A new XRP price prediction by popular crypto pundit Egrag Crypto projects that the cryptocurrency could experience a historical price surge of about 9,468%. This predicted price gain would push XRP from its current price of $0.58 to $27, marking new All-Time Highs (ATHs).  

XRP Price Forecasted To Pump To These Targets

Egrag Crypto has taken to X (formerly Twitter) to express his bullish outlook on XRP, predicting the cryptocurrency could surge as high as $27. On Wednesday, September 18, the crypto analyst shared a price chart illustrating a speculative breakdown of potential price movements for XRP using five distinctive color indicators to represent various price increase scenarios. 

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Each of these scenarios has been carefully analyzed, grounded on historical price trends and past price pumps. Additionally, the color indicators — white, yellow, red, blue, and green, are all arranged respectively to represent the ascending price potential of XRP. 

The white color indicator predicts that XRP is set to witness a 932% pump from the analyst’s predicted cycle low of $0.28. While this scenario is relatively conservative compared to other projections, if XRP can achieve the predicted pump, its price could surge to $3, nearing current all-time highs. 

The yellow color indicator foresees XRP increasing by 1,538%, potentially driving its price to fresh all-time highs of $4.85. While this target is much higher than the white scenario, it is still within the realm of possibility if the cryptocurrency maintains a positive momentum.

The red indicator projects that XRP’s price will jump to $6.22, marking a 2,035% increase. This massive surge would signal a strong bull run for the cryptocurrency, likely reflecting the influence of major external factors such as mass adoption and more legal clarity. 

In the blue color scenario, XRP is set to reach a higher price of $7.68, representing a whopping 2,536% increase. At this price, XRP would likely be seen as a major player in the market with potential long-term viability. 

Finally, the green color indicator predicts that XRP could witness a 9,468% price surge, potentially driving the cryptocurrency to a staggering $27. Although this ambitious prediction would be a historic achievement, it remains a far-fetched possibility with XRP’s current market dynamics. 

XRP Community Express Skepticism

While Egrag Crypto’s bullish projections for XRP raise the hopes of investors who have been HODLing the coin for years now despite its low value and persistent consolidation phase, many have also expressed doubts. A few crypto members criticized the analyst, calling him out for his overly bullish forecasts for XRP. 

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Other members found the ambitious price predictions humorous, declaring that XRP is a “shit coin” and would remain so for a long period. Additionally, one crypto member underscored XRP’s long-term stagnant growth, highlighting that he had bought $1,000 worth of the cryptocurrency early last year but only accrued a profit of $100. 

Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com

Crypto sports sponsorship is cautiously rebounding in 2024, signaling a modest revival from the downturn following the boom in 2021. Despite these signs of recovery, the sector still falls short of reaching the highs witnessed during the peak year.

The increase in sports sponsorship also indicates a recovery of the crypto market. Brands are sponsoring sports teams because they have additional funds available for such marketing activities.

The crypto industry started heavily investing in sports sponsorship in 2021. During that year, the industry saw an unprecedented expansion with 42 new deals, representing 45.6% of the total 92 sports sponsorships from 2021 to 2024.

This growth was propelled by a bullish digital currency market, which led to significant agreements. Notably, Crypto.com secured a $700 million deal for the naming rights of Staples Center, renaming it to Crypto.com Arena.

Additionally, FTX entered into a $210 million sponsorship with esports group Team SoloMid. The aggressive sponsorship came as firms sought mainstream visibility and adoption.

Read more: 14 Best Crypto Marketing Agencies for 2024

However, the narrative shifted drastically in 2022 with the market’s downturn. The sector saw a severe reduction in new deals, dropping to 25. The collapse of FTX, previously a key player, led to canceled deals, including its partnerships with the Miami Heat and other sports platforms.

Despite the downturn, some firms like Bybit and Vechain managed to secure substantial agreements; Bybit secured a $150 million deal with Red Bull Racing, and Vechain signed a $100 million contract with UFC.

The downward trend persisted into 2023, with only 8 new sponsorships signed, though 14 existing deals were renewed. Amidst prolonged bearish market conditions and the FTX fallout, the industry remained cautious, limiting substantial financial commitments. However, OKX demonstrated resilience by securing a $70 million deal with Manchester City, illustrating that strategic investments could still thrive.

By 2024, the industry witnessed a gentle recovery, with 26 new sponsorships and 16 continuing from prior years. Noteworthy among these was Crypto.com’s sponsorship with the UEFA Champions League and BlockDAG’s $10 million deal with Borussia Dortmund (BVB). Additionally, Bitget announced a new partnership with LaLiga to enhance crypto adoption in Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America.

“The volume of new sponsorships has not surpassed the 2021 levels, but the uptick in activity suggests crypto firms are slowly re-entering the sports space,” CoinGecko said.

Read more: Top 5 Crypto Companies That Might Go Public (IPO) in 2024

Specifically, crypto sponsorships have primarily focused on football, with early adopters including prominent clubs like Manchester United, Chelsea, and Manchester City. The strategy extended to global events such as the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA World Cup, leveraging football’s massive international following.

Despite the market’s volatility, some partnerships, like Crypto.com’s diverse sponsorships and Bybit’s strong presence in Formula 1, have become long-term success stories.

The Token2049 conference in Singapore has once again proven to be a key event for the crypto industry, showcasing major advancements and collaborations.

The event covered everything from Ethereum’s growth to new partnerships in sports and AI, highlighting how the industry continues to evolve.

Vitalik Sings Ethereum’s Progress: Fees, Speed, Future

Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin surprised Token2049 attendees by delivering his speech in the form of a concert. Despite the unusual presentation, he shared key updates on Ethereum’s progress.

Buterin highlighted how Layer-2 networks have reduced transaction fees and improved transaction confirmation times to just 5 to 15 seconds.

He also stressed the importance of balancing mainstream adoption with Ethereum’s core values of decentralization and open-source development. Buterin briefly mentioned the ongoing competition with Bitcoin, which currently dominates 58% of the market.

On the second day of Token2049, global crypto exchange Bitget announced a partnership with LaLiga. The collaboration, timed with Bitget’s sixth anniversary, will focus on leveraging blockchain technology alongside LaLiga’s ventures into AI, virtual reality, and the metaverse.

Bitget CEO Gracy Chen highlighted the alliance’s potential to connect with millions of football fans in emerging markets. This follows Bitget’s 2022 partnership with Lionel Messi, reflecting the growing overlap between crypto and sports.

Solana Mobile Unveils ‘Seeker’: Next-Gen Web3 Smartphone

Solana Mobile, a subsidiary of Solana Labs, has unveiled its second-generation Web3 smartphone, called “Seeker”. Previously referred to as “Chapter Two,” Seeker has already secured over 140,000 presale units across 57 countries, according to Emmett Hollyer, Solana Mobile’s general manager. The device is set for release in 2025 and aims to further Web3 mobile development within the Solana ecosystem.

Seeker’s key features include a seed vault wallet, Solana dApp Store 2.0, a Seeker Genesis token, and enhanced hardware. The Early Founder price is $450 until September 21, 2024.

This launch comes after the Saga phone faced initial struggles with sales, but later sold out following a surge in the value of the BONK meme coin.

Read more: 6 Best Platforms To Buy Solana (SOL) in 2024

Chainlink’s Sergey Nazarov Predicts RWA Surge

Chainlink co-founder Sergey Nazarov once again predicted that tokenized real-world assets (RWA) will soon surpass cryptocurrencies in value on Web3. During his keynote at Token2049, he stated that TradFi will become decentralized finance’s (DeFi) largest customer, reshaping the blockchain industry.

Nazarov highlighted Chainlink’s Cross-Chain Interoperability Protocol (CCIP) as crucial in connecting various financial systems. He noted that Chainlink’s oracle network has already enabled $15.49 trillion in transaction value since 2022.

To integrate with blockchain, TradFi needs access to diverse data types and cross-chain connectivity. CCIP offers programmable token transfers, allowing value and data to be included in single transactions.

CertiK, the prominent blockchain security firm, announced a major upgrade to its Web3 services. The company introduced two free community security tools: Token Scan and Wallet Scan, aimed at increasing user asset protection.

Token Scan offers instant security checks for tokens, helping users detect potential scams on networks like Solana. Wallet Scan allows users to assess their wallets for risks such as approval vulnerabilities, and interactions with phishing addresses.

These tools were developed based on CertiK’s extensive experience, including over 70 white hat operations, reporting of 4,000+ security incidents, identification of 115,000 code vulnerabilities, and protection of approximately $360 billion in assets.

Read more: 15 Most Common Crypto Scams To Look Out For

Hollywood Veteran Critiques Celebrity Meme Coins

Andrew Saunders, a former Hollywood executive and now Skale’s chief marketing officer, voiced criticism of celebrity-backed meme coins at Token2049. Despite his background in entertainment, Saunders warned against these tokens due to concentrated supply and high risk, likening them to a player-versus-player game where early entry is key to making a profit.

Looking ahead, Saunders predicted a shift in the landscape as crypto regulations become clearer and public understanding improves. He envisioned a future where celebrities use blockchain to connect with fans in a more meaningful way, accessing unique data through an “arm in” model.

As a better alternative to meme coins, Saunders suggested that celebrities develop decentralized applications (DApps) where fans could earn points through social interactions. These points could then be redeemed for exclusive experiences or merchandise.

Solidus Ai Tech and SambaNova Partner for Web 3.0 AI

Solidus Ai Tech has partnered with SambaNova Systems to advance AI in Web 3.0 by integrating SambaNova’s RDU stacks into Solidus Ai Tech’s AI marketplace and European HPC Data Centre. This collaboration promises unprecedented speeds in AI inferencing and fine-tuning.

Set to launch in September, the AI Marketplace will feature advanced AI models powered by SambaNova’s SN40L chip, making high-performance AI accessible across various industries. Paul Farhi, CEO of Solidus Ai Tech, described it as a major leap for AI, while Su Le from SambaNova emphasized the potential for decentralized intelligence in Web 3.0.

Venture Trio Launches Fund for Aptos Ecosystem Growth

MEXC Ventures, Foresight Ventures, and Mirana Ventures have joined forces to establish a new fund aimed at boosting the Aptos ecosystem. This collaborative initiative will focus on supporting promising projects built on the Aptos platform, with a particular emphasis on developing crucial Web3 use cases.

The fund will prioritize projects that leverage Aptos infrastructure, including technologies like Block-STM, and those that facilitate seamless interoperability with key EVM ecosystems. This strategic investment demonstrates strong confidence in Aptos’ technological advancements and future potential.