Ripple’s (XRP) position keeps getting stronger, thanks to key acquisitions and big regulatory wins. But not everyone’s convinced it’s all smooth sailing—some traders expect a pullback, even as wild $10,000+ ripple price predictions make the rounds.

At the same time, StratoVM ($SVM) is making headlines as a Layer-2 solution that could take Bitcoin beyond just being “digital gold.”

Interestingly, Bitcoin’s DeFi (BTCFi) TVL jumped from $307M to $5.85B in a year, signaling rising demand for Bitcoin Layer-2 solutions.

Here’s what you need to know.

Ripple Price Prediction: Can Ripple (XRP) Break Past Resistance or Is a Pullback Inevitable?

Beyond its inclusion in the recently announced U.S. strategic cryptocurrency reserve, Ripple has been expanding its global reach and strengthening its position in the financial world.

One major development is Ripple’s $250 million acquisition of Metaco, a Swiss-based crypto custody firm. This move enhances Ripple’s ability to offer secure digital asset management, which aligns with its long-term strategy.

Ripple also received regulatory approval in Singapore to provide digital payment token services.

Ripple’s CEO, Brad Garlinghouse, is stepping up in the crypto policy space and working to shape regulations. His involvement shows Ripple’s commitment to making XRP a key player in traditional finance, especially as the U.S. gets into building its crypto reserves.

XRP is currently trading at around $2.17, down 7.8% in the past 24 hours. Random Crypto Pal believes XRP could experience a massive rally and potentially hit $10,000 to $35,000, with the Strategic Reserve making it easier for this to happen.

StratoVM ($SVM): The Layer-2 Innovation That Could Turn Bitcoin Into a DeFi, Smart Contract, and AI Powerhouse

Bitcoin is the most valuable cryptocurrency, but it’s mostly seen as digital gold, used for holding value rather than powering decentralized applications. Unlike Ethereum and Solana, which support DeFi, NFTs, and smart contracts, Bitcoin has been limited to basic transactions.

However, that could change with StratoVM ($SVM), a new Layer-2 solution that could bring speed, scalability, and new functionalities to the Bitcoin network.

StratoVM isn’t just an idea—it’s already gaining attention. Over the past 30 days, StratoVM grew by an impressive 6,098.48% and reached $0.1685, according to CoinGecko.

SVM 30-day chart, Source: CoinGecko

Its market cap is sitting at $16.98 million, significantly lower than CoreDAO’s $500 million, which means there’s plenty of room for growth if adoption increases.

Meanwhile, Bitcoin’s DeFi sector (BTCFi) is booming. The total value locked (TVL) in Bitcoin-based DeFi has skyrocketed from $307 million to $5.85 billion in a year, according to DeFiLlama. This surge shows a big demand for Layer-2 solutions that can expand Bitcoin’s capabilities beyond simple payments.

StratoVM is already listed on Uniswap, and there’s speculation about a potential centralized exchange (CEX) listing. Its testnet adoption is strong, with 113,000 wallets and 56,000 daily transactions.

If StratoVM succeeds, Bitcoin could evolve from a passive store of value into a powerful blockchain for DeFi, smart contracts, and AI-driven applications.

The Bottom Line

Ripple (XRP) keeps expanding into institutional finance with strong backing and regulatory progress, but its price is still uncertain despite bold predictions.

On the other hand, StratoVM ($SVM) could come up as a potential game-changer for Bitcoin. With notable early growth, strong testnet adoption, and a market cap of $16.98 million, StratoVM has plenty of room to scale if adaptation continues.

This article does not offer financial advice. Cryptocurrencies can be unpredictable and carry risks. It is important to conduct thorough research before acquiring any crypto asset. Forward-looking statements carry risks and are not guaranteed to be updated.