Ripple has secured full MiCA approval in Luxembourg as XRP spot ETFs have extended their inflow streak to eight consecutive weeks, even as XRP traded lower over the past 24 hours.

According to Ripple, the Luxembourg Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier (CSSF) has granted the company a Crypto-Asset Service Provider (CASP) license under the European Union’s Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) framework.

The approval allows Ripple to passport regulated crypto services across all 27 European Economic Area member states, strengthening its regulated payments business in the region.

According to data from crypto.news, XRP (XRP) traded at around $1.13 on Tuesday, down 1.1% over the previous 24 hours, although the token remained nearly 9% higher for the week. The decline came while Bitcoin held onto weekly gains of more than 10%, despite weakness in U.S. equities and higher oil prices linked to geopolitical tensions. 

Investors also continued to watch developments surrounding the final version of the GENIUS Act, expected before July 18, while Ether changed hands near $1,800.

Ripple adds another EU regulatory approval

Following its initial MiCA clearance in June, Ripple said the newly issued CASP license completes its authorization process under the EU’s digital asset rules. The company noted that the approval complements its existing European e-money license, allowing it to offer regulated crypto payment services throughout the European Economic Area.

Ripple said the combined regulatory approvals support its cross-border payments business serving banks, financial institutions, and enterprises while providing a clearer compliance framework for crypto transactions. The company also expects the licensing framework to support adoption of both XRP-based payment products and its RLUSD stablecoin in Europe.

Commenting on the development, Ripple’s Managing Director for the UK and Europe, Cassie Craddock, said the company is now fully prepared to expand under the MiCA framework after completing the regulatory transition.

Technical indicators also suggest XRP is testing an important level following its recent rally. On the 4-hour chart, the token is trading near the 61.8% Fibonacci retracement around $1.12 while remaining above the Supertrend support near $1.11.

At the same time, Chaikin Money Flow has stayed slightly above zero, indicating buying interest has not fully disappeared despite the recent pullback.

ETF demand continues supporting XRP

Institutional interest has remained steady alongside Ripple’s regulatory progress. According to SoSoValue, XRP spot exchange-traded funds have now recorded eight consecutive weeks of net inflows, with cumulative net inflows reaching $1.49 billion.

SoSoValue data showed no new daily inflows on July 6, but cumulative assets under management continued to stand at approximately $1.05 billion, representing about 1.47% of XRP’s total market capitalization.

Trading activity across listed XRP spot ETFs reached $14.48 million during the latest session. Bitwise’s XRP fund remained the largest with $330.84 million in net assets, followed by Canary at $265.30 million and Franklin at $261.68 million. According to SoSoValue, the XRP-linked investment products also finished the session with gains of more than 5%.

From a technical perspective, XRP continues to move within a descending corrective channel after climbing from roughly $1.02 to $1.18 earlier this month. Holding above the $1.12 support zone could keep attention on resistance near $1.15 and the recent high around $1.18, while a break below that level would expose the next support near the 50% Fibonacci retracement around $1.10.

Key Takeaways

• Synopsys phases out manufacturing analytics software to concentrate on AI-driven chip design.
• End-of-life announced for legacy factory tools with continued maintenance support.
• Samsung confirms no disruption to operations amid software transition.
• Engineering resources reallocated to higher-profit AI design solutions.
• Major chip manufacturers increasingly develop proprietary internal software.

Shares of Synopsys, Inc. (SNPS) closed at $436.77, declining 1.24%, following a late-morning sell-off before recovering to stabilize around the $436 mark. The electronic design automation leader announced plans to discontinue certain semiconductor manufacturing software products as it pivots engineering talent toward lucrative AI-focused chip design technologies. This strategic repositioning underscores the company’s commitment to consolidating legacy offerings while fortifying its position in electronic design automation.

Synopsys, Inc., SNPS

Company Phases Out Manufacturing Analytics Platforms

Synopsys informed over a dozen semiconductor manufacturers between April and May about its intention to sunset specific manufacturing analytics software solutions. The notifications were sent as part of a deliberate portfolio rationalization effort. Recipients included major industry players such as Samsung Electronics, SK Hynix, Kioxia Holdings, and Qorvo.

While new version releases will cease for the discontinued products, Synopsys committed to fulfilling all existing maintenance contracts and service agreements. This ensures customers retain technical support under their current arrangements, although no additional feature enhancements will be developed.

The retirement encompasses the Equipment Engineering System and Fault Detection and Classification solutions. These platforms have been instrumental in monitoring fabrication machinery and detecting potential defects early in the production cycle. For years, these tools have served as critical infrastructure within sophisticated chip manufacturing facilities worldwide.

Strategic Realignment Toward AI Design Technologies

Synopsys has strategically refocused its investments on premium AI-powered design technologies as industry demands evolve. The decision to scale back legacy manufacturing analytics reflects this calculated shift toward higher-margin opportunities. This realignment mirrors broader investment patterns throughout the semiconductor software sector.

The company officially announced it would phase out certain older manufacturing analytics solutions while amplifying its next-generation capabilities. Synopsys has not publicly disclosed which exact software products are affected by the retirement program. Additionally, the firm has not confirmed whether personnel reductions accompanied the restructuring.

Multiple industry insiders indicated that workforce adjustments involved the departure of several dozen employees during the reorganization. Negotiations with impacted customers regarding ongoing support obligations are anticipated to wrap up by the end of July. This transition enables Synopsys to redeploy technical teams toward high-priority software innovation initiatives.

Synopsys’ involvement in manufacturing analytics began with its 2021 acquisition of semiconductor manufacturing solutions from South Korean firm BISTel. Subsequently, the company significantly broadened its software capabilities through a $35 billion purchase of engineering software provider Ansys in 2025. These strategic acquisitions diversified the technology portfolio while supporting ambitious long-term expansion goals.

Semiconductor Manufacturers Build Proprietary Software Solutions

Industry observers provided varying assessments of the potential operational consequences stemming from the software discontinuation. Two sources suggested that reduced platform updates might gradually influence manufacturing efficiency metrics. Conversely, four additional sources anticipated minimal disruption for major chip producers.

Samsung acknowledged awareness of the planned software phase-out and confirmed ongoing dialogue with Synopsys concerning the transition timeline. The electronics giant also revealed it has already engineered equivalent internal systems for manufacturing processes. Samsung anticipates zero impact on production capacity throughout the software changeover period.

SK Hynix chose not to provide commentary on the software retirement announcement. Meanwhile, neither Kioxia Holdings nor Qorvo responded to inquiries. These varied reactions highlight the different preparedness levels among affected customers.

The increasing prevalence of in-house manufacturing software development also factored into Synopsys’ strategic calculus. Several chipmakers have demonstrated growing preference for custom-built proprietary tools rather than dependency on third-party software vendors. Additionally, manufacturers have shown reluctance to share confidential production metrics essential for refining commercial manufacturing platforms.

Synopsys maintains its position as a dominant provider of electronic design automation software for semiconductor innovation. The company recently unveiled technology engineered to automate substantial portions of chip design workflows through AI-enabled functionality. Consequently, this portfolio restructuring underscores the firm’s determination to advance cutting-edge chip design capabilities while deemphasizing mature manufacturing software products.

Mizuho has lowered its price target for Strategy while maintaining an outperform rating, signaling that it still expects MSTR shares to climb above the $200 level despite the company’s recent Bitcoin sale.

Mizuho reduced its price target on Strategy to $213 from $265 after revising its Bitcoin price forecast to $71,500 by the end of 2027. Even with the lower target, the brokerage kept its outperform rating, indicating that it continues to see substantial upside for the Bitcoin treasury company’s stock.

The revised target follows Strategy’s decision to sell 3,588 Bitcoin for about $216 million, a transaction the company said would help fund dividend payments tied to its digital credit securities. After completing the sale, Strategy held 843,775 BTC alongside approximately $2.55 billion in U.S. dollar reserves.

Although the announcement initially weighed on market sentiment, MSTR recovered as Bitcoin rebounded above $63,000. The stock closed back above the psychological $100 level and traded around $101 in premarket trading, according to Yahoo Finance. Even so, MSTR remains down more than 34% since the start of the year as Bitcoin has struggled through the current bear market.

Analysts still expect substantial upside

Mizuho’s revised forecast comes as analysts continue to debate whether Strategy’s Bitcoin sale should be viewed as a sign of weakness or disciplined financial management. While the brokerage adjusted its long-term assumptions for Bitcoin prices, it did not change its positive stance on the stock.

Supporting that interpretation, Grayscale Research argued in a July 6 report that investors may have misread the transaction. As previously reported by crypto.news, the research firm said the sale strengthened Strategy’s financial position rather than signaling financial distress.

According to Grayscale Head of Research Zach Pandl, the company’s financing structure remains well supported despite concerns raised by some market participants. The report was published after Bitcoin briefly fell toward the $61,000 level following news of the sale before recovering above $63,000.

Grayscale also argued that improving Strategy’s balance sheet could reduce concerns surrounding its financing model while creating conditions for a more stable Bitcoin market over time.

Bitcoin sale fuels S&P 500 inclusion debate

Beyond the balance sheet impact, several market commentators believe the transaction could improve Strategy’s chances of joining the S&P 500.

Crypto researcher Ignas argued that the sale demonstrates Strategy’s ability to generate liquidity during periods of Bitcoin weakness, something he believes could satisfy concerns previously raised by S&P Global.

According to Ignas, inclusion in the index would require passive index funds to purchase MSTR shares, potentially creating additional demand for the stock. He also suggested Strategy could eventually repurchase the Bitcoin it sold if such inclusion materializes.

Crypto commentator Zayn reached a similar conclusion. He argued that Strategy has addressed several issues that critics previously highlighted by building a sizeable U.S. dollar reserve, repurchasing convertible debt, and using Bitcoin sales to meet dividend obligations instead of relying on additional borrowing.

According to Zayn, those steps weaken claims that the company’s financing model resembles a Ponzi scheme while demonstrating continued access to capital markets during a prolonged Bitcoin downturn.

Even after lowering its valuation target, Mizuho’s latest note indicates the firm believes those financial changes leave room for MSTR shares to recover well beyond current trading levels if Bitcoin’s long-term outlook improves.

TLDR:

• Ethereum price forecast remains focused on the $1,800 zone, where about 4.30 million ETH previously changed hands.
• ETH could target $1,980 and $2,079 if buyers reclaim the high-volume resistance area with stronger spot demand.
• Binance ETH reserves have increased since late June, raising concerns about more available supply on the exchange.
• Derivatives data has improved, but flat open interest shows the latest ETH rebound is not mainly leverage-driven.

Ethereum price forecast remains locked around the $1,800 level as buyers attempt to reclaim a major resistance zone. ETH recently traded near $1,780 after a sharp rebound from late-June lows. The move has improved short-term sentiment, but the structure still lacks broad confirmation.

Roughly 4.30 million ETH changed hands near $1,800, based on the UTXO Realized Price Distribution data. That makes the level a major supply area. A clean reclaim could open a move toward $1,980 and $2,079. A rejection may expose thinner volume below, with the next support baseline near $1,237.

Ethereum Price Prediction Faces the $1,800 Supply Wall

Ethereum price prediction now depends on how ETH reacts near the $1,800 resistance band. The zone has become important as both volume profile data and moving averages align near the same area.

ETH also faces pressure from the 50-day exponential moving average near $1,806. The 100-day EMA sits higher near $1,970, close to the next major upside target. This keeps the recovery below the medium-term structure for now.

The daily chart shows a constructive but incomplete recovery. The RSI near 57 points to improving momentum, but it does not confirm a full bullish shift. The stochastic reading near 86 also shows that short-term upside could be stretched.

Immediate support sits near $1,741, followed by the 20-day EMA around $1,713. Deeper support levels stand near $1,524 and $1,405 if sellers regain control. A larger breakdown would bring the $1,156 area back into focus.

Ethereum price prediction would turn stronger if ETH closes above $1,806 with rising demand. The next upside levels would then sit around $1,909, $2,018, $2,108, and $2,211.

ETH Price Signals Show Demand Is Still Selective

Binance ETH reserves have increased from 3.64 million to 3.87 million since late June. That marks an increase of about 221,000 ETH, or 6.1%. Rising exchange reserves can point to higher potential sell-side liquidity.

The order-size data adds a cautious signal. ETH Average Order Size has moved into “Whale Left” territory, according to CryptoQuant analysis. That suggests larger participants are reducing their market footprint.

This creates a weaker setup beneath the recent rebound. More ETH is available on Binance, while whale-sized demand has not returned strongly. Ethereum Price Forecast therefore remains sensitive to any failed breakout near $1,800.

Derivatives data looks more positive, but it does not show excessive leverage. Ethereum has gained about 14% since Net Taker Volume turned positive on June 28. Positive Net Taker Volume signals stronger buying pressure in perpetual markets.

Open interest has stayed mostly flat across the rebound. The estimated leverage ratio has also failed to rise sharply after its June decline. That suggests the move is not driven by aggressive leveraged longs.

This lowers the risk of a major long squeeze, but it also shows caution among traders. ETH needs stronger spot demand and whale participation to confirm a healthier trend. Meanwhile, US spot ETH ETFs have recorded three straight days of net inflows, adding some support to sentiment.

The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has added three major crypto-related rule proposals to its 2026 regulatory agenda, expanding its work on digital asset regulation while Congress continues to debate the CLARITY Act.

According to the SEC’s Agency Rule List, the commission is considering separate rulemaking projects covering crypto assets, crypto broker-dealers, and crypto market structure. Together, the proposals would address how digital assets are issued, traded, and handled by regulated financial firms, while providing new guidance in areas that have long lacked clear federal rules.

The proposal covering crypto assets would explore regulations for the offer and sale of digital assets, including potential exemptions and safe harbors. The SEC said these measures could clarify the regulatory framework for crypto assets and provide more certainty for market participants.

The initiative follows the commission’s recently proposed innovation exemption, which would allow eligible firms to issue and trade tokenized U.S. stocks under specific conditions.

New rules extend across crypto trading and broker-dealers

Another proposal focuses on broker-dealers that deal with crypto assets. The SEC’s Division is considering recommending amendments to Rules 15c3-1 and 15c3-3, along with other broker-dealer financial responsibility rules and Rules 17a-3 and 17a-4, to address how existing requirements apply to digital assets.

Earlier this year, the SEC also outlined conditions under which certain decentralized finance platforms could operate without registering as broker-dealers. At the same time, the commission is separately seeking public comments on several novel exchange-traded fund proposals, including prediction market ETFs.

A third proposal listed in the regulatory agenda concerns crypto market structure. Under the plan, the Division is considering recommending amendments to Exchange Act rules governing the trading of crypto assets on alternative trading systems (ATSs) and national securities exchanges.

Speaking previously about the agency’s regulatory direction, SEC Chair Paul Atkins said the commission is embracing innovation by bringing more financial products onshore, creating clearer capital-raising rules for crypto businesses, and providing regulatory clarity for tokenized securities.

Atkins linked those efforts to President Donald Trump’s stated objective of making the United States the world’s crypto capital.

Congress continues work on the CLARITY Act

While the SEC advances its own rulemaking process, lawmakers are still negotiating the CLARITY Act, one of the most significant crypto market structure bills under consideration in Congress.

The legislation did not become law before the previously discussed July 4 timeline, despite earlier optimism expressed by White House crypto adviser Patrick Witt. Attention has now turned to Aug. 7, the Senate’s final scheduled session day before lawmakers leave for the summer recess.

Crypto.news previously reported that the CLARITY Act has already passed the House of Representatives, cleared the Senate Banking Committee, and remains on the Senate calendar awaiting a full Senate vote.

Before floor consideration can proceed, Senate staff are still reconciling separate versions produced by the Agriculture and Banking Committees because both panels oversee different parts of digital asset policy.

More recently, crypto.news reported that Senator Bill Hagerty outlined a revised Senate roadmap that could see final legislative text released before lawmakers return from recess. Bloomberg Intelligence has estimated the bill has roughly a 60% chance of passing this month.

Still, crypto.news has also reported that the legislation will likely require 60 Senate votes, meaning Republican lawmakers will need Democratic support before the proposal can move closer to President Trump’s desk.