XRP Is at $1.41 and Hasn’t Closed Above $2 Since January. Can It Get There by December 31?

XRP Struggles to Reach $2 as Three Levels Stand in the Way

The XRP price has been stuck in a rut, trading at $1.41 as of September 7, 2026. Despite a strong month, the coin has yet to close above $2 since its $2.03 intraday high on January 19. To reach this milestone, XRP would need to clear three levels: $1.43, $1.70, and the $1.80s it last traded in January.

A Modest Ask, but a Long Way to Go

While $2 may seem like a modest ask, especially considering XRP's 2025 highs above $3, the coin has spent seven months well below this level. The August bounce was strong, but a coin that can't close above $1.43 in two weeks has a long way to go to reach $2 in sixteen.

The CLARITY Act and the Fed's Decision

The CLARITY Act, a bill that would write XRP's status as a commodity into federal law, is set to be voted on by the Senate on September 15. If cloture passes, the bill would open the debate, and Polymarket prices the bill being signed into law in 2026 at about 18%. However, if cloture fails, the bill slips, and a year-end move in XRP gets less likely. The Federal Reserve's decision on interest rates on September 16 is also crucial. Polymarket prices a September hike at 60% to 65% as of September 7, and strong job gains on September 4 strengthened the case for a hike. However, Fed Governor Waller said on September 3 that he would hold rates if inflation is improving, so a hold is possible.

A Hike Would Push Yields Higher

A hike in interest rates would push the 10-year Treasury yield higher, and when a government bond pays close to 5%, some savers move money out of a coin that pays nothing. XRP is unlikely to close above $2 by December 31, 2026, because three levels stand between $1.41 and $2 and the coin hasn't cleared the first of them, $1.43, since August 27.

What to Watch Next

The two events that could change XRP's trajectory both come in the same week. If the Senate clears cloture on September 15 and the Fed holds on September 16, XRP could take $1.43 and $1.70 on the news and put the $1.80s in reach before December. If cloture fails and the Fed hikes, the bounce off the August low would probably fade, and the earliest XRP could reach $2 would be 2027.

Conclusion

XRP's struggle to reach $2 is a complex issue, influenced by various factors, including the CLARITY Act and the Fed's decision on interest rates. While the coin has shown a strong bounce in August, it still has a long way to go to reach $2. The next two weeks will be crucial in determining XRP's trajectory, and investors should keep a close eye on the Senate's vote and the Fed's decision.