The experienced trader Peter Brandt has taken a pessimistic stance regarding the price of XRP, warning that the token may be forming a classic double top pattern. This positioning occurs even as Ripple accelerates the growth of its ecosystem through the multichain expansion of its stablecoin and the launch of new institutional tools for XRP investors.
Brandt's caution arises at a moment when both the fundamentals of XRP and the infrastructure narrative show signs of strengthening, creating an increasing disconnect between technical signals and long-term adoption advances.
Brandt points to a possible double top risk for the price of XRP
The technical analyst emphasized what he considers a potentially pessimistic setup on the XRP price chart. According to Peter Brandt, the coin may be forming a double top, a frequently cited reversal pattern that occurs when the asset fails to break through resistance after two attempts.
Double top patterns in technical analysis usually signal a loss of buying strength and may precede sharper declines if confirmed.
“I already know in advance that all of you XRP will remind me forever of this post — ask if I care. This is a possible double top,” Brandt wrote.
The price of XRP continues to consolidate after the rise at the end of 2024, increasing attention on the support level sustainability.
However, Brandt also acknowledged that the pattern could be invalidated, leaving room for other interpretations.
“Of course, it can fail, and if that happens I will deal with it. But for now, it has negative implications. Like it or not — it needs to be dealt with,” he added.
Analysts highlight an optimistic historical context
Other market analysts see the current scenario from another perspective. Analyst Steph is Crypto highlighted XRP's recurring behavior concerning its 50-week simple moving average (SMA), arguing that previous cycles suggest selling exhaustion rather than the onset of a major drop.
“In every cycle, when XRP breaks below the 50-week moving average and stays there for about 50 to 84 days, a strong rise has followed,” stated the analyst.
Historical examples include a 211% increase after 70 days below the average in 2017, a 70% appreciation after 49 days in 2021, and a surge of 850% after 84 days in 2024.
The price of XRP has remained for about 70 days below its 50-week simple moving average, positioning itself exactly within this historical window.
The analysis suggests that what appears to be pessimistic in isolation may coincide with historical cycle funds, reflecting the current division of technical interpretations.
Ripple expands RLUSD on layer 2 networks while institutional access continues to grow
As the technical debate intensifies, Ripple continues to expand its ecosystem. On December 16, the company announced that its stablecoin Ripple USD (RLUSD) will be launched on the Optimism, Base, Ink, and Unichain networks.
The solution utilizes Wormhole's Native Token Transfers (NTT) standard for multichain interoperability.
The RLUSD was initially issued on the XRP Ledger and on Ethereum. The initiative on layer 2 networks aims to enhance scalability, liquidity movement, and practical utility on DeFi and institutional platforms.
Ripple reinforced that the RLUSD is issued under a license from the New York State Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), positioning it as one of the most regulated stablecoins ever launched in layer 2 ecosystems.
The company also requested authorization from the U.S. OCC and recently obtained regulatory recognition in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.
Wormhole added that investors will be able to use XRP alongside RLUSD as a “main trading and liquidity pair” across supported chains, with XRP issuance involved (wXRP) for cross-chain use.
Enhanced utility is coming for $XRP
XRP holders can use XRP alongside $RLUSD as a premier trading and liquidity pair on supported chains, allowing businesses to facilitate payments and checkout options that let users buy, sell, or send digital assets. pic.twitter.com/DMcSWyQ2XV
— Wormhole (@wormhole) December 17, 2025
The offering of institutional tools for XRP is also growing. Digital Wealth Partners recently launched an algorithmic trading strategy for XRP for qualified retirement accounts, offering custody insured by Anchorage Digital.
The service allows high-net-worth investors to access systematic XRP trading within regulated accounts and with tax advantages. The initiative is part of a broader movement to integrate crypto into traditional wealth management.
Digital Wealth Partners Launches Algorithmic XRP Trading Strategy Powered by @tryarchpublic for Qualified Retirement Accountshttps://t.co/ro7ipgP48D
— Digital Wealth Partners (@DWP_advisors) December 16, 2025
While XRP faces conflicting technical signals, its path may depend on whether bearish chart patterns solidify or whether historical cycles and the expansion of practical use prevail.
The article Trader ignores Ripple's multichain advance and bets on XRP's decline was first seen on BeInCrypto Brazil.
