XRP’s December Crossroads: ETF Inflows Battle Holder Sell-Off at $2.20
As of December 2, 2025, XRP finds itself at a critical juncture, trading at $2.20 following a 13% decline in November. The cryptocurrency's performance this month is historically unpredictable, with a stark contrast between its legendary 818% surge in December 2017 and a median return of -3.16% across other years. The current landscape is defined by a powerful clash of opposing forces. On one side, the recent launch of spot XRP Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) has successfully attracted a substantial $640 million in institutional capital, signaling strong professional investor confidence and creating a significant new source of demand. This institutional embrace coincides with a notable 29% reduction in XRP reserves on centralized exchanges, a technical indicator often associated with decreased immediate selling pressure as assets MOVE into custody. However, this bullish narrative is being challenged by a concurrent wave of distribution from long-term holders, who appear to be taking profits or rebalancing portfolios after the asset's prior appreciation. This sell-off from early investors is creating a headwind against the institutional inflows, setting the stage for a volatile and pivotal December. The outcome of this battle between fresh institutional money and veteran holder liquidation will likely determine whether XRP revisits its historic bullish December magic or succumbs to seasonal weakness, making it one of the most closely watched assets in the digital finance sector as the year concludes.
XRP Faces Pivotal December as ETF Inflows Clash With Holder Sell-Off
XRP enters December 2025 at $2.20 after a 13% November decline, caught between institutional demand and long-term holder distribution. The cryptocurrency's December performance remains historically bifurcated—while the 2017 bull run produced an 818% monthly gain, median returns sit at -3.16%.
New spot XRP ETFs have absorbed $640 million in institutional capital, coinciding with a 29% drop in exchange reserves. This demand faces counterpressure from the 1-3 year holder cohort liquidating positions, creating a supply wall at $2.445-$2.460 where 1.749 billion XRP awaits.
Technical indicators suggest a potential inflection point. A double-bottom pattern has formed with resistance at $2.459, while weekly Stochastic RSI shows bullish momentum building. Analysts project a breakout toward $2.60-$2.61 if ETF inflows persist, but warn of a retest of $2.00-$1.77 support should macro conditions deteriorate.
Ripple Gains Edge in Asia as Singapore Grants Expanded License
Ripple has secured a strategic advantage in Asia-Pacific after Singapore’s Monetary Authority (MAS) approved an expanded Major Payment Institution (MPI) license. The updated authorization permits Ripple Markets APAC to offer enhanced payment services, including digital asset swaps and institutional cross-border settlements using XRP and RLUSD.
The move aligns with surging institutional demand for crypto infrastructure in Asia. Ripple’s recent acquisition of Palisade strengthens its position as a regulatory-compliant bridge between traditional finance and blockchain networks. Singapore’s progressive stance contrasts with the U.S. regulatory climate, where Ripple continues its legal battle with the SEC.
Market observers note the timing coincides with accelerated crypto adoption across Southeast Asia. The MPI license extension enables Ripple to service banks and payment providers seeking efficient alternatives to SWIFT networks. Liquidity pools in XRP and stablecoins are expected to deepen as institutional flows increase.
XRP Whale Activity Surges as New Accounts Acquire 77 Million Tokens in Single Day
On-chain data reveals a striking accumulation pattern among XRP whales, with 78 newly created accounts purchasing 77 million tokens within 24 hours. The movement coincides with a broader reshuffling of balances among large holders, suggesting strategic repositioning despite the asset's recent price stagnation.
Market observers note this activity mirrors historical accumulation phases that preceded bullish reversals. The concentrated buying—equivalent to roughly $38 million at current prices—highlights institutional-grade interest in the embattled token.
XRP Open Interest Collapses 59% as Traders Retreat From Leveraged Positions
XRP markets face a liquidity exodus as open interest plunges 59% following the October 10 price crash. The derivative metric's dramatic contraction signals eroding confidence in near-term upside potential.
Spot markets mirror the pessimism, with XRP sliding further against Bitcoin's brief dip below $86,000. The tandem decline underscores how altcoins remain vulnerable to BTC volatility despite recent decoupling attempts.
Exchange order books show thinning depth for Leveraged products, particularly on platforms like Binance and Bybit where XRP perpetual swaps previously dominated. This risk-off shift suggests proprietary trading firms and retail speculators alike are reducing exposure rather than attempting to catch falling knives.
XRP ETF Milestone Signals Market Evolution
Analyst Chad Steingraber highlights a pivotal moment for XRP as five pure spot ETFs begin simultaneous trading this week. The 21Shares XRP ETF (TOXR) debuts alongside offerings from Canary Capital and Bitwise, marking the first full week of consolidated XRP ETF availability.
This development reflects growing institutional acceptance of digital assets beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum. The XRP market now mirrors traditional ETF competition dynamics, where multiple providers vie for份额 in an emerging asset class.
XRP Ledger Sees Unprecedented 7,924% Surge in AccountSet Transactions
The XRP Ledger is witnessing a dramatic spike in AccountSet transactions, with activity levels soaring by 7,924%. The anomaly has sparked intense speculation among market participants, drawing attention from validators and analysts alike.
Vet, a recognized XRPL dUNL validator, first flagged the unusual network behavior in a public post. The surge represents one of the most significant activity fluctuations in the ledger's recent history, though its underlying cause remains unclear.
