Is XRP finally ready to pop?

December 08, 2025

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XRP eyes breakout as ETF inflows surge and traders position for a fresh upside move

Key points:

  • XRP is trading near the top of its recent range as analysts watch for a breakout toward $2.65 backed by rising institutional demand and improving trader sentiment.

  • Spot XRP ETFs recorded a 15-day streak of inflows nearing $1 billion, reinforcing accumulation at the $2.00 psychological floor.

News - XRP is gaining renewed momentum as a blend of institutional inflows, leveraged trader optimism, and technical structure supports the case for a potential breakout. 

The token has risen 3% in the past 24 hours and is up 15.5% from its late November low, climbing to $2.10. Analysts highlight a symmetrical triangle pattern projecting a measured move toward $2.65 if price closes above the $2.15 trendline.

Institutional interest remains a major driver. XRP investment products attracted $245 million in inflows last week, bringing year-to-date inflows to $3.1 billion. 

Spot ETFs continued their perfect streak of positive flows, adding $10.23 million on Friday, now nearing $900 million in cumulative inflows. Broader U.S. spot ETF demand is on track to surpass $1 billion, supported by regulatory clarity and strong liquidity.

Derivatives traders are leaning bullish as funding rates flip positive and long positions dominate on major derivatives venues including Binance and Hyperliquid. On Hyperliquid, XRP traders hold roughly $94.5 million in long exposure versus $37.6 million short. This behavior reinforces expectations of a move toward higher levels if resistance zones break.

ETF demand outshines retail activity - Despite muted retail sentiment and lower active address counts, institutional accumulation around $2.00 remains strong. Heavy buying absorbed the recent flush to $2.00, prompting a rebound and reinforcing the level as a key floor.

What traders are watching next - A close above $2.11 would open the path toward the $2.20 to $2.26 zone. Clearing the $2.30 daily level would strengthen structure further, aligning with triangle targets near $2.65. Losing $2.00 risks a slide toward $1.94 or even $1.85 if momentum weakens.

Bitcoin reclaims $92K as Strategy adds another $962M and markets brace for Fed cut

Key points:

  • Bitcoin moved back above $92,000 as traders priced in a likely 25 basis point Federal Reserve rate cut this week, while altcoins continued to underperform.

  • Strategy added 10,624 BTC worth $962.7 million, lifting its treasury to 660,624 BTC as long-term holder selling pressure showed signs of easing.

News - Bitcoin regained momentum during Monday’s early session, climbing above $92,000 after a weekend spent below $90,000. The move erased Friday’s pullback and brought BTC within reach of last week’s $94,200 level. 

Futures markets are pricing an 87% chance of a 25 basis point Fed cut on Wednesday, setting the stage for a possible “Santa rally” across risk assets.

Strategy added fresh firepower to its balance sheet, purchasing 10,624 BTC for $962.7 million at an average price of $90,615. The company now holds 660,624 BTC acquired for $49.35 billion, with unrealized gains reflecting a value near $60 billion, placing the holdings more than 22% above the firm’s aggregate cost basis. 

Michael Saylor has continued pitching Bitcoin to sovereign wealth funds, banks, and family offices as “digital capital” and the base layer for a yield-bearing “digital credit” framework. Despite Strategy’s stock falling 51% over the past year, the firm remains up more than 22% on its BTC holdings.

Onchain metrics reinforce a shift in market structure. Long-term holder supply dropped to a cyclical low of 14.33 million BTC on November 21 when BTC bottomed near $80,000, marking the lowest level since March. 

The rebound toward $90,000 suggests that the bulk of spot-driven selling from seasoned holders has passed. Analysts note that this cycle shows more measured distribution compared to the aggressive capitulation seen in 2017 and 2021.

Macro signals to watch - The Fed is expected to cut rates to the 3.5%–3.75% range, though analysts warn guidance could lean hawkish. Treasury yields climbed to 4.15% even as BTC rose, a reminder that liquidity conditions remain mixed. Funding rates stay positive, while Deribit order flow shows interest in call spreads and long-dated downside hedges.

Key levels into the Fed decision - Bitcoin faces resistance in the low $90,000 region, with some traders eyeing a retest of the 50-day EMA near $95,500. To the downside, the $84,000 Fibonacci level remains a critical support. Open interest has dropped to its lowest point since April, a sign of apathy that often precedes stronger directional moves.

Ethereum momentum builds as BitMine boosts treasury, whales open $426M longs, and BlackRock pushes staked ETF

Key points:

  • BitMine added 138,452 ETH worth $435 million, lifting its treasury to 3.86 million ETH as whales opened $426 million in new long positions ahead of potential volatility triggers.

  • BlackRock filed for a staked Ethereum ETF while technical indicators point toward a possible breakout with targets near the $4,000 mark.

News - Ethereum is entering the week with a strong mix of institutional accumulation, derivatives positioning, and ecosystem developments shaping sentiment. 

BitMine Immersion Technologies reported its largest weekly purchase in over a month, adding 138,452 ETH worth roughly $435 million. The firm now holds 3.86 million ETH, more than 3.2% of circulating supply. Chairman Thomas Lee cited the Fusaka upgrade and improving macro conditions as catalysts, arguing the “crypto supercycle is intact.”

Whales appear to share that view. Three high performing traders opened long positions totaling 136,433 ETH valued at $425.98 million. 

Additional onchain data shows another whale deploying more than $189 million across two accounts. These bets coincide with ETH trading near $3,140, up 20% from its late November low and holding above the $3,000 level as traders await the Fed’s rate decision this week.

This activity unfolds as BlackRock moves deeper into Ethereum exposure, filing for its first staked ETH ETF. The new iShares Ethereum Staking Trust would offer onchain yield access, reflecting a shift in regulatory tone under new SEC leadership. ETHA, BlackRock’s existing Ethereum fund, will remain separate.

Ecosystem shifts: ZKsync lite set for 2026 retirement - ZKsync said it will retire ZKsync Lite in 2026 after serving as Ethereum’s first ZK rollup and early proof of concept. The network continues operating normally, with withdrawals and funds remaining safe while migration guidance is prepared.

Market outlook: Price structure and Buterin’s gas futures idea - ETH’s ascending triangle targets roughly $4,020 if price clears resistance near $3,250. Momentum has strengthened, but traders note possible resistance in the $3,350 to $3,550 zone. 

Moreover, Vitalik Buterin floated a trustless onchain gas futures market to help users hedge fee spikes, proposing a mechanism that could offer clearer cost certainty as network activity expands.

Coinbase rekindles India push as exchanges return despite harsh tax rules

Key points:

  • Coinbase has reopened India registrations after a two-year exit, allowing crypto-to-crypto trading and preparing a fiat on-ramp for 2026.

  • Global exchanges including Binance and Bybit have also resumed activity in India despite a 30% tax on crypto gains and a 1% TDS on each trade.

News - Coinbase is staging a full comeback in India, restoring user registrations after more than two years away from the market. 

The exchange halted local access in 2023 after a troubled 2022 debut that saw UPI support withdrawn within days, triggering the long regulatory standoff that ultimately led to off-boarding millions of users as Coinbase reassessed its exposure.

The company has since worked closely with domestic regulators, securing Financial Intelligence Unit registration earlier this year. Coinbase initially resumed onboarding through an early-access program in October and has now opened the app broadly, though trading is currently limited to crypto pairs. 

At India Blockchain Week, APAC director John O’Loghlen said the firm plans to launch a local fiat on-ramp in 2026, restoring the ability for users to add rupees and buy crypto directly.

Coinbase is also deepening its presence in the ecosystem. It invested in CoinDCX at a $2.45 billion valuation and signed a partnership with Karnataka’s government to support blockchain training, startup incubation, and public awareness initiatives. Company representatives have been engaging with policymakers on forward-looking virtual digital asset rules.

Why global exchanges are returning - Despite restrictive policies, India leads Asia-Pacific in crypto activity. Chainalysis attributes this to strong grassroots adoption, remittance needs, young retail traders, and fast-moving fintech rails like UPI. These factors have encouraged Bybit and Binance to return, each paying penalties to resume operations.

India’s tax headwinds remain - The 30% flat tax on crypto gains and 1% TDS continue to suppress volumes, and industry participants say the rules complicate exchange operations. Still, Coinbase sees India as a long-term growth market and plans to expand its more than 500-employee workforce as part of its regional strategy.

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Did you know?

  • Bitcoin miners in Norway have used waste heat to dry timber - Kryptovault’s mining facility in Hønefoss, Norway, began routing hot air from its Bitcoin rigs into skips full of chopped wood so a local lumber business could dry firewood using otherwise wasted heat.

  • Liechtenstein and Bitcoin for government services - In May 2023, Liechtenstein’s Prime Minister Daniel Risch said the country planned to let people pay for some government services in Bitcoin, with all BTC converted immediately into Swiss francs.

  • Dallas Mavericks accepting Dogecoin - In March 2021, Mark Cuban’s Dallas Mavericks basketball team became one of the first major sports teams to accept Dogecoin for tickets and merchandise using BitPay, turning a memecoin into a real-world payment option for fans.

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Top 3 coins of the day

Zcash (ZEC)

Key points:

  • ZEC was last seen near $383 after extending its intraday rebound, even as it remained below both the 20 SMA and 50 SMA.

  • The short-term trend stayed intact with the 20 SMA holding above the 50 SMA, while RSI hovered in neutral territory after recovering from recent oversold levels.

What you should know:

Zcash staged a sharp recovery after dipping toward the low $340 zone, finishing the session notably higher. Price action stayed capped beneath both the 20 SMA and 50 SMA, underscoring ongoing downside pressure, although the moving averages had not yet completed a bearish crossover with the 20 SMA still positioned above the 50 SMA. The RSI trended higher from oversold conditions and sat in the mid-40s, indicating stabilizing momentum rather than a confirmed shift in bias. Volume activity picked up moderately during the rebound, suggesting renewed trader interest. Beyond the chart, privacy-sector sentiment remained supportive as traders rotated back into privacy-focused tokens amid regulatory uncertainty, and recent institutional accumulation continued to act as a psychological tailwind. Traders will watch whether ZEC can reclaim the $395 area, which now serves as the immediate resistance zone to validate further upside.

Bittensor (TAO)

Key points:

  • TAO traded near $298 after a 7.65% daily rise, recovering from last week’s decline and reclaiming short-term momentum levels.

  • The MACD line moved just above the signal line while the histogram turned strongly green, hinting at early bullish pressure despite TAO still hovering under major resistance.

What you should know:

TAO climbed toward $298 after buyers stepped in near the recent range low, marking a steady intraday recovery. Price remained beneath both key resistance levels highlighted by the LuxAlgo Support and Resistance tool, although the latest move carried TAO closer to the lower resistance zone around the $300 region. The Bollinger Bars showed price stabilizing near mid-range levels rather than touching the upper or lower extremes. The MACD displayed a slight bullish crossover as the MACD line edged above the signal line and the histogram printed its strongest green bar after a sequence of faint green ones. This reflected an early shift in momentum, although overall strength remained modest. A portion of the upside also aligned with ongoing halving anticipation, which continued to influence trader sentiment throughout the day. Volume activity stayed consistent with prior sessions rather than showing a significant spike. Going forward, TAO’s next hurdle sits near the marked resistance around $320, while support remains near the lower range structure. A sustained MACD expansion would be needed to strengthen the recovery trend.

Pepe (PEPE)

Key points:

  • PEPE traded near $0.00000475, extending its intraday advance after breaking out of its recent consolidation range.

  • The Parabolic SAR flipped bullish under the candles, while the Stochastic RSI held in overbought territory, signaling firm short-term momentum.

What you should know:

PEPE surged after several days of muted movement, registering a clearer bounce once the Parabolic SAR shifted beneath the candles. The Stochastic RSI stayed elevated, with both lines above 79, indicating that buyers maintained control even as momentum risked cooling. Volume picked up modestly compared to recent sessions, showing improving participation behind the move. Beyond technicals, PEPE benefited from broader market strength as Bitcoin’s rally lifted liquidity across meme tokens, and open interest in PEPE derivatives rose as speculative traders added exposure. The price now faces nearby resistance around $0.00000490–$0.00000500, while $0.00000440 remains a level to monitor if sentiment weakens.

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