You probably came here to get the skinny on whether XRP is heading to the moon or the sewer. Whatever the truth is — and that’s an uncomfortable thing to suggest — it clearly trends strongly toward the latter. Counting on a tariff pause—putting a band-aid on a broken leg—is not the answer. It just won't work.

Tariff Pause No Crypto Salvation

The knee-jerk reaction to Trump's 90-day tariff pause was predictable: a temporary lift across the crypto market. The fact that XRP is the last one standing in this bearish revolution says a lot. Are you really wagering your taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars on a temporary political stunt winning out against long-lasting economic forces? Let's be blunt: that's not investing; it's gambling.

Think of it like this: your favorite restaurant gets a temporary tax break. However, does that magically fix their food if the quality was already getting worse? No. The core issue – the lack of food quality – lingers. Likewise, a tariff pause doesn’t address the deep-rooted vulnerabilities in XRP’s competitive standing.

Options Market Screams Lower Prices

The options market isn’t simply whispering. It’s howling that XRP traders are expecting more downside. Indeed, data from exchange Deribit indicates that both April and May options contracts are heavily concentrated on the downside at lower price targets. These are not your average, everyday speculators—these are sophisticated market traders who are placing billions of dollars in bets. They're not buying the tariff-pause hype. Why are you?

Consider this: the options market is like a betting pool on the future price. If everyone's betting on the price going down, shouldn't that tell you something? Now that’s not a promise, of course, but it is a very strong signal of what the market is thinking.

Individual Responsibility, Not Tariff Fantasies

We cannot continue to seek a white knight from the outside – we need to come together and take personal accountability for our individual investment choices. Using Trump’s tariff policies as a crutch is a disaster waiting to happen.

Do your own due diligence. Understand the risks involved. Understand that losses are inevitable. Learn from them and move on. Don’t pin the blame on the government or other outside factors when your bad investments tank. We believe the free market is a great liberating force, but it will do the work of correcting over-valued assets and removing unsustainable projects.

Look at Glassnode's data, which points to a potential decline in XRP's price due to a slowdown in trading activity and weaker capital inflows. These are very real, tangible harbingers of a softening market, not just hypothetical musings.

Speaking of free markets, curious why some projects succeed while others fail to get out of the gate? It’s not just about the technology—the success of these efforts lies in sound economics, sustainable business models and the ability to adapt. Therefore, hoping that future administrations will be more supportive of the program is not a practical investment strategy.

The Harsh Reality of Market Correction

Amberdata’s head of research, Mike Marshall, thinks the macro backdrop is still bearish for crypto long term. According to crypto strategist Ali Martinez, XRP might eventually fall as low as $1.30. These are not futuristic forecasts to dismiss as pie in the sky.

It’s very tempting to take a leap on the hype and be seduced by miracle cures. The truth is that the market is a cold, heartless killer. It doesn’t give a damn about your aspiration or your idealism. It only cares about supply and demand.

IndicatorSignal
Options MarketBearish Expectations
Trading ActivitySlowdown
Capital InflowsWeakening
Macroeconomic ViewLong-Term Concerns

Now, before you write me off entirely, I’m not saying XRP is totally doomed forever. Douro Labs CEO Mike Cahill makes a good point that we are on the cusp of a huge capital rotation into digital assets. It's possible that a collapsing bond market and tariff pause could eventually lead to a surge in XRP's value.

Long-Term Growth? Maybe, Maybe

Even if that occurs, the short-term pain will be significant. If you're not prepared to weather the storm, you're better off parking your money elsewhere.

Don't let hope cloud your judgment. XRP’s sub-$2 fate is a very real possibility, and shrewd investors are getting ready for it. Know the risks, temper your optimism, and don’t count on political magic wands to rescue your investment portfolio. That’s not the way you create intergenerational wealth—that’s the surest way to destroy it.

Even if that happens, the short-term pain will be real. And if you're not prepared to weather the storm, you're better off parking your money elsewhere.

The key takeaway? Don't let hope cloud your judgment. XRP's sub-$2 fate is a distinct possibility, and smart investors are preparing accordingly. Understand the risks, manage your expectations, and don't rely on political fairy tales to save your portfolio. That's not how you build wealth; that's how you lose it.