XRP price rally has taken the spotlight, fueled by massive trading activity on South Korea’s Upbit exchange.
This price surge toward the $3 mark has caught the attention of traders worldwide, but its core momentum came from one region—South Korea. The retail frenzy there pushed XRP’s volume on Upbit higher than both Bitcoin and Ethereum combined.
On July 12, XRP rose from $2.60 to nearly $3, driven by a 45 million XRP net buy pressure. Remarkably, 70% of that volume—about 32 million XRP—came from Upbit alone. Other major platforms like Coinbase, Kraken, and Bitstamp contributed smaller volumes. Surprisingly, Binance saw negative net volume during this rally.

Retail Traders Fuel the XRP Price Rally
What’s even more striking is the dominance of South Korean traders in this altcoin surge. Over 7 million Koreans, or 15% of the population, are registered on local exchanges. Many of these users missed early Bitcoin opportunities and are now targeting coins like XRP. This has helped XRP become one of the most heavily traded assets in South Korea.
Data from CoinGecko shows Upbit’s XRP volume exceeded $500 million in a single day. That’s more than what Bitcoin and Ethereum combined achieved on the same platform. This highlights how powerful regional trading can be in shaping global market trends, especially when driven by passionate retail investors.
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XRP Price Rally Shows Regional Impact in Crypto Markets
Despite the excitement, some analysts warn about relying too much on retail-driven momentum. It can bring rapid growth—but also sudden drops. Crypto expert Dom noted that such surges are not necessarily good or bad. They simply reflect how interest can shift dramatically from one region to another.
In this case, the XRP price rally shows how one country’s traders can command global attention. The Upbit-driven move underscores the influence of local markets on global price action. It also highlights the growing interest in altcoins beyond Bitcoin and Ethereum.
ETF Speculation and Ecosystem Growth Add Fuel
Aside from trading volume, the XRP rally may also have been boosted by ecosystem developments and renewed ETF speculation. Such factors tend to amplify retail enthusiasm, creating the perfect environment for explosive short-term gains.
The XRP price rally reflects not just market speculation but also deeper trends. These include regional shifts in investor behavior, the maturing of retail crypto communities, and evolving altcoin narratives.