Monero price holds uptrend but high leverage risks reversal

Monero price extended its rally on Tuesday, pushing to fresh multi-month highs as the market continues to show interest in privacy-focused assets. 

At press time, Monero was trading near $690, up 8% on the day, capping a sharp move that has lifted the token more than 50% over the past week.

The rally comes as traders rotate out of rival privacy coin Zcash, which saw heavy volatility following leadership exits and internal restructuring. With that rotation, Monero (XMR) has reasserted itself as the primary privacy trade in the market.

The privacy narrative continues to dominate markets due to increased regulatory scrutiny, stricter cash usage controls, and increased financial activity monitoring. As a result, there is still a high demand for assets with default privacy features, such as Monero.

Leverage is rising, adding near-term risk

While spot demand has played a role, derivatives activity is now becoming a key factor. A Jan. 13 analysis by CryptoQuant contributor Woominkyu shows repeated “overheating” bubbles forming in Monero’s futures volume during the recent price advance.

These bubbles are appearing after the price has already moved sharply higher, suggesting leverage is chasing momentum rather than building from accumulation zones. In past Monero cycles, similar patterns often led to sharp volatility spikes.

Price sometimes pushed higher in the short term, but those moves were frequently followed by fast pullbacks as leveraged positions were forced to unwind.

Leverage tends to amplify both directions. When the price rises, it accelerates gains. When momentum stalls, it can quickly trigger liquidations, leading to sudden drops even within an otherwise bullish trend.

Monero price technical analysis

From a technical view, Monero is still in an uptrend. The chart continues to print higher highs and higher lows, with price holding well above the former resistance zone around the $500–520 area. That level has now flipped into support, confirming acceptance of the breakout.

At the same time, price is trading far above its longer-term trend averages, placing XMR in a high-deviation phase. Bollinger Bands are starting to fan out, with price pressing against the upper band.

That kind of pattern signals strong momentum, but it often comes before a volatility reset rather than a smooth continuation.

Momentum readings reinforce this setup. The relative strength index has climbed into the mid-80s, a zone that has historically marked the later stages of strong moves. In past cycles, similar conditions resolved through sideways action or sharp pullbacks, not sustained upside without pause.

Further upside is still possible if volatility stays in one direction and leverage is kept under control. Pullbacks in that situation are probably going to be short-lived, with buyers stepping in around established support levels.

If futures positioning unwinds abruptly, downside moves could accelerate. A volatility spike could quickly drag price back toward the $620–600 liquidity zone, or deeper toward trend support if liquidations cascade.