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XRP slips below $2 after failed breakout triggers sharp reversal
Once the breakout attempt stalled, sellers pressed the tape, triggering a sharp reversal that cleared out late longs and flipped short-term structure bearish.
Jan 20, 2026, 5:00 a.m.
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What to know:
- XRP failed to hold a move above $2.00, triggering a sharp reversal that turned the short-term structure bearish and cleared out late long positions.
- Price has stabilized around $1.96, now key support, while former support near $1.972 and the $2.00 level act as resistance capping upside momentum.
- Traders see the current action as a failed breakout and reset rather than a confirmed trend reversal, with a break of $1.96 opening room toward $1.90 and a reclaim of $2.00 pointing toward $2.05 and restored bullish structure.
XRP edged lower after failing to sustain a push above $2.00, with the move driven more by positioning than fresh headlines.
Once the breakout attempt stalled, sellers pressed the tape, triggering a sharp reversal that cleared out late longs and flipped short-term structure bearish.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW
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Technical Analysis
- XRP briefly pushed higher before reversing sharply, breaking $1.972 support on an aggressive volume spike.
- The breakdown established a short-term bearish structure, with lower highs forming below $1.98.
- While price stabilized near $1.96, XRP remains below former support, which now acts as resistance.
- The failure to reclaim $2.00 keeps near-term momentum tilted lower despite broader consolidation on higher timeframes.
Price Action Summary
- XRP slipped from just above $2.00 to $1.96
- Selling accelerated after a failed breakout attempt
- A sharp volume spike drove the break below $1.972
- Price stabilized near $1.96 but failed to reclaim $2.00
What traders should know
This looks like a failed breakout followed by a reset, not a confirmed trend reversal — yet.
If $1.96 holds and XRP reclaims $2.00, traders will look for a grind back toward $2.05, the level that defines bullish structure on higher timeframes.
If $1.96 breaks, downside opens toward the $1.90 zone as the post-breakdown floor gives way.
For now, XRP remains stuck between short-term bearish structure and higher-timeframe compression, setting up a binary move once one side gives.
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