XRP is on track to post its worst first-quarter performance since 2018, with losses now exceeding 28% as sustained selling pressure weighs on the asset throughout Q1 2026.
According to data from CryptoRank, XRP is down almost 30% so far this quarter, with losses recently extending to around -28.1% on March 30, 2026, marking a sharp reversal after a strong start to the year.
XRP posts steepest Q1 decline since 2018
Notably, this marks XRP’s weakest first-quarter showing since 2018, when the asset plunged a staggering 77.7% in Q1 alone. However, the comparison requires important context.
Back in 2018, XRP’s decline came in the aftermath of the late-2017 crypto bubble, when speculative enthusiasm had pushed prices sharply above fundamentals. As the broader market reversed, capital rapidly exited high-risk assets, triggering a deep and prolonged correction across altcoins, XRP included.
By contrast, the current downturn appears far less structural. Rather than a post-bubble collapse, XRP’s 2026 decline follows a strong January rally and reflects fading momentum, softer capital inflows, and a more cautious macro environment.
XRP price struggles despite strong start to 2026
Despite the weak quarterly performance, XRP began the year on a bullish note, rallying to as high as $2.42 in January and briefly pushing its market capitalization toward $145 billion.
However, that momentum proved short-lived. The digital asset has since entered a steady downtrend, with prices gradually declining as demand weakened and broader crypto market sentiment cooled.
At the same time, investment flows into XRP-linked exchange-traded products have softened. Investors withdrew millions of dollars from these products in recent weeks, signaling declining institutional appetite and reinforcing downward pressure on price action.
Bearish sentiment builds as key XRP support breaks
From a technical perspective, XRP has also shown clear signs of weakness. The token fell as low as $1.19 on February 5, slipping below the key psychological support level of $1.20, a breakdown that accelerated selling pressure.
Since then, XRP has struggled to regain upward momentum, with lower highs and continued volatility pointing to a fragile market structure.
Still, analysts remain divided on what comes next. While some warn of further downside if bearish sentiment persists, others argue the correction could represent a necessary reset following January’s rally.
At the time of writing, XRP was trading at $1.33, down 28.1% year-to-date, underscoring the scale of the ongoing drawdown.
