coindesk.com
Payments-focused cryptocurrency $XRP dropped about 5% to $1.03 last week, even as bitcoin BTC$64,992.63, ether ETH$1,918.56, and solana (SOL) each climbed 1% to 4%. The broader crypto market added 1.4%, pushing total market capitalization to $2.19 trillion. $XRP is currently hovering near $1.03.
The underperformance is puzzling because $XRP exchange-traded funds still attracted net investor capital for a fourth consecutive week. The inflows, however, have slowed sharply, collapsing roughly 93% week-over-week to around $1 million, according to data source SoSoValue. Meanwhile, bitcoin and ether funds pulled in hundreds of millions.
Traders and analysts on X and elsewhere point to several overlapping explanations for the price apathy. Regulatory uncertainty tops the list: the Senate has delayed consideration of the CLARITY Act, the legislation many view as key to clarifying $XRP’s status and unlocking broader institutional participation. That vote is not expected until mid-September at the earliest.
On the flow side, the setup currently looks balanced.
“$XRP’s positioning looks patient in its own right, with order flow staying large even as volume metrics turn neutral — quiet absorption rather than capitulation or a confirmed breakout,” Iliya Kalchev,, analyst at Nexo, said in an email.
Still, long-term optimism remains high.
Jake Claver, a qualified family office professional (QFOP) who serves as chairman of Digital Ascension Group, a multi-family office focused on digital assets, has argued that the token is increasingly positioned for a structural role in global finance.
“$XRP is looking more and more like it will claim its spot as a global bridge asset and possibly be recognized by the BIS as tier-one asset in the future,” Claver said, referring to the Bank for International Settlements’ highest capital classification for the most liquid and stable assets banks can hold.