XRP posted a clear pickup in on-chain activity after moving above $1.54 for the first time in two months. Santiment said the move was accompanied by heavier trading across the XRP Ledger during early 2026 market action, with network engagement rising as volatility returned around important support areas.
The strongest datapoint was active addresses, which climbed to 48,453, the highest reading since March 30. Network growth also reached 3,317, its best level since March 19. Santiment linked the increase to price-driven activity and said general FOMO helped lift transaction counts across the network.
Address activity rises as wallet count keeps expanding
Santiment also noted that stronger network usage can line up with better long-term price support. Its view was straightforward: if engagement stays elevated, adoption can help justify valuation over time. Total XRP holders rose from 7.2 million to 7.84 million wallets, showing the holder base has continued to widen.
That improvement in network data has not yet produced a clean breakout in price. Earlier in the cycle, XRP traded above $2.10 and then reached a peak near $2.40 in January 2026. A sharp decline followed, pulling the token down toward the $1.20-$1.30 area in early February.
Price remains in consolidation below the MA200 zone
After the selloff, XRP moved into a consolidation range between $1.30 and $1.50. The MA50 flattened and started to turn higher, while the MA200 held near $1.98. XRP is currently trading around $1.40-$1.41, still above the MA50 but below the MA200.
Support is clustered near $1.35 and $1.20. On the upside, traders are watching $1.50 first, then the MA200 resistance band around $1.98-$2.00. In other words, network metrics have heated up ahead of price, while the chart is still waiting for a move through the upper resistance zone.
Analyst points to a multi-year cup-and-handle setup
Analyst ChartNerd outlined a longer-term technical structure for XRP, saying the asset may be building a multi-year cup-and-handle pattern under resistance that has been tested repeatedly over several years. He said the cup appears complete, while the handle may still be forming in recent price action. His reading also referenced repeated retests over the past six years, including behavior similar to the 2017 cycle low.
ChartNerd also highlighted the 0.5 Fibonacci level near $0.89 as a structural support area. He added that, if the broader cycle continues, future Fibonacci extensions could stretch beyond $8. For now, XRP remains in consolidation, with attention on whether on-chain activity can hold up and whether price can retest resistance near $2.