- XRP price fell 5%, trading near $1.80.
- The altcoin’s losses occurred amid broader market bearish sentiment.
- Ripple’s token could drop to $1.50, though a rebound remains possible.
On December 18, 2025, XRP, the token associated with Ripple, slid about 5% as the cryptocurrency market faced a fresh round of selling pressure during early trading.
With major altcoins tumbling, XRP dropped to a low of $1.81.
In this wider risk-off environment, XRP — which had been one of the year’s stronger performers — now faces the risk of further declines.
Bearish Pressure Pushes XRP Toward $1.80
At the time of writing, XRP was trading around $1.83.
After slipping on Tuesday, the price fell roughly 5% over the past 24 hours as sellers rejected attempts to rally toward $1.98.
They now appear likely to test buyer interest around the $1.80 support zone.
On Thursday the altcoin hit a low of $1.81, a move that raises the risk of an acceleration to the downside.
Market data show the decline was accompanied by rising trading volume.
That combination typically points to broad-based distribution rather than an isolated panic sell-off.
The drop aligns with weakness across the altcoin sector while Bitcoin hovers below the key $90,000 threshold.
Negative sentiment in traditional risk assets has intensified selling pressure, with macroeconomic uncertainty among the headwinds.
Ripple Price Outlook
Breaking below $1.90 converted the prior $2.00 support into a potential resistance level above the market.
Recent XRP price action has reinforced short-term bearish control.
Technical indicators, including a downward-sloping 50-day exponential moving average and a declining RSI, point to waning momentum.
At the same time, liquidations of long positions in derivatives markets have risen, adding to downward pressure.
On-chain whale activity is mixed.
Although some large holders have been accumulating during pullbacks, broader on-chain metrics show a larger distribution among older cohorts.
That dynamic has contributed to recent failed rebounds and explains why XRP struggled to reclaim the psychological $2.00 level.
From a technical standpoint, the outlook favors bears.
Veteran trader Peter Brandt issued a bearish warning on XRP, noting a potential “double top” reversal pattern on the price chart.
This technical setup implies the trend could reverse if the asset fails to overcome established resistance levels.
Brandt’s caution highlights a growing divergence between technical indicators and Ripple’s improving fundamentals, such as stablecoin expansion and new institutional tools.
While he acknowledged the pattern could fail, Brandt said the current formation signals diminishing momentum.
As a result, market attention has shifted to XRP’s critical support levels, with investors weighing technical risks against ongoing efforts to drive long-term ecosystem adoption.
I know in advance that all you Riplosts $XRP will forever remind me of this post — ask me if I care
This is a potential double top. Sure, it may fail, and I will deal with this if it does
But for now this has bearish implications
Love it or not — you need to deal with it pic.twitter.com/yPGjzuqNN3— Peter Brandt (@PeterLBrandt) December 17, 2025
If the token continues to break below current levels, bears could target the next major support area near $1.70, with a deeper slide toward $1.50 possible.
However, some factors could provide relief for buyers.
Notably, spot XRP ETFs have seen steady inflows.
According to Coinglass data, XRP ETF inflows reached $9.84 million on December 17.
Confidence in XRP’s long-term outlook means reclaiming $2.00 could open the door to a sentiment reversal.
A rebound toward $2.30 could spur further upside momentum targeting $3.00.
Longer term, XRP remains positioned to challenge the $4.00 level if broader market conditions and demand align.