XRP Price Stagnates Below $3 Despite ETF Launch and Ripple Partnerships

XRP is once again under pressure, trading around $2.90 after slipping more than 4% in the past 24 hours.

The decline came as the broader cryptocurrency market lost billions in market capitalization, with Bitcoin falling below $115,000 and Ethereum retreating from recent highs. Once ranked third by market cap, XRP has now slipped to fourth place with a valuation of $168.32 billion.

For years, XRP’s community blamed the ongoing U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lawsuit against Ripple for its sluggish price performance. However, legal expert and XRP commentator Bill Morgan now argues that the lawsuit is no longer an excuse.

With the case resolved, the focus has shifted to market fundamentals and investor sentiment, both of which remain muted.

Profit-Taking and Liquidations Weigh on XRP

The launch of the first U.S.-listed XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) was expected to be a turning point for the token. The ETF recorded impressive day-one trading volumes exceeding $37 million.

Yet, instead of fueling a sustainable rally, the event triggered a “sell the news” reaction. Institutional investors who accumulated positions ahead of the launch quickly locked in profits, sparking heavy selling pressure.

Adding to the turbulence, data shows that XRP traders faced nearly $22 million in liquidations within a single day, with 99% of the losses coming from long positions. The liquidation cascade accelerated the decline, leaving many retail traders caught off guard.

Meanwhile, the SEC’s updated ETF compliance rules have added further caution to the altcoin sector. Combined with an overall drop in market sentiment, these factors have left XRP stuck below key resistance levels.

Can XRP Break Out of Its Slump?

Technically, XRP faces stiff resistance near the $3.10–$3.20 zone. Analysts warn that if it fails to break this range, further declines toward $2.50–$2.60 remain possible. On the other hand, bullish traders argue that the current oversold conditions could pave the way for a rebound if buyers step in to defend the $2.80 support level.

While some commentators remain pessimistic, others point to XRP’s history of explosive rallies. Crypto analyst BarriC recently suggested that if the token repeats its 2017–2018 growth cycle, XRP could surge as high as $300 by 2026. However, critics caution that today’s market environment is far more complex, and such projections may be overly optimistic.

For now, XRP holders remain stuck between cautious optimism and growing frustration as the token struggles to reclaim momentum in a volatile market.