XRP Watch | Ledger Upgrade Delayed to October 9; Price Stuck at $1.60 The XRP Ledger’s Batch upgrade, originally scheduled for activation on September 29, has been postponed—earliest possible new date: October 9—after validator support briefly dipped below 80%, resetting the countdown. This marks the second attempt to launch the feature, following its previous withdrawal due to a signature vulnerability. Batch enables up to eight transactions to be submitted in a single batch, supporting “all-or-nothing” atomic settlement, offering tangible benefits for tokenized assets and institutional settlements. The delay reflects normal process variability rather than a critical protocol failure, though it has slightly dampened short-term sentiment. XRP is currently trading in a range near $1.55. Sustained net inflows into ETFs and recent cumulative purchases of over $700 million by whales, alongside rising holder addresses now at 8.15 million, provide strong support. Resistance remains concentrated between $1.60 and $1.63, where multiple attempts to break through have failed. Key support levels are seen at $1.50 and $1.45. Short-term price action is likely to remain range-bound. If the October upgrade proceeds smoothly and ETF inflows continue, XRP could challenge levels above $1.60. A break below $1.45 may lead to a retest of $1.41. For year-end, a baseline range of $1.30–$1.80 is expected; any breakout will depend on institutional adoption speed and broader market conditions. Regulatory developments remain a key variable. The pending CLARITY Act’s failure to pass and rising debates around stablecoin competition could impact pricing. Ultimately, XRP’s long-term value hinges on real-world usage of the XRPL—not on any single upgrade.