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- Safe haven beyond the billion mark: why XRP ETF is winning the weekly race against Bitcoin
- Dogecoin returns to mean values: What's behind the breakout above $0.10?
- Vitalik Buterin vs. "space junk": Ethereum co-founder offloads gifted meme coins Asteroid Shiba
- Crypto market outlook: Fed and Big Tech to set the direction for Bitcoin
TL;DR
- XRP resilience: While Bitcoin is losing hundreds of millions, XRP ETFs are holding $1.05 billion in assets, supported by Ripple's integration into South Korea's banking system.
- Dogecoin breakout: DOGE rose 10%, securing a position above $0.109. The move is backed by $330 million in whale accumulation and expectations of integration into X Money.
- Buterin "cleanup": Vitalik Buterin sold gifted Asteroid Shiba tokens worth $114K, reinforcing his role as a "market cleaner" and distancing himself from manipulative meme coins.
- Crypto market outlook: The market is paused ahead of the Fed's rate decision and BigTech earnings from Amazon and Microsoft. Key BTC support stands at $75,600, with resistance at $80,000.
Safe haven beyond the billion mark: why XRP ETF is winning the weekly race against Bitcoin
While major crypto assets are going through a red week, institutional interest in XRP shows rare resilience. Against the backdrop of massive capital outflows from Bitcoin funds, spot XRP ETFs are not only holding their ground but continue to accumulate inflows, reinforcing their status as an asset with real infrastructure use.
Calling the current trend a vertical surge would be an exaggeration, yet the contrast is striking. Over the past three days, net inflows into XRP ETFs reached $2.2 million according to SoSoValue. At first glance, the figure seems modest, if not for the context: during the same period, Bitcoin lost $352.86 million and Ethereum lost $72.28 million.
Total assets under management (AUM) in XRP ETFs remain well above $1.05 billion. This represents 1.23% of the asset's total market capitalization, indicating that long-term investors are not exiting despite market volatility.
The key driver of this resilience is not speculative belief but fundamental developments from Asia. The transition of South Korea's largest digital bank, KBank, to Ripple systems for cross-border payments has created an important precedent.
Replacing traditional SWIFT infrastructure with Ripple blockchain solutions for instant transfers to the UAE and Thailand is reshaping how XRP is perceived by ETF participants. For institutions, it is no longer "just another altcoin" but a settlement tool integrated into the banking system of one of the most technologically advanced economies.
Despite the positive ETF backdrop, the token's price remains compressed within a narrow range of $1.41-$1.43. The market continues to absorb significant supply, while expectations for the CLARITY Act in the United States are keeping large participants from making decisive moves.
Dogecoin returns to mean values: What's behind the breakout above $0.10?
Today, Dogecoin (DOGE) broke through an important psychological and technical barrier, securing a position above $0.109 as displayed by TradingView. A 10% daily gain placed the coin among the top performers, yet the focus should be not on the percentage jump but on the structure of the move.
Unlike the chaotic pumps of previous years, the current impulse appears to be the result of systematic buildup. According to analyst Ali Martinez, whales accumulated at least $330 million worth of DOGE in April. This volume was absorbed during the consolidation phase, forming the foundation for the current breakout.
An interesting detail: the rally began one week after "Doge Day" (April 20), repeating the 2021 scenario when the coin gained 65% after the event. However, in 2026 the driver is not just the calendar but tangible expectations of integration into the XMoney ecosystem.
Despite the double-digit growth, DOGE is not doing anything extraordinary. From a technical standpoint, the price is simply moving toward its 200-day moving average around $0.127.
This reflects a classic "mean reversion" strategy, where after a prolonged period in undervalued territory, the asset restores its position. If DOGE manages to break above the $0.127 resistance, it will signal a reversal of the long-term trend from bearish to bullish.
The market is waiting for official updates from Elon Musk's payment system. While XMoney remains in testing, any news regarding crypto payment support could amplify volatility.
Vitalik Buterin vs. "space junk": Ethereum co-founder offloads gifted meme coins Asteroid Shiba
Vitalik Buterin has once again confirmed his status as the industry's primary cleaner. While new project creators continue using his wallet as a promotional tool, Buterin systematically converts these gifts into liquid assets.
According to Arkham, a series of transactions was executed today from the vitalik.eth wallet to sell ASTEROID-2 tokens. A total of 40 million tokens were sold for $114,566 in USDC.
The token, which displayed typical meme coin volatility with swings from -50% to +582% within hours, reacted predictably to the sale with a price decline.
Why Asteroid?
The meme coin market in April 2026 is driven by "space fever." The catalyst was a story about a plush mascot named Asteroid, created by a young girl for a SpaceX mission. After Elon Musk supported the idea of making it a company mascot on social media, the market was flooded with imitators.
Developers of ASTEROID-2 used a familiar tactic by sending part of the supply to Buterin in hopes of replicating the success of Shiba Inu (SHIB) in 2021. However, Vitalik once again demonstrated that he has no intention of participating in marketing schemes.
Most of these tokens have no real connection to SpaceX and are often controlled by a small group (bundled supply), making them highly risky for retail participants. For Buterin, this is routine wallet maintenance, with proceeds likely directed toward infrastructure or charitable initiatives.
Crypto market outlook: Fed and Big Tech to set the direction for Bitcoin
The digital asset market and Bitcoin are currently ignoring local noise, focusing on two liquidity anchors: the Federal Reserve's rate decision and Q1 earnings from major technology companies.
Key checkpoints:
- Bitcoin price is compressed within the $76,300–$77,700 range with key support at $75,600; a break below this level opens the path to liquidations down to $72,000, while a move above $80,000 on the back of softer Fed rhetoric will act as a trigger for a push toward $84,000.
- April 29 (Today):
- FOMC and Powell: the market is looking for clarity on the rate path for summer 2026. Any deviation from a hawkish pause could trigger movement in BTC.
- BigTech earnings (Amazon, Meta, Google, Microsoft): reports released after market close. Data on profits and AI spending will act as a leading indicator for the crypto AI sector and overall risk appetite.
- April 30 GDP (Q1 2026 preliminary): assessment of economic resilience. Critical data to determine whether the market can sustain current rate levels without entering recession.
Dan Burgin
U.Today Editorial Team
