XRP price opened trading at $2.25 on Thursday, March 19, with key derivatives trading signals leaning bullish ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s rate decision. Can XRP price breach the $2.5 resistance in the upcoming trading sessions?
XRP Price Remains Below $2.30 as Investors Shift Focus to Low-Cap Altcoins
Ripple (XRP) was among the top-performing altcoins last week, driven by reports that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) was considering classifying XRP as a commodity as part of its settlement talks with Ripple. The anticipation that this move could eliminate a significant regulatory hurdle for altcoin ETF approvals fueled a strong rally.
Investors flocked to XRP, alongside other top altcoins such as Litecoin (LTC), Cardano (ADA), and Hedera (HBAR), with ETF approval filling in progress, all of which posted double-digit gains before facing corrections this week.
Ripple (XRP) price trading below $2.30, March 19, 2025 | Source: CoinMarketCap
However, this week, the momentum has shifted away from XRP as new ETF developments have emerged. Canary Capital’s filing for a SUI spot ETF—its sixth altcoin ETF filing —alongside Nasdaq’s Polkadot ETF application has spurred fresh investor interest. As a result, both DOT and SUI have experienced notable price surges.
A broader market analysis suggests that investors are rotating capital out of last week’s top gainers, including XRP, in pursuit of these emerging narratives.
This rotation has left Ripple price trading below the $2.30 mark on Thursday, with its trading volume declining alongside other major altcoins such as LTC, SOL, and ADA, all of which have seen increased selling pressure over the past 24 hours.
XRP Derivative Traders Take a Cautious but Optimistic Stance Ahead of US Fed Rate Decision
While XRP’s price has struggled to maintain momentum this week, investors have rotated capital into emerging altcoins like Polkadot (DOT) and SUI, driven by fresh ETF narratives. Despite the bearish sentiment in the spot market, derivatives trading data reveals a more optimistic outlook, with traders positioning themselves for potential upside ahead of the U.S. Federal Reserve’s rate decision.
Three vital derivative trading indices compiled by CoinGlass on Wednesday suggesting an imminent bullish reversal in XRP price momentum:
1. XRP Derivatives Volume Climbs 7.34% as Open Interest Rises
XRP derivatives trading volume has increased by 7.34%, reaching $5.05 billion, while open interest (OI)—the total value of active futures contracts—has edged up 1.85% to $3.19 billion. This signals growing market participation, with traders actively opening new positions in anticipation of heightened volatility. An uptick in OI typically reflects confidence in an impending price move.
Ripple (XRP) Derivatives Markets Analysis, March 19 2025 | Source: Coinglass
2. Long/Short Ratio Indicates Bullish Leverage Bias
On leading exchanges, XRP traders are showing a strong inclination towards long positions. The long/short ratio on Binance XRP/USDT accounts stands at 2.394, meaning there are nearly 2.4 long positions for every short. Similarly, OKX’s long/short ratio is 2.01, reinforcing the bullish outlook. When traders disproportionately favor longs, it often suggests an expectation of upward price movement.
3. Sell-Side Liquidations Decline as Bulls Gain Control
XRP’s sell-side liquidations have notably decreased, suggesting that bearish pressure is easing. In contrast, buy-side liquidations have risen, indicating that leveraged traders are positioning for an upward price move. This shift reduces the risk of downside volatility and supports the case for a potential recovery rally.
XRP Market Outlook:
Despite short-term price consolidation below the $2.30 level, XRP derivatives traders appear to be positioning for a bullish breakout towards $2.50. With rising open interest, a positive long/short ratio, and reduced sell-side liquidations, XRP may be primed for an upward move—contingent on the broader market reaction to the Fed’s rate decision on Wednesday.
XRP Price Forecast: $2.50 Breakout Could Spur More Gains
XRP price forecast remains cautiously bullish as the price consolidates around $2.28, with technical indicators showing mixed signals ahead of a potential breakout. The Bollinger Bands (BB) midpoint at $2.33 remains a key resistance level, while the lower BB at $1.95 provides strong support. A decisive break above $2.33 could trigger momentum toward $2.50, where a breakout may fuel an extended rally.
XRP Price Forecast
The MACD indicator is flashing early signs of a bullish crossover, with the MACD line moving upward toward the signal line, suggesting waning bearish momentum. Additionally, the histogram bars are transitioning from red to green, reinforcing the potential for a bullish reversal. The previous 30% rally within four trading sessions, highlighted in the chart, sets a precedent for XRP’s ability to surge once a breakout occurs.
However, the recent 7.88% retracement over the last four sessions raises caution. A failure to reclaim $2.33 could see further declines, with $2.00 as the next major support. The trading volume of 609M during the recent pullback suggests some hesitation among buyers. If XRP can sustain momentum and break $2.50, it could target $2.70-$2.90 in the coming weeks. Conversely, rejection at resistance could trigger further downside consolidation.
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