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Will XRP Price Double Again as Hidden Buying Pressure Builds?

XRP is once again under the spotlight as traders debate whether history is about to repeat itself. After months of sideways movement and heavy downside pressure, derivatives data is flashing signals that closely resemble conditions seen before XRP’s most explosive rallies. While price action remains subdued for now, a growing imbalance beneath the surface suggests that short sellers may be underestimating the risk ahead.

Negative Funding Rates Reveal a Crowded Trade

Over the past two months, XRP funding rates on major exchanges have remained consistently negative. This indicates that a large portion of leveraged traders are positioned for further downside, paying a premium to maintain their short exposure. Historically, such conditions have not been sustainable for XRP.

Similar funding environments appeared ahead of sharp rebounds in previous cycles. In mid-2024, negative funding preceded a rally of roughly 50%, while in early 2025, the same setup was followed by a surge of more than 100%. These patterns suggest that excessive pessimism among derivatives traders has often created the foundation for aggressive upside moves.

How Falling Prices Created Latent  Buy Pressure

The current bearish bias emerged after XRP suffered a steep decline from its multi-year high near $3.66, losing roughly half of its value. That correction reinforced negative sentiment and encouraged traders to pile into short positions. However, this collective positioning may now be working against the bears.

When shorts accumulate at scale, they create what analysts describe as latent buying pressure. As price begins to rise, even modestly, these short positions can be forced to close, triggering liquidations that convert selling pressure into rapid buying. This dynamic has repeatedly fueled XRP’s strongest rallies over the past two years.

Why the $2 Zone Matters More Than Ever

XRP recently rebounded from the lower boundary of its long-standing trading range, stabilizing around the $1.80 to $2.00 area. This zone has acted as a critical inflection point throughout 2025, serving as the launchpad for XRP’s last major rally toward $3.66.

Despite this bounce, the $2 level remains psychologically and technically decisive. Previous retests of this area were often accompanied by large realized losses, indicating that many holders chose to exit rather than accumulate. For the bullish thesis to regain strength, XRP must not only hold this support but reclaim higher levels with conviction.

Technical Levels That Define the Bullish and Bearish Paths

From a broader technical perspective, XRP’s outlook hinges on its ability to reclaim key moving averages. A sustained move above the $2.22 region would signal that buyers are regaining control and could open the door to a renewed push higher. Failure to do so, however, would leave XRP vulnerable to a deeper pullback toward longer-term support levels near $1.40.

This tension between structural support and overhead resistance explains why the market feels compressed. Volatility is being stored, and once released, it is unlikely to be subtle.

Where Traders Are Positioning for the Next Move

US Senate Judiciary Pushes Back Against Crypto Developer Protections

A growing divide within the US Senate is threatening to reshape the future of crypto regulation, as top lawmakers from both parties move to strip developer safeguards from a key digital asset bill. The dispute highlights rising concerns that proposed protections could unintentionally weaken law enforcement’s ability to combat illicit financial activity in decentralized crypto markets.

At the center of the debate is the Senate’s long-anticipated crypto market structure legislation, which aims to clarify how regulators oversee digital assets and blockchain-based platforms. However, Senate Judiciary Committee leaders argue that parts of the bill could open dangerous loopholes for criminals operating through decentralized systems.

Bipartisan Warning From the Senate Judiciary Committee

Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Charles Grassley and the committee’s senior Democrat, Richard Durbin, issued a rare bipartisan warning to leaders of the Senate Banking Committee. In a letter sent to Banking Chair Tim Scott and ranking member Elizabeth Warren, the lawmakers urged major revisions to the bill’s language.

According to Grassley and Durbin, the current draft risks undermining long-standing unlicensed money transmitter laws by shielding certain crypto developers and network operators from liability. They warned that this could severely limit the government’s ability to pursue bad actors who exploit decentralized platforms for illegal purposes.

The letter, first reported by Politico, described the proposed protections as creating a  significant enforcement gap  that sophisticated criminal organizations could take advantage of.

Lawmakers Fear Criminal Exploitation of Decentralized Platforms

Grassley and Durbin emphasized that criminal groups already rely on advanced methods to hide illegal transactions, including the use of complex financial structures and anonymizing technologies. They argued that the bill, as currently written, would make it even harder for prosecutors to trace and punish unlawful activity tied to decentralized digital assets.

In their view, removing accountability from developers and network maintainers could turn decentralized platforms into attractive safe havens for illicit actors, including transnational criminal organizations and cartels. The senators stressed that regulatory clarity should not come at the cost of weakening public safety or financial crime enforcement.

The Role of the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act

The controversy largely stems from the inclusion of provisions inspired by the Blockchain Regulatory Certainty Act, or BRCA. This proposal seeks to clarify that individuals who develop blockchain software or maintain decentralized networks are not automatically classified as money transmitters under federal or state law.

Supporters argue that such protections are necessary to foster innovation and prevent developers from being punished for how others use open-source technology. Critics, however, warn that overly broad exemptions could shield individuals who play a more active role in facilitating illicit transactions.

Grassley and Durbin contend that the bill fails to clearly distinguish between neutral software development and conduct that effectively enables unlicensed money transmission.

Judiciary Committee Says It Was Left Out of the Process

Adding to the tension, the Senate Judiciary Committee leaders said they were not consulted during the drafting of the bill, despite their committee’s authority over federal criminal statutes and the Department of Justice.

They expressed frustration that proposed changes affecting criminal enforcement were advanced without giving the Judiciary Committee a meaningful opportunity to review or weigh in. In their letter, they urged the Banking Committee to reject any language that could weaken the government’s ability to hold culpable actors accountable.

This procedural dispute has further complicated efforts to move the legislation forward.

Legislative Delays and Political Uncertainty

The crypto market structure bill has already faced setbacks, with both the Senate Banking and Agriculture Committees postponing scheduled markups in an effort to build broader bipartisan support. The latest objections from the Judiciary Committee add another obstacle to an already fragile legislative path.

If the bill eventually reaches the Senate floor, it will require at least 60 votes to pass. That threshold would likely demand unanimous Republican support and backing from several Democrats, making any internal disagreement particularly consequential.

Crypto Industry Support Begins to Fracture

Industry reaction has also been mixed. Coinbase, one of the most influential lobbying forces in the crypto sector, withdrew its support for the bill earlier this week, citing concerns over multiple provisions. While the company has since indicated that negotiations with lawmakers are ongoing, the move underscored growing unease within the industry.

The combination of political resistance and shifting industry alliances raises questions about whether the bill can survive in its current form.

What This Means for the Future of US Crypto Regulation

The clash over developer protections reflects a broader struggle to balance innovation with enforcement in the rapidly evolving crypto space. Lawmakers face mounting pressure to define clear rules without creating blind spots that criminals can exploit.

As negotiations continue behind closed doors, the fate of the crypto market structure bill remains uncertain. What is clear, however, is that the debate has entered a critical phase—one that could shape how decentralized technologies are regulated in the United States for years to come.

Crypto Industry Divided Over CLARITY Act as Coinbase Withdraws Support

The U.S. crypto industry finds itself at a crossroads as the controversial CLARITY Act faces renewed scrutiny in Washington. Tensions are rising between crypto executives and lawmakers, revealing a sharp split on how best to regulate digital assets while fostering innovation. The debate comes amid the high-profile withdrawal of support from Coinbase, the nation’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, which cited serious concerns about the bill’s current draft.

Coinbase Breaks Ranks

Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong made headlines when he publicly stated that his firm could not support the legislation in its present form. Armstrong outlined a series of issues he said made the bill  materially worse than the current status quo.  Key concerns included restrictions on tokenized equities, potential prohibitions on DeFi platforms, expansive government access to financial records, and measures that could undermine privacy and innovation. He emphasized that the draft’s treatment of stablecoin rewards and banking competition also posed serious risks to the ecosystem.

While Armstrong acknowledged the Senate’s efforts to craft a bipartisan compromise, he stressed that  we’d rather have no bill than a bad bill,  signaling that Coinbase will not lend its backing until the legislation better aligns with industry needs.

Supporters Still See Progress

Despite Coinbase’s withdrawal, other crypto leaders remain cautiously optimistic. Chris Dixon, managing partner at a16z Crypto, noted that the bill lays the foundation for clear regulatory guidance, which the industry has long sought. Dixon highlighted that both major political parties and previous administrations have worked with crypto innovators to safeguard decentralization, protect developers, and provide fair opportunities for entrepreneurs. He believes that, while imperfect, the CLARITY Act could help the U.S. maintain its leadership in digital asset innovation.

Peter Van Valkenburgh, executive director of Coin Center, echoed this sentiment, stating that the current draft “represents a positive step forward” and expressed hope that further amendments would strengthen the bill while protecting innovation and investor rights.

Lawmakers Face Industry Pushback

The Senate Banking Committee’s delay in marking up the CLARITY Act reflects the complexity of balancing regulatory clarity with the needs of the fast-growing digital asset sector. Lawmakers must navigate divergent perspectives, with some executives advocating for stricter rules to protect consumers, while others, like Coinbase, fear that overly restrictive measures could stifle innovation and drive crypto activity offshore.

Industry lawyers and venture capitalists have weighed in on both sides. Jake Chervinsky, a prominent crypto attorney, emphasized that markup sessions and Senate floor debates offer opportunities to refine the legislation, and urged stakeholders to push for the “best possible version” rather than abandoning efforts altogether. Meanwhile, Tim Draper, veteran venture capitalist, sided with Armstrong, warning that the compromise, as currently written, appears heavily influenced by banking interests and could be worse than no legislation at all.

Market Reaction and Bitcoin Resilience

Despite the political turmoil, cryptocurrency markets appear largely unfazed. Bitcoin’s recent price movements demonstrate resilience, with the flagship asset topping $97,600 before cooling slightly. Industry insiders note that digital assets often anticipate regulatory outcomes, pricing in potential market changes ahead of official decisions.

Gracie Lin, CEO of OKX Singapore, pointed out that Bitcoin’s rally coincides with renewed demand for spot ETFs, growing liquidity, and optimism that a clearer regulatory framework could stabilize U.S. digital asset markets. She highlighted three critical factors for the market moving forward: how the CLARITY Act evolves through the Senate Banking Committee, the resilience of spot ETF flows, and the Federal Reserve’s late-January meeting, which could either support or reset financial conditions.

The Road Ahead for U.S. Crypto Regulation

The CLARITY Act controversy underscores the delicate balance lawmakers face in regulating a rapidly evolving sector. On one hand, clear rules of the road are essential for fostering innovation and attracting investment. On the other, missteps could inadvertently stifle the very technologies the U.S. hopes to lead globally. As debates continue, the crypto community watches closely, aware that the final outcome could shape the industry’s trajectory for years to come.

The divide between Coinbase and other crypto leaders highlights the stakes involved. Whether the CLARITY Act emerges as a transformative framework or a cautionary tale, it is clear that regulatory decisions in Washington will have far-reaching implications for investors, developers, and users alike.

Bitcoin Open Interest Drops Sharply, Fueling Expectations of a Market Rebound

Bitcoin’s derivatives market has undergone a significant reset over the past three months, with open interest falling by nearly one-third from its October peak. While such a decline may appear bearish at first glance, analysts argue that this kind of deleveraging has historically laid the groundwork for stronger and more sustainable recoveries.

According to on-chain data provider CryptoQuant, the 30%–31% contraction in Bitcoin derivatives open interest reflects a broad unwinding of leveraged positions that had accumulated during last year’s speculative surge. This process, often referred to as deleveraging, reduces systemic risk in the market and can signal the formation of a potential price floor.

Deleveraging Clears Excess Risk From the Market