XRP shorts pile up – Is a short squeeze toward $1.36 next?

Ripple [XRP] liquidity profile is fading, and that shift is now reshaping how the price moves.

Binance’s 30-day Liquidity Index has dropped close to zero, while turnover has collapsed from over $200 billion in January 2025 to near inactivity. This decline shows participation has dried up, which reduces order-book depth and leaves the market more exposed to directional flows.

Consequently, derivatives positioning tells a different story, as Open Interest (OI) builds while funding stays negative, signaling growing short conviction. This happens because traders expect weakness, even as spot activity remains thin.

However, this creates tension, since rising leverage meets weak liquidity.

The market becomes highly reactive, where small buying pressure could trigger a sharp upside, while continued inactivity risks a deeper downside drift.

XRP’s thin liquidity meets rising short-term pressure

XRP’s thinning liquidity now begins to shape how derivatives pressure translates into price movement, rather than just reflecting weak activity.

Meanwhile, shorts continue to build as funding stays negative, reflecting growing bearish conviction. However, this positioning leans into a shallow structure, where any real buying could force rapid covering toward $1.349.

On the other hand, if spot demand fades, weak support near $1.326 offers little protection.

Exchange Reserves dropped 0.19% to 2.74 billion XRP, hinting at quiet absorption. This keeps price stable for now, yet it also sets up a market where direction, once chosen, is likely to move fast and catch participants off guard.

XRP’s liquidation clusters set up a volatility breakout

Liquidation clusters now begin to explain how XRP’s fragile structure can translate into sharp price moves. At press time, aggregated  OI rose by 3.59% to $960 million while Funding stayed negative, showing traders are leaning short into current conditions.

Early stress was visible, with $1.82 million in Short Liquidations triggered during the recent upside, which suggests the crowded side is already under pressure.

Above $1.35–$1.36, dense liquidation zones could accelerate a squeeze, especially in a thin order book where few sell orders exist. However, this upside depends on real spot demand sustaining momentum.

On the other hand, support at $1.32–$1.33 remains critical.

If it fails, weak bid depth could amplify downside, allowing shorts to gain control. This leaves the market balanced but unstable, where direction will depend on whether demand absorbs pressure or fades.

Final Summary

• Ripple [XRP] shows rising short pressure in thin liquidity, where growing OI and negative funding increase the risk of sharp directional moves.
• XRP remains unstable near key levels, as weak depth could trigger a short squeeze above $1.36 or accelerate downside below $1.32.