XRP, Whales Scoop Up 68.5%... Will 8-Year Sideways Trading Finally End?

▲ XRP/AI-generated image

XRP whale investors have gained control of the largest volume in 8 years, increasing the possibility of major fluctuations in XRP's price, which has been trapped in a long-term downward consolidation range.

According to Bitcoinist, a cryptocurrency media outlet, on May 20 (local time), data analysis from on-chain analytics platform Santiment showed that whale investors currently hold over 45 billion XRP, marking an 8-year high. Crypto analyst Zach Humphries stated via X (formerly Twitter) that large asset holders with at least 10 million XRP or more currently control 45.83 billion XRP, which accounts for 68.5% of XRP's total circulating supply. Humphries emphasized that this concentration of supply is being observed for the first time since May 2018, approximately four months after XRP reached its all-time high of $3.84.

With the increased stake of large investors, there is also an analysis that the sell order book could quickly thin out if buying pressure flows in. The market believes that smart money is utilizing the prolonged sideways trading period to absorb exchange liquidity. XRP has been on a downward trend for several months, remaining in the $1.3 to $1.4 range. Despite positive news surrounding Ripple, the price remains below its 2025 high, but large investors appear to be using volatility and downtrends as opportunities to buy the dip.

Humphries believes that if XRP definitively breaks above its long-term consolidation range, the macro chart structure could significantly change. This accumulation trend could be the final stage of securing supply before a full-blown price explosion. Santiment also predicted that based on the recent whale accumulation trend, XRP's price could strongly rebound towards the $1.5 line in the short term.

Among market experts, technical analysis suggesting the possibility of breaking $1.8 is also gaining traction. Crypto market expert Ali Martinez noted the Bollinger Band squeeze phenomenon in XRP's 3-day chart, which has been condensed for over a year. Martinez defined the current period of extremely compressed volatility as a "no-trade zone" before trade confirmation, explaining that the final direction will be determined when the 3-day candle clearly closes outside the $1.29 to $1.50 range.

Martinez predicted that if XRP definitively closes above the $1.50 line, it could surge by over 30% from the current price, breaking above $1.8. Conversely, if the 3-day candle closes below the $1.29 support level, the existing bullish scenario could be invalidated. In this case, the price could enter a correction phase, sharply retreating to a strong support level around the psychological threshold of $1.

*Disclaimer: This article is for investment reference only, and we are not responsible for any investment losses based on it. The content should be interpreted for informational purposes only.*