XRP Whales Accumulate Amid Declining Exchange Reserves
XRP whales are quietly accumulating XRP while smaller holders reduce their exposure to the asset. Data from Santiment shows that wallets holding between 1M and 10M XRP added around 70M tokens between July 11 and 15, 2026. Meanwhile, a group of larger investors holding 100k to 100M XRP increased their balances by approximately 2.8% over five weeks.
This shift in ownership dynamics suggests that some larger investors are positioning themselves for potential long-term gains. However, accumulation alone does not guarantee a price increase, and market conditions, demand, and broader financial trends remain important factors for XRP's performance.
The decline of exchange reserves and whale deposits to the exchange also indicates lower immediate selling pressure across major platforms. Binance XRP reserves have dropped to around 2.61B XRP, their lowest level since February 2026, while whale deposits to the exchange have decreased to near 25.3M XRP, a level not seen since January 2025.
These trends suggest that fewer large holders are sending coins to exchanges for immediate selling, which could create tighter market conditions if demand increases. However, investors continue to monitor whether these trends remain stable or reverse quickly, as XRP faces unique factors such as Ripple escrow releases and regulatory developments that can influence short-term volatility.