XRP fell to $1.26 on Oct. 29, extending a slide that shows how quickly enthusiasm around Ripple can fade when the market runs into real supply and execution risks.
XRP falls to $1.26 as Ripple supply risks grow
That matters because the token’s long-term case is increasingly tied to whether Ripple can turn regulatory progress and banking partnerships into durable usage, not just headlines. A lower token price does not just hurt traders; it can also cool the appetite of institutions, weaken retail confidence and make every new catalyst look smaller than it should.
The latest move comes even as Ripple has been building a more traditional financial-services story. Chief Executive Brad Garlinghouse has been touting the final approval of Ripple National Trust Bank, a milestone that strengthens Ripple’s argument that crypto firms can work inside the banking system rather than outside it. Ripple has also been getting a lift from ETF inflows, with XRP-linked funds pulling in $3.55 million in their strongest session since early October, and from growing institutional experimentation, including lending strategies and Mastercard’s expanding partnership with Ripple.
But investors should not ignore what is weighing on the token. XRP still faces a looming $2 billion supply unlock, and the market remains heavily concentrated, with whale holders controlling 68.5% of supply. That combination tends to amplify volatility and can blunt the effect of otherwise positive news. The chart reflects that tension: XRP is trading below its 50-day moving average of about $1.40 and just under its 200-day average near $1.28, while the relative strength index has dropped to 37.7, a sign of weakening momentum rather than a clean breakout.
Coinbase, meanwhile, is feeling the chill too. Shares of the exchange, often used as a proxy for crypto-market appetite, ended Oct. 29 at $160.59, below both its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, suggesting the recent weakness in digital-asset sentiment is not isolated to XRP. MicroStrategy also remains choppy, underscoring how investors are still treating crypto-linked names as high-beta trades rather than stable compounders.
For long-term investors, the real question is whether Ripple’s banking push and institutional adoption can eventually overpower the token’s structural headwinds. That is still possible, and the case is stronger than it was a year ago, but XRP remains a story where execution matters more than narrative. If you own it, think in years, not days; if you do not, this is a name to keep on the watchlist rather than chase on every headline.
| Entity | Gains | Losses |
|---|---|---|
| Ripple / XRP bulls | ▲Trust-bank milestone, ETF inflows | ▼Price weakness, supply overhang |
| Whales / early holders | ▲Liquidity to sell into | ▼Less upside if demand fades |
| Coinbase shareholders | ▲Crypto adoption trend | ▼Softer trading sentiment |
| Long-term investors | ▲Potential banking integration payoff | ▼Near-term volatility and drawdowns |
