Although several recent attempts to break out for the cross-border token have been stopped, analysts remain optimistic that a significant move is coming.
Ali Martinez is the latest to voice this view, pointing to tightening Bollinger Bands as a key signal.
Will This One Last?
In a recent post on X, the analyst with more than 165,000 followers said he is watching what he called “the tightest Bollinger Band squeeze on the XRP 3-day chart in over a year.” That setup has emerged because the token has traded in a narrow range between $1.30 and $1.50 for months, with only a few brief deviations.
“When volatility compresses this tightly, it’s a signal that a violent price expansion is approaching,” Martinez wrote.
Martinez described the current trading band as a “no-trade zone,” advising traders to wait for the market to confirm a breakout. XRP has tried to break higher several times in recent weeks — at one point reaching $1.55 — but each attempt was stopped.
“I’m waiting for a clean 3-day candlestick close outside of this range ($1.50–$1.29) to confirm the next major trend direction,” he added.
A decisive close above $1.50 would point to further upside, with Martinez setting an initial target near $1.80. Conversely, a clear drop below $1.29 would invalidate the immediate bullish case and could open the door to a deeper correction toward the $1.00 psychological support level.
Martinez also noted that the SuperTrend indicator recently issued a buy signal for the first time since January, reinforcing the possibility of an incoming trend change.
Upward Pressure Increases
Another analyst, CW, observed that upward pressure on XRP appears to be rising again following a period of weak downward pressure during the most recent rejection. They have repeatedly suggested in recent weeks that XRP may be poised for a bullish breakout as selling pressure has dwindled.
Upward pressure on $XRP is increasing again.
Downward pressure was weak during the decline. And upward momentum is gradually increasing again.
— CW (@CW8900) May 18, 2026
Other market commentators, including MikybullCrypto and CRYPTOWZRD, have also signaled a likely breakout. MikybullCrypto has anticipated a “boom,” while CRYPTOWZRD has warned of potential downside risk if conditions change.
Separately, a recent report highlighted that large holders have been accumulating XRP, with whales now controlling a significant portion of the circulating supply. That concentration of holdings is an important factor to monitor, as it can amplify price moves when whales increase or decrease their positions.