It’s a complete bloodbath for Ripple’s native token XRP as prices plunged double-digits early Friday. It plummeted more than 20% in the day’s trading session, sparking concerns among the investor community. Its price is now at the $1.20 level and is flirting with falling below the $1 mark.
If Ripple’s XRP goes below $1, it could take months, if not years, to get back to its previous highs. For context, the altcoin climbed above $3 in 2018 and fell below $1 for nearly seven years. If the cycle repeats, it could reclaim $3 only after this decade. The move could erode investors’ confidence in the cryptocurrency market and make them pivot to other forms of investment.
Also Read: How Low Can XRP Price Crash In This Cycle? Hopes For Rebound
Ripple XRP Dips To Dangerous Lows
Ripple’s XRP has already lost 50% of its value in a year, and 46% of the decline occurred in just a month in 2026. The year mostly started on the back foot, with leading cryptocurrencies plunging deep into the red. Traders who wanted to earn quick money are having a tough time in the digital assets market this year around.
The stock market, despite all the naunces of tariffs and trade wars, is doing much better than expected. Dow Jones is up 1.3% year-to-date, while the S&P 500 index is trading on the razor’s edge. The market has been affected this month due to earnings calls from various companies. An investment in the stock market could have generated more returns than Ripple’s XRP year-to-date.
Also Read: Bitwise XRP ETF Performance: Has It Delivered Profits or Losses?
The path for a quick recovery is questionable as Bitcoin is leading the market crash. BTC is down more than 10% early Friday and has dipped to the $65,000 level. It is now down to its 2021 all-time high of $69,869. The extreme fall has not only affected retail investors, but institutional clients are experiencing how volatile the cryptocurrency market is, especially through the Bitcoin ETF.