XRP's Price Puzzle: Despite Wins, SEC Acknowledgment, XRP Stagnates

Coin WorldTuesday, Feb 25, 2025 2:06 pm ET
1min read

Despite a series of positive developments, Ripple's XRP token has yet to experience a significant price surge. XRP has been trading within a tight range of $2.80 to $2.00 since December 3, 2023, and its price has recently declined by nearly 15%. This lackluster performance is puzzling, given the numerous positive news events surrounding the cryptocurrency.

One of the most significant developments was Ripple's victory in a lawsuit against the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in May 2024. This ruling confirmed that XRP is not a security, which should have boosted investor confidence. Additionally, Ripple has formed new partnerships and made progress on XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs), further fueling optimism. The SEC has acknowledged filings for multiple XRP ETFs, including those from Grayscale, Canary Capital, WisdomTree, and CoinShares. Furthermore, discussions about XRP's potential inclusion in a U.S. strategic reserve have added to the positive sentiment.

Crypto analyst GA Spark recently shared his insights on why XRP's price has not responded to these catalysts. He highlighted the influence of the broader market, noting that XRP often struggles to gain momentum when Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other major assets are not rallying. The analyst also pointed out that regulatory uncertainty remains a significant barrier to XRP's price appreciation. While Ripple won a crucial battle against the SEC, the case is not fully resolved, and institutions remain cautious. Many U.S. exchanges still limit XRP adoption, and some platforms avoid listing it altogether due to lingering concerns.

Supply and liquidity dynamics also play a role in XRP's price performance. Ripple's controlled escrow releases increase the available supply, which can slow down price appreciation. Additionally, XRP is fundamentally a utility-driven asset, and its real-world use cases, such as On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) for cross-border payments, are still in the early stages of mass adoption. As transaction volumes increase, XRP's price may reflect this growing adoption.

Another theory suggests that market manipulation could be keeping XRP's price suppressed. Some market participants, such as whales and institutions, may be deliberately keeping the price low while they accumulate more XRP at favorable prices. This strategy maintains stability until a major catalyst, such as regulatory clarity or