XRP holds $1.53 as traders watch $1.66 resistance, whale outflows surge

Technical analysis targets $1.66 as resistance

Analyst Maison Cypher identified $1.66 as a critical technical resistance point after XRP briefly peaked at $1.6612. A clear move above this threshold could open the door to further gains toward the $1.80 and $2.00 areas. Cypher noted that XRP may first revisit its 200-period moving average, which could prolong the ongoing consolidation phase for the token.

FOUR | Crypto Spaces, another market commentator, pointed to an emerging inverse head-and-shoulders chart pattern on XRP. This pattern places its neckline between $1.60 and $1.70, supporting Cypher’s assessment that a breakout from this region could shape the next significant move.

Veteran trader Peter Brandt, author of The Factor Report, commented on social platform X that maintaining objectivity is crucial when trading XRP. Brandt warned against disregarding technical signals, emphasizing that relying on chart analysis has often dictated his approach to the asset. He stated,

Charts alone have always provided sufficient reason for a position. There is a difference between objectivity and ignoring available market information.

XRP experienced increased volatility the previous week, rallying from $1.50 on September 23 to $1.57 on September 25. However, it later receded to $1.53, with traders closely monitoring whether the token could escape its defined consolidation corridor.

Derivatives and on-chain developments

CME futures data showed 8,684 XRP contracts open as of September 23, with a trading volume of 4,944 contracts for that day. The September futures settled at $1.4955, while the October contract closed marginally higher at $1.5060, suggesting subdued demand for longer-term exposure.

CryptoQuant researcher Amr Taha reported a sharp acceleration in large-scale XRP outflows from centralized exchanges during August. Withdrawals exceeding one million XRP increased significantly, with outflows hitting 231 million tokens on August 21. This followed smaller transactions of 54 million and 114 million XRP in the days prior.

Taha cautioned that such exchange outflows do not confirm accumulation or immediate price direction, but rather show a shift of tokens away from trading venues.

Mini dictionary: CryptoQuant, a blockchain analytics provider, tracks on-chain activity and interprets large cryptocurrency transactions to help investors understand flows between private wallets and exchanges.

Price projections and notable market moves

To reach $3 by the end of 2026, XRP would need to climb 96% from its current price, implying a requirement for approximately $92 billion in new capital inflows. Achieving this level would boost the token’s market value from $96.6 billion to about $189 billion.

XRP has experienced comparably strong rallies in the past, with a 370% surge between November and December 2024, fueled partly by political events and evolving regulations in the United States. The current momentum, however, has been more gradual, as XRP moved up by 66% from about $1.00 on August 18 to $1.66 on September 23 before pulling back.

Market attention remains centered on support near $1.50 and resistance just above $1.66. Until either of these levels gives way, traders anticipate further consolidation within this defined range.