Veteran market analyst Peter Brandt has issued a gloomy year-end forecast for XRP, suggesting the asset may struggle to maintain its momentum despite recent gains.

On April 18, Brandt shared his updated analysis on X (formerly Twitter), projecting two possible scenarios for XRP’s market capitalization by year’s end.

Cautionary Outlook for XRP Despite Recent Surge

The first scenario places XRP’s market cap around $116.67 billion, while the second offers a more bearish outlook of just above $60 billion.

Essentially, both figures imply a decline from XRP’s current valuation of roughly $2.09 per token at a market capitalization of $121 billion.

Brandt’s analysis is based on a technical pattern he previously identified on XRP’s price chart.

According to him, the formation resembles a classic head-and-shoulders setup—a pattern that often signals a trend reversal. If this plays out, XRP could fall as low as $1.07.

He added then that a move below $1.90 would confirm the pattern and likely trigger a steep correction of more than 50%. However, a break above $3 could invalidate the bearish outlook.

“XRP is forming a textbook H&S pattern. So, we are now range bound. Above 3.000 I would not want to be short. Below 1.9 I would not want to own it,” Brandt explained.

This cautious forecast follows a remarkable surge in XRP’s price since late 2024.

Following Donald Trump’s return to the White House, the token rallied over 300%, reaching a high of $3.28 before pulling back to its current level.

This price performance has led many investors to believe that the Trump administration’s friendlier stance toward digital assets could help the asset continue its rally.

One major catalyst was the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) decision to drop several lawsuits against crypto companies, including Ripple.

That shift reduced regulatory uncertainty and sparked renewed interest in XRP, culminating in the launch of exchange-traded funds (ETFs) focused on the product.

Adding to the momentum, Ripple launched its own stablecoin, RLUSD, aiming to tap into a growing segment of the digital asset market.

Still, Brandt’s warning suggests that XRP’s recent rally may not be sustainable if bearish pressure intensifies.

Ripple Not Rushing Into IPO Despite Industry Trend

Amid renewed attention on XRP’s performance, Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse has addressed growing speculation about the company going public.

In a recent video shared on X, Garlinghouse made it clear that Ripple does not plan to file for an IPO in 2025.

He emphasized that the company is not actively seeking external funding because it remains financially stable and is prioritizing product development and business expansion.

“Will we IPO in 2025? I think that’s a definitive no…We’ve said there’s no imminent plans to go public,” Garlinghouse stated.

While the company isn’t moving forward with an IPO this year, Garlinghouse didn’t completely close the door.

He noted that Ripple is evaluating whether going public would benefit the business in the long run. However, such a move isn’t a current priority.

“You have to ask yourself, okay, how does Ripple benefit from being a public company? And is it a high priority for us?” he said.

Moreover, Garlinghouse also hinted that the regulatory landscape—especially under new leadership at the SEC—could influence Ripple’s future decisions.

His comments come as several crypto firms, including Kraken and Ciecle, reportedly prepare for IPOs. For now, though, Ripple appears comfortable staying private until conditions become more favorable.

SUI blockchain has been gaining traction in recent weeks, and its market cap is now approaching $7 billion. Fueled by meme coin activity and rising DeFi engagement, the network has seen a notable jump in DEX volume and technical momentum.

While indicators like RSI and EMA lines show early signs of a potential trend shift, overall strength remains mixed. SUI sits at a key crossroads—supported by short-term excitement but still needing stronger confirmation to challenge top-tier chains.

SUI Surges to 5th in DEX Volume, But Still Trails Top Chains

SUI’s recent surge in DEX activity has grabbed attention, largely fueled by growing interest in meme coins and speculative trading on its ecosystem. Over the past seven days, SUI’s DEX volume hit $2.1 billion, marking a 4.49% increase and continuing its steady upward trend.

This momentum has helped SUI outperform other ecosystems, most notably surpassing Arbitrum in the past 24 hours to become the fifth-largest chain by DEX volume.

However, despite the short-term gains, SUI still trails well behind top-tier networks like Base, BNB Chain, Ethereum, and Solana in total DEX activity.

These established ecosystems continue to dominate in terms of liquidity, user base, and overall transaction volume.

While SUI’s rise is notable, especially given its relatively new position in the DeFi ecosystem, it will need to sustain this growth and diversify beyond meme coin hype to truly challenge the leading players.

For now, it remains an exciting underdog with momentum—but not yet a major contender.

SUI Momentum Rebuilds, But Trend Remains Weak

SUI’s RSI is now at 51.86, up from 35.22 just three days ago. This suggests buying pressure has returned after a short-term dip, helping stabilize price action.

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) measures momentum on a scale from 0 to 100. Readings above 70 are considered overbought, while those below 30 indicate oversold conditions.

Sitting near the midpoint, SUI’s RSI points to neutral momentum. It hasn’t crossed above 70 in almost a month, showing that bullish strength has remained limited.

Meanwhile, SUI’s DMI (Directional Movement Index) shows that its ADX is down to 9 from 14.79 just two days ago. The ADX measures trend strength, and anything below 20 signals a weak or nonexistent trend.

The +DI is at 15.83 while the -DI is at 13.15, meaning buyers have a slight edge—but the low ADX suggests that edge isn’t strong. There’s no clear trend dominating the market right now.

Together, the RSI and DMI suggest that SUI is in a consolidation phase. Buyers are showing some activity, but not enough to build a strong, sustained trend—at least for now.

EMA Setup Still Bearish, But SUI Bulls Show Signs of Life

SUI’s EMA lines are still showing a bearish setup, with short-term averages sitting below the long-term ones. However, the gap between them has narrowed, and a potential golden cross may be forming.

A golden cross occurs when a short-term EMA crosses above a long-term one, often seen as a bullish signal. If this plays out, SUI could gain momentum and push toward the $2.28 resistance level.

Breaking above that could open the path toward $2.41 and $2.54. If bullish momentum builds further, SUI blockchain could even test the $2.83 level—its highest since early March.

But if the market fails to hold current levels and selling pressure returns, a correction could begin. In that case, it might fall back to test the $2.02 support.

Losing that support could bring deeper downside, potentially pushing SUI toward $1.71. For now, price action is at a critical point, with both breakout and breakdown scenarios on the table.