NEW YORK, Dec. 28, 2025, 12:28 p.m. ET — U.S. stock market closed.
XRP (Ripple’s associated token) is trading around $1.87 in weekend dealing, holding a tight band as traders weigh thin year-end liquidity, spot XRP ETF flow headlines, and a broader risk-asset backdrop shaped by a late-December equity market hovering near record territory. [1]
While the crypto market trades 24/7, U.S. equities are shut for the weekend—and the last Wall Street session (Friday) was notably quiet after a strong run-up, with strategists pointing to seasonal dynamics as the calendar turns. [2]
XRP price snapshot (Sunday midday ET)
As of early afternoon in New York:
- Price: about $1.87
- Day range (intraday): roughly $1.84 to $1.88
- 24-hour change:up about 1.3%
- 24-hour volume: about $1.07 billion
- Market cap: about $113 billion [3]
That relatively calm tape masks how sensitive XRP can be to liquidity conditions: multiple market trackers have noted holiday-thinned participation, which can amplify breakouts (or breakdowns) even without a major catalyst. [4]
The last 24–48 hours: what’s moving XRP right now
1) Liquidations and “compressed” price action
One of the most immediate signals over the past day has been derivatives positioning getting shaken out. TradingView flagged roughly $2 million in XRP liquidations over 24 hours, with losses concentrated in long positions—often a sign that late buyers are getting forced out during choppy consolidation. [5]
The same update described XRP’s price action as compressing into a triangle pattern on shorter timeframes—consistent with the market “coiling” near key levels. [6]
2) Volume slipping as the year winds down
A separate TradingView-distributed market note highlighted a sharp volume drop—about 37% lower day-over-day—even as XRP ticked higher, framing the move as typical of holiday trade rather than a high-conviction surge. [7]
3) ETF flow headlines are supportive—but not always reflected in price
The biggest narrative driver for XRP into year-end remains spot XRP ETFs in the U.S. and whether they translate into sustained demand.
- TradingView reported that Dec. 26 marked a session with no net inflow, while also citing total inflows around $1.14 billion and net assets around $1.24 billion—figures that suggest the ETF complex has become meaningful, even if daily flows fluctuate. [8]
- FXEmpire likewise pointed to roughly $1.14 billion in cumulative inflows since launch, but emphasized that traders are still watching whether those flows stay durable into 2026. [9]
- The Motley Fool, citing the post-launch trajectory, said net ETF inflows have already surpassed $1.25 billion, reinforcing the view that ETF access has broadened the buyer base even after XRP’s pullback from earlier highs. [10]
The key takeaway: ETF demand may be “real,” but it doesn’t eliminate volatility—especially when spot liquidity is thin and leveraged positioning is crowded.
The BlackRock rumor cycle: a bullish spark—if it ever becomes official
A fresh round of chatter about a potential BlackRock iShares XRP product has surfaced again in crypto circles. FXEmpire’s Bob Mason wrote that speculation about an “iShares XRP Trust” has supported sentiment and pointed to commentary circulating on X as part of the buzz. [11]
Still, traders should separate social-media momentum from regulatory reality. Markets have been here before: in 2023, XRP whipsawed after a purported BlackRock XRP ETF filing circulated, and BlackRock confirmed it was false, according to DL News. [12]
For investors, the practical filter is simple: credible confirmation generally means an official filing or a formal announcement, not viral posts.
Technical levels traders keep coming back to: $1.81–$1.90, then $2
From a charting perspective, analysts are focusing on a tight zone that has defined XRP’s late-December trade:
- BeInCrypto described XRP as trapped between ~$1.81 and ~$1.90, noting that reclaiming $1.90 and then pushing toward $1.99 could be an early sign of renewed strength. [13]
- On the downside, the same analysis warned that a break below $1.81 could open the door to deeper levels (it cited $1.68 and even $1.52 as potential follow-on zones if selling accelerates). [14]
- FXEmpire’s outlook framed $2.00 as a key psychological marker, while also emphasizing that indicators can remain conflicted when fundamentals and technicals diverge. [15]
With XRP hovering around $1.87, the market is essentially sitting in the middle of that battlefield—close enough to resistance to tempt breakout traders, but close enough to support to keep risk management front and center. [16]
The Wall Street backdrop matters—even on a crypto weekend
Even though crypto trades continuously, macro sentiment often “sets the tone” for how aggressively traders are willing to bid risk assets into a new week.
On Friday, Wall Street finished a light-volume, post-Christmas session almost flat and near record levels. Ryan Detrick, chief market strategist at Carson Group, described the move as the market “catching our breath” after a strong run and highlighted the seasonal “Santa Claus rally” window into early January. [17]
That matters for XRP because if Monday opens with a risk-on vibe in equities (or a sharp reversal), it can quickly spill over into crypto positioning—especially after a weekend where liquidity is thinner than usual.
What investors should know before the next U.S. market session (Monday, Dec. 29)
Because the U.S. stock market is closed today, many investors are planning around what could change once liquidity returns in the next session. Here are the main items on the checklist:
1) Know when “real” liquidity returns
U.S. stock-market trading hours (for context and correlation watching) are set by exchange schedules, with the core session running 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. ET and earlier/later sessions depending on venue. [18]
2) Watch Monday’s U.S. data calendar for risk sentiment
The New York Fed’s economic calendar lists several notable releases on Monday, Dec. 29, including:
- Advance International Trade in Goods (8:30 a.m. ET)
- NAR Pending Home Sales Index (10:00 a.m. ET)
- Dallas Fed Manufacturing Survey (10:30 a.m. ET) [19]
Even if none of these are “crypto-specific,” they can move rates, the dollar, and equity futures—variables that often influence broad risk appetite.
3) ETF flow updates can become a daily catalyst again
If spot XRP ETFs remain a dominant narrative, the next reported flow figures (and any shift from inflows to outflows) may matter more once U.S. markets reopen and institutional desks are fully staffed. Recent data points have already shown that a single day can print “zero net inflow” even amid a strong cumulative trend. [20]
4) Year-end calendar effects are real
With the turn of the year approaching, investors are also navigating holiday schedules and positioning constraints. Investopedia noted that stocks have a full day on Dec. 31, with markets closed on Jan. 1, 2026 for New Year’s Day. [21]
That kind of calendar compression can keep liquidity uneven—one reason crypto can see sharper moves on relatively ordinary headlines.
Longer-term outlook: forecasts are bullish in places, but paths are rarely straight
Beyond day-to-day volatility, longer-range forecasts remain a big part of the XRP conversation—especially as ETFs and regulatory clarity reshape the market structure.
The Motley Fool highlighted a bullish institutional forecast from Standard Chartered, which projected XRP could reach $12.50 by the end of 2028, tying the thesis in part to ETF-related demand dynamics. [22]
Investors should treat any multi-year target as scenario-based, not a promise—particularly for an asset that can swing sharply on liquidity, leverage, and regulatory headlines.
Bottom line: XRP is steady near $1.87 into the weekend, but the market is balancing competing forces—ETF optimism vs. thin liquidity, technical compression vs. downside risk, and a macro backdrop that could quickly shift once Wall Street reopens Monday. [23]
References
1. coinmarketcap.com, 2. www.reuters.com, 3. coinmarketcap.com, 4. www.tradingview.com, 5. www.tradingview.com, 6. www.tradingview.com, 7. www.tradingview.com, 8. www.tradingview.com, 9. www.fxempire.com, 10. www.fool.com, 11. www.fxempire.com, 12. www.dlnews.com, 13. beincrypto.com, 14. beincrypto.com, 15. www.fxempire.com, 16. coinmarketcap.com, 17. www.reuters.com, 18. www.nyse.com, 19. www.newyorkfed.org, 20. www.tradingview.com, 21. www.investopedia.com, 22. www.fool.com, 23. coinmarketcap.com
