Ripple's launch of the RLUSD stablecoin on major exchanges today initially drove XRP's price upward, as investors anticipated the potential impact of this new offering. The stablecoin, which is live on platforms like Uphold and Bitstamp, aims to challenge the dominance of existing giants like Tether and Circle by providing enterprise-grade solutions. Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse highlighted the strategic importance of RLUSD, describing it as "mile 1 of the marathon" for Ripple's broader ambitions in the stablecoin market. However, despite the initial excitement, XRP faced a sell-the-news scenario, where investors who had bought in anticipation of the launch began to offload their holdings.
The price decline was further exacerbated by technical factors, including a developing double-top pattern at $2.90, which signaled a potential bearish reversal. This pattern, coupled with XRP trading significantly above its 50-day moving average, increased the likelihood of a correction. Analysts have noted that while the RLUSD launch is a significant milestone, the market's reaction underscores the challenges Ripple faces in maintaining momentum amid broader market dynamics.
XRP's price has fallen by 3.27% today, closing at $2.481467, after reaching a high of $2.584122 earlier in the day.