Is XRP positioning for expansion? What cooling momentum reveals

ambcryptoPublished on 2026-03-23Last updated on 2026-03-23

XRP’s Spot Taker CVD shows momentum cooling after a strong accumulation phase through late 2024. As buy dominance expanded earlier, aggressive market orders pushed price toward $3.0–$3.2, reflecting clear directional conviction.

As this phase matured, sell pressure intensified, with red clusters forming near local highs, signaling distribution and profit-taking. This shift gradually weakened momentum, as buyers stopped lifting offers aggressively.

Source: CryptoQuant

Now, activity transitions into a neutral range, with both buy and sell pressure flattening into early 2026. This balance suggests neither side is in control, as participation turns passive rather than directional.

Historically, such CVD resets mark exhaustion rather than reversal, where conviction clears before expansion resumes. With prices stabilizing near $1.4–$1.6, the market appears to reset, leaving conditions open for the next decisive move.

Leverage flush resets XRP structure as speculation fades

As directional conviction fades and activity turns passive, derivatives positioning now reflects the same reset. XRP’s estimated leverage ratio drops sharply from 0.6 to near 0.3, as excessive leverage unwinds across Binance.

Earlier, elevated leverage supported the rally toward $3.20, amplifying upside through aggressive positioning. As volatility increased, price reversed toward $1.39, triggering liquidations and forcing weaker positions out of the market.

Source: CryptoQuant

This unwind also drove a 60% decline in Open Interest from 2.6 billion to 1 billion, which confirms that speculative excess has been cleared rather than rotated.

This shift matters because lower leverage reduces fragility, allowing accumulation to replace speculation, which often sets the stage for more sustainable expansion once conviction returns.

Retail strength builds as XRP liquidity stays poised for expansion

Retail participation in XRP strengthens, as small-balance addresses rose to 5.66 million and non-empty wallets exceed 7.7 million, marking sustained network growth. As daily active addresses reach 46,767, a five-week high, price moves toward $1.60, reflecting genuine grassroots demand.

At the same time, whales control over 83% of supply, accumulating selectively while avoiding aggressive distribution. Liquidity remains balanced, with Spot volume near $1.7 to1.8 billion alongside Open Interest around $2.3 to 2.4 billion.

This structure suggests stable participation, where retail growth and controlled liquidity create conditions for measured expansion.


Final Summary

  • XRP s leverage drop from 0.6 to 0.3 with a 60% Open Interest decline signals reset conditions, clearing speculation and preparing for structured expansion.
  • XRP retail growth to 5.66 million wallets and balanced liquidity show steady demand, positioning the market for gradual upside if conviction rebuilds.

Related Questions

QWhat does the cooling momentum in XRP's Spot Taker CVD indicate after the accumulation phase?

AThe cooling momentum indicates that the initial accumulation phase has matured, with sell pressure intensifying and buyers no longer aggressively lifting offers, leading to a shift towards a more neutral and balanced market activity.

QHow did the leverage ratio change for XRP, and what does this signify?

AXRP's estimated leverage ratio dropped sharply from 0.6 to near 0.3, signifying that excessive leverage has unwound, speculative excess has been cleared, and the structure is reset for more sustainable expansion.

QWhat evidence suggests growing retail participation in XRP?

ARetail participation is evidenced by small-balance addresses rising to 5.66 million, non-empty wallets exceeding 7.7 million, and daily active addresses reaching a five-week high of 46,767, reflecting genuine grassroots demand.

QWhat is the significance of the 60% decline in Open Interest for XRP?

AThe 60% decline in Open Interest from 2.6 billion to 1 billion confirms that speculative excess has been cleared from the market rather than being rotated, reducing fragility and setting the stage for accumulation.

QHow are whale activities and liquidity conditions described in the current XRP market?

AWhales control over 83% of the supply and are accumulating selectively while avoiding aggressive distribution. Liquidity remains balanced with spot volume near $1.7-1.8 billion and open interest around $2.3-2.4 billion, suggesting stable participation.

Related Reads

Fu Peng's First Public Speech in 2026: What Exactly Are Crypto Assets? Why Did I Join the Crypto Asset Industry?

Fu Peng, a renowned macroeconomist and now Chief Economist at New火 Group, delivered his first public speech of 2026 at the Hong Kong Web3 Festival. He explained his perspective on crypto assets and why he joined the industry, framing it within the context of macroeconomic trends and financial evolution. Fu emphasized that crypto assets are transitioning from an early, belief-driven phase to a mature, institutionally integrated asset class. He drew parallels to the 1970s-80s, when technological advances (like computing) revolutionized traditional finance, leading to the rise of FICC (Fixed Income, Currencies, and Commodities). Similarly, current advancements in AI, data, and blockchain are reshaping finance, with crypto assets becoming part of a new "FICC + C" (C for Crypto) framework. He noted that institutional capital, including traditional hedge funds, avoided early crypto due to its speculative nature but are now engaging as regulatory clarity emerges (e.g., stablecoin laws, CFTC classifying crypto as a commodity). Fu predicted that 2025-2026 marks a turning point where crypto becomes a standardized, financially viable asset for diversified portfolios, akin to commodities or derivatives in traditional finance. Fu defined Bitcoin not as "digital gold" in a simplistic sense but as a value-preserving, financially tradable asset. He highlighted that crypto's future lies in regulated, institutional adoption, moving away from retail-dominated trading. His entry into crypto signals this maturation, where traditional finance integrates crypto into mainstream asset management.

marsbit6m ago

Fu Peng's First Public Speech in 2026: What Exactly Are Crypto Assets? Why Did I Join the Crypto Asset Industry?

marsbit6m ago

Justin Sun Sues Trump Family: What $75 Million Bought Was Only a Blacklist

Justin Sun, founder of Tron, has filed a lawsuit in federal court against World Liberty Financial (WLF), alleging he was made the "primary target of a fraudulent scheme" after investing $75 million. Sun claims the investment secured him an advisor title and WLFI tokens, which were later frozen by WLF, causing "hundreds of millions in losses." The dispute began in late 2024 when Sun's investment helped revive WLF's struggling token sale, which ultimately raised $550 million. Shortly after, the SEC dropped its lawsuit against Sun following Donald Trump's inauguration. However, relations soured when Sun refused WLF's demands for additional funding. In August 2025, WLF added a "blacklist" function to its smart contract, allowing it to unilaterally freeze tokens. Sun's holdings, worth approximately $107 million, were frozen, and he was threatened with token destruction. The lawsuit highlights WLF's structure, which directs 75% of token sale profits to the Trump family, who had earned $1 billion by December 2025. WLF's CEO is Zach Witkoff, son of U.S. Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff. The project faces scrutiny for opaque operations, including a controversial loan arrangement on the Dolomite platform, co-founded by a WLF advisor. Despite Sun's history with the SEC, the case underscores centralization risks within DeFi, as WLF controls governance and holds powers to freeze assets arbitrarily. Sun's tokens remain frozen as legal proceedings begin.

marsbit14m ago

Justin Sun Sues Trump Family: What $75 Million Bought Was Only a Blacklist

marsbit14m ago

$500 to Buy OpenAI Stock: Silicon Valley's Most Respectable Liquidity Invitation

Silicon Valley's largest venture capital platform, AngelList, has launched a new fund called USVC, allowing U.S. retail investors to buy into high-profile AI companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and xAI with a minimum investment of $500—no accredited investor status required. Promoted by AngelList co-founder Naval Ravikant, the fund is framed as an opportunity for ordinary people to access high-growth private tech investments traditionally reserved for VCs. However, critics argue it functions more like an exit vehicle for early insiders. USVC acquires shares not through primary rounds but largely via secondary transactions—purchasing stakes from early investors, VC funds, and employees looking to cash out at peak valuations. With companies like xAI heavily weighted in the portfolio, the fund effectively channels retail money into providing liquidity for insiders who entered at much lower valuations. The fund’s structure raises concerns: shares are illiquid, with no secondary market, and buybacks are limited and discretionary. The actual annual fee reaches 3.61%, far above the advertised 1% management fee. This model parallels the "low float, high fully diluted valuation" strategy seen in crypto, where early investors profit by selling to latecomers at inflated prices. The timing—alongside similar moves by platforms like Robinhood—suggests that Silicon Valley’s sudden interest in retail inclusion may be less about democratizing access and more about securing exits for insiders.

marsbit44m ago

$500 to Buy OpenAI Stock: Silicon Valley's Most Respectable Liquidity Invitation

marsbit44m ago

Trading

Spot
Futures

Hot Articles

Discussions

Welcome to the HTX Community. Here, you can stay informed about the latest platform developments and gain access to professional market insights. Users' opinions on the price of S (S) are presented below.

活动图片