In XRP news today, Ripple has slipped since July 21 but remains around $1.13, tracing a textbook cup-and-handle formation on the daily chart, with $1.15 as the breakout trigger and $1.21 as the pattern target.
The setup looks clean. The institutional money flow behind it does not. That gap between the chart structure and the capital supporting it is the central tension shaping the XRP trade right now.
According to data from CoinGlass, spot XRP ETF monthly inflows have collapsed from a $131.94M peak in May to just $12.43 million in July, the weakest month on record. Inflows are still technically positive, but it is not a technicality worth glossing over.
XRP News: The Cup and Handle Setup and What it Means
Since early July, XRP has formed a cup-and-handle pattern on the daily chart. The cup represents a gradual recovery from selling pressure, while the handle reflects a consolidation phase since July 21.
The bullish outlook remains supported by declining sell volume as prices drift lower, indicating a pause rather than a fresh wave of selling. Key resistance is at $1.15, aligning with the 0.618 Fibonacci retracement level.
A daily close above this would break the handle and activate the cup neckline at $1.16, with $1.18 and $1.21 as potential targets for XRP Ripple.
However, it’s important to note that XRP has previously failed to sustain cup formations. A single candle wick above $1.15 is insufficient; a confirmed daily close is necessary for a convincing breakout.
Say what you want, but this entire setup looks insane!
Sweep the lows or not…
A major move is coming. pic.twitter.com/MJFD9UJNzh
— Jim Knox (@Jim_Knox589) July 23, 2026
ETF Inflows: Green on the Surface, Fading Underneath
In other XRP news, ETF inflows have consistently been net positive since their launch, though monthly totals have declined. According to CoinGlass, inflows were $81.59M in April, peaked at $131.94M in May, then dropped to $59.46M in June, and fell further to $12.43M in July.
This downward trend suggests that institutional demand for XRP has weakened, as ETF inflows typically indicate professional buyers’ interest, which makes it a crucial data point to watch in the coming weeks.
A decline in these flows could affect XRP’s price, especially as it nears a breakout point. Similar patterns of reduced institutional demand are also seen in Bitcoin ETF products.
What Glassnode’s Hodler Metric Is Signaling
The Hodler Net Position Change metric from Glassnode tracks whether long-term XRP holders are net adding to or trimming their positions. It is an on-chain measure of accumulation or distribution behavior among wallets that have held for extended periods, the cohort least likely to be driven by short-term noise.
The metric’s recent history is worth tracing carefully because it has already run this playbook once. On June 22, the Hodler Net Position Change hit one of its highest readings. From that peak, it fell steadily through to July 1.
During exactly that window, XRP price corrected from $1.13 down to $1.05 – a 7% move that caught many traders offside who were watching the chart setup rather than the on-chain signal. Then, as long-term holders began adding again, price recovered.
Since July 19, the metric has turned lower again. It has eased from approximately 231 million to roughly 226 million XRP, according to Glassnode data cited in the BeInCrypto analysis. The setup is close enough to the June precedent to warrant attention.
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Three Scenarios for What Happens Next: XRP News Catalysts Needed for Bullish Continuation
The chart and institutional data for XRP news indicate three potential paths for its price action:
Bull Case: XRP closes above $1.15, confirming a cup-and-handle breakout. If $1.16 is breached, the $1.21 target could be met, but this would require stable ETF inflows to maintain gains.
Base Case: XRP trades sideways between $1.12 and $1.15 as Hodler Net Position Change declines and ETF inflows remain weak. The cup-and-handle pattern remains valid but unconfirmed, awaiting a macro catalyst.
Bear Case: A sharper decline in Hodler metrics leads to a drop below $1.13, exposing support levels at $1.12 and $1.09. A break below $1.05 invalidates the pattern and shifts focus to broader support. This scenario aligns with current ETF flow trends.
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The post XRP Targets $1.21 but Institutional Demand Is Quietly Drying Up appeared first on 99Bitcoins.
