Saad Ullah
XRP (Ripple) has found itself at a crossroads following its decline since August 14, with on-chain data revealing a fascinating battle between different investor cohorts. While newer market participants are aggressively accumulating during the dip, seasoned long-term holders appear to be taking profits, creating conflicting market pressures that could determine the cryptocurrency's next major move.
XRP (Ripple) Holder Behavior Creates Market Division
Short- and mid-term holders view the recent pullback as an opportunity to accumulate more XRP tokens. According to Glassnode data, XRP's HODL Waves metric reveals that two investor cohorts are becoming increasingly active.
Short-term holders (1-3 months) currently control 9.51% of XRP's circulating supply and have increased their holdings by 8% since August 14. Mid-term investors have also joined the "buying the dip" strategy, with the 6–12 month cohort now controlling 23.19% of XRP's circulating supply, its highest share year-to-date.
However, long-term holders (LTHs) are taking a different approach. XRP's Liveliness metric has climbed steadily since August 19, indicating that seasoned investors are moving or selling their coins.
This metric tracks the movement of long-held tokens by measuring the ratio of coin days destroyed to total coin days accumulated.
XRP Price Prediction: Critical Levels Ahead
The divergence between investor cohorts shows uncertainty surrounding XRP's trajectory. The cryptocurrency's recovery depends on whether fresh demand from newer buyers can outweigh selling pressure from long-term holders.
If accumulation efforts succeed, XRP could rebound, regain the $3 mark, and climb toward $3.22. However, if selloffs strengthen, XRP's price could extend its decline and drop to $2.63. The coming weeks will determine which investor group prevails in this battle between accumulation and distribution.
Saad Ullah
