Closing the four-year legal battle opens a new chapter for XRP mainstream adoption, catalyzed by Ripple Labs’ payment products.
XRP price must hold above the support level of about $2 to invalidate further market correction.
The Donald Trump administration has gradually fulfilled its promises made during the campaign period to the crypto ecosystem. The successful replacement of Gary Gensler with crypto-friendly SEC chair Paul Atkins has helped expedite the closure of several web3-related cases, including against Ripple and Binance exchange.
SEC vs Ripple Case Update
Earlier on Wednesday during the mid-North American trading session, James K Filan, a prominent defense lawyer, released court documents dated April 16 regarding the SEC vs Ripple appeal.
According to the court documents, Circuit Judge José A. Cabrenas granted a joint motion, filed by the U.S. SEC and Ripple to temporarily suspend their appeals amid the case closure.
“The parties jointly move to hold this appeal in abeyance, with the U.S. SEC directed to file a status report within 60 days of this order,” the court order noted.
Meanwhile, Ripple Labs agreed to pay a $50 million fine to settle the longstanding case.
XRP Price Analysis
After closing the first quarter in bearish sentiment, XRP has attempted to regain a bullish outlook in the past few weeks. The large-cap altcoin, with a fully diluted valuation of about $206 billion and a 24-hour average volume of about $3.45 billion, has been forming a potential reversal pattern in the daily timeframe.
The XRP price, against the U.S. dollar, has formed a possible inverse head and shoulders pattern, coupled with a bullish divergence of the daily Relative Strength Index (RSI). As a result, if the XRP price holds above the support level of around $2 and remains above the YTD falling logarithmic trend, a target of between $2.8 and $3 will be achievable.
The XRP market faces significant changes as both Ripple and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approach the end of their legal dispute. The case has gained prominence among the crypto community during the entire time of SEC Chair Gary Gensler’s enforcement period. The XRP price is trending upward, currently hovering above $2.45, with a 5% surge over the past week. Let’s Uncover these top 4 XRP rivals, including ADA, DOGE, and SOL, that could see a 10x surge
XRP Rivals: Cardano (ADA)
Cardano (ADA) price maintains bullish strength because its market price reached $0.7665 after demonstrating a 3% positive change over the last day. The price of ADA has increased 10% throughout the past seven days.
The cryptocurrency holds itself at the $0.76 support point and aims toward the essential $1 price level. The Ripple lawsuit approaches its end while its XRP competitor ADA maintains its upward movement. The ADA market attracts trader attention since its value continues to evolve during this market transition period.
Dogecoin (DOGE)
Dogecoin (DOGE) price surpassed $0.20 marking its last 24 hours with a 10% market increase. The market price of DOGE is $0.2017, and it is currently positioned among the top performers alongside the price of XRP. The Dogecoin Foundation revealed important news as the market experienced a price increase.
The foundation has launched the House of Doge, a new division dedicated to boosting DOGE’s ecosystem. As part of the move, the Official Dogecoin Reserve was introduced, securing 10 million DOGE at market rates.
The foundation aims to position DOGE as a fast, decentralized global payment network. The price rally followed a breakout from a three-month descending trendline, with analysts citing an ascending triangle pattern.
Solana (SOL)
Solana price has seen a notable surge in price, with the current market recovery. At the time of writing, the SOL price hovered at $140, with a strong surge of 15% in the past week, making it among the XRP rivals. The SOL price prediction could hit above the $160 level if the bullish trend continues.
Solana derivatives volume experienced a 1.88% increase until it reached $9.41 billion as recorded by Coinglass. Open interest reached $5.07 billion after an increase of 1.54%. The rising figures demonstrate an increasing level of marketplace activity in the Solana derivatives sector. The two indicators demonstrate an increase in immediate trading conduct.
To sum up, The approaching resolution of Ripple’s legal battle will create a profound effect on XRP alongside its competitors in the market. XRP Rival ADA DOGE and SOL could experience additional value growth when positive resolutions strengthen market conditions.
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is quickly becoming a notable force in the push for global crypto adoption. With growing participation from institutions and enterprises and supportive regulations for Web3 technology, MENA is set to expand its impact.
BeInCrypto interviewed Stephan Apel, CEO of Outlier Ventures, to explore the characteristics of these tech-driven economies and their anticipated innovations.
Web3 Adoption and Market Growth
MENA has emerged as a significant center for Web3 development, facilitated by a combination of demographic, technological, and cultural factors. The region’s entrepreneurial spirit has also fostered an environment conducive to the adoption of decentralized technologies.
“The MENA market has set a standard for adopting next-gen technologies and using them to boost their economic transformation. This is especially true for Web3 technologies— the region recognised their potential early on, offering the resources needed for these projects to scale and thrive on both regional and global levels,” Apel told BeInCrypto.
Consequently, the region is witnessing an increase in startups, investors, and developers exploring Web3 and its diverse applications.
A 2024 Chainalysis report revealed that MENA was the seventh biggest crypto market worldwide. From July 2023 to June 2024, the region saw $338.7 billion in online crypto transactions, representing 7.5% of all crypto transactions globally.
Share of all cryptocurrency transaction value by region. Source: Chainalysis.
Notably, Turkey and Morocco ranked among the top 30 countries globally in crypto adoption. Turkey secured the 11th spot, while Morocco ranked 27th. These nations alone accounted for $137 billion and $12.7 billion in received cryptocurrency value, respectively.
Furthermore, the MENA region’s crypto activity is predominantly driven by institutional and professional players, as a substantial 93% of all value transferred involves transactions exceeding $10,000.
Meanwhile, Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) members have distinguished themselves through their ambitious technological initiatives.
MENA’s Strategic Shift Towards AI
The onset of artificial intelligence (AI) has prompted governments and businesses within the Middle East to acknowledge the global trend towards related advanced technologies. Countries like Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are considering their strategic position concerning this technological transformation.
According to a report by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), AI could contribute up to $15.7 trillion to the global economy in 2030. The consulting firm predicts that the Middle East will bring 2% of the total global benefits, equal to $320 billion.
MENA’s pioneering role in AI development. Source: PwC.
The PwC report also indicates that Saudi Arabia will see the largest absolute gains from AI by 2030, with an estimated US$135.2 billion added to its economy, or 12.4% of GDP. In terms of GDP percentage, however, the UAE is expected to see the greatest impact, approaching 14% of its 2030 GDP. Meanwhile, for GCC states Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, and Qatar, AI is expected to contribute 8.2% of their GDP.
Given the region’s latest initiatives and investments in AI innovation, these numbers come as no surprise.
Saudi Arabia’s AI Development Initiatives
In 2016, the Saudi Arabian government launched Vision 2030, a program to promote economic, social, and cultural diversification. Integral to this vision is a strategic shift towards artificial intelligence and data-driven innovation, a key component of the nation’s economic diversification efforts.
Saudi Arabia is making notable advancements in AI. The country aims to reduce its reliance on oil by developing advanced technology sectors through targeted investments, infrastructure development, and workforce training.
“Fueled by its Vision 2030 initiative, Saudi Arabia has already created a thriving startup ecosystem, dedicated significant investment in emerging technologies,and designed policies to attract global talent and entrepreneurship,” Apel told BeInCrypto.
The Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority (SDAIA) spearheads Saudi Arabia’s push into artificial intelligence, shaping and implementing the country’s national data and AI strategy. The National Data Bank is a cornerstone of their efforts. It is designed as a central hub for data access and analysis, facilitating AI applications across public and private sectors.
Last November, Saudi Arabia also unveiled Project Transcendence. The $100 billion investment initiative focuses on accelerating the integration of AI and advanced technologies.
Similar to its neighbor, the UAE has actively pursued AI adoption.
UAE’s AI Strategy and Investments
In 2017, the UAE launched its National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence, which aims to make the country a global leader in the field by 2031. The UAE AI and Blockchain Council oversees this strategy, which impacts sectors like education, energy, and tourism.
The UAE is already reaping the benefits of its AI initiatives. In April, Microsoft announced a $1.5 billion investment in G42, an Abu Dhabi-based technology holding company. G42 is known for its data centers and the development of Jais, a leading Arabic-language AI model.
In September, G42 and Nvidia partnered to create AI-driven solutions for improved weather forecasting. The collaboration aims to advance climate-related technologies by using Nvidia’s Earth-2 platform, which enables AI-augmented climate and weather simulations.
Three months later, Abu Dhabi-based global technological ecosystem Hub71 partnered with Google to boost startup growth in the UAE. This collaboration will bring Google’s “Google for Startups” program to Abu Dhabi, including a dedicated accelerator for Hub71 startups in 2025.
He also drew attention to the planned convergence of AI and Web3 technologies in these prominent regions.
Convergence of AI, Web3, and IoT
Integrating the Internet of Things (IoT), blockchain, and AI technologies is gaining traction among businesses in the Middle East. By combining these technologies, organizations can access new avenues for growth, increase efficiency, and create novel user experiences.
In 2018, the Dubai Airport Freezone Authority launched Dubai Blink, a platform that integrates AI, blockchain, and virtual licenses to facilitate global trade. This system enhances supply chain innovation through ‘smart commerce’ by expediting trade with a unified online platform. Furthermore, it addressed the cumbersome process of supplier identification by using AI algorithms to streamline and accelerate the validation process.
Ultimately, MENA’s proactive approach to technological advancement, coupled with its strategic focus on Web3 and AI, signals a future where the region will be a pivotal architect in shaping the digital economy.
Bitcoin (BTC) surged past the $90,000 mark following reports of its potential preferential treatment in President Donald Trump’s proposed US crypto reserve strategy.
The speculation comes ahead of the White House Crypto Summit, which Trump will host and feature top digital asset industry executives.
Trump’s Bitcoin Reserve Plan Unveiled
Citing Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, The Pavlovick Today revealed that the strategic cryptocurrency reserve would be on Friday’s agenda for President Trump’s White House Crypto Summit.
“The President definitely thinks that there’s a Bitcoin strategic reserve. Now there will be the question of, how do we handle the other cryptocurrencies? And I think the model is going to be announced on Friday,” Lutnick reportedly stated.
Reportedly, Trump envisions a strategic Bitcoin reserve, distinguishing it from other cryptocurrencies. Lutnick suggested Bitcoin would receive unique status under Trump’s plans.
“So Bitcoin is one thing, and then the other currencies, the other crypto tokens, I think, will be treated differently—positively, but differently,” he added.
Following this news, Bitcoin reclaimed the $90,000 psychological level, with BTC trading for $90,097 as of this writing. According to BeInCrypto data, this represents a surge of over 7% since Wednesday’s session opened.
The prospective preferential treatment for Bitcoin is unsurprising given its heft as the pioneer crypto. Similarly, its commodity status, like Ethereum (ETH), also positions it for possible privilege.
In a recent Truth Social post, he emphasized his administration’s commitment to elevating the crypto sector. Specifically, Trump announced that the US crypto reserve would include XRP, SOL, and ADA alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum.
However, Lutnick’s comments suggest that Bitcoin may receive special status under the new framework. While Trump’s announcement has fueled bullish sentiment in the Bitcoin market, it has also sparked significant debate.
Some crypto leaders have expressed skepticism about including alternative cryptocurrencies (altcoins) in the US reserve. Critics argue that favoring Bitcoin while treating other tokens differently could create market distortions.
Another major talking point is Ethereum’s role—or lack thereof—in the prospective crypto reserve strategy. The White House Crypto Summit will feature leaders from ecosystems running on Ethereum, but the blockchain lacks representation.
Notwithstanding, the announcement of a strategic crypto reserve has led to speculation about an incoming altseason. Tim Haldorsson, founder of Luna Strategy, told BeInCrypto that Trump’s plan could drive increased investment into altcoins.
However, Henrik Zeberg Jensen, the head of Macroeconomics and fund manager of Swissblock Technologies AG, has a different opinion.
“Trump does not stand as a testimony to or a proof of which tokens will have success. Look at his meme coin [TRUMP]! No usability- and driven by speculation. The success of any token in the long run will be based on the usability of the token in future solutions which will lift productivity and reduce cost. Trump’s picks in that respect seem arbitrary,” Zeberg told BeInCrypto.
Should Bitcoin get preferential treatment in the crypto reserve, altcoins could still benefit. Historically, Bitcoin-led rallies have often paved the way for altcoin surges.