XRP Price Rally: Whales Accumulate as $3 Support Holds, Eyes on ETF Decision

The price of XRP has pushed above the critical $3 threshold, gaining more than 3% in the past 24 hours. The move comes after weeks of steady accumulation by large investors, commonly referred to as “whales,” who appear to be positioning for the next leg higher. Market watchers say the recent breakout may mark the beginning of a stronger rally if current momentum holds.

Whale Accumulation Bolsters Support

For weeks, the $2.80 level has acted as a fortress for XRP, preventing deeper declines and offering a solid foundation for recovery. Market data shows that whales — typically institutions and large holders with the capacity to move markets — have been accumulating aggressively.

In the past 48 hours alone, whales scooped up more than 250 million XRP. Just days earlier, another 120 million tokens were acquired. Altogether, these transactions amount to hundreds of millions of dollars, reinforcing the idea that professional investors are taking advantage of uncertainty in the retail market.

This accumulation trend is important because whale behavior has historically preceded major moves in XRP. When large wallets begin to buy aggressively during consolidation, it often signals confidence in a forthcoming rally.

Echoes of the 2017 Bull Run

Analysts are drawing parallels between XRP’s current price structure and its 2017 bull cycle. At that time, skepticism dominated before XRP staged a parabolic run that shocked much of the market, eventually making it one of the top-performing digital assets.

Today, analysts note that XRP is once again building a similar base. The $3.40 level has emerged as a critical resistance point. If bulls can clear this line, momentum could accelerate quickly, setting up a move toward the psychological $5 mark in the current cycle.

On the downside, the $2.65 region has acted as the macro floor, keeping the broader uptrend intact even during bouts of volatility. As long as that level holds, the medium- to long-term outlook remains constructive.

ETF Speculation Looms Large

A key catalyst for XRP’s future may arrive as early as October. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is expected to rule on multiple XRP ETF applications. Such products, if approved, could unlock significant institutional inflows.

The example of Bitcoin provides a precedent. The approval and anticipation of Bitcoin ETFs in the U.S. triggered an enormous wave of demand from institutional investors, boosting liquidity and driving prices higher. Analysts say a similar scenario could unfold with XRP if regulators give the green light.

However, the SEC has historically taken a cautious stance on crypto ETFs. Even without immediate approval, the fourth quarter has often been favorable for digital assets. Historically, this period sees improved sentiment, higher inflows, and more trading activity. That seasonal tailwind provides further motivation for whales to build large XRP positions ahead of time.

XRP’s Technical Roadmap

In the short term, XRP is consolidating near the $3 zone. Traders expect volatility to remain elevated as bulls and bears battle around this level. But if XRP manages to clear $3.65, followed by $4.50, analysts believe the token could enter a fresh phase of price discovery.

“Breaking above $3.40 would open the door to $5, but the real inflection point is around $4.50,” said one crypto analyst. “That’s where you would see retail traders return aggressively, and that could fuel the kind of rally we haven’t seen since 2021.”

Volume trends also support the bullish case. Recent whale inflows have helped absorb selling pressure, while on-chain data shows increasing wallet activity at higher price levels. This suggests long-term holders are confident in XRP’s trajectory.

Market Sentiment and Macro Factors

Broader market dynamics are also influencing XRP’s climb. Bitcoin’s rally above $119,000 has lifted overall crypto sentiment, providing a tailwind for altcoins. Ethereum’s strength has further reinforced confidence in large-cap tokens.

Meanwhile, traditional markets remain volatile amid inflation concerns and shifting Federal Reserve policy. As investors look for alternative assets, cryptocurrencies — particularly those with strong use cases and liquidity, like XRP — stand to benefit.

For XRP, its ongoing legal clarity following Ripple’s partial court victories against the SEC also plays a role. While not fully resolved, the litigation has provided more confidence in XRP’s status, reducing some regulatory uncertainty that previously weighed on the asset.

Institutional vs. Retail Dynamics

One of the most striking dynamics in the current XRP rally is the divergence between institutional and retail behavior. While retail traders remain cautious after prolonged sideways action, whales have been aggressively buying dips.

This mirrors behavior seen in earlier crypto cycles, where institutional investors enter positions during uncertainty, only for retail demand to surge once prices break major resistance levels. Should history repeat, XRP may be on the verge of such a breakout.

What’s Next for XRP?

As it stands, XRP is consolidating above $3. Near-term volatility is likely as markets await the SEC’s ETF decisions in October. If whales continue to provide a floor and price clears resistance levels, analysts believe a surge to $5 is within reach this cycle.

Beyond that, XRP’s longer-term potential may depend on how quickly ETF products are launched and whether adoption grows in emerging markets. Ripple’s ongoing push to expand utility for XRP in cross-border payments and financial services could provide further upside catalysts.

For now, XRP’s trajectory seems to echo its historical playbook: long phases of accumulation followed by sharp, often surprising rallies. With whales leading the charge and retail still waiting on the sidelines, the coming months may prove decisive in determining whether XRP will join Bitcoin and Ethereum in setting new records.

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