XRP price stayed under strain despite a significant development from Ripple Labs, which secured a banking charter from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).
The token slid to a key support level at $2, falling more than 50% from its record high. It has trailed the performance of other assets such as Bitcoin and Ether.
The approval, which has faced resistance from a leading banking lobby, allows the company to transfer its Ripple USD (RLUSD) holdings from BNY. RLUSD currently holds $1.3 billion in assets, a number expected to continue rising amid the ongoing stablecoin boom.
This backdrop has shaped the current XRP price prediction, as investors weigh regulatory progress against weak price action while also assessing whether XRP ranks among the best crypto to buy now.
XRP Price Outlook Strengthens Following BoJ Decision and ETF Demand Surge
The Bank of Japan raised rates without disrupting markets, helping trigger an XRP rally. On Friday, December 19, the BoJ lifted rates by 25 basis points to 0.75% while signaling continued accommodative policy, easing investor concerns.
Ahead of the announcement, worries over a potential unwind of the yen carry trade pushed XRP down to a session low of $1.77 on Friday before rebounding to $1.9 following the BoJ decision.
The central bank’s policy move aligned with encouraging developments from Capitol Hill regarding crypto-friendly legislation, alongside growing interest in XRP spot ETFs. These products have attracted more than $950 million in fresh inflows, lifting total assets above $1.1 billion.
This milestone stands out as Solana ETFs have yet to surpass $1 billion in assets, despite launching earlier than XRP-focused funds.
The combination of a dovish BoJ outlook, robust inflows into XRP spot ETFs, and legislative progress continues to reinforce a positive price outlook.
Below, we will review the XRP price prediction from crypto analyst Cilinix Crypto, whose analysis is available in the video below or on his YouTube channel, along with the critical technical levels traders should watch.
XRP Price Prediction
XRP price prediction points to a cautiously constructive outlook after signs of short-term bullish momentum emerged following recent consolidation. Price action has stabilized after reclaiming the $1.84 to $1.85 zone, which appears to have formed a local bottom supported by prior buying pressure.
Although spot buying has slowed, market structure suggests absorption at lower levels rather than renewed heavy selling. Key imbalances remain near $1.85 and slightly lower, which could be revisited before any sustained upside continuation.
The $2 level stands out as critical resistance and a decisive area to watch for trend confirmation. A successful reaction from support could allow $XRP to attempt a move back toward $1.98 to $2.02, provided broader market conditions remain stable.
XRP Consolidation Sparks Interest in the Top Crypto to Buy Now
The chart indicates that the XRP price has traded in a tight range over the past several days. It has consistently stayed below all key moving averages, signaling that sellers continue to dominate in the near term.
This setup has pushed some investors to seek higher-upside opportunities beyond established assets, especially in crypto presales. Below are two new crypto coins gaining attention and often listed by analysts among the best crypto to buy now.
Bitcoin Hyper (HYPER)
Bitcoin Hyper is a Bitcoin layer-2 network designed to improve speed, reduce costs, and enhance functionality. It enables fast, low-cost BTC transactions by bridging coins into a parallel layer-2 environment built on modern blockchain technology.
The system operates in a trustless, fully decentralized manner, using a canonical bridge and smart contracts to verify transactions. The Bitcoin Hyper presale has already raised nearly $30 million, offering staking APY of up to 39%.
Bitcoin Hyper also leverages zero-knowledge proofs to compress transactions while maintaining security. By settling state data back onto Bitcoin’s main chain, the platform aims to expand Bitcoin’s practical use without compromising its core design.
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Pepenode (PEPENODE)
Pepenode is presented as a meme-focused project that blends humor with practical mechanics through its mine-to-earn model, giving users reasons to stay active beyond speculation. Instead of relying solely on viral appeal, the platform rewards participation through gameplay.
The presale phase features low entry pricing and has currently raised around $2.3 million, with 17 days remaining, giving participants a limited window to purchase the token at $0.0012064, with staking APY of up to 540%.
Looking ahead to 2026, plans include an on-chain game, NFT rewards, and a broader token ecosystem designed to expand usage. Within this context, Pepenode is often discussed as one of the best crypto to buy now for investors comfortable with speculative, high-risk opportunities.
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