Global Crypto Market Tops $3.22T, XRP Up 12%, Japan Embraces Crypto

Global Crypto Market Cap Rises to $3.22 Trillion as XRP Jumps 12% and Institutions Expand Access

The global cryptocurrency market capitalization climbed about 2% to $3.22 trillion as major assets continued a broad grind higher. Bitcoin was up roughly 1% at $93,780, while Ether gained about 2% to $3,240 and Solana rose around 3% to $139.

XRP led large-cap movers, rising 12% to $2.37. Among the strongest gainers in the wider market were RENDER (+18%), SUI (+18%), and LIT (+15%), underscoring continued rotation into higher-beta tokens during the upswing.

Market sentiment also improved. The Crypto Fear & Greed Index was described as moving back into neutral territory after previously sitting in “extreme fear,” a shift that often coincides with steadier risk appetite and reduced forced selling. In prior periods, sharp liquidations have tended to accompany such transitions; one cited snapshot noted more than $160 million in crypto liquidations over 24 hours, with a majority tied to short positions.

Several traditional finance developments added to the day’s narrative of increasing institutional participation:

• Bank of America formally launched crypto recommendations for wealth clients, allowing up to a 4% portfolio allocation.
• Morgan Stanley filed for a Solana Trust with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
• Goldman Sachs upgraded Coinbase to a “Buy” rating while downgrading eToro.

Policy signals from abroad also contributed to a more constructive backdrop. Japan’s finance minister endorsed deeper crypto integration, including lower taxes and exchange-level reforms, reflecting the continuing trend of major jurisdictions refining how digital assets fit into existing financial frameworks.

On the technology side, Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin said Ethereum has effectively addressed the “blockchain trilemma”—the challenge of balancing decentralization, security, and scalability—pointing to the network’s Layer-2 roadmap as a key mechanism for scaling while maintaining decentralization.

At the same time, the day’s newsflow included fresh reminders of operational risk in crypto. Kraken said it is investigating reports that customer data is allegedly for sale on the dark web following a potential security exploit. Separately, Ledger users were put on alert after a breach involving its e-commerce partner Global-E exposed customer contact details.

Together, the price action, sentiment normalization, and increased engagement from banks and brokers highlighted a market that is expanding through both adoption and infrastructure—while continuing to face scrutiny around security and consumer data protection.