XRP Price Moves Up, Options Expire Amid ETF Inflows
Ripple’s crypto (XRP) price inched up by about 3% to $1.45, outperforming a modestly positive broader market, primarily driven by a major payment platform integration in Japan and strong institutional ETF inflows.
Crypto analysts said the combination of a landmark utility partnership and resurgent institutional buying has shifted XRP’s near-term momentum to the upside.
Trading volume indicates that XRP trading has surged by 32% over the past 24 hours to $4.1 billion at the time of filing the report on Friday.
Though still tracking below its average target price, the token market capitalisation is up to $89 billion, retaking its fourth position among top digital assets in the crypto market.
The market has begun to price in optimism over Ripple’s enhanced footprint in cross-border payments. Rakuten Wallet launched XRP spot trading and enabled payments via Rakuten Pay, connecting 44 million monthly active users and over 5 million merchant locations.
Also, U.S. spot XRP ETFs saw $17.11 million in net inflows on April 15, marking the largest single-day intake in almost 11 weeks and the fourth consecutive day of positive flows.
This coincided with data showing whale accumulation at a 10-month high, reducing exchange sell-side pressure. Institutional buyers are returning, providing a foundation of buying pressure that can amplify positive news.
Technically, XRP faces immediate supply resistance between $1.45 and $1.47, where over 1.24 billion XRP are held. The 7-day average at 74.02 suggests overbought conditions in the short term.
The key near-term trigger is the progression of the U.S. CLARITY Act, with Senate Banking Committee review expected later in April.
The path of least resistance is cautiously higher, but the rally needs to absorb overhead supply to continue. Investors are guided to watch for a daily close above $1.47 to confirm breakout strength, or a drop below the $1.40 pivot point to signal a deeper correction.
Today, $3.75 million worth of XRP options expired with a max pain price of $1.38 and a put-call ratio of 1.11, indicating slightly bearish positioning among derivatives traders.
However, the spot price has held above this level, trading around $1.43, supported by consistent inflows into spot XRP ETFs. This is neutral for XRP, according to technical traders.
Crypto analysts said the bearish options positioning suggests some traders are hedging or betting against a rally, but the robust spot ETF inflows—a sign of institutional buying—are counteracting that pressure, creating a tug-of-war between derivative and spot market sentiment. Bitcoin Price Tops $75.3K after BTC Miners Q1 Selloffs
