TLDR
- XRP posted an 11% weekly gain, reaching $1.53 and surpassing BNB to secure fourth position by market capitalization at $93.4 billion.
- Binance futures open interest climbed 59% from October 2025 levels to 353 million XRP, indicating fresh leveraged positions entering the rally.
- On March 1, long-term holders added over 351 million XRP within 24 hours, marking the most significant accumulation day in recent months.
- XRP-focused ETFs experienced $28 million in net withdrawals over the past week, suggesting institutional participants are stepping back despite growing retail engagement.
- Price action faces critical resistance at $1.55, where a bearish rejection pattern has emerged, potentially signaling a near-term correction.
Ripple’s XRP token delivered solid performance over the past seven days, advancing 11% to reach approximately $1.53 by March 17, 2026. This upward movement allowed XRP to leapfrog BNB and reclaim its position as the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by total market value, now standing at $93.4 billion.
Market activity intensified significantly, with trading volume surging 125% to reach $3.22 billion as the token successfully penetrated the stubborn $1.40 resistance zone. This price level had acted as a formidable barrier for several weeks, making the breakthrough particularly noteworthy for market participants.
The price appreciation unfolds against a backdrop of macroeconomic tension. Brent crude oil prices hover near the psychologically important $100 per barrel mark, driven by persistent supply disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz connected to the ongoing Iran conflict, which has now extended into its third week.
Holders Accumulate as Macro Uncertainty Grows
Countering expectations during periods of geopolitical stress and energy price shocks, XRP’s long-term holders have demonstrated conviction by increasing their positions rather than reducing exposure.
According to Glassnode analytics, long-term holders absorbed more than 351 million XRP tokens in a single 24-hour period on March 1—notably, just one day following the escalation of the Iran situation. This represented the most substantial one-day accumulation event observed in several months.
The accumulation pattern has maintained momentum since that initial surge, with consistent net buying activity elevating the metric to its highest monthly reading since May 2025. Historical analysis suggests such on-chain behavior typically emerges during market recovery cycles.
Retail participation is simultaneously showing signs of revival. Open interest in XRP futures contracts expanded to $2.66 billion on Monday, up from $2.56 billion during the previous session. The cryptocurrency Fear & Greed Index also improved to 23 from the prior week’s reading of 8, though current levels still indicate extreme fear sentiment dominates.
Institutional Demand and Ripple Criticism
Institutional appetite has moved in the opposite direction. Investment vehicles focused on XRP recorded $76 million in net outflows during the past week, with exchange-traded funds representing $28 million of those withdrawals. Cumulative month-to-date outflows have reached $133 million, reducing total assets under management to $2.4 billion.
Ripple is simultaneously navigating scrutiny regarding its token distribution approach. Industry observers have raised concerns that the company monetizes premined XRP tokens by selling to retail market participants, then redirects those funds toward corporate acquisitions, products unrelated to XRP, and share repurchases that primarily benefit private equity stakeholders.
Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer David Schwartz has reportedly addressed these concerns, though detractors maintain the current structure disproportionately advantages Ripple Labs shareholders over XRP token holders.
From a technical analysis perspective, XRP encountered bearish rejection near its 50-day exponential moving average positioned at $1.55. The asset continues trading beneath both its 50-day and 200-day EMAs. A decisive close above $1.60 would be necessary to establish a meaningful trend reversal.
Binance open interest data showed 353.49 million XRP on March 17, climbing toward but remaining beneath the pre-correction peak of 400 million tokens recorded in September 2025.
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