Should You Buy XRP Now or Wait for a Pullback?

XRP has surged 42% in two months yet still sits well below where it started the year, putting buyers in a tricky spot where acting too soon or waiting too long could both cost them.

Published September 27, 2026, 10:35am ET · 3 min read

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A golden XRP cryptocurrency coin stands vertically on a reflective dark surface, showing its full circular form and the stylized 'XRP' symbol. Directly below, a clear reflection of the coin is visible. In the background, a blue digital screen displays a blurred financial chart with dynamic, colorful lines indicating market movements.
An XRP cryptocurrency coin is prominently displayed against a backdrop of a surging financial chart, illustrating the recent market excitement. Investors are weighing whether to buy XRP now or await a potential pullback. © Sorapop Udomsri / Shutterstock.com

XRP (CRYPTO:XRP) has risen about 42% over the last 60 days, jumping from around $1.08 in late July to $1.53 as of September 27, 2026. This puts investors in a familiar position: Should they buy XRP now after this impressive run, or is it wiser to wait for a price drop?

However, while this rally seems substantial compared to summer lows, XRP is still down about 17% for 2026 and roughly 46% from a year ago. This means buying at $1.53 is better than what anyone who bought on January 1 would pay. So, is it too late to buy, or could waiting lead to a better opportunity?

XRP Still Trades 17% Below Where It Started in 2026

Ripple XRP on cryptocurrency coin with falling crashing graph in background. The cryptocurrency coin is golden and in focus. This is a price concept of Ripple down market.

Useacoin / Shutterstock.com

At the start of 2026, XRP traded near $1.85, meaning it would need a gain of around 21% to return to that point. Although XRP has rebounded somewhat over the past 60 days, it has only recovered a fraction of the losses from earlier this year.

XRP does not generate earnings or cash flow, so one of the few ways to evaluate its price is by looking at past trading levels. By this measure, $1.53 is still below the price at the beginning of the year and far beneath last year’s highs, even after the recent rally.

Interestingly, new investors are still entering the market. Recent data from SoSoValue shows that U.S. spot XRP ETFs attracted $75.6 million from September 21 to September 25, a significant increase from just $9.6 million the week before.

XRP’s Rally Has Slowed Just Under Its 50-Week Average

Cryptocurrencies and technology.XRP Ripple gold coins on futuristic and abstract stock charts background. Finance and investment concept.

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The momentum behind XRP’s rise appears to have slowed. Over the past month, it gained about 9.9%, which is much lower than the climbs seen in July and August. This suggests the initial rush of buyers may be dwindling, with some sellers taking profits.

Currently, XRP’s price has stalled just below its 50-week moving average of approximately $1.56, which represents the average price over the past year. As of September 24, average buyers from the past year are about 12% in the red, meaning some might decide to sell as XRP moves closer to the prices they paid.

This slower trading pattern suggests XRP could see more erratic moves in the coming weeks. However, it’s hard to predict when a pullback might occur or how substantial it could be.

How Big an XRP Pullback Is Worth Waiting For?

Four wooden blocks are arranged on a light gray surface in a close-up shot. The first three blocks spell 'XRP' in dark red letters. The fourth block features a green upward-pointing triangle on its top face and a red downward-pointing triangle on its front face. In the blurred background, a computer monitor displays a financial chart with a fluctuating line, and a water bottle is visible.

Uuganbayar / Shutterstock.com

A price dip only makes sense if it significantly improves a buyer’s cost. If XRP retraces its 9.9% monthly gain, it could drop to around $1.39, which is about 9% below the current $1.53. A minor dip, on the other hand, wouldn’t save much for those waiting weeks.

Waiting carries its own risks. If XRP closes above $1.56 for a week, it might continue its upward trend, and patient buyers could end up paying more than $1.53. For long-term investors, this decision matters because a longer investment horizon generally benefits more from staying in the market than from trying to time the perfect entry.

Additionally, XRP’s 46% drop over the past year suggests that the amount invested may matter more than the exact entry price. A strategy called dollar-cost averaging—buying equal amounts over several weeks—can help mitigate risk should a pullback occur. Our look at where XRP could bottom explores potential lower levels in more detail.

Is It Too Late to Buy XRP Now?

By the numbers, it’s not too late to buy because XRP still trades about 17% below its beginning-of-the-year price, even after the recent surge. Waiting might suit short-term traders aiming for a better entry around $1.39, but those who average their purchases over time may better withstand volatility.

This perspective could shift if XRP’s one-month gains turn into losses, signaling that the recovery might be losing traction and a bigger pullback could be on the horizon. Conversely, if XRP closes above its 50-week average of $1.56, it may pave the way for a rise back toward $1.85, potentially raising costs for buyers looking for a dip.

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Sam Daodu

Sam Daodu is a crypto analyst who's spent nearly a decade making blockchain understandable—no easy task when most whitepapers read like fever dreams. He writes for 24/7 Wall St., covering Bitcoin, altcoins, and crypto market analysis for investors. Before crypto, he was a tech writer (back when explaining "the cloud" was peak innovation). Since 2018, he's written for CoinTelegraph, Yahoo Finance, The Block, Cryptonews, Zypto, Rain, and more—basically anywhere people want crypto news without the headache. Sam runs MacLabs Marketing, a content agency for crypto brands tired of sounding like AI wrote their website. He also publishes free crypto education on his site for Web3 enthusiasts who think "gas fees" is a typo. When he's not writing or staring at charts, Sam's either: - Watching anime (currently convinced One Piece has better tokenomics than most altcoins) - At the gym sculpting himself into a Greek god - Listening to the music your mum warned you only bad boys listen to Connect: LinkedIn | Email | MacLabs Marketing

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