XRP Slips Below $2 as Tariff and Fed Worries Rattle Crypto: Brief Dip or Bigger Sell-Off?

Quick Breakdown

• XRP fell to $1.84 on January 19, during a wider crypto pullback that pushed Bitcoin to $92,000 and triggered about $864 million in liquidations.
  
• The drop looks panic-driven on the surface, but on-chain data points to whale accumulation and low exchange balances, which can reduce sell pressure over time.
  
• Long-term narratives remain in play, including rumors of XRP support in X’s future payments push and Ripple’s progress on EU licensing in Luxembourg.

XRP fell below $2.00 on January 19, 2026, briefly touching $1.84 in a flash crawl that liquidated roughly $40 million in long positions. Traders now debate if this marks the end of a short-lived bounce or signals deeper trouble ahead

Analysts largely frame the dip as part of a wider crypto pullback. Bitcoin slid from around $97,000 last week to $92,000, and the rest of the market followed. Over the last 24 hours, liquidations reportedly reached $864 million.

The XRP/USD pair shed 13% in a single day, closing near $1.97 after testing lows at $1.84. Volume surged 189% as panic hit, with liquidations piling up amid fresh tariff threats on the Greenland annexation issue as well as questions over President Trump’s dealings with the Federal Reserve.

This pullback erases gains from a $2.17 peak earlier in January, leaving the market split on next steps. Rumours about Elon Musk adding XRP in X payments add fuel, but macro fears dominate online discourse. 

Background

XRP traded in a tight $2.00 to $2.40 range for most of early 2026, pushing past $2.14 on strong volume before stalling at the 200-day EMA. On-chain data showed buyers in control, with 90-day taker dominance over 90% and exchange supplies at multi-year lows, clear signs of whale hoarding. ETF money flowed in steadily, helping build higher lows from $2.05.

Meanwhile, several on-chain signals looked constructive: buyers appeared to be in control (including strong taker dominance), and exchange balances sat near multi-year lows—often interpreted as a sign that larger holders are moving coins off exchanges rather than preparing to sell.

Bullish Perspectives on Recovery

Some commentators still see the pullback as temporary.

• Dominic Basulto (The Motley Fool) argues XRP could rebound strongly and even reach $4 by the end of 2026, pointing to perceived undervaluation and a path to new highs via institutional adoption.
  
• Standard Chartered analysts have also shared aggressive upside projections (as high as $8), tying the thesis to growing regulatory clarity and ETF-related momentum.

Supporters of this view also point to continued interest in XRP investment products and the idea that panic-liquidations can create short-lived “air pockets” that quickly reverse once forced selling ends.

Bearish Cautions and Counterpoints

Not everyone shares the enthusiasm. Protos reports on the liquidation cascade, with XRP hitting $1.906 and risking further drops if $1.93 support fails. XRP is $1.98 (3.9% daily drop as of Jan 19, 2026, per Yahoo Finance), driven down from $2.07 by long-term holder selling despite ETF optimism and adoption.

Technical analysis shows XRP in a descending channel since November 2025, with an oversold RSI (35). A drop below $1.96 could target $1.82–$1.77; a close above $2.19 may signal a reversal, coinciding with whale distribution. The broader dip is attributed to $40 million in liquidations, U.S.-EU tariff threats, and Bitcoin’s pattern failure. However, persistent XRP ETF inflows suggest the sell-off is a short-term reset.

X payments: the “if it’s real, it matters” catalyst

One storyline keeping bulls engaged is X’s push into payments. With X expanding its payments ambitions (including a reported partnership with Visa), traders are watching for features like peer-to-peer transfers and crypto integration. There’s circulating talk of “Smart Cashtags” and a possible rollout window around February 2026.

This initiative is highly complementary to Ripple’s ecosystem. Ripple’s stablecoin strategy—along with institutional liquidity efforts like the LMAX tie-in for RLUSD—feeds the narrative that XRP could eventually play a role in real-time global transfers inside a major consumer app.

To be clear: this remains speculative until formally confirmed. But it’s the kind of utility-driven story that can flip sentiment quickly if it turns into an actual product announcement.

Bigger-Picture Catalysts: Institutional Investment and Global Utility

The recent $1.3 billion in inflows to ETFs over just 50 days signals a significant trend toward mainstream institutional integration. This surge in demand, coupled with a potential reduction in available supply, is further bolstered by increasing global partnerships. Ripple, for example, is enhancing its cross-border utility through an EU e-money license and strategic collaborations with entities like BDACS and GTreasury.

Looking ahead, long-term price predictions for the asset vary widely. Binance projects a modest $2.51 within five years (a 27.63% gain), while Flitpay presents a much more bullish outlook, envisioning a price as high as $18. Changelly offers a more moderate, balanced view, with an average prediction of $3.26 for 2026.

In January 2026, Ripple secured preliminary approval for an Electronic Money Institution license from regulators in Luxembourg, a move designed to strengthen its presence within the European Union. This regulatory milestone allows the company to issue digital currency and facilitate fiat-to-crypto conversions, ensuring it meets the rigorous standards of the MiCA framework. 

By expanding its legal footprint to five EU nations, Ripple aims to scale its XRP-powered payment infrastructure and capture a larger share of the burgeoning stablecoin market. The development reflects a broader trend of institutional adoption and regulatory integration, bolstered by Ripple’s recent legal resolutions in the United States. 

Additionally, the ecosystem is seeing further diversification as Cardano integrates XRP assets into its own network to enhance liquidity and decentralised finance opportunities. These strategic shifts signal a maturing industry where regulated infrastructure is becoming the primary driver for global financial settlements.

Technical Analysis: Fading Power Below $2.00

XRP’s recent attempt to carve higher lows stalled at $2.17, marked by a sharp drop in volume and a V-reversal that plunged the price below the key $2.00 level. While the $1.84 support quickly attracted buyers, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) indicates classic exhaustion and fading momentum. Immediate support levels to watch are $1.90 and $1.77. A sustained close below either of these points will open the door for a further drop to $1.70.

Fundamental Debate: Policy Jitters vs. Utility Bets

The timing of a market rebound is hotly contested. Bears point to macro concerns, specifically tariffs and Federal Reserve jitters tied to political uncertainty—arguing these factors will first crash risk assets, regardless of XRP’s payment focus. Bulls, however, emphasize XRP’s growing utility. Potential integration with X (Musk) and RLUSD could drive real-world adoption, especially following Ripple’s legal successes against the SEC. On-chain data appears to support the bullish argument, with a positive volume delta and significant “whale” accumulation signalling smart money betting on a reversal.

Market Sentiment and Key Triggers

According to Santiment data, elevated fear levels have historically marked market bottoms. A fresh consideration is the impact of Greenland tariffs, which highlights the superior speed and efficiency of Ripple’s cross-border settlement technology compared to traditional banks in a potential trade war scenario. The broader market trend remains a critical factor: a break above $101,000 resistance for Bitcoin (BTC) would likely pull XRP higher, while a failure would exacerbate the current selling pressure.

So… Dip or Real Sell-Off?

Right now, XRP is being pulled in two directions:

• Bears are leaning on macro stress (tariffs + Fed-Trump drama) and a weakening chart structure.
  
• Bulls are leaning on low exchange supply, whale accumulation signals, and the longer-term payments/adoption story.

The simplest way to frame it:
If XRP can reclaim and hold $2.00, the move may end up looking like a violent shakeout. If it loses $1.81–$1.77, the market may be telling you the risk-off phase isn’t done yet.

Either way, the next big push probably won’t come from XRP alone…it’d help to closely keep an eye on BTC’s trend and any concrete developments tied to X Payments and Ripple’s regulatory progress.

Disclaimer: This article is intended solely for informational purposes and should not be considered trading or investment advice. Nothing herein should be construed as financial, legal, or tax advice. Trading or investing in cryptocurrencies carries a considerable risk of financial loss. Always conduct due diligence.

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