XRP traded in a tight range around $2 during Dec. 8–14, 2025, as Ripple’s conditional OCC trust bank approval, a new U.S. XRP ETF launch, and cross-chain developments met a risk-off macro backdrop.
XRP spent the week of December 8–14, 2025 doing something that often frustrates both bulls and bears: moving sideways. Despite a dense run of headlines—Ripple’s conditional U.S. trust bank approval, the launch of the 21Shares XRP ETF (TOXR), and new cross-chain functionality for XRP—the token largely held the $2 level, reflecting how macro sentiment and positioning can mute even “big” crypto-specific catalysts.
Based on CoinGecko’s daily pricing history, XRP traded roughly between $2.01 and $2.11 over the period and ended the week near $2.02, down about 1% from Dec. 8 levels. [1]
XRP price recap for Dec. 8–14, 2025
Market data providers showed XRP staying close to the psychologically important $2.00 zone all week:
- Range: about $2.01 to $2.11 during Dec. 8–14. [2]
- Weekly performance: roughly flat to slightly down (about -1% from Dec. 8 to Dec. 14). [3]
- Market position: XRP remained a top crypto by market cap, with CoinMarketCap listing it around $2.02 and near $121.9B market capitalization at the time of capture. [4]
The key point: XRP didn’t break out, but it also didn’t lose $2 for long—despite several moments where broader markets tilted risk-off.
Why XRP didn’t rally harder despite bullish headlines
If you only scanned the week’s headlines, you could reasonably expect a stronger move. But XRP’s price action highlights a recurring crypto dynamic: structural positives matter most when liquidity and risk appetite cooperate.
This week, XRP-specific developments were broadly constructive—but macro conditions and technical structure kept the token range-bound.
Headline 1: Ripple wins conditional OCC approval for a national trust bank
One of the biggest U.S. regulatory signals of the week came on December 12, when the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) announced conditional approvals for five national trust bank charter applications, including Ripple National Trust Bank. [5]
In the OCC release, the regulator said it conditionally approved de novo national trust bank charters for First National Digital Currency Bank and Ripple National Trust Bank, and also conditionally approved conversions for firms including BitGo, Fidelity Digital Assets, and Paxos. [6]
Reuters’ reporting emphasized what these entities can and can’t do: national trust banks can offer crypto custody and settlement services, but they generally do not accept deposits or make loans and are not structured like traditional retail banks. [7]
Ripple also amplified the news via its own announcement, framing the OCC charter as expanding its regulatory footprint and reinforcing compliance messaging around RLUSD (Ripple USD). [8]
Why this matters for XRP price:
A trust bank structure can help a crypto firm present a more “institution-ready” posture for custody, settlement, and regulated operations—narratives that can support XRP’s longer-term adoption case. But the market appears to be treating this as incremental rather than an immediate “buy now” trigger, especially with XRP already consolidating above $2.
Headline 2: 21Shares launches the TOXR XRP ETF in the U.S.
On December 11, 21Shares announced the launch of the 21Shares XRP ETF (TOXR) on Cboe. [9]
CryptoBriefing reported the ETF went live after the SEC declared the S-1 effective, and added key product details, including that TOXR tracks the CME CF XRP-Dollar Reference Rate and charges a 0.30% annual fee. [10]
CoinMarketCap Academy also noted the fund was seeded with 100 million XRP, valued at roughly $226 million (at the time of that report). [11]
Why this matters for XRP price:
An ETF wrapper can expand access for investors who prefer brokerage accounts over spot exchanges. In theory, that can deepen demand—especially if flows are consistent. In practice, ETF launches don’t automatically produce a “day-one candle” if broader markets are cautious or if investors already positioned for the news.
Headline 3: Institutional flows stayed strong even as price chopped sideways
While XRP’s spot price was stuck in a range, institutional-style positioning appeared more supportive than the chart alone suggests.
CoinShares’ weekly fund flows report published December 8 said digital asset ETPs saw $716 million in weekly inflows, with XRP pulling in $245 million—a standout figure versus many other assets that week. [12]
A Cointelegraph analysis (republished by Bitget) echoed that theme, also citing CoinShares’ $245 million XRP ETP inflow figure for the week ending Dec. 5 and describing continued positive flows into spot XRP ETFs, referencing SoSoValue data for ETF flow streaks and AUM. [13]
Binance Research, in a December 12 market note, pointed to earlier momentum too—saying Franklin and Grayscale launched XRP spot ETFs that attracted more than $60M in net inflows on day one (per their summary). [14]
Interpretation:
This mix—strong ETP/ETF appetite alongside a flat spot price—often signals a market in “wait mode,” where capital is entering via vehicles that can hold through volatility, but short-term traders are not chasing.
Headline 4: XRP expands cross-chain as Hex Trust launches wrapped XRP
Another notable XRP ecosystem headline landed on December 12: institutional custody platform Hex Trust announced it will issue and custody wrapped XRP (wXRP), described as a 1:1-backed representation of XRP designed for DeFi and cross-chain use. [15]
According to Asset Servicing Times, wXRP is intended to become tradable with Ripple USD (RLUSD) on Ethereum and other chains, launching with over $100 million in total value locked, with authorized merchants able to mint and redeem wXRP 1:1 against XRP held in regulated custody. [16]
Initial supported chains cited included Solana, Optimism, Ethereum, and HyperEVM, with more planned. [17]
Why this matters for XRP price:
Cross-chain access can broaden use cases (liquidity, trading venues, DeFi integrations). However, markets don’t always price these infrastructure upgrades immediately—especially if traders see them as longer-arc adoption drivers rather than near-term catalysts.
Macro reality check: the Fed and risk sentiment worked against a breakout
Even strong crypto-specific headlines can underperform when the macro tape turns heavy.
Fast Company reported that crypto markets slid despite the Federal Reserve’s 25 basis point rate cut on December 10, noting that XRP was down about 3% and “hovering around $2” during the post-decision selloff window described. [18]
Meanwhile, a Reuters market report on December 11 described renewed volatility tied to broader risk aversion—pointing to Oracle’s outlook and AI-related concerns weighing on sentiment, with bitcoin and ether moving lower in that episode. [19]
Bottom line: XRP’s week looked like a tug-of-war:
- Pro-XRP catalysts: ETF rollout, bank charter progress, and ecosystem expansion
- Anti-risk forces: macro uncertainty, positioning caution, and a market still sensitive to “risk-off” headlines
What analysts focused on: $2 support, weakening on-chain signals, and overhead resistance
Several technical and market-structure analyses published during the week converged on a similar framing: $2 is the battleground, and moving-average resistance overhead is limiting upside follow-through.
FXStreet: $2 support holds, but momentum looked constrained
On December 11, FXStreet described XRP hovering above $2.00 support while sitting below key moving averages (50/100/200-day EMAs), with RSI readings leaning bearish and resistance levels identified near $2.25 (50-day EMA) and higher bands above. [20]
On December 12, FXStreet also flagged a slowdown in XRP Ledger on-chain activity (declining active addresses) and said Open Interest stabilized around $3.72 billion, describing retail demand as suppressed. [21]
A separate FXStreet “crypto today” update reinforced the same technical posture: XRP above $2 but below key EMAs, with $2.24 (50-day EMA) highlighted as a level that could ease pressure if reclaimed. [22]
FXEmpire: near-term targets depend on ETF flows and policy tailwinds
A December 13 FXEmpire outlook said XRP snapped a short losing streak while avoiding a decisive breakdown below $2, and tied near-term direction to variables like XRP-spot ETF flow trends, regulatory and legislative developments, and macro data. [23]
FXEmpire’s scenario framework suggested (as an opinion-based outlook) that continued supportive conditions could push XRP toward levels like $2.35 in the near term and higher targets over a longer horizon, while also outlining downside risks if sentiment turns. [24]
Forecast roundup from Dec. 8–14: bullish long-term calls vs cautious near-term models
Forecasts published this week ranged from very optimistic multi-year targets to conservative “model says flat” expectations.
Standard Chartered: XRP to $12.50 by 2028, per FinanceMagnates
FinanceMagnates cited Standard Chartered digital assets research head Geoffrey Kendrick projecting XRP reaching $12.50 by 2028, presenting that view as tied to XRP’s payments utility and adoption narrative. [25]
It’s a headline-grabbing target—but it’s also explicitly multi-year, and it competes with many real-world variables: regulation, market cycles, adoption rates, and crypto liquidity conditions.
CoinCodex: near-term largely flat around $2.03
CoinCodex’s algorithmic forecast page showed a near-term projection around $2.03 into mid-December 2025 and a relatively narrow range outlook in the near horizon presented on that page view. [26]
Algorithmic projections can be useful as a “sentiment baseline,” but they also tend to lag regime changes—especially around major regulatory or macro shocks.
The week in one sentence
From Dec. 8–14, 2025, XRP looked like a market waiting for confirmation: institutional access expanded (ETF), regulatory posture improved (OCC trust bank), utility broadened (wXRP), but macro risk and technical resistance kept the token pinned near $2. [27]
What to watch next for XRP price
Based on the week’s reporting and analyst commentary, traders and long-term holders are likely to focus on:
- Follow-through from the TOXR ETF launch: sustained inflows vs. post-launch cooling. [28]
- Progress beyond “conditional approval” for Ripple’s trust bank: meeting OCC conditions and operational milestones. [29]
- Whether cross-chain XRP liquidity actually grows materially: wXRP adoption, venues, and real DeFi usage. [30]
- The $2 technical line in the sand: if $2 fails, multiple analyses suggest downside risk increases; if XRP reclaims key moving averages, the tone could shift. [31]
- Macro risk appetite: crypto’s sensitivity to rates, growth fears, and big-tech sentiment remains elevated. [32]
Disclosure and risk note
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. Crypto assets are volatile, and XRP prices can vary by exchange and data provider.
References
1. www.coingecko.com, 2. www.coingecko.com, 3. www.coingecko.com, 4. coinmarketcap.com, 5. www.occ.gov, 6. www.occ.gov, 7. www.reuters.com, 8. www.businesswire.com, 9. www.globenewswire.com, 10. cryptobriefing.com, 11. coinmarketcap.com, 12. coinshares.com, 13. www.bitget.com, 14. www.binance.com, 15. www.assetservicingtimes.com, 16. www.assetservicingtimes.com, 17. www.assetservicingtimes.com, 18. www.fastcompany.com, 19. www.reuters.com, 20. www.fxstreet.com, 21. www.fxstreet.com, 22. www.fxstreet.com, 23. www.fxempire.com, 24. www.fxempire.com, 25. www.financemagnates.com, 26. coincodex.com, 27. www.globenewswire.com, 28. cryptobriefing.com, 29. www.occ.gov, 30. www.assetservicingtimes.com, 31. www.fxstreet.com, 32. www.fastcompany.com
