XRP price hovers near $1.50 as whale sell wall holds after CLARITY

XRP fell to $1.47 after a brief surge past $1.50 triggered by the Senate Banking Committee’s CLARITY Act vote, underscoring a persistent $1.45‑$1.50 sell wall that continues to cap upside despite growing institutional activity【1】.

CLARITY Act vote sparks brief rally

The committee’s 15‑9 approval of the CLARITY Act on May 14 pushed XRP above $1.50 for the first time in months, briefly touching $1.55 before sellers reclaimed control. The move showed how sensitive the token is to regulatory headlines, but the rally was short‑lived as the market re‑tested the historic resistance range that has repeatedly halted price advances this year【3】.

Whale sell wall and ETF inflows limit upside

A concentrated supply of roughly $1.16 bn of XRP sits in the $1.44‑$1.46 band, representing holdings of investors who bought near recent peaks and are waiting to exit at break‑even. This “sell wall” has repeatedly absorbed buying pressure, keeping the token anchored below $1.50【1】. Meanwhile, spot XRP ETFs recorded $25.8 million of inflows on May 12—the largest single‑day total since January—but about 84 % of those funds came from retail investors, leaving institutional capital on the sidelines pending full legal clarity【1】. The combination of a hefty on‑chain sell‑off and predominantly retail‑driven ETF inflows suggests that even strong regulatory news may struggle to break the current ceiling.

What to watch

• A decisive full‑Senate vote on the CLARITY Act that could remove the regulatory uncertainty keeping institutions at bay.
• XRP breaking and holding above the $1.55 resistance, which would indicate the sell wall is weakening.
• Large‑wallet movements that could either add to the $1.16 bn overhang or reduce it, shifting the supply‑demand balance.

The price action shows that regulatory wins alone are insufficient to move XRP without corresponding on‑chain demand. The next catalyst—whether a final CLARITY Act approval or a breach of the $1.55 barrier—will determine if the token can finally translate Ripple’s expanding institutional footprint into price appreciation.