Ripple (XRP) extends its consolidation around $1.33 at the time of writing on Wednesday, as market participants largely remain on the sidelines awaiting clarity over a potential Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the United States (US) and Iran.

Near Protocol (NEAR) edges lower on Wednesday, holding above the $2.50 support. The drawdown can be partly attributed to broader crypto market volatility as investors continue to assess geopolitical tensions in the Middle East and to profit-taking following its over 100% rally in May.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly becoming interconnected with crypto as a practical infrastructure layer, now providing solutions to long-standing challenges in Bitcoin’s (BTC) usage.

