XRP is struggling to regain momentum as selling pressure builds near key resistance levels. On Feb. 23, market analyst Xaif Crypto noted that XRP was sitting around $1.39 with strong sell orders stacked above the price.
He pointed to $1.45 as the level that must be cleared before any serious recovery can begin. Until then, he described the current range as a weak rebound zone rather than the start of a fresh uptrend.
Source: X
Analyzing the two-hour chart of XRP/USDT, it is seen that the token shifted from a strong move to a correction. Initially, the asset surged towards the $1.65-$1.67 region.
However, this region had thick red sell walls on the depth charts, indicating that the large investors were placing large sell orders. As a result, the region turned out to be a major supply zone where large investors reduced their holdings instead of increasing them.
After the rejection, the token remained in a trading range between $1.45 and $1.50. The large traders (whales) were both buying and selling in this range, indicating a lack of clarity on whether they wanted to accumulate. All attempts to move upwards were met with selling pressure and liquidity above the price.
Also Read: XRP Price Prediction 2026-2032: Will XRP Reach $5?
Liquidation Wave Triggers Sharp Drop
The situation worsened when the asset dropped below the support zone of $1.40-$1.42. This region had previously been a demand flip level. After the price dropped below this level, large red whale indicators were seen on the chart, indicating intense selling and stop loss hunting.
Within 48 hours, XRP dropped from $1.50 to $1.37. Xaif Crypto’s liquidation map reveals a large region of highly leveraged long positions between $1.35 and $1.42.
Source: X
These trading positions were compelled to close as the price moved through them, triggering a ripple effect. The liquidation map indicated red and pink regions that represented high-leverage trades, which were removed as the price decreased.
Big liquidation bubbles appeared around Feb. 21, indicating that individual trading positions were closed. Initial liquidations appeared to target major traders, followed by retail traders as the price gained momentum.
XRP Critical Levels Now in Focus
XRP has bounced off the $1.32 to $1.33 region, where strong green liquidity bands indicate resting buy orders. This region has now become an important short-term level of support.
The bounce appears to be corrective rather than strong, with indications of short covering rather than fresh buying. For a genuine change in the pattern, the token needs to move above and remain above $1.45, with whale selling remaining low.
Also Read: XRP Price Prediction 2026-2032: Will XRP Reach $5?