Peter Smith
After a robust 13% rebound, XRP (Ripple) appears to be facing whale distribution. On-chain metrics show that large holders have been quietly exiting positions, selling more than 140 million tokens while the broader market celebrates the recent rally. The price action tells one story, but wallet movements reveal another.
Ali Trader Highlights Whale Distribution Pattern
Over the past week, XRP managed an impressive recovery that reignited optimism among retail traders. But as the token approached $2.62, crypto analyst Ali shared on-chain data from Santiment revealing that wallets holding between 1 million and 10 million XRP have been steadily reducing their positions even as prices climbed.
The chart showed a clear divergence: while XRP's price moved upward, whale holdings dropped from roughly 6.9 billion to 6.4 billion tokens. This inverse relationship typically signals that sophisticated investors are taking profits rather than accumulating.
What the Data Tells Us About Market Dynamics
The pattern isn't necessarily bearish, but it suggests caution among larger players. Historically, similar divergences have preceded short-term consolidation phases as the market absorbs selling pressure. Still, the token remains well above its mid-October lows, indicating underlying confidence persists. Currently trading near $2.63, XRP faces immediate support around $2.53 with local resistance near $2.80. If the asset maintains this structure while whale distribution tapers off, consolidation could precede another upward attempt.
Broader Market Context and Sentiment
XRP's rally has coincided with improving risk appetite across crypto markets, where capital has been rotating into established altcoins. Renewed discussions about Ripple's global payments infrastructure and potential regulatory developments continue to shape sentiment. However, the whale data suggests major holders prefer locking in gains after such a rapid move. This profit-taking phase often represents healthy market behavior rather than weakness.
Peter Smith
