XRP leverage collapses to multi-year lows — what it means for traders now

XRP traders are rapidly derisking as leverage, open interest, and price momentum all decline simultaneously. This is a rare alignment that often precedes sharp volatility in either direction.

Fresh data from CryptoQuant and CoinGlass shows a dramatic unwind in leveraged positions across the XRP market, coinciding with the token’s steady price slide below $2.00.

Leverage flush deepens as traders abandon risk

CryptoQuant’s Estimated Leverage Ratio [ELR] for XRP on Binance has fallen from its July peak near 0.58 to roughly 0.20, marking one of the sharpest multi-month contractions in 2025.

A falling ELR typically signals that traders are closing positions or being force-liquidated, reducing the amount of borrowed capital influencing price action.

Source: CryptoQuant

This matters because XRP has historically seen two outcomes when leverage drains to this extent:

• A further grind downward as spot sellers dominate, or
• A sharp volatility spike once sidelined traders re-enter.

So far, the data favors the first scenario — but conditions can flip quickly.

XRP Open interest drops as speculative momentum fades

Supporting the leverage trend, CoinGlass shows XRP futures open interest collapsing from highs above $10 billion earlier this year to significantly lower levels.

The reduction in open interest signals weakening speculative participation and a cooling derivatives market. Combined with falling leverage, it paints a picture of a market stepping back from aggressive risk-taking.

This kind of synchronized decline is typical during macro uncertainty or when liquidity thins across major assets — both conditions XRP is experiencing now.

XRP price structure weakens as RSI hovers near oversold

XRP’s daily chart reflects the broader derisking:

• Price has slipped to around $1.9, extending a multi-month downtrend.
• Market structure continues to print lower highs and lower lows.
• RSI sits near 35, signaling bearish momentum but not yet extreme capitulation.

The lack of bullish divergence suggests XRP may not have reached an exhaustion point, even with leverage and open interest at depressed levels.

Source: TradingView

What traders should watch next

Three signals now matter most for determining XRP’s direction:

• A return of open interest — confirming renewed trader appetite.
• Stabilization of ELR — showing the leverage washout has finished.
• A higher low on the daily chart — the first sign of structural recovery.

Until those appear, XRP remains vulnerable to continued downside or sudden volatility spikes triggered by thin liquidity.

Final Thoughts

• XRP’s leverage and open interest collapse shows traders have stepped away, leaving the market primed for volatility when activity returns.
• Without a structural price reversal or renewed derivatives demand, XRP may struggle to break out of its current downtrend.