CoinSignals

XRP has achieved a milestone no other altcoin has managed, maintaining a place among the cryptocurrency market’s top 10 by market capitalization for 13 straight years.

According to a CoinGecko report, Ripple’s native token is the only cryptocurrency besides Bitcoin to rank in the top 10 every year since 2014. Despite enduring multiple market cycles, regulatory challenges, and major industry collapses, XRP has retained its position among the market’s largest digital assets.

Although the report was published more than a month ago, it offers an interesting look at how dramatically the crypto landscape has evolved over the past decade.

Since 2014, countless projects have risen to prominence before fading from the top ranks. Former heavyweights such as Peercoin, Namecoin, NXT, Dash, EOS, and Litecoin all spent years in the top 10 before eventually losing their positions.

XRP, however, has remained a constant. CoinGecko’s analysis of annual market capitalization rankings from 2014 through 2026 shows that only Bitcoin and XRP have consistently stayed within the top 10 throughout the entire period. With 2026 nearing its end and no major decline in sight, XRP appears poised to extend that streak to 14 years.

The token has weathered some of the toughest moments in crypto history, including the 2018 bear market, the COVID 19 market crash, the collapse of Terra, the FTX bankruptcy, and Ripple’s prolonged legal battle with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. The SEC lawsuit led to XRP being delisted from numerous exchanges and triggered a sharp decline in its price, yet it still maintained its place among the market’s leading cryptocurrencies.

XRP also recently marked one year since reaching its all time high of $3.65 last July. Since then, the token has fallen by roughly 70%.

The report also highlights how much the broader crypto market has changed. Bitcoin’s market dominance has dropped from about 87% in 2014 to below 57%, reflecting the industry’s growing diversity.

Stablecoins have become permanent members of the top rankings, while exchange tokens such as BNB now stand alongside major layer 1 blockchain networks. Another notable milestone came this year when Hyperliquid’s HYPE became only the second decentralized finance project ever to break into the top 10, surpassing Dogecoin.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Traditional financial institutions are increasingly embracing blockchain technology, but not because they are adopting the ideals of decentralized finance. According to venture capital firm a16z, banks and asset managers are using blockchain primarily to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and modernize existing financial systems.

Institutions Are Choosing Practical Blockchain Solutions

In its latest report, a16z said traditional finance is selectively integrating blockchain features that align with regulatory standards, operational requirements, and risk management practices, while avoiding the core principles that define decentralized finance.

Rather than fully embracing DeFi, institutions are building a new form of programmable financial infrastructure tailored to their own needs.

Examples include JPMorgan’s permissioned blockchain for institutional deposits and tokenized money market funds offered by BlackRock and Franklin Templeton. These projects use blockchain to streamline services such as interbank settlements, fund subscriptions, and yield generating investment products.

According to a16z, these initiatives benefit from blockchain’s programmability, transparency, and near instant settlement capabilities while deliberately excluding features such as open participation, pseudonymity, and trustless transactions.

The goal is not to replace traditional finance with decentralized systems but to make existing financial infrastructure more efficient.

Open Crypto Innovation Remains the Foundation

The report also emphasized that many of the blockchain technologies now being adopted by large financial institutions were originally developed within open, permissionless crypto ecosystems.

These decentralized environments gave developers the freedom to experiment with new financial applications and infrastructure long before banks began exploring blockchain.

As a result, much of the institutional adoption seen today is built upon innovations that first emerged from the broader crypto industry.

The Industry Should Look Beyond Wall Street

While institutional adoption represents a significant growth opportunity, a16z cautioned against viewing traditional finance as the sole destination for blockchain technology.

The firm argued that banks and asset managers are important customers, but they should not define the future direction of the industry.

According to the report, developing products that meet institutional requirements is both valuable and commercially important. However, blockchain’s long term potential extends well beyond Wall Street, and the industry should continue pursuing innovation across open, decentralized ecosystems alongside enterprise focused solutions.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Prediction markets experienced a surge in activity during the second quarter of 2026, with trading volumes reaching new highs as major global sporting events attracted a wave of participation. At the same time, Kalshi strengthened its lead over rival platforms, while traditional financial firms and major technology companies continued expanding into the sector.

Sports Events Fuel Record Trading Activity

According to a CoinGecko report, total notional trading volume across prediction markets climbed to $113.8 billion in the second quarter, representing a 48.7 percent increase compared with the previous quarter.

Momentum accelerated in June, when monthly trading volume hit a record $50.7 billion, almost double the average monthly volume of $27.5 billion recorded during the preceding five months.

CoinGecko attributed much of the growth to a packed sports calendar that included the UEFA Champions League Final, Stanley Cup Finals, NBA Finals, FIFA World Cup, and Wimbledon.

Sports contracts dominated activity on Polymarket, accounting for 81 percent of all trading volume in June, a significant jump from 40 percent in January.

Kalshi Expands Its Lead

Despite the surge in sports related trading, Polymarket’s share of the prediction market declined from 35.8 percent in the first quarter to 30.2 percent in the second.

Kalshi, however, continued gaining ground, increasing its market share from 42.4 percent to nearly 58.9 percent, further establishing itself as the industry’s leading platform.

Another notable newcomer was Rothera, the joint venture launched by Robinhood and Susquehanna International Group in May. The platform quickly rose to become the fourth largest prediction market by June after recording approximately $2.1 billion in notional trading volume.

Wall Street and Big Tech Enter the Market

The growing popularity of prediction markets has also attracted interest from established financial institutions.

Last month, Cboe Global Markets introduced Cboe Predicts, a platform offering securities based binary option contracts tied to the Mini S&P 500 Index.

The contracts, which allow traders to speculate on whether the index will finish above or below a predetermined level, are already available through Interactive Brokers, with Charles Schwab expected to provide access in the near future. Cboe also indicated that additional brokerage firms are likely to support the products over time.

Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that Meta is developing a standalone prediction markets application called Arena.

The platform would initially allow users to forecast real world events using points rather than real money, although the report suggested it could eventually expand into real money wagering. The project is reportedly a key initiative for CEO Mark Zuckerberg and follows Meta’s earlier Forecast platform, which launched during the COVID 19 pandemic before being discontinued in 2022.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

With the cryptocurrency industry constantly generating headlines, some important developments can easily slip under the radar. Beyond market movements and regulatory updates, several notable stories emerged this week that could have lasting implications for the sector.

MetaMask Contractor Linked to North Korea

Consensys, the company behind the MetaMask wallet, reportedly discovered that a software contractor hired through a third party had ties to North Korea.

According to an internal document cited by Drop Site News, the developer worked on MetaMask’s codebase for about a month before the company identified the connection and immediately revoked their access.

Consensys temporarily paused product releases while conducting an internal investigation. The company said it found no evidence of malicious code, compromised user data, or stolen assets, and concluded that users were not affected.

The incident has renewed concerns over North Korea’s alleged efforts to infiltrate cryptocurrency companies through developers in order to exploit security vulnerabilities.

Dutch Crypto Exchange Knaken Declared Bankrupt

A court in Rotterdam has declared Dutch cryptocurrency exchange Knaken bankrupt after prosecutors alleged that approximately €7 million, or about $7.6 million, in customer funds could not be accounted for.

The platform had already suspended operations in June, leaving customers unable to access their assets for several weeks.

The court determined that Knaken lacked sufficient assets to repay all affected users. The collapse comes shortly after the European Union introduced its Markets in Crypto Assets, or MiCA, regulatory framework, raising fresh questions about investor protection and oversight of unauthorized crypto platforms.

Injective Seeks SEC Approval as Transfer Agent

Injective has submitted Form TA-1 to the US Securities and Exchange Commission in a bid to become a registered transfer agent.

If approved, the blockchain network would be able to maintain official ownership records for tokenized securities directly on chain.

Traditionally, transfer agents are responsible for tracking ownership changes, processing transfers, and maintaining shareholder records. Injective’s application represents another step toward integrating blockchain technology with regulated financial markets.

Robinhood Chain Attracts Strong Ethereum Inflows

Robinhood’s newly launched blockchain network has attracted significant attention during its first weeks of operation.

More than $70 million worth of Ethereum has already been bridged to the network, highlighting strong early interest from users.

While the initial inflows point to growing enthusiasm for the ecosystem, it remains to be seen whether that momentum will translate into sustained activity. The coming months will reveal whether the demand is driven by long term adoption of tokenized assets or primarily by short term speculation.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Ethereum could be in the final phase of a long term bullish pattern that may eventually drive its price to between $12,000 and $22,000, according to crypto analyst NoName. While the forecast is speculative, it has reignited discussions over whether Ethereum’s recent lows marked the beginning of a sustained recovery.

Expanding Pattern Suggests Significant Upside

In an analysis shared on X, NoName argued that Ethereum has been forming an expanding diagonal pattern since 2021. The technical structure consists of five waves, with each wave growing larger than the previous one.

According to the analyst, the first four waves have already played out, with the fourth wave finding support between $1,072 and $1,385. They believe this zone represents the foundation of the broader pattern and that the fifth and final wave could push Ethereum above its previous cycle high.

NoName also compared Ethereum’s chart to a historical pattern seen in the Dow Jones Industrial Average, suggesting the two share similar technical characteristics that could lead to comparable breakouts.

Based on this analysis, the projected target for Ethereum ranges from $12,000 to $22,000. The analyst also described ETH as one of the market’s most undervalued assets, arguing that widespread pessimism could present an attractive opportunity for long term investors.

Other Analysts Remain Optimistic

Another market analyst, Crypto Patel, also expects substantial upside, although with a more conservative target.

Using the Wyckoff accumulation model, Patel believes Ethereum could climb toward $10,000 by 2027 or 2028, provided the recent low near $1,500 continues to hold as support.

Patel identified the $2,400 to $2,600 range as the first major resistance area that Ethereum must overcome before a stronger bullish trend can develop.

Meanwhile, CryptoQuant contributor CW8900 pointed to improving on chain data. According to the analyst, wallets holding more than 100,000 ETH have returned to profit following Ethereum’s latest rebound. Historically, these large holders have tended to move back into profit near major market bottoms, with those moments often followed by extended rallies or meaningful short term recoveries.

Caution Still Remains

Despite the growing optimism, not all analysts are convinced Ethereum has reached its final bottom.

After falling close to $1,500 in June, ETH rebounded sharply following lower than expected US inflation data, climbing to approximately $1,940 before sellers pushed the price back below $1,900.

At the time of writing, Ethereum is trading near $1,800 after declining about 5 percent over the past 24 hours, though it remains higher on a weekly basis.

Analyst Crypto Rover has warned that a recurring 1,369 day market cycle could still send Ethereum below $1,500 before a lasting bottom is established.

While long term forecasts remain highly bullish, Ethereum will first need to reclaim key resistance levels before any move toward five figure price targets becomes a realistic possibility.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Spot Bitcoin ETFs have experienced more than $8 billion in investor outflows over the past several weeks, fueling concerns about weakening demand. However, the comparison with gold tells a more nuanced story, as the world’s largest gold ETF lost even more than that in a single month.

While 2026 has been a difficult year for Bitcoin, precious metals have also faced significant selling pressure after an impressive start to the year.

Gold ETF Sees Record Investor Withdrawals

According to data from The Kobeissi Letter, the World Gold Council’s SPDR Gold Shares ETF (GLD), the largest gold backed exchange traded fund in the world, recorded unprecedented investor withdrawals beginning in March.

The fund lost approximately $8.5 billion in March alone, marking the largest monthly outflow in its 22 year history.

Although selling pressure eased in the months that followed, investors continued to pull money from the fund. GLD recorded outflows of $1.7 billion in April, $872 million in May, and another $3.2 billion in June.

Preliminary figures for July suggest withdrawals have slowed dramatically to less than $50 million so far, raising speculation that investor sentiment toward gold may be stabilizing.

The wave of redemptions coincided with a sharp decline in gold prices. After reaching a record high of around $5,600 per ounce in late January, the precious metal has fallen nearly 30 percent to roughly $4,000 per ounce.

Bitcoin ETFs Also Face Heavy Selling

Spot Bitcoin ETFs have not been spared from investor caution.

Since mid May, investors have withdrawn more than $8 billion from US spot Bitcoin ETFs, reducing cumulative net inflows from $59.34 billion to $51.22 billion.

June proved to be the weakest month, with more than $4.5 billion leaving the funds, making it the largest monthly outflow since the products launched.

The withdrawals have coincided with a sharp correction in Bitcoin’s price. After failing to break above $83,000 in mid May, the cryptocurrency slid to a multi year low of around $57,700 on July 1 before staging a modest recovery.

Despite the recent selling, comparing Bitcoin ETFs directly with GLD requires context. GLD manages roughly $130 billion in assets, making it more than twice the size of the entire US spot Bitcoin ETF market. That difference means similar dollar outflows represent a much larger percentage of Bitcoin ETF assets than they do for GLD.

Although investor sentiment toward Bitcoin remains cautious, the fact that gold has also experienced substantial withdrawals suggests the trend reflects broader shifts in investment behavior rather than weakness unique to digital assets. Whether either market can regain momentum may depend on improving macroeconomic conditions and a return of investor confidence.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Bitcoin has traded at a consistent discount on Coinbase compared to Binance for more than 60 consecutive days, marking the longest stretch of negative Coinbase Premium on record. The trend points to subdued spot buying activity from US investors, though Bitcoin’s ability to hold key price levels suggests the market remains more resilient than the data alone might imply.

Record Negative Coinbase Premium

The Coinbase Premium Index measures the price difference between Bitcoin on Coinbase and Binance, making it a widely watched indicator of US spot demand. A positive reading typically signals stronger buying interest from American investors, while a negative reading suggests demand is weaker than that seen on international exchanges.

With the index remaining below zero for over two months, it has surpassed the previous record of roughly 40 days set earlier this year.

The prolonged weakness indicates that US investors have been reluctant to inject fresh capital into Bitcoin. Since Coinbase is the preferred platform for many institutional investors, asset managers, corporations, and participants in US spot Bitcoin ETFs, the trend also suggests institutional buying has remained relatively muted.

The lack of US demand has been cited as one of several factors behind Bitcoin’s decline from above $82,000 in mid May to below $57,000 in early July.

Why the Signal May Not Be Entirely Bearish

Despite the negative Coinbase Premium, the indicator should not be viewed in isolation.

Since the launch of US spot Bitcoin ETFs in early 2024, many investors have gained exposure to Bitcoin through those products rather than buying directly on Coinbase. As a result, ETF flows may not be fully reflected in the Coinbase Premium Index as they were before.

The metric is better interpreted as a measure of market sentiment than a standalone trading signal. It currently suggests US investors are taking a more cautious approach than traders on Binance, likely due to ongoing uncertainty surrounding artificial intelligence driven investment trends, geopolitical tensions, inflation, and the Federal Reserve’s monetary policy.

At the same time, Bitcoin has demonstrated notable resilience. Although the asset has fallen roughly 50 percent from its peak, it has managed to remain above the $60,000 level for much of the current bear market, aside from a few brief dips.

That resilience indicates global demand has continued to support Bitcoin even without significant buying pressure from US investors. While renewed American participation could provide a stronger catalyst for recovery, many analysts believe that may not happen until economic and geopolitical uncertainty begins to ease.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Pi Network’s native token staged a strong recovery over the weekend following its recent plunge, while Bitcoin climbed back toward the $64,000 mark. Among today’s standout performers, CRO and VVV also posted notable gains.

Bitcoin briefly extended its recent pullback on Friday before buyers stepped in, helping the leading cryptocurrency recover quickly and once again test the $64,000 level.

Meanwhile, most major altcoins traded within a narrow range over the past 24 hours. Ethereum, XRP, and Solana recorded modest gains, while Cardano outperformed the large cap group.

Bitcoin Reclaims Lost Ground

Bitcoin began the week under pressure, falling from around $64,000 to below $62,000 as investors reacted to renewed geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.

The market remained largely unaffected after Strategy announced it had neither bought nor sold Bitcoin, with attention instead shifting to the latest US inflation data released on Tuesday.

Inflation came in at 3.5 percent, beating expectations of 3.8 to 3.9 percent. The lower than expected reading sparked renewed optimism across financial markets, sending Bitcoin from below $62,000 to a three week high of $65,500 by Wednesday.

However, the rally lost momentum at that level, and as has happened on several recent Fridays, Bitcoin experienced another sharp correction, falling to around $62,400.

Buyers quickly regained control, preventing a deeper decline and pushing the asset back to roughly $64,400 earlier today. Although it has faced resistance, Bitcoin continues to trade near the $64,000 level as analysts anticipate increased market volatility.

Bitcoin’s market capitalization remains above $1.28 trillion, while its dominance of the overall crypto market stands at 56.5 percent.

Pi, CRO, and VVV Lead the Altcoin Gains

Most leading altcoins posted relatively modest moves, with Ethereum, XRP, Solana, Hyperliquid, Dogecoin, Zcash, and Stellar all recording slight gains. On the downside, BB, TRON, and RAIN slipped marginally.

Cardano rose more than 4.5 percent to trade above $0.165, extending its recent strength.

CRO also continued its upward momentum, gaining over 5 percent following the announcement of a $400 million investment in the exchange behind the token.

Pi Network remained one of the market’s top performers after bouncing sharply from the $0.07 support level. The token had fallen to new record lows earlier in the week but has since recovered above $0.08 after climbing about 8 percent over the past day.

The broader cryptocurrency market also strengthened, with total market capitalization increasing by approximately $30 billion over the last 24 hours to surpass $2.27 trillion.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

FTX is preparing to distribute another $900 million to creditors, taking its total announced repayments to more than $10 billion, nearly four years after the crypto exchange collapsed. Meanwhile, former CEO Sam Bankman Fried has seen his request for a presidential pardon unanimously rejected by the US Senate.

According to the company’s latest announcement, the fifth round of repayments will begin on July 31 as part of FTX’s Chapter 11 restructuring plan.

Fifth Round of Payments Begins July 31

Eligible creditors who completed the required verification process by June 16 and hold approved claims in FTX’s Convenience and Non Convenience Classes will receive their funds through BitGo, Kraken, or Payoneer within three business days after distributions begin.

The amount each creditor receives depends on the category of their claim.

Customers of FTX.com and FTX US with Class 5A claims will receive an additional 9 percent, increasing their total recovery to 105 percent of the approved value of their claims.

General unsecured creditors and crypto loan claim holders will each receive another 3 percent, bringing their total recovery to 103 percent.

Convenience Class creditors, who are generally customers with smaller claims, will see their total recovery rise to 120 percent of their approved claims following this latest distribution.

FTX will also distribute $18 million to eligible preferred shareholders on July 31. This will increase total payments made through the Preferred Shareholder Remission Fund Trust to $95 million.

Although some creditors are receiving more than the full value of their approved claims in dollar terms, this does not necessarily mean they have been fully compensated. Claims were valued using cryptocurrency prices from November 2022 when FTX filed for bankruptcy, well before the sharp rally across the digital asset market.

For example, Bitcoin was trading at roughly $20,000 when FTX collapsed. Even after pulling back from its October 2025 all time high, the cryptocurrency remains more than 200 percent higher than its bankruptcy era price. As a result, many users are still receiving significantly less than the current value of the crypto they originally held.

Sam Bankman Fried’s Pardon Bid Fails

Sam Bankman Fried, the former FTX chief executive convicted in 2023 on seven counts of fraud and conspiracy for misusing more than $8 billion in customer funds, remains in prison.

He recently sought executive clemency following presidential pardons granted to Changpeng Zhao and Arthur Hayes. However, the US Senate unanimously rejected the request, declaring that under no circumstances should Bankman Fried receive executive clemency, including a pardon or a commutation.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has pushed back against proposals for a new regulatory organization to oversee artificial intelligence, arguing that current legal frameworks already provide sufficient safeguards against potential harm.

His comments came shortly after Coinbase revealed that AI now contributes to more than 95% of the company’s code, highlighting how deeply the technology has become integrated into its operations.

Armstrong Pushes Back on New AI Regulation

The debate was sparked by Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis, who recently proposed creating a federally supervised standards organization to evaluate and certify advanced AI models before they are released.

Hassabis warned that artificial general intelligence could emerge within the next few years and argued that increasingly capable models may introduce cybersecurity, biological, and national security risks. He suggested establishing a public private body, similar to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, that would initially offer voluntary reviews before eventually requiring mandatory testing for the most advanced AI systems.

Several prominent technology leaders welcomed the proposal. Investor Chamath Palihapitiya described it as well considered, while OpenAI CEO Sam Altman called it a thoughtful approach. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella also voiced support, emphasizing the importance of ensuring AI systems do not create catastrophic risks.

Armstrong, however, disagreed with the need for another oversight organization.

He argued that creating a separate regulatory body would only add another layer of approval for businesses while addressing risks that have yet to materialize. According to Armstrong, existing laws covering fraud, consumer protection, and civil liability already provide legal remedies if AI products cause harm.

He also believes market forces naturally encourage companies to prioritize safety, since consumers are unlikely to trust or adopt AI tools they perceive as dangerous.

Coinbase Expands AI Across Its Operations

Armstrong’s position reflects Coinbase’s growing commitment to artificial intelligence throughout its business.

Rob Witoff, the company’s Head of Platform, recently revealed that between 95% and 100% of Coinbase’s code is now written by or with the assistance of large language models. That marks a dramatic increase from the roughly 40% reported earlier this year.

In May, Coinbase also announced a 14% workforce reduction as part of a broader restructuring strategy focused on smaller, more experienced teams supported by AI.

Witoff explained that the level of automation depends on the task. Critical areas such as cryptography continue to receive extensive human review, while internal prototypes can often be developed almost entirely using AI.

Coinbase is not alone in embracing the technology. Other crypto companies, including Gemini, Crypto.com, Kraken, Messari, and Dune, have also reduced staffing while expanding their use of AI across various operations.

The rapid adoption has not been without challenges. Earlier this month, Coinbase had to investigate an AI generated notification that incorrectly announced the outcome of a FIFA World Cup match between Norway and Brazil before the game had even kicked off.#crypto#cryptonews https://coinsignals.net https://t.me/coinsignalpublic