XRP Whales Accumulate as Institutional Interest and Legal Clarity Keep Token in Focus
Key Takeaways
- •Santiment said wallets holding 100,000 to 100 million XRP increased their combined holdings by 2.8% over five weeks.
- •Micro wallets containing less than 0.01 XRP reduced their balances by 5.2% during the same period.
- •Santiment noted that divergences between large and small wallet behavior have previously appeared before notable price moves.
- •Institutional interest in XRP-related financial products, including ETFs, continues to develop alongside broader crypto investment vehicle adoption.
- •Ripple’s settlement with the SEC resolved a case filed in December 2020 that alleged XRP was an unregistered security.
XRP's rebound above $1.16 has coincided with a notable shift in wallet distribution, with large holders increasing their positions while smaller wallets reduce theirs.
Whales and Sharks Add to Holdings
Addresses holding between 100,000 and 100 million XRP have increased their collective holdings by 2.8% over the past five weeks, according to on-chain analytics firm Santiment. The data, shared via the platform's official X account on July 21, 2026, characterizes this group—described as whales and sharks—as "leaning in" while the chart begins to reflect their accumulation.
🐋 XRP's move back above $1.16 Tuesday looks very much justified based on recent wallet behavior. Whales & sharks holding 100K to 100M XRP have added +2.8% more coins to their bags in five weeks, showing whales and sharks are leaning in while the chart finally starts rewarding… pic.twitter.com/aFmRll4HKJ — Santiment Intelligence (@SantimentData) July 21, 2026
The full post is available at https://x.com/SantimentData/status/2079700021474173028.
Micro Wallets Reduce Exposure
In contrast to the accumulation by larger holders, micro wallets containing less than 0.01 XRP reduced their holdings by 5.2% over the same five-week period. This divergence between large and small wallet behavior has historically been observed ahead of notable price movements, according to Santiment's analysis.
Institutional Access and Regulatory Context
The wallet behavior data emerges against a backdrop of growing institutional interest in XRP-related financial products, including XRP exchange-traded funds (ETFs). The development of XRP ETF offerings follows the broader trend of crypto-linked investment vehicles gaining traction in traditional finance markets, where regulators have increasingly engaged with digital asset products since the approval of bitcoin and ethereum ETFs.
Additionally, Ripple's legal clarity following its settlement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)—resolving a case originally filed in December 2020 alleging XRP was an unregistered security—has continued to keep the asset in the spotlight. The resolution removed a multi-year overhang that had shaped market sentiment around the token.
The XRP Ledger's underlying utility, particularly its focus on cross-border payments and settlement, alongside institutional product offerings, continues to attract attention from market participants.
At the time of reporting, XRP was trading at approximately $1.14.
