XRP News Today: XRP Breaks Above $2.50 as Trading Volume Soars—South Korea Frenzy and ETF Buzz Fuel XRP Rally

XRP is once again in the spotlight as it broke above the $2.50 mark on May 13, 2025, recording a 5.3% daily gain to reach $2.55.

The rally was accompanied by a significant rise in trading volume, which spiked to $10.7 billion, signaling renewed investor interest. This upswing came after the digital asset rebounded from a key technical support at $2.47, a confluence zone marked by the 38.2% Fibonacci retracement level and a rising trendline on the short-term charts.

XRP’s momentum is also supported by its position above the 50-period Exponential Moving Average (EMA) at $2.41, a level that has historically indicated bullish sentiment. If XRP maintains this trajectory, analysts suggest that the $2.56 resistance could open the path toward the next potential milestone at $2.70.

Ripple XRP News: South Korea Takes the Lead

A major driver behind XRP’s surge has been the trading frenzy in South Korea. On Upbit—South Korea’s largest crypto exchange—XRP saw more than $1 billion in volume within 24 hours, surpassing both Bitcoin and Ethereum trading activity. Other top exchanges in the country, including Bithumb, Coinone, and Korbit, also reported unusually high XRP volumes.

XRP trading volume on South Korea’s top crypto exchange has topped $1.2 billion in 24 hours, surpassing both Bitcoin and Ethereum combined. Source: Cryptobless via X

This burst of activity appears to have flipped the “cumulative volume delta,” a metric that measures aggressive buying versus selling, to a bullish stance. Historically, surging South Korean demand has had a significant impact on XRP’s price, reinforcing its status as one of the most popular cryptocurrencies in the region.

Ripple Lawsuit Update: Settlement Boosts Sentiment

Adding fuel to the rally is the resolution of a critical legal battle. Ripple Labs recently reached a settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), agreeing to a reduced penalty of $50 million—down from a proposed $125 million. This marks a major milestone in the multi-year XRP lawsuit that questioned whether Ripple’s token was an unregistered security.

Further improving the outlook, the SEC has dropped its appeal against a ruling that XRP sales on public exchanges do not constitute securities transactions. Ripple also withdrew its own appeal over the court’s decision regarding $728 million in institutional sales.

With these outcomes, regulatory clarity around XRP is improving. “This resolution eliminates a key overhang for Ripple and its ecosystem,” commented a senior crypto analyst. The development has not only stabilized XRP’s regulatory standing but also reinvigorated optimism around potential product launches—most notably a spot XRP exchange-traded fund (ETF).

Technical Setup Remains Constructive for XRP Price

From a technical standpoint, XRP appears to have broken out of a multimonth falling wedge pattern—a classic bullish signal. The breakout occurred above $2.25 and has held above the 50-period EMA on the 3-day chart. This pattern suggests a potential continuation toward the $3.45 level, although resistance is expected near $2.80.

XRP is breaking structure with ETF buzz, lawsuit resolution, and growing institutional adoption fueling a potential surge toward previous all-time highs. Source: Lucasq589 on TradingView

The Relative Strength Index (RSI) has also recovered to above 57, indicating strengthening buying pressure. Analysts believe the $2.56 resistance level will be key for short-term momentum, with $2.70 as the next target if buyers maintain control.

ETF Optimism and Broader Market Rally Add Tailwinds

XRP is also benefiting from broader market sentiment. Bitcoin’s recovery above the $100,000 mark has revived risk appetite across digital assets, and XRP is riding that wave. At the same time, chatter around a possible spot XRP ETF has intensified following the legal settlement. Market watchers view the ETF narrative as a potentially transformative catalyst for long-term price appreciation.

According to Geoffrey Kendrick, head of crypto research at Standard Chartered, XRP’s value could reach as high as $8.00 by 2026 and $12.25 by 2029, citing regulatory clarity and expanding institutional interest.

Looking Ahead: Ripple Market Momentum Building

The combination of surging trading activity—particularly in South Korea—regulatory breakthroughs in the XRP SEC lawsuit, and strong technical indicators has positioned XRP as one of the top-performing cryptocurrencies in mid-May 2025.

XRP was trading at around $2.55 at press time. Source: XRP Liquid Index (XRPLX) via Brave New Coin

As long as XRP holds above key support zones and continues attracting both retail and institutional interest, its bullish trend looks set to continue. With momentum building, the crypto community will closely watch whether XRP can sustain its gains and eventually challenge the next resistance levels.

For now, XRP breaking above $2.50 is more than just a technical breakout—it’s a signal of renewed confidence in the Ripple ecosystem.