Binance co-founder CZ proposes Bitcoin, BNB for Kyrgyzstan reserves

Although the XRP price is hovering above $2, a crypto analyst contends that this level is still low. Comparing XRP’s current price action to its explosive rally in 2017, the analyst argues that the market has not recognized the full scope of the cryptocurrency’s evolving fundamentals. 

XRP Price At $2.2 Is Still Undervalued 

Pumpius, a crypto analyst on X (formerly Twitter), firmly believes that the XRP price is poised for a stronger rally, arguing that a $2.21 target remains significantly undervalued. The market expert’s analysis starkly compares the current market positioning with its historic rally in 2017. 

Back in 2017, the altcoin skyrocketed from a low price of $0.005 to a staggering all-time high of $3.84, marking its most historic price rally. At its peak, XRP briefly overtook Ethereum’s market cap, securing the position of the second-largest cryptocurrency in the world, just behind Bitcoin. 

During this historic rally, the XRP price soared by an astonishing 64,000%, reflecting a monumental gain despite lacking real-world use cases, institutional backing, or regulatory clarity. According to Pumpius, this surge was purely driven by retail Fear Of Missing Out (FOMO), with no stablecoins, IPOs, or financial infrastructure supporting the cryptocurrency’s rapid ascent. 

Fast-forward to today, and the landscape surrounding XRP has evolved significantly. Ripple Labs, an enterprise blockchain company and the largest holder of XRP, has launched its stablecoin, RLUSD, which indirectly strengthens XRP’s position in the digital currency space. The company has also secured prime brokerages and regulatory clarity from the US, expanding Ripple’s market reach and creating a stable environment for XRP’s growth. 

With an IPO allegedly in the pipeline, the infrastructure supporting XRP is more robust than ever, far exceeding the conditions seen in 2017. However, despite these developments and milestones, the altcoin’s price has yet to revisit its former all-time high and continues to trade above $2. As a result, Pumpius claims that the cryptocurrency has still not been “activated,” suggesting that it has not fully realized its potential or experienced the level of growth expected of it. 

Why This Time Could Be Different

Unlike in 2017, the potential for XRP is no longer based on hype alone. Pumpius’s analysis estimates that if XRP were to repeat its historical 64,000% rally, starting from $2.21, its price could reach $1,414.40. 

While this target is purely speculative, the number underscores the massive upside that could follow if institutional capital and real-world adoption combine with retail momentum. Pumpius’s commentary also includes a conspiracy narrative, alleging that powerful, unknown entities have worked behind the scenes to suppress XRP’s rise.

According to this theory, the analyst claims that the US SEC’s lawsuit against Ripple wasn’t just about compliance but a calculated move to delay adoption and shake out retail momentum. The underlying message is that XRP’s disruptive potential posed an early threat, allegedly leading to attempts to delay its growth and prevent widespread accumulation before institutions were ready to enter the market.

Co-founder and former CEO, Michael Saylor, announced the latest bitcoin acquisition made by the corporate giant, Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy).

The company has spent over $180 million to purchase 1,895 BTC, bringing its total to well over 555,000 BTC.

$MSTR has acquired 1,895 BTC for ~$180.3 million at ~$95,167 per bitcoin and has achieved BTC Yield of 14.0% YTD 2025. As of 5/4/2025, we hodl 555,450 $BTC acquired for ~$38.08 billion at ~$68,550 per bitcoin. $STRK $STRF https://t.co/rusgfuyCTG

— Michael Saylor (@saylor) May 5, 2025

Saylor hinted at the acquisition on Sunday, posting a chart from the saylortracker website, in which he wrote that there are not enough orange dots (used to showcase the company’s BTC purchases).

The latest buy comes at a more modest $180.3 million, which is a lot less than the previous ones, including last week’sannouncementfor $1.4 billion.

Nevertheless, Strategy continues with its years-long strategy (no pun intended) to acquire BTC on a frequent basis. It has really ramped up its efforts after the US elections.

Its total stash has surged to 555,450 BTC, bought at an average price of $68,550 per bitcoin. This means that the firm has spent $38.08 billion to acquire it, and its unrealized profit is currently north of $14 billion as BTC stands above $94,000.

Digital asset products attracted $2 billion in inflows last week, which increased three-week inflows to $5.5 billion and lifted year-to-date inflows to $5.6 billion. Total assets under management climbed to a 10-week high of $156 billion, according to a CoinShares report on Monday.

U.S.-based funds accounted for most of the patronage, some $1.9 billion. Germany, Switzerland, and Canada also contributed modest flows in a signal of “broad supportive sentiment” for cryptocurrencies, Butterfill wrote.

Ethereum-based investment products recorded positive flows for the second week in a row and brought in $149 million between April 27 and May 2. Funds underpinned by ether now boast $336 million in inflows since late last month. XRP and tezos notched the most notable influx after ETH, with $10.5 million and $8.2 million each, while Solana products shed $6 million. Elsewhere, blockchain equities saw $15.9 million in net inflows from investors.

Crypto inflows extended their streak of positive flows last week, with total inflows over the past three weeks reaching $5.5 billion.

It comes amid growing optimism in the market, with macroeconomic data adding to the list of tailwinds for the pioneer crypto.

Crypto Inflows Reached $2 Billion Last Week

The latest CoinShares report indicates that crypto inflows reached $2 billion last week, marking the third consecutive stream of positive flows.

The week prior, crypto inflows reached $3.4 billion as investors turned to digital assets for their haven status. Before that, inflows into digital asset investment products were $146 million, where XRP bucked the trend.

Last week, however, Bitcoin was the prime beneficiary, recording up to $1.8 billion in inflows. Similarly, Ethereum saw the second week of solid inflows reaching $149 million. Meanwhile, peers such as Solana saw minor inflows of $6 million.

CoinShares cites optimism in the market despite Trump’s tariffs, ascribing the bullish sentiment to positive US economic indicators last week.

Specifically, markets closed the week optimistically, driven by strong employment data despite earlier weak GDP figures. Headline GDP fell 0.3%, impacted by export declines due to US tariffs. However, core GDP, reflecting private sector strength, rose 3.0%.

In part, CoinShares’ researcher James Butterfill ascribes this to businesses preempting tariffs. Futures markets now expect 86 basis points (bps) of rate cuts in 2025, though strong payrolls (177k vs. 135k expected) and elevated core PCE inflation reduce the likelihood of an FOMC rate cut on Wednesday.

Services inflation shows weakness, suggesting cautious consumer behavior. Equities and Bitcoin remain sensitive to tariff developments, with employers delaying job cuts.

Against these backdrops, digital asset investment products continue to register positive sentiment, with Bitcoin’s momentum looking positive, particularly in the US.

Yet, despite Bitcoin’s improving sentiment, CoinShares highlights that both new and seasoned investors continue to cite volatility as their top concern.

According to Butterfill, this highlights a persistent disconnect between perceived risk and actual market behavior.

BeInCrypto data shows BTC was trading for $93,997 as of this writing. It was down by almost 2% in the last 24 hours, having slipped below the $94,000 range on Monday.

Dubai, UAE – May 2025 — TheBlock, the International Chamber of Virtual Assets, has announced a strategic partnership with Cointelegraph, the world’s leading Web3 media platform. The collaboration brings together two major players in the blockchain and virtual asset space, with the shared goal of amplifying the global adoption of tokenisation, advancing regulatory dialogue, and supporting builders entering the MENA region.

The agreement, signed during Token2049 Dubai, highlights Cointelegraph’s growing collaboration with key players in the UAE. This new partnership will foster deeper collaboration and mutual support across TheBlock’s ecosystem.

As part of the collaboration, Cointelegraph will set up a presence at TheBlock’s headquarters in Dubai World Trade Center, offering opportunities for engagement with founders, partners, and clients within the ecosystem. The partnership also includes joint participation in educational panels, roundtables, and summits focused on real-world assets (RWAs), compliance, and capital allocation.

“This partnership is not just about media,” said Farbod Sadeghian, Founder of TheBlock. “It is about building an access layer for the global virtual asset economy. By working with Cointelegraph, we are strengthening how the industry connects, informs, and grows — from regulatory frameworks to investment pipelines.”

Cointelegraph will engage with TheBlock’s ecosystem through media coverage, speaker participation, and collaborative events. The partnership reflects ongoing efforts to support the growth of Dubai’s virtual asset sector, where regulatory developments and real-world applications continue to evolve.

“The partnership reflects Cointelegraph’s ongoing efforts to broaden its network of like-minded collaborators, all working toward the shared goal of strengthening and advancing the ecosystem,” said Yana Prikhodchenko, CEO of Cointelegraph. “We aim to grow the community by leveraging this partnership while also expanding our regional presence in the UAE. This collaboration will help strengthen both efforts.”

With over 100 events planned annually, a growing portfolio of international members, and over $8 billion in projects deal flow, TheBlock continues to serve as a launchpad for startups, enterprises, and institutions looking to expand their presence in the region.

The partnership represents a new step in aligning media and access to foster trust, facilitate knowledge sharing, and support progress in the virtual asset space.

About TheBlock:

As an international chamber of virtual assets based in Dubai, TheBlock connects regulators, founders, investors, and institutions shaping the future of virtual assets. It provides a structured platform for dialogue, collaboration, and access across key pillars of the virtual asset economy. Through membership programs, strategic partnerships, and curated events, TheBlock offers its members direct engagement with the people and policies driving the industry forward. With a growing global network and strong regional footprint, it supports meaningful growth and influence in the virtual asset landscape.

Website | Twitter | Instagram | Linkedin

About Cointelegraph:

Founded in 2013, Cointelegraph is the leading independent publication covering blockchain, crypto and Web3 developments globally. With correspondents and bureaus across key regions — including North America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East — Cointelegraph delivers trusted news, in-depth analysis, and expert commentary to millions of readers. Through its editorial, research, video, and events arms, Cointelegraph empowers decision-makers, innovators, and investors with timely insights into the evolving digital economy. The platform is committed to journalistic integrity and thought leadership at the forefront of the decentralized future.

Michael Saylor's Strategy (formerly MicroStrategy) purchased an additional 1,895 bitcoin for about $180 million between April 28 and May 4, according to a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday. The company paid an average price of $95,167 per bitcoin.

The funds came from selling its own shares through ongoing stock sale programs. During the week, Strategy sold 353,825 million shares of its common stock (MSTR) and 575,392 shares of its preferred stock (STRK), raising a total of $180.3 million to finance the bitcoin purchase.

The MSTR and STRK stock sale programs — launched in October 2024 and March 2025, respectively — are part of Strategy's "21/21 Plan," which targeted $42 billion in capital for bitcoin acquisitions. As of May 4, the MSTR program is depleted and has been terminated, while $20.87 billion in STRK capacity remains available.

With the 21/21 Plan's MSTR capacity now deployed, Strategy recently introduced the "42/42 Plan," aiming to raise another $42 billion — split evenly between equity and debt — through 2027 to fund future bitcoin purchases. The company also issues STRK and STRF perpetual preferred stocks, which are separate from both capital plans and are also used to fund bitcoin purchases.

With the latest buy, Strategy now holds 555,450 bitcoin, acquired for a total of $38.08 billion and now worth roughly $52.2 billion at current prices. That's more than 2.6% of bitcoin's total supply and implies around $14.1 billion in paper gains.

The latest purchase comes shortly after Strategy reported first-quarter earnings last week, missing both revenue and profit estimates. The company posted a $4.2 billion net loss, driven largely by nearly $6 billion in unrealized losses on its bitcoin holdings under new fair value accounting rules. Despite its lower-than-estimated financial results, analysts remain bullish on Strategy due to its unmatched scale in bitcoin ownership, innovative capital-raising instruments, and institutional investor appeal.

Strategy remains the dominant corporate holder of bitcoin, though others are quickly joining in. Last month, Cantor Fitzgerald, SoftBank, Bitfinex and Tether announced plans to launch a $3.6 billion bitcoin venture called Twenty One Capital. Companies like Semler Scientific, KULR and Metaplanet have also adopted bitcoin as part of their treasury strategy.

Disclaimer: The Block is an independent media outlet that delivers news, research, and data. As of November 2023, Foresight Ventures is a majority investor of The Block. Foresight Ventures invests in other companies in the crypto space. Crypto exchange Bitget is an anchor LP for Foresight Ventures. The Block continues to operate independently to deliver objective, impactful, and timely information about the crypto industry. Here are our current financial disclosures.

© 2025 The Block. All Rights Reserved. This article is provided for informational purposes only. It is not offered or intended to be used as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice.