XRP trading volumes in South Korea have outpaced those of major cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH), signaling a surge in interest that often signals impending market volatility.

Over the past 24 hours, the combined trading volume of XRP on South Korea’s top exchanges—UpBit, Bithumb, and Korbit—has surpassed $800 million in dollar value. On Bithumb, XRP saw more than $200 million in trading volume, while UpBit recorded a staggering $600 million. In comparison, Bitcoin’s trading volume on both exchanges was less than half that of XRP’s. Other digital assets, such as Dogecoin (DOGE) and Ether (ETH), saw significantly lower trading volumes, only reaching a fraction of XRP’s activity.

This notable increase in trading volume often precedes price movements, as it suggests that traders are positioning themselves ahead of potential shifts in the market. When volumes spike, it can indicate a breakout if those positions push the price through key support or resistance levels. Conversely, it can signal an impending reversal if the surge in volume is driven by panic buying or selling.

South Korean traders are known for driving intense market rallies, which can lead to rapid price movements. XRP, in particular, has garnered significant attention from Korean traders this year, with political events sometimes triggering sudden price swings, as noted in previous CoinDesk analyses.

The volume surge on Tuesday follows the news of an arrest warrant being issued for President Yoon Suk Yeol, related to his controversial decision to implement martial law in early December. This political development has added a layer of uncertainty to the already volatile market, potentially influencing investor sentiment in the region.