Could XRP be setting up for one of the biggest moves in crypto history — again? That question is spreading fast among traders right now, and the chart is giving some very loud signals.
Back in the last bull cycle, the altcoin built what analysts call a "Cup and Handle" pattern.
As per the Dark Defender, when that Cup completed, the token may exploded by exactly +1,008%, racing from roughly $0.17 to $1.72. Now, on the long-term monthly chart, that exact same Cup pattern — Cup II — appears to be forming once more.
If history rhymes even slightly, the XRP price prediction points toward a jaw-dropping $18.76 target.
The daily chart shows that the price is trading near $1.41 as of early May 2026. After crashing hard from its late 2025 peak near $3.66, the altcoin bottomed around $1.12 in early February 2026.
Since that bottom, price has been slowly carving out a converging triangle pattern — two lines squeezing tighter and tighter together.
This is called a symmetrical triangle, and traders love it because it usually signals that a major breakout is close. Price cannot stay compressed forever. Something has to give.
The RSI stands at 53.08 — right in neutral territory. That is actually a good sign. The altcoin is not overbought, meaning buyers have plenty of fuel left in the tank before the next leg higher.
Key Fibonacci resistance levels to watch on the way up:
$1.66 — the 0.786 Fibonacci level (first real hurdle)
$2.09 — the 0.618 level (next major zone)
$2.39 — the 0.5 midpoint level
$2.69 — the 0.382 level (strong supply area)
A clean break and daily close above $1.66 would be the first serious confirmation that the breakout from this triangle is real.
Here is where things get even more interesting. Moscow Exchange (MOEX), the biggest securities exchange in Russia, is launching a dedicated XRP price index — called MOEXXRP — on May 13, 2026.
Alongside XRP, MOEX will also publish new indexes for Solana, Tron, and Binance Coin.
This is not small news. When major traditional financial institutions start creating official benchmarks for a crypto asset, it pulls in institutional money, increases liquidity, and adds credibility that retail markets cannot ignore.
For the Ripple price forecast, this is a strong fundamental tailwind arriving at exactly the right technical moment.
Based on the Cup II pattern, the Fibonacci structure, and the triangle breakout setup, here is what experienced technical analysts are watching:
Scenario | Target |
Triangle breakout (bullish) | $2.09 – $2.69 short-term |
Cup II full completion | $18.76 long-term |
Key support to hold | $1.17 – $1.30 |
The XRP price forecast stays bullish as long as the price holds above the $1.20 support floor. A clean breakdown below $1.17 would put this Cup II setup in serious doubt.
One thing is clear — the compression in this triangle cannot last much longer. With MOEX adding institutional recognition and the Cup II pattern aligning on the macro chart, the next big move may be closer than most people think.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Always do your own research before making any investment decisions.
Lokesh Gupta is a seasoned financial expert with 23 years of experience in Forex, Comex, NSE, MCX, NCDEX, and cryptocurrency markets. Investors have trusted his technical analysis skills so they may negotiate market swings and make wise investment selections. Lokesh merges his deep understanding of the market with his enthusiasm for teaching in his role as Content & Research Lead, producing informative pieces that give investors a leg up. In both conventional and cryptocurrency markets, he is a reliable adviser because of his strategic direction and ability to examine intricate market movements. Dedicated to study, market analysis, and investor education, Lokesh keeps abreast of the always-changing financial scene. His accurate and well-researched observations provide traders and investors with the tools they need to thrive in ever-changing market conditions.