Group 1 - Geoffrey Kendrick at Standard Chartered Bank estimates XRP will reach $8 in 2026, implying a 315% upside from the current price of $1.90, driven by increased regulatory clarity and approval of spot XRP ETFs [2] - Despite the optimistic forecast, XRP has fallen 7% year to date, suggesting a more reasonable target might be $3 in 2026, which implies about 58% upside [3] - The SEC's decision to drop its appeal against Ripple may encourage XRP adoption among investors and financial institutions, as a legal headwind has been eliminated [7] Group 2 - In 2020, the SEC filed a lawsuit against Ripple for allegedly selling XRP as an unregistered security, with a split ruling in 2023 determining that direct sales to institutional investors were illegal, but programmatic sales to retail investors were not [5] - The Trump administration's support for the cryptocurrency industry, including the signing of an executive order to create a national digital asset stockpile, may further bolster XRP's adoption [6] - XRP is designed to support fast and cheap cross-border transactions, serving as a bridge currency that addresses the inefficiencies of the SWIFT system [8]

Core Insights - Major cryptocurrencies are expected to experience a downturn in 2025, with XRP showing significant price volatility throughout the year [2][4] - XRP reached a peak price of $3.56 in the summer but has since fallen to $1.86, representing a 48% decline from its intra-year high [2][6] - The price fluctuations of XRP were influenced by various factors, including political events and regulatory developments [3][5] Price Action Influences - XRP's price saw notable peaks in January and August, with the January peak coinciding with Donald Trump's inauguration, which generated optimism in the cryptocurrency market [4][5] - The SEC's decision to drop its lawsuit against Ripple, the issuer of XRP, contributed to a surge in XRP's price, alongside expectations of interest rate reductions from the Federal Reserve [6] - Despite the initial rally, XRP has faced a prolonged sell-off in recent months, leading to uncertainty in its near-term price action [6][8] Market Dynamics - XRP operates on the Ripple payments network, which aims to address the challenges of timing and cost in international money transfers [7][8] - The long-term value proposition of XRP remains clear, but its short-term price trajectory is uncertain due to market volatility [8]

RT Token Terminal 📊 (@tokenterminal)Does @ethereum L1 have a moat?@aave (lending) would lose ~80% of its current business without Ethereum L1.Discuss. https://t.co/qaxdoOwTdm ...

Tesla Trade - Ark Invest sold 23,110 shares of Tesla through its ARK Innovation ETF, valued at approximately $11.2 million, amid a stock pullback after reaching all-time highs earlier in the week [2] - Tesla's stock closed at $483.37 on Thursday, marking a 3.45% increase, indicating ongoing market interest despite Ark's adjustments [3] Coinbase Trade - Ark Invest purchased 17,386 shares of Coinbase across multiple ETFs, valued at approximately $4.15 million, aligning with Coinbase's announcement of launching traditional stock trading [4] - Coinbase's new offering includes commission-free U.S. stock trading with 24-hour access five days a week, aiming to diversify revenue and reduce dependence on volatile crypto trading cycles [5] Brera Holdings Trade - Ark Invest increased its stake in Brera Holdings by purchasing 575,644 shares through its ETFs, valued at approximately $1.4 million, following the company's strategic initiatives [6] - Brera Holdings' stock saw a modest rise of 0.84%, closing at $2.39, reflecting positive market sentiment after its treasury strategy led to a notable stock rally [6]

Core Viewpoint - A coalition of over 125 cryptocurrency companies and advocacy groups is actively opposing US banking lobbyists regarding the rights to pay interest on stablecoin deposits, highlighting a significant conflict between traditional banking and the crypto industry [1][5]. Group 1: Banking Lobby's Position - The GENIUS Act currently prohibits stablecoin issuers from paying dividends, but a loophole allows third-party platforms to pass stablecoin yields to users, prompting banks to lobby for closing this loophole [2]. - Banking groups argue that allowing unregulated fintech platforms to offer high yields on cash-equivalent tokens poses systemic risks, potentially leading to a capital flight of up to $6.6 trillion from commercial banks to digital asset platforms [3]. - They contend that such a shift would undermine the capital base necessary for banks to underwrite mortgages and business loans, resulting in increased borrowing costs for American households [4]. Group 2: Crypto Coalition's Response - The crypto coalition has urged lawmakers to reject attempts to expand the scope of the GENIUS Act, arguing that reopening this issue would undermine the predictability of regulatory frameworks and introduce unnecessary risks [5][6]. - They dismiss the banks' concerns as a protectionist effort to maintain a monopoly on low-interest deposits, claiming that banks are trying to protect their profit margins by preventing consumers from accessing higher yields available in the Treasury market [6]. - The coalition argues that stablecoin reward programs allow platforms to share value directly with users, enabling households to benefit from higher rates rather than suffering losses due to inflation [7].

VanEck has updated its filing for an Avalanche exchange-traded fund, VAVX, to include staking rewards and generate income for investors. In an amended S-1 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the firm disclosed that the fund may stake up to 70% of its AVAX holdings to generate yield, with Coinbase Crypto Services listed as the initial staking provider. Any rewards, minus a 4% service fee from Coinbase, would accrue to the fund and be reflected in the ETF’s net asset value. Under the ...

Core Insights - Cryptocurrency adoption in Brazil is primarily driven by younger, cautious investors rather than speculative traders, with a significant focus on stablecoins and tokenized bonds for wealth protection [1][2] Group 1: Investor Demographics and Trends - The fastest-growing investor cohort in Brazil this year is individuals under 24, with participation in this age group increasing by 56% from the previous year [2] - Middle-income users are allocating up to 12% of their portfolios to stablecoins while maintaining 86% in less volatile assets, indicating a preference for lower-risk investments [5] - Lower-income investors are placing over 90% of their funds in traditional cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, likely in pursuit of higher returns despite the associated risks [6] Group 2: Product Offerings and Performance - Mercado Bitcoin's Renda Fixa Digital (RFD) products, which are tokenized slices of real-world income-generating assets, saw their volume more than double in 2025, distributing 1.8 billion reals (approximately $325 million) to users [3] - On average, RFD products delivered 132% of Brazil's "risk-free" benchmark rate, the Certificado de Depósito Interbancário (CDI) [3] Group 3: Market Activity and Regulation - Overall crypto transaction volume on Mercado Bitcoin increased by 43% year-over-year, with Mondays becoming the busiest day for new investors and trading activity, indicating a shift towards integrating cryptocurrency into regular financial routines [4] - Recent cryptocurrency regulations introduced by Brazil's central bank require crypto service providers to obtain licenses and establish specific capital requirements, which may further influence market dynamics [6]

Core Viewpoint - Peter Schiff criticizes Trump Media & Technology Group (DJT) for lacking intrinsic value beyond its association with Donald Trump, highlighting a lack of a coherent business model as the company shifts strategies [1][3][4] Company Evolution - DJT initially launched as a social media platform with Truth Social but faced growth and monetization challenges, leading to a rebranding as a financial technology and cryptocurrency-focused entity [2][3] - The company is now proposing a merger with TAE Technologies, a fusion energy firm, marking another significant strategic pivot [3][6] Merger Details - The all-stock merger with TAE Technologies values the combined entity at over $6 billion, positioning DJT as one of the few publicly listed companies involved in nuclear fusion research [6] - Management presents the merger as a long-term investment in clean energy and the increasing demand for power from data centers and AI infrastructure [6] Market Reaction - Following the merger announcement, DJT shares saw significant volatility, with a more than 8% increase on the day of the news and a rally of over 50% in the past five days [7][9] - Despite this positive market reaction, DJT's stock is down more than 50% year to date, indicating ongoing struggles for the company [9]

Economic Outlook - The U.S. economy is entering 2026 with uncertainty stemming from a record government shutdown in 2025, which affected growth and delayed key economic data collection [2][22] - The economy is expected to experience a growth rate of 2.3% to 2.5% in 2026, following a year of only 1% to 1.5% growth in 2025 [14] Government Policy and Stimulus - Significant tax cuts and deregulation are anticipated to inject approximately $55 billion to $70 billion into the economy in the first half of 2026 [11][9] - The focus on domestic production, particularly in sectors tied to national security, such as chips and data centers, is expected to drive growth [3][4] Tariffs and Trade - Tariffs are beginning to impact corporate earnings, with approximately $250 billion in tariff revenue collected, which may affect consumer prices [6][7] - Uncertainty around tariff policies and trade restrictions is expected to continue into 2026, with companies needing to adapt to ongoing geopolitical risks [41][42] AI and Technology - The adoption of AI is seen as a critical factor for productivity growth, but there is concern about the pace of adoption across industries [23][24] - The focus on AI will also include the need for critical minerals and resources necessary for technology infrastructure, such as data centers [53][48] Bond Market and Capital Access - The bond market is facing increased supply from both public and private sectors, with significant debt issuance expected, particularly in data centers [29][30] - There is a growing competition for access to capital, which may reshape the global financial system and affect borrowing costs [50][49] Crypto Regulation - The U.S. Senate is considering the Clarity Act, which aims to establish a market structure for crypto, following earlier legislation on stable coins [33][34] - Traditional financial institutions are increasingly recognizing the potential of stable coins, which may lead to greater adoption and efficiency in financial services [35][36]

The U.K.’s long-promised crypto regulatory regime edged closer to reality this week, as the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) unveiled its consultation that will ultimately define how crypto firms operate in Britain. Together with legislation from HM Treasury, the proposals form the backbone of a framework scheduled to take effect in October 2027. For policymakers, the objective is to balance growth and innovation with market integrity and consumer protection. For the industry, the challenge is navigating ...