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Ripple-linked XRP may be one of the biggest names in the cryptoverse today, but its place among the market’s elite could be in serious jeopardy. Prominent crypto commentator EllioTrades has issued a sobering warning that XRP risks being pushed out of the top 10 cryptocurrencies by 2030 unless a game-changing breakthrough turns the tide.
Why Ripple’s Growing Partnerships May Not Be Enough to Secure XRP’s Future
In a recent video, EllioTrades pointed to growing competition from rival blockchains, many of which are making strides in tokenizing financial assets, including stocks and bonds. In his view, XRP cannot rely on banking partnerships alone to maintain its position. What matters is whether businesses, investors, and everyday users are actively putting the network to work.
The pundit also highlighted the growing challenge posed by stablecoins, particularly USDT and USDC, which offer a more predictable value for cross-border transfers. Unlike XRP, whose market price fluctuates, these dollar-pegged tokens can appeal to users who prioritize price stability when moving money internationally.
Another concern is the gap between Ripple’s corporate progress and the benefits XRP holders actually receive. Some financial institutions can use Ripple’s payment solutions without necessarily relying on the XRP Ledger to process transactions. That distinction raises questions about how much of Ripple’s expanding business activity translates into demand for XRP itself.
XRP Is Lagging Behind in the Race to Tokenize Real-World Assets
Tokenization is bringing traditional financial assets, from government debt and company shares to commodities, onto blockchain networks, opening new opportunities for digital trading and settlement.
In the video, EllioTrades pointed to figures showing that the tokenized real-world asset market had grown beyond $50 billion across blockchain networks. He argued that Ethereum, BNB Chain, and Solana were gaining traction in this fast-evolving sector, leaving the XRP Ledger with ground to make up.
But the pundit raised a more fundamental question about XRPL’s progress. The value of assets issued on a blockchain may look impressive on paper, yet that does not necessarily mean those assets are attracting buyers or generating consistent trading volume. For EllioTrades, the distinction between assets simply existing on the ledger and assets being actively used is crucial.
What XRP Must Change to Stay in Crypto’s Top 10 Through 2030
EllioTrades outlined three areas where XRP needs to make meaningful progress if it is to remain among the crypto market’s biggest players through 2030.
First, the XRP Ledger needs to attract more tokenized real-world assets that generate genuine market activity. Large asset valuations may look impressive, but sustained buying, selling, and usage would provide a stronger indication of adoption.
Second, the ecosystem needs to become more attractive to developers. Greater support from Ripple for builders and innovative projects could help expand the range of applications available on the XRP Ledger and give users more reasons to engage with the network.
Finally, deeper involvement from major financial institutions could strengthen XRPL’s position in the tokenization market. The participation of firms such as BlackRock or Franklin Templeton could bring greater visibility and institutional activity, although the benefits for XRP would depend on how their products and transactions use the network and its native token.
Ultimately, XRP’s fight to remain among crypto’s top 10 by 2030 may hinge on more than Ripple’s expanding business empire. As rival blockchains compete for tokenized assets and stablecoins challenge XRP in cross-border payments, the real test is whether growing adoption translates into stronger demand for the token itself. Ripple may be winning deals, but can XRP turn that momentum into lasting market strength? That is the question that could shape its place in crypto’s next chapter.

The debate over whether Bitcoin’s hashing algorithm can be hacked continues to evolve. This time, billionaire investor Chamath Palihapitiya revealed that AI will eventually hack the Bitcoin network. In an interview shared today, the renowned tech investor and the founder and CEO of Social Capital claimed that AI will, in the long run, crack Bitcoin and trigger a massive price plunge.
BTC can fall to zero after infiltration
In the podcast, Chamath Palihapitiya is convinced that a future AI hack could eventually infiltrate Bitcoin and send its value to zero. In the interview, the CEO identified privacy exposure and AI-enabled hacking as risks facing traditional cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin.
Regarding privacy exposure, he mentioned leaked crypto data security, which led to home invasions and kidnappings of crypto entrepreneurs and prominent investors in France.
In the case of AI-enabled hacking, Palihapitiya said rising self-improving AI models could eventually manipulate Bitcoin’s hash algorithm (SHA-256 security) and possibly infiltrate Satoshi Nakamoto’s wallets.
He illustrated that an attacker could profit twice from the same exploit: first by drawing funds from the wallets. Second, by shorting Bitcoin after publicly exposing the hacking incident, illustrating how Bitcoin can plummet to zero.
According to the executive, Bitcoin is capped, and he believes that AI can hack its encryption and unlock blockchain wallets whose public keys are often protected by math.
His statement revealed how AI has put powerful hacking tools into the hands of many people, including attackers. He called the migration to quantum-resistant cryptography impossible because the Bitcoin community’s attention is divided.
He says he buys Bitcoin through ETFs
Palihapitiya said he no longer holds Bitcoin directly because of potential security concerns. The CEO said he gets exposure to Bitcoin through the equity market to avoid storage and security risks.
He sees Bitcoin as democratized today through Bitcoin ETF funds, which let investors buy BTC easily, like buying ordinary stocks. According to him, these ETFs are a milestone, helping BTC reach a mainstream audience, as they no longer need to worry about digital wallets or sophisticated security keys.

Dogecoin is evolving into a full crypto network that rewards not only DOGE users but also participants actively engaging on-chain. This is demonstrated by today’s announcement that revealed that the network has launched its own specialized company. The new firm is designed to build a digital economy expected to support the DOGE’s long-running community.
Dogecoin unveils dedicated company
Dogecoin has created its own firm dubbed ‘Dogecoin Labs’, aiming to drive growth in the ecosystem, according to the announcement made today. Through collaborations with the Dogecoin Foundation, the new initiative will unify products, intellectual properties, and development teams across the wider Dogecoin ecosystem into a unified independent organization.
The newly launched company aims to advance development within the Dogecoin ecosystem and bring more practical applications to DOGE users. As per the report, the firm will own and manage Dogecoin’s three major products (including Such App merchant payment platform, DogeOS application network, and MyDoge wallet) to build an interconnected ecosystem for DOGE customers. The aim is to expand real-world utilities of Dogecoin by enabling users to access practical use cases and allowing businesses to accept payments more easily.
MyDoge wallet is a self-custodial wallet that allows customers to send, receive, store, and tip Dogecoin, making the user crypto experience seamless, secure, and fun. The wallet currently has over 500,000 customers, showing its popularity.
On the other hand, Such App’s merchant-payment infrastructure is a platform that allows merchants and businesses to easily accept Dogecoin through DOGE invoicing, online transactions, and QR code payments. Lastly, DogeOS is an application-layer network compatible with EVM, thus supporting developers in developing applications within the Dogecoin ecosystem.
By collectively managing these critical products, the new organization seeks to drive adoption, turn DOGE holders into active on-chain users, and unlock business opportunities for the Dogecoin cryptocurrency.
Dogecoin Labs to fill market gap
The project seeks to resolve what is seen as Dogecoin’s inherent limitation. Dogecoin is one of the biggest and most-recognized cryptocurrencies, with huge liquidity, millions of holders, and active communities. Despite these massive parameters, the number of products and enterprises built around the cryptocurrency remains relatively few.
The introduction of the newly formed organization, Dogecoin Labs, aims to address this shortcoming by building wallets, trading, payments, DeFi, commerce, and social applications on the ecosystem.

XRP’s sluggish price action may be testing investors’ patience, but history suggests that the biggest gains sometimes come after long stretches of seemingly endless consolidation. One crypto commentator is reminding frustrated holders that XRP once spent roughly two years trading sideways before staging a staggering 62,000% rally during the 2017–2018 bull run. The nagging question now is whether history could be setting the stage for another explosive XRP breakout or whether this time will be different.
Why Losing Patience During Market Stagnation Could Be a Costly Mistake
In a recent post on X, Vandell Aljarrah, co-founder of Black Swan Capitalist, argued that XRP’s historical price action offers a valuable lesson about patience during prolonged market downturns and consolidation phases.
“Losing patience during market stagnation is a novice mistake,” he wrote, pointing to XRP’s roughly two-year consolidation period before its explosive 62,000% macro expansion during the 2017–2018 bull run.
He captioned an XRP/USD weekly chart highlighting the lengthy consolidation phase that preceded the cryptocurrency’s historic rally. XRP traded within an approximate $0.004-$0.011 range for about 742 days before breaking out in 2017 and eventually reaching its cycle peak in January 2018.
The chart measures the magnitude of that move, showing an extraordinary 630-fold price increase. For Aljarrah, the historical example underscores how prolonged periods of sideways trading can precede dramatic market expansions, even when investor patience is wearing thin.
In follow-up posts, Aljarrah’s analysis sparked a debate over the true scale of XRP’s historic rally. One commenter estimated the gain at roughly 64,000%, using a starting price of approximately $0.006 and a peak of $3.84.
Aljarrah countered that the percentage depends on the starting price and exchange data used. He argued that measuring XRP’s advance from its 2014 cycle lows to its January 2018 peak would produce a substantially larger gain of approximately 119,000%.
Could History Repeat?
Not everyone is buying the idea that XRP could repeat its historic rally. Some community members argue that today’s crypto market is vastly different from the 2017–2018 cycle, pointing to the growing influence of market makers and alleged manipulation as reasons a similar price explosion may be harder to achieve.
Others are questioning why XRP has struggled to deliver comparable gains in the years following its historic climb from fractions of a cent to several dollars. Their skepticism raises an important question: can XRP’s past performance really offer clues about what comes next?
XRP was trading at $1.31 as of press time, down 5.2% on the day, CoinGecko data shows. The payments-focused token also remained roughly 64% below its current all-time high of $3.65.
Still, the scale of XRP’s historical rallies continues to capture investors’ attention. A repeat of the 62,000% surge highlighted by Aljarrah would propel XRP to an eye-popping $814.81 from current levels.
As Mark Twain famously said, “History doesn’t repeat itself, but it often rhymes.” While XRP may not replicate its extraordinary 62,000% rally, its history shows how prolonged periods of consolidation can precede explosive price moves. Whether the crypto can deliver another comparable surge remains uncertain, but the historical precedent continues to fuel optimism among long-term holders.

Matt Crosby, a research director at Look Into Bitcoin, said in a recent interview that Bitcoin currently represents only about 0.3% of global capital, a share that continues to expand as the overall pool of capital grows.
The market player noted that returning to the previous all-time high would require a higher dollar figure than the nominal peak because of ongoing U.S. dollar debasement, putting that adjusted level closer to $134,000 than $126,000.
“I mean, right now Bitcoin is about 0.3% of global capital. And keep in mind that the pool is growing constantly. If we were to regain the previous all-time high, it wouldn’t be $126,000 because the US dollar has been debasing during that time. It’s closer to around $134,000.” He wrote.
Crosby pointed out that Bitcoin remains a fraction of the gold market, which saw a $20 trillion move during its most recent bull run. Even a modest rotation of a couple of percentage points from gold into Bitcoin, which he described as digital gold with superior utility and easier accessibility now validated by major institutions, could significantly amplify Bitcoin’s price action.
Crosby outlines Bitcoin’s path to a new all-time high
According to Crosby, allocating just 1% of global capital to Bitcoin would drive the price to about $275,000.
Crosby framed this figure as the lower end of the range that large allocators such as BlackRock have recommended for Bitcoin holdings.
He further suggested that corporate treasuries and additional sovereign interest, inspired by examples like El Salvador, could create a self-reinforcing flywheel of inflows.
In Crosby’s view, market psychology is poised to reverse, as investors who currently allocate only a few percent to Bitcoin are often seen as outliers.
However, within a few years, those who hold none may be seen as the ones out of step, with shareholders likely pressing companies, corporations, and nation-states to add a small Bitcoin position to their balance sheets.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

The Cardano Foundation has urged the European Commission not to broaden the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation (MiCA) by creating new standalone rules for decentralized finance, staking, and other protocol-level activities. In a recent response, the foundation argued that regulation should target the functions performed and the risks created, not the underlying technology.
Regarding staking, the response noted that Cardano (ADA) holders can delegate their stake to help secure the network without transferring custody of their tokens or locking them up. The foundation stressed that this direct, non-custodial participation should be treated differently from intermediated staking services, where a third party holds or manages client assets. It recommended against applying the same regulatory requirements to both.
The foundation also called for maintaining the existing boundary between MiCA and traditional financial rules such as MiFID II. It said an asset’s classification as a financial instrument should depend on its substantive characteristics, not its technical form. While hybrid tokens and inconsistent national interpretations need more clarity, the group opposed expanding the regulatory perimeter or adding new categories that could create overlaps and complexity.
Beyond scope questions, the response identified practical improvements to the current framework, including clearer treatment of multi-issuer stablecoins, reduced overlaps with payment rules, refined sustainability disclosures that account for different blockchain designs, and stronger protection for genuinely unique NFTs. It also pushed for more consistent application across EU member states and better legal certainty for cross-border tokenized assets.
Conclusively, the Cardano Foundation warned that more regulation does not automatically mean better regulation. Complex new rules and high compliance costs could raise barriers for smaller projects and discourage innovation in Europe at a time of growing global competition. It said the priority should be refining what already exists rather than extending MiCA’s reach simply because an activity involves blockchain technology.

XRP traded lower early Tuesday before recovering some losses, as the broader cryptocurrency market faced pressure from rising oil prices and concerns about global risk appetite.
The market weakness comes as crypto analyst “Ellio Trades” warns that XRP could eventually lose its place among the largest cryptocurrencies if Ripple fails to turn its partnerships and blockchain infrastructure into meaningful demand for the token.
In a YouTube video on Monday, Ellio argued that competing networks are advancing in financial services and real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, two areas closely tied to XRP’s long-standing investment narrative.
“XRP’s biggest threat could be other cryptos delivering what XRP holders have been hoping for for almost a decade,” he said.
The analyst warned that XRP investors could miss out on growth elsewhere if competing projects attract businesses, developers and institutional capital while the XRP ecosystem struggles to expand.
Notably, Ellio questioned whether XRP can maintain its traditional role as a cryptocurrency designed to support international payments, especially as stablecoins gain traction for cross-border value transfers.
Unlike XRP, whose market price fluctuates, stablecoins such as Tether’s USDT and Circle’s USDC are designed to maintain a relatively stable value against the US dollar. That feature can make them more suitable for payments where senders and recipients need predictable settlement amounts.
The analyst also argued that some of Ripple’s banking partnerships have benefited the company’s payment infrastructure without necessarily generating equivalent demand for XRP.
He distinguished between institutions using RippleNet and activity on the XRP Ledger, suggesting that partnerships alone do not show whether the token itself is capturing value.
For XRP to strengthen its position, Ellio believes Ripple must demonstrate that its technology is being used in ways that create sustained demand for the cryptocurrency.
The analyst further identified real-world asset (RWA) tokenization, which brings assets such as stocks, bonds and real estate onto blockchains, as an opportunity for Ripple. However, he said the XRP Ledger lags behind Ethereum, BNB Chain and Solana in attracting tokenized assets and building active markets.
Ellio cautioned that the total value of assets represented on a blockchain does not necessarily reflect genuine economic activity. He said XRP needs to attract actively traded assets and build an ecosystem where businesses use the network, rather than relying on isolated partnerships.
“XRP needs to grow this business. They need to climb the leaderboards,” he said.
He suggested that Ripple could support developers, expand its ecosystem, and attract major traditional financial institutions to build services directly on the XRP Ledger.
The concerns are not limited to Ellio. XRP community member John Squire recently called on Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse to ensure the company’s partnerships deliver tangible benefits for token holders, not just partnerships.
“XRP investors are tired,” Squire said. “We believe in the Ripple vision, but people need to see that progress reflected in XRP’s price. Hope needs results, Brad.”
Meanwhile, Santiment recently reported that XRP’s bullish-to-bearish social commentary ratio fell to 0.67 in early October, its lowest reading since August 17. A reading below 1.0 indicates that bearish comments outnumber bullish ones across the social platforms the analytics firm tracks.
However, Santiment noted that widespread pessimism can sometimes create contrarian opportunities, though it doesn’t guarantee an immediate recovery.
XRP’s on-chain activity also presents a mixed picture. The 90-day moving average of whale outflows from Binance reportedly dropped to $49.7 million in October, down from $3.5 billion in February 2025, when XRP traded near $3.30.
Lower outflows may suggest large investors are accumulating less aggressively, though the metric alone cannot establish their intentions.
On the technical side, analyst Ali Martinez identified $1.25 as an important support level. He suggested that holding it could support a recovery toward $2, while a sustained move above $1.56 would strengthen that outlook. A break below $1.25 could expose XRP to further losses toward $1.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) founder Ryoshi may never return, as a veteran community member questions claims that the project’s anonymous creator has resurfaced online.
The discussion comes as other prominent SHIB figures remain silent and the token struggles with declining trading activity.
In a Friday post on X, veteran SHIB community member Mzarael.Shib questioned the authenticity of content attributed to Ryoshi after the Shiba Inu founder disappeared from public view in 2022. He pointed to changes in the account identifier of Ryoshi’s former Medium blog, ALL HAIL THE SHIBA, arguing that another user had taken over the username.
“Same username, different account. Post-deletion content isn’t Ryoshi,” Mzarael wrote.
He explained that Ryoshi deleted his Medium page on May 30, 2022, before another account adopted the same handle.
“Medium page user name is same as they took the same handle but the user ID is the proof in the page,” he added, stressing that retaining the same username does not prove that the account belongs to the same person.
Archived records reportedly show the account ID changing from 70f3e7a9c807 to c8d086596085, supporting his argument that the later account may not belong to the original founder.
Mzarael’s remarks responded to community member KURO SHIBARMY JPN, who noted that SHIB’s ecosystem kept expanding despite Ryoshi’s disappearance and shared a link to the blog.
Ryoshi is not the only prominent Shiba Inu figure whose public communication has diminished.
Lead ambassador Shytoshi Kusama has not posted or interacted on X since May 13. In September, he changed his profile biography to “Polish” and updated his location to “close,” prompting speculation without providing a clear explanation of his plans.
Moreover, Lucie, a prominent Shiba Inu ecosystem and Shibarium representative, last posted on X on June 8, after allegedly draining the bridge recovery with WOOF, as per Mzarael. Elsewhere, developer Kaal Dhairya has also been largely silent, with his last reported X activity dating to June.
This reduced communication has left community members with fewer public updates on the project’s direction, while Shiba Inu’s market indicators point to weak momentum. SHIB has fallen below several key moving averages, while its relative strength index (RSI) hovered near 40, indicating selling pressure without suggesting that SHIB had reached oversold territory.
On-chain data also point to subdued exchange activity, with SHIB reserves at about 87.1 trillion tokens. The seven-day average of exchange outflows fell 42%, while inflows declined 14%, suggesting reduced token movement and trading activity.
The value of SHIB held on exchanges stood at approximately $434.6 million, down just 0.69% over the past 24 hours, as per Cryptoquant data. Meanwhile, burn data showed little evidence that token destruction was meaningfully supporting the price.
Nevertheless, Ryoshi’s anonymity could renew interest in SHIB as the community draws comparisons with Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto, who disappeared in 2011. Bitcoin has since surged roughly 5.7 million percent.
Five years ago, the SHIB community widely discussed the founders’ anonymity and perceived similarities, with members highlighting their pseudonyms and links to decentralized projects.
As a result, Shiba Inu could keep evolving without Ryoshi’s return, with its price trajectory and progress toward greater decentralization increasingly dependent on the SHIB Army’s continued involvement.
Strong community support and ecosystem development could help drive future growth, potentially pushing SHIB’s price higher.

Elon Musk’s two flagship companies, Tesla and SpaceX, are considering a potential merger that could create one of the world’s largest corporate entities, currently valued at around $3.5 trillion. Beyond the massive valuation, the merger would create a single corporate entity that owns roughly 30,221 BTC, worth about $2.47 billion.
Crypto analytics firm CryptoQuant tweeted regarding the development:
Image Source: X
The development has taken the world by storm, as it would create the biggest corporate merger in history. Musk himself confirmed the development in a recent SpaceX earnings call. He explained that both companies have formed committees of independent directors to evaluate this major undertaking.
The news is resonating particularly with crypto users, as SpaceX holds 18,712 BTC while Tesla holds 11,509 BTC. Together, they currently hold billions in bitcoin and have a promising future ahead.
While Musk has flip-flopped on BTC as a reserve asset, his long-term interest in the premier digital currency remains, as his companies still hold a large amount. The merged company will likely continue holding the digital currency long term. Neither firm has sold any significant amount of crypto in recent years and appears to be HODLing.
The Mother of all Mergers
While the corporate world is abuzz with details of this development, the merger will likely take time, and Musk has recused himself from the process because he’s involved with both organizations.
“I do think there’s a lot of merit to combining the companies,” Musk said, citing synergies in artificial intelligence, robotics, chip design, and related technologies. He once again mentioned the artificial superintelligence singularity and how the world is approaching it. Any deal would require approval from both companies’ shareholders.
Both companies’ share prices immediately rose after Musk’s admission, even though key merger details are still awaited. It remains to be seen whether they will reorganize under a single holding company or whether the larger company will absorb the smaller one.
Musk has limited his involvement in Tesla in recent years, and SpaceX has emerged as his de facto favorite company. His ultimate dream is of sending human beings to Mars. However, the unveiling of the theatrical, rocket-powered Tesla Roadster has reignited interest in the electric-car manufacturer after several years of decline, as Chinese EV manufacturers have taken the global lead in the segment.

Solana (SOL) is entering a potentially game-changing chapter as Alpenglow, its biggest network upgrade since 2020, officially goes live. The highly anticipated overhaul promises to dramatically accelerate transaction finality, potentially cementing Solana’s position among the fastest major blockchains.
With the network taking a major leap forward in speed and efficiency, could Alpenglow be the catalyst that supercharges SOL’s next big price rally?
Solana’s Alpenglow Slashes Transaction Finality to Just 150 Milliseconds
Solana activated its Alpenglow upgrade on Wednesday, introducing a redesigned consensus voting system aimed at finalizing payments and trades in a fraction of a second.
Solana core engineering firm Anza confirmed that the Alpenglow consensus protocol reached mainnet-beta at slot 459,653,000 at approximately 14:00 UTC on Wednesday. The deployment replaces TowerBFT, the consensus mechanism that has powered Solana since its launch in March 2020, marking a major milestone in the network’s evolution and its push toward faster transaction finality.
The Alpenglow upgrade streamlines Solana’s previous two-step transaction confirmation process into a single step, slashing finality times from approximately 12.8 seconds to just 150 milliseconds. This dramatic improvement could benefit cryptocurrency exchanges crediting deposits and merchants processing payments, enabling transactions to reach finality much faster and making Solana more competitive for applications requiring near-instant settlement.
At the time of writing, Solana’s mainnet recorded transaction finality of 207 milliseconds and throughput of 2,644 transactions per second, according to the network’s Alpenglow dashboard. These figures offer an early look at the network’s performance following the upgrade, highlighting its potential to support faster settlements and high-volume transaction activity.
Following the Alpenglow rollout, Solana validators are expected to turn their attention to Agave 4.5, a planned upgrade that would increase the number of accounts supported by a versioned transaction from 64 to 96. According to the Solana Foundation, the expansion could enable more efficient swap routes and improve trade execution prices. Currently in development, Agave 4.5 is targeted for December 2026, potentially delivering another performance boost for the Solana ecosystem.
Could Solana’s Speed Boost Unlock a New Bullish Chapter for SOL?
Alpenglow could provide a fundamental catalyst for SOL by improving transaction finality and strengthening Solana’s appeal to traders, payment providers, and developers. However, whether these performance gains translate into sustained price appreciation will depend on broader market conditions, network adoption, and demand for SOL.
Solana (SOL) climbed nearly 3% in the 24 hours leading up to the Alpenglow upgrade but has since pulled back to $103.68 as Bitcoin weakened and risk-off sentiment returned to the broader crypto market. The price reversal suggests that, despite the upgrade’s potential long-term benefits, SOL remains vulnerable to wider market pressures, which could overshadow positive network developments in the near term.
Holding above the $95-$100 demand zone would be crucial for SOL to maintain its recovery structure and keep bullish momentum intact. A sustained defense of this support area could strengthen the case for further upside, while a breakdown below it could expose the token to renewed selling pressure.
That said, Alpenglow could strengthen Solana’s long-term growth prospects by improving transaction speed and network efficiency. However, sustained adoption, increased network activity, and stronger demand for SOL will ultimately determine whether the upgrade translates into a lasting price rally.

XRP bulls may have a reason to smile after a sharp surge in on-chain transaction volume coincided with a rebound near the $1.25 support level, according to market analyst Ali Martinez.
Source: Ali Martinez
Martinez noted that XRP transfers across the XRP Ledger surged to $49.70 billion as the top altcoin traded around $1.25.
Interestingly, this spike in network activity came alongside a price recovery, raising questions about whether bulls were stepping in to defend a critical support zone, with XRP presently trading at $1.29 per CoinGecko data.
Well, if the $1.25 support holds and buying pressure strengthens, Martinez’s outlook suggests XRP could attempt a rally toward the psychological and critical price of $2.
Is XRP Eyeing a Repeat of Its 6.8X Rally?
Beyond the current recovery, crypto analyst Diana has raised the possibility that XRP may be in the process of mimicking its explosive 2024 rally.
At that time, XRP traded at $0.50 before climbing to approximately $3.40, delivering a roughly 6.8-fold increase.
Well, Diana argues that the current chart could be developing similar characteristics, including a liquidity sweep, a potential bullish change of character (CHoCH), and a significant volume spike.
If XRP follows its 2024 footsteps, the altcoin could surge from the current $1.29 price level to $8.772, with Diana also identifying Fibonacci extension levels around $6.08 and $9.24 as potential upside targets.
Delving deeper into XRP’s price action, Veteran trader Peter Brandt recently identified a cup-and-handle formation; if a breakout occurs, the altcoin could surge toward $2.16.
Nevertheless, these bullish technical signals are unfolding against a backdrop of community frustration. Some XRP supporters have criticized Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse for the company’s growing partnership announcements while the cryptocurrency’s price performance remains lackluster.

TRON founder Justin Sun warned of artificial intelligence (AI) risks to digital assets that could ultimately threaten investments in some traditional products. Q-day fears continue to grow as stakeholders (developers and investors) propose new solutions to security concerns.
Classical Computing Might Breach Cryptography Faster
In a recent interview, the TRON executive said he has become more bearish on Bitcoin because of fears about the quantum era. These risks have dominated industry discussions since the start of the year, driven by AI-related threats.
Generally, Q-Day, as it is commonly called, refers to the point when supercomputers become powerful enough to break digital assets’ cryptography. Sun believes classical computing may reach that stage before supercomputers because of progress in AI and mathematics.
His view comes as AI companies roll out new super-intelligent models despite calls for regulatory reforms in the sector. Security experts say these models pose risks to websites, apps, etc., because some communicate outside their scope with other agents.
Furthermore, AI models have solved long-standing mathematical problems, suggesting these agents are more intelligent. For Sun, stakeholders need to pay attention to AI security risks and act swiftly before the deadline.
“If you ask about my personal view, I am currently slightly more bearish. The reason is straightforward: the evolution of AI algorithms and the issue of QD (quantum computing). I believe it will be difficult for BTC to walk away unscathed from this…”
His bearish stance aligns with reports that security concerns and asset safety top the “fear” list among users. Crypto scams crash the market, sending sentiments tumbling and ushering in long bear spells.
Sun added that investors exposed to spot Bitcoin ETFs have not fully priced in these risks. Despite sideways trading, traditional investors are building portfolios and viewing Bitcoin as an important asset class.
Since these products launched, bulls have gained a new way to gauge large whale interest in the market. As quantum threats grow, users are mapping out roadmaps to build quantum-resistant wallets.
However, other networks have outpaced Bitcoin because of its decentralization and the fact that about 31% of wallets may be exposed. In the last few months, Google and other firms have projected supercomputing to become so powerful within three years.

Stellar is stepping up its quantum-readiness efforts, and the latest Bell upgrade could mark another important milestone in the network’s long-term security strategy. As concerns grow over the potential threat quantum computing poses to blockchain technology, Stellar’s push to prepare for the next generation of computing could strengthen its appeal as a forward-looking blockchain ecosystem. But what does this development mean for XLM, and could it become a long-term bullish catalyst for the cryptocurrency’s price?
Stellar’s Quantum Game Plan Is Taking Shape
In a recent X post, Stellar outlined the goals of its upcoming Bell Protocol upgrade, highlighting plans to support business-ready smart accounts at scale, begin work on quantum-safe signatures, and improve ledger performance.
The upgrade is expected next month, with November 3 and November 23, 2026, emerging as potential testnet and mainnet activation dates, respectively. If implemented as planned, the upgrade could mark an important step in Stellar’s long-term push to strengthen its infrastructure and prepare for emerging security challenges.
Introducing Bell (Protocol 30). Bell is designed to make smart accounts ready for businesses at scale and begin work on quantum-safe signatures and faster ledgers. Testnet upgrade: Nov 3 Mainnet upgrade: Nov 23 Learn more in the upgrade guidehttps://t.co/vjS0vLy7rT
— Stellar | Meridian Oct 28-29 (@StellarOrg) October 20, 2026
Powerful quantum computers could eventually undermine elliptic-curve cryptography, a foundational security technology used by most blockchains and many internet systems. Google has set 2029 as its target for transitioning its systems to quantum-resistant cryptography and has urged the wider industry, including blockchain networks, to prepare for the same deadline. Against this backdrop, Stellar (XLM) is advancing its own quantum-readiness strategy to strengthen long-term security as the technology evolves.
In June 2026, Stellar introduced its Quantum Preparedness Plan (QPP), outlining its strategy to transition the network toward quantum-safe cryptography. The initiative reflects Stellar’s efforts to address potential future threats from quantum computing while strengthening the network’s long-term security and resilience.
Under Stellar’s quantum roadmap, every account is expected to be able to add a quantum-safe signer through a native protocol upgrade by the end of 2027, without changing its existing address or transaction history. Meanwhile, enterprise wallets could begin adopting quantum-safe signing as early as 2026 through Soroban smart contract accounts, allowing businesses to prepare for emerging quantum threats ahead of the broader network transition.
Stellar’s Quantum Readiness Could Become a Major Long-Term Catalyst for XLM
Stellar has secured several notable partnerships, including an initiative with the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation (DTCC) to support integrating and distributing tokenized real-world assets (RWAs). According to DeFiLlama data, Stellar hosts approximately $3 billion in RWA assets, roughly six times the value of its $488 million stablecoin market.
Meanwhile, XLM was trading at $0.1839 at the time of writing, up 4.7% on the day as the broader crypto market rebounded. Looking ahead, Stellar’s Quantum Preparedness Plan could further strengthen the network’s long-term appeal by enhancing account security and preparing its infrastructure for potential quantum computing threats. While the upgrade won’t guarantee an immediate price rally, improved security and growing real-world asset adoption could strengthen the long-term bullish case for XLM.

XRP whale outflows on Binance have fallen to a five-year low, according to crypto analyst Darkfost. The 90-day moving average now stands at just $49.7 million, down sharply from the peak activity seen earlier in the cycle.
At the market’s peak in February 2025, when XRP reached around $3.30, whale outflows on the exchange averaged $3.5 billion over 90 days. That period featured intense accumulation, including multiple daily spikes exceeding $10 billion.
Ever since, the pattern has reversed as large holders have shown steadily decreasing interest, apparently waiting for more attractive entry prices.
As the analyst observed:
“Since then, the trend has completely reversed. XRP is attracting less and less attention from whales, who are probably waiting for a better price to step back in. As a result, whale outflows on Binance (90-dma) have just dropped to their lowest level in 5 years. With a 90-day average of $49.7M, they are back to their October 2021 level, which marked the top of the previous Bitcoin cycle.”
Current outflow levels match those recorded in October 2021, near the top of the previous Bitcoin cycle. XRP’s relative strength during the ongoing bear market appears to have kept prices high enough to discourage the heavy accumulation that whales pursued in 2022 and 2023.
In the long term, the analyst expects that the reduced whale activity could mean thinner buying support for XRP. Still, market trends sometimes shift exactly when volumes and interest reach their lowest points.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
“From a long-term perspective, this suggests XRP could lack buying volume without whale support. That said, it’s not a hard rule; sometimes the trend reverses precisely when volumes and interest collapse.” He wrote.
His analysis comes as XRP makes a soft recovery, up 3.96% over the last 24 hours. The 5th most valued asset by market cap now trades at $1.37 per asset.

A dormant Bitcoin (BTC) wallet transferred 500 BTC, worth about $41.54 million, to Coinbase Prime after 10.7 years of inactivity.
Whale Alert flagged the transaction Tuesday evening, noting the stash had increased in value more than 212 times since 2016.
Meanwhile, blockchain analytics firm Arkham Intelligence attributed the wallet to Irish cannabis cultivator Clifton Collins, whose reported 6,000 BTC fortune has been the subject of Irish authorities’ recovery efforts.
Arkham says the 500 BTC was transferred to an address identified as a Coinbase Prime deposit wallet. Coinbase Prime provides institutional cryptocurrency trading and custody services.
Notably, the transaction marks the fifth 500 BTC movement from Collins-linked wallets in 2026, bringing the total moved this year to 2,500 BTC, Arkham reported.
Irish authorities recovered 500 BTC in March, followed by further recoveries in May and July. Another 500 BTC moved to Coinbase Prime in August, preceding Tuesday’s transaction.
However, the latest transfer does not show whether the Bitcoin was sold or who initiated it. Identifying the destination as a Coinbase Prime address also does not confirm that the coins were liquidated.
Collins, a former beekeeper from Dublin, accumulated approximately 6,000 BTC in late 2011 and early 2012 through his cannabis business, when Bitcoin traded at just a few dollars per coin.
He reportedly divided the holdings among 12 wallets, each containing 500 BTC, to protect his fortune from hackers. Collins printed the private keys on paper and hid them inside the aluminum cap of a fishing rod case at a rented property in County Galway.
In 2020, police arrested him after discovering cannabis in his car, after which he served five years in prison.
During his imprisonment, authorities cleared out the rented property, and the fishing rod case containing the keys was reportedly discarded. The missing keys left the Bitcoin inaccessible, turning the fortune into one of Ireland’s most notable cryptocurrency recovery cases.
Ireland’s Criminal Assets Bureau announced in March 2026 that it had accessed a previously inaccessible 500 BTC wallet with assistance from Europol’s European Cybercrime Center.
The latest movement adds to the series of transactions involving Collins-linked holdings, although the circumstances behind Tuesday’s transfer remain unclear.
Of note, the 2,500 BTC moved this year represents roughly 42% of the reported 6,000 BTC fortune, leaving approximately 3,500 BTC potentially remaining across the wider stash.
The transaction also comes amid renewed activity among other long-dormant Bitcoin holders. A separate wallet transferred 411.45 BTC, worth about $34 million, on Sunday after more than a decade of inactivity. Two other wallets moved a combined 417 BTC a day earlier.
These transfers have accelerated since September and continued into October, raising the possibility that some holders are preparing to sell, adjusting custody arrangements, or moving funds between wallets for security reasons.
At press time, Bitcoin was trading at $84,669, up 2.62% in the past 24 hours.

A recent report from Cryptoquant, a crypto on-chain analytics platform, highlights a divergence in Bitcoin’s on-chain data between large holders and the broader spot market. While major market participants appear to be shifting behavior, overall demand from retail and institutional spot buyers in the United States remains subdued.
According to the analysis, whales holding between 1,000 and 10,000 BTC have moved from distribution to accumulation. Their 60-day net position shifted from a 62,600 BTC decline to a 5,230 BTC gain. At the same time, Binance’s USDT reserves have climbed from roughly $790 million to $1.76 billion, suggesting more potential buying power sitting on the exchange.
Despite these constructive signals, U.S. spot demand remains weak. The Coinbase Premium Index sits near minus 0.1416 percent, and weekly exchange flows have flipped to a net inflow of 8,428 BTC. In addition, the Short-Term Holder Spent Output Profit Ratio (STH-SOPR) remains near 0.9982, suggesting short-term holders are still selling at small losses or near break-even.
The report suggests the market is advancing from a phase of fewer sellers toward a possible bottom. However, a sustained upward move will likely require clearer strength in spot demand. Key indicators to monitor going forward include the Coinbase Premium, exchange netflows, and whether STH-SOPR can hold above 1.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
As the analyst puts it:
“My view: the market is progressing from “fewer sellers” toward a possible bottom, but a sustained rally still needs stronger spot demand. The key signals to watch next are Coinbase Premium, exchange netflows, and STH-SOPR holding above 1.”
Bitcoin is trading at $84,651, according to CoinMarketCap data. The asset is up about 2.67% over the past 24 hours. Over the last 30 days, the price is down roughly 4.6%, based on the platform’s historical closes.

XRP traders are moving assets to centralized crypto exchanges amid macro hiccups, even as the coin remains sideways. However, speculation of an altcoin swing remains, with bulls poised for a final push to end the year.
XRP Exchange Reserves Hit 11.81 Billion
On October 17, the total XRP on centralized exchanges crossed 11.81 billion as Binance unwinds leverage. Recent inflows surprised most users, who expected a firm last quarter after a year marked by liquidations.
The surge in centralized exchange deposits sparked expected conversations about consistent flash sales. When large numbers of traders move assets into centralized exchanges, liquidation risk spikes, as historical trends show.
This contrasts with withdrawals to self-custody wallets, which suggest long-term holdings. A major issue for traders is the added pressure on the market after it has slipped below support several times in the last 12 months.
CryptoQuant researchers noted that Binance XRP open interest is $453 million, while long liquidation stands at $25.7 million, marking the largest two-day total in two weeks. Major swings were expected as macroeconomic factors remain uncertain.
“Against its own baseline, Binance’s reserve (2.67B) sits only at the 30th percentile of its year, so the build-up appears concentrated on other venues. Binance netflow still averaged +9.3M XRP/day over the past week (Z +1.13), driven by net inflows of +22M…Meanwhile, whale volume fell 44% week over week, and tokens transferred fell 37%. The on-chain activity behind these balances may be thinning.”
However, some analysts view recent inflows to exchanges like Binance as collateral to hedge in risky periods rather than an outright sale. Crypto bears oppose this view, citing previous cycles and current risks. Like the broader market, the next XRP rally hinges on institutional demand, and a downturn will trigger retail sell-offs.
At the time of writing, the asset trades at $1.33 and is up 2.18% in the last 24 hours, though it is down 2.31% over the week. XRP’s market cap is currently $82.2 billion and, according to bulls, could surge if large whales, particularly corporate treasury holders, shift.

Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin has pointed to the network’s growing independence as a clear marker of its maturity. In comments made during an October 9, 2026 interview with Balaji Srinivasan at the Network State Conference, Buterin said a healthy sign for Ethereum is that it can continue progressing even without his constant involvement.
The crypto Billionaire spoke about the trauma that came with holding a front-facing role in Ethereum. Envisioning a future where multiple leaders thrive, the Ethereum co-founder said decentralization is not about going from one leader to zero, but from one to many, and that Ethereum is beginning to move in that direction.
“The thing that I look forward to is, are other people in the foundation and community able to push it forward and defend the right values even without my involvement? And I feel like that has recently been happening more and more and very effectively,” he asserts.
Buterin noted that remaining in the spotlight for so long can be draining. He framed decentralization not as a shift from one leader to none, but as a move from one leader to many. He suggested Ethereum is beginning to demonstrate that transition.
He evaluates progress by whether people across the Ethereum Foundation and the broader community can keep driving the project forward and uphold core values such as security and privacy on their own. In his view, a particularly encouraging development is that more contributors are now taking initiative without waiting for him to speak first.
The remarks highlight Buterin’s long-standing emphasis on reducing reliance on any single individual as the ecosystem matures.
Vitalik Buterin proposed Ethereum in a 2013 whitepaper and co-founded the project, which launched in July 2015 as a smart-contract platform. He has led the network’s evolution into the leading decentralized computing network, including the shift to proof-of-stake. Buterin’s net worth is roughly $530 million, mainly in ETH, while Ethereum’s market capitalization at the time is $295 billion.

Strategy’s Michael Saylor believes Bitcoin (BTC) is entering a bull market, driven by banks and other traditional financial institutions. Recently, the company repurchased approximately $1.5 billion worth of its STRC stock, citing price stability.
Banks At The Center of Bitcoin Rebound
According to Saylor, banks will play a major role over the next two years as a mainstream rebound is expected. Banks are already expanding digital asset services across the board but with a keen focus on institutional investors.
This shift happened due to a slew of positive regulations in several jurisdictions that allowed stakeholders to increase their exposure. The ripple effect is that Saylor projects it will accelerate the market’s next bull phase.
He cited Bitcoin custody and collateral services, which have gained traction in the United States. Furthermore, tokenization will attract a new wave of investors, directly impacting momentum in digital assets.
The key is making Bitcoin and, by extension, other crypto assets, including stablecoins, more accessible to both retail and institutional users. Banks can provide custody for a range of products and offer collateral-based lending services without customers switching platforms.
Last year, institutional holders increased their exposure to the asset as corporate treasuries sought diversification. Massive institutional adoption led to new services designed to capture traditional capital.
“We’re moving back into a Bull market; you should normally track the 200-day moving average, and you can see we bounced off it about three months ago. We are back to a slight premium, but the chart looks exactly as expected. The headwinds are restricted trade policy, restricted foreign policy, etc.”
Policy watchers backing the sector noted that these headwinds might ease as friendlier rules are introduced. Notably, United States President Donald Trump has remained vocal about the country leading the Bitcoin and artificial intelligence (AI) race.
Other countries followed this path, launching crypto task forces and crypto reserves like the United States. If these efforts continue without major regulatory shocks, Bitcoin’s price will likely break out to new levels.
The asset currently trades at $82,832, up slightly today despite spot ETF outflows. A bull run would send the asset back into the six digits, but the timeline remains uncertain given market conditions.

Bitcoin (BTC) could be flashing an ominous warning that extends far beyond the crypto market. Bloomberg Intelligence strategist Mike McGlone has sounded the alarm over a troubling pattern reminiscent of the brutal bear markets of 2018 and 2022, cautioning that continued weakness in the world’s largest cryptocurrency could trigger a domino effect across stocks and commodities.
His latest warning comes as Bitcoin struggles to regain its footing, raising fresh fears that the worst of the market turbulence may not be over.
A Familiar Bearish Pattern
Bitcoin’s latest struggles have caught the attention of Bloomberg Intelligence senior commodity strategist Mike McGlone, who sees reason to be concerned. The veteran market analyst believes BTC is showing weakness similar to what preceded the painful bear markets of 2018 and 2022.
At the center of his warning is Bitcoin’s 50-week moving average, a key indicator traders use to assess the asset’s longer-term trend. McGlone argues that its weakening trajectory resembles patterns seen during previous market downturns, raising the possibility that BTC could face further losses.
But McGlone’s concerns go beyond Bitcoin. He believes the cryptocurrency’s underperformance could be an early warning for other financial markets, particularly stocks and industrial metals, which have so far held up better. If Bitcoin keeps sliding, he cautions, the weakness could eventually spread to other risk assets.
“Is the first-born crypto issuing a warning or a feint? Bitcoin may have to prove strength, because if it doesn’t, dominoes could tumble,” McGlone warned.
Bitcoin Led Risk-Assets Inflation and May Deflation Signs that Bitcoin rose too far above $100,000 in 2025 may have broader macroeconomic implications. My graphic of 50-week moving averages highlights the crypto rolling over from an extended plateau akin to 2018 and 2022. What's… pic.twitter.com/yVcITcdBLi
— Mike McGlone (@mikemcglone11) October 18, 2026
The $10,000 BTC Bombshell
Mike McGlone also sees October as a potentially defining month for financial markets. He suggested that growing expectations of Federal Reserve interest rate hikes could mark a turning point for risk assets that have enjoyed years of soaring valuations. In his view, tighter monetary policy could bring an end to the rapid wealth creation fueled by rising asset prices while also helping to cool inflation. For Bitcoin, such a shift could spell further trouble, as higher borrowing costs and tighter financial conditions tend to dampen investors’ appetite for speculative assets.
The Bloomberg strategist has repeatedly floated a far more dramatic scenario, suggesting Bitcoin could sink toward $10,000 if the U.S. stock market undergoes a 20% correction. That would mark a brutal decline for the apex cryptocurrency, although his forecast hinges on a broader market sell-off rather than a confirmed breakdown.
BTC was trading hands at $82,729 as of press time, reflecting a 1% gain on the day, according to CoinGecko data.
For Bitcoin bulls, the stakes are clear. A sustained recovery could undermine the bearish comparisons, while continued selling pressure would put McGlone’s warning under greater scrutiny. Whether BTC is signaling trouble ahead for the wider market remains to be seen.