XRP News Today: XRP's ETF and HYPE's Fee Cuts Counter Crypto Downturn

The cryptocurrency market has seen widespread declines in recent weeks, with Bitcoin and Ethereum struggling to regain momentum amid macroeconomic uncertainty and institutional caution. However, two altcoins-XRP and Hyperliquid's native token HYPE-are defying the broader trend, driven by technical catalysts and strategic developments.

Ripple's XRP has extended its decline below $2.00, trading at $1.87 as of Friday, amid heightened volatility and risk-off sentiment in crypto markets. The token's technical indicators, including the RSI and Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD), reinforce a bearish outlook, with support levels now critical for stabilizing its price. XRP is currently testing a key support zone between $2.07 and $2.10, and a break below this range could push it toward $2.00 and then $1.90, levels last seen in June.

Despite the bearish trend, XRP has attracted renewed attention with the launch of the Bitwise XRP ETF on the New York Stock Exchange. The ETF recorded $105 million in inflows on its debut, while the combined inflows for the Bitwise and Canary Capital XRPC ETFs reached $118 million. However, derivatives data suggests weakening retail demand, with XRP's futures open interest dropping to $3.57 billion-a sharp decline from $10.94 billion in July. Traders remain cautiously optimistic, though, as the OI-weighted funding rate turned positive at 0.0072%, indicating increased long-position activity.

Hyperliquid, a decentralized exchange platform, has slashed trading fees by 90% under its new HIP-3 Growth Mode, aiming to attract "wild assets" like real-world yields and tokenized treasuries. The platform's native token, HYPE, is down 6% to below $40, but the fee reductions are designed to boost volume and liquidity. By reducing costs to 5-10x lower than legacy chains, Hyperliquid is positioning itself to capture a larger share of the fast-growing AI and high-performance computing (HPC) markets.

The move aligns with broader industry trends, as firms like Astera Labs-recently highlighted for its AI infrastructure solutions-continue to drive demand for high-speed data networks. Hyperliquid's strategy mirrors Astera's focus on reducing bottlenecks in large-scale computing systems, suggesting a potential synergy between DeFi platforms and AI-driven infrastructure.

While Ethereum has also faced headwinds, with its price trading below key moving averages and the RSI nearing oversold territory, analysts argue its long-term trajectory remains bullish. Historical data shows Ethereum typically outperforms Bitcoin during recovery phases after deleveraging events. The network's upcoming Dencun upgrade, coupled with steady staking participation and enterprise adoption, forms a durable foundation for growth.

XRP and Hyperliquid's HYPE are bucking the broader crypto slump through targeted strategies and technical resilience. XRP's ETF-driven inflows and critical support levels offer a potential floor for its price, while Hyperliquid's fee cuts aim to capitalize on AI and HPC demand. However, both tokens remain vulnerable to macroeconomic shifts and further market corrections. Investors are advised to monitor Ethereum's Dencun upgrade and XRP's ETF performance as key indicators of broader market sentiment.