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XRP has had a rough 2026, down 43% year-to-date. But not everyone is running for the exits. On-chain data shows one specific group of large holders has been quietly building its position throughout the downturn — a signal that some investors see the current price as an opportunity rather than a warning sign.
The Accumulation Numbers
According to Santiment data, wallets holding between 10 million and 100 million XRP have added 1.23 billion tokens to their combined balance since the start of the year. This group began 2026 with 10.97 billion XRP and now holds 12.2 billion — a meaningful jump given the price environment.
At XRP’s current price near $1.04, that added stash is worth roughly $1.28 billion. Had these whales bought at the token’s all-time high of $3.66 from July 2025, the same amount would be worth closer to $4.5 billion — underscoring how much cheaper accumulation has gotten this cycle.
The buying wasn’t steady throughout the year. Much of it actually happened before 2026 began, with more than 2.4 billion XRP added in November 2025 alone, pushing balances from 8.4 billion to over 10.8 billion in a single month. Momentum cooled into early 2026, holdings dipped slightly, and the group stayed largely inactive until March, when a slower, more consistent accumulation pattern took hold. By July 8, this whale cohort reached an all-time high balance of 12.27 billion XRP, before trimming modestly to the current 12.2 billion.
More Wallets Are Joining the Club
The growth isn’t only coming from existing holders adding more tokens — new wallets are entering this whale tier too. The group counted 301 addresses at the start of the year, dipped to 285 in mid-February, then climbed to a 2026 peak of 322 in early July before settling at 313 today. That’s still below October 2025’s all-time high of 351 addresses, but it points to expanding participation, not just concentrated buying.
Also Read: XRP vs Bitcoin: Why Catherine Austin Fitts Says Ripple Will Power the Future of Finance
Not All Whales Are on the Same Page
Behavior varies sharply across whale tiers. Holders with 100 million to 1 billion XRP have gone the opposite direction, trimming their balance from 8.43 billion to 8.13 billion — a 300 million token reduction this year. Meanwhile, the 1 million-to-10 million XRP tier added a smaller 260 million tokens, reaching 3.83 billion. The 100,000-to-1-million shark category also pulled back slightly, from 6.43 billion to 6.37 billion.
The divergence suggests conviction isn’t uniform across XRP’s largest holders — but the mid-sized whale group, specifically, is treating this price drop as a buying window.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is for general purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. The author’s views are personal and may not reflect the views of Chain Affairs. Before making any investment decisions, you should always conduct your own research. Chain Affairs is not responsible for any financial losses.
I’m your translator between the financial Old World and the new frontier of crypto. After a career demystifying economics and markets, I enjoy elucidating crypto – from investment risks to earth-shaking potential. Let’s explore!
