XRP Price Today December 20, 2025: XRP Rebounds Toward $2 as Spot XRP ETFs Reach $1.2B AUM

December 20, 2025 — XRP is attempting to claw back the psychologically important $2.00 level after a volatile week for crypto markets, with traders weighing steady U.S. spot XRP ETF inflows against signs that large holders may still be selling into strength.

As of this morning in the U.S., XRP was trading around $1.94 with roughly $1.90 billion in 24-hour trading volume, according to CoinDesk’s price tracker. ^[1]

XRP price today: where the market stands on December 20

XRP’s price action over the last 48 hours has been defined by a sharp dip, a quick rebound, and a renewed fight just under $2.00:

Current level: roughly $1.9–$2.0, depending on venue and timestamp. ^[2]
Key reference point: Friday saw XRP trade as low as around $1.77 before stabilizing. ^[3]
Today’s range: market data sources show XRP hovering in the high-$1.8s to mid-$1.9s, with $2.00 acting as the near-term ceiling. ^[4]

That puts XRP in a familiar posture for December: “close enough” to $2.00 to keep breakout traders interested, but not convincingly above it long enough to force broad repositioning.

The big XRP headlines published today

Several themes dominated XRP coverage on December 20, 2025, and they point to the same underlying tension: strong institutional-style demand signals, but a spot market that still struggles to trend.

Spot XRP ETFs: assets climb to roughly $1.2 billion

A key story today is that U.S. XRP exchange-traded funds have continued to attract inflows, pushing combined assets to about $1.2 billion, per Crypto Briefing’s aggregation of issuer and tracker data. ^[5]

That matters for two reasons:

It keeps XRP in the “institutional narrative” lane at a time when risk appetite has been inconsistent.
It provides a steady bid—but not necessarily a guaranteed price rally, especially if other holders use strength as an exit.

The “ETF vs real usage” debate intensifies

A separate analysis today argued that while ETF flows have been impressive, real adoption signals—payments volume, on-chain settlement, and Ripple’s ecosystem growth—may be more important to sustained upside than ETF headlines alone. ^[6]

The takeaway: ETFs can amplify demand, but they don’t automatically solve the bigger question—whether XRP’s role as a payments/liquidity asset is expanding fast enough to absorb supply when rallies appear.

Short-term technical outlook: resistance just under $2.00

Technical coverage published today highlighted local resistance around $1.96 and suggested that a close near that area could increase the odds of a push to $2.00. ^[7]

In other words, the chart watchers are aligned on a simple framework: reclaim $2.00 decisively or risk another fade back into the mid-$1.8s.

Why XRP can’t hold $2 even with ETF inflows

The most important “why” behind XRP’s current price behavior may be this: demand and supply can both be strong at the same time.

ETFs add consistent demand, especially if they’re seeing uninterrupted inflows. ^[8]
But other market participants can sell into that demand—profit-takers, legacy holders, or large wallets reducing exposure.

Some market commentary today explicitly points to selling pressure from large holders as a key reason the price hasn’t responded more aggressively. ^[9]
Even if you discount the most sensational takes, the broader point holds: ETF inflows don’t exist in a vacuum.

There’s also a practical market-structure issue: when $2.00 becomes a “magnet” level, it can attract short-term trading, not just long-term accumulation—meaning rallies can be sold quickly if conviction is weak.

Macro backdrop: inflation data sparked a bounce, but confidence remains fragile

XRP’s December moves aren’t happening in isolation. This week’s crypto rebound has been tied to shifting expectations around inflation and rate cuts—but commentary from mainstream market coverage has stressed that the reaction has been erratic.

Barron’s reported that crypto—including XRP—bounced after U.S. inflation data, but analysts cautioned that sellers still appeared to be in control and macro uncertainty remained elevated. ^[10]

That matters for XRP because:

In risk-on conditions, capital often rotates into liquid alts.
In risk-off conditions, traders tend to reduce exposure or concentrate in fewer assets—sometimes leaving XRP more range-bound even when headlines improve.

The XRP regulatory narrative: clearer than before, but still a market driver

Even in late 2025, XRP remains unusually sensitive to regulation and “market access” stories, for one simple reason: those headlines directly influence who can buy and how they can buy.

SEC–Ripple case: largely resolved in 2025

Reuters reported earlier this year that the SEC and Ripple agreed to end the long-running lawsuit, leaving a $125 million fine intact and concluding one of crypto’s most watched legal battles. ^[11]

That legal clarity has been widely treated as a structural positive for XRP’s U.S. accessibility.

Spot XRP ETFs: the access point that changed the conversation

Multiple reports in recent weeks described U.S. spot XRP ETFs as a major milestone, with coverage noting a first approval and launch in November 2025. ^[12]

By December 20, the market’s key question isn’t whether ETFs exist—it’s whether ETF demand can outpace the supply being sold into rallies.

Ripple and U.S. banking integration: trust bank charter approvals

Another Ripple-related regulatory development came from the banking side. Reuters reported on December 12, 2025 that Ripple was among crypto firms receiving preliminary approval from the OCC to establish national trust banks, a move viewed as further integrating digital assets into the U.S. financial system. ^[13]

While not an “XRP price catalyst” by itself, the story reinforces the broader theme: institutional rails are expanding, which tends to keep XRP in institutional watchlists.

XRP technical levels traders are watching right now

Today’s analysis across outlets converges on a few straightforward levels and signals:

Resistance zone: around $1.96 to $2.00, with $2.00 the headline level. ^[14]
Key support area: the $1.80 region has mattered recently, with markets reacting strongly when XRP dipped into the high-$1.7s. ^[15]

One risk for bulls is that XRP’s rebound is occurring alongside comments that trading activity/volume can fade even as price rises, which can make breakouts less durable. ^[16]

XRP price forecast: what predictions and outlooks say on December 20

Forecasting XRP is inherently uncertain—especially after a year marked by sharp swings. Still, today’s forecast landscape has two clear layers: algorithmic short-term projections and narrative-driven longer-term outlooks.

Short-term forecasts stay modest

Several widely used prediction pages show XRP expectations clustered close to current levels over the next few days/weeks—generally small moves rather than explosive targets:

Binance’s prediction table for late December keeps XRP in the mid-$1.9s range. ^[17]
CoinCodex similarly shows near-term forecasts around the high-$1.8s to mid-$1.9s. ^[18]

These models may be useful as sentiment indicators, but they are not guarantees—and different methodologies often disagree.

2026 outlooks focus more on catalysts than price targets

Mainstream investing commentary published today emphasized themes rather than precise numbers, pointing to:

The potential for spot XRP ETF growth to gradually increase demand as more investors gain regulated access. ^[19]
Continued efforts to expand XRP-linked infrastructure and tokenization initiatives as possible tailwinds for 2026. ^[20]

The gap between these “catalyst outlooks” and the relatively flat short-term model forecasts captures the market’s current mood: investors may believe the long-term story is improving, but they still want price confirmation.

What matters next for XRP price

For readers tracking XRP into year-end, the most important near-term signals are straightforward:

Does XRP reclaim and hold $2.00? This remains the psychological and technical pivot that dominates commentary. ^[21]
Do spot XRP ETFs keep adding assets at the current pace? Today’s $1.2B AUM figure is a major reference point heading into late December. ^[22]
Is selling pressure from larger holders fading or persisting? This is the variable that could determine whether ETF demand translates into a sustained trend. ^[23]
Does macro sentiment stabilize? Crypto’s reaction to inflation and rate expectations has been choppy, and that volatility can cap rallies. ^[24]