XRP Whales Turn Bullish As Retail Continues Selling

Whales Add While Small Holders Exit

$XRP has climbed back above $1.16, its highest level in two weeks, as a clear divide opens up between large and small holders. According to on-chain analytics firm Santiment, wallets holding between 100,000 and 100 million XRP accumulated 2.8% more coins over the past five weeks. At the same time, wallets holding less than 0.01 XRP declined by 5.2%, pointing to a steady exit by smaller retail participants.

The pattern is one that crypto markets have seen before. While many retail investors were selling the dip, large holders were quietly accumulating. Such behaviour is often viewed as a sign of long-term conviction, particularly when accumulation continues during periods of widespread fear and uncertainty.

A Familiar Divergence

The broader on-chain picture supports the same narrative. Millionaire-tier wallets now control roughly 74.1% of the circulating supply, according to Santiment, adding approximately 1.53 billion tokens over six months. That concentration has been building quietly even as retail sentiment has remained subdued.

Whale accumulation during retail fear has historically preceded price recoveries. The pattern played out in mid-June when XRP surged 13% in a single session after months of quiet large-holder buying.

XRP has gained more than 4% over the past 24 hours, climbing to $1.13 on July 21, and traders are watching for signs of a broader breakout. The latest rally comes as XRP continues to consolidate within a short-term symmetrical triangle, a technical pattern that often precedes a sharp move.

As always, on-chain signals are one input among many. Macro conditions and broader market direction remain key variables, and accumulation alone does not guarantee a sustained price recovery. Still, the divergence between whale and retail behaviour is a dynamic worth watching closely in the sessions ahead.

Sources:
CoinPaper: XRP Jumps 13% as Whales Buy Dip, Retail Sells Panic
Memeburn: XRP Whale Activity Climbs While Retail Traders Hold Back
Finbold: XRP Price Prediction 2026 Amid Upcoming XRP Ledger Upgrade