XRP Price Under Pressure: Massive Sales by Large Investors Weigh on Market Sentiment

Market Situation: Why XRP Is Currently Facing Headwinds

The Ripple price is in a challenging phase. With an current price of approximately $1.97 and a 24-hour decline of 4.04 percent, the weakness is clearly evident. The market capitalization is currently around $119.82 billion, while trading volume has shrunk to $110.90 million – a sign of decreasing participation.

A look at the past days reveals a concerning picture: whales have liquidated massive XRP holdings in a short period. On December 11, a transaction of over 53.7 million XRP (approximately $108 million) was recorded between large wallets. Within a week, institutional investors sold a total of around 280 million XRP, significantly shaking market confidence. This pattern suggests that even experienced investors are critically assessing the current situation.

Despite the recently concluded legal settlement with the SEC – where Ripple Labs paid a $125 million fine – the positive news could not stabilize the price. This indicates that market psychology is not solely based on regulatory clarity.

Technical Signals Indicate Continued Weakness

Technical analysis paints a rather bleak picture for short-term development. The XRP price is currently about 46 percent below its all-time high of $3.65. Indicators signal a Death Cross in the exponential moving averages (EMAs), suggesting a continuation of the downward trend.

Critical support zones are between $1.32 and $1.57. The so-called Golden Ratio support at around $1.55 is considered psychologically important – if the price reaches this zone, a rebound signal could emerge. However, current trends do not indicate this is imminent. The 24-hour range from $2.07 (high) to $1.85 (low) points to a consolidation phase with prevailing uncertainty.

Analyst EGRAG CRYPTO estimates the probability of a trend reversal within the next few days at about 40 percent – a scenario that is possible but by no means certain. Historically, December has often been a difficult trading environment for XRP.

The Big Investor Factor: Who Is the Smart Buyer in Difficult Times?

Amidst the pessimism, there was a surprising announcement that caused a stir in the crypto community. YoungHoon Kim, who has the highest IQ worldwide with a verified IQ score of 276 points, announced he would acquire XRP. His tweet from December 12 garnered over a million views and sparked discussions about Ripple’s fundamental strengths.

Kim’s perspective deserves attention, as he has long been known as a Bitcoin maximalist. His decision to invest in XRP may signal a shift in his assessment of the Ripple ecosystem. Kim expressed the view that XRP could reach a new all-time high by the end of the year – an ambitious forecast given the current market conditions.

This announcement coincided with the integration of Wrapped XRP into the Solana network, which many interpreted as a bullish signal. But the question remains: Is a prominent person with extraordinary intellect enough to sustainably change market sentiment?

Forecasts in the Tension Between Hope and Reality

Kim’s prediction that XRP could reach a new all-time high by the end of 2025 is based on an assumption of about an 80 percent increase from current levels. While such moves are theoretically possible in the crypto market, current indicators do not suggest this jump will happen in the near future.

The discrepancy between optimistic forecasts and technical signals raises legitimate skepticism among investors. Even the highest intelligence cannot guarantee market dynamics – this is an important lesson from crypto history. Ultimately, fundamental factors and the market environment will determine whether such scenarios remain realistic.

Regulatory Progress as a Possible Catalyst

A positive signal came with Ripple Labs’ provisional approval to establish a National Trust Bank. Such regulatory developments could strengthen confidence in the company and its token in the long term. However, for immediate price movement, such news may only provide limited impulses if overall market psychology remains negative.

Overall Perspective: The Right Balance Between Skepticism and Attention

The current XRP situation embodies the duality of the crypto market: on one hand, there are concrete regulatory advances and prominent investments; on the other hand, technical indicators and whale activities send clear warning signals. The price of $1.97 reflects this uncertainty.

Investors should be aware of volatility and not rely solely on optimistic forecasts, no matter how intelligent their authors may be. The support zones between $1.32 and $1.57 will be crucial for the medium-term direction. A stronger Bitcoin environment could give the entire market, including XRP, tailwinds – but this remains an open question for now.