Из жизни альткоинов
Saylor Names Solana And Ethereum As Future Of Digital Credit
Michael Saylor used his Strategy World 2026 keynote on Feb. 25 to argue that Bitcoin-backed “digital credit” is moving beyond Wall Street wrappers and toward programmable distribution on crypto rails, naming Solana and Ethereum as part of that future. The pitch matters because it pushes Strategy’s Bitcoin treasury model into a broader product thesis: use Bitcoin as the capital base, then package credit, yield and liquidity for corporates, retail investors and eventually tokenized markets.
Bitcoin Capital, Credit ProductSaylor framed Bitcoin as the foundation of the stack and Strategy’s Stretch (STRC) as the credit layer built on top of it. In his telling, the company’s business is no longer just accumulating Bitcoin, but “converting capital into credit” by using long-duration capital structures to strip cash flow from a volatile asset and deliver it as a steadier yield product.
“What is Strategy doing? Our company is converting capital into credit. We’re converting economic wealth into a stream of cash flows,” Saylor said. “You need an operating company in order to take a block of economic energy and turn it into a currency, peg it to a currency, strip away the risk, damp the volatility, extract the cash flows in the form of yield and compress the duration to now.”
That framework sits at the center of his case for STRC. Saylor said Strategy arrived there only after working through what he described as increasingly durable forms of leverage, from exchange leverage and margin loans to senior debt, junior debt, convertibles and preferred structures.
The key variable, in his view, is not just headline maturity, but the “stochastic duration” of capital, how long a company can realistically rely on it before covenants, mark-to-market stress or refinancing pressure force a problem.
He argued that variable preferred credit offered the best compromise short of common equity because it maximized optionality and reduced the risk of getting squeezed out of the position during a drawdown.
Saylor also laid out a simple quantitative case for digital credit. Strategy, he said, uses three internal metrics: BTC rating, or collateral coverage; BTC risk, the probability that collateral falls below required levels by the end of the term; and the implied credit spread needed to compensate investors. He contrasted current benchmarks of 78 basis points for investment-grade bonds and 288 basis points for high-yield debt with what he said digital credit could deliver if Bitcoin compounds faster than traditional assets.
His model depends heavily on a constructive view of Bitcoin’s long-run returns. If Bitcoin appreciates at 30% annually, Saylor said, sizable volumes of investment-grade credit can be created against it. If Bitcoin goes nowhere, the same structure starts to look like distressed debt.
He used recent performance to sharpen that distinction. Since Bitcoin’s all-time high about four and a half months ago, Saylor said, Bitcoin had fallen 45%, while STRC had lost “0% of its value” and paid 4.5% in dividends through the drawdown. That, he argued, is the commercial opening: offer a less volatile yield instrument to buyers who want Bitcoin-linked economics without owning the asset outright.
Solana And Ethereum As Distribution RailsThe keynote’s most consequential turn came when Saylor described digital credit as “programmable.” He was not using the term narrowly.
“Programmable means I take the credit and I create it. I turn it into a token, a private fund, a public fund, an ETF, an ETP. I make it a bank account. I make it a crypto account,” he said. “Then I put it on a platform — the NASDAQ, the London Stock Exchange, Solana, Ethereum, Binance, Coinbase Base. There are a lot of different platforms I can put that on.”
BREAKING: Michael Saylor says the future of programmable digital credit will be deployed on Solanapic.twitter.com/F4scOmDaU3
— Solana (@solana) February 25, 2026
He went further, arguing that once credit is packaged as a modular product, issuers can tune volatility, liquidity, staking periods, payout frequency and currency exposure. In that framework, Solana and Ethereum are not the capital base (Bitcoin remains that in Saylor’s model) but potential rails for distributing tokenized versions of the credit product.
That leaves Strategy with a larger ambition than simply selling preferred stock. Saylor said the company intends to deepen STRC liquidity and scale the underlying asset base, while partners build “digital money” and “digital yield” products around it.
If that thesis holds, Strategy is betting Bitcoin-backed credit can move from a public-market niche into a cross-platform product category spanning brokerages, ETFs and on-chain ecosystems.
At press time, Solana traded at $86.97.
Finance Veteran Reveals Why XRP Price Will Actually Hit $100 Without Issue
A finance veteran is pushing back against critics who have dismissed a $100 XRP price prediction, suggesting that those on the opposing side may simply be missing the bigger picture. He boldly argues that double- and triple-digit prices are inevitable, pointing to its underlying technology as the driving force that could carry the asset toward this ambitious milestone with relative ease.
Why The XRP Price Could Reach $100 Without HasslePaul White Gold Eagle, a financial industry expert, is standing firm in his ambitious prediction that XRP will reach $100, firing back at skeptics who have written off the possibility. After spending 10 years working in bank operations, the veteran stated on X that his experience inside the financial system gave him a perspective most retail investors do not have.
Unlike front-facing roles where employees interact directly with customers, Paul White Gold Eagle revealed that operations work exposed him to the infrastructure that keeps banking institutions running. He described this infrastructure as “the backbone” of the financial industry.
Notably, the veteran reflected on a pivotal moment in his career when banks shifted from paper-based processes to digital systems. He recalled that the transition was far more complex and disruptive than anyone anticipated, a lesson he suggests is directly relevant to the transformation he believes Ripple and XRP are now poised to deliver.
Paul White Gold Eagle further argued that those who doubt XRP’s price potential fundamentally do not understand the cryptocurrency’s underlying technology and the specific role it is designed to play in the global finance sector. He pointed to Ripple’s upcoming CFO dashboard as tangible proof of its utility and real-world application.
The finance veteran also noted that wire reporting systems currently used inside banks still resemble technology from the 1980s. He suggested that the overhaul of these outdated interfaces is a strong signal that “so much is going to change.” For him, a double or even triple-digit price for the altcoin is not a question of if, but when. He likely views it as an inevitable byproduct of XRP’s growth as a global payment system.
Analyst Says “It Won’t Remain Cheap For Long”Crypto analyst BarriC is urging investors sitting on the sidelines to pay close attention to XRP. According to him, its current low price is a temporary window before the market sees a massive shift in global financial infrastructure. The analyst argues that once banks and financial institutions start adopting and relying on the altcoin, its valuation model could change completely.
BarriC believes that once this happens, it could push XRP far beyond today’s single-digit price forecasts of $2, $3, and $4, reaching targets of $100, $ 1,000, or even $10,000 per token. He warns that once XRP reprices, people will look back on a $1-$2 valuation as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity they missed.
Ethereum’s Brutal Price Action Contrasts With Strong Spot ETF Demand, Will This Spur A Rebound?
Following a brief and sudden market-wide uptick, the Ethereum price is drawing closer to the pivotal $2,100 mark again, recording a 12% rise in the past day. Despite the bounce on Wednesday, the broader market of ETH is still quite bearish, but bullish sentiment appears to be gaining momentum in the Spot ETFs sector.
Sharp Decline Meets Quiet Ethereum Spot ETF InflowsThe recent price movement of Ethereum has been quite harsh, with steep declines and ongoing volatility significantly impacting market sentiment. However, beyond the persistent waning price action, a different narrative is unfolding in the Ethereum Spot Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs).
Despite the sell-off, causing ETH’s price to drop from $4,900 to under $2,000, spot ETF flows show renewed interest and, in certain situations, ongoing capital allocation. This discrepancy between robust ETF demand and poor price performance raises the possibility that institutional and long-term investors are seeing the decline as an opportunity rather than a warning.
After a period of significant outflows in the middle of 2025, Leon Waidmann, market expert and head of research at Lisk, highlighted that ETH has seen selling pressure steadily decrease across its exchange funds. The enormous surges of influx that occurred in late 2024 and early 2025 have vanished, but peak panic selling is also turning out to be an issue.
Compared to the previous turbulent periods, the recent flow bars are much smaller in both directions, and the sellers are running out of steam. According to the expert, this trend is relevant because the institutional exodus appears to be exhausting itself despite one of the sharpest ETH drawdowns in recent memory.
Currently, the weak hands that desired to exit the market have already done so, and this does not mean that the price bottom for ETH is in yet. There is still a slight outflow bias in recent weeks, and a clear accumulation signal has not yet unfolded.
However, the intensity of selling is clearly fading, representing the first thing that needs to happen before any trend reversal emerges. Thus, Waidmann has warned that when selling stops before sentiment recovers, investors should pay attention. Interestingly, this is where the next move begins to develop.
Short Positions On ETH Are Vanishing From The MarketGiven the latest bullish response, the Ethereum market is currently undergoing a crucial shift. Market expert and investor CW reported that ETH short positions are now being destroyed completely, suggesting a growing positive market environment.
The expert highlighted that there are bearish bets left on the ETH market, with investors gradually leaning toward the long side. Despite this major shift in investors’ sentiment, the rate of increase of high-leverage long positions is very slow.
Data shared by CW suggests that Investors with high levels of leverage seem to have used up much of their remaining capital. However, the expert has classified this trend as a very positive situation that could be pivotal for the ETH’s price.
Is Crypto Funding A Risk To UK Politics? Lawmaker Seeks Temporary Ban
A senior UK security official is pushing for a temporary freeze on cryptocurrency donations to political parties, warning that foreign governments could exploit the hard-to-trace nature of digital currencies to quietly shape British politics.
Matt Western, who chairs the Joint Committee on National Security Strategy, sent a letter to Housing Secretary Steve Reed on Monday urging the government to act before the threat grows any larger.
Six Agencies, No Clear Leader — And A Problem That Keeps GrowingWestern’s concern runs deeper than just donations. He pointed out that enforcing rules around political funding and foreign interference is currently split across six separate bodies — the Electoral Commission, the Metropolitan Police Service, Counter-Terror Policing, the National Crime Agency, MI5, and local police forces.
No single agency is clearly in charge. According to Western, that gap in leadership leaves the UK exposed. His letter recommends creating a dedicated national police unit focused entirely on political finance oversight and foreign interference risks — a longer-term fix to what he sees as a structural weakness in the current system.
“We are concerned that foreign state intent to intervene in UK political finance may grow out to the next election,” Western wrote.He added that as the UK’s military role in Europe expands and its positions on issues like Ukraine and relations with the US and European Union become more consequential, the incentive for outside actors to meddle in British politics will only increase.
Strict Rules Proposed For Any Crypto That Does Get AcceptedWestern did not call for a permanent ban. The moratorium he proposed would stay in place only until the Electoral Commission releases formal statutory guidance on how crypto donations should be handled.
Once that guidance is issued, the freeze would be lifted. But the rules he wants attached to any future crypto donations are strict. Reports say Western’s recommendations include requiring political parties to use only cryptocurrency platforms registered with the Financial Conduct Authority, the UK’s financial services watchdog.
Donations traced back to mixing services — tools commonly used to obscure the origin of funds — would be banned outright. Any crypto received by a political party would need to be converted into regular currency within 48 hours.
Western also pushed for stricter oversight of political donations, including checks on the source of donors’ wealth. He urged tougher penalties for breaking election finance laws and called for broader authority for the Electoral Commission to require banks and other institutions to disclose where donated funds originate.
Featured image from Alamy, chart from TradingView
XRP-Paypal Rumors: What This Acquisition Would Mean For Ripple
PayPal, the digital payments company, has seen its stock price slump by almost half its value in recent months, which has led to conversations about who could realistically step in if a deal were ever pursued. Among the names circulating in online discussions is Ripple, the blockchain payments firm, which has been on a spree of acquisitions in recent months.
Although no talks have been confirmed, the idea of Ripple acquiring PayPal is interesting because of the overlap between both companies in digital payments, cross-border transfers, and stablecoins. The question now is what this potential acquisition would mean for Ripple’s ambitions in global finance.
Can Ripple Realistically Acquire PayPal?PayPal’s share price has fallen by around 46% over the past year, leading to discussions as to whether there might be a takeover of the company very soon. For instance, Fintech startup Stripe is reportedly in early discussions to potentially buy PayPal.
However, there have also been speculations among members of the XRP community as to whether Ripple might actually be in contention to acquire PayPal. Jay Nisbett, commenting on X, described the idea as purely speculation but also noted that it makes sense from a synergy standpoint.
He pointed out that PayPal’s market capitalization is around the $40 billion mark, which is reportedly below Ripple’s latest private valuation. However, financing such a deal would still be complicated. PayPal is a publicly traded company with a large shareholder base, regulatory obligations, and global compliance frameworks.
Ripple, on the other hand, is privately held. Any acquisition would likely require capital raises, structured financing, or even a reverse merger mechanism that allows Ripple to effectively enter public markets through PayPal’s listing.
Nisbett also noted that PayPal’s stablecoin, PYUSD, currently has a $4 billion market cap. An acquisition would allow this to be easily integrated into Ripple’s ecosystem with RLUSD and the XRP Ledger.
Another angle involves regulatory positioning. Ripple recently secured expanded regulatory approvals and financial licenses that could theoretically support payment operations on a broader scale. A PayPal acquisition would instantly plug Ripple into PayPal’s established banking and e-commerce distribution network. This includes Ripple’s large share of global online payment processing and its existing cross-border corridors, which are expected to be about 45% of the total market.
Ripple’s Growing Track Record Of AcquisitionsRipple has been expanding its footprint in recent months through a series of high-profile acquisitions that are placing its business beyond just payments on the XRP Ledger. To put this into context, Ripple has spent about $2.7 billion in acquisitions in the past three years.
In 2025 alone, the company bought Hidden Road, a multi-asset prime brokerage firm; GTreasury, a global treasury management platform focused on corporate finance; and Rail, a stablecoin payments platform that focuses on cross-border payment capabilities. Ripple also acquired Palisade, a digital asset wallet and custody technology provider.
At this time, there are no confirmed discussions between Ripple and PayPal, and acquisition talks are all just speculation at this point.
Solana’s Ecosystem Dominates With A Significant Share Of Total Web3 DApp Revenue
In terms of price action, Solana may be demonstrating a downside trend, but its ecosystem is signaling growing dominance in the Web3 sector. After seeing notable network performance, the blockchain now controls a significant portion of the total decentralized application (dApp) revenue.
A Large Web3 dApp Earnings Covered By SolanaWith robust network coverage, Solana, one of the leading blockchains in the cryptocurrency sector, is rapidly cementing its position as a dominant force in the Web3 economy. This is a pivotal moment for the network during a weakening price performance, which could play a role in its price outlook.
A recent report from SOL Strategies, a publicly traded company, discloses that Solana is dominating the web3 economy now by capturing a large share of all dApp revenue. As user activity increases and developers continue to expand throughout its ecosystem, it is becoming more evident that the network may produce actual economic value.
Using data from Syndica, a platform focused on building and scaling blockchain systems, the network currently controls over 41% of all web3 dApp revenue. Solana’s growing revenue footprint, which includes both consumer-facing applications and DeFi technologies, indicates more than just an increase in usage.
According to SOL Strategies, the Solana ecosystem is proving it is the place where real value is created across the web3 ecosystem. With its share of dApp earnings increasing, SOL is becoming a key hub in the upcoming stage of blockchain-driven innovation.
Solana’s network growth and dominance go beyond just the Web3 ecosystem. Its Real World Asset (RWA) ecosystem is accelerating at a remarkable pace, with on-chain value hitting historic levels. In an X post, SolanaFloor reported that SOL in this field has risen to a new all-time high of over $1.71 billion in total value.
The spike indicates increased institutional experimentation as well as heightened trust in the network’s infrastructure to sustain high-value, compliant assets. This massive figure represents a more than 45% increase in the last 30 days. The network’s most recent milestone highlights how tokenization is progressing from concept to actual on-chain growth, with capital coming in and acceptance expanding.
Here’s The Next Potential Catalyst For SOLWhile price has been moving sideways, Solana could still be setting up for a super cycle, and APAC institutions may be the catalyst for this upswing. CryptoRus shared that Solana Company HSDT has announced the launch of Pacific Backbone, a quick, low-latency infrastructure buildout that links Seoul, Tokyo, Singapore, and Hong Kong.
This move is aimed at APAC institutions, which pairs Decentralized Finance (DeFi) tooling with liquid staking and Traditional Finance (TradFi) style execution to foster new capital flows in Solana. If this thesis is correct, SOL becomes the standard high-throughput settlement layer for an expanding area of capital markets rather than merely another Layer 1 pump. Furthermore, should institutions move in, the altcoin could gain momentum for a multi-phase run.
Indiana Advances Bitcoin Rights Law as U.S. States Deepen Crypto Integration
Indiana is moving closer to formally embedding crypto into its public financial system after lawmakers approved House Bill 1042, commonly referred to as the Bitcoin Rights Bill. The legislation has cleared both legislative chambers and now awaits the signature of Governor Mike Braun.
Related Reading: Binance Faces US Senate Inquiry Tied To $1.7 Billion In Sanctions-Related Transactions
If enacted, the law would allow certain public investment programs to provide exposure to crypto through regulated ETFs and establish legal protections for individuals who use or hold digital assets. The measure reflects a broader shift among U.S. states as they explore how crypto fits within traditional finance.
Public Funds and Retirement Plans Open to Crypto ETFsHB 1042 permits state-managed investment funds to include cryptocurrency ETFs as investment options rather than allowing direct token purchases. The approach aims to provide exposure through regulated financial products while maintaining oversight mechanisms.
Under the bill, several state-administered programs must offer self-directed brokerage accounts containing at least one digital asset investment option. These include retirement plans for teachers, public employees, and legislators, as well as the Hoosier START 529 education savings program.
Participation would remain voluntary, meaning individuals could choose whether to allocate funds toward crypto-related investments. Before rollout, the state must establish approved investment structures designed to manage compliance and risk oversight.
The legislation also allows eligible investment funds from outside Indiana to allocate assets into crypto ETFs under the state’s framework, potentially expanding institutional participation beyond state borders.
Legal Protections for Digital Asset UsersBeyond access to investment, the bill introduces protections for cryptocurrency users. Public agencies, with limited exceptions, would be restricted from banning or limiting lawful digital asset activities.
Residents would retain the right to accept crypto payments for legal goods and services and to store assets in self-custodied or hardware wallets. The proposal also prevents the state from imposing special taxes on crypto transactions and requires taxation rules to align with those applied to other financial activities.
Supporters argue that these provisions provide legal clarity for individuals and businesses operating in the digital asset space, while critics continue to highlight concerns about market volatility and retirement risk exposure.
Part of a Broader U.S. Policy ShiftIndiana’s move comes amid growing institutional interest in cryptos, following the expansion of crypto ETFs and evolving federal policy discussions on retirement portfolio diversification. Other states are considering similar measures, signaling a gradual shift toward incorporating digital assets into public finance structures.
HB 1042, introduced by State Representative Kyle Pierce, completed the legislative process after the House approved Senate amendments. If Governor Braun signs the bill, the law is scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2026, triggering implementation by state agencies and retirement administrators.
Related Reading: Netherlands To Amend Controversial 36% Tax On Unrealized Crypto, Stock Gains
As more states evaluate crypto-focused legislation, Indiana’s decision could serve as another trigger to the continued adoption of crypto in other states’ financial systems.
Cover image from ChatGPT, BTCUSD chart on Tradingview
Wondering What’s Going On With Solana? Projects Are Taking Massive Hit As Price Plunges
Solana projects Step Finance and its sister platforms have announced they are winding down operations following an exploit last month. This also comes as crypto prices struggle amid the current bear market, with SOL still below the psychological $100 level.
Solana Projects To Wind Down Following Exploit And Amid Price StruggleIn an X post, Solana DeFi aggregator Step Finance announced that it and its sister projects, SolanaFloor and Remora Markets, will be winding down all operations. This follows the hack towards the end of last month involving the firm’s treasury wallets, which resulted in a loss of around $40 million.
Related Reading: This Analyst Predicted Solana Sell-Off At $250, And Is Back With A New Prediction
StepFinance stated that following the hack, they explored every possible path forward, including financing and acquisition opportunities. However, the Solana project was unable to secure a viable outcome, which is why it has decided to end all operations effective immediately. The firm also revealed that it is working on a buyback for STEP holders based on a snapshot taken before the incident.
The STEP token is down over 40% in the past week amid this announcement, currently trading at around 0.00060. The token is down by over 99% from its all-time high (ATH) of $10, set in August 2021.
Furthermore, Step Finance stated that it is also working on a redemption process for Remora rToken holders, with these tokens still backed 1:1. Remora Markets, a tokenized stock marketplace on SOL, also confirmed that it is winding down operations alongside its parent company, Step Finance. Remora stated that they are currently working on a redemption process to allow holders to redeem their tokens for USDC and that they will share more details soon.
Media Outlet To Also Wind DownSolana media platform Solana Floor, a sister company to Step Finance, also confirmed that it is winding down operations. The platform will no longer publish new content, but the existing website, videos, and newsletters will remain available as an archive. Solana wallet Solflare stated that it will pause its News section inside the wallet due to Solana Floor’s sunsetting.
Related Reading: XRP, Solana Secure Inflows As Institutions Move $1 Billion Out Of Bitcoin And Ethereum
Solflare also revealed that it is considering opening up the space to community-driven articles published directly in the wallet. This will include original long-form articles, fresh insights, analysis, and strong opinions, deep dives into SOL projects/trends, educational crypto explainers, and market analysis.
Meanwhile, Step Finance co-founder George Harrap indicated that there was still the possibility of an acquisition of any of their projects. He stated that some people have reached out about acquiring various businesses and that they will pursue those if serious and have interest, but warned that they are working on a “time crunch.
At the time of writing, the Solana price is trading at around $89, up 8% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.
Ethereum Reclaims $2,000 as ETF Inflows and Upgrade Roadmap Boost Momentum
After weeks stuck below a key psychological level, Ethereum (ETH) surged past $2,000 in a swift rally, pushing prices to $2,158 within a day. The recovery comes after a prolonged period of sideways trading around $1,900 and a broader correction that had pushed ETH more than 60% below its previous peak.
The latest double-digit recovery coincided with a wider cryptocurrency market rebound, with total market capitalization rising by over 4% and Bitcoin also advancing during the same period.
Ethereum ETF Inflows and Institutional Activity Drive RecoveryRenewed institutional demand helped drive Ethereum’s breakout, as spot ETFs recorded fresh inflows after weeks of outflows. Daily investments topped $20 million in some sessions, with total inflows exceeding $125 million on February 25, led largely by Grayscale and Fidelity products.
On-chain data also pointed to accumulation by large holders. Whale wallets added thousands of ETH while others withdrew significant amounts from exchanges, a pattern often interpreted as long-term positioning rather than short-term trading.
The Ethereum Foundation added another layer of support by announcing plans to stake 70,000 ETH from its treasury. The move reflects a shift toward active reserve management while reducing the circulating supply available on the market.
Technically, momentum indicators turned positive as capital flowed back into the asset. Analysts identified resistance zones between $2,080 and $2,150, while support formed around the psychologically important $2,000 level.
Upgrade Roadmap Signals Faster and More Secure EthereumBeyond price action, investor attention has also focused on Ethereum’s long-term development roadmap. Co-founder Vitalik Buterin recently outlined proposals to significantly improve transaction speed and security over the next several years.
The plan includes gradually reducing block slot times from 12 seconds to as low as two seconds, allowing faster transaction processing. Developers are also targeting transaction finality between 6 and 16 seconds, a major reduction from the current confirmation timeframe, which can stretch into minutes.
The roadmap spans multiple protocol upgrades expected through the end of the decade and introduces quantum-resistant cryptography designed to prepare the network for future computing risks. Changes will be implemented gradually to limit disruption and maintain network stability.
Options Expiry Could Increase Short-Term VolatilityDespite improving sentiment, derivatives markets may introduce near-term volatility. Around $893 million worth of ETH options are set to expire this week, with a “max pain” level near $2,200. The put-to-call ratio below 1 suggests traders are leaning toward upside exposure, though expiry mechanics can temporarily influence price direction.
Ethereum’s ability to hold above $2,000 remains the key signal for traders. Sustained institutional inflows and progress on network upgrades could determine whether the latest rally develops into a broader trend reversal or remains a short-term recovery within a larger consolidation phase.
Cover image from ChatGPT, ETHUSD chart on Tradingview
Are Investors Abandoning XRP? Active Address Count Falls To New Lows
New developments in XRP’s active address count suggest that investors may be jumping ship from the leading cryptocurrency. According to on-chain metrics, the number of active addresses on the XRP Ledger (XRPL) has dropped by more than half in one day, marking a new low in 2026. The decline in this metric comes as the cryptocurrency continues to consolidate near the $1.40 region after its price fell by more than 20% over the past month.
XRP Active Address Drop Raises Investor Exit ConcernsRecent data from market analytics platform CryptoQuant paints a worrying picture for XRP, as more than 18,130 active addresses have disappeared from the network. The decline is particularly striking considering that on February 10, active addresses had surged to a yearly high of 32,684. At the time, the altcoin was trading low at $1.399. However, despite the subdued price, network participation continued to climb, signaling increased engagement.
Following this peak, XRP active addresses dropped the next day to 17,275, representing a decline of more than 15,409 addresses. This slump coincided with an almost 3% decrease in the XRP price, which was around $1.36 at the time. In the subsequent days, active address counts fluctuated between 16,000 and 17,000 before experiencing another major drop, eventually settling at 14,551. Notably, this marked the lowest level of active addresses seen throughout this year.
Importantly, active address measures the number of unique wallet addresses that participated in transactions over a given period. It serves as a key indicator of a network’s activity level and, to some extent, investors’ interest in a cryptocurrency. Typically, a decline in active addresses suggests reduced user participation on the blockchain. It can also signal a more concerning trend of investors exiting a cryptocurrency and diminishing retail interest.
If investors are indeed abandoning XRP, it would come as no great surprise given the cryptocurrency’s recent price performance. CoinMarketCap data shows that year-to-date, the price has fallen by more than 36%. The cryptocurrency has also declined by more than 52% from its 2025 peak above $3, underscoring its continued bearish trend amid ongoing market volatility and eroding investor confidence.
What Analysts Are Saying About The PriceDespite its subdued price action and poor performance this year, analysts remain optimistic about XRP’s outlook. According to market expert Bird, XRP’s corrective phase appears to have ended after the cryptocurrency completed a triangle pattern, marked by declining price action.
After a recent rebound above the $1.30 range into the $1.40 region, Bird suggests that the market may be on the verge of a confirmed price reversal. He noted that XRP will need additional upward momentum before it can advance toward the next projected target above $1.7 on the price chart.
