XRP Overtakes USDT to Become the Third-Largest Cryptocurrency by Market Capitalization

XRP has overtaken Tether (USDT) to become the third-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalisation, now valued at $152.34 billion.

XRP, the third-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, has risen to $152.34 billion, putting it roughly half the size of Ethereum. The token is currently trading at $2.60 after gaining 21% in the past week, making it the strongest performer among the top five digital assets, according to CoinMarketCap.

Its relative strength index (RSI) is at 69.19, while the average directional index (ADX) stands at 18.44.

RSI is a technical indicator that measures an asset's price volatility and can signal overbought or oversold conditions. When RSI is above 70, it is considered overbought, while below 30, it is oversold. ADX, on the other hand, measures the strength of a price trend. When ADX is above 25, it indicates a strong trend, while below 10, it indicates a weak trend.

XRP's RSI is approaching the overbought threshold of 70, which could slow down or reverse the token's momentum. However, XRP defied this trend in November 2024 when it rallied despite similar indicators, pushing through technical ceilings with growing trading volumes.

During XRP's last breakout, a rising ADX helped validate the rally, making it a key metric for traders to watch as it could factor into whether XRP can replicate that historic movement.

XRP has broken past the $2.56 resistance level, which it now needs to convert into a stable support. Holding above this threshold could allow the token to retest the $2.95 barrier, a level not reached since late 2024. If XRP clears that, a move towards $3.00 becomes technically viable and could attract further institutional interest.

But failure to build momentum could trigger a drop. A fall below $2.56 would put XRP at risk of retracing to $2.27, a move that would negate the current bullish structure. The next few days could be crucial in deciding whether XRP continues to rise or enters a corrective phase, especially as traders balance technical signals with broader market sentiment.

Despite the price surge, XRP's rally remains technically fragile. The ADX's position below 25 shows a lack of strong trend confirmation, meaning the current gains could be short-lived without renewed buying pressure. If the indicator moves higher, it would suggest that the rally has more room to grow.

The broader crypto market context will also play a role in XRP's near-term direction. With increasing institutional interest and macro uncertainty in the digital asset space, XRP's standing as the third-largest cryptocurrency brings both opportunity and risk. Traders will be closely tracking whether trend strength improves or if the rally loses steam.