The post Why Positive Crypto News Isn’t Moving Prices in 2026 appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

In past cycles, headlines like major institutional investments or global tech giants adopting blockchain would have sent crypto markets soaring. In 2026, the reaction has been very different.

Even as firms such as BlackRock increase exposure to decentralized finance projects like Uniswap, token prices have barely budged, sometimes even falling on the day of the announcement. When Meta revealed plans to expand stablecoin access to billions of users, the market response was muted. A few years ago, similar news would have dominated headlines for months.

So why isn’t good news translating into higher prices?

The Psychology of a Bear Market

According to Matt Hougan, the answer lies less in fundamentals and more in investor psychology.

In bearish environments, investors tend to fixate on risk. Hougan describes this as a mix of anchoring bias and a survival instinct. When markets feel threatened, participants focus almost exclusively on downside scenarios. Positive developments are acknowledged but discounted.

In other words, when sentiment turns negative, it becomes extremely difficult for good news to shift perception.

That dynamic helps explain why major adoption milestones — institutional capital entering DeFi, payment giants expanding blockchain infrastructure, strong earnings from stablecoin issuers — are failing to ignite rallies.

A Growing Gap Between Reality and Sentiment

Behind the weak price action, the industry continues to advance.

Institutional investors are building tokenization platforms. Payment processors are integrating blockchain rails. Stablecoin usage is expanding globally. Real-world asset tokenization is moving from pilot programs toward production-level systems.

Yet crypto prices reflect caution, not growth. Hougan argues that this widening gap between fundamentals and market mood may be one of the largest in recent memory. The “vibes” remain poor even as structural adoption improves.

Historically, such disconnects have marked late-stage bear markets. Markets often bottom not when news turns positive, but when investors are too pessimistic to respond to it.

Why Prices Lag Fundamentals

Crypto cycles are rarely smooth reflections of progress. In bullish phases, prices often run far ahead of fundamentals. In bearish phases, the opposite happens: prices undershoot real-world development.

In 2025 and early 2026, expectations were high that accelerating institutional adoption would push valuations sharply higher. Instead, markets delivered a middling performance before slipping back into risk-off mode.

That disappointment may have amplified the current malaise. Investors who expected explosive upside from strong fundamentals are now reluctant to react to incremental positive updates.

The post Ripple Roadmap for 2026: Where XRP Is Heading and What’s Changing on the XRP Ledger appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The XRP Ledger ecosystem is entering what could be its most important transition since its early expansion phase.

After years of direct funding and builder programs, 2026 marks a shift in how development around XRP will be supported. Instead of relying heavily on centralized grant structures, the model is evolving toward a broader, more distributed system designed to give founders multiple pathways to build, raise capital, and scale.

With more than $550 million deployed into XRP Ledger initiatives since 2017, the next chapter is less about raw funding totals and more about structure, access, and global reach.

From Grants to a Broader Ecosystem Model

Over the past several years, the XRP Ledger has grown from a niche developer network into a global ecosystem spanning payments, decentralized finance, tokenization, gaming, artificial intelligence integrations, and enterprise financial applications.

Programs such as hackathons, accelerator cohorts, grants, and builder incentives have supported nearly 200 projects since 2021. These efforts helped strengthen infrastructure and push real-world use cases beyond experimentation.

Now, the roadmap for 2026 reflects a structural evolution.

Rather than concentrating funding primarily through Ripple-backed initiatives, support is expanding across independent organizations, regional hubs, venture capital firms, and community-led governance structures. The goal is simple: create a more resilient builder economy where access to capital and mentorship does not depend on a single gatekeeper.

FinTech Builder Program: Institutional Focus Expands

One of the additions to the 2026 roadmap is the FinTech Builder Program.

As traditional financial technology firms increasingly explore blockchain rails, the focus is shifting toward institutional-grade applications. The new program is structured to guide founders building in areas such as stablecoin payments, tokenization, regulated financial services, and credit infrastructure.

Unlike earlier grant models, this initiative is designed to provide structured, long-term support. That includes product development guidance, technical integration with XRP Ledger infrastructure, and connections to venture networks.

The aim is to move projects beyond proof-of-concept stages and into production-ready financial tools.

Community Governance Gains More Influence

Another part of the 2026 direction involves decentralizing decision-making.

The launch of XAO DAO introduces a hybrid governance structure designed specifically for the XRP Ledger community. Instead of funding decisions flowing from a single organization, DAO participants will be able to vote on proposals, allocate microgrants, and help shape ecosystem priorities.

This shift toward community-driven allocation reflects a broader theme in the roadmap: long-term sustainability through distributed governance.

By expanding the number of stakeholders involved in funding decisions, the XRP ecosystem is attempting to reduce structural concentration while encouraging faster experimentation.

XRPL Commons and Regional Expansion

Independent ecosystem organizations are also playing a larger role.

XRPL Commons, which operates separately, continues to support builders through grants, partnerships, and incubation programs. Its nine-week incubator in Paris has already supported early-stage startups building directly on the ledger.

Meanwhile, regional expansion is accelerating. A new hub focused on the Asia-Pacific region is in development, aimed at strengthening local builder communities and ensuring that high-potential projects in APAC have direct access to global XRP infrastructure.

This geographic expansion is critical as blockchain adoption increasingly moves eastward, particularly in fintech-heavy markets.

Universities Enter the Picture

The University Digital Asset Xcelerator is also expanding in 2026.

After launching its first cohort in partnership with UC Berkeley, the accelerator model is scaling to institutions in Brazil and the United Kingdom. By tapping into university ecosystems known for producing venture-backed founders, the initiative seeks to bring academic innovation directly into blockchain entrepreneurship.

Venture Capital Participation Increases

Another trend heading into 2026 is deeper venture capital involvement.

Several global investment firms are increasingly active in mentoring and funding projects building on the XRP Ledger. Rather than depending solely on internal grants, founders are gaining exposure to broader capital markets.

This development suggests that XRP infrastructure projects are beginning to compete more directly in mainstream fintech investment circles.

Greater VC participation also means higher expectations around scalability, compliance, and real-world adoption.

Where XRP Fits Into the 2026 Vision

While much of the roadmap focuses on builders, the implications extend directly to XRP itself.

As more institutional-grade applications launch on the XRP Ledger, demand for network usage could expand beyond speculative trading. Payment rails, tokenized assets, and regulated financial services create different forms of on-chain activity compared to purely retail-driven cycles.

If execution matches ambition, 2026 may represent a pivot from experimentation toward structured financial infrastructure development.

That does not guarantee price outcomes. But it does signal a maturing ecosystem attempting to position XRP and its underlying ledger for broader financial integration.

A More Distributed Future

The overarching theme of the Ripple roadmap for 2026 is distribution.

Funding sources are diversifying. Governance is broadening. Regional hubs are expanding. University pipelines are forming. Venture firms are participating more directly.

For builders, that means more entry points.

For XRP holders, it means the ecosystem is evolving from a centrally supported growth phase into a multi-entity, globally connected infrastructure network.

How effectively this transition unfolds will determine whether 2026 becomes just another development cycle or a defining moment in the XRP Ledger’s long-term trajectory.

The post Pakistan-Afghanistan War and Crypto: Will Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP Crash? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Pakistan’s military launched airstrikes on targets in Kabul overnight, sharply escalating tensions with neighboring Afghanistan and prompting Islamabad’s defense minister to describe the situation as an “open war.” Kabul authorities reported casualties and vowed retaliation, as cross-border artillery exchanges intensified along disputed frontier zones.

Global powers including Russia, Iran and the United Nations called for immediate restraint, warning that a prolonged confrontation between nuclear-armed Pakistan and Taliban-controlled Afghanistan could destabilize South Asia at a delicate economic moment.

For financial markets, the first reaction was familiar. Risk assets wobbled. Oil edged higher on regional uncertainty. And cryptocurrencies, often described as borderless and detached from geopolitics, slipped modestly into the red.

As of writing, Bitcoin traded near $67,600, down roughly 1% on the day. Ethereum hovered around $2,030, while XRP changed hands near $1.41. The broader crypto market capitalization stood around $2.3 trillion, reflecting a mild but noticeable shift toward caution.

The First Shock: Risk-Off

History suggests that when war headlines break, crypto behaves less like “digital gold” and more like a high-beta tech stock.

When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Bitcoin initially dropped sharply as investors sought safety in the U.S. dollar and gold. A similar pattern emerged during flare-ups in the Middle East in 2023 and 2024, when sudden escalations triggered 5% to 10% pullbacks across major tokens.

The Pakistan-Afghanistan confrontation could follow that script. An escalation would likely spark short-term selling pressure, particularly in altcoins, as global investors reduce exposure to risk-sensitive assets.

The Second Phase: Utility in Conflict

Yet war has also revealed another side of crypto.

During the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Ukraine raised more than $100 million in digital asset donations. Russians turned to stablecoins to bypass capital controls. In the Middle East, militant groups and humanitarian organizations alike used crypto rails to move funds when traditional banking channels were disrupted.

South Asia presents similar dynamics. Afghanistan has faced severe banking restrictions since the Taliban’s return to power. Aid agencies have experimented with digital wallets to distribute assistance. Militant organizations in the region have reportedly explored crypto for cross-border transfers.

If the conflict deepens, crypto could see a surge in localized usage even as prices wobble globally.

Bitcoin: Safe Haven or Speculative Asset?

For Bitcoin, the question is whether it trades as protection or speculation.

In prolonged crises tied to currency instability or sanctions, Bitcoin has sometimes rallied on a “digital gold” narrative. But in the immediate aftermath of military escalation, liquidity tends to dry up and volatility increases.

If markets begin to fear broader regional destabilization or global macro spillover, Bitcoin could test lower support levels before any safe-haven bid materializes.

The post Is Canton Replacing XRP at the DTCC? Here’s What the Debate Is Really About appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

A fresh discussion is taking place in the XRP community: Is the Canton Network quietly replacing XRP in institutional finance?

The question gained traction after Apex Crypto Insights’s Jesse addressed growing claims that Canton could take over roles tied to the DTCC, the financial giant that processes trillions of dollars in securities transactions every year.

But according to Jesse’s breakdown, that narrative misses a point.

Canton and XRP were built for very different jobs.

What Canton Actually Does

The Canton Network, launched in 2023 by Digital Asset, is designed for institutional finance. Its main focus is tokenizing real-world assets like U.S. Treasuries, bonds, and other securities — while keeping data private and compliant with regulatory rules.

In simple terms, Canton helps institutions move and manage tokenized assets securely.

It emphasizes:

• Configurable privacy
  
• Atomic settlement (all-or-nothing transactions)
  
• Institutional compliance
  
• Subnetworks that limit who sees what
  

Its native token is mainly used to pay network fees and support system activity. It was not designed to act as a neutral bridge currency for cross-border liquidity.

And that’s where XRP comes in.

What XRP Was Built For

XRP was explicitly designed as a bridge asset.

The XRP Ledger enables instant conversion from one currency to another — for example, converting U.S. dollars into XRP and then into pesos in seconds, without the need to pre-fund accounts around the world.

This is what Ripple calls On-Demand Liquidity.

Instead of parking money in foreign accounts and waiting days for settlement, XRP can provide liquidity in real time.

That’s a very different function from what Canton is trying to do.

Why the DTCC Question Matters

The DTCC plays a central role in post-trade settlement. It processes enormous volumes of transactions annually, including cross-border flows.

Some have speculated that Canton’s growing institutional footprint means XRP is being sidelined. But Jesse argues that the two networks serve complementary roles, not competing ones.

Canton focuses on tokenizing and settling assets within regulated financial ecosystems. XRP focuses on liquidity bridging — especially when value needs to move across currencies and borders.

Those are not interchangeable tasks.

The Liquidity Angle

One of the biggest differences is liquidity.

XRP relies on global exchanges, market makers, and deep liquidity pools to function as a bridge between currencies,  particularly in corridors where direct fiat pairs are thin or inefficient.

Canton, by contrast, depends on institutional participants building liquidity within specific asset environments. It is more U.S.-centric and geared toward tokenized securities and stablecoin-backed settlement.

That makes it powerful for asset tokenization — but not necessarily for global liquidity bridging.

Could They Work Together?

The more realistic scenario is not “Canton replacing XRP.”

Instead, institutions like the DTCC could theoretically use:

• Canton for tokenizing and managing regulated assets
  
• XRP for cross-border settlement and payment legs
  

In that model, XRP would still handle liquidity bridging, while Canton manages the asset layer.

They operate in different lanes.

Whether institutions ultimately deploy one, both, or neither at scale remains to be seen. But based on their architecture and use cases, they are solving different problems — not fighting for the same one.

The post Crypto News Today: XRP Spot Buys Surge 212% as Institutional Inflows Top $1.1 Billion appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Trading activity around XRP has picked up sharply, with new data from Bitrue showing a significant jump in spot purchases.

According to the exchange, XRP spot buy volumes recently climbed 212%, with buying pressure more than doubling the sell side. The spike comes as institutional interest in XRP has been steadily building, particularly following the launch of XRP-linked exchange-traded products.

Market Reset Clears the Way

The surge follows a broader market shakeout in mid-February, when roughly $1.9 billion in realized losses were recorded across crypto markets. That flush forced out heavily leveraged positions and reduced immediate selling pressure.

With weaker hands cleared from the market, order books appear cleaner. The environment has created space for capital to rotate into assets showing fresh momentum.

Over the past five weeks, approximately $3.8 billion has reportedly flowed out of Bitcoin-focused ETFs. During the same period, XRP-linked investment products have attracted about $1.1 billion in net inflows.

That shift also shows some investors are diversifying exposure away from Bitcoin and into alternative large-cap digital assets.

Institutional and Retail Flows Converge

Data cited by Bitrue indicates XRP has recorded consistent positive weekly inflows, with only a handful of days showing net outflows. Combined institutional and retail participation appears to be strengthening overall demand.

Retail buyers, in particular, are stepping into what traders describe as a less crowded market structure after the recent correction. When leveraged positions unwind, it often reduces short-term volatility and lowers resistance levels for renewed accumulation.

As long-time supporters of #XRP, we're watching this very closely at #Bitrue You should too

Stay tuned as we prepare something special for the #XRP community

Shout-out to @murtuza_merc for the mention! https://t.co/QEy11aVMPn

— Bitrue (@BitrueOfficial) February 26, 2026

If inflows continue while available supply on exchanges tightens, some analysts believe XRP could see upward pressure in the coming months.

Broader XRP Ecosystem Developments

Beyond price action, activity within the XRP Ledger ecosystem has also expanded. Tokens operating within the XRPL environment, including RLUSD, are increasingly being integrated into trading pairs and liquidity pools on various platforms.

Exchanges are adjusting strategies to align with this growth, aiming to position themselves as liquidity venues for XRP and related assets.

The post Crypto Rally Alert: Expert Reveals How High Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP Prices Could Climb appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The crypto market is showing fresh signs of strength, and veteran trader Gareth Soloway says a short-term rally may have more room to run, even though he is not calling for a full bull market just yet.

“Charts are unbiased,” he explained. “If I see a bullish pattern, I trade it long. If I see a bearish pattern, I go short.” Right now, he sees a bullish setup forming.

Bitcoin Could Be Headed to $80K–$85K

Bitcoin recently rebounded strongly after dipping near $60,000. According to Soloway, the recovery created a classic bullish consolidation pattern.

After a sharp sell-off, Bitcoin printed a strong reversal candle and then began moving sideways in a tight range. This type of pattern often signals that buyers are quietly building positions before another upward push.

Soloway says Bitcoin is more likely to reach $80,000 before $50,000 in the short term.

He points to:

• Strong consolidation after the drop
• Extremely negative market sentiment, which can fuel short squeezes
• Large accumulation between $60K and $70K

He sees a realistic target zone between $80,000 and $85,000, depending on momentum and possible positive crypto legislation developments.

However, he stresses this does not necessarily mean a new long-term bull market has begun. It could be a powerful relief rally within a larger cycle.

• Also Read :
•   Crypto Market Update Today: Bitcoin Stabilises While DOT, UNI, ADA Lead Broader Crypto Recovery
•   ,

Ethereum Could Rally 30% or More

Ethereum is also showing strength. ETH recently moved back above $2,000 and formed what Soloway describes as a “bull flag” pattern — a common breakout setup.

If the breakout holds, he believes Ethereum could quickly climb toward $2,600 to $2,800.

That would represent a potential 27% to 35% upside move in the near term.

However, he warns that heavy resistance sits in that zone. If ETH reaches $2,600–$2,800, traders may see strong selling pressure.

On the downside, major long-term support remains near $1,500. If the broader market turns sharply lower, that area could become important again.

XRP Needs to Break $2 for a Bigger Move

XRP, currently trading near $1.40, is in a more delicate position.

Soloway says XRP recently broke below a major support trendline, which shifts the chart slightly to the weaker side. However, a rebound is still possible.

Key resistance sits between:

• $1.60 and $1.90
• Stronger resistance near $2.00

If XRP can break above $2 and hold that level, Soloway believes a much larger move could follow. A move toward $1.60–$1.90 could represent an 11% to 33% gain from current levels, but the true breakout would only happen above $2.

What’s Fueling the Rally?

The market may be anticipating positive regulatory developments, especially with upcoming crypto-related discussions in Washington.

When sentiment becomes overwhelmingly negative, it often sets the stage for sharp upside moves. Short squeezes can happen quickly in crypto, pushing prices higher in a short period.

FAQs

The post Vitalik Buterin Sells Another $8.9M in ETH as Ethereum Surges 8% appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

Vitalik Buterin is continuing his planned Ethereum sales, even as the market rallies sharply. According to on-chain tracking platforms Lookonchain and Onchain Lens, Buterin recently sold another 4,458 ETH worth approximately $8.92 million.

This latest transaction brings his total progress to 97% completion of a previously disclosed plan to sell 16,384 ETH.

Only 504 ETH, valued at just over $1 million, remains to be sold.

Nearly $31 Million Sold Since February

Data shows that since February 2, Buterin has sold 15,479 ETH for around $30.94 million, at an average price close to $1,999 per ETH.

Over the past seven days alone, he reportedly converted more than $8.6 million worth of ETH into various stablecoins, including PYUSD, EURC, LUSD, and GHO.

Despite the sales, Buterin still holds approximately 259,350 ETH, worth nearly $500 million, spread across multiple wallets.

Ethereum Rises 7% Despite Selling

Interestingly, the selling activity has not slowed down Ethereum’s price momentum.

Ethereum is up about 7.5% in the past 24 hours, trading near $2,058. The rally significantly outperformed Bitcoin, which gained around 3.4% during the same period.

Trading volume has surged, showing strong buying interest and investor confidence.

The price recently touched a range high near $2,150 before pulling back slightly.

What’s Next for ETH Price?

In the short term, Ethereum appears to be consolidating after its strong rally.

Levels to watch:

• Immediate support between $1,990 and $2,073
  
• Stronger support near $1,820
  
• Resistance around $2,155, followed by $2,214
  

If ETH holds above the $1,990 level, analysts say another push toward $2,200 could be possible. However, a break below support may increase the risk of a deeper pullback.

Some experts are also watching for confirmation of a full five-wave upward move, which would strengthen the bullish case.

The post Why XRP Price Could Soon Target $4 and Beyond appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

XRP is gaining strength again. The token is up about 6% in the past 24 hours, trading near $1.43, slightly outperforming the broader crypto market rally.

While the move may look modest on the surface, several factors say XRP could be setting up for a much larger breakout, potentially toward the $4 level and above.

Strong Link to Traditional Markets

One reason behind XRP’s recent strength is its high correlation with the stock market.

Data shows XRP has a 94% correlation with the S&P 500, meaning it is closely moving with traditional equities. As stock markets rally, crypto assets like XRP are benefiting from renewed risk appetite among investors.

In simple terms, when money flows into stocks, it is also flowing into crypto.

The Downside Liquidity Has Been Cleared

According to one market analyst, the recent pullback appears to have “swept the downside liquidity.” That means most of the selling pressure below current levels has already been absorbed.

Technically, XRP pulled back to the 50% Fibonacci retracement level near $1.31, which is considered a strong support zone. The correction looked controlled and orderly rather than a panic-driven selloff.

If support continues to hold, it increases the chances that the recent correction is complete.

Heavy Short Positions Above Current Price

Here is where things get interesting.

Above the current price, there is reportedly a large number of short positions. These are traders betting that XRP will fall.

If XRP starts moving higher and breaks resistance levels, those short sellers may be forced to close their positions. When shorts close, they must buy back the asset — and that buying pushes the price even higher.

This is known as a short squeeze. In a strong squeeze, price can move very quickly because:

• Shorts are forced to buy
  
• Momentum traders jump in
  
• Breakout traders add fuel
  
• Fear of missing out kicks in
  

If that happens, analysts say XRP could quickly spike toward $4.20 or higher.

Important Levels to Watch

For a stronger bullish confirmation, analysts are watching several levels:

• First resistance near $1.46
  
• Next level around $1.51
  
• Holding support above $1.35 is important
  

A clear break above these resistance levels could signal that a new upward wave has started.

While the recent bounce does not yet fully confirm a long-term reversal, the price structure remains constructive. The correction unfolded in a controlled, three-wave pattern, which often keeps the door open for another upward move.

The post Crypto Market News: Bitcoin Tops $67K; Ethereum Reclaims $2K And XRP Surges as $150B Floods Back appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

The cryptocurrency market staged a strong comeback over the past 24 hours, with major digital assets posting sharp gains and adding nearly $150 billion to total market capitalization.

Market leaders Bitcoin and Ethereum broke key psychological levels, while XRP and several large-cap altcoins followed with solid advances. The rally also triggered liquidations of bearish positions, signaling a sudden shift in short-term market sentiment.

Bitcoin Breaks Above $67,000

Bitcoin climbed above the important $67,000 level, trading near $67,482 at the time of writing. The asset gained more than 7% in 24 hours, adding roughly $100 billion to its market capitalization.

Bitcoin’s total market cap now stands around $1.34 trillion, with daily trading volume exceeding $41 billion. The sharp upward move forced many short sellers to close their positions, contributing to the rapid price increase.

While the breakout is encouraging for bulls, Bitcoin must maintain strength above this level to confirm sustained upward momentum.

Ethereum Reclaims $2,000

Ethereum outperformed Bitcoin on a percentage basis, rising more than 11% to trade above $2,000. The asset added approximately $23 billion to its market value in a single day.

Ethereum’s market capitalization now sits near $244 billion, supported by trading volume of over $20 billion in 24 hours. The $2,000 level is widely viewed as both a psychological and technical threshold. Holding above it could strengthen investor confidence in the near term.

XRP Joins the Rally

XRP also moved higher, trading around $1.44 after gaining nearly 7% during the rally.

XRP’s market capitalization stands close to $88 billion, with daily trading volume surpassing $3 billion. Solana, Dogecoin and Cardano also added more than 10% in the last 24 hours.

Short Liquidations Fuel Momentum

The rally led to nearly $300 million in short liquidations, meaning traders who had bet on falling prices were forced to close their positions. Such forced buying can accelerate price movements and amplify volatility in the short term.

Despite the strong rebound, broader sentiment indicators remain cautious. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index continues to reflect extreme fear, suggesting that many investors are still hesitant.

Level to Watch: $2.35 Trillion Market Cap

The total cryptocurrency market capitalization is now around $2.33 trillion. Analysts are monitoring the $2.35 trillion level as a major resistance point.

If the market breaks above this threshold with strong trading volume, it could signal the beginning of a more sustained recovery. However, failure to hold gains may result in renewed volatility.