XRP Price Could Surge from New Acquisition, Amid Community Skepticism

Recently, Ripple announced the acquisition of Standard Custody & Trust Company, a digital asset custodian. The company aims to expand into different sectors beyond its core payments network business.

This development may become the key catalyst in driving the price of XRP to new heights, addressing historical challenges of price declines and stagnant growth. 

Ripple’s Acquisition Sets Stage For Potential XRP Price Surge

On Tuesday, February 13, Ripple disclosed the formal agreement to acquire Standard Custody to continually expand its offerings and pursue smart acquisitions to capitalize on present and future market opportunities

The acquisition of Standard Custody signals Ripple’s commitment to serving its customers and fostering growth and security in the Ripple ecosystem. By implementing a digital asset custodian, Ripple can provide secure storage and management of digital assets like XRP

Additionally, a cryptocurrency custodian can potentially boost confidence in investors and financial institutions. This increased trust may attract substantial institutional investors into the XRP ecosystem, potentially driving up demand and triggering a price increase for XRP. 

According to CoinMarketCap, XRP is priced at $0.5, reflecting a 0.95% decrease in the last 24 hours and an 8.87% drop over the past month.

Ripple XRP XRPUSDT

Despite bullish market trends, the cryptocurrency has lingered around the $0.5 price for months, leading to a shift in investor sentiment and confidence. Some members of the XRP community have also accused the cryptocurrency of being purposefully suppressed. 

In light of this, Ripple’s strategic acquisition has the potential to act as a catalyst, boosting the price of XRP. The digital asset custodian could introduce an element of stability to the XRP ecosystem, addressing regulatory uncertainties plaguing the ecosystem.

Consequently, this may positively influence the general perception of XRP, attracting favorable sentiments and institutional investors and potentially contributing to an upward price movement.

XRP Community Divided As Doubts Emerge

Despite Ripple’s latest announcement and the potential positive impacts the acquisition may have on the ecosystem, the XRP community has remained in doubt, continually voicing out concerns over the depressed state of the cryptocurrency. 

Responding to Ripple Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Brad Garlinghouse’s statement about the company’s plans to acquire Standard Custody, an XRP supporter and investor, identified as “MackAttackXRP” on X (formerly Twitter), expressed skepticism, stating that Ripple’s recent developments were insufficient to generate a positive impact on XRP’s price. 

Mack revealed that the price of XRP has been “structurally too low for the past five years.” He mentioned a notable shift in perspectives among XRP community members, with some opting to change their XRP for more promising cryptocurrencies or exit the market altogether. 

Another XRP community member expressed his frustration about the cryptocurrency’s price, disclosing that many dedicated supporters of XRP are starting to lose hope for the cryptocurrency and may consider leaving before witnessing any significant price increases for XRP. 

Chart from Tradingview

Exploit Causes XRP Price Crash: Ripple Co-founder Discloses Losses Of $113 Million

XRP experienced a significant price drop early Wednesday amidst rumors of a potential exploit. The XRP price dropped more than 4% to $0.4853 but later recovered to $0.500 following a clarification from one of Ripple’s co-founders.

Personal XRP Accounts Impacted, Not Ripple’s

Initial reports suggested that Ripple had suffered a significant security breach, which was brought to light by decentralized finance (DeFi) investigator ZachXBT. These reports raised concerns about the overall security of the Ripple protocol.

According to investigations, the breach resulted in the theft of more than 213 million XRP tokens, valued at over $112 million. The stolen funds were reportedly laundered through cryptocurrency exchanges, including MEXC, Gate, Binance, Kraken, OKX, HTX, and HitBTC.

However, Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen took to X (formerly Twitter) to clarify the situation. In a recent post, Larsen stated: 

Yesterday, there was unauthorized access to a few of my personal XRP accounts (not Ripple) – we were quickly able to catch the problem and notify exchanges to freeze the affected addresses. Law enforcement is already involved.

XRP Price Analysis

Despite the recent security concerns, XRP is trading at $0.5085, marking a 3.4% decrease in the past 24 hours. However, beyond the Ripple co-founder’s personal account exploit, the XRP price has experienced a significant decline over the past month.

Over the last seven days, the token has seen a minor 1.3% drop. The decline has deepened in the previous fourteen days with a 10% decrease. This is more problematic for XRP enthusiasts because the price has lost significant ground over the past 30 days, with an 18% dip.

Nevertheless, XRP bull and crypto analyst EGRAG Crypto provides an intriguing price analysis that could potentially encourage investors toward a price recovery if the token manages to hold and consolidate above the $0.500 level.

XRP Price

According to EGRAG, a handful of chart analysts have noted that after wave 1 of the Elliott Wave theory, wave 2 could retrace up to 90% of wave 1. The initial targets of $0.85 to $1 were successfully reached during the July pump, with the price reaching around $0.93 after Ripple’s partial victory against the SEC in its ongoing legal battle over XRP classification.

Currently, EGRAG suggests that a “wicking event” down to $0.41 is possible, considering a 10%-15% fluctuation due to the volatile nature of the crypto markets.

However, the analyst points out that the upside lies in the upcoming Wave 3, which is influenced by Wave 1 and typically has a ratio of 1.618 compared to Wave 1.

If all of this plays out, EGRAG ultimately sees the next short-term target for XRP being the all-time high (ATH) at $5. If the original wave count is adjusted, the range could be between $2.2 and $2.8.

XRP price

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

Key Requirements For Spot XRP ETF Approval Revealed Amidst 4500% Price Surge Target

Following Bitcoin’s spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) approval on January 11, market speculation has grown around the possibility of similar investment vehicles for major cryptocurrencies, including a spot XRP ETF. However, certain requirements and regulatory considerations must be met before such a development can occur.

Regulatory Prerequisites For Spot XRP ETF

FOX reporter Eleanor Terret clarifies the matter, stating that launching an XRP spot ETF would first require the establishment of a futures ETF

In the case of Bitcoin, the approval of spot ETFs was conditional upon the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) concluding that the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Bitcoin futures market provided sufficient surveillance against fraud and manipulation. 

Terret suggests that for XRP to have a spot ETF, a futures ETF must first be established, marking a step in the right direction.

Bloomberg ETF expert James Seyffart shares a similar sentiment, stating that he does not anticipate an XRP ETF launching this year. Seyffart cites the ongoing SEC case against Ripple as a factor influencing his stance, suggesting that an XRP ETF is more likely to emerge once the regulatory matter is resolved. 

Seyffart adds that XRP futures trading on a regulated platform like the Chicago Mercantile Exchange would be a prerequisite for the SEC to consider any applications for a spot XRP ETF. Seyffart hints that an XRP futures ETF could also be advantageous in this context.

The SEC has maintained a cautious approach towards spot ETFs involving crypto assets due to concerns about potential market manipulation. Seyffart emphasizes that the availability of XRP futures trading on a regulated platform, such as the CME, would provide a favorable framework for the SEC’s consideration of a spot XRP ETF, especially given previous court rulings highlighting the correlation between futures and spot markets.

Amidst the ongoing speculation, blockchain firm Ripple seems to be preparing for potential involvement in the ETF space. 

A recent job advertisement posted on Ripple’s website reveals their search for a Senior Manager in business Development, with a focus on institutional decentralized finance (DeFi). The role includes spearheading cryptocurrency-related ETF initiatives with internal trading teams and relevant partners.

XRP’s Future Potential – From $0.5299 To $27?

Crypto market analyst EGRAG crypto has conducted a comprehensive price analysis of the XRP token. Despite peaking in 2023, when the price reached a high of $0.9376 on July 13, the token has retraced more than 15% since the start of 2024 to a current trading price of $0.5299.

However, according to EGRAG, the 21 Exponential Moving Average (EMA) on the monthly time frame is a significant indicator for assessing XRP’s price movement. 

The analysis focuses on three price levels: $3.5, $6.5, and $27. Based on previous instances (labeled A, B, and C), EGRAG extrapolates potential future price movements using the same percentage increases observed in the past.

XRP ETF

The first potential scenario is a significant price surge to $27, representing a massive 4500% increase. This prediction is based on a similar percentage move observed in the past (from previous instance A), seen in the chart above. 

The second scenario suggests a more conservative projection, with XRP potentially experiencing a solid 1000% increase to $6.5. This projection is based on historical patterns observed in previous instance B. 

In the third scenario, EGRAG anticipates a significant 500% rise in XRP’s price, reaching $3.5. Based on previous instance C, this projection indicates a significant upward movement for the token. 

Whether the XRP token can successfully surpass the upper resistance levels that have impeded its rise to the $0.600 mark since late December remains to be seen. 

Additionally, the market eagerly awaits a catalyst that could prompt a breakthrough in XRP’s seven-month downtrend structure, potentially resulting in a price surge above $0.700.

XRP ETF

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

Key Requirements For Spot XRP ETF Approval Revealed Amidst 4500% Price Surge Target

Following Bitcoin’s spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) approval on January 11, market speculation has grown around the possibility of similar investment vehicles for major cryptocurrencies, including a spot XRP ETF. However, certain requirements and regulatory considerations must be met before such a development can occur.

Regulatory Prerequisites For Spot XRP ETF

FOX reporter Eleanor Terret clarifies the matter, stating that launching an XRP spot ETF would first require the establishment of a futures ETF

In the case of Bitcoin, the approval of spot ETFs was conditional upon the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) concluding that the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) Bitcoin futures market provided sufficient surveillance against fraud and manipulation. 

Terret suggests that for XRP to have a spot ETF, a futures ETF must first be established, marking a step in the right direction.

Bloomberg ETF expert James Seyffart shares a similar sentiment, stating that he does not anticipate an XRP ETF launching this year. Seyffart cites the ongoing SEC case against Ripple as a factor influencing his stance, suggesting that an XRP ETF is more likely to emerge once the regulatory matter is resolved. 

Seyffart adds that XRP futures trading on a regulated platform like the Chicago Mercantile Exchange would be a prerequisite for the SEC to consider any applications for a spot XRP ETF. Seyffart hints that an XRP futures ETF could also be advantageous in this context.

The SEC has maintained a cautious approach towards spot ETFs involving crypto assets due to concerns about potential market manipulation. Seyffart emphasizes that the availability of XRP futures trading on a regulated platform, such as the CME, would provide a favorable framework for the SEC’s consideration of a spot XRP ETF, especially given previous court rulings highlighting the correlation between futures and spot markets.

Amidst the ongoing speculation, blockchain firm Ripple seems to be preparing for potential involvement in the ETF space. 

A recent job advertisement posted on Ripple’s website reveals their search for a Senior Manager in business Development, with a focus on institutional decentralized finance (DeFi). The role includes spearheading cryptocurrency-related ETF initiatives with internal trading teams and relevant partners.

XRP’s Future Potential – From $0.5299 To $27?

Crypto market analyst EGRAG crypto has conducted a comprehensive price analysis of the XRP token. Despite peaking in 2023, when the price reached a high of $0.9376 on July 13, the token has retraced more than 15% since the start of 2024 to a current trading price of $0.5299.

However, according to EGRAG, the 21 Exponential Moving Average (EMA) on the monthly time frame is a significant indicator for assessing XRP’s price movement. 

The analysis focuses on three price levels: $3.5, $6.5, and $27. Based on previous instances (labeled A, B, and C), EGRAG extrapolates potential future price movements using the same percentage increases observed in the past.

XRP ETF

The first potential scenario is a significant price surge to $27, representing a massive 4500% increase. This prediction is based on a similar percentage move observed in the past (from previous instance A), seen in the chart above. 

The second scenario suggests a more conservative projection, with XRP potentially experiencing a solid 1000% increase to $6.5. This projection is based on historical patterns observed in previous instance B. 

In the third scenario, EGRAG anticipates a significant 500% rise in XRP’s price, reaching $3.5. Based on previous instance C, this projection indicates a significant upward movement for the token. 

Whether the XRP token can successfully surpass the upper resistance levels that have impeded its rise to the $0.600 mark since late December remains to be seen. 

Additionally, the market eagerly awaits a catalyst that could prompt a breakthrough in XRP’s seven-month downtrend structure, potentially resulting in a price surge above $0.700.

XRP ETF

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com

XRP Price Projection: Analyst Envisions Potential 50X Surge To $14, Here’s Why

Since the beginning of December, the XRP price has been range-bound between $0.5762 and $0.6565, lagging behind other altcoins that have seen significant gains due to increased market capital inflows. 

However, recent developments surrounding the potential rejection of Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) applications by the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) have added to market uncertainty and triggered a 10% drop in the XRP price, pushing it toward the $0.500 level.

XRP Price Legal Catalyst 

Despite these challenges, a significant catalyst could potentially propel XRP to new heights—the ongoing legal clash between Ripple Labs and the SEC regarding XRP sales. 

Crypto analyst Egrag Crypto has expressed optimism, stating that a 40X or even 50X boom is possible for XRP, citing the impressive performance of the cryptocurrency in the previous cycle despite the SEC lawsuit. Egrag Crypto stated:

Last cycle, despite the pesky SEC lawsuit, XRP surged almost 20X. This time, with its unparalleled legal regulatory clarity, the potential for a 40X or even 50X boom seems promising

By the numbers, according to Egrag Crypto’s analysis, at its cycle low of $0.28, a 40X surge could potentially push the price to around $11. 

Taking it further, a 50X leap might see XRP soar to around $14. To put this into perspective, Egrag, compared with Ethereum’s (ETH) previous cycle multiplier of 58X, XRP at $0.28 could reach an astounding $16. 

While XRP’s future holds promise, the Ripple vs. SEC lawsuit remains a focal point for investors. Understanding the key dates in the legal proceedings is crucial. Here is a breakdown of the upcoming milestones:

Key Dates Revealed For Ripple-SEC Legal Battle In 2024

12th February 2024: Remedies briefing begins: Ripple and the SEC will present their respective arguments and proposals regarding potential remedies for the legal dispute on this date. This briefing will provide insights into the parties’ positions and suggested resolutions.

13th March 2024: SEC files remedies brief: Following the remedies brief, the SEC will submit a remedies brief outlining their proposed solutions to address the alleged violations committed by Ripple. This filing will further clarify the SEC’s stance and the actions they seek against Ripple.

12th April 2024: Ripple submits opposition: Ripple will have an opportunity to present their opposition to the SEC’s proposed remedies. They will outline their arguments against the SEC’s allegations and offer counterarguments and alternative solutions. 

29th April 2024: SEC replies: The SEC will be able to respond to Ripple’s opposition. They will address Ripple’s arguments and provide additional justification for their proposed remedies.

XRP price

Currently, the XRP price has recovered slightly to the $0.5715 level, with an eye on these key dates that could shape the future, the legal denomination of the token, and its impact on the future price action. 

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com 

XRP Price Forecast: Wave 5 Signals Impending Supercharged Growth To $13 By 2024

XRP price has recently demonstrated a sideways price action, deviating from the overall trend witnessed across the cryptocurrency market and altcoins. 

Despite a modest 2% growth in the past 30 days, with prices ranging between $0.6427 and $0.5994, a crypto analyst operating under the pseudonym James Crypto has made a bold prediction based on Elliott Wave Theory’s interpretation of XRP’s monthly chart. 

Grand 5th Wave And Potential Rally For XRP Price

James Crypto points to an intriguing possibility of XRP price entering a grand 5th wave, drawing attention to the extended durations of Wave 1 and Wave 3. 

The Elliott Wave Theory, developed by Ralph Nelson Elliott in the 1930s, is a technical analysis tool widely used to forecast future price movements in financial markets. 

The theory suggests that price movements unfold in recurring wave patterns, which can provide insights into potential future trends. 

According to the theory, a complete market cycle consists of five waves, with three impulse waves (1, 3, and 5) and two corrective waves (2 and 4). The fifth and final wave is often associated with a significant price surge before a potential reversal or consolidation.

XRP Price

James Crypto’s analysis focuses on XRP’s monthly chart, which provides a broader perspective on the asset’s price movements. 

The extended duration of Wave 1 (20 weeks) and Wave 3 (spanning over 40 weeks) caught the analyst’s attention. By extrapolating this trend, the theory suggests the possibility of a 60-week Wave 5, which could mark a substantial price rally for XRP.

Should XRP price follow the projected Elliott Wave pattern, James Crypto’s forecast points to a supercycle top expected to occur in March to April 2024. The target price range for XRP during this period is estimated to be between $5 and $13. 

Struggles Amidst Price Declines

Trading at $0.6147, XRP has experienced a decline of 0.5%, 1.4%, and 4.3% over the past 24 hours, seven days, and fourteen days, respectively. These downward trends highlight the token’s current lack of bullish momentum and catalyst.

XRP Price

CoinGlass’ liquidation heatmap indicates a critical juncture for XRP’s price, as significant leveraged positions exist on both sides of the market. The heatmap reveals notable liquidations at the $0.6284 and $0.6347 levels, with the largest amount observed at $0.5960 over the past three days.

Considering these developments, XRP may initially break through the long liquidation level before experiencing another upward movement to bolster much-needed bullish momentum. 

However, given the unpredictable nature of volatility and price actions, a short squeeze could potentially occur first, temporarily driving the XRP price above its nearest resistance levels.

The outcome remains uncertain as to which side will yield first and what additional catalysts may contribute to a price surge for XRP, aligning it with the overall market trend of gains as we approach the end of the year.

XRP Price

Featured image from Shutterstock, chart from TradingView.com 

Bulls Vs Bears: XRP Price Gears Up For Big Squeeze, Which Side Will Prevail?

The XRP price has experienced a lot of volatility in the first two weeks of October, in contrast with previous months. This trend will continue as a critical metric hint at a potential “short squeeze,” a price move set to take liquidity from long or short positions.

As of this writing, the XRP price trades at $0.48 with a 2% loss in the last 24 hours. The cryptocurrency recorded a 9% loss in the previous seven days and operated as the worst performer in the top 10 by market cap, closely followed by Solana (SOL).

XRP Price XRP XRPUSDT

XRP Price Sets Trajectory For Short Squeeze?

The crypto market has been experiencing a spike in volatility since October. Following months of sideways movement by Bitcoin and Ethereum, the XRP price broke the trend and ignited new life into the nascent sector.

The spike in volatility was recorded when the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lost its case against payment company Ripple. A US Judge favored the company and deemed the XRP token outside of securities laws in the country.

This event propelled XRP to fresh yearly highs, but the cryptocurrency has been losing some steam. Uncertainty in the crypto market remains high, and any individual bull run seems likely to lose power, as demonstrated by XRP’s latest price action.

However, the current status quo is fragile, and fresh data indicates an aggressive move is in the making. A pseudonym analyst shared the chart below, showing the spike in the Bitcoin Open Interest.

XRP price XRPUSDT Ripple XRP analysis

The analyst claims that the metric stands at a critical point that often leads to sudden moves in the price of Bitcoin, XRP, and other cryptocurrencies. In the short term, this spike in volatility could lead the XRP back to critical support levels.

However, the most likely scenario is that the Short Squeeze, the sudden spike in volatility, operates as a tool for prominent market participants to take liquidity off both sides, longs and shorts.

Crypto Poised For Downside Price Action

On higher timeframes, the crypto market and more prominent cryptocurrencies could become an obstacle to any upside on XRP. According to another analyst, the sector is gearing up for a significant move to the downside.

The analyst bases this theory on the upcoming Bitcoin Halving. This event has a profound impact on all other cryptocurrencies, and right now, BTC is at a critical point in which historical data points to a deep retrace back to around $20,000.

If BTC follows this trajectory, XRP could return to its pre-SEC victory levels. However, this downside price action might provide bulls with the “perfect” opportunity to accumulate before an overall bull run unleashes its force on the nascent sector.

As News reported, historical data also points to a great performance for XRP in the year’s second half. The cryptocurrency enjoys a 30% return on investment (ROI) during this period.

Cover image from Unsplash, chart from Tradingview

XRP Price Bloodbath On The Horizon? Report Casts Doubt On Recent Rally

Over a billion dollars in liquidations sent the XRP price and the crypto market back from the dead and into local highs. However, new data suggests the rally might be short, pushing down the nascent sector into critical support.

As of this writing, the XRP price trades at $0.5 with a 4% profit in the last week. The cryptocurrency rallied in the previous 24 hours but has been retracing its steps over the past few hours, hinting at potential losses unless buyers step in and defend these levels.

XRP Price XRPUSDT

XRP Price Braces For Impact?

According to the trading desk QCP Capital, the current rally in the crypto market coincides with seasonality. In the nascent sector, October is known as “Uptober” because major cryptocurrencies, including the XRP price, trend to the upside.

In the past years, every Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP price rally began in October, making it the best month for the market, as seen in the chart below. However, the trading desk warned its followers on social media X about a potential reverse that could have negative effects on cryptocurrencies:

However, we are not fully convinced by this move, and we think that BTC might test super key 25k support sometime in the final quarter of 2023 (…) This aggressive bounce has been due almost entirely to exogenous factors thus far and might not have the momentum to sustain.

XRP price XRPUSDT chart 2 analysis QCP Capital crypto

The trading desk believes these factors may lack the power to sustain the current price action. In addition, the narrative around approving an Ethereum future Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) in the US could set the stage for a bloodbath.

Two years ago, when the price of Bitcoin reached its all-time high of $69,000, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) approved a BTC futures ETF. This event marked the crypto market’s top, making the current ETH future ETF an ominous event for XRP and the altcoin market.

QCP Capital claims that the newly approved financial asset could increase selling pressure in the sector due to adding “synthetic coins” to the market. In other words, the ETH futures ETF creates a disbalance between the supply and demand forces in the sector. The firm added:

We would even go further to say a futures-only ETF is arguably detrimental to spot price – as it potentially directs demand away from the spot market into a synthetic market.

Good News In The Short Term For XRP

The XRP price could benefit from the US government shutdown in the macro arena. The analysis shows that in the past 30 years, each US government shutdown preceded a bull run for the financial market. This is the only positive news for the cryptocurrency in the medium term.

In the short term, XRP still has a chance to run back above $0.6; as for Bitcoin, the trading firm expects the $29,000 to $30,000 resistance to remain intact.

Cover image from Unsplash, chart from QCP Capital and Tradingview