NEW YORK, Jan 2, 2026, 16:49 ET — After-hours
- XRP was last at about $1.98, up roughly 6% over the past 24 hours.
- Ripple executed its scheduled monthly release of 1 billion XRP from escrow on Jan. 1, blockchain tracker Whale Alert data showed.
- Exchange-held XRP has dropped to roughly 1.6 billion tokens, down about 57% since October, CoinDesk data showed.
XRP climbed close to the $2 level on Friday, trading around $1.98 and up 6.24% over the past 24 hours, according to CoinMarketCap data.
The move matters because $2 has acted as a psychological ceiling for XRP, with traders often treating round numbers as pivot points for stop orders and momentum bets. CoinMarketCap data showed the token has traded between $1.87 and $1.99 in the past day.
The rebound came as traders weighed Ripple’s monthly supply release and signs that fewer XRP tokens are sitting on exchanges, a combination that can sharpen price swings when fresh buying emerges.
Ripple, the San Francisco-headquartered blockchain company associated with XRP, executed its scheduled release at the start of the month, with a total of 1 billion tokens released in three tranches, according to Whale Alert data cited by TradingView.
An “escrow” is a locking mechanism that holds tokens in reserve and releases them on a set schedule. Reuters Practical Law said Ripple created an escrow system in 2017 to control the release of 55 billion XRP in monthly increments of 1 billion. Reuters
Exchange balances are also back in focus. XRP held on trading venues has fallen to roughly 1.6 billion tokens, down about 57% since October, according to CoinDesk data published via MEXC.
The same data set flagged a tight technical map: resistance near $1.88 and a broader range between about $1.77 and $2.00, with $2 described as a level that has repeatedly capped rebounds.
The broader crypto market tone was firmer. Bitcoin gained 1.69% to $89,789.87 and ether rose 4.5% to $3,121.09, Reuters reported, alongside a rise in U.S. Treasury yields and a firmer dollar.
Thin holiday liquidity has also shaped price action. “Today is kind of a holiday trading day, lighter volumes,” said Jed Ellerbroek, a portfolio manager at Argent Capital, in comments to Reuters. Reuters
Traders are watching whether XRP can hold above the upper end of its recent range and push through the $1.88–$2.00 band, or slip back toward the $1.82–$1.83 area flagged as near-term support in CoinDesk’s technical read.
Macro risk events remain on the radar because crypto prices often track shifts in rate-cut expectations and the dollar. Reuters’ weekly market preview flagged the next U.S. jobs report on Jan. 9 as a key data point for policy expectations.
For now, the next immediate catalyst for XRP bulls is follow-through above $2, while bears are watching whether supply released from escrow shows up in exchange deposits over the coming days.
