XRP whale accumulation has intensified even as the token's price weakened, with large holders reportedly adding more than 16.46 million XRP over a five-day stretch. The buying occurred while XRP fell from roughly $1.34 to $1.15, highlighting a contrast between softening short-term price action and growing accumulation by large holders. Separately, crypto analyst ChartNerd continues to hold a bullish long-term view, pointing to a potential recovery toward the $5–$8 range.

XRP Whales Accumulate 16.46 Million Tokens

According to crypto analyst Ali Charts, large XRP holders accumulated more than 16.46 million tokens over the past five days. The purchases took place while XRP declined from approximately $1.34 to $1.15, suggesting that some of the market's largest participants kept buying even as selling pressure increased. Whale tracking of this kind is a staple of crypto market analysis: because large holders can move sizeable positions, shifts in their balances are closely watched as a gauge of how major market participants are positioning.

Source: Ali Charts' X post

The accumulation has drawn attention because whale activity can offer insight into how larger holders respond to market corrections. Even so, buying activity by itself does not confirm that XRP has reached a market bottom or that an immediate recovery is approaching.

Whale Buying Activity Draws Market Attention

The divergence between whale accumulation and falling prices has become a central theme in the XRP market discussion. While the token went through a considerable correction, large entities reportedly kept increasing their holdings over the same period.

The reported purchase of 16.46 million XRP suggests that some major holders may view lower prices as an opportunity. That interpretation, however, would gain strength from sustained buying activity and improving price performance.

Trading volume adds further context. XRP recorded approximately $1.54 billion in 24-hour trading volume, a sign of continued market participation. Still, volume alone cannot establish whether buyers or sellers will control the next significant price movement.

XRP Tests Key Support as Moving Averages Limit Recovery

XRP's technical structure remains under pressure following its recent decline. The token is trading near $1.16, and the $1.14–$1.16 zone has emerged as immediate support. Support and resistance zones are price areas where trading activity has historically clustered, which is why reactions at these levels tend to draw close attention from traders. Holding that area would allow buyers to prevent another drop and attempt a short-term recovery.

The 50-day and 200-day moving averages, positioned near $1.24 and $1.31 respectively, stand as potential resistance levels. These averages—lagging indicators calculated from recent closing prices—are among the most widely followed trend gauges in technical analysis, and the 200-day in particular is often used as a barometer of longer-term trend health. A sustained move above these indicators could improve the short-term structure, while a rejection could extend the existing weakness.

On the downside, immediate support remains around $1.14–$1.16, with $1.06 and $0.98 representing potential lower levels if selling pressure builds. On the upside, $1.24 and $1.31 are the first resistance areas, followed by $1.38. How price behaves at these levels will help determine whether XRP can establish a recovery.

ChartNerd Maintains $5–$8 Long-Term Target

Despite the correction, crypto analyst ChartNerd maintains a bullish macro outlook for XRP, identifying a potential trajectory toward $5–$8. The analyst views the current decline as a market reset rather than evidence that the broader bullish structure has ended.

ChartNerd highlighted the $1.50–$1.60 resistance region and the 50-week EMA—an exponential moving average that weights recent weekly closes more heavily and is commonly used as a longer-horizon trend gauge—as important barriers. According to the analyst, these levels have limited XRP's upside over the past two months and contributed to the recent downward movement.

Source: ChartNerd's X post

The analyst also outlined two possible scenarios. XRP could revisit its six-year support trendline and establish another low. Alternatively, it could form a double bottom or a higher low while retesting its previous falling-wedge breakout. Both are standard chart constructs in technical analysis, used to frame possible reversal or continuation paths rather than to guarantee outcomes.

The $5–$8 projection remains an analyst forecast rather than a confirmed outcome. XRP would first need to reclaim key resistance levels and establish a stronger recovery structure.

What Comes Next for XRP?

XRP's next move will hinge largely on whether buyers defend the $1.14–$1.16 support region. Holding that area could open an opportunity for recovery toward $1.24 and $1.31, while a stronger breakout could bring the $1.50–$1.60 resistance region back into focus.

Market participants will also monitor whether whale accumulation continues. Sustained buying alongside improving price performance could strengthen the recovery outlook. However, a breakdown below immediate support may expose XRP to additional downside pressure.

Disclaimer: This article contains market analysis and price predictions. These are not guarantees. Crypto markets are volatile. Always do your own research. This is not financial advice.