|

Ripple Price Forecast: XRP rebounds amid fading on-chain activity, muted institutional demand

  • XRP rises alongside the broader crypto market and steadies above the $1.35 support on Monday.
  • XRP on-chain activity takes a hit, with active addresses dropping to near 14,400 as of Sunday.
  • XRP ETF activity remains muted for the second consecutive day, with cumulative inflows at $1.21 billion.

Ripple (XRP) is trading around $1.35 at the time of writing on Monday. The remittance token’s knee-jerk recovery from last week’s lows of $1.29 mirrors the broader crypto market's recovery, with Bitcoin (BTC) trading above $67,000 after its $65,000 trough.

Retail interest remains low, with Open Interest (OI) at $2.54 billion on Monday, reflecting the notional value of outstanding futures and options contracts. In contrast, OI peaked at a record $10.94 billion in July, coinciding with the price hitting an all-time high of $3.66. This massive drop undermines retail investor interest in the token and signals their unwillingness to increase risk exposure.

XRP Futures OI | Source: CoinGlass

XRP on-chain activity dwindles amid muted ETF demand

XRP is experiencing a significant decline in the number of addresses actively transacting on-chain, sending or receiving assets. CryptoQuant data shows the addresses averaging 14,400 on Monday, down approximately 45% from the March high of around 26,400.

Falling active addresses signal reduced user engagement and ultimately demand for XRP, which could limit the token’s recovery potential.

XRP Active Addresses | Source: CryptoQuant

Meanwhile, institutional demand for XRP digital investment products has dropped significantly over the last few weeks, as evidenced by muted activity in futures Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) on Thursday and Friday.

Cumulative inflows have steadied at $1.21 billion, while net assets under management have dropped to around $933 million, from the record $1.65 billion on January 1.

XRP ETF flows | Source: SoSoValue

Technical outlook: XRP rebounds amid broader sideways trend

XRP hovers above $1.35 as bulls battle to regain control, following a sharp rebound from last week's $1.29 trough. Despite the upswing, which mirrors gains across the crypto market, XRP's near-term bias is mildly bearish as price holds below the descending 50-day, 100-day, and 200-day EMAs, clustered between $1.46 and $1.90, keeping the broader trend under pressure.

The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) indicator sits below the signal line on the daily chart. The expanding red histogram bars could prompt traders to reduce exposure, weakening the tailwind needed to sustain a short-term recovery. Similarly, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) on the same chart is at 43 and below the 50 midline, indicating sellers retain a slight momentum edge without reaching oversold conditions.

XRP/USDT daily chart

XRP's initial resistance lies at the recent reaction high near $1.40, followed by stronger supply at $1.46, aligning with the 50-day EMA and a descending trendline, where rejection would preserve the corrective structure. A daily close above that moving average would be needed to ease the bearish bias and open the way toward the 100-day EMA at $1.63.

On the downside, immediate support stands at $1.33, ahead of the demand region near $1.30, which acts as the first meaningful floor for dips. A decisive break below $1.30 would expose the next support band toward $1.25, where buyers would be expected to regroup.

Crypto ETF FAQs

An Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) is an investment vehicle or an index that tracks the price of an underlying asset. ETFs can not only track a single asset, but a group of assets and sectors. For example, a Bitcoin ETF tracks Bitcoin’s price. ETF is a tool used by investors to gain exposure to a certain asset.

Yes. The first Bitcoin futures ETF in the US was approved by the US Securities & Exchange Commission in October 2021. A total of seven Bitcoin futures ETFs have been approved, with more than 20 still waiting for the regulator’s permission. The SEC says that the cryptocurrency industry is new and subject to manipulation, which is why it has been delaying crypto-related futures ETFs for the last few years.

Yes. The SEC approved in January 2024 the listing and trading of several Bitcoin spot Exchange-Traded Funds, opening the door to institutional capital and mainstream investors to trade the main crypto currency. The decision was hailed by the industry as a game changer.

The main advantage of crypto ETFs is the possibility of gaining exposure to a cryptocurrency without ownership, reducing the risk and cost of holding the asset. Other pros are a lower learning curve and higher security for investors since ETFs take charge of securing the underlying asset holdings. As for the main drawbacks, the main one is that as an investor you can’t have direct ownership of the asset, or, as they say in crypto, “not your keys, not your coins.” Other disadvantages are higher costs associated with holding crypto since ETFs charge fees for active management. Finally, even though investing in ETFs reduces the risk of holding an asset, price swings in the underlying cryptocurrency are likely to be reflected in the investment vehicle too.

(The technical analysis of this story was written with the help of an AI tool.)

Author

John Isige

John Isige

FXStreet

John Isige is a seasoned cryptocurrency journalist and markets analyst committed to delivering high-quality, actionable insights tailored to traders, investors, and crypto enthusiasts. He enjoys deep dives into emerging Web3 tren

More from John Isige
Share:

Editor's Picks

GBP/USD defends 1.3300 after strong UK PMI data

Following Thursday's sharp decline, GBP/USD clings to small gains above 1.3300 in the American session on Friday, supported by the upbeat UK Retail Sales and July PMI data. Nevertheless, the pair's upside remains capped as investors cling to a cautious stance amid a further escalation of tensions in the Middle East. The US July PMI data failed to trigger relevant price action.

EUR/USD remains below 1.1400 after mixed US PMIs

EUR/USD pressures daily lows below the 1.1400 mark in the American session on Friday. Mixed S&P Global PMIs, as manufacturing output contracted while services activity expanded in July, triggered no relevant market reaction. The focus remains in Middle East developments and inflation-related concerns.

Gold holds above $4,050 but momentum still missing

Gold builds on its modest intraday bounce and climbs above the $4,050 level on Friday, hitting a fresh daily high amid a modest US Dollar pullback. The fundamental backdrop, however, warrants some caution before confirming that the pullback from an over two-week high, touched on Wednesday, has run its course and positioning for any meaningful upside.

Ethereum: Derivatives interest in ETH improves, but signs of caution remain

Ethereum is hovering slightly below the $1,900 level, down 3% on Thursday following a slight expansion in derivatives interest. The top altcoin's open interest has increased to 14.60 million ETH, marking a 600K ETH increase over the past two days and its highest level since June 7.

XRP retreats as ETF interest cools
Ripple (XRP) slides toward the short-term $1.10 support on Friday, as broader crypto market sentiment weighs on crypto assets. The sell-off mainly stems from fears of inflation in the United States (US) amid the ongoing war in the Middle East and rising Oil prices.
US Dollar mid-year outlook: Exceptional currency, exceptional risks?
The US Dollar enters the second half of 2026 in a markedly different position from a year ago. The King currency has recovered, reflecting persistent US inflation, changing expectations for Fed policy, geopolitical tensions and renewed demand for defensive assets.