Core Viewpoint - Geoffrey Kendrick from Standard Chartered predicts significant price increases for Bitcoin and XRP over the next two years despite a challenging 2025 for cryptocurrencies due to economic and geopolitical uncertainties [1][4]. Regulatory Environment - The Trump administration has enacted pro-cryptocurrency policies, including the establishment of a working group to enhance U.S. leadership in digital financial technology and the creation of a strategic Bitcoin reserve [4][5]. - The Genius Act, signed by Trump, provides a federal regulatory framework for stablecoins, and the Clarity Act aims to clarify jurisdiction over digital assets [5]. - The SEC has formed a crypto task force and rescinded Staff Accounting Bulletin 121, which is expected to facilitate digital asset adoption by institutional investors [6]. Investment Thesis for Bitcoin - Bitcoin treasury companies, such as Strategy, have been significant demand sources, with Strategy holding 671,268 BTC [6]. - Kendrick forecasts Bitcoin will reach $225,000 by 2027, indicating a 155% upside from its current price of $88,000 [7]. - Spot Bitcoin ETFs are anticipated to become the primary demand driver, as they simplify access to Bitcoin for institutional investors [8][9]. Investment Thesis for XRP - XRP, utilized by Ripple for cross-border transactions, is projected to capture 14% of SWIFT's volume, potentially facilitating over $20 trillion in transactions annually [11][12]. - The approval of spot XRP ETFs has generated over $1 billion in assets under management, indicating growing interest among investors [14]. - Despite the potential, skepticism exists regarding XRP's adoption due to competition from stablecoins and a decrease in transaction volume since the launch of Ripple USD [12][13]. Comparative Outlook - The analysis suggests prioritizing Bitcoin over XRP for investment, with a belief that Kendrick's Bitcoin price target is more achievable than his XRP target [15].

Shortly after GD Culture Group (GDC) made a Bitcoin acquisition deal with Pallas Capital, its shares fell by about 28%. This has been designated the largest fall that the shares have experienced over the last 12 months. Google Finance data showed that there was a slight recovery of 3.7% in pre-market trading. GD Culture Sells Shares to Acquire 48 Bitcoin According to Google Finance, shares in GD Culture Group fell 28.16% on September 16 to hit $6.99. This became the GDC’s largest fall in over 12 months, ...