Quick Read ChatGPT forecasts XRP at $2.50 to $3.50 by late 2026, implying up to 155% upside from current levels near $1.45. Ripple’s $2.4 billion acquisition spree in 2025 includes Hidden Road, GTreasury, and Rail, building institutional infrastructure that didn’t exist a year ago. XRP trades 1.8x more volatile than Bitcoin but has regulatory clarity Bitcoin lacks after SEC case closed. A recent study identified one single habit that doubled Americans’ retirement savings and moved retirement from d ...

Core Viewpoint - Ripple's Chief Technology Officer David Schwartz has expressed skepticism about XRP reaching $50 to $100, leading to a 12% decline in the token's value to $1.75 this week [1]. Group 1: Schwartz's Position on Price Predictions - Schwartz doubts the feasibility of XRP hitting $50-$100, stating he is uncomfortable making such predictions and acknowledging his past price forecasts have been incorrect [2]. - He reflected on his history of underestimating crypto price movements, recalling when he thought XRP would never reach $0.25 [3]. Group 2: Reactions from XRP Holders - XRP holders reacted negatively to Schwartz's comments, feeling that they undermined confidence in the token's long-term potential [4]. - Some holders expressed frustration, with one stating they would consider selling if XRP reaches $2 again, viewing Schwartz's remarks as demoralizing [4]. Group 3: Support for Schwartz's Perspective - Some supporters defended Schwartz, arguing that he cannot disclose forward-looking price information, especially as Ripple continues to build infrastructure and global adoption increases [5]. - Schwartz emphasized that current prices reflect what investors genuinely believe about XRP's future, suggesting that if many believed in a $100 price, they would be buying aggressively at current levels [6]. Group 4: Market Behavior Insights - Schwartz noted that XRP trading below $10 indicates a lack of confidence among investors regarding triple-digit prices [7]. - He stated that crypto prices are generally rational, with major price movements often driven by unpredictable external factors rather than fundamental expectations [7].

Core Insights - JPMorgan estimates that XRP ETFs could attract between $3 billion and $8 billion based on the performance of Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, with potential monthly inflows sustaining above $400 million leading to approximately 2.6 billion XRP locked away by year-end, representing about 4% of total supply [1] - For XRP to reach its all-time high of $3.84, ETF assets under management need to exceed $5 billion, achievable by Q3 2026 at the current monthly inflow rate of $483 million [2] - XRP has seen significant institutional interest, with ETF inflows reaching $1.37 billion in under 60 days, indicating a strong momentum that could push XRP back to its previous all-time high if certain catalysts align [4][6] ETF Performance - XRP ETFs have attracted $1.37 billion in under 60 days, with a streak of 43 consecutive days of positive inflows, making it the second-fastest crypto ETF to cross $1 billion after Bitcoin [3][6] - The inflow streak was briefly interrupted but resumed quickly, indicating strong ongoing interest from investors [3] Institutional Adoption - Ripple's banking network has expanded to over 300 partners, with only about 40% actively using XRP for On-Demand Liquidity settlements, highlighting the potential for increased adoption [6][14] - Ripple raised $500 million at a $40 billion valuation, indicating strong institutional backing and interest, contingent on regulatory clarity [11] Regulatory Environment - The CLARITY Act, which passed the House with bipartisan support, could provide a clearer regulatory framework for XRP, potentially classifying it as a digital commodity and allowing U.S. pension funds and insurance companies to hold XRP directly [10][11] - The SEC's ruling in 2025 that XRP sold on public exchanges does not constitute unregistered securities has opened doors for institutional investment [9] Market Dynamics - XRP's price is currently around $1.95, down 49% from its all-time high of $3.84, with the potential to reach $4 by Q4 2026 if institutional appetite continues to grow [5][7] - XRP's correlation with Bitcoin is strong, with analysts predicting Bitcoin could reach between $130,000 and $150,000 by mid-2026, which would positively impact XRP's price [18] Catalysts for Price Movement - Four key catalysts are identified for XRP to break its all-time high: ETF inflows exceeding $5 billion, passage of the CLARITY Act, real-world settlement adoption, and sustained bullish momentum in Bitcoin [22][29] - The bullish scenario suggests XRP could reach between $3.84 and $5.00 if all catalysts align, while a base scenario could see it trading between $2.50 and $3.40 if only some catalysts materialize [22][24]

The viral bear case has split commentators and analysts. | Credit: Gemini Key Takeaways VanEck’s Ethereum forecast highlights a potential bear case of $300. Tom Lee expects Ethereum to hit $7,000–$9,000 in the near term. Some analysts have echoed bullish future predictions. VanEck’s bearish long-term Ethereum (ETH) price outlook of $300 has resurfaced on social media, while Tom Lee and other bulls continue to predict prices closer to $9,000 in the near-term. The renewed attention follows VanEck’ ...

Core Insights - Monad Crypto has experienced a 26.9% decline this year but recently gained 12% to reach a price of $0.02192, with approximately 3.3 billion tokens entering circulation, leading to post-airdrop selling pressure that has since rebounded [2][3] - The market capitalization of Monad is around $237 million, indicating weak demand but not complete capitulation, with an RSI near 41 suggesting sellers are tiring [3] - The current phase is seen as a period for long-term positioning, where the best investment entries are often made despite the market being perceived as boring [4] Market Context - Realized losses for Layer-1 and infrastructure tokens peaked in mid-2025 and have since flattened, indicating that capital is no longer fleeing the market [5] - US real rates are easing, and the dollar index has shown its weakest annual performance since 2017, historically favoring long-duration risk assets [5] Future Outlook - If regulatory conditions stabilize and stablecoins become more integrated into daily payments, Monad is well-positioned to benefit from this trend [6] - A conservative price prediction for 2026 estimates Monad could reclaim the $0.05 to $0.08 range if ecosystem usage expands, while a more aggressive scenario linked to DeFi and payments adoption could push the price to $0.20 [7]

Samson Mow, a prominent Bitcoin advocate known for repeatedly predicting a $1 million Bitcoin price, said he does not take recent bearish price targets seriously and claimed he fired an analyst who forecast Bitcoin would fall to $60,000. Mow escalated his criticism in a post on X on Dec 21, writing: “I’ve fired the analyst that said Bitcoin is going to $60k. He will never work in this industry again.” The post did not identify the analyst or clarify their role, and it drew mixed reactions from the crypt ...

Core Insights - Bitcoin's price is currently around $110,000, showing cautious sentiment after a slow "Uptober" and ongoing selling pressure in the market [1] - Recent ETF outflows indicate rising sell pressure from traditional finance investors and a decline in institutional demand, with approximately $191 million withdrawn from spot Bitcoin ETFs on Friday and $488 million on Thursday [2] - The Federal Reserve's recent interest-rate cut has had little impact on broader markets, and its hawkish tone for December has dampened optimism [3] Bitcoin Market Analysis - Analyst Ali Martinez questions whether Bitcoin's current structure can support a price increase to $250,000 by December, as it remains near $110,000 [3] - Bitcoin is still on an uptrend that began after its 2022 bottom, with two years of higher highs and higher lows, suggesting that the worst phase may be behind the market [4] - The monthly MACD remains positive but is flattening, indicating dwindling momentum, while Bitcoin trades laterally under $120,000 [5] Ethereum Market Analysis - Ethereum is currently holding strong above the key support zone of $3,600–$3,750, with buyers protecting this area after a recent bounce [6] - A potential bull-flag pattern is forming below the $4,100–$4,250 resistance band, which has been a barrier to upward movement since mid-2025 [7]