XRP has exhibited a compelling divergence within its blockchain data, despite experiencing price pressures in early 2026. While the altcoin‘s price has dipped approximately 4% since the beginning of the year, the increased number of high-balance wallets presents a different investor behavior scenario. As the market seeks direction, larger investors bolstering their positions have made XRP a closely watched altcoin. This dynamic suggests a balance area where short-term fragility and long-term expectations collide.
Growing Millionaire Wallets Amid Price Pressure
Blockchain analysis platform Santiment reported that as of January 29, the number of wallets holding at least 1 million XRP has increased by 42 since the beginning of the year. This rise, not seen since September 2025, indicates that large investors are inclined more towards accumulation than selling. The limited decline in XRP’s price during this period suggests a controlled buying process rather than distribution.
According to CoinGecko data, XRP was trading at $1.88 at the time of writing. Over the past 24 hours, the altcoin has decreased by approximately 2%, and by about 4% over the past week, yet remains slightly positive on a monthly basis. On a yearly scale, the price being roughly 40% lower creates a cautious outlook for long-term investors.
Technical analysis shared by Arab Chain shows XRP’s price remains about 25% below the 200-day moving average. The 30-day Sharpe ratio, which evaluates risk-reward balance, hovers near zero, indicating no significant returns despite volatility. Market commentators argue that strong price targets are not aligned with current macroeconomic conditions and liquidity realities.
2026 Scenarios in the Shadow of ETFs and Regulations
Cryptocurrency investment firm 21Shares outlined more temperate 2026 projections for XRP. The institution highlighted levels of $2.45 under the base scenario, $2.70 under the optimistic scenario, and $1.60 under adverse conditions. The reopening of US institutional access post-SEC lawsuit resolution in August 2025 featured as a critical element in their assessment.
In its analysis, 21Shares noted that spot XRP ETFs trading in the US amassed over $1.3 billion in assets in their first month. While ETFs provide structural support on the demand side, sustainable price increases require enduring fund inflows and broadened use cases. Ripple’s RLUSD stablecoin and tokenization activities are closely watched topics from a valuation perspective.
The technical outlook shows XRP is constricted within the $1.80–$2.00 range. Analysts suggest that surpassing the $2.00 level could alter short-term sentiment. The discrepancy between the rise in large wallets and cautious price movements has made XRP one of the keenly observed altcoins of 2026.
