XRP News Today: XRP Drops 17% as $175M Whale Transfers Trigger Sell Pressure

XRP’s price plummeted 17% between July 17 and July 23, 2025, as large-scale token movements, including a $175 million transfer by Ripple co-founder Chris Larsen, triggered market turbulence. Blockchain analytics revealed that 50 million XRP—valued at $175 million—were moved from Larsen-linked wallets, with two addresses receiving 30 million XRP each, another receiving 10 million XRP, and the remainder split between two newly created wallets. Over $140 million of these funds were directed to centralized exchanges, raising concerns about potential sell pressure. Whale Alert also flagged a $58.3 million transfer of 16.8 million XRP to Coinbase on July 23, while an additional 44 million XRP ($140 million) flowed to the exchange within 24 hours. These movements were identified by blockchain sleuth ZachXBT, who highlighted the scale and timing of the transactions on social media platforms [1].

The influx of XRP to exchanges intensified speculation that the transfers could destabilize the market. While some of Coinbase’s internal movements, such as transfers between cold and exchange wallets, may reflect operational liquidity management—such as prepping assets for institutional trades or client withdrawals—the sheer volume of activity amplified anxiety among traders. Larsen still holds 2.81 billion XRP, worth approximately $8.4 billion, representing nearly 5% of the token’s circulating supply. Critics argue that such concentrated ownership leaves XRP vulnerable to whale-driven volatility, as a single actor’s decisions can disproportionately influence market sentiment [1].

This episode is not the first instance of whale activity affecting XRP’s trajectory. Earlier transactions involving 200 million XRP ($700 million) from Ripple-owned wallets had previously fueled speculation about short-term price movements. As of July 24, XRP traded at $3.14, down 4.46% in the past 24 hours. Technical analysts suggest the decline could either signal the completion of a Wave 4 retracement or foreshadow a potential drop to $2.64 before a Wave 5 rally. Despite the immediate volatility, long-term bullish trends remain intact, according to chart watchers, though the centralized nature of XRP’s distribution remains a contentious issue [1].

Market participants continue to monitor whale activity as a critical indicator of future price action. While some transfers may stem from routine exchange operations, the cumulative impact of large-scale movements by high-profile holders like Larsen could prolong uncertainty in the XRP ecosystem. Analysts emphasize that the interplay between liquidity management and speculative trading will likely shape the token’s near-term performance [1].

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[1] [title: XRP drops 17% as $175 million whale activity rattles market] [url: https://invezz.com/news/2025/07/24/xrp-drops-17-as-175-million-whale-activity-rattles-market/]