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XRP is attempting to stabilize around the $2.10 level after suffering a sharp 12% retrace from its recent local highs. The pullback has cooled momentum and left the market searching for direction, with bulls struggling to regain control amid broader uncertainty across the crypto sector. While downside pressure has eased for now, price action remains indecisive, reflecting a fragile balance between buyers defending support and sellers taking advantage of recent strength.

Adding important context to this consolidation, a recent CryptoQuant analysis highlights a notable shift in XRP’s on-chain flow dynamics. Data tracking XRP movements to Binance shows that whales have continued to dominate exchange inflows, accounting for roughly 60.3% of total transfers, compared with 39.7% attributed to retail participants.

However, despite whales still representing the majority, their relative participation has been steadily declining since mid-December. This marks a clear change from November and early December, when whale activity peaked above 70% of total flows.

Historically, elevated whale inflows to exchanges are often associated with distribution or increased selling pressure. The gradual reduction in whale dominance suggests that large holders may be easing back from aggressive positioning following the recent correction.

Whale Flows Ease as XRP Searches for a Base

The CryptoQuant report highlights that the recent decline in whale flows to Binance has unfolded alongside a clear price correction in XRP. After peaking near the $3.20 area in late 2025, the average price has retraced toward the $2.26 zone, cooling speculative excess built during the prior rally. Historically, heavy whale inflows to exchanges tend to signal preparation for selling or redistribution. In that context, the gradual reduction in these flows suggests that large holders are, at least for now, stepping back from aggressive distribution.

This shift becomes more meaningful when contrasted with retail behavior. Data show that retail flow percentages have remained relatively stable since mid-December, with no sharp spike in exchange transfers. That stability implies an absence of panic selling among smaller participants, even as the price corrected. When both whales and retail investors refrain from escalating sell pressure simultaneously, market conditions often transition away from impulsive downside moves.

Taken together, this dynamic points toward a potential re-accumulation phase following XRP’s strong advance earlier in the cycle. While whale activity remains elevated in absolute terms, its declining share reduces the probability of a sudden, disorderly sell-off in the near term.

That said, this balance remains fragile. Any renewed surge in whale flows to Binance would quickly alter the outlook, serving as an early warning that distribution may be resuming and that downside risk is increasing again.

Price Struggles To Stabilize After Deep Retracement

XRP price action on the daily chart reflects a market still searching for balance after a sharp correction from late-2025 highs. Following the rejection near the $3.30–$3.40 region, XRP entered a sustained downtrend, printing a series of lower highs and lower lows. This structure remained intact through November and December, confirming persistent bearish pressure as price slipped below key moving averages.

Recently, XRP has attempted to stabilize around the $2.10 area, which is acting as a short-term demand zone. The bounce from sub-$1.90 lows suggests sellers are losing momentum, but the recovery remains technically weak. Price is still trading below the 50-day and 100-day moving averages, both of which are sloping downward and now represent dynamic resistance near the $2.40–$2.60 range. As long as XRP remains capped below these levels, upside moves are likely to face selling pressure.

Volume during the rebound has been relatively muted compared to the sell-off, indicating a lack of strong conviction from buyers. This supports the view that the current move is corrective rather than the start of a new trend. Structurally, XRP would need to reclaim and hold above the $2.50 zone to invalidate the broader bearish setup.

The chart suggests consolidation risk remains elevated. Failure to defend $2.00 decisively could reopen downside toward prior liquidity zones, while a clean break above moving-average resistance would be required to signal a meaningful shift in momentum.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com 

Despite the recent pullback, the price of Bitcoin has managed to hold above the $91,000 level as the market shifts towards a volatile state once again. While BTC continues to face sideways movements, short-term holders remain underwater. However, a sharp bounce above a specific level could be a game-changer for these investors.

A Make-Or-Break Point For Bitcoin STHs Is Fast Approaching

Following the brief bounce on Monday, Bitcoin is closing in on a pivotal price zone that could reshape the sentiment and behavior of short-term BTC holders. This objective was disclosed by Alphractal, an advanced investment and on-chain data analytics platform, after examining the BTC Short-Term Holder NUPL (Net Unrealized Profit/Loss).

Related Reading: Bitcoin Value Days Destroyed Reaches Lowest Point Of The Current Cycle, A Structural Calm?

As the market approaches this threshold, On-chain measures indicate a change in attitude, with speculative capital starting to reevaluate risk, spending patterns shifting, and unrealized profits and losses constricting. The level signifies the zone where feeble hands may capitulate or re-enter the market with conviction.

According to the platform, the Bitcoin short-term holder NUPL has started to rise again and is currently heading toward the 0 level. Such a move toward the level indicates that the holders are moving to a break-even zone and are close to lowering their unrealized losses.

It is important to note that the area around the 0 level has historically served as a resistance for the short-term holder NUPL metric. However, a move into positive territory is only expected to occur if BTC breaks above and holds the $99,000 mark, which currently represents the short-term holder realized price.

Until that happens, the platform highlighted that the majority of short-term holders continue to operate at a loss. Interestingly, this will keep the market sensitive to volatility spikes and defensive profit-taking, especially from the group.

Whether the $99,000 level serves as a launchpad or a stress test, it is clear that Bitcoin’s path to this crucial area might completely change the near-term environment for both traders and short-term investors. 

BTC’s Bullish Movement Is Weak Because Of Investors’ Demand

Bitcoin quickly lost its renewed bullish momentum, and several reasons have been linked to why this happened. However, one of the key reasons that stands out strongly is the demand for the flagship crypto asset.

In a CryptoQuant Quicktake research, Caueconomy, a market expert and author, revealed that the demand for BTC is still weak and needs to recover. Despite the price of BTC recently rising to the $93,000 level, the expert noted that apparent on-chain demand is still low and requires a stronger comeback to sustain a return to $100,000.

Currently, demand for a return to on-chain movement has not yet shown clear signs of improvement due to the market’s low trading volume and still conflicting attitude. However, Caueconomy stated that this could happen now, with the end of the holiday period, as many investors are likely to reduce trading.

JPMorgan has moved its blockchain strategy into a new phase after confirming plans to deploy its proprietary digital dollar token on a public blockchain network. The development is part of how major banks are increasingly comfortable using public blockchain infrastructure, provided it can be adapted to meet institutional and regulatory requirements. 

Although the XRP Ledger ticks all the boxes required, JPMorgan’s leadership has gravitated toward Cronos as the environment best suited for expanding the real-world use of its in-house digital asset.

JPM Coin Steps Onto Public Blockchain Infrastructure

Digital Asset and Kinexys by J.P. Morgan, the global banking heavyweight, disclosed that its USD-backed deposit token, known as JPM Coin, will now be deployed on a public blockchain framework. 

JPM Coin is the first bank-issued USD-denominated deposit token fully backed by US dollar deposits held at the bank. The coin is designed for wholesale payments and settlements between institutional clients, and this provides the ability for transfers to be completed far faster than traditional banking rails.

Moving JPM Coin onto a public blockchain means that JPMorgan sees long-term value in shared infrastructure, especially as tokenized assets and on-chain settlement gain traction across global markets. The bank’s approach centers on efficiency and interoperability while still preserving strict controls around who can access and use the token.

Interestingly, J.P. Morgan’s leadership aligned around Cronos as the most suitable option for the deployment of JPM Coin on a public blockchain. Cronos offers compatibility with existing smart contract standards, established tooling, and an ecosystem already familiar to institutions experimenting with tokenized assets and payments. 

According to the press release, by bringing JPM Coin natively to Canton, Digital Asset and Kinexys by J.P. Morgan are laying the foundation for regulated, interoperable digital money that can move quickly across financial markets. 

Under the terms of the collaboration, Digital Asset and JPMorgan plan a phased integration through 2026, starting with the technical and operational groundwork needed to support the issuance, transfer, and near-instant redemption of JPM Coin directly on Canton. Later phases may include introducing additional products, including J.P. Morgan’s Blockchain Deposit Accounts, to expand the offerings.

Direction Of Bank-Led Blockchain Adoption

JPMorgan’s recent move shows how major financial institutions are selectively embracing public blockchains, and this is a reflection of the growth of the entire crypto ecosystem. Interestingly, this blockchain expansion comes against the backdrop of growing internal discussions at JPMorgan about deeper involvement in digital assets. 

Recent reports show that the bank is already evaluating whether its markets division should begin offering cryptocurrency trading services to institutional clients. 

The internal review reportedly includes potential spot trading as well as derivatives exposure tied to digital assets, pointing to a wider reassessment of how crypto fits into JPMorgan’s business. Although the company is already involved in crypto-related initiatives, this would be the first time it will be directly involved.

The explosive rise of Solana meme coins has reshaped speculative crypto trading, but a growing segment of analysts now argues that a similar — and potentially more efficient — rotation could be forming around the XRP Ledger. In a recent market commentary, one analyst went further by pointing to select XRP meme coins as potential high-beta opportunities, particularly for investors looking to amplify exposure without rotating into already overheated assets.

Why Analysts Foresee An XRP Meme Coin Takeover

On January 6, 2026, the analyst outlined an investment approach for XRP meme coins that prioritizes capital efficiency and market dynamics, highlighting tokens where strategic positioning can maximize potential returns. He cited the Solana meme coin surge as a reference point, where low transaction costs, rapid execution, and strong community-driven momentum allowed small-cap tokens to deliver outsized returns within compressed timeframes.

The argument now shifts to the XRP Ledger, which offers similar transactional advantages but with a critical distinction: XRPL-based meme coins remain far less crowded and are still trading at comparatively lower valuations. This imbalance, according to the analyst, creates a potential window for capital rotation into ecosystems with room for rapid price expansion.

As XRP’s spot price appreciates, many retail participants find it increasingly difficult to accumulate large positions. The proposed workaround is strategic rotation — reallocating smaller XRP holdings into XRPL-native meme tokens that historically exhibit sharper percentage moves during speculative phases. In such conditions, XRPL meme coins can act as leveraged proxies to broader XRP sentiment, allowing traders to synthetically increase exposure without additional capital.

Best XRP Meme Coins To Invest In

The analyst’s approach focuses on capital efficiency rather than long-term token holding. He argues that during active meme cycles, reallocating a relatively small XRP position into select XRPL meme coins can significantly increase exposure. In practical terms, he suggests that pushing roughly $2,000 into a basket of high-momentum XRPL meme tokens could realistically scale into $10,000 if meme liquidity turns aggressive. The objective is not to hold meme assets indefinitely, but to convert short-term price acceleration back into a larger XRP position.

The analyst went further to spotlight a handful of XRPL meme coins that currently combine visibility, liquidity, and community traction — factors that tend to matter more than fundamentals in speculative markets. $DROP stands out as an early and recognizable XRPL meme, often attracting liquidity first when sentiment shifts. $ARMY relies on strong community coordination, which can accelerate price movement during hype-driven phases. $FUZZY benefits from simple, character-based branding that appeals quickly to retail traders, while $PHNIX leverages a resurgence narrative that aligns with broader optimism around the XRP Ledger.

By investing in these XRP meme tokens, the analyst believes investors can amplify their XRP exposure. The opportunity lies in timing and execution, leveraging momentum to potentially turn smaller capital allocations into significantly larger positions, rather than relying on gradual large-cap price appreciation.

As the year begins, Ethereum has displayed notable bullish performance. However, the recent strength of ETH is not only reflected in its price action. On-chain data also shows that the ETH network has sharply picked up pace this new year, with adoption and usage reaching historical levels.

Ethereum Crosses Major TVL Landmark

The Ethereum network is making a powerful statement across the dynamic cryptocurrency and blockchain sector just a few days into the new year. A recent report from Leon Waidmann, a market expert and On-Chain Foundation’s head of research, has outlined a new milestone for the leading blockchain network.

As seen in the chart, the network has crossed a significant landmark in application Total Value Locked (TVL), which reflects its expanding role as a foundation for Decentralized Finance (DeFi) and Web3 innovation. ETH’s total application TVL has now surpassed the $300 billion mark.

This new increase in TVL is likely due to fresh investment in DeFi protocols, liquid staking systems, and on-chain apps that are based on Ethereum’s strong infrastructure. A figure of this magnitude signals a surge in user confidence, growing utility, and a maturing ecosystem that is steadily attracting both developers and institutional investors. 

With the latest milestone in app TVL, the Ethereum network is not only demonstrating present strength but also solidifying its standing as a major hub for value creation and on-chain activities. According to the expert, this figure matters more than it may seem. It is a sign that capital is actively used within unchain applications.

Ethereum’s growth in DeFi, stablecoins, Real World Assets (RWAs), and staking indicates real economic activity, surpassing other major networks. Waidmann highlighted that liquidity often follows depth, and yet the deepest pools are found in ETH.

Developers follow composability, and the network is becoming the hub for the richest set of developers. Furthermore, institutions that follow predictability are heavily found in the ETH network. Lastly, Ethereum has become the center for new apps, which follow users and capital.

A New Level Of Network Activity For ETH

Ethereum’s performance has picked up pace, and the main network activity has experienced a dramatic surge. In another X post, Waidamann disclosed that the activity of the ETH main network is at a new all-time high, signaling renewed confidence across the ecosystem.

Data shared by Waidmann shows that the daily transactions conducted on the network on a daily basis has now reached 2 million. At the same time, the total number of active wallet addresses per day on the blockchain rose sharply, reaching between 500,000 and 600,000.

In addition to demonstrating Ethereum’s supremacy as a leading smart contract platform, this surge in transactions and active addresses also shows expanding practical use at a time when network principles are more important than ever.

Should the network maintain the substantial wave of adoption, the expert believes that this renewed conviction could extend toward ETH’s price action. “It’s just a matter of time until the price catches up,” Waidmann stated.

The Bitcoin ATMs are trending at the moment, following a government action in Missouri. This involves an investigation into companies allegedly operating scams using these crypto kiosks, defrauding customers in the process. 

Missouri AG Launches Investigation Into Companies Using Bitcoin ATMs

In a press release, Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced that her office had launched a statewide investigation into companies that were operating Bitcoin ATMs. She stated that this investigation was due to national concerns of deceptive fee structures and bad actors using them to defraud customers. 

The AG Hanaway said they had received reports of “devastating” new scams involving Bitcoin ATMs that prey on Missourians. She further remarked that her office is investigating these allegations regarding hidden fees and deceptive charges on these machines and will hold bad actors accountable. 

The AG gave a hint into how these scam Bitcoin ATM operators work, noting that the scammers might call claiming that one is in legal trouble and must pay using the crypto ATMs immediately or face charges. Hanaway urged those who have been victims of this fraud to reach out to her office. 

As part of the action against these bad actors, the Attorney General’s office has already issued five Civil Investigation Demands (CIDs) to Bitcoin ATM companies across Missouri. These crypto kiosk companies are said to be engaging in practices that may be in violation of the state’s consumer protection laws. The CIDs also require these companies to disclose anti-fraud policies and procedures. 

Companies Currently Under Investigation

The Missouri AG office listed GPD Holdings, Rockitcoin, Bitcoin Depot, Athena Bitcoin, and Byte Federal as Bitcoin ATM companies currently under investigation. These businesses are said to each own and operate numerous crypto kiosks located across Missouri. These kiosks typically allow customers to transact in crypto, such as BTC, rather than U.S. dollars. 

The AG’s office noted that these transactions are nonrefundable and difficult to trace, making them the preferred method for scammers to prey on vulnerable Missourians. Interestingly, BTC Depot, one of the companies under investigation, recently reached a settlement in Maine over crypto ATM scams. According to an ABC News report, the crypto kiosk vendor agreed to pay $1.9 million to the state as part of a settlement to compensate victims of fraud. 

The rise of Bitcoin ATM scams has led states such as Arizona to enact new laws to crack down on them. The state had reported that residents lost about $177 million to schemes tied to crypto ATMs. The FBI has also warned about the scam, revealing that Americans lost over $330 million to these crypto ATM scams last year. This represents a significant increase from the $250 million in losses recorded in 2024.