• Active XRP addresses dropped over 40% in four days.
• XRP price remains stuck between a tight trading range.
• Retail holders have grown, but overall network activity is slowing.

XRP has entered a tight and uncertain phase after a brief rally following an announcement by US President Donald Trump that the United States will pause strikes on energy and power installations in Iran after the expiry of the 48-hour ultimatum on opening the Strait of Hormuz.

BREAKING PRESIDENT TRUMP: We had very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of hostilities in the Middle East.

Military strikes postponed for 5 days. pic.twitter.com/wiZh9F1H5p

— Donald J Trump Posts TruthSocial (@TruthTrumpPost) March 23, 2026

The momentum that initially lifted prices following Trump’s announcement now appears to be fading as the market struggles to find direction.

At the time of writing, XRP is trading around $1.43.

The price has moved within a narrow range between $1.36 and $1.46, reflecting hesitation among traders after a week where XRP slipped by about 5%, extending its broader downward trend over the past year.

While the recent rally gave traders hope, the follow-through has been weak.

XRP Ledger activity drops sharply

One of the most notable developments is the sharp decline in XRP Ledger (XRPL) network activity.

Notably, XRP’s active addresses have fallen by more than 40% within just a few days, according to the data obtained from CryptoQuant.

This drop signals a slowdown in user engagement, which often reflects reduced demand in the short term.

Fewer active participants usually translate to less transaction volume and weaker momentum.

This decline contrasts with the earlier optimism that surrounded XRP’s growing number of wallet holders.

While more people may be holding XRP, fewer are actively using it.

This gap between ownership and activity suggests that investors are choosing to wait rather than act.

Such behaviour is common during uncertain market conditions.

Retail growth continues despite the slowdown

Even as activity drops, the number of smaller XRP holders continues to grow steadily.

This trend points to increasing retail interest in the asset.

A rising base of small holders often signals long-term confidence, even if short-term sentiment is mixed.

It also suggests that XRP is becoming more widely distributed rather than concentrated in a few large hands.

However, growing ownership alone does not guarantee price growth.

Without strong network activity to support it, price movements can remain limited.

This is the situation XRP appears to be facing now.

XRP price outlook

XRP’s current price movements reflect a market caught between opposing forces.

On one hand, there is optimism driven by broader adoption and past rally attempts.

On the other hand, there is clear evidence of weakening participation and fading momentum.

The asset remains well below its previous peak, showing that recovery is still incomplete.

Short-term price action suggests consolidation rather than a decisive move in either direction, with the immediate support level at near $1.33 holding for now.

At the same time, resistance around $1.54 to $1.60 continues to limit upward movement, creating a narrow trading range that traders are watching closely.

Sudden spike in Bitcoin price on Monday as fake spot Bitcoin ETF approval news surfaced has continued to baffle the crypto community. Bitcoin’s whirlwind featured an abrupt surge to $30,000, triggered by rumors of the SEC approving Blackrock’s iShares Bitcoin spot ETF. However, this excitement quickly turned to disappointment as Blackrock denied the claims, sending Bitcoin plummeting back to $28,100 in minutes.

The incident, resulting in a cascade of liquidations across the crypto market, has been met with widespread criticism from experts who firmly believe the ultimate objective was market manipulation for the benefit of a select few.

Is There A Need for Regulatory Action?

Prominent crypto analyst Gareth Soloway weighed in on this situation, describing it as a “pump and dump” during a recording on Tuesday. Soloway asserted that such a drastic price movement couldn’t have occurred without someone intentionally spreading false information for personal gain.

“I’m just being honest with you; this stuff doesn’t just materialize out of thin air with no one having some ulterior motive.” He emphasized.

Soloway further expressed his concern over the situation, noting that such events could undermine trust in the crypto space, calling for a regulatory body’s intervention.

“Bottom line, I will say this: yes, the crypto markets need the SEC or some regulatory body that is monitoring the crazy house essentially…There needs to be an investigation by the SEC into this to find out who was placing big bets on Bitcoin.” He went on.

According to Soloway, when rumors, misinformation or news can lead to significant price fluctuations, there’s a call for a regulatory framework to ensure market integrity.

Positive Market Signal Amid the Chaos

That said, while the “pump and dump” incident had market-wide consequences, Soloway observed that the Bitcoin chart had indicated a positive bias leading up to the events. And despite not providing a clear target he highlighted that the chart provided signals for a potential surge.

That said, CoinTelegraph, the source that initially reported this false information, causing an immediate market response, removed the post and issued an apology. Shortly after the incident, Kristina Lucrezia, the Editor-in-Chief of CoinTelegraph, expressed her regrets at a Dubai event, stating, “This was a disaster, and it serves as an example of what must not occur.”

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Newton Mbogo is a crypto and DeFi specialist. He has a B.A Hons in Law from Kabarak University, where he studied complex economic, legal, and ethical theory relevant to the FinTech landscape. Newton has a particular interest in decentralization and privacy blockchains, as they directly relate to our human rights and flourishing.

The presented content may include the personal opinion of the author and is subject to market condition. Do your market research before investing in cryptocurrencies. The author or the publication does not hold any responsibility for your personal financial loss.