2 key reasons why XRP’s January advance was wiped in a single session

ambcryptoPublished on 2026-01-26Last updated on 2026-01-26

Abstract

XRP's January rally was abruptly reversed on January 26th, erasing all its monthly gains and pushing the price down to $1.88. Key momentum indicators like RSI and MACD remained weak, signaling a lack of strong bullish conviction. Despite the price drop, institutional inflows persisted, with a notable $3.43 million inflow from Bitwise and over $1.36 billion in total ETF inflows by January 23rd. Whales were also actively accumulating XRP near the $1.88 level. However, this buying pressure wasn't enough to prevent the decline. Ripple's CEO Brad Garlinghouse maintained a bullish long-term outlook, but the price action struggled to reflect this optimism. Technically, holding the $1.88 support is critical; a break below could lead to a further drop toward $1.73.

XRP’s January rally unraveled on the 26th of January, erasing earlier gains and sending the token back toward familiar support.

The altcoin slipped to $1.88 at press time, with a downside wick near $1.81, wiping out its January advance in a single session.

That drop marked a sharp reversal after XRP’s earlier surge, leaving traders reassessing confidence in the recovery attempt.

Momentum indicators offered little relief. RSI remained subdued, while MACD stayed weak, signaling limited bullish conviction.

This left traders focused on whether XRP could stabilize near $1.88 or risk another breakdown.

ETF inflows stayed positive

Ripple [XRP] saw $3.43 million in inflows from Bitwise, leading the charge despite the disaster on the 26th of January. Despite this, XRP ETFs recorded over $1.36 billion in total inflows by the 23rd of January.

These new whales and institutions are clearly not jumping ship, even as the price falters. But how long will they hold out before pulling back, especially with XRP underperforming?

Institutional confidence remains, but for how much longer will they keep investing in a coin that can’t hold its ground?

Whales accumulated XRP dip

Whale activity surged when XRP dropped below $2, but it wasn’t until it hit $1.88 that things truly got intense. CryptoQuant’s data showed that whales were devouring the dip with reckless abandon.

It was as if they saw this as their last chance to load up before a potential rebound. Yet, despite this aggressive accumulation, the price couldn’t hold, and now XRP stands at a precarious $1.88.

So, here’s the million-dollar question: Can whales continue to prop up XRP, or is this dip too much to overcome?

Ripple CEO stays bullish

Brad Garlinghouse hasn’t lost hope. At the World Economic Forum, he boldly stated,

“I’m very bullish, and yes, I’ll go on record as saying, I think we’ll see an all-time high.”

His view leaned on growing adoption and improving regulatory clarity. Still, XRP’s recent price action struggled to reflect that optimism.

This disconnect kept traders focused on near-term structure rather than long-range forecasts.

Technically, XRP hovered at a critical inflection point. Failure to hold $1.88 would expose the $1.73 level, which marked the next major support on the chart.

A decisive breakdown below $1.73 could accelerate selling pressure and deepen the retracement.

Until then, XRP remained range-bound, with buyers defending support but lacking momentum for a sustained rebound.


Final Thoughts

  • XRP reversed sharply after momentum faded, with weak RSI and MACD showing limited bullish conviction.
  • Although ETFs saw $3.43 million in daily inflows and whales accumulated near $1.88, broader market demand remained cautious, preventing a sustained rebound.

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Related Questions

QWhat were the two key reasons mentioned for XRP's January advance being wiped out in a single session?

AThe two key reasons were a sharp price reversal on January 26th that erased earlier gains and weak momentum indicators (subdued RSI and weak MACD) signaling limited bullish conviction.

QDespite the price drop, what positive signal did institutional investment in XRP show?

AInstitutional investment remained positive, with Bitwise seeing $3.43 million in inflows on the day of the drop, and XRP ETFs had recorded over $1.36 billion in total inflows by January 23rd.

QHow did whale activity react to the price drop, according to CryptoQuant's data?

AWhale activity surged, with whales aggressively accumulating XRP, especially when the price hit $1.88, as they saw it as an opportunity to buy the dip.

QWhat was Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse's stated outlook for XRP at the World Economic Forum?

ABrad Garlinghouse stated he was very bullish and went on record saying he thinks XRP will see an all-time high, citing growing adoption and improving regulatory clarity.

QWhat was the critical technical support level for XRP mentioned in the article, and what was the consequence of breaking below it?

AThe critical support level was $1.88. A failure to hold this level would expose the next major support at $1.73, and a decisive breakdown below $1.73 could accelerate selling pressure and deepen the retracement.

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