XRP’s rising momentum has not solely intensified value speculations however has additionally positioned it in direct comparability with Bitcoin in a single shocking metric, particularly within the South Korean market. Information exhibits that XRP is now difficult Bitcoin’s dominance within the South Korean crypto world, as evidenced by the reserves of Upbit, the largest crypto trade within the nation when it comes to buying and selling quantity and market share.
Upbit’s Uncommon XRP Reserve Ranges
On-chain information exhibits how XRP is starting to problem Bitcoin’s long-standing dominance in South Korea, the place buying and selling exercise is among the many most vibrant globally. Because the main cryptocurrency, most exchanges the world over maintain Bitcoin because the dominant reserve asset, with BTC historically accounting for the biggest share of trade portfolios. This has been the case as a result of trade reserves are formed by buyer demand, and Bitcoin has been the popular asset for merchants.
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Nevertheless, it might appear the Korean market is bucking the pattern, and traders are getting extra inclined to XRP. In keeping with on-chain information from CryptoQuant, which was first posted on the social media platform X by an analytics account referred to as CryptoOnchain’s, XRP is difficult Bitcoin’s dominance on Upbit, which is the largest crypto trade in South Korea.
This pattern started in December 2024, when Upbit began considerably growing its XRP reserves. On the time of writing, the quantity of XRP held by the trade is now at ranges that rival its Bitcoin holdings.

As proven within the chart beneath, XRP’s USD worth in Upbit’s reserves has risen steeply alongside Bitcoin’s for the reason that starting of the 12 months, with XRP even breaking above $20 billion briefly earlier than retracing.
As of now, the worth of XRP reserves on Upbit is round $18 billion, solely barely beneath Bitcoin’s $20 billion on the platform. For comparability, Ethereum’s holdings on Upbit are just a bit above $5 billion. This exhibits how XRP has carved out a place a lot nearer to Bitcoin than some other main cryptocurrency on the trade.
Implications For The Altcoin’s Future Demand
Monitoring these reserve traits at Upbit may function an vital indicator for XRP’s trajectory within the months forward. Given Upbit’s giant affect in Asia, its portfolio steadiness has implications past its personal platform, and it may form XRP’s demand and value motion inside the continent.
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Buying and selling information has proven durations of exceptionally excessive XRP buying and selling quantity and exercise on Upbit prior to now. If the altcoin continues to keep up parity with Bitcoin in Upbit’s reserves, it might sign a deep structural choice for the token in one of many world’s most energetic buying and selling hubs, and this could, in flip, add weight to bullish arguments of a sustained upward value momentum.
On the time of writing, XRP is buying and selling at $2.81, down by 6.5% prior to now 24 hours.
Featured picture from Adobe Inventory, chart from Tradingview.com