TL;DR

• There’s something in the cryptocurrency air in the past week or so, as bitcoin broke out of consolidation, marched to a new all-time high, and brought the entire market with it.
• Ripple’s cross-border token is among the biggest beneficiaries of this rally, having surged to well beyond $3 and close to its all-time high of $3.4. But can it finally do it now?

The Rise

Just look at the graph above, which paints a vivid picture of XRP’s massive run experienced lately. The asset had fallen below $2 at the end of June (not that long ago, right?) during the darkest hours of the Israel-Iran conflict. However, it quickly bounced above it and returned to a familiar ground of $2.2-$2.3, which was a tight range in which it spent most of the past few months.

Fast-forward to last Wednesday, the landscape was relatively uneventful and, some might say, boring, as XRP was rangebound within this consolidation phase, with little to no indication of a clear breakout, despite some big predictions.

However, the cryptocurrency market was revived as mentioned above, led by BTC’s massive $15,000 surge to a new all-time high of over $123,000. Not only did XRP follow suit, but it managed to dwarf bitcoin’s impressive gains.

The largest cryptocurrency is up by 6.7% weekly, while the third-biggest has shot up by 33%. Earlier today, the asset jumped to $3.25, thus coming around 4.5% away from its January 2018 peak of $3.4 (CoinGecko data). To put things into perspective, XRP has gained over 70% since the aforementioned bottom in June (less than a month ago).

Can There Be New ATH?

Although impressive, this run has not been an isolated incident for XRP. Recall that the cryptocurrency rallied hard in late 2024 and early 2025, and its culmination came in January when it matched its all-time high of $3.4. However, it couldn’t keep climbing into uncharted territory despite the community’s expectations.

Consequently, we decided to ask ChatGPT about the current environment and its opinion on XRP’s chances for a new record now.

The AI solution noted that even though Ripple’s native token is so close to its ATH, a breach above it is not as easy and simple as some might think. This is because the $3.4 level has become a “psychological and technical ceiling for over seven years.”

“XRP was rejected there in January, indicating it’s a sticky level.”

On the contrary, ChatGPT listed a few favorable indicators that could propel the asset to and beyond that level. The RSI is still below 70, which means it “may still have room to move up.”

Additionally, there are lots of bullish factors outside of technical analysis, such as ETF momentum, ISO 20022 update narrative, and overall market sentiment, that could lead to new peaks.

If it indeed manages to break through, analysts are adamant that the next target will be around $4.80.

Ethereum (ETH) is experiencing quite a resurgence, hitting key milestones and igniting market enthusiasm.

According to analytics firm Santiment, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency has surged over 50% in less than four weeks, reclaiming heights last seen in late January while boasting a record-breaking 152.03 million non-empty wallets, the most extensive active user base in crypto.

Institutional Inflows, Social Buzz Fuel Ethereum Breakout

The Santiment data shows that since June 22, ETH’s market value has grown by more than 50%, pushing its price above $3,400 for the first time in six months.

Ethereum’s market value has now grown by +50% since June 22nd, hitting its highest price levels since late January. The network has over 152.03M non-empty $ETH wallets, more than any other coin in cryptocurrency.

️ Additionally, the crowd has taken note of the major price… pic.twitter.com/XJoV6THMBY

— Santiment (@santimentfeed) July 16, 2025

The dramatic rebound has understandably caught the crypto community’s eye, triggering the highest level of social media discussions since May 2024. Numbers from the market intelligence platform show that ETH was the top trending crypto asset in the last 24 hours across X, Reddit, and Telegram, with conversations around it predominantly characterized by bullish sentiment as users set their sights on $4,000.

“The crowd has taken note of the major price rebound, pouring in the highest level of discussions since a similar price rise back in May 2024,” said Santiment.

This uptick seems to have been fueled by a combination of institutional accumulation and renewed investor enthusiasm following Bitcoin’s recent run to a new all-time high. On July 16, spot Ethereum ETFs shattered records, attracting more than $726 million in net investments. BlackRock’s iShares Ethereum Trust (ETHA) led the charge, registering its highest single-day inflow since launch with a $489 million haul.

With Fidelity and Grayscale also reporting substantial capital entries, corporate holdings of the asset have swelled to 1.6 million ETH, valued at an estimated $5.3 billion. As noted by the Strategic Eth Reserve, accumulation is now occurring 36 times faster than new ETH issuance.

Market Outlook

Meanwhile, in the last 24 hours, the cryptocurrency rose 10% to trade around $3,450 per data from CoinGecko. In the past seven days, its value increased by 25%, vastly outperforming Bitcoin’s 6.8% growth in the same period.

More notably, SwissBlock’s recent Altcoin Vector report hinted at ETH’s growing magnetism for liquidity after noting a steady rise in the ETH/BTC ratio. The report suggests that Ethereum is now the cycle’s next leg after BTC briefly retreated to under $116,000 yesterday before bouncing back close to $119,000.

The milestone of 152.03 million non-empty wallets, highlighted by Santiment, is viewed by watchers as a sign of the network’s expanding user base and fundamental health.

According to the analytics platform, the mass fear of missing out (FOMO) has now shifted to ETH, with many expecting its price to hit $4,000 imminently. Others, like on-chain analyst AbramChart, suggest that the asset will fly to new all-time highs past $5,200 if BTC’s dominance decreases.

As any experienced crypto owner will tell you, self-custody is essential for protecting your crypto. But what exactly does it mean? Self-custody is the practice of holding and managing your own crypto assets without depending on third-party services such as exchanges or lending platforms. It means you—and only you—are responsible for storing, backing up, and controlling access to your private keys.

This approach eliminates the risk of losing access to your assets due to centralized failures and aligns with the core ethos of crypto: decentralization and financial sovereignty. Freedom is at the heart of crypto’s appeal. But, as often happens in life, freedom isn’t handed to you—it’s earned through responsibly managing your resources.

Why Relying on Crypto Exchanges Can Be Risky

The 2025 bull market is in full swing, but history reminds us that exchange failures often happen after the hype dies down. FTX’s collapse in 2022 is a prime example: customers lost access to their funds when the exchange couldn’t meet withdrawal demands.

This risk isn’t theoretical—it’s real. Continuing to store assets on centralized platforms contradicts the very reason crypto was created: to break free from middlemen and take ownership of one’s finances.

As Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s turkey analogy goes: just because things appear stable doesn’t mean disaster isn’t around the corner. The only way to avoid becoming the turkey is to act early—before it’s too late. That starts with moving your crypto into your own custody.

How to Self-Custody Crypto: Hot vs Cold Wallets

Choosing how to store your crypto is a crucial part of protecting it. Generally, wallets fall into two categories—hot and cold—each offering a different balance between convenience and security.

Hot wallets are mobile or desktop apps that store your private keys on internet-connected devices like laptops or smartphones. They’re typically free and user-friendly, but their connection to the internet leaves them vulnerable to malware or hacking. These wallets are best suited for small, everyday transactions.

Cold wallets, by contrast, store your keys offline—making them far less susceptible to online threats. A common example is the hardware wallet: a physical device designed specifically to isolate and protect your crypto. These are ideal for long-term holders or anyone managing substantial amounts of digital assets.

When choosing a hardware wallet, many security-conscious users lean toward open-source solutions. These wallets allow for full code transparency, which means the community can audit and verify their integrity. Trezor is one example: its open-source firmware and straightforward design are specifically built to focus on one thing—securing your keys without unnecessary features that could increase vulnerability. This transparency and purpose-built architecture make open-source hardware wallets a trusted choice for anyone serious about self-custody.

Self-Custody: The Key to Owning Your Crypto Future

Ultimately, self-custody isn’t just about securing your digital assets—it’s a mindset. It requires learning how to manage your keys, understanding the risks, and using the right tools.

Centralized platforms can fail. Markets can crash. But self-custody allows you to maintain control no matter what happens.

The good news is that the tools to take this step are more accessible than ever. With hardware wallets, open-source options, and growing educational resources, it’s never been easier to take control of your financial future. The first step? Make a plan and start today.

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