After six consecutive months of losses—most by double digits—Ripple’s cross-border token finally ended the streak in April with a modest gain.
Attention now turns to May, a month that has historically produced strong returns for XRP.
Six-Month Losing Streak Ends
XRP enjoyed a dramatic close to 2024, surging an astonishing 281% in November after Donald Trump won the U.S. presidential election, which renewed hopes of significant regulatory changes. The token continued rising and matched its $3.40 all-time high in January, though it did not surpass that level on its first attempt.
In July, XRP reached a new peak of $3.65 amid expectations of policy changes, but the rally was followed by a prolonged downturn. The declines began with a 12% drop in October, then 13.8% in November, and 14.8% in December. The downtrend continued into the new year with a 10.6% fall in January and a sharper 16.2% decline in February. March brought a smaller 2.8% decrease before bulls finally returned in April, breaking the six-month losing streak.
This run of consecutive monthly losses was the worst stretch for XRP since late 2013 and early-to-mid 2014, when the token experienced seven months in the red. However, that earlier period occurred just after XRP’s launch, in a smaller, more volatile, and less mature crypto market. By contrast, the 2025–2026 downturn stands as the most severe sustained decline in XRP’s recent history.
What to Expect in May
The chart above highlights that XRP historically performs well in April, averaging a 16.5% gain—though April’s 2026 uptick fell short of that average. May has often been even stronger for XRP, posting an average increase of 23%, with June just slightly ahead at 23.2%. That places May as the fourth-best month for XRP historically, behind June, December, and November.
Bitcoin and Ethereum showed similar seasonal patterns, closing April in positive territory and also tending to record gains in May. Despite these historical trends, geopolitical developments remain a major wild card. The ongoing conflict in Iran continues to drive spikes in market volatility, with each significant event potentially causing sharp moves across cryptocurrencies. Until there is a clear resolution or de-escalation, it is unlikely that the crypto market will sustain a deeper recovery from recent lows.