- XRP is retesting the $1.99 level that rejected price during the 2017 cycle
- Holding this zone as support would confirm a long-term structural shift
- Failure could open a move toward $1.60, while a bounce strengthens the bullish case
Crypto analyst Steph Is Crypto (@Steph_iscrypto) recently pointed to a subtle but important shift on XRP’s monthly chart. His focus landed on the $1.99 area, a level that famously rejected price back in 2017 and helped shut down a major rally. According to Steph, XRP is now revisiting that same zone, and the outcome here could define the next phase.
He described this moment as a potential turning point rather than just another retest. The key, in his view, is whether XRP can stay above this region instead of slipping back under it. Holding this zone would suggest the market is finally ready to treat an old ceiling as something sturdier.
Why This Zone Keeps Pulling Price Back
XRP’s chart shows a long memory, with price repeatedly reacting to the same bands over multiple cycles. The $1.99 rejection in 2017, the $1.60 rejection in 2021, and the $0.70 rejection in 2023 all stand out as moments where momentum stalled and sellers stepped in. Over time, these failures built a wide resistance structure that capped upside for years.
What makes the current setup different is location. XRP didn’t just tap the 2017 level, it pushed above it earlier in the year and is now testing it from the top. Steph noted that turning this area into support would signal a meaningful shift in the long-term structure, not just a short-term bounce.
A Market Deciding Whether to Commit
Right now, XRP sits in a decision zone where patience matters more than speed. The pullback isn’t about panic selling, but about whether buyers are willing to defend this new range after the breakout. Monthly closes above $1.99 would be a strong signal that the market accepts higher prices, even if progress feels slow.
If that defense fails, the chart leaves room for a move back toward $1.60. That level acted as resistance in 2021 and now stands out as a logical support if pressure builds. It’s not a bearish target by default, but more of a reminder that structure still matters.
The Bigger Picture Still Favors Structure
Much lower levels, like $0.70, remain on the chart as long-term references rather than immediate threats. There’s no strong signal suggesting the market wants to revisit those depths right now. Instead, the focus stays locked on how XRP behaves around the 2017 rejection zone, which is now being asked to play a very different role.
A clean bounce from this area would likely set a constructive tone for the months ahead. If XRP can prove it belongs above this level, it may mark the asset’s first sustained trend shift since late 2024, quietly but decisively.
