Will XRP Price Fall Below $1? Analysts Warn of ‘Continued Decline’ as Fed Proposes New Risk Category

ccn.comPublished on 2026-02-16Last updated on 2026-02-16

Abstract

XRP's price continues to decline, with analysts warning it could fall below the key psychological threshold of $1 as investors shift toward safer assets amid a broader crypto pullback. This downturn occurs despite a Federal Reserve staff proposal to create a dedicated "crypto" risk class for derivatives models, which includes XRP. While some view this as a long-term bullish development, analysts caution it will have little short-term impact on price. Market sentiment remains low, and real-world utility may not be enough to sustain XRP's valuation during macroeconomic uncertainty. Analysts suggest XRP could normalize toward $1 or lower if current trends continue. Meanwhile, AI tool Grok generated attention by predicting XRP could reach $15.57 by 2026, though such forecasts are speculative and not based on fundamental analysis. Ripple's CTO has also expressed skepticism about extremely bullish price predictions, noting that while crypto prices can be unpredictable, such high targets appear unrealistic under current conditions.

XRP’s price slid again on Monday, extending a broader crypto pullback that has pushed the token toward a key psychological threshold.

Analysts now warn XRP could fall below $1 as investors rotate into safer assets.

The decline comes even as XRP has been cited in a new Federal Reserve staff paper proposing a dedicated “crypto” risk class for derivatives models — a move some are hailing as bullish while analysts cautioned the short-term impact.

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XRP Price May “Normalize” Toward $1 or Lower

Adam Spatacco, a crypto analyst writing for The Motley Fool, said XRP’s real-world utility may not be enough to support its valuation during periods of macroeconomic stress, when liquidity and risk positioning often overwhelm fundamentals.

“During periods of macroeconomic uncertainty, the idea of real-world utility — which XRP has achieved — can be overshadowed by broader liquidity flows,” Spatacco wrote on Feb. 15.

He added that the opportunity cost of holding volatile assets can reach “a breaking point” and fuel heavy selling pressure.

Spatacco argued that if XRP’s price continues to slide, it may signal that enthusiasm around the token’s product-market fit is no longer sufficient to sustain a premium valuation.

Instead, he said, investors may increasingly value XRP more like an infrastructure utility play, demanding measurable growth in market share and adoption.

Given this background, the analyst said he expected XRP to be “trading for $1 or even lower,” he wrote.

Fed Staff Paper Proposes New “Crypto” Risk Class — But Impact Unclear

XRP’s downturn is unfolding alongside a wave of social media chatter that the Federal Reserve has “added XRP” into a new category in the global risk model banks use to trade derivatives.

The Federal Reserve staff proposal details how it would create a dedicated “crypto” asset class under the ISDA Standard Initial Margin Model (SIMM), splitting digital assets into categories such as pegged tokens (stablecoins) and floating assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum and XRP.

Currently, many institutions force crypto exposure into legacy risk buckets such as commodities or foreign exchange.

Although online reactions celebrated the proposal as a major institutional milestone, analysts emphasized that it does not constitute regulatory approval or endorsement.

CCN analyst Victor Olanrewaju said that while it may be bullish for XRP’s long-term forecast, it is unlikely to make any “real short-term impact.”

“Participation in the market is really low, so it is unlikely to positively impact the technical setup,” he said, adding that sentiment also remains low.

Grok Spreads Bullish XRP Price Forecasts on X

Adding to the recent noise, Grok — the AI assistant integrated into Elon Musk’s X — has drawn attention for generating aggressive bullish XRP price forecasts in response to user prompts.

In two instances involving X influencer Cobb, Grok was asked to “edit” XRP price graphics to the price it will be in December 2026 and March 2026.

In the both posts, Grok edited the price to $15.57, sparking a myriad of celebratory replies from X users.

Grok has been sharing bullish price predictions for XRP. | Source: X

Of course, AI-generated predictions are not investment research and are often prompt-driven, possibly reflecting wider engagement dynamics.

In order for XRP to reach $15.57 by the end of March, it would require a massive surge in usage and buying.

While it’s not impossible, the size and speed of the move would need to put XRP close to Bitcoin-like dominance levels in an environment that is currently primarily risk-avoidant.

Ripple CTO Pushes Back On $100

Two weeks ago, Ripple’s former chief technology head David Schwartz cast doubt on bullish forecasts of XRP reaching $50 to $100.

“I don’t feel comfortable saying something like that,” Schwartz wrote.

“While I don’t think it’s likely, I didn’t think it was likely that XRP would ever hit $0.25.”

However, he noted that crypto prices have repeatedly defied his expectations.

“I started selling XRP at $0.10 because it seemed insane. I remember when Bitcoin hitting $100 seemed like an impossible dream,” he said.

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Related Questions

QWhat is the main reason analysts are warning that XRP could fall below $1?

AAnalysts warn that XRP could fall below $1 as investors rotate into safer assets during a broader crypto market downturn and due to macroeconomic uncertainty, where real-world utility is overshadowed by liquidity flows.

QWhat new risk category did the Federal Reserve staff paper propose for derivatives models, and which assets were mentioned?

AThe Federal Reserve staff paper proposed a dedicated 'crypto' risk class for derivatives models, splitting digital assets into categories such as pegged tokens (stablecoins) and floating assets like Bitcoin, Ethereum, and XRP.

QAccording to the article, why might the Fed's proposal not have a significant short-term impact on XRP's price?

AThe Fed's proposal is unlikely to have a significant short-term impact because market participation is currently low, and sentiment remains low, making it difficult to positively affect the technical setup in the near term.

QWhat extremely bullish price prediction for XRP did Grok, the AI assistant on X, generate in response to user prompts?

AIn response to user prompts, Grok generated a price prediction of $15.57 for XRP by the end of March 2026 and December 2026.

QHow did Ripple's former CTO, David Schwartz, react to predictions of XRP reaching $50 to $100?

ADavid Schwartz expressed discomfort with such high predictions, stating he didn't think it was likely, though he acknowledged that crypto prices have repeatedly defied his expectations in the past.

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