Key insights
XRP long traders lost $3.22 million in 24 hours, far exceeding short losses, as liquidation imbalance surged to 537% overall today.
Although XRP rose 0.37% to $1.31, traders expecting a stronger rebound toward $1.50 instead faced rapid liquidations across exchanges globally.
XRP ended the first quarter down 27.1%, while bearish signals against Bitcoin pointed to possible further weakness in the coming sessions ahead.
Liquidation Shock Hits XRP
XRP traders took the heaviest directional damage in the latest crypto sell-off as liquidation pressure across the broader market climbed to nearly $285 million in 24 hours. CoinGlass data showed a sharp imbalance in XRP liquidations, with long positions absorbing far bigger losses than short bets. That split highlighted how quickly bullish expectations faded as price momentum weakened.
Long traders lost about $3.22 million during the period, while short traders saw roughly $504,790 erased. That gap pushed XRP’s liquidation imbalance to 537 percent, making the token one of the clearer examples of how the market punished traders who expected a stronger rebound. Moreover, the losses arrived even as XRP showed modest gains on the daily chart.
Traders had positioned for a move toward $1.50 after XRP began to show signs of recovery. However, the token failed to build on that optimism and instead moved within a tight range between $1.32 and $1.28. Consequently, the stalled price action trapped bullish positions and triggered forced exits as leveraged trades unwound across exchanges.
At the time of reporting, XRP traded at $1.31, up 0.37% over the previous 24 hours. Additionally, daily trading volume rose 2.47% to $2.06 billion, showing that interest in the asset remained active despite the failed push higher. Besides, the weekly performance stayed negative, with XRP still down 2.69%.
Some traders appear to be staying involved because XRP has previously posted strong April performances. That backdrop may explain why activity has not dropped even after the recent shakeout. Significantly, market participants seem unwilling to step aside in case a sudden breakout develops, although current price action has not yet confirmed renewed strength.
The latest move adds to wider pressure on XRP after a weak start to the year. The token closed the first quarter of 2026 with a 27.1% decline, its steepest quarterly drop since 2018. Hence, the current market setup has raised the stakes for holders who want stronger price stability to support confidence.
The bearish tone has also extended beyond XRP’s dollar chart over recent sessions. A recent technical view of XRP against Bitcoin pointed to the risk of a deeper slide if pressure across the crypto market continues. Analysts now see the possibility of a 41% decline versus Bitcoin, which adds another layer of caution around the token’s near-term outlook.