XRP Price Prediction: Can It Hold $2.00 and Target $2.23?

#XRP

• Critical Technical Inflection Point: XRP's price is consolidating around key indicators. Holding above $2.00 support and breaking the 20-day MA resistance at $2.0557 are the immediate technical prerequisites for a bullish move toward $2.23.
• Fundamental Support from Institutional Adoption: The expanded Ripple and LMAX Group partnership, integrating RLUSD, adds tangible utility and institutional credibility, serving as a positive fundamental catalyst that underpins long-term value.
• Mixed Short-Term Sentiment with Upside Bias: While facing recent selling pressure, market analysis concurrently highlights a near-term breakout potential of 9%-11%. The sentiment is cautiously optimistic, balancing technical resistance with positive fundamental developments.

XRP Price Prediction

Technical Analysis: XRP/USDT

As of January 17, 2026, XRP is trading at $2.0416, slightly below its 20-day moving average of $2.0557, indicating a neutral-to-bearish short-term bias. The MACD histogram is negative at -0.0163, with both the MACD line and signal line in negative territory, confirming a bearish momentum. However, the narrowing gap between the lines suggests weakening selling pressure.

Price action is currently NEAR the middle Bollinger Band ($2.0557), with the upper band at $2.3307 and the lower band at $1.7807. This positioning indicates the asset is in a consolidation phase, lacking a decisive directional move. A sustained break above the 20-day MA could signal a shift towards the upper band, while failure to hold above $2.00 may see a test of the lower band support.

"The technical picture shows XRP is at a crossroads," says BTCC financial analyst Ava. "The price is consolidating after recent selling pressure. The key levels to watch are the 20-day MA as immediate resistance and the $2.00 psychological level as support. A close above $2.0557 could open the path toward $2.23."

Market Sentiment & Catalysts

Recent news flow presents a mixed but cautiously optimistic backdrop for XRP. The expanded partnership between Ripple and LMAX Group to integrate RLUSD as collateral is a significant institutional adoption milestone, likely providing long-term utility and demand support for the XRP ecosystem.

However, headlines also note renewed selling pressure that has driven the token below $2.10, reflecting ongoing volatility and profit-taking. Counterbalancing this, several analyses point to a potential technical breakout above $2.23, suggesting a 9%-11% upside if key resistance levels are breached.

"The LMAX news is a solid fundamental positive, enhancing XRP's use case in institutional finance," notes BTCC's Ava. "While short-term price action is dominated by technicals and sentiment, such partnerships build the foundation for sustainable growth. The market is currently weighing this positive development against immediate technical resistance."

Factors Influencing XRP's Price

Ripple and LMAX Group Forge Partnership to Expand RLUSD Utility in Institutional Trading

LMAX Group has entered a multi-year collaboration with Ripple to bridge traditional finance and digital asset markets. The deal will integrate RLUSD as a core collateral asset across LMAX's institutional trading infrastructure, enabling cross-margin efficiencies for spot crypto, perpetual futures, and CFD trading.

Banks, brokers, and buy-side firms gain 24/7 access to RLUSD-denominated trading—a clear signal of accelerating institutional adoption of stablecoins for settlement and collateral. The arrangement eliminates balance fragmentation by allowing a single RLUSD-backed position to cover multiple asset classes.

LMAX Custody will manage RLUSD storage and access through segregated wallets. The partnership underscores crypto's maturation as cross-collateralization mechanisms mirror those in traditional derivatives markets.

LMAX Group Expands Ripple Partnership with RLUSD Collateral Integration

LMAX Group has solidified its collaboration with Ripple through a multi-year agreement aimed at bridging traditional finance and digital asset markets. The deal centers on the adoption of RLUSD as a core collateral asset within LMAX's institutional trading ecosystem.

The integration enables cross-collateralized trading across spot crypto, perpetual futures, and CFDs. Banks, brokers, and buy-side firms can now utilize RLUSD for both settlement and margin purposes—consolidating balances without constant currency conversion.

This move reflects accelerating institutional demand for stablecoin utility. RLUSD's dual role as collateral and settlement currency streamlines operations while LMAX Custody ensures secure wallet segregation.

XRP Price Forecast: Renewed Selling Pressure Drives Token Below $2.10

XRP extended its decline on January 16 as sellers overpowered buyers, pushing the token below $2.10. Trading near $2.06 at press time, the asset struggled to maintain momentum after last week's highs, reflecting broader market hesitancy.

Repeated attempts to breach resistance faltered, with each rally met by aggressive supply. The U.S. session saw a sharp reversal on elevated volume, signaling deliberate sell-offs rather than thin liquidity. A brief dip below $2.06 triggered forced liquidation before a shallow rebound to $2.07—too weak to shift the bearish tone.

The $2.13 level remains a critical ceiling. Intraday swings of $0.10 highlighted persistent volatility, but follow-through buying remained absent. Market sentiment leans defensive, with participants quick to exit positions on minor rallies.

XRP Eyes Breakout Above $2.23 as Technicals Suggest 9%-11% Upside Potential

XRP, the cross-border payments-focused altcoin, is testing critical resistance levels after stabilizing above its $2.05-$2.10 support zone. Currently trading at $2.13 with a modest 0.32% daily gain, the token shows signs of emerging from a prolonged corrective phase.

The 20-day EMA now coincides with this support area, while overhead resistance looms at the 50 and 100-day EMAs near $2.20-$2.23. Bollinger Band contraction signals impending volatility—a decisive close above $2.23 could trigger a move toward $2.36, representing a potential 9%-11% upside.

Market structure suggests a binary outcome: either continuation of the downtrend upon losing $2.05 support, or confirmation of bullish momentum with a breakout. As remittance-focused tokens gain attention amid growing institutional interest in payment solutions, XRP's technical setup mirrors its fundamental positioning at a crossroads.

Will XRP Price Hit $2?

Based on the current technical data and market developments, XRP is actively testing the $2.00 level. As of January 17, 2026, the price is $2.0416, meaning it is already trading above $2.00. Therefore, the more pertinent question is whether it can sustain above this level and advance higher.

The immediate outlook depends on its ability to conquer the 20-day moving average at $2.0557. Success here could fuel momentum toward the next significant resistance near $2.23, as suggested by technical analysis. The key supporting factors and levels are summarized below:

"XRP isn't just trying to hit $2—it's already there," explains BTCC financial analyst Ava. "The challenge is building a base above it. The partnership news provides a fundamental tailwind, while the technicals suggest a battle between immediate resistance and the potential for a 9-11% rally. Watch the $2.0557 level closely; a decisive daily close above it would significantly improve the odds of a sustained move toward $2.23."