BitMEX CEO Calls Ripple Dogshit And Adds XRP Perpetual Swap Contracts To BitMEX Tomorrow

The largest cryptocurrency derivatives exchange, BitMEX, is launching a new perpetual swap contract pair to its platform. Starting tomorrow, users will be able to trade Ripple (XRP) token against the USD, with leverage.

XRP/USD Perpetual Swap Now On BitMEX

The most popular Bitcoin margin trading exchange confirmed the news regarding XRP’s addition. The company will be adding a new perpetual swap on the XRP token (XRP/USD). Trading will begin at 4 AM UTC on February 5th, 2020.

A perpetual swap contract works as a futures contract without a specified date in the future when the contract has to be settled. Generally, users have to pay funding fees when they trade such contracts, which is the case with XRP/USD on BitMEX Exchange, as well.

The official announcement is coming a month after the company had initiated trading for XRP perpetual contracts on BitMEX Testnet.

From a technical standpoint, the website explains that the XRP/USD perpetual contract will be priced on the BXRP Index, which tracks Ripple’s price every minute.

Interestingly enough, BitMEX CEO Arthur Hayes didn’t appear too excited about the news:

“Is it called Ripple, XRP, or dogshit? Who knows, who cares. It’s worth more than zero, so it’s time to trade the USD pair on BitMEX. Boo-Yaka-sha!” – he noted on his personal Twitter account.

XRP Price Action To Come?

Historically, similar news has affected the price of the asset, and Ripple itself is a prime example. Earlier this year, Binance Futures introduced XRP/USDT perpetual contract, and its price surged 10% during that day.

However, when BitMEX added ETH/USD perpetual swaps on August 2nd, 2018, Ethereum immediately deviated from Bitcoin, plunging against its value.

Of course, adding a new perpetual swap contract doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s the sole reason for such a serious deviation. However, having a leveraged trading pair on a leading exchange might deliver a short term price effect on both sides.

In any case, it would be compelling to follow if there will be any distinct effect on Ripple’s price when XRP/USD perpetual swap goes online tomorrow on BitMEX’s platform. Looking at the technicals for XRP, the first resistance is at $0.26, followed by $0.274. If the price is to reverse downwards, $0.245, and $0.234 serve as significant support levels.