This Week in Crypto: Ripple Stablecoin, Grayscale XLM Trust, FIFA NFT Game, and More

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The world of cryptocurrency continues to evolve at a rapid pace, delivering a wave of bullish momentum and transformative developments. From major institutional filings to high-profile blockchain gaming launches, this week has been packed with news that’s shaping the future of digital assets. Key highlights include Ripple’s anticipated stablecoin launch, Grayscale’s new Stellar Lumens Trust, FIFA’s entry into the NFT gaming space, and growing confidence in Bitcoin’s path toward $100,000.

These events aren’t just making headlines—they’re signaling deeper adoption across finance, infrastructure, and entertainment. Let’s break down the most impactful stories and what they mean for investors and enthusiasts alike.

Grayscale’s Stellar Lumens Trust Sparks 58% XLM Surge

Stellar Lumens (XLM) made one of the strongest moves this week, soaring by 58% to reach $0.53—its highest value since 2021. The surge followed a significant 10-K filing from Grayscale Investments, announcing the formation of a Stellar Lumens Trust. Submitted on November 23, the filing revealed a 10% year-over-year growth in the trust’s net assets, reinforcing institutional confidence in the network.

👉 Discover how institutional backing is reshaping altcoin valuations.

A 10-K filing is a comprehensive annual report required by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), offering transparency into a company’s financial health and risk factors. In this case, Grayscale’s regulatory compliance and public disclosure helped trigger strong market sentiment.

Technical analysts also noted bullish patterns. Andrew Griffiths, a well-known crypto commentator, pointed out on X (formerly Twitter):

“Stellar recently broke and closed above a key weekly horizontal resistance. Retesting the broken structure, the price broke a resistance line of a falling wedge pattern on a 4H time frame. It indicates a strong bullish potential and a highly probable coming-up movement. I expect a growth at least to 0.6 level.”

This momentum reflects renewed interest in Stellar (XLM) as a scalable, low-cost blockchain for cross-border payments—a use case increasingly relevant in today’s global financial ecosystem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is a Grayscale Trust?
A: A Grayscale Trust is an investment vehicle that allows institutional and accredited investors to gain exposure to digital assets like XLM without holding them directly. It operates similarly to an ETF but with different regulatory structures.

Q: Why did XLM surge after the filing?
A: The filing signaled long-term institutional interest and regulatory legitimacy, boosting investor confidence and attracting both retail and algorithmic trading volume.

Q: Is XLM a good long-term investment?
A: With growing adoption in remittance and financial inclusion projects—especially in emerging markets—XLM’s real-world utility supports its long-term potential, especially if more institutions follow Grayscale’s lead.

Ripple’s Regulated Stablecoin Set for December 4 Launch

Ripple is on the verge of launching RLUSD, its own regulated stablecoin, pending final approval from the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS). If approved, RLUSD is expected to go live on December 4, marking Ripple’s official entry into New York’s tightly regulated digital finance landscape.

This development positions Ripple as a direct competitor to established players like Circle (USDC) and Paxos (USDP). RLUSD will be integrated with platforms such as Bitstamp and Moonpay, ensuring broad accessibility across exchanges and payment networks.

Meanwhile, Ripple’s native token, XRP, has seen explosive growth—surpassing BNB in market capitalization and briefly crossing the $100 billion mark for the first time in three years. The token has gained over 230% in value this month alone, driven by optimism around Ripple’s legal victories and expanding financial partnerships.

This dual strategy—launching a stablecoin while strengthening XRP’s ecosystem—shows Ripple’s ambition to become a core infrastructure provider in global digital payments.

👉 Explore how stablecoins are revolutionizing cross-border transactions.

Binance Delists Eight Low-Liquidity Altcoin Pairs

In a move reflecting ongoing market consolidation, Binance announced the delisting of eight altcoin trading pairs effective December 10. The affected pairs include:

The exchange cited low liquidity and underperformance during routine asset reviews as the primary reasons for removal. Following the announcement, tokens like GFT and OAX saw price drops of nearly 30%, underscoring how exchange support influences market viability.

Binance advises users to withdraw or trade their holdings before the delisting date to avoid potential losses. This action aligns with broader industry trends where top exchanges prioritize asset quality, compliance, and user protection over sheer listing volume.

MicroStrategy Eyes $3 Billion Bitcoin Expansion

MicroStrategy, the largest corporate holder of Bitcoin, is gearing up for more BTC acquisitions after raising $3 billion** through convertible notes issued on November 22. The debt offering, targeted at institutional investors, matures in 2029 and includes a strike price premium of **$672 per share.

Co-founder Michael Saylor hinted that these funds could be used to purchase additional Bitcoin, continuing the company’s aggressive accumulation strategy. As of now, MicroStrategy holds 386,700 BTC, valued at over $37.5 billion at current prices.

This continued commitment reinforces Bitcoin’s role as a long-term treasury reserve asset—especially amid macroeconomic uncertainty and growing inflation concerns.

FIFA Rivals: A New Era of Web3 Football Gaming

In one of the most exciting crossovers between traditional sports and blockchain tech, FIFA has partnered with Mythical Games to launch FIFA Rivals, a mobile football game set for release in mid-2025.

Players will be able to:

Nate Nesbitt, spokesperson for Mythical Games, emphasized accessibility:

“FIFA Rivals is designed to be highly accessible, featuring a shallow learning curve coupled with advanced features for hardcore players to explore.”

Building on the success of NFL Rivals, this collaboration could bring millions of new users into the web3 gaming ecosystem, bridging mainstream audiences with blockchain-based ownership.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What are NFTs in gaming?
A: In games like FIFA Rivals, NFTs represent unique digital assets—such as player cards—that players truly own and can trade or sell outside the game environment.

Q: When will FIFA Rivals launch?
A: The game is expected to launch in mid-2025 across mobile platforms.

Q: Can I make money playing FIFA Rivals?
A: Yes—through gameplay rewards and trading valuable NFTs on the marketplace, players can potentially earn real-world value.

Chirp Launches First DePIN Play-to-Earn Game on Sui

Chirp has introduced Kage, the first DePIN (Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Network) play-to-earn game built on the Sui blockchain. Unlike traditional P2E games focused solely on entertainment, Kage combines gameplay with real-world utility.

Players use their smartphones to detect nearby Wi-Fi networks, earning CHIRP tokens for contributing data to a decentralized network. This model incentivizes users to help build physical infrastructure—like wireless coverage maps—while being rewarded in crypto.

This innovation highlights a growing trend: blockchain projects that merge digital incentives with tangible, real-world impact. DePIN represents one of the most promising frontiers in web3, where tokenized economies support infrastructure development without centralized control.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is DePIN?
A: DePIN stands for Decentralized Physical Infrastructure Networks—blockchain projects that crowdsource real-world infrastructure (like sensors or networks) using token incentives.

Q: How do I earn CHIRP tokens?
A: By running the Kage app and allowing it to scan nearby wireless networks; your participation helps build decentralized data infrastructure.

Q: Is Sui a good blockchain for gaming?
A: Yes—Sui offers high throughput, low fees, and fast finality, making it ideal for real-time games like Kage.

Bitcoin Nears $100K Milestone Amid Holiday Rally Speculation

Despite minor corrections, Bitcoin (BTC) remains firmly above $97,000, keeping the much-discussed six-figure milestone within reach. Market analysts are watching closely to see if BTC can break through before Christmas—a period historically associated with bullish rallies due to increased retail activity and reduced selling pressure.

With institutional demand rising, driven by ETF approvals and corporate treasuries adding BTC to balance sheets, many believe the next leg of the bull run is just beginning.

👉 Stay ahead of the next Bitcoin breakout with real-time market insights.

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