XRP, the native token of Ripple, has been attracting attention lately due to a technical pattern identified by market analyst MichaelXBT. According to MichaelXBT, a bull flag pattern spanning seven years has formed on XRP’s quarterly chart, potentially signaling an explosive surge on the horizon.

Understanding the Bull Flag

A bull flag typically emerges after a strong price increase. It signifies a consolidation period before the price resumes its upward trajectory. The pattern is characterized by an initial sharp rise (the flagpole) followed by a series of lower highs and higher lows, forming a pennant.

In XRP’s case, this bull flag has been unfolding for an unprecedented seven years. Following a significant uptrend from February 2017, XRP reached its all-time high of $3.31 in January 2018. However, a correction ensued, leading to the current bull flag formation.

Analyst Predicts Imminent Breakout

MichaelXBT emphasizes the significance of this extended bull flag, suggesting it could culminate in one of the biggest breakouts ever witnessed in the cryptocurrency market. A decisive break above the pennant’s upper trendline could trigger a substantial price increase for XRP.

Mixed Signals Amidst Correction

While XRP recently exhibited breakout potential with a 60% surge, it encountered resistance at around $0.6378. As of today, the token is trading at roughly $0.5469, reflecting a 4.48% decline.

Short-Term Bearish Sentiment

The Advance Decline Ratio (ADR), an indicator measuring advancing versus declining token prices, has dipped to 0.38. This decline aligns with the recent correction, where XRP plummeted by 13.47% in the last 24 hours. The lower ADR suggests a prevailing bearish trend in the short term.

Long-Term Bullish Outlook

However, the Trend Strength Index (TSI) paints a different picture. The TSI, along with its Signal line, has exhibited a sharp rise. Currently, the TSI stands at 22.54, with the Signal line at 2.0250. These figures, coupled with the upward trend, indicate strong upward momentum and a solidifying bullish trend in the long run.

XRP Exchange Reserves and Potential Support Levels

Interestingly, data from CryptoQuant reveals a recent surge in XRP reserves on Binance, reaching a high of $1.87 billion, the highest since April. Historically, such increases often coincide with uptrends but are followed by corrections. This pattern seems to be repeating itself as XRP undergoes a corrective phase.

In the face of the ongoing correction, XRP needs to hold onto critical support levels to prevent further declines. The immediate support lies at the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level of $0.5419, followed by the 0.5 Fibonacci level of $0.5119. If the price falls further, the 0.618 and 0.786 Fibonacci levels of $0.4819 and $0.4392, respectively, will become crucial in preventing a steeper decline.

Conclusion

While the immediate future of XRP seems uncertain due to the correction, the presence of the long-term bull flag identified by MichaelXBT offers a glimmer of hope for XRP bulls. Whether XRP can capitalize on this potential and break out of the pennant remains to be seen. However, this technical pattern, coupled with the long-term bullish indicators, suggests that XRP could be poised for a significant price increase in the foreseeable future.

By Alex Wheeler

Alex is a lead writer at AltcoinsAnalysis, bringing the audience all leading developments in the blockchain industry and the latest trends in the cryptocurrency market.