The XRP price struggles continue with the Ripple vs SEC lawsuit pause, a delay in XRP ETF approval, and amid the ongoing macroeconomic events. A much-needed catalyst is the updates on these three factors. Interestingly, something might be happening on May 1 and June 9, as an expert claims a BlackRock insider advised him to watch these dates. Why? Let’s discuss.
Why Are Experts Eyeing May 1 and June 9 for XRP Price?
April is near its end and has not been entirely favorable for the crypto market’s performance, affecting the XRP price as well. The altcoin had a massive decline to $1.65 before recovering to $2.27. However, this is nowhere near the anticipated targets.
Crypto analyst Bale’s X post claims his insider friend at BlackRock has highlighted two key dates, i.e., May 1 and June 9. Although his post did not include any context of what’s happening, the crypto community anticipates it as a potential date for BlackRock’s XRP ETF filing or some similar bullish events, like the end of the Ripple vs SEC lawsuit.
Grayscale, Bitwise, and other ETF issuers have already filed for more than 15 XRP ETFs. Teucrium launched a leverage XRP ETF, and CME is set to launch one on May 19, and a few more around the globe.
However, BlackRock has not filed any yet. Some anticipate it as a lack of trust in this digital asset. However, experts anticipate it to be their cautious approach, which might settle this May 1 or June 9.
A fellow investor highlighted that it can be related to the 1 billion Ripple token release from escrow. Notably, these tokens are not released in the market. Instead, they are distributed among crypto exchanges and liquidity providers to provide liquidity.
The remaining ones get sent back to the Ripple, but this dilutes the supply, affecting the Ripple price.
XRP Price Prediction: A Crash is Forming
The Ripple token is at a critical juncture where its next move will decide its trajectory. The XRP price chart shows mixed signals, and so are the experts’ predictions. Pseudo-anonymous crypto analyst Bit Bull claims that the token has already touched the upper trendline resistance and will move downwards next.
His analysis is based on the liquidation data, as it reveals investors are opening more short positions, suggesting XRP may continue to fall.
Another analyst points out that the Ripple token is below the bull market support band (the one behind the March rally). As a result, a potential crash to $1.24 is possible before the upward momentum builds. Interestingly, this level coincided with the 2024 end breakout to $3.4.
However, this is just anticipation considering current conditions. Experts also anticipate different results based on different metrics. Therefore, investors must track XRP’s further move for better insight, especially as May 1 and June 9 are approaching.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has announced plans to hire 1,000 employees in the United States in 2025, attributing the decision to recent regulatory advancements under President Donald Trump’s administration. Armstrong made the statement following the White House Crypto Summit, where he and other industry leaders met with government officials to discuss crypto regulation policies.
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong Announces 1,000 New U.S. Jobs
After attending the White House Crypto Summit, Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong took to X (formerly Twitter) to reveal the company’s hiring plans. He stated that the regulatory landscape in the U.S. is improving, allowing the company to expand its workforce.
Armstrong credited the shift to President Trump’s leadership and the administration’s efforts to establish clear guidelines for crypto regulation. He emphasized that this new clarity is enabling businesses like Coinbase to strengthen their presence in the U.S. market.
Coinbase CEO added,
“Historic day at the Whitehouse Digital Asset Summit. Thanks to Trump’s leadership, along with David Sacks, the U.S. now has a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve and emerging regulatory clarity. This is directly translating to economic growth in the U.S. For instance, Coinbase plans to hire about 1,000 employees in the U.S. this year as a result of this renewed growth.
During the White House crypto summit, Donald Trump announced plans to end Operation Chokepoint 2.0, signaling a shift toward a more supportive regulatory environment. Additionally, Trump emphasized the urgency of stablecoin legislation, aiming to establish clear regulatory guidelines before Congress adjourns for summer.
Regulatory Clarity Boosts Crypto Industry Growth
The White House Crypto Summit brought together government officials, industry leaders, and regulatory bodies to discuss the future of digital assets. The event marked a shift in the U.S. government’s stance toward the crypto industry, with an emphasis on fostering innovation.
One of the major developments discussed was the U.S. government’s decision to create a Strategic Bitcoin Reserve. Armstrong expressed his support for the initiative, stating that the U.S. government holding Bitcoin signals its recognition as a key financial asset.
A major factor influencing Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong’s hiring announcement was the US SEC decision to drop its enforcement action against the company. With the case no longer proceeding, crypto businesses now look to Congress for regulatory clarity. Armstrong stated that this development allows Coinbase to focus on business expansion rather than ongoing legal battles.
Donald Trump Administration’s Crypto Policy
Donald Trump administration has positioned itself as an advocate for the crypto industry, with officials expressing their commitment to making the U.S. a leader in digital assets. Bo Hines, the executive director of the President’s Working Group on Digital Assets, reaffirmed the administration’s goal of establishing the U.S. as the global center for crypto innovation.
Hines stated that government agencies, including the Treasury and Commerce departments, are exploring ways to invest in Bitcoin without increasing the financial burden on taxpayers. Industry leaders, including Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong, welcomed these policy changes.
Meanwhile, VanEck has shared budget-neutral strategies in which the U.S. government could expand its Bitcoin Reserve without taxpayer funding.
Bitcoin price rallied 10% as Trump hinted at a tariff rollback, boosting risk appetite. However, market uncertainty persists, as analyst spots patterns similar to 2019’s US trade war impact.
Bitcoin (BTC) Rally Restarts as Trump Hints at Tariff U-Turn
Bitcoin (BTC) volatility persisted on Wednesday as traders reacted to fresh developments in U.S. trade policy.
Since President Donald Trump announced the creation of a Crypto Strategic Reserve on Sunday, March 2, BTC has traded within 10% ranges for three consecutive days.
After surging 11% following the strategic reserve announcement, Bitcoin’s rally was abruptly halted when Trump confirmed a 25% import tariff on Canada and Mexico, triggering a sharp 15% sell-off on Monday. However, the market took another dramatic turn on Wednesday.
Late Tuesday, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick stated that President Trump will “probably” reach a compromise with Canada and Mexico in the coming days. Traders responded swiftly, piling into buy orders on optimism that an anticipated tariff rollback could ease economic uncertainty, bolstering risk assets like Bitcoin.
Bitcoin (BTC) Price Action, March 5
Within 12 hours of Lutnick’s statement, BTC surged 10%, rallying from its weekly low of $81,400 recorded on Tuesday to reclaim levels above $91,500 by mid-day in U.S. trading. If bullish momentum holds, a close above $90,000 could reinforce a broader breakout attempt, setting the stage for Bitcoin to target new highs.
Lance Roberts flags Trade war reactions exerting bearish pressure on BTC price action
On Wednesday, BTC price reclaimed territories above the $91,500 level as markets reacted to speculations that US President Donald Trump could ease tariffs imposed on Canada and Mexico.
Bitcoin analyst Lance Roberts published charts showing how US Trade policy has impacted financial markets in recent weeks.
“Trade War 1 vs Trade War 2.
So far, the #market is tracing out Trump’s first trade war fairly closely. While no two markets are ever the same, it is worth noting that even though markets declined, they also rallied. The point here is to ignore media headlines and focus on your portfolio.”
Diving into the chart he posted, Lance Roberts’ chart draws a striking parallel between the S&P 500’s performance during the 2019 trade war and its 2025 trajectory, illustrating how historical market reactions to U.S. trade tensions could be playing out again.
S&P 500 Futures Price Action: 2025 YTD vs. 2019 Trade War | Source: https://x.com/LanceRoberts
In 2019, the market initially rallied before experiencing volatility tied to major trade-related developments.
One key moment highlighted in the chart is when former President Trump called off 25% tariffs on Mexico, triggering a strong rally.
Later, news of Trump-Xi trade deal talks fueled further gains, reinforcing the notion of a “Trump put”—the market’s expectation that
Trump would eventually ease trade tensions to support equities. This de facto put acted as a backstop, preventing prolonged downturns despite interim sell-offs. So far in 2025, the S&P 500 has followed a similar script, with a strong start before recent weakness, aligning with the early phases of the 2019 pattern.
This suggests that while the market is experiencing turbulence amid trade concerns, a potential bullish pivot could occur if Trump signals a shift in policy, just as it did in 2019. If history rhymes, Bitcoin could benefit as a risk asset.
BTC Price Outlook on US Trade War
However, the bearish case remains compelling. Unlike in 2019, today’s market is contending with structurally higher interest rates, which could dampen any relief rallies. Additionally, the Federal Reserve’s policy stance is less accommodative, meaning liquidity injections that cushioned past downturns may not materialize.
Ultimately, whether the 2019 pattern continues to play out in full will depend on the next moves from policymakers.
If trade tensions escalate further without policy relief and risk appetite deteriorates, BTC’s recent gains may prove short-lived, exposing the market to deeper corrections.
Conversely, if Trump eases the tariffs this week, both S&P 500 equities and Bitcoin price could be poised for another leg higher. In this case BTC price could hit new all-time highs near $120,000 once US Treasury begins buying BTC and other assets included in the crypto strategic reserve bucket.
Bitcoin Technical Analysis Today: Close above $90,000 could spark support $100K breakout prospects
Technical indicators on the 12-hour Bitcoin price forecast chart below suggest a close above the $90,000 could confirm a bullish shift in market momentum, especially if Trump officially rolls back the tariffs as widely anticipated.
BTC price has rebounded sharply, gaining 11.46% over the past 24 hours, signaling a resurgence in buyer confidence. The bullish momentum coincides with Bitcoin breaking out of the lower Keltner Channel (KC) boundary, historically a precursor to sustained rallies.
A confirmed move past $90,000 could see the upper KC boundary at $97,487 tested, with $100,000 becoming a psychological magnet if bullish momentum persists.
Bitcoin Price Forecast (BTCUSD) | March 5
However, the Parabolic SAR remains positioned above price action, indicating that downward pressure has yet to be fully negated.
A failure to hold above $88,000 support could see a retracement toward the mid-KC line at $80,210, where buyers may attempt to reestablish control.
Meanwhile, the Bull-Bear Power (BBP) has flipped positive after a prolonged period in the red, reinforcing short-term bullish sentiment.
If BBP sustains its uptrend, further upside pressure could validate the bullish thesis. On the contrary, a sudden reversal in BBP, coupled with rejection at $90,000, might expose Bitcoin to another wave of selling.
CME Group has partnered with Google Cloud to pilot initiatives aimed at enhancing capital market efficiency through tokenization. The collaboration seeks to leverage Google Cloud Universal Ledger (GCUL).
However, critics argue that the technology represents a shift toward centralization in an industry that has traditionally prioritized decentralization.
CME and Google Cloud’s Tokenization Pilot: A New Era or Centralization Crisis?
For context, Google Cloud’s GCUL is a distributed ledger built for seamless integration by financial institutions. This platform simplifies account and asset management while enabling secure transfers on a private and permissioned network.
“Google Cloud Universal Ledger has the potential to deliver significant efficiencies for collateral, margin, settlement, and fee payments as the world moves toward 24/7 trading,” Duffy said.
The team has finalized the initial integration and testing phase of GCUL. They will conduct direct testing with market participants later this year. Lastly, the services’ launch is planned for 2026.
Nonetheless, the move has sparked controversy within the cryptocurrency community. Critics argue that GCUL, as a centralized and permissioned ledger, contradicts the decentralized ethos that underpins blockchain technology.
“It is not a bullish development,” a user wrote on X.
The collaboration has also ignited a broader discussion about the role of public versus private blockchains in asset tokenization. DeFi analyst Ignas framed the issue as a “battle between public, decentralized networks and private chains.
This suggested that centralized solutions like GCUL could undermine the principles of transparency and inclusivity of public blockchains.
“Not bullish at all. Google Cloud Universal Ledger (GCUL) seems to be a private, permissioned network,” he posted.
Meanwhile, another analyst pointed out the practical challenges associated with using public blockchains.
“I’m honestly not sure if public chains are competitive in this space,” he claimed.
The analyst explained that CME Group or similar institutions require ultra-high-frequency settlements with near-instant finality. They also need room for manual intervention when necessary.
This need for precise control often leads institutions to split blockchain nodes into specialized roles like clearing, settlement, compliance, and observation. The analyst argued that public blockchains do not support this level of control.
He also highlighted that tokenized assets need liquidity boundaries to avoid risks like money laundering and speculation. Without proper controls, tokenized assets could face these issues if traded on decentralized exchanges.
“I’ve talked to quite a few people from traditional finance, and honestly, many of them say DEXs are basically no different from black markets,” the analyst added.
