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Popular trader DonAlt, whose prediction in late 2024 ultimately resulted in a 700% profit surge during XRP's move from $0.50 to its eight-year high of $3.65, has officially announced the end of his thesis on the token.
Despite previous statements that XRP could break its price record and reach $6.9, the expert trader now believes the main growth driver, what he attributed to as the "crime cycle", is already in the past.
DonAlt explains why XRP is now just like any other coin
DonAlt's strategy was built around the concept of the so-called "crime cycle", referring to collusion, lobbying, political favoritism, and insider profit extraction from the crypto market during the specific 2024-2025 period, when XRP's abnormal growth happened. According to his latest statement, that thesis has now fully played out as the "crime cycle" is coming to an end.
In his view, XRP has lost its status as a unique speculative instrument and has turned into "just another coin" moving together with the broader market, without the promise of outsized returns.
As of May 12, 2026, XRP remains stuck around the $1.46 level. While an army of supporters continues waiting for a "rocket" toward new all-time highs, one of the most accurate prophets of the previous rally now prefers to stay on the sidelines.
Taking DonAlt's words as a baseline, the period of easy multiples fueled by hype is over, and expecting another parabolic run toward $6.9 under current conditions represents an unjustified risk.
At the same time, XRP ETFs continue seeing inflows, though they remain stable rather than explosive, with around $141 million entering the products over the last month and a half since early April in the US alone. The market is now frozen in anticipation of political decisions, as hearings on the CLARITY Act will take place in the U.S. Senate on May 14.
Regulatory adoption, not old trading narratives, will determine whether XRP becomes a "safe haven" for institutions or remains primarily a speculative asset.
Dan Burgin
U.Today Editorial Team
