Large XRP holders have increased their accumulations, signaling a notable split in market behavior between major investors and smaller participants. On-chain analytics provider Santiment reported that over the last five weeks, wallets holding between 100,000 and 100 million XRP grew their collective balances by 2.8%, whereas the smallest wallets reduced their holdings by 5.2% during the same period.
Whale accumulation steers XRP market dynamics
The recent increase in large wallet balances coincided with a significant rebound in the price of XRP. After dropping to around $1 in late June, XRP recovered to above $1.16 and is currently trading close to $1.13.
Santiment noted that XRP price action has historically tracked movements by major stakeholders rather than small retail investors, suggesting whale accumulation may be influencing the ongoing price recovery.
Santiment stated on X that, “Historically, XRP price has tended to move more with key stakeholders and against the smallest retail wallets, so this split supports the bullish case behind the bounce.”
During the five-week uptrend, wallets with over 100,000 XRP gradually increased their share, while smaller investors divested. This redistribution of supply signals growing confidence among large holders amid recent market fluctuations.
Institutional access and ecosystem growth
The accumulation phase aligns with broader developments in the XRP ecosystem. According to Santiment, improved institutional access, such as the potential for XRP-related ETF products, and ongoing advancements in the XRP Ledger have contributed to renewed interest by sophisticated investors.
The XRP Ledger, developed by Ripple, is a decentralized blockchain network supporting real-time payments and tokenization, including the RLUSD stablecoin.
Mini dictionary: RLUSD is Ripple’s US dollar-backed stablecoin designed to provide a stable on-chain currency for payments and transactions across the XRP Ledger.
Additionally, data points to decreased selling pressure from large holders. Whale deposits to Binance, one of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchanges, have fallen sharply, indicating fewer big investors are sending XRP to exchanges for immediate sale.
Current market data and technical outlook
XRP is currently priced at approximately $1.13, representing a 0.39% rise over the past 24 hours. Its market capitalization stands at $70.96 billion, while 24-hour spot trading volume has declined 30.37% to $993.96 million. The volume-to-market-cap ratio now sits at 1.4%.
| Metric | Current Value | Change (24h) |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1.13 | +0.39% |
| Market Cap | $70.96 billion | +0.39% |
| Spot Volume | $993.96 million | -30.37% |
Derivative market activity continues to shift. Over the last 24 hours, XPR futures trading volume reached $1.79 billion, with $1.07 million in positions liquidated—roughly split between long and short traders. Open interest rose to $2.53 billion after gaining 0.63%, while options volume declined 50.46% to $2.52 million and options open interest increased to $68.42 million.
Technical indicators present mixed signals. The Relative Strength Index stands at 55.21, indicating neutral momentum. The MACD is generating a buy signal, yet the 200-day Simple Moving Average still shows a sell signal, reflecting that the price remains below this key long-term trend line.
Implications of changing ownership structure
Trends in wallet activity imply a gradual shift toward a more stable ownership structure, with a higher proportion of XRP controlled by large holders. Historically, such changes have led to more resilient market conditions as larger investors are less likely to react to short-term volatility.
However, Santiment’s data suggest this redistribution is gradual, not the result of sudden accumulation. Retail interest remains weak, as shown by declining spot volumes. Should broader retail demand emerge, it could further influence XRP’s price trajectory.
Key developments to watch
Market observers are closely monitoring whether whale accumulation persists and if renewed institutional and retail demand materialize. The evolution of the XRP Ledger, particularly through payment solutions, tokenization, and the integration of RLUSD, is expected to play a central role in shaping future sentiment.
Ongoing development of the XRP Ledger and stable network utility remain vital to long-term investor confidence and may determine if recent accumulation evolves into a sustainable trend.
Broader liquidity and consistent use cases for XRP will likely continue to influence market direction as large holders maintain or expand their positions.
