Big Money Flow: The $1M XRP Order and the Whale Accumulation

A major signal is flashing in the XRP market. Well-known early Bitcoin investor Pumpius has placed a $1 million buy order for XRP at exactly $1. The order remains open as XRP trades around $2.04, indicating he is waiting for a deeper dip. This move comes as the token has plunged nearly 70% from its peak, reigniting debate over whether the $1 level will be retested.

The immediate impact is a high-conviction signal from a seasoned operator. Pumpius has a history of strategic accumulation, and his open order suggests he sees current weakness as a buying opportunity. Other notable buyers are aligning with this view. Analysts like Zach Rector are preparing orders near $1, and veteran holders cite past cycles where similar drops were brief and rewarding. This creates a potential accumulation zone.

Yet the order's power depends on broader market action. If XRP's price continues to fall toward $1, the order will likely fill, absorbing significant supply and potentially halting the decline. But if the price fails to reach $1, the order remains a passive signal with no direct impact. Its true test is whether it triggers a wave of similar accumulation or gets absorbed without changing the downtrend.

Whale Accumulation vs. Market-Wide Sell-Off

The market is caught between two powerful, opposing forces. On one side, whales are aggressively buying. Over the past 48 hours, wallets holding between 100 million and 1 billion XRP have accumulated more than 230 million tokens. At current prices, this strategic accumulation exceeds $335 million and directly coincided with Friday's rebound. This large-scale buying reduces circulating supply and absorbs sell-side pressure, acting as a catalyst to stabilize price.

On the other side, a brutal market-wide crash triggered a violent sell-off. XRP dropped 17% due to a broader crypto market crash, heavy liquidations, and panic selling. In just one day, nearly $46 million worth of XRP positions were closed automatically. This forced liquidation cascade, driven by Bitcoin and Ethereum weakness, overwhelmed the token and caused it to fall faster than most large cryptocurrencies.

The dominant force right now is the market-wide fear. The 17% drop was a direct result of leverage unwinds and panic, not negative Ripple news. While whale accumulation provides a crucial support layer and a potential floor, it has not yet reversed the momentum of the broader crash. The key will be whether this large holder buying can absorb the next wave of forced selling or if the market-wide fear continues to overpower conviction.

Catalysts and Risks: The Path to $1

The immediate battleground is the $1.58 resistance level. XRP trades near $1.46, just below this key hurdle. A decisive break above it is required to confirm the bullish thesis and signal that whale accumulation has overwhelmed broader selling pressure. Failure to clear $1.58, however, would invite renewed selling, with the next targets at $1.37 and $1.28. This zone represents the near-term floor where the $1M order and other strategic buys would likely activate.

The primary catalyst for a sustained move higher is whether the $1M order fills and triggers a wave of follow-on buying from other long-term holders. If XRP price falls toward $1, the order will absorb significant supply and act as a powerful support. This could halt the decline and encourage other patient investors to deploy capital, as veteran holders like CryptoBull have noted the current dip is familiar territory that has historically rewarded those who wait. The $1 level is the ultimate test of this accumulation thesis.

A successful breakout above $1.58 opens the path to higher targets. Analysts point to $4 as the next major confirmation of strength, with longer-term moves toward $10 or even $11 seen as possible if the market structure resembles past cycles. The key will be whether the recent surge in new addresses, which jumped 51.5% over 48 hours, can sustain momentum after the initial whale-driven rebound. The setup is clear: watch the $1.58 level, the $1M order fill, and new holder participation to gauge the rally's durability.