XRP Whale Wallets Reach All-time High
BITmarkets Team
May 18, 2026
Growing whale activity, stronger network usage, and improving technical conditions suggest the asset may be building momentum, though resistance levels remain key in determining the next move.
Whale wallets and network activity continue to grow
Large XRP holders appear to be increasing exposure during the recent consolidation phase. Data from Santiment shows that the number of wallets holding at least 10,000 XRP has climbed to a record high of approximately 332,230.
“This extends a consistent growth trend that has been building since June, 2024,” Santiment said in a post on X. The analytics firm noted that increasing numbers of medium and large holders often indicate stronger long-term conviction, adding: “Historically, rising numbers of mid-to-large wallets suggest increasing conviction from investors who are less focused on short-term price swings and more interested in long-term positioning.”
This trend aligns with growing activity on the XRP Ledger. According to data from Evernorth, monthly XRPL transactions surged to a record 71 million in April, up from 43 million a year earlier — representing approximately 65% year-over-year growth.
Evernorth attributed the increase to institutional usage connected to Bitstamp, Ripple USD, Braza Bank, and expanding DeFi activity as the XRPL develops more compliance-focused infrastructure. Meanwhile, analyst CW8900 said whale long positions continue to outweigh retail positions, suggesting larger investors are “maintaining a bullish view” of market conditions.
XRP faces critical resistance near $1.50
From a technical perspective, XRP is attempting to break out of an ascending triangle pattern that has shaped price action since early February. This pattern forms when price consolidates between rising support and horizontal resistance, with breakouts often leading to stronger directional moves if accompanied by increased volume.
The $1.50 level remains a key hurdle, where the 100-day exponential moving average (EMA) converges with the triangle resistance. XRP has faced rejection from this area four times since mid-February. Above this, another resistance zone appears between $1.67 and $1.70, near the 200-day EMA. If momentum continues strengthening beyond these levels, the measured target from the ascending triangle sits around $1.98.
Analyst ChartNerd noted: “$XRP has been defending its daily 20 EMA since it was reclaimed in early May ($1.42), which has since been guiding the price higher.” “$1.50/55 remains an imminent resistance to break.”
Another analyst, Neel, argued that XRP/USD “needs a clear break above $1.60 for any meaningful short-term rally,” while adding that movement beyond $2.00 could “generate fresh momentum.” The $1.50–$1.60 area remains an important resistance region in the near term, as a sustained move above it could strengthen the case for a broader shift in market structure.
Sources:
https://cointelegraph.com/markets/xrp-whale-wallets-all-time-highs-will-it-push-price-above-1-50
https://x.com/evernorthxrp/status/2053968522955624609
https://x.com/NeelMacro/status/2054343923116769311