Share this article

What Next as XRP Slumps After Failed Breakout Above $3

The move is indicative of mounting resistance near $3.02, even as traders weigh ETF catalysts and rising exchange reserves that may temper bullish momentum.

Updated Sep 10, 2025, 4:50 a.m. Published Sep 10, 2025, 4:49 a.m.
(CoinDesk Data)
(CoinDesk Data)

What to know:

  • XRP failed to maintain gains above $3.00 due to heavy institutional selling, closing at $2.94.
  • Traders are focused on the SEC's October ETF decisions and the Federal Reserve's anticipated rate cut on September 17.
  • Exchange custody balances for XRP have reached a 12-month high, raising concerns about potential selling pressure.

XRP struggled to maintain momentum above the $3.00 threshold on September 9–10, with heavy institutional selling wiping out early gains. Despite a push to $3.035, volume-driven liquidation erased upside attempts and pulled the asset back to $2.94 by session close.

The move is indicative of mounting resistance near $3.02, even as traders weigh ETF catalysts and rising exchange reserves that may temper bullish momentum.

News Background

• Federal Reserve’s September 17 meeting is expected to deliver a 25-basis-point rate cut, with markets assigning near-certainty to the outcome — a potential liquidity driver for risk assets.
• Six XRP spot ETF applications await SEC review in October, a decision traders see as pivotal for institutional adoption.
• Exchange custody balances for XRP hit a 12-month peak, raising concerns about near-term selling pressure despite whale accumulation patterns in recent weeks.
• Analysts note parallels to XRP’s July breakout failure, suggesting market structure is again being tested at the $3.00 barrier.

STORY CONTINUES BELOW
Don't miss another story.Subscribe to the Crypto Daybook Americas Newsletter today. See all newsletters

Price Action Summary

• XRP traded in a $0.10 band (2.9%) from $2.935 to $3.035 between September 9 at 03:00 and September 10 at 02:00.
• Token advanced to $3.035 during morning trading but faced immediate rejection near $3.02 resistance.
• A 14:00 selloff dropped XRP from $3.018 to $2.956 on 165.67M volume — nearly triple the daily average.
• Price consolidated into the close between $2.94 and $2.96, with subdued activity averaging 650k volume per minute.

Technical Analysis

• Resistance: $3.02–$3.04 level capped upside, with multiple rejections on high volume.
• Support: $2.94 zone tested and held, suggesting accumulation by institutional players.
• Momentum: RSI shows early bullish divergence, but exchange reserves at highs weigh on follow-through.
• Structure: Failed breakout implies consolidation within $2.94–$3.00 unless volume returns.
• Range: 3% intraday swings highlight institutional-driven volatility.

What Traders Are Watching

• Whether XRP can sustain closes above $2.95 to build momentum for a $3.02 breakout.
• Exchange custody balances at 12-month highs — will inflows convert to sustained selling pressure?
• SEC’s October ETF rulings, which could act as a structural catalyst if approvals land.
• Fed’s September 17 rate cut decision, with traders positioning for its impact on dollar liquidity.
• Whale inflows — 340M tokens accumulated in recent weeks — and whether buying offsets exchange distribution.

More For You

KuCoin Hits Record Market Share as 2025 Volumes Outpace Crypto Market

16:9 Image

KuCoin captured a record share of centralised exchange volume in 2025, with more than $1.25tn traded as its volumes grew faster than the wider crypto market.

What to know:

  • KuCoin recorded over $1.25 trillion in total trading volume in 2025, equivalent to an average of roughly $114 billion per month, marking its strongest year on record.
  • This performance translated into an all-time high share of centralised exchange volume, as KuCoin’s activity expanded faster than aggregate CEX volumes, which slowed during periods of lower market volatility.
  • Spot and derivatives volumes were evenly split, each exceeding $500 billion for the year, signalling broad-based usage rather than reliance on a single product line.
  • Altcoins accounted for the majority of trading activity, reinforcing KuCoin’s role as a primary liquidity venue beyond BTC and ETH at a time when majors saw more muted turnover.
  • Even as overall crypto volumes softened mid-year, KuCoin maintained elevated baseline activity, indicating structurally higher user engagement rather than short-lived volume spikes.

More For You

Bitcoin slips below $88,000 ahead of Fed week and Big Tech earnings

(Meg Boulden/Unsplash)

Bitcoin and major tokens weakened Sunday as markets position ahead of the Federal Reserve’s next rate decision and a heavy slate of Magnificent Seven earnings.

What to know:

  • Bitcoin fell below $88,000 in thin weekend trading, extending a weeklong pullback that has left most major cryptocurrencies sharply lower.
  • Market sentiment remains fragile after more than $1 billion in leveraged crypto positions were liquidated amid recent volatility in currencies and bond markets.
  • Traders are watching potential Japanese yen intervention, U.S. political brinkmanship over a spending bill and a heavy tech-earnings calendar, as the Federal Reserve is expected to keep interest rates unchanged.