XRP Price Recovery Stalls at $2.85 as Ripple Faces Technical Resistance

XRP Price Recovery Stalls at $2.85 as Ripple Faces Technical Resistance - Blockchain.News

Quick Take

• XRP currently trading at $2.85 (+1.36% in 24h) • XRP RSI at 44.75 indicates neutral momentum with potential oversold bounce • Recent XRPL smart contract announcement overshadowed by $1.9 billion institutional liquidations

What's Driving Ripple Price Today?

XRP price action reflects a market caught between competing forces as September trading begins. The most immediate catalyst came from significant institutional liquidation flows totaling $1.9 billion since July, creating substantial selling pressure that pushed XRP from $2.85 to a low of $2.75 earlier this week.

However, whale accumulation patterns tell a different story. Large holders have accumulated 340 million XRP during this decline, suggesting smart money views current levels as attractive. This divergence between institutional selling and whale buying has created the sideways trading pattern we're seeing today.

The technical development announcement from Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse regarding smart contract integration into the XRPL provides a fundamental backdrop for longer-term bullish sentiment. The partnership with Futureverse to enable NFTs, AMMs, and DEXs represents a significant evolution for the XRP Ledger, though this news hasn't yet translated into immediate price momentum.

XRP Technical Analysis: Mixed Signals Emerge

Ripple technical analysis reveals a market in transition, with XRP's RSI at 44.75 placing it in neutral territory but approaching oversold conditions that historically trigger bounces. The daily RSI reading suggests selling pressure may be exhausting itself.

XRP's MACD tells a more bearish story, with the indicator at -0.0616 and the histogram showing -0.0166, confirming bearish momentum remains intact. However, the Stochastic indicators (%K at 34.43, %D at 28.97) are already in oversold territory, often preceding short-term reversals.

The moving average structure shows XRP price currently below both the 20-day SMA ($2.94) and 50-day SMA ($3.09), but importantly remains above the 200-day SMA ($2.48), preserving the longer-term bullish structure. Ripple's Bollinger Bands position at 0.2865 indicates XRP is trading in the lower portion of its recent range.

Based on Binance spot market data, XRP's daily ATR of $0.15 suggests moderate volatility, providing reasonable trading opportunities without excessive risk.

Ripple Price Levels: Key Support and Resistance

The current XRP price action is unfolding around critical technical levels that will determine near-term direction. Immediate XRP resistance sits at $3.16, coinciding with the upper Bollinger Band at $3.17. A break above this level would target the stronger resistance zone at $3.66, representing XRP's recent cycle high.

Ripple support levels are equally well-defined, with immediate support at $2.70 aligning with both technical analysis projections and the lower Bollinger Band at $2.72. This $2.70 level has been tested multiple times and represents strong support that, if broken, could lead to a decline toward the psychological $2.55 level mentioned in recent analyst reports.

The pivot point at $2.82 serves as a near-term directional indicator. XRP price action above this level favors bullish scenarios, while sustained trading below it increases the probability of testing lower support zones.

Should You Buy XRP Now? Risk-Reward Analysis

For swing traders, the current XRP price setup offers an asymmetric risk-reward opportunity. With XRP trading near the bottom of its Bollinger Bands and whale accumulation continuing, a position with stops below $2.70 and targets at $3.16 provides approximately 1:2 risk-reward.

Conservative investors should wait for confirmation of support holding at $2.70 or a break above $3.16 resistance before establishing positions. The institutional selling pressure creates uncertainty that favors patience over aggressive entry.

Active traders can consider the $2.76-$2.87 range for scalping opportunities, though the compressed volatility suggests limited profit potential until a decisive break occurs. The descending resistance pattern since mid-August remains intact, favoring short-term bearish scenarios until proven otherwise.

Risk management remains crucial given the conflicting signals between whale accumulation and institutional selling. Position sizing should account for potential volatility expansion as XRP approaches key decision levels.

Conclusion

XRP price faces a critical juncture at $2.85, with technical indicators showing oversold conditions that could trigger a bounce, while fundamental developments like smart contract integration provide longer-term bullish catalysts. However, the immediate challenge remains overcoming the descending resistance pattern and institutional selling pressure. Traders should monitor the $2.70 support level closely, as its defense or breakdown will likely determine XRP's direction over the next 24-48 hours. The whale accumulation pattern suggests patient capital sees value at these levels, but confirmation through price action remains necessary before declaring a trend reversal.

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