XRP’s price has plunged about 67% from its all-time high, the sharpest loss among top cryptocurrencies excluding stablecoins. Over the past three months, this decline has intensified with XRP’s 90-day return near -21%, underperforming Bitcoin (-48%), Ethereum (-60%), and BNB (-56%). Its peak is now nearly a year behind it, with little sign of a rebound.

Leveraged Longs Create a Fragile Market Setup

What sets XRP apart in this downturn is the rare alignment of retail and smart money traders heavily betting on its rise. Both sides show almost identical net-long biases, leaving no fresh buyers to push the price higher. This crowded long scenario amplifies losses as leveraged positions quickly unwind once prices slip. In this cycle alone, XRP traders have shed roughly $700 million through cascading liquidations.

Whale Withdrawals Add to the Downward Pressure

Meanwhile, the largest holders have been quietly pulling back, contributing to XRP’s vulnerability. Unlike Bitcoin, which maintains a neutral positioning between smart money and retail, XRP’s derivative markets paint a more precarious picture. Resistance levels repeatedly reject attempts at recovery, signaling growing fragility. This aligns with a high-beta altcoin profile where risk-off sentiment deepens declines beyond the broader market.

These factors combine to explain why XRP’s drop outpaces every other major coin's, raising concerns for investors exposed to its volatile swings.

Material is for informational purposes and does not constitute financial advice.