Ripple whales have made headlines by acquiring over 50 million XRP, valued at approximately $103 million, during a recent buying spree. This data originates from the analytics platform Santiment, as highlighted by a well-known crypto commentator. Presently, XRP is trading slightly above $2.05, reflecting a modest recovery in recent weeks.
The analysis shared by Ali Charts shows that the amount of XRP held by whales has risen from just over 3.52 billion to 3.58 billion within a week. This accumulation indicates a total increase of 50 million XRP or $103 million based on current market prices. The peak was observed last Friday, when whale holdings reached around 3.6 billion XRP, although subsequent outflows brought the total down to the closing figure.
Could this whale accumulation lead to a price shock? Theoretically, when large holders, or whales, increase their asset accumulation and transfer significant sums to long-term holding addresses—often referred to as cold wallets—it can create a supply shock, potentially driving the asset”s value higher over time. If XRP continues to flow into whale wallets, it could set the stage for a significant price increase. However, it”s essential to note that not all whales engage in long-term holding strategies, making the future direction of these vast crypto reserves difficult to predict.
Current analytics reveal a concerning trend regarding XRP reserves on exchanges. For instance, on Binance, XRP reserves have declined sharply. After peaking at over 3 billion XRP just before the October 10 market crash, the reserves have since decreased significantly, currently resting at approximately 2.6 billion XRP. This level marks the lowest observed on Binance in nearly two years, according to data from CryptoQuant. The reduction in exchange reserves raises the possibility of a supply shock that could catalyze a bullish movement in XRP”s price.
Looking ahead, XRP faces challenges in breaking past the $2 resistance level and moving towards its previous highs above $3.6 established in July 2025. The broader altcoin market has shown signs of recovery in the early weeks of the new year, yet XRP, similar to other cryptocurrencies, struggles below critical resistance thresholds. The bulls must intensify their efforts to find an opportunity for upward movement; otherwise, they risk succumbing to bearish pressures. For XRP to enter a clear recovery phase, it must surpass the $2.50 mark, which would pave the way toward reclaiming its all-time high above $3.6.
