<p>Bitcoin lost momentum during U.S. trading hours, keeping the broader crypto market confined to a narrow range. XRP followed the same pattern, slipping to $1.86 even as demand through spot exchange-traded funds remained steady. The gap between rising ETF assets and muted price movement suggests the market is still absorbing supply near key levels.</p>
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  <h2 class="in-brief--title" id="in-brief">In brief</h2>
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   <li>XRP trades in a tight $1.85–$1.91 range as sellers defend $1.90 and buyers step in near $1.86 despite steady ETF inflows.</li>
   <li>Bitcoin’s stalled rebound during U.S. hours keeps crypto markets range-bound and limits risk appetite across major assets.</li>
   <li>XRP ETF assets rose to $1.25B, showing institutional demand remains steady even as short-term price momentum weakens.</li>
   <li>Technical signals point to consolidation, with volume rising near resistance and key support holding against downside pressure.</li>
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<h2 id="h-xrp-trades-in-tight-range-as-selling-pressure-caps-upside">XRP Trades in Tight Range as Selling Pressure Caps Upside</h2>
<p><a href="https://www.cointribune.com/en/after-30-positive-days-the-xrp-etf-abruptly-stops-capital-inflows/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Selling pressure</a> continues to cap upside moves, while buyers remain active at nearby support. With price action tightly compressed, the setup points to a larger move once the balance breaks.</p>
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<p>Several factors are shaping XRP’s short-term behavior:</p>
<ul>
 <li>Bitcoin struggling to sustain gains during U.S. hours.</li>
 <li>XRP trading within a narrow range despite institutional inflows.</li>
 <li>Short-term traders selling into strength near $1.90.</li>
 <li>Buyers repeatedly defending the $1.86 area.</li>
 <li>Market sentiment is staying cautious.</li>
</ul>
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<p>Institutional demand for XRP exposure has remained steady. Recent sessions saw $8.19 million added to <a href="https://www.cointribune.com/en/xrp-and-solana-the-big-shift-of-crypto-etfs-in-2025/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">XRP-linked ETFs</a>, lifting total assets held by those products to $1.25 billion. Professional investors appear willing to add exposure through regulated vehicles rather than chase spot price moves, especially while volatility remains limited.</p>
<p>This trend reflects a broader shift in crypto allocation. Portfolio managers continue to favor structured products that reduce operational and regulatory hurdles. XRP’s liquidity across <a href="https://www.coindesk.com/markets/2025/12/27/bitcoin-s-rebound-fades-as-xrp-slips-to-usd1-86-even-with-etf-assets-at-usd1-25b" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">major trading venues</a>, along with ongoing ETF demand, has helped support longer-term interest even as near-term price action stays uneven.</p>
<h2 id="h-crypto-market-trades-sideways-as-bitcoin-momentum-fades">Crypto Market Trades Sideways as Bitcoin Momentum Fades</h2>
<p>Across the wider market, Bitcoin’s <a href="https://www.cointribune.com/en/bitcoin-could-plunge-back-to-70000-as-early-as-the-first-quarter-if-the-fed-suspends-rate-cuts/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">lack of follow-through</a> has kept risk appetite subdued. Major tokens continue to trade sideways, with capital flows influencing direction while technical levels guide daily movement. In this environment, XRP reflects a balance between steady background demand and active selling pressure.</p>
<p>Technical indicators continue to signal consolidation. XRP slipped from $1.88 to $1.86 and remains confined within a $1.85–$1.91 range. Sellers have repeatedly defended the $1.90–$1.91 zone, turning back <a href="https://www.cointribune.com/en/xrpl-3-0-0-is-here-heres-how-this-update-could-revive-xrp/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">upside attempts</a>.</p>
<p>Trading activity supports that assessment. Volume rose to 75.3 million during the session’s most active period, roughly 76% above average, as price stalled near resistance. Higher turnover during pullbacks points to supply entering the market rather than a lack of interest.</p>
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<h2 id="h-institutional-buying-cushions-xrp-downside-amid-market-weakness">Institutional Buying Cushions XRP Downside Amid Market Weakness</h2>
<p>A brief push above the $1.854–$1.858 consolidation area carried the price to $1.862 on a sharp burst of activity that ran several times above typical intraday flow. Momentum faded quickly, and XRP drifted back toward $1.86 as sellers returned. Repeated defenses near $1.90 suggest selling into strength, while steady bids between $1.86 and $1.87 continue to limit downside.</p>
<p>Several conditions define XRP’s current setup:</p>
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<ul>
 <li>ETF inflows providing steady background demand.</li>
 <li>Resistance between $1.90 and $1.91 drawing sellers.</li>
 <li>Buyers holding the $1.86 support on multiple tests.</li>
 <li>Volume increasing during rallies, signaling overhead supply.</li>
 <li><a href="https://www.cointribune.com/en/social-sentiment-turns-bearish-for-xrp/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Cautious sentiment</a> amid broader market weakness.</li>
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<p>Performance metrics remain tilted lower. XRP trades below its 200-day simple moving average and has recorded only 12 positive sessions over the past 30 days. Sentiment measures remain strained, with the <a href="https://coincodex.com/crypto/ripple/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">Fear and Greed Index at 23</a>.</p>
<p>Even so, the asset’s price has avoided a clear breakdown. A move below $1.86 would likely expose the $1.77–$1.80 demand zone, where buyers have previously stepped in. On the upside, reclaiming the $1.875–$1.88 area would set up another test of the $1.90–$1.91 supply zone. A sustained close above that range could open a move toward $1.95–$2.00.</p>
<p>For now, XRP remains caught between steady institutional buying and firm technical resistance. <a href="https://www.cointribune.com/en/xrp-benefits-from-strong-optimism-as-etfs-hit-record-inflows/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow">ETF flows</a> may help limit downside pressure, but without a broader shift in market conditions, price action is likely to stay tight and range-bound rather than directional.</p>

XRP Holds $1.86 Support as Bitcoin Stalls and ETF Demand Stays Firm

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