Cryptocurrency
Year in Review: Top 8 Ripple (XRP) Developments of 2024
But real quick first—
XRP’s price could be in for another big pump soon, according to the technical signals.
Legendary chart trader Peter Brandt recently shared a bullish wedge pattern suggesting another leg up for XRP’s price to above $2.70. The average exchange rate in US dollars for XRP on Saturday, Dec. 28, was $2.19.
So if this rally materializes, it would represent a 24% increase over Saturday’s price in potentially a matter of mere days or weeks.
Here are two views of $XRPUSD a weekly chart and a daily chart
Strong opinions, weakly held
A chart is not an opinion and an opinion is not necessarily a position – this is a concept hard to understand by rookies pic.twitter.com/SvaT5hojLW— Peter Brandt (@PeterLBrandt) December 27, 2024
While this is not abnormal for crypto markets in general or for Ripple token prices in particular, these kinds of gains are significantly headier for investors’ finances than the typical performance of corporate equity shares— even for high-flying tech stocks like those on the Nasdaq.
Another XRP watcher recently targeted a $4 all-time high Ripple price for the cross-border settlement token on the next big pump. That would represent an astounding 82% gain over the current price.
Looking back, here’s how Ripple got here over the course of 2024:
1. Ripple Expert Touts XRPL’s DeFi Powers (Jan. 1)
Ripple made some waves to start the year when XRPL developer Wietse Wind settled some misconceptions about the platform. The developer who started the XRP Ledger for decentralized finance using XRP tokens cleared up the confusion once and for all:
With XRP Ledger, the native tokens can be used on a fully decentralized platform with smart contract issuance. That makes it more like Ethereum and Solana than many cryptocurrency investors are aware of even today.
Wind also blasted through the FUD (fear, uncertainty, and doubt) around regulatory threats to XRP’s economy with a recap of Ripple Labs’ decisive victories against the US Securities and Exchange Commission in the US District Court Southern District of New York.
2. XRP Ethereum Integrations Launch (Feb. 11)
One of the key supports for continued, robust growth in XRP’s market valuation is its aggressive expansion into new business partnerships around the world and new integrations with support for XRP on other blockchain networks like Ethereum.
In February, the CEO of Peersyst Technology, a Ripple Partner, announced a new Ethereum Virtual Machine (EVM) sidechain of the XRP Ledger would begin rewarding validator nodes with XRP tokens.
That’s something nice for die-hard XRP Army types, who don’t have to sell the tokens to use them with Ethereum smart contracts.
3. XRP Expands in Korea and Japan (July 21)
While fighting off SEC allegations of securities fraud in US court, Ripple Labs continued to advance its platform with several new overseas business partnerships this year. They will be key to growing the Ripple economy and seriously competing with SWIFT for daily payment share.
In July, Ripple Labs achieved two new international expansions in the Asia-Pacific region— one in South Korea and another in Japan.
In Korea, the nation’s only government-licensed VASP (virtual asset service provider), Infinite Block, announced new XRP Ledger support. The integration came mere days after Ripple Labs’ announced the creation of a new XRPL Japan and Korea Fund.
4. SEC Lawsuit Fine Cut From $2B to $150M (Aug. 8)
On Aug. 8, US Judge Analisa Torres handed Ripple a resounding win in the US District Court Southern District of New York in Manhattan. The SEC was seeking a $2 billion disbursement or fine for Ripple Labs over allegations of selling XRP as an unregistered security.
After the judge delivered the company three other landmark wins last year, both for Ripple Labs and for the blockchain sector in general, Torres struck a devastating blow to the government litigant in this case in August.
Instead of the $2 billion the SEC sought, Torres ordered Ripple to pay a comparatively paltry $125 million.
5. Grayscale Launches XRP Trust (Sept. 12)
In September, the XRP economy made a massive stride toward market adoption by regulated institutional players trading on Wall Street. Cryptocurrency asset management company Grayscale announced on Sept. 12 the creation of a new US-regulated XRP trust product.
That’s similar to the Bitcoin ETFs and Ether ETFs (exchange-traded funds) that the SEC greenlit on Jan. 11 and May 23. The difference between an ETF and a trust, however, is that the former are open funds, and the latter are closed-ended.
That means ETFs can issue new shares to meet demand, while trusts have a fixed number of shares from the outset. Trusts can also only be traded once per day at the end of the trading day in New York City.
According to Grayscale data, the new XRP trust is set to close out 2024 with 300% gains for investors.
6. SEC Lawsuit Expedited Judgement For Ripple (Nov. 28)
Ever since the SEC first sued Ripple Labs in Dec. 2020 for allegations of selling unregistered securities, Ripple has repeatedly prevailed against the US regulator in court.
The judge over the case ruled in July 2023, for example, that secondary sales of XRP are not an investment contract and, therefore, it is not an unregistered security.
Then, in Oct. 2023, the SEC dropped Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse and founder Chris Larsen from their litigation, who were originally named as defendants in its multi-year lawsuit, leaving just Ripple Labs to fight in court.
Finally, after getting its fine cut this August from $2 billion to $150 million, Ripple Labs won another battle on Nov. 28, when Judge Torres ruled to expedite the final judgment in the case.
7. XRP Flips BNB and Solana (Dec. 1- 2)
XRP tokens traded on crypto exchanges have been racing two other altcoins neck-and-neck for the total market capitalization or market value of their economies.
After flying up the price chart following Donald Trump’s reelection to the White House in November, XRP’s price managed to flip BNB (Binance Coin) in terms of total market cap on Dec. 1. Then it flipped SOL (Solana) on Dec. 2, ranking XRP the third largest cryptocurrency (excluding stablecoins) in the world, behind only Bitcoin and Ethereum.
8. XRP Notches 7-Year High Price (Dec. 2)
In addition to flipping BNB and SOL tokens, XRP soared to a 7-year record high price on Dec. 2 of almost $3. That portends vigorous support for its market prices going forward as Bitcoin continues to track through its fourth quadrennial macro-market cycle based on its scheduled supply adjustments.
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Cryptocurrency
Bitcoin’s (BTC) Bull Market Remains Intact Amid Temporary Slowdown: CQ
Crypto assets declined as 2024 came to a close. Bitcoin’s post-election surge to over $100,000 had lost momentum. Entering 2025, the asset touched $97,000 but soon pulled back slightly.
However, the latest CryptoQuant analysis hints that BTC is still in the midst of a bull market. The current phase has been identified as a cooling-off period rather than the end of the cycle.
Momentary Slowdown
After Bitcoin’s price surpassed $108,000, a correction followed, which raised concerns about the possibility of an extended stagnation like the previous six-month retracement. Despite this, key on-chain data suggested a reassuring view of the market’s health.
In its report, CryptoQuant’s Adjusted SOPR (Spent Output Profit Ratio), which eliminates short-term noise by excluding transactions under an hour and employs a 7-day Simple Moving Average (SMA), remains above 1 but is trending downward. This suggests diminishing profits for participants but aligns with historical patterns, where SOPR dropping below 1 often triggers reversals in bull markets.
Similarly, the Miner Position Index (MPI) also shows a downward trend, with no indications of mass Bitcoin transfers to exchanges. Such a trend is indicative of the fact that miners, especially large firms, are holding their Bitcoin assets, although periodic sell-offs for operational expenses are expected.
Other metrics, such as total network fees, reflect reduced on-chain activity. This phase is further validated by declining funding rates, which have historically been precursors to Bitcoin rebounds, particularly during periods of negative sentiment.
Hence, the data collectively point to a temporary cooling-off period in the ongoing bull market. While reduced on-chain activity and declining metrics suggest a momentary slowdown, there is no substantial evidence pointing to a cycle peak.
Old Bitcoin Whales Selling Amid Institutional Buying
According to CryptoQuant CEO Ki Young Ju’s update, “old whales” are currently the sellers in the Bitcoin market. This is evidenced by high over-the-counter (OTC) volume and significant exchange deposits. However, he dismissed fears of a market crash, adding that these sales are unlikely to cause significant disruptions.
Ju also noted that buying pressure predominantly comes from US institutions, particularly through Coinbase. Despite this institutional interest, he pointed out that the daily premium on Coinbase is at a multi-year low, which means that the momentum has weakened. As such, a recovery in this premium is needed to support Bitcoin’s next leg up.
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Cryptocurrency
SPX6900 Soars 35% as Meme Coins Continue to Rise, Meme Index Raises $1.6 Million
With the new year officially underway, cryptocurrencies of all kinds are beginning to show bullish reversal signals.
Although we’re seeing steady positive momentum for most coins – Bitcoin and Ethereum are both up approximately 3% in the last day or so – plenty of double-bottom chart patterns are also forming, and some meme coins are breaking out early.
SPX6900 is one of today’s top gainers, surging by over 35% in the past 24 hours.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at SPX6900’s price performance and another index-inspired meme coin project that’s already raised $1.6 million just a couple of weeks into its presale.
SPX6900 Hits New ATH
In the crypto world, the most entertaining outcome seems to increasingly be the most likely. SPX6900 ($SPX), a satirical token inspired by the S&P 500, has proven a perfect example – and has now entered a new phase of price discovery after exploding through its previous all-time high, and past its key resistance level of $1.
The token now sits at $1.26. Its price and market cap have risen by 35% in a day, with the market cap now at $1.17bn. Daily trading volume is up 179%, and sits currently at $118.16m.
This leaves SPX6900 up 92% on the monthly chart, and 16,953% up on its launch price.
From this point, we can expect some investors to begin taking profits. This will gradually form a top pattern, at which point this token’s next move will become clearer.
However, given that the wider market is still forming bullish patterns, it’s possible that SPX6900 could see its current pump continue at least for a few more days.
At the time of writing, both the Bitcoin and Ethereum charts are showing significant bullish signs with a pair of double bottoms.
So overall, crypto bulls have a lot to get excited about as we forge ahead into 2025. It looks like only a matter of time before we see new highs for Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other altcoins – and even more huge gains for SPX6900 holders.
Meme Index: Is This Presale Token the Next SPX6900?
Now that SPX6900 has proven itself as a meme project that the market is taking seriously, investors who spot the next big “meme index” token will be perfectly positioned to take advantage of the next stage of this increasingly popular narrative.
Appropriately enough, Meme Index ($MEMEX) has already emerged as a leading ICO project, and has raised over $1.6 million despite only launching its presale a couple of weeks ago.
The Meme Index platform enables MEMEX token holders to invest in a collection of “baskets” (meme coin indexes) through the platform’s innovative staking mechanism. The baskets each provide investors with exposure to different sets of meme coins, from mainstream tokens (held within the “Meme Titan Index”) to extremely volatile coins (via the “Meme Frenzy Index”).
This empowers meme coin investors with the ability to choose the amount of volatility they’re exposed to, while also providing a convenient alternative to holding and managing bags of individual meme coins.
MEMEX tokens are still available for a short time through the Meme Index presale (priced at $0.0148639 per token), and can be staked to generate passive income of up to 1,471% APY. The tokens will also provide holders with the ability to vote on future project developments (including the creation of new baskets) after Meme Index officially launches this year.
To discover more about the Meme Index project and join the presale, investors can click the link below:
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Cryptocurrency
Plume Network and Purpose for Profit Partner to Bring Onchain Funding to Affordable Housing Projects
[PRESS RELEASE – New York, United States, January 3rd, 2025]
Plume Network, the first full-stack modular layer-1 blockchain focused on Real World Asset Finance (RWAfi), is thrilled to announce a partnership with Purpose for Profit (PFP), the world’s first on-chain endowment and tokenized credit fund dedicated to providing below-market-rate loans to businesses building quality affordable housing. This collaboration marks a pivotal step in democratizing financial opportunities while advancing sustainable and equitable development.
At the core of this partnership is a shared vision to leverage blockchain for greater transparency, inclusivity, and impact. PFP’s innovative model utilizes the blockchain to document all loans disbursed, payments received, assets under management, and token activities—both onchain and offchain. By doing so, PFP ensures transparency for investors and stakeholders.
Through PFP’s PURPOSE token, individuals can stake their way into impact investing by essentially taking a liquidity provider position. Token holders can earn a portion of revenues from interest on loans repaid, all without management fees or penalties for early exits. This accessible model empowers participants to support impactful ESG initiatives, starting with affordable and mixed-income housing projects that provide below-market-rate loans to businesses.
“Plume Network is proud to support Purpose for Profit in their efforts to merge blockchain innovation with meaningful, real world impact,” said Chris Yin, CEO and founder of Plume. “This partnership is a testament to the transformative potential of blockchain technology when aligned with shared values of sustainability, equity, and transparency.”
Together, Plume Network and Purpose for Profit aim to onboard over 1 million new participants from sectors like real estate, construction, non-profits, and philanthropy into Web3. This effort aligns with PFP’s mission to create a globally inclusive financial community, blending traditional cooperative principles with progressive decentralization powered by blockchain.
“Plume Network’s architecture is the foundation for the next phase of blockchain innovation, it enables solutions that will onboard the next wave of adopters. We’re excited to launch with Plume and bring RWA to the masses,” said Elizabeth Kukka, CEO of Purpose for Profit.
This partnership reinforces Plume Network’s commitment to fostering real world asset tokenization and creating a robust ecosystem for projects driving societal good. By integrating PFP into the Plume ecosystem, users will gain access to tokenized impact investing opportunities and transparent financial mechanisms, seamlessly merging the power of DeFi with tangible ESG outcomes.
About Purpose for Profit (PFP)
Purpose for Profit is the world’s first tokenized lending fund and on-chain endowment for ESG initiatives. Focused on affordable housing, PFP leverages blockchain to create a transparent, inclusive, and progressive model for impact investing.
Users can learn more at https://purposeforprofit.com/
About Plume Network
Plume is the first public blockchain purpose-built for RWAfi, enabling the rapid adoption and demand-driven integration of real world assets. With 180+ projects building on the network, Plume offers a composable, EVM-compatible environment for onboarding and managing diverse real-world assets. Coupled with an end-to-end tokenization engine and a network of financial infrastructure partners, Plume simplifies asset onboarding and enables seamless DeFi integration for RWAs so anyone can tokenize real world assets, distribute them globally, and make them useful for native crypto users.
Users can learn more at https://www.plumenetwork.xyz/ or contact press@plumenetwork.xyz.
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