Japanese giant Metaplanet has entered the list of top five Bitcoin holders, taking its latest holdings to 13350 BTC, with the latest purchase on June 30. Earlier today, the firm purchased an additional 1,005 BTC for an average BTC price of $107,601. Following the development, the stock price has surged 10% today to 1633 JPY,
Since plunging to its year-to-date low of $1.61 on April 7, XRP holders have taken full advantage of the dip, ramping up accumulation efforts. This buying pressure has steadily increased the asset’s value over the past week.
At press time, XRP trades at a seven-day high of $2.19 and technical indicators show that it’s positioned to extend the gains.
XRP Golden Cross Drives Bullish Momentum
On the daily chart, a golden cross has formed on XRP’s Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator, which is often viewed as a key signal of a shift toward long-term upside.
When a golden cross emerges like this, it signals a positive shift in investor sentiment. Traders interpret it as a cue that buying pressure outpaces selling activity, which can attract even more inflows and drive the price higher.
For XRP, this golden cross occurred on April 11, reinforcing the growing bullish sentiment surrounding the asset. This pattern confirms that the altcoin’s recent price rebound is not just a short-lived reaction but may mark the beginning of a more sustained uptrend.
Further, the token’s positive Chaikin Money Flow (CMF) supports this bullish outlook. At press time, it rests above the center line and in an uptrend at 0.07.
The CMF indicator measures how money flows into and out of an asset. A positive CMF reading, as with XRP, means buying pressure is stronger than selling pressure over a given period. It suggests capital is flowing into the token, signaling accumulation and potential price growth.
XRP Maintains Uptrend—Next Stop: $2.50 or Back to $1.99?
Since its rally began on April 7, XRP has traded above an ascending trend line. This bullish pattern emerges when an asset forms higher lows over time, creating an upward-sloping support line.
It signals sustained buying interest in XRP and suggests that momentum is building in favor of the bulls as the token’s price continues to climb.
If demand soars, XRP could extend its gains and climb to $2.29. A successful flip of this resistance into a support floor could propel XRP to $2.50.
Bitcoin price has recovered after statements by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding trade tariffs with China. The digital asset has climbed over 12% this week and is currently trading above $94,000, raising the question of whether it could soon reclaim the $100,000 mark.
Donald Trump’s comments on the lowering of tariffs influenced the market sentiment on several risk assets, including Bitcoin, XRP, DOGE, Ethereum, and other cryptocurrencies. In a White House event, the president implied that Chinese tariffs would be reduced by a “big, substantial percentage” in the future.
However, he stated that they will not go to zero, but his change of tone seems to be pulling back on the global trade concerns.
Bitcoin Price Rises Amid Eased Trade War Tensions
Risk-on sentiment emerged back in markets after U.S. President Donald Trump floated the possibility of cutting tariffs on Chinese imports. He said that 145% is very high and it will not be that high. It’ll come down substantially.”
These statements were made after weeks of threatening words and gestures, and it was met with market appreciation.The move supported a rally in major indices and increased demand for risk assets like Bitcoin. Bitcoin, for instance, rocketed by 6.77% on Tuesday to close the day trading above $93,400. Subsequently, by Wednesday, the Bitcoin price was again on the rise and trading above $94000.
Investors saw the statement as a possible sign of easing tensions in U.S.–China trade relations. The Wall Street Journal reported that Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also supported a more relaxed stance, stating that he believed a deal with China could be reached.
On-Chain and Derivatives Data Show Increased Market Confidence
According to K33 Research, investor activity in the futures market has grown. CME futures exposure increased to 140,000 BTC, with premiums rising above 9% for the first time since January. This suggests that traders expect further price appreciation.
During the Easter week, Open Interest (OI) also increased by about 5,000 BTC according to the K33 Research report. This sent OI to a fresh high of 140,000 BTC in the three-week range. However, it is still below the figures recorded between the period of late Q4 and early Q1, where it crossed the 200,000 BTC mark.
Source: K33 Research
An increase in futures premiums and OI is generally linked to the increased activity from institutional players. This trend points to a belief in higher prices, though overall leverage is still not at peak levels.
Bitcoin Flips Google’s Parent Company and Silver
Bitcoin has now surpassed the total market value of Alphabet, Silver, and Amazon. Data from CompaniesMarketCap shows Bitcoin’s market capitalization at over $1.8 trillion, making it the fifth-largest global asset.
The BTC value is now ahead of Google’s parent company Alphabet by $12 billion. Silver, long considered a store of value, currently holds a valuation of $1.856 trillion. Amazon follows with a market cap of $1.837 trillion.
This new ranking places Bitcoin among the top-tier global assets. The rally in price and market value came after investor concerns eased regarding the trade war and monetary policy uncertainty.
Analysts Debate BTC Cycle and Possible Trend Reversal
Ki Young Ju, CEO of CryptoQuant, commented on the current market situation. He stated that despite BTC price recent gains, he sees the market moving within a wide range. He said,
“If it breaks above $100K, I’ll gladly admit I was wrong.”
Ju focuses on long-term supply and demand using on-chain data. He noted that event-driven reactions make short-term price moves harder to predict. According to him, “even among on-chain analysts, interpretations of the data can differ.”
He also mentioned that he may reconsider the cycle theory if Bitcoin hits a new all-time high before Q4. That would suggest the market might be entering a different phase than previous bull cycles.
After much wait, Paul Atkins has finally been sworn in as the new US SEC Chairman and is believed to bring better regulatory and supportive decisions related to the cryptocurrency ecosystem. Although his responsibilities are not limited to this industry, the focus is definitely on it, aligning with Donald Trump’s vision to make America the crypto capital. Before that takes shape, let’s discuss the top five facts to know about the new SEC Chair.
5 Not-to-Miss Facts About Paul Atkins
Paul Atkins, a 67-year-old American businessman and father of two, is the 34th SEC Chairman after having sworn on April 22, 2025. The current U.S. President, Donald Trump, nominated him for the SEC Chairman role. And after the Senate’s approval, he is replacing the acting chairman, Mark Udeya, since Gary Gensler resigned.
Interestingly, he has worked with the SEC before, as the commissioner of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from July 9, 2002, to August 2008, where he served with Christopher Cox, William H. Donaldson, and Chairman Harvey Pitt.
He is a pro-crypto supporter and has a history of working with various Fintech companies. His support for the industry was also made clear during the ceremony, as Atkins proclaimed Bitcoin and crypto as top priorities.
Interestingly, he began his career as a Lawyer after studying at Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1983. Here, he worked on a vast array of corporate transactions, public and private offerings, mergers, and much more.
His experience in government and the fintech industries is seen as a positive catalyst for introducing and maintaining regulations.
Paul Atkins News: What to Expect From The New SEC Chairman?
Even before joining the SEC, Paul Atkins has been quite vocal about his focus once he gains the position. Atkins has pledged to maintain a fair, orderly, and efficient market while ensuring investor protection.
As I return to the SEC, I am pleased to join with my fellow Commissioners and the agency’s dedicated professionals to advance its mission to facilitate capital formation; maintain fair, orderly, and efficient markets; and protect investors.
He is expected to strengthen and simulate the regulatory developments of the industry, beginning with joining the upcoming crypto roundtable meetings. More importantly, better conclusions on the Ripple vs SEC could come out due to his influence.
Additionally, more than 17 crypto ETFs are awaiting the SEC’s attention and potential approval that Atkins needs to address immediately. Overall, there are many legal battles and regulatory developments in process, which will be under his care now.