XRP has become the standout performer among the top 10 cryptocurrencies, climbing 43.7% over the seven days through Aug. 26 and leading a broader return of altcoin demand in India and South Korea. In India, the token rebounded from roughly ₹100 to nearly ₹165, a move of about 50%, while US hints at a long-term bond buyback program and a weaker rupee supported local crypto buying.
US spot XRP exchange-traded funds recorded six consecutive sessions of positive flows from Aug. 18 through Aug. 25, totaling $77.47 million, with the strongest single-day inflow of $23.87 million on Aug. 25. Cumulative ETF inflows have reached a record $1.55 billion. Goldman Sachs disclosed $86.5 million of XRP ETF exposure across five funds in its second-quarter filing.
South Korean demand added further momentum. On Upbit early Aug. 26, XRP ranked first among 286 won-denominated markets, accounting for 16.3% of total turnover, yet traded within roughly 0.1% of its Bybit price after currency conversion. Binance derivatives data showed top traders increased their long-to-short ratio by 3.8% to 2.24, while broader accounts pulled back, suggesting larger traders remained selectively bullish. Open interest fell 8.9% over 24 hours but stayed 12.9% higher on the week, with funding at 0.01%.
The rally outpaced Hyperliquid’s 40.6% gain, Ethereum’s 28.6% rise and Bitcoin’s 22.6% increase, even as Bitcoin dominance remained at 59.3% and the Altcoin Season Index sat at 40 out of 100. The next test is whether ETF inflows and Korean spot demand remain strong after the initial surge.
