XRP Surges Past Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana: Is a Major Breakout Upon Us?

XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) has surged 4% to $1.41, outperforming Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana in a market session for the first time in several weeks.

The recent surge is fueled by XRP’s listing for trading and payments on Rakuten Wallet and today’s SEC cryptocurrency roundtable, which has drawn significant investor interest. The key barrier to a substantial breakout for XRP is currently at $1.45, where around 60% of existing holders entered the market—creating a barrier of break-even sellers preventing any advance past this point.

What Factors Are Influencing XRP’s Price Today?

Previously, XRP rallies this year were typically driven by single events, such as ETF launches or partnerships with Ripple, but none have sustained momentum. In today’s situation, two significant catalysts are active simultaneously.

Firstly, Rakuten Wallet has initiated spot trading and payment options for XRP as of April 15. This is more substantial than a standard exchange listing since it allows 44 million Rakuten Pay users to convert their loyalty points into XRP and utilize it at over 5 million merchants throughout Japan. While most users may not engage, even a minor shift in point conversion into XRP can generate significant buying pressure that outstrips typical exchange listings.

The second driver today is the SEC roundtable taking place today, led by Commissioners Hester Peirce and Mark Uyeda. They are pivotal figures in shaping the SEC’s stance on cryptocurrencies and have shown support for the CLARITY Act, a proposal that would solidify XRP’s classification as a commodity under federal law. Though the agenda addresses market structure options, any direction from Peirce or Uyeda regarding crypto regulation will likely influence XRP first.

The combination of these two catalysts significantly alters the outlook for XRP. The integration with Rakuten fosters genuine demand not driven by speculation, while the SEC’s involvement lends the regulatory assurance that major institutions have been seeking. After a prolonged wait for a meaningful catalyst, XRP now has two significant factors working in its favor, which is why today’s 4% increase appears to be more sustainable than previous rallies that quickly faded.

Why $1.45 Is Critical for This Breakout

While a 4% increase may seem notable, XRP holders have previously encountered similar scenarios three times this year, all of which stalled at the same price level: $1.45. A significant number of XRP holders entered the market between $1.45 and $1.47 earlier this year and have since been submerged below their purchase prices. There are about 1.24 billion tokens in those wallets, and each time the price approaches these levels, sellers emerge to break even rather than hold for further appreciation.

Consequently, when XRP approaches $1.45, it confronts a wall of sellers eager to recover their investments. Presently, XRP sits at $1.41, making yet another attempt to breach this resistance. What differentiates the current situation is the nature of the buying pressure. Previous attempts to reach $1.45 were predominantly spurred by retail investors and short-term speculation, who were outnumbered by sellers each time.

With Rakuten’s integration and the SEC roundtable fueling demand from different types of investors, if this buying sufficiently absorbs the selling pressure, a breakthrough could occur. However, climbing past resistance levels often requires several attempts. If XRP successfully crosses and maintains itself above $1.45, the next significant target will be $1.55 and beyond.

Institutional Support for XRP’s Movement

In recent weeks, there has been a noticeable uptick in investment in XRP-related products, and this is reflected in the current price. In fact, XRP investment products garnered $119.6 million in net inflows for the week ending April 11, marking the highest weekly inflow since December 2025, primarily driven by European investors. Switzerland alone accounted for $157.5 million, over 70% of the global crypto fund inflows that week, while XRP ETFs in the U.S. saw minimal activity.

European institutions have been steadily increasing their XRP holdings via Swiss exchange-traded products, given that FINMA, Switzerland’s financial authority, offers a clear regulatory framework. In contrast, U.S. institutions are still awaiting clarity from the CLARITY Act. This ongoing demand and consistent investment is a key reason today’s 4% gain remains robust.

Once U.S. institutions commence buying—which is anticipated to occur with the CLARITY Act passing—a new wave of capital will flood the market, complementing the current inflows from Europe. Thus, XRP appears to possess ample momentum to breach the pesky $1.45 resistance, depending on the CLARITY Act’s outcome.

Is XRP’s Breakout on the Horizon?

This marks the nearest XRP has come this year to achieving a definitive breakout, and the forthcoming weeks will be crucial in determining whether this breakthrough lasts. The Senate Banking Committee aims for a markup of the CLARITY Act by the end of April. Should this markup materialize, XRP could surpass $1.45 in anticipation, potentially even prior to the vote.

Nevertheless, the CLARITY Act isn’t the sole factor influencing market dynamics. A ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is set to expire on April 22, while the FOMC convenes on April 28-29. If the ceasefire remains intact and oil prices dip below $90, sentiment surrounding XRP and the broader crypto landscape could remain bullish.

Traders on Polymarket are estimating a 60% probability for the passage of the CLARITY Act, indicating favorable odds, yet it remains uncertain. Consequently, today’s 4% movement might represent merely the initial phase, with XRP poised for a substantial breakout if the necessary catalysts align.

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