Ripple (XRP) has been moving within a descending channel since December. At its last swing low, the XRP price dropped to around $1.60. That level acted as the base of the pattern and the price quickly bounced back from it.
Right now, XRP is trading near $2.20 at the time of this post, very close to the upper boundary of the channel. This upper boundary has consistently acted as resistance and pushed the price back down in previous attempts.
So, we’re at a critical point. If XRP gets rejected at the top of the pattern again, the price might drop back to the $1.60 area, or even lower. But if the overall crypto market stays bullish, especially with Bitcoin’s ongoing positive momentum, XRP could finally break out of this pattern and surge higher. In that case, a return to January’s high around $3.40 is very possible.
BTC is trading at around $94,000 as of now, and if it breaks above the psychological $100K mark, it could lift the entire altcoin market including Ripple.
Another key influence on the XRP price right now is the Ripple vs. SEC case. Recent developments have been encouraging. A 60-day pause was granted in the appeal process starting April 16, 2025, to allow for settlement negotiations.
Both parties have reached an “agreement in principle,” and the SEC is expected to provide a status update by mid-June. If they settle, it could remove one of the biggest clouds hanging over XRP since 2020.
With all this in mind, we asked ChatGPT to give us its Ripple price predictions for May. Here’s what we got:
What you'll learn 👉
Pessimistic Scenario: $1.40 – $1.60
In a bearish case, XRP could be rejected at $2.20 and fall back toward the base of the descending channel. If there’s another delay or setback in the SEC case, or if Bitcoin fails to maintain its momentum.
XRP might even break below $1.60. A drop to $1.40 support is possible, especially if the legal situation re-escalates and settlement talks fall apart.
Realistic Scenario: $2.00 – $2.80
In a more neutral outcome, XRP may stay within the descending channel and trade sideways. This would mean bouncing between $2.00 and $2.80 throughout May, depending on short-term news, ETF rumors, or minor Bitcoin movements.
It’s not overly bullish or bearish, just steady, range-bound price action unless a major event tips the scale.
Optimistic Scenario: $3.20 – $3.50
If Bitcoin breaks past $100,000, and the Ripple-SEC case reaches a settlement, XRP could explode out of the descending channel. That would bring a breakout rally toward the January high of $3.40 or even stretch to $3.50.
Optimism around a potential spot ETF approval, or even just increased institutional volume from the futures products, could further fuel this rally.
Read Also: How High Could XRP Price Soar If Ripple Overtakes SWIFT?
May is shaping up to be one of the most important months for Ripple in years. A breakout above $2.20 could be the beginning of a strong run toward $3.40, especially with Bitcoin’s rally and legal clarity.
But as long as XRP stays trapped in the descending channel, both the $1.60 support and $3.40 resistance are the key levels to watch. Traders should stay alert, because one big news story could flip the script in either direction.
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