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XRP on the edge: from 15% slump to supply shock — is a $12 breakout next?

  • Recently, XRP dropped 15% as Bitcoin slipped just 1%, showing amplified volatility.
  • XRP ETF delays and $8.13M in liquidations deepened XRP’s monthly decline.
  • Analysts see XRP rebounding toward $5–$12 if ETF-driven supply shock hits.

XRP price has become the focal point of heated debate after the token slid roughly 15% over the past month while the Bitcoin price barely moved.

Market commentators and analysts are asking why XRP would suffer such a steep pullback when the broader market appeared comparatively steady.

The answer, they say, lies in correlation dynamics, liquidations, regulatory lag and nascent institutional activity.

The sharp divergence with Bitcoin

In October, both Bitcoin and XRP rallied, with Bitcoin staying above the six-figure levels and XRP flirting with the $3 mark.

Profit-taking followed quickly, and altcoins absorbed most of the pain.

Traders who had piled into XRP were hit especially hard; one stretch of trading erased about $8.13 million of leveraged positions within four hours.

That sequence amplified losses and sent XRP below the $2.50 support level it had failed to hold after the upswing.

Charles Gasparino, a senior correspondent known for market coverage, spotlighted the paradox: Bitcoin fell only about 1% over the month, yet XRP plunged around 15%.

The contrast underscores a structural reality where XRP has historically tracked Bitcoin’s moves but with greater intensity.

When BTC stumbles or consolidates, that sensitivity can turn into outsized downside for XRP.

XRP price and the ETF supply shock

Beyond short-term mechanics, a longer-term narrative is reshaping investor expectations.

Analyst Zach Rector has argued that the launch of multiple spot XRP exchange-traded funds and similar institutional vehicles could effectively remove a substantial portion of circulating supply from the market.

According to Rector, that “supply shock,” Rector says, would create the conditions for a dramatic price re-rating, with conservative models pointing to targets ranging from $5 up to double-digit territory — even as high as $12 by December 2025.

The regulatory backdrop also matters. Bitcoin and Ethereum have benefited from cleared paths to ETF adoption that flooded both markets with fresh capital.

XRP, by contrast, still faces an unresolved approval picture for spot ETFs in many jurisdictions.

That delay has likely depressed demand from risk-averse institutional buyers and made the token more sensitive to retail flows and sentiment shifts.

At the same time, data points show growing institutional interest via derivatives: CME-listed XRP and Micro XRP futures have recorded substantial contract volumes over recent months, a sign that professional desks are increasingly engaging the token.

XRP price analysis

From a technical analysis standpoint, the $2.30 area acted as a concrete support during mid-month liquidations, and the bounce to around $2.50 suggests buyers remain interested at those prices.

XRP price analysis
Source: CoinMarketCap

A sustained break above $3.40 would, in many analysts’ views, open a path toward $5.5, and if ETF-driven supply lockups occur, upside to substantially higher levels becomes plausible.

On-chain signals constructively complicate the picture.

The XRP Ledger is approaching a major transaction milestone, nearing 100 million recorded transfers.

That activity signals ongoing utility and adoption within payments and DeFi niches where XRP has carved a role.

Such resilience in on-chain throughput can buttress confidence even when price action looks shaky.

Assessing the path forward means weighing an array of forces: correlation-driven volatility, liquidation dynamics, regulatory clarity, and institutional adoption through derivatives and potential ETFs.

Short-term traders must manage the heightened risk that comes with XRP’s amplified moves.

Long-term investors, on the other hand, should watch ETF developments and on-chain adoption as the main levers that could catalyse the next leg of momentum.

The post XRP on the edge: from 15% slump to supply shock — is a $12 breakout next? appeared first on CoinJournal.

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Thailand raids Worldcoin-linked site as regulators intensify crypto scrutiny

  • Thailand’s SEC raids site tied to World’s WLD exchange over alleged unlicensed operations.
  • Regulators in Germany, Kenya, Brazil, and Indonesia also probe World’s biometric crypto model.
  • Global scrutiny grows over iris-scan data use as the World faces new compliance challenges.

World, the digital identity project led by OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and formerly known as Worldcoin, has run into fresh regulatory trouble in Thailand.

Authorities conducted a raid on an iris-scanning location allegedly tied to the platform, underscoring how global scrutiny of biometric-based crypto projects is deepening.

Thailand’s Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), working with the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB), announced on Friday that it had raided a site associated with “WLD exchange services.”

Investigators suspect the operator violated digital-asset laws by running an unlicensed exchange.

According to official data, World runs 102 “orb” locations in Thailand, where users scan their irises to receive a “World ID” in exchange for WLD, the project’s native token.

Each verified participant receives WLD as a reward for proving their human identity, but the SEC’s latest intervention raises questions about whether these operations comply with Thailand’s licensing framework.

Thai authorities cite unlicensed digital-asset activity

The SEC and CCIB said the raid uncovered evidence that the site had offered exchange-related services without authorisation.

The suspect has been arrested and is expected to face charges under Thailand’s digital-asset regulations.

Authorities emphasised that any entity offering digital-asset services, including token distribution or exchange functions, must obtain a license from the Ministry of Finance and register with the SEC.

World maintains that it only operates in jurisdictions where its activities are legally permitted.

The company’s website states that “eligibility for WLD tokens is restricted based on geography, age, and other factors,” adding that it bears no responsibility for the trading of WLD on third-party centralised or decentralised exchanges.

Growing global pressure on biometric crypto models

This latest crackdown in Thailand adds to a string of global investigations into the World project, which launched in July 2023.

Regulators in Germany, Kenya, Brazil, and Indonesia have previously voiced data-privacy and licensing concerns.

In May, Indonesia’s Digital Ministry said it was investigating local World operators over possible registration violations and suspicious activities.

The company voluntarily paused its verification services there while clarifying licensing requirements.

In Germany, data-protection authorities have warned that biometric information, such as iris scans, could pose serious risks if not properly anonymised or stored.

Kenya temporarily suspended World’s local operations last year, citing privacy and security concerns after thousands queued for iris scans in exchange for free tokens.

Brazilian officials have also asked for greater transparency on how biometric data is collected and stored under World’s verification process.

Worldcoin faces ongoing compliance challenges

Since its launch, World has positioned itself as an ambitious attempt to create a “global digital identity network,” verifying users’ humanity in an era of artificial intelligence and deepfakes.

The WLD token was designed to reward individuals who opt into the system and to build an ecosystem of verified human users.

Yet the project’s expansion strategy—particularly in developing markets—has raised alarms.

Critics argue that rapid onboarding in regions with weaker regulatory oversight exposes vulnerable populations to privacy and legal risks.

Despite these concerns, World continues to operate in more than 30 countries, relying on hundreds of orb devices worldwide.

Its website indicates that operations are constantly reviewed to ensure compliance with local laws, although recent raids suggest this process remains inconsistent across jurisdictions.

While Thailand’s SEC has not specified the scale of the suspected violations, the arrest signals a stronger enforcement stance amid the country’s broader efforts to tighten oversight of crypto-related businesses.

The development could push World and similar biometric-based crypto projects to adopt stricter compliance standards and clearer legal frameworks before expanding further in Asia.

The post Thailand raids Worldcoin-linked site as regulators intensify crypto scrutiny appeared first on CoinJournal.

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JPMorgan Chase to start accepting Bitcoin, Ethereum as loan collateral: report

  • JPMorgan will let clients use Bitcoin (BTC) and Ethereum (ETH) as collateral for loans.
  • The move marks a major shift from Jamie Dimon’s past crypto criticism.
  • Other major banks are expanding crypto custody and lending services.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. is reportedly preparing to let institutional clients use BTC and ETH as collateral for loans by the end of the year, as per a Bloomberg report.

The move marks one of the most significant steps yet by a major US bank toward integrating digital assets into traditional finance, signalling how fast cryptocurrencies are moving from the periphery to the core of global banking.

JPMorgan’s changing tune on crypto

For years, JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon was one of the fiercest critics of Bitcoin, calling it a “decentralised Ponzi scheme” and claiming that only criminals used it.

Dimon’s comments often shaped how Wall Street viewed the cryptocurrency market.

But Dimon’s tone has softened in recent years, especially since Donald Trump’s 2024 election win, which brought regulatory changes that have made it easier for banks to engage with digital assets.

Now, Dimon’s JPMorgan is taking a major step that would have seemed unthinkable just a few years ago.

The bank’s new program will reportedly allow institutional clients to pledge their Bitcoin and Ethereum holdings as collateral for loans.

The assets will be held by a third-party custodian, ensuring compliance with existing financial and regulatory standards.

From doubt to action

Speculation about JPMorgan’s crypto-collateral plans first emerged earlier this year when the Financial Times reported that the bank was exploring such a move, potentially by 2026.

At the time, scepticism ran high. Dimon’s long record of dismissing Bitcoin, combined with banks’ cautious approach to regulatory uncertainty, made the plan seem remote.

However, the landscape has changed rapidly in 2025. With Bitcoin trading above $111,000 and Ethereum nearing $4,000, the digital asset market has reached unprecedented maturity and capitalisation.

Bitcoin’s market cap has surged to over $2.2 trillion, while Ethereum’s market cap has climbed to nearly $478 billion.

The rise in these asset prices, combined with increased institutional demand, has made cryptocurrencies more appealing as loan collateral.

JPMorgan’s initiative will expand on its earlier decision to accept crypto-linked exchange-traded funds (ETFs) as collateral.

Other banks are also integrating crypto

JPMorgan’s shift mirrors a broader transformation across the financial sector.

Morgan Stanley plans to open cryptocurrency access to retail investors through its E*Trade platform in the first half of next year.

State Street, BNY Mellon, and Fidelity are all expanding their digital asset custody services, while BlackRock recently introduced new mechanisms allowing investors to convert Bitcoin directly into ETF holdings.

Even long-time sceptics like Standard Chartered have revised their stance, recognising the growing importance of cryptocurrencies in global finance.

These moves indicate that digital assets are no longer being viewed as speculative outliers but as legitimate components of diversified financial systems.

The post JPMorgan Chase to start accepting Bitcoin, Ethereum as loan collateral: report appeared first on CoinJournal.

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Bitcoin’s institutional surge widens trillion-dollar gap with altcoins

  • A trillion-dollar valuation gap now separates Bitcoin from other tokens.
  • Altcoin market capitalisation could be $800 billion higher, data shows.
  • A US-China trade selloff erased $380 billion from crypto markets.

Bitcoin’s growing dominance in institutional portfolios has created a near-trillion-dollar gap between the world’s largest cryptocurrency and its altcoin peers, according to new data shared by 10x Research.

The report attributes this widening divide to a structural shift in investor behaviour, particularly among retail traders in South Korea, who have redirected funds from altcoins to crypto-linked equities and exchange-listed vehicles that hold tokens.

Retail shift weakens altcoin liquidity

10x Research found that altcoin market capitalisation could be about $800 billion higher if retail investors—especially in South Korea—had not channelled their funds into crypto-related stocks and other equity markets.

Altcoins, which typically rely on retail liquidity to sustain upward momentum, have failed to attract enough new capital in this cycle.

Historically, South Korean traders have been a major force behind the altcoin boom.

Local exchanges have seen altcoins account for more than 80% of total trading activity, a stark contrast to global platforms where Bitcoin and Ether dominate 50% or more of daily volume.

But that pattern has shifted sharply this year, leading to a liquidity shortfall for smaller digital assets.

South Korea’s trading activity declines

From 5 November through 28 November 2024, the daily average trading volume on South Korean crypto exchanges stood at $9.4 billion, surpassing the $7 billion traded on the Kospi stock market during the same period, according to data from CCData and the Korea Exchange.

However, since then, 10x Research noted a steep decline in crypto activity, suggesting that retail participation has cooled significantly.

The report highlights that South Korea’s declining appetite for riskier altcoins has been instrumental in their recent underperformance.

Retail investors who once drove speculative rallies in coins such as XRP, Cardano, and Solana have turned instead to listed blockchain firms and exchange-traded vehicles offering indirect crypto exposure.

This shift has contributed to the overall weakness in altcoin prices.

Market losses deepen amid trade tensions

A recent selloff in the broader cryptocurrency market, triggered by escalating US-China trade tensions, exacerbated the situation.

The correction wiped out about $380 billion from total market value, with roughly $131 billion concentrated in altcoins, according to 10x Research’s data.

While Bitcoin and altcoins both suffered declines, smaller coins bore the brunt as investors sought safety in the more established and liquid assets.

Bitcoin’s appeal as a hedge within the crypto ecosystem has strengthened, reinforcing its dominance during market stress.

The selloff underscores a changing market structure where altcoins are increasingly viewed as speculative instruments, while Bitcoin’s perceived institutional legitimacy provides it with greater resilience during downturns.

As capital concentrates around Bitcoin and select equities, the broader altcoin market faces challenges in regaining lost momentum.

The post Bitcoin’s institutional surge widens trillion-dollar gap with altcoins appeared first on CoinJournal.