Despite sluggish price movements, XRP continues to attract significant interest from large-scale investors—commonly known as "whales." These deep-pocketed players are steadily accumulating tokens, signaling strong long-term confidence in the digital asset. Recent on-chain data reveals a record-breaking milestone: more than 300,000 wallets now hold at least 10,000 XRP, marking an all-time high in holder growth.
This surge in whale activity stands in stark contrast to the relatively flat performance of XRP’s market price, which has hovered around $2.17. At current rates, owning 10,000 XRP equates to a $21,700 investment—beyond the reach of most retail participants. Yet, for institutional and high-net-worth investors, this period of price consolidation appears to be an ideal accumulation phase.
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Whale Accumulation Defies Market Stagnation
Glassnode analytics show a clear divergence between XRP’s price action and the growing number of large holders. While XRP’s value climbed steadily from November 2024, peaking above $3 in January 2025, it has since pulled back, fluctuating near the $2 mark. Despite this lackluster performance, the number of addresses holding 10,000 or more XRP has continued an uninterrupted upward trajectory.
This trend suggests that informed investors are taking advantage of lower prices to build substantial positions. As retail sentiment wavers amid short-term uncertainty, whales appear to be playing the long game—accumulating supply ahead of what they may believe is an inevitable breakout.
Crypto educator Henry, who recently shared this data on X (formerly Twitter), emphasized that rising wallet counts among top-tier holders often precede significant price movements. "When whales keep buying during sideways markets," he noted, "it's usually because they see catalysts before the broader market does."
Massive On-Chain Inflows Signal Strong Confidence
Additional insights from Santiment highlight the scale of recent accumulation. Over the past 30 days alone, XRP whales—defined as those holding between 10 million and 100 million XRP—have acquired over 900 million XRP, valued at more than $1.8 billion.
Such concentrated buying pressure is rarely coincidental. It reflects strategic positioning based on fundamental analysis, regulatory outlooks, and network developments. Even with bearish sentiment affecting broader crypto markets, these investors are doubling down on XRP.
“Whales bought around 900 million $XRP over the past month!”
— Ali (@ali_charts), May 2, 2025
This kind of sustained accumulation often reduces circulating supply, potentially setting the stage for upward price pressure once market conditions improve.
The Wealth Distribution Gap in XRP Holdings
The disparity between retail and institutional-grade holdings in the XRP ecosystem is striking. According to the XRP Rich List:
- Holding 8,913 XRP places an address in the top 5% of all holders.
- Owning 11,150 XRP moves a wallet into the elite top 4%, with only about 257,683 addresses reaching this threshold.
- In contrast, over 5.22 million of the total 6.442 million XRP wallets hold 500 tokens or less.
This concentration underscores how wealth is distributed within the network. While millions participate at the retail level, a small fraction controls a disproportionately large share of the supply—a common pattern in mature blockchain ecosystems.
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What’s Driving Whale Confidence in XRP?
Several factors may explain why whales are increasing their exposure to XRP despite muted price action:
- Regulatory Clarity Progress: Ongoing legal developments involving Ripple Labs have reduced uncertainty around XRP’s classification as a security.
- Institutional Adoption: Growing integration of Ripple’s payment solutions across global financial institutions boosts utility and demand.
- Low Float Relative to Circulation: With much of XRP’s supply locked or held long-term, available liquidity remains limited—making it attractive during accumulation phases.
- Historical Performance Patterns: Past cycles show that extended consolidation periods often precede sharp rallies.
These fundamentals likely contribute to whales’ patience and conviction, especially when contrasted with retail traders who may react emotionally to short-term volatility.
Where Could XRP Price Go Next?
Although current prices don’t yet reflect the depth of whale accumulation, technical analysts suggest a breakout may be imminent.
Ali Martinez, a well-known market analyst, points to a bullish inverse head-and-shoulders pattern forming on XRP’s chart. If confirmed, this setup could propel XRP toward $2.90 in the near term.
Meanwhile, analyst Jason has projected a more aggressive target of $5 by month-end**, citing increased trading volume and improving on-chain metrics. Longer-term forecasts go even higher—some Elliott wave theorists suggest potential targets between **$10 and $40, depending on macroeconomic conditions and adoption milestones.
While such predictions should be taken with caution, they reflect growing optimism within the analyst community.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why are whales accumulating XRP if the price isn't rising?
Whales often buy during periods of low volatility and sideways price action because it allows them to acquire large amounts without triggering sharp price increases. They’re typically focused on long-term fundamentals rather than short-term swings.
Does more wallets holding 10K+ XRP mean increased demand?
Yes. A rising number of large holders indicates growing confidence and reduced sell pressure. When combined with strong on-chain inflows, it often signals underlying demand that may eventually translate into price appreciation.
How does whale activity affect retail investors?
Whale accumulation can tighten supply, reducing available tokens on exchanges. This scarcity can amplify price movements when sentiment turns bullish—potentially benefiting retail investors who enter before major breakouts.
Is XRP still a good investment in 2025?
Many analysts believe so, particularly given improving regulatory clarity and expanding use cases in cross-border payments. However, as with any investment, thorough research and risk assessment are essential.
Can retail investors compete with whales?
While individual retail investors can’t match whale-scale purchases, they can leverage public on-chain data and technical analysis to follow smart money trends and time entries strategically.
What tools can track whale movements?
Platforms like Glassnode, Santiment, and CryptoQuant offer real-time dashboards to monitor large transactions, exchange flows, and wallet concentrations across major cryptocurrencies including XRP.
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Final Thoughts
The growing number of wallets holding 10,000 or more XRP—now exceeding 300,000—is more than just a statistic. It’s a powerful signal of sustained institutional interest and long-term confidence in the asset’s trajectory.
Even as price action remains range-bound, behind the scenes, whales are quietly amassing billions of dollars worth of XRP. History shows that such accumulation phases often precede significant market moves.
For observant investors, this could represent a strategic window to assess positioning before broader market momentum catches up.
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