Quantum Threats, XRP, and the Race to Flip Bitcoin: What’s Next?

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Will it launch on XRP Ledger? (Probably Not, But Let’s Pretend)

As became known this morning, SBI Holdings, in partnership with Startale, is preparing the rollout of its own yen-pegged stablecoin. The issuer will be Shinsei Trust, with launch scheduled for April-June.

The goal of the JPY stablecoin, which will carry the ticker JPYSC, is on one hand an attempt to reclaim market share from dollar-denominated stablecoins that dominate the global crypto market. However, there are also other objectives, particularly in AI payments and tokenization. (Because nothing says “ambition” like trying to replace the dollar with a yen that’s also a blockchain.)

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The Q2 launch timeline is due to the fact that the parties involved in this initiative still need to obtain approval from regulators and comply with the requirements of Japan’s Payment Services Act. (Because nothing says “efficiency” like waiting for bureaucrats to catch up with your cryptocurrency.)

Technical details of JPYSC are not specified. However, given the friendly ties between Ripple and SBI, where the latter owns a 9% stake in the former, it can be assumed that the new stablecoin may appear on the XRP Ledger. (Because, of course, why not? The XRP Ledger is just the place for a yen-pegged stablecoin. Who needs stability when you can have chaos?)

In any case, Ripple representatives will clearly push for such an option, which is not surprising given the success of RLUSD, which has reached a market capitalization of $1.55 billion, and a number of integrations such as with Deutsche Bank. (Because nothing says “trust” like a bank that’s also a blockchain.)

Further strengthening of the partnership with SBI in the area of a nondollar stablecoin is too good of a deal for Ripple not to consider. For XRP and XRP Ledger, this would be an excellent boost for strengthening positions in the new tokenized era of finance. (Because nothing says “progress” like a blockchain that’s also a currency exchange.)

“Very real” possibility of Ethereum flippening Bitcoin: Charles Edwards (Or, How to Ruin a Party)

By the end of the week, the Ethereum Foundation and Vitalik Buterin presented an updated roadmap for 2026. Among other things, it noted that one of the main priorities for ETH will be quantum-resistant security, a question that worries many participants in the crypto community more each year. (Because nothing says “concern” like a blockchain that’s terrified of a hypothetical future.)

Charles Edwards reacted to this point in a new post on X, suggesting that such prioritization of quantum security by Ethereum developers makes a flippening of Bitcoin “very real,” while Bitcoin developers, in his opinion, do not place this aspect even in the top hundred priorities. (Because nothing says “drama” like a man with a Twitter account and a grudge against Bitcoin.)

ETH is tackling Quantum head on and it is their top priority, as it should be. Bitcoin on the other hand continues to dismiss Q-Day with Core stating it’s not even a top 100 priority. Bitcoin better change fast or the flippening in the next 5 years will be very real.

– Charles Edwards (@caprioleio) February 27, 2026

For some, Edwards sounds like an alarmist, while others would say that his forecast that “Q-Day” will arrive within five years is an underestimation. (Because nothing says “optimism” like predicting the end of the world in five years.)

Based on current figures, if Bitcoin’s price remains unchanged at $67,600, for Ethereum to overtake it, ETH would need to reach approximately $11,100-$11,300 per coin, which means demonstrating about 560% growth from current levels. Only then would both cryptocurrencies equalize in market capitalization at $1.35 trillion. (Because nothing says “math” like a cryptocurrency that’s also a magician.)

Cardano two days away from receiving first major stablecoin: USDC (Or, How to Make a Blockchain Cry)

The last interesting piece of news of this morning on the crypto market is also connected with a stablecoin and blockchain, and it concerns Cardano and USDC. According to Cexplorer estimates, the February deadline will be respected, and within the next two days, the launch of USDC from Circle on Cardano will take place. (Because nothing says “urgency” like a stablecoin that’s been delayed for years.)

This is hinted at by 42 mint transactions conducted on the blockchain, as well as the fact that the number of test transactions has successfully crossed into the hundreds. (Because nothing says “prestige” like a blockchain that’s been testing for years.)

For Cardano, the launch of such a large stablecoin in native form is invaluable. Not only is USDC one of the largest cryptocurrencies and present on all major chains such as Solana and Ethereum, but the stablecoin also has a market capitalization of more than $75 billion. (Because nothing says “value” like a stablecoin that’s also a financial institution.)

For comparison, ADA, the native token of Cardano, has a market capitalization of $10.2 billion, more than half of which is locked in staking. (Because nothing says “investment” like a cryptocurrency that’s been staked since the beginning of time.)

The launch of USDC on Cardano will significantly simplify operations on a blockchain that can be said to have suffered from the absence of such a liquid stablecoin. (Because nothing says “difficulty” like a blockchain that’s been waiting for a stablecoin since the 2010s.)

Moreover, this will undoubtedly increase Cardano’s interoperability and quite possibly unlock the blockchain for many third-party applications and contracts that avoided Cardano due to its excessive complexity and limitations. (Because nothing says “accessibility” like a blockchain that’s been too complex for everyone except its developers.)

Key for crypto ahead of weekend (Or, Why You Should Never Trust a Blockchain)

Taking these developments into account, further details from SBI regarding JPYSC should be expected. The key interest remains whether Ripple or XRPL will be involved in the launch. In addition, the launch of USDC on Cardano may serve as the necessary narrative support that could allow ADA to break out from the general market flow and support quotes in the near term. (Because nothing says “hope” like a cryptocurrency that’s been waiting for a stablecoin since the 2010s.)

As for prices, focus should remain on the following levels:

  • BTC: Bitcoin is hovering around $66,010 right now – watch $68,000-$70,000 as immediate resistance and $65,000-$65,500 as the must-hold support to avoid a slide toward $63,000. (Because nothing says “stability” like a cryptocurrency that’s constantly teetering on the edge of a cliff.)
  • ETH: Ethereum sits at $1,963, with the $1,950-$2,000 zone acting as critical support; a solid hold here keeps bulls alive for a push toward $2,080-$2,100 resistance and then $2,150-$2,200. (Because nothing says “optimism” like a cryptocurrency that’s been bouncing around like a confused kangaroo.)
  • XRP: XRP trades near $1.37, where $1.40-$1.45 is the key resistance to break for further upside, while $1.32-$1.35 support must hold or risk a deeper drop to $1.27-$1.20. (Because nothing says “risk” like a cryptocurrency that’s been a rollercoaster since day one.)
  • ADA: Cardano is at approximately $0.283, with $0.30 as the major resistance everyone is watching, a break above which would open the door to $0.34-$0.35, but losing $0.27-$0.28 support could send it back to $0.24. (Because nothing says “uncertainty” like a cryptocurrency that’s been stuck in a holding pattern since 2017.)

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2026-02-27 17:53