Market
Stripe’s $1.1 Billion Bridge Acquisition: A Landmark Crypto Deal
Stripe has acquired Bridge, a stablecoin platform, for a staggering $1.1 billion. This acquisition marks one of the largest in the crypto space to date and highlights Stripe’s strategic ambitions to integrate digital currencies further into its global payment system.
The firm has been gradually introducing crypto features, including supporting payouts in stablecoins and exploring cryptocurrency payment rails. Nevertheless, the acquisition of Bridge represents a more aggressive push.
Stripe Executes Crypto’s Largest Acquisition in Bridge Deal
With Bridge’s expertise in the stablecoin space, Stripe is expected to introduce enhanced cross-border payment solutions. This would allow businesses to accept payments in USDT and USDC seamlessly. The acquisition also positions Stripe to compete more effectively with other fintech firms that have been making similar moves into the crypto space.
Stripe has been gradually expanding its capabilities to include cryptocurrency support. The firm has long been a major player in online payment solutions. By acquiring Bridge, the payment giant will be able to accelerate its efforts to build out a fully integrated crypto ecosystem in one of the largest crypto acquisitions ever.
Indeed, the $1.1 billion valuation surpasses many other high-profile acquisitions in the space. It signals the value Stripe sees in the stablecoin market and the maturing of blockchain technology as a whole. With this deal, Stripe continues its evolution from a simple payment processor into a broader financial technology company, well-equipped to handle what is steadily becoming the future of money.
Read more: What Is a Stablecoin? A Beginner’s Guide
BeInCrypto reported discussions of the acquisition last week, with this development marking a pivotal moment for both companies. Stripe’s move is seen as a strategic decision to bolster its crypto infrastructure and bring more efficiency, flexibility, and scalability to its payment offerings through stablecoin payments.
Bridge, on the other hand, has gained prominence over the last few years. In August, the firm raised $58 million in funding from major investors, including Sequoia and Index Ventures. The fundraiser’s success reflected a shared belief in the potential of stablecoins in global finance.
The blockchain-based company specializes in creating seamless connections between traditional financial (TradFi) institutions and decentralized finance (DeFi) platforms. Its technology enables faster, more secure transactions across various financial platforms.
Taken together, this acquisition highlights the growing convergence between TradFi systems and blockchain technology. Analysts believe that this acquisition highlights the growing adoption of stablecoins as a means of payment.
“The $1 billion acquisition of Bridge by Stripe signals to VCs that stablecoin startups which were previously underfunded due to lack of early token liquidity now have a clearer path towards big exits. Expect more funding and more entrepreneurs building around stablecoins,” wrote Qiao Wang, founder of Alliance DAO.
Read more: How To Fund Innovation: A Guide to Web3 Grants
As cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology become more embedded in mainstream financial systems, acquisitions like this will likely become more common.
Disclaimer
In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
On Friday, Solana (SOL) soared to a new all-time high (ATH), now trading at approximately $261. This breakthrough surpasses its previous peak set in November 2021.
Solana’s rise to a new ATH marks an increase of over 32 times from its lows recorded in December 2022.
Solana Hits All-Time High as Gary Gensler Plans Resignation
Solana’s path to this new high has been anything but smooth. After reaching its previous high in 2021, the platform faced a downturn in 2022 amid a broader crypto bear market, further exacerbated by technical issues and network downtimes.
The collapse of FTX in November 2022 pushed Solana’s price down to around $8.
However, Solana has since made a remarkable recovery, increasing more than 32-fold from its low. Now, Solana enthusiasts believe that SOL could eventually outpace Ethereum (ETH) in market capitalization.
“Solana has been at an all-time high by market cap for a while actually. Now, we’re finally in price discovery. The flippening is coming,” Birch, the founder of PathCrypto, said.
The surge in Solana’s market value coincides with the news of SEC Chairman Gary Gensler’s planned resignation, slated for January 20, 2025, as Donald Trump assumes office.
Known for his strict regulatory stance on cryptocurrencies, Gensler’s departure signals a potential shift toward a more crypto-friendly administration. Consequently, this political change is stoking speculations about the approval of a Solana exchange-traded fund (ETF). According to Fox Business journalist Eleanor Terrett, the SEC has begun engaging with issuers to explore the possibility of a Solana ETF.
“Talks between SEC staff and issuers looking to launch a Solana spot ETF are “progressing” with the SEC now engaging on S-1 applications. Recent engagement from staff, coupled with the incoming pro-crypto administration, is sparking a renewed sense of optimism that a Solana ETF could be approved sometime in 2025,” Terrett claimed.
Previous efforts to launch a Solana ETF were stalled by regulatory roadblocks, often stopping early in the process. However, the changing political environment and the SEC’s increased openness have reignited hopes within the crypto community. Recent filings for a Solana ETF by Canary Capital and BitWise reflect a growing interest and anticipation for regulatory approval.
Despite these encouraging developments, the odds of a Solana ETF approval in 2024 remain low, with Polymarket estimates placing it at around 4%.
Meanwhile, the crypto community is also closely watching Bitcoin as it approaches the highly anticipated $100,000 mark. On Friday, Bitcoin recorded a new high of about $99,300. This milestone is viewed as a pivotal moment for Bitcoin and could impact other cryptocurrencies, including Solana.
Disclaimer
In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
XRP price rallied above the $1.15 and $1.20 resistance levels. The price is up over 25% and might rise further above the $1.420 resistance.
- XRP price started a fresh surge above the $1.20 resistance level.
- The price is now trading above $1.250 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average.
- There was a break above a key bearish trend line with resistance at $1.1400 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair (data source from Kraken).
- The pair is up over 25% and it seems like the bulls are not done yet.
XRP Price Eyes Steady Increase
XRP price formed a base above $1.050 and started a fresh increase. There was a move above the $1.150 and $1.20 resistance levels. It even pumped above the $1.25 level, beating Ethereum and Bitcoin in the past two sessions.
There was also a break above a key bearish trend line with resistance at $1.1400 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair. A high was formed at $1.4161 and the price is now consolidating gains. It is trading above the 23.6% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $1.0649 swing low to the $1.4161 high.
The price is now trading above $1.30 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. On the upside, the price might face resistance near the $1.400 level. The first major resistance is near the $1.420 level. The next key resistance could be $1.450.
A clear move above the $1.450 resistance might send the price toward the $1.50 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $1.550 resistance or even $1.620 in the near term. The next major hurdle for the bulls might be $1.750 or $1.80.
Are Dips Supported?
If XRP fails to clear the $1.420 resistance zone, it could start a downside correction. Initial support on the downside is near the $1.3350 level. The next major support is near the $1.2850 level.
If there is a downside break and a close below the $1.2850 level, the price might continue to decline toward the $1.240 support or the 50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $1.0649 swing low to the $1.4161 high in the near term. The next major support sits near the $1.20 zone.
Technical Indicators
Hourly MACD – The MACD for XRP/USD is now gaining pace in the bearish zone.
Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for XRP/USD is now above the 50 level.
Major Support Levels – $1.3350 and $1.2850.
Major Resistance Levels – $1.4000 and $1.4200.
ETF issuer WisdomTree’s European division just announced a new ETP based on XRP. This product is currently available in four EU countries, which has led XRP’s price to jump slightly.
ETPs are a common issuer strategy to earn revenue without ETF approval, but Europe will not necessarily approve one even if the US does so.
WisdomTree’s XRP ETP
WisdomTree, one of the Bitcoin ETF issuers in the US, announced that its European branch is offering an exchange-traded product (ETP) based on XRP. This new product is currently available in Germany, Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands. A growing number of issuers have filed for an XRP ETF, but WisdomTree is taking a slightly different tack.
“The WisdomTree Physical XRP ETP offers a simple, secure, and low-cost way to gain exposure to XRP, one of the largest cryptocurrencies by market capitalization. Backed 100% by XRP, XRPW is the lowest-priced XRP ETP in Europe, providing direct spot price exposure,” the announcement claimed.
The possibility of an official XRP ETF is growing with the current bull market, and Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse considers it “inevitable.” Still, it hasn’t happened yet, and ETP offerings allow issuers to somewhat address customers’ requirements. BitWise, which has also filed for an XRP ETF in the US, recently acquired a European ETP issuer to enter the same market.
WisdomTree, however, is no stranger to this market strategy. In May this year, it won approval to offer ETPs based on Bitcoin and Ethereum to British investors.
The UK has not yet approved a full ETF for either of these assets, but WisdomTree still gained market access. Even a fraction of the XRP market could also prove lucrative; the asset’s value spiked today.
WisdomTree Europe’s strategy page does not describe any further actions upon full approval. Even if the US approves an XRP ETF under the SEC’s new leadership, that won’t necessarily benefit WisdomTree’s European branch. For now, these ETPs built on XRP will have to suffice for this market.
Disclaimer
In adherence to the Trust Project guidelines, BeInCrypto is committed to unbiased, transparent reporting. This news article aims to provide accurate, timely information. However, readers are advised to verify facts independently and consult with a professional before making any decisions based on this content. Please note that our Terms and Conditions, Privacy Policy, and Disclaimers have been updated.
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