The crowd is fighting the trend. While $XRP holds firm at the $1.90 support zone, funding rates on major exchanges like Binance have flipped predominantly negative. This means the majority of retail traders are aggressively shorting the bottom—and they are paying a premium to keep those positions open.
Why the "Bears" are Trapped:
Psychological Divergence: When funding goes negative during price stability, it indicates that the selling pressure is being absorbed by high-volume buyers (Whales/Institutions).
Historical Precedent: We’ve seen this movie before. Similar structures preceded the ~50% rally in 2024 and the ~100% ripper in 2025. Every time the crowd over-leverages on the short side, the market tends to punish them.
Institutional Inflows: With Ripple ETFs attracting over $1.3B in net inflows this month, the fundamental backdrop contradicts the bearish technical sentiment.
Technical Roadmap:
Primary Support: $1.80 – $2.00 (The accumulation floor).
The Trigger: A decisive reclaim of $2.22 (The 100-day EMA).
Target: Once $2.22 is flipped to support, a cascade of short liquidations could easily push price toward $2.60 - $3.00.
Conclusion:
Don't get shaken out by the noise. The data shows that the path of least resistance is higher. If $2.22 reclaims, the shorts will be forced to cover, fueling the next expansion phase.
