XRP Leads Crypto Recovery with 5% Rally to $2.31

While Bitcoin and Ethereum struggled to maintain key support levels amid a $1 trillion crypto market wipeout, XRP emerged as the standout performer with a 5% rally to $2.31. This divergence from major cryptocurrencies comes as Ripple secures landmark partnerships with Mastercard and attracts renewed institutional interest through a $500 million funding round. Growing on-chain metrics and BlackRock ETF speculation suggest XRP’s recovery may signal a new leadership phase in the evolving crypto landscape.

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Ripple Hits $40B Valuation with Citadel, Fortress Backing

Blockchain payments company Ripple has achieved a staggering $40 billion valuation following significant equity investments from Wall Street giants Citadel Securities and Fortress Investment Group. This landmark $500 million funding round underscores growing institutional confidence in blockchain technology’s potential to transform digital payments, representing one of the largest valuations in the blockchain sector to date and signaling a strategic shift as traditional financial firms seek exposure to digital payment innovations.

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Ripple Hits $40B Valuation After $500M Investment Round

Ripple has secured a massive $500 million investment from prominent financial institutions including Fortress Investment Group, Brevan Howard, Marshall Wace, Citadel Securities, Pantera Capital, and Galaxy Digital, catapulting the company’s valuation to $40 billion. CEO Brad Garlinghouse announced the funding during the Swell 2025 Conference, calling it the “cherry on top” of a remarkable year for the crypto firm that began with improved regulatory clarity following the US elections. The investment signals strong institutional confidence in Ripple’s growth strategy built on the foundation of XRP and the future of cryptocurrency as a whole.

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Ripple Secures $500M at $40B Valuation from Wall Street Giants

Cryptocurrency fintech firm Ripple has secured a monumental $500 million strategic investment at a $40 billion valuation, with participation from affiliates of Wall Street titans Citadel Securities, Fortress Investment Group, and Brevan Howard. Announced Wednesday, this massive capital infusion represents a powerful vote of confidence in Ripple’s growth strategy built around the XRP cryptocurrency and signals growing institutional belief in the future of digital assets. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse described the funding as validation of the company’s trajectory and a clear bet on crypto’s evolving landscape.

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SEC Reviews Blockchain Stock Trading on Crypto Exchanges

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission is reviewing a groundbreaking proposal that could allow blockchain-based versions of publicly traded stocks on approved cryptocurrency exchanges. Major platforms including Nasdaq, Robinhood, Coinbase, and Kraken are actively seeking regulatory approval or already testing tokenized stock products, potentially revolutionizing how investors trade equities using distributed ledger technology instead of traditional clearing systems.

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aPriori Raises $20M to Bring High-Frequency Trading Onchain

San Francisco-based Web3 startup aPriori has raised $20 million in a funding round to expand its onchain trading infrastructure platform. The company, founded in 2023 by former quant traders and engineers from Coinbase, Jump Trading, and Citadel Securities, aims to bring high-frequency trading (HFT) capabilities onchain and address technical challenges in DeFi. The investment round saw participation from Pantera Capital, HashKey Capital, Primitive Ventures, IMC Trading, and Gate Labs, among others. This funding comes amid growing institutional interest in DeFi as an alternative yield source, bringing aPriori’s total funding to $30 million to accelerate development of institutional-grade onchain trading solutions.

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Citadel Warns SEC on Risks of Tokenized Securities

Citadel Securities has cautioned the SEC against accelerating the adoption of tokenized securities, arguing that a rushed approach could destabilize capital markets and disadvantage institutional investors. In a formal letter to the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, Citadel emphasized the need for a structured regulatory framework rather than piecemeal exemptions. The firm warned that tokenized markets could fragment liquidity, create opaque trading venues, and lead to regulatory arbitrage, where newer entrants benefit from looser oversight. While advocates claim tokenization improves market efficiency and accessibility, Citadel’s stance reflects skepticism from traditional trading firms. The SEC has yet to decide on tokenized securities, but the debate underscores the challenges of integrating blockchain into finance without compromising market integrity.

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Citadel Urges SEC for Structured Crypto Regulation

Citadel Securities has urged the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to establish a formal regulatory framework for tokenized securities rather than relying on informal oversight. The firm highlighted the risks of introducing blockchain-based financial instruments without rigorous safeguards, warning that innovation should not compromise investor protection or market integrity. Tokenized securities, which replicate traditional assets like stocks or bonds on blockchain platforms, offer benefits such as 24/7 trading and faster settlement but require clear compliance standards to prevent regulatory arbitrage. Citadel cautioned that ad-hoc exemptions could create uneven market conditions and deter institutional participation. The letter underscores the need for deliberate reforms, balancing technological advancement with established regulatory principles.

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SEC’s Tokenization Rules Need Real Innovation: Citadel

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is exploring simplified rules for securities tokenization, but Citadel Securities warns that mere regulatory tweaks won’t suffice. In a statement to the SEC’s Crypto Task Force, Citadel emphasized that tokenized securities must prioritize genuine innovation and efficiency—such as reduced costs, faster settlements, and fractional ownership—over regulatory arbitrage. While blockchain-based tokenization holds potential to disrupt traditional finance by cutting intermediaries, its success hinges on delivering real value to market participants.

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CZ’s YZi Labs Joins $135M Round for Canton Network

Changpeng Zhao’s YZi Labs has joined a $135 million Series E funding round for Digital Asset, the developer of the Canton Network, alongside traditional finance giants like Goldman Sachs and Citadel. The investment underscores growing institutional interest in blockchain solutions that comply with strict financial regulations. The Canton Network, designed for tokenizing real-world assets, offers configurable privacy to bridge the gap between transparency and confidentiality. With nearly 400 participants and $1.5 trillion in monthly tokenized U.S. Treasury repo volume, the platform is poised for expansion into new markets. YZi Labs and Digital Asset see this as a pivotal step toward merging traditional finance with blockchain technology.

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