A crypto expert says XRP may be nearing a new all-time high as three technical signals align. Here is the setup, what supports the bullish case, and what traders should watch next.
Crypto analyst Dark Defender has laid out a technical case for XRP reaching a new all-time high, pointing to three chart signals that he says are aligning on the weekly and monthly timeframes. XRP currently trades at $1.35 with a market cap of roughly $82.6 billion, ranking it the fourth-largest cryptocurrency, while the token’s realized all-time high stands at $3.65, set in July 2025.
The prediction, which originally targeted a move above $5.85, was first published in October 2024. Dark Defender framed the call around chart structure rather than news catalysts, arguing that XRP’s price action after the SEC appeal decision confirmed his technical reading.
That forecast now sits against a backdrop of declining XRP exchange reserves and broader market stress. The Fear & Greed Index currently reads 15, deep in Extreme Fear territory, which raises the question of whether a bullish technical setup can play out against negative sentiment.
The 3 Technical Signals Behind the Bullish XRP Thesis
The core of Dark Defender’s analysis rests on three converging trend lines. Two form a symmetrical triangle on XRP’s long-term chart, while a third is a multi-year downtrend line that XRP broke above on the monthly timeframe.
That breakout above the long-term descending resistance is the first signal. According to the analyst’s framework, clearing that line shifted XRP’s monthly structure from bearish to neutral-bullish for the first time since the 2021 cycle peak.
The second signal comes from Fibonacci extensions drawn off the triangle pattern. The key levels identified were a 70.2% resistance at $0.6649, a 161.8% extension target at $1.88, and a 261.8% extension target at $5.85. XRP has already cleared the first level and currently trades between the 70.2% and 161.8% marks.
The third signal involves momentum confirmation from Heikin Ashi candles and the MACD indicator. At the time of the original analysis, monthly Heikin Ashi candles were averaging $0.57, and the monthly MACD had printed a green dot, which technical traders interpret as an early bullish momentum shift.
Dark Defender wrote on X that XRP “does not follow any news” and that the Ichimoku cloud bounce near $0.60 reinforced his bullish stance despite muted price action around the SEC appeal ruling.
Hey there. I hope you are all well.
As most expected, nothing happened after the appeal decision. XRP just were at the Ichimoku clouds top around $0.60+ levels and bounced back from there to $0.50+
I am Bullish; why?
As I always highlight, XRP does not follow any news such as… pic.twitter.com/HUyrFtQZUT
— Dark Defender (@DefendDark) October 9, 2024
Source: @DefendDark on X
What Could Confirm or Invalidate the XRP Breakout Case
The $5.85 target remains an unconfirmed forecast, not a settled outcome. XRP reached a realized all-time high of $3.65 on July 18, 2025, which validated part of the bullish thesis but fell well short of the 261.8% Fibonacci extension.
For the bullish case to stay intact, XRP would need to reclaim the 161.8% Fibonacci level at $1.88 and hold it as support. A sustained move above that zone would bring the $3.65 all-time high back into focus as the next major resistance.
On the downside, a failure to hold above the broken trend line, combined with the current Extreme Fear reading across crypto markets, could invalidate the setup. XRP’s liquidity conditions have struggled to recover from previous drawdowns, which adds a layer of risk to any breakout attempt.
The gap between XRP’s current price of $1.35 and the $5.85 target represents a roughly 333% move. While the technical framework Dark Defender outlined has partially played out, with XRP clearing the first Fibonacci level and reaching a new cycle high, the full target remains distant. Traders watching this setup will likely focus on whether XRP can reclaim the $1.88 level as the next confirmation point, particularly as institutional interest in crypto assets continues to evolve.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Cryptocurrency and digital asset markets carry significant risk. Always do your own research before making decisions.
