 ▲ XRP (Ripple) decline / ChatGPT-generated image © |
XRP (Ripple) has continued a steep decline since the start of the year, raising the possibility that it could break below the psychologically important $1 support level.
As of February 8 (local time), XRP is down about 22% year to date and roughly 60% from its 52-week high of $3.65. With the current price hovering around $1.43, market participants believe that if Bitcoin (BTC) remains weak, XRP could fall below the $1 mark.
Looking at XRP’s long-term price history, trading above $1 is considered more the exception than the norm. Since its launch in 2013, XRP has spent most of its time below $1, and its all-time high failed to exceed $3.84. Limited early adoption by financial institutions and ongoing regulatory uncertainty surrounding Ripple have weighed on its price. In particular, a lawsuit filed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in 2020, which classified XRP as a security, hindered Ripple’s business expansion in the United States for several years.
Another structural burden is the massive supply. Approximately 60 billion XRP are currently in circulation, with a maximum supply capped at 100 billion. Unlike Bitcoin, whose scarcity supports its price, XRP faces persistent supply pressure, limiting its upside potential. Even if XRP were to fall to $1, its market capitalization would still be around $60 billion, maintaining its position as the world’s sixth-largest cryptocurrency.
This suggests that a decline in XRP’s price does not immediately equate to a collapse in its market standing, but it also means that further downside remains a realistic scenario. Given that XRP’s market capitalization still exceeds that of Solana (SOL), Cardano (ADA), Tron (TRX), and Dogecoin (DOGE), room for additional price adjustment remains.
In summary, despite positive factors such as expanding institutional adoption, an analysis of historical price patterns and supply dynamics makes it difficult to rule out the possibility that XRP could slip below $1 at some point in 2026. If Bitcoin, which largely dictates overall market sentiment, fails to rebound, downside pressure on XRP could intensify further.
*Disclaimer: This article is for investment reference only, and no responsibility is taken for any losses arising from investment decisions based on this information. The content should be interpreted solely for informational purposes.*