XRP Buyers Defend Key Support Zone

The recent selloff has driven XRP into what appears to be its most critical support area of 2026. Buyers stepped in near $0.99 and pushed the price back above the psychologically significant $1 level, averting a decisive breakdown for the time being.

At the time of writing, XRP was trading around $1.01. The broader technical structure remains fragile, with price positioned below the 50-day simple moving average (SMA) at $1.08, the 100-day SMA at $1.18, and the 200-day SMA at $1.30. These moving averages are widely used by traders to gauge medium- to long-term trend direction, and XRP sitting beneath all three underscores the depth of the recent downtrend.

The first resistance level that could meaningfully improve the short-term outlook sits just overhead. A descending trendline drawn from the late-June high is converging with the 50-day SMA, forming a resistance cluster around $1.08–$1.09. A daily close above that zone would break the pattern of lower highs and return XRP above its nearest major moving average.

Such a move would represent an improvement rather than a full trend reversal. The 100-day SMA near $1.18 would stand as the next significant hurdle if buyers regain momentum.

Momentum indicators remain subdued. The daily Relative Strength Index (RSI) reads at 37, sitting below the neutral 50 threshold but still above the traditional oversold level of 30. This indicates that sellers maintain a momentum edge, though XRP has not yet reached an extreme oversold condition.

The current price structure hinges on two zones: buyers must defend the $0.99–$1.01 range, while a recovery through approximately $1.08–$1.09 would offer the first technical signal that the downtrend is losing intensity.

Large Wallets and Network Activity Diverge from Price

According to Santiment, the number of XRP Ledger wallets holding at least 1 million XRP rose by 32 over the past three months, reaching a total of 2,038. At current prices, 1 million XRP is worth roughly $1 million, placing these wallets firmly in the large-holder category. During the same period, XRP's market capitalization declined by approximately 29%.

Network activity also strengthened over a shorter timeframe. CryptoQuant data indicates that active addresses increased from 12,195 on July 12 to 20,550 on August 12 — a rise of 8,372 addresses, or roughly 68%.

The active-address metric was volatile rather than consistently climbing, marked by several sharp spikes and retracements throughout the month. The 68% increase therefore reflects the net change between the beginning and end of the period, rather than a steady day-to-day escalation.

Notably, price weakened while both the large-wallet count and the latest active-address reading moved higher. This kind of divergence — where network usage and large-wallet counts increase while price falls — is a pattern crypto analysts monitor across major digital assets, as it can sometimes precede trend shifts. However, such divergences can also persist for extended periods without a corresponding price recovery. This divergence carries greater significance now that XRP is testing a support zone that has already drawn buyer interest.

Interpreting the On-Chain Data

Santiment characterized the growth in million-XRP wallets as an indication of stronger hands absorbing market weakness. However, the data cannot confirm that 32 distinct independent whales accumulated XRP. A single entity may control multiple wallets, and exchanges and custodians may also fall within this cohort.

Active addresses present a similar limitation: a higher count reflects more addresses interacting with the XRP Ledger but does not necessarily indicate more buyers or unique users, since payments, transfers, and trading activity all contribute to the figure.

The data therefore points to stronger underlying network participation during a period of price decline, rather than confirming that accumulation is taking place or that XRP has already bottomed.

Price action will ultimately need to validate the on-chain divergence. Maintaining the $0.99–$1.01 range preserves the current floor, while reclaiming the $1.08–$1.09 trendline and 50-day SMA cluster would deliver the first meaningful structural improvement. Until then, on-chain signals remain constructive while the price trend stays weak.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial or investment advice. Technical levels, wallet data, and active-address metrics are subject to rapid change and should not be relied upon as indicators of future price performance.