XRP Defies Market as ETF Inflows Fuel 22.4% Monthly Rebound

XRP outperformed other major cryptocurrencies on Friday, rising 1.46% to $1.53, while Bitcoin fell 0.83% and Ether lost 0.84%. This move stands out against the rest of the market, which saw crypto miners and treasury companies fall 4-10%.

The token has recovered sharply this month, with a 22.4% gain from its September 16 low of $1.25. XRP spent most of 2026 grinding between $0.90 and $1.10 before a violent August breakout took it to $1.70 in less than 72 hours.

The average XRP holder who bought over the past year is down 12%, while the average Bitcoin buyer over the same period is in profit. Until ETF inflows return to their August pace, XRP will trade between $1.44 and $1.60, with the ceiling defined by holders who want out rather than by fundamentals.

The $1.60 level is the single most important line on XRP's chart, and understanding why it holds explains the near-term forecast. A large volume of XRP changed hands between $1.50 and $1.70 during its August surge, much of it bought by traders chasing the breakout and investors entering through ETFs.