XRP Price Stalls at Critical Level That Defined 2018 and 2022 Market Cycles
History doesn't repeat, but it sure loves to rhyme—especially on the XRP chart.
The Ghosts of Cycles Past
XRP is hovering at a price level that has, in the past, served as a major inflection point. It's the same zone where the 2018 bear market truly took hold, crushing the post-bull-run euphoria. It's the same battleground where the 2022 downturn found formidable resistance on the way down. Now, in early 2026, the digital asset is dancing with this spectral line once more.
A Technical Déjà Vu
The market's memory is etched in candlesticks and order books. This isn't about vague sentiment; it's about a specific price acting as a collective psychological anchor for a massive cohort of holders, traders, and algorithms. Breaking decisively above it could signal a fundamental shift in market structure—a final exorcism of old demons. Failing to do so risks confirming a multi-year pattern of rejection, potentially inviting another prolonged period of consolidation or worse. It’s the ultimate test of whether this time is actually different, or just another expensive lesson in market cycles for those who forgot the last two.
The Stakes at the Line
For the bulls, a clean breakout here is non-negotiable for any narrative of a sustained, historic rally. It would represent a technical milestone years in the making. For the skeptics, it's just another resistance level in an asset famous for dramatic spikes and agonizing retreats—the financial equivalent of a fireworks display that ends with a slow, smoking descent back to earth.
All eyes are on whether XRP can finally write a new chapter, or if it's doomed to keep rereading the old one. After all, in crypto, the only thing more common than 'revolutionary technology' is the cyclical amnesia of its investors.
$1.80 Zone Emerges As Macro Support
Structurally speaking, the region between $1.80 and $2.00 is now extremely important. Note that this region corresponds with the current location of the monthly ribbon and constitutes a macro-level point of support.
As long as XRP maintains its monthly closes above the current region, the following historical trends are expected to continue instead. The bear phases from previous cycles were validated only after prolonged periods of XRP prices below the ribbon. This did not happen in this cycle.
Although volatility is an intrinsic attribute of XRP prices, its failure to break decisively may imply that it leans more towards an expansion phase and not a correction phase.
XRP Short-Term Charts Show Consolidation and Pressure
Looking ahead to 2026, it’s harder to be optimistic over shorter periods of time. On the two-day chart, XRP is currently trading around $1.88 as it is still in the correction phase after it was not able to sustain the earlier momentum. The price of XRP is currently in a descending channel.
The $2.10 to $2.30 area is a major resistance. Until this area is broken, it is difficult to move up. Support below $1.75 to $1.80 has been a major point. A breakdown in this area could cause a fall to $1.50.
Source: Tradingview
It’s clear that momentum indicators are reflecting this situation. RSI values are currently at around 39, which indicates that demand is weak, but MACD also remains in the negatives, which indicates that selling momentum has slowed down. This puts XRP at a crossroads.
