XRP News Today: XRP Whales Bet on $2.60 Breakout Despite Rising Valuation Risks

XRP has recently surged past $2.50, with bullish momentum intensifying as traders and analysts focus on the next key resistance level of $2.60. The cryptocurrency has broken out of a bullish pennant pattern, characterized by higher lows and a successful retest of support near $1.80, signaling potential for further upward movement XRP Bulls Eye $2.60 Resistance with Breakout Potential^[1]. Whale activity has also increased, with large holders repositioning rather than selling aggressively, indicating strategic confidence in the market's stability XRP Bulls Eye $2.60 Resistance with Breakout Potential^[1]. This aligns with a 24% rise in options interest, reflecting heightened speculative activity and expectations of volatility as traders anticipate a potential breakout above $2.40 XRP Bulls Eye $2.60 Resistance with Breakout Potential^[1].

Technical indicators reinforce the bullish narrative. The price is currently consolidating above $2.40, with the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average (SMA) acting as a dynamic support. A critical inflection point lies between $2.10 and $2.20, where short liquidation zones and leveraged long positions could amplify price swings. Binance data highlights a dense cluster of short liquidations between $2.03 and $2.10, suggesting that a move above this range could trigger a cascade of covering, further fueling upward pressure XRP Bulls Eye $2.60 Resistance with Breakout Potential^[1]. Additionally, the $2.16 level has emerged as a strategic threshold, with accumulating short liquidation leverage poised to drive momentum if breached XRP Bulls Eye $2.60 Resistance with Breakout Potential^[1].

However, caution is warranted. The Network Value to Transactions (NVT) ratio for XRP has spiked by 136% in recent days, outpacing on-chain transaction volume. This divergence raises concerns about overvaluation, as a disconnect between market capitalization and utility could undermine sustainability if network activity fails to catch up XRP Bulls Eye $2.60 Resistance with Breakout Potential^[1]. Analysts emphasize the importance of monitoring this metric alongside on-chain data to assess the asset's fundamentals.

Looking ahead, CoinCodex's 2025 price forecast projects a bullish trajectory, with XRP targeting $2.60 by mid-year and potentially reaching $3.00–$3.33 in the fourth quarter . The model anticipates a 58% return on investment by year-end, contingent on sustained institutional adoption and favorable regulatory developments. While the U.S. SEC lawsuit against Ripple remains unresolved, the approval of an XRP ETF in Brazil has sparked discussions about broader institutional interest .

Whale positioning and market structure suggest a high probability of a successful breakout. Large holders appear to be awaiting a clear price signal before committing to major moves, a strategy that could stabilize the market and support a sustained rally XRP Bulls Eye $2.60 Resistance with Breakout Potential^[1]. Meanwhile, retail and institutional sentiment remains aligned, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and MACD indicators showing bullish momentum as the price remains above key support levels XRP Bulls Eye $2.60 Resistance with Breakout Potential^[1].

If XRP fails to clear $2.60, a pullback to $2.450 or $2.40 could reignite bearish pressure, with further declines targeting $2.20 and $2.050. However, the current technical setup, combined with growing speculative activity and whale confidence, positions XRP as a prime candidate for a breakout that could redefine its short-term trajectory.