Ripple’s ecosystem is undergoing a technical consolidation phase that, according to Glassnode analysts, precedes a sharp shift in institutional buying behavior. This news, based on Olivia Brooke’s February 2, 2026 report, highlights that XRP accumulation in 2026 by new investors is generating significant psychological pressure on long-term holders.
The asset’s current structure mimics conditions seen in February 2022, where XRP accumulation in 2026 by short-term buyers is occurring below the cost basis of those who entered a year ago. Consequently, this cost inversion phenomenon suggests that the most recent participants are acquiring the token at discounted prices, while previous investors remain underwater, increasing the likelihood of an imminent capitulation move.
From an on-chain perspective, the XRP supply in profit has dropped to 58.5%, leaving approximately 26.5 billion tokens in loss territory despite trading well above 2024 lows. However, profit-realization volume surged by 240% during the correction from $3.09, indicating a market flush where weak hands are yielding to persistent selling pressure in the current climate.
What impact will the resistance zones have on the next rally?
Currently, the asset faces a crucial psychological barrier at $2.00, a level that has triggered weekly realized losses of up to 1.2 billion dollars in previous breakout attempts. Furthermore, technical traders identify a “compressed spring” formation that has historically preceded explosive movements, although caution prevails due to the skepticism still held by some ecosystem whales following the recent drop to $1.63.
Despite the token underperforming the global market in the last 24 hours, continuous developments in the XRP Ledger act as a fundamental catalyst for a high-conversion trade. Thus, if the price manages to consolidate above the resistance zone located between $1.75 and $2.40, the cryptocurrency could initiate an impulsive phase that rewards the patience of strategic accumulators in the short term.
Ultimately, the scenario presented by Glassnode reinforces the thesis of a transition from defensive trading to high-conviction positioning. It is expected that if buying pressure intensifies and manages to absorb the institutional sell wall, XRP will reclaim historical support levels, laying the foundation for sustained growth that challenges the more conservative projections of the digital financial sector during this first quarter.
