Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president on Monday, but his highly anticipated speech made no mention of Bitcoin or cryptocurrency. However, pro-crypto announcements are expected within the next 48 hours.

Bitcoin, already experiencing sharp swings, fell to test the $100,000 level during the speech, down from an overnight high above $109,000.

Bitcoin hit a new all-time high early Monday, Source: BNC Bitcoin Liquid Index

A Shift in Tone

Trump’s administration is shaping up to be significantly more open to crypto than the previous one, which had been staunchly critical. Trump has repeatedly promised policies that embrace transformative technologies, including blockchain, with Bitcoin and XRP in focus as most to benefit.

His early appointments reflect this vision:

David Sacks, a venture capitalist and former COO of PayPal, has been tapped as the White House’s “A.I. & Crypto Czar.” Paul Atkins, a seasoned D.C. insider and crypto advocate, has been nominated to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission. Not Without Controversy

While Trump’s crypto-forward policies are welcome to some, they haven’t been without criticism. Over the weekend, the president sparked a frenzy with the surprise launch of the Trump meme coin, which was quickly followed by a similar launch tied to Melania Trump.

While the meme coin has been controversial, with defenders and those who are more skeptical, we did enjoy this quote from Trumpo supporter Nic Carter of Castle Island Ventures. “It’s absolutely preposterous that he would do this. They’re plumbing new depths of idiocy with the memecoin launch.”

Catalysts Driving XRP Prices Higher Today

XRP has been a standout performer, gaining 488% since Donald Trump’s election victory. The token has reclaimed its position as the third-largest cryptocurrency by market capitalization, surpassing Tether’s USDT. With a market value of $170 billion, XRP is now larger than asset management giant BlackRock (BLK).

XRP prices are surging on optimism fueled by several factors, including the anticipation that President-elect Donald Trump will sign pro-crypto executive orders shortly after taking office on Jan. 20. High open interest and strong market technicals further bolster the rally.

XRP’s Jan. 20 rally aligns with broader crypto market trends, as Bitcoin reached new all-time highs above $109,000. The crypto community is optimistic about Trump’s return to the White House and his campaign promises to create a crypto-friendly environment.

In other XRP news, analysts suggest XRP could even overtake Ethereum’s ETH in marketcap.

During his campaign, Trump pledged to transform the U.S. into the “crypto capital of the world” and remove SEC Chair Gary Gensler on “day one.” Gensler, whose tenure began in 2021, oversaw aggressive regulatory actions against crypto, including Ripple’s $125 million penalty in August 2024.

Reports suggest Trump plans to issue several pro-crypto executive orders, potentially impacting XRP prices significantly. Notably, the approval of a spot XRP ETF could attract $4 billion to $8 billion in new assets within five months, according to JP Morgan.

Further speculation suggests that Trump wants an American Crypto Reserve that will hold American crypto assets such as Ripple’s XRP and Solana.

Some evidence suggesting this might happen soon is a series of billboards in Washingnton. The billboards say “Ripple, American Leadership in Crypto.” That seems to point to a new American-first crypto movement that will quickly emerge under David Sacks and President Trump.

Ripple, American Leadership in Crypto Billboards and ads. Source: X

Record Open Interest Boosts XRP Momentum

Optimism surrounding Trump’s crypto policies has driven XRP-tracked futures to record levels. Open interest (OI)—a measure of market sentiment—reached an all-time high of $7.6 billion on Jan. 18 before settling at $7.1 billion. OI has surged 90% since Jan. 9, corresponding with a 47% increase in XRP prices during the same period.

High OI signals strong market momentum and investor confidence, with parallels to a November-December 2024 surge when XRP prices rallied 170%.

XRP Targets $3.60 Price Prediction in Breakout Rally

XRP’s current rally is part of a breakout from a symmetrical triangle pattern, signaling continued upward momentum. This pattern suggests a price target of $3.60—approximately 10% above current levels.

XRP Price Source: BNC XRPLX 

Key levels to watch include support around $2.95 and the 50-day SMA near $2.46. For XRP to hit $3.60, it must first overcome the resistance of $3.40, a seven-year high.

Crypto analyst Javon Marks is bullish on XRP’s trajectory, pointing to a rapid recovery from a “false breakdown” and breakout from a bull flag pattern. He shared:

The XRP Price is gearing up for a massive run, Source: X

Technical Outlook Support Levels: $2.95, 50-day SMA ($2.46) Resistance Levels: $3.40, $3.60 (breakout target) Momentum Drivers: Symmetrical triangle breakout, high OI, and pro-crypto sentiment under Trump

XRP is poised for continued gains, with market momentum and policy optimism fueling investor enthusiasm. Can XRP hit $50 in 2025? We’re about to find out. That’s a high price prediction for XRP, but not out of the question.

Google Searches for ‘How to Buy Crypto’ Hit All-Time High as Trump Shifts the Narrative

Finally, adding more fuel to the XRP price predictions is the fact President Donald Trump’s moves have reignited mainstream curiosity about digital assets. Google Trends data reveals an unprecedented surge in searches for “how to buy crypto,” signaling peak retail interest in cryptocurrencies. Ripple’s XRP is a popular coin with retail traders, so we expecting trading volume for XRP to pick up quickly. Price follows volume,

Google Trends shows a value of 100 for the search query “how to buy crypto,” the highest level in five years. Source: Google Trends