XRP surrendered recent gains after a high-volume selloff wiped out its latest breakout attempt, although buyers re-emerged near support around $1.38.
The token came under pressure following another failed move above resistance, as traders aggressively took profits into strength, pushing XRP back below the $1.40 level. The rejection is significant, as XRP remains confined within a tightening range that has compressed price action for months, leaving the market increasingly vulnerable to a sharp move once a breakout occurs.
Analysts continue to highlight XRP’s multi-month symmetrical triangle formation, with several warning that the setup is nearing a निर्णसive breakout point. The latest pullback also follows a period of rising optimism driven by U.S. crypto legislation developments and stronger XRP ETF inflows earlier in the month.
During the 24-hour session ending May 18, XRP declined from $1.4138 to $1.3865. The steepest drop occurred during the May 17 23:00 UTC session, when heavy volume of 144.3 million triggered a slide from the $1.42 region to lows near $1.378.
Buyers later stepped in around $1.38, helping the token recover part of its losses into the session close. This rebound was notable, as it prevented a decisive breakdown below the lower boundary of the current consolidation structure.
Despite the bounce, XRP remains locked within its broader triangle pattern, with volatility continuing to compress. The rejection near $1.42 reinforces that sellers still dominate the upper boundary of the range, while support around $1.38 continues to attract demand.
Volume spiked sharply during the selloff but quickly tapered off, indicating profit-taking rather than widespread panic liquidation.
Looking ahead, $1.38 stands as a critical support level; a break below it could open the door to a deeper decline toward $1.30. On the upside, XRP must reclaim the $1.39–$1.40 zone to stabilize near-term momentum. With the triangle structure tightening further, the probability of a significant directional move in the coming sessions continues to rise.
