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Is a $1,000 XRP Price Possible? Here’s What Experts Say

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The XRP community has gone into a frenzy about a possible XRP price following a tweet by the digital currency platform Uphold that hinted at nothing but “XRP just hit $1,000. What are you tweeting?”

This unsurprisingly drove excitement but also raised eyebrows in skeptical crypto circles where such predictions do not go without heated debate.

XRP Price Surge: Can it Hit $1,000 as Predicted?

At the time of writing, XRP price was jumping above the $0.60 level. That said, the digital asset seems to display strong momentum as it stands 3.6% in gains week-over-week and up 11% month-over-month. Still, XRP remains 84% off of its ATH and lags most major crypto assets year to date.

However, it all began last year, in November when one of the most popular financial blogs, WallStreetBulls, chipped in with its own audacious prediction.

It confidently said:

“XRP reaching $1,000 was no more an unreachable dream and it could well happen within a few months if not weeks. #XRP #CryptoRevolution.”

Also, a recent commentary from Crypto Tank, a noted personality in the XRP community, once again brought to light the probability of XRP going up to $1,000. Crypto Tank said critics may undervalue the significant utility of XRP, especially in the global financial systems.

Skeptics Call Out “Gaslighting” as Price Prediction Sparks Debate

Clearly, not everyone is as confident about the potential of XRP.

Vocal skeptic JO rebutted:

“You really think it will jump from a $33 billion to a $100 trillion market cap overnight? That’s 20 times Apple’s value and 90 times Bitcoin’s. Stop the gaslighting! Let’s get it to $1, or maybe $5-$6.”

Therein lies perhaps the greatest doubting factor in the crypto space: how did such a great leap in XRP price even occur? This would indicate that the market cap surges past $100 trillion to $1,000, which would easily overshoot some of the world’s biggest companies and leading cryptocurrencies.

Just for comparison, Apple’s current market capitalization is sitting at approximately $3.30 trillion, with Bitcoin, the largest cryptocurrency, sitting at approximately $500 billion. That shows just how much more XRP would have to go to reach a value of $1,000 and points out its significant challenges.

What Could Spur $1000 Growth?

Although $1,000 might be considered ambitious for some when it comes to XRP price, several aspects could push for such growth. Digital currencies have shown that their prices can surge to extreme highs due to good sentiments, changes in technology, or even institutional investments, just like Bitcoin did with Microstrategy.

Such a valuation could be reached only in the case of more than just the right market conditions coming into play; it would likely take a change in how financial systems work around the world. XRP would need to be even more deeply integrated into cross-border transactions and banking infrastructure than it currently is. Just recently, Ripple-partner SBI Holdings announced its participation in Project Agora, a joint initiative led by the Bank for International Settlements (BIS) and seven central banks. This development has gone well within the XRP community, in part due to speculation of its potential integration or alignment into a unified ledger initiative in cross-border payments.

From the tweet to the follow-up post by WallStreetBulls, there is increased confidence in XRP eventually changing the game in finance. At the same time, as JO has mentioned, even a $1 or $5 target will be worth an achievement for any XRP holder.

Therefore, understanding how XRP can achieve unparalleled valuations calls for a critical look into the current global financial systems and their possible benefits from the adoption of XRP.

The Meaning of SWIFT in the Whole Story

SWIFT stands for the Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication and forms a basic backbone for cross-border transactions, processing an average daily messaging volume of $5-$7 trillion. SWIFT only handles the messaging portion, and actual settlements take place through separate systems, such as TARGET2 in the EU and FEDWIRE in the United States.

Yet, its current structure leaves a lot to be desired in terms of speed and costs, where messaging fees for transactions range from $20 to $50, and settlements may take days.

Also, just recently, Crypto Tank, one of the many analysts in the crypto sphere has commented on the trajectory of the XRP price, stating he sees XRP reaching $100 in valuation if it captures 10% of the daily transaction volume from SWIFT.

XRP SWIFTXRP SWIFT
Credit: x.com

By contrast, the addition of RippleNet could enable an entire transaction-to-settlement process to be completed in seconds at a fraction of that cost, thus saving banks hundreds of billions of dollars in fees annually.

Would Selling Your XRP Be Retarded?

While this movement of the XRP price has been frustrating for holders of the asset, according to Crypto trader analyst Alex Cobb, the asset is very well positioned for a macro breakout this cycle. He says this is a bad investment decision for those selling XRP now, calling it “retarded.” Cobb mentioned several key indicators that signal the bullish sentiments of XRP, like the latest breakout of the crypto above a long-standing resistance level on the monthly chart. Just recently, crypto analyst Tony Edward agreed with Cobb and said that the XRP bull run could begin soon.

Cobb, on the other hand, also points to the fact that the XRP/BTC has bounced off its historical low in July, a sign of strong recovery against Bitcoin as evidenced by several weeks of positive closes. He adds, “The market dominance of XRP bounces back, and has risen 1.10% in the week and 11.9% in the last month.”.

He even points out that a trendline that has been constraining the XRP price for almost seven years has been broken, and the asset is now free to rise. Besides this, he says speculation of a possible XRP ETF will increase demand and drive prices higher. Finally, he mentions the recent resolution of the SEC case against Ripple, which many XRP enthusiasts have felt was the main thing holding the asset’s growth back. With these drivers set in motion, Cobb thinks XRP is ready for a strong uptrend.

Realistic Path to $1000

The possible XRP price is very much intertwined with its use case: enabling high-value transactions on the XRP. It needs to appreciate in value to assume such volume on the blockchain it accommodates. Currently, the circulating supply of XRP stands at approximately 56 billion tokens. This figure is believed to be misleading because Ripple has maintained about 39 billion tokens in escrow; many more are held by retail investors, whales, and financial institutions.

The supply that may be actually used for transactions could be well below what’s reported, since not much XRP is needed to be used in a liquidity pool. If 10 billion XRP were dedicated to being used for liquidity, having a price of about US$100 per token would accomplish a US$1 trillion liquidity pool. This figure will increase even more as more and more financial organizations start working with XRP, and by then, XRP can easily reach the so-feared $1,000 price.

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Teuta

Teuta is a seasoned writer and editor with over 15 years of experience in macroeconomics, technology, and the cryptocurrency and blockchain industries. Starting her career in 2005 as a lifestyle writer for Cosmopolitan in Croatia, she expanded into covering business and economy for several esteemed publications like Forbes and Bloomberg. Influenced by figures like Don Tapscott and Bruce Dickinson, Teuta embraced the blockchain revolution, believing crypto to be one of humanity’s most crucial inventions. Her fintech involvement began in 2014, focusing on crypto, blockchain, NFTs, and Web3. Known for her excellent teamwork and communication skills, Teuta holds a double MA in Political Science and Law, enjoys punk rock, chablis, and has a passion for shoes.

Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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Bybit Turns To Bitget And Binance For $239 Million ETH Loan Amid Withdrawal Spike

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Bybit, a popular crypto exchange, is reeling from the massive hack worth $1.5 billion in digital assets. According to reports, the hackers targeted the crypto exchange’s cold wallet, an offline storage system, to steal the exchange’s assets, primarily Ether. On-chain data reveals that the stolen funds were quickly transferred into different wallets and liquidated on several platforms.

Ben Zhou, Bybit’s CEO, promptly addressed the hack and told users that the site’s other cold wallets are secure and withdrawals are processed “normally”. 

As the company struggles with a surge in withdrawal requests, it received over 88,000 ETH (worth around $239 million) from popular exchanges like Binance and Bitget. The fresh crypto transfers from these two popular exchanges boosted Bybit’s liquidity, allowing it serve the customers’ withdrawal requests.

Authorities Link Breach To North Korean Hacking Group

Friday’s hacking of the Bybit cold wallet is considered the biggest crypto hacking on record. Arkham Intelligence and Elliptic said the stolen digital assets were quickly transferred to different accounts and liquidated within minutes. Elliptic reports that the hacking is by far the biggest in the industry and easily surpassed the stolen $570 million from Binance in 2022 and the $611 million worth of crypto assets drained from Poly Network in 2021.

Elliptic speculated that the Lazarus Group, a state-backed hacking team in North Korea, perpetrated the hack. The Lazarus Group is known for its crypto-hacking activities, stealing billions of dollars from different sites. 

Bybit Gets Help From Binance And Bitget

As Bybit struggled to service the surge of withdrawals, it received help from other popular exchanges to cover the requests. Arkham said the exchange received more than 88,000 Ether or roughly $239 million from Binance and Bitget addresses.

The fund infusion can boost the exchange’s current liquidity as it addresses the massive withdrawal requests. Bybit confirmed that its users moved funds from the exchange after the hack was made public.

ETH is currently trading at $2,734. Chart: TradingView

Arkham said Bitget transferred 40,000 Ether, or $106 million, to a Bybit cold wallet on February 21st at 19:44 (UTC). Lookonchain argued that Bitget transferred its funds to the exchange to boost its liquidity and serve as a vote of confidence. 

After 10 minutes, a Binance hot wallet transferred 11,800 Ether or $31 million to the same Bybit cold wallet address. In total, Binance has transferred 47,800 Ether or $127.48 million. 

CEO Explains Crypto Exchange Remains Solvent

Bybit’s CEO, Ben Zhou, has assured its users and customers that the exchange is solvent. In a Twitter/X post, the CEO explained that the customers’ funds are backed 1:1 and that the company can service the losses even if it fails to recover them.

Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from TradingView





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Can Bitcoin Erase US Debt By 2049? VanEck Research Weighs In

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VanEck has announced a bold prediction that Bitcoin will play a critical role in managing the United States’ rising national debt. The study, based on Senator Cynthia Lummis’ proposed Bitcoin Act, shows that a strategic Bitcoin reserve may partially balance the country’s debt by 2049. But how feasible is this concept?

The Potential Impact Of Strategic Bitcoin Reserves

The study examines a scenario in which the US government obtains up to 1 million BTC during a five-year period. If this strategy comes to fruition, VanEck believes that such a reserve may help balance almost $21 trillion in national debt by 2049. Based on forecasts of future debt growth, this equates to around 18% of the expected total debt at the time.

However, this positive forecast is heavily reliant on Bitcoin’s price trajectory. VanEck’s model forecasts that BTC will grow at a 25% compounded annual rate (CAGR). Starting with an estimated acquisition price of $100,000 per unit in 2025, the crypto would need to see sustained price increases over the next two decades.

Source: VanEck

Debt Growth Versus Bitcoin Appreciation

The study considers the expected 5% annual rate of increase in US debt trajectory. Any effort to balance the predicted $100 trillion national debt by 2049 will need assets with big appreciation potential.

Though highly volatile, Bitcoin presents both a challenge and an opportunity. A 25% CAGR is an ambitious aim considering past pricing volatility, regulatory uncertainties, and industry acceptance patterns. Should the slow down in the crypto’s expansion, the reserve might not meet expectations, therefore lessening its value in addressing national debt.

BTC is now trading at $96,456. Chart: TradingView

Bitcoin As A Government Asset

VanEck’s view is consistent with a broader discussion concerning the leading digital currency’s role in national economies. Countries such as El Salvador have already adopted the top coin into their financial plans, albeit on a far lesser scale. If the US took a similar strategy, it would be an unparalleled shift in monetary policy.

The practicality of building such a massive Bitcoin reserve raises concerns. Would the government buy the crypto asset gradually or in bulk? How would it safeguard and govern such an asset? These uncertainties complicate VanEck’s vision.

A High-Risk Gamble Or A Financial Breakthrough?

VanEck’s research presents an intriguing possibility, despite these obstacles. The potential of BTC as a long-term wealth reserve is still a topic of debate among economists and policymakers. It may be feasible to employ the digital asset to mitigate national debt if its value continues to increase.

For now, the feasibility of this strategy remains uncertain. The US government has yet to indicate any concrete plans to acquire the alpha crypto on a large scale. But with national debt rising and Bitcoin’s influence growing, discussions around this unconventional solution are far from over.

Featured image from Gemini Imagen, chart from TradingView



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Ethereum Community Split Over Onchain Rollback Amid Bybit Hack

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As Bybit picks up the pieces from its jarring security breach, the Ethereum (ETF) community has been buzzing with speculation over the network’s future. One side of the divide makes a case for a blockchain rollback designed to eliminate malicious transactions, while the purists argue that the move will “kill” Ethereum’s credibility.

Forging Ahead With a Rollback

BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes has declared support for a rollback for the top layer 1 network, pitching his tent on the premise of Ethereum’s hard fork in 2016. For Hayes, since the network has undergone a previous hardfork, a rollback to stifle the ability of North Korean hackers to use stolen assets should be an easy choice for validators.

Samson Mow, Jan3 CEO, endorsed the proposed rollback in conversations with Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin. Mow’s theory proposes the $ETH ticker for the rolled-back chain and renaming the current chain $ETHNK, urging Coinbase and other exchanges to delist the token from their platforms.

While the debate rages on, hardliners in the Ethereum community may be swayed by claims that the stolen ETH by state-sponsored hackers will be used to fund North Korea’s nuclear weapon programs. The $1.5 billion pilfered from the Bybit hack surpasses previous security breaches in scale, dwarfing the top five biggest hacks of 2024 by a country mile.

A blockchain rollback is an event that reverses confirmed transactions on a network to a previous state. Traditionally, the concept involves chain deployment after security breaches, and it takes several forms, including forks and chain reorganizations.

Ethereum Community Against The Rollback

Amid the Bybit hack, blockchain proponents in the Ethereum community are adopting a hard stance against a rollback proposal, citing the grim potential of eroding Ethereum’s credibility in the grand scheme.

“A rollback can only happen if you split the chain. Ethereum’s reliability and neutrality would be at risk,” said pseudonymous crypto trader Borovik on X. “This should never happen, under no circumstances.”

Borovik’s argument has received support from Bitcoin proponent Jimmy Song, who notes that the Bybit incident is significantly different from 2016’s DAO hack. Song’s claim against a rollback hinges on the fact that the Bybit hack is a settled affair, while the DAO hack took a month to execute.

“I know people are expecting the Ethereum Foundation to roll back the chain, but I suspect it’s already too much of a mess to do it cleanly,” said Song

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Disclaimer: The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.





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