SYDNEY, March 11, 2026, 20:27 (UTC+11:00)
XRP hovered near $1.38 Wednesday, slipping back after hitting $1.44 earlier as market players reacted to Ripple’s push for an Australian financial services license and braced for upcoming U.S. inflation figures. The token lingered close to session lows.
All eyes now turn to the U.S. consumer price index—a key inflation indicator that can jolt interest-rate bets and shake up demand for riskier assets, including crypto. Reuters’ latest survey puts forecasts at a 0.3% uptick in February for headline CPI, with core CPI, which ignores food and energy, seen advancing 0.2%. Oil prices slipped, meanwhile, following news that the International Energy Agency suggested its largest-ever emergency stock release.
Ripple plans to secure the Australian Financial Services License by acquiring BC Payments Australia. “Licensing is fundamental to Ripple’s strategy,” said Fiona Murray, managing director for Asia Pacific, who described Australia as “a key market” for Ripple’s push into cross-border payments. The company reported that Asia-Pacific payments volume nearly doubled in 2025, and it now counts over 75 regulatory licenses worldwide. Ripple
XRP wasn’t the only one under pressure. Bitcoin hovered near $69,548 and ether slipped to about $2,019—both down on the day—as the broader crypto market pulled back, erasing a chunk of Tuesday’s relief rally.
Oil prices staged a dramatic turnaround earlier, with Brent and U.S. crude both sinking over 11% on Tuesday, according to Reuters, after President Donald Trump indicated the Middle East conflict might wrap up soon. Risk appetite came back into the market. Barron’s noted XRP was up roughly 1.2% as bitcoin popped back above $70,000.
One more twist: XRP Ledger transactions hit 2.7 million, per CoinDesk, yet the token’s price barely budged. Rising on-chain activity hasn’t pushed XRP out of its range just yet.
Still, the situation looks fragile. Chris Weston at Pepperstone described traders as “largely sitting on their hands.” Kristina Clifton, a strategist at Commonwealth Bank, thinks the war “will run for months, not weeks.” Another jump in CPI or a surge in oil prices could pressure crypto again, and CoinDesk noted that traders are eyeing support close to $1.34. Reuters
XRP isn’t a stock; it’s a digital token. According to a 21Shares filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, holding XRP doesn’t grant investors a cut of profits or any income payouts. Ripple, on its end, points to XRP’s role in powering elements of its payments, liquidity, and treasury services. That dynamic puts the focus squarely on regulation, fund flows, and network usage—not earnings.
