XRP Price Faces Potential Crash Warning from Peter Brandt Amid Double-Top Concerns
December 18, 2025 – by Lockridge Okoth
Renowned trader and chart analyst Peter Brandt has issued a bearish warning for the XRP (Ripple) price, identifying a potential “double-top” formation on its charts—a classical technical indicator often linked to price reversals and substantial downturns. This cautionary signal comes despite Ripple’s notable ongoing efforts to expand its ecosystem through multichain stablecoin integrations and enhanced institutional offerings.
Peter Brandt Flags Double-Top Pattern on XRP Charts
According to Brandt, the XRP price appears to be forming a double-top pattern, where the asset price tests a significant resistance level twice without a successful breakout, often heralding a trend reversal from bullish to bearish. On social media, Brandt expressed skepticism toward XRP fans (“Riplosts”), urging them to seriously consider the possible downside risks.
A double-top is a reversal pattern traditionally signalling waning bullish momentum. If it plays out, the XRP market could experience significant fallback.
Since XRP’s rally concluded at the end of 2024, the token has mostly been consolidating sideways. The crucial issue now is whether key support levels hold firm or break. Brandt acknowledged uncertainty, conceding the pattern might fail, but stressed that, for now, the outlook remains bearish:
“It can of course fail, and if it does, I will revisit it. But right now, it’s bearish. Whether you like it or not, you have to confront this possibility,” he stated.
Contrasting Analyst Views Highlight Historical Bullish Trends
Yet not all analysts share Brandt’s cautions. For example, market observer Steph_is_crypto looks to historical price behavior near the 50-week Simple Moving Average (SMA). Steph notes that in previous cycles, XRP spending extended periods beneath the 50-week SMA—ranging from 50 to 84 days—preceded strong rallies:
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In 2017, a 211% price increase occurred within 70 days below the 50-week SMA.
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In 2021, the coin surged 70% after staying roughly 49 days under this moving average.
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Most recently, in 2024, XRP saw an 850% gain following 84 days beneath the SMA.
Currently, XRP has remained about 70 days below the 50-week SMA, matching prior scenarios where price rebounds occurred. Steph’s analysis suggests the apparent bearish signals might coincide with historical bottoms, implying potential upcoming bullish momentum.
Ripple’s Expanding Ecosystem: Multichain Stablecoins and Institutional Tools
Beyond technical debates, Ripple continues to advance its ecosystem’s growth. On December 16, Ripple announced the expansion of its USD stablecoin, Ripple USD (RLUSD), onto several Layer-2 blockchain networks including Optimism, Base, Ink, and Unichain. This multichain rollout utilizes the Wormhole protocol’s Native-Token-Transfers (NTT) standard to enable cross-chain interoperability.
Originally available on the XRP Ledger and Ethereum, RLUSD’s extension aims to improve scalability, liquidity, and real-world crypto applications in decentralized finance (DeFi) and institutional environments. Notably, RLUSD is issued under the strict regulatory oversight of the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS), positioning it among the most compliant stablecoins in the Layer-2 space.
Ripple has also sought licensing approval from the U.S. Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and recently secured regulatory recognition in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, underlining its commitment to regulatory compliance and international expansion.
Additionally, the Wormhole team highlighted that XRP holders will soon be able to utilize wrapped XRP (wXRP) alongside RLUSD as a leading trading and liquidity pair on supported chains, streamlining payments and trading on decentralized exchanges.
Further solidifying institutional interest, Digital Wealth Partners recently launched an algorithmic trading strategy for XRP designed specifically for qualified retirement account holders, safeguarded with insurance custody from Anchorage Digital. This development points to increasing adoption of XRP within traditional wealth management frameworks.
What’s Next for XRP?
The XRP price currently presents mixed signals. On one hand, Peter Brandt’s cautionary double-top pattern could foreshadow a downturn. On the other, historical precedent combined with growing multichain stablecoin utility and institutional approval suggests a fundamental underpinning that may support renewed rallies.
Traders and investors should closely monitor support levels and fundamental developments to assess whether bearish chart formations will dominate or if prior cyclical patterns and Ripple’s ecosystem enhancements will drive the next phase of XRP’s price action.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Readers should conduct their own research and consult with qualified professionals before making investment decisions.
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