Since stepping into 2026, XRP has been on a powerful upward trajectory, reportedly reclaiming the $2.00 psychological point after a long period of time. As of early January 2026, the broader cryptocurrency market is showing a positive trend and is expected to be in a cautiously optimistic phase.
XRP, the official cryptocurrency of XRP Ledger, is currently trading at $2.39, closer to the $2.50 resistance level. According to the latest market data, XRP surged 12.74% in the past 24 hours, bringing its market capitalization to $145.33 billion. XRP’s active price jump is closely associated with Bitcoin’s 3% surge to $94,400 during Monday’s trading session.
XRP’s uptrend and the positive momentum in the cryptocurrency market are driven by improved institutional demand, bullish technical outlook, and a positive regulatory environment. Apart from these technical factors, geopolitical developments have also been a fueling factor. Recently, the U.S. military carried out an operation aimed at removing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro from power. Crypto markets immediately respond to geopolitical shock headlines, and it can influence investor behavior across alternative asset classes. Heated discussions related to the Federal Reserve interest rate cuts are also catalyzing the broader cryptocurrency market, including XRP.
XRP Broke $2.32 Resistance Level: Why is XRP’s Price Up Today?
XRP broke above the $2.28–$2.32 resistance zone for the first time in three months, signaling a renewed bullish trend as the market entered into a new era. The price surge reflects sustained momentum from recent XRP spot ETF inflows and technical breakout confirmation. Based on the historic trend of XRP, despite the positive price action, volatility persists with possible pullbacks.
The U.S spot XRP ETFs recorded a massive $48M inflows on January 6, 2025, signaling strong investor confidence with over 30 days of inflows totaling over $1.27 billion. The $48M inflows on January 6 are their highest single-day volume since launch. The XRP spot ETFs haven’t recorded a single day of outflows yet. This kind of large spot ETF inflows can push the digital assets’ price. The improved ETF inflow will create a real spot demand, remove the liquid supply, and trigger momentum-driven buying, which ultimately leads to an XRP price surge.
The price surge was catalyzed by a technical rebound from a key support level. The breakout above $2.28–$2.32 was accompanied by an RSI 14 reading of 74.27 and a bullish MACD crossover, reinforcing the upward momentum.
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission’s lone Democratic commissioner, Caroline Crenshaw, departed from the regulating agency on January 2nd. Her exit leaves the agency with an all-Republican commission for the first time. It will boost the broader cryptocurrency market, since the SEC under Paul Atkins has been an embodiment of a pro-crypto approach. Following the exit of Caroline, new crypto-friendly initiatives under Paul Atkins’s supervision can be expected.
The U.S. Military’s Operation in Venezuela: Crypto Market & XRP React Strongly to Geopolitical Factors
Geopolitical tensions related to the Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his removal from power have catalyzed the cryptocurrency market. Bitcoin and major altcoins like XRP have all benefited from this. The Economic Times reported that geopolitical tensions had escalated following a US strike on Venezuela, an event that would typically weigh on risk assets. It noted that Bitcoin had climbed nearly 2% over the weekend to $92,900–$93,000, staying close to its year-to-date highs.
XRP, in particular, tends to react strongly to geopolitical factors since it is closely associated with fast, low-cost international transfers, liquidity movement across jurisdictions, and bridging currencies where banking access is constrained. In times of geopolitical tension, when financial infrastructures face restrictions, XRP emerges as a more appealing option.
