Ripple has announced a significant $5 million investment to boost blockchain innovation across the Asia-Pacific region, even as XRP’s price shows signs of weakening in the current market. The cryptocurrency is currently trading at around $2.27, down over 2% as global markets await the outcome of ongoing US-China trade talks .
Ripple’s Strategic APAC Expansion
The blockchain payments company is strengthening its presence in the Asia-Pacific region through its University Blockchain Research Initiative (UBRI). This latest funding will support blockchain research and talent development across six countries, including new grants to universities in Taiwan and Australia, while renewing existing partnerships in South Korea, Japan, and Singapore .
“This support allows us to involve more students and researchers in the blockchain ecosystem by enabling them to build on the XRPL and contribute to its growth, thereby advancing our blockchain education initiatives,” said Professor Yang Liu from Nanyang Technological University (NTU), one of the beneficiaries of Ripple’s investment.
The funding breakdown includes:
• $1.1 million to Korea University over six years
• $1.5 million to Kyoto University in Japan
• $3 million to Nanyang Technological University, extending collaboration with the National University of Singapore
This investment brings Ripple’s total commitment to blockchain education and innovation in the APAC region to over $11 million . The company’s focus on this region reflects the progressive regulatory environment being established by local governments to support digital finance development .
XRP Market Performance: Mixed Signals
Despite the positive news about Ripple’s expansion, XRP’s price action shows signs of trader exhaustion. The cryptocurrency is currently trading between support at $2.25 and resistance at $2.32, with technical indicators suggesting caution .
The derivatives market, however, presents a more optimistic picture. Open Interest has increased to $4.34 billion in the past 24 hours, alongside an 11% surge in trading volume to $5.2 billion. This growing market participation could potentially support XRP’s price at the $2.25 level and, if sustained, might fuel a rally toward the $3.00 mark—representing a potential 30% gain from current levels .
Technical Outlook
XRP’s price is approaching a critical support zone at $2.25, established by the convergence of the 50-day and 100-day Exponential Moving Averages. The Relative Strength Index (RSI) is hovering around the 50 midline, indicating market indecision .
A sell signal from the SuperTrend indicator suggests vulnerability to further downside. If support at $2.25 fails to hold, XRP could test the 200-day EMA around $2.08, representing an 8% decline from current levels .
The cryptocurrency market as a whole remains cautious as traders await the outcome of the second day of trade talks between top US and Chinese officials, which could significantly impact market sentiment across all asset classes.
