Downtrend Holds As ETF Flows Turn Selective

• XRP remains capped below its descending trendline and major EMAs, keeping the broader structure corrective rather than bullish.
• ETF flows turned choppy, with profit-taking on January 7 followed by modest dip-buying, signaling selective institutional positioning.
• Price sits at a crossroads, with $2.40 needed to shift momentum higher, while a break below $2.00 risks renewed downside.

XRP price today trades near $2.10 on January 9, 2026, pulling back after a sharp rejection from the descending trendline that has defined the corrective phase since August. The market remains caught between short-term technical pressure and improving ETF flows, creating a narrow zone where direction is still being decided.

Downtrend Structure Remains Intact On The Daily Chart

On the daily timeframe, XRP continues to trade below a clearly defined descending trendline that connects the August and October swing highs. Every rally into that line has failed, including the most recent attempt near the $2.35 to $2.40 area earlier this week.

XRP is also trading below the 50, 100, and 200-day EMAs, which are stacked between $2.07 and $2.34. The 20-day EMA near $2.04 is providing minor short-term support, but it has not been enough to force a broader reversal. The Parabolic SAR remains positioned above price, confirming that the prevailing daily trend still favors sellers.

As long as XRP remains capped below the descending trendline and the 200-day EMA near $2.34, upside attempts remain corrective rather than trend-forming.

Short-Term Charts Show Stabilization, Not Expansion

The two-hour chart shows XRP consolidating after its recent bounce, with price holding near the mid-Bollinger Band around $2.13. Volatility has compressed, suggesting that the market is pausing rather than accelerating.

RSI on this timeframe is hovering near 40, reflecting weak momentum and a lack of aggressive dip buying. The indicator has failed to reclaim the bullish 50 level, which keeps short-term sentiment cautious. Price remains below the upper Bollinger Band, reinforcing that upside pressure is limited for now.

ETF Flows Turn Choppy After First Major Pullback

ETF flow data shows a clear shift in positioning this week.

On January 7, 2026, U.S. spot XRP ETFs recorded a $40.8 million net outflow, marking the first meaningful pullback after a 54-day streak of consistent inflows. The reversal signaled that some institutional participants chose to lock in gains rather than continue adding exposure at elevated levels.

The bulk of the selling pressure came from 21Shares’ XRP ETF (TOXR), which saw roughly $47 million in redemptions during the session. Smaller outflows were also reported across products from Bitwise, Canary Capital, and Grayscale, while Franklin Templeton’s XRP fund showed little to no change, suggesting selling was concentrated rather than broad-based.

The following session showed a different tone. On January 8, 2026, XRP spot ETFs posted $8.72 million in net inflows, indicating that dip buying emerged quickly after the initial liquidation wave. While modest in size, the rebound suggests institutional interest has not fully retreated, even as price remains under technical pressure.

This sequence matters. The January 7 outflow reflects profit-taking after an extended inflow run, not a wholesale exit. The January 8 inflow shows that buyers are still active, but more selective. ETF participation has shifted from aggressive accumulation to measured positioning, which aligns with XRP’s current consolidation below key resistance.

Outlook. Will XRP Go Up?

XRP sits at a technical crossroads.

• Bullish case: Buyers need a daily close above $2.22, followed by a decisive breakout through $2.40, to invalidate the descending trendline. A sustained move above that zone would shift momentum and open the door toward $2.75.
• Bearish case: A failure to hold $2.00 would weaken the structure and expose $1.78. A daily close below that level would confirm continuation of the broader corrective trend.