XRP trades near critical $1.00 resistance as funding rates stay negative and open interest retreats from peak

XRP remains locked in a narrow range close to key resistance and support levels, with the market displaying a search for short-term direction. Trading around the $1.00 mark, XRP’s price movement highlights investor indecision between anticipating a rebound or bracing for a renewed wave of selling pressure.

Cautious sentiment reflected in derivatives data

Analysts at CryptoInsightUK note that open interest has increased even as XRP’s price has declined, while funding rates remain in negative territory. This pattern indicates prevailing bearish sentiment. However, they also suggest that should buying appetite return, such conditions could set the stage for a short-lived upward squeeze.

At the same time, XRP’s downward trajectory—characterized by lower highs and lower lows—remains unbroken, which makes the $0.95–$1.00 range a closely watched support zone. The fact that trading volumes have not significantly diminished despite the price dip suggests that post-selloff demand has not vanished entirely.

Another key observation on the derivatives front is that open interest, which surged from roughly 600 million contracts to over 700 million, has started to retreat in tandem with the price. This implies that some leveraged positions in the market have begun to unwind.

Ripple’s cross-border payment growth continues

Despite prevailing market pressures, usage-driven indicators from Ripple are drawing attention. In an interview with CNBC, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse emphasized that the long-term value of digital assets is underpinned by real-world utility rather than financial engineering. Ripple, a blockchain firm focused on developing cross-border payment solutions, stands out especially for its enterprise-grade payment offerings.

According to data shared by BankXRP, Ripple’s On-Demand Liquidity (ODL) volume reached $1.2 billion in the first quarter of 2026, a 45% increase compared to the same period last year. The company is also reported to have processed a total of $16 trillion in payments last year.

Mini glossary: ODL refers to Ripple’s liquidity solution designed to reduce the need for pre-funding in cross-border transactions. In this model, XRP serves as a bridge asset between different currencies.

Long-term outlook targets $5–$8 range

Analyst MikybullCrypto suggests that XRP’s monthly chart could see a pattern similar to the Ichimoku Cloud structure re-forming before a potential strong reversal. The analyst maintains that if XRP manages to hold just above the upward-sloping trendline that has supported the market since 2020, it could gain strength over the longer term.

In this scenario, analysts are monitoring the $5–$8 range as a long-term target. Nevertheless, given the persistent volatility in digital assets, both short-term downward pressure and long-term recovery expectations coexist.

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