Author: Gabby

David Schwartz, Ripple’s former Chief Technology Officer, has firmly denied allegations that a non-disclosure agreement restricts his public statements about the company and XRP. Responding to community speculation, he asserted that no such agreement compels him to deceive XRP holders. Schwartz emphasized his commitment to honesty, stating he would never intentionally mislead the public. These comments emerged after an XRP enthusiast suggested that Schwartz might be bound by a legal gag order preventing him from speaking freely. The debate intensified as users scrutinized Schwartz’s cautious remarks on XRP price predictions, particularly the claim that XRP could reach $10,000.

Schwartz challenged the $10,000 target, arguing that current market dynamics do not support such a valuation. He pointed out that if wealthy investors had even a 1% belief in XRP hitting $10,000 within a decade, they would likely drive the price much higher today. He questioned why this isn’t happening, dismissing conspiracy theories as unfounded. At the time of his posts, XRP was trading around $1.38, highlighting the gap between current prices and extreme forecasts. This discrepancy has fueled ongoing discussions within the XRP community.

Additionally, Schwartz addressed a resurfaced 2017 post about XRP price and liquidity. Critics interpreted the post as a promise of high future prices, but Schwartz clarified that it simply explained market mechanics, focusing on liquidity needs and transaction volume. He considered deleting the old post but chose not to, fearing it would cause more confusion and remove valuable context. The gag order debate is part of broader speculation about Ripple’s NDAs and hidden deals with governments or banks. Schwartz maintains that NDAs are standard business tools and not evidence of secret XRP adoption plans. His stance reaffirms that Ripple’s business practices are transparent and not aimed at manipulating XRP’s value.

At the 2026 Berkshire Hathaway shareholder gathering, Warren Buffett delivered a sharp caution about the growing speculative behavior in financial markets. He observed that many investors are increasingly treating trading like gambling, driven by a chase for quick gains rather than fundamental value.

Buffett noted that the current market environment is marked by an unusually high appetite for risk, particularly among retail participants who engage in short-term trades involving volatile assets, including cryptocurrencies. He described this shift as more aggressive than in previous market cycles, emphasizing that such behavior resembles betting more than investing.

The billionaire investor reserved his strongest criticism for one-day options, calling them a form of gambling rather than legitimate investment. He argued that these instruments lack any meaningful connection to business performance or long-term value creation. According to Buffett, buyers of such options often cannot provide a rational explanation for their trades, highlighting the speculative nature of these activities.

Although Buffett did not single out any specific asset class, his remarks have clear implications for cryptocurrency markets. He has long been skeptical of digital assets like Bitcoin, which he believes fail to generate tangible returns like traditional investments such as businesses, farms, or real estate. His latest comments reinforce that view, suggesting that cryptocurrencies fall firmly on the speculative side of the investing spectrum.

The 2026 meeting also featured a leadership transition, with Greg Abel leading the event as Berkshire’s new CEO. Abel discussed the conglomerate’s core businesses and its cautious stance on new technologies. He stated that the company would not adopt artificial intelligence simply because it is trendy, underscoring Berkshire’s conservative approach. The meeting included a tribute to Buffett and a humorous segment featuring a deepfake version of the legendary investor.

The cryptocurrency market remained relatively subdued on Tuesday, with Bitcoin and XRP consolidating within familiar price zones while Algorand emerged as a standout performer. Bitcoin failed to sustain a weekend push toward $79,000, retreating to the $78,400 region after touching an intraday high of $78,963. The leading digital asset found support around $78,080, limiting downside pressure despite the lack of follow-through on the breakout attempt. XRP traded near $1.39, virtually unchanged on the day, as it continued to test the $1.35 support level and the$1.45 resistance ceiling. Meanwhile, Algorand jumped roughly 9% to trade around $0.117, leading gains among major altcoins. Ethereum held above $2,300, with a narrow trading band between $2,298 and $2,334, reflecting general caution across the market. The global crypto market capitalization stood at $2.69 trillion, with Bitcoin dominance hovering near 58.5 percent, indicating that traders remain focused on Bitcoin’s next decisive move. The cautious sentiment followed the Federal Reserve’s decision to keep interest rates unchanged at the April 29 FOMC meeting, where officials maintained the 3.5% to 3.75% target range and offered no clear hints about future policy. Adding to the uncertainty, geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and Iran continued to influence risk appetite, as Tehran presented a revised peace proposal that Washington is currently evaluating. Market participants are now closely watching Bitcoin’s ability to break above the $79,000 resistance level, which could open the door to further upside, while a drop below the $78,000 support may signal renewed selling pressure. Altcoins remain highly dependent on Bitcoin’s direction, as most major tokens moved within narrow ranges during the session.

Senate negotiators have resolved a longstanding dispute over stablecoin rewards, according to Coinbase. This breakthrough paves the way for the CLARITY Act to advance to a markup session after months of gridlock.

The core disagreement involved whether crypto platforms and stablecoin issuers could offer rewards to users. Traditional banks argued that such rewards, resembling interest on deposits, could lure funds away from the banking system. Conversely, crypto firms maintained that rewards tied to genuine platform activity were essential for user engagement.

Coinbase Chief Policy Officer Faryar Shirzad confirmed that the new language strikes a balance: banks secured stricter limits on rewards that mimic deposit interest, while crypto businesses retained the ability to reward users based on actual usage of their platforms and networks.

The compromise, brokered by Senators Thom Tillis and Angela Alsobrooks, prohibits rewards that are economically or functionally equivalent to bank deposit interest. However, it permits activity-based rewards, leaving crypto exchanges and payment firms room to design programs tied to real transactions.

The deal also mandates that regulators establish clear rules on stablecoin disclosures and define which reward structures are permissible. This regulatory guidance will be critical for shaping future reward programs across the industry.

With this obstacle removed, the CLARITY Act could move to a Senate Banking Committee markup as early as the week of May 11. The Securities and Exchange Commission has scheduled a related roundtable in May to discuss digital asset market structure.

Still, the bill faces political hurdles. Some Democrats have raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest involving the Trump family, while other lawmakers prioritize law enforcement and consumer protections. The rewards deal is a significant step, but not the final one, in the legislative journey.

In a landmark move for venture capital, Peter Thiel’s Founders Fund has successfully closed its largest-ever fundraising effort, amassing $6 billion to focus on late-stage investments. This impressive sum surpasses all previous records for the firm since its inception two decades ago.

The new capital is earmarked primarily for mature startups that prefer to remain private rather than pursue traditional public listings. With this strategic pivot, Founders Fund positions itself to compete aggressively for high-growth companies that are delaying their IPOs.

According to reports, external investors including sovereign wealth funds contributed approximately $4.5 billion, while Thiel and the firm’s internal team committed the remaining $1.5 billion. This significant internal stake underscores the team’s confidence and aligns their interests directly with fund performance.

This growth-stage fund marks Founders Fund’s fourth of its kind and comes less than a year after its previous growth vehicle, making it the fastest fund cycle in the firm’s history. The rapid pace reflects surging demand for late-stage capital as companies opt for large private rounds over uncertain public markets.

Earlier reports indicate that the firm’s prior $4.6 billion fund was deployed more quickly than anticipated, with targeted investments in artificial intelligence and defense technology. The new fund is expected to follow a similar concentrated approach, backing fewer companies with substantial checks.

This development aligns with a broader venture capital trend where top-tier firms continue attracting massive commitments while smaller managers struggle. Competitors like Andreessen Horowitz have also raised billions recently, highlighting the ongoing appetite for capital in sectors such as AI, infrastructure, and defense.