TLDR
XRP (XRP) has dropped below the key 1 dollar level even as spot ETFs report net inflows into the asset.
- XRP briefly fell to about 0.98 dollars, its lowest since late 2024, despite new banking and payments partnerships for Ripple.
- US spot XRP ETFs added roughly 5.81 million dollars of net inflows on 18 Aug while price stayed near 1 dollar, showing ETF demand is not yet big enough to offset selling.
- The next drivers to watch are whether 0.990.98 dollar support holds, how ETF flows trend, and upcoming US crypto policy decisions that could change the narrative.
Deep Dive
1. Break Below One Dollar
Recent reports say XRP slipped under 1 dollar to about 0.98 dollars, the first sustained move below this level since 2024, and its lowest print since November 2024, even as Ripple announced new Korean banking partnerships for its payments product. One outlet framed this as XRP sinking below 1 dollar even as Korean bank adopts Ripple Payments, highlighting the gap between improving fundamentals and price. Technical commentary points out repeated tests of the 1 dollar psychological floor and warns that a daily close below around 0.98 dollars could confirm a deeper breakdown.
The 1 dollar area has been a long running battle line for XRP. Losing it cleanly turns what used to be support into resistance, which can cap rebounds.
2. Why Price Falls While ETFs Buy
Institutional ETF demand for XRP is real but still small compared with its market size. One analysis notes that XRP ETFs have taken in about 1.51 billion dollars since launch, with inflows now closer to about 1 million dollars per week rather than peak levels. More recent data shows US spot XRP ETFs saw 5.81 million dollars of net inflows on 18 Aug, lifting ETF assets to about 941 million dollars, around 1.50 percent of XRPs market capitalization. At the same time, exchange wallet data shows withdrawal heavy activity and analysts warning that spot selling pressure and technical weakness can easily overwhelm modest ETF buying.
ETF inflows help, but at current scale they act more like a partial cushion than a full buyer of last resort. Broad selling and weak technicals can still push price lower.
3. Key Levels And Policy Triggers
Short term, analysts focus on support around 0.990.98 dollars and resistance near 1.031.05 dollars. Holding above roughly 0.99 dollars keeps XRP in a consolidation zone; repeated closes below it open downside toward 0.850.95 dollars where some see an accumulation zone. Longer term, several pieces of regulation and policy are in play, including US efforts to clarify crypto asset rules and the CLARITY Acts vote timetable, which some commentators link to potential re-rating of XRP if it is clearly treated as a commodity. ETF inflow trends are another key signal: a sustained move back to earlier monthly inflow pace could slowly tighten tradable supply.
For now, the setup is technical and flow driven. Watching whether support holds, whether ETF inflows accelerate, and how US policy evolves can help frame XRPs risk and opportunity.
Conclusion
XRPs drop below 1 dollar shows that sentiment and broader selling pressure currently dominate over steady, but limited, ETF demand and positive business news. If ETF inflows grow and regulatory clarity improves while key support zones hold, XRP could rebuild a stronger base, but until those conditions change, price remains vulnerable to further downside within its current range.
