[DigitalToday reporter Yoonseo Lee (이윤서)] XRP has moved into the top tier of trading volume on major South Korean cryptocurrency exchanges, beating bitcoin and ether.

CoinDesk, a blockchain media outlet, reported on May 13 that over the past 24 hours Upbit’s XRP won trading volume was about $110.9 million, above bitcoin’s $88.6 million and ether’s $67.0 million.

On Bithumb, XRP-won trading volume was about $41.0 million, ranking second after USDT-won. It also outpaced bitcoin-won and ether-won trading volume.

The trend is drawing attention because it shows XRP has again become a focus of speculative demand in the South Korean market. South Korea has long been seen as a market with active XRP trading. In global markets, bitcoin and ether typically lead trading, but in South Korea XRP has repeatedly risen to the top of volumes whenever interest increases.

Prices have yet to show a clear direction. XRP traded around $1.44 to $1.45 on Upbit and Bithumb, and its gain over the past week was about 3 percent. It rose more than bitcoin over the same period, but lagged Binance Coin (BNB) and Solana, which gained about 8 percent.

The market is watching the $1.49 to $1.50 range. XRP has tried several times since February to break above that level but has repeatedly been blocked by resistance. Above the $1.40 support line, it has raised its highs and narrowed its trading range below resistance.

A surge in trading volume does not necessarily mean a price rise. High volume can also indicate increased selling near resistance or more late entries alongside aggressive buying. With XRP converging below a long-tested ceiling, the market is watching whether the bigger volume leads to an actual breakout.

The increase in XRP trading volume on South Korean exchanges is also being interpreted as a shift in investor sentiment beyond short-term trading. The analysis is that as bitcoin and ether fail to find a clear direction, domestic investment funds are moving into more volatile altcoins.

The key issue going forward is whether XRP can clear resistance at $1.50. With volumes on South Korean exchanges rising sharply first, if a price breakout follows, XRP could again emerge as a major short-term market asset.