Author: Monicah W

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.

Coinbase exchange’s Chief Legal Officer (CLO), Paul Grewal, has called attention to the role of blockchain transparency in helping law enforcement trace stolen funds and respond to the growing form of street-level crime. This update becomes necessary as digital crimes have taken a sharp turn recently, with criminals now targeting mobile devices instead of cash or cards. 

Coinbase and Efforts to Fight Street Crime

In a detailed report, the Coinbase CLO shared how street crimes have taken a different turn. Criminals now target mobile phones instead of wallets or cards. By stealing unlocked phones, they gain quick access to victims’ financial apps, including banking, payment services, and crypto-wallets. Paul Grewal noted that these crimes are no longer rare or futuristic. They are already happening in cities across the world.

According to the update, the crypto exchange has worked closely with law enforcement to investigate such cases. Once a criminal accesses a phone, funds can be moved within minutes.

However, crypto leaves a visible record, unlike cash, which disappears without a trace. Every transaction is recorded publicly on the blockchain, allowing Coinbase to trace stolen funds, report patterns, and help identify those responsible.

Paul Grewal also stressed that Coinbase is not acting in isolation. Other major exchanges, including Binance, are actively improving their systems. Binance, for instance, has introduced stronger verification checks and is collaborating more closely with enforcement agencies. These efforts reflect a growing understanding that the crypto space must fight crime proactively.

Beyond Coinbase, Crypto Exchanges Follow The Trend

While Coinbase focuses on tracing and investigations, other exchanges are strengthening their security structures. 

Bybit recently partnered with Zodia Custody to safeguard its institutional clients from scams. Reports noted that their new arrangement keeps funds separate from the main exchange but still available for trading.

This method reduces internal risks and protects investors from failures or misuse within the exchange. 

Binance has taken similar steps to improve security and compliance. The exchange has boosted its know-your-customer process and increased cooperation with law enforcement worldwide.

Crypto Crime Evolution

It is important to stress that digital theft is evolving quickly. For example, a stolen phone now grants criminals full access to someone’s financial life. It gets more complicated as criminals no longer need stolen cards. 

This is because they can empty a person’s bank account, transfer crypto, and even change passwords. 

Still, the transparency of the blockchain is proving to be a useful defence. Every move is recorded and traceable. For context, this was how some of the funds were traceable when Bybit suffered a hack worth $1.4 billion in February.

In addition, with stronger partnerships and tighter controls, the crypto industry is beginning to turn the tide on crime, using the tools built into the system to protect users and uphold trust.

The post Coinbase CLO Spotlights Blockchain Transparency In Fight Against Crime appeared first on CoinGape.

Decentralized blockchain oracle network Chainlink (LINK) is again in the spotlight amid price discovery. According to reports, large amounts of LINK have exited crypto exchanges over the past month. The movement totals over $120 million and draws attention from analysts, traders, and the wider crypto community. 

LINK Exchange Outflows Raise Eyebrows

According to blockchain analytics platform IntoTheBlock on X, Chainlink has seen over $120 million of LINK withdrawn from exchanges over the last 30 days. The data, backed by charts, points to a clear trend: more LINK now leaves trading platforms than is entering.

It is worth noting that this type of market behavior is often recognized as a sign that holders are moving their assets to cold wallets or private storage. Based on historical trends, it also means that investors plan to hold for the long term, rather than selling in the short term. A lower LINK supply on exchanges can also set the stage for a potential price increase, especially if demand matches up.

While this exchange trend shows positive accumulation, LINK whale selloffs are also not uncommon in the industry. A mix of exchange withdrawals and selloffs helps the oracle maintain the needed liquidity balance.

Chainlink Price Amid Bitcoin-Led Rally

As Bitcoin leads the broader market, LINK is also riding the bullish trend. Chainlink price recently surpassed the $12.50 support threshold, which has shaped its price momentum in the short term.

Earlier this year, renowned crypto analyst CRYPTOWZRD pointed out that this price point has demonstrated fundamental resistance during previous periods.

Still, another market analysis suggests that Chainlink could reach $26 by the end of the year. 

However, these numbers are based heavily on Bitcoin’s performance. If Bitcoin sees another major price milestone, Chainlink may feel the ripple effect. Historically, when Bitcoin rallies, altcoins often follow the trend. 

Meanwhile, any market weakness could also slow LINK’s momentum. For now, CoinMarketCap data pegs the price of Chainlink at $13.87, up by 3.42%, with a market capitalization of $13.81 billion.

Ecosystem Is Growing Behind the Scene

While the LINK price and exchange flows gain attention, Chainlink’s broader ecosystem expands.

On April 21, 2025, the Digital Chamber announced that Chainlink Labs has joined its Executive Committee. This move places the project closer to regulatory discussions and helps shape blockchain policy development.

The next day, Monad revealed that Chainlink tools will be available on its mainnet from launch. This includes Chainlink’s data feeds and cross-chain technology. In addition, Chainlink is now working with major players such as Swift, DTCC, and Fidelity. 

These partnerships and their integration with platforms like Aave and Lido show that Chainlink is building more than just price momentum. Another notable development is Chainlink’s push for tokenized real-world assets (RWAs).

Earlier in March, Chainlinked partnered with ADGM, the Abu Dhabi Global Market, to advance tokenization. These ecosystem trends can boost the price of LINK.

The post Over $120 Million Chainlink Exit Exchanges, What Is Happening? appeared first on CoinGape.

Etheruem price retraced below the $1,700 mark on Tuesday, April 22, as bulls struggled to contain an initial 3% rally.

Galaxy Digital pivots to Solana amid Ethereum headwinds

Galaxy Digital has exchanged roughly $106 million worth of Ethereum (ETH) for Solana (SOL), according to blockchain data analytics platform, Lookonchain.

The trades occurred over the past two weeks on Binance, suggesting a significant portfolio reshuffle away from Ethereum.

This move comes as ETH price fell below $1,700 on Tuesday, after intially rallying to a new monthly peak of $1,725 around noon CET.

The firm’s transactions reflect a broader shift in institutional sentiment. Market data shows decreasing Ethereum holdings among large entities, reinforcing the narrative that confidence in ETH may be waning. Galaxy’s portfolio’s reshuffling coincides with a continued decline in Ethereum’s decentralized exchange volumes.

Ethereum dominance declines as scalability challenges persist

Ethereum’s market dominance has dropped to under 7%, marking its lowest point in years. Analysts cite ongoing scalability issues, high gas fees, and lagging Layer 2 adoption as contributors to its weakened position in the crypto ecosystem.

While Ethereum continues to lead in developer activity and protocol TVL, competitors like Solana are gaining traction due to faster transaction speeds and growing ecosystem support. Galaxy Digital’s decision to increase its exposure to SOL could signal broader adoption shifts within institutional portfolios.

Ethereum Price Forecast Today: ETH Faces Resistance Near $1,725, Pullback Towards $1,600 Could Follow

Ethereum price forecast today shows a strong intraday surge, closing at $1,701 after tapping a high of $1,725. However, the move stalls just beneath the upper Bollinger Band at $1,672, suggesting overextension.

The wide Bollinger Bands reflect heightened volatility, and the current candlestick piercing the upper band hints at a short-term overbought condition. Price may retrace toward the midline around $1,607, or further to the lower band near $1,542 if selling pressure intensifies.

Momentum indicators lend additional insight. The MACD histogram has flipped bullish, and the MACD line has crossed above the signal line, indicating short-term upside momentum. Yet, this follows an extended bearish cycle through early April, and the MACD reading remains below zero—an indication that the broader trend still lacks strength.

If Ethereum sustains above $1,725, a breakout toward $1,800 is possible. However, a failure to close above that level would confirm a resistance rejection. In that case, expect sellers to target $1,600 in the near term, especially if market volumes fail to confirm the breakout.

The post Ethereum Price Reverses Below $1,700 as Galaxy Digital Dumps $106M ETH for Solana appeared first on CoinGape.

The post Ethereum Price Analysis Today: key Short-term Targets for ETH to Consider Ahead appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News

• On-chain data shows whales have been accumulating Ether relentlessly in the last few days.

• ETH price has to consistently close above $1,687 in the coming days to invalidate the multi-week correction.

• Ethereum has continued to bleed to Solana, and the trend is likely to continue in the coming months.

Ethereum (ETH) price followed Bitcoin (BTC) in a bullish outlook on Tuesday, April 22, potentially ending a multi-week market correction. The large-cap altcoin, with a fully diluted valuation of about $205 billion, recorded a 36 percent surge in its 24-hour average trading volume to hover about $20B at the time of this writing.

For the first time since April 6, Ether’s price rallied beyond $1.7k on Tuesday during the mid-North American session. 

Ethereum Whales Gradually Returns

According to market data from Intotheblock, Ethereum’s adoption rate has gradually grown, signaling potential decoupling from crazy speculation. The rising tokenization of real-world assets (RWAs) on the Ethereum network has helped increase on-chain activity and attract more whale traders.

On-chain data by Lookonchain shows a whale investor has accumulated 48,477 ETH from crypto exchanges since Feb 15, and is currently sitting on a loss of about $21 million. Meanwhile, cash outflow from U.S. spot Ether ETFs has significantly declined in the past few days, signaling growing market confidence.

Midterm Ether Price Target

For the first time since the second inauguration of U.S. President Donald Trump, Ether price, against the U.S. dollar pierced through the daily falling logarithmic trend. After establishing a robust support level above $1,500 in the past two weeks, Ether’s price is well primed for a market reversal.

From a technical analysis standpoint, the daily MACD indicator is approaching the bullish flippening zone. Meanwhile, the daily Relative Strength Index (RSI) has been forming a bullish divergence and a reversal will be confirmed if the indicator consistently closes above the 50 percent level.

The post Ethereum Price Analysis Today: key Short-term Targets for ETH to Consider Ahead appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
On-chain data shows whales have been accumulating Ether relentlessly in the last few days. ETH price has to consistently close above $1,687 in the coming days to invalidate the multi-week correction. Ethereum has continued to bleed to Solana, and the trend is likely to continue in the coming months. Ethereum (ETH) price followed Bitcoin (BTC) …

The crypto ecosystem is in the spotlight as the price of Bitcoin has fueled an unusual bullish shift for assets like Ripple Labs-linked XRP. With the broad-based rebound, XRP surprisingly saw its liquidation imbalance fade over the past 24 hours. Per data from Coinglass, the asset has seen almost balanced liquidations between long and short traders. Where price is heading now remains to be seen.

The XRP Liquidation Trend

At the time of writing, XRP has seen a mild liquidation of $5.61 million in 24 hours, per Coinglass data. Surprisingly, futures traders have seen less exposure to XRP as altcoins like Solana (SOL), Dogecoin (DOGE), and Fartcoin surge ahead of XRP per daily liquidations.

The data shows that long traders suffered $2.73 million in liquidations, while short position traders suffered a loss of $2.88 million. Meanwhile, the liquidation trend shows that the imbalance has evened out. Notably, the trend shifted in shorter time spans, as short traders suffered more liquidations than long traders in 12 hours.

As the Coinglass data showcases, the shift in the broader market has pushed as many as 108,567 traders into losses as of this writing. Mostly, the uptick registered as Bitcoin reclaimed a 2-week high has shifted the broader market trajectory, even for XRP.

XRP Price Welcomes Multi-Week Breakout

It is worth noting that the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization has rallied by over 3.11% as of writing. The coin now trades for $2.149, the highest level it has traded in about three weeks.

With this latest rally, the coin has pared off its losses over the past week, up 1.37%. Other important metrics are also in the green, signaling a broad-based rally in the market. The trading volume, for instance, has jumped by over 14.56% to $3.07 billion.

Market analysts have predicted a possible rally to $2.7 for the XRP price as Ripple network activity soared 70%. It remains to be seen whether the current momentum can fuel a reboot in the coin’s price.

How High Can Ripple Coin Soar this Month?

Historically, the Ripple Labs-linked digital currency has ended the month of April on a positive note. According to Cryptorank data, the average growth rate of XRP in April is 24.6%. Thus far this month, the top coin has only recorded a 3% growth, implying more room for growth.

If the historical trend plays out again, XRP price may end this month on another bullish note. Notably, this will be the coin’s best performance since at least 2022. Amid the growing clamor for an XRP ETF product with the US SEC, the coin has the right fundamentals to grow.

The post XRP Liquidation Imbalance Fades as Bulls Fuels Price Breakout appeared first on CoinGape.