XRP Sees Explosive Activity Despite Regulatory Tensions

While the crypto market remains torn between economic uncertainties and regulatory tensions, XRP is once again asserting itself. Ripple Labs’ asset has just achieved a double feat: a six-month high in its price and an all-time record in derivatives contracts. This momentum is not just a simple speculative surge. The figures show a deep mobilization, driven by solid technical signals and a renewed institutional interest. This atypical trajectory could well herald a change of phase.

A record speculative interest for XRP

XRP has just crossed a major technical milestone, despite an uncertain crypto market. This Wednesday, its price reached $3.05, marking a 5.1 % increase in 24 hours, according to CoinGecko. This level represents a six-month high.

However, beyond the price performance, it is the explosion of open interest on perpetual futures contracts that captures analysts’ attention. According to CoinGlass data, the notional open interest on XRP derivatives reached $8.8 billion, surpassing the previous record of $8.3 billion set last January. This corresponds to about 2.89 billion XRP involved in leveraged positions.

Several concrete indicators confirm this surge in speculative activity around the crypto :

• Bitget concentrates $1.94 billion of open leveraged contracts on XRP ;
• Binance, on its side, accounts for $1.48 billion ;
• Funding rates are positive on the majority of platforms, meaning that “long” traders pay a fee to those in “short” positions ;
• This structure reflects a decidedly bullish market sentiment, with investors willing to pay an additional cost to maintain their buy position ;
• “When people give in to FOMO, they accept to pay a higher interest rate to go long”, emphasizes Greg Magadini, Head of Derivatives Products at Amberdata.

This speculative euphoria, coupled with massive use of leverage, indicates a strong conviction among investors about the ongoing upward momentum of XRP.

Underlying catalysts for the enthusiasm

Beyond purely technical signals and on-chain market data, the context in which this rise occurs holds strategic importance. According to several analysts, this dynamic fits into a resurgence of the flagship assets of the previous bullish phase, particularly those that marked the COVID era.

“XRP is widely available and enjoys great notoriety among retail investors,” reminds Carlos Guzman, analyst at GSR.

In short, individual traders seem to be turning toward familiar cryptos, both for accessibility reasons and reassuring images. This psychological factor could play a significant role in the current resurgence of the asset.

Adding to this dynamic is a more structural factor: the perception of a regulatory easing towards Ripple and its crypto. In this perspective, the XRP Ledger, the blockchain infrastructure on which the asset rests, incorporates compliance features likely to appeal to authorities if stablecoin regulation were to be adopted.

“These characteristics could foster increased adoption,” explains Matt Kreiser, analyst at Messari. In other words, XRP could benefit from a double leverage: a return of interest from retail investors, and a stronger alignment with upcoming legal requirements.

If this momentum continues, XRP may go beyond just a speculative trend. By combining technical attractiveness, favorable regulatory positioning, and SEC approval of an ETF, the asset positions itself at the intersection of two major forces of the crypto market. The question remains whether this conjunction will hold over time or if it is just one episode among many in the structural volatility of the ecosystem.