Standard Chartered Drops Bombshell: Ripple (XRP) Could Hit $8 on ETF Boom

Posted on December 31, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Standard Chartered recently published its price forecasts for the cryptocurrency markets in 2026. Standard Chartered’s Global Head of Digital Assets Research, Geoff Kendrick, increased the stakes on the price of XRP.

Ripple’s (XRP) coin was especially favored by the expert panel, which painted a positive picture of 330 percent gains and a $8 year-end price.

He points out that since 2025, there has been regulatory clarity, and two important stablecoin acts are currently underway.

Ripple Labs was able to introduce its own compliance-first stablecoin after the Genius and Clarity Acts got approved.

Shortly after, when the San Francisco-based fintech behemoth applied for a traditional banking license in the United States, it dropped a bombshell. At that point, XRP’s price surged to $3.65, setting a new record after a seven-year wait. Ripple-based exchange-traded funds (ETFs), the most sought-after altcoin ETF to date, were made possible by this.

Furthermore, following a six-year intense legal battle over alleged sales of unregistered securities, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) settled with Ripple Labs for a $50 million fine paid in escrow, changing the status of XRP’s native coin from ambiguous to legally compliant.

Technically speaking, the price of XRP is currently forming a unique bullish pattern known as the Adam and Eve pattern. The bottoming pattern in this eerie establishment presents two images: the first local XRP price bottom is sharp and triangle-shaped. In the meantime, the subsequent second XRP price bottom is round and has less volatility.

From Multi-Year Highs to Higher Targets: UBS Adds $300 to Platinum, $100 to Palladium

Posted on December 31, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

UBS revised its price projections for palladium and platinum following a significant increase in both metals. Platinum prices have risen by almost $500 per ounce over the last four weeks, reaching a 17-year high, in part due to investor excitement over the European Commission’s proposal to relax its 2035 ban on combustion engine vehicles.

According to UBS strategists Giovanni Staunovo and Wayne Gordon, the action, along with slower-than-anticipated adoption of electric vehicles, has raised expectations that demand for platinum in autocatalysts may be sustained for a longer period.

Citing “higher investment demand and a tighter market,” they increased their platinum projections by $300 per ounce.

The team adopted a more circumspect stance regarding the longevity of platinum’s superior performance. They noted that demand for gasoline vehicle catalysts is more likely to cause palladium as platinum becomes more costly. “We will probably see the car if platinum continues to be significantly more expensive than palladium.”

Palladium has also increased significantly, hitting levels not seen in nearly three years.UBS raised its palladium price projections by $100 per ounce. According to Staunovo and Gordon, supply-side frictions and investment demand have tightened the palladium market more than anticipated. They cited remarks from Russian manufacturer Nornickel, stating that high lease rates have forced some glass and chemical companies to switch from leasing to direct purchases, further restricting availability. The bank cautioned that short-term volatility could be caused by policy uncertainty.

The results of the US Critical Minerals Section 232 investigation and a related antidumping petition are being closely monitored by investors. UBS noted that platinum and palladium bars shipped to the US may be re-exported to Europe if tariffs are not in place. Such flows could ease supply pressures in key hubs like London and Zurich.

Silver Plunges to $70 Low Amid China’s Export Crackdown Bite

Posted on December 31, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

China will impose stricter export regulations on silver, tightening limits on the once-common metal that is vital to the United States’ industrial and defense supply chains. Over the weekend, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, responded to a post on his social media platform X about the impending restrictions by criticizing the action.

“This isn’t good. Many industrial processes require silver,” Musk wrote. The greyish metal traded at the $70 support line at the last trading session of the year, down 5% for the past day.

In October, the same day Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump met in South Korea, China’s Commerce Ministry first announced new steps to improve oversight of rare metals. At that time, the US lowered tariffs while Beijing agreed to a one-year suspension of some rare earth export restrictions.

China, earlier this month,h made public a list of 44 businesses authorized to export silver under the new regulations in 2026 and 2027.

The 2026 regulations also limit exports of antimony and tungsten, two materials whose supply chains are dominated by China. The state-run Securities Times on Tuesday quoted an unnamed industry insider who said the new policy formally elevates silver from an ordinary commodity to a strategic material, placing its export controls on the same regulatory footing as rare earths, even though China hasn’t explicitly announced a blanket ban on silver exports.

The EU Chamber of Commerce in China found that most participants had either experienced or expected to be affected by those Chinese export restrictions. Due to its use in solar cells, batteries, electrical circuits, and antibacterial medical devices, the US added silver to its nationally recognized list of essential minerals in November.

China had one of the largest silver deposits and was one of the world’s top producers in 2024. In the first eleven months of the year, China exported over 4, 4,600 tons of silver, which is significantly more than the approximately 220 tons that were imported.

Crude Oil Retains Advance Amid Venezuela, Russia Risks and Supply Surge

Posted on December 30, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Oil prices saw an increase as traders balanced concerns about a potential glut against geopolitical tensions ranging from Venezuela to Russia and Iran.

West Texas Intermediate was above $58, while Brent, which had increased by 2.1 percent on Monday, remained close to $62 per barrel. Due to a partial US blockade that has hindered exports and caused local storage tanks to fill up, Venezuela has begun to close wells in an area that contains the world’s largest deposits.

President Donald Trump claimed that the US had attacked a drug facility within the nation. That occurred as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced he would change his negotiating stance following purported drone attacks on his home, posing new challenges to Trump’s efforts to put an end to the conflict in Ukraine.

The US president, meanwhile, threatened to attack Iran once more if it rebuilt its nuclear program. Concerns that global production will surpass demand after OPEC+ increased output in an effort to regain market share have kept crude on track for a sharp yearly decline. According to Vortexa Ltd., the quantity of oil stored globally on tankers that have been motionless for at least seven days increased by 15% last week, indicating an abundance of supplies. As a result, the total reached its highest point since 2020 in November of last year.

“Geopolitical disruptions have largely diluted, if not overshadowed, the issue of oversupply in the market,” stated Gao Jian, an analyst at Qisheng Futures Co. based in Shandong. “Unless these disputes are resolved, volatility and price support will persist,” he continued, adding that a deepening glut would probably cause the overall market bias to shift lower.

According to US government data, the crucial Cushing, Oklahoma hub saw the largest weekly increase in crude stockpiles since late October during the period ending December 19

Silver Rebounds 4% Extending Historic Rally Amid Speculation and Supply Crunch

Posted on December 30, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Investors stayed focused on precious metals, as trading became erratic before year-end following their relentless surge in 2025. After falling 9% in the previous session, silver recovered about 4% on Tuesday. The white metal’s historic rally, driven by speculative trades and supply shortages, was followed by a selloff.

Gold rose 0.7% after dropping more than 4% on Monday. Among other metals, copper headed for its longest winning streak since 2017 in a December rally supported by the expectation of more supply chain stress.

Nickel hit its highest level since March after the leading producer, Indonesia, announced plans to cut supply to boost prices. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump hinted he might fire Jerome Powell, the current head of the Federal Reserve, and suggested he has a preferred candidate for the role but isn’t in a rush to announce it.

Additionally, investors were assessing the outlook for US monetary policy and interest rates. Despite Fed rate cuts, Wall Street rate strategists expect stable or higher Treasury yields in 2026, with a few notable exceptions. Bitcoin fluctuated in other markets.

. The dollar index slightly declined. As traders balanced concerns about oversupply against geopolitical tensions from Venezuela to Russia and Iran, oil prices increased. After dropping 0.2 percent on Monday—its first decline in eight sessions—the MSCI All Country World Index barely moved. Futures on the S&P 500 showed minimal change.

Both a gauge of Asian stocks and contracts on the Euro Stoxx 50 Index fell 0.1 percent. For the first time since 2023, China’s onshore yuan appreciated above the key 7-per-dollar level in currency markets.

UBS Raises Targets: Platinum Up $300, Palladium $100 After Multi-Year Highs Surge

Posted on December 29, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Citing “higher investment demand and a tighter market,” they increased their platinum projections by $300 per ounce.

Palladium has also increased significantly, hitting levels not seen in nearly three years.UBS raised its palladium price projections by $100 per ounce. According to Staunovo and Gordon, supply-side frictions and investment demand have tightened the palladium market more than anticipated. They cited remarks from Russian manufacturer Nornickel stated high lease rates have forced some glass and chemical companies to switch from leasing to direct purchases, further restricting availability. The bank cautioned that short-term volatility could be caused by policy uncertainty.

Silver’s Historic Breach of $80 Turns Chaotic as China’s Clampdown Sparks Bubble Debate

Posted on December 29, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Silver surged after breaking above $80 per ounce for the first time amid a historic rally driven by speculative trading and a persistent mismatch between supply and demand. Copper jumped over 6% to reach a record on the London Metal Exchange, while gold declined after hitting a new high in the previous session.

Increased central bank purchases, inflows into exchange-traded funds, and three consecutive rate cuts by the Federal Reserve have made precious metals hot in recent months.

The value of China’s only pure-play silver fund dropped by its daily maximum of 10%, ending a wild bull run that led the fund’s manager to issue rare warnings. The sudden decline in the UBS SDIC Silver Futures Fund LOF follows weeks of gains driven by increasing global interest in precious metals, which the manager called “unsustainable.” Spot silver is on track for its best annual performance since 1979 after reaching a record high of $72.70 per ounce on Wednesday.

UBS SDIC Fund Management Co. announced new restrictions after three consecutive days this week of exceeding the 10% upward limit. Starting in December, there will be a cap on new Class C share subscriptions, typically the best option for short-term investors, decreasing from 500 yuan to 26-100 yuan ($14.25), according to a statement on the fund manager’s website. Strong investor interest in precious metals has focused on silver, with a historic short squeeze in October fueling the notable global spot price rally.

Palladium, gold, and platinum have all surged, and other Chinese funds linked to these metals have also seen significant gains, as investors caution. This year, the silver fund has surged by nearly 220%, while Shanghai-traded silver futures have risen about 128%. The premium over the underlying asset jumped from 7% at the start of the month to nearly 62% by Wednesday. As the fund’s value declined and futures rose, this premium is expected to decrease on Thursday.

Commodities that do not pay interest benefit significantly from lower borrowing costs, with traders betting on additional rate reductions in 2026. Physical premiums have hit extreme levels due to relentless industrial demand from solar panels, EVs, AI data centers, and electronics, pushing against dwindling inventories. Elon Musk’s weekend remarks highlighting the growing investor frenzy around precious metals triggered Monday’s early momentum.

“This is not good,” Musk said on X in response to a tweet about Chinese export restrictions.

Many industrial processes rely on silver. The US’s blockade of oil tankers in Venezuela and Washington’s actions against the Islamic State in Nigeria over the past week have increased the appeal of these metals as safe havens. Silver inventories are at their lowest point ever, raising the risk of supply shortages that could impact several industries.

Bitcoin Breaks $90K Barrier in Post-Christmas Surge

Posted on December 29, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Bitcoin increased in London trading to over $90,000, suggesting a possible breakout after missing out on a Santa rally that sent stocks to all-time highs. According to data gathered by Bloomberg, the original cryptocurrency increased as much as 3.1 percent to over $90,200 on Monday.

Other cryptocurrencies surged as well; Ether surpassed $3,000 by up to 4%. In the run-up to Christmas, the S&P 500 reached a record close while Bitcoin remained mostly unchanged. Monday’s increase “appears somewhat driven by short-term retail traders taking on growing positions in futures.”

The entire cryptocurrency market has yet to recover from a weeks-long selloff that started in October with the liquidation of roughly $19 billion worth of leveraged positions. a cryptocurrency treasury company.

One important indicator of cryptocurrency sentiment, the Bitcoin funding rate, is at its highest point since October. 18, indicating rising demand for b, according to CryptoQuant data. The token hit a record of $126,251 on October 6.

Bitcoin is down roughly 4% in 2025 despite growing institutional adoption and several policy victories under pro-crypto US President Donald Trump. Open interest in futures positions for Bitcoin has also recovered from recent lows, but is well below recent peaks that coincided with Bitcoin’s recent highs in October.

China Moves to Quell Silver Frenzy: Fund Plunges After Three-Day Limit-Up Streak

Posted on December 28, 2025December 29, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

The value of China’s only pure-play silver fund dropped by its daily maximum of 10%, ending a wild bull run that led the fund’s manager to issue rare warnings.

The sudden decline in the UBS SDIC Silver Futures Fund LOF follows weeks of gains driven by increasing global interest in precious metals, which the manager called “unsustainable.” Spot silver is on track for its best annual performance since 1979 after reaching a record high of $72.70 per ounce on Wednesday.

The premium over the underlying asset jumped from 7% at the start of the month to nearly 62% by Wednesday. As the fund’s value declined and futures rose, this premium is expected to decrease on Thursday.

Silver Hits All-Time High Above $77 – Is $80 Next Before 2025 Ends?

Posted on December 27, 2025 by Olumide Adesina

Silver crossed the $77 threshold for the first time, and gold and platinum reached all-time highs thanks to anticipated rate cuts by the Federal Reserve and geopolitical unrest that increased demand for safe havens.

After reaching an all-time high of $77.4, spot silver jumped 7.5 percent to $77.3 per ounce, marking a 167 percent year-to-date surge fueled by supply shortages, its classification as a US critical mineral, and robust investment inflows. After reaching a record $4,549.71 earlier, spot gold was up 1.2 percent at $4,531.41 per ounce.

A weak dollar, heightened geopolitical tensions, and expectations of additional Fed easing in 2026 are causing volatility in thin markets. Gold futures for February delivery settled 1.1 percent higher at $4,553.

The trend remains strong, even though some profits may be taken before the year is out. In 2026, markets expect two rate cuts.

The first is expected in the middle of the year, amid rumors that US President Donald Trump may appoint a dovish Fed chair, raising hopes for a more accommodative monetary policy.

The US dollar index is expected to drop weekly, making dollar-priced gold more appealing to foreign buyers. In terms of geopolitics, Trump stated on Thursday that the US had conducted airstrikes against Islamic State militants in northwest Nigeria.

By year’s end, $80 in silver is within reach. The next target for gold is $4,686.61, with $5,000 likely in the first half of the following year. Supported by Fed policy easing, central bank purchases, ETF inflows, and ongoing de-dollarization trends, gold remains on track for its biggest yearly gain since 1979. On the physical demand front, gold discounts in China shrank significantly from last week’s five-year highs, while in India they widened to their highest level in over six months this week as a relentless price rally restrained retail purchases.