Ripple (XRP) Crosses $2.43 After ETF Debut, But What If XRP Had a “Pizza Day”?

In 2010, Laszlo Hanyecz made history by spending 10000 BTC on two pizzas, creating the first real-world crypto transaction and one of the the most expensive meals in history.

In 2010, Laszlo Hanyecz made a historic move by trading 10,000 BTC for two pizzas, marking the first real-world crypto transaction. However, if he had used XRP instead, the “Bitcoin Pizza” would cost significantly less at today’s prices.

While XRP did not exist at the time of the transaction in 2010, and the Bitcoin pizza was paid with 10,000 BTC, which is an unfathomable sum at today’s prices, the same 10,000 XRP would amount to just $24,300 at the current rate of $2.43.

The current Ripple price momentum is powered by the launch of the first XRP Futures ETF on Nasdaq, delivering a 3.2% gain to XRP in the past 24 hours and a 2.6% weekly rise.

As seen in the CoinGecko chart below, XRP’s price touched highs of $2.43 on Thursday, May 22, in a rally linked to the landmark launch of XRP ETF product on NASDAQ.

To introduce the ETF, Volatility Shares filed paperwork with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to launch an exchange-traded fund that will provide exposure to XRP futures. The fund, named XRPI, began trading today on the Nasdaq stock exchange.

The ETF will allocate at least 80% of its net assets to XRP-linked futures via a Cayman Islands-based subsidiary, while the remaining portion will be invested in short-term U.S. Treasury notes and other similar debt securities.

Bloomberg ETF analyst Eric Balchunas confirmed the fund’s launch and highlighted its novelty in the market.

“XRPI, the first-ever XRP futures ETF in the U.S., has officially launched on Nasdaq today!” Balchunas announced on X (formerly Twitter).

He further noted, “This is a market first—the other existing 2x leveraged XRP product has $120M AUM and sees $35M daily volume. This is a big deal for the crypto space and opens up new investment opportunities for both retail and institutional investors.”

The post sparks curiosity—what if Laszlo Hanyecz had paid with 10,000 XRP instead of Bitcoin back in 2010?

At today’s price of $2.43, the same 10,000 XRP would amount to just $24,300. In contrast, at the height of Bitcoin’s 2021 bull run, 10,000 BTC would have cost a staggering $7.1 billion.

In essence, the “Bitcoin Pizza” would cost about the same as a modest two-bedroom house in a decent part of town, while the Bitcoin pizza would have cost enough to buy a small to mid-sized bank.

While the thought of a $7.1 billion pizza is enough to spark laughter, it highlights the potential for massive gains in the crypto market. However, even with a modest gain of 3.2% in the past 24 hours, XRP is outpacing Bitcoin and other major altcoins.

As of 05:36 AM ET (09:36 GMT), XRP is trading at $2.41, up 3.2% in the past 24 hours. Bitcoin declined by 0.9% to $66,638, while Ethereum fell by 0.4% to $2,131.

XRP’s price remains elevated after notching a 24-hour low of $2.35, which coincides with the 20-day EMA, and a high of $2.45.

The Relative Strength Index is holding at 63, still within range and suggesting potential for further upside.

A breakout above $2.50 could open the path for XRP to test $2.75 in the coming sessions, especially if trading volume continues to align with the rising prices, as observed in recent market rallies during bull cycles.

The MACD indicator remains in positive territory, following the bullish crossover that emerged late last week.

Bitcoin is also showing signs of recovery, trading at around $67,000 with its own bullish MACD signal and RSI at 60, further enhancing the macro backdrop for cryptocurrency prices.

Integration into institutional markets is also a key focus for XRP.

The post sparks curiosity—what if Laszlo Hanyecz had paid with 10,000 XRP instead of Bitcoin back in 2010? appeared first on Chain Link.

The post sparks curiosity—what if Laszlo Hanyecz had paid with 10,000 XRP instead of Bitcoin back in