Ethereum developers have raised the blob limit for a second time in recent weeks, a move that will allow more transactions to be batched via rollups, making them cheaper.
Solana started a fresh increase above the $135 zone. SOL price is now consolidating above $135 and might aim for more gains above the $140 zone. SOL price started a fresh upward move above the $135 and $138 levels against the US Dollar. The price is now trading above $135 and the 100-hourly simple moving average. There is a contracting triangle forming with support at $138 on the hourly chart of the SOL/USD pair (data source from Kraken). The pair could extend gains if it clears the $140 resistance zone. Solana Price Eyes Another Increase Solana price started a decent increase after it settled above the $130 zone, like Bitcoin and Ethereum. SOL climbed above the $135 level to enter a short-term positive zone. The price even smashed the $140 resistance. The bulls were able to push the price above $142. Recently, there were a couple of swing moves and the price dipped below the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent upward move from the $136 swing low to the $141 high. Solana is now trading above $138 and the 100-hourly simple moving average. Besides, there is a contracting triangle forming with support at $138 on the hourly chart of the SOL/USD pair. On the upside, the price is facing resistance near $140. The next major resistance is near the $142 level. The main resistance could be $145. A successful close above the $145 resistance zone could set the pace for another steady increase. The next key resistance is $150. Any more gains might send the price toward the $155 level. Downside Break In SOL? If SOL fails to rise above the $142 resistance, it could start another decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $138 zone, the trend line, and the 76.4% Fib retracement level of the recent upward move from the $136 swing low to the $141 high. The first major support is near the $136 level. A break below the $136 level might send the price toward the $130 support zone. If there is a close below the $130 support, the price could decline toward the $120 support in the near term. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for SOL/USD is losing pace in the bullish zone. Hourly Hours RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for SOL/USD is above the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $138 and $136. Major Resistance Levels – $140 and $142.
According to Beaconcha.in data and market reports, the Ethereum validator exit queue has shrunk to just 32 ETH, with a wait time of about one minute. That is a steep drop from its mid-September peak of 2.67 million ETH — a fall of almost a hundred percent. Markets often react when locked assets are freed up for sale. Right now, that specific source of immediate selling seems to have faded. Related Reading: Crypto Users Lose Far Less To Phishing As Losses Drop 83% – Details Validator Exit Queue Near Empty The exit mechanism limits how fast validators can stop validating and pull out their full stake. With the queue near zero, there is no backlog waiting to cash out. That reduces one form of nervous selling. Validators still earn rewards while queued and can face penalties if they act badly, but the bottleneck that once forced slow exits is gone. Reports show the withdrawal process for partial payouts remains separate, and those smaller payouts continue without affecting the full-exit flow. Entry Queue Hits Fresh Highs Based on reports, the entry queue has climbed to about 1.3 million ETH, its largest level since mid-November. Large operators are sending chunks of ETH into staking. BitMine began staking on Dec. 26 and added 82,560 ETH to the queue on Jan. 3. The firm now lists 659,219 ETH staked, worth roughly $2.1 billion at current prices. BitMine’s wider holdings stand at just over 4.1 million ETH, representing about 3.4% of the total supply and valued near $13 billion. Those moves add real, measurable demand for staked Ether and help explain why fewer validators appear eager to leave. Exchange Balances And Liquidity Exchange reserves for ETH sit at multi-year lows. That matters because when fewer coins are parked on trading platforms, automatic or panic selling becomes harder to pull off. Traders and analysts point to this as a reason selling pressure is easing. Some industry figures have been quoted saying the exit queue is “basically empty,” and that selling pressure is drying up as staking outpaces withdrawals. Still, the market can move by other means — derivatives, lending desks, and off-exchange trades can shift exposure without touching the staking queues. BULLISH: $ETH surpasses Netflix to reclaim its position as the 36th-largest asset by market cap. pic.twitter.com/NetdCcdtSa — CoinGecko (@coingecko) January 6, 2026 Market Cap Milestone And What It Means Meanwhile, in another development, market watchers also noted that Ethereum has moved past Netflix to be the 36th-largest asset by market cap. That headline grabs attention. It says something about investor focus on blockchain assets right now. Related Reading: Bitcoin Wealth Isn’t About Hype—It’s About Time And Stacking, Expert Says But crossing a market-cap threshold is not the same as a direct reason to buy. Valuation rankings change often, and they can be driven by price moves that are themselves shaped by flows, news, or macro shifts rather than a change in the underlying business. Featured image from Pexels, chart from TradingView
The raise comes as xAI faces mounting international regulatory scrutiny over Grok's content moderation practices.
Traders are watching if XRP can reclaim the $2.31-$2.32 range or remain in a descending channel.
XRP price started a strong increase above $2.30. The price is now consolidating gains and might aim for more gains if it stays above the $2.20 zone. XRP price started a fresh increase above the $2.250 zone. The price is now trading above $2.220 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a bullish trend line forming with support at $2.210 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair (data source from Kraken). The pair could continue to move up if it settles above $2.330. XRP Price Corrects Some Gains XRP price started a major upward move above $2.20 and $2.250, beating Bitcoin and Ethereum. The price gained pace for a clear move above the $2.30 resistance. The bulls even pumped the price above the $2.40 zone. A high was formed at $2.416 and the price started a downside correction. There was a move below $2.35 and $2.30. However, the bulls were active near $2.20. A low was formed at $2.206, and the price is now attempting a fresh increase. There was a move to the 50% Fib retracement level of the downside correction from the $2.416 swing high to the $2.206 low. The price is now trading above $2.220 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. Besides, there is a bullish trend line forming with support at $2.210 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair. If there is a fresh upward move, the price might face resistance near the $2.30 level. The first major resistance is near the $2.330 level or the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the downside correction from the $2.416 swing high to the $2.206 low, above which the price could rise and test $2.40. A clear move above the $2.40 resistance might send the price toward the $2.420 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $2.450 resistance. The next major hurdle for the bulls might be near $2.50. More Downsides? If XRP fails to clear the $2.330 resistance zone, it could start a fresh decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $2.220 level. The next major support is near the $2.20 level. If there is a downside break and a close below the $2.20 level, the price might continue to decline toward $2.1550. The next major support sits near the $2.120 zone, below which the price could continue lower toward $2.080. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for XRP/USD is now losing pace in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for XRP/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $2.220 and $2.20. Major Resistance Levels – $2.330 and $2.40.
Bitcoin steadied this week after a brief pullback, with analysts saying the broader price structure still points to higher levels if key support zones continue to hold. The world’s largest cryptocurrency has been moving higher since its late-November lows, and recent price action suggests buyers remain active during dips. Short-Term Pullback Seen as Normal Correction …
Ripple closed a $500 million funding round at a $40 billion valuation last November, with Fortress and Citadel among the key participants.
Bitcoin is attempting to extend its recovery after reclaiming the $90,000 level, a move that has brought cautious optimism back into the market following weeks of consolidation and selling pressure. While price action alone still falls short of confirming a renewed uptrend, on-chain data suggests that underlying market conditions may be stabilizing beneath the surface. Related Reading: Venezuela, Geopolitical Risk, And Bitcoin: What On-Chain Data Really Shows According to top analyst Axel Adler, the On-Chain Pressure Oscillator is offering an important lens into current market dynamics. The indicator, which aggregates exchange netflows, short-term holder realized profit and loss, and long-term coin spending into a single percentile-based signal, is currently sitting around the 46 level. Historically, this zone has been associated with accumulation phases rather than distribution. What stands out in the current reading is the absence of aggressive sellers. Exchange inflows remain muted, indicating that investors are not rushing to move coins to trading venues. At the same time, older coins are largely dormant, suggesting that long-term holders are not capitulating despite recent volatility. Short-term holders remain under pressure, but their losses appear contained, limiting forced selling. Together, these factors point to a market that is deleveraged and relatively balanced, with sell-side pressure constrained more by a lack of supply than by surging demand. Short-Term Holder Stress Keeps Sell-Side Pressure Contained Adler adds that recent movements in the On-Chain Pressure Oscillator reinforce the idea that Bitcoin is still locked in a consolidation regime. While the daily readings of the oscillator have softened over the past few sessions, the smoothed trend remains broadly stable. Historically, similar configurations have tended to appear during pause phases, when the market digests prior moves before committing to a new direction. Importantly, this stability suggests that sell-side pressure from key cohorts remains muted, even as demand has yet to show a decisive expansion. The main risk to this structure would be a sustained breakdown in the smoothed oscillator below neutral levels. Such a move would indicate a shift away from accumulation toward distribution, signaling that sellers are regaining control. This dynamic is closely linked to Bitcoin’s position relative to the Short-Term Holder (STH) realized price. With BTC trading below the average cost basis of holders who entered within the last five months, most short-term participants are currently underwater. This limits their ability to take profits and reduces immediate selling incentives. As a result, sell pressure remains constrained despite recent price weakness. However, this balance may change if Bitcoin approaches the $100,000 area. A return to breakeven for short-term holders could unlock supply and create resistance. A healthier signal would be price reclaiming the STH realized level while the oscillator strengthens, confirming renewed demand rather than mere absence of selling. Related Reading: Memecoin Strength Returns After Historic Market Decline: A Setup For A Comeback? Bitcoin Rebounds From December Lows but Faces Heavy Overhead Resistance Bitcoin is trading near the $94,000 area after rebounding sharply from the December lows around $82,000–$84,000. The chart shows a clear recovery leg following a steep corrective phase that unfolded after the October peak near $125,000. While the bounce has restored short-term momentum, the broader structure remains technically constrained. Price is currently reclaiming the short-term moving average, which has started to curl upward and act as dynamic support. This is a constructive development, suggesting that downside momentum has eased and buyers are regaining some control. However, Bitcoin remains below the mid- and long-term moving averages, which are still sloping downward. These levels, clustered between roughly $100,000 and $105,000, represent a significant overhead resistance zone that bulls must clear to reestablish a bullish trend. Related Reading: Altcoin Season Setup Advances: CEX Volume Hits Cycle Highs Despite Price Weakness Selling pressure peaked during the November–December breakdown, while the current rebound has occurred on more moderate volume, indicating stabilization rather than aggressive accumulation. Structurally, the market appears to be transitioning from a sharp sell-off into a consolidation and recovery phase. Holding above the $90,000–$92,000 region is critical to maintain this constructive setup. A failure to defend this zone would expose Bitcoin to renewed downside risk, while a sustained move above the declining moving averages would signal a more durable shift in market direction. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
Cypherpunk Adam Back has frequently shot down claims that quantum computing will be a threat to Bitcoin anytime soon.
US spot bitcoin ETFs attracted over $1.2 billion in the first two trading days of 2026, with analysts projecting annual inflows could reach $150 billion.
Vanadi Coffee's increased Bitcoin investment highlights growing corporate adoption of digital assets, potentially influencing market dynamics.
The post Vanadi Coffee boosts Bitcoin holdings to 173 BTC appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
The Digital Asset Market Clarity Act aims to establish a comprehensive framework for crypto market structure in the United States.
Ethereum price started a steady upward move above $3,200. ETH is now consolidating gains and might aim for more gains above $3,300. Ethereum started a fresh increase above $3,150 and $3,200. The price is trading above $3,220 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. There is a key bullish trend line forming with support at $3,200 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD (data feed via Kraken). The pair could continue to move up if it clears the $3,265 zone. Ethereum Price Holds Gains Ethereum price started a fresh increase after it settled above the $3,120 zone, like Bitcoin. ETH price gained pace for a move above the $3,200 and $3,220 resistance levels. The bulls even pumped the price toward $3,300. A high was formed at $3,299, and the price is now consolidating gains. It declined a few points to test the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent increase from the $3,181 swing low to the $3,299 high. Ethereum price is now trading above $3,220 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average. Besides, there is a key bullish trend line forming with support at $3,200 on the hourly chart of ETH/USD. If the bulls are able to protect more losses below $3,200, the price could attempt another increase. Immediate resistance is seen near the $3,265 level. The first key resistance is near the $3,280 level. The next major resistance is near the $3,300 level. A clear move above the $3,300 resistance might send the price toward the $3,350 resistance. An upside break above the $3,350 region might call for more gains in the coming days. In the stated case, Ether could rise toward the $3,450 resistance zone or even $3,500 in the near term. Downside Correction In ETH? If Ethereum fails to clear the $3,265 resistance, it could start a fresh decline. Initial support on the downside is near the $3,220 level or the 61.8% Fib retracement level of the recent increase from the $3,181 swing low to the $3,299 high. The first major support sits near the $3,200 zone and the trend line. A clear move below the $3,200 support might push the price toward the $3,120 support. Any more losses might send the price toward the $3,050 region. Technical Indicators Hourly MACD – The MACD for ETH/USD is losing momentum in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI – The RSI for ETH/USD is now above the 50 zone. Major Support Level – $3,200 Major Resistance Level – $3,265
After a phase of net Bitcoin selling, on-chain data suggests institutional entities have started accumulating the cryptocurrency once more. Bitcoin Rose Over 41% The Last Time Institutions Turned Into Net Buyers As pointed out by Capriole Investments founder Charles Edwards in an X post, institutions have once again turned into net buyers of Bitcoin. Below is the chart shared by Edwards that shows the trend in institutional behavior over the last few years. From the graph, it’s visible that institutional investors switched their behavior to selling back in October as Bitcoin observed a bearish shift following its price top above $126,000. Related Reading: Bitcoin Miner Capitulation Ends: Hash Ribbons Flash Buy Signal The distribution calmed down as the cryptocurrency stabilized into a phase of consolidation in December, with a turn to positive levels starting to appear. The metric has now grown further in the new year, a potential sign that institutional behavior may really be changing to one of net accumulation. In the chart, the analyst has highlighted the price moves that followed shifts to net buying from these humongous traders in the past. It would appear that, on average, Bitcoin rose 109% after this signal appeared. Though the individual outcomes have seen high variance, ranging from a rally of 390% after the 2020 signal to a drop of 13% in 2024. The last time that the signal appeared was in the first half of 2025 and what followed was a price surge of 41%. It now remains to be seen how the cryptocurrency’s price will be affected this time around. A notable pillar of institutional buying in the sector today is represented by the treasury companies. Like the wider institutional behavior, these entities were also net sellers of Bitcoin late last year, as Edwards has highlighted in another X post. The above chart shows the trend in the 30-day rate of change in the Buy-Sell Ratio associated with BTC treasuries, a metric that compares their cumulative USD buying against selling. It would appear that the indicator has just flipped positive in 2026. “Bitcoin treasury companies just flipped to net buying again,” noted the analyst. Related Reading: PEPE Explodes 62%, But Analyst Warns Of Breakdown Retest Strategy, the largest corporate treasury holder of the cryptocurrency in the world, kept accumulating even as the asset observed its bearish shift. But the buying from the firm wasn’t enough, as the rate of change in the Buy-Sell Ratio still plunged into the negative zone In November. BTC Price Bitcoin has shown a move away from stagnation during the last few days as its price has climbed back to the $93,800 level. Featured image from Dall-E, charts from TradingView.com
Bitcoin price started a fresh increase above $92,500. BTC is now correcting some gains and might revisit the $90,500 support zone. Bitcoin started a fresh increase above the $92,000 zone. The price is trading above $92,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. There is a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $93,750 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair (data feed from Kraken). The pair might continue to move up if it stays above the $90,500 zone. Bitcoin Price Faces Resistance Bitcoin price remained supported above the $91,500 zone and started a fresh increase. BTC gained pace for a move above the $92,200 and $92,500 resistance levels. It even spiked above $94,000 before there was a pullback. The price dipped and tested the $91,250 level. Recently, it recovered and climbed to $93,771 and now shows signs of another decline. There was a move below the 50% Fib retracement level of the recent upward move from the $91,230 swing low to the $93,771 high. Bitcoin is now trading above $92,000 and the 100 hourly Simple moving average. If the price remains stable above $92,000, it could attempt a fresh increase. Immediate resistance is near the $93,200 level. The first key resistance is near the $93,500 level. There is also a bearish trend line forming with resistance at $93,750 on the hourly chart of the BTC/USD pair. The next resistance could be $94,000. A close above the $94,000 resistance might send the price further higher. In the stated case, the price could rise and test the $95,000 resistance. Any more gains might send the price toward the $95,800 level. The next barrier for the bulls could be $96,200 and $96,500. More Downsides In BTC? If Bitcoin fails to rise above the $93,500 resistance zone, it could start another decline. Immediate support is near the $92,000 level. The first major support is near the $91,800 level or the 76.4% Fib retracement level of the recent upward move from the $91,230 swing low to the $93,771 high. The next support is now near the $90,500 zone. Any more losses might send the price toward the $90,200 support in the near term. The main support sits at $90,000, below which BTC might accelerate lower in the near term. Technical indicators: Hourly MACD – The MACD is now losing pace in the bullish zone. Hourly RSI (Relative Strength Index) – The RSI for BTC/USD is now below the 50 level. Major Support Levels – $92,000, followed by $90,500. Major Resistance Levels – $93,500 and $94,000.
New-year allocations support bitcoin prices as leverage cools and volatility expectations rise.
MSCI's pause on excluding digital asset treasury firms highlights ongoing uncertainty in index inclusion, impacting market stability and investment strategies.
The post Strategy stock soars as MSCI pauses plan to drop digital asset treasury firms appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
XRP has regained momentum after reclaiming the $2.20 level and extending its move toward the $2.41 mark, marking one of its strongest advances in recent months. The recovery comes after a prolonged period of selling pressure and uncertainty, and it has reignited bullish expectations among a segment of investors who now believe XRP could challenge or even surpass its all-time high later this year. While skepticism remains across the broader market, price action suggests that XRP is no longer purely defensive. Related Reading: Venezuela, Geopolitical Risk, And Bitcoin: What On-Chain Data Really Shows According to a recent CryptoQuant report, early January brought visible improvement across the crypto sector, with Bitcoin pushing toward $93,000 and XRP moving decisively above $2.30. That synchronized strength helped shift sentiment, as XRP broke out of its prior consolidation range and began showing signs of renewed trend formation. Significantly, the move has not been driven by price alone. On-chain data points to a deeper structural change within the XRP ecosystem. Activity on the XRP Ledger has accelerated sharply, with network growth reaching levels not seen during the previous consolidation phase. This expansion suggests that rising prices are being supported by genuine usage and participation rather than short-term speculation. XRPL Liquidity Surge Signals Structural Shift Behind Breakout The CryptoQuant report indicates a decisive change in XRP’s market structure, driven not only by price appreciation but also by deep shifts in liquidity and participation. One of the most striking developments is the explosion in liquidity on the XRPL decentralized exchange, which has climbed to roughly $173 billion. Rather than thinning out during periods of weakness, liquidity has expanded sharply, suggesting that large players are actively positioning rather than exiting. This behavior is typically associated with preparation for heightened volatility or a more durable trend change. The timing of this expansion is also important. Since mid-December, liquidity spikes have become both more frequent and larger in size, a pattern that aligns with the entry of more sophisticated market makers. This effectively transforms the trading environment, making it easier for whales and institutional participants to deploy size without causing disruptive price swings. In practical terms, XRP is becoming a more efficient market for large-scale capital. Crucially, this liquidity is not idle. Transaction activity on the XRPL DEX has surged, indicating that deeper order books are supporting real usage rather than passive positioning. At the same time, market behavior has shifted toward buyer dominance. Aggressive buying has taken control, while bearish pressure has faded, allowing the price to break out of its prior compression. Forced short covering further reinforced that move and helped propel XRP through key resistance near $2.30. Together, these dynamics suggest that structural improvements, not just speculative momentum, underpin XRP’s recent strength. Related Reading: Memecoin Strength Returns After Historic Market Decline: A Setup For A Comeback? XRP Faces Heavy Overhead Resistance XRP’s daily chart shows a notable shift in short-term momentum after a prolonged period of downside pressure. Price has surged from the December lows near the $1.85–$1.90 zone and is now trading around $2.35, marking a sharp recovery that has caught sellers off guard. Following months of lower highs and lower lows, analysts view this rebound as an early trend reversal attempt instead of a confirmed bullish continuation The breakout above the short-term moving average (blue line) is a constructive development. This level had previously acted as dynamic resistance throughout November and December, consistently rejecting upside attempts. Reclaiming it signals improving momentum and a potential shift in market structure. However, XRP is now approaching a dense resistance cluster between $2.45 and $2.65, where both the 100-day and 200-day moving averages converge. Historically, this zone has attracted strong selling pressure. Related Reading: Bitcoin Data Shows Aggressive Sellers In Control As BTC Consolidates Below $90K While the recent rally shows increased participation compared to late December, it remains well below the levels seen during prior impulsive advances. This suggests that although buyers are regaining control, conviction is still developing. A period of consolidation above $2.20 would help solidify this move. If XRP can hold above the $2.30–$2.35 area, the probability of a broader recovery toward $2.70 increases. Failure to do so would likely result in a pullback, keeping XRP range-bound and vulnerable to renewed selling pressure. Featured image from ChatGPT, chart from TradingView.com
The Community Bankers Council has asked the Senate for a crypto market structure bill that will ban exchanges and others offering interest on stablecoins.
Bitchat developer Calle boldly said, “You can’t stop us” after Uganda threatened to block Bitchat ahead of elections next week.
Riot Platforms' Bitcoin sale highlights the strategic shift towards funding growth and operational efficiency, impacting future market dynamics.
The post Riot Platforms sells $161 million in Bitcoin, trimming its holdings to 18,005 BTC appeared first on Crypto Briefing.
XRP has surged past recent resistance with impressive momentum, signaling strength in the current rally. However, the real challenge now lies at the $2.41 cost-basis zone, a key area where a significant amount of XRP was previously accumulated. How price reacts here will likely dictate whether bulls can maintain control and push toward higher targets, or if selling pressure creates a temporary pause or pullback. XRP Approaches A Critical Cost-Basis Resistance At $2.41 According to a recent update from Steph Is Crypto, XRP is now at a pivotal crossroads, with price action increasingly centered around the $2.41 level. This zone stands out as a major cost-basis wall where several technical and on-chain signals align, making it a decisive area in determining whether the current rally can extend or begin to stall. Related Reading: XRP Enters A Make-or-Break Zone As This Long-Term Support Cracks The cost-basis distribution heatmap highlights the $2.41 region as a dense supply cluster. Cost basis represents the price levels at which tokens were previously acquired. When the price returns to these areas, they often attract heightened trading activity. On-chain data shows that between $2.39 and $2.41, roughly 1.56 billion XRP were accumulated. Many holders who bought in this range may look to exit positions to break even as the price revisits the zone, introducing selling pressure and reinforcing the area as resistance. This dynamic is also reflected in the XRP price chart, which shows repeated hesitation and multiple rejections around the same level. The alignment between on-chain supply data and technical price action suggests that $2.41 is an important level that XRP must overcome decisively to unlock the next leg higher. Wave 3 Breaks Out Above The 2.618 Extension With Strong Momentum Tara revealed that XRP’s Wave 3 has delivered a powerful breakout, pushing beyond the 2.618 Fibonacci extension and clearing the macro resistance at $2.30. This move was accompanied by a strong RSI reading, signaling strength behind the advance. Related Reading: XRP Price May Be Bearish Below $2, But On-Chain Data Tells A Different Story With Wave 3 extending higher, Tara identified $2.49 as the next key upside target, which aligns with the 0.618 Fibonacci extension of the fifth wave. Despite the strength of the move, Tara advised preparing for a short-term pullback. A brief retracement could allow the RSI to cool off, creating healthier conditions for the next leg higher and potentially setting up a clearer divergence on a renewed push. As long as XRP remains above the macro 0.236 Fibonacci level, the broader bullish structure stays intact. Tara is closely monitoring lower-timeframe support zones, marked in green, while continuing to track the move as a developing Wave 1/3 impulse. Featured image from Adobe Stock, chart from Tradingview.com
The Senate is approaching a potential markup that may advance crypto legislation to a vote, and industry insiders are amassing for a lobbying push this week.
MSCI will keep crypto-heavy firms in its indexes through February, deferring changes after investor feedback raised classification concerns.
XRP has shown a notable uptick in price action in the past 48 hours as XRP’s price pushed higher from below $2 at the beginning of the year, but it now finds itself trading near the $2.40 region. Interestingly, this recent push is more than just a bounce, especially as a longer-term chart structure shows comparisons with XRP’s behavior ahead of its 2017 breakout. How The 2017 Structure Unfolded Before The Surge Technical analysis of XRP’s current price action on the weekly candlestick timeframe chart shows that the cryptocurrency is currently tracing out a similar price action to what it went through back in 2017 on the 3-day chart. In that earlier period, price action unfolded through a well-defined five-wave sequence, characterized by alternating phases of decline and recovery. Waves one, three, and five each pushed the price lower with corrective pressure, while waves two and four produced temporary rebounds that relieved selling pressure but failed to establish a lasting trend reversal. Related Reading: Bitcoin Price Parabola: What’s Different Between The Last Bull Cycle And This One? The final stage of that sequence was particularly important. During the fifth wave, XRP’s decline slowed and compressed into a falling wedge formation. XRP’s price slipped below the $0.005 level and eventually stabilized around $0.00485, where downside follow-through became increasingly limited. From here, the downside pressure gradually weakened, volatility contracted, and selling momentum faded. When XRP finally broke out of that compression, it quickly reclaimed the $0.008 zone and broke through $0.02, resulting in the start of a rally that ultimately delivered gains well in excess of 1,000%. XRP Price Chart. Source: @Steph_iscrypto According to Steph’s analysis, XRP’s recent price action is following a remarkably similar rhythm. After topping out around $3.40 in mid-2025, the cryptocurrency entered a corrective phase that pushed the price steadily lower to create a falling wedge structure. That decline found support at $1.74, where selling pressure slowed and price action stopped making aggressive new lows. Now, it seems XRP is breaking out of the falling wedge and back to solidifying its price action above $2. XRP Price Action In Focus Now that XRP is back to trading above $2 and above the falling wedge, the next course of action is to look at how the price behaves from here. Of course, the most bullish course of action is for XRP to repeat a 1,000% rally, which would place it at a price target around $22. Related Reading: Popular Crypto Founder Dumps Millions In Ethereum, Here’s What He’s Buying In terms of how this plays out, there are resistance levels to watch out for. The $2.30 area is an early test, followed by $2.50 and $2.80, which are prior consolidation levels where XRP slowed down during its push to all-time highs in 2025. After that, the $3.10 price level and the previous 2018 high at $3.40 are the major resistances that would need to be reclaimed. On the downside, sustained weakness below $1.90, and especially a move back toward $1.74, would challenge the idea that the corrective phase has fully played out. Featured image created with Dall.E, chart from Tradingview.com
MSCI Inc., a global provider of stock market indexes, has made its decision on digital assets treasury (DATs) companies. The $18 trillion stock index will allow companies such as Strategy Inc. (NASDAQ: MSTR) to remain in MSCI-related global indexes. MSCI Bends to Public Demand for Bitcoin and Crypto According to the announcement. DAT companies MSCI …
The Senate Banking Committee will vote on its crypto market structure bill next week, even as Democrats and Republicans still appear far apart on major sticking points.
MSCI won’t drop firms like Strategy from indexes yet, but a broader rule change may still be on the table
XRP surged 12% to reach $2.42 on January 6, marking its highest price since mid-November 2025, before hovering around the current $2.35 mark. Related Reading: Here’s Why The Shiba Inu Price Jumped Over 13% The jump coincided with a strong influx of capital into XRP-focused exchange-traded funds (ETFs), technical breakout patterns, and a sharp reduction in short positions. These aspects combined to drive one of the most notable rallies in the crypto market’s early 2026 recovery phase. XRP's price trends to the upside on the daily chart. Source: XRPUSD on Tradingview XRP ETF Inflows and Institutional Interest Fuel Gains Spot XRP ETFs recorded $48 million in net inflows on January 5 and 6, marking the largest daily inflows since their launch in November 2024. Over the past eight weeks, these ETFs have experienced a consistent inflow of approximately $1.23 billion, reflecting a growing institutional appetite for XRP exposure. The increased buying pressure from these funds is helping absorb selling pressure and reduce the available supply on exchanges. Vincent Liu, Chief Investment Officer at Kronos Research, noted that ETF inflows combined with XRP breaking key resistance levels on strong volume have heightened traders’ risk appetite. This institutional interest is supported by regulatory clarity following 2025’s Ripple’s settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), which removed a major obstacle to adoption. Technical Breakout and Short Squeeze Accelerate Price Movement Technical analysts point to a breakout from a falling wedge pattern, with XRP maintaining levels above its 50-day moving average, a positive indicator for momentum traders. During the price surge, over $250 million in short positions were liquidated within a single hour, adding fuel to the rally by forcing short sellers to cover their bets. Renowned trader John Bollinger, inventor of the Bollinger Bands, commented that XRP is following a similar bullish pattern to Bitcoin and Ethereum but with slightly weaker momentum. Nonetheless, he suggested that XRP’s price could track Bitcoin’s upward trend, with analysts projecting a potential target near $3.50 if current support levels hold. Broader Market Context and Future Outlook XRP’s rally comes amid a broader crypto market recovery, with Bitcoin and Ethereum rising 7.4% and 9.3% respectively over the past week. On-chain data indicate a decline in XRP balances on centralized exchanges, suggesting reduced selling pressure. Institutional backing continues to grow, with PwC recently endorsing Ripple as a core player in blockchain-based financial services. Major banks such as Standard Chartered have projected XRP prices as high as $8 by the end of 2026, based on Ripple’s increasing integration in cross-border payments and settlement solutions. Related Reading: John Bollinger: Bitcoin BB Squeeze Breakout Targets $107,000 As market sentiment improves and regulatory uncertainties ease, XRP appears positioned to benefit from both technical momentum and growing institutional demand. Traders will be watching closely to see if XRP can sustain gains above key resistance zones around $2.30 and potentially push toward higher price targets. Cover image from ChatGPT, XRPUSD chart on Tradingview