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Zafar Naik
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Sohrab KhawasSohrab is a passionate cryptocurrency news writer with over five years of experience covering the industry. He keeps a keen interest in blockchain technology and its potential to revolutionize finance. Whether he's trading or writing, Sohrab always keeps his finger on the pulse of the crypto world, using his expertise to deliver informative and engaging articles that educate and inspire. When he's not analyzing the markets, Sohrab indulges in his hobbies of graphic design, minimal design or listening to his favorite hip-hop tunes.
- Feb 24, 2026 10:01 UTC
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‘Never Thought I’d Buy XRP Below $1 Again’: Analyst Reveals Why Institutions Are Already In
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XRP $ 1.33 (-4.95%) 
Crypto analyst Austin Hilton says XRP could fall below $1 if Bitcoin breaks $50K, and he's treating that as a buying window.
Institutions are integrating Ripple's on-chain infrastructure, but Hilton warns they're not buying XRP to pump the price.
One regulatory catalyst with 80-90% odds of passing by April could change everything for sidelined institutional capital.
Crypto analyst Austin Hilton says the current XRP sell-off is masking a story most retail investors are not tracking. In a recent video breakdown, he argued that institutional players are already building on the XRP Ledger while prices bleed, and the window to accumulate may not stay open long.
Institutions Want the Tech, Not the Token Pump
Hilton drew a line that rarely gets attention. Financial institutions are integrating Ripple’s infrastructure, but they are not buying XRP in bulk to push the spot price higher.
“Do I believe institutions are buying XRP? Sure. Do I believe they’re buying it in mass to move the price of the token? No, that’s not my point.”
The XRP Ledger activated XLS-81 this month, launching permissioned DEXs with built-in KYC and AML controls designed for banks and regulated firms. Ripple also expanded escrow tools to cover stablecoins and tokenized real-world assets. Combined, these give institutions a compliance-ready on-chain toolkit.
“Ripple is not trying to win open DeFi. It’s building a fast lane for institutional capital.”
The signals extend beyond the ledger. Aviva Investors partnered with Ripple to tokenize funds on XRPL, cumulative XRP ETF inflows have crossed $1.23 billion, and Bank of America recently disclosed XRP ETF holdings in an SEC filing.
Tariffs, Iran, and the Macro Drag on Crypto
Hilton connected the sell-off to forces well outside crypto. The Supreme Court struck down the Trump administration’s tariff framework, and the White House immediately pivoted to impose more. The EU is publicly refusing to accept the hikes, and Iran-US tensions continue escalating.
These pressures are suppressing price action across the board, regardless of what is being built underneath.
XRP Below $1? Hilton Sees a Buying Window
With Bitcoin at risk of dropping to $55K or below $50K, Hilton expects XRP to follow and potentially fall under $1.
“I never thought I’d be able to buy XRP below a dollar again, simply put.”
He frames that scenario as accumulation, not panic. The infrastructure is live, institutional names are moving, and the CLARITY Act carries 80% odds of passing by April, according to Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse. Polymarket bettors price it at 85%.
If the regulatory green light and macro relief arrive together, the gap between XRP’s infrastructure reality and its price could close fast.
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FAQs
XRP is under macro pressure from global tensions and market risk-off sentiment, even as institutions quietly build on XRPL infrastructure.
Institutions are using Ripple’s technology and XRPL tools, but large-scale token buying to pump XRP’s price isn’t the primary focus.
Regulatory clarity, improving macro conditions, and continued institutional adoption could help close the gap between XRP’s utility and price.
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