Ripple CTO's Two-Tier Consensus Proposal Fails to Lift XRP as Tech Selloff Weighs on Crypto Markets


Ripple CTO's Two-Tier Consensus Proposal Fails to Lift XRP as Tech Selloff Weighs on Crypto Markets


Timothy Morano
Nov 22, 2025 02:30

XRP trades at $1.95 despite Ripple’s technical innovation announcements this week, as broader market volatility and Bitcoin weakness override positive fundamental developments for the digital as…

Quick Take

• XRP trading at $1.95 (down 2.7% in 24h)
• Ripple’s technical roadmap announcements overshadowed by macro headwinds
• Price testing lower Bollinger Band support at current levels
• Following Bitcoin’s weakness amid broader tech sector selloff

Market Events Driving Ripple Price Movement

XRP price action this week reflects a classic disconnect between positive fundamental developments and broader market sentiment. While Ripple delivered two significant announcements – CEO Brad Garlinghouse’s 2026 strategic plan at the Swell conference and CTO David Schwartz’s proposal for a two-tier consensus mechanism to enhance XRPL staking – these catalysts have been overwhelmed by macro market pressures.

The initial 3.5% price surge following Garlinghouse’s 2026 vision presentation on November 20th demonstrated that XRP remains responsive to company developments. However, this momentum quickly dissipated as U.S. stock markets entered their fourth consecutive day of losses, with the S&P 500 declining sharply amid tech sector concerns and pre-earnings jitters around Nvidia’s quarterly report.

The proposed two-tier consensus mechanism represents a meaningful technical advancement for the XRP Ledger, potentially improving both security and scalability for institutional adoption. Yet in the current risk-off environment, fundamental improvements are taking a backseat to broader market dynamics affecting all risk assets.

XRP Technical Analysis: Testing Lower Band Support

Price Action Context

XRP price currently sits at the lower Bollinger Band at $1.95, representing a critical technical juncture. The digital asset is trading below all major moving averages, with the 7-day SMA at $2.09 providing immediate resistance. This positioning below the 20-day SMA ($2.24) and 50-day SMA ($2.43) indicates sustained selling pressure that even positive company news hasn’t been able to overcome.

Trading volume on Binance spot remains elevated at $666.8 million over 24 hours, suggesting institutional participation continues despite the downward pressure. This volume profile indicates that current weakness may represent accumulation rather than panic selling.

Key Technical Indicators

The RSI at 31.72 has moved into oversold territory without reaching extreme levels, suggesting room for further downside if support breaks. The MACD histogram at -0.0301 confirms bearish momentum remains intact, though the indicator hasn’t reached deeply oversold readings that typically mark capitulation bottoms.

Most telling is the Stochastic indicator with %K at 17.21 and %D at 12.85, both in oversold territory and potentially setting up for a technical bounce if broader market conditions stabilize.

Critical Price Levels for Ripple Traders

Immediate Levels (24-48 hours)

• Resistance: $2.01 (24-hour high and initial bounce level)
• Support: $1.82 (24-hour low and psychological level)

Breakout/Breakdown Scenarios

A breakdown below $1.82 would target the strong support zone at $1.25, representing the next major accumulation level from previous cycles. Conversely, a recovery above the 7-day SMA at $2.09 would signal the start of a potential relief rally toward $2.24 resistance.

XRP Correlation Analysis

XRP is currently exhibiting high correlation with Bitcoin and broader cryptocurrency markets, following the flagship digital asset’s weakness. This correlation has temporarily overridden XRP’s typical tendency to trade on Ripple-specific fundamentals.

Traditional market spillover effects are evident, with the tech sector selloff and elevated VIX readings creating headwinds for all risk assets, including cryptocurrencies. The correlation with traditional markets appears stronger than usual given the magnitude of the equity market decline.

Trading Outlook: Ripple Near-Term Prospects

Bullish Case

A stabilization in traditional markets, particularly if Nvidia’s earnings calm tech sector fears, could allow XRP to refocus on its strong fundamental backdrop. The combination of the 2026 strategic plan and technical improvements to XRPL provides a solid foundation for recovery once macro conditions improve.

Target levels on a recovery would be $2.24 (20-day SMA) initially, followed by $2.58 for a more substantial rally.

Bearish Case

Continued correlation with weakening Bitcoin and persistent tech sector concerns could drive XRP price toward the $1.25 strong support level. A breakdown of the current $1.82 support would likely accelerate this move.

Risk Management

Given the elevated volatility (ATR at $0.16), traders should consider tighter stop-losses below $1.80 for long positions. The oversold technical readings suggest any breakdown could be short-lived, making this level critical for risk management decisions.

Image source: Shutterstock




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