Can XRP Survive Another Plunge? Spoiler: The Odds Aren’t Great!

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Oh, XRP, you beautiful disaster! Just when we thought you might pull off a miraculous recovery, you slip back into the sad, sticky realm of corrective phases. It’s like watching a soap opera where the plot twists involve digital currencies instead of melodrama and love triangles.

So here we are, with XRP once again feeling the pressure. Apparently, there’s a renewed wave of selling that has traders clutching their pearls and questioning whether our beloved token can stay afloat above that oh-so-critical $1 mark. I mean, who knew a little thing like support could be so hard to maintain? It’s not like we’re asking for much-just a bit of stability, maybe a nice bubble bath, and a glass of Chardonnay.

In a thrilling turn of events, what was once a hopeful breakout now resembles a high-speed crash, complete with alarm bells ringing and investors scrambling for the exits. Technical indicators and macroeconomic trends are now holding the reins, and they seem intent on leading us straight into the abyss.

Heavy XRP Selling Sparks Fresh Downtrend

The latest drama unfolded on South Korean exchange Upbit, where a staggering 50 million XRP were dumped faster than last season’s fashion trends. Most of this selling looked genuine, which is a polite way of saying that both retail and institutional participants were in full-on panic mode. Who knew crypto trading could get so… emotional?

This sell-off shoved XRP into the $1.44-$1.5 range, marking a two-day low that would make even the most enthusiastic crypto trader shed a tear. That 11% drop in 24 hours? Classic overreaction. It’s like when you accidentally watch a horror movie right before bed and start hearing creepy noises in your otherwise perfectly fine house.

Technically speaking, XRP has broken below a trendline that was hanging on for dear life. Former support near $1.51 is now serving as resistance. Analysts are now eyeing the $1.35-$1.40 zone as the last line of defense. If that crumbles, we might just find ourselves peeking down toward $1.30-or worse, the dreaded $1.00, which is somewhere between a bad haircut and losing your wallet on public transport.

Institutional Developments Offer Mixed Signals

Now, while XRP’s price action looks about as stable as a toddler on a sugar high, the surrounding ecosystem is throwing us some curveballs. Derivatives activity is on the rise, and traders are scrambling to position themselves like it’s Black Friday at a big-box store. Who knew that volatility could create such excitement?

Then we have SBI Holdings’ CEO Yoshitaka Kitao clarifying that their stake in Ripple Labs is merely 9%. This announcement didn’t exactly send shockwaves through the financial sector, but hey, at least we can stop speculating about them being billionaires just hoarding XRP like it’s candy on Halloween.

Also, the regulatory scene seems to be shifting slightly, as Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has joined a U.S. Commodity Futures Trading Commission advisory committee. Could this be the sign of improving relations with regulators? Or just another episode of “As the Crypto World Turns?”

Long-Term Utility vs Short-Term Market Pressure

Despite the market chaos, XRP Ledger keeps chugging along, particularly in the world of tokenized real-world assets (you know, because virtual assets weren’t confusing enough). Data shows growth in the value of tokenized commodities, which positions XRP among the leading blockchain platforms in this new sector. It’s like being the popular kid in a niche group at school.

But analysts warn that just because the network is gaining traction doesn’t mean the price will follow suit. We’ve still got some serious macro factors at play-like liquidity being sucked away into AI investments, geopolitical uncertainty, and the ever-so-cautious monetary policy expectations. It’s enough to make anyone wonder if investing in crypto is worth the headache.

Cover image from ChatGPT, XRPUSD chart on Tradingview

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2026-02-16 20:38