Ripple Engineer’s Regret, Bitcoin’s March Miracle, SHIB’s Painful Path

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Key takeaways (TL;DR)

  • The former engineer of Ripple, Steven Zeiler, in a moment of profound reflection, ascribes the downfall of the ambitious Codius project to the absence of a native token, which failed to entice early adopters with economic incentives. One might wonder if the architects of this endeavor ever considered the simple arithmetic of human greed.
  • After a bearish start to 2026, Bitcoin turned green in March. A 1% gain, though modest, is a psychological balm for investors who have spent the year oscillating between despair and hope, like a pendulum swinging between the extremes of faith and doubt.
  • Shiba Inu (SHIB) teeters on the edge of a liquidity abyss, its max pain zone a stage where over-leveraged retail investors perform their tragic dance. The phrase “blessing in disguise” rings hollow, yet it persists, much like the hope that spring will bring renewal to a market that has long since forgotten the meaning of patience.
  • Crypto investors now fixate on the U.S. Consumer Price Index, a report that promises to either soothe their nerves or plunge them into a deeper abyss of uncertainty. The anticipation is palpable, though one cannot help but wonder if the CPI is merely a new form of serfdom for the financially inclined.

Ex-Ripple engineer opens up about failed project Codius

Former Ripple senior engineer and now developer evangelist for Yellow Network, Steven Zeiler, presented a candid breakdown in a new post, revealing the reasons behind the collapse of the ambitious Codius project. One might imagine the team, after leaving Ripple, embarking on a quest to create a trustless computing environment, only to find themselves grappling with the same old demons of human nature.

Codius was conceived as an innovative platform, yet it failed to attract a meaningful audience. The technology was sound, the vision clear, but the absence of a native token rendered the endeavor as futile as building a cathedral without a foundation. Zeiler’s lament echoes the timeless truth: without financial incentives, even the most noble ideas will crumble under the weight of indifference.

Years ago, after our work at Ripple, we built a product called Codius. It was an ambitious attempt to create a trustless computing environment outside of the Ripple Ledger. The tech was solid, the vision was clear, but for whatever reason, it just didn’t work. It failed to gain…

– Steven | Yellow (@modernfintech) March 8, 2026

Looking back, the engineer concluded that the main mistake was the absence of a native token. The system contained no mechanisms for direct financial rewards for early adopters and developers willing to take risks in building the network. Zeiler points to Ethereum as an example of success, noting that the presence of the ETH token became the fuel that allowed the network to scale and attract a global community. One might argue that the lesson here is as old as civilization itself: without a currency, even the grandest visions remain mere dreams.

Drawing lessons from the past, Zeiler confirmed that his new project Yellow, which is supported by Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen, will launch its own native token from day one. The irony is not lost on us: the same system that once scorned tokens now embraces them with open arms, as if realizing that the path to utopia is paved with digital gold.

March ends “red streak” for Bitcoin

The beginning of 2026 clearly forced crypto investors to feel nervous. January and February both closed in negative territory, down 10.1% and 14.8%, respectively, erasing a significant portion of the optimism that had built during 2025. One might liken this to a farmer watching his crops wither under an unrelenting sun, only to find a single ray of light in the midst of despair.

At the moment, Bitcoin’s price stands about 1% higher than it was in February, as per CryptoRank. The number is modest but important. After two months of decline, the market had entered a depressed state. Moving back into positive territory during March represents an important psychological signal. It is as if the market, after a long night of sorrow, has finally glimpsed the first light of dawn.

When an asset stops falling despite negative background conditions, it may indicate that sellers are exhausted while buyers begin accumulating positions. Historical data also shows that March is one of the strongest months for Bitcoin, with an average return of 10.3%. There are negative exceptions such as 2025, but the broader pattern across the past 15 years suggests that spring tends to favor bulls. One might say that the market, like a stubborn farmer, refuses to yield to the whims of winter.

There is also an interesting historical pattern. After a strong or recovery-type March, April and May often bring intense volatility. April in particular stands as the strongest month historically, with an average gain of 33.4% for Bitcoin. The market, it seems, is a fickle lover, prone to sudden bursts of passion followed by periods of cold indifference.

The current green March could become only the foundation for a stronger rally during the second quarter. If history repeats and April confirms its statistics, current levels may later be viewed as an opportunity to buy BTC at a discount. Yet one cannot help but wonder if the market’s behavior is less a reflection of logic and more a dance of chaos, guided by the invisible hand of greed and fear.

Shiba Inu (SHIB) sees “blessing in disguise” in max pain price

The Shiba Inu (SHIB) market has reached a point that professionals describe as an “inflection stage.” Analytical platforms refer to this zone as max pain. The popular meme coin now stands only steps away from a possible cascade of liquidations. One might imagine this as a tightrope walker teetering above a chasm, unaware that the rope is fraying.

Current SHIB prices have trapped the asset between two large liquidity pools. According to CoinGlass, the price stands only 2.3% away from the maximum pain level for buyers. At the same time, short sellers appear comfortable, since the price would need to rally about 26% to reach their risk zone. It is a precarious balance, akin to a tightrope walker attempting to juggle flaming torches while blindfolded.

This structure resembles a compressed spring. The market is being directed toward the area where the largest concentration of stop orders from retail participants is located. In this context, the phrase “blessing in disguise” becomes less a figure of speech and more a pragmatic calculation. Yet one cannot help but question whether this is truly a blessing or merely a cruel joke played by the market on its unwitting participants.

When the market reaches the max pain zone, excessive leverage is removed from the system. The process is painful for retail investors but necessary for the health of the asset. By removing weaker participants, Shiba Inu gains the ability to move upward without the weight of panic orders. It is a brutal but necessary culling, much like the pruning of a vine to ensure its future growth.

The situation currently visible in Shiba Inu therefore resembles a classic liquidity hunt. Passing through the liquidation zone will represent the moment of truth. One might liken this to a gladiator entering the arena, knowing that only the strongest will emerge victorious.

If the meme coin absorbs the impact and holds its ground, it will signal that supply has been absorbed by larger players. The numbers may cause anxiety among newcomers, yet for a systematic investor they represent a sign that the larger game is entering its most interesting phase. It is a reminder that in the world of crypto, survival is not for the faint-hearted, but for those who dare to play the game of chance with the courage of a lion.

Crypto market outlook: XRP, BTC, SHIB price outlook

During the coming week from March 9 to March 16, the crypto market will focus on important macroeconomic data from the United States and several major industry conferences. The anticipation is palpable, though one cannot help but wonder if these events are merely the latest in a long line of distractions designed to keep investors in a state of perpetual uncertainty.

In macro terms, the key event will occur on Wednesday, March 11, when the United States releases the Consumer Price Index for February. This indicator carries major significance. A reading above expectations could reduce the probability of near-term monetary easing, which typically weighs on risk assets. It is a moment of reckoning, where the market’s hopes and fears are laid bare, much like a soul before the judgment of a higher power.

Although the Federal Reserve rate decision itself will arrive on March 19, the upcoming week will represent a period of active positioning ahead of that event. Investors, like soldiers preparing for battle, are gathering their forces, ready to strike or retreat based on the outcome of this pivotal moment.

In addition, the entire month of March serves as an important deadline for the advancement of legislative initiatives such as the Clarity Act, which could redefine rules for stablecoin issuers. It is a reminder that the crypto market, for all its chaos, is not immune to the influence of human governance, which often proves to be as capricious as the market itself.

Current price targets:

  • BTC: Consolidating between $67,800-$70,500. A range as narrow as a mountain pass, where only the most determined can pass through.
  • XRP: Hovering near critical support at $1.36. A level that could either hold firm or crumble like a house of cards in a storm.
  • SHIB: Testing “max pain” levels following an 8% weekly decline. A reminder that even the most beloved meme coins are not immune to the harsh realities of the market.
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2026-03-08 16:54