Share
Share this article
Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail
Markets
Share
Share this article
Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail
XRP bounces, but $2 remains the hurdle as ex
Markets
Share
Share this article
Copy linkX (Twitter)LinkedInFacebookEmail
XRP bounces, but $2 remains the hurdle as ex
XRP bounces, but $2 remains the hurdle as exchange supply hits 8-year low
XRP bounces, but $2 remains the hurdle as exchange supply hits 8-year low
Exchange balances have decreased by about 57% since October, suggesting tokens are moving into longer-term storage.
By Shaurya Malwa, CD Analytics
Updated Jan 2, 2026, 3:14 a.m. Published Jan 2, 2026, 3:14 a.m.
(CoinDesk Data)
What to know:
- XRP's price rose to $1.87 as exchange-held supply fell to its lowest level since 2018, indicating a tightening supply narrative.
- Exchange balances have decreased by about 57% since October, suggesting tokens are moving into longer-term storage.
- XRP faces resistance near $1.88, with a broader range between $1.77 and $2.00, as technical indicators show mixed momentum.
XRP pushed up to $1.87 as exchange-held supply fell to its lowest level since 2018, reinforcing a tightening-float narrative even as price remains stuck below the heavy $1.88–$2.00 resistance band that has repeatedly capped rebounds.
News background
Exchange balances are being treated as a key signal again. Supply held on trading venues has fallen to roughly 1.6 billion XRP, down about 57% since October, suggesting more tokens are moving into longer-term storage or custody rather than sitting ready to be sold.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters
Sign me up
That drawdown is arriving during a broader phase of selective positioning across majors: institutions have increasingly leaned on structured and regulated rails for exposure while spot markets remain choppy, leaving tokens like XRP trading with a supportive long-term bid but fragile short-term momentum.
For XRP specifically, the falling exchange inventory matters because it can amplify moves when demand picks up — but it doesn’t guarantee upside if sellers show up at known technical levels (and $2 has been that level).
Technical analysis
XRP climbed roughly 1.7% from $1.84 to $1.87, printing higher lows through the session and holding a relatively contained $0.05 range (about 2.5% intraday volatility). Participation improved at the right moment: volume expanded during the push higher (around 32 million, about 50% above average) — a sign this wasn’t simply drifting upward on thin liquidity.
But the tape still reads like controlled recovery inside a broader ceiling. XRP repeatedly slowed as it approached the $1.88 area, a level that also lines up with a broader resistance zone ahead of the psychological $2.00 handle. That matters because recent attempts to reclaim $2 have failed quickly, turning the area into a supply zone where sellers are comfortable leaning on rallies.
Momentum indicators are mixed. Some oscillators show bullish divergence (momentum improving even as price hasn’t fully broken out), but the market still needs follow-through above resistance to validate it. On the lower side, the structure looks constructive as long as XRP holds above the $1.82–$1.83 base from the session’s early tests — and more broadly above the $1.77 floor that has acted as the next clear demand pocket.
Price action summary
- XRP advanced from $1.84 to $1.87, posting a steady series of higher lows
- Volume expanded during the move higher, peaking around 32M, roughly 50% above average
- Price stalled near $1.88 resistance, keeping the broader $1.77–$2.00 range intact
- Late-session action consolidated around $1.873, signaling an inflection point rather than a breakout
What traders should know
The story is a tug-of-war between tightening available supply and a well-defined resistance ceiling.
Key levels are clean:
- Bull case: A sustained push above $1.88 opens the door to a run toward $1.95, with $2.00 as the breakout trigger. A clean reclaim of $2 would likely pull in momentum buyers and force repositioning from sellers who have been defending that zone.
- Bear case: Failure to hold the $1.82–$1.83 base shifts focus back to $1.77, the next meaningful demand pocket. If that breaks, risk extends lower into the next broader support region (where buyers historically reappear), but the near-term battlefield is clearly $1.77 vs. $1.88.
For now, shrinking exchange supply keeps the longer-term setup constructive — but the market still needs a decisive win above $1.88–$2.00 before the upside narrative can take control of the tape.
More For You
KuCoin Hits Record Market Share as 2025 Volumes Outpace Crypto Market
Commissioned byKuCoin
KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.
What to know:
- KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
- This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
- Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
- Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
- Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.
View Full Report
More For You
Tether adds nearly $800 million in bitcoin, bringing holdings above 96,000 BTC
The purchase is part of Tether's strategy to use up to 15% of its quarterly profits for bitcoin acquisitions.
What to know:
- Tether added 8,888.88 BTC to its treasury wallet as part of its Q4 2025 profit allocation.
- The purchase is part of Tether's strategy to use up to 15% of its quarterly profits for bitcoin acquisitions.
- Tether's approach allows it to diversify reserves without affecting the assets backing its stablecoin liabilities.
Read full story
Latest Crypto News
Tether adds nearly $800 million in bitcoin, bringing holdings above 96,000 BTC
Dogecoin surges 7% as a double-bottom break sparks DOGE rally
December FOMC minutes show the Fed is worried short-term funding could seize up
Vitalik Buterin on the two goals Ethereum must meet to become the ‘world computer’
Strategy shares register first six-month losing streak since adoption of bitcoin strategy in 2020
How crypto's promised year-end fireworks turned into a bloodbath
Top Stories
Trump Media to distribute new digital tokens to DJT shareholders
Coinbase’s Base faces builder backlash over creator coin push
Bitcoin got stuck after slumping 30% from its peak. Here's why.
XRP and solana volatility in 2025 was twice as bumpy as bitcoin's
Korbit fined $1.9 million for anti money-laundering, customer verification breaches
Bitwise files for 11 'strategy' ETFs, tracking tokens including AAVE, ZEC, TAO
Market Opportunity
XRP Price(XRP)
$1.3253
$1.3253$1.3253
USD
XRP (XRP) Live Price Chart
Disclaimer: The articles reposted on this site are sourced from public platforms and are provided for informational purposes only. They do not necessarily reflect the views of MEXC. All rights remain with the original authors. If you believe any content infringes on third-party rights, please contact crypto.news@mexc.com for removal. MEXC makes no guarantees regarding the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the content and is not responsible for any actions taken based on the information provided. The content does not constitute financial, legal, or other professional advice, nor should it be considered a recommendation or endorsement by MEXC.
You May Also Like
WELIREG® (belzutifan) Plus LENVIMA® (lenvatinib) Reduced the Risk of Disease Progression or Death by 30% Compared to Cabozantinib in Certain Previously Treated Patients With Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma (RCC)
This is the first positive Phase 3 trial of a HIF-2 alpha inhibitor in combination with a multi-targeted tyrosine kinase inhibitor, the first for patients with
Share
AI Journal2026/02/28 23:15
Why Bitcoin traders have to price tariffs like surprise rate hikes while waiting on social media posts for the next $175B trigger
The US Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s emergency tariffs under IEEPA on Feb. 20, and markets immediately inherited a large cash flow question
Share
CryptoSlate2026/02/28 22:50
Fed forecasts only one rate cut in 2026, a more conservative outlook than expected
The post Fed forecasts only one rate cut in 2026, a more conservative outlook than expected appeared on BitcoinEthereumNews.com. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell talks to reporters following the regular Federal Open Market Committee meetings at the Fed on July 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images The Federal Reserve is projecting only one rate cut in 2026, fewer than expected, according to its median projection. The central bank’s so-called dot plot, which shows 19 individual members’ expectations anonymously, indicated a median estimate of 3.4% for the federal funds rate at the end of 2026. That compares to a median estimate of 3.6% for the end of this year following two expected cuts on top of Wednesday’s reduction. A single quarter-point reduction next year is significantly more conservative than current market pricing. Traders are currently pricing in at two to three more rate cuts next year, according to the CME Group’s FedWatch tool, updated shortly after the decision. The gauge uses prices on 30-day fed funds futures contracts to determine market-implied odds for rate moves. Here are the Fed’s latest targets from 19 FOMC members, both voters and nonvoters: Zoom In IconArrows pointing outwards The forecasts, however, showed a large difference of opinion with two voting members seeing as many as four cuts. Three officials penciled in three rate reductions next year. “Next year’s dot plot is a mosaic of different perspectives and is an accurate reflection of a confusing economic outlook, muddied by labor supply shifts, data measurement concerns, and government policy upheaval and uncertainty,” said Seema Shah, chief global strategist at Principal Asset Management. The central bank has two policy meetings left for the year, one in October and one in December. Economic projections from the Fed saw slightly faster economic growth in 2026 than was projected in June, while the outlook for inflation was updated modestly higher for next year. There’s a lot of uncertainty…
Share
BitcoinEthereumNews2025/09/18 02:59