The opposite head-and-shoulders breakout puts a ripple on the $2.80 track


XRP extended gains above the $2.50 mark on Thursday, breaking through key resistance as volume climbed 31% above weekly averages. The move comes amid broader risk-on sentiment in crypto markets, with bitcoin surging and traders circling high-cap tokens showing technically defined setups.
News background
- The token’s latest advance followed weeks of consolidation between $2.35 and $2.50, with strategic technicals tracking a head-and-shoulders inverse base in mid-October.
- Thursday’s decisive move through the neckline at $2.50 confirmed that pattern, opening a potential continuation phase towards the $2.65-$2.80 range if the buying continues.
- Market positioning shifted as macro sentiment improved. Softer US inflation data and falling Treasury yields triggered risk-on flows to major altcoins. XRP outperformed the Coindesk 5 Index by around five percentage points, signaling asset-specific accumulation rather than sector momentum.
Summary of Price Action
- XRP climbed from $2.50 to $2.57 throughout the session, with intraday volume peeking at 142 million—31% above its seven-day mean.
- The breakout was defined by three consecutive higher lows at $2.44, $2.48 and $2.51, which confirmed the controlled accumulation through the $2.50 zone.
- While short profit margins appeared near $2.58, XRP held above breakout support, suggesting institutions are increasing exposure to retests.
- Elevated spot volume combined with muted derivatives leverage confirmed genuine buying interest rather than short-squeeze dynamics.
Technical Analysis
- The completed inverse head-and-shoulders formation now defines XRP’s near-term technical bias. Momentum indicators, including the RSI and MACD, both opened on the daily chart, while volume expansion confirmed the strength of the move.
- Immediate resistance lies at $2.60, followed by a secondary target near $2.80. Failure to hold $2.50 on a closing basis will neutralize the bullish structure, potentially inviting a roll back to the $2.40-$2.42 support.
What entrepreneurs should know
Traders are monitoring whether $2.50 holds as a new base—a level now considered a pivot for confirmation of the short-term trend. Exchange balance data shows XRP reserves up approximately 3.3% since early October, a historical bullish signal linked to whale accumulation phases.
Open interest has stabilized and funding rates will remain neutral, leaving the move largely area-driven. Sustained volume above 130 million through the weekend could prove continuation towards $2.70-$2.80, while fading participation could trap prices within the $2.40-$2.55 range.



