How close is crypto to massive altcoin returns?

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When Covid rolled across the world — bringing about lockdowns and meme stocks — we all took the news of swans and dolphins reclaiming Venice canals as a positive sign.

Perhaps the whole ordeal had a silver lining. A moment for the natural world to stretch its wings and humans to reassess their consumption habits.

Sadly, it was fake news. There were no dolphins in Venice canals and global coal output has ramped up after the pandemic. The Earth never really made it any closer to returning to its original state.

Nearly five years later, crypto is currently on the lookout for its own fake…

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JUST IN: WisdomTree Files for Spot XRP ETF with SEC

WisdomTree, an early issuer of spot Bitcoin exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in the U.S., has submitted a filing for a spot XRP ETF, making it the fourth company to do so. Filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) on Dec. 2, the proposed WisdomTree XRP Fund seeks to provide investors direct exposure to XRP through shares listed on the Cboe BZX Exchange.

The ETF would use a cash-create model for issuing and redeeming shares, with the potential to transition to an in-kind model pending further regulatory approvals. Coinbase, a leading U.S. cryptocurrency exchange, is named as both the XRP custodian and prime execution agent. WisdomTree already relies on Coinbase for its spot Bitcoin ETF, which launched in January.

WisdomTree joins Bitwise, Canary Capital, and 21Shares in pursuing spot XRP ETFs. Bitwise was the first to file in October, followed by Canary Capital and 21Shares in November. These filings come as XRP has surged in market value, recently becoming the third-largest cryptocurrency globally. Approval of WisdomTree’s XRP ETF could further solidify the token’s standing in institutional markets.

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How blockchain chain abstraction is finally coming to life

Web3’s great long-standing battle with fragmentation—one of the leading causes behind the industry’s notoriously poor cross-chain UX—may finally be put to rest as a new era—the Abstraction Age—emerges.

We’re arriving at a stage where chain abstraction is no longer just a distant concept: it’s becoming a reality, paving the way for a truly connected Web3, making global interconnectivity more attainable than ever. At this breakthrough point, we’re also witnessing the surfacing of the first chain-abstracted consumer products—the most compelling of them being Particle Network’s recently released UniversalX. 

This article will review chain abstraction, its…

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JUST IN: XRP Surpasses Tether to Become the Third-Largest Cryptocurrency

XRP, the cryptocurrency linked to Ripple Labs, has officially overtaken Tether’s USDT stablecoin in market capitalization, securing its spot as the third-largest cryptocurrency behind Bitcoin and Ether. XRP’s market cap now stands at $138 billion, surpassing USDT’s $134.5 billion. The token’s price surged 30% in the past 24 hours to $2.46, marking a 364.1% increase over the last month.

The rally follows a series of bullish developments, including XRP overtaking Solana in market cap last weekend. Additionally, news of the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) nearing approval of Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin has fueled market optimism. Ripple is reportedly eyeing a Dec. 4 launch for RLUSD. Meanwhile, the announcement that SEC Chair Gary Gensler will step down in January has lifted sentiment, with analysts speculating that new leadership could resolve Ripple’s ongoing legal battles.

As XRP gains momentum, asset managers are exploring the launch of spot XRP ETFs, which could further boost the cryptocurrency’s adoption. Ripple’s ability to leverage its growing ecosystem and new stablecoin could determine the longevity of this rally.