Ripple XRP price stuck near $1.40 as CLARITY Act hurdle looms

XRP is hovering at $1.40, barely above its $1.36‑$1.50 range, while the Senate Banking Committee’s May 14 CLARITY Act vote keeps the token’s upside hinged on legislative approval and fresh ETF money.

Institutional wins vs. price stagnation

Ripple’s ecosystem has expanded: a cross‑border U.S. Treasury settlement cleared in under five seconds on the XRP Ledger (May 6) and tokenized real‑world assets topped $3 bn in late April, a 59% month‑over‑month jump【1】. Yet the token itself remains flat, with large‑holder activity evident – the number of wallets holding at least 10,000 XRP hit a record 332,230, suggesting quiet accumulation【1】.

Regulatory hurdle and market dynamics

The CLARITY Act, which would codify XRP’s commodity status into law, cleared the Senate Banking Committee with a 15‑9 vote on May 14 and now awaits a 60‑vote Senate floor threshold【1】. Polymarket assigns a 63% probability of passage in 2026, and Standard Chartered projects $4‑$8 bn of additional ETF inflows if it passes【1】. So far, XRP ETFs have drawn $1.41 bn cumulatively, but 84% of that is retail‑driven, with institutional participation still limited【1】.

Price outlook and realistic targets

Analysts generally see XRP at $5‑$8.70 by 2027, far short of the $15 hype that would require a $927 bn market cap—about 60% of Bitcoin’s current size【1】. A more attainable near‑term target is $2, contingent on breaking the $1.50 resistance and closing above the 200‑day moving average at $1.88【2】. Historical patterns show that when XRP reclaimed $2 in January 2026, volume spiked 190% to $4.27 bn and the token briefly became the third‑largest crypto by market cap【2】.

What to watch

• $1.50 resistance – a clean close above this level could open a run toward $1.80 and revive the $2 target.
• CLARITY Act Senate floor vote – passage is the primary catalyst for larger institutional ETF inflows.
• ETF inflow trends – monitor weekly net inflows; a shift toward institutional money would signal demand beyond retail speculation.

The disconnect between Ripple’s growing institutional partnerships and XRP’s stagnant price underscores a pivotal moment: if the CLARITY Act clears the Senate and ETF money flows accelerate, the token could finally translate ledger usage into real demand. Otherwise, the $1.40 price may linger until another catalyst emerges.