Altcoin Season 2025 Has Arrived, Santiment Data Shows

Ripple (XRP) price consolidated above $2.15 on Tuesday April 22, as the broader crypto market rallies in response to sell-offs in USD denominated assets.  With Ripple’s legal battle with the SEC nearing resolution and multiple ecosystem upgrades in the pipeline, analysts now suggest that holding XRP might be a smarter play than selling.

Below are five compelling reasons experts are urging investors to hold their XRP, not dump it.

1. Ripple’s Legal Clarity Nears Finality

Ripple Labs’ long-running legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has reached a final resolution, with both parties reach an agreement to pause ongoing appeals.

Industry analysts believe the favorable outcome for Ripple would significantly strengthen XRP’s regulatory status.

The prospect of XRP being definitively classified as a non-security would allow for broader institutional adoption and relisting on major U.S. exchanges—factors that could catalyze a major price breakout.

XRP Ledger (XRPL) Expansion Accelerates with RLUSD Stablecoin Launch and DeFi Innovation

The XRP Ledger is experiencing a surge in utility and adoption, driven by a combination of stablecoin infrastructure and smart contract innovation. Ripple recently announced the launch of RLUSD, a U.S. dollar-backed stablecoin, which will be issued on both XRP Ledger and Ethereum, reinforcing XRPL’s multi-chain compatibility and enterprise-grade credentials.

 Ripple CTO David Schwartz emphasized that RLUSD will bring “trusted liquidity to the XRPL ecosystem,” a move that could attract both fintech platforms and institutional partners looking for stable on-chain settlement options.

In parallel, the launch of the Hooks amendment in XRPL’s beta testnet introduces programmable logic—similar to smart contracts—within native ledger operations. This unlocks a new era of decentralized applications (dApps) for payments, identity, and asset issuance directly on XRPL.

 Analysts see this expansion as a foundation for sustained demand for XRP tokens and long-term network growth.

3. Cross-Border Payments Demand Is Surging Again

XRP’s original value proposition—instant, low-cost cross-border payments—is gaining new relevance as traditional payment corridors face regulatory headwinds and rising fees. Ripple’s On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) product, powered by XRP, is already operational in over 70 countries.

As Ripple expands into new corridors across Africa, Southeast Asia, and Latin America, the demand for XRP as a liquidity bridge continues to climb. Notably, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) recently cited blockchain-based payments as key to future financial inclusivity—an indirect endorsement of Ripple’s model.

4. Institutional Interest Is Quietly Building

While retail sentiment has been mixed, on-chain data shows a steady accumulation of XRP among institutional wallets over the past two quarters. Recent partnerships with banks in the Middle East, as well as pilot programs in Europe, show that institutional actors continue to view XRP as a long-term strategic asset.

With more banks adopting RippleNet for payment settlements and clearing, experts predict that XRP’s use case will become indispensable in a digitized financial system.

5. XRP Weekly Technical Analysis Highlights $3.20 Long-term Target

XRP price forecast remains moderately bullish as the cryptocurrency consolidates near $2.15, showing early signs of a potential breakout. The weekly chart reveals a tightening price range within the Keltner Channel, with Ripple price stabilizing just above the mid-line at $2.14.

This level now acts as immediate support, offering a springboard toward the upper resistance band at $3.09—a target that aligns with historical breakout behavior.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) prints at 52.45, slightly below its 14-week average of 59.84. While this hints at lingering consolidation, the RSI has flattened after a prolonged decline, suggesting bearish momentum is weakening. If RSI crosses above 60 in the coming weeks, it would validate renewed bullish pressure. Price action is also respecting higher lows despite broader market volatility, underscoring structural resilience.

However, if XRP breaks below $2.14 and breaches the lower Keltner boundary at $1.19, downside risk could accelerate. For now, XRP price forecast leans bullish, with the chart structure favoring accumulation over liquidation in anticipation of a macro breakout toward $3.09.

The post Thinking of Selling XRP? Expert Reveals 5 Compelling Reasons to Hold Right Now appeared first on CoinGape.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has again opposed the idea of a Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC). He stated that he would not favor a move by the Federal Reserve to create one, calling it a sign of weakness.

Scott Bessent Opposes The Fed Creating A CBDC

While testifying before the House appropriations subcommittee, the US Treasury Secretary spoke against the idea of the Fed creating a digital currency. He called it a sign of weakness, noting that digital assets belong in the private sector.

This isn’t the first time that Scott Bessent has spoken against creating a CBDC. During his nomination hearing, he remarked that digital currencies are for countries with no other investment alternatives. The US Secretary also noted that countries like China have considered creating one, but there was no need for the US to create one.

US President Donald Trump has also shown that he doesn’t support the Fed creating a CBDC. Following his inauguration in January, the President signed an executive order prohibiting agencies from working towards establishing and issuing central bank digital currencies.

So far, Jerome Powell and the Fed have shown no indication of creating a CBDC, which Scott Bessent opposes. Instead, the Fed Chair has only called for stablecoin regulations to manage these cryptocurrencies as their use cases increase.

As Coingape reported, the US Senate will likely vote on the stablecoin bill before May 26. If passed, it would become the first major crypto regulation in the US. The US House is still deliberating on its version of the stablecoin legislation at the committee level, with key members like Rep Maxine Waters objecting to the bill.

Meanwhile, the crypto community is still waiting for Scott Bessent and the US Treasury to release their report on the proposed US Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. The Treasury is meant to outline a comprehensive plan for managing this reserve using the seized assets.

The post Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent Calls FED CBDC – ‘Sign Of Weakness’ appeared first on CoinGape.

The post Pi Network News: Pi Coin Nears $1 Ahead of Massive 188 Million Token Unlock appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

After weeks of slow movement, Pi Coin made a strong comeback, jumping more than 25% in just one day. The price soared past $0.75 and is now sitting at $0.72, making it the top-performing major altcoin today. In the past 24 hours alone, Pi is up nearly 30%, with a 52% gain over the last 90 days.

The market is showing strong signs of optimism, with analysts pointing to a possible rise to $1 if this momentum continues. Technical indicators also look positive — the 10-day SMA (simple moving average) just crossed over, and the RSI (relative strength index) suggests a bullish trend. Pi Coin also hit a weekly high of $0.78, pushing its market cap beyond $5 billion.

Adding to the excitement, the Pi Network recently launched the Pi Ad Network, giving developers a new way to make money from their apps and boosting Pi’s real-world use. This is seen as a big move toward building a stronger, more useful ecosystem.

However, not everything is smooth sailing. A major unlock of 188 million PI tokens is expected in the next 30 days, according to PiScan. This could create selling pressure on the market. Also, while 87% of the community supports a Binance listing, the exchange has not yet taken action.

Even with the recent launch of the Pi Network’s mainnet, trading volume has dropped by 44%, signaling mixed investor interest.

What’s next?

All eyes are on the upcoming token unlock and whether Binance and other major exchanges will list Pi. These events could play a big role in shaping the coin’s future price.

The post Pi Network News: Pi Coin Nears $1 Ahead of Massive 188 Million Token Unlock appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
After weeks of slow movement, Pi Coin made a strong comeback, jumping more than 25% in just one day. The price soared past $0.75 and is now sitting at $0.72, making it the top-performing major altcoin today. In the past 24 hours alone, Pi is up nearly 30%, with a 52% gain over the last …