XRP News Today: XRP's $2.20 Slide: ETF Inflows Clash with Whale Exodus and Derivatives Liquidations

XRP, the digital asset issued by Ripple, has plunged below $2.20 despite a historic $164 million inflow into XRP-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs) on their opening day, highlighting a stark disconnect between institutional demand and price action. The token, which reached a year-high of $2.26 earlier in the week, now trades near critical support levels as whale selling and derivatives liquidations amplify market volatility according to reports. While the RLUSD stablecoin, a key component of Ripple's ecosystem, has seen a 56% surge in 30-day transaction volume to $3.5 billion, XRP's technical indicators suggest ongoing bearish pressure.

The ETF inflows, driven by products from Franklin Templeton and Grayscale, contrast sharply with broader crypto outflows. According to CoinShares, Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs recorded $1.27 billion and $589 million in institutional withdrawals, respectively, over the past week. XRP, however, has bucked this trend, with cumulative inflows reaching $622 million as of Nov. 26. These funds now represent 0.50% of XRP's market cap, trailing behind Bitcoin and Ethereum's ETF-driven exposure of 6.54% and 5.5%, respectively according to data.

Technical analysis paints a mixed picture. XRP's price has formed a descending triangle pattern with $2.20 as immediate support, while derivatives traders have increased long positioning, with open interest rising 5% to $4.21 billion. A break above $2.26 could test resistance at $2.31 and potentially $2.52, but a failure to hold $2.20 risks a retest of $1.88–$1.91 levels. Whale activity has further complicated the outlook, with reports indicating 200 million XRP sold within 48 hours of the ETF launch, exacerbating downward pressure.

Institutional sentiment remains divided. JPMorgan forecasts $14 billion in inflows from XRP and Solana ETFs, citing growing adoption of Ripple's fast, low-cost XRP Ledger for cross-border payments. Analysts argue that constrained supply-only 58.5% of XRP is in profit-coupled with ETF-driven demand, could trigger a supply shock by 2026 according to analysis. Meanwhile, derivatives markets show signs of stabilization, with Binance's long-short ratio climbing above 2.6, indicating buyers are gaining control.

The broader crypto market, however, faces headwinds. Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs have seen persistent outflows, with Bitcoin's price sliding below $84,000 amid macroeconomic uncertainty and Fed policy speculation. XRP's resilience in the face of these trends underscores its unique position as a utility-driven asset, but technical indicators like the RSI and MACD remain neutral, suggesting reaccumulation rather than a reversal according to analysis.