The cryptocurrency market is abuzz with activity as XRP trades near $1.40, spurred by Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse’s recent appointment to the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Innovation Advisory Committee. This strategic move marks a significant shift in regulatory relations for Ripple after considerable challenges over the past five years.
Garlinghouse expressed enthusiasm about the committee’s potential, referring to it as the ‘Olympics crypto roster’ in a recent tweet. This new role aligns Ripple with key industry leaders, positioning the firm favorably in dialogues around cryptocurrency legislation.
The CFTC’s Chairman Michael Selig indicated that the committee’s purpose is to ensure regulatory decisions resonate with market realities, suggesting a more inclusive approach towards the evolving digital asset landscape.
Despite this positive development, XRP’s trajectory has been challenging; the token has encountered a 25% decrease year-to-date, having fallen from above $2.40 in early January to near $1.15 on February 11, which translates to a notable 52% retracement from its all-time high of $3.56.
In a recent analysis from Coinglass, the derivatives scene paints a complex picture. Open interest for XRP saw a modest rise of 2.04%, reaching $2.30 billion, while the options volume skyrocketed by 338.80% to $6.25 million, although total trading volume dropped by 16.70%. This duality suggests that while traders are more active, their strategies remain mixed.
Short-to-long ratios remain high, with Binance reporting a ratio of 2.18 and OKX slightly higher at 2.28, showcasing the market’s current positioning in favor of longs. However, the technical signals are mixed. XRP has broken below its long-standing descending trendline since the price peak in July 2025, with the Supertrend indicator shifting to bearish around $1.74.
The current support level around $1.40 is under pressure, with the former support at $1.51 now acting as resistance. Analysts emphasize the critical importance of reclaiming this $1.51 level to reverse the bearish momentum. Failure to hold the $1.40 level could send XRP spiraling down to test support beneath at $1.30, or even revisit the $1.15 lows.
On the legislative front, there are encouraging signs as discussions on stablecoin regulations within the US Senate are reported to have progressed, potentially ushering in greater clarity for cryptocurrencies, including XRP. Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong has highlighted ongoing negotiations that aim to unite the White House, banks, and crypto stakeholders around mutual goals.
With the Market Structure Bill still awaiting senatorial approval after passing the House in July 2025, traders remain vigilant. A breakthrough in regulation could fundamentally alter the landscape for XRP, impacting both market sentiment and price trajectory.
As XRP recovers from its recent lows, trading remains range-bound, with resistance forming around $1.45 and potential for further climbs if it can break out decisively above this level. Analysts have outlined a near-term target of $1.00 should selling pressures continue, but they also cite medium-term targets that soar as high as $2.50 to $3.00 should regulatory clarity take shape and the market structure improves.
While the near-term outlook remains challenging, the collective market sentiment suggests cautious optimism persists, particularly as the crypto ecosystem aligns more closely with regulatory frameworks in Washington.
