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XRP Surges 12% As Bulls Take Charge, Expert Raises Target To $1.4

XRP has shown notable signs of renewed bullish momentum in the market. It bounced back from a significant 11% price drop on April 12th, which took the token to its lowest level of the year at $0.4230. 

However, last week saw a solid 12% price recovery, with XRP outperforming the other top 10 altcoins in the market, behind only Solana (SOL) and Binance Coin (BNB). 

Signs Of A Strong Bullish Trend Ahead For XRP? 

On Tuesday, XRP hit a high of $0.5571, demonstrating its bullishness and outperforming its peers. This resurgence was paired with a spike in wallet activity, a positive sign for the token’s overall market sentiment. 

According to the network intelligence platform Santiment, the number of wallets holding at least 1 million XRP has steadily increased over the past six weeks, rising by 3.1%. It is now just one wallet away from reaching an all-time high (ATH).

XRP

In addition, crypto analyst Ali Martinez reported a notable buying spree among XRP whales, who purchased over 31 million tokens in the past week alone. This has contributed to the cryptocurrency’s price recovery, emphasizing renewed confidence in its uptrend prospects.

Regarding price action, market analyst Egrag Crypto points out that XRP has formed a double bottom pattern, considered a strong bullish signal. This pattern, combined with the transition of the consolidation zone into a supply zone and the wicking area into a demand and accumulation zone, indicates a promising outlook for the token, according to the analyst. 

Egrag Crypto is confident that a significant price spike or “thrust” is imminent, and the analyst has updated his target to $1.4 for XRP. 

Critical Resistance Levels To Watch 

Despite initial bullish outlooks for XRP, the token has retraced to the $0.5474 price level as of the time of writing, accompanied by a 14% decrease in market capitalization over the past 30 days.

Moreover, as XRP aims to reach higher levels, potential resistance barriers may impede the token’s recovery and the bullish trend. Analyzing the XRP/USD chart below reveals the immediate resistance at $0.5644, which has prevented consolidation above current levels for the past week.

XRP

After that, the final obstacle before a retest of the $0.600 zone lies at the $0.5884 level. This level previously served as a support floor for the token, leading to a rebound during the uptrend seen in March, which took XRP to its yearly high of $0.745.

Conversely, monitoring the support levels at $0.52910, $0.5184, and $0.5044 is crucial. If a bearish scenario develops in the coming days, these levels may prevent XRP from falling below $0.500.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

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XRP Ledger (XRPL) Token Market Cap Surged 47% In Q4 To $169M: What Caused The Surge?

A recent report by Messari sheds light on the state of the XRP Ledger (XRPL) and its notable performance during the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2023. 

The report highlights significant milestones, including its native token market capitalization, distribution, burning mechanism, price movement, legal battle, and network activity.

Distribution Of 4 Billion XRP Contributes To Market Cap Growth? 

As of Q4 2023, XRP, the native token of the XRPL, emerged as the sixth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, reaching $33.7 billion. The token’s circulating market cap witnessed a substantial 21.2% increase quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) and an impressive 93.6% growth year-over-year (YoY). 

According to Messari, the increase in market capitalization was primarily due to the distribution of 4 billion XRP and a significant price spike on November 13, when the token reached as high as $0.7503.

XRP

Throughout 2023, 4 billion tokens were distributed, accounting for 8% of the XRP supply from the end of 2022. While this distribution contributed to the increase in market cap, it was overshadowed by the impact of the price spike. 

Additionally, the XRPL employs a transaction fee-burning mechanism, applying deflationary pressure to the total supply of 100 billion XRP. However, the low transaction fees on the network have resulted in a relatively low burn rate of approximately 12 million XRP since the inception of the XRP Ledger.

Network Activity Shows Mixed Trends In Q4 2023

Q4 2023 marked a significant turning point for XRP, concluding a multi-year legal battle with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). In July 2023, the district court ruled that XRP is not considered an investment contract or a security, distinguishing it from many other blockchain assets. 

This ruling triggered a surge in XRP’s price, with an increase of over 70% on July 14 and a peak of $0.82 on July 20. The subsequent relisting of XRP on major cryptocurrency exchanges further bolstered its position.

XRP

Network activity on the  XRPLedger displayed mixed trends in Q4. While active addresses decreased by 31.3% QoQ, transactions increased by 22.7% QoQ. 

Notably, a significant portion of transaction activity originated from a group of accounts sending transactions to a single account for inscription-related activity. The number of accounts on the XRPL increased by 188,000, reaching 5.00 million in Q4. 

Overall, the Q4 2023 report on the XRP Ledger showcases its growth, driven by various factors such as price spikes, legal victories, and network activity. With its expanding market capitalization and increasing adoption, XRP continues to solidify its position in the cryptocurrency market.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

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Exploit Causes XRP Price Crash: Ripple Co-founder Discloses Losses Of $113 Million

XRP experienced a significant price drop early Wednesday amidst rumors of a potential exploit. The XRP price dropped more than 4% to $0.4853 but later recovered to $0.500 following a clarification from one of Ripple’s co-founders.

Personal XRP Accounts Impacted, Not Ripple’s

Initial reports suggested that Ripple had suffered a significant security breach, which was brought to light by decentralized finance (DeFi) investigator ZachXBT. These reports raised concerns about the overall security of the Ripple protocol.

According to investigations, the breach resulted in the theft of more than 213 million XRP tokens, valued at over $112 million. The stolen funds were reportedly laundered through cryptocurrency exchanges, including MEXC, Gate, Binance, Kraken, OKX, HTX, and HitBTC.

However, Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify the situation. In a recent post, Larsen stated: 

Yesterday, there was unauthorized access to a few of my personal XRP accounts (not Ripple) – we were quickly able to catch the problem and notify exchanges to freeze the affected addresses. Law enforcement is already involved.

XRP Price Analysis

Despite the recent security concerns, XRP is trading at $0.5085, marking a 3.4% decrease in the past 24 hours. However, beyond the Ripple co-founder’s personal account exploit, the XRP price has experienced a significant decline over the past month.

Over the last seven days, the token has seen a minor 1.3% drop. The decline has deepened in the previous fourteen days with a 10% decrease. This is more problematic for XRP enthusiasts because the price has lost significant ground over the past 30 days, with an 18% dip.

Nevertheless, XRP bull and crypto analyst EGRAG Crypto provides an intriguing price analysis that could potentially encourage investors toward a price recovery if the token manages to hold and consolidate above the $0.500 level.

XRP Price

According to EGRAG, a handful of chart analysts have noted that after wave 1 of the Elliott Wave theory, wave 2 could retrace up to 90% of wave 1. The initial targets of $0.85 to $1 were successfully reached during the July pump, with the price reaching around $0.93 after Ripple’s partial victory against the SEC in its ongoing legal battle over XRP classification.

Currently, EGRAG suggests that a “wicking event” down to $0.41 is possible, considering a 10%-15% fluctuation due to the volatile nature of the crypto markets.

However, the analyst points out that the upside lies in the upcoming Wave 3, which is influenced by Wave 1 and typically has a ratio of 1.618 compared to Wave 1.

If all of this plays out, EGRAG ultimately sees the next short-term target for XRP being the all-time high (ATH) at $5. If the original wave count is adjusted, the range could be between $2.2 and $2.8.

XRP price

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

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Valkyrie CIO Anticipates XRP And Ethereum Spot ETFs Following Bitcoin’s Approval

While Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) applications are still awaiting approval from the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), executives from asset management firms are already speculating about the potential launch of spot ETFs for other major cryptocurrencies, including XRP and Ethereum (ETH). 

Valkyrie Invest’s Chief Investment Officer, Steven McClurg, expressed his belief that the SEC’s potential approval of a Bitcoin ETF could pave the way for similar offerings in the XRP and Ethereum markets. 

However, regulatory challenges and classifying XRP and Ethereum as securities may present hurdles toward these index funds.

XRP And Ethereum Spot ETF Potential Hurdles

Unlike Bitcoin, which has been classified as a commodity by regulators, XRP and Ethereum have been deemed securities. This divergence in classification poses potential difficulties and may necessitate a more complex approval process for spot ETFs tracking these cryptocurrencies. 

The anticipated impact of spot ETF approval on the XRP and Ethereum price would mirror the pattern seen with Bitcoin. Still, the SEC’s skepticism towards the broader cryptocurrency market could pose additional hurdles for XRP and Ethereum ETFs.

Nevertheless, the outcome of the ongoing Ripple vs. SEC case holds significant implications and could hold the key for the cryptocurrency industry to pursue these index funds for other cryptocurrencies. 

If Ripple, the blockchain payment company associated with XRP, emerges victorious and is not classified as a security by Judge Analisa Torres, it could establish a precedent for asset managers seeking to apply for an XRP ETF. 

This legal precedent could also prompt potential litigation against the SEC to support an Ethereum ETF application.

While discussions revolve around the possibility of spot ETFs for XRP and Ethereum, there is still uncertainty surrounding the approval of Bitcoin ETFs. 

The SEC may reject or delay the pending applications, making it uncertain whether these other index funds will materialize. Furthermore, US regulators’ current classification of XRP and Ethereum as securities adds an additional layer of complexity to their respective ETF prospects.

Bitcoin ETF Decision Imminent

As reported on Monday by NewsBTC, Sources close to the process have indicated that the ultimate approval for Bitcoin ETFs may come on Wednesday. 

CNBC’s sources suggest that this coincides with the application deadline for Ark Invest and 21 Shares, raising the possibility of a potential trading launch between Thursday and Friday. Several applications are expected to receive the green light, pending updates from the SEC on the filings.

Overall, as anticipation builds around the potential approval of Bitcoin ETFs, asset managers are already contemplating the prospect of spot ETFs for other major cryptocurrencies like XRP and Ethereum. 

However, the regulatory challenges and the classification of XRP and Ethereum as securities present significant hurdles for these index funds. The Ripple vs. SEC case outcome could have far-reaching implications, potentially setting a legal precedent for asset managers to pursue XRP and Ethereum ETFs. 

XRP

XRP is trading at $0.5673, showing a lack of bullish momentum with a 1% decline in the past 24 hours. Furthermore, it has experienced a continuous downtrend of 13% over the past 30 days.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com 

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XRP Price Outlook: Expert Forecasts Potential Rise To $5.5

In the evolving cryptocurrency market, XRP, currently ranked as the fifth largest digital asset, has recently exhibited a modest price increase compared to its major counterparts. 

However, when examining XRP’s performance across various time frames, the token has reported significant gains. Nonetheless, it is worth noting that XRP is currently trading well below its yearly high, in contrast to its peers who have achieved and surpassed new highs in 2023 during the recent bullish surge.

Impending XRP Price Breakout?

Prominent industry expert using the pseudonym “Crypto Insight” on the X platform (formerly known as Twitter) shared an intriguing update with his over 20,000 followers, signaling an impending XRP blastoff.

According to Crypto Insight, it becomes apparent that XRP tends to lag behind the price action of Bitcoin (BTC), the leading cryptocurrency. However, there are indications that XRP breakouts are gradually converging with the movements of BTC.

Analyzing historical data, Crypto Insight highlights that the time taken for XRP to experience significant breakouts has been decreasing over time. 

The first major breakout took approximately 22 days, while the most recent pump occurred within a shorter time frame of 13 days. If this trend of closing the gap between XRP and BTC continues, it suggests a potential breakout date around November 15th.

Additionally, XRP has undergone a cooling-off period in the 4-hour time frame, implying that there might be further room for a downside correction before a reversal to the upside occurs.

Crypto Analyst Targets $5.5

Crypto analyst Egrag Crypto has recently unveiled a noteworthy forecast for XRP, centering around the Multi-Year Ascending Triangle (MYAT) pattern, which holds significant implications for XRP’s price movements.

XRP Price

According to Egrag’s analysis, The MYAT pattern indicates that XRP experienced a breakout above the Symmetrical Triangle after reaching the 70% completion mark, which aligns with the timeline of July on the chart. 

The surge in price to $0.93 and the subsequent retest at the breakout point are seen as part of a standard retest process, indicating potential strength in the upward momentum.

Looking ahead, Egarg Crypto highlights several key projections for XRP:

  1. XRP appears to be poised to reach a target of $1.3, as indicated by the Blue Ascending Triangle on the chart. This level represents a significant milestone that XRP could potentially achieve in the near future.
  2. The next notable move for XRP could potentially propel it to $5.5. However, it is important to note that at this price level, a considerable selloff by retail investors is anticipated, according to Egrag. 
  3. Building upon the larger symmetrical triangle pattern, Egarg Crypto suggests that XRP could see a remarkable 500% price increase in the future, indicating the potential for a substantial pump. 

XRP Price

Currently, XRP is grappling with the challenge of establishing consolidation above the crucial $0.600 level, which holds significant implications for the cryptocurrency’s future price uptrend and overall prospects. In the past 30 days, XRP has recorded a gain of 35%. 

However, the sustainability of this price action for the anticipated second leg up in November remains uncertain.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com 

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Ripple Vs. SEC: Epic Battle Unfolds Over $770M Disgorgement Demand

In a recent interview with CNBC, Brad Garlinghouse addressed the ongoing legal battle between Ripple and the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) over the classification of XRP. 

Garlinghouse highlighted three consecutive wins for Ripple in the legal proceedings, emphasizing that the first judgment on July 13 clearly stated that XRP is not a security. He also mentioned denying the court’s interlocutory appeal and dismissing allegations against Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen and himself.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse Criticizes SEC’s Regulatory Approach

In the interview, Garlinghouse criticized the SEC’s approach to regulation by enforcement and lawsuit patterns, stating that the SEC needs to step back and realize that their actions are deviating from its mission to protect investors. 

Garlinghouse questioned who the SEC is truly protecting in this journey and called for a change in their regulatory approach.

Commenting on the exchange-traded funds (ETFs) currently awaiting approval, Garlinghouse acknowledged that an approved ETF could bring significant capital to the market.

However, Brad emphasized that regulatory clarity, utility, and scalable problem-solving are essential for the industry to thrive. Garlinghouse expressed his optimism for the industry’s future, citing macro catalysts that will propel it forward in the next five to ten years.

Pro-XRP Lawyer Challenges SEC’s $770M Disgorgement Demand

In a separate development, pro-XRP lawyer John Deaton chimed in on X (formerly Twitter), stating that Ripple would not come close to paying the $770 million disgorgement demanded by the SEC. 

Deaton argued that the SEC’s claim for disgorgement related to XRP sales in the UK, Japan, Switzerland, and other jurisdictions is flawed. He pointed out that XRP is deemed a non-security in those jurisdictions and was considered a legal exchange/utility token. 

Deaton questioned the SEC’s attempt to disgorge sales made in those jurisdictions and emphasized that the Court’s goal is not to punish Ripple as this is not a fraud case.

Deaton further explained that the disgorgement amount would be significantly reduced after deducting non-US sales, sales to accredited investors and considering the minimal harm caused by ODL (On-Demand Liquidity) transactions. 

Deaton highlighted that a petition filed by 75,000 XRP holders claimed that the SEC, not Ripple, was causing harm, further bolstering Ripple’s position.

The remarks made by Brad Garlinghouse and John Deaton underscore the ongoing legal battle between Ripple and the SEC, with Ripple asserting its stance on XRP’s classification and criticizing the SEC’s regulatory approach. 

The outcome of this high-profile case will likely have significant implications for the cryptocurrency industry as a whole.

Ripple

As of the time of writing, XRP is currently trading at $0.660, exhibiting a sideways price movement and consolidating above this crucial level. Despite the lack of significant upward or downward movement, the token has experienced substantial gains amidst the recent bullish reversal in the market.

Over the past 30 days, XRP has surged by more than 35%, and on a year-to-date basis, it has recorded an impressive growth of over 70%.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com 

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XRP Ledger Market Cap Soars On Regulatory Success: 59% YTD Growth Achieved

The XRP Ledger (XRPL), a decentralized public blockchain developed by David Schwartz, CTO of Ripple Labs, has continued to evolve and show growth in the third quarter (Q3) of 2023, as highlighted in a recent report by Messari.

The XRPL, facilitating cross-currency and cross-border payments for over a decade, has witnessed significant milestones, including a surge in market capitalization and advancements in network features.

XRP Ledger Shows Strong Development In Q3

As of Q3 2023, XRP, the native token of the XRPL, has secured its position as the fifth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization at an impressive $27.8 billion. 

XRP Ledger

Notably, the token’s market cap experienced remarkable growth, increasing by 59.9% year-to-date (YTD) and recording an 11.9% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) surge. 

According to Messari, one unique aspect of the XRPL is the deflationary pressure applied to its total supply of 100 billion XRP. Transaction fees on the network are burned, reducing the supply over time. 

Since the inception of the XRP Ledger, approximately 10 million XRP have been burned. However, to counterbalance the burn rate, 1 billion XRP vests to Ripple each month. 

Unspent or undistributed XRP returns to escrow. This process will continue until the remaining ~48 billion XRP becomes liquid, making burned fees the sole factor influencing supply.

Unlike many other cryptocurrency networks, the XRPL does not provide rewards or transaction fees to its validators. Instead, validators are incentivized by supporting network decentralization, similar to full nodes on Ethereum (ETH) or Bitcoin (BTC). 

The Proof-Of-Authority (PoA) consensus algorithm relies on trust between nodes, organized through unique node lists (UNLs). This approach contributed to the network’s resilience and security through 2023.

NFTs Thrive On XRPL With Notable Growth In Q3

In Q2 2023, XRPL experienced declining network activity metrics, including average daily transactions and active addresses. However, Q3 witnessed a resurgence, with average daily transactions reaching 1.06 million and active addresses totaling 44,000. 

In particular, NFT transactions showed significant growth, with average daily NFT transactions increasing 7.3% QoQ to 16,700.

XRP Ledger

NFTs are built into the core protocol and do not require smart contracts for creation or transfers. Standardization of NFTs through XLS-20 2in October 2022 brought benefits such as royalties and anti-spam features. The XRPL ecosystem has grown steadily, with 3 million NFTs minted using the XLS-20 standard.

Overall, the XRP Ledger has demonstrated significant growth and development throughout Q3 2023, driven by market capitalization gains, regulatory victories, and advancements in network features. 

With a strong focus on deflationary dynamics, unique consensus algorithms, and the rise of NFT transactions, the XRPL continues to position itself as a prominent player in the world of cross-currency and cross-border payments, according to Messari. 

XRP Ledger

Conversely, XRP has demonstrated consistent gains across various time frames. Currently, the token is trading at $0.6073, which has not been reached since August 2023, resulting in a modest 0.4% profit within the 24 hours.

Notably, XRP has maintained an upward trend, delivering substantial returns of 10%, 24%, and 16% in the past seven, fourteen, and thirty-day time frames, respectively. Particularly noteworthy is the exceptional performance within the one-year time frame, where XRP has surged by 32%.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com 

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Ripple CEO’s Tattoo Predicts XRP Price Surge? Here’s When It Will Hit The Moon

In the wake of a sideways XRP price action followed by a significant decline after Ripple’s legal victory against the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), a new wave of speculation has emerged, fueled by the astrology-inspired tattoo sported by Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse. 

Unveiled during a recent Ripple party held to celebrate the legal triumph on July 13, the tattoo has captured widespread attention, triggering discussions and conjecture about its potential significance.

Ripple CEO’s Intriguing Tattoo Sparks Speculation

The tattoo, prominently displayed on Garlinghouse’s arm, features a combination of intriguing symbols, including the XRP logo, moon, planets, rocket, and constellations. 

XRP enthusiasts have been dissecting these elements in search of hidden messages and insights into Ripple’s long-term plans. Some interpret the tattoo as a bold statement of confidence in XRP’s prospects. In contrast, others delve deeper into its symbolism, particularly regarding the next anticipated XRP price surge date.

Jeremy Hogan, a prominent lawyer supporting XRP, has taken on the role of decoding the tattoo’s cryptic meaning. According to Hogan, the tattoo’s elliptical shape represents the solar eclipse that will occur on April 8th, as observed from the coordinates 37°46′39″N 122°24′59″W. 

Notably, this elliptical path intersects with the full “moon” when viewed from northern latitudes. Many within the XRP community have embraced this interpretation, considering it a potential indication of an upcoming bull run.

Historical patterns in the cryptocurrency market are worth considering to bolster this hypothesis regarding a potential price surge on April 8 or in the first half of 2024. These patterns lend credibility to the notion that significant events, such as the Bitcoin halving, can influence market trends.

In April, the next Bitcoin halving is expected, marking a reduction in the mining reward for Bitcoin. Past halving events have often coincided with notable price increases for Bitcoin, suggesting a potential positive impact on the broader cryptocurrency market.

Moreover, another crucial factor that could propel XRP to new heights is the possibility of another legal victory against the US SEC. Such a win could restore confidence and open doors for further adoption and usage of the token. 

Although the outcome remains uncertain, these developments contribute to an atmosphere of anticipation within the crypto community.

XRP Price Struggles Below Key Moving Averages

After experiencing a prolonged downward trend over the past three months, the price of XRP has now dipped below two critical levels: its 200-day and 50-day Moving Averages (MAs). 

These MAs have proven to be significant obstacles to the token’s potential for future growth, suggesting the possibility of a retracement or consolidation phase below current price levels.

XRP is trading at $0.5117, positioned below the 200-day MA of $0.5196 and the 50-day MA of $0.5290. These levels now serve as resistance barriers for the token, making it more challenging for XRP to regain upward momentum.

XRP price

Another noteworthy indicator of the unsuccessful attempt to penetrate upper resistance lines is XRP’s squeeze momentum indicator and ADX. 

The squeeze momentum indicator indicates a downward slump in what was anticipated to be an upward movement, impeded by the resistance barriers. Additionally, the ADX reflects declining buying activity and bullish momentum among investors and bulls.

The future course of XRP remains uncertain, as it is yet to be determined whether the token will succumb again to a wave of selling pressure or remain in a consolidation phase below these critical levels, potentially delaying another uptrend.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com