Technical analyst Steph is Crypto has released a forecast suggesting that XRP is currently positioned to re…

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Technical analyst Steph is Crypto has released a forecast suggesting that XRP is currently positioned to repeat a multiyear price rally similar to the historical performance of gold. This prediction, which focuses on the year 2026, indicates that XRP is tracking a specific breakout structure previously observed in the precious metals market. Based on this technical fractal, the analyst has established price targets for XRP between $8 and $10 for the 2026 period. Reaching these levels would represent a significant valuation increase of approximately 230% to 310% compared to the asset’s current market prices.

The initial signs of this potential movement were recorded during the first week of 2026, when XRP’s market price experienced a surge of nearly 30%. This upward move occurred after the asset had spent several months confined within a descending channel pattern. According to the analysis, the behavior of hard assets often precedes that of higher-beta digital assets. With gold having already completed a major move, XRP is now being viewed as just beginning its response to similar market conditions. The breakout from the descending channel early in the year is highlighted as a critical indicator of the upside momentum that could define the asset’s trajectory throughout the 2026 calendar year, supporting the multiyear rally thesis.

Context

The historical context for this bullish XRP projection is derived from gold’s recovery phase that began several years prior. Between 2020 and 2022, gold entered a period of consolidation where its price remained within a range of $1,620 to $2,055. This two-year phase was essential for establishing the support necessary for a long-term breakout. In November 2022, gold decisively moved above its long-term resistance levels, signaling the start of a major expansion phase. Following this structural breakout, gold prices rose by approximately 180%, eventually leading the asset to reach record-high levels of around $4,550 by December 2025.

Market analysts have identified that XRP’s recent price action shows notable similarities to this specific 2020–2022 consolidation phase. The analysis suggests that XRP is tracking the same technical path that gold took, although the movement is delayed in time. By comparing the two assets, it is observed that XRP has mirrored the structural consolidation and the subsequent attempt to break out of established price channels. This tracking of gold’s past breakout structure serves as the primary foundation for the current targets of $8 to $10. As gold has already reached its record peaks as of late 2025, the focus for 2026 has shifted to whether XRP will complete its own mirrored expansion phase in the coming months.

Impact

While the potential for a significant rally is supported by the gold fractal, XRP’s current market performance also shows a resemblance to its 2021–2022 bearish phase. During that historical period, the asset faced macro-level tops and significant corrections that offset short-term gains. In the context of 2026, XRP has continued to trade below a specific descending trendline that has historically acted as resistance. Furthermore, the asset remains positioned below the 100-week exponential moving average (EMA). This positioning suggests that despite the recent price increases, the broader bear market influences may not be entirely resolved.

The nearly 30% surge observed in the first week of 2026 was a pivotal moment, as it allowed the price to break above the descending channel that had held it for months. This break is seen as a signal of emerging upside momentum. However, technical analysis warns that the inability to reclaim and hold levels above the 100-week EMA could limit the impact of these short-term rallies. In previous bearish cycles, XRP experienced sharp countertrend rallies that ultimately failed to reverse the macro trend because they remained capped by long-term trendlines. Consequently, the impact of the early 2026 breakout remains under scrutiny to determine if it will lead to a sustained reversal or if it will be hindered by the same technical barriers that defined the 2021-2022 period.

Outlook

The outlook for XRP for the remainder of 2026 is heavily dependent on the asset’s ability to navigate key technical resistance zones. While the analyst’s targets of $8 to $10 remain a focal point for the bullish thesis, the realization of a 230% to 310% price increase is not without obstacles. The market is currently focused on whether XRP can decisively reclaim both the descending trendline and the 100-week exponential moving average (EMA). A failure to overcome these levels would suggest that the asset remains within a broader bearish structure, potentially invalidating the bullish setup derived from the gold fractal.

Technical projections indicate that if XRP is unable to reclaim the 100-week EMA, the risk of a significant pullback increases. Such a failure could send the asset’s price back toward the $1.61–$1.97 zone. This potential decline would underscore the ongoing influence of the bearish phase that has persisted despite early-year gains. Therefore, the coming months are seen as a critical period for price discovery. Investors are looking for a confirmation that the asset can establish support above historical resistance levels. Until these technical hurdles are cleared, the market remains balanced between the potential for a gold-like multiyear rally and the risk of a return to lower consolidation ranges established in previous years.