Could XRP really reach $1,000? While this may sound far-fetched to many, Jake Claver, director at Digital Ascension Group, said it is possible. He said that if XRP becomes the global standard for cross-border payments and financial settlements, such a price wouldn’t just be a dream, but a requirement.
Why a Higher Price is Necessary
In an interview, Claver explains that for XRP to manage global liquidity demands, it must be valued significantly higher than where it stands today. The idea is simple. If XRP is to be used by financial institutions to move trillions of dollars across borders, it must have the price strength to do so without creating unnecessary friction or inefficiency.
Ripple’s Long-Term Strategy
Ripple isn’t just working on payments. The company has been quietly assembling a full-fledged financial ecosystem. It has acquired a crypto exchange, a broker-dealer, and a custody firm. It has also partnered with global institutions like SBI Holdings, R3, and Santander. Ripple is clearly building toward becoming a major infrastructure player in the digital financial world.
What About Decentralization?
Many critics say Ripple controls XRP, but Claver argues that the XRP Ledger is far more decentralized than people realize. The network of validators includes not only Ripple but also independent institutions like universities, banks, and other trusted entities. Even organizations like the SEC are part of the broader validator discussion. This decentralization could be a key reason regulators eventually favor XRP.
Looking Ahead to 2026
According to Claver, we may see Ripple’s full vision unfold around 2026. With its licensing, global partnerships, and growing utility, XRP could step into the spotlight as a true bridge asset connecting the global financial system.
Pi Network has just launched a major update that unlocks Mainnet wallets for a broader user base. Now, anyone who has even partially completed Pi’s KYC process can activate their Mainnet wallet—no need to wait for full migration.
This move marks a pivotal step in Pi Network’s journey, allowing verified users to start using Pi directly in apps, participate in local peer-to-peer trading, and join community-driven events such as the highly anticipated .pi domain name auction.
Newly released features enable more verified people to have Mainnet wallets to directly participate in Mainnet utilities! Learn more https://t.co/oWEMRkKITt
Mainnet wallet activation features are now available for identity-verified individuals—including millions of fully and…
Until now, accessing the Pi Mainnet wallet required full completion of the migration process—a lengthy step involving identity checks and technical verifications. This new update decouples wallet activation from migration, meaning users who have passed any stage of KYC can now immediately engage with the Pi ecosystem.
Despite this simplified access, strict KYC standards remain in place, maintaining the platform’s focus on security and user authenticity.
Third-Party Wallet Access Now Available for Non-Users
One of the most groundbreaking parts of the update is its third-party onboarding capability. New users who were never part of Pi Network’s mining phase can now get their own Mainnet wallets via verified third-party platforms.
Services like Banxa, which is now KYB-verified, offer streamlined KYC checks that allow newcomers to enter the ecosystem quickly—no mining or migration needed. This dramatically lowers the entry barrier for global users.
Boosting Ecosystem Growth and Real-World Utility
This update isn’t just about wallets—it’s about ecosystem expansion. With more users gaining access, developers and Pi-based app creators can expect increased traffic, more transactions, and richer feedback loops to improve app functionality.
In addition, Pi Network is now piloting KYC delegation to trusted third parties, paving the way for faster, more scalable user onboarding, key to achieving real-world adoption at scale.
A More Inclusive Future for Pi Network
Pi Network is breaking barriers and accelerating access. With Mainnet wallets now open to both Pioneers and new users, the network is positioning itself for exponential growth and wider utility across its blockchain applications.
Whether you’re a long-time user or just discovering Pi, this update opens the door to real engagement with Pi’s blockchain-powered ecosystem.
Never Miss a Beat in the Crypto World!
Stay ahead with breaking news, expert analysis, and real-time updates on the latest trends in Bitcoin, altcoins, DeFi, NFTs, and more.
The post Pi Network Mainnet Wallets Now Available Without Full Migration appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
Pi Network has just launched a major update that unlocks Mainnet wallets for a broader user base. Now, anyone who has even partially completed Pi’s KYC process can activate their Mainnet wallet—no need to wait for full migration. This move marks a pivotal step in Pi Network’s journey, allowing verified users to start using Pi …
Chainlink announced today that it’s partnering with Mastercard, allowing billions of cardholders to purchase crypto directly on-chain. The companies’ new infrastructure will indirectly interface clients with multiple DEXs.
In addition to these two leaders, several other companies, such as ZeroHash, Swapper Finance, Shift4, and XSwap, are joining the endeavor. Uniswap has agreed to participate as a DEX directly interfacing with the platform.
By partnering with Mastercard, Chainlink will be able to turbocharge this overarching strategy. Essentially, this will combine an industry standard for interoperability with billions of potential users:
We’re excited to announce that Chainlink and @Mastercard have partnered to enable billions of cardholders to purchase crypto directly onchain.https://t.co/1pKz03jQ7t
To be clear, these companies are formidable, but Chainlink and Mastercard can’t build this kind of infrastructure on their own.
The two firms have partnered with several ancillary companies, like Swapper Finance, Shift4, Zerohash, and more to provide liquidity, execute smart contracts, power the underlying platform, and perform other such functions.
As a result, these companies’ combined result is quite formidable. As Chris Barrett, Chainlink’s Head of Communications, put it, Mastercard clients will be able to integrate with major decentralized exchanges.
Uniswap is already participating in the program. This will give Mastercard’s enormous user base access to a very broad range of available cryptoassets.
Chainlink’s Mastercard Infrastructure. Source: Chris Barrett
Mastercard has ventured into the crypto industry before, but this Chainlink partnership is on a whole new level. Raj Dhamodharan, the firm’s Executive Vice President of Blockchain and digital Assets, called the new infrastructure a way to “revolutionize on-chain commerce” and drive global crypto adoption.
Although Chainlink’s LINK token isn’t directly involved in the Mastercard partnership, it still stands to benefit. Despite hitting a monthly low earlier this week, the token’s price has skyrocketed in the last few hours, recovering around 8% since yesterday.
The platform for this massive crypto expansion is already live, allowing users to experiment with this new infrastructure layer. Chainlink and Mastercard have their work cut out for them, setting some extremely ambitious goals.
If even a fraction of the credit card company’s users participate in the program, it could enable truly massive crypto adoption.
Bitcoin’s price rose 2.6% on Sunday, March 23, crossing the $86,000 mark after a three-day consolidation around $84,000. With growing market optimism following the recent Fed rate pause, speculative BTC traders deployed increased leverage over the weekend. Will BTC advance above $90,000, or will it reverse to $80,000 in the week ahead?
Bitcoin (BTC) Retakes $85,500 After Three-Day Consolidation
After a prolonged consolidation phase, Bitcoin (BTC) made a major recovery bounce on Sunday. Following Trump’s appearance at Blockworks’ Digital Asset Summit, many short-term traders opted to take profits on their BTC holdings.
Despite the decline, Bitcoin continues to find buyers, as the recent U.S. Fed rate pause announced on Wednesday prompted macro-sensitive capital to flow toward risky assets.
Bitcoin price action, March, 24 2025
Bullish tailwinds from the Fed rate pause counteracted the downward pressure from profit-taking, leading to a three-day stalemate at the $84,000 level since Thursday.
However, as sell-side pressure subsided, BTC price recorded a major breakout above $86,000 on Sunday, March 23. The chart above shows how BTC rose 2.6%, hitting a daily peak of $85,600.
BTC Options Volume nears $800M as Whales Return After Fed Rate Pause
Bitcoin price demonstrated remarkable resilience consolidating around $84,000 over the past three days, as macro-sensitive institutional investors reassess their stance on U.S. economic policies.
Earlier this month, fears of inflationary pressure from Trump’s proposed tariffs triggered a cautious retreat from risk assets, including Bitcoin. However, with recent CPI and PPI reports showing inflation cooling and the Federal Reserve opting to pause rate hikes, large investors appear to be re-entering the market.
This shift in sentiment is reflected in broader financial markets. The S&P 500 surged by 32 points following the Fed rate pause, signalling renewed risk appetite. As Bitcoin mirrors this trend, it has seen a sharp uptick in speculative trading activity from large investors.
Validating this stance, Coinglass derivatives market data shows BTC’s options trading volume skyrocketed 24% in the last 24 hours, pushing total volume above $793 million.
Bitcoin Derivatives Market Analysis, March 24 | Coinglass
What Does 24% Options Trading Surge Mean for Bitcoin Price Action This Week?
Options trading is a derivatives market strategy that allows traders to bet on the future price movements of an asset without directly purchasing it. This technique is particularly popular among institutional investors and whales because leverage enables traders to control large positions with relatively small capital, amplifying returns, especially during periods of market volatility.
Given that options trading volume surged 24% over the last day, it suggests that whales and institutional investors are taking bullish positions on BTC’s near-term price movements.
Why is BTC Options Volume Rising?
The renewed interest in BTC options trading aligns with key macroeconomic narratives:
Fed Rate Pause Fuels Risk Appetite – With the Fed pausing rate hikes, liquidity-sensitive assets like Bitcoin become more attractive.
S&P 500 Rally Indicates Broader Market Confidence – TradFi investors reallocating capital to stocks may also be expanding exposure to BTC.
Altcoin Season Rotation – With BTC holding steady above $85,000, traders are betting on volatility to capture short-term gains.
Bitcoin Price Forecast: Data Supports Bullish Outlook, But $90K Flip Unlikely
Beyond options trading, other key metrics reinforce a positive BTC outlook for the week ahead:
Open Interest Rose 3.88% to $54.04B – A sign that new capital is entering the derivatives market.
Long/Short Ratio at 1.28 on OKX & 1.2217 on Binance – Indicates more traders are placing long bets.
Liquidations Favor Shorts – Over the last 12 hours, $14.2M in short positions were wiped out, compared to just $2.82M in longs.
With Bitcoin showing strong demand above $86,000 and institutional investors actively positioning through options, a bullish breakout toward $90,000 remains a distinct possibility. However, signals on the daily Bitcoin price forecast charts below suggest the rally could face significant resistance below the $90,000 mark.
Bitcoin Price Forecast: BTCUSD Technical Indicators Signal $90,000 Resistance
Despite these bullish signals, the technical chart presents a nuanced picture. While Bitcoin has reclaimed $85,600, the looming death cross—where the 50-day moving average trends below the 200-day moving average—remains a cause for concern. This bearish formation suggests that unless BTC can decisively break above $87,200, a retracement toward the $80,000 region remains plausible.
Bulls must clear this key resistance zone to sustain momentum toward $90,000. If BTC fails to establish support above $87,200, bears could regain control, triggering a potential pullback.
