XRP price delivered a sharp emotional swing that caught many observers off guard. February 13 marked the moment when bearish pressure suddenly flipped into bullish momentum. Strength continued across the next two days, pushing Ripple price higher and drawing attention back to the short-term direction.
January 15 then recorded a move of more than 20% toward $1.67 before momentum faded again. A steady decline followed, leaving XRP price nearly 15% below that peak.
Stellar Rippler, known on X as StellarNews007, believes the pattern deserves deeper scrutiny. His commentary frames the move as possible manipulation instead of ordinary market behavior.
The explanation centers on wash trading, a process where the same entity acts as both buyer and seller to manufacture artificial volume and price motion without genuine demand.
Analyst Explanation Connects XRP Price Volatility To Wash Trading Mechanics
Stellar Rippler describes how centralized exchanges can benefit from volatility itself. Internal market making desks and leveraged futures create conditions where profit does not depend on direction alone. Low liquidity periods make price easier to move with limited capital.
Key breakout zones and liquidation levels attract momentum entries that amplify swings. High leverage open interest increases the chance of cascading liquidations once reversal begins.
WHAT THE HELL IS WASH TRADING THAT JUST HAPPENED WITH XRP?!
— Stellar Rippler🚀 (@StellarNews007) February 18, 2026
If You Are Into Crypto, You Better Know The Biggest Manipulation Trick Centralized Exchanges Use To Rip-Off The Retail 👇
Wash trading is when a same entity(like Binance) is both buyer and seller, creating fake volume… pic.twitter.com/51PRaPXMeE
This structure forms a cycle that can trap retail traders. Artificial buying pressure pushes XRP price upward and encourages fear of missing out. Liquidity expands as leveraged positions grow. Heavy selling pressure then appears and forces liquidations across the market. Exchanges collect fees and spreads during the process, which turns volatility into a revenue source.
The specific XRP event highlighted by Stellar Rippler focuses on activity near $1.67 on Binance. Price acceleration occurred quickly and attracted leveraged participation. A large sell wave of about 40 million XRP then entered the market at the peak. Volume expanded sharply and triggered a chain of liquidations that removed many open positions.
Losses affected traders who entered late in the move. Exchange fee collection continued through both entry and liquidation phases. This sequence supports the analyst view that sudden rallies can function as liquidity traps when leverage remains elevated.
Read Also: Silver Price Crash? Open Interest Says This Could Be a Bear Trap Instead
USDT Trading Volume Debate Adds Broader Context To Ripple Price Discussion
Stellar Rippler also points to unusual turnover levels in USDT markets. Daily traded volume approaching nearly half of circulating supply appears difficult to explain through natural demand alone.
Repeated internal trading activity could produce such figures, which strengthens the broader concern about artificial volume across crypto markets. The argument extends beyond XRP and touches Bitcoin price discovery as well.
Regulatory attention may influence this landscape. The proposed CLARITY Act seeks stronger transparency around trading activity and market structure.
Tighter disclosure rules could reduce hidden practices that depend on opaque reporting. Exchanges facing stricter oversight might need to adjust revenue models built around leverage and fees.
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