XRP has experienced a dramatic price correction amid overall crypto market volatility. The asset plummeted to $2.23 less than 48 hours after reaching $2.97 on March 2, before recovering briefly to trade at $2.44. This recovery remains overshadowed by a 16.26% drop from its recent high, falling short of the optimistic projections made after former President Donald Trump announced plans for a strategic cryptocurrency reserve.
Crypto expert Vincent Van Code recently shared his perspective on platform X, arguing that the decline in XRP’s price is less about the token itself and more a reflection of broader market dynamics. According to Van Code, Bitcoin’s diminishing status as a reserve asset has led to reduced demand across the board. With many altcoins, including XRP, closely correlated to Bitcoin due to exchange pairings and market-making strategies, any significant downturn in Bitcoin tends to have a cascading effect.
Current #XRP pullback has nothing to do with XRP and everything to do with #BTC taking a hit.
— Vincent Van Code (@vincent_vancode) March 3, 2025
The shock and realisation that BTC is not going to be front and centre as reserve asset, which leaves it's use little to no value.
Nothing new same old story. Tokens still following…
A critical aspect of this market reaction is the role of arbitrage and exchange mechanics. Many cryptocurrency exchanges pair tokens with Bitcoin, meaning that any movement in Bitcoin’s value automatically influences the prices of other assets. Van Code explained that exchanges typically maintain a reserve of Bitcoin rather than a diversified pool of tokens, as Bitcoin offers relatively stable growth potential. “They only need to have enough of a specific token to cover withdrawals,” he noted, highlighting how algorithmic trading strategies can force price adjustments when Bitcoin’s value drops.
The impact of Trump’s strategic reserve announcement also played a significant role. On March 2, Trump stated that the nation’s crypto reserve would include XRP, Solana, and Cardano, which initially spurred XRP’s price upward. However, the initial omission of Bitcoin in his remarks may have signaled a shift in governmental focus toward altcoins, contributing to uncertainty in the market. Although Trump later confirmed that Bitcoin and Ethereum would be included, the initial focus on altcoins appears to have unsettled investors.
This recent chain of events underscores the interdependent nature of the crypto ecosystem. As Bitcoin’s role as a reserve asset continues to evolve, its price fluctuations are set to have far-reaching effects on other tokens, leaving investors on high alert in these turbulent times.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The author’s views are personal and may not reflect the views of Chain Affairs. Before making any investment decisions, you should always conduct your own research. Chain Affairs is not responsible for any financial losses.
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