XRP is testing support near $1.60 as the cryptocurrency navigates turbulence following a market-wide sell-off dubbed “Black Sunday II.” The digital asset climbed 2.5% intraday today, but remains under pressure even as Ripple’s five-year legal battle with the SEC officially ends.
The SEC and Ripple Labs have dropped all appeals in the Second Circuit, leaving Judge Analisa Torres’s 2023 ruling final. Institutional sales remain classified as securities, with Ripple paying a $125 million civil penalty. XRP sold on public exchanges is confirmed not to be a security, and Ripple executives are cleared of personal liability.
Retail investors have reacted nervously to the recent 11% weekly drop, while on-chain data shows institutional investors are accumulating. XRP ETFs recorded a $15.6 million net inflow on January 30, and XRPL decentralized exchange activity has surpassed one million daily transactions, a record for months.
The XRPL 2026 Roadmap aims to expand the ledger beyond payments into a full DeFi hub, with multiple technical upgrades planned. Analysts note XRP is consolidating; reclaiming $1.70 could signal a move toward $2.00, while breaking $1.50 risks testing $1.25. Long-term holders remain cautiously optimistic thanks to regulatory clarity and a strong development roadmap.
