XRP Breaks $1.50 Resistance: Is a $2.00 Regulatory Moonshot Next?
XRP is in the spotlight today, trading at $1.52 as of March 18, 2026. The price has jumped more than 10% in the past week...
Quick overview
- XRP is currently trading at $1.52, having surged over 10% in the past week, and has become the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market cap.
- The SEC's recent classification of XRP as a digital commodity marks the end of a five-year legal battle, allowing for new institutional investment opportunities.
- With daily payments on the XRP Ledger reaching 2.7 million and a significant rise in tokenized assets, XRP is experiencing increased real-world utility.
- Despite potential macroeconomic influences from the Federal Reserve, XRP's new status provides a stronger foundation for future growth.
XRP is in the spotlight today, trading at $1.52 as of March 18, 2026. The price has jumped more than 10% in the past week, moving ahead of Binance Coin (BNB) to become the world’s fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market cap. This rally is not just a technical move. It follows a major change in US regulations that has finally ended XRP’s five-year legal battle.
The turning point came Tuesday night when the SEC officially classified XRP as a digital commodity. This decision removes the “security” label that has held back institutional investors since 2020. With a $93.3 billion market cap and daily trading volumes over $3 billion, XRP is now standing apart from other altcoins as major banks return to the Ripple ecosystem.
The SEC’s Shift: Ripple Achieves Full Legal Victory
By classifying XRP as a commodity, the SEC has completely reversed its previous approach of regulating through enforcement. Now that XRP is in the same category as Bitcoin and Ethereum, the way is clear for new institutional products that were once stuck in legal uncertainty.
- Spot XRP ETFs: Big financial firms like Goldman Sachs already hold large positions, and analysts expect many Spot XRP ETF applications to follow this new commodity status.
- The Safe Harbor Rule: SEC Chair Paul Atkins has proposed a new rule that lets projects grow without worrying about immediate lawsuits. This gives Ripple a clear path to expand its RLUSD stablecoin and cross-border payment licenses in places like Brazil.
- Utility Growth: The XRP Ledger (XRPL) is seeing much more real-world use, with daily payments reaching 2.7 million and the value of tokenized assets rising 35% in the past month.
Technical Outlook: XRP Tests the $1.60 Level
Looking at the charts, XRP is showing its strongest upward trend in years. After moving out of a long period between $1.39 and $1.41, the price is now testing the important $1.60 resistance level.

The daily chart shows a pattern of higher lows since XRP hit $1.13 in February. The 200-day moving average at $2.04 still points to some long-term resistance, but the Relative Strength Index (RSI) is now in the mid-60s, showing strong buying momentum that isn’t overdone yet. If XRP closes above $1.60, the next big targets are $1.79 and the key $2.00 mark.
Macro Factors: The Fed and the $1.50 Support Level
Even with all the excitement, XRP is still affected by the wider economy. Investors are waiting for the Federal Reserve’s 2:30 P.M. ET rate announcement. Since the Fed is expected to keep rates between 3.50% and 3.75%, the strength of the US Dollar is still an important factor.
If the Fed sounds more “hawkish,” it could slow down the rally and push XRP back to the $1.43 to $1.47 support range. Still, XRP’s new “commodity status” gives it a stronger base than in past cycles.
For professional traders, a drop toward $1.40 is now seen as a strong buying opportunity, not a reason to worry. The period of legal uncertainty is over, and institutional use is now taking center stage.
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