CryptoQuant has released a new report, highlighting a significant shift in Ethereum’s exchange supply dynamics and institutional behavior. According to the data, the amount of ETH held on crypto exchanges has crashed to unexpected lows. The decline coincides with growing institutional accumulation, a trend often viewed as an early signal of a bullish price outlook.

Ethereum Exchange Balances Fall To 2016 Lows

Arab Chain, a crypto analyst on CryptoQuant, revealed that Ethereum’s exchange supply ratio across all tracked platforms has declined to approximately 0.137. According to the data referenced in the report, this represents one of the lowest readings observed since 2016. 

The analyst emphasized that this metric reflects the proportion of total ETH supply currently held on exchanges relative to the overall circulating supply.  Lower levels of this metric reflect a smaller fraction of ETH ready for liquidation on exchanges, which the analyst identifies as an important factor in understanding market liquidity conditions. 

Arab Chain also noted that the sustained decline in this ratio indicates a continued outflow of ETH from centralized exchanges to external wallets. This movement suggests that a smaller portion of Ethereum’s supply is readily available for trading. It also signals growing confidence among holders who prefer long-term positioning over short-term speculation. 

From a broader market perspective, a shrinking exchange supply is often seen as bullish for prices due to basic supply-and-demand dynamics. When fewer coins are available to sell, even a slight increase in demand can push prices up, as buyers compete for a smaller pool of liquid ETH. Reduced liquidity can also limit the intensity of declines, as large sell orders become harder to execute without moving the market. 

In his report, Arab Chain references historical behaviour, illustrated by a chart showing the Ethereum supply ratio for all exchanges. The analyst noted that similar declines in exchange supply have occurred during periods of reaccumulation or in the lead-up to stable price movements following significant market volatility. 

Ethereum Supply On Binance Crashes

Arab Chain has also shared insights on Ethereum’s supply on Binance. The analyst disclosed that ETH balances on the exchange have been steadily declining over the past few months. As one of the largest crypto exchanges in the world, Binance’s reserve changes often reflect broader market sentiment. 

The CryptoQuant report highlights that the Exchange Supply Ratio on Binance has crashed to 0.0325, a relatively low level compared to previous months. This indicates a steady withdrawal of ETH from the crypto exchange, reducing the amount of tokens available for immediate spot market selling. 

Arab Chain suggested that the drop in Ethereum supply on Binance shows that traders are becoming more cautious. Rather than engaging in short-term trades, many appear to be holding ETH off exchanges due to ongoing market volatility and uncertainty. The analyst added that the falling supply, combined with ETH’s price stability, indicates lower selling pressure. It also signals that the market may be entering a new phase of liquidity absorption and repositioning.

New reports have revealed that a billionaire Shiba Inu investor has transferred billions of SHIB tokens to a crypto exchange, setting the stage for possible market shifts. Typically, large exchange inflows of this size precede heightened market volatility as traders assess whether the move signals a distribution or a strategic repositioning. The outcome of this large-scale transfer could also influence Shiba Inu’s near-term price, which has been trending down for months.

Billionaire Shiba Inu Whale Moves 469 Billion SHIB

Blockchain analyst EmberCN was the first to report the large-scale movement on X this Thursday, highlighting that a top whale had transferred a significant amount of SHIB tokens to a centralized exchange. Fresh on-chain data from Arkham Intelligence shows that more than 48 hours ago, the anonymous whale had moved 469 billion SHIB, worth approximately $3.64 million, to OKX.

The transfer was reportedly split into two transactions: one for 468.982 billion SHIB and the other for just 5 million tokens. Following this, Arkham Intelligence revealed that the whale had executed another substantial transfer of 464.308 billion SHIB and 550,066 SHIB to OKX the next day. At the time, the value of these coins was about $3.48 million and $4.12 million, respectively. 

In his post, EmberCN referenced a 2023 disclosure revisiting an initial 2020 transaction by the same whale, which resulted in massive unrealized gains at the top. The blockchain analyst revealed that the whale had initially acquired 1.03 trillion SHIB in 2020 using just 37.8 ETH valued at around $13,700 at the time. This purchase represented roughly 17.4% of the total SHIB supply, making it one of the most profitable Shiba Inu trades ever recorded. 

At the peak of the 2021 bull market, the whale’s 1.03 trillion SHIB was valued at roughly $9.1 billion. Despite the explosive price rally, the investor largely maintained the position and avoided selling most of the holdings in the years that followed. Even after the SHIB price crash earlier this year, there were no official reports of whales moving funds to take profits. 

Current data indicates that despite its most recent 469 billion SHIB transfer, the whale still controls up to 96.22 trillion SHIB, accounting for about 16.4% of the total supply. At present market prices, these holdings are valued at roughly $707.3 million, underscoring the sheer magnitude of this whale’s holdings. EmberCN notes that the anonymous whale’s address history is fully visible on Arkham Intelligence, offering detailed insights into past transactions. 

Is The Whale Selling Or Repositioning?

Currently, it’s unclear whether the anonymous 469 billion- and 464.3 billion SHIB transfers were sold or simply repositioned. In most cases, transfers from a private wallet to exchanges are viewed as early signs of potential selling activity, especially when the volume is large. For transactions of this size, liquidating the tokens could influence Shiba Inu’s price dynamics.

The meme coin is already trading at $0.0000073, down 13.04% over the past week. So far, the market has yet to show a clear reaction to the whale’s transfer. Nevertheless, a potential market sell-off could have drastic effects on SHIB’s already weak market.

Crypto pundit Finance Bull has advised XRP investors against selling their holdings now despite the market downturn. This came as the pundit explained that the CLARITY Act could pass next year, which he predicts will positively impact the altcoin’s adoption. 

Why XRP Investors Should Think Again About Selling Their Coins

In an X post, Finance Bull told XRP investors to think again if they are considering selling their coins right now. He reminded them that Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse confirmed that the CLARITY Act is expected in early 2026, which the pundit indicated will benefit the token when that happens. 

Finance Bull explained that when the CLARITY Act passes, Ripple will be forced to declare the fate of its XRP in escrow, and that when that happens, the company won’t sell its holdings. Instead, he predicts that they will pre-allocate it to bank corridors, sovereign rails, liquidity hubs powering cross-border settlement, institutional infrastructure, and countries integrating next-generation payment rails. 

Finance Bull further remarked that this flips the entire conversation, as what looks like overhead supply is already reserved, meaning that XRP won’t face a sell-off as some investors may fear. He added that the real move is locked liquidity flowing into banks, FX routes, and custody frameworks, which would boost the altcoin’s adoption. 

The pundit stated that this isn’t about market-making but about monetary wiring and that once Ripple releases its official escrow roadmap, the re-pricing will be instant, irreversible, and demand-driven. 

Interestingly, Finance Bull claimed that BlackRock will be one of the institutions that will adopt the altcoin when there is regulatory clarity through the CLARITY Act. Notably, BlackRock is one of the crypto ETF issuers that has yet to file for a spot XRP ETF, but the pundit has suggested that could change soon. 

Ripple Secures Another Institutional Partnership

In a press release, Ripple announced a strategic partnership with TJM Investments, providing a boost for XRP’s adoption. The crypto firm stated that under the terms of the partnership, it has invested in THM and will continue to provide best-in-class infrastructure to support TJM’s execution and clearing services. 

This builds on the existing relationship between Ripple’s multi-asset prime brokerage platform, Ripple Prime, and TJM. Ripple stated that the expanded partnership will enable TJM offer its clients improved capital and collateral efficiency as well as enhanced clearing stability and balance-sheet support. 

This development comes as Ripple continues to explore ways to enhance the utility of RLUSD and XRP. The firm recently announced plans. The firm recently announced plans to begin testing RLUSD on Base, Optimism, Unichain, and Ink. 

At the time of writing, the altcoin price is trading at around $1.80, down almost 4% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

On-chain analytics platform Glassnode has revealed the number of Bitcoin supply that is currently sitting at a loss. This comes as the BTC price continues to trade below the psychological $90,000 level following its crash, which began last month. 

Here’s The Amount Of Bitcoin Supply At A Loss

In a report, Glassnode revealed that the Bitcoin supply in loss has risen to 6.7 million BTC, marking the highest level of loss-bearing supply observed in this cycle. The analytics platform further noted that this represents 23.7% of the circulating supply, which is currently underwater. 10.2% of this supply is held by long-term holders and 13.5% by short-term holders. 

Glassnode stated that this distribution suggests that, much like in prior cycle transitions into deeper bearish regimes, the loss-bearing Bitcoin supply accumulated by recent buyers is gradually maturing into the long-term cohort.

Meanwhile, the analytics platform noted that the 6-7 million range, which has been at a loss since mid-November, mirrors early transitional phases of prior cycles, where mounting investor frustration came before a shift toward more bearish conditions and intensified capitulation at lower Bitcoin prices. 

Notably, the Bitcoin price has dropped to levels last seen in 2024, erasing its year-to-date (YTD) gains. Glassnode stated that this has left behind a dense supply cluster accumulated by top buyers in the $93,000 to $120,000 range. The resulting supply distribution is said to reflect a top-heavy market structure where recovery attempts are capped by heavy overhead sell pressure, especially in the early stages of a bearish phase. 

Glassnode declared that as long as the Bitcoin price remains below this range and fails to reclaim key thresholds, most notably the Short-Term Holder Cost Basis at $101,500, the risk of further corrective downside persists.

BTC Spot Demand Is Unstable  

Glassnode revealed that the Bitcoin spot market flows continue to reflect an uneven demand profile across major venues. The Cumulative Volume Delta bias is said to show periodic bursts of buy-side activity, but has failed to develop into sustained accumulation, especially during the recent BTC price pullbacks. 

The on-chain analytics platform noted that the Coinbase spot CVD remains relatively constructive, indicating steadier participation from US-based investors. On the other hand, Binance and aggregate Bitcoin flows remain choppy and largely directionless. Glassnode stated that these dispersion points point to selective engagement rather than coordinated spot demand. 

Meanwhile, the platform alluded to recent Bitcoin price declines, which it pointed out have not triggered decisive expansion in positive CVD. Glassnode noted that this suggests dip-buying remains tactical and short-term. In the absence of sustained accumulation across all venues, Bitcoin’s price action continues to rely more on activity in the derivatives market and liquidity conditions rather than organic spot demand. 

At the time of writing, the Bitcoin price is trading at around $86,800, up in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

Dogecoin and Shiba Inu have secured a place in Coinbase’s latest product expansion, a notable moment for meme coins within the regulated crypto derivatives market. Coinbase confirmed the launch of US perpetual-style futures trading in an announcement on X for a range of altcoins on Coinbase Derivatives, available around the clock.

Coinbase Expands Derivatives Access With Meme Coins Included

According to a recent announcement on X, US Perpetual-Style Futures are now live on Coinbase Derivatives. Among a lineup dominated by established layer-one networks and infrastructure tokens, Dogecoin and Shiba Inu stood out as the only meme-based assets included, showing how these tokens are being positioned within institutional-grade trading environments.

The new product rollout allows both retail and institutional traders to access US-regulated perpetual-style futures through approved Futures Commission Merchants. Coinbase is effectively placing both meme coins alongside assets such as Cardano, Chainlink, and Polkadot in its derivatives ecosystem with its extension of this offering to Dogecoin and Shiba Inu. In the case of Shiba Inu, the newly listed futures contract comes with a 1,000x multiplier.

This means that demand for structured exposure to these leading meme coins has grown beyond spot trading, with traders increasingly seeking hedging and leverage tools tied to them.

What This Means For DOGE And SHIB Moving Forward

Recent price action for both Dogecoin and Shiba Inu has offered little encouragement. Both cryptocurrencies are currently locked in an extended declining price action and low whale activity, except for a spike in whale activity witnessed by Shiba Inu earlier in the month. This occurred in tandem with a +1.06 trillion net change to the amount of SHIB on exchanges, which is also another sign of the intense selling pressure surrounding the meme coin.

However, behind the scenes, Dogecoin and Shiba Inu might be working towards a bullish momentum in their fundamentals. For one, the availability of perpetual-style futures for Dogecoin and Shiba Inu could add to how traders interact with these assets. Futures markets often attract higher trading volumes and more sophisticated participants, which can influence price discovery and volatility patterns. 

As the largest crypto exchange in the United States, Coinbase provides the best regulated gateway for institutional traders. Therefore, this development may increase institutional visibility for Dogecoin and Shiba Inu in the US market while also providing traders with new ways to manage risk.

At the time of writing, Shiba Inu is trading at $0.000007523, down by 3% in the past 24 hours. Notably, the meme coin is currently trading at its lowest price point in over a year. 

Dogecoin is also trading at its lowest price point in over a year. The king of meme coins is currently trading at $0.1256, down by 3.2% in the past 24 hours.

Market analysts are closely watching the XRP price as recent movements test key support levels. A new technical analysis has highlighted a critical price zone that is currently helping contain further downside pressure on XRP. Over the past few months, the cryptocurrency has struggled to reclaim its previous highs, recently crashing below the $2 psychological level amid increased volatility and market uncertainty. 

XRP Key Support Contains Downside Risks

Crypto analyst Skipper shared a new technical update on XRP this week, highlighting current market dynamics and a critical support level that could help prevent further downturns. The analyst noted that XRP recently broke below $1.93, signaling heightened selling pressure and ongoing market repositioning.

Notably, XRP’s decline below $1.93 comes amid broader market weakness, as the cryptocurrency has struggled to hold key levels. Spot market data show the cryptocurrency is currently trading at $1.85, reflecting a significant drop of about 2.7% in the last 24 hours and more than 7.8% over the past seven days. 

XRP’s choppy price action has also kept it pinned below many resistance zones. However, Skipper reveals that sustained trading below $1.88 keeps the cryptocurrency’s downside pressure intact in the near term. The analyst also notes that the next meaningful area where buyers may attempt to stabilize price sits around $1.85. 

Despite ongoing Spot ETF inflows since its launch in November, Skipper noted that XRP’s short-term price action appears more driven by technical positioning than fundamental developments. He also highlighted that XRP’s market supply has contracted significantly, dropping by 45% from approximately 3.9 billion tokens at the beginning of 2025 to about 1.6 billion tokens by December. This reduction in supply could influence XRP’s price dynamics and overall market scarcity. 

XRP Faces Continued Downtrend Amid Market Weakness

In a subsequent post, Skipper reported that the XRP price fell 5% as the crypto market experienced fresh selling pressure with major altcoins extending recent declines. The analyst stated that the token had dipped to lows of around $1.81, reflecting growing investor risk aversion. Moreover, despite being one of the top-performing assets earlier in the year, XRP now risks slipping further.

According to Skipper, XRP has been in a steady downtrend since July 2025, with each price bounce weaker than the previous one. He emphasized that bulls must reverse this downtrend to restore a positive outlook, which would require XRP to rise above the $2.27 high from the last weak bounce in late November. 

The analyst also noted that in past cycles, when XRP breaks below the 50-week Simple Moving Average (SMA) and stays there for roughly 50 to 84 days, a strong rally typically follows. He disclosed that the price has now spent approximately 70 days below its 50-week SMA, placing it within the same historical window.

A crypto analyst has issued a stark warning to the SOL community, predicting that the Solana price could crash below $5. The expert’s bearish thesis is based on an extensive review of US federal court documents, suggesting that ongoing legal challenges and potential flaws in the Solana blockchain could lead to the end of the cryptocurrency. 

Analyst Predicts Solana Price Crash And Annihilation

A crypto analyst who calls himself ‘NoLimit’ on X has released a report that has sent shockwaves through the Solana community. He shared court documents suggesting SOL could be nearing its end, with a potential price drop below $5 over the next two years. Currently trading at $122, this would represent a staggering 95.9% decline. 

In his post, NoLimit revealed that he had spent more than 12 hours analyzing court documents, claiming that the findings are highly concerning to Solana. The report highlights recent developments in a US federal court where a second amended class action complaint has been allowed to proceed. 

The analyst noted that the lawsuit involved Pump.fun, Solana Labs, and several other entities linked to the Solana ecosystem. He stated that the court’s decision to proceed shows there is enough evidence to pursue legal actions, putting SOL’s operations under significant scrutiny. 

The allegations focus on insiders seemingly gaining unfair advantages during meme coin launches. According to NoLimit, Plaintiffs claimed that Solana’s validator system and transaction-priority tools allowed certain players to buy tokens faster and cheaper. At the same time, retail investors were left at a disadvantage as prices exploded and collapsed minutes or seconds later. The analyst notes that many investors had experienced this same issue on Pump.fun. 

NoLimit disclosed that the lawsuit contends these outcomes, in which insiders sell for profit and retail loses everything, were not accidental but rather a result of the system. The complaint directly ties the alleged insider behavior to SOL, not just to the apps built on the blockchain. If this argument gains legal traction, the analyst notes that it could position the crypto network as a platform for risky coin launches, a host for bad actors, and a contributor to potential market manipulation. 

NoLimit also warns that if regulators or courts determine that these meme coin launches operate like unregistered securities or that Solana’s infrastructure enabled unfair access, the chain’s core narrative of being fast, cheap, and permissionless could become a liability. Such a development could scare off institutional investors and large-scale funds, possibly leading to the end of Solana. 

Solana Legal Troubles Put Market Trust At Risk

NoLimit warns that the most alarming part of Solana’s present legal issues is the potential impact on institutional confidence. According to him, nearly half of SOL’s circulating supply is controlled by ecosystem-linked institutions, insiders, early investors, VCs, and foundations. He emphasized that a mass sell-off from these holders could trigger a severe market reaction. 

The analyst highlighted that the key concern is what could happen if trust in SOL collapses. He stated that in crypto markets, trust drives prices, not fundamentals, and when it breaks, crashes can be substantial. Past cases like FTX, Luna, and Celsius show how quickly liquidity can disappear and valuations can plummet. 

XRP’s weekly chart has entered a technical zone that has repeatedly acted as a turning point in recent years. A recent analysis shared on the social media platform X highlights a recurring relationship between XRP’s price behavior and its 50-week simple moving average, a long-term trend indicator closely watched by traders. 

Instead of focusing on XRP’s short-term volatility, which has been bearish, the analysis zeroes in on how extended periods below this moving average have coincided with the end of downside phases and the beginning of rally expansions.

The 50-Week SMA And Why It Matters For XRP Cycles

Technical analysis of XRP’s price action on the weekly candlestick chart, which was posted on the social media platform X by Steph, reveals a repeating cycle around the 50-week simple moving average (SMA). 

This analysis is interesting because the 50-week simple moving average functions as a structural divider between bearish compression and bullish continuation on higher timeframes. In XRP’s case, previous cycles show that brief dips below this level have not been as significant as sustained stretches beneath it. 

The XRP price chart below tracks how long XRP stayed below the 50-week SMA before a change in momentum. In the first instance in 2017, XRP spent roughly 10 weekly candles, equivalent to about 70 days, under the moving average before staging a sharp upside move. 

A similar pattern appeared in the 2021 cycle, where the duration was shorter, with 49 days, but still acted as an inflection point on the weekly chart. However, the most aggressive move highlighted on the chart came in the 2024 period, where XRP traded below the 50-week SMA for about 84 days before posting a much larger rebound of about +850%.

XRP Sitting Inside The Same Window Once Again

According to the analysis, XRP is currently approaching about seventy days below the 50-week SMA, placing it squarely within the same historical window observed in prior cycles. Particularly, Steph noted that XRP has now spent roughly 70 days below the 50-week SMA again, and this places an outlook on what to look for in the next price action.

Resulting price action in the past has seen XRP rallying anywhere from 70% in 2021 to 850% in 2024. If XRP resolves to the upside again from the current structure, history suggests the initial signal would be a decisive weekly reclaim of the 50-week SMA, followed by continuation rather than an immediate rejection.

Crypto pundit ChartNerd has revealed that the XRP price is currently at a critical support, where the altcoin is set to decide its potential next move. The pundit urged XRP investors to remain patient as they await economic headwinds that could impact the price action.  

Pundit Points Out Level XRP Investors Should Keep An Eye On

In an X post, ChartNerd pointed to the multi-month support at around $1.8, noting that over the last 13 months, the XRP price typically rallies into the trading range resistance when the altcoin approaches that support territory. The analyst’s accompanying chart showed that the altcoin could bounce from this range to above $3, as it had historically. 

However, ChartNerd noted that with economic headwinds such as the potential BOJ rate increase, he questioned if this time could be different. He advised investors to hold on to their hats as they await a decision on the altcoin’s next move. The price and the broader crypto market have notably declined ahead of a potential rate hike by the Bank of Japan. 

This move by the BOJ could cause a liquidity squeeze and also spark a sell-off among market participants, which is what XRP and other crypto investors look to be pricing in. However, several fundamentals still paint a bullish picture for the altcoin, including the fact that the XRP ETFs just crossed $1 billion in net assets. They have also yet to record daily net outflows since they launched last month. 

A Drop To As Low As $1.64 Is Still On The Cards

Crypto analyst CasiTrades has predicted that the XRP price could drop to as low as $1.64, likely the final low of this correction. She noted that the token is in the subwave Wave 3 down, with momentum and RSI making new extremes. The analyst added that the next key levels to watch are $1.73 for potential short-term relief and $1.64, which is the macro .618 support. 

CasiTrades stated that there is a chance that the XRP price reaches $1.64 directly in this wave 3 down without a relief first. She noted that there won’t be a need for a second test of the area as support if that happens. The analyst expects a strong bounce from $1.64 that would likely open the door for a powerful move back to as high as $3. 

CasiTrades also mentioned that she expects this to play out by December 19, with a major time fib landing there. She remarked that this is the market making its decision right at the final moment and that this correction will end very soon. 

At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $1.84, down almost 4% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

The Bitcoin and Ethereum prices are down today as the crypto market remains in a phase of extreme fear. This latest crash came amid BlackRock’s move, which sparked fear of a sell-off from the world’s largest asset manager. 

The Bitcoin and Ethereum prices are down today following BlackRock’s transfer of 2,257 BTC and 74,973 ETH to Coinbase, indicating plans to offload these coins. Notably, the BTC and ETH ETFs recorded outflows on December 16, likely why the asset manager moved these coins to redeem shares for its IBIT and ETHA ETFs, which were sold that day. 

Bitcoin and Ethereum Prices Decline Amid BlackRock’s Transfer

These Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs have continued to record mixed flows, which have partly contributed to declines in BTC and ETH prices. Notably, the Bitcoin price had surged to around $90,000 yesterday from an intraday low of around $87,000, before retracing below $87,000 about an hour later. This immediately sparked theories of manipulation, with some crypto pundits revealing that BlackRock wasn’t the only one selling. 

Related Reading: The Bearish Structure That Puts Bitcoin Price At $92,550, And Then $82,000

Crypto pundit Kruse claimed that Binance first bought nonstop for over 30 minutes to pump the price, then started dumping millions of BTC and ETH to liquidate longs. He noted that the Bitcoin price pumped about $3,300 in 30 minutes, with $106 million in shorts wiped out during that period. 

Following that, BTC printed another volatile hourly candle to the downside, which flushed out $52 million in longs. A similar price action had also played out for the Ethereum price. Kruse declared that this wasn’t random volatility but rather liquidity hunting. The pundit further warned that this is how leverage gets punished in crypto. He then reiterated that the volatile Bitcoin and Ethereum price actions weren’t random, indicating the market is being manipulated. 

Onchain Sleuth Tracer also accused Binance of being responsible for the Bitcoin and Ethereum price declines. He claimed that the crypto exchange pumped and dumped millions of BTC to liquidate traders, with $194 million in shorts and longs liquidated in one hour. 

BTC And ETH To Hit New All-Time Highs Next Year?

Crypto asset manager Bitwise has predicted that the Bitcoin price will break the four-year cycle and set new all-time highs in 2026. The asset manager alluded to factors such as the Bitcoin halving and interest rate cycles as what will drive this rally for the flagship crypto. The firm also remarked that crypto booms and busts fueled by leverage are weaker than in past cycles. 

Bitwise also stated that institutions are likely to allocate more to Bitcoin ETFs, which is why they expect the Bitcoin price to reach new all-time highs next year. Furthermore, the firm noted that the pro-crypto regulatory shift will continue to allow companies to adopt crypto at a faster rate. The crypto asset manager also predicted that the Ethereum price could reach a new all-time high if the CLARITY Act passes.

A new XRP price outlook from a crypto analyst outlines its recent breakdown below $2 and the factors that could influence its next moves.  According to the analysis, Bitcoin’s ongoing retracement and key support levels could trigger a stronger correction for XRP. However, this projected downtrend is expected to pave the way for a reversal to higher target levels.

XRP Price Outlook Tied To Bitcoin Retracement

While the broader crypto market continued to trend lower, crypto market expert Tara shared a fresh technical analysis on XRP. On Tuesday, she stated in an X post that the current XRP price structure shows it is completing a deeper pullback compared to Bitcoin, which is still progressing through its corrective phase. According to her, this mismatch is likely to create irregular price behavior for XRP in the near term.

Tara noted that XRP recently touched the 0.382 Fibonacci retracement level near $1.95 after crashing below $2 last week. On the other hand, Bitcoin’s price is only halfway to a similar Fibonacci level. She notes that Bitcoin’s gradual retracement could slightly disrupt XRP’s price movements. However, if BTC pushes for its 0.382 retracement near $88,800, the analyst believes that it could eventually serve as a major catalyst for renewed strength in XRP. 

In her analysis report, Tara highlighted key downside levels for XRP traders to watch closely. She disclosed that a breakdown below $1.916 could open the door for a short-term move toward $1.90, where the Lower Time Frame (LTF) support sits. She further added that another test near $1.88 remains possible as long as XRP continues to trade under $2.0.

Notably, Tara has marked $2 as a key resistance zone that could cap any recovery attempt from XRP. She notes that a move back to this level would likely depend on Bitcoin pushing higher during its retracement. 

The accompanying chart clearly shows XRP trading in a downtrend on the 4-hour timeframe with price remaining below short-term Moving Averages (MA). Fibonacci levels also highlight $1.95 as a complete retracement area, while deeper support zones cluster between $1.90 and $1.88. The RSI indicator at the bottom of the chart is hovering in the lower range, suggesting weakening momentum but also the potential for a relief bounce if support holds. 

XRP Short-Term Rally Stays Under $2.30

Responding to questions under her X post, Tara provided insights into XRP’s price outlook, focusing on both short- and long-term expectations. She noted that the $2 level only represents the LTF resistance for XRP, while the real barrier lies much higher at $9. Currently trading around $1.91, a move to $9 would reflect a more than 374% price increase. 

Given XRP’s downtrend and broader market uncertainty, Tara has indicated that a rally to $9 is unlikely in the near term. She also dismissed claims that the cryptocurrency could crash to $1 this December. Instead, she shared her bullish expectations, suggesting that XRP could reach no higher than $2.30 before the year runs out.

XRP has recorded another win as institutional investors continue to adopt the altcoin. The CME exchange announced that it has rolled out another XRP product, which could boost its adoption and drive more inflows into its ecosystem. 

CME Launches Spot-Quoted XRP Futures

In a press release, the CME announced that it has launched Spot-Quoted XRP and SOL futures, which it stated will complement the existing Spot-Quoted Bitcoin and Ethereum futures already on the platform. The derivatives exchange further revealed that these products are available to trade across the four major U.S. equity indices. 

CME also noted that the Spot-Quoted XRP futures contracts allow investors to trade futures positions in spot-market terms with the added benefit of a longer-dated expiry. It is worth mentioning that the exchange had launched its XRP futures earlier this year, a product which it has on several occasions revealed has gained a lot of interest. 

CME specifically revealed that the XRP futures contracts were the fastest contract ever to reach $1 billion in open interest. Meanwhile, the exchange had, in October, rolled out options trading for the XRP futures amid the significant demand they were seeing. The launch of the Spot-Quoted product provides another boost for the altcoin, which could see more institutional flows into its ecosystem. 

XRP has also seen demand in the spot market as the spot ETFs recently became the fastest to reach $1 billion in assets since Ethereum. SoSo Value data shows that these funds currently hold $1.16 billion in net assets, which accounts for almost 1% of the altcoin’s market cap. These funds, as a group, have also recorded a cumulative net inflow of just over $1 billion, highlighting the demand for them in just over a month since the first XRP ETF launched.  

Ripple CEO Spotlights Institutional Demand For XRP

In an X post, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse highlighted institutional demand for XRP, noting that these funds have yet to record a daily net outflow since launching on November 13. These funds have also outperformed the Bitcoin and Ethereum products, as they continue to see mixed flows. Meanwhile, the Solana ETFs are behind in net assets, despite launching before XRP.

Ripple executive Reece Merrick also echoed a similar sentiment to Garlinghouse, stating that this was “clear institutional demand” for the altcoin. Meanwhile, the funds have also continued to see demand globally, with a CoinShares report revealing that XRP investment products took in $46.91 million last week. They have now recorded a month-to-date net inflow of $292 million, only behind Bitcoin and Ethereum. 

At the time of writing, the XRP price is trading at around $1.91, up over 2% in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

XRP now finds itself trading around the $1.90 region due to an extensive pullback in the past 30 days. The question is now whether this pullback is a structural weakness or a necessary reset within a larger bullish structure. 

A technical analysis shared by crypto analyst Tara focuses on this exact moment, highlighting why the current level could be far more important than it looks on the surface.

XRP Tests A Macro Fib Support Zone Around $1.88

XRP’s price action in the past 24 hours saw it declining to an intraday low of $1.88, according to data from CoinGecko. However, technical analysis shows that this move has pushed the price action to a major macro support level around $1.88, which is defined by an important macro 0.5 Fib retracement on higher-timeframe charts. This zone has previously acted as a pivot, just like the bounce on November 21, which pushed the XRP price back to $2.26 within 48 hours. 

The chart included in the analysis, which is shown below, illustrates multiple Fibonacci confluences clustered between roughly $1.88 and $1.86, and this further adds to the idea that this region is structurally significant rather than arbitrary. From a price-action perspective, XRP’s current pullback has been orderly, with no sharp breakdowns below this support as of now, and sellers may be losing momentum as price compresses into this level.

What A Bounce Or Breakdown Could Mean From Here

Tara noted that moments like this tend to feel the scariest for traders, precisely because the price is sitting on support rather than moving away from it. These are the points where sentiment is weakest, and fear is most visible, even though risk-reward technically improves. 

Therefore, retesting support is not inherently bearish. Instead, repeated support tests can absorb selling pressure and create the conditions for a stronger bounce.

The most important takeaway from the analysis is not that XRP must rally immediately, but that the reaction at this level matters more than the level itself. If XRP holds above the $1.88 price level and avoids printing a decisive new low, the structure would favor a bullish continuation. 

In this case, the upside targets will be between $2.18 and $2.20. From here, any bullish follow-through could carry XRP to $2.31. These are all midterm price targets that can be achieved before the end of the year.

Momentum indicators, including the RSI, are already in oversold territory on the 4-hour candlestick chart. This indicator adds to the possibility of a clean bounce for XRP from the strong support around $1.88. At the time of writing, XRP is trading at $1.90 and is already showing signs of holding above $1.88.

On the other hand, a breakdown below $1.90 to $1.80 would invalidate the current bullish setup and redirect attention to lower retracement areas.

XRP’s price action in recent weeks has been deprived of bullish momentum, and the derivatives market is also sending clear signals that traders are scaling back their exposure to the cryptocurrency. 

Data from on-chain analytics platforms like CryptoQuant and Coinglass across leverage and futures activity shows that speculative participation has thinned out considerably, with XRP’s leveraged trade ratio at its lowest point since November 2024.

XRP Leverage On Binance Drops To Multi-Year Lows

One of the clearest signals of the sentiment among traders comes from CryptoQuant data tracking the Estimated Leverage Ratio of XRP on Binance, the world’s largest crypto exchange. 

The Estimated Leverage Ratio measures how much borrowed capital traders are using relative to exchange reserves. High readings of the ratio usually mean high activity trades where traders are willing to open positions. On the other hand, declining values indicate that traders are closing leveraged positions or avoiding them altogether. 

According to data from CryptoQuant, the estimated leverage ratio for XRP is currently sitting around 0.187, its lowest reading since November 2024. To put this in context, the estimated leverage ratio was at a 0.59 reading in July 2025, right when the altcoin was pushing toward new all-time highs and trading activity was at its peak.

Therefore, the current low means that the token has moved into a de-risking phase, and traders are prioritizing reduced exposure over aggressive upside bets. This is in contrast to the performance of Spot XRP ETFs, which have been on a streak of inflows. 

Futures Open Interest Collapses From July Highs

A similar story of crypto traders no longer betting big on XRP can be seen from the futures data from Coinglass. 

Data from Coinglass figures show that Exchange XRP Futures Open Interest is currently around 1.81 billion XRP, which is worth approximately $3.47 billion. This number is notable because open interest was around $10.94 billion in July during the cryptocurrency’s march to a new all-time-high price of $3.65. Therefore, the 68% decline from $10.94 billion to $3.47 billion is a massive contraction in speculative participation across derivatives markets.

Open interest tracks the total value of outstanding futures contracts and is also a direct gauge of trader engagement, comparable to the estimated leverage ratio. Rising open interest alongside price strength usually confirms bullish trend momentum, while falling open interest shows traders are closing positions and fading appetite for futures contracts. 

Interestingly, the decline seen in this metric since July indicates that traders have largely exited leveraged positions rather than rotating from longs to shorts. 

A positive reflection from the combination of these two data points is that the token is no longer dominated by aggressive speculative flows, which lowers the risk of cascading liquidations, but it also removes a major source of bullish momentum for the cryptocurrency.

The Shiba Inu ecosystem recently experienced a major leadership change after one of its key engineers left the project, surprising many in the SHIB community. Previously playing a major role in the network’s development, the Shiba Inu Engineer’s abrupt resignation sparked widespread discussion among community members, prompting questions about his next moves and the possible reasons behind his departure. 

Shiba Inu Engineer Announces Resignation 

The Shiba Inu community was stunned on Friday, December 12, after Johndoeshib, the Managing Engineer for the blockchain, announced his abrupt departure from the project. In his statement on X, he described his time at Shib.io as reaching a natural conclusion, expressing pride in the blockchain’s utility and the resilience of its supporters. 

During his tenure, Johndoeshib played a key role in developing the SHIB network’s infrastructure and supporting the growth of its community. He was known for providing key updates and relevant information about the blockchain on his official X account. Following the announcement of his resignation, he updated his X profile to reflect his new status as an “ex-Engineering Manager at Shiba Inu.” 

Johndoeshib also highlighted that although he is shifting his focus to new endeavors, he remains a long-term observer of SHIB and maintains confidence in the team’s decentralized vision. His quick exit from the crypto project sparked immediate reactions from community members. 

Shiba Inu developer Kaal Dhairya extended his best wishes and noted that Johndoeshib’s presence would be missed. The team behind OSCAR, a CTO token guided by Shiba Inu, publicly thanked the former SHIB engineer for his past contributions, calling him one of the most talented developers in the space and expressing excitement for his next ventures. 

Other community members questioned his departure, asking why he was leaving and what he meant by “a natural conclusion.” Many SHIB supporters took the time to acknowledge Johndoeshib’s impact on the blockchain network, wishing him success and highlighting his integrity. Some shared personal reflections on their interactions with him, describing the former Shiba Inu Engineer as a positive and reliable presence within the ecosystem. 

Ex SHIB Engineer Unveils New Venture After Departure

Two days after revealing that he was exiting Shiba Inu, Johndoeshib disclosed more details about the new venture he is pursuing. He has shifted his focus to HypeIt, a platform that provides software development, web design, and programming services. The former SHIB engineer stated that he is now working on building the new platform to support long-term growth and maximize benefits for the community. 

Johndoeshib encourages collaboration and feedback from the crypto community, inviting suggestions and interaction of ideas as the project moves forward. He emphasized creating an engaged, genuine audience through HypeIt, highlighting the potential for users to transform their content and online presence on the platform positively.

Crypto analyst Doctor Profit has revealed the next Bitcoin price level he is looking to accumulate at in anticipation of a relief rally. Despite plans to buy BTC, the analyst indicated that he is still bearish on the flagship crypto in the long term, with a larger decline expected to unfold. 

Analyst Reveals The Next Buy Level As Bitcoin Price Eyes Bounce

In an X post, Doctor Profit stated that he is buying BTC around $86,000 as he looks to trade a short-term relief bounce. He reiterated that he sees the probability of the Bitcoin price revisiting the $97,000 to $107,000 region before the next major leg lower unfolds. The analyst added that this projected move is a 20% from the current region, which presents a good risk-reward trade with a tight stop loss. 

Doctor Profit is known to have predicted the Bitcoin price top when it was trading at around $126,000. The analyst noted that he remains very bearish in the long term, expecting further declines. As such, he plans to play this move to buy BTC with absolute and the highest form of risk management. 

The analyst explained that this means he will ensure to place the stop loss at entry once in solid profit, while his short trade from between $115,000 and $125,000 will still be running. Doctor Profit further remarked that this long setup for the Bitcoin price is aimed at a few weeks only, before the bearish price action resumes with lower targets. 

BTC Remains “Extremely Unstable And Bearish”

Doctor Profit stated that the Bitcoin price remains extremely unstable and bearish for the mid-term, noting that a strong downside continuation can happen at any moment, even before the flagship crypto reaches the projected $97,000 to $107,000 zone. The analyst added that a deeper and faster sell-off is absolutely possible, so those looking to buy now should take extreme caution. 

Doctor Profit reiterated that his short positions remain fully open, as any upside is treated as distribution and liquidity for the next leg down. The analyst noted that the $70,000 region remains the main target. If the Bitcoin price manages to revisit the $97,000 to $107,000 region, he stated that he would fully take profit again on the position and add the profits to his short position. 

In the meantime, crypto analyst Ali Martinez has warned that the Bitcoin price needs to hold the $87,000 region or risk dropping to as low as $70,000. BTC is currently on the edge with Japan set to raise its interest rates this week. 

At the time of writing, the Bitcoin price is trading at around $86,600, up in the last 24 hours, according to data from CoinMarketCap.

Top meme coins Dogecoin and Shiba Inu have slipped into the background of recent times, giving room for other unexpected candidates to shine. Over the last week, there have been some interesting rallies in the meme coin space, but none from the usual suspects. Instead, meme coins, which were believed to be long dead, have seen a revival, with prices more than doubling in 10 days. This report takes a look at the two meme coins that have dominated the sector over the last few weeks.

PIPPIN Climbs The Ranks Of Meme Coins Very Quickly

Like other meme coins, PIPPIN saw an initial run-up following its initial launch back in November 2024, and as attention shifted to the next shiny meme coin, it died a slow death. By 2025, the coin was all but forgotten before its shocking revival in November 2025.

As data analytics platform Bubblemaps shared, there seemed to be a coordinated accumulation trend from a number of connected wallets. Between October 24 and November 23, 50 wallets, funded from the HTX exchange in very tight timeframes, had received similar amounts of Solana (SOL).

Once received, the wallets, which previously had no enchain activity, then proceeded to buy the PIPPIN token. By the time the buying was done, the wallets had bought up $19 million worth of PIPPIN, giving them control of half of the meme coin’s supply.

What followed was what has been referred to as a coordinated pump, causing the meme coin to rise 1,000%, or 10x, in the space of one week. However, PIPPIN did not stop there and has since risen by more than 2,000% since then, with its market cap crossing $400 million to new all-time highs. CoinMarketCap data shows a 146% increase in the last week alone, making it the top performer among the leading meme coins and putting it ahead of the likes of FARTCOIN and FLOKI.

JELLYJELLY Doubles In One Week

Another of the meme coins that seemingly came back from the dead is JELLYJELLY, whose initial rally had shocked the market. Just like PIPPIN, JELLYJELLY’s rise had also begun with a coordinated accumulation among a number of wallets. Bubblemaps reported this back in November, showing that seven wallets had withdrawn 20% of the meme coin’s supply from the Gate and Bitget exchanges.

With the accumulation done, the JELLYJELLY price had risen by more than 600% to reach a new all-time high just short of $500 million back in early November. The price had then retraced, reaching below $100 million, but has seen another revival this week.

CoinMarketCap data shows the JELLYJELLY price rose 143% in one week, to put it above the $100 million market cap level once again. This makes it the second-best performer behind PIPPIN among the top 30 meme coins over the last week.

Struggling under the weight of notable selling pressure, the Bitcoin price has since lost its hold on the $90,000 support, leading to a sustained downtrend through the middle of December. Despite calls for a bottom, the cryptocurrency does not seem to be heading in that direction, and some analysts have shared reasons as to why this is the case. Crypt analyst Lingrid maps out the trajectory of the Bitcoin price, showing a bullish short-term, but ultimately ending with more declines.

Why The Bitcoin Price Could Crash Further

Lingrid’s analysis focuses on Bitcoin’s recent price performance, having hit resistance multiple times above the $92,000 level. This comes as the digital asset is “capped below channel border,” something that is inherently bearish for the price, given the recent price action.

The rejections between $92,500 and $93,500, according to the analyst, show that the Bitcoin price is likely to place in lower highs. Thus, even in the event of a recovery trend, this level still remains a significant roadblock to any rally.

Furthermore, the crypto analyst adds that the recent slowdown in the Bitcoin price action has pushed it into a tight compression. With the price still sitting above the rising support line while this happens, Lingrid believes that this shows Bitcoin is entering into a state of equilibrium, and not strength. Usually, this means that the Bitcoin price could be headed for “directional expansion.”

Presently, all eyes are on the bears and sellers as the Bitcoin price struggles to hold support. There is still the possibility that the price will rise to $92,500 before facing a rejection. In this scenario, it would trigger further decline toward $82,000 to put in lower lows.

There is also the possibility that the digital asset does escape this bearish scenario, but the buyers would have to step back in the ring. Mainly, the Bitcoin price must break out and then hold above the channel, sustaining a move above $92,500.

If this plays out, then Lingrid believes that the bearish thesis could be invalidated. Such a case would mean that the Bitcoin focus shifts back toward $100,000. However, with the price currently trending below $90,000 and sentiment being mostly negative, the chances of an invalidation remain slim.

Although the anticipated crypto market structure bill, also known as the CLARITY Act, has not yet been passed into law, its proposed framework is already influencing conversations around how major cryptocurrencies could be classified and regulated in the future. 

The implications could be particularly significant for Ripple and XRP, as the Act introduces interesting standards that could determine whether a digital asset is treated as a security or a commodity under US law.

Reality Check Under The Clarity Act

US lawmakers are moving closer to finalizing digital asset legislation, and attention across the crypto market is increasingly turning toward the Digital Asset Market Clarity Act, commonly known as the CLARITY Act. 

At the heart of the CLARITY Act is an effort to replace interpretations of decentralization with clear criteria. One of those criteria is a supply concentration threshold, which states that no single entity or coordinated group should control 20% or more of a blockchain’s native asset supply for the network to qualify as mature.

A recent post on X by an XRP community member known as Arthur has brought focus to this issue. Arthur highlighted the proposed 20% ownership threshold embedded in the CLARITY Act’s definition of a mature blockchain, noting that Ripple’s compliance with this benchmark could push XRP firmly toward commodity status and is the only path to global adoption.

However, this provision directly intersects with Ripple’s escrow holdings. The payment currently controls about 40% of the total XRP supply through escrow mechanisms. This has long been a focal point in debates over decentralization and how much control Ripple has over XRP’s supply.

What This Means For Ripple And XRP

Under the CLARITY Act’s framework, reducing escrow control below the 20% threshold would help demonstrate that XRP no longer depends on a single issuer’s dominance. That would back up the claim that XRP functions as a decentralized digital commodity rather than a security tied to Ripple’s corporate actions. 

In order to comply with the Act, Ripple would need to find a way to slash its current XRP holdings by almost 50%. However, if the CLARITY Act is eventually passed in its current form, it does not automatically mean that Ripple would be forced into a direct sale of its XRP holdings, nor does it mandate that its XRP holdings will be handed over to another holder. 

What it does introduce is a clear structure. Ripple would need to demonstrate that it does not exercise control over XRP’s circulating or total supply if the cryptocurrency is to qualify as a mature blockchain asset under US law. 

How that outcome is achieved would largely be a tactical decision. Therefore, Ripple could pursue several paths to comply with the CLARITY Act without disrupting the price action of XRP.

Ripple releases 1 billion XRP tokens every month. On average, about 70% of these released tokens are always returned back into escrow.

A crypto analyst has shared his latest forecast for the Bitcoin price, highlighting a potential downturn. His analysis breaks down technical indicators and macroeconomic data to predict key movements in the coming months and years. The report has outlined several bearish targets for Bitcoin, cautioning traders to forego excessive bullish expectations, especially as the market shows signs of entering a bearish phase. 

Bitcoin Price Set To Decline Below $55,000

A crypto analyst who calls himself ‘Mr. Wall Street’ on X has released a full technical breakdown of Bitcoin, providing both market and psychological insights while predicting a devastating decline to new lows. He highlighted that the BTC bullish momentum seen earlier this year has collapsed, signaling a shift toward a bear market. 

Key technical indicators used to understand Bitcoin’s market position and direction are signaling the start of a bear phase. The expert highlighted that the weekly 50-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA50), Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) monthly cross, and Relative Strength Index (RSI) bearish divergence are now all pointing downward. 

Given this weakness, Mr. Wall Street has predicted that Bitcoin could first retest the weekly EMA50 target near $100,000 before its next decline. The analyst stated that traders are likely planning short positions in the $104,000 to $98,000 range, targeting a potential drop to $74,000 to $68,000. Looking ahead, he projects that the Bitcoin price could crash further by Q4 2026, potentially declining to levels between $54,000 and $60,000. 

Supporting his bearish forecast, the analyst has cited the decline and pressure in financial markets outside of crypto as factors contributing to the broader market downtrend. He also mentioned that the Bank of Japan’s (BOJ) planned interest rate hike adds to the current stress, along with market makers who went bankrupt during the October 10 flash crash and are waiting to liquidate billions of dollars in spot assets. 

Mr. Wall Street has dismissed common bullish arguments such as the potential restart of Quantitative Easing, explaining that minor Federal Reserve (FED) balance sheet operations do not signal a complete QE cycle. He stressed that macro bullishness does not justify ignoring short and mid-term risks. Moreover, he warned that those who ignore the reality of a bear case would wish they had shorted the retested $100,000-$125,000 range a year from now. 

Looking beyond the projected bear cycle, Mr. Wall Street believes that Bitcoin could eventually rebound to around $89,000 in 2027. Following this, he expects the cryptocurrency to accelerate toward $110,000 and ultimately $160,000.

Macroeconomic Factors Contribute To Market Decline

Mr. Wall Street also links his bearish Bitcoin forecast to the present weakness in broader macroeconomic conditions. He highlighted that BTC’s struggles are deeply connected to the decisions made by central banks, particularly the FED. 

According to the analyst, the US economy began showing signs of deterioration at the start of 2025. He claimed that key indicators, such as worsening job data and misleading inflation figures, were allegedly ignored. Furthermore, he highlighted that the FED’s inaction and delayed rate cuts prevented necessary economic easing, leaving markets and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin vulnerable to correction.