TLDR
- XRP open interest on Binance climbed to $566.48 million, surpassing the 30-day average of $528.84 million, showing cautious accumulation among traders.
- The 30-day standard deviation of open interest reached $65.7 million, its highest level since November, indicating potential price expansion ahead.
- XRP snapped a seven-day losing streak after President Trump withdrew his 10% tariff threat on eight European NATO nations.
- Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse defended the Market Structure Bill at the World Economic Forum, calling for “clarity over chaos” in crypto regulation.
- Technical analysis shows XRP needs to break above $2.0 to confirm a bullish trend reversal, with medium-term targets at $3.0.
XRP price rebounded on January 21 after President Trump announced a framework agreement on Greenland, ending threats of tariffs against European NATO nations. The token gained 3.13% to close at $1.9463, reversing part of the previous day’s 4.86% decline.
🇺🇸 Trump says talks with NATO leadership led to a framework covering Greenland and the Arctic.
⏸️ Planned tariffs for February 1 are now on hold as negotiations continue. pic.twitter.com/0X525aTOrG
— Trader Edge (@Pro_Trader_Edge) January 22, 2026
The rally followed a seven-day losing streak that saw XRP drop 12% to $1.8489. Trump’s announcement removed immediate trade war concerns between the US and EU.
Trump stated the tariff framework represented “a great one for the United States of America, and all NATO Nations.” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte indicated Europe would step up defense spending, easing tensions.
Blockchain data firm Cryptoquant released an analysis on January 20 examining XRP derivatives activity on Binance. The data showed open interest rose to approximately $566.48 million, exceeding the 30-day moving average of $528.84 million.
The analysis noted traders are taking “a cautious approach” rather than rushing into positions. This steady accumulation differs from the rapid leverage expansion seen in late 2024 and mid-2025.
Volatility Signals Potential Price Movement
The 30-day standard deviation of open interest increased to around $65.7 million, reaching its highest point since November. This expansion in volatility often precedes price movements as traders position for future changes.
Despite increased open interest, leverage remains balanced. The Z-score stands at approximately 0.57, indicating the market has not entered extreme leverage territory. Cryptoquant characterized the current phase as “cautious accumulation with a gradual increase in risk.”
Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse addressed crypto regulation at the World Economic Forum. He pushed back against critics of the Market Structure Bill, arguing that no legislation is better than waiting for perfect legislation.
“Let’s not let perfect be the enemy of good,” Garlinghouse said. He emphasized the bill would provide “a clear framework, allowing innovation to flourish.”
The US Senate Agriculture Committee plans to release its draft text on January 23, with a markup vote scheduled for January 27. The Senate Banking Committee previously postponed its markup vote after Coinbase withdrew support.
Technical Levels and Market Structure
XRP remains below its 50-day and 200-day exponential moving averages, currently at $2.0537 and $2.3035 respectively. The token needs to break above $2.0 to signal a near-term bullish trend reversal.
3 levels to watch for $XRP:
• Support: $1.78
• Resistance: $1.97 and $2 pic.twitter.com/VZeGVncAYG— Ali Charts (@alicharts) January 22, 2026
Support levels sit at $1.85, $1.75, and $1.50. A sustained drop below $1.85 would invalidate the bullish structure and signal a bearish reversal.
Analysts project a medium-term price target of $3.0 over four to eight weeks if current conditions hold. A longer-term target of $3.66 applies to an eight to twelve week timeframe.
XRP-spot ETF demand continues to support price action. The resolution of the SEC vs. Ripple case in 2025 enabled increased XRP adoption across traditional finance applications.
The Bank of Japan’s monetary policy decision on January 23 and US economic data releases will influence near-term price action. XRP-spot ETF flows and progress on the Market Structure Bill remain key factors for the token’s trajectory.
