As we approach 2026 and XRP sees a large increase in the price of XRP’s price over a small period of time, there has been a 32% increase in price in a very short period of time, causing a lot of other large-cap cryptocurrencies to lag behind on their price gains.
Due to the rapid price movement that XRP has had recently, a wide variety of financial will be paying very close attention to the token and I would anticipate many investors will likely hold their altcoin for the long term. That said, while the token has shown a dramatic increase in an exceptionally short amount of time, not all cryptocurrencies are created equal and not every price increase is created the same.
According to renowned technical analyst, John Bollinger, price movements can be seen as tactical versus structural and that traders should take the time to examine the motion before entering positions.
Bollinger acknowledges that the price movement has been strong, but he provides a warning about how that price movement compares to structural strength. The vertical price action is not the same as the structural strength associated with BTC, ETH and XRP.
Since the price action has occurred so quickly, it is paramount that traders look at the price action with caution and understand that the market remains in its original hierarchical order-Namely BTC – ETH – XRP. Bolinger’s statement serves to reinforce that traders should look at XRP’s price movement as tactical and not as an indication that the token is on the verge of becoming more dominant than ETH.
Also Read: Ripple Rolls Out XRPL 3.0.0 With Major Escrow Accounting Breakthrough
XRP Rally Shows Strength
The price of XRP has gone straight through the immediate resistance level. Analyst Dom states that bulls were able to push the price above the immediate resistance level (which was just over 5%) and straight to the top of the current range with one move. There was no hesitation in this type of move, it was aggressive, and there was no second-guessing. These are the types of moves that traders get excited about but also make technicians nervous.
Bollinger Bands are about patterns, not about price levels. The issue with Bitcoin’s current movement (to a certain extent) is based on what has happened in the past and what is happening currently with Bitcoin’s price. Bitcoin’s current price is being supported by typical textbook volatility squeezes.
Historically, there have been many examples of when the Bollinger Bands have been squeezed very tightly, quickly broke out. XRP does not have the same degree of volatility as some of those examples. Historically, the token has experienced a much noisier volatility profile, but there have also been instances of volatility squeezes, none of which were large enough for Ripple to develop a solid structure based upon, leading to an unstable and thin structural framework for the token.
The current price of XRP is trading above the upper Bollinger Band; nonetheless, it does not have sufficient support below that price level to act as a solid foundation for the price of the token to build upon. Strong support allows for the token’s price to hold during short-term pullbacks. Although Ripple has been experiencing a strong rally, it may be in jeopardy of a significant pullback if its current rally does not have sufficient support forming underneath it.
XRP Trails Bitcoin and Ethereum in Structure
Bollinger’s caution towards XRP is understandable when you consider how the token stacks up against the competition. Bitcoin is structurally aligned with Ethereum therefore the future trend of both is likely to be similar.
While Ethereum’s price is rising more slowly than Bitcoin, it is also forming a clearly defined and more easily identifiable pattern (which ultimately makes it more likely to have fewer problems when it eventually breaks out). While Bollinger indicated Ethereum has the potential to follow Bitcoin’s upward price trend, he also said it could still exist independently of Bitcoin as it was structurally sound.
XRP is at a different stage as compared to the other two tokens discussed. On an absolute basis the token is growing rapidly both in terms of its price and its performance, but relative to the other two, it is still lagging with respect to its technical quality. Ripple currently has a significant amount of downward force, and as such the underlying foundation beneath the altcoin does not have as well defined shape as it does with the other two, therefore the overall downward pressure did not have a chance to develop before the price spiked up.
This does not mean that XRP has finished its rally, it simply means that the token is now under a much higher level of risk than it was prior to this rally. Ripple has gained upward momentum as prices have moved higher, however, upward momentum alone will not be able hold up while the price of the token continues to increase. Price chase traders must also understand the difference.
Ripple’s XRP has been steadily rising, but when there is a dip or pullback, people will sell because it is growing very rapidly, but it’s still not secure (has not settled). So traders must be patient while waiting for profit opportunities from their investment in the token, but they also need to keep an eye out for an opportunity that comes after their initial investment in the cryptocurrency in 2026. The real question for Ripple isn’t about how much higher the token can go; rather, it’s about how much profit Ripple will be able to retain after the increase occurs.
Also Read: XRP Defends Critical Support While $2.30 Emerges as Make-or-Break Zone
