XRP Plunges Below Key Support As Crypto Market Sinks

On January 30, 2026, the cryptocurrency market faced a dramatic downturn, with XRP leading the slide among major coins. According to reporting from NewsBTC, XRP’s price extended its losses and dipped below the crucial $1.80 mark, raising concerns among traders and analysts about whether support levels could absorb the ongoing shock. The unfolding scenario mirrored broader volatility in the digital asset space, as Bitcoin and Ethereum also struggled to hold their ground.

XRP’s troubles began in earnest when it failed to maintain a position above $1.90. As NewsBTC detailed, the price slipped below $1.850 and $1.8250, entering a short-term bearish zone. The decline did not stop there—XRP spiked below $1.750, hitting a low of $1.710 before entering a period of consolidation. This sequence of events was not isolated, as similar patterns were observed across the crypto market, with Bitcoin and Ethereum also suffering substantial losses.

The technical picture for XRP painted a grim outlook. The price was trading below $1.80 and the 100-hourly Simple Moving Average, both indicators of bearish momentum. A key bearish trend line had formed, with resistance at $1.8050 on the hourly chart of the XRP/USD pair. The consensus among analysts was clear: unless XRP could reclaim and hold above $1.8250, the risk of further declines remained high.

For those watching the charts, resistance levels to watch included $1.7650, $1.80, $1.8250, $1.850, $1.880, $1.920, and $1.950. On the flip side, support levels were identified at $1.740, $1.720, $1.70, $1.6720, and $1.650. The hourly MACD for XRP/USD was gaining pace in the bearish zone, and the hourly Relative Strength Index (RSI) had dropped below the 50 level—both classic signs of mounting selling pressure.

Market participants were left wondering: could XRP’s support zones absorb the ongoing shock, or was a deeper slide on the horizon? According to NewsBTC, if XRP failed to clear the $1.80 resistance zone, it could be primed for another leg down. The first line of defense was at $1.740, but a break and close below $1.720 could open the door for a further decline toward $1.70. Should selling accelerate, the next major support sat near $1.6720, with a potential drop to $1.650 not out of the question.

Despite a brief recovery wave that pushed the price above $1.740 and approached the 23.6% Fibonacci retracement level from the $1.938 swing high to the $1.710 low, optimism remained muted. A close above $1.80, analysts noted, could send the price toward $1.8250 or even the 50% retracement level, but each attempt at a rebound faced stiff resistance.

The broader context only added to the sense of unease. On January 29, 2026, Bitcoin itself was not immune to the downturn, as reported by Bitcoinist. The world’s largest cryptocurrency fell below the closely watched $85,000 level, despite what many saw as positive regulatory developments in the United States. The Senate Agriculture Committee had advanced its portion of the CLARITY Act, a long-awaited piece of crypto market structure legislation aimed at clarifying the regulatory framework for digital assets. Yet, instead of sparking a rally, the news coincided with a sharp market sell-off.

Bitcoin’s price dropped by roughly $2,700 in a short span, triggering liquidations that erased an estimated $356 million in long positions. According to data from Coinglass, total liquidations across the crypto market reached about $803 million over 24 hours, including $693 million in long liquidations and $109 million in short liquidations. This cascade of forced selling affected not just Bitcoin, but the entire ecosystem—including XRP.

The CLARITY Act itself represents a significant milestone for the industry. With the Agriculture Committee’s approval secured, lawmakers must now merge provisions expanding the Commodity Futures Trading Commission’s role with parallel sections overseen by the Senate Banking Committee, which address the Securities and Exchange Commission’s jurisdiction. The hope among industry advocates is that a clearer regulatory framework will eventually foster more stability and attract institutional investment. But in the short term, the market’s reaction was anything but reassuring.

Market analyst Rekt Capital, quoted by Bitcoinist, emphasized the technical hurdles facing Bitcoin. He noted that the cryptocurrency needs to prevent the former range low around $86,000 from turning into resistance on lower time frames. “A weekly close above that level would be necessary to avoid a deeper breakdown,” he explained. Should Bitcoin decisively break below the $86,000 area, it could test the macro triangle bottom near $82,500, with further drops accelerating bearish momentum. As of the evening of January 29, Bitcoin had only briefly recovered to $85,135, still well below the critical level outlined by analysts.

For XRP, the parallels are clear. The coin’s fate in the coming days hinges on its ability to reclaim lost ground and hold key support levels. The technical indicators—MACD in the bearish zone and RSI below 50—suggest that sellers remain firmly in control for now. Any hope for a sustained rebound will likely depend not just on XRP-specific developments, but on broader market sentiment and the evolving regulatory landscape.

Investors and traders are well aware that the crypto market is notoriously volatile, often swinging wildly in response to both technical signals and macroeconomic events. The recent sell-off, triggered in part by cascading liquidations and uncertainty about the pace of regulatory change, is a stark reminder of these risks. Yet, for some, it also represents an opportunity—if support levels hold and sentiment stabilizes, the stage could be set for a recovery rally. But that’s a big "if," and as always in crypto, nothing is guaranteed.

As the dust settles, all eyes remain on XRP’s key support and resistance zones, and on the broader market’s reaction to ongoing legislative efforts in Washington. Whether this period marks the beginning of a deeper correction or merely a temporary shakeout, one thing is certain: the coming days will be critical in shaping the next chapter for XRP and the wider digital asset market.