XRP Surges to $2.45 on May 18 but Faces Immediate Rejection

The one-hour chart from TradingView shows the price failed to sustain above the 50-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA), which now sits at $2.37487.

The price of Ripple’s XRP has come under renewed selling pressure after encountering resistance near the $2.45 mark, leading to a setback below the 50-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA) on the one-hour chart,maysollar reports.

After multiple failed attempts to sustain above this line, which is currently trading at $2.37487, XRP turned sharply lower, falling back to the $2.30 level.

At the time of writing, XRP is trading at $2.29266, just below this support. The horizontal line at $2.30 has acted as a key level since May 17, with price bouncing from it several times. However, the continued pressure below the EMA and the formation of consecutive red candles show that bears are in control.

If this support breaks, the next support zone appears near $2.12, which is the confluence of the 100-period EMA and a horizontal demand zone. However, if sellers accelerate, the price could fall as low as $2.00—an area where the token found strong demand earlier in 2025 and could serve as a final line of defense.

The trading volume has remained stable over the past few hours, suggesting that any sharp move from here may follow a clear direction. A significant uptick in volume could indicate strong demand or selling pressure, while low volume could indicate indecision and a continuation of the sideways trading.

Chart: TradingView

A recent analysis from Xplenty highlighted a classic Head and Shoulders pattern forming on the 1-hour chart of XRP to United States Dollar (XRP/USD). This technical formation is often used to signal a potential trend reversal.

In the chart shared by analyst Ali Martinez on May 18, 2025, XRP formed a Left Shoulder around $2.45, then surged toward $2.70 to create the Head. After that, it failed to reach the previous peak and formed the Right Shoulder just under $2.45. The neckline—marked by the shaded horizontal zone—sits around $2.30, which is the same critical support level highlighted in Martinez’s recent analysis.

At the time of the snapshot, XRP hovered around this neckline. According to the analyst, if this support breaks, it could trigger a sharp decline toward $2.00. This area has repeatedly acted as a strong base since the beginning of 2025, making it the next logical support target.

The symmetry of the pattern, combined with falling highs and consistent testing of the neckline, increases the chance of a bearish continuation. If XRP closes below the $2.30 zone with volume confirmation, the head and shoulders breakdown could gain momentum toward the $2.00 level.

Chart: Xplenty

Moreover, Whale Watch Perps, an X account that tracks major trader movements, reported that a large whale with a strong profit-and-loss record has reduced their long exposure to XRP.

This move may signal a bearish shift in sentiment among bigger players, especially considering the whale's successful track record. A shift in whale activity can influence price trends, especially if it coincides with technical setups or news events.

However, despite the downward pressure, analyst Ali Martinez highlighted a potential reversal for XRP based on the TD Sequential indicator.

The one-hour chart from May 17, 2025, shows a buy signal (9 candle) forming just after a sharp drop to $2.30 on the Binance XRP/USDT pair.

The TD Sequential, a tool used to identify trend exhaustion and possible turning points, printed a green setup count on the lower boundary of the current candle structure. This signal appears as the price touches the lower fib of the recent range, suggesting that a pause—or even a bounce—could follow.

While XRP dropped aggressively before this signal, the appearance of both a TD 9 and a green arrow together amplifies the short-term possibility of recovery. If the indicator plays out as expected, XRP may attempt a rebound toward earlier resistance levels, possibly near $2.35.

Confirmation would require a strong hourly close above the signal candle's high, ideally with support from rising volume to indicate strong buying pressure.

Chart: TradingView

In other news, user Xoom shared GoogleTrends data showing a noticeable uptick in global search interest for "XRP." The chart, which tracks web search activity over the past 12 months, showcases a prolonged period of flat engagement through mid-2024.

Afterward, interest began climbing rapidly around late November, coinciding with a downturn in the crypto market overall. The spike peaked in December 2024—likely aligning with major price action or news—and although it declined afterward, the trend remained higher than earlier levels. Most recently, the data shows another increase in April 202