Whales are quietly tightening their grip on XRP, driving large-scale accumulation to levels not seen in years and stoking fresh speculation about a potential bull run.
What’s happening
- On-chain tracker Santiment and crypto analyst Zach Humphries report that "whales" — wallets holding at least 10 million XRP — now control roughly 45.83 billion XRP. Humphries says this amounts to about 68.5% of XRP’s circulating supply, an eight-year high that matches concentration levels last seen around May 2018 (a few months after XRP’s $3.84 all-time high).
- Santiment’s data and Humphries’ commentary suggest these large holders are taking advantage of the current sideways market to absorb supply directly off exchanges, reducing the amount of XRP available to sell.
Why it matters
- With so much supply concentrated in a relatively small cohort of wallets, the sell-side could become “thin” if accumulation continues — meaning even modest buying pressure could push prices higher.
- Despite positive developments around Ripple, XRP has been in a downtrend for months and is currently trading in the $1.30–$1.40 range. Large investors appear to be buying the dips while volatility remains elevated.
Technical outlook
- Santiment says the recent accumulation could lift XRP back toward $1.50.
- Analyst Ali Martinez highlights an exceptionally tight Bollinger Band squeeze on XRP’s 3-day chart — a sign that volatility is compressed and a sharp move may be imminent. He calls the current compression a “no-trade zone” and is waiting for a decisive 3-day candle close outside the $1.29–$1.50 range to confirm direction.
- A 3-day close above $1.50 could trigger a run toward $1.80+ (roughly a 30%+ rally from current levels).
- A close below $1.29, Martinez warns, would undermine the bullish setup and could prompt a steep correction toward the $1 psychological support.
Bottom line
Whale accumulation has reduced circulating supply and increased the market’s sensitivity to directional moves — potentially setting the stage for a volatile breakout once price exits the current range. Traders should watch for a confirmed multi-day close beyond $1.50 or below $1.29 for clearer signals, and keep in mind that concentrated holdings can amplify both upward rallies and downside risk. This is informational and not financial advice.
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