What happened? Markets slid on tariff fears while certain crypto tokens moved in different directions.
Global markets dipped again as tariff worries rattled investors, but crypto saw mixed action: XRP and PEPE fell in the short term while Tether Gold (XAUT) rose. XRP is still up strongly year-on-year and could surge if XRP ETFs are approved, PEPE looks oversold though whales keep buying, and XAUT is climbing as investors seek gold exposure. At the same time a presale called PEPENODE raised about $1.8 million for a new mine-to-earn token that’s drawing speculative interest.
Who does this affect? Traders, institutional investors, safe-haven seekers, and speculators in new token sales.
Retail and institutional crypto investors are directly exposed — XRP holders and anyone watching ETF approvals stand to gain or lose depending on the SEC’s decisions. Investors looking to hedge macro risk are shifting into gold-linked XAUT, while meme-coin traders and whales drive price dynamics in tokens like PEPE. Presale and speculative investors are also affected by projects like PEPENODE, which can attract early capital and attention away from other altcoins.
Why does this matter? ETF approvals and macro-driven flows could shift capital, boost certain tokens, and change market volatility.
If XRP ETFs get approved, institutional inflows could create a big demand shock that lifts XRP and likely spills into other altcoins, potentially restarting a broad altcoin rally. Ongoing tariff worries and a weakening dollar can push more money into XAUT and other safe-haven assets, supporting higher prices for gold-pegged tokens. Finally, successful presales like PEPENODE show there’s still strong appetite for speculative plays, which can amplify short-term gains and overall market volatility.