Early Friday, Ripple‘s native token XRP plunged more than 20% in trading. It fell to about $1.20 and threatened to slip below the $1 mark amid marketwide selling.
The token has lost roughly half its value year-to-date. Forty-six percent of that drop happened within one month in 2026.
Recovery could take months or years if XRP drops under $1, based on past cycles. (Ed. note: The altcoin rose above $3 in 2018, then stayed under $1 for nearly seven years.)
The sell-off followed weakness in the broader crypto market. Bitcoin fell over 10% early Friday to about $65,000, pressuring altcoins.
By contrast, U.S. equities held firmer. The Dow Jones is up roughly 1.3% year-to-date and the S&P 500 trades near the breakeven level.
Data shows XRP has lost about 50% of its value over the past year. Traders seeking quick profits have struggled during this volatile stretch.
