XRP Price Plummets Today—So Why Are Crypto ETF Inflows Surging?

It's a classic crypto paradox: while digital asset ETFs hoover up billions, XRP charts its own lonely course south. The disconnect between institutional flows and individual token performance just widened into a chasm.

The ETF Gold Rush Bypasses Ripple

Funds are flooding into crypto—just not into everything. The market's playing favorites, and XRP isn't on the list. It's a brutal reminder that broad sector optimism doesn't guarantee a rising tide for all boats. Some vessels spring leaks.

Narrative vs. Numbers

Positive headlines about adoption and regulation keep hitting the wires. Yet for XRP, the price action screams a different story—one of fading momentum and trader indifference. The charts don't lie, even when the press releases try to spin.

Speculation Cuts Both Ways

Remember, this is an asset class where a celebrity tweet sometimes moves markets more than a quarterly report. Today's sell-off might be pure profit-taking, or it could signal deeper skepticism about XRP's unique regulatory baggage. Either way, sentiment shifted fast.

So, watch the smart money—but don't assume it's always smart. Sometimes those ETF inflows just mean a handful of whales found a new, fee-generating box to park their cash, consequences for actual token utility be damned.

ETF Inflows Remain Strong, But XRP Price Lags

XRP ETFs have continued to record consistent inflows since their launch. Data shows that these products have accumulated more than $1.26 billion in net inflows, with no recorded outflow days so far. On January 15 alone, XRP ETFs attracted about $17 million, outperforming Bitcoin, Ethereum, and solana ETFs.

Institutional interest also appears stable beyond ETFs. Exchange-held XRP balances have fallen below 2 billion tokens, down from over 4 billion in late 2025. This suggests fewer tokens are readily available for selling, a trend often associated with longer-term accumulation.

Despite these supportive factors, XRP’s price has struggled to gain momentum. The token reached $2.39 earlier in January but has since slipped back toward the $2.00–$2.10 range. Over the past week, it is down roughly 3%, even as ETF inflows remain steady.

Key Resistance at $2.13 Caps Upside

Short-term technical levels are playing a major role in the XRP price behavior. The $2.13 area has acted as a strong resistance zone, with traders repeatedly selling into rallies NEAR that level.

During the latest session, XRP fell from around $2.15 to $2.07 after being rejected near $2.13 on above-average volume. A brief spike in selling pushed the XRP price to a low near $2.059 before buyers stepped in, leading to a modest rebound.

Market structure shows a series of lower highs and lower lows, a pattern that reflects short-term bearish control. As long as XRP remains below $2.13, rallies are likely to attract selling rather than sustained buying.

The wider crypto market has also been under pressure, with the global market cap recently shedding tens of billions of dollars in a single day. In this environment, traders tend to reduce risk, even in assets with strong institutional inflows.

Adding to the cautious tone, some technical indicators have turned less supportive. On the weekly chart, the XRP price has moved below its SuperTrend line, a signal often interpreted as a shift toward bearish conditions. This has contrasted with renewed “super cycle” talk circulating on social media.

While XRP’s long-term outlook may benefit from regulatory progress in Europe and continued ETF demand, short-term price action remains driven by technical resistance and profit-taking. For now, the token appears to be consolidating rather than starting a new upward trend.

Cover image from ChatGPT, XRPUSD chart from Tradingview