XRP Struggles Below Key Averages as Sellers Hold Short-Term Control

• XRP remains below key EMAs, confirming persistent short-term bearish momentum.
• Overhead resistance near $2.10 blocks recovery, sustaining seller dominance.
• Spot outflows and reduced futures exposure signal cautious trader sentiment.

XRP price action on the 4-hour chart reflects a market struggling to regain momentum after repeated failed recoveries. The token trades near the $1.90 area, where selling pressure continues to outweigh short-term buying interest. 

XRP 4H Chart Signals Continued Bearish Control

XRP continues to trade below its major exponential moving averages on the 4-hour chart. The 20, 50, 100, and 200 EMAs slope downward and remain tightly stacked. 

This alignment reflects sustained intraday selling pressure. Moreover, price action continues to form lower highs and lower lows, confirming the prevailing downtrend.

Repeated pullbacks near the $2.10 to $2.20 range highlight persistent overhead supply. Sellers repeatedly step in at these levels, preventing recovery attempts. 

Additionally, the Supertrend indicator remains in sell mode, reinforcing bearish momentum. As long as XRP stays below the $2.00 threshold, sellers likely retain control.

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Support now sits near the $1.90 to $1.88 zone, where price currently hovers. A failure to hold this region could trigger accelerated selling. Hence, traders closely monitor $1.85 as a breakdown trigger. Below that, the $1.82 to $1.80 area represents a critical demand zone from prior price action.

Futures Positioning Shows Leverage Reset

XRP futures open interest provides insight into trader behavior during recent volatility. Open interest surged sharply as price pushed toward $2.00, peaking near $3.5 billion. This rise signaled aggressive leverage entering the market during bullish momentum.

However, open interest later declined alongside price weakness. This move suggests long liquidations and position closures. Consequently, speculative exposure cooled after the rally failed. While open interest remains historically elevated, the contraction reflects more cautious positioning. Traders now appear to wait for confirmation before rebuilding leverage.

Spot Flows Reflect Cautious Market Sentiment

Spot inflow and outflow data further supports the cautious outlook. XRP has shown frequent swings between positive and negative netflows throughout the year. Positive inflows often aligned with price strength, while outflows accompanied declines.

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Significantly, recent data shows a sharp negative netflow near late December. Net outflows reached roughly $660,000 as XRP traded near $1.91. This activity suggests distribution rather than accumulation at current levels. Moreover, the data indicates reduced conviction among spot buyers.

Technical Outlook for XRP Price

Key levels remain clearly defined for XRP as price trades near a critical inflection zone.

On the upside, immediate resistance sits at $1.98–$2.00, followed by $2.05–$2.08 near the short-term EMA cluster. A stronger breakout could extend toward $2.18–$2.20, with $2.30 acting as the major resistance near the 200 EMA. 

On the downside, $1.90–$1.88 remains the first support area. A failure there exposes $1.85, followed by the broader demand zone between $1.82 and $1.80.

The technical structure suggests XRP remains in a short-term downtrend, characterized by lower highs and lower lows. Price compression below key moving averages points to potential volatility expansion. 

Will XRP Go Up? 

XRP’s near-term direction depends on whether buyers can defend $1.88 and reclaim $2.05. A confirmed move above $2.10 would improve momentum. 

However, a breakdown below $1.88 risks extending losses toward $1.80. For now, XRP trades in a pivotal range where confirmation will define the next move.

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