XRP dipped below the $1 mark this week, weighed by persistent selling pressure, broader market weakness, and a strengthened U.S. dollar. These factors have further subdued XRP’s standing among the top cryptocurrencies by market capitalization, casting doubt on its ability to maintain its position.
Selling Streak Approaches Record Length
Early on Saturday, XRP’s value fell to $0.972, marking a ninth consecutive day of losses since November 5, 2026. A further decline by day’s end would set a new record for the longest uninterrupted downward trend of the year. At the time of writing, XRP traded at $0.986, reflecting a 2.58% drop over the previous 24 hours. Meanwhile, the broader crypto market continued to show signs of weakness, and the U.S. dollar index reached its highest point since April 2025, driven by unexpectedly high inflation data earlier in the week.
XRP’s slip below $1 has put its position as a top-five crypto asset by market value under significant pressure.
XRP Slips Behind USDC in Market Cap Rankings
According to CoinMarketCap data, XRP has fallen out of the top five in market capitalization, sliding to sixth place with a valuation of $62.72 billion. This allows USDC to overtake XRP. XRP has suffered a roughly 16% loss over the past week. USDC, a stablecoin issued by Circle and pegged to the U.S. dollar, is typically perceived as a refuge for investors during periods of heightened market volatility.
Santiment data reveals an increase in higher-balance XRP wallets, despite the price decline. The number of wallets holding at least 10,000 XRP rose to approximately 343,500 in November, marking an increase of 16,815, or 5.15%, over the last nine months.
Santiment, a market intelligence company specializing in on-chain data analysis, suggests that a rise in large wallets amid falling prices may signal a positive market divergence.
During the last seven weeks, even as prices have dropped over 30%, the number of larger XRP holders has continued to grow.
Key Support Level and Investor Behavior
As XRP prices have fallen over 30% in the last seven weeks, the increase in major holders could indicate some high-capital buyers view the sell-off as an opportunity to accumulate positions. However, should the $1 threshold be lost permanently and the wallet growth trend reverse, it could accelerate short-term selling pressure.
In the short-term market outlook, the $1 level remains pivotal. Should the number of wallets holding at least 10,000 XRP continue to rise, and XRP stabilizes around the $1 level while Bitcoin maintains stability, a resurgence to the $1.10 to $1.15 range could be possible. Conversely, sustained trading below $1 and a slowdown in wallet growth could lead XRP to target the $0.77 low tested in October 2025.
