XRP's Bear Trend Accelerates: What a Drop Below $1.80 Means for the Next Target

The latest price action in XRP signals that the recent bounce from early January may be nothing more than a tactical short-covering rally within a larger downtrend, rather than the beginning of a lasting recovery. With the token trading at $1.41 as of early February 2026, the question of whether XRP can establish a durable base or face further decline has become increasingly urgent for traders.

USDT Trading Pair: Defending the Critical $1.80 Support Zone

On the daily USDT chart, XRP is hovering just above the crucial demand zone between $1.80 and $1.90 after failing to maintain ground above the $2.40 supply band. The 100-day and 200-day moving averages continue their downward slope, a clear bearish signal that keeps medium-term momentum tilted to the downside. Meanwhile, the daily RSI has retreated from overbought territory back toward neutral levels, confirming that the recent bounce is losing steam.

As long as this $1.80–$1.90 floor remains intact, there is still a possibility for XRP to establish a consolidation range, with recapturing $2.20–$2.40 as the necessary first step to argue for any meaningful trend reversal. However, a decisive daily close below $1.80 would remove this safety net and open the door toward the October capitulation lows around $1.60. If selling pressure intensifies beyond that point, the higher-timeframe demand zone near $1.20–$1.30 becomes the next major target for the bear trend to reach.

Relative Weakness Against Bitcoin Compounds Downside Pressure

When examined against Bitcoin, XRP’s technical picture looks even more concerning. The XRP/BTC pair is currently trading around 2,100–2,200 sats after a sharp rejection from the 2,400 sats resistance band and the cluster of moving averages in that zone. The pair remains locked in a structural downtrend, with each rally attempt into the 2,400–2,500 sats area consistently meeting selling pressure and failing to establish higher highs.

The lower support zone sits around 1,900–2,000 sats, where recent price action has shown some defensive interest, but this remains insufficient to signal a reversal. Until the pair reclaims at least the 2,400–2,500 sats region and breaks above key moving averages, Bitcoin continues to outperform. A breakdown below 1,800 sats would confirm renewed underperformance and potentially extend the decline toward the previous major demand area near 1,500 sats.

The $1.20 Question: Is Further Decline Inevitable?

The bear case for XRP hinges on whether support levels break decisively. Current price levels suggest the market remains vulnerable, with multiple technical barriers working against bullish recovery attempts. The proximity to lower support zones, combined with weakening momentum indicators and relative weakness against Bitcoin, creates a setup where a drop to the $1.20–$1.30 range is certainly within the realm of possibility if conviction selling accelerates. Traders watching this pair should maintain focus on the $1.80 USDT level as the critical line in the sand—a break below it would validate the broader bear narrative that has defined XRP’s recent price action.