XRP is showing muted price action as markets await a potential catalyst in the form of regulated futures trading on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange Group on Monday, May 19. The token has been range-bound between $2.32 and $2.62 for the past week and is currently holding steady at $2.37, up just 0.7% in the last day. Even though the price has been moving sideways, market activity has risen dramatically. The 24-hour trading volume of XRP ( XRP ) increased 46.8% to $3.2 billion, showing renewed interest among traders. Meanwhile, open interest has decreased by 0.26%, but derivatives volume is up by 48%, as per Coinglass data . This discrepancy points to a rise in short-term positioning without long-term conviction, perhaps in preparation for the upcoming derivatives launch. CME Group, the world’s largest regulated derivatives marketplace, plans to introduce XRP and Micro XRP futures contracts on May 19, pending final regulatory approval. According to CME Group’s notice on April 24, each contract will be cash-settled based on the CME CF XRP-Dollar Reference Rate and represent 50,000 and 2,500 XRP, respectively. You might also like: XRP dips as U.S. court rejects Ripple-SEC settlement bid over procedural misstep CME has been expanding into crypto derivatives after making its debut with Solana ( SOL ) futures in March. As the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, XRP’s inclusion in CME’s portfolio may pave the way for greater institutional involvement. From a technical perspective, XRP is currently in a consolidation stage. With no discernible momentum in either direction, key indicators such as the relative strength index and the MACD point to a neutral trend. The longer-term trend is still in place as XRP is still above the majority of its mid- and long-term moving averages, including the 50-day and 200-day averages. XRP price analysis. Credit: crypto.news The key support zone lies near $2.30, which has held firmly in recent sessions. A break below this level could expose the $2 zone. On the upside, resistance is forming around $2.60. A breakout could lead to a retest of the highs from April above $2.80. Traders are keeping a close eye on whether institutional demand through CME will provide the momentum required to end XRP’s current consolidation, with volatility expected to return amid the launch. Read more: XRP price prediction 2025: hidden channel points to $4.50 rally
Falling 7-day moving average of the taker buy sell ratio meant that taker sell orders vastly outweighed buy orders.
Economist and The Bitcoin Standard author Saifedean Ammous has entered the fray over inscription spam on the Bitcoin network, proposing financial support for developers working to limit non-monetary blockchain use. His comments come as the Bitcoin community debates the growing strain of embedded data like JPEGs on the network’s efficiency. Meanwhile, Bitcoin is seeing renewed price optimism, with analysts such as Scott Melker forecasting a potential run to $250,000 by year-end. Saifedean Ammous Supports Fight Against Bitcoin Spam Inscriptions as Developer Tensions Escalate A heated debate has reignited in the Bitcoin development community over the persistent rise of spam inscriptions on the network — with prominent economist and Bitcoin advocate Saifedean Ammous now offering to contribute financially to efforts aimed at curbing the controversial practice. The dispute centers on a proposal that would enable node operators to more easily filter non-financial inscriptions, often used to embed JPEGs and other arbitrary data, which critics argue bloat the Bitcoin blockchain and distort its purpose as a monetary protocol. The conversation began when pseudonymous developer GrassFedBitcoin called attention to pull request #28408 in Bitcoin Core’s GitHub repository. The pull request, if merged, would allow node operators to reject certain inscription formats by default, giving users more granular control over what their node relays. GrassFedBitcoin didn’t mince words in his assessment of the problem: “No one running a node wants to relay inscriptions,” he wrote on X. He criticized the historical decisions that increased Bitcoin’s OP_RETURN limits, which are now being exploited to store arbitrary files such as NFTs, and argued that the feature was abused under “false assumptions” that it would not lead to significant blockchain bloat. For inscription critics like GrassFedBitcoin, the trend undermines Bitcoin’s primary value proposition — a global, decentralized settlement layer optimized for sound money, not digital artwork. Ammous: “It’s Worth Trying to Bankrupt the Spammers” Enter Saifedean Ammous, a vocal advocate for Bitcoin minimalism and the author of the widely cited book The Bitcoin Standard. Ammous publicly endorsed the initiative, declaring that he would “throw in a few sats” to fund a full-time developer whose job is to make inscription-based spam “more difficult and expensive.” Saifedean Ammous shares his take (Source: X) Drawing a parallel to email spam, Ammous stated, “It’s not easy, but it’s worth trying to help bankrupt the spammers faster.” Crucially, he refuted the notion that inscription filtering amounts to censorship. “Fighting spam is not censorship,” he emphasized, noting that full node operators already choose to reject invalid or non-standard transactions as a matter of policy. His controversial stance even went so far as to advocate hiring external developers to overwhelm spam-producing systems and “deprecate” the work of those enabling or building around non-monetary use cases for Bitcoin. Not all thought leaders are aligned on the path forward. Adam Back, CEO of Bitcoin infrastructure company Blockstream, offered a stark rebuttal. Back warned that any attempt to filter inscriptions will result in a perpetual “arms race,” as spam developers find ever-more creative ways to embed their data within valid Bitcoin transactions. His concerns reflect a core tension in Bitcoin's architecture: the desire for permissionless innovation versus the imperative to preserve the network’s long-term efficiency and integrity. Community Sentiment: Unwilling QA Engineers? The escalating rhetoric sparked a wave of community reactions. One participant in the discussion likened the developers behind inscription tools to “unwilling QA engineers” — essentially helping Bitcoin Core harden its software by discovering new attack vectors. Another user quipped that developers working on spam inscription projects should be treated as bug reporters, with every trick they employ being swiftly “unstandardized.” The implication is clear: rather than engaging in a moral or philosophical debate over whether JPEGs belong on Bitcoin, some believe the answer lies in relentless code hardening, neutralizing spam through technical superiority rather than ideological consensus. The urgency of the debate is underscored by hard data. According to a Feb. 4 report from Mempool Research, widespread adoption of inscriptions could drive Bitcoin’s average block size as high as 4 megabytes per block, which is more than double the current average of 1.5 MB. In practical terms, this increased load could lead to longer confirmation times and higher fees, especially during peak network activity. This block size inflation also revives concerns from the “block size wars” of the past decade, when the community famously split over whether to increase Bitcoin’s block size to accommodate more data, resulting in the creation of Bitcoin Cash (BCH). Inscriptions, Ordinals, and Bitcoin’s Future The broader issue ties directly into the Bitcoin Ordinals phenomenon, a practice popularized in 2023 that allows users to inscribe data directly onto individual satoshis. While many celebrate Ordinals for enabling NFT-like capabilities on Bitcoin, others see them as a parasitic use case that undermines scalability and clutters the blockchain with non-essential data. Ammous and his supporters argue that allowing Bitcoin’s blockspace to be consumed by inscriptions threatens its role as the world’s most robust and secure monetary protocol. In their view, every byte used for non-financial data increases the cost of running a full node and puts undue pressure on users who want to use Bitcoin purely for economic exchange. For now, pull request #28408 remains unmerged, and the future of inscription filtering hangs in the balance. But with prominent voices like Ammous escalating the pressure and likening the problem to an existential threat akin to email spam, the issue seems unlikely to fade quietly. Bitcoin to $250K in 2025? Analyst Scott Melker Says It’s ‘Totally Possible’ as Institutional Momentum Grows In related news, Bitcoin may be poised for a parabolic move toward $250,000 by the end of 2025, according to prominent crypto analyst Scott Melker, who believes a rare confluence of macro and market dynamics could trigger the next explosive rally. Known for hosting The Wolf of All Streets podcast, Melker offered the bold prediction in a recent interview, pointing to Bitcoin’s maturing volatility profile and deepening institutional adoption as catalysts. “$250K this year? Totally possible,” Melker asserted , suggesting that while such a surge might seem extreme to outsiders, it’s well within the bounds of historical crypto price behavior. With Bitcoin currently trading above $100K, that would imply a more-than-double price increase within the next seven months. But Melker argues the conditions for such a move are increasingly falling into place. Bitcoin price chart (Source: CoinMarketCap) One of Melker’s key observations is that Bitcoin’s historic volatility, long viewed as a double-edged sword, is quietly fading. “It used to be about three times as volatile as the S&P. Now it’s less than two times,” he explained. This reduction in volatility, he said, is not accidental. It's the result of deeper integration with traditional finance. From pension funds to major asset managers, long-term institutional holders are entering the Bitcoin market in greater numbers, leading to more stable price action and long-term accumulation. Melker emphasized that this is not merely anecdotal. The launch and success of Bitcoin spot ETFs, alongside broader Wall Street participation, are actively reshaping Bitcoin’s behavior as a financial asset. “The more institutional money, the more Wall Street money, the more long-term holders get involved, the less volatility there’s going to be,” he said. 2025 Off to a Strong Start for Crypto Markets So far, 2025 has validated Melker’s bullish tone. Bitcoin has climbed beyond $103,000, and Ethereum has rebounded above $2,600. The market-wide strength is not limited to the majors either, altcoins have started to gain traction, driven by rising trading volume and risk appetite. One of the biggest milestones of the year came when Coinbase was added to the S&P 500, not just as a constituent but among the top 50 companies by market cap. Melker flagged this development as a game-changer, reinforcing how deeply embedded crypto firms have become in global financial systems. He also highlighted recent public listings from companies like Galaxy Digital and eToro, signaling renewed confidence in regulatory clarity and policy tailwinds. Melker’s optimism is further bolstered by recent regulatory easing in the United States. The SEC’s decision to drop several lawsuits against major crypto firms, along with favorable executive orders aimed at fostering blockchain innovation, have helped restore investor confidence. This shift, he argues, is a major departure from the regulatory headwinds that plagued previous market cycles, and it sets the stage for more sustainable capital inflows into the space. While Bitcoin remains the flagship asset, Melker noted that Ethereum and smaller-cap altcoins have started to outperform, which is a sign that “new money” may be entering the market. The ETH/BTC ratio has ticked upward, and tokens across decentralized finance (DeFi), artificial intelligence (AI), and layer-2 scaling solutions have begun posting double-digit percentage gains — typical of early-stage bull markets. This altcoin resurgence, Melker suggested, reflects a broader market confidence that Bitcoin’s rise is not isolated but part of a wider crypto ecosystem rally. $250K Still a Long Shot — But Not Unprecedented Despite the bullish case, Melker tempered his forecast with a dose of realism, saying that most experts are forecasting highs between $120K and $150K. However, he was quick to point out that crypto markets are no stranger to explosive surges. “From the 2020 lows to the last bull market, Bitcoin went from $3,000 to $69,000. A 2.5x from here wouldn’t be a big deal.” Other analysts agree that a six-figure Bitcoin is within reach. On May 16, the analytics account Apsk32 shared projections that Bitcoin has a “decent chance” of hitting $250K or more in 2025, especially as macroeconomic instability pushes investors toward ”digital gold” hedging strategies. Even Presto’s head of research Peter Chung has doubled down on his $210K prediction, while Standard Chartered and Intellectia AI analysts have echoed similar sentiments, citing rising ETF inflows and a global appetite for alternative stores of value. A Perfect Storm for Bitcoin? With diminishing volatility, deepening institutional interest, favorable regulatory shifts, and growing altcoin momentum, the pieces appear to be aligning for a massive move upward in crypto markets. Melker’s $250,000 prediction might not be consensus, but it’s gaining traction among a growing list of analysts.
The post BitMEX Hints at Ripple Partnership: XRP Market on Bullish Alert appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News Crypto exchange BitMEX has stirred excitement in the XRP community after a mysterious X post hinted at a potential market-moving collaboration with Ripple. Ripple Effect Teaser Triggers Speculation On May 17, BitMEX posted a GIF showing ripple effects with the caption, “news that’s gonna have a @ripple effect on the market.” The X post has racked up nearly half a million views, fueling speculation that a major Ripple announcement is around the corner. While no details have been confirmed, the wordplay strongly suggests more than marketing banter. XRP Derivatives Coming to BitMEX? The post has led many traders to believe BitMEX might soon integrate XRP or launch new derivative products tied to the asset. Known for pioneering leveraged crypto trading, BitMEX’s entering the XRP market could attract fresh trader interest and lend additional legitimacy to Ripple’s ecosystem. With XRP currently trading between $2.3 and $2.45, a confirmed BitMEX-Ripple tie-up could trigger a bullish breakout. Market interest in XRP has already been on the rise following Ripple’s improved legal standing in the U.S., and a new partnership could amplify that momentum. XRP Price Analysis Analyst Egrag Crypto believes XRP could skyrocket to $27, citing Fibonacci levels and chart breakouts as proof of a bullish long-term setup. More grounded predictions from traders suggest levels like $6.22 and $7.68 as achievable milestones. While those figures are ambitious, short-term targets like $3 seem well within reach if bullish sentiment holds. With speculation mounting and the official details still under wraps, the XRP market is on high alert. A real collaboration announcement could be the spark bulls are waiting for. On the other hand, crypto analyst CryptoGeek believes that if XRP succeeds in capturing the $27 trillion U.S. Treasury bill market, its price could soar to $482.48 per coin. This would represent a staggering 790x surge from current levels. While highly speculative, the post highlights the growing bullish sentiment around XRP’s potential role in global finance.
The post Cardano Price Eyeing $1 Fueled By Whale Buying and Litecoin Deal appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News Since last week, Cardano’s (ADA) price has recorded a drop of more than 10%. Since then ADA price has quietly shown strength again, and continues to consolidate sideways, while prominent analyst Ali Martinez believes that the Cardano price could push towards $1 soon, fueling the bullish sentiment in the market. Interestingly, big ADA holders are still buying more ADA. This comes as market excitement grows due to a possible DeFi partnership between Cardano and Litecoin, and growing hopes of an ETF approval. Cardano Price Eyes the $1 According to Ali, ADA pulled back slightly after reaching a high near $0.88, but it found strong support around $0.74, right at the lower end of its upward channel. This zone has acted like a safety net, as ADA has been moving within a rising channel since mid-April. For traders, this setup is often seen as a sign that the token might be preparing for another leg up. Ali noted that if ADA can stay above $0.74 and continue following the trend channel, there’s a chance it could retest previous highs of $0.88 or even aim beyond $1. If the current structure on #Cardano $ADA is an ascending channel, holding above $0.72 could pave the way for an upswing toward $0.92. pic.twitter.com/vgNNfuudPd — Ali (@ali_charts) May 18, 2025 Whales Are Buying Big Backing the technical setup is a wave of whale activity. In just the past 48 hours, large wallets have purchased over 80 million ADA , according to blockchain platform Santiment. When whales start buying, it often means something big is coming. As of now, Cardano’s price is trading around $0.725 , reflecting a drop of 2% seen in the last 24 hours, with a market cap of $23.5 billion. Cardano and Litecoin Working Together? Another reason for the excitement is a possible DeFi partnership between Cardano and Litecoin. Cardano’s founder, Charles Hoskinson, confirmed his support for the Litecoin community and hinted at a new collaboration. This could happen through Cardano’s upcoming privacy-focused project called Midnight . If confirmed, this would be a rare and powerful cross-chain partnership between two well-established blockchains. ETF Hopes to Lift Sentiment Meanwhile, Cardano’s regulatory outlook is improving. According to Polymarket, the chances of a Cardano spot ETF being approved this year have jumped from 45% to 64% in just one day. This shows that investors believe Cardano could soon be part of the traditional financial world.
Shares of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd. slid on Monday after reports that the Trump administration is scrutinizing Apple’s deal with Alibaba to bring AI features to iPhones in China. Alibaba’s stock fell as much as 4% on Monday in Hong Kong. Officials are concerned about what user data might be shared with Alibaba and whether the company has made commitments with Chinese regulators. Alibaba Group Holding Ltd stock price. Source: Google Finance Lawmakers are publicly pressing Apple for details of the Alibaba deal Representative Raja Krishnamoorthi, the ranking Democrat on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, called Alibaba “a poster child for the Chinese Communist Party’s military-civil fusion strategy.” He said it was “extremely disturbing” that Apple “has not been transparent about its agreement.” Only Alibaba has confirmed the deal in public. Apple has remained silent, and the scrutiny adds to the many ways rising U.S.–China tensions threaten the iPhone maker’s business. The dispute lands at a rough moment for Alibaba. The e-commerce giant’s shares had already been sliding after its latest quarterly revenue missed analyst expectations, denting enthusiasm that earlier framed the company as a leader in the DeepSeek-fueled AI surge. Back in February, Chairman Joseph Tsai told investors that future iPhones would use Alibaba’s AI tools, a comment that helped power a sharp rally at the time. His remarks boosted confidence that domestic AI champions could work with global consumer brands. The overall Asian market drifted lower Asian equities broadly weakened on Monday as investors weighed mixed signals from the world’s largest economies. Regional risk appetite remained notably cautious. Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 moved modestly, with traders waiting for Tuesday’s Reserve Bank of Australia decision. Economists expect the RBA to trim its benchmark rate by 25 basis points amid cooling inflation, though they also predict a cautious tone on further cuts because of lingering domestic and global risks. Japan’s Nikkei 225 slipped 0.3 percent and the broader TOPIX edged down 0.1 percent, extending losses that began after a weak gross domestic product reading on Friday. Markets are now watching April consumer-price figures, due later this week, for guidance on the Bank of Japan’s next move on interest rates. South Korea’s KOSPI dropped 0.7 percent, while Singapore’s Straits Times Index fell 0.3 percent. Trading volumes across the region were below recent averages as many investors stayed on the sidelines ahead of key economic releases. KEY Difference Wire helps crypto brands break through and dominate headlines fast
On May 19, a significant development emerged in the crypto market as the 25x Short ETH Whale made headlines by augmenting their short position by an additional 211 ETH. This
The post XRP Spot ETF News: Odds Rise To 83%, SEC Decision in June? appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News It’s going to be a big week for XRP with the futures launching on the CME today, and the ETF hype making headlines again. If all goes as planned, this could be a game-changer for XRP, drawing in institutional money and paving the way for spot XRP ETFs. XRP ETF Approval Odds Increase Polymarket traders have also raised their bets on an XRP ETF approval this year to 83%, despite the recent bearish sentiment. Bloomberg analysts have also raised the odds of approval to 85%, over rising institutional interest and a fair regulatory environment. The Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) launching XRP futures contracts could be seen as a major step toward institutional adoption. Futures contracts allow traders to bet on an asset’s future price without owning it physically. BREAKING: CME $XRP FUTURES GO LIVE TOMORROW! pic.twitter.com/1Hc4BMEIo7 — Good Morning Crypto (@AbsGMCrypto) May 18, 2025 The launch of XRP futures would allow financial firms to create ETFs that track XRP prices, similar to the ProShares Bitcoin ETF, which tracks CME Bitcoin futures. But some are concerned that since no one’s actually holding XRP in futures contracts, the price is not going to move. Nevertheless, today’s launch is expected to increase the market liquidity and attract institutions towards trading and hedging XRP in a regulated manner. Also, regulated futures are often a prerequisite for spot ETF approvals. The added visibility from a CME listing could further boost its market position. New XRP ETF Shows Huge Inflows Despite Price Drop The recently launched Teucrium 2x Long Daily XRP ETF (XXRP) has been showing steady growth, with over $106 million in assets since its April debut, data from ETF.com shows. Despite a recent dip in XRP prices, the fund added $30.4 million last week. #XRPETF leveraged Inflows Surge Despite Price Dip! Wall Street is loading up on × $XRP . The 2x leveraged XXRP ETF has pulled in $106M AUM since April-$30M just last week, even as XRP price dipped. XXRP is already up 58% vs XRP's 15% 2x daily return = high risk, high reward… pic.twitter.com/jhuiV8Qh5b — CYBER_EXPERT (@cybertraderB) May 18, 2025 This shows growing interest in XRP ETFs, with XXRP outperforming similar products like the 2x Solana ETF (SOLT). Wall Street giant JP Morgan expects XRP and Solana ETFs to attract $15 billion in their first year, with XRP expected to capture the majority of these inflows. The SEC is set to rule on the Franklin Templeton XRP ETF in June. However, a delay is likely, as it could be grouped with companies like Bitwise and VanEck ahead of their October deadline. Besides, Tuttle Capital’s XRP ETF, set to launch on May 21, could attract more institutional trading and increase spot demand on secondary markets.
Introduction In every crypto cycle, there’s a handful of tokens that deliver quietly at first — then erupt. As 2025 heats up, all signs are pointing toward Ethereum (ETH), XRP, Cosmos (ATOM), and MAGACOIN FINANCE (MAGA) as the projects gearing up for a major run . While ETH and XRP are preparing for institutional momentum, MAGACOIN FINANCE is catching attention as a hidden early-stage altcoin that may soon exit obscurity and enter the spotlight — with price action to match. THE MOST-WATCHED PRESALE OF 2025 – ACT NOW Why MAGACOINFINANCE Is Being Called a Hidden Gem MAGACOIN FINANCE is rising fast through the ranks of speculative investor watchlists — and for good reason. With a listing price target of $0.007 and Stage 9 now imminent , MAGA is being positioned as one of the final undiscovered altcoins with realistic 25x–35x upside still available in the presale phase. Why analysts see MAGA as a “crypto treasure”: Undervalued in market exposure, but structured for maximum ROI Politically bold positioning that gives it viral potential Transparent listing mechanics and clean tokenomics As other coins consolidate or chase headlines, MAGACOIN FINANCE is quietly securing capital — and preparing to make its move just before listings rewrite its valuation. XRP Builds Toward Utility-Driven Breakout XRP continues to show strength above $2.30 , with institutional narratives driving momentum. Following U.S. legal clarity, XRP is now widely seen as the core payment infrastructure token for blockchain-based financial networks. Its next leg up could be triggered by: The launch of CME futures Expanding on-chain settlement adoption Speculation around future ETF integrations Forecasts range from $5 to $15 , and many XRP holders are taking parallel positions in MAGACOIN FINANCE to capture upside from both ends of the risk curve. Ethereum Remains the Infrastructure Giant Ethereum (ETH) still leads the market in smart contract and Layer-2 infrastructure — and as ETF conversations escalate, ETH’s positioning only grows stronger. Currently trading near $2,600 , Ethereum is widely expected to move toward $4,000–$6,000 , with Layer-2 scaling and institutional flows adding fuel. Its importance? Ethereum is the network backbone — and the coin that institutional investors trust most when entering crypto. But for exponential ROI, many are complementing their ETH positions with earlier-phase assets like MAGA. Cosmos (ATOM) Returns to the Conversation Cosmos (ATOM) has quietly re-entered the altcoin narrative, as multichain infrastructure and app-chain development pick up. Trading near the $4–$4.75 range, ATOM is benefiting from renewed developer interest and Layer-0 relevance. Cosmos enables sovereign blockchains to interoperate, and with the next phase of DeFi and gaming moving cross-chain, ATOM could become a foundational layer for the ecosystem’s expansion. While it may not 50x, it provides long-term conviction — and analysts see it as a strong pair with more speculative entries like MAGACOIN FINANCE. MASSIVE DEMAND, LIMITED SUPPLY – ACT NOW Conclusion Not all top performers shout the loudest — some rise quietly, building momentum behind the scenes before exploding into view. That’s the case for MAGACOIN FINANCE , a project that many are now calling one of the last hidden treasures in the 2025 cycle . Alongside heavyweights like Ethereum, XRP, and Cosmos, MAGACOIN FINANCE is gaining serious ground — and with listings coming soon, it may not be hidden for much longer. To learn more about MAGACOIN FINANCE, please visit: Website: https://magacoinfinance.com Twitter/X: https://x.com/magacoinfinance Continue Reading: Hidden Crypto Treasure? MAGACOIN FINANCE, XRP, and Ethereum Are Gearing Up for a Massive Run
Russian law enforcement has arrested the co-founder of the crypto game Blum in Moscow as part of a criminal investigation into large-scale fraud. Smerkis Steps Down as Blum CMO Russian law enforcement arrested Vladimir Smerkis, co-founder of the crypto game Blum, in Moscow as part of a criminal investigation into large-scale fraud. The announcement of