XRP Spot Orders Jump 212% as Big Money Pours Into ETFs

Bitrue saw massive buying Tuesday. XRP spot purchases surged 212% on February 26, with institutional money flooding into new exchange-traded funds that now hold $1.1 billion in assets. Buy orders crushed sell orders by more than two-to-one, pretty much driven by corporate cash entering these ETF products.

The exchange posted on X that institutional investors can’t get enough XRP right now. ETF inflows hit $1.1 billion total, though SoSoValue data shows some recent stagnation in fund flows. But retail traders keep buying too, creating what Bitrue calls a supply crunch that’s building fast. The combination of fund money and regular traders basically means fewer tokens available for purchase.

Futures tell different story entirely.

CryptoQuant numbers show futures open interest dropped hard across major platforms over 90 days. Binance cut 7.7 million XRP from futures positions while Bybit slashed around 12 million tokens. The three-month moving average for futures volume crashed to its lowest point since November 2024, sitting at just $87 billion now.

XRP trades around $1.44 currently, up nearly 5% in 24 hours but still down 23% over the past month. Year-over-year performance looks ugly at minus 38%. The token remains way below its July 2025 peak of $3.65, so there’s clearly room to run if buying pressure continues building.

Leverage getting squeezed out fast.

CoinGlass reports open interest near $2.37 billion, with leveraged positions shrinking across the board. Traders seem to be cutting risk after months of wild price swings that burned a lot of people. XRP can’t break out of its $1.38 to $1.48 trading range, with resistance at $1.40 and $1.65 according to analyst CasiTrades.

Support levels sit at $1.11 and $0.87, giving the token some cushion if selling picks up. But the real action seems to be in spot markets where actual buying and selling happens, not the derivatives casino that’s been cooling off lately.

Bitrue thinks supply squeeze coming soon. The exchange believes sustained retail and corporate demand will create shortages that boost XRP against competitors in 2026. “Growing demand at both retail and institutional levels may lead to supply deficit,” per Bitrue executives who didn’t want to be named. See also: XRP Breaks Above 200-Week Support as.

Market analyst CasiTrades said breaking $1.40 resistance needs “substantial momentum driven by ETF inflows and heightened trading activity.” So far that momentum hasn’t materialized, keeping XRP stuck in its current range despite all the institutional interest flowing into ETF products.

The futures market contraction might signal strategic shift among traders who prefer spot over derivatives after recent volatility burned them. This tactical change reflects adaptation to current market conditions as traders reassess risk exposure following months of unpredictable price action.

February 26 marked a clear divergence between spot and futures activity. While Bitrue reported massive spot buying, futures traders pulled back from leveraged positions across major exchanges. Binance and Bybit didn’t respond to requests for comment about the futures decline.

CasiTrades pointed out that XRP’s resistance at $1.40 remains critical threshold for any meaningful upward movement. Breaking through requires more than just ETF money – it needs broader market participation and sustained buying pressure from multiple sources.

Despite mixed signals from different market segments, sentiment around XRP stays cautiously optimistic. Bitrue’s supply squeeze forecast depends on continued institutional and retail engagement over coming months. The exchange believes current trends could enhance XRP’s performance in Q2 2026 if they persist.

Key players haven’t made strategic adjustments yet. The interplay between spot and futures markets keeps shifting as traders adapt to new conditions. Whether anticipated supply and demand changes actually happen remains unclear. Related coverage: MicroStrategy Shares Jump 8% as Bitcoin.

Bitrue emphasized Tuesday that ongoing XRP ETF interest could tighten available supply further. The combination of retail and institutional buying might drive prices higher if trends continue, though that’s basically speculation at this point.

Futures market stays subdued despite spot strength. CoinGlass data confirms traders are pulling back from leveraged positions due to heightened risk environment. The cautious futures stance contrasts sharply with aggressive spot buying, creating strategic divergence in market behavior.

CasiTrades highlighted XRP’s stable trading range with support around $1.11 and resistance near $1.65. Breaking these levels likely requires increased ETF inflows plus broader market participation that hasn’t shown up yet.

Major exchanges like Binance and Bybit haven’t commented on recent futures trends, leaving market participants to rely on available data for sentiment analysis. Focus remains on whether spot market strength can eventually influence futures trading dynamics ahead.

Ripple’s ongoing legal clarity following its partial SEC victory continues attracting institutional capital, with several major asset managers now exploring XRP ETF applications beyond the current offerings. BlackRock and Fidelity representatives met with SEC officials last month regarding potential XRP products, though neither firm has filed formal applications yet.

Meanwhile, cross-border payment partnerships keep expanding XRP’s utility case. JPMorgan’s blockchain division and Santander both increased XRP usage for international transfers in February, processing over $2.8 billion in transactions. These real-world applications provide fundamental support beyond speculative trading, potentially explaining why institutional investors view current prices as attractive entry points despite the token’s recent struggles.