New York, January 27, 2026, 06:24 EST — Premarket
XRP dipped roughly 1% on Tuesday, retreating to around $1.885 following a 3.75% gain the day before, data showed. 1
The move comes amid traders searching for a new catalyst in a jittery market, where rates and the dollar have regained control and crypto continues to behave like a risk asset. XRP often spikes on news about adoption and regulation but then loses steam as the broader market turns cautious.
Ripple grabbed headlines again, signing a memorandum of understanding with Jeel, the innovation and tech division of Saudi Arabia’s Riyad Bank, to explore blockchain applications in financial services. Jeel CEO George Harrak noted the project will leverage its “Jeel Sandbox” to test next-gen infrastructure. Ripple’s Middle East and Africa managing director, Reece Merrick, said the company aims to demonstrate how its technology can “unlock significant efficiencies” in cross-border payments. 2
Jeel said the project will focus on cross-border payments, digital asset custody, and tokenisation — converting assets into blockchain-based tokens that can be tracked and moved on digital networks — with proofs of concept developed inside Jeel’s regulatory sandbox, a controlled testing space operating within a compliance framework. 3
A separate filing with U.S. securities regulators highlighted efforts to integrate XRP exposure into conventional market frameworks. The Grayscale XRP Trust ETF announced that its index provider updated the trading venues underpinning its benchmark rate, adding Binance, Gate, and HashKey while dropping Bitfinex following a monthly review. 4
Broader crypto markets barely moved. Bitcoin lingered near $87,700, with ether close to $2,901. Saxo noted that major tokens remained in a “wait-and-see” stance ahead of the Fed. 5
The cautious tone was clear in traders’ comments on the tape. CoinSwitch Markets Desk described the price action as “choppy,” noting that macro uncertainty kept positioning muted. Mudrex’s Akshat Siddhant highlighted a short-lived risk-off phase sparked by Washington budget concerns, which gave way to improved sentiment as the dollar weakened. 6
But the short-term picture remains shaky. CoinDesk pointed out this week that traders are focused on whether the $1.88 support can hold after a steep drop. That level is quickly becoming a key marker for immediate momentum. 7
XRP’s trajectory has closely followed Ripple’s efforts to pitch blockchain rails to banks and payment companies. Last year, Reuters reported that the leading U.S. markets regulator dropped a headline-grabbing lawsuit accusing Ripple of selling unregistered securities to institutional investors. That move cleared a major hurdle that had shadowed the token for years. 8
Macro concerns continue to overshadow micro headlines. On Monday, a Reuters column noted that markets are largely dismissing the possibility of new rate cuts at this week’s Federal Reserve meeting. Investors are zeroing in on Chair Jerome Powell’s policy tone and the mounting political pressure facing the central bank. 9
The Fed’s upcoming two-day meeting spans January 27–28. The policy decision drops at 2:00 p.m. ET Wednesday, followed by a press conference at 2:30 p.m., per the Federal Reserve’s schedule. 10
