XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) is trading at $2.144 on Friday, down 2.99% over the last 24 hours, following a volatile stretch that saw the broader crypto market under heavy selling pressure. 

But unlike its peers, XRP appears to be weathering the storm—and possibly positioning for a stronger breakout.

While the latest pullback brought XRP off its local highs, it comes after a 20% rally over the past week, as buyers stepped in during a broader market crash that briefly sent the coin to a monthly low of $1.64. The rebound erased fears that XRP might dip below the $1 mark, a possibility now firmly off the table amid stabilizing sentiment.

Despite its modest price decline today, XRP continues to outpace wider investor trends. According to new data from CoinShares, XRP recorded $3.4 million in inflows over the past week, leading all non-Bitcoin digital assets. It came during a period where crypto investment products saw $795 million in outflows—with Bitcoin alone bleeding $751 million, and Ethereum losing $37.6 million. 

The move suggests that investor confidence in XRP is rising, even as others scale back risk.

The contrarian inflow into XRP coincides with a major shift in the coin's long-standing legal battle. Ripple Labs and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed a joint request last week to pause their appeals in favor of pursuing a negotiated resolution. 

The two sides have reached an agreement in principle, pending approval from the Commission. If finalized, the deal could mark the official end to a legal standoff that has defined XRP's identity in U.S. markets since 2020.

"The parties require additional time to obtain Commission approval for this agreement-in-principle," the filing said, adding that both parties will seek an indicative ruling from the court once approved. It follows the SEC's decision to withdraw its appeal of a previous ruling that XRP's programmatic sales did not constitute securities offerings—a key moment that helped redefine the regulatory outlook on digital assets.

Meanwhile, speculation continues to mount around the potential approval of an XRP-based exchange-traded fund (ETF), with some market observers pointing to BlackRock and Fidelity as potential issuers. 

Industry voices, including pro-XRP attorney John Deaton, have suggested XRP could eventually challenge Ethereum's market dominance, given its utility in cross-border payments and real-world adoption.

Macro conditions are also relevant. The brief recovery in digital assets in the last week was aided by cooling inflation data and shifting tariff policy under Donald Trump's administration. 

While the president has walked back a blanket pause on tariffs, global markets took some relief in the latest round of exemptions. XRP's resilience during the period adds weight to its growing reputation as a more insulated asset in times of uncertainty.

Looking ahead, XRP bulls will be watching the $2.20 resistance level for a possible breakout—a move that could open the door to retesting $2.38 in the near term. On the downside, $1.95 and $1.64 remain key support zones.

With legal clarity on the horizon and investor appetite holding firm even amid widespread outflows, XRP appears to be entering a new phase. While short-term volatility remains, the foundation for long-term momentum continues to strengthen.