XRP fell nearly 3% to trade near $1.29 in Asian trading on October 29, 2026, after a brief bounce following the Federal Reserve's rate decision faded quickly. Data from CoinMarketCap showed XRP among the weakest major tokens of the session, while Bitcoin and Ethereum held closer to their recent ranges. Fed decisions draw outsized attention across crypto because the federal funds target range anchors dollar borrowing costs economy-wide — the channel through which policy settings reach risk assets.

A Hold With a Hawkish Edge

The Federal Reserve kept its benchmark rate at 3.75% to 4.00%, holding the target range steady on a 10-2 vote, according to the Fed's official statement. Governors Lisa D. Cook and Beth M. Hammack preferred a 0.25 percentage point hike, leaving a hawkish signal in the statement even as the rate stayed put. Traders typically read dissents for clues about the committee's internal debate, which is why the split vote stayed in focus even though the hold itself matched expectations.

XRP recovered briefly after the announcement, then sold off again as technology-stock worries and softer institutional demand returned. Forced liquidations — the automatic closure of leveraged positions when margin requirements are no longer met — added selling into the move, making it harder for XRP to hold its bounce. CoinMarketCap data placed the token near $1.29 for the session, lagging its peers after the post-Fed lift failed to stick.

Bitcoin and Ethereum Hold Firmer Than XRP

In the same window, Bitcoin traded in an $80,000 to $81,000 range, while Ethereum held roughly $2,320 to $2,343. Both looked more resilient than XRP in that snapshot, though levels can still shift as trading continues.

The gap underlines uneven risk appetite across major tokens. When Bitcoin stays steadier, XRP and other alternative tokens often absorb more of the selling. That pattern matched this Fed-week session: a short relief bounce gave way to a sharper fade in XRP, while larger caps held closer to their ranges.

Why the Fed Hold Still Matters for XRP

Markets had treated the decision as a cue on future borrowing costs. The hold itself was widely expected, but the two dissenting votes for a hike kept hawkish pressure in view. That mix helps explain why XRP's recovery did not last.

Levels near $1.29 now mark the latest check on whether buyers return after a Fed-event fade. Broader cues still run through Bitcoin's trend, upcoming economic data, and the next Fed signals, with employment and inflation releases the usual inputs into how traders frame the committee's next steps. For now, the rate hold did not lock in a lasting bid for XRP, and the token trailed Bitcoin and Ethereum on the day.

Source: Live Bitcoin News