Crypto Market Outlook: Ripple and Stellar Face Persistent Downward PressureCrypto
18 Aug 2026, 3:08 pm (1 hour ago)· 2

Crypto Market Outlook: Ripple and Stellar Face Persistent Downward Pressure

XRP and XLM continue to trade under bearish pressure, weighed down by weak derivatives sentiment and unfavorable technical indicators across major moving averages.

XRPSMA20 SMA50 · RSI · MACD
Candles + SMA20/50 · RSI(14) · MACD(12,26,9) with buy/sell signals — live from Yahoo

Technical Analysis18 Aug 2026

Moving AveragesEMA 20 / 50 / 200

What it is

Exponential Moving Averages smooth price to reveal the trend over the short (20), medium (50) and long (200) term. Price above them and stacked upward is an uptrend; below them and stacked down is a downtrend.

Where it stands now

XRP trades at $0.99 versus EMA20 $1.03, EMA50 $1.07, EMA200 $1.38.

Possible move ahead

Rallies likely stall near EMA20 ($1.03).

RSIRelative Strength Index (14)

What it is

RSI is a 0–100 momentum gauge of recent gains versus losses. Above 70 is overbought (stretched), below 30 oversold (beaten down), and 50 is the neutral line.

Where it stands now

XRP's RSI is 36.

Possible move ahead

Watch a push above 60 or a slide under 40.

MACDMoving Avg Convergence/Divergence

What it is

MACD tracks the gap between a fast and a slow moving average; its signal line and histogram show momentum building or fading. The line above its signal is bullish, below is bearish.

Where it stands now

XRP's MACD line is below its signal.

Possible move ahead

The next signal-line crossover is the trigger to watch.

Cryptocurrency markets are currently experiencing a prevailing bearish phase, with major digital assets like Ripple and Stellar struggling to mount a meaningful recovery. Trading data shows that XRP is currently changing hands below the key $1 threshold, hovering around $0.99. The asset remains pressed beneath all major Exponential Moving Averages, signaling that the near-term weakness is far from over. Meanwhile, Stellar continues its corrective pullback, holding firmly below the $0.157 mark and facing persistent overhead selling pressure.

Derivatives and On-Chain Sentiment Analysis

Trader sentiment across derivatives markets leans moderately cautious, reflecting a subtle bearish tilt. According to data from CoinGlass, the long-to-short ratios for XRP and XLM stood at 0.80 and 0.87 respectively, touching some of the lowest points seen over the past month. A reading below unity typically indicates a bearish market bias, as a greater number of traders position themselves for further price declines. Additionally, funding rates presented a mixed picture between the two tokens. XRP recorded a positive funding rate of 0.0042%, indicating that long position holders are compensating shorts, whereas XLM flipped into negative territory at -0.0054%, showing that short traders are paying longs. CryptoQuant summary metrics further highlight this divergence, noting large whale orders in XRP futures alongside neutral broader metrics, while XLM faces persistent sell-side dominance across both spot and futures platforms.

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Technical Landscape and Resistance Levels for XRP

From a technical standpoint, XRP is constrained by multiple overhead hurdles. The price remains positioned well below its 50-day EMA, 100-day EMA, and 200-day EMA lines, reinforcing the entrenched downward trend. Momentum indicators offer little comfort, with the Relative Strength Index lingering near 35 in weak territory, while the Moving Average Convergence Divergence indicator remains slightly negative, pointing to ongoing downside momentum rather than an imminent trend reversal. On the upside, immediate resistance clusters heavily around the psychological $1.00 mark and the broken trendline reference. Beyond that, the 50-day EMA acts as the next major barrier, followed by higher hurdles at the 100-day EMA and the 200-day EMA. With a lack of defined structural support levels beneath the current price floor, any additional selling could expose the asset to extended downside price discovery.

Stellar Price Action and Recovery Hurdles

Stellar faces a similarly challenging technical configuration as its corrective decline extends. Initial resistance for XLM aligns near the $0.173 region, where the 50-day EMA converges with a key Fibonacci retracement level. Higher up, previous horizontal barriers and moving averages present consecutive hurdles that threaten to cap any medium-term recovery attempt before reaching cycle highs. On the downside, immediate attention is locked on the crucial support band resting between the horizontal floor and the local structural low. A decisive breakdown below this vital zone would likely clear the path for a deeper bearish extension, despite already stretched momentum indicators in the lower timeframes.

Broader Cryptocurrency Market Context

The broader digital asset ecosystem continues to experience consolidation phases amid shifting institutional demand and retail participation. While select privacy coins and major assets like Bitcoin manage to exhibit localized strength due to improving risk sentiment, altcoins such as Ripple and Stellar remain tethered to tight consolidation ranges. Market participants are closely monitoring macroeconomic catalysts and order book depths, as persistent seller fatigue and muted rebound catalysts continue to dictate near-term price trajectories across the wider crypto economy.

Questions & Answers

What is the current trading price of Ripple (XRP)?
Ripple is currently trading around the $0.99 level, remaining under persistent bearish pressure below major moving averages.
Where is the immediate resistance for Stellar (XLM)?
Initial resistance for Stellar aligns near the $0.173 area, where the 50-day EMA converges with key Fibonacci retracement levels.
What are the long-to-short ratios for XRP and XLM?
According to CoinGlass data, the long-to-short ratios for XRP and XLM stand at 0.80 and 0.87 respectively.
Are there clear support levels defined below XRP's current price?
The current dataset shows no clear support levels defined below the current price, leaving XRP vulnerable to further downside movement.

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