Bitwise Elevates XRP to Major League - What’s the Next Power Move?
XRP just got its Wall Street moment as Bitwise positions the controversial asset center stage.
The Institutional Stamp
Bitwise's endorsement catapults XRP beyond retail speculation into institutional territory. The move signals growing acceptance despite regulatory headwinds that would sink lesser assets.
Market Mechanics Shift
Liquidity pools deepen as traditional finance players now have cleaner access. Trading volumes spike 47% since announcement - the kind of movement that makes hedge fund managers actually look up from their yacht brochures.
Regulatory Chess Continues
SEC scrutiny hasn't vanished, but institutional backing creates new pressure points. The regulatory dance continues, just with better-funded lawyers on both sides.
What Ripples Next?
Competitors watch closely as XRP's institutional breakthrough could pave way for other altcoins. The real question isn't whether others will follow, but which ones survive the compliance gauntlet.
Sometimes the biggest crypto moves happen when someone finally builds a bridge between digital anarchists and the very institutions they sought to overthrow.
Figure denies whistleblower’s allegations while legal fight moves forward
In the complaint, Gruendel said he told CEO BRETT Adcock and chief engineer Kyle Edelberg that the robots could cause deadly harm. He said one robot had already carved a quarter‑inch cut into a steel refrigerator door during a malfunction.
His lawyers said he feared the company might mislead investors because the safety plan those investors saw was later “gutted,” and he said this could be seen as fraudulent.
He said his warnings were treated as problems instead of duties. According to him, the company used what he called a vague “change in business direction” to justify firing him.
Gruendel is seeking economic, compensatory, and punitive damages. He also wants a jury trial. A Figure spokesperson responded through email and said Gruendel was terminated for poor performance.
The spokesperson said his claims were “falsehoods” and that the company will push back against them in court. Gruendel’s attorney, Robert Ottinger, told CNBC that California law protects workers who report unsafe practices.
He said the case may be one of the first whistleblower lawsuits tied to safety concerns about humanoid robots. He added that Gruendel expects the court process to reveal the danger he believes comes from rushing these machines into the market.
The wider humanoid robot market is still very early, with companies like Tesla and Boston Dynamics developing new machines and China’s Unitree Robotics preparing for an IPO. A May report from Morgan Stanley said adoption could speed up in the 2030s and possibly cross $5 trillion by 2050.
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