Whales Move $500M in XRP as Open Interest Spikes and Short Sellers Get Crushed

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Key Takeaways:

  • Over $500 million in XRP was quietly transferred by whales—indicating long-term strategic moves rather than sell-offs.
  • XRP open interest surged to $2.9B, showing traders expect imminent volatility.
  • Short liquidations exceeded $8 million, triggering a mini-squeeze and fueling bullish sentiment.

Something major is unfolding in Ripple’s XRP market—and it’s flying under the radar. While retail traders chase price spikes and trending headlines, crypto whales have quietly transferred over $500 million in XRP, raising eyebrows in the crypto community. This subtle but significant activity points to deeper forces at work.

Whale Activity Signals Strategic Moves

Over 167 million XRP moved between unknown wallets this week, totaling over $500 million in value. These transactions weren’t directed to exchanges, suggesting they weren’t made for immediate selling. Instead, the transfers appear to be part of long-term positioning or potentially private institutional deals.

While retail investors celebrated XRP’s climb to the #2 spot on Coinbase with $413 million in daily volume, the whales were moving in silence. Such divergence between public hype and silent accumulation typically precedes major market shifts.

Open Interest Surges, Hinting at Volatility

As the whale transfers occurred, XRP open interest surged by over 11%, topping $2.9 billion. This jump indicates that traders are gearing up for price action—though it remains unclear in which direction.

Notably, rising open interest without corresponding price drops suggests bullish undercurrents. The market appears to be anticipating a breakout, and the presence of high-leverage positions only adds fuel to the fire.

Shorts Crushed as Sentiment Turns Bullish

The most dramatic signal came from short liquidations. Over $8 million in XRP shorts were wiped out—double the amount of long liquidations. These forced closures occurred across Bybit, Binance, and OKX, and likely contributed to XRP’s rapid upward movement.

Also Read: XRP at $2.86, XLM Up 73%: EasyA’s Dom Kwok Says Speculators Missed the Real Gains

On Binance alone, 64.34% of users were holding long positions on July 14, resulting in a long/short ratio of 1.80. This points to a rising sense of optimism, though not yet full-on euphoria. If the trend continues, the next rally could be stronger—and faster.

Tension Between Retail Buzz and Whale Silence

While retail enthusiasm remains loud, the whale movement remains quiet but calculated. Exchange reserves have risen, but whale holdings remain off-exchange—suggesting they are preparing rather than reacting. This contrast may signal upcoming volatility or accumulation ahead of a major announcement.

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.