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It’s been greater than three months since I final wrote about Ripple (CCC:XRP-USD) in July. On the time, I puzzled how lengthy it will take the cryptocurrency to hit $3.50, a worth prediction made by FXStreet based mostly on the belief it held a key help degree.
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Effectively, there was one thing to the prediction. Since my article, the worth of XRP-USD has appreciated by 93% and trades for greater than $1. So momentum is unquestionably on the coin’s facet heading into 2022.
Nonetheless, the Oct. 6 announcement by MoneyGram Worldwide (NASDAQ:MGI) that it’s partnering with the Stellar Growth Basis, the folks behind Stellar Lumens (CCC:XLM-USD) and the Stellar blockchain community, in addition to Circle, the group behind the USD Coin (CCC:USDC-USD), suggests traders should be at the very least a bit involved in regards to the swap of allegiances.
Right here’s why.
Ripple Has Come a Lengthy Approach
In 2021, in line with Coindesk.com, XRP-USD is up 392% via Oct. 19. By comparability, Bitcoin (CCC:BTC-USD) has appreciated by simply 119%. In fact, I say simply in jest. I’m certain long-time holders of the coin are very proud of their returns year-to-date.
As for XLM-USD, it’s up 192% in 2021, however it doesn’t fairly match Ripple’s 12 months with lower than three months to go. Nonetheless, there’s no query Ripple’s come a great distance.
Value predictions are a mug’s sport at the most effective of instances, particularly when coping with cryptocurrencies. They’re extremely risky monetary devices. Anybody who says they’ll predict the near-term route of Ripple or Stellar Lumens or any of the others has an inflated opinion of themselves.
However, as is the norm on this enterprise, readers like to examine worth predictions. However, sadly, they are often automotive wrecks. My July article is a wonderful instance of how one can get issues incorrect.
“In the event you’re a speculative investor, I’d argue that Ripple’s odds of falling by one other 36% are significantly larger than its odds of rising 75% to $1. I’d maintain off on shopping for XRP for a number of weeks till it and different cryptos regain their footing,” I concluded in my July 21 article.
“As for attending to $3.50, I don’t suppose that’s within the playing cards for Ripple in 2021.”
Effectively, at the very least I used to be one for 2 on the prediction entrance.
As we head into 2022, I ponder if the MoneyGram announcement foreshadows unhealthy instances forward for holders of XRP-USD, or am I making a mountain out of a molehill?
It’s a Little of Each
The collaboration between MoneyGram, Stellar and Circle will allow fast and cheap cross-border remittance between U.S. dollars and USDC-USD stablecoins to tens of millions worldwide. That’s a victory for all concerned.
Ripple was MoneyGram’s associate for processing cross-border funds utilizing digital property from 2019 till March 2021. It even purchased a 30% curiosity in MGI as a part of its partnership. Nonetheless, as soon as Ripple obtained embroiled in its battle with the SEC over promoting unregistered securities, the association possible turned too difficult to take care of.
Bloomberg reported on MoneyGram’s new partnership:
“The deal will give Stellar pockets holders entry to bodily places to transform USD Cash to money and vice versa, Stellar Growth’s Chief Government Officer Denelle Dixon mentioned in an interview. Which means it successfully brings the blockchain into the non-digital world. “That is enormous for the Stellar community, and the wallets which can be a part of the Stellar community,” Bloomberg reported Dixon acknowledged in her interview with the writer.
As was the case with Ripple, there’s hypothesis that Stellar Growth might be involved in taking on MoneyGram, which has a present market capitalization of $642 million.
The Backside Line for Ripple
The absence of Ripple’s partnership with MoneyGram has lengthy since been forgotten. As an alternative, the extra important problem is the continued battle with the SEC. Till that’s resolved and solid apart, there’s no assure that XRP-USD gained’t get a kick within the posterior by the securities regulator.
It appears one factor which may maintain XLM-USD out of the regulatory penalty field is the non-profit nature of the Stellar Growth Basis, whereas Ripple Labs is a for-profit group.
It would end up that the swap is nothing greater than a enterprise resolution by MoneyGram. In fact, that gained’t save Ripple ought to it lose its case with the SEC, however at the very least it shouldn’t put an added burden on XRP-USD sooner or later.
On the date of publication, Will Ashworth didn’t have (both instantly or not directly) any positions within the securities talked about on this article. The opinions expressed on this article are these of the author, topic to the InvestorPlace.com Publishing Guidelines.
Will Ashworth has written about investments full-time since 2008. Publications the place he’s appeared embrace InvestorPlace, The Motley Idiot Canada, Investopedia, Kiplinger, and a number of other others in each the U.S. and Canada. He significantly enjoys creating mannequin portfolios that stand the take a look at of time. He lives in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
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The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the creator and don’t essentially mirror these of Nasdaq, Inc.
