New York, January 29, 2026, 17:09 (ET) — After-hours
XRP dropped around 5.6% Thursday, slipping to about $1.81 amid a wider crypto sell-off as traders pared risk toward the U.S. session close. According to CoinGecko, roughly $4.6 billion in XRP traded over the last 24 hours.
The decline comes at a tricky time for Ripple-related news. XRP supporters saw a corporate finance launch and a positive court ruling this week. Still, broader market nerves and bitcoin’s moves are steering the tape.
Global markets grew volatile as investors grappled with Middle East tensions, fresh fears over a U.S. government shutdown, and another decline in major tech stocks, according to a Reuters “Trading Day” market wrap. Bitcoin dropped roughly 6% during the session, dragging other cryptocurrencies down alongside it, Reuters reported. Reuters
Ripple is pushing past crypto trading with a new move. On Wednesday, PYMNTS reported the launch of “Ripple Treasury, Powered by GTreasury,” a platform aimed at helping CFOs and treasury teams handle both traditional cash and digital assets. Ripple called the partnership “something that has never existed before.” Back in October, when the GTreasury deal was first announced, CEO Brad Garlinghouse said the joint product delivers the “best of both worlds.” PYMNTS.com
GTreasury, acquired by Ripple in 2025, pitched the product as a unified platform tackling slow settlement and cross-border snags. It promised “3–5 second” global payments and cut down on pre-funding for foreign transfers. The company positioned it as a link between traditional treasury systems and blockchain networks, with integrations treating digital-asset platforms like “digital banks” within cash-management processes. GTreasury
On the legal front, a U.S. appeals court upheld summary judgment for Ripple in a distinct class-action lawsuit alleging unregistered securities sales. The Ninth Circuit ruled that the Securities Act’s three-year “statute of repose” — a firm deadline that blocks claims no matter when investors say they found out — barred the federal claims. It also dismissed arguments that subsequent XRP sales constituted a separate new offering.
Market experts highlighted broader issues at play. Wenny Cai, chief operating officer at Singapore’s Synfutures crypto exchange, pointed to Middle East tensions, unclear U.S. government policy, and worries over big tech earnings as drivers “influencing market sentiment,” according to Barron’s. Barron’s
XRP frequently acts like a high-beta stand-in for crypto risk appetite, swinging more sharply than bitcoin both up and down. This volatility can drown out token-specific news, even when it seems positive on the surface.
The downside scenario is straightforward: if risk-off sentiment intensifies or bitcoin continues to drop, leverage could unwind rapidly and altcoin liquidity might dry up. Product launches and court victories often take a while to drive lasting demand, but the market’s shown little patience this week.
Traders are set to focus once more on U.S. inflation data, as the Bureau of Labor Statistics plans to publish the December 2025 producer price index at 8:30 a.m. ET on Friday, January 30.
