SINGAPORE, Feb 28, 2026, 20:47 SGT — Market closed
- XRP was quoted at about $1.2960 on the bid and $1.2961 on the ask, having moved between $1.2702 and $1.3850 during the session.
- Risk sentiment took a hit as U.S. and Israel strikes rattled Iran, leaving traders on edge for what could be a volatile global market open.
- IG analysts pointed to $1.3477–$1.3125 as a key support band. If that floor gives way for long, the early February low around $1.1188 could be back on the radar.
XRP dropped Saturday, falling roughly 4.5% to $1.2950 after touching lows near $1.2718. U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran spooked traders, prompting many to pare back risk before global markets open again on Monday, data from Investing.com show.
Timing is the tough part here. With equities, bonds, and most commodities closed for the weekend, crypto stands out as almost the only market still trading, catching the shock in real time—liquidity’s thinner, too.
The Pentagon has dubbed the U.S. strikes “OPERATION EPIC FURY,” with the initial wave focusing on Iranian officials, according to a source cited by Reuters. Jorge Leon, Rystad Energy’s head of geopolitical analysis, warned Brent could spike $10–$20 a barrel on Monday if there’s no sign of easing tensions over the weekend. Reuters
Crypto markets broadly took a hit, with pressure appearing more macro than tied to XRP itself. Bitcoin dropped 2%, slipping under $64,000, while ether lost around 3%, now at $1,862 over the weekend, according to a Reuters dispatch out of Singapore.
Friday’s session brought a drop in global stocks, with oil prices moving sharply higher as traders eyed possible supply shocks amid U.S.-Iran tensions. U.S. crude finished the day up 2.78% at $67.02 a barrel, Brent pushing 2.45% higher to $72.48, according to Reuters.
“There’s a real deep unease in markets about inflation and growth so far in 2026,” said Adam Button, chief currency analyst at investingLive. That’s left high-volatility trades exposed whenever geopolitical headlines land. Reuters
Right before the strikes, XRP drew some chatter. Ripple has unveiled its FinTech Builder Programme, aiming to broaden funding channels for development on the XRP Ledger, according to DL News. The company says it wants to create a funding model that’s “more distributed and independent.” DL News
New products are seeing only modest inflows—not exactly a flood of capital. According to FXStreet’s John Isige, U.S.-listed spot XRP ETFs attracted roughly $3.09 million on Wednesday. Meanwhile, open interest in XRP futures slipped to $2.24 billion, marking the lowest level since January 2025.
The strike-driven slide on the chart has traders circling downside levels they’d flagged before. Alejandro Arrieche at FXEmpire tagged $1.35 as crucial support; losing that, he said, might clear a path to $1.15. XRP ETFs, meanwhile, have pulled in upwards of $7 million in net inflows this week.
Still, don’t trust the weekend tape too much. In a note, Investing.com flagged that the Iran conflict may not find a quick ending, suggesting crypto’s slide could drag on. That said, history shows sharp rebounds have followed initial hedging around geopolitical shocks, as the dust settles.
Next up for traders: OPEC+ is set to gather Sunday, March 1 at 1100 GMT. Reuters, citing two sources, reports the group could weigh a bigger-than-expected output hike after the Iran strike, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE already ramping up exports. When cash markets open again on Monday, March 2, watch crude especially—the price action there will likely dictate whether XRP hangs near $1.25 or keeps drifting down toward $1.10.
