$XRP price is approaching a major turning point against Bitcoin and Ethereum, according to analyst Dark Defender.
He believes the $XRP-$ETH pair is completing a Wave 4 correction before entering a powerful Wave 5 advance.
In a post on X, Dark Defender shared a two-week $XRP/$ETH chart and said $XRP is currently “on the taxiway,” suggesting the token is preparing for its next major move.
Meanwhile, he noted that $ETH’s price may appreciate a bit more in the coming days. But afterward, $XRP “will take over Bitcoin and Ethereum and dominate the field,” in his words.
$XRP-$ETH Pair at Key Correction Zone
The analyst’s chart shows that the $XRP-$ETH pair is in Wave 4 of an Elliott Wave pattern, meaning it is going through a correction before a possible move higher.
The chart identifies the 30% Fibonacci level around 0.0004141 $ETH and the 38.2% level near 0.0005487 $ETH as important areas. The pair was recently trading around 0.000532 $ETH, placing it close to the 38.2% retracement zone.
$XRP price chart by Dark Defender
Dark Defender’s projected Wave 5 points significantly higher, with the chart displaying a 361.8% Fibonacci target around 0.002238 $ETH. If the setup plays out, $XRP could substantially outperform Ethereum during the next major rotation in the crypto market.
ChartNerd Offers a More Cautious Outlook
However, fellow $XRP analyst ChartNerd offered a significantly more cautious interpretation of the $XRP-$ETH setup.
ChartNerd said there are “no absolutes,” but argued that $XRP could continue losing ground against Bitcoin and Ethereum through the end of the year.
He said capital typically rotates into safer major assets first when a bear market ends. Bitcoin could therefore attract liquidity before Ethereum and, eventually, $XRP.
Under this scenario, $XRP could continue declining primarily against Bitcoin. As the price of Bitcoin dips, this could create further weakness for Ethereum, $XRP, and other altcoins.
$XRP Price Still Trails Ethereum in 2026
According to CoinMarketCap figures at press time, $XRP was trading around $0.9959. It was down 3.35% over the past week, 8.30% over the past month, and roughly 46% year-to-date. $XRP has dipped below $1 three times since last week, marking the first instances of this happening since 2024.
Ethereum, meanwhile, was trading around $1,891, down 1.36% over the past week but still up 2.52% over the past month and 36.38% year-to-date.
Regardless of the ongoing performance, many analysts believe $XRP is in the final phase of its bear market, although a further drop to lows of $0.70 remains possible. However, they believe the opportunity is more heavily skewed to the upside than the downside, especially as $XRP has fallen more than 73% from its $3.66 peak.