Cardano Jumps 30% After x402 Test as XRP Gains 22%
Cardano (ADA) rose about 30% in one week, from $0.19 on 17 September to an intraday high of $0.26 on 23 September. The rally followed the Cardano Foundation’s integration of native x402 payment support into its official SDK and a successful pre-production testnet transaction.
The x402 protocol, originally introduced by Coinbase and now governed by the Linux Foundation, enables automated, pay-per-use payments for AI applications. Cardano’s test allows ADA and other Cardano-native tokens to settle these transactions, although mainnet deployment has not yet occurred.
XRP gained roughly 22% and moved above $1.60. XRP Ledger already supports x402 and has recorded more than one million agent transactions, with thousands of payments processed hourly. XRP also benefited from broader risk-asset optimism after the Federal Reserve’s 16 September rate decision.
On-chain activity strengthened both narratives. Cardano’s daily transactions rose 71% to 33,919, while XRP recorded more than 1,900 transactions worth over $100,000, the highest monthly total. New wallet creation also increased. However, the proposed US Clarity Act failed to pass the Senate, leaving regulatory uncertainty unresolved.
For traders, ADA’s move reflects expectations around future AI-payment adoption but remains dependent on a successful mainnet launch and sustained usage. XRP has a more established x402 activity base, though the $1.60 level could be vulnerable if macroeconomic sentiment or regulation deteriorates.
Bullish
The immediate market impact is bullish because ADA and XRP posted sharp gains alongside evidence of stronger network activity. Cardano’s 30% move was supported by a concrete x402 test, while XRP combines the same AI-payment narrative with more advanced adoption metrics, including over one million agent transactions and thousands of hourly payments. Higher transaction counts, whale activity and new wallet creation can reinforce momentum by suggesting that buying interest is not limited to short-term speculation.
In the short term, traders may continue to rotate into ADA, XRP and other x402-linked assets. However, the size of ADA’s rally increases the risk of profit-taking and a “buy the rumour, sell the news” reaction. The absence of a Cardano mainnet launch means the test remains an early-stage catalyst rather than proof of commercial adoption. XRP’s move above $1.60 may also attract technical traders, but that level could become support or resistance depending on volume and broader market conditions.
Longer term, automated AI payments could create additional demand for networks that offer fast, low-cost settlement. XRP currently has a stronger usage lead, while Cardano offers a developing integration story. Risks include weak conversion from testnet activity to mainnet usage, changes in Federal Reserve expectations, and continued US regulatory uncertainty after the Clarity Act failed in the Senate. Similar crypto rallies driven by ecosystem announcements have often faded when adoption metrics failed to follow price, so traders should monitor sustained transaction growth, liquidity and follow-through rather than relying solely on the initial headline.