XRP's Whale Dip Buy: 1,389 $100k+ Transactions & 25% Rebound

The setup for the rebound was forged in a brutal single-day collapse. XRP shed over 15% of its value, plunging to a low of $1.1356 during a wave of market panic. This sharp drop below key psychological levels triggered widespread liquidations and forced many retail traders to exit, creating the classic fear-driven dip.

Yet, while retail capitulated, whales were positioning. On-chain data shows a record spike in accumulation, with 1,389 separate transactions worth $100,000 or more recorded during the dip. This footprint of smart-money activity occurred precisely when sentiment was breaking down. More broadly, this wasn't a one-off event. Since January, large holders have moved a staggering 1.59 billion XRP, valued at approximately $2.54 billion, in a persistent campaign that has continued despite the weak price action.

This accumulation is happening within a clear bearish structure. XRP has been trading inside a long-term descending channel since mid-2025, a pattern that systematically caps rallies and pushes prices lower. The token's recent weakness, including a nearly 7% drop in the past 24 hours, reflects this entrenched pressure. The dip to $1.1356 was the latest test of this channel's lower boundary, a move that created the extreme price action and on-chain opportunity that whales have now capitalized on.

The Rebound: Whale Buying vs. Leverage

The rebound from the lows is a classic on-chain signal. After plunging below $1.15 in the panic, XRP staged a sharp recovery, climbing roughly 25% within 18 hours to trade back above $1.50. This move was not random. It was directly fueled by the massive whale accumulation that occurred during the dip, with 1,389 separate transactions worth $100,000 or more recorded. This footprint of smart-money buying is the clearest driver of the price tear higher.

Yet, a critical divergence has emerged. While whales were accumulating in spot, speculative leverage was building in derivatives. During the same 24-hour period, Open Interest expanded by roughly +12%. This expansion into a falling price structure signals speculative positioning, not pure accumulation. It points to traders taking leveraged long bets or hedging, which can amplify volatility but does not represent the same fundamental demand as whale spot buying.

The network activity surge confirms broadening participation. Unique active addresses on the XRP Ledger ballooned to 78,727 in a single 8-hour candle, marking the highest spike in six months. This explosion in on-chain engagement, combined with the whale footprint, creates a powerful reversal signal. However, the concurrent rise in derivatives OI introduces fragility, as leveraged positions can lead to sharp liquidations if the rebound stalls.

Liquidity & The Path Forward

The structural shift is now clear. Exchange balances have fallen 57% over the past year, from roughly 4 billion to 1.5 billion tokens. This drastic reduction in tradable supply has fundamentally altered the market's mechanics. With so much XRP moving into long-term storage and institutional custody, the circulating float is tighter than at any point since 2017-2018.

The consequence is amplified price action. In this thin liquidity regime, moderate buying can now move the price 10-15% in days rather than the small moves seen in past cycles. This dynamic explains the sharp 25% rebound from the lows and sets the stage for either a sustained breakout or a violent correction, depending on the next flow of capital.

The key levels to watch are now more critical. The immediate bearish trend line resistance sits at $1.380. A break above that would signal the recent dip is over. Key support remains at $1.220 and $1.20. A decisive break below $1.15 would invalidate the bullish setup and likely trigger further selling pressure. The path forward hinges on whether whale accumulation can now overcome this tightened supply structure.