TL;DR
- Market Selloff: XRP fell to its lowest level since December 2025 as a broad risk‑off move hit crypto, with Bitcoin dropping below $75,000 and gold plunging to $4,620.
- Liquidations Spike: Over $2.5 billion in leveraged positions were liquidated on Jan. 31, including more than $10 million in XRP positions, with daily volatility exceeding 7.5%.
- Ripple Milestone: Ripple secured a full EMI license in Luxembourg, enabling EU‑wide expansion of regulated payment services, even as XRP’s market cap slid to $97 billion and technical indicators pointed to continued bearish momentum.
XRP faced intense selling pressure over the weekend as a broad risk‑off shift swept through global markets, dragging the token to its lowest level since December 2025. The downturn unfolded despite Ripple securing a major regulatory milestone in Europe, highlighting the disconnect between the company’s expanding institutional footprint and the token’s deteriorating market sentiment.
Market Rout Drives XRP to Multi-Month Lows
XRP attempted to stabilise near $1.5 after a sharp weekend decline that followed a failed push toward $1.8. The slump mirrored a wider market selloff that saw Bitcoin fall below $75,000 and Ethereum approach $2,100, pulling most major altcoins lower. Even traditional safe havens were not spared. Gold, which had recently climbed above $5,500 an ounce, plunged to about $4,620 in its steepest single-day drop in more than a decade, while silver also posted heavy losses. The turbulence intensified as the US entered a partial government shutdown, adding to the risk‑off mood.
Liquidations Surge as Traders Unwind Positions
More than $2.5 billion in leveraged crypto positions were liquidated on Jan. 31, marking the 10th largest liquidation event on record according to Coinglass. XRP traders were hit particularly hard, with over $10 million in positions wiped out in 24 hours, including $7.4 million in longs. Daily volatility in XRP exceeded 7.5%, and more than 4,300 traders were affected. Some market participants pointed to Binance as a contributor to the selloff, though both the exchange and former chief executive Changpeng Zhao rejected those claims.
Technical Indicators Signal Persistent Bearish Momentum
XRP’s market capitalization has fallen to roughly $97 billion as investors rotate away from risk assets. Daily trading volume dropped 16% to around $5.4 billion, reflecting weakening liquidity. The daily chart remains broadly bearish, with the MACD showing widening negative momentum. While the relative strength index hints at a potential rebound from oversold conditions, analysts caution that weak momentum could limit upside. A break below $1.5 may open the path toward $1.24, while reclaiming $1.8 could help stabilise sentiment.
Ripple Secures Full EMI License in Luxembourg
Ripple received final approval from Luxembourg’s financial regulator for a full Electronic Money Institution license, converting a preliminary authorization granted in January. The license, issued by the Commission de Surveillance du Secteur Financier, enables Ripple to scale regulated payment and digital asset services across the European Union. The approval builds on recent gains in the UK, where the Financial Conduct Authority granted the firm an EMI license and crypto asset registration. XRP trades at around $1.60, up 1.20% in the past 24 hours.
