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On Tuesday, Bitwise announced the launch of the Bitwise 10 Crypto Index ETF (BITW) on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), allowing investors to gain exposure to a diverse range of cryptocurrencies in a single investment vehicle. 

This ETF includes ten digital assets: Bitcoin (BTC), Ethereum (ETH), XRP, Solana (SOL), Chainlink (LINK), Litecoin (LTC), Cardano (ADA), Avalanche (AVAX), Sui (SUI), and Polkadot (DOT). 

Notably, BITW marks the first exchange-traded fund by a major crypto asset manager to incorporate Avalanche, Sui, and Polkadot into its portfolio, as highlighted by Bitwise CEO and co-founder Hunter Horsley in a recent interview with CNBC.

Bitwise ETF Launches With Over $1 Billion In Assets

“This development significantly broadens the audience that can access these various assets, particularly for those digital currencies that lack a spot ETF,” Horsley explained on Monday. 

The fund is tailored for both financial advisors and smaller investors looking to utilize funds from individual retirement accounts (IRAs) or other retirement savings, where ETFs serve as the main investment option.

BITW represents a conversion from a prior index fund that encompassed the same digital currencies and has launched with over $1 billion in assets. 

The approval of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs back in January 2024 has led asset managers to compete for the chance to introduce ETFs that track a broader range of digital assets, including altcoins like Sui and Aptos, as well as memecoins such as TRUMP and Dogecoin (DOGE). 

However, these investment vehicles experienced major withdrawals in October and November, particularly for Bitcoin- and Ethereum-focused ETFs. These withdrawals reached record levels amid a broader sense of caution due to falling crypto prices. 

“The timing is ideal for many investors who have been paying attention since the Bitcoin ETF launch and are now looking for a more comprehensive way to allocate to digital assets without the need to select individual assets,” Horsley noted.

BITW Allocates 90% To Major Cryptos 

It’s important to emphasize that while BITW offers exposure to smaller cryptocurrencies in terms of market capitalization, its allocation to these assets is proportionately limited. 

Specifically, the ETF dedicates 90% of its holdings to Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRP, with the remaining 10% allocated to the other tokens in the fund. 

The fund will undergo monthly rebalancing, a more frequent schedule compared to many exchange-traded funds in the market that typically rebalance quarterly or semi-annually. 

Bitwise further expressed its commitment to expanding access to cryptocurrency opportunities, stating in a social media post: 

At Bitwise, we’ve been working tirelessly since 2017 to expand access to the opportunities in crypto. Countless investors have requested an index ETP, and we’re thrilled that NOW, with BITW’s listing on NYSE, you have that option. We believe 2025 is a breakout year for this space, and we are more optimistic than ever about the opportunities ahead.

As of this writing, Ethereum is the best-performing asset in Bitwise’s new fund. It is trading at $3,323 and has recorded gains of up to 6% in the past 24 hours as it approaches key resistance levels. 

Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com 

Криптовалютный рынок вошел в стадию консолидации. Торговая активность на биржах в значительной степени сузилась, сконцентрировавшись на биткоине, заявили аналитики компании Wintermute.

Хакер взломал аккаунт соосновательницы крупнейшей криптобиржи Binance И Хэ (Yi He) в китайском мессенджере WeChat, чтобы выполнить схему пампа и дампа с токеном Mubarakah. Злоумышленник смог заработать на этом около $55 000.

Крупнейшая криптобиржа Binance отстранила от работы сотрудника, подозреваемого в использовании служебной информации для получения личной выгоды, и выплатила $100 000 пяти информаторам, сообщившим о нарушении.

Swapper Finance has launched Direct Deposits in collaboration with Chainlink and Mastercard, aiming to bring global payments directly into the on-chain economy to more than 3.5 billion users worldwide.

Swapper Finance Launches Direct Deposits With Chainlink, Mastercard

On Tuesday, Swapper Finance, a next-generation payments infrastructure layer that connects global users to on-chain applications, announced the launch of Direct Deposits in collaboration with Chainlink, Mastercard, and multiple key partners.

Direct Deposits, which are live now, are set to bring “the global payments world directly into the on-chain economy through a unified, secure, and compliant flow,” powered by Chainlink Runtime Environment (CRE) and Mastercard’s recognized global network.

According to the announcement, users will be able to deposit into Decentralized Finance (DeFi) protocols using payment cards, crypto transfers, or Web3 wallets inside a single, end-to-end on-chain workflow for the first time.

Swapper’s Direct Deposits aim to unlock instant access to DeFi for billions of people worldwide by eliminating traditional bottlenecks, exchanges, and multi-step onboarding. This has historically required stitching together isolated systems, including Know Your Client (KYC) requirements, compliance, card payments, fiat conversion, settlement, and liquidity routing, which has created friction, high drop-off rates, and inconsistent security across the process.

Direct Deposits are set to replace this old-fashioned flow through one “unified, verifiable, on-chain orchestration layer,” with every component of the process executed inside a secure on-chain environment.

Roman Tirone, Senior Manager, Chainlink Build at Chainlink Labs, affirmed that “by unifying identity, compliance, token swaps, settlement, and more in a single orchestration layer, CRE is enabling the onboarding of billions of cardholders into the onchain economy.”

This creates a simple and familiar checkout experience that quickly moves a user from traditional finance to on-chain, supported by institutional-grade security and global reach. Meanwhile, the launch represents another step in Mastercard’s efforts to integrate traditional payment infrastructure with blockchain-based applications, helping it expand its digital asset strategy.

‘The Onboarding Layer For Web3’

Swapper’s launch will see multiple leading Web3 platforms integrate the Direct Deposits technology directly into their user flows, including Pi Squared, Stake.link, KyberSwap, AITECH, NPC, Teneo, BigWater, Rhuna, TrebleSwap, MyStandard, Landwolf, Dolomite, HyperSwap, Turbo, APU, and Radiant Capital, among others.

This signals strong demand for a unified card-to-on-chain standard, the announcement added, which suggests that Direct Deposits “are quickly becoming a foundational component for user acquisition across Web3.”

The launch also represents “deep technical collaboration across Mastercard, Chainlink, Swapper Finance, and key partners” to bring together payment authorization, compliance, execution, and liquidity routing in a single verifiable workflow powered by CRE and Swapper Finance.

Arthur, CTO of Swapper Finance, affirmed that “this is the onboarding layer we always believed the industry needed,” adding that Direct Deposits represent a “turning point” for how people enter the space as “the first truly unified onboarding layer for Web3.”

“Our goal has always been to remove the barriers that keep billions of people from accessing DeFi, and with this launch, that future becomes real,” Arthur stated, concluding that “Direct Deposits represent a turning point for how people enter Web3. For the first time, the process feels intuitive rather than intimidating. We expect this launch to dramatically expand the number of users who can participate in onchain markets.”

Компания Twenty One Capital, специализирующаяся на развитии связанных с биткоином финансовых продуктов, начала публичные торги на Нью-Йоркской фондовой бирже (NYSE) под тикером XXI.

Специалисты банка Standard Chartered заявили, что вынуждены пересмотреть свой прогноз курса первой криптовалюты, снизив целевой уровень цены к концу года с $200 000 до $100 000.

Canada’s tax authority has told investigators that roughly 40% of people using crypto platforms are at risk of not paying the right amount of tax.

Reports have disclosed the figure as part of a wider push by the Canada Revenue Agency to bring crypto activity into the tax system.

The move has already led to audits, court orders for data, and recovered funds, but criminal charges remain rare.

Audit Findings And Numbers

According to CRA figures, about 15% of flagged crypto users failed to file returns at all. Based on reports, another roughly 30% of those who did file are deemed high risk for under-reporting or other compliance gaps.

The agency’s specialist unit — reported to be around 35 auditors — has handled more than 230 audit files tied to crypto activity.

Canada’s crypto tax crackdown reaps millions. So why no criminal charges? https://t.co/iyRyZzC3rn

— BNN Bloomberg (@BNNBloomberg) December 8, 2025

Reports say the work has led to recovered tax payments that total over C$100 million, though some outlets put the recovered amount closer to C$72 million depending on which cases are counted.

Dapper Labs And Data Orders

One of the court actions targeted users of a platform run by Dapper Labs. The CRA obtained a court order seeking records for about 2,500 users, a slice of roughly 18,000 accounts that were originally on the agency’s radar.

The orders, and others like them, signal a shift: the CRA is increasingly asking judges to force platforms to hand over user data rather than relying only on audit notices.

This is because crypto records can be fragmented, cross-border, and hard to trace without platform cooperation.

Why Criminal Charges Are Limited

Based on reports and legal commentary, the CRA has won civil recoveries but has not seen criminal prosecutions in these crypto cases since 2020.

That gap highlights practical and legal hurdles. Tax fraud cases that go criminal require proof beyond a reasonable doubt that a person willfully evaded tax.

Many crypto cases involve messy transaction histories, unclear intent, or legal questions about how certain tokens should be taxed, and those factors can slow or block criminal referrals.

What It Means For Users And Platforms

For investors, collectors, and traders in Canada, the signal is clear: records matter. Reports note that other Canadian enforcement bodies, including financial intelligence units, are increasing checks on crypto firms and foreign exchanges that touch Canadian customers.

Platforms and users who kept poor records or who relied on assumed anonymity now face higher odds of being identified during audits or court orders.

Featured image from Unsplash, chart from TradingView

Bitget, крупнейшая в мире универсальная биржа (UEX), проведет в Москве новогоднюю встречу для журналистов, партнеров, блогеров и лидеров мнений.

Bitcoin is trading at a decisive moment, holding just above the $90,000 mark after several days of tight consolidation. Despite reclaiming this key level, the market continues to struggle with upward momentum, leaving traders uncertain about the next major move. Yet beneath the surface, a key on-chain indicator has triggered fresh interest among analysts. According to top analyst Darkfost, the Hash Ribbons have just flashed a new buy signal — a development that historically aligns with strong medium-term performance for Bitcoin.

Darkfost emphasizes that this signal is not a cue to rush blindly into the market, but rather a meaningful piece of data worth highlighting. Hash Ribbon signals typically appear during periods of miner stress, when mining difficulty forces weaker miners to shut down.

These moments often precede significant accumulation phases, as selling pressure from distressed miners fades. With the exception of the unprecedented 2021 mining ban in China, every previous Hash Ribbon buy signal has produced profitable outcomes for patient investors.

Understanding The Bitcoin Hash Ribbons Signal

Darkfost explains that the Hash Ribbons indicator is built around the evolution of Bitcoin’s hashrate, comparing the 30-day and 60-day moving averages to detect periods of miner stress. When the 30-day MA of the hashrate falls below the 60-day MA, it signals that mining difficulty is rising relative to miner profitability.

In these phases, less efficient miners are often forced to scale back operations or shut down entirely, reducing the overall network hashrate.

While mining difficulty itself is influenced by several factors — including electricity costs, hardware efficiency, block rewards, and, of course, Bitcoin’s price — the key point is that miner capitulation tends to create short-term selling pressure. Miners may liquidate part of their reserves to stay afloat, often contributing to temporary weakness in the market.

However, Darkfost emphasizes that these periods of stress historically present strong mid-cycle accumulation opportunities. As weaker miners exit and difficulty adjusts downward, the market often enters a healthier phase where selling pressure subsides, and long-term participants begin to accumulate BTC at discounted prices.

Over the years, Hash Ribbon buy signals have frequently marked early stages of major recoveries, offering investors a structural, data-driven advantage even when sentiment appears uncertain.

Testing Support as Momentum Weakens

Bitcoin continues to trade just above the $90,000 level, showing signs of stabilization after several weeks of heavy downside momentum. The chart reveals that BTC has bounced off the 100-day moving average (green), which is now acting as a key dynamic support zone. This level has historically served as an important midpoint during major pullbacks, and the market’s ability to hold above it suggests that selling pressure may be easing.

However, the price remains well below the 50-day moving average (blue), which has begun to curve downward — a signal that short-term momentum still leans bearish. For a stronger recovery, Bitcoin must reclaim this moving average and convert it into support. Until then, rallies may struggle to extend meaningfully.

Volume has also compressed significantly compared to the earlier stages of the uptrend. This decline indicates hesitation from both buyers and sellers, often typical during consolidation phases following sharp corrections. The lack of aggressive selling is a constructive sign, but the absence of strong buy-side interest keeps BTC vulnerable to further swings.

If Bitcoin holds above the $90K–$88K area, it could build a base for a broader rebound. A breakdown below this region, however, would open the door to deeper retracements toward the mid-$80K range.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com

Bitcoin (BTC) is trading uncomfortably close to the $90,000 mark, as a mix of macro caution, thinning liquidity, and shifting market structure continues to weigh on price action.

Related Reading: Wall Street Storms Ripple In Explosive $500 Million Deal

What was once a retail-driven ecosystem is now increasingly shaped by institutional flows, with U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs attracting substantial assets, while on-chain activity trends in the opposite direction. The result is a market that moves, but with participation patterns very different from those seen in earlier cycles.

Bitcoin ETF Flows Rise as Retail Activity Falls

Since the launch of U.S. spot Bitcoin ETFs in early 2024, the network has experienced a steady decline in active on-chain addresses. Analysts attribute this partly to the “convenience trade,” in which retail investors opt for exposure through traditional brokerage accounts rather than managing their own Bitcoin wallets.

BlackRock’s IBIT and similar products now capture a growing share of BTC demand, even as the blockchain itself shows a decline in grassroots participation.

Industry experts argue that this shift fundamentally changes how value circulates in the Bitcoin economy. ETF issuers, not miners or network users, are now capturing a higher share of revenue.

SwanDesk CEO Jacob King describes this as a structural pivot toward off-chain monetization, with Bitcoin functioning more as a financial instrument than a peer-to-peer asset.

BTC Price Pressure Intensifies Around Macro Events

Bitcoin’s recent price behavior reflects both macro uncertainty and intraday volatility patterns. BTC has repeatedly slipped below $90,000 despite developments that historically would support bullish sentiment, such as Strategy’s (formerly MicroStrategy) latest purchase of over 10,600 BTC.

Traders remain cautious ahead of the Federal Reserve’s policy decision, where expectations for a quarter-point rate cut are high. Yet the hesitation is evident: rallies toward $92,000 continue to meet resistance, and liquidity remains thin across spot and derivatives markets.

Consequently, analysts warn that Bitcoin must hold above a key support level near $88,000 to avoid a deeper downside.

Institutional Trading Dynamics Shape Market Movements

A growing number of analysts suggest that predictable sell-offs around the U.S. market open reflect coordinated execution rather than organic selling.

Market watchers point to high-frequency firms, such as Jane Street, which hold large ETF positions, as possible contributors to these recurring patterns. While unproven, the consistency of these drops has added to trader frustration.

Meanwhile, miners face their own pressures. Hashprice has fallen to near-record lows, prompting operators to pivot toward AI infrastructure as mining profitability erodes.

Related Reading: CEOs Of Leading Banks To Discuss Crypto Market Structure With US Senators This Week

With ETFs absorbing demand, macro signals driving sentiment, and miners restructuring their businesses, Bitcoin now sits at a pivotal moment, supported by institutional capital but missing the retail pulse that once defined its cycles.

Cover image from ChatGPT, BTCUSD chart from Tradingview

Ethereum is holding above the $3,000 level for the fourth consecutive day as the market enters a decisive week dominated by the upcoming FOMC meeting. Traders are cautiously positioning ahead of the Federal Reserve’s announcement, aware that liquidity signals and rate expectations could determine whether this recovery continues—or breaks down.

Despite the recent stabilization, fear remains firmly in control. Many analysts warn that if ETH loses the $3K floor, the market could face a deeper retracement, especially with volatility expected to spike around the macro event.

Amid this uncertainty, on-chain data from Lookonchain has revealed a striking development: BitcoinOG, the same whale who famously shorted the market during the violent October 10 crash, has now dramatically increased his bullish exposure to Ethereum. According to the data, he has ramped up his long position to 67,103.68 ETH, valued at approximately $209.8 million.

Whale Positioning Adds a New Layer of Volatility

According to Lookonchain, the BitcoinOG whale is now sitting on more than $4 million in unrealized profit from his massive Ethereum long. His position of 67,103.68 ETH, currently valued at over $209 million, comes with a liquidation price of $2,069.49, a level far below current market conditions but still within the realm of possibility if macro pressure intensifies.

This liquidation threshold is especially important because it reveals the whale’s risk appetite and how aggressively he’s leveraging this bet. A liquidation level near $2,070 implies confidence that Ethereum won’t revisit its deeper range lows, even as the market remains fragile ahead of the FOMC meeting. It also shows he has a significant margin buffer behind the trade, suggesting strategic positioning rather than impulsive speculation.

However, large leveraged positions can act as double-edged swords for the broader market. If price begins trending toward his liquidation zone, cascading liquidations across other longs could accelerate downside momentum. Conversely, whales with deep pockets often defend key levels to protect their positions.

ETH Higher-Timeframe Trend Remains Fragile

Ethereum’s weekly chart shows the market fighting to stabilize above the $3,000–$3,150 zone, a level that now acts as the primary support band after weeks of heavy selling. The recent bounce from the mid-$2,700s has created a short-term relief structure, but ETH still trades well below its 50-week moving average, which is beginning to curl downward—a signal that the broader trend is losing momentum.

The chart highlights a clear pattern: each rebound over the past six months has produced lower highs, reflecting persistent seller dominance whenever ETH approaches the $3,500–$3,800 region. This repeated rejection zone marks a key resistance cluster that bulls must reclaim to shift the medium-term outlook back toward bullish continuation.

Volume also remains relatively muted compared to earlier stages of the cycle, suggesting that current buying interest is hesitant. Without a surge in spot demand, rallies may continue to fade quickly.

On the positive side, ETH has reclaimed the 200-week moving average, an important long-term support that historically acts as a pivot between macro bull and bear phases. As long as this level holds, Ethereum retains structural strength.

ETH is in a neutral-to-bearish consolidation, and a decisive weekly close above $3,300 is needed to confirm regained momentum.

Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com

Ruya Bank has launched in-app Bitcoin trading, becoming the first Shari’ah-compliant bank to let customers buy and sell the cryptocurrency using a mobile banking app.

According to the bank, the move follows approval by its Shari’ah-governance board and was built with a regulated partner to handle custody and settlement.

Shari’ah Approval And Partnership

Ruya said it worked with Fuze, a regulated virtual-asset infrastructure provider, to manage custody, settlement and compliance for trades.

The bank framed the service as a Shari’ah-approved investment option rather than a tool for quick speculation. Reports have disclosed that Bitcoin is the initial digital asset offered at launch.

UAE Crypto Flows And Local Context

Between July 2023 and June 2024 the UAE recorded roughly US$30 billion in virtual-asset inflows, a rise of 42% year-on-year according to figures circulated around the launch.

Ruya Bank CEO: Bitcoin Is Now Shari’ah Compliant — A New Chapter for Islamic Digital Finance https://t.co/sijVZfAJne via @unlockbc @myruyabank #islamicFinance #isBitcoinHalal #Shariah_compliant #Bitcoin #adoption #BitcoinNews #UAE

— Unlock Blockchain (@unlockbc) December 8, 2025

That growth has come as regulators in the UAE lay out clearer rules for virtual-asset service providers, making banks and fintechs more willing to add crypto features inside regulated apps.

How The Offering Works

Users who meet the bank’s terms can execute Bitcoin buys and sells inside the Ruya app. Trade execution and custody are handled by Fuze under the arrangements described.

The bank says its Shari’ah board reviewed the structure to ensure compliance with Islamic finance principles, with an emphasis on transparency and clearer risk controls.

Potential Impact On Muslim Investors

For Muslims who have avoided crypto because of religious concerns, this gives a regulated route inside an established bank.

Analysts quoted in coverage suggested the move could nudge more conservative savers toward holding some Bitcoin when they otherwise would not have.

Adoption will depend on demand and on whether other Islamic banks follow Ruya’s example.

What Comes Next

Ruya has signaled it will consider offering other virtual assets later, depending on demand and regulatory clarity. Based on reports, the bank wants to position this service as part of longer-term wealth planning rather than short-term trading.

This step marks a notable moment: a Shari’ah-compliant bank rolling Bitcoin trading into its core app with a regulated custodian.

It could widen access for Muslim investors in the UAE and beyond, while also testing how Islamic finance rules and modern crypto systems can be combined in practice.

Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView

The latest S-1 registration submitted to the US Securities and Exchange Commission has placed Ethereum back at the center of market speculation. A recent SEC document shows that BlackRock’s iShares division has formally filed to launch a staked ETH exchange-traded fund, a move that would give traditional investors access not only to ETH price exposure but also to staking rewards through a regulated product.

A New ETF Structure That Brings Staking Into Traditional Finance

The proposed trust, which is called the iShares Staked Ethereum Trust ETF (ETHB), differs from previous Ethereum filings because it incorporates staking into its core design. According to the S-1 filing, the ETF would hold ether directly while delegating most of its balance to external validators, allowing staking rewards to feed into the trust’s net asset value. This approach offers institutions a pathway to access ETH’s yield component without interacting with on-chain staking infrastructure themselves.

Related Reading: Industry Leader Shares Why Ethereum Price Will Reach $12,000

The structure is bullish for Ethereum, as it shows that major asset managers like BlackRock are looking beyond basic price exposure and toward products that reflect how Ethereum now operates after its transition to proof-of-stake.

The first indication of BlackRock’s interest in ETH staking was in July, when it filed an application to add ETH staking in its iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA). It seems the fund issuer is now taking proactive action on the staking trust with the recent standalone filing. Under SEC procedure, the new filing begins the review period, although a formal approval timeline does not start until the exchange responsible for listing the ETF submits a Form 19b-4.

If approved, the ETF could influence Ethereum’s circulating supply over time. The plan is to stake between 70% and 90% of the trust’s ETH, and this means that large inflows would steadily route more ether into long-term staking, reducing the volume actively available on the open market.

What This Could Mean For ETH’s Price Outlook

The potentially smaller liquid supply is going to contribute to a bullish ETH price, particularly during periods when demand for ETH rises. The filing itself does not change ETH’s price in the short term, nor does it signal any immediate regulatory approval. 

Related Reading: Ethereum Buyers Have Re-Entered The Arena Below $3,400, Here’s How Much They’ve Bought

What the filing does provide is a clearer picture of how ETH might fit into the next generation of institutional investment products. A staked ETH ETF would formalize staking as an investable feature and increase the types of investors who consider the altcoin a viable long-term asset.

Any eventual impact on Ethereum’s price will depend on how the approval process unfolds and how much capital flows into the product once it launches. BlackRock’s existing footprint in the Ethereum ETF niche shows how influential those inflows can be. Its iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) has consistently led other spot issuers, including over the past 24 hours, when ETHA recorded $23.66 million in inflows compared to Grayscale’s $11.83 million, while other issuers saw no inflows at all.

Once approved, shares of the iShares Ethereum Staking Trust are expected to trade on Nasdaq under the ticker ETHB.

XRP spent the past week caught between rising institutional demand and stagnant price action, creating a compression zone that traders say is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.

Even as U.S. spot XRP ETFs approach the $1 billion AUM milestone, the asset continues to trade within a narrow band, leaving market participants to question whether the prolonged consolidation is setting the stage for a larger move.

The disconnect between inflows and price has become one of the week’s most notable themes. Analysts note that while institutional capital continues to accumulate, XRP’s chart remains muted, indicating heavy profit-taking following November’s rally and lingering sell-side pressure across higher timeframes.

ETF Momentum Builds as XRP Price Stalls

The XRP price is hovering near $2.06, slipping slightly despite consecutive days of ETF inflows. Analysts highlight that large holders likely sold into strength, offsetting the fresh demand entering through regulated products.

Even so, XRP ETFs have outperformed Bitcoin ETFs in terms of relative inflow strength, indicating that institutions are positioning themselves early.

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse noted that XRP became one of the fastest-growing U.S. crypto ETFs of the year, arguing that broader access through traditional investment accounts is expanding the asset’s investor base.

The market reaction remains mixed, with some traders viewing ETFs as a stabilising force, while others see them as limiting upside volatility.

Regulatory and Structural Developments Add New Variables

Beyond market flows, regulatory commentary added another layer of attention. Former SEC Chair Paul Atkins emphasized tokenization as a practical path forward, highlighting its benefits, including increased transparency and faster settlement.

His remarks sparked debate within the XRP community, particularly among those who argue that the XRP Ledger is well-positioned for enterprise-grade tokenization systems.

Meanwhile, Ripple’s recent $500 million equity round, structured with downside protection for Wall Street investors, reinforced how closely the company’s valuation is tied to its XRP holdings.

Funds reportedly concluded that around 90% of Ripple’s net worth derives from its XRP treasury, underscoring the token’s central role in the firm’s long-term outlook.

Technical Picture Shows Compression, Not Capitulation

On the charts, XRP remains locked between the $2.07 support level and the $2.18 and $2.30 resistance levels.

Analysts note weakening momentum indicators but stable underlying demand. If XRP breaks above these levels, a move toward Wave 3 targets near $2.73 becomes more likely, though failure to do so could trigger another retest of lower support.

The XRP price continues to compress, supported by some of the strongest ETF inflows of the year, but constrained by steady selling and broader market caution. Whether this tension resolves upward or downward is the question traders will carry into the next week.

Cover image from ChatGPT, XRPUSD chart from Tradingview

Tether and Circle, issuers of the two largest stablecoins in the world, have just received major regulatory greenlights in UAE’s Abu Dhabi.

Tether’s Stablecoin Recognized As ARFT, While Circle Obtains FSP License

Major developments related to the cryptocurrency sector have occurred in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this week, with Tether and Circle both winning approvals in Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), the international financial center and free economic zone of Abu Dhabi, UAE’s capital.

First, as Tether has announced in a press release, USDT issued on a number of blockchains has been recognized as an Accepted Fiat-Referenced Token (ARFT) in ADGM. USDT already received approval from ADGM last year, but the previous recognition only included the Ethereum, Solana, and Avalanche versions. With the new regulatory nod, USDT available on Aptos, Celo, Cosmos, Kaia, Near, Polkadot, Tezos, TON, and TRON has also entered the market.

“By extending recognition to USD₮ on several major blockchains, ADGM further strengthens Abu Dhabi’s position as a global hub for compliant digital finance,” said Tether CEO Paolo Ardoino.

USDT being considered as an ARFT means that authorized persons licensed by ADGM’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) can offer regulated activities involving the stablecoin on nearly all its native blockchains. “Introducing USD₮ within ADGM’s regulated digital asset framework reinforces the role of stablecoins as essential components of today’s financial landscape,” noted Ardoino.

Meanwhile, Circle, the issuer of USDC, has also advanced in the region with a new license from the FSRA, according to an announcement. The license, called the Financial Services Permission (FSP), allows the company to operate as a Money Services Provider in ADGM.

Arvind Ramamurthy, ADGM Chief Market Development Officer, said:

Circle’s regulated presence in ADGM reinforces our ambition to build a trusted, institutional-grade digital asset ecosystem in Abu Dhabi, one that enhances market confidence, supports real-world use cases, and cements the UAE’s role as a leading hub for regulated digital finance.

The greenlight from ADGM follows the recognition of Circle’s USD and EUR stablecoins by the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA) in February of this year. The move made USDC and EURC the first stablecoins to be approved in the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC).

The new FSP license means “Circle is positioned to expand regulated payment and settlement use cases in the UAE for businesses, developers, and financial institutions,” the statement noted.

Stablecoins have witnessed rapid growth throughout 2025, setting multiple records. The near-constant growth in these tokens, however, saw a break in October, as the combined market cap of this side of the cryptocurrency sector reversed course.

As the above chart from DefiLlama shows, the stablecoin market cap declined to a low in mid-November. Since this bottom, though, capital inflows have returned for these fiat-tied assets, with the market cap once again nearing in on a new record.

Bitcoin Price

At the time of writing, Bitcoin is floating around $90,100, up almost 4% in the last seven days.

A well-known crypto investor, who claimed to have bought Bitcoin when it was $3,000, has announced that he has dumped all his BTC to load up on XRP. The unexpected move comes at a time when the market is experiencing significant volatility, with Bitcoin trading at an uncharacteristically low price and XRP experiencing a downtrend. Despite choppy market conditions, the analyst is highly confident in the altcoin’s future performance.

Crypto Investor Sells Entire Bitcoin Stash To Buy XRP

A crypto entrepreneur who goes by Crypto X AiMan on X social media shocked the broader market this week by announcing that he had sold his entire Bitcoin position and moved the proceeds into XRP. The crypto investor unapologetically declared he had gone 100% all-in on the token. The unexpected pivot sparked instant reactions, with many in the crypto community voicing similar optimism for the altcoin and admitting they have already made, or plan to make, the same move. 

In his post, AiMan explained that his primary reason for the sudden portfolio switch was the level of regulatory clarity that XRP gained in the United States after the resolution of its prolonged legal battle with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). While the broader legal landscape around digital assets is still evolving, the crypto investor argues that XRP now holds a unique position as a non-security among established cryptocurrencies in the US. 

AiMan also highlighted Ripple’s considerable reserves and its more than 300 banking and payment partnerships as primary reasons for his decision to diversify into the third-largest cryptocurrency. At present, Ripple owns more than 45 billion XRP, representing over 45% of the total supply of 100 billion tokens. Under normal circumstances, such a concentration might raise concerns about centralization and excessive issuer control. However, AiMan has indicated that this level of institutional oversight is actually a strategic advantage. 

Additionally, the crypto investor pointed to Ripple’s partnerships with central banks and major financial institutions, especially those preparing for the ISO 20022 upgrade, which is expected to reset global messaging standards in 2026. With all of these in place, AiMan views the token as an asset with incredible potential.

The crypto entrepreneur drew a comparison between the altcoin and BTC. He described Bitcoin as a form of digital gold that prioritizes scarcity and decentralization, but that faces limitations in speed and transaction costs. On the other hand, he portrayed XRP as a “digital dollar,” framing it as a more practical instrument for cross-border payments, designed to move value quickly and at low cost. 

Investor Embraces Full Risks As He Goes All In On The Altcoin 

In his post, AiMan acknowledged the significant risks of investing 100% of his BTC proceeds into XRP. He admitted that XRP could lose all of its value, leaving him with nothing. Despite this, he remained undeterred, emphasizing that if things go well, the potential rewards could be life-changing. 

He pointed out a stark contrast between Bitcoin’s current market capitalization of over $2 trillion and the global cross-border payments industry, which is valued at approximately $250 trillion. According to the crypto entrepreneur, if the altcoin were to capture just 1% of that market, its value could increase exponentially.

In the broadening blockchain sector, the Ethereum network remains a dominant force, heavily utilized and constantly selected by crypto players to carry out their on-chain operations. A recent report shows that Ethereum is transitioning from blockchain to the big league, as the network overtakes dollar-denominated transactions across digital payments.

A Leader In Dollar Transactions

With a surge in stablecoin transfer volume, Ethereum is no longer only a rival in the cryptocurrency space. In a post on the X platform, Leon Waidmann, a market expert and head of research at On-Chain Foundation, reported that ETH is currently surpassing some of the largest traditional payment networks in the world in terms of raw transaction volume.

Data from the post reveals a surge in dollar-denominated transactions on Ethereum, which has triggered new conversations about its increasing prominence as a layer of global settlement. This spike shows that the blockchain’s changing role in finance is becoming more difficult for institutions to ignore as volumes surge past expectations.

With one month remaining in the year, the amount of ETH stablecoin transfers in Q4 has already exceeded that of Q3. According to the data, the leading network has recorded nearly $6 trillion in stablecoin volume in the fourth quarter of this year alone, reflecting its growing demand for payment settlement.

When it comes to dollar-dominated transaction volume, the blockchain has already outpaced both Visa and Mastercard transaction volumes in the current quarter. Given the surge in stablecoin transfer volume, Ethereum is gradually becoming the major settlement layer for digital dollars.

Waidmann stated that the size makes early Decentralized Finance (DeFi) activity appear insignificant by comparison. In the meantime, the conventional financial infrastructure is being surpassed by the on-chain economy.

Ethereum Network’s Throughput Exhibiting Robust Growth

As demand for Ethereum as the main settlement layer grows, the network is also quietly entering a new phase of its evolution. This change is one that is characterized by accessibility, efficiency, and quickness rather than traffic jams and soaring costs.

Waidmann highlighted that ETH scaling is rising, alongside growing throughput and declining transaction costs. With transaction prices continuously declining and network throughput surging, the blockchain is demonstrating concrete evidence that its long-promised scaling vision is coming to pass.

As a result, Ethereum will be able to handle an increasing amount of activity over time. However, the network’s usage cost continues to decline, drawing close to zero. Currently, Layer 2s take care of the heavy execution while the mainnet settles the valuable transactions. Should these two lines continue to move in opposite directions, ETH is scaling just as planned.

At the time of writing, the price of ETH was still holding above the $3,100 level despite recording a more than 1% decline in the last 24 hours. Its trading volume has also witnessed a bearish action, dropping by over 4% in the past day.

The newest Digital Asset Fund Flows Weekly Report from CoinShares paints a picture of shifting institutional preferences toward XRP, and Ethereum is no longer attracting the level of attention it once did. The report shows that Ethereum’s weekly inflows came in far behind other major assets, even as overall sentiment in the crypto market improved.  Meanwhile, XRP surged to the second-highest inflow position behind Bitcoin, and large investors are reallocating capital away from Ethereum and into funds linked to XRP.

Ethereum Inflows Lose Momentum

Ethereum’s position in institutional portfolios has weakened noticeably in recent weeks. This was evident in a four-week stretch of outflows throughout November. Notably, a recent broader market recovery pushed total digital asset inflows to $716 million last week, bringing the inflow stretch to two consecutive weeks.

However, Ethereum captured only a small share of that capital. The report shows Ethereum with just $39.1 million in weekly inflows, a subdued figure compared to the sizeable movements seen in other assets. This soft performance follows months of cooling demand, and it suggests that institutional conviction in Ethereum is fading.

Even the month-to-date figure trails behind expectations, coming in at $41.2 million, far below the institutional numbers of Bitcoin XRP, and even Chainlink.

XRP Pulls In Massive Institutional Demand

XRP ranked as the second-largest inflow recipient last week, drawing $245 million, more than six times what Ethereum received. This surge builds on strong year-to-date activity, lifting XRP’s total inflows for 2025 to over $3.1 billion, far above the $608 million recorded in 2024. 

CoinShares’ report shows that XRP’s inflows are a sustained trend rather than a one-off spike. Inflows into XRP-linked products have jumped massively since the introduction of Spot XRP ETFs in the US. Interestingly, these ETFs have witnessed consistent days of inflows since their launch.

These figures indicate that institutions view XRP as a more attractive allocation than Ethereum at this stage of the market cycle. XRP’s strong accumulation coincides with improving sentiment across the derivatives market, where products linked to Bitcoin have also recovered. 

Speaking of Bitcoin, the leading cryptocurrency remained the dominant inflow magnet, with $352 million entering its investment products last week. However, the more notable story lies in the sequence of inflows just behind Bitcoin. Bitcoin continues to anchor portfolios, but capital that would have traditionally flowed into Ethereum is now finding its way into XRP, alongside other new institutional favorites such as Chainlink, which posted a record weekly inflow of $52.8 million, representing more than half of its year-to-date inflows.

Across the geographic breakdown, inflows from the US, Germany, and Canada contributed heavily to this realignment. The US received the most inflows of $483 million last week. Germany, Canada, and Switzerland-based funds came in behind with $96.9 million, $80.7 million, and $34.4 million, respectively.

Crypto pundit Pumpius has provided insights into Ripple’s XRP’s role to enable the trillion-dollar tokenization market on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). He also explained how the altcoin and Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin work hand in hand rather than being competitors on the network. 

Ripple XRP’s Role In Enabling Tokenization On The XRPL

In an X post, Pumpius stated that XRP handles cross-border liquidity and deep global routing while Ripple’s RLUSD supports domestic flows, tokenized assets, and institutional balance sheets. This came as he noted that pairing XRP with RLUSD creates a two-asset settlement engine in the push for tokenization on the XRPL. 

The crypto pundit further stated that both XRP and Ripple’s RLUSD unlock instant settlement for tokenized assets, atomic swaps, capital-efficient markets, and unified liquidity across the entire XRPL ecosystem. He asserted that without instant, programmable, and compliant settlement, tokenized assets are nothing more than digital placeholders. 

Pumpius remarked that this is where Ripple’s RLUSD becomes transformative. He explained that the stablecoin is the operational backbone for real-world assets on the XRP Ledger. The crypto pundit added that it is the first dollar that settles at XRPL speed with institutional-grade transparency and regulatory alignment.  

In line with this, Pumpius reiterated that tokenization is useless without settlement. While RLUSD fixes the settlement problem, he stated that XRP amplifies it and that the emerging ZK layer will protect it. Regarding the ZK layer, the pundit stated that as private ZK infrastructure begins to anchor the XRPL identity, privacy and compliance layers will slot into this model, making settlement fast, verifiable, and shielded when needed. 

He declared that settlement, privacy, and compliant identity are the final form institutions have been waiting for before they begin tokenizing on the XRP Ledger. Notably, Ripple has already included introducing privacy features on the network into its roadmap. 

Ripple CTO Defends XRP And XRPL

In an X post, Ripple CTO David Schwartz defended XRP and the XRPL after the altcoin was described as being “extremely centralized” because it is permissioned. Schwartz rebutted the statement that it was permissioned, noting that no one needs, or could have, any special permission to issue or execute XRPL transactions.

He further stated that XRP is unpermissioned for the same reason Bitcoin is. He added that if anyone were to exercise control over the network in a way that is perceived as unfair, everyone else would change whatever was needed to regain fairness. The Ripple CTO also mentioned that, over more than a decade, no XRP transaction has been censored. At the same time, he claimed that Bitcoin miners routinely delay transactions they disfavor for any reason. 

At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $2.05, down in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.