XRP Price Crash Explained: Why Ripple Token Is Down for 13th Time in 14 Days Today
Introduction: Hits Hard
XRP, the token linked to Ripple, is facing a tough time. It has dropped in 13 out of the last 14 days. Today, on January 19, 2026, it hit a low of $1.8470 during a quick flash crash. This is the lowest price since early January. Now, it sits around $1.97, down 3.22% from yesterday’s $2.062. The slide from last week’s high of $2.357 is a full 16% loss.
Traders are asking:
The Flash Crash: What Happened Today
XRP fell below the key $2.00 level over the weekend. Then, on Monday, it crashed over 7% in minutes on exchanges like Binance. The drop triggered huge liquidations – $40.36 million in XRP positions wiped out in 12 hours. Almost all ($39.14 million) were long bets, meaning buyers got hit hard.
This was part of a bigger crypto wipeout. Total liquidations across all coins reached $873.31 million, with longs taking 90% of the damage. Bitcoin dropped 3.79% in one hour, from $95,500 to $91,900, before bouncing a bit to $92,800.
XRP’s long liquidations hit $29.7 million on the day – the most since November 2025. Data from tracking sites like Coinglass shows this kind of event shakes out weak hands and adds selling pressure.
Global Tensions Spark Risk-Off Mood
Crypto loves risk. When world news turns bad, prices tank. Here’s why markets are in panic mode:
- Trump’s Tariff Threats: Reports say President Trump wants new tariffs on eight European countries. The reason? Disputes over Greenland. This could spark a trade war across the Atlantic.
- EU Counter-Moves: Europe is ready to hit back with tariffs on up to €93 billion ($100 billion) of US goods. They might use a new ‘anti-coercion tool’ for the first time.
- Fed Drama: A criminal probe into Fed Chair Jerome Powell is freezing bank leadership. This questions US dollar trust and pushes investors away from risky assets like crypto.
Experts agree. Joel Kruger from LMAX said, “Crypto markets face heavy downside from worse global risk mood, driven by geopolitical and trade tensions.” Samer Hasn from XS.com added, “Geopolitical theater now drives prices more than fundamentals.” US stock futures opened lower too.
Technical Breakdown: Bearish Signals Dominate
Charts don’t lie. XRP shows clear weakness:
- Trend: Down for six straight days before today. 13 losses in 14 sessions – worst streak since late 2025.
- Moving Averages: Price below the 50-day EMA ($2.02) and 200-day EMA ($2.56). This confirms bearish trend.
- Regression Channel: For months, XRP trades in a downward-sloping channel. Each rally hits the upper line and fails, making lower highs.
Short-term hope? The bounce from $1.84 to $1.97 looks like a pin bar – a candle with a long lower wick. It shows buyers stepped in at support near $1.90. But the big picture stays bearish.
Downside Targets:
- $1.61 – Matches April 2025 lows.
- $1.25 – 2024 bottom levels.
For a turnaround, XRP needs to break the channel up, grab the 200 EMA at $2.56, and clear $2.40 resistance. Not likely now.
Bigger Picture: Partnerships Amid Pain
Even as XRP drops, Ripple grows ties with traditional finance. LMAX, Kruger’s firm, inked a $150 million deal with Ripple. They use RLUSD stablecoin for trading collateral in spot, futures, and CFDs. This shows crypto blending with old-school markets – a positive long-term sign.
Hasn notes a twist: If Fed trust fades, a ‘politicized dollar’ could boost crypto as an alternative. Short-term dips might hide a bull case.
Key Levels and What to Watch Next
Traders, eyes here:
| Level | Type | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| $1.90-$1.84 | Support | Pin bar hold could spark bounce. |
| $1.61 | Target | Next major low. |
| $1.25 | Deep Target | Bearish extreme. |
| $2.40 | Resistance | Break for bulls. |
| $2.56 | 200 EMA | Trend flip needed. |
Watch news on tariffs, Fed probe, and Bitcoin moves. More liquidations could push lower.
Final Thoughts: Stay Cautious on XRP
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Long-term, Ripple’s partnerships and dollar doubts offer hope. But for now, risk stays high. Monitor supports closely and avoid FOMO on rallies.
FAQ: Quick Answers on XRP Drop
Will XRP hit $100 soon? No. From $1.97, that’s over 5,000% up. Market cap would top $5.6 trillion – bigger than all crypto now.
Is this the bottom? Maybe short-term at $1.84, but structure says more down.
What caused the liquidations? Flash crash from risk-off news, hitting leveraged longs.
