XRP News Today: Ripple Token Recovers Despite Hormuz Tensions Shaking Markets

XRP (XRP) opened the week on a positive note after the head of the International launched efforts aimed at reducing reliance on the Strait of Hormuz.

The XRP/USD exchange rate was up 1.61% ahead of the European session open on Monday, trading for as high as $1.41. Still, that’s down 6.40% from last week’s high of $1.51.

Hormuz Disruption Revives Focus on Iraq–Turkey Oil Route

International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol proposed a new oil pipeline linking Iraq’s Basra oil fields to Turkey’s Mediterranean terminal in Ceyhan, according to Hürriyet, as renewed disruption in the Strait of Hormuz revived concerns over global energy supply.

Tensions escalated after US forces intercepted and seized an Iranian-flagged cargo vessel near the Strait, while US Central Command said it had disabled another ship accused of violating Washington’s naval blockade of Iranian ports.

BREAKING: Iran says it has attacked US military ships with drones in retaliation for the US striking and seizing an Iranian cargo vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, per Tasnim.

— The Kobeissi Letter (@KobeissiLetter) April 19, 2026

The developments came as Iran reimposed restrictions on vessel traffic through Hormuz, prompting several LNG tankers to reverse course after warnings that the waterway was again closed to maritime traffic.

The renewed supply risk hit market sentiment over the weekend, with XRP falling 6% and WTI crude rising 5.24% in the period.

Birol noted that Iraq remains heavily dependent on Hormuz to export crude from Basra, whose oil reserves are estimated at around 90 billion barrels. The southern Gulf hub accounts for roughly 90% of Iraq’s total oil exports, underscoring the strategic importance of finding alternative routes.

Charles Hoskinson Sparks Debate on XRP Ownership

XRP holders have no legal share in Ripple’s corporate success, according to Cardano founder Charles Hoskinson.

In a recent interview with crypto commentator Wendy O, Hoskinson said that owning XRP does not equate to equity in Ripple Labs, noting the company originally controlled 70–80% of the token’s supply.

Proceeds from Ripple’s escrow sales and business expansions, including acquisitions and partnerships, belong solely to the company and its shareholders, not token holders.

Hoskinson compared the structure to Tether, in which users gain utility while corporate profits remain centralised. The remarks have reignited tensions with the XRP community over tokenomics and value accrual.

XRP Risks Slide Toward $1 as Key Resistance Holds

As of April 20, XRP was still struggling to close above its 100-period exponential moving average on the two-week chart, a level that has repeatedly capped rebound attempts in past cycles.

That same EMA served as firm resistance in September 2022, ahead of a 43.6% decline, and again in February 2020, when XRP fell 58.75%.

In both cases, the rejection eventually pushed price back toward its multimonth ascending trendline support, which later marked the cycle low.

The current setup is starting to resemble those earlier breakdowns. XRP’s failure to reclaim the 100-period EMA near $1.42 increases the risk of a deeper correction, with the 200-period EMA near $1.00 now emerging as the next major downside target.

If the pattern continues to play out in line with past cycles, the broader sell-off could start to stabilize only near the long-term ascending trendline support, currently sitting in the $0.80 to $1.00 area.