The crypto market is bleeding, but XRP is feeling the pain more than most. As of early February 2026, while Bitcoin and Ethereum see moderate pullbacks, XRP has plunged over 22% this week, testing lows near $1.40. 📉
🔍 Why the Extra Pressure?
According to top analysts like Vincent Van Code, XRP’s "heavier" dump isn't just bad luck—it's structural:
Whale Manipulation: Institutional "whales" are rebalancing portfolios. Major sell-offs on exchanges like Binance have triggered a massive leverage flush, wiping out millions in long positions. 🐋💸
The "Threat" Factor: XRP’s growth in cross-border payments threatens the dominance of legacy assets. Strategic selling by those vested in BTC/ETH often intensifies during market stress. ⚔️
Liquidity Squeeze: Despite its high volume, XRP’s concentration of holdings means even moderate "panic selling" creates a faster downward spiral compared to more distributed assets. 🌪️
🛡️ The Silver Lining
Despite the dump, the fundamentals are stronger than ever:
Permissioned Domains: The XRPL just activated the XLS-80 amendment, bringing institutional-grade access to the public ledger. 🏗️
Regulatory Win: With the SEC case finally settled in late 2025, XRP is one of the few assets with total legal clarity. ⚖️
Industrial Utility: Demand for Ripple’s payment rails remains at record highs.
🎯 Key Levels to Watch
Support: $1.35 – $1.40 (Must hold to avoid a crash to $1.20). 🛡️
Resistance: $1.70 (The level needed to flip bullish again). 🧗
Bottom Line: $XRP often "dumps harder" because it "pumps harder" later. Is this the ultimate entry point or a falling knife? DYOR! 💎🙌
