ZyCrypto

What would a Bitcoin rally to $295,000 mean for Ripple-linked XRP? Popular crypto YouTuber The Modern Investor has weighed in with a bullish forecast, suggesting XRP could see substantial gains if Bitcoin hits that lofty price target.
Bitcoin at $295,000: How High Could XRP Really Go?
The Modern Investor laid out ambitious price targets for some of the biggest cryptocurrencies, including Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Cardano. In his view, the current market cycle could either mirror previous bull runs or take crypto into uncharted territory.
“I could totally see Bitcoin going to around $295,000,” he posited. He also floated $11,000 for Ethereum and $5 for Cardano, while putting XRP’s potential price at $8.95.
With XRP trading around $1.33 on Oct. 14, a climb to $8.95 would be a roughly 573% rally, pushing the token to nearly 6.73 times its current value.
Bitcoin, meanwhile, is trading near $81,801 after gaining roughly 4.3% over the past 30 days. Reaching $295,000 would require a rally of about 260.6%, adding $213,199 to its current price.
Together, these projections show just how bullish The Modern Investor is on the current market cycle, with his targets pointing to substantial upside across several leading cryptocurrencies if the market delivers another major rally.
Key Catalysts That Could Fuel XRP’s Massive Rally to $8.95
The Modern Investor’s bullish outlook is partly rooted in the growing belief that tokenization could drive the next major wave of crypto adoption. He pointed to projections suggesting that between $5 trillion and $10 trillion in real-world assets could be tokenized by 2030, potentially bringing more capital and institutional players into the market.
He also referenced comments from Fundstrat co-founder and BitMine chairman Tom Lee, who believes the current crypto bull run could outperform previous cycles. Lee highlighted tokenization, artificial intelligence, and a more supportive regulatory climate as key differences from earlier rallies fueled by initial coin offerings, meme coins, and stablecoins.
For The Modern Investor, these emerging trends could propel the crypto market into a new growth phase, potentially delivering gains that exceed those seen in past bull runs.
Moreover, The Modern Investor believes rising crypto purchases by wealthy investors could signal that major players are preparing for a significant market shift. He cited reports of large Ethereum acquisitions and heavy XRP accumulation, arguing that the scale of these moves suggests some investors may be positioning themselves ahead of a potentially parabolic market growth.

Zcash (ZEC) is bleeding red, but a bold price prediction is keeping bulls on their toes. Despite a 14.5% drop over the past 14 days that pushed its market capitalization to $20.13 billion, the privacy-focused cryptocurrency is back in the spotlight after its co-founder called $2,000 a “no-brainer” and hinted at a longer-term target of $5,000.
Could ZEC be gearing up for a massive comeback?
Zcash Founder Fires Up Bulls With $2,000 ‘No-Brainer’ Call and $5,000 Target
Zcash co-founder Eli Ben-Sasson is refusing to back down from his ambitious price outlook, even as ZEC faces renewed selling pressure.
In an October 15 post on X, Ben-Sasson reiterated his prediction that ZEC could eventually hit $5,000 and described a move to $2,000 as a “no-brainer.” He also said he backed the $2,000 price target through OffMarket, a privacy-focused platform connected to the prediction market Polymarket.
His latest remarks build on an earlier forecast that ZEC would surpass $5,000 before the end of 2026. The crypto entrepreneur had previously predicted that Zcash would trade above $1,200 by September 25, a target the cryptocurrency successfully cleared during its September rally.
However, the road to $5,000 remains steep. ZEC has retreated sharply from its September highs, so a fresh wave of buying pressure would be needed to make Ben-Sasson’s bullish prediction come true.
Zcash Races Against the Quantum Clock
Ben-Sasson’s bullish forecast comes as fresh concerns about the future of crypto security grip the industry, potentially putting privacy-focused projects like Zcash in the spotlight. Last week, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin and Ethereum Foundation researcher Justin Drake urged the sector to prepare for a possible “bunker mode” scenario, warning that advances in artificial intelligence could threaten existing cryptographic protections even before quantum computers become powerful enough to do so.
Zcash is ramping up efforts to shield its network from emerging security threats. Zakura, a Zcash full-node implementation that helps validate transactions and maintain the network, recently said its team is targeting January to make the software quantum-resistant and reasonably resilient to AI-driven threats. If achieved, the milestone could mark a major step in Zcash’s long-term security push.
However, January remains a target, not a confirmed deadline, and the team has not yet announced an official activation date for the network-wide upgrade.

In recent on-chain activity, US government wallets reportedly deposited $1 billion in cryptocurrency to Coinbase Prime. The recent deposits include over 12,000 BTC related to the infamous 2016 Bitfinex hack, as well as large amounts of USDT and other assorted tokens.
This is one of the largest transfers in a long time from US government crypto accounts to a cryptocurrency exchange, and it has sparked speculation about the future of the major stash.
The move was reported by on-chain analysis firm CryptoQuant:
Image Source: X
Despite their massive size, these deposits are only a small percentage of the government’s total crypto assets. According to Arkham, the US owns almost $25.38 billion (306,795 BTC) in Bitcoin alone, and it has labeled the accounts accordingly. In addition to BTC, it also holds smaller amounts of ETH, wrapped BNB, and other tokens. Overall, the cryptocurrencies are spread across 600 addresses.
How Does the US Government Own So Much Crypto?
The US government doesn’t have a policy of buying Bitcoin, even though current President Donald Trump has aggressively pursued a Bitcoin Strategic Reserve. As a result, all of the crypto holdings can be traced back to aggressive law enforcement actions.
They include the 2016 Bitfinex hack and the FTX-Alameda Research scam. The reason why Coinbase Prime is the primary choice here is that it is an institutional custodian partner of the U.S. Marshals Service.
Why is this a Big Deal?
The crypto community is abuzz with the presumption that the US government is looking to offload a serious amount of BTC in the near future, starting with the first billion dollar sale related to this deposit. The rumors make sense because previously, the American government had only deposited smaller amounts to Coinbase Prime.
This massive deposit is serious and could mean a reversal of the Trump policy to keep the strategic reserve whole and avoid selling. He had earlier directed that forfeited Bitcoin “shall not be sold” except in limited cases involving court-ordered restitution or other lawful purposes like settling the ongoing Bitfinex and FTX cases. However, there has been no communication from the White House regarding this move, and the recent deposits could just mean consolidation rather than a liquidation move.
The Future
While there is no indication that the US government is going to immediately liquidate this billion dollars’ worth of Bitcoin, the move is indeed setting the wheels in motion for a potential sale.
If Trump decides to sell off the stash, possibly to cushion the immense impacts of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, it will create enormous selling pressure in the market, as the state’s wallets have over $25 billion in BTC waiting to be liquidated. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen.

Bitcoin (BTC) is increasingly tied to the stock market.
Mike McGlone, Bloomberg Intelligence’s senior commodity strategist, believes Bitcoin has increasingly become a “stock-market puppet,” citing its strong correlation with U.S. equities and its tendency to swing more sharply.
In an October 1 interview with Wealthion, McGlone questioned Bitcoin’s performance and maintained his bearish outlook despite continued buying from large holders.
According to McGlone, Bitcoin is down about 4% this year, while the S&P 500 is up about 3%.
He also noted that Bitcoin had underperformed the stock market for nearly five years, challenging the idea that the top cryptocurrency consistently serves as an alternative investment to traditional financial assets.
Interestingly, McGlone’s pessimism doesn’t stop there, since he hasn’t abandoned his controversial prediction that Bitcoin could fall to $10,000.
What’s his argument? He notes that the broader cryptocurrency market is still undergoing a “purge,” suggesting further downside could emerge before the market finds a sustainable recovery.
Bitcoin Whales Keep Buying the Dip
In contrast to McGlone’s view, Ash Crypto has pointed to a different trend, reporting that five wallets bought 1,076 BTC, worth about $90.42 million, in a single day.
Source: Ash Crypto
The market analyst acknowledged that even as retail investors panicked over the current market dip, larger holders were taking the bulls by the horns, accumulating more Bitcoin.
These purchases add to a broader pattern of whale activity that has attracted attention during the current market weakness.
According to market analyst Ali Martinez, Bitcoin whales accumulated 16,010 BTC over five days as the price declined from around $87,000 toward $80,000.
What does this buying activity show? It suggests that some large holders see lower prices as an opportunity to accumulate more, not a reason to exit their positions.

Ripple’s partnership with Stripe-owned wallet infrastructure provider Privy is giving developers a new way to integrate XRP Ledger functionality into their applications, potentially expanding XRPL adoption and creating a longer-term catalyst for XRP.
If the integration drives more network activity and stronger demand for XRP, it could support the token’s price over time. However, the impact will depend on actual usage, as broader access to XRPL does not automatically translate into increased buying pressure for XRP.
Stripe-Owned Privy Embraces XRPL
San Francisco-based fintech firm Ripple has teamed up with Stripe-owned wallet infrastructure provider Privy to bring XRP Ledger (XRPL) support to its developer platform, opening new opportunities for developers building blockchain-powered applications.
The integration lets developers add XRPL wallets to their apps without building the underlying infrastructure from scratch. They can create and manage wallets, sign transactions, and support XRP, Ripple’s dollar-pegged RLUSD stablecoin, and other assets issued on the network, potentially making it easier to develop applications around the XRP Ledger ecosystem.
“Stablecoins are changing how money moves, and XRPL has been building for payments from the start. We’re excited to make Privy wallets available to developers building on XRPL, from global payments to agentic commerce, and whatever comes next,” Privy co-founder and CEO Henri Stern, who heads crypto and stablecoins at Stripe, opined.
The integration also highlights the growing potential of agentic commerce, where AI agents can independently manage funds, execute transactions, and make payments. Privy’s programmable wallet technology enables developers to create and manage XRPL wallets, let users authorize transactions, and seamlessly integrate crypto payment capabilities into their applications.
The platform also lets users export their private keys or recovery phrases, enabling them to transfer their wallets to other compatible services.
XRP Ledger Records 13 Million AI Payments
The announcement comes amid a surge in AI-driven payment activity on the XRP Ledger.
Last week, RippleX engineering chief J. Ayo Akinyele revealed on X that the network had processed more than 13 million agent payments through the x402 protocol, accounting for roughly 25% of ledger activity.
The collaboration with Privy aligns with Ripple’s broader effort to advance AI-driven commerce. In June, the company introduced an AI Starter Kit designed to help developers create autonomous payment applications that use XRP, its RLUSD stablecoin, and the x402 payment protocol.
Privy is also preparing to expand the integration with features that could make XRPL payments even easier to use. Upcoming additions include programmable transaction rules and gas sponsorship, letting developers control how transactions execute and cover network fees for users.
What It Means For XRP Price
The potential impact on XRP’s price hinges on whether Ripple’s partnership with Privy translates into real adoption and increased demand for XRP. Easier access to XRPL wallets could encourage more developers to launch payment applications, stablecoin services, and AI-driven transactions on the network. If this increases XRP use for transaction fees, liquidity, and payments, it could strengthen the token’s long-term growth outlook.
However, increased XRPL activity does not automatically mean XRP’s price will rise. Applications may rely on RLUSD or other ledger-issued assets, and transaction growth alone may not generate substantial buying pressure for XRP. The key catalyst for price appreciation will be whether the integration drives measurable demand for XRP itself, rather than simply expanding activity across the XRPL ecosystem.
For now, the partnership is best viewed as a potential long-term adoption catalyst for XRP, rather than an immediate price trigger. The strongest bullish signal would be evidence that the integration is generating sustained XRP-based payments, new funded wallets, and greater demand for XRP as a transaction and liquidity asset.

Bitwise Chief Investment Officer Matt Hougan believes Bitcoin could mirror gold’s dramatic growth after its first ETF launch and reach a $30 trillion market value.
Speaking in a recent interview, Hougan noted that gold was valued at only $2 trillion to $2.5 trillion when the first gold ETF debuted in 2004. That asset later expanded to around $30 trillion, largely through institutional adoption, well before recent concerns over government debt intensified interest in it.
Bitcoin ETFs arrived when the cryptocurrency’s total market capitalization stood near $2 trillion. Hougan argued Bitcoin could follow a similar trajectory and climb to $30 trillion, a level that would produce a substantial price for each coin.
He stressed that the journey would not be smooth, noting that significant volatility, with sharp rises and declines, is inevitable. According to Hougan, Bitcoin’s greatest risk is not technical weaknesses in the protocol or threats from quantum computing. Instead, it lies with investors themselves and their ability to remain committed through both bull and bear markets.
Many participants have already suffered losses from burnout or excessive leverage during past cycles, he observed. Despite those challenges, Hougan sees material, potentially life-changing upside remaining in the asset. He expects that growth to unfold over roughly a decade.
“I think people who don’t think Bitcoin can follow the same pattern… we launched ETFs when it was about $2 trillion. I think it could easily do what gold did, which is run up to $30 trillion, and that arrives at a pretty nice price target.” He asserted.
Hougan added that he has personally set aside a portion of his own capital with a ten-year horizon in mind, emphasizing that the comment is not financial advice. He described the prospective outcome as likely to reward those who stay the course.

Cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase is fostering efforts to secure Bitcoin (BTC) and other digital assets following emerging security concerns. The platform proffered several solutions but hinted that a full security upgrade could take years.
Coinbase Preps Ahead of Q-Day
Bitcoin security researchers are in full gear on quantum threats to digital assets. This year, multiple groups, including exchanges, validators, and developers, joined broader efforts as supercomputers and artificial intelligence (AI) advanced.
Coinbase, the leading US exchange holding about 5% of BTC in custody, highlighted the importance of early preparations towards migrations. However, full migrations could take years because of the decentralized nature of the assets and other factors.
The exchange is exploring flexible output designs like P2MR (BIP-360) and P2TRv2 to separate the container from the signature. Second, Coinbase researchers suggest a stage protection that lets wallets use a hybrid construction before the final signature policy settles.
“While stateful PQ signature schemes could be smaller and faster than stateless ones, managing state in digital signatures is notoriously error-prone and could even lead to forgery. If stateful signatures are supported, we think it is important to also have a stateless option available,” they added.
Furthermore, as most users noted, MPC-friendliness is at the core of every upgrade. According to the team, implementing it can prevent key theft, particularly for larger organizations. While no single solution satisfies all concerns, users praised the exchange’s initial efforts.
A major roadblock remains old dormant assets that might migrate later than expected. In April, community researchers proposed multiple solutions, but the debate still lingers.
Coinbase suggests a path for these wallets to migrate later, adding that discussion can proceed alongside technical work to prevent slow implementation. These community efforts are needed to prevent the possible widespread losses of Q-Day.
This year, researchers warned that supercomputers will break digital asset cryptography within three years. Initial reports sparked fears and security roadmaps across altcoins, but Bitcoin remained slow as expected.
Coinbase and other firms are contributing to the upgrade through the Bitcoin Security Consortium: “…We want to contribute to the community’s efforts and help create the conditions for careful, sustained progress.”

A mystery crypto whale has been dumping Bitcoin and reinvesting in Ethereum recently, according to on-chain analysis. Normally, whales dump other cryptocurrencies for Bitcoin, but this is going the other way. The whale has reportedly sold $89 million worth of Bitcoin and immediately converted it into Ethereum.
On-chain reporter Lookonchain tweeted regarding the matter:
Image Source: X
According to Lookonchain, the whale sold a massive chunk of BTC over the last 3-4 days, totaling 1,074.36 BTC. Based on the latest valuation, the sell-off totaled $89 million. Initially, it was thought to be profit-taking, but the big player immediately converted the funds into Ethereum, showing clear intent to swap the number one cryptocurrency for the number two.
All in all, the whale bought over 36,159 ETH, and there is no indication they’ll slow down any time soon. The average price paid was $2,500–$2,530 per ETH. The move highlights a small but growing trend of ditching BTC for ETH.
The Future
This isn’t the first time this kind of rotation has occurred. On-chain analysts have regularly reported this behavior. In September, Lookonchain reported transactions showing a whale converted 1,100 BTC into tens of thousands of ETH. A sizeable quantity of the newly acquired Ethereum tokens was staked for passive rewards.
This comes as the broader cryptocurrency market stalls and trades in relatively narrow ranges. Analysts are currently unsure about the market’s immediate future, and technical indicators point to both bullish and bearish bias. Ethereum has recovered well over the last couple of months, but nothing so major that it signals a complete flip.
So, when whales continue to swap Bitcoin for Ethereum, especially through Hyperliquid and other major platforms, they’re pursuing a clear long-term strategy, not just opportunistic trades.
As for the whale, the identity of the major player remains shrouded in mystery. It could be an individual or a financial organization using cryptocurrency’s relative privacy to stay on the sidelines. However, once they make these transactions, their activity remains publicly visible, and on-chain analysts flag it for future reference.

RippleX, Ripple’s engineering and software development team, has patched a critical vulnerability in the XRP Ledger (XRPL).
Notably, the flaw could have let attackers create about 18.45 trillion XRP in a single transaction, potentially breaching the network’s original 100 billion token supply cap.
Researchers from US-based cybersecurity startup Veria Labs discovered the flaw using an artificial intelligence-powered security agent, which developed a working exploit in a local test environment. The vulnerability had remained undetected in the XRPL’s payment-processing code since 2015.
In an October 12 report, the researchers warned that the flaw could have put XRP’s reported $94 billion market value at risk. The vulnerability involved an integer overflow in XRPL’s payment engine. When a transaction processed multiple decentralized exchange orders, the software could incorrectly calculate the total XRP required to settle them.
This allowed sellers to receive the full amounts associated with their orders while the buyer was charged substantially less. A second arithmetic error in the ledger’s supply-protection mechanism could then prevent the transaction from being rejected.
Veria Labs estimated that a single successful transaction could create more than 184 times XRPL’s original XRP supply. The researchers also said the attack could be repeated under the right conditions.
“An attacker could have created spendable XRP far beyond the total supply in a single validated transaction,” Veria Labs stated.
The firm reported the vulnerability on September 22, 2026. The fix was merged the following day, and the emergency software release, rippled 3.4.1, arrived on September 25.
The response bypassed XRPL’s standard amendment process, which generally requires support from more than 80% of trusted validators over two weeks.
For context, developers opted for an immediate software update because publishing the patch while waiting for the usual approval process could have exposed the vulnerability to attackers before the network was fully protected. The disclosure says more than 80% of default validators upgraded on release day.
The disclosure follows a separate August security incident in which an attacker stole approximately $200,000 from the tx XRPL cross-chain bridge. The attack involved software that incorrectly recognized transactions as deposits even though the corresponding XRP had not reached the bridge’s reserves.
The bridge operator subsequently halted the service and addressed the vulnerability.
That said, on Sunday XRPL developers announced plans to strengthen security testing through mandatory retesting of fixed vulnerabilities before releases and expanded AI-assisted bug detection.
“Together with RippleX and the community, we will ensure the XRP Ledger is protected against such vulnerabilities. This means radically applying Formal Verification and AI adversarial testing, collaborating closely with security researchers, and strengthening the bug bounty program.” They stated on X.

XRP has climbed 70% from its previous accumulation zone, according to market analyst Crypto Patel, who says the $1 to $1.20 range is critical to the top altcoin’s next major move.
Source: Crypto Patel
Presently trading at $1.37 per CoinGecko data, XRP is well above the accumulation zone between $0.75 and $0.95 identified by Crypto Patel.
Notably, the analyst has identified the $1 to $1.20 zone as a potential re-entry zone, depending on whether XRP can hold support around the psychologically important $1 level.
If bulls successfully defend this threshold, the cryptocurrency could resume its upward trajectory, with long-term targets of $10 and $20.
Nevertheless, if XRP loses the $1 support level, Crypto Patel expects a wait-and-see approach to take center stage, as a potential return to the earlier accumulation zone could trigger instead of chasing the price lower.
As price action continues to play out in the XRP market, whales are watching from the sidelines, contemplating the next move, as reported by ZyCrypto.
Decade-Old XRP Ledger Vulnerability Raises Security Questions
The XRP Ledger is drawing notable attention after researchers discovered a serious security vulnerability dating back to 2015.
At the nick of time, researchers demonstrated a flaw that could have let attackers create and spend XRP without properly funding it, threatening the network’s fixed supply of 100 billion tokens. Reports indicated the exploit could have enabled the creation of as much as 18 trillion XRP.
An emergency software fix was released on September 25 after researchers demonstrated the exploit, and Ripple said there was no evidence the vulnerability had been exploited on public networks.
Therefore, the disclosure underscores the importance of ongoing security reviews as blockchain networks evolve.

Bitcoin whales are taking advantage of the recent price dip, accumulating thousands of coins as the apex cryptocurrency eyes renewed bullish momentum.
As a result, this buying spree has put a potential recovery back on the radar, although Bitcoin must overcome a key resistance level before a sustained rally can take shape.
According to renowned market analyst Ali Martinez, Bitcoin whales accumulated 16,010 BTC over five days as the price fell from $87,000 toward $80,000. In the process, their combined holdings rose from 5,247,316 BTC to 5,263,326 BTC, a 0.305% increase during the decline.
Source: Ali Martinez
What can be deduced from this accumulation? Well, large holders may be using the pullback to increase their exposure rather than rushing to sell.
Bitcoin Faces Key Resistance at $84,569
Martinez identified $84,569 as the level Bitcoin needs to reclaim to strengthen the bullish outlook.
Source: Ali Martinez
On-chain data indicates that nearly 800,000 BTC previously changed hands around this price, creating a substantial supply zone where investors may look to sell as the market recovers.
Therefore, a decisive move above this level could signal that buyers are absorbing the available selling pressure. If Bitcoin also maintains support along the lower boundary of its rising price channel, the next upside targets sit around $89,000 and $94,000.
Meanwhile, leading on-chain analytics provider Glassnode recently noted that Bitcoin briefly climbed above $85,000 on thin volume and limited fresh capital inflows before retreating. Combined spot exchange and U.S. ETF trading volume averaged just $6.8 billion daily, lower than 90% of days since early 2024.
Based on Martinez’s analysis, $84,569 is the immediate hurdle Bitcoin must clear, with the price at $83,217 per CoinGecko data.
Meanwhile, South Korea’s Jeonbuk Bank has begun offering corporate borrowers Korean won loans backed by Bitcoin held through a specialist custodian.
Well, this initiative marks a notable development in the country’s crypto-backed lending market, allowing businesses to access operating funds without the bank directly holding the pledged Bitcoin.

Global banking giant Standard Chartered announced institutional support for Ripple USD (RLUSD) in Dubai as financial firms continue their stablecoin drive. The bank is also working on a partnership between LMAX Group and Ripple to let customers use RLUSD as eligible collateral.
Standard Chartered Expands Stablecoin Offerings
In a recent press release, the bank disclosed new digital asset services for institutional clients and an ongoing plan still in development. Standard Chartered will offer a dollar-pegged asset to institutional investors in Dubai, allowing them to trade without a centralized exchange.
The DIFC branch offers the service and handles a key part of institutional crypto trading. Custody has been a recurring theme for financial firms entering the digital asset market. Meanwhile, holders, especially whales, have shown a preference for institutional custody because it lowers associated risks.
Waqar Chaudry, Global Head of Digital Assets at Standard Chartered, echoed similar sentiments, pointing to overall market safety and how assets are deployed.
“Institutional clients want to participate in digital asset markets without compromising on how their assets are safeguarded or how risk is managed. The ecosystem must therefore make it easier for clients to hold assets securely, access liquidity and deploy collateral efficiently within trusted frameworks.”
The bank also plans to integrate with LMAX Group to make RLUSD eligible for certain LMAX products. This stage aims to combine its institutional-grade market structure with the bank’s custody capabilities.
Overall, institutional investors will have added flexibility because the platform mirrors the value of eligible collateral without transferring the RLUSD. Per the announcement, it reduces transfer-related operational costs while improving capital efficiency.
“By agreeing to adopt Standard Chartered’s collateral mirroring model, we are providing clients with greater flexibility in how they hold and deploy RLUSD across our cross-asset marketplace, while supporting the custody and risk management standards institutions expect,” Luke Dorney, Head of Custody, Digital Assets, LMAX Group, noted.
This partnership remains subject to testing, regulations, and other requirements, but it could change how those institutional clients handle cryptocurrencies. XRP holders have lauded the bank and other partners since the stablecoin launched in 2024.
Stablecoins remain a major entry point for major traditional finance firms, offering safer options while acting as bridge assets. Last year, several firms launched new offerings and pilots citing the need to explore new global payment systems.

Stellar (XLM) is making a strong case in the real-world asset (RWA) tokenization market after the total value of tokenized assets on its network climbed to a record $3.5 billion.
As a result, Stellar has elbowed out competitors such as Solana, the XRP Ledger, and Avalanche, as competition for institutional adoption reaches fever pitch.
According to data from RWA Foundation and Token Terminal, net inflows into Stellar-based investment funds reached $17.1 million, outperforming Ethereum’s $16 million and Polygon’s $5.9 million.
Source: RWA Foundation
What do these latest figures show? They show Stellar’s growing activity as financial institutions and investors explore blockchain-based investment products.
The network’s expansion has been particularly striking over the past year. Stellar’s total RWA value has increased by approximately 360%, rising from $895 million a year ago to $3.5 billion.
More notably, this growth has helped propel the blockchain to third place globally in real-world assets under management, behind only Ethereum and BNB Chain.
IMF Research Puts XRP and XLM in the Spotlight
Taking on X, Crypto researcher SMQKE has added another twist by highlighting International Monetary Fund (IMF) research on how tokenization could reshape financial systems by moving assets and liabilities onto programmable distributed ledgers.
More importantly, including both XLM and XRP in the analysis draws renewed attention to their potential roles in the evolving tokenization landscape.
The report also includes a figure titled “Layers of Concentration in Tokenized Market Infrastructure,” comparing tokenized value across several blockchain networks, including Stellar, the XRP Ledger, Solana and BNB Chain.
Meanwhile, Stellar also gained another point of visibility in traditional financial markets last month after the CME Group announced that it had plans to expand its cryptocurrency futures offerings to include Stellar, alongside other digital assets, with flexible contract sizes.
This development was a major point since it offers market participants another regulated avenue for gaining exposure to XLM price movements.

Cardano (ADA) is attracting renewed bullish attention because its current price structure resembles the setup that preceded its explosive rally in 2020.
According to Javon Marks’ analysis, ADA continues to extend higher after establishing a significant post-breakout base, drawing comparisons to its previous bullish cycle. As a result, the developing structure resembles the pattern Cardano formed in 2020 before embarking on a powerful rally.
Source: Javon Marks
The market analyst maintains a price target of $2.90, which he says would represent a gain of more than 960% from the price level referenced in his analysis.
Well, if this sees the light of day, it would make Cardano a notable recovery candidate in the crypto scene.
Another analyst, Jordan, recently outlined an even more ambitious comeback scenario, suggesting Cardano could eventually reclaim its all-time high of approximately $3.10 with the current price standing at $0.2516 per CoinGecko data.
Cardano’s On-Chain Activity Shows Fresh Momentum
On-chain activity on the Cardano network provides another reason for optimism. Santiment Intelligence reported that ADA’s daily active addresses climbed to about 27,500 on October 7 and 27,200 on October 8, roughly 1.7 times the average weekday level recorded in September, suggesting stronger user engagement.
Source: Santiment Intelligence
Although Cardano’s on-chain activity remains below the late-August peak, the latest readings suggest network participation is recovering.
Meanwhile, Cardano’s ambitions to develop a .ada internet domain are adding another dimension to its ecosystem strategy, with reports of whale activity reaching a four-month high also drawing attention.

RippleX and the XRP Ledger Foundation fixed a major security bug that, if exploited, could have printed an unlimited amount of assets. The fix, however, has raised community questions about security, network centralization, and more.
Ripple Backs Emergency Upgrade Amid Criticisms
The team revealed the fixed vulnerability on the network without it being exploited on a public blockchain. It traces to a critical integer overflow bug that lets bad actors create more XRP, breaking its fixed supply.
Balances are stored as 64-bit integers, and when a sum exceeds, it wraps to a smaller number rather than fail. This creates a problem where the hacker initiates a buy for large assets and only makes a single payment. Owners receive the full amount, but the attacker is charged only once, creating new tokens in the process.
Per the developers, the issue dates back to 2015, was first reported as finding F48 in the Sherlock Attackathon, and was rated low severity. It was reported through a recent bug bounty program and fixed, with about 80% of validators upgrading.
“During impact assessment, Mayukha Vadari (RippleX) found that the gap also created a consensus risk between server versions, because the accepted wrapper set depended on which fields each version defined. This raised the severity from low to a pre-activation blocker.”
Despite the fix preventing attacks that could have printed several assets, critics said the process proves XRP isn’t as decentralized as it claims. Justin Bons, founder of Cyber Capital, said marketing XRP as decentralized is straight-up fraud.
Previously, Ripple has also come under fire on centralization concerns, although it consistently rejects all allegations. The team explained that a normal would have taken two weeks and was the first deliberate bypass of an amendment process since introduction over ten years.
They argued that RippleX, core developers, backed the decision to skip normal processes, not one party alone. Furthermore, it received over 80% validator support, as several operators underscored.
Independent validator XRP Kuwait in a statement on X backed the move differentiating between coordination and control in certain situations. Similarly, other users supported the upgrade because of the danger of a delay. Meanwhile, others within the community called for wider bug programs to prevent a hack that could dampen sentiment.

The Solana Foundation announced an open-source program, Solana DvP, that lets institutions settle trades in seconds rather than days. Global banking firm JPMorgan contributed to the build, providing institutional settlement practices, with devs stressing compliance.
Solana Debuts Single Atomic Transactions
The open-source program will give banks an alternative for settling transactions on the network through a standardized API. According to the foundation, payments now exchange hands with ease, removing previous bottlenecks.
Institutions have tested the waters with smart contract trades that generated buzz due to industry leanings toward tokenization. However, Solana DvP was released under the MIT license and created a réusable standard.
Catherine Gu, Solana’s Foundation Head of Products for Digital Assets, said atomic technology removes counterparty risk and cuts settlement times from days to seconds. JP Morgan, which contributed to the project, lauded the program as key for institutional growth in any system.
This occurs because Solana DvP compresses the full chain into one atomic transaction. The key is that transactions either go through and settle, or neither ends proceeds.
In traditional markets, it passes through a chain of custodians and clearing houses that extends settlement times.
“Atomic settlement removes counterparty risk that is inherent in traditional finance… with finality in seconds instead of days,” Gu added.
For most users, this approach is pivotal for both traditional finance players and the crypto markets. TradFi gets faster blockchain settlements, while crypto, particularly Solana, gains institutional exposure.
Since the approval of spot Bitcoin ETFs in the United States, altcoin popularity spiked as investors hoped for a similar successful run. The SEC’s green light opened these markets to a new wave of investment, building infrastructure that ultimately serves both markets.
Solana, popularly dubbed an institutional favorite, has bagged strings of positive inflows even when Bitcoin and the wider market were in liquidation mode.
In the same period, Solana has recorded mainstream successes in traditional markets. The digital asset exchange Kraken used the network to offer tokenized stocks to clients, while BlackRock rolled out a tokenized fund that records ownership on Solana.
At the time of writing, Solana trades at $107, down slightly with the broader crypto market.

Solana’s quest to dominate blockchain activity shows no signs of relenting, according to on-chain metrics provider Solana Sensei, which reports the network has accounted for more than 50% of daily total crypto transactions over the past five months.
Source: Blockworks
This momentum has gained steam to the point that Solana recently processed roughly twice as many transactions as all other major chains combined, reflecting growing demand for its ecosystem and its ability to handle substantial transaction volumes.
Will Solana’s Major Support Hold?
On the price action front, Solana is navigating an important technical level, with market analyst Wealthmanager pointing out that the 7th-largest cryptocurrency by market cap is pulling back toward a support zone that ought to be given a keen eye.
Source: Wealthmanager
After reaching a high of $126, SOL has formed a series of lower highs and is now drifting toward the same support area.
Per CoinGecko data, Solana is trading at $118, putting it in a critical position: if it defends the support zone, the broader bullish structure will remain intact and could give buyers another chance to push the price higher.
Nevertheless, a decisive breakdown could set up a deeper correction.
On the other hand, attention is also turning toward Solana’s $100 support wall since more than 40 million SOL have changed hands around this price region, making it a delicate demand zone.
Therefore, the $100-$118 region could determine whether the current pullback becomes a healthy reset or the beginning of a deeper correction.
Meanwhile, leading meme coin Shiba Inu (SHIB) recently went live on Solana, creating new opportunities for liquidity, users, and trading activity across the blockchain. This development was significant: SHIB’s trading volume surged 199%, reflecting heightened interest in the expansion.

After consolidating in a tightening technical pattern, XRP may be eyeing a decisive move, according to renowned market analyst Ali Martinez.
Taking on X, formerly Twitter, Martinez said the 5th-largest cryptocurrency by market cap may be inching toward a bullish push as price action moves toward the apex of a triangle formation.
The analyst also pointed out that XRP whales have remained largely inactive over the past week. Their combined holdings have hovered around 3.90 billion XRP, showing no significant accumulation or distribution during the period.
What can be deduced from this development? Well, while the lack of whale activity suggests caution, the tightening price structure could soon force a larger move.
Martinez also believes traders should watch the $1.53 level closely, since a close above it could trigger a bullish breakout to $1.62.
Per CoinGecko data, XRP is trading at $1.40, just below the decisive level that could trigger renewed bullish momentum.
What’s the Broader XRP Picture?
Veteran analyst Peter Brandt has delved deeper into XRP’s technical structure, noting that it is forming a potential cup-and-handle pattern, a structure often associated with bullish continuation.
If this setup plays out, Brandt has pointed to $2.16 as a potential price target for XRP.
Source: Peter Brandt
Adding to the bullish narrative, trader Crypto Michael recently urged XRP bulls to prepare for what he describes as “a lot of green.” The trader previously highlighted XRP’s breakout from a seven-year pennant in 2024, before the altcoin eventually pushed above $3 later that year.

Over $50 billion has moved into the wider cryptocurrency market this year, according to a JPMorgan report released on Friday. The JPMorgan research team said the inflows have reached $50 billion so far this year.
The $50 billion inflow YTD supported by institutions
As per the report, crypto assets have pulled in $50 billion in capital inflows this year (year-to-date). This record puts the market on an annualized rate of $66 billion, now higher than the $52 billion pace seen in May. The rise suggests investor demand is expanding beyond institutional treasury purchases and venture funding that drove the first six months of the year.
In the early months of 2026, Strategy’s strong Bitcoin buying and crypto venture capital investment drove most of the market’s fresh money inflows. However, the report found that crypto ETFs suppressed capital inflows because of massive withdrawals in May and June. Nevertheless, that momentum shifted in August, as ETF participation bounced back and optimism returned in the third quarter, the data noted.
Q4 market outlook and breakout signal
The JPMorgan report also noted a substantial shift in Q3, as both ETF capital inflows and futures contracts (held by market participants) expanded. As JPMorgan analysts noted, heavy ETF inflows and futures positioning (seen in Q3) are fueling stronger enthusiasm as the market enters Q4. This is evidenced by increased engagement from both institutional investors and individual clients, a larger customer base than the corporate treasury purchasing activity seen in the first half of the year.
This final quarter of 2026 could be one of the most significant periods for the digital asset market this year, the JPMorgan report hinted. Bitcoin and Ether entered Q4 with a strong-third quarter recovery. This is reflected in institutional money returning, altcoins attracting capital, stablecoin applications continuing to rise, and tokenized traditional assets moving closer to on-chain markets. These catalysts make the fourth quarter an interesting season as Bitcoin battles for $90,000.
The crypto market shows robust structural resilience as it navigates through October. Bitcoin remains firm around $83,000, Ethereum trades steadily above $2,500, and Solana shows strong momentum above $109. These green performances suggest rising institutional appetite and improving macro liquidity. Together, they suggest the broader crypto market is on the verge of a major breakout as it enters the final quarter of the year.

XRP faces fresh scrutiny after Cyber Capital founder Justin Bons ignited a firestorm over the network’s decentralization, accusing the XRP ecosystem of misleading retail investors.
In a blistering critique, Bons questioned Ripple’s influence over the XRP Ledger, citing a controversial software update and validator-list controls as evidence the network may be far more centralized than its supporters claim. His explosive allegations have reignited a long-running debate over who really holds the power behind XRP.
Bons Rips Into XRP Over Closed-Source Code
Justin Bons has launched a fierce attack on XRP’s decentralization claims, arguing that marketing the network as decentralized while retail investors remain unaware of its alleged limitations is deeply misleading. He even called it “straight-up fraud,” escalating the long-running debate over how much control Ripple and other influential entities hold over the XRP Ledger.
At the heart of Bons’ criticism is a software update that he claims has kept XRP running closed-source code for roughly two weeks. With the update expected to become mandatory on October 9, he warns that validators who refuse to comply could risk being excluded from the network. In his view, the situation raises serious questions about validator independence and who ultimately determines the rules governing the XRP Ledger.
The pundit also challenged the argument that withholding the code was necessary to address a critical security vulnerability. He pointed to Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana as examples of networks where developers can urge validators to install urgent updates while making the corresponding source code available without immediately disclosing the vulnerability’s details.
According to Bons, this approach strikes a better balance between protecting a network from potential exploits and maintaining transparency. He warned that closed-source binaries carry their own risks because validators cannot independently inspect the code before running it, potentially leaving them exposed to malicious changes. For the Cyber Capital founder, open-source transparency is a fundamental safeguard that security should not overlook.
Bons’ Final Blow at XRP Targets Ripple’s Token Supply and Centralization Claims
Bons says the XRP software controversy exposes a deeper problem: what he calls a Proof of Authority (PoA) model that gives Ripple and the XRP Ledger Foundation outsized influence through their recommended validator lists.
He argues that this influence undermines XRP’s decentralization claims, placing the network closer to the centralized end of the blockchain spectrum than investors may realize.
Bons also targeted Ripple’s transparency, comparing XRP to Canton and accusing the company of misleading investors about how decentralized the network really is.
Bons concluded by framing the controversy as part of what he sees as a broader pattern of deception surrounding XRP. He also criticized Ripple’s large share of the token supply and its periodic public sales, arguing that concerns over centralization are compounded by its closed-source code. He warned that concentrated control can create risks for network participants, reigniting questions about transparency, accountability, and trust in the XRP Ledger.