Ripple’s XRP is showing early signs of stabilization after slipping from the day’s open near $1.48, with price hovering around a developing short-term support zone near $1.45. While this level has attracted buyers, broader market sentiment remains cautious, and derivatives positioning suggests traders are still leaning defensive.
Retail demand cools as leverage shrinks
Recent futures data points to fading speculative appetite. XRP open interest briefly expanded to roughly $2.56B earlier this week before contracting to about $2.53B — a subtle but meaningful signal that traders are trimming exposure rather than aggressively opening new positions. Compared to the historical peak near $10.9B, current participation remains subdued, underscoring fragile confidence.
Funding metrics also reflect this cautious tone. A persistently negative weighted funding rate indicates short bias in the derivatives market, implying traders are paying to maintain bearish exposure. In practical terms, this adds headwinds to any recovery attempt unless spot demand strengthens enough to absorb selling pressure.
Technical structure: early momentum vs. dominant trend
From a chart perspective, XRP continues to trade below its key exponential moving averages — the 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day — all of which slope downward. This alignment reinforces a broader bearish structure and suggests rallies may encounter supply unless a decisive reclaim occurs.
Momentum indicators, however, are beginning to shift. The RSI is recovering toward the midline after exiting oversold territory, hinting at stabilizing pressure. Meanwhile, MACD has printed a tentative bullish crossover with expanding positive histogram bars, signaling that short-term momentum is improving. If buyers defend the $1.45 support area, a push toward the recent swing high near $1.67 becomes technically plausible.
That said, XRP still faces a descending trendline formed from its macro peak, with notable resistance clustered around the $2.10 region. On the downside, a failure to hold support exposes the next technical cushion near $1.21, where prior reaction zones and trend indicators converge.
Market balance: signal vs. structure
In essence, XRP is flashing a tactical buy signal within a larger corrective framework. Traders may see short-term opportunity if momentum continues to build, but the dominant trend has yet to flip bullish. Expect volatility to remain elevated as positioning and sentiment continue to rebalance.
This is a personal market perspective for discussion purposes — not financial advice. Always manage risk and do your own research.
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