XRP price is approaching a major turning point against Bitcoin and Ethereum, according to analyst Dark Defender.
He believes the XRP-ETH pair is completing a Wave 4 correction before entering a powerful Wave 5 advance.
In a post on X, Dark Defender shared a two-week XRP/ETH chart and said XRP is currently “on the taxiway,” suggesting the token is preparing for its next major move.
Meanwhile, he noted that ETH’s price may appreciate a bit more in the coming days. But afterward, XRP “will take over Bitcoin and Ethereum and dominate the field,” in his words.
XRP-ETH Pair at Key Correction Zone
The analyst’s chart shows that the XRP-ETH pair is in Wave 4 of an Elliott Wave pattern, meaning it is going through a correction before a possible move higher.
The chart identifies the 30% Fibonacci level around 0.0004141 ETH and the 38.2% level near 0.0005487 ETH as important areas. The pair was recently trading around 0.000532 ETH, placing it close to the 38.2% retracement zone.
Dark Defender’s projected Wave 5 points significantly higher, with the chart displaying a 361.8% Fibonacci target around 0.002238 ETH. If the setup plays out, XRP could substantially outperform Ethereum during the next major rotation in the crypto market.
ChartNerd Offers a More Cautious Outlook
However, fellow XRP analyst ChartNerd offered a significantly more cautious interpretation of the XRP-ETH setup.
ChartNerd said there are “no absolutes,” but argued that XRP could continue losing ground against Bitcoin and Ethereum through the end of the year.
He said capital typically rotates into safer major assets first when a bear market ends. Bitcoin could therefore attract liquidity before Ethereum and, eventually, XRP.
Under this scenario, XRP could continue declining primarily against Bitcoin. As the price of Bitcoin dips, this could create further weakness for Ethereum, XRP, and other altcoins.
XRP Price Still Trails Ethereum in 2026
According to CoinMarketCap figures at press time, XRP was trading around $0.9959. It was down 3.35% over the past week, 8.30% over the past month, and roughly 46% year-to-date. XRP has dipped below $1 three times since last week, marking the first instances of this happening since 2024.
Ethereum, meanwhile, was trading around $1,891, down 1.36% over the past week but still up 2.52% over the past month and 36.38% year-to-date.
Regardless of the ongoing performance, many analysts believe XRP is in the final phase of its bear market, although a further drop to lows of $0.70 remains possible. However, they believe the opportunity is more heavily skewed to the upside than the downside, especially as XRP has fallen more than 73% from its $3.66 peak.
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