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During the ongoing volatile market conditions, XRP investors on cryptocurrency exchanges appear to be choosing to hold their tokens rather than sell them to cut down losses. A clear indication of this investor trend is the steady decline of XRP reserves on the leading Binance trading platform.

Binance Sees Steady XRP Supply Drop

While the price of XRP has been stuck below the $2 level for the past few months, investors’ sentiment and demand for the altcoin have shown underlying strength. The quantity of the altcoin in crypto exchanges’ reserves has been declining at a fast rate, underscoring a strong accumulation trend.

After examining the Scarcity Index, Xaif Crypto, a technical analyst and investor, outlined an intriguing shift in exchange dynamics. The chart shared by Xaif Crypto indicates that the supply of XRP available on Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency trading platform, has been gradually decreasing, indicating that fewer tokens are being held on the exchange for quick sale.

Data shows that the scarcity index has flipped to the +0.48 level. This declining liquidity may indicate that investors are shifting their holdings into long-term storage or private wallets, a tendency that frequently reflects holders’ rising conviction.

According to Xaif Crypto, this positioning implies that XRP is sitting on trading platforms more than the historical average. In the waning market performance, coins are consistently being pulled into private wallets, suggesting that supply is disappearing.

Such a trend is considered basic economics rather than moon math. When real buy pressure reaches a thin order book, things tend to move fast. In the meantime, speculations are whether the tightening supply may finally result in greater price momentum when buying pressure reappears.

With the bearish market phase expanding, XRP liquidity is stacking up, drawing increased attention from investors monitoring order books and derivatives markets. Large pockets of buy and sell orders appear to be accumulating at critical price points, as seen in the chart. These visible liquidity zones may have an impact on the asset’s next significant move.

Currently, the price of the altcoin is positioned just between major long and short liquidation zones, which Xaif Crypto calls the exact setup market makers love. The expert highlighted that liquidity is the magnet, particularly for volatility, and it can indicate areas where the market may be getting ready for a breakout or significant reversal.

A Relief Rally On The Horizon?

Crypto analyst “Guy on the Earth” on X revealed that XRP is setting up for a potential relief rally after an analysis of its price action in the 1-day time frame. Following observations, the altcoin is currently back into a large downside channel, with price targeting the $1.50 resistance zone.

Should a reclaim of this level be successful, Guy on the Earth expects a break of the $1.80 and $1.96 price range in the near term. However, this bounce, which he considers a relief rally, might be invalidated if the altcoin’s price closes below the $1.96 range.

South Korea’s Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) has imposed a 6-month partial business suspension and 36.8 billion won fine on one the biggest Korean crypto exchanges, Bithumb.

A New Governance Hit On A Crypto Exchange

According to Korean outlet News1, the FIU has finalized heavy sanctions against Bithumb for serious Anti‑Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Costumer (KYC) breaches, including dealings with unregistered overseas virtual asset service providers and weak customer due diligence under the Specific Financial Information Act.

The measures include a six‑month partial business suspension, focused on restricting certain virtual asset transfers, especially to external wallets for new users, and an administrative fine in the tens of billions of won (around $24–26 million). Alongside this, the CEO was issued a reprimand warning and the exchange’s reporting officer faces a six-month suspension.

This decision follows a wider supervisory campaign launched after Bithumb’s “ghost Bitcoin” system error this past February, which saw hundreds of thousands of BTC briefly mis‑credited and triggered full‑scale inspections across Korean exchanges. As reported by Bitcoinist, the FIU preliminarily notified Bithumb of the suspension on March 9.

Bithumb’s case mirrors previous Korean penalties against rivals like Upbit and Korbit, which have already faced multi‑million‑dollar fines and partial suspensions over widespread KYC and AML failures.

A Worldwide Trend

Recently, South Korea has been moving at a rapid speed to align its crypto oversight with the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards, expanding its Travel Rule implementation and treating major exchanges more and more like systemically important financial institutions, as seen by the recent proposal of the Digital Assets Basic Act, an umbrella bill that packages a wide range of crypto policy measures, from stablecoin rules to crypto exchange‑traded funds.

Globally, the pattern is no different. From Binance’s record multi‑billion‑dollar AML and sanctions settlement in the US to Canada’s nine‑figure fine against Cryptomus and targeted audits in Australia and France, regulators worldwide seem to be converging on a “no more excuses” approach to crypto AML.

For traders, the actionable takeaway is that jurisdiction and compliance profile now directly affect counterparty risk: platforms with weak AML controls risk sudden suspensions, tightened withdrawal rules, or liquidity shocks that can spill over into prices and funding conditions. In today’s climate, trading on exchanges that cut corners on AML rules might mean an extra hidden risk of being suddenly hit by regulators.

Cover image from Perplexity, BTCUSDT chart from Tradingview

The Ethereum Foundation is making headlines once again for selling ETH, but this time the spotlight is also on the buyer. The foundation has dumped approximately 5,000 ETH amid broader market volatility and fluctuating prices. The foundation has provided reasons for its large-scale ETH sale, citing ongoing support of operations and activities. 

Ethereum Foundation Sells ETH To Crypto Company

The Ethereum Foundation has completed a new ETH sale to support its ongoing development efforts. In an X post on March 14, the organization announced that it was offloading 5,000 ETH, worth approximately $10 million, at an average price of $2,042.96 through an over-the-counter (OTC) transaction. The buyer in this deal is Bitmine, a publicly traded Bitcoin mining company that operates under the ticker BMNR.

According to the Ethereum Foundation, the ETH transaction was confirmed on-chain through the organization’s Safe multisig wallet at address: 0x9fC3dc011b461664c835F2527fffb1169b3C213e. The sale represents part of the foundation’s broader treasury management strategy, which is guided by detailed policies published in 2025. 

The Ethereum Foundation has also stated that the funds raised from the sale will be used for its core operations and activities. These include protocol research and development, ecosystem management, and community grant funding. Bitmine’s involvement as an OTC counterparty highlights a growing network of institutional buyers interested in participating in the Ethereum ecosystem. The company has continued to buy ETH even during volatile market conditions.  

Notably, the move also follows a series of previous ETH sales by the organization, demonstrating a structured approach toward funding its operational and developmental priorities. In July 2025, the foundation sold 10,000 ETH to SharpLink Gaming through a similar OTC arrangement. Before that, the Ethereum Foundation had carried out dozens of small ETH sales throughout the year, quietly offloading thousands of coins across multiple transactions to cover operational costs. 

Foundation’s Policy Guides For ETH Sales

The Ethereum Foundation’s treasury policy, published in July 2025, is designed to support the long-term sustainability of the blockchain’s ecosystem. The policy emphasizes that all capital deployments must balance the earning returns above a set benchmark rate while also supporting the Ethereum network and adhering to core principles. 

Regarding ETH sales specifically, the policy explains that the foundation will regularly measure the extent to which its fiat-denominated assets differ from its Opex Buffer target. Based on that calculation, they will decide how much ETH, if any, to sell over the next three months. These sales can happen either through fiat off-ramps or on-chain swaps into fiat-denominated assets.  

While the organization has explained the reasons for its ETH sales, the broader market could still feel its impact. Ethereum is trading above $2,200 after rising by more than 12% over the past 24 hours. While its price appears to be rebounding from its previous downtrend, large-scale ETH sales, especially from prominent entities, could influence market sentiment and price stability. 

Discussion within the XRP community has intensified around a date that some market analysts believe could mark a pivotal moment for Ripple. Dunes, a crypto expert on X, highlighted how several circulating riddles and digital media posts appear to point toward March 22, 2026, as a key date. The analyst has found certain clues in these riddles that connect with macro financial events and significant developments surrounding Ripple and XRP. 

Why March 22 Could Be Key For Ripple And XRP

On March 14, Dunes published a breakdown on X, arguing that three anonymous figures in the XRP community have dropped clues that independently point to the same date, March 22, as a critical moment for Ripple and XRP. Dunes stated that he had decoded a series of cryptic social media posts over the years and connected the dots, suggesting that the patterns within them may be more than mere coincidence. 

The first figure Dunes referenced is ‘BabaCugs,’ a well-known riddler in the XRP community. He highlighted a post in which BabaCugs wrote: “Stop looking at February, it’s actually April.” The post also pointed to an image by another well-known riddler, @bearableguy123, titled “So it begins,” which prominently featured the number 2-14.    

Dunes argued that 2-14 should not be interpreted as February 14. Instead, he suggests that 14 represents a day and 2 represents the month in the Ethiopian calendar system. Under that framework, the date 2-14 also aligns with October 24, 2025, on the standard Gregorian calendar. 

According to the analyst, this date corresponds to a real-world event, marking the day Ripple Prime, the prime brokerage platform created after the acquisition of Hidden Road, went live. Dune’s analysis describes Ripple Prime as the central mechanism of a new financial system where XRP’s liquidity plays an irreplaceable role. 

Another part of the analysis references an older riddle shared by BabaCugs, who wrote: “4 days after JB is 13.” Dunes connects this clue to a cryptic post by another riddler, @TheFirstDecider, in 2020, who also made a post, stating “4 days after the death of my hero JB is the last chance to buy.”

Notably, the analyst interprets JB as Japanese Bonds and links the timeline in the cryptic messages to a Bank of Japan rate decision meeting on March 18 and 19. Counting four days forward from that window, it lands directly on March 22, 2026, which also corresponds to day 13 of month 7, known as Magabit, in the Ethiopian calendar. 

Dunes noted that @bearableguy123 was the riddler who introduced the Ethiopian calendar trick in the XRP community, with posts dating back as far as 2018. He stated that @bearableguy123 had made a famous XRP price prediction that could only be interpreted using the Ethiopian system, where 2018 in that calendar corresponds to 2026 in the standard Gregorian calendar. 

Finally, the third set of clues highlighted in Dunes’ report comes from Mr. Pool, who told followers in 2021 to “watch closely April, May, June, and July.” After which, he wrote another message stating, “reset will occur swiftly, financial reset overnight.” 

The analysis states that those four months correspond to the fourth through seventh months of the Ethiopian calendar. The seventh ends on day 13, which converts to March 22, 2026, in the Gregorian calendar. Dunes further notes that the timestamp of Mr. Pool’s original post also included numerical references that point to the same date and year. 

Japanese Bonds And Bitcoin Align With Timeline

In his post, Dunes also highlighted an episode of the American TV show, ‘The Simpsons,’ in which a slot machine displays triple 7s at the moment a superior utility coin surpasses Bitcoin. Notably, the last known communication of Satoshi Nakamoto, the creator of Bitcoin, was recorded on April 26, 2011. 

Counting exactly 777 weeks from that date lands on March 17, 2026, one day before the scheduled Bank of Japan rates meeting. Due to this alignment, Dunes questioned if March 17 could mark Bitcoin’s last day as the king of cryptocurrencies.  

Supporting his analysis, Dunes highlighted that The Simpsons has a notable history of accurately predicting real-world events, including Donald Trump’s presidency. Based on the alignment of the interpreted riddles and clues, the analyst predicts that if Japanese Bonds break on March 18, it could trigger significant market volatility, a Bitcoin price crash, and a large inflow of liquidity into XRP as a settlement asset within a destabilized financial system. 

The cryptocurrency market is turning bullish again, and Bitcoin has experienced a bounce, triggering optimism among investors. While Bitcoin’s price is holding firm above the $73,000 mark, its market dynamics are undergoing a major shift that could shape the flagship asset’s direction in the short term. 

A Key Change In Bitcoin’s Market Structure?

Bitcoin’s price is showing bullish strength once again, recovering above the $73,000 level during the weekend. However, on-chain market data reveals that the way supply is shifting between long-term BTC holders (LTHs) and short-term BTC holders (STHs) throughout the current cycle is clearly changing.

Darkfost, in a post on X, highlighted that this transfer of supply between the two groups has not occurred in the ongoing cycle the same way it did in previous cycles. As prices rise, long-term investors have historically transferred their holdings to more recent market players during significant bull market periods.

This trend suggests a major reset in the initial market structure of Bitcoin, where supply is equally controlled by short-term and long-term holders. Moving on, the expert stated that the first key thing to remember in the current cycle is that long-term holders still hold the majority of the BTC supply.

Rather than witnessing a rapid decline in LTH-held supply as Bitcoin nears the conclusion of its cycle, this time the process took a different turn. As of Sunday, these key investors represent roughly 79% of the total BTC supply. 

The development is similar to that of the 2021 cycle, where the share of supply held by long-term holders fell from 82% to 70% in a space of 6 months. A major trigger is the insufficient liquidity from short-term holders to absorb the selling pressure from long-term investors.

The Movement Of BTC In 6 Separate Waves

During the current cycle, Darkfost reports that this transfer occurred in 6 waves. Meanwhile, STHs were observed swooping in to absorb the supply at every stage. These investors eventually turned into LTHs over time. After examining the coin movement within the 6 waves, Darkfost has underscored two major observations. 

One is that liquidity appears to have been substantial during this cycle, and this allowed LTHs to steadily discover counterparties while Bitcoin’s price action extends. Secondly, speculation seems to have been stronger than before, with some short-term holders offloading their stash shortly after holding their BTC for more than 6 months in order to quickly realize profits. 

Another key development observed in the market is the arrival of new participants via the Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) and Digital Asset Treasuries (DATs). Such a trend points to renewed capital and demand for the flagship asset from institutional investors who are confident about its long-term prospects. According to Darkfost, all of these factors are adding to a changing market structure for Bitcoin.

At the time of trading, Bitcoin’s price was trading at $73,815, following a more than 3% bounce over the last 24 hours. Its trading volume has followed suit, spiking by over 77% within the past day.

Grayscale’s Head of Research, Zach Pandl, has stated that crypto assets like XRP could see a repricing once the CLARITY Act provides regulatory clarity. The analyst indicated that the altcoin could be among the tokens that benefit the most, especially if it becomes less inflationary. 

Pundit Agrees XRP Could See Repricing With CLARITY Act

In an X post, crypto pundit Archie drew attention to an interview Pandl had on the Paul Barron podcast in which the Grayscale executive agreed that XRP could see a repricing once the CLARITY Act passes. Barron specifically questioned Pandl about Section 205 of the Act, which could make Ripple restructure its XRP holdings in a bid to make the token more decentralized. 

Pandl noted that this could boost XRP’s value, especially if future inflation is reduced. This could come in the form of Ripple potentially reducing its token unlocks. Archie commented on Pandl’s remarks, highlighting how reduced inflation could unlock value across the XRP Ledger (XRPL). The Grayscale executive had also noted that their XRP ETF was already seeing huge investor demand, which could increase once there is regulatory clarity. 

Commenting on this, Archie stated that people are positioning early because they know what is coming, and that institutions are seeking exposure. He also noted that the popularity of these XRP ETFs is “off the charts” even before the passage of the CLARITY Act. The pundit predicts that the crypto market will see the largest liquidity injection ever once the long-awaited clarity arrives. 

Archie also mentioned that trillions in sidelined capital will flood in, ETFs will go “nuclear,” and that XRP will lead the charge into mainstream adoption. He affirmed that this is not hype or any sort of manipulation but simply seeing everything they had predicted become reality. 

XRPL Seeing More Adoption

In an X post, XRP treasury company Evernorth highlighted that the XRPL is seeing increased adoption even before the CLARITY Act was passed. The firm noted that XRP transactions are nearing 3 million daily, up from 1 million in mid-2025, representing almost a 3x increase.  Evernorth added that price moves attract attention, but that activity shows adoption is growing as more financial assets move on-chain. 

Tokenization is notably one area where the XRP Ledger continues to see massive adoption, with institutions moving their financial products on-chain. RWA.xyz data show that the network currently ranks 6th by total tokenized value. The total tokenized value on the XRPL is $2 billion, ahead of networks such as Solana, Polygon, and Stellar. It is worth noting that there are currently 218 real-world asset (RWA) projects on the network. 

At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $1.47, up over 4% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

A new fault line is opening in the Bitcoin mining debate as AI data centers emerge as a far richer buyer of electricity than traditional miners. But the argument over whether that dynamic threatens Bitcoin’s long-term security is drawing a sharp pushback from market and energy specialists who say the headline claim misses how mining economics actually work.

The flashpoint came from Crypto Banter co-founder Ran Neuner, who framed the issue in stark terms. “AI has killed Bitcoin forever. It became Bitcoin mining’s biggest competitor. Not another crypto. AI,” he wrote on X, arguing that both sectors are chasing the same scarce input: power.

Neuner’s basic math is simple and provocative. He claimed BTC mining generates roughly $57 to $129 of revenue per megawatt, while AI data centers can make $200 to $500 per megawatt from that same electricity.

“That’s why miners are starting to pivot,” he wrote, pointing to Core Scientific’s AI hosting deal, Hut 8’s $7 billion AI infrastructure agreement, and Cipher Mining’s decision to cut hashrate 51% to focus on AI compute. From there, he pushed the key question: if AI becomes the highest bidder for power, what happens to Bitcoin?

That framing resonates because it captures something real: miners are no longer competing only with other miners. In certain markets, they are competing with hyperscale-style compute demand that may support a much higher revenue profile. For listed mining firms, especially those already sitting on power infrastructure, the temptation to repurpose capacity for AI is obvious.

Why AI Won’t Kill Bitcoin Mining

But on-chain analyst Willy Woo argued that Neuner’s conclusion confuses miner competition with network-level economics. “What the BTC network is willing to pay for its security is set the BTC price and network use,” Woo wrote. “The price of electricity is irrelevant, that only impacts competition between miners. Study BTC’s difficulty adjustment – it’s a fundamental cornerstone of understanding BTC.”

That is the core rebuttal. Bitcoin does not require every miner to remain profitable at every electricity price. It adjusts. If higher-cost operators drop off because AI outbids them for power, mining difficulty can fall, allowing the remaining miners to continue operating under a new equilibrium. In Woo’s reading, AI may reshuffle who mines and where, but it does not automatically “kill” Bitcoin unless it permanently breaks the relationship between price, usage, and the network’s security budget.

Climate-focused venture capitalist Daniel Batten pushed back even harder, calling the thesis “Nonsense” and arguing that the relationship may increasingly run in the other direction. “It’s the other way around: the evidence tells us that AI is dependent upon Bitcoin for its expansion,” he wrote. “For example, bitcoin mining can be used alongside AI for strategic advantages including monetizing energy during AI datacenter construction, using forward-purchased energy that would otherwise be wasted, [and] smoothing demand patterns of AI load.”

Be very skeptical of any claims such as “Bitcoin mining is unprofitable beyond this threshold” or “AI is killing Bitcoin”.

Not only is it more nuanced than that, but the research tells us that AI datacenters increasingly need Bitcoin mining (see 7. below)

For example 1. In… pic.twitter.com/G5UvbTUmCc

— Daniel Batten (@DSBatten) March 15, 2026

Batten’s broader point is that blanket claims about mining profitability flatten a business with highly variable inputs and revenue streams. He argued that miners in high-cost regions can still operate because heat recycling may be the primary revenue source and BTC the byproduct. Others increasingly own generation assets, mine on intermittent power, or tap stranded energy from oil, gas, and landfills at roughly 1 cent per kilowatt-hour in exchange for higher upfront capex. Demand response programs, FCAS, RECs, and carbon credits can further change the economics.

He also stressed that negative power prices during renewable surpluses create openings that generalized “AI beats mining” comparisons fail to capture. “Be very skeptical of any claims such as ‘Bitcoin mining is unprofitable beyond this threshold’ or ‘AI is killing Bitcoin’,” Batten wrote. “Not only is it more nuanced than that, but the research tells us that AI datacenters increasingly need Bitcoin mining.”

At press time, BTC traded at $73,329.

One of the largest South Korean financial conglomerates has partenerd up with a major UK-based global bank to deepen cooperation in global finance and crypto assets.

A Transnational Crypto Deal

Incumbents are keen not to be left behind on the crypto curve, so much so that some of them are now joining forces. That seems to be the case for Hana Financial Group and Standard Chartered Group as on March 15th they announced the signing of a MOU (memorandum of understanding). By teaming up, the two lenders aim to turn stablecoins and other digital assets into a new growth engine alongside their existing international banking business.

According to The Korea Times, the signing ceremony took place at Hana’s Bank’s headquarters on March 13th. It was attended by Ham Young-joo, Chairman of Hana Financial Group, and Bill Winters, CEO of Standard Chartered Group. Seoul Economic Daily reports that Ham and Winters exchanged views on cooperation in global and digital assets. Chairman Ham stated that:

The partnership between Hana Financial Group and Standard Chartered Group, leveraging their extensive global networks and diverse financial know-how, will serve as a strong competitive edge in the global financial sector. We will create new growth opportunities by generating synergies in future financial domains, including digital assets.

Winters emphasized on the capital importance that South Korea has in Asian financial markets, regarding the country as a “key hub”.

Shared Goals

The MOU covers stablecoins, deposit-token experiments, and future tokenized instruments, tying in Hana’s domestic stablecoin plans and pilots.

The Seoul Economic Daily contextualizes this move with Chairman Ham views of stablecoins as “core future business”. His goal with Hana Financial points to the building of an “ecosystem encompassing the issuance, distribution, use and circulation of (won-denominated stable) coins”, as he stated in his New Year’s address in January. In 2024, Hana Bank, BitGo, and SK Telecom set up BitGo Korea as the local arm focused on institutional crypto custody. In 2025, the Korean lender had an all-time high net profit of ₩4 trillion.

Standard Chartered already has a growing crypto footprint, from institutional custody services to pilots with tokenized bonds and other blockchain-based assets. The bank has also backed several stablecoin ventures in markets like Hong Kong.

This is not the first time Hana Bank and Standard Chartered team up. In December 2025, the UK-based global bank announced that it was facilitating Hana Securities first venture with digital assets.

A Crypto Race

Instead of chasing pure spot exposure, the South Korea’s big banks are now racing to build compliant rails around stablecoins, tokenized notes, and digital bonds that can plug directly into the regulated financial system, nudging the market away from retail speculation toward more structured corporate and banking participation.

This new deal marks another milestone in the latest wave of efforts by TradFi institutions to keep up with a rapidly evolving digital financial system.

Cover image from Perplexity, BTCUSD chart from Tradingview

A Delaware court had already ordered 71 Bitcoin frozen over a customer fund dispute before crypto lender BlockFills formally declared it could no longer operate.

That freeze — tied to a legal battle with creditors over how client money was handled — cast a shadow over the company well before it filed for Chapter 11 protection this week.

Customers Locked Out As Withdrawals Halt

BlockFills stopped letting customers move their money last month. The company pointed to a sharp Bitcoin selloff — the coin dropped from above $97,000 to below $64,000 between mid-January and early February — as the reason it needed to protect both itself and its clients.

Deposits and withdrawals went dark. No timeline for restoration was given.

Now the company and three related entities, all operating under parent firm Reliz LTD, have taken their case to federal bankruptcy court in Delaware.

The filing seeks a Chapter 11 restructuring, which allows a company to keep running while it works out a repayment plan with the people it owes money to.

In a statement, BlockFills said the decision came after talks with investors, clients, and creditors. The company said it believes the court process will give it the time and structure needed to stabilize operations, find additional sources of cash, and look at possible deals with outside parties.

Officials said the goal is a consensual restructuring — meaning one that creditors agree to rather than one forced on them by a judge.

BlockFills, a cryptocurrency brokerage and trading platform, has filed for bankruptcy protection after months of market turmoil https://t.co/0NYGmW2e0o

— Bloomberg (@business) March 16, 2026

What Chapter 11 Means For Those Owed Money

Chapter 11 is not a wind-down. It is a legal system that provides a company with a moratorium to restructure its finances during which an automatic stay prevents creditors from collecting their debts.

As for customers who have balances on the platform, the situation is not so straightforward. They would be considered unsecured creditors in a bankruptcy case, which means they would be last in line after secured creditors and expenses approved by the court.

The amount they will get back and when that will happen is dependent on what assets BlockFills actually owns. That process can take months or, in complex cases, years.

Bankruptcy Filing Caps A Difficult Period For The Firm

BlockFills has been under pressure from multiple directions. The frozen Bitcoin order involving Dominion Capital pointed to deeper disputes over whether customer funds were properly segregated — a question that goes beyond market timing.

Reports indicate the company had been in talks with stakeholders for an extended period before concluding that a court-supervised restructuring was the only viable path forward.

The collapse follows a pattern seen in earlier crypto lending failures. Companies including Celsius, Voyager, and BlockFi all suspended withdrawals before filing for bankruptcy during the 2022 market downturn. In each case, customers waited — sometimes years — for partial repayment.

BlockFills has not disclosed total liabilities, the number of affected customers, or the full value of assets under its control. This is a developing situation, and more details are expected to emerge as court documents become public.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson has weighed in on a governance dispute surrounding Liqwid, arguing that insiders tied to the protocol should step aside from any revote on disputed asset distribution and let token holders decide whether earlier public commitments should be honored. His intervention matters because it cuts to a familiar pressure point in DeFi governance: whether a DAO vote is truly legitimate when founding insiders may be voting on an outcome that benefits them directly.

In a livestream from Wyoming, Hoskinson said he generally avoids involvement in the DeFi layer of the Cardano ecosystem unless there is a broader community mandate. But he said the Liqwid situation had crossed into a more serious issue of trust after October representations that “100% of the assets in the smart contracts” allocated to the protocol would be returned to their “rightful owners.”

The dispute centers on a sizeable pool of Midnight’s NIGHT tokens tied to Liqwid’s ADA market. Public governance materials indicate the allocation totals roughly 18.81 million NIGHT, which at current market prices is worth just under $1 million. That helps explain why the vote has drawn so much attention: the argument is not over a symbolic governance gesture, but over the handling of a seven-figure crypto allocation that users say was supposed to be fully returned.

Cardano Founder Urges Second Liqwid Vote

According to Hoskinson, the team later ran into a governance and legal problem inside the DAO structure itself. “I guess that team did not have, according to the user agreement of their DAO, legal authorization to do so,” he said. “It somehow violated the terms of how they’ve set things up.” Even granting that point, he argued, the more troubling issue was how the matter was then handled.

His proposed fix was straightforward: rerun the vote, but on narrower and cleaner terms. “If you have to go to the DAO for a vote, two things should be done,” Hoskinson said. “First and foremost, those who are insiders should recuse themselves if they’re going to be direct beneficiaries of a governance action of this nature. Second, the question should have been, should we honor our marketing commitments, yes or no?”

That framing goes to the heart of his criticism. In Hoskinson’s telling, users deposited funds into the relevant smart contracts on the understanding that the prior commitments would be respected. “Commitments were already made, people put money into the contracts understanding those terms and conditions and had no reasons to believe that such things would be violated,” he said. “People in a position of trust and people in a position to maintain this type of software, they frankly speaking should be a little bit better.”

Hoskinson repeatedly returned to legitimacy, not just procedure. DAOs, he said, do not derive credibility from the mere existence of a vote. They derive it from broad participation and confidence that the process is not tilted by a small cluster of insiders. “DAOs require legitimacy and the legitimacy comes from participation,” he said. “If the belief is that participation is only controlled by a small group of insiders, there’s no path forward for a DAO to have governance legitimacy.”

His recommendation was for insiders associated with the protocol’s core entities to publicly declare their holdings, recuse themselves, and let holders vote only on whether the October commitments should be honored. If the answer is yes, then the protocol should simply follow through. If the answer is no, then the community could move to a second-stage debate over alternative allocations.

Hoskinson was equally clear about the stakes if that does not happen. He said he has no special powers to reverse the outcome, no control over assets already distributed into smart contracts, and no formal authority over the Cardano ecosystem. But he warned that perception alone could do lasting damage.

“It is my belief that this violation of public trust or at least the perception of it will badly damage the protocol’s ability, Liqwid’s ability to grow and thrive in the future,” he said. “Simply put, if people can’t trust what the core accounts are saying and when votes are taken, people don’t trust those votes, it creates a reality where people will just simply move to other options.”

Overall, if Liqwid wants to restore credibility, he argued, the path is still open. But it runs through disclosure, recusal and a cleaner vote.

At press time, Cardano traded at $0.29.

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting has always had significant implications on the crypto market because this is where the interest rates for the US markets are determined. With the announcement of whether there is a rate hike, a rate ease, or the interest rates staying the same, the markets always react, either positively or negatively. Now, another FOMC meeting is rolling around, and the forecast has leaned heavily toward the Fed keeping the current interest rates.

Fed Likely Keeping The Same Interest Rates

With the next FOMC meeting happening on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, the predictions for what could happen are already pouring in. The FedWatch Tool on the CME websites tracks the probabilities of the outcome of each meeting, then rates it on a percentage scale.

Presently, the FedWatch Tool is reading in favor of no change. It shows a 98.1% probability that the Fed will not change interest rates, meaning that interest rates are likely to stay the same at 3.50-3.75% over the next cycle, before the next meeting.

This leaves a very low probability that the Fed will actually drop interest rates to 3.25-2.50% at only a 1.90% chance. While the tool shows that there is a 0% chance that the Fed will actually hike interest rates, especially as the Fed has been leaning toward a more dovish stance over the last year.

What A No Change Move Means For Crypto

Usually, the decision the Fed takes in each meeting triggers ripple effects across financial markets, and crypto is not left out. During times of rate hikes, which means interest rates go up, investors are much more conservative with their investments. Such an announcement is more likely to trigger a decline across the crypto market.

In the case of an interest rate ease, which means interest rates drop, it is likely to trigger a rally in the crypto market. This is because investors are likely to take more risks when interest rates are low, leading to more liquidity flowing into the market.

When the interest rates remain unchanged, then the crypto market is likely to see sideways movement. Essentially, the slow trend might continue as there is no change, and investors continue to wait for more definitive moves before making their choice of direction.

Reports indicate investment bank TD Cowen warned the CLARITY Act may not pass until 2027 and could take effect in 2029.

Lawmakers And Deadlines

The bill’s timetable is tight. Alex Thorn of Galaxy Digital said if the CLARITY Act doesn’t clear committee by the end of April, the chances of passage in 2026 fall sharply.

Senate leaders have signaled other items will take priority on the floor, leaving little room for a complex compromise.

Debate over stablecoin rewards is where many expect the fight to play out. Banks and crypto firms remain divided on whether yielding rewards via stablecoins undermines traditional banking models.

Some lawmakers and lobbyists are already trading hard lines; compromise will be needed for any bill to move.

if CLARITY doesn’t pass committee by end of april, odds of passage in 2026 become extremely low. this needs to hit the senate floor by early may… floor time is running out and odds diminish every day that passes

the framing right now is that the dispute over stablecoins… pic.twitter.com/tEejEsmUi9

— Alex Thorn (@intangiblecoins) March 14, 2026

A Senior Lawmaker Said Both Sides Would Have To Give Ground

Officials said members of the Senate Banking Committee expect give-and-take. A top Democrat on the panel warned that neither side is likely to be fully satisfied but that negotiations must continue for progress.

Timing is also a political problem. One senator has publicly said the chamber won’t act before April because it has other priorities, and that squeeze on the calendar makes a late push risky.

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has criticized banks for slowing the bill’s progress, adding public pressure to move the measure.

Crypto Regulation: Timing Could Stretch Years

Some analysts expect the process to stretch past the next election cycle if consensus can’t be reached soon. That prospect raises the possibility that a market-structure package could be delayed for multiple sessions of Congress, or reworked under new leadership.

According to statements from a crypto-friendly senator, there’s still hope the bill can clear Congress by April — but that hope depends on quick committee action and compromises on key items.

What’s At Stake

The bill’s outcome matters far beyond Washington. Clear rules could change how institutions engage with crypto, how exchanges operate, and how stablecoins are treated.

For now, the clock is the clearest fact: if the CLARITY Act doesn’t move fast, its path will get harder, and its timetable could stretch into the next Congress.

Featured image from Harris Sliwoski LLP, chart from TradingView

Spot Bitcoin ETFs (exchange-traded funds) in the United States have posted five consecutive days of capital inflows for the first time in 2026. This good run of form comes as a relief after what has been a turbulent start to the year for BTC and the broader cryptocurrency market.

While the premier cryptocurrency still appears to be struggling in terms of price action, the demand conditions — especially in the US — seem to be improving steadily. According to the latest market data, the Bitcoin ETFs registered approximately $767.32 million in net inflows over the past week.

US Bitcoin ETFs Record $767M In The Past Week

On Friday, March 13, the US-based Bitcoin exchange-traded funds recorded $180.33 million in total net inflows. This latest round of capital influx marked the fifth day in an inflow streak that started earlier in the week and the longest so far this year.

Recent market data shows that BlackRock’s Bitcoin Trust (with the ticker IBIT) contributed the majority (roughly $143.59 million) of the total net inflow on Friday. This was followed by the $23.24 million contribution of Fidelity Wise Origin Bitcoin Fund (FBTC) on the day.

VanEck Bitcoin ETF (HODL), Bitwise Bitcoin ETF (BITB), and Ark 21Shares Bitcoin ETF (ARKB) (adding $8.05 million, $3.09 million, and $2.36 million in value, respectively) were the only other Bitcoin ETFs that recorded any activity on Friday. Interestingly, this Friday’s performance only pales in comparison to the $250.92 in the total net inflows seen on Tuesday, March 10.

As mentioned earlier, these daily performances brought the exchange-traded funds’ weekly record to a net total of around $767.32 million. This week’s performance marks the third consecutive week of positive inflows for the US-based Bitcoin ETFs.

According to SoSoValue data, the BTC-linked investment products posted more than $568 million in total net inflows in the previous week. Meanwhile, the exchange-traded funds added more than $787 million in value in the final week of February.

Bitcoin Price Overview

While the spot Bitcoin ETFs have been seeing increased demand in recent weeks, there has not been concomitant growth in the premier cryptocurrency’s value within the same period. More specifically, the price of BTC has faced rejection twice around the $74,000 resistance level over the last two weeks.

As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $70,748, reflecting no significant movement in the past 24 hours. According to data from CoinGecko, the flagship cryptocurrency has jumped by nearly 5% in the past seven days.

The Ethereum Foundation (EF) announced that it has completed an over-the-counter (OTC) sale of 5,000 ETH over the weekend. According to the organization’s disclosure, proceeds from this sale will be directed towards its core operations and other activities.

Ethereum Foundation Sells $10 Million In ETH To BitMine

In a March 14 post on the social media platform X, the Ethereum Foundation said that it finalized a 5,000 ETH OTC deal, valued at roughly $10.21 million. The EF identified BitMine Immersion Technologies, the world’s largest corporate holder of Ether, as the counterparty (buyer) in this over-the-counter deal.

The Ethereum Foundation revealed that the Ether tokens will be sold to BitMine at an average price of $2,042.96. Hence, this deal could be viewed as a fresh acquisition for BitMine, an ETH treasury company currently holding more than 4.5 million Ether valued at approximately $9.3 billion.

The EF disclosed that the on-chain transaction will come from a Safe multisig wallet, with proceeds from the sale directed toward the foundation’s core operations and activities, including protocol research and development (R&D), ecosystem development, community grant funding, and so on.

The organization also mentioned that the transaction is part of ongoing treasury management activity based on a recently published policy. In its treasury policy in June 2025, the foundation revealed that Ether tokens will be sold to maintain its fiat-denominated assets from the Opex (operating expense) Buffer target.

Other strategies for their Ether holdings include staking, with over 2,000 ETH deployed so far, and plans to supply around 70,000 ETH into validators using open-source infrastructure from third-party providers.

This latest sale to BitMine would represent the second deal of this nature in less than a year. In July 2025, the Ethereum Foundation sold 10,000 ETH over the counter to SharpLink Gaming — another ETH treasury firm — at an average price of $2,572.37 in a transaction worth $25.7 million.

Ethereum Price Overview

The over-the-counter path of this deal means that the Ethereum price will not face the bearish pressure typically associated with centralized exchange sales. Last September, the foundation announced plans to sell 10,000 ETH via public exchanges, sparking criticism from the crypto crowd.

As of this writing, the price of ETH stands at around $2,086, reflecting an over 1% decline in the past 24 hours. This past-day decline is not enough to wipe the altcoin’s weekly gain, which stands at nearly 7% over the past seven days.

Over the last day, the Bitcoin price has displayed sideways movement, without any apparent intent of a breakout. While this is a typical weekend price action, there has been an interesting update on the underlying dynamics keeping the flagship cryptocurrency grounded around $70,000.

Bitcoin LTH-SOPR Falls To 1.01 — What This Means

In a recent QuickTake post on CryptoQuant, on-chain analyst GugaOnChain reveals that a battle between different cohorts of  Bitcoin investors is currently unfolding. 

GugaOnChain cites the Long-Term Holder SOPR (Spent Output Profit Ratio) metric, which tracks whether long-term investors (who have held Bitcoin for at least 155 days) are selling their tokens profitably, or at a loss. Readings above 1 suggest that these investors are accumulating profits, while readings under 1 reveal otherwise. 

According to GugaOnChain, the LTH-SOPR currently stands at 1.01, reflecting that Bitcoin’s long-term investors are exiting the markets at break-even, or with minimal profits. The analyst further explains that this means the “veterans are once again aggressively defending their acquisition cost at $70,675.” 

At the same time, the Puell Multiple reflects a reading of 0.60, which GugaOnChain describes as a typical sign that the market is undervalued and that Bitcoin’s miners are starting to experience exhaustion. Usually, when the Puell Multiple falls to 0.5, it marks capitulation among miners.

It is worth noting that if the Puell Multiple should continue on its approach towards the 0.5 mark, the Bitcoin price could follow on such a bearish move, until its Realized Price at $54,000 is retested.

Institutional Demand Buffers Whale Distribution 

Notably, GugaOnChain explains that the most significant development is still largely dependent on the dynamics between whale cohorts. As of March 13, there was a massive distribution of about 16,100 BTC among the whales holding between 1,000 and 10,000 BTC. Normally, such a large sell-off should trigger a sudden downturn in the Bitcoin price, but prices only retraced by about 0.33%. GugaOnChain points out that this is due to the absorption of supply by differing whale cohorts, and even institutional investors.

Specifically, the ‘Mega Whales,’ who have custody of more than 10,000 BTC, alongside the ‘Dolphins’ (holding between 100 and 1,000 BTC), both countered what should have been a devastating price drop. At the same time, institutional demand has been unrelenting over the week. During this period, spot ETFs have recorded a total of $763.4 million in net inflows, with $180.4 million coming in on March 13 alone. 

While the Puell Multiple reflects the possibility of $54,000 being visited, GugaOnChain insists that ‘Smart Money currently validates $70k as the “inflection floor”’. As such, if the LTH-SOPR continues to prevail above 1.0, it would reflect that the current Bitcoin cost has been successfully defended. Interestingly, ETF’s conviction capital is already positioned for the next big move. As of this writing, Bitcoin trades for $71,000, reflecting a 0.5% gain in 24 hours. 

The Bitcoin market has experienced some significant price relief in recent weeks. After a series of intense corrections that forced prices to a local bottom of $60,000 in early February, the premier cryptocurrency presently trades around $71,000, reflecting a 7.19% gain in the past month. 

Meanwhile, the global markets have been heavily rocked by heightened geopolitical tensions in the Middle East after the US and Israel launched a coordinated attack on Iran. Among many retaliation measures, the Islamic Republic of Iran has initiated a closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a major trade route that controls the passage of 20% of the world’s oil supply.

Blocked Strait of Hormuz Threatens Global Economic Stability 

In a QuickTake post on CryptoQuant, the education and analytics page XWIN Research Japan shares key insights on the effects of a potentially prolonged Strait of Hormuz disruption on Bitcoin and the general market. Considering the lack of any equally effective alternatives, Iran’s opposition to trade through the Strait of Hormuz threatens a global energy supply shock. If the current decline in shipping activities persists and oil and gas prices continue to rise, a corresponding rise in inflation is expected, considering the importance of petroleum products in daily activities.

In regard to effects on financial markets, central banks typically respond to these conditions with a financial tightening policy by raising interest rates in an attempt to slow down economic activity. During such environments, investors are likely to move capital into fiat currencies, e.g., US dollars, to take advantage of interest rates to match potential devaluations from inflation. Meanwhile, there is also a significant decline in exposure to volatile assets.

Bitcoin’s Fate Amid Oil Supply Troubles 

According to XWIN Research Japan, investors’ behavior towards Bitcoin during geopolitical stress events has shown that they view the cryptocurrency more as a risk asset than a financial haven. Therefore, it’s likely the BTC market experiences high levels of outflows if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. However, this would only be an initial reaction as market stability is expected to occur later.

Therefore, the impact of the passageway disruption will be driven more by financial ecosystem response rather than the energy shock itself. The key factors in this situation include global liquidity level, policy responses, and general market leverage.

 

It’s also important that investors and traders monitor key derivative indicators such as the Open Interest (OI) and Funding Rates, as both metrics communicate key insights on the market condition. For example, a heightened Open Interest combined with extreme funding rates would signal overcrowded market positioning, which represents a risky market structure if a potential market shock occurred. At press time, Bitcoin trades at $71,639.

Following a disappointing performance in February, the Ethereum price has seen some semblance of relief over the past two weeks. With the steadying market condition, the “king of altcoins” has managed to hold its own around the psychological $2,000 level.

This, expectedly, has been enough to rouse hopes in silent investors on the Ether token’s future; however, a market analyst has revealed reasons to believe that Ethereum buyers might want to sit on their hands — at least in the meantime.

Multiple Indicators Align To Reflect High Market Stress

In a recent post on the social media platform X, on-chain analyst Boris highlighted data from three metrics, showing that the Ethereum market is starting to see a surge in pressure. According to the analyst, if the present conditions persist, a capitulation phase might be on the horizon for the second-largest cryptocurrency.

The market pundit started their analysis with the Net Unrealized Profit/Loss (NUPL) metric, which measures the overall profit or loss of investors by comparing the current market value of ETH to the price at which coins last moved on-chain. Boris shared in his post that the NUPL currently sits on a negative level, suggesting that Ethereum’s investors may be holding through unrealized losses.

Ethereum may be approaching a major capitulation zone

Several key on-chain signals are starting to align:

• NUPL: Negative → Investors are holding unrealized losses • Price: Below Realized Price (~$2.2K) → Market still under pressure • Profit Days: The 1.34K-day profit… pic.twitter.com/rHNw1Pn0i8

— Boris. (@Fundingvest) March 12, 2026

Another major metric cited was the Realized Price metric, which represents the average price at which all coins in circulation were last moved on-chain. Boris pointed out in his tweet that the altcoin is currently trading beneath its realized price of $2,200. 

When the market falls below this level, it indicates that the average Ethereum investor is holding through losses. Hence, this on-chain signal translates as a level of pressure being felt by Ethereum’s investors, as the market price continues to fluctuate below the realized price. 

Furthermore, Boris mentioned the Number of Days Spent at a Profit metric in his analysis, saying that the Ethereum network recently ended an impressive 1,340-day streak, during which the majority of circulating Ether tokens remained profitable. 

The analyst explained that this is often a signal that a market cycle has ended — a conjecture that is consistent with historical events and tends to appear close to the bottoms of bear markets.

Despite the present conditions, Boris warned that NUPL still has to move deeper towards the capitulation zone between –0.5 and –1 for a bottom to be formed. If the Ethereum price were to experience another sell-off round, the metric could enter the capitulation zone, where several investors might be forced to forfeit their positions — an event that would most likely be exploited by long-term traders (the diamond hands).

Ethereum Price At A Glance

As of this writing, the price of Ethereum stands at around about $2,092, reflecting an over 1% drop since the past day. 

Institutional interest in XRP exchange-traded funds is still growing, and these ETFS have already taken in more than $1.4 billion in cumulative inflows since launch. Interestingly, the latest regulatory disclosures reveal a surprising name sitting at the top of the list of investors. 

Goldman Sachs, one of Wall Street’s most influential investment banks, has quietly accumulated the largest known position in XRP ETFs, placing it ahead of hedge funds and crypto firms. The revelation comes as XRP ETF assets and inflows continue to grow, adding to the conversations about institutional exposure to XRP.

Goldman Sachs Appears As The Largest Known XRP ETF Holder

Regulatory disclosures have revealed a surprising name sitting at the top of the list of known institutional holders of Spot XRP ETFs. According to data compiled by Bloomberg Intelligence, Goldman Sachs currently holds the largest disclosed position in XRP ETFs among institutions required to report their holdings.

Filings show that Goldman Sachs holds roughly $153.8 million in XRP ETF exposure, representing around 83.6 million XRP worth of ETF shares. This puts the Wall Street giant well ahead of other institutional investors that have publicly disclosed their positions.

Behind Goldman Sachs, the next largest disclosed holders include Millennium Management, which holds more than $23 million in XRP ETF exposure, followed by firms such as Citadel Advisors and Logan Stone Capital, each with significantly smaller allocations. These figures come from 13F filings dated December 31, 2025, which provide details of institutional positions held at the end of the year.

According to Bloomberg Intelligence analyst James Seyffart, XRP ETF demand is still strong compared to the broader crypto market, which has been facing downward pressure since the beginning of the year. Notably, Bloomberg Intelligence data shows cumulative inflows into Spot XRP ETFs rising from roughly $150 million in mid-November 2025 to about $1.44 billion by March 4, 2026.

Cumulative Spot XRP ETF Flows. Source: @JSeyff On X

Most XRP ETF Buyers Are Still Unknown

Despite the insights provided by regulatory filings, the publicly disclosed holders represent only a fraction of the actual investor base behind XRP ETFs. Actually, the top 30 disclosed holders of Spot XRP ETF shares only collectively controlled about $211 million in positions at the time of the filings.

Many investors, including smaller funds, family offices, and retail participants, are not required to file 13F reports. As a result, the list of institutional holders revealed through filings captures only a small portion of the total ETF inflows.

Nonetheless, the presence of major firms like Goldman Sachs at the top of the known holder list is an interesting trend to look out for regarding the future of these Spot XRP ETFs. We could start to see more banking firms follow the same path as Goldman Sachs before the end of the year, and XRP ETFs could start playing a larger role in institutional crypto investments.

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView

Former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, said he has always feared that Bitcoin is a “giant Ponzi scheme,” with the latest stories around the cryptocurrency appearing to prove him right.

Former Prime Minister Johnson Calls Pokémon Cards A Better Bet Than BTC 

In a March 13 Daily Mail column, former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson shared his thoughts about Bitcoin, the world’s largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization. According to the former political leader, Bitcoin and other crypto assets are a Ponzi scheme because they lack intrinsic value and sufficient real-world uses.

Johnson argued that Bitcoin relies on the “greater fool” theory and is sustained by the collective belief that endless new buyers will emerge. Sharing the story of an aggrieved local investor, the former UK leader warned that ordinary people are increasingly falling victim to crypto-related fraud.

Johnson compared the flagship cryptocurrency to traditional stores of value, such as gold and fiat currency, while claiming that Pokémon cards are a safer long-term bet than the world’s largest cryptocurrency. While noting the historic allure of gold and the sentimental value of vintage Pikachu cards, the former Prime Minister called Bitcoin “strings of numbers” with no central authority or accountability.

In fact, Johnson argued that decentralization, a unique selling point of cryptocurrencies, is their greatest weakness. In his Daily Mail column, the former Mayor of London predicted that the eroding confidence — especially among regular people — will be the cause of Bitcoin’s end.

Interestingly, contrary to his latest comments in his Daily Mail column, Johnson’s own administration was quite instrumental in opening the UK’s doors to the digital asset industry. In April 2022, the then-Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, unveiled a significant initiative to make the United Kingdom a “global hub for cryptoasset technology and investment.”

Bitcoin Is Not A Ponzi Scheme: Michael Saylor

Expectedly, Johnson’s comments about the premier cryptocurrency sparked interesting reactions from different corners of the crypto community. Strategy’s founder and chairman, Michael Saylor, produced one of the loudest rebuttals to the former Prime Minister’s claims.

Bitcoin is not a Ponzi scheme. A Ponzi requires a central operator promising returns and paying early investors with funds from later ones. Bitcoin has no issuer, no promoter, and no guaranteed return—just an open, decentralized monetary network driven by code and market demand.

— Michael Saylor (@saylor) March 13, 2026

Saylor, in a reply on X (formerly Twitter), said that Bitcoin is not a Ponzi scheme. Using the definition of a Ponzi scheme, the Strategy chairman reiterated that the flagship cryptocurrency has no “central operator promising returns and paying early investors with funds from later ones,’ as often required by Ponzi schemes.

Saylor wrote:

Bitcoin has no issuer, no promoter, and no guaranteed return—just an open, decentralized monetary network driven by code and market demand.

Saylor has been one of the most vocal supporters of Bitcoin, with his company’s steady acquisition a proof of his belief in Bitcoin’s long-term promise. As of this writing, the price of BTC stands at around $70,590, reflecting a 1.4% decline in the past 24 hours.

Ripple’s latest $750 million share buyback has split the XRP community in two. While some members see the internal buy-and-sell cycle as a sign of strength for both the crypto payments company and XRP, others argue that the move exposes a cycle that has always put retail XRP holders at the bottom of the food chain.

Ripple’s Buyback Leaves Retail Questioning XRP Loyalty

Crypto analyst @WhaleFUD has ignited a new debate within the crypto community by revealing details on Ripple’s internal buy and sell cycle and how it impacts XRP. In an X post on Wednesday, he noted that Ripple sells XRP and uses the proceeds to fund share buybacks for its own private equity. 

According to him, venture capital (VC) firms and institutional investors are buying shares in Ripple, the crypto company, rather than XRP, the native token of the XRP Ledger (XRPL). This means that any increase in Ripple’s corporate value does not directly benefit XRP holders. As @WhaleFUD put it, “Retail is the liquidity,” while “Wall Street is the winner.”

Unsurprisingly, the post triggered a sharp reaction from various members of the XRP community, with many criticizing Ripple for favoring equity holders over XRP holders. Community members argued that this structure gives Ripple zero incentive to support XRP’s long-term success. 

Some alleged that Ripple’s leadership profits from XRP transactions by using escrow sales to fund buybacks and increase share prices ahead of the company’s initial public offering (IPO). They pointed to the launch of the RLUSD stablecoin as a product that competes with the XRPL’s use cases, further implying that retail investors are being sidelined.

Additionally, they compared Ripple’s internal buy-and-sell cycle to historical crypto trends, citing the 2017 initial coin offerings (ICOs) and 2021 layer-1 (L1) launches, in which retail holders provided liquidity while early investors repeated the financial rewards. Another member added that Ripple now has no reason to ensure XRP holders profit, suggesting that the company has handed itself to VC backers and now prioritizes institutional gains. 

Others Say Buyback Signals XRP Confidence

While criticism from many in the crypto community rose, blockchain researcher BankXRP responded to the buyback news with a more positive take. He argued that Ripple’s latest buyback move signals strength in the company and XRP. 

According to reports, Ripple has launched a $750 million share buyback from investors and employees, placing the company at a $50 billion valuation. This represents a 25% increase from the crypto company’s $40 billion market value following its $500 million funding round in November 2025. 

BankXRP sees the tender offer as evidence of Ripple’s liquidity and long-term confidence in the XRP ecosystem. Notably, the buyback is moving forward despite ongoing uncertainty in the crypto market and downward pressure on the XRP price. The initiative is further supported by Ripple’s recent strategic acquisitions, including its $1 billion GTreasury purchase and the $1.25 billion acquisition of Hidden Road, among others. 

Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView