Bitcoin Price Outlook, XRP ETF Growth, and Visa’s $7B Stablecoin Expansion – Crypto Highlights April 29, 2026

Key points

• •Regulatory scrutiny intensifies as the SEC accuses crypto founder Donald Basile of a $16 million securities fraud involving an 'insured' coin offering, highlighting ongoing enforcement against fraudulent fundraising in the crypto sector. This case underscores the risks associated with unregulated coin offerings and the SEC’s commitment to prosecuting crypto fraud.[The Daily Hodl]
• •XRP gains robust institutional support as five US spot ETFs lock 769 million tokens, with Goldman Sachs holding $153.8 million in XRP, and the XRP Ledger reaching 3 million daily transactions by mid-March 2026, tripling the previous year’s average. This surge in token lock-up and network activity emphasizes XRP’s growing adoption and trading volume within institutional circles.[Blockonomi]
• •Meta integrates USDC crypto payouts for creators on Solana and Polygon blockchains, facilitating payments through popular wallets such as MetaMask, Phantom, and Binance. This enhances crypto utility for content creators by enabling stablecoin disbursements on scalable Layer 1 networks, signaling mainstream corporate adoption of blockchain payments.[The Block]
• •Bitcoin’s bullish outlook is supported by BitMEX co-founder Arthur Hayes’ prediction of a price hitting $125,000 by year-end 2026, reflecting strong market optimism amidst Bitcoin trading near $77,000. This forecast aligns with increased institutional engagement and resilience amid macroeconomic uncertainties.[Coingape]
• •Visa’s expansion of its stablecoin settlement pilot to Polygon and Base blockchains has resulted in a $7 billion annualized run rate and a 50% growth in volume quarter-over-quarter. This expansion evidences accelerating adoption of stablecoins for cross-border and corporate payments, reinforcing crypto’s integration into traditional financial infrastructure.[Cointelegraph]
• •Ripple’s Prime brokerage has launched Bitcoin options trading through a partnership with digital exchange Bullish, widening institutional investor access to BTC derivatives. This collaboration enhances market liquidity and product diversity for professional investors seeking to hedge or speculate via options markets.[U.Today]
• •Institutional demand for Bitcoin yield products grows as Bullish invests $19.2 million, deploying 250 BTC into Mezo Prime’s isolated vault yield platform. This investment signals expanding interest in secure, yield-generating Bitcoin solutions that maintain client asset custody and control.[Blockonomi]
• •MoonPay strengthens institutional crypto security capabilities by acquiring Israeli firm Sodot for $100 million, establishing a new unit led by former acting CFTC Chair Caroline Pham. The strategic acquisition aims to enhance compliance and security infrastructure, crucial for institutional crypto adoption.[Cointelegraph]
• •An Ethereum whale dormant for 10 years reactivated, dumping $23 million worth of ETH within an hour, which may cause downward price pressure towards $2,300. This significant sale from a long-latent wallet highlights how large, sudden movements by whales can create volatility and impact market confidence.[Crypto News]
• •Bitcoin’s largest exchange inflow this month exceeded $78,000 in value, leading to halted breakout momentum at around $77,000 as whale reserves on exchanges climbed. This dynamic indicates cautious market sentiment and potential short-term sell-side pressure despite overall bullish trends.[U.Today]

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