XRP News Today: XRP's Technical Downturn Contrasts Ripple's Institutional Expansion

XRP, the digital asset issued by Ripple, has retreated from its recent peak of $2.58, raising concerns among traders as technical indicators and on-chain data signal potential further declines. The cryptocurrency, which has long been entangled with regulatory uncertainty, now faces a critical juncture amid a broader altcoin slump and shifting investor sentiment.

A key technical warning comes from the formation of a "death cross" on XRP's daily chart, where the 50-day moving average crossed below the 200-day average—a bearish signal historically associated with prolonged downturns, according to a Coinotag analysis. The crossover, which followed a months-long downtrend since early October, has pushed XRP's price to consolidate around $2.26 after breaking below a key support level at $2.40. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) currently hovers near 40, indicating weak upward momentum, while resistance levels at $2.50 and $2.60 remain formidable barriers to a rebound, as noted in the Coinotag report. Analysts note that without a catalyst such as regulatory clarity or increased institutional adoption, XRP could test lower supports in the $1.90–$2.00 range.

On-chain data amplifies these concerns, revealing a surge in profit-taking by long-term holders. According to Glassnode, realized profit realization has spiked 240% since September, rising from approximately $65 million per day to nearly $220 million as XRP's price retreated from its September high of $3.09 to roughly $2.30, as BeInCrypto reported. This "distribution into weakness" pattern—where investors sell during price declines rather than rallies—suggests waning confidence in XRP's near-term prospects. Meanwhile, realized losses have exceeded $470 million as prices fall below $2.50, further pressuring holders and creating a supply overhang, as the Coinotag analysis noted.

Despite these challenges, Ripple's institutional expansion continues to gain traction. The company recently secured a $500 million funding round led by Citadel Securities and Fortress Investment Group, valuing its treasury of 34 billion XRP at approximately $79 billion, according to Investing.com. Executives emphasized that the capital will fuel mergers, acquisitions, and integration of XRP-based payment rails rather than an initial public offering. Ripple's shift from litigation to utility is also evident in its RLUSD stablecoin, which now exceeds $1 billion in circulation and is being adopted by partners such as Mastercard and Gemini. However, XRP's price performance has decoupled from these developments, declining 20% in Q4 2025 amid surging realized losses and profit-taking, as the Coinotag analysis noted.

Market psychology remains a key factor. Whale activity has sharply declined, with whale-to-exchange transactions dropping from nearly 49,000 in late October to fewer than 1,000 this week, according to CryptoQuant, as Investing.com reported. This suggests reduced selling pressure as large holders move XRP into long-term custody wallets. Yet retail sentiment has cooled, with trading-forum engagement and social media chatter down 25% month-over-month, signaling exhaustion among short-term speculators, as Investing.com noted.

Looking ahead, XRP faces a critical test at $2.45–$2.50. A breakout above this range could reignite momentum toward $2.80, while a failure to defend $2.05 risks a pullback to $1.80, a historically significant accumulation zone, as Investing.com reported. Some analysts remain cautiously optimistic, noting that XRP's fundamentals—rooted in Ripple's expanding payment infrastructure—could drive medium-term gains if transaction throughput increases. Long-term predictions, such as a projection to surpass $10 by 2029, Yahoo Finance noted, hinge on broader adoption by financial institutions and investors, though such outcomes remain speculative.

For now, XRP trades in a defined range between $2.10 and $2.45, with stabilization near $2.32 offering a temporary reprieve. The path forward will likely depend on catalysts like a potential XRP ETF approval or expanded use of Ripple's On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) service. Until then, traders are advised to prioritize risk management in a market where technical bearishness and psychological shifts continue to dominate.