Whales Accumulate 3.17B XRP, Now Hold Record 17.04% of Circulating Supply
Large XRP holders (wallets with 10M–100M XRP) have accumulated about 3.17 billion XRP since October 2025, boosting their collective balance from 7.89B to 11.06B XRP. According to Santiment data, this cohort now controls 17.04% of XRP’s circulating supply—its largest share ever—up from 12.21% in October 2025. Most accumulation occurred during an intense 20-day buying spree in November 2025 (Nov 8–28), when they added roughly 2.49B XRP. The campaign coincided with a market downturn: XRP fell from an all-time high of $3.66 in July 2025 to $1.42 (a ~61% drop), recording multiple consecutive red monthly candles since October 2025. Meanwhile, smaller whale tiers (100k–10M XRP) have distributed about 3.03B XRP over the same period, largely from 1M–10M wallets, suggesting redistribution from smaller to larger holders. The accumulation may reflect a buy-the-dip strategy by larger whales; traders should note heightened concentration risk, potential for reduced circulating liquidity, and the possibility of coordinated sell pressure or supply-driven support depending on whale behavior.
Bullish
Large-scale accumulation by wallets holding 10M–100M XRP increases supply concentration, which can be interpreted as bullish for price if these whales hold rather than sell. The data shows a clear buy-the-dip behavior: 3.17B XRP bought since October 2025, with a concentrated 20-day spree in November. Fewer tokens in circulation (higher concentration) can reduce available selling pressure and magnify price moves upward when demand returns. Historically, similar whale accumulations during market downturns (across BTC and major altcoins) have signaled longer-term support and preceded recoveries when broader market sentiment improved. However, risk remains: if these large holders decide to realize gains, their coordinated selling could trigger sharp declines. In the short term, expect elevated volatility — potential support from reduced circulating supply but also the risk of large sell orders. For swing and position traders, monitoring whale wallet flows, on-chain concentration metrics, and exchange inflows/outflows will be critical. Longer term, sustained accumulation by major wallets can be bullish if network fundamentals and broader market conditions recover, but outcomes depend on whether accumulation reflects long-term conviction or temporary custody shifts between large wallets.