movements have been bearish, experts like Zach Rector say more developments are happening at the infrastructure level, where new financial tools and integrations are gradually strengthening the network’s long-term utility.

At the time of writing, XRP is trading above $1.40, down more than 3%,

Japanese Fintech Firm Launches XRP Ledger Payment Platform

One of the most recent developments comes from a Tokyo-based fintech startup, which has introduced a global trade finance payment platform powered by the XRP Ledger.

Founded in 2022, the company said its system uses multi-party decentralized consensus and escrow settlement mechanisms to facilitate trade finance transactions.

According to the company’s announcement, the platform aims to streamline settlement for letters of credit (LC) transactions, a process that traditionally requires multiple intermediaries and can take several days to complete.

With XRP Ledger technology, settlements can be finalized almost instantly once transaction conditions are met.

The company believes the blockchain-based escrow mechanism can remove one of the last sources of friction in traditional trade finance, allowing conditional payments to be processed automatically when contractual requirements are fulfilled.

Importantly, the integration appears to be independent of Ripple, highlighting how companies are increasingly choosing the XRP Ledger on their own for financial infrastructure solutions.

Asia-Pacific Continues to Drive XRP Adoption

Japan has long been considered one of the most crypto-friendly markets in the world, and the Asia-Pacific region continues to see steady adoption of blockchain-based payment technology.

Initiatives like the Viteup launch reflect growing interest among fintech firms looking to modernize cross-border payments and settlement processes.

Rather than relying on legacy financial rails that can take days to process transactions, blockchain platforms like the XRP Ledger offer near-instant settlement and lower transaction costs.

This efficiency has made XRP particularly appealing for companies involved in international payments and trade finance.

XRP ETFs Record Strong Activity

At the same time, institutional demand for XRP exposure is growing through exchange-traded funds.

Data from XRP ETF trackers shows that total assets under management across XRP-focused ETFs have reached roughly $1.1 billion, with more than 800 million XRP reportedly held in custody by these funds.

Daily trading activity has also been strong, with volumes recently reaching around $52 million in a single day.

Executives from investment firm Bitwise recently stated that their XRP ETF has become the largest such product in the United States, reporting roughly $10 million in inflows during the week.

The growing ETF market indicates that professional investors are increasingly viewing XRP as part of a broader digital asset portfolio.

Expanding Infrastructure for XRP Yield

Another trend is the development of yield-generating infrastructure for XRP holders.

Platforms focused on decentralized finance and institutional custody are beginning to introduce services that allow XRP liquidity to be used across multiple blockchain ecosystems.

For example, digital asset infrastructure provider Doppler has partnered with Hex Trust to build institutional custody and yield solutions for wrapped XRP, enabling the asset to participate in cross-chain liquidity markets.

The initiative could expand XRP’s role beyond payments by allowing it to be used in decentralized financial applications.

The post Cardano’s Charles Hoskinson Has One Question For XRP Community and It Might Be Worth Listening To appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has raised concerns about a proposed U.S. cryptocurrency bill, warning it could place several digital assets, including XRP,  under securities laws at launch.

Speaking about the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act of 2025, Hoskinson said the legislation could classify many blockchain tokens as securities by default, forcing projects to prove to regulators that they should later be treated as commodities.

The bill, formally known as H.R. 3633, has already passed the U.S. House of Representatives and is now under consideration in the Senate. It aims to create a clearer regulatory framework for cryptocurrencies by dividing oversight between the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

However, Hoskinson warned the structure of the bill could create new regulatory risks for the crypto industry.

XRP Would Likely Start as a Security

“Here’s a very simple question for the XRP community. This is a fact-based conversation based on the bill as written today. Reading the bill as it currently stands, would XRP have been considered a security at the time of its launch?” he asked.

According to Hoskinson, the legislation assumes that newly launched digital assets begin as securities if they are issued or distributed by a founding team to fund network development.

“Everything starts as a security,” he said while reviewing the bill. “XRP starts as a security. Cardano starts as a security. Ethereum starts as a security.”

Under the framework proposed in the Clarity Act, a token could later transition to commodity status only if the underlying blockchain becomes sufficiently decentralized. At that point, oversight would move from the SEC to the CFTC.

Hoskinson argued that when the XRP Ledger launched in 2012, its development and token distribution were heavily linked to its founding team, which later formed Ripple Labs. Because of that early structure, he believes the network would not have met the bill’s definition of a “mature blockchain system” at the time.

Concerns Over Regulatory Power

Hoskinson also warned that the legislation could allow regulators to delay or deny a project’s transition away from securities classification.

Under the proposal, crypto issuers would need to prove that their networks are decentralized and no longer reliant on the original developers. Hoskinson argued that this process could be heavily influenced by regulatory interpretation.

“You start as a security, and then you have to go to the SEC and say, ‘I don’t think I’m a security anymore,’” he said.

He said that the agency could impose additional disclosure requirements or procedural hurdles that might make it difficult for projects to meet the standard.

Some industry leaders, including Brad Garlinghouse, have argued that passing legislation — even if imperfect, is better than continuing under regulatory uncertainty. Hoskinson, however, said poorly designed rules could entrench regulatory power over crypto projects for years.

“This is what a bad bill means,” he said, warning that future rulemaking could make it difficult for new blockchain projects to escape securities classification.

The post Crypto Market Crash: Top Analyst Reveals What’s Next For Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The recent volatility in the crypto market has left investors questioning whether the latest pullback means a deeper crash or just a temporary correction. While prices have struggled to maintain momentum, one market strategist believes the current setup could still lead to a short-term rally before any larger decline unfolds.

According to market strategist Gareth Soloway, the charts hint that major cryptocurrencies including Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP may be approaching a  breakout moment. However, he warns that the broader market structure still carries bearish risks in the longer term.

Bitcoin Could Rally Toward $80K–$85K

Soloway points to a technical pattern known as a bull flag, which has formed after Bitcoin’s recent surge followed by a period of consolidation.

According to his analysis, Bitcoin spent multiple trading sessions moving within a tight range after a strong upward move. This type of price action often signals that the market is digesting recent gains before another potential breakout.

If Bitcoin successfully breaks above the current consolidation level, Soloway says the next likely target could fall between $80,000 and $85,000.

In his view, the current rally could still be part of a larger bearish formation. Even if Bitcoin climbs toward the $80K range in the short term, the broader market structure may eventually lead to another wave of downside. In a more negative macro scenario, Bitcoin could revisit the low $50,000 range, and in extreme cases even move lower if broader financial markets weaken.

Ethereum Approaching Breakout Level

The outlook for Ethereum shows a similar setup. According to Soloway, Ethereum has been repeatedly testing a major trendline resistance.

If ETH manages to break and hold above this level, it could trigger a move toward $2,600 to $2,700, representing a notable recovery from recent lows.

Like Bitcoin, Ethereum has also formed a consolidation pattern with multiple “inside bars,” a technical signal that often precedes a strong directional move.

XRP and Altcoins Show Signs of Strength

Among other altcoins, XRP is also showing a constructive chart pattern.

Soloway says XRP appears to be forming a bull flag structure, which typically indicates the possibility of another upward move. The asset is currently approaching a resistance zone formed by previous price lows.

If XRP manages to break above its current level, the move could open the door for a larger rally. However, strong resistance remains ahead, meaning the market will need sustained buying momentum to continue higher.

The post Why is Bitcoin Price Going Down Today? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The price of Bitcoin slipped on Thursday, falling around 2.3% in the past 24 hours to roughly $71,200, as the market cooled after failing to sustain a breakout above an important resistance zone.

The decline comes after Bitcoin briefly surged past $73,000 earlier this week, only to face strong selling pressure. Analysts say the pullback shows a combination of technical rejection, reduced trading momentum, and cautious sentiment across the broader crypto market.

Bitcoin Faces Rejection at Key Resistance

Bitcoin’s recent rally lost direction after encountering a major liquidity zone between $73,000 and $75,000, where sellers stepped in aggressively.

Market data shows that 24-hour trading volume dropped about 6.4%, indicating fading buying pressure following the earlier surge. Such declines in volume often signal that a rally is running out of steam, prompting short-term traders to lock in profits.

For now, the move appears to be a technical correction rather than a major trend reversal, as the asset consolidates after its latest rebound.

Broader Crypto Market Also Turns Lower

Bitcoin’s pullback coincides with weakness across the wider digital asset market. The total crypto market capitalization has slipped roughly 1.9% to about $2.42 trillion, reflecting softer risk appetite among investors.

Major cryptocurrencies including Ethereum and XRP also recorded modest losses, reinforcing the view that the decline is part of a broader market slowdown rather than a Bitcoin-specific event.

Without a fresh catalyst to extend the rally, traders appear to be adopting a wait-and-see approach.

Levels Traders Are Watching

From a technical standpoint, analysts are focusing on several important price levels that could determine Bitcoin’s next move.

• $69,600 – Immediate support near the 50% Fibonacci retracement level
  
• $71,800 – Short-term resistance if the price rebounds
  
• $67,300 – Next major downside support if selling pressure increases
  

Holding above $69,600 could allow Bitcoin to stabilize and attempt another move higher. However, a decisive break below that level could open the door to deeper downside in the near term.

Macro Events Could Drive the Next Move

Investors are also closely monitoring the upcoming Federal Open Market Committee Meeting scheduled for March 18, where the Federal Reserve will provide its latest policy outlook.

Interest-rate expectations and macroeconomic signals from the Fed often influence risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.

The post Crypto Rally Alert: BTC Breaks 73K, ETH and XRP Join Amid War Tensions appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The cryptocurrency market staged a strong rally today, with Bitcoin climbing past $73,000 and lifting the broader market alongside it. The sudden surge pushed the total crypto market capitalization to roughly $2.47 trillion, marking one of the strongest intraday moves in recent weeks.

Bitcoin led the advance, trading near $72,700–$73,000 after gaining more than 5.5% in 24 hours. The move added tens of billions of dollars to Bitcoin’s market value, which now stands at over $1.45 trillion.

The rally was not limited to Bitcoin. Ethereum climbed above $2,130, rising more than 6.6%, while XRP moved up toward $1.44, gaining nearly 5% as the bullish momentum spread across major cryptocurrencies.

Bitcoin Breakout Drives Market Momentum

Much of the rally began with Bitcoin breaking through important technical levels.

Crypto analyst Lark Davis pointed out that Bitcoin recently moved above its 20-day exponential moving average (EMA) after spending nearly a week trading around that level.

He said that reclaiming this indicator could signal the start of stronger momentum. The last time Bitcoin achieved a similar breakout earlier this year, the price quickly rallied by nearly $10,000 in a short period.

Still, Davis warned that volume has not yet surged dramatically, meaning traders are waiting to see whether the move develops into a full trend reversal or remains a short-term relief rally.

Ethereum Near Breakout Zone

Ethereum is also approaching a crucial technical level. Analysts say $2,100 acts as an important breakout point for Ethereum’s chart structure. A decisive move above that level could open the door to a larger upward move.

Some technical projections show that a breakout could trigger a potential $500 upside move, which would place Ethereum closer to the $2,700–$2,800 range, near previous support zones.

For now, Ethereum continues to build within a broader triangular pattern that traders are monitoring for confirmation of the next major trend.

XRP and Altcoins Follow Bitcoin

The strength in Bitcoin and Ethereum helped lift other major cryptocurrencies.

XRP rose toward $1.44, while other large-cap assets such as Solana and Dogecoin also recorded solid gains during the rally.

Despite the upward movement, the Altcoin Season Index remains at 31, shows Bitcoin still dominates overall market momentum.

Geopolitics Adds Another Layer

Global events are also influencing the market.

Recent tensions in the Middle East have driven unusual activity in certain crypto markets. Data from blockchain analytics firms Chainalysis and Elliptic shows that crypto outflows from Iranian exchanges surged as much as 873% above normal levels following regional airstrikes.

Crypto is increasingly being used in countries facing economic pressure or sanctions, both as a financial escape route for citizens and as a strategic tool for governments navigating global restrictions.

What Comes Next for Bitcoin?

For now, the biggest focus remains Bitcoin’s ability to hold above the $72,000–$73,000 range.

If the price maintains momentum above this level, analysts say the next targets could emerge around $75,000 and beyond. However, failure to hold these gains could bring short-term consolidation back into the market.

The post How High Will Bitcoin Price Go This Week? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Bitcoin climbed over the past 24 hours, raising a question across the market: how high can Bitcoin go this week?

Bitcoin is currently trading near $71,370, up about 6.35% in the last 24 hours. The rally appears to be driven mainly by activity in derivatives markets, where a large number of bearish bets were suddenly forced to close.

Short Squeeze Sparks the Rally

One of the biggest reasons behind Bitcoin’s jump is a short squeeze.

Data from derivatives markets shows that funding rates turned negative (-0.0014%), indicating that many traders were betting on Bitcoin’s price to fall. When the price started rising instead, those traders were forced to close their short positions by buying Bitcoin back.

This triggered a wave of liquidations.

In the last 24 hours alone, more than $190 million worth of Bitcoin positions were liquidated, adding strong buying pressure and pushing prices higher.

Capital Moving Into Bitcoin

Another trend is the rise in Bitcoin’s share of the crypto market.

Bitcoin dominance increased from 58.4% to 59.0% in just one day, showing that investors are moving funds from altcoins into Bitcoin. This type of rotation often happens when traders want to reduce risk while staying inside the crypto market.

Technically, Bitcoin is also showing strong momentum. The price is currently trading above important moving averages, while the RSI indicator sits near 72, showing strong but slightly overheated conditions.

Price Levels to Watch

For the rally to continue, analysts say Bitcoin must stay above an important support level.

The $70,553 level is currently acting as a major support based on Fibonacci retracement analysis. If Bitcoin holds above this level, the next target is a retest of the recent $71,886 swing high.

A successful breakout above that level could open the door for further gains this week.

However, if Bitcoin drops below $70,553, the market could see a pullback toward the $69,000 range.

Analysts Remain Divided

Not everyone is convinced the rally will continue.

Gold advocate Peter Schiff warned that Bitcoin’s move above $71,000 could be misleading. He wrote that the rally is a “head fake” and suggested investors should consider selling Bitcoin and buying precious metals instead.

At the same time, several market analysts say the recent bounce from support could signal the start of a new upward leg.

Bitcoin reacted strongly to a key support zone, adding that the recent breakout attempt makes another immediate drop less likely, although volatility could still continue.

What Comes Next

For now, Bitcoin appears to have regained short-term momentum after weeks of choppy trading.

If the price holds above the $70,000 range, analysts say Bitcoin could attempt a move toward $72,000–$74,000 in the coming days. A stronger breakout could even push the market toward the $75,000–$84,000 range over time.

For this week, the $72,000 level remains an important area to watch.

The post Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP Rally: Why is Crypto Market Going Up Today? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The cryptocurrency market saw a strong rebound today as major digital assets moved sharply higher within a few hours, pushing the total crypto market capitalization above $2.4 trillion.

Bitcoin led the rally, breaking above $71,000 after gaining about 5% in the last five hours, adding nearly $70 billion to its market capitalization. 

At the same time, Ethereum climbed above $2,050, rising roughly 5.6% and adding around $14 billion in value. XRP also moved higher, trading near $1.40 as the rally spread across major altcoins.

In total, the crypto market added more than $100 billion in value within just a few hours.

Short Liquidations Trigger Rapid Price Surge

One of the main reasons behind the sudden rally was a wave of short liquidations.

As Bitcoin pushed past resistance levels, traders who had bet on falling prices were forced to close their positions. This created a chain reaction of buy orders that accelerated the upward move.

Data shows that nearly $110 million worth of short positions were liquidated across the crypto market during the surge.

These types of liquidation cascades often intensify price movements because they force leveraged traders to buy back assets quickly.

Bitcoin Breakout Sets the Tone

The rally began after Bitcoin successfully moved above the $70,000 level, which many traders viewed as a critical resistance point.

On-chain data also points to declining selling pressure from large holders. According to analytics platform CryptoQuant, exchange inflows dropped to around 28,235 BTC, a level often associated with reduced selling activity.

Lower exchange inflows usually indicate that investors are holding their assets rather than preparing to sell them, which can help strengthen bullish momentum.

Macro Conditions Offer Support

The move also comes amid a slightly improved macroeconomic backdrop.

Bitcoin has recently shown a strong relationship with traditional financial markets, with analysts observing a 63% correlation with the S&P 500. Comments from a Federal Reserve official supporting a potential pause in interest rate hikes helped ease immediate macro concerns and improved risk sentiment across markets.

As a result, investors appeared more willing to move back into risk assets, including cryptocurrencies.

Altcoins Join the Rally

Once Bitcoin gained momentum, the rally quickly spread to altcoins.

Ethereum’s move above $2,000 attracted fresh buying interest, while XRP and other major assets such as Solana and BNB also posted gains.

Despite the market surge, the Altcoin Season Index remains relatively low at 32, suggesting that Bitcoin still dominates market momentum for now.

Levels to Watch

Bitcoin holding above $72,000 could confirm stronger bullish momentum and open the door for a move toward the $78,000–$80,000 range. However, if Bitcoin fails to sustain its gains, the market could see another test of support around $68,000.

For now, the surge in Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP has lifted the entire crypto market, showing how quickly sentiment can shift once key resistance levels are broken.

The post XRP Price Prediction 2026: What 3 AI Models Say About the Next Cycle appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The cryptocurrency market has been volatile in early 2026, and XRP has not been immune to the volatility. Over the past month, the digital asset lost roughly 45% of its value within four weeks.

However, some analysts argue that the recent decline may not tell the full story. New projections generated by three artificial intelligence models hint that XRP’s long-term trajectory could look very different from its recent performance.

XRP’s Sharp Correction Raises Questions

The recent downturn followed technical issues and broader market pressure, which pushed XRP into one of its steepest short-term corrections in recent years.

While the price dropped sharply, network activity on the XRP Ledger reportedly increased by about 30% during the same period. For analysts, that divergence between price and usage has sparked debate about whether the asset’s market value is temporarily disconnecting from its underlying utility.

In traditional markets, such situations sometimes occur when investors react strongly to short-term news while long-term fundamentals continue to develop.

Three AI Models Offer Different Scenarios

To better understand XRP’s possible path forward, analysts applied three separate artificial intelligence forecasting models. Each model produced a different outlook based on varying assumptions about adoption, liquidity and market cycles.

Model One: Utility-Driven Floor

The first model estimates a conservative range of $1.50 to $2. This scenario assumes XRP continues growing steadily through real-world payment use cases and institutional transaction flows.

Even without strong retail speculation, the model suggests that rising activity on the XRP Ledger could support a gradual price increase over time.

Model Two: Cyclical Growth Scenario

A second model places XRP within a $3 to $5 range, drawing comparisons to historical crypto market cycles.

This projection assumes that XRP benefits from broader market expansion and increasing adoption following legal clarity and infrastructure development across the network.

Under this scenario, XRP evolves from a speculative asset into a more mature financial instrument used in cross-border transactions and liquidity management.

Model Three: Liquidity Shock Outlier

The most aggressive model explores a scenario in which XRP’s role in global payment infrastructure expands rapidly. If financial institutions adopt the network as a major bridge liquidity layer, demand for XRP could increase significantly.

In that case, the model says the token could potentially move into double-digit territory during the next major market cycle.

Analysts warn that this outcome depends heavily on institutional adoption and broader financial market developments.

A Market Still Driven by Sentiment

Despite these projections, the crypto market remains sensitive to short-term sentiment.

Large price swings often occur when traders react quickly to news events, technical issues or macroeconomic developments. In the short term, market behavior can resemble what investors describe as a “voting machine,” where sentiment dominates.

Over longer periods, however, price movements tend to align more closely with utility, adoption and network growth.

The post Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Says THIS as Trump Calls Out Banks Over Crypto Bill appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

A fresh political push for crypto legislation is stirring debate across Washington and the digital asset industry.

U.S. President Donald Trump issued a forceful statement backing the CLARITY Act and warning that major banks should not undermine what he described as America’s crypto agenda.

In his remarks, Trump said the “Genius Act” was being threatened by banks and stressed that the United States must finalize market structure legislation as soon as possible. He argued that Americans deserve the opportunity to earn more on their money and warned that delays could push innovation to countries like China.

Trump framed the legislation as part of a broader effort to position the U.S. as the “Crypto Capital of the World,” adding that the industry should not be stalled by traditional financial institutions protecting their interests.

Ripple CEO Calls Message “Extremely Pointed”

Reacting to Trump’s comments, Brad Garlinghouse described the statement as “an extremely pointed message” to lawmakers and stakeholders who have slowed progress on the CLARITY Act.

An extremely pointed message from @POTUS to those who are dragging their feet on CLARITY.

This is, and always has been, about what’s in the best interest of the American people. pic.twitter.com/t1CIFBOBg4

— Brad Garlinghouse (@bgarlinghouse) March 3, 2026

Garlinghouse’s response quickly gained traction within the XRP community, where regulatory clarity has long been viewed as essential to long-term growth.

The CEO of Ripple has repeatedly argued that the absence of clear digital asset rules in the U.S. has placed domestic firms at a disadvantage compared to international competitors. His latest reaction shows growing alignment between parts of the crypto industry and political voices calling for immediate action.

Lawmakers and Industry Voices Weigh In

The discussion expanded beyond Ripple.

Mike Selig also backed publicly backed Trump’s stance, stating that the CLARITY Act must pass to establish a future-proof digital asset market structure. He added that the Commodity Futures Trading Commission is prepared to implement the framework under the current administration.

Across social platforms, reactions reflected frustration with perceived delays. Several users questioned why banks should have influence over legislation that could introduce competition to their business models. Others argued that clear rules would unlock innovation, attract builders and accelerate U.S. leadership in blockchain development.

A recurring theme in the responses was urgency. Many commenters warned that Congress is running out of time and called for immediate passage of the bill to prevent the U.S. from falling behind in global crypto adoption.

What’s at Stake

At its core, the debate centers on market structure.

The CLARITY Act tries to define how digital assets are classified and regulated, potentially drawing clearer boundaries between securities and commodities oversight. For years, regulatory uncertainty has been cited as one of the biggest obstacles facing crypto companies operating in the United States.

Trump’s statement framed the issue as one of national competitiveness. He suggested that failing to finalize crypto legislation could shift innovation and capital overseas. That message resonates strongly with industry leaders who argue that regulatory ambiguity has already slowed domestic progress.