XRP Price Prediction Today: Bearish Crossover Emerges as Bulls Struggle to Defend $2.31 Support

XRP price traded lower for a second consecutive day, slipping 2.03% to $2.36

US District Judge Analisa Torres’ latest ruling in the SEC vs. Ripple case has sparked fresh uncertainty about XRP’s institutional clarity, pushing the token lower.

Despite a small recovery attempt on May 15, XRP price slipped 2.03% to $2.36 on Tuesday amid rising legal uncertainty and bearish derivatives flows.

Could weak trading volumes trigger further downsizing over the weekend?

Judge Torres’ Ruling Casts Doubt on XRP’s Regulatory Future

Ripple (XRP) price tumbled to weekly lows around $2.3 on Friday after Judge Analisa Torres rejected a joint motion from Ripple and the SEC that sought clarity on the ban against institutional XRP sales.

The negative market reaction continued on Saturday, as Ripple price (XRP) traded as low as $2.31 as the decision to uphold the $125 million settlement fund now introduces fresh regulatory risks.

Moreover, appeals could run until the end of the year. Without that, Ripple remains trapped in a gray zone, and investors are beginning to price in the likelihood that this legal stalemate could last well into 2025.

However, the market is now pricing in a high probability of the SEC appealing Judge Torres’ decision, which could further delay clarity on institutional XRP sales.

This uncertainty has led to a decline in investor confidence, evidenced by the decreasing open interest in XRP derivatives.

Bearish Flows Deepen as Market Participation Wanes

The US judge’s decision took many bull traders by surprise. Those impacted have spent the last 24 hours repositioning trades to suit the latest twist in the Ripple vs SEC case.

Coinglass’ derivatives trading data shows XRP Open Interest down 6.47% to $4.71 billion, reflecting a rapid exit from leveraged long positions.

Meanwhile, a collapse in trading volume by 23.35% is a clear sign that many traders are scaling down exposure to XRP amid the regulatory uncertainty.

Despite this broader retreat, some large traders appear to be positioning for a reversal, with the top accounts maintaining a bullish long/short ratio.

But that optimism contrasts with mounting long liquidations, which totaled $11.67 million over the last 24 hours, while short liquidations remained negligible.

What’s Next for XRP?

With the next court deadline not until mid-June, XRP will likely remain under pressure, locked between fragile support and sliding sentiment.

The ETF narrative that once boosted optimism now looks increasingly remote as legal clarity dims.

Traders may continue to de-risk until either the SEC signals an official appeal or Ripple produces a more compelling motion.

Until then, XRP price is likely to consolidate with a narrow channel between $2 and $3, swinging with the broader market narrative.