XRP Price Warns: Whale Selling and Network Activity Drop as ETF Flows Hold
Ripple’s XRP price is sliding amid broader market weakness. XRP is down about 4.5% in the past day and roughly 18% over the month, after rejection near $1.30. The token is now struggling to stay above $1.10.
Traders are watching two “red flags” highlighted by analyst Ali Martinez (citing Santiment data). First, XRP whales appear to be distributing supply: in the past five days, they are reported to have sold more than 30 million XRP, while whale holdings have fallen toward 3.78B XRP. This can increase immediate sell pressure and may trigger follow-on selling by smaller holders who mimic whale behavior.
Second, XRP network usage is weakening. XRP active addresses have dropped nearly 50% in two weeks, falling from around 50,000 to about 25,000. Some days reportedly saw fewer than 25,000 active wallets, signaling deteriorating on-chain engagement.
On the other hand, the main support for XRP comes from spot ETF demand. SoSoValue data shows recent net inflows into XRP spot ETFs remained positive: $2.82M (Mon), $5.30M (Tue), and $2.55M (Thu), with no reportable action on Wed. Cumulative net inflows have climbed to an all-time high of $1.45B.
Overall, XRP bears have catalysts from both whale distribution and declining network activity, while ETF inflows may limit downside in the near term.
Bearish
This news is net bearish for XRP because the two cited on-chain/positioning signals point to increased selling pressure. Whale wallets are reportedly distributing more than 30M XRP in five days and their total holdings are declining toward 3.78B, which historically tends to precede sustained downside when combined with weak demand. At the same time, active addresses falling nearly 50% suggests reduced network usage and weaker real-time participation—often a confirmation signal that market enthusiasm is fading.
The ETF detail is constructive, but it mainly works as a counterweight. XRP spot ETF inflows staying positive and reaching a new cumulative high (1.45B) can cushion rallies or slow the rate of decline. Traders may treat ETF flows as a “floor” while still expecting volatility driven by whale distribution.
Short term: bias remains bearish while XRP fails to reclaim resistance near $1.30, especially if network activity continues to slide. Long term: if ETF demand persists while whale selling slows and active addresses stabilize/recover, the setup could turn from bearish momentum into a more balanced outlook. But based on current distribution + usage declines, the immediate trading impulse is downward risk.