Top XRP Traders on Hyperliquid Hold 97% Short Exposure
XRP (XRP)
Cryptobriefing.com reports that the nine most profitable XRP wallets on Hyperliquid hold 97% of their $14.33 million exposure on the short side. One single wallet accounts for half of this total short interest, anchoring the bearish thesis with roughly $7 million in exposure. Market maker Wintermute also holds over $10 million in XRP shorts, contributing to a broader short portfolio exceeding $190 million. This heavy short positioning persists despite XRP rallying approximately 47% over the past week. Earlier in 2026, these top short positions recorded unrealized gains exceeding 1,500% from entries near $2.43. Wintermute’s shorts may reflect hedging activity rather than a pure directional bet. The willingness of these traders to hold through the rally suggests deep conviction or a cost basis allowing them to absorb further price pain.
What Whalio's data showed
Binance spot order flow for XRP, measured when this story was published on 26 August 2026.
The 1-hour buy ratio of 49.8% indicates a near-even split in buying pressure, contrasting with the 4-hour ratio of 53.2% which shows a slight bullish tilt. However, the 24-hour buy ratio of 49.7% aligns closely with the 1-hour figure, suggesting that recent buying momentum has not accumulated into a sustained trend. Volume delta data reveals a divergence, with the 4-hour delta at +$2,068,950 indicating net buying in the short term, while the 1-hour delta of -$28,962 shows immediate selling pressure. This immediate selling contributes to the negative 24-hour volume delta of -$2,173,359, which offsets the positive cumulative volume delta (CVD) of +$5,320,290. The fact that net buying occurred for only 12 of the last 24 hours underscores the lack of consistent upward pressure. Consequently, while longer-term intervals show some buying interest, the immediate market action is characterized by fading momentum and localized selling.