XRP adds $19B to market cap despite 32% drop in new addresses
Network Realized Profit/Loss plunges 99% from January 1 peak
Price breaks above descending channel amid questionable sustainability
XRP’s recent price action presents an intriguing disconnect between market valuation and network fundamentals. While the cryptocurrency has surged 16% over the past week to reach $2.37, adding $19 billion to its market capitalization, underlying metrics suggest this growth may be built on shaky foundations.
XRP Network Health Question
A deeper examination of XRP’s network metrics reveals concerning trends beneath the surface of price appreciation. The 32% decline in new Ripple address creation over the past week raises important questions about the sustainability of the current rally.
XRP Network Growth. Source: Santiment
This metric serves as a crucial barometer of genuine market interest – when new addresses decline during a price increase, it often indicates that speculation, rather than organic adoption, is driving the market.
This pattern becomes even more significant when we consider the Network Realized Profit/Loss metric, which has experienced a dramatic 99% decline from its January 1 peak of $1 billion to just $10.48 million. This precipitous drop suggests that actual trading activity and profit realization have nearly ground to a halt, even as prices continue to climb.
From a technical perspective, while XRP has broken above its descending parallel channel, the lack of supporting network metrics suggests this breakthrough may struggle to hold. The $1.88 support level becomes particularly important, as it could provide a floor if the current rally proves unsustainable.
However, a surge in genuine buying activity could invalidate these concerns and push XRP toward retesting its multi-year high of $2.90.
The current market structure presents a classic case of divergence between price action and fundamental metrics, creating a situation where careful monitoring of network health indicators becomes crucial for understanding the sustainability of recent gains.
