XRP Steadies Above $1.50 as Ledger Upgrade Goes to Validators and a Nasdaq Treasury Vehicle Takes Shape

XRP trades at $1.50 above its 200-day average as validators weigh a fixed-term lending amendment and Evernorth's Nasdaq listing plan advances.

XRP is holding its ground near the $1.50 pivot, up 0.7% on the day at $1.50, as two separate storylines converge on the token: a governance vote that could bring native fixed-term lending to the XRP Ledger, and a corporate vehicle preparing to carry the asset onto the Nasdaq.

The price sits comfortably above its 200-day moving average of $1.28, a level that has underpinned the recent recovery. Over the past week the token has slipped 2.9%, but monthly performance remains positive at 10%. The picture darkens on a longer horizon — XRP has shed 49% over twelve months, leaving its market capitalization at $95.22 billion.

LendingProtocolV1_1 Opens for Validator Approval

RippleX, the development arm behind the network, released the vote for a key amendment dubbed LendingProtocolV1_1 on Thursday. Validators now weigh whether to activate mechanisms enabling fixed-rate, fixed-term credit facilities directly on the ledger.

The proposal builds on earlier drafts by adding closed vaults — structures with defined windows for subscription, deployment, and eventual repayment. One notable tweak concerns accounting: under the new rules, interest income is only recorded once the actual payment flows, rather than accruing on paper.

Activation on the mainnet is not imminent. The credit system requires three interlocking specifications to be approved simultaneously by a sustained supermajority of more than 80% of validators. That threshold must hold continuously for two weeks before the features go live.

Institutional Push Extends Beyond Lending

The native credit initiative fits a broader effort to make the ledger more attractive to professional players. Ripple President Monica Long said at an industry conference in Seoul this week that future tokenized asset volumes will predominantly settle on public blockchains.

More changes are queued for the current month, including confidential transfers to shield sensitive transaction data and delegated permissions for accounts. In parallel, Brazilian market infrastructure provider CSD BR is already piloting the mirroring of fund shares on the network, though legally binding custody and settlement remain in traditional systems.

Evernorth Merger Clears Shareholder Hurdle

A planned corporate vehicle is drawing attention of its own. A shareholder vote at Armada Acquisition Corp. II showed support for the merger with Evernorth. The resulting company intends to list on the Nasdaq under the ticker XRPN and hold substantial XRP reserves as its core asset, though regulatory conditions must still be satisfied before trading begins.

Chart Levels and Momentum Signals

From a technical standpoint, a successful defense of the $1.50 mark would open room toward the September high at $1.66, with the August peak at $1.70 as the next target. A broadening, megaphone-style pattern stays valid as long as the price trades above $1.45 to $1.46.

One caution flag comes from the MACD, which has dipped just below the zero line — a hint that the upward push may be running out of steam.

Macro Crosscurrents Keep the Broader Market Rangebound

XRP is not moving in isolation. Quarter-end has quieted the crypto market, with no single catalyst driving direction. Instead, Treasury yields, oil prices, and ETF flows are setting the tone, and the five largest coins are largely moving in lockstep.

Monday dampened sentiment as US government bond yields hit highs last seen in 2007 and tensions between Washington and Tehran intensified. Bitcoin fell 1.7%, snapping a two-week winning streak, and losses rippled into altcoins. XRP dropped 2.7%, Solana 2.1%, and Cardano 3.5%.

Tuesday brought a measure of stability. Total industry market capitalization rose 1.14% to roughly $2.88 trillion. Bitcoin dominance stood at 58.8%, with Ether at 11.4%. Rising yields and key economic data due this week continue to keep crypto investors cautious.

Bitcoin currently trades at $83,749, about 34% below its record of $126,198.07 set on October 6, 2025. Buyers failed earlier in the week to close above $85,000, and demand on the downside extends to the $80,000 mark. A decline in leveraged bets offers some relief: open interest in Bitcoin derivatives fell to 49,000 BTC, pointing to less selling pressure and a lower likelihood of major liquidations.

Ethereum, meanwhile, shows signs of fatigue at $2,690.37, just shy of $2,700, after two consecutive down days — though it is still up 11% over 30 days. Its 50-day average sits at $2,451.86, with the 100- and 200-day lines lower still, all beneath the current price. Market capitalization is around $327.73 billion.

Solana presents a gap between capital flows and price action. US spot ETFs tied to the token have accumulated roughly 4.37 million SOL since July 13 — eleven straight weeks of net inflows worth about $450 million — yet the price sits at $117.67 and has barely budged on the week. Corporate buyers keep adding: DeFi Dev Corp raised its position by 47,706 SOL since September 21, and Solmate Infrastructure named Scott Buchanan as its new CFO, effective today. Solana is up 18% on the month, with a breakout above $125 as the next test and some traders eyeing $150.

Cardano trades at $0.2464 with a market capitalization of about $9.03 billion, making it the smallest of the five majors — and the most vulnerable. Monday's selloff hit it hardest at minus 3.5%. ADA remains 92% below its all-time high, though it has climbed 25% over 30 days since forming a rounded base between $0.14 and $0.17 in August. On a yearly basis, the token is down 71%.

What to Watch

Four levels will shape the near-term direction. Bitcoin needs to reclaim $85,000 or risk a slide toward $80,000. Ethereum must hold support at $2,600. XRP should stay above the $1.45 to $1.50 zone. Solana requires a break above $125 that ETF inflows could eventually trigger.

Traders are also monitoring the Fear and Greed Index, which reads 73, along with liquidation data. Bond yields and oil prices remain the biggest external risks. Fresh impetus could arrive with this week's economic releases. Until then, the market looks set to stay within its range — with XRP's own ledger overhaul and Nasdaq listing plans providing a counterpoint to the macro drift.