XRP is facing renewed pressure this week after the Oct. 10 flash crash triggered record liquidations across the crypto market. The token plunged nearly 40% intraday before rebounding, now hovering between $2.20 and $2.60 as traders assess what's next. Related Reading: Is The XRP Bottom In? Top Crypto Analyst Turns Ultra-Bullish Despite heavy whale selling and lingering volatility, market analysts insist that "this week could change everything" for XRP, with key ETF decisions and regulatory milestones approaching that could redefine its long-term outlook. XRP's price trends to the downside on the daily chart. Source: XRPUSD on Tradingview Flash-Crash Fallout: Liquidations, Whale Flows, and Key Support XRP was swept up in the Oct. 10 crypto "flash crash," sliding intraday by 40% before rebounding to a monthly loss near 20%. The trigger wasn't a protocol flaw but a leverage washout tied to tariff headlines that jolted risk assets. Heavy forced deleveraging slammed both CEX and DEX liquidity, pulling most majors sharply lower in minutes. Since then, XRP has steadied in the $2.20-$2.60 band, with the 200-day EMA near $2.62 now a pivotal pivot. On-chain flows show mixed positioning as large holders sent sizable tranches to exchanges during the drop (a classic profit-taking/hedge tell), yet the torrent slowed after Oct. 11, helping price stabilize. Technically, bulls need a daily close back above $2.80-$3.00 to neutralize the short-term downtrend; lose $2.20, and the next magnet sits near $1.80. Notably, Ripple's RLUSD stablecoin held its peg through the chaos, an institutional-friendly datapoint that underscores XRPL's operational resilience under stress. Derivatives Heat Up as XRP ETF Window Nears Currently, futures open interest eased, but options activity surged triple-digits, signaling traders are bracing for larger moves. Long/short ratios remain skewed long on major venues, fertile ground for volatility if support cracks. That backdrop meets a dense ETF decision window (Oct. 18-25) for issuers including Grayscale, 21Shares, Bitwise, Franklin Templeton, and CoinShares. Pundits point out that the SEC's shortened 75-day review is a sign of an accelerated process, even as macro cross-currents (tariffs, growth jitters) complicate risk appetite. Legal clarity also looms large as courts have affirmed XRP isn't a security on secondary markets, removing a structural overhang that kept many institutions sidelined last cycle. What Would Flip the Trend With the XRP price below the 20/50/100-day EMAs and the Supertrend still bearish, momentum remains fragile. Bulls need: Price confirmation: Reclaim $2.80-$3.00 with rising spot volume to target $3.50-$3.80. Flows confirmation: Net ETF inflows and calming options skew to validate dip-buying. Macro calm: Softer tariff rhetoric and benign data to reopen risk windows. These absent, a break below $2.20 risks a deeper corrective leg toward $1.80, with tail-risk bears eyeing $0.75 in a severe macro shock. Related Reading: Is Bitcoin About To See A Repeat Of 2020-2021? What Happened After The Last Flash Crash Nonetheless, the institutional narrative is intact as RLUSD's stability, CBDC/RWA conversations tied to XRPL, and a maturing compliance toolset all support longer-term adoption. That's why some analysts insist "this week changes everything", if regulatory catalysts align, XRP's next leg higher could begin. Cover image from ChatGPT, XRPUSD on Tradingview