XRP price locked in tight range even as key network metric overtakes Solana
XRP is struggling to break out of a narrow trading band, even while on‑chain activity and real‑world asset (RWA) tokenization on its network are accelerating and now surpassing Solana by one important measure.
On Sunday, Ripple’s native token changed hands around $1.4215, roughly 15% below its monthly high. In recent days, price action has been largely sideways, with neither bulls nor bears able to assert clear control.
This stagnation is happening against a backdrop of broader market lethargy. Bitcoin has hovered near $68,000 for weeks with very limited volatility, and most major altcoins have mirrored this consolidation. Ethereum, for example, continues to trade below the $2,000 mark, struggling to establish a new upward trend. In such an environment, even positive fundamental news for individual projects is failing to translate into sustained price moves.
Network growth continues despite “crypto winter”
Fundamentally, the XRP ecosystem looks far healthier than the token’s flat price chart suggests. Developers have continued to build and roll out new infrastructure, targeting institutional and enterprise use cases.
One of the recent milestones is the launch of a Permissioned DEX platform on top of XRP technology. This solution is designed to let regulated entities tap into decentralized finance while staying within legal and compliance frameworks. It effectively bridges the gap between traditional finance and DeFi, giving banks, fintechs, and corporates a more controlled environment than fully permissionless exchanges offer.
This launch follows the introduction of domain support within the XRP Ledger, a feature aimed at making interactions with the network more human‑readable and user‑friendly. Together, these developments underscore that the project is prioritizing usability, compliance, and integration with real‑world financial structures-areas that are increasingly important for long‑term adoption.
Real‑world asset tokenization surges and surpasses Solana
One of the standout growth areas for XRP has been its role in tokenizing real‑world assets. Over the past 30 days, the total value of RWA assets on the XRP network has climbed by 23%, exceeding $2 billion. That figure is now higher than Solana’s RWA exposure, which sits around $1.7 billion, and it also outpaces levels seen on networks such as Polygon and Stellar.
RWA tokenization is often cited as one of the most promising long‑term narratives in crypto. It allows traditional financial instruments-such as bonds, real estate, funds, or even invoices-to be represented on‑chain, making them easier to trade, fractionally own, or use as collateral. XRP’s growing share in this segment signals increasing confidence from issuers and institutions that see the network as a viable base layer for such assets.
Yet this fundamental progress is not reflected in the token’s spot price, which remains stuck in a tight corridor. For investors, this divergence between on‑chain growth and market valuation is becoming increasingly notable and may set the stage for sharper moves once broader market conditions change.
XRP ETFs see inflows while Bitcoin and Ethereum funds bleed
Another optimistic data point for XRP is the performance of its spot exchange‑traded funds (ETFs). Over the current month, XRP ETFs have attracted more than $48.5 million in net inflows. This figure significantly exceeds the roughly $15 million they gathered in January, indicating that institutional or ETF‑driven demand is quietly building.
The contrast with Bitcoin and Ethereum is striking. While XRP products have expanded their assets under management, BTC and ETH ETFs have been experiencing net outflows over the same period. That suggests some capital is rotating toward alternative large‑cap assets as investors look for diversification beyond the two dominant cryptocurrencies.
ETFs are often regarded as a gauge of more conservative or regulated investor sentiment. Rising inflows into XRP products, especially during a time of broader risk‑off behavior, imply that a portion of the market sees XRP as undervalued or at least interesting as a relative play against other majors.
Technical picture: bearish bias despite rangebound trading
From a technical analysis perspective, XRP’s chart has weakened notably over the past few months. On the daily timeframe, the token is trading around $1.4230, well below its year‑to‑date high near $2.4180. That represents a significant retreat from earlier bullish momentum.
Price is currently capped beneath the Major Support & Resistance pivot of the Murrey Math Lines indicator at $1.5625. Failing to reclaim this level reinforces the idea that the market does not yet have enough buying strength to reset the broader trend to the upside.
Adding to the negative picture, XRP has slipped under all its key moving averages and is trading below the Supertrend indicator, both of which signal that sellers remain in control. These technical tools typically serve as dynamic support or resistance, and trading under them often coincides with persistent downward pressure or, at best, muted bounces.
A particularly notable formation appeared on February 15: a gravestone doji candlestick. This pattern, characterized by a long upper wick and a close near the session low, is usually interpreted as a bearish reversal sign. It indicates that buyers attempted to push prices higher but were decisively overwhelmed by sellers before the close.
Taken together, these signals point toward a prevailing bearish bias, even as the market appears calm on the surface.
Key downside target: year‑to‑date low
Given the current technical context, the most probable short‑term scenario remains a move lower rather than an immediate bullish breakout. The next critical support level on many traders’ radars is the year‑to‑date low around $1.1200, which marks the weakest price point recorded this year.
If XRP fails to defend that area on a fresh test, it could open the door to a deeper correction, especially if macro or crypto‑wide risk sentiment deteriorates. Conversely, a strong rebound from that zone-accompanied by rising volume-could signal that long‑term holders and new entrants view sub‑$1.20 levels as attractive accumulation territory.
For now, though, the market has not provided a decisive catalyst in either direction, leaving the token confined to a relatively narrow trading corridor.
Why price is stagnant despite strong fundamentals
The disconnect between XRP’s improving fundamentals and its flat price can be traced to several overlapping factors:
1. Macro uncertainty: Global risk assets, including equities and crypto, are reacting to shifting expectations around interest rates, inflation, and economic growth. Higher yields and tighter financial conditions tend to suppress speculative appetite, even for assets with strong underlying stories.
2. Bitcoin dominance: Historically, sustained altcoin rallies tend not to occur while Bitcoin is consolidating just below all‑time highs. Traders are waiting for either a clear breakout or breakdown in BTC before committing fresh capital to secondary assets, which keeps altcoin price action muted.
3. Overhang from prior rallies: Many investors who bought XRP during previous spikes may still be underwater, creating “resistance overhead” as they sell into any short‑term strength to break even. This dynamic can cap rallies even when new demand appears.
4. Regulatory noise: Although XRP has made strides in resolving some of its legal uncertainties, regulatory developments around the broader crypto market can still weigh on sentiment and slow institutional decision‑making.
Until these broader headwinds ease, XRP’s network progress may continue to outpace its price performance.
What bulls need to see for a trend reversal
For bullish traders watching XRP, several conditions would likely need to align to support a sustainable move higher:
– Reclaiming key levels: A break and daily close above the Murrey Math pivot around $1.5625 would be an early sign that momentum is shifting. Regaining major moving averages with rising volume would further confirm this change.
– Stronger correlation with on‑chain growth: If RWA tokenization on XRP continues to expand and is joined by increased DeFi usage or new institutional partnerships, the market may eventually reprice the token to reflect those cash‑flow or fee‑generation prospects.
– Improved Bitcoin and Ethereum sentiment: A renewed uptrend in the broader market, with BTC and ETH returning to strong bullish trajectories, often creates a rising‑tide effect that lifts liquid large‑caps like XRP.
– Sustained ETF inflows: Continued growth in XRP ETF assets under management would strengthen the case that institutional capital is taking a longer‑term view and could help absorb sell‑side pressure during corrections.
Without these ingredients, any short‑term bounce risks becoming another range‑bound move rather than the start of a new bull leg.
Bearish continuation risks to monitor
On the downside, traders should watch for signals that might confirm a deeper bearish continuation:
– Failure at minor resistance zones near the current price, followed by strong selling volume, would show that even local rallies are being sold aggressively.
– Break below $1.1200 on heavy volume would be a clear sign that the year‑to‑date low is not holding as effective support, opening room for further losses.
– Deterioration in ETF flows, with XRP products switching from inflows to outflows, could indicate that institutional patience is wearing thin and that fund managers are reallocating elsewhere.
– Stalling RWA growth, or a shift of tokenization activity from XRP back to competitors like Solana or Polygon, would weaken one of the network’s most compelling long‑term narratives.
Strategic considerations for different types of market participants
For long‑term holders, the current environment may be seen as a consolidation phase in which fundamentals quietly improve while price lags behind. Those investors often focus on whether network adoption, developer activity, and institutional engagement are strengthening, rather than short‑term price fluctuations.
Active traders, by contrast, are more likely to view XRP as a range‑trading candidate in the near term-buying near support and selling near resistance-while keeping tight risk controls because of the bearish technical backdrop. Many will be watching volatility indicators and order book depth for early signs of a breakout from the current band.
Institutional participants may be particularly interested in the combination of growing RWA tokenization, compliant DeFi options like the Permissioned DEX, and accessible ETF structures. Together, these elements build an infrastructure stack that is more compatible with existing financial systems than purely speculative altcoins.
Outlook: fundamentals vs. technicals
XRP currently presents a classic crypto paradox: strong and improving fundamentals, but a chart that leans bearish in the short term. The network is capturing a growing share of the real‑world asset tokenization market, has introduced tools tailored for regulated entities, and is attracting capital through spot ETFs-even as its price drifts sideways below key resistance.
Until macro conditions and Bitcoin’s trajectory provide a clearer signal, XRP is likely to remain confined within its current range, with $1.1200 as the key downside level and $1.5625 as the pivotal resistance to watch. How the token behaves around these boundaries, especially in response to evolving RWA and ETF data, will help determine whether the next decisive move is a deeper pullback or the start of a new bullish phase.