XRP network demand weakens sharply as on-chain payments drop nearly 80%, raising concerns over institutional participation.
Goldman Sachs rebalances crypto ETF holdings, cutting exposure by 39% but maintaining over $2B combined in Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs.
Infrastructure expansion continues, with Stripe integrating USDC payments for AI agents and Binance enabling tokenized money market funds as collateral.
The crypto market saw major developments through institutional recalibration, weakening on-chain activity, and fresh infrastructure expansion. From a sharp drop in XRP Ledger usage to Goldman Sachs trimming ETF exposure.
Network data shows that activity on the XRP Ledger has fallen sharply, transaction metrics tracking XRP payments between accounts indicate an approximately 80% decline in network activity compared to recent highs.
Earlier spikes in transfers were interpreted as potential institutional settlement flows or speculative positioning.
However, current data suggests that transactional demand has reverted to baseline levels, signaling a cooling phase.
At the same time, XRP’s price structure remains under pressure. The token recently drifted toward the $1.35-$1.40 range after breaking below a descending support channel.
Also Read: XRP Capitulation Signal Flashes as SOPR Drops Below 1, What’s Next?
Goldman Sachs revealed a substantial reduction in its spot crypto ETF positions during Q4.
The bank reduced its combined exposure to spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs by 39.4%, reflecting an active portfolio rebalance rather than a full exit from digital assets.
Despite the cut, Goldman still holds approximately $1.06 billion in spot Bitcoin ETF, maintaining one of the larger institutional allocations in the category.
The firm also reported around $1 billion in Ethereum ETF holdings at year-end. While reduced, the bank continues to maintain balanced exposure between Bitcoin and Ethereum-linked products.
According to SoSoValue, Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded a $166.56 million net inflow on February 10, marking three consecutive days of positive flows.
The largest inflow came from ARK Invest and 21Shares’ ARKB ETF, which saw $68.53 million in daily inflows. Fidelity’s FBTC followed with $56.92 million.
Total net assets across Bitcoin spot ETFs now stand at $87.75 billion, with cumulative historical inflows reaching $55 billion.
ETF holdings represent approximately 6.39% of Bitcoin’s total market capitalization.
Also Read: BTC Mirrors Past Cycles as $35K Risk Reenters the Spotlight
Stripe unveiled a preview of its machine payments system using the x402 protocol. The integration allows developers to charge autonomous AI agents directly in USDC on the Base network.
The x402 protocol, developed by Coinbase, utilizes the HTTP 402 “Payment Required” status code to facilitate onchain microtransactions within standard web requests.
Stripe’s rollout enables programmable billing via its PaymentIntents API, allowing businesses to charge for API calls, AI model usage, and automated HTTP requests.
Simultaneously, CoinGecko activated x402-powered API endpoints, allowing autonomous agents to access data for $0.01 USDC per request without requiring an API key.
Binance partnered with Franklin Templeton to allow tokenized money market fund shares to be used as off-exchange collateral.
Through Franklin Templeton’s Benji platform, institutions can use tokenized fund shares as trading collateral on Binance while assets remain in regulated custody via Ceffu.
The structure enables institutions to earn yield on tokenized money market funds while trading digital assets, reducing counterparty risk and improving capital efficiency.
A US court sentenced Braden John Karony, former CEO of SafeMoon, to 100 months (over 8 years) in prison for securities fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering.
The court ruling determined that Karony embezzled millions of dollars by manipulating the token price and illegally controlling liquidity pools at the bankrupt Utah-based company SafeMoon.
He was also ordered to pay $7.5 million in restitution, and two properties were confiscated.
The ruling underscores increasing enforcement actions against crypto executives involved in misconduct.
1. Why did XRP Ledger activity drop by 80%?
On-chain payment data shows transaction volumes have returned to baseline levels after earlier institutional and speculative spikes.
2. Did Goldman Sachs exit crypto ETFs completely?
No, the bank reduced exposure by 39% but still holds about $1.06B in Bitcoin ETFs and $1B in Ethereum ETFs.
3. Are Bitcoin ETFs still attracting inflows?
Yes, Bitcoin spot ETFs recorded $166.56M in net inflows on February 10, marking three straight days of positive flows.
4. What is Stripe’s x402 integration?
Stripe is enabling USDC-based microtransactions for AI agents using the x402 protocol on the Base network.
5. What does Binance’s tokenized collateral program mean?
Institutions can now use Franklin Templeton’s tokenized money market funds as off-exchange collateral while keeping assets in regulated custody.
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