Ripple XRP Price Forecast: (XRP-USD) Defends $2.90, Eyes $5 Breakout and $10 Long-Term

Ripple XRP Price Forecast: (XRP-USD) Bulls Defend $2.90 as ETFs, Whales, and Stablecoin Expansion Shape Outlook

XRP Holds Pivotal $2.90 Support Amid Market Volatility

Ripple’s XRP-USD is trading near $2.91 after a volatile stretch that saw a drop from the July peak at $3.66. Market-wide selling, sparked by Bitcoin’s decline to $108,666, dragged XRP as low as $2.80. Yet dip-buying demand has kept the token above the $2.86–$2.88 support zone. Technical charts show XRP compressing inside a symmetrical triangle, capped at $3.05–$3.12 resistance. Historically, similar consolidations have preceded sharp rallies, making this range a focal point for traders awaiting a decisive breakout.

Whales Accumulate While Open Interest Contracts

On-chain data shows large holders are adding exposure during weakness. Wallets holding between 1 million and 10 million XRP now control 10.6% of supply, up from 9.14% in March. Exchange outflows totaling $12.7 million last week further support accumulation trends. At the same time, XRP’s futures open interest has fallen 30% in a month to $7.7 billion from $11 billion, signaling reduced speculative leverage. This cooling backdrop mirrors earlier accumulation phases that preceded major rallies, suggesting that whales are quietly positioning for another upside push.

Technical Structures Point Toward Higher Targets

XRP’s daily chart is flashing multiple bullish formations. The July golden cross, where the 50-day moving average crossed above the 200-day, remains intact. A cup-and-handle pattern has also developed, projecting upside toward $7 if resistance is cleared. Short term, XRP must reclaim $3.05–$3.12 to retest the year-to-date high at $3.65. A break above this zone would open the door to $5 by September, nearly 70% above current levels. Conversely, a drop below $2.80 risks sliding toward the fair value gap between $2.33 and $2.65.

Ripple’s Stablecoin and ETF Prospects Strengthen Fundamentals

Ripple’s dollar-backed stablecoin, RLUSD, has surged to a $686 million market cap in just eight months, with monthly trading volumes surpassing $2 billion. Migration of RLUSD onto the XRP Ledger could boost adoption and burn more tokens in circulation. Meanwhile, institutional interest in XRP is accelerating. Eleven asset managers overseeing $240 billion have filed for spot XRP ETFs, echoing the impact Bitcoin ETFs had when BTC surged from $45,000 to $100,000 in 2024. Analysts argue that ETF approval could channel up to $10 billion in inflows, fundamentally altering XRP’s market position.

Institutional Selling and Regulatory Uncertainty Weigh on Near-Term Sentiment

Not all flows favor the bulls. Recent whale inflows to exchanges during the $3.66 top suggest profit-taking. At the same time, the SEC has delayed its ruling on an XRP ETF to October, extending regulatory uncertainty. Institutional selling during August offloaded nearly 470 million XRP in six hours, fueling intraday collapses. Ripple’s muted response has added to short-term skepticism. Still, the long-term fundamentals of cross-border payments and settlement utility remain intact, with Ripple continuing to rival SWIFT in global transactions.

Adoption Catalysts: Mastercard, Gemini, and Cloud Mining

Adoption drivers continue to surface. Gemini launched a crypto-linked Mastercard that rewards up to 4% cash back in XRP for transport, 3% for dining, and 2% for groceries, creating steady demand flows. Institutional products like this could amplify everyday usage. Additionally, automated XRP cloud-mining services such as DOT Miners are expanding, transforming XRP holdings into yield-bearing assets. While speculative, such models support network activity during periods of price consolidation, creating alternative streams of utility.

Medium- and Long-Term Scenarios for XRP

Analysts outline bullish pathways tied to Bitcoin’s trajectory. If BTC climbs to $150,000, XRP could reach $5; if BTC hits $250,000, XRP might surge to $9, representing a 200% upside from current levels. More aggressive projections tied to institutional inflows and ETF approval see XRP potentially exceeding $15 and even $20 in the next cycle. In the nearer term, defending $2.90 is critical. A strong breakout above $3.65 would validate technical setups pointing to $5 by year-end and $10 by 2026.

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