Ripple flashback update: Wave 5 downside continuation toward 1.0 support

Revisiting our discussion from April 15, 2026, in the previous update titled “Ripple Faces Downside Risk as Crypto Markets Weigh Global Economic Uncertainty”, the broader outlook already pointed toward increased volatility and downside pressure as macro uncertainty weighed on crypto assets. That scenario has since unfolded, with price action aligning closely with the bearish structure we highlighted at the time.

Looking at Ripple (XRP) on the 4-hour chart now, the market is extending lower with strong momentum following the completion of a bearish ABCDE triangle formation within wave 4. This structure appears to have acted as a terminal consolidation phase before the initiation of wave 5.

Wave 5 now appears to be in full development, pushing price action toward the key psychological and structural support around the 1.0 level. Within this final impulsive leg, the current movement can still be interpreted as a corrective sub-wave “iv” pullback inside wave 5. As long as price remains below the 1.29 invalidation level, the bearish structure remains intact, and the probability favors continuation lower into wave “v” of 5.

In terms of short-term structure, any temporary recovery should be treated cautiously, as it is likely part of internal wave progression rather than a trend reversal. The broader technical picture continues to favor downside continuation until wave 5 completes and a larger degree correction can begin forming.

Overall, the market remains in a late-stage bearish phase, where final wave exhaustion toward the 1.0 support zone is becoming the primary focus.