Ripple CTO addresses XRP debate as Kraken eyes $15 billion IPO

  • Powell flagged regulatory risks as main concern for XRP.
  • Kraken suspended XRP trading in the US due to legal pressure.
  • Kraken handles $1.3 billion in daily trading across 1,100 pairs.

Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, David Schwartz, has weighed in on renewed speculation surrounding Jesse Powell, the co-founder of crypto exchange Kraken, as the firm prepares for an initial public offering (IPO).

The conversation was reignited by a casual poll Schwartz shared on X regarding Ripple’s potential IPO, which unexpectedly led to claims that Powell had “always hated XRP.”

Schwartz quickly intervened, dismissing the suggestion and providing context around Powell’s concerns, which he said were rooted in regulatory risk rather than personal bias.

The clarification arrives at a time when Kraken is aiming for a $15 billion valuation in its upcoming IPO.

XRP concerns linked to regulatory uncertainty

The XRP controversy resurfaced after one user on X revisited claims about Powell’s alleged dislike of the token.

Schwartz responded by saying that Powell did not hate XRP, but rather approached it with caution due to its regulatory grey area.

Powell had repeatedly raised concerns that if regulators eventually categorised XRP as a “security,” exchanges such as Kraken could face consequences despite having complied with existing laws at the time.

This regulatory uncertainty, Powell argued, created an “uneven risk” that forced exchanges to weigh potential compliance costs against trading opportunities.

His caution culminated in Kraken’s decision to suspend XRP trading for US customers, which Powell described as a business move rather than a personal stance.

Kraken’s decision to halt XRP trading in the US

Kraken’s suspension of XRP trading for US users was a direct result of regulatory pressure. Powell emphasised that the exchange acted to reduce exposure to potential enforcement actions.

The move aligned with similar actions taken by other major exchanges, which chose to delist or restrict XRP in response to concerns about its legal status.

By taking this step, Kraken aimed to protect itself from legal risks that could arise if regulators determined XRP to be a security.

The decision was framed as one made to safeguard the company’s long-term stability rather than an expression of hostility toward the token.

Debate resurfaces as Kraken targets IPO

The timing of the renewed discussion coincides with Kraken’s preparation for a possible IPO, during which it is reportedly seeking to raise $100 million.

The fundraising is aimed at securing a valuation of around $15 billion, positioning Kraken among the largest publicly listed crypto exchanges.

As the company returns to the spotlight, past controversies such as the XRP suspension have re-emerged, with online speculation drawing renewed attention.

Schwartz’s clarification on X sought to separate personal opinion from regulatory caution, stressing that Powell’s decisions were aligned with broader industry challenges rather than rooted in dislike of XRP.

Kraken maintains strong position in global trading

Despite the past suspension of XRP trading in the US, Kraken continues to be one of the most active exchanges worldwide. It reports over $1.3 billion in daily trading volume and offers more than 1,100 trading pairs.

Its prominence in the sector underscores its influence as it prepares for public listing, with regulatory compliance remaining a central theme in its growth strategy.

The post Ripple CTO addresses XRP debate as Kraken eyes $15 billion IPO appeared first on CoinJournal.

Solana price forecast as SOL bulls look to buy the dip

  • Solana has fell 7.6% in the past 24 hours to touch lows of $166.
  • The technical outlook on the daily chart shows price is taking on a bearish flip.
  • Bulls bouncing amid crypto recovery could target $200.

Solana has experienced a 7.6% dip in the past 24 hours to touch lows of $166, with declines coming amid widespread selling across crypto.

But as the volatility prompts some investors to take profits, bulls are likely eyeing the downturn as a buying opportunity.

Here’s a look at the technical picture for SOL.

Solana drops to key support level

As highlighted, Solana’s price has declined by about 7.6% in the past 24 hours, trading to lows near $166.

CoinMarketCap data shows Solana’s 24-hour trading volume increased by about 25% to $7.38 billion, which hints at heightened market activity.

It’s an outlook that mirrors the broader crypto market performance, with Bitcoin (BTC) selling-off to below $115k, Ethereum (ETH) to around $3,500 and XRP down 7% to around $2.90.

Losses across board saw total liquidations reach $758 million in the last 24 hours, with SOL seeing about $43.8 million liquidated.

The sudden price dip meant most of the liquidations are of bullish Solana bets, which Coinglass data shows at $42 million of the $43.8 million.

A bearish sentiment amid this flip has SOL currently hovering at a key support level.

Could bulls capitalize on the dip to build fresh momentum towards $200? Continued network growth, as highlighted by key metrics such as active users and revenue, suggests Solana is strong long term.

Solana price prediction

The Solana price prediction for 2025 is largely bullish, with analysts seeing it as a key breakout level.

Conservative forecasts put SOL at $500 by the end of 2025, mainly driven by Solana’s robust ecosystem and institutional interest.

Spot ETFs and regulatory tailwinds could be the main catalyst.

However, what’s the short-term outlook as cryptocurrencies navigate yet another sell-off phase?

SOL price chart by TradingView

The technical outlook on the daily chart shows the price remains within an ascending channel, but has broken below the middle line.

Meanwhile, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 45, below the midpoint after SOl flipped from overbought territory.

The RSI indicator is also downsloping to suggest a potential move toward the oversold zone.

SOL’s daily chart also shows the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicators hinting at bearish momentum after a bearish crossover.

While a drop below $160 may test lower supports at $145 and $130, a reversal amid buying pressure will allow buyers to target $200.

As noted, some analysts are predicting SOL price to $500 in a sharp rally amid spot Solana ETFs approval.

The post Solana price forecast as SOL bulls look to buy the dip appeared first on CoinJournal.