XRP’s price drop has intensified discussions within the crypto market as the token lags behind other major digital assets in 2026.
Traders and investors are increasingly frustrated due to the widening gap between market hopes and reality.
XRP Prices Have Plummeted Around 26% So Far in 2026
XRP’s declining price shows it has not kept pace with positive developments Ripple has made within its ecosystem. The token is down nearly 26% from where it started in 2026 and remains trading in a tight range between $1.36 and $1.37.
According to CoinGecko, XRP is now approximately 62% below its all-time high of $3.65 from July 2025. Daily trading volumes fluctuate between roughly $1.65 billion and $1.77 billion.
Despite Ripple’s recent progress—such as a major legal resolution with the SEC, spot XRP ETFs, and expanded institutional solutions like Ripple Prime—XRP’s price has struggled to rise. The exchange rate has stagnated between $1.35 and $1.38 over recent days, with technical analysts noting weak structure and heavy selling pressure dominating sentiment.
Many believe the $1.30 to $1.35 range is crucial support. If XRP breaks through, traders fear the price could fall further into the lower $1 range.
“We have spent five days under ascending support. $1.30 is currently a critical level. If breached, we could see a drop toward the lower $1 zone in the coming weeks,” said analyst ChartNerdTA.
Traders Grit Their Teeth Over XRP’s Extended Market Lag
The debate has turned heated on social media. Some traders are openly doubting whether Ripple’s long-term vision matches the token’s market performance.
Others have gone further, calling XRP a “scam” and alleging that Ripple too often resorts to “cheap propaganda” instead of delivering real price gains.
“I’m so tired of XRP—I feel cheated. All I see is cheap propaganda,” a user commented on X.
This frustration builds upon years of unrealized promises. Ripple has consistently highlighted XRP as a key tool for cross-border payments, touting partnerships, interoperability, and its ability to reshape global finance.
Yet, retail investors expected these storylines to drive stronger market performance. Instead, XRP ranked among the weakest major cryptos in 2026 so far.
Just ask yourself: halfway through a pro-crypto presidency, with SEC rulings, court cases cleared, ETFs live, and so on… yet XRP lost half its value and is going through penny pumps and dumps… How can this not be a scam?! Wake up!!!”
Critics say that big announcements often spark short-lived hype but rarely keep the price momentum going. This trend is eroding trader confidence, especially those expecting strong returns.
In contrast, some supporters counter that XRP is evolving toward becoming an institutional asset, prioritizing utility over wild price spikes. Long-term hopes now rest on Ripple Ledger upgrades, improved custody solutions, regulatory clarity, and broad-based adoption—factors that may only matter over the long term.
The debate isn’t just about price now—it’s about whether infrastructure and adoption can eventually turn into real, lasting market value.
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The post XRP Faces Growing Backlash After Dropping 26% Year-to-Date appeared first on BeInCrypto.
