XRP breaks $2.12 as shrinking exchange supply leads to price squeeze higher

Exchange balances are at multi-year lows, signaling potential supply tightness that could amplify future rallies.Updated Jan 5, 2026, 5:25 am Published Jan 5, 2026, 5:24 am

XRP pushed above $2.12 as buyers forced a break through a stubborn resistance area on above-average volume, with the move landing at a time when exchange balances are sitting near multi-year lows and US-listed spot ETFs continue to absorb supply — a mix that traders often read as supportive for follow-through if the breakout holds.

News backgroundInstitutional demand for regulated XRP exposure has remained constructive, with US-listed spot XRP ETFs adding $13.59 million in fresh inflows earlier this week. That flow profile has mattered because it’s been steady rather than headline-driven, helping absorb supply during periods when spot price action has been choppy.

At the same time, exchange balances have continued to trend lower, a dynamic traders often frame as a “supply tightness” signal — not a guarantee of upside, but a condition that can amplify rallies when demand picks up. XRP’s market cap rose to about $121.7 billion on the session, underscoring the scale of participation behind the move.

On the network side, activity has been improving, with XRP Ledger transaction counts climbing back toward the 1 million daily mark. That tends to reinforce the narrative that demand isn’t purely speculative, even if price action remains the key driver in the short term.

Technical analysisXRP rose 2.04% to $2.12, breaking through the $2.10–$2.12 ceiling that had capped recent rebound attempts. The breakout came with volume running 47.6% above the seven-day average, a key confirmation signal because resistance breaks that happen on light participation often fail quickly.

After the initial push, XRP shifted into a tight consolidation band between $2.128 and $2.152, with repeated tests of $2.128 holding as short-term support. That’s the level traders will likely treat as the “line in the sand” for whether the move is building a base or turning into a quick rejection.

The structure is constructive: price is consolidating above former resistance, rather than immediately falling back into the prior range. Still, the next upside leg likely needs fresh participation — volume tapered after the surge, suggesting the market is waiting for either a broader risk-on push or another catalyst.

The key overhead area now sits around $2.15–$2.16, which is the next supply pocket inside the broader $2.06–$2.16 range. A clean push through that zone typically brings $2.20 into play quickly, while a failure that loses $2.128 risks a slide back toward the lower range boundary.

Price action summary

• XRP gained 2.04% to $2.12, outperforming broader markets by ~180 bps
• Volume ran 47.6% above the weekly norm, supporting the breakout
• Price consolidated in a $2.128–$2.152 band after the initial push
• The breakout held above former resistance, keeping the upside structure intact

What traders should knowThis trade is increasingly about structure + supply conditions.

• If $2.128 holds: XRP is building a post-breakout base, and the next test is $2.15–$2.16. A clean break there shifts focus to $2.20–$2.28, where sellers have previously shown up.
• If $2.128 fails: the breakout risks reverting into the prior range, with downside pullback targets near $2.06 and then the range floor.
• Why the move matters: ETF inflows + shrinking exchange supply can make rallies sharper when they start. That doesn’t remove overhead supply, but it raises the odds that resistance breaks can extend faster than traders expect once the trigger stops and momentum players step in.

Net: XRP has done the hard part by clearing $2.12 with volume. The next signal is whether it can hold above $2.12–$2.13 on retests — that’s what separates continuation from another “poke-and-fade.”

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