An anonymous whale wallet labeled “0x2b0aD” has made headlines with a significant Ethereum (ETH) transaction, according to on-chain analytics shared by Onchain Lens. On Friday, May 16, the wallet withdrew 13,800 ETH—worth approximately $35.26 million—from U.S.-based exchange Coinbase.
The withdrawn ETH was used to repay a variable-rate debt previously borrowed against collateralized Bitcoin (cBTC). Blockchain data reveals that 13,750 ETH of the repayment was burned, while the full amount was sent to Aave’s lending protocol. Despite the move, the wallet still holds an outstanding debt of 32,377.6 WETH, valued at roughly $82.61 million.
While the motive behind the partial repayment remains unclear, analysts suggest it may be an attempt to manage exposure or reduce risk amid market volatility.
XRP Faces Market Pressure Amid Legal Uncertainty
XRP entered what analysts are calling a rare distress phase, as open interest in XRP futures dropped by 6.67% on Saturday, May 17, according to data from CoinGlass. With open interest standing at $4.78 billion and 2.03 billion XRP in contracts, the sharp decline signals declining investor confidence.
On the same day, XRP’s price fell by 3.5% to $2.33, while trading volume plunged nearly 39% to $3.2 billion. This downturn follows a dramatic 140% rally earlier in the week, when XRP diverged from broader market trends.
Market watchers are linking the recent dip to uncertainty stemming from legal proceedings between Ripple and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). However, Ripple’s Chief Legal Officer, Stuart Alderoty, reassured investors that the development does not negatively impact XRP’s regulatory standing.
Kiyosaki Doubles Down on Bitcoin, Predicts $250K in 2025
Robert Kiyosaki, famed author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, has once again taken to social media to advocate for Bitcoin (BTC), alongside gold and silver. In a recent post on X, Kiyosaki warned of a potential collapse in what he termed the “Marxist Central Bank system,” which he claims could trigger widespread bankruptcies.
Positioning Bitcoin as a hedge against systemic failure, he reiterated his forecast that the cryptocurrency could reach $250,000 by the end of the year. Urging investors to hold their positions, he ended his post with a succinct call to action: “Buy more. Do not sell.”
Kiyosaki has consistently touted Bitcoin as one of the greatest financial opportunities in modern history, praising its accessibility and potential for wealth creation. At the time of writing, Bitcoin is trading at $104,885, reflecting a slight 0.45% decline over the past 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap.
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