XRP Price Prediction: Token Reclaims $1.48 as “February Curse” Battles $1.3B Institutional Inflow
XRP is now trading in a tight range and has managed to hold above $1.48 this Wednesday, even as the wider market cools.
Quick overview
- XRP is currently trading above $1.48, showing resilience despite the typical February market downturn.
- Institutional investors have contributed over $1.37 billion to U.S. spot XRP ETFs, providing strong support for the token.
- Ripple's partnership with Aviva Investors marks a significant step towards real-world finance through tokenization on the XRP Ledger.
- Analysts have revised XRP's price target to $2.80 by the end of 2026, reflecting a more cautious outlook amid market fluctuations.
XRP is now trading in a tight range and has managed to hold above $1.48 this Wednesday, even as the wider market cools. Although the usual “February curse” has made investors cautious, with XRP often dropping about 5% this month, the token is showing unexpected strength.
The focus has moved away from legal issues and is now on the struggle between short-term price weakness and strong support from the $1.37 billion invested in new spot XRP ETFs.
The “February Curse” vs. The ETF Wall
XRP’s price action this month has been a rollercoaster. After a sharp 30% crash earlier in February that saw prices hit a low of $1.11, the token staged a massive 38% recovery, significantly outperforming both Bitcoin and Ethereum in the process.
- Institutional Dip-Buying: Institutional investors have put more than $1.37 billion into U.S. spot XRP ETFs. While regular investors remain careful, analysts say the growing assets under management are building strong support between $1.40 and $1.45.
- The “Sniper Zone”: Market watchers point to the $1.46 to $1.52 range as a key area where large investors are buying up XRP. This suggests a shift from simply holding the token to putting it to more active use.
Institutional DeFi: Ripple’s 2026 Utility Roadmap
Apart from price movements, the XRP Ledger is getting its biggest upgrade yet. Ripple’s February roadmap aims to make blockchain technology easy to use for major global banks.
1. The Aviva Investors Landmark
On February 11, Aviva Investors, one of the UK’s largest insurance and asset managers, officially partnered with Ripple to explore tokenizing traditional fund structures on the XRPL. This move toward large-scale production tokenization marks a transition from “tests” to “real-world finance.”
2. Native Lending and Permissioned DEXs
- XRPFi (Lending): With the launch of institutional-level liquid staking (mXRP) and new on-chain lending options, XRP holders can now earn a 5 to 10 percent annual yield.
- Compliance Layers: New ‘Permissioned Domains’ let banks trade tokenized real-world assets while following strict KYC and AML rules. This feature was not available on decentralized exchanges before.
Analyst Revisions: The $2.80 Realignment
Earlier, optimistic investors aimed for $8.00, but after the recent drop, institutions are more cautious. Standard Chartered now expects XRP to reach $2.80 by the end of 2026, a 65% reduction, due to a slower market recovery.
“We expect further declines near-term, but the institutional utility for cross-border payments remains the core driver,” stated Geoffrey Kendrick, Global Head of Digital Assets Research at Standard Chartered.
XRP/USD Technical Analysis: Breaking the $1.53 Barrier
On the 4-hour chart, XRP is trading in a narrowing triangle pattern. The $1.43 level, marked by the 0.382 Fibonacci retracement, is the main support to watch.
| Support/Resistance | Price Level | Technical Outlook |
| Major Resistance | $1.62 – $1.67 | The “Bull Gateway”; a break here targets the $2.00 milestone. |
| Immediate Resistance | $1.53 | The 0.5 Fibonacci level; the ceiling for current relief rallies. |
| Critical Support | $1.43 | The ascending trendline floor; must hold to avoid a retest of $1.11. |
| Secondary Support | $1.31 | The “capitulation zone” where aggressive buy-backs are expected. |
The Verdict: A Structural Floor in Place
If XRP stays above $1.43, the forecast for February 18, 2026, is neutral to bullish.
The recent drop pushed out some retail traders, but strong institutional buying through ETFs and the Aviva deal is giving XRP solid support. If the Clarity Act continues to progress in the Senate, legal risks should stay very low, letting XRP focus on its place in global finance.
Trade idea: Buy if XRP closes above $1.53 on the 4-hour chart, aiming for $1.62. Use a stop-loss below $1.43 to limit potential losses.
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