Recently, attentions are focused on the altcoin XRP due to its volatile price movements, especially around May 21. Analyst Levi points out that this could be a decisive moment for XRP, amid global uncertainty intersecting with technical indicators. Currently, the price hovers between $2.31 and $2.15, with a close above $2.61 potentially paving the way to higher levels. Conversely, a drop below $1.79 could reverse the positive short-term scenario.
XRP Faces Crucial Moment on May 21
As the price fell to the $2 range and recovered quickly, the “buy the dip” strategy gained traction. On-chain data reveals increased balances per wallet, suggesting long-term investors are accumulating rather than selling. New additions to liquidity pools hint at limited sell pressure. For short-term traders, the $2.31 – $2.15 range presents both risks and opportunities. Over the last 12 months, three significant bounces occurred in this range, each resulting in more than a 15% price reaction.

Technically, the 100-day EMA remaining beneath the price supports a bullish scenario. However, increasing volatility urges caution in leveraged positions.
In the options market, interest in contracts expiring on May 21 indicates traders expect an upward surprise. However, the final direction depends on the volume in the spot market.
Potential Impact of Geopolitical Tensions on XRP’s Price
The trading tensions between the US and China are affecting not only stock and bond markets but also cryptocurrencies. Washington’s controls on semiconductor exports have sparked retaliation talk in Beijing, weakening risk appetite. During such times, traditional investors tend to withdraw from volatile assets. The initial movement usually occurs in Bitcoin (BTC) $104,953, with subsequent activity in major altcoins like XRP.
However, XRP’s “payment infrastructure” vision can buffer against geopolitical news flows. Interbank transfer pilots are strengthening the long-term use case for the altcoin, swiftly attracting bottom-fishers during deep sales. Analysts predict that breaking the $2.61 level could trigger substantial buying, while failure to do so might lead the price to seek balance around $2.15, influenced by external news flows.