Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has admitted that the collapse of the CLARITY Act hurt. He also says XRP no longer needs Congress to settle the question that hung over it for years.
Speaking during celebrations for Evernorth’s Nasdaq listing, Garlinghouse said the bill’s failure “definitely stung.” He added that he had personally put a lot of energy into getting the crypto market structure bill through Congress.
“We Have Clarity”
Garlinghouse said XRP holders are in a stronger position than the failed vote suggests. He pointed to the outcome of Ripple’s long court battle with the SEC, saying the federal judge wrote in her opinion that “XRP is not a security.”
“So, we have clarity,” he said.
That ruling came from Judge Analisa Torres in July 2023. She found that XRP is not a security by itself and that Ripple’s sales of XRP on public exchanges were not securities offerings. She also ruled, however, that Ripple’s direct sales of XRP to institutional investors did count as unregistered securities sales.
Regulators Are Filling The Gap
The CLARITY Act failed a Senate cloture vote 49 to 50 on September 15. Garlinghouse said the SEC and CFTC have stepped into rulemaking to cover what the bill was meant to do. He said there are also lessons to learn from what went wrong in Congress.
Can A Future Regulator Undo It?
Garlinghouse acknowledged that a future SEC or CFTC chair could take a harsher stance on crypto. He said that is possible, but argued that years of progress cannot simply be rolled back.
When the interviewer described it as being unable to “put the genie back in the bottle,” Garlinghouse agreed.
Why It Matters For XRP
Without a law from Congress, crypto’s rules now come mostly from regulators and courts. Rules made by agencies can be changed by future leadership more easily than an act of Congress. For XRP specifically, Garlinghouse is relying on the 2023 court ruling as the foundation for its legal status.
Story Ends Here
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The XRP cryptocurrency has finally made its official debut on X (formerly Twitter) under the coveted @XRP handle, drawing enthusiastic reactions from Ripple executives and the broader XRP community.
The account announced its arrival with a brief message: "hello, world. It’s about time."
The long-awaited debut was quickly acknowledged by Ripple, which has been closely associated with the cryptocurrency since its early days.
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"For over a decade, we've built on the XRP Ledger alongside thousands of others," the blockchain company wrote on X.
"Good to see you here, @XRP," Ripple added.
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse also welcomed the account, making it clear that its arrival had been anticipated for quite some time.
"This one has been a long time coming… Welcome @XRP!" Garlinghouse wrote, accompanying his message with a short video.
At the time of the announcement, XRP was trading at approximately $1.30, having gained 2.11% over the preceding 24 hours.
XRP joins other major coins Despite XRP's long history as one of the cryptocurrency industry's most recognizable digital assets, the dedicated @XRP account had not previously established an official presence of this kind on the platform.
According to its profile, the newly launched @XRP account is jointly managed by Ripple and the XRP Ledger Foundation (XRPLF).
"XRP is the native token of the XRP Ledger (XRPL), a decentralized blockchain built for payments," the account's description reads.
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The profile also includes a disclaimer stating that its content does not constitute investment advice.
Despite joining X only earlier today, the account has already attracted 21,700 followers while following just 42 accounts. Its followers include Vijay Khanna and Ripple Stablecoin Tracker, among others.
With its debut, XRP joins other major cryptocurrencies that already have dedicated accounts on the social media platform.
Bitcoin's @Bitcoin account, which joined in August 2011, has amassed millions of followers. Ethereum also maintains a dedicated @ethereum account, managed by the Ethereum Foundation, while Dogecoin has its own @dogecoin account, which dates back to December 2013.
Ripple [XRP] is trading around the $1.30 level, with the altcoin only up by a percent in the past 24 hours. The sentiment is down around 6% even though the number of mentions and engagements was substantial, at around 100.83K.
Despite the slowness in the price of XRP, what happened overnight proved there could be something beneath.
Transaction volume explodes as South Korean traders dominate
As per sentiment data, XRP Ledger transaction volume exploded from around $832 million to $49.66 billion. Over the past week, volume was ranging below the $1 billion mark. This was more than a 50x increase in just a few hours.
This surge in the total dollar value of coins transferred on-chain coincided with a rebound from $1.25. The massive change in volume could mark the bottom for XRP even though it was yet to be confirmed.
Source: Ali Charts/X
Of this volume, most of the exchange transactions came from South Korean traders. Even with the general market looking ugly, XRP/KRW was the top spot pair by volume, beating Bitcoin [BTC].
As per CoinMarketCap, the pair accounted for 10.18% of the total, which is equivalent to $55 million, while BTC was at 7.82% with $42 million. This showed Asian traders were buying XRP over BTC as the price jumped from $1.25 to $1.30.
Will XRP call Options push prices up?
Further analysis of the Options data indicated that buyers were dominating activity. As per data from Deribit, calls were double the number of puts, that is, at 31,327 against 16,628.
The notional Open Interest (OI) was $62.30 million for a Put/Call Ratio of 0.53. The largest notional value of XRP was worth $4.22 million, placing the $2 target area into focus.
Source: Deribit
While Options positioning leans bullish, buyers are beginning to appear in the most important areas. These bulls are defending the $1.25 support zone once again despite selling pressure from whales.
It bounced off the $1.25 demand area but faces rejection at $1.30. The altcoin needs to stay above this level with the Money Flow Index (MFI) in support. The MFI rallied from oversold territory to 49.
Additionally, the Bull Bear Power (BBP) also flipped green, though the momentum was still fresh. Now, the altcoin has had the longest streak of green 4-hour sessions since the 12th of October.
Source: XRP/USDT on TradingView
Therefore, XRP appeared to be headed toward $1.40, and the building momentum suggests a move toward $1.50. Otherwise, the altcoin may fall back to $1 if the support zone is lost.
Final Summary
XRP Ledger transaction volume exploded from $832 million to $49.66 billion over the night.
XRP call Options are double puts, which set up the altcoin to reclaim $1.40 or higher if $1.25 can hold.
Crypto analyst Mason Versluis expects XRP to climb to between $5 and $10 during the next major market rally. Versluis, known for his insights into digital assets, urged the community to set realistic price targets for the token, challenging more extravagant projections circulating in the crypto space.
Moderation after previous high forecastsIn a recent video shared on his X account, Versluis discussed his revised outlook for XRP, explaining that his earlier price expectations were excessively optimistic. He acknowledged that he once supported predictions of XRP reaching $500, $1,000, or even $10,000 in an upcoming cycle but has since adopted a more cautious stance.
Versluis stated, “I used to be one of them”—referring to influencers who champion very high price targets—before clarifying that he now sees those milestones as unrealistic in the near future.
Versluis emphasizes that while he still believes in XRP’s long-term growth potential, investors should expect a more moderate surge in the next cycle, saying, “Not saying it couldn’t reach those one day, but the next one, you should expect $5 to $10 conservatively.”
He drew a clear line between distant, long-term possibilities and what he regards as reasonable for the upcoming market run, encouraging holders to remain grounded in their price expectations.
Comparison to other forecastsVersluis’ targets diverge from the more aggressive predictions made by some cryptocurrency commentators, who suggest XRP could reach triple or four-digit territory in just one cycle. Rather than support such outlooks, he suggested that dramatic price gains would be difficult to achieve quickly due to current market dynamics.
He also criticized content creators who persist in promoting extremely high targets for XRP without adequately considering the token’s circulating supply and market capitalization.
Community reactions and supply concernsDiscussions surrounding Versluis’ forecast sparked diverse reactions. Some community members responded positively to the prospect of a multi-dollar rally, while others questioned whether XRP would surpass its previous highs at all.
User cryptos_smalls dismissed the $5 to $10 projection, pointing to XRP’s current circulating supply of 63 billion tokens and an annual increase of about 4 billion. They argued that such tokenomics might exert downward pressure on price and highlighted that XRP has never traded above $4.
Jonezy contributed to the debate by referencing Ripple’s monthly escrow releases. Ripple, the fintech company that developed XRP, regularly unlocks a set amount of tokens from escrow, though the exact quantity sold varies each month. This process, according to the commenter, could introduce additional selling pressure during major market rallies.
X Finance Bull shared an optimistic view, stating that any strong price move would be significant for those who have held XRP through extended periods of underperformance.
The range of community reactions underscores the uncertainty that continues to surround XRP’s future price development. Performance in the next cycle will depend on a complex mix of supply, demand, market sentiment, and liquidity.
Mini dictionary: Ripple is a US-based financial technology company that created XRP, a digital asset used primarily for cross-border payments and settlement. Ripple maintains an escrow system for XRP to release tokens gradually into the market.
While wild price projections for XRP continue to circulate, Versluis has shifted to a more measured approach, stating that expectations of $5 to $10 are a more reasonable goal in the next market surge.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
XRP has staged a moderate rebound, rising 2.15% in the past 24 hours to trade at $1.30, following an increase in ledger activity and a decisive recovery above the $1.28 support level. The token’s short-term prospects have drawn attention as analysts and traders watch key price zones and on-chain developments.
XRP support levels and analyst outlookAli Charts, a market analyst known for tracking digital asset markets, identified $1.25 as a potential bottom for XRP after on-chain transaction values surged to $49.7 billion. This uptick in network activity coincided with the token’s rebound from oversold conditions.
XRP’s transaction volume on its public ledger soared while prices hovered near the $1.25 support, with the total value of on-chain movements reaching $49.7 billion. This pattern aligned with the ongoing market recovery.
Data from CoinMarketCap shows XRP sustaining gains at $1.30, up 2.15% on the day. The token’s relative strength index (RSI), which measures price momentum, registered at 36.94, reflecting a recovery from its recent slide and holding just above the 200-day moving average of $1.28.
Trading volume grew by 48% over the previous day, suggesting increased market engagement. However, analysts cautioned that a bounce from oversold levels does not guarantee a long-term reversal and stated that XRP must maintain support above $1.28 while attracting sustained demand to bolster its bullish outlook.
XRP exchange reserves reach yearly highResearch firm CryptoQuant reported aggregate XRP exchange reserves rose to 11.81 billion on October 17, placing them in the 99th percentile for the past year. High reserves typically indicate a substantial amount of tokens available for trading on exchanges, yet this metric does not reveal holders’ intentions regarding potential sales.
“For now, the clearest reading is that leverage has reset faster than exchange supply has,” according to CryptoQuant analyst CryptoOnchain, commenting on the shift in trading dynamics.
Open interest in XRP futures on Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, dropped from $538.1 million on October 4 to $453 million on October 17, marking a 15.8% decrease. During this period, long liquidations amounted to $25.7 million as XRP prices fell from $1.52 to $1.29.
Binance’s leverage ratio in XRP trading fell from 0.205 to 0.170, and funding rates remained negative on more than half of the observed days, suggesting the rapid unwinding of leveraged bullish positions.
Although aggregate exchange reserves hit a high, Binance’s specific reserves remained low at 2.67 billion XRP, just the 30th percentile over the year. This indicates that most of the reserve build-up occurred on other platforms.
Mini dictionary: Open interest, a measure of outstanding futures or options contracts, reflects the number of active positions that have not been settled. Changes in open interest help gauge trader conviction and overall market sentiment.
XRP price outlook and potential resistanceMarket focus now shifts to whether XRP can maintain its foothold above the $1.28 support level. A sustainable move above this mark could bring resistance at $1.34 and $1.40 into play, with further upside potential toward $2 if momentum continues.
Analyst XRP Update identified a key weekly support range between $1.22 and $1.34. If buyers defend this zone, price targets of $1.50 to $1.70 are possible, with long-term resistance at $2.09 and $2.32. These targets remain conditional on continued demand and favorable technical developments.
CryptoQuant data indicated that whale trading volume—representing large-scale transactions—fell by 44% week over week, while the number of tokens transferred declined by 37%. This reduction in major transactions underscores investor caution amid recent volatility.
Despite short-term signs of recovery, elevated exchange reserves and lower on-chain activity suggest that XRP’s broader trend remains uncertain for now.
XRP and Bitcoin Price trends reflected improving sentiment as traders awaited the Federal Reserve’s October 27–28 interest rate meeting.
Bitcoin traded near $81,700, while XRP remained above $1.30 as the overall cryptocurrency market recovered.
The overall market capitalization of cryptocurrencies increased 1.07% in 24 hours to reach 2.73 trillion during a wider relief rally.
FedWatch Puts October Rate Hold Probability at 82.8% CME FedWatch shows that traders prefer the Federal Reserve interest rates to remain at the same level during the October 28, 2026, meeting. The chart gives a probability of 82.8% to remain in the existing target range of 3.75% to 4.00.
fedwatch In the meantime, there is a 17.2% chance of an increase in the rates and a zero chance of a decrease. The target range would be increased to a quarter-percentage-point between 4.00% and 4.25%, which is an increase.
FedWatch computes these probabilities based on the prices of federal funds futures contracts, which are an expectation of the monetary policy by traders. The numbers reflect market anticipations and do not affirm the decision of the Federal Reserve.
Bitcoin Whales Add 88,987 BTC as Holdings Hit Six-Month High Bitcoin wallets with 10-10,000 BTC have added about 88, 987 coins within the last month, according to Santiment. Their combined holdings surpassed 13.69 million BTC, reaching the highest level since April.
Santiment data September 19 accumulation is an indication that there is increasing exposure of major holders even though the prices are volatile. Further accretion would help sustain confidence in cryptocurrency markets, but growing whale balances will not give any assurance of a Bitcoin price recovery.
Bitcoin and XRP Price Prediction: Key Levels and Targets to Watch The daily chart of Long-term BTC projection indicates the first level of resistance at $82,000, and a successful breakout would attract attention to $85,000. Additional gains may aim at the peak of September at $87,395 should renewed purchasing momentum be enhanced. Support is at $80,600, and a long run failure would push the focus to $79,000.
Source: TradingView XRP price must defend $1.29 to limit further losses after its recent decline. Any fall below that floor will open up $1.256 as the next lower point. The initial resistance to recovery attempts is at $1.35, $1.40, and $1.50.
Recapturing such obstacles would enhance the prospects of XRP but its daily RSI of about 37 remains an indication of poor momentum. The two assets require increased buying power in order to maintain gains beyond their short-term resistance levels.
XRP, Bitcoin and Ethereum Funds Record Net Outflow As per the data provided by SoSoValue, XRP spot ETFs experienced net outflows of $2.47 million on October 16. Canary XRPC explained the withdrawals and total assets in the XRP funds were at 1.47 billion.
Source: Sosovalue data Bitcoin spot ETFs have registered net withdrawals of $229 million between October 1216, with the BlackRock IBIT registering 165 million. Ether funds showed greater withdrawals with the net outflows amounting to 320 million during the same reporting period.
The numbers represented the third week of outflows of Ethereum ETFs, continuing the trend of withdrawals. Combined, both Bitcoin and Ethereum spot ETFs had $549 million withdraw their money over the five trading days.
The XRP cryptocurrency has made its official entry on X (formerly Twitter) with the launch of the @XRP handle, generating excitement among Ripple executives and the wider XRP community. The announcement, marked by a simple message that read, “hello, world. It’s about time,” was met with swift and positive reactions.
Ripple leadership and community respondRipple, a blockchain company closely linked to XRP, acknowledged the milestone shortly after the debut. The company commented on X, “For over a decade, we’ve built on the XRP Ledger alongside thousands of others,” reflecting on XRP’s sustained development and the collaboration underlying its ecosystem.
Brad Garlinghouse, CEO of Ripple, also welcomed the account. He emphasized the anticipation that preceded this official presence, writing, “This one has been a long time coming… Welcome @XRP!” The message was accompanied by a brief video, further highlighting the account’s significance within the XRP community.
Despite XRP’s longstanding status as a well-known digital asset, it had not previously operated an official and dedicated X account. The new account’s arrival was seen as a notable step toward strengthening the token’s identity on major social platforms.
For over a decade, Ripple and countless contributors have been building on the XRP Ledger, supporting one of the industry’s earliest decentralized payment solutions, as the new account aims to expand its online reach.
Management and technical backgroundThe account description indicates that both Ripple and the XRP Ledger Foundation (XRPLF) will jointly manage the @XRP account. The profile explains, “XRP is the native token of the XRP Ledger (XRPL), a decentralized blockchain built for payments,” underlining the token’s core function.
Within just a few hours of launching, the @XRP account had accumulated 21,700 followers while following only 42 accounts, including figures like Vijay Khanna and the Ripple Stablecoin Tracker. This rapid growth underscores the strong engagement of the XRP community and the wider digital asset sector.
XRP was trading near $1.30 at the time of the announcement, rising 2.11% over the previous 24-hour period. The price movement reflected heightened interest following the new account’s launch.
XRP joins other coins with official X accountsWith this development, XRP now joins other prominent digital assets with official presences on X. The @Bitcoin account, which has been active since August 2011, boasts millions of followers. Ethereum‘s dedicated @ethereum account, managed by the Ethereum Foundation, and Dogecoin’s @dogecoin account, created in December 2013, both serve as hubs for their respective communities.
The growing trend of cryptocurrencies establishing official and verified accounts on top social platforms reflects an industry-wide push for clearer digital identities. Investors and analysts are increasingly looking to these channels for timely updates, technical insights, and direct information from developers and foundations.
In a market where a single Fed decision or a sudden altcoin listing can change everything in seconds, the proliferation of official accounts signals the need for consolidated information sources. Some traders are turning to privacy-first platforms like CryptoAppsy, allowing them to monitor their portfolios, access real-time charts, price alerts, and macro data without switching apps or opening new accounts.
The XRP Ledger (XRPL) has recorded $1.9 billion in net real-world asset (RWA) inflows over the past six months, ranking second among tracked blockchain networks.
XRP Ranks Second in RWA Netflows Data from RWA.xyz, a leading provider of RWA analytics data, shows that BNB Chain leads with $2.2 billion in net inflows, followed by XRPL. Solana ranks third with $1.6 billion, while Stellar comes fourth with $1.5 billion.
Meanwhile, Avalanche recorded $637 million in positive net flows, while Base, Monad, and Robinhood attracted $210 million, $200 million, and $199 million, respectively. These figures exclude stablecoin flows and show changes in other tokenized real-world assets.
XRP Ledger has recorded nearly $2 billion in RWA netflows in 6 months The rankings change when stablecoins are included. Notably, TRON takes the top spot with $7.8 billion in six-month net flows, followed by HyperEVM with $5.0 billion and Solana with $2.6 billion. XRPL ranks fourth with $2.5 billion in net inflows under this broader measure.
The increased figure confirms the role of Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin in the network’s growing tokenized asset market. BNB Chain and Stellar each recorded $1.7 billion in stablecoin-inclusive net inflows, while Robinhood followed with $1.2 billion.
Ethereum Leads All Networks in RWA Outflows Ethereum recorded $2.7 billion in net RWA outflows over the same six-month period, the largest decline among blockchain networks in the dataset that excludes stablecoin flows.
XRPL RWA netflows including stablecoins Plume was the only other network with negative net flows under this measure, recording $223 million in outflows. While most of the tracked networks attracted more capital than they lost, Ethereum and Plume moved in the opposite direction.
Including stablecoins widened Ethereum’s losses. Its net outflows reached $22.3 billion over six months, exceeding the figures recorded by other networks in the analysis. Arbitrum also posted negative net flows, with $3.0 billion in outflows, while Polygon recorded $619 million.
This confirms that substantial net capital left Ethereum’s combined tokenized asset and stablecoin ecosystem during the period. However, the data alone does not show that investors have permanently abandoned Ethereum or confirm that all the capital moved to other blockchains.
XRPL Sees Rapid RWA Growth in 2026 The XRP Ledger reached several important milestones in 2026 as its tokenized asset market expanded. The network started the year with $518 million in distributed RWA value. By the end of the first quarter, the figure had climbed to $2.25 billion, marking a 124% increase from the previous quarter.
Growth continued in May, when XRPL’s tokenized real-world assets surpassed $3.53 billion, setting a new all-time high. The combined value of its RWAs and stablecoins also exceeded $5.37 billion.
XRPL reached $400 million in tokenized value in just 14.9 months, while Ethereum took 36 months to reach the same level. While this shows the faster pace at which XRPL reached its early milestone, it does not guarantee that the network will maintain the same growth rate.
Several asset types have contributed to XRPL’s expansion. Justoken’s JMWH energy tokens account for $2.23 billion of the network’s total tokenized value, making them its largest single contributor.
Tokenized commodities and asset-backed credit have also expanded the range of assets available on the ledger. This has helped broaden XRPL’s RWA market, but the large share held by JMWH means that one asset accounts for a substantial part of the reported total.
Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin has also grown considerably, rising from $235 million to more than $1 billion during 2026. In February 2026, Ripple announced a partnership with Aviva Investors to bring traditional fund structures onto the XRP Ledger.
Germany’s Sparkassen savings bank network launched cryptocurrency trading on Monday, allowing customers to buy Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Solana, and Polygon. The service is being rolled out through DekaBank and will be launched slowly in the participating savings banks, albeit with restrictions on transfers to personal wallets.
Sparkassen Launches Five Cryptocurrencies Through Banking App Under certain conditions, the Sparkassen customers of DekaBank can trade five cryptocurrencies directly via the existing banking application. The offering is named “Krypto – powered by Deka,” and it enables trading in BTC, ETH, XRP, SOL, and POL.
The service can be used in the investment part of the Sparkasse app without the need for a separate securities account. Each transaction costs €0.99, although additional costs arise from the difference between buying and selling prices.
The launch comes after a series of initiatives by German banks to bring on-board cryptocurrency trading to existing customer accounts. DekaBank has created the Sparkassen service, and DZ Bank has backed up a separate rollout amongst Germany’s cooperative banks.
DekaBank is custodian of cryptocurrencies on its own wallet infrastructure and participates in trading arrangements with Börse Stuttgart. Users will have the ability to see their cryptocurrency assets in addition to various other monetary products and services in the current application.
DekaBank Restricts Crypto Withdrawals to Approved Providers While it is possible to buy cryptocurrencies at Sparkassen, they cannot be transferred directly to private hardware wallets. DekaBank maintains the private keys, and only specific cryptocurrency service providers are allowed to make transfers.
The agreement involves customers having to trust that DekaBank will keep their digital assets safe and handle their permitted withdrawals. However, the restrictions do not prevent users from selling their cryptocurrencies through the banking application.
The service is aimed at adult customers who make it on their own, and Sparkassen will not give investment advice on cryptocurrencies. DekaBank also cautions investors that the value of digital assets could be volatile with a potential loss of investment.
The custody is part of a broader trend across German financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank’s cryptocurrency custody plans. These services are regulated under EU laws, such as the Markets in Crypto-Assets Regulation.
Sparkassen Plans Wider Crypto Trading Rollout Into 2027 More than 230 Sparkassen institutions have expressed interest in introducing cryptocurrency trading, according to German banking representatives. Each savings bank, however, will determine on its own if and when it will provide the service.
Around 30 to 40 institutions can join monthly, said Joachim Schmalzl, an executive board member of the German Savings Banks Association. The group is targeting the first half of 2027 for the largest number of interested banks to be connected.
The first phase is limited to the participating institutions and not nationwide through Germany’s savings banking network. Before opening a cryptocurrency account, customers should therefore inquire whether their local Sparkasse has switched on the service.
The expansion comes after the banking group’s earlier stance on digital assets. Sparkassen had previously been against the retail trading of cryptocurrencies due to concerns about price volatility and losses by investors.
The group is still pushing traditional securities and savings products as a way to build up long-term wealth, even with the introduction of cryptocurrency trading.
As XRP continues to show mixed price action after multiple weeks of extreme volatility, the latest onchain data from crypto analytics platform CryptoQuant shows that XRP reserves across all major exchanges have remained substantially high.
While the metric has drawn attention from market participants, analysts reveal that the surge in XRP supply indicates that traders are reducing leveraged positions while the amount of XRP held across exchanges remains unusually high.
Nearly 12 billion XRP still available for salePer the data, the aggregate XRP exchange reserves have surged to 11.81 billion tokens as of October 17, nearing the highest levels recorded over the last year.
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This means that the available supply of XRP across all exchanges has yet to reach its highest level of the year, but it remains unusually high.
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While the massive surge in XRP reserves has come as its price struggles to recover from its recent decline, market participants are beginning to raise questions about whether the growing exchange supply could have been fueled by selling pressure.
Nonetheless, this provides a bearish outlook for XRP, especially at a time when the broader crypto market is facing a major downtrend.
XRP OI on Binance Drops by 15.8%The data further showed that the rise in XRP exchange reserves coincides with a notable reduction in leveraged trading activity on Binance, the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange by volume.
As of October 17, the Binance XRP open interest stood at $453 million, marking a decline of 15.8% from $538.1 million recorded on October 4.
This suggests that interest in the XRP derivatives market has decreased as traders close or liquidate positions.
Not financial or tax advice. PANews content is strictly educational and informational and is not investment advice, financial advice, tax advice, legal advice, or a solicitation to buy or sell any digital asset, security, or financial product. Do your own research and consult qualified advisers.
Disclosure. PANews may publish sponsored content, partner content, advertisements, affiliate links, event promotions, and market commentary involving Web3 projects, service providers, or financial products. PANews personnel, contributors, or affiliates may hold digital assets or other interests related to covered topics. See our Terms of Service.
David Schwartz, the CTO Emeritus of Ripple, who helped develop the XRP Ledger (XRPL) from scratch, has teased some big changes coming to the decentralized finance (DeFi) space, as it appears that a retail-friendly breakthrough is just around the corner.
David is excited about what retail DeFi is going to look like in 2027 and we're "really close" to finding out. 1) I believe retail DeFi on the XRP Ledger will be very exciting in 2027. We have a lot of tailwind building up. It's the year institutions and retail meet on the DEX. This will be no doubt the most interesting catalyst not many have on their radar imo. 2) Ripple's acquisition and customers coming on chain is a flip of the switch moment. We have heard from Monica in Korea about goals to drive more Ripple customer activity on the XRP Ledger. Think of the groundwork done so far with crucial XRPL amendments for on chain compliance (PDEX/PDomain) and soon privacy, as well stablecoin issuers and regulated trading venues. Great interview Tony, as per usual :)
— Vet (@Vet_X0) October 18, 2026 During his recent interview, Schwartz expressed his optimism regarding DeFi's future in 2027.
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"But generally, in the industry, tokenization is really kicking off, and the regulatory hurdles are really starting to fall," noted Schwartz.
The Ripple veteran then also talked about how a whole new market can be formed around blockchain finance applications.
"What does the, like, blockchain user, like, look like? What is the product that…" Schwartz asked, noting that the potential formation of the market was akin to the enormous user base that app developers have for Android or iOS.
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"That's the world that's gonna be super exciting. And we're really close," he emphasized.
Schwartz appeared to imply that the next chapter in blockchain adoption could potentially bring decentralized finance products to the general masses and not just crypto enthusiasts.
However, he refrained from mentioning any product or announcing any definitive date.
AI agents could reshape DeFiDuring the conversation, Schwartz also touched upon his idea of using AI agents for handling finance-related work for the general masses.
"And so you can imagine the world where, like, everyone's money is managed by agents. Which solves all those problems for them," he said.
The Ripple veteran then went on to wonder how DeFi would adapt to this change.
"What are you going to want from DeFi in that world? I think that's the problem that we're coming up with," noted Schwartz.
Upbit, South Korea's largest crypto exchange, posted 8.35 trillion won in weekly volume, down 15.5%, as XRP led trading ahead of Bitcoin and USDT.
Upbit (@Official_Upbit), South Korea's largest crypto exchange, recorded weekly trading volume of 8.35 trillion won (about $6.28 billion) for the week ending October 18, . $XRP was the most actively traded asset on the platform, .
XRP stays on top as volume coolsEven as overall activity slowed, Korean traders kept concentrating on XRP. According to Crypto Briefing, . The report also noted that .
The lead was also visible on a daily basis earlier in the week. According to Bitcoin(.)com News, . The following day, .
The latest weekly figure is also soft relative to recent weeks. Citing MarsBit, KuCoin's news desk said .
A wider slowdown across Korean exchangesThe drop is not limited to Upbit. Crypto Briefing said . That figure refers to the week to October 2, when, according to data from Digital Asset, the combined weekly trading volume of South Korea's top five crypto exchanges was 20.5 trillion won, down 19.56% from the previous week. Measured against that, Upbit's latest 15.5% decline looks somewhat milder.
In that earlier period, Upbit remained firmly in first place with a 64.04% share, down 3.3 percentage points from the previous week, while Bithumb's share rose 1.893 percentage points to 26.66%, according to PANews. The slowdown also follows a weak first half of the year: the Korea Financial Intelligence Unit reported that average daily exchange volume fell 44% in the first half of 2026 versus the prior six months, per Cointelegraph.
For traders, lower volume has practical effects. Crypto Briefing said .
Sources:
Crypto Briefing: Upbit weekly trading volume falls 15.5% to 8.35 trillion won as XRP leads activityBitcoin(.)com News: XRP Is Outtrading Bitcoin and Ether on South Korea's Biggest ExchangePANews: South Korea's Top 5 Crypto Exchanges See Weekly Trading Volume Fall 19.56%
David Schwartz, CTO Emeritus of Ripple and a key architect behind the XRP Ledger (XRPL), has suggested that significant advances could soon reshape the decentralized finance (DeFi) sector, making it more accessible for everyday users.
Tokenization and regulatory landscape shiftIn a recent interview, Schwartz shared an optimistic outlook for DeFi’s evolution, particularly by the year 2027. He highlighted that industry-wide tokenization is rapidly gaining momentum, while regulatory barriers that have long hindered broader adoption are beginning to recede.
Tokenization is really kicking off, and the regulatory hurdles are really starting to fall.
Schwartz, who played a central role in designing the architecture of Ripple’s XRPL, believes that breaking down these legal and regulatory barriers is critical for widespread blockchain and DeFi adoption.
Ripple is a San Francisco-based technology company specializing in digital payments and blockchain solutions, best known for issuing the cryptocurrency XRP and maintaining the XRP Ledger.
Mini dictionary: Tokenization, the process of converting ownership rights of real-world or digital assets into digital tokens on a blockchain, enables the fractionalization and easier transfer of these assets across decentralized platforms.
Retail adoption and future growthSchwartz suggested that blockchain applications could soon serve a much wider market, extending beyond early adopters or crypto enthusiasts. He compared the possible transformation to the widespread reach that app developers have achieved through mainstream platforms like Android and iOS.
That’s the world that’s gonna be super exciting. And we’re really close.
However, he stopped short of revealing specific products in development or providing a timeline, emphasizing instead the general direction of the industry. Schwartz argued that bringing DeFi to the general public could unlock a new chapter in blockchain’s journey toward mainstream adoption.
He underlined that the desired outcome would be to build products that appeal to everyday users, positioning DeFi as a core part of mainstream financial services.
AI integration with decentralized financeThe conversation also turned to the role of artificial intelligence in future financial systems. Schwartz imagined a scenario in which AI agents manage daily financial tasks for individuals, aiming to address many persistent problems faced by users.
He speculated on how DeFi might need to adapt to a world where autonomous AI agents are commonplace, posing the question of what users will expect from DeFi in such an environment.
Mini dictionary: AI agents, in this context, refer to software programs powered by artificial intelligence that autonomously perform complex financial tasks such as asset allocation, trading, and personal finance management based on user preferences.
On-chain data from CryptoQuant shows XRP exchange reserves have climbed to approximately 11.81 billion XRP, a level that sits at the 99th percentile of the trailing 365 days.
For XRP investors, that combination raises a near-term question. Rising supply on exchanges increases available sell-side liquidity.
Yet the concurrent leverage reset could actually set up cleaner conditions if spot demand returns.
Supply Piles Up as Leverage Unwinds
The XRP exchange reserves surge did not arrive in isolation. Binance open interest closed at, down roughly 15.8% from earlier in the month.
Long liquidations spiked during the same stretch, clearing out leveraged longs before the reserves number peaked.
The move was flagged by analyst CryptoOnchain in an Oct 18 X post, who noted that supply is stacking on exchanges even as derivatives positioning has quietly reset.
ripple:native Exchange Reserves Reach the 99th Percentile of the Past Year as Binance Leverage Unwinds
Exchange reserves for ripple:native stood at 11.81B on October 17, the 99th percentile of the past 365 days.
Binance ripple:native open interest closed at $453.0M on October… pic.twitter.com/JFwczpVcON
— CryptoOnchain (@CryptoOnchain) October 18, 2026
CryptoOnchain’s read is direct: “Leverage has reset faster than exchange supply has.” In plain terms, derivatives traders have been shaken out. But the coins they, and others, moved to exchanges are still sitting there.
That dynamic echoes what 30-day XRP whale inflows to Binance showed just weeks ago, when large-wallet deposits hit a six-month high of 1.6 billion XRP. Supply has been building across multiple timeframes.
The contrast is worth noting. When Binance XRP reserves were falling in June, analysts called it a bullish signal as selling pressure eased.
Now the move has reversed, and XRP exchange reserves are at the opposite extreme.
XRP itself has traded in the $1.28–$1.35 range. Price softened after the September PPI came in at 6.3%, well above forecasts, adding macro headwinds on top of on-chain supply pressure.
Institutional Demand as the Potential Offset
Rising exchange reserves do not automatically confirm a sell-off. Direction over the next 5–10 sessions matters far more than the static level.
And there are structural demand factors that were not present in prior reserve peaks.
Evernorth, the Nasdaq-listed XRP treasury company with 473M XRP under management, began deploying institutional strategies in Q4 2026 alongside partners Ripple, Kraken, Coinbase, and BitGo.
That treasury is designed to absorb, not add to, exchange supply.
On the XRPL side, Ripple’s approval of the Sponsored Fees and Reserves amendment signals continued ecosystem development.
Meanwhile, Doppler’s XRP Vault crossing $125M in TVL shows on-chain yield demand is drawing coins away from exchanges and into productive use, a direct counter-force to reserve accumulation.
Spot XRP ETFs have recorded cumulative net inflows of approximately $1.8 billion, offering another demand-side anchor. But daily flow momentum has moderated recently.
The picture is not binary. Elevated XRP exchange reserves at extreme percentile levels raise the probability of volatility if coins begin moving into order books.
Watch for net flow direction on CryptoQuant’s all-exchanges metric over the next week.
A sustained draw-down from current levels, combined with stable ETF inflows and continued on-chain activity, would meaningfully shift the near-term risk picture.
U.S. spot XRP exchange-traded funds posted their first weekly outflow in three months, ending a 13-week inflow streak. The shift came in the October 12–16 week, per SoSoValue.
The reversal was small, but a sharp drop in on-chain activity has added to the caution around the token.
A Modest Reversal in XRP ETF DemandA net outflow occurs when investors withdraw more money from a fund than they add over a given period. According to SoSoValue, the XRP ETFs recorded about $1.84 million in net withdrawals.
That is a modest figure for products of this size. The outflow followed 13 consecutive weeks of inflows, which made the reversal stand out.
Cumulative net inflows still stood near $1.8 billion as of mid-October, according to SoSoValue data. Early in the week, the funds were largely flat. They then took in about $740,000 on Wednesday before slipping into negative territory.
Friday’s larger redemption of roughly $2.47 million tipped the weekly total into the red. Much of it was attributed to Canary Capital’s XRPC product. Without that redemption, the week would have closed with a net inflow of roughly $630,000.
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XRP Spot ETF Weekly Performance. Source: SoSoValueStill, the timing is sensitive. According to BeInCrypto data, XRP trades near $1.28, down 1.60% over the last 24 hours. It has also moved about 6.3% over the past month. Price is testing support near $1.30 after failing to hold above key moving averages.
Is Weaker On-Chain Activity a Warning Sign?At the same time, XRP Ledger payment volume fell to 119.5 million XRP on October 17, according to XRPSCAN. That marks a 72.3% single-day drop and sits well below the 30-day average of 629.3 million XRP.
The drop happened in one session, which underscores how quickly activity can change.
The network’s all-time high stands near 7 billion XRP, according to XRPSCAN data. Payment volume has historically shown high volatility, with frequent short-lived spikes followed by sharp pullbacks.
XRP Payment Volume From One Account to Another. source: XRPSCANAnalysts note that a single weak day does not necessarily signal a structural decline in network usage. However, if payment activity stays suppressed and ETF flows remain negative or muted, the short-term outlook could weaken.
Watching whether activity recovers over the next few sessions will matter more than any single reading.
For now, the first ETF outflow in 13 weeks and a sharp drop in payment volume point to cooling demand. Both institutional and network-level activity have softened, at least for the moment.
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XRP is trying to hold the $1.30 threshold after several sessions of decline, while open interest on futures contracts remains below $3 billion. The decrease in leverage reduces the risk of cascading liquidations, but it does not yet confirm a sustained return of buyers.
In brief
XRP is trying to stay above $1.30 after several sessions of decline.
Open interest on futures contracts declines below $3 billion, a sign of trader disengagement.
Reduced leverage limits liquidation risks without guaranteeing a sustained recovery.
Sellers maintain the advantage, while flows of US XRP ETFs show signs of weakness.
A breakthrough above $1.35 could favor a rebound, but a drop below $1.27 would expose XRP to a return towards $1.20.
XRP finds fragile support around $1.30
The Ripple token was trading near $1.31 on October 19, up about 1% over 24 hours, but still down nearly 7% over a week. It briefly touched $1.27 before rising back above the psychological $1.30 level.
The key levels to watch outline a narrow range :
Immediate support is located between $1.27 and $1.30 ;
A breakdown could direct the price towards $1.25, then $1.20 ;
The first resistance is between $1.32 and $1.35 ;
A break above $1.35 would open a test of the $1.39 to $1.40 zone ;
The “max pain” level for the October 23 options is near $1.26.
On the hourly chart, several attempts to recover above $1.30 lacked volume. A firm close above $1.32 would improve the short-term structure, but XRP remains below several important moving averages.
The 100-day exponential moving average is near $1.34. The 20- and 50-day averages move around $1.39 to $1.41. These levels can attract sales from traders looking to exit after the recent correction.
Analyst Vuori Trading estimates that the $1.30 to $1.32 zone continues to play a central role.
He said :
The support between $1.30 and $1.32 holds. $1.39 is the next logical level.
The brief dip below this zone on Sunday requires confirmation before talking about a recovery.
Decline in open interest reflects disengagement
Open interest measures the value of futures contracts that have not yet been closed. It does not indicate whether operators are mostly bullish or bearish, since each contract pairs a buyer and a seller. However, its evolution indicates whether leverage is entering or exiting the market.
A first conclusion drawn on October 18 estimated XRP open interest at $2.77 billion, down 1.32% over 24 hours. Updated data later placed it near $2.86 billion, with about $2.14 billion daily volume on futures.
The figure of $2.77 billion is therefore not a fixed level. It corresponds to a specific moment on a constantly evolving market. The general trend remains directed towards a reduction in positions compared to the $3.1 billion observed a week earlier.
On Binance and Bybit, open interest reportedly decreased by 26.5% between September 23 and October 16. At the same time, the estimated leverage ratio on Binance fell from about 0.23 to 0.17.
When price and open interest fall together, traders generally close existing positions or undergo liquidations. This configuration differs from a decline accompanied by rising open interest, which would signal the arrival of new short sellers.
Deleveraging can therefore purify the market. It reduces the number of fragile positions likely to be liquidated during a sharp movement. However, it does not automatically create new spot demand.
Sellers keep the advantage despite a possible rebound
The ratio between immediate buy and sell executions was 0.883 on October 18. A value below 1 indicates that aggressive sellers still dominated trades. A sustained return above 1 would provide a first rebalancing signal.
Options present a more nuanced reading. The put/call volume ratio exceeded 1, reflecting more activity on bearish options. However, call options remain the majority among all open contracts.
Predictive markets also reflect a cautious sentiment. Polymarket users attributed about 50% probability to XRP reaching $1.20 before November. This estimate results from participants’ positions and is neither fundamental analysis nor a reliable price forecast.
The institutional market provides little immediate support. US XRP ETFs recorded nearly $1.84 million in weekly outflows, ending thirteen consecutive weeks of inflows. This amount remains small compared to their roughly $1.47 billion in assets under management, but it interrupts a regular source of demand.
The decline in leverage and some oversold indicators may favor a technical rebound. To turn this move into a credible recovery, XRP will need to regain $1.35 with a simultaneous increase in spot volumes. Below $1.27, the risk of a return to $1.20 would become dominant again.
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Luc Jose A.
Diplômé de Sciences Po Toulouse et titulaire d'une certification consultant blockchain délivrée par Alyra, j'ai rejoint l'aventure Cointribune en 2019.
Convaincu du potentiel de la blockchain pour transformer de nombreux secteurs de l'économie, j'ai pris l'engagement de sensibiliser et d'informer le grand public sur cet écosystème en constante évolution. Mon objectif est de permettre à chacun de mieux comprendre la blockchain et de saisir les opportunités qu'elle offre. Je m'efforce chaque jour de fournir une analyse objective de l'actualité, de décrypter les tendances du marché, de relayer les dernières innovations technologiques et de mettre en perspective les enjeux économiques et sociétaux de cette révolution en marche.
DISCLAIMER
The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in this article belong solely to the author, and should not be taken as investment advice. Do your own research before taking any investment decisions.
A bold prediction from social media commentator X Finance Bull, a prominent figure in the crypto discussion space, has ignited a new wave of discussion about the future price potential of $XRP. X Finance Bull asserted that if XRP were to reach $1,000, the impact on investors’ lives would be significant. The statement prompted a strong reaction from across the XRP community, who remain divided over the predictions for this digital asset.
XRP’s current positionXRP, created by Ripple Labs, operates as the native digital currency of the XRP Ledger. The network is designed to enable swift and cost-efficient cross-border payments, positioning XRP as a bridge asset for financial institutions seeking an alternative to traditional correspondent banking.
Currently, XRP is priced at $1.29. To achieve the $1,000 milestone, XRP would need to rise by approximately 77,419%, a leap that many consider extreme. Figures in the digital asset space, such as Dom Kwok, have previously set timelines for when XRP could theoretically hit $1,000, though this remains speculative and is met with both optimism and skepticism within the market.
XRP MetricCurrent Value$1,000 Target ComparisonCurrent price$1.29$1,000 (approx. 77,419% higher)Community sentimentMixedDivided between optimism and skepticismRipple’s strategy has consistently focused on integrating XRP for remittances and B2B payments, strengthening its retail investor base along the way. Many of these investors maintain long-term ambitions for considerable price appreciation, often far exceeding current levels.
The latest prediction drew widespread commentary on social platforms, with many supporters and critics voicing their perspectives. Some participants argued that even a more modest price of $100 would carry a life-changing impact for holders. Responses also highlighted personal aspirations, with one user stating that such a price would grant them financial freedom to help others, while another outlined more extravagant goals, like purchasing a professional basketball team.
However, not all voices supported the lofty target. Several commentators cautioned against speculating on such high figures, pointing out that XRP is currently valued at $1.29. Some described the $1,000 projection as clickbait, expressing doubts about its plausibility given existing market conditions and fundamental factors.
A range of XRP community members argued that even prices like $100 could dramatically affect investors’ lives, while others dismissed the $1,000 target as unrealistic and unlikely to be achieved.
Some investors used the event as an opportunity to reflect openly on their own plans should XRP see major price appreciation, including seeking dual citizenship in politically stable countries amid concerns about governance in their home countries.
The ongoing debate over XRP price targetsSpeculation regarding long-term prices remains a recurring theme for XRP holders. Public forums and social media channels often feature debates about ambitious targets, reflecting both the high aspirations and the divergent expectations within the investor community.
While price forecasts like $1,000 inspire debate and fuel engagement, their realization would require historic market shifts. Nonetheless, optimism remains strong among segments of the XRP holder base, many of whom continue to advocate for the possibility of such exponential gains despite widespread skepticism from analysts and market participants.
Mini dictionary: XRP Ledger, the underlying distributed blockchain technology developed by Ripple Labs, processes transactions for XRP and facilitates instant cross-border financial settlements without the need for a central clearing authority.
The XRP Ledger has moved closer to activating a package of software fixes on October 23 after securing the 29 validator votes required for approval, although its planned lending system remains below the network’s voting threshold.
Summary
XRP Ledger’s latest bug-fix package has secured 29 validator votes, meeting the network’s approval threshold. The update could activate October 23 if validators maintain support throughout the required two-week voting period. The planned lending system remains 10 votes short, while its supporting vault feature needs eight more. The fixes address lending calculations, vault accounting, token handling, and other transaction processing problems across XRPL. The lending proposal would support fixed-term loans without collateral, using brokers to assess borrower creditworthiness offchain. According to the XRPL Dashboard, the amendment known as fixCleanup3_4_0 had received support from 29 of the 35 validators on the network’s default trusted list as of October 19. The proposal is undergoing its required two-week approval period, with activation projected for Friday if that support continues.
XRPL lending still lacks the validator votes to go live, and the Oct. 23 amendment is already patching vaults and lending before either ships. Fine by me. A lending bug on a ledger with no rollbacks gets pricey. Faster, or wait? pic.twitter.com/xQhmhCEiXH
— Rob XRP (@robxrp1) October 18, 2026 The update contains fixes affecting token transactions, vault accounting, automated market makers and lending-related processes. Its activation would not enable lending on the network because the main lending and vault proposals are undergoing separate votes.
The LendingProtocol amendment had 19 supporting validators, leaving it 10 votes short of the required 29. SingleAssetVault, which would hold funds used for loans, had 21 votes and needed eight more.
XRP Ledger bug fix targets October 23 activation The fixCleanup3_4_0 amendment reached the required validator majority on October 9, beginning a 14-day period during which support must remain above 80%.
At the October 19 checkpoint, the proposal had completed approximately nine days of that waiting period. The dashboard projected October 23 at around 09:34 UTC as the point when the required approval period would finish.
Actual activation could occur shortly afterward because the XRP Ledger processes amendment decisions at designated intervals known as flag ledgers.
According to the network’s amendment documentation, these checks occur every 256 ledgers. Once the required waiting period has passed, the network records the amendment decision and applies the updated rules in subsequent ledgers.
On the dashboard’s October 19 snapshot, the fix had exactly 29 votes, leaving no additional supporting validators beyond the required minimum. If one of those validators withdrew support before the waiting period ended, the proposal would fall below the necessary majority.
Under XRPL’s rules, losing that majority restarts the two-week approval period when sufficient support is restored. The October 23 activation time is therefore a projection, not confirmation that the update has already taken effect.
Server operators must run software that recognizes approved amendments. According to XRPL documentation, servers using older versions without the necessary code can become amendment-blocked once the network begins enforcing new rules.
XRPL developers released version 3.4.0 of the xrpld server software on September 16 and advised operators to upgrade to maintain compatibility.
XRP Ledger lending remains 10 votes short of approval Although parts of the pending fix relate to lending, the network’s lending service has not received enough validator support to activate.
The LendingProtocol proposal, known as XLS-66, had 19 of the 35 trusted validator votes in the October 19 snapshot. Its companion SingleAssetVault proposal, XLS-65, had 21 votes. Both require support from at least 29 validators for two continuous weeks before taking effect.
The proposals must activate before the planned lending system can operate on the XRP Ledger mainnet. Even if both reached the required vote count immediately, the two-week waiting rule means they could not activate alongside the October 23 bug-fix package.
A separate amendment, LendingProtocolV1_1, had 19 supporting votes. Introduced in version 3.4.0, it proposes changes to the design of lending vaults and the accounting of loan interest.
The additional amendment would require newly created loan brokers to use closed-ended vaults, where deposits, lending and withdrawals follow defined stages.
The proposal divides that process into subscription, investment and redemption periods.
It would change interest accounting so that revenue is recognized when borrowers actually make payments, instead of recording all scheduled interest when a loan begins.
Those proposed changes remain subject to validator approval.
In September, crypto.news reported the software release and its two new amendments, noting that the release of working code did not itself activate the new lending rules.
The latest validator tally shows the bundled maintenance update progressing ahead of the financial features it partly supports.
Lending design relies on brokers for borrower checks Under the proposed XRPL lending system, depositors would contribute assets to a shared vault, and a loan broker would arrange fixed-term loans using those pooled funds.
The ledger would record loan obligations, repayments and other associated transactions.
Borrowers would not have to provide collateral directly through the protocol.
Instead, loan brokers would assess borrowers’ financial condition and ability to repay using checks performed outside the blockchain. This arrangement would give brokers responsibility for deciding which borrowers qualify and what lending terms they receive.
The published design includes an optional protection mechanism called first-loss capital. A broker could place additional assets into a separate account to help cover losses when borrowers fail to repay their loans.
The protection would depend on the amount made available. It would not guarantee that depositors could recover all their funds after a default. XRPL’s documentation explains that the protocol does not currently provide automatic on-chain collateral management or liquidation.
Loan brokers would have the option to declare a loan in default after a borrower misses a payment and the relevant grace period expires.
The protocol is intended to support institutional lending activities using XRP and other eligible assets issued on the ledger. Ripple has supported the development of the lending proposals as part of its work with financial institutions.
In August, Ripple backed both amendments through its validator while they remained below the activation threshold.
A separate June security re-audit of lending reported no critical or high-risk findings in the changes reviewed by cybersecurity firm Halborn.
The absence of critical findings in that review did not amount to network approval or a guarantee against future software problems.
Latest software update addresses vault and transaction errors The September 16 xrpld 3.4.0 release notes describe several corrections included in fixCleanup3_4_0.
One fix prevents certain automated market maker recovery transactions from destroying a user’s liquidity-provider tokens when rounding would result in no underlying assets being recovered.
Other changes address calculations used when people deposit or withdraw funds from vaults. The fixes are designed to keep vault asset balances and the number of shares issued to depositors consistent during transactions.
For lending, developers updated rules covering authorization, frozen assets, credentials and payment destinations. The release notes specify changes involving how loan defaults interact with asset freezes and how the protocol checks withdrawals from permissioned vaults.
Separate adjustments address permissioned decentralized exchange transactions, NFT offers and escrow processing. One signing-related correction introduces distinct cryptographic prefixes for different signature roles. The change prevents a signature intended for one role from being reused in another.
The release also tightens restrictions on certain token transactions and enforces checks that were previously recorded only in software logs. These corrections are included in the software release but require the relevant amendment to activate before its new transaction rules become enforceable on mainnet.
The version 3.4.0 release additionally changes how compatible server packages are distributed, with signed Linux installation packages provided through the XRPL Foundation.
The foundation’s release notice instructs operators to upgrade their servers to version 3.4.0 to maintain service as the network adopts the new amendments.
Ripple’s CTO emeritus David Schwartz has expressed optimism about the future of decentralized finance on the XRP Ledger, suggesting that easier-to-use financial applications and AI-powered services could bring more people into blockchain-based finance.
Summary
David Schwartz expects blockchain finance to become more accessible as tokenization advances and regulatory barriers ease.
The Ripple veteran discussed AI agents managing personal finances but announced no specific product launch date.
XRP Ledger developers are advancing permissioned trading, lending and automated payments for financial services and applications.
Community validator Vet expects retail and institutional DeFi activity to converge on XRP Ledger during 2027.
Schwartz’s comments followed Evernorth’s Nasdaq debut, which brought its large XRP treasury to public markets recently.
In an interview with Tony Edward of the Thinking Crypto Podcast, published October 18 following Evernorth’s Nasdaq closing bell ceremony, Schwartz discussed tokenization, regulatory changes and how ordinary users might interact with decentralized financial services. The conversation included Ripple Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty and took place during an event celebrating Evernorth’s public listing under the XRPN ticker.
Schwartz described a future in which blockchain applications could reach users who do not understand the underlying technology, drawing comparisons with how mobile applications became accessible through major smartphone platforms.
He did not announce a new Ripple product, confirm a DeFi launch for 2027 or provide a timetable for the changes he discussed.
David Schwartz sees new opportunities for XRP Ledger DeFi
During the interview, Schwartz said tokenization was gathering momentum across the financial industry as regulatory obstacles began to ease.
“But generally, in the industry, tokenization is really kicking off,” he said, adding that regulatory barriers were beginning to fall.
His comments focused on how financial applications could eventually become familiar to people who currently have little experience using cryptocurrency wallets or decentralized exchanges.
David is excited about what retail DeFi is going to look like in 2027 and we're "really close" to finding out.
1) I believe retail DeFi on the XRP Ledger will be very exciting in 2027. We have a lot of tailwind building up. It's the year institutions and retail meet on the DEX.… https://t.co/UV3y8nbbd0 pic.twitter.com/fL7ZRpDesC
— Vet (@Vet_X0) October 18, 2026
Schwartz compared the potential market to the large communities of software users who access applications through Android and iOS. The comparison concerned the experience of accessing services, not an announcement that Ripple was developing a competing mobile operating system.
He questioned what blockchain products might look like once developers begin building for large numbers of ordinary financial customers.
“That’s the world that’s gonna be super exciting,” Schwartz said, adding, “And we’re really close.”
The remarks did not identify a particular application that is ready for release. Schwartz has previously spoken about expanding XRP Ledger functionality beyond payments into tokenized assets, lending and financial products.
In June, crypto.news covered his tokenization outlook, including expectations that blockchain networks could support instruments such as money market funds, securities and repurchase agreements.
The October interview placed more attention on how people might use financial applications once the supporting infrastructure becomes easier to access.
AI agents could manage financial tasks for ordinary users
Schwartz described artificial intelligence agents as another possible way for individuals to use blockchain-based financial services.
He discussed a future in which automated programs could handle financial decisions and routine tasks for users.
“And so you can imagine the world where, like, everyone’s money is managed by agents,” he said during the conversation.
The idea involves software assisting with activities that currently require people to interact directly with financial applications.
An AI agent could potentially compare available services, prepare transactions or carry out instructions within limits established by its user.
However, Schwartz did not announce an autonomous financial product or demonstrate a live system capable of independently managing customer assets.
His discussion concerned potential future applications, including the questions developers would need to answer when designing services for automated users.
The XRP Ledger already supports several types of transactions that developers can use in financial applications, including payments, issued tokens and decentralized exchange activity. Its ecosystem has recently begun adding more software infrastructure for automated services.
An October wallet infrastructure partnership between Ripple and Stripe-owned Privy introduced plans to make XRP and RLUSD wallets accessible inside applications.
The companies said the integration would help developers create wallets and authorize transactions without requiring every user to manage the technical details of a blockchain account.
Ripple reported that AI agents had already made approximately 13 million payments through the x402 payment protocol on XRP Ledger.
Those transaction figures represent reported payment activity, not evidence that 13 million individual consumers are using autonomous financial agents.
A separate report on AI payments identified merchant participation and automated transaction counts while distinguishing payment volume from revenue or adoption by individual customers.
Schwartz’s interview did not establish a connection between those existing payment services and any unannounced consumer DeFi platform.
XRP Ledger prepares lending and controlled trading features
The XRP Ledger has been developing tools intended to support financial institutions alongside its existing open trading infrastructure.
Its decentralized exchange allows users to trade issued assets through order books maintained by the blockchain.
Developers have proposed permissioned decentralized exchanges that would restrict trading to participants holding approved credentials.
According to the official XRPL documentation, each permissioned exchange would operate within a permissioned domain that identifies the credentials required to participate.
Access would depend on rules established by the operator of that domain. Such controls are intended to help businesses restrict trading to eligible counterparties.
Permissioned trading requires supporting network amendments, and the availability of technical documentation does not by itself establish that every feature is active.
The lending system remains another developing part of the network.
Under the proposed XRP Ledger Lending Protocol, users would contribute assets to vaults, while loan brokers would arrange fixed-term borrowing and assess applicants outside the blockchain.
The loans would not require borrowers to lock collateral directly in the protocol. Credit checks, borrower selection and risk management would therefore depend on the institutions or brokers operating the lending services.
An October 14 developer lending update described plans to test these tools during an October 24–25 hackathon in New York.
The organizers said developers would work with test versions of the lending and vault features while the relevant amendments continued through validator voting. The network’s own documentation confirms that the LendingProtocol and SingleAssetVault features require amendment approval before becoming available on mainnet.
At the October 19 reporting checkpoint, lending still lacked the validator support necessary to begin its activation countdown.
Evernorth’s Nasdaq debut provides setting for Schwartz interview
Schwartz made his comments during an event connected to Evernorth Holdings, which completed its merger with Armada Acquisition Corp. II on October 9.
The transaction prepared Evernorth to trade publicly on Nasdaq under the symbol XRPN, with trading expected to begin October 12.
According to the company’s merger announcement, Evernorth held approximately 473 million XRP at closing and reported around $300 million in gross cash proceeds.
The company described its business as an XRP treasury operation, giving public-market investors exposure to a business holding a substantial quantity of the cryptocurrency.
Its treasury position did not mean Evernorth had purchased all 473 million XRP on the date of the merger. The company had accumulated assets through earlier acquisitions and contributions.
Previous coverage of the merger detailed the closing and the reported XRP treasury balance.
At the Nasdaq event, Tony Edward interviewed Schwartz and Alderoty separately before recording the closing bell ceremony.
Following the interview, XRPL community commentator Vet discussed Schwartz’s remarks on X and predicted that retail and institutional users could begin interacting through the network’s decentralized exchange during 2027.
Vet described the expected combination of institutional adoption and consumer access as a potential development for the ecosystem.
That 2027 timeline came from Vet’s commentary, not from a confirmed Ripple launch announcement.
Schwartz’s interview focused on potential uses for blockchain finance as tokenization, automated payments and financial software continue developing.
For years, the idea of XRP reaching $589 has circulated widely within online investor communities, rarely fading from conversation as both social media influencers and retail traders built expectations around the ambitious figure. Yet, JD, a prominent cryptocurrency analyst known for his market insights and large following on X, has taken a public stance stating that this price target for XRP is unattainable.
XRP’s $589 price target challengedJD posted a blunt assessment of XRP’s long-term prospects, declaring that “XRP is not hitting $589 in our lifetime.” His comments specifically addressed the persistent belief, prevalent among some investors, that price anomalies or accidental ‘exchange glitches’ validate such extreme price projections.
He dismissed these isolated exchange data errors as meaningless and called out social media influencers who have, in his view, contributed to unrealistic price expectations within the XRP community. According to JD, many retail investors have ended up facing losses after holding out for explosive price movements that never materialized.
JD sees the $589 target as unrealistic and criticizes those who promote it based on isolated exchange glitches, arguing that disciplined chart analysis leads to better results than relying on unsubstantiated hype.
JD pointed out that disciplined trading, focusing on technical charts rather than speculative narratives, has led some investors to profitable outcomes. He drew a clear line between those who avoided the promotional hype and those who became “bag holders,” hoping for parabolic gains.
JD’s approach to XRP forecastsDespite pushing back against the $589 claim, JD does not hold an entirely bearish outlook for XRP. He outlined his previous calls, such as identifying a bottom at $0.28 and a top at $3.37. He asserted that these correct predictions helped him achieve substantial returns and viral attention.
JD clarified that his rejection of the $589 level is not a judgment on XRP’s underlying value, but rather a critique of unrealistic market projections. He contends that pursuing such speculative targets has ultimately harmed retail participants by diverting attention from practical trading strategies and achievable market movements.
In his analysis, the path to success is not tied to highly optimistic forecasts, but to ongoing, data-driven analysis of price trends. He urges traders to focus on sound analysis rather than chasing improbable milestones that lack clear market basis.
Community reactions and ongoing debateJD’s statements generated significant discussion among XRP followers and the wider crypto community. One respondent pushed back, suggesting that even technical traders are often outperformed by algorithm-driven market participants and end up as ‘exit liquidity.’ JD countered this by referencing his transparent and successful calls as evidence that individual traders can thrive using chart analysis.
Another community member questioned whether more moderate targets, such as $5.89, could be realistic for XRP. JD responded positively to this possibility, indicating that while extraordinary targets like $589 are out of reach, a more measured bullish outlook for the cryptocurrency could be justified by fundamentals and technical factors.
The debate highlights persistent divisions within the XRP community regarding realistic price expectations, the influence of online narratives, and the importance of distinguishing credible predictions from speculative hype.
Mini dictionary: Exit liquidity – A term in trading and crypto markets, referring to less-informed traders who purchase assets at high prices, allowing earlier sellers to exit their positions profitably, often just before a significant price decline.
Summary of JD’s positionJD’s stance marks a clear call for realism in XRP price outlooks. He remains constructive on XRP’s prospects within logical price bounds and emphasizes sound, disciplined trading over narratives fueled by hype. While his statements have sparked extensive debate, JD’s track record and visible engagement with the community have contributed to the ongoing conversation on realistic expectations in the market.
He contends that traders should maintain realistic targets and trust in technical analysis rather than hoping for improbable outcomes, as his experience with previous XRP price calls demonstrates the effectiveness of a grounded, analytical approach.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed by our writers are their own and do not represent the views of U.Today. The financial and market information provided on U.Today is intended for informational purposes only. U.Today is not liable for any financial losses incurred while trading cryptocurrencies. Conduct your own research by contacting financial experts before making any investment decisions. We believe that all content is accurate as of the date of publication, but certain offers mentioned may no longer be available.
XRP is trading close to $1.31 after a daily gain, and this is the first sign of buyer strength the market has shown since September. The token fell for most of October, dropping from the $1.55 region to a low close to $1.25. Now it has printed a green daily candle and is moving back up.
Recovery is bullish on its ownThe bounce is small, but it matters. For weeks, every attempt to rise was sold quickly. Red candles ruled the chart, and the price kept making lower highs. A green close after the sharp drop indicates that sellers are slowing down at this level.
XRP/USDT Chart by TradingViewThe $1.25 to $1.30 area is acting as support. XRP touched this region and quickly moved away from it, leaving an extended lower wick on the candle. That wick indicates buyers stepped in and absorbed the selling. Earlier in September, the same area held the price before a strong rally to $1.65.
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First resistance on the way upThe next test is resistance. The orange moving average sits close to $1.33, just above the current price. XRP needs to close above it to confirm the bounce has real strength. Above that, the blue and black lines cluster around $1.37 to $1.38. This is a strong resistance region where many moving averages meet, and the price did not hold above it during the last drop.
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The RSI is close to 40, which is a weak but not oversold reading. This means the bounce is not coming from an extreme low, and there is room to grow if buyers maintain control. Volume is still low, though. A real recovery needs more volume on green days.
For bulls, the primary target is a daily close above $1.33. After that, the path opens toward $1.38 and then $1.45. If XRP loses $1.25, the bounce fails, and the price could move toward $1.20 or lower.
For now, the trend is still down, but the first bullish signal in weeks has appeared. The next couple of daily candles will show whether this is a real reversal or merely a brief pause before another drop.
XRP, the digital asset developed by Ripple Labs, is approaching a pivotal support level after enduring several weeks of selling pressure. Cryptocurrency analyst XRP Update emphasized that the price now trades just above a significant support area, prompting heightened attention from traders and investors.
Major support and resistance levelsAt the time of analysis, XRP hovered around $1.27, staying marginally above the $1.25 threshold. XRP Update, a well-known market commentator, described this level as the strongest support visible on the daily chart extending from February to late October.
The chart features prominent horizontal levels at $1.6003, $1.4504, and $1.2539. These have served as key zones for both support and resistance during the coin’s volatile price moves over recent months.
According to the analyst, a daily close below $1.25 would raise the risk of a deeper correction, while a hold above it could serve as a potential base for a price recovery.
XRP is currently trading close to $1.27, just above the key horizontal support at $1.25. A sustained hold could establish a base for recovery, but a daily close below this support would increase downside risk.
The path of the declineXRP reached a peak near $2.40 in January before entering a prolonged downtrend. By late summer, the asset fell to the $1 mark, losing much of its earlier gains.
After the decline, XRP managed a sharp rebound, surging 50% in less than three days. However, selling resumed shortly thereafter, erasing much of that recovery throughout October. The asset has now surrendered most of its gains from the August rally.
The $1.45 mark, which previously acted as support, has turned into resistance and has not been reclaimed in current trading. Resistance also remains overhead at $1.60, positioned at the top of this year’s range.
Analyst’s outlook: What’s at stakeXRP Update clarified that the fate of the current trend hinges on the $1.25 support holding on a daily closing basis. The analyst noted that this level provided critical support during the June-to-August pullback. If XRP closes above $1.25, a scenario for recovery remains in place, but a close below would undermine a key argument for bullish momentum.
The analyst views $1.25 as a decisive line: holding it could allow for stabilization and a potential rebound, while losing it would likely open the door to further losses.
If the $1.25 support survives, XRP would next need to overcome resistance at $1.4504 to shift market sentiment. Above, the $1.6003 level stands as the next major target, marking the upper boundary of this year’s trading range.
LevelRoleStatus$1.2539Immediate supportUnder pressure$1.4504First resistanceNot yet reclaimed$1.6003Major resistanceUntested since October peakXRP Update, known for monitoring technical price zones across major digital assets, continues to watch these crucial levels as traders look for direction. The analyst asserts that a bounce from $1.25 could reignite bullish activity, but a breakdown below this mark may trigger further declines.
Mini dictionary: Ripple Labs, a US-based technology company, created XRP as a digital payment protocol designed to enable fast and low-cost international money transfers.
XRP has recovered to $1.31 with a nearly 2% daily gain, even as US spot XRP exchange-traded funds recorded their first weekly withdrawals in 14 weeks and exchange reserves reached elevated levels.
Summary
XRP climbed nearly 2% to $1.31, although its weekly losses remained above seven percent overall. US spot XRP ETFs recorded $1.84 million in withdrawals, ending thirteen consecutive weeks of net inflows. CryptoQuant reported 11.81 billion XRP on exchanges, alongside declining leverage and weaker whale trading activity. Analyst Ali Martinez identified $1.25 as critical support, with $1.56 needed to confirm renewed upward momentum. XRP Ledger payment volume dropped 72.3% on October 17, despite a subsequent surge in transferred value. According to CoinGecko, XRP traded at approximately $1.31 on October 19, gaining 1.96% over 24 hours while losing 7.10% over the previous seven days. Its market capitalization stood near $82.97 billion, supported by a circulating supply of approximately 63 billion tokens.
Trading activity picked up during the recovery, with 24-hour volume reaching roughly $1.44 billion. CoinGecko reported that trading volume had increased 49.2% compared with the preceding day, indicating more market participation as the token attempted to recover recent losses.
Despite the daily gain, XRP remained under pressure on the daily chart, where momentum indicators continued showing weak buying activity.
XRP ETFs record first weekly outflows after 13 weeks US spot XRP ETFs ended their 13-week inflow streak during the October 12–16 trading period, according to SoSoValue data.
The funds recorded approximately $1.84 million in net withdrawals, reversing a period of sustained inflows that had continued despite weakness in XRP’s spot price.
US spot XRP ETFs, source: SoSoValue Although the weekly withdrawal was relatively modest, its timing followed several weeks of declining ETF inflows. The products had attracted approximately $11.31 million during the preceding week, after recording around $4.7 million in the week before that.
Earlier this month, crypto.news reported continued XRP inflows, showing that the funds had accumulated nearly $1.8 billion in total investments across their operating history. The report noted that institutional demand was continuing even as the token struggled to recover earlier price levels.
During the latest week, ETF flows were flat on October 12 and 13 before turning positive on Wednesday. The funds received approximately $740,400 on October 14, followed by a small withdrawal on Thursday.
Friday’s trading session changed the weekly result, with approximately $2.47 million leaving the funds. Canary Capital’s XRPC accounted for the entire October 16 redemption.
Separate weekly fund data indicated that Bitwise’s XRP product experienced roughly $3.01 million in outflows, while Franklin Templeton’s XRPZ attracted approximately $3.64 million. The inflows into XRPZ partly offset withdrawals from other funds.
Cumulative net inflows remained near $1.8 billion as of October 16, while total ETF net assets stood at approximately $1.47 billion. These figures measure different things: cumulative inflows track net investor contributions, while net assets reflect the current market value of fund holdings.
The latest weekly withdrawal represented approximately 0.12% of the funds’ reported $1.47 billion in net assets. This calculation uses the rounded $1.84 million outflow and does not establish whether the reversal will continue.
XRP exchange reserves rise as Binance leverage declines While ETF demand weakened, CryptoQuant analyst CryptoOnchain reported that XRP reserves across exchanges had reached 11.81 billion tokens on October 17.
The balance placed exchange holdings in the 99th percentile of their observations over the preceding 365 days. It indicated unusually large aggregate balances relative to the analyst’s one-year comparison period.
Exchange reserves represent tokens held in wallets associated with trading platforms, although the figures depend on the addresses and venues covered by the data provider. High balances can indicate that substantial quantities of XRP are available on exchanges, but they do not establish that owners intend to sell.
CryptoOnchain identified a separate change in Binance derivatives activity, where XRP open interest fell to $453 million on October 17 from $538.1 million on October 4. The decline represented approximately 15.8% of outstanding leveraged positions.
During that period, the token’s price fell from approximately $1.52 to $1.29, equivalent to a decline of around 15%. Binance’s leverage ratio dropped from 0.205 to 0.170 as leveraged market exposure decreased.
The analyst reported $25.7 million in long liquidations on October 7 and 8, describing the period as the largest two-day liquidation cluster in the preceding two weeks. Funding rates were negative on six of the previous 11 days, suggesting that bearish positions were becoming more prominent.
A separate report on XRP futures documented elevated futures positioning earlier in October, followed by declining open interest as the cryptocurrency’s price weakened. The latest CryptoQuant observations indicate that some leveraged positions had been closed during the subsequent decline.
However, the analyst found that Binance’s own XRP reserve balance, approximately 2.67 billion tokens, remained around the 30th percentile of its annual range. The exceptionally high aggregate exchange reading therefore did not reflect an equally unusual buildup at Binance.
Net inflows to Binance averaged approximately 9.3 million XRP per day over the previous week, with particularly large transfers of 22 million and 29 million XRP recorded on October 13 and 14.
CryptoOnchain suggested that some holders may have moved XRP onto exchanges for collateral or hedging purposes during the decline. The analyst explicitly described that explanation as unverified, and exchange transfers alone cannot distinguish hedging deposits from potential spot sales.
XRP Ledger payments fall as analysts report renewed transfers Network activity presented mixed signals during the same period, according to data attributed to XRPSCAN and observations from market analysts.
XRP Ledger payment volume fell to approximately 119.5 million XRP on October 17, representing a 72.3% decline from the preceding day. The figure was significantly below the reported 30-day average of 629.3 million XRP.
Payment volume measures XRP transferred between accounts and should not be confused with centralized exchange trading volume. Changes in the metric can reflect large individual transactions, movements between wallets or broader patterns of network usage.
CryptoQuant’s analysis identified weaker activity among large holders, with whale transaction volume declining 44% week over week and the number of tokens transferred falling 37%. Those observations covered the analyst’s chosen measurement period and are not directly interchangeable with XRPSCAN’s single-day payment-volume figure.
More recently, analyst Ali Martinez reported that the dollar value of coins transferred across the XRP Ledger had reached approximately $49.70 billion as XRP traded near $1.25.
Martinez interpreted the activity as a possible sign that buyers had defended an important price level. He suggested that $1.25 could form a local bottom if support continued holding.
XRP: THE BOTTOM IS IN
Transaction volume on the $XRP Ledger exploded last night as prices hovered around the $1.25 support.
The total dollar value of coins transferred on-chain skyrocketed to $49.70 billion, coinciding with the rebound that is now taking place.
This surge in… https://t.co/vTEFhtC5ss pic.twitter.com/fQTEvKsTKk
— Ali Charts (@alicharts) October 19, 2026 The reported increase in transferred value does not by itself prove that investors bought $49.70 billion worth of XRP. On-chain transfer values include movements between accounts, which can occur without a corresponding market purchase.
XRP price tests $1.25 support as momentum stays bearish XRP’s daily technical indicators continued to favor sellers despite the latest price recovery.
The Relative Strength Index stood at 38.48, below both its moving average of 41.31 and the neutral 50 level. This reading indicated weak upward momentum, although XRP had not entered the conventional oversold region below 30.
The Moving Average Convergence Divergence indicator showed a similar pattern, with the MACD line at -0.03612 and the signal line at -0.02110.
XRP price chart, source: TradingView The MACD histogram remained negative, consistent with the token’s recent decline. A recovery in price without a corresponding improvement in momentum indicators does not necessarily establish a lasting change in trend.
The immediate support region lies between $1.25 and $1.30, according to the supplied technical analysis. A sustained move below that area could bring $1.10 and eventually $1.00 into focus as lower reference levels.
On the upside, resistance appears near $1.40, followed by a more difficult area between $1.50 and $1.60.
Martinez identified $1.25 as the price needed to complete the possible right shoulder of an inverse head-and-shoulders formation on the three-day chart. He argued that a sustained close above $1.56 could open the way toward $2, while losing $1.25 would place $1 back in focus.
Another analyst, Crypto Patel, identified a possible reentry region between $1.22 and $1 and pointed to Fibonacci support on a higher-timeframe chart.
99% WILL IGNORE THIS $XRP CHART AND REGRET IT IN 2030
Technical analysis on the HTF chart: the accumulation zone filled and paid +73% 🚀
✅ Accumulation zone: $1 – $0.70 (filled)
✅ Profit after the fill: +73%
✅ Multi-year triangle breakout confirmed in Nov 2024.
✅ 0.618 Fib… pic.twitter.com/8iQmW0GQ4Q
— Crypto Patel (@CryptoPatel) October 19, 2026 His longer-term targets included $4, $10 and $20, although these remain speculative projections based on technical analysis rather than confirmed valuation estimates.
The more immediate resistance region was previously identified in analysis of XRP’s recovery, which described continued selling pressure below $1.40 during the October 14 trading session. The latest daily momentum readings remain below neutral levels, with RSI at 38.48 and the MACD line still beneath its signal line.
Disclosure: This article does not represent investment advice. The content and materials featured on this page are for educational purposes only.
XRP has registered its first notable gain in weeks, with the price rebounding from near $1.25 to trade close to $1.31. This marks a shift after a prolonged decline during October, as buyers showed renewed interest for the first time since September.
Support and resistance levels in focusThroughout much of October, XRP faced steady selling pressure, falling from $1.55 to a low near $1.25. Attempts by buyers to lift the price were previously met with quick sell-offs, resulting in a persistent pattern of lower highs and a dominance of red candles on price charts.
The $1.25 to $1.30 region has emerged as a support zone. XRP’s recent session saw the token touch this area before swiftly bouncing away, printing an extended lower wick on the daily candle. This price action suggests that buyers stepped in to absorb the selling pressure, preventing further declines. Analysts have noted that the same support zone sparked a strong rally to $1.65 in September.
XRP quickly reversed from its support area near $1.25, with the extended lower wick signaling renewed buyer strength at this critical zone.
With this bounce, XRP now faces its first resistance test. The orange moving average, which is widely monitored by technical traders, stands close to $1.33 and sits just above the current price. A close above this moving average would lend credibility to the current rebound, potentially encouraging additional buyers to enter the market.
Indicators and next price targetsAbove $1.33, further resistance is clustered between $1.37 and $1.38, where blue and black moving averages converge. This range, which previously failed to provide lasting support during the latest drop, now serves as a critical threshold for bulls aiming to extend the upward move.
LevelStatus$1.25 – $1.30Support$1.33First resistance (orange MA)$1.37 – $1.38Major resistance (multiple MAs)$1.45Higher target if momentum continues$1.20Potential new low if support breaksThe Relative Strength Index (RSI) holds close to the 40 mark, a level generally considered weak yet not oversold. This indicates that XRP’s bounce is not occurring from extreme market conditions and could still develop if buyers sustain their momentum. However, trading volume remains subdued. Market watchers have pointed out that higher volume on bullish sessions would add confidence to the prospects of a stronger recovery.
A daily close above $1.33 stands as the primary target for bullish traders. Surpassing this level could open the way toward $1.38 and then $1.45, potentially shifting the broader trend. Failure to maintain support above $1.25 could see the price test $1.20 or lower in the short term.
Short-term trend outlookCurrently, XRP’s overall trend remains downward, but this fresh move represents the first bullish signal seen in several weeks. Upcoming daily price action is likely to determine whether this marks the start of a meaningful reversal or a brief pause before another possible decline.
After weeks of losses, XRP’s latest daily candle points to a possible shift, but traders are closely watching upcoming sessions to see if this signals a true recovery.
TLDR Cross River Bank announced on October 15 that it is adding Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin to its Core Operating System. The integration includes support for the XRP Ledger, where transactions are designed to settle in about three to five seconds. Fintech customers could use stablecoin rails alongside ACH, wire transfers and other bank payment services. Compliance checks, currency conversion and off-ramps can still add time before money reaches the final recipient. Neither company called the deal a replacement for existing payment networks. Cross River Bank is adding Ripple’s stablecoin to the system it uses to move money for fintech customers. The bank announced the move on October 15.
The stablecoin is called Ripple USD, or RLUSD. Cross River said it is integrating RLUSD into its own Core Operating System, with support for the XRP Ledger.
A stablecoin is a digital token built to hold a steady value. RLUSD is designed to track the US dollar.
How the RLUSD Integration Works Cross River is a US bank that provides financial infrastructure to other businesses. Many of its customers are fintech companies that rely on the bank to handle payments.
The bank said the goal is to give fintech customers access to blockchain settlement alongside conventional payment rails. It is not meant to be a separate payment product.
Businesses that connect through Cross River could use stablecoin rails next to the systems they already know. These include ACH transfers, wire transfers and other bank payment services.
For Cross River, adding stablecoin support is part of a wider effort. The bank wants to give customers access to different payment methods through a single integration.
For Ripple, the deal gives RLUSD another way into regulated banking. It places the stablecoin inside the daily workflows of a US bank.
Speed and Cost on the XRP Ledger The XRP Ledger is a public blockchain network. Transactions on it are designed to settle in about three to five seconds, and each one can cost a fraction of a cent.
These features are part of why Ripple is pitching RLUSD for certain uses. They include cross-border payments, merchant settlement and treasury transfers.
Many of these payments do not fit well into normal banking hours. A blockchain network can process transactions at any time of day.
However, blockchain speed is not the same as the total time it takes to deliver money. Several steps can add time before funds reach the person or business receiving them.
Compliance reviews are one of those steps. Currency conversion and moving funds back into a bank account, known as the off-ramp, can also slow things down.
Neither Cross River nor Ripple described the deal as a replacement for current payment networks. Neither company said existing systems would be phased out.
For now, the integration means a bank is adding another settlement tool for its customers. Fintech companies will decide for themselves whether to use it.
Actual use of RLUSD on the platform will depend on which fintechs find it useful enough to build into their operations. The bank announced the integration on October 15.
Bitwise's spot XRP ETF holds more than $541 million in net assets, with cumulative net inflows of $684.73 million, according to SoSoValue data.
Bitwise's (@Bitwise) spot XRP exchange-traded fund has passed the half-billion-dollar mark in net assets. The fund, which tracks $XRP, held $541.12 million as of October 17, according to figures from the SoSoValue fund tracker reported by COINOTAG.
The same dataset puts cumulative net inflows at $684.73 million. The product gives investors a way to gain exposure to XRP price moves without buying or storing the token directly.
Largest fund in the XRP ETF sectorSoSoValue's XRP ETF dashboard lists the Bitwise fund with a 0.34% fee, according to the data provider. It trades on NYSE under the ticker XRP.
The fund is the largest of the US spot XRP products by cumulative inflows. Data cited by Coinpaper shows Franklin Templeton's fund with roughly $509 million and Canary Capital's with nearly $487 million. Those products began launching in November 2025, and total net inflows across the category reached about $1.8 billion by mid-October.
Steady inflows since launch point to continued demand for regulated XRP exposure. U.Today noted that the trend looks more like accumulated demand than a short-term event, as Digital Today reported.
What the numbers do and do not showNet assets and net inflows are different measures. Inflows reflect subscriptions minus redemptions, while net assets track the current market value of holdings, according to Coinpaper. That is why Bitwise's net assets of $541.12 million sit below its $684.73 million in cumulative inflows: changes in the XRP price affect the value of what the fund holds.
Neither figure translates directly into a set amount of XRP bought by the fund. The same caveat appears in U.Today's report on the milestone.
Daily flows across the sector have also been uneven. XRP spot ETFs recorded a $2.47 million net outflow on October 16, entirely from the Canary XRP ETF, according to SoSoValue data relayed by KuCoin News. On October 14, Bitwise was the only issuer to attract new capital, though the inflow was small at about $740,400.
For now, Bitwise's fund remains the clearest gauge of how much money is flowing into XRP through traditional markets, even as the token's price and daily flows fluctuate.
SourcesCOINOTAG: Bitwise XRP ETF net assets top $541 million
U.Today: Bitwise holds over half a billion XRP
Digital Today: Bitwise leads XRP ETF market with net assets over $500 million
Ripple (XRP) arzının yaklaşık yüzde 56’sı, en az bir yıldır hareket etmeyen cüzdanlarda bulunuyor. Zincir üstü verilere göre bu oran, 38 milyardan fazla XRP tokenına karşılık geliyor. Fiyat düşüşlerine rağmen yatırımcıların varlıklarını satmak yerine elde tutması, kripto para piyasasında XRP’nin dolaşımdaki arzına ilişkin dikkat çekici bir değişime işaret ediyor.
2026’nın başında yüzde 51 civarında bulunan uzun vadeli tutma oranı, 16 Ekim itibarıyla yüzde 55,91’e yükseldi. Bu değişim, XRP’nin fiyatı gerilerken bile dolaşımdaki arzın daha büyük bir bölümünün uzun süre hareket etmeden kaldığını gösteriyor.
Cüzdanlarda bekleyen tokenların artması, kripto borsalarında işlem görebilecek XRP miktarını azaltabilir. Ancak bu veriler, yatırımcıların mutlaka yeni alım yaptığı anlamına gelmiyor. Daha önce satın alınan tokenlar, sahipleri işlem yapmadan bekledikçe zamanla uzun vadeli yatırımcı grubuna dahil oluyor.
XRP HODL Waves Verileri Ne Gösteriyor?
Glassnode tarafından sunulan XRP HODL Waves göstergesi, tokenların cüzdanlarda ne kadar süredir hareket etmediğini takip ediyor. Gösterge, dolaşımdaki arzı elde tutma süresine göre farklı gruplara ayırarak kısa ve uzun vadeli sahiplerin oranındaki değişimi ortaya koyuyor.
1 Ocak 2026’da XRP 1,88 dolardan işlem görürken en az bir yıldır hareket etmeyen tokenların arz içindeki payı yüzde 50,99 seviyesindeydi. 16 Ekim’de fiyat 1,31 dolara gerilerken aynı oran yüzde 55,91’e çıktı. Böylece uzun vadeli tutma oranı yaklaşık beş yüzde puan arttı.
Bu veriler, fiyat performansı ile yatırımcıların elde tutma davranışının her zaman aynı yönde ilerlemediğini gösteriyor. XRP yıl boyunca fiyat baskısıyla karşılaşırken tokenların daha büyük bir bölümü cüzdanlarda hareketsiz kaldı.
Hangi XRP Tutma Grupları Büyüdü?
Bir ila iki yıldır hareket etmeyen tokenların payı, 1 Ocak’taki yüzde 11,698 seviyesinden 16 Ekim’de yüzde 16,742’ye yükseldi. Beş yüzde puanı aşan bu artış, uzun vadeli tutma oranındaki yükselişe önemli katkı sağladı.
Yedi ila on yıllık grupta da artış görüldü. Bu grubun arz içindeki payı yüzde 3,894’ten yüzde 5,411’e çıktı. Buna karşılık yılın başında en büyük uzun vadeli grup olan üç ila beş yıllık kategorinin payı yüzde 18,432’den yüzde 17,801’e geriledi.
İki ila üç yıllık grup yüzde 5,621’den yüzde 5,073’e, beş ila yedi yıllık grup ise yüzde 4,597’den yüzde 4,324’e düştü. On yıldan uzun süredir hareket etmeyen tokenların payı da yüzde 6,747’den yüzde 6,555’e indi. 2019-2023 döneminde XRP alan bazı yatırımcıların kâr realizasyonu yapması, bu gerilemelerin olası nedenlerinden biri olarak değerlendiriliyor.
Kısa Vadeli Ripple Arzı Neden Azalıyor?
Bir ila üç aydır hareket etmeyen XRP’lerin payı yüzde 12,286’dan yüzde 3,518’e düştü. Üç ila altı aylık grupta da oran yüzde 10,588’den yüzde 6,142’ye geriledi. Bu iki kategori, yılın başında toplam arzın yüzde 22’sinden fazlasını oluştururken 16 Ekim’de yüzde 10’un altına indi.
Öte yandan altı ila on iki aylık grup, tüm yaş kategorileri arasında en büyük artışı kaydetti. Bu grubun payı yüzde 19,351’den yüzde 27,683’e yükselerek en büyük bireysel kategori haline geldi ve daha önce lider olan üç ila beş yıllık grubu geride bıraktı.
Bu tokenlar yaklaşık Ekim 2025 ile Nisan 2026 arasında biriktirildi. Söz konusu dönem, XRP’nin döngüsel zirvelerinden sert biçimde gerilediği zaman aralığıyla örtüşüyor.
XRP Fiyatı İçin Uzun Vadeli Tutma Ne Anlama Geliyor?
Altı ila on iki aylık gruptaki tokenlar hareket etmeden kalırsa önümüzdeki aylarda bir yıldan uzun süredir tutulan arz kategorisine geçebilir. Böylece uzun vadeli yatırımcıların dolaşımdaki arz içindeki payı daha da artabilir.
Bu eğilim, yıl boyunca kripto borsalarındaki XRP bakiyelerinde görülen düşüşle birlikte değerlendirildiğinde, hemen işlem görebilecek token miktarının azalabileceğine işaret ediyor. Talep güçlü kalırsa daha sınırlı işlem arzı fiyatı destekleyebilir. Ancak HODL Waves verileri tek başına fiyat artışını garanti etmez.
Bu içerik kesinlikle yatırım tavsiyesi niteliği taşımamaktadır. Piyasalar yüksek risk içermektedir ve yatırım kararlarınızı almadan önce kendi araştırmanızı yapmanız önemlidir.
Son Dakika kripto para haberleri için hemen tıkla.
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A recent forecast from cryptocurrency YouTuber Crypto Rover has generated significant conversation, with bold predictions for the leading digital assets over the next 8 to 16 months.
High targets for Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, and XRPCrypto Rover projected that Bitcoin could reach $200,000 during this period, while Ethereum may surpass $10,000. He also expects Solana to climb to $1,000, and sees the possibility for XRP to rally to $5.
He expanded on his XRP outlook, suggesting that in a potential super bull market, XRP’s price could range between $11 and $15. He called on investors to be prepared if such a scenario unfolds.
Crypto Rover envisions a scenario where Bitcoin targets $200,000, Ethereum moves above $10,000, Solana advances to $1,000, and XRP approaches $5, with the possibility of XRP reaching as high as $11 to $15 during a strong market surge.
Currently, Bitcoin trades around $81,500, Ethereum sits near $2,430, Solana is about $104, and XRP is around $1.30. These figures illustrate the substantial growth needed to achieve his targets: Bitcoin would have to increase by 145%, Ethereum by 312%, Solana by 860%, and XRP by approximately 285% to hit $5.
XRP’s biggest potential upsideAmong the projected gains, XRP’s targets are particularly notable. Achieving $5 would mean a 285% jump from current prices. The upper end of his super bull market forecast, between $11 and $15, equates to gains of roughly 746% to 1054%.
This outlook for XRP comes as CoinDesk recently highlighted that the token remains below its 2018 peak and has not delivered returns comparable to Bitcoin or Ethereum. If Crypto Rover’s projections materialize, XRP would surpass its all-time high of $3.65, a move that some proponents expect could attract new institutional interest, especially with regulatory headwinds potentially waning and growing adoption in cross-border payment solutions.
Community reaction and need for liquidityReactions within the crypto community were mixed. Some users voiced support for these ambitious predictions, while others questioned their probability. One observer underscored the critical role of liquidity and Bitcoin confirmation before major altcoins could follow such substantial upward moves.
Doubts also surfaced regarding XRP’s specific targets. While some agreed Solana could reach $1,000, they remained unconvinced about XRP hitting $5, raising skepticism over the credibility of such forecasts. Further skepticism was expressed in light of possible macroeconomic challenges, including inflation, interest rate hikes, geopolitical tensions, and oil price volatility, which could all impact overall crypto market momentum.
Other commentators stated that a proper market-wide bull run would be essential for these levels to become realistic, suggesting that broader market conditions would ultimately dictate any potential surge in large-cap altcoins like XRP.
Given the market’s sensitivity to major macro events and rapid shifts—such as a single decision by the Federal Reserve or an unexpected altcoin listing—retail traders are increasingly moving toward privacy-focused solutions like CryptoAppsy to streamline their trading workflow. By using platforms that offer real-time charts, smart price alerts, coin-specific news, and integrated macro data on one screen and without requiring account creation, investors are able to react quickly and efficiently to emerging trends.
The next 8 to 16 months could see significant changes for crypto investors, given the volatility and unpredictability of the current market environment.
According to David Schwartz, the chief architect of the XRP Ledger and Ripple’s CTO Emeritus, most people who hold or follow XRP do not know what its underlying network was built to do.
Schwartz spoke at Nasdaq during the celebration of Evernorth’s public listing. He said the most common misunderstanding is about where the XRP Ledger sits among the major blockchains. In his view, it has more functionality than Bitcoin but less than Ethereum or Solana, and that middle position is deliberate.
The Misconception Schwartz Wants To CorrectSchwartz described the ledger as built for a narrow set of financial tasks rather than general-purpose computing. Those tasks include:
Tokenization of real-world assetsPayments and liquidityLendingStablecoinsHe said this focus makes the network strong for some use cases and a poor fit for others. It does not support every application a developer might write. Instead, the ledger comes with what he called curated financial primitives, designed to meet the standards financial institutions expect.
Three Reasons Institutions Pick The XRP LedgerAsked why a bank or financial firm should build on the network, Schwartz gave three reasons:
It is fast, cheap and reliable.It is decentralized, so no single party can turn the system against its users.It comes connected to ready-made financial tools.RLUSD And A Multi-Chain FutureSchwartz said XRP Ledger supporters should not expect a single-chain outcome. Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin runs on the XRP Ledger, but he said it also needs to be on other networks to reach more users and deeper liquidity.
He explained the goal in personal terms. People leave money idle in bank accounts, he said, because moving it somewhere it can earn a return takes effort. He wants the industry to reach a point where users think only about what their money is doing, not where it sits.
AI Agents Could Turn Blockchains Into Settlement LayersOn artificial intelligence, Schwartz said high-volume payments between AI agents may run on fast, low-cost payment channels, with final settlement on a blockchain. He expects some countries to become net buyers of AI services and others net sellers. Settling those imbalances, he said, will require a neutral settlement network. He did not say that network would be the XRP Ledger.
Ripple’s 2027 FocusLooking ahead to 2027, Schwartz pointed to Ripple’s acquisitions of GTreasury and Hidden Road. He said Ripple is combining them into one business. It plans to cross-sell products to clients who already move trillions of dollars through systems that do not touch crypto.
Schwartz said the Evernorth listing shows crypto connecting with traditional finance. It gives investors a way to hold XRP through retirement accounts and on corporate balance sheets.
Story Ends Here
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The XRP Ledger is preparing to activate the fixCleanup3_4_0 amendment, a package of upgrades affecting core functions such as Single Asset Vaults, the Lending Protocol, Automated Market Makers, the permissioned decentralized exchange, trust lines, NFTs, MPTs, Escrow, Sponsorship, transaction signing, and permission delegation. The activation window is set for the next four days, targeting October 23, 2026, at 9:34 AM UTC, based on data from XRPScan.
Amendment Process and New FeaturesFor any amendment to go live on the XRP Ledger, developers require more than 80% support consistently maintained for 14 days. The upcoming fixCleanup3_4_0 revision is expected to bring approximately 25 improvement points. Notably, the update includes exempting IOU issuers from enforcing their own global freeze on NFT offers in their native currency and allowing authorized trust lines to implicitly authorize pseudo-account counterparties.
These adjustments are designed to streamline operations and enhance the efficiency of the XRP Ledger, one of the world’s leading decentralized blockchain platforms for fast and cost-effective transactions.
Mini dictionary: Pseudo-accounts, in the context of XRP Ledger, refer to virtual accounts that allow for more granular control over multi-user access, permissions, and authorization, without being independent blockchain accounts. This enables more flexible transaction management and delegation options.
Recent Upgrades and Security InitiativesThe fixCleanup3_4_0 amendment continues a series of recent upgrades to the XRP Ledger. Earlier this year, Ripple, the San Francisco-based company behind the development and adoption of the XRP Ledger, established a dedicated AI-assisted red team. This team actively searches for vulnerabilities in the network to bolster security.
In March 2026, the 3.1.3 release became the first dedicated security update spearheaded by this effort, focusing exclusively on security hardening with no additional features. The fixCleanup3_2_0 revision followed in July, addressing further technical adjustments to the network.
Most recently, October 2026 saw the deployment of fixCleanup3_3_0, which delivered additional fixes centered on the Single Asset Vaults, Lending Protocol, Automated Market Makers, the permissioned DEX, Checks, and pseudo-accounts.
October remains an exceptionally eventful month for those involved in the XRP ecosystem. On October 3, the city of Seoul hosted XRP Seoul 2026, Asia’s largest XRP-focused event this year, drawing more than 5,000 participants.
The XRP Ledger team introduced permission delegation and Batch amendments on October 8 and 9, respectively. In the days following these launches, the Batch feature quickly gained adoption, rapidly accounting for over 15% of all mainnet transactions and ranking as the third most commonly used transaction type.
DateEvent/AmendmentImpactOct 3, 2026XRP Seoul 20265,000+ attendeesOct 8, 2026Permission Delegation LaunchEnhanced transaction permissionsOct 9, 2026Batch LaunchThird most-used transaction typeOct 23, 2026Expected fixCleanup3_4_0 Activation25 new improvementsFurther, the Swell event is scheduled from October 27 to 29 in New York, with participation from key sector figures such as Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse, CME Group Chairman Terrence Duffy, Bullish CEO Tom Farley, Water.org co-founder Matt Damon, and executives from BNY, Coinbase, Robinhood, Barclays, State Street, and Jump.
OutlookExpectations are high for the fixCleanup3_4_0 deployment as the upgrade aims to resolve various technical issues and further strengthen the robustness of the XRP Ledger. The series of updates throughout October reflects increased momentum in the development and adoption of XRPL technology within the crypto space.
Batch accounted for over 15% of XRPL mainnet transactions after its launch, becoming the number 3 transaction type shortly thereafter.
Ripple has formed a partnership with Cross River Bank, signaling a new phase in integrating RLUSD, Ripple’s regulated stablecoin, into banking infrastructure. Cross River Bank stated that it will support RLUSD settlement on the XRP Ledger as part of its core banking operations, further advancing the asset’s adoption for cross-border transactions. This move strengthens the link between Ripple and broader payment platforms, fueling growing speculation about potential connections to Elon Musk’s X Money—a digital payments platform that leverages a sophisticated backend ecosystem.
X Money integration gains tractionCross River Bank is a U.S.-based financial institution recognized for its technology-driven approach and close associations with payment giants, including Stripe. Digital Asset Investor, a prominent XRP analyst, pointed out that Stripe underpins X Money’s backend, implying an indirect network between XRP and X Money via Cross River Bank’s new infrastructure.
This connection has heightened anticipation in the XRP community, with many suggesting that the latest announcement could pave the way for Ripple’s technology to power instant cross-border settlements for X Money users. The possibility of Ripple’s ecosystem being integrated into Elon Musk’s digital finance ambitions has been a recurring topic among industry analysts.
Institutional insiders claimed the Cross River Bank-Ripple partnership had been forecasted through earlier institutional disclosures, lending further credibility to expectations of broader institutional adoption.
Digital Asset Investor emphasized the significance of this integration, noting that such partnerships could drive mainstream acceptance for XRP’s technology in global payments.
Ripple’s collaboration with Cross River Bank, integrating RLUSD into its core platform, is seen by market watchers as a critical step toward linking XRP with major payment networks, potentially including X Money.
Mini dictionary: X Money is a digital payments solution associated with Elon Musk and aims to provide integrated, instant financial transfers across borders. Stripe, used as its backend, is a major American fintech company powering global payments infrastructure for millions of businesses.
Supply squeeze intensifiesWhile the potential X Money connection draws attention, Digital Asset Investor also highlighted XRP’s tightening supply. XRP’s total supply is capped at 100 billion tokens. Ongoing token burns from transaction fees constantly reduce this figure, while rising institutional activity removes significant amounts from trading platforms.
Analysts referenced recent activity in which institutional buyers executed single transactions as large as 1 billion XRP. In a recent 24-hour window, 1.6 billion XRP was withdrawn from exchanges for custody, representing more than 1% of the asset’s supply leaving the open market in a single day. At this pace, the entire circulating XRP supply could be exhausted from public exchanges in less than 100 days.
MetricValueTotal XRP supply100 billionRecent single transaction size1 billionXRP withdrawn in 24 hours1.6 billionCurrent XRP price$1.34Institutional accumulation and available floatDigital Asset Investor linked increased institutional involvement—from ETFs to new collateralization use cases—to mounting pressure on available XRP liquidity. Ripple itself retains a significant reserve, a portion of which is not intended for sale. Early-stage institutions and long-term holders have steadily accumulated tokens over more than a decade, further constraining available supply.
He estimated that between 30 and 40 billion XRP are realistically accessible for active trading, while the remainder is locked by Ripple or large institutional stakeholders.
Institutional perspective and price outlookRipple’s Chief Legal Officer Stuart Alderoty described Evernorth’s recent regulatory approval as “a badge of validation” for institutional adoption of tokenized assets like XRP. Analyst Matt Hougan suggested that, over time, hundreds of trillions of dollars in global assets—including equities, bonds, and real estate—will be migrated onto blockchain networks.
Digital Asset Investor placed XRP among the top 25 digital assets likely to form critical market infrastructure, and described a $5 to $8 price target for XRP as “ridiculously achievable in weeks, months.”
Currently, XRP remains at $1.34, with community analysts closely tracking potential price developments as supply tightens and institutional adoption accelerates.
A crypto market analyst using the alias Steph Is Crypto has set an ambitious price target of $15 for XRP, despite the asset currently trading at $1.29. Steph published a detailed projection on social media, highlighting a sharp upward trajectory for XRP over the next one to two years. While his optimism has drawn attention within the community, most responses have expressed skepticism regarding the likelihood of such an increase.
Chart analysis and price projectionAccording to Steph Is Crypto’s weekly chart, XRP experienced a bottom near $0.41 in late 2024 before rallying rapidly into early 2025, when it surpassed $3. The projection then shows a period of consolidation between about $1 and $1.60 throughout the remainder of 2025 and into 2026.
Steph’s analysis features a parabolic curve, aligned with previous technical breakouts, supporting the case for an accelerated upswing. The curve suggests that after climbing past $3 and experiencing some pullback, XRP could begin a substantial move upward, ultimately achieving the $15 target by late 2027 or early 2028.
XRP will fly to $15.00 before you know it, according to Steph Is Crypto, who has laid out a scenario where the asset surges from its current price through a multi-year parabolic advance.
Community response and critical perspectivesSteph’s forecast quickly drew a strong response on social platforms, with many traders citing concerns over both the timing and the fundamentals required for such gains. Several investors dismissed the $15 projection, referring to XRP’s inability to break above $2 after long periods of sideways trading. One participant went so far as to label the target unrealistic, noting the prolonged stagnation despite market catalysts.
Skeptics also questioned the rationale behind the projection. Some asked whether the analysis adequately addressed XRP’s overall circulating supply, since a price of $15 would require a market capitalization far exceeding its historical highs. Concerns about the scale of capital inflows needed for this valuation were prominent among the critiques.
Despite the widespread doubt, a handful of community members suggested that XRP might see upward movement, though most stopped short of endorsing the specific $15 level. Others expressed contentment with smaller gains, with one commentator stating that $5 would be a satisfactory milestone.
Market context and technical trendsWhile XRP sits at $1.29, the proposed rally to $15 implies an increase of more than 11 times the current price. Steph Is Crypto’s technical outlook projects a long-term upward trajectory and points to recurring patterns in the asset’s price history as justification for the positive scenario.
In a fast-moving market where a single Federal Reserve decision or the sudden listing of a new altcoin can shift sentiment instantly, traders face constant pressure to stay ahead. Managing multiple platforms for charts, news, and portfolio tracking often leads to missed opportunities. Many investors are now consolidating their workflow with privacy-focused services like CryptoAppsy, which provides real-time charts, tailored price alerts, specialized coin news, and macroeconomic data in one location, even without requiring account registration.
Steph remains confident in his analysis and has not offered any hedging against the bold target. However, given prevailing sentiment, many observers remain cautious until market indicators suggest a significant breakout. Whether XRP achieves the forecasted growth will depend on developments across both technical patterns and macroeconomic conditions.
The path from $1.29 to $15 would require an extraordinary shift in both XRP’s adoption and investor sentiment, with most current community members unconvinced but still attentive to technical signals on higher timeframes.
On South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, Upbit and Bithumb, trading volumes for some altcoins reached remarkable levels in the last 24 hours. In particular, XRP, The Sandbox (SAND), Quack AI (Q), ETHGas (GWEI), and Gitcoin (GTC) were among the cryptocurrencies most actively traded by South Korean investors.
When the trading volume data from the two exchanges are combined, XRP is seen to be in first place with a volume of approximately $64 million. XRP is followed by The Sandbox (SAND) with $58.7 million and Quack AI (Q) with $42.67 million.
Here are the most traded altcoins based on the combined 24-hour trading volumes from Upbit and Bithumb exchanges:
XRP – $63.96 million
The Sandbox (SAND) – $58.70 million
Quack AI (Q) – $42.67 million
ETHGas (GWEI) – $37.36 million
Gitcoin (GTC) – $37.24 million
Worldcoin (WLD) – $35.50 million
Puffer (PUFFER) – $26.98 million
Caldera (ERA) – $26.68 million
Ethereum (ETH) – $24.49 million
NEAR Protocol (NEAR) – $18.27 million
Impossible Cloud Network Token (ICNT) – $13.58 million
Nestree (EGG) – $11.84 million
Travala (AVA) – $11.33 million
TEMCO (TEMCO) – $11.01 million
Ondo (ONDO) – $10.40 million
*This is not investment advice.
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South Korea’s biggest crypto exchange just had a quieter week. Upbit reported weekly trading volume of 8.35 trillion won for the week ending October 18, 2026, a 15.5% decrease from the prior week.
That works out to approximately $6.28 billion.
The more interesting detail sits inside the total. XRP was the most traded asset on the platform during the week, finishing ahead of both Bitcoin and USDT.
Inside the numbers
In mid-October 2026, Upbit’s 24-hour trading volumes swung between $340 million and over $1.2 billion on active days.
The ranking of assets adds texture. XRP topped the volume table, with Bitcoin in second and the stablecoin USDT in third.
USDT’s presence in the top three is also worth a brief note. Stablecoins are tokens designed to track the US dollar, so heavy USDT trading can reflect traders moving between risk assets and something closer to cash.
A wider slowdown across Korean exchanges
Upbit was not alone in feeling the slowdown. Volume across major South Korean platforms fell by 19.56% in a preceding week, pointing to a broader pullback rather than a problem specific to one venue.
Measured against that figure, Upbit’s 15.5% decline looks somewhat milder.
Upbit has consistently held its position as the leading exchange in the country, regularly outpacing rivals such as Bithumb.
Upbit’s volumes have often reacted to swings in domestic stock markets, which suggests many Korean traders treat crypto and equities as neighboring options rather than separate worlds.
What this means for traders and the market
The most immediate implication is about liquidity. Lower volume generally means thinner order books, which can make prices more sensitive to large buy or sell orders.
XRP’s leadership is the other storyline to watch. Even as total activity fell, traders still concentrated a large share of their attention on a single asset, and that asset was not Bitcoin.
For the competitive landscape, rivals like Bithumb face the same headwinds. The broader 19.56% drop seen in a preceding week suggests the challenge across the sector is attracting volume at all, not just winning share from one another.
Looking ahead, the key signals will be whether weekly volume stabilizes near the 8.35 trillion won level or keeps sliding, and whether XRP keeps its spot at the top of the table.
Disclosure: This article was edited by Vivian Nguyen. For more information on how we create and review content, see our Editorial Policy.
MONACO, Oct. 18, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Crypto news is turning toward AlphaPepe as Stage 21 moves closer to another sellout after the presale pushed beyond $3.06 million raised. The previous stage already sold out, and more than 12,600 holders are now onboard while $ALPE remains before its first public exchange chart.
The stage pressure is arriving alongside another major catalyst. AlphaPepe already has four CEX partnerships announced, with its fifth exchange reveal coming soon as online discussion continues to circle Binance. XRP, meanwhile, is trading near $1.30 while Ripple adds new institutional payment and wallet infrastructure, keeping aggressive long-term targets like $27 in the retail conversation.
AlphaPepe Stage 21 Moves Toward Another Sellout Stage 20 is already gone, and Stage 21 is now moving toward the same outcome. That gives AlphaPepe a visible scarcity story because buyers who wait through another completed stage lose access to the current presale entry. The current $ALPE price is $0.03368, while the listing price begins from $0.08.
For retail, the gap is easy to understand: AlphaPepe is still in its pre-listing phase, but each stage that disappears pushes the presale closer to public-market pricing. That makes the stage sellout more important than another routine milestone. The crowd is still forming while the cheaper presale window keeps moving forward.
$3.06M Raised Adds Weight Behind the Stage Momentum AlphaPepe has now raised more than $3.06 million and crossed 12,600 holders, with over 100 new holders reportedly joining each day. That demand gives the Stage 21 sellout story more substance because the presale is not moving forward without buyers behind it. The strongest retail takeaway is momentum before the chart.
AlphaPepe is adding capital and holders before open-market trading starts, rather than relying on an exchange rally to create its first wave of interest. There is also another scarcity layer inside AlphaLabs. Fewer than 40 Limited Bonus AlphaLabs mystery crates remain, giving buyers a final chance to unlock up to a 300% bonus while the current stage itself is tightening.
AlphaSwap Is Live Before the Presale Ends The stage momentum is backed by a product that is already accessible. AlphaSwap, AlphaPepe’s AI DEX, is live in Early Access, while Auto-Trade registration is also open before $ALPE lists. The ecosystem is being developed by an ex-Shibarium developer, giving AlphaPepe a stronger product story than presales selling only a future roadmap.
Buyers also receive ALPE immediately after purchase, removing the need to wait for a later claim window. The fifth CEX reveal adds another near-term event. Four exchange partnerships are already announced, while online communities continue debating whether Binance or another major exchange could be next. XRP Price Prediction Eyes $27 XRP is trading around $1.30 after pulling back from roughly $1.50 earlier this month, but Ripple’s institutional expansion has not slowed.
DriveWealth is integrating Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin for settlement and cross-border payments, with the service starting in Europe before expanding toward the U.S. Ripple has also partnered with Stripe-owned Privy to bring embedded XRP Ledger wallets directly into applications. That gives developers a simpler route to build payment products using XRP, RLUSD and other XRPL assets without forcing users through a separate wallet setup.
Those developments give the $27 target a stronger adoption narrative. A move from around $1.30 to $27 would require a massive new cycle, but broader institutional settlement, easier wallet access and another major altcoin expansion are the kind of catalysts retail bulls are watching. AlphaPepe sits much earlier in the timeline.
XRP already has a mature public market, while AlphaPepe is still moving through presale stages before its first exchange chart. AlphaPepe Turns Stage Scarcity Into the Immediate Catalyst The AlphaPepe story today is simple: Stage 20 is sold out, Stage 21 is tightening, and more than $3.06 million has already entered the presale.
That scarcity is happening while AlphaSwap is live, 12,600+ holders are already onboard and the fifth CEX reveal remains ahead. The current $0.03368 entry therefore sits inside a presale that is getting closer to its next stage transition and first public-market cycle. XRP traders are watching whether new institutional infrastructure can eventually help drive a run toward $27.
AlphaPepe buyers have a nearer event to watch: another presale stage is moving toward the finish line before exchange trading even begins. VISIT ALPHAPEPE OFFICIAL WEBSITE FAQs What is the XRP price prediction? XRP price prediction eyes $27 in an aggressive bull-cycle scenario built around wider institutional adoption, stronger token demand and another major altcoin expansion.
What is happening with AlphaPepe Stage 21?
Stage 20 has already sold out, and Stage 21 is now moving toward its own sellout as the presale continues beyond $3.06 million raised.
What is AlphaSwap?
AlphaSwap is AlphaPepe’s AI DEX, already live in Early Access. Auto-Trade registration is also open while $ALPE remains in presale.
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A new set of bullish cryptocurrency price targets has captured attention in the digital asset community. Crypto analyst Modern Investor, a well-known figure among retail traders and content creators, has outlined significant upside projections for Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, and Cardano in an online video shared by John Squire, also recognized in the crypto sphere under the handle @TheCryptoSquire.
Modern Investor’s bold cycle targetsIn his latest commentary, Modern Investor stated that he expects Bitcoin to reach $295,000 within the ongoing bullish cycle. He also projected that Ethereum could rise to a range of $9,000 to $11,000, while XRP could hit $8.95. Cardano’s potential, according to his outlook, stands at $5 per token.
He framed these projections as consistent with the typical patterns of previous crypto market cycles, noting that although the gains are substantial, they remain within the realm of possibility based on past performance. Modern Investor’s perspective suggested that current conditions leave room for further significant growth across multiple leading assets.
The target of $8.95 for XRP indicates a nearly 590% increase from the current price of $1.30. In the same analysis, Modern Investor placed XRP alongside Bitcoin and Ethereum, suggesting all three could benefit considerably in the next major market uptrend.
Modern Investor envisions Bitcoin reaching $295,000, Ethereum at $11,000, and XRP climbing to $8.95 in the current market cycle, seeing these levels as aligned with previous bull market patterns.
AssetCurrent PriceTarget PriceProjected IncreaseBitcoin$41,000$295,000~620%Ethereum$2,200$9,000 – $11,000~309% – 400%XRP$1.30$8.95~590%Cardano (ADA)$0.52$5~860%Modern Investor is a digital content creator and market commentator known for his cycle-based analyses and optimistic price forecasts. John Squire, who amplified the predictions on social media, is also recognized for sharing insights and news with the crypto community.
Mini dictionary: Modern Investor — An influential crypto market analyst on multiple digital platforms, known for extensive market cycle analysis and widely-followed forecasts.
XRP positioned for major cycle growthXRP’s long-term development has centered on increasing its adoption in cross-border payments and institutional finance. Modern Investor’s price target for XRP suggests confidence that ongoing efforts to build practical use cases could translate to major price appreciation if market conditions remain favorable.
Squire commented that after years of building, a price target of $8.95 for XRP “doesn’t sound like an impossible dream.” This view resonates with those in the XRP community who believe that the token’s strong fundamentals and expanding utility give it significant upside potential in the next cycle.
These ambitious forecasts sparked active discussion across multiple platforms. Some respondents felt that the projected prices were overly optimistic or out of step with current market realities. Criticism also touched on Bitcoin, with one commentator arguing that it lacked sufficient utility compared to XRP and other alternatives.
A portion of the community expressed skepticism or frustration, seeing such commentary as part of a larger trend of sensationalist predictions designed to drive engagement. One user dismissed the $9 price prediction for XRP as a “joke,” while another urged others to refrain from amplifying what they described as “dishonest” influencer narratives.
A prediction fueling market dialogueThe specificity of Modern Investor’s targets has prompted close scrutiny throughout the crypto community. Whether or not these levels are ultimately reached, his analysis has ensured that XRP, along with Bitcoin and Ethereum, remains a focal point in ongoing discussions surrounding the trajectory of the current market cycle.
CoinDesk has published a comparative chart highlighting the performance of major cryptocurrencies since their peaks in December 2017 and January 2018. According to the chart, Bitcoin is trading 314% above its previous all time high, while BNB leads the group with a gain of 2,818%. Ethereum has risen 66% over its earlier peak, and Dogecoin has gained 322%.
Lagging performance for XRP against peersUnlike these assets, XRP currently trades around $1.33, which remains 62.5% below its all time high from January 2018. This underperformance stands out in the context of other large-cap cryptocurrencies, all of which have exceeded their previous highs by substantial margins.
Commentators in the crypto community, including Digital Asset Investor (@digitalassetbuy), have drawn attention to the divergence. Many see XRP’s position as evidence of lagging returns. However, Digital Asset Investor takes a different view, arguing the circumstances behind the numbers set XRP apart from its competitors.
Legal headwinds and their impactDigital Asset Investor emphasized that the CoinDesk analysis does not reflect the unique challenges XRP has faced in recent years. He pointed out that XRP was the only token among those compared that dealt with five years of regulatory pressure and enforcement actions, most notably a prolonged lawsuit by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
At one time, XRP surpassed Ethereum by market capitalization and was positioned to potentially challenge Bitcoin as the leading cryptocurrency. Digital Asset Investor suggested the legal challenges directed at Ripple and XRP were significant factors contributing to the asset’s prolonged period of underperformance relative to its peers.
He sees these challenges not as evidence of fundamental weakness but as important context behind the numbers. He maintains that regulatory uncertainty has suppressed XRP’s ability to follow the growth of other large cryptocurrencies.
“XRP was the only one out of all of that list that has been attacked in every way known to man, including a five-year SEC lawsuit,” Digital Asset Investor stated, adding that the prolonged legal battles weighed heavily on the asset’s market trajectory.
Mini dictionary: Ripple, a San Francisco–based fintech company, is the primary developer of XRP and its network; the SEC lawsuit alleged that sales of XRP constituted an unregistered securities offering, a case watched closely by the global crypto industry.
AssetCurrent vs Previous ATHBitcoin+314%BNB+2,818%Ethereum+66%Dogecoin+322%XRP-62.5%Renewed optimism after legal resolutionWith the SEC lawsuit concluded and a US court determining that XRP is not a security, Digital Asset Investor believes the most significant obstacles to XRP’s growth have been removed. He pointed out that regulatory clarity is returning, with the SEC and Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) pushing for clearer rules in the US market.
Digital Asset Investor explained that these developments have led him to become “more bullish on XRP by a long shot than any of them,” referring to Bitcoin, Ethereum, BNB, and Dogecoin.
He maintains that, “All of the roadblocks are out of the way now,” and that the resolution of the legal battle has put XRP in a better position to regain lost ground.
Expectations for XRP’s future priceLooking ahead, Digital Asset Investor stated that he does not intend to sell his XRP position at a price of $5 to $10, indicating his belief that these levels would not reflect the full potential of a post-litigation XRP market. He interprets the underperformance shown by CoinDesk’s chart as a sign that XRP remains a compressed asset now ready to move, rather than a project in decline.
TLDR: Bitcoin must hold $81,000, the lower boundary of its daily rising channel, to target $84,000 and $86,500. A break below $81,000 would shift Bitcoin’s focus to $76,000 as the next downside level to watch. Ethereum must hold $2,350 on a daily close to target $2,700 and $3,000; a loss puts $2,000 in focus. XRP needs $1.25 to hold and a sustained close above $1.56 to open the path toward $2; $1 is the downside. Bitcoin rebound prospects depend on whether buyers defend key support levels, according to crypto analyst Ali Charts.
The analyst named $81,000 for Bitcoin, $2,350 for Ethereum, and $1.25 for XRP as the levels to watch. Each asset has reached a technical test on its daily chart.
Holding these zones could trigger recoveries across all three assets in the near term. A breakdown, however, would shift attention toward lower price targets instead.
Bitcoin Rebound Depends on $81,000 Support Ali Charts shared the outlook in a thread on X on October 18. For Bitcoin, the analyst pointed to $81,000 as the key level.
This price marks the lower boundary of its daily rising channel. The channel connects a series of higher lows and higher highs on the daily chart.
2/5 For Bitcoin, the level is $81,000, the lower boundary of its daily rising channel.
If buyers defend it, $BTC could rebound toward the channel’s mid-range at $84,000, then to its upper boundary at $86,500.
A break below $81,000 would shift my focus to $76,000. pic.twitter.com/Ev21vQ1GLz
— Ali Charts (@alicharts) October 18, 2026
If buyers defend that support, BTC could rebound toward the channel’s mid-range at $84,000. The $84,000 mark sits near the midpoint of the channel. From there, the next target sits at the upper boundary near $86,500.
However, a break below $81,000 would change the setup. In that case, the analyst would shift focus to $76,000 as the next level.
The $76,000 level would then become the main area for buyers. The Bitcoin rebound case therefore rests on this single channel boundary.
Ethereum Tests $2,350 Support Ethereum faces a similar test at $2,350. This level acts as the support line of a right-angled ascending broadening pattern. Such patterns form when price swings widen while support rises over time.
A bounce from this zone could lift ETH toward $2,700. A stronger move could extend the rally to $3,000. The $3,000 target would require sustained momentum after the first move. Both targets depend on buyers holding the pattern’s lower boundary.
On the other hand, a daily close below $2,350 would change the outlook. A close below that line would invalidate the support the pattern relies on. In that scenario, the analyst would watch $2,000 instead. Ethereum therefore needs to hold that line on a closing basis.
XRP Watches $1.25 Inverse Head-and-Shoulders For XRP, Ali Charts is watching $1.25. Holding this level could complete the right shoulder of a potential inverse head-and-shoulders pattern.
The pattern appears on the 3-day chart. This formation often signals a potential trend reversal when the price breaks above its neckline.
The rebound would still need confirmation, though. A sustained close above $1.56 could open the path toward $2. The $1.56 level acts as the resistance XRP must clear first. Such a move would confirm the setup on the higher timeframe.
Failure to hold $1.25 would change the picture. In that event, $1 becomes the downside level to watch. That level would mark a drop of roughly 20% from the $1.25 support. All three setups, including the Bitcoin rebound case, depend on support holding in the coming sessions.
XRP has seen heavy selling across spot and perpetual futures markets, with combined cumulative volume delta (CVD) down nearly $2 billion.
This occurred between Sept. 23 and Oct. 16. During the same period, XRP’s open interest on Binance and Bybit dropped considerably, indicating that traders were reducing their positions amid the persistent selling pressure.
XRP CVD Shows Widespread Selling For context, cumulative volume delta (CVD) measures the difference between aggressive market buys and sells. When CVD falls, it means sellers are hitting buyers’ bids more often than buyers are lifting sellers’ offers. This shows continued selling pressure, not normal back-and-forth trading.
Across all centralized exchanges, the estimated spot XRP CVD fell from -$1.9 billion to -$3.2 billion during the period under consideration. This marked a further $1.3 billion in net aggressive selling.
Meanwhile, Binance’s perpetual XRP CVD also declined, moving from -$812 million to -$1.5 billion, a further drop of $688 million.
Combined XRP CVD collapses by nearly $2 billion across the spot and perpetual markets Both figures show that selling pressure affected spot trading and leveraged derivatives at the same time. The two readings recorded a combined CVD decline of $1.988 billion, bringing the total close to $2 billion.
This trend had already emerged earlier in the quarter. By mid-September, on-chain data showed that Binance’s perpetual CVD had fallen to around -$1 billion, while estimated spot CVD across centralized exchanges stood at approximately -$2.1 billion, according to CryptoQuant data.
With the recent decline moving close to $2 billion again, the data shows that selling continued beyond mid-September and pushed both readings further into negative territory.
XRP Open Interest Falls on Binance and Bybit The XRP CVD drop also coincided with a drop in derivatives positions on Binance and Bybit. On Binance, XRP open interest fell from 302 million XRP to 228 million XRP, a decline of 74 million XRP, or 24.5%.
Bybit recorded a larger drop, with open interest falling from 359 million XRP to 258 million XRP, a reduction of 101 million XRP, or 28.1%. Across both exchanges, open interest declined by a combined 175 million XRP, representing a 26.5% reduction in outstanding derivatives positions.
Notably, open interest measures the total number of futures and perpetual contracts that remain active. When it falls alongside declining prices and increasingly negative CVD, it often indicates that traders are closing leveraged long positions, not necessarily opening new short positions. This suggests deleveraging.
Importantly, deleveraging can help remove excess leverage from the market. As traders close their positions, the smaller derivatives market may face less forced selling once most vulnerable long positions have exited. However, this does not guarantee an immediate recovery.
XRP Liquidations Confirm the Market-Wide Unwind Meanwhile, liquidation data also confirms the pressure on bullish traders. During the period under consideration, XRP recorded several long-liquidation spikes exceeding $10 million each, with one peak reaching nearly $17 million.
XRP’s liquidation heatmap also shows a notable difference between the size of potential liquidations above and below the current price.
Specifically, two highlighted short-liquidation clusters above the market contain a combined $54.7 million, while two highlighted long-liquidation clusters below the market total just $14.17 million.
The short-liquidation clusters above the current price are about 3.86 times larger than the highlighted long-liquidation clusters below it. This suggests that the larger concentration of potentially trapped leveraged positions lies among short sellers above XRP’s current price.
XRP Ledger validator Vet argues that blockchain technology is transforming the future of finance through crypto assets like XRP, 24/7 trading, and easier access to global markets.
In a post on X, Vet explained that major innovations often begin with people who believe in the future. He believes some people doubt XRP’s potential because they are too pessimistic about what lies ahead.
“We live in a world people called Sci-Fi decades ago,” Vet wrote, adding that blockchain technology is disrupting traditional finance through tokenization, 24/7 trading, global access, and censorship resistance.
“New money, folks!” he added, expressing confidence in the XRP Ledger’s role in this transition.
Meanwhile, recent developments at Ripple provide examples of how blockchain-based financial services are moving closer to traditional banking infrastructure.
RLUSD Moves Into Banking and Global Payments Ripple is making it easier for banks and financial companies to adopt blockchain technology through its stablecoin, RLUSD, and the XRP Ledger (XRPL).
On October 15, Ripple announced a partnership with Cross River Bank to integrate RLUSD into the bank’s systems. The move supports transactions on the XRP Ledger.
The partnership will allow financial companies to send and settle payments using U.S. dollars and RLUSD 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Customers will be able to access RLUSD through a single connection without having to build their own blockchain infrastructure. The partnership also aims to support international payments and transfers.
Ripple also reported that RLUSD’s market capitalization had surpassed $2.5 billion, with more than $1 billion worth of the stablecoin issued on the XRP Ledger.
RLUSD payments are becoming part of the banking infrastructure fintechs already use.
We’re partnering with @CrossRiverBank to integrate RLUSD on the XRP Ledger into its core banking platform, providing 24/7 settlement within payment networks and greater flexibility to settle… pic.twitter.com/ZBLw9f40Oy
— Ripple (@Ripple) October 15, 2026
Ripple Prime Introduces 24/7 Trading Meanwhile, Ripple also announced new trading services through Ripple Prime on October 15. The service allows institutional investors to gain exposure to traditional assets, including stocks, commodities, and currencies, through markets that operate around the clock.
Ripple Prime also allows RLUSD to be used as collateral for certain transactions, giving the stablecoin another use case in institutional finance. The service is currently available in select markets, with plans to expand into other regions.
Ripple Partners With DriveWealth On October 14, Ripple announced a partnership with DriveWealth, a company that provides investment services to financial platforms.
The partnership aims to use RLUSD for payments and settlements, help investors move money across borders, and explore additional financial services.
The goal is to make it easier for international investors to fund their brokerage accounts quickly without relying entirely on traditional payment systems.
DriveWealth works with more than 100 partners worldwide, giving Ripple access to a broader network of investment platforms.
What This Means for the XRP Ledger These partnerships demonstrate how Ripple is working to integrate blockchain technology into traditional finance. The XRP Ledger can process transactions quickly, while RLUSD provides a digital representation of the U.S. dollar for supported payments and financial services.
If more banks and financial companies adopt these services, the XRP Ledger could see increased usage.
Ultimately, Vet believes that blockchain technology is reshaping global finance and that the XRP Ledger will play a significant role in that future. He encourages stakeholders to focus on long-term possibilities rather than dismissing them because of current limitations.
XRP trades at $1.30, down 7.21% over seven days, with $1.30-$1.32 serving as key support.
Vuori Trading identifies $1.39 as the next resistance and $1.87 as a potential breakout target.
Cryptoinsightuk prefers a lower XRP entry near $1.22, with liquidity extending toward $1.20.
Rising Bitcoin dominance could pressure XRP and other altcoins if capital continues favoring Bitcoin.
XRP is trading near $1.30 as traders monitor key support levels and a potential breakout from its descending channel. CoinGecko data shows XRP at $1.30, down 0.47% over 24 hours and 7.21% over the past week. Its 24-hour trading volume stands at $1,006,675,899.
Market analyst Vuori Trading identified $1.30-$1.32 as a support zone, with $1.39 as the next level to watch. A breakout above the descending channel could open a path toward $1.87, according to the analyst’s technical outlook.
However, Cryptoinsightuk sees potential for another decline before a stronger entry emerges.
The analyst is watching $1.22, with liquidity levels between $1.24 and $1.20 also drawing attention. The competing scenarios leave XRP traders weighing a possible rebound against continued downside pressure.
XRP price on CoinGecko
XRP Price Analysis: Can $1.30 Support Trigger a Rebound?
XRP is testing an important price area as traders assess whether the current decline has reached a local bottom. Vuori Trading considers $1.30-$1.32 a key support zone for the asset.
If buyers defend this area, $1.39 becomes the next logical level, according to Vuori Trading. A successful breakout from the descending channel could then place $1.87 within reach. That target remains conditional on a confirmed breakout rather than a guaranteed outcome.
Daily $XRP check!
Still holding the 1.3-1.32 support! $1.39 is next logical level and if we can escape this descending channel -> we will send to $1.87 IF reject then we continue this downtrend until breakout; the ultimate level for this current bleed is $1.16
Short / mid… pic.twitter.com/ncwdWvbBiZ
— Vuori Trading (@VuoriTrading) October 18, 2026
A rejection at resistance could extend XRP’s existing downtrend. Vuori Trading identified $1.16 as a potential downside level if the decline continues without a successful breakout.
Cryptoinsightuk offers a more cautious view of the immediate setup. The analyst considers $1.30 a possible range low, with resistance around $1.60. However, the preferred entry remains lower, near $1.22.
The analyst also noted that XRP had nearly retested its recent lows while BTC maintained a higher low. This difference could matter if Bitcoin continues attracting liquidity away from alternative cryptocurrencies.
XRP Price Could Fall Further as Bitcoin Dominance Rises
Cryptoinsightuk highlighted Bitcoin’s recent price structure when assessing XRP’s next move. Bitcoin previously formed a range between approximately $80,000 and $87,000 before sweeping its lower boundary on October 15.
One thing I’m asking myself right now with ripple:native is, am I being too cute with my entry?
We could argue that $1.30 is the range low, with a range high around $1.60. Whichever way you look at it, if you’re trading that range, this could be a good place to enter anyway.… https://t.co/nCJZCMzRay pic.twitter.com/iLS96yqKGv
— Cryptoinsightuk (@Cryptoinsightuk) October 18, 2026
That move resembles an earlier pattern in which Bitcoin swept range support before moving higher. The analyst believes XRP could follow a similar recovery path, although a deeper correction remains possible.
The analysis identifies two potential scenarios for Bitcoin: a shallow correction that may already be complete, or a deeper three-leg ABC correction. The second scenario remains the analyst’s preferred outlook.
Bitcoin dominance adds another variable to XRP’s short-term prospects. Cryptoinsightuk said the weekly chart appears to show a breakout from a pennant pattern, potentially signaling further Bitcoin outperformance.
Rising Bitcoin dominance can indicate that Bitcoin is attracting a larger share of crypto market capital. If that trend continues, altcoins such as XRP could face additional pressure, even if Bitcoin itself rebounds.
The analyst identified a potential XRP liquidity zone between $1.24 and $1.22, extending toward $1.20. These levels represent possible entry areas, not confirmed price targets or guaranteed support.
The immediate question is whether $1.30 holds long enough to support a recovery toward $1.39.
A channel breakout could strengthen the case for $1.87, while renewed selling could expose lower levels. The next directional move depends on how price responds around support and resistance.
Recent data from Coinbase Markets has revealed significant imbalances in XRP derivatives positioning. The current spot price of XRP stands at $1.31, notably lower than the levels at which the majority of bullish derivatives positions were initiated. This gap has drawn close attention to net-long exposure in the XRP market.
XRP derivatives skewed above spot priceA substantial volume of XRP short positions has congregated around the $1.49 and $1.50 price points, with the largest single cluster exceeding $20 million in notional value. In contrast, the bulk of long exposure in the derivatives market was established around $1.40, roughly 7% higher than the current market price. The skew in positioning highlights the vulnerability of net-long traders to any further downward moves.
Coinbase Markets identified that 97% of net-long notional exposure was opened at prices above the present spot rate. This insight is based on Glassnode’s net entry-price heatmap, which bins long and short positions by price level to depict the current state of derivatives exposure as of October 15.
The largest cluster of net-long XRP positions entered at $1.40, while the spot price remains at $1.31. This means that 97% of net-long notional was entered above today’s price.
Context for derivatives exposureThe 97% figure does not reflect the entire population of XRP investors but refers specifically to net derivatives exposure. Glassnode calculates this by taking the net difference between long and short positions at each identified price. A positive value at a given position indicates a predominance of longs, while a negative value means shorts outnumber longs at that level. The data does not represent potential liquidation thresholds, as those depend on individual margin, leverage, and collateral choices.
Shorts have gained dominance in this environment, with market structure currently favoring sellers. The charted entry prices also do not align with forced liquidation points, which can vary widely depending on leverage and risk management.
Potential price impacts and trader responsesThis arrangement in the derivatives market creates possible implications for XRP’s near-term price movements. With so many long positions entered significantly above spot, many traders may face pressure to close losing positions, potentially triggering further selloffs if the market declines. A cascading effect of margin closures could follow, reinforcing downward price pressure.
Alternatively, a move back toward $1.40 or higher could lead some traders to hold or expand positions, believing in a price recovery. The resolution of this clustering will likely influence overall volatility, depending on which way the price breaks next.
Active market monitoring is now critical for traders managing significant derivatives exposure. In a market where a single Fed decision or a sudden altcoin listing can change everything in seconds, jumping between different apps for charts, news, and portfolio tracking is costing investors money. Smart traders are now utilizing privacy-first tools like CryptoAppsy to consolidate everything. Without even the hassle of creating an account, you get real-time charts, smart price alerts, coin-specific news, and critical macro data all on one screen.
For now, the large discrepancy between long entry prices and the current market rate means substantial uncertainty persists for highly leveraged positions. Market participants are watching for further shifts in derivatives positioning as XRP fluctuates at these key price thresholds.
