Canton Surges 14% As XRP Tests $1.85 Before Token Unlock

• Canton's CC token jumped 14% amid surging liquidity and bullish technical indicators.
• XRP tests critical $1.85 support before a 1 billion token unlock event on January 1.
• Binance traders position for CC pullback despite rally while XRP ETF inflows offset unlock risks.
• Technical breakouts and institutional developments could dictate near-term trajectories for both assets.

Canton (CC) and XRP enter 2026 at pivotal technical junctures with diverging momentum. CC's 14% surge reflects strong capital inflows and bullish chart patterns, yet faces resistance from Binance traders betting against the rally. Meanwhile, XRP battles to hold $1.85 support as exchange deposits spike ahead of today's scheduled 1 billion token unlock.

Why Is Canton Defying Binance Bearishness?

Canton's CC token rallied 14% as perpetual market liquidity surged 50% to $39.4 million alongside a 120% volume jump. The long/short ratio of 1.058 confirms bullish dominance with 72% of traders positioned for further gains. Technically, CC confirmed a rounding bottom breakout above $0.1360, projecting a 40% upside toward $0.2130 if support holds. . Accumulation/distribution metrics show strong buyer interest with 200 million volume supporting the uptrend.

Despite these tailwinds, Binance traders signal caution with a long/short ratio of 0.854. This bearish positioning creates headwinds given Binance's dominance in CC trading volume and open interest. The divergence between perpetual market strength and exchange sentiment suggests potential near-term volatility. CC must hold the $0.1250-$0.1360 support zone to maintain its breakout momentum.

Can XRP Hold $1.85 Support Ahead of Unlock?

Following a breakdown below $1.87 support, XRP faces immediate pressure at the $1.85 level. Exchange inflows spiked 77% above average with daily deposits ranging between 35-116 million XRP, signaling increased distribution pressure. The token trades below all key moving averages within a descending channel, reflecting persistent seller control. . Today's 1 billion token unlock introduces additional supply risk despite Ripple's historical practice of re-escrowing 60-80% of unlocked tokens.

Institutional flows provide a counterbalance with $1.15 billion in ETF inflows creating a fundamental floor. Franklin Templeton's XRP ETF approval and rare $90 million weekly inflows demonstrate institutional validation. Technical recovery requires reclaiming $1.88-$1.89 resistance to target $2.08, while failure at $1.85 risks a drop toward $1.77. Market structure remains cautious until either unlock volatility passes or buyers absorb selling pressure.

How Are Institutions Shaping Both Assets?

Institutional activity increasingly influences both tokens' trajectories. Canton Network's infrastructure drew attention as DTCC explores U.S. Treasury tokenization on its platform, highlighting its real-world asset capabilities. Charles Hoskinson emphasized Canton's Web3-native design as critical for the emerging $10 trillion tokenized asset market. This infrastructure focus helped drive CC's 20% weekly gain independent of broader market trends.

For XRP, Franklin Templeton's ETF signals growing institutional access while Ripple's RLUSD model aims to reduce sell pressure. However, Bloomberg analysts question whether ETF demand justifies further products without expanded regulatory clarity. Both assets face divergent institutional narratives: Canton capitalizes on infrastructure adoption while XRP balances ETF inflows against token supply mechanics. These dynamics could dictate performance as markets process today's unlock event and CC's technical breakout.