XRP News Today: Retail Hype and Whale Moves Fuel XRP's Volatile Climb

XRP, the digital asset native to the XRP Ledger, continues to attract attention from both retail and institutional investors, despite recent price corrections. As of August 20, 2025, the token was trading at $2.93, down 10.73% from its price a week earlier. The 24-hour trading volume reached $7.69 billion, reflecting increased activity despite the short-term volatility [1]. The token’s circulating supply currently stands at 59 billion, with a total supply of 100 billion, and a market capitalization of $173.83 billion, placing it among the top four cryptocurrencies by market cap [1].

The recent price action has been influenced by multiple factors, including regulatory developments and market sentiment. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has delayed decisions on several crypto ETFs, including those linked to XRP, pushing the timeline to October 2025 [1]. Ripple, the company behind the XRP Ledger, has continued to expand its partnerships, most recently with Doppler Fi, to enhance staking rewards on the network [1]. These developments are seen as positive for long-term adoption, despite the current bearish pressure.

Analysts have noted that XRP's price fluctuations are driven by a combination of factors, including macroeconomic conditions, regulatory news, and on-chain activity [1]. For example, recent block trades and whale activity indicate ongoing interest in the asset. A notable 1 million-block trade at the $4 strike price was recorded, despite the token's falling price, suggesting that some market participants remain bullish [1]. Additionally, whale wallets have absorbed dips in recent weeks, scooping up 440 million tokens worth $3.8 billion, which signals potential accumulation [1].

The XRP community appears to be one of the most active in the cryptocurrency space, as noted by a recent comparative analysis involving Ethereum (ETH), Cardano (ADA), and other altcoins [2]. While Ethereum remains the dominant altcoin in terms of institutional adoption and developer activity, XRP has shown significant retail traction. ChatGPT and other AI tools highlighted that XRP's global search data surged in late 2024 and early 2025, even outpacing Ethereum in some metrics [2]. This retail-driven interest is attributed to Ripple's real-world use cases and its expanding partnerships.

Despite the recent challenges, XRP has demonstrated strong long-term performance. Over the past year, the token has surged by 387.21%, significantly outpacing Bitcoin and Ethereum [1]. Analysts suggest that the XRP Ledger's speed, low fees, and use in cross-border transactions position it well for continued adoption, especially as Ripple continues to push for tokenization of real-world assets [1]. However, critics argue that regulatory uncertainty and market volatility remain key risks to the asset's long-term potential [2].

The broader market context also plays a role in XRP’s trajectory. With the SEC’s delayed decisions on crypto ETFs, the regulatory environment remains unpredictable, which could influence investor behavior. Meanwhile, Ripple has emphasized the importance of custody solutions in institutional adoption, outlining four pillars: compliance, tailored models, operational resilience, and governance [1]. These efforts are seen as critical to expanding the asset’s utility and building confidence among institutional investors.

Source: [1] XRP Price, XRP Price, Live Charts, and Marketcap (https://www.coinbase.com/price/xrp) [2] XRP vs. ADA vs. ETH: We Asked 4 AIs Which Is the Most Popular Altcoin Answer Is Surprising (https://cryptopotato.com/xrp-vs-ada-vs-eth-we-asked-4-ais-which-is-the-most-popular-altcoin-answer-is-surprising/)