Morning Crypto Report: Ripple CEO Predicts Bitcoin at $180,000 and XRP at $2.20; Shiba Inu (SHIB) Poised to Remove Zero

Morning Crypto Report: Ripple CEO Reveals When $180,000 for Bitcoin, XRP at $2.20 Not Bull Trap: Bollinger Bands, Shiba Inu (SHIB) Ready to Delete Zero

This week in the cryptocurrency market shows a combination of optimism from Ripple’s leadership, technical analysis supporting XRP’s performance, and a resurgence of Shiba Inu (SHIB) despite prevailing market fears. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse shares insights on the potential for Bitcoin to reach $180,000 by late 2026, attributing this projection to the loosening of regulatory constraints in the U.S. Meanwhile, XRP shows signs of stable growth, and SHIB begins to establish a recovery pattern.

Key Takeaways

Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse forecasts Bitcoin could reach $180,000 by late 2026 due to eased regulatory conditions in the U.S.
The introduction of crypto ETFs has sparked significant investments, with XRP ETFs attracting over $700 million recently.
XRP's current trading range shows stability rather than a misleading bullish trend.
Shiba Inu (SHIB) is demonstrating a strong recovery potential and may delete a zero from its price if it continues its upward movement.

Ripple CEO Sees Bitcoin Potential

The cryptocurrency market is approaching the end of the work week while showcasing an unusual blend of macro optimism due to Ripple’s leadership, technical confirmations regarding XRP that challenge conventional "dead-cat bounce" assumptions, and a SHIB setup that thrives in a fear-driven environment.

In a recent interview, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse confidently articulated his belief that Bitcoin could reach the $180,000 mark by late 2026. His reasoning is primarily based on the fact that the United States is no longer a significant barrier for the cryptocurrency market.

For years, this jurisdiction, which represents about 22% of the global GDP, imposed legal pressures, vague regulations, and protracted approval processes that hindered market growth. However, that pressure appears to be diminishing.

Crypto ETFs were practically nonexistent in the U.S. until recently. Once approved, they attracted substantial investments right away, with XRP ETFs pulling in over $700 million in the last few weeks alone. Yet, crypto ETFs still account for only 1-2% of the total ETF landscape.

Garlinghouse describes this situation as early-stage adoption rather than peak demand. Institutions that previously remained cautious due to regulatory concerns or risk policies are now gradually entering the market. His analogy of crawling, walking, and running describes this progress well.

Ripple CEO tweet about phishing scam

Stablecoins and Market Trust

Stablecoins play a crucial role in this evolving landscape. When market sentiments leaned towards risk aversion earlier this year, capital didn’t leave the crypto sector; instead, it moved into stablecoins. This shift indicates a growing trust in on-chain settlements. Ripple's own stablecoin, RLUSD, achieved over $1 billion in market capitalization in less than a year, largely due to the GENIUS Act, which provides clearer guidelines for institutional payments.

Interestingly, Garlinghouse does not anticipate the CLARITY bill to pass until 2025, but he expects it to become law in the first half of 2026, which will add another vital regulatory framework to the industry.

His observations align well with the current Bitcoin price chart: after a significant drop in November, Bitcoin is stabilizing around $93,000. While the sentiment isn't euphoric, the structure appears constructive. He argues this environment is conducive for Bitcoin's potential rise to $180,000, with regulations aligning, ETF infrastructures in place, and institutional demand gradually building.

XRP's Performance Analysis

XRP's rise above $2.20 has sparked skepticism following the price drop at the end of November. However, the Bollinger Band analysis indicates this is not a typical bull trap. The current price sits around $2.16-$2.20, moving through the middle band at approximately $2.14 while maintaining controlled volatility. The upper band, nearing $2.32, serves as the next major checkpoint.

Conditions that signal a trap usually involve significant band distortions, aggressive spikes in the upper band, or failure to reclaim the mid-band. None of these patterns are evident at present. Volatility has tightened and is now expanding in an orderly fashion. The lower band, near $1.95, remains stable, indicating a continuation corridor rather than a trap.

For XRP to solidify its upward movement, it must sustain this trajectory and target the $2.28-$2.32 range, where the next crucial decision zone exists.

XRP Trading Chart

Shiba Inu's Recovery Outlook

As December begins, Shiba Inu (SHIB) enters the month with a structural outlook that contradicts the exhaustion narrative it has faced for the past months. After experiencing a decline in late October and November, SHIB posted a 12% gain over 11 days, establishing a stable base for the first time in weeks.

The daily close near $0.00000899 marks a breakout from a resistance level that had capped gains all month. SHIB is currently trading between $0.00000863 and $0.00000934 — this band will determine whether the asset can transition from a recovery phase to a full-fledged upward movement.

SHIB Trading Chart

For SHIB, the long-term objective is clear: reaching the 200-day moving average at $0.00001175. Achieving this target represents a roughly 30% increase from current levels and would symbolize the removal of a zero from its price. SHIB does not require explosive trading volumes to accomplish this goal; it simply needs to maintain its current structure and avoid slipping back into the lower $0.0000080 range.

The next phase of the market will hinge on whether this week’s measured recoveries evolve into sustainable trend extensions.

Key Checkpoints Ahead:

Bitcoin price trends
XRP trading dynamics
Shiba Inu resistance levels and potential breakout scenarios