Gen Z is increasingly turning to Bitcoin as a trusted hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty amid AI-driven job market shifts. With traditional financial systems under pressure, young investors view
The post Fact Check: Did Ripple Secretly Acquire Uphold or Kraken? Here’s What We Know appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News In crypto, rumors travel faster than blockchain transactions and this week, a wild new one has taken over social media. Whispers are flying that Ripple might have secretly acquired a popular crypto exchange , and the community isn’t staying quiet about it. What started as a casual comment on social media has snowballed into full-blown speculation, with people connecting dots, making predictions, and trying to figure out if there’s any truth to it. And one name that has popped up several times is Uphold. So, Where Did This All Start? It kicked off when Ripple’s CEO dropped a major update about the company’s long-running legal fight with the SEC. Ripple officially announced they’re dropping their cross appeal , and the case is finally being put to rest. Naturally, this big moment got the entire crypto community talking. But what really caught people’s attention was when one of the well-known crypto exchanges jumped into the conversation on social media. A simple two-word reply from their official account was enough to send crypto Twitter into overdrive, with people speculating whether Ripple was about to acquire them. Crypto Rumors Move Fast Soon, posts and threads claiming Ripple had bought out a crypto exchange started flooding X (formerly Twitter). Even other exchanges like Kraken got casually dragged into the gossip. But one name kept popping up more than the rest, Uphold. RUMORS: DID RIPPLE JUST ACQUIRE A TOP CRYPTO EXCHANGE? NO CONFIRMATION YET — BUT THE INTERNET’S ON FIRE. IF TRUE… EVERYTHING CHANGES. #XRP #RIPPLE — Pumpius (@pumpius) June 28, 2025 Coinpedia’s Two Cents: Why Would Ripple Even Consider Buying an Exchange? Well, there’s actually a reason this rumor felt believable. Not long ago, Ripple CEO revealed they’ve got over $1 billion in cash reserves specifically set aside for expanding the company. And they’ve made it clear they don’t just want to focus on payments and liquidity anymore. Ripple’s ambitions stretch into areas like custody, compliance, and tokenization, and having an exchange under their wing would make a lot of sense down the road. That’s probably why the internet latched onto the idea so quickly. Ripple aspires to be more than just liquidity & payments. Acquisitions in crypto-friendly markets (like UAE and Switzerland), for expansion. pic.twitter.com/yTRMEasngN — Crypto Eri ~ Carpe Diem (@sentosumosaba) May 18, 2023 Is There Any Truth to It? As of now — no. There’s no official confirmation from Ripple, Uphold, or anyone else involved. The exchange’s cheeky reply on social media seems to have been nothing more than good timing and playful interaction during a huge moment for Ripple. That said, considering Ripple’s billion-dollar war chest and their stated plans for expansion, it wouldn’t be shocking if something like this happened at some point in the future. Crypto loves a good rumor, and this one checked all the boxes, mystery, money, and a touch of drama. While it appears to be nothing more than speculation for now, it serves as a reminder that Ripple is sitting on serious resources and big ambitions. [article_inside_subscriber_shortcode title=”Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!” description=”Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.” category_name=”News” category_id=”6″]
Asia stock markets mostly higher on Monday, following gains on Wall Street, where major U.S. indexes hit new record highs amid easing tariff risks and receding geopolitical tensions, the investors risk appetite was also boosted by developments in the U.S.-Canada trade standoff. On the geopolitical front, the ceasefire between Israel and Iran appears to be holding, easing global tensions and dampening safe-haven demand for the dollar. Gold rose to around $3,280 per ounce on Monday, helped by a weaker US dollar. Japan ( NKY:IND ) rose 0.88% to surpass 40,700, while the broader Topix Index rose 0.8% to 2,863 on Monday, with both benchmarks reaching their highest levels in nearly a year. The Japanese yen strengthened toward 144 per dollar on Monday, approaching two-week highs. Meanwhile, data showed Japan’s industrial production rose less than expected in May, as elevated US tariffs continued to dampen the outlook. However, trade friction between Japan and the US remains unresolved, as the 25% US tariff on Japanese car imports continues to be a sticking point in bilateral negotiations, with little sign of progress. Japan’s housing starts plunged 34.4% year-over-year in May 2025, sharply missing market expectations of a 14.8% drop and worsening from a 26.6% decline in the previous month. Looking ahead, investors are turning their attention to Tuesday’s Tankan survey for a clearer read on corporate sentiment and the broader economic environment. China ( SHCOMP ) rose 0.42% rose 0.2% to around 3,430 on Monday, snapping a two-day losing streak, as weak manufacturing data fueled expectations of additional stimulus, and the offshore yuan strengthened to around 7.16 per dollar on Monday, recouping losses from the previous week, as the latest PMI data reinforced expectations of further stimulus measures. Official data showed China’s manufacturing PMI edged up to 49.7 in June from 49.5 but remained in contraction for a third straight month. The non-manufacturing PMI also rose slightly to 50.5, indicating tepid growth in services and construction. Beijing confirmed Friday a new trade agreement with Washington. The deal stipulates China will review export applications under its control rules, in exchange for the U.S. rolling back several restrictive measures targeting Chinese entities. Markets now await Tuesday’s Caixin PMI data for further insight into private-sector momentum. Hong Kong ( HSI ) fell 0.26% to 24,183 in Monday morning trade, extending losses for a third straight session amid broad weakness in consumer and financial stocks. India ( SENSEX ) fell 0.34% to 83,797 in early trade on Monday, erasing solid gains from the prior session, as traders engaged in profit-taking after the BSE Sensex hit a record high on Friday. On the data front, India's external debt reached a record high of USD 736.3 billion in the March quarter, primarily driven by an increase in non-government debt. Australia ( AS51 ) rose 0.53% to 8,534 on Monday, extending last week’s gains as investor sentiment improved amid easing concerns over broad US tariffs. The Australian dollar edged higher to around $0.653 on Monday. Domestically, the Melbourne Institute’s Monthly Inflation Gauge showed a modest uptick in June, reversing the previous month's decline and marking the fourth increase this year. Australia's private sector credit edged lower to 0.5% month-over-month in May 2025, compared to market expectations and the prior month's 0.7%. Investors now await Australia’s June manufacturing PMI for insights into the health of the sector and the country's overall economic momentum. In the U.S., on Friday, all three major indexes ended higher amid optimism for trade deals and rate cut hopes, overshadowing Trump's Canada trade talk comments. On the economic front, investors are closely watching key US labor market indicators this week, including job openings data, the ADP employment report, and the non-farm payrolls report, which could provide further insights into the Federal Reserve's rate path. U.S. stock futures rose on Monday as Wall Street aimed to close out a strong June, with both the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite hitting new all-time highs: Dow +0.57% ; S&P 500 +0.39% ; Nasdaq +0.55% . Currencies: ( JPY:USD ), ( CNY:USD ), ( AUD:USD ), ( INR:USD ), ( HKD:USD ), ( NZD:USD ). More on Asia: Japan's industrial production rise less than expected in May China’s manufacturing PMI contracts for third consecutive month in June to 49.7; services growth at 3-month peak Japan's retail sales up 2.2% in May, least in 3 months; unemployment stalls at 2.5% China’s industrial profits fall 9.1% Y/Y in May; fall slightly in Jan-May BoJ minutes reveal ongoing caution on economy amid inflation & market risks
The post Can Pi Network Hit $10 by December 28? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News Pi Network’s price fell over the weekend, dropping to $0.532, down 20% from last week’s high and 56% down from its May peak. This decline has pushed its market cap below $4 billion, despite several big updates on Pi Day 2. Pi’s Price Drops Despite Major Updates The Pi Core Team announced new features, including an AI initiative, upgrades to the Pi App Studio, and a new Ecosystem Directory Staking system that lets users stake Pi to boost app visibility. Other highlights included integration with Onramper, a new Pi Wallet upgrade, and Node version 0.5.2 with improved security. The price still failed to rally as no exchange listing was announced, and concerns such as the upcoming token unlocks and the project’s centralized control have yet to be resolved. Token Unlocks Threaten to Add $215M in Sell Pressure Between late June and July 2025, approximately 276 million Pi tokens, representing about 3.7% of the circulating supply, are set to be unlocked. This will introduce over $215 million in sell pressure to the market. Historically, similar token unlocks have led to major price declines, ranging from 30% to 77%, and there is a strong possibility this pattern could repeat. A critical warning for all $PI holders In late June to July 2025, 276 million Pi tokens (≈3.7% of circulating supply) will be unlocked — unleashing over $215M in potential sell pressure! Historically, major unlocks have triggered devastating price drops of 30% to… pic.twitter.com/aLE0LBGBLc — Pi Barter Mall来购酷买 (@pibartermall) June 29, 2025 Currently, Pi lacks major exchange listings, enterprise partnerships, and fresh capital inflows, all of which are critical for price support and growth. With the absence of these factors, Pi is at risk of falling further or staying flat near its current lows. Big Move Expected In The Year-End The next big day is scheduled for December 28, 2025 (Pi Year-End Summary Day), which is still several months away. If no strong market catalyst emerges in the near term, then a strong rebound appears unlikely. According to CoinDCX, Pi Network is set for a bullish second half of 2025. It may start around $1.20 in July and reach up to $2.80 by December. It may see a small dip in September before picking up again. Pi Coin Short-Term Price Prediction Pi Network started the month around $0.70 and dropped steadily, hitting a low around $0.42 mid-month. Around June 24-26, the price surged near $0.66 before falling again. Currently, it is trading around $0.52, a level that has been tested multiple times and may act as short-term support. However, Pi Coin could be setting up for a bounce. It recently broke out of a bullish falling wedge pattern and is now retesting the breakout level. If momentum builds, the next target could be the key $1 mark.
Metaplanet Acquires 1,005 Bitcoin, Issues $208M Bonds for Further BTC Buys $BTC #BTC
Metaplanet has solidified its position as the fifth-largest corporate Bitcoin holder following a significant $108 million acquisition of 1,005 BTC, underscoring its aggressive accumulation strategy. The Japanese firm’s innovative approach
Metaplanet has become the fifth-largest corporate Bitcoin holder after its latest $108 million purchase, which comes on the same day that the Japanese firm issued 0% interest bonds to buy more.
As the market’s second largest cryptocurrency, Ethereum (ETH), struggles to maintain momentum above the crucial $2,500 threshold, one analyst believes that ETH is poised for a significant rally. In a recent post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), crypto analyst Cyclop expressed a bullish outlook, labeling the current market conditions as the best long setup for Ethereum he has seen in years. Analyst Sees $4,000 Target This Summer Cyclop highlighted that Ethereum short positions have reached all-time highs, a situation reminiscent of a previous spike that occurred just weeks ago. The analyst noted that liquidity has been swept on both sides, creating a scenario where market uncertainty may actually benefit Ethereum. “Most doubt ETH and altcoins right now—I’m betting on $4,000 this summer,” he stated confidently. Related Reading: TD Sequential Flashes Buy: Dogecoin Ready For Rebound To $0.21 Cyclop outlined several key factors driving his optimistic stance. First, he pointed to the recent Pectra update, which has reinvigorated interest in Ethereum by enhancing transaction capabilities, updating security features, and improving staking options. This update has reportedly led to increased demand, contributing to a potential price surge. Moreover, Cyclop emphasized the broader macroeconomic landscape, noting that cryptocurrency adoption is accelerating beyond Bitcoin (BTC), with Ethereum taking a prominent role. The analyst suggests that major corporations and banks are beginning to purchase and stake Ethereum, further boosting trust and interest in the digital asset which could ultimately result in more demand and more price uptrends. Ethereum Rallies May Trigger Altcoin Boom On-chain metrics also favor Ethereum, with the cryptocurrency ranking highly in various categories, according to Cyclop. It currently stands as the second-highest by fees, leads in bridged net flows, and ranks third in stablecoin supply changes, showcasing its robust market position. Another critical aspect of Cyclop’s analysis concerns altcoins and the upcoming altseason, traditionally characterized by a rush of investment into Ethereum before spilling over into smaller tokens. He pointed out that historical patterns indicate that Ethereum price rallies often trigger broader altcoin surges, and the current market sentiment suggests that many altcoins are at their lowest ebb. Related Reading: Dogecoin Silent Build-Up: Double Bottom Hints At Explosive Move To $0.47 While Cyclop acknowledges that a majority of altcoins may face significant challenges, he argues that ETH remains undervalued, especially with Bitcoin trading near $100,000. He has made strategic moves, reallocating some of his Bitcoin holdings into Ethereum and promising strong altcoins. His initial target for Ethereum is $3,000, where he plans to take profits, followed by a series of sell orders between $4,000 and $6,000. As of press time, ETH trades at $2,500, a 12% price increase in the weekly time frame. Featured image from DALL-E, chart from TradingView.com
US stock markets surged last week, with major indexes approaching all-time highs on the easing of tensions in the Middle East and rising hopes for a Federal Reserve rate cut later this year. Crypto markets were a little slower to react, remaining mostly flat over the past week and into the weekend. The Fed’s preferred inflation gauge, core PCE, showed that price increases accelerated in May, raising inflation concerns. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said last week that he expects to see a pickup in inflation this summer, but reiterated his “wait and see” approach. On Sunday, President Trump commented on the July 9 deadline for the 90-day tariff pause, stating, “I don’t think I need to extend it, but could.” Economic Events June 30 to July 4 June’s ISM Manufacturing Purchasing Manager’s Index (PMI) is due on Tuesday. This report shows business conditions in the manufacturing sector and serves as a significant leading indicator of overall economic conditions. There are also job openings data due on Tuesday, which could reflect conditions in the labor market. Wednesday and Thursday will see more labor market reports, with nonfarm payrolls and unemployment figures released. These reports represent the number of new jobs created during the previous month, along with the percentage of people actively seeking employment. They are significant economic indicators, as the shift in the number of jobs is strongly associated with overall economic health. June’s ISM Services PMI, due on Thursday, will reflect business conditions in the services sector and is another leading economic indicator. Traditional markets are closed on Friday for the July 4 celebrations as we enter the second half of the year. Crypto Market Outlook Digital asset markets remained flat over the weekend but gained during early Asian trading on Monday morning to reach $3.46 trillion in total capitalization. Bitcoin has reached a two-week high, tapping $108,750 in early trading on Monday, but it faced resistance there yet again and fell back to $108,500 at the time of writing. The assed has struggled at this level at least five times over the past week where it has been rejected. Ethereum is doing a little better, having reached its support-turned-resistance level of $2,500 on Monday morning after a 2.8% gain. The altcoins were mostly in the green with minor gains, but Hyperliquid (HYPE) was leading the pack, adding 7.5% on the day to top $40. The post 3 Things That Could Impact Bitcoin and Crypto Markets in Week Ahead appeared first on CryptoPotato .
Cryptocurrencies displayed strength over the weekend as Bitcoin extended above $105,000 to press time’s $108,568. While altcoins brace for significant bounce-backs, BNB Chain will officially roll out the Maxwell hardfork today, June 30, 2025. The upgrade aims to enrich Binance’s chain through enhanced efficiency and speed. BNB Chain @BNBCHAIN · Follow ⚠️ Maxwell Hardfork goes live in a few hours, here’s everything you need to know 🧵 👇 8:24 PM · Jun 29, 2025 130 Reply Copy link Read 56 replies First and foremost, Maxwell will halve BSC’s block time to only 0.75 seconds from 1.5 seconds, making it a sub-second platform. It’s noteworthy that today’s fork builds on last year’s Lorentz upgrade momentum, reflecting the team’s continued dedication to scalability, speed, and enriched user experience. BSC’s journey to efficiency: from Loretz upgrade to Maxwell BNB Chain is among the blockchain projects that take speed as a foundational element for success in the sector. It rolled out the Lorentz fork in April 2025 to reduce block times from 3 seconds to 1.5 seconds. The update brought noticeable enhancement across validator efficiency, dApp responsiveness, and DeFi performance. BNB Chain flourished after Lorentz. For instance, it delivered only a $0.04 transaction fee. Moreover, Dune’s data shows BSC outshined all decentralized exchanges (DEXs) in daily volume. Source – Dune Analytics Meanwhile, the Maxwell upgrade will take these advancements to another level. Node operators, developers, and users can anticipate smooth app interactions and swift transaction confirmations. What to expect with Maxwell hardfork? The latest upgrade transforms BNB Smart Chain’s ecosystem with three main improvements. Firstly, it introduces BEP-524 to slash the block interval to 0.75 seconds. That means doubling BSC’s transaction throughput capability. Users will enjoy accelerated offerings from minting and token swaps to smart contract execution and GameFi activities. Secondly, Maxwell enhanced validator messaging by enhancing existing p2p communication models. That will reduce possible syncing lags, boosting network stability even during faster activities. Validators will experience fewer delays when proposing and voting on blocks. Finally, the BPE-564 standard introduces two messaging mechanisms, GetBlocksByRangeMsg and RangeBlocksMsg. These will enable nodes to synch massive block groups at once, enriching syncing speed and reliability across the BSC network. The Maxwell update isn’t about boosting speed alone. It represents a strategic step toward a more efficient and faster blockchain future. The upgrade reflects BSC’s dedication to dominating web3 adoption amid renewed demand for responsive performance in NFTs, DeFi, and online gaming. BNB price outlook The native token displayed bullishness as enthusiasts brace for network enhancements. BNB trades at $655 after rebounding from the support at $642. Chart by Coinamrketcap Its increasing daily trading volume suggests a possible upward continuation. Continued bullishness amid the Maxwell upgrade and broad market uptrends could fuel BNB’s price to the next resistance at $720. A breakout might propel the token to the crucial obstacle at $760, beyond which BNB will shift its trajectory to bullishness. However, sudden selling pressure might cause the token to plunge to the support barrier at $520-$540. The post BNB Chain rolls out Maxwell hardfork to reduce block time and enhance network responsiveness appeared first on Invezz