XRP News Today: XRP's $2.80 Ascent Hangs on Regulatory Clarity Amid ETF Surge and $1B Institutional Stakes

XRP's price has surged to $2.54 in early Asian trading, driven by softer U.S. inflation data and growing optimism around a potential Federal Reserve rate cut later this month. Analysts suggest the token could test a critical $2.80 resistance level if bullish momentum sustains above $2.55. The latest U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI) report showed annual inflation easing to 3.0%, reinforcing expectations for a 25-basis-point Fed easing, according to a Cryptorank analysis. Lower borrowing costs are weakening the U.S. dollar, redirecting capital into risk-on assets like cryptocurrencies. XRP, which has outperformed many altcoins this week with an 11.4% gain, according to a Blockonomi article, now faces a pivotal technical threshold.

The first U.S.-listed spot XRP ETF, the REX-Osprey XRP ETF (XRPR), has surpassed $100 million in assets under management just one month after its launch, according to Yahoo Finance. This milestone comes as the SEC delays rulings on six other XRP ETF applications due to a government shutdown. Meanwhile, institutional demand for XRP is accelerating. Evernorth, a new XRP-focused treasury company, recently expanded its holdings to $1 billion, receiving 530 million XRP from Ripple, per a TheCoinRise report. The company plans to use its reserves for lending, liquidity provision, and DeFi services, aiming to boost XRP's utility and demand.

However, XRP's path to $2.80 remains clouded by regulatory uncertainty. Despite a 99% approval probability for a U.S. spot XRP ETF in 2025 on prediction markets, as reported by CoinEdition, the token has been excluded from recent ETF approvals for Solana (SOL), Litecoin (LTC), and Hedera (HBAR), which began trading on NASDAQ, according to a TradingView article. Legal experts note that XRP's price historically mirrors Bitcoin's movements, meaning its upside could be limited if broader crypto markets falter, per a KuCoin analysis.

Technically, XRP is trading within a descending triangle pattern, with key resistance near $2.70–$2.72, as noted in that Cryptorank analysis. A breakout above this level could propel the token toward $2.80 and beyond, but failure to close above $2.72 risks a correction toward $2.26. Short-term traders are closely watching for rejection candles or bearish engulfing patterns at $2.70, while institutional buyers may step in to defend the $2.55 support zone.

Market observers highlight a broader crossroads for XRP. While macro fundamentals—softer inflation, potential rate cuts, and rising institutional adoption—remain constructive, regulatory headwinds and technical resistance could delay a sustained rally. If buyers reclaim $2.70–$2.72, XRP could extend its recovery toward $3.00. Until then, consolidation within the $2.25–$2.70 range is likely, according to an FXEmpire forecast.