XRP Whales Hold 45.83B Tokens — Biggest Stack Since 2018

Smart money is quietly loading up on XRP. On-chain data from Santiment shows wallets holding at least 10 million XRP now control a combined 45.83 billion tokens. It is worth approximately $68.5 billion at current prices. That represents 68.5% of XRP’s total circulating supply and marks the highest whale accumulation level recorded since May 2018. The buying surge is happening as XRP trades near the $1.50 resistance level, currently sitting at $1.46 with a 2.37% 24-hour gain. Ripple XRP latest news just got a powerful on-chain signal behind it.

What the Whale Data Actually Means

Santiment’s data captures a specific behavior pattern that historically precedes significant price moves. When large wallets accumulate heavily during sideways price action. Which XRP has experienced throughout much of 2026, consolidating between $1.30 and $1.50. It typically signals institutional and high-net-worth conviction that current prices represent undervaluation.

Source: Santiment – Large XRP Holder Concentration (10M+ wallets) 

The accumulation is not limited to mega-wallets either. The number of addresses holding 10,000 or more XRP has reached a record near 332,000. This means conviction is broadening across the holder base, not concentrating in a handful of wallets. That distribution matters. It suggests the accumulation phase reflects genuine demand rather than a single actor building a position.

XRP whale accumulation data of this magnitude, at an 8-year high. It arrives alongside regulatory catalysts and institutional infrastructure development, creating a meaningful confluence of bullish signals.

The Institutional Backdrop Driving Conviction

Whale accumulation does not happen in a vacuum. Three catalysts are running in parallel. First, XRP exchange-traded products saw a 1,220% week-on-week inflow spike. From approximately $3 million to $39.6 million. That pushed year-to-date ETP flows to $191 million and AUM to $2.56 billion. CoinShares head of research James Butterfill linked the surge directly to CLARITY Act progress and improved regulatory confidence around altcoin exposure.

Second, Ripple’s live test of tokenized U.S. Treasury settlement on the XRP Ledger with JPMorgan, Mastercard, and Ondo Finance. That has repositioned XRP as institutional settlement infrastructure, not just a trading token. Third, the Clarity Act passing the Senate Banking Committee 15-9 this week removes the single largest regulatory overhang the asset has carried for years.

What This Means for Investors and Developers

For investors, whale accumulation at 2018 highs signals growing institutional confidence around XRP’s regulatory and infrastructure outlook. For developers, expanding enterprise activity on the XRP Ledger could create more demand for payment. That includes tokenization and settlement-focused applications as institutional adoption accelerates.

Key Levels and Risks to Watch

The $1.50 level is the immediate technical gate. A sustained daily close above it opens the path toward $1.70 to $2.00 as the next range. XRP current price at $1.46 puts that test within immediate reach. The risk worth acknowledging is concentration itself. When 68.5% of supply sits in large wallets. Those same wallets can introduce significant sell pressure if they decide to take profits near resistance. 

Ripple’s ongoing escrow releases also add periodic supply to the market. Sustained price appreciation requires ETF demand and real on-chain transaction volume to absorb that supply consistently. The whales are building. Whether retail follows determines what happens at $1.50.