XRP entered the week under intense pressure as the token experienced sharp intraday swings and renewed selling interest across major global exchanges. On Monday, the Ripple-linked cryptocurrency briefly surged to $1.91 before retreating to the $1.86–$1.87 range within hours, underscoring heightened uncertainty among traders. The volatility coincided with a noticeable spike in exchange inflows, particularly on Binance and South Korean platforms, raising fresh concerns that large holders are positioning to sell into rallies.
On-chain data from CryptoQuant reveals that XRP inflows to centralized exchanges have climbed steadily since mid-December, mirroring levels last seen during the October market-wide correction. Binance has emerged as a focal point, with daily XRP deposits ranging between 55 million and 116 million tokens. Historically, such elevated inflows have preceded periods of distribution, as investors move assets onto exchanges primarily to liquidate positions. This pattern closely resembles earlier phases in 2024 when sustained whale selling capped upside momentum and triggered sharp pullbacks.
The trend is not limited to offshore platforms. South Korea’s largest exchanges, including Upbit and Bithumb, have also recorded a surge in XRP deposits. These venues often act as liquidity hubs during speculative cycles, and rising inflows there suggest renewed distribution pressure from both retail and large holders. Analysts note that XRP’s previous major price peak aligned with similar whale-driven activity, followed by a prolonged correction that caught late buyers off guard.
Interestingly, this selling pressure is unfolding even as overall exchange reserves for XRP continue to decline, signaling a shift in investor behavior rather than simple accumulation. At the same time, optimism around spot XRP exchange-traded products has failed to translate into price support. Despite total net inflows reaching approximately $1.14 billion and assets under management climbing to $1.25 billion, the market response has remained muted, suggesting that broader risk sentiment and profit-taking are overpowering longer-term bullish narratives.
Market technicians are increasingly cautious. Veteran trader Peter Brandt has pointed to a bearish double-top formation on XRP’s weekly chart, warning that a breakdown could send prices toward the psychologically critical $1 level. Other analysts, including Ali Martinez, echo this view, emphasizing that failure to hold support near $1.80 could accelerate losses if whale selling persists. These warnings are gaining traction as derivatives data confirms a cooling appetite for leveraged long positions.
Figures from CoinGlass show that XRP futures open interest has dropped nearly 3% to around $3.44 billion in just four hours, reflecting a rapid reduction in risk exposure. Open interest on major venues such as CME and Binance has fallen by more than 1.2% and 2.1% respectively, a signal that traders are unwinding positions amid growing bearish sentiment. Combined with a 70% surge in spot trading volume over the past 24 hours, the data points to an active market grappling with conflicting signals and rising downside fears.
For investors, the current setup highlights a familiar dynamic in crypto markets where strong narratives collide with on-chain realities. While XRP continues to benefit from institutional attention and ecosystem development, near-term price action appears dominated by distribution and defensive positioning. If exchange inflows remain elevated and key support levels fail, volatility is likely to persist. The coming days will be critical in determining whether XRP can stabilize above current levels or if the market is preparing for a deeper reset before the next meaningful trend emerges.
