XRP is trading near the psychologically important $1.00 level on Friday, down roughly 1% over the past 24 hours. The token's price action comes amid a mix of supportive institutional flows and persistent bearish technical signals, leaving the market at a critical juncture.
Institutional demand provides a cushion
Despite the ongoing correction, institutional interest in XRP remains notable. Data from CoinGlass shows that US-listed spot XRP ETFs recorded $2.25 million in net inflows through Thursday. If Friday's session follows suit, these products would mark a fifth consecutive week of net inflows.
This sustained demand suggests that institutional investors are gradually building exposure to XRP even as the price hovers near a key support zone. Persistent ETF inflows could help absorb some of the available supply and potentially limit downside pressure. However, the relatively modest size of this week's flows means that buyers would need to maintain their interest for the impact to be more substantial.
Whale accumulation continues
On-chain data from CryptoQuant indicates that large XRP holders have been quietly accumulating. The average spot order size has been dominated by big-whale activity throughout the year, even as the token trades within the $1.00-to-$1.20 range. This suggests that influential market participants may view current levels as attractive for long-term accumulation.
However, XRP's 90-day taker Cumulative Volume Delta (CVD) has cooled to a neutral level. This metric measures the difference between aggressive market buying and selling over time. A neutral reading implies that accumulation is occurring without strong buying pressure—whales may be adding exposure gradually rather than pushing the price higher aggressively.
This positioning improves XRP's risk-to-reward profile and hints that the decline could be entering its later stages. Yet, the absence of strong taker demand means the market has not yet confirmed a durable bottom.
Technical outlook remains bearish
From a technical perspective, XRP's broader structure remains under pressure. The token is trading below its 50-day exponential moving average (EMA) at $1.087, the 100-day EMA at $1.169, and the 200-day EMA at $1.362. All three moving averages sitting above the current price indicate that sellers maintain control of the medium- and long-term trends.
Momentum indicators also lean bearish. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) stands at 36, below the neutral 50 level but above oversold territory. Meanwhile, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) remains negative, signaling that bearish momentum has not fully faded.
Immediate support sits at $1.00. Buyers must defend this level to prevent another leg lower and preserve the possibility of a near-term recovery. If XRP gains momentum, the 50-day EMA at $1.087 represents the first significant resistance. A close above this level could open the path toward the 100-day EMA at $1.169. Further resistance lies at $1.300, followed by the 200-day EMA at $1.362. A more sustained bullish reversal could eventually bring the distant $1.900 barrier into focus.
For now, XRP's ETF inflows and whale accumulation offer reasons for cautious optimism, but a decisive move above the short-term moving averages is required to confirm that a meaningful recovery has begun. Similar patterns have been observed in other cryptocurrencies, such as Dogecoin's recent whale activity and Cardano's accumulation near resistance, highlighting the importance of whale behavior in crypto markets.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
