Analysis: Why Ripple (XRP) is the Only Top-5 Cryptocurrency Still in the Red After 90 Days

May 22, 2026

XRP is currently priced at around $1.36, having dropped below the $1.40 support level on May 18, resulting in a 5% decline over the past week. Over the last 90 days, XRP has experienced a decrease of 3.31%. In contrast, Bitcoin has seen an increase of 14.79%, Ethereum has gone up by 8.80%, and BNB has risen by 4.76%. This trend raises the question of why XRP has been unable to keep up with its counterparts and what might trigger a positive trajectory for the token.

One notable observation is that XRP tends to be more sensitive to negative sentiments compared to other major cryptocurrencies. This pattern has been evident in several significant market downturns since 2020. For instance, amid heightened volatility and macroeconomic uncertainty in May 2025, XRP struggled, recording a 1% decline before a modest recovery of 3% in June. However, a turnaround occurred in July when XRP surged by 35% to reach a cycle high of $3.65. Despite this rally coinciding with Ripple’s $50 million settlement with the SEC, the buying pressure was short-lived, leading to profit-taking that caused a drop in the XRP price below the $3 mark by the end of Q3 2025.

Furthermore, during the general crypto market crash in October 2025, XRP was disproportionately impacted compared to other major assets, experiencing a significant 35.4% decline in Q4 2025. This was in stark contrast to Bitcoin’s 23.2% drop, Ethereum’s 28.4% decline, and BNB’s 14.4% pullback during the same period. Subsequently, XRP continued to underperform in Q1 2026, losing 27.1% as geopolitical tensions in the Middle East led to a broader market sell-off, with investors flocking to safer assets such as gold and oil. Amid these challenging market conditions, XRP has struggled to hold gains post-rallies, which explains why it remains the only top-five asset showing a negative return over the last 90 days.

To bridge the gap with its peers, XRP must overcome these challenges. Key factors that could facilitate this include the potential passage of the CLARITY Act and sustained demand for the token. The CLARITY Act, which recently received bipartisan support in the Senate Banking Committee, could provide the regulatory clarity needed for XRP to thrive. Additionally, if demand for XRP stabilizes and ETF inflows return to previous levels, the token could potentially revisit its previous highs and outperform Bitcoin, Ethereum, and BNB.

In conclusion, XRP’s ability to turn positive momentum into a lasting trend hinges on consistent performance, strong support levels, and sustained demand. As long as XRP continues to react more significantly to regulatory and policy developments, the token has the potential to close the gap with other major cryptocurrencies and establish a more stable position in the market.