After an extraordinary run in late 2017, XRP entered 2018 at a record high and then experienced one of its steepest corrections. The year told a tale of two halves: a January peak followed by a relentless bear market that lasted through the end of 2018 and into 2019.
January 2018: The All-Time High
XRP opened 2018 on a high note. The price surged to $3.84 on January 4, 2018 — the all-time high for the asset. The first week of January 2018 was extraordinary, with XRP briefly surpassing Ethereum in market capitalization to become the second-largest cryptocurrency by market cap.
February–June 2018: The First Leg Down
Bitcoin's correction from its own peak near $20,000 dragged all crypto assets lower. By February, XRP had already fallen below $1.00. By June, it was trading around $0.50. Despite Ripple continuing to sign banking partnerships and announce positive developments, the broader market sentiment was bearish.
Q3–Q4 2018: Accelerating Decline
The second half of 2018 saw continued selling pressure. By September, XRP was below $0.30. October and November brought the so-called "crypto winter" crash, with XRP falling to around $0.35 before stabilizing. The year closed with XRP well below $0.40.
2018 XRP Statistics
- Opening Price (Jan 1, 2018): ~$2.30
- All-Time High (Jan 4, 2018): $3.84
- Year Close: ~$0.35
- Peak to Trough Decline: ~91%
