XRP Drops 5%, Signals Possible Downtrend Ahead
By John Nada·Jan 29, 2026·2 min read
XRP has dropped 5% to around $1.80, with traders focusing on this level as crucial support amid broader market weakness driven by Bitcoin's pullback.
Ripple-linked XRP has dropped 5%, sliding from $1.91 to near $1.80, as the recent pullback in Bitcoin triggered widespread selling in high-beta tokens. Traders are now closely monitoring $1.80 as a crucial support level. The decline accelerated after XRP broke below key support at $1.87, resulting in heavy volume selling that erased gains from the previous week. Buyers temporarily stepped in around the $1.78–$1.80 zone to halt the decline.
Despite a modest bounce back above $1.80, the recovery lacked strong follow-through, leaving XRP below the former support that has now turned into resistance. A sustained move back above $1.87–$1.90 is necessary to indicate a corrective pullback rather than the onset of a deeper decline.
The overall market weakness stemmed from Bitcoin's retreat, which pressured high-beta tokens and unwound recent gains. The drop wasn't driven by specific news about XRP; instead, it was a result of risk-off positioning from traders, particularly after the price slipped below critical technical levels.
The breakdown confirmed a short-term bearish shift for XRP. The volume surge during the sell-off indicated forced selling, and while buyers defended the $1.78–$1.80 zone late in the session, it remains uncertain if this will hold.
Looking ahead, traders view $1.80 as the immediate line in the sand. If this support holds, XRP could stabilize and attempt a rebound. However, bulls must reclaim $1.87–$1.90 to signal that the recent sell-off was corrective, rather than the beginning of a more significant downturn. If $1.80 fails, downside risks could extend toward $1.73, with selling momentum likely to increase.
For now, XRP's fate is closely tied to Bitcoin's direction, with technical levels taking precedence over headlines as the market navigates this turbulent phase.