European authorities shut down a vast crypto-fraud engine responsible for 
hundreds of millions in illicit flows, marking a major blow to criminal 
networks exploiting digital assets and exposing how deeply coordinated scams 
infiltrated the continent. EUR 700M Crypto Spiral Breaks in Europe With Raids 
Triggering Next Phase Europol announced on Dec. 4 that authorities across […]

Massive 700M Euro Crypto Operation Unravels With International Raids

XRP price started a decent increase above $2.120. The price is now correcting 
gains and might struggle to stay in a positive zone. XRP price started a 
downside correction and tested the $2.080 zone. The price is now trading below 
$2.120 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a bearish trend line 
forming with resistance at $2.110 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair 
(data source from Kraken). The pair could start another increase if it clears 
$2.150. XRP Price Dips Again XRP price started a downside correction from the 
$2.220 zone, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. The price dipped below the $2.20 and 
$2.150 levels to enter a consolidation phase. The price even dipped below the 
50% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $1.984 swing low to the 
$2.220 high. Besides, there is a bearish trend line forming with resistance at 
$2.110 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair. However, the bulls remained 
active above the $2.080 support. The price is now trading below $2.10 and the 
100-hourly Simple Moving Average. If there is a fresh upward move, the price 
might face resistance near the $2.110 level and the trend line. The first 
major resistance is near the $2.150 level, above which the price could rise 
and test $2.220. A clear move above the $2.220 resistance might send the price 
toward the $2.2850 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the 
$2.350 resistance. The next major hurdle for the bulls might be near $2.420. 
Another Decline? If XRP fails to clear the $2.150 resistance zone, it could 
start a fresh decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $2.080 
level and the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the upward move from the $1.984 
swing low to the $2.220 high. The next major support is near the $2.040 level. 
If there is a downside break and a close below the $2.040 level, the price 
might continue to decline toward $2.00. The next major support sits near the 
$1.9850 zone, below which the price could continue lower toward $1.920. 
Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for XRP/USD is now gaining pace in 
the bearish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for XRP/USD 
is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $2.080 and $2.040. Major 
Resistance Levels – $2.110 and $2.150.

XRP Price Slips From Highs as Market Pauses to Reassess Bullish Momentum

Base launched a Chainlink-secured bridge to Solana, enabling crosschain asset 
transfers between the Ethereum layer-2 and the Solana blockchain.

Solana and Coinbase’s Base connect together using Chainlink

Reports have disclosed that Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse told a Binance-hosted 
panel he expects Bitcoin to reach $180,000 by December 31, 2026. Related 
Reading: Eric Trump Says Bitcoin Could Hit $500,000, Stands By ABTC Strategy 
Bank Moves Could Be The Spark According to market coverage, Bitcoin tumbled 
about $5,000 in roughly three hours during early December, wiping more than 
$200 billion from the broader crypto market and triggering nearly $700 million 
in liquidations. That sudden drop has been linked to moves in traditional 
markets, not a single crypto event. Some analysts point to a change in Japan’s 
bond market that is pressuring the long-running yen carry trade. Reports say 
the Bank of Japan’s policy path is now in focus, with a key decision due in 
mid-December that could move global risk appetite and the yen. Whales Bought 
While Prices Fell On-chain trackers show large investors added to holdings 
during the drop. According to on-chain data aggregators, accumulator addresses 
picked up about 375,000 BTC over recent weeks. That figure, if measured the 
way those firms define “whales,” suggests big players were buying into 
weakness. Miners Also Cut Back Sales Based on market commentary, miner selling 
has slowed sharply. One widely cited dataset shows miner outflows fell from 
roughly 23,000 BTC per month to about 3,672 BTC in the most recent window. 
That drop in miner supply was flagged as a possible tailwind for price if it 
persists. ETF Money Flows And Model Targets Reports have also tracked ETF 
movements, noting several billion dollars left Bitcoin ETFs in November, and 
that flows remain a key short-term force for price direction. Meanwhile, major 
banks have published valuation work that places fair-value scenarios well 
above current levels — for example, JPMorgan analysts have argued a model- 
based target near $170,000 under certain assumptions. How Realistic Is A 
$180,000 Outcome? Putting these pieces together, hitting $180,000 by the end 
of 2026 is possible in a bullish scenario where institutional demand resumes, 
whale buying continues, miner selling stays low, and central-bank moves help 
risk appetite. But it would require sizeable, sustained inflows and a benign 
macro backdrop across many months — not just a one-off rally. Garlinghouse 
remains optimistic about his forecast. Related Reading: Bitcoin Trail Ends: 
$29M Seized After European Authorities Shut Down Cryptomixer Signals To Watch 
Next Bank of Japan guidance in mid-December could influence Bitcoin’s next 
move. Daily ETF flows and open interest have shown significant shifts 
recently. On-chain data indicates that accumulators added around 375,000 BTC 
while miner selling dropped sharply. These figures, if confirmed by the 
original data sources, may play a major role in shaping near-term price 
action. Garlinghouse’s $180,000 call is a high-profile, optimistic view that 
matches other bullish models on the market. Reports show real volatility and 
major flows are already shaping price. For now, the forecast is an opinion 
rooted in plausible scenarios — one to watch, not a certainty. Featured image 
from Pexels, chart from TradingView

Bitcoin Crash Fails To Shake Ripple CEO — He Still Calls For $180K

MetaMask is expanding its mobile wallet into a wider trading hub with a new 
integration built around Polymarket. MetaMask has rolled out “MetaMask 
Prediction Markets,” a feature that lets users trade the outcomes of real- 
world events directly in the mobile…

Cryptocurrency price in KRW