Is XRP Price Being Manipulated?

Ripple (XRP) price has been behaving in strange ways throughout 2025. Even after several important developments around Ripple, the token has shown little to no significant price reaction.

The price of Ripple (XRP) has been acting strangely throughout 2025, with little to no significant reaction even after several important developments around the token.

This has raised real questions within the crypto community. Is this just normal market behavior, or is XRP being manipulated behind the scenes by institutions or offshore exchanges to keep the token suppressed?

After the launch of XRP futures contracts on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) in May 2025, the price of the token fell by 8.5% almost immediately. This was surprising since the move was supposed to be positive for the token. It signaled greater adoption of XRP in traditional finance, which should have attracted more buyers and pushed the price up. Instead, the opposite occurred.

However, some experts explained that the futures market may now be giving big players an easy way to suppress the XRP price. Several analysts pointed out the same patterns that were seen when Bitcoin and Ethereum futures launched in past years.

One common concern is naked shorting, where traders sell futures contracts without owning any XRP. Another is rehypothecation, where the same collateral is used across multiple trades. Both tactics can put massive artificial pressure on the price and allow institutions to benefit from the volatility.

Speaking about offshore exchanges and market makers, crypto analyst Austin Hilton, as reprted by AInvest, said that they are able to manipulate the price of XRP and other altcoins. According to him, because XRP still has relatively low liquidity compared to Bitcoin or Ethereum, it becomes easier for a few large players to exert control over the token without needing huge amounts of capital.

Earlier this year, in February 2025, the price of Ripple experienced a crash of 31% in just three hours. As reported by CCXV, analysts pointed out the unusual liquidity behavior and suggested that the drop did not look like normal trading activity. Instead, it appeared to be the result of deliberate and coordinated moves by market actors. That kind of event only fueled more suspicion about whether XRP trading is really as free and open as it seems.

A X user known as StellarExpert has shared a post highlighting a whale purchasing nearly 250 million XRP, valued at over $500 million. However, what's surprising is that the market reacted minimally. Usually, a purchase of this magnitude would cause some price movement or activity. Yet, the price of XRP did not move at all. There was no price wick. No sudden spike. No visible excitement in the charts. It was as if the trade had never happened.

At some point, even the most loyal have to ask:Is this a market… or a simulation?Because when half a billion enters and nothing… pic.twitter.com/ohwS3VylCH

The user went on to question the situation directly, stating, "At some point, even the most loyal have to ask: Is this a market or a simulation?" It was a pointed remark that struck a nerve with the XRP community.

In a normal crypto market, a $500 million buy will cause some movement. However, when nothing happens, traders begin to wonder if the market is being tightly controlled by a few key players who can maneuver the price as needed. That kind of transaction puts a spotlight on transparency and fair trading practices. It also raises questions about whether Ripple price movement is reflecting real demand or institutional maneuvering.

Overall, the conversation around XRP has clearly shifted. From suspicious futures activity to unexplained crashes and massive buys leaving no trace, it seems that many XRP community members now believe something is wrong with the way the token is being traded. Until there is more clarity or stronger oversight, it seems XRP price may remain caught in a cloud of doubt and controversy.