XRP whales step back as big transfers fall more than half while the price range narrows.
Over nine days, XRP whale transactions above $1 million dropped from 157 to 67, a 57.3% fall. This isn’t a clear sell‑off but a pause in aggressive moves by large holders. In deep‑liquidity crypto markets, whales cycle through accumulation, distribution, and low‑engagement phases. The current dip suggests reassessment rather than mass exit. Fewer whale orders have tightened the price range, creating a compression phase with narrowed volatility. Order books on both sides thicken, and XRP trades near $1.34 amid depth levels last seen in 2020. Sentiment is negative, with FUD at a three‑week high, adding pressure. Reduced liquidity and balanced order flow set the stage for a breakout once volume returns. Historically, such compression periods precede sharp volatility expansions in XRP and other large caps. The next move depends on the return of conviction‑driven whale flows. Until then, XRP is likely to stay range‑bound as sentiment, liquidity, and macro forces compete for direction. A resurgence of whale activity could trigger the breakout.