'I Didn't Think XRP Would Last': Novogratz, Former Ripple Exec Breaks Silence on CBDC Experiment on XRPL, Vitalik Buterin Triggers Shiba Inu Flashback With 2 Meme Coins Dump — Crypto News Digest – U.Today
After an astounding run-up, the crypto market is taking a breather with steep corrections across the board. Bitcoin and altcoins experienced significant drawdowns, and many market participants are worried that a potential bear market is looming. However, proponents of the industry don’t think so and continue to believe in the long-term upside potential of digital assets. What contributed to the recent sell-off, and is it time to panic?

The Macro Environment: From Taper Tantrum to Omicron Scare

The recent turmoil in the crypto market was not an isolated event; it happened against the backdrop of growing concerns in traditional markets as well. The fear of inflation and the eventual policy response from central banks is driving nervousness among equity investors. The so-called taper tantrum is the result of central banks tapering their asset purchases to combat inflation. The recent decision by the Federal Reserve to wind down their stimulus program has put pressure on the stock market, initially triggering a sell-off in technology and growth stocks.

The U.S. Federal Reserve announced that it would accelerate the tapering of its monthly bond purchases, reinforcing the view that interest rate hikes could come sooner than expected.
Adding to the uncertainty is the emergence of the Omicron variant of COVID-19, which has reignited fears of renewed lockdowns and economic disruptions.
These external factors have spilled over into the cryptocurrency market, magnifying the impact of profit-taking and triggering a cascade of liquidations.

Leverage and Liquidations: The Double-Edged Sword

One of the significant contributors to the recent price volatility in the crypto market is leverage. Traders have been increasingly using leverage to amplify their gains, but this strategy comes with substantial risks. When prices move against leveraged positions, the risk of liquidation rises, forcing traders to exit their positions at a loss, further fueling the downward pressure on prices.

‘I Didn’t Think XRP Would Last’: Novogratz, Former Ripple Exec Breaks Silence on CBDC Experiment on XRPL, Vitalik Buterin Triggers Shiba Inu Flashback With 2 Meme Coins Dump — Crypto News Digest

By Dan Burgin

Mon, 29/09/2025 – 16:58

Former Ripple exec Anthony Welfare explains CBDC’s role in XRP Ledger’s evolution

XRP Ledger benefited from Ripple’s CBDC trials, former adviser reveals.

CBDC pilots. Ripple partnered with Bhutan and Palau in 2021 for CBDC experiments.

Former Ripple executive Anthony Welfare has broken silence on the impact of CBDCs experiment for XRP Ledger’s development. From 2021 to 2024, Ripple became increasingly active in the development of central bank digital currencies. In 2021, Ripple announced its partnership with the Royal Monetary Authority of Bhutan and the Republic of Palau for CBDC pilots.

Strategic shift in 2025. Ripple redesigned its website in February 2025, removing references to CBDCs.

Fast forward to 2023, Ripple announced CBDC partnerships with Montenegro and Columbia central banks. That same year, Ripple revealed a platform dedicated to central bank digital currencies powered by XRP Ledger.

This year, 2025, marked a significant shift for Ripple as it highlighted a new focus for its operations. In February 2025, Ripple unveiled a major redesign of its website that made no mention of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), which sparked speculation that the company was stepping back from CBDC initiatives or simply keeping a low profile amid the U.S. anti-CBDC stance.

According to Welfare, “The entire CBDC work was very important to learn what the Central banks wanted and how the commercial banks are key, hence Stablecoins as the main focus.” This was essential as it prepared XRP Ledger ahead for the current advancements it is seeing.

Vitalik Buterin dumps

Ethereum creator triggers SHIB flashback with latest meme coin maneuver

What happened. Vitalik Buterin sold 150B Puppies tokens for 28.58 ETH (~$114K) and 1B ERC20 tokens for $13.9K in USDC within hours.

Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin has exited meme coins yet again, selling two different tokens in just a few hours. On-chain data shows the famous crypto developer offloaded 150 billion Puppies tokens for 28.58 ETH equivalent to about $114,000 and 1 billion ERC20 tokens for $13,900 in USDC.

Historical context. In 2021, Buterin famously received billions of SHIB, donated a large portion to India’s COVID-19 relief, and burned the rest.

The sums are small in the grand scheme of Ethereum, but the action is all too familiar. Back in 2021, Buterin got billions of Shiba Inu (SHIB) tokens from the project’s creators, then sent a big chunk of it to India’s relief fund and burned the rest.

That decision sent the SHIB community into a state of shock, wiped out part of its supply and, despite the sell-off pressure, became one of the biggest hype stories of that bull run, pushing SHIB deeper into the public eye and cementing its place in crypto history.

It remains to be seen if this week’s sales will show the same pattern. Buterin doesn’t keep meme tokens in his wallets for long. ERC20 took a 70% hit after his transactions, and Puppies, which had been in the spotlight recently, faced extra scrutiny once the sales were recorded on the blockchain and spread across trading groups.

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Sep 29, 2025 – 16:20

BlackRock Sells Bitcoin and Ethereum for $244 Million in 1 Day – What’s Happening?

By Caroline Amosun

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Sep 29, 2025 – 16:03

Dogecoin Price Stages Big Rebound as Volume Rockets 65%

By Godfrey Benjamin

Price Analysis

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed here are not investment advice; they are provided for informational purposes only. The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. Every investment and all trading involves risk, so you should always perform your own research prior to making decisions. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. We do not recommend investing money you cannot afford to lose.

The Macro Environment: From Taper Tantrum to Omicron Scare

Leverage and Liquidations: The Double-Edged Sword

Former Ripple exec Anthony Welfare explains CBDC’s role in XRP Ledger’s evolution

Vitalik Buterin dumps

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