XRP Price Consolidation Continues Amid SEC Resolution and Institutional ETF Flows

In mid-February 2026, the cryptocurrency XRP entered a significant technical consolidation phase, occurring against a backdrop of global crypto market sentiment characterized by 'extreme fear.' As of February 24, 2026, the asset's trading hovered near the $1.34 per coin level. This positioning followed a sharp correction earlier in the month when XRP briefly dipped to a low of $1.11. This cautious market environment is set against a fundamentally altered landscape following the conclusion of litigation between Ripple and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in August 2025, and the subsequent launch of a spot XRP Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) in the United States by the end of 2025.

Technically, XRP is exhibiting a neutral posture, with the Relative Strength Index (RSI) registering at 45, suggesting short-term directional uncertainty. Market analysts are closely monitoring the critical support level at $1.3275, while resistance targets are situated within the $1.40 to $1.50 range. A substantial upward price movement is widely considered contingent upon a sustained closing price above $1.76, a threshold some observers view as confirmation that a price floor has been established, potentially opening the way toward targets between $2.76 and $2.85.

On-chain data indicates a reduction in Ripple network activity, with the number of active addresses decreasing by 26% over the past week, falling from 55,080 to approximately 40,778 addresses. This reduction could signal weakening direct transaction demand. In contrast to this retail bearish sentiment, institutional data reflects robust underlying fundamentals, indicative of long-term capital allocation strategies. Institutional investors have cumulatively injected over $1.3 billion through the spot ETF, marking 43 consecutive trading days without a net outflow leading up to mid-February 2026. Furthermore, in the week ending February 20, institutions reportedly increased their XRP exposure by $3.5 million, with total inflows for the month reaching $105 million, surpassing both Bitcoin and Ethereum, which experienced net outflows.

The broader cryptocurrency market capitalization stands near $2.28 trillion, influenced by macroeconomic factors, including geopolitical tensions and macro-economic policy decisions such as the 15% global tariff increase announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, which has fueled a wider risk-off sentiment across risk assets. This 'extreme fear' sentiment reached a rare low, comparable only to levels seen in June 2022 and August 2019. Despite this, JPMorgan Chase maintains a positive outlook for the overall crypto market in 2026, citing expected increases in institutional capital flow and regulatory clarity following the SEC resolution.

The resolution of the SEC case in August 2025 historically cemented XRP's status as a non-security on public exchanges, a development that previously increased the probability of spot ETF approval, similar to the Bitcoin ETF which attracted $35.6 billion in institutional funds since early 2024. The launch of the spot XRP ETF in the U.S. late in 2025, anticipated to be followed by issuers like Canary Capital Group LLC, has provided regulatory access for registered investment advisors to hold XRP within portfolio mandates. This fundamental strength is further supported by on-chain data showing XRP balances on exchanges dropping to a five-year low of approximately 12.9 billion XRP, suggesting asset migration to self-custody and a reduction in immediate selling pressure. Market participants continue to assess what specific catalyst will drive XRP's next price movement from its current consolidation phase, given the clearly defined technical and fundamental benchmarks.