XRP Price Prediction: Can XRP Break $2.50 and Set the Stage for a $3 Retest in May?

XRP is once again at the center of investor speculation, with its price climbing toward the key psychological barrier of $2.50.

The bullish rally, fueled by technical indicators and shifting macroeconomic dynamics, has traders asking whether Ripple’s native token can break through resistance and retest the $3 mark later this May.

According to market data, XRP is currently trading around $2.40, maintaining an upward trajectory despite short-term volatility. Analysts attribute this move to a breakout above a long-standing descending trendline, coupled with growing optimism following the partial resolution of the XRP SEC lawsuit.

Whale Activity and Exchange Inflows Reflect Mixed Sentiment

Even as the XRP price surges, recent whale activity has raised questions about the sustainability of this rally. Blockchain tracker Whale Alert reported two massive transactions—each involving 29.53 million XRP—moved to centralized exchange Coinbase within six days. Valued at nearly $134 million, these transfers are interpreted as potential sell-offs by large holders.

29.5 million XRP, worth $69.5 million, was transferred from an unknown wallet to Coinbase. Source: Whale Alert via X

“High-volume transfers to exchanges often suggest liquidation intent,” said on-chain analyst Ali Martinez, noting that these movements came just as XRP crossed the $2.35 threshold. While these sales could suppress short-term gains, on-chain data also shows a sharp drop in total XRP exchange inflows—from over 2 billion to just 14.5 million, signaling reduced sell pressure.

The contradictory behavior hints at a divided market sentiment. Some large holders may be taking profits, while others seem content to hold their Ripple assets off exchanges in anticipation of further gains.

Technical Indicators Support Further Upside

Several technical signals reinforce the bullish outlook. The SuperTrend indicator, widely used to identify trend reversals, turned green for the first time since March after XRP broke above $2.36. The last time this occurred—in November 2024—XRP surged from $0.50 to over $3.30.

Ripple is forming a symmetrical triangle on the 8-hour chart, hinting at a possible breakout toward $3. Source: Whales_Crypto_Trading via X

“The breakout above $2.36 triggered a new buy signal,” Martinez said on X (formerly Twitter), adding that a move beyond $2.50 could open the door to targets of $2.70 and $3.00. The inverse head-and-shoulders pattern identified by analyst Jeff Moore adds further weight to these projections, with extended targets ranging up to $3.10.

Momentum indicators support this thesis. The Moving Average Convergence Divergence (MACD) remains firmly in bullish territory, while the Relative Strength Index (RSI) sits at a healthy 61.77, suggesting room for further upside without overbought conditions.

Ripple Lawsuit Settlement Boosts Investor Confidence

Fueling the bull case is the latest XRP lawsuit news, Ripple has reached a settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for $50 million. This is significantly less than the original $125 million penalty pursued by regulators, and market participants view this as a win for Ripple and the crypto community at large.

The deal provides badly needed clarity and closure,” said a source familiar with the Ripple legal team. The court must still approve, but the ruling has already infused new life into Ripple XRP news reports and investor demand.

The resolution marks a turning point for the Ripple market, which has long been overshadowed by regulatory uncertainty. Improved clarity around SEC Ripple policies, especially with Paul Atkins leading a more crypto-friendly SEC, could provide a more stable environment for Ripple exchange activity going forward.

Macro Trends and Whale Bets Add to the Bull Case

XRP’s rally is part of a broader altcoin recovery, driven by Bitcoin’s surge past $104,000 and Ethereum’s 26% weekly gain. In the last seven days, the Ripple currency price has gained over 9%, with trading volumes surpassing $4.2 billion and total market cap reaching $140 billion.

A whale placed a 2x leveraged long on XRP by depositing $5.84M USDC into HyperLiquid. Source: Onchain Lens via X

Adding fuel to the fire, a major whale made headlines by placing a $6 million long position on XRP via decentralized derivatives exchange HyperLiquid. The same investor previously profited from a leveraged ETH position and now appears confident that Ripple crypto has more room to run.

Meanwhile, geopolitical optimism, spurred by a recent U.S.-U.K. trade pact and ongoing discussions with China—is boosting global investor confidence. The Fear and Greed Index has surged to 78, marking a sharp rise from last week’s neutral reading of 49.

Key Levels to Watch as XRP Consolidates

Despite the positive indicators, caution is warranted. XRP is currently consolidating around $2.34–$2.40, with immediate resistance between $2.45 and $2.50. A clean break above this range could set the stage for a retest of $2.70 and, ultimately, $3.00 or higher.

XRP was trading at around $2.40 at press time. Source: Source: XRP Liquid Index (XRPLX) via Brave New Coin

However, failure to breach $2.50 decisively may lead to a short-term correction. Analysts are watching support at $2.32 and $2.28 closely. A slip below $2.05 could invalidate the bullish setup.

Open Interest (OI) data also shows a 2.21% decline, reflecting cautious sentiment in derivatives markets. Total long liquidations in the past 24 hours reached $8.85 million, compared to $762,000 in shorts, signaling ongoing volatility.

Looking Ahead: May Could Be Decisive for XRP Value

The XRP price prediction for May hinges on whether it can break the $2.50 resistance—a key milestone that could catalyze a run toward $3.00. While technical indicators, macro trends, and Ripple lawsuit updates favor the bulls, whale activity and falling derivatives interest suggest the path upward may not be straightforward.

For now, traders and investors are watching closely as XRP teeters on the edge of a potential breakout.