It’s been a rough few days for crypto prices after several weeks of upward pumps. After rallying nearly 300% in the past two months and even briefly flipping Tether’s USDT to become the third-largest crypto by market cap, Ripple-associated cryptocurrency XRP has lost roughly 16% of its value over the last 14 days. But despite the price correction, one analyst is urging investors to stop doubting XRP’s potential. Armando Pantoja, an IBM blockchain award recipient and angel investor, believes a meteoric XRP bull run is just around the corner. SEC vs. Ripple Lawsuit Nears Conclusion In a December 28 post on the X platform, Armando Pantoja noted that XRP “shocked the world” in 2017 when it rocketed from approximately $0.003 to hit its still-standing all-time high of $3.40 in January of the next year, a move that skeptics claimed could “never happen.” Now, Armando thinks the Ripple-promoted crypto is bound to surge as Ripple’s long-running legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is approaching closure. A judicial ruling last year determined that Ripple’s sales of XRP to retail investors did not break U.S. federal securities laws, representing a favorable verdict for Ripple. Yet the courtroom drama has continued in 2024. In October, the SEC lodged an appeal contesting parts of the previous year’s ruling, focused instead on XRP sales on digital asset trading platforms and personal sales by Ripple’s top executives. A Ripple cross-appeal quickly followed it. Nevertheless, it’s widely expected that the SEC will drop the appeal as the current chairman Gary Gensler prepares to resign in January. Trump’s Crypto-Friendly Regime Will Especially Be Good For XRP Furthermore, Pantoja suggested that XRP stands to benefit a lot from a Donald Trump administration. On Dec. 4, Trump tapped pro-crypto businessman and former SEC Commissioner Paul Atkins as his nominee for the next SEC boss. The nomination of a pro-crypto SEC commissioner to take Gensler’s place was one of the president-elect’s promises to crypto voters on the campaign trail and a highlight of his keynote address at the July Bitcoin 2024 conference in Nashville, Tennessee. It’s worth mentioning that multiple asset managers have now submitted applications to kick-start the regulatory process on U.S.-listed spot XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs) under a more crypto-friendly SEC.
A frog-themed memecoin is up massively after billionaire Elon Musk changed his username on the social media platform X. According to Musk’s X profile, his name has been changed to “Kekius Maximus,” a vague reference to the frog-headed Egyptian god Kek, whose name has been used to convey laughter by gamers and internet users. Kek has also been associated with Pepe the Frog, a cartoon character who inspired the $8.1 billion market cap memecoin PEPE . The Tesla CEO’s abrupt name change led to a staggering surge for Kekius Maximus ( KEKIUS ), an Ethereum-based frog-themed altcoin, which skyrocketed by over 32,000%, going from $0.00123 on December 30 to a peak of $0.40 on January 1st. The meme asset has since retraced and is trading for $0.264 at time of writing while its market cap burgeoned to over $250 million. Musk – a longtime proponent of meme assets such as Dogecoin ( DOGE ) – did not specify a reason for changing his handle on X. The business magnate, who will soon be President-elect Donald Trump’s head of the “Department of Government Efficiency” DOGE, was once accused of manipulating the price of DOGE via a pump-and-dump scheme. However, that lawsuit was dropped last November. The judge in the case ruled that Musk’s previous comments toward Dogecoin – which included him saying that it might become the standard for a global financial system and the currency of the internet – were “aspirational and puffery, not factual and susceptible to being falsified,” and thus could not be the basis for a lawsuit. Don't Miss a Beat – Subscribe to get email alerts delivered directly to your inbox Check Price Action Follow us on X , Facebook and Telegram Surf The Daily Hodl Mix Disclaimer: Opinions expressed at The Daily Hodl are not investment advice. Investors should do their due diligence before making any high-risk investments in Bitcoin, cryptocurrency or digital assets. Please be advised that your transfers and trades are at your own risk, and any losses you may incur are your responsibility. The Daily Hodl does not recommend the buying or selling of any cryptocurrencies or digital assets, nor is The Daily Hodl an investment advisor. Please note that The Daily Hodl participates in affiliate marketing. Generated Image: Midjourney The post Frog-Themed Altcoin Explodes 32,420% After Elon Musk Suddenly Changes X Username appeared first on The Daily Hodl .
The Floki DAO has approved a proposal that seeks to allocate a portion of Floki supply as liquidity funding for a Floki exchange-traded product. The decentralized autonomous organization, which supports the development of the FLOKI ( FLOKI ) project, unanimously passed the proposal . What this means is that part of the 16.3 billion FLOKI tokens in the community buyback wallet will help fund the soon-to-be launched Floki ETP. Meanwhile, the project will permanently burn the rest of the tokens. With this development, Floki is poised to become the only other meme coin besides Dogecoin ( DOGE ) that offers an ETP via a regulated stock exchange. This is because the Floki ETP is expected to launch on the SIX Swiss Exchange in Q1, 2025. Read more: USUAL fee switch activation could reshape DeFi ecosystem in 2025 Floki aims to drive further adoption of its meme coin across the traditional finance market with this product. The ETP will help bridge the gap between TradFi and crypto. In a comment, project advisor said: “The Floki ETP will be going live on the SIX Swiss Exchange, which is the largest stock exchange in Switzerland and the third largest stock exchange in Europe, in what is an almost unprecedented move for memecoin legitimacy.” Floki recently scored a major recognition after the U.S.Commodity Futures Trading Commission highlighted it as a utility token alongside Ethereum and Avalanche. This happened at the global Markets Advisory Committee meeting in November, with Floki’s upcoming game Valhalla key to this development. The Floki ETP is one of the many milestones for the crypto project. Recently, the project unveiled the University of Floki coming in the same month the team launched their Floki Debit Card across 31 European countries. Meanwhile, the broader crypto investment products market continues to attract investors. In 2024, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission approved both Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs and issuers have filed for Solana,XRP and Litecoin ETFs among others. BTC’s run to a new all-time high and the explosion in meme coins, AI and real-world assets also stood as highlights. You might also like: Bitcoin ETFs see tepid Inflows, while Ether ETFs rebound strongly
The Floki DAO has approved a proposal that seeks to allocate a portion of Floki supply as liquidity funding for a Floki exchange-traded product. The decentralized autonomous organization, which supports the development of the FLOKI (FLOKI) project, unanimously passed the…
NFTs had a total sales volume of $8.8 billion in 2024, surpassing their record in 2023 by over $100 million.
Cardano (ADA) struggled as one of 2024’s worst–performing major cryptocurrencies, losing over 30% of its value year-to-date through October. However, November brought a quick positive turnaround, with ADA recouping roughly six months of losses in just seven days. Now, a popular analyst is outlining a potential path for Cardano, predicting that the cryptocurrency could be on the cusp of a significant upward movement in the coming days. ADA Signals Impressive Rally Next Year After explosive price rallies earlier this month that stunned market observers, the crypto market experienced a steep downturn in recent weeks fueled by the U.S. Federal Reserve’s hawkishness . ADA, specifically, fell by over 40% from its local high of $1.33 to as low as $0.7620. However, one long-time trader and analyst in the crypto industry is leaning bullish on Cardano despite the drop below the critical $1 level. Michaël Van de Poppe has suggested that the current market correction may be nearing its end, setting the foundation for a parabolic bullish phase for the token. “I think we’re getting towards the end of this correction, through which I’m expecting a new leg up for things like ADA,” Van de Poppe wrote in a Dec. 30 post on X. In the accompanying chart, van de Poppe noted that ADA’s bullish run from lows of $0.3260 at the start of November 2024 to highs of $1.3264 in early December 2024 was likely the “first wave upwards” for the ADA cryptocurrency. The expert expects Ethereum rival Cardano to smash past its current lifetime high price point of $3.09 sometime in 2025 or 2026. ADA is trading for $0.8724 at the time of writing, a 1.1% increase during the last day, according to CoinGecko data. As the crypto asset battles to gain a foothold above the $1 mark, traders and analysts alike are closely watching its performance. A breakout above this psychological barrier could embolden the bulls, paving the way for further gains, potentially reaching $1.24 and ultimately $3.
Sid Powell, co-founder and CEO of decentralized finance platform Maple Finance, has predicted that Bitcoin could reach a price range of $180,000 to $200,000 by the end of 2025. Powell shared his views in an interview with CNBC’s Squawk Box Europe, citing several factors that could be driving Bitcoin’s potential rally, including institutional adoption and the expected impact of Bitcoin ETFs. Powell highlighted the similarities between the launch of Bitcoin ETFs and the earlier launch of gold ETFs, which saw significant inflows in their early years. “Historically, if you look at it, when we’ve seen gold ETFs launch, the inflows in the first year have increased significantly in subsequent years, and I think we can expect to see that in Bitcoin ETFs as well,” the CEO said. He believes that as Bitcoin becomes a core asset for institutional asset managers, inflows will increase over time and support sustainable price appreciation. Related News: Massive Cryptocurrency Whale Earned $2.4 Million in Hours with His Trades, According to Onchain Data Another important factor Powell mentioned is the possibility of a Bitcoin strategic reserve being established in the United States. This development, while speculative, could serve as a significant driver of institutional interest and adoption, further stabilizing Bitcoin’s price trajectory. Despite his bullish forecast, Powell specifically noted the cyclical nature of Bitcoin. “Crypto remains a cyclical sector,” Powell said, referring to past market cycles where Bitcoin experienced sharp corrections followed by sharp increases. For example, Bitcoin rose to nearly $70,000 in 2021 as interest in cryptocurrencies peaked, but fell below $17,000 in 2022 following a series of major bankruptcies in the crypto sector. But Powell suggested that extreme declines of 70%-80% seen in past cycles are less likely in 2025 because of the offsetting effect of institutional inflows. *This is not investment advice. Continue Reading: CEO of Giant Cryptocurrency Company Reveals the Level He Thinks Bitcoin Price Will Hit in 2025
The potential approval of an XRP ETF has sparked enthusiasm across the crypto community, promising to drive institutional inflows and propel Ripple’s native token to new heights. While XRP holders anticipate significant gains, Lightchain AI has already demonstrated its potential as an innovative blockchain project. With its presale raising $7.2 million at just $0.0045 per token, Lightchain AI is a strong contender for delivering exponential returns in 2025. Ripple’s Path to ETF Adoption XRP is in the center of the crypto market for its use in helping payments between countries. The talk about a XRP ETF comes after clear rules in Ripple's court fights, making a path for big investors to see the token through normal money tools. A fund could change XRP's market ways, giving improved flow and widening its buyer group. Like how Bitcoin funds opened up big growth, the okay of an XRP fund is likely to bring in big money from firms, boost͏ing the token's long-term sunny view. Lightchain AI’s Disruptive Momentum While XRP eyes institutional adoption, Lightchain AI has carved out a niche in blockchain innovation. Leveraging its Proof of Intelligence (PoI) consensus mechanism, Lightchain AI rewards nodes for completing valuable AI tasks, making it a standout project in the decentralized intelligence space. Unlike XRP, which focuses on payment solutions, Lightchain AI prioritizes AI-driven decentralized applications, opening opportunities across industries. Its recent presale success and upcoming mainnet launch signal robust growth potential, attracting early investors eager to capitalize on its novel approach. As the blockchain sector evolves, Lightchain AI is poised to outperform traditional crypto projects by addressing real-world computational challenges. 2025 Year of Transformation Both XRP and Lightchain AI have positioned themselves as key players for 2025. XRP’s ETF approval could bring it into the financial mainstream, unlocking institutional capital and enhancing price stability. On the other hand, Lightchain AI’s technological edge and practical applications offer a fresh take on blockchain innovation, appealing to both developers and enterprises. For investors, XRP and Lightchain AI represent different strategies - XRP offers a bridge to traditional financial systems, while Lightchain AI pioneers decentralized intelligence. Both projects hold immense potential for the year ahead, making them prime targets for forward-thinking investors. https://lightchain.ai https://lightchain.ai/lightchain-whitepaper.pdf https://x.com/LightchainAI https://t.me/LightchainProtocol Disclaimer: This is a sponsored article and is for informational purposes only. It does not reflect the views of Crypto Daily, nor is it intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, or financial advice.
On Tuesday, prominent crypto analyst Miles Deutscher shared his annual predictions for the cryptocurrency market on X. Here’s what Deutscher expects to see in 2025: Bitcoin Dominance Has PeakedDeutscher predicts Bitcoin’s dominance in the market has already reached its cycle high of 61.5%. While he anticipates some periods of outperformance for Bitcoin, he believes the
Ethereum blockchain network is set to undergo a transformative upgrade called Pectra in the first quarter of 2025. The upgrade will enhance the platform’s scalability, user experience, and staking mechanisms, marking a new chapter in Ethereum evolution. The upgrade introduces Ethereum Improvement Proposals (EIPs) designed to address existing challenges and optimize the network’s performance. Aave Founder Highlights Ethereum Pectra Upgrade as a Game-Changer According to insights shared on social media, Aave co-founder Stani Kulechov emphasized the transformative potential of Ethereum Pectra upgrade. The development will enable Externally Owned Accounts (EOAs) to function like smart contracts. This is a leap forward in improving interaction with decentralized applications (dApps). Traditional EOAs, which function primarily as basic wallets, cannot execute complex logic or interact with dApps directly. These changes are introduced to enhance scalability, streamline dApp interaction, and improve user security. Consequently, the enhancement positions Ethereum to offer a seamless experience to users, boosting adoption and ETH price. In addition, the Ethereum Pectra upgrade includes the addition of “blob spaces,” a novel approach to managing data storage. This mechanism addresses current limitations on the Consensus Layer. It allows more efficient handling of data across the Ethereum mainnet and best Layer 2 networks . More so, the blob spaces adjust blob limits, ensuring that the network can scale efficiently without compromising performance. Lower transaction costs are another advantage expected from this feature. By reducing storage constraints, Ethereum Pectra ensures that more transactions can be processed with fewer bottlenecks, enhancing the appeal for users. Moreover, most recently, a CoinGape report highlighted what to expect from the Pectra and Fusaka upgrades. The report noted that Pectra’s implementation will lay the groundwork for Fusaka’s advanced Layer-2 rollup capabilities. These upgrades will strengthen Ethereum position in DeFi and NFT ecosystems, ensuring long-term growth in the blockchain landscape. Staking Enhancements Bring Flexibility and Speed The upgrade will impact Ethereum’s staking mechanism, offering flexibility for validators. Validators will be able to stake amounts beyond the current 32 ETH cap, with the new limit set at 2048 ETH. This development allows for more efficient use of resources and greater scalability in staking operations. Additionally, the validator activation process will become faster, reducing the time required for deposits to be recognized by the network. This change ensures that stakers can initiate their operations more quickly. It improves participation and boosts ETH price by encouraging broader staking activity. However, crypto staking has faced challenges with the differing regulatory approaches worldwide. While the IRS asserts its stance on taxing staking rewards in the U.S., other jurisdictions like Hong Kong are adopting crypto tax exemptions to attract investment. These contrasting strategies highlight the debate on how to regulate and tax emerging crypto activities. Broader Adoption And ETH Price Impact As Ethereum Pectra prepares to roll out, its capabilities are drawing interest from institutional investors. The enhanced scalability, user interaction, and staking mechanisms will position Ethereum as a robust platform for enterprise solutions and dApps. These improvements are likely to boost the ETH price. Additionally, recent analysis shows that Ethereum price could experience a significant surge driven by its robust ecosystem, institutional adoption, and the Ethereum 2.0 upgrades. Elliot Wave analysis suggests a wave 3 expansion, forecasting a climb to $7,000 as an interim target, with potential to reach $12,000 in January 2025. These projections align with experts’ bullish sentiments, emphasizing Ethereum’s role in DeFi and growing NFT markets as key drivers. The post Here’s All To Know About Ethereum Pectra Upgrade This Year appeared first on CoinGape .