What to Know:
- XRP remains under pressure near $1.87, down about 16% month on month, but technical indicators and on-chain data point to easing selling momentum.
- Momentum and holder data show signs of stabilisation, with RSI divergence on the 12-hour chart and a near 40% drop in daily net selling by long-term holders.
- A heavy supply zone around $1.96 continues to cap rallies, leaving XRP range-bound unless it secures a daily close above resistance or risks renewed losses below $1.76.
XRP is now nearing an inflection point, with the final days of 2025 drawing closer and market indicators indicating some slackening of selling pressure and fragile price action. On higher timeframes, the token stays under pressure, down nearly 16 percent month on month. But under the market’s surface, technical and on-chain signals suggest that sellers may be losing steam.
XRP Price Weakens, Selling Pressure Dips Too
Currently, XRP is trading near $1.87, after a dip of 0.1% over the past 24 hours. The decline has been orderly rather than aggressive, reflecting a market that appears hesitant rather than panicked. For traders and analysts, however, the concern is shifting, moving away from a short-term price surge to whether the fading negative momentum will allow XRP to struggle against a major resistance zone overhead.
Recent chart changes suggest the selling power is not dominant like it was at previous stages of the correction. In the 12-hour stretch, often the first indicator of changing trends, XRP formed a lower low during the November 21-December 18 range. The Relative Strength Index posted a higher low during the same period. Technical analysts pay close attention to this divergence, which typically signals waning downside momentum. The signal indicates that where price kept falling, however, sellers could not manage to lower momentum in a big way.
The selling was still in place, but it was now to an extent less influential. That shift is not an indicator of any confirmed turnaround. But it does suggest a market that is stabilizing after weeks of sustained pressure. The on-chain data supports this opinion. In the latter, the XRP HODLer Net Position Change (which tells us if holders holding tokens for the extended duration are accumulating or selling them) features a big slowdown in selling.
On December 11, daily net selling peaked at roughly 216.9 million XRP. By December 18, that figure had declined to about 132.2 million XRP. The nearly 40 percent drop indicates fewer coins being pushed onto the market by longer-term participants.
This reduction aligns with the momentum signals seen on the charts. Together, they suggest that the downside phase may be losing energy, even if price has yet to reflect a sustained recovery.
Despite these improving signals, XRP remains boxed in by a well-defined supply zone that continues to cap rallies. On-chain cost basis data highlights a dense concentration of holders between $1.96 and $1.97, where approximately 1.82 billion XRP were accumulated. When price approaches this range, many holders are brought back to break-even levels, increasing the likelihood of selling.
Historical price action supports this observation. Multiple rebound attempts have stalled near $1.96, with XRP failing to secure a daily close above the level.
As a result, the zone has become a massive hurdle for bulls hoping to shift the broader trajectory. Analysts argue a clear daily close above $1.96 would imply that supply in the area has been absorbed. Without that confirmation, upside moves are in danger of fading, as sellers reclaim the upper hand. Until then, rallies may struggle to extend beyond short-lived recoveries. On the downside, $1.76 is still the key level to pay attention to. If there is a major break below that figure, that would indicate that sellers have regained power, opening the door to further declines. Price remains a tradeoff between weakening selling pressure and entrenched overhead resistance for now.
Broader market conditions remain cautious. The total cryptocurrency market capitalisation fell by roughly $11 billion over the past 24 hours, standing near $2.87 trillion. Risk appetite across crypto has softened as investors weigh macroeconomic signals and equity market trends.
Veteran trader Peter Brandt added to the cautious tone in a post on X on December 17. He noted that XRP may be forming a double-top pattern after failing to reclaim earlier highs near the $3.30 to $3.50 range. According to Brandt, the structure suggests waning upside momentum, though he acknowledged the pattern could still fail.
Even so, XRP’s internal metrics point to gradual stabilisation. Selling pressure has eased, long-term holder behaviour is improving, and momentum indicators are no longer deteriorating. If these conditions continue and institutional demand remains steady, analysts say XRP could work its way back toward the $2 level before the end of 2025, though confirmation remains dependent on clearing the $1.96 resistance zone.
Also Read: XRP ETF Draws Strong Inflows But Ripple Price Signals Remain Mixed
