The Case for XRP Price Manipulation – Here’s the Liquidity Argument Behind It

XRP holders have grown familiar with a particular frustration. Positive headlines appear, legal clarity improves, and the broader market turns green, yet XRP price action remains muted. According to a recent video by the Cheeky Crypto YouTube channel, this disconnect is not random. Instead, they argue it reflects deliberate liquidity management by large market participants rather than organic supply and demand. Cheeky Crypto frames the issue as structural rather than emotional. The claim is not that XRP fails to get interest, but that its price is repeatedly pushed back into a narrow range through tactics that influence retail behavior without necessarily changing long-term ownership. One of the first mechanisms discussed is order-book spoofing. Cheeky Crypto points to large, visible sell walls that appear at key price levels, often just above resistance. To retail traders, these walls look like strong ceilings, encouraging early selling. According to the video, these orders frequently disappear the moment price approaches them, suggesting they were never meant to execute. The goal, they argue, is psychological rather than transactional. Closely related is the concept of layering. Instead of one large sell wall, multiple smaller sell orders are placed above current price, creating the impression of persistent resistance. This suppresses momentum and discourages follow-through buying. Cheeky Crypto claims this keeps XRP trading inside a defined liquidity pocket where accumulation can continue quietly. The video then shifts to iceberg orders, a tactic commonly used in traditional markets. In this scenario, institutions needing large XRP exposure allegedly break orders into small visible portions. Each small batch is filled instantly, replaced by another, making it appear as though demand is weak while significant accumulation occurs beneath the surface. Cheeky Crypto argues this creates long periods of stagnant price action despite steady buying. Another key point involves liquidity hunting. According to the channel, large players may deliberately push price toward clusters of stop-loss orders. Once those levels are breached, automatic selling floods the market, providing cheap liquidity. Cheeky Crypto references the sharp XRP drawdowns seen in late 2025 as examples of this process, where liquidations transferred supply from leveraged retail traders to stronger hands.

The video also challenges the long-standing explanation that XRP’s underperformance was solely due to regulatory uncertainty. While acknowledging the SEC lawsuit played a major role historically, Cheeky Crypto argues that price suppression continued even after legal clarity improved. In their view, the lawsuit offered cover for extended accumulation rather than being the root cause of stagnation. A central theme is the transition from speculative pricing to utility-driven pricing. Cheeky Crypto highlights Ripple’s early involvement in ISO 20022 and XRP’s positioning as a neutral bridge asset for cross-border settlement. The argument is that current exchange prices reflect retail speculation, while future pricing will depend on transaction volume and institutional usage. If XRP is expected to settle large-value payments, the channel argues, today’s low liquidity valuation would be incompatible with that role. However, it is important to separate mechanism from certainty. While spoofing, iceberg orders, and liquidity hunting are real market practices, proving coordinated, long-term suppression of a single asset is difficult. Many of the behaviors described could also reflect normal market-making activity in a low-momentum environment rather than deliberate manipulation aimed at retail capitulation. Cheeky Crypto’s broader message is psychological. They argue that prolonged sideways price action is often more effective than sharp crashes at shaking out investors. Time-based exhaustion, rather than fear, becomes the dominant force. Whether intentional or not, stagnant markets tend to reward patience over reactivity. Ultimately, the video does not claim XRP is failing. Instead, it warns that price behavior may not reflect fundamentals in the short term. For investors who believe in XRP’s long-term role, Cheeky Crypto frames current conditions as a test of conviction rather than a verdict on the asset itself. As with all market narratives, these claims should be approached critically. Understanding how liquidity works can be useful, but no single explanation fully captures a complex market. XRP’s future price will still depend on adoption, regulation, and broader market conditions, not just the tactics described. Read also: “The Timeline Was Wrong”: XRP Community Confronts Reality After 7 Years of Waiting