XRP snaps back after near-20% sell-off as volatility dominates post-crash trading

XRP staged a sharp rebound on 6 February after suffering a steep sell-off in the previous trading session. The move highlights the fragile and highly reactive state of the broader crypto market.

During the 5 February session, XRP fell by 19.64% to trade at $1.21, sliding alongside a wider market drawdown that also pushed Bitcoin sharply lower. 

The decline was fast and disorderly, with elevated volume pointing to forced selling rather than a controlled pullback. By the end of the session, XRP had retraced to levels not seen in weeks, placing the token firmly in short-term capitulation territory.

However, sentiment shifted quickly in the following session.

A fast rebound, not a quiet recovery

On 6 February, XRP surged by more than 24% intraday, rebounding to trade around $1.50 after briefly dipping to the low-$1.20s during the sell-off. 

The speed of the recovery stands out, particularly given that Bitcoin’s rebound, while notable, was comparatively restrained.

Trading volume remained elevated during the bounce, with 449 million recorded as of this writing. This suggests active repositioning by traders rather than a low-liquidity drift higher. 

This kind of price action typically reflects a combination of short-covering and dip-buying, especially after sharp downside moves flush out overleveraged positions.

Volatility still driving XRP price action

Despite the rebound, the structure of XRP’s recent move points to continued volatility rather than a clean trend reversal. Momentum indicators show that while downside pressure eased, price action remains reactive and sensitive to broader market moves.

Notably, sentiment readings have stayed relatively high even after the sell-off, indicating that market confidence has not fully reset. As of this writing, the sentiment was around 78%. 

Historically, this mismatch — sharp price declines without a deeper sentiment reset — often coincides with choppy trading conditions rather than sustained directional moves.

Bitcoin stabilizes, but XRP remains the swing trade

Bitcoin also recovered during the same session, climbing back above recent lows to trade at $70,000, after briefly dipping below key psychological levels. 

However, XRP’s sharper rebound underscores its higher beta profile during periods of market stress.

While this relative strength may attract short-term traders, it also reinforces the idea that XRP remains particularly sensitive to shifts in risk appetite. 

Until volatility subsides and price structure stabilizes, outsized moves in both directions are likely to persist.

Final Thoughts

• XRP’s rebound reflects a volatility-driven snapback after a near-20% sell-off, not a confirmed trend reversal.
• With sentiment still elevated, price action may remain unstable as traders react to broader market signals.