Crypto Rollercoaster: Bitcoin Stumbles, Ethereum Flatlines, XRP Defies Gravity

Bitcoin’s facing headwinds as institutional traders flee to safer havens—or maybe just bored waiting for the next halving hype cycle. Meanwhile, Ethereum’s gas fees drop to ’reasonable’ levels (read: still highway robbery), leaving traders wondering if the merge was just a fancy way to slow things down.

Then there’s XRP—suddenly mooning like it’s 2017 again, proving even zombie tokens get their day when Wall Street’s lawyers take a coffee break. Classic crypto: where fundamentals go to die and memes get resurrected as ’investment theses.’

Bonus finance jab: Watching crypto markets ’correct’ is like watching hedge funders try to parallel park—lots of sudden movements, zero elegance, and someone always overpays for the spot.

In Brief

• Bitcoin struggles below the critical resistance of 95,000 dollars, with a risk of falling back to 90,000 dollars.
• Ethereum shows signs of exhaustion after failing to sustainably break through 1,861 dollars.
• The Pectra upgrade on May 7, 2025, could reignite Ethereum’s rise towards 2,000 dollars, or even 2,200 dollars.
• XRP retains upward momentum and aims for new highs around 2.50 dollars then 3.00 dollars.
• The FTX repayment could increase selling pressure on the Bitcoin market in May.
• The opening of XRP futures contracts at CME Group could strongly boost its price starting May 19.
• May 2025 promises to be highly volatile, with risks of sharp corrections on the three assets.

Shocking forecasts for bitcoin, ethereum and ripple this week

Bitcoin, Ethereum and Ripple are at key technical levels this week. Here are the possible scenarios to watch for each of them, between potential rebounds and risks of correction.

Bitcoin: a decisive milestone to cross

Bitcoin has crossed its 200-day exponential moving average (EMA) at 85,000 dollars, gaining 11.14% before hitting the resistance at 95,000 dollars. Currently around 93,500 dollars, BTC could slide towards 90,000 dollars if selling pressure increases.

The RSI, at 65, shows a weakening of the upward momentum. A drop below 50 would signal an increased risk of correction. However, if it closes above 95,000 dollars, an extension towards 97,000 dollars would be conceivable for bitcoin.

Ethereum: the bulls are tiring

Ethereum surged nearly 15% after breaking the 1,700-dollar resistance. After briefly touching 1,861 dollars, its price is retreating and stabilizing around 1,773 dollars. If ETH falls below 1,700 dollars, the next bearish target would be around 1,449 dollars. The RSI, at 53 and declining, confirms this risk. Conversely, a clear break above 1,861 dollars would open the way to a major psychological test at 2,000 dollars.

XRP: a bullish engine in motion

XRP stands out by firmly staying above its 200-day EMA at 1.98 dollars, rising over 8% this week. Trading around 2.24 dollars, it could target its March 24 high at 2.50 dollars, or even reach 3.00 dollars if momentum continues. The RSI, at 57, remains above 50, confirming positive momentum. Conversely, if XRP loses its current support, a pullback to 1.96 dollars would be something to watch.

May 2025: a decisive month with major events

In May, bitcoin, ethereum and Ripple could experience strong volatility.

• For bitcoin (BTC), the wave of FTX repayments (planned in dollars at much lower bankruptcy values) could cause temporary selling pressure, keeping BTC under 95,000 dollars, with a risk of sliding back to 90,000 dollars.

But before that, easing macroeconomic tensions could support bitcoin’s upward trend until early May, as believes Ryan Lee, chief analyst at Bitget Research:

Although tariff-related risks remain, the easing of tensions could support the bullish momentum until early May, especially for Bitcoin, which continues to benefit from its growing appeal as a safe haven amid global uncertainty. Sentiment on the blockchain reflects cautious optimism: Bitcoin whales are accumulating, and technical indicators signal resistance around $95,000.

• On the Ethereum side, the Pectra upgrade on May 7, 2025 could rekindle interest in the network, favoring a return towards 2,000 dollars if successful technically, or even a test at 2,200 dollars if optimism prevails.
• As for Ripple, the opening of XRP futures contracts at CME Group from May 19, 2025, is a powerful catalyst: a liquidity surge could push the price toward 2.50 dollars, or even 3.00 dollars in extension if institutional enthusiasm confirms.

However, caution: volatility around these major events will remain high, with risks of sharp corrections.

While May 2025 promises to be full of major events, investors must first remain vigilant this week. Bitcoin, ethereum, and ripple could offer exceptional opportunities… or violent shocks. In this highly tense environment, the key will be to anticipate movements and stay agile in the face of extreme volatility.

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