hodler

25 Feb 2026, 19:00

XRP Investors Don’t Benefit: Analyst Says You’re Delusional If You Don’t See This

Ripple’s aggressive expansion strategy is once again under scrutiny from disgruntled XRP investors. What was presented as a milestone moment for the company has instead reignited debate over whether Ripple’s ecosystem growth is translating into measurable value for XRP holders. XRP Price Slumps Despite Ripple’s Hidden Road Deal In late 2025, Brad Garlinghouse announced the completion of Hidden Road’s acquisition , now rebranded as Ripple Prime. For many XRP investors, such announcements carry expectations. If XRP is foundational to Ripple’s ecosystem, then major corporate wins should, in theory, reflect in the token’s market performance. Instead, the price action has told a different story. Over the past two months alone, XRP has declined by more than 25%, underperforming during a period that included positive corporate developments. Historically, similar announcements have triggered short-lived volatility but rarely sustained upward momentum. The pattern has created a perception gap between corporate growth narratives and investor outcomes. Amid XRP’s continued price weakness, an analyst resurfaced Garlinghouse’s post on the Hidden Road deal, arguing that investors are funding corporate expansion that mainly benefits executives. He maintained that billions tied to the ecosystem have been used to acquire traditional financial firms, while token holders have seen little in return. For price-focused investors, acquisitions mean little unless they materially lift XRP’s value. This disconnect explains the mounting frustration, as holders are primarily concerned with capital appreciation, liquidity growth, and long-term upside . When high-profile acquisitions are announced, expectations rise . When price charts fail to respond meaningfully, those expectations turn into skepticism. The recurring cycle of optimism followed by muted market reaction has intensified scrutiny around whether Ripple’s expansion strategy directly benefits XRP investors. Broader Acquisition Strategy May Shape Long-Term Outcomes Hidden Road is only one component of Ripple’s recent expansion. Garlinghouse also pointed to GTreasury, Rail, Standard Custody, and Metaco as part of a concentrated acquisition push over the past two years. The 2023 acquisition of Metaco strengthened institutional-grade custody infrastructure. Standard Custody, added in 2024, enhanced regulated asset safeguarding capabilities. Rail expanded payment rails, while GTreasury integrated enterprise treasury management tools into Ripple’s ecosystem. Each deal broadened Ripple’s operational footprint across custody, settlement, payments, and financial services. Beyond acquisitions, Ripple has maintained partnerships with financial institutions and payment providers across global corridors, steadily embedding its infrastructure into traditional finance frameworks. Collectively, these moves represent vertical integration and long-term positioning rather than short-term market catalysts. While XRP’s immediate price response has been limited, these integrations may serve as foundational infrastructure for future demand dynamics. Institutional custody, treasury management, prime brokerage, and payment rails could, over time, increase the token’s utility within Ripple’s ecosystem. For now, price performance remains the primary concern for holders. However, the accumulation of regulated entities and enterprise-grade platforms may indicate that Ripple is building structural depth before potential market repricing . Whether that foundation ultimately translates into sustained XRP appreciation remains to be seen, but the company’s acquisition strategy suggests a long-term roadmap that extends beyond immediate market reactions.

25 Feb 2026, 19:00

Peter Schiff Says Bitcoin Has Never Beaten Gold Since 2021

Peter Schiff has a number. And he wants everyone to see it. The longtime gold supporter and Bitcoin critic took to social media this week to argue that when Bitcoin’s price is measured in gold rather than dollars, the flagship cryptocurrency has lost more than 66% of its value since hitting its all-time high in November 2021. Related Reading: Bullish Signal? Coinbase Bitcoin Premium Turns Positive After Months In Red The Math Behind Schiff’s Claim To make his case, Schiff reframed the comparison in a way that sidesteps the usual dollar-based charts. Back in November 2021, one Bitcoin could buy roughly 34.5 ounces of gold. Today, that same Bitcoin buys just 12 ounces — a drop of more than 64% in purchasing power relative to the precious metal. The dollar figures tell a similar story, at least from that starting point. According to Schiff, a $10,000 investment in Bitcoin at the November 2021 peak would be worth around $9,100 today. That same $10,000 put into gold over the identical period would have grown to more than $27,000. Gold was trading near $1,770 in late 2021 and has since climbed past $5,000 — a gain of roughly 185%. Bitcoin, by contrast, peaked at $69,000 during that same bull run. It has since pulled back sharply from a high of $126,200 reached in October 2025, and now sits around $63,000. Bitcoin is now down over 66% when priced in gold since its Nov. 2021 peak over four years ago. Putting that into perspective, had you invested $10,000 in Bitcoin back then, it would be worth about $9,100 today. But that same $10,000 invested in gold would be worth over $27,000. — Peter Schiff (@PeterSchiff) February 24, 2026 Bitcoin’s ‘Safe Haven’ Story Gets Complicated For years, Bitcoin was pitched to investors as a modern alternative to gold — scarce, decentralized, and resistant to inflation. The idea was simple: fixed supply would protect wealth the same way gold has for centuries. But recent market behavior has put that story under strain. When economic anxiety rises, many investors have continued to move money into gold rather than Bitcoin. Reports note that Bitcoin has, in several instances, moved more like a high-risk tech stock than a safe haven asset during periods of broader market stress. That pattern has made it harder for Bitcoin to claim the same defensive reputation that gold has built over a much longer history. CNBC crypto commentator Ran Neuner has also weighed in on the subject, saying that the store-of-value case for Bitcoin now faces serious scrutiny. Bitcoin supporters, for their part, push back on the framing. They point out that November 2021 was Bitcoin’s peak — about as unfavorable a starting point for comparison as one could choose. They also point out that the alpha crypto has climbed 320% from its cycle low of $15,000 in November 2023, while gold gained 150% over that same timeframe. For the first time in 12 years, I’m questioning Bitcoin’s thesis. It’s not the drawdown that concerns me; it’s how Bitcoin responded when markets genuinely moved into risk and uncertainty.$BTC evolved from “peer-to-peer cash” into “digital gold.” We fought for ETF approval.… pic.twitter.com/dblggAsanJ — Ran Neuner (@cryptomanran) February 16, 2026 Cycles, Not Trends, Say Bitcoin Supporters Reports say Bitcoin advocates cointend the crypto has always moved through boom-and-bust cycles, with steep recoveries typically following major beat-downs. Supply halvings, shifts in available liquidity, and swings in investor sentiment have historically been the impetus to those rebounds. Related Reading: XRP Fell Nearly 70% — Could History Repeat With An 835% Surge? From that view, the current stretch of underperformance against gold is seen as a normal part of Bitcoin’s cycle rather than a permanent reversal. Bitcoin completed a full market cycle last year, and a period of price correction is consistent with its historical behavior. Still, the gap between gold’s steady climb and Bitcoin’s volatile ride has given critics plenty of material. Schiff, who has maintained his skepticism of Bitcoin for well over a decade, shows no sign of changing his position anytime soon. Featured image from Unchained Podcast, chart from TradingView

25 Feb 2026, 19:00

Ethereum: Forward Industries dumps 8200 ETH at loss – $1,800 holds IF…

Ethereum approaches a decisive structural inflection as price compresses near critical $1,800 support.

25 Feb 2026, 18:46

Why OM trading is paused: Inside MANTRA’s rebrand, coin upgrade, and exchange suspensions

MANTRA’s OM token is undergoing a major chain upgrade and rebrand, prompting Coinbase to suspend OM perpetual futures trading.

25 Feb 2026, 18:44

The Bull Case for Bitcoin Is Hiding in the $1 Trillion Wreckage

Bitcoin has been cut almost in half since its October high. By almost every measure, the selloff is the worst since the collapse of FTX. But there is a puzzle at the center of the wreckage: the institutional scaffolding that was built around the coin during the boom hasn’t come down with it.

25 Feb 2026, 18:30

CryptoQuant Flags Caution as Bitcoin Rally Lacks Strong Trend Shift

CryptoQuant warns Bitcoin’s recent rise may not mark a durable market trend reversal. Low Binance Fund Flow Ratio points to limited spot selling pressure at this stage. Continue Reading: CryptoQuant Flags Caution as Bitcoin Rally Lacks Strong Trend Shift The post CryptoQuant Flags Caution as Bitcoin Rally Lacks Strong Trend Shift appeared first on COINTURK NEWS .