XRP Struggles Below $2.30: Can Developer Growth Spark a Breakout?

• XRP network activity collapsed as whale and user engagement sharply declined.
• Developer contributions surged 196%, fueled by new DeFi protocols on XRPL.
• XRP’s price stagnated below $2.30, with weak momentum and no bullish confirmation yet.

Ripple’s XRP , is drifting in limbo, stuck beneath a stubborn resistance wall at $2.30. Traders watch closely, waiting for a spark that might push the price out of this tight range. Price momentum has faded, and enthusiasm seems to have taken a nap. Even whales appear bored. Yet, behind the scenes, a quiet shift unfolds. Developer activity is heating up, and new DeFi protocols are testing the waters. Could this be the calm before a breakout?

Network Activity Sinks While Price Action Flatlines

XRP’s On-chain metrics paint a bleak picture. Daily active addresses have crashed to just over 40,000. Back in March, that number soared to over 600,000. This dramatic plunge signals a sharp drop in user interest. Whales, too, have stepped back. Transactions over $100,000 have tumbled by one-third since March. This slowdown mirrors the overall mood—quiet, uncertain, and cautious. XRP hovers in a narrow channel.

The token hangs near the lower Bollinger Band , unable to rise above its 20-day average. Resistance near $2.30 remains unbroken. Support around $2.00 feels flimsy at best. The RSI reads 42.83—neither bullish nor catastrophic. Yet the figure whispers fatigue. The market shows little strength, and trading volume barely stirs. Without a catalyst, price action may continue to drift sideways.

Developer Momentum Could Shift the Narrative

Despite a drop in network activity, developers are building at a rapid pace. Contributions on GitHub have surged by 196% in just one month. That’s no small bump—it’s a loud knock on the door. Two new DeFi projects, Vaultro Finance and XpFinance, have just launched. Both protocols joined the XRP Ledger on May 5. Their arrival suggests fresh demand for decentralized tools on this network.

These aren’t just speculative plays—they represent evolving infrastructure. At the same time, Ripple made a bold move. The company acquired Hidden Road, a respected prime brokerage firm. That signals institutional intentions and adds another layer to the XRP ecosystem’s potential. The market has yet to reflect these efforts, but developer energy may soon echo through the charts. For now, buyers seem hesitant.

But as new products roll out and confidence rebuilds, XRP may find strength again. XRP lingers below $2.30, struggling against weak sentiment and thin volume. On-chain activity looks frail, with users and whales stepping back. Developer momentum, however, is gaining speed with new protocols and rising GitHub contributions. This hidden growth could trigger the breakout everyone’s waiting for.