Happy Thursday!

XRP is the Ripple CEO’s ‘north star’. After $4 billion in acquisitions last year, Ripple has big plans for the coming year. So why is XRP not going up then?

Coinbase probably won’t beat earnings estimates today when it reports after the market close. Here’s what the prediction market says will happen.

Plus, Benzinga Pro lets you see government trades as they’re reported, now 50% off. Get The Data.

TOP STORY

'XRP Is The North Star,' Says Ripple CEO After $4B In Acquisitions In 2025

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse says the company will pause its M&A spree in the first half of 2026 after spending $4 billion on acquisitions last year — but could get "acquisitive again" by year-end.

Major deals like Hidden Road ($1.25B) and GTreasury ($1B) are now being integrated as Ripple Prime and Ripple Treasury.

Garlinghouse declared "XRP is the North Star," but the token remains 60% below its peak, bouncing off $1.15 support with the Supertrend still firmly bearish at $1.74.

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This New Government Trade Just Hit the Tape

A high-profile congressional disclosure signals a major shift toward income-oriented positioning. These trades move quickly, and once they’re widely discussed, the edge is usually gone. Benzinga Pro lets you see government trades as they’re reported, now 50% off.

QUICK N DIRTY

Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP are hanging in there and at least not losing further ground, for now: here’s what’s moving markets today.

Strategy is underwater for the first time in years, but remains bullish. The CEO calls a deepening of the Bitcoin sell-off “extremely unlikely”

Coinbase’s CEO Brian Armstrong has been busy. Busy with selling stock, that is. What does he know that you don’t?

FINTECH FOCUS

Coinbase Only 22% To Beat Its Earnings As Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP Drag Down COIN

Polymarket is giving Coinbase just a 22% chance of beating Wall Street's $0.61 EPS estimate ahead of today's earnings.

With Bitcoin down 50% from October highs and transaction revenue expected to plunge 34% year-over-year, traders are bracing for a miss.

Treasury Secretary Bessent's testimony that the government won't stabilize crypto markets added fuel to the fire.

COIN is already down 37% this year — and at a 26x P/E, there's little room for disappointment.

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