XRP News Today: $40 Million Withdrawal, Peter Brandt’s $1 Price Prediction, and ETF Hopes

The Ripple community is buzzing with mixed emotions as XRP faces both legal progress and market challenges. Ripple’s long-standing battle with the U.S. SEC is nearing its final stages, with a resolution expected within the next 60 days. This legal milestone has reignited hopes for an XRP ETF approval, boosting market confidence.

However, the price narrative tells a different story.

Since January 2025, XRP has fallen by 35%, marking one of the sharpest declines among major cryptocurrencies. Despite occupying the U.S. strategic reserve alongside Bitcoin, Ethereum, Cardano, and Solana, XRP’s performance has been underwhelming.

Bettors Are Growing Bearish

Market sentiment has shifted dramatically. A bet placed on Polymarket reveals that the chances of XRP hitting a new all-time high before July have plummeted from nearly 90%—following Donald Trump’s inauguration—to a mere 4%. This marks the lowest confidence level ever recorded for XRP’s price growth in the first half of 2025.

A Massive $40 Million XRP Withdrawal

Adding to the turbulence, Whale Alert, the blockchain tracking service, detected a big transaction involving 40 million XRP, valued at around $83.5 million. The funds were withdrawn from Bithumb, South Korea’s second-largest crypto exchange, and sent to an anonymous wallet. This move raises questions about potential market impacts and the intentions behind such large transfers.

Peter Brandt’s Grim Price Prediction

Renowned trader and market analyst Peter Brandt has weighed in with a bearish outlook for XRP. Brandt compared XRP’s current speculative value to that of Beanie Babies and Pet Rocks, suggesting it holds little intrinsic worth.

He tweeted:

“Your favorite Beanie Baby/Pet Rock crypto displays a classic complex H&S top. This could become bullish if $3.0 is exceeded; otherwise, expect a decline to $1.07. If you have an issue with this, take it up with Magee and Edwards. $XRP”

Brandt’s technical analysis points to a price drop unless XRP can reclaim the $3 mark, which many traders view as a critical threshold.