XRP is trading close to the $1.00 area, where derivatives data still points to a cautious market tone. Analysts at CryptoInsightUK said open interest had risen even as the token’s price weakened, while funding rates stayed in negative territory. That combination usually reflects bearish positioning. At the same time, they said a return of buying demand could still trigger a short-lived upside squeeze.
The $0.95 to $1.00 zone is under close watch
XRP’s broader short-term structure remains under pressure. The report describes a pattern of lower highs and lower lows that has not yet been broken, leaving the $0.95–$1.00 range as an important support area. Around $1.00, traders are watching resistance. Even with the recent drop, trading volume has not fallen off sharply, suggesting demand did not fully disappear after the selloff.
Open interest climbed above 700 million before easing
On the derivatives side, open interest increased from roughly 600 million contracts to more than 700 million, then started to decline along with price. That pullback suggests some leveraged positions have already been unwound. With funding rates still negative and open interest moving off its high, the market is showing persistent bearish pressure while leaving open the possibility of a brief rebound if positioning gets squeezed.
Ripple highlights payment utility as ODL volume reaches $1.2 billion
Outside price action, Ripple’s business metrics are still attracting attention. In an interview with CNBC, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse said the long-term value of digital assets comes from real-world utility rather than financial engineering. Ripple, which focuses on blockchain-based cross-border payment solutions, continues to be associated with enterprise payment use cases.
According to data shared by BankXRP, Ripple’s On-Demand Liquidity, or ODL, recorded $1.2 billion in volume in the first quarter of 2026, up 45% from a year earlier. The report also said the company processed $16 trillion in total payments last year. ODL is designed to reduce the need for pre-funding in cross-border transfers, with XRP used as a bridge asset between currencies.
Analysts keep an eye on the $5 to $8 long-term range
For the longer-term chart, analyst MikybullCrypto said XRP’s monthly setup could see a structure similar to the Ichimoku Cloud form again before a stronger reversal. In that view, holding above the rising trendline that has supported the market since 2020 remains important for preserving longer-term strength.
Under that scenario, analysts are monitoring the $5–$8 range as a long-term target. The report also makes clear that digital-asset volatility remains high, leaving short-term downside pressure and longer-term recovery expectations in place at the same time.