Huge Bitcoin Volatility, Ethereum Picks Up Speed, Ripple Bull Run Goes On: This Week’s Crypto Recap

A Week of Volatility and Resurgence in the Cryptocurrency Industry

It was a tumultuous week in the world of cryptocurrency, marked by significant price fluctuations, a resurgence in the market, and the story of the underdog coming back stronger than ever. Let’s dive in.

Bitcoin’s Price Volatility

Bitcoin’s price attempted to breach the $100,000 mark on numerous occasions, but ultimately, the sell wall proved too strong, and the price crashed, dipping as low as $90,000. This was a stark contrast to just a week prior, when the price had broken through the $90,000 mark for the first time.

However, the bulls were quick to regroup, and the price began to rise once more. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at around $97,240, with many already calling for a breach of the $100,000 mark once again.

Ethereum’s Resurgence

Ethereum, which had been lagging behind its peers in recent times, experienced a significant upsurge, rising by over 8% over the past week. It appears to be targeting its next milestone at $3,700.

Ripple’s Dominance

Ripple’s XRP was the best performer of the week, with its price surging by over 14.5%. It has even managed to flip Binance Coin (BNB) for the spot of the 5th largest coin by market capitalization, albeit marginally, at the moment.

Market Data

Market Cap: $3.53T | 24H Vol: $212B | BTC Dominance: 54.5%

BTC: $97,240 (-1.7%) | ETH: $3,582 ( +8.1% ) | XRP: $1.70 (+14.5%)

This Week’s Crypto Headlines You Can’t Miss

MicroStrategy Breaks its Own Record: Another Massive Purchase for 55,500 BTC (Worth $5.4B)

The business intelligence company has increased its Bitcoin holdings to 386,700 BTC, following a record-breaking purchase of 55,500 BTC worth $5.4 billion at an average price of $97,862. The company’s total crypto stash, acquired for nearly $22 billion, is now valued at around $37.6 billion, yielding over $15 billion in paper profit.

WisdomTree Files for Ripple (XRP) in Delaware

The entity has filed initial paperwork in Delaware to launch an XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF), marking the first step towards regulatory approval, with an S-1 registration required to proceed. While the filing reflects growing interest in altcoin ETFs, significant regulatory challenges could delay approvals.

Solana’s Pump.fun Halts Livestream Function After Disturbing Content Sparks Outrage

The Solana-based meme coin generator has suspended its livestream functionality indefinitely to address inappropriate content and enhance moderation systems. The decision follows incidents of disturbing behavior on its platform, prompting the team to prioritize user safety and transparency while improving content control measures.

TORN Surges 400% as Court Rules Against US Treasury Sanctions on Tornado Cash

The federal appeals court ruled that Tornado Cash’s smart contracts cannot be sanctioned as “property,” overturning the Treasury Department’s 2022 ruling against the crypto mixer. This decision was followed by a massive price resurgence for the underlying cryptocurrency.

MARA Boosts BTC Holdings to $3.3 Billion Through $1B Convertible Note Offering

MARA, formerly known as Marathon Digital, has expanded its Bitcoin holdings to 34,797 BTC (valued at $3.3 billion) after purchasing 6,474 BTC in November using proceeds from a $1 billion convertible note offering. The mining company plans to issue an additional $700 million in convertible notes for further Bitcoin acquisitions and corporate purposes, mirroring MicroStrategy’s debt-fueled BTC buying strategy.

Global Stablecoin Supply Hits New All-Time High

The total market capitalization of the stablecoin sector has reached a record $191.6 billion, with Tether (USDT) dominating 69% of the market and USD Coin (USDC) accounting for 21%. The figure represents a 50% increase since January 2024, driven by growing demand and bullish sentiment in the broader crypto market.

Conclusion

This week’s events have been nothing short of extraordinary, with Bitcoin’s price volatility, Ethereum’s resurgence, and Ripple’s dominance taking center stage. As the market continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how these trends develop in the coming weeks.