The XRP price is trading within a narrow range below $2.5, which has now become one of the important levels to reverse the ongoing trend. With this, the investor’s interest in the token appears to have waned as the token has not displayed any major price action. Besides, the volume has dropped heavily from the levels above $4 billion to the levels around $2 billion, which substantiates the bearish claim. However, a couple of catalysts are expected to enhance the volatility, which could probably push the price above the accumulated range.
Besides a potential XRP ETF, the platform’s stablecoin, RLUSD, is gaining more ground after the US government unveiled the Genius Act to legalize its usage. On the other hand, XRP is slowly challenging the dominance of SWIFT with instant settlement and cheaper transaction fees. In a recent development, the Dubai government has chosen the XRP ledger to power its real estate tokenization project, which aims to digitize $16 billion in property assets by 2033. This is believed to accelerate the mainstream adoption significantly.
So what’s in store for the XRP price ahead of the monthly close?
As seen in the above chart, the XRP price remains stuck below the descending trend line, which has been pushing the token lower. Meanwhile, the failure of the price to rise above the local resistance at $2.5 has also negatively impacted the rally. After a 6-month-long consolidation, the price seems to have been reconsolidating before marching towards new highs. Reclaiming the 200-day EMA and maintaining a consecutive higher high shows the growing strength of the bulls. However, until the price breaks the trend line and reaches the crucial resistance zone around $2.8 via $2.5 resistance, the accumulation may prevail.
The RSI remains glued along the neutral range while the MACD indicates the selling pressure persisting over the rally. However, the levels remain within the positive range that keeps the bullish hopes alive. Therefore, the XRP price is required to break above the $2.5 resistance zone and sustain without facing a rejection, which may pave the way for new highs at $4. Otherwise, the token may continue to extend the horizontal consolidation.
A new report shows that Binance almost has a monopoly in the CEX market in terms of crypto airdrop distribution and staking rewards. In 2024, the exchange received $2.6 billion of a total of $2.7 billion in rewards, amounting to 94% of the entire market segment.
In an exclusive press release shared with BeInCrypto, Binance also revealed that it’s making substantial changes to its airdrop services to improve user experience and make participation easier.
In the past year, the exchange has become synonymous with the latest airdrops, as most users are accessing their rewards through the platform.
Exchanges with Most Launchpool Rewards and Airdrops in 2024. Source: CoinMarketCap
Based on this impressive performance in the airdrop sector, Binance has substantially upgraded a few of its services. The platform has revamped its Launchpool and BNB Earn pages, making it easier for users to both track and participate in airdrops.
“With these upgrades, we’re making it easier than ever for users to unlock the full potential of BNB and participate in high-quality token launches. The redesigned Binance Launchpool and BNB pages reflect our commitment to user education, simplicity, and maximizing rewards,” said Jeff Li, VP of Product at Binance.
The updated BNB page will give Binance users key benefits, such as real-time information on airdrops across its platforms, including Launchpool, Megadrop, and HODLer Airdrops.
Users will also see features like trading fee discounts, VIP perks, and a historical rewards section. These improvements are designed to help the firm maintain its significant dominance while continuing to focus on integrity.
Hopefully, these improvements will allow the firm to maintain its significant dominance while maintaining its usual integrity. Last month, Binance Research identified some systemic problems with airdrops in general, and the exchange seems particularly concerned with its reputation.
TradFi’s relationship with Bitcoin continues to evolve, with 34 public corporations now holding a combined 699,387 BTC—worth over $72 billion. MicroStrategy remains the undisputed leader, holding 555,450 BTC alone.
While some view Bitcoin treasury strategies as bullish catalysts, the data tells a more nuanced story: adding BTC to a balance sheet isn’t a guaranteed stock booster. Outliers like Metaplanet have surged over 3,000% since their BTC entry, but many others have seen far more modest gains, or even declines.
Metaplanet Inc.
Metaplanet is a Japanese public company that has quickly transformed from a traditional business—formerly involved in hotel operations—into one of Asia’s most aggressive Bitcoin-focused firms. Its transformation shows how some TradFi players are reshaping their models around digital assets.
Since launching its Bitcoin Income Generation strategy in late 2024, the company has pivoted sharply toward crypto, with 88% of its Q1 FY2025 revenue—¥770 million ($5.2 million)—coming from Bitcoin option premium harvesting.
Metaplanet first added Bitcoin to its balance sheet in April 2024 and now holds 5,555 BTC worth approximately $576.8 million. Since that initial move, the company’s stock has soared over 3,000%, with recent filings showing a 15x increase in share price year-to-date.
The firm’s aggressive BTC accumulation strategy—targeting 10,000 BTC by year-end—has drawn growing investor interest, expanding its shareholder base by 500% in a year.
Despite short-term valuation losses due to Bitcoin price fluctuations, Metaplanet reported ¥13.5 billion in unrealized BTC gains as of May 12, signaling strong confidence in its long-term crypto positioning.
NEXON
Nexon, a major Japanese gaming company behind global hits like Dungeon&Fighter and MapleStory, added Bitcoin to its balance sheet in April 2021 and currently holds 1,717 BTC—worth approximately $178.3 million.
Despite this sizable allocation, the move hasn’t paid off in terms of market performance, as Nexon’s stock is down nearly 29% since the purchase, showing how, for many TradFi firms, crypto exposure doesn’t necessarily translate into equity gains.
Unlike other firms that saw major investor enthusiasm from Bitcoin exposure, Nexon’s value remains more closely tied to the performance of its gaming franchises.
In its Q1 2025 earnings report, Nexon reported revenue of ¥113.9 billion, up 5% year over year, and operating income jumping 43% to ¥41.6 billion, driven by strong performance from core titles and lower costs.
Semler Scientific (SMLR)
Semler Scientific made its first Bitcoin purchase in May 2024 and currently holds 1,273 BTC, valued at approximately $132.2 million.
Since adopting Bitcoin as its primary treasury reserve asset, the company’s stock has climbed over 55%.
While smaller in scale compared to top crypto treasury holders, Semler’s aggressive accumulation and performance have positioned it as a notable player in the Bitcoin corporate adoption narrative.
In its Q1 2025 earnings call, Semler Scientific reported a mixed performance. Revenue dropped 44% year-over-year to $8.8 million, driven by declines in its healthcare segment, while operating losses widened to $31.1 million amid $39.9 million in expenses.
A net loss of $64.7 million was largely due to an unrealized loss of $41.8 million from Bitcoin price fluctuations.
Despite these setbacks, the company reaffirmed its commitment to expanding its BTC holdings through a $500 million ATM program and a $100 million convertible note.
Tesla (TSLA)
Tesla, led by Elon Musk, has had a complex and headline-grabbing relationship with Bitcoin since adding it to its balance sheet in January 2021.
Musk, a long-time crypto enthusiast, has influenced market sentiment through both Tesla’s actions and his personal commentary on digital assets like BTC and Dogecoin. Tesla’s stock is up 34% since that initial Bitcoin buy, but the path has been volatile—peaking near $480 in late 2024 before collapsing below $107 in early 2023.
Despite the swings, Musk’s Bitcoin advocacy and Tesla’s early crypto exposure helped position the company as a bellwether for institutional adoption of crypto. Its journey reflects the volatility and complexity of crypto exposure within large TradFi companies, as BTC is up 212% in the same period.
In its latest Q1 2025 earnings, however, Tesla posted disappointing results. Automotive revenue dropped 20% year-over-year to $14 billion, dragging total revenue down 9% to $19.34 billion, well below Wall Street estimates.
Net income plummeted 71% to $409 million, and operating margin collapsed to 2.1% as production upgrades, price cuts, and political uncertainty—including rising tariffs—weighed heavily on performance.
Amid declining deliveries and intensifying global competition, Tesla highlighted progress in energy storage and AI infrastructure.
Still, with shares down 41% year-to-date and Musk’s growing political involvement drawing further scrutiny, investors remain cautious as the company prepares for a potential robotaxi launch in June.
Block Inc. (Formerly Square)
Block Inc., co-founded by Jack Dorsey, added Bitcoin to its balance sheet in October 2022 and currently holds 8,485 BTC, worth approximately $881 million.
Known for its early embrace of Bitcoin and crypto integration through Cash App, Block has positioned itself as one of the most prominent corporate Bitcoin holders.
Since its initial BTC acquisition, the stock has risen just 3.8%, reflecting a turbulent journey, peaking above $100 in December 2024, but also dropping to around $38.5 in November 2023 amid broader tech sector volatility and macroeconomic headwinds for TradFi.
Block’s Q1 2025 earnings revealed a mixed picture. The company missed both revenue and profit expectations, posting $5.77 billion in revenue versus the $6.2 billion expected.
Despite a 9% rise in gross profit to $2.29 billion, guidance for the rest of the year was cut due to macro uncertainty, including the impact of new tariffs.
Cash App’s gross profit rose 10% to $1.38 billion, thanks to the launch of Afterpay’s buy-now-pay-later feature and the expansion of its lending program under FDIC approval.
However, gross payment volume increased, and international exposure now accounts for 18% of the total volume.
While Block posted its most profitable quarter to date, shares are down 31% year-to-date, and investors remain cautious as the company prepares to deliver its first Bitcoin mining chips later this year.
The conversation around a possible XRP Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) is taking shape once again. According to Steven McClurg, CEO of Canary Capital, XRP is in a strong position to be included in the next wave of crypto ETFs when regulators give the green light.
McClurg explained that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is currently working on guidelines to decide which cryptocurrencies can be added to ETFs. While Bitcoin and Ethereum have already secured their spots, XRP is quickly becoming one of the most likely candidates for future approval.
Court Ruling Clears the Way
One big reason for this prediction is the clear court ruling that XRP is not a security. This decision has removed one of the biggest obstacles standing in the way of an ETF approval. McClurg believes this will allow XRP to be smoothly added to an ETF under existing regulations.
“I firmly believe that Ripple is paving the way on a lot of other different things here. And obviously the connection with XRP, so I believe that XRP will be one of those tokens that will be in an ETF when all of this launches,” McClurg said.
Institutions Could Back XRP in a Big Way
When asked which crypto ETFs might attract the most investor interest after Bitcoin and Ethereum, McClurg pointed to XRP. While retail investors may continue leaning toward Solana on crypto exchanges, McClurg sees XRP as a favorite among financial institutions and advisors.
He predicts that, over time, XRP could even gather more assets under management (AUM) than Ethereum, especially because of its strong focus on financial services and payment solutions.
The post XRP Set to Join Bitcoin and Ethereum in ETF Club; CEO of Canary Capital Says ‘Ripple is Paving The Way’ appeared first on Coinpedia Fintech News
The conversation around a possible XRP Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) is taking shape once again. According to Steven McClurg, CEO of Canary Capital, XRP is in a strong position to be included in the next wave of crypto ETFs when regulators give the green light. McClurg explained that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is …
