In recent years, the movement of $XRP has been more centered around court developments.
By 2026, market focus has shifted to a core issue - actual trading volume and real network usage.
In the past few weeks, I have been continuously tracking the liquidity bridging data of RLUSD on the XRP Ledger (XRPL). On-chain data is telling a story, while the current price seems yet to fully reflect this change.
1. Technical 'compression zone': Why is $1.40 so critical?
After spiking to $2.40 in January, XRP retraced about 40%, shaking out a lot of chasing funds. Structurally, this looks more like a healthy retest confirmation rather than a trend ending.
The current price is hovering around the support area of $1.43–$1.50, which has served as a launch pad multiple times in the past six months.
💡 My judgment:
When an asset enters a narrow fluctuation after a significant rise, it often indicates that momentum is building. Exchange balances have fallen to near seven-year lows, and supply is contracting. If it can hold above $1.40 this week amidst macro volatility, the next upward phase could be very rapid.
2. Reality on the ground: RLUSD liquidity bridges are now operational.
What truly matters is not the hype on social media, but the actual progress in applications.
Ripple USD (RLUSD) has gradually entered the cross-border settlement system, especially in the Southeast Asia corridor. On-chain data shows that RLUSD currently accounts for about 15% of cross-border settlement flow in the region.
This means real use cases:
Every RLUSD settlement requires network processing and value transfer through XRP.
This is not sentiment-driven trading volume, but rather a functional demand related to financial infrastructure.
3. Market sentiment: From being overlooked to being revalued.
Many holders have experienced the sideways movement of XRP while other coins have rapidly risen. This 'patience waiting' has shaped the cohesion of the XRP community.
Historical experience shows that the low-key accumulation by institutions often appears dull until the price revaluation truly occurs.
The narrative is shifting from the 'legal battle phase' to the 'institutional application phase'.
We are moving from the 'court era' to the 'boardroom era'.
4. A simple understanding of how XRPL operates.
You can think of the XRP Ledger as a global digital highway.
Vehicles: Different currencies (USD, EUR, RLUSD, etc.)
Bridge/toll mechanism: XRP
As more funds enter this highway, assets playing the bridging role naturally become more important.
The greater the traffic flow, the higher the value of the bridge.
This is essentially driven by supply and demand relations propelled by network usage.
5. 2026 price scenario outlook.
💬 XRP market sentiment update.
🔥 Bullish scenario:
If the daily price can firmly hold above $1.65, coupled with increased ETF inflow, there is a chance the price could challenge the $3.80–$4.50 range, forming a new trend momentum.
🤝 Neutral scenario:
Prices may oscillate in the $1.40–$1.80 range. This range is suitable for dollar-cost averaging (DCA) and gradually building a long-term position.
⚠️ Bearish scenario:
If the overall market sees a significant pullback, XRP may test the $0.95–$1.10 region. The $1.00 psychological level remains a key observation point.
2026 conclusion: Focus on underlying infrastructure, rather than market noise.
The gap between application value and market pricing is narrowing.
Rather than waiting for sudden favorable news, it is better to focus on the growth of on-chain data and real usage.
If below $1.00 is the early accumulation stage, then the current fluctuations near $1.40 may be the last relatively rational entry zone this year.
Are you accumulating near the support level, or waiting for a breakout at $2.00 to confirm the trend?
Feel free to share your 2026 target views.
