Key Takeaways
- XRP declined 3.52% to approximately $1.40 amid a broader 2% cryptocurrency market downturn
- March 27 represents the SEC’s conclusive deadline for ruling on numerous spot XRP ETF proposals
- Small wallets containing fewer than 100 XRP reached an unprecedented 5.66 million addresses
- Large holders with over 100,000 XRP tokens stayed unchanged at 32,054, indicating minimal accumulation by major players
- Futures Open Interest in XRP declined more than 5% to $2.33 billion, reflecting diminished trader enthusiasm
As the crucial March 27 SEC spot ETF decision date draws closer, XRP faces downward momentum. While smaller investors continue accumulating during price weakness, major token holders show no signs of participation, and growing exchange inventories suggest increasing distribution risk.
The overall cryptocurrency market cap has contracted by approximately 2%, settling at $2.36 trillion. Throughout this period, Bitcoin has remained beneath the $70,000 threshold.
Over the weekend, XRP experienced a 3.52% decline, settling around the $1.40 level. The digital asset couldn’t maintain ground above $1.45 resistance, and intensifying sell-side activity drove prices through the $1.40 support threshold.
From a technical analysis perspective, the MACD histogram displays bearish momentum. The signal line has moved beneath the MACD line, validating the prevailing short-term downtrend.
Critical support exists around $1.38. Should this level fail to hold, market participants are eyeing $1.35 as the subsequent support zone. Reclaiming territory above $1.45 would be necessary to alter current sentiment, whereas breaking through $1.50 could establish a pathway toward the $1.55 resistance threshold.
Critical SEC ETF Decision: March 27 Deadline
On March 27, the SEC must finalize its decision on several pending XRP spot ETF filings. Companies awaiting determination include Grayscale, 21Shares, Bitwise, Canary Capital, WisdomTree, and Franklin Templeton.
🚨BREAKING: #XRP approaches a decisive regulatory milestone as March 27 marks the SEC’s final ETF deadline.
The decision will mean the difference between the rest of the XRP ETF applications. pic.twitter.com/EBrkgZlJqa
— JackTheRippler ©️ (@RippleXrpie) March 22, 2026
Grayscale aims to transform its $2.1 billion XRP trust into a spot exchange-traded fund. Franklin Templeton has put forward a competitive 0.15% management fee. Bloomberg intelligence analysts currently estimate a 95% probability of at least one approval materializing before the year concludes.
United States-based spot XRP investment products have accumulated $1.44 billion in assets, predominantly from individual investors. Market experts project that institutional capital flows could total $8 billion following regulatory approvals, with significant contributions anticipated from pension funds and retirement portfolios.
ProShares introduced a 2x leveraged XRP ETF on NYSE Arca in July 2025. Additionally, during March, the SEC and CFTC published a comprehensive 68-page regulatory structure, classifying XRP as a digital commodity alongside Bitcoin, Ethereum, Solana, Cardano, and Dogecoin.
Blockchain Metrics: Small Investors Accumulate, Large Holders Inactive
According to Santiment analytics, addresses containing under 100 XRP tokens have climbed to a historic peak of 5.66 million. Mid-sized wallets holding between 100 and 100,000 XRP also achieved a record at 2.01 million. However, addresses controlling more than 100,000 XRP have stayed flat at 32,054, following a decline observed in early February.
📈 XRP Ledger is continuing to see its network grow. Based on wallet size, here are the amount of addresses under each tier:
🦐🐟 Less Than 100 XRP: 5.66M Wallets
🐡🐬 100 to 100K XRP: 2.01M Wallets
🦈🐳 More Than 100K XRP: 32,054 Wallets pic.twitter.com/QN1AWIhYBJ— Santiment (@santimentfeed) March 21, 2026
This distribution pattern frequently indicates that smaller investors are absorbing selling pressure from larger participants.
According to CryptoQuant metrics, XRP holdings on Binance have expanded to 2.79 billion XRP, climbing from 2.55 billion in early February. Increasing exchange inventories generally indicate heightened distribution pressure.
$XRP may be setting up for a rebound as the TD Sequential flashes a buy signal. pic.twitter.com/KfhBofQ2Et
— Ali Charts (@alicharts) March 22, 2026
Digital asset analyst Ali Charts observed on X: “$XRP may be setting up for a rebound as the TD Sequential flashes a buy signal.” This assessment emerged while XRP continued trading beneath $1.40.
According to CoinGlass metrics, XRP futures Open Interest stands at $2.33 billion, representing a decline exceeding 5% from the prior day’s $2.47 billion. Open Interest has experienced consistent contraction throughout 2026, suggesting decreasing leveraged participation.
Year-to-date, XRP has declined approximately 25%.
