Author: Maham Arslan

XRP begins the New Year trading near $1.85, with global markets easing into January after thin holiday liquidity. According to live data, XRP’s 24-hour trading volume stands at $2,042,557,058, while its market capitalization remains firm at $112.2 bn, ranking it fifth among all cryptocurrencies.

Price action reflects consolidation rather than panic. After a sharp December selloff, XRP has shifted into a wait-and-see phase as traders return from year-end positioning and assess whether early-2026 flows can reset momentum.

With 60.67 bn XRP in circulation out of a 100 bn maximum supply, XRP remains one of the most liquid large-cap crypto assets, making short-term technical signals especially relevant as the year opens.

Symmetrical Triangle Signals Compression

On the 2-hour chart, XRP is trading inside a symmetrical triangle, defined by a descending trendline from the $2.05 high and a rising support line from the $1.78 low. This pattern typically reflects tightening volatility rather than trend exhaustion.

Repeated candlestick rejections near $1.92–$1.95 show sellers defending that zone aggressively. This area aligns with the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement of the December decline and the falling 200-period EMA, which continues to act as dynamic resistance.

Key technical observations include:

• Triangle resistance clustered near $1.92–$1.95
• Structural support holding at $1.80–$1.82
• Apex nearing, increasing breakout probability

Momentum Remains Soft but Stable

Short-term momentum remains muted. The 50-period EMA is flat near $1.86, signaling balance rather than trend strength. Meanwhile, the RSI near 45 suggests weak momentum without oversold conditions, leaving room for expansion in either direction once volume returns post-holiday.

This setup places XRP at a technical inflection point as liquidity normalizes in early January.

XRP/USD Outlook – What Traders Are Watching Next

As markets fully reopen after the New Year break, direction will likely be dictated by a decisive break from the triangle:

• A move above $1.92 would expose $2.00
• A breakdown below $1.80 risks a deeper pullback

Trade idea: Buy on a confirmed break above $1.92, target $2.00, stop below $1.84.

Ripple’s XRP coin maintained mild bullish momentum, trading around $1.86 on the day. This rise is due to growing interest from big investors, less supply as ETFs buy more XRP, and positive news from regulators. Although XRP has faced market pressure this year, the asset continues to show resilience, with exchange reserves declining sharply and inflows into spot ETFs signaling deeper engagement from long-term investors.

Regulatory Clarity and SEC Settlement Boost Investor Confidence

Ripple’s legal battle with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, a defining struggle for XRP legitimacy, has largely concluded after years of uncertainty. The final appeals were dropped in 2025, firmly establishing that XRP traded on secondary markets is not a security and removing a major regulatory overhang.

🚨 𝗫𝗥𝗣 𝗕𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗡𝗘𝗪𝗦 | Dec 25, 01:04 PM ET

Ripple just landed a monumental win that crushes the SEC’s long-standing assault: a federal appeals court sharply ruled in Ripple’s favor, narrowing the definition of XRP as a security and dealing a devastating blow to…

— XRP Intel Wire 📡 (@XRPIntelWire) December 25, 2025

Consequently, this resolution has strengthened confidence among institutional investors who had previously hesitated to enter the market due to legal risk. As a result, demand for XRP now has a clearer foundation, supporting price stability and sustained bullish sentiment.

OCC Approval and Institutional Adoption Strengthen Market Structure

In addition to legal clarity, Ripple received conditional approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency to operate the Ripple National Trust Bank, a move that enhances its regulatory framework and signals stronger federal oversight. Moreover, exchange balances of XRP continue to fall, as ETFs and long-term holders withdraw supply from open markets, creating structural support for the price.

⚠️BREAKING: RIPPLE GETS APPROVED FOR A TRUST BANK IN USA!!!! THAT INSANE!! #XRP ON THE VERGE OF REPLACING THE USD!!!

MAINSTREAM IS NOT GOING TO REPORT ON IT!!! THEY ARE TOO SCARED!! THE XRP LEDGER JUST PREPARING TO REPLAE EVEN THEM!!!

THE LARGEST DECENTRALIZED MEDIA BACKED BY… https://t.co/eHmSicTu2K pic.twitter.com/OyxQv0n6Pg

— FinanceBro (@FinanceBroYT) December 27, 2025

Apart from this institutional demand, Ripple’s expanding partnerships and payment utility further justify deeper adoption and confidence from traditional finance.

ETF Adoption and Institutional Inflows Drive Momentum

Similarly, the launch of spot XRP exchange-traded funds in the U.S. has marked a major milestone for institutional access. These ETFs have collectively surpassed $1.1 billion in net inflows since their debut, absorbing available supply and reducing market volatility. In fact, analysts now view ETF participation as a durable demand source rather than short-term speculation. As a result, XRP is increasingly seen as a regulated digital asset suitable for institutional portfolios, where mainstream funds are beginning to support crypto exposure.

Looking Ahead: Analyst Forecasts and Market Expectations

Analysts remain optimistic about XRP’s future trajectory. Standard Chartered Bank’s global digital assets team projected that XRP could potentially reach up to $8 by 2026, driven by sustained ETF inflows and clearer regulatory status. Similarly, broader forecasts suggest continued tightening of exchange liquidity and institutional accumulation could fuel long-term growth. Thus, with legal clarity, federal approvals, and growing ETF participation all aligning, XRP’s outlook shows a foundation for price stability and potential upside in the months ahead.

XRP Price Prediction – Technical Analysis

XRP is trading near $1.87 on the 4-hour chart, moving sideways after a prolonged decline from the $2.05 area. Price action is compressing inside a symmetrical triangle, formed by a descending trendline from mid-December highs and a rising support line from the $1.77 low. This structure reflects balance rather than trend continuation.

Recent candlesticks show small real bodies with overlapping wicks, including multiple spinning tops, which points to indecision instead of aggressive selling. There is no follow-through after bearish candles, suggesting sellers are losing momentum. XRP remains capped below the 50-EMA near $1.88, while the broader 200-EMA around $1.98 continues to act as higher resistance.

Support is holding near $1.82, which also aligns with the triangle base and a minor Fibonacci retracement of the prior rebound. RSI is hovering around 45–50, signaling neutral momentum with no overbought pressure and early signs of stabilization. A breakout is likely once price escapes the triangle.

Trade idea: Buy a confirmed break above $1.90, targeting $1.98, with a stop below $1.82.

XRP is trading near $1.86, down modestly on the day but stabilizing after a volatile mid-month selloff. Daily trading volume stands near $1.95bn, while the token maintains its position as the fifth-largest cryptocurrency with a market capitalization of roughly $113bn. With more than 60.5bn XRP in circulation, price action is increasingly shaped by institutional flows rather than retail speculation alone.

That shift is central to the bullish case laid out by Standard Chartered, which recently projected XRP could climb to $8 by 2026, implying a gain of more than 330% from current levels. The bank’s thesis reflects a broader change in how XRP is being positioned within regulated financial markets.

Why Standard Chartered Sees XRP at $8

A major catalyst behind the forecast is the rapid expansion of XRP-linked investment products in the US. In November, several asset managers, including Franklin Templeton and Grayscale, rolled out spot-linked XRP vehicles, offering institutions regulated exposure without direct custody.

According to SoSoValue, cumulative inflows into XRP-related ETFs have reached approximately $1.15bn as of late December. That early demand highlights how clear regulations and well-known investment options can get capital off the sidelines, which has just been sitting there.

For longer-term investors, ETFs make it easier to get involved in XRP without a lot of hassle and more closely align with traditional asset allocation methods.

Payments Utility Keeps The Story Telling

Beyond just financial products, XLRP’s underlying ability to do the actual payment work is still the real story driving investment in XRP. The XRP Ledger (XRPL) was built to handle fast cross-border payments, and they are completed in seconds at almost no cost.

Ripple has said that, in the end, XRPL could handle a chunk of the world’s payment traffic, which would really challenge established systems. And right now, they are updating the network to make it faster and add new features from the world of Decentralised Finance, making XRPL increasingly appealing to big enterprises and developers looking to build on it.

XRP Technical Outlook: Triangle Getting Close to Decision Time

From a technical standpoint, XRP is stuck in a symmetrical triangle on the 2-hour chart. The price is still holding above that rising trendline, which is near $1.82. And it keeps getting rejected between $1.90 and $1.92, which is stopping the price from going up.

Candlesticks indicate the price is making smaller movements and that sellers are losing control. The 50-day EMA is flat just below the current price, and the 200-day EMA at $1.98 is a significant resistance level. The RSI is in the mid-40s to low-50s, which suggests neither buyers nor sellers are in control.

A clean break above $1.92 could push the price to $2.00, while a fall below $1.82 could send it to $1.77.

Things to Keep an Eye On

A few factors will determine what happens to XRP in the short term. These are:

• $1.15 billion in ETF inflows, which is supporting the price from institutional demand
• CME-listed XRP futures are getting more professional investors involved
• XRPL upgrades are making real-world payment use cases stronger
• Technical resistance at $1.92 is currently limiting how high the price can go
• Some chart analysts have spotted a bearish pattern that we need to keep an eye on

Taking all that in, XRP is at a crossroads at the moment. On one hand, the infrastructure is improving, and more and more institutions are getting involved. On the other hand, the short-term price movement will depend on a clean breakout. Standard Chartered was upbeat about XRP long term, but it will depend on how decisively the price decides what to do next.

XRP is hovering just below $1.87, up 0.9 percent over the past 24 hours, with daily trading volume a hair shy of $1.55 billion. Sitting in fifth place by market capitalisation, it’s worth a cool $113.4 billion – a figure that reflects its rather substantial circulating supply of 60.6 billion XRP out of a maximum 100 billion.

Despite the recent rollercoaster ride that most of the crypto market has been on, XRP seems to have hit the brakes. In other words, it’s entering a consolidation phase where traders are taking a moment to reassess their risk rather than running for the exits. That, at least, is the theory. The last few sessions have shown us that price action is becoming more balanced between buyers and sellers – a marked change from the sharp sell-off we saw in December.

Descending Trend Pressures Begin to Ease Up a Bit

On the 2-hour chart, XRP is still being held back by a clear descending trendline that originated in early December, when prices were still recovering from a high of just over $2.15. That trendline has been largely driving the overall downturn over the past few weeks, but things are starting to change, and a more positive vibe is emerging. With smaller candles and fewer really long wicks on the downside, it’s clear that the selling pressure is beginning to fade in the vicinity of the $1.85 to $1.87 support zone.

Momentum indicators are also in line with that view. The RSI has gone from being in oversold territory, hovering around 30, up to the mid-40s – a clear sign of a shift in sentiment. What’s more, it’s created a fairly mild bullish divergence: while prices have been going down a bit, the RSI has been going up, which is a good omen.

XRP/USD Key Levels That Could Decide the Next Move

Now we have a descending triangle forming on the chart – that is, the price is being compressed between falling resistance and a bit of horizontal support. This sort of pattern often leads to a sharp directional move, either up or down. Break above $1.95, and the price could then easily hit $2.04, followed by $2.15-$2.20 – a zone where there’s a lot of prior supply.

Key downside levels to keep an eye on are:

• $1.85 as near-term support
• $1.82, followed by $1.77, if things do start to go south

As long as we keep getting higher lows on an intraday basis, the chances of a sharp fall appear to be on the wane.

XRP/USD Price Outlook: Structure Favors Recovery Over Capitulation

Now, if we do manage to break through that descending resistance with some decent volume behind it, the chart would then be telling us that we’re likely to see a bit of a recovery rather than a continuation of the downtrend. Sustain a move above $1.95, and we might see a bit of renewed upside momentum, which would certainly be in line with the improving sentiment we’re seeing across the major digital assets.

For now, though, XRP is in better shape than most of the headlines would have you believe – and is busy building a bit of a base from which its next big move will come.

XRP has taken a brutal six months, being beaten by whales and long-term holders just dumping the stuff nonstop. But just when you thought all hope was lost, there’s been a strange bit of resilience popping up from the launch of US-listed Spot XRP ETFs. Since last month those ETFs have just kept on raking it in a steady stream of cash worth $1.13 billion – that’s with a total of $1.25 billion AUM ( assets under management) now.

Yesterday marked the 28th day in a row where ETF inflows totalled $8.19 million. Given the way things were going last month, you’d have expected a month of decent performance from those ETFs, and Canary Capital’s Spot XRP ETF ( XRPC) is leading the pack with $384 million worth of assets in play. Bitwise and Grayscale are right behind it. The only one that had a dud day was Franklin Templeton’s XRPZ, and that was probably because people were out enjoying the holidays.

Key ETF highlights:

• Just 28 days of net inflow in a row
• XRPC is way out in front with a cool $384 million in assets
• It looks like there are so many big institutional investors shifting their Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs into XRP. It’s hard not to see that as a vote of confidence.

Binance Reserves Suggest Bullish Shift

But we can’t just be talking about the ETFs; CryptoQuant data shows XRP reserves on Binance are now at 2.6 billion, the lowest they’ve been since July 2024. A drop like that suggests many of the big players are withdrawing their assets from exchanges and keeping them in private accounts, which is bullish news. We’ve seen this happen before, and it’s usually a sign that things are about to get a lot more bullish.

Now we have to note that the XRP Whale Flows 30-day moving average is still looking rather gloomy – but the rate of selling pressure is finally starting to slow down. Historically, this has been a good sign that the market is about to turn around.

XRP/USD Technical Outlook and Key Levels

The $1.80–$1.90 zone is the one place that XRP bulls have to hold onto, or they risk losing out. The RSI is pretty much at rock bottom, which could suggest XRP has some upside.

Veteran trader Peter Brandt reckons a weekly double top pattern is looking pretty dodgy, and that a rebound from the bottom is what saves XRP. But – and there’s a big but – if that zone of $1.80 is breached, then we could see a serious decline to $1, which would wipe out all those nice ETF inflows and on-chain optimism.

Right now, XRP is trading at $1.85, down 1% over the last 24 hours, with a high of $1.90 and a low of $1.84. With a 19% decrease in trading volume over the same time, it’s a nervous market out there.