XRP (XRP) price declined by 16.8% between Feb. 23 and Feb. 26, leading to $79 million in leveraged long futures liquidations. Notably, the correction occurred despite a largely positive regulatory outlook and increasing odds of approval for a spot XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the United States.
At the same time, open interest in XRP futures fell to its lowest level in 2025, indicating that traders have been unwinding leveraged positions. While this shift does not necessarily signal a broader bearish sentiment, it raises concerns about whether XRP’s bullish momentum has weakened.
XRP aggregate futures open interest, XRP. Source: CoinGlass
The aggregate open interest in XRP futures dropped to XRP 1.33 billion, marking an 8% decline from the previous week. In comparison, SOL open interest fell 4% over the same period, while the aggregate futures market for DOGE remained flat.
To determine whether traders are losing interest in XRP, it is essential to analyze the funding rate of perpetual contracts (inverse swaps). This rate, charged by exchanges to balance leverage demand, turns positive when long (buy) positions pay to hold, signaling bullish sentiment. Conversely, a negative rate suggests a bearish outlook.
XRP 8-hour perpetual futures funding rate. Source: CoinGlass
XRP’s 8-hour funding rate has remained near zero since Dec. 9, indicating a balanced leverage demand between bulls and bears. The last brief surge in leverage demand occurred on Dec. 4, 2024, following a 140% rally in XRP’s price over two weeks. Notably, this peak in buying pressure preceded a sharp 22% correction in less than three days.
XRP/USD 12-hour price in December 2024. Source: TradingView / Cointelegraph
On Dec. 3, 2024, the funding rate remained below 0.05% per 8-hour period, equivalent to 0.45% per month. This suggests that leverage buyers had already positioned themselves aggressively before the correction.
Reduced XRP demand shows uncertainty over spot ETF approval and SEC case resolution
Current market conditions differ significantly from those in December 2024. XRP’s last rally took place between Feb. 12 and Feb. 15, when its price surged 17% from $2.41 to $2.83. However, funding rate data shows no increase in leveraged demand. This suggests that either XRP holders became overly optimistic after the strong gains in late 2024 or shifted their focus to other cryptocurrencies.
One factor dampening enthusiasm among XRP traders is the ongoing US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) lawsuit against Ripple. While the SEC has withdrawn cases against Coinbase, OpenSea, Robinhood, and Uniswap, Ripple remains an exception. This presents a double-edged sword for XRP where prolonged uncertainty weakens investor conviction, but a surprise positive resolution could trigger a sharp rally.
Related: XRP Ledger unveils institutional DeFi roadmap
John Reed Stark, the former Chief of the SEC’s Office of Internet Enforcement, has previously accused the cryptocurrency industry of spreading myths to mask its lack of transparency and accountability, commented on the “demolition of the SEC Crypto-Enforcement Program” on X. Using a meme, Stark expressed frustration over recent developments.
Source: JohnReedStark
Another source of concern for XRP holders is the reportedly failed attempt by Ripple CEO Brad Garlinghouse to persuade the US government to adopt a Strategic Digital Asset Reserve instead of focusing solely on Bitcoin. Pierre Rochard, vice president of Research at Riot Platforms, highlighted this setback, noting that Trump’s administration has signaled it will no longer form a crypto council, further downplaying the urgency of such initiatives.
Source: BitcoinPierre
The declining demand for XRP futures is ultimately a bearish signal, as it suggests traders are shifting focus to other opportunities or staying on the sidelines.
This reluctance may stem from uncertainty surrounding the potential approval of a spot XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the US and the eventual dismissal of the SEC’s charges against Ripple.
This article is for general information purposes and is not intended to be and should not be taken as legal or investment advice. The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed here are the author’s alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph.