Ripple (XRP) Holds $1.40 as ETF Inflows Surge and Rakuten Launches Point Conversion

Key Takeaways

• XRP currently trades at $1.40 with a 1.2% increase over 24 hours, while technical indicators suggest a potential 53% surge to $2.15
• April saw spot XRP ETF inflows reach $83.9 million, marking the highest monthly performance since December 2025
• Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse urged the community to “Lock in” before the upcoming XRP Las Vegas 2026 event
• Japan’s Rakuten Wallet now allows users to transform Rakuten Points into XRP, accepted across more than 5 million retail locations
• Critical support level remains at $1.40 — losing this threshold could trigger a decline toward $0.98

XRP is currently positioned at $1.40 following a modest 1.2% uptick in the past day. This price action arrives alongside renewed institutional interest and the rollout of a significant retail partnership in Japan.

According to data from SoSoValue, spot XRP exchange-traded funds registered positive flows on 11 out of the past 13 trading sessions, accumulating $82.42 million. April concluded with $83.9 million in net inflows, a dramatic reversal from the $31.16 million in outflows recorded during March.

Market analyst Xfinancebull highlighted on X that April represents the most robust monthly inflow period since December 2025. While acknowledging that such flows don’t necessarily translate to instant price appreciation, he emphasized that “the demand for regulated $XRP exposure remains active and expanding.”

Globally, XRP exchange-traded products attracted $25 million in capital during the week that concluded last Friday. Year-to-date 2026 net inflows have climbed to $148 million, with total assets under management hovering around $2.6 billion.

Las Vegas Event Generates Industry Buzz

Ripple’s CEO Brad Garlinghouse shared an image of the Las Vegas Sphere illuminated with the XRP branding, accompanied by a simple message: “Lock in.” The XRP Las Vegas 2026 gathering is scheduled for Thursday and Friday, focusing on XRP Ledger developments and emerging use cases.

Ripple has installed prominent “Raise the Standard” advertising across the Las Vegas Strip, coinciding with the Bitcoin 2026 conference. Historical patterns show varied price reactions to such events — XRP appreciated 16% following Swell 2025, only to surrender 30% over the subsequent ten days.

Regarding market psychology, blockchain analytics provider Santiment reported that XRP is experiencing its second-most elevated bullish social sentiment in two years, partly fueled by the Rakuten announcement. Santiment cautioned that these catalysts “rarely produce immediate significant price movements,” with meaningful valuation shifts typically materializing after initial enthusiasm subsides.

Japanese Payment Giant Enables XRP Functionality

RippleX announced that users of Rakuten Wallet throughout Japan can now seamlessly convert their Rakuten Points into XRP. This functionality includes in-app spot trading and payment capabilities through Rakuten Pay across an extensive network exceeding 5 million merchant locations.

Chart Analysis and Price Targets

XRP has been trading within a symmetrical triangle formation for approximately three months. A confirmed daily close above $1.45 would activate an upside objective of $2.15 — representing roughly a 53% gain from current levels. However, buyers must navigate resistance zones at the 100-day exponential moving average of $1.52 and the 200-day EMA positioned at $1.75.

The $1.40 support zone serves as the pivotal level, coinciding with both the 200-week and 20-day exponential moving averages. A definitive close beneath the $1.38–$1.40 range could initiate downward momentum toward $1.12 initially, with $0.98 representing the broader triangle breakdown projection.

The post Ripple (XRP) Holds $1.40 as ETF Inflows Surge and Rakuten Launches Point Conversion appeared first on Blockonomi.