The XRP price has caught the attention of traders and analysts once again, but not for the reasons you might expect. Over the last 24 hours, whales have added over 60 million XRP to their holdings, as reported by on-chain analyst Ali Martinez on X (formerly Twitter). Yet, instead of triggering a bullish breakout, the XRP price remains frustratingly flat near the $3.10 level.
This contradiction, strong accumulation but no significant price action, has sparked speculation across the crypto market. Is a major move brewing, or is XRP stuck in a consolidation trap?
Whale Accumulation Hits New High
According to data from Santiment, wallets holding between 10 million and 100 million XRP tokens have aggressively increased their positions, reaching levels not seen in months. The 60 million XRP bought in just 24 hours represents a clear sign of institutional interest, particularly during a time of broader uncertainty in the altcoin market.
This kind of behavior typically foreshadows a strong bullish trend. So why hasn’t the XRP price moved accordingly?
Technical Picture: Support Holds, Momentum Lags
Looking at the XRP/USD daily chart (Bitstamp), the current support zone at $3.00–$3.10 continues to act as a short-term floor. However, resistance near the $3.35–$3.40 level has capped upside momentum after the recent July rally that pushed prices above $3.60.
Source: Trading View
The Relative Strength Index (RSI) has also begun to flatten, suggesting reduced momentum and a potential sideways phase. Volume has declined steadily over the past few sessions, which may indicate that while whales are accumulating, retail investors remain on the sidelines.
This disconnect is creating a compression scenario that typically precedes either a breakout, or a breakdown.
Market Narrative: Anticipation of Institutional Catalyst
While price action remains subdued, the narrative surrounding Ripple and XRP is anything but quiet. The market is still digesting the potential implications of an XRP ETF approval, the growing presence of Ripple in cross-border settlement partnerships, and the speculative signals coming from large wallet behavior.
Historically, XRP has been prone to delayed reactions to on-chain trends. Previous phases of whale accumulation were often followed by sudden price spikes, suggesting the current lull might simply be the calm before a volatility storm.
Moreover, analysts point to the macro context: if Bitcoin and Ethereum continue to consolidate, capital may rotate into high-upside altcoins like XRP, particularly those with strong institutional backing.
Sentiment on Crypto Twitter: Mixed But Watching Closely
The whale accumulation hasn’t gone unnoticed in the broader crypto community. While some see this as a clear bullish divergence, others warn that XRP has disappointed in similar situations before. The key difference now is scale, both in volume bought and in the consistency of buying pressure across multiple days.
If price holds this range while accumulation continues, the breakout could be more explosive than expected. However, if sentiment sours or macro conditions shift, XRP might face yet another rejection under resistance.
Final Thoughts: What This Means for the XRP Price
For now, the XRP price is caught between accumulation and indecision. Whales are betting big on a future breakout, but retail traders seem unconvinced. Until XRP breaks above key resistance at $3.40 with volume confirmation, the token may remain stuck in this sideways grind.
However, history has shown that whale accumulation rarely ends quietly. If price starts to accelerate, it could signal the start of a major leg higher, especially if external catalysts like ETF rumors or court developments resurface.
Traders and long-term holders alike would do well to watch the current setup closely. The chart may be flat, but under the surface, something is building.
