Bitwise CIO Matt Hougan said the Bitcoin four-year cycle is being replaced by 
a &#8220;10-year grind&#8221; characterized by steady returns rather than spectacular 
gains. Speaking on CNBC&#8217;s Crypto World, Hougan argued that institutional 
adoption, regulatory progress, and stablecoin growth are…

Bitcoin likely to see steady long-term returns, but outsized gains are unlikely: Bitwise CIO

In my latest article, I break down the major themes that defined crypto in 
2025, shaped by a year of working with experts and thought leaders across the 
web3 industry.

Crypto discourse in 2025: An Op-Ed year-in-review | Opinion

XRP is trading around $1.87 and has slipped below the $2 mark after a recent 
slide. According to market trackers, the token is down about 30% in the fourth 
quarter of 2025, yet some analysts say the current weakness may be part of a 
larger build-up that has preceded strong rallies before. Investors and 
commentators are watching price action closely as debate grows over whether 
the token is setting up for a sharp rebound or more weakness. Related Reading: 
Bitcoin Forecasts For 2026 Range From $65K To $250K As Sentiment Hits ‘Extreme 
Fear’ Historical Accumulation Patterns Based on reports from chart watchers, 
XRP has shown what some call repeatable accumulation phases in past cycles. 
One run of consolidation unfolded from early 2015 through early 2017. During 
that span a steep drop took XRP from $0.00885 to $0.005, and later it rallied 
hard, climbing to about $3.30 by January 2018. A second cycle ran from 
mid-2023 into late 2024, where an August to November slide saw prices fall 
from $0.62 to $0.50, before a quick push up to roughly $3.4 in January 2025. 
Analysts point to these past moves as a pattern that could provide clues about 
what happens next. Recent Downtrend And Support Levels Reports show that since 
October 2025, XRP has fallen from about $2.8 to the current price near $1.84. 
Technical commentators have highlighted that the $1.8–$2 band, which acted as 
resistance earlier, may now be acting as support after recent trading. One 
analyst framed the present setup as an ABC reset, a short-term corrective 
structure that sometimes precedes renewed upward movement. Still, traders are 
split; some see a base forming, while others view the decline as evidence of 
continued selling pressure. The most hated $XRP rally is about to start! 👇 
pic.twitter.com/HTwbTIwxZ2 — STEPH IS CRYPTO (@Steph_iscrypto) December 16, 
2025 Market Voices And Possible Catalysts According to community commentators, 
legal and market actions could influence XRP’s next leg. The potential end of 
a long-running SEC case, the arrival of XRP-focused ETFs, and pending 
legislation known as the Clarity Act were all cited as items that might change 
investor sentiment. One market watcher went so far as to say this could become 
the “most hated” rally, a phrase meant to describe a sudden surge that comes 
while many remain doubtful and frustrated. Utility Versus Price Several 
observers have urged a focus on real-world use. According to Aljarrah, the 
token’s value comes from practical utility and improved liquidity, which 
allows larger transfers with fewer tokens and makes the payment rails more 
efficient. People obsess over price, but XRP’s value is in its utility. A 
higher price strengthens liquidity, efficiency, and adoption. Let the tech and 
leadership do the work, short-term noise doesn’t matter. — Black Swan 
Capitalist (@VersanAljarrah) December 21, 2025 Related Reading: Big Bet On 
Ethereum: CEO Sees 10X TVL Growth In 2026 Price moves matter, he said, but not 
as speculation—rather as a factor that can broaden adoption by improving 
liquidity and network function. Traders should note that past patterns do not 
guarantee future results. While the accumulation thesis rests on historical 
parallels and technical charts, the market remains sensitive to news and 
flows. Selling now could mean missing gains if a rally follows, some warn; 
others say patience and careful sizing remain essential. For investors, the 
coming weeks may tell whether the current slump is the end of a retracement or 
the start of another climb. Featured image from LumerB/Getty Images, chart 
from TradingView

XRP Prepares For A Rally Nobody’s Rooting For—Analyst

Uniswap recently executed a 100 million UNI token burn, permanently removing 
approximately $596 million worth of tokens from circulation. The burn followed 
overwhelming community approval of the UNIfication governance proposal, which 
passed with 99.9% support on December 25. UNI (UNI)…

UNI rallies after Uniswap removes $596M worth of tokens from supply

Bitcoin is trading at $87,752, with a market cap flexing at $1.75 trillion and 
a 24-hour trading volume of $15.69 billion. The day’s price action ranged from 
$87,363 to $87,893, showcasing the asset’s current preference for tightly 
wound indecision over fireworks. Bitcoin Chart Outlook The daily chart paints 
a picture of consolidation purgatory. Following a […]

Cryptocurrency price in CLP