Rakuten's 44 Million Users Are Using It… XRP Trapped at $1.37, When Will It Explode?

▲ Rakuten, XRP/AI Generated Image ©

Despite appearing otherwise, XRP (Ripple), which is undergoing a correction after hitting short-term resistance amidst macroeconomic uncertainties, is internally accumulating explosive upward energy. With the massive positive news of Japanese retail giant Rakuten's $23 billion point linkage, record accumulation of over 1.1 billion XRP by whales, and moves towards institutional spot ETF inclusion, some market participants are making optimistic predictions that it could soar to $3.26 within the next six months.

According to investment media TradingNews on April 30 (local time), XRP failed to break the $1.50 resistance level and is currently trading around $1.37, showing a stagnant trend. This represents a 62% drop from its peak in July. The media diagnosed that the current frustrating price movement is not due to fundamental issues, but rather to macroeconomic noise such as high oil prices and receding expectations for a Federal Reserve rate cut, as well as thin liquidity primarily driven by derivatives. Indeed, on the daily chart, key technical indicators such as the Relative Strength Index, Average Directional Index, and Moving Average Convergence Divergence are still limiting short-term gains without forming a clear trend.

However, the underlying demand drivers hidden behind the chart are stronger than ever. The most notable hidden catalyst is the integration with the Rakuten wallet ecosystem. According to data from crypto analytics firm Santiment, social interest in XRP surged to its second-highest level in two years immediately after this news. With Rakuten users, who have 44 million active accounts, now able to convert 3 trillion loyalty points, worth approximately $23 billion, into crypto and use them at over 5 million affiliated merchants, structural and recurring real buying demand is expected to be generated, going beyond mere speculation.

The influx of institutional investor funds and the movements of large whales are also adding weight to the possibility of a rally. NYSE Arca recently submitted a proposed rule change to include assets in commodity-based trust shares as eligible portfolios. According to SosoValue data, approximately $90 million has flowed net into related spot products over the past three weeks, demonstrating strong institutional confidence. While open interest in the derivatives market has also significantly increased, whale wallets holding over 10 million XRP accumulated 1.15 billion XRP in just 11 days, showing a typical accumulation pattern in preparation for an upcoming surge.

The issuer Ripple's impressive corporate growth and favorable policy winds also provide strong backing. Ripple, which has surpassed a corporate valuation of $50 billion, recently demonstrated its overwhelming competitiveness in the cross-border remittance market by settling a $59 million payment instantly with a fee of just $0.000188. Furthermore, if the long-awaited U.S. cryptocurrency market structure bill, the Clarity Act, becomes a reality, regulatory uncertainty that has hindered institutional capital inflow for years will be resolved, opening the way for an explosive influx of liquidity.

Experts advise that now is a transitional period for a major trend reversal and a time when meticulously calculated strategies are needed. The analysis suggests treating the $1.31 to $1.34 range as a strong defense line and accumulation opportunity, and once $1.42 is decisively broken on a daily basis, attention should turn to $1.50 and $1.80. When macroeconomic pressures ease and major positive catalysts like Rakuten integration and the enactment of the Clarity Act begin to generate significant synergy, the current suppressed price has the powerful potential to explode instantly and easily surpass the $3 mark in the mid to long term.

*Disclaimer: This article is for investment reference only, and we are not responsible for any investment losses based on it. The content should be interpreted for informational purposes only.*