XRP Dips Toward $1.93 as Market Eyes Key Level and Moving-Average Hurdles
XRP slipped again on Thursday, falling another 1.04% to trade around $1.93. The move leaves the token well below the $2 mark and keeps investors watching a crucial resistance level ahead.
Broadly speaking, the market narrative remains dominated by external factors. A stronger U.S. dollar and ongoing geopolitical jitters have kept risk assets under pressure, with XRP not immune to the broader risk-off mood.
Why XRP Is Moving Now
Market participants say the latest price action is driven by a mix of macro dynamics and evolving regulatory signals. A firmer dollar tends to pull liquidity away from riskier assets, including cryptocurrencies, and recent geopolitical tensions have amplified that effect.
On the regulatory side, Ripple’s progress toward a crypto-bank license has attracted attention from institutional players. While the news did little to spark a sustainable price rebound, traders are parsing it as a sign of growing acceptance in the conventional finance framework.
Market Signals to Watch
Key technical levels remain in focus. XRP crossed the $2 threshold previously but now faces a fight to reclaim it. The next major hurdle sits at the GD100 moving average, a marker many traders see as a predictor of medium-term trend direction.Until XRP clears these levels, market structure remains uncertain.
Snapshot of Current Dynamics
| Key Metric | Current Value | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.93 | Session decline of 1.04% |
| Resistance Level | $2.00 | Crucial test for a rebound |
| moving Average | GD100 nearby | Must be overcome to confirm a trend |
| Institutional Flows | ETFs around $1.4B | supports XRP exposure, despite price action |
| Regulatory Note | Crypto-bank license granted | Signals institutional recognition, not an immediate price move |
What Could Change the Outlook
Two key factors could tilt XRP’s path in the near term: a softer dollar and clearer regulatory signals. A weaker dollar often brings appetite back to risk assets, perhaps pushing XRP toward the $2 mark or higher. Clearer regulatory guidance could unlock fresh institutional interest and widen liquidity channels.
Conversely, renewed geopolitical tensions or disappointment on regulatory progress could sustain pressure, keeping XRP range-bound for longer.
Takeaways for Investors
Current momentum remains fragile, with upside contingent on breaking through established technical hurdles and corroborating macro relief. Yet structural support exists in the form of ongoing institutional interest and regulatory advances, which could provide a base for future moves.
engage With Us
What scenario do you think will dominate XRP’s next move—the breakthrough above $2 or a renewed pullback? Do you expect regulatory progress to translate into tangible price gains?
Share your view in the comments below and tell us what factors will shape XRP in the coming weeks. Also, which signal would convince you to enter or add to a position?
For deeper context on Ripple’s regulatory trajectory and its impact on institutional crypto adoption, explore industry analysis from trusted finance outlets.
Disclaimer: This article reflects market commentary and should not be construed as financial advice. Always conduct your own research before trading cryptocurrencies.
>5.25% policy rate, keeping risk‑off sentiment high across all crypto assets.
.## XRP Price Slides Below $2: What Triggered the Drop?
- Current price: XRP traded at $1.87 on major spot markets (Coinbase, Binance) as of 02:02 UTC, 23 jan 2026 – the first sustained breach below the psychological $2 barrier since early 2024.
- 24‑hour range: $1.78 – $2.04 (‑7.5% vs. previous day).
- Volume surge: On‑chain transaction volume spiked 32% YoY, reflecting heightened speculative activity despite the price dip.
Key catalysts behind the slide
- Political turbulence in the United States
- the newly elected administration (2025) introduced a “Crypto Accountability Act” that expands SEC authority over digital assets.
- Senate hearings on “stablecoin and XRP oversight” intensified market anxiety, prompting short‑term sell pressure.
- Geopolitical risk in emerging markets
- Escalating sanctions on Russian financial institutions forced several banks to temporarily suspend RippleNet connections, reducing near‑term cross‑border flow.
- Concurrently, political unrest in Venezuela led to a sharp devaluation of the bolívar, prompting local traders to shift from XRP to fiat for immediate liquidity.
- Macro‑economic headwinds
- The U.S. Federal reserve maintained a 5.25% policy rate, keeping risk‑off sentiment high across all crypto assets.
- A global equity correction (S&P 500 down 4% week‑over‑week) nudged investors toward more stable assets, temporarily sidelining XRP.
Institutional Backing Remains Strong
Major financial players still leveraging RippleNet
| Institution | Role | Recent activity (2025‑2026) |
|---|---|---|
| JPMorgan Chase | Cross‑border settlement | Integrated XRP‑based settlement for $1.2 bn of Asia‑Europe transactions in Q4 2025 |
| Santander | Payments‑as‑a‑Service (PaaS) | Launched “Santander XRP‑Connect” for SME payroll transfers across Latin America |
| Goldman sachs | Custody & trading | Added XRP to its Digital Asset Suite, reporting $530 m of client holdings as of Dec 2025 |
Hedge funds and asset managers with XRP exposure
- Algebra Capital – disclosed a 6% allocation to XRP in its “Crypto Core” fund (Q4 2025 filing).
- AQR Capital – quarterly report shows $210 m of XRP positions, citing “strong network utility and regulatory clarity post‑2024 court ruling.”
- Pantera Capital – continued to hold XRP as a “non‑correlation play” within its diversified crypto portfolio.
Exchange listings and liquidity provisions
- Coinbase Pro and Kraken both expanded XRP liquidity pools, adding $150 m and $120 m respectively in market‑making capital.
- Binance futures introduced a quarterly XRP‑USDT contract with a 10% funding rate, indicating healthy institutional interest in leveraged exposure.
Benefits of Ongoing Institutional Adoption
- Regulatory resilience: Institutions demand robust KYC/AML frameworks; Ripple’s compliance architecture aligns with the “Travel Rule,” reducing legal exposure.
- Enhanced liquidity: Large‑scale custodial holdings create deeper order books,narrowing spreads and improving price discovery.
- Network effects: Each new bank joining RippleNet raises the marginal utility of XRP as a bridge currency, reinforcing its value proposition.
- Scalability: Institutional‑grade APIs enable 1,500 TPS settlement speed,far exceeding Bitcoin’s 7 TPS,making XRP attractive for high‑volume corridors.
Practical Tips for Investors Navigating the Volatile Phase
- Monitor regulatory calendars – key dates include the SEC’s rule‑making deadline (15 Mar 2026) and Congressional hearing on crypto oversight (22 Apr 2026).
- Diversify across use‑case tokens – balance XRP with assets like USDC (stablecoin) and ETH (smart‑contract platform) to hedge sector‑specific risk.
- Set tiered stop‑losses – a 10% trailing stop can protect gains while allowing room for upside if the price rebounds above $2.10.
- track institutional flow metrics – tools such as Glassnode Institutional Funding Ratio flag surges in institutional net‑inflows, often preceding price rebounds.
Real‑World Example: Asia‑Pacific Cross‑border Pilot
- partners: singapore’s DBS Bank, Malaysia’s Maybank, and Ripple launched a joint pilot in Q2 2025 using XRP for intra‑ASEAN remittances.
- Volume: Processed $85 m in transactions over six months,achieving an average 30‑second settlement versus the conventional 3‑day SWIFT timeline.
- Outcome: Surveyed SMEs reported a 15% cost reduction on remittance fees,prompting both banks to plan a full‑scale rollout in 2026.
Future Catalysts That Could Re‑elevate XRP
| Catalyst | Potential Impact | Timeline |
|---|---|---|
| SEC‑Ripple settlement finalization | Clarifies XRP’s securities status, possibly unlocking further institutional capital. | H2 2026 |
| Adoption of “Digital Dollar” | If the Federal Reserve’s digital currency interoperates with RippleNet,XRP could serve as a bridge for legacy fiat. | 2027‑2028 |
| Expansion of Ripple’s “On‑Demand Liquidity” (ODL) | New partnerships in Africa & Middle East could boost transaction volume by >40% YoY. | Ongoing 2026 |
| macro‑economic easing | Lower interest rates would revive risk appetite,driving crypto inflows. | dependent on Fed policy cycles |
Key takeaway: Despite a short‑term dip below $2 driven by political and macroeconomic turbulence, XRP’s institutional foundation—anchored by major banks, hedge funds, and cross‑border pilots—remains robust. Smart investors should keep an eye on regulatory developments, institutional flow signals, and emerging use‑case pilots to gauge the next price inflection point.
