XRP Remains Steady at $1.87 Amid Yen Shifts, ETF Activity, and RLUSD News

XRP Price Today: Market Movements and Key Insights

As of December 26, 2025, XRP is trading between $1.86 and $1.87, capturing the market’s keen interest around the psychological barrier of $2.00. After a tumultuous holiday week, XRP is moving within a tight range, showcasing typical "thin liquidity" patterns—buyers step in during dips while sellers quickly resurface on rebounds. Understanding the dynamics of the market context can illuminate potential price movements.

Current XRP Snapshot

At this moment, XRP is hovering around $1.87, with an intraday range fluctuating between $1.83 and $1.88. Here are some relevant metrics:

  • 24-hour range: Approximately $1.83–$1.88.
  • 7-day range: Between $1.83 and $1.95.
  • All-time high: XRP peaked at $3.65 on July 18, 2025, indicating a current price about 49% below this high.
  • Market rank: XRP maintains its position at around #5 by market cap, with approximately 61 billion tokens in circulation.

This landscape—considering XRP’s major asset status, its heavy derivatives interest, and ongoing sensitivity to policy and regulation—helps explain why it often shows pronounced reactions to macroeconomic headlines that would typically affect broader cryptocurrency trends.

Drivers Influencing XRP Price on December 26, 2025

Several key factors are influencing XRP’s price today, forming a multidimensional market narrative.

1) Japan’s Inflation Data and Risk Sentiment

One headline showing significant impact isn’t crypto-specific but rather macroeconomic. Tokyo reported a decline in inflation for December, dropping to 2.0% from 2.7%, which has shifted market sentiment. With the USD/JPY rising to approximately 156.205, the combination of a weaker yen and decreasing bond yields can stoke interest in "yen carry trades," where investors borrow yen to buy higher-yielding assets, including cryptocurrencies.

Consequently, XRP experienced a bounce-back from a low of about $1.8244 to around $1.8792 following the Japanese data’s release. This dynamic underlines the relationship between macroeconomic conditions and crypto asset pricing—at times, when fear surrounding carry trades eases, cryptocurrencies, including XRP, often see increased buying interest.

2) Ongoing Interest in Spot XRP ETFs

Another critical narrative in today’s market is the continued demand for institutional exposure through Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs). Since the introduction of the first U.S. spot XRP ETF (Canary Capital’s XRPC) on November 13, 2025, institutional interest has remained strong. Reports indicate that $11.93 million of net inflows occurred in a shortened session on December 24, bringing total net inflows to approximately $1.14 billion.

It’s important to note that while ETF inflows can bolster overall sentiment and stabilize XRP’s price, they do not guarantee immediate upward movement. Inflows can mean that large buyers are absorbing inventory while spot traders compensate elsewhere, causing a stabilizing effect under prevailing price ceilings.

3) Stablecoin Interest: RLUSD’s Growth

XRP’s narrative is further enriched by the performance of RLUSD, a USD stablecoin that reflects “ecosystem traction.” Currently, RLUSD’s market cap stands at about $1.3358 billion, positioning it close to entering the top 50 cryptocurrencies. As RLUSD’s adoption grows, it signals that Ripple’s infrastructure is gaining relevance in real-world financial transactions, often benefiting XRP in terms of perception and value.

4) SBI’s USDC Pilot Project

Meanwhile, another headline that caught attention involves SBI Group’s testing of a cashless payments system in Japan with USDC instead of RLUSD, which sparked discussions among XRP holders. The choice of USDC raised questions about timing and readiness regarding RLUSD, during a period when market participants focused intensely on stablecoin dynamics.

Even though this development may create some volatility in the short term, it’s essential for understanding a broader trend: major financial players are exploring stablecoin payment options, reinforcing XRP’s long-term outlook in the competitive landscape.

5) XRP Ledger Updates

In a realm where institutional usage is crucial, developments around the XRP Ledger (XRPL) itself also play a vital role. The recent release of rippled version 3.0.0 includes various enhancements to boost efficiency and reliability, which indirectly influences pricing dynamics. Reliable network performance is fundamental for institutions considering XRP as a stable asset.

6) Monitoring the Monthly Escrow Release

As the market approaches January, attention is shifting toward the predictable monthly escrow release, where Ripple unlocks up to 1 billion XRP on the first day of each month. This structured approach provides predictability in supply, potentially mitigating unforeseen market impacts. As XRP has long been characterized by its escrow system, traders remain alert to how the upcoming January 1 release could affect short-term pricing, especially during this period of thin liquidity.

7) Impacts of Year-End Options Expiry

Lastly, the expiration of options contracts in Bitcoin and Ethereum, amounting to about $27 billion, presents the “expiry gravity” effect that can ripple through the entire crypto market. While XRP may not be at the center of this options universe, the volatility in major assets often drags altcoins like XRP along, particularly during significant expiration periods.

Technical Levels for Traders’ Focus

Traders are keenly observing several technical levels:

  • Support: Around $1.75 and again at $1.50.
  • Psychological Resistance: The crucial level remains $2.00.
  • EMA Resistance: The 50-day EMA is noted at $2.0930, while the 200-day EMA stands at $2.3880.

Understanding these levels is vital as they often attract clusters of trading activity. The persistent challenges around the $2.00 mark continue to shape market dynamics.

Regulation and Institutional Integration Sensitivity

Lastly, it’s crucial to recognize that XRP represents more than just another altcoin; its movements are indicative of how cryptocurrencies might fit into the regulated financial landscape. With recent SEC decisions regarding Ripple, alongside evolving banking integration efforts, XRP’s pricing is increasingly tethered to regulatory outcomes and institutional perceptions.

These elements all intertwine to create a rich narrative that influences XRP’s price trajectory as we head into the new year. Current pricing and daily market buzz reflect ongoing developments that could very well dictate the direction of XRP in the coming weeks and months.

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