XRP is trapped in a $1.30 to $1.59 range, suggesting it has entered a long sideways phase similar to the past, blockchain media outlet U.Today reported on Oct. 10 local time, citing an analysis.

XRP’s weekly chart shows Bollinger Bands have become extremely narrow, indicating the market is again moving into a major accumulation phase.

The analysis focuses on XRP’s recurring four-year cycle. XRP went through a stagnant phase of about 2 years from September 2018 to November 2020, and again from September 2022 to November 2024. As of October 2026, the chart appears to show this pattern repeating for a third time. While the external news environment keeps changing, the way the market functions has not shifted much, and the current price range is becoming a trap that is unfavorable for leveraged positions.

Market structure is also carrying a different burden than before. XRP open interest stands at about $3.1 billion, near a record high, according to Coinglass. In past stagnant phases, funds often flowed out of the asset, but this time liquidity is described as piling up excessively within the price range. Even so, the price is failing to move. The relative strength index (RSI) is stuck at 44, suggesting directional momentum has effectively disappeared.

The trading range is narrow and reactions are fast. When sellers try to push the price below the psychological support zone of $1.30 to $1.34, buying quickly comes in and triggers liquidations of short positions. Conversely, when buyers try to establish a trend above $1.50, thick limit sell orders block the move and attempts to break higher repeatedly fail.

Because of this, the current range is seen as unfavorable for investors on both sides. The analysis said the narrowing Bollinger Bands are systematically erasing deposits from both sides of the market. It means neither side is taking control, while short price swings repeatedly hit stop-loss orders.

The key is whether an external catalyst emerges to break the range. The analysis suggested XRP is unlikely to escape technical constraints until a clear trigger appears, and may remain an ideal zone where stop-loss orders concentrate. As a result, the current sideways market could test the patience of long-term investors while gradually draining record open interest within this price trap.