Retail sentiment around XRP has reached its most pessimistic point in six months, according to new data from blockchain analytics platform Santiment.
The firm noted a sharp increase in bearish comments across social media, surpassing bullish mentions on two of the past three trading days. This level of fear has not been seen since the period following former U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff announcements earlier this year.
Historically, such spikes in retail FUD, or “fear, uncertainty, and doubt,” have often preceded recoveries, as markets tend to move against short-term trader sentiment. However, XRP’s technical outlook is mixed as it heads into a critical October window for pending spot exchange-traded fund (ETF) applications.
Analysts split as XRP struggles near key resistance
The token continues to face stiff resistance near the $3.10 mark, with repeated rejections along a descending trendline. Lawyer and market analyst Bill Morgan described XRP as “struggling to stay above $3,” adding that BTC and ETH are at an advantage thanks to approved Spot ETFs.
Another analyst, TradingShot, compared XRP’s current market structure to its 2017 pattern, suggesting a potential rally toward $8.50 if support at the weekly MA50 holds. The analyst believes the market is “getting ready for its NOW-or-NEVER moment,” citing fractal similarities between current price movements and those observed before XRP’s historic 2017 run.
 
Market context and regulatory factors
CoinMarketCap data shows XRP changing hands just below $3, up around 35% over the past three months, and giving the token a market value of nearly $179 billion. Market analysts say recent whale transfers of roughly $950 million worth of XRP moved in the past week could add short-term volatility.
Even so, many see the bigger story in pending ETF approvals and growing regulatory clarity, which they argue will decide whether the current rebound can hold.