XRP Consolidates Near $1.34 Amid Institutional Inflows Following SEC Settlement

As of February 24, 2026, the XRP cryptocurrency is trading near the $1.34 level, navigating a period of market consolidation following a significant downturn earlier in the month that saw the asset briefly touch $1.11. This price action occurs while broader digital asset sentiment indicators reflect widespread "extreme fear," a condition also affecting Bitcoin and Ethereum. XRP's current technical positioning is neutral, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) registering at 45, indicating a balance between buying and selling pressures during this phase.

Immediate technical analysis identifies support for XRP at $1.3275, with a more substantial floor established near the 200-day moving average, which was recorded around $1.20 in mid-February. Resistance levels are clearly defined between $1.40 and $1.50. Analysts suggest that a sustained closing price above $1.76 will serve as the definitive signal to confirm a market bottom and potentially trigger a rally toward the $2.76 to $2.85 range. This technical environment exists as the total cryptocurrency market capitalization stood at approximately $2.28 trillion on the snapshot date.

The institutional narrative surrounding XRP presents a notable divergence from prevailing market fear. The launch of U.S. spot XRP Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) in November 2025 has acted as a significant accumulation driver. Cumulative inflows into these investment vehicles have surpassed $1.3 billion since their debut, with buying persisting for over 40 consecutive trading days without a single outflow as of mid-February 2026. This sustained institutional demand contrasts with spot Bitcoin and Ethereum ETFs, which experienced net outflows during the same early February period, with weekly inflows slowing from $36.04 million the week ending February 6 to just $1.84 million by the week ending February 20.

This regulatory clarity stems from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lawsuit resolution in August 2025, which confirmed XRP's non-security status on public exchanges following a settlement that included a $50 million civil penalty. This resolution provided the legal foundation that had previously constrained XRP's potential. Further ecosystem development is evident as Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin crossed a $1.3 billion market capitalization by late 2025, integrating with XRP in the Ripple Payments solution. Despite these fundamental strengths, XRP has fallen over 30% in February 2026 from earlier highs near $2.05. The asset fell below its Volume Weighted Average Price (VWAP) on February 18, suggesting that average institutional positions were under pressure. Market participants are currently assessing whether continued ETF accumulation can absorb current retail selling pressure or if broader macroeconomic factors, such as recent hawkish Federal Reserve signaling following strong U.S. consumer confidence data on February 24, will continue to influence risk assets.