Will the Current XRP Price Rally Continue as It Awaits U.S. Spot ETF Approval?
The XRP market has caught fire once again, rallying over 25% in the past two weeks, as whispers of a potential U.S. spot XRP ETF approval ripple across the crypto landscape. As of April 2025, XRP is trading near $1.96, marking a significant rebound from its March lows. But with the market bracing for possible regulatory developments, many are asking: Can XRP maintain this momentum? And more importantly, what happens if the ETF rumors prove true?
Let’s explore the factors driving this rally, the current technical and on-chain outlook, and what’s next for XRP holders.
What’s Fueling the XRP Rally?
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ETF Speculation Heats Up
Following the successful launch of spot Bitcoin ETFs and Ethereum ETF options, speculation is growing that XRP could be next. Legal clarity from the Ripple vs. SEC case, combined with increasing institutional curiosity about Ripple’s tech, has made XRP a viable candidate in the eyes of some ETF issuers.
While no official filings have been confirmed, the buzz on social media, crypto analyst reports, and blockchain news outlets has added fuel to XRP’s current price momentum. Investors are front-running a potential ETF announcement in hopes of benefiting from the kind of explosive growth seen with BTC and ETH when similar products were introduced.
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Ripple’s Acquisition of Hidden Road
In a recent move, Ripple acquired Hidden Road, a global prime brokerage handling over $3 trillion in annual volume. This opens the door for integrating XRP into large-scale financial clearing processes, a bullish development that directly enhances real-world utility. -
On-Chain Activity and Whale Accumulation
Data from Santiment and Whale Alert shows that wallets holding between 10 million and 100 million XRP have been accumulating, a pattern typically seen before sustained bull runs. Daily active addresses on the XRP Ledger have also increased by over 40% in the last 30 days.
Can the Rally Continue?
Yes—but with caution. XRP’s rally has been strong, but not without potential risks. Here’s a breakdown:
Technical Analysis
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Resistance: XRP faces key resistance at $2.02–$2.15—a level where previous rallies have stalled.
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Support: Strong support lies near $1.85, which has held through multiple retests.
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RSI Levels: The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is approaching overbought territory (>70), suggesting the current rally may need to cool off or consolidate before another leg upward.
Catalyst-Dependent Rally
The current momentum is largely narrative-driven. Without a confirmed ETF filing or approval, there’s a risk of a “buy the rumor, sell the news” scenario, where the price could drop sharply if expectations aren’t met quickly.
However, if a major ETF issuer like BlackRock, VanEck, or Fidelity were to file for a spot XRP ETF, we could see explosive upside, potentially pushing XRP past the $2.10–$2.50 range in short order. Historical ETF-related announcements have added 30–100% value to crypto assets within weeks.
Macro and Regulatory Factors to Watch
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SEC Tone Shift: Post-SEC chair Gary Gensler’s departure, the regulatory climate has become marginally more crypto-friendly. If this trend continues, XRP could benefit from reduced hostility and clearer pathways to ETF approval.
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Crypto Market Sentiment: XRP’s movement is also tied to broader market trends. A continued bull market for BTC and ETH will likely lift XRP as well. Conversely, any sharp correction could drag XRP down regardless of ETF hopes.
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Ripple’s Strategic Moves: Ripple’s increasing global presence—particularly in Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America—could serve as a long-term catalyst, especially if XRP is used in more payment corridors or tokenized asset settlements.
Conclusion
The XRP rally is real, driven by strong speculation, improved fundamentals, and macro narratives favoring a potential ETF. However, it’s not without short-term risks tied to speculation and resistance levels.
If ETF rumors materialize into filings—and if regulatory sentiment continues to soften—XRP could revisit the $1.50–$2.00 range in the coming months. But for now, traders should stay cautious, set stop-loss levels, and watch closely for official news that could validate or deflate this rally.
In short: XRP is heating up—but the fire will need real fuel to keep burning.
