Luxembourg-based cryptocurrency exchange Bitstamp has recently intrigued the XRP community with a mysterious post showing the XRP logo superimposed onto a full moon. The exchange shared a caption with the image, stating, "A photograph of the moon captured last night."

In the cryptocurrency realm, the phrase "to the moon" is extensively used, reflecting a strong optimistic sentiment among market participants, anticipating significant price surges. The origins of this phrase remain somewhat ambiguous, with its initial usage speculated to have surfaced in a Bitcointalk forum post dating back to 2013.

Bitstamp made headlines in December 2020 by halting XRP trading, a consequence of Ripple's legal battles with the U.S. SEC. The exchange resumed XRP trading after a legal ruling clarified that secondary XRP sales did not fall under securities regulations. Despite this, XRP holders have experienced minimal gains compared to the broader market, with the token still down 87% from its peak in early 2018.

Ripple, the company behind XRP, took a strategic step by acquiring a stake in Bitstamp last year to enhance its global presence and diversify its operations.

Bitrue, a devoted XRP exchange, attracted attention by advising users to heavily invest in XRP, sparking debate amidst market fluctuations. Additionally, commission-free trading platform Robinhood disclosed plans to acquire Bitstamp in 2025, signifying a major development in the cryptocurrency exchange landscape.