Kategorie: Crypto Markets

• XRP price is down 5% to trade near $1.80.
• The altcoin’s losses come amid overall bearish market sentiment.
• Ripple token could dip to $1.50, but a bounce is also likely.

Ripple token XRP fell 5% as the cryptocurrency market saw fresh selling pressure in early trading on December 18, 2025.

With major altcoins extending recent declines, Ripple’s cryptocurrency dipped to lows of $1.81.

Amid this broader risk aversion, XRP, one of the top-performing assets earlier in the year, risks slipping further.

XRP bears push price towards $1.80

The XRP token traded around $1.83 at the time of writing.

After breaking lower on Tuesday, prices were down 5% in the past 24 hours as sellers rejected advances at $1.98.

It looked as though they could test bullish sentiment around the $1.80 support zone.

On Thursday, the altcoin touched lows of $1.81, declines that put prices at risk of downside acceleration.

As market data shows, falling price action is accompanied by elevated trading volumes.

Normally, this suggests active distribution rather than isolated panic selling.

This decline aligns with weakness across the altcoin sector, as Bitcoin hovered below the key threshold of $90,000.

Negative sentiment across traditional risk assets is contributing to the selling pressure. Headwinds include macroeconomic uncertainty.

Ripple price forecast

The breach of $1.90 flips the former support at $2.00 into potential overhead resistance.

XRP’s recent moves reinforce bearish control in the near term.

Technical indicators, including a downward-sloping 50-day exponential moving average and downsloping RSI readings, indicate waning momentum.

Meanwhile, derivatives markets have seen increased liquidations on long positions, further exacerbating the downside pressure.

Whale activity also remains mixed.

Despite some large holders accumulating during dips, overall on-chain metrics show heightened distribution from older cohorts.

This dynamic has contributed to the failure of recent rebound attempts, and the reason XRP bulls have found themselves pushed below the $2.00 psychological mark.

From a technical standpoint, the outlook for XRP means bears have an upper hand.

Veteran trader Peter Brandt has issued a bearish warning for XRP, identifying a potential “double-top” reversal pattern on its price chart.

This technical setup suggests a possible trend reversal if the asset fails to breach established resistance levels.

Brandt’s caution highlights a growing divergence between technical indicators and Ripple’s strengthening fundamentals, which include recent stablecoin expansions and new institutional tools.

While acknowledging the pattern could fail, Brandt maintains that the current formation signals waning momentum.

Consequently, market focus shifts to XRP’s key support levels as investors weigh technical risks against the ecosystem’s long-term adoption efforts.

I know in advance that all you Riplosts $XRP will forever remind me of this post — ask me if I care
This is a potential double top. Sure, it may fail, and I will deal with this if it does
But for now this has bearish implications
Love it or not — you need to deal with it pic.twitter.com/yPGjzuqNN3

— Peter Brandt (@PeterLBrandt) December 17, 2025

A sustained break below current levels could see bears targeting the next major support area at $1.70 and potentially $1.50.

However, counterfactors could provide relief for buyers.

Notably, spot XRP ETFs have maintained consistent inflows.

XRP ETFs saw $9.84 million worth of inflows on December 17 according to data by Coinglass.

Confidence in XRP’s long-term outlook means reclaiming $2.00 would open the door for a sentiment flip.

If there’s a rebound toward $2.30, further upside momentum potentially has $3.00 into play.

XRP continues to wait for a breach of the $4.00 mark.

The post XRP price loses $1.90 support as altcoins bleed further appeared first on CoinJournal.

• Analysts estimate forced outflows of up to $15 billion if passive funds are required to sell.
• Strategy accounts for nearly three-quarters of the impacted float-adjusted market capitalisation.
• MSCI’s final decision is due by Jan. 15, with possible implementation in February 2026.

Crypto treasury companies could face heavy selling pressure if MSCI proceeds with a proposal to exclude them from its equity indexes.

Campaigners and analysts warn that removal from widely tracked benchmarks could force passive funds to offload billions of dollars worth of crypto-linked exposure.

The debate has intensified as markets digest months of declining prices and as index providers reassess how to classify firms with large digital asset holdings.

With MSCI’s decision timeline now clear, companies and investors are closely watching what could become a defining moment for crypto’s place in mainstream equity benchmarks.

Potential selling pressure builds

BitcoinForCorporations, a group opposing the proposal, estimates that exclusions could trigger between $10 billion and $15 billion in passive outflows.

The calculation is based on a verified preliminary list of 39 companies with a combined float-adjusted market capitalisation of $113 billion.

Analysts reviewing the same universe put potential outflows at around $11.6 billion across all affected firms.

The largest exposure sits with Michael Saylor’s Strategy (previously known as Microstrategy), which represents 74.5% of the total impacted float-adjusted market cap.

JPMorgan’s analysis suggests that Strategy alone could see $2.8 billion in outflows if removed from MSCI indexes.

Such forced selling could add pressure to crypto markets that have already been trending lower for nearly three months.

Why MSCI rules matter

MSCI announced in October that it was consulting investors on whether companies holding the majority of their balance sheet in crypto should be excluded from its indexes.

These benchmarks are used by passive investment funds worldwide to decide which stocks they must hold.

As a result, inclusion or exclusion can directly affect a company’s access to capital and shareholder base.

For crypto treasury firms, index membership has become increasingly important as institutional ownership grows.

Any rule change that leads to exclusion would not be a technical adjustment but a structural shift in how these companies are treated by global asset managers.

Balance sheet debate intensifies

BitcoinForCorporations argues that using balance sheet composition as a deciding factor is flawed.

The group says a single metric does not capture whether a company operates a real business with customers, revenue, and ongoing operations.

Under the proposed approach, firms could be removed even if their core business model remains unchanged.

The group has urged MSCI to abandon the proposal and continue classifying companies based on business activity, financial performance, and operational characteristics rather than crypto exposure alone.

The concern is that the rule would effectively penalise companies for holding digital assets without assessing how those assets fit into broader corporate strategy.

MSCI is expected to publish its final conclusions by January 15.

If approved, implementation would be scheduled for the February 2026 Index Review, setting the stage for potential large-scale reallocations by passive funds.

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• US senators propose a joint task force to disrupt crypto scams nationwide.
• The proposal looks to boost coordination across agencies, law enforcement, and industry.
• The proposal targets rising fraud with better tools, data sharing, and reports.

A new bipartisan effort in the US Senate aims to confront the rising tide of cryptocurrency scams by tightening federal coordination and sharpening enforcement tools.

As digital assets gain wider use, US lawmakers say gaps in oversight have left consumers exposed to increasingly sophisticated fraud.

A coordinated response to a growing threat

US Senators Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Jerry Moran of Kansas have introduced the Strengthening Agency Frameworks for Enforcement of Cryptocurrency Act.

The proposal is designed to bring order and urgency to the federal response against crypto-related scams, which have surged alongside mainstream adoption of digital assets.

At the centre of the bill is the creation of a federal task force that would unite the Treasury Department, law enforcement agencies, financial regulators, and private-sector experts.

Supporters say this structure reflects the reality of modern crypto crime, which often crosses jurisdictions and moves faster than traditional enforcement mechanisms.

Senator Slotkin has framed the legislation as a consumer protection measure rooted in practicality.

Slotkin argues that cryptocurrency fraud deserves special attention because of its complexity and speed, noting that local law enforcement agencies often lack the tools or expertise to investigate such crimes effectively.

By pooling federal resources and industry knowledge, the task force would aim to close that gap.

Inside the SAFE Crypto Act

The SAFE Crypto Act directs the task force to study emerging trends in digital asset scams and identify methods that have proven effective in stopping them.

This includes tracking patterns in phishing schemes, hacks, and small-scale Ponzi operations that may fall outside the primary focus of existing regulators.

A key element of the bill is its emphasis on supporting state and local authorities.

The task force would help equip local law enforcement with investigative tools and technical guidance, recognising that many victims first turn to local agencies for help.

Lawmakers say this support could significantly improve response times and case outcomes.

Public education is another core component. The task force would work to raise awareness about common cryptocurrency scams so consumers can better protect their money.

As fraud tactics evolve, sponsors of the bill argue that prevention through education is as important as enforcement after losses occur.

The legislation also includes accountability measures. The task force would be required to deliver an initial report to congressional committees within one year of its formation, followed by annual updates.

These reports would outline emerging threats, enforcement progress, and areas where further action may be needed.

The proposal has drawn attention from within the crypto and legal communities, where concerns about fragmented enforcement have been growing.

A January report from Chainalysis estimated that illicit cryptocurrency volume reached $51.3 billion in 2024, reflecting both the scale and diversity of on-chain criminal behaviour.

Crypto lawyer Gabriel Shapiro described the bill as a potential way to fill an enforcement gap, pointing out that agencies like the SEC and CFTC are not always focused on scams such as hacks or phishing operations.

U.S. Senator Moran proposes the SAFE Crypto Act establishing a task force for dealing with crypto scams!!!

would have AG, Director FinCEN, Director Secret Service, other agency heads, scam victims, representatives of stablecoin issuers, custodians, etc.

devoted to detecting… pic.twitter.com/i94tn2sHdm

— _gabrielShapir0 (@lex_node) December 16, 2025

If enacted, the SAFE Crypto Act would mark a significant step toward a more organised and proactive US strategy against cryptocurrency fraud.

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• The $206 million IPO was heavily oversubscribed by both retail and international investors.
• Early trading was volatile, with shares dipping below the IPO price after an initial rise.
• The listing adds to a growing pipeline of crypto companies planning public market debuts in 2025.

Hong Kong’s push to position itself as a global hub for regulated digital assets took a visible step forward this week as HashKey, the city’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, began trading on the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong.

The debut followed a $206 million initial public offering that drew strong demand across retail and institutional channels.

While early trading was volatile, the listing placed HashKey at the centre of a growing wave of crypto firms seeking public market exposure in Asia and beyond.

The move also underlined Hong Kong’s ambition to blend capital markets depth with tighter digital asset oversight, at a time when global regulators are taking a more cautious stance on crypto activity.

Shares of HashKey Holdings listed on the HKEX main board on Wednesday, opening at 6.70 Hong Kong dollars, or about $0.86, according to exchange data.

The company confirmed in a blog post that the listing made it the first digital asset company in Asia to go public via an IPO in Hong Kong, setting a regional precedent for crypto firms pursuing traditional capital market routes.

Hong Kong listing milestone

HashKey’s IPO was launched on Dec. 9 and involved the sale of 240 million shares, raising a total of $206 million, based on its HKEX filings.

The structure reflected a split between local and international tranches, aligning with Hong Kong’s standard IPO framework while attracting a broad investor base.

The Hong Kong public offering component saw demand surge well beyond expectations. The retail tranche was oversubscribed by nearly 394 times, with 24 million shares allocated.

The international offering also drew solid interest, reaching 5.5 times subscription and accounting for 216.5 million shares sold.

The response highlighted continued appetite for crypto-linked equities despite recent market volatility in the sector.

Investor demand and structure

Nine cornerstone investors participated in the IPO, adding a layer of institutional credibility to the transaction.

These included Cithara Global Multi-Strategy SPC, UBS AM Singapore, Fidelity, and CDH.

Among them, Cithara and UBS emerged as the largest backers, receiving allocations of roughly 17.5 million shares and 11.7 million shares, respectively.

The presence of established asset managers suggested confidence in HashKey’s business model and regulatory positioning.

It also reflected investor interest in companies operating within Hong Kong’s licensing regime, which has been promoted as a framework for compliant digital asset trading and custody.

Volatile first trading session

Despite the strong fundraising outcome, HashKey’s first day of trading was marked by price swings.

During the morning session, shares briefly climbed about 5% above the opening price, reaching roughly $0.91, before reversing course and dropping to a low near $0.78.

By the afternoon, the stock was trading slightly below its IPO price, at around $0.84.

The movement underscored the cautious tone among investors toward newly listed crypto firms, even as demand for IPO allocations remained robust.

Market participants appeared to weigh long-term growth prospects against near-term uncertainties in the global digital asset market.

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