UToday

Ripple Labs is testing a stablecoin payment system on the XRP Ledger, signaling potential real-world adoption and increasing cross-border payment activity. This test aligns with XRPL upgrades and aims to enhance security using AI, with the goal of boosting institutional confidence and expanding market presence as Ripple pursues retail solutions in finance.

Robert Kiyosaki, known for his financial insights, addresses criticism for his "get rich in a crisis" tweet while maintaining his prediction of a major economic crash in 2026. He emphasizes his investment strategy focusing on assets like Bitcoin and gold, avoiding traditional stocks and cash.

Bitcoin's 200-week moving average has crossed $59,000, solidifying its status as a crucial support level. Historically, this average has provided stability during market downturns, though rare breaches have occurred, indicating potential cycle bottoms.

David Schwartz, Ripple's CTO Emeritus, refutes a rumor claiming the company secretly allocated most of its XRP escrow to hidden institutional players. He emphasizes the importance of organic growth without artificial incentives for banks.

Ripple plans to enhance the security of its XRP Ledger using AI, integrating AI tools for early vulnerability detection, implementing AI-assisted testing, and forming a dedicated red team to simulate attacks. This proactive approach aims to fortify the ledger amid its growth and increasing attractiveness to attackers.

Anatoly Yakovenko, cofounder of Solana, praised recent stats showing the blockchain accounted for 44% of global crypto transactions, highlighting its dominance. However, mixed reactions exist, with some questioning the authenticity of transaction volumes. Despite high activity, SOL's price struggles amid market volatility.

Analyst Willy Woo noted that the Bitcoin market is experiencing deep consolidation, primarily influenced by short-term holder prices around $84,000. With current trading at $70,100, market optimism is wavering as new buyers seek to break-even, leading to a critical period for future trends.

The Hashdex Nasdaq CME Crypto Index ETF (NCIQ) has expanded its holdings from five to seven digital assets, adding Cardano and Chainlink. By year-end 2025, it reported $1.213 billion in net assets and a NAV of $22.71 per share.

Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson announces a major partnership between privacy-focused blockchain Midnight and UK-regulated Monument Bank, aiming to tokenize £250 million in retail deposits, enhancing data privacy and access to banking tools for customers.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a ban on cryptocurrency donations to political parties and proposed caps on overseas donations. The measures aim to combat risks from illicit finance, following a review highlighting vulnerabilities in the UK's political system.

Michael Saylor of Strategy highlighted the firm’s intentional approach to creating varying volatility profiles in its assets. MSTR leads in market volatility at 71%, significantly higher than Bitcoin and traditional assets, catering to diverse investor risk preferences.