XRP is facing a wave of selling pressure today, sliding below the critical $1.40 support level as the broader cryptocurrency market struggles to maintain its post-State of the Union momentum.
After reaching a mid-week high of $1.49, the token has retreated approximately 3.2% over the last 24 hours, currently trading around $1.37.
While Ripple Labs continues to push institutional adoption through its new 2026 “distributed funding model” for ecosystem builders, retail sentiment appears to be cooling. Futures open interest has hit its lowest point in over a year, signaling that traders are stepping to the sidelines until a clearer trend emerges.
Market observers at cloud mining company Fort Miner suggest that the current price action is a “volatility squeeze” that could lead to a decisive move in early March.
“We are seeing a classic tug-of-war between institutional accumulation and retail exhaustion,” says Ashley Liu, Lead Market Strategist at Fort Miner. “While the whales are quietly absorbing XRP under $1.40, the lack of a fresh catalyst is forcing short-term holders to capitulate. It’s a ‘wait-and-see’ environment where the next $0.10 move will likely dictate the trend for the entire spring.”
Liu further noted that the regulatory environment remains the “X-factor” for the asset’s recovery.
“The market is essentially pricing in the stagnation of the CLARITY Act,” Thorne added. “At Fort Miner, we view this $1.35 to $1.45 range as a massive accumulation zone. If XRP can reclaim $1.50 on high volume, the ‘cup-and-handle’ formation we’ve been tracking could easily propel us toward the $2.00 mark. Conversely, a failure to hold $1.30 could invite a deeper retest of the yearly lows.”
Key Market Data (Feb 27, 2026)
| Metric | Value |
| Current Price | $1.37 |
| 24h Change | -3.17% |
| Market Cap | $84.2 Billion |
| Weekly Range | $1.31 – $1.49 |
As the weekend approaches, traders are keeping a close eye on Bitcoin’s ability to hold the $65,000 level, which has historically served as a tether for XRP’s own price stability.
Disclosure: Neither Tampa Free Press nor the author of this article endorses any product mentioned on this page. Users should conduct their own research before taking any action related to the company. This article is not intended as financial advice. Educational purposes only.
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