XRP (CRYPTO: XRP) became the best-performing large-cap cryptocurrency Monday following the launch of Ripple Labs' USD-backed stablecoin RLUSD.
What happened: The payments-focused cryptocurrency rose 3.51% in the last 24 hours, outpacing the returns of Bitcoin (CRYPTO: BTC) and Ethereum (CRYPTO: ETH).
With the latest push, XRP's monthly gains zoomed to 138%, the biggest among cryptocurrencies in the top 10 by market capitalization.
The rally was likely powered by significant buying interest from whale investors. Noted cryptocurrency analyst Ali Martinez highlighted that whales purchased over 830 million XRP, worth over $2 billion at prevailing market prices.
Whales have purchased over 830 million $XRP in the last 24 hours! pic.twitter.com/KzNds2CVdf
— Ali (@ali_charts) December 16, 2024
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The readings of moving averages supported the coin's bullish potential. XRP's price was greater than nearly all of its exponential moving averages and simple moving averages, indicating that investors' current expectations are higher than their average expectations over the past period.
However, the Moving Average Convergence Divergence indicator, which compares two exponential moving averages, flashed a 'Sell' signal.
The Bull Bear Power indicator, used for measuring the strength of buyers and sellers in the market, was 'Neutral" as of this writing.
Moreover. XRP's Open Interest, a measure of its speculative interest, rose 5.26% in the last 24 hours and nearly 450% since Nov. 5, the presidential election day, data from Coinglass revealed.
About 75% of all Binance traders with an open interest were positioned long on the asset, signaling the expectation of further upsides.
Why It Matters: Optimism around XRP was tied to several factors, with the most notable being the launch of RLUSD from Ripple, a payments company that uses XRP for its operations.
Ripple President Monica Long said Monday that the release marked a new chapter for the XRP Ledger, the blockchain technology powering Ripple's operations.
The release of RLUSD marks a new chapter – both for the XRP Ledger, as well as @Ripple for use in our $70B+ payments flows. Combining our 10+ yrs in the business; the rigor & compliance required with stablecoin issuance by a @NYDFS chartered company; and an experienced Advisory...
— Monica Long (@MonicaLongSF) December 16, 2024
Ripple planned to position RLUSD for a range of financial applications, including instant cross-border settlements, Treasury operations, and integration with decentralized finance protocols.
Furthermore, with SEC Chair Gary Gensler's tenure coming to an end and being succeeded by cryptocurrency-friendly Paul Atkins, investors feel more confident about XRP.
Ripple has been locked in a nearly four-year-long legal battle with the SEC over the status of XRP, and any change in the agency's top leadership is viewed with optimism.
Price Action: At the time of writing, XRP was exchanging hands at $2.49, up 3.65% in the last 24 hours, according to data from Benzinga Pro.
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