XRP experienced heightened turbulence on Monday, briefly slipping below the psychologically important $2.00 level before buyers stepped in to limit the downside. The episode reflects an increasingly fragile market structure, as bulls and bears converge around a decisive technical battleground. A push back above the $2.05–$2.07 zone is required to regain upward momentum, while another break under $2.00 could trigger a deeper retracement.
The move below $2.00 came as broader crypto markets shifted into risk-off mode. Trading volume spiked to 149.1 million — more than twice the typical daily average — highlighting notable institutional involvement on the sell side. Despite ongoing inflows into spot XRP ETFs, near-term price behavior remains dictated by chart signals rather than broader macro catalysts.
Supporting metrics show cautious positioning. Whale activity has been uneven, with slight net distribution recorded over the past 48 hours. Meanwhile, a drop in derivatives open interest suggests traders have been reducing leverage exposure in response to the pullback.
Technically, the slip beneath $2.00 reinforced a weakening trend, extending a pattern of lower highs throughout the session. Attempts to reclaim lost ground repeatedly failed at the $2.05–$2.07 barrier, leaving XRP confined near $2.02 as price action tightened into a smaller range. Even so, the market continues to defend levels just above $2.00, indicating a resilient demand zone that has so far prevented a more significant decline.
Momentum readings lean mildly bearish, signaling fading strength on moves toward overhead resistance. Yet the inability of sellers to maintain pressure below $1.99 hints that the downside may be losing steam. This setup leaves XRP at a pivotal moment: regaining the $2.05 level would point to a renewed bullish trend, while failing to hold $2.00 exposes short-term targets at $1.95 and $1.90.
Throughout the session, XRP traded within a tight $0.08 band after falling from $2.07 to $2.02 earlier in the day. The sharpest decline struck at 15:00 UTC, when volume surged 103% above average, dragging the price from $2.04 to $1.99. Buyers quickly absorbed the dip, lifting the token back toward $2.023. Hourly indicators now show volatility compressing around $2.02 — a formation that often precedes a decisive breakout as the market stabilizes above critical support.
