XRP (XRP) dropped as much as 7.25% to around $1.84 on Tuesday after President Donald Trump threatened tariffs on certain European countries in a dispute tied to Greenland.
Trump’s Greenland Tariff Threat Shook Risk Sentiment
Greenland is a self-governing territory within the Kingdom of Denmark, and Trump’s recent remarks revived a geopolitical dispute by pressuring Denmark and European backers over the island.
For markets, the immediate takeaway was the increased odds of a broader trade fight, potential retaliation, and policy uncertainty, conditions that typically hit “risk-on” assets like crypto first.
XRP’s initial slide, however, did not hold. The token rebounded quickly and printed a long bullish wick, signaling XRP buyers absorbed the sell-off below the $1.90 area. The pattern resembled a November 2025 downside rejection that preceded a roughly 25% rebound, keeping the case open for another relief rally if macro stress fades.
Part of the rebound may have reflected a return of risk appetite tied to a pending US Supreme Court ruling on some of Trump’s earlier tariffs, with a decision seen as possible as soon as Tuesday. That backdrop fueled speculation that tariff pressure could de-escalate rather than intensify.
“My working assumption is that an ‘off-ramp’ from these threats will soon be found,” said Michael Brown, senior research strategist at Pepperstone, adding that if any European retaliation remains mostly rhetorical, he would treat dips in risk assets as buying opportunities.
Still, Francisco Simón, European head of strategy at Santander Asset Management, emphasized the key trigger:
“The key element to watch in the coming days is whether the message translates into formal measures or remains purely rhetorical.”
Descending Channel Keeps a 20% XRP Drop in Check
Even after the rebound, XRP continues to trade inside a descending channel, meaning the larger trend has remained down despite sharp counter-trend bounces. In simple terms, the market is still producing lower highs and lower lows.
XRP also faces a dense resistance band from its moving averages. The 50-day EMA sits near $2.07, while the 200-day EMA is around $2.31—levels that often act like ceilings during downtrends. Meanwhile, the daily RSI is in the mid-40s, suggesting momentum remains weak rather than bullish.
If the Greenland dispute evolves into actual tariff measures and worsens risk sentiment, XRP could slide toward the channel’s lower trendline near $1.60, about 20% below current levels, by early February.
The bearish setup would weaken if XRP breaks above the channel’s upper trendline and sustains a reclaim of the $2.07–$2.31 zone.