Bitcoin, Ripple Eye Breakouts Amidst Volatility and Regulatory Hopes

Bitcoin (BTC) and Ripple (XRP) have been consolidating after recent price pullbacks, setting the stage for what could be a significant breakout. Market participants are closely watching key technical levels, alongside impactful developments in regulation and adoption.

Bitcoin's recent price action has been volatile, with the cryptocurrency dipping below $90,000 in early February following President Trump's tariff announcement. However, it managed to rebound above $100K, only to slip under $95K again. The 100-day simple moving average (SMA) has acted as a crucial support level for Bitcoin. To regain bullish momentum, Bitcoin needs to reclaim the 50-day SMA and stay above the $100K mark, targeting January's all-time high near $110K.

Ripple (XRP) has also experienced a steep correction after reaching an all-time high of $3.39 in mid-January. The cryptocurrency dropped below $3 and even briefly dipped under $2 in early February. Buyers stepped in around the $2 mark, pushing prices back up, but XRP remains range-bound between $2.25 and $2.55. A breakout above the 50-day SMA at $2.70 could pave the way for XRP to retest the $3 psychological level, especially if an XRP ETF receives approval.

Ripple has expanded its European presence through a partnership with Unicâmbio, a leading Portuguese currency exchange provider. This collaboration will enable faster, cheaper cross-border payments between Portugal and Brazil via Ripple Payments, significantly boosting XRP adoption.

Institutional interest in crypto remains strong, with Nasdaq filing for XRP and Litecoin ETFs. Bloomberg analysts predict a 65% chance of an XRP ETF approval by 2025, which could serve as a major price catalyst for XRP and the broader crypto market.

In the short term, XRP is expected to consolidate between $2.0 and $3.2. A breakout above $3.2, combined with Bitcoin regaining momentum above $100K, could push XRP towards $3.8. Conversely, if XRP breaks below $2.0 and Bitcoin falls under $92K